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straykidsnerd255 · 2 months ago

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The King's Bride

Title: The King's Bride

Pairing: Shadow King! Sung Jin Woo x Light Queen! Female Reader

Genre: Angst to Fluff

Song: Alone at Night by Fabvl and Arise by Divide Music

Rating: PG-13

Warning(s): Slight unrequited love (Jin Woo kind of hurts the readers feelings not realizing it), Sung Jin Woo beheading his personal guard (The nameless fool tried to hurt the reader in front of him and no it isn't any of his shadows), Sung Jin Woo being extremely protective of the reader, swearing, Jin Woo is a bit blind in the beginning and does things that make the reader fall for him, Jin Woo having two hearts because I said so

Summary: You brought light and prosperity to the world. He brought darkness and terror. Everything you did seemed to bring light into his dark life. The way you smiled at him every morning. The way your hands were so gentle tending to his wounds. The way you whispered your love for him. The way his Shadows would drop everything and follow your command. The beating of his double hearts made it painstakingly clear, you were HIS queen, and he was YOUR king. So, when Sung Jin Woo's personal guard tries to kill you, he beheads the guard to show the world not to mess with you.

Word Count: 4283

Your hands sat tucked together over your gold and white dress. Today was the day you would meet your betrothed for the first time before the wedding. You, Y/n L/n, Queen of everything Light and glorious, was to marry the Shadow King himself. You never spoke out against the fate you had been dealt, simply dropping to your knees before the Oracle and bowing deeply. Taking a deep breath, you lifted your head up and looked out the window of the carriage, watching the wispy willows and daisies dancing in the breeze. A small smile slipped before it returned to the straight line. Your mind was running a mile a minute as you tried to grasp the situation. You turned your head back towards your lap and noticed a box nestled in the palm of your open hands.

A faint black whisper of shadow wrapped around your arm, moving past the sleeve and tattooing itself to your arm. Lifting the sleeve, your eyes widened at the intricate swirls that wrapped around your arm. Releasing the sleeve, you turned your attention back to the box. Running your fingers over the ribbon that was tied ever so neatly, you carefully pulled it and watched the bow unravel. Holding the ribbon in your hand, you carefully opened the box. To your surprise, there lay a ring. Gold band carefully crafted; a dark purple gem nestled in the middle of the ring glistened as the sun glinted off it. Carefully taking the ring from its spot, you held in between your finger and thumb, twisting it around before you slid it over your ring finger. A warmth filled your chest as you stared longer at the ring. Slowly, you raise your hand to your lips. Closing your eyes, you pressed your lips to the gem, a smile slipping through. Maybe, just maybe, he will be different. "Must be a gift from his majesty himself, your Highness." The driver said, not looking back but keeping his eyes on the road.

You felt the warmth spread even further through your chest. All your life, you had been told the Shadow King was a ruthless man. Killing anyone that stood against him. Left a trail of blood and terror behind him, but something was pulling at your heart. He didn't seem all that back if he sent you a beautiful ring as a courting gift. You gently placed the open box on the seat in front of you not realizing it disappeared in a poof of shadows. "My Queen, we will be there in a moment's time. Do you need anything?" Lifting your head, you glanced at the back of the driver. "No. I believe I am alright for now." You said, your voice although soft, held such a power that even the shadows froze for a moment.

As the massive palace of the Shadow King emerged from the trees and darkness, you felt your heart speed up. Your eyes gazed at the majestic looking castle, eyes shining. As the carriage moved closer, you watched in surprise when a group of shadow soldiers materialized around the carriage. One of the soldiers moved towards your window and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, your grace. My name is Igris. I am my Liege's elite knight and am tasked as your personal guard. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call out my name." Igris bowed before you, his purple shadow-like body glowing brightly. You smiled and nodded your head. "Thank you Igris, I appreciate everything." You said, watching the knight stand to his true height before raising his arm and shouting a command.

Before you knew it, you were in front of the massive palace, Igris holding his hand out for you to take and help you out of the carriage. "My liege has been waiting for this day." Igris said, watching as you fixed your dress and your hair. You turned to the shadow and smiled softly. "I have been waiting for this day as well." Igris won't admit it out loud, but the sound of your voice makes his body feel at ease besides his king. You were gentle. Didn't look at him or the other shadows with disgust. Rather, you looked at him and the others with a childlike wonder. He could practically see the sun shining from your heart. Igris and you made your way to the throne room. You felt a weight fall onto you as you entered the dark chamber.

You could see countless shadow soldiers lined up all around the room, just waiting to strike. You could see people standing near the throne, hands resting on the hilt of their swords ready to strike. One man stared you down, making your heart stop, and fear gripping your voice. Your hand immediately latched to Igris's arm. The knight immediately noticed something was wrong. He followed your line of sight and immediately narrowed his eyes. Before anything could happen, the doors opened and two massive shadows walked in, the Shadow King following behind them. You watched in awe at the way he carried himself. Everyone dropped and bowed to him, even Igris. You were completely stunned and didn't know what to do.

"You insolent witch. You must bow before the King." The same man that had been staring you down yelled at you, making you flinch at his words. Tears filled your eyes, and your heart was in your throat. You watched as the man made a move towards you, his hand pulling at his sword. "Watch your tongue. That is your future Queen." The King's voice was deep, but held so much power that you watched the man freeze in his steps and grumble something before going back in line. You released the breath you didn't realize you were holding. Clearing your throat, you took the sides of your dress and dipped in a curtsy. "I apologize for my ill manners just now, your Highness." You whispered.

The King raised his hand, and the two massive shadows escorted the men out of the room. The pressure that had been crushing you moments ago disappeared, allowing you to gasp for air. Igris immediately checked on you. "Are you alright?" He asked, his voice full of worry. You nodded your head, not trusting your voice at the moment. You were still shaken by the fact that man was so bent on killing you. "Igris. What happened before I walked into the room?" The King's voice was gentle now, his eyes staying on your as you gathered your thoughts and took deep breaths to calm down. Igris explained the incident and watched as the King clenched his fists. "He has always been against this idea." Sighing, the Shadow King rose from his throne and walked towards you.

You felt his finger under your chin and was shocked as he gently lifted your head up. You both looked into each other's eyes, causing your heart to skip a beat. "I deeply apologize for his behavior. He didn't hurt you, did he?" You shook your head, still unable to even offer words. The King sighed in relief. "I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Sung Jin Woo. As we are engaged, there is no need for you to call me King or Your Highness. Jin Woo is perfectly fine." He gently took your hand that had the ring on it and your heart melted as a smile graced his lips. He lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of your hand before kissing the ring, much like you had done before.

A blush covered your face as your free hand covered your mouth and you looked away. Jin Woo smiled at your reaction before standing at his full height and lifting his elbow up for you to take. "I know you probably don't like darker colors, but I would love to see you in a deep shade of purple." Jin Woo's voice sounded like music in your ears. You slowly nodded your head and looped your arm around his elbow. You both made your way down the hall towards the seamstress that Jin Woo seemed to have living in the palace. Entering the room, the seamstress immediately knew what to do and shooed Jin Woo out of the room. Hours passed before you were escorted out of the room by Igris and a shadow named Beru. You had seen Beru when Jin Woo first entered the throne room when you had arrived. You were nervous to see Jin Woo's reaction. What if he hated it and called off the engagement? Your thoughts were interrupted when Igris placed a hand on your trembling one.

"My liege is the kindest person alive. He won't hate anything you wear or do." His words seemed to ease your growing anxiety. Entering the throne room, Jin Woo lifted his head, and you noticed the moment his eyes widened, a blush dusted across the bridge of his nose. The dress you wear was a dark purple almost black in certain lighting, a sleeveless, sweetheart neckline with a bedazzled top. The dress hugged your figure nicely and in Jin Woo's eyes, enhanced your figure nicely. You watched him stand from the throne and walk towards you. You went to bow, but his hands grasped yours and held them to his lips. "You do not have to bow to me. We are to be married soon. I would like for us to get comfortable with each other. Don't you?" He asked, eyeing the dress that was crafted so beautifully. You pressed your forehead against his chest, the heat radiating off your face was too much. Jin Woo chuckled and took that as a yes from you.

