#for those of you wondering what happened to the glass gown

[mjr-acourtofdreams]

Didn't Love Me. I Ain't No Fool.

Azriel x Y/N

warnings: angst...? I don't know if there is anything else?

summary: you meet Feyre at the paint studio you two clicked right away and became good friends, soon enough you got to meet the rest of the IC and started forming friendships with them. Azriel and you had a spark at the beginning or at least you thought you did... you two started seeing each other shortly after, keeping each other company in the deep hours of the night and telling each other the darkest parts of each other, he said he loved you but oh how things couldn't have been anymore different...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter Solstice a time where we gather with our family and friends to exchange gifts, drink and visit with each other it is a wonderful time of the year, it has always been my favorite time of the year... been.

Everyone has made their way back to their rooms for the night dinner went well lots of laughs and stories told. I am not exactly part of the inner circle but after becoming great friends with Feyre she invited me to a family dinner one time and the rest is history, these people are like my family now. I picked up my glass and took the last sallow. I was the last one in the living room making my way back to my room, I changed into some comfortable night clothes and was about ready to rest for the night when I remembered I forgot some gifts that I didn't put under the tree.

Making down the hallway with the arm full of gifts I stopped dead in my tracks has I heard hush talking coming from bottom of the stairs slowly making my way the top of the stairs I peeked down staircase my whole body teased, there standing was Azriel and Elain. They were so close oh so close to each bout ready to kiss, I can smell the arousal from here it was too much I took a step back feeling a hard body behind me glancing form the corner of my eye I seen Rhys then I felt him trying to get past my mental shields I drop them "go to you room y/n." I gave him a small nod and sped walked to my room and locked the door behind me.

~~

I shouldn't be upset about what had happened I have seen the way he looked at Elain and how he started to get closer to her and seeing me less and less. We were never really an official thing I mean we talked a lot and we slept together, and I would be crazy not to say it wasn't the best sex I had in a while but with all of the bonding that we had and a strong friendship even if was with benefits I would be lying if I said I didn't form feelings for the shadow singer. The deal was sold one night after he snuck into my room after a mission, and we spent the night together we didn't just have sex we made love and after we cuddle close to each other before he drifted off to sleep, he told me he loved me I believed him. What a fool I was to let him break those walls of mine to let me fall for him, I know better now.

I stood in front of the mirror looking at the work I put into this outfit a smiling being bought on my face. I wore a black gown that had sparkles all the way through it that looked like starlight, with slits coming up both legs and stopping at my hips, the back was open while the straps gently wrapped around my neck with a soft chain then it drops down to a plugging neck line, my eyes were done with a smokey look and my hair was pinned off to one side and my natural waves danced across my back. Tonight, everyone is going out to Rita's it seems like it's been forever since I see them all together it will be nice to catch up with them all and with the news a heard from Feyre a couple weeks ago, she told me that Azriel and Elaine made it official to everyone. Since that night I caught them in the hall I decided to completely stop going over there and seeing them other than Feyre but that is going to change because I miss the friendships, I formed those amazing people and it look those weeks or months to build myself back up from the heart break if that was even worth calling what Azriel and I had it was just one siding but now since back to a better self and not going to go crawling back to a man that clearing never really truly wanted me, he is going to truly see what he is missing.

Short time passed and stood in front of the packed bar the music and laughter poured out to the empty streets taking a deep breath I made my way to the door. It didn't take me long to spot the whole inner circle in the booth they always sit at while here, looking them all over before I make my way to them, I seen Aziel and Elaine sitting to close together there wasn't room to even breath through and he had his arm flung around her shoulders she was resting her head in his side while he smiled down at her fondly I let a small hurt smile flash across my face and shake my head realizing right there that didn't love me and never did.

Azriel POV

Smiling down at Elaine while she leaned into my side I glance back up to where Cassin was going on about the building he destroyed in summer when my eyes landed on and focused on the figure that was making their way over to our table blinking and swallowing hard, I realized that it was y/n straighten up and slide my arm from Elaines side and sit up and looked me with questionable face but I couldn't take my eyes off of y/n as she comes to the table she looked absolutely divine, I haven't seen or heard from her since solstice and I haven't been able to seek her out busy with missions and well Elaine, oh Elaine glancing over to her on my side she was now talking to Mor on the other side of her.

"Hello everyone!" the sweet voice that was sweet has honey now sounds like it has been hardened. Feyre jumped up and pulled y/n into a hug. "I'm so glad you came!" Feyre's smiled beamed at her friend y/n's smile matched hers but there was less sparkle in those beautiful eyes, she slid into the booth right across from me I couldn't take my eyes off of her something felt like it was pulling me towards her even my shadows wanted to leave their master to go to her sides. I cleared my throat it all of a sudden feel dry, to dry. "Hello" she picked up her drink and slowly took a drink and looking down into the glass "How are you?" I tried again to get her attention one of my shadow flew over the tabletop and wrapped around her wrist she glanced up them looking straight into my eyes it felt like she was looking into my soul cutting right through me. "Hello, shadowsinger." there was ice in her voice I felt my body flinch at the coldness in it, this wasn't right I shake my head and looked her back in the eyes "what is going on with you, haven't seen you in weeks, months and you are so cold." I paused and looked her watching her face for any changes she let out a small low chuckle that sounded more like a huff like she hasn't laugh forever then she looked at me the hurt in her eyes were too much to bare to look at then she spoke with no emotion in her voice at all "well, that what happens when love lets you down." she stood from her spot and walked away through the crowded and I felt it then something shattered into a million pieces and I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

[nevernonline]

✧.* twenty-seven?; ksy

synopsis: you always wanted to be considered a ‘serious’ journalist, but to get the chance at moving up the ranks and getting to produce your own stories, you’re get an idea to do one final story and impress your boss, that’s where inspiration strikes with the one and only soonyoung.

part of my ninety minute movies one shot series. ♡︎

paring: hoshi x fem! reader. 

genre: strangers2lvrs

warning/s:mentions of substances (alcohol, weed, cig, vape etc.) swearing, very bad jokes!, just fluffy and nice no seggsy time

word count: 8.4k

content: . non-idol idolings, some other svt members. hoshi is down bad fast xo.

note: my next little inspired movie writing is the icon that is 27 dresses. except instead of our female lead being the one in the wedding its my fav tiger (hamster) soony. I just love sappy cutie soonyoung so I apologize in advance. also unedited bc im a loser srry. it shouldn't be tew bad bc I tried to take my time lol. ily.

Finding a cozy spot at a table to the left of the bride and groom, you flipped open your notebook and started jotting down pin points on the decor, the flowers, the bride's beautiful flowing silk gown, and the way the groom looked at her with stars in his eyes. 

The first dance song rang around the room gathering all the adorned looks of friends and family watching as another couple took the leap on spending the rest of their lives together. 

A rocks glass was placed in front of your pen and paper as the chair next to her was suddenly filled with the stranger who put it there. 

“Taking notes for your own wedding?” 

“Oh. No, I'm doing a piece for the Daily on their wedding.” 

“Are you y/n l/n by any chance?” 

“I am. You’re familiar with me?” 

“Yeah, just through the bride. She’s my sister. She talks about you nonstop. I’m Soonyoung, I was the one who contacted you.” 

“I see. Nice to meet you. What’s the drink for?” 

“Working hard, I figured you should at least enjoy yourself a little bit.” 

“That’s nice. Thank you.” 

Soonyoung stared at the girl across from him, trying to catch a peak at her notes seeing if she was painting this night in a perfect light.

You caught on and shut the book quietly, giving him a small wink as a shout it would be everything his sister wanted. 

“What’s the drink?” 

“A vodka soda, lemon.” 

“So, you know my drink order? Thought you said you didn’t know who I was?” 

“I saw you at a wedding a few weeks ago, my friend Seungkwan. I noticed your drink, that's all. That’s how I got your contact actually.” 

“Lying on the first meet, a great sign. No wonder you look so familiar to me. You were the best man right? But blonde at the time?” 

“My sister would’ve killed me if I was blonde at her wedding and sorry not lying just felt creepy admitting it. 

“I liked it.” 

Soonyoung laughed remembering the conversation he had with his sister about his hair. 

“So what’s it like being in two weddings in one month, Soonyoung?” 

“Actually I’m going to be in three. Next week my coworker is getting married. Which would make my wedding count twenty-six.” 

“You’ve been to twenty-six weddings?” 

“Yep. After next week anyway. What’s your wedding count?” 

“Ones I’ve covered? Too many to count. Ones I’ve been in? Two I think. Both of my brothers are married. That’s about it.” 

“So you cover weddings but aren’t married?” 

Rolling your eyes at his unfiltered nature, you couldn’t help but feel like his question was out of curiosity and not judgment. The way his eyes searched hers for answers was genuinely adorable. 

“Almost at one point, but he cheated on me and is marrying her now. I didn’t actually become a journalist to cover weddings anyway, it sort of just happened.” 

“I see.” 

“What about you? Being at all those weddings and never getting married?” 

“No. Not even close, I was in love with the same girl for a long time, but she didn’t feel the same way.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be.” 

After spending the rest of your night enjoying Soonyoungs company, you bid goodbye to the bride and groom and headed back to your home to get down to working on the article. 

Digging through your black leather tote you realize you forgot to take your journal home with you, leaving it on the white table cloth being distracted by a new friend. 

Realizing you don’t have his number you took it upon yourself to stalk his social media profiles in hope you could find a way to get in contact with him, maybe he was your saving grace in taking your book for safekeeping until he could give it back to you. 

Saying fuck it for now you just began typing away about your night, thanking god or whomever that you backed up your calendar digitally when you get a clever idea to write an article still about weddings, but about the person you met who had been a groomsmen all those times. Searching for any kind of photos and videos of his past times supporting nuptials. 

All you came up with was a couple cheesing photos of him posing in his suits of many colors and types when you get the idea to go back into your own rolodex of photos and writings from weddings you’ve done in the past, noticing him standing near the bride and groom in just a few it was now safe to say he has piqued your interest even more than before. 

You decided to draft an email to your boss begging for the chance to write her an article about the types of bridesmaids and groomsmen who’ve been involved in many years of weddings as a support, if you found one person who had done so many in a short time it wouldn’t be hard to find more right? 

Before getting ready for bed you sat refreshing your email waiting for the go-ahead to investigate Soonyoung further with the excuse that it was simply just for work, it took multiple scrolls to the point where your thumb was starting to hurt from running it over the screen until she replied. 

‘Y/n, feel free to start drafting up the story. If I like it I’ll let you have more creative articles in the future. Please have it on my desk in two weeks.’

When the morning finally arrived, you had to make the rough decision to get out of bed and head to grab a coffee from the shop in your apartment lobby. Normally you’d be cuddled on your couch with your cat, spending your Saturday morning reading and watching reruns of your favorite reality shows, but much to your surprise the coffee stash you usually have stocked has dried up. 

Exiting the silver doors of the elevator a call came from the front desk attendant and you were met by a brown paper bag tied with a bow, the outside scribbled on with some crayons of silly faces and drawings of cartoon tigers, stickers of hello kitty, and a pink note taped to the handle. 

“Miss. Y/l/n! Some boy dropped this for you last night.” 

“Oh? Thank you, Max.” 

Ripping open the small note in line for your morning brew, it instantly puts a smile on your face.

‘Hi, I noticed you left this on the table. Hope it’s not weird. I dropped it off for you. Your address was inside. At least I can stalk you now. - Soonyoung (wedding guy lol)” 

Inside the bag was your planner and a few random pieces of candy thrown around. A small bookmark was placed on a page and written underneath was a date for next Thursday and the number of your new favorite subject marked ‘single seeking wedding date.’ 

After grabbing the paper cup from the barista behind the counter you whip your phone out and dial the number written inside your prized possession. 

“Hello, is this the single seeking a date?” 

“Hey, it is. Is this the cute girl who’s planner I found?” 

“I think so? I don’t know any other cute girls who like going to weddings.” 

“Are you available for drinks and a little pre-wedding party?” 

“When?” 

“Tonight.” 

“Tonight? Wow. Eager to see me again I see.” 

“I am. And I’m being bold right now which is new for me, so please don’t make me cry.” 

“Aw. But I’m sure you’re so pretty when you cry.” 

“I’m always pretty, y/n. So?” 

“Sure. Why not?” 

You heard Soonyoung gasp over the phone and drop something loud. 

“Really?” 

“Want me to take it back?” 

“No. Cool. I will.. pick you up at 6:30? We can get some drinks before and then it’s just like a casual party, but my friends are kind of fancy so maybe like nice cocktail attire. I’m sure you know.” 

“Okay. I’m sure you remember where to find me? After all, you did confess to being a stalker.” 

“Oh my god. I was kidding, don’t take me seriously. I’ll see you then.” 

“See you, Soony. Ok now I’m corny. That wasn’t meant to be a pun. Bye.” 

Hearing the boy's laughter over the phone almost gave you butterflies. 

“You’re funny. Bye.” 

Spending the rest of your normally relaxing afternoon getting ready to slyly interrogate your new friend, you decided to not go out of your way to look overly special after all you weren’t even sure this quote on quote date was anything romantic or just a way of initiating a friendship. 

Just before you leave your front door you sat to think if it was appropriate to bring along the same journal that was delivered to you the same morning, but made the conscious decision to leave it behind and not make this first night getting to know each other about you digging into his life for your own gain. 

The ride down the elevator had you inspecting yourself in its small safety mirror, fixing the very last strand of hair that felt out of place on your head, not paying any attention to the people jumping off and on from their various floors. 

When you finally stepped out into the marble covered lobby, you immediately spotted Soonyoung draped over the side of the couch holding his legs close, almost like a nervous child looking around the room and pouting because he can’t find his toy. 

When he finally locked eyes with you his childlike demeanor changed immediately into a spunky puppy, jumping up from his seat and dusting off crumbs on his pants that weren’t even there in the first place, maybe to wipe his hands from their small sweat they were undergoing. 

“Hi, y/n. You look very nice” 

“Really? So do you. Where are we headed?” 

“There’s a cool poet themed bar just like two blocks from here, I thought you’d enjoy it since you’re a writer and everything.” 

You looked at Soonyoung with wide eyes, it was a sign of how considerate he was yet again, just like the thought he put into bringing you, your planner and decorating the bag. 

His sharp brown eyes sparkled under the street lights, almost like they were reflecting stars, his baggy khaki pants with matching jacket slung perfectly over his frame, he was cute. You could admit it to yourself that something about him was magnetic and you already wanted more. 

“Y/n? Is that not your thing? I’m sorry we can do something else, I shouldn’t of assumed all writers like poetr-“ 

“Oh I’m sorry, I was distracted. Has anyone told you that you have insanely cute eyes? But yes, poetry’s cool. I’m more of a classic novel girl, but it sounds fun. Stop second guessing yourself. You’re good.” 

Your hand moved faster than your brain as you brought it up to pat him gently on his shoulder, a confirmation that you were having a good time and trying to ease his awkwardness. 

“Yeah, people have once or twice.” 

“Good. They really are cute.” 

The pink of Soonyoung’s cheeks grew into a deep red as he led you into the bar. The walls were covered in decaying pieces of paper written with words people had to get out for comfort. The smell was like the oldest library on earth, with a tinge of vanilla and vodka ringing through. 

Your brain took a moment to be present and remember all of the bad dates of your past. Maybe this wasn’t a date of your future, but if it was, he had already exceeded your expectations. 

As the waitress took your order, one Body Electric for your new friend a legit inspiration from Walt

Whitman to your choice which was a play on a Sylvia Plath poem. 

“Are you a lightweight?” 

You looked at Soonyojng not even halfway through his drink, feeling the ease and warmth of his body next

to you. 

“How can you tell?” 

“You relaxed for the first time tonight.” 

“I was nervous to hangout with you. I’m sorry. You’re just cool and pretty and I don’t know I feel like you’re way smarter than me and I’m intimidated by that sober” 

“I’m sure that’s not true. But if it’s any help I was nervous too.” 

“Really? So I have game?” 

“No. But you’re so cute I’d die if I hurt your feelings.” 

“So you’re a lightweight too?” 

“What? No way. Just honest to a fault.” 

Soonyoung smiled into the rim of his glass before taking his final sip and prompting you to finish your drink quickly, which you happily obliged. 

“Okay, on the way there.. I have to admit something. The party we’re going to is for the girl I liked before she got with this guy… it’s like unrequited love in a way.” 

“The girl you said you don’t love anymore?” 

“Yeah. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I just wanted to see you again so I thought it was a good idea.” 

“I’m down. I’m not sure what, but I’m down.” 

“Cool.” 

“Want me to pretend to be your girlfriend? Or? I feel like it would be weird to say we were on a first date.” 

“Is this a date?” 

“Is it not?” 

“It was meant to be and it definitely is now.” 

“So pretend girlfriend, Soony?” 

“Maybe not an official girlfriend, how about… fourth date?” 

“Okay, have we had sex?” 

Soonyoung choked on his own spit which caused the two of you to end up in a fit of laughter on the street as you reached your next destination. 

“Obviously.” 

“That’s fair. I’ll tell everyone you were good.” 

“I think I love you.” 

“Shut up.” 

After spending the night waltzing around and parading your further long relationship with your fake new boyfriend to his friends in hopes to prove his fondness for his newest engaged friend has gone away even slightly. 

While maybe you were pretending to be on a date with Soonyoung, your head was spinning. If this was a fake date it was better than any date you had previously. Stepping outside to take a break from the party inside you pulled out your phone, jotting down notes and small nuggets of information you learned about Soonyoung’s past wedding experiences. 

“Taking notes on me? What are you a PI?” 

Behind you, you hadn’t realized the door you snuck out of opened and the boy had followed behind, curious if you were okay. 

“Yeah, you’re under investigation for being overly nice. Sorry.” 

“What do they say? I didn’t read them, just saw my name.” 

“Just some antidotes I want to remember. Nothing crazy.” 

“Do you want to leave? I’m starting to reach my alcohol limit and I would rather die than have you see my drunk alter ego the first time we hung out.” 

“Yeah, come on, let's go.” 

Going back through the back exit, you tripped behind Soonyoung’s tall frame grabbing onto his shoulder and giggling before he stood in the way of you hitting the ground. 

His lips were curled into a goofy smile. 

“I swear to god if you say something about me falling for you, you will get punched.” 

“How did you know?” 

“That fucking goofy smile you have on your face right now, I could just see it brewing in that head of yours.” 

“Okay, I don’t like that you’ve already figured me out. Let’s go, klutz.” 

Before you and Soonyoung could exit back into the fresh air, a familiar face appeared in front of you. Your ex boyfriend. Something about this night clicked for you, it was his party, there were so many people around and the only person from the wedding party you met was the bride. But taking a breath in and looking around the room, you realized how stupid you were to not see all the signs that this party was for him. 

“Y/n? Hoshi? Hey, how have you guys been?” 

Soonyoung still holding his arm around your shoulder gave a small back and fourth look between you and the tall boy who knew your name. 

“You guys know each other?” 

“Yep. Hi, Jihoon.” 

“I didn’t know you knew Hoshi either?” 

