#and not to spoil it but a public declaration of love is not my thing and i cringed the whole time even though id been waiting for it

[mysweetsinfulobsessions]

Who knew being honest and direct could be so sexy? Gemma (right) spares no time in taking a little white lie about them dating told by book nerd Tansy (left) and turning it into a deal that could benefit them both. Confidence is hot!

[pucksandpower]

So Good to Her

Charles Leclerc x Reader

Summary: the public reacts to the TikTok challenge you and Charles inadvertently participated in

Read So Good to Me (about the TikTok challenge) here

The TikTok that the British influencer posted of his encounter with you and your incredibly generous boyfriend quickly goes viral, racking up millions of views, likes, and comments within mere hours.

It spreads like wildfire across social media platforms, with people sharing it on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook — even LinkedIn of all places. Everyone marvels at this mystery woman with the boyfriend of all boyfriends who casually sent her €10,000 just to buy a pair of shoes.

In a cozy London flat, a group of university students and diehard Charles fans gather around a laptop, eyes wide as they watch the now-viral video for the umpteenth time.

“I can’t believe Charles has a secret girlfriend!” Megan, a petite blonde wearing a red Ferrari cap, exclaims. “How did we not know about this? We follow his every move!”

Her best friend Ethan nods in agreement, his brow furrowed. “Seriously, who is this girl? She’s drop dead gorgeous and apparently Charles is just casually sending her 10 grand for shopping sprees?”

“Okay but like, goals though,” Lexi chimes in dreamily, clutching a Charles Leclerc poster to her chest. “Imagine having a boyfriend who’s not only mega hot and talented but also spoils you rotten. She’s living the dream.”

Ethan scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Oh come on, he can’t just throw money around like that. I bet this whole thing was staged for clout.”

Megan shoots him a withering glare. “Don’t be ridiculous. What would be the point? Charles is already one of the most popular drivers on the grid, he doesn’t need to pull PR stunts for attention.”

“Plus did you see the way he talked to her on the phone?” Lexi points out, rewinding the video. “That was not acting, that was real love and affection in his voice. I’m so soft for them already, ugh.”

The trio falls silent as they watch the clip again, zeroing in on every little detail and facial expression from both Charles’ mystery girlfriend and the clearly shocked TikToker.

Ethan chuckles and shakes his head. “I still can’t get over her reaction though. Just a guy who loves driving fast cars — I mean, the cheek! She really knows how to keep a secret, gotta give her that.”

“An icon, honestly,” Megan declares. “The fact that she told him to donate the money to an animal shelter too ... okay, I can’t even be mad. She seems like a sweet person.”

Lexi sighs happily, starry-eyed. “They’re literally a power couple. The sheer confidence and BDE of it all. I’m so jealous but also like, rooting for them? We have to find out who this girl is!”

As if on cue, Megan’s phone pings with a Twitter notification. Her eyes widen as she swipes to view it. “Guys. GUYS. The TikToker just confirmed her first name is Y/N and posted another video with a few more details about her!”

“Well don’t just sit there, play it!” Ethan demands, practically launching himself across the couch to peer over Megan’s shoulder at her phone screen. Lexi scrambles to join them, bouncing with anticipation.

In the new clip, the TikToker is grinning excitedly at the camera, an extra bounce in his step as he walks along the same Monaco street where he first approached you.

“Right, so I’m sure by now you’ve all seen my video with Charles Leclerc’s girlfriend go absolutely mental viral,” he begins, running a hand through his artfully tousled hair. “Which, can I just say — thank you so much for the insane support and love, you lot are the best fans ever.”

“Get to the point,” Ethan mutters under his breath, earning a sharp “Shh!” from both girls.

“Anyway,” the TikToker continues. “After she left and I finally picked my jaw up off the floor, I did some digging. I headed to that little boutique she mentioned in the call with Charles, just to see if she actually went in and bought anything. Thought maybe if I asked the staff, they might be able to give me some more info, you know?”

Megan, Ethan, and Lexi all subconsciously lean closer to the small phone screen, hanging on to his every word.

“So get this — not only did she buy the shoes, she apparently also went next door and purchased, and I quote, a frankly alarming amount of lingerie. The cashier said she dropped over 5 grand like it was nothing!”

Lexi lets out a scandalized gasp as Ethan chokes on his sip of Red Bull. Megan just shakes her head in wonderment. “The actual legend,” she murmurs reverently.

The TikToker laughs and waggles his eyebrows suggestively at the camera. “I don’t know about you lot, but I’m definitely sensing some spicy thank you for the shopping money activities were planned for a certain Ferrari driver, if you know what I mean. Get in there, Charles!”

“Gross, I so did not need that visual,” Ethan grumbles, but there’s a slight smirk playing on his lips all the same.

“Oh shut up, as if you wouldn’t do the exact same if you were dating Charles,” Lexi retorts with a playful shove to his shoulder.

“ANYWAY,” the TikToker presses on, “I did manage to squeeze a few more details out of the lovely shop girl. Apparently Charles’ girlfriend is named Y/N, no last name given for privacy reasons. But she’s a regular customer and, I quote, an absolute sweetheart who only ever has glowing things to say about her man. So there you have it, folks — Y/N and Charles are the real deal and we’re all just peasants watching a fairytale unfold.”

Megan sighs dreamily as the video ends. “Y/N and Charles,” she repeats to herself, already typing the names into her social media search bars. “God, even their names sound good together. I have to find out everything about her.”

“Dibs on making their ship name hashtag go viral,” Lexi calls out, already furiously typing away on her own phone.

Ethan snorts and rolls his eyes affectionately at his friends, but there’s no denying the small, reluctantly impressed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth too. “I give it two days before they’re papped together on some glamorous date night now that the secret’s out. Hope she’s ready for the attention dating an F1 star brings.”

“With that level of confidence and the way Charles clearly adores her? I think our girl Y/N will handle the spotlight just fine,” Megan says confidently.

Lexi nods in firm agreement. “Yep, a true queen. Charles better lock that down and wife her up real quick before one of us tries to snatch her for ourselves!”

***

In a cozy apartment not far from the very street where you had your memorable encounter with the TikToker, three young women huddle around a laptop screen, eyes wide and jaws slack as they watch the now viral video for the umpteenth time.

“I can’t believe this,” mutters Isabelle, a pretty brunette with an impressively encyclopedic knowledge of Formula 1 stats. “Charles has a girlfriend? Since when?”

“And he just sent her €10,000 like it was nothing!” Exclaims Maia, nervously twirling a strand of her platinum blonde hair. “I mean, I know he’s loaded but holy shit, the way he spoils her ...”

The third girl, Claire, bites her lip, a pensive look on her delicate features. “Did you hear what she said at the end though? Just a guy who loves driving fast cars. She was obviously talking about Charles. But the way she said it, all mysterious and like it was some inside joke ... I don’t know, it just rubs me the wrong way.”

Isabelle scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Please, she was totally gloating. Didn’t even have the decency to act a little humble about the fact that THE Charles Leclerc is apparently head over heels for her.”

“Exactly!” Maia chimes in, nodding vigorously. “Like okay, congrats, you bagged a hot, rich, famous race car driver. No need to rub it in the rest of our faces.”

Claire wrinkles her nose. “I just don’t get the vibe that she actually cares about him, you know? I mean, who asks their boyfriend to send them money in the middle of the day for some stupid shoes? While he’s working? She seems like such a gold digger.”

“Ugh, you’re so right,” Isabelle agrees, her lips curling in distaste. “Poor Charles is probably blind to it because he’s so gone for her. He didn’t even hesitate to transfer that money!”

Maia sighs dramatically and falls back on the bed. “God, it’s so unfair. Why can’t I find a man who’s that generous and totally obsessed with me? I’d treat him so much better than she does, you can already tell.”

Claire hums and taps her chin thoughtfully. “You know what, I think this smells fishy. How do we even know she’s actually Charles’ girlfriend? For all we know, she could have paid some guy who sounds like him to play along for a TikTok clout.”

Isabelle’s eyes narrow as she considers this possibility. “That’s true ... I haven’t come across any photos of them together or anything. Why has no one ever seen her before if they’re supposedly so in love?”

“Exactly!” Claire exclaims, growing more animated. “I’ve been a Charles fan for years and I’ve never seen or heard anything about a girlfriend. If they’re really dating, there’s no way it wouldn’t have come out before now.”

Maia sits up, suddenly energized by this new conspiracy theory. “Oh my god, you’re right! She’s probably just some wannabe influencer trying to get famous by pretending to be with Charles. That’s so pathetic.”

Isabelle nods slowly, a determined glint in her eye. “You know what? We should do some digging. Try to find out who this girl really is and expose her for the fraud she clearly is. Charles and the world deserve to know the truth.”

“Yesss, I’m so down for an investigation!” Maia says gleefully. “Imagine if we’re the ones who reveal that this whole thing is fake. We’d be doing Charles a huge favor.”

Claire is already pulling up Instagram and Twitter on her phone. “Let’s start by going through the comments on that TikTok and seeing if anyone has identified her or posted any receipts. There have to be some clues somewhere.”

The girls spend the next few hours poring over social media, searching for any scrap of information they can find about the mystery woman who has supposedly captured Charles Leclerc’s heart. They work themselves into a frenzy, convincing each other more and more that you can’t possibly be Charles’ real girlfriend. In their minds, you’re clearly just an opportunistic clout chaser looking for your 15 minutes of fame.

“God, I hope Charles sees through her act soon,” Isabelle says for the hundredth time, shaking her head. “He’s too good for some two-bit gold digger who’s just using him.”

“We’ll make sure he finds out who she really is,” Claire assures her firmly. “And then he’ll have no choice but to dump her lying ass.”

Maia sighs wistfully, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. “Do you think once he’s single again, I might actually have a chance? Like, if I run into him at a race one day and strike up a conversation, maybe he’ll realize I’m the girl he’s meant to be with ...”

“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Claire says with a laugh. “First step is taking down this fraud of a girlfriend. Then we can daydream about being Mrs. Leclerc.”

The girls giggle and go back to their social media sleuthing with renewed determination. They’ve decided you’re public enemy number one and they won’t rest until they’ve exposed you for the fake, money-hungry, clout-chasing liar they’re certain you must be. In their eyes, they’re crusaders for truth, fighting to save their beloved Charles from your clutches.

What they don’t realize, of course, is just how very real and very deep Charles’ feelings for you actually are ... and that you’re not going anywhere anytime soon, Internet conspiracy theories be damned.

***

In a dimly lit basement somewhere in Italy, a group of die-hard Charles Leclerc fans huddle around a computer screen, their jaws dropping as they watch the video for the umpteenth time.

“Guys, are you seeing this shit?” Enzo, the self-appointed leader of the group, asks incredulously. “Who the hell is this girl and how did she bag Charles freakin’ Leclerc?”

“Dude, we don’t even know for sure that it’s actually Charles,” Giovanni points out skeptically. “She never said his name. It could be some other rich dude with a fast car.”

Enzo scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Oh come on, who else could it be? €10,000 like it’s nothing, is it possible that Leclerc has a secret girlfriend we don’t know about all this time? A guy who likes driving fast cars? It’s obviously Charles! Our boy is LOADED and that’s exactly how he’d spoil his girl.”

Luca nods in agreement, a dreamy expression on his face. “God, can you imagine being with Charles though? Having him call you all those cute pet names and just showering you with love and gifts? I’d fucking die.”

“Yeah, she has to be the luckiest woman on the planet,” Enzo sighs wistfully. “I mean, I’m straight, but even I’d let Charles ruin me, you know what I’m saying?”

The other guys murmur and nod in emphatic agreement, all of them momentarily lost in a fantasy of being Charles Leclerc’s pampered significant other.

“Okay but like, how is this even fair?” Giovanni gripes, breaking the spell. “The rest of us mere mortals are out here busting our asses on Tinder and Hinge, praying a decent girl will swipe right, and Charles just gets to date a literal goddess who is probably a model?”

“Life isn’t fair, Gio,” Enzo says solemnly. “Charles is on a completely different level. He could have any woman he wants and they’d all say yes before he even finished asking. The rules don’t apply to a guy like that.”

Luca suddenly sits up straight, his eyes widening with realization. “Holy shit, guys. Do you know what this means? If Charles is taken, that’s one less F1 driver on the market for all those grid girl groupies to throw themselves at! Maybe the rest of us actually have a chance now!”

Giovanni snorts derisively. “Yeah, you wish. Those chicks are still gonna be busy trying to get with Sainz or Verstappen or Norris. They’re not gonna settle for some nobody Ferrari fan. Let’s be real.”

“Wow, way to kill the vibe, Debbie Downer,” Luca mutters. He turns back to the computer and hits replay on the video, watching enviously as the TikToker clearly shows the €10,000 bank transfer on your phone. “Seriously though, how is this chick not freaking the fuck out? If Charles Leclerc randomly sent me 10 grand I’d be screaming and probably pass out.”

“She’s probably used to it,” Enzo says with a shrug. “I bet this is like, a regular Tuesday for her. Just casually strolling around Monaco, stopping into designer stores whenever she feels like it, Charles’ black credit card weighing down her Hermès purse. The bougiest of WAG lives.”

“God, what I wouldn’t give to trade places with her for just one day,” Giovanni says longingly. “Can you imagine getting to wake up next to Charles every morning? Having him make you breakfast and give you forehead kisses and tell you how much he loves you in that sexy accent?”

“Okay, now you’re just torturing yourself, bro,” Luca laughs. “You’ll be lucky if you can get a Tinder match to agree to split the bill at McDonalds.”

