#cressida i'm sorry! sincerely!

[cerullos]

the girls are love triangling!!

[gelsom]

I'm sad, there's a void inside me now, how can you wait another two years? Do you have a tutorial to follow by any chance?

and I would like to sincerely thank:

Tilly you are THE WOMAN OF SALVATION 🥹

Penelope you are the woman of my dreams

Eloise next time listen and be more empathetic please

Benny I loved you from the first season I love you, but try to take advantage of your own advice too. they might be useful to you.

francy you and johnny are beautiful and I adore you but we all know that you will also have what the other members of your family have. sorry john

Tony and Katy better be there next season eh?

Greg, be good at school, see you at your season, study hard!

Cinthy dear, do you know that we have already met your future husband?? (I have to read all the books eheh)

Albion you are the best brother in law ever <3

Cressida I feel sorry for you but you deserve it so I don't feel sorry :)

Thank you Shonda and Julia we love you and thanks to those who worked on the show you made me very happy

Colin thank you for being so damn yourself. Now may I know what you named your son?

[edmunderson]

prev. choice: umbriel would like to show you his favorite plants.

with a delighted smile, umbriel eagerly shows you his favorites that he keeps by the window in his room, telling you where he got each one and what he's named them; trinculo, cressida, sinope, pasiphae. the list goes on.

the longer he goes on, however, the more his smile slips from his face until it's gone, taking the atmosphere with it.

"it's not the same..." he says quietly, almost as if he's forgotten you're here.

but then he turns to you, another smile on his face, though this one looks tight at the edges. pained.

"i'm sorry, i know i invited you over, but... i think i need to be alone right now."

you know he's being sincere; there's stardust welling up in his eyes.

the last thing you see when you leave is umbriel, curling in on himself and gazing up at the starless daytime sky.

[rancoeur]

It had been years — too many if she were to be honest — since she had last seen her mentor, yet she fell into his arms as if no time had passed. Caesar had taught her so much back when they had been working together and she wouldn't be alive and well in Thirteen if he hadn't helped her secure a job at his show. Truth was that Cressida owed him so much and there hadn't been a day passing without guilt eating her up for having disappeared. No call, no letter, not even a sign of life had been allowed to be sent — not since she arrived in the supposedly destroyed district. Sometimes it had felt as if she had fled a golden cage for another.

Of course she had felt how thin he was during their embrace, but it hadn't prepared her to the sight that he offered. Whatever had happened to him before arriving here must have been torture. " Thirteen can thank you for the clips, they wouldn't have been so perfect had you not taken me under your wing. " Her smile was sincere, but it couldn't hide the pain nor the tears appearing at the corners of her eyes. " I'm sorry I didn't contact you. I wish I could have... " I wish I could have helped before this had happened, she thought, her gaze falling on his leg.

>> @rancoeur asked : ❛    i  had  no  idea  you’d  be  here  …  why  didn’t  you  tell  me  ?    ❜  (from  Cressida)

it  had  been  easy  to  gleam  and  hurry  into  a  hug.  embracing  the  girl,  feeling  the  ACHE  IN  HIS  LEG  that  barely  managed  the  few  steps  he  had  taken.  cressida  had  vanished  from  one  day  to  the  next,  and  caesar  had  never  dared  to  ask  what  had  happened.  even  raising  the  question  to  plutarch  would  have  been  dangerous  —  for  all  different  reasons  than  the  usual  ones.  hearing  a.  '  no,  i  do  not  know  '    might  have  broken  his  heart  once  more.  so  caesar  hadn't  asked,  and  the  overjoy  had  landed  him  right  into  the  hug.

GRAY  TO  GRAY .  they  had  been  nothing  but  gray.  a  few  green  vines,  the  blond  of  her  hair.  signs  of  life  returned,  bringing  a  warmth  into  a  renewed  joy.  

