#fic: honey this club here is stuck up dinner and diatribes

[thatartiststudios]

WIP Wednesday

(Wow it's been forever since I've done one of these, I need to be more active. I have the time lol. And yes, I'm aware it's technically Thursday where I am)

From my newest fic, "Honey, this club here is stuck up, Dinner & Diatribes" (and thanks for @temerity14 for giving me the encouragement)

The grand hall of the palace was alive with conversation and music, a sea of vibrant silks and polished armor. The air was thick with perfume and the subtle clink of glasses, the echo of laughter and the murmurs of powerful voices. Ezran and Aanya stood at the forefront, their presence providing some calm amid the raucous crowd.

A thousand conversations swirled around Callum as he stood beside his wife, eyes never truly settling on the people near him. The room was full of people—nobles, diplomats, dignitaries from across the lands, both human and elf. All had come for one thing: to discuss, to negotiate, and to display their wealth and status. Yet, despite the regal finery and the displays of power, Callum’s mind wandered only to the one person in the room who wasn’t part of any conversation.

The hall buzzed, the air thick with disguised sweetness and polite exchanges. The nobles moved in tightly-knit groups, their voices warm with charm but laced with underlying agendas. Diplomats from both realms shook hands and nodded, yet their words were often laced with veiled meanings, hollow pleasantries wrapped in layers of subtle competition.

Callum stood at Rayla’s side, her arm linked with his as they moved through the crowd, the polite smiles and gracious nods they offered feeling like an exhausting performance. Every word, every gesture, seemed carefully measured, a part of a dance he knew all too well. And yet, none of it held his attention. None of it could match the quiet fire that simmered just beside him.

A diplomat from a neighboring human kingdom made a passing remark about the recent treaty, his words smooth and practiced, but Callum barely heard him. The man was talking, yes, but his words were just noise—diatribes wrapped in fine silks. His eyes flickered over to Rayla, where she stood, poised and silent, her face an unreadable mask of patience. She didn’t belong here, not in this room full of hollow smiles and hollower words, and neither did Callum.

Another clink of glass echoed through the hall, and another round of shallow laughter bubbled up from a nearby group. The joviality felt false in a space so heavy with unspoken judgments. It wasn’t just the nobles’ dismissive glances toward Rayla, the princess of Katolis—though they were enough to make Callum’s fingers itch with frustration. It was the knowing glances exchanged by the elites, the quiet murmurs behind their fan-lined hands, the politics and posturing that seemed to suck the air from the room.

[h0rr0rsaxo]

So..song fic. Here we go. Song: Dinner and Diatribes by Hozier

Here are the main lyrics that really go with the idea!:

-Dinner and diatribes, I knew it from the first look of, The look of mischief in your eyes.

-I'd suffer Hell if you'd tell me, What you'd do to me tonight, Tell me, Tell me, Tell me, ah

-Honey, I laugh when it sinks in, A pillar I am of pride, Scarcely can speak for my thinking, What you'd do to me tonight, Now that the evening is slowing, Now that the end is in sight, Honey, it's easier knowing, What you'd do to me tonight

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The general idea for this fic is having like being in the middle of a very intense dinner party with tons of people all around, talking and watching. So ocv Anni and the others are forced to attend another one of Enid's fancy dinners and Enid loves to invite lots of people. So they all go to sit down, most of the guests are already there and Anni sits right in front of this one man that she is all too familiar with. Zane. Zane has his usual assassin outfit on, the hood, the mask over his mouth and she can just see his eyes and the look he gives her, especially when he takes off his mask and she can see his glowing red eyes and smirk. She knows that this is going to be a hellish night. When the dinner starts, all Zane has to do is look at Anni in a seductive way and suddenly her world is spinning and her body starts to heat up, its from Zane's influence.

Anni tries getting up to leave, but two of Enid's servants stop her and Enid shoots her a look. So she is forced to stay and endure Zane's torture. Someone even tries talking to Anni and Zane won't shut up in her head.

