#i love how light and whimsical she is and then fire
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
lunarliyah · 4 months ago
Text
venus placements and color theory ౨ৎ
Tumblr media
Aries venus
you guys already know by now. REDS. we love seeing you guys embody any shade of red. From the bloody reds to the burgundy. i also would associate you guys with *burnt* orange. Think of fire, since you guys are so fiery, mostly red and orange. red hair looks amazing on Aries venus. like AMAZING. even, again, burnt orange hair colors as well.
Taurus venus
love browns on you guys. deep dark browns. all i can think of is victoria monet, who is a taurus sun and taurus venus and she really OWNS that color. like you guys really invented brown. quite literally. More wood colors, like dark wood browns. mahogany. *chefs kiss*
Gemini venus
bright yellows. yellow gold jewelry. you all are very open with color and don’t mind wearing variety of colors. but because yellow is such a social color, a more inviting and expressive color, it just works for you guys every time. skin pops with the color yellow with gemini venus people. gemini venus and blonde hair, beautiful. blonde hair fits so well.
Cancer venus
white. because cancers are such a feminine sign, the sign of the mother, such a pure and soft yet bright and shining like the moon, white looks absolutely gorgeous on cancer venus. also i feel like because cancer venus can keep white clean as well. cancer venus people like looking clean and not busy or whimsical.
Leo venus
alright leo venus’s, y’all know how stunning y’all look in orange. but like the original orange color. it’s so lovely on you guys. even men with orange suits. it just works, all the time. silk orange material to represent royalty.
Virgo venus
GREEN. please y’all look so good and rich in green. very grounded color. can even be seen as sensual. deep emerald green makes you guys also look like royalty.
Libra venus
pinks, y’all knew this was coming. light pinks to hot pinks to soft pinks. it doesn’t matter, it makes you guys extremely approachable and inviting. you look very confident in pink.
Scorpio venus
y’all know y’all own the color black. its natural and effortless. its such a power move to wear black to important events for you guys. this color just demands respect. ESPECIALLY when all the black pieces you’re wearing matches. black hair as well.
Sagittarius venus
my sag venus’s yall can never do any wrong in the color purple. dark purle to light lilac purples. you look astonishing in purple clothing. definitely breaking necks with that color choice.
Capricorn venus
grey grey grey. so conservative and stoic like in that color. literally grey looks so dry and boring on others but on you guys it commands attention and it fits so well. silver jewelry as well with dark or light shades of grey. such a effortlessly sexy color choice for y’all.
Aquarius venus
deep royal blues. dark navy blues really demands so much attention when you guys wear it. very attractive and gorgeous on you guys. jewelry with sapphire crystal.
finally
Pisces venus
you guys are very experimental with your appearance. im saying iridescent and light blues. baby blues look so good on you all. very shiny material thats out of this world. eye catching. diamonds looks great on pisces venus’s. multicolor choices. and dreamy light blues. also highlights in your hair looks so good on you all.
*make sure we are giving credit when its due and not stealing other people’s work*
thank you all for reading. to book a reading with me, link in bio
1K notes · View notes
ms-snape · 4 months ago
Note
Severus goes to put his daughter to sleep and falls asleep with her in her nursery. Reader find them there. Just fluff. Thank you. I love your blog !!! 💗
Title: Little Dragon
Warning: None, just fluff
Words Count: 1800+
Masterlist
---
The moon hung high in the ink-blue sky, casting a gentle glow that filtered through the lace curtains of Hope's nursery. The room was a delicate sanctuary, adorned with soft pastels and whimsical patterns. Tiny stars painted on the walls twinkled in the dim light, creating a magical atmosphere for the little girl who was about to embark on her nightly ritual of sleep.
Hope, a cherubic bundle of energy, was anything but ready to settle down. At just one year old and few months, she was a whirlwind of giggles and wiggly limbs, her small face framed by soft tufts of dark hair that bore the faintest resemblance to her mother, Y/n. Yet, it was her eyes—deep, captivating pools of onyx that mirrored Severus’s own—that held a certain enchantment. They sparkled with mischief and curiosity, reflecting a spirit that was vibrant and uncontainable.
Severus Snape stood in the nursery, his usually stoic demeanor softened by the gentle presence of his daughter. The quiet moments they shared often revealed a side of him that few ever witnessed—one filled with warmth and an unwavering devotion that pulsed through his veins. This evening was no exception as he leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, watching Hope bounce in her crib like a spring lamb.
“Hope,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, yet it was barely audible above her delighted squeals. “It’s time for bed.”
The little girl giggled in response, her tiny hands reaching out toward him, as if the very idea of sleep was a distant concept, utterly unappealing. She had just discovered the joy of standing, and tonight, she was determined to showcase her new skill. With surprising strength for her age, she pulled herself upright, her legs wobbling beneath her as she clutched the bars of her crib like a seasoned explorer claiming a new territory.
Severus sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation dancing in his chest. “You’re supposed to be sleeping, not practicing your acrobatics.”
With a defiant laugh, Hope wobbled closer to the edge of her crib, her giggles ringing like tiny bells, echoing against the walls of the nursery. She was a beautiful chaos, her energy radiating warmth throughout the small room.
“Come on, my little firecracker,” he urged gently, stepping closer. The scent of baby powder and a hint of lavender wafted through the air, wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. “Let’s settle down for the night, shall we?”
But Hope was having none of it. She took a daring step back, her eyes alight with mischief, as she plopped down on her bottom, then rolled over, wiggling her tiny body as she crawled to the far end of the crib. The soft giggles continued, a joyful symphony that filled the room with life.
“Hope,” he said again, though this time his tone was softer, coaxing. “If you don’t go to sleep, how will you have the energy for tomorrow’s adventures?”
She paused, glancing up at him with an expression that was a mixture of delight and rebellion. Severus couldn’t help but smile, his heart swelling with affection. He took a seat on the edge of her crib, feeling the coolness of the wooden slats beneath his fingers as he gazed down at her.
“Do you remember the story of the little dragon who wouldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper, as if sharing a secret.
Hope blinked up at him, her head cocked to the side, clearly intrigued by the notion of a dragon. The twinkle in her eyes danced as she listened, her tiny fingers grasping the soft blanket draped over her crib.
“Every night, the little dragon would flutter about, thinking of all the exciting things she could do instead of sleeping,” he continued, weaving the tale. “But soon, she found herself too tired to breathe fire, and her wings felt heavy, and she discovered that dreams were the greatest adventures of all.”
With rapt attention, Hope settled down a little, her brow furrowing as if she was contemplating his words. Severus smirked at her response, encouraged that the story might finally be lulling her into submission. He continued, embellishing the tale with details about the dragon’s adventures, her friends in the clouds, and the wonderful dreams that awaited her.
Yet, the moment he thought he was winning, Hope suddenly erupted into another fit of giggles, clapping her hands and bouncing in her crib, clearly unfazed by his storytelling efforts. Severus chuckled, knowing full well that he had been bested by a mere infant, a feat that felt both maddening and utterly delightful.
“Alright, little one,” he relented, running a hand through his dark hair, the strands falling into his eyes as he contemplated his next move. “How about this? If you promise to try and sleep, I’ll sit with you until you do.”
Hope’s wide eyes glimmered with excitement, and she nodded fervently, her tiny curls bouncing with each enthusiastic gesture. Severus couldn’t resist the infectious joy she radiated, and with a resigned smile, he settled back into the cushy armchair that sat in the corner of the room, a sanctuary amidst the sea of toys and baby paraphernalia.
As he leaned back, he watched her with admiration, the way her little fingers curled around the blanket, her face lit with pure innocence and determination. She was a perfect blend of both him and Y/n, an embodiment of their love.
Minutes ticked by slowly as he remained in the quiet sanctuary of her nursery, the soft glow of the moon illuminating the space. Hope, however, was not keen on surrendering to the gentle embrace of sleep. She continued to wiggle and squirm, her energy unwavering as she plucked at the edges of her blanket, occasionally glancing up at Severus with wide, expectant eyes.
“Alright, Miss Snape,” he murmured, adopting a playful tone. “Let’s count the stars, shall we?”
He began counting softly, and much to his surprise, she joined in, her own tiny voice babbling along, albeit more like an enthusiastic rendition of nonsense than a proper counting session. The laughter bubbled forth between them, a sweet connection formed in the heart of the night, weaving an unbreakable bond between father and daughter.
“Let’s try that again,” he chuckled, pretending to be serious as he continued the count, only to be interrupted by Hope’s antics once more. She reached out to grab his finger, her tiny hand gripping it tightly as if he was a lifeline in a world that was far too vast and overwhelming for such a little creature.
“Alright, alright,” Severus conceded, allowing her to pull him closer, his heart swelling with warmth as she leaned against his leg, her head tilting back to gaze at him with those irresistible eyes. “I will stay right here.”
And just like that, in the midst of their playful banter, the energy in the room began to shift. Severus felt the soft weight of Hope leaning against him, her eyelids growing heavy as she clutched his hand like a lifeline.
“See? Even the little dragon needs her rest,” he whispered, glancing down to find her eyes beginning to flutter, battling the impending tide of sleep. The light in the room dimmed slightly as the moonlight cast a silver glow across her delicate features, highlighting her cherubic cheeks and the way her lips curved into the faintest of smiles.
With a soft sigh, Hope nestled against him, her small frame curling into a peaceful ball as she finally surrendered to the allure of slumber. Severus watched in awe, his heart swelling with a warmth he had never known.
He carefully shifted, cradling her against his chest, feeling her tiny heartbeat against him, a gentle rhythm that seemed to pulse in sync with his own. The room fell into a tranquil hush, a symphony of soft breaths and the occasional creak of the house settling around them.
As he sat there, enveloped in the cocoon of night, Severus couldn’t help but let his thoughts drift to Y/n. He could already picture her reaction upon finding them in this peaceful tableau. She would likely smile, her heart warmed by the sight of her two favorite people intertwined in such an innocent moment of love and serenity.
But even in his daydreaming, the fatigue from the long hours of the day began to wash over him. His eyelids grew heavy, the rhythmic sound of Hope’s breathing lulling him into a comfortable haze.
With one last glance at the peaceful nursery, Severus allowed himself to close his eyes, resting his head back against the plush fabric of the chair. The softness of the moment enveloped him, a sensation that was rare yet deeply cherished.
Unbeknownst to him, the door creaked open quietly, and Y/n stepped into the room, her heart swelling at the sight before her. There, in the soft glow of the nursery, was Severus, his expression softened in the quietude of sleep, with Hope nestled safely in his arms.
The sight was utterly enchanting. Hope’s little body, peaceful and content, was nestled against Severus’s chest, her small hand curled around his finger. Y/n felt an overwhelming rush of love at the sight, a beautiful portrait of fatherhood that captured everything she adored about Severus—his fierce love, the tenderness that often lay beneath his stoic facade, and his unyielding devotion to their daughter.
Y/n stepped further into the room, the soft creaking of the floorboards barely a whisper. She approached cautiously, not wanting to disturb the serene moment. But as she reached the chair, she couldn’t resist the urge to run her fingers gently through Hope’s soft hair, marveling at how perfectly they fit together, the two most important people in her life.
“Look at you two,” she whispered, her heart swelling as she took in the scene. “Such a perfect pair.”
In that moment, she understood the beauty of what they had built together—a family rooted in love, laughter, and sometimes, the sweet surrender of sleep. Hope stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, but remained nestled against Severus, a soft smile gracing Y/n’s features.
Gently, Y/n leaned down, placing a tender kiss on Severus’s forehead, feeling a sense of belonging and peace that resonated deep within her.
As she straightened, she couldn’t help but capture the moment in her mind—the serenity, the love, the magic that seemed to permeate the very air they breathed. She turned to leave, letting them rest, but as she reached the door, she cast one last glance back at the sight before her.
“Sweet dreams, my loves,” she murmured, her heart full, as she quietly stepped out of the nursery, leaving Severus and Hope wrapped in the warmth of their dreams.
The moon continued to shine brightly outside, casting a gentle glow over the world, while inside the nursery, a soft lullaby of love enveloped the room, creating a sacred space where dreams took flight, cradled in the arms of a devoted father and his beautiful daughter.
Tumblr media
343 notes · View notes
celestialtarot11 · 8 months ago
Text
Astrology Observations 🤍✨
Hi friends! Welcome back to another post 💅🏻 today we’ll be looking at astro observations! Please like, comment and reblog to help this blog grow ✨
Aries + Taurus pairing as friends/couple are the show stoppers. They draw attention wherever they go, there’s so much fire between them. Although Taurus is an Earth sign, Taurus does enjoy the finer things in life and passion! Aries helps to bring the heat in the connection and the two have a lot in common. Aries is headstrong, Taurus is as well. Both are self starters and independent. Both know what they want (taurus is a fixed sign) and both know what it takes to create + sustain it.
Aquarius sun experienced being the quiet one in group settings, especially if they were with people they didn’t necessarily understand or get along with. Its not that they aren’t smart, or capable of human interaction. They’re actually great at it, they just preserve their energy for better people/interactions.
Gemini’s love to story tell and embellish their stories! They love adding jokes, flare, and drama to their stories. They’re a bit like Leo-great at storytelling and communicating! Both Leo and Gemini love to entertain 🤍✨
Transits in your 4th house-family will require your attention more, and specifically the Mother could be around a lot more. Physically, emotionally and mentally even if you may not have a great connection. She may try to wiggle her way in your life during these 4th house transits. If you work with ancestors, they will be sending you dreams and messages day to day even more than usual. Expect the things that you need to liberate yourself from will come up in dreams, or day to day. Dreaming of your childhood for example can be triggering to some, whether the dream was good or bad.
Sagittarius are often quiet but have a lot to say when in a proper group setting. They think a lot of the world around them, and I notice they like to be in situations where they can mansplain 🤣 but offering advice and mediating conversations is their specialty. They’re blunt, honest, and get to the point.
Leo women often walk with a lot of respect, flare and spirit. Their head is held high.
