#marquis brown
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jennicatzies · 5 months ago
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Side doodle while figuring out how to draw Washington part N
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alissa-xyz · 1 year ago
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— This is how you resolve the situation? Duelo with the Baba Yaga. Failure will shake the foundation of the High Table and it will turn Wick into a saint.
"My victory will do the opposite."
HIS TONGUE SHENANIGANS STRIKE AGAIN!!!
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milkbreadtoast · 1 year ago
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posting in case ppl havent seen this before..!! official idol au art... this is one of my fav things ever i screamed for like a good 5 hrs when i first saw this... EDIT: ok so this was official art for april fools day 2022!!!
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diioonysus · 1 year ago
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dogs + art
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kavalyera · 1 year ago
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love how john wick actors always serve when they’re on set. so good at body language and understanding their characters so much<33
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floofyquenchiest · 3 months ago
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Since it's Laff's bday, I might drop my first album ever today of remixed song of him!! :3
I have 2 tracks rn, including this one, but the total will be 3!
Haven't shared this one yet, but it's more Hamilton speedcore >:33
One of my favorites I made!!
Remixed from - The Quick Brown Fox - SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING (Negaren Remix)
If anyone wants the .WAV, pls tell me in the comments.
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nkp1981 · 2 years ago
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Meet the cast of John Wick: Chapter 4:
Keanu Reeves as John Wick:
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Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King:
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Donnie Yen as Caine:
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Ian McShane as Winston:
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Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu:
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Bill Skarsgård as Marquis:
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Lance Reddick as Charon:
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Rina Sawayama as Akira:
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Shamier Anderson as Tracker:
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Clancy Brown as Harbinger:
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Scott Adkins as Killa:
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tobytheeggo · 8 months ago
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Here is the church, and here is the steeple
We sure are cute for two ugly people
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else
But you
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(Song: Anyone else but you - The moldy peaches)
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coolthingsguyslike · 2 years ago
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alissa-xyz · 1 year ago
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The number of bullets falling from their suits was comedy gold!
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communistkenobi · 2 years ago
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The term national socialism seems to have been invented by the French nationalist author Maurice Barrès, who described the aristocratic adventurer the Marquis de Morès in 1896 as the “first national socialist.” Morès, after failing as a cattle rancher in North Dakota, returned to Paris in the early 1890s and organised a band of antisemitic roughs who attacked Jewish shops and offices. As a cattleman, Morès found his recruits among slaughterhouse workers in Paris, to whom he appealed with a mixture of anti capitalism and antisemitic nationalism. His squads wore the cowboy garb and ten-gallon hats that the marquis had discovered in the American West, which thus predate black and brown shirts (by a modest stretch of the imagination) as the first fascist uniform.
this feels almost too on the nose to be a historical fact
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ourstaturestouchtheskies · 1 year ago
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taylor swift lyrics x colors x textiles in art – blue
Tim McGraw – Taylor Swift // Portrait of Marie-Joseph Peyre – Marie-Suzanne Giroust 💙 Tim McGraw – Taylor Swift // Lady in the Boudoir – Gustav Holweg-Glantschnigg 💙 A Place in This World – Taylor Swift // Portrait of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester – Jean-Étienne Liotard 💙 Dear John – Speak Now // Young Woman in a Blue Dress – Jacopo Negretti 💙 State of Grace – Red // Portrait of Mrs. Matthew Tilghman and her Daughter – John Hesselius 💙 Red – Red // An Unknown Man – Joseph Highmore 💙 All Too Well – Red // Portrait of a Man with a Quilted Sleeve – Titian 💙 Everything Has Changed – Red // Portrait of the Marquis de Saint-Paul – Jean-Baptiste Greuze 💙 Starlight – Red // Mrs. Richard Brown – John Hesselius 💙 Run – Red // Judith with the Head of Holofernes – Felice Ficherelli 💙 This Love – 1989 // Fair Rosamund – John William Waterhouse 💙 Delicate – Reputation // Miss Elizabeth Ingram – Joshua Reynolds 💙 Gorgeous – Reputation // Marguerite Hessein, Lady of Rambouillet de la Sablière – workshop of Henri and Charles Beaubrun 💙 Dancing with Our Hands Tied – Reputation // George Albert, Prince of East Frisia – Johann Conrad Eichler
Cruel Summer – Lover // Peter August Friedrich von Koskull – Michael Ludwig Claus 💙 Lover – Lover // Lady Oxenden – Joseph Wright of Derby 💙 Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince – Lover // Portrait of Ivan Ivanovich Betskoi – Alexander Roslin 💙 Paper Rings – Lover // Young Woman in a Blue Dress – Jacopo Negretti 💙 London Boy – Lover // Queen Henrietta Maria with Sir Jeffrey Hudson – Anthony van Dyck 💙 Afterglow – Lover // Portrait of Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn – Fyodor Rokotov 💙 Christmas Tree Farm – Christmas Tree Farm // Portrait of Mary Ruthven, Lady van Dyck – Anthony van Dyck 💙 invisible string – folklore // Two Altar Wings with the Visitation of Mary – unknown artist 💙 invisible string – folklore // Portrait of Madame de Pompadour – François Boucher 💙 peace – folklore // Fair Rosamund – John William Waterhouse 💙 hoax – folklore // Portrait of Charles le Normant du Coudray – Jean-Baptiste Perronneau 💙 coney island – evermore // Portrait of the Marquis de Saint-Paul – Jean-Baptiste Greuze 💙 Carolina – Carolina // Mrs. Daniel Sargent – John Singleton Copley 💙 Bejeweled – Midnights // Elsa Elisabeth Brahe – David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl 💙 The Great War – Midnights // Portrait of Françoise Marie de Bourbon – attributed to François de Troy 💙 Hits Different – Midnights // Mrs. Benjamin Pickman – John Singleton Copley
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kavalyera · 9 months ago
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scrolled through my photos too hard and my exhausted grandpa!harbinger & insane grandson!marquis just got confirmed so yeah im right once more
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diddyrivera · 11 months ago
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additional resources to marxist feminism:
living a feminist life by sara ahmed
the rise and decline of patriarchal systems by nancy folbre
this bridge called my back: writings by radical women of color by cherrie moraga and gloria anzaldua
delusions of gender: how our minds, society, and neurosexism create difference by cordelia fine
close to home: a materialist analysis to women's oppression by christine delphy
(pdf) the feminist standpoint: developing the ground for a specifically feminist historical materialism
(medium) on women as a class: materialist feminism and mass struggle by aly e
(sagejournals) capital and class: the unhappy moments of marxism and feminism: towards a more progressive union
(substack) the marxfem pulpit by abigail von maure (earth2abbs on tiktok)
if anything else related to marxist feminism, just let me know :)
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additional resources to eco feminism:
gossips, gorgons, and crones: the fates of the earth by jane caputi
parable of the sower by octavia e butler
neither man nor beast: feminism and the defense of animals by carol j. adams
bitch: on the female of species by lucy cooke
fresh banana leaves: healing indigenous landscapes through indigenous science by jessica hernandez
the intersectional environmentalist by leah thomas
right here, right now by natalie isaacs
feminism or death by francoise d'ealibonne
violent inheritance: sexuality, land, and energy in making the north american west by e cram
animal crisis: a new critical theory by alice grary
unsettling: surviving extinction together by elizabeth weinberg
land of women by maria sanchez
sexus animalis: there is nothing unnatural in nature by emmanuelle pouydebat
windswept: walking the paths of trailblazing women by annabel abbs
andrea smith - rape of the land
andy smith - ecofeminism through an anticolonial framework
carolyn marchant - nature as female
charlene spretnak - critical and constructive contributions of ecofeminism
heather eaton - ecological feminist theology
heather Eaton - The Edge of the Seat
janet abromovitz - biodiversity and gender Issues
joni Seager - creating a culture of destruction
karen warren - ecofeminism
karen warren - taking empirical data seriously
karen warren - the power and promise of ecological feminism
l. gruen - dismantling oppression
martha e. gimenez - does ecology need marx?
n. sturgeon - the nature of race
petra kelly - women and power
quinby - ecofeminism and the politics of resistance
rosemary radford ruether - ecofeminism: symbolic and social connections
sherry ortner - is female to male as nature is to culture?
sturgeon - the nature of race
val plumwood - feminism and ecofeminism
winona laduke - a society based on conquest cannot be sustained
if anyone has any other recommendations related to eco feminism, plz let me know :)
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additional resources related to trans feminism:
the empire strikes back: a posttransexual manifesto by sandy stone
(chicago journals) trapped in the wrong theory: rethinking trans oppression and resistance by talia mae bettcher
(philpapers.org) trans women and the meaning of woman by talia mae bettcher
the transgender studies reader by susan stryker and stephen whittle
if anyone has other recommendations related to trans feminism, plz let me know :)
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additional resources related to anarcha feminism:
the anarchist turn by jacob blumenfeld
we will not cancel us and other dreams of transformative justice by adrienne maree brown
burn it down: feminist manifestos for the revolution by breanne fahs
reinventing anarchy, again by howard ehrlich
anarcho-blackness by marquis bey
a little philosophical lexicon of anarchism from proudhon to deleuze by daniel colson and jesse cohn
joyful militancy by nick montgomery and carla bergman
wayward lives, beautiful experiments by saidiya v. hartman
we won't be here tomorrow and other stories by margaret killjoy
writing revolution by christopher j. castaneda
paradoxes of utopia by juan suriano
twelve fingers by jo soares
for a just and better world by sonia hernandez
if anyone has other recommendations related to anarcha feminism, plz let me know :)
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amaranthine-enihtnarama · 2 years ago
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Les Petits Morts (Marquis de Gramont x Assassin! F! Reader)
(Cat and mouse, do-they-want-to-kill-each-other-or-fuck-each-other, enemies to lovers, two psychotic mfers flirt)
taglist: @the-ice-frozen-ground-red-rose
warnings: freaky behavior, blood k!nk, knife play, violence, what y’all came for (🤨), reader is lowkey a brat hehe, marquis doms ofc bless up, mentions and brief moments of violence, build-up, more story than necessary probably. Romance⁉️
Part Two is here!
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Vincent de Gramont had made a grave miscalculation when it came to her. He knew the moment he’d laid eyes on her that he was in danger: her wide, brown eyes shining golden in the rising sun, her fragrant hair swooping over one shoulder, letting the skin of her neck catch the light, and, as she’d finally stepped before him, that haunting scent of jasmine and gardenias, the radiance and bohemian ease she exuded; he was immediately disarmed from the knowledge that she was a killer. She was a slippery figure, shrouded in mystery, in fear. No one knew where she came from, but everybody knew of the story of how she earned her freedom. A young girl, bloodthirsty, filled with fire, tearing open the throat of the Marquis to whom she had been promised, her bloody mouth pulled back to bare a glimmering smile in the face of her freedom. Still, she remained in her former line of work, even more dangerous with her years of being outside of The Table’s shadow.
La Belladonna is what they called her, and she gave no name. She smiled at him, gaze twinkling something wicked. He maintained composure, of course, but he couldn’t break away from that haunting, doe-eyed gaze of hers. He’d expected a woman, but not one like this. He’d imagined a savage before him based on the story that had always been told. Not someone so beautiful, so graceful…so enchanting.
“Bonjour, Marquis,��� she greeted, “I do hope you didn’t mind the early morning.”
“I did.”
She laughed, turning away and taking a seat against the wall.
“Well, that’s just too bad.”
She checked her nails; a crimson manicure. Her eyes flitted from it to him. He was confused by the expectation in her gaze. He’d never once seen that look in anyone’s eyes before (except, perhaps, from one of The Table).
“Won’t you have a seat,” she questioned.
He cleared his throat, glancing over to one of his men then slowly moving over to the barrel next to her. She admired the horses with a small subdued smile, then turned to him with a sigh. He surveyed her, unsure what to make of this so-called dangerous killer. He was quite sure he’d met worse. He moved to speak, but she cut him off.
“So, Marquis, why exactly do you require my services?”
“They say you’re the best,” he responded cooly.
Her lips curved into a bemused smile. “They say we’re all the best. Why me specifically?”
He gave a slight smile. “You are able to go unnoticed. Become invisible. I want someone invisible.”
“And why is that? Don’t you have Caine? He’s the best.”
His smile fell. Her eyes widened slightly with the thrill of his upset.
“What? That’s practically public information.”
“In that case, I suppose you already know the answer to your own question.”
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, my friend,” she corrected, tapping his nose with a slender cigarette holder and a bright smile, “I know you want John Wick dead, I know you want those aligned with him dead. But I know you not only have Caine, but the entirety of The Table’s resources at your disposal. You don’t need someone like me; you don’t require someone so subtle, it’s certainly not your style. You are fortunate enough to have to ability of using sheer force to achieve your goals.”
She took out a cigarette, placed it in the holder, then put in between her lips. Despite himself, he stole a glance at her mouth, taking in the slight purse of her lips as she lit her cigarette. He watched smoke puff from between them.
“So…what is it you want with me?”
He met her eyes, sitting back. “You’re very observant. Good job.”
Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance, creating a tiny crack in her mask. She gave a slight smile, blowing some of her cigarette smoke at his face.
“Hm.”
He stood, brushing his nose off. “You’re right. If we were looking at this in the short term, I don’t need someone like you. But I am not thinking of the short term.”
Her eyebrows rose in interest. “I’m not a kept puppy, Monsieur de Gramont. I’m sure you recall my exit from the Table. I wouldn’t recommend becoming my boss.”
His eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“For my price, I think you are.”
She held his gaze for a moment, finishing her cigarette. She tossed the butt onto the barrel, then gave a light chuckle, shaking her head in amusement.
“Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear.”
She stood, raking her fingers through her hair.
“I apologize, but I’m afraid I’ve wasted our time. I suggest getting some extra sleep while you can.”
Vincent watched her turn away with unease, swallowing as she started to leave. He shot a look to the men at the door, then walked after her. He moved to place a hand on her shoulder but she turned swiftly, pressing her cigarette holder into his chest, pushing him backward.
“Do not grab me, Monsieur. I cannot be bought. Only hired. I do not make deals, especially not with men like you. There is not a price you can name that would change my mind.”
“I’m quite sure the prices I can name are beyond anything you’ve heard before.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re quite arrogant, Gramont. It’s endearing, but not enough to hold my attention. Goodbye.”
Vincent watched as she turned to leave, but soon slowed down, then halted to a stop. A pressure lifted on his chest. She tilted her head, twirling the cigarette holder between her fingers.
“Do you really want to offer up two perfectly fine men for the slaughter? Just for a silly little price?”
“I would prefer to avoid bloodshed altogether, mademoiselle.”
She was silent for a moment.
“Whoever told you I am a patient woman was misled you, Gramont.”
He smiled. “Whoever told you I am a relenting man did the same.”
***
Milan, Italy.
Belladonna sat back in her chair, taking a long drag from her cigarette in its holder, crossing her legs with a smile. After several months of hide-and-seek with that pesky Marquis, she’d finally shaken off some the men he had tracking her, and killed the rest. Now, she finally felt like she could just breathe, sit back, relax, enjoy her espressos and afternoons by the sea, and then, when she fancied, a night at the opera. As luck would have it, they were performing her favorite; Madama Butterfly.
She poured herself a glass of champagne as the lights dimmed, and as she took a sip her phone buzzed. Her eyebrows drew together in annoyance; she made it clear to her team not to contact her, lest they risk her being tracked again by one of the…
She frowned, reading the text. It was in french, from a sender with no number.
The Italian sun has treated you well, Mademoiselle.
Her shoulders tensed, but she kept her cool. How did he find her? And why the hell did he follow her here? She was quite sure she’d made herself clear with the last two men she got rid of: do not bother me again, or you’ll end up looking just an mangled as them.
Darkness swallowed the theater as the curtains rose, and Belladonna felt a pit form in her stomach. She’d never felt so troubled by anyone as much as she had by this man. He was bull-headed and inescapable—with all of the ability in the world to keep her in his sights. Discretely, she glanced around the balconies in her view, but only saw strangers. Where was he? Where was the son of a bitch this time?
She put out her cigarette harshly, trying to keep her composure. After finishing her glass of champagne, she sent a message in response.
You’re toying with your life, Gramont.
I could say the same for you.
She rose an unimpressed eyebrow, twirling her cigarette holder between her fingers. She set her phone down with a heavy sigh. He just had to ruin everything, didn’t he? Bothering her during her jobs, and now during her time off. Her phone buzzed again. With a clench of her fist, she ignored it.
As she paid more attention to the opera, her mind wandered. Her six-foot-four shadow quickly evaporated into a tiny shadow in the back of her thoughts, and she admired the gorgeous costumes of the singers, the swelling and rhythm of the orchestra, and rested her cheek on her fist in awe as the soprano playing Madama Butterfly began her aria Un Bel di Vedremo.
She could remember the first time she’d heard it; she’d gotten it as a gift from a lover in a period of innocent youth that had become alien to her. The lover she lost as a sacrifice of that innocence. Despite herself, her eyes grew misty from the memory. She watched the soprano’s wistful gaze, the ghost of a smile on her lips, and as she reached the peak of the aria and the orchestra swelled, Belladonna could’ve sworn she could see the singer’s eye’s glistening along with hers.
The music of the aria faded out, and she quickly wiped her eyes as the lights of the house rose. She rose to her feet, glancing around again. Her heart jumped at the sight of a tall, brown haired man in a three-piece suit leaving one of the booths. She hesitated to get worked up—every man she’d laid her eyes on had a three-piece suit on, it didn’t have to be him. Maybe she was just in denial. Although she’d never want to say it, the Marquis was successfully beginning to wear her down.
She dialed a number on her phone. The call was answered before it could ring.
“Yes?”
“The Marquis is here in Milan. There may be some of his men at the opera house. Kill them, would you? Be thorough with it. Wherever they may be crawling about. And leave me a change.”
“Of course, right away, ma’am.”
She hung up, scanning the audience again before leaving her booth. She slipped into a women’s restroom, entering an out-of-service handicapped stall and quickly removing her dress and opening the duffel bag tucked between the toilet and the wall. It was a pity she wouldn’t get the pleasure of enjoying it, it was a lovely piece. She admired it on the hanger with a sigh, tugging on a bulletproof jumpsuit and zipping it up, adding elbow and knee pads. She laced up her black military boots, then unzipped the duffel bag, placed the dress and heels inside, and pulled out the pair of pistols under the false bottom, placing the magazines in the sides of her boots. She slid a pair of blade into hidden pockets in the lower back of the jumpsuit, then tugged on a beanie and a black face mask.
She pushed the duffel bag back in its spot, then stepped onto the toilet, opened the air vent, and with a hop, grabbed onto the ceiling and pulled her way up inside. Her knee and foot made dull impacts with the metallic interior of the vents as she pulled the door up.
She pulled out her phone, going through her messages to find the blueprints one of her navigators had sent. She stalled on a message from that numberless contact, the one she’d ignored before.
You look beautiful in that dress, Bella.
A frown formed on her face at the message. It wasn’t the first of these messages she’d read in these days. Messages occasionally complimented her ways of eluding him, how a pair of earrings complimented her honey brown complexion, how bloody a mess she’d left behind. Still, none were as direct as this one.
Beautiful, she thought. It conjured up an odd feeling, imagining him saying such a compliment. Perhaps if he wasn’t such a foolish nuisance, it might’ve even excited her a touch. She quickly went to the blueprint of the vents and started to crawl towards her escape.
After a sweaty fifteen minute excursion through the vents, Belladonna finally jumped down from a window and landed on a cushy pile of discarded wood. She didn’t allow even a grunt as she got to her feet and rounded the corner, finding a grey-suited body lying in a pool of her own blood a few feet away from her bike. Her cushy hotel was no longer an option, so she had to relent for the secondary location she’d had set up. The only bother would be the chilly night ride.
///
Montemarciano
She’d made it the country house by dawn, and the sun was preparing to break through the horizon. Exhaustion pulled on her limbs, demanding she collapse directly into the earth as she made her way to the door. She let her shoulders slump as she rested a hand on the door. This place was quite literally in the middle of nowhere. She’d made sure it was no registry or map. Yanking her beanie and mask off and taking a deep inhale of fresh, crisp air, she went for her key behind the false brick when a creak sounded inside the house. Belladonna froze, gripping the brick in her hand.
It couldn’t have been the Marquis, but it could’ve been someone else even more dangerous. She stayed in a crouch, crawling towards the back door and seeing it ajar. Her eyes widened, and she pulled out a pistol. Gently, she pushed the door open and slid inside, crouching against the wall like a statue, eyes scanning the living room. There weren’t many places for an intruder to hide.
In the blue light against the curtains, she watched a large figure pass through the room and right by her. The figure entered the bedroom, and Belladonna placed the brick down silently, getting onto her feet.
She slid through the door, watching the figure in the darkness. They sat at her desk, staring out of the modestly sized window as more blue light filtered through the linen curtains of the dark room. She flicked on the lamp. The figure turned and she fired without hesitation, watching as they tumbled to the floor. She leapt over the bed, planting a foot by the stranger’s head and placing her weight into the knee that she dug into their shoulder. The figure had covered their face with their arm and swiped it blindly at her, but she easily knocked it to the ground and trapped their wrist under the heel of her boot.
Cooly, she held the gun to their face, pressing harder on their wrist. A familiar voice swore, letting out a grunt. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Gramont,” she remarked quietly, making out the face beneath her.
He was breathing heavily, eyes darting between the gun and her face. She turned off the safety.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you now,” she said.
“Many will come after you. Worse than me,” he said breathlessly.
She smirked, shaking her head. “I said a good reason, Monsieur. Don’t waste your breath.”
He looked at the gun, then to her surprise, smiled a bit. He rose his eyebrows.
“Come now, Bella. Haven’t we had fun these past months?”
“I thought you’d be better at bargaining.”
“If you really intended to kill me, I would be dead by now.”
She paused and tilted her head.
He made a good point.
With a grin, she added. “I really intended to kill you, Monsieur, I would’ve killed you the morning we met.”
She moved the gun away from his face.
“You came here alone.”
“I came to deliver something to you.”
He tried to sit up, but she doubled down her weight onto him.
“Certainly you don’t think I intend to harm you?”
She studied his face, then chuckled. “Not alone, no.”
He let out a breath as she rose to her feet, stepping away from him. He sat up, watching as she trained her gun onto him as he stood. Vincent fixed his hair and his suit, gesturing to the door.
“It’s in the living room.”
“Mhm. Ladies first.”
With his trained on her gun, he passed through the door and she followed silently, pointing it at his head. She flicked the light switch on as they rounded the corner, and lamps lit up, revealing a spare but cozy living room. He chuckled, turning to her.
“Very cute, Bella.”
She didn’t answer, only held the gun to his face. He turned back around, going to the coffee table. There was a large black box, along with two other boxes. One appeared to be a shoebox, the other a mystery. Caught off guard, by gifts, Belladonna’s grip loosened on the gun. She squinted in confusion, almost wanting to laugh.
“What…”
“Your gown tonight was lovely, but it can’t be worn again after you left it in that filthy bathroom. I thought I would replace it for you.”
“…the fuck…”
He stepped towards her, and her gun returned to its leveled aim reflexively.
“…Is wrong with you?”
He smiled, pleased at her bewilderment, although she seemed a bit amused as well.
“What is wrong with a gift?”
“Oh, when it comes from you, several things.”
He chuckled, placing his hands in his pockets.
“We’ve been playing this game for a little while now, and I must admit that I see no end to it. So why don’t we talk it over dinner?”
“It took fourteen bodies to get to dinner, huh?”
He looked away almost bashfully, if his eyes could express such an emotion.
“I thought you’d be easier to kill, I’ll admit that too. And I believe tonight makes twenty.”
His callousness uneased her, but not as much as the glimmer that formed in his eyes when he fixed his gaze on her.
“Come now, is dinner so bad compared to these last few months?”
She narrowed her eyes. He smiled again.
“Think of it as a celebration if you want. Perhaps for your birthday? It’s this weekend, isn’t it?”
In an immediate shift, her eyes darkened, and without warning she flung a knife at his face that he barely evaded being mortally wounded by. Blood poured down his cheek as she lunged at him, knocking him against the wall, but this time he had his footing. He grabbed the fabric of her jumpsuit and whirled around to slam her into the wall with a grunt, but she quickly drove her knee into his stomach once, twice, then kicked him back with both legs, sending him crashing against the kitchen counter. The photos on the wall shook on impact. Before he could even recover she had him on the floor, and his mind quickly went back to the position she’d had him in before and he shot into action, overpowering her just enough to have her beneath him. Still, she was fast, and limber. It seemed like only a moment had passed when she’d locked her thighs around his neck and held his arm at a seemingly impossible angle. He gasped and coughed, feeling the blood pumping in his head.
“You haven’t really gotten your hands dirty like this before, have you Marquis?”
He felt around desperately, and found a saving grace sheathed in her boot.
“You’ve never had your heart race like this, feeling your life threatening to slip through your fingers.”
She twisted his arm further, and he snatched whatever he’d found out of her boot. Her laugh rung in his ears like a funeral bell.
“It’s unfortunate your first real fight turned out to be your last.”
He stabbed her in the upper thigh, and she growled lowly, her hold weakening. He moved in a flash, snatching the blade out of her leg and trying to force her onto the ground, but she began to shimmy backwards despite her injury. He grunted, grabbing at her until he’d finally pinned her down, when he saw her arm go out of his line of sight and something hard slammed into the side of his head. Despite his delirium he grabbed her arm as she hit him again, and forced it to the ground, getting frustrated grunt out of her as she struggled, but he had her.
