#and we listened to the secret garden the most

[fairmerthefarmer]

So far Blackmoor Manor is still the top Nancy game for both my sister and I. Other games have better characters I think and even better plots maybe, (or better culprit reveals) but the vibes and music are STRONG. (Both TRT and CUR made us feel nostalgic for the game even though we never played it before. But like, it felt like to both of us as if we had memories of playing it before it was magic)

I think being fans of the Secret Garden and stuff like that as a kid is why we like that vibe so much.

I’ve always wanted to explore a giant old mysterious house. Books like that and even the beginning part of the lion the witch and the wardrobe make it seem so fun.

Also loulou. Love loulou so much.

[elllisaaa]

in ur last svt post (which made me fold btw) you mentioned you love doing bf thoughts (and we love reading them!!) so i’m gonna be the one to do it… any dirty bf!wonwoo headcanons sweetie? 🫣

not me dropping two wonwoo asks in one day like i’m not hansol biased i’m gonna run away 🏃‍♀️ he’s so husband material tho (getting back into my svt phase is fun 🙂‍↕️)

lmaoo honestly it's valid being whipped for wonwoo, i am too even though i'm a seokmin and chan girlie (hansol is coming at me these days though...)

BF!WONWOO who's a silent lover, but who loves you so much that everyone can see who smitten by you he is.

another member of seventeen that i think is a very good listener. wonwoo is always ready to listen to you when you need to talk, be that because something funny happened to you or because you had a bad day. and he's also really good at giving you advice when you have a problem. he strikes me as someone who's emotionally smart, so it isn't difficult for him to know that you're sad without you having to tell hims. sometimes he'll notice that you're not doing well and he will prepare you a little snack and deliver it with a kiss and a sweet "i love you, i'm here if you need to talk." that almost makes you tear up from how caring he is. also, wonwoo's hugs must feel incredibly good, like being engulfed in a warm bubble of love that's so soothing you immediately relax in his embrace. you could literally spend your whole life hugging him because it's genuinely the best feeling in the world.

"it's okay darling, i'm here now. everything is going to be alright."

wonwoo would love to play video games with you. it's good if you are already into it, but it would be even better if you don't because he would love to teach you how to play his favourite games. he would even use it as an excuse to make you sit on his lap while he's trying to show you how to play. from there, you would often play together, but it's also not rare for you to simply sit in wonwoo's lap and watch him play, or take a nap there, lulled to sleep by his breathing and heartbeat. one of his favourite ways to spend a date night at home with you is playing board games. you'd pick out one or two games together, make yourself some tea and prepare snacks and then you'll spend your night playing together. the members often joke about how the two of you are like an old couple but you don't care because what matters is that you're having fun during these game nights. also, wonwoo loves to just stay at home with you, all cozy in your matching pajamas and getting to see you all relaxed. he obviously loves it when you're dressing up when the two of you are going out, but you're the most beautiful to him with only a big beautiful smile on your face.

"let's just watch a movie tonight, i don't want to see other people, only you."

he's adamant on reminding you of how beautiful you are every single day. and that's the way he says it that makes you blush - like it's the most natural thing ever and that it's obvious. however, when it's your turn to praise wonwoo, he gets shy and bashful, and you literally have to fight him to get him to accept the compliment. but wonwoo loves your insistence on adoring him and he loves the attention - he's down bad for you, but it's good to know that you're down bad for him as well. he would often take photos of you without you noticing when he thinks you look particularly pretty. he won't show these pictures to you, but he has folder of them on his phone and on his computer too, and he looks at them when he's away from you and that he misses you. wonwoo would put all these secret photos into a pretty album he made and decorated himself, and he would gift it to you for your anniversary. overall, he would gift you a lot of mindful things like these, and you keep all of them in a little box under your bed.

"when did you take this one nonu ?" - "when we went to the botanical garden, you were so pretty that day."

BF!WONWOO who's a service top and who loves to please you, but who can also get a little bit mean when he wants to.

wonwoo definitely loves cockwarming with you. when you sit on his lap while he's playing video games, it's not impossible that he'll end up pushing your panties to the side and slipping his cock inside of you, not moving at all. he just loves the intimacy of it, how much you trust him and relax into his touch immediately. but it's impossible to not get hard when your pussy feels this wet and this warm, nor when you're sometimes clenching around him. wonwoo usually gives up pretty quickly, because he loves the feeling as much as you. most of the time, he would grip your hips and help you drop down on his cock slowly until the both of you cum. but when he's feeling more needy, he would bend you over his desk and fuck you rough from behind until you're screaming his name. but sometimes, you can stay like this for a long time, even managing to fall asleep because it feels so warm and safe to be so close to him. it's the way you feel so comfortable around him that gets him going mostly.

"just sit on my cock for while baby, then i'll fuck you, okay ?"

overall, wonwoo just loves to please you in every way he can. he's inflexible about foreplay because he loves to have you cumming at least once before he fucks you - his girl should get as much orgasms as possible because you only deserve the best. he woul often keep his glasses on while eating you out, because even if it's the most comfortable for him, he knows how crazy you go when he looks up at you through the fogged lenses and how hot you think he is when he has them on. wonwoo prefers positions where he can see your face as he fucks you, so missionary is a must with him. he loves to see your face contort when you're close to the edge, and he loves to watch you as he brings you to your orgasm - your pretty expressions and the sounds you make often enough to trigger his own release. again, he loves how close he can be to you in this position, chest and forehead pressed against each other's, whispering praises and love confessions against your lips while he ruts his hips into you deep.

"you're so pretty darling… so fucking pretty like this."

despite him being very romantic, he also knows how much you like it when he shows you how strong he is. wonwoo would definitely manhandle you into bending over for him if that's what you want - and he's not gonna lie by saying that he doesn't like it when you become all putty in his hands because he's holding your hands firmly behind your back. it's quite good for his ego too to hear you gush about how attractive he is, how hot his strength and his muscles are. wonwoo also uses it to his advantage when you've been a little tease or that he's frustrated. all these hours spent at the gym are worth it when it allows him to hold you down against the mattress while he pounds into you until you're crying out his name and that tears are running down your face. of course, he's always mindful of any signs of discomfort when he's rougher, but you both love it when wonwoo doesn't hold back and ruins you. it feels rewarding to know that he can make his girl scream his name so loud that the neighbors complain the next day.

"i'm not gonna let you go until you're dripping baby, i need to have you again."

[nibbelraz]

I read a fic recently where mu qingfang was like "sometimes if we get VERY lucky, shang-shidi knows some miracle cure" and ive thinking about that in terms of 'god sqh'. Like you mention how x disciple is gonna die of the hyperdeath dying flower and your martial brother speaks in tongues to himself for a moment before stuttering and stammering his way into a 'this might work but good luck' possible cure. Reality takes a sharp turn for half a second and then when you try it, it works. He dismisses it and himself but it keeps happening. Not always, but sometimes. Often enough to be a pattern. Is he some kind of seer? Diviner? Or just divine? He's very protective of his personal rooms so you're not going to be able to get evidence either way. He keeps a garden of poisons and cures that he supplies you with personally, anyway. You're not gonna pry. Then later when everyone is screaming crying throwing up because he betrayed the sect you interrupt his demon king? Boss? Something. To be like hold up. Shang-shidi can I have an address for any emergency letters I might have to send you. Oh and also have you got a supplier for your meds in the demon realm? Hm? Oh yes very powerful demon Lord your flustered servant takes anti anxiety medicine. Yes it's a mix of herbs that forces him to be in less of a state- yes he gets worse than this. Shang-shidi don't whine I've seen you off your meds I KNOW you get stomach aches from anxiety so bad you can't work. Yes the 'category 5 tummy event' is not a secret. We know about them shang-shidi.

The category 5 tummy event he's so me 😭

The idea of Mu Qingfang just knowing that yeah Shang-Shidi most often then not probably has the cure to this Very deadly disease and doesn't bat an eye he's just like well as long as they live I GUESS.

Also the person with the balls to go staring up at this incredibly cold and dangerous demon with a straight face to tell Qinghua to take his meds

Mobei would definitely listen and take notes

[coco-loco-nut]

I Hate It Here

Pairing: Max x Sister Reader

Summary: Max takes a stand for his sister

TW: jos verstappen, mentioned abuse, depression, mentions of death, mentions of an affair

requests open masterlist ttpd masterlist

——————

With Max gone, you were the one subject to the wrath of Jos Verstappen, especially when you stopped karting after a couple years. So while your brother was off winning grand prix after grand prix, you were continually reminded that you aren’t good enough, that you were the dud of a child.

“Maxie, tell me a story,” you call your older brother in tears one night, you don’t blame him for the fact that you are a failure. You love your older brother more than anything.

With a heavy sigh, Max dives into a made up story, like he was a poet trapped inside the body of a race car driver, except he is an awful storyteller. He does but doesn’t want to know the BS your lame excuse for a father told you.

Max is your best, and only friend, your consolation prize for surviving this far. You stopped really leaving home years ago, only leaving to go to the grocery store. Even to your job, you were just another remote employee.

Max only ever wants the best for his sister, you haven’t seen Victoria since you were so young that you don’t really even know if she actually exists, so he is all you have. Victoria doesn’t really remember you either, seeing as how you were the child of an affair. Max always tries to bring you to races as a lucky charm, but your response is always the same ‘i don’t believe in good luck, maybe next time��. It’s like you are scared to leave home, safer in the comfort of the walls you’ve only ever known.

You pull out your headphones and listen to music, tuning out the world. You hate it here, you hate your father, but you only know of one way to escape. You close your eyes and go to the little paradise in your mind. You read about something similar when you were a kid from a book Max you. It sits on your nightstand, the spine worn and frayed from years of use.

That’s similar to how Max finds you when he arrives a couple weeks later. By now he is used to finding you in that state, you spend most of your free time in your own mind.

“Y/n? Where do you go? In your mind,” Max asks, laying beside you in your bed.

“A little garden, you need a key to get in though,” you say, a little dazed.

“And how would one get a key?” He asks further, trying to keep you engaged.

“There is only one, mine,” you reply, moving to grab your headphones again. Max quickly, but gently takes them.

“Charles was asking about you. He wanted to know how you were, since he hasn’t seen you since I joined F3,” Max continues, you just look at him, an oddity in your dark room.

“Charles?” You ask and Max nods.

“My friend, you thought he had a silly accent, and thought he was cute,” Max elaborates, searching your face to see a look of recognition. You just shrug.

“We used to play games, travel back in time to different decades. You loved the 1800s,” Max says, not ready to give up.

“I was a debutante,” you whisper causing Max to smile brightly. You just shake your head, you read once that nostalgia is a minds trick. “I bet I hated it, it is always freezing in the palace,” you say, unknowingly giving Max a glimpse into the secret escapes in your mind. In your fantasies you travel everywhere even to space. Secretly you love it, but you are more than content to stay at home, even if you hate it here.

“Come to the FIA Prize Giving with me, pretend it’s one of your fantasies,” Max says, you nod your head, already away in another world where only the gentle survive.

“Max? Am I going to die?” You ask out of the blue, well out of the blue for Max. He doesn’t know how to respond before you turn back into yourself. He stands up, watching you for a minute. You stayed out of your depression a minute longer than usual, a small win for him.

“Leave your poor sister alone,” Jos says, Max just glares at him. Jos is the man who made you like this and Max will never forgive himself for it.

“Y/n is coming with me to Monaco, for good. Since you don’t care about her, I will take care of her,” Max says, prepared to stand his ground.

“Whatever, if you want to tolerate her worthlessness, that’s up to you,” Jos waves his hand, one less failure in his home.

“Don’t call her that,” Max grits his teeth. He was going to wait a couple days, but perhaps it’s necessary to expedite it here.

“Yeah, yeah, she’s your problem now,” Jos walks away. Max returns to your bedroom, getting a suitcase from your closet. Only the essentials for now, the rest can be picked up tomorrow. He packs up as much as he can in an hour before somehow convincing you to go with him to his hotel. You just stare out the window of the car as he drives, clearly uncomfortable. Max gives you the bedroom and takes the pull out couch. He immediately dials Charles.

“Max? What happened?” Charles can hear the exhaustion in Max’s voice.

“I’m bringing Y/n back to Monaco with me, she’s basically being left to rot by Jos. She’s lonely and bitter, but swears she’s fine. Y/n gets lost in her mind on purpose, there’s this fantasy land that she saves the good parts -her romanticism- in her mind. I’m losing her,” Max chokes back a sob.

“Max, what do you mean, losing her?” Charles asks, more alert.

“She doesn’t eat, she’s depressed beyond imagination, doesn’t leave the house, spends the time she isn’t working remotely in her mind. This house, our father, makes her feel worthless. If I didn’t come tonight, she might’ve died. Charles, she asked me if she was going to die,” Max has your image ingrained in his memory, a little too thin and pale.

“I just texted Maman, she will come over and visit her for a little every day, make sure she eats,” Charles says, holding back his own tears. He remembers you fondly as the little girl with pig tails, always excited to spend time with her big brother.