“Why you gotta bring me back to my sad reality like that?” Giovanni groans, chucking a throw pillow at Luca’s head. “Let me live vicariously through Charles’ bougie mystery girlfriend for a little while longer, damn.”

Enzo sighs and leans back in his chair, hands behind his head. “You know what the craziest part of all this is? The fact that Charles managed to keep a whole ass girlfriend hidden from the world. Like, the media has been speculating about his love life forever and no one had a clue he was actually in a serious relationship. That man moves in silence like a ninja.”

“Yeah, and did you see how he just casually threw out that he loves her?” Luca gushes. “He was all I love spoiling you, you deserve the world. My dude is head over heels for this girl and I am LIVING for it.”

“Ugh, why can’t I find a man like that?” Giovanni whines dramatically. “All I want is a guy who will write me cute Instagram captions in three languages and buy out the Gucci store for me but I guess that’s too much to ask!”

“Maybe if you stanned Charles harder, the universe would reward you,��� Enzo snarks. “Start leaving thirsty comments on his shirtless pics, see if that manifests your dream F1 boyfriend.”

“Bold of you to assume I don’t already do that,” Giovanni retorts with a smirk. “How else do you think Oscar Piastri ended up in my DMs last night?”

“Wait, WHAT?” Luca and Enzo exclaim in unison, whipping their heads around to gape at their friend.

Giovanni bursts out laughing at their shocked faces. “I’m just kidding, jeez! You think I’d be sitting here listening to you losers if Oscar freaking Piastri actually messaged me? Puh-lease.”

“Man, don’t even joke about that,” Enzo grumbles, clutching at his heart. “You really had me going there for a sec.”

Luca huffs and slouches down in his seat. “Can we get back to being jealous of Charles’ sugar baby girlfriend now? I was enjoying that more than whatever the hell this conversation turned into.”

“She’s not his sugar baby!” Enzo argues. “They’re clearly in love! Did we watch the same video? The way he talked to her was mad cute. That’s his GIRL girl.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Luca concedes, holding his hands up in apology. “Charles might spoil her but he obviously adores her for more than just her looks. That’s the real relationship goals right there.”

“Imagine being so secure in your love that you can just ball out on your partner like that and know it’s only going to make them love you more,” Giovanni muses. “Cannot relate.”

Enzo nods sagely. “Charles is just built different, man. In more ways than one.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” Luca agrees. “So, are we watching this video another 50 times or are we moving on to the Grill the Grid compilation I found of all of Charles’ most adorably flustered moments?”

Enzo grins maniacally and reaches for the mouse. “Oh, you know we’re watching the hell out of this absolute gift again. And then we’re gonna spend the next three hours cyberstalking Charles and seeing if we can find any other crumbs about who this legendary mystery woman is. For research purposes.”

“This is the most productive thing we’ve done in months and I’m not even ashamed,” Giovanni declares, cracking his knuckles in preparation for the intense social media deep dive they’re about to undertake.

***

In a crowded sports bar in Dublin, a group of die-hard Ferrari fans gather to watch the latest race. But today, there’s another bit of F1-related content that has their attention. They huddle around a phone, repeatedly watching the now-infamous TikTok video.

“Can you believe it? €10,000 just like that!” Exclaims James, a tall, lanky guy with a mop of curly hair. “I mean, I knew Charles was loaded but damn ...”

“Forget the money, did you see his girlfriend?” Tom, a stocky redhead, chimes in. “Absolutely stunning. Like, how does a race car driver land a girl like that?”

Mark, a quieter guy with glasses, rolls his eyes. “Uh, maybe because he’s Charles freaking Leclerc? The man’s a beast on the track and has the face of a Greek god. Girls probably throw themselves at him left and right.”

The guys all mutter in begrudging agreement, a note of envy coloring their voices. On screen, the video replays yet again, showing you confidently calling up your boyfriend and securing the small fortune without batting an eye.

“God, what I wouldn’t give to have a woman look at me the way she probably looks at Leclerc,” Tom sighs wistfully.

“In your dreams, mate,” James scoffs. “Girls like that are way out of our league. We can’t compete with a Ferrari paycheck and Monaco real estate.”

“Still doesn’t seem fair though,” grumbles Mark. “The dude’s already got it all — talent, fame, money. Leave some for the rest of us!”

On screen, the video reaches the part where you coolly inform the gobsmacked TikToker that you don’t need his measly €2,000 and he should donate it to an animal shelter instead. The guys let out low whistles, clearly impressed by your classy move.

“See, that right there, that’s what separates the Monegasque princess types from regular girls,” says James with an air of authority. “We would’ve taken the cash in a heartbeat.”

“Speak for yourself, I’m a man of principle,” Tom jokes, puffing out his chest exaggeratedly. The others snort and shove him playfully.

As the video ends, the guys sit back, each lost in their own wistful imaginings of what it must be like to be Charles Leclerc. To have the money, success, and effortless charm to win over a girl like you.

Mark is the first to break the contemplative silence. “Maybe we’re looking at this all wrong,” he muses thoughtfully. “I mean yeah, Charles is a lucky bastard, no doubt. But that girl, she seems like a real catch too. Like the kind of person who’d keep you humble and grounded, even when you’re a superstar athlete with the world at your feet.”

The others consider this, nodding slowly. “Fair point,” concedes Tom. “Behind every great man and all that jazz. Leclerc may have his millions but he still needs someone to call him out on his BS from time to time.”

“Exactly,” agrees Mark. “And did you hear the way he spoke to her on the phone? The dude’s completely smitten. He may have all the money and fame, but I bet she’s the real prize in his eyes.”

“Alright, alright, settle down Dr. Phil,” James interjects with a good-natured eye roll. “You gonna start writing romance novels in your spare time now? Maybe they’ll make a movie — The Tifosi Who Loved Me: A Charles Leclerc Story.”

The guys all crack up laughing at that, the tension broken. Their envy towards Leclerc’s charmed life remains, but it’s now tinged with a newfound respect and even a touch of empathy.

“Y’know, jokes aside, I do hope he realizes how lucky he is to have her and treats her right,” Mark says sincerely as their chuckles subside. “A love like that seems rare these days.”

Tom reaches over to clap Mark on the shoulder. “No worries, mate. Did you see the dopey grin on Charles’ face in those paparazzi pics of them together that came out earlier? That man is whipped with a capital W. He knows he’s got a keeper.”

“As he should,” nods James sagely. “Behind every great Ferrari champion is an even greater woman keeping his ego in check. Tale as old as time.”

On that note, the guys clink their pint glasses together, silently saluting the unnamed woman who stole the heart of Charles Leclerc and the envious admiration of Formula 1 fans worldwide. The mystery girlfriend with impeccable style and a heart of gold.

As the pre-race coverage starts up on the bar TV, the guys settle in to cheer on their favorite driver, their fleeting jealousy replaced by the camaraderie and excitement of race day. But in the back of their minds, a single wistful thought remains — what they wouldn’t give to find a love like Charles and his girl seem to share. Guess that’s just one more thing to add to the list of reasons to idolize Charles Leclerc.

***

Among the hordes of viewers obsessively replaying the clip are three best friends gathered for a girls night at a posh Parisian penthouse. Colette, the willowy blonde draped across a velvet chaise lounge, takes a sip of her champagne and shakes her head in wonder.

“God, can you imagine having a boyfriend who just casually drops 10k on you like it’s nothing? Talk about relationship goals,” she sighs dreamily.

Next to her, Nadia snorts derisively while scrolling through Instagram on her phone. “Oh please, like that’s hard to find. I bet loads of rich guys would do that for their girlfriends. It’s not that impressive.”

From her perch on a tufted ottoman, Stephanie raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Really? You think Liam would send you that kind of cash without batting an eye? Mr. I-Need-To-Check-With-My-Financial-Advisor-Before-I-Buy-A-New-Tie?”

Colette erupts into giggles at the scathing impression of Nadia’s banker boyfriend. Even Nadia cracks a reluctant smile before tossing her sleek dark hair.

“Whatever. I’m just saying, that TikTok chick’s boyfriend can’t be THAT special. I’m sure if we did the same challenge our boyfriends would come through too,” she declares with more than a hint of competitiveness in her voice.

“Oooh yes, let’s do it! Let’s recreate the video and see what happens!” Colette squeals, bouncing up and down on the chaise with excitement.

Stephanie, ever the voice of reason, looks uncertain. “I don’t know, guys ... isn’t it a bit tacky to demand money from them like that? What if they get mad?”

Nadia rolls her eyes. “Oh come on Steph, live a little! It’s just a silly experiment. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Okay, okay fine,” Stephanie relents, unable to resist her friends’ cajoling. “But I’m blaming you both if Omer breaks up with me over this!”

“Deal!” Colette grins impishly as she grabs her phone. “I’ll go first — let me call Henry and we’ll see if he’s as generous as Mystery Monaco Man.”

With a deep breath, she dials her property developer boyfriend and launches into her rehearsed plea as soon as he picks up. “Baby!” She whines. “You’ll never believe what happened. I’m out with the girls and my Louboutins broke! Like the heel just totally snapped off. I’m absolutely gutted, these were my faves. Is there any way you could send some money to my account so I can grab a new pair on the way home? Pleeeaaase, I’ll love you forever!”

There’s a heavy pause before Henry’s clipped voice comes through, tinged with annoyance. “Christ, again with the bloody shoes? What is it with you women and wasting my hard earned money on bits of leather you don’t need? Can’t you just take the broken ones to get fixed?”

Colette’s perfectly glossed pout trembles, her blue eyes shining with disappointed tears as Nadia and Stephanie look on in pity. “Never mind,” she mumbles. “Forget I asked. Chat later.” She hangs up and flings her phone down despondently.

“What an ass,” Nadia spits. “You deserve so much better.” Colette shrugs sadly but rallies as she turns to Stephanie expectantly.

“Okay Steph, your turn to give Omer a ring! Let’s hope he restores our faith in rich boyfriends everywhere.”

Stephanie grimaces but dutifully calls her Qatar-based hedge fund manager beau. In her most saccharine voice, she makes her case. “Habibi, you know that gorgeous YSL bag I showed you last week? It finally came back in stock but only for today! Could you maybe pop some cash in my account so I can treat myself? I’ve been working so hard lately and-”

“Wallahi Stephanie, how many handbags does one woman need?” Omer cuts her off irritably. “If I buy you this one, I don’t want to hear any more whining for designer things for at least 6 months, got it? I’ll send you 500 euros, that should more than cover it.”

“Oh. Right. Thanks, I guess ...” Stephanie replies glumly before ending the call. She shakes her head at her friends. “Well, it’s something at least?”

“Hardly,” Nadia scoffs. “These men, I swear. Okay, time for me to show you girls how it’s done. Watch and learn, ladies.”

With a confident smirk, she video calls Liam who answers distractedly, clearly still at the office despite the late hour. “This better be important Nadia, I’m right in the middle of-”

“Liam. Focus,” Nadia cuts him off crisply. “I need you to send €10,000 to my account right now. No questions asked.” She arches a commanding eyebrow, daring him to argue.

Liam just blinks at her for a moment before letting out an incredulous laugh. “I’m sorry, you need me to do what now? 10 grand, are you mad? For what possible reason?”

“To prove you love me,” Nadia retorts smugly. “I saw this thing on TikTok, some girl’s boyfriend sent her-”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Liam interrupts. “I’m not one of your little social media playthings to manipulate for views, Nadia. My money is not a toy. I’ll buy you a thoughtful gift for your birthday next month, but I’m not in the business of flinging cash at you for no reason. Now if you’ll excuse me, some of us have real work to do. Goodnight.”

With that he abruptly ends the call, leaving Nadia staring at the blank screen, a red flush of embarrassment and anger creeping up her elegant neck. Stephanie and Colette exchange knowing looks.

“So … that went well,” Stephanie quips sarcastically.

Colette sighs morosely as she flops back onto the chaise, hugging a silk pillow. “Maybe that girl’s boyfriend really is one of a kind. God, I bet she feels like the luckiest woman alive. Can you even imagine being THAT loved and adored?”

Nadia seems to deflate, her bravado evaporating. “No,” she whispers. “I can’t. You’re right, Col. Mystery Monaco Man is clearly in a league of his own. I bet he makes her feel like an absolute queen every damn day.”

Stephanie nods thoughtfully, twirling a lock of hair. “You know what though? Good for her. She seems lovely and down-to-earth in the video. If anyone deserves that fairy tale romance, it’s a girl like that who doesn’t even realize how special it is.”

“Ugh, so true. god I’m depressed now,” Colette groans, reaching for the champagne bottle to refill her glass. “To Mystery Monaco Man — may he set the standard for rich boyfriends everywhere. And to the girl who’s lucky enough to love him — may she live happily ever after and never take a single moment for granted.”

“Hear, hear,” Nadia and Stephanie chorus, clinking their glasses against Colette’s.

As the bubbles fizz on their tongues, the wistful faraway looks in their eyes betray the same thought — what they wouldn’t give to trade places with you for just a day, to know what it feels like to be cherished so completely by a man like Charles. To them, you’re living the ultimate dream.

If only they knew the best part isn’t the extravagant gestures or lavish gifts.

It’s the little moments. The soft kisses pressed to your temple. The fingers intertwined with yours. The sleepy smiles over morning coffee. The shared laughter and inside jokes. The unwavering support and unconditional acceptance. The bone-deep feeling of safety and coming home.

That’s the real fairy tale. And no amount of money could ever buy it.

***

Back in Monaco, Lando Norris slouches comfortably in his gaming chair, eyes glued to the triple monitors in front of him. He’s meant to be reviewing telemetry data in preparation for the upcoming race weekend, but the notification chime from his phone proves far too tempting. Lando picks up the device, fully intending to only glance at it for a second before dutifully returning to his work.