“Oh well we just started dating, he invited me to come hangout.” 

“Dating? Wow. I didn’t know you had time for people outside of work anymore.” 

“Jihoon, if you don’t mind we have to go now. Thank you for the open bar and this amazing time chatting, congratulations on marrying your hookup. Goodnight.” 

The start of your walk with Soonyoung was pure silence, there was an obvious elephant in the room and you could tell he was just itching to talk about it, so you decided to prompt him. 

“You’re curious aren’t you.” 

“Yes. But I don’t want to ask you to talk about it because we’re having fun. So I figured I’d try to ignore it.” 

“It’s fine. I’m curious too actually, it’s kind of funny that the girl you liked was hooking up with my boyfriend and now they’re married. And by funny I mean actually funny and we just spent the whole night not knowing that.” 

“I didn’t even know that Jihoon had a girlfriend when they first met, he never said anything about it.” 

“I don’t blame him actually, I do work way too much. I just wished he’d broken up with me instead of cheating on me for a month.” 

“When did you guys break up?” 

“Last December.” 

“Oh.” 

“It was more than a month wasn’t it?” 

“I think so.” 

“Cool, cool, cool.” 

“That’s fucked up y/n, I’m so sorry.” 

“That’s okay, we weren’t supposed to be together and his new girlfriend or future wife whatever seems like she’s really nice.” 

“She is, but she’s too nice. She does everything he wants, maybe he couldn’t handle your independence.” 

“Soony. You caught on that I’m a bad bitch?” 

“Have you met yourself?” 

“No. But, if I did I’d be obsessed with her and hate her at the same time.” 

“That’s exactly how I feel.” 

You punched his side, before stopping and realizing you had come up to your front door. Not even worried about the way your feet were aching to get out of your heeled shoes. 

“This is me.” 

“I know. I’ve been here like three times now in less than twenty-four hours. I’m starting to believe you actually think I’m stupid.” 

“Not stupid. Just silly. I’ll see you again right?” 

“I mean I did put days on your calendar to schedule out time for me.” 

“You littl-“ 

Suddenly you were cut off by Soonyoung’s hand covering your mouth to put a stop to you cursing him out. 

“I won’t take no for an answer.” 

Sinking your teeth into his hand he retreated from his momentary confidence quickly, looking at the proud smile you were sporting, pointing your well manicured finger in his face. 

“Don’t tell women to shut up, Soony.” 

“I never said shut up, you were going to call me a mean name and I’m sensitive. Go back to calling me cute.” 

“Maybe. Next time.” 

You went in for a one armed hug when all of the sudden Soonyoung came in with both arms, clinking your heads together. 

“Very smooth.” 

He liked the fact that you constantly teased him while making light of situations, regaining his confidence he pulled you into his embrace enveloping both arms around your shoulders, placing a small kiss on the part of your forehead that crashed into his. 

“I’ll see you next week.” 

“What’s next week?” 

“The wedding, check your planner. Well actually I’ll see you in two nights because we have to shop or go through your closet so we can match! Bye, y/nie.” 

Caught off guard by the kiss on your head and watching him hail a cab like it was nothing, you couldn’t help but smile on your way into your building, met by Max at the front desk beaming as wide as you and giving you a wink.  Knowing that he saw the cute and awkward interaction you shared with the hyper hamster outside. 

The two days in between you and Soonyoung’s first official interaction, you felt yourself looking forward to seeing him again and being in his presence like your own personal serotonin boost. 

The insane fact that your ex was marrying the girl he cheated on was enough, but the girl being Soonyoung’s painful crush? Especially when you felt he was becoming yours was beyond insane. 

You made up separate drafts of your article about the people who make weddings shine, from the families, the bridal parties. the insane bachelor and bachelorette nights, and mainly Soonyoung’s love for love. 

The two works of nonfiction were from different perspectives, one being your head and one being your heart. You couldn’t decide if it was appropriate to present a piece basically claiming how amazing you found Soonyoung for the whole world to see when you’re not even sure if he’d ever consider you to be more than a silly writer girl y/n, his friend or fake girlfriend. Your other was from the space of practicality, a genuine love letter to your career and the person who inspired this story, but also digging deep into the ideals of how frantic and selfish the wedding industry can be and what it means for an unmarried friend to take in burdens constantly for their loved ones when it takes a toll on their own heart. 

The biggest debate in your body was the fact the real article, the one you wanted to write, was at the fault of someone who had only in the short space of two days made you feel again, but it was honest and genuine. 

You knew Soonyoung had to have some pain working and being a part of a wedding for the girl he saw himself marrying. 

Luckily you have another few days to decide which way it’ll go. 

Sitting on the thought of what one you should put out, you were awoken out of your thought bubble to a string of buzzes from your cell phone sitting face down on your desk. 

None other than the boy that had been living in your head for the past 48 hours. 

Soonyoung’s texts were multiple lines of photos and silly messages asking you which outfit he should wear that could match any of the dresses you had hanging in your closet for the wedding. 

One of the options was a beige suit, simple in theory but something about the way he styled it with a funky sage green t-shirt and matching sneakers made you smile. Even if you didn’t have anything to match this outfit you would make an effort to go out and spruce up your wardrobe to be on his level. 

After quickly responding that it was your choice, he retorted back in his true fashion you’d have to send him your options too or he’d come over to help you. 

In a desperate subconscious way you agreed to his antics. 

Now nearly an hour later a call came from the front desk that a visitor had arrived asking for consent he could come upstairs which you happily agreed assuming it was none other than Soonyoung himself. The person on the opposite side of the door was not the sharp eyed boy you’d expected, but Jihoon. 

“Why are you here?” 

“I wanted to see you after the other night, I just wanted to say hey.” 

“Okay? Then text me. Don’t come over unannounced, I have a friend I’m expecting.” 

“You wouldn’t have responded.” 

“That’s true.” 

Standing with your arms crossed in your doorway not letting Jihoon into the now redecorated apartment you once had let him live in, you weren’t budging on your gut feeling to let him in and talk. 

“Can I come in?” 

“Like I said. I’m expecting a friend. So.. no.” 

“Who? Hoshi? You guys aren’t seriously together? He’s not your type, too goofy.” 

“Isn’t he your friend?” 

“He’s Nana’s friend, but he’s okay. I’m just saying it's not your style.” 

Nana? A stupid nickname for his fiance who’s name was simply Anna. So as you rolled your eyes and shut your apartment door behind you as you stepped into the hallway as a clear defining factor he was not welcome you stood far apart from him as a line in the sand. 

“He’s not goofy. He’s sweet and yes he’s on his way so maybe you should leave before saying anything else so he doesn’t get the wrong idea.” 

Jihoon wavered a bit, looking towards the elevator door at the end of the hall as if like a movie Soonyoung would walk out of the elevator at the mention he was on his way over. 

“Maybe take the stairs. I’ll see you at your wedding with my date.” 

Rushing in and slamming the door in his face, you sink to the floor in a moment of pure exhaustion over interacting with someone like your ex. 

Why wasn’t Soonyoung right for you? Why did you not want that to be true? And why were you so dead set on proving him absolutely wrong? 

In your rush of emotions another knock came to your door. Without looking through the peephole you swung it open rapidly. 

“Look I told you to g- oh, Soonyoung! Thank god.” 

Your body made a move before your head could even catch up as you ended up hugging him tightly, rushing him inside as if Jihoon didn’t get the message and was watching in from a hidden spot in the corridor. 

“Y/N are you okay?” 

“Yes. Sorry, someone just came over that I did not want to see. Welcome.” 

You watched as his eyes took in the view of your pink and green splattered apartment, things like funky vases full of wildflowers, plant tendrils floating down from shelves tucked between books of various sizes and ages, a small nook with sleeping white and black cat hid inside snuggling into his stuffed toy. 

“I love it here.” 

“Really? I redecorated recently, it was cold before. I love it now.” 

“Also it smells amazing, do you bake? It smells like cookies and coffee. Wow.” 

“I do not bake, but I do have candles that give the illusion. What’s in the bag?” 

Soonyoung set a small black duffle bag down on the counter and began pulling the contents out one by one, showing them off like a beauty guru. 

Wine, five small bags of potato chips, beer Incase you didn’t like wine and he was unsure, a slice of delicious looking chocolate cake, and a container marked with your name of his moms homemade soup. 

“Why did you do this?” 

“I thought we would have fun while picking out matching outfits. Will you let me see your closet? Please, please, please. I’m so curious.” 

“It’s not that impressive at all.” 

“If your apartment looks like this then I have only the highest expectations for you.” 

Smiling, you jokingly made a come on motion with your fingers and led him into your spare bedroom that now existed as a half home office and half closet. 

His eyes took in even more of your fun design work, the racks of records, pictures of you and your friends, and one of the things that made him feel like he could fall in love with you, your rack full of limited edition shoes and bags. 

“Not impressive? You have some of the coolest shit I’ve ever seen in here?” 

“I’m just a girl with a cat and a lot of time on my hands. Since being single I’ve just spent it on shopping and ordering take out.” 

“If you don’t mind me asking what were you and Jihoon like together? You guys seem really opposite to me.” 

There it was again, someone not right for you. Was it just in your head that you think maybe you’re the problem of why this comment is being made? 

“Uh, we were okay at first. We met in college about three weeks before graduation and spent so much time together. But if I think about it, we just hung out in his dorm where I watched him play video games and watch anime even though I was not interested. I kind of wish I was more outspoken about it. I missed a bunch of things my friends had done wasting away on his futon drinking shitty cheap alcohol and waiting on him hand and foot and whatever else.” 

“Really? So you guys dated for a long time I guess. Did it change a lot once you got out?” 

“Not really. A lot of people knew we were ‘dating’ but in the time that we did, we probably went on one or two actual dates.” 

“That makes me sad actually.” 

“Why? I made the choice to do all those things. At least I don’t have an ugly poster of John Lennon on my wall just to show I loved him.” 

Soonyoung was set off by that, laughing and imagining you having a photo of a musician on your wall to impress your boyfriend. 

“What’s so funny? Haven’t you done anything embarrassing to impress a girl?” 

“Definitely. Too many to choose from actually.” 

“At least you're charming, I came off as obsessive and stupidly in love. Not a good look for me.” 

“Caring too much is never a bad thing when you think you’re in love and you’re charming too.” 

“Why thank you good sir.” 

“And you’re weird. Which personally is a green flag for me. I didn’t expect that from you actually.” 

“Is that a compliment though, really?” 

“For me? Yes. I don’t like normal people well, not normal people I guess, just people who have no personality or something I can learn from. I want someone as a friend or whatever else to challenge me a little, it’s healthy.” 

“I think that’s really cool of you, I agree. I like people that are willing to try new stuff or get me out of my comfort zone.” 

“Was showing me your office a way of me getting you out of your comfort zone?” 

“Sort of. This is kind of like my safe haven.” 

Soonyoung just gave you a wide toothed smile, beaming from ear to eat that you admitted he was even just slightly somewhat of your type. 

As the night went on and on the boy that has now broken down a couple of your walls, not quickly but brick by brick was sitting comfortably next to your cat curled up in the same manor helping you pick out something that would go with his two outfits, one for the wedding itself and one for the rehearsal dinner which he promised you that you’d only eat and leave to have more fun just out of respect for the couple and his friend Anna. 

Now each of you taking the bottle of wine he brought slowly, sitting on your floor surrounded by shoes and loose pairs of pants, giggling over nothing he stared in your eyes almost like you could read that he had another interrogating question. 

“Was Jihoon the one at the door before?” 

“How did you kno–” 

“I can’t remember you mentioning anybody that would come over unannounced and make you look as upset as you did.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Do you know why he was here?” 

“He just gave me some stupid antidote that he wanted to see me after the other day, I didn’t ask further. When I told him I had a friend coming over he just knew it was you for some reason and then told me we couldn’t be dating seriously because you’re not my type? As if he’d know? It was weird all around.” 

“Do you still have feelings for him?” 

“No. I realized once we broke up and now after knowing he was cheating on me more than a few nights that it was an amazing decision. When we first ended it I just kicked him out and ghosted all his texts, he used to update me on his life every now and again, the last time we talked for real, before today he called me crying that his Grandmother was sick, so we just had a brief talk and it ended for real there. I genuinely never thought I’d see him again.” 

“Also, am I your type?” 

Ss wine dribbled down your chin you were once again surprised by Soonyoung’s random fit of confidence. 

“Yeah. You’re nice and I love how annoying you are. I think you get under my skin in the best way.” 

“Wow. I’m surprised you admitted it.” 

“What can I say, wine drunk y/n is honest.” 

“And what about my physical type? Sexy, cool, handsome, the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen?” 

Taking a note from his book you swung your closest arm to him, you clipped your fingers over his mouth and shut him up. 

Much to your surprise he took a note from your book and instead of biting your hand he stuck his tongue through his lips and licked your fingers which caused you to lunge towards him further, jokingly pissed he did just so. 

As you were fighting for comedic relief you sat suddenly face to face with him holding onto your wrists to resist more thrash fighting. 

The two of you stared at each other filling the room with intense tension of your lips being so close once again. 

“If I knew you wouldn’t be mad at me I’d kiss you right now.” 

“Soonyoung, you’re so stupid. Why would I be mad at you?” 

“So I can kiss you?” 

“Nope.” 

Soonyoung pushed his bottom lip out from his top, replacing his cute puppy face with a pouty one. 

You decided to quickly dive in and pace a peck on his protruding bottom lip. 

He immediately let you go and erupted into a fit of giggles like a little kid, as you tried to sneak away quickly he grabbed onto the arm of your sweatshirt which you quickly unzipped and slipped out of, running through the door of your office and into the rest of the house as he chased behind. 

“You have to know I’m going to catch you for that, that was so mean y/n.” 

As you were winning the fight, getting away from the boy chasing you around, you suddenly tripped up and felt his hand grasp your shoulder, turning you around with secret strength. 

Standing face to face with him now, your stubbed toe throbbing through your fuzzy socks, you both were holding in a whole lot of laughter. 

Soonyoung’s hand slipped behind your head and pulled you in for a much more romantic type of kiss than you gave him before. The two of you touched lips softly, as your smiles were still prominent on your faces. 

Before anything could escalate further your phone began to ring again and your boss's name was plastered over the front, which you answered with panting breaths still in a haze from kissing the boy you made you feel young again. 

“y/n? Hi, would you be able to send over a draft of your article you begged me for? We were looking for something to print for tomorrow if you’re interested? I’ll have someone expedite the editing process tonight.” 

“Oh, shit. Yeah of course, I’ll rush and email it to you now.” 

“Thank you, congratulations y/n.” 

“Thank you. Bye.” 

Oh my god, Soony, stay here. I have to email my boss quickly about my article, she wants to print it for tomorrow's paper. I’ll be right back.” 

“What? Congratulations. But don't worry, I’m not leaving.” 

“Good, sorry, be right back.” 

Rushing back into your office you flipped open your computer and sent your final article draft, choosing the one that your gut felt would be better for your personal life at the moment, especially after the kiss you just shared with the boy it was about. 

Typing a quick message along with your attachment you just said a big thank you and clicked send before grabbing the half drank bottle off the floor and ran back to Soonyoung munching on a bag of chips waiting for you. 

“Shall we celebrate?” 

“What are we celebrating?” 

“Me, idiot. I’ve been trying to get a real article published ever since I got the job doing weddings. I love weddings, but always being so happy and cheerful and not getting a chance to stretch my creative juices is frustrating.” 

“Can we also celebrate kissing? That seems more fun.” 

“Shut up, asshole.” 

Taking a swig from the bottle, you passed it over to your male counterpart and watching him take an equally large drink matching your energy. 

You and Soonyoung spent the rest of the night talking about how tomorrow will go, where will you and he be sitting, will Jihoon be giving you side eyes or talking shit with some of the other guests. How nice of a chance it’ll be to experience a wedding simply just enjoying with someone on your side and not for work. 

After sitting in bed and still thinking about your kiss with Soonyoung many hours later, you saw a text from your boss letting you know she loved the article and to watch out for it in the morning. 

When that finally rolled around, you woke up to a lot of messages congratulating you and your new found success, many people from college, your parents, but the one person you were looking for was nowhere to be found in those texts. 

Putting the praise aside for a moment, you slipped back out of your bed to jump into the shower and start getting ready for your dinner celebrating the devil that was your ex. 

When you stepped out and went to grab onto your device once again you saw a text from the one person you were most excited to read, but it was less than exciting. Soonyoung expressed how upset the article made him and accused you of using him to further your career, something Jihoon supposedly warned him of the night of his pre-wedding party and he chose to ignore. 

Confused why he would be so upset about your praise for him, you ran to your front door and ripped open the pages of the paper only to find the article that you sent was a mistake, it was the one shitting on weddings, basically claiming Soonyoung himself was an unmarried loser, not in those words but you could see why it came across that way. Some of the simple moments of praise for his hard work were cut out in the editing room, only leaving the small bits of gossip and harsh criticisms sprinkled in between. 

Rushing back inside as your stomach sank to the floor you tried his number three times before getting no answer. Which made you frantically dial your boss’s number and interrogate her on why parts of your article were cut out, she simply answered that fluff doesn’t sell and she was proud of you. 

Soonyoung not responding had let you in on the fact that he wasn’t going to be seeing you today or maybe even seeing anybody for that matter, he was embarrassed and rightfully so. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” 

Continuing your quest on trying to reach him, you decided to still get ready for your night out, maybe not in the intense matching outfit way you wanted to last night, but just something where you could sneak into Jihoon’s wedding party and slide Soonyoung the real article you wanted him to read. 

Running down the street to the venue with no accurate directions in sight, you saw your ex standing on a corner, smoking a brown wrapped joint in his suit. 

“Jihoon. Jihoon.” 

“What? Back to grovel for a favor?” 

“Yes, please, just give this to Soonyoung for me. Please, I’ve never asked you for a favor like this, just once do something for me.” 

“You’re really serious about him?” 

“I am.” 

“So you didn’t mean to slam him in the article like you did?” 

“No. My boss cut out the good parts of the article, this was the one I meant to send. Just for me. I want you to be happy, Jihoon, I do. I want it for myself too, just please give it to him. Make sure he reads it.” 

“Okay.” 

“I know we haven’t had the best past and I know I'm coming here askin- Wait? Okay? Really?” 

“Yeah. I can tell this means a lot to you and the reason I came over today was just to formally invite you to the wedding. You’re a big part of my life and now Soonyoung’s, well maybe, besides the point. My fiance is one of his best friends, she liked you too, that was the only reason.” 

“Oh. Well I don’t think I’ll make it.” 

“How about you come on official business and give this to him yourself?” 

“No. I couldn’t do that. It’s your day not mine.” 

“We both deserve a big love, y/n.” 

Taking back your enveloped letter, you couldn’t help but be impressed by how mature Anna had made Jihoon become and you knew he was right. Sometimes love just falls in your lap and you can’t do anything about it. 

Ashing out his joint, he handed you the other half as an olive branch to celebrate old times and bid you goodbye until tomorrow. 

Before going back inside, he turned to you with one final wish. 

“You better look damn good tomorrow too, no suits. Wear something nice to confess your feelings, otherwise you’ll look like a dumbass.” 

