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mysticheathenn · 6 months ago

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Hard Messages From Love

Hi, Hexlings!

This pick-a-card reading is all about messages from love itself. If you were looking for a sign from any kind of delusions...this is it. Hopefully this isn't too harsh.

This is a general reading, remember to take what resonates and leave what does not. This reading does not supplement your need to seek professional help. Tarot should be used as entertainment and not a for sure answer to your problems but as a guide, a sense of hope, and amusement.

Take your time when choosing your pile. Ask yourself the question and choose the picture that you can’t stop looking at. Listen to your intuition.

MasterList

Patreon Link

Pile l:

Messages from love? Tarot: 2 of Swords, 9 of Pentacles (reversed), 9 of Swords, The World, The Chariot (reversed), 10 of Pentacles.

Things that may surround your mind about love? Give me a sign if things should end or if I am being paranoid. I can't eat or sleep about a decision. I feel suffocated by this person and I don't want to feel this way or leave them. I need to follow my heart but what if my heart is wrong? I deserve someone who shows and gives me the world. This person deserves the world and more than what I can give them.

Pop Culture Reference: Pride and Prejudice Move (2005)

Message: Someone here has been on your mind for quite some time. For some of you, this is a decision that you need to make regarding breaking up and for others of you this is regarding following your heart. Following your heart can go two ways: 1) breaking up or 2) giving someone you have "friend-zoned" a chance at dating you. Either way, your overall message is to follow your heart. Make the tough decision that needs to be made and stop second-guessing everything. If you haven't been happy in a long time in your relationship then it's time to leave. If you know dating someone would bring you great joy it's either you date them or be upfront and honest by telling them you are either scared or just don't want to be with them. Either way, you need to let that person be free to date someone who actually wants to be with them or has the guts to go after what they want. There is no long-term benefit of stringing someone along. This pile is also about the required action that needs to be taken place. There are so many things in this pile that are impossible to mention, but you deep down know what this required action is. It's the action that will give you freedom from the torment of your mind. This group reminds me of the scene in Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Darcy says "Miss Elizabeth. I have struggled in vain and I can bear it no longer. These past few months have been a torment. I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you. I had to see you. I have fought against my better judgment, my family's expectations, the inferiority of your birth, my rank, and circumstances. All these things I am willing to put aside and ask you to end my agony." (Yes, I had to put the entire iconic quote in this reading). Do the thing that needs to be done. Have the courage to either go after what you want or end what needs to be ended. No one can make or do these decisions for you. Just do it.

Pile ll:

Messages from love? Tarot: The Sun, Strength, The Tower (reversed), The Wheel, 2 of Swords (reversed), Death

Things that may surround your mind about love? Is this ever going to end? But I can't give them up. They will be back. They always come back. I want to be happy with only them. I need them. Ride or Die. Bad Marriage/relationship for life.

Pop Culture Reference: Round and Round by Selena Gomez, Will and Jada Smith's marriage

Message:

"We're going 'round and 'round, We're never gonna stop going 'Round and 'round, We'll never get where we're going, Round and 'round, Well, you're gonna miss me, 'cause I'm getting dizzy, Going 'round and 'round and 'round" - Selena Gomez. This pile somewhat was attracted to some degree to pile l. This pile is all about prolonging the inevitable when regarding a person. The tower card is in reverse and the death card is also here. There is a change that needs to happen between you and whoever this pile is about. The rain may fall today and tomorrow but eventually, you're going to have to give way and make room for the sun that desperately wants to clear some of the toxic patterns and unfulfilled desires that have plagued you for some time now. Just because someone keeps coming back into your life doesn't mean they are for you. Just because you have been with someone for a while does not mean you have to keep dealing with them because of history. History is great but also lessons are never learned there and you are not learning your lesson from the past history of this person or anyone else you have dealt with that is similar to them that you seem to not being able to escape. It's time to end the cycles you keep repeating. There is nothing romantic about struggling and settling. There is nothing cute about being a "ride or die" especially when that ride or die would watch you die. It's time to pull yourself by the bootstraps and end the cycles. You can't keep wondering why life gives you the same people with different bodies when all you do is continue to go after them or allow them to entertain you. Love wants you to know a change is coming and you're not going to like it. You may be left heartbroken to the point you may be turned off from love or people in general but you forced love's hand to do something you were not willing to.

Pile lll:

Messages from love? Tarot: The Emperor (reversed), 8 of Swords, Knight of Swords, 3 of Cups, Strength.

Things that may surround your mind about love? Speak no evil. See no evil. Hear no evil. Ignorance is bliss. I can fix him/her/them. Misunderstood. Little Red RIding Hood.

Pop Culture Reference: DW from Arthur "This sign can't stop me because I can't read." Link "This is your man. That's mine and I'm going to stick beside him." Link In My Head by Ariana Grande / Papa Don't Preach by Madonna

Message:

This pile might be attracted to pile ll but not all that much. This pile is for those who know someone isn't good for them but keep hanging around them. Your friends and family have told you this person isn't who you think they are or aren't how you keep trying to paint them. It's as if you keep trying to gaslight yourself into staying with this person because of the potential or the made-up version you have of them in your head. "My imagination's too creative, They see demon, I see angel, angel, angel, Without a halo, wingless angel" - Ariana Grande. You have the blindfolds on in this connection or about this person and you refused to take the blindfolds off all because what might either be of three reasons: 1) FOMO, the fear you might miss out on if this person does change or does something spectacular like get a record deal or win the lottery. 2) You have some sort of spiritual tie to this person through sex. For those who don't know yes, you can have an energetic pull or tie to someone through sex. If you find yourself in a dead-end relationship where you can't truly give substantial reasons as to why you aren't leaving even though you know the relationship has resulted in nothing but sex and history....soul tie. Or for most people it can be a codependency. 3) They suckered you into their web of victim mentality where they told you everybody has left them and basically uses the same techniques as an abuser to hook people into them to not leave. You remind me of the story of Little Red Riding Hood where it's quite obvious the wolf is a wolf and not her grandma but Little Red kept ignoring the signs of being in danger of the wolf. It's okay to lose out on someone. It's okay to want to be someone's cheerleader and see the potential in someone. What is not okay is when the person doesn't change or show these potentials that you know are somewhere in them. There is a saying that people change who they want to change for and unfortunately that person might not be you and that's okay because there is better out there who will or can match the person you want in your head and you have to stop to forcing those who don't want to be that person into that box.

Pile lV:

Messages from love? Tarot: 9 of Swords, Hange MAn, 5 of Wands, 5 of Swords, Queen of Wands, 9 of Pentacles (reversed).

Things that may surround your mind about love? They've changed. This time is different. Nobody is perfect. The heart wants what it wants.

Pop Culture Reference: Hanging on by Kim Wilde. Heart Wants What it Wants by Selena Gomez. 27 Dresses Movie.

Message:

It seems every pile might have two piles they may have been attracted to and pile lV you are no exception. You may have also been attracted to pile lll. Instead of having a blindfold on like pile lll when it comes to others or connections, you don't see your worth when it comes to matters of the heart. You constantly allow others to play you and you keep allowing them to because of the kind heart you have thinking that people change and maybe this time is different. It's wild how you would go to bat for people who treat you horribly but they won't do the same for you and for some of you you're okay with that because you feel you don't deserve healthy love or connections. Others of you, you secretly crave wanting someone to show you the same kind of love that you show others but low self-esteem as well as possibly history from dating people who don't speak positively to you have made you to believe you don't deserve that kind of love. You remind me of those who feel that they will always be the bridesmaid but never the bride, similar to 27 dresses. The main character was after a man who didn't even know she existed outside of her job (she loves her boss) and was always there for other people even when they were selfish and weren't there for her. You have such a big heart to give to others, but it's time to give your heart to those who deserve it. Stop allowing those who don't see your worth to treat you any kind of way. See a spade as a spade and not an Ace (again similar to pile lll). I don't know you pile lV but I wish I did so I can give you a big hug because you deserve all the greatness and beauty of this world. You shouldn't have to fight for a spot in anyone's life nor fight to have the love you deserve from others. It's time to pour that love you give to others back into yourself and attract healthy and loving relationships and people into your life.

Thank you for liking and reblogging my readings. I always appreciate you guys on here and on Patreon.

Stay safe and be blessed

#spirituality #witchblr #tarot reading #tarotblr #tarotcommunity #pick a card #tarot cards #pick a pile #pac tarot #pac reading #pick a photo #pick a picture #pick an image

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deepestdelulu · 1 month ago

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5 classics for my girlies

Emily of New Moon

The bittersweet process of growing up and finding where you truly belong... The perfect read for the start of a new school year. After her father’s death, Emily Starr is sent to live with her snobbish relatives at New Moon farm. Thrust into an unfamiliar and often cold environment, Emily faces numerous challenges. However, as time passes, she begins to adapt and discovers the beauty in her surroundings. With the support of her new friends—Teddy, Perry, and Ilse—Emily not only finds solace but also discovers her own creative talents, helping her carve out a place for herself in this new chapter of her life.

“If it's IN you to climb you must -- there are those who MUST lift their eyes to the hills -- they can't breathe properly in the valleys.”

Jane Eyre

A true classic for all my fellow gothic-lit enthusiasts, Jane Eyre, reminds us that everyone deserves a love that consumes, challenges, and transforms the very core of your being, offering both profound joy and deep heartache (we love a good situationsship). Following Jane Eyre, an orphaned and mistreated girl who endures a harsh upbringing but grows into a strong, independent woman. As she takes a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, she encounters the enigmatic Mr. Rochester, sparking a profound and tumultuous romance. Their intense connection is marred by secrets and personal demons, revealing the complexities of their relationship.

“Jane, be still; don't struggle so like a wild, frantic bird, that is rending its own plumage in its desperation." "I am no bird, and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being, with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you.”

The Secret Garden

Mary Lennox, a spoiled and neglected girl, is sent to live with her uncle after the death of her parents. Initially ill-tempered and withdrawn, Mary’s curiosity is sparked by rumours of a hidden, abandoned garden on the estate. As she explores and begins to restore this secret garden, she experiences a beautiful shift (glow-up era). The once gloomy and sickly Mary starts to bloom alongside the garden, rediscovering happiness, vibrancy, and a sense of belonging, making the story a heartwarming tale of growth and recovery.

“At first, people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done, and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.”

Pride and Prejudice

Truly a classic that has shaped my romantic expectations hahah... Elizabeth Bennet battles societal expectations and her own misjudgments in 19th-century England. When the aloof Mr Darcy (he'd totally be a ghoster in the 21st century just saying...) first crosses her path, their initial encounters are fraught with tension and misunderstanding. However, as Elizabeth delves deeper, she uncovers the complexities of Darcy’s character and her own heart.

“I could no longer help saying that I loved him. I loved him not only for his sake but for his own sake. I loved him because he was the only person who had ever really loved me for myself. I loved him because he had made me feel that I was worthy of being loved.”