But then he sees it — the TikTok that at least a dozen people have sent to him in the past hour alone. Curiosity piqued, Lando clicks on the video and watches intently, his brows steadily rising towards his hairline with each passing second.

“Wait, is that ...” he mutters to himself as the clip plays out. When your boyfriend’s voice comes through the speakers, Lando’s eyes bug out comically. “Holy shit, it is Charles! And Y/N!”

A knock on the door makes Lando jump slightly. Before he can respond, a familiar mop of tousled chestnut hair pokes into the room. “Hey mate, did you see-” Max Verstappen starts to say.

“The TikTok of Charles simping hard for Y/N? Yup, watching it right now,” Lando finishes for him, eyes still glued to his phone screen in fascination.

Max invites himself into the room fully and flops down on the couch. “Absolutely crazy, right? Who just casually sends their girlfriend 10k for a random pair of shoes?”

Lando snorts. “Certainly not you, you stingy Dutchman,” he ribs playfully. Max chucks a throw pillow at him in retaliation.

“Hey, even I splurge on my girlfriend sometimes!” Max protests. “I just bought her ... erm ...” He racks his brain trying to remember the last lavish gift he purchased unprompted.

“A six-pack of Sugar Free Red Bull last week?” Lando supplies dryly.

“... Shut up.”

The two dissolve into snickers before turning their attention back to the TikTok, which has now looped to the beginning again.

“Charles is so whipped for Y/N,” Max observes, shaking his head in amused disbelief. “He’s just asking to get taken advantage of, throwing money around like that.”

“I think it’s kinda sweet,” Lando admits with a shrug. “He just wants to make her happy. Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same if your girl asked!”

Max scoffs. “What, fall victim to a gold digger? No thanks mate.”

“Y/N’s hardly a gold digger and you know it,” Lando chides. “She works hard for her own money and buys plenty of expensive gifts for Charles too. They just like spoiling each other ‘cause they’re in luuurve.” He draws out the last word in a silly voice, making dramatic kissy faces.

“Yeah, yeah, true love and all that sappy bullshit,” Max says dismissively, though there’s no real heat behind it. “I’m just saying, no way in hell I’m sending 10k on command for a pair of fucking shoes!”

Lando hums thoughtfully. “I would.”

Max’s head whips around to stare at him incredulously. “You what.”

“If it was the right girl? Sure, I’d do it,” Lando says nonchalantly. “Maybe not for something frivolous like shoes, but if my girlfriend called me up and said she needed 10k transferred ASAP? I’d do it, no questions asked. You gotta have that level of trust.”

Clearly torn between wanting to take the piss out of his friend and feeling a reluctant sort of respect, Max just grunts noncommittally in response before turning back to rewatch the clip once more.

Debate rages online among the fans about the cute interaction. Most find the whole thing adorably romantic, cooing over what a doting and generous boyfriend Charles is. They swoon at the obvious love and care between you two, speculating excitedly in the comments about when Charles might pop the question.

Others are more cynical, rolling their eyes at Charles “simping” so hard and accusing you of only dating the Ferrari driver for his money. However, these naysayers are quickly drowned out and ratio’d by your legions of adoring supporters.

Through it all, you and Charles pay the speculation little mind, blissfully wrapped up in your fairytale romance.

Charles returns home that evening to the mouthwatering aroma of his favorite pesto pasta dish wafting from the kitchen. He grins when he spots you at the stove, swaying your hips to the sultry jazz music playing from the speaker as you stir the sauce. Quietly, he comes up behind you and slips his strong arms around your waist, pressing a kiss to your temple.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” he murmurs appreciatively.

You turn in his embrace and loop your arms around his neck, smiling radiantly up at him. “Welcome home, Cha-Cha,” you greet him, using the silly pet name that never fails to make him chuckle and scrunch his nose adorably. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“And what’s for dessert?” Charles asks with a playful waggle of his eyebrows.

Biting your lip coyly, you untangle yourself from his arms and saunter off towards the bedroom. “Come find out after we eat. Oh, and I picked up a little something special to express my gratitude for earlier ...” you call over your shoulder with a wink.

Charles’ megawatt grin could power all of Monaco for a year. Viral TikTok or not, the Monegasque knows he’s already the luckiest man in the world to have you as his partner through this crazy ride called life.

No amount of money could ever compare to the joy of being loved by you.

[kingconia]

POMEFIORE WHEN THEY NOTICE THAT THEIR S/O HAS SHITTY FRIENDS

Vil Schoenheit.

— It takes some time from him to realise it. Not because he is stupid or anything, but he is always so busy, spending time solely with you, and you always say good things about them, so;

— But as soon as he spots you with them on some school event, he starts to understand something is really wrong. Why would they say all these sarcastic remarks? Especially, if you seem to be uncomfortable? He is furious;

— At first, he will have a talk with you. He just needs to make sure that you understand how toxic they are, and that they are really-really wrong. If you don't see that, or for some reason agree with them, he is sad and disappointed in himself for not noticing it earlier;

— ”Ah, my sweet potato, how could you think so bad of yourself? Just look at yourself in the mirror for a minute! Look at how charming you are. How I love every part of you...”

— Starts praising you more often! He is quite reserved on the public, but he clearly tries to do something good for you. Might pull out a complements on your ear quietly, when you see each other in school;

— ”Oh, who is this pretty lady is?” ”Ah, I am sorry that I bumped in you, darling. I just couldn't tear my eyes from you...”

— Once again, as Vil is busy and aloof, he will not call your fake friends out personally. But he will make sure that some measures were taken. And that they know that their single word against you will cost them so much. Especially, if they are from Pomefiore;

— Live, laugh, Vil Schoenheit.

Rook Hunt.

— Oh, of course he knows that. Rook spends half of time hunting down objects of his interest, but most of the time his eyes glued to you. Even if you don't realise;

— He hears everything. And he sees everything, too. There is no way to fool this man;

— He is immediately furious. But Rook's rage is different from most of the people; his rage is quiet, cold, and slightly... Delirious. But no one can hurt you, physically or emotionally, and he makes sure that others will know that;

— Firstly, though, Rook needs to make sure that you are not affected by their attitude. Whatever they are shitty for—making toxic remarks about your appearance, leaving you out constantly, or something else—Rook will make everything better;

— This man is literally kissing the ground you are walking on. No insecurity under his roof! No-no. If you ask him, he surely can become your servant, even. But you don't, so he continues to adore you in his own ways;

— But that I mean writing poetry about you and declaring it publicly, so everyone would now how loved you are. Gifting you small—or not really—tokens every day. Writing little notes of what it reminded about you. Ah, he can even spoil you with food and sweets! Anything you want, really;

— And regarding your friends... He will take care of it personally. In his own ways. Which can be extreme, but don't worry! They are alive, just frightened! But at least they apologised, right?..

— ”Don't worry, ma belle catastrophe. I will always keep you safe!”

Epel Felmier.

— He is quite observant, and you spent a lot of time together, so, of course, he notices that something is really wrong;

— He can't believe his eyes, though, when he realises how your friends threat you. For him, you are the most supportive and kind person in the world, and perfectly charming. He can't understand how anyone could ignore you, let alone brush you off constantly;

— Epel fully concentrates on fixing your mental state. He knows how bad it feels, to be dawned by insecurities. And he is not a perfect speaker, but he tries really hard to explain you how he sees your situation, how bad are your friends are;

— He is aware that he is not that impressive and scary as others, which means he can't scare off your fake friends. But Epel is smarter and more cunning;

— He uses what he has to make your friends pay for what they had done to you, uwu!

— He either will make sure that Rook or Vil will do something about that—he might dislike his house and housewardens, but, hey, they are useful—or ask to help his other friends. I mean, just pulling in this Jack would be already enough, but if anything, he has these two idiots from Heartslabyul to do something with it. You will not even notice! He is with you all the time, after all;

— ”Please, never forget that you are not alone anymore, and never will be! I am here for you.”

[sparkles-and-trash]

dabihawks, halloween fluff ~

Keigo's a little out of breath as he hurries through the door, several shopping bags in hand and excitement coursing through his veins.

Up until about an hour ago he had been absolutely stumped on what to be for the costumed halloween charity event he was expected at tonight, but a stroke of genius had smacked him in the head and sent him running to the nearest costume shop.

The bathroom door is already closed when he comes home, music blasting from a speaker, so he knows Touya is already in there getting ready and Keigo doesn't wanna risk spoiling his costume too soon, so he gets to work in their bedroom.

He doesn't have as much time as he wished, but with some feather safe colored hairspray (like, ten cans of it actually), some of his own feathers de-attached and then re-attached in his hair, a pair of VERY orange pants and a fake beak later, and he could not be happier with the result.

He giddily hopped over to the bathroom door and knocked, and to his joy Touya hummed from inside, the hero threw the door open with a loud "TA-DAH!"

Touya turned from the mirror to look at his boyfriend, and stared.

And stared.

And then he stared some more.

Keigo rolled his eyes and threw both his arms and wings out again for added effect.

Touya's face finally broke into a confused grin.

"What..?" Touya started, and Keigo sighed, removing the fake beak so it's on the side of his face.

"I'm Big Bird!" he exclaimed, and Touya barked out a laugh.

"Yeah I... I got that," he chucked as he moved closer to his boyfriend to pet his yellow dyed feathers.

Keigo grinned and tilted his head to take in Touya's appearance.

"Oh my god, Hot Stuff, you look so..."

Keigo trailed off.

"Cute?" he finished, reaching up to pet Touya's fake ears.

Touya pouted.

"Cute?" he asked indignantly.

"I'm supposed to be a scary werewolf."

The fake fangs didn't make his pouting any less adorable, but Keigo kept that thought to himself for now.

"You are, babe, like so scary!" Keigo assured him quickly, but Touya still rolled his eyes.

"Sure, Big Bird," he mumbled with a small smirk.

Keigo dragged Touya over to the mirror by the sink and grinned at their reflections.

"We are so gonna win that costume contest," he declared confidently.

Touya grimaced, having, for a blessed moment, forgotten that they had to go out in public like this.

"The things I do for love, silly bird," he sighed and gave Keigo a quick kiss before putting the fake beak back into place.

Keigo chirped in reply, and Touya huffed.

Only for this bastard, alright.

[valentine-cafe]

*rubs hands together* for my lovely bbg hàoyŭ + vampire au my digital footprint are full of me wanting this man to breed me holy shit, i wanna pull on his hair and drink from him like a goddamn fountain and him doing the same. WOOOF WOOF ARFF ARF

"mutual obsession or nothing. kill for me like i would kill for you. long for me every second i'm gone like i long for you. see no one else but me like i see no one else but you, put my blood around your neck and declare me your religion... so my love... will you give me some of that?" she hinted at the crimson paint, knowing full well that the thing was not one of those created for art, but rather taken from a poor soul, "well, preferably one that hasn't been touched by your brushes of course.” his lover leans up, breathing in his scent, ones that put her in a brief state of serenity.

.. and a fucking horn dog on the next.

"by the damned you smell so fucking delicious, i’m changing my mind, can i have your blood instead?" she murmured, trailing kisses down hàoyŭ's pale neck, staining it with her lipstick, occasionally grazing it with her sharp fangs, teasing him. her hands couldn't stay still too, trailing up places where it shouldn't be when they're out in public until they reached his shoulders, the tips of her white hanfu sleeves, stained red–a clear indication she had just fed—yet her thirst for him remained insatiable. "you'd spoil your wife, wouldn't you, husband?”

. ˚◞♡ vampire boyfriend x fem vampire reader◞ ₊˚

⊹ ۪ ࣪ ᥫ᭡ vampire au hàoyŭ

. ˚◞꒰ 🍪 ꒱ vampire x reader ⊹ ۪ ࣪

‧꒰ character sheet . legendarium . prompt page ꒱‧

the vampire prince expects nothing less from his darling wife. the sting of her fangs has always been bliss. who is he to deny such pleasures? especially from a lady as lovely, as carnal, as she is.

“you have no filter,”

hàoyŭ still dares to muse. the feel of your lips graces his pale skin. a gift, he has declared numerous times. with your hands that trail over his dark hanfu and into places unknown to most a ribbon to tie it all together.

“mmm, needy, are you not?” his hands trace. they grip at your wrists after he strokes your white, tainted sleeves downward. the feel of your slow-beating pulse is only music to his ears. and so he digs his thumb into the point. “you have already fed, my dearest. yet here you are again.”

he may be in his studio, with windows wide open — but a part of him cares not. let the townsfolk see the beauty that will surely be their demise; for all he cares.

nevertheless, the threat of his father’s lectures tickle his ears. with a sigh, he flicks his wrist and the blinds are drawn.

like a moth to the flame. two large hands encircle your waist. his steely grip hoists you onto his lap before a hand ventures to the back of your head.

“feast,” he muses. tender. devout. “feast to your heart’s content. and do not stop even then. feast until the crimson between us outshines my newest canvas.”

of course you comply. and of course, he leans into the delightful pain of your fangs that sink into his neck. to bear your bite is the highest honour. so he will do so with a submission shown to you - and you alone.

as you drink of his deep, dark blood, he groans. tightens his grip. the swell of his gums around his own fangs remind him of his own hunger. the itch to mark you as you do him. like any artist signs off their most prized work and possession.