You struggle with the move to Monaco, one you didn’t get a say in it, likely because you spend most of the year in your mind. You have come to grow more comfortable with the woman who visits you and uses food from your brother’s fridge to feed you.

“Y/n? Feel like talking today?” she gently asks, setting the food in front of you, like she does every day. You look up, and Pascale nearly cries, seeing you start to breaks through. Your blue eyes pierce hers.

“Tell me something awful, like you are a poet trapped in the body of a finance guy,”

[moneypowerglorymiddleofmiami]

Reader as Persephone's only daughter? And she doesn't get into relationships bc of her mother's past as she was kidnapped by Hades?? Like History repeats itself with Luke being so obsessed with her and the reader doesn't know that she'll just end up like her mother

hello, hello! this one is definitely long overdue. i've been very busy with uni, but this ask was very intriguing!!! thank you for sending, anon ♡ (bonus scene at the end lol)

Luke Castellan wasn’t immediately taken by her the first time she set foot on Camp Half-Blood, that much was certain. She was only a topic of interest because she was Persephone’s daughter, promised yet unexpected all the same. He was far too caught up with claiming his own hoard of kleos to entertain ideas of attraction; however, she became a friend soon enough.

“What are you growing?” He asked her during a spring afternoon years ago, so insignificant that a normal person would forget it entirely.

“I don’t know yet actually.” She responded with pursed lips. Her open palms lingered just above the brown earth, colorful beads dangled from her wrists.

Luke raised an eyebrow.

At his silence, she looked up then waved a packet in front of him. She smiled. “Secret stash from Persephone.”

“Now, I’m not really the boss or anything but I think I’ve been here long enough to know the rules.” He perched his forearm against the bark of a tree, leaning his weight against it. “I don’t think that’s allowed.”

“But you wouldn’t tell on me, would you?” She batted her eyelashes sweetly, jokingly. She turned back to her lump of land. “‘Sides, they're harmless… I think.”

He remained silent and observed as a sprout quickly rose from the depths of her plot. A number of curved leaves on top leaning stems dotted the once empty ground. She rose from her knees, dusting off pellets of grass that hitched onto her clothing.

“That's it?” He asked her, sounding very unimpressed. Was this the extent of her god-gifted abilities?

She narrowed her eyes at him as she stretched. “I don’t give a show for free, Castellan.”

“What do you want in exchange, then?” He asked curiously. He wanted to see— witness what Persephone’s little seedling was capable of flowering.

She thought for a moment then shrugged her shoulders. She walked away from him with a wave. “Grow something of your own then we negotiate the terms.”

A few weeks later, he proudly paraded a plant pot all around camp in search of her. Most of the younger kids looked at him a bit judgmentally when he held it up like he was Rafiki and the little thing was his Simba.

She emerged from the greenhouse after several vexingly loud knocks. She looked down at Luke’s outstretched arms, her lips twitching in amusement at the container filled with inch-long two-leaved sprouts.

“Strawberries?” She pursed her lips. She motioned to the fields of berries sprawling to the left of them. “A bit unoriginal considering…”

“Well, you didn’t tell me I wasn’t allowed to grow strawberries.” He reasoned.

“Touché.” She ceded. She placed a hand over the pot, the sprouts growing exponentially before she took it from Luke's hands. She spent a handful of minutes transferring them into the dirt.

Luke watched silently, interested and intrigued by the alacrity with which she moved.

“Can you look away for a sec?” She spoke suddenly. She turned towards him, all seriousness. “The glaring is pressuring them. They’re a bit self-conscious.”

“Oh.” He looked away immediately, distracting himself instead with the silvers of light that shone through the canopy of branches of a tree not far from him. He listened to her hum as she worked. He couldn't help but return his gaze to her once in a while.

“Done!” She proclaimed excitedly, pulling off her gardening gloves with a satisfied look on her face.

Three strawberry bushes stood before him, taking up residence in what was an empty patch of land mere seconds ago. His lips parted slightly in surprise— it definitely wasn’t uncommon for demi-gods to inherit some of their parents’ powers, but he was startled by how quickly it manifested, especially for botanokinesis.

“Impressed enough?” She crossed her arms with a grin.

“Just the right amount.” He responded casually, returning her smile. He bent down to pick a big ripe berry from the branches.

He bit into it, the juices trickling down his chin. “Sweet.”

He offered the other half to her. She looked down at it skeptically before Luke urged her with a slight little shake from the bundle of leaves at the fruit’s head. She took it into her own hold then lifted it up to her mouth.

𓇢𓆸𓏲𓇬𑁍

In her iteration of the story, Luke wasn’t merely a stand-in for Hades. He wasn’t simply her captor— he was also her pomegranate. His smiles, his looks, his words, his lies, his charm and his wit were all the seeds she foolishly consumed over the years. She yearned desperately for the tart sweetness he offered and unknowingly caused her own captivity.

Bound, bent and broken: this was the fate of Persephone’s only child.

In the darkness of the night, with the hum of Luke’s faint snoring keeping her senses alive despite the late hour, she wondered to herself briefly: was this how her mother felt?

She paused at the thought. Surely, it was a thousand times worse for her mother— a dread and pain so unfathomable that she couldn’t even begin to imagine it. Persephone was innocent; she was tricked and taken advantage of. She, however, was complicit: ignorant at first, but willing to succumb to Luke’s pleas and promises even if she knew the horrors of what he was attempting to do.

“Can’t sleep?” He whispered suddenly, jolting her out of her reverie. His hand moved to rest against her hip, his thumb stroking comforting circles onto her skin.

“Hm,” She hummed absent-mindedly. She turned around to face him, breathing in the scent of sea and sweat that lingered on him— a glaring reminder of what he was getting himself into.

Luke caged his arms around her then pressed a kiss against her temple. "Mine."

"Yours." She responded softly.

He returned to sleep in a matter of seconds, but he held her firmly against him. She couldn’t escape even if she wanted to. She didn’t even want to, anyway.

She closed her eyes. Luke’s presence was her prison, and she was insane enough to willingly stay shackled, albeit metaphorically, regardless of how horrific that sounded.

This was her underworld— her own dauntingly lovely elysium.

BONUS scene from my first draft that i didn't continue writing:

“Well, what’s her master plan then?” She asked. “Why kidnap me?”

“You’re Persephone’s daughter.” He shrugged his shoulders, as if that was enough explanation as to why the leader of a rebellion against the gods wanted to kidnap the spawn of the Goddess of Spring— really, what did he think she was gonna do for him? Grow daffodils and tulips to distract his enemies? It didn’t seem like horticulture proved useful on the battlefield.

“I am not going to grow potatoes and peas for her little revolt, Castellan.” She scoffed.

Of course she knew why she was being held captive. Pretending to be foolish and ignorant never hurt anybody, though. Let him think she was dumbed down enough to bend to his will.

“You’re basically Hades’ daughter.” He continued, essentially bypassing her reply. It was a bit rude, honestly, but the fact that he kidnapped her showed plenty about the state of Luke’s manners.

“Careful what you say, Lukey.” She would’ve wagged her fingers if her wrists weren’t so tightly bound together. “You might just insult another one of the gods.”

Her relationship with her stepfather was… civil yet glacial at best; definitely on brand for him, actually. On her annual winter-break visits to the Underworld, he’d just ignore her for the most part (very understandable, there wasn’t much in common between an eons-old powerful god and a nineteen year old, except the angst probably, but that was a very awkward topic to breach with a father figure). Most of the time, she assumed he just tolerated her because of her mother.

“With you on board, Hades is going to think twice before attacking,” He explained further. He began to pace in front of her. “Your presence might even dissuade him from attacking at all.”

Oh. Oh.

“Sweetheart,” She called him softly with a condescending coo in her tone. “Oh, sweetie. You’re delusional.”

[starblushh]

“What I've learned from women who are totally killing it”

Part 2

(part 1)

☁️ The secret to be the luckiest person in the room is to always think in your favour, no matter the circumstance is.

☁️ A daily routine actually makes your day easier. But the key is to have one which resonates with you.

☁️ Stop blindly following routines you see on the internet; they don't even resonate with you. Ex: Maybe you're not a gym person, but you're half heartedly going to the gym just bc of xyz routine. Instead, try to find what you actually like, such as yoga or exercises.

☁️ Never apologize for things which gives you joy and is literally hurting nobody. Trust me honey you don't wanna be 70 and live your life regretting things you could have loved and enjoyed but didn't. So go stream your ‘not so cool’ artist and enjoy that ‘boring’ hobby.

☁️ The happiness you're searching outside is within you. You will never ‘arrive’ to happiness, it's in the small things you do.

☁️ Music or the songs you listen to can actually affect how you feel all day ! When I started listening to songs with affirmations, I found myself humming those songs again and again. Similarly, when I listened to sad songs I found the same thing. Your subconscious believes what it's hearing, so be mindful of the music you listen to.

☁️ Honey, you're punishing your body if you're only using water and soap/body wash while bathing. Your body deserves to be properly cleaned and these aren't enough to remove the dead skin cells. All you need to do is use an exfoliating tool such as a washcloth, body sponge, loofah, etc. If you don't have access to these right now, then even a simple cotton napkin will work.

☁️ If you're religious and want to have stronger connection with God then the best way you can do it is by reading your religious scriptures. Whether it's the Gita, Bible or Quran, it will provide you with more knowledge than anyone else can.

☁️ “The fears we don't face become our limits” I spent a whole minute reading this quote again and again. One of the most moving quotes I've came across for sure. (I can make a whole post with all my fav quotes too!)

☁️ ‘Nature is women's best friend.’ Take some time out of your day to spend time in nature. Feeling anxious? Take a walk in the garden. Feeling like the world is cruel and everyone is against you? Go hug a tree. Trust me sweetheart, nature has the solutions to all your problems.

[buriedpentacles]

Pick a Picture - What Message Does The Natural World Have For You? 💚🪲🌱

Pick the image that calls to you and scroll to their respective message. If the message does not resonate or feel 'right', then leave it for another and move on. I would love if you replied or dmed me to let me know if the message DID resonate!! Pictures chosen randomly from pinterest. I used the Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani.

🐦‍⬛ PILE 1 - Deer and Crow Cards: Eight of Swords rv, Ten of Wands, Queen of Cups rv

This is a message from the natural world, and yet there are no pentacles - no cards representing the earth. You have grown disconected from the world around you, so caught up in yourself and your own feelings that you have failed to notice the changes around you; are you aware of how the moon has changed this cycle? Have you noticed the changes in flower blooms or the absence of certain bird calls? You have been so wrapped up in your own world that a lifetime has passed in the world around you. The Eight of Swords is a cage that you have built around yourself, you have bound yourself to your troubles and then lost yourself to the victimhood that you created. Now, it is time to let go. The pain is familiar but the sword only hurts because you still hold it. Let it go. The Ten of Wands is the central card, and the only upright one; it is time to accept that the end has come and that you need to move on. If you don't you will become stagnant and burdened by 'it'. Endings can be so difficult, we want to hold on for as long as we can, but we must accept that everything comes to an end. But when one flower dies, another takes it place, not the same perhaps, but beautiful still. The Queen of Cups, as the only court card, represents you. Typically, the Queen of Cups is a kind, intuitive figure - she listens to others and her own heart. But here the Queen is reversed. Your emotions relating to this change are compromised, you are not listening to your intuition or to others, only your selfish desire. Take a step back, breath, and recognise that deep down your heart and body know you must let go.

🌊 PILE 2 - Deer in Water Cards: The High Priestess, The Empress, Nine of Wands rv

A message with tw omajor arcana speaks to me of great importance, this is not a message about your path or journey, it is not about your current troubles or wishes for the future. This is a message about your very being and who you are. The High Priestess is a keeper of incredible wisdom, she knows things that she has never read, heard secrets that no-one has whispered and wanders in the realm of moonlight and dreams. Listen to your intuition and your dreams because they are telling you the truth. A deer does not question it's urge to flee, or it's feeling that it is safe, it trusts its evolution and intuition and behaves accordingly, but that does not mean they are unaware. Listen to your body, where do you feel anger? How does it feel? Is it sharp? Warm? Does it sit in your ribcage or your stomach? Practice this for all your emotions so that you can recognise and respect them. The Empress is the card of a Mother, of Nature and her power of creation. This card is to remind you of her presence in your life. You are an animal, just the same as the birds outside your window or the fox that scurries through your garden. You have the same primal knowledge, the same instincts and feelings. Do not try to sanitise yourself or seperate yourself from the beasts because that is when you hurt people the most. You will feel anger and sadness, you will make mistakes, lash out and be cruel. There will be people who cannot forgive you, and others that can. This is how it is and you must accept that. Know your feelings, give them space and compassion. Only then can you work towards improving your behaviours and actions. The Nine of Wands is reversed, and the only minor arcana - this card is relevant only in tangent to the others. You are struggling to move forward in your healing. In your mind, your path to "redepemtion" is far too steep and rocky, you feel as though you will never be the person you want to be. And maybe you won't. But, if you stop trying to change yourself for others, if you stop trying to make yourself into this perfect, unfeeling, unbothered martyr, then you will become the person that you are meant to be. The person who sits inside your irbs, nestled against your heart, whispering to you: "Run away from it all. Be free from them." Perhaps it is time to listen to that voice.