The Little Prince

A young, otherworldly prince from a tiny planet travels across the universe, meeting various inhabitants and learning profound life lessons. His journey brings him to Earth, where he encounters a stranded pilot and shares his reflections on love, loss, and the essence of human connections. Through whimsical adventures and encounters, The Little Prince explores the importance of seeing with the heart rather than the eyes and reminds us of the value of friendship and innocence.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched; they are felt with the heart.”

You guys asked for more academia/book stuff so I thought this might be a nice start, especially since I know that many of you are just getting into classics; these are all very much suitable for beginners!! <3

Love yaa

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dwrogue · 5 months ago

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Quotes from the novelisation

So the Target novelisation is out! Highly recommend it, an extremely good time that somehow gives us a ton of backstory on Rogue while also still leaving things very open for fic.

A selection of quotes I highlighted on my way through:

The Doctor being horrendously into Rogue

The Doctor was now walking in the gardens with Rogue beside him, his new favourite brooding stranger.

He looked back at Rogue, walking, brooding (of course), and had to remind himself that this was an interrogation, not a date.

Sure, the Doctor couldn’t deny, Rogue was incredibly handsome.

The Doctor was suddenly very conscious that their hands were almost touching.

Rogue grabbed the Doctor’s arm and moved him with ease to the middle of the small metal pieces. ‘Stand there.’ The bounty hunter’s strong, the Doctor thought. Confirmed.

The Doctor could already feel people starting to turn and whisper but his focus wasn’t on that. All he was thinking about was Rogue. Rogue’s hand on his shoulder, his chest. Rogue’s eyes locked with his as the pair of them turned and twirled across the floor.

More below the cut: some of these get very spoilery including for the very end of the book, so don't click if you don't want to know.

Rogue being horrendously into the Doctor

His gorgeous brown eyes beamed up at Rogue from the middle of the crowd. For the first time in a long time, Rogue felt that jolt of electricity when you meet that person. That next person who might be the one to change your life.

the main thing that impressed him was how stylish it all was. How well placed and how welcoming. Rogue had only known the Doctor for one night, but it was clear this ship was perfectly made for the person who travelled in it.

‘I know.’ Rogue smiled at the kind, brilliant, amazing man in front of him.

Rogue felt another jolt of that electricity as their arms almost touched.

He wondered how long he would have with this new and wonderful stranger, and then also why he was troubling himself with the thought at all.

He’d not been asking the Doctor for marriage, but for some simple commitment. A sign he should stay longer than this one adventure. To see those worlds he’d promised. At least for a little while. Now he couldn’t stop wondering how much of their connection was real and how much had been for show.

Socially anxious king

It was then that Rogue emotionally left his body and started panicking a good 50 feet above the scene playing out below.

‘So, have you known the Duchess long?’ It was here that Rogue hoped the Doctor was his bounty because his small talk game was not his best quality.

Usually, the imaginary conversations Rogue had with [Art] were when he was alone in the ship but in moments of crisis sometimes, he would imagine him, a life raft in a sea of social interaction nightmares.

‘Can’t I storm off alone?’ said Rogue. ‘I would rather not talk in front of this many people.’

I had to stop and compose myself for a minute

‘Don’t blame me! De Lacaille chose them! Great astronomer, bad with names.’ Then he smiled cheekily. ‘But if it’s romance you’re after? He also named those stars there the pump, the chisel and Norma.’ Okay, he was flirting now. Ruby would be furious with him if this silly side quest was what got him killed.

‘Not what I’m after,’ replied Rogue, his tone back to matter-of-fact but his face blushing a little.

["the pump"]

Rogue had met many dreamers and magicians in his travels. It was surprising how many had bounties on their heads; he immediately recalled quite a complicated winter with Houdini.

[...WHAT. Was this the winter after the Doctor's long hot summer?? What a year Houdini had.]

On the banks of the pond, the pair of them dragged themselves out. Rogue’s shirt was stuck to his body; the Doctor’s was the same. They were both drenched through. They looked at each other and laughed. ‘Okay, Ruby was right, this is a bit Mr Darcy.’

[I know the odds of this having been filmed are almost zero, nobody's letting Jonathan risk his voice jumping into a pond in Britain at night in May, but #releasetheherroncut]

[Rogue imagines a letter in which his dead love Art gives a potential new relationship his blessing] Please give him a hug from me and do not name a child or dog in my memory when you move in together. A cactus is fine, though. [Almost put this in 'Rogue is horrendously into him' but the 'WHEN you move in together' had me putting the book down for a second. Also that Rogue is contemplating what they should or should not name their future dog OR CHILD.]

Just pure romance

[on seeing the ship] Oh, Rogue, he thought. What happened, love?

Rogue just stared in awe, taking in the Doctor, all of them. ‘You’re beautiful,’ he said.

Rogue slowly opened his arms, and the Doctor fell into them and sobbed. ‘I’m sorry,’ Rogue said over and over.

Rogue looked into the Doctor’s eyes and knew that he would never stop caring. Could never stop wanting to help, to fight, to go on. That was who he was. The Doctor let go of Rogue’s hand and climbed in through the window, and Rogue did what he knew he would do for ever.

Follow him.

Then he stepped forward and wrapped the Doctor in his arms and kissed him. It was a soft, passionate kiss, full of promise. The moment was tender. Romantic. It was theirs.

As he fell, his mind had one, clear thought. Worth every second.

The Doctor just kept smiling, keeping his eyes on the sky. ‘At least we got to live and love together a bit. Exist.’

Of all the timelines they could both have inhabited, Rogue was grateful that their eyes had met on this one. What a great surprise that had been from the universe. Yes, right now, he was lonely, but time wasn’t linear, and this was his favourite thing about it. Rogue was sitting in this cave, but he was also walking with the Doctor in the garden, he was laughing with Art in the Yossarian, he was falling from a building, he was running from one memory of his life to another. All at once.

Rogue was in the Doctor’s arms, spinning around and around, for ever.

#doctor who #timerogue #target novelisation #this isn't even all of them! I keep remembering parts I missed!

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shmaptainwrites · 2 years ago

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𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 [𝐅𝐈𝐓𝐙𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐘]

PAIRINGS — Fitzwilliam Darcy x fem!Reader

SUMMARY — Referred by a close family friend, reader finds herself a job tutoring a lovely young girl and begins to form an unlikely connection with her older brother

WARNINGS — slight angst, non main character death, breastfeeding (non descriptive, idk if this i need a warning for this but)

NOTE — okay so I know some of my fics in the past got kinda niche with concepts and some characters but honestly I think we’re entering a new era with that, but either way I hope those of you who like P&P enjoy this just as much as I do :) also I wrote this with Colin Firth’s Darcy in mind but I think it could just as well work with Matthew MacFayden’s (This can be considered to happen after his proposal to Lizzie but like if they didn’t end up working out)

You tried desperately to shake off the nerves that overcame you, it was not like this was the first wealthy family you had tutored for, but something about Pemberley just seemed so out of your grasp. You had received the position only through an old colleague who was moving to Scotland to be nearer to his family and had communicated with your employer via mail. From what your friend had shared his former boss wasn’t one who was warm and open, he might even be considered a little standoffish, but all he wanted was what was best for his younger sister who you would be tutoring.

He’s a good man, he’s just maybe not as warm as you’re used to.

And according to friends you were used to a lot warmer than most. Your father was never shy showing his affection to his children and you all loved him more for it, but it seemed to make you just a little off put with the way everyone acted in such a closed off society.

With one final deep breath you knocked and the door was almost immediately opened by one of the servants.

“I-I’m here to see Mr. Darcy,” you explained. “I’m the new tutor for Miss Darcy.”

“Yes, Miss (L/N) is it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” you gave her a polite smile.

“Right this way, Mr. Darcy is in his office.”

You followed the housekeeper inside and had to keep yourself from gasping at the beauty of Pemberley’s interior.

After your presence was announced to Mr. Darcy, you were allowed to enter the room and gave a quick curtsey to get the formalities over with.

“Mr. Darcy, it’s nice to finally meet you in person,”

The man nodded, but offered no response.

“I am assuming you have gone over the subjects I would like Georgiana to go over?”

“Yes sir,” you nodded and bit the inside of your cheek. It was your job, why wouldn’t you have done that?

“Very well, then that will be the extent of our dealings today. Someone will take your to Georgiana so you can meet her and being your studies,”

“Thank you, sir,”

Hamish was right, Mr. Darcy was not as warm as you were used to.

The lady who had shown you to Mr. Darcy beckoned you to follow her again and took you down the long halls and up the grand staircase which took you to the young Miss Darcy.

When you saw her she was hunched over what looked like a piece of sheet music, making various annotations and comments in the margins. You remembered a younger version of yourself doing something similar to remind yourself of where there needed to be extra emphasis on things.

Georgiana Darcy had a quiet shyness even just to the way she carried herself, but in that way she reminded you of your younger sister closest to you in age. She was maybe a year or so older than Georgiana and even from having barely known her a few moments you knew if they were ever to meet they would be great friends.

“Ma’am,” Georgiana looked up and noticed you in the room, quickly shuffling away her papers while introductions were made.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you smiled. “I’m close friends with Mr. Morrison, he’s told me a lot about you.”

“You know Mr, Morrison? I was so sad to hear he was moving so far away,” Georgiana sighed. “He was a very engaging tutor,”

“I hope I can live up to his standard,” you chuckled. “Your older brother gave me the impression that you’re prepared to begin your lesson today.”

“I am,” she confirmed. “I was hoping we could start with something a little lighter though, but knowing my brother and his curriculum that might be impossible.”

“He does have very high hopes for you,” you noted. “He mentioned to me in one of his letters he hopes for you to have the tools to be a smart, capable, and independent young lady.”

“As long as being independent doesn’t mean being sad and alone,,” she giggled. “Come, I have a space set up in another room for lessons.”

Georgiana took your hand and dragged you off to her study room, decorated by he you assumed, with flowers, paintings and lots and lots of books. There was even another piano in the corner of the room and she gauged your reaction to the space.

“It’s beautiful,” you grinned. “You did this all yourself?”

“Aside from moving the piano, yes,” she nodded. “But I told them where to put it and my brother helped me pick out the paintings.”

“Well, you both have very good taste,” you praised. “Which might be a rather nice segue into our first lesson,”

“Are we going to paint?” Georgiana asked, she even looked a little excited.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately not. It’s a review of art history, but I promise I’ll try to make it as bearable as possible,”

“I trust you,” Georgiana smiled and sat down at the table. “As long as you can keep up with my endless questions we should be in good shape,”

“I’ll try my best.”

You smiled as you set down your papers and lesson plans. You would have to send a letter to Hamish because this may just turn out to be the best job you’d ever have.

—

It had been a few months of you working at Pemberley and you couldn’t have been happier. Your walk to and from the village everyday was a little long, but it was worth it when you had a student like Georgiana. It really felt like you were spending time with your younger sister and you thought she maybe even came to see you as an older sibling.

