#not feeling christmas this year but it's okay

[deepamuthukrishnan]

We Listen and We Don’t Judge

Pairings: Nico Hischier x OC

Warnings: Spoilers for That Sik Luv, King of Wrath, King of Sloth, God of Wrath, and God of Malice but just a lot of fluff.

Summary: You are a viral booktoker and after seeing the we listen and we don’t judge trend with couples, you put your own twist.

—————————————————————————

It’s not a joke that you are mildly addicted to TikTok. After all, by day, you worked for the New Jersey Devils as a social media girl but by night, you are one of the most viral booktokers on BookTok.

Currently you were doomscrolling on TikTok, waiting for your boyfriend, Nico, to come home from hanging at Jack’s and Luke’s place.

You suddenly come across a video of a couple doing the We Listen and Don’t Judge trend which you weren’t that completely unaware of because you had seen it on your for you page for the last few days.

“We listen and we don’t judge.” The couple both said before the woman started to talk.

“I sometimes don’t wash our fruit because I feel lazy.” She said, trying not to laugh.

The man burst into laughter. “Jesus we’re gonna get worms! We probably have worms in our bodies!”

“Well we listen and we don’t judge!” She clapped back and you began to laugh.

After about three minutes of watching that video, an idea popped in your head. You walked to your massive bookshelf that Nico assembled for you for Christmas last year and got out your copies of That Sik Luv, King of Wrath, King of Sloth, God of Wrath, and God of Malice from your shelf before walking back to the living room.

As soon as you walked back, you saw Nico walk in, taking his shoes and beanie off.

“Hey Schatz.” He said, wrapping his arms around your waist, giving you a kiss.

You pulled away to greet him back, Nico pouting a bit. “Hey baby. How was the hangout at Jack’s and Luke’s place.”

“Same old same old.” He said, his Swiss German accent being prominent.

You chuckled. “Why don’t you get changed.”

“Okay.” He gives you a quick kiss before walking into your shared bedroom before walking out in grey sweatpants and a devils hoodie.

“Hey Nico?”

“Yeah?” He asks.

“You love me right?”

“Are you breaking up with me?” He asked and you look at him gobsmacked.

“Okay no. I’m not breaking up with you-“

“Thank god.”

“I was literally gonna ask if you wanted to be in a TikTok baby.” You say.

Nico has been your biggest supporter and even though it was a mutual decision to keep your love life private, along with the occasional post of each other on your birthdays, anniversaries, and reposting posts of you guys in them.

“Oh okay. What TikTok?”

He plops down on the floor and looks at the pile of books on the coffee table. “What TikTok is it?”

You get your phone and open TikTok, going to make a new video, propping your phone on the little fake bonsai tree.

“Okay so we’re gonna do the we listen and we don’t judge trend except it’s with the books I read last month.” You say to your phone before stopping the recording.

“I say we listen and we don’t judge and tell you something about the book.” I explain.

“So I sit and look pretty?”

“Pretty much.” I answer.

I get out the first book, That Sik Luv, from the pile before clicking the button to record.

“We listen and we don’t judge,” you say, trying so hard not to laugh. “In this book, she’s in a religious cult, she doesn’t know that she is. Either way, the church that runs their town are trying to kill her so they hire this mercenary dude who becomes obsessed with her and stalks her and shows just how corrupt the church is. So one day, when she has to go to confession and he’s waiting for her in where she’s supposed to sit and they get their freak on when she’s giving her confession to the deacon and when he pulls back to curtain to pew pew her, he acts quickly and pew pews the deacon and they continue to get their freak on in front of the deacon’s now dead body.”

Nico mulls over what you said before saying, “I would read this book Schatzi.”

“What?!” You look at him horrified. “Like you’re not playing with me are you?”

“I mean I would skip over these kinda scenes but it seems interesting.”

“Oh my lord.” You muttered before grabbing King of Wrath.

“We listen and we don’t judge,” you said, forming her thoughts. “So in this book, both the characters are in an arranged marriage situation for reasons I can’t say. Anyway, one thing leads to another and he’s,” you mime fingering to him and he raises his eyebrows, “her and calls him an asshole and he replies with ‘I’m an asshole, yet youre dripping for me.’”

“Is this what you’re reading when your jaw is dropped?” He asks.

“Well like, you signed up for this.” You say.

“I love you too much.” He said, pulling you into him.

“I love you too.” You say and you grab King of Sloth.

“We listen and we don’t judge. So for context, her ex cheated on her-“

“He’s a dead man.” Nico fumes, his Swiss German accent becoming even more prominent.

“If you’ll let me finish.” You say, trying not to laugh at his outburst but you crack a smile. “Anyway, because of that, she has trust issues and when she’s telling him, so the mmc, her trust issues, instead of reassuring her, he sits her on her desk and goes to town with his mouth on her. He then proceeds to bend her over and goes to town on her and he puts duct tape over her mouth because she’s apparently loud.”

A beat of silence passes before Nico says, “If your ex cheated on you and you said that, I’d do the same.”

You whack the book on his head. “No you won’t.” You reply, both of you laughing.

“What, I need to remind him what he missed out on.” He responds chalantly.

You roll your eyes before grabbingGod of Wrath.

“We listen and we don’t judge. So in the first chapter, she wants to kill herself because her best friend killed himself and she on the edge of the cliff and she jumps, but then the mmc grabs onto her and he said that the only way he can save her life is if she performs a certain sexual act down there.”

“Like what do you mean?”

“He’s holding on to her and he’s like oh the only way I will save you if you do this certain sexual act down there for me.”

“And she does.”

“Well yeah. If we were in this exact situation, I’d do it because I value my life.” You respond.

“Okay true.” He says.

You get out your last book, God of Wrath, trying not to laugh.

“We listen and we don’t judge. In this book, she’s walking home at night with her headphones in and these two creeps are like following her but then, the mmc, who was stalking her, bears the guys up because in his eyes, he’s the only one that allowed to stalk her.”

“Oh.” He says. “That’s kinda stupid though.”

“What is?” You ask.

“Walking alone at night with headphones in. Like does she not have any sense?”

You burst into laughter at his words. “Literally the mmc asked her the exact question and it is pretty stupid.” You look at your phone before saying, “Guys, remember to not walk alone at night with headphones in. But also let me know if yall want a part 2.”

You hit the stop button and he pulls you further into him. “You know I love you, but this is the weirdest TikTok you made me do.”

You chuckle and kiss his jaw. “I know babe.”

[4ranghaes]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ bnd with pregnant!reader

ot5 bnd x reader [fluff, afab!reader, pregnant!reader]

a/n - i just felt a bit weird writing woonhak, considering he’s younger than me idk,, hope you still enjoy!!!

sungho🎀 [4 months along]

“wait! wait, wait,” he said quickly, slamming the car door on his side before running round and opening your own.

you chuckled, “thank you, ba–”

“here,” he said, taking your hand, placing his other hand on your back as he helped you out the car.

“sungho,” you sighed, as he rushed to grab your bag and lock the car before ushering you inside, “sungho!���

he stopped, turning to you. he’d just reached the front door of your house, key in his hand as he stopped.

“you need to stop fussing over me,” you laughed, “i’m fine. i’m barely even showing yet!”

sungho sighed, placing his hand protectively on your back as the two of you walked inside, “i know. i’m sorry, i just– i already worried about everything when you were just you! now it’s you and our baby, in one person?! everyday i think i’m going to combust when i think about it.”

you collapsed on the sofa, your body tired and achey. even if you weren’t showing, pregnancy was still doing a number on your body. you laughed at your husband’s words, beckoning him to your side, “i need you to be normal, for my own sanity. and i need you to calm down, for your own health.”

he nodded, leaning on your shoulder, wrapping his arm round your waist, “i’ll try.” he sighed in contentment, his thumb rubbing gently on your stomach, “that was a good scan today.”

you nodded, placing your hand over his, “i love hearing their heartbeat.”

sungho grinned, looking to you and nodding, “i know, makes it feel real that there’s a little person in there! i can’t believe it.” he quietened down again quickly, massaging your legs he knew were aching, kissing your forehead softly. “son or daughter?”

you chuckled, placing your hands over your stomach and humming, “i have no idea.”

“come on,” sungho jeered, “mum’s instinct?”

you smiled, butterflies erupting at the sound of being called mum for the first time, “the instinct is that they’re beautiful and loved, no matter what.”

“yeah…” your husband hummed, “but a daughter would be lovely, right?”

you giggled, nodding as you played with his hair, “and you’d spoil her completely, i’m sure.”

riwoo 🦦🍡 [3 months along]

“was that a dream?”

you hummed, rubbing the sleep from your eyes before snuggling into your husband’s chest, “what?”

“last night,” he said, staring at the ceiling. he glanced at you, a small smile on his face as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you close. “i could swear i had a dream that you told me you were pregnant.”

you giggled, “hmm, i wonder why.”

riwoo chuckled, “i can’t believe it. i feel like i need to do something… tell someone? buy something?”

you laughed, “just hold on. i think we should wait until 20 weeks to tell people. that’s what they suggest, anyway.”

“sounds good,” he nodded, sighing with contentment, “wow. i mean, before the years over we’re gonna have a baby. at christmas! oh wow. do you think it’s gonna be a boy or a girl?”

you giggled, closing your eyes from sleepiness, “i don’t know, sanghyuk.”

“i need to research,” he hummed, stroking your hair, “i don’t know anything about pregnancy or babies.”

“did you know they can already hear?” you smiled, rolling onto your back and placing your hand on your stomach. nothing was showing, but just the idea was exciting. riwoo looked shocked, scooting down the bed and resting his head on your chest, his hand on your lower stomach.

“they can hear me?” he smiled, stroking the skin softly.

“yeah,” you said, stroking riwoo’s hair, “go on, say something. i’ve done it a couple times.”

“okay,” he chuckled, humming for a moment as he swiped his hand over your stomach, “hey baby. i– i don’t know anything about you yet. haven’t even seen a scan. but i’m your dad. um… i guess you’ll get to know me pretty well. i’m excited to meet you, in 7 months. it feels long, but i’m sure it’ll go by quickly, and then you can celebrate christmas with me and your mum. speaking of your mum… you’re inside her now, so she’ll take good care of you. but i hope you treat her well too, don’t make her too ill. um… i don’t really know what else to say so i’ll say bye for now but i’ll speak to you again soon, okay? i’ll play you one of my songs too! feel free to kick or whatever to respond if you like it–”

“five months.”

“hmm?”