“my darling. . .”

your kisses, bites, only live on. a beautiful pattern lies in the wake of your endless path of bloodlust. desire. and when he has finally - surprisingly - had enough. your back meets the wood of his desk. brushes and paints spill to the floor without care as he splays the surface out for his beloved.

his fangs replace yours. his beautiful, maleficent canvas.

and how, how you bleed into him with each bite. just as your scarlet essence bleeds all over his lips. all over his table. an art to behold. a masterpiece - you are.

[snorpdawg]

And Now, An Unnecessarily Long Post Guesstimating How Long The Events Of Bugsnax Took Place

TLDR: My best guess for how long Bugsnax transpires is either between a couple months at least or a year at most.

So here’s the thing. The reason I even did all this meticulous research was to answer a question someone had in a Discord server. I figured I should probably make my inane ramblings a public post as a means of archiving for future usage, so here I am.

Please keep in mind that these are all educated guesses. I have both researched in my own time and scoured the depths of the Bugsnax Wiki to try to put together a coherent explanation of my thoughts. So inevitably there will be things I've messed up on or left out altogether. Any feedback or additions are appreciated!

In addition, this post will contain spoilers for the events of Bugsnax. If you haven't already gone through the main story, I strongly advise you not to read onwards, so as not to spoil your playing experience.

With all that jargon out of the way, let’s dive in!

Let’s go over what we already know. It is established that the expedition team has been on Snaktooth Island for roughly a year. During “The Quake”, around the start of the climax, when the Grumpus pairs are talking amongst themselves, Triffany mentions that the expedition group “only made it a year [on Snaktooth Island]”. This can also be backed up in the flavor text for the Lovely Sweetiefly, where Eggabell mentions that Lizbert gave her a bouquet of Sweetieflies for their anniversary, implying that the team had been on the island long enough for it to be celebrated. During the Major Celebration, Chandlo mentions that he would’ve come back “weeks ago” if he knew Snaxburg threw parties like this. This implies the town disbanding was several weeks prior to the events of the game, presumably months given how quickly Snaxburg ran down when the inhabitants left.

Here’s where things err on the trickier side; the prologue. In it, two weeks prior to the events of the game, The Journalist watches a tape sent by Elizabert encouraging them to come to Snaktooth Island. This simple scene actually brings up a lot of plot holes. For starters, we can tell from the background (no buildings, Cromdo still setting up his Cromdo Mart sign) that this tape presumably was made in the early days of Snaxburg. Presumably a couple days or weeks after Tape #0 (in the DLC, at least). So it begs the question; how long did it take for the tape to get sent to the Journalist? It makes Filbo’s observation of the Journalist being “a bit late” a big understatement if it took them well over a year to receive the tape and travel to the island.

Supposedly, “a bit late” can refer to those two weeks before the games events to about three month. It’s established that the Journalist presenting the tape to Clumby and them arriving to Snaktooth took them two weeks. When arriving back to the mainlands, Snaktooth Island can be seen in the horizon at not too far a distance, meaning the Journalist took more time in preparation rather than the journey itself.

A big point of contention is the epilogue, where Clumby tells the Journalist that while they were missing, they were declared “legally dead”. This is where I hit a bit of a fork in the road in my research. When I searched for information about how long it takes for missing people to be declared legally dead, a lot of conflicting information came up. The most common estimates are about seven to ten years, which is inconsistent with the fact that the expedition had only been on the island for a year. Perhaps the Grumpuses have a different law system when it comes to missing Grumpuses? Your guess is as good as mine.

There also other smaller details that also raise more questions than answers. When the player enters Snaxburg for the first time, most of the buildings are empty and in poor condition, with wearing paint and decomposing structures. According to my research, it takes between five to ten years for paint to fade and it can take up to five years for a wooden house to decay, which, again, raises inconsistencies with what is already established.

If I had to absolutely guess, if we’re to assume the tape was sent exactly two weeks before Snaxburg disbanded, and we’re to guess every in-game time skip via sleeping counts as days passing, the game would’ve taken roughly several months to up to a year to transpire. Pretty anticlimactic results, no? Well, that’s the best we’re going to get for now. 

Again, a lot of this is educated guessing so there’s definitely more finite details I’ve might’ve left out on accident, so I’d really encourage any and all feedback if possible, as well as your own additions!

[panther-os]

Omg I wanna hear about the spiky blackberry wife!!! What is she like?? Does she fit JC's list?

She does!

naturally beautiful - my fc for her is Liu Shishi who is just. amazingly pretty

graceful and obedient - definitely graceful, and she's obedient but not blindly so, if she has a genuine problem, she'll bring it up to jc in private but she'll defer to him in public and make sure to present a united front

hard-working and thrifty - she's been managing her parents' household under her mother's oversight for a few years and she's good at it, she definitely knows her way around a budget as a result. she also wanted to learn how things were done to make sure she's giving sensible orders, so she knows how to cook and clean and occupy herself and will pitch in if needed, though she knows when to step back and let people do their jobs

coming from a respected family - she's the eldest daughter of the Ma clan leader, a minor clan of my own invention that is based in Yangquan and made up of horsemasters who provide the best trained horses to the Nie clan

cultivation level not too high - she's just powerful enough for minor talismans and short sword flights, she knows theory as well as strong cultivators do but she is not one herself, she still works hard to be able to defend herself and her home if it ever becomes necessary but for that she usually winds up training with non-cultivators and their methods

personality not too strong - this one was hard to find a balance because she can't be a doormat either, especially with jc's own strong personality, but I think I managed it where she's confident and willing to speak up when it matters but neither extremely strong-willed nor overtly challenging

not too talkative, voice not too loud - she's quiet when she talks at all, not in a "she doesn't like to talk" way but more in an introspective "she wants to make sure whatever she says is meaningful" way, she's a foil to jc in this way, where he talks a lot and says very little she instead talks very little and says a lot, but she's still good at conversation - she has to be in order to perform her political duties well

must treat Jin Ling nicely - to her, Jin Ling is a growly wet kitten she found behind a dumpster and she absolutely adores him for it, she will occasionally spoil him, and jc likes her because she's very clearly not trying to curry favor or anything, she sees Jin Ling for who he is and she accepts and loves him that way

bonus, here are my two favorite pictures of Liu Shishi for this character - both from zll/love lost in times (ofc my favorites have to include the one I found of her wearing purple):

I'm also going to be taking inspiration from the blue and grey one for the Ma clan colors, those feel close enough to the cql Nie to declare allegiance while distinct enough to be recognizable as their own sect.

[ruleofrosethorns]

notes for kuwtm!! (since some of yall seem to really enjoy this au)

the main au takes place a few months after SH3

james is here because harry kinda just felt like visiting sh after a couple of years and lo n behold

CAR IN TOLUCA LAKE FEAT. DEPRESSED WET CAT!!

he saved wittle old james and the rest is history

Harry DID NOT DIE because his protective bf (james) saved his sleepy ass

they decided to go on a road trip to Silent Hill and fuck around for a bit

(i might start writing a separate thing for that hehe)

anyway at some point harry got separated from the gang(tm) and went to alchemilla hospital

AND HOLY SHIT LISA IS HERE SHE IS VIBING

(oh and Maria was out and about terrorizing James like old times <3)

pretty much there's just a group of monsters who are kinda just hanging out and smoking weed

they're cool w/ the gang and through undisclosed plot developments i'm still tryna work out in my brain-

the weed-smoking sh group survives the purge of Harold Mason and move into the human world

not directly next to but in the same area as the Masons (much to their concern (except for Heather))

and thus, the mlm wlw rivalry begins /j

Heather enjoys hanging out w/ them but Harry and James are UNDERSTANDABLY conflicted

like idk bro letting our adopted daughter hang out with the manifestations of my guilt seems kinda wack...

but regardless they all love Lisa because she has never done anything wrong ever

Harry's alright(???) w/ Maria and PH?? James is mostly just annoyed by Maria and PANICKED BY PH

Harry and Lisa are honorary siblings <3 they didn't really get to know each other during SH but that all changed when Lisa moved in

Maria and Lisa are in love and sort of formed a found family with the monsters. co-workers of the otherworld ig

the monsters sort of look up to Maria and Lisa as mother figures, PH being the weird uncle that they all love bc he supplies them weed

James & Harry tend to COINCIDENCELY run into Maria & Lisa whenever they go on a date its an ongoing issue

Most of the monsters can't really go outside?? (y'know because grotesque eldritch horrors aren't "allowed" in public SMH)

So Maria, Lisa & Heather usually go on shopping sprees to get their demonic buddies things that they want

Unfortunately Lisa sometimes starts leaking blood so that's sometimes an issue

(she has to inhale & hold her breath to keep it at bay for long periods of time)

She is like a balloon

ALSO Harry is still an author!! He's moved away from murder mystery's and works on supernatural horror & non-fiction novels about certain cults...

NOT BECAUSE OF SH OR ANYTHING HAHA

James doesn't really have a job.

he just sort of fucks around and gets a new part time job every time the last one realizes he has been legally declared missing for 12-13 years

Heather's still in school (doing her last year), had to repeat once because of SH3 kinda resulting in her family needing a REAL vacation

Maria and Lisa don't have jobs. No one knows how they managed to rent a house. James thinks they probably killed the landlord.

Like seriously, where does their money keep coming from.

Heather asked one day and Lisa spoiled the mystery by admitting they sell random demonic items they find in the Otherworld.

SPEAKING OF HEATHER. she is a girl liker. i don't make the rules (i do)

Harry is also teaching her piano (yknow for puzzle related purposes), James "trys" to help her maths homework to various degrees of success.

James does most of the cooking, but can and will resort to eating dirt if needed.

(He doesn't cook because he's good at it or enjoys it tho. it's not like he is better than Harry at cooking-he just REALLY wants to help out around the house)

Oh also James &  Harry got married a few years before the events of SH3. It was a tough decision for them at first but Heather helped them work things out

(She also hijacked the music at the reception and played My Chemical Romance)

Maria n Lisa had thought about marriage but they're sort of stuck with each other for eternity sooOo

LEMME TALK ABOUT HARRIA REAL QUICK (yes harv i have coined that name it is TOO GOOD)

So Maria is directly, y'know, connected to James' subconscious, so she can go back and forth between the forms

Again, James fell in luv w/ Harry and SH panicked and said "FUCK MARIA CHANGE UR PFP"

At first she didn't have much control over it?? So like a year after SH2, Maria's just chilling w/ Lisa and then POOF

HARRIA. And Lisa's like "AYO :O I KNOW THAT GUY?!" So they found out about the boyfriends PRETTY early on

It took a few months, but she managed to figure out how to shapeshift at will. Turns out shes genderfluid!

But after SH3 she doesn't use it that much (yknow considering harry is RIGHT THERE) but she will shapeshift just to fuck w/ people

James is ashamed to admit he actually fell for it once (he was SLEEPY and half-awake, okay?!)

Harry was a lil bit freaked out at first but now he just thinks it's kinda cool

Heather just thinks it funny that this eldritch demonic horror from another world is basically just a yassified vers of her dad and James' ex-wife

>:3

[ay-chuu]

Hi Hi ^^ I would like to request a matchup for Genshin Impact, my mbti is INFP. I'm a Cancer (July 2nd ^^) and I'm female and I go by She/They pronouns! I enjoy learning choreographies and drawing as well as baking for my hobbies ^-^ I have a fear of large bodies of water (Or really any body of water that I would have to swim in), a fear of heights, and also a fear of public speaking. I like iced coffee and ice cream all year round no matter the temperature as well as spicy food, but I don't like brussel(?) sprouts or really anything bitter (unless it's dark chocolate). I guess my type when it comes to men would be someone who is good with kids and likes cuddles? I'm 5'4 which is about 165 cm if I did the math right ^^" If possible I would like to choose the Valentines Day thing for the tiny drabble ^_^ I think I did this right? I hope you have a wonderful day and don't forget to hydrate and to eat something ^-^

Thank you so much love you are so cute <3

I match you with... (っ＾▿＾)💨

THOMA!

You and him met in a cafe together <3 Thoma found himself approaching your table and gently introducing himself to you, finding your shyness sweet and looking at you as if you were a goddess because of your beauty. From that moment on, he sensed that you were the only one for him. When I he bought you your favorite coffee in the cafe, the result ended with you giving him your heart too <3

The harmony between you is like a sweet mom and dad couple. Thoma is there for every moment when you can't talk in public. (Or that you're shy, unsure of yourself, upset... so Thoma is there for you whenever you want!) He is a wonderful gentleman and his treatment of you is very unique. It is enough for him that you give him your love and the depths of your heart. He is your Knight both in life and heart <3

ESFJ and INFP are a compatible couple because ESFJs are very empathetic to INFPs and they will admire their emotionality. The INFP, on the other hand, will admire ESFJ's outward-looking and realistic face, which comes out when necessary, and will take them as a role model. In short, you are both each other's soulmate and motivation <33 Capricorn and Cancer are quite a domesticated couple. While the Capricorn man protects the person he loves at the expense of the man, Cancer woman will spoil him with her love.

Some of the moments I have imagined for you two:  regular spice food days of eating together at the favorite restaurant, giggling while spending time with the childrens and falling in love with each other more, a romantic kiss shared at a picnic in the middle of the forest, and foreheads touching each other while accepting Thoma; who declared his love for you.

A special moment:

Love is a child of platonic love and is one of its designed itself. That's why we see traces of it in places where there is platonic love (everywhere).

You opened your eyes by feeling the empty warmth next to your bed. As you felt your consciousness gradually coming back into place, your senses suddenly began to perceive many tiny details.

The delicious smell coming from the kitchen mixed the smell of roses laid on the bed. Which made your nose feel like it was in heaven. The weather was warm. The trees outside your holiday cottage in the forest were glowing with the sun.