He caught his breath, his muscles straining to keep her in place. Adrenaline was coursing through his body faster than blood as his sight cleared, and his eyes fixed onto her searing gaze. Slowly, he pressed the blade—a small one, to his surprise—against her neck, watching her swallow. Their eyes locked onto each other. Their blood rushed violently as their chests heaved. Vincent pressed his hand into her chest harder, keeping her firmly on the ground. Her eyes scanned his face with a curious glint.
“I’m not afraid to cut,” he said through puffs of labored breath.
She grinned. “I’m not afraid of cuts, rich boy.”
He dug in the blade, dragging it slowly through her skin. Her fists clenched but she gave no reaction this time. Her eyes only bored into his as the living room filled with warm sunlight. Crimson trickled from the cut, and he smeared it with his thumb as they fell still. He could feel her blood humming through her thundering pulse. Her skin was hot, alive. She watched him, then grabbed his arm, pulling him down with sheer strength. He tensed, preparing for an attack but she just held him by the lapel, a smile dancing on her lips as she leaned up slightly.
“Tell me,” she said quietly, “Has this become business, or pleasure, Vincent?”
His eyes seemed distant as his name left her lips. They drifted to her curved, full mouth, and then fixed onto her eyes. Wordlessly, he took his thumb from her neck and placed it against his tongue, watching for her reaction. She gave none. A challenge.
“Are you pleased?”
To his surprise, she giggled. Her body relaxed under his and Vincent’s head swam with confusing desires. What was this, now that he thought about it, what the hell had gotten into him to chase this girl for months? He looked at her face for answers, finding that same smile he’d seen the first time they’d met. What did it mean?
“Come here,” she encouraged, watching his eyes scan over her in a daze.
He looked at her. Her smile widened, and she beckoned him closer. But with what, he wondered, how could she command him so swiftly without words? Her eyes trailed down to his lips with what part him hoped was the same mysterious hunger that was bubbling up inside him. He leaned closer, breath fanning against her face.
“That’s right,” she said softly, reclining.
He leaned down over her, and for a moment there was stillness between them, a pull that seemed to magnetize them closer. Belladonna’s eyes widened a fraction as the feeling of it came over her, and she quickly head butted him with all the force she could muster. He groaned, clutching his head, leaving him completely vulnerable to her attacks. She managed to twist her way from beneath him, hopping to her feet and grabbing the knife that had lodged into the wall. She sniffed harshly, grabbing his hair and tilting his head up, pressing the point of the blade just below his chin. He stared up at her, eyes half blazing with unspoken fury, the rest uncertainty of what to expect next.
“You surprise me, Marquis.”
He tried to move but her grip tightened onto his scalp painfully. “Ah-ah-ah. I don’t think so. Unless you want me to drain your neck.”
With an even more furious stare, he relented. She grinned at his expression.
“I gotta admit, I didn’t expect you to put up such a good fight. The last one I dealt with wasn’t half as good a match as you. I’m impressed.”
A strange swell of pride bloomed in Vincent’s chest despite his indignation. She hummed thoughtfully.
“Dinner does sound nice, doesn’t it?”
He exhaled sharply through his nose, struggled to swallow in her hold.
“I haven’t been on a date in a while,” she remarked, “Maybe you’ll show me a good time, eh, chéri?”
She let him go, stepping back. Before he could respond, her knee collided with his head. The world went dark.
He came to in the afternoon with the sun beaming down on his face. The back door was wide open, leaving only the sound of birds and the breeze flowing through the golden-yellow grass. He popped his jaw and sat up with a groan. She was gone. If it weren’t for the blood and the dents in the wall he’d have thought it were nothing more than a dream. But he could smell gardenias, he could still taste her on his tongue. He could still feel her racing pulse beneath his thumb, hear her voice. He inhaled deeply, unsure what to think of the feeling passing through him. He couldn’t come to a conclusion, but he recalled something that caused him to smile.
She’d called it a date.
***
Paris, France. Two days later.
She was reclined on a park bench, eyes shut, taking in the sun while her black dress sparkled. He watched her a couple yards away, finding himself rather daunted. She’d told him over the phone he’d know where to find her, and it had taken barely twenty minutes for her to be tracked down. Despite their fight, she looked radiant. Completely unscathed. It was inhuman.
His phone buzzed, and he frowned as he answered. It was her. He glanced up curiously, seeing she had disappeared. He held the phone to his ear.
“Dragging our feet? I’m not a patient lady.”
His searched around for her, but she’d vanished into thin air.
“Go ahead, you can ask…how the hell did I do that?”
He listened to her soft chuckle through the phone with surprising pleasure.
“Come to me, and I won’t make you wait any longer.”
“Awe, listen to that. You’ve been so good at finding me, this shouldn’t be any trouble.”
“You are impossible,” he sighed, turning to scan the park.
“Impossible? This just part of the fun.”
The call ended, and he stared at the phone with slightly furrowed eyebrows. He looked to the bench, noticing something fluttering and went over to examine it. It was a note. He unfolded it, reading sweeping cursive. It was in french, but he knew she’d written it.
Come and get me, chéri. I am a ghost with many faces.
Vincent smiled, eyes crinkling. He pulled out his phone, making a call that was quickly answered.
“Where is she now,” he questioned.
There was a pause. “Well…sir…”
“Mm?”
“It seems like she’s at a cafe.”
“Alright—“
“She’s also at the Notre Dame.”
He hesitated to answer, but kept his cool. “I…see.”
“And the Louvre.”
He moved the phone away, smiling to himself. “A ghost with many faces.”
“Go get her,” he instructed, “Each one.”
Belladonna’s game led him across the entire city. Well, his men, but still. They called him reporting of notes that read ‘warmer’, ‘colder’, or ‘come on, you can do better than that’. Each of her clones proved to be as slippery as the original, and it gave him a thrill and a more subtle concern. He was aware what she was telling him, their game aside. She was showcasing her manpower—how perfectly coordinated her operation was. She wasn’t just a mere assassin, she had built her own network. He’d suspected help, although not to this scale of control. It was clear to him, though, why she’s wouldn’t accept any price. Leaders can’t be bought. She’d left The Table and had somehow managed to build one of her own.
When the evening had rolled in, he simply relented trying to track her down. It was impossible, he’d accepted it. Standing outside the restaurant he’d reserved, he called her.
“Alright, you win. I give up. Where are you, I’ll send a car.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. “No need. Just come in.”