“Got it.” 

Catching your breath and shoving the letter and paraphernalia back into your purse, you decided to take Jihoon’s advice. To look amazing, you stumbled upon a shop called ‘All's Well that Ends Well.’ situation just a block down from the poetry inspired bar Soonyoung took you to just a few days before. 

Stepping inside the store, the first thing you saw was a navy blue dress, the halter neckline and the silk straight flowing down to the floor, you knew it was meant for you. Especially because it would match the light pink suit Soonyoung was meant to be sporting with you by his side. The easiest shopping experience of your life. 

As the sales associate packed your order up and sealed it with a light pink bow, you knew it was a sign or something of the sort. 

With less than twenty-four hours of doing the most insane thing of your life, confessing to a man who essentially hated you after you had been kissing just hours before, you stayed up all night, using the weed that Jihoon gave you to stay focused on the task at hand, you almost considered cutting of your hair to enter a new era of your life, but only girls who were going through something would consider that and you attempted to tell yourself you were calm. 

When the morning sun rang around you finished writing a letter to match the one already placed in the envelope to accompany your sorry. You even decorated the outside with stickers of tigers and spongebob characters just to make Soonyoung smile. 

Sliding into your navy blue dress and silver heels, your hair was down and curled into perfect waves. You kissed your cat on the head and made your way over to the venue by foot, just to give yourself a little fresh air and piece of mind, hoping to slip in early enough so that you’d be seated before he even knew you came. 

Slipping into a space near the back of the room on Jihoon’s side, you opened your phone to an encouraging text from him telling you that you’ve got this and he’s excited to hear more about it later, plus reminding you to have fun and enjoy yourself. 

As the progression started you watched along with the other wedding goers, catching glimpses of Jihoon’s smiling family, which made your heart feel warm. 

As the wedding part waltz down the aisle in their pastel pink suits and rosy toned dresses, you saw a now blonde again head appear on the arm of a girl who looked a lot like Anna, so it was fair to assume it was her sister. 

Soonyoung didn’t glance your way, but something about the change in his demeanor made you aware he knew you had come. 

“Everyone please rise for the bride.” 

Anna walked out with her father on her arm, floating across the room like an angel in white. Her dress was adorned with small beaded flowers from the tips of her fingers down to the vail over her blonde hair. 

She was truly beautiful, you couldn’t help but feel like a peasant in the room with this woman who both of the men you had either once had feelings for or now did once loved. 

The whole ceremony was beautiful, but you missed a lot of it as you stared Soonyoung’s way trying to catch his eyes, but he never met yours. He was too busy enjoying the fact that his friends were getting married and the fact you had upset him. 

When the ceremony ended you followed the other guests to the front of the church, holding your envelope in your hand and greeting the bride and groom, Anna and Jihoon beamed at you before she pointed her finger to a room off the side of the front door, some sort of administration office where Soonyoung would be waiting for you. Which also told you Jihoon had filled her in on your little plan. 

You cracked open the old wooden door, trying to be subtle but the rotting wood creaked under the old floor boards making your entrance more known than you would’ve liked. 

Soonyoung was seated in a red leather chair to the side of the desk, his now blonde hair meeting your eyes before his face. Not giving in to turn around and look at you. 

“Soonyoung? I know you probably don’t want to speak to me. But, this was the real article. It was never meant to be that way. I’m sorry.” 

You placed the letter in front of him on the desk and moved to turn back to the door before you heard his voice. 

“So you didn’t mean all those mean things you wrote about me? That I was a desperate groomsman waiting for his shot to have a day for himself?” 

“No.” 

“You didn’t mean to say that my ostentatious nature was cringe worthy?” 

“Not in that way no, my boss cut out all the good things I said about you. She put it in her own words for dramatic effect. I quit this morning.” 

“You quit? Why?” 

“I wanted to try to make this right in the best way I could, she wouldn’t reprint the article how I wrote it and told me that if I didn’t like her style I should get a job somewhere else. So I quit.” 

Soonyoung just nodded, he couldn’t imagine why you would give up a golden opportunity just to prove your boss wrong or right for that matter all because of him. The only way he could make sense of what you were saying is that you were truly sorry and you cared about him. 

He made a bold move and threw the letter in the trash can to the side of the old oak desk and got out of his chair to hug you. 

“You’re not going to read it.” 

Speaking into his shoulder, you got a calming exhale of his cologne. 

“I don’t need to. I know you're telling me the truth, you said it yourself you don’t lie when you drink wine, and I can smell it on your breath.” 

Slipping your hands up from their place around his neck into his hair you giggled slightly, looking at the now dyed blonde locks of hair. 

“You dyed it back?” 

“You said you liked it. I thought you’d be my date and I had the appointment so I didn’t want to cancel.” 

“You weren’t hoping I’d show up here?” 

“I knew you would. I saw you talking to Jihoon outside last night through the window. I wasn’t sure exactly because you did walk away and he never told me what happened. But, when I saw you today sitting in the crowd. I knew my inkling was right.” 

“Did the cohesive outfit impress you? I missed one night, but I hope I made up for it today.” 

Soonyoung pushed you away slightly by your shoulders and made you do a spin for him. 

“You look beautiful.” 

“You’re such a dork.” 

Soonyoung playfully swung you around in the office covered in photos of church go-ers and crosses, bringing you into his chest tightly. 

“So, what did you write in that article? That I was devilishly handsome and cool?” 

“Nope. Just that you were a bad kisser.” 

“Seems like you need a reminder.” 

“Maybe.” 

As your lips met Soonyoungs once again your heart sank into your stomach and was beating rapidly. You just fit and he never once doubted your heart. 

“What do you say? Should we go outside and dance?” 

“Can you even dance?” 

“Y/n? Can I even dance? What do you even think I do for a living?” 

“Oh. I’m such an idiot. Anna works at a talent agency. Got it.” 

“Come on, silly. Before our audience outside gets bigger.” 

When you exited the office back into the group of people outside, for some reason Jihoon started a cheer alongside his new wife. 

Soon you and Soonyoung were dancing the night away and drinking a little too much than your stomachs could handle. 

When you finally got a moment of dizzy drunkenness alone, he had you sitting on a bench where he knelt to the ground. Your mouth got the better of you once again. 

“Oh my god you're not proposing already are you I mean I know I’m amaz-” 

“Y/n shut up, I’m tying my shoe.” 

“Cool, cool. Got it.” 

“But the next wedding I attend hopefully I’ll be the groom.” 

With a wink Soonyoung sat back at your side as you watched the stars together, making a mental note that the next wedding would belong to the both of you.

taglist: @sahazzy

[mypoisonedvine]

81:"just come to dinner with me. it doesn't have to be weird." 89:"keep the lights on, I want to see you." 88:"kiss me like you mean it." With Jack Whiskey or maxwell Lord.

Hope your having a lovley day<3

-❄

I know he's not everybody's favorite but I want a sugar daddy maxwell fic sooo bad! to make it fair I decided to take some liberties with his look lmao

length: 2.5k (no clue how that happened...)

warnings: smut (18+ ONLY), oral f receiving, sugar daddy relationship, alcohol consumption, possessiveness <3

You’d never done anything like this before— you made that perfectly clear to him, to the point that you wondered if it would scare him off.  But it didn’t, which was equal parts comforting and concerning.

However, even with all your complex emotions towards the idea, you agreed to it.  Just come to dinner with me, he’d told you, it doesn’t have to be weird.  Nothing has to happen— it’s just dinner, no expectations.

That relieved you enough to get you to go out with him.  He’s not expecting anything, you promised yourself, it’s just dinner.  Nothing has to happen.

But you still put on your nicest lingerie under your dress… just in case.

The whole thing made you feel out of place, honestly: you’d never been to a restaurant this nice, you’d never worn a designer gown before (let alone one that someone had picked out and sent to you for your first date), you’d never been picked up by a private driver—you didn’t even know what to do when you got to the restaurant, so you were a bit relieved (if certainly surprised) when you walked in and they seemed to already know you.

The host greeted you by name, took your coat, and informed you that Mr. Lord is already waiting for you at his usual table.  That made you wonder if a girl like you was his usual guest.

Your heart picked up its pace when you saw him from across the restaurant; he looked like he fit right in, with his hair slicked back in a black tux.  He looked so natural like that, you couldn’t even imagine him without a tux.  (Well, you could, but you were trying not to.)

But, your heart didn’t really start racing until he saw you.  His eyes lit up, and a tilted smile filled his face as he stood to greet you.

“Don’t you look gorgeous!” he purred, leaning in to kiss your cheek as you approached— even that caught you off-guard, but you realized it wasn’t meant to be especially flirtatious, it was just one of those rich people greetings.  Then again, the arm that reached around you so his hand could rest momentarily on your lower back felt a bit more than friendly.  “You like the dress?”

“Y-yes, thank you,” you smiled nervously as you looked down at the floor-length black gown again, “it’s beautiful.  And more comfortable than it looks.”

He laughed a bit, squeezing your arm briefly before gesturing for you to take your seat.  One waiter was already pouring your water and another was draping a white napkin over your lap and pushing in your seat;  “White or red, miss?” the one pouring drinks asked.

“O-oh, um—” you began, but Maxwell interrupted.

“Why don’t you bring her a glass of the ’61 Chateau Haut-Brion?” he suggested.  “To go with mine.”

“Of course, sir,” the waiter nodded, and soon him and his fellow servers departed.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Maxwell addressed you again, “the house wines are fine— but I think you’ll like this one, it’s excellent.”

“Oh, I trust you,” you smiled, “you know a lot more about all this than me.”

“Try not to feel too intimidated,” he assured, “almost everyone here is worrying just as much as you about looking like they belong—probably even more than you are.  The only difference is, you actually have enough beauty to not be outshined by a place like this.”

A little uncomfortable with the compliment, you looked around the modern space— so much glass and crystal sparkling under pleasantly-dim lights, with a view out over the ocean just outside the window you’d been seated against.  It was sleek and ornate all at once.  “It really is a lovely place, thank you for taking me here,” you announced.

“Oh, I come here all the time— more than I should,” he laughed.  “I’ll warn you now, you might become addicted once you get a taste.”

A brief moment passed before he quirked a brow.

“Of the food, I mean,” he winked, and you giggled a bit.

“Right— should I, um, look at a menu?” you wondered.

“It’s actually a set course tonight,” he explained, “I hope you don’t mind.  Honestly, I prefer not having to think about it— and the chef here never misses.  He’s a good friend, actually.”

“I get the feeling you’re good friends with a lot of people,” you observed, and he gave you a knowing smile.

“Should I be offended?” he asked.

“No,” you laughed, “but you seem like you’re always getting in places, always getting special treatment or private access— ‘cause the theater owner is a good friend, the executive producer is a good friend…”

“You make me sound much more popular than I am,” he shrugged.

The waiter returned with a bottle in hand, showing the label to you and Maxwell.  “The Chateau Haut-Brion you requested, Mr. Lord?”

“Fabulous, thank you,” Maxwell smiled as the waiter uncorked the bottle and poured glasses for you both.

“The first course will be out shortly,” the man explained before he departed; you reached for your glass, about to take a sip, but your date raised his own.

“A toast,” he suggested, making you stop pulling your glass closer and holding it up in anticipation instead, “to… new friends.”

You smiled and clinked your glass against his.

~

You tried not to look too starstruck as you looked around the penthouse apartment, but it was hard to hide your awe at all the fine art on the walls, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittery city below, the vintage and baroque furniture…

“I haven’t been here in a few weeks,” he explained as he sauntered inside after letting you in, “forgive me if it looks a little barren— I’ve been in my home in California for some time to manage my work there, I only visit my apartments occasionally—”

“You have more than one?!” you realized, unable to suppress the urge to gawk, and he smiled as you looked back over your shoulder at him.

“I have quite a few properties, yes,” he nodded.  “Miami, Berlin, Hong Kong— all of these, of course, would be available to you whenever you’d like to visit, if you were to…”

He trailed off, approaching you as his eyes darkened a bit.  “If I was to…?” you prompted.

You shivered slightly when he reached up to run his fingers gently along the curve of your jaw.  “If you were to accept my offer.”

You swallowed, turning to face him properly, and sighed when his other hand came to rest on your waist.  “A-and, if I was to…” you trailed off, apparently still not proud enough to say it, “would there be… anyone else?”

“No,” he shook his head, “not for either of us.  That’s not what I want.”

He’d explained to you before, in a few different ways, what he did want.  He’d explained that he enjoyed ‘dating’ this way because it took out the guesswork, because he was too busy for a traditional relationship.  He needed a partner who could work around his complex schedule— and to soften the blow, he would send gifts to fill the time while he was gone.  All he really asked was that you stay ready and waiting for him to return— or even to be ready to drop everything and hop on a private jet to come see him wherever he was when he needed you most.

The look in his eyes certainly showed that he needed you now.  You knew that if you told him you didn’t want this— or even just that you didn’t want anything to happen tonight— he would be polite and sweet and have a car take you home.  But you also got the feeling that if you said any of that, he would see right through it.

You wanted this too.  It was sort of obvious, especially as your hands snaked up his chest over the fabric of his tux, resting on his shoulders as you looked up at him expectantly.

“Why don’t you tell me what you want, beautiful?” he suggested in a low voice.

“I… I want,” you began hesitantly, having to look away to find the courage to say it, “I want you to tell me what to do.”

He smiled a bit, lifting your chin and guiding you to look up at him again.  “Kiss me like you mean it.”

You felt strange about that wording— like he thought you didn’t genuinely want this and just tolerated it in exchange for the money.  Which wasn’t true, but then again, it is hard to turn a man down when you’re wearing the thousand-dollar dress he bought for you.

And, of course, you kissed him.  You wove your fingers into the hair at the back of his neck, shutting your eyes and sighing as he tightened his grip on your waist; he wrapped you up in his arms, slowly and gently, and hummed lowly against your lips.  There was something about it that was different from every other first kiss you’d had (or possibly every other kiss you’d ever had) but you completely lacked the words to describe it.  Maybe it was how careful he was with you, how oddly patient; or maybe it was how quickly you found yourself wanting more.

You opened your mouth slightly, letting him delve deeper with his tongue, though he wasn’t too aggressive about it at first.  It was still sweet and slow, and you relaxed further as you pressed your body to his.

He broke away sooner than you wanted him to, and you watched his eyes scan over your face before they drifted to your shoulder— where his hand was tracing over the strap of your dress, teasing that he might slide it down at any moment.  You found yourself wishing he would, but instead he brought his eyes back to your own.

“Would you mind if I showed you the bedroom?” he suggested.

“Not at all,” you breathed.

You didn’t get a very thorough tour, not when you were stumbling backwards through the door as his hands ran all over you.  He quickly flipped on the light switch as he walked past it, only for you to reach and turn it off again.  He smiled playfully at you as he broke his lips away.  “Now, darling, how am I supposed to show you the bedroom in the dark?” he mused.

“You can show me after,” you sighed, trying to tug him by the jacket into another kiss, but he resisted with a smug grin.

“After,” he repeated with a low, rich voice that seemed to wash right over you.  “But what we’re about to do, I don’t want to do in the dark, either— you’re much more exciting to look at than some boring old bedroom that’s been on the cover of Architectural Digest…”

You laughed a little, but he bit his lip as he pulled you closer to him.

“Keep the lights on,” he pleaded— or maybe demanded, “I want to see you.”

You flipped the lights back on, and he almost turned that designer gown to shreds getting it off you.

He growled as he got a glimpse of your lingerie, and you bit your lip through a smile when he met your gaze again.  “Oh, angel— you’ll spoil me.”

He dropped to his knees in front of you, making you gasp slightly as he delicately ran his fingers along the lacy hem of your panties.

“You’re so gorgeous,” he sighed, “I need to taste you.”

“Fuck,” you mumbled, “o-okay, whatever you want.”

Looking up at you, he shot you a glittering smile.  “Get used to saying that, beautiful.”

You shuddered, just as he pulled the panties down and dove between your legs.

You felt a bit undignified with him burying his mouth against you while you were standing up; your knees wobbled and he grabbed onto your hips to help keep your balance, sliding his tongue out between your lips.

“Fuck!” you gasped, reaching down and grabbing a handful of his hair greedily.  He moaned against you, shutting his eyes tighter, lapping at you eagerly.  He pulled away far too soon, and you whimpered before he beamed up at you with slick lips.

“Get on the bed,” he demanded.

You didn’t need a tour of the room to find that: you stepped out of your panties and fell back onto it, smiling at him as he quickly slipped off his jacket and climbed up over you with an insatiable look on his face, his dark hair broken out of its style by your touch and dangling down around his face.

“Take this off,” he instructed, running a finger over your bra as he balanced himself to hover over you.

You sat up enough to reach behind your back, unfastening the garment and shimmying out of it to toss aside onto the floor.

His gaze raked over you lasciviously.  “Forgive me,” he breathed, “if I can’t find the heart to take my time with you like I imagined.”

You felt your heart skip, just before he descended and kissed you again, the tangy taste of your own arousal making you moan in the back of your throat.  The kiss was filthier and needier than ever, and quickly moved down to your neck; your back arched up off the satin sheets as his tongue traced your pulse.

“I could spend all night,” he panted between heady kisses, “tasting you everywhere.”

“God,” you whimpered, “I won’t stop you.”

“And what if I want to spend the whole night inside you?” he challenged further, making you whine and stir under him.  He pressed his weight down on you as you slowly spread your legs; you felt suddenly aware of him still being almost entirely dressed while you were stripped to nothing, and it somehow only made you more desperate for him.

“Please,” you begged, feeling his teeth scrape your neck as his hips rocked against yours.  You gasped feeling how hard he was, and it turned into a proper moan as one of his hands groped roughly at your chest.  “Fuck, Max—”

“When you say my name like that, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to control myself,” he growled, pulling back to look down at you.

“Then don’t,” you offered with a smirk.

“Just promise me one thing,” he began, surprising you with the change of his tone.  “If we do this… you’re mine.”

Your throat caught on nothing.

“If you can’t handle that, I understand,” he mitigated, “but I can’t pretend that I feel any differently— I need you, all to myself.  I need to know that you belong to me.”

You found yourself nodding before you even really thought it through.  “I’m yours,” you promised as you clutched desperately at his shirt, making him smile proudly.  “Fuck, I’m all yours.”

He kissed you—not as ruthless as the last one, but still plenty passionate.  This time, you were completely sure you’d never been kissed like this.

“I want you to say that,” he purred against your lips, “every time I make you come.”

[heartfullofleeches]

Damsel in Duress

Yan Damsel + G.N Reader blurb

-

"My hero~"

Closing shift was a drag. Cooped up behind the counter till dawn - the store watched you more often than not until you were "graced" with the chance of another living soul walking through those doors. Your saving grace from the monotonous life of a gas station cashier was a patron on the rise in frequent appearance.