But let's not forget, love is a child! It doesn't sit anywhere or stay standing anywhere. It is as alive as the electricity transmitted by two electrons to each other and is strong as the nuclear power.

Looking at the roses arranged around you in amazement, everything suddenly began to make sense when your eye shifted to the calendar.

February 14th, Valentine's day.

While your heart was filled with pure joy, you felt your cheeks turn red both from the shame of not being able to do anything and from the pure love gifted to you. It must be heart to heart that while you didn't know how much happier you could be, Thoma came in with a tray in his hand.

“I didn't know you were awake, darling..”

Love does not have any special moments. In that most sudden place, it happens all the time.

When Thoma was sitting next to you, you felt your heart speed up and you just looked at him like you were an idiot. While maintaining his gentle smile, Thoma put down the breakfast he had brought to bed and pressed your hair behind ear with his hand while planting a kiss on cheek.

“Do you like it, my angel?”

You just hugged him with helpless happiness when you felt your eyes starting to fill up and whispered “I love you.” To him.

This time Thoma kissed the top of your head while giggling. “Happy Valentine's day, darling.”

Even on special occasions, love never comes as it is begged for. Maybe it comes at the most unwanted, maybe the most unexpected, maybe the most unconscious and maybe the most normal moment. Like a child who crams the flower in their hand into you and runs away, like a pure love.

[aworldforastage]

paused reading: 裴公罪 by 书归

roughly: "The Crimes of Lord Pei"

(the novel that helped me get through a bout with covid)

This is a one of those novels that's been on my list since I first got into danmei two years ago. I remember looking into it around the time I read Jun You Ji Fuo and not being interested, but recently I came across a recommendation for another novel that contrasted it to 裴公罪 -- and it got me intrigued.

Premise: In the first life, Pei Jun has given up everything to help his lover, the young emperor Jiang Zhan, secure his reign and his kingdom. In the end, he is betrayed and beheaded on the order of his lover, just moments before the regime he worked tirelessly to secure is toppled by a rebellion mounted by the his political rival and the Emperor's uncle, Jiang Yue. Returning to ten years before, Pei Jun is determined to not repeat his mistake. But just hours after his "rebirth", a seemingly random act has already altered the course of history. And also, he notices something he never did about Jiang Yue ...

What I like about it

Jiang Yue's pining, devoted, unrequited love that's been misunderstood across two lifetimes. This is the thing that got me to read the novel! When Pei Jun kneels to greet him, Jiang Yue always helps him up before his knees touch the ground. He always votes in support of Pei Jun at court, no matter how little sense it makes for him personally. And Pei Jun never knows that he spoils the nephew Pei Jun never has the chance to see, just like he never knows about all the other times that Jiang Yue has watched or waited or remembered while he Pei Jun rushed off to his own life and friends and lover. How could I not want to read a novel about someone like this finally being loved back?

Elaborate politics. The individual plots in this novel are not complicated, but there is a complex web of conflicting ideologies, relationships, and personal interests in the political landscape. Most of them are trying to shape government into what they think it should be like, but their visions are affected by self-interest, whether they want to admit it or not. The author has written beautiful classical-style speech when the politicians argue with each other in public, and it really helps set the scene, and make you believe they are powerful, important people from that era.

Jiang Zhan, the ex and villain. On the one hand, he is a self-centered emperor who prioritizes his own power over the welfare of his nation, and he betrays and kills Pei Jun in the other timeline. On the other hand, the current younger him obviously still loves and depends on Pei Jun, and it's kind of a jerk move for Pei Jun to "break up" with him for future crimes no clear reason and doesn't even tell him for months. He is a tragedy of his position and his fate, but because he is the emperor, no one truly emphasizes with him for that. -- Also, I honestly feel like that Pei Jun had taken advantage of his youth, ignorance, and isolation when they started their relationship (man in early twenties vs mid-teens), but it's simply not interpreted this way by Pei Jun because he was technically the emperor.

Why I stopped reading ...

There are a few reasons. I came across a spoiler and made me think i would need some emotional preparation before I get to the final arc. And then the political plot is getting to a heavy point that I don't really want to handle for now.

But most, it's because I'm liking Jiang Zhan a little too much. It's kind of ironic because he is a character who is so full of flaws -- he is selfish, manipulative, short-sighted, weak, and will only more cruel in the future. His love for Pei Jun -- even though it's one tainted by manipulation -- is perhaps the best and most sympathetic part about him, and yet he is rejected so thoroughly in this.

In one of the last scenes I read, Jiang Zhan realizes Pei Jun really is breaking up with him, and he desperately declares that he only wants Pei Jun, and Pei Jun thinks he waited for more than decade for Jiang Zhan to say that in his first lifetime, but he never heard it. It almost makes me wish this is another kind of novel, where they reconcile and both turn out better somehow in the "rebirth".

However, I also really like the main love interest, Jiang Yue, so I definitely want to come back and see his happy ending!

[acradelius]

Hello! I'm the anon who requested the daddy Roadhog scenario and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I literally can't stop reading it. I was wondering though if I could request a similar scenario but instead of calling Roadhog Daddy the reader calls Junkrat Daddy?

"Just Like That, Daddy!~"

Fandom: Overwatch

Pairing: Junkrat (Jamison) x Reader

Rating: Lemon [🟡] (NSFW!)

Warnings/Mention Ofs: Illegal Activities, Hair Pulling, Verbal Teasing, Intercourse, Implied Voyeurism/Voyeurism Kink, Biting, Daddy Nickname Usage

Word Count: 690 Words

Author's Note: Sexually Feral Junkrat makes my brain go "BRRRR"

Referenced Post: Acradelius — Could you do an NSFW scenario where a... (tumblr.com)

There’s one thing that’s quite obvious when it comes to everyone’s favorite most wanted explosive obsessed freak is that he has difficulty controlling himself, especially when he becomes excited. Now, the term excited can relay meaning to multiple things with this man. There’s excitement for the anticipation of planning a substantial heist, especially when it’s at a plain-in-sight bank that declares to the public that they have “the most top notch, impenetrable security” that just screams that they’re looking for someone to try to break in. Following that initial feeling of excitement is the added-on excitement from the actual heist itself, blowing through supposedly impenetrable security and through walls to reach the grand vault, intimidating or plowing down anyone that got in their way. To end the excitement cycle is the ending excitement, making way throughout the seemingly unending number of law enforcement on their tails. The excitement of spoiling themselves with the riches and expensive things to buy with said riches afterwards. Yet, there was only one thing. Whenever Jamison became excited, he also became aroused. 

That excitement cycle leading to immense arousal brought the two exactly to this moment, one that (Y/N) definitely should’ve expected: being bent over an employee’s abandoned desk, one of Jamison’s hands having a grip and pulling on their hair while the other hand was gripping (Y/N)’s hip, making sure that they couldn’t escape the harsh movements of Jamison thrusting his throbbing cock inside of them. “That’s right, my little firecracker~ All nice and tight, all for me~” Jamison teases, enjoying the frantic breaths and broken words that escaped from (Y/N)’s mouth. This wasn’t exactly a part of the plan, at least until afterwards, but the arousal had apparently become too overbearing for Jamison to handle, him deciding that he needing to fuck (Y/N)’s brains out right then and there. He knew that they should be on the move to rendezvous with Mako, but the excitement, along with the now thoughts of them being caught by others, just made him have to deal with it right now. He’d deal with getting scolded by Mako later on. 

The vulgar words and commands slipping past (Y/N)’s lips edged him on, giving his own groan as they let out a soft cry from him leaning down and biting roughly at their shoulder. “Mine!~Mine!~ Mine!~” He started his mantra, his thrusts and grip becoming sloppy and frantic, giving a hint that he was close to cumming. He wraps an arm around (Y/N)’s waist, pulling them off from the desk and hoisting them into the hair, bucking his hips as he begins to bounce them against the length of his cock. His other hand reached around to pinch and roll their nipples, chuckling lustfully at jerking motions that he was causing to (Y/N)’s body. “F-Fuck, Daddy!~ Just like that!~ Fucking give me more of your cock!~” Jamison had to wrap the arm that was fondling (Y/N)’s waist to make sure that he didn’t accidentally drop and hurt them, but had gone silent out of what could be considered as shock. 

(Y/N) struggled to focus on the fact that Jamison had gone quiet when their body seemed to take control, rolling their hips to create friction of Jamison’s cock inside them, being on the verge of reaching an orgasm themself. “J-Jamison~” (Y/N) stuttered out his name, glancing up to his face whenever he started to speak once again. “Daddy, hm..?~ Firecracker’s Daddy~ Oo, I love the sound of that!~” He gave his usual giggles, now looking down at (Y/N) as he began to pick up the pace of his thrusting, a sinister grin forming on his lips. “Does Daddy make you feel so good, my Firecracker?~ No one else can make you feel as good as Daddy does~” He continued to verbally tease the trembling (Y/N), who was babbling out nonsense at this point, but he was now eager to finish up and get to the rendezvous point. He couldn’t wait to inform Mako that he was now a Daddy~ 

[yandere-daze]

Hello I've been seeing your blog and I think they're really great!!! Also can I request headcannons about mayoi and arashi having a soulmate who isn't that much showy when it comes to affection and stuff because they're too shy to show them or tell them how much they love them? If it's okay though.. Also take care of yourself and have a great day!!!! <3

Thank you so much for reading my works and enjoying them ☺️ This is a pretty late answer but I hope you enjoy nonetheless!

gn reader

tw brief mention of Mayoi having self-doubts

Arashi with an s/o that isn´t very showy with their affection due to being shy

Arashi is a very affectionate person herself but she honestly finds your shyness very cute! She most definitely cooed the first time you nervously admitted just how much you like her because it´s a very rare thing for you to do so freely and it´s a precious memory that will always stay in her mind

To her, there´s just no person in the world that is more adorable than her s/o!

Of course she would enjoy it a lot if you were a bit more open about your affection ( because she would just looove to cuddle with you, hold your hand in public and kiss you on your cheek as a greeting) but she also understands that everyone has different boundaries and she would never push you to say or do anything that you feel uncomfortable with

But even though you usually don´t offer up grand displays of affection or anything like that, Arashi knows that you really do love her a lot, just from all the simple little things you do for her and with how you fuss over her whenever she has been working a bit too much again or when she tries to do everything on her own

It´s very heartwarming for her to have someone that cares so much about her and her well-being and it honestly almost makes her tear up from time to time

Arashi would be very ecstatic if you gave her permission to be as affectionate with you as she wants though! She wants nothing more than to spoil you and make up for all that you´ve done for her!

Mayoi with an s/o that isn´t very showy with their affection due to being shy

Oh, so you´re just the same! Mayoi usually also is very shy when it comes to showing his love and appreciation for you so he would instinctively be able to understand you and your own hesitation in that regard

He´s always a bit nervous whenever you´re around, simply because his heart is doing summersaults as soon as he sees you walking towards him. There´s this brimming happiness inside him that he just can´t quell ( not that he wants to anyway)

Due to his self-doubts, Mayoi might sometimes jump to conclusions and think that you not wanting to hold his hand might mean that you don´t like him as much as he does you even though he knows better than that, but as soon as he looks into your beautiful eyes and sees the fond glimmer to them, his worries are easily put to rest

Mayoi just feels so safe and comfortable around you, something he rarely does, so he doesn´t think your relationship needs to be all flashy and full of passionate declarations of love for you both to know that you love and care deeply for each other

If you do initiate physical contact though, Mayoi would probably become very flustered, heat rushing to his cheeks but a happy smile spreading across his face

Very shyly, and with both of you probably not meeting each other´s eyes due to your embarrassment, he takes your hand and marvels at how nice they fit together

It´s a very soft moment, and one Mayoi definitely could get used to, he thinks

[lollipop-writes]

Mephisto Pheles and Amaimon Fluffy Relationship HCs

A/N: Or rather "Mephisto and Amaimon HCs that are as fluffy as they can be since they're both little shits" LOL. Content Warnings: Lots of tooth rotting sweet fluff. Established relationship with y/n. SFW and nothing suggestive. Kind of crackish in some places. No warnings otherwise.

⭐Mephisto Pheles⭐

Mephisto is the type of dude to spoil you rotten.

What I mean by this is he's more than willing to take you out to fancy dinners, have romantic dates, and give you lavish gifts.

He is rolling in money so you never have to worry about loss of security again, since he provides.

"Only the finest for my dearest darling, y/n" he says.

There will be lots of eating junk food together as well.

Lots of anime watching, too. But buckle up because he mainly watches moe oppai loli ecchi shit so I hope you can cope.

He's very possessive though so he's going to declare his love whenever he can.

And he can be pretty handsy in public as a result. He really loves PDA and showing you off.

He has No Taste TM so expect him to buy you a lot of tacky outfits that of course show off your body.

Probably into matching outfits and/or accessories bc he is just. Like that.

Basically a relationship with Mephisto consists of a lot of romantic dates, him being extra with PDA, and binge watching moe anime.

🍭Amaimon🍭

There will be a lot of eating sweets with Amaimon.

Though he doesn't like sharing, even with you, so you have to get your own sweets sorry.

Mephisto is going to be around a lot since Amaimon depends on him when in Assiah, so you're stuck watching anime and playing games with the two very often.

Mephisto tho thinks it's cute his younger brother is finally hitched, so he's as supportive a Demon King can be.

Amaimon is pretty possessive as well. He has a mindset that's like "This person hurt you? They can die >:O" sort of thing so you're always gonna be protected by him.

Expect lots of walks in nature, such as hiking in the mountains, and wandering in forests, and strolling along rivers.

Amaimon thinks it's really pretty when he sees your face and eyes' reflection in the water.

