#ikemen fanfiction

[xxsycamore]

SINFUL DESIRES

╰┈➤ 🖤 You have a hard time relaxing on your spontaneous overnight trip with Victor, so he wastes no time showing you he has tons of fun in store for the two of you…

Victor x f!Reader; • rating: E (MDNI) • tags: Overnight Trips; Crimes & Criminals; Mentions of Dungeons; Baking Together; Jealousy; Humor; Competition; Kissing; Biting; Mentions of Knife play; Kitchen Sex; Oral Sex; Cunnilingus; Gentle Sex; Embarrassment; Hair-pulling; Hair Kink; Hand Kink; Finger Sucking; Table Sex; Victor briefly makes reader imagine a dangerous situation; Creampie; Post-sex cuddles; Aftercare • wordcount: 3,842 • masterlist

a/n: Here's my fic for the Ikemen Villains Gift Exchange hosted by @aquagirl1978 ! My giftee was @konekotaichou - I'll let you know I had the widest smile on my face finding out I'll be writing for you. I see your name often under my fics so that's just one way of saying thank you for the support~ Hope you enjoy! <3

"We're hoooooome!"

You should be used to the loud exclamations of your dear Victor by now, but there are still some occasions where you can't help but jump at the sheer volume of them. No, no, you have a very valid reason for your reaction right now! It's because you're still linking arms with him - you have been doing so ever since setting a foot out of the carriage - and this close up, his cheerful greetings directed at no one in particular are even louder.

But it's also because this is not your home at all. It's the vacant ex-base of some criminal group, the estate now seized by Her Majesty.

"Victor… are you sure this is a suitable destination for an overnight trip…? What if there's a dungeon right under our feet filled with—"

"Worry not, my darling! Even if there was such a thing here, right now it would be nothing more than just another empty room with no other purpose but to make things a little more thrilling while we walk above. But you haven't come here before on a mission, have you? I'll let you know - there's nothing like a dungeon in this building!"

Victor's words are very reassuring, if only there weren't another dozen adjacent possibilities to utilize a base that you want to ask about. Whatever. Even on the off-chance that someone was lurking inside the shadows of the place, Victor's noisy and nonchalant barging in has surely scared them way more than it scared you.

Your beautiful Grim Reaper makes himself busy lighting candles left and right, making the place more livable, even if just for the short duration of your trip. It all happened so spontaneously. Just earlier in the day, you mentioned how nice it would be to go somewhere for a change, just the two of you, and in the next moment Victor swept you right off your feet and declared that it's been decided. Being an Aide of the Queen definitely comes with its perks, you just weren't aware that borrowing one of the numerous properties of her Majesty was one of them. He's been very convincing at telling you not to sweat over the details and enjoy the impromptu trip, painting picture after picture with his words earlier while in the carriage, of all the nice sights to be seen around the estate… Though, that would be left for the next day. Right now it's only you and Victor and the empty halls that he's trying to fill with his exuberant presence.

"May I have your attention?"

While distracted with your own thoughts, Victor has entered another room so you hurry to follow his voice to what seems like the kitchen. As if waiting for a spotlight to land on him, Victor's smile widens upon finding your gaze on him. He opens his jacket to reveal…

"Are we going to bake?!"

At least it's not doves taking flight or anything else alive, but that doesn't make the contents of his inner pockets less bewildering as he takes the items out on the counter one by one.

"Ahahahaha! Are you surprised? I came here prepared! I've brought flour, milk, sugar, and butter! Yaay!"

"Scones?!"

"Scones!"

Of course it's scones. But what compels him to enter another's home and bake scones?

Your chemistry must be very good because the look on your face is always enough for Victor to read your mind. Sadly, you can't say the same about the numerous shades of a grin that typically occupy his features, but you're still learning.

"You see, I was thinking of allll the exciting ways to use our privacy, now that we're here. And there's always been one thing I've wanted you to indulge in without limits…"

Victor's eyes shine with a strange light, and you find yourself sinking into their alluring amethyst waters until the meaning behind his words gets all twisted and tangled in the mess of your thoughts. Heat creeps up to your cheeks.

"Like what?..."

"Like stuffing yourself full of scones, of course! As much as I loooove my dear fellow Crown members, these just disappear awfully quickly when they're around!"

Ah, true.

You fight the urge to shake your head and with that shoo away any other unwelcome thoughts like the one you just had. Victor, now stripped down to his black dress shirt, does the next step of preparing himself for the self-appointed task and gathers his long, luxurious dark hair into a ponytail. It's your cue to do some prep of your own, and by habit, you look around for an apron… But of course there'd be no extras like an apron here, the people who used to live in that place were criminals! The mental image of them using the kitchen as intended is somehow comical and it definitely distracts you from the eerie energy gathering around the place. Admittedly, Victor does a great job at it as well, you remind yourself as you sneak a peek of him with a hair ribbon in his mouth - a rare instance of him being quiet, due to the obstacle preventing him from speaking. The giggle finally falls from your lips, and you realize you're having a good time here.

"Oh? Did something funny happen?"

"No, I'm just excited to share this moment of privacy with you. Though, Victor, I can't help but worry a little… Would the others be alright without you? What if they get into a fight with each other… I'm sure William is going to miss you too, you barely warned anyone about us leaving so abruptly! And besides—"

Before the name of another Crown member could fall from your lips, a tall figure towers over you; a pair of hands grab your shoulders and turn you around with the gentleness of a courting dance step. Your rear presses into the counter, and you realize Victor has trapped you in between it and his body. The smile is still on his face, but it's not a grin - it's something lighter, a tad more modest.

"You talk about being excited to have privacy with me, but you're thinking about other men, my little robin? Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

The clicking of his tongue lacks the usual eccentricity that he dresses his manners with. It sounds more threatening than anything, even if you know better than to feel intimidated by the slight change in his tone. It's something else that catches your attention, the tang of jealousy where you least expected to find it. It truly wasn’t your intention, and you probably should find your words and speak up-

"Not that I could blame you. I think about my boys too, haha! But tonight, will you let it be just the two of us?"

His gaze softens, and you can breathe again. The lungful of air is enough to make your chest expand and touch Victor's front, and you realize how tightly he's pressing you into him with his current proximity. It doesn't last long, because Victor steps away the very next second.

"Why don't we play a little game while we're here? There's always room for more fun to be had and I just thought of the perfect thing in our current arrangement."

You remain backed against the counter, just for the sake of the support you didn’t know you needed in the first place. "What kind of game?"

"There are quite a few drawers and cabinets around here, and we have to retrieve all utensils needed for preparing our scones… We will search for each one of them on our own, but whoever finds it first wins one wish to be granted by the other. How does that sound to you?"

Now, this is unexpected. Even though your partner always has a few tricks up his sleeve to spice things up between the two of you, he's still astonishing you with his ideas. You think about it for a second. If you take his word for granted, he must be as unfamiliar with the terrain as you are, putting you on equal grounds for this little game. Besides, you might have a wish ready for him - something small and intimate and fitting for the purpose of utilizing the privacy you just talked about.

"Okay, let's do this! Bring it on! What do we need first?"

Victor finishes starting the coal oven in no time before readying himself for the search and announcing, "A bowl, of course!"

You give each other a brief competitive look before going into opposite directions of the cabinet-lined space, hands reaching out in a rush. Victor uses his height advantage to check the upper shelves first, while you aim for one that is near the sink.

Bingo.

"Here, a bowl!"

Blinking in yet-realized defeat, Victor stares at your triumphant face and then chuckles in his usual tone.

"My, aren't you quick! You better start thinking of a wish, I'm afraid we're having a limited time for goofing around!"

Oh, you're not going to waste any more of it. Or at least no more than enough for the duration of one longed-for kiss.

Victor's expression goes through another change when you pull him down by the collar, and you close your eyes to let it linger in your mind when his lips crash down into yours. You savor them slowly, risking the intended innocence for the sake of enjoying him just a little longer. Soon he's out of breath, and it comes out in the form of a moan - and instead of letting go, it makes you want to kiss him breathless for a little longer. So you do. Because he's so irresistible when he lets you take the lead, when he stays still and pretends to be caught off-guard and lets you have him. He must have held back just for that - else he'd kiss you as soon as setting foot inside the house, he can't fool you that he wasn't awaiting this moment as much as you did.

His jealousy-tinted remark earlier, and this little game… they tell you he might have waited for you to make the first step and show him how much you missed his kisses, his embrace. It doesn't tarnish your victory one bit, for it is still your victory as long as you get what you want.

Victor hisses into the kiss as you realize you got a little too lost in it and bit his lower lip. You withdraw, drawing a breath of your own that you didn’t know you needed this much, but not without placing an apologetic little peck over his lip. The distance between you grows a bit more and looking him in the eye suddenly robs you of the courage you just demonstrated. Even if his cheeks are noticeably tinted pink by the endeavour.

"Next, we'll need a knife."

Your imagination fills with corset ties cut by a sharp blade and garter belts following them, and you fail to consider the task at hand, involuntarily giving Victor an advantage. It only takes two or maybe three drawers for him to find where the cutlery is stored, and he turns back to face you with the glint of a silvery surface catching abundant candlelight.

"First."

Victor gains himself the right to a wish, and you know you'll do anything he says at that moment. He's still carrying a small smile on his face, without showing teeth, just menacing enough to pin you to the counter from a distance. He still prefers the more hands-on approach, and so he takes those few steps to where you're standing, knife still in hand.

He tosses it somewhere on the counter and it lacks the decorum otherwise accompanying his every action. Instead, the hands that crawl all over you are warm and gentle, nothing like the cold blade of a knife. They don’t cut through clothing, but rather make it fall undone in a slower, more lascavious manner.

"Let's take this off…"

To think you were worried about putting on an apron earlier… Victor leaves you down to your underwear, and the last bits of your patience have crumbled to dust by the time he noses your exposed neck. You press yourself more into him, embarrassed at the mewling sounds that fall from your parted lips every time he kisses or sucks at the sensitive skin. He always makes sure to love you throughoutly, no matter how starved he might seem - the gleam in his eyes might trick you into thinking him a beast, but his actions always prove the opposite. His hands run all over your body, grasping and caressing where you want him most, but it's only when he puts you on top of the counter that he strips you down completely in order to please you properly.

He parts your legs with his big sturdy hands, and the trademark chuckle reaches your ears again.

"Ahahaha! Aren't you a dirty girl, getting wet so easily for me? When did that happen? When you kissed me so passionately, or perhaps even earlier? Could it be as soon as we got here?"

Moving to close your legs proves to be futile as Victor's grasp on them prevents you from doing so. There's no point in hiding the obvious, so even with your head turned to the side, you give him an answer.

"I don't know what's gotten into me, I just… I need you, Victor."

"Hmmm…" Victor hums and the sound vibrates low in his throat, "I believe it was my turn to have my wish granted, no?"

You squeeze your eyes shut when his fingertips dance on your belly, making their way down lower and lower.

"And what do you- wish for?" You ask between breaths, trying not to just grab his hand and place it directly where you want it.

Victor looks at you and smiles. "Why, to make you relax of course! Now, if you'd be so kind to let me…"

Unceremoniously, Victor leans down and buries his face between your legs, sending your senses to overdrive with a single sweep of his wicked tongue right across your swollen nub. You groan out his name, but it comes out meekly, troubled by the imaginary danger of someone overhearing you. Even through the fog of immense pleasure coming from Victor's newly-set steady pace, you remind yourself that this shouldn't be the case now - but you still can't let your voice out. It doesn't take long for Victor to notice, and he interrupts his actions to look at you.

"My dear, I need you to tell me how good I'm making you feel."

His gentle voice coaxing the sounds out of you is contrasting with his actions as he shows no mercy on your hot center, making your juices seep out and coat his tongue as he drinks them down hungrily. Victor is a great lover, able to send your head in the clouds with ease, ready to pleasure you for hours on as long as you're able to take more.

You keep your hand in front of your mouth but make sure it doesn't block out the noise, your fingers grazing into the skin of your knuckle just for the sheer need of finding an anchor in this whirlwind of pleasure. You can't stop looking down at Victor, his beautiful long lashes, the slight blush on his smooth cheeks…

"V-Victor- Nhhh, Victor~!" The sound of your own voice embarrasses you as you're not used to hearing it out loud, wanton and obscene like that, and you curl the last syllable into something meeker, softer. It makes him chuckle.

"If that's too much for you, you know how to make me stop." He sing-songs, even if it does little to hide the desire rasping his voice. It awakens a new need inside you, now that you're bare and exposed and things are so unfair - from this angle you don't have a chance of spotting his own arousal and you have to know you're not alone in this uncontrollable desire, heightened by the thrill of the unknown place you found yourself at. It's this that convinces you to make him let go instead of grinding down on his tongue until you find your peak.

Bitting on your bottom lip, you reach out a hand to perform the familiar gesture as Victor laps at you again and again. Your hesitation grants you a bolt of pleasure that drives you dangerously close to the edge, and it's all you need to finally reach for his ponytail and yank him off of you.

"Ahh…" Victor moans at the sensation, knowing fully well he was the one who asked for it and still falling prey to the tantalizing act he loves so much. He straightens himself back up and his lips are glistening with your liquid arousal, so you can't help tracing his bottom lip with your thumb, caressing over the beauty mark. He takes the initiative and kisses you on the spot.

His sweet kiss serves only to distract as Victor makes a quick work of unfastening his belt and unbuttoning his pants. Warm arms wrap around your middle and in answer your snake yours around his neck, whining at the sensation of his diamond-hard cock pressing against your folds so close to where you need it. But Victor doesn't take you just yet, because his strong arms carry you to the table instead.

Your back meets the wooden surface and your legs are spread apart at the knees by a pair of large hands as Victor looks down at you, open and dripping and ready for him. His smile never leaves his face as you sense him giving himself a couple of pumps before aiming for your aching hole.

"Remember to scream my name loudly!"

Victor's sizeable hardness is gradually stuffed inside your tight hole as you find yourself doing anything to prevent his kind request.

"Ahh—"

One of his hands comes to brush yours away but instead you take a strong hold of it, almost enough to bruise him with little crescents left by your nails, in an attempt to keep it over your mouth. As Victor takes his time getting you used to his cock, you put his index finger in your mouth, looking him in the eye as you both test the limits of your patience.

"Be careful now, I don't want you choking on that when I start loving you in the earnest!"

The promise of what is to come sends a shiver down your spine as your mouth is left agape even after the loss of his finger.

"Nhhhh- Victor!" You shout his name as he suddenly picks up the speed, fucking you onto the table and holding you securely into place. You toss your head back and stare at the ceiling, unable to catch your breath as the head of his cock repeatedly prods at your deepest parts.

"My, aren't you starting to relax at long last!" Victor exclaims between heavy breaths, not being one to hide his own sounds of arousal, "Being fucked on the table where such dangerous men used to sit, plotting their next crime…"

Your eyes snap open, insides clenching tightly around Victor's cock, a mere instinct and nothing you have control over. The words sink in, even if you're mostly unable to think straight with your current circumstances. Your brain, high on pleasure hormones, gets creative against your will, until you can almost see playing cards being passed around on the table right where you lay bare; drunken shouts and crude remarks birthing shrill laughter and cigarette smoke dancing in the air to leech thickly onto the curtains.

Your body convulses, but it only serves to shake away the unpleasant visual as it all dissipates like a fog around you until only Victor remains. It makes you want to scream his name louder, to feel his presence domineering over every silly thought in your head. Perhaps it was his plan all along. It's so easy to lower your guard around Victor, around Victor's hearty laugher, around Victor's ever-smiling eyes-

"Nhnnn— Ahhh!! More, give me more!"

You lock your legs around Victor, and the hand reaching out to his shoulder quickly gets naughtier as you tug at the ribbon holding his hair together. Long strands cascade down and frame his form, the ends of it pooling just over your belly and tickling you softly in a very familiar manner - you can't help but miss the dark veil of his hair falling over you every time he's taking you from the front like that. It also makes it easier to tug down on it and make him groan.

"Ahh— You're too naughty, aren't you?"

You can't help it, feeling your climax approaching, wanting to drag Victor into that pit along with you. You chant his name as you care little about letting your voice out anymore, focusing only on the man in front of you and how badly you need to feel him erupt inside you. Your legs locked around his torso prevent him any escape that you know he won't look for anyway, because he only fucks you harder and faster, losing all demure and rhythm as he moans your name in return.

"I'm coming—"

His warning sends you over the edge as hot-white takes over your vision, nerves sparkling with pure pleasure all over as your whole body tremors in copious amounts of ecstasy upon feeling Victor join you suit, his come painting your insides spurt after spurt. He keeps fucking you through it all, half-broken I love you's whispered among other not-so-sweet things that still somehow keep his gentleman persona intact when combined with the soft caresses he places over the small of your back, your body arched and unnoticeably raised from the table to meet his thrusts. He lays you back down carefully, but your arms are still held out and inviting for another embrace, a freshly fucked-out but pouty look on your face to match.

"Hahaha. I'm not going anywhere, cute little robin!"

Still catching your breath, you press clumsy kisses all over his cheeks as he hugs you, and he does the same.

"Victor, that felt…somehow sinful."

"But so good?"

You hum out a sound of agreement, and he giggles in your neck like a naughty child. The peace doesn't last for long, because his next whisper alerts your senses anew.

"What about making something even more sinful now?"

You ask with hesitation and just a tad of curiosity in the mix.

"Like what?"

Victor grins, withdrawing so you can clearly see his closed-eye grin.

"Like adding some eeeeextra butter to those scones! It could be our dirty secret!"

Oh. Your heart should be signaled to calm down now, but the truth is, this is one thing you can't pretend to be a saint about, not when your mouth waters at his words. There's little left to do than to answer your partner in a fashion that matches his antics.

"Yaaaay!"

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[violettduchess]

A/N: This year, as I deal with a far more limited amount of free time, I want to focus on writing things that really spark something for me. These headcanons, which I started almost 6 months ago, recently came roaring back into my imagination and I decided to go for it.

This is imagining how these suitors would react to their small child entering their bedroom in the middle of the night.

Leon, Sariel, Jin, Keith and Gilbert

WC: 2.2 k

The child's white bedroom door, painted with a silvery moon and twinkling stars, opens slowly, a whisper in the still of the night. A small head pokes out, knuckling sleepily at eyes still heavy with the remnants of dreaming. A look left, then right.

The hall is empty.

Tiny bare feet tiptoe across plush carpeting.

One hand clutches a stuffed animal, the other reaches for the curved handle of your bedroom door and which, on a quiet exhale, opens.

Leon

He is awake the moment the door opens. A light sleeper, he never fails to hear when his daughter enters your bedroom, no matter how quietly she tries to. Even now, he pushes himself up, running a hand through his cacophony of dark hair, watching his offspring step as quietly as possible as she makes her way towards the bed. She’s so concentrated on not making noise that she doesn’t notice he’s already up and watching her until she arrives at the foot of the bed.

“Papa!” Her gasp is half surprise, half disappointment when she realizes he has, as always, heard her. Leon laughs softly, the sound still rough with sleep as he motions for her to come over to his side of the bed. 

“I was trying to be extra, extra quiet.” He offers her his hand and she takes it, climbing into the bed and then into the circle of his arms where he cuddles her close. “You were, peanut. You were very quiet but your father has very, very good ears. Especially at night.” 

Perhaps someday she’ll learn why. How good hearing and light sleeping could mean the difference between life and death in the slave pens. But not tonight. Tonight she snuggles into his embrace, clutching her brown bear with his black and red cape to her chest. 

“Shall I bring you back to your bed?” He brushes several dark locks of hair that have escaped her braid away from her plump cheek, his golden eyes warm with affection. His daughter stifles a yawn. “Can I stay here tonight, with you and Mama?” 

How can he say no? “Of course.” He shifts her, tucking her in close against his side where she curls up like a kitten, warm and content. Leon sighs, his heart fuller than he ever imagined it could be, before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep.

Sariel

He looks up from the paperwork on his lap when the bedroom door slowly opens. One glance at the clock on his nightstand and he knows exactly who dares enter his room, unannounced, in the middle of the night.

His son, hair dark as onyx, eyes as bright as violets, peeks around the door to see his father sitting up in bed, reading by the soft light of an oil lamp. 

“I see you, little one.” The child gives up stealth and hurries into his parents’ room, climbing up the foot of the bed and crawling his way across the velvety covers up to Sariel, careful not to jostle you while you are sleeping. He settles in next to his father, peering at the sheaf of papers still in his hands. “Why are you still up, Papa? It’s so late.”

Sariel glances down at his son, his lips curved in a soft shadow of a smile. “You know what? You are correct. It is very late.” He carefully removes his glasses, placing them in a safe spot on his nightstand and then sets the missives and letters and parchments beside them. He extends his arms and his son happily accepts the silent invitation, burrowing into his father’s embrace, clutching his soft, stuffed snake with the onyx eyes close to his little chest. “We’ll go to sleep together, ok Papa?”

Sariel reaches out, extinguishing the warm light and then shifts, dipping his head to press a kiss to his son’s midnight hair. “A sound plan, son.” He closes his eyes, contentment flowing through him like the soft waves of the ocean. “A very sound plan.”

Jin

He freezes, lifting his head from your neck, his large hand going still on the sensitive skin of your hip. As involved as he may be with you, he has excellent hearing and the opening of the door is as loud in its whisper as a gust of howling wind. He feels the soft huff of air against his cheek as you reign in your galloping heart. Things were just getting good.... With a groan, a mixture of disappointment and the dying embers of desire, he sits up as you adjust your nightgown and tilts his head at the small outline in the doorway.

“Yes, Princess? What is it?”

“I heard a noise. In my wardrobe. I think there’s a monster in there.” Her voice is small, almost tentative as it floats through the darkened bedroom. Jin pushes back his covers, swinging his long legs over the side of the bed. He reaches back, squeezing your hand, a gesture that says I’ve got this, before getting up and walking toward his daughter. "Alright little lady, let's go investigate." She slips her small hand in his, clutching her stuffed baby eagle close as they make their way back to her bedroom.

Stepping inside, she pulls her hand away from his and points to the white and lavender closet. “In there, Papa.” Her garnet-colored eyes are wide as Jin clears his throat, fixing a scowl on his face as he faces the wooden doors.

“Listen up. This is Prince Jin speaking and any and all monsters hiding in this wardrobe better leave RIGHT now or else you’ll have to answer to me!”

“Yeah!”, she adds helpfully, eyes narrowing as she glares at the wardrobe, a mirror image of her father.

Jin reaches forward and flings open one door, then the other. Inside are all her dresses and coats. Her shoes all lined up neatly along the bottom. A few stockings peek out of small drawers and her wooden training sword and shield with Jin's crest lean against the side, askew. Jin searches through the clothing, stands on his toes to check the top shelves. He makes a show of it, incredibly thorough and yet serious. Then he turns around to face his daughter. “Looks like any monsters are long gone. And they won’t be coming back.”

A smile like the dawn breaks over her face and she rushes towards him. He leans down and catches her in his arms, holding her tightly against his broad chest. “Thank you, Papa. No monster would ever be stupid enough to come back now!” 

Jin carries her back to her white four-poster bed, grinning as he lays her down amongst her fluffy pillows and pulls the soft covers up to her chest. “Nope, not when they know they have to deal with me.” He glances over his shoulder at the wardrobe. “But how about tomorrow, we go to the knights training grounds and you bring your sword and shield. We can work on your swordsmanship so any monster knows to be just as afraid of you too.”

She grins, nodding eagerly. “Good idea!”

Her enthusiasm has him returning her grin and he leans down, running a large hand over the soft chestnut of her hair. “Alright then. Get some sleep so you’re ready for tomorrow.” She snuggles down into the warmth of her blankets, stifling a yawn even as she rolls over. “I love you, Papa.” He swallows for a moment at the lump of emotion that suddenly swells his throat. “I love you too. Princess. So much.”

Keith

Little feet whisper across dark green carpeting, continuing their journey to his side of the bed. “Papa,” she whispers, tugging on his covers, her stuffed deer dangling from her grip on its antlers. Keith inhales, his handsome face frowning in his sleep as her voice cuts through the fog of dreaming. But he doesn’t wake up yet. However, his daughter is nothing but insistent. She pats his upper arm, clearing her throat and speaking again, this time louder. “Papa. Wake up.”

His golden eyes open slowly and he blinks as he returns to the here and now. The sight of her, with her ashen blond hair and your intelligent eyes, has him sitting up in bed, the last misty tendrils of dreaming vanishing like fog in the sunlight.

“Yes, darling? What’s wrong? Is everything ok?” 

She glances to your empty side of the bed. “I miss Mama.” Those words send his heart spinning, leaving a trail of ache inside his chest as he nods slowly. “I do too. But you remember how she had to go back to Rhodolite. I promise, she’ll be home again soon. Just a few more days.” He reaches for her hand, his thumb running soothingly over her knuckles, marveling at the tininess of her fingers, the softness of her skin. She speaks again, her voice compressed by sadness. “I still miss her.”

He sighs as she hangs her small head, curls covering her face. Then he has an idea. Slowly he gets out of bed and leads her by the hand across the room to the heavy glass doors of the balcony off of the bedroom, his favorite place in the palace to stargaze. Keeping a secure hold of her hand, he slides open one heavy glass door and then walks with her to the large brass telescope. “Take a look in there,” he murmurs, kneeling as he adjusts the eyepiece for her. He wraps one arm around her middle, holding her close. “Can you see it?”

She leans forward slightly. “It’s blurry.” Carefully he adjusts the focuser until he hears her breath catch. “Oh it’s so pretty!” She stares through the telescope in wonder at the bright star, brilliant in its silvery-blue light. 

“That,” he says softly, almost dreamlike, “is your mother’s favorite star.” Gently he pulls her away from the telescope and points upwards. “You can see it without the telescope just there, see the three stars just in a row?” She nods emphatically. “It’s the one all the way to the right.” He pauses, resting his chin tenderly on her small shoulder. “When you miss Mama at night, like you do now, you can look up at the sky and find her favorite star. It may make you feel better.”

She turns around and wraps her arms around Keith’s neck, hugging him with all her might. “Thank you, Papa.” He hugs her close, this walking embodiment of his heart, and smiles.

Gilbert

He is already sitting up when his daughter approaches the bed, her stuffed tiger tucked under her arm. He heard the opening of the door and knew who it was immediately. No one else would ever dare to enter his bedroom in the middle of the night without fearing for their life.

“It’s past midnight, Mäuschen. Why are you wandering through the shadows?” His voice is a gentle that only you and those very close to Gilbert have ever heard. A genuine softness like the blanket of dusk as it falls over the land, the protective moon whispering as it cradles a favorite star. His daughter sighs, pushing away a stray lock of dark hair. “I’m hungry.”

He laughs quietly, his chin tilting down as he regards her. He speaks quietly, not wanting to wake you. You need rest after all, so close to the birth of your second child. He gets up, slipping on his black silk robe and then holds out his hand. She takes hold of it, wrapping her cool little fingers tightly around him and then pauses. “Wait a moment, Papa.” Turning back to the bed, she carefully places her stuffed tiger next to you where you sleep. “Watch out for Mama,” she orders sternly and doesn’t notice the bright gleam in Gilbert’s eyes as he smiles at her protective gesture. She turns, grabbing his hand and nods. “Ok Papa, fertig.” Ready.

He leads her out of the bedroom and a short walk down the hall to his office. Once inside, he walks over to his massive wooden desk, made of the finest dark walnut, and leans forward, turning on the desk lamp. He settles into his chair, into the crimson velvet cushioned seat and motions for her to join him. The Obsidian princess climbs into his lap, eyes bright as she looks at him expectantly. “Shh…this is our secret,” he murmurs, tapping his finger on the end of her nose. She grins slowly and nods. “Versprochen, Papa.” I promise. One arm holds her close as he leans down and opens a bottom drawer. Inside is a small round tin which he takes out and sets on his desk, next to the missives and parchments waiting for him come morning light.

“Go ahead,” he says encouragingly and she leans forward, carefully working the lid off with chubby fingers and then he feels her straighten up in excitement when its contents are revealed. She reaches in and pulls out a hearty oatmeal and raisin biscuit. The cookie is nearly at her lips when she pauses, thoughtfully. Shifting in his lap, she turns to face him and then holds it up. “Do you want a bite, Papa?” Her generosity has him smiling, a warmth like no other brightening his heart as he pretends to consider. “You don’t mind sharing?” She shakes her head, several loose, dark curls framing a face that is the youthful echo of yours. He leans forward and bites off a tiny corner, then leans back with a satisfied sigh. “Mama makes the best biscuits.” 

She bites into the same cookie with much less restraint and then smiles, chewing happily. “Mm hm.” She leans back against his chest and he wraps his arms around her as she continues munching. “Just this one and then it's back to bed with you, little mouse.” She nods, mouth too full to answer and focus far too lost in the pleasure of her treat to respond verbally. Gilbert sighs, turning to rest his cheek against the top of her head. He is utterly and completely at peace.

Tagging: @xbalayage @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage @redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @curious-skybunny @rhodoliteschaos @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @portrait-ninja @ikesimpleton @ikemenlibrary @mastering-procrastinating @namine-somebodies-nobody @greatstarlightstarfish @queen-dahlia @scorchieart @nightghoul381

For Leon content: @leonscape

For Gilbert and Leon: @ozalysss

For Keith: @drewadoodle-dandy

[kissmetwicekissmedeadly]

MO'S FANFIC BEAUTYFYING MASTERCLASS!👩‍🏫

So it seems like you guys like how I do my banners and layouts on @xxsycamore ! I wanted to share a few tips about making similar ones, along with some of my observations on their importance! Be warned, some of the screenshots I'll use to illustrate my point will be of my smut fics! This post is intended for the ikemen series community. While the tips could be found useful for other fandoms as well, it's important to note that it's only this fandom that I've taken into account and because of that my observations could be unreliable if you chose to follow my advice outside of the fandom!

The importance

First of all, a good layout is a subjective term. Second, a "good" layout is not guaranteed to boost your fic's popularity. Not all of us are able to put the time and effort into fancy banners and dividers, but the good news is, you don't really need them! You should always strive to do only as much as you can without straining yourself. Here you can see a minimal effort fic layout vs one that took 30~ minutes to put together, both posted around the same time, both having a similar reception when it comes to notes! Keep in mind that a layout is just one of the many factors to take into account for your fic's popularity status, and you shouldn't obsess with it either way.

2. The minimum: Banner + Title

Not everyone checks out every single post on their dash while they scroll! I follow around 1100 people and while not all of them are active, it's easy to miss a post that could as well have been the best thing I'd see that day. Your brain recognizes what a typical fanfiction post looks like - a rectangular picture with a title above/underneath, followed by text. As long as you scroll past a post with a similar construction and you're interested, you might want to scroll back and check it out.

3. Banners

The information that you get from a banner is typically about the character(s) featured in the fic. Using the example above, you'll see that a simple cropped picture of the character gets the job done! (an in-game sprite at that, not a fancy card photo)

If you decide to use a card, you can browse google for a good one of your character(s). I try to select a card that depicts something similar to what's happening in my fic, either the action or the "vibes" (daytime or nighttime, outside or indoors, canon or modern, etc.), but sometimes it's better to choose the one that will look good instead of the one that's more fitting.

Finding cards of good quality is also challenging, and I'd advise you to avoid blurry/low-quality banners even if those would be best fitting.

Stick to the rectangular horizontal format if possible. I like square banners sometimes, but it's better when you can see the whole layout at once!

4. Editing the banners & photo coloring

If you decide you want to go out all, you'll need a photo editing app or a program. I use one called Snow which is mainly for selfies but gets the job done. It has many filters to choose from, but inputting text there could be a hassle sometimes. Another one I use is Pixlr. Yeah, I couldn't let it go ever since the days it was just a website...it's been about 10 years but I still rely on it (now as an app) for some stuff, like cropping down images with very big height to width ratio (like thin strips for dividers). In very rare instances I use my (paid) art program, Clip Studio Paint. I know that many people use Canva for their banners but I can't get used to it, I guess it's not my thing, haha. That's why you should see what works for you. I prefer a certain amount of limitation, like having filters to choose from, simply because I don't want to think too much about it and to be able to spend too much time on it (I'm a perfectionist)...

Maybe you just want to give your picture some nice coloring, nothing too much, just a slight change of tone that it's noticeable but not in a screaming way. There are still some things to avoid, mainly old-looking filters. I'm talking about the ones that were mainstream on Instagram during the last decade, the pinkish sepia one for instance. Ones that have too high exposure value and make the bright parts practically glow are not a good look either, same for the too dark ones. Making the character unrecognizable is also not good, and some filters can do that, especially in the case where they have fair hair and the filter makes it appear as another color. Again, those examples are bad only in my own opinion and could look good in certain circumstances or if it's a desired look!

Here's the collage for the banner used for my fic Nine Nights (MDNI) before the filter (first picture), a variation I did but scrapped (second pic) and the one I went with in the end (third pic). While the bottom pic is in contrast with what I said about making characters unrecognizable, here I rely on the fact that it's enough that it's obvious this will feature all of the Crown members just by looking at the bunch of them. I liked how the colors pop up, almost as if each one gets assigned a theme color (interestingly I didn't pick the cards for that purpose), and it's just a pretty coloring in my opinion as a whole. I achieved this by tweaking the RGB values from the "Curves" tool in Snow.

Another cool thing to do with your banner is adding transparent elements in it, like how I did with this one (see it from the link below, it's not depicted here on the pics). The thing is, this could be very energy-consuming, you'll need an app/program that can do that as not all of them work with transparent images, and in the end, it could be just barely noticeable. But it can be fun from time to time.

5. Titles

A title is the other main element of your fic's layout and it should stand out. If you hate coming up with titles (understandable...) you can just put a "(character) x reader fluff", for instance. If you look at the example in point 1, I simply used the character's name in place of a title! It doesn't have to be a stressful aspect of putting your fic out there. As a side note, you can try centering your title simply by putting some spaces at the front, but leaving it aligned to the right could be a stylistic choice.

6. Colored text

This one is very optional but good if you want to fancy it up. Tumblr already gives you a bunch of colors to pick from and you can make use of them if they fit the style of your fic, but they're very limited. Luckily we can use just any color we want. (This only works on the fonts tumblr supports! The ones you can choose from when you highlight a text) Unfortunately, the way to do this will make you work with the HTML editor which you can access at the top right corner of your post editing screen (from desktop, click the settings, scroll down to Post editor) and things might seem pretty scary if this is your first time looking there. It's not too hard! You need to use a site that takes your desired piece of text, lets you select colors, and then gives you a code that once pasted in the HTML editor will make it colored when switching back to the Rich text editor. Here's the one I use because it also allows me to blend colors. At the bottom right of the page, I put the text in the first box, select the colors, and upon clicking Run it gives me the code in the bottom box. I use colored text for my title, and sometimes for my information tags.

7. Information tags

This is how I refer to the part of your layout dedicated to showing the pairings, genre, content warnings and wordcount of your fic. This is all optional even to add in the first place. I personally don't bother too much with beautifying that part, but a good tip is using some kind of symbol to separate these pieces of information if they're all in the same paragraph (I use big dots), or to place in front of them if they're in different rows (like bullet points). This gives a lot of creative freedom for text art, you should explore it if that's your thing!

8. Fonts & font size

You can experiment with Tumblr's fonts, or you can look for more fonts online - here's a handy site. It's good to find one that is legible enough. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. Again, be warned, those fonts that are outside of tumblr's post editor cannot be colored (as far as I'm aware of)

You can spell your title in all caps if you deem that's a good look for your fic.

Play around with bolds and italics instead of making everything a different font.

The "Biggest" font option here on the editor is not the best one to use as it's simply too big. Big title fonts should be avoided if your title doesn't fit in a single row.

Having different font sizes for different things in your layout can be eye-catching! Besides the obvious upscaling of the title, you can also upscale your information tags. Using small text is also nice and prevents your post from getting too long, but this should only be done for the part of the fic that is not the fic itself. Small text could be harsh on the eyes if it's in big quantities.

9. Dividers

Dividers are another crucial part of a fancy layout! They divide different parts of your layout, like the information tags and the fic's body. There are tons of styles to choose from. Some people like to use dividers that spell out something, like a "minors DNI" warning, a "support your creatives" reminder, the name of the character featured in the fic... You can make your own set of dividers for repeated use. I like to use very thin lines which I color differently according to the fic's theme colors. I also find dividers online, mostly here on tumblr, as there are tons of them if you look them up. It's important to use dividers which are marked free to use, or to otherwise credit their creators.

10. Additional tips

Use gifs. Everything that moves is eye-catching. But don't go overboard with it - one or two moving objects on your layout is plenty. They shouldn't be put too close to the fic's body too, as people might find it distracting. Avoid flashing and glitching gifs, or if you use those and you deem it necessary, tag the post with an epilepsy warning. You can make your banners into gifs by putting a moving filter on them, making it into a video, and turning the video into a gif (the site I use for this is called ezgif and it has plenty of other options for working with gifs and videos), and you can also make or find gif dividers.

Banner themes are nice, but they don't always look good. I'm talking about making a series of banners (like for a bunch of fics made for the same creative challenge) look the same, with the same coloring and filters. I used to make all my banners purple to follow my blog's tumblr theme but I realized not everyone looks good in purple...

Try adding a synopsis for your fic! I know, this is worse than coming up with a title, but we love flipping the book over to look at the synopsis before jumping into it. Keep it very short and try beautifying it with symbols or fancy quotation marks.

Use the "intended" font from the tumblr post editor to make your information tags or synopsis stand out and shrink the overall length of the post!

Put the body of your fic under a "read more" (the last option when you hit a new row in the post editor). This is very important, especially if you're writing smut - you wouldn't want to make people scroll through all of that if they're not in the mood for it. Putting your whole fic on the dash doesn't make it more likely for people to stop and read it, or at least that's just how I see it.

Use emojis! Emojis stand out!

Take inspiration from other people. Get out of your bubble and look at how other fandoms do it, but obviously don't steal.

11. Final thoughts

Making this post felt weird to me! I was motivated by my mutuals complimenting my layouts but also because some of them said "they can't do that" and I wanted to show them it's easy. I also wanted to show them it's not that important and that they shouldn't stress over it at all! At the end of the day it's your fic that matters, not how pretty you can make it work. But instead of simplifying it, I ended up with this massive post of 11 parts, and now it looks scarily big. It's not, okay! I went too much into detail at times, and I want to stress once again that it's all optional anyway. I, personally, don't follow all of this advice. I don't go through the 10 steps of constructing my layout every time I'm about to post a fic. I typically post my fics just before going to bed, and 99% of the time I need it to happen ASAP because it's that late in the night. It's a way to beat my perfectionism, really, and I find it to work for me. I also already have these steps tested and memorized so it all happens quickly and mechanically for me. Making the layout is extremely fun for me and this is my sole driving force for putting in the effort. At the same time, I remind myself not to go overboard because it's stupid to focus on it more than on the fic itself. I love ao3 because everything looks equal on there, but I also love tumblr because I can unleash my creativity in one additional way.

In the process of making this post, I started to wonder if it seems like I'm making this out to be way more important and difficult than it really is, and I want to assure you that this is not my intention at all!

My only hope is that this proves to be helpful for whoever feels like they can use some of the information above. If it leads to just 1 additional note to those criminally underrated fics I see, then I'd be beyond happy!

Have fun posting your fics :)

[ikemenlibrary]

Now announcing.... 'My Ikémen Valentine' Gift Exchange!

A sweet and spicy holiday to celebrate with your true love

The fifth installment in the Ikémen Gift Exchanges hosted by @ikemenlibrary. This one’s a bit different, as it’s not for a specific fandom, but instead, a romantic holiday! 

This is open to all of the current Ikémen games released in English servers!

Main Info:

Event: Gift Exchange

Fandom(s): Ikemen Vampire, Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Prince, Ikemen Revolution

Creation time: January 19 - February 16 Gift sharing: February 17-18

You can sign up for the exchange here

The deadline to submit your submission to join the exchange will be due on January 12.

You will have a month to create a Valentine’s gift for your recipient and an Ikémen character that they have given to you out of their list. 

If you're interested in joining, please make sure to get your answers completed and sent in before January 12. You can edit your sign up form after it’s been submitted, but please make sure to let me (the host)  know if you’ve done that, as I do not get notified when that happens and I want to make sure everyone’s happy with up to date information. Once the deadline passes, I will turn off the link to edit or submit so if you have any problems after then, please contact me directly.

Once I get everyone’s information organized and sorted, I will be reaching out to everyone individually on January 19 to let you know who you’ve been assigned to create for, as well as any extra information to share at that point in time.

When your application has been accepted for the gift exchange, I will reach out with a link to join the Discord server (if you aren’t already in it from previous exchanges).**

Please let me know if you have any questions! I can be reached via Tumblr DM or if you have my Discord from previous exchanges, you may find me there as well <3

Disclaimer: **Please note before signing up that I do have a Discord server that I encourage everyone to join. We’d love for all the participants (myself included!) to get to know one another, work together, and potentially help each other out within the event. We also have some fun bots to play with!

If using Discord is something you are absolutely not comfortable with, please message me before you send in an application so I am aware that you will not be joining and can mark it down on my end for organization purposes. (If I’ve spoken to you about this before, just specify in the sign up sheet, there’s no reason to need to reach out again!)

Below the cut, there is a new update to the rules I’ve previously had in place. This is also reflected in the sign up sheet. Please let me know if you have any questions!**

Can’t wait to see you all soon!

**I just wanted to give a quick update on the rules, as I have changed a few things slightly this time around.

The minimum word requirement for fanfiction updated from 800 to 850 words

The fan art requirement has been updated from being lined with a colored drawing, to also require a background as well (this can be a solid color, or scenery, or whatever you decide. The background just cannot be white (of course, special cases may occur and I will leave it up to the artists stylistic choice))

This time around, you cannot select specific characters from a list who you aren’t interested in creating for. That would be too messy with 4 fandoms. Instead, you will get more options of characters to create based on your choices you fill out on the sign up form

You must be ready to share progress during the halfway check in point via Google Drive/Docs if you are a fanfiction creator. If you do not have access to using one of these, please send me whatever you have during the check in, and I will copy it into my Google Drive. This is so if there becomes a time where you lose your progress on something other than Google, there will still be a copy existing, even if it doesn’t completely reflect your current progress. 

This will all be reiterated in the information key you will be given at the time assignments go out, so don’t worry about remembering this for the time being

[wintermoonwritings]

NOT AGAIN!!!! Part 2!

Winter: Hi everyone! whoever has read my part 1 of 'NOT AGAIN!' series, they would be aware that in that story I portrayed a scenario of what if Clavis's kid, was like Chevalier in nature! in this part two, I will do a reverse scenario, 'What if Chevalier's child was like Clavis?'

Genre: Fluff!, fanfiction.

It took a while to realise, not for Chevalier, no no, not him, the moment he saw his babygirl's eyes (Eva is the name of the babygirl in this scenario) he saw that glint, that mischiveous glint he saw in Clavis's eyes when he saw him for the first time. He mentally sighed, he loved Eva but handling another prankster is going to be draining.

It took a while for Clavis to realise that his beautiful neice was actually like him! it was a beautiful sunny morning, Clavis pranced around the garden happily, humming sweet songs wondering how will he prank Yves today! suddenly everything shifted!!!

He found himself lying in a pit, his eyes gazing at the clouds and birds passing by. what...? HOW!? WHEN!??? AND WHERE!??? When in the world did he dig up this pit!? and did he even do this!? surely he would remember if he did that! then how and why? he looked up and saw a tiny figure, a toddler with a shovel, she was in a white poofy dress, her blond hair reaching till her waist, cute puffy cheeks out, her blue eyes glinting with mischief, indeed her face was expressionless much like her father, she looked like a beautiful ice doll. EVA!?

Clavis gasps and then starts laughing hysterically, oh wow! wonderful! the hellcat just found himself a partner in crime! He comes out and hugs the toddler, hoisting her up! oh you are wonderful my dear! don't worry! your uncle Clavis will teach you all my ways to prank people! do you wish to do it on your father? The five year old girl kicks her feet in excitement and nods, finally smiling elated.

The next day, When Chevalier enters his faction's work room, he sees a "wonderful" spectacle! monkeys everywhere around the room, all blank sheets scattered and fallen to the ground, in the middle of the room at his desk he sees a note, Dear, Chevie! hahaha! we have kidnapped your horse, Lucien and your sword, leave 100 chocolates at the garden at 5 pm by today evening or else forget your things existed! Team Hellcats.

The letter was signed anonymously, Chevalier takes a deep breath and sighs loudly, does nothing and walks to his private library, muttering "Fools".

The next thing they knew, Clavis and Eva are cleaning the mess of their faction's work room, after apologizing to Lucien and Chevalier's horse and also the monkeys, of course they were forced to, Clavis was also forced to sharpen and polish Chevalier's sword manually as an extra punishment for teaching his babygirl wrong manners. Thus ends the story of the two pranksters. One day gone, many more to come.

Winter: Tried my best but I wonder if it was good enough like the first of this series. Lots of love and thank you for reading!

[cinnamonspice99]

They are all such pookies 🥹❤️✨

Ikesen Boys React to a Tattooed MC pt 4

Thank you again to @otomedad for this fantastic idea ^_^ This one has Mitsuhide, Keiji, and Ieyasu! Approx. 2600 words of tattoo and MC appreciation!

Mitsuhide

Mitsuhide’s smile was infuriating. You wipe the sweat from your forehead and stretch your aching muscles. After five hours of practice, you were tired, your hair was a tangled mess, and your clothes looked even worse. And Akechi was just standing there, grinning, not a single hair out of place.  

“That was much better, little mouse. Almost passable.” His grin widens. “In another week or two, you might be able to fend off, say, a small rabbit? Perhaps a squirrel?”

You throw a sweat-damp rag at him, which he dodges easily. 

Mitsuhide’s eyebrows arch. “What’s this? Another match? I could never deny my little one.” 

“W-wai-ahhhh!” You hold up a hand to stop him, only for him to grab your hand and send you up and over his shoulder. He holds you there, your head flopping against his upper back, legs kicking uselessly in the air.

“Hmm. I think you’ve lost this round. You don’t seem to be able to get down.”

You seriously consider biting him, but there’s no easy spot to clamp down on. Besides, he’d probably just - 

“If you bite me, I will return the favor.” You hear the laughter in his voice, and feel his breath on your leg.

“Put me down!” 

Mitsuhide does laugh then, a low, wicked chuckle that sends feelings skittering through your frayed nerve endings. “I don’t think I want to, though. You’ll have to convince me.”

You struggle some more, trying to grab hold of him so you can leverage your grip to wriggle out of his. It’s impossible not to be aware of the flex of his muscle, covered by thin linen. The way he holds you, gentle, but implacable. Your pulse is racing and your face is red from more than exertion. I’m just embarrassed, you think, knowing that’s not quite true. 

With some effort, you manage to grasp his clothes firmly enough to pull yourself down, but you feel the loose folds of your hakama slide away from your hips as you do. You freeze, held by the terrible image of Mitsuhide carrying a pantless you, your rear in the air, legs kicking. 

“It seems my little mouse has only further ensnared herself.”   

The low, smooth tone of his voice sends a little shiver over the newly bare skin of your hip, and you fancy that you can feel his hair tickling that sensitive spot. “You - I - this - this is your fault!” It’s hard to think, and you wonder if he’s distracting you on purpose. Teasing, as always.

Mitsuhide chuckles, the laugh more something you can feel than hear. “But however will you escape? Perhaps you could persuade -” He pauses, holding very still.

“Ummm. Pretty please? Put me down?” You stop squirming, hopeful this means he’s done with his current game.

Instead, he shifts his grip on you, and you feel a cool, calloused finger drag against your hip. 

The unexpected touch, featherlight, sends a jolt of heat through you, and you bite back a pleased sigh. There is no way you’re letting Akechi get to you. Nope. No. You refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing his taunting touch got to you this time. “Mitsuhide -”

“You have been marked. What is this, my naughty little mouse?” 

For a moment, you have no idea what he means and then you realize. He must have glimpsed your tattoo. Your face, already hot, grows hotter still. This was something you hoped to keep to yourself. Especially given . . .

You feel his fingers catch the waist of your hakama and pull it a little further down. “Wait! Stop!”

Mitsuhide pauses, though now you can feel the cool air and his warm breath teasing your low hip. “This is no irezumi kei.” His voice has changed, the teasing replaced by strained curiosity.

“I told you I’m from the future. People have all kinds of tattoos there.” You hope he hasn’t realized what the design is. Please, please, you think, if there is any goodness in the world, he won’t see enough to -

“Little one. This is a -” His voice is so low you don’t catch the end of his sentence. 

You let out a breath, realizing there’s no escaping it now. “Look. I got that a long time ago. It was supposed to be the first part of a full leg sleeve.”

He sets you down gently, his hands lingering at your sides. His eyes are molten gold, and you find it hard to look away. “May I see it?”

 It is tempting to tell him no. To return some of the frustration you feel with his obtuse answers, his hot and cold behavior. But you find that you want to show him. Afterall, who else would appreciate this particular design more? You carefully tug your hakama down to display your hip and upper thigh. There, etched in bright colors is a nine-tail fox. The kitsune leaps from cloud a cloud toward a flower that looks like a cloud - or perhaps it’s a cloud that looks like a flower - and below that, the first hint of a river that was meant to tie the leg sleeve together. 

Mitsuhide’s smile widens and he kneels to get a closer look. 

“Go ahead,” you sigh. “Say what you’re going to say.”

His breath is warm against your skin as he leans close, his hand not quite touching. He stares into the soulful eyes of the inked kitsune, one fox to another, as if it might hold answers for him. When he looks up at you, your heart stutters in your chest. “You somehow manage to surprise me still, little one.” 

You aren’t sure what to say, and honestly, you feel as if you can barely breathe much less speak. It’s not just Mitsuhide’s closeness, or even your vulnerability in this position. It is the expression that haunts his eyes, a flicker of something hopeful, something raw beneath his usual smiling mask. 

“Why did you choose this? This . . . unworthy trickster?” His voice is almost inaudible, as if he too is having trouble breathing.

“Unworthy?” Your eyes go wide. “Kitsune are wise. Tricksters, yeah, but that just means they didn’t lose their sense of humor. They are noble and cunning and they pursue knowledge, even when it’s forbidden, and - and I wanted to be all those things too.” You fall silent, wondering why his comment upset you so much.

Mitsuhide stares at you, his brows arched high, his lips parted. Then he laughs, a paper thin, breathy sound that rises to a low chuckle. “Truly you are something . . . else.” He stands gracefully, his gaze still on your face.

“You too,” you mutter and turn away, busying your hands with fixing your clothes. It isn’t fair how he always tangles your feelings, you think. Looking at you like that, his voice, his eyes, his touch.

“Your tattoo is lovely. As lovely as you are.” He brushes a hand down your arm, a tender gesture. 

You freeze, butterflies filling your chest. His compliment means so much to you, but you don’t know what to say in return. Your throat feels parched and tight. After a shaky breath, you look up, determined to ask him why he teases you so, but he is already moving away, his back to you, the moment gone.  

Keiji

“Sometimes I don’t know why I bother,” you murmur to yourself. The subject and cause of your annoyance crouches a few steps away, all but ignoring you, his gaze turned toward the street just beyond the mouth of this narrow alley. You think you might prefer his silence to his commentary. 

He turns his head slightly to regard you, and you have the uncanny sense that he heard your whispered complaint. Chagrined, you offer him an apologetic smile, which earns you an eyeroll and a smirk. 

You do your best to ignore his reaction, but you can’t help the flush of embarrassment in your cheeks, or the way his regard makes your pulse pound.

A few short minutes later, he gestures you forward as he steps out into the clear street ahead. You follow, a nervous energy in your steps. In fact, you are so nervous that your feet tangle mid-step. 

Keiji catches you before you hit the ground, his warm arms pulling you up in an unexpected embrace. “Careful,” he admonishes you sharply, but you see the genuine concern in his gaze.

“Thanks.” You pull away, self conscious and even more embarrassed now. At this rate, Keiji will never ask you along to anymore of his clandestine missions. You try not to meet his gaze again as you straighten your clothes.

He reaches out, grabbing your hand before you manage to tug your sleeve back into place. “Is that - are you - princess . . .” The sharpness in his tone melts into surprise as he pulls your sleeve back up. 

“Ehehe, umm . . . it’s a tattoo?” The inked lines of three noh masks stare back at the two of you. “I did costuming for theater and I, I liked these designs.” You end on a defiant note, practically daring Keiji to say something snarky.

Surprisingly, he says nothing, just strokes your marked skin with the rough pad of his thumb. The touch sends a pleasant shiver through you, which you hope he doesn’t notice. 

“So . . . can I have my arm back,” you venture after a few awkward moments. 

Keiji nods, but doesn’t let go of you. “Do you know what these mean?” His voice sounds distant, soft and surprisingly tender. 

You nod. “I . . . yes.” Your gaze follows his thumb to the three faces. I got Zō because I feel like she represents the best in women. Divinity and beauty. Wisdom. And then, Namanari because hell hath no fury, right? Holding onto anger makes me a demon. So she’s kind of a warning for me to let it go, but also, like, a reminder that it’s ok to be angry too.”

“And Rōjo?” He looks up, his warm amber eyes meeting yours. 

“To remind me that getting older is ok too.” You shrug uncomfortably, feeling oddly exposed by the confession. 

Keiji studies you, tension in his shoulders and jaw. “It’s nice. Your tattoo.”

Your eyes widen a little at the compliment. “You know you don’t have to fake things around me,” you tell him, half hoping he means it and half sure he doesn’t.

“I said I like it, ok? It’s pretty.” He frowns, a little crease forming between his eyebrows.

For some reason, the all too familiar expression of disapproval combined with the kind words sends little butterflies spinning through your tummy, and makes your heart do a funny little flip in your chest. He has no right to look so cute, you think. Or to say such nice things while his thumb makes little circles on the inner side of your arm. “Th-thanks.”

One eyebrow lifts slightly along with the corners of his lips. “You’re blushing.”

You jerk your arm away, trying to get ahold of your galloping heart. “I am not!” 

He laughs, a sound free of nega-Keiji’s bitterness, one full of a sudden, intoxicating joy. 

This does nothing to help you rein in your reaction, but you find yourself joining in the laughter with him. “Come on, let’s just go meet your contacts,” you say through your giggles. 

“Yeah. That’s right.” He smiles and you feel another flush of heat in your cheeks. One that only grows as he reaches for your hand.

Ieyasu

“Hold still.” Ieyasu’s crisp tone brooks no disobedience. 

You stop squirming and take a deep breath. “Sorry,” you mumble. “It just hurts.”

A faint smile curls the edges of his mouth. “Yes, well, tumbling down a gravel path usually does. You should be more careful. At this rate, I’ll have to accompany you everywhere just to ensure you don’t hurt yourself.”

You feel a goofy happiness at the gentle expression on his face as he says it, though his tone stays sharp. “I’m not that clumsy,” you argue. “I don’t need babysitting.” 

“The evidence leaves that very much in doubt.” Ieyasu tugs your kimono aside, revealing your hip and thigh. There is an angry red patch of skin where the gravel scraped you badly, and his eyes flick over the wound with concern. Then his gaze travels up and you notice his brows rise. 

“What? What is it?” You start to move again and stop as he rests a hand on you. 

Ieyasu frowns, his fingertip tapping just above your injury. “You have a mark. Like a painting but -” He drags his finger over the ink of your tattoo. 

“Oh, that.” You laugh self-consciously. You hadn’t been thinking about the tattoo at all - especially not after your spectacularly embarrassing accident that morning. Tripping over a rock and sliding halfway down a gravel and sand path while out walking with Hideyoshi. And to make matters worse, he’d insisted on carrying you to see Ieyasu for treatment. Thankfully, he hadn’t stayed. You could easily imagine his disapproving expression. Probably more so than the face Ieyasu was making now. 

“Yes. That.” He leaned closer to your leg, studying the colorful image there. “It looks like an octopus. Holding a flower?” Ieyasu’s voice has lost some it’s usual coldness, thawing to an unexpected warmth with curiosity.

You feel another little flutter in your chest and tell yourself to calm down. “It’s supposed to be Akkorokamui holding an anemone. I got it after my parents passed away.” The memory of your intense grief is enough to make you pause. It’s been so many years since you lost them, but it still hurts. A dull, distant ache you don’t notice most of the time. Only on those lonely, long nights when there is nothing to distract you. 

Ieyasu looks up, concern in his wide green eyes. “You don’t need to tell me if it’s too much.”

“No, it’s ok. I can talk about it. That was several years ago and I - I’m alright now.” You give him what you hope is a reassuring smile. “I read that the octopus was a symbol for adaptability. And that Akkorokamui meant healing and wisdom. So . . . I got it as a tattoo, so I would never forget I can handle everything life throws my way. That I will always heal, in time.”

His warm palm strokes your thigh, a gentle touch meant to be calming. The effect on you is less than, sending your pulse skyrocketing. “I see.” He continues the tender caress, though his brows furrow. “But why is it holding a flower?”

“Fragility and strength. Because I’m fragile but I want to be strong.” You take a breath, trying to calm your heart and settle the ache in your soul. Surprisingly, your grief already feels less, as if Ieyasu’s closeness has chased it away.

He nods, looking back down with his thoughtful expression. “I think it’s nice.” 

You can’t miss the flush of red in his cheeks, or his sudden shyness as he pulls his hand away. 

“Too bad such a pretty picture can’t stop you from being a danger to yourself. But I don’t think this will leave a scar on your lov- er, your skin.” Ieyasu’s coldness returns in full force, his eyes as hard as jade.

“Do you really think it’s pretty? I like it but -”

“Of course it is,” he snaps back, already pulling out a tincture to clean your wound.

You bite your lip at the sting, eyes watering a little. 

Ieyasu sighs, his shoulders losing some of their tension. “Sorry. I should have warned you. This will hurt a little.”

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you like me - ah - my tattoo.” 

His eyes widen at your slip in speech, his mouth open. The red in his cheeks spreads to his ears, and something in his gaze wavers. “Well. Even I can admit when someone-thing- is pretty. I’m not blind.”

You feel a giggle rising up and clamp down. Laughing now would not be a good thing. “Thanks.”

“Sure,” he mutters, turning away. You can still see the red tips of his ears.

[xxsycamore]

BREATHLESS

╰┈➤🖤 He's completely ruined you. In his absence, you'll never be able to give yourself even a fraction of the pleasure he's made your body get used to.

Gilbert von Obsidian x f!Reader; • rating: E (MDNI) • tags: Bathroom Sex; Bath Sex Love Bites; Biting; Marking; Spoilers for under his eyepatch; Teasing; Light Temperature Play; Oral Sex; Cunnilingus; Hair-pulling; Asphyxiation; Breathplay (for Gilbert) (and he's still in a dominating position while doing it); Overstimulation; Multiple Orgasms; Vaginal Sex; Corruption Kink; Creampie; Aftercare • wordcount: 2,377 • masterlist

a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE DEAREST SWEETEST @scummy-writes !!!!!!!!! I had a blast with this, but once again, why can't you have a normal guy HAHAH. This wasn't in my writing bingo for the year and I really really hope I succeeded in finding something you haven't thought about! Again, you deserve the world. Thank you for being my friend, I love you so much <3

"Where do you want the next one to be?"

Your teeth dig into your lower lip. Despite Gilbert's attempts to pry your mouth open and make you sing for him, every next action of his only incites you to want to oppose him more.

The bathtub's water embraces your lower body so nicely; you want to fully sink in its warmness but Gilbert's hands on your waist prevent you from doing so. He holds you upright in his lap, nice and secure and without escape. The water that still hasn’t dried on your skin only serves to irritate, emphasizing your nakedness almost - the slight chill of the air inside the bathroom both welcomed and unpleasing, depending on Gilbert's wish to manipulate the sensation. The taut perks on your chest remain hard like little pebbles rubbing against Gilbert's naked front despite the heat that rushes to your cheeks when he purposedly moves your body on his lap, maneuvering you by straightening you up when you descend unnoticeably in your haze.

Futilely, you grasp at the water, but it's nothing like the sea of silk that is his bed. Your fist unclenches and you disturb the surface by lifting your hand in the air again. Your new tactic is silence, and it never works on him, but you're prone to making the same mistakes again and again and he likes that about you.

Slowly, your own finger traces a line down the junction of your neck and your shoulder, but not how Gilbert would do it. There's a stark lack of decisiveness, but eventually, you halt the movement, your finger becoming the pointer he requested.

"I told you, you have to tell me where you want it."

Gilbert is looking at you, but he's not looking you straight in the eye. In the clear pool of aquamarine on his left side you can always catch a bit more of your reflection, and you might have become quite the sight for him. From the lip that's still caught between your teeth, Gilbert's eyes travel a little lower and are lost somewhere on the constellation of marks he left on your skin; connecting them with his gaze one by one in the order he placed them.

"I see that you've found a blank spot, but what about it? You have to be more clear."

His gaze returns on yours and your eyelids fall closed because facing him is enough as it is. A deep breath and you repeat the same thing you've said more than a couple of times now. Somehow, it's still not that easy.

"Here… Mark me here next."

"Oh? Would you look at that, you still want more. I have no choice but to comply with your wish."

It's cruel. He's the one who promised you a reward if you play long enough for his liking, but he won't tell you how long that would be. You have to guess when the number of marks satisfies him, and then tell him to stop. He must be having fun with this. Every next mark makes it more interesting - are you being a smart little girl, thinking only about ensuring your success - or are you perhaps only putting that front on while relishing in the opportunity to be greedy with no responsibility? It's a dark thing, how alluring it is to be stripped of shame under the assumption that what you do is not voluntary.

Gilbert latches onto your neck, and your back arches because it's already too much. It's not only the sensation on your neck that rips that reaction out of you, it's the fact that once again you can feel his cock throb underneath you. You can feel it coming to live each and every time he's marking you, and the chain reaction makes your own arousal pulse neglected between your legs. You can't stand still, and you're not trying either. It's as if you're praying that if you shift and tremble enough in Gilbert's arms, his cock that is continuously poking your puffed-up folds would somehow slip in.

The suction on your skin becomes too much and you whine, so he lets go with an audible little pop.

"Hehe. You look beautiful like that, little rabbit. Let's move to the next one."

He readjusts you in his lap again, forcing you down from where you've ascended, trapping his cock against your belly now and resetting your progress.

The next one? Through your haze, the warning bells go off in your head. Though the focus of your sensations has traveled low on your body, you still can feel it - the slight stinging of a dozen lovemarks that had bloomed on your skin in signal red. There's barely room for more. You have to put an end to this.

"I… had enough."

"Oh?"

Gilbert's little smile is unreadable as ever, and the way he stops petting the small of your back doesn't help getting any cues.

"The question is, did I have enough?"

Breathing disrupted by the heartbeat you skipped, you let out something like an impatient sigh as Gilbert hums and lets the sound vibrate against your chest.

"Let's say I did."

And the next sound that comes out of your mouth is colored a bit more as relief, even if it fuels a far greater impatience when the meaning sinks in. You look at him with expectation.

Gilbert places a chaste kiss against your nape that serves to distract as he moves from his position. You find yourself on the spot he used to be, back now pressing against the end of the tub and Gilbert kneeling in front of you.

"Of course, I have a befitting reward for you. I promise to make you scream in pleasure."

His voice drips of wanton even through his composure, as he lifts your left leg to prop it on the tub's edge. His hand travels down your naval until his thumb ghosts over your neglected nub, and Gilbert lets out a soft coo of pity when your legs jerk by a mere stroke of his finger. He repeats the motion until your head lolls to the side, eyelids falling shut once more, and he lowers himself to your heat.

The sensation of his hot tongue makes shivers run through you, and in the shock, you open your eyes and try to regain some of your reason. The instinct to shut your legs is one thing, but you're now also trying to keep your pelvis elevated because of the water.

Gilbert raises his head slightly, and water drips down his chin alluringly.

"Aren't you a bit too tense? You should let go. Relax your muscles and let me reveage you."

His wicked tongue flicks against your clit before he sucks down on it. Riding out the continuous wave of pleasure, you press yourself more onto him, and catch a glimpse of the water enveloping him just up to his mismatched eyes. He must be holding his breath because he doesn't as much as flinch at the loss of air.

You moan over his words, but even in a whisper, you can still string them together in your imagination. It's nothing he hasn't said before, but even if you try to listen, the last thing you want is to get in his way of pleasuring you - it's selfish but you can't help it, he's the one who did this to you. The weakness in your fingers is apparent but you still try your best to hold onto the edge of the tub and use the leverage.

"What's wrong? Normally when I pleasure you like this you'd entangle your fingers in my hair and push my head down. Why the hesitation?"

Your half-lidded eyes still widen in shock at his words. Does he know what he's asking for? This is too dangerous, you don't want to accidentally hurt him by letting him inhale water.

Reluctant, your left hand finds its way to the disheveled mess of black hair on top of his head. You take note of those small strands framing his face that have curled up just a tad from the humidity in the bathroom and how adorable it looks on him, even when his actions are anything but. It's fine though, placing your hand there - because this can work in your favor, so long as you exert self-control.

Gilbert is satisfied with your decision because he rewards you with another delightful suction of your clit. It's short-lived, however, because all too quickly he switches to those unnerving kitten-licks over your hole that never extend to the place that needs them most.

The tip of Gilbert's tongue catches into your entrance and you moan out his name. You want more, more, more, but he's already been down there for a few seconds too long, and despite yourself, you tug on his hair.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Please don't stop!"

There's a second or two in which Gilbert's taken aback by your enthusiasm, but he smirks as soon as he calculates the torture you're inflicting on yourself. You know that look. He can't have any of that now.

"You're truly adorable, aren't you? Even though I told you to leave yourself to me…"

For a moment you expect him to deprive you from freely moving your hands, to leave you without a choice, but instead, he simply goes back to pleasuring you. It succeeds at shaking your composure as you barely can take much longer, and the hand buried in Gilbert's hair trembles.

He sucks on your clit again and before you know it, a lightning bolt of pleasure whips through your entire form, making your muscles spasm all over as a series of broken cries of Gilbert's name spill from your lips.

Water splashes over the edge of the tub and your lower body grinds down on its source of pleasure uncontrollably, the sensation of ten crescents digging into the flesh of your hips to keep you in place only heightens the pleasure as the dull pain they bring clashes with the copious amount of satisfaction. Hot white takes over your vision and you're left feeling weightless, falling down into the abyss after being toyed with for so long, being left dangling around that edge for so long.

Cough, cough, cough

"Haha…hahaha…"

Gilbert's frame blocks the light that you register even over your closed eyelids, and you soon open them to find him looming over you, laughing between heavy breaths.

"Gilbert, are you alr-Ahhh!!"

You squirm at the feeling of his cock pressing against your overstimulated heat, but he's not pushing his way in yet. It gives you an idea of how worked up it got him to fight for air, and you feel a shiver run all over your skin. He presses some apologetic kisses over your agape lips, his impatience colliding with your overstimulation. His breaths are still raspy and uneven, now interrupted by a low whine every time the flushed head almost pops inside your pussy.

It's not long before the hunger inside you is renewed, and your head spins with wanton and the fact that Gilbert can make you that needy even after such a powerful orgasm. He's completely ruined you. In his absence, you'll never be able to give yourself even a fraction of the pleasure he's made your body get used to.

Your arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him in closer, and it's all he needs to know he can now sink in your heat. The tightness and warmth make another moan fall from his lips, and the fire in his mismatched eyes burns brighter when he holds your gaze. Once he bottoms out, he pulls almost all the way out, before thrusting in again. Your inner walls clasp around Gilbert with a vice-tight grip, your senses overwhelmed with him. The tingling of your clit which clashes with his naval, the stinging of his lovebites, the pistoning of his cock inside you… The way he groans as he tries to hold back, to work you gradually to another orgasm…

"Gil—bert— Gilbert please—Come…"

Placing a hand on his cheek, you mewl at the way he slows down just to look at you. His thrusts become deeper; making you shiver as he takes his time feeling you inside out, and you can't stop clenching every time he hits your deepest parts only to withdraw agonizingly slowly again. He has a penchant for holding back until he can't anymore, but when you plead at him like that, locking your legs behind his back…

"I'm going to give it all to you, little rabbit— Ngh—."

His hot breath makes you shudder, and he uses the opportunity left by your next moan to slip his tongue inside your mouth again. You recognize that imprecise, sloppy kiss that he grants you with in this state. You know you're getting filled to the brim after such a kiss; a mere second of the world slowing down so he can show you a more gentle kind of love.

Before you know it, he's picking up his speed again; the water in the tub moving together with him as makes love to you in earnest now, a rare instance of him letting himself go. You feel yourself getting close again, clawing at Gilbert's back because of how good he fucks you as he whispers sweet nothings in your ear, each pulling you closer to the edge.

"Come for me now, come and I'll give you what you want…"

Crying out his name again, you feel the knot deep inside you snap as another tremendous orgasm rips through your whole body. Gilbert keeps thrusting through it all, letting your powerful squeezing milk him of his seed as he follows suit. His thick cum spurts inside you as he groans and closes his mouth around your neck again, teeth grazing over old marks. The movement of his hips gradually slows down until he finishes filling you up, as the afterwaves of pleasure overtake and squeeze every last drop of pleasure out of both of you.

"Mmm… Now I have to bathe you again, little bunny. Just lie back and let me take care of you, will you?"

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[violettduchess]

A/N: A continuation of this headcanon, here is the same scenario with Chevalier and Licht, a small child entering their bedroom in the middle of the night

WC: 1.3

The child's white bedroom door, painted with a silvery moon and twinkling stars, opens slowly, a whisper in the still of the night. A small head pokes out, knuckling sleepily at eyes still heavy with the remnants of dreaming. A look left, then right.

The hall is empty.

Tiny bare feet tiptoe across plush carpeting.

One hand clutches a stuffed animal, the other reaches for the curved handle of your bedroom door and which, on a quiet exhale, opens.

Chevalier

The door slowly opens and a pale head of blond hair, silvery in the moonlight that spills through the bedroom window, peeks around the corner. Chevalier is still awake, reading by the warm glow of the oil lamp on his nightstand. You are sound asleep on your side of the bed, your feet stretched out and resting against his legs. It’s a small thing really, but he cannot deny the way it feels to know that even in sleep, you seek him out.

He lowers his book, making eye-contact with the little girl who is still peering around the door. “Yes?” It’s invitation enough. She enters, her stuffed white tiger tucked under one arm, both hands clutching a book to her chest. She approaches his side of the large bed, shoulders squared as she looks at her father, quiet determination in her expression. Chevalier glances at the silver clock, ticking quietly away on his nightstand, next to the lamp. “You should be sleeping.”

She nods, drawing a breath. “I know, Papa. But I have a dilemma.”

He forces himself not to smile at her very serious expression but the warmth is there, winding its way around his heart as he regards her. “Do you?” 

Carefully, she lays the book she’s been holding down onto his lap. He recognizes it as the book of fairy tales he has been reading to her for the past few nights, the one you had gotten for her birthday a fortnight ago. “I would like you to finish the story we began this evening. The one about the fae and the knight.”

Chevalier tilts his head, regarding her. “I believe we had this discussion an hour ago when it was your bedtime and I told you we would finish it tomorrow night.” 

She clears her throat, looking at him with eyes as blue as the endless sea, eyes that perfectly mirror his own. “I know and that is my dilemma. However…I’ve thought about it. And I have a good reason why we should continue now.”

His eyebrows raise ever so slightly. “Go on.”

She takes a moment, gathering her thoughts. “You see, the story was so interesting that I have not been able to sleep. In fact, I have been kept quite awake wondering what is going to happen. As you said Papa, this has already cost me an hour of rest. But…” She takes a deep breath, reading herself for the heart of her plea. “If you were to read me the last three pages, it would take you approximately fifteen minutes. And then I would know how the tale ends. And I could go to bed. If not, I worry I may continue to toss and turn and my sleep will be further interrupted.” 

He does not answer a moment. His words momentarily robbed by the strange and heady mixture of pride and love for his daughter that is squeezing his heart, an emotion she so often evokes and that never fails to leave him amazed. She waits, the only sign that she is eager to hear his response is the impatient wiggling of her toes. Finally, the corner of his lips lift in a soft smile.

“You make a very compelling argument.” He sets aside his book and then gets out of bed, taking her fairy tale book in one hand and holding out his other to her. “We’ll finish the story in your room, in our reading chair so that we don’t wake your mother.”

She smiles, brighter than the full moon, and suddenly he sees you, his beloved wife. There you are, the echo of your warmth and joy painted across her young face. The warmth and joy that reached through the walls around his heart and gathered him close, taught him not only was he worthy of love but he could love back just as fiercely. 

And here, your daughter, the living embodiment of that very love, grips his large hand happily as she leads the way back to her room. Impulsively she turns her head and kisses the top of his hand. “Thank you, Papa.” Chevalier answers her affection with a tender smile and a squeeze of her hand in return. “You are very, very welcome.”

Licht

He stirs the moment the bedroom door opens, having not quite sunk into the well of dreaming yet. Pushing himself up, his first instinct is to reach for the nightstand drawer where his dagger is waiting to bite into any intruder. But his hand stills, midair, when he sees who is peeking her pale head around the door. “Papa?” 

He murmurs her name and motions for his daughter to come in as you sleepily rub at your eyes, rolling over to see what’s going on. She rushes to the bed, her stuffed wolf held by its bushy tail. It’s only when she’s close that he notices the watery eyes, the rapid way her small chest rises and falls, the paleness of her cheeks.

“Sweetheart? What’s wrong?” She climbs onto the bed and launches herself into her father’s arms, burying her face in the soft white linen of his sleepshirt. “I had a bad dream,” is her muffled reply. 

Licht’s breath hitches in his throat. He is far too familiar with the phantoms that still sometimes haunt his nights, the dark tendrils of fear and terror and pain that wrap themselves around his mind at its most vulnerable. Noticing the way he’s frozen, you reach over, placing a reassuring hand between his shoulder blades, rubbing gently even as you reach with the other hand to touch your daughter’s bare foot, letting her know you are there for her.

Licht breathes in, your touch bringing him back from the shadows. He adjusts his arms around her, then strokes her moonlight-hair with a steady hand. Your touch on his back soothes him, sending calm waves of warmth through him, the same steady flow of love and reassurance he is giving to your child.

“Dreams can feel very real,” he murmurs, speaking slowly and tenderly, his lips resting on the top of her head. “And it’s ok to be scared.” You nod, resting your chin on Licht’s shoulder and brush the back of your fingers against her round little cheek. “We’re here for you, my love. Always.”

She leans back, sniffling and Licht tenderly brushes her hair away from her flushed face. “Can I sleep here tonight?” He nods immediately, a smile gracing his lips as she climbs her way over the both of you to wiggle herself under the covers. Her wolf tucked close to her chest, she throws herself against her father, eliciting a soft laugh before snuggling up against his side, her head on his chest. 

Licht glances at you over her head, his eyes the soft red of sunset as he extends his arm in invitation. You slide closer, curling up against your daughter, your head pillowed by his arm. 

No nightmares trouble any of you for the rest of the peaceful night.

Taglist: @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage

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@chi-the-idiot @bubblexly @ozalysss

[randonauticrap]

Excuse me, if anyone asks, my body now belongs to Aqua. For obvious reasons.

Tempting the Beast - Chevalier Michel x MC - Ikemen Prince (NSFW)

Author's Note: I'll be using dialogue prompts from @xxsycamore list that can be found HERE.

Prompts: “Do you really think it’s a good idea to tempt me like that?” and “I’ll give you five seconds to reconsider.”

“Prince Chevalier!” I gasped loudly, hoping my tone wouldn’t betray me. “So sorry for the intrusion, I was not expecting to find you out here tonight.”

Even with his back to me, Chevalier’s imposing figure was unmistakable. His elegant cloak billowing behind him in the gentle evening breeze, he barely turned before addressing me. “You’re fooling no one,” he stated simply. As a faint flush colored my cheeks, I was momentarily pleased for once that he was not looking towards me.

“Was my brother that horrible an escort to send you running out here?” he asked as he turned around, amusement alight in his eyes.

“Clavis?” I scoffed. “No, he’s a wonderful date. I’ll have to thank whoever suggested I bring him this evening.” Sarcasm dripped from every word I spat out.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, a smug smile spreading on his lips.

I bit my lip, swallowing my desire to wipe that smile away. “And what had you escaping out here?”

“No reason. Just wanted some quiet…” His gaze landed on me. “But I’m not getting that now, am I?” I quickly looked away, hoping he couldn’t see the flush filling my face one again.

“You didn’t think anyone would follow you out here?”

He shook his head. “No one would dare.” He grinned at me proudly, his bright blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “They’re all afraid of the Brutal Beast.”

“Everyone that is, but you.” His voice is low and sultry as he approached me. His finger traced a line from my jaw down the column of my neck. I closed my eyes, sighing, enthralled by his simple touch. I didn’t hide my reaction; why bother, when he could read me like a book anyway?

Looking up at him, I tilted my head and exposed my neck. “Only a simpleton like you wouldn’t be afraid.” He huffed out a soft laugh and took another step closer to me. I couldn’t help but notice his gaze had fallen upon my exposed neck. “Do you really think it’s a good idea to tempt me like that?”

I turned around, resting my hands on the ornate stone balustrade, and overlooked the vast expanse of lush greenery. “No,” I called out. Cocking my head slightly, I was able to see Chevalier from the corner of my eye, still standing where I left him. “It’s a terrible idea. Lousy idea.” My eyebrows were raised in a quiet challenge, betraying my words.

The stars twinkled in the clear night sky over the enchanted garden, the once quiet breeze now charged with electricity. An otherwise serene setting, save for the beast quietly stalking me. I closed my eyes just for a moment; a slight thrill flowed through me, knowing it wouldn’t be long before he pounced.

His steps were so silent, it wasn’t until I felt his warm breath on my neck that I knew he had me.

“I’ll give you five seconds to reconsider.” A veiled threat, he teased. We both knew I wouldn’t reconsider.

Caged in his arms and pinned to the cold, stone balustrade, I barely brushed my body against his. Just enough to send him a message.

I felt the smile on his lips as his teeth grazed the delicate skin on my neck. Leaning my head back, I melted into his body as he marked me as his.

“Are you so foolish you think you have tamed me?”

“Of course not,” I replied, lacing my fingers in his, guiding his arms around my waist.

I yelped as he pressed his body tight against mine, pushing me against the cold stone of the balustrade. With his mouth still pressed against my throat, one hand began to hike up the skirt of my dress. My body slackened, succumbing to all desires, and gave up all control to the beast behind me.

“Scream as loud as you like, no one will hear you,” his husky voice purred in my ear as he slid a finger inside me. “In fact, I encourage it.” Moans of pleasure escaped my lips as his fingers twisted and twirled, his teasing unrelentless.

Embraced by my lover, my body was at his mercy. Rapture rippled through me as Chevalier's body joined mine, the beast finally claiming his prey. Every touch from his hands, from his mouth, from his hips, stoked the fire blazing in my belly. Until all that was left was the embers of euphoria and my name on his lips and his on mine. 

"You truly are a beast." My voice was breathless, my body boneless. 

"Ah, you're finally learning," he laughed, his smile taunting me. Turning me around to face him, he brought his hand to my hair, and began to unpin it.

I tried to swat him away. "I'll have you know I spent a long time fixing my hair like that. Only for you to mess it up now?"

"And give my brother the pleasure, the satisfaction, of claiming these marks as his? I can't allow that." His fingers gently grazed those marks as he finished fixing my hair so the marks were suitably covered. "Run along now," he whispered, caressing my shoulders. "I'll be in the library later, should you...need me."

He brushed a soft kiss on my forehead before turning,  leaving me flustered, alone under the stars and the moon. With one arm wrapped around my waist, I smiled as my other reached for my neck, my fingers tracing my mark, his mark. 

[omkookie]

Make You Mine.

⌈ ⚠️ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ⌉ Yandere themes

A scenario in which Yandere!Gilbert thwarts the Reader's wedding. This idea was given to me by a lovely anon quite a long time ago and I just found the draft for it.

He steps onto the venue, his cane loudly hitting the shiny floors beneath it with an audible 'tap' each step he takes. The guests all turn their heads towards the intruder and go pale when they see his face.

Gilbert von Obsidian.

There he stood- The devil of Obsidian himself, with a cane in hand accompanied with a sharp look in his crimson eyes. Despite his smiling face, some of the attendees of your wedding shivered in unease.

"Oho, The villain has come to steal the bride." He announces, looking right at you without sparing a single glance at your fiance.

"Prince Gilbert—" Your fiance says in disbelief, a frown etching itself upon his handsome face. You look at Gilbert with shock, your eyes as wide as saucers. "Gil?" You muttered in disbelief.

"Well, he sure made a bigger impression than any of my pranks could have." Clavis says bitterly, a frown of unease resting upon his face. Clavis studies Gilbert cautiously, not allowing himself to let his guard down for even a moment despite his carefree demeanor. "Hehe, You'd have to try harder. Maybe I'll help you pull some pranks." Gilbert's smile never falters as he replies to Clavis. He steps up to you and takes your hand into his, his black attire the complete opposite of yours.

"Gilbert. What are you doing here? You sure made quite the appearance by scaring most of my guests." You chided him lightly while pushing his hand away and trying to free yourself from his grip.

"I heard my little bunny has decided to marry one of my old friend Chevalier's cousins." He says in an exaggerated manner as he puts on a hurt expression, "You can do better you know. I can't believe you'd settle down for so little." He sighs.

"Especially when I'm here for you. It would bring your kingdom peace to marry me instead." He adds, causing a pit of unease to form in your stomach.

The guests all start whispering in a panic, Clavis glaring sharp daggers at Gilbert while Rio decided to interject since he's both the bridesmaid and best man.

"Excuse me Mister "Better option". Can't you tell you're crushing my dear MC's wedding right now? Such proposals are made before a bride gets married to her groom!!! NOT during the time she's getting married." Rio reprimanded Gilbert even though he looked heartbroken you were getting married.

Gilbert taps his cane, ignoring him.

"Listen here, Rhodolite. I'll make things quick." Gilbert states as he looks over at Chevalier, the new king of Rhodolite.

"Give me the little bunny or I'll destroy your country.", He looks over at you next, his voice sweet but dripping with venom as he looks at your wedding dress and says, "I'd do anything to make you mine"

Gunshots heard in the background further supported his statement as guards fell dead and guests panicked....

M. List for more fiction

<3

[judenostopwaitkeepgoing]

Crown's Favorite Kinks 😈

18+ | MDNI! | EN-Released Villains x Reader

Crown's favorite kinks!

CW: Mature content, MDNI!, Most of these align with the villains' powers, but some kinks are not for everyone!!! Some kinks rely on (consensual!) power imbalances/violence, so proceed with caution! These are villains~~~! Also these are just my opinions so may not be the kinks you'd pick! But enjoy!! 😙

William Rex - Corruption Kink

Lowkey all of the members of Crown could potentially be into this lol. But Will in particular loves to see his little robin lose her innocence more and more! It’s such a turn-on to him! He's got big lemme-teach-you vibes. He gets off on being your 'first' anything. Literally or as a scene, it doesn't matter: he wants to deflower you. He'd get especially turned on by a bratty bimbo-ish attitude. And you know you're gonna cling to this whole innocent act even after he knows what a dirty girl you are because he gets so turned on! I bet that this man would get excited if you dressed up in a coquette/Lolita aesthetic for him. He'd be like "Does this little robin understand she's about to get eaten up?" Ugh! William!!

Harrison Gray - Overstimulation/Edging

Tease, tease, tease. Harry is a bona fide TEASE. He’s all sweet and sensual and then WHAM he leaves you in the dust, only to loom over you, grinning like a fox, saying something like “You didn’t seem like you were enjoying it that much so I stopped.” LIES! You know he’s lying! But he’s gonna make you beg and be realllyyyy honest for him. And he’ll know if you’re lying! He won’t let you cum until he deems that your answer is honest enough!

Liam Evans – Exhibitionism

Performer, hello! Loves to show off his beautiful girlfriend, hellooo! He’s definitely fucking you on stage at least once. Probably Not while the theater is full, but the idea that someone could walk in on you guys at any moment is very exciting to him. He also likes PDA because it sends the clear message that you are his! So this is kind of an extreme extension of that. He secretly wouldn’t mind if some of the other Crown members peeped you two going at it—all the more reason for them to mind their manners around you!

Elbert Grecia - Blindfolding and/or Temperature Play

Sensory deprivation would be a surefire way to get Elbie worked UP! He’s all about more, more, more! He’s insatiable! Forcing him to confront having LESS!? It’d drive him insane. And I feel like temperature play would be exciting for him because you two can be as slow and gradual as necessary. Making each level of heat or coldness against your skin even more delicious by drawing it out.

Alfons Sylvatica - Voyeurism/Peeping

Oh, you mean the guy who can literally make people see anything he wants them to see likes to be naughty and watch?? Shocking. Alfons would orchestrate the most exciting peeping experience for the both of you, maybe even building in an “accidentally getting caught” moment that he’d have to “atone” for... Or I could see him drilling a hole in your bathroom wall for him to access anytime he wants! lol

Roger Barel - Sir/Daddy Kink/virginity fetish

Haha, Roger has such cocky guy energy, he’d love the ego-stroking of you calling him ‘sir.’ He’d like ‘doctor’ too but he’s got hangups about not being a real doctor anymore, so he might get distracted, unless you guys were clearly role-playing. But hit him with a ‘daddy’...? He’ll go feral. Also, he wouldn’t necessarily admit it but he is turned on by the idea of deflowering someone, so he’d be into that (even as a role-play) as well.

Victor - Dressing you/slight DDlg

I could see Victor getting very excited/enthusiastic about picking out something for you to wear on a day-to-day basis. He wouldn’t be controlling about it—if you wanted to wear something else, you of course could and he wouldn’t think twice about it. But, there’s also times when you two are explicitly playing where he would be more... insistent that you wear what he wants you to (perhaps even a collar...). And as for the DDlg stuff, I could see him being into being paternal in a more superficial way than a sexual way. He’s older than you so he naturally views you as young and innocent and in need of guidance/protection.

Jude Jazza - Impact Play/sadism or consensual blackmail

Mean dom Jude! Hard dom Jude! He is a sadist, okay! I could see him owning whips/paddles and stuff but I could also see him just using his hands to toss you around. He won’t hesitate to land a hard slap across your face or give you a thorough spanking if you misbehave. He’d also be very excited if you offered some sensitive information (or nudes!) to him that he could playfully use against you because he is twisted like that. His aftercare would be surprisingly sweet and loving tho, confusing the hell out of you! 🫠

Ellis Twilight – Bondage

Well, of course haha. But oof. Lord. Help. Ellis is so attractive, it’s crazy. He’d love to tie you up (it is his power after all), but he would also love it if you tied him up!! I get STRONG switch/vers vibes from Ellis, so he would really be happy either way. You would look so pretty and helpless all tied up, and he would have such a fun time teasing you like that. And he would really enjoy you playing with him while he can’t move—he’s so used to being able to move and overpower you however he wants, it would be extra exciting for him to be restrained for once.

[missaengg]

Indecently Dreaming Of You

Day 11 of Kinktober: Visions of Temptation hosted by @xxsycamore found here Featuring: Ikemen Villains | Jude Jazza x f!reader Tags: mdni, smut, wet dream, sexual fantasy, nipple play, fingering, piv sex, multiple orgasms, some degradation if you squint, pwp Prompts: Wet Dreams/Sexual Fantasy | “Go on, put it in yourself.” ao3 link here.

Crown Castle was surprisingly empty, which was unusual given that a member or two were always lurking about during the day, especially on the weekends – mostly Victor who always seemed to be present or Roger who was always working on some experiment – but today, the large castle was blissfully quiet.

You made your way to the parlor, your latest novel – a torrid romantic fantasy – in hand, one you generally kept hidden in your room, one if any of the castle’s occupants caught you reading would end with you dying of embarrassment.

Today, however, you felt safe reading it in the sunlit window you loved in the parlor as the only occupant in the castle, and with a delighted hum, you entered the peaceful parlor stroking the book in your hands. Last night you had gotten to the part where the tragic hero, a tortured vampire, rescued the damsel in distress, a woman with a heart of gold, and he was finally on the verge of giving in to his passion after pages of thick sexual tension.

“Tch.. can’t ya see I’m readin’ here?”

Shrieking, you jumped, heart pounding furiously in your chest, fumbling to hide your book behind your back. Turning to the speaker, your eyes widened, squeaking in surprise. “Ju–Jude?!”

Because in the very bay window you hoped to occupy sat Jude, nonchalantly draped on the cushion, cigarette in one hand, a dry looking tome of a book in the other propped up by his knees. You gripped the novel in your hands tighter, pressing it closer into the folds of your skirt. When you roamed about the castle earlier, you hadn’t seen a hint of anyone, let alone the languid Crown member in the room.

“If ya got eyes, then ya know to get the hell outta here.” 

Jude didn’t look up from his reading, but you didn’t need to see his face to know he was feeling irritated with your presence. You turned to go, but you hesitated, eyeing the velvet couch in the center of the room. It was late afternoon when the sun was at its most gentle warmest, your room at its most stuffiest, and the couch looked so plush… You snuck a peek at the pre-occupied man who was currently paying you no attention, and wanting nothing more than to sink into the velvet cushions, you strode over to the couch. The parlor was designed to hold multiple occupants and plenty large enough for the both of you to read quietly without acknowledging the other’s presence.

“Oi.”

You looked in Jude’s direction whose amethyst eyes were glaring at you with displeasure.

“Ya deaf? I said get outta here.”

Holding his glare, you defiantly settled yourself on the couch until you were perched against the armrest with your legs stretched out along the couch length. “I’ll read quietly.”

Jude clicked his tongue and sighed, a huffy, impatient sigh, but returned his attention to his boring, complex book.

You exhaled slowly. It wasn’t that Jude scared you, but he was rather imposing, and he had this way of pinning you with his intense glares, much like how you imagined a wolf would pin down a defenseless rabbit. Absolutely certain his attention was most definitely off of you and would remain off of you, you relaxed into the heavenly soft cushions, cracking your book open to where you had left off the night before.

Just as you expected, it was delicious. The male love interest, Silvio, had vowed to never love again after being betrayed by his love in the past, but had reluctantly fallen for the main female lead, Emma, who helped him heal in her kindness, and despite trying his damndest to push her away, her love prevailed. Silvio had Emma in his arms, capturing her lips in a heated kiss, his passion overtaking him. He slowly undid the buttons on the back of her dress, never once letting her go, and as her dress fell off her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Emma stood before Silvio, naked and exposed. Silvio’s eyes darkened, and his hands trailed down her back, one grazing Emma’s leg, fingers teasingly running up her inner thigh, reaching for the sweet honey that–

“Ya read this crap?”

You jumped for the second time that afternoon, although thankfully, you didn’t shriek like a fool this time around. Whipping your head to the side, you startled at Jude’s leering face peering at the book in your hands from over your shoulder, a sadistic grin playing on his lips. 

God damn it. How did you not hear him move across the room?

You blushed. Of all the people to be caught by, Jude honestly had to be one of the worst because it was highly unlikely he would let this go, at least not until he tortured you into the darkest depths of humiliation.

“Ain’t that some lewd shit?” He glittered wickedly at you. “This what yer into, princess?”

You groaned, wanting nothing more than to bury your face in your hands, but you refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how affected you were by him in this given moment.

“What’s wrong with reading ‘this shit?” you pushed back.

“Nothin’.” Jude leaned in closer. “Expected nothin’ else from an indecent woman like ya.”

His face was so close to yours, his nose, a mere inch or so from brushing against your cheek. You could feel the heat of his body on yours, and suddenly, the room felt stifling and sweltering, as if the sun burned instead of glowing through the large windows.

“Clearly I’m not the only one if you’re familiar,” you spat, attempting to mask the strange tightening sensation in your chest and your rapidly rising heartbeat.

The look Jude was giving you was frighteningly predatory, his eyes flashing with a devilish heat. You gulped, his intensity robbing you of your ability to breathe. His eyes lazily trailed from you back to the book in your shaking hands.

“Yer at the part where he finally gives in to his desires, are ya?”

You blinked, several times in rapid succession. How would he know that unless he… “Did you really read this?!” Jude read a lot of things, but this… you never expected him to read fantasy let alone romance. 

“Wouldn’t ya like to know, princess.”

God, you wished you could slap that infuriating smirk off his face… or maybe kiss it. 

You flushed. Where the hell did that come from?!

Your body’s state of discomfort didn’t go unnoticed by the devil of a man teasing you.

“Ya want me to show ya what happens next?”

You felt the flush on your face spread, creeping further down your neck and disappearing into your blouse. You swallowed thickly as you watched Jude follow the bright red of your skin disappear into your clothes, and the temperature of the room increased by a few more degrees. 

Why was it so damn hot?

“No, I’m quite alright.”

Why was your voice pitching an octave higher?!

“Ya sure? If ya dream about such… lewd things, I can make it happen for ya.”

Something in your brain short-circuited when his slender finger began tracing along your collarbone and down your sternum. His finger was feather-light against your body, but the way your body fluttered from his touch felt so shamefully good, you didn’t want him to stop.

“That’s… that’s not necessary,” you hoarsely retorted, kicking yourself internally when your voice cracked.

Jude’s finger stilled, and pulling away, he straightened back into an upright position. “That’s yer choice then? Suit yerself.” He shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. 

You faltered. The sudden loss of his proximity felt enraging. There was a fire smoldering within you, all caused by him, and he was just walking away. You gaped at his back, oscillating between wanting to hold onto your pride and wanting him to come back and finish what he started. You watched Jude move further and further away until he reached the entrance to the parlor.

“Wait!”

You grimaced at how quickly you folded and how flustered you were at his teasing, but… the sudden absence of him felt hollow… and you wanted to know how the book went… in person, demonstrated by Jude’s own slender hands.

Jude paused.

You licked your lips, feeling parched at what you were about to say next.

“What happens next?”

That piqued Jude’s interest, and he turned to face you. You couldn’t quite read the expression on his face, and he remained silent, scrutinizing you.

“Ya really wanna know?”

“Yes.”

He held your gaze, something dark and stormy brewing on his brows. He took a menacing step forward.

“Ya want me to show ya?”

“Yes...”

Jude crossed the distance back to where you sat, keeping his eyes trained on yours, and then he smirked, the devilish grin back again, teasing you.

“No turnin’ back now, princess.”

“No…”

Jude reached down, crashing his thin lips against yours. You hungrily pushed back, the fire blazing into an inferno. He pulled back, lightly panting, a thumb roughly swiping against your bottom lip.

“Where’d ya leave off? Where Silvio takes off her dress?”

You nodded. Jude pulled on the ribbon holding the collar together, pulling it down your shoulders. You closed your eyes, biting down the sensual moan building in your throat as he trailed feverish kisses down your neck and shoulders. His hands deftly undid the buttons along your back, each graze of his fingers on your skin leaving behind a tingling buzz. Soon your blouse was off and tossed to the side.

“Heh… it goes down just as deep as I figured…” You heard Jude delightfully mutter to himself eyeing the pink flush covering your torso.

“Jude,” you whined, drawing out the vowel in his name. “Give me a minute, princess. Let me look at ya.”

You knew you turned even redder at his statement, feeling vulnerable at the way his burning eyes raked over your naked flesh, admiring how deep the flush had crept down. Inhaling sharply, he brought his mouth down to your breast, taking one pert peak into his mouth, biting down and soothing it with his tongue.

You gasped, the sensation of him on your breast even better than you could have imagined – not that you imagined it, except maybe once or twice when alone in your room reading that stupid novel… definitely not because Silvio reminded you of a fiery version of Jude…

“Gotta get yer skirt off.”

He moved to unbutton your skirt, and you pushed your hips off the couch so he could yank both your skirt and your underwear down your legs and carelessly discard them to the floor, all while still taunting you with his skillful tongue. You briefly wondered in your dizzy, pleasure-riddled mind where he had learned to be so skilled with his mouth, wondering if it was learned from his smoking addiction, but that didn’t seem to make much sense at all.

“Jude… what– what does Silvio do next?”

You could barely get your question out, so breathless and enraptured in the way his mouth was playing with you, the ripples of rapture you were feeling from his tongue alone coursing down to your belly.

“Heh… I’ll show ya.” Jude rolled your sensitive peak between his teeth, trailing up your bare leg, stroking your inner thigh dangerously close to where your arousal pooled. “He strokes her… here.”

His fingers brushed along your folds, coating themselves in your slick desire, lightly pressing on the sweet nub sitting at the top of your slit. You arched your back, a strangled moan escaping you, unable to hold back the vocal expressions of your gratification any longer.

“Ya liked that, didja? Ya nasty woman.”

His glee at your writhing from his provocation was clearly evident in the pleased tone of his voice. You knew you should be upset, the way you normally would when he called you names, but something about his taunting was only adding to the torrential mix of him, his touch, his voice, his scent.

“What… Ngh…” Your hips jerked sharply as his finger circled firmly above your slit yet again. “What… Jude, what does… haah… Silvio do next?”

“This.” 

Jude unceremoniously plunged two of his fingers inside you. The most animalistic guttural groan ripped out of you, surprising not just Jude, but also yourself. You couldn’t ever recall when you made such a primal noise before in your life, but the sensation of him inside of you was unholy, curling against a part of you that you didn’t even know existed, but had you violently arching your back at the white hot flash before your eyes.

“God damn, princess.” 

You heard Jude bite out as you clamped down on his fingers, lewd whimpers tumbling from your lips. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t had any experience, but nothing… nothing… like this. You were on fire, and he hadn’t even fully touched you yet.

“And then?” you barely rasped out, breathing erratically shallow, disoriented and dizzy from the onslaught of his fingers inside of you and his thumb pressing your clit. 

“Eager, princess?” Jude teased, but there was less of a taunt and more of a feral growl in the way he replied. 

“Jude,” you pitifully whined, bucking wildly against his palm, trying your hardest to keep up with how quickly his fingers were pumping in and out of you. The coil in your belly was taut, ready to snap at any moment.

“He uses his mouth.”

The sudden absence of his fingers snapped you back to reality, but your reprieve was short-lived because the next thing you knew, Jude was between your legs and hauling you towards his face by the bruising grip he had on your hips. Settling his mouth on you, he ran his tongue up your slit.

Your breath hitched.

Oh sweet heavens.

You threw your head back, grasping the soft cushions below you in a vice grip as Jude ravaged you, holding you in place, digging his fingertips into your supple flesh. He explored every inch of you with his mouth, feasting on you like a man starved, the coil in your belly only growing tighter and tighter.

He nudged his mouth up higher and sucked down hard.

“Jude!”

The coil snapped. You saw stars as shudder after shudder of ecstasy overtook you in waves, mind devoid of any thoughts save for the intense pleasure running through you and the sensation of Jude continuing to mouth you through your tremors.

“Don’t think that happened in the book,” Jude snickered, using his sleeve to wipe your essence off his mouth and chin.

“And.. and then?” you asked weakly, laying there dazed, staring at the ceiling and thinking that this couldn’t possibly be the end.

“And then…” 

The sound of rustling had you craning your head to see Jude at long fucking last removing every piece of clothing until he was just as exposed as you, his dick standing at attention. You marveled at how it was just like him, tall, sinewy, thicker than it looked, maybe even slightly irritated with a permanent scowl on its face. You wondered how it would feel in your mouth. In you.

Jude sat back on the other end of the couch, legs spread open. “Go on, put it in yerself.” He arched an eyebrow, a corner of his mouth flicking upwards, that smug smirk you wanted to slap – or was it kiss now – daring you to come closer.

You pushed yourself up into a sitting position, ignoring the damp spot forming beneath you staining the velvet below. “We’re not following the book anymore, are we?”

“Very perceptive of ya, princess. So, ya gonna come here or not?” Jude patted his lap, mocking you with that shit-eating smirk of his.

You glowered at him, but your gaze fell back to his lap, and you felt yourself move, crawling towards him on all fours, fully aware you were giving him a show based on the scandalous look on his face. He leaned back even further into the cushions, resting both his arms along the top of the couch, spread out and proudly on display.

Cocky bastard.

Sweetly smiling at the infuriatingly smug man in front of you, you rose on your knees, and straddling his lap, feeling emboldened, you kissed him furiously, guiding him into position. Without breaking the kiss, you sank down, hard, burying him to the hilt.

Jude choked on his own breath.

Oh. You grinned villainously into his mouth. He wasn’t expecting that.

You ground against him wanting to provoke him for taunting you mercilessly, relishing each choked groan he uttered. You squeezed your thighs, intentionally clenching around him as you pushed yourself up, preparing to slide down agonizingly slowly, to tease him for a change. 

Smug, arrogant, sadistic, fucking sexy jerk.

Jude snapped, thrusting into you without abandon, the tip of him ramming into your cervix. You exhaled sharply, the pain radiating from your center not wholly unwelcome, your vision flashing white. Jude flipped you onto your back during your dazed confusion, and he slammed into you repeatedly.

“Then, princess,” he grunted, brutally jerking his hips into you, a primal frenzy overtaking him, “they fucked.”

He moved against you with such force you could only cling to him. Seeking the tiniest bit of respite, you wrapped your legs around him, accidentally pulling him deeper into you, causing Jude to growl ferociously and only increase his frenzied pace.

You were trembling. For the second time, Jude had you seeing stars, writhing from the unbearable pleasure building deep in you. You didn’t want him to stop, desperate for him to make you cum, to make you quake and shiver and quiver, to make you unravel in the throes of passion, to come undone by his hand.

“Hah.. princess, yer so tight.”

Jude’s groans were right in your ear, his voice vibrating through his body into yours. A thrilling ecstasy was overtaking you, heading towards an explosive peak only he could bring you to, building, building, building until–

“Oi.”

A nudge.

“Oi!”

You cracked open an eye, wincing as the bright sunlight invaded your vision. 

“Oi, princess, wake up.”

Your eyes fluttered open, and blinking heavily, you rubbed your face with the palm of your hands.

“Jude?”

You blearily focused on Jude, confused as to why he was facing you by the couch instead of towering over you and way more clothed than you remembered, why you were suddenly fully clothed. Squinting as you adjusted to the light, you sat up on the couch, your book falling off your lap and tumbling to the floor below. 

Was it all just a dream?

As the tendrils of sleep faded away, the full reality of the dream you had hit you, and you blushed a furious shade of red. Oh god… you didn’t moan or utter his name in your sleep by any chance… did you? 

Wishing the ground would open up and swallow you whole, you glanced at Jude, anxiously searching him for any signs he had an inkling of the indecent dream you just had, but he only had that same infuriating smirk on his face, which widened when he caught you staring at him intently.

“Hah… why’s yer face so red? Ya have a lewd dream or somethin’?”

“N–no!” you cried out, and face burning even hotter than you thought possible, you swiped your book off of the floor, running out of the parlor to put as much distance as you possibly could between you and the arrogant jerk who was starting to get that dangerous sadistic glint in his eyes.

You didn’t give him anything to torment you about, right? Right?

Groaning internally, you hurried back through the large castle to the safety of your room cursing yourself for being so careless.

Unbeknownst to you, however, you left behind a darkened patch of velvet where you had been laying. Jude ran a finger over it, lips curling when he realized it was damp right where your hips had been on the cushion. He snickered, a sound you thankfully were not around to hear, rubbing his pointer and thumb together.

“Hopeless.”

[wintermoonwritings]

NOT AGAIN!!!!!

Hello guys!!!!! this is my first ever try on Ikemen Prince Au!!!! I hope you all enjoy it! and do comment where I can improve!!  

Intro: Clavis as a father! but with a twist! what if... Clavis’s son... TURNS OUT LIKE HIS UNCLE CHEVALIER!????

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Nobody ever thought Clavis would be the one to have a wife, I mean, a prankster who tests the women he is interested in? No chance. But wait! Not only did he manage to find the love of his life without making her cry, he also managed to marry her and have a child together! However, what if I told you that the child was a genius born once in a million years? Hmmm... sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Yes, that's right! The 2nd Prince of Rhodolite, the Brutal Beast, Prince Chevalier! But how is that possible? Clavis' child is like his worst enemy? Let me tell you a story about how the child’s intelligence was found.

    For the purpose of this fiction I will call Clavis’s child Joules. So Joules had always been a very quiet child. Clavis noticed all this, but he never thought much about it; yes, of course the child’s eyes were demanding and judgmental, and he rarely cried, and whenever MC played with the child, he would raise his eyebrows as in to say, "Really, woman?’ but Clavis thought it was just a phase in his life and pushed it away.    

One day MC got sick and was bedridden, so Clavis was left alone with Joules, but due to some emergency in the border between Rhodolite and Obsidian, he had to leave his precious child with his worst enemy. He did this to annoy Chevalier, though. So our scene starts in Chev’s library, where he is sitting and reading a book while Joules is sitting on a soft rug with cushions so he can rest peacefully while Clavis is away. Instead of sleeping, Joules looked at Chevalier with interest. Even though Joules was only 9 months old, he could still communicate in a few words, so he kept on repeating ‘what?’ while pointing at the book in Chev’s hand.

Chev ignored the very existence of the child in front of him and continued to read his book. The baby wasn’t having it! He saw a chair next to him; he held it hard and pushed himself up on his legs; usually a normal child would take 11 to 12 months to learn to walk, but here is Joules standing on his feet, angry at the disrespect the man has shown him. He then makes a run for Chev and is about to fall, but managed to hold on to Chev’s knees and stabilize himself. He looks up at Chev, his eyes glaring, and in a soft yet harsh whisper points at the book and asks, ‘What?' This whole situation shocked Chevalier, who looked down at the boy wide-eyed. Did a 9-month-old just take his first steps towards him and demand an explanation? Even Clavis took 12 months to walk, and took even longer to speak. This could mean only one thing: THE CHILD IS CHEV JUNIOR! Chev notices the resilience and confidence, which are emotions that Chev often adorns himself with. He finally answers the child, ‘This is a book. Are you done now?' The little one forces his way onto Chevalier’s lap and tries to read the book; when he fails, he demands that Chev recite the story.