{One Day before the wedding}

You sat in the dining hall, fork messing around with the food in front of you. Igris noticed the pained looks you would send his liege from time to time, and it hurt him to see you so sad. He had grown so close with you in the small amount of time he had spent with you. Moving from his spot, he knelt in front of you and tilted his head to the side. "What is wrong my queen?" Igris asked, watching as the tears filled your eyes and slowly fell down your face. "Does Jin Woo seem more distant with me? I fear he's starting to pull away." You said, remembering how you had wanted to spend the night with Jin Woo a few nights ago and he immediately shut you down. His eyes grew cold as he slammed the door behind him. It happened every night after that. He would avoid you. Show you such a huge amount of love and need and want only to be thrown to the side and glared at the very next moment.

"Does he actually want to marry me for his own accord or is this just a political marriage to fix tensions between my kingdom and his?" You asked, your eyes searching the shadow's eyes for anything. Igris couldn't stand it. It hurt him to see you in pain like this. He knew his liege was shy and awkward when it came to relationships, but something was off about the way he was treating you. It was like he was playing with your feelings. Giving you a small taste of what he could give to you and then taking it back and breaking your already fragile heart. "I will speak with him. Please stay here, I will be back soon." Igris said, standing up and disappearing in a wave of shadows.

As you sat there, the man from the first day emerged from the next room. "You know, this is exactly what I had told him would happen when he proposed the idea of marrying you." The man said, his hand shooting out and grabbing your wrist. His grip tight, sending a shock of pain up your arm. You desperately asked him to let go but he didn't. He tightened his hold and began walking forwards. You were dragged from the chair, nearly tripping over your feet as you were taken from the dining room to the gardens outside. The man tossed you to the ground, satisfied with the look of terror on your face. "You have no place here and I will not be downgraded to the simple task of watching the grounds while you wander the palace as if it is your home." The man said, unsheathing his sword and lifting it above his head.

You could taste the fear in your mouth. Your eyes wide as you frantically looked around for something to stop him. Seeing something off to the side, you grabbed the loose dirt and threw it in the man's face. He sputtered and dropped the sword to his side as he wiped the dirt from his face. It gave you enough time to scramble to your feet and rush to the throne room. Tears fell down your face as you heard the man's angry shouts behind you. "Jin Woo! Igris!" You screamed out their names hoping they would hear you. You yelped as something sharp flew past your face. You lifted your hand to the area that was hit. Pulling your hand back to see blood, your heart sank. "You stupid bitch. My King will never marry you." The man snarled behind you; his eyes wild with anger. You pushed forward, pushing the double doors open and rushing in. Igris turned when he heard your feet against the ground. "Igris." You whispered only for that man to throw a dagger into the back of your leg.

You fell to the ground with a strangled cry leaving your lips. Tears fell down your face as your hand shakily moved towards the dagger. Your heart pounding dangerously fast in your chest and the man stocked closer to you. Igris was in front of you in an instant, his blade drawn. "What the hell did you do to her?!" Igris hissed, his link with Sung Jin Woo spiking, hoping the King could sense the urgency. As the man opened his mouth to start yelling, the doors burst open, nearly falling off the hinges. Jin Woo stormed into the room and froze. The moment his eyes landed on you and your injured body; his mind went blank. "Who the hell did this?!" He roared. His shadows shook at his palpable anger.

Jin Woo's eyes darted around the room looking at each of his guards. Each one looked terrified to the nine, but his personal guard, one he had hand-picked, stood there with a blank look on his face. Jin Woo's eyes narrowed, and he slowly walked towards the man. The shadows swept around his feet and cape as he moved. Igris and Bellion moved towards you and held their hands out for you. "Are you alright, your Highness?" Bellion asked, eyeing the damage done to your leg, cheek and the bruises that lined your wrist and arm. You took their hands but didn't answer, you were so shaken from the incident. Bellion, Igris and Beru stood around her, keeping their eye on the other guards that kept eyeing her. Taking a quick glance at you and seeing that you were protected by his top three guards, Jin Woo turned back to his personal guard.

"Care to give me an explanation as to why my fiancé came running into the throne room with you following behind with a killer's intent?" Jin Woo snarled, staring the man down. "Your Highness. I have repeatedly told you that having a witch of light in our palace is grounds for the shadows to disappear and you to become weak. We can't have a weak king." The man said, turning his attention to you and glaring. You shuttered but Igris moved in front of you, blocking you from the man's view. Jin Woo's hand shot forward and grabbed the man by his jaw. Now, Jin Woo could see the fear in his eyes.

"I have made it perfectly clear that no one, and I mean NO ONE is to touch her while she is here. I was the one that made the arrangement for the marriage, and I want and plan to see it through. I don't need your approval for anything that concerns the kingdom. You are but a guard that is to follow my orders. For you to turn against my orders and strike my Queen just tells me that you won't shy from betrayal. I already knew that you were a piece of shit, but you were a good guard to have." Jin Woo's eyes began to glow purple the more he spoke, his anger beginning to rise to a new level. His hand tightening its hold on the guard's jaw. A cracking noise filled the silent throne room. His voice came out sharp, and deep, scaring even Bellion, a shadow that never showed the slightest fear.

Trying to leave his grip, the man began sputtering the best he could through the pain of his broken jaw. His body froze when Jin Woo reached for the sword that sat on his right hip. The blade being drawn was the only sound heard. The man began to fear what was to happen to him. He begged his King with his eyes to spare his life, but the look Jin Woo gave him made him realize that he wouldn't be coming from this room alive. Bellion, knowing what was about to happen, swept you up in his arms and rushed from the room. You were confused but felt a sudden thankfulness that he had rushed you from the room.

Appearing at the room that Jin Woo had designed and given to you, Bellion gently placed you on the ground and bowed. "I deeply apologise for taking you from that room, but I couldn't bear for you to see what the King has to do." He said, straightening up and turning back towards the throne room and walking away. You entered the room, closed the door, and rushed to the bed. As you lay there, everything caught up to you and tears silently fell down your face. Your leg was throbbing from where the dagger had stabbed you and where Igris had skillfully removed the dagger, dressed the wound, and wrapped a bandage around it. You pulled one of the pillows against your chest and cried into it.

Jin Woo sighed, his sword's point resting against the floor as the guard's body dropped to the ground, blood spilling across the marble floor. A maid rushed forward with a rag and handed it to Jin Woo. He took the rag and cleaned the blade before sheathing it. He clenched his fist as your scared face popped into his mind. "Bellion, Beru." He called out. The two shadows appeared in a sudden wisp of shadow, bowing. "Yes, my Liege?" Beru asked. "I want you and the other shadows to patrol the palace grounds. Check every guard I have here that is not a shadow and make sure they are not plotting to hurt Y/n." He said, his anger slowly soothing at the mention of your name but he was still angry. "As you wish my Liege." Beru disappeared and took a large portion of shadows with him.

"Bellion, where is she?" Jin Woo asked, his voice softening slightly. "Your Highness, I took her to her room so she wouldn't have to watch you behead the guard. She was already shaken from being attacked." Bellion said, watching and gauging his King's reaction. Jin Woo simply nodded his head. "I am leaving you to guard this room while I go and speak with her. I...I hope she doesn't break off the engagement because of this." Jin Woo could feel his two hearts thundering loudly against his ribcage. He was scared. He would never show it or admit it to anyone but he was scared she would leave him. Bellion bowed and stood up, moving towards the last few guards that were in the corner shaking.

Jin Woo rushed from the throne room and towards your room. Appearing in front of your room and raising his hand to knock was more nerve racking than he remembered. Gently tapping his knuckles against your door, he heard sniffling and quiet "One moment". He took a deep breath and released it right as you opened the door. His two hearts sank when he saw your red rimmed and puffy eyes showing that you had been crying. He immediately surged forward, wrapping his arms around you and holding you tightly to his chest. "I am so sorry. I should have been around you more than this wouldn't have happened." He mumbled, feeling your body shaking against his. You gripped his shirt in your hands and buried your face in his chest, your tears still falling down your face. He never said anything, just held you close, providing a protective feeling to fall over you.

You and Jin Woo had pulled from each other after a few moments to sit on the edge of your bed. His arms crossed over his chest, and your hands lay in your lap. "The guard that hurt you is no longer....here. He can't hurt you anymore. I have instructed my top shadows to go through all the guards to find the ones that happened to be working alongside him. I won't let anything like that happen to you again. It shouldn't have happened to you in the first place." Jin Woo said, his arms slightly falling from where they were crossed. You shook your head. "It wasn't your fault." You whispered, moving closer to Jin Woo. He noticed but said nothing. Before long, your head laid on his shoulder, your hand reaching out and waiting for him to place his hand in yours.

