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foundtherightwords · 7 months ago

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The Hollow Heart - Chapter 1

Pairing: Hellcheer, Gothic AU

Summary: To escape her mother's control and the stifling society of Gilded Age New York, heiress Christabel Cunningham impulsively marries Henry Creel, a charming and seductive stranger, and accompanies him to his remote mansion on the West Coast. There, as Henry grows cold and cruel, Christabel must uncover her husband's sinister secret before it's too late. But can she trust Kas, her husband's enigmatic assistant, who seems to be her only ally in this strange place, or is Kas's loyalty to his master stronger than his attraction to Christabel?

A/N: This was inspired by the moodboard for "Vecna's Bride" by @a-strange-inkling. I saw the title and the Gothic imagery and my imagination just ran wild.

I changed the names to differentiate them from my Regency AU and better fit the Gothic vibe, so Chrissy is now Christabel (after the poem by Coleridge; the fic title and chapter titles are also quotes from the poem) and Eddie is Kas, because I took some inspiration from the D&D lore of Vecna and Kas (big thanks to @waterfallsilverberrywrites for helping me with that!) When I did a poll, the consensus was that Eddie's Gothic name should be Edmund, but... I prefer Kas :P (I already have plans to use Edmund for another AU.)

Chapter warnings: none (but Eddie doesn't appear in this chapter yet... please bear with me)

Chapter word count: 3.9k

Chapter 1 - At the Old Oak Tree

Christabel ran.

In the distance, she could hear the shouts and cheers of the hunting party, the excited barking of the dogs, and the occasional gunshots, cracking sharply in the crisp autumn air. She was not far enough. Lifting her heavy wool skirt above her knees, she pushed deeper into the bushes. The dead leaves from years past formed a soft carpet under her feet, muffling the sound of her steps, while the leaves of this year, despite having turned all shades of gold and crimson on the trees, had not yet fallen, so she need not worry about being discovered from their crunch underfoot. She hoped the party was not headed this way. After all her endeavors to snatch a moment alone, she intended to savor it to its fullest.

Christabel Cunningham hadn't had many opportunities to be alone in her twenty-three years on Earth. The only daughter of a wealthy New York businessman, she had been since birth surrounded by nurses and governesses and servants, who took care of her under the watchful eyes of her mother. Her father had died, quite suddenly, of a heart attack, when Christabel was only a child. Christabel did not miss him. To her, he was but a dim, distant figure, always away on business trips, or holed up in his study when at home, hiding from his wife, leaving Christabel to bear the brunt of her mother's nagging. The sole mark he'd left on Christabel's life was her name, given to her by him in a fit of romanticism, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Cunningham, who preferred classic names like Elizabeth or Catherine or Amelia. His death didn't leave much of a void behind.

Her mother, an ambitious and exacting woman, embittered by her failure to have a son and by becoming a widow so young, had poured all her affection and thwarted dreams upon her daughter, smothering the girl with them. She dictated everything Christabel wore and ate and read and play, and all the friends Christabel made and all the parties Christabel attended had to be approved by her. And so Christabel had grown up with her books and her dolls, lonely but never alone.

In truth, she hadn't been allowed to attend a lot of parties. As she grew up and learned more about her father's will, Christabel discovered a more mercenary side to what she'd once thought was her mother's overprotectiveness. As the trustee of her daughter's inheritance, Mrs. Cunningham could enjoy a lavish lifestyle, a townhouse on Fifth Avenue, a summer cottage in Newport, the latest fashion in her wardrobe and the most luxurious dishes on her table. But as soon as Christabel was married, she would be in charge of her own fortune, and Mrs. Cunningham would be left with half of what she was used to. Christabel believed that to prevent this, her mother would have locked her away forever, like Rapunzel in her tower.