It was a tough day for Clavis, and the fact that he left his precious child in the hands of the brutal beast—what a horrible decision! He runs to the library, and what he sees shocks him! Chevalier!? The BEAST RECITING STORIES TO JOULES!?? And Joules is enjoying himself with a small smile on his face!? OH GOD! Clavis is going to faint! This can’t be NOT AGAIN!!!!!!

Chevalier gives a small smirk to Clavis, saying, "Unlike you, my foolish brother, this child is like me," and then Joules repeats, "Foolish? Dad foolish?" Chevalier nods at the child, and Joules turns towards his father, "My foolish father".  

That’s it; Clavis faints for good.

[maladaptivedaydreamsx]

How the Rhodolite princes would react to their firstborn/newborn

Rating: PG-13 (?) Ikepri itself contains a lot of mature themes however, as such, mdni 🔞

Warnings: Brief mentions of (past) character death, grief, pregnancy/childbirth themes (no actual birth depicted), gn but implied afab, & the usual tragic Ikepri cannon.

A/N: Tried to write how they'd hold their kid and what they were feeling when meeting them. Spoiler warnings for the Rhodolite princes routes, tried not to bring up anything major though (Luke's is probably the most spoilery?). Tried to keep the princes' spouses GN, though implied afab bc newborns. (One very brief mention of Belle, but mc/reader is not Emma.) Might eventually make pt2 with the others..? Please read the warnings and proceed only if comfortable! :)

(Apologies for anything that seems ooc, I haven't written much in awhile and this is my first piece for Ikepri! I'm more used to fics rather than hcs, but I tried my best! o7)

JIN 🦅

There's so much Jin can't help but worry about. His past, his future, his country... and now he's got not one but two loved ones he would do anything for. The little bundle of joy in his arms reminds him of the times when his younger brothers were born, and how cute they used to be (well, some of them, anyway). The bleary, garnet eyes trying to look into his own have him wondering.. is this how he looked to his dear mother? There's so much he cherishes, and so much he fears, but he won't let the history of Belle repeat itself. He'd fight the entire palace if he had to, but for right now, he'll settle for tackling pesky burps and dirty diapers. Jin coos at his baby, baritone voice suddenly startling the poor thing, and he can't help but pout. The baby in his arms continues to fuss, feeling hungry.

Jin pulls something out of his breast pocket, looking over at his spouse. "So.. how much longer until they can have lollipops?"

CHEVALIER 🐅

Chevalier would likely be a bit awed upon holding his firstborn, much like the quiet way he takes in Emma's precence. Chevalier is known to be awkward with his affections, as he's far from practiced, but it's been shown on several occasions how he tries to gently pet an animal that dares to come close, or how he clumsily takes care of his love when they're feeling under the weather. He may look fine on the outside, but he's actually quite hesitant, trying to sort things out logistically at first, before sort of just settling for standing there and holding his newborn with both arms. He stares down at their gentle features, taking in every detail, making sure they're comfortable and warm in their sleep.

Looking over at his beloved in all their tired glory, in his very own Chevalier-approved affection he says, "You did well, Simpleton." While he only speaks four words aloud, his faint smile speaks the thousands he didn't quite know how to express.

CLAVIS 🐆

"Dearie me," Clavis says, holding his newborn, full of wide-eyed excitement. "They look so much like you, I can see the bunny ears already."

Being someone who values life so dearly, bringing a new one into this world, with the love of his life no less, is enough to send Clavis' heart soaring into the stratosphere. He just can't help but want to drown them in affection, but they're so small and fragile, and Clavis knows better than to risk scaring them now. He's so, so gentle with his child, unconditional love flowing off him in waves as they bond quietly (please don't get used to this, it will not last), and looks upon their splotchy tufts of lilac hair. The Lelouch genes live on through yet another generation, he smiles to himself. Clavis slowly comes over to stand by his love, placing a gentle kiss on their head.

"You're so lucky to have such a wonderful husband like me. But I'm even luckier to have you both in my life."

LEON 🦁

The happiest day in Leon's life. Second only to your wedding. Scratch that, the wedding is second.. he thinks. He's a bit frazzled from work, labor stress, and all the chaos, cut the guy some slack. No one is immune to this sweet lion's charisma, not even a newborn. They can't help but stare at his flowy hair and bright eyes, like a cartoon character come to life right before their eyes. Leon gently caresses their neck, very lightly pressing a kiss into their soft kiss to their temple. What kind of person will they grow up to be? Will they eat as much as he does? Will they fall asleep when they read too? There's a lot that runs through his mind, but ultimately, he is hopes for them to be healthy, and live happily. This child is going to be absolutely spoiled (within reason), and always have someone in their corner, rooting for them and ready to help learn from their wrongs. For now, he can worry about righting their posture instead. He tries to hold them like he read (how his partner read) in the parenting books, supporting their necks and all. It was really hard to stay awake during those, but the excitement of fatherhood helped him push through, and he's going to put it all into practice now.

"When do we start working on the second one?" (If not for the literal newborn currently in his hands, he'd be busy dodging several pillows.)

YVES 🐈

There's a lot of suppressed guilt for his mother's death in mind, and so many worries for his darling's health before, during, and after. He's a bit scared to hold his newborn, for fear of his clumsiness and "bad luck". With some assurance, he finally takes hold of them, and he could not physically be more careful with his firstborn. Clear eyes like the sky blink sleepily up at him, and Yves is fighting back tears solely for fear of them landing on the baby and somehow hurting them. The smile on his face could split his cheeks if it got any wider. The baby falls asleep in its father's arms, and he even tries breathing softer so he won't wake them. He's just trying his best, please reassure this sweet cat, he means well. (And he absolutely lost the battle against those blasted tears anyway.)

"Thank you for loving me, and for bringing our child into the world with us. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

LICHT 🐺

(Twins having twins cliché may seem redundant, I made 'em different for each brother, pinky promise.)

Licht was blessed with not one but two bundles of joy. Beautiful twin boys, who had what looked to be his vibrant silver hair and his beloved's eyes. He couldn't help the memories that surged, of happier times, and the worst of times. He knew all too well just how ruthless the court could be, but he had a chance to make things different this time. Licht seriously considered building that house he'd once mentioned, and moving you all somewhere much more peaceful. One twin in his arms, one with their other parent, he feels all thought subside when the one he's holding tries to grab at his sleeve. Licht's now-famous smile blooms across his lips much the way the sun's rays appear over daybreak; subtle, then all at once. He takes a gloveless hand, letting their tiny hand hold onto his finger as best they can, eyes gleaming from the sight before him. Licht looks over in wonder at his spouse, only to find them already watching with a tired, quiet smile.

"Things won't be easy but.. I know we can handle anything. I adore you. And I adore them."

NOKTO 🦊

(Twins for both may seem redundant, but I changed things up drastically ok, we got this.)

Nokto wasn't entirely surprised to have twins, but he had also hoped luck would be in their corner in avoiding similar fates. Two little girls, jewel-like eyes like his, and his beloved's hair color (or so it appears, though it's hard to tell for sure with so little peach fuzz). Nokto sits at the edge of the bed, holding one newborn in his arm, and reaching his other hand out for the one in his love's arms. Aside from the memories of his own upbringing, he's now having Typical Girl Dad thoughts about how to keep them safe and teach them how to stay away from cooties (boys), among other things. With a soft sigh, he gently burps his newborn after she's done feeding, rocking her slowly as she tries to chew on her father's lucious locks. Laughter bubbles past his lips at her cute antics, and Nokto feels the stress fade away, even if just a little. His heart is still getting used to receiving love and believing in it, but it's grown enough by now to love his 3 new favorite people in the world.

"If they like my hair this much now, just wait till they start to grow their own."

LUKE 🐻

Luke could not be more the picture of a teddy bear than with his newborn all swaddled up and snuggled in with their giant of a dad. He can't help but wonder if his sister is watching over them, laying next to his spouse on the bed, their newborn but a tiny dot among the two full-grown humans taking up most of the space. He promises to be there for his child the way he never really had anyone, and hopes to live more in the present now, the stakes feeling higher than ever before. A whole new life, created on purpose, gently resting in one arm and atop his broad chest, nestled comfortably and trying to suck on their thumb. Luke holds his spouse's hand with his free one, squeezing it gently, looking into their eyes with the intensity of his own emeralds.

"Look at 'em.. they're so small. Just like you," he jokes before letting out a big yawn, "But sleepy, just like me."

All rights for the characters and original intellectual property belong to Cybird. My writing belongs to myself, Maladaptivedaydreamsx, and shall not be reproduced elsewhere without permission. Ok to translate as a reblog to this post. Ok to reblog, no permission required (for those who like to be safe and ask first, all's good little homies) 💜

If you enjoyed these, I might try to make a pt2 with the other characters soon? Likes and reblogs appreciated, thank you kindly for reading! If you have any hc's of your own, please feel free to respond with them, I'd love to hear what you all think! 😊❤️ (If you'd like to be put on a tag list for any future works, please reply, though it will be a general list for writings as I'm getting back into things slowly atm,, 🙏🏻)

Also, to the lovely person who sent this in likely about 2 years ago (after I'd stopped writing on here bc life happens) ... if you're still somewhere in the fandom and end up seeing this post, thank you for your patience, and for sending something in. I'm finally trying to combat the writer's block again! 🙌🏻

[cinnamonspice99]

“And why was her room filled with extremely attractive strangers. “ ah yes the problems I wish I had 🥲

ALSO if someone gave me a fluffy bunny and was like “dont do that dont do this” I’d be like “kay” and the proceed to shove my face on it’s fluffy fur and rain it with kisses (laughing imagining Kenshin’s consternation if that happened 😂 indignant bunnyTM)

Entwined, Ch. 11

Part 11 of a multipart series. Mai has been reborn in the modern age after a full life in the Sengoku. The warlords as spirit animals find her again after 500 years of searching for her soul. Approx. 4700 words.

Chapter List

Mai couldn’t help but smile as she walked the last block to the theater. There was no guarantee she’d run into Mitsuhide but she had a good feeling. He’d be there, and she’d say something flirty and he’d . . . well, she wasn’t sure what he would do. Or what she wanted him to do. Flirt back, of course, but then what? And they’d been sending each other mixed messages from the first meeting. 

A sudden case of nerves hit her as the door came into view. The last time she’d seen Mitsuhide, he flirted outrageously. But then he hadn’t tried to kiss her goodbye. Buuuut he did call their outing a date . . . so . . . that had to mean something? Something good even. 

“He likes you. Come on, Mai. You know he does. And - and if not, well, we’ll just -” she swallowed. “Take some snaps of the stage and props. And go. No harm done.” Except, the flip-flop flutters in her belly told her there would absolutely be harm if he was there and brushed her off. 

She took one more steadying breath and went inside. The hall and back offices were dark and empty. That should be no surprise, considering the day and the time, but it felt off somehow. Mai passed the nest of cubicles and desks with an uneasy feeling brewing in the pit of her stomach. 

The hall ahead was lightless, save for the emergency exit sign which cast a dim red glow on the far side. This hall ran behind and slightly beneath the stage, a back-back-stage where costumes and props were carried up from storage. There were a few private office doors and dressing rooms, some of which were open. She paused at the first one to peer into the lightless gloom. 

Darker-than-dark silhouettes of desk furniture greeted her nervous curiosity. Mai swallowed, heart racing. She knew the shapes were just a desk, a chair, and perhaps a bookshelf? Or a coat rack? Some tall, dark shadow that took up one corner. Her hand reached for the light switch. The fluorescent ceiling light flickered into life, revealing exactly what should be here. Just a shelf. 

She breathed a sigh of relief and flipped the switch off again. I’ve got to stop being so jumpy, she thought. There was no one at the theater but her, which was disappointing, but no reason to be scared. Mai squared her shoulders. “Ok. So it’s just me and the ghosts of productions past. Let’s get our stage snaps and go.”

Just as she finished speaking, a sound came from one of the other darkened rooms. A soft whup, like a pile of cloth falling to the ground. Mai nearly jumped. “Hello?”

More sounds came from nearby, but she couldn’t tell from which doorway. A hissing scrape, the thud of a drawer closing. She backed up, scared to turn and run. One hand pawed at the wall reaching for a light switch she wasn’t close enough to hit. Her other hand rummaged in her small purse, trembling fingers failing to grip her phone. 

A dark figure stumbled into the hall. Though she couldn’t see the face, she could tell it was looking at her. Then it rushed forward, movements jerky and awkward. 

Mai screamed and turned to run. Terror burned through her veins, fear sped her up and slowed her down as she tripped over her own feet. A cold, hard grip caught her and pulled her up. 

“You.” Warm breath that stank of alcohol flooded her face. “This is your fault.”

“M-me?” She tried to pull away from the man, but he was stronger than her. Bigger framed. 

“You gotta fix it. I’m gonna make you.” 

Mai recognized the voice then. “Mr. Keiki?” She struggled even harder as the realization set in. He was here, and drunk. And she was alone with him. 

He laughed, a harsh barking sound that held no humor. “Don’t pretend you didn’t know. Stupid girl. Thought you’d get the better of me.” Keiki dragged her toward the office he’d come from. “No one . . . not some insignificant . . . worthless . . .” He was so angry and so wasted that his words turned into a garbled senseless noise. 

Keiki and Mai froze at a sudden bang. The lights in the cubicle area flickered to life and three uniformed officers rushed into the theater. They spotted Mai and Keiki in the same moment. Everything seemed to slow as the officers reached for their weapons, shouting orders to stop.

Mai felt a flare of hope. Somehow, they’d shown up just in time to save her. She opened her mouth to call out to them, but her jaw snapped painfully shut as Keiki jerked her into the nearest doorway. Something in her arm tore loose as he pulled her against his chest. “L-let me g-”

“Shut up.” Keiki pressed something cold and sharp to her throat. “Shut up and let me think.”

“Mr. Keiki. Please. I - I don’t know what’s happened. But you have to let me go.” She hated the pleading tone of her voice, the quaver of fear. Mai swallowed. “I - I’ll tell them this is a misunderstanding. Whatever has happened -”

A cold sharpness dug into the soft flesh of her throat. “I said shut up.” Keiki glanced wildly about the room. They were in a sidewing to the main stage, surrounded by boxes and costume racks. Behind them, the stage was screened from view by a heavy black velvet curtain. The lights here had come on as they stumbled in, signaling that the police found the master switch at the front of the hall. “You’re gonna tell them I paid you. All of it,” he growled. “The money . . .”

The police were moving around at the end of the hall, whispering. The faint clatter of their gear and the hum of low voices reached Mai. A reassurance that help was just a little ways away. She just needed to get loose. “I - I will. I’ll tell them whatever you want.”

A familiar voice rang out, one that made Mai’s heart speed for another reason entirely. “Mr. Keiki! What are you doing? Taking a hostage? Do you really think that’s going to help your case?” The sound of footsteps came closer. 

“I-I’ll kill her if you come in here!” Keiki pushed harder at her throat, the cold yielding to a sudden hot flash of pain. 

“I’m on your side. I want to help you sort this out.” Mitsuhide came into view. His eyes were burnished gold, a dangerous heat burning in their depths. He held out his hands to show they were empty. 

Keiki’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into Mai’s arm. “Tell him.”

Mai met Mitsuhide’s gaze, warmth and strength flowing into her. “He paid me? All of the money. I -” She glanced at Keiki. “I take the blame.”

“Of course you do.” Mitsuhide’s smile grew thinner, sharper. His eyes lit on her throat. “But it would be so much more believable if you weren’t bleeding.” He looked back up at Keiki. “Let her go. We both know she’s got nothing to do with this.”

“No.” There was fear in Keiki’s voice now. “She can fix this. If I let her go, I’ve got nothing.”

Mitsuhide tsked as if chiding a small and stupid child. “Holding her hostage won’t help. Just think about what happens next. I’m sure the penalty for kidnapping, assault, and murder is much worse than theft and embezzlement. Let her go.” Despite the silky persuasive tone of his voice, Mai could hear the steel beneath. A serpentine venom, the coiled tension of a snake about to strike. 

Keiki laughed. “It doesn’t matter what the penalty is. If I can’t clear these - these baseless accusations . . . no one will ever hire me after this. All my work . . . my contacts . . . everything . . . gone!” His laughter turned into a sob, the desperation of the guilty. 

Mai felt the pressure against her neck increase, the sharp tip of the letter opener parting her skin. Tearing it. He was going to kill her, she realized. Somehow, the reality of that hadn’t settled in - but it did now. She was going to die. The thought paralyzed her.

“Do you trust me?”

It took Mai a moment to realize Mitsuhide spoke to her and not to Mr. Keiki. Did she? He was still a mystery. Mitsuhide rarely answered her questions. He always seemed to be hiding something - something big. But . . . she did. She trusted him, even if she couldn’t explain why. Mai mouthed the word yes. 

Mitsuhide’s gaze warmed for a heartbeat, his smile almost gentle. 

“Why are you asking her that? What do you -” Keiki scrambled back, and for a moment they were both tangled in the thick, suffocating folds of the stage curtain. Then past it, standing on the darkened stage. The safety lights along the aisles painted the space with deep shadows, distorted shapes of rails and chairs. 

Mitsuhide followed, still smiling. “Do you know what my favorite thing about theater is?”

“What? No.” Keiki made a choked sounding laugh. “What do I care?”

“I love playing a role. Villain. Hero.” His gaze brushed Mai’s, “A lover or husband.” He advanced and Keiki moved back. “I can be all of those things. At once, or singularly. Farm boy and court schemer. Emperor and peasant.” 

As he spoke, he moved closer. Every step sent Keiki back two, dragging Mai with him. The sharp tip dug relentlessly into her throat, a fiery agony that pulsed with her lifeblood. A centimeter, perhaps two, separated her from a mortal wound. But Mitsuhide had a plan, she thought. He would get her out of this, somethow.