🌼 PILE 3 - Deer in Meadow Cards: Justice, Seven of Pentacles rv, Eight of Wands rv

The Major Arcana, Justice, is a representative of the Air element - truth, intellect, communication are the pillars of the element and this is where your message lies. You are searching for the truth in a matter. The Justice card speaks of truth, but also of actions and consequence - a double edged blade. Truth has a way of finding itself to the surface, no matter how deep it is buried, and you have decided that you will be the one to find it. But remember, Justice must be impartial, you cannot dictate the truth based on what you wish it to be. Review the facts and context and make your decisions fairly. The Seven of Pentacles reversed signifies that you have been pouring a lot of energy into this search, this desperation to find the truth, but you are looking in the wrong place. You've become so blinded by what you think is true that you are digging only in places that could confirm it. But now, you've been searching here for so long that you feel giving up would be a waste or a failure. Do not invest your time where it will not bear fruit. The Eight of Wands is a similiar message, your progress is delayed and communication grows more difficult. Your answers lie just out of reach but you will reach them, it is just going to take time and effort. Make sure you are truly aligned with your goal, and willing to look in other places even if it will present a distatesteful answer. If you are not willing to accept a truth that hurts, look away. Stop trying to find a false truth in someone else, that is only a distraction from the blade that lays wedged between your own ribs - the one who put it there is behind you, so turn around.

[ofstarsandvibranium]

Precious Truths: Part 9

Fandom: Bridgerton

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x F!Reader

Summary: After your father finds out you’ve been writing under a male pseudonym, he threatens to marry you off to an atrocious man unless you find yourself a husband within a month’s time.

A/N: I will not be taking tags for this series!

Series Masterlist

You bow, nod, and chit chat with all of the guests that approach you and James. You were never one for attention. Your social manners were beginning to wane the more time you spent around people.

James, sensing your wavering attention, excuses you and himself from the current couple in front of you, guiding you to the refreshments.

"Are you well. cheri?"

You nod, "Yes. Just-um..."

"Too many people?" he asks with an understanding look in his eyes. When you nod again, he slips his hand into yours, "Let us have a break then, shall we? I'm sure Daphne and Simon will entertain everyone in our absence."

He pulls you away from the people gathered around the gardens. He guides you closer towards the castle where there's a bench that you and he can sit on.

You sit beside him with a sigh, leaning your head against his shoulder, "Thank you. I'm not used to all this attention. It’s a bit much.”

"It's alright. I'm not fond of it either. I suppose it wasn't the best idea to have a duchess host our engagement ball, hm?"

You giggle, "No, it was not."

"Y/N," you hear your name and turn. You immediately squeal when you see who it is, "PENELOPE!"

You leave your fiance's side to hug your friend, "I didn't know you'd be coming!"

Colin joins his wife's side, "We arrived home early this morning. Just in time to travel with my family to come here."

You hug Colin, "It's so good to see you both! We must talk later about your travels!"

"Of course. I must ask, why are you away from everyone? Are you well?" the newly married Bridgerton brother asks with concern.

James joins you at your side, hand on your waist, "She was feeling a bit tiresome from all the fanfare."

Colin nods, "Understandable. It seems my sister has outdone herself." He looks around at the castle gardens with an impressed expression.

James outstretches a hand, "James Montclair."

Penelope and Colin nod, "A pleasure to meet you, my Lord," Penelope says with a polite smile.

You gesture to the couple, "This is Colin and Penelope Bridgerton. They were away on their honeymoon which is why you haven't met them until now."

James smiles, "More Bridgertons!" His exclamation coming from his playful, joking side.

Colin chuckles, "Yes, we are a large bunch. I hope they haven't given you any trouble, my Lord."

"None at all. They have all been most welcoming, especially your sister and his Grace."

"I'd be delighted to relay the message to my mother. She'd be very proud to know Daphne has been treating you well. Speaking of," he looks back to you, "they were looking for you, Y/N. But I shall stall them until you are ready."

You nod desperately, "Colin Bridgerton, you are my savior!" The man nods and proceeds to guide Penelope away from you. Your friend gives you a wave before following her husband towards the rest of the guests.

You settle back onto the bench and lean against James once more. Silence falls over both of you as you listen to the distant sounds of music and chatter.

You think about the night you met with Benedict at your secret spot. Yes, you spent a majority of the time talking but when there were lulls in the conversation, the silence between you two never felt awkward. There was always a sense of comfort and familiarity.

You feel that now with James. The realization causes you to abruptly sit up and clear your throat, "I think I'm well rested enough."

You spring to your feet, James following you with concern, "Are you sure?" His hand on your elbow anchors you to a stop. You look into his dark brown eyes, filled with concern and care.

You smile at him, reaching out to place a hand on his cheek, "Positive."

"Alright,” he softly smiles back but furrows his brow in seriousness, “However, if you feel that way again, let me know and we can have another break."

You cup his face with both hands now, "Thank you. You are too kind to me, my Lord.”

James takes your hands and kisses your palms. He continues to hold your hand as you two walk back towards the gardens to continue mingling with your guests.

______________________

Violet's eyes brighten when she sees you and James coming to approach her, "There you are, my dear!" she rushes over to you and hugs you.

You chuckle, "Hello, my Lady. I apologize for our brief absence. I just needed a moment to breathe."

The dowager nods, "Of course. I imagine this can be a bit overwhelming for you."

"Yes, but luckily I have James as my side," you look at your fiancé fondly. You then turn back to Violet, "All of your family is here, yes?"

"All but Benedict, I'm afraid," she replies dejectedly.

You frown, "Benedict didn't come?"

She shakes her head, "No, he had prior engagements. I'm sorry, my dear. I know you wanted him here." She holds your hand reassuringly, giving you a look of sympathy.

You sigh, your shoulders falling in dejectedness, "I'm sure it must've been important then."

"Yes. He has a meeting with the headmaster of an art academy."

You smile brightly, but your smile doesn't meet your eyes, "That's wonderful! I shall send him my congratulations."

Sensing the sadness fall over you, James clears his throat, "Mon cher, would you like to dance?"

"Yes! Of course!" you excuse yourself from Violet and follow James to the dance floor. As the ensemble plays, you and he follows the choreography that everyone knows by heart.

As your bodies sway to the soft melody, James asks, "Are you alright? I noticed you seemed sad at Benedict's absence."

You sigh, "I'm sad but also happy for him. He'd always loved art and then there was an incident that happened last year that dimmed his love for it. But it seems he's grown his confidence again, so it is good to see him continue his passions. But he is one of my dearest friends, so it does sadden me a bit that he isn't here."

"We shall make sure he's at the wedding then, hm?"

"Of course. Whatever it takes," you state with finality and it makes James smile.

He takes your hand, twirling you around like the other dancers. It makes you giggle. There is now a lightness in the air as you two dance. James keeps his eyes on you. They're soft, filled with love and light. A hint of a smile remains on his lips and it only grows as the music and movement progresses.

When the song comes to an end, James rests his forehead against yours.

"I love you," he murmurs.

It's the first time he's said those three words to you. Although you know he's felt this way, through his words and actions, it is very well known. But hearing it out loud, it's brought a tinge of uneasiness. You are very fond of James. He's become a great companion over these few weeks. He's made you laugh, made you feel cared for. You know your future with him will be filled with stability, comfort, and ease.

So why can't you bring yourself to say those three words back?

You open your mouth to reply but James beats you to it, "I know it has been only a short time, but my mother had always said that when you have love for someone, to never let it go. To embrace it fully. I never expected to fall in love again after Maria's passing. To find companionship, friendship was all I expected to find, but I found love again. It may be too soon for you to feel the same and I understand. I just wanted to let you know."

"Thank you. I am fond of you, James. But I am sure, over time, I will grow to love you just the same."

He takes your hand and kisses it, "I look forward to it."

_______________________

Benedict should feel elated. He should be all smiles and buzzing with excitement. But he isn’t. He’s at a standstill. The headmaster at the academy had offered him a spot! He accepted it with gratefulness, but now as he’s heading back home, he’s thinking about what this could mean. He’d be away from his family, away from you. But perhaps that would be a good thing. He wouldn’t have to see you with Montclair. He wouldn’t experience his heart breaking every time he saw you on the arm of the marquess. However, a part of Benedict, the sad, yearning part of him, doesn’t want to be away from you. He never wants to be away from you because with you, he is complete. However, he lost his chance. He had so many opportunities and now his time is up.

It’s time to let you go.

[mandaplease10]

A Polin Take Nobody Asked For #5

*Penelope & Colin Aren't Friends*

Once again, there are complaints about how Pen & Colin were never actually friends because we never see them be friends. We're simply only told they are friends and now we're supposed to believe Colin loves her after saying he would never court.

Well, I am here to tell you why that is wrong. Oh and someone on twitter claimed this season has no narrative... like are we watching the same show??

FYI this is a long post!

Season 1:

Colin dances with Penelope after Cressida spills a drink on her. Even before this, he sought her out to have a conversation with her.

There are several times we see Colin and Penelope speaking at balls or gatherings.

Penelope tries to tell him about Marina and he is grateful for her friendship and care, but he doesn't listen to her because he thinks he knows Marina. Yet, he still took the time to hear her out for the most part.

Once Marina's secret is revealed, Colin apologizes to Pen and recognizes she was just trying to look out for him.

Colin goes traveling the first time because of Pen inspiring him to do so.

Colin singing in the drawing room and lowers his voice/stars at Pen when she walks in.

Season 2:

Their letters - This is a huge element to their friendship and their storyline. Honestly, I would love to have seen what their letters entailed over the years. Maybe one day we'll have a scene of them going through their old letters or something.

Colin's arrival - hello! That look he gives her when he sees her there in the drawing room after greeting his family. I believe had Hyacinth and Gregory not rushed him and Anthony didn't walk in to go to the races, he would have walked over and said something to her.

At the races- he sees Pen and walks over to her. He initiates the conversation and talks about their letters until Eloise ruins the moment.

Another moment he initiates a conversation is when Pen assumes he met someone on his travels and he talks about how he 'found himself' thanks to her letters.

Lady Crane was right about you - He knows that Pen cares for him and is special in his life and the fact that someone else saw that made him open his eyes a little more.

Defending the Featheringtons - Colin stood up to his friend Will when he said something negative about Pen's family and then again when he realized Jack was scheming around.

You are special to me. I will always look out for you - HELLO! Yes, Colin has a hero complex, but he doesn't do this for everyone! He doesn't seek out to help Cressida or other women of TON, but he risked standing up to a "Lord" to save Pen's family from ruin.

You are Pen. You are my friend - Colin literally calls her his friend and holds her above just another woman. Yes, in this moment she was sort of friend zoned, but the fact he still wanted her in his life, means something.

"I would never court Penelope Featherington" - Yes, this was not a good look, but this was also Colin trying to put on a facade in front of the gentleman. Plus, I also believe that in his state of mind, what he was doing and how he is around Pen, is just how they are together, yet in other's eyes, it was very much courting action.

Season 3:

His arrival - Immediately looks for Pen and when he doesn't see her, looks towards her house confused as to why she isn't present.

The Gardens - Smiles when he sees her and is eager to talk to her, upset when she cuts their conversation short.

The ball - Stares at her and watches her from afar and rushes after her when he sees her in distress.

Goodnight Mr. Bridgerton - Tries to joke around with her and have a friendly conversation, but realizes something is wrong. Feels horrid when he realizes why she is upset with him and wants to talk it out, gets upset when she leaves.

The Featherington Garden - Again, he seeks her out because he wants to make things right with her. THIS ENTIRE SCENE IS PRACTICALLY A WHY YOU ARE SPECIAL AND MORE THAN A FRIEND TO ME DECLARATION. If you actually watch this entire scene, you will see that there is genuine friendship and love there.

The Meet Cute - Seriously, the fact that HE remembers how they met AND he was the one who brought it up, says A LOT.

The Drawing Room - He listened to her and brought her to a place that makes her comfortable. He even made sure it was during a time when they would be alone. Also, it is obvious he feels something during the touch of hands and her attempt at flirting with him.

The Ball - They have yet another conversation amongst the two of them and he encourages her to talk to someone. Then they have a laugh. A genuine laugh, one that she never really had with Debling later on... Then we have the little bouts of jealous Colin when she's speaking to Lord Remington. Then how angry he gets when the word gets out about him and Pen and how he rushes after her in worry.

The First Kiss - Once again, Colin is seeking her out... in the middle of the night... bribing her maid for alone time. Like... not just anyone does that. Colin only had to do the one kiss. The one peck because that was all Pen asked for, but guess what? He went in for another one and would have kissed her again if she didn't leave. We can tell on his face, that he felt something he never felt before.

The Dream - Most people don't have romantic dreams about their friends unless there are feelings there.