When you felt the weight of his hand in yours, you intertwined your fingers with his and felt his body relax against yours. You closed your eyes and smiled when his head laid down on top of yours. "Let's stay like this for a little bit. It's been a while since I felt at peace like this." Jin Woo whispered, his body sagging even more. You nodded your head and sighed softly when your body finally relaxed. Not realizing it, both you and Jin Woo lay backwards, falling onto the bed. His arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you to his chest. He pressed his forehead against yours and slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes trailed over your face before landing on your lips. "May I?" He asked, looking back to your eyes. You nodded your head, closing your eyes as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours. Warmth spread through your chest as you pressed closer to him. The kiss made you feel safe. Filled you with warmth. Jin Woo was the first to pull away, his eyes slowly opening. His two hearts pounded in his chest as he watched your hand move to your lips, your fingers brushed against your lips. "Can't believe my first kiss was with the Shadow King himself." You whispered, a smile on your lips as you immediately dove into his chest covering the blush that formed over your face. Jin Woo froze for a moment before laughter filled the room. He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close as he hugged you tightly.

A few months later, Jin Woo is sitting next to you in your shared bed, a book in his left hand, while his right hand is occupied holding yours as you lay next to him asleep. The wedding night of a few days ago tired both his kingdom and your kingdom out. The celebration of the uniting of Shadows and Light lasted for weeks as you and Jin Woo were celebrated. Opening your eyes, you rubbed the sleep from them before sitting up and scooting closer to Jin Woo's side. Your chin fell to his shoulder as you peered over and looked at the book he was reading. You scrunch your nose when you read a few sentences making the Shadow King chuckle. "Not your cup of tea my love?" He asked, his eyes crinkling as his smile got bigger.

You shook your head, grabbing a bookmark and placing it in his book before taking it from his hand. You placed the book on the nightstand and laid down, opening your arms for your husband. He smiled and immediately pulled the blankets closer as he snuggled into your chest, sleep already starting to settle over the two of you. Jin Woo felt his muscles finally relaxing as he was in his wife's arms. Her fingers running through his hair, scratching near the base of his neck. You took the time to look over your now sleeping husband.

You looked at the rings that glinted on his finger and your finger as they had been intertwined just before he went to sleep. You pressed a few kisses to the top of his head before laying your head on top of his head. You stayed awake for just a few more moments before you could feel your eyelids growing heavier. You turned yourself closer to your husband without disturbing his sleep and yawned. "Good night my love. I can't wait to rule both the Shadow and the Light with you." You mumbled softly before closing your eyes and allowing sleep to finally take over. Happy to finally have someone who loved and cherished you.

#Solo Leveling x Female Reader #Sung Jin Woo is a Shadow King and you can't tell me otherwise #Sung Jin Woo x Female Reader #Solo Leveling Royalty AU #King Sung Jin Woo x Queen Female Reader #Angst to fluff

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holylulusworld · 1 year ago

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Their girl

Summary: Your boss doesn’t even know your name. This doesn’t keep his guests from finding interest in you.

Pairing: Mobster!Bucky Barnes x Shy!Reader x Mobster!Steve Rogers

Warnings: shy reader, tension, awkwardness, fluff, polyamory, love-struck mobsters

A/N: The sequel no one expected to get.

Catch up here: The nameless girl

True to their words, Steve and Bucky stood in front of your apartment the next evening.

They prepared everything for your date while you spent the better part of the day looking for a new job.

This couldn’t be real. And you believed they wanted to make fun of you by inviting you for dinner like one of the beautiful girls from the club.

“Hello doll,” Bucky lazily leaned in your door frame. He offered a bouquet of daisies to you and called you a pretty mouse.

“Sweet mouse,” Steve grinned and offered a single red rose to you, “you look…stunning.” They both looked dashing in their expensive suits, and polished shoes.

“I-sorry. I’m not ready yet and…” you nervously babbled. Still, in your oversized Peanuts shirt and sweatpants, you looked ridiculous next to them. “I didn’t think you’d show.”

“Why?” Bucky furrowed his brows. He looked a little hurt at your words. “Why’d you think we would not keep our word and come here to court you.”

“I,” you dropped your gaze, afraid you angered the two of them. “Men like you don’t usually pay attention to someone like me. I’m shy, meek, and a grey mouse in contrast to the dancers at the club.”

“Doll,” Bucky pushed the flowers in Steve’s hands so he could cup your face with both hands. “If we say we want to take you out,” he leaned closer to look you deep in the eyes. “We mean what we say. We want to take you out. Not one of the girls at the club nor anyone else.”

You sniffled and murmured an apology. It was strange to you that two men tried to get your attention. Life taught you that most men only like a pretty façade.

Many guys you met didn’t care if a girl was selfish, dumb, or had the worst character as long as they were pretty enough to get their attention.

“Y/N don’t apologize. I know we can be a bit overwhelming and intense,” Steve smirked when your eyes darted toward him. “Buck, tell her how much we like her.”

“Very much,” Bucky purred your name. He swiped his thumb over your lower lip only to groan deeply when you licked over his thumb and lightly sucked on it. “Fuck, Stevie. We got a dirty little mouse here.”

“Oh?” Steve watched you look at his friend like you were in a trance. “She’s such a cute surprise. Who would've thought we’d find our queen among all those boring girls.”

Bucky pecked your temple, making you sigh at the slightest touch of his lips. “We got lucky,” he said. “She’s one in a million.”

Steve chuckled at his friend’s eagerness. “How about we invite you for dinner at our home, Y/N. You can wear your cute shirt and sweatpants. We can have a sleepover and have dinner at the restaurant tomorrow.”

“We also got a job offer for you, doll,” Bucky whispered against your temple. “We got a free position in our organization.”

“Buck, that was a surprise!” Steve tutted but smirked when your eyes lit up. Losing your job at Clint’s club got you into trouble. Your landlord wants his money on time, not weeks or months later. “What do you say, doll? Do you want to come with us?”

“No.”

“No?” Bucky backpaddled at your answer. He looked you up and down, wondering if he misheard. “Did you say no?”

You took a deep breath and gathered all the courage you could muster and looked Bucky straight in the eyes.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, Mr. Barnes,” you confidentially said, even though, your voice trembled, “but you are still strangers to me. I cannot go with you, to a place I don’t know. I’m shy, not crazy.”

“Aw, she’s even cuter than I thought,” Steve chuckled at your little outburst. “You’re right, Y/N. We will wait outside of your apartment for you to get ready like gentlemen. Please excuse our forwardness.”

“Steve and I will take you out for dinner and drive you back home. We can talk about the job offer on our way to the restaurant. Only if you want to, of course,” Bucky pouted and held out his hand. “Please don’t leave us hanging.”

“I’ll be right back,” you excused yourself and closed the door behind you, exhaling deeply. Your knees shook, but you were also proud of yourself for standing up against Steve and Bucky.

Steve and Bucky looked at each other, smirking for a second before they chuckled.

“She’s so cute when mad,” Bucky laughed. “God, it makes me wild imagining her squirming underneath me while I take her apart. She will whimper my name and beg me to fill her up and breed her. But not before I ate her sweet cunt.”

Steve laughed. “You’re a horny dog.”

“Says the man running around with a boner since he laid eyes on our sweet mouse,” Bucky bit back. “I hope you know I’ll have her first. She will melt in my arms.”

“I hope you know Y/N is not like the other girls you easily wrapped around your fingers.”

“I know,” the brunette smirked. “That’s what I like about her, Steve. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that things would be different with Y/N. It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

“Phew, you got it bad for her,” Steve whistled.

“You are no better,” Bucky snickered. “I know you want to make her ours. Do not deny it. You’re in too deep yourself.”

Both men waited patiently for you to join them outside of your apartment. They offered their arm to you, acting like gentlemen while guiding you toward their car.

The ride toward the restaurant was both, exciting and a little scary. You got into a car with two strangers promising to make you their queen.

Steve held the door to the restaurant open for you while Bucky guided you inside.