"    well,  you  see  —  "    obvious  hands  gesture  toward  his  body,  leading  a  gaze  down  along  the  hospital  gown  to  the  blemishes  around  one  leg.  a  pitiful  creature  trying  itself  at  life.    "  besides,  i  didn't  even  know  !    you  —  here  !    "    bellyful  laughter  of  joy,  shaking  his  weakened  body.    "  i  should  have  known.  the  clips  were  too  well  directed.    the  talent  was  evident.    "

[butterflybuckethat]

Honorific

Notes: Prince Friedrich x Reader

Request: A Prince Friedrich x Bridgerton reader story please! Reader is Daphne's twin and they are both the diamonds of the season, so Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury set them up with Simon and Friedrich. Thank you xxx

🦋 Masterlist 🦋

"We look exactly alike, Friedrich!" "You look absolutely nothing alike, it's a wonder you're even related." You were arguing with the Prince of Prussia in hushed tones in the corner of the ballroom. You had long since dropped the honorifics because you realized it bothered him to be so immediately informal. He annoyed you to no end, why society's matrons wanted you together so badly you couldn't imagine. But you were always left to pair up with one another, always seated together at events, always stuck with each other. Tonight was no different. The Cowper's had thrown this ball specifically so Cressida could woo the prince, or at least that's what it looked like, but Lady Danbury was having none of it- waving her cane around and lashing her tongue until no one dared talk to you except the prince and vice versa- which is what led to one of many inane spats about your and your twin sister Daphne's similarities. You always believed you looked quite similar, been told that quite a bit as well, but Friedrich didn't believe it, "your eyes are more almond-shaped, and your lips are a completely different shade, and her smile," he cleared his throat, "is nothing like yours." You watched him push back his shoulders, doubling down on pretending he was not embarrassed but he couldn't help that you saw the coral flush on his cheeks. You saw it.

You wanted to make fun of him, truly you did, but you found yourself much too flattered to say a word. "Please stop looking at me like that. Miss Bridgerton." "Sorry," you mumbled, looking down at your slippers a moment, before looking back at him, "I did not realize you paid such close attention to me." "It is not as if I had much of a choice." "You are a prince, if you truly wanted you could dance with Miss Cowper." "I do not want to dance with Miss Cowper," he made a face. "Or anyone else, for that matter," he said nothing to that and laughter bubbled at your lips, "I knew you enjoyed my company, you wretch!" "I beg your pardon!" you gave a half-hearted apology between spurts of laughter, "What did you call me? A wretch?" "Sincerely, I apologize. I forgot myself," you were back to looking at your slippers a little embarrassed. You often forgot yourself, it was probably the reason you were Colin's favorite sibling. "You knew, we have a saying in Prussia for women like you-" "Women like me?" he spoke in German. "What does it mean?" Friedrich only shrugged. You scoffed, "you're not going to tell me? How would you feel if I began talking about you in French?" "I speak French," the corners of his mouth were hesitating into a smile. "Of course you do."

Daphne sat on your bed that morning, telling you all the funny things Simon had said to her at the ball. She insisted they were only friends and you indulged her in that thought, she was much too happy with it for you to tell her that no one believed it. You kind of zoned out halfway through her retelling of their repartee, distracted by that stupid proverb. No one you knew spoke German, except for Friedrich, of course, but you could hardly ask him. You had no idea why Queen Charlotte was so insistent on matchmaking you with him. It was so absurd. He was boring, and he stood much too straight, and he barely ever laughed... What were you supposed to do with that? "Are you listening?" "No," you sighed. "At least, you're honest," Daphne rolled her eyes, "what are you thinking about that is so much more interesting than what I'm saying?" You told her what the prince said, about the saying for "women like you." "What does it mean?" she asked, incredulous. "I don't know! It's so frustrating." "I'm sure he said something nice." "I'm sure he didn't." You weren't sure why this was bothering you so much, but it did. This man, this prince, that you had been spending all your time with clearly felt some type of way about you and his refusal to tell you was cowardice. Cowardice was exactly what it was. "Y/N!" Colin burst through the door, balancing a large box and a cup of tea. "Ever heard of knocking?" you narrowed your eyes. "No..." he scratched his head, "define it." "What's in the box, Colin?" Daphne asked, immediately diffusing the budding argument. "A package came for Y/N." "Just now?" you asked, it was unusual for things to arrive this late. "This afternoon," he dropped it on the bed and took a languid sip from his cup. "How am I just hearing of this now?" "I forgot?" you scoffed and pushed him out of the way. You untied the pink silk ribbon and found an incredible dress of the same color. "Look, there's a note!" Daphne gasped. You unfolded the cream square of parchment and in perfect black calligraphy, it read: "Sincerest apologies. -Friedrich" "What is he apologizing for?" the question was rhetorical but, of course, that didn't keep your sibling from answering. "Did something happen?" Daphne asked, messing with the ribbon. "I'm sure you badgered him into it," Colin poked around the box some more. "What are you doing, Colin?" "You would think a prince would send chocolates...