The Willow Tree - The awkwardness is everything and pure friends to lovers.

I could continue the rest of their moments, but I'm not going to because so many of the same people keep saying the only reason Colin wanted Pen is because of Debling, well guess what everything that I listed above is PRE DEBLING. Yes, there is that moment in episode 1, but it isn't until episode 3 when Debling actively tries to pursue Pen and vice versa.

So, yeah, Polin haters can keep complaining and trying to make excuses as to why they dislike the season, but the receipts are the there to debunk those claims.

[dreamwritesimagines]

Garden of Secrets [38] - Gladiolus

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤

Summary: Strength builds in time.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms, mentions of sex, mentions of threat.

Word Count: 3100

Series Masterlist

Alright then.

Perhaps you owed Benedict an apology.

Ever since you had walked in on him and Madame Delacroix right after their escapade at her shop, you hadn’t stopped reminding him of his very frequent adventures with different ladies in the ton but in your defense, you had no idea the act was this…

Pleasurable.

Divine, even.

Yet, it raised one simple issue; the marriage bliss kept you too busy to pay attention to anything else. Honestly it didn’t feel like an issue at all to you -or to Benedict you were guessing- but you had lost the complete track of time in the last couple of days and you had to force yourself to think straight.

You put your shift on and walked to grab your dressing gown, your body aching in the most pleasant way and you bit down a smile as the memory of last night flashed through your mind, but then heard Benedict taking a deep breath, rising from his deep slumber.

“Y/N?” he asked, his voice hoarse from sleep and you looked over your shoulder, the sight making your heart skip a beat. He looked absolutely gorgeous, his hair all messy while he ran a hand over his glimmering blue eyes, the sunlight falling on his chiseled chest. You could feel the familiar desire sending sparks through your system but forced yourself to focus, shaking your head slightly.

“Good morning,” you said, dragging your gaze away from him to look around the room for the items of clothing of yours that Benedict had thrown around the room in his haste to get you out of them. “Did I wake you up?”

“No—what are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.”

His head shot up. “What?”

“For the day!” you added quickly and grabbed your corset off the floor. “I’m leaving for the day.”

“Why?”

“Benedict,” you said and motioned between you. “Perhaps it has escaped your notice but we have a problem.”

He tilted his head, confusion etched in his features. “A problem?” he repeated. “What problem?”

You tried to concentrate but it was rather hard when that fire was swirling in your lower stomach, the more you looked at him, the more you wanted to climb back in the bed and—

You cleared your throat, looking up at the ceiling, causing Benedict to look up as well.

“What’s happening?”

“If I look at you I’m going to get back in the bed so I refuse to.”

“How is that a bad thing?” he asked with a grin and you shot him a glance, then looked up at the ceiling again.

“You know, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but we have a lovely ceiling.”

“My love, what are you talking about?”

You felt a smile warm your face, then grabbed your dress off the floor as well before turning to him, heaving a sigh.

“First of all, you were right about it being…divine,” you said, then narrowed your eyes. “Wipe that smile off your face.”

He held up his hands, gesturing surrender and you put your clothes on the sofa.

“That being said, do you not think we’re being a bit…fixated?”

“Fixated?”

“When was the last time you painted?”

“A week ago.”

“When was the last time you and I actually communicated with another person more than an hour without rushing to the nearest room?”

“There was the gala—”

“Gordon’s guest room.”

He hissed in a breath. “Right. Good point.”

“And I have a greenhouse,” you told him, putting your hands on your hips. “Ask me when the last time I’ve been there was.”

“…A week ago?”

“A week ago!”

“I mean Mr. Binsted is taking care of—”

Even you could hear the petulant tone in your voice; “It doesn’t matter, it’s my greenhouse!”

“Darling it’s not like it’s going anywhere—”

“Listen,” you cut him off. “I have a greenhouse with very rare plants. And flowers.”

“Mm hm.”

“Not to mention, I have the rarest flower in the world, in the aforementioned greenhouse.”

“I heard a thing or two about that, yeah.”

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re the love of my life,” you said, making a smile curl his lips, that softness apparent in his gaze again while you pointed at the window, stomping on your foot. “But my greenhouse!”

“Right.”

“It has my favorite flower in there!”

“Hasn’t escaped my notice my love,” he said with a grin, almost humoring you and you nodded your head.

“So that’s what we’re doing today—no, don’t get out of the bed until I’m away,” you stopped him as he swung his legs over the bed and you looked up at the ceiling. “Wait until I leave.”

“Why?”

“Because neither of us can be trusted,” you stated. “So we’re not to cross paths today.”

“The whole day?!” Benedict asked in shock and you flailed your arms.

“To repeat, we cannot be trusted apparently!” you said. “You—you take the studio side of the house and I’ll be in the greenhouse and we are going to be…calm.”

“Calm?”

“Yes, calm,” you said and heaved a deep sigh and turned your gaze to him again. “It’s alright. We can do this, I have faith in us.”

“I don’t.”

“Ben!”

“Shall I lie to you?” he asked with a small laugh and you tilted your head, narrowing your eyes again.

“I’m leaving,” you said. “See you tonight at the ball, not one second before.”

“Darling to repeat, we live in the same house—”

“We’ll meet there!” you said. “I mean it.”

“We’re going in different carriages?”

“Do you not remember what happened the last time we were in the same carriage?”

He gave you that lopsided grin you loved so much, making your stomach do a happy flip.

“Oh trust me, I do remember,” he said and you felt your cheeks burn, then you shook your head slightly and grabbed your clothes off the sofa.

“I’ll see you at the ball,” you said and walked through the door connecting his room to yours, painfully aware of the smile on your face.

                                             *

It was as if you were in a happy dream and if that was the case, you never wanted to wake up. You were sure that it had been hours since you stepped foot into the greenhouse based on the sun, but you could swear it had only been minutes. It wasn’t until you heard a knock on the door that you snapped out of your haze and looked over your shoulder, your hands still in the pot.

“Josie?”

“Wow,” she said, looking around. “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

“No no,” you said, shaking your head and pulled your hands out of the pot to take off your gloves. “Welcome.”

“I mean you mentioned it the other day and I figured…” she said, motioning around. “This is impressive.”

“Look!” you turned around to grab the pot you had been working on and held it up, a bright smile on your face. “It’s a Queen of the Night Tulip!”

“Pretty.”

“And the one to your right is a Ghost Orchid, and—that’s Middlemist Red! My favorite!”

She forced a smile.

“You’re never leaving this place, are you?”

“Never,” you said with a laugh and walked to the next pot, which was a gladiolus flower. Josie took a deep breath.

“So,” she said. “She came to see me.”

“Hm?” you asked, looking at her again. “Who?”

She blinked a couple of times.

“Mother,” she said. “Mother came to see me. Are you alright?”

You could feel your heart dropping to your stomach, your happy mood getting dim like a sudden shadow on a sunny day but you pressed your lips together.

“Yeah,” you said. “Sorry I was just distracted. But none of us told them you were here, how did she…?”

“Must have heard from someone in the ton.”

“What did she say?”

“She uh… remember how she found those letters between me and Bess?”

“And threw them in the fire before father—” a bitter taste appeared in your mouth as you tried to shake off the memory. “Yes?”

“Well as it turns out she didn’t throw all of them in the fire,” she said. “There is one left, and she is threatening to show it to not only uncle but also the whole ton unless I give them money.”

You closed your eyes for a moment, leaning back to the shelf.

“God damn it,” you muttered. “So not only are they using Teddy as a leverage for more money from uncle, they’re also—”

“Using Bess and Andrew,” she finished your sentence for you. “Yes. I don’t care what happens to me if the ton hears, but I can’t see them get hurt Y/N.”

You nodded your head.

“Of course not,” you said, running a hand over your eyes. “No that’s—that’s not going to happen. Did you tell them?”

“They were outside when mother decided to pay the visit,” she said. “I’ll tell them when I get home. I just wanted you to know before anyone else, just in case.”

You heaved a sigh, then walked to pull her into a hug.

“Josie…”

“I’m fine,” she said almost mechanically even though she wrapped her arms around you to hold you tight. “You know me, I can handle mother and father.”

You bit inside your cheek and pulled back to look at her better, holding her hand to squeeze it in an assuring manner.

“I know,” you said, remembering how relieved you felt when Benedict told you the same thing. “But you don’t have to handle them alone.”

She tried to smile and took a shaky breath, then looked around.

“Well alright then,” she said. “Go ahead, tell me all about these flowers.”

                                                *

By the time Josie left it was near evening, and though you had told Benedict you would be taking separate carriages, you were so desperate to talk to him that you had ended up changing your mind. He looked quite surprised to see you waiting for him by the carriage but he knew something was troubling you with one look at your face.

So you had spent the entire road to the ball telling him about what happened.

“Letters?” he asked as he helped you out of the carriage when it stopped in front of the Elwick house. You took his hand and stepped out, then placed your hand on his arm while you walked towards the house.

“Letters,” you said. “Josie eloped very soon after that because—well, you can imagine how mother and father reacted.”

Benedict clenched his jaw. “Unbelievable,” he said. “You know, I was thinking I should talk to your father again and this just proves I must.”

“The last time you talked, you punched him.”

“I don’t have any regrets over that.”

“Neither do I, I’m glad you did,” you said. “That being said, I’m not putting your wellbeing over him getting what he deserves, so no.”

You both entered the house and passed through the foyer, the music getting louder and louder as you approached the ballroom.

“Y/N—”

“No way,” you insisted. “I get that you’re angry at them, and trust me I’m angry as well. Me and Josie, but I told you before. My father is not worth your attention, let alone your fury.”

He reached to hold your hand, running his thumb over your skin as if trying to assure you and you offered him a small smile.

“I’m alright.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, you know?”

You heaved a sigh and shrugged your shoulders, catching the sight of Andrew out of the corner of your eye, Benedict following your gaze.

“Did she tell him?”

“She said she would—I just didn’t think mother would actually go to Josie’s house,” you said. “My parents didn’t even know she was back in the country, so to come up with that plan as soon as they found out she’s here… I knew they were evil, I just didn’t think they’d be that fast.”

Benedict’s head snapped up.

“Wait,” he said. “They didn’t know she was here?”

“No,” you said. “The last they heard, Josie was going to Spain with Andrew and Bess so I figure they still thought she was there. Even I didn’t know she was coming back until she arrived here, there is no way they had an inkling.”

Benedict’s brows furrowed as if he was in deep thought, then he raised your hand to press a kiss on it.

“Just give me one moment my love, I will be back,” he said and strode to Andrew, muttering something to him before Andrew nodded and they both walked away. You frowned in confusion but then someone touched your arm, making you turn to them.

“Lottie!”

“Oh thank God you’re here, you’re going to save me,” Lottie said, linking her arm with yours and pulling you to the foyer, making you let out a small laugh.

“What? What is happening?”

“Tony hasn’t arrived yet and everyone is asking me a lot of questions about the wedding that I don’t even know the answers to,” she said as you followed her through the foyer. “And my mama has been taken hostage by other mamas who want to be invited to the engagement ball that I haven’t even planned yet it seems, so you’re to be my savior. We’re going to the backyard.”

You repressed a laugh. “There might be people there as well, you know.”

“Fewer people who will not be as enthusiastic to ask me questions, I’m hoping.”

You hummed as you both stepped out of the house to the backyard. “If someone does approach, do you want me to threaten them?”

“Goodness no!” she said. “That would be very rude!”

“What if they are approaching you to ask you questions about the engagement ball you haven’t planned yet?”

She thought for a moment, her lips pulling into a pout as if she was torn between decisions.

“Don’t threaten them verbally, just glare at them please?”

“Understood.”

“I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m the happiest lady in the entire world but—” she huffed as you two sat down on a bench. “Everyone has something to ask and nobody leaves us alone anymore Y/N! With Tony, it’s as if everyone swore to…”

“Interrupt you?” you said with a grin and she looked abashed for a moment.

“…Yes.”

“So I’m guessing no other scandalous behavior has taken place?”

“Y/N!”

“Just a question,” you teased her and she heaved a tormented sigh.

“If only,” she sulked. “Everyone seems to watch us closer now that we’re engaged.”

“Tell Anthony patience is a virtue,” you said, trying to stop the smirk on your face and she nodded.

“I have.”

You let out a small laugh. “Lottie, you’re too sweet.”

“Thank you—how about you and Benny?” she asked and you blinked a couple of times, clearing your throat.

“Hm?”

“I mean no one has seen you on a social outing of the ton for almost a week,” she said. “Everyone has a lot of ideas about the reason.”

“Such as?”

“You’d tell me if you were with child, would you not?”

Your eyes widened, your breath getting caught in your throat.

“What?!” you asked. “No—I mean yes I would tell you but no Lottie, that’s not what is happening!”

“Good,” she said. “Because you see, I have many things I wish to shop for before your baby gets here—”

“That baby is nonexistent as we speak, Lottie.”

“And I’d like a pre-warning,” she said like she wasn’t listening and you scoffed.