“You’ll love the restaurant,” Bucky said as he pulled the chair for you. “Did I already tell you that you look beautiful tonight, doll?”

“Thank you,” you stammered. You didn’t know if he meant what he said. Your sky-blue mini-dress was far from elegant. While all the other women at the restaurant looked like they came straight out of a fashion magazine, you felt underdressed. “It’s new…”

“I like that color on you,” Steve cupped your chin with one hand to tilt your head. “It’s cute and sweet.” You gasped feeling his lips press against the corner of your mouth. “Just like you.”

Bucky’s features darkened when you leaned into his friend’s touch.

“Shall we eat, doll?” He pulled a chair for you, making your heart flutter. “Steve was right, Y/N. You look beautiful in your dress. Did you buy it only for us?”

You giggled and dropped your gaze. “No,” you lied. “I bought it some weeks ago.”

“Aw, our doll believes she can lie to us, Buck,” Steve flashed you a stunning smile. “We know that you wanted to look pretty for us, Y/N. It’s not a bad thing you want to impress us. We did the same. Bucky spent two hours in his closet to find the perfect suit only to drive to town and buy a new one.”

“Steve did the same,” Bucky grabbed a chair and moved it closer to your seat. “He just likes to make everyone believe he looks good in everything without effort, including a potato sack.”

Steve grinned and ran one hand down his chest. “I’d rock that potato sack, Barnes. You know that.”

“I bet you would,” you murmured while eyeing Steve. He looked damn good in his suit and knew it. Men like him and Bucky always know how handsome they are. “You’re both very handsome.”

“Baby, you don’t have to stroke Steve’s ego,” Bucky moved his hand to your thigh to tickle your skin. “It’s already over the top. How about you stroke mine.”

“I think yours is over the top too,” you replied and gave him a tiny smirk before clearing your throat. “So…can we talk about the job now? You got me fired last night.”

“Straight to the point. I like it,” Steve grabbed the remaining chair and moved closer to yours too. He sat down only to place his hand on your other thigh. “We need someone to take care of our paperwork for our more legal business.”

“We need someone we can trust. Steve and I are rather bored when doing office work. You on the other hand have a lot of experience,” Bucky toyed with the hem of your dress while telling you more about the position you always dreamed of.

“How do you know about my work experience?”

“Baby doll, we are enchanted by you. This doesn’t mean we let a wolf in sheep’s clothing inside the inner circle of our business.” Steve pressed a soft kiss to your neck, making you sigh. “If you want the job, it’s yours.”

Bucky mirrored his partner. He pressed a soft kiss to your neck, lips nipping at the soft skin. “Oh, and the best is. You can bang your bosses…”

Tags in reblog.

#steve rogers #bucky barnes #mafia au #mobster!steve rogers #mobster!bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x reader x bucky barnes

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bellrose · 8 months ago

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A Kindness

Summary: Your brother has been lost to the flames at Rook’s Rest and the anxious whispers of the Court do not give any consolation. However, the words of a knight in green do. How you wish you could give him a kindness in return.

Gwayne Hightower x female reader

Warnings: Angst. Loss of a family member. Descriptions of injuries by dragon fire

Word count: 2.615

The host had returned to Kings Landing with a fanfare akin to a funeral march.

The flies buzzing like bees amongst the rotten flesh of Meleys a song for the dead. Vhagar had been there on the battlefield, the King himself fallen from the sky, and the hope you held close to your heart and in prayer had been a child’s dream.

Your brother isn’t among the men climbing stiffly from their horses. Nor the men carrying the banners with their ragged edges, specks of rusty brown marring the King’s crest. He won’t drink with his fellow brothers in arms, revelling together in their victory until the cups double in their quantity. He will never smile again. A crooked smile, for he had lost a tooth during a tourney right before attaining knighthood.

No, he will never return.

You’d known when Father received the raven and his hands shook to hold the message. The sight of Meleys’ severed head being paraded through the streets a finality. It is an omen, the folks whispered to themselves. For who dares to slay such a formidable creature? Your brother laid rotting like the mighty beast and the hapless mass of fallen soldiers. Overlooked by Sisters guiding them through their final hour, if they were lucky that is.

The dead don’t speak. They wait to be reunited with their families. Or to be lost in a field.

Nameless. Forgotten.

Turned black like coal at the bottom of the hearth they’d whisper. Faces molten into an eternal scream they'd hush behind fans flapping away the noon sun. I heard they fed the remains of those poor boys to one of those beasts, for the sheep had fled. How awful!

There are others who share your grief, who barely leave the Sept or gorge themselves on any rumour that might bring reprieve. The Ladies of the Court give you their pity, their condolences, though it is half-hearted and they refuse to look upon you truly. You do not blame them.

Rumours cannot explain the seven hells that had opened up on those grounds, and with the King’s condition a barely kept secret, they grow less sensical by the day.

Father would know, for he wakes up with a tome in his hand and an age old tale on his tongue. Surely he must know the truth? You wish he would speak to you, but he has thrown himself into his duties and refuses to receive you in his small chambers.

Ladies smile demurely and sip politely on sweet reds. They don’t scream. There are no more tears to cry. You’ve exhausted your grief to the point your eyes feel dry and brittle. Like parchment, and you wonder how long it will take until you, too, shall crumble underneath the dragon’s might.

“Lady Waye says the Queen has shadows underneath her eyes as deep as the night,” Edeva murmurs to your right, low enough that only your ears catch it. “That her whispering has returned tenfold.”

“I think her Queen’s Ladies in waiting should put their grave concerns into action instead of turning to gossiping,” you bite, a bit louder than intended, only it gets lost in the clamour of tinkling glasses and a bard playing the lute.

Edeva has been your companion, a good friend to turn to in the halls of the Keep, and you feel ashamed for pushing her aside. She tries to distract you by pointing out the dish full of lush summer fruits being set upon the table by a servant. However, the sight of their ripe, glossy skins makes you nauseous.

Without announcing your leave, you slide past the gowns and grapes further into the Keep. You have no destination in mind, other than it has to be anywhere but here.

The stairs blur beneath your heavy skirt. Every breath locked high in your throat. You turn a corner, another, the colourful tapestries twirling in your periphery. The stories they tell a mockery. A servant leaps out of your way. Another step of stairs, and then - the sound you keep hidden escapes into a shocked huff when you collide against something solid.

A hand grabs your wrist to steady you, warm through the dark brocade.

It does not take long to recognize who stands before you. The tower spewing flames engraved on the leather doublet telling enough. His ruddy hair brings forth the invitation to a dance, that same hand guiding you over gleaming stone to the cacophony of a summer ball away in the past. Father telling another tale of a tourney. That dreadful day when the Stranger took Queen Aemma and her newborn son, when Prince Daemon drove him to the ground on his black steed.

You will never claim to know him well. Only a flash of red and green through the years when your paths crossed before taking residence in the Red Keep. Like so many faces he is out of your reach, a familiarity, but not an acquaintance.

Ser Gwayne Hightower's face does not bear any scars of Daemon’s lance. These are the nicks and scratches of a different battle.

He had been there. He had stood on the field where your brother met his grisly demise.

“Apologies Ser,” you whisper, voice cracking around the syllables. You retract your hand and slowly bow your head and knees in curtsy.

“The apologies are all mine, my Lady. The halls of the Keep are mighty. I fear my feet get lost in their splendour,” he says, the hint of a smile on his face a tad tight-lipped.

The steps of the seat of the Hightowers can be more daunting, and the structure itself grander than the Red Keep could ever be. You feel there is more to the white lie, a contempt.

There is a horror hidden in the ashes stubbornly clinging to the grooves and fibres of his clothing. His face has been scrubbed clean on the road, but the dirt of travel still sticks in his hairline, a little smudge behind his ear. You imagine you can smell it, even if leather and the natural musk of men try to hide it so. The stench of dragon fire; of burnt flesh and desperation, of loss - and if you cannot smell it you can see it in his eyes.

Gwayne does not possess the doe brown of the Dowager Queen. His eyes shine brighter. Like the precious gems Lady Nelda likes to wear around her neck whenever the occasion arises. On another day they would have been inquisitive. A bit haughty. Now they are exhausted. Duller. Something unsettling swirling in those depths. You are hit with a different kind of familiarity, one of understanding.

“My Lady,” he bows.

The moment is gone. Gwayne averts his gaze to a point further down the hallway and you wish he would look upon you again.

The knight in green has taken but a few steps before you find your voice.

“My brother... Ser, I-”

He halts. The expression on his face is a mystery, though his shoulders stiffen.

“Was he in the company at Rook’s Rest?" he asks lowly.

Your nails bite in the palm of your hands. “Yes. He was.”

Gwayne turns back around. A scrutiny in those dimmed gems when they rove from your balled fists to your face, and you cannot start to guess what he finds there. The despair bottling inside overflows into a torrent.

“The men- They say dragon fire melts the flesh like wax. Turns the bones to dust, to scatter in the storm. That there is nothing left of their prey but soil to grow our gardens.” Something changes in his stance, the dullness receding and it encourages you even more. “Is that what is left of my brother? Dust? We cannot bury what is lost on the wind.”

“I do not know, my Lady.” Gwayne takes another step forward. “I do not know of the fate of your brother. I wish I could give you that amenity, to ease your mind.”

“Does it ease your mind, Ser?” you ask, aware how your tone is rising in pitch. Shrill. “To have witnessed the dragons dance and live to tell the tale?”

And how dare you pose such a question? When it is loud and clear he has witnessed the unspeakable that the fiery beasts left in their wake? But he is here, standing, breathing, and he sees.

“I wish it were that easy,” he answers, wavering before he rightens his shoulders, clenching his jaw. “We need to be brave, my Lady. Be brave for your brother. Be brave and find it on your own, as I cannot give you the solace you seek.”

“It is not solace that I seek. I-”

He cuts you off. “You want answers. You want an elaborate summation of his gruesome faith, is that it?”

Gwayne takes another step forward, closer now, and you have to lift up your chin to follow. At first you believe it is rage that meets you, anger at your accusation. It is helplessness instead.

“Many good men died at the foredoor of Rook’s Rest. The dragons tear off each other’s limbs in the clouds, trampling them all underneath their feet and breath. What folly…”

He drifts off, his attention now on one of the many tapestries adorning the walls. A wry chuckle bursts from his lips. “It seems the many days on the road have disrupted my manners.”

“I fear there is no propriety in grief Ser,” you confess quietly.

Gwayne tilts his head sideways, considering your words, before he smiles once more. A real one this time, still edged in a shared sorrow, but it’s warmer.

“I guess not.”

“I do not know what I seek.”

“Then stop seeking.” His eyes find yours again, and his next words are spoken earnestly, kindly. “Do not tarnish what is the memory of your sibling, my Lady. He would have wished to be remembered whole, for then he cannot be lost to the winds.”

Gwayne grabs your right hand, unfolding the balled fist. His thumb stroking over the indents your nails left behind and turning the palm downward. His lips are warm when they touch your skin, lingering for a moment too long.

“A good day, my Lady.”

“Good day, Ser.”

You watch him go. Steady steps carrying him down the hallway. His words mulling over in your mind and for the first time in the past moon, ever since your brother left the Keep, you feel a peace.

The stone steps underneath the soles of your shoes are still a bit damp, the ground forth uneven where hoofs have trampled and disturbed the earth.

There’s a flurry of activity in the yard. Green with golden dragons on shields and banners, knights gleaming like silver coins rolling on a hardwood table. For a fleeting moment, you expect to see another face, one with a crooked smile who belongs only in your dreams now.

And then you see him.

Dressed in his armour bounding towards his horse, as if he cannot wait long enough to leave. As if Kings Landing is worse than what awaits outside its seven gates. Perhaps it was, or he would rather not delay the inevitable. And what is that? A quick death? No.

Ser Gwayne offered you a kindness with his understanding, and you wish to understand him in return. To offer something steady in a world that is tilting on its axis the longer the war continues.

Deep in the pocket between the fabrics of your skirt, your hand grasps the hidden piece of cloth. The stitches tickle your skin. It steadies you, dousing the nervous thoughts that have been following you all morning.

It’s not a handkerchief. Not in the traditional sense. You found it among the garments in the chest of your quarters. Dark green, almost blue, and the moment you touched it, an idea would not leave you alone.

The needle still feels clumsy at times between your finger tips, as you were never the patient pupil your mother had wished you to be and rather spent your time learning the harp, but the flowers they bore are delicate. Pretty. Refined. White petals with a core of deep orange; the colour of the sun peeking over the horizon. Your Septa would have been proud. Though, she would admonish the purpose behind it.

A kindness. Be brave.

It is that sentiment that moves you forward, past the guards standing sentry near the stairs and interweaving through the crowd filling the yard. His destrier, standing out with its magnificent armour, shining on the morrow, is in the hands of a squire. Gwayne does not see you coming, too busy speaking to the boy. Voice short and clipped.

“Ser Gwayne?”

The squire bows and runs off. Gwayne watches him go for a quick second before his gaze lands on your form. There’s surprise in the way his brows raise, the corner of his mouth turning up just so.

“My Lady,” he says, loosely gripping the reins of his horse. The destrier noses the pauldron at his shoulder. “How may I help you?”

Promise me to return all these men to their families, to come back, but that would be too much to ask and too forward, as if bestowing him with your needlework isn’t daunting enough.

“I sincerely regret not thanking you properly for what you said to me that day,” you state politely.

His head tilts down in understanding. The sun catches the red in his hair like honey. “Your regrets are misplaced. You do not need to thank me.”

“You misunderstand me Ser, I do.” Bolder now, you fish out the embroidered cloth from the hidden place of your dress. “You will be in my prayers, but please take this as a token of good fortune.”

He accepts the cloth mutely, brows rising further and gloved fingers studying the wreath of flowers you stitched along the edges. For a moment you fear the gift is too unbefitting after all, that the warmth that you had felt besides the kiss upon your hand a figment of your imagination. That he will reject it.

He’s quick to crush those doubts, but not quick enough to halt the blush of regret that is slowly blooming on your nape.

“I will cherish this gesture my Lady,” he says, eyes glittering. “But do not trouble yourself with concerns on my behalf, there are much more important matters to ponder.”

“This I cannot promise you Ser,” you answer honestly. “I’ll be awaiting your return.”

“That sight alone might make me forget the pungency these streets carry,” Gwayne parries, a hint of smugness that is purely in jest, and studies the cloth again. “White Lelas... They grow near Goldengrove, do they not?”

“Yes. My late mother used to put them in my crib when I was a mere babe, as my father tells me.” You think of the washed white stone of your grandfathers’ Keep and tall grasses holding a vast array of flowers. Too many to count. “I barely remember what they smell like, but I always thought they were quite charming.”

“Quite indeed,” Gwayne hums, though he is not looking at the cloth anymore. He turns towards his horse, looping it around a buckle on the saddle in a strong knot. The fabric will sway against his leg with every step the steed took. It will be with him when he confronts the enemies of the Crown.

A memory, a constant.

“I hope the day will be upon us soon my Lady,” he says and the kiss on the back of your hand is a farewell.

For now.

Did I purposefully mirror the phrasing of “turned to dust” from Cole's we're-all-going-to die-anyway spiel for possible parallels and continuation purposes? Why, yes. Maybe. It was never my intention to write this anyway but the brainrot is real. Damn you, Freddie!

Thank you for reading

#gwayne hightower #gwayne hightower x reader #gwayne x reader #hotd fic #hotd #house of the dragon #rose's fics

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frost-queen · 7 months ago

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Till it bites you back // part 5 (Male!Reader x Eloise Bridgerton)

Forever tag:@missmelodramatic , @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22 , @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers , @merlieve , @queen-of-books , @glimmering-darling-dolly ,@denkisclown , @wildieflower ,@meyocoko , @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl , @m-rae23 , @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr , @swampthing07 , @melsunshine @panhoeofmanyfandoms , @venomsvl , @the-uncoordinated-house-cat ,@rosecentury , @imagines-by-her , @evilcr0ne , @vviolynn , @niktwazny303 ,@avada-kedavra-bitch-187 , @markive-m , @thethreeeyed-raven , @anonymous-cat-21 , @lord-lyss , @nameless-flowerr , @hipsternerd9 , @kookietunes07 , @dd122004dd , @ryv-viv , @aquilla6077, @sauron559, @cluelessteam. @czarinera , @korane06 , @luvinyouwasred123, @snakebite-21

Summary: A sudden house call, freaks the Bridgertons out. Out for a stroll, you hope Eloise would be comfortable enough around you certainly now that you have set your mind on courting her. [Series]

Hyacinth gapsed loud, running up to the window. Coming to sit at the windowsill, glueing her face to the window. - "A carriage is stopping at our house." - she called out in excitement. Gregory rushed over to her, trying to shove her away.