Keiki’s grip on her arm loosened the slightest bit. “So? Why are you telling me this? You should be negotiating! I want - I want the charges to go away. Make it happen, or I’ll kill her. I will.” 

“Negotiating?” Mitsuhide seemed to mull the word over. “I played that part a time or two.” He shrugged. “So you want to make a deal. The girl in exchange for a pardon? No. You want something to smooth it all away, like this never happened. Disappear the records of all the money you’ve siphoned out of the theater, hm?”

“Yes! Do it. Or I’ll-”

“Kill her. You said that.” He settled back on his heels. “Ok. I know some people. I can make that happen for you.” Mitsuhide’s eyes held a darkness deeper than the gloom. “Let her go and I can make that call.”

Keiki shook his head. “Make the call and then I let her go.” 

“Seems I can’t outmaneuver you,” Mitsuhide chuckled. He took his phone from his jacket pocket, moving slowly.

“Of course not. You’re just some jumped up actor.” Keiki snorted. He gestured at the phone with the letter opener. “Call the police off first.”

Mai saw Mitsuhide move the moment the sharp point moved away from her throat. He flowed forward, the motion fast and fluid, like water running downhill. He grabbed the letter opener with one hand, wrenching it away from Keiki, pushing him back with the other. 

For a heartbeat, Mai fell backward with Mr. Keiki. A heartbeat, suspended in the air, nothing supporting her, only Keiki’s grasping fingers as he flailed for purchase. Then Mitsuhide grabbed her arm. He caught her as Keiki fell down into one of the stage’s trapdoors. 

“Little one,” Mitsuhide breathed the words, his eyes revealing a mix of tangled emotions. He threw down the scarlet-smeared letter opener and wrapped his arm around her chest, pulling her up and onto the stage. “You weren’t supposed to be here.”

Mai tried to calm herself. She felt like a leaf, trembling in the wind. Her hand fluttered at her throat, almost touching the seeping wound there. “I - I came to see you. I was . . . going to take pictures . . .” Her eyes skittered over the dark stage where impressive backdrops of the imperial palace were arranged. This all felt strangely familiar.

He pulled her close, arms wrapping around her shoulders, his face pressed against her hair. Mitsuhide took a shuddering breath, tension easing as he clung tightly to her. “I thought I was going to lose you again,” he murmured.

“I’m ok. I’m still here.” Mai hugged him back with one arm. The other hung useless at her side, a testament to how not-ok she was. 

Mitsuhide gave a choked laugh. “And now you are comforting me, when it is you that was hurt.” He kissed the top of her head. “What else? Will you offer kind words to Keiki?”

Mai glanced behind her at the trapdoor. The police were collecting Mr. Keiki from the floor. He glared up at them, sullen and angry, but silent. “No. I’m not that nice.”

“Good.” He stepped back, taking her in with a glance. His jaw clenched as his eyes landed on her arm. “How do you feel?”

“I - I don’t know? Numb. Everything is just . . .” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Thank you. I don’t know what might have happened if you weren’t here.”

“Don’t thank me, little mouse. This is my fault. I should have warned you to stay home tonight. I didn’t want you to be part of this. I wanted you safe.” Mitsuhide looked away and took a moment to master his emotions. When he looked back, he wore a familiar smile. “It seems no matter how much time passes, you end up in the middle of things.”

“Well, you can’t expect me to sit home and knit.” Mai frowned. Her arm was starting to hurt again now, and the cut in her neck stung. “Although, if I’d known I was going to get grabbed and stabbed, I would have given tonight a pass.”

He laughed wryly. “A choice I can agree with, but done is done.” His fingertips grazed her arm. “Let’s get your injuries seen to.”

Around them, the theater was coming alive with lights and the entrance of more police and other first responders. They checked Mitsuhide over as Mai was laid on a stretcher and carried out, despite her protests that she could walk just fine. She didn’t think she needed to be carried when it was her arm that hurt, and not her legs.

Mitsuhide ruffled her hair. “I’ll see you at the hospital. Don’t get into any more trouble.” 

“Pfft.” She grinned, despite the pain. There was just something about him that made her feel better. “If I get into trouble, it will be because someone carried me there.”

He might have replied, but two officers closed in and pulled Mitsuhide aside for his statement. Mai gave him a wave with her good arm as she was carried away.

***

The hospital was cold. Mai shivered under the thin blanket of her hospital bed. She felt tired in every way, and her eyes kept slipping shut in long, slow blinks. Even the uncomfortable sling on her arm and the sting of the stitches in her neck weren’t enough to keep her alert. She wanted to stay awake though, at least until Mitsuhide came. She wanted to . . . but her eyelids were so heavy.

Her eyes snapped open as she felt someone settle at the foot of her bed. Only, it wasn’t Mitsuhide sitting there. A peacock rested there, holding her in its obsidian regard. The bird was beautiful, feathers gleaming with sapphire and emerald hues. 

Mai tried to wake herself. She knew peacocks weren’t allowed in hospitals, ergo, there was no peacock on her bed. Which meant she was dreaming, and she might miss Mitsuhide when he stopped by. She pinched her earlobe hard enough that it sent a little shock of pain all the way to her cheek. 

The peacock tilted its head and blinked, as if asking what she was doing. 

“Look, you’re very pretty but I don’t want to be asleep right now. I need to wake up. So if you could just not look at me like that? I don’t know why I’m dreaming about a peacock anyway. I guess it’s better than a nightmare about Mr - well, about things I don’t want to think about.” She sighed. 

The bird leapt onto the floor, disappearing beyond the end of the bed. 

Mai tried to sit up, but her shoulder flared with pain at the movement. “Ugh. Why am I injured in my dream? I should just imagine myself healed up, right?” She looked at the vitals monitor next to her bed, and the IV drip. It was all so detailed and realistic. And outside, a nurse passed her doorway, rubber-soled shoes squeaking on the tile floor. 

Everything looked very much the way it should in the waking world, she realized. Which meant - Mai sat up suddenly, despite the flare of hot agony in her arm. There was, in fact, a peacock sitting on the floor. In her hospital room. “Umm. Ok. So I’m not dreaming. You are really here. Staring at me.”

The peacock preened, and then leapt up to perch on the back of a chair. 

“Right. Ok. I guess that’s fine. Peacock in my hospital room. Are you an emotional support animal?” Mai got no response from the bird, of course. She took a breath and looked up at the bright ceiling lights. “I guess it could be weirder.”

“Weirder? How so?” 

The response made Mai jump, and sent another shooting pain through her body. She instinctively pulled the injured arm closer to her chest as she turned toward the voice. A man sat in the chair where the bird had been a moment ago. He was a stranger to her, and she should have been frightened - but there was something calming about his gentle smile. 

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.” The man tilted his head and blinked, the gesture reminiscent of the peacock.

He was gorgeous, she realized. His eyes were a pallid shade of honey, his skin like porcelain, and his long dark hair hung silkily over his shoulder. He looked like a man from a cologne commercial, she thought. Or one of those shampoo ads. Too pretty to be real. But he was sitting there, no filter, no photoshop. And waiting for her response. 

“You . . . it’s, umm, it’s fine. I thought there was a - a - you know what? It doesn’t matter.” Mai took a moment to focus. “Who are you, anyway? A mo-” She stopped herself before she said model. More likely, “A lawyer?” 

The man laughed softly, a sound as pretty as he was. “My thoughts have never been drawn to legal matters. No, I am a representative from the national theater program. You may call me Yoshimoto.”

Mai nodded. “Alright, Mr. Yoshimoto. Do I need to give you a statement or something?”

“Please, just Yoshimoto. And no. I am simply here to make sure you’re alright. We didn’t realize Keiki would take such a violent action.” His brow creased with concern. “Are you?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Her body had its hurts, and she felt a heavy anxiety as her mind touched on the memory of Keiki’s arms around her. The feel of cold metal against her throat. “I . . .”

Yoshimoto looked down, his whole posture evincing sorrow. “Of course. That was an inconsiderate question. Please forgive me.”

“No, Yoshimoto. It’s fine. I am ok. A - a little shaken up? And achy? But alright. Mitsuhide came just in time.”

When he looked up again, there was a slight smile lifting the edges of his perfect lips. Mai wondered what kind of lip gloss he wore. That satin sheen could not be all natural. “Thank you for being so kind. You have a tendency to put others first, but please, do not prioritize my comfort.” He reached out and took her hand. 

Mai felt like she was drowning in his wide gaze as he drew closer to her. 

“Allow me to apologize. When Mitsuhide came to me with his information, we should have taken more precautions in removing Keiki. I never would have moved forward, knowing you might be hurt.” Yoshimoto’s voice was melodic, almost hypnotic. 

“Cuz, even I know better than to seduce a woman in a hospital.” A low laugh came from the door and both Yoshimoto and Mai turned toward it. 

“Shingen?” Mai’s eyebrows shot up. This was the cheesy hot guy from the amusement park. The one with the rude friend. And the rude guy was right behind him. 

“I am flattered you remembered me.” He smiled and his grin made the room feel brighter.

“Yes, you and, um -” Mai stared at the rude boy, searching her mind for his name. “Yoshiki? No. Yusei?”

“Yuki.” His lower lip stuck out in a pout. “I can’t believe you remembered this guy and not me.”

Yoshimoto laughed. “I am sure it’s only due to the stress of the evening, Yukimura. You always leave quite an impression.”

This did not appear to mollify him, but he only huffed as he followed Shingen in. 

“I do remember you,” Mai insisted. “You called me a boar woman. So stop making that face.”

“I’ll make this face if I want to. And - and I’m not even making some kind of face! You are!” Yuki glared at her, but the expression softened as his gaze flitted to her bandaged neck. “I - look, I just came to make sure you were alright. Here.” He shoved a box of candy at her and then stormed out.

“Wait, what? Yuki?” She called after him, but he didn’t stop or turn. 

“Don’t worry about him,” Shingen told her with a sigh. “He’s still learning how to talk to girls.”

“Umm. Ok?” Mai looked at the box of candies. “Can you tell him thanks for me?”

“I would do any task for you, angel.” Shingen’s grey eyes shone. “Is there anything else you want me to do? I could be your nurse. Give you a very special sponge-”

“That is quite enough. We did not come here to make the girl uncomfortable.” Another man graced the entry. And graced was the right word. He was tall, though not as tall as Shingen, and his hair was almost the same light shade as Mitsuhide’s, with eyes that shone a deep violet blue. 

Mai blinked. Who was this guy? And why was her room filled with extremely attractive strangers. “Do you all work in theater?” The question popped out before she thought it through. But honestly, the only excuse for so many hot guys in one place had to be that they were actors. 

“No, Kanetsugu doesn’t work for the theater program in any capacity. But his boss is one of our patrons. As is Shingen.” Yoshimoto smiled gently and squeezed the hand he still held. 

“Correct.” Kanetsugu nodded. “I am here at Lord Uesugi’s request.” He held up a bunny. It was white, with long, floppy ears, and a delicate poof of a cotton-tail. It gazed at Mai with its odd eyes, one a brilliant green and the other, an icy blue. 

“Why . . . why are you carrying a rabbit?” Mai stared at the bunny. It was adorable, and she felt an urge to pet its soft fur. 

Kanetsugu arched an eyebrow. 

“Emotional support animal.” A familiar voice said from behind the violet-eyed man. Sasuke stepped out to stand beside him. “We brought Ke-, ah, the bunny to keep you company and make you feel better.”

“Sasuke! Hello again.” Mai smiled at the familiar face. Though she’d only really met him once, she felt like she knew him well. “Did Mitsuhide send you?”

“Afraid not. But since Yoshimoto and Shingen were helping him out, I’ve been in the loop.” His lips twitched in what might have been a smile. 

Kanetsugu sighed. “Yes. We’ve all been in the loop.” He walked to the other side of her bed and set the rabbit onto her blanket. “You must treat this bunny with proper respect and care. Do not let him jump as he likes, and be careful of what he eats. Rabbits have very sensitive stomachs. And when petting him, stroke in the direction the hair grows. But! Only if he initiates the contact. You cannot simply handle him like some petting zoo rabbit.”

“I think she gets it,” Shingen interrupted. He gazed balefully at the rabbit and murmured, “Some guys have all the luck.”

“Hm?” Mai glanced at him, though her attention was on the bunny as it made itself comfortable on her lap. 

“Nothing, angel. I was just thinking a rabbit is easier to sneak into a hospital than a bear.” 

Sasuke chuckled. “Not sure how you’d manage that.”

Yoshimoto only smiled. 

Mai nodded agreement. “Mmm. Yeah a bear is pretty big. You know, it’s so weird though. I thought there was a peacock in my room. Just before Yoshimoto came? But I bet it would be pretty hard to sneak one of those in too.” She laughed. “Maybe they gave me a stronger painkiller than I thought.”

Shingen and Yoshimoto shared a look. “You’re right about that, angel. Though I imagine all things in nature cried out when you were hurt, and would want to comfort you.”

“Eh, hahaha, no. I mean, that’s really sweet of you to say. But I’m no one important.” Mai felt her cheeks heat. This guy was an outrageous flatterer, she thought. 

“You are very important,” Yoshimoto told her, giving her hand another gentle squeeze. “The world would be a worse place without your artistry.”

Kanetsugu was still watching the bunny on Mai’s lap, ignoring the conversation completely. 

Thankfully, it gave Mai an easy out of this embarrassing praise. “Kanetsugu, do you want to take the rabbit back? It’s ok if you do. Just seeing him made me feel a little better.”

“No. He wishes to be where he is.” Kanetsugu gave her a slight smile. “I am pleased if his presence brought you some comfort.”

“I hope my attention also gave you some comfort, angel.” Shingen’s smooth voice brought Mai’s gaze back to him. He was giving her a dazzling smile, and there was unexpected warmth in the depths of his eyes. 

Mai felt her pulse speed, reacting to that look and his nearness. “I . . . ah . . .”

Sasuke cleared his throat. “I think we should let her rest now.”

Yoshimoto glanced at him and then nodded. “Yes, of course. How selfish of me. I only wanted to ensure you were recovering. Please rest and feel better.” He brought her hand to his lips, and placed an ephemeral kiss to the back of it. The touch was light but warm, and it sent a pleasant shiver up her arm. 

“We’ll check on you later.” Shingen agreed. “In the meantime, don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

“That leaves a distressing number of options,” Kanetsugu commented. He smiled, and Mai couldn’t help but note he had little fangs. Sharp canines that looked a bit longer than the surrounding teeth. “I will return for Ke- the bunny. You will take good care of him until then.”

“Yes?” Mai nodded, her fingers brushing the soft fur on the rabbit’s head.

“Good.” Kanetsugu nodded. “Until then.” 

Yoshimoto released her hand and stood to leave. The others followed him out, and Mai was left again in the quiet, cold hospital room. But she felt warmer now, inside and out. “Those guys are so strange,” she sighed. “But nice. Don’t you think so, Mr. Bunny?” She stroked his soft ears. 

The rabbit gazed at her, its pink nose wiggling. The dichroic eyes held an unexpected weight of affection and a look Mai thought was a little sad. She cradled the rabbit to her chest in a gentle hug. “It’s just me and you now. Waiting for Mitsuhide.”

Mai let go of the bunny as it started wriggling. She could have sworn the look it gave her was an unhappy one as it hopped to the end of her bed and laid down. “Silly bunny.” She smiled. It was sitting right where the peacock had been. If there ever was a peacock in her room. Mai wasn’t sure anymore. And it didn’t matter. The rabbit wasn’t going to turn into a hot guy, afterall. She knew it was real and solid, and definitely just a bunny. Even if there was something hauntingly familiar about it.

[velisle]

𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕...

protective!ring who always wraps an arm around your shoulder when navigating through crowds — he doesn't want to lose you in any way

shy!ring who reluctantly lies down on your lap at your insistence. he shuts his eyes, feeling shy to meet your gaze when he looks up. too bad the bright pink dusting his cheeks already gave him away (he doesn't realise it)

pining!ring who is falling more for you as each day passes. He tries to confess in subtle ways — leaving a bouquet of your favourite flowers at the doorstep, sharing bits of his food with you and offering to be the one to accompany you on missions

flustered!ring who blushes whenever your hand intertwines with his, when you tiptoe to kiss his cheek, when you lean your head against his as you watch the clouds together, and and when you — just being around you is enough to make his puppet heart burst with emotions

defensive!ring who frowns whenever someone throws an unpleasant comment your way. he doesn't like hearing such things and will not hesitate to retort for you

precious!ring who mutters not-so-secretly about how cute you are and how much he adores every little action you do — h-huh? you heard nothing!

oblivious!ring who just needs a push from you when it comes to initiating acts of affection — grazing your palm as a sign of wanting to hold hands, closing near your face but not near enough to be touching your inviting lips. forgive him, won't you? you're his first (and last) love

giddy!ring who daydreams about you two while taking one of his afternoon naps beneath the sun. he tries to glance around his surroundings to get you out of his head — only to find himself staring a bit too long at a flower that reminded him of you

modern!ring who takes you out for late night rides on his motorcycle. you take every chance you can to cling onto his slim waist from behind

sleepy!ring who loves pressing his head against your chest. he is always the little spoon

jealous!ring who can't help but feel envious (read: make a sad puppy face) when someone acts too familiar with you or when they try to invade your personal space

child!ring who was often left alone to play in a corner by himself. back then, only his twin wanted to spend time with him

teenager!ring who nervously offers you a box full of handmade chocolates on valentine's. he is still teased by nika for it to this very day

soft!ring who was surprised when you told him you wanted him to teach you martial arts so you can protect him. his poor brain short circuits whenever you're in close proximity to him as you train together

confused!ring who is left a stuttering mess when you cup both of his cheeks and boop your nose against his. a small pout appears on his lips — why didn't you kiss him there?