Cancer women love going out and love staying home! They have their homebody moments too 💅🏻 cancers love a good time! And are not stuck in their shell as ya’ll may think
Cancer women may also be the type to have fairy tattoos, or tattoos that are delicate. They have tattoos that have a whimsical charm to them, even if it may be considered “dark.” There is an ethereal vibe to it!
Virgo women love planning, decorating and getting family together! Or who they consider family. They love setting the mood, setting the atmosphere, environment. They would be great party planners/wedding planners!
Pisces women may be into cars 👀
Scorpio moon women may get into nursing at some point or considered studying that!
Gemini women may love doing their own nails, and being proud of their art! They love to show off anything that expresses their skill.
Gemini Venus women want to speak different languages but may get frustrated at the effort required 😂 as a gemini venus myself yes
Capricorn moon women may enjoy having a minimalistic setup in their room, colors that are light and simple, but with a dash of darkness or vivid color! They love creating balance in their room and have an eye for intensity through detail
Leo rising commands all the attention in the room for themselves. But I’ve noticed if a Leo rising is not feeling confident in themselves, they can come across as arrogant, and self absorbed. It’s because part of them needs their own attention and space, but the native isn’t realizing that. Or the native doesn’t know how to meet their needs.
Thank you all for being here! I really appreciate it 🥹💗 Please enjoy the little observations I put together! Feel free to like comment and reblog ✨
Paid Readings 💗✨
284 notes · View notes
companionjones · 1 year ago
Text
Goat Legs
Pairing: Charles Xavier x Reader
Fandoms: Marvel, X-Men
Summary: You have the power to see other universes. Sadly, that power controls you.
Warnings: Universes colliding
Tumblr media
*******
"I'm not asking you to take over my position permanently, just for a couple weeks."
Magneto's mood differed from yours completely. While you were relaxed and amused he was annoyed and agitated. "Yes. It starts off with a couple weeks, then you ask for an extension, then, the next thing I know, it's years later, and you and your lover are never coming back."
You laughed, "We're going to Cancun! You're acting as if we're travelling to another dimension."
"How can I expect you to come back here when you don't even want to go home right now?"
That question took you off guard. "I'm sorry?"
"It's time to wake up, Y/n."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"It's time to wake up."
"Stop it, Mag."
"You have to wake up, Y/n."
"I said stop it!"
"You have to wake up right now!"
Charles was in the middle of teaching a class when Raven burst into the room.
"She's awake," was all Raven said.
The professor turned back to his class with quite the worried expression. "Alright, keep reading chapter 12 everyone. Ms. Raven will be taking over for the time being."
The siblings shared a nod before Charles exited the classroom and began booking it down the hallways to get to you.
You were in an isolated wing of the Xavier Mansion. Charles thought it best to house you there so the students didn't hear your screams.
That choice was coming to fruition that day, as it did most days. Charles could hear your screams as he quickly quickly approached your door. His heart always experienced a lot of pain, seeing you like this. He couldn't even read your mind because it was too much for him. Charles could never imagine what it was like for you.
"My love! My love, I'm here. Please, you have to try to calm your mind."
As Charles rushed into your room and knelt at your bedside, you saw many different versions of him. One second, he was older. The next, he was the same age, but in a wheel chair. Then, you saw him bald. You tried to close your eyes to refresh your mind, but all you saw when you blinked was worlds and universes colliding. You screamed out in frustration, and reached out for Charles.
He took your hand and combed your hair with his fingers. "It's alright. It's alright, my love. We're together. We're home. Everything is okay."
"Tell that to Logan. He's lighting his cigar on an on-fire car as the world ends," you described what you were seeing.
It took a couple hours, but your episode had finally ended and you were calming down.
Charles still sat on your bed with you. He still had one of your hands in his, and he was combing through your hair with his free hand.
"You had goat legs," you quietly informed after hours of restless silence.
Xavier appropriately chuckled at that statement. "What?"
"You had goat legs," you repeated. "In one of my visions, you were having a young girl over for tea in the woods, and you had goat legs."
He scoffed. "That sounds like something out of Alice in Wonderland."
"It was quite whimsical," you admitted.
There was another silence between the two of you before you asked Charles, "Tell me about here again?"
He smiled. "We got everyone on our side after Cuba, even Erik. There still some arguments on how we should approach the rest of the world but we all teach the next generation of mutants here, at home."
Despite all the happy news, a tear rolled down your cheek. "I wish I could be more help."
Charles reminded you, "You don't have to be anything more or anything less than you are right now."
"Can we go for a walk? I'd like to see the kids," you told him.
Charles nodded, "Of course," as he helped you out of bed.
*******
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! Fill up that heart and reblog if you liked it. I would also really appreciate a comment, if you have the time. If you would like to read more, check out my masterlist. Have a nice day, night, or whatever time it is for you! <3 <3 <3
714 notes · View notes
joelalorian · 2 months ago
Text
Wonder in Winterland - Part II
Hallmark!Joel x f!reader | wc: 5k | masterlist
Tumblr media
Series Summary: You, a city girl on a cross-country road trip a week before Christmas, find yourself stranded in a whimsical Christmas town. You soon discover there is more to life than big city dreams. Based on the Hallmark movie Love You Like Christmas.
Warnings: None (although the rest of this blog is 18+ mdni). This is utter fluff and whimsy, with a occasional foul language and lots of banter in the AU style of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Matchmaker!Sarah. Limited descriptions of reader and no use of y/n. Enjoy it with a cuppa hot cocoa and a warm blankie. Will post on Sundays throughout December.
A/N: Thank you so much for the love on this fun little series. It warms my heart like you wouldn't believe! I wrapped this part up early and couldn't wait until tomorrow, so here is Part II a day early. Also, if anyone is interested in creating a moodboard for this fic, you would have my undying love for eternity! Thank you brittmb115 for the perfect moodboard!
Series Masterlist
Tumblr media
Part II
“I see you met Barkley,” Maria laughed as you and the pup made your way down the stairs. “He likes to make himself right at home.”
“He’s a great napping partner,” your replied with a broad grin. “How long have you had him?”
“Oh, Barkley’s not ours, he’s Joel’s dog. I think he’s had Barkley for about three years now. Just showed up one day, underfed and in dire need of grooming, and never left,” Maria explained, bending down to greet Barkley with enthusiastic belly rubs. “Joel checked with all the shelters and vets in the entire state hoping to find his owners, but no luck. Now he and Joel are best buds and he stays with us with sometimes.”
Gosh, as if you didn’t already find the man insanely attractive. Now you found out he’s a rescuer of lost dogs. Your heart melted into a puddle right there on the gorgeous hardwood floor.
“Joel and Sarah should be here any minute. Hope you’re hungry!”
The dining room at the Evergreen House was a picture-perfect holiday scene with a long wooden table polished to a deep mahogany, the chandelier above adorned with garlands of holly and fairy lights that cast a warm glow around the festive room. The table filled with delicious food and the scent of roasted turkey and baked cinnamon apples mingled with the faint fragrance of the artfully decorated tree in the corner.
“It smells heavenly in here,” you admitted, taking a seat at the large table.
Joel entered just as you settled a cloth napkin in your lap. Tall and broad, dressed in a fresh green flannel and dark jeans, his presence filled the room. His dark umber eyes lit up at seeing you, leaving your heart sparking to life like the first crackle of a fire in the hearth. A young girl bounded in behind him, an adorable ball of energy wrapped in a red sweater with snowflake patterns. Her dark eyes sparkled with curiosity when they landed on you, but her attention quickly veered toward the happy pup as Barkley sought her affections by spinning circles in front of her. A man with dark hair like Joel’s only longer entered the room last, slipping into the seat at the head of the table and flashed a welcoming grin in your direction.
Maria clapped her hands together once everyone was seated, her smile bright. “Everyone, this is our newest guest.” She went about introducing you by name to Tommy and Sarah, and you were instantly charmed by the knowledge that Sarah was Joel’s daughter. Still, you were curious about his marital status. Your eyes darted to Joel’s left hand to find the third finger bare before turning your focus back to Maria. “She’s here thanks to Joel and his, uh, interesting day on the highway.”
Sarah giggled, nudging her dad’s side as his cheeks flushed, a faint pink blooming beneath his scruffy beard. “Interesting, huh?” he muttered, pouty lips curving into a sheepish smile.
Taking pity on him, you chimed in. “Let’s just say his charm makes up for his ability to block a highway.”
Joel’s laugh came soft and low, the sound melting into the warmth of the room. His eyes caught yours, holding your gaze just a moment longer than necessary. Your heart gave an unexpected flutter, the kind that felt like the start of something magical. ‘Twas the season for it, after all. Right?
The dining room soon buzzed with the easy warmth of family chatter, laughter weaving its way around the table. Joel sat across from you, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp, flicking your way every so often as if drawn to you involuntarily. Beside him, Sarah eagerly loaded her plate, small hands working with the kind of determination that only a child could muster when mashed potatoes were involved. Judging by the size of the pile on her plate, Sarah’s eyes were three times the size of her stomach and you doubted she would finish even half of it.
Tommy leant back in his chair, his easy grin matching the sparkle in Maria’s eyes as they presided over the table like a pair of holiday hosts straight out of a Christmas card.
“So,” Sarah began, looking at you with wide-eyed curiosity. “Are you married?”
You nearly choked on your sip of cabernet, the question snowballing out of nowhere. Joel froze mid-reach for the breadbasket, his ears turning visibly pink. “Sarah,” he started, voice low with a gentle warning, “that’s not—”
“Nope,” you interjected, cutting him off with a good-natured smile. “Not married, you cheeky little thing. Why do you ask?”
Sarah shrugged, her mischievous grin giving away more than her casual tone. “I was just wondering, ‘cause you’re pretty and Daddy’s not married either. Isn’t that funny?”
Tommy sat back in his seat and barked out a laugh as his brother groaned and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Well, I’ll be,” Tommy said, his voice thick with amusement. “Kids say the damnedest things, huh?” He ignored the scowl Joel sent his way.
“Sarah,” Joel muttered, the look he shot her equal parts exasperated and affectionate. “Why don’t we talk about something else? Like, oh, I don’t know… school?”
Sarah scoffed, clearly enjoying making her dad uncomfortable in front of you. “School’s boring, dad. This is way more interesting.”
“Smart kid,” Tommy quipped, raising his glass in her direction and flashing Joel a cheeky wink. “She’s not wrong, ya know.”
“Tommy! Stop encouraging her,” Maria hissed, hiding the grin that tugged at her lips behind her wine.
Joel’s gaze darted to you, his lips curving into a helpless smile that made your stomach flip. “Sorry about that,” he murmured, voice low enough that only you could hear over the chatter from the other three Millers. “She’s got a knack for stirring up trouble.”
“Which she clearly learned from your brother,” you teased, leaning over the table just enough to meet his eyes fully and keep your conversation quiet. “But I don’t mind. She’s just curious and I’m utterly charmed by her. Besides,” you added, your eyes sparkling and tone playful, “she’s not the only charming Miller in the room.”
Joel’s eyebrows shot up slightly, a spark of surprise flickering across his handsome face. “Careful, darlin’,” he drawled, his voice like warm honey coating your skin. “My brother’s married, ya know, and his wife is sitting right next to you.”
You responded with a playful roll of your eyes, “He’s obviously not the Miller I was talking about, Joel.”
“Well, you keep talkin’ like that and I’ll start thinkin’ you like me.”
Tommy let out a low whistle, clearly eavesdropping. “Careful with this one, brother. Sounds like she’ll give you a run for your money.”
Joel shot his brother a look, but you didn’t miss the way his shoulders relaxed, his confidence returning in spades. “Just tryin’ to make a good impression on the big city lady,” he said, gaze settling warmly back on you. “Not every day you meet someone who fits right in like they’ve been here all along.”
The words, simple as they were, carried a weight that made your cheeks warm. You glanced down at your plate, digging your toes under Barkley’s fur as he laid beneath the table to distract yourself, and fought the pull of your lips curving into a pleased smile. Maria’s knowing expression told you the fight was for naught.
“Alright, you rascals,” Tommy said, breaking the moment with a chuckle. “Let’s finish up and move onto dessert before Sarah starts planning a wedding.”
Tumblr media
After dinner, you settled on a couch in front of the fire with Sarah, where the rest of the Millers insisted you stay while they cleaned up. Being a chatty and precocious young girl, Sarah regaled you with various tales of her and Joel’s life, often including embarrassingly cute details about her father and pausing to eye your reactions. She was a delightful storyteller.
“I meant it at dinner,” she said, suddenly changing subjects from how she taught Barkley to fetch pinecones yesterday. Her voice took on a hint of longing and wonder. “You really are pretty.”
You hummed in response, running your fingers over her hair. “Thank you. You are so pretty, too, Sarah. You have your dad’s eyes, like a little puppy dog’s when it’s begging for treats. I bet you get away with murder with eyes like that.”
Sarah shrugged with a giggle before her gaze sharpened. “So, I think that means you like my dad’s eyes. You said you’re not married. Do you have a boyfriend? Or a… a girlfriend?”
Goodness but this young girl was quick and, apparently, hyper-fixated on playing matchmaker for her dad. Your wide eyes softened as you realized how Joel was raising his daughter to be accepting and open-minded and your heart melted. He was a great dad.
“Nope, no boyfriends or girlfriends. I’ve been too focused on my work for a while,” you admitted. Before Sarah could pepper you with more questions, Joel entered the room, Barkley following right on his heels. Crinkles formed around his eyes with the brightness of his smile at the sight of the two of you huddled together on the couch.
“It’s stopped snowing. I promised Sarah we’d walk through town before we go home. Would you like to join us to see the town square all lit up?” he asked, hip propped against the arm of the sofa next to Sarah.
Reluctant at first, you gave in to the excitement in Sarah’s voice when she chimed in. “You must see the lights! And the tree! It’s so pretty!”
Bundled in borrowed mittens, coat, and scarf that carried the faint scent of fresh laundry, you followed Joel and Sarah outside into a winter wonderland. Barkley’s leash was clutched tightly in Sarah’s hand as he trotted beside her.