“usually you don’t feel the baby kick until five months,” you smiled, stroking your husband’s hair back as he turned his face to look at your face now, instead of your stomach.

he frowned, “that’s so long.”

“come on, we have to get up now,” you groaned, stretching before sitting up.

“okay,” riwoo sighed, pressing a quick kiss to your stomach and leaping out of bed, “i’ll start the coffee— oh.”

you grumbled, glaring at him, “don’t rub it in.”

jaehyun🪻🐕 [6 months along]

“hiya pretty girl,” he said, bursting into a smile as you wandered into the living room.

you glared at your husband, “don’t patronise me.”

“i’m not,” jaehyun laughed, “come on, sit down, i’ll rub your feet.”

“you will?” you asked, almost tearing up in gratitude.

“of course!” he exclaimed, voice soft like a melody as he helped you onto the sofa before pulling your legs up so they were resting in his lap.

“sorry i was grumpy,” you said sheepishly, as he started massaging your soft-covered feet and legging-covered calves.

“it’s okay,” he beamed, “be as grumpy with me as you want, my girl! you’re carrying my baby.”

one of his hands trailed up to rest on the bottom of your rounded stomach. you smiled, placing your hand over his before dragging it upwards to where your daughter’s little feet were kicking repetitively.

“woah, harsh!” he gasped over-dramatically, rubbing the spot with his thumb.

jaehyun was good at leaving you to your own devices during pregnancy, knowing that too much worrying and fussiness would be overbearing for your already over-loaded body and mind, but sometimes you didn’t mind a bit of fuss.

“do you want anything particular for dinner?” he asked, moving back to massaging your feet.

you hummed, “no, i don’t have anything in mind. you can choose.”

“okay,” he said suspiciously, “but i’ll check with you first, yeah? i want you to eat.”

you smiled, nodding and going back to your phone.

“oh check your emails, by the way,” he said, barely even looking at you as he spoke, “i ordered some things for the nursery.”

you clicked on the app, eyes widening at the confirmation email you’d received that morning. “some things?! jaehyun, this is the whole nursery!”

“well we needed to get it done, right?” he shrugged.

“oh thank you,” you cooed, removing your legs from his lap and instead cuddling into his side, “how did you know i was stressing about that last night?”

“you wrote it on a post-it note to remind yourself, and then forgot to put it up,” he chuckled, kissing your forehead, “no need to worry anymore, though.”

you sighed, pregnancy brain ruining your ability to even think anymore, “thank you, love.”

“that’s okay, pretty girl,” he smiled down at you, “and hey, why don’t we go clothes shopping soon? hmm? you know we’re gonna love that.”

you smiled, nodding as jaehyun pressed a soft kiss to your lips, “you’re the best.”

taesan 🎸🐈‍⬛ [7 months along]

“dongmin, have you seen my tape?”

“woah,” he smirked, sitting up on the bed as he ogled you in the doorway.

“what?” you sighed.

you were stood wearing nothing but a crop top that only covered your boobs nowadays, with booty shorts, and your hair which had finally had a wash after a week was put away messily.

“you look gorgeous,” he blinked, face unwavering as you rolled your eyes.

“please,” you scoffed, practically waddling over to your husband.

he smiled, “no, i’m serious. i don’t think i’ve ever been more turned on. god you’re sexy.”

“oh my god keep it in your pants! i’m already pregnant,” you rolled your eyes, standing in front of him, “now can you answer my question?”

“your tape? oh the belly supporter one? yeah, it’s in the dresser,” he hummed, “i’ll get it, you sit down.”

he swapped your positions so you were sat on the edge of the bed and he wandered over to grab the tape, coming and helping you stand back up to put it in position.

“how could you possibly find me sexy right now?” you laughed, looking at yourself in the mirror as you planned where to put the tape to support your body the most.

“cause you’re all mine,” he murmured, kissing your shoulder as he stood behind you, “and everyone knows it. and you’re so cool, you’re carrying a person, our person.”

you smiled, taesan’s hands snaking round your waist and resting on your stomach as his head rested on your shoulder.

“sorry i find cool and powerful women so sexy,” he shrugged.

“wow you’re such a feminist,” you laughed, taesan shaking his head as he chuckled. “speaking of, how’s the nursery coming along?”

“nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about, princess,” he hummed, kissing your shoulder as he went and grabbed his laptop off the bed, “in two weeks it’ll be done, and we’ll be fully ready for our little guy. okay?”

you nodded, smiling as taesan continued to stand behind you, admiring you in the mirror. you basked in the moment for a while longer, sighing in contentment as you leaned against his body.

“fuck,” you cursed under your breath, seeing a large wet spot appear on your crop top.

“fuck,” taesan murmured, “i need to get you pregnant more often.”

you glared at him, “not helping.”

leehan🪸🐠 [5 months along - warning: mentions of like,, being able to see the baby move? some people find that gross so i wanted to leave a warning😭]

“y/n?”

“up here!” you called from the bedroom, as leehan came through the front door after work.

you heard your husband sprinting up the stairs, two at a time as he usually did, appearing in the bedroom doorway with a goofy smile on his face.

“hey, how was your— woah.”

he stopped his question, looking at your rounded stomach which was seemingly moving beneath the skin.

“this is so freaky,” you chuckled, “i mean, interesting. but weird, right?”

“that is so cool,” he said, quickly coming to the side of the bed and kneeling down, peering closely at the skin.

you laughed, “she’s really in there, huh?”

“hey, baby,” leehan spoke, poking your stomach gently, “why you wriggling so much? you uncomfortable?”

you chuckled at his words, stroking the hair on the back of his head as he resting his chin on the mattress.

“wah,” he spoke, placing a hand flat on your stomach, letting it be moved by your unborn child, “wah. hi baby, it’s daddy. remember me?”

“i hope so, considering you speak to her twice a day,” you laughed.

he smiled, kissing his fingers and pressing it to the skin. he continued to blink, in a quiet fascination of your baby, and of you, for carrying her inside you.

“is it uncomfortable?”

“no,” you shook your head, “feels weird though. i couldn’t even describe it if i wanted to.”

he nodded thoughtfully, “how long has she been doing this?”

“all afternoon,” you said, before adding sheepishly, “i phoned the doctor at first. they were a bit pissed at me, i think, cause it turns out it’s absolutely nothing to worry about. but i just thought this movement seemed excessive, right?!”

“yeah, they’re a dick,” leehan said, voice almost emotionless, “you’re just worried for your baby, you’re being a good mum.”

you smiled, “thanks, love. anyway, they said she’s probably just moving position, but it’s early enough that they’re confident she’ll move back before it’s time to come out.”

“she’s just an acrobat, hmm?”

“or a dancer, maybe?” you smiled, leehan looking at you shyly before looking back to your stomach.

“i want to name her sua,” he said, suddenly.

“sua?” you repeated, “as in… water themed?”

he nodded, “either that or i name her after a fish, so it’s up to you.”

you laughed, leaning over and kissing his head, “sua sounds perfect.”

[jinkoh]

lego house

seonghwa x gn!reader

wc: 0.7k, tags: domestic fluff, hurt/comfort (reader has a bad day/week/month), established relationship, SFW

masterlist

It’s cold outside, it’s been cold the whole day. Winter should be coming to an end but it surely doesn’t feel that way with the cold wind crawling through the seams of your coat and making you shiver. It also doesn’t feel that way with how the cold seems to be infiltrating your very being, clouding up your thoughts and weighing down on your chest. It hasn’t been a good week. Or month, for that matter. The new year has just begun, but you’re already hanging by a threat and there are no longer beautiful Christmas lights to distract you from your misery. Work has been exhausting, your colleagues have been obnoxious and your boyfriend’s still on a business trip. And it’s cold. It’s so incredibly cold. 

You’re still shivering when you unlock the door to your apartment, slipping out of your boots that leave behind small puddles on the floor. But you’re too tired to take care of that now. You expect the apartment to be dark and gloomy, but as you shake off your coat you notice the sliver of light seeping out beneath the living room door. A sense of anticipation settles in your stomach as you make your way over, and then the moment you open the door you’re flooded with a feeling of warmth. Seonghwa is sitting on the carpet in sweatpants, hair ruffled and messy, and a new Lego set spread out before him. He looks up at you with a dorky smile on his lips and it’s like all the cold and exhaustion and misery you’ve been feeling just dissipates. 

“Welcome home, my love,” he says, nudging the black frames that are sitting on his nose into place.

“I thought you won’t come home until Monday.”

“Mhm,” he hums, “We wrapped things up early. Had to get home quickly.” He says it like it’s no big deal, but it makes your stomach swarm with butterflies. He came home quickly, for you. Before you can respond, his smile grows even wider, a proud tint to it. “And look what I bought.” Seonghwa holds up the Lego box he already emptied, a familiar little shop on it next to a white house with a bright pink door. In front of them are a brown raccoon and a blue cat. “It’s Nook’s Cranny,” he says and you can see the joy in his eyes and some of it is bleeding into you, too. 

“That’s great,” you say, and you mean it.

“Wanna build it with me?”

You look at him for a moment before glancing at the pieces he’s only just started to unpack. Then you let yourself plop onto the carpet next to him. “That’d be nice.”

He leans over to leave a peck on your hair before he gets back to the colorful little bricks. You sort them diligently, separating between the cranny and the house, sorting further by roof, walls and furniture pieces. The room is filled with a gentle silence, interrupted only by the clicks and clatter of the bricks and the small happy hums Seonghwa lets out from time to time. 

“We should build a house like this eventually,” he says softly as he clicks the last pieces into place, “With a pink little door and a pink little bed and a stove so we can make tea and drink it from our pink little cups.”

“You realize we do have a stove now, right?” You chuckle. 

“But no pink door.”

“Isn’t it a little small though?”

Seonghwa lets his head fall onto your shoulder, nuzzling his nose into your neck. “That’s okay, we can just move closer together,” he says, “I like being close to you.”

“Yeah, me too,” you lean into his touch, letting yourself relax in his warmth. You’ve been so high-strung this whole week, but now you’re finally starting to feel at ease again. It’s as if Seonghwa picked up all your little bricks and pieces and put them back into place, just like the Lego house he’s holding in his hands. 

“I’m glad you’re back home,” you whisper and you can hear the soft smile in his response: “I’m glad to be back.”

masterlistmasterlist | pls consider reblogging if you enjoyed this~

[hello-vampire-kitty]

Servamp Complete guidebook questions and answers about the Alicein household.