"Friedrich!" you called across the ballroom and fifty pairs of eyes stared back at you, including the prince's. His eyes were as wide as dish plates, almost worth the sheer embarrassment. You made your apologies and kept your gaze on the floor as you crossed the rest of it. "I'm glad you wore the dress. It looks-" "What are you apologizing for?" "Wonderful on you..." "And what did you mean by 'women like me?'" you got as much in his face as you could while still being ladylike. "I was apologizing for teasing you this past week," his smile was faint but it was clear he was enjoying himself, you raised your brows, "the saying about women," he explained, "I didn't actually say anything. I was only getting back at you for calling me a wretch," he chuckled at himself and your jaw dropped. "I can't believe you!" you pushed him playfully on the shoulder, "you really are a wretch!" "What is a wretch?" "I'm not sure, to be honest, but my brothers say it a lot." You looked around the ballroom, taking in the arched windows and gold detailing, until your eyes landed on Anthony and Benedict getting picked on by Lady Danbury. "Miss Bridgerton," you turned around just in time to see Friedrich tug on his collar, "I meant to send you a necklace with the dress but it did not work out and your beautiful and funny and I enjoy your company immensely and I am aware that your family is here and Prussia is typically quite cold-" you weren't even sure if he took a breath. You placed your hand on his arm and he quieted. Frankly, you had never really seen him as an option for marriage- you weren't sure if that had more to do with who he was or whether or not you could ever see yourself as a princess- but at that moment, in presence of half the ton, you could see past the title and the airs to the man. And something changed. "Why don't we start with you calling me Y/N," he blushed and you giggled, "and I give you my full permission to watch me take a turn about the room."

[butterflybuckethat]

Green Dress

Author's Note: Hello! This is my first time posting my writing but I thought it would be fun so lmk what you think :)

Summary: Anthony x Fem!reader; It has been a long time since you were back in the company of Bridgerton's, since before Edmund passed, but it's your first London season and your mother insists on your making the most advantageous match possible. You have your sights set on Prince Friedrich of Prussia; now, only if you could ignore the little flip in your stomach whenever the Viscount looks at you. (1.3k words)

"Get me out of this dress." You barked at the maid, frustrated with your lack of success at removing it yourself which just left you twisted and displaying much more cleavage than appropriate. She jumped into action, swiftly undoing buttons. "The prince's favorite color is green, not blue." you exasperated, "That horrid Cressida Cowper is spreading lies; not that I should be surprised."

Some minutes later, you emerged from your guest room in an emerald green dress, after thanking and apologizing to the maid for being short. It was not the first ball of the season but it was the most important because you were going to snag the Prince. You hurried down the stairs, able to see Eloise's look of impatience from miles away, and took Anthony's arm as he led you out to the carriage. "I rather liked the blue dress." You looked up at him, a little smile on his face but otherwise a largely indifferent expression. "Well, it was not for you." You couldn't resist being a little cheeky. He didn't always take it so well but you lived for the moments he huffed and puffed up his chest. Besides, it seemed to loosen him up a bit. You took his hand as he helped you into the carriage, sitting across from his mother. "Pity." He replied, looking so much the devil, and he turned his back to you as you stared, or rather gaped, until the carriage began to move.

Violet Bridgerton was rather happy to sit across from you on the way to the ball. She remembered when you were young and used to pick up your skirts and run over to Aubrey Hall just to tease and prod Anthony until he relented and allowed you to play with him and his brothers. Now you were grown up, all hair and cheekbones, and she was grateful because she hadn't seen her son exhale in what felt like decades, but a couple days with you and he seemed to be having fun again.