The town square looked like it had been plucked straight out of a holiday snow globe and you stared in awe. Strings of lights crisscrossed above the road, casting a warm glow over the dusting of snow remaining after the last plow went by. Shops selling hot cocoa and hand-knit scarves, pastries and baubles, lined the street, and a small choir sang carols by the towering Christmas tree adorned with ribbons, lights, and silver tinsel right in the heart of the square.
Sarah skipped ahead with Barkley, her boots making tiny impressions in the snow as she left the adults behind. Joel strolled beside you, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, shoulders slightly hunched against the cold as his warm eyes tracked his daughter’s movements. Every so often, his arm brushed yours, the accidental contact sending a surprising jolt of warmth through you each time.
Watching as Sarah danced around the choir as Barkley stood guard, movements perfectly in sync with the melody, you smiled. “She’s really something,” you said softly.
“She is,” Joel agreed, his voice tinged with pride. His coffee-colored eyes, full of thoughtful vulnerability, met yours. “I hit the damn jackpot as far as daughters go. Her, uh, mom passed away during childbirth. It’s been me and her against the world ever since.”
An involuntary gasp left your lips, and you gazed at him somberly. Not knowing what to say, you finally settled on a soft, “That must have been so hard.”
Joel nodded, his attempt at a smile falling short. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. There were so many days where I doubted myself, that I thought she’d be better off with someone else, someone who could give her everything she deserved, but… Tommy, the pain in the ass that he can be, was always there to help and talked sense into me. My parents too, while they were still alive. Soon enough, we found a rhythm and the rest is history. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Goodness, but this man was something and you would fall for him head over tea kettle if you weren’t careful… “You’re an amazing dad, Joel. I could tell the moment I met Sarah and saw you two interact. She’s lucky to have you as a father.”
“Naw, I’m the lucky one. That girl made me a better man, one to be proud of.” A shine took to his eyes, and you glanced away to give him a moment. Before long, Joel cleared his throat. His gaze shifted to you, his expression thoughtful. “I don’t think I said it before, but I’m glad we crossed paths today.”
You met his eyes, the soft light of the Christmas lights reflected in their warm brown depths. “Me, too,” you admitted, the barely whispered words carried by the gentle, crisp breeze between you.
“I don’t usually open up like that,” Joel confessed, suddenly bashful. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I find it really easy to talk to you.”
Warmth rushed your cheeks as you smiled back at him. “It’s all part of my mysterious charm. You Millers aren’t the only ones blessed with it.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” he teased back with a bark of laughter.
Tumblr media
The following morning, you woke early missing the extra warmth Barkley provided as Joel took him home last night. Once you were up and moving, Maria offered to make you breakfast – as their only guest at the moment, she and Tommy catered to your every need – but you graciously declined, wanting to explore the town during daylight hours after the tranquil beauty of last night.
“Well, you’ll have to stop by the diner then, if you want some breakfast while you explore,” Tommy said. “It’s called Mac’s, but a woman named Tess owns it now.”
“She’s a close friend of the family, so is the cook, Frank. Joel’s known them forever,” Maria added. “They’ll take good care of you.”
“Yeah, they’re good people.” Tommy paused, his gaze thoughtful for a moment. “There was a time when we thought Tess and—”
“You should get going if you want to beat the rush,” Maria cut her husband off with a sharp glance. “It’s the only diner in town and gets real busy around this time.”
You glanced back and forth between the couple, feeling like you were missing something important – you reckoned it might have something to do with Joel, whatever Tommy was about to say about Tess – but opted to shrug it off. Wasn’t your business anyway.
“Ok, I’ll head to the diner first, then explore the town. Thank you again for dinner last night.” Donning the borrowed coat and scarf Maria insisted you wear, you waved goodbye to the couple and ventured outside.
The morning was sharp and bracing as you stepped out of the Evergreen House, your breath puffing in miniature clouds in front of you. The sun hung low in the sky, barely breaking over the mountains in the distance, pale light shimmering off a few inches of fresh snow blanketing the landscape. Winterland held a quiet charm in the early hours, with the faint sound of wind chimes and the crunch of boots on the snow as the townspeople walked by.
Only a block down from the inn, the diner sat in a squat, brick building with frosted windows artfully decorated for the holidays and an old, hand-painted sign that read Mac’s. The moment you pushed through the door, a bell jingled overhead, and a cozy warmth wrapped its grip around you. The air was a mix of scents – freshly brewed coffee, sizzling bacon, and the cloying sweetness of maple syrup – and the low hum of morning conversation carried through the seating area.
An attractive, tall woman with long hair and a keen gaze stood behind the counter. Judging by the nametag on her retro diner uniform, the woman was none other than Tess. She greeted you with a welcoming smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist. “Well, you must be the new gal Maria told me about. Welcome to Winterland. Find yourself a seat anywhere you’d like, and I’ll be right with you.”
You slid onto a seat at the counter, the red vinyl worn but comfortable. At a nearby table, a man with brown hair and a thick beard scowled at his coffee like it personally wronged him. His presence practically radiated grumpiness, but it was somehow endearing in this environment.
“That’s Bill,” Tess whispered conspiratorially across the counter when she caught you observing the man. “Don’t mind him. He’s all bark and no bite.”
While she spoke, the cook stepped out from behind the pass – an older man with a kind face and mischievous smile – and said, “Speak for yourself, Tess. Last time I told him we were out of pie; he about bit my head off!”
“Shut it, Frank,” Bill growled from his table without looking up, earning a peal of laughter from Tess.
Frank winked at you as he returned to his station. “What’ll it be, darlin’? I make a mean French toast if you’re hungry.”
Before you could respond, Tess leaned on the counter and added, “And don’t forget to try the coffee. Best in town.”
“It’s the only coffee in town,” Bill grumbled unhelpfully.
The warmth of the place and friendly banter between locals was contagious. You ordered eggs benedict, your favorite, but opted for a diet cola instead of coffee. You watched as Frank worked the grill with lazy efficiency, bopping to the music softly playing from the overhead speakers. Between the homey atmosphere of the inn and now the diner, you felt like you were on holiday and momentarily forgot about the inconvenience of your broken-down truck.
Bill muttered something under his breath as Tess refilled his coffee. “You should smile more, Bill. It makes you look pretty,” she teased, plunking the pot of hot liquid on his table with a flourish.
“I’ll give you pretty,” Bill grumbled in return, but you caught the ghost of a smirk on his lips as Tess walked away.
Your breakfast was ready a few minutes later, the eggs poached perfectly and drizzled with just the right of hollandaise. You dug in, savoring the mix of flavors. “This is amazing,” you said. You meant it, too. You’d ordered eggs benedict at many a restaurant over the years and Frank’s was among the best.
“Frank’s a wizard with a griddle,” Tess replied, coming around the counter to plop down on the seat next to yours. “Time for a break, I think. He’s been keepin’ this town fed for years, long before I took over this place. And Bill over there? He’s been keepin’ that seat warm just as long.” Leaning a little closer, her voice dipped as she added, “I think he comes by just to see Frank. They’ve been sweet on each other for ages.”
Unsuspectingly, Frank piped up again. “Don’t let Bill fool you. He acts grumbly and tough, but he always leaves a big tip.”
“I’ll bet he does,” you teased, winking at Tess. You loved getting this kind of insight to the small-town life. The lighthearted banter and how seamlessly they included you made you feel like you really belonged. Suddenly, you could picture your life in a town like Winterland…
Shaking away the thought as a pipe dream, you finished your meal and turned back to Tess. “So, if you own the place, why is it called Mac’s Diner?”
Tess spun on the stool and glanced around the place. “Ah, well, it was my uncle’s diner. I worked here as a teenager and came back to help him as he got older. He passed last year and left the place to me. I tried many times over the years to convince him to do some updates, but he never did. And now I’m not sure how to make it my own without losing the parts that remind us all of him.”
“I can help you with that! I’m in marketing and work for a big firm back in New York City,” you explained. “I can give you a few tips and small changes that will make a big difference without taking away any of the original charm, starting with changing the name to something that resembles you.”
The pair of you chatted for a while, the breakfast rush coming and going as you brainstormed ideas. Once Tess had a solid to-do list, the conversation switched directions.
“So, Ms. Marketing Guru, what brought you to our delightful little hole in the wall?” Tess’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
You told her about your cross-country trip, the fear of flying, the broken-down truck, and Joel’s help on the highway. At the mention of Joel, Tess’s expression turned dreamy, her smile almost knowing.
“Ah, Joel Miller,” she said, her tone full of hidden meaning. “He’s a good one. Lucky you ran into him.”
Having been completely enchanted by you, Frank chimed in from the grill with a cheeky grin. “Joel’s a real catch. The kind that would make you want to stick around if you hooked ‘em. No one’s been able to in a very long time, though many have tried.”
Warmth rushed your cheeks as you spluttered. “Oh no! It’s not like that.” Despite your insistence, it felt like an outright lie even to yourself.
“Uh huh,” Bill, Frank, and Tess all replied in perfect synchronicity.
Tumblr media
The chill in the air deepened throughout the day and you were ready to defrost in front of a crackling fire after a thorough exploration of the quaint town. You arrived back at the inn to find a frazzled Maria staring at a slowly dying fire in the hearth, the rack for firewood next to her sat empty.
“What’s wrong?” you asked when Maria sighed dramatically.
“We’re completely out of firewood,” she said, gesturing toward the sad little fire. In a flustered ramble, she continued, “Joel’s been our go-to for years, and we usually stay well stocked, but it slipped our minds to get more this week. Now we have a new guest coming this evening and a million things to do and no wood left to keep the fireplaces going. I’d ask Joel to bring a load over, but he already does so much for us, I don’t want to burden him with this during the little free time he gets.”
“Oh, well, I can go,” you offered without hesitation, hating to see your new friend so stressed. “I mean, as long as you don’t mind me borrowing a truck, I’ve got plenty of free time and it’s not far, right?”
Maria’s face lit up with gratitude, warmth coming off her stronger than the dying fire. “Are you kiddin’? If you’re willing to help, of course you can borrow a truck. I’ll get you the keys.” She bounced off as you went up to your room to change into warmer clothes.
A few minutes later, you met at the bottom of the stairs. “You’re an angel, you know that? Just tell Joel I sent you over and he’ll know exactly what we need. Oh, and don’t let him talk you into lifting anything heavy!”
Bundled back into the loaner coat, scarf, and gloves, you set off toward the Millers’ farm in Tommy’s pickup. The heat took a while to kick in as you drove to the edge of the small town and turned onto a private road. The farmhouse and barn looked like something out of a storybook. Snow capped the red barn’s roof, and smoke curled in lazy whisps from the chimney of the house. The scent of woodsmoke and fresh hay filled the air when you opened the door, making the chill seem almost pleasant.
Joel was already outside by a neat stack of logs, axe in hand, splitting firewood with an ease that made the whole process look like second nature. Nearby, Sarah stood next to a preciously beautiful miniature horse, braiding its mane as her laughter rang out across the snow-covered fields. The little horse matched the girl’s laugh with a snort, and you smiled, completely enchanted with the entire scene.
“Hey darlin’,” Joel greeted with pleasant surprise as you approached, leaning on the handle of his axe. His dark eyes visibly warmed at the sight of you, and you felt a matching warmth pool deep in your belly.
“Hi Joel,” you replied softly. He looked good, really good, with flushed cheeks and wind-blown curls, brown eyes shining in the afternoon sunlight. You almost forgot why you were there. “Maria sent me to pick up some firewood. Guess we ran out?” you explained, gesturing toward the truck. “She said you’d know what to do.”
Joel huffed out a chuckle, setting the axe aside. “I reckon I do. Let me load up a pile for you. I’ll bring them another supply tomorrow morning.”
From the nearby pen, Sarah perked up, pausing mid-braid. “Wait! Don’t let her leave yet, Dad! We should give her a tour!”
Tilting his head in acquiescence toward Sarah, he turned to you with a playful grin. “What do you think, darlin’? Got a little time to spare?”
You hesitated for only a moment before nodding, lips curved up in a broad smile. “To see more of this beautiful place? You bet!”
Sarah practically bounced with excitement, tugging your hand to lead you toward the barn while her dad took a few minutes to load a pile of firewood into the bed of the truck. Soon enough, Joel joined you, guiding the sweet mini horse along with him. The barn doors creaked open to reveal a cozy, well-kept space where a row of horses shifted in their stalls, soft snickers filling the air. The earthy scent of hay mixed with the faint aroma of saddle leather and horse feed.
“This is Moonbeam,” Sarah announced as Joel ushered the chestnut mini horse toward its stall. “She’s my favorite. She lets me braid her mane every day.”
“She’s a beauty,” you said, stepping closer to stroke the mini horse’s velvet-soft nose. Moonbeam huffed gently, her large eyes calm as she nudged your hand, seeking more gentle pets.
While Joel secured Moonbeam in her stall, Sarah steered you further down the line of stalls until you came to a large, sleek black horse. “This is Daddy’s horse. His name is Onyx.”
The large horse popped his head over the top of the stall, checking you out with unguarded curiosity. He was breathtakingly beautiful. You held out a hand, palm up, allowing Onyx to snuffle at your skin. He nudged your hand, urging you to pet him, which you gladly did.
“You’re a gorgeous boy,” you whispered to the horse. Much like your dad, echoed silently in your mind. As you stepped back from Onyx, ready to continue the tour, Barkley trotted into the barn and rushed over to greet you. Bending down, you ruffled the golden retriever’s ears, pressing your face against his soft fur. “Where’d you come from, huh? Were you on patrol, keeping an eye on the place?”
Joel leaned against the stall door, watching you with quiet wonder. “You’re good with animals,” he noted. “First my dog and now my horses are falling in love with you.”
You glanced at him, a little thrill sparking at the compliment. “It’s my animal magnetism,” you joked lightly.