A cosplayer, you assumed - from their style of dress and the whimsical way they carried themselves in mannerisms and speech. You got a good laugh out of seeing them weave through tiny, narrow aisles in those giant, puffy gowns they dawned. Damsel is what you called them which - by coincidence apparently seemed to be their name. Another reason for the title beyond their attire was they couldn't do a thing on their own. Asking for sliced apples when they were standing in the very same aisle fruits were stocked. Questioning the proper ways to use a fork and if you'd teach them with demonstration. To every task you helped them with they thanked you with the tagged on honorific of "My Hero" at the end. Getting into character was one thing, but sometimes it really did feel like they just popped out of the pages of a fairytale.

It's getting pretty late. You wonder where your entertainment is-

Bang!

Sharpened nails scrap across the glass doors still rattling in their frames. Blood red as the cloak masking their features; you watch as the hand welding the crimson talons yank the door's handle and flings their blood inside. It leans against the frame - barricading the doors as footfalls rebound in the distance. Expressionless- their eyes well with tears as they scan the store finding you where you always were.

"Lock it...."

You remove your headphones. "What?"

Their lips quiver, voice rising with a hick. "He's coming... Lock the door!"

A shadow creeps over the parking lot. Reaching for your keys, you volt over the counter as it runs for the door - crouching beneath Damsel as they apply all their weight against it to keep it shut as the handle shakes violently. You lock the door, keys knocked out of your hand as the figure throws himself against the door, and drag them away from it as you stand. Their face falls against your shoulder - the scent of copper flooding your nose.

"You fucking bitch! I'll kill you!"

Damsel shrieks, assaulting yet another of your senses as it drills through your ears. They latch onto your shirt.... Weren't their nails longer a second ago? They meet your gaze - face washed in fresh tears and bruises. "Help me.... please help me... I was on my way here when that man and his friend offered me a ride. I said no, but - they started to chase me and....and..."

Damsel breaks off in a quiet sob. You squeeze their shoulders reassuring, backing towards the back office eyes trained on the man pounding on the doors "Calm down. My phones in the back and the door to the other entrance only opens from inside. We'll hide there until the police arrive."

The man presses his face against the glass, the skin of his knuckles worn down as he beats the door. "What the hell are you doing? Get out away from that thing! It killed him. Dont belive anything it-"

Damsel tucks at your arm. You tear your attention away from the door and push them towards the office. Dragging them inside the break room you shove the coffee table against the door for good measure and fish out your jacket and phone from your locker. You throw the coat over their shoulders, dialing the police as you hand them some napkins to wipe their face.

"Breathe. We'll be fine in here. I'm calling for help now and they'll make sure nothing happens to you."

Damsel dabs at their eyes - faint smile dipping at your conclusion. "I'm not worried now that you're here... Guess you really are my hero aren't all, aren't you? I've never seen anything like that before, one second he was the kindest person and the next - he was like a rabid wolf."

"It's okay... You're safe now." You drape an arm behind their hood, consoling them as they hiccup and sob against your chest. You chalk the wind exiting your lungs as they latch onto you the ending results of your physical exhaustion, and retain a calm voice as you speak to the operator over the phone. Damsel squirms in their chair as you hang up.

"They're on the way... are you okay?"

Damsel fiddles with the strings of their hood. "I um.... have to go powder my nose."

"What?"

They bite their lip, face hidden in your jacket. "Use the bathroom? I know the only one here is outside so you don't have to come with me... It'd actually make me feel better if you stayed in here."

"Damsel, I cant-"

"I-it's alright, Y/n.... Long as my hero's safety is assured I'll be okay. I'm sure he's gone by now anyway. Do you mind if I keep your jacket?"

"...No... If anything happens - you scream and run, got it?"

"It's what I do best. I hope that someday there's something I can do to rewards your braver... For now...I'll leave you with this" Damsel springs from their seat and kisses your cheek as they pass. They push the table out of the way with surprising ease, looking back at you as they open the door. They smile - locking the door behind them and snapping the key.

Damsel steps out into the station. They walk past the bathroom and inspect the collection of household necessities your store had to offer. Could be better, but they'd made due. It grabs a pocket blade, ripping open the package and leaving it on the counter along with the exact bills and change for their purchase. The man is still there - eyes now wide fear. Damsel grins at him with a small wave.

"Oh!- Hello, glad to see your still here. I was going to let you go - but then you had to go and do a nasty thing and try to turn my hero against me. They're very brave - aren't they? I'm such a lucky traveler. Hmmmm.. so I'm the hood in this story and they're the hunter... What exactly does that make you? Mmm, I think I know...."

"The slaughter."

[surgerypatient]

Joseph’s dental surgery

Joseph had long wondered how long he could go without brushing his teeth, unbeknownst to him he would soon find out in a “routine” visit to a new dental clinic in his town after his previous one had closed down some years prior, they didn’t look horrendous- to him- of course most others opinions would vary from bad to worse. as it happened his appointment was scheduled to be the last of the day- this was because they knew of his attempting to avoid brushing as long as possible. The time finally came for him to go over, the building it was in was very nice, new, sterile feeling as many doctors offices are- part of the reason he picked this facility was their offering general anesthesia for dental phobia patients among other things he was not a fan of dental work done to him. He walked up to the door opened it and was greeted by Suzie the busty brunette receptionist wearing pastel blue scrubs and a scrub cap

Hi you must be Joe ❤️ she chimed

yeah that’s me, here for my appointment with Dr Grace Wheeler.

I’ll let them know youre here

I sat down in one of the tiny chairs and picked up an old magazine to flip through and before long they came for him.

“Hello, Joe “Dr Wheeler greeted and retrieved him personally wearing her wine red scrubs and glasses framing her face under her dirty blonde hair tucked in a cap.

those scrubs are cute Joe said

“Thanks, you won’t be seeing them much though!”

”Why would that be?”

you’ll see, come on back with me, gotta get you ready for your sleep!

“That’s why, I’ll be asleep, alright” I follow her down a long hallway with doors lining each side of the hallway until we arrive at the last one which looks different from the others!

I see some a teal gown, purple cap and blue grippy socks on the big navy blue debtal surgery table with a cup shaped headrest with a loaded mayo stand next to it full of tools and supplies but covered with a green towel. Next to it, a quite advanced looking large anesthesia machine

Just undress and put those clothes on and leave your belongings in this bin please! I’ll be back shortly!

I started to undress all the way and put on the patient attire before sinking into the immense surgery table awaiting my sleep

Then Dr Wheeler came back this time with 2 scrubbed-in figures in tow, they were wearing pale green gowns, blue, full head hoods and white tie-on surgical masks. you could tell they were women, busty at that.

“oohhh, is it time?”

I make myself still on the table, arms on the armrests, as one grabs a wipe and wipes his arm, before sticking a needle in and attaching a bag of saline to the new port in the crook of my elbow.

Then the other one grabs a big fluffy blanket and puts it over me , securing straps over my torso down to my feet.

“We don’t want you falling out now, do we?” Wheeler says, now dressed similarly to her helpers in a green gown, white mask and dark purple gloves

time to sleep you hear as a scrubbed figure places a mask over your face, at first it tastes normal but quickly you feel the flow change and become more chemical smelling, we’re just giving you some nitrous now, as she loads a syringe into your port filled with a strange white liquid

“this may burn or sting slightly”

she was right and soon in addition the back of your throat tasted a bit coppery, before long your vision began to blur as well.

you’re falling down so good, joe, keep falling ❤️ only a matter of time now!

pretty soon what was left of your vision finally faded out and you were in a state of anesthesia.

alright, he’s out , ladies get to work

the mask was renoved from your face then the restraints on your lower body loosened before your legs were moved into the frog pose and your groin shaved and wiped with warm water then painted with betadine followed by a syringe of sterile lubricant injected into your urethra and a catheter placed before the blanket and restraints were replaced.

While that was happening a nasotracheal tube was being introduced into your right nostril, and attached to the ventilator to keep you under and a ring mouth-gag sewn in place simultaneously, before a tube of opthalmic ointment was squirted over each of your corneas and they were sealed with surgical dressings then green towels were placed around your mouth and secured around the tube to keep it in place followed by the mayo stand being wheeled to hang over your insensate body and your chair was raised to just over 4ft off the ground before one of the assistant’s began painting the lower portion of your face with antiseptic, then placed a throat pack with the surgical clamps.

Now it was time to work, Dr Grace Wheeler made quick work of your full clearance, removing each tooth individually before leveling the bone along your gumline with the piezoelectric grinder and sewing your new gums shut, who knows you might just learn a thing or two from being toothless now

hope you all like this story, i wrote it in one take, i know the grammar a d whatnot aren’t all there but the concept sure is

[starfall-spirit]

Precious Collateral

Read on Ao3 // Fic Masterlist // SJM Omegaverse Masterlist // Dark Feysand Masterlist

@acotar-omegaverse-week Day 3: All Tied Up

Summary: When Rhys set out to collect his dues from the head of the Archeron house, he knew the man would be begging for more time. What he didn’t expect was to be offered the youngest daughter as collateral.

After spending only a day in the temperamental woman’s company, he found himself utterly enthralled with his new guest—and with no intention of letting her father scrape together the funds that would grant her her freedom.

CW: Non-con, bondage, y'all asked for mean Rhys, didn't you?

Chapter V

Feyre

She was burning up. She hadn’t felt the slightest bit sick when she went to bed last night. Now her skin was ablaze, head throbbing and muddled, every muscle in her body aching—wound too tight.

God, she needed water. Hadn’t Mor brought her a glass when she poked her head in last night?

She whimpered, rolling onto one side before curling up into a ball. “Fuck.” Another sort of heat shot through her, dull and focused within rather than crawling on the surface. A gush of liquid soaked her pajamas and the sheets beneath her. Slick, she realized. She was producing slick. She was going into heat.

“No. No, no, no, no, no.” This wasn’t supposed to happen until she was free of this place. She was supposed to find an alpha on her own terms. In her own time. She’d just have to keep them out until her heat passed, then. Maybe they wouldn’t scent the change through the door. Maybe she could hide it. “Shit.” That low throbbing sensation began to grow and she rolled onto her back once again, raising her gown’s hem, moaning the second her fingers brushed her over sensitive clit. If she could just make herself come…

A large hand closed around her wrist, stilling her movements. Her eyes flew open and she bit back a sob, denied when she was so close. “I was wondering if I’d have to voice this special little rule.”

“Rhys, please.”

“Please,” he mocked, tearing through the lace of her panties with minimal effort. “Please what, darling? Let you touch what belongs to me? I thought you knew what it meant to be my pet.”

“Not. Yours,” she gritted out. She heard him tut softly, two fingers thicker than her own filling her, the slick she’d produced easing their passage. “Stop. Don’t—” A sob tore from her throat, cutting off her protests. “No.”

“Rhys,” she heard from the doorway. “This is wrong.”

Cass. He was on her side in this. He would help her. Rhys listened to his inner circle, she knew that much.

But those fingers were still moving in her, her legs forced open by one firm thigh up between them. She whined, digging her heels into the bed to try to push away. Chuckling, he chased her up the bed, curling his fingers in a way that made her shudder, driven right up to the edge of her release. “Rhys,” Cassian barked. “It’s her first heat. Let it take over before you fuck her.”

Not a true ally then.

Rhys froze above her, fingers pulling out in a slow drag that had her suppressing another sob.

“You’re right, Cass. Besides, our pet needs to beg first, doesn’t she?”

“I will never stoop so low. Not to you.”

Maintaining eye contact, he brought his fingers to his mouth, making a show of cleaning them. “You will, darling. I can promise you that.”

~~~~~

Feyre was only granted a few moments of solitude before Rhys was at her door again, a collection of things in hand that had her stomach twisting. His mouth turned down in a frown. “Y-you said—”

“I said, Feyre, that you’d be begging for my knot. I still intend on having my fun beforehand. And teaching you a much-needed lesson while I do.”

Yanking her hand away from her center, he made quick work of binding her wrists over her head and securing each ankle to one of the bedposts, leaving her laid bare as the incessant heat had forced her to strip entirely.

“I don’t want this,” she choked out.

He hummed, unsympathetic as he pushed something long and thick inside of her. “You don’t know what you want or need, darling. That’s why Daddy’s here. I don’t want you worrying about a thing during your heat.” He reached between her legs again, and a low buzzing followed a soft click. She whimpered. “Hush, love. You know you brought this on yourself.” The intensity climbed with another click. “Every action has a consequence, and your actions so far haven’t been very wise, have they?”

She shook her head, teary eyed as he pushed the dildo deeper. “Too much.” She honestly wasn’t sure if she was answering his question or trying to convince herself this wasn’t happening.

“I know, pet.” She tried to arch her back with the next change in speed, but her efforts were futile, tied down so tightly. All she could do was take. “Look at you, trying to tell me you don’t want this.” His fingers dragged around the toy, gathering the copious slick her body was producing. “This pretty little cunt tells a different story, Feyre.

“But then you can’t help it, can you, sweet girl?” Leaning over, he dragged the toy in and out of her, taking his sweet time with it. If he’d just pick up the pace, she’d finally find the release he’d robbed her of half an hour before. “I don’t think so, Feyre,” he crooned.

“No!” She clenched down hard, still sniffling, not quite sure if her tears were a result of what her captor was forcing on her, keeping her from, or sheer desperation. The heat was under her skin now, stoked by every touch. Her body was defying her own mind, giving Rhys exactly what he wanted.

Surrender.

“I’m not asking much, Feyre darling. Just tell me what you need and it will be yours.”

“N-no.”

“Little one, I would lay the world at your feet. Why fight something as simple as this? You know what you want deep down.”

Little one.

Words he'd used before, intended to make her feel inferior to the man who had already done so much to prove his control of her. She wanted to be angry—should be angry. But what was she, truly, beyond a touch-starved girl? Didn’t little girls, omegas like her, need someone to take care of them?

“You know what you want,” he repeated, pressing a soft kiss to the tender flesh beneath her ear, still unmoved by her tears and desperate panting beneath him. “Now ask me.”

She whined as he withdrew the toy completely, cutting the power. “Please.” Hardly a whisper, but there all the same. “Please, Rhys.”

His lips rose in a half-smile. “Try again, darling.”

“Alpha. Please, alpha, give me your knot.”

“Better.” He raised his knee just enough she could roll her hips and grind against it. “But not quite.”

She wouldn’t be able to come with so little mobility, and yet desperation drove her to try. “Daddy,” she choked. “Give me your knot, Daddy. Fill me up, please.”

He sighed. “Now, was that so hard?”

~~~~~

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[matttgirlies]

Matt & Me🎀

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

a story heavily based on Priscilla Presley’s Book “Elvis & Me” based in the 1950’s - 1970’s.

fem! reader x singer! matt

disclaimer!! - in no way am i saying matt would ever support or do these kind of things, for the sake of the book certain unethical things do happen at times.

y/nn = your nickname for any confusion🩷

Chapter 10

It was the era of the Polaroid and the beginning of videotape. He was the director and I his star acting out fantasies. We dressed up and undressed, played and wrestled, told stories, acted out our fantasies, and invented scenes. Whether it was dressing up in my school uniform and playing at being a sweet, innocent schoolgirl, or a secretary coming home from work and relaxing in the privacy of her own bedroom, or a teacher seducing her student, we were always inventing new stories, and eventually, I learned what stimulated Matt the most.

Almost every night I made quick trips to the local drugstore to buy considerable amounts of Polaroid film. Some of the cashiers knew me, and I wondered if they suspected what we were doing.

I put on dark glasses to “disguise” myself, but ended up looking even more conspicuous as I’d sweetly request twelve packs of Polaroid film while making excuses like, “Gee, the others must have been defective. I just can’t seem to get them to come out right,” or “You’re not going to believe this, but someone stole my film.”

Making it in and out of Graceland was no easy feat, either. I’d pass Mr. Stall at the gate at odd hours of the night, smiling and waving hello, returning shortly with the same smile and the same wave. I was sure he harbored some suspicious thoughts about what I was doing.

Matt laughed when I told him. “It’s all in your mind. He’s no more thinking anything than a dog sleeping.”

“Well, what if he starts spreading rumors, like I go out at night?”

“It might create some excitement around here. This town’s dead. Boston needs a little gossip!”

Matt and I both loved creating these sexual fantasies and it seemed to bring us closer together. I had no previous sexual experience to compare with his inventive sexuality and I was ready to indulge him any way I could. Being in the fast lane, he was exposed to every pleasure available in life. Ordinary thrills sometimes were not enough, especially when he was under the influence of powerful drugs.

At first I was totally open to Matt and many of his ideas. I lived for those moments we were alone. I was careful to say little that might jeopardize my bond with him. I fulfilled his needs, and his beliefs became mine. Under no circumstances were his ideas or playfulness perverted or in any way harmful.

A few days after he came home, he led me to his long black limousine and we sped off to one of Boston’s most exclusive boutiques on Union Street for some after-hours shopping, just as we’d done in Las Vegas. While the boys milled around the shop and the store’s sales staff tried to look nonchalant, Matt got a big kick out of having me model dozens of stunning dresses and suits and coats that were so stylish I was doubtful I could wear them. I was still an insecure teenager.

“Matt,” I said, wearing a sexy gold lamé gown that clung to my every curve, “these clothes are too sophisticated for me.”

“Sophisticated?” he said, regarding me admiringly. “What’s sophisticated? You could go around wearing a feather and that would be sophisticated.”

“Well, bring me a feather then.”

We spent four hours at that shop and during that time, I had a personalized lesson in the Matt Sturniolo Fashion Course.

As I tried on dress after dress, Matt delivered a running commentary on color. He liked me in red, blue, turquoise, emerald green, and black and white—the same colors he himself wore. He liked solids only, declaring that large prints took away from my looks. “Too distracting,” he said. He hated browns and dark green, colors inextricably associated in his mind with the Army.

Exhausted and a little confused about my new look, I walked out of the shop dressed in a sleek black linen suit with four-inch highheeled shoes to match. With Matt sitting proudly beside me, the guys loaded the trunk of the limo with armfuls of packages, and I felt very special.

Back at Graceland he had me model all my new clothes again for Grandma, who patiently sat through a long two hours of changes. I was Matt’s doll, his own living doll, to fashion as he pleased.

It was the early sixties, when clothes and makeup veered to extremes. Women’s eyeliner was heavier, their hair more teased, and their skirts shorter than ever before. All the rules I’d learned about dressing and applying makeup (less is more, the simpler the better) were being broken, and men seemed to love it. Matt certainly did. If I went a little light with the mascara or black eyeliner, he’d send me back upstairs to apply it more heavily.

Matt liked long hair. When I’d cut mine without asking his permission, he was shocked.

“How could you cut your goddamn hair? You know I like long hair. Men love long hair.”

He wanted it long and jet black, dyed to match his because, as he said, “You have pretty eyes, baby. Black hair will make your eyes stand out more.” He made a lot of sense to me and soon my hair was dyed jet black, like his.

The more we were together the more I came to resemble him in every way. His tastes, his insecurities, his hang-ups—all became mine.

For instance, high collars were his trademark, not because he especially liked them, but because he felt his neck looked too long. He never felt comfortable unless he was in a customized high-collared shirt, though in a pinch he’d turn the collar up on a regular shirt as he had when he was in school.