“So that’s what the ton thinks?”

“Some of them,” she said. “Why haven’t you been attending outings then?”

You shifted your weight, trying to come up with an excuse but thankfully you saw Benedict approaching out of the corner of your eye.

“Oh look, Benedict is here!” you said, motioning at him and he gave you a smile.

“Charlie.”

“Benny, hello!”

“Anthony just arrived, he was looking for you,” Benedict said, pointing back at the house with his thumb and Lottie let out a breath.

“Oh thank God,” she said, standing up. “Benny, have you seen anyone asking him questions about our engagement ball?”

Benedict made a face. “Please stop reminding me you’re engaged to my brother, I’m still not completely alright with that idea.”

You raised your brows and Lottie rolled her eyes.

“You do realize that you will be the best man, do you not?” she asked as if teasing him, making him let out a whine.

“Charlie!”

“I’ll see you inside Y/N.”

“See you inside,” you said with a laugh and watched her walk away. Benedict heaved a sigh and sat beside you.

“So they’re actually going to get married then?”

“Seems like it,” you said, patting him on the arm as if trying to assure him. “Will you be alright?”

“Ask me again later,” Benedict said and stole a look at you. “How about you?”

“I’m alright with them getting married, I don’t know why you’re making it such a big issue—”

“You know that’s not what I meant,” he said and you paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Sure.”

“Y/N.”

“I’m fine, I just…” you let out a bitter laugh. “It’s rather surprising but it shouldn’t be. It’s just that, I’ve been so happy lately that I almost forgot they were here to cause trouble, does that make sense?”

“It absolutely does,” he said with that soft light in his eyes. “But it is going to be alright, I promise you.”

“What did you and Andrew talk about?” you asked, gazing up at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing important, I just asked about your parents.”

You narrowed your eyes. “Benedict.”

“Yes my love?”

“That will not distract me,” you pointed at him while trying very hard to not let it distract you, making him chuckle.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” he assured you. “I’m not putting myself or anyone you care about in danger, I swear to you.”

You pursed your lips, then heaved a sigh and turned a little to face the backyard, putting your head on his shoulder. He entwined his fingers with yours, pressing a kiss on top of your head before burying his nose into your hair.

“Let’s stay here for a while?” you asked. “I like being alone with you even when we’re not…you know.”

A small laugh vibrated his chest. “Same here darling.”

You heaved a sigh, then frowned when the thought hit you. “But we’re still going to—”

“Way ahead of you, they have a library on the other side of the house.”

“Good,” you said, a small smirk curling your lips as you stole a look at him. “I happen to be an admirer of books.”

Chapter 39

[silverdreamscapes]

I swear people in this fandom are too funny. Because how can people say on one hand that they didn’t pick up on anything romantic between Elriel until the bonus and then say elriels lack reading comprehension and don’t pay attention to the text or details. Wtf, clearly if anyone lacked reading comprehension it was you and not elriels lol. Because we didn’t need a bonus chapter to literally spell out for us that Azriel and Elain wanted one another.

What did you think “A mate will know what is wrong with Elain” and then Azriel being the one to figure it out was about?

What did you think Azriel being the first one to notice Elain was missing and “I’m getting her back” were about? The fact that Sarah had Azriel as the one to go on a suicide mission to save her and not her mate?

The fact that Elain is the first and only person that Azriel has willingly let hold TT, his most prized possession? “I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two.” Pretty sure elucien and Gwynriel didn’t have a moment like this.

Why is Elain the first one to hold his scarred hands and call them beautiful?

Why do you think Azriel was clearly upset about spying on Lucien because he didn’t want to see what he and Elain did together? “Azriel’s Siphons guttered, the stones turning as dark and foreboding as the deepest sea.”

Why is Azriel associated with a place called Rosehall of all things? A place more than likely belonging to his mother.

Why do you think Elain buys gifts for Azriel but not her own mate? That she’s the one who causes Azriel to actually laugh out loud and it’s a sound unlike anything Feyre has heard before?

That he stays up until whatever fuck o’clock in the morning just to listen to her garden plans and stays with her even after everyone goes to bed.

If Lucien is supposedly what she needs because of “sunshine” then why is Azriel the one who actually takes her to the gardens and spends time with her in the sun enjoying peace and quiet and not Lucien? Why have Feyre ask Rhys “what if the cauldron is wrong”.

Why is Cassian confused pretty much throughout all of ACOSF because of Azriel’s behavior? Why he doesn’t sleep at night, why he avoids family dinners, why Elain smiles shyly at Azriel and has to look away, why Azriel seems so concerned over Elain’s wellbeing when he learns Nesta and Elain had a fight, why his shadows gather likes snakes ready to strike Nesta for insulting Elain?

And most importantly what about the fact that Cassian and even Mor notice that Azriel no longer looks at Mor longingly and appears to be over her? Azriel’s feelings for Elain were the catalyst and reason for him moving on from Mor after 5 centuries, and it wasn’t Gwyn his supposed mate who he actually met two years prior to Elain? Hmm…weird.

Or what about Azriel following the sound of elain’s laugh to another room and sharing a charged look between them? Or Azriel not being able to go into the family room because of “who” was in there “His secret to tell, never hers.”

Not sure how you missed all this, as well as other examples I didn’t even list, and then have the audacity to say we have no reading comprehension. Elriels didn’t need a bonus chapter to literally spell out for us that Azriel’s secret was Elain. I didn’t need it explicitly stated by him that he wonders what she looks like when he penetrates her, or that Elain gets wet just from him touching her neck of “offer and permission” to pick up on what Sarah has clearly been hinting at for multiple books. He wants her, she wants him, but there’s a mating bond in the way which complicates everything. It’s really that simple.

If you couldn’t pick up on that, then it’s you with the reading comprehension problem not elriels. They actually have romantic setup unlike Elucien where Elain loses her boldness around him. Or Gwynriel who have an off page rescue, and off page dagger lesson we never hear about, an off page bonus, and a regifted necklace meant for another woman.

[thestrangeblob]

a little list of canon evidence supporting most elriel theories <3

1. elain and the possibility of her training to be a spy

Elain pushed, “We keep it secret—we send the servants away. (...) No one will know.”

My sister Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles.

She (feyre) nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s (elain) got you beat for secret-keeping."

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood the gift he possessed.

Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.” She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

2. elain wearing azriel's color (cobalt blue)

Elain rasped, “Nice to meet you,” before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor. ... She’d (elain) covered her nightgown with a silk shawl of palest blue, her fingers grappling into the fabric as she held herself. ... Elain seemed to realize it, too. She peered down at herself, at the simple blue gown she wore.  ... But Elain wrapped her own blue cloak around herself, ... “Is your father healing?” I added the cobalt of Azriel’s Siphons to the orange and mixed until a rich brown appeared. ... Azriel’s Siphons flashed, a sprawling shield of cobalt locking over Rhysand’s, his breathing just as heavy as my mate’s ... Az held Cassian’s stare for a moment, cobalt Siphons flickering, and then nodded.

3. elain's mating bond to lucien might be wrong

when elain was turned and mated:

Faster than any of us could see, Jurian fired a hidden ash bolt through Azriel’s chest. The ash bolt was coated in bloodbane that the King of Hybern claimed flowed where he willed it. ... “Put the prettier one in first,” the king said, Mor already forgotten. I twisted—only to have the king’s guards grab me from behind. Rhys was instantly there, but Azriel shouted, back arching as the king’s poison worked its way in. (I didn't leave out any lines between these two paragraphs... so why did the poison sink deeper into az when the king says to put elain into the cauldron???)

azriel's mate behaviour to elain:

Azriel smiled faintly. ‘Would you like me to show you the garden?’ But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. ... Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports ... The two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still.” ... ‘Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.’ ‘I can help her,’ said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing from his fingers as he extended a hand.” ... The ancient healer jerked her chin toward Lucien. “See what he can do. If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it’s a mate. The mating bond. It is a bridge between souls.” She pointed at Lucien as she saw herself out. “Try sitting down with her. Just talking—sensing. See what you pick up. But don’t push.” (what we see azriel do time and again) “She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need ...” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.” ... “Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?”

the description of feysand:

But the bond, the bridge between us... it was a howling void.

the description of elriel:

The only bridge of connection ... that knife.

the description of elucien:

“It felt ... strange,” Elain breathed. “Like you pulled on a thread tied to a rib.”

finally:

‘There is choice. And sometimes, yes—the bond picks poorly sometimes the bond is nothing more than some…preordained guesswork at who will provide the strongest offspring. At its basest level, it’s perhaps only that.’”

4. azriel's shadows DO like elain:

In the blinding sun off the turquoise water, his shadows were gone, his face stark and clear. More ... human than I had ever seen him. ... “What now?” Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room. ... Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike. ... But tonight, here in the dark and quiet, with no one to see…He pulled the small velvet box from the shadows around him. Opened it for her. 

5. elriel's aesthetic as light and dark

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection ... that knife.

if y'all want any more cold hard canon to back up any other elriel theories/arguments/takes comment it on this post and I'll add it to the list LMAO

good day and good night y'all stay safe our there<33

[botanicadrabbles]

Hydrangeas'

Lucifer x Reader

Warnings: Hanahaki fic. Established relationship, jealousy, self-doubt, relationship anxiety, blood, vomit.

Part 1, Part 2

Word count: 1,241

Hell was never some where people actively wanted to end up; Tales of an eternal afterlife of suffering and punishment, when you first arrived in hell that’s what you expected. Opening your eyes to see a… Some what inviting place, was absolutely not what you had expected.

However that was years ago, now you’re helping Charlie with the hotel, no real want to redeem yourself. Charlie always asks you why and you have to just shrug and not really explain, your relationship with her father was a secret and you didn’t know how she would react to him dating someone else other than her mother.

You always heard from Charlie how amazing their love story is and how deeply in love they where, “I mean he still wears her ring” she would say. You always deluded yourself to think the reason he kept it on was because he still was in love with her. That he still solely cared about her, you felt you had no place to tell him he has to take it off, he was grieving the loss of his wife and you have to respect that.

But when with him, and just him. You never felt any pressure to be something different. Dancing around in his flower garden, his arms resting around your waist, yours hanging loosely around his shoulders.

Music was playing softly in the background, post modern jukebox. He always says how he loves more classical and older styled music compared to the new way music was made, but you where born in the early 2000’s and enjoyed the music you grew up with. So you made a deal (though not a magical one) that we only listen to music covered by them so we both get enjoyment out of music while with eachother.

Stopping for a moment you detached from him to look at the garden, that is why you where invited over after all. To see his flower garden, he stays at the hotel but doesn’t trust any of the staff in the palace to actually look after the garden properly so he comes every day to make sure they’re being well looked after.

Lilies…Lilly of the valley… Royal lilly… Spider lilly… His love for Lillith ran deep and you’re no longer sure to yourself if he loves you as much.

“Y/N.. Are you alright? You’ve been looking at the flowers for awhile” He says, his voice is so sweet to you and you’re starting to hate it, you hate how jealous you’re becoming…How possessive. You want people say how in love he seems with you, you want flowers to be planted and taken care of as well as he does as these for you. You want to be more with him.

Ofcourse though, he doesn’t give you much more time to think as he scoops you into his arms, pulling you into a deep hug, lifting you off of the ground. Looking down was a mistake as you realise how quickly and how far you had gone off of the ground now.

Like any sane person you cling onto him worried about falling, souls where a fragil thing, and that’s all you where. A sinner, a lost soul who wasn’t good enough to get into heaven.

You could feel the two of you turning slowly in the air like a ballerina in a music box, scared still you look up at Lucifer and he has the worlds most loving and dotefull eyes. The moment seemed perfect, you hadn’t had a first kiss yet and thought it was now or never you swear you feel him pulling away but then feel the rain coming down, he laughs a bit and despite being confused you laugh along as he carefully but quickly hurries the both of you inside.

You can’t help but smile and laugh more at your circus leader boyfriend’s soaked hair and clothing making him look a bit like a sewer rat. He smiles too and for the first moment since being there today there was no doubt, no anxiety or second thoughts about your relationship with him.

“I’ll go get a towel for you” He says grinning with his sharp teeth you nod in response, “Okay Luce” you say and wonder the foyer into the overtly large dining room, raising your eyebrow at the grand and glaringly expensive dining room.

Lucifer doesn’t take long too come back puting the towel on your damp head for you to dry yourself off with. He takes a seat on the chair in front of you as he grabs your hands..Which forces you to drop the towel and look at him. “You’re so gorgeous Y/N” he’d tell you, you smile. You can’t help it, he has that effect on you. Something about him naturally makes you fall for him, wanting his praise and approval, some type of weird spell was cast on you the day you met him.

You didn’t even realise when you said it, fucking hell you regretted it the moment it came past your lips. You felt his hands retract from his, watched as his face fell and fear take over his previously peaceful and happy expression.

“I love you” is what you said..Regret is what you felt when he reacted that way, hurt is what you felt when he said “I’m sorry?” as if the complete notion of ever being loved by someone was lost on him. He laughed a bit when you didn’t respond, as if your feelings where a joke and what you had said was some type of childish prank.