Starting to bicker about it. Nudging each other in the side, a push in one's face here and there. Benedict jumped up joining them by the window. He shoved their heads aside with a giddy smile. - "That is a royal carriage." - he pointed out.

Looking over his shoulder to his mother with a smirk. Violet's eyes lit up as she glanced to her daughter sitting beside her. Her entire face lighting up as her hand went down on Eloise's knee. - "What?" - Eloise called out, slouched in the sofa with her arms crossed. - "A royal carriage my darling." - Violet clearified with a cheeky glance. Eloise looked away with a puff. - "Who says it's even him." - she responded. Benedict grinned at her, hand pressed on the window.

"Oh, it is him sister." - he said teasingly. Eloise's eyes widened. Violet stood up with fear in her eyes. - "Dear lords." - she called out in a panic. Clapping in her hands she urged Hyacinth and Gregory away from the window. They rushed away, coming to sit in the sofa. - "He's coming up the doorway." - Benedict called out as Violet let out a yelp of panic. Violet tapped Eloise hard to sit properly.

Benedict moved away from the window. Spinning around mindlessly to think of where he would position himself. Violet orchestrated to Hyacinth to stop pestering her brother and be perfectly still. Benedict settled for the fireplace, leaning against it with his arm. Gregory had taken a book pretending to read it. Violet flattened her dress. The knock on the door made her sit down quickly. The door opened as you were announced. Entering to witness a picture perfect painting.

Everyone looking curious your way, making you feel observed. Violet got up to welcome you. You bowed to her as it made her stare bewildered back. - "Welcome your royal highness." - she said with a curtsy. She cleared her throat loud as her children got up, curtsying or bowing to you. - "We are honoured to have you in our presence, your royal highness." - " she continued warmly.

Reaching back for her daughter, she took Eloise's arm, shoving her to the front. Eloise shot her mother a glare before smiling sheepishly at you. You took her hand bringing it to your lips to kiss them gently. It left Eloise flustered, making Benedict snort loud. Gregory stomped on his foot to silence him. Benedict pressing his lips together to supress a yell. - "Please be welcome, your royal highness." - Violet gestured at the sofa's.

"If you do not mind Lady Bridgerton, I would like to accompany miss Eloise for a walk on this fine day." - you proposed. Violet giggled brightly. - "What a wonderful idea your royal highness." - she answered. You offered Eloise your arm as she gladly took it. With Violet right behind you. Benedict, Hyacinth and Gregory rushed to the window once you had left the drawing room. Wanting to see the departure.

Hyacinth sighed dreamy at the window. - "I want to marry a prince." - she said dreamingly. - "If anyone even wants to marry you." - Gregory teased in a tone of mockery. It made Hyacinth punch him in the armpit. Benedict needing to pull them apart with a deep sigh. Eloise quirked her eyebrow up, looking curious around. Before her question could even be spoken appeared Claude from behind the carriage. Following in line just 6 steps behind you.

Eloise gave Claude a comforting smile as he tilted his head in return with a nod. Violet walked in pace with Claude, admiring her daughter and the prince. - "How have you been miss Eloise?" - you asked to deafen out the silence. - "Oh." - Eloise chuckled nervously out. - "Very well your royal highness." - she answered. Looking away with mockery at herself for sounding so fabricated.

When she looked back at you it was with a nervous laugh. It made you clear your throat, looking away. Something had changed the tension and you didn't like it. Ever since you proclaimed to her you'd want to court her, everything has been awkward. Sometimes you wished it was like before where she was at ease around you. Violet and Claude shared a nervous glance. Guiding Eloise on her stroll towards the park.

Wanting to get away from the streets. Having noticed several eyes focus on you, pointing and whispering. No doubt an appearance would be made in Whistledown's morning's edition. The four of you neared the park as you felt her arm tense a bit around yours. - "Are you comfortable enough? If you'd rather return home I understand." - you told her, wanting to keep her as comfortable as possible.

Eloise turned her gaze up to you. - "I am comfortable." - she replied untensing her muscles. You gestured to a bench as Eloise nodded. She let go of your arm, sitting down. You came sitting down beside her. Hands nervously rubbing over your knees. - "Miss Eloise the last thing I want to be is intimidating to you." - you said. - "Oh but you are n..." - she answered turning more towards you. You didn't let her finish as you wanted her to feel herself around you.

"Please just see me as normal Y/n. Plain Y/n who simply enjoys being outdoors with a girl he likes." - you continued as Eloise's cheeks flushed red. She looked bashful away. To set an example, you leaned back on the back. Sinking a bit down to slouch. Eloise laughed loud as it made you smile. Violet looked at Claude with a spark of hope. Exhaling deep, you gazed upon the lake. - "Magnificent." - you let out at the beautiful scenery.

"It is even more beautiful with you here." - you went on making her smile. Eloise took a deep breath, coming loose. Before you knew it she was talking to you with passion about some subject. Violet stared in horror at her for being such a waterfall with no filter. You chuckled, listening carefully as you loved that about her.

Claude cleared his throat after an hour that it was time. You got up as Eloise followed. The four of you returning to her home. By your carriage you took her hand once more to kiss it. - "I enjoyed today your royal highness." - Eloise spoke with a smile.

"As did I. Shame it has been short." - you responded. She hummed loud. - "I would've loved to hear more about you." - Eloise answered. - "How about an invitation to my home?" - you suggested as Eloise's gaze widened with a slight shock.

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Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

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thereddestfox · 2 years ago

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It was @natalieironside 's amazing The Last Girlscout, became my hyper focus a December or two ago. Would highly recommend the supplementary book Lead and Roses too.

What was the last thing you read/watched that made you feel like this? I think for me it's each time I rewatch the Good Place haha

#haven't read her third book 'Spider Fuckers Anonymous'#it's sitting on my hdd but adhd wants to fight me about it #the actual title is 'In the Court of the Nameless Queen' if whoever sees this is into trans oviposition

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scriptstructure · 3 months ago

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!! NSFW WARNING !! Hey, I totally understand if you don't want to answer this I've been trying to write smut. Specifically, an orgy with ~15 characters with ~7 of them having more focus. Things are happening at the same time and partners/groups are changed all the time and not together i.e. a single person finishes and just joins somewhere else. I don't know how/when to start switching who/which group to write about or even backtrack to a different group. It's rather jumbled up now.

I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to writing sex scenes, is:

Sex scenes are action sequences

We are developing a series of acts between a number of characters, and we hope to do a number of things:

There is an arc of action, beginning at the beginning point, moving though the action, and a crescendo & denoument

Who did what -/With whom -/and where

Give a sense of mood, theme, and continuity with the rest of the story (or, jarring discontinuity, if that's what you're using it for)

and so on, as with any other action scene

So, as we do with any kind of action sequence, we need to figure out the order of events, the way that we want to feel about those events*, and the time we're going to take to show all of this.

First up, you probably want to think about how central this scene is to your story. Is it a major incident, or a minor incident? ie, do we want to spend a lot of page space and detail on it, or is it something that just needs to be glossed over in a few paragraphs, just so we know that it happened?

This is going to change depending on what you're trying to do with the sex scene, and what your story is about.

Second up, the 'blocking' or figuring out the choreography of the scene. Who is where, what are they doing, and with whom. You can probably figure out a skeleton outline, just so that you can be sure that characters have time to participate in each scenario that you're including them in. (This is also a good time to think about the pace and rhythm of the scene--are there going to be snack breaks, lulls in the action, time for characters to catch their breath, etc)

If you're having trouble thinking of how to shift focus between different groupings, think about when and why the characters decide to move on from what they're doing to join someone else. Or about how what each group is doing might change the vibe of the scene.

Then, we'll think about mood. The mood can shift throughout the scene, eg frantic/ high energy->slow/ romantic->lazy/sated, or nervous->focussed->confident, whatever the emotional beats and journeys that you want to show.