"Darling, someone is talking to you. Wouldn't want to be rude and keep them waiting, now would you?"

"Oh sorry, am I distracting you, honey?

Anni is embarrassed, flustered and pissed. Maybe one of the others notice and they ask if she's okay...

(Feel free to add or change anything. If you have any questions about Zane then feel free to ask and I also recommend watching the music video for inspo and ideas if you need it!)

[ Dinner and Diatribes. || Simp party. ]

Warnings: Slight mentions of NSFW.

Tags: @insane-horror-movie-addict

A/N: No comment🚶‍♀️

Word count: 2,069

Honey this club here is stuck up

Dinner and Diatribes.

Anni took a deep breath as she stepped into Enid's opulent mansion, adorned with chandeliers and gilded frames on the walls. She was used to these fancy dinner parties by now, but that didn't make them any less intimidating. Enid, their Goddess and host for the evening, loved to show off her wealth and connections, and always invited a crowd of wealthy and influential people. Anni and the other proxies were expected to attend as well, to add to the ambiance and make Enid look good.

As Anni made her way to the dining room, she could hear the chatter and laughter of the guests already seated at the long table. She saw a few familiar faces, some she had met on previous occasions, but most were strangers to her. She tried not to make eye contact with anyone as she made her way to her seat, but she couldn't help but notice the man seated directly in front of her. Zane.

I knew well from our first hookup

The look of mischief in your eye

Your friends are a fate that befell me

Zane was a fellow assassin, and he and Anni had worked together on a few jobs in the past. They had a complicated history, to say the least. Anni tried to ignore him, focusing instead on the elaborate place settings and the food being served. But she could feel his eyes on her, and it made her flustered— uncomfortable even.

Zane was dressed in his usual assassin outfit, all black with a few weapons hidden in various pockets. Anni couldn't help but wonder why he felt the need to wear that to a dinner party, but she knew better than to ask. Zane was unpredictable, and she didn't want to say or do anything that could set him off.

Hell is the talking type

I'd suffer hell if you'd tell me

What you'd do to me tonight

As the dinner started, Anni tried to keep her head down and focus on her food. But then she felt it, that familiar sensation of heat and spinning. She looked up and saw Zane, sitting across from her, looking at her with his seductive gaze. Anni tried to resist, but she knew that Zane had a way of getting under her skin.

"Dinner is quite something, isn't it?" Zane said, his voice low and smooth. She ignored his words, but it only egged him on. "Darling, someone is talking to you. Wouldn't want to be rude and keep them waiting, now would you?"

Tell me

Tell me

Tell me

Anni tried to focus on the conversation, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Zane was watching her every move. She felt like she was under a spell, and she knew that it was from Zane's influence. She tried to get up to leave, but two of Enid's servants stopped her. Anni could feel Enid's eyes on her, and she knew that she was trapped.

That's the kinda love

I've been dreaming of

As the night wore on, Anni became more and more uncomfortable. The other guests were drinking heavily and getting louder, and she was starting to feel claustrophobic. She tried to make small talk with the people around her, but she was distracted by Zane's presence. He was watching her, always watching her. She could feel his gaze, lingering all over her body. It was uncomfortably hot.

That's the kinda love

I've been dreaming of

Anni couldn't take it anymore. She needed to get out of there. She stood up and tried to make her way to the door once again, but the servants blocked her path— annoyed to see her try to leave again.

"Leaving so soon, Anni?" One of Enid's snarky servants questioned, her voice laced with venom. Anni tried to explain that she wasn't feeling well, but the servant wasn't having it. She ordered Anni to sit back down and finish her meal. Anni was trapped, and she knew that there was no way out.

As the night dragged on, Anni felt like she was in a nightmare. She was surrounded by people she didn't know, and she couldn't escape. And worst of all, she was under Zane's spell, unable to think clearly or act on her own. She knew that this was going to be a long, long night. The way his eyes occasionally dragged to her, practically begging for her to just come near him— it only darkened the blush in her face.