Your heart ached, it twisted and turned and you where still, frozen in place as your heart begged your brain to start to allow you to move, run away. You can’t deal with him laughing in your face. It hurt. It wasn’t until the vomit crawled up into your throat that you felt your eyes tearing up. The rain didn’t seem to be a concern anymore as your legs moved.

They moved faster than you thought you could ever possibly do. Your own mind washing out the way he called out for you, the concerned voices of the hotel patrons and guests as you ran past and into your room.

You didn’t realise the breath you where holding, the amount of emotions you had until your legs trembled and gave out in your bathroom that was attached to your bedroom. Holding onto the bench you felt the vomit come back up your throat. That horrible feeling of vile burning the back of it until you couldn’t take it anymore and gave in.

As you vomited into the toilet, heaving and gasping for air, feeling as if your lungs where crushing under your ribs. Tears brimming your eyes as you hoped for it to pass.

The metallic taste in your mouth brought you out of the daze, confused you pat your finger tips to the soft skin of your lips.. Blood, there was blood on your lip, looking down at the toilet basin you see some of what you expect, pale vomit.. You didn’t expect to see a mix of blood as well as blue and while hydrangea petals.

You thought to yourself how stupid this was.

This had to be some weird curse, you read about it when you where alive. It was fictional right?

Well…Fiction is always based on some type of truth..

[glearyyyne]

deja vu

Part 2

Synopsis: Since some things are precious but invisible to the eye, we forget them as life passes by. In which child Satoru forgot the promise he made to you as he grew up trying to fit into the expectations thrown at him, everything is fine until he began to dream about those moments he forgot, and he began to investigate what he forgot.

Word Count: 5,567 words

Warning: Imaginary friends, I don't know if this is angst anymore since it has a happy ending.

Note: Happy Birthday to me! (ᗒᗨᗕ) the title came from tomorrow x together's new song! go ahead and stream minisode 3. This is best to read while listening to deja vu! This was to be like long ass story but I'll just make a part 2 if everyone wants too. Have fun reading! <33.

_____________________________________________________________

Stomp stomp

Satoru stopped running when he made it to the garden of his household, he ran away again from his lesson just to have fun. 

As Satoru stood on the pile of leaves, he carefully stomped out the melody of the Morse code, hoping to summon the person he had met in the garden. Each rhythmic stomp carried a message, a secret code only they shared.

"Satoru!" The voice called out, and he excitedly turned his head around to see you and the fennec fox that you weirdly named "Tomorrow.”

Upon seeing you, Satoru’s eyes lit up before he tried to rush towards you but instead, he tripped and landed right on his face. 

He groans in pain with tears threatening to spill but you come towards him, kneeling and helping him to stand up.

He started seeing you after his 7th birthday. When he was wandering around alone in the garden that was like a maze, he saw you sitting prettily as you gently petted that fox. 

You looked just around his age at that time, but he couldn't believe whether you were real or not since you looked like an angel to his eyes from how bright you were. 

It was as if you were not a human being at all…

When you accidentally made eye contact with Satoru, that's how you two began to meet in secret.

"Are you okay?" you asked with a concerned look as Satoru brushed it off, telling you he was fine, even though there was clear evidence of blood running down his nose.

Despite his attempt to hide it, you could see the pain in his eyes. 

Gently, you reached out and wiped away the blood with a handkerchief you always carried with you. Satoru winced slightly but tried to hide it with a weak smile.

"You really should be more careful, Satoru," you scolded softly, your voice filled with worry. "Let's get you cleaned up."

You led him to a nearby bench and carefully dabbed at his nose with the handkerchief, trying to stop the bleeding. 

The fennec fox, Tomorrow, nuzzled against Satoru's leg as if offering comfort in its own way.

As you tend to him, Satoru couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and safety wash over him. Being with you and Tomorrow always made him forget his troubles, even if just for a little while.

As Satoru sat there with you by his side, tending to his injury, he couldn't help but wish that this moment could last forever. 

He wished he could stay like this with you, with Tomorrow following you two around, offering silent companionship.

Despite the pain in his nose, Satoru felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over him. 

Being with you made him forget about the stresses and worries of his everyday life as the heir to the Gojo clan. It was moments like these that he cherished the most, moments of simple happiness and quiet friendship.

As you finished cleaning up his nose, Satoru looked up at you with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. 

"I don't know what I would do without you.” He added.

You gave him a light-hearted chuckle as you told him it's nothing, as long as his nose is fine. 

With a playful grin, you booped his nose gently, causing him to wince and whine as it still pained him even from a gentle touch.

"I'm sorry," you said with a sympathetic smile, realizing your mistake. "I didn't mean to make it hurt more."

Satoru shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips despite the discomfort. "It's okay," he assured you. "I'll survive."

You and Satoru shared a moment of laughter, finding solace in each other's company even in the midst of a small mishap. As Tomorrow nestled closer to both of you, the bond between the three of you felt stronger than ever.

As Satoru began to tell you about his day, you sat there listening attentively, giving him a genuine reaction to each detail he shared. 

You laughed at his humorous anecdotes, frowned at his frustrations, and smiled at his moments of joy.

Lost in conversation, neither of you noticed the passage of time or the maid beginning to appear in the garden. 

Satoru was completely engrossed in sharing his experiences with you, finding comfort in your presence and the ease with which he could confide in you.

While Satoru was still engrossed in telling his story, he was abruptly pulled on his wrist. Startled, he turned to face his personal maid, who had a frantic look on her face.

"Gojo-sama, who were you talking to?!" she asked, breathing heavily. 

Satoru was confused. "Huh? I was talking to-" He turned his head to face you and Tomorrow, eager to show you to the maid, but to his surprise, the two of you weren't there.

Huh?

Confusion clouded Satoru's expression as he scanned the garden, but there was no sign of you or Tomorrow. 

His heart sank as he realized that you and the fennec fox had vanished without a trace, leaving him standing there, alone with his bewildered maid.

The maid sighed in disappointment, her frustration evident as she scolded him. 

"I'm disappointed in you, Gojo-sama, for running away from your lecture and being here alone! How would your father react if he knew this?!" Her voice carried a mix of concern and fear, knowing the consequences of Satoru's actions if his father found out about his whereabouts while escaping an important lesson.

Satoru felt a pang of guilt as he realized the trouble he could be in if his father discovered his disobedience. 

He lowered his gaze, feeling ashamed for causing his maid such distress.

"I'm sorry," he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to worry anyone. I'll go back to my lesson now."

With a heavy heart, Satoru followed his maid back to the house, his mind filled with thoughts of you and Tomorrow, wondering where you had disappeared and if he would ever see you again.

The next day, Satoru returned to the garden, finding himself standing in the same spot where he had met you before. Hesitant at first, he debated whether to do the Morse code to summon you, but he shook off his doubts and began stomping his feet in the pile of leaves, creating the familiar rhythm.

Just as he finished, he heard your voice calling out his name. Startled, Satoru turned around to see you standing there, nervous but with a glimmer of hope in your eyes. Tomorrow hung on your shoulder, adding to the surreal scene.

"Satoru," you spoke softly, the sound of his name sending a wave of relief through him. Without hesitation, he rushed towards you, a smile spreading across his face.

"You came back," he said, his voice filled with joy and gratitude. "I was afraid I wouldn't see you again.”

Satoru added, "Since you suddenly vanished yesterday when my maid was scolding me," his tone carrying a hint of hurt. You gently held his shoulder, trying to reassure him.

"I'm sorry about it, but if you know about it, I don't know about the consequences I'll face," you explained, your words tinged with concern. Satoru's interest was piqued by your cryptic statement, and he looked at you with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his brows furrowing slightly. He couldn't help but wonder what consequences you were referring to and why you had disappeared so suddenly the day before.

You brushed it off, telling him it's nothing he should be worrying about. Satoru was confused as to why you couldn't tell him, but he kept quiet. All he wanted to do was spend time with you and Tomorrow, relishing in the moment of companionship and friendship.

Though a part of him was curious about the secrets you held, he decided not to press further. Instead, he focused on the present, cherishing the time he had with you and the fennec fox. As he watched Tomorrow playfully scampering around, a smile formed on Satoru's lips, grateful for the simple joys your presence brought him.

On his 10th birthday, Satoru came across the garden, but there was no joy in his body. He mechanically performed the usual Morse code, his heart heavy with burdens he couldn't quite articulate. When you called his name, he turned around to see you smiling at him, Tomorrow perched on your shoulder as usual.

However, your smile faltered as you sensed Satoru's unusual demeanor. Concern etched across your face as you approached him cautiously.

"Satoru, is everything alright?" you asked gently, your voice filled with genuine care. Satoru hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to express the turmoil he was feeling inside.

"I came here to tell you that I will stop coming here," Satoru replied, his voice tinged with sadness. Your face showed an expression of hurt and a small "oh" escaped your lips. Satoru scratched his nape nervously.

"Satoru, will you promise me?" you asked, your voice soft but filled with emotion.

"Promise about what?" he asked, confused by your request.

"Promise me that you will meet us again and you won't forget the Morse code we created and also mine and Tomorrow's name," you told him with a smile, even though it hurt you deeply.

Satoru thought it wasn't that hard as he agreed, "I promise," he said with a smile. You smiled back, though a tinge of sadness lingered in your eyes, as he walked away to head inside his clan household. You stood there, staring at the ground, hiding the fact that you had a gift for him hidden behind your feet.

As Satoru disappeared from view, you let out a sigh, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside you. 

With a heavy heart, you bent down and retrieved the gift you had prepared for him, clutching it tightly in your hands.

Despite the pain of saying goodbye, you knew it was for the best. Holding onto the hope that someday, somehow, you and Satoru would meet again. 

With a determined smile, you tucked the gift away, silently vowing to cherish the memories you shared and to keep your promise to never forget.

But that promise slowly faded away as Satoru grew older, the memories of his childhood slipping through his fingers like grains of sand. 

Immersed in his duties as the heir of the Gojo clan, he became consumed by the weight of expectations and obligations.

As the years passed, the garden and the special moments he shared with you and Tomorrow became distant echoes in his mind, overshadowed by the demands of his position. 

Slowly but surely, the memories began to blur, the Morse code becoming nothing more than a forgotten melody, and your name fading into the depths of his consciousness.

Despite his best efforts to hold on, Satoru found himself unable to recall the promise he had made to you that day. 

It was as if a veil had been drawn over his past, shrouding it in a haze of forgetfulness.

With each passing day, the gap between Satoru's present and his cherished memories of the past widened, leaving him feeling lost and disconnected from the innocence and joy of his childhood. 

As he continued to fulfill his duties as the heir of the Gojo clan, the promise he had once made to never forget slipped further and further from his grasp, lost to the passage of time.

**

Satoru woke up abruptly, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. 

His hand instinctively went to his forehead, feeling the dampness of sweat, and then to his eyes, where he could still feel the lingering dampness of tears. 

He realized he had been crying in his sleep.

What the hell is that dream?

Confusion and unease settled over him as he tried to make sense of the emotions that had stirred within him. 

His heart felt heavy, weighed down by a sadness he couldn't quite place. Was it a dream that had brought him to tears, or was it something deeper, something he couldn't quite grasp?

As he lay there in the darkness, the remnants of his dream slipping away like smoke, Satoru couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that lingered within him. 

Despite the warmth of his surroundings, he felt an inexplicable chill in his bones, as if something precious had been lost to him forever.

Satoru lay back again, his mind still lingering on the vivid dream. Who was that young girl in his dream? He swore he had never met them before. With a sigh, he glanced at his clock and realized he was awake earlier than usual. 

Feeling restless, Satoru got up and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. As he stood in front of the mirror, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. The memory of the dream lingered in the back of his mind, elusive yet haunting. 

Despite his attempts to push it aside, Satoru found himself lost in thought, pondering the significance of the dream and the emotions it had stirred within him. 

He is itching to know that person.

But as he rinsed his mouth and splashed water on his face, he resolved to put it behind him and focus on the day ahead. With a determined expression, he left the bathroom, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.

At Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, Shoko and Geto stared at Satoru as if they had seen a ghost. "You're early, wow," Shoko said, amused, while Geto remarked, "You look like shit, dude."

Satoru groaned at them for being annoying. "Knock it off, you two!" he told them frustratedly as he rubbed his forehead, already feeling a headache coming on.

Both Shoko and Geto sat down in front of him after grabbing chairs. "Was it some girl?" Geto asked teasingly.

"I'll punch you in the face," Satoru told him annoyingly, clearly not in the mood for their jokes.

Shoko giggled at the exchange. "So it is a girl!" she said happily, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Satoru sighed heavily, covering his face with his arm at the desk in an attempt to ignore Shoko and Geto's antics. 

The two glanced at each other before shrugging and engaging in another conversation, leaving Satoru to his thoughts.

His mind began to wander, trying to unravel the mystery of the dream that had left him feeling unsettled. 

Did he really forget something? 