You had only really spent a handful of moments with Mr. Darcy and most of the pleasant ones involved his younger sister. You hadn’t much inclination to spend time with him although you didn’t complain when he came to sit in Georgiana’s study room to observe or read quietly while you went through your lessons with her.

There was a quiet handsomeness to him and although he was not outwardly warm and fuzzy at least he was like the works of art you would review with Georgiana when discussing sculpting during the Renaissance.

One afternoon during lunch, you noticed Georgiana was sending her brother some sideways glances, as if she wanted him to say something and when he wasn’t understanding her signals she cleared her throat and turned her attention to you.

“(Y/N)-,”

“Georgiana, we’ve spoken about this,” her brother scolded.

“No, it’s quite alright,” you assured Mr. Darcy. “We’ve made a small agreement to refer to each other by our first names,” you explained.

“I am well aware of the agreement, but that doesn not change the fact that it demeans your position as her tutor when she refers to you so plainly,”

“I didn’t think my name was that plain, sir,” you remarked and ate a bite of your salad while Georgiana chuckled. That seemed to silence him so his sister continued.

“Anyways, I was meaning to ask you about your walk to Pemberley every morning, it must be terrible when the weather is poor.”

“I must admit it worries me to catch a cold when I should be fit enough to work, but I don’t mind the walk too much,”

“I believe what my dear sister is trying to express,” Mr. Darcy jumped in. “Is that we’ve cleared a room for you to stay at Pemberley if you wish to do so.”

“A room here?” you confirmed and Georgiana nodded with a wide smile. “You wouldn’t have to get up so early in the morning anymore and if you’d like to walk you can always do it around the grounds.”

“T-That’s an incredibly kind offer Mr. Darcy,” you looked at him. “Are you sure this is something you would be alright with in the long term?”

“I’ve given it extensive thought and it seems to be the best course for Georgiana’s studies and to ensure your continued good health.”

“Well then, in that case I’d be honoured to accept your offer,” you smiled shyly. “I’ll move my things this weekend.”

“Fitzwilliam and I can come and help you,” Georgiana suggested. “Can’t we?”

Mr. Darcy looked at his little sister and you thought you might have caught a flicker of a smile before he nodded his head.

“We can bring a carriage down and help load it up,”

He very well could have people come and do that for him, but there was something interesting about how he was so casual in accepting the suggestion of his sister.

You would have assumed helping his younger sister’s tutor move into his home to be something quite beneath him.

“Thank you, that’s a very kind offer. I’ll be sure to have tea waiting for when you arrive,”

Georgiana clapped her hands together as if having you move to Pemberley was the best news she’d ever heard. You couldn’t help but wonder if the closed off and distant Mr. Darcy was doing all of this to please his younger sister, but when you took a moment to glance at him you saw how his eyes were already fixed on you and maybe it wasn’t just Georgiana’s doing after all.

—

Something you would never come to understand was how the gardens of Pemberley were so pristine no matter the time of year. The hedges were perfectly trimmed, flowers beautifully in bloom and never wilted.

During the summer months it was warm enough to go outside and sit without a jacket by the lake which you enjoyed doing on the weekends, bringing a good book and soaking up as much of the sunlight as you could get.

You were so engrossed in your novel, oftentimes you wouldn’t notice if someone had come to call on you, or anything around you for that matter.

So it came as a shock when you heard a voice that was in very close proximity to you, making you jump with fright.

You placed a hand on your chest to steady your beating heart as you looked up only to find Mr. Darcy there.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, I don’t think I’ve been scared like that since… well, it’s been a long while,” you tried to catch your breath and steady it.

“I apologize,” he said. “Might I ask what has inclined you to sit out here,”

“Well, the sunlight for one,” you noted. “And a good book which I was reading until I was so frightfully interrupted.”

“Right,” he nodded. “I should take my leave so you can continue-,”

“Mr. Darcy I’m afraid you misunderstand me,” you interrupted him with a small chuckle. You were only teasing him, “If you’d like to join me you're most welcome to. This is, after all, your home.”

Mr. Darcy lifted his coattails and sat himself down on the grassy knoll next to you, looking out towards the lake.

“Is your family all in good health?” he inquired.

“Yes, as of last week they are,” you nodded.

“You have how many siblings?”

You took a moment to count on your fingers, whispering the names of each of your sisters and one brother until you had the final count of six.

“Six, sir. I assume it’s just you and Georgiana?”

“You are correct in your assumption,” he nodded.

There was a moment of awkward silence between you both before you figured you would probably have to be the one to break it.

“I do enjoy myself greatly at Pemberley, I’m very thankful for your hospitality.”

Still silence, but as if he wasn’t sure how to answer.

“Mr. Darcy are you alright?” you asked.

“Quite,” he cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, I’m quite alright,”

His eyes drifted over to your book and noticing its title he pointed to it.

“M-May I?”

“Of course,” you nodded, sliding in your bookmark and handing the novel to him. His fingers brushed over yours and you could feel your breath hitch at his touch.

He examined the binding and structure of the book before its contents, scanning the first few pages, but you were too focused on the burning feeling that he left on your fingertips. You gently massaged it away hoping he wouldn’t notice the way you had reacted to such a simple thing, but desire was nothing to be fooled with.

“H-Has it passed your inspection, Mr. Darcy?” you asked, glancing down at the book, then at him, your hand still folded in your lap.

“I have no objections,” he agreed. “A fine choice.”

“I’ve only just started it,” you told him. “I’m rather anxious to see how it ends,”

He took one last glance at the title as if he wanted to commit it to memory before handing it back to you.

“I shall look forward to hearing your thoughts on it once you finish,”

You smiled when he said that, you knew what Hamish had said when you first came to Pemberley, but now that you had been there the greater part of four months you wished to believe that maybe Mr. Darcy did have a soft side.

“And I shall look forward to conversing with you,”

You noticed the faintest twitch of his lip as if he was fighting away a smile, but he quickly brushed it off and gave you a polite nod before standing up and wishing you a good day.

You opened your book back to where you had left off, but your mind was distracted. It was safe to say you didn’t get much further.

—

“Fitz, you have to help me convince her she’s being very stubborn,” Georgiana eyed you and you tried to focus on eating your dinner.

“I’m sure Miss (L/N) has a very good reason to not be convinced of whatever it is you’re asking of her,” Mr. Darcy came to your defence.

“But-,”

“Georgiana,” her brother warned, but the young lady would not have it.

“Fitzwilliam,” she mimicked him. “She’s planning on staying bolted up in her room during our ball you have to do something,”

Mr. Darcy looked up from his plate to you, his hands holding the utensils relaxing as he eyed your curiously.

“You won’t come to the ball?” he asked.

“No sir, I was not intending to,” you shook your head.

“May inquire as to why?”

“I-I don’t have anything to wear,” you admitted. “And I do not want to make yourselves or myself out of place with the company you shall be hosting,”

“It would be more cumbersome for us if you weren’t there,” Georgiana tried to convince you. “Most of these balls are out of societal obligation and Fitzwilliam and I would be better off with your company, not without it. Lord knows how much he hates small talk,”

“Georgiana, now that’s enough,” Mr. Darcy ended whatever was left of the conversation. “Miss (L/N) is a grown woman and can make the decision herself on whether she will attend the ball or not,”

You thought that would be the end of it and that you would stay in your room with no questions asked, but a few days later when you walked into your room there was an unfamiliar package on the bed.

You picked it up and unwrapped the carefully folded paper packaging to reveal a beautiful dress, one of the latest fashions from London. Something you could never imagine being able to afford.

Attached to the package was a note, you quickly unfolded it and read what was written.

I hope you understand that I only wished to remove any barriers preventing you from joining us next week. The decision is still yours, but I hoped this might help.

Darcy

You looked down and examined the dress again. It was in a colour you remembered having mentioned — perhaps it was to Georgiana — you liked and the detailing was something like you’d never seen.

You closed the door to your room and slipped off the dress you were wearing, replacing it with the one from the package instead.

When you saw your reflection in the mirror you knew then and there you could not let this dress sit away in a closet to be eaten by moths. This dress deserved to be worn. And even though the very thought of it made you sick with nervousness, it deserved to be worn at a ball.

—

“I cannot tell you how happy I am that you’ve decided to come,” Georgiana linked your arm with hers once you entered Pemberley’s ballroom.

“It would have been foolish of me to stay in my room with a dress like this,” you looked down at yourself, still unable to believe you were wearing it.

One of the maids had helped you with your hair, it was in a different style than what you normally wore day to day, but she had done such an amazing job with it you figured it would be hard for people to figure out you didn’t really belong.

Georgiana was your saving grace for a while, helping you start conversations with others and introducing you to their guests, but eventually — just like all good things coming to an end — she was pulled away by one of her friends and you were on your own.

You poured yourself a glass of punch and stood off in a corner, observing everything that was appening in front of you.

Georgiana was now dancing with the others and you realized that the whole night you hadn’t caught a glimpse of Mr. Darcy. Your eyes scanned the room for him, but there were so many new faces it was almost becoming dizzying looking through them all.

“I see you’ve taken my approach to the ball,”

You jumped at the sound of his voice so near making you spill your punch and staining your new dress.

“Mr. Darcy,” you gasped. “I hope after this encounter you come to realize how easily I am frightened,”

“Again, I apologize. It wasn’t my intention to scare you,” he was sincere, but there was a hint of a chuckle in his voice.

“I’m sure it wasn’t,” you took a deep breath and set down your drink, wiping your hands on a napkin and turning to give him your full attention. “I must say I’m surprised to see you on the sidelines.”

“I believe Georgiana was ever so kind in mentioning that I detest small talk,” he reminded you.

“And dancing?”

“It depends,” he looked straight ahead, his eyes finding Georgiana’s in the crowd.

“On?” you urged him to continue.

“Who I’m dancing with.”

You looked at him thoughtfully before remembering the stain on your dress and you knew there would be no way you could remove it with a little scrub of water alone.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me, Mr. Darcy,” you sighed. “It is unfortunately not acceptable to dance in a punch stained dress.”

“Of course,” he nodded. “Although, Miss (L/N),”

You turned your head back and looked up at him.

“Yes?”

“I would be very grateful if you would allow me to accompany you.”

“Accompany me?” you confirmed. “To remove the stain from my dress?”

“Yes… or to perhaps mysteriously disappear from my own ball and not return,” he offered and you quickly lifted a hand to cover your mouth and stifle a laugh which finally revealed to you Mr. Darcy’s smile and what a beautiful sight it was.

“I would be happy for you to accompany me Mr. Darcy,” you nodded and waited a moment for him to catch up the few extra steps to be at the same pace as you while you walked out of the ballroom and towards the bedrooms.

You could still hear the music faintly in the halls and you admired the peacefulness of it all.

“Does it ever feel too big?” you asked.

“Pardon?”

“Pemberley. Does it ever feel like it’s too big?” you asked him.

He took a quiet moment of reflection and you patiently awaited his answer.