But social standing has its advantages. Afraid of the wagging tongues of the town, the whispers behind closed doors that she was keeping her daughter from society to hold on to her money, Mrs. Cunningham had reluctantly allowed Christabel to make her debut when she came of age. Since then, her days had been filled with balls and theater trips in the winter, tennis matches and yacht races in the summer, giggling friends and fawning suitors, still under the watchful eyes of her mother. It was tedious, but Christabel had endured it because it was better than staying at home, surrounding by the dark walls of her room and feeling her mother's disapproving stare on her at all times. Besides, that was what was expected of all the debutantes. Smile, dance, flirt, ride, sketch or sing a little, play a little piano, speak a bit of French, a bit of German, be amusing but not sarcastic, be vivacious but not feisty, be modest but not withdrawn, and hopefully make an advantageous match, and then have daughters and watch them go through the same thing, over and over again.

Christabel knew she would not break free of this cycle. Her whole life she had been taught to do what she was told, to never question, to never put a foot out of line. But as her own, feeble form of rebellion, she made it a point to refuse every proposal she'd ever received—and there had been plenty of them. With her delicate features, dewy skin, wide blue eyes, and strawberry blonde hair, Christabel always turned heads in every room she walked in. It was true that her nose was slightly upturned and her front teeth were slightly crooked, but these flaws were seen as charming, not defective. And if her manners were at times rather listless and uninterested, well, her inheritance could more than make up for it. So a lot of men had fallen in love with her, or at least with her beauty, or with her money, and had proposed, but she had refused them all.

When Mrs. Cunningham found out about these refusals, Christabel always had a believable reason to convince her mother of her decision—the family had an unpleasant reputation, their fortunes were not equal, or the boy himself did not have a promising enough prospect. Mrs. Cunningham was appeased, for a while, but after two seasons and Christabel remained unmarried, she began to grow uneasy and warned her daughter of the perils of spinsterhood.

To all her admonishment, Christabel said nothing. It wasn't that she wanted to be an old maid for the rest of her life, far from it. But unlike other young women, who dreamed of marriage as a celebration of love or even as a way to further their social connections, Christabel saw it as a means to freedom. And none of the men in her circle could give her that freedom she so thirsted. They all grew from the same stocks, the same root. If she married one of them, she would move in the same circle, lead the same life, beating a tired circle from Manhattan to Newport and back again, perhaps with the occasional trip to Europe, but still seeing the same faces, doing the same thing as everybody else, and never be free of her mother.

For that summer season, Christabel had tried to convince her mother to go to London or Paris, or, if they had to stay, then she was secretly hoping—as hateful as it sounded—to catch the eyes of a European aristocrat, many of whom were flocking to America in search of an heiress to restore their family fortune. Europe would be the ultimate escape. However, her mother disliked traveling, and although Christabel's inheritance was sizeable, it was not large enough to draw the attention of an impoverish earl or baronet.

At least her mother had accepted Mrs. Carver's invitation to their summer mansion in Tuxedo Park for two weeks of English-style country party. There were to be riding and shooting and picnics in the woods, all culminating in a costume ball on All Hallows' Eve. They had just come back from Newport, worn out and looking forward to some quiet days to recover before the winter season, so Christabel had been afraid her mother would refuse, knowing her dislike of the outdoors. But an invitation to the exclusive Tuxedo Park was hard to come by, and when Mrs. Cunningham learned the party was thrown for Mrs. Carver's eldest, Jason, who had just come back from Yale, nothing could have kept her away.

Jason Carver. Christabel sighed. All the debutantes were in love with him, though to Christabel, he had always been just a good friend, nothing more. She'd never imagined he would set his sight on her, not when he was always surrounded by so many other girls. So it had come as a complete shock when, after a dinner party at the Carvers' mansion, Jason had asked to speak to her alone in the gazebo overlooking Tuxedo Lake. There, while the moonlight rippled over the water, turning the surface of the lake into a broken mirror, he had taken Christabel's hands in his and, tremblingly, haltingly, asked her to marry him.

For the first time, Christabel had hesitated.

Jason was one of her few childhood friends her mother had approved of, as the Carvers' Manhattan residence was not far from the Cunninghams'. He had always been kind and attentive to her, and unlike some men, she knew he cared not a jot for her inheