#brave irene

[sassafrasmoonshine]

William Steig, author and illustrator (American, 1907-2003) • Illustration of Brave Irene • 1986 • Farrar, Strauss, Giroux -publishers

[towl]

from BJH Enterprises, EonniYeppeoyo Pictures presents Irene's SWEET SIMPLE SERIES | #Paris a R329 production. sponsored by ReVeluv.

[thosesadsuburbanghosts]

Brave (2012)

"Legends are lessons, they ring with truths."

[chemicaljacketslut]

i’m literally going to go home and watch knuffle bunny and more great childhood adventure stories today

[desvoeux]

@fenhaerel

La Belle Dame sans Merci by Paul Julien Meylan

[blistering-typhoons]

thinking about irene adler's queerness, in specific her bisexuality- and how granada not only takes the plunge in addressing her as queer, but how it never villifies her in doing so. typically a queer character, especially a bisexual woman, expressing overt and shameless attraction to the same sex is a codifer of that person's innate aggressiveness- indeed, irene's visible appreciation for the dancers on stage is overlaid with the king's monolouge about her ruthless cunning, and we see her in her suit and top hat, a clear marker also of her masculinity. it's a classical indication in most media that we are about to see a predatory queer woman, bent on nothing but fulfilling her own whims.

even holmes falls prey to this idea, and he structures his plans accordingly, and then cannot fathom when the irene he gets is simply what she's been all along- a brave, kind, brilliant woman at the end of her rope with the danger she's been put in.

i cannot count a lot of media who can show the vulnerability of a bisexual woman in such a human and effective way. i definitely cannot count a lot of holmes media.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Tears II

Alexia Putellas x Child!Reader

Summary: You wander off at Camp Nou

Having you was the best decision Alexia ever made.

You were so sweet and little and you loved to just be in her company no matter what. It didn't matter if you were napping or playing or eating, you just always wanted to be around her.

But, having you was definitely the most stressful decision she had ever made too.

Sometimes, it was like she would turn around and you would be gone.

Sometimes, loud noises overwhelmed you and you just had to leave.

This must have been one of those times.

The locker room was upbeat and loud and Alexia turned around for just a minute to get your ear defenders.

"Mapi!" Alexia yells over the sound of the speakers," Mapi!"

"Huh? What?"

"Where's my pequeñita?"

Mapi shrugs. "I saw her by the door a few minutes ago. I think she was talking to Marta."

Alexia knows immediately that you've run off. You didn't really like talking to her teammates bar very few of them. You were more likely to talk to Caro or Irene than Marta so she knows you've made a break for it.

Her cleats echo through the halls as she goes off in search of you. You're a creature of habit at Camp Nou and Alexia knows to bypass the toilets and the densely populated areas, ducking into one of the rooms that has no lights on.

"Hey, pequeñita," Alexia coos. She spots your darkened form hiding under one of the tables. "Was it too loud?"

You sniffle and Alexia crawls under with you.

"I'm sorry," She says," But here, I've got your headphones. Shall I put them on?"

You nod miserably. The ringing in your ears is terrible but it's dampened when Mami slides your ear defenders on. You take in a big breath before you expel all your air, slumping into her side.

Her voice is muffled as she speaks but if you concentrate really hard then you can still hear her.

"Do you still want to sit on the bench and watch, pequeñita? Or do you want to stay inside and colour?"

You sniffle, wiping your face on Mami's jersey. You like watching Mami play but it's too loud a lot of the time. But this is an important match because Mami's playing at Camp Nou rather than the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

You want to watch her.

"On the bench," You say softly, knocking your head against her collarbone.

"Okay, pequeñita," Mami agrees, her cool hands slipping under your shirt to gently trace shapes on your back," Do you want to stay here a little bit longer or should we go and see the rest of the team?"

You tighten your first in her jersey. "Stay for longer."

"Okay, we'll stay for longer."

Mami's heartbeat is nice. You've got your cheek against her chest and you can feel it thumping as she picks you up after a long while of sitting under the table in the dark.

You stay pressed against it as Mami returns to the locker room.

With your ear defenders on, the sounds are all muted now and you feel like you can breathe again. Your hand opens and closes around Mami's jersey and she holds you just as tightly as you're holding her.

Irene comes up to speak to Mami and she sends you little worried looks as she talks. You're not concentrating so you don't try to focus on what she's saying. You're content to just hold onto Mami.

"Do you want to go straight to the bench or are we having cuddles all the way out onto the pitch?"

"Cuddles."

"Cuddles, it is."

The crowd at Camp Nou is very loud but you've got Mami and you've got your headphones on so none of that matters.

She holds you nice and tight all the way up to the coin toss before she walks you to the side of the pitch.

Irene's waiting for you there.

"Mami," You whine. Today has been a lot and you're regretting not staying inside. You don't want to see Mami away from you.

"I know," She says, cupping your face as you're smoothly placed in Irene's arms," But today we're going to be very brave. Okay? Can you be brave for me, pequeñita?"

"I can be brave."

"Good girl." She presses a soft kiss to your head. "I'll see you in a bit, okay?"

You nod.

You don't leave Irene's arms for the entirety of the match. You don't talk to her either. You just sit there, your eyes tracking Mami.

She collects you during halftime and you just relax into her, pressing your forehead up against hers as you try to match your breathing before you're returned to Irene for the rest of the match.

Once it's over, she comes straight for you.

You slump into her as she makes her way back to the locker room, changing out of her sweaty clothes. You don't want to let go of her but it's only a temporary thing and you're back in her arms again.

Your ear defenders hang around your neck as Mami carries you out to the stadium.

She clips you into your car seat.

"Do you want cuddles when we get home?"

You nod. "Cuddles and sleepy time."

Mami brushes her thumb over your cheek with a fond smile. "I like that plan."

[trans-elrond]

why you, yes you, should read the Queen's Thief books

for #WinASignedSetofTheQueensThief2024, I am here to gently yet persuasively yell at you about why you should read the Queen's Thief books, in a helpfully numbered list (no spoilers, only vibes):

I like unreliable narrators. You like unreliable narrators. You know who the most unreliable narrator is? This scrunkly little guy, blorbo of all time, Eugenides (Gen). You're gonna fall in love with him. You're gonna want to throttle him. It's okay, it happens to us all. (official character art by Emily B. Martin isn't it gorgeous!!!)

Tumblrinas far and wide are known for our love of ancient Greek and Greek-inspired fantasylands. What if I told you that we could have it all (coastal Greek-esque kingdoms, political intrigue, The Gods Are Getting Involved) PLUS there are, occasionally, guns. Yes you heard that right. It's great. Come for the fantasy, stay for the Fantasy Guns(tm).

I could wax poetic about the female lead, Attolia Irene, for approximately 25 years without drawing breath, but suffice it to say she is THEE fantasy queen of all time. Her arc is incredible. I want to be her. I'm scared of her. I adore her. PLEASE read these books so you can also fall head over heels for her.

DYNAMICS!!!!!!!! we have ALL OF THEM. kings and queens and vassals and loyal advisors and scheming diplomats and brave soldiers and anxious scribes and we toss them into a blender and see what happens and who lands where. it is delicious.

Did I mention The Gods Are Getting Involved? the way these books weave the political reality & the godly, mythical, numinous aspects takes my breath away. Truly the blueprint.

Twists and turns that fly by like a rollercoaster. Truly, no one is doing the Plot Twist like MWT. You start out on these books and you think you know where they're going. yOU DO NOT. And you will be delighted every time.

Incredible prose, with occasional excerpts of poetry and song and myth that provide SUCH fertile ground for lore and worldbuilding and delicious, delicious Character Parallels. If you've ever been into classical reception even a smidge, you will rejoice at the plentiful references.

Bro's Road Trip of All Time (book 5) will knock your socks off. If you ever read Eagle of the Ninth, it's kind of like that, but got me even more good. deeply moving, I am never getting over them, (wails to the sky) I just want to be able to read this book for the first time again so YOU SHOULD TAKE THE CHANCE WHILE YOU HAVE IT

anyway, what are you waiting for, go read queen's thief, you will surely not regret it, what are you talking about these books ripped my heart out ha ha ha ha but i mean in a good & fun way okay enjoy!!!!!!!!

[samkerrworshipper]

I have an idea for a smut fic for alexia if you are interested. Reader and alexia are having movie night with other teammates but alexia is feeling extra horny that night and keeps teasing reader. During the movie reader is fed up so she fingers alexia from behind without the others knowing

Movie Night

Alexis Putellas x Reader

smutttt minors dni 18+

Alexia was pushing it. It was team movie night for the Barca squad, a fortnightly affair that had us all piling into Ale and I’s house and couch to watch whatever movie the girls could agree on, whcih was a suprisingly grueling process with the group that we had. Ale and I always sat back and watched, as Keira, Lucy, Mapi, Aitana, Patri, Claudia, Ona and occasionally Ingrid fought fairly endlessly until me or Irene stepped in and told them to just make the decision. Ale just sat back and laughed, they were all like her children and you could tell that she got a massive kick out of watching the younglings of the group quarrelling like five year olds over something as stupid as a movie. We normally settled on some kind of family friendly classic or a super hero movie, marvel specifically because the English girls claimed that DC was just knock off Marvel. I couldn’t tell the difference but I could tell Lucy was extremely passionate about it so I let it go. Sometimes we would watching something scarier or a more serious movie but that was mostly when some of the younger players had something going on. Tonight was no different, the group settling on Up. Me and Irene made our bets on who would cry first, I said Ona because she was a sucker for a sad movie, Irene bet on Ingrid, who was also a fairly safe bet.

Once we’d wrangled the children and gotten them all seated somewhere on the couch I made my way back over to Alexia, she stood up when I got close enough, letting me slide down onto the couch so she could lie on top of me. Once she did, someone flicked the movie on and we all began to watch, snacks being passed around as the movie progressed on. It was about twenty minutes in when Alexia started to tease, I think she thought she was being discreet, or she was trying to be discreet, but I noticed. Noticed the way she was sliding, rubbing herself up against my thigh, how her hands were very clearly rubbing against her nipples under the blanket that was draped over us. My horny little girl. I let her get herself riled up for a little while, looking out of the corner of my eye as she continued to tease herself, I towed the line though when she started teasing me.

First it was just a hand on the inside of my thigh, it was a little bit abnormal but Alexia was a very touchy person so I let it go. Then her hand was creeping, until it was cupping my pussy and her hand had slid up to my tit, groping it with her hands. As quickly as I could whilst still being discreet I grabbed her hands firmly with my own and pushed her head back so she was leaning against my chest and I could whisper in her ear.

“Is my girl feeling needy?”

It was lucky that the room was so dark, dark enough that I could hardly make out who was sitting on the other side of the couch, dark enough that I knew Alexia’s actions were only visible to me.

She shamelessly nodded into my chest, her head tilted back with that signature smirk on her face, quite similar to the Cheshire cat.

“Please mommy.”

I smirked back at Alexia, it never ceased to amaze me how fucking brave she was, we were surrounded by teammates, who could at any minute turn around and ask what was happening.

“Are you going to be good for me? Not make any noises?”

Alexia nodded quickly, her obvious need to be touched eliminating any common sense that she normally possessed, it was so fucking slutty.

“Eyes on the screen babygirl.”

Alexia nodded at me, sitting herself back up against my chest, so her ear was pressed directly on my mouth and her back was laying against my chest.

I licked a small stripe up the side of her ear, smirking a little bit to myself when she shivered as soon as I did it, so sensitive, so fucking perfect.

“I’m going to touch you, you make a noise, move without permission or cum without permission you won’t be cumming for a month, am I understood?”

I was whispering it directly into her ear, my breath hot on her earlobe and I watched her shake slightly in reaction. My voice was barely audible, I didn’t want to bring any attention to us, we were lucky that most of the girls were enraptured by the movie, and the ones that weren’t were busying themselves with their phones.

I moved my hand between Alexia and I’s bodies, moving it down over the small of her back and then slipping it under the pyjama pants she was wearing, very quickly coming to realise she was wearing nothing else below them. It was fairly normal for her to sleep naked, but at team movie night, really?

“No panties?”

Alexia smirked back into me, her hips arching slightly as my hand made its way over the curve of her ass and down to the spot between her thighs. There was already a considerable puddle pooling between her legs, it was somewhat surprising but also not, Alexia could get turned on by about anything, it was sort of freakish. Her sex drive was insane, completely astounding and it wasn’t all that surprising to me that she was now choosing to get herself worked up on team movie night.

Alexia’s teeth were biting down hard on her lip, if you were an outsider it could appear that she was focusing really indepthly on the movie, the two of us being the only ones aware of what was happening under the blanket covering us.

As soon as my hand dipped between Alexia’s folds I felt her inhale deeply, this was a test of her self control, something she assured me she had acquired over the years. Anytime the conversation of semi-public sex had occurred from us she’d assured me that she could keep her cool, I suppose this was the real test.

I didn’t bother with teasing her, keeping my movements as limited as possible. She was drenched to the core and one swipe across her folds and hole was enough to tell me that I was going to have absolutely no troubles having to get her worked up. I pushed two fingers into her with ease, noticing how she jolted slightly at the sudden intrusion. She did well to hide her surprise, disguising it with a very quiet couch that no one turned a head to. I started very slowly, hardly moving my fingers and refusing to curl them against the spot that I knew she wanted them most. If she wanted to get off in public then she was going to be patient.

Her patience didn’t last long, I was setting her up to fail to be fair but I had expected her to last longer than a few minutes. Obviously sick of the very little movement I was giving her she decided to take matters into her own hands and fasten the pace by moving her hips an action that I very quickly put a stop to with a few words whispered in her ear,

“Move again and I won’t be touching you again, understood?”

Alexia nodded quickly, her teeth still clenching down on her teeth, hard enough that I was concerned she was going to draw blood.

I stilled my movements for several seconds before continuing my pace, fastening it just enough to give her a little more. I teased her like that for a few minutes, focusing on the movie as my hand sloppily made its way in and out of my girlfriend. The pace was torturous for her, who was obviously seeking out some kind of release.

When I had her physically sweating, her back arching off against my chest I finally started to curl my fingers, very quickly locating that spot that I knew had her clenching down on my fingers in a matter of seconds. She was a shaking mess within a few seconds, unsurprising to me, I knew exactly what buttons to push when it came to Alexia, a complete open book for me.

I fastened my pace slightly, but focused on the motion of curling my fingers, observing out of the corner of my eye how her face reacted to my movements, her eyes rolling into the back of her head and her thighs starting to shake violently.

“Please let me cum.”

I shook my head immediately.

“Sluts who ask to be fucked in public don’t get to cum without permission.”

The realisation of complete horror appeared on Alexia’s face and in that moment she’d realised she’d fucked up, that she wasn’t winning this battle.

“P-Please, can’t hold on much longer.”

I knew her statement was true, her thighs and pussy clenching down hard on my fingers, hard enough that I knew there was a chance I’d struggle to remove them.

I kept my eyes focused solely on the tv, doing my best to make it look like there was nothing out of the ordinary occurring between Alexia and I. We got enough shit about our relationship, without the squad knowing about our sex life. If they got wind of anything to do with this I knew we’d never hear the end of it, Alexia in particular, their captain, their La Reina. Who put on the brave face every single motherfucking day to face it all for her team, people forgot who she really was sometimes, that she could be soft and innocent and just a human sometimes. That’s why we’d worked so perfectly for each other, she knew that she could be whoever she needed to be in front of me and I’d never judge her for it, that was what unconditional love looked like for us.

“Hold it Alexia, be a good girl for me.”

I watched as she almost let a moan go at my praise, she was such a fucking sucker for praise and I used it to my advantage whenever I could, she was such a people pleaser.

I continued my ministrations, at the same pace, watching as Alexia struggled to refrain from putting herself over the edge, she was trying her very hardest but I knew eventually it was all going to crash down, she could only push it away for so long. I was waiting for her to fail, it was mean but a part of me felt like she needed it, that she wouldn’t ask this kind of attention from me if she didn’t want something like this, something that would push her. We would talk about it later, I decided, when the team had left and we were tangled up in our blankets, we would talk about it, talk about more appropriate ways she could ask for my attention than shielding it with sex, like she’d taught herself to do. Now wasn’t the time though, I was pushing her and she was so close to breaking, so close to breaking all of her self-control.

I could see the tears cascading down her face as she kept her jaw locked, her eyes clenched tight shut as she tried to keep herself together. It was kind of cute, cute how she was trying her very hardest to please me, to the point where she’d put herself in tears. It was then that I’d decided I was done pushing her, she’d proven me wrong and I was glad to admit it.

“Cum baby.”

My voice was so low, so very quiet that I was scared she might not hear it, but the feeling of her clenching down fully on my fingers and her juices coating them sublimely was enough of an indication, if her face wasn’t. Her eyes fully rolling into the back of her head and her jaw finally relaxing as she let it all go. Once she’d stopped shaking and she’d come down from her high I very gently removed my fingers from her hole, relishing the ‘pop’ sound that came when my fingers fully made their way out. Alexia smiled at me dopily, her face still fresh with tears that were a mixture of frustration and orgasmic bliss.

She relaxed into my arms, pulling one of my arms over her waist so she could wrap herself in me, the both of us settling in to watch the rest of the movie.

“Ale’s crying!”

The voice came from a very excited Lucy Bronze, who was sitting on a bean bag a few feet away from us. Her words had the whole team turning around to look at us and I couldn’t help but snort as Alexia buried her head in the shoulder of my hoodie, clearly not bewildered about the idea of her teammates seeing her cry.

“What can I say, Ale’s a sucker for sad movies I guess.”

The group on the floor all started giggling, never having seen their team captain crying on a team movie night. I looked over towards Irene, who was looking at me with a glint of something else in her eye, like she knew we’d been up to something but she couldn’t pin down exactly what it was. I sent her a smirk, which was enough to confirm her suspicion but also give her absolutely zero assistance in trying to figure out what it was.

As the group turned back to watch the end of the movie I looked down at Ale, smiling at the pout that had found its way to her face.

“A sucker for sad movies, really?”

I snickered at her as quietly as I could, she was so vulnerable in the moment, so innocent.

“Did you want me to tell them that I’d just fucked you?”

My voice was quiet enough that I knew no one had heard but Ale seemed a little bit worried, shushing me and pushing a lone finger up to my mouth, silencing me quickly.

“Quiet, movies to focus on.”

Rolled my eyes at Ale’s antics but nodded along with her, turning my head back to the screen, letting Alexia relax properly into my body before I let myself focus properly on the movie.

[orth82]

Michael Sheen=the greatest.

Despite how exhausted he was after Thursday's performance (he was on FIRE that night) he still took the time to see all of his adoring fans at the stage door and make loads of people's day.

Friday's stage door was truly magical, and the energy in the crowd was off the charts. Loads of hardcore fans and talented fanartists were there and it became a spontaneous mini Ineffable Sheen Convention of sorts.

Everyone was interacting and supporting each other like the fabulous family we are. One girl was so nervous she almost threw up. Another adorable fan had a full-on breakdown of the most joyous and beautiful kind after meeting their hero. Shy and trembling fans were gently encouraged and helped by the complete strangers next to them (as well as MS himself).

An international delegation of Sheenie fans comprised of some of the loveliest and most talented people on earth, all brought together by our adoration of this beautiful man.

So many hugs, happy tears, stories and wee handmade gifts were exchanged. I am so grateful to have been lucky enough to be a part of it all.

And yes, that's his handwritten bratty Bastille Azi quote on my collarbone, freshly tattooed this morning in Soho (he kindly wrote it on a post-it note for the specific purpose).

Oh, and then this happened. Irene, you are a cinnamon roll and we all think you're just the bee's knees ☺️

Toward the end of my third magical stage door encounter I finally had the wherewithal to ask for a photo. Still not brave enough to request a hug but my hand went straight for his glorious tummy of its own accord. My brain ceased to function at that point and I am now deceased 💀

There are no words to describe how grateful I am to Michael, the phenomenal cast and the best fandom on earth for this unforgettable experience. I genuinely hope MS knows how loved he is and how much we appreciate all he does. This world is a better place because of him 🖤

(btw that adorable Nye kewpie doll is the creation of the talented @buzzinglarrieee and the Nye watercolour was a gift to MS made by @dennissima)

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Part XI

Word count: 3900+

Warnings: swear words

Autumn themed divider by tsunami-of-tears

Part X | Part XII

Ever since Eris saved you, you two became inseparable. Literally and unromantic, unfortunately.

When you said that you wanted him, you meant like a man, a husband. You couldn't name the feeling that led you to that as you'd never encountered it in your life. Desire and lust weren't so unfamiliar to you, you knew them well and definitely felt them when he was around, but what you felt exceeded even such mundane wants. The moment he stepped out of the flames in that dark room carved into stone, it grew into a constant need and it was slowly driving you crazy.

Sometimes you thought of it as a disease because dry throat, pounding heart, shortness of breath, sweating and stuttering were common symptoms. However, no medicine could cure you. You were doomed.

While you dreamt of his warm hands touching your body in all inappropriate places, his lips breathing life into your hurting heart, his skin rubbing against yours, his voice whispering to your ear and about other parts of his body that you hadn't seen yet, Eris every morning calmly knocked on your doors and escorted you to his office. He insisted that you must not leave his side, so you ended up sitting behind him even on meetings to resentment of all present lords.

It was excruciating to just sit, watch him from distance and listen his voice that often spoke about such things that it sounded like a foreign language to you. You weren't proud of it, but you weren't educated in anything except of how to submit, keep quiet, stay still, dance and serve well to your husband. Males in Hewn City held an opinion that educating females was just a waste of time because there was no way they could understand such complicated things as economy, politics, war or ruling.

The closest you got to doing what you wanted to do with him, was when he took your hand and you went out for walk or to feed and play with his smokehounds.

Eris didn't know so much about flowers and herbs as your friends Ellen and Irene, but you were never bored with him. Sometimes he relaxed enough to talk about his childhood, at least about nice memories he had, sometimes he tried to explain you what the meeting was about. Either way you always learned something new and most importantly, you had an excuse for staring at his lips. You tried really hard to pay attention to everything he was saying, but your heart had a mind of its own.

You often found yourself imaging the taste and texture of those lips on yours and more - the feel of them sliding down the column of your neck to your chest, playing with you. The fact that you felt his long fingers in your hand made it even worse. All of sudden you felt them touching your body, weaving through your hair, filling you-

"Were did you go?" His husky deep voice snapped you from your fantasies. Amber orbs with dangerously swirling flames were piercing you and you blushed. Despite being outside his scent was wrapping around you, so thick it was suffocating.

"I'm here, listening to you," you almost moaned those words, dazed. Of course you weren't.

"Hmmm, really?" With wolfish grin he leaned so close that you were sharing a breath. "So tell me, my dear, what was I talking about?"

"You asked me where did I go," you whispered. Only an inch. There was only an inch between your lips, separating you from what you desperately wanted.

"Cleaver," he murmured, seemingly as drunken as you. "And before?"

You blinked. What did he say before?

"You said that villages near Summer have a hard time?" you tried your luck.

His grin grew wider. "That was maybe a half hour ago." His fingers ran along your jaw to your lips, gently parting them. "What should I do with you?"

Kiss me! If only you were brave enough to say it aloud.

His gaze was glued to your mouth now. For a moment you thought you heard his heartbeat, but it must have been just your imagination because there was no way his heart beated in unison with yours. Suddenly he lunged forward, his mouth crashing into yours with such strength that you had to wrap arms around his broad shoulders to prevent a fall. His palms clasped back of your head and your hip, tugging you impossibly close. His tongue slipped into your mouth without warning, but you didn't mind it slightest.

You were responding to his every desperate touch and stroke of tongue with your own. This was it. This was what you dreamt about for days now. You moaned into his mouth, drawing a growl from the depths of his chest.

He was greedy. His hot lips moved down the column of your neck feverishly while his fingers pulled the dress from your shoulder. None of you minded that you were in the garden where anyone could see you. In that moment only the two of you existed in this world.

He sucked and nipped the thin skin of your throat and you welcomed it. You wanted him to leave a mark on you. You clung to him, enjoying what he was doing, rewarding his ministration with loud moans. Your fingers were clawing on his back, trying to get to his skin. You wanted him, needed him.

However when he got to your shoulder he stilled, heaving heavily. His fingers were digging into your flesh almost painfully while his body trembled.

"You drive me crazy. You and your delicious scent," he groaned with lips on your skin. "Please, have mercy with me. I can't hold back for any longer." He sounded like on verge of tears.

You entwined fingers into his soft strands. "So don't hold back," you whispered nuzzling to the crook of his neck.

He snorted and fixed your dress. "You'll be death of me." With that he pushed away, hiding his face from you. He took your hand and pulling you behind him, he was leading you back to the castle. "There's a meeting with merchant leaders in five minutes."

Since this small encounter in the gardens, he closed up, watching you every now and then with sadness and something that resembled great longing. He was still kind to you and attentive, still tried to explain you things they discussed at the meetings, it just felt different. Thinking that you did something wrong, possibly even hurt him unknowingly, you tried your best to behave, to control your fantasies and eventually cooled down a bit.

Your evening routine had changed, too, as if Eris was scared to be with you alone after night fell. Instead of staying in the office until it was time to sleep, before the dinner Eris took all documents he needed to your chambers. After eating together he continued his work on that small dining table, while Ellen and Irene kept you company.

They seemed to be ashamed to run their mouths in presence of the High Lord, so you usually retired to your bedroom leaving doors ajar. That was the only condition Eris insisted on.

"And after that? What happened?" Ellen leaned closer, urging you to continue. It took you some time to gather courage to tell them about the kiss, but here you were, sharing your worries.

You shrugged. "Nothing. Eris had a meeting, so we headed back."

"And at night?" Irene whispered. They both knew that your marriage wasn't consummated yet, but just like you, they still hoped. "Did he come to, you know.. continue where you have stopped?"

You shook your head. They both frowned.

"Is that male impotent or what?" Ellen said too loudly and clasped hands over her mouth in shock. She didn't mean to shout it. You all turned to the doors, but you heard only constant scrapping of pen on paper from the other room.

"Or maybe he isn't interested in females," Irene suggested.

"No way," Ellen shook head. "We both grew at this Court, so you certainly heard it, too. All brothers had a lot of lovers in the past, all females. Even our High Lord had a few affairs. Less than his brothers, but still."

"Yup, I think I heard it, too," Irene sighed and blushed.

"Do you think that I messed up?" you bit on your lower lip. "That I somehow insulted him?"

"No, definitely not," they both said in unison.

"Males like when females show interest," Irene said, rubbing your shoulder.

"It usually turns male on, not discourage him. Especially, if it's married couple," Ellen added.

You sighed, feeling even worse. There was something really wrong with you two.

"And what about you and Killian?" you turned to Irene, trying to change topic.

"Well.." she fidgeted with her fingers. "He asked me out."

With Ellen you immediately came alive, tension growing. "And?"

"And I said yes," Irene smiled shyly. "He'll take me to the city next week."

All three of you squealed happily, holding hands. It was just about the time. Irene was head over heels for him for years and ever since she became your maid you saw Killian flirting with her every time he came for chitchat.

The doors flew open and on threshold stood Eris with dagger in hand. He scanned the room, then his fiery gaze fell down to you and your friends sitting on ottomans, baffled, with smiles frozen on your faces.

"I heard you screaming. Everything alright?"

"Yes," you spoke softly, "absolutely fine. We just.. We are sorry that we disturbed you. We'll be careful from now on."

He nodded. Eyes lingering on you, he just stood there. You gave him a puzzled look. He shook head and leaving doors again ajar, he returned to his work.

All three of you blew a breath.

Irene turned to you with sad smile. "He seems like someone who cares for you dearly. You should have seen him when you went missing. He turned this place upside down, looking for you. He was furious when he couldn't find anything with your scent."

"He was so desperate," Ellen agreed. "And the look he just gave you.. It was full of longing for sure. He wants you."

"Then why?" You flapped down on your back, looking out the window at stars that shone sadly tonight. They had no answer for you, too.

The most exciting part of Eris's work was when he had to visit some village or small town. Nature of Autumn Court was breathtakingly beautiful and fascinated you with all those radiant colours. Whether it was just a wild forest or fields you wanted to see it all.

Even Fae who lived there. Most of them was hostile and alert when High Lord came to them, willing to help them personally solve their problem. However, Eris was able to cope with it and handled it brilliantly.

It was interesting to watch him interact with his subjects. He was strong, sharp and terrifying, yet he didn't shy to show kindness and understanding. He seemed to be especially skilled with children. Wherever you went, soon enough a group of kids followed him all around and he didn't mind at all. He only smirked and even played with them when he thought that no one was watching. He was kind of cute in such moments. It was easy to imagine him with his own children, running through hallways, ballrooms and gardens, scaring staff and then laughing at it. Your heart clenched with pain every time such thoughts flashed through your mind.

Eris made sure that on the way you could see every river, lake or rock. Winnowing would be much faster, yet he always opted for horses and didn't hesitate to do detours just to show you nice places. Since you couldn't ride, you always ended up on his horse, pressed into his chest and with his arms around your waist, holding you in place. That made these trips even more special for you. The joy of sharing beauty of his Court was visible not only on his face but mainly in his eyes. He was a different male as soon as he left castle grounds, more happy, unfettered and wild. He was like the nature around him and you liked it a lot.

If only it was the main content of his duties.

Sadly, most of the ruling was made from his office. You spent there so many hours that you lost count. At first Eris let you do whatever you wanted which meant that you sat near the window switching between view of garden and your diligently writing, reading and frowning husband.

Years of training this made you last quite long, longer than any other person would last, but since coming to this Court you got a taste of freedom. Simply said, you became bored after a while. You understood the importance of his work and didn't mean to bother him in any way. However, it was physically impossible to suppress yawning or stop constant wiggling when your body screamed for change of position.

You thought that Eris hadn't noticed it, but after few days he rearranged the office and added smaller desk and sofa that he clearly didn't need. It was for you.

One day, pretending he just needed to stretch out, he walked to the shelves of books, randomly picked out one and handed it to you.

"Wouldn't you like to read something?"

It was the book about the medical herbs that you started to read before you were kidnapped and hadn't finished it yet. You smiled at him gratefully. You thought that he would mind or that page turning sounds would bother him, so you didn't dare to bring it with you. But as it turned out, he didn't mind it at slightest and after that, a whole section of books about plants magically found its way into his bookcase.

You were eager for knowledge and devoured the books in just a few weeks. It didn't went unnoticed.

Next time Eris tried to explain you problems discussed at the meeting, he took out a book, opened it at certain page dedicated to the similar issue and let you read that, too. You really appreciated this gesture. Whether he knew about your hunger for knowledge or not, he was supporting your eagerness anyway. He went so far as preparing you books of certain topic and when you were done with them, he discussed it with you and explained parts that you didn't understand. Killian obviously liked the idea and often joined you or took Eris's place when he was too busy.

They didn't mind discussing even the Court's issues with you and Eris himself asked you questions and intently listened to your opinions and solutions. You were surprised to find out that with minor changes he presented some of them at meetings. It brought you two closer on a new, deeper level, and you started working together. Eris entrusted you with some documents and reports that he believed you could solve on your own, while you kept studying. If someone before told you that just in marriage you could get the keys to complete freedom, you wouldn't believe them. With Eris anything was possible though.

One day, Killian entered the office with unusually serious expression.

"Eris, the news about certain matter arrived," his eyes drifted to you.

Erin frowned and leaned closer. He apparently knew what Killian talked about. "And?"

Killian put his hands on the table, leaned towards him and lowered his voice. "They couldn't find the body. They searched the entire place and nothing. He had to survive it and get out. Or someone helped him."

Eris inhaled sharply through his nose and your gazes met. His amber eyes hardened, burning like fire.

They didn't need to say who survived. You already knew, but still you needed them to confirm it. You subdued the tremor. "Who-.. who are you talking about?"

They exchanged the look. Jaws hardening they pulled lips into thin lines, avoiding your gaze. If you already didn't know they were siblings, now there would be no doubts about it. They were so alike.

"You are talking about males who kidnapped me, right?"

"Y/N.." Eris sighed, pinching bridge of his nose.

"Yes," Killian gave you a pitiful look while Eris eyes shot up to him, the fire in them burning holes into his head.

"It's better when she is scared but careful than when she runs into hands of death because she didn't know about the dangers that lurk around any corner," he shrugged.

Eris dragged hand down his face. "Fine," he grunted, "go ahead, if you want to scare her so badly."

"Asshole," Killian narrowed eyes on his brother. Then he turned to you. "The thing is... Lord Nail, the one who kidnapped you, escaped and we can't find him. And.. our brother, Volkan.. Eris thought he is dead, but.."

"You couldn't find the body to confirm it," you repeated what you heard earlier.

"Yeah.."

You hesitated. There was one question that bothered you ever since you woke up on that cold ground. "Why?" you stuttered barely audibly.

They both raised brows at you.

"Why did they do that?"

"We aren't sure," Eris watched you with sad eyes. "When I became High Lord, I announced at meeting that I plan to marry you. Some Lords didn't like the idea, but Nail was strongly against it. His family believed that his cousin will be my wife. He revolted and I banished him from this Court. He also used to support Volkan as a heir and future High Lord.."

"So we think that either it was a payback for his cousin or he did it to lure Eris out, so Volkan can kill him and become what he always wanted to be."

A huge lump rose in your throat and for the rest of the day you couldn't focus on anything. Thoughts swirled in your head and more questions popped up. Why did Eris choose you? Why he went to so much trouble when he wasn't even interested in you in that way? What he expected from you? A friendship? Companion? Where you just some kind of gag to shut up Lords, so he could sweep the question of marriage off the table? Or was it a payback? To whom?

The whole night you spent tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The next day you were miles away, mindlessly following Eris around the castle. That day you weren't able to focus even on reading. Your husband tried to talk with you as he usually did, but you was hardly able to give him one-word answers. In the end he gave up and didn't press you further. You didn't notice the tension in the air nor that his mood gradually worsened with every hour you spent trapped in your thoughts.

Eris immediately knew something was going on when he saw you and those dark circles under your eyes in the morning. He watched your silent form sitting in his office like a ghost and grew nervous. He wanted to get into your pretty head to see what bothered you, shake with you until you spit it all out. But he couldn't and that annoyed him the most.

As if it wasn't enough, Lords at the afternoon meeting decided to try out his patience. Some village on outskirts of Autumn Court near borders with Summer couldn't pay the taxes because they had a bad year. A flood of locusts had eaten up the crops and they actually needed an aid to survive. But these mother-fuckers wanted to punish them as his father would do. The old bastard never cared for the reason people couldn't pay. He simply killed them or turned them into slaves.

Eris was in a foul mood, muscle ticking in his jaw, and wanted to kill someone, preferably these idiots. All of them. He glared at the papers in front of him while they quarreled which punishment would be more effective. Until the papers burst into flames. The room went silent, all eyes at him. His verdict was clear: no punishment, send an aid. With that he dismissed them.

The meeting ended without you even noticing anything of that. You were imprisoned in your own head, drowning in uncertainty and pain, and you couldn't take it anymore. You needed answers.

While you ran after Eris who was making his way down the hallways with long strides, you decided. You would ask him. Now or never. You had nothing to lose and if Eris answered.. Well, it depended on his answers.

Eris held the door for you and then closed them so harshly that the walls shook. He strode to his desk and slammed his fist on it.

His brother, the male who hurt his wife, was alive and nobody could find a single trace of him. His wife was.. What was she? Scared? Terrified? Traumatized? And he couldn't help her because she wouldn't talk with him, wouldn't let him. His subjects needed help and he had to fight Lords to get the help they needed. Everything around him was collapsing and he couldn't stop it. He could only stand and watch.

"Eris?"

"Yes?" Frowning he looked up from his desk.

"Why did you choose me as your wife?"

His jaw tightened and he looked away. He wasn't in mood for this kind of conversation. He wasn't ready for it. Not today, not anytime soon. "Because I wanted you."

"But why?"

"I already told you."

"So why haven't you consummated the marriage yet?"

"I won't discuss that with you. Not now, not.. never."

"Don't you think that I deserve to know?"

He was quiet, hands clenched into fists on the desk. Whenever you asked him something, he gladly answered you, so why not now? Silver lined your eyes as you watched his hard, angry expression and felt your heart breaking into million pieces. Normally, you wouldn't insist and let it go. Normally, you wouldn't even dare to ask such things.

But today wasn't that day.

"Please, Eris. I need to know it.. If you ever cared about me, sincerely cared, answ-"

"I haven't fucked you yet because I. Don't. Want. To," he snapped, his fiery eyes piercing you. "Is that what you wanted to hear?!"

He never shouted at you, never spoke with you like this. He didn't even raise his voice at you until now. You winced and took a step back. And then another. Your lower lip quivered and before you could stop it, you burst into tears. You couldn't stay there. You needed air, fresh air and distance. When Eris saw your reaction his face contorted in pain. He started to reach out for you, but you pivoted and ran out of the room.

"Y/N!"

His broken voice followed you to the hallway. You didn't slow down and kept running up and up.

You had no idea where you were heading to until you dashed through the door and a cold gust of wind stung your wet face. The sky began to turn red, evening was approaching.

You walked over to the battlement and looked down. You were on the rooftop of the tallest tower. The guard on the courtyard below wasn't bigger than an ant. Good. No one would see you up here and no one would come looking for you.

You were cold and hurting so much that even breathing was too painful. You slid down to the ground, curled into a ball and cried. You were there for less than ten minutes when affected laughter cut through the air.

"You make things so much easier for me."

[iovebarca]

Tangled Emotions - Pau Cubarsi

Authors note: Sorry for ghosting! I've been working on my final projects one is about ancient civilisations and the other about women's football so a lot of reading🥲

WC: 1300+

warnings: incorrect grammar (probably), my first language isn't english so if you notice any mistakes please tell me, angsty but not really angst, fluff.

send me requestsss 🫶🫶

The school ball was in full swing, the gym transformed into a dazzling dance floor with twinkling lights and music filling the air. You and Pau had decided to attend together as friends, looking forward to a night of laughter and dancing.

As the evening progressed, you found yourselves lost in the rhythm of the music, spinning and twirling on the dance floor with carefree abandon. Pau's laughter echoed in your ears as you shared jokes and whispered secrets.

But then, as you went to refill your drink, you caught sight of Pau in the hallway, his lips locked with the one person you least expected – the girl who had always been inexplicably mean to you. The sight sent a pang of hurt and betrayal coursing through you, the music fading into the background as your heart shattered into a million pieces.

Without a word, you turned and fled, tears blurring your vision as you stumbled into the nearest bathroom. The sobs wracked your body as you leaned against the sink, the weight of the evening's events crashing down on you all at once.

Minutes passed in a blur as you tried to compose yourself, the echoes of laughter and music from the ballroom filtering through the walls. But the pain in your chest only grew with each passing moment, the image of Pau and that girl seared into your mind like a brand.

Finally, with a deep breath, you straightened up, wiping away the tears with shaking hands. You couldn't bear to stay at the ball a moment longer, not when your heart felt like it had been torn in two.

With one last glance in the mirror to make sure your red eyes weren't too obvious, you squared your shoulders and left the bathroom, determined to put on a brave face and leave the night behind you.

As you walked away from the ballroom, the sound of laughter and music fading into the distance, you couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at your insides. You didn't know what you would say to Pau, or if you would even be able to face him at all. All you knew was that the pain in your heart was too raw, too real, to confront just yet.

-

The rays of the sun twinkled warmly around the living room, and the scent of summer air filled the house. Yet, the usually happy atmosphere was marred by the tension between you and Pau. It had been this way since the thing that happened just before the break. The image of Pau kissing that girl was seared into your mind, and the hurt still lingered.

You and Pau had been best friends for as long as you could remember. Your families always celebrated things together, and your graduation party was no different. But this time, you tried to avoid him as much as possible, he knew why but he was too ashamed of his previous actions, the pain of the recent events casting a shadow over the celebrations.

You wandered into the kitchen, hoping to escape the awkwardness. Irene, Pau's sister, watched you with a knowing look. She had noticed the cold distance between you and Pau. Determined to mend things, she hatched a plan.

Later that evening, as you were heading upstairs to grab something from your room, Irene cornered you. "Come with me," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Confused, you followed her. She led you to the bathroom, and to your surprise, Pau was already there. Before you could protest, Irene shoved you inside and quickly locked the door.

"Sort this out," she commanded through the door. "You two are ruining your own graduation party."

You turned to Pau, who was leaning against the sink, looking equally frustrated and embarrassed. "This is ridiculous," you muttered, crossing your arms.

Pau sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But maybe she's right. We need to talk."

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. You glared at him, the anger and hurt bubbling up. "Why did you kiss her, Pau?" you demanded, your voice trembling.

He looked taken aback by your question, his eyes shifting away from yours. "I don't know," he mumbled. "It just happened."

You scoffed, feeling the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. "It just happened? That's all you have to say?"

He straightened up, frustration clear on his face. "What do you want me to say? That it was a mistake? Because it was! I didn't think it would matter so much to you."

"It does matter, Pau! You just had to kiss her! Why her?" you shot back, your voice breaking.

"Why does it matter so much to you?" he demanded, stepping closer. "You're acting like it broke your heart or something."

You stared at him, the dam of your emotions finally breaking. "Because it did!" you cried, tears streaming down your face. "It broke my heart, Pau. I've been in love with you for years, and seeing you with her felt like a knife in my heart."

The shock on his face mirrored your own surprise at your outburst. A heavy silence fell between you, filled only by the sound of your quiet sobs. The minutes ticked by, each second dragging on as the weight of unspoken feelings hung in the air.

Finally, Pau took a deep breath and broke the silence. "You... love me?" he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of hope and fear.

You nodded, wiping at your tears. "Yes, you idiot. I love you. I didn't know how to tell you, and then seeing you with her... I just couldn't take it."

He looked down, guilt and realization washing over his features. "I didn't know," he said softly. "I thought... I thought maybe if you saw me with someone else, you'd realize how much you mean to me."

You sniffled, the anger starting to dissipate. "Well, it worked," you muttered, your voice still shaky. "But it hurt, Pau. It really hurt."

He stepped closer, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I just didn't know what to do. I've been so confused about my feelings for you. I've been trying to understand why seeing you with other people makes me so angry, why I can't stand the thought of losing you. And then I kissed her because I thought it would help me figure things out, but it only made everything worse. I love you, but I didn't know how to admit it, and now I've fucked up and I don't—"

You interrupted his rambling by grabbing his face and kissing him passionately. The words died on his lips as he melted into the kiss, all the tension and confusion dissolving in the warmth of your embrace.

When you finally pulled back, you were both breathless, the room filled with a new, electrifying tension. Pau looked at you, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and joy. "You kissed me," he murmured, almost in disbelief.

You smiled through your tears, nodding. "Yes, because I love you, Pau. And I needed you to stop talking and just understand that."

A slow smile spread across his face, and he pulled you into another embrace. "I love you too," he whispered into your hair. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it."

Irene's voice interrupted your moment. "Are you two done in there?" she called through the door.

You laughed, feeling lighter than you had in weeks. "Yeah, we're good."

The door unlocked, and Irene peeked in, grinning. "About time," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Now come on, it's your graduation party. Let's go celebrate."

Hand in hand, you and Pau followed Irene back downstairs, ready to enjoy the holiday together, knowing that your friendship had blossomed into something even more beautiful.

[officialdaydreamer00]

Good Old-fashioned Lover boy

in which he pines for you in his unique ways

format: song lyrics drabbles

characters: cater, jade, floyd, malleus

content: pining; no thoughts, head empty, only fluff; irene's favourite love languages: singing, dancing, physical touch and quality time; severe brainrot for queen's GOFLB

reader is not yuu, reader is gender neutral

song used:

"I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things

We can do the tango, just for two"

cater would take you to the light music club room an hour or two before the official meeting time. he would strum his guitar in a more gentle manner than his usual upbeat style, and he would sing songs that he thought you would love, keeping your song preference in mind. there were times he would play songs you both knew by heart, and he would extend his hand to you, as you both dance away in the empty club room. just the two of you.

he might not say it out loud, but he adored those moments. they were short but sweet, and he cherished them with his entire heart so long as it is still beating. because those moments are the ones he shares with you.

"I can serenade and gently play on your heartstrings

Be your Valentino, just for you"

jade leech is a busy man. besides his schoolwork, his role as the vice housewarden, and his own club, he barely has much time to be with you. and oh how he hates it.

the next time he sees you, he would invite you to his club room, keeping you close to him as you both take care of the mushrooms. he would even hum the merfolks' entrancing melodies that he learned before his venture on land. oh how he adores that cute little blush you adorn every time his gloved hand brushes yours, or when you sneak glances at him thinking that he wouldn't notice. it puts a silly smile on his face, knowing one day you would sing with him a perfectly harmonised melody of your own.

he doesn't mind waiting for you, he is a patient man after all. he doesn't mind, as long as you choose him in the end.

"Hey, boy, where'd you get it from?

Hey, boy, where did you go?

I learned my passion in the good old-fashioned school of lover boys"

there are many words people would use to describe floyd. spontaneous, unpredictable, bat-shit crazy. but never in his life has he heard someone calling him "passionate", and that dumb brave soul being you.

so naturally, he was intrigued. the little shrimpy wasn't afraid of him? but you were so tiny and fragile and cute, he could just eat you up! he decided to stick with you for a few days, just to make sure :)

you really weren't afraid of him or his infamous squeezes, you even reciprocated most of them! floyd was ecstatic, he ultimately decided to greet you every day with squeezes and hugs reserved just for you shrimpy!

you wouldn't refuse his growing affections for you right, shrimpy? after all, he has binded his heart with yours, he likes you too much to let you go <3

"I'd like for you and I to go romancing

Say the words, your wish is my command"

malleus is THE textbook definition of a good old-fashioned lover boy.

a literal crowned prince, the future ruler of a land, and one of the most powerful mages in all of twisted wonderland. that's who he is. to say you have someone of such status falling for you, people would brush it off as a joke due to how utterly ridiculous that claim sounded.

of course, outsiders wouldn't know the entire details. your late night rendezvous are something malleus looks forward to the most in his years long time being alive. you are the first ever friend he made, and the only friend he had, it is only natural he grew emotionally attached to you. his affections were more and more obvious with each night you spent together, talking and dancing the night away, how his eyes were on you, and you only, and how he gave your hand a tender kiss at the end of each meeting before he (regretfully) had to return to his dorm.

he hoped you could reciprocate his love one day, and he would wait for you, until the end of time.

taglist🏷️ @azulashengrottospiano @aqua-beam @identity-theft-101 @shyhaya @ceruleancattail @dove-da-birb @moonlit-midnight @hisui-dreamer @cecilebutcher @leonistic @ang33333333l @siren-serenity @krenenbaker @twistwonderlanddevotee @axvwriter @minimallyminnie @iseethatimicy @siphoklansan @bun-lapin @red-viewe @thehollowwriter @jaylleoo14 @wordycheeseblob

reblogs are appreciated!

[wilcze-kudly]

I will also say that zutara fans talking about Katara being "drawn more maturely in her scenes with Zuko" and even focusing on her breasts and hips is WILD when one of the most famous stories concerning Native American women is the rape of a like 10 year old by a man colonising her land.

Btw, Irene Bedard, the actress who voice acted for Pocahontas also starred in Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee which is about the life of Mary Brave Bird, activist and member of the American Indian Movement, and about her participation in the Siege at Wounded Knee in 1973. You can find the whole movie on YouTube.

It a very fun and thought provoking watch and Irene Bedard did a wonderful job playing the lead, despite this being her first acting role! She even became the first Native American woman nominated for the Golden Globe Award for this role (Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television)!

So if you're looking for a really good movie starring a Native American woman, I recommend this one! It breaks the mold for a lot of tropes and streotypes around Native American women in media and you get to learn about a cool activist too.

[lxgentlefolkcomic]

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Dialogue transcripts:

Panel 1

Irene: You’ve seen him?

Jekyll: Oh—er, not me.

Panel 2

Jekyll: I obtained this sample from a, er, friend of mine—a fellow by the name of Hyde.

Panel 3

Holmes: And this…friend of yours, how did he acquire the sample you now have?

Panel 4

Jekyll: He was attacked.

Panel 5

Jekyll (voiceover): He encountered the man in Soho—a tall gentleman, richly dressed, but bedraggled and ill-groomed, his fine clothes all in tatters.

Panel 6

Jekyll: …So my friend told me, that is.

Panel 7

Jekyll (voiceover): The attack was quite unprovoked.

Hyde: Hey, ugly! Yeah, I’m talking to you! Who do you think you’re leering at?

Panel 8

Jekyll (voiceover): He fought back in self-defense, bravely fending off his attacker.

Hyde: AAAIIIEEEEE

Panel 9

Jekyll: This substance was shed by that strange man during the fight—as you say, not unlike blood. My friend brought it to me for analysis.