When he told me that the collar I was wearing on a particular blouse was too small for my “long, skinny neck,” I too began wearing high-collared shirts. Why not? My sole ambition was to please him, to be rewarded with his approval and affection. When he criticized me, I fell to pieces.

The Pygmalion nature of our relationship was a mixed blessing. The most fundamental thing at this stage in our life together was that Matt was my mentor, someone who studied my every gesture, listened critically to my every utterance, and was generous, to a fault, with advice.

When I did something that wasn’t to his liking, I was corrected. It is extremely difficult to relax under such scrutiny. Little escaped him. Little except the most salient fact of allthat I was a volcano about to erupt.

There were evenings when he’d send me back upstairs to change clothes because my choice was “dull,” “unflattering,” or “not dressy enough” for him. Even the way I walked came under review; he told me to move more slowly, and for a short while, he had me walking around the house with a book on my head.

I appreciated his interest, but I hated having to hear him remind me of my shortcomings so many times, and each time having to promise him that he’d never have to tell me again.

Would I ever be able to live up to his vision of how his ideal woman should behave and appear? She had to be sensitive, loving, and extremely understanding, meeting unusual demands any average woman might reject. This included being left behind when he made spur-of-the-moment, questionable “business” trips.

She had to be pretty and she had to possess an offbeat sense of humor to survive all the joking at Graceland. Often I’d walk into Sunday afternoon football gatherings and hear inside jokes about the cute all-American cheerleaders. Eventually I found myself thinking like one of the guys. “Nice tits and ass,” I’d say to myself. “A little heavy in the thighs, but the face makes up for it.”

Matt had a strong aversion to wearing jeans. As a poor boy, he had no choice but to wear them and he never wanted to lay eyes on another pair. That applied to everyone in the group.

His firm ideas on my wardrobe didn’t make it easy for me to go out and buy clothes for myself. One day I came home proud of a dress I’d just bought and couldn’t wait to put on. I knew he didn’t like prints, but this was a blackand-white flowered silk that I thought very special.

The first words out of his mouth when he saw me were: “That dress doesn’t suit you. Does nothing for you. Takes away from your face, your eyes. All you see’s the dress.”

As he tore me apart I started to cry. “Are you quite finished?” I inquired. I didn’t give him a chance to answer, bolting for my bathroom and slamming the door.

A few minutes later I heard his voice from the other side of the door: “You gotta keep away from those large prints. You’re a small girl, Sattnin.”

I opened the bathroom door and snapped, “Okay, I’ll return the fuckin’ dress.”

Matt fell to the floor laughing; eventually I joined in, unable to stop myself. Once again I’d compromised my own taste.

He ignored no aspect of my appearance, including my teeth. He took me to his dentist, told him to clean my teeth and give me a thorough examination. He was to look for probable cavities only and should I need any fillings, they were to be made of white porcelain. To him a mouth loaded with gold or silver was an eyesore.

He was equally fanatical about posture. If I slumped, he’d straighten my back. When I’d look up at him and wrinkle my forehead, he’d smooth it out—or tap it—telling me not to get in that habit. I didn’t like him rapping me, so I learned that one fast.

When we came home from the movies one night, I was getting ready for bed and he was in his office playing the piano. I came in to listen, propping my foot on the bench where he was sitting. He looked down at a small chip in my nail polish and I immediately withdrew my foot from the bench and started making up excuses about why it wasn’t fixed. “I’m going to have my pedicure tomorrow,” I promised.

“Good,” he said, “cause that doesn’t look like my Little Girl’s. You should always keep them looking nice.”

I was leading a double life—a schoolgirl by day, a femme fatale by night. Our evening appearance downstairs usually resembled a grand entrance. Even when our only intention was to have dinner, we always dressed for the occasion. Matt might wear a three-piece suit with a brocade vest and a Stetson hat. Under his coat he always carried a gun. He’d given me a small pearl-handled derringer and I carried it in my bra or tucked it into a holster around my waist. We were a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde.

Matt loved films, and we went to the Memphian almost every night. He was still renting the whole house after regular hours since he couldn’t attend a movie without being mobbed. One of the guys always lined up several films in case Matt didn’t like one of them or decided to see as many as three or four in a row. We usually arrived around midnight, our limousine pulling around to the back of the Memphian. From there we’d proceed into the side door like a royal couple leading their court.

Already seated in the theater were the usual crowd of thirty to fifty local friends and fans. Matt always sat in the same seat—with Nate Doe to his right, me to his left.

Before calling “Roll ’em!” he looked around the theater to make sure everyone was seated. He was an acutely aware person and could immediately spot any unwanted or unfamiliar faces. If any new faces were sitting too close to him, Matt suggested they move elsewhere. He was more lenient with the girls. He might not demand they move but he certainly wanted to know who they were, and should they object to being asked for this information or smart off in any way, he would not hesitate to have one of the boys escort them out, telling them never to come back.

There were times Matt rented the entire Boston Fairgrounds after closing and we all  spent hours on our favorite rides. We tried such daredevil feats on the roller-coaster as seeing who could stand the longest with both arms outstretched as it whipped and twisted around the track again and again.

Matt loved the bumper cars and would team up with the entourage against some locals. They’d spend the night seemingly trying to kill each other, laughing and bruising themselves like tough little boys while we girls watched and cheered them on. After several hours my own enthusiasm waned.

Excerpt from: "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Scribd.

This material may be protected by copyright.

a/n - hope u enjoyed this chapter!!🎀

[untaemedqueen]

At Your Service

Escort!Jeongguk x CEO!Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 19.

Series Warnings (Will Be Updated): Angst, Fluff, Cold Heartedness, Emotional Trauma, Healing, Smut, Dark Humor

There's a silence that creeps over the mansion as the morning sun begins to bleed its large rays through the tall windows. It feels somewhat dreadful in some ways. The sun is not bright nor is it hot, it's hazy and hidden behind thin wispy clouds that seem to threaten rain at any given moment.

As Guk sips his coffee, he leans against the large glass doorway watching mist and fog creep over the perfectly kept garden without so much as a loud sigh.

You've been up for hours before him. You tossed and turned all night keeping him away for hours on end. But he can't blame you, he can't be mad at you. He can only imagine the stress of just even thinking about seeing the two people again.

When you told him the story, laid up in bed cuddling to his side, he felt viciously angry at the thought of someone even hurting you in this way. No wonder you were so damaged and lost, they scarred you.

He's known sadness before with Chloe, he's known betrayal and losing one self because of their significant other but it just seems so much worse because it's you.

Putting a hand up to his tie, he knows now just how grateful he should be that he's shaped you into a different person.

Without you, his life would still be stagnant and maybe just the tiniest bit worthless.

Since he knows you're a nervous wreck today, he's giving you some space until you're ready to go.

It's out of respect for you in all honesty.

You haven't made a peep either, slowly going through the motions of taking today's events and registering them into your brain.

When you descend the marble stairs, your heels clicking loudly to let your boyfriend know where you are, he turns to you.

A wide smile creeps onto his face at the sight of you, your black gown is regal and graceful. The see through lace that covers your back, practically hides your tense muscles and within a mere moment Guk is walking over to you.

His arms circle around your waist and he waits patiently until you look up at him. He gives you a pleasant smile, coursing a thumb over your cheek.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Guk asks softly.

You can only shrug, nervously fixing the long black satin gloves that reach up to your elbows.

"You look beautiful," he breathes, laying his other hand on your slowly growing womb.

"I do?" you inquire, your voice riddled with childishness.

"Absolutely you do. I'm the luckiest man in the universe," he whispers, kissing your forehead.

"At least it's a gloomy day for them, maybe it'll rain," you hiss, letting the vengeance curdle through your veins like venom.

The father of your child simply smirks then, knowing just how gorgeously vicious and strong his child will be when it's born.

"Let's go make them rue the day," he whispers conspiratorially.

You start to smile then, knowing that your comfort blanket wouldn't be leaving your side for even a moment.

The nervousness and childishness you feel only triples as Guk pulls up to the Arctic Club Hotel.

You weren't invited to the ceremony but that's perfectly fine with you, you wouldn't want to sit there for hours staring at them as they smile and laugh with each other.

There's something deep inside of you letting you know that the events that happened all those years ago, the betrayal and heart attack that you experienced don't matter anymore.

You're way happier now than you ever were with Jasper. You now know what happiness is and in a way you're grateful for everything because it means that you've overcome a huge gash within you.

Pulling up in front of the nice hotel, Guk fixes his hair through the mirror. His hand runs flat along the side of his head as he slicks back his hair and he fixes the one small piece that falls from his forehead.

In all of your swirling thoughts this morning, you missed out on seeing just how well he put himself together for today.

Now as you look him over, he looks dastardly handsome. The tip of his tongue slowly licks over his lip ring and he tilts his head to you when he feels your eyes boring a hole into his temple.

"What?" he murmurs happily, leaning over the console to give you a gentle kiss to your lips.

You shake your head sweetly, kissing him back.

"C'mon let's get this over with so I can get you home for cuddles," he sighs, opening his door.

When he rounds the car and opens up your door, he casually tosses the keys to your Bugatti to a valet.

You can already feel eyes on you as you take his hand and emerge from the passenger side. You know as well as Guk that no one that is arriving has as much money as you and it's apparent as they stare.

"Watch the paint!" Guk calls to the valet, tucking your arm beneath his.

You steel yourself, sighing softly at the prospect of it all. But at least your boyfriend is with you, he gives you a level of comfort you've never known before.

Stepping into the ballroom, you and the father of your child look around at all of the tables that have been gaudily made up in bright yellows and whites.

It screams mundane taste and you simply notch an eyebrow at the center pieces of fake diamonds and iris flowers. It's a lot to look at and you can't help but peer over at Guk who also seems lost in the choices made by the bride and groom.

When you find your name card, you're surprised to see that you and your plus one are to be sat at the wedding table.

"Gifts?" one of the attendants inquires as you show the card to Guk.

You didn't get a gift, you didn't care to but now that you're being put on the spot you simply dig into your designer clutch and pull out a fresh hundred dollar bill with a shrug.

The man blinks at you, taking the bill with the tilt of his head.

"How… unconventional," he breathes, turning back around to the table of presents.

"Should be grateful they're getting money and not spit," your boyfriend murmurs, putting his hand on your lower back.

You simply snort at his words, letting your eyes glaze over the crowded ballroom before they find their targets.

Simply nodding in their direction, Guk follows the line you draw to them.

In all honesty, he's disappointed. Jasper is not quite attractive enough to lose sleep over and Adi is not nearly as gorgeous as you are.

He hums in confusion, tilting his head at the sight before him.

Adi's wedding dress is so revealing that you have to try and imagine what she'd look like with clothes on.

"Wow, very impressive," Jeongguk breathes, walking you over to the table and pulling out a chair for you.

You give a simple smile to Jasper's mother, who you remember as being very kind all those years ago. Adi's mother too was very kind, since you were always together in your earlier years.

"Y/N?!" you hear as Guk sits down beside you fixing his cufflinks.

Demurely turning your head, you give Adi a polite smile. Your hair finds its way beneath your chin and Guk can only do what he wants as he curls an arm around your shoulders.

She's rushing over to you now and something in the back of your mind prays that she trips but that's just the devil in you.

She's tugging Jasper along, which he seems to hate because if he's not in charge then he's not alright with it from what you can remember.

The father of your child picks up a toothpick, slowly sliding it between his lips and teeth and it makes Adi simply stop before you.

Should have waited seven or so years to try and steal this boyfriend. It would have been an upgrade.

When she's done eye fucking your man, she smiles brightly at you.

"I'm so happy you made it!" she squeals, rounding the table to hug you.

Is she serious?

You give her another smile, allowing her to wrap her arms around you. But when she's not greeted with a warm welcome, she seems to shrink before you.

"Hello, Addison," you breathe, looking down at your nails.

You feel the vengeful spirit within you once more, swirling and gnashing at your heart and soul.

When the parents get up to mingle with others, leaving only you and your boyfriend with the married couple, you simply tilt your head.

Guk told you over and over again in the car on your way here how much more powerful you are than these people. You're smarter and more well off, you're happy and healthy, you're pregnant and glowing, you're a million times better then them and you better think it.

"Who's this?" Adi beams, sitting down beside you.

"Jeongguk Jeon, Y/N's fiance," Guk announces, coursing a thumb over your shoulder.

To hear him even say the word, fills your lungs with fresh air.

Jasper simply takes a seat on the opposite side of Guk, grabbing a bottle of beer from the chilled tub atop the table.

"You look different," he comments, pulling out his keys to open up the bottle.

"Healthy," Adi adds, looking you up and down.

You find yourself slowly losing your will at this moment. Now they're going to be attacking relentlessly. They're going to pry and say nasty things with the sweetest tone. You don't know how to build up your wall again, you don't know how to steel yourself--

"Healthy is right. She should look so healthy when she's pregnant," Guk breathes, coursing a hand over your stomach.

Adi's smile simply begins to falter. Guk will not be letting you get backed into a corner, not today.

"I heard you were making money these days," Jasper announces, slamming down his now empty beer bottle.

"Yeah, I run a wine business," you state, pulling off your gloves.

Guk simply takes them, draping them over his lap kindly. "Don't be so modest, sweetheart. She runs a multimillion dollar company."

Adi begins to rap her nails against the table, waiting patiently for Jasper to have a good comeback but he simply stares at you.

You're not the girl you once were, in most aspects you found yourself to be ruined but now you would say differently. You certainly hardened yourself from the elements, you certainly closed yourself off but the right person made you change.

"So like… you're doing really well for yourself," Adi breathes, brushing her hair off her shoulders to show off her very exposed cleavage.

Guk gets the feeling that they only invited you to make fun of you and it makes his blood boil. His hand clamps down harder onto your shoulder and the toothpick between his teeth snaps as his jaw flexes angrily.

"She's doing amazingly well. You guys should see the mansion, we just redecorated it," the father of your child hisses, combing some hair back behind your ear.

You simply mold yourself into his embrace, needing the warmth and strength he exudes as the onslaught begins.

"That's so interesting, I assumed you would be alright but not this well off, you never really had that sort of… gumption to go out and be a go getter," Jasper says, looking down at his newly acquired wedding band.

You look over at him, suddenly intent on baring your teeth like a wild animal. You don't know what the fuck you even saw in him all those years ago. He's trash and a waste of space.

"Y'know sometimes all it takes is seeing one's boyfriend fuck your best friend to realize that nothing matters and only making money matters," you deadpan, looking down at your nails, "I'm actually really grateful that you did. Imagine if you never fucked Adi and ruined everything, then I might still be stuck with your dumbass and have to hear every boring little tantrum Adi breathes every five fucking seconds. I probably wouldn't have made my business which nets me over ten million dollars a year and I'd never have met Jeongguk who gave me the amazing gift of his child. So I'm really grateful to you both. For being two incredibly despicable human beings, you've given me a second wind. And while I'm sure you're both still living in Jasper's one bedroom apartment, at least I have a mansion I can call home thanks to you guys."

Guk snorts softly, lowering his head to purse his lips.

"Money made you a fucking bitch, huh?" Jasper seethes through his teeth.

Your boyfriend is lifting his head in a matter of seconds, eyes going wide with a fury. "Watch your fucking mouth when you talk to the mother of my child."

You sigh, looking over at Adi whose eyes are red rimmed like she wants to cry. She was always like this, it's a childish trait of hers and it makes you want to sigh happily.

You're so better off without these two fucks.

"Well, I feel as if we've worn out our welcome Gukkie. Don't you?" you inquire to your man, crossing your legs demurely.

He still hasn't taken his eyes off of Jasper. He's in the mood to beat him down now.

"Whatever you say, baby," Gukkie replies.

You give them both a smile, standing up with grace. Digging into your clutch, you pull out another crisp hundred dollar bill. "Congratulations."

Guk stands up behind you, letting his muscles bulge through his suit jacket.

"Pussy bitch," he seethes through his teeth to your ex-boyfriend.

You simply let the bill fly towards the table, sighing softly when it hits the ground. "Whoops."

As you walk away, Jeongguk joins you. His arm curls around your waist and he presses a kiss to your temple sweetly.

"That wasn't so bad," you breathe, going up to the gift table and taking back your hundred dollar bill.

"Speak for yourself, sweetheart. I almost beat the shit out of him," the father of your child hisses, turning his head back to the married couple.

"We'll just have a better wedding and invite them," you suggest, starting towards the ballroom doors.

"Mhm," he mumbles, pushing open the door for you.

<- Last Chapter Next Chapter ->

[gabessquishytum]

Dream found himself as findom for two men. He meets Corinthian, ceo of a big tech company, online before he even knew findom was a Thing. Hes just a natural tho and proceedes to humiliate Corinthian for being such a pathetic man for needing to buy the privilege of taking dream shopping in the first place. Dream hasnt even let Corinthian do more than place a hand on his lower back when theyre out and Corinthian wants to take dream to a luxury fucking beach resort even if dream decides to ignore him the entire time.

Dream meets hob gadling by accident. Hes also in the tech industry, not that dream cares or listens when hob is buying him the most expensive drinks at the bar theyre at. Dream knows what hes doing by now, and he thinks he would rather like to cuck the both of these men against each other.

Corinthian is furious when dream cancels an appointment with a jeweler with him to go to DINNER with his business rival HOB GADLING whos one of the cockiest assholes hes ever met and hes not even suave or cool about it like Corinthian hes loud and brash and obnoxious and he gets to take dream on an actual DATE???

dream plays them against each other relentlessly and industry conferences have never been more tense.... it all errupts when Corinthian finally gets the privilege of taking dream to a gala (whatever gown jewelry and shoes dream wants are provided ofc) and dream even allows him to kiss the back of his ringed hand like this is seriously the best night of the Corinthian’s life and he knows hob fucking gadling is going to be there and see who his plus one is which is even better... until near the end of the night dream has slipped from his side and Corinthian sees hob gadling helping dream into his stupid little sportscar. He shows up to hobs hotel room and dream answers in his little silk pajama set.

"Believe it or not Corinthian but i do need someone who can pleasure me sexually"

Thats how dream gets two very eager to please service tops and dream has them bid on whos allowed to eat his pretty cunt out<3

-🔪

Hnnnggg we'll stick with the findom theme tonight because I'm low-key obsessed. I love how you've flipped it make Dream the dom. I think he would be amazing tbh. Those cold blue eyes, that slightly sneering mouth. He was made to walk on pathetic men in his $10,000 dollar heels.

Poor Cori, showing up at that hotel room. He's so hard in his perfectly pressed trousers. And he's almost pathetically grateful when he's allowed into the room! Except for the fact that Hob is there, shirt sleeves rolled up, holding a glass of something expensive and alcoholic. Dream sits delicately in Hob’s lap while Cori just stands there, seething with rage and lust.

First they bid for a kiss. Dream sets up a time limit and sits back, sipping his drink while Hob and Cori spit bids at each other, higher and higher with little or no regard for the consequences. Cori wins - he doesn't even flinch as he writes a cheque for $80,000. Oh, its so worth it. Dream swishes over and melts into Cori's arms. The kiss is the most wonderful, delicious, intoxicating thing. Dream mewls into his mouth and submits when Cori licks at him, and it's just perfect. Until it's over. And Hob is still there, legs spread, smirking as Dream slips away from Cori's grasp.