Sarah stood beside you, her baby cow eyes darting back and forth between you and her dad, a secret smile curling her lips. Without a word, she began leading you out of the barn with the intention of continuing the tour. However, when you all exited the barn, the sun had dipped low behind the mountains, and the air turned even frostier than before.
“I think it’s time for me to get back to the inn with the firewood,” you said, the disappointment in your voice matched Sarah’s falling expression. “It’s getting late, and Maria said there are new guests coming. She’ll want to get the fireplaces sorted before they arrive.”
“But we haven’t finished the tour! There’s so much more to see!” Sarah exclaimed, one foot stomping on the ground in frustration.
“Sarah, mind your manners,” Joel reminded the young girl in a gently stern voice, watching as her bottom lip stuck out in a pout. Turning to you, he added, “We’ll walk you back to the truck.”
Joel led the way, and you looked over your shoulder, watching Barkley nudge Sarah as she scuffed her boots across the ground unhappily. You felt bad for the young girl, knowing how excited she was to show you everything.
“She really likes you,” Joel said, voice a deep rumble over the wind, when he caught you watching his daughter. “Hasn’t stopped talking about you since meeting you. In fact, it seems my whole family is quite taken with you.”
You quirked an eyebrow playfully. “Is that so? And what about you, Joel Miller?”
He glanced away briefly, curls dancing in the wind, before meeting your gaze with a soft, vulnerable smile. “Oh, I’m definitely taken with you, too, darlin’.”
You reached the driver’s side of the truck before you could formulate a suitably charming response and settled for a simple, grateful goodbye. Sarah darted forward to hug you, Joel watching with a warm gaze.
“Thanks for the tour of the barn, little bug,” you spoke into her hair as you bent slightly to return the hug, and the girl beamed at the new nickname.
“Why don’t you come back again in the morning and we’ll finish the tour,” Joel suggested, suddenly feeling that same disappointment as his daughter at the idea of you leaving. “I’ll pick you up around eight when I drop off another load of firewood.”
Sarah bounced in place, hands pressed together and begging you to agree. You stood up straight, eyes darting between Joel’s dark coffee ones. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to be in the way or interrupt your day.”
“I’m sure,” Joel insisted. “We’d love to have you over again. Maybe you could stay for lunch?”
“And maybe we can go sledding! There’s a big hill over there,” Sarah pointed to a slope in the distance eagerly. “Please?”
How could you possibly say no to not just one, but two sets of baby cow eyes staring pleadingly at you?
“Okay, if you’re both sure, I’d be happy to.”
After another round of goodbyes, the Millers watched as you climbed into the truck and drove off, waving with broad smiles the whole time.
tbc
tag list (i included anyone who previously commented, requested, or I thought might like to be added, but please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed): @abirdsnest @brittmb115 @harrysrosetatto @carolineesnell @tuquoquebrute @inept-the-magnificent @lovely-vamp-princess @kyberblade
38 notes · View notes
kkurami · 1 year ago
Text
( LOVE LETTER 2 U ! ) 💌 ² ˚ ༘ fluff
୨୧ ‧ megumi didn’t think he was anything special, not until he received a carefully written love letter just for him <3
Tumblr media
like petals unfurling at dawn, my love for you blossoms as each waking day arises.
there’s something so enchanting about being in love, don’t you agree?
i like to believe it gives people a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions. most people i have seen turn poetic and elegiac when talking about the one they love, which i never quite understood until i fell in love myself. after all, how much can one change just because of another person? the thought had always seemed silly to me.
but if someone were to ask me to describe my feelings for you, i guess i would be a victim of just that.
loving you is a rather unpredictable experience. at times, you make me feel like the happiest person on earth. i get so giddy and whimsical just being around your presence, because you’re the most ethereal person. however, there are times when i’m worried you won’t burn for me the way i do for you. do you feel a fire light up in your soul whenever you see me?
my dearest, your presence is the melody that dances through the corridors of my heart. in the realm of moonlit whispers and star-kissed dreams, your love blooms in the garden of my soul, a symphony of sounds that show we coexist under the same sky. in every heartbeat, i find the rhythm of our connection, a serenade that weaves its way throughout our world. together, we compose a timeless sonnet of boundless affection.
i need to confess… i’ve loved you from the start ♡
Tumblr media
a faint blush overtook her features and sat mockingly on her cheeks, as if it waited to expose her inner feelings. she could barely feel the heat that radiated off it, everything in sync with the fast beating of her heart. the inconsistent rise and fall of her chest was synonymous the turmoil she felt deep inside.
her widened eyes held nothing less than affection for the boy who stood in front of her, as his eyes scanned the ivory paper in his hands.
fushiguro megumi, the one who had captured her heart with such grace.
it almost seemed silly, how much the boy had managed to enrapture ever fiber of her soul. after all— they hardly knew each other. she was astonished to find out that he had even known her name.
“this is a love letter?” megumi inquired, an inquisitive eyebrow raised almost as if to think it was silly. “for me?”
y/n’s head bobbed up and down in nervousness. she couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she was speaking to megumi. “yes! i know we don’t know each other well and you probably don’t like me like that, but i just-!”
“why… me?” y/n put a hold on her rambling to scan her eyes over to megumi, who had his eyeline focused on the letter in his hands.
y/n quirked her head to the side. “why not you?” the question was silly to her. “you probably think people don’t notice you, but they do. i do. i've always admired you, megumi.”
like delicate petals falling from a sakura painted sky, y/n was a blessing that had graced the earth- at least, in megumi’s eyes. he never considered he was anything special, and opted to just live his life as it passed him by. however with just one letter, y/n seemed to reweave the tapestry of his existence. the page, filled with words of love and heartfelt serenades, seemed to hold megumi’s heart within its grasp- and y/n was at the forefront of it all.
“but,” y/n began to speak again when she noticed megumi deep in thought. “you don’t need to like me back. i just wanted to let you know how i feel!”
a sad smile graced her face, and megumi hated being the cause of it.
“let’s get lunch.” megumi roughy stated without thinking, before correcting himself. “i meant, um, let’s get lunch together.” he couldn’t stop the blush the threatened its way up to his face, nor the fast pace of his heart.
with hushed tones and soft smiles, y/n and megumi began their way towards the lunch room. the air was adorned with the subtle symphony of love as their hearts synchronized. amidst the delicate cadence, the world melted into the background, leaving only the warmth of companionship and the promise of countless conversations yet to unfold.
it was the beginning of a perfect love.
Tumblr media
134 notes · View notes
obsessedwhyyes · 2 months ago
Text
A Tale of Fools and Tricksters (2)
Chapter 2: Looking Glass
Summary: The lingering tendrils of Astarion's enchantment take Elysia firmly in their hold. His glances, his gestures - they must surely be signs laid out just for her. Determined, Elysia sets off to find the elusive ringmaster, but confrontation, mystery, and reflection await her instead.
Rating: M Chapter Word Count: 5134 Pairing: Astarion x Fem!OC Content: Alternative Universe (Circus), Ringmaster Astarion, mild horror elements, eventual smut, eventual romance, basically a big whimsical (slightly dark, slightly trippy) fairytale of an AU. Chapter 1 can be found here.
Tumblr media
A/N: This is what I like to affectionately call, ‘The Delulu Chapter.’ She will only be insufferable for a little while, I promise. She’s just having her Alice in Wonderland phase - she’ll grow out of it.
A thousand breaths caught in perfect unison. 
A thousand hearts skipped the same beat.
Gasp. Cheer.
Sigh. Swoon.
The sounds rippled through the crowd in perfect synchronicity, rising and falling like the tide.
Elysia couldn’t recall sitting down, nor how she’d come to be in this seat, surrounded once more by the plush velvet and soft murmur of the audience.
Thoughts of the past felt, simply, weightless, drifting beyond her reach.
She was here now. And that was all that mattered.
The Ringmaster spoke, with sweeping gestures befitting a man of such grandiose.
"Now, while I'm captivating enough on my own..."
Elysia's lips curved upward. She hadn't chosen to smile.
"... I suppose I should share the stage with our other little wonders. Our family has prepared something special for you tonight.”
With a flourish, his cane conjured a shimmering curtain of starlight. The glowing veil parted to reveal the first performer.
“May I present… Aurelia, mistress of flames.”
A woman stepped forward, her crimson and gold costume gleaming like embers as hoops of fire encircled her body. The flames licked and coiled around her, alive, feral, yet completely under her control.
Elysia’s heart fluttered. Aurelia was extraordinary.
But she wasn't Astarion.
“... Leon, who gives weight to dreams.”
The strongman emerged next, the stage dimming as his large frame became the focal point. His arms, broad and powerful, lifted a shimmering, gilded ring that seemed impossibly heavy, its edges glimmering as it reflected the light of Aurelia’s fire.
Elysia’s pulse quickened. Leon was a marvel.
But he didn't wear the crowd’s adoration like Astarion wore his charm.
“... And Violet, who dances between stars.”
A silver hoop descended from above, and Violet with it. Suspended high in the air and wrapped with silks, she moved with an ethereal grace, her body twisting and arching as though weightless.
Elysia couldn't help but gasp. Violet was breathtaking.
But she didn't enchant like Astarion did.
He stood apart, just behind the performers, his cane in hand, mask gleaming faintly in the ethereal glow. He wasn't the one leaping or spinning or commanding the elements. Yet, he was the axis on which everything turned; the force that made the whole performance possible.
His eyes found hers in the crowd as she watched him.
Or did she imagine that?
Surely he saw her.
Surely he felt it too.
Elysia had often wondered if love at first sight truly existed.
Often, she told herself it was simply the fancy of poets and dreamers, a comforting illusion woven to make life feel fuller. No - to Elysia, love was something that grew slowly, like tending a garden through the seasons. Something that needed patience and time to truly take root.
Yet here, now, she had never been so certain of its existence.
Was it not love to hold a person the way Astarion held her? To pull her close, until her world narrowed to his smile, his lips, his gaze? He was like a vision from a dream half-remembered, and he held her there, suspended, bound by starlight and shadow, captivated.
Yes. Yes, this was surely love.
If it wasn't love, what else could it be?
The performers took their positions. At Astarion's signal, they began.
They moved as one, their acts weaving seamlessly together like threads in an intricate tapestry. Violet soared through the air on her silver hoop, her silks trailing in elegant arcs as Aurelia’s flaming rings spiralled around her, fire and starlight intertwining. Below, Leon’s gilded ring spun like a celestial anchor, catching and refracting the light as Violet leapt from her perch, her movements mirrored by the rise and fall of the flames. A dance of fire, silk, and shadow. Three acts became one impossible dance.
The stage was like a living dream. It compelled her to...
Rise. 
The audience stood. 
Lean forward. 
Their bodies tilted as one. 
Hold your breath. 
Elysia's lungs burned with the others'.
A thousand faces turned at once, a thousand smiles stretched in unison.
The finale built higher as a crescendo of daring and grace. Violet dove through a ring of flames, her silks igniting in a burst of golden light as Leon caught her descent.
Colours blurred. Sounds merged. 
Fire and shadow. Music and motion. 
How long had it been since Elysia felt this light? This free? The weight that normally pressed against her shoulders - responsibility, duty, the relentless presence of death - had dissolved like morning mist in the summer sun. Here, she felt as though nothing could touch her. Not grief, nor guilt.
Looking at the audience, she saw faces slack with wonder, eyes glazed with absolute adoration. They were gleeful in their rapture, yet none of them had danced with him as she had. None had felt his magic against their skin, the intimate press of starlight binding them together.
None of them had what Elysia had with Astarion. Of that much, she was certain.
Fire and starlight spiralled together as the performers created their final masterpiece of the night.
Then everything stopped.
Light itself seemed to hold its breath. Violet hung suspended between earth and sky, caught in Leon's impossible hold. Aurelia's flames froze mid-flicker, crystallising into fractals of burning light. For one eternal moment, reality balanced on a knife's edge.
At Astarion's gesture, the frozen tableau shattered into pure starlight. The performers emerged from the glittering cascade, moving in perfect synchronisation as they took their final bow. Above them, the last fragments of their magic rained down like falling stars.
The audience erupted in applause. 
Elysia’s hands moved to clap with them before she realised. 
She couldn’t resist. She would never want to resist.
“Thank you, thank you, dear souls.” Astarion held his hand to his chest, dipping his head once more in a theatrical bow that made the light catch in his silvery hair. “May your dreams find you, even as you find yourselves.”
His gaze swept the audience one last time. 
Elysia could have sworn his eyes rested on her for just a moment longer than the others.
The slight tilt of his head, the way his fingers traced the handle of his cane - they can't have been mere gestures.
They must have been a silent invitation. A promise.
Elysia could never miss such glaring signs, clearly made just for her.
The need to understand, to unravel the mystery surrounding him, pulled at her, stronger than the remnants of the spellbinding performance.
It wasn’t just curiosity - it was a hunger. To know him - to be near him - felt as necessary as breathing.
Astarion was leading. Elysia must follow.
As the lights dimmed, the audience, still humming with awe, began to drift toward the exit, their faces glazed with dreamlike adoration. But Elysia hung back for just a moment before beginning her descent towards the stage on subtle steps, her gaze fixed on the velvet curtain where Astarion and the performers had disappeared. Her breath caught as she saw them slip through, leaving a ripple in the fabric.
But what caught her attention was the faint, rhythmic chime that followed each figure as they passed through the curtain.
Her eyes narrowed. Bells. A line of small, silver bells was strung along the top of the curtain, barely visible unless you were looking for them. They swayed gently with each movement, their delicate chimes swallowed by the crowd’s applause. The purpose was clear: the faintest disturbance would alert those beyond.
Clever, she thought. But it was not enough to deter her.
Elysia’s heart could never be deterred.
She studied the curtain for a moment longer. The performers moved with such grace that the bells just barely sang as they passed. The key was clearly precision, not speed.
She waited until the crowd’s murmurs swelled, the noise rising like a tide. Then, as carefully as a surgeon threading a needle, she slipped forward. Her steps were deliberate, her movements measured. She placed her hands on the edge of the curtain, just below the bells, and pushed it aside with the lightest touch, letting the fabric shift naturally around her.