“Have you been inside this entire time?”
“God, no. How boring would that be?”
She hung up. He shook his head, going inside. “Mon dieu.”
When he’d entered, she was there waiting, smoking with her legs crossed. Her lips were crimson red like her nails and her hair was curled to a dazzling perfection. Still, as he approached from behind, he could see the bruises on her back and shoulders. He stopped next to her, brushing her hair away from her neck, revealing the bandage over his cut. She turned her head, met his eyes. They glittered as she looked over his face.
“You know, if a date was all you wanted, a whole lot more of your men would be alive right now,” she said.
“Hello to you too, Bella.”
He brushed the bandage with his finger, earning a stare from her. She was smiling at him.
“Why are you here?”
She looked away as if to think, then locked her gaze onto him. “Why are you?”
He smiled in return. “I imagine we’re here for the same reason.”
His fingertips brushed down her neck and over her shoulder as he moved to take the seat across from her. Her eyes followed him, smoke passing through her rouge mouth.
“Well, then.”
She leaned onto the table, eyeing him.
“Do we really need to have dinner, or should we just get out of here and get straight to it?”
A wicked grin spread across her mouth as she surveyed him. He cleared his throat, but smiled.
“I went through so much trouble to get you that dress, I’d hate to ruin it so soon.”
She laughed. “Oh, you’ll ruin it, will you?”
He pressed his stare onto her. “I’ll rip it right off of your body and devour you.”
Belladonna took in his words, absorbing his stare in her deep brown eyes. Her teeth bared in a wide, shimmering smile.
“Not if I eat you first.”
Her cigarette burned out as they were served the first course.
She ignored the food, her eyes fixed onto him. Something about being under her stare made him feel stiff in his bones. The closer he brought her, the more it felt like reaching into a fire. Her gaze was always so predatory. It gave him a thrill of familiarity, and the chill of it, too.
“Eat,” he told her, gesturing to her plate.
She glided her finger over her wine glass, then shook her head slowly, eyes daring him.
“I don’t think I will.”
He paused in annoyance, but couldn’t help how pleased the resistance made him feel. It was plain on her face, she was playing with him.
“Don’t be difficult, now. We’re just starting to get along.”
Her teeth gleamed again. “Or what?”
The response made him pause. He set down his fork, processing what the woman who’d nearly killed him two days ago had just said to him. He leaned towards her slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
“Is that what you want, yeah? You want to be in trouble?”
A soft laugh made her shoulders bounce as she sat back. The toe of her heel nudged his leg underneath the table.
“That depends. What happens when I’m in trouble, Monsieur?”
“You don’t want to be in trouble with me, Bella.”
The warning only spurred her further. “Oh, but I love a little trouble.”
“All you American girls love trouble, don’t you?”
“It’s our middle name,” she teased, “So you’d better be as bad as you say.”
Her eyes flitted from her eyes to his face, zeroing in on his cheek. He was surprised by the warmth that seemed to emerge in her eyes as she leaned forward, tracing the cut in his cheek with her cigarette holder. A soft smile spread across her face. She almost seemed gentle.
“Such a pretty cut,” she muttered, “don’t you like it? A pretty cut for a pretty face.”
“You think my face is pretty?”
She chuckled softly at him, leaning further and caressing the slice with her thumb.
“Of course it’s pretty, chéri,” she murmured, “That’s why I made it mine.”
Wordlessly, Vincent took her hand. He could feel the slight callouses on her knuckles and the bases of her fingers that had been softened by manicures. He turned her hand, pressing his lips against her fingers and kissing her knuckles.
“Si tu me fais tienne, je te ferai tenir.” If you make me yours, I’ll make you mine.”
She turned her hand, brushing her fingertips against his lips, trailing a finger down to his chest. Her fingers wrapped around his tie, and she tugged it out of his vest, carefully pulling him over the table and leaning in for a kiss. His breath caught in his chest and his eyes fell shut from the feeling of her lips against his. With a rotation of her hand she tightened her grip and pulled him closer. He kissed her deeper, tasting a hint of champagne in her mouth and feeling her shuddering breath against his when she broke the kiss for air. She took in his intense green eyes and caught her lower lip in her teeth.
“Alors fais-moi tienne, Vincent.” Then make me yours, Vincent.
“Ah, I thought you were not kept puppy,” he said, a grin threatening to form on his face.
She yanked him, raising a brow. “I am not.”
He gingerly held onto the table with a laugh. “Then what are you doing here?”
Belladonna loosened her hold, dropping the tie and considering him for a moment.
“You may not be able to make me your puppy, but you’re in danger of making me your woman.”
His eyes flashed, and a grin spread across his face. “It’s dangerous, is it?”
“There would be many who would start ringing a funeral bell for you if they heard the news.”
His gaze lowered to her lips. Vincent took her chin in his hand.
“Is that the price to make you mine? My life?”
“It would certainly be one I’d consider.”
“Then it’s the one I’m offering.”
She laughed, looking away. He turned her face to make her hold his burning stare. For a moment, her eyes softened. She seemed to hesitate despite how far she’d escalated the entire situation. But, soon after, she closed her eyes and placed another kiss on his lips.
“Then I’ll tell you again,” she whispered, “Fais-moi tienne, chéri.”
He kissed her firmly, letting out a sigh. “Come with me, Bella—now.”
The minute he’d gotten her in the back of his limousine he tore the slit in her dress up to her torso and pinned her to the ground, undoing his tie and holding her wrists together firmly.
“You’re not getting away this time,” his voice rumbled lowly, “I won’t let you get away.”
He bound her wrists together tightly, watching her skin chafe against its luxurious material. Her breath was trembling. Her skin was already hot for him.
His cock was already hard against her inner thigh—the string of desire had been tugging at him the moment he’d read that note. She let out a heavy sigh, pushing her hips up against him and lifting her arms over her head to drape them over his neck and pull him down to her. Their lips crashed together while her hips ground against him, and a soft moan spilled from her mouth into his as her body started to wrap around him. He kissed harshly down her neck, digging his fingers into her hips and pressing it back down onto the floor.
“Stay still—stay fucking still.”
A laugh bubbled in her chest. “Oh, you’re going to have to work much harder to keep me still, baby.”
He quickly removed his jacket and grabbed his butterfly knife from his waistband. He grazed her leg with the cool blade, admiring the flames of desire that sparked in her eyes from the mere contact. Delicately, he dragged the point down her inner thigh, stopping to watch how her chest rose and fell erratically. He guided the blade lower and lower over her hips, grinning at how they slightly bucked.