Or when he sees the sun shining off of your eyes and making them glimmer.

Basically he really likes your eyes.

Lots of cuddling and hand holding! He is a cuddle machine and loves to feel your warmth especially if you're soft and chubby.

Basically a lot of sweets, games, and cuddling when you're his mate.

[edith-hyde]

Oh my gosh it is Norman’s birthday! I didn’t even realize it’s October already. What do you think the reader would want to do for him? Like I could see him getting “upset” because he’s being spoiled and the reader would come up with something like “yeah well you’ve already spent enough on me, now it’s my turn to do something for you” and it would be a whole happy debacle🥹😭

I love this idea. And I wrote a little one shot for it. (Wrote this on my phone so forgive any weirdness.)

Today was the day.

Norman’s 48th birthday.

You had been eagerly awaiting October 11th, planning everything down to the smallest detail. You knew Norman quite well by now, so you hadn’t planned some big party. While he might love to show off his wealth, he wasn’t a people person. So there were no balloons, no guest list, no public venues. All those things would only serve to stress Norman out.

And birthdays were not meant to cause stress.

With a beaming smile, you entered Norman’s office and set down his usual donut and coffee.

“Good morning! And Happy Birthday!”

Norman gave you only a small smile and you immediately frowned.

“What’s wrong?” You asked.

“Nothing is wrong. I’m fine.”

You rolled your eyes. You knew that tone. He was not fine.

With a smirk, you turned Norman’s chair toward you and sat down on his lap. Norman sighed as you started brushing strands of hair out of his face.

“Now why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you, hmm?”

“Y/N…”

Norman looked at you and you gave him a doe-eyed expression. He tried his best to hold your gaze without breaking but he lost- just like he always did.

“It’s stupid,” he muttered in defeat.

“Let me be the judge of that. Now tell me.”

He looked at you and you could see the deep sadness in his eyes as he spoke.

“I hate today.”

You set your hands upon his shoulders with a concerned frown.

“But why? It’s your birthday.”

“It’s a reminder that I’m too old for you.”

You scoffed as you rolled your eyes.

“Norman, we aren’t doing this again. I’ve told you so many times that you are not old.”

“I’m twice your-”

You silenced your fiancé with a passionate kiss. He immediately placed a hand upon your back, giving a contented sigh. You grinned against his mouth, fingers combing through his hair. When you pulled back, Norman still had his eyes closed as he tried to recover.

“I will not have you being mister party pooper today,” you declared, “It’s your birthday and you’re going to enjoy it.”

“Y/N. You know I don’t like parties.”

“Which is why I didn’t plan one.”

Norman cocked an eyebrow at you and you smirked. You went back to playing with his hair as you spoke.

“It’s just gonna be me and you in the privacy of your mansion. There’s gonna be some dancing, a homemade dinner, the cake I baked, a few handmade presents, and a night of cuddling on the couch as we watch some new movies I got.”

“You sure know how to spoil me,” Norman laughed.

“It’s my specialty.”

With a grin, Norman gave you a chaste kiss.

“I truly don’t deserve you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.”

[sukirichi]

fall from grace

“If you were in love,” he began, voice barely above a whisper, “What would be the most beautiful thing those lips of yours would utter?”

“Your name.”

REQUEST/WARNINGS. (royal au, mutual pining, praise kink ) fake dating au, mirror sex, slight manhandling, fingering, body marking, prejudice, mentions of abuse, injustice, and inequality + unedited (I’m so lazy to edit tbh, I’m so sorry, just bear with me if there are typos or grammatical errors)

NOTES. I LOVE AND HATE THIS STORY

WC. 7k+

SONG INSPO. Ashes (Celine Dion)

The prince himself lifted his chin up higher; long, slender fingers deftly grazing against the pad of your knuckles that were pressed on his chest. 

The tips of your ears burned at the sight of people pausing from their conversations all to witness the scene – one that was so rare to have come from the infamous Crown Prince known to have bedded more women than he could count.

“Your Highness,” you pinched your brows together, leaning closer into him to bring you the least bit of comfort. The dress you had to wear today had nothing but itchy lace; albeit elegant, you preferred the loose materials of your dance clothes, painted red lips fighting back a grimace. “Must we really do this in public?”

The Crown Prince laughs, his white hair fluttering against the soft kisses of the wind. Beautiful, you think, beautiful, you are reminded, prompting you to dig your free hand deeper into the flesh of your thighs.

“What would be the point of our ruse if we are not a little flashy, My Lady?”

You frowned at his words, head ducked down as you avoided everyone’s prying eyes. You supposed you should be used to this – you are a performer, after all – but the attention was terribly unwelcomed yet expected from your previous agreements.

The said agreement, however, did not affect your standing as a person, something you had to remind the happy-go-lucky Prince. “I am not of that title.”

“People regard you of it,” he commented at an off-beat, his crystalline eyes sweeping over the crowd with a chilling command, a slight bite of a challenge that asked his people to dare him. When they shifted away, scurrying behind fluffed up skirts and pressed down suits, the Crown Prince snickered, smiling down at you with a flash of his pearly whites. “You are, after all, hanging prettily off my arm.”

“Because you asked me to, Your Highness.”

“Ah, are you forgetting already?” he paused, his long and elegant stature towering over yours. “I’m doing this for the both of us. The agreement was clear – you steered me away from my arranged marriage, redeem my nettling reputation, and in turn, I shall pick you up from where you’ve fallen,” your lips parted in protest, finger raised to correct that no, you had not fallen, that was not the situation at all, but he silenced you when he leaned down close enough that his eyes twinkled before you, lips turned at the side arrogantly. “In fact, I am more than capable of providing you more than that.”

“I am well aware of that, Your Highness. I truly am indebted to you.”

Should you be humiliated? Forming an agreement with the Crown Prince would be the last thing that would ever arrive even in your craziest dreams, yet there you were, in the middle of the town square, leisurely strolling with the Kingdom’s heir as if it was but a daily occurrence.

Thoughts running back to your latest predicament – which he just had to bear witness to – you winced, swallowing the resigned sigh that threatened to spill.

You did not have enough shame in you to be humiliated, not when he was right. It was a mutually beneficial agreement.

“You do not have to be,” Prince Satoru blinked at you, gray lashes fluttered against the pads of his cheeks. “I take extreme pleasure in saving a damsel in distress,” Your lips puckered out, tireless with the need to tell him it wasn’t like that, and the Prince easily read through you, tugging you back into his arm as he laughed. “Even when I know you are not. Still, it does feel nice to take a walk in this fine day, don’t you think?”

You snorted at the heavy sarcasm under his sweet tone, “It feels a little embarrassing.”

“You feel embarrassed that you’re with me?”

“Yes,” you gritted at your teeth, the lace of your gloves digging into your flesh. You wanted nothing more than to rip it off, the material a silent reminder of the requirement that must be met to fool the crowd. “You’re a prince and I am—”

“I thought we already established titles mean nothing when we both mutually benefit from one another,” he cut you off, hands coming up to caress at your cheeks. You immediately froze at his touch, the iciness behind those eyes doing nothing to soothe you until he spoke, the Prince’s words oddly gentle and warm like the sun that shone down on you that fine day. “Worry not about that. I do not care what people think of you. All I care is that you do well and I shall do my part gracefully in return,” he declared for what seemed like the hundredth time that night.

Back then, you never believed that people had power just because they were born with it. Power had to be manifested, trained, earned – yet Prince Satoru wielded it with his lips so effortlessly that in that moment, you believed magic really wasn’t a myth.

“Kiss me.”

“Wh-what?”

“Everyone is looking,” his eyes darted over the on looking crowd, his bare hand still caressing your warm cheeks, hot enough that it put the sun to shame. “Lest you want this plan to fail, I suggest you kiss me, darling. Passionately.”

The Crown Prince was right. Everyone was looking.

Your body’s response was instantaneous. A hiss of a breath, muscles tensed and fingers curled into a fist at your side; you could feel bile rising from your throat out of panic.

Then Prince Satoru leaned forwards, eyes snapped shut and his lips colliding with yours. The single touch had all the tension flooding away as you kissed the Prince, his lips tasting of cinnamon and sugar, vanilla and spice wafting off of him delicately that you had to fist at the collar of his shirt to prevent yourself from gobbling him up whole.

He would find that rather displeasing, claiming that you had little to no table manners, so you forced yourself to relax as he breathed air into your mouth, large hands cradled around your neck.

“I’ve got you,” he mumbled between kisses, the mere scent of royalty and forbidden elegance dripping off of him making you fearful to open your eyes. It felt illegal to touch the most wanted bachelor in your Kingdom this way, felt wrong to have his hands roaming down the slopes of your body while everyone looked at your shameless public display of faux romance. But if it was wrong, then why did he hold you so tenderly, not moving to push you away even as you nipped at his lips once more?

“You’re alright – I’ve got you.”

It was not easy being a no-name ballerina. You’ve crafted your skill for what seemed like your whole life, yet getting even a step closer to your dreams proved to be a daunting task. Even as your toes bruised and your muscles ached, pants heaved from your chest while you bended your body at will, you couldn’t stop thinking about how no one told you it was never easy to reach your dreams.

The fairytales had lied to you. They made it seem to easy to grab a star, never really explaining on how to be a star.

It felt so far away – the galaxy and universe you’d longer your entire life to be a part of – yet the Crown Prince stood at the corner of your studio, eyes dark as he watched you sway to the music.

A few weeks prior to your spontaneous arrangement, you were foolish enough to believe you could become that star easily. You were the lowest of ranks when it came to other girls; orphaned, no-named, broke, and loveless. 

Unlike your peers that were bred of the finest titles and fed with silver spoons, nannies and courts running after them in their growing years, you had to survive on scraps, taking three jobs at the young age of thirteen just to get into dance school and afford the fees.

You believed title or ranking shouldn’t have had to do anything with talent and worth, but then again, you were foolish beyond your years.

The moment you heard you were chosen to be the Black Swan of this season, allowing you to debut, you squealed behind your skirt, training day and night to the point you’ve skipped your meals just to perfect your routine.

That was until your classmates’ parents had come inside the school, twirling their moustaches behind soft fingers that had never known a day’s worth of work, belly round with cupcakes and all the delicacies only they were privileged enough to eat, the nervous laughter of your ballet master enough to let you know what it all meant.

Your classmate – the prettiest and the richest one – came rushing past you as she giggled over the announcement that she would be the Black Swan.

She was far many years younger than you, spoiled and with an attitude that tasted as bad as your leftovers, and definitely not skilled enough to debut – but of course, nothing was ever impossible enough with money, right? Before you could even defend yourself, your ballet master had cleaned out your quarters, your skirts and shoes thrown onto the muddy dirt while you cried under the rain, begging for another chance.

Second chances? You wanted to laugh.

Only people who did wrong should ask for it, and yet you sat there on your knees, hands clasped in a prayer that should only be reserved for wish bearers, desperate pleads of please don’t do this to me echoing into the empty night.

Was it fate then that the Crown Prince was half drunk inside his vehicle, shades slipping off his nose as he turned your way, your cries rudely interrupting the music blaring inside his car?

Perhaps it was – a cruel or a wonderful fate; no one could tell – the only thing that mattered now was that the Crown Prince had yet again found interest in a woman.

Only this time he didn’t lust after their body, wished nothing to do with their hands on his, completely sober around your presence as he watched you train endlessly in your studio, your sweat making your clothes stick like a second skin.

Prince Satoru leaned back against the walls then.

He should’ve brought a drink with him. Had he known that watching you dance sensually with such a blissed out expression he was mostly familiar with when he had his legs wrapped around another warm body would set his body alight, sober, then he would’ve left long ago.

Still, the Prince is rendered frozen at the edge, eyes trailing over your graceful form as you bended, legs flying out into the air while you arms dipped and curved into the most graceful of arcs and bows that put his combat figures into shame.

You weren’t even trying to seduce him and yet he was wholly captivated.

He wants to say that the woman he saw that rainy night and the woman stood before him now, figure bathed in the small slivers of sunlight that peeked through the blinds and stockings hugging each and every curve and dip of your body were entirely two different people, but the longer he looked, there was no mistaking it was still the same person. The passion burned through your eyes, the soft melodious tunes of the music guiding you – or rather you guiding the beat before you fluttered to another.

Prince Satoru smiled.

It first came off as a joke that he wanted to know more about you – his pretend lover – because everyone knew the Crown Prince was too frivolous to ever settle down and find interest in a woman beyond her looks. The confused pout you gave him as he followed you inside your studio burned at the back of his brain, a silent warning that you were different; that you were not someone he could touch lest he wished to burn and break you, though that would be a lie, it seemed.

For every strong ripple of your muscles and flowy movement of your body as you completely delved into the space of your own home and comfort, the Prince knew – you were not someone he could crush into the palm of his hands.

He came here out of boredom.

He left the studio with a confused heart, cheeks resting on his palm as he asked his chauffer, when is the next show?

The birds chirped above you, your fingers stretched out as you peeked from under it, lips pressed into a flat line. You were in the royal garden after persistent invitation from the Crown Prince himself. Speaking of, said Crown Prince had his limbs sprawled out beneath you, the edges of his hands slightly playing with the frills of your dress as he took his afternoon nap, a youthful smile on his face.

“Your Highness,” you huffed out, “What are we doing here? No one is looking. There is no need for us to continue our act.”

“I know,” he cheered a little too brightly for someone that looked to be deep in dreamland, “I just wanted to hang out with you without worrying about others. Not that I ever did, but it’s nice to be alone with you every once in a while. The prying eyes can get a bit too much.”