The guidebook has many questions and it will take a while to translate them, so, here's just a fewand I chose the ones that are about the Alicein family.

Mikuni and Misono and their respective Servamps have their own categories which I will translate when I have time.

To avoid spoilers, I'm not translating them in order and I wrote the ones I consider spoilers towards the end of the post, mentioning what chapter you should know before reading them.

In regard to the majority of questions, you should be familiar with volumes 3-4.

Let me know if the way I'm writing these translations is okay because I don't want people to get spoiled.

Q1: Will Misono grow taller?

A: He will.

Q2: How old was Misono when he made the contract with Lily?

A: He was 9 years old.

Q3: What was the name given to Lily by Mikage?

A: When Mikage passed away, the name was lost.

Q4: Did Mikado-san ever thought of inheriting the vampire of lust?

A: He probably did when he was a child, but it seems like he lost the desire for it around the time he got married.

Q5: What did Mikado feel about Mikuni while he was cast out of his home? It feels a bit sad to think that his love was only directed towards Misono…

A: It’s not that he didn’t have love for Mikuni, but I think, deep down, he was somewhat afraid of Mikuni, who had the eyes of a child that could see right through people.

Q6: I personally think Mikado-san is quite a terrible person, but what did the members of the Alicein family think of him?

A: They see him as a weak-minded person. However, since they also know that he has been a hard worker since childhood, they can’t bring themselves to speak too badly of him.

Q7: Did Mikado-san know that Mikuni was part of C3? Also, how many years was Mikuni in C3?

A: Yes, he knew and had even requested protection for Mikuni. Mikuni was in C3 for about three years.

Q8 is at the end of the post.

Q9: What was the name that Mikuni's mother gave Doubt Doubt?

A: When she died, that name was lost forever.

Q10: Does Mikuni's mother's family know about the Alicein family incident and Misono?

A: They’ve been informed to some extent.

Q11: Did Mitsuki-chan and Dodo go to school?

A: Dodo went up to high school and Mitsuki went all the way to college.

Q12 is at the end of the post.

Q13: What kind of business does the Alicein family publicly run? A: They are involved in the trade industry.

Q14: How many servants are there in the Alicein family’s mansion? A: Currently, there are about 20 people.

SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 125 and 127!

Q8: I thought everything had a reason and that I understood it all, but as someone without a musical ear, the only thing that kept bothering me was, what song Mikuni's mother's music box was playing.

A: "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" by Bach. It's a piece often played around Christmas, featuring a series of triplets.

(Note, in Japanese it says "3"を連符の続く. The number 3 is emphasized most likely because Jeje is the third Servamp.)

Q12: It seems that Mikuni's mother was betrothed, but are marriages between magicians common?

A: Yes, they are quite common.

[kurishiri]

ECB ┊ To our greed this Christmas —Elbert Greetia—

꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ notice ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to narrative flow or characterization purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but please don’t repost these or claim these as your own!

— the ecb story for elbert in the 2024 christmas collection event! ik its already feb but lets pretend its still dec 😂🙏 delulu is le solulu!

[ELBERT’S ROOM]

Kate: Lord Elbert!

Unable to conceal my joy, I burst into his room.

Elbert: Kate…welcome back.

Lord Elbert’s smile was laced with kindness as he wrapped me in his arms.

Elbert: What did Victor say? …Although I think I have an idea from your expression.

Kate: Hehe…it’s exactly as you think…

K: Victor gave us the okay! We have time off from today until the 25th.

K: Good work on all the missions these past several weeks.

Elbert: I’m glad…you too, Kate.

——With little time to relax, the days passed by in a flash, leaving little time left this year.

And so, with Lord Elbert and I deciding we should take some time off, including on Christmas day,

we moved forward with missions for Crown more than usual for some weeks after the second half of November.

Of course, evil knew no break, and so in more dire times we were required to respond…

but it would appear that, at least for this period, we would be able to pass our days by in peace.

Elbert: …Kate, come here.

Sitting on the bed, Lord Elbert patted his own lap as he called out to me.

Though hesitant that I may be heavy, I wanted to feel Lord Elbert’s warmth, so I timidly sat on his lap nonetheless.

When I did, I felt his arms wrap around me, his hands linking at the front of my stomach.

(I’m so happy…)

Like a jellyfish just floating about in the sea, my body swayed in full happiness.

Kate: Lord Elbert, what do you want to do during our break?

Elbert: I think…I would want to keep you in this room and spend time together…just the two of us.

E: Looking only at you, hearing only your breath, pulse, and voice…

E: I want to take in your breath and, forevermore, feel your existence.

E: It’s not very different from the usual though…so it may feel boring to you.

Kate: Hardly. I want to spend time together with you as well.

Elbert: …I’m glad.

E: Actually, the other day, I found something that could keep us in this room…so I ended up buying it without a second thought.

Kate: You found something…?

Elbert: …Mm, it is set to arrive at Crown castle tomorrow, so I would like to use it then——

Just then, as if he had just thought of something, Lord Elbert cut his words off.

Elbert: …Oh, right. I would like to show you that something in a perfect state…

E: So, if you could go elsewhere tomorrow morning, I would appreciate that.

[TIMESKIP – ELBERT’S ROOM – EVENING]

Kate: An…enlarged birdcage?

The next day, I did as Lord Elbert asked, returning to the room after my outing…

And there in the heart of the room was a birdcage large enough to fit a human.

Kate: I feel like I saw this before somewhere…

Elbert: Perhaps…it was from the time you had become a little bird.

E: This birdcage is more durable than what was used then, and it won’t break easily. …Apparently, even if the manor were to collapse, the inside of the cage will stay safe…

E: And like this, nobody can steal you away from me.

Looking up at the birdcage, Lord Elbert’s eyes narrowed in happiness.

Kate: So…you decorated this while I was out?

A Christmas tree was decorated outside the birdcage, as well as festive ornaments.

Elbert: …At first, I intended to just put the birdcage down.

E: But then…Al told me, ‘This reeks of savagery,’ so…

E: …I tried to decorate it so you would feel comfortable in the cage. I just hope it is indeed to your liking…

Indeed, if anyone who didn’t know Lord Elbert laid their eyes on this room alone, they would probably tremble in its unsettling air.

With the hodgepodge of a rugged, large cage and vibrant Christmas decorations, it seemed all too odd.

(But…to me, I hold this room very dear.)

(After all, I think it was because of Lord Elbert’s gentle love and an overflowing desire that makes up this very room.)

Kate: I really, really like it! Thank you so much for preparing all this for me, Lord Elbert.

When I gave him my honest thoughts, Lord Elbert smiled like a blossoming flower.

Kate: Would it be alright to go in now?

Elbert: Yes…of course.

Lord Elbert opened the entrance to the birdcage and extended his hand as if to escort me.

I took his hand, going inside the cage.

Elbert: How is it? …Do you feel cramped, or any claustrophobia?

Kate: Not at all. …It reminds me of a secret base, so it’s actually quite fun.

Elbert: A secret base, huh… When we were children, just once, I made one, together with Al.

E: We would bring out snacks and cushions to the bushes from the manor’s garden…

E: Though…in the end, the adults found it, and so it was removed.

Kate: Ohh, so you had such memories as well…

Elbert: At that time, I did not really know what was good about it, but now, I do.

[CG - START]

With a smile at its finest, Lord Elbert pulled me in.

And I, too, extended my arms, wanting to become closer with him.

Elbert: In this birdcage, there is only you. …It’s a space filled only with the things I like.

With my back to the cage, Lord Elbert’s arms trapped me in, filling my vision with him.

Kate: …It’s the same for me.

K: I’m happy…just being in the same space together, just the two of us…

Those deep blue eyes, swaying with a bottomless love and a dark obsession approached——and our lips met.

Kate: mm…

All we did was exchange a kiss, and yet it felt like a sweet poison was coursing through me from my mouth,

making my body feel hot, on the verge of melting.

Kate: ah…

Lord Elbert’s tongue slipped in through the gap of my mouth, deepening the kiss.

Elbert: haa…When we’re touching each other in the cage like this…it feels like you’ve become mine.

E: Unable to fly away from the cage, unable to do anything but sing in a beautiful voice…my one and only little bird…

E: I want more of you…until I reach the deepest depths…

[CG – END, FADE TO BLACK]

——And so, my life inside the birdcage continued for many days until Christmas.

It was not as though Lord Elbert had ordered me to do so,

but it just turned out that, other than going to the lavatory or taking a bath, we spent all our time within the cage…

[ELBERT’S ROOM]

(Ah, there’s snow…)

One day, as life continued in the cage, I saw something white started fluttering down.

(…I haven’t been able to touch snow this year yet.)

Elbert: ………

E: …We should go out soon.

Kate: Huh…? But…

Lord Elbert said life inside the birdcage would continue on until Christmas, and that’s what I intended to do as well.

Elbert: …I just want you, and looking at you inside the birdcage like this is enough for me…

E: But, I also think seeing you fly free outside is beautiful, so…

Lord Elbert opened the birdcage, taking my hand and pulling me out.

Elbert: …Let me love you as you are free outside the cage as well.

(…Lord Elbert really is kind.)

I was sure that he was thinking in his heart that he wanted to continue staying with me in the cage.

But, even so, his heart was filled with kindness to the point he would push down such desires for my little thought of wanting to go outside.

And so…

I walked out of the birdcage and hugged Lord Elbert as tightly as I could.

Elbert: …? …Kate?

While Lord Elbert looked troubled, he gently returned the gesture.

Kate: Me too…Even outside the birdcage, I want to love you, Lord Elbert.

I do want to be outside the birdcage, but I would also like to fulfill Lord Elbert's desire…

Unable to completely put down one of those feelings, at some point it would seem that this greed as influenced me.

Elbert: …Kate.

His murmur was filled with enough heat to perhaps melt all the falling snow upon London…

And as we loved each other both in- and outside the birdcage, we fulfilled each other’s greed.

Fin

A Christmas of deepening greed with Elbert

masterlist 🍎🎁 ┊ ko-fi ☕️ ┊ comms 🤍

[hyperfixatedimagines]

Home for the Holidays Ch.3- Alicent x f!reader

Summary: You didn't get your happily ever after. Would this Christmas be any different from the last?

A/N: You asked, I answered....very late but better late than never right? Please let me know what you guys think! This will be the last installment for this fic so please enjoy!

It was never going to work out, at least that’s what you told yourself to make Alicent’s reaction sting less. 

It didn’t work. 

The day after Christmas dinner, the morning after you had slept with Alicent, was a cold one. 