The ball was in full swing when you arrived, packed with people dressed in their best gowns and jewels waiting to catch a glimpse of the Prince. And there, in the middle of the action, was Cressida dressed in green and sporting a scowl the moment she saw you, similarly dressed in green. It wasn't much of a secret that you set your sights for marriage high. Your mama was famously ambitious and why wouldn't she be; you were a true diamond and more than happy to carry out her wishes. You grabbed Daphne's hand to take a turn about the room. She followed you but appeared distracted, probably searching for the Duke. You knew that something was going on but she liked to keep her cards rather close to the vest and you figured she would tell you when she was ready.

Anthony watched you giggle with his sister across the ballroom. His eyes followed you about the room, only half listening to what his brothers had to say. He said he preferred you in the blue but secretly thought you looked rather fetching in the green as well. It made your skin glow. "Anthony..." Benedict placed his hand on his shoulder. "Hm?" He was still distracted, unable to completely let go of you, but did take a swig of his brother's flask when Benedict offered. You looked so different than he remembered. Granted, the last time he saw you was when you were ten years old with dirty slippers and mud on your nose. But now...but now all he wanted to do was trail his fingers along your neck.

He was shocked out of his daydreams by a loud crash. A woman in purple swooned and took an indelicate fall to the floor. The Prince was here. Penelope made a particularly scathing comment causing Colin to giggle. But Anthony was following the Prince's gaze straight to you which etched what felt like a permanent scowl onto his face before crossing the ballroom.

After sneaking a glimpse at the Prince, and deciding he was rather nice looking with his blonde curls and doe eyes, you returned to your conversation with Eloise. He was looking at you, you were sure of it, and you expended a great deal of energy keeping the sly smile off your face. "He's coming!" Eloise whispered, tapping at your wrist. You were introduced to him and took a particularly deep curtsy. "It's an honor to meet you, your Majesty." you said soft enough so the Prince had to lean in a little to hear you. "The pleasure is all mine, I'm sure." he kissed your hand. Someone cleared their throat behind you, "I believe this is our dance, my lady." It was Anthony holding out his hand out to you. "Oh" was all you were able to say. "If you will excuse us." Anthony said to the Prince and dragged you to the dance floor. You were only able to shoot him an apologetic glance before Anthony placed a hand on the small of your back and the waltz commenced. "That was incredibly rude." you had half a mind to step on his foot, especially when he said nothing. "You know how important this is. How important this is to my mother." Your whispering was bordering on shrieking at this point, growing more and more frustrated. If Anthony wasn't holding your hand you would have jabbed your finger into his chest. "I am an only child and it is my duty to marry as well as I possibly can and I cannot have you distracting me-" Anthony looked at you then, his dark eyes on fire. Words caught in your throat and you became very aware of his arms around you and his palm burning into your back. You just stared into each other's eyes until the music stopped. "I am distracting?" He bowed and stepped away, leaving you, shocked, in the middle of the dance floor. If you could blush, you would surely be a deep red.

Anthony was taking heavy breaths. He could not hear anything but his heart pounding in his ears; he needed air. Anthony made a beeline for the double french doors that led out to the garden and undid the top of his collar. The night was cool and his breathing seemed to slow. His hands just stopped shaking when he was yanked under a stone archway. "What was that all about?" you said pushing him back against the wall. He let out a grunt. "I do not know-" "Stop." you looked wrecked but he imagined he did as well. You let out a laugh, "Why am I even here? I am sure Cressida is all over Prince Friedrich by now. And I followed you out into the garden." You froze, "I followed you out into the garden. I have to go back." You turned and repeated your last sentence. But Anthony grabbed your wrist and you looked back at him, finally taking in how defeated he appeared. "I am sorry." he said and you went back into the ballroom. It was too short of a time for anyone to suspect any impropriety, you assured yourself, and went back to stand next to Eloise. "What has happened?" She asked looking sincerely disconcerted, probably more because she truly did not know what was going on than how it looked. "I do not know." and you meant it.

You didn't see Anthony the rest of the night. Benedict said that he had left but you still searched around the room every once in and a while, searching him out. "Lady Y/LN, would you care to dance?" It was your second dance with the Prince. You heard one of the mamas say it was "truly a feat;" but back in the carriage, heading home as the sun peeked out over the horizon, all you could say when Violet Bridgerton asked you about the night was "I wish I wore blue."

Part II