Mood is also something which is going to lend a great deal to the scene in terms of communicating what it is for** in the story. Is this scene a way of showing the group dynamic, or of exploring individual character's psychology, or illustrating a cultural norm, or of celebrating a victory, or any other thing that it could be about. These characters are having sex, why are they doing that, and what does it mean in the context of the narrative.

So now we know that we need to have an understanding of what the purpose of this scene is in the overall narrative, what exactly happens and in what order, what sort of mood we're trying to evoke with this scene, and what other things we might be learning about character/ place/ culture through this scene.

Next, what about some examples of books that use sex scenes with more or less complex staging to develop various plots and themes:

In the Court of the Nameless Queen by Natalie Ironsides->exploration of gender and identity, with both orgy scenes and couple scenes

Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite/ Billy Martin->this is a horror novel featuring two serial killers falling in love, look up some content warnings if that sounds like it isn't for you

Leash by Jane Delynn-> a classic of lesbian weirdo-erotica, about societal alienation and BDSM

Some posts about plotting and POV that might be useful:

Multiple plots with different character groups [HERE] Multiple plots that converge at the end [HERE] Multiple plots and subplots [HERE] Multiple POV characters and narrative shape [HERE] Third person POV and focalisation 'depth' [HERE] First person POV strengths and limitations [HERE]

I hope that's helpful! If there's anything that needs clarifying, please don't hesitate to ask again!

-Mason

*note: you might think that I'd say that we're assuming that people should read the sex scene to get horny about it, but that is just one option of many, and while it has its place, there are far more things that you can do with a sex scene

**note: I also do want to be clear that there's nothing wrong with writing sex scenes explicitly for the horny factor. That, traditionally, is one of the major reasons to include sex scenes in a story. But I do think that more narrative weight makes a sex scene more memorable and interesting.

#Anonymous #writing sex scenes

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queercontrarian · 4 days ago

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Sacrifice

In her third and last trial, Feyre kills two faeries. One pleads for his life, the other prays. Who were they?

for @nameless-acotar-weekend day 1: significance

The Male

A fae from the Dawn Court, youngest son of a wealthy merchant. When Amarantha takes over, his father agrees to continue his trade in Amarantha's name to get her whatever she wants from the Continent in exchange for relative freedom. Only the youngest son is kept Under the Mountain as collateral. And when his family does not return after their latest trip to Xian, the High Queen is quick to let him feel the consequences.

The Female

A priestess of the Autumn Court. Raised in a temple near the Forest House, she has served three High Lords faithfully. However her loyalty is first and foremost to the Mother, and her oath as a healer bids her to break Amarantha's rules Under the Mountain many times to help her fellow prisoners. When she is eventually betrayed by a fearful witness, the punishment is death.

(Disclaimer: I remember like, nothing about their descriptions from the book so don't come at me)

#ACOTARUnnamed2025

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nalyra-dreaming · 9 months ago

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Is there any sort of supporting vampire index? I read the first five books back in high school and have been slowly making my way through the entire series (currently mid merrick) this year. But recently it feels like every other day someone brings up an important character from the later books that already appeared, or was implied in the show.

Nonny, you're in luck :)

Anne herself provides us with one in "Prince Lestat" and in "Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis" :) Obviously the short descriptions refer to the book versions. I would take note of Sevraine (who is Gabrielle's implied girlfriend later on!), Seth and especially Fareed, and definitely Rhoshamandes and Amel here. Gregory, too. And Viktor (whose summary does not contain the reveal btw) and Rose. These at the very least :) - let me know if you want to know more details!

I'll paste the character list from PLatRoA here! SPOILERS though - so under the cut!

Characters and Places in the Vampire Chronicles

Akasha—Queen of ancient Egypt six thousand years ago, and the first vampire ever created, through a merger with the spirit Amel. The story is told in The Vampire Lestat and in The Queen of the Damned.

Allesandra—A Merovingian princess, daughter of King Dagobert I, brought into the Blood in the seventh century by Rhoshamandes. First introduced in The Vampire Lestat as a mad nameless vampire living with the Children of Satan under Les Innocents Cemetery in Paris. She also appears in The Vampire Armand in the Renaissance where she is named, and later in Prince Lestat and Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis.

Amel—A spirit who created the first vampire six thousand years ago by merging with the body of the Egyptian Queen Akasha. The story is told in The Vampire Lestat and in The Queen of the Damned. Prince Lestat and Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis continue the story of Amel.

Antoine—A French musician exiled from Paris to Louisiana and brought into the Blood by Lestat around the middle of the nineteenth century. Referred to as “the musician” in Interview with the Vampire. Later appears in Prince Lestat and Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis. A talented violinist and pianist and composer.

Arion—A black vampire of ancient times introduced in Blackwood Farm. At least two thousand years old, perhaps older. Possibly from India.

Arjun—A prince of the Chola dynasty in India, brought into the Blood by Pandora around 1300. Appears in Blood and Gold and also in Pandora.

Armand—One of the pillars of the Vampire Chronicles. Armand is a Russian from Kiev, sold into slavery as a boy, and made a vampire in Renaissance Venice by the Vampire Marius. He is introduced in Interview with the Vampire, and appears in numerous novels in the Vampire Chronicles, telling his own story in The Vampire Armand. The founder of the coven at Trinity Gate in New York. Armand maintains a house in Paris in Saint-Germain-des- Prés, which functions as the Paris Court for Prince Lestat.

Avicus—An Egyptian vampire who first appears in Marius’s memoir, Blood and Gold. Appears again in Prince Lestat.

Benedict—A Christian monk of the seventh century in France, brought into the Blood by Rhoshamandes. Benedict is the vampire from whom the alchemist Magnus stole the Blood, a theft described in The Vampire Lestat. Appears in Prince Lestat and Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis as Rhoshamandes’s companion and lover.

Benji Mahmoud—A twelve-year-old Palestinian Bedouin boy, brought into the Blood by Marius in 1997. Benji originates the vampire radio station heard round the world in Prince Lestat. Resides at Trinity Gate in New York and sometimes at the Court of Prince Lestat in France. First appears in The Vampire Armand when he is living in New York with his companion, Sybelle.

Bianca Solderini—Venetian courtesan brought into the Blood by Marius in Blood and Gold around 1498.

Château de Lioncourt—Lestat’s ancestral castle in the Massif Central in France, splendidly restored and the home of the new dazzling and glamorous Court of the Vampires with its orchestra, theater, and frequent formal balls. The adjacent village, including an inn and a church and several shops, has also been restored to house mortal workers and visitors to the Château.

Children of Satan—A network of medieval vampire covens, populated by vampires who sincerely believed they were children of the Devil, doomed to roam the world in rags, accursed, feeding on the blood of innocent humans to do the Devil’s will. Their most famous covens were in Rome and in Paris. The coven kidnapped many of the fledglings of Rhoshamandes until he finally left France to get away from them. And the Children of Satan in Rome spelled catastrophe for Marius and his great Venetian household in the Renaissance. Armand told of his experiences with the Children of Satan in The Vampire Armand.

Chrysanthe—A merchant’s widow from the Christian city of Hira, brought into the Blood by Nebamun, newly risen and named Gregory in the fourth century. Wife of Gregory. Introduced, along with Gregory, in Prince Lestat.

Cimetière des Innocents—An ancient cemetery in the city of Paris until it was destroyed near the end of the eighteenth century. Underneath this cemetery lived the Coven of the Children of Satan, presided over by Armand, which is described by Lestat in The Vampire Lestat. Referred to in the novels as “Les Innocents.”

Claudia—An orphan of five or six years old, brought into the Blood around 1794 by Lestat and Louis in New Orleans. Long dead. Her story is told in Interview with the Vampire. Later appears as a spirit in Merrick, though the appearance is suspect.

Cyril—An ancient Egyptian vampire, maker of Eudoxia in Blood and Gold, and named for the first time in Prince Lestat. Age unknown.

Daniel Molloy—The nameless “boy” interviewer in Interview with the Vampire. Brought into the Blood by Armand in The Queen of the Damned. Also appears in Blood and Gold living with Marius. Also in Prince Lestat.

David Talbot—Introduced as an elderly member of the Talamasca, an order of psychic detectives, in The Queen of the Damned. Becomes an important character in The Tale of the Body Thief, and also solicits Pandora’s story from her in Pandora. A pillar of the Vampire Chronicles.