“Ah, you want it?”
Her fingers tangled in his hair as she gently pulled him back up to her lips. She opened her mouth against his with a moan, running her foot up the back of his leg.
“Just take me,” she whispered.
“Fuck, stop ordering me around,” he said, lips trembling against her collarbone as he laughed, “I might start to like it from you.”
“Then make me beg.”
He nicked the cut he’d made in her upper thigh, shuddering at the gasp she let out into his mouth. Without wasting even a millisecond he dragged his mouth down over her stomach—and ghosted over her cunt—to run his tongue along the weeping slice. He grabbed onto her as he made his way from the cut to between her legs. His lips brushed her clit and her body seemed to jump a little at the feeling. Vincent couldn’t control himself. He placed a kiss close to her aching core and relished in how her body seemed to quiver at the slightest touch.
“Look at you, so wet…”
He hesitated to leave her cunt alone, but planted a kiss on her hip and then sank his teeth into her, earning a yelp and a soft, lighter moan when he didn’t let up.
“Vincent,” she whispered.
He was close to getting what he wanted, he could tell.
“Yes, chérie?”
His fingers teased through the fabric of her lace underwear—she let out a soft mewl, making his eyes widen.
“You wear these lace panties for me, chérie? You were going to give it up to me that easy, like I already owned your little cunt?”
“Vincent…”
“Est-ce que c'est ça qui te fait mouiller, mon coeur, quand tu es en dessous de moi comme ci ? Quand tu sais que je peux faire ce que je veux de toi ?” Is that what makes you wet, my darling, when you’re beneath me like this? When you know I can do whatever I want to you?
She sounded almost anguished. “S’il te plaît, Vincent.”
“Ah, now I can get a please and a thank you? Is this why you’re so fucking disrespectful to me, Bella? You want to be punished like a filthy whore, then?”
“Oh,” she managed through weak laugh, “I’m definitely disrespectful because I’m a pompous bitch. Why do you think I’m the one that can’t be bought?”
“Mm, but you can be fucked, huh?”
She smiled widely, eyes falling shut.
“Only if they’re as pompous a bitch as me, monsieur.”
He moved away from her hip and went back to her cut, sucking on it hard enough to make a hickey. Her body arched at the sting of it and Vincent could feel her getting slick in her underwear.
“Beg,” he said, taking off the heels he’d bought for her, “Beg for me.”
The words left her mouth in a whisper. “Please, please, just fuck me.”
“Je ne t’entends pas, chérie.”
He closed his teeth around her waistband, pulling it taut and slicing the underwear open.
“C’mon, baby, please?”
“Don’t ask,” he instructed, “Beg.”
In his fervency he nearly pressed his mouth onto her as he tore the rest of the fabric off and laid eyes on her pussy. His teeth sank into his lower lip—this woman was going to be the death of him.
No. No. He had to take his time.
There was nothing guaranteed with La Belladonna, it was what they all said. He couldn’t waste the moment she was wide open and willing for him. He returned to her sweet lips, kissing her slowly, inhaling her scent. He kissed down her neck hungrily.
“Fuck, I need you,” she whispered, “Please, just fuck me. Please, please, Monsieur.”
“Mon dieu, you know exactly how to beg, too. How can one woman manage to push every single one of my buttons?”
“I’m not the only one with a type here, honey,” she said, smiling, “I get what I want, too.”
His hand snaked down to rub her clit—slowly, to take in her expression, her voice. She moaned, grabbing his hair, pressing her forehead against his cheek.
“Oh, god, Vincent. Please…please…”
His fingers slid inside her eagerly, curling and pulling back then thrusting deeper.
“Mm…Vincent…”
“Yes, baby, say it like that.”
His voice was soft against her ear. She melted into the floor of the limousine, her body easing against his hand, just they way he’d imagined it would.
“I knew you’d be a good girl, Bella, I just needed to give you a nudge—“
She gasped loudly at his fingers pumping harshly back inside of her.
“—In the right direction. Don’t you think?”
Her smile even shone in the feeble light the managed to get through the limousine’s tinted windows. She turned her head and kissed him. He returned it sloppily, his head pulsing with blood as his cock ached painfully. Her lips found his cheek, then his jaw, then her tongue grazed his neck, making him shiver. She closed her teeth around his earlobe and tugged harshly. He moaned into her hair, shutting his eyes. He needed her. He couldn’t even keep his head on fucking straight enough to tease her. Months he had to wait—months of clinging onto remnants of her scent, her red-stained cigarette butts and rivers of blood that trailed behind her—months that drove him fucking mad.
“God, you fucking woman.”
He tore his belt open, undid his pants and pulled his dick out, wetting it with her slick. He rubbed the head against her pussy, breath shuddering, mouth drying; he wasn’t sure if he’d survive making love with her, feeling the way his heart thundered out of his chest.
“Take me,” she whispered, “fuck me, Vincent.”
He couldn’t hold back any longer. He slid inside her gently, but once he felt her, he couldn’t be gentle anymore. His hips drew back and crashed into hers, making her groan loudly and move her hands back over her head. His thrusts were harsh, intense, but his hands slid into her hair affectionately. He kissed her skin like it was the first thing he’d ever tasted, her sweat tasted like sugar to him.
“Fuck, you taste like vanilla.”
Her hands returned to him unbound, and they slid under his shirt. She held onto him and wrapped her legs around his hips as her breath caught with each thrust. She wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to hang on for him, to have this moment last as long as it could. His body felt perfect against his, his warmth, his scent, his taste. She’d only said words earlier—of course no one kept La Belladonna for long— but he seemed to be the man that just may have the ability—
“Put your hand on my neck,” she whispered, voice shaking.
His hand caressed her neck delicately. She let out a sigh, closing her eyes. Yes, he just might be the one.
“Harder, please,” she whimpered.
“Anything, mon cœur.”
“Faster.”
Her voice was barely leaving her throat. Vincent’s hips moved quickly as he felt her tightening around him. He moaned again, sure his voice managed to reach outside of the windows.
“Fuck, you’re getting so tight, Bella, you’re going to kill me.”
Her nails dug into his back cruelly, pushing him even closer to the edge as the pain echoed throughout his entire back. He managed to reach down and rub her clit again, feeling how swollen it had gotten as her orgasm came closer.
“Come for me, Bella, come, baby,” he encouraged, his fingers working quickly.
She cried out, her voice breaking as she grabbed onto his shoulders. She was just at the edge, her mind was spinning wildly. Her words were unintelligible to him, he’d never caught onto Italian very well.