After joking around with Aemond you went back up to Alicent’s bedroom, a fresh bottle of water in hand for her. 

You found her crying- sobbing, actually-  in front of her bathroom mirror. 

You watched her for a moment before making a sound. You cleared your throat before you opened the door the rest of the way.  

She quickly wiped her eyes and turned to you. “(y/n).”

You handed her the water bottle. “Is everything okay?”

Alicent uncapped the bottle and took a long drink. “I think we should talk,” she replied as she set the bottle down on the sink counter. 

Your stomach sank. You already knew what she was going to say. 

So you beat her to the punch. 

“You don’t have to say anything Alicent. We can act like nothing happened last night.”

Alicent frowned and looked away from you. “I think that would be for the best.”

You turned around and walked towards the door. Alicent reached out and grabbed you by the wrist. 

“I had a wonderful time last night (y/n) but-”

You didn’t turn back to look at her, you couldn’t. You knew if you did you’d start crying and it would only make Alicent feel worse. 

“It would never work out, realistically. I know that,” you replied in a soft voice. 

Alicent let go of your wrist. Your arm fell back to your side like a load of lead. 

“Precisely,” Alicent whispered. 

You swallowed hard then walked out of her bedroom. 

You barreled toward the guest room where your clothes were. You changed and called an Uber. The cost was outrageous but you couldn’t stand to be in Alicent’s home another second. 

-

After you changed you returned Aemond’s pajamas to him. 

You knocked on the door to his bedroom and waited. 

He opened the door, sweaty and shirtless. “Hey there creeper,” he joked. 

You forced a smile. “I’m here to return your pajamas. Thanks for letting me borrow them.”

Aemond grimaced. “Gods, I’ll have to burn them now. Won’t be able to wear them without knowing what occurred last night.”

Damn, you had forgotten you’d told him the truth. 

You furrowed your brows. “Have you spoken with your mom yet?”

He shook his head. “No, I’ve been avoiding her. I’m not quite sure how to look at her anymore. I mean, are you two dating now? Was it a one night stand? It’s a lot harder to reconcile than I thought it would be.”

There it was, an out. 

“Good,” you told him. “I lied earlier. I didn’t sleep with your mom. I was just teasing.”

Lying always made the bile in your stomach rise in your throat. This lie was especially hard on your stomach. 

Aemond sighed in relief. “You asshole. My anxiety was off the walls at the thought of it,” he said and jokingly shoved you.

You forced another smile. “I couldn’t help myself.”

You swallowed the bile in your throat. 

Aemond took the pajamas from you. He noticed you had collected your things. 

“Are you leaving?”

You nodded. “Yeah, my cousin called and she was able to send a car for me. It should be here in a few minutes.”

Aemond frowned. “I hoped you’d stay through New Years. It gets pretty lonely with it just being my mother and I. Aegon’s gone off somewhere to whore no doubt.”

“Maybe next time,” you replied.

He nodded. Then Aemond wrapped his arms around you. 

“Happy Christmas (y/n),” he said as he pulled away. 

“Merry Christmas Aemond,” you replied. “I’m going to wait outside. Your mom seemed busy this morning so tell her I said goodbye and thank her for her hospitality.”

Aemond nodded. “Will do. Safe travels.”

You turned and made your way down the hall. 

You were almost at the door when you heard Alicent call your name. 

You turned around at the door and there she was, rushing to meet you. You briefly hoped she had changed her mind and was coming to tell you. 

Sadly that was not it. 

She stopped a few steps away from you, a respectable distance. 

“You’re leaving,” she asked. Her eyes were bloodshot. 

You guessed she had continued to cry after you’d left her bedroom.

“Yes. I thought it best,” you told her, not meeting her gaze. 

“Oh,” she replied, a frown on her face. 

A beat passed in silence. 

You gazed outside and saw a car coming down the driveway. 

“Looks like my car is here.”

Alicent stepped closer to peer outside. 

She was close. You could smell the perfume of her shampoo that still lingered in her hair. Cinnamon and vanilla. You closed your eyes and took in the smell. 

It felt bittersweet.

She saw the car then stepped away.

“Right, well thank you for spending Christmas dinner with us.”

“Thank you for having me,” you said and turned to leave.

Alicent reached out and touched your shoulder. 

You stopped. 

Her hand remained on your arm. 

“You don’t have to leave. I- Aemond would like for you to stay, I’m sure of it,” Alicent said, her voice straining against choked back tears.

You looked over at her hand on your shoulder. 

“There’s no reason for me to stay…” You turned around to face her. “Unless there is?” You met her gaze, begging her to tell you to stay.

But you could tell by the sorry look on her face that she wouldn’t. 

“Aemond would appreciate it,” she replied. 

“Only Aemond,” you asked, giving her another chance. 

But you knew she wouldn’t take it. 

Alicent looked away from you.

You nodded slowly.  

“Merry Christmas Alicent,” you said and walked out.

You didn’t look back as you made your way to the car. 

You got in and greeted the driver. You wouldn’t look back. 

You buckled your seatbelt and the driver started to pull out of the driveway. Still, you wouldn’t look back. 

But as you neared the exit gate you caved and looked back. 

Alicent stood in the doorway, her arms hugging her sides.

From your distance you couldn’t make out the look on her face but you figured it matched yours.

Tears spilled down your face and you quickly wiped them away. You swallowed the rest of them and faced forwards.

It would be hard to forget that night, but you knew you had to if you were to remain friends with Aemond.

-

The year that followed was one you could not have predicted. 

Your family came around to your sexuality. They apologized for their behavior and welcomed you back into the family fold. 

As such you were able to get your own flat. 

Moving out was not as hard as you thought it would be. You and Aemond had not fallen out but distance had grown between you. 

There was no direct reason or cause. You had simply spent less and less time together. 

He found a girlfriend in a mutual friend named Alys, and you had found a wonderful distraction in working for your family’s company. 

Graduation only served to further the divide between you. 

It was also the first time you’d seen Alicent since Christmas. 

She looked stunning, that was no surprise. 

What was a surprise was the man next to her the whole ceremony. 

Had she already found a new partner?

When the ceremony ended you found Aemond and congratulated him. He did the same and hugged you. He also affirmed that while you two had become distant his love and affection for you had not. 

You told him you felt the same and hugged him. 

Then he mentioned he was upset to see his mom’s new boyfriend with her. 

Boyfriend, your heart sank.

But you weren’t surprised. A woman like Alicent would not remain single for long. 

Alys pulled Aemond away before you could ask for any more details. Your family had also approached you to congratulate you. 

You didn’t speak to Aemond much after graduation but he always liked and commented on your Instagram posts and you did the same with his. 

You wouldn’t see Alicent again until Christmas came back around. 

That Christmas your family had decided to throw a lavish ball for friends and business associates. 

You dreaded the thought of having to play the perfect daughter all night long but you knew that you would manage with your cousin Elia by your side. 

Unfortunately for you, Elia had gotten stuck at the airport oceans away. 

So you scrambled to find a friend to join you for the night. 

More unfortunate for you, they were all busy for the night with family or their own plans. 

The only name on your contact list you hadn’t called was Aemond. 

You knew he’d be busy with his own family so you didn’t bother. 

Instead you posted a cheeky Instagram story about suffering through the party alone for your close friends list. 

A few minutes after you posted the story Aemond direct messaged you asking if you wanted a plus one that he was available. 

You called him, not wanting to go back and forth over text.  He answered on the first ring. 

After exchanging pleasantries you asked why he was free on Christmas. Weren’t his family coming down like they did last year?

“No, my grandfather and uncles told my mother they wouldn’t be joining us this year,” Aemond explained. 

“Why? If you don’t mind my asking,” you replied. 

Aemond let out a big sigh. “They weren’t too thrilled that my mother broke off her engagement.”

“Engagement,” you exclaimed, confused. 

You had certainly missed that life update.

Aemond chuckled. “Guess I forgot to post that on Instagram didn’t I. Yeah, my mom got engaged to her boyfriend- the guy you saw during graduation- but she broke it off a few days after she said yes.”

Relief washed over you. You knew Alicent would never be yours, but at least she wouldn’t be anyone else’s either. 

“And why did your grandfather disapprove?”

“He was the one who set my mom up with the guy in the first place. He’s an up and coming guy in politics and my grandfather wanted our family attached to his,” Aemond replied. 

You nodded slowly. “I see. Did she love him?”

“Who knows. They weren’t very affectionate but my mom hasn’t ever been big on PDA.”

“Well I’m sorry to hear they won’t be coming. I know you don’t have the best relationship with them but still-,” you told him. 

“It’s alright. I’m not bothered but my mom isn’t taking it as well. Especially since Helaena is going to spend Christmas Eve and day with a friend. So it’ll be just her and I,” Aemond said with an exasperated sigh. 

“What about Aegon?”

Aemond huffed. “He’s in Las Vegas and doesn’t plan to come home.”

You bit the inside of your cheek. An idea had popped into your head. 

A potentially stupid one.

“Why don’t you and Alicent join us?”

“Really? You wouldn’t mind- well, your family wouldn’t mind?” Aemond asked, his voice hopeful. 

Your heart beat faster at the thought of seeing Alicent again. A whole year later and your heart still yearned for her. 

A bit pathetic of you really. 

Or romantic. 

“Of course they wouldn’t. It’s a big party for donors and friends. They won’t care to have two more in attendance,” you replied. 

“Alright then. I’ll speak with my mother but I’m sure she would prefer it to being home alone that night.”

“Perfect. I’ll text you the address. It’s a bit of a drive from Oldtown so if you can’t make it there won’t be any hurt feelings.”

“Nonsense. I’ll see you then,” Aemond replied. 

“See you then.”

You and Aemond said your goodbyes then you hung up. 

You smiled to yourself. The possibility of seeing Alicent again excited you but you tried to keep your expectations low. 

Even if she came that night it wouldn’t change a thing between you. 

You’d still be just Aemond’s friend. 

And she would still be just Aemond’s mother.

What you wanted from Alicent would take a real Christmas miracle. 

-

The night of the Christmas ball arrived. 

You and Elia had spent a great deal of time on Facetime choosing your attire for the night. You wanted to look so good it would take Alicent’s breath away. 

The guests had started to arrive so your parents had sent an assistant to fetch you. 

You walked down to the ballroom and walked over to where your parents stood. 

They were deep in conversation with another family when you approached them. You recognized the family. 

The Tyrells were an old money family like your own, but they had been your family’s sworn enemies for generations. 