You hummed at the thought; he did have a point. This arrangement turned out to be a lot smoother than expected. The Crown Prince wasn’t lying about his intentions and not once had he laid a hand on you – without your permission, anyway – and he turned out to be…a lot more docile and easy going than what you originally thought of him. Not that you had much thoughts to begin with anyway, the Prince was a celebrity and therefore not someone that concerned you.

In your mind, he was merely your leader, more often than a not a name spoken between hushed whispers and dreamy moans.

This side of him was different, and all the time you’d spent him with was filled with nothing but ridiculed stares and taunts. The Crown Prince was a hilarious man who never feared trying out new things, always happy and eager to try exotic foods with you in the night markets or joining you in your spontaneous dancing during midnight ‘dates.’

He was the closest you could consider as a friend, and you relaxed against him, laying down on the flowery fields right next to him as you sighed in content. “I will miss this, Your Highness.”

“Miss what?”

“You and I – hanging out,” you mumbled a little dreamily, “I have a strong feeling things will finally get better for me. When I get scouted by a better company, I won’t be able to hang out with you anymore,” Silence befell the both upon you, the rustling of the wind against the flowers sounding like a far off memory. Soon, it would be. “I will miss this.”

“You could always call me. Or who knows, maybe I’d even drop by to watch your performances sometime.”

You snapped your eyes open, chuckling when the Prince had now sat up halfway, his regal face cradled in his hands while his elbow laid flat under him. He blinked innocently at you, and that’s when you realized – he was serious. That had you bursting into laughter, hands clutched at your stomach. “Please, you? You do not even enjoy ballerina!”

“I enjoy watching you,” he confessed in a heartbeat, his gaze falling from your crinkled eyes and all the way down to the silhouette of your body. “There’s something about the way you move that’s just so graceful and...phenomenal.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his heated gaze, the mere trails of his sight enough to warm your entire skin despite the cool wind. This was the Prince concerned though, and you had to guard your heart, eyes narrowed playfully at him while you desperately ignored the need to rub your thighs together.

“Are you flirting with me, Your Highness?”

The Prince snorted, “Flirt with you? My pretend girlfriend?” he clutched a hand at his chest as if the assumption offended him, “What makes you come to that conclusion?”

You chucked your handkerchief at him, still a little in disbelief that you were greeted by his laughter when it hit him right in the face.

You would miss this indeed.

Your gaze softened as you sat up, thighs pressed to your chest as you directed your gaze up in the sky. Prince Satoru may not always be around when the time came, but at least you still had the sky to remind you of this brazen and unexpected friendship that helped you grow.

“Thank you, though,” you squished your cheeks onto your knees, a lilted smile plastered on your face. “Dancing has always been a passion of mine. I can’t ever imagine a time of my life where I wasn’t moving with music. It almost feels as if I was destined with it; it speaks to me and deeper than the recesses of my bones, guides me until I’m one and entangled with it,” you ended with a dreamy sigh, turning your head to the side to look His Highness in the eye, stilling for a moment when you’re met with his solemn gaze.

Your throat parched dry. “Have you ever fallen in love with something like that before?”

“I don’t think so,” one of his shoulders lifted up in a lame shrug, voice turning deep and husky as he asked, “How do you know when you lack something or not?”

“If it comes to love...” you tapped your chin with a finger, “I think a life lived without one would feel quite empty. Hollow, I would say, and the skies would just be a plain blue instead of a calming yet mesmerizing one,” the courage that soared within you was an unexpected one, but it was enough to let you look him in the eye, form vulnerable and words slipping past your lips before you could control them. “If I were incapable of love, I’d say your eyes are nothing but gleams of sapphire.”

“And if you were capable of it? What would my eyes be?”

“Like cerulean galaxies crashing against one another,” you whispered, “Stardust sprinkled and heavens birthed out of passion and the desire to be something more. You’d be azure and brazen instead of crestfallen; the magnificence of the universe’s creation attesting to itself that it is wholly capable of designing divine beings.”

“Hmm,” he tipped his head to the side as he mulled over your words. His jacket was discarded somewhere along the grass, top three buttons of his shirt left opened and hair rustling with the wind. Beautiful, the image etched into your skin. “Are you sure you are a dancer and not a poet?”

“People say all sorts of beautiful things when they’re in love.”

The Prince straightened up, lips pursed. For a moment, you grew fearful, your heart frantically thumping in your chest as you thought, this is it – this is when he pushes you away. He does nothing of this as he scoots closer to you, using his rough thumb to tilt your chin until you were looking up at him, wide eyes sparkling – the sight of you vulnerable like this making the Crown Prince lick his lips.

“If you were in love,” he began, voice barely above a whisper, “What would be the most beautiful thing those lips of yours would utter?” You shivered as his thumb moved up to graze at your bottom lip, almost prompting it to jut out, to which you happily complied with a shaky breath. “What would you say then?”

“Your name.”

The Prince smiled to himself at your hearty answer. To hide both of your nervous chuckles, the Prince took it upon himself to ease both your worries as he kissed you, nothing but the warmth and fluttering of butterflies rampaging in your stomach mixing at his sweet taste.

Beautiful, you hummed into his mouth. You could fall for as long as you wanted, but would the Prince ever fall from grace as he moaned into your mouth, tugging you until you were situated in his lap, arms wrapped tight enough around you in refusal to let you go? Maybe, your mind sighed, hands tugging at his hair when the Prince kissed you fervently, murmuring one word that made you melt right then and there.

Beautiful, he finds you.

Both your loud laughter echoed in his training grounds, the horses’ hooves padding against the firm earth. “Not fast enough, my Lady,” he taunts, his smile bright and wide as he sat perched atop his white stallion. “How would you catch my heart if you cannot ride faster?”

“I will catch up to you, just wait and see! Not everyone grew up riding horses, you know?”

“I bet a fine coin you do ride well, though, my Lady,” he remarked with a wink, his statement enough to tap the sides of your feet harder against your horse to catch after him.

“Your Highness!”

As you two chased around each other the wide field, carefree laughter and clothes swaying against the wind, skin warm from the flush of the sun, the Crown Prince’s servants stood at the side.

A particular woman – the servant that had been loyal long before the Prince was born – remained under a parasol, her wrinkled face tight with a frown.

“How nauseating,” she scrunched her nose, arms crossed on her chest. “To think I dedicated my life into raising the little prince to be a fine king someday, and his future would be tainted by a lowly performer who cannot even make a name for herself,” turning to one of the young boy servants, she narrowed her eyes at you. “Where does she work again? Is she of name?”

“She is an orphan, Madam, taken in at a young age in a dance school before she had to pay the fees herself, if the rumors are correct. I heard that she and His Highness met when she was kicked out by her own ballet master due to her stealing the original Black Swan spot for this season’s show.”

His old nanny’s face grew more gruesome. “Wasn’t the Black Swan supposed to be one of the Earl’s daughters?”

“Yes. Rumours had it that His Highness’ new plaything seized the spot to prove herself. Look at how that plan backfired.”

“How repulsive,” she spat out, venom laced in her tongue.

The roles had reversed, the Crown Prince insistent in catching you this time around, and you rode after him with panicked laughter, hands clutched tight on the reins. Although you’d only swished past the small group of servants that always seemed to be around, you’d heard enough.

“We must protect His Highness at all costs before this wretched woman rips his future away from him. The fate of the kingdom lies on his shoulders; we cannot afford him making mistakes.”

“Indeed, Madam.”

You stopped in your tracks until the horse slowed down with confused huffs, your Prince following behind you not long afterwards. Looking back at him again, you were no longer able to smile at him genuinely, not when discomfort, and most of all shame, had to be forced down deep into your system. Beautiful, you resigned, he was too beautiful.

His servants were right. Maybe you really were ruining everything for him. His reputation was frowned upon to begin with for his less than infamous sexual endeavors, that he was more often sighted in casinos and bars instead of his study room.

The barrack guards had grown tired and weary of trying to stop the Crown Prince from leaving the royal grounds. No matter what they did, he always found a way to escape.

The only difference this time around was that their Prince no longer frequented such sinful places and met with women of all titles and backgrounds. No, this time, the Prince leapt from the tall walls that had never been much of a challenge considering his tall frame, not bothering to get a car or even a horse as he dashed straight to your studio.

Sweat dripped down from your face as you slammed a fist on the floor, tears about to erupt. You couldn’t complete this routine that you were so close into perfecting.

Your mind was simply just in a mess.

There was a conflicting war inside you – one with your heart that yearned to stay longer in His Highness’ presence out of mere selfishness, and one with your mind that told you it was dishnoroubale to taint his name like this. The last thing you wanted was to destroy and push both of you even further into falling from grace; both reputations and name already tarnished.

You’d truly be heartless if you kept going on.

But that didn’t change the fact that you were feeling comfortable with him, having found home in the Crown Prince’s warm arms and spontaneous kisses of all places.

Was it absurd? Undoubtedly so.

Could it be helped? You certainly could try.

And you’d been doing a great job so far; quite a daunting task you patted yourself in the back for. Avoiding the Prince when he’d made it clear he also enjoyed your company proved a lot harder than reaching your dreams, but you pushed through, locking yourself in the unused studio and training day and night.

It wasn’t working well – not on your part, anyway. You’d been here for hours, your clothes uncomfortably sticking to your skin and your water bottles were all emptied.

You’d never felt this tired.

You fell on your knees, palms flat on the floor and sweat salty as it trailed down to your lips. With a groan, you untied your shoes off and stared at the bruised and blued toes, a witness to the countless years of hard work. Your lip quivered as you massaged the sore muscles, tears about to spill as you remembered the Prince.

Beautiful, he was, flawless and porcelain in each movement and breath.

But you? You were battered, scarred, broken and bruised – why would he want you of all people? It was clear he’s had multiple lovers before you. No, scratch that, you were never a lover to begin with. It was all a sham, an agreement formed out of lame survival. There was no beauty in a lie.

The music playing from your stereo kept repeating on loop, this time the tune no longer unrecognizable as your soft cries echoed around the studio. You weren’t beautiful – not enough for him, at least – everyone made that very clear to you.

Just as you wiped your tears away at the back of your hand, standing up to continue another set as you refused to come back home without completing one perfect routine, the doors slammed open. Heavy breathing entered afterwards and you scowled – you worked tooth and bone to claim this place as yours, who dared enter? “This studio is private—” your words fell dry on your skin when a tuft of white hair trudged over to you, his usual placid face replaced with a firm sneer. “Y-Your Highness?”

“Why have you been avoiding me?”

His voice was nothing but demanding, the authority behind them only natural and befitting for someone like him. Each step he took forwards equated to a step backward until your back hit the mirrors, eyes wide as you gazed up at him.

Your voice came out weak. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t act like I’m stupid,” he pointed a finger at you, then scoffed, hands running through the soft locks of his air while he shook his head. You stood there grasping at your tights; having never seen the Prince lose his composure before. “I know you’ve been avoiding me. Every time I try to contact you, you never respond. When I ask your friends where you’ve been, they all tell me you’re busy practicing.”

Somehow, you managed to find your voice again, tone heavy and biting. “I am busy practicing, do you not see that?”

“It’s not the only thing you’re occupied with. Clearly, you are quite determined to stay away from me too,” he bellowed, his loud voice bouncing back from the emptiness of the room. The booming sound must’ve snapped him back to consciousness because Prince Satoru sighed, stepping closer until his warm hand cupped your cheek, starry blue eyes filled with worry and anguish. Had you caused this?

Beautiful, you frowned, that even in his demise he managed to look like fine art. “Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?” he softened, breath warm on your lips. “If yes, then tell me and I’ll do everything it takes to make up for it.”

You fisted his shirt; cheek faced his way because you couldn’t look him in the eye right now. There was no way you’d let him see you cry.

“I don’t understand you, Your Highness,” you murmured, “You’re about to be King – why do you bother yourself with someone like me? I’m nothing compared to you, and I detest being compared to you for I am more than worthy despite not being born of a high ranking like yours.”

Prince Satoru froze. “Is this what this is about? My title bothers you?”

“We should stop whatever we’re doing,” was all you said, pushing him away as gently as you could, ignoring the gnawing pain that grew inside of you when your palms landed on his chest. “It is lowly of me to take advantage of the Crown Prince’s kindness anyway. My success should be paved out of my own hard work and not because of my lame connections to the Crown Prince.”

“Lame connections? Is that all I am to you?”

“You are my Crown Prince, Your Highness,” you reminded him of the stark difference firmly, “You mean a lot to your people, but I do not mean anything to you. I am just another nameless performer lost in the crowd of a thousand other girls who wish to reach their dreams, even if such a star is far beyond our reach,” Tears had now fallen until they formed into crystals on your cheeks, and he blinked back, unsure of what to do. “Could you ever understand what that feels like? To yearn for something you know you could never have but hope for anyway?”

“It would be a lie if I said I did,” he admitted quietly, “But I think I’m beginning to understand. It would make sense to me now – if you keep pushing me away, that is.”

You shook your head begrudgingly. “Your Highness...we shouldn’t.”

“And why not? Who said we couldn’t?”

You don’t stop him this time when he stepped closer once more, trapping you between his arms until you clutched desperately at his shirt, his erratic heartbeat pulsing under your touch. “It’s just you and I – neither a prince nor a performer – simply man and woman who crave each other’s touch. What could be so wrong into giving into one’s desires?” you gasped when his lips fell at the juncture of your neck, your head immediately tilting to the side as you allowed him to ravage you. “You still haven’t given me the chance to let you know what I feel,” he cradled your jaw, caressing your skin as he breathed you’re your ear, voice low and sultry, begging even, “Would you really deny me the pleasure of showing you how beautiful you are to me right now?”