The bells quivered. Elysia froze, holding her breath. 
But no sound came.
She sighed in relief.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she eased herself through the opening, the dim light of the backstage area welcoming her into its shadows. She let the curtain fall back into place, the bells swaying gently above her head.
No one had noticed. Yet.
The backstage air was a stark contrast from the grand theatrics of the stage area - muted, cooler, dimly lit by flickering lanterns. The faint scent of smoke and incense tickled her nose as she pressed herself against the nearest wall. For a moment, she allowed herself a quiet breath, her heart still racing.
She made it in.
Now, she just had to find him.
Elysia moved deeper into the warren of corridors, each step careful and measured. This place felt like another world entirely - a place where magic shed its glamour and revealed its seams. Props leaned against walls like sleeping creatures. Costumes hung from hooks like shed skins, still holding the shape of their wearers.
Gaps in curtains revealed brief glimpses of the performers as she explored. There was something oddly intimate about seeing them outside the allure of their performance - like seeing a bird folding its wings after flight.
But then a familiar voice caught Elysia’s attention.
Following the sound, she found herself near an ornate door left slightly ajar, golden light spilling through the gap. She pressed herself against the wall beside it, drawn forward by the familiar cadence of his voice.
Astarion. She had found him.
Though, his voice was accompanied by another.
“... and there you go again.” This other voice - it too was familiar, though dripping with barely contained contempt. “Such pride from someone who–”
“Who actually holds their attention?” Astarion cut in. “Yes, how terribly proud of me. Tell me, Petras - how does it feel to be forgotten the moment I take the stage?”
Petras. The name stirred something within Elysia, but she couldn’t work out what. Had they met before?
"At least I know my place," Petras spat. "I don't delude myself with dreams of–"
"Delude myself?" Astarion's laugh held no humour. "How amusing, coming from someone who spends his nights rehearsing my routine. Tell me - has my shadow filed a complaint yet? Though I suppose it must be used to you chasing it by now.”
Elysia risked a glance through the gap and had to stifle a gasp.
The dressing room was filled with mirrors. They were everywhere: lining the walls, standing on ornate frames, creating an illusion of infinite space. Each reflection caught and multiplied the candlelight, creating a kaleidoscope effect that was both beautiful and disorienting. She caught a glimpse of the two men, and the contrast in them was uncanny. Petras’s simple gold mask seemed plain, almost crude, compared to the intricate filigree of Astarion's.
"You forget yourself," Petras said. "The master has schedules for a reason. And when you deviate–"
"The master," Astarion's voice took on a strange tone, "has more pressing concerns than your petty jealousies over a few minutes' delay, don’t you think? Or have you forgotten last month’s little incident?"
Silence as Petras’s words seemed to fail him momentarily.
This was it. This was Elysia’s chance.
"I’m sorry to intrude." she stepped forward tentatively as she spoke, her voice hopeful. "I hoped I might find you..."
Both men turned sharply in her direction.
Astarion’s fingers brushed the silver filigree at his throat before smoothing out the coif of his hair in one fluid motion. "My, my… aren't you the determined one?"
Petras appeared rather vindicated. "The master needs to hear about this.”
"Must he? And I suppose you'll explain how she got past your... what was it you called it? Your 'enhanced security measures'?"
The blond man stiffened. "I hardly think–"
“No, you so rarely do.” Astarion's smile didn't waver, but his eyes kept darting to the shadows behind Elysia. "Perhaps we should discuss your recent performance evaluations while we're at it?"
Something in the threat landed. Petras's eager reporting instinct warred visibly with self-preservation. After a moment of tense silence, he backed towards the door, pausing only to give Elysia a look that might even have been pity if it hadn’t looked so much like bitter indignation.
Elysia found herself quickly irked by him.
“This isn't over, Astarion,” Petras said as he slipped out the room, punctuated by the sound of the door latch clicking into place as he closed it.
Being alone with Astarion felt different than she'd imagined - more real somehow. Her heart fluttered against her chest like a trapped bird.
But she was nothing if not determined. She knew she was right where she needed to be.
His smile brightened, though there was a tightness to it that Elysia couldn't quite place. “Forgive the uncouth display, darling. Some people simply can't help but be tiresome.”
"I came as quickly as I could," Elysia said quickly, watching as his fingers drifted again to his collar, then to adjust his already-perfect hair. “I know I should’ve waited for a proper introduction, but sometimes…” She felt heat rise to her cheeks at her own boldness. “Sometimes the heart knows when something is important.”
"You know," he began, "most admirers content themselves with flowers. Or swooning. Swooning is traditional. But you had to make things interesting, didn't you?"
"I suppose I'm not very traditional." Elysia smiled, her heart fluttering as he approached. In the mirrors surrounding them, a thousand reflections of Astarion moved in perfect synchronisation. And Elysia’s reflection was there with him. 
They were a study in contrasts - Elysia in her simple dress and blouse seemed grounded and unadorned, like earth; Astarion, in his intricate attire, was otherworldly in his theatrical splendour. Yet somehow the juxtaposition felt right - as though her very plainness made his ethereal beauty more striking, while his presence lent her simplicity a kind of grace.
Her lips parted as the thought flitted through her mind: We look good together.
“Our dance earlier - I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
“Few have. The magic of the festival is rather unique, wouldn’t you say?”
"And the way you commanded the stage..." Elysia began, but something in his posture made her pause. Even in the mirrors, she could see the slight tension in his shoulders.
"Command?" His laugh was almost musical. “Darling, I merely... suggest. Guide. Though speaking of guidance..." His eyes darted again to the shadows behind her, quick as a heartbeat. "You realise, of course, that I'm being remarkably generous about this whole affair. Most who find their way backstage discover a far less..." Another touch of his collar. "...accommodating reception."
Elysia’s pulse steadied, her smile turning faintly knowing. Of course, he had to maintain this necessary pretence - charm wrapped in formality, words dipped in grace. It wasn’t for her benefit, not truly. After all, what would the others think if they knew he'd invited someone backstage? No, these little warnings were just another performance, meant for any eyes that might be watching. Beneath it all she could feel it - something unspoken.
"I know this is a little unconventional…” 
"Unconventional? What a delicate way to phrase it. You do have quite the gift for making impropriety sound almost charming."
Elysia’s smile faltered as she met his gaze. “I just thought…” Her voice softened, the words catching like a hesitant breath. “I thought you wanted me to find you. It– it felt like I had to.”
Why? The question rose sharp and sudden in her mind. The urgency that had drawn her here felt familiar somehow, like an old song played in a different key.
“And here I thought I was the one with a penchant for dramatics,” Astarion said. “You give me far too much credit, my dear.”
His words were laced with humour, yet, he hadn’t denied it. The pull she’d felt couldn’t have been imagined. It was too strong, too undeniable. Surely he had wanted her to find him. Surely he’d left some trace, some sign meant just for her.
Hadn’t he?
Her lips parted, but the words she wanted to say dissolved before they could take shape. She glanced away, her gaze catching on the mirrors around them. Her reflection stared back infinitely, as though mocking her uncertainty.
And Astarion… there was something tight in the way he held himself now, like a performer who'd spotted a crack in their stage.
"Come, darling. Let’s not tempt fate by lingering here any longer. You’ve already wandered somewhere terribly dangerous.”
He took a step closer, his presence commanding her attention as though he’d physically pulled her from her thoughts.
That silken voice. 
That perfect presence. 
He's so close.
Her thoughts - those pesky doubts - scattered like startled birds.
He offered her his arm, a gesture so effortlessly charming that it made her heart flutter. 
He was right. 
Of course, he was right. 
There was nothing for her here. 
Only him.
And so she followed.
She hesitated for only a moment before slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow. His closeness brought with it a scent she hadn't noticed before - herbal and bright, with citrus and the faintest hint of something darker, richer; elegant as everything else about him. The kind of scent that made you want to lean closer, to search for its source. It took all her composure not to do exactly that.
"Consider this a gift. My generosity in exchange for your… discretion.”
He paused at the room’s threshold, glancing as though expecting something to appear from the shadows. “Shall we? The night market is particularly enchanting at this hour. All manner of delights to distract from more... dangerous pursuits."
"The night market?" Something about his insistence made her heart beat faster. 
The dim lantern light flickered as he escorted her through winding corridors, throwing his silhouette into sharp relief against the shadows.
"Oh, the things you'll see there," he continued, speaking faster. "Delicacies that would make your finest confectioners weep. Treasures that would make merchants' hearts stop. All manner of pretty little diversions. Much more interesting than these tired old backrooms.”
His steps were swift. Hasty.
Elysia fought to keep pace.
“And of course,” he said suddenly, his voice carrying a cheerfulness that teetered on the edge of too bright, “there’s a spectacular display of silks at one of the stalls. Ah, you’d adore them - exquisite craftsmanship, really, though I must admit I’ve never been terribly partial to magenta myself.”
The sounds of laughter and music drew closer. 
He glanced at her briefly, his eyes catching the light before darting back ahead. “Oh, and Dalyria with her card readings, the truths she reveals are quite– ah, but did I mention the night market?”
“You did.”
“Well, it bears repeating,” he replied too quickly. “Because it truly is a marvel. So much to see. So much to enjoy.”
The cane in his free hand tapped out a rhythm that didn't quite match his steps.
“Perfectly harmless, of course,” he added, his gaze darting briefly to the shadows behind them, before he turned back to her with another dazzling smile.
They emerged from behind the heavy curtains into the festival proper, where the eternal twilight cast everything in soft, dreamy hues. Something about the change in lighting made the shadows under his eyes more pronounced – had those been there during the performance?
"There now," Astarion said. His fingers found his collar one final time before dropping away. "Isn't this better? All the wonder, none of the... complications. Though do remember, darling - you now owe me quite the favour."
"Will I see you again?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Astarion stilled for the briefest moment, his smile frozen in place. Then he laughed.
"Oh, darling, the festival has a way of bringing people together, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t fret too much about when or how."
His answer wasn’t what she wanted, and something in her bristled. "That’s not what I meant," she said. "I think… I think I need to see you again."
That made him pause, his eyes catching hers. There was something almost imperceptible in his gaze - whether it was curiosity or resignation, Elysia couldn’t tell.
"Need is such a dangerous word," he murmured, tilting his head just slightly. "You sound so certain, yet you hardly know me."
"But I do..."
Did she? The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
"... I feel like I do," she continued, looking to her feet.
"Do you, now?" he asked, his voice soft, almost indulgent. “What is it you think you see in me?”
“I…”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he closed the space between them in an instant. He reached out, his fingers brushing her chin, tilting her head so she was forced to meet his gaze. Her breath caught, the world narrowing until there was only him.
He leaned in, his gaze holding her captive. “Or perhaps you don’t see at all. Perhaps there’s something else you want.” His hold on her jaw firmed for a moment. “Ah. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To lose yourself in me?”
The words hit her like a physical blow. Her chest tightened, heat rising to her cheeks as she struggled to find her voice, but it was useless.
He held her gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
But then he sighed.
"I thought so," he said quietly, almost to himself. "They always do."
He stepped back, his hand falling away.
"You’re bold, love," Astarion said at last. "It’s a charming trait, truly. But sometimes boldness gets people hurt."
"I’m not afraid.” Elysia held his gaze as steadily as she could muster.
"Of course you’re not," he replied, his smile broadening slightly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Fear rarely has a place here. It’s part of the magic, you see. But magic is just smoke and mirrors, isn’t it? It’s the truth underneath that tends to cut."
She felt the weight of his words but couldn’t fully grasp their meaning. His presence seemed to drown out everything else.
"The festival is a place for dreams, my dear," he said, taking a step back and sweeping into a graceful bow. "Don’t waste yours chasing shadows."
And then he was gone. The ripple of velvet curtains was the only trace of his departure as he returned to the shadows of the Big Top.
Elysia was alone.
The festival’s brilliance seemed to dim in his absence, its colours muted, its magic just a little less potent.
The crowd moved around her, their faces alight with joy and wonder, yet, with the Ringmaster gone, she felt curiously untethered. She glanced up at the sky, expecting some shift in its eternal dusk, but it remained unchanged. The colours of twilight bled together seamlessly, the horizon a perpetual liminal space between day and night.
Just how much time had passed?
A flicker of movement at the edge of Elysia’s vision caught her attention. She turned her head - an elderly woman brushed past her, a golden locket swinging from her neck.
Elysia blinked, confusion blooming in her chest. She looked strangely familiar.
The realisation came slowly. She had seen this woman before - on the journey to the festival. In the carriage. But the details of that memory felt slippery, like trying to grasp water in her hands. The more she reached for it, the more it eluded her.
Her movements were strange, almost mechanical, as though her body remembered how to walk but her mind had forgotten why. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, and her lips moved soundlessly.
Elysia’s heart stirred with unease. She didn’t know why, but the sight of the woman set her teeth on edge. She couldn’t name the feeling, only that it was urgent and wrong. Her instincts flared, urging her to follow, even as another part of her hesitated.
It doesn’t matter. She’s not your concern.
No, Elysia thought. That’s not right, is it?
Elysia’s steps moved before she could think, her feet carrying her toward the woman. She didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish. But the woman needed help. Elysia didn’t know how she knew that - she didn’t know much of anything anymore - but the certainty burned fiercely in her chest.
“Excuse me! Miss?” she called. “Wait, please!”
The woman didn’t respond.
Elysia pushed through the thinning crowd. The further she followed, the harder it became to focus. It was like wading through molasses, her thoughts sticky and sluggish, her body pulling toward retreat.
The woman turned down a dim, narrow path that branched away from the bright stalls. Elysia froze at its threshold. The glow of the festival barely reached this place, its light casting weak, flickering shadows that clung to the walls like cobwebs. Something about this place felt hidden. Forbidden.
But the woman was already disappearing into its depths.
“Wait!” Elysia called again, stepping onto the path despite the gnawing unease in her chest.
Go back. It’s not your ti–
No. She’s unwell.