That was until your father reached out to the Tyrells with an olive branch and mended the ages-long feud. 

Most of your family didn’t even know how the feud started. You guessed it had been about land. Most feuds boiled down to land disagreements. 

Now the Tyrells were great business allies. Your father had mentioned a desire to have the families united via marriage quite a few times but nothing had come of it. 

The Tyrell patriarch had a daughter and a son but the son had come out as gay a few years ago and the daughter was well known to sleep around with the staff. Your only eligible brother had just gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend Lyanna so a marriage to unite the families was out of the question for your generation. 

Or so you had thought. 

Your father turned to you as you approached. 

“There she is,” he said and wrapped an arm around your shoulders. 

You smiled politely. 

Your father gestured towards the Tyrell patriarch. 

“Mace, this is my daughter (y/n). Sweetie this is Mace Tyrell,” your father said. 

You shook Mr. Tyrell’s hand. 

“A pleasure to meet you sir.”

He shook your hand and smiled. “A firm grip, you’re like your father I see,” he joked. 

Your father let out a laugh. “She’s a real chip off the old block. She started with us this year and has already gone far beyond what we expected.”

Mr. Tyrell looked at you approvingly. “That’s great to hear Manfrey.” Then he turned around and called out, “Margaery!”

A young woman, probably your age or slightly younger, walked over. She was beautiful, the kind of beautiful that turned heads everywhere she went. 

Too bad your heart was spoken for. 

So you admired her beauty the way you would admire a friend’s. 

Mr. Tyrell placed a hand on Margaery’s back. “Manfrey, (y/n), this is my daughter Margaery.”

Margaery curtsied and bowed her head to your father then to you. 

“A pleasure to meet you Margaery,” your father said and gave your shoulder a slight squeeze. 

You turned to him with a furrowed brow then turned back to Margaery.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you told her. 

She met your gaze. “The pleasure is mine (y/n).”

Your father cleared his throat. “I think we should let these two get acquainted, don’t you agree Mace?”

Mr. Tyrell nodded. “Absolutely.” He turned to Margaery. “Have fun sweetie,” he said, then gave her a kiss on the cheek.

You looked at your father, confused, but he just gave you a firm look. You’d seen that look before, mostly during business meetings when he needed you to close a deal with an associate.

You weren’t sure what kind of deal he wanted you to close with Margaery. 

You’d have to ask him afterwards. 

Soon you and Margaery were alone. 

Once her father was out of earshot she let out a deep breath. 

“Thank Gods they’re gone.”

You smiled. “You didn’t have to curtsey. My father might be a duke on paper but no one really cares about that around these parts.”

She returned your smile. “My father would’ve killed me if I didn’t. He told me I needed to make a very good impression with your family.”

A server walked by with a tray of champagne flutes. Margaery turned and grabbed two. Then she handed one to you. 

You took it and thanked her. 

“Why did you need to make a good impression?” You asked her as you took a sip of your drink.

She took a long drink from her own flute before responding. 

“I have no idea. All he said was to make a good impression and get to know you.”

You furrowed your brow. “That’s interesting. I wonder what he and my father are up to.”

Margaery’s smile returned. “My father is always up to something, though he usually involves my brother and not me.”

You clinked your glass against hers. “Cheers to that. My father's go to is my brother as well.”

“Hmm, how curious,” Margaery replied.

The conversation didn’t last much longer. Margaery’s eye had wandered to one of the more handsome servers and yours was constantly checking the entrance for any sign of Alicent. 

After speaking with Margaery you made your rounds with business associates and with family. Your mother had asked your opinion of Margaery, which you noted was peculiar, and your brother had asked if you thought she was pretty. 

Were they trying to set you up with her? Did she even like women?

Your mother and brother would not reveal anything so you knew you’d have to ask your father. 

You spotted him going to his study so you followed him but as you neared you stopped dead in your tracks. 

Alicent was at the door. Aemond was taking her coat and handing it to one of the doormen. 

You walked over to them, as calmly as you could but everything inside of you wanted to run over. 

Aemond saw you first. He walked up to you and gave you a hug. 

“Happy Christmas (y/n),” he said as he wrapped his arms around you. 

You returned his embrace. “Merry Christmas, Aemond.”

Alicent met your gaze over Aemond’s shoulder. The world stilled.

A lump formed in your throat as you pulled away from Aemond and Alicent stepped forward.

”Merry Christmas (y/n). Thank you for extending us an invitation,” Alicent said and approached you for a hug.

The smell of her vanilla perfume wrapped around you and flooded your senses as Alicent neared. 

You stepped away from her. 

Alicent froze.

You cleared your throat and plastered a polite smile. “I’m sorry. I… My father had sent me on an errand for him before I saw you two. It was urgent so I should uhm..I should get back to that. It’s lovely seeing you both.” You looked over at Aemond, unable to bear the weight of Alicent’s gaze. “Have fun.”

Then you walked away as fast as your legs could go. You rounded a corner and stopped to steady your breathing. 

A year had gone by and the second Alicent laid eyes on you. It felt like no time had passed and you were still the foolish girl standing in that bathroom, swallowing your tears and promising to forget an unforgettable night.

Suddenly the door to your left opened and out came the server who had carried a tray of champagne earlier. His hair was disheveled and he was hurriedly buttoning his shirt back on. He caught you staring and turned a deep red. 

“Miss,” he said and bowed his head as he walked away. 

You furrowed your brow and wondered what had happened but the answer came second later as Margaery emerged from the same room. 

Her hair was also slightly mussed. She noticed you and straightened herself instantly. 

“(Y/n),” she started.

Forgetting all about Alicent you smiled at Margaery. “It seems you’ve certainly made a good impression on that boy.”

Margaery eyed you nervously then let out a small laugh. “And on you?”

You held out your arm towards her. “I respect a woman who goes after what she wants.”

Margaery wrapped her arm around yours and smiled. “I knew I’d like you.”

You escorted Margaery back to the party then parted ways when your brother called you over to speak with some foreign investors. 

As conversation of donations and business dragged on, your eyes wandered. You scanned the breadth of the ball room for any sign of Alicent. 

Now that you had calmed down you realized how rude it was of you to reject her greeting of a polite embrace. 

But it was so hard to think straight upon seeing her. 

Especially in the dress she’d arrived in. It was a beautiful shade of green that brought out the deep hues of her auburn hair and amber eyes. 

You found her across the room, next to Aemond and a few old college colleagues. She looked bored. 

Ask her for a dance.

You shoved the impulsive thought aside. You knew better. 

Your brother’s ramblings tore your attention from Alicent back to him and the investors. It felt like torture to be so close and so impossibly far from her. You recalled feeling the same way at graduation. 

At least she was alone this time. You didn’t have to endure seeing her on the arm of some man.

At long last your brother offered to smoke a cigar with the investors and led them away. 

Finally alone you made your way towards Alicent. 

You had to apologize. 

But as you neared she excused herself and walked outside.

You followed her out to the gardens behind the estate. They were expansive but the path immediately in front of you, which Alicent walked on, led to a private bench and fountain. You had spent a lot of time in that secret alcove as a child, running away from responsibilities and your family’s tiring rules. 

Alicent sat down on the bench in front of the small fountain. 

You lingered in the hedges behind her, suddenly reminded of being a peeping tom again. 

“It seems your peeping tom ways haven’t changed,” Alicent joked and turned her head towards you. 

You emerged from the shadows of the hedges and sat down next to her on the bench, careful not to sit too close to her. 

“I wanted to apologize, for earlier,” you explained. 

Alicent looked down at her hands in her lap. “You have nothing to apologize for (y/n).”

You looked at the fountain. “It was rude of me.”

She looked up and over at you. “It’s alright. I expected something like that to happen.”

You met her gaze. “Really?”

Alicent looked away and sighed. "We didn’t exactly part on the greatest of terms last we saw each other.”

You nervously thumbed at a loose strand on your trouser seams. “I was surprised you came.”

“Aemond insisted,” Alicent replied nervously.

“Is that the only reason?” You asked, briefly wondering if you were a glutton for punishment. Asking questions you knew lead nowhere good. 

“Do you want me to say it was because I wanted to see you?” Alicent countered, the warmth and teasing tone of earlier completely gone. 

“Only if it’s the truth,” you replied.  

Alicent let out another sigh and shook her head. “What good is the truth?” She confessed bitterly.

You took a steadying breath before reaching out to touch the top of her hand. “I’ve missed you,” you confessed.

“Don’t say that,” Alicent replied and pulled her hand away.

You turned your body towards her. “Why not?”

Alicent met your gaze. “It doesn’t change anything.”

A knot rose in your throat. You swallowed hard.

Alicent’s gaze softened. “I don’t mean to be cruel (y/n).”

You looked away and turned back towards the fountain. You didn’t want her to see the tears that started to cloud your vision. 

Alicent reached out and touched the top of your hand. “(y/n)..”

“Have you missed me?,” you blurted out.

A true glutton for punishment.

You blinked away the tears that welled in your eyes. 

Alicent pulled her hand away and stood. “I should go back in.” She smoothed her dress and turned towards the hedges. 

You clenched your jaw and softly shook your head. “Do you have any idea how pathetic it feels to miss someone who doesn’t care about you at all…”

Alicent turned back towards you. She stared at you but didn’t say anything. 

You couldn’t tell if the look in her eyes was pity or guilt.

You stood and closed the distance between you and Alicent. “It’s the worst feeling in the world.”

Alicent opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by a servant running out of the hedges. She caught her breath then informed you your father was calling for you. 

You dismissed her then turned to Alicent. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Mrs. Targaryen.”

Alicent’s gaze dropped at the mention of her married name. 

You knew it was petty and childish to call her that but you had been vulnerable with her and she couldn’t even pretend to have cared. 

-

You made your way back to your father. He was surrounded by his colleagues and Margaery’s father. 

He saw you and smiled. “Come my girl,” he called. 

You reached him and greeted the crowd around him. 

“It’s time,” he said and left. 

Your father walked up to the stage at the front of the room then waited as the singer finished her song and introduced your father. 

Everyone clapped as he walked to center stage and adjusted the microphone. 

“Thank you, thank you everyone. I hope you’re enjoying yourselves. This Christmas is a special one. Our family is whole once more, and I’m happy to announce it’s expanding,” you father declared then he asked you to join him on stage.

You did as he said and once on stage he wrapped an arm around your shoulder. 

“(y/n) has not only joined our philanthropic efforts but she has gone above and beyond all expectations. She has truly made the family name proud,” you father cheered. 