Honey I laugh when it sinks in

A pillar, I am upright

As the meal progressed, Anni found herself getting more and more anxious. The conversation around the table was focused on wealth and power, things that Anni had little interest in. She felt out of place, like a fish out of water. She tried to contribute to the conversation when she could, but she felt like her opinions were dismissed or ignored— but that was delusional thinking, considering everything she said came out in incoherent mumbles that both Kellin and Vince couldn't seem to understand.

Scarcely can speak for my thinking what

You'd do to me tonight

Zane, however, seemed to be right at home. He was charming and witty, and the other guests seemed to hang on his every word. Anni couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy— his charismatic attitude was something she wished for. She didn't want to admit it, but she was still attracted to him, despite everything that had happened between them.

Now that the evening is slowing

Now that the end's in sight

As dessert was being served, Enid stood up to make a toast. Anni braced herself for another long speech about Enid's accomplishments and wealth, but instead, Enid surprised everyone by announcing that she was possibly inviting a new candidate to her empire and passing on the majority of the responsibility to her proxies. Anni couldn't believe it. This was a huge opportunity for her, but it also meant that she would be working even more closely with Zane.

As the other guests congratulated Enid and began to filter out of the dining room, Anni felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Zane standing behind her, a small smile on his lips.

"Congratulations, Anni," he said. "Looks like we'll be working together more closely from now on. I definitely wouldn't mind that," His eyes once again dragged across her figure, this time a gloved hand gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear— before he leaned in to whisper, "Not at all.."

Now that the end's in sight

Honey, it's easier knowing what

You'd do to me tonight

Anni tried to keep her cool, but her heart was racing. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this. But as she looked around the opulent dining room, surrounded by all these wealthy and powerful people, she knew that she had to step up. She was a proxy now, and she had to prove herself worthy of the title. She practically shoves him away, before flipping him off, and marching back to the only people she was familiar with.

Tell me

Tell me

Tell your man

Anni takes a deep breath and tries to calm herself down. She can feel her heart racing, and she knows she needs to get a grip. She looks around the ballroom and takes in the stunning decor. The walls are draped in rich fabrics in shades of red and gold, while the chandeliers sparkle with thousands of crystals. The room is filled with people dressed in their finest clothes, chatting and laughing over glasses of champagne.

That's the kinda love

I've been dreaming of

Anni takes a sip of her own champagne and tries to focus on the conversation around her. She's here with Varrick, the demonic man who had loved her for several years, and similarly didn't wanna attend this stupid party. Though, Varrick is a successful musician, and he's always involved in some philanthropic endeavor or another— especially since it would look good on Enid's reputation. Anni secretly loved that about him, but she can't help feeling a little out of place in this world of glamour and wealth.

That's the kinda love

I've been dreaming of

As she looks around the room, she catches sight of Zane again. He's standing in a corner, surrounded by a group of people who seem to hang on his every word. Anni can't help but feel a little envious of his effortless charisma. She knows he's one of the most skilled assassins in the world, but he's also incredibly charming and handsome. Anni hates to admit it, but she's always had a bit of a crush on him.

That's the kinda love

That's the kinda love

That's the kinda love

That's the kinda love…

Varrick notices her staring and follows her gaze. "Zane, huh?" he says, a hint of jealousy in his voice. He's practically pouting with how much his face was scrunched up in disdain.

Anni rolls her eyes and takes another sip of champagne. "Don't be ridiculous," she says. "I just think he's an arrogant prick."

Varrick chuckles. "Well, he is that."

They continue chatting and mingling with the other guests, but Anni can't shake the memory of Zane's touch. She feels a mix of anger and confusion, and she can't help but wonder if there was something more behind his comment. Was he trying to flirt with her? Or was he just being his usual obnoxious self? As the night wears on, Anni finds herself growing more and more restless. She can't stop thinking about Zane, and she keeps glancing over at him whenever she gets the chance. She can see that he's watching her too, and she can feel a strange pull between them.