Her legs kept moving. Her pulse raced. It thrummed in her ears as she quickened her pace.
The path twisted unpredictably, narrowing with every turn. The vibrant energy of the festival dimmed further with each step, the laughter and music fading into a distant hum. The air smelled stale, yet sickly-sweet.
A glint caught Elysia’s eye.
The locket around the woman’s neck caught the light as it tumbled to the ground. She didn’t seem to notice.
Elysia bent to retrieve the locket, its metal surprisingly cold against her palm. When she looked up again, the woman was already disappearing down a narrow corridor she hadn't noticed before - a space between tents that seemed to fold in on itself, as though reality had developed a crease.
"Wait!" She started forward, locket clutched tight. "Please, your–"
The passage seemed to narrow as she followed, the walls of fabric pressing in until she had to turn sideways to continue. Each step forward made her heart beat faster, a creeping anxiety that whispered she should turn back, return to the lights and music and…
The thought slipped away as she caught sight of something ahead - not the woman, but a glint of light where there shouldn't be any. A broken mirror propped against what might have been a wall, its surface reflecting impossibly deep shadows. Something about its angle seemed wrong, as though it were reflecting a space that didn't exist.
She reached out, meaning only to steady herself against its frame.
But then her hand went through.
And then, she was tumbling.
Tumblr media
The fall lasted both forever and no time at all.
Darkness rushed past her like silk against her skin. Stars wheeled overhead, though there was no sky - only the endless sensation of tumbling through space. The air grew thick, sweet, then suddenly thin, as though she were passing through layers of different worlds.
But then she landed as though caught by unseen hands, placed in a world that was eerily still.
When she stood, she found herself in a sprawling room filled with broken reflections. Mirrors upon mirrors. But they were broken, fractured, warped, split into jagged shards.
She moved through the space carefully, each step stirring motes of dust.
Around her lay forgotten remnants of the festival - tattered banners drooping limply from hooks and, scattered like silent witnesses, old stuffed animals. Two of them caught her eye. Two foxes, one bound tightly in rusted shackles. It seemed so small, its fur faded to a dull grey. The second fox lay unshackled, its chains broken and discarded at its feet. But it was no better off. Its seams were split, its stuffing spilling in soft piles onto the floor.
Her gaze flicked back to the rippling mirror she had stepped through. Unlike the others, it was untouched by age or damage, its liquid-like surface shimmering faintly in the dim light.
The air felt… different here. Clearer. Like breaking the surface after being underwater for too long - that first gasp that makes you realise how thick the water had been. Like waking from a dream you can't quite remember.
Like… shattering an illusion.
She took a step back. The clarity struck her like ice water. She could think here. The enormity of it made her stomach twist. What had been clouding her mind before? And why did the thought of returning to that haze terrify her as much as it tempted her?
Elysia pressed a hand to her heart, desperately trying to will away that ache that lingered in her chest.
Looking up, she saw her reflection watching her, the fractured edges of the mirrors around it splintering her image into countless fragments. Some stared back with clarity, others with a dazed, almost blissful expression. She reached out toward the nearest shard, then stopped herself, her hand trembling.
‘Lose yourself’…? She recalled Astarion’s words.
The foxes seemed to watch her in silence.
Tumblr media
Astarion looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The Ringmaster stared back.
Isn't it funny how, with all these reflections, you can never truly see yourself?
He tilted his head slightly, studying the masked man before him. The sweep of his silver hair, the gleam of his skin, the curve of his lips - all perfect.
As they should be.
He sighed and allowed his gaze to drop, breaking the spell of his own stare.
He was alone. 
As he should be.
His eyes fell to his hands. They rested on the dressing table, pale fingers curling loosely around the carved wood. Such pretty lies they weaved tonight.
The silence of the room pressed against his ears, but he welcomed it.
It was better this way.
No expectations. No deceptions.
His hands tightened on the table.
The sound came softly at first. A faint jingling. Like the rattling of bones.
His stomach twisted.
No.
It wasn't his turn.
The sound grew louder, steady and deliberate. The delicate chime of something unnatural.
It can't be my turn.
Mist began to coil at his feet, swirling around his boots. The sickly-sweet scent of it clung to the air.
He'd done the right thing. He'd kept his smile, he’d played his part.
As he always should.
The jingling stopped.
He willed his face into stillness, smooth and unreadable.
A new sound emerged, sharp and distinct.
Tap.
Pause.
Tap.
Pause.
Claws against wood. They tapped slowly against the wooden door frame behind him.
Astarion raised his head slowly, forcing himself to meet his reflection once more.
The Ringmaster. Perfectly composed. Perfectly in control.
A thousand masks, a thousand lies, and somewhere beneath them all, a scream that never ended.
But, in his periphery, he saw him.
Standing in the doorway, motionless, bathed in shadow.
Watching him.
Smiling.
Tumblr media
No Pressure Tag List: @roguishcat @davenswitcher @silverfangmarks @sparrowbard @chonkercatto @stokzr @trafalgarussy @asterordinary @bite-me-tonight @transparentkittenheart @hfxgamora @bg3-fanfic-reblogs
Masterlist can be found here!
41 notes · View notes
sokkigarden · 2 years ago
Note
hi!! i am a sucker for the fake dating trope and i was hoping you could do a Jamie x reader fake dating thing? i would literally die <3
me and @whimsical-roasting were LITERALLY JUST talking about this tee hee so shoutout to her! i’m also obsessed w fake dating i hope you like this anon! <3 this is sorta the beginnings so maybe i’ll write part 2 if y’all like it ? lol
jamie tartt x reader | fake dating au drabble
it would start out at a bar or something definitely. you don’t know much about football but suddenly this really hot guy is draping his arm around your shoulder to get this creep to leave you alone. “hey babe, sorry it took so long,” he’d say and tuck some hair behind your ear, making eye contact with you so you know he’s playing it up to get this dude to leave.
the guy finally gets the hint and leaves you alone with the mystery guy. he’s looking at you expectantly but you don’t really know what to say.
“you have mates around here somewhere?” he asks, and you’d point to your friend who was presently making out with some guy in a corner booth. this bar was kinda exclusive and she’s dragged you along because she wanted to see some celebs and you hoped whoever she was kissing was at least mildly famous for her sake.
“no way, the blonde? she’s snogging my teammate,” he replies
“teammate?”
“yeah, i’m a footballer.”
“ohhhh, like professionally?”
you clearly don’t know anything about football if you don’t know him, but the question makes him laugh as he nods. your cluelessness is honestly endearing.
you thank him for helping with the creep and he offers to buy you a drink which quickly leads to spending the rest of the evening hanging out with him. you ask him stupid questions about football and then start trading stories about life.
it was a pretty platonic night aside from some light flirting but you couldn’t help but flirt with a fit footballer you’ll probably never see again.
until a picture of you next to him at the bar ends up on twitter. and your face is now trending.
you expect that it’ll pass by after a few days but then you see your face on the telly. followed up with a statement by jamie saying he’s happy with his new gf and would prefer people to stay out of his love life.
which is why you end up at the afc richmond training facility front desk asking to see your “boyfriend”
“why did you tell people i’m your girlfriend? are you insane?”
“uhhhhh”
truth be told the richmond boys had been ribbing him about the picture and he hadn’t wanted to deny it. and then some nosy reporter asked him about you in a pub and he thought a simple comment asking for privacy would be enough to calm things instead of fueling the fire.
jamie didn’t know what he was thinking. but the press hadn’t been super nice to him recently so he thought dating a nice low profile girl would help his image.
“and were you… i don’t know… ever going to mention this to me???”
“uhhhhh”
“oi, Jamie, is this your girl? she coming to the match tomorrow?”
one of jamie’s teammates clapped him on the shoulder and smiled at you before going into the locker room. his words intrigued you though. already a plan was forming in your head.
“would you… be able to get me tickets to matches? in exchange for being your fake gf?”
realization dawned on jamie’s face at your proposal and he nodded.
“i can get you VIP tickets, you and a mate? i’ll throw in a tartt jersey too. if you wear it, people might stop giving me so much slack. see i’ve changed.”
you held out your hand for him to shake and he did, squeezing it instead of letting go immediately. you looked into his eyes.
this plan could clearly mean trouble if you thought too much about how pretty he was. and how nice he seemed. and the feel of his hand in yours.
you were in so much trouble.
274 notes · View notes
cherry-pop-elf · 8 months ago
Text
Warm Rain Kisses
Westley Vuk x Reader
I had married Westley so I got a burst of needed endorphins. It’s also a AMAZING game. Pls I need mutuals who play this game
Summary: A rainy day on the farm calls for some needed cuddles with your newly acquired puppy of a husband
Tumblr media
“Darling, you are just drenched-!” Your husband would shout, as your soggy body entered the home. Everything was soaked, and your boots were even filled with water. That rain storm came out of nowhere, and it was hitting hard. With lighting cracking outside.
“Seem’s to me Violet may have made her incantation a little too potent.” You admit, as you would pull your shoes off. You swore a fish came out of it even. Cleocatra would enjoy it, at least.
“I’ll go fetch you a change of clothes.” Weasley said, as he would hurry to the closet. He did his best to be careful, as it had been past sunset. Big paws and all. He’s had years of practice, and you made it your soul mission to write your own mending incantation. Just for him. That way he could stress less. Gramma would have been so proud.
“The chores are all done, at least. Frozen over here.” You shivered, as you had to take everything off. Even with being married, and having had many an encounter that resulted in damaged clothes, your husband still got so bashful around your naked body. You two have long since enjoyed a wonderful honeymoon, but here he was. Covering his eyes with sleepwear he grabbed for you. Had you giggle. That’s the man you married.
“I’ll get some underwear on, don’t worry.” You teased him. With a peck to his furry cheek you were off. Left him all a fluster. How you adored teasing him. Your big ‘scary’ wolf of a husband, still able to be so gentle in such a massive form.
With proper undergarments on, you returned to the living room. You might wear was laid out, and you could hear him already working in the kitchen. If the mutters of Russian curses at dropped items said anything to you.
Warm clothes, a warm fire place, and the works of tea. That’s what your cold skin needed. Also, cuddles. Lots of them. He was more than happy to provide such, as he would return with a tray of needed treats.
“Figured I would try something a little different. My mother loved to make warm drinks for me, and my brother, whenever we returned hunting. Even in the snow you can lose a lot of fluids. She liked to make it a little challenge for herself. To try and make something a little different.” Westley would explain to you, before he laid on the floor. Now your big pillow to cuddle, as the towel he had also grabbed was in your hand. Ruffling at your hair to dry.
“Oooo. Hot chocolate!” You perked up, and were excited. Something sweet. Oh he knew you well. Hardly bothered with your hair anymore, before you were quick to take your cup. Nearly burned your tongue, but it was so worth it.
“Kai always finds the best chocolate.” You cooed, as you laid against your husband. Enjoying his furry touch, and the way he breathed. Such big breaths. How his heart beat was so visible. Some call it morbid. You call it beautiful.
“He really does. Maybe if we were to ever reveal ourselves one day, he should be who we speak to first. He seems the most likely to be open minded.” He figured, as he yawned. Poor man was exhausted, but he was always willing to wait for you.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if he already has met some FaeFolk. He’s been all over the place. Maybe he never brought it up because of that. He knows better than to risk their secret. Respects nature, after all. The way he talks about the water just seems too whimsical…” You would agree, as you watched the fire place.
“Exactly. Along with the books he seems to enjoy, and how whatever I recommend seems to be something he’s aware of. World travelers tend to be more open minded.” Your husband would agree, as he gave a long stretch. Made his joints pop just right, as he would yawn.
“Today was a good day.” You would nod, with pride. You finished some candles, have potions and time freeze spells stacked for your mining trip tomorrow, finished some aging wines for your hubby to enjoy, the animals were checked on, you did alot in one day. Busy, but that’s how you liked it.
“I’m so glad. I wish I could do more for you, but I can only be in two places so often.” Your husband would sigh. That made you kiss his fuzzy little ear. He was doing so much. He deserved rest all the same. Just because you two had different jobs didn’t mean he didn’t deserve any less rest.
“You are doing the best you can. I love you so much for that.” You would finish your drink, before you simply curled up against him. No need a bed tonight. He was just perfect like this. The warm fire place, the rain storm outside, and the heavy breathing of your Westley. What more could you want?
“Suppose I’m stuck here for the night.” He chuckled, before he would nuzzle his muzzle against your cheek. His wet nose kissed your cheek, and that made you giggle. You loved his little doggy kisses. And in turn, he loved giving them. It made the burden of being a werewolf not so bad. You loved BOTH sides of him. His human, and fae, sides. Him. Simply him.
“Good night, sweetheart. Love you. Love you so much.” He whispered, in that gravely voice of his. A sleepy ‘love you more’ was returned, and he chuckled. Hardly could stay awake any longer. It was just a slice of heaven in that moment. Warmth, and love.
What more could a witch want?