Everyone clapped. 

You smiled sheepishly. You could barely make out those standing closest to the stage, the bright lights blinding you to the rest of the room.

Then your father invited Margaery and her family to the stage. 

You weren’t sure where he was going with his speech. What did it have to do with the Tyrells?

Soon the whole Tryell clan was on stage next to you and your father. 

“I am more than happy to announce that after many centuries of feuding, Mace and I will finally put that ancient history to bed and unite our esteemed families,” your father elocuted.

You wanted to look at your father. You wanted to furrow your brows. 

But you knew better than to show any real emotion while in front of the spotlight. 

So you plastered a fake smile on your face and clapped along with the crowd.

“This coming spring my youngest daughter (y/n) will wed Margaery Tyrell and usher our family into a new, prosperous, and progressive era.” Your father gave your shoulder a squeeze.

Your stomach dropped. 

You finally turned to your father. 

The look on his face was a diplomatic one.

You knew you wouldn’t be able to ask anything until you were in private. 

So you turned to Margaery, who seemed just as shocked as you by the news, and smiled at her. 

Your father encouraged you and Margaery to hold hands so you reached out and laced your fingers with hers. 

Her hand shook and you did your best to give her a comforting look.

By the look on her face it brought nothing of the sort. She had gone absolutely pale.

-

After the announcement your father had led you and the Tyrell clan to his office. 

You held your composure as you sat down in an armchair facing the roaring hearth. 

The second the door to the study closed Margaery let out a flurry of expletives and demanded her father tell her the truth. 

Her father explained to her this was the best choice for their family and that they had even accommodated her desire for a nontraditional spouse.

Margaery hurled more expletives then declared she would never marry. 

She stormed out of the study and slammed the door behind her. 

Your gaze remained on the burning fire. 

It didn’t feel real.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get her on board,” Mace said and shook your father’s hand.

Then he and the rest of the Tyrells walked out.

It was just you and your father. 

He poured himself a glass of bourbon then sat in the armchair across from you. 

“You kept your composure out there. I’m proud of you (y/n).”

He took a long drink then pulled out a small box from his suit pocket. He handed it to you. 

You tore your gaze from the fire and looked at it. 

It was a ring box.

You took it and opened it. 

“Your grandmother’s ring, I’m sure she’d be proud,” your father told you. Then he took another drink. “It should be sufficient for the Tyrells.”

You shut the box and pocketed it. Then you looked up at your father. 

“May I be excused,” you asked.

He nodded. 

You stood and started for the door when he reached out and grabbed you by the wrist. 

You stopped and looked over at him. 

He cleared his throat. “You will marry her. If she won’t come around you need to find a way.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “Yes father.”

He let go of your wrist and you walked out.

-

You needed air. You needed to be alone. 

So you walked towards the gardens. 

But as you did you passed by the foyer and noticed Aemond helping with Alicent’s coat.

Panic spread throughout your body. 

Had she heard?

You walked over to the door. 

“Leaving so soon,” you asked, hoping the panic didn’t come through in your voice.

Aemond met your gaze and stepped away from Alicent. He walked over to you and put a hand on your shoulder. 

“Mom’s not feeling so well,” Aemond explained. He gave your shoulder a squeeze. “But congrats on the engagement. You didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone you dog,” he joked.

You turned to Alicent. 

She wouldn’t look at you. 

“I..,” you started but didn’t continue. 

What could you say? 

Not the truth. Your father would have your head.

So you stared at her, mouth agape, scrambling for a way to make her stay. 

Thankfully the universe intervened on your behalf.

For once it was on your side.

Your butler came through the front door with a severe look on his face. You looked at him and he met your gaze. 

“My apologies miss (y/n) but your guests won’t be able to leave,” he stated. 

Alicent looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

Your butler explained there had been a horrible landslide on the highway leading out of town. The officials had already been notified and first responders were on the scene but it would be hours before it would be safe to travel. 

Then he excused himself to let the others know.

Alicent turned to Aemond. “We will just have to stay at a hotel in town and leave tomorrow morning then.”

You shook your head. “Nonsense, you two can stay here with us. We have plenty of rooms.”

Alicent finally met your gaze. “You’re too kind (y/n) but we couldn’t ask that of you. We’ll be alright in town.”

“I have to insist that both of you stay. Think of it as repayment for letting me stay in your home last year,” you replied.

You could tell Alicent was trying to form a polite way to decline. 

Aemond looked between the two of you, his brow furrowed. 

You turned to Aemond. “It’s not a bother. I’d really like you both to stay the night.”

“Thank you for your offer (y/n),” Aemond said and turned to his mother. “We’ll stay here for the night then drive home in the morning.”

Alicent started to protest but Aemond had already asked you to lead the way.

-

You led Alicent and Aemond to the west wing of the estate where the guest rooms were. The house staff scurried to ready the rooms.

“Seems we won’t be the only ones staying,” Aemond commented.

“I doubt my father would let anyone try to go home in these conditions,” you replied. 

You showed Alicent her room first. 

She excused herself to freshen up before turning in.

Then you led Aemond to his room. 

It was just around the corner from Alicent’s.

You started to excuse yourself but Aemond reached out to stop you. 

“We have to talk,” he said.

By the tone of his voice you knew it was something serious.

Your stomach twisted at the thought.

You led Aemond inside his room and he closed the door behind him. 

“What did you want to talk about,” you asked.

He leaned against the wall. “I want the truth.”

“About what,” you asked, dread filling your chest. 

He scoffed. “You know exactly what.” Then he sighed and sat down on the bed. “I know something happened between you and my mother.”

Your stomach dropped. “What,” you choked out.

He shook his head softly. “Don’t deny it (y/n). You left our house in such a rush last year and nothing was the same afterwards.”

You remained silent.

Aemond crossed his arms against his chest. “When I told her about the party tonight she got so nervous and she fidgeted the whole way here.”

“I’m sure she was just nervous about what your grandfather would think. He hates my family after all,” you replied, hoping he would accept the lie like he had before. 

“No, I want the truth (y/n).” Then he met your gaze. “You owe me that…we were best friends once, weren’t we?”

Your heart broke at the sound of his voice. You looked down at the floor in shame. “Yeah,” you replied, defeated.

“Then tell me what happened,” Aemond pleaded.

You sighed and sat down next to Aemond on the bed. You told him the truth. You told him you and Alicent had slept together. You told him it wasn’t because of the bet the two of you had made. You had always thought his mom was beautiful and that night…well one thing led to another.

“I suspected as much,” Aemond breathed with a sigh when you finished. 

“I told you it had all been a lie because she wanted us to act like nothing had happened. I had already told you so I thought you’d believe it was just a joke.” You continued, your thumb still toying with the loose strand on your trousers. 

“Is that why you pulled away from me when classes started again,” Aemond asked and turned to you. 

You looked over at him. “Not explicitly but maybe subconsciously.”

Aemond nodded slowly. “I noticed and I wanted to say something but when I realized my mother was also acting strange I just froze. I wasn’t sure what to do or say.”

A moment of silence passed between you.

“Maybe that’s also why I pulled away, especially once Alys and I got together,” Aemond wondered aloud. 

“I’m sorry for lying to you Aemond but it wasn’t my place to out anyone,” you told him.

Aemond looked down at his hands. “Do you have feelings for my mother?” Then he looked over at you again. “Real feelings,” he clarified.

You smiled earnestly. “I do.” Then you sighed. “I haven’t stopped thinking about her once since last Christmas.”

“My mother had a very traditional, conservative, upbringing. If she is bi, or gay, or whatever she might be…it would be hard for her to accept that about herself. It would be hard for her to be anything but what my grandfather had told her to be,” Aemond confessed.

You let out a sarcastic laugh. “I understand that more than ever.”

Aemond eyed you, confused. 

“I didn’t know I’d end up engaged tonight,” you told him.

“Really?”

You nodded. “I just met the girl. I had no idea my father had plans to marry me off.”

“Do you have feelings for her?” He asked cautiously.

“No, but that doesn’t matter to my father.” You sighed and stood up. 

“What are you going to do?” Aemond stood as well.

You shrugged. “I don’t know. She didn’t seem happy about our engagement either but my father has ordered me to get her on board if her family can’t convince her.”

Aemond frowned. “That’s fucked.”

“Beyond fucked,”  you replied with a laugh.

Aemond ran a hand through his hair. “Why not just tell your father you won’t do it?”

You shook your head. “I can’t. My father would never forgive me. They’d disown me again.”

“You lived through banishment once,” Aemond countered.

“Yeah but I had friends. I had you,” you replied then wrapped your arms around yourself. “I haven’t spoken or seen any of my friends since graduation. Half of them didn’t even pick up the phone when I called to invite them tonight. If I lose my family again, I have no one.”

Aemond reached out and gave your shoulders a squeeze. “You still have me,” he said with a hopeful smile.

You smiled back at him. “Thanks.”

A knock at the door startled you. 

One of your staff walked in and informed you that your mother was looking for you.

You thanked her and she excused herself. 

You told Aemond someone would come by with spare night clothes then excused yourself.

-

You found your mother in the hall, showing a few family friends where to find their rooms. She told you to go to your father’s study so you made your way back there.

Once inside you saw Margaery and her family gathered there with your father. 

Your father sat at his desk. He stood when you walked in. 

“Wonderful news (y/n),” he said and instructed you to sit next to Margaery on the chaise.

Margaery’s father informed you that Margaery had come around to the engagement.

“Let’s leave the brides to get to know one another,” your father declared then he led Mace Tyrell out the door.

Margaery’s other family members followed and soon you were alone with her once again.

“Did you know,” Margaery asked in a hushed voice.

You sighed. “No. It was a surprise to me too.”

Margaery looked over at you. “I would’ve never guessed. You handled it so well.”

“My family is all about their image. I’m a well trained dog,” you replied, not meeting her gaze. 

“Why aren’t you angry,” Margaery asked, a pensive look on her face. 

“There’s no point,” you confessed. “My father always gets what he wants.”

Margaery folded one leg over the other. “And what would he do if he didn’t?” 

“Probably disown me, again,” you replied, tired. 

“He disowned you?” Margaery’s eyes widened.

You nodded. “Once. It was horrible, and lonely.”

“That sounds awful,” Margaery said and placed a comforting hand on your knee.

You shrugged. Then you turned to her. “Wouldn’t your family do the same?”

“No, never.”

You furrowed your brows. “Then why are you going through with this?”

Margaery looked away from you then bit the corner of her lip. “Can I trust you?”