“It’s all I’ve ever known,” he admitted. “I’m not sure what smaller would look like.”

“It’s more about what it feels like,” you expressed. “Including my mother and father there were nine of us at home while I was growing up,” you began to explain. “Our home was not as small compared to a lot of the others around us, but in contrast to Pemberley it seems miniscule. When I wanted to get away from everyone I would have to leave the house, go take a walk in the field. Here I can just go to my room and I’ll be left alone,”

“Do you miss your home?” Mr. Darcy asked. “Surely you wouldn’t stay there forever.”

You looked at him curiously and he clarified,

“What I mean is a woman such as yourself will eventually get married, perhaps move away.”

“I do miss home sometimes, but it’s mostly my family. There is something about the quiet here, it’s so serene.” you clasped your hands together to stop them from swinging at your side.

There was another spell of comfortable silence before it was broken again by Mr. Darcy.

“Miss (L/N), if we stopped by my office I may have something that can help remove the stain from your dress,”

“You do?”

“When I was younger I had an awful habit of spilling tea on my white shirts so the maids started to give me something so I could get them cleaned faster,” he explained. “I-I’m not sure if it will work, but it might prove to be useful.”

“Perhaps you should go grab it while I change out of this dress and into another?” you suggested. “You can meet me at my room.”

Mr. Darcy nodded and quickly took the turn to his office while you hurried your pace to the end of the hall where your bedroom was.

As quickly as you could, without damaging the dress, you removed it and laid it on your bed before picking out the nicest clothes you had out of your own belongings, but it came nowhere near even the simplest dress at the ball.

A couple moments after you had gotten dressed there was a knock on your door and you grabbed the dress and opened it.

“We may need an area with better light,” you looked at your dark room only lit by a small candle.

“Bring the candle, if we take it to one of the balconies it should give us enough to work with.”

You nodded and did what he suggested before following him to one of the balconies in question.

Mr. Darcy held out his hand for your dress and you gave it to him seeing the jar he held in his opposite hand.

He hung the dress along the balcony’s ledge and opened the jar, pouring some of its contents on the stain.

“Vinegar?” you asked.

“And lemon juice,” he nodded after placing the jar down on the ground and scrubbing the affected spot.

“Mr. Darcy, if you’d like I can take care of it,” you reached out and offered to take the dress off his hands.

“I-,” he stopped himself as if he was unsure how to word what he wanted to say. “It would mean a great deal if you allowed me to do this for you, Miss (L/N),”

You nodded your head and retracted your hands, holding them against your stomach, watching as he took extra care until, by the warm light of the candle, the stain was almost completely removed.

“Thank you,” you said while taking the dress carefully back in your own hands, folding it and placing it on a table inside before coming back out.

You could hear the music clearly coming from the ballroom, you suspected the windows were open and the sound was travelling. You thought it was a shame you didn’t get to dance, but that was partially your own fault, if you weren’t hidden off in the corner perhaps someone would have asked you.

“Miss (L/N), I know it is just the two of us, but if I noticed correctly you did not dance tonight,”

“I was just thinking about that myself,” you nodded.

“If you would do me the honour of sharing a dance I’m sure we can change that,” he offered his hand. The music was slower, not something one would typically dance to, but maybe Mr. Darcy knew a different style of dance than that which you were familiar with.

You cautiously took his hand and he brought you close to himself. You placed your other hand on his shoulder while he placed his just above your waist.

“Have you ever waltzed before?” he asked.

“Not that I can remember,” your voice was a whisper unable to comprehend how close you were.

“It’s very simple,” he explained softly, “It’s three steps and you just follow my lead-yes like that,”

You kept watch on your feet until you got a hang of the movements, allowing yourself to look up and see Mr. Darcy staring right back at you.

You felt like you couldn’t blink, that if you did the whole moment would vanish.

“I-I’m sorry I ruined the dress you bought me,” you apologized and looked down again at your feet, any excuse to tear away from his burning eyes that you sensed were reading your very soul.

“No, I should be the one to apologize for frightening you,” he said. “With or without the dress you could fit in here, Miss (L/N),”

You could feel your cheeks grow warm and you thanked him quietly for his words.

The music came to a slow close and your movements stopped with it. You stood a moment, in that same waltzing position like you were waiting for another song to start so you could continue, but it didn’t. At least not one you could waltz to.

You let go of Mr. Darcy’s hand and you were about to let your hand drop from his shoulder when you noticed a stray curl had fallen on his forehead, and out of instinct — perhaps from years of caring for your younger sisters or maybe even once or twice with Georgiana — you moved it out of the way, only realizing what you had done when it was too late.

“Oh my-I-I don’t know what came over me,” you quickly stepped away. “I’m so so sorry Mr. Darcy. I should-I think I should take my leave,”

Your movements were almost frantic as you quickly brushed past him and stepped back into Pemberley, grabbing the dress on the table and rushing to your room, overwrought with embarrassment.

As if dancing with him so closely wasn’t enough, you scolded yourself behind closed doors, angrily lighting a spare candle and sitting down on the chair in front of the vanity.

You looked out on yourself, a simple woman, from humble beginnings, desperately wanting something that could never be yours.

—

“(Y/N), I am absolutely utterly restless, must we continue this lesson immediately?” Georgiana asked you as she looked down in dismay at her French grammar assignment.

“I suppose not,” you hummed. “Would you like to go for a short walk perhaps? We can both get some fresh air and come back with a clear mind able to conjugate verbs,”

“That would be amazing,” Georgiana shot up, out of her chair and was already halfway out of the room as you grabbed your things.

You linked arms with her and she eagerly led the way out of Pemberley and towards the lake.

You saw a figure walking from there in your direction and you squinted trying to figure out who it was, but soon became distracted by some of Georgiana’s questions.

She asked about the small town you came from, what it was like there, if you missed your family (the answer to that was yes, but the letter you had recently received from your father helped a little with the homesickness).

You smiled at her curiosity, but your smile disappeared when you looked up and were face to face with a very indecent Mr. Darcy.

Your eyes grew wide as you saw him in nothing but a soaking white undershirt and pants while Georgiana tried to hide a laugh.

“Georgiana, Miss (L/N).” he addressed you both.

You hadn’t spoken to Mr. Darcy — aside from light chatter at the table while you ate your meals — since the ball. You were far too embarrassed to try and converse with him after what you had done, but now here he was in front of you, hardly dressed and making your stomach flutter.

“Mr. Darcy,” you nodded.

“Shouldn’t you be doing a French lesson Georgiana?” he asked his young sister.

“We decided to take a break,” she explained. “We’ll get back to it soon,”

“A-Are you enjoying your walk?” he asked, but his eyes were locked with yours.

“Yes sir,” you nodded.

“And your family is in good health? They are all well? Y-Your mother, father and siblings?”

“Yes, from what I have last heard.” you confirmed.

You stood there the three of you, staring at each other for a moment before Mr. Darcy finally excused himself to go dress more appropriately.

After he was out of earshot Georgiana turned to you and with a quiet chuckle noted that her brother enjoyed swimming in the small lake on the property occasionally in the summer to cool off.

“I don’t think I've seen him quite so flustered before,” she said. “He’s often so composed but I haven’t seen him stutter and stumble like that.”

“I’m sure he was just cold,” you lied, hoping more than anything you could quickly go back inside and forget about the incident all together.

—

Mr. Darcy walked down the halls of Pemberley a couple weeks after the lake incident, simply trying to go to his office, but when he heard a loud shriek come from your room his adrenaline raced and he ran there as quickly as possible, knocking on the door to see what was the matter.

“Miss (L/N)?” he called. “Miss (L/N), are you alright?”

There was no answer so he announced that he was entering the room, worried for your safety, only to see a letter dropped at your feet while you clutched your heart.

“Good God,” he ran up to you, almost offering you the solace and comfort of his arms before remembering that it wouldn’t be appropriate. “What happened?”

“I-I-,” you gagged and covered your mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick!”

Tears were streaming down your face and your heart was racing far faster than it should have been, you wanted to tell Mr. Darcy the terrible news you had received. What made you cry in horror, and withered your very soul, but you felt dizzy, your dress far too constricting and making it harder for you to breathe.

“(Y/N), you must let me call someone, a doctor, you are unwell,”

You shook your head, but not as a sign of refusal, you weren’t even aware of what was happening anymore, everything was becoming fuzzy before your knees buckled and it went black.

You were lucky Mr. Darcy was right next to you as he caught you before you fell and quickly carried you to your bed, laying you down before rushing to the hallway and calling for help.

Georgiana was closest and she came running down the halls wondering what her brother needed.

“Georgiana, I need you to get Evangeline to call a doctor immediately and bring me a towel soaked in cold water and the smelling salts.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “She read something and became distraught by it. She wasn’t well enough to tell me before she fainted.”

“I’ll be quick,” Georgiana nodded and ran back down the hall to do the tasks her brother had requested of her.

Mr. Darcy headed back into the room and kneeled down next to your bed. He couldn’t help but reach out to hold your hand and give it a squeeze, the worry shimmering in his eyes. He could care less about propriety at that moment.

He needed you to be alright, desperately, whatever the news was, when he found out he would do everything in his power to assure your comfort.

Georgiana came back quickly with the requested items and Mr. Darcy sat himself next to you on the bed. gently dabbing the cool towel on your forehead.

Georgiana placed the smelling salts under your nose only getting a slight twitch from you before Mr. Darcy told his younger sister to leave it for a moment before continuing.

“Georgiana perhaps you should be at the door when the doctor arrives,” Mr. Darcy said quietly, his eyes never leaving your still frame.

“Of course, please do call someone if you need anything though,”

“I will,” he nodded and she slipped out of the room leaving only you and Mr. Darcy.

He placed the cold towel on your forehead and gave it a moment before he tried the smelling salts again, this time with more luck seeing you begin to stir and wake, realizing all over again what had happened.

You barely even had a chance to sit up when your body erupted with sobs, your chest heaving and shoulders shaking. Mr. Darcy, again, desperately wanted to offer you comfort in an embrace but giving you any sort of added shock dissuaded him from doing so.

Georgiana, presumably having heard the sound, ran back into the room and fell at your feet her hand tightly grasping yours.

“(Y/N), what happened?” her voice was gentle but carried the pain she knew you were feeling.

“I-It’s my father,” you pressed your lips together and shook your head. You couldn’t bring yourself to say it, covering your mouth with your free hand.

Mr. Darcy grabbed the letter that was on the ground and with your permission skimmed its contents before passing it on to Georgiana.

“Miss (L/N), given the circumstances I believe I should escort you to your family home,” Mr. Darcy shared. “After the doctor has come and checked on you. I’d like to make sure you’re in good health before I return you to them. They need you in one piece.”

You nodded your head and sniffed, wiping away your tears with the sleeve of your dress.

“A-And Georgiana, what about h-her? Her st-studies?”

“Never mind me,” Georgiana shook her head and looked at you like you were being silly. She sat next to you on the bed and wrapped you in a tight hug. “I’ll manage for a while. Go be with your family, they need you and you need them.”

“I can’t thank you both enough for your continued kindness,” you whispered. “Especially at a time like this.”

“Of course,” Mr. Darcy nodded.

Georgiana offered to help you pack a bag and you accepted it graciously while Mr. Darcy insisted you stay seated until the doctor came around, not wanting to deal with another fainting spell. It was frightening enough the first time.

The doctor arrived around five minutes later and assured Mr. Darcy you were alright, just greatly overwhelmed. He recommended for you to take time to rest and relax, but both you and the Darcys knew that would only come when you were back home with your family.

So with your bag in Mr. Darcy’s hand, you walked up to the prepared carriage. Mr. Darcy helped you inside and he followed shortly after securing your bag, taking the seat next to you, but leaving a decent amount of space between you.

As the carriage began to make its way off the property you stayed quiet. Watching outside of its window at the gardens passing by, thinking about how long it had been since you’d seen your father and how you wished you could have been at his side when he left this world.

Your eyes flicked to the empty spot next to you, noticing the way Mr. Darcy’s hand was resting next to his side. You carefully inched yours closer to his, wanting to ask for comfort, but not knowing what reaction it would bring. He was — after all — a very proper gentleman.

You turned your head again and watched the scenery outside when you felt the faintest brush against your hand, to be sure you looked once more and saw how Mr. Darcy’s hand was now even closer to yours, as if he was making sure it was alright.

You slowly stretched your fingers out slightly to him as he made the last move, placing his hand over your own and giving it a gentle squeeze as you both continued to look out of your respective windows. You didn’t dare turn to look at each other.

When the carriage stopped in front of your home, Mr. Darcy was the one to let go of your hand, but only for a moment until he helped you out of the carriage. He told the driver he would handle your bag and after he handed it to you, you thanked him once more for his kindness.

“And not just this, Mr. Darcy,” you sniffed and wiped away a few remaining tears. “It’s not lost on me what you have done for me in the time I’ve stayed with you at Pemberley. My room, the dress, the small parcels of books you’d leave on my desk every month,” the thought of his generosity was enough to bring a small soft smile to your face.

And if he had the chance to do it again, Mr. Darcy knew he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Thank you for bringing a light back into Pemberley that I haven’t seen in many years. You’ve done me a service just as much as you have claimed I have for you.”

You gave him one last fleeting smile as a goodbye before you knocked at the door of your home, waiting for one of your siblings to let you inside.

—

It had been three weeks since you had left Pemberley and as much as you wanted it to be, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling to return, knowing what was in store.

Once you were let in, you headed straight for Mr. Darcy’s office where Evangeline said he would be. You knocked on the door and as soon as you heard permission to come inside you entered.

“Mr. Darcy, I need to speak with you urgently.”

“Miss (L/N), I-we weren’t expecting your return today. I’ll send someone immediately to prepare your room.”

“There’s no need, sir,” you bit the inside of your cheek. “I’ve come here to hand in my registration.”

“Resignation?” Mr. Darcy was not expecting that. “I-Is this because of the passing of your father?”

“In part,” you nodded. “I’ve been given time to reflect on the matter and I have now realized that during my time here there have been many boundaries of which I have crossed,” you continued to explain. “This has nothing to do with either your or Georgiana, this is completely my own mistake and I wish to own up to it.”

Mr. Darcy was speechless, he wanted to argue with you, tell you how foolish you were being and that nothing of the sort had happened, but he could see your mind was set and if this was something that would make you happy, he didn’t want to be the person who got in the way.

“I understand your decision, and although I do not necessarily agree with it, I will not stop you,” he said quietly.

You pressed your lips together and nodded, “I’ll go pack my things and give the news to Georgiana.”

You left his office without another word and headed to your room to begin packing.

After everything was complete and your belongings were in the carriage you looked around for Georgiana, finding her by the piano playing a quiet melody.

Her playing stopped abruptly when she noticed you were there and she ran over to give you a hug.

“You’re leaving aren’t you,” she mumbled quietly into your shoulder and you nodded as the young girl squeezed you tightly.

“I’m so sorry Georgiana,” you apologized. “Please know that I have loved every moment I have spent with you. And I love you very dearly, as if you were one of my sisters.”

“I love you too,” she cried softly and you held her close, clutching a letter you had written for her in your hand.

You gently pulled away from her, only to be able to wipe her tears and place a soft kiss to her forehead.

“You can come visit me anytime you’d like,” you assured her.

“I will. As much as I can.”

You handed her the letter and she held it close to her heart.

“I’ll see you again, I promise,” you tucked a small strand of her blond hair behind her ear and pulled her in for one last hug goodbye before leaving Pemberley and your heart behind you.

—

Two months later…

“Fitz,”

“Hello, Fitz?”

“Fitzwilliam Darcy,” Georgiana snapped her fingers in front of her brother’s face and he finally blinked out of his trance.

“What is it Georgiana?” his voice almost sounded like a sigh, the past two months at Pemberley had been gloomy to say the very least.

“You’re unhappy, Fitzwilliam,” she stated. “Melancholic, miserable, despondent, however you put it, it doesn’t matter.”

“Why do you think that is,” he sat back in his seat, listening to his sister.

“Because you miss her,”

“Her? Who is her?”

“(Y/N), you miss (Y/N),” she said. “And do not try to deny it. You’ve been grumpy since she’s left and all you’ve done is mope about. You love her, Fitz. Which is why you should go after her because I think she loves you too,”

Mr. Darcy only shook his head at his little sister, but it was more to save his own image than to disregard what she was saying, because he knew it to be the truth. At least for him it was, why would you have left if you loved him.

After lunch he sat in his office and attempted to get some work done and unfortunately his productivity was not particularly fruitful. Evangeline came in later to bring him a cup of tea and he thanked her, hoping maybe a warm drink could get him back on track. Instead, he knocked over the cup and spilled its contents on his white shirt as he cursed himself for his clumsiness.

He grabbed a spare shirt from his room close by and went to try and remove the stain from the dirtied one. As he pulled out his mixture of vinegar and lemon from one of his desk drawers he paused, his mind drifting back to the night of the ball.

He remembered holding your dress in his hands, insisting that he be the one to help remove the stain, it was so simple yet to him it felt incredibly personal, he hoped it showed that he cared. The way you danced together, slowly, close to one another, scandalous by all definitions, but how you had both become lost in each other's eyes and how you hadn’t missed a beat in fixing an unruly curl that had fallen onto his forehead.

Upon a moment of reflection, he realized that perhaps his reading of your behaviour had been wrong, that maybe everything you had done, even leaving, you’d done because of him.

He didn’t want to inflate his own ego, but there was only one way he would be able to get it out of his mind and that was to ask. The worst that could come of it is things would stay the same. Mr. Darcy would be alone while the woman he loved moved on with her life. But if there was even an inkling of a possibility, he wanted to take a chance.

He left his office in haste and asked the driver to prepare the carriage for him. He informed Georgiana that he was going out and that hopefully he would return by nightfall.

The carriage ride seemed to take forever and Mr. Darcy waited impatiently for them to arrive at your home. He knew this was an unannounced visit and it was as rude as one could be, but he had to know, he could not wait even another second.

After he knocked on your door, he had half a mind to leave, to abandon this foolish pursuit completely, but before he could give it another moment’s through the door swung open.

You had to blink a couple times to make sure you were seeing things right. You carried your little brother on your waist and he had his head tucked into your neck, not wanting to expose himself to the stranger in front of him.

To Mr. Darcy you had never looked more beautiful.

“I-I do apologize, I realize how rude it is of me to come unannounced.”

“Yes, quite so,” you nodded, still shocked by his presence.

“(N/N) who is it?” one of your younger sisters ran to the door to come get a look at their visitor.

“Iris,” you hissed quietly. “Go back inside.”

“(Y/N), be nice to your sister,” your mother came to join the three of you by the door all staring at Mr. Darcy. “Sir, you must accept my apology for my daughter’s apparent lack of manners. May I ask who you are?”

“This is Mr. Darcy, mother, my former employer,” you introduced.

“Then what is he doing standing outside, please come in.”

Your mother took no hesitation in pushing you out of the way so that he could enter and by that point, the rest of your sister had gathered around to see what was happening.

Mr. Darcy stepped into your home and he was able to adequately see what you were describing the night of the ball. Your home was obviously much smaller than Pemberley, but comfortable enough to house you, your mother and your six siblings. He could understand how it might easily get loud and boisterous, but it gave him just that much more insight into you.

“Might we offer you some tea Mr. Darcy?” your mother asked and Mr. Darcy shook his head.

“No thank you, but may I ask for a moment of Miss (L/N)’s time? There’s something I wish to discuss with her in private.”

Before you even had an inch of room to answer, Julia, the sister closest in age to you, swooped in to take Peter out of your arms and pushed you in the direction of Mr. Darcy.

“Of course, you both can use the sitting room,” she smiled and motioned for the rest of her sisters to follow her upstairs.

Finding no other option, you led Mr. Darcy into the sitting room. He walked to the opposite side and when you closed the door you crossed your arms over your chest, waiting to hear what he had come all the way from Pemberley to say.

He stayed silent, unsure of how to string the words together and so you tried to prompt him with a question.

“How is Georgiana?”

“She’s well, in good health,” he nodded.

“And Pemberley?”

He opened his mouth to say something then paused.

“It’s not the same.”

“Why not?” you frowned.

“It’s not the same without you,” he finally admitted. “The estate is always quiet, Georgiana isn’t engaged in her studies, she misses you, I… I miss you,”

“Mr. Darcy-,”

“Please, allow me at least to finish and then if you wish me to leave and never come again I will respect that.”

You nodded your head, signalling that you were listening and ready to hear what he had to say.

“When you left you said that it was because you had crossed boundaries and you wanted to own up to your mistakes. I didn’t agree to that from that start, but if that is how you see it then I am just as complicit in crossing those boundaries. I will admit to that, but I crossed those lines because…because…”

“Why Mr. Darcy?” you stepped closer to him, just a few inches, but it was enough to see the hurt glimmering in his eyes.

“Because I had fallen in love with you. I still am in love with you. I wish for nothing more than to have you be the first face I see each morning and the last face I see each night. My heart is in agony, ever since you left us, I only wish for that pain to be soothed.”

Now it was your turn to remain silent. You could feel the tears welling up in your eyes, in all your time spent with Mr. Darcy you could have never imagined that something like this could occur. He was a gentleman of high status and you were just a girl from the country.

“I know it’s selfish of me to ask of you to come back for this reason, but I would be beside myself if I didn’t ask if you would even consider doing me the honour of becoming my wife.”

“I-” your voice was caught in your throat as a couple tears escaped from your eyes. “I would gladly take that honour,” you nodded with a sniff, wiping away a few tears and walking up to him and taking his hand in yours. “And I will carry that honour with me as gratitude for allowing me the opportunity to marry the man I love.”

Mr. Darcy gently lifted his hand to hold your face tilted towards him as you leaned forward to rest your foreheads against each other. His thumb wiped away a few more stray tears before you moved his hand to your lips, pressing a gentle kiss on his fingers.

“Is there any chance I may convince you to kiss me?” you asked. “If our relationship consists of boundaries crossed we may as well continue to be consistent.”

Mr. Darcy chuckled and tucked a finger under your chin, allowing his lips to meet your own in a soft kiss filled with love and admiration for one another.

When you pulled apart, Mr. Darcy couldn’t help but hold your face in his hands, with a twinge of a smile on his lips.

“My dear, I know it is customary for one to ask for the blessing of the father when getting engaged, but given the circumstances, I would like to ask your family. Would you be alright with that?”

You nodded your head, and held one of his hands that was pressed against your cheek as you turned to kiss it.

“I’ll go get them and make some tea while you talk,” you said.

You didn’t want to let each other go, but you knew for the time being it would be necessary. When you stepped out of the room, as you had predicted your family was gathered around the door, waiting for some sort of news.

“Mr. Darcy would like to speak to you all,” you said. “I’m going to go make some tea.”

“(N/N) what did he say?” Julia asked.

“I’m sure that will come to light soon enough,” you nodded. “Go on.”

You shooed your siblings off into the room and your mother followed closely behind with a slightly skeptical look on her face.

You sat and waited patiently in the kitchen with a cup of tea in your hands until when you looked up at the door you saw Mr. Darcy standing at the entrance.

“Well?” you asked.

He simply nodded his head and you couldn’t help the grin that had become plastered on your face.

You had to contain your excitement and simply stood up to meet him and extend your hand for him to take.

With one look to each other and a simple nod, you were both ready for whatever would come next.

—

The sun peeked through the curtains on a clear Thursday morning, you yawned and stretched, reaching over to your side only to be met with empty covers. As soon as there was a frown on your face you saw your husband emerge from the adjoining room with two glasses of water in his hands and your expression relaxed.

“Good morning, Mrs. Darcy,” he said softly, placing the glasses on the table next to the bed and taking a seat next to you.

“Good morning, Mr. Darcy,” you yawned with a chuckle. “Have you been up long?”

He shook his head, “Just a few minutes.”

“Could you stay?” you asked while fixing a few of his tousled curls.

“Of course,” he nodded and leaned forward to press a kiss to your lips only to be interrupted by the sound of a soft cry coming from the room next door.

You were in the middle of pushing yourself up to attend to it, but a careful hand was placed on your shoulder and encouraged you to stay down.

“I’ll get him don’t worry,” he assured you and not even a minute later, Mr. Darcy walked back into the room with your son cradled in his arms. “I think he wants his mother,” he said while watching the little boy squirm.

“Oh he’s just hungry,” you pushed yourself into a seated position and held your arms out to take the baby while Mr. Darcy came and sat next to you on the other side of the bed.

Just as you had predicted, the squirming immediately ceased while he was being fed and it made you chuckle.

“What is it?” Mr. Darcy asked.

“Nothing, it’s just you get cranky too when you’re hungry,” you let a laugh escape while your husband shook his head with a smile.

“My darling, you wound me,” he teased and you simply smiled back up at him.

“I’m sorry Fitz, what can I say? Like father like son,” you replied as he wrapped an arm around you and he used his free hand to gently stroke his son’s head, suddenly overcome with overwhelming gratitude that he took a chance to be happy.

#mr darcy #mr darcy x reader #fitzwilliam darcy #fitzwilliam darcy x reader #pride and prejudice #p&p 1995 #bbc pride and prejudice #pride and prejudice fanfiction #mr darcy fanfiction

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fussystreetlight · 9 days ago

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Imo, I think part of the problem with antis is that, since most of them are young, they haven't experienced a lot of things so they have a limited pool to draw comparisons from.

We like comparing what we're currently experiencing or about to experience to past experiences.

Is this game similar to other games we enjoyed? Does this show have the same tropes as a show we disliked? Does this moment in this book remind us of something that happened to us?

We like comparisons. They help us quickly find things we like or help us not waste our time by trying things we're probably not going to like or they help us get more invested into a show.

But antis, because they haven't been alive long, haven't seen many shows so they're very limited in their comparisons.

For example, someone I know irl who sadly leans anti-ish plays a certain new and popular farming sim. Farming sims don't have specific "ages" for their characters, but when they have romance systems, all the potential marriage partners are adults, that's a implicit given that really shouldn't need to be said. But when she saw one of the characters she told me that she wasn't going to go for him because he reminded her of a teenager and she didn't want that teenage drama. Because he reminded her of a Fruits Basket character. I haven't played this game yet, but when I looked at his profile, I couldn't see what she saw. I haven't seen FB but I have played and read a lot of farming sims and romances, including some set in high school. This character is just the typical grumpy blacksmith(/animal rancher) that's common in these types of games. Being grumpy isn't inherently a "teen" thing. And he's competitive, but that's typical in a lot romantic comedies where the two leads work at opposing companies or the, usually male lead, is in a high position at the company the female just got a job at, or when the two leads are exes. He's also apparently bad with his feelings. But that's any brooding male lead or male leads in general in older romance novels, like Mr. Darcy. None of his traits scream teenager to me. But that's where her mind went to because she needed to compare him to another character but she doesn't have that many to choose from. And a "teen" character was the closest fit she could get.

Another similar game has a character that antis love to scream is a child. She had a debilitating illness for most of her life until the player character cures her. As a result of not being able to go outside much, she's a little naive (though I hate how anties think naivety is a trait only kids can have) and still gets tutored by another character even after she's cured. She's also the only child of wealthy parents, so you could see how she could be a little sheltered. None of this makes her not an adult. Even in the official artwork she looks like a young adult, a college student, at the youngest. She looks older than the actual "kids" in the game, and is definitely more emotionally mature than them. She just hasn't been able to experience much because of her chronic illness. But just because she's not a super mature business woman who knows everything there is and because she doesn't act the same as this other character her "age" (he's an older brother who works on a farm and has to do a lot of the work himself because his father has a disability, his sister is too young to be able to help much, and his mother has to attend to a shop. People who've had different lives have different personalities also shouldn't be surprising) she's a child to antis. If anything, she reminds me of the female love interest in those old adventure novels for men. The young and "pure" women who have been "trapped" in their stuffy homes who need the manly men protagonists to "free" them and show them the world you know?

Again, we all like making comparisons. It's just that, for antis, they don't have many things to compare to. They haven't had the time or opportunity to do much so their world view is kinda limited. So when they see these characters, they compare them to real people instead of understanding that they're an amalgamation of tropes and character archetypes that have been done again and again no matter how realistic they might look.

I just feel like it's beneficial for people to try a variety of genres. Not that you can't have a preference that you stick with, but just occasionally find something outside of your circle you think looks interesting. Even if you don't like it at least you'll learn what doesn't work for you. And when you encounter something new you'll have a bigger variety to compare it to and won't need to go for the thought that makes other people look like terrible people. Cause speaking from personal experience, that gets draining after a while, and has led to a few health problems. Honestly imo being an anti sounds so unhealthy for your mental and physical health.

#vent post #long vent #proshipper #proshipper safe #proshippers are welcome #proshipping #proship #although I don't know why they always need to assume the worst about others #or why they absolutely need to go for the option that puts what they view as a real kid in danger #even going through a lot of hoops to do so #it's not normal or healthy to always go for the worst option #or to always have the fear that you'll run into a criminal at the front of your mind #or to always think criminal activity is going on with little to no evidence #making this character romanceable does not mean the developers are criminals #she's not even a kid #why are antis so eager to make everything about molestors and turn everyone but themselves into one?#antis you're not going to catch one and be a hero that goes down in history for it #antis are weird #in the bad way #the majority of characters are not based on real people #trying new things is fun #even if you don't like them they're still a valuable experience #but antis don't seem able or willing to that #a lot of the things I read as a kid would make antis clutch their pearls #I don't think they realize how much stuff is actually “proship content”#and how it's always been around long before even their grandparents were born #acting like proshippers are a new plague when in my experience it's the default and how the world's always worked since a long long time ago

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soothinglee · 1 year ago

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intoxicated romance in paris

summary: after taras party, everyone left leaving you drunk and very sleepy, luckily someone came in to check on you on a beautiful night in paris.

warnings: mentions of being sick, drunk-heavy-ish fic.

authors note: sorry i've been gone for a little bit, school started and ive been busy- plus i've had little motivation. but i am back! i have another tao request coming up so hopefully i'll have that done by the weekend. requests are open!ಇ

inspiration: impossible - wasia project | time machine - willow

pairing: tao xu x reader (no pronouns specified. though reader is mentioned to go to higgs.)

masterlist | request

you could honestly kill darcy right now. it’s not like she did anything intentionally illegal but stealing a bottle of vodka and pouring it down each party goers throat; it catered to the massive headache stirring in your head.

everyone had departed to mr. ajays room to take care of her after she felt sick. you lay limp and alone in the hotel room. party streamers and confetti lie around your body like an outline, balloon slowly fall to the ground after hours of stillness and lack of oxygen. there was a soft purple glow of the beautiful paris street lights from below, and you can faintly hear the honking of cars on the road- all going to unique locations.

as much as you tried to roll over to check the time on your phone you find yourself still. fatigue from exhaustion creek in your bones, making the nauseous feeling creeping up push forward. at the sudden sickness you throw yourself forward and try to stabilize yourself on the knitted sheets.

behind the thoughts of trying to keep the sick in you didn't even realize that someone had knocked on the door until that person had turned the handle with a click, the noise echoing throughout the empty room.

"hello hello?" the voice called out, growing nearer. when there was no response they speak again, "hello?"

the only response you could give back was a disgruntled grunt.

"[y/n]?" the boys voice questions, rounding the corner of the entrance way to see you hunched over ontop of the bed. you hadn't known but your hair was sticking up in several places and the crocheted sweater that you wore was hanging off your shoulder on one side. he huffs out a laugh and nears you. "you alright?"

again a grunt.

he lays his phone on the nightstand next to the bed and kneels down next to you, "you look sick, did you drink too much?"

"i'm going to hurt darcy, respectfully." the words come out in broken pieces, but behind the words was a little lighthearted humor. deep down you knew she meant well but oh my god this feeling is gross.

"well don't hurt her too much, she already got sick in mr. farouks' bed. the look on his face could've killed her alone." tao shakes his head at the thought and reaches up to smooth down the back of your head. the feeling of his hand on your hair ignited something warm in you.

you decided it was just because you were drunk.

"did she actually?"