Tumblr media
25 notes · View notes
the-travelling-witch · 1 month ago
Note
Hi hi holly! Hehe Can we hear more about Carmilla? (and if you’ve decided on who her potential partner is 👀)
hi tato!! omg ofc you can!! where do i even start though… probably by saying this is going to be messy ^^; i may have a lot of thoughts but that doesn’t mean that any of them are connected or possible to translate into words jshshs
first of all, i put a little thought into her name that i think sums up her vibe pretty well. carmilla sounds a lot like camilla (harmless little plant, also good for calming down) but it’s actually taken from the vampire carmilla (dangerous, seductive, draining people’s energy yk like her unique magic). her last name comes from the hawthorn tree (but with an e tagged on for aesthetics), which are also called fairy trees and i think the magical, whimsical and mischievous vibe of fairies is exactly what i want her to be ^^
she wasn’t actually twisted from a disney character at first but i’ve went and kinda assigned her the will-o-wisps from brave, which would also fit the fairy/fox fires i’ve described floating around her before; i haven’t settled on a definitive incantation for her unique magic yet but it’ll be sth along the lines of “I’m your light in the darkness, you’ll follow me blindly. If you take, you must give. Share the Love.” or at least that’s my last draft of a spell jshhsh
since she’s not a beastman but a fae, i was thinking that she gains an additional tail with every 100 years she’s lived like a kitsune (though she would always just show one anyway). i was thinking that she’s close to 200, kinda like malleus, and would get a third tail “soon”.
as for the partner i’ve picked for her, he has not changed since the last time we spoke (or well, i rambled). he shares her partially teal colour palette, he schemes and plots, he is… jade leech!!
dramatics is what they would want
my reasoning is still pretty much the same as it has been when i first thought of it. for one, jade is one of my faves, so putting him in more hcs is always a win in my books. but also, he’s mature and confident enough to handle a relationship with an idol who flirts her way into many hearts (that unique magic has to be fuelled somehow) without taking it personally. sure he might activate the fake pout for sympathy afterwards but both of them know he’s just being funny. also i just want to see what these two would get up to (sorry azul, sorry nrc)
i’ve already rambled about how i can see carmilla visiting mostro lounge after a concert. it’s already past closing time and jade is the only one still there, wiping down the counter and the glasses behind the bar. she’d slip onto one of the bar stools, watching with a smile as he’s already making her favourite drink, asking if everything went well (he can already tell by the way she’s basically glowing with her unique magic). they continue their small talk until they go to bed… how fortunate that jade always happens to be the one closing up when carmilla has a performance~
(yes floyd is used to it but if azul or jamil ask about where carmilla has been, neither of three know anything about it)
also, as an idol, carmilla is quite used to being involved in rumours and fortunately jade seems to find them amusing instead of getting bothered by them
i can see them chilling in bed, watching a movie or being on their phones after spending the day together as she happens across a headline trying to pin her in a dating scandal
carmilla, on her phone, snuggled up against jade: hey did you know i was spotted in a restaurant i’ve never been to with a male idol this evening?
jade, fake gasping: to think that you would cheat on the mostro lounge like this, dear, i’m very hurt
carmilla, wiping a fake tear: i’m so sorry, i just can’t help myself
your honour, i just think they’d be fun together. also going hiking with jade would be great for her to clear her head and get away from it all while still exercising <3
(+ she was born in a briar valley forest, she probably knows some whacky mushrooms and plants she can tell him about)
7 notes · View notes
byuntrash101 · 2 years ago
Text
Fairy dust
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
reader x dom!baekhyun
smut | nsfw | mdni
soft dom!baek, soulmate!au, fantasy!au, marking, praising, handjob, nipple play, pet name (baby, angel), outdoor (whimsical forest), unprotected sex, cum inside, size kink (a lil bit), reader is petite i mean she's a fairy so it checks out, brief cockwarming, wholesome, you guys just love each other and you're so cute
requested | part of my 2023 prompts event
As a fairy you are about to commit the unthinkable, show your true self to a human. But Baekhyun is different. You only have to trust the Spirit of the Forest guiding you to him.
[❛ what if i hurt you? ❜ + ❛ you won’t hurt me. ❜]
TUMBLR IS BASED ON REBLOGS. PLEASE REBLOG MY WORK 🖤
Tumblr media
a/n: welcome home baby <3
As a fairy you are about to commit the unthinkable, show your true self to a human. But Baekhyun is different. You only have to trust the Spirit of the Forest guiding you to him.
idea : fairy reader, human!baekhyun reader is petite and frail and baekhyun is scare to hrt her. soft dom.
You took a deep sigh as you tried to relax, feeling your heart beat flush against your ribs. But how could you? What you were about to do was crazy, completely crazy. 
Baekhyun was a human. 
Not ever in the history of your village has a human saw a fairy’s true form. Humans were vile, they were destroyers, they could not be trusted under any circumstances.
And yet you trusted him.
Baekhyun was much different from the other humans you had ever seen. You found him for the first time trying to get close to a wounded fox. At first you wrongly assumed he was toying with the poor animal. Somehow drawing joy out of the creature’s suffering.
Your first instinct was to flee but as a fairy you were the prime guardian of the forest so the little speck of light that you were, hid behind a thick tree trunk. Waiting for the bad man to finally grow tired of the helpless cries of the small fox to come to its rescue. With a touch of fairy dust its injured leg would be good as new.
But after a while you noticed how Baekhyun was actually trying to sooth the animal. Gently stroking its fiery fur with the back of his delicate hands, speaking in a quiet reassuring tone. Even if he thought there was not much he could do except be there for the poor little thing until its time had come.
You were absolutely astonished by this scene. It was the first time you saw a human venture this deep into your woods without being armed with one of these fire tubes that shoot metal balls. Baekhyun was kind hearted, patient. Just good.
At the same time you needed to act fast. The fox was bleeding out of its leg. And granted Baekhyun couldn’t do much apart from waiting with the poor animal. You, on the other hand, had the power to change the outcome of the creature's fate… So without a second thought and before it was too late you lept out of your hiding spot, flapping your wings as fast as you could. Getting just close enough swiftly blow some healing fairy dust into the creature's open wound and treat it. You flew away as fast as you came in, not even taking the time to watch the bloody wound close itself back helped by your magic. You wanted one thing: run to your village and be out of danger.
Baekhyun on the other hand didn’t miss the mysterious ball of light coming close to vanish the next second, frantically flickering away. Without hesitation he ran after it. He chased it, voice pleading to the light to halt. He ran as fast as he could but the light easily distanced him. Effortlessly wavering between the branches while Baekhyun was struggling to shimmy between the imposing centennial trees, his feet tripping  over their thick roots and slipping on the malleable and wet ground.
Before he could realize the light fluttered away and you were out of sight leaving his broken pleads behind you. 
But Baekhyun came back the next day and the day after that one and the day after that one. Days turned into weeks, into months but he never stopped coming to the sacred glade. He waited for you everyday until dusk. He knew he wasn't crazy, he knew you were real. Even when you stayed hidden somehow he felt your presence and talked to you hours on end never hearing your voice talking back to him. But he never let go of this hope.
One day you dared the unthinkable. You answered him. You spoke to him. Baekhyun had no words to express the happiness he felt. As time went by you grew close to one another. You spoke everyday and sometimes you didn’t even say anything Baekhyun was just content getting to stare at the comforting light. 
And this unexpected encounter blossomed into a friendship which, in time, also blossomed into something else…
“Hi y/n” his voice chirped from behind you. You jumped. And Baekhyun laughed. This clear laugh that you came to know and love. 
You flew all around his face scolding him not to creep up on you like this. Baekhyun flowed with his creased and amused eyes the frantic light around him. You were so cute he just couldn’t help it.
He held his palm flat in the air and you landed on it. The warm feeling of his hand brought comfort to your heart, briefly allowing yourself to think about something else than what you had in mind all day.
Baekhyun asked about your day, and talked about his. His chestnut brown hair shining under the delicate rays of the sun. But somehow there was an ounce of melancholy in his fading smile.
“Sometimes I wish I could be like you” he sighed, eyes hanging between nothingness.
“What do you mean?” you asked, tilting your head to the side, even though he couldn’t distinguish that.
“Just live here in the forest, far away from the world, far from the cold. Be a small ball of light like you” Baekhyun looked back at you with a sad half smile. 
“You know… I’m not a ball of light that is only the form I take to navigate and guard the forest. I'm not really this small.” you didn’t expect Baekhyun to look at you with such shock, he opened his mouth to speak but was immediately interrupted by an intense cough. While he was choking on air he brought his hands to his chest and you were forced to leave your comfortable seat on his palm. 
“What?” he started in a strangled voice “how come you never told me?”
“I don’t know I guess it never came up”
“So that means your village isn’t a bunch of cute miniature houses in a hollow tree hidden somewhere in the forest?” 
“Well… in a sense it is hidden in the forest, yes. But no it isn’t miniature” you chuckled. Which even if he couldn’t see he picked up on. And he started laughing along with you, this was healing you. Healing him. This felt natural. Like the Great Spirit of the Forest themselves put him in your path that faithfull day.
Silence fell between you. After a moment of hesitation you started again.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” you turned your face to him, even if he couldn’t see he still felt your nervous tone.
“Ask what?” he replied, closing his eyes peacefully as a ray of light was piercing through the canopy. 
“What I look like” 
“No” he answered without opening his eyes. “That’s not something I should ask. Maybe it's against your rules to show yourself, maybe you can’t outside the village, maybe you’re uncomfortable with it, and other reasons I can't name.”
Your eyes started to prickle with tears at his response. You could have never imagined a human being this respectful to another creature. But Baekhyun was like this, respectful, caring. He had so much love in his heart for Life. From the thick and ancient trees, to the ladybug navigating its ribbed bark, to the delicate flower blooming at its roots. Baekhyun had love for Nature.
“Besides, if you wanted to, you would have shown me” he added.
And you wanted to. This was right. You knew that in your heart. Now you just needed to trust the Spirit of the Forest guiding you.
Without another word you lifted yourself, opening your wings. Baekhyun whipped his head to your direction when he saw the little ball of light grow. You radiated a familiar warmth that soothed the atmosphere like a warm open foyer in the middle of december. The light grew bigger and brighter until someone he never saw but knew emerged from it. 
Your bare feet gently landed on the mossy floor as your iridescent purple dragonfly wings gently flapped behind you. Baekhyun was in aw, jaw hanging loose as he eyes you in disbelief. You were cladded in bright healthy green leaves that hugged your frame tightly and long flower petals formed a skirt on your hips. Your beautiful healthy hair cascading onto your bare shoulder and your mysterious and enticing purple eyes bashfully looking back at him. If Baekhyun was to die right now he would do so while being the happiest he ever was.
Just looking at you filled him with plenitude. He felt like he had ascended to heaven. Like he was looking right at the face of an angel gracing him with a coy smile.
“Y/n” he whispered. He opened his mouth to speak but you panicked. If he spoke you would know for sure what he thought of you, the real you and you didn’t want to know. You wanted to enjoy the uncertainty a little longer.
So you kissed him. Prompting yourself up your tippy toes to link his lips with yours, your small hand gently laying on his big chest. At first he tensed up, but then you felt him relax into you, his hands gently wrapped around your waist to bring you closer to his body. When you parted your heart was hammering against your rib and beating in your eardrums, instantly missing his warmth on your lips.
“You are stunning y/n” Baekhyun whispered with a fond smile while gently stroking your back.
“Thank you” you returned the smile. “You don't look bad either”
But you wanted more of him. You kissed him again but this time deeper. Your hands held him tighter and you pressed your small body against his big one, linking your hips. You licked at his lips wanting to taste him and he let you. You moaned into his mouth when his hands instinctively went south, floating on the small of your back going down even further.
When you parted from him and took a step back Baekhyun looked at you puzzled and confused.
“Baekhyun…” you started hesitantly. “I came here today for a very specific reason.” You started while he listened carefully. “I came here to be linked with you…”
“Of c-” but you cut him.
“If you say yes… your life will change forever. You’ll be stripped of your humanity and you’ll become a fairy like me.” Your heart was pounding in your throat, threatening to jump out your mouth at any time.
Baekhyun took both your petite hands in his big warm ones, gently wrapping them with care. When you lifted your eyes back to him his face was beaming, tears brimming at his eyes.
“There’s nothing I desire more than to be with you and be part of your world” he whispered in one single breath. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off your shoulders.
“I love you y/n”
“I love you too” you replied simply returning his radiant smile as both your hearts sang in unison, binded by love long before this moment consecrated it.
“Now for the passing ritual…” you said, blushing at the idea of what was to come. You lightly tapped on three specific parts of your organic dress and slowly the leaves wrapping rounded your bust and the petals around your hips opened up. Baekhyun was in admiration, to him it was like seeing the most beautiful of flowers blooming after a long winter, piercing through the melting snow to let its beauty shine under the still timid sun. You were magnificent. 
Baekhyun drank in your most natural form, mouth agape as he had trouble wrapping his mind around what his eyes were perceiving. You were the most stunning being he ever laid eyes on, that he was already certain of but to see you completely undress for him, ready for him. Him only... It rocked his world beyond recognition.
You were a little shameful at the idea of exposing yourself but you didn’t cover, you wanted him to see you. With a flick of your wrist Baekhyun’s clothes evaporated into purple dust. And finally you could see him too.
Your eyes trailed down from his long slender neck to his collarbones to his toned abs and to his lower stomach. 
You unconsciously pressed your thighs together when you noticed how worked up Baekhyun had gotten. He was fully hard, his length sitting mighty and in charge right there for you to see just painfully waiting for more.
You took his wrists in between your fingers and placed his hand onto your waist while Baekhyun was petrified, only in his wildest dream he ever saw you like this. You leaned on to him, his big frame completely enveloping you.
“I want you Baekhyun” you whispered in his ear.
Right there something in Baekhyun snapped. He immediately latched his hot lips into the thin skin of your neck, sucking on it eagerly, leaving beautiful blue marks on the places he visited. He traveled down your chest until reaching one of your breasts. He played with your nipple in his mouth, hungrily sucking at it, flicking his tongue around it until it hardened.
You sighed and faintly moaned at his touch, cheeks becoming redder as his teasing went on then you felt his hand wrap around your wrist guiding your hand to his hot and hard member.
“Touch me” he ordered in a tone that was brand new to you. You never heard him go so low and be so demanding, his raw voice awakened something in you.
Your hands firmly gripped his base and when you pulled on his length and pushed back he growled in your ear, sending swarms of butterflies in your stomach.
“You’re so good” he sighed as you picked up the pace. “Keep going” he ordered again with the sultry voice that was making your mind blank.
You kept going until he stopped you. Eyes half lidded, breath short and sweat pearling on his forehead.
“I need you right now” he said before taking you in his arms and lifting you like you didn’t weigh anything, laying you onto a boulder, upholstered with soft, cushiony moss.
He gathered your wetness at your entrance and you whined when you left his tip rubbing you in all the right places. But then he stopped. You looked back at him to find doubt swimming in his warm brown orbs.