“Of course.”

“We’re broke,” Margaery said with a sigh.

“You’re broke?”

“Mhm, and we need your family to help us through it.”

You looked down and noticed the outline of the ring box in your trouser pocket. “I see.”

Your father had probably left you alone so you could give Margaery the ring. You reached in your pocket then turned to Margaery.

When you looked over at her you noticed something in her gaze softened. She titled her head to the side. 

“Maybe we could grow to love one another,” Margaery said and ran her thumb across your cheek. “You’re quite easy on the eyes (y/n).”

You smiled and let out a nervous laugh. “Thank you, but I have to be honest with you. Since you were honest with me.”

Margaery dropped her hand from your face. “What is it? You don’t think I’m pretty?”

You dropped the ring box back in your pocket and put a hand up towards Margaery. Your brows shot up. 

“Oh no, it’s not that. You’re gorgeous Margaery, it's just that…my heart is spoken for.”

“Oh,” she replied, a bit of disappointment laced in her voice.

You smiled softly. “I’m sure we’ll be great friends Margaery, and I’ll come to care deeply for you in our marriage but I could never be in love with you,” you confessed. 

“If someone has already claimed your heart, why aren’t you with them?”

“That’s a long story,” you said with a sigh. 

Margaery stood and poured you both drinks from your father’s bar. 

“Your father said to get acquainted so..” she said and handed you a drink. “Let’s get acquainted.”

So you told her everything. 

When you finished Margaery let out a deep breath. 

“(y/n) you poor, darling, idiot. Fucking your best friend’s mother…even I haven’t done that,” she said.

“I did worse than that Margaery. I fell in love with her,” you replied. 

Margaery wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “A hopeless romantic,” she teased with a small smile. 

You smiled back. “Thanks for listening to me go on and on.”

“What are fiancé’s for?” Margaery joked. Then she gave your cheek a quick pinch. “I think we will be the best of friends (y/n).”

You laced your hand with hers. “I agree.” You gave her hand a squeeze. “And the best part is I will be happy to hear all about your romantic and sexual dalliances during our marriage, as long as you keep them quiet, what with the family image to uphold,” you joked. 

Margaery laughed. “Of course.”

A servant came in and informed Margaery her family was leaving via helicopter. The two of you hugged and said your goodbyes.

You walked out to the ballroom where everyone was slowly clearing out for the night. You grabbed an unopened bottle of champagne and made your way to your room.

-

A whole bottle of champagne later you laid in your bed and stared at the ceiling. 

You were really going to marry a complete stranger.

And for what?

Your father’s pride?

You sighed and got ready for bed.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

You tossed and turned for hours until you gave up and decided to get some fresh air. 

You wrapped your robe tightly around you and slipped on your outdoor slippers. 

Just as you started for the door your eye caught on your grandmother’s ring. You grabbed the box and slipped it in your robe pocket.

-

The night air was crisp. It felt good against your skin.

You took a deep breath as you made your way through the garden.

You sat down in front of the small fountain. The stars twinkled overhead.

You thumbed the ring box in the pocket of your robe. 

You brought it out and opened it. 

You ran your finger over the diamonds. 

Soon tears pooled in your eyes. 

Your future was set.

You’d marry Margaery. Your father would want heirs so you’d probably have kids. You’d work at your father’s company until you retired. Then you’d sit all alone in your estate as your kids and Margaery all lived their own lives. 

Tears started to cloud your vision.

A slave to your family name.

The tears spilled over. You wiped them away with the sleeve of your robe.

You froze when you heard footsteps behind you. 

You stood up and faced the hedges. 

“Who is there,” you asked as you shoved the ring box back in your robe.

It was quiet for a moment.

Then she walked out from the shadows. 

Alicent stopped just short of where you stood. 

“Who’s the peeping tom now,” you joked.

A small smile spread across Alicent’s face. 

But it was gone just as quickly as it had come.

“I didn’t mean to intrude. I couldn’t sleep so I came out for some air. I…I’ll go,” Alicent said and turned her back to you.

You reached out and grabbed her hand. 

“Don’t, please,” you begged.

Alicent didn’t meet your gaze but she gave a small nod. 

You sat back down on the bench and she sat on the other side of it.

“What brings you out here so late,” Alicent asked.

You sighed. “Everything.”

Alicent turned her head towards you. “Are you alright (y/n)?”

You shook your head. Then you brought out the ring box. 

Alicent’s gaze shifted towards the ring box. 

You opened it and showed it to her. “It was my grandmother’s.”

Alicent took it and ran her finger across the diamond. “It’s beautiful.”

“My father handed it to me and said my grandmother would be proud,” you recalled with a sigh.

Alicent handed the box back to you. “I’m sure she would be.”

You pocketed the box and let out a scoff. “What would she be proud of?” 

You stood and walked to the fountain. You looked down at your reflection in the water, the moon high above you. 

“I’m going to marry a woman I don’t know and don’t love for my father’s sake… My grandmother would’ve called me a coward,” you finished and turned to look at Alicent. 

She furrowed her brow. “You don’t know her?”

You shook your head then sat down next to Alicent on the bench, your body facing hers. “I just met her tonight.”

“Oh,” Alicent responded, she looked away from you but you noticed a shy smile prying at her lips.

You looked down at your hands, a smile on your face.

“You know she caused such a scene in my father’s study that I thought her family would break off the engagement.” 

You let out a small laugh at the memory of Margaery cursing in front of your father.

Alicent turned back to face you. “A scene,” she asked.

You nodded. “Our engagement was a surprise to her as well. She was not on board,” you explained. 

“What changed?” Alicent tucked a lock of auburn hair behind her ear.

You remembered how soft her hair had felt in your fingers. You wished to reach out and touch her but you knew better.

So you looked away from her and took a steadying breath.

“I spoke with her, alone, and she explained that her family is in financial hardship and needs my family name to get through it.” 

You looked up and met Alicent’s gaze. The moonlight washed over her porcelain skin. She looked positively angelic. 

“I wanted to explain to you,” you started. “I didn’t want you to think what I said in the garden was a lie.”

Alicent softened. She reached out and touched the top of your hand. “I know your heart.”

You turned your hand over and laced your fingers with hers. You stroked the palm of her hand with your thumb.

After a moment in comfortable silence Alicent let out a breath and spoke. 

“So you’re moving forward with the engagement?”

You shrugged. “What else can I do?”

Alicent brought your hand into her lap. “Surely your father would understand if you couldn’t go through with it?”

“Would yours?”

Alicent didn’t reply. 

You looked over at Alicent. “What did it feel like…being in an arranged marriage?” 

“It’s hard,” Alicent said with an exasperated breath. She closed her eyes. “You try to love them but so much of it feels hollow.” 

Alicent opened her eyes and turned to you. 

Tears had started to pool in your eyes. 

Alicent reached out and cupped your cheek. “I don’t mean to scare you (y/n). Maybe it’ll be different for you,” she said, trying to comfort you.

A stray tear fell down your cheek. 

You pulled away from Alicent and stood back up. 

“It’ll be worse,” you muttered as you walked back over to the fountain.

Alicent stood up and followed you. “Don’t say that,” she chided and placed a hand on your shoulder. “She’s a beautiful girl. I’m sure you’ll grow to love her.”

You clenched your jaw then turned around. “She’s not you,” you confessed. 

Alicent’s brows shot up. “I-.”

“I’m in love with you Alicent. Being with anyone else will be torture,” you told her. You reached out and took her by the hands. You brought them to your lips and kissed her knuckles. “I love you,” you murmured into them.

Alicent turned her head and pulled her hands away. “(y/n), please don’t.”

You stepped closer to her, close enough to smell her perfume. 

“I’m going to marry someone I will never be able to love. Please…please let me tell you exactly how I feel about you,” you pleaded. 

Alicent met your gaze. 

Your faces just a breath apart from one another. 

“It wouldn’t change anything,” Alicent replied.

“You’re right,” you let out a small sigh. Then you looked down and remembered the ring box in your pocket. 

Alicent hooked her finger under your chin and brought your gaze back up to her. “You’ll be alright.”

You looked into Alicent’s eyes, and couldn’t stop yourself from leaning forward. 

Your lips met hers. 

Alicent cupped your cheek and softly pulled away. 

“We can’t,” she whispered. 

You leaned into her touch and closed your eyes.  “I love you.”

Alicent dropped her hand from your face. “Stop saying that.”

You opened your eyes and frowned. “Why?”

Alicent turned away from you and wrapped her arms around herself. She was quiet.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable Alicent,” you apologized. 

“It’s not that,” Alicent turned back around. She rubbed her arms for warmth.

You undid your robe and wrapped it around her shoulders. 

“You’re too kind (y/n).” 

Alicent pulled the robe tighter around her.  

“You deserve all the kindness in the world,” you replied, a rueful smile on your face.

Alicent looked up at the sky and shook her head softly. She looked back at you and bit her lip. 

There was something in her gaze you couldn’t quite read. 

“What is it,” you asked her. 

“I love you too,” she declared with tears in her eyes. 

You stepped closer. “What…”

Alicent wiped away the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes. 

“I have not stopped thinking of you since that night.”

You closed the gap between you. “Really?”

Alicent nodded, not trusting her voice. 

You cupped her face with your hands. “Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you call or text or-,” you rambled. 

“Because it doesn’t matter how we feel. You said it yourself, we are slaves to our family names,” Alicent replied as tears fell down the sides of her face.

You wiped the tears away as they fell. 

“It does matter. It matters to me,” you whispered. 

Alicent leaned into your touch. 

You brought your face closer and leaned your forehead against hers. 

You dropped your hands from her face and wrapped them around her waist.

She buried her face in the crook of your shoulder. 

You kissed the side of her head. “You know, I was never sure if you felt the same as I did. Sometimes I thought I tricked you into sleeping with me and had imagined any affection you had for me.”

Alicent pulled away just enough to look you in the eye. 

“You showed me exactly what I had felt missing my whole life,” she declared.

Then she leaned forwards and brought her lips against yours. 

Her kiss was timid but determined. She wrapped her arms around your neck and brought your face closer to hers. 

You deepened the kiss and pressed her body against yours. 

Desire started to pool between your thighs at the welcomed memory of Alicent's body against your own.

So you pulled away, just enough to speak. 

“I need you Ali,” you whispered, breath ragged and spent.

Alicent stared into your eyes. 

You noticed how dark her eyes had become. 

She nodded and you led her back to your room.