“Satoru,” you keened at his teeth tugging at your skin, fists clenched on shirt. “Touch me.”

“That’s all I ever wanted to do, darling.”

Satoru swept down to capture your lips in his, his grip firm on the swell of your ass he kept you close to him, pressed hip to hip and his hardened front grazing your core through the tights. He pulled a moan from you as he flipped your body over, lips finding home in your neck while his large hand cupped your breast, the other trailing down to finger at your clothed, damp pussy.

In this angle, you could see the despondent way you easily spread your legs for him, your pants like music to ears.

“Do you still not believe me when I say you are worth more than a pound of gold? Look at you – your dripping cunt shines harder than the diamonds I keep in my room,” the both of you groaned when he pushed a finger through your hole, your tights stretching and sucked in by your walls enough to outline the arousal that seeped through. “Maybe I should keep you instead, hmm, don’t you think? You’d be a far grander treasure than all those riches.”

“I am a woman,” you tugged at his hair, panting heavily as he kept fingering into you, his thumb grazing at the sensitive bundle of nerves that swelled under your tight clothes. “I am not to be reduced to a possession you acquire.”

“No, of course not. Nothing could ever replace you in this world,” he growled, harsh in his movements as he tore your clothes with minimal effort.

You yelped when your precious tights had been ripped to the sides, a hole revealing your core and your breasts barely covered with the flimsy fabric. Satoru shuffled his pants down before placing you right on his cock, swallowing your moans with each inch of his length that slid inside you.

Hands dug painfully into his hair, Satoru hissed at the pain, grinning to himself at how wet you were through just light touches and a sloppy kiss. You’ve been good for him, though, you were always good for him that he had to reward you, show you how beautiful you were, and he spread his legs apart, relishing in the sight of you being fucked onto his cock.

“Nothing feels better than your tight pussy, huh? Take a good look at yourself, you’re so fucking precious, taking me so well,” you could only moan in response, unable to take your eyes off the way his length disappeared inside you, a shiver chilling your spine when he grasped at your breasts, nipples tweaked between his fingers. “Nothing, nothing, nothing could compare to this. You feel like heaven, taste like bliss and forgiveness,” he licked at the salty sweat that drowned your body, one of his hands now rolling your clit between his fingers. You screamed, bouncing yourself harder on him with your nails dug deep into his thighs. “You will be the redemption of my darkened soul, are you not?”

“Maybe I will be,” you cried out, head lolled onto his shoulder.

Satoru hummed, his eyes dark and coated with lust when your breasts bounced in front of the mirror. Thanks to years of dancing, you barely felt a stretch when Satoru suddenly lifted your legs up until your thighs were embarrassingly squished against your chest. You knew why he did this; it wasn’t that hard to understand why when he narrowed his focus on the way your juices slipped down his cock, the sounds of your pussy squelching drowning out the operatic music.

Satoru kissed your cheeks to wipe your previous tears away, his hands nothing but grabby and possessive as he gripped the flesh of your thigh. “You already are, sweet thing.”

Pleasure had completely taken over you at this point, that familiar heat building up in your stomach until it snapped into two. Pupils blown wide open, you gasped as you came all over him, your cum creaming down onto his cock until it lined with a thick ring of cum.

It was filthy to say the least, and your body burned at the thought that you were disrespecting him, defiling him with the mess you’ve made. But the Prince only fucked into you harder, his teeth grazing at your already abused skin with relentless and merciless thrusts. He wasn’t lying when he said he’d show you how beautiful he found you, going hell and beyond because you felt nothing but worshipped when he kissed you feverishly, his moans romantic as he came. “S-Satoru!”

“That’s right,” he slipped a finger, the stretch adding a slight tinge of pain that had your hips rutting out in sensitivity, your hole clenching around his everything. “Cum for me. Come on, I know you can do it for me. You’re so good, sweetheart, come for me.”

You were mindlessly babbling his name as both of you came down from your highs. Satoru doesn’t stop once from running hands everywhere, gripping your hips, flicking your nipples, rubbing your clit, and running a finger down your slit to wipe your juices everywhere. It had become too much that you had to push his hand away, legs locking around his arms that refused to stop cupping your pussy.

“Do you see how beautiful you are?” he cooed, shameless and teasing when he brought his hands up to your face, fingers stretched to show the webbing of your arousal between them. “We made such a mess,” he chuckled, his kisses a lot softer now on your neck.

Beautiful, you whimpered internally as you fluttered around nothing.

Satoru must’ve grown an addiction to kissing your lips for he dived in one last time, murmuring the word you always tied him with until they felt printed, tattooed, on your skin. You closed your eyes and allowed yourself to bask in this, your kisses slow and sensual as you both enjoyed this serene moment.

He came to this studio to prove you something.

He left the studio with a swelling heart, cheeks resting on your breast as he wrapped his arms around you in the comfort of your worn-out mattress as he asked, can I stay here longer with you?

The cheers and applause directed your way were deafening, the spotlight blinding as you bowed. You gasped for air, every muscle in your body screaming both with delight and exhaustion.

You could barely fathom the crowd hidden in darkness before you, the sight like a black sea, but instead of feeling like you were drowning, you don’t think you’d ever been able to breathe this well before. The smile on your face was bright – brighter than the star you’ve become and bigger than the galaxy and universe you’ve made for yourself – and you waved your arm gracefully, toes pointed outwards while the roses and flowers thrown your way came flooding like a waterfall.

You’d made it.

And through the crowd, at the back where someone the likes of him wasn’t supposed to be, His Majesty’s white hair stuck out like a sore thumb. His draperies were replaced with finer ornaments of gold embroidery, those large hands that had grown accustomed to holding yours and marking handprints on your delicate skin covered with gloves as he applauded, following the crowd from where they all stood.

Your smile directed him was nothing less of a beam, the stars he’d hung for you reflecting back in your eyes. Tears blurred the vision of him for a moment until you saw him again – crystal clear – his expression both proud and longing.

The memory of you and him had been a beautiful one, but it was distant and with each passing day, it blurred until it became nothing like swirls of I love you’s and good luck’s whispered onto one another’s skin. Your heart still soared and broke each time at the sight of him, the majestic Queen hanging off the arm that was locked with yours just years ago a painful reminder that there would always be an invisible divide between you and the Prince you’d fallen in love with.

There was no regret, however, in where things had led. You knew he loved his kind wife as much as he loved you, and he knew you loved him as much as you loved your career, and things were simply just…meant to be this way, you concluded.

It was never supposed to be a great love story that told of breaking traditions. Not all stories were meant to go against the odds; some were told to show that people could be capable of change without having to change anything. You were thankful, still so extremely grateful you met your beloved Prince even as he left the theatre before people crowded around him, leaving you to your devices until you retired back into the changing room, a set of rare flowers only a certain person could afford.

Beautiful, you cried as you picked up the card, his once messy scrawls improved into a neater cursive befitting for the new King.

And so it was that you parted ways, with him leading his country into further prosperity while you moved away and stole people’s hearts with each phenomenal show, one after the other.

Your summer rendezvous with the Prince was not meant to be a love story that went against all odds; you were there to save each other from reaching damnation, loving one another as passionately as your souls were able to until you picked each other back up.

Once the other stood firm, tall, and ready to take on the world with their bare hands, you pushed one another in your respective directions.

Beautiful, you smiled as you clutched at his present close to your heart where he’d built a garden out of itself, that we’d saved each other from falling from grace.

[sonicstorybook]

Knightly Favour

Chapter 1/5

Summary: As the High King's Nephew and a famous Knight of the Round Table of Camelot, very few things in Sir Gawain of Orkney's life are comfortable and private. It's hard to put an exact label on what he has with Sir Lancelot of the Lake, but he's happy. Happy with the man, happy to nurture and look after the boy he loves like a son, and happy to keep their relationship away from prying eyes and gossiping mouths. So it is most aggravating (and a little endearing) that Lancelot seems determined to shatter their fragile, discreet peace with the most public declaration of love and esteem possible- the tournament's grand prize offered on the end of the victor's lance. Lancelot is an incredibly private man, so what could he possibly be thinking?!

Contains: Established Lancewain (Lancelot the Hedgehog x Gawain the Echidna)! Dadcelot and Dadwain to Galahad!

Rating: G

Word count:  4,289

Note: A popular token of love in the Arthurian legends are favours, where a lady (or lord in this AU) gives their knight an item of clothing to show, basically, they're rooting for them. Usually a sleeve or handkerchief or something that could be tied to the armor for a public declaration, or something small that can be stored in the armor of the knight in question as a private symbol of esteem. C: Lancelot does what he wants like the contrarian he is, and subverts this tradition by publicly offering Gawain the tournament spoils as a public way of saying, "Yup, that's my guy!" I feel that I should stress that Gawain is just as into Lancelot, and his main concern is the privacy of their relationship, not the strength of it. Incredibly self-indulgent Lancewain but I need them to be happy. Gawain is Lancelot's boyfriend and Galahad is their son, the AU. Also Lancelot tries, he really does, but he is very good at knighting and very clueless at everything else.

Gawain is used to being the center of attention. As King Lot of Orkney’s firstborn son, the nephew of King Arthur, and the esteemed Knight of the Sun, his reputation has always preceded him. This time, however, the weight of a hundred eyes on him is unnerving. Like everyone is watching him with baited breath to see what he will do. (A distant part of his mind, one that is not blank with surprise, is pleased at the attention. Lancelot is a private man, so any of his public gestures carries even more weight.) Gawain looks down at Lancelot, heart hammering in his chest loudly enough everyone must hear it, too. Lancelot has his visor pulled over his eyes, obscuring his expression, but his head is tilted upwards. The jeweled bracelet hangs between them heavily, resting on the end of the lance. The lord of the tournament very clearly told Lancelot to give his prize to the loveliest lady in attendance. Lancelot is infuriatingly contrarian at the best of times, but why is he offering the bracelet to Gawain? Their relationship is intimate and private, so what is Lancelot thinking, declaring it like this in such a public venue?  ...Doesn’t that daft hedgehog understand that this gesture will mean the end of their quiet, easy romance? What should Gawain do?!  He can already hear murmurs around him, but it’s so difficult to listen to their words as Lancelot lifts his visor. His knight tilts his head to the side ever so slightly as he makes eye contact, arching a quizzical eyebrow. His red eyes slide from the tip of the lance to Gawain and back again, obviously impatient but with the slightest of challenging smirks.  Just as he’s about to grab it, just to spite Lancelot- Galahad startles Gawain out of his thoughts. He had forgotten the child had been sitting on his knee this entire time, until Galahad reaches up to take the bracelet. The child’s small fingers brush against the gold, but it slides further back on the lance and just out of reach.  “Ugh!” The little hedgehog lets out a frustrated huff, frowning at the bracelet with a fearsome little scowl that makes him look so much like his father. Gawain’s heart swells with soft affection as, once again, Galahad gives him a way out.  Galahad braces one hand against Gawain’s shoulder as he shakily rises to his knees, flexing his tiny fingers as he reaches up for the bracelet again. Gawain pushes his embarrassment to the back of his mind, focuses on the here and now, and lifts Galahad up another discreet inch. The boost gives the child the height he needs to snag his prize with a triumphant cry.  “Yes!” Galahad holds it up like a trophy, gold and jewels sparkling in the sunlight as brightly as the excitement in his eyes. He waves it frantically at Lancelot, as if afraid his father missed his triumph, “I got it!!”  Lancelot looks surprised but his expression softens into a fond smile. He gives his son an approving nod that has Galahad bouncing in excited delight. Lancelot’s eyes shift over to Gawain a moment later, looking disappointed- but this is for the best.  “G’wen!” The little hedgehog says loudly, tongue tripping over the syllables of his name in his excitement. Galahad shoves the bracelet in his face, and Gawain barely manages to avoid being blinded by wayward opal, “I got it!! G’wen, I got it!!”  “A prize fit for a king!” Gawain agrees, indulgently patting his charge on the back, “And you retrieved it by yourself! Most impressive!”  “Yeah!” Galahad agrees enthusiastically, putting the bracelet on his wrist with great pride. It’s undoubtedly going to fly off the moment the child moves his arms. “Da, look!”  Gawain glances back to where Lancelot was standing, but the knight is nowhere to be found. It’s not unusual for his sullen friend to disappear without a word, but Galahad is still of a tender enough age that he takes his father’s quirk too hard.  “Look, lad,” Gawain distracts Galahad before the child can notice, pointing at a different knight preparing himself at one end of the arena, “Can you see his shield? A field of azure with Two golden keys. Who bears that heraldry?”  His distraction works, and Galahad is immediately engrossed in his new task.  “Umm,” the child squints at the shield with such intense concentration that his tongue pokes out of his mouth, “A doorkeeper!”  “A good guess,” Gawain leans back against his chair, settling into a more comfortable position.  Galahad follows his lead, face pressed against his chest like a pillow, “Whose doors does he keep?”  ”Yours!”  “Mine?” Gawain’s eyebrows creep up, surprised at the answer, “My beautiful Orkneys? No, fortunately not! Guess again.”  Galahad doesn’t ever guess that the knight in question is Sir Kay the Seneschal, and his keys are the metaphorical keys to the kingdom- but the conversation shifts as Kay is thrown out of his saddle by a lance to the chest. They don’t see Lancelot for the rest of the day, but neither of them think much of it. Blending into the crowd is one of his quirks, too. By the time the royal trumpets blast to signal the end of the day’s events, and Galahad doses in the crook of his arm, Gawain has forgotten all about Lancelot and his bracelet. (At least, he can pretend that’s true.)