“What if I hurt you?”
“You won’t hurt me.” you assured. “Please Baekhyun” you said in one short breath. Even if he wanted to, he could never say no to you.
And hurt you he did not. Quite the opposite. As he pushed himself inside you, you felt the delicious stretch of your walls to accommodate him. The way he was perfectly filling you up felt divine and you couldn't help but to let a moan roll off your lips and into the deserted glade of the forest.
“Baby you feel so good around me like this” Baekhyun said in a guttural groan, trying his hardest not to burst at the heavenly tightness. He leaned his broad shoulders over you to shower you with kisses. “Can I move now baby?”
“Yes” you replied promptly, your ankles unconsciously wrapped around Baekhyun and pushing him deeper into you. He smirked.
“You’re cute when you’re so eager for me like that” he chuckled but the grin quickly turned to another expression when he pulled his hips back, letting them snap back against yours, perfectly fitting each other.
“Yesss” you cried out as Baekhyun went faster in and out of you. “Please this is so good” you said, biting on your lower lip, forgetting about your surroundings only focusing on the tingling and hot pleasure Baekhyun was providing you.
“Baby you’re so good for me” Baekhyun whispered, hands gripping tighter around your waist, pushing deeper with every thrust. One of his hands left your side to go play with your drenched bundles of nerves. The burning pleasure made you arch your back further into the moss, hard nipples hitting the chilly open air.
“Please don’t stop” you begged as your tiny body rocked underneath him, your stunning breast moving at the same rhythm of Baekhyun’s hips rolling deep into you. Bliss was turning your mind completely blank, you couldn’t think of anything, you could only see him, hear him, feel him.
“I’m about to-” Baekhyun grunted, digging his long fingers into your side. Warm brown orbs deeply rooted into your purple ones.
“Please cum inside me” you asked, eyes full of need for him.
And he gladly obliged. He delivered thick ropes of cum deep inside of you right where you wanted and it was the last straw for you. You came under him, bundle of nerves violently twitching under his expert touch and walls aggressively gripping him trying to suck his essence as deep as possible. White pleasure taking over you, making your bare toes curl and your wings frantically flap behind you.
Your fairy dust completely enveloped the both of you as Baekhyun’s thrusts became sloppy, slowing down until he came to a stop.
Baekhyun didn't want to move, he stayed right there taking his arms around you leaning over to kiss you.
“You were amazing” he sighed. You hummed in response, still unable to think of whole sentences after descending from cloud nine.
You rubbed small soothing circles into his back when you noticed two small bumps under his skin. 
“Your wings” you faintly gasped. “They’re growing”
a/n: this was so wholesome. it's a little less heavy on the smut but it felt right. i really let my imagination run free with this one and i hope you liked it dont hesitate to tell me in my asks or comment. feedback is always appreciated. im so happy our sunshine is back from the military. welcome home baekhyunie <3
240 notes · View notes
sleepyhead-poll · 10 months ago
Text
QUARTERFINAL ROUND, MATCH 1 OUT OF 4! FINALS FOR SET C!
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Propaganda Under the Cut:
Portgas D. Ace:
he’s got narcolepsy and regularly falls asleep in his food, but given his personality I feel like he’d fall asleep in his lunch even without the narcolepsy
Routinely falls asleep in the middle of meals, still becomes the second division commander of the whitebeard pirates.
he sleeps anytime anywhere
Ace's introduction is the civilians thinking he was dead because he fell asleep so suddenly. Every one piece character has a trait and his is falling asleep while eating.
Ace Propaganda I have a legal obligation as an Ace kin to fight for my man - The narcolepsy thing happens multiple times both in the anime and in the prequel books. - Every time he does that, he wakes up and wipes his mouth on the nearest person’s clothes, save for in the first Ace light novel where Deuce scolded him awake - He also does this on Buggy’s ship and once again they thought he was dead. Why he was there I don’t know. - Also he’s got fire powers so therefore human heater and the coziest of naps
Jade Harley:
She has narcolepsy due to some meddling from another character, but it's narcolepsy nonetheless. She spends a lot of time sleeping, but that does hold her back as she's able to get a lot done on Prospit (a sort of dream world). She cares a lot about her friends and has a lot of interests like nuclear physics, cartoons, her dog, and being a markswoman.
She loves sleeping and dreaming!
She's got narcolepsy (....kinda, it's complicated) so for most of her initial appearances that girlie is just off in sleepy town, absolute snoozeville. Also I have great respect for her ability to look so comfy while sleeping in objectively uncomfy places, like a greenhouse floor
The original sleepy girl. so very sleepy. you agree
sometimes the world just needs a sleepy whimsical puppy girl. that's how it is
she falls asleep at random moments, and she has a robot that acts out her dreams for her so she doesn't sleepwalk and potentially get hurt, but the effect of this is her online friends aren't always sure when chatting with her whether she's awake or asleep. they don't tend to realize they're talking to dreambot jade until she says something completely bizarre and nonsensical, but then sometimes she says strange and silly things while awake because she's a very silly girl (/positive) and trying to parse whether a thing she said is just her being silly vs her being asleep can be difficult. also she sometimes has visions of real events happening somewhere or some*when* else in her sleep.
Vote for Jade! [Click link to see image]
32 notes · View notes
girljeremystrong · 11 months ago
Note
i’ve been reading a lot of essays recently and i was wondering if you have any that you’ve really enjoyed? i love digging through your book recs and you would love to know your thoughts<3
hiiiii <3 okay so first of all i admit i don't read a lot of essays! but here are some collections that i read and loved:
miami + slouching towards bethlehem + south and west + let me tell you what i mean by joan didion are all really good. joan didion's style is unique and reading her writing never gets boring. love all about these.
intimations by zadie smith is a little tiny collection of essays she wrote during the pandemic and the various quarantines, and i think zadie smith is a brilliant writer and i really enjoyed this.
what white people can do next by emma dabiri because i am a white person who wants to be better and this little book is filled with very well written and interesting essays.
the fire next time by james baldwin technically consists of two "letters" about racism and how americans (and all people) need to react to it and deal with it.
carry by toni jensen is a sort of memoir sort of collection of essays about her life as an indigenous woman in america and about race and police brutality and gun violence.
we are never meeting in real life + wow no thank you + quietly hostile by samantha irby are collections of very funny essays about her life and pop culture and they're light hearted and great.
little weirds by jenniy slate which has whimsical little essays as well as stories, i think she has a really delicate way of telling her point of view (really looking forward to her second book coming out later this year!)
minor feelings by cathy park hong is a very interesting and important collection of essays slash memoir about race and her experience as an asian american.
the collected schizophrenias by esmé weijun wang i first picked up because there's history of schizophrenia in my family and this book absolutely allowed me to see the issue from a very different perspective. it's very interesting and offers a unique point of view on chronic illness and mental health.
calypso + me talk pretty one day by david sedaris were very entertaining to me. sorry i like david sedaris! i really do think he's funny!
these precious days by ann patchett is a gorgeous collection of essays about writing and books and life and death by another one of my favorite authors. i think this one is so great.
genuinely though i would love it if you told me some of your favorites because i think i need to be reading more!!! hope you can find something you like among these and i hope you're having a great day!!!!!! 💖
18 notes · View notes
notjusthespongenextdoor · 8 months ago
Text
man i don't think i realized how long it's been since i watched the shape of water....i guess it was around when it came out which makes sense considering how many people were talking about it... how was i Not gonna watch the monster fucker romance movie
but. here's my incredibly deep take that literally just repeats the outright text of the setup lol. i love how it's like a contemporary-ish fairytale setup and sort of the...music and framing and stuff is really whimsical while what actually is going on in frame is. literally dark in a lighting sense and kind of grungy like, nothing's clean, stuff is worn down, a building is on fire lol. idk it's fun. it's like yeah she's not living such a glamorous life in the objective sense but she's enjoying it. love to see a sort-of romanticization of the ordinary (even though the world of the story is pretty surreal in its own way)
8 notes · View notes
a-flickering-soul · 6 months ago
Note
got any book recs?
mm! always and forever!
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan was a very interesting read if you like dark fairytales. Inspired loosely by "Snow White and Rose Red", which is a fairly underrepresented tale as they go and she has an interesting take on it. About the life of a poor, abused girl who manufactures her own fairy tale without considering the consequences. Also, men in bearskins, sympathetic witchcraft, and the agonies of motherhood. I can't tell if I would thoroughly recommend it or not, but it was incredibly interesting and the author has a very compelling way with words-- I can't place exactly what compels me so much about it, but there's a certain bloodiness I find appealing. Please mind the trigger warnings for this book-- would be happy to give a list if DMed or asked. I could describe it as a lighter, more spatially-complex partner read to Otessa Moshfegh's Lapvona. Great to read on a cold winter's night.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi is delightful. It's like Bluebeard but if Bluebeard was a beautiful and insane Asian woman. A man realizes his wife is not who she says she is and works to unravel the past she refuses to let him ask about. If you grew up on fairytales this is for you because the patterns, motifs, cycles, and superstitions shown will scratch your brain like no other. It's written in an incredibly lush sort of style that just blankets your brain the same way humidity does on a hot summer night. The twist is predictable but no less satisfying and horrifying for what it is. I found this to be exactly the kind of book I hoped it'd be. To me, a hot and sticky summer evening kind of read, when everything feels so beautiful you feel like you're hallucinating.
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (and related books) by Mackenzi Lee is my current favorite YA light read. It's a silly romp through Victorian England following the aristocratic Montague siblings and their various escapades all over Europe as they chase their respective dreams. Monty is clearly my favorite (I love a short idiot bisexual guy) but I think the author does a great job of fleshing out each of the trilogy's protagonists despite the fact that Monty is also very clearly her favorite as well. It deploys magical realism with a pleasingly light hand, has an endearing sense of humor, and has a lot of heart. It's not that deep and doesn't need to be. It's just exactly what you want all YA of that type to be. Perfect for a beach read.
In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt is insane. It's another fairytale-styled novel (I've been on a bit of a kick lately) but the narrative is insanely dense and the semi-whimsical narrative voice is an absolutely bonkers contrast to how convoluted and dark the plot is. It's set in colonial America and focuses on a housewife trying to break her own day-to-day dullness by venturing into the woods surrounding her husband's house. I read this a bit ago and there are many images and motifs that still live rent free in my head. If this book was a color it'd be a deep green so rich and dark it'd be almost black. It is so dense and chewy and has so many tantalizing little details and edges of other stories that you keep wanting to pull on, but the main narrative is so convoluted and tense that you have no other choice but to stay on the path. A good fall book in front of a fire.
5 notes · View notes
galoresficrecs · 1 year ago
Text
[EXO] Baekhyun
LAST UPDATED ON: Dec 2nd, 2022
newly added ✦ || personal faves ✪ || ongoing ✑
Tumblr media
ratings:
not rated || general || teen and up || mature || explicit🔞
Tumblr media
❧ baekhyun x chanyeol ☙
✪ he talks like rain by bumkeyhyun [49,1k words] soulmates!au, ptsd, violinist!baekhyun, chef!chanyeol || explicit🔞
✪ Here Be Dragons by Misunkun [39,7k words] urban fantasy, dragons, fame marriage, domestic fluff || explicit🔞
✪ meaning of you by kozen [38,8k words | 4 ch] slice of life, friends with benefits, light angst || explicit🔞
✪ On the Booze with Brahms by NovemberMagpie [45,8 words] college!au, violinist!baekhyun || teen and up
✪ Stopping by Woods by GinForInk [19,4k words] hiking!au, camping!au || mature
✪ When I'm With You (I Have Fun) by noonaofdarkness [57,9k words | 5 ch] slice of life, slow burn, mentions of homophobia || explicit🔞
✪ you were always the one for me by tintatalk [19,8k words] friends to lovers, growing up || mature
❧ baekhyun x yixing ☙
✪ How Could Anyone Resist? by zhyixingie [3,2k words] asexuality, fluff || teen and up
❧ baekhyun x reader ☙
Breathless by whimsical-ness [8k words] f!reader, travel!au, tour-guide!baekhyun || not rated
Dead Giveaway by yehet-me-up [1,6k words] f!reader, she's the man!au, comedy || teen and up
[part of The Cartel] Fire by kpopfanfictrash [3,2k words] f!reader, 1970s!au, set in florida, crimes & criminasl!au || explicit🔞
Hey, Neighbor by whimsical-ness [5,5k words] f!reader, neighbours!au || not rated
Hook, Line & Sinker by whimsical-ness [9,2k words] f!reader, college!au || not rated
[part of Exordia Academy] Imminence by kpopfanfictrash [10k words] f!reader, 1980s!au, academy!au, powers!au || explicit🔞
Lovesick by whimsical-ness [12k words] f!reader, cupid!au || not rated
Nightbringer by kpopfanfictrash [1,7k words] f!reader, pirates!au, smut || explicit🔞
Our Spring by yehet-me-up [2,3k words] f!reader, moulin rouge!au || teen and up
[part of Welcome to the Exodus Mall] Silver Screen Bandits by yehet-me-up [11k words] f!reader, 1990s!au, mall!au, set in seattle, friends to lovers || teen and up
❧ otn/multi ☙
✪ tarantino and tortellini by mochiiks [20,9k words] baekhyun x jongdae x kyungsoo || neighbours!au, established!baeksoo || explicit🔞
Bedhead by kaifectionery_fest [6k words] baekhyun x jongin x sehun || domestic!au, established relationship || explicit🔞
✪ three's a crowd (and i love an audience) by Anonymous [45,9k words | 6 ch] baekhyun x sehun x yixing || stripper/exotic dancer!au, sugar daddy/sugar baby!au || explicit🔞
✪ some good, old-fashioned blood magic by dejakyu [47,2k words | 15 ch] baekhyun x jongdae x minseok || urban fantasy, hispital!au, vampires, witches, established!xiubaek || explicit🔞
✪ that old wintertime magic by unnieunnie [8,2k words] baekhyun x jongdae x minseok || magic shop!au || mature
6 notes · View notes