"oh yeah," he laughs lightly and goes to fix your clothes, "she looked like she was going to pee herself, he kicked all of them out."

confusion passes over you, "then where are they?" you were still in their rooms and it's been a good 30 minutes since they last were here.

tao hums and picks at his nails, "they decided to have a sleep over in imogens room, she's only with one other person but her roommate wanted to hangout in her friends room for the night."

you nod and look off but then direct your attention back to him, "wait," you watch as he glances at you then diverts his attention back to his hands, "then why are you here?"

as a reminder, tao jerks up and starts throwing around blankets and items on the other nightstand in a haphazard manner, "oh- yeah, well um- tara had asked me to come back and look for her phone because she needed to text her mom goodnight," he then adds a "yeah." at the end as if he's trying to convince himself of his own words.

while you watch him practically destroy the room your face goes blank with realization, "tao." he hums in acknowledgment but his movements don't cease, "taras' phone isn't in here, she took it with her when she left the party with everyone. and even if you called it it would've rang on this bed," you make your point by slamming a finger into the sheets, "because this is where she was sitting all night."

as if being caught red-handed, tao slowly stands up, the pillow falling from his hands slowly, "oh." was the only thing that came out.

pushing past the fatigue you swing your legs over the edge of the bed so your feet was mere inches from his legs, "so tell me the truth," you huffs out a short breath, "why are you really here? was it to check up on me?" you remark sarcastically. you know it's probably not the truth but hope dances on your tongue tastefully.

quite surprisingly, he nods his head. "i knew you were alone so i figured i'd check in, make sure you didn't spit up on yourself or something." in other words, i cared enough to go out of my way away from the others to make sure you weren't dead.

again, another wave of confusion, "but why?"

tao groans playfully and body flops on the bed, his hair splayed out around his head like a halo, "why are you so coherent, you're supposed to be drunk!"

a slurred giggle escapes you, "oh trust me, i feel just as bad as i look. i just didn't have as much as the other." you pause and hiccup, "can i ask another question?"

"[y/n]-? and i mean this lightheartedly, all you do is ask questions." but he makes a gesture with his hands as if to give the go ahead.

you lean in and whisper, "why are you still here?" a playful smile twitches at your lips. he lifts his head up to look at you, his hair falling in his eyes.

tao rolls his eyes and copy's your position, the beds were close to eachother so the two of you were inches from touching knees. he takes a look at you and you cower a little under his gaze, but not too much. tao goes to speak but stops himself, you lightly kick his leg in encouragement, "because i want to be near you."

that nearly winds you- feeling a little appreciation for being intoxicated because without it as a cover the red huge on your cheeks would be a give away.

you look away from him and towards the balcony, the door open to it let a soft breeze float through the room. you suddenly want to be out there. so without a response towards his comment you reach out your arms towards tao and silently point towards the doors.

he seems a little sad at the conversation change but obliges, "what? you want to go outside?"

you nod feeling a little sicker than before, "wanna see the Eiffel Tower." he nods and takes your hands in his, gently hoisting you up into his arms. his warm body heat makes you feel sleepy, and the over whelming feelings all at once doesn't even let you register that you were holding his hands, let alone in his arms.

slowly but surely he turns you around so your back is to his chest and he carries you on his toes to the balcony. it takes a while because every step he takes you loose your balance and have to regain it.

as you take a step outside a wave of fresh dew air hits you and at the feeling you close your eyes and lean back into tao. he chuckles at the action.

being outside at night, being in paris- an unfamiliar but welcoming presence, being with, no, against tao, especially alone for the first time in the 6 years you've been friends, this could be the best night ever.

the feeling is all too sentimental, whether it's the alcohol doing it's damage or being in the city of love you can't help but sigh and look up at tao with big bright eyes. it takes him a moment because like you too, he was watching the city come alive, and as you make eye contact he smiles with hesitancy, "what?"

it had been clear as day for the longest time but for some reason, right here right now, despite what everyone has been telling you, you had liked him too. it just took you now to figure it out. you lean against him once more and let out a deep sigh,

"i like being near you too."

thanks for readingಇ

#x reader #x you #fluff #tao xu x reader #tao xu #heartstopper x reader #heartstopper x you #tao xu x you #heartstopper s2 #venicie #darcy #tara jones #unedited #fanficition #x y/n

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nnnnotebook-and-glasses · 8 months ago

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700 ish words about imagining Elliot from Stardew Valley as Mr. Darcy. Inspired by artwork by @crispyanonart , found here: https://www.tumblr.com/crispyanonart/747778892890243072/elliott-mr-darcy-because-it-fits-so-good?source=share

It's not the exact scene from Pride and Prejudice of course but pretty close. Im also posting on ao3 later :)

And I love, I love, I love you.

You had only just left your farm, deciding to take the normal path into town. Walking through the final stretch of woods that clears up into the bus stop. You were drenched already from the rain, and any normal person would be safe from it inside.

And there you saw him, walking towards you, like he had such an important mission nothing would stand in his way. He always walked with confidence, or maybe it was pride, but the way he was walking now you knew something was different. His eyes locked onto yours and he didn’t look away.

You couldn’t help but blink away some of the rain that made it’s way into your eyes, but his didn’t leave. Almost like he was entranced by you?

You came to a stop, waiting for what he would say, what he would do.

He kept approaching until he was a mere few feet in front of you. There was something about him, something familiar about his expression in a way you couldn’t place. He stared for a moment, and you felt a need to speak first.

“You’re not usually out this early.” You didn’t see him up this early, and you didn’t see him around the bus stop.

“I know, usually I stay in my cabin for a few more hours. But I, I wanted to talk with you.”

You were reminded of the last time you had seen this expression, when he asked you to marry him. Something you had hastily denied, a bit scared and still holding a dislike for him. It was only two seasons ago, and it was fall now. That was when you saw this expression, and you could only assume what he was going to say next.

And as he talked, your entire focus went to him, it had a way of doing that.

“You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with Leah last night and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself to before.” Elliot paused, and a bird in the distance chirped. “If your feelings are still what they were in Spring, tell me so at once.”

“My affections and wishes have not changed. But one word from you will silence me forever.”

Shocked, and nervous you stood there quietly. Wondering to yourself, had they? You knew the answer already.

“If however,” Elliot stepped forward, “your feelings have changed I would have to tell you,”

How had this happened already you wondered, taking in the softness of his voice and they way the rain gently hit the two of you.

“you have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, .. I love you. And wish from this day forth never to be parted from you.”

Elliot looked so good standing in the rain, confessing to you like this. He was a writer through and through, always so good with his words. But there’s a difference in writing something, and meaning something. And the way he spoke, like it was a secret. Like he had to pry it from his own heart just to be able to tell you that he loves you. The way he spoke made you believe him, every single word.

He’s a writer, but he’s also a man. A man in love with you. You. A man confessing to you with so much emotion it makes your heart soar. It makes your soul soar.

You had changed and grown as a person so much these last two seasons, and you knew that in this moment your feelings for him are the strongest they’d ever been.

Slowly you took a step forward, reaching to take one of his hands in yours.

“Well then.” your voice was the softest you had heard it in years. Gently you brought his hands to your lips, softly kissing them.

“Your hands are cold,” and they were. The rain had gotten to him.

Blinking rapidly he gave a small nod, you could see the confusion and hope in his eyes. You leaned towards him again.

Elliot leaned down, his other hand pressingly gently against your warm face. Your foreheads touched each other and the tender moment made you shut your eyes, a bit helplessly. You waited for him, for what he would do. You wanted to know.

And Elliot didn’t disappoint as a few moments went by until he leaned down more and his lips softly met your own.

#stardew valley elliott #stardew valley #sdv elliot as mr. darcy #mr. darcy pride and prejudice #inspired by fanart

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justsomerandomfanfic · 1 year ago

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Chasing Death - Pietro Maximoff X GN Reader

Title: Chasing Death

Pietro Maximoff X GN Reader

Additional Characters: Wanda (Mentioned), Clint (Mentioned), other Avengers (Mentioned), and the Reaper Elders

| Part 1 | You Are Here | Part 3? |

WC: 3,097

Warnings: Nicknames, teasing, banter, mentions of death, mentions of Pietro's death, slight angst, blood mentioned, injuries, confessions, crying, and fluff

You flipped to the next page of your book, moving to bring the mug of warm coffee to your lips as you read. Your mind didn't comprehend the sound of the cafe bell jingle as the door opened, and in a flash of blue, someone was sitting before you at your booth. Taking another small sip, you flipped the page.

"Pietro. When I brought you back to life, I was not expecting to see you wherever I went." You spoke casually, not even bothering to look up from your book. "Not that I don't mind you here. I enjoy your company."

Pietro only grinned his charming grin, leaning his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his open hand, staring longingly at you. He often reminded you of a golden retriever. "Hello, draga. What are you doing?" He then asked, leaning closer to peer into your book.

You quickly moved the book away from him towards your chest. "Reading, what does it look like?" You answered with a small laugh, giving him a small glare.

His eyes narrowed slightly, smirking, "I just want to know what you are reading, my love, that's all."

You gave him a look that said that you totally believed him, "Romance, of course. If you must know."

"Oh," He replied, his grin widening, "How romantic~" His voice was teasing, playful. His gaze seemed to linger on you for a moment longer than what would be considered acceptable, and he winked. It was subtle, but you caught it nonetheless.

Your cheeks warmed slightly as your gaze shifted from his and back to your book, "Well, I don't think you would find it enjoyable."

"Try me." Pietro replied simply, going back to resting his cheek in his hand.

Letting out a sigh, you flipped the book closed, finally meeting his striking blue eyes. "Well, it's about a man named Mr. Darcy and a young woman named Elizabeth. They sort of don't like each other? It's a bit complicated, but it goes about how they bond and end up falling in love with each other and marrying." He leaned forward again, moving to rest his other hand on his other cheek. His expression was attentive, and you couldn't help but admire how handsome he was. "That's it, aside from the prejudice. I mean, that's part of the title. Pride And Prejudice." You finished lamely, feeling flustered under his attention. You didn't understand how just Pietro's stare could make you feel this way, so different from how everyone else acted around you.

For years, decades even, you had sent so many people off to their afterlife, only allowing a few in a million to resurface to the land of the living. You've met so many of those people, seeing them die before their dying souls floated to the Void to you. You spoke to them and sent them away, but none of them were like Pietro. None of them were like Pietro. You knew there was something different about him the moment he was sent to you. It wasn't his mutation or entirely because he saved Clint and that child, but his whole personality made you feel… drawn to him. As if there was some kind of connection between you two, you were almost afraid of it. Afraid to get too close.

And yet, there he sat, looking down at you with an interested glint in his eye, a small smile playing on his lips. His face was flushed a light pink, his silver hair messy from being knocked around by the wind. His presence made you want to run away like you always did. Not that you didn't like him, it was absolutely the opposite. You liked him way too much. In the two months that you had been on the surface, among the living, you had tried to avoid Pietro, but he always seemed to find you. Creepy? A little, but it probably wasn't hard to find you as you were staying in New York.

But every time you left, you'd see him again. And the more you saw him, the more you wanted to talk. To spend time with him. The more you thought about him, the more you wanted to see him again, and soon enough, you found yourself asking questions you shouldn't have. You wondered why you felt so attached to a stranger. Why did you feel that you couldn't bear to ever say goodbye? Why did you feel like you were losing yourself in those bright, shining eyes?