"I hope you enjoyed it, because that's all you're getting." Hob says, and he slips his arm around Dream’s waist. Cori is outraged - he's never been allowed to touch Dream like that... without paying. "Or maybe he could pay to watch while i eat your cunt. What do you think, darling?"

Dream just smiles. "If he can afford it."

And Cori knows that he's being goaded, but fuck it feels so good. He knows he's going to cum his brains out tonight, whatever happens. Hob hasn't won the next bet yet, after all.

(Dream will reward both his lovely money-slaves, don't worry. Everything he does is for the sake of bringing pleasure to his sweet boys. He'll even let them buy him breakfast in the morning, if they keep being so good for him <3)

[dreamwritesimagines]

Enamored [47] - The End

A.N: And the last chapter❤ I cannot thank you enough for your wonderful support throughout the story my loves, ILYSM ❤ And as always, thank you @theskytraveler for helping me with the chapter and the story❤

Summary: Everyone finds their home, sooner or later.

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

Word Count: 5700

Series Masterlist

The morning of the ball was nothing if not complete chaos.

It felt as if nothing would be completely ready by the time for the ball to start, even though you had basically stayed up until dawn to make sure you hadn’t overlooked anything. You barely had any time to eat or sit down during the day and instead spent the whole time either in the ballroom or in the yard but now that you were looking at the result—

It looked absolutely amazing.

The opposites theme of the yard and the ballroom was impossible to miss. While the yard looked like it was made of chaos and fire, the ballroom seemed almost otherworldly with the waterfall in the middle, white and gold adorning the whole room. The foyer would serve as a transition point between the chaos and the peace –vices and virtues- and it was filled with pastel colors and flowers leading to the ballroom.

You and Lucie had been in your bedroom for almost two hours now. The modiste had worked her expertise yet again, as you could see from the gown you were in. Just as you wanted, it seemed to be the perfect depiction of wrath; blood red and nearly intimidating. The skirts of the gown was slightly wider than the rest, and the top of the bodice matched the thin crown placed on your head; both had sharp and pointy rubies like red shards of glass, gleaming in the candlelight. There was no doubt that your costume alone would be talked about by the ton, seeing how unusual it would appear among the sea of light colored gowns symbolizing virtues.

Well, it was the night for revenge after all.

Speaking of the night, now that you knew for sure Frederick would be captured tonight at the ball –Anthony had presented the papers and the proof to the court earlier today—, you could hardly control yourself. You had been feeling guilty for lying to everyone around you, so when Lucie was finished with your hair and gown, you had sat her down to explain to her what had been happening lately.

“So that’s why we have been fighting,” you finished your story while Lucie gawked at you, still covering her mouth. “Well…feigning fighting that is.”

“You’re jesting.”

You shook your head. “No. I’m sorry that I had to keep it from you Lucie, I couldn’t tell anyone.”

“But all those arguments…”

“It was for the ton to hear about, from the staff. You know how it is.”

“And sleeping apart?”

You nodded in the direction of the door leading to Anthony’s room from yours. “We exchanged rooms when everyone went to sleep.”

“The divorce?”

You waved a hand in the air. “Not happening of course. We’re madly in love, and the mere rumor of it was enough to lure Frederick. It worked better than I expected.”

Lucie let out a laugh and rushed to wrap her arms around you to hug you tight, making you let out a giggle.

“Oh I was so worried!” she said, pulling back. “I’ve never felt happier to be tricked.”

You clasped your hands over hers and sat down on the bed, pulling her to do the same. “Will you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” she said, shaking her head. “Except for my sleepless nights for worrying about you, that is.”

“Everything is alright,” you assured her. “And I apologize again.”

“Does anyone else know?”

“Us, Elias and Cece and my father.”

“No one else?”

“Father told Aunt Lavinia I think,” you said. “Everyone else will know tonight, thankfully. I could no longer bear this deception.”

“God, it must’ve been so hard…”

“It was,” you said. “But it’ll be over tonight. And besides; the season is ending, we’re all going back to the countryside next week so it’ll be even better. I could use a break from London and this whole thing.”

Her smile faded slightly and she stole a look at you, making you tilt your head.

“What is it?”

“My lady, there is something I must tell you,” she said. “I—I didn’t even entertain the possibility because I thought you were unhappy, and I would never leave you alone if you were but…”

You pulled your brows together. “Lucie, I’m happy beyond words. I assure you—and I happen to think this has strengthened the bond Anthony and I have.”

“Yes, and I’m so happy to hear it,” she said. “But I was wondering, since we will go to the countryside after the season is over… After we settle you down in the Aubrey Hall of course, I was wondering if I could have a change of employment?”

You pulled back slightly, your heart doing a painful flip.

“What?”

“I mean now that I know you will be in good hands…”

“Wait Lucie—is this because I had to lie to you?” you asked almost frantically, “I really do apologize and it was never my intention to hurt you, you must believe me—”

“No that’s not the reason at all, it’s a much more pleasant reason actually,” she assured you and you licked your lips.

“What?”

“I wish to have a change of employment because,” she swallowed thickly. “Because I’m in love.”

You gasped, pressing your hands over your chest. “You’re in love?” you repeated. “Oh Lucie, that’s amazing! With whom?”

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Your cousin.”

You blinked a couple of times and your stomach sank.

“Oh no…” you whispered to yourself. “Lucie, you’re the loveliest person in the entire world but I’m afraid Kenneth is—um—he has someone in mind—”

“It’s not the future Earl of Ashdown,” she cut you off. “It’s Lady Iona and…I’m glad to say that she returns my affections.”

You stared at her for a moment before it dawned on you and your jaw dropped.

“Oh my goodness!” you said before reaching out to hold her hands again, a huge smile pulling at your lips. “Isn’t it the most wonderful feeling in the world Lucie? Falling in love?”

She let out a relieved breath and nodded, blinking back the tears. “It is,” she said. “And you’re not…angry at me for not telling you?”

You shook your head fervently.

“God no!” you said. “I do apologize wholeheartedly though.”

“You apologize?” she asked. “For what?”

“For trying to matchmake you with that jeweler’s son back in Paris,” you said. “And then the chef’s apprentice. And then the—well you understand my point, had I known beforehand I would’ve tried to matchmake you with a lady, or a maid, or oh!” Your head shot up. “Or my modiste back in Paris, she was very beautiful if you ask me— but I suppose it was fate. You were meant to find love in London just like me.”

She let out a happy sob and hugged you tight again.

“Thank you my lady,” she said. “And yes. I suppose I was.”

You pressed a kiss on her cheek and pulled back to look at her better.

“So you wish to go to Scotland to be with Iona?”

“Yes my lady,” she said. “She offered multiple times and I said no but now that I know you’re going to be happy, I was wondering if it would be such a terrible thing to do.”

“It’s the best thing to do,” you said and wiped at your eyes. “I must admit it pains me to even think of being apart from you, but you must follow your heart Lucie. It would be incredibly hypocritical of me to ask for anything otherwise. You found love, so you should be with the one you love.”

She offered you a small smile, blinking back the tears and you took a deep breath.

“But you must promise me you will come to visit as much as possible,” you said. “And I will visit Scotland too, Aunt Lavinia invited me before, and—and it takes a week for the letters to arrive in England from France, and it probably takes less time between here and Scotland, so we will exchange letters all the time.”

She nodded. “I couldn’t bear not knowing what you’re doing.”

“The feeling is mutual,” you said with a smile and sat up straighter. “And now I will tell you what my father and Elias told me before I married Anthony. Before I left Avon House to move here.”

“What is it?”

“No matter who you decide to be with, or for how long,” you said. “My house will be always open to you, and you can come back whenever you wish. No questions asked. Bridgerton House and Aubrey Hall will always be your home, and it will always welcome you whenever you wish it to.”

A sob climbed up her throat and you cupped her cheek.

“And I’m afraid I must put my foot down because it is not up to negotiation,” you said. “You may be employed there and such, but in addition to your salary from there, your salary from me will keep coming to Scotland—”

“My lady, I can’t possibly—”

“I’m not going to hear it Lucie, my decision is final,” you said and offered her a small smile. “My father made sure I was protected in every way before letting me marry, you must simply let me do the same even though it’s in unofficial ways.”

She smiled back at you and sniffled. “Thank you.”

You wiped at your eyes and let out a small laugh.

“Well now I’m afraid no one will see me as wrath because I cried,” you joked and she chuckled.

“No no, I’d say you still look intimidating.”

A knock on the door made you turn your head.

“Come in?”

The door opened to reveal Anthony and he paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on you, a look of surprise crossing his face.

“I will leave you be,” Lucie rushed to her feet. “My lady. My lord.”

With that, she left the room and you got up from the bed to drop an exaggerated curtsy.

“So what do you think?”

Anthony closed the door behind him and strode to you to pull you into a kiss, making you giggle.

“Darling you look divine,” he muttered to your lips and you ran your fingertips over the lapels of his jacket that were lined with gold threads, gleaming against black fabric.

“And you look very handsome as always,” you said. “Are the guests here?”

“Most of them. They’re by the yard for the fireworks, and your fire breathers are gathering quite the attention.”

You gave him a proud smile and he tilted your chin up to look at you better.

“Were you crying?”

“Oh I was just…emotional.”

“What happened?”

“I will tell you later,” you said. “Shall we go then?”

He grinned and stole another kiss from you, then offered you his arm. You let out a laugh and took it, and walked out of the room with him.

When you got to the yard, you were nearly pulled away from Anthony. Not that you could say anything, considering you two were still pretending to be on bad terms, but almost all the guests seemed to have something to say to you. After greeting all the Bridgertons and Lady Danbury— and managing to dodge their questions— you caught the sight of your family entering the yard so you quickly excused yourself to make your way to them.

“Hello everyone!”

“Wow,” Kenneth commented. “I knew you would wear something scandalous but not this,”

You shot him a grin and pressed a kiss on your father’s cheek.

“Father,” you said before kissing Aunt Lavinia’s cheek as well. “And welcome!”

“Y/N, this is amazing.” Aunt Lavinia said and your father nodded.

“You look so lovely my dearest.”

“Thank you!” you said. “Let me guess, Aunt Lavinia you are wisdom and father, you are…”

“Temperance.”

“Y/N guess what I am!” Iona said excitedly and you tilted your head.

“Give me a clue?”

“Me and Ken decided to come as Aristotle’s virtues!” Iona said, motioning at herself. “I am friendliness and Ken is truthfulness.”

“I was going to come as a vice but she insisted,” Kenneth said, pointing at Iona and you giggled.

“Well you both look amazing!”

“I cannot believe there are fire breathers,” your father said. “Are we sure that’s safe considering you and Elias being here?”

“Father!”

“I’m just expression a safety concern,” he held up his hands, gesturing surrender with a grin and you heaved a sigh.

“Speaking of, where are they?”

Kenneth pointed at somewhere over your shoulder and you turned your head to see Elias and Cecily entering the yard. A smile pulled at your lips and as if on cue, the fireworks started, drawing gasps and noises of admiration from the crowd. You quickly approached Elias and Cecily and hugged Cecily, then Elias.

“Welcome!”

“It looks wonderful Chérie,” Elias smiled at you. “And so do you.”

“Everyone is already talking about your gown,” Cecily said and you grinned.

“Why thank you,” you said. “So Cece, I know you are Hope and Elias you are...”

“Love!” he said, motioning at the small heart pinned on his jacket. “I’m Love. I figured since you’re not going as that…”

“Good choice, it suits you.”

“And wrath suits you,” he said before his eyes caught the sight of something to your left and his jaw clenched. “Speaking of wrath…”

You stole a look in that direction and that familiar fury roared through you as soon as your eyes fell on Frederick. He raised his glass and looked around, then made his way to you.

“Make sure father is alright,” you told Elias and he took a deep breath.

“Chérie…”

“These are his last hours, Elias,” you murmured. “Anthony already presented the court the papers, they know where he will be tonight. It’s just a matter of time until he’s gone for good.”

Cecily squeezed at Elias’s arm.

“We will be with Lord Avon and Aunt Lavinia,” she told you and pulled him in their direction as soon as Frederick reached you.

“Well well…” he said, “It seems that you took after your mother on how to throw a ball as well. She certainly knew how to gather attention, both to the ball and to herself.”

You narrowed your eyes.

“I didn’t know you would be here.”

“Why would I not?” he asked. “Your husband invited me.”

Of course. Frederick would have got suspicious if you had invited him, but having Anthony invite him had only served to make him believe this deception even further.

“Oh did he?”

“A smart man, your husband,” he said as the fireworks kept exploding in the sky and you grabbed a drink from one of the trays. “Too bad he was blinded by love before you got married but I’m glad he’s seeing sense now.”

“And let me guess, you’re helping him?”

“It’s only fair,” he pointed out. “After all, you have come between me and the one and only thing I wanted in the world.”

“My mother never wanted you,” you deadpanned and his jaw clenched.

“Careful there.”

You tilted your head. “Or what?” you asked and he gripped the glass tighter. “It hurts doesn’t it? Deep down?”

“What?”

“You hate me and my father wholeheartedly,” you said. “But my mother loved us both. She loved me and Elias and my father more than anyone or anything in the world. But you? You went through all that, even more than 20 years later you’re trying to take some sort of revenge because you made yourself believe you loved her, she on the other hand didn’t even care about you at all.”

“You have no idea what you speak of.”

“I do though,” you said, looking him dead in the eye. “It’s not that you lost her, you do realize that? You never had her to begin with.”

He gritted his teeth.

“Let me tell you something about my parents,” you said. “My mother was so in love with my father that even after not seeing him for more than twenty years, his name was the only name she was saying on her deathbed, like she was talking to him. The same with my father, after his incident, when he had fever, when he was on death’s doorstep, all he could see or think about was her, he thought he was speaking to her. In their case it makes sense but in your case, I can’t help but find it ironic, almost.”

“Ironic?” he repeated. “And why is that?”

“Because when it’s time for you to die,” you said. “You’re going to go through the same. You’re going to see her, but…she won’t answer.”

A shadow crossed his eyes and you smiled.

“So yes, it’s ironic,” you said. “Because my mother felt love when she was dying, and I’m sure so will my father. But you? You will only feel the pain of never being loved by the one and only person you wanted the most in the entire world.”

He stared at you and your smile widened.

“Enjoy the ball,” you said and walked away from him to your family, fireworks still exploding in the sky.

                                                           *

By the time the firework show was finished, everyone was already impressed by your ball but you were nowhere near done. The ballroom made the exact impact you wanted as soon as the doors were opened, and people had spent so much time just admiring the setting and complimenting you before the orchestra started.

You and Anthony hadn’t danced yet, you didn’t want to raise any suspicions in Frederick until the last moment, but you could almost feel how much he wanted to be close to you because you were taken by the same urge as well. You absentmindedly played with your necklace and stole a look at him to see him repress a smile, twisting his ring around his finger. You stopped the warm smile threatening to pull at your lips as well, and turned your head when you heard someone clear their throat.

“Hugh!” you said, grinning at him and he bowed his head.

“Lady Bridgerton.”

“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come.”

“And miss your first ball?” he asked. “Never. Apparently my sister is in love with one of the lords in here, so I had to wait for her to pick the perfect gown. Took an hour.”

“Abby and Edith are here too?”

“Mm hm. Just over there, see?”

You looked to the corner of the room and waved at them.

“I will welcome them in person and thank them for coming,” you said and tilted your head at Hugh. “How angry would you be at me if I told you I’m planning on matchmaking Abby with the one she loves?”

“You know who it is?”

“Mm hm.”

“Who is it?”

You shrugged your shoulders. “I’ve had my experiences with my own very protective brother, I will not betray Abby that way thank you very much.”

He threw his head back and groaned. “Y/N!”

“What?” you asked airily. “Besides if it’s true love, you cannot possibly be thinking of standing in their way.”

“Will you not rest until you wed all my sisters?”

“I will not rest until everyone that I love finds true love,” you corrected him and he stole a look at you before sipping his drink.

“And how do you feel?”

“Hm?”

“I heard about the…” he motioned in Anthony’s way. “Rumors. Are you alright?”

“Oh!” you said and nodded. “Of course.”

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

“I’m not lying to you,” you said. “Trust me. It will all be alright in the end.”

He heaved a sigh and you offered him a small smile.

“But enough about my love story,” you said. “How about yours?”

“Hm?”

You looked around to check whether anyone was listening and leaned in closer.

“How are you and my cousin?”

He shot you a light hearted glare. “Your cousin and I decided that we should remain friends actually.”

You gasped, pressing a hand over your chest. “What?”

“Mm hm.”

“Oh no, that’s a disaster!”

He pulled his brows together. “Not it’s not, I told you—”

“Are you very heartbroken Hugh?” you cut him off. “When I was heartbroken I locked myself in the house and I refused to see anyone, do you feel the urge to do the same? Because I can be there for you and visit you every day if you’d like, I have experience in heartbreak now so if you ever need—”

“Y/N, I’m perfectly alright, and so is he,” he said, nodding in his direction and you looked over your shoulder to see Kenneth catching his gaze, then raised a glass in his direction. There was no hostility whatsoever in his eyes and you frowned in confusion before you turned back to Hugh.

“But you were in love!”

“No we were not, as we both told you over and over again.”

“But I saw you two…um—”

“You do realize that not everyone whom you happen to like spending time together has to be your one and only love?”

“You were kissing though!

“To repeat, it doesn’t mean we’re each other’s true love.”

Your frown deepened before you heaved a dramatic sigh.

“Very well then,” you said. “I had originally planned to put all my efforts into finding Edith her one true love after I was finished with Abby, but I’m afraid this is more urgent.”

“Uh oh.”

“I will find you your one true love, a lady or a lord,” you said. “And I shall do the same for Ken when I visit Scotland. I think he prefers lords though, so I shall find him a dashing lord.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“Besides, we’re family now,” you said, motioning between yourself and him. “We will visit each other a lot after the season is over, remember?”

“You’re always welcome in my house but I’m begging you, please—”

“I will throw a ball at the Aubrey Hall as well, I think that would multiply the chance to find someone who happens to catch your interest.”

“Why is love like the plague for you?” Hugh asked. “Just because you have it, does not mean you should infect everyone with it.”

“I will not stop until the whole world is as happy and in love as I am,” you said, wagging your finger at him in a threatening manner and he repressed a laugh, holding up his hands.

“You don’t have to be so menacing about it.”

“It appears that I must,” you said and he heaved a dramatic sigh, shaking his head.

“Will you change your mind if I fight you on this?”

“Of course not.”

“Thought so,” he said before holding out his hand. “A dance with the lady of the house then?”

You smiled at him and took his hand, then let him lead you to the dance floor.

                                               *

An hour into the ball, you had already danced with Kenneth, Elias and even your father before accepting Mr. Sinclair’s dance request. Now that he was completely smitten by Jane, for the whole dance he hadn’t stopped talking about her and made sure to thank you for introducing him to his true love, a statement that put a smile on your face. However, towards the end of your dance with him, you caught the sight of Cecily walking out of the ballroom so as soon as the dance was over, you grabbed another drink and excused yourself to look for Cecily. After a maid informed you that she had gone upstairs to the washroom, you quickly made your way to upstairs as well to knock on the door.