The thought gnawed at him, but his childhood memories were a blur, a part of his past that he often avoided digging into.

As Shoko and Geto's voices faded into the background, Satoru couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was missing, something important that he had left behind in the depths of his memories. 

But as much as he tried to push the thought away, it lingered like a shadow, taunting him with its mysterious presence.

Even though it bugged Satoru, he continued his day like he usually did.

**

Satoru woke up in the middle of a field on a hill. Looking around, he found the surroundings peaceful, but confusion flooded his mind as he tried to comprehend how he had ended up there. Just as he was about to shout for someone, he heard a squeak.

His head swiftly turned to see a fox? But it didn't look like a normal fox; its color didn't match the foxes he knew. Perhaps it was a specific type of fox? 

He felt that this was the fox in his other dream.

The fox stared at him with an unreadable expression before turning around and running away down the mountain.

Satoru's eyes widened, and before he knew it, his feet unconsciously began to run, trying to chase after the mysterious fox.

As Satoru made it to the top of the hill where the fox had led him, he stared down to see someone's back facing him. They knelt in front of the fox, giving it a chin rub, to which the fox responded with evident happiness. 

Satoru was about to call out to the person, but to his horror, he found that his voice wouldn't come out. 

Panic surged through him as he tried to walk forward, only to find himself stumbling and falling through darkness. 

The sensation of falling seemed endless, and Satoru's mind raced with confusion and fear. 

What was happening? 

Where was he going? 

And who was that person with the fox? 

**

Satoru woke up again, this time to the sound of his alarm blaring. He sat up straight, turning off the alarm abruptly as he rubbed his eyes. 

The remnants of the dream lingered in his mind, leaving him feeling unsettled.

"Ah, my head," Satoru muttered, rubbing his temples in an attempt to alleviate the headache that had crept in. 

The vividness of the dream left him feeling disoriented as if it had a deeper significance that he couldn't quite grasp.

Satoru thought back to the person he had seen in his dream, trying to recall their features. He couldn't shake the feeling that the person was just around his age. 

Could it be that person and the fox were the ones from his dream?

Sighing, Satoru stood up and went about his usual routine, pushing the strange dream to the back of his mind for the time being. 

But the nagging feeling that there was something more to it lingered, leaving him unsettled as he went about his day.

**

Satoru called out to Shoko, who was smoking in the hallway. "Mhm?" she replied, blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Let me guess, did you and Suguru make another bet?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Satoru shook his head, a serious expression on his face.

He leaned against the wall, contemplating his thoughts for a moment before speaking again. "What would you do if you had a dream that felt so real?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. 

Shoko took another drag of her cigarette before responding. 

"Well, I guess it depends on the dream. But if it felt real, I'd probably try to figure out why it felt that way. Dreams can sometimes be a reflection of our subconscious thoughts and feelings, you know?" she replied, her tone thoughtful.

"But all dreams are just made up?" Satoru asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Shoko shrugged, taking another puff of her cigarette. "Well, believe what you want. I already gave you my answer to that question of yours," she said cryptically, leaving Satoru to ponder her words.

Satoru tried to question her further, but Shoko began to feel annoyed. She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, her patience wearing thin.

"Look, Satoru, I don't have time for your quarter-life crisis," she snapped, her irritation visible. "If you keep bothering me with these questions, I swear I'll kill you."

Despite her threatening tone, Shoko knew she wasn't strong enough to actually harm Satoru. 

It was more of an empty threat born out of frustration than anything else.

Satoru huffed in frustration as he walked away from Shoko, deciding to ask Geto the same question. 

However, his attempt didn't go as planned, as Geto's patience wore thin much quicker than expected.

As Satoru began to ask his question, Geto's annoyance boiled over, and he almost ended up getting beaten up by Geto for the umpteenth time for annoying him with his constant questions. 

Satoru quickly retreated, realizing that perhaps he needed to find the answers to his questions on his own.

**

Satoru woke up, finding himself back in his clan household's garden. 

It was a maze-like garden, designed to intrigue and challenge visitors. His eyes were drawn to a glowing circle, its color matching his own eyes. 

As it began to move inside the maze, Satoru felt a curious pull, compelling him to follow the mysterious object.

With cautious steps, he navigated through the intricate pathways of the maze, the hedges towering above him like walls of greenery. 

The glowing circle led him deeper into the maze, its light casting eerie shadows on the foliage.

Despite the uncertainty swirling in his mind, Satoru felt a sense of determination driving him forward. He had to find out what this glowing object was and why it had led him here. With each twist and turn of the maze, he moved closer to unraveling the mysteries hidden within.

As soon as Satoru took a turn in the maze, he slowed to a stop when he saw the same fox whining at the back of a glowing young girl. 

The girl was crying and digging into the ground, pushing something that resembled a letter. Satoru's interest was piqued by the unusual scene unfolding before him.

As the girl turned around, Satoru thought he would be able to see their face. 

However, instead of a clear view, their face seemed to glow, obscuring his vision and making it harder for him to see their features. 

They carried and hugged the fox tightly, tears streaming down her face, while the fox whined softly as if trying to comfort them in return.

A sense of empathy washed over Satoru as he watched the heartbreaking scene. He felt compelled to approach and offer his help, but he hesitated, unsure of how to intervene in such a mysterious and otherworldly situation.

Satoru's mouth unconsciously opened, but once again, his voice failed to emerge. His hand shot up to his neck, gripping it tightly in confusion. 

He felt a surge of panic as he wondered if he had suddenly become mute.

Frantically, Satoru tried to speak, but no sound escaped his lips. The realization that something strange was happening washed over him, leaving him feeling helpless.

The young girl stopped crying and stood up, still carrying the fox in her arms before suddenly running away. 

Satoru's eyes widened in surprise as he instinctively followed them, breaking into a run. However, he couldn't seem to move forward. 

Instead, he felt as if an invisible force was pulling him backward, preventing him from reaching the girl and the fox.

Confusion clouded Satoru's mind as he struggled against the unseen barrier, his heart pounding with frustration and urgency. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free. 

As he continued to struggle, his vision suddenly went dark.

**

Satoru woke up again, finding himself back in his dorm room. He sat up straight, blankly staring at the wall, lost in thought. Was this moment real or just another dream? 

To confirm, he pinched himself and winced as he felt the pain, concluding that he was not dreaming at this moment.

Sighing in relief, Satoru tried speaking and was reassured by the sound of his own voice. 

He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. As he looked into the mirror, he winced at the sight of his reflection. 

His face appeared ruined from his messed-up sleeping schedule, with prominent bags under his eyes indicating how little sleep he had been getting. 

As Satoru brushed his teeth, the memory of the garden dream flooded his mind.

He paused, toothbrush in hand, trying to recall the details of the dream. The image of the young girl burying something in the ground lingered in his thoughts.

"Maybe what the young girl buried was real," Satoru mused aloud to himself. 

The idea took root in his mind, and he felt a sudden determination to find out the truth. Without hesitation, he made a decision.

"I should find out," he resolved, determination firm in his voice.

After brushing his teeth, Satoru quickly made up his mind to head back to his clan. He decided to ditch school in order to find the mystery of what the young girl had buried in the ground.

**

The maid spoke in a happy tone, "I'm so glad you came to visit, Gojo-sama," her voice filled with genuine warmth. She had been with Satoru during his childhood and had seen him grow up.

Satoru smiled back at her as they walked down the hallway together. "Well, I just had something to take care of here," he told her, keeping his purpose for returning to the clan grounds vague for now. 

He didn't want to raise any suspicions about his sudden visit. 

"You were just this small back then," the maid said, a fond smile on her face as she reminisced. She placed her hand on her waist, indicating Satoru's small height from his childhood days. 

"You always ran away during lecture time because you had to go to the garden all the time," she chuckled, the memory bringing amusement to her voice.

Satoru froze on his spot, his mind intrigued by her words. "W-what do you mean?" he asked, his voice itching to know the answer.

"I mean you always had these imaginary friends," the maid explained gently, her tone understanding. "We saw that coming since you were a child. Maybe it was because you didn't have any other kids to play with at the time."

“You were always intrigued by the fennec fox or even those morse codes that you always show me.” She added

Satoru's eyes widened as the memories slowly started to come back to him. 

The mention of the fennec fox and the morse code stirred something deep within him, unlocking fragments of his forgotten childhood.

"You should go ahead," Satoru told the maid, his mind consumed with the memories flooding back to him.

"But I thought you wanted to eat some food?" she asked, confused by his sudden change of plans.

"I just had to get something first from my room. I'll join later," Satoru reassured her, his tone urgent as he made his way towards his room.

The maid was about to protest, but before she could say anything, Satoru vanished, using his teleportation ability to make a quick escape. 

She sighed and shook her head, accustomed to his unpredictable behavior, before heading to the kitchen to carry on with her tasks.

Satoru appeared in front of the garden, his determination driving him forward. He focused on remembering the path, trying his best to recall every twist and turn. 

With each step, he made a conscious effort to scan the ground, searching for any signs of disturbance that might indicate something had been dug up.

As he navigated through the maze, Satoru kept an observation eye on his surroundings, his senses heightened with anticipation. 

Every corner turned, every dead end reached, brought him closer to uncovering the truth behind the mysterious events that had unfolded in his dreams.

Satoru found a patch of dirt with growing grass, noticing how oddly dented it appeared. 

Suspicion sparked in his mind, prompting him to dig into the soil using his bare hands.

"The gardener must not have noticed this. I guess they barely come to this part of the maze," Satoru muttered to himself as he continued to dig, determined to uncover whatever lay hidden beneath the surface.

Satoru's hand quickly grabbed the dirty paper, unfolding it with trembling fingers. His eyes widened in astonishment when he recognized the familiar handwriting—it was the letter he had made.

The realization sent a shiver down his spine as he struggled to comprehend how it had ended up buried in the garden. 

Dear Future Me,

Hi! I hope you're having a good day! Remember that time when we met [Reader's name] and Tomorrow in the garden? It was super cool! We made a secret code together, just for us!

If you ever forget it, don't worry! It's

 - --- -- --- .-. .-. --- .-- ! It's from Tomorrow, the fennec fox's name! Isn't that awesome?

I hope you always remember our fun times and our secret code, even when you're all grown up!

From,

Your 7-Year-Old Self! (⁠☆⁠▽⁠☆⁠)

Satoru's world seemed to come to a halt as he read the letter, flooded with memories of the day he had written it with you by his side. 

He remembered the joy of creating the secret code together, the excitement of writing the letter to his future self. It felt like a precious capsule of time, frozen in his memory forever.

[Reader’s name] and Tomorrow…

Quickly, he folded the paper and hid it inside his pocket, wanting to keep it safe and close to him. 

With a final glance at the spot where he had found the letter, Satoru carefully replaced the dirt, covering any trace of his discovery. 

As he made his way back, he felt a sense of urgency, not wanting the maid to worry about his absence.

After spending the day at the clan, Satoru returned to his dorm, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. 

As he prepared for bed, he made sure to take a moment to memorize the Morse code, repeating it over and over in his mind until it became second nature.

With the Morse code firmly ingrained in his memory, Satoru climbed into bed, ready to embrace whatever dreams may come. 

As he drifted off to sleep, he held onto the hope that he would find answers and perhaps even more memories waiting for him in the realm of dreams.

**

Satoru woke up on the hill, greeted by the sight of the fall season around him. 

He scanned his surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tomorrow and you, but they were nowhere to be found. Determined, he searched for a pile of leaves, his heart pounding with anticipation.

When he finally found one, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. 

With steady determination, he began to stomp his feet onto the leaves, creating the sound of the morse code echoing through the quiet air.

With each rhythmic beat, Satoru felt nervous while hoping this morse code still worked. 

He continued the morse code, trusting that somehow, it would lead him to see you again.

After Satoru finished the code, he waited anxiously for the familiar voice to call out to him, but seconds turned into minutes, and there was only silence.

Disappointment weighed heavy in his heart as he stared up at the sky, feeling a sense of hopelessness wash over him.

Just when he was about to give up, he felt a gentle nudge at his ankle. 

Startled, he looked down to see the fennec fox, Tomorrow, rubbing its head against him, squealing and smiling in its own unique way.

"Tomorrow," Satoru whispered, his eyes widening in disbelief and wonder. In that moment, a spark of hope ignited within him once more.

Satoru was about to kneel and pet Tomorrow when he heard someone call out to the fennec fox. 

Tomorrow's ears perked up, and with a joyful squeal, it darted toward the person, leaving Satoru momentarily stunned.

Turning quickly, Satoru's eyes widened as he saw you, someone he had been longing to see again, standing before him. 

You knelt down and held out your hand, welcoming Tomorrow as it leaped onto your arm and perched on your shoulder, just like old times.

As you turned your gaze towards Satoru, your eyes slowly widened in surprise. "Satoru," you said, your voice filled with astonishment.

"You still-" Satoru began, but you cut him off.

"What took you so long?" you asked him. 

Satoru was surprised by your words. "You still remember me?" he asked incredulously, pointing to himself.