The truth is, you were. Because deep inside, your heart belonged to someone you weren't sure you could ever return to. That someone was Pietro. And maybe, you really loved Pietro. Just maybe. But you weren't sure how to admit your feelings for him, or truly to yourself. You only had a month left, once your month was up, you'd have to go back.

"Draga? Are you alright?" You heard his voice, realizing he was trying to speak to you, you snapped your gaze up from the table; blinking your eyes rapidly. His brows were furrowed with concern, and your flush returned. "Did I say something wrong?" The last question he asked with an almost childish tone. Soft and gentle, almost like an adorable puppy.

Swallowing thickly, you shook your head, "N- No, it's nothing. I'm fine. Sorry." You forced out, giving him a reassuring smile, though, it didn't seem to reassure him at all.

"Please, Y/N, tell me what's bothering you." He spoke, reaching out with his hand to gently hold yours, which rested on top of the table. His hand was calloused and rough, just like the day you first met. Warmth spread through your body from where he held your hand. "Don't shut me out." He continued, looking at you with a pleading gaze. "And please, don't run away again, Draga." He chuckled lightly, though, you could hear the underlying fear and sadness behind his words. "This time, you can stay."

Your heart thumped in your chest, and you couldn't help but flush profusely. Even in the most simple things, Pietro managed to do things to you that made your stomach drop and swirl pleasantly. There was something about him that made you feel safe and cared for.

"I can't." You managed out, feeling your eyes tear up as you let your hand slip from his, grabbing your book and bag. "I can't stay at all."

Pietro began to panic, watching as you gathered your things and made your way out of the cafe. He didn't waste any time, speeding out to follow you. Speeding so fast, that time seemed to stop for him. Moving past your figure, he came to a stop in front of you, making you bump right into him, making you stumble back a bit. He grabbed your arms, ignoring the strange looks he was getting from the few people passing the both of you on the sidewalk.

"Please, draga, please tell me what is wrong. You always run off. And when I find you, I think I stand a chance, but then you run off again. Please, what did I do?" His eyes were pleading, desperate.

You looked down, your shoulders slumping. "You didn't do anything. Nothing at all, Pietro." You breathed deeply, trying to regain control of your emotions. Pietro frowned, but said nothing, allowing you to continue. "I can't stay here for too long. Once my time is up, I'll be sent back to the Void."

He looked taken aback at this, his hands falling from your arms slowly. His eyes widened, "No," He muttered, shaking his head, his hands clenching at his sides before he looked up at you, "If you have to go back, please, let's spend the most of the time that you have here, together. I- I... Draga..." His voice began to trail off, leaving you wondering what exactly he was going to say. Your gaze softened, your eyes scanning over his features.

Your mind flashed back to the memory of Pietro, lying passed out on the ground, bleeding heavily, his eyes closed, blood pooling on his chest. You were scared, petrified. All you could hear was Pietro's last words before he fell to the ground. But then you saw his eyes, those piercing blue hues that looked right into your soul as he woke, surrounded by his new friends and his twin sister. That smile, that grin.

It brought a warm sensation to your chest. "Okay." You whispered, your gaze never leaving his. You gave him a soft smile, "Together."

"Really?" Pietro asked, a bright smile forming on his face.

"Yeah, I won't run off this time." You answered, feeling nervous but ever so sure of yourself on your decision.

~~~

For the past month and three days, you and Pietro spent as much time together as possible. You went to amusement parks, met his sister, diners for dinner, and just quiet days reading together. And during those quiet days in, you got to know him better and learn about him. And he, the same for you. But, time seemed to fly by, leaving you wanting to cherish every second you spent together. And every time you were in his company, you knew you felt something. Something that only grew stronger and stronger every time.

So, as you walked with Pietro through Central Park, you knew that it was time. Finding yourself in front of the lake, you turned to Pietro, a small frown on your face. He noticed your expression, mirroring it as he opened his mouth to speak, "You're going, aren't you, my love?"

"Well... Yeah, eventually." You admitted, looking up at Pietro, your fingers fiddling with the hem of his sweater that you were wearing, "My time is up." Pietro nodded before you continued, "I just want to warn you though. My, uh, exit might be a bit odd." You signed out.

Pietro tilted his head slightly, a confused expression crossing his face, "What do you mean, Y/N?" Rubbing your cheek, you hissed, feeling a sharp sting. Pulling your hand back, you looked at the charred remains of your skin. Looking up, you watch Pietro's expression change. Slowly, realization dawned on his features, and you could swear you saw fear flash across his face, "Draga-"

"I'm fine, Piet." You answered softly, "I've been pushing it back, it's beginning to hurt me. I have to go now, or I might turn to ash." You spoke casually, laughing lightly to hide your pain and sadness.

"It's hurting you..?" He repeated, worry laced in every single word he spoke, his accent thickening. "Why would you push it away?" He questioned, taking a step closer towards you, his hand coming up to cup your uninjured cheek.

"Because." You sighed, "I wanted more time. But my time is now up." You bit your lip, staring into those shining crystal blue eyes that were tearing up just like yours. "If I could, Piet, I would do this all over again with you. I don't regret a second." You confessed, a stray black tear falling down your face. "I'll see you, uh, when I see you."

Pietro shook his head before pulling you in close, your forehead meeting his as he wrapped his arms tightly around your waist. You stood there, in each other's arms, for a while before Pietro pulled away slightly to meet your gaze, only to see your figure begin to fade away from existence. "I love you..." Pietro mumbled before the darkness swallowed you up completely.

~~~

Walking down the long hallway, you held your head high as you found yourself in front of the High Elders.

"Y/N L/N, I believe you know why you have been summoned?" The Head Elder, Callista asked, her red eyes narrowing slightly. Her nose was slightly upturned, making her look stern.

Shifting your weight onto your left foot, you took in a deep breath, "Yes, I do." You replied, your voice calm.

"It has come to the attention of the High Elder Grim Reapers that you have violated a sacred rule within our esteemed community. As a result, you are now faced with two possible courses of action. Do you understand?" She asked, her words echoing around the vast room, as the other Elder Reapers stared down at you from their high thrones. You could feel their disappointment radiating off of them.

"I understand." You replied, bowing your head slightly, still maintaining eye contact with Callista, who was sitting directly in front of you, her throne was the largest of them all.

Her lips curled into a thin line, "The first option is to undergo a severe sentencing that would confine you for a staggering one hundred years, isolated from the realms of the living and the dead alike; your Reaping will be on hold until you are free of your sentence." You swallowed thickly as she continued, "Alternatively, you may choose the second option, which entails being exiled to the land of the dead, where you will reside amongst spirits and souls for an indefinite period."

You tried to keep your face neutral. Your cheek, no bandage, still stung as her words sunk in. Either option, either way, you would lose everything. "There wouldn't be a third option, would there?" You asked quietly, and Callista narrowed her eyes at you, her nostrils flaring in distaste.

"There are only two options, dear child." She responded curtly, "And neither choice will leave your life untouched. You will either be taken at once to the Seclude or live among the undead. There is no in-between. Now, you must consider the gravity of your transgressions and contemplate the long-lasting consequences associated with both choices. We have always valued your contributions to our society, and it saddens us to be confronted with this difficult decision. Please understand that this is not taken lightly, and we implore you to reflect upon your actions and make a decision that aligns with the values we hold dear."

Clearing your throat lightly, you spoke up, "It should then be only fair to ask why I am being punished." You said, lifting your chin defiantly. "If I haven't transgressed a law, then I don't believe that I deserve punishment."

Callista raised her eyebrows, the muscles in her jaw twitching. A slight hint of anger appeared in her eyes, a flash of fury flashing across her countenance. "You know as Grim Reapers, once sending someone back to the land of the living, we do not follow them into the land of the living! What would possess you to disobey these strict rules?!" She snapped angrily, leaning forward slightly.

"In your order, you have also spoken about making sure those that we do send back make it their safety." You countered, trying to remain calm. "So, if I have done nothing wrong, why would I receive such a severe punishment?"

"I can assure you, child, that this punishment does not come from a place of mercy!" Callista snapped, "In that same order, it specifically recites that Grim Reapers may only stay in the land of the living for less than seventy-two hours. And you of all Reapers know that you have overstayed your time in the land of living." She gestured to your body, where patches of your arms were covered with gauze, hidden under your black, long-sleeved shirt.

Cellista was right in that regard. Reaper bodies were not sustainable without rest after spending time with the living. And although you didn't need sleep to function, and could recover quickly, it would be a lie to say you weren't tired. Especially since you had indeed overstayed your time in the land of the living. You were surprised that your body had survived for so long. But, the gauze on your arms, shoulders, and cheek was proof enough that the amount of energy you had used to heal yourself in the Land of the Living had exhausted you.

"I understand." You whispered, bowing your head in respect and understanding.

Callista hummed before speaking, "We will give you twenty-four hours to come to a decision. Give you time to rest. You are dismissed. Dismissed, young one."

Taking a deep breath, you nodded. Giving Callista one last bow, you made your way back to your quarters, a heavy feeling hanging in the air. After closing the door behind you, you leaned against the wall, sliding down until you were sitting on the floor. Shutting your eyes, you sighed deeply, thinking back to Pietro. Though you were in pain and were going to suffer such a punishment, you thought it was worth it. This is what life was about, wasn't it? Life was about sacrifice. And it was also about hope and acceptance.

Getting up, you sat on your bed, emptying your bag and putting the few objects inside away. When you got to Pietro's sweater, you stopped, and without a second thought, you slid it on; overwhelmed by the scent of him. Picking up the last object, your Pride and Prejudice book, you absentmindedly flipped through the pages, as your mind was off thinking about Pietro and what he must be doing in New York.

Before you could try and think of anyone else, a small piece of paper fell from one of the pages in the book. You paused before leaning down to grab it from off the floor. Sliding the book to the side, you unfolded the piece of paper. At the sight of Pietro's handwriting, you felt your heart sink. It simply read;

Staring down at the paper in your hand, your eyes filled with tears as your lower lip trembled slightly. You closed your eyes tight, letting out a shaky breath and pressing the edge of the note against your chest. You were going to go ahead and choose the hundred years in the Seclude but with this little note from Pietro, you felt this new surge of determination fill you. He loved you, and with that, you could overcome anything that might stand in your path. With that final thought, you stood and began walking out of your room, leaving the letter behind on the bed.

You were going to have a small chat with the council.

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

Should I continue with a Part 3? Let me know...

Taglist: @kiyoomean @poollover123 (won't let me tag)

#cute #fluff #slight angst #x reader #x gn reader #fanfiction #fanfic #x you #x y/n #mcu #marvel #part 2 #pietro maximoff #pietro x reader #pietro marvel #pietro maximoff x gn reader #pietro maximoff x you #pietro maximoff x y/n

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