Davis—A black dancer from Harlem, a member of the Fang Gang, brought into the Blood by Killer sometime in 1985. Introduced in The Queen of the Damned. Further described in Prince Lestat.

Eleni—A survivor of the Children of Satan who helps found the Théâtre des Vampires in Paris in the eighteenth century; corresponds with the Vampire Lestat after he leaves Paris to travel the world. A fledgling of Rhoshamandes made a vampire in the early Middle Ages.

Enkil—Ancient King of Egypt, husband of the great Queen Akasha, the second vampire to be brought into existence. His story is told in The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned.

Everard de Landen—A fledgling of Rhoshamandes from the early Middle Ages who first appears in Blood and Gold and is named in Prince Lestat.

Fareed—Anglo Indian by birth, a physician and researcher, brought into the Blood by Seth to be a healer and researcher of the vampires. A major character introduced in Prince Lestat.

Flannery Gilman—An American female medical doctor, biological mother of Viktor, and brought into the blood by Fareed and Seth. Part of their medical and research team working with the Undead.

Flavius—A Greek vampire, a slave purchased by Pandora in the city of Antioch and brought into the Blood by Pandora in the early centuries of the Common Era.

Gabrielle—Lestat’s mother, a noblewoman of breeding and education, brought into the Blood by her own son in 1780 in Paris. A wanderer who dresses in male attire. A familiar figure in the background throughout the Vampire Chronicles.

Gregory Duff Collingsworth—Known as Nebamun in ancient times, a lover of Queen Akasha and made a blood drinker by her to lead her Queens Blood troops against the First Brood. Known today as Gregory, owner of a powerful pharmaceutical empire in the modern world. Husband of Chrysanthe.

Gremt Stryker Knollys—A powerful and mysterious spirit who has created for himself over time a physical body that is a replica of a human body. Connected with the founding of the secret Order of the Talamasca. Introduced in Prince Lestat.

Hesketh—A Germanic cunning woman, brought into the Blood by Teskhamen in the first century. Now a ghost who has managed to produce a physical body for herself. Also connected with the origins of the secret Order of the Talamasca. Introduced in Prince Lestat.

Jesse Reeves—An American woman of the twentieth century, a blood descendant of the ancient Maharet and brought into the Blood by Maharet

herself in 1985 in The Queen of the Damned. Jesse was also a mortal member of the Talamasca and worked with David Talbot in the Order.

Khayman—An ancient Egyptian vampire, made by Queen Akasha, and rebelling against her with the First Brood. His story is told in The Queen of the Damned.

Killer—An American male vampire, founder of the Fang Gang in The Queen of the Damned. Of unknown history or origin.

Lestat de Lioncourt—The hero of the Vampire Chronicles, made a vampire by Magnus near the end of the eighteenth century, the maker of a number of vampires, including Gabrielle, his mother; Nicolas de Lenfent, his friend and lover; Louis, the narrator of Interview with the Vampire; and Claudia, the child vampire. Presently known as Prince Lestat by one and all.

Louis de Pointe du Lac—The vampire who started the Vampire Chronicles by telling his story to Daniel Molloy in Interview with the Vampire, an account of his own origins, which differs in some ways from Lestat’s own account in The Vampire Lestat. A French colonial plantation owner made a vampire by Lestat in 1791. Appears most prominently in the first Chronicle, and in Merrick, and in Prince Lestat and Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis.

Magnus—An elderly medieval alchemist who stole the Blood from a young vampire, Benedict, in France. The vampire who kidnapped and brought Lestat into the Blood in 1780. Now a ghost, sometimes appearing solid, and at other times as an illusion.

Maharet—One of the oldest vampires in the world, twin to Mekare. The twins are known for their red hair and their power as mortal witches. Made at the dawn of Vampire History, they are rebels leading the First Brood against Queen Akasha and her Queens Blood vampires. Maharet is beloved for her wisdom and for following all of her mortal descendants through the ages all over the world, whom she called the Great Family. Maharet tells her story—the story of the twins—in Queen of the Damned. She also figures in Blood and Gold and in Prince Lestat.

Marius—A pillar of the Vampire Chronicles. A Roman patrician who is kidnapped by the Druids and brought into the Blood by Teskhamen in the first century. Marius appears in The Vampire Lestat and numerous other books, including his own memoir, Blood and Gold. A vampire known for reason and gravitas. Much loved and admired by Lestat and others.

Mekare—Maharet’s twin sister, the powerful red-haired witch who communed with the invisible and potentially destructive spirit Amel, who later went into the body of Queen Akasha, creating the first vampire. The story of Mekare and Maharet is first told by Maharet in The Queen of the Damned. Mekare figures in Blood and Gold and in Prince Lestat.

Memnoch—A powerful spirit claiming to be the Judeo-Christian Satan. He tells his story to Lestat in Memnoch the Devil.

New Orleans—Figures prominently in the Vampire Chronicles as the home of Louis, Lestat, and Claudia for many years during the nineteenth century, at

which time they resided in a townhouse in the Rue Royale in the French Quarter. This house still exists and is in the possession of Lestat today, as it has always been. It was in New Orleans that Lestat encountered Louis and Claudia and made them vampires.

Notker the Wise—A monk and a musician and a composer brought into the Blood by Benedict around A.D. 880, maker of many boy-soprano vampires and other vampire musicians yet unnamed. Living in the Alps. Introduced in Prince Lestat.

Raymond Gallant—A faithful mortal scholar of the Talamasca, a friend to the Vampire Marius, presumed dead in the sixteenth century. Appears again in Prince Lestat.

Rhoshamandes—A male from ancient Crete, brought into the Blood at the same time as the female Sevraine, about five thousand years ago. A powerful and reclusive vampire obsessed with operatic music and performances, and the lover of Benedict. Lives in his castle on the island of Saint Rayne in the Outer Hebrides, traveling the world from time to time to see different operas in the great opera houses.

Rose—An American girl, rescued as a small child by Lestat from an earthquake in the Mediterranean around 1995. His ward. Lover and later spouse of Viktor. Introduced in Prince Lestat.

Saint Alcarius, Monastery of—The secret residence of Gremt, Teskhamen, and other supernatural elders of the Talamasca in France, near the Belgian border.

Saint Rayne— The island on which Rhoshamandes lives. Santino—An Italian vampire made during the time of the Black Death.

Longtime Roman coven master of the Children of Satan. Presumed dead.

Seth—The biological son of Queen Akasha, brought into the Blood by her after a youth of roaming the ancient world in search of knowledge in the healing arts. He is introduced in Prince Lestat and is the maker of Fareed and Flannery Gilman.

Sevraine—A remarkably beautiful Nordic female vampire, made by Nebamun (Gregory) against Akasha’s rules. Sevraine maintains her own underground court in the Cappadocian Mountains. A friend to female vampires. Introduced in Prince Lestat.

Sybelle—A young American pianist, beloved friend of Benji Mahmoud, and Armand, brought into the Blood by Marius in 1997. Introduced in The Vampire Armand.

The Talamasca—An ancient order of psychic detectives or researchers, dating back to the Dark Ages—an organization of mortal scholars who observe and record paranormal phenomena. Their origins are shrouded in mystery until they are revealed in Prince Lestat. They have Motherhouses in Amsterdam and outside of London, and retreat houses in many places, including Oak Haven in Louisiana. First introduced in The Queen of the Damned and

figuring in many Chronicles since. Vampires Jesse Reeves and David Talbot were mortal members of the Talamasca.

Teskhamen—Ancient Egyptian vampire, the maker of Marius as told by Marius in The Vampire Lestat. Presumed dead until modern times. Connected with the origins of the Talamasca. First named in Prince Lestat.

Théâtre des Vampires—A boulevard theater of the macabre, created by the refugees from the Children of Satan, funded by Lestat, and managed for decades by Armand, who had once been the coven master of the Children of Satan.

Thorne—A red-haired Viking vampire, made centuries ago in Europe by Maharet. Introduced in Blood and Gold.

Trinity Gate—A coven dwelling made up of three identical townhouses just off Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of New York. Armand is the founder of Trinity Gate. And it functions now as the American Court of Prince Lestat.

Viktor—An American boy, biological son of Dr. Flannery Gilman. His story is revealed in Prince Lestat. Lover and later spouse of Rose, Lestat’s ward.

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