“Cece?”

“A minute!” she called out before the noise of heaving reached your ears and you scrunched up your nose, then leaned back to the wall.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to get Elias?”

“Oh no, I don’t want him to worry, this is—” she was cut off as she heaved again, then cleared her throat. “This is completely normal, as terrible as it sounds.”

You repressed a small chuckle and soon enough she opened the door of the washroom, wiping at her mouth with a towel.

“Should I send for a maid?”

She shook her head and offered you a smile.

“I’m getting used to it actually,” she said. “As much as one could get used to it, that is.”

“I do not envy you on that part,” you pointed out. “But I admit, I envy you on every other aspect of it.”

“Oh don’t worry, I’m very certain that soon enough you will be going through the same thing that I am going through right now.”

You sipped your drink. “Who knows?”

“I do,” she said and frowned. “Where’s your other earring?”

You touched your earlobes and let out a whine.

“I must have dropped it on the dance floor,” you said. “Great. I’ll just change them and look for it after everyone else leaves.”

She grinned. “Maybe a jealous lady stole it.”

You burst into a laugh. “Cece!”

“Could happen.”

“No it couldn’t,” you said and her grin widened.

“Alright alright…” she said. “I’m going back to the ballroom then.”

“I’ll be right there,” you said and made your way to your bedroom. You put your glass on the vanity, quickly grabbed another pair of ruby earrings –the spare ones you had saved for tonight- and checked your reflection in the mirror. You turned a little to check if your gown still looked as good as it did when you first walked into the ballroom, then smiled and grabbed your drink again before leaving the room.

It was only when you reached the hallway that you saw Anthony on the other side and you tilted your head.

“What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” he said with a small smile and you grinned.

“I had an earring emergency,” you said. “Why were you looking for me? Is everything alright?”

He looked over his shoulder as some noises reached you from the foyer downstairs and then turned to you again.

“You wanted to enjoy the view from a good spot, did you not?” he asked and as soon as it dawned on you what he was implying, your breath got caught in your throat, then you rushed past him to reach the mezzanine, where you could look down at the foyer that seemed to be swarming with people now, giving you a clear view.

“Let go of me at once!” Frederick’s voice rang through the foyer as two men –armed guards, as you could see- yanked him into the foyer. “How dare you? What is this?”

“Earl Woodhall, the parliament found that you have committed forgery and fraud,” one of the guards by the foyer said, not even moving an inch as your eyes caught the sight of your family, Lady Danbury and the Bridgertons leaving the ballroom as well to step into the foyer, the remaining guests following them. “You have broken her majesty the Queen’s laws as well as the parliament’s, and you will be punished accordingly.”

Even you could tell that all blood had left Frederick’s face as Anthony came to stand beside you while a dark smile curled your lips.

You wanted to see the look on his face one last time.

You held out your arm and let the glass slip from your grasp and in mere seconds it hit the marble floor, shattering into pieces, the sound gathering everyone’s attention considering how it was completely quiet because of people’s shock. Frederick’s head snapped up and Anthony threw an arm over your shoulder, raising his glass at him with a small smirk while you tilted your head, a pleased smile apparent on your lips.

“…You.” Frederick growled and you leaned your elbows on the railings, letting out a small laugh.

“It was about time you saw what real revenge looked like, and you’ve made it very easy,” you commented, entwining your fingers with Anthony. “Goodbye Frederick.”

With that, the guards dragged him out of the house and you stole a look at Elias and your father, who were both wearing similar smiles before turning to the rest of the guests who were staring at you and Anthony.

“Speech?” Anthony murmured and you nodded, then cleared your throat.

“Well now that the only traitor among us has been taken away and soon to meet his fate,” you said with a smile. “Allow us to welcome you to the Bridgerton House, and the last ball of the season.”

“Hear hear,” Elias called out, raising his glass and you let out a laugh as people started clapping.

“First of all, we would like to thank our dearest friends here who knew what has been happening for the last month was nothing but a necessary deception to uncover Earl Woodhall’s crimes,” you said. “Thank you so much for keeping our secret and not telling anyone.”

Anthony raised his brows and repressed a smirk.

Of course. The ton liked to be involved in anything and everything, especially any kind of secret. So by making them think some people among them knew your fights and divorce rumors were nothing but a deception, you were making sure that they wouldn’t suspect anything otherwise.

You were certain that so many people were going to tell each other they had known all along, even if they had been the first ones to jump on the divorce rumors.

“And to the rest who did not know,” you said. “For not being able to share it with you and for making you worry, we apologize.”

“Wholeheartedly,” Anthony said, pulling you closer to press a kiss on top of your head, earning a chorus of “aww” from the guests and you giggled.

“The second part of fireworks are going to start in half an hour as a celebration,” you said. “So yes, thank you so much for coming, and we hope you will enjoy the rest of the ball!”

Another round of applause exploded through the hallway and Anthony kissed the back of your hand, then winked at you.

“Come on,” he said. “We should go and get scolded by my family before we celebrate with yours.”

                                                 *

The ball was finished towards the dawn, and in your opinion –and also in almost all guests’ opinion, as they kept telling you- it had been the best ball of the season. After everyone left, instead of going back to your bedroom, you pulled Anthony by the hand to step outside, and went to the yard to sit down on the grass, with him following you. He leaned back to the tree you were sitting under, then pulled you closer to hold you in his arms, nuzzling to the top of your hair while you made yourself comfortable, resting your head on his chest, twisting his ring around his finger.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” you murmured, keeping your eyes on the gorgeous shades of orange and red painting the sky and he chuckled.

“Me neither,” he said. “I’m actually relieved, I kept thinking something would come up at the last second. That he would somehow figure it out.”

“He was too blinded by his hate to figure it out.”

“Lord Moore told me that his wife didn’t even tell him about our plan, but apparently she knew.”

“Mm, I overheard the same from Lady Bolton,” you said. “Apparently she knew as well.”

Anthony scoffed a laugh. “Unbelievable…”

“Do you think your mother and Lady Danbury forgave us when we explained it to them?” you asked. “They looked like they forgave us.”

“I think they did forgive us, but I can’t say the same for Eloise.”

“Oh me neither,” you said. “But I mean, this time next week we will all be together at Aubrey Hall, so she will have to forgive us.”

“After some bribe yes, I’m sure she will.”

You let out a giggle and craned your neck to look up at him only for him to dip his head to brush his lips against yours, then caressed your cheekbone with his thumb, smiling softly.

“Have I told you how beautiful you looked tonight?”

You hummed, pretending to be in deep thought. “Only once.”

“Ah that’s simply not acceptable,” he joked, making you giggle again. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on my love.”

“And you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever laid my eyes on, so we make quite a fine pair in my humble opinion,” you said with a grin, making him chuckle.

“We do.”

“And I love you.”

“I love you too darling. With my whole being.”

You squeezed at his arm and nibbled on your lip.

“Anthony mon amour, I realized something tonight.”

He buried his nose into your hair again. “What is it?”

“I feel like…” you paused for a moment. “Every single thing that has happened, it had to be. It was all supposed to happen from the beginning, and now I feel—I feel like I am home now. Like I actually belong here, like this right there was where I was meant to be all along. We were meant to find each other and be together, it was just meant to be.”

Anthony pressed a kiss on your temple, holding you tighter.

“It was,” he murmured. “And you are home now.”

You smiled slightly and took a deep breath, leaning your head back to his chest and inhaling his scent, a sense of relief washing over you.

“Yes,” you said. “Yes I think I am.”

                                  The End.

Epilogue

 PS: Wow, this was a long ride!😁 Thank you so so much to every single one of you my loves who has given me amazing support and HCs and ideas! I wouldn’t be able to write this without you, I love you so much!❤

And special thanks to my wonderful friend and beta Bea for helping me with the whole story and making it so much better with her ideas and editing skills, and TM anon for their wonderful analyses of the chapters! You are awesome! ❤

[theamityelf]

I keep thinking about Chapter 3 of the mini thh cast, since you mentioned that Nagito asked Hajime to take care of Makoto and dodged a bullet with Mikan... I can't help but wonder what if he didn't ask that? What if Makoto was in Mikan's care? Would she kill him, thus getting Nagito executed? But wouldn't that be too obvious, since she was taking care of him? Wouldn't it be super suspicious if he died?

So then what would she do with him? Try to cause him despair? Hurt him but not kill him? Would that fuel Nagito's suspicions of her, where Makoto tells him what happened (or at least the gist, not any details about memory recovery), and he starts hating her because she hurt his little guy? Or Makoto refuses to spill what happened (because he's afraid of exposing her memory recovery and making questions pop up), but Nagito can tell something is off, and that's part of why he starts to suspect Mikan, too? I feel like there could be fascinating Nagito & Mikan & Makoto interactions from this...

Or maybe Mikan tries to find a way to kill Makoto? Like pretending he's been kidnapped? Only to kill him later? Maybe?

I just can't get the thought of Chapter 3 happening with Mikan having a little mini Makoto during all of it. It would, undoubtedly, be a mess.

I'm glad you asked, because I was actually thinking about that, too. First of all, even if Hajime did have Makoto, Mikan could still access him while Hajime is sleeping. In the seconds or minutes before those two separate scenes where Mikan climbs on top of Hajime while he's sleeping, she could abduct or harm Makoto without any interference.

I'm imagining a situation where, instead of using "falling asleep on top of Hajime" as an alibi, when she sneaks into Hajime's cabin, she sedates Hajime so he won't interrupt her, then grabs Makoto from where he's sleeping– in the same general space as, but with a respectful distance from, Kyoko.

Makoto wakes up with Mikan's hand wrapped around his whole body and her other hand caressing his cheek with her forefinger.

"Wakey wakey," she giggles.

"Mikan?"

"Did you have a nice rest? After all that excitement with Nagito, it seems like you and I have barely had time to talk." She's still petting his cheek with a finger. "I'd like to continue our conversation from before. You don't remember it, but that's okay. You can just listen. Don't worry– we won't be interrupted."

Kyoko has woken up by this point. She tries to discreetly sneak away from her little bed, but Mikan swats her onto the floor and puts her foot on top of her. Threatening, maybe injuring, but not killing.

"Mikan, what are you doing?!" Makoto asks.

"Look at you. So tiny, you fit in one hand. And in comparison, my beloved is everywhere. I can taste my beloved in the air I breathe. This will be a beautiful place to die, don't you think? But first..." She takes out a needle small enough for a tiny person. "My best despair for the one who took my beloved from me."

She sedates him, and he wakes up in any of the following situations or something similar:

Inside the mini-fridge in Nagito's cabin. (She has access to his key, since she's the one who changed him into the hospital gown.) Because Makoto's tiny, there's enough air that he won't suffocate during the investigation and trial time, if he's in there for that long. The cold is a significant threat to his life, but it's just short of freeze-to-death temperature, depending on how long he spends there. He's in some kind of uncomfortable position in addition to being cold– maybe there's an overturned dish on top of him, placing just enough weight on his back that he's constantly being a little bit crushed, or maybe he's under a glass, or maybe he's taped to the wall or dangling upside down (the last of which I can only imagine is really dangerous for his health). Kyoko is in there with him, also drugged, probably with a broken leg or something from being stepped on. Nagito finds them because his cabin key was on top of his jacket instead of in his pocket, when he woke up, so he knew where to look.

Pinned to a cork board with pins pierced perfectly through the gaps between his ulna and radius and his tibia and fibula, rendering him painfully immobilized. In this situation, Kyoko is not with him. Maybe Mikan has drugged her with something heavy enough that she doesn't remember anything she saw or heard immediately before, so Hajime just finds her in her regular spot, heavily drugged and physically injured, with Makoto missing. Once again, Nagito has to find Makoto. Hajime probably offers to help, since from his perspective, he's the one who lost him, but Nagito urges him to focus on investigating. (Nagito already knows who did it from very early on, so he has time to break away and look for his poor kouhai.)

Floating on an ice cube in a cup of water. He can't reach the top of the cup, so once the ice melts, he has to keep himself afloat to avoid drowning. This could be literally anywhere. In this situation, he's not as hurt when Nagito finds him as in the previous two; he's just exhausted. Although, maybe it's a glass of soda or something other than water. I have to imagine that being a tiny person in a glass of soda would feel bad on the skin; his skin would be proportionally thinner, and it's very acidic. And again, Kyoko's just heavily sedated and left with Hajime.

She would want to hearken to the crushed-to-death execution, since it's what killed Junko and what should have killed him, but the only self-sustaining thing I can think of for that, that wouldn't just kill him, is putting him between books in the library, which feels kind of impersonal? Idk. Maybe under the insole in her shoe, if she's willing to carefully avoid actually stepping on him with that foot. Her seeming to have a weird limp would be a good way for Nagito to guess where Makoto is, but the move itself just seems pretty weird, lol.

I'm not actually suggesting this, but I will say an actual Danganronpa game might have a gag where after the trial Nagito asks what she did with Makoto and she either has him in her bra or says something that seems to imply he's in her bra but actually he's, like, wrapped up in a bandage somewhere on her person. Either way, another situation where the discomfort is of the slowly-getting-crushed variety. And also temperature.

Okay so stay with me here. Or actually, stay with me if you're okay with this one being really grim compared to the other ones; if not, go ahead and skip this bullet point. Okay, so it's the fridge situation again, except the temperature is definitely going to kill him if he doesn't do something. Kyoko isn't there. But all of the kouhais Mikan has been taking care of are dead in there, in a pile, and the only way for Makoto to stay warm is by crawling under them.

He's in Mikan's cabin, taped down with a needle full of some chemical that will make him sick or feel pain. Nagito figures out that he's in there but can't get him out until after the trial, at which point he breaks the door to get in, because Mikan refused to give him the key before her execution and Monokuma refuses to just let him in like he usually does. Getting to launch an assault on Mikan's door would probably be pretty cathartic, after Mikan's little "lol no one loves you" moment after the trial, which will definitely inform how much he throws himself into Makoto's recovery.

All of this assumes that the senpais are allowed a grace period to find their kouhai, so long as the kouhai is still alive, before they're counted as having lost them and being punished accordingly.

If Nagito finds him before the trial, there would be a consoling moment where Makoto is falling over himself trying to explain what happened and who did this to him, and Nagito calms him down, bandages any major injuries, and reassures him that he knows it was Mikan and she won't get away with it. He's speaking pretty calmly, but he is shaking with anger, enough so that he has to pause and take a deep breath in order to keep bandaging him. He's never felt this kind of protective anger before.

He's even angrier knowing that Mikan is the one who would normally be trusted to take care of Makoto's injuries. He gently hides Makoto so that Mikan won't find out he found him, and he maintains his cold, passive aggressive treatment of her until the truth comes out, because not to do so would ruin the game, and he's going to continue to care about the game until next chapter.

The fun thing about speculating as to what Mikan might do to him (if "fun" is the right word, lol) is that right after this case, Nagito finds out about the Ultimate Hope thing, so the hard swing from lowkey torture to lowkey worship is a thing.

There's definitely some gap in time between Nagito just being worried about his kouhai because he cares about him (and having to deal with the fact that he's not okay with Mikan doing this to Makoto and can't really convince himself that he would've been okay with it if she'd done it for hope instead of despair), and Nagito finding out Makoto's the Ultimate Hope and no longer having to engage with the idea of caring about someone for their own sake.

(Sorry if I didn't fully answer your question. If there's a part you want me to focus on, you can ask again!)

(Mini THH AU Masterlist)

[geekyarmorel]

A Little Rain Never Hurts

Alcina × Reader

The rain fell gently, splashing against the glass window panes in a delightful dance. It seemed to tempt you from your spot by the balcony, the idea of being washed and renewed by it. You slipped on a robe before giving in and opening the doors to step out onto the white stones.

A smile sprung to your face as you tilted it up towards the heaven. You look back down and gaze out on the lands, hands coming to hold onto the railing while you do so. The plants had needed this rain, it had been to dry recently. The garden was sure to have new blooms after this, the thought making you smile even more. "Draga mea, why are you out in the rain?"

"Just enjoying it." You answer, turning to take her in. She stood in the doorway, still dressed to her daily nines.

"You enjoy being cold and wet?" Her eyebrow arched elegantly from under her big hat that casted her eyes in shadows making them glow.

You can't help but giggle at her look, shaking your head ever so slightly. "I enjoy being in fresh new water, it's a renewing feeling for me. Guess I'm like my plants that way."

Alcina chuckled, a smile gracing her lips as she gazed at you. "Perhaps I should get a watering can and make sure you're watered daily." She muses.

"I need sunlight to." You laugh, tilting your head back up towards the rain for a moment. "And love of course."

"Of course. I'd make sure my favorite flower would be kept in the best conditions, I'd hate to see you wilt." You look back at her, holding your hand out in invitation. "Not tonight draga. I desire a warm bath not a cold shower."

You pout, the pretty little thought of being kissed by her in the rain pushed aside. "Perhaps another time then."

"Perhaps." Is all she said as she motioned for you to join her. Stepping into the warmth of the room, she shut the doors and curtains before turning to help you out of your wet clothes. "Come, bathe with me."

"Of course."

It was still raining a day later and Alcina really needed a walk, the numbers on her work were starting to blur together. She walked aimlessly through her halls, lurking in the shadows to observe. For one of her size she moved quite stealthily and not be noticed when she wanted to. Hearing your voice she went towards you, listening into your conversation as she hung back in the darkened end of the hallway.

"Alright what hopeless romantic thing is yours?" A maid asked, looking back over at one of the newer maids.

"A picnic under the stars." She sighs fondly. "The thought of being cuddled up and looking at all the constellations, just is so romantic to me."

There were a few dreamy sighs before she turned and asked another older maid. "Yours?"

"A nice home-cooked dinner that I didn't have to make or clean up." There were a few laughs and a couple of 'True's. "Other than that I would say a midnight stroll along the beach."

"Oh that's a good one." You say, scrubbing a stubborn spot on the floor.

"So gardener, tell us what's your hopeless romantic thing." The older maid said, eyeing you. "Is it talking a walk with the Lady in the garden?"

"No."

"Dinner under the stars?" Another one asked.

"No, though it was a wonderful date."

The first maid looked over you, "Ballroom dancing in a fancy gown?"

You laugh, face turning pink from embarrassment. "No none of those. Honestly it's a little cheesy."

"Come on tell us." They plead, obviously living through you right now.

"Alright, alright." You say, dipping the brush in your bucket. "My thing is being kissed in the rain."

You wanted to be kissed in the rain? That was a way to your heart? The maids squealing as they gushed at you brought her mind back to the conversation. "Oh that's a good one!"

"Why didn't I think of that? To kissed softly as the heavens are falling. Makes me want to swoon."

"How was it?" The younger maid asked.

You look back her and then down to your work. "Hasn't happened yet."

The looks you garnered went unnoticed by you. "Well then why don't you ask her?"

"It doesn't seem romantic to ask for it." You answer, "Now come on and let's finish here. I want lunch to still be warm when I get it." They nod and go back to work, leaving Alcina to her thoughts.