-

Hours, and more than a handful of orgasms, later Alicent laid her head on your chest and smiled as your breathing steadied.

She laced her fingers with yours. 

You smiled up at the ceiling as you ran your hands through her hair. It was just as soft as you remembered.

Alicent lifted her head and looked up at you. “You look lost in thought.”

You looked down at her and smiled. “I’m just so happy right now.”

Alicent kissed your collarbone. “I am too,” she confessed. 

You twirled a lock of her hair around your finger. “You’re so beautiful.”

She buried her face in your chest but you caught the blush in her cheeks before she did so. 

It brought a satisfied smirk to your lips.

The first streaks of dawn started to filter through the heavy curtains of your windows. 

Alicent looked up and realized the time. 

“I should get back to my own room,” she said and started to collect herself. 

And just like that your carriage had turned into a pumpkin.

You sighed.

“Can’t we just stay in bed a while longer.”

You sat up and watched as she put on the pajamas your staff had given her. 

“We have to face reality at some point (y/n),” she said and walked back over to the bed. She gave you a quick peck on your lips.

You caught her arm just as soon as she pulled away. She stopped and looked down at you. 

You threw your legs over the side of the bed and pulled her in between your legs. 

“Who says we have to do that?” 

Alicent smiled languidly. “I would love nothing more than to stay in your bed with you until the end of time but-”

You grabbed her hands and kissed each palm. “But nothing…just stay a little longer,” you begged. 

Alicent let out a deep sigh but the smile remained on her face. “Fine,” she resigned in fake annoyance. 

You gave her hands a gentle squeeze then looked down at them. You ran your thumb over her ring finger on her left hand.

“You know, my grandmother’s ring would look good on you,” you mused aloud.

Alicent pulled her hand away and stepped back. “That’s cruel,” she snapped.

The air in the room changed in an instant.

You stood and followed her. You put your hands on her arms and she turned around.

“I’m sorry,” you started. 

Alicent sighed then her shoulders sagged. “It’s fine I just don’t like thinking of things that can never be,” she reasoned.

You turned and noticed your discarded robe on the edge of the bed. You picked it up and pulled out the ring box.

Why couldn’t it? You thought to yourself.

Your father would hate you.

But you’d have Alicent.

You’d have Alicent…she just needed to say yes.

You opened the ring box then turned back to Alicent. 

She eyed you curiously. 

You got down on one knee.

Alicent’s eyes widened. “(y/n),” she started.

“Marry me,” you declared and held the ring towards her.

“You can’t be serious,” she stuttered. 

You stood and looked her in the eyes. “Now that I know you feel the same as I do, I can’t marry Margaery. The only woman I want to be with is you,” you declared.

Alicent’s mouth fell open. “I- I don’t know what to say. (y/n) we hardly know each other.”

You shrugged. “We’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another.” You got down on one knee again. “So say yes,” you urged.

Alicent walked to the other side of the room. “It would never work,” she argued. Then she started to pace about the room. “I’m a widow with three grown children. What would they say if we married? You have your whole life ahead of you (y/n).” Alicent stopped pacing and looked at you, her anxiety and fear written all over her face. “Your father will disown you.”

You walked to where Alicent stood and smiled at her. “I don’t care what others will say. I don’t care if my father disowns me. I don’t care if they take my inheritance away.” 

“But (y/n),” Alicent started to protest but you held up a hand to stop her.

“I love you. I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?”

Alicent held your gaze. “Are you sure?”

You nodded. “More than I’ve ever been before.”

Alicent bit the inside of her cheek. Then she looked down at her hands, she nervously toyed with them. 

“Everything would change. I’m scared,” Alicent whispered.

“I can be brave enough for the both of us,” you said and brought her gaze back up to meet yours. 

You gave her a tender kiss then stroked her bottom lip with your thumb. 

“Please, let me love you the way you deserve. Let me fill your days with joy and your nights with endless bliss,” you professed.

Alicent let out a great sigh then let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t deserve you (y/n).”

You shook your head. “Yes you do.”

Alicent kissed your lips, then your cheeks, then your forehead. 

You laughed then got back down on one knee. “Let’s try this again,” you joked. 

Alicent smiled down at you. 

You took the ring from the box and held it up towards Alicent. “Alicent Hightower, will you do me the absolute honor of marrying me?”

“Yes,” Alicent replied, tears in her eyes. 

You stood and slipped the ring onto her finger. Then you brought her hand up to your lips and kissed her knuckles. 

Alicent took a steadying breath then wiped the tears from her eyes. She admired the ring on her finger. 

Then her smile dropped. 

She looked up at you. 

“What are we going to tell Aemond?”

“We’ll tell him he can call me Mom,” you joked with a smirk. 

Alicent’s smile returned. She swatted at your arm. “You’re impossible.”

You brought her lips to yours and slowly drifted back to your bed. It would be another couple hours before either of you got back up.

-

Aemond sat at the foot of the bed, stupefied. 

“You’re marrying my mother,” he asked aloud.

You sat down next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re damn right I am, son.”

Aemond’s face soured at the sound of the word. 

“Do not call me that ever again.”

You laughed. “Fine, but I won’t mind if you call me Mom.”

Aemond shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

Then the two of you went out to find Alicent and break the news to your family. It didn’t matter if they hated you. It didn’t matter if they disowned you. You had Alicent and you had Aemond. You would have a new family.

[illicitdream]

" probably ? nah, it's in your system now. " he nestled into them again, taking a moment to live in the scent they created. " i've been told it's terminal too, so. no choice but to live out your twilight years with me, what a horrible way to go. " this should feel strange, but it just doesn't. not even a little bit. two days ago they were in this same place, not the bedroom but not far from it talking about personal things, making little friend plans, figuring out what bar they should go to, talking about what he'd come to realize was a slowly failing relationship. and now they were cuddled up in their bed, idly talking like they always had. " okay, didn't think i came across as 'has a humiliation fetish' but really appreciate the shot. " it felt like the most natural thing in the world, laying there. even with flossie on top of him, breasts pressed against his skin, the two of them practically sticking together until they slowly began to dry off, it felt like they were right where they belonged. where they'd belonged this whole time. " yeah, actually. " energy spent for now, he went limp beneath her and focused on his breathing. " i could go anywhere with you and have a good time. i could take you to dinner or we could go out drinking and singing but. " moving his back, he made enough room for their arms to hook around him again, raising a hand to brush some of the hair out of their face so he could watch them kiss his chest. " it's kind of . . . i wanted it to be a little more personal, you know ? i mean i'm no gordon ramsay or anything but it'll be something i make with my effort. you can pick the movie though. " his head arched back as they started to crawl up his body, not wanting to deny them any space. " not gonna' scare you away by making you sit through the extended editions of the lord of the rings. yet, anyway. " by the time she'd reached his throat, and asked, he flexed his hands at his sides and rolled his ankles. " i don't know if i can fit in your bathtub, i couldn't fit in mine if i tried. just, " he leaned up, pecking at her lips only to start rolling over, offering them the chance to stand up. " give me a . . . " a few moments later, with both feet on the floor, he stood up. he wobbled briefly before catching himself with a laugh. " thought you made my legs go numb there. " he had been spent, physically. but there was no denying: the two of them stunk. it was a smell he'd commit to memory, but around their other friends ? now that they weren't clinging to each other still, and they could collectively stumble to flossie's bathroom, he took every opportunity to stretch his legs, watching as they started the water. " should be a fun reveal for everyone else. you think we should wait to say something and surprise everyone with christmas cards ? "

now that the sticky sheen of exertion was easing, the touch was nice. being pressed against him everywhere that she could possibly be felt right for flossie. they didn’t know how the pair of them had gone so long surviving off of friendly hugs or leaning in to one another. now she knew what it felt like to be touched by him everywhere, would be able to feel the warmth of his skin long after they untangled themselves from one another. “infectious? oh gross, i probably have it now,” she feigned a whine, though it hardly had any holding with how she encouraged him to nuzzle in closer. a soft hum fell from their lips as they contemplated his words, slow smile forming. “yeah — i can see you being into that.” though, she was now aware his perhaps otherwise rather meek personality didn’t translate everywhere. despite initial uncertainties, he’d certainly seemed confident handling them if you asked flossie. maybe it was instinctual to take what he needed but she had no issues with it. was always happy to be guided, urged, put exactly where her partner wanted her to be. the trust aspect helped. they knew that they could trust allen with anything before they’d taken this step together and now the trust could only grow. she hummed softly at his suggestions, quite happy to let him rattle off whatever he was thinking. after settling on top of him, they let their hands wiggle in between his body and the mattress underneath it so that they could hold him at least a bit. “would you like to do that instead, then?” tilted her head to rest her cheek on his chest, picking the side where she could surely hear the sound of his heart beneath the surface. it was so comforting. it was so sure that she couldn’t doubt for a moment that this was real and actually happening.“a nice, slow evening being curled up together sounds good to me, too.” their head levelled to be straight on, lips pressing between his pectorals and at his sternum. it was just a soft, gentle press over and over again. his heart was supposed to belong to her now. she’d have to treat it well. “would you like to shower with me?” they asked after a moment, lips still moving on his skin. wanted to offer him all the care and affection they’d both been starved from in all the time they’d been waiting for one of them to realise they could have what they wished for. “or a bath?” the peppering of lips continued until she reached the hollow of his throat, nose sliding up the column before she lifted her head to lock eyes with him.

[cottoncandywhispers]

IT'S GIVING CHRISTMAS REALNESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! 🎄✨

AW THANK YOU BABYYY!! ✨ i tried to add some pink to the christmas spirit to see if it would revive it lmaooo

[fluffylord]

TWELFTH DOCTOR S09 E00 | LAST CHRISTMAS

[bamboo-bees]

Where were you on that one, John 🤷

[aheathen-conceivably]

Don’t mind me just sitting here thinking about how long I’ve been in the 1930s and how it’s still only 1935.

[visgae]

Am I the only one who gets genuinely depressed at the thought of Christmas time but not in a family anxiety way? I just don't like the idea of forced joy and nostalgia for the sole purpose of selling shit that people don't need

[sideblogdotjpeg]

i am not immune to launchpad sol and albin thoughts

[electroniccollectiondonut]

I just think Clark Kent, born and raised (...well you know what I mean) in Smallville Kansas, comes to Metropolis and experiences for the first time, all at once, multi-lane traffic, real crowds, buildings taller than two storeys, city lights, and the fucking ocean, and spends the first six months feeling totally floored every time he looks out the window.

[kingquentin]

.

[milkyspine]

— get out