“Oh, mio caro, sì, sì, ah, cazzo, sì—“
Her legs tightened around him as he slammed his hips against her, watching how her mouth fell open, listening to her gasping breath.
“Sì—sì come questo, tesoro, oh…oh! Non fermarti, per favore, oh per favore—ngh—cazzo!”
He groaned as her pussy clenched around him and she let out a cry, her nails digging so hard into his skin they might’ve been drawing blood. He snapped his hips into her one last time and came—loudly—as he felt for her breasts and grabbed onto them, tried and failed to stay upright, then lowered, his body pressed up against hers.
They laid for an eternity, trying to catch their breath, trying to wait for their heads to clear. Vincent managed to move first and kissed her neck, inhaling the smell of her skin, feeling her pulse starting to slow down. She let out a heavy exhale, eyes opening.
“You are…”
She trailed off into silence for a moment.
“…Magnificent.”
Vincent chuckled, kissing her jaw softly, unable to speak just yet. She smiled.
“Ti terrò in giro per molto tempo, tesoro.”
“I don’t know Italian, Bella.”
She laughed. “I said I’m going to keep you around.”
They looked at each other, and he smiled.
“Oh, are you?”
“Oh yes, Monsieur…for a very long time.”
She lifted a finger, tapping his nose affectionately.
“You keep me, I keep you, Mademoiselle.”
She ran her fingers through his hair, smiling softly. “That arrangement just might be acceptable.”
He smiled. “I’m glad we could finally settle on an agreement.”
Her laugh was weak, but her eyes shone with that sardonic humor that had charmed him so. He slowly pulled out of her, gently sitting her up.
“Come with me. I will take you home so you can rest. We’ll have dinner.”
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maboroshi-no · 28 days ago
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Hamefura LN 14 Bonus SS (Shosen / Horindo)
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Series: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Source: Light novel volume 14, Bonus paper Store: Shosen / Horindo Synopsis: Alan's POV of Prince Mary's rescue in Chapter 1 of LN14. Translation: maboroshi-no
Translation below ⮟
I, Alan Stuart, was greatly troubled at the moment.
Today was the Sorcier Foundation Anniversary party and many foreign visitors had come for the occasion.
Because of this, the greetings queue was enormous and I was considerably exhausted by the end of it.
Even so, it was still nice while I was greeting people. Even if I was approached to some extent, there would still be a next person, so they would leave me for the time being.
The truly difficult part was after the greetings.
When the greetings ended and my family all split up, they came to me.
Foreign Noble Lady: Prince Alan, let's talk.
Foreign Noble Lady: Prince Alan, I am…
The ones who said this and snuggled up to me all at once were foreign noble ladies.
The foreign noble ladies were beautifully dressed up in their countries' dresses, and their eyes were full of confidence.
"I will make the prince mine". Strong women like them who gave off that kind of aura were hard for me to deal with.
Though, it was not like I hated strong women themselves. I had a fondness for very strong ones who worked hard towards their goals.
But women who snuggled up and appealed their charms to the other person even if they didn't want it were a no-go for me.
Even when I clearly gave off signals that their advances weren't welcome, they completely ignored me and still pushed on. I couldn't understand their nerve.
But in times like this, I had no ability to gracefully handle the situation and chase away the ladies.
"In times like this, if it were like always…".  When I unconsciously wandered my gaze, reddish brown hair caught my eyes and I stopped on it.
There, I saw my fiancée Mary Hunt, a marquis's daughter, happily engaged in a conversation.
Mary was my fiancée in name only and a reliable friend. At a time like this, she would always promptly save me.
I was well aware that I would normally need to shake a leg and somehow handle them myself but I was exhausted from the greetings, so I ended up asking her for help with my eyes.  
Our eyes met with a snap and Mary frowned. She was probably thinking, "What a bother".
I knew that much about her. Even so, Mary was good at looking after people, so she gallantly headed my way.
Mary: How do you do, Prince Alan?
Mary came in front of me and said this to me. Then, she turned her gaze to the ladies swarming around me.
Mary: Pleased to meet you, ladies. I am Prince Alan's fiancée, Mary Hunt.
After saying this and smiling, she made a very beautiful curtsy.
Mary was praised as the Belle of High Society and the Model Noble Lady. Her beauty and beautiful gestures made some noble ladies flinch, and they awkwardly greeted her and left. 
But there was a strong one in the lot.
Foreign Noble Lady: Oh, my. So you are his politically arranged fiancée. In my country, it is now considered good to fall in love and marry your true love. Don't you think so, Prince Alan?
After saying this, she gave Mary a provocative smile, then made eyes at me.
While thinking that she really was a no-go type and pondering how to reject her, 
Mary: Fufufu. Marrying your true love is indeed wonderful. 
Mary smiled and replied this.
Foreign Noble Lady: Oh, so Miss fiancée thinks so too. In that case…
As the noble lady happily smiled after receiving Mary's approval, Mary promptly moved next to me, entwined her arm around mine, and moved her body close.
Mary: Yes, and that's why we are not betrothed for political reasons but because we truly love each other. If you consider it wonderful, then I would ask you not to get in our way.
After Mary had said this with a wide smile and a pressure that wouldn't allow any objection, even the strong noble lady was agape and lost for words.
Mary seemed intent on acting like we were fiancés in love to chase away the noble ladies.
In times like this, I could only leave things to Mary. I emptied my mind so I could just follow her lead.
Foreign Noble Lady: What, but, according to the rumor…
With her face red, the obstinate noble lady tried to voice out some more words, but then, Mary moved her body even closer to mine. It completely was lovers' proximity at this point.
Then, while completely leaning against me, Mary made a bewitching smile.
I did my very best to keep my mind blank so I wouldn't think of the soft things pressing against my body.
Mary: Can I ask you not to get in our way?
When Mary asked this one more time, even the stubbornly remaining ones left red-faced.
Once we couldn't see the noble ladies anymore, Mary quickly pulled away from me.
Mary: You will owe me one more favor.
She puffed out her cheek a little and said this.
Alan: Sure. I'm sorry, it's always like this.
When I dejectedly apologized for my weak spirit, Mary let out a little sigh.
Mary: It would be troublesome if such a bunch came again, so I will stay with you for a while.
She said this. At the end of the day, Mary really was good at looking after people.
Alan: I'm in your debt.
I really was no match for her.
Little did I know that afterward, my older brother's fiancée Katarina would show up, reveal my embarrassing facts to Mary, and make an even more shocking proposal.
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