Kissed in the rain? That explains why you had pouted the other night. Alcina turned and headed to her office, mind already whirling with ideas.

That night after supper you stood by the balcony doors watching the light patter of the rain. Alcina smiled at the sight, coming up behind you to rest her hand on your back. "Need watering my precious flower?" She playfully asked.

You smile softly up at her before looking back out at the rain. "I could use a little, but maybe not tonight."

"No?" Alcina opened the doors and reached her hand out. "Even if you have company?" You take her hand, a delighted but also puzzled look on your face. "I decided to see if it's truly renewing as you say it is."

"And here I thought you were worried about your precious flower being lonely and thirsty." You tease, stepping into the soft rain and tilting your face up to soak it in.

"That too." She said, resting one hand on the railing while slightly leaning against it. Her hat blocked most of the drizzle from her face and neck, though it landed and clung to her skin as it slowly made her dress wet. Alcina had to admit it wasn't to bad being in this rain, you looked lovely like this. Soft locks growing heavy with rain, robe clinging to your skin in an inviting way. Perhaps she would put this memory into her sketchbook.

With the crook of her finger she beckoned you to come to her, purring in delight as you leaned into her side. Time seemed to slow down in this moment, allowing both of you to relax from the day. Alcina gently brushed a lock of your hair behind your ear, before tilting your chin up for you to look at her. Bending Alcina pressed her lips to yours, her hat blocking the rain from your faces as she kissed you. The kiss was slow and methodical, your hand sneaking up to tangle in her curls while her hands pulled you ever closer to her.

When you parted your cheeks were blushing, happiness warming your chest. Alcina looked equally happy, pressing a few kisses on your cheek and down your neck. "I love you draga mea."

"I love you too." You reply, seeking her lips again. Alcina smirked ever so slightly as she kissed you this time, very pleased that her plan worked. "Come I think I've had enough water. Care to show me some love and affection now?

"Oh draga. There is nothing I would like more."

[aemiron-main]

Massacre at HNL vs the S3 Hospital Fight

So, awhile ago I noticed that there's quite a few parallels and interesting connections between the Jancy hospital scene and the 1979 massacre. Like, Bruce has DIRECT Vecna shot parallel, and both Bruce and Vecna say "Nancy-" during that scene too.

Setting that aside for now, though, the first thing I want to talk about it “Whatever you've done, it's not you. He’s making you do this.”

Which is VERY interesting to me vs Brenner pushing 002 around like a chess piece & trying to get him to kill El & likely doing the same with Henward and the massacre.

Like, Brenner was clearly messing with them, and why did Nancy say that "he's" making Tom do this?

And we also have “Whose blood is that” vs Henward’s changing massacre blood:

Like, this is just one small snippet of how the blood on Henward's jumpsuit changes, so go read the full post I just linked for more, but there ARE multiple different versions of his jumpsuit with different blood stains.

And the fact that the bodies not only move during the 1979 massacre NINA scenes, but also CHANGE into adults and completely different people- which would tie PERFECTLY into "who's blood is that?" if there's multiple different versions of the massacre/a timeloop/various timelines.

And after that "he's making you do this/whose blood is that" scene, we get Jancy being paralleled to Henward and El when Jonathan grabs Nancy's hand vs Henward grabbing El's hand:

And look at the scene of Jonathan and Nancy running on the stairs and then running down the hallway vs Henry and El on the stairs and in the hallway:

And look at the bodies in the hallway- the body that's sitting up is in the EXACT same pose as the bottom right body during NINA and in a very similar pose to one of the orderlies in the hallway during NINA, and the body laying face down is very similarly posed compared to one of the kids' bodies during NINA. And as @henrysglock just pointed out here while I was writing this, the body of the lady on the floor is wearing HNL gown, and specifically, an HNL gown that looks like Terry's.

It’s also VERY interesting to me that we see Bruce shatter the glass & reach inside to turn the knob- the EXACT same thing that happened with the Creel house door/window (and also very interesting that Steve is paralleled to Bruce here and Bruce being paralleled to Vecna considering what I talked about in this post regarding Steve and Edward/Henry and the 'you're not a child' line):

And interestingly enough, that’s not the only time this sequence parallels a scene from the Creel house- Bruce parallels Victor when he’s looking at the wheelchair (which is especially interesting considering what I talked about in this post and this post about how the wheelchair in the Creel house is a reference to The Changeling, which is about two children swapping places and has a TON of Henward vibes):

And like I mentioned in the beginnign, Bruce is also directly paralleled to Vecna:

And nancy parallels herself running down the hallway alone.

And speaking of Nancy's S4 lab scenes, Nancy literally swaps places with Henward during the tattoo scene, something I talked about here. And considering that she also has scenes during the S3 hospital sequence that are paralleled to Henward/in his place, which makes me wonder- was there more of the vision that involved her “swapping places” with Henward? Did Henry or Edward run out and already see the bodies in the hallway like Jonathan and Nancy did, and wasn't responsible for the deaths?

And Bruce and Tom are both flayed, with those mindflayer veins, and like James I talked about here, we have that strange "eldritch thrumming" with Henward and his weirdly blue and bloodshot eyes that resemble Flayed Billy's eyes. And this shot of Flayed Bruce especially reminds me of henward, with his blonde hair and staring Nancy down:

And we also have this rainbow cup that shows up during the hospital scene- versus the rainbow room in 1979.

I just think it's interesting that there's so much talk of "this isn't you/you're not choosing to do this/whose blood is that" during a scene that's SO heavily paralleled to the 1979 massacre... I don't fully know what all of these parallels mean yet, but it's just another point on the "things are not what they seem with the massacre" board.

[realcatalina]

Small updates

For past several months i have been working upon video about basics of gable hood, before finally giving up, and deciding to do several shorter videos rather than one very long one-because apparently my motivation level decreases with lenght of the video.

But as I was doing it, i have decided to finally take proper look at effigies of women wearing gable hood and I have discovered several things. Some are about gable hoods of course, so that i will explain in those videos. But i feel need to update you about the rest of the things I found.

I was wrong about this style of under-partlet being non-english.

It is also present in England. But it appears in english effigies which are from c.1520. Around twenty years prior to Anna's arrival.

Prior to Horenbout, prior to Holbein.

I have also prior told you it is similiar to Alice Brown's underparlet on her effigy-that is true but unfortunately I have misdated that effigy.

it is not from 1540. It is somewhere from late 1510s to early 1520s.

2)We need to significantly stretch chronology of these sleeves

(and I should really learn their name.)

I used to think they were solely early 1510s style-because aside from brasses-the sole depiction of them that knew of (in England) was Westminster tournament roll from 1511.

But then showed up lady Margaret in stained glass thought to be from somewhere in c.1505-1509, and most recently i seen posthumous effigy of Anne Howard(wife of Edmund Gorges) with such sleeves:

The gable hood of such pitch, could be early 1500s.

(could be mid-1500s, but could be earlier also).

It isn't obvious from the picture from front, the angle of the photo is hiding the pitch. I know it is posthumous, but since nothing about the outfit is indicative of decade she died in, i can only presume entire the entire outfit depicts later fashion.

Also, Mary Tudor in 1514/1515, in France, i thought she was wearing narrower version of these sleeves. Thus i thought the style by then has been on decline, already evolving to something else.

But after discovering another illumination from that time, i have to conclude it is not so. The artist struggled to do the proprotions correctly. He has one sleeve narrower and wide upon same gown!

Narrower style is likely not real, thus we are stretching wider style of sleeves up c.1515, hence my new range for these sleeves is c.1500-1515. Let's see how long before i am proven wrong again!

(This happens, i have to get used to it. I keep proving myself wrong as I research.)

Also, would you guys want me to list all the effigies and give you explanation regarding dates?

I am asking beforehand if you are interested, because there is over 50 effigies with gable hoods-that i know of. (only few are too badly damaged that they cannot be dated well).

Just writing them all down, takes a long time. Let alone description or pictures-because stone doesnt really make it clear what you are looking at+plenty of them are damaged to great degree-it would require me to play with pictures a lot to make them any real help to you.

No way we are doing all 50 at once. But potentially we could do them in parts, over longer time. If you wish. Some of them have truly beautiful details, which sadly we cannot observe well in portraits.

Also i am wondering if i should give you just the plain list and see if perhaps you know of some which i missed.

[aeferkssr]

𝐚𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐬𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞 ˚✩彡

clearing out my drafts with semi coherent thoughts

unfinished drafts, warning listed before the post.

masterlist.

UNTITLED - open character

the only way to escape this unreasonable situation, is to escape the unfair life that gave it to you..

suicide. escapism. slight domestic abuse.

the air on the balcomy was cool, cool enough to calm you from the several in terractions

the breeze danced around the delicate fabrics of your dress, shoes being long disregarded as you stood on the railings. you whisper faint and final farewells to the very stars that keep you company on your lowest nights, the garden that you would hide away in when you needed some time alone, and to the very life that you have been blessed with.

you doubt you'd be able to live as lavishly in your next life, (you doubt you'll even remember this one, much less make a comparison) but you decided to let fate take the lead.

"you can feel the midnight air just fine from down here, i don't think the need for elevation is mandatory"

fate has got to be fucking with you right now. you didn't even look at him

...

"very trivial matters, i'm afraid. im just a coward running away from my problems"

"a matter worth taking ur life over isn't trivial to me"

...

"count ( ) of ( ), he's have many wives in his years. there has been rumors of the women he weds only serving as countess for a few months... until never being seen again."

you sniffle as you try to blink away the upcoming tears, you shouldn't be weak right now, you can't be weak right now.

"...i've told father about the rumors but he tells me i'm being dramatic, that there was nothing to worry about and that his past wives were just incompetent, and to never be like them..."

you can hear his stern voice boom throughout his office:

"all of those women simply went back to their homes. to add, they came back disastrous, unfulfilled, disappointments. that will not be you, understand?

...

he didnt know what to say, there was nothing he could say

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - xiao ver.

as you run away from the ball to save you exiled father, the beast finally confronts his thoughts on the past weeks

no warnings applied

the beast looks off at you as you scurry to get your horse, the mirror he gave you had shown your father being harassed and held down by townspeople and you ran off to go save him. he sighs.

his head hangs low as he walks into the uppermost room of the east wing, the whilting rose, that determines not only his fate but the fate of the whole castle, is covered by glass as the fallen petals rot below it.

he reflects on what happened so far, the time he spent with you as his 'prisoner'.

...

he finds himself not only do these memories plague his mind but you stand out the most in them, the entire ballroom was but a blur - insignificant and unremarkable - compared to you. the way how your gown glistened as the moonlight hit is, your unwavering eye contact made his head spin, and the awe inspiring ambiance curated by cadenza.

BESTFRIEND!AETHER - aether obvi

hcs on best friend aether (could count as a sfw version of this post)

no warnings applied

best friend!aether who you met when your teacher recommended tutoring. as you listen to the teacher go on and on about something you didn't care enough to listen to, your supposed tutor gives you a shy wave, to which you respond with a small nod.

best friend!aether that tutors you effectively, he seemed to be able to explain events in history like he's actually been there. no wonder prof. morax likes him so much, they're similar in that matter.

best friend!aether who seems even more excited than you about your grades, rocking you from side to side in a tight hug that you could only laugh to and hug him back. he never fails to make your achievements feel like actual achievements, things to be proud of and be celebrated.

speaking of celebration, best friend!aether, who takes you out to your favorite restaurant next weekend. it doesn't matter how much you ordered, how expensive the food might be, or even the location. he will find a way to take you there and will pay in full.

best friend!aether who you started to hang out with without needing to study. either you two would be chatting away over nonsensical topics or you would be silently sharing one of his airpods as you listen to your blended playlist.

best friend!aether who you got so close with without even realizing it.

UNTITLED - aexiao poly

gossiping with ur boyfriends lawl

gossiping, i hope no one knows me irl is reading this...

“bro, shut up” aether said, as he momentarily stops playing with your hair

“no i’m so serious!” you say as you lean your head up to look at him

“haven’t they been together for a year now?!” xiao kicks in, his eyes still glued to his phone

“almost, bebe, its been 9 months” you respond as you start to weave his hair through your fingers “thats what makes it so sad, pinterest is very much obsessed with mackerel and i don’t know if i should be the one to break it to her”

you sigh as you sink more into aether’s lap, burying your face in his basketball shorts. as aether plays with the locs of your hair, you busy your hands with xiao’s hair as his head lies between your thighs. being “the quiet kid” in your class pays off as you always overhear different stories with a variety of people. of course, their identities are hidden using different code names.

right now, you were telling your lovers what you have heard earlier that day. the cafeteria was a breeding ground for drama, as different people with different majors are in one place. if you leave your headphones — on purpose or not — you could hear the table beside you loud and clear. doggie and wolfie were constantly in some sort of drama, doggie found solace in useless and wolfie got jealous, and banana yogurt was on the rise again? you thought that she moved schools!

@aeferkssr.

[furys-mercy]

- | Brother | -

Word Count: 1,173 Characters: August Mercer, Sebastian de Vairemont

“Get yer arse up!” 

Sebastian had always been rather particular about his morning rituals, a fact that made his brother’s gutter drawl even more grating than usual. “Who let him in?” The question was barely groaned loud enough for Mercer to hear, much less the footman he’d left in the hall, shaking in his immaculately polished shoes. 

“I let m’self in.” The machinist ripped back the velvet curtains, allowing light to spill in. 

Sebastian hissed as he rolled away, covering his head with a pillow. “I am not in the mood for your games today, August.” 

“My games? Well tha’s fuckin’ rich ain’t it? Comin’ from the fella who left m’arse sittin’ on the deck’a m’damned ship fer three fuckin’ bells. Damned near froze m’arse off.” Mercer’s boot collided with an empty bottle of wine, sending it skittering across the marble floor. “Started ta wonder if ya were ill or somethin’, so I made m’way up ta tha gods forsaken Pillars ta find ya sleepin’ off a hangover? Nah. Get yer arse up, put on some fuckin’ pants, and lets get goin’. I ain’t gonna be late cause ya can’t hold yer liquor.” 

“And why, pray tell, did you not simply… leave? It would have been quite easy. In fact, it still is…” Sebastian waved a hand in the direction of the door. Or rather, the direction he assumed was the door. It was lucky for him that Mercer was too busy throwing open his wardrobe to notice that he’d suggested he leap out the window. 

“Unlike some folks I know, I happen ta be a fan’a keepin’ m’word.”

The rustling of silks finally spurred movement in Sebastian. He sat up to offer his counterpoint only to be stunned into silence at the sight of the clashing fabrics now piled at the foot of his bed. 

Mercer, on the other hand, looked rather proud of himself. “Get dressed.” 

Sebastian’s mouth hung open for several moments before he managed to huff out a response. “Absolutely not.” No one in this world could convince him to pair an emerald brocade with a cravat the color of sunrise.  

Mercer’s brow furrowed as he reached down, grabbed a pair of pants from the floor, and hurled them directly at his brother’s face. “I ain’t in tha mood fer…” His expression shifted as his gaze snagged on the piece of parchment that slipped free of the pants. The crest atop it made him visibly shudder. “Wha’ do those arseholes want with ya now?” Scarred fingers reached out to grab the paper before it settled fully into the folds of Sebastian’s velvet duvet. 

“It is nothing for you to worry with.” Sebastian launched himself forward, attempting to reclaim the parchment, but seeing as Mercer had not been sleeping off what appeared to be three bottles of wine, he was faster.

“Is this why ya tried ta drink yer whole damned wine cellar?” Mercer peered up at Sebastian from over his black-rimmed glasses. 

“Do not start with me, August. I am well aware of your feelings on the matter.” He reached for his dressing gown, tugging it on. “So, if you are inclined to congratulate me on my great fortune, do keep it to yourself.” 

“Hey, hey… tha’ ain’t…” Mercer was interrupted by Sebastian snatching the parchment from his grip. “Look, I ain’t gonna claim ta I understand any’a tha’ noble shite. But I ain’t ‘bout ta stand here an’ add ta tha pile’a ‘bo shite ya’ve been dealt.”

Sebastian stepped towards the fireplace, pausing to look back at his brother. “No? And why not? Is this not exactly what you have wanted since the day you learned of me? For me to choose a side… or be forced to.” He turned back towards the flames, contemplating if the edict in his hand might serve everyone better as kindling. 

“I… I didn’t want ya ta choose a side. Tha’ ain’t it. It’s…” Mercer stammered as he did his best to compose his thoughts. “It’s tha’ I wanted ya see tha’ you deserve better’n this shite. Tha’ there’s people an’ places where no one gives a shite who yer parents were. Tha’ ya’ve got other options. Ya always have, ya jus’... ya didn’t have anyone ‘round ta tell ya tha’.” 

“And what would you have me do? Take your name?” Sebastian didn’t know what answer he was seeking, but he knew he’d failed to tame the venom in his tone. 

“I wouldn’t ask ya to.” The Machinist didn’t even wince. “I know wha’ names mean ta people. I ain’t got much left of ‘em, ya know? M’parents, I mean… jus’ tha name they gave me. An’ I’d put up one hell of’a fight before I’d let someone jus’ take it. It don’t matter wha’ tha’ fancy shite says. If ya say yer Sebastian de Vairemont, then tha’ is who ya are. Ain’t no one got any say in tha’ other’n you.”

Sebastian sagged against the mantle, feeling the weight of his brother’s words. “Is it… is it truly that simple?” The touch of his brother’s hand on his arm surprised him. Had they been this close since that initial awkward handshake? 

“Ain’t nothin’ in life simple, but there’s satisfaction in fightin’ fer it, in buildin’ it with yer own hands, in tellin’ folks like tha’ ta shove it.” Mercer nodded towards the now crumpled parchment. “He ain’t got any bearin’ on you. Tha’s wha’ tha’ paper says. Ya don’t have ta play by ‘is rules anymore. He ain’t yer lord. Yer free, Sebastian. Free ta do an’ be whoever ya want.”

“And what of you? Will you not continue to wish for me to be something else?” Sebastian wanted to believe him. More than anything. But trust was a risk, as Akhutai had once noted. And while it was a risk he very much wished to take, he needed to be absolutely certain.

“I only get ta make choices fer m’self, not fer you. An’ I’ve already gone an’ made m’choice. I made it tha day ya walked in m’front door smirkin’ like ya were an’ holdin’ those damned letters. Part’a me wanted ta kick ya out. Ta tell ya ta shove off back ta wherever ya came from, but tha rest… tha rest jus’ wanted ta know ya. An’... I still want tha’. Cause yer m’brother. An’ I ain’t sayin’ tha’ cause we share blood. Blood don’t make families. Choices do. An’ I choose you, Sebastian. Today, tomorrow, an’ everyday after tha’.” 

“You… you…” For the first time in his life, The Bastard of Vairemont had been rendered truly speechless. There were simply no words for what he felt. Or if there were, he did not know them. So, he did the only thing he could think to do. He reached out for his brother, tugging him into a tentative and hesitant embrace. 

Mercer quirked a little smile before wrapping his arms around the taller man. “I love you, too, Sebastian. I love you, too.”