Ohhhh

Let there be hotel complaints and grievances raised

And that kind of love

It's very rare for Varrick to come to dinners like these, only because his goofy personality is switched over to a sharper version of himself when he’s at work. At work, his charm is ruthless and enticing, made of cleanly sharp blades and clever posterity. The insecurity and poutiness that the demon usually displayed was buried.

Ohhhh

Let there be damage ensued and tabloid news

And that kind of love

Varrick slips a hesitant hand across her waist and plants a sweet kiss to the side of her neck, his favorite spot. “You look absolutely stunning.” Anni rolled her eyes at his compliment and slightly pushed him off. And he was right, she was stunning, even getting some looks from around the large ballroom. They made jokes, talked about Enid's prestigious reputation and floated alcohol with her. She would have enjoyed the night and the attention, if Zane wasn't clouding her mind with those taunting eyes of his.

Ohhhh

Let there be damage ensued and tabloid news

And that kind of love

Varrick seemed fine, but Anni knew him well, despite the smile on his face. She notices something wrong and her forced, tipsy smile drops into an annoyed frown. She excused herself in between the little group that had formed around her and leaning against the table beside Varrick, gripping his button up shirt with her fingers. He had already pulled back his sleeves to his elbows, nursing a scotch.

“Alright, what’s wrong?” She asks, watching as he puts the glass to his lips and takes a sip.

“Nothing, just feeling a little bit lonely.” he smiles. “I told you that you were stunning. But now I'm a little jealous of everyone getting your attention. Especially Zane.”

“What's with that?” Despite her words, her smirk beamed wildly. As soon as he saw it, he cackled out a laugh. He smirks, adoring her words as he pulls her into a tighter hug, resting his head on the side of her head in an appearance of sweetness. She doesn't see the harsh look he gives out to Zane, the wave of warning coming off of him in waves as he stares at each and everyone of them down whilst pressing a possessive kiss to her shoulder.

That's the kinda love

I've been dreaming of

That's the kinda love I've been dreaming of

[thatartiststudios]

🍖

Honestly kinda forgot about this, but it should be up soon, I hope!

It's kind of an experimental fic, as I explain in this post, called, “Honey, this club here is stuck up, Dinner & Diatribes”

(also definitely not sticking to six sentences, I've given up trying)

It was then that two of the nobles passed them, deep in conversation. One of them—his face vaguely familiar, but Callum couldn’t place the name—leaned toward the other, his voice a low murmur, but loud enough to carry in the space between them.

“Do you really think she belongs here? A princess of Katolis at a gathering like this… So beneath us.”

The other noble laughed quietly, but the sound was sharp, cutting. “I can’t imagine what the King of Katolis is thinking, allowing her to be married into the family. Surely he’s aware of her… less-than-desirable qualities.”

Callum’s grip tightened on his glass, his jaw clenching as he stared at the nobles’ retreating forms, ready to march after them and unleash a few choice words. He could feel his blood start to boil—how dare they speak of Rayla like that? The insults, veiled in polite words, were a slap in the face, not just to her, but to everything they had fought for.

But before he could move, Rayla’s calm, steady hand rested on his chest, halting him in place. Her touch was gentle, but firm, and it instantly grounded him. She didn’t need to say anything more than that. He turned his gaze down to her, finding her calm violet eyes watching him, the subtle lift of her brow telling him all he needed to know.

“Relax,” she whispered, her voice a soothing balm on his raw nerves.

He inhaled sharply, his clenched fist relaxing against the wineglass, his gaze shifting from her hand to her face. The warmth of her touch slowly broke through the heat of his anger. It was the way she always did—calm and steady, a reminder of what truly mattered in those moments.

“It’s alright,” Rayla added, her voice soft but unwavering. “Just enjoy your wine, darling.”