"Of course. I've never stopped waiting for you," you replied with a smile, your eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. 

Tomorrow whined softly, and you chuckled, giving the fennec fox a gentle chin rub as if you understood its whines.

"I mean, we never stopped waiting for you," you corrected yourself, including Tomorrow in your response to ensure they weren't left out.

Satoru couldn't help but unconsciously smile at the sight of you two together. He observed the both of you for a moment, taking in the changes since the last time he had seen you. 

You looked more mature now, but still carried that familiar warmth in your eyes. Tomorrow remained the same playful fox, bringing a sense of familiarity and comfort to the moment.

"I'm sorry if I forgot our promise. You can punch me all you want," Satoru said, spreading his arms wide, and preparing himself for the certain punch he’ll face. 

However, instead of a punch, he was taken aback as you stepped forward and enveloped him in a warm hug.

Tomorrow, sensing the affection, jumped down from your shoulder and rubbed its head against Satoru's ankle, offering its own form of comfort and forgiveness. 

In that embrace, Satoru felt a wave of gratitude and relief wash over him, knowing that despite his forgetfulness, the bond between you all remained strong.

"What matters right now is that you're here," you told him, your voice soft and filled with warmth as you continued to hold him in the embrace. 

Satoru felt a sense of peace wash over him as he slowly wrapped his arms around your back, returning the hug with equal sincerity.

"I won't forget you. Ever. I really promise," Satoru whispered, his words sincere and heartfelt, leaving you giggling softly in response. 

At that moment, surrounded by the presence of each other and the playful affection of Tomorrow, Satoru felt a sense of reassurance that some bonds were truly unbreakable, no matter the passage of time.

He might just not want to wake up anymore.

[salchat]

This is my tiny, innocent Dean. I've drawn him for the story I'm working on at the moment, which I'm having tremendous fun with! It's a version of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and is my first venture into the omegaverse, because I needed Dean to be the young omega who gets swept off his feet by the older, widowed Castiel Novak.

It could be a couple of weeks before I begin posting, because I have quite a few things to work out. I may add some Secret Garden to the mix, or a dash of Jane Eyre, just for fun. But one thing's for sure - the path to true love will not run smooth! This relationship is going to have a lot of issues to work through!

Anyway, if you'd like to read a scene, there's one below the cut...

The maitre d’s voice rang through the dining room.  “Alpha Castiel Novak!”

“Oh, good heavens!”  Mrs Butters’ shrill exclamation jolted Dean out of his daydreams.  “It's Castiel Novak! No, don't look!”

He had no intention of looking.  It’d just be another more-money-than-sense alpha knothead, puffing himself up to be admired and fawned over.  Dean didn’t give a shit.  Whereas Mrs B wet her panties every time some new high society stiff arrived at the hotel.  Still, spilling her shit-load of toxic gossip meant that Dean wasn’t getting lectured or slapped or whacked with the hard wooden edge of her fan, so he’d put on his best listening face and count it a win.

She leant toward him.  “Castiel Novak is one of The Novaks.  The Novaks, Dean.”

Who the fuck were the Novaks?

“Fabulously wealthy, one of the best traditional families.”

Assholes, then.

“Their estate is in Eversett.”  She frowned.  “Or Meldonshire.  Somewhere like that.”  She waved an airy hand, her eyes glued to the alpha’s position.  “Lebanon, the house is called.  One of the few Great Houses still being managed as it should.  Oh, he's coming this way! Oh good heavens! Oh my!”

Dean anchored his eyes to the salt and pepper set in order not to roll them.  Mrs B might not want to be seen slapping her omega companion in public, but she had a retentive memory for any little slip-up and would be sure to save up one of her best for later if she caught him.

“But sir, we can set another table next to the dance floor for you.  Really, it would be no trouble.”  The maitre d’ was going full-throttle with the smarm.

Dean didn’t catch the words of the response – just a rumble, like something heavy dragging over gravel.

“Or with a view of the terrace.  It would be the work of a moment, Mr Novak.  And a much more pleasant situation.”

The rumble was louder but no more distinct.

“Then please, allow me to bring a bottle of our best champagne.”

The gravel scraped again.  

“Whiskey.  Yes, of course, sir.  And the a la carte menu.”

The gravel stirred itself into a snarl.  Jeez, this guy was more knot-headed than most.

“A hamburger.  Of course, sir.  Followed by a slice of… pie.”  The weird newcomer might as well have requested a lump of dirt followed by a morsel of shit.  Dean couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk.  He couldn’t stop the rumble of his far from satisfied stomach either.

“Dean.”  The fan rapped his knuckles.  But she hadn’t noticed the smirk.  “Dean, stop daydreaming.  Sit up straight.”

Huh.  She was regretting taking the best chair now.  Dean, with the kitchen door flapping open and shut at his back and regular nudges to his chair from passing waiting staff, had a direct view to the next table-for-two.

Mrs B leant toward him.  “What’s he doing?”  Her pink lips moved in an exaggerated stage whisper.

“You want me to look at the alpha…uh, Mr Nover?  Novem?”

“Novak!  And yes, of course I want you to look!  Tell me what he’s doing!”

Dean looked up.  The alphas face was in shadow, downturned as if he were studying the thread-count of the tablecloth.  He had a lot of dark, messy hair.  One hand was visible, a fingertip pressing down on the blade of his fish knife so that the handle wobbled up and down.

“They say he can’t get over the death of his wife, you know.  Such a beauty, so spirited.  Amara was her name.  So sad.”  Restless fingers twitched at the stem of her wine glass.  “What’s he doing?”

“Nothing,” said Dean.  “Just sitting.”

“He must be doing something.”  Mrs B started twisting in her chair but caught herself in time, before she gave herself away as the insatiable rubber-necker that she was at heart.  “Tomorrow you can sit here and I’ll sit there!”

“Yes, ma’am.”  A passing waiter narrowly missed his head with a tray of soup.  She was welcome to Dean’s seat.

“Hasn’t he even smiled at the Contessa?  He must have noticed her, and I’m sure they know each other.  They were both at the Duke or Northerton’s ball two years ago last Christmas.”

The Contessa di Faraglione had been the object of Mrs B’s gossip for the past week since she’d arrived with her retinue of servants the week before.  She was old news now, though.  This Novak guy was the target now, and Dean would be used to help engineer an opportunity of speaking to him, which would be really embarrassing.  Like when Mrs B had made him take her card to the Contessa’s suite, claiming some kind of distant family connection.  The butler had told him to fuck off.  Probably.  Dean didn’t speak Italian.

A gust of warm, savoury air and a swell of noise at his back announced the opening of the kitchen door.  Dean hunched forward so he didn’t get a tray dumped on his head.  But the waiter was one of the more agile.  He swerved around Dean, hung a right and brought the tray down in a sweeping arc, perfectly timed to present its load to the occupant of the next table.

The occupant of the next table looked up at his meal and smiled.

And okay, yeah, it was a nice-looking hamburger.  Normally it would have had Dean transfixed, salivating with envy.  But it wasn’t the juicy patties and shiny, domed bun that brought Dean’s mind, his heart, his every-fucking-thing to a juddering halt.

Dean hadn’t seen the ocean until he was fifteen.  Before that it had been one dusty town after another, Dad dragging him and Sammy around like unwanted baggage.  But when a job had finally taken them to the coast, it’d been like all the heat and grime was washed away by that fresh, salty air.  And the colours in that huge ocean had taken his breath away.

It was the same now.  The drab, grey despair that made up Dean’s life was suddenly gone, and his world was full of ocean blue depths in the eyes of this strange alpha – strange but gorgeous, from his eyes to the soft bow of his lips to the commanding strength of his nose.  

Dean was heartily glad of his over-powdered cheeks.  Fuck, what was he thinking, blushing over some rich alpha who wouldn’t look at Dean once, let alone twice?  He really needed to get a hold of himself.

But the way that guy was looking at the burger was like he hadn’t eaten in years.  Imagine if he looked at Dean that way.  Although, maybe he’d been sick or something.  The shadows beneath his cheek bones looked sharper than they should and beneath his eyes too, little round ridges of dark cast by the bright chandeliers above them.  This alpha needed burgers and plenty of them.  Dean’s skin itched with the need to cook and cosset and caress, and Jesus fucking Christ, he was really losing it here, wasn’t he?  Really giving into his inner lapdog who just needed an alpha to boss him around to be happy.

The waiter flickered across Dean’s vision again and Mr Novak was left alone to enjoy his hamburger.  He picked up his knife and fork and raised them.  Which was a thing you did, Dean supposed, in a high-class dining room.  You ate a burger with a knife and fork.  But then his forehead crinkled into the suggestion of a frown.  He shook his head.  His rounded lips flattened into a tiny smile.  He put down his silverware.  And he picked up the burger in both hands.

“Close your mouth, Dean.”  Mrs B’s spoon scraped her bowl, chink, chink, chink, even though there was hardly any of the creamy sauce left.

Dean closed his mouth.  Then his eyes returned to the table over her shoulder.  Mr Novak hadn’t taken a bite.  He was still holding his hamburger in two hands, staring at it like he’d found the Holy Grail.

Then his eyes flicked up and fastened onto Dean’s.  Dean should look down.  He should drop his eyes like the shitty little omega-nothing that he was.  Instead he stared into the ocean.

And Mr Castiel Novak smiled at him.  Just a little smile.  Barely there before it was gone, and then he was chowing down on his meal, all his attention on his food, his eyes closing as he chewed his first mouthful, then opening again to get a load of the burger cross-section he’d created.  Did it have pickle, Dean wondered?  Mayo, cheese, the works?  Would he bite down through the whole lot, getting all the flavours in at once, in between those perfect pink lips?  And was Dean salivating over the man or the burger?

He was looking at Dean again.  Looking and smiling and nodding as if they were having an actual conversation about how great hamburgers were in general and this one in particular.

“Dean!”  

A sharp pain on his knuckles brought Dean’s attention snapping back to his employer.

“Dean!  Bridge!  The Spanish drawing room!”

“Yes, ma’am.  Sorry, ma’am.”  Bridge.  Of course it was time for bridge.  His world closed in with an almost audible snap.  Bridge was played at eight o’clock sharp every night and Dean and Mrs B were there, every single night; she to play and gossip and drink sherry, he to sit in a corner and try not to exist too loudly until he was needed.

He pushed his chair back, clumsily, and was sworn at by a passing waiter.

“Dean!”

Jeez.  He wasn’t the one who’d sworn, was he?

“Yes, ma’am.”  He rounded the table and pulled out his employer’s chair and collected up her purse and her wrap.  And he didn’t even glance over his shoulder to the most perfect alpha he’d ever seen, as he followed her to another evening of excruciating dullness in his excruciatingly dull life.

[merrybloomwrites]

Zayn Malik - Gardening

Summary: Y/N and Zayn spend the day together prepping the garden for the next season.

Word Count: 481

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey babe, do you want to come garden with me?”

You look up at your boyfriend and casually reply, “Zayn, you know I don’t smoke weed.”

He lets out a chuckle before answering, “Not that kind of gardening. I was wondering if you want to help me plant the vegetables this year?”

“Really?” you ask, surprised by the invitation. For the last two years since you’ve been together, gardening was always his thing. It was his time to be outside, away from the rest of the world. He explained it as a meditation of sorts that brought him peace. Whenever he was anxious he would head out to the garden and work on the plants until his mind was at ease again. 

It was a place he went to be alone.

And here he is, asking you to join him there. To enter what has basically become a sanctuary for him. 

“Yes, really,” he replies with a smile. It’s a small upturn of his mouth, like a secret, just for you. 

“Then yes, I’d love to help,” you reply with a smile of your own. 

“I need to grab a few things from the shop. Come with me?”

“Of course, I’ll grab my shoes and meet you at the car?”

“Perfect, sounds like a date,” he replies, leaning in for a chaste kiss. 

While you grab your things, you think about some of the dates you’d been on with Zayn in the time you’ve been together. There were some big grand ones, fancy outfits in expensive restaurants, but many small ones. Things most people wouldn’t consider a date. 

But they are to the two of you. After his time in the band, where he’d experienced so many grand events, he’s content now to take things easy. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to be special. 

He just has to be with you for it to be the best date he’s ever had. 

After stopping for a quick lunch, the two of you head over to Tractor Supply. It’s the middle of a Tuesday, the only other people there are older men getting supplies for their farms. You can tell Zayn loves his anonymity is places like these, places where no one recognizes, or has even heard of him. 

Back at home you spend the afternoon following him around, listening closely as he teaches you everything there is to know about his garden. He has so much knowledge, it’s hard to keep up, but you hang on his every word. You love seeing him so happy and excited. 

After a few hours of planting seeds and prepping the soil, you’re both covered in dirt. 

“You know the best part about gardening together?” Zayn asks. 

“What would that be?”

“Now, we get to shower together,” he replies with a smirk. 

And just like that, a perfect afternoon with your boyfriend gets even better.

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AN: Thanks for reading! It was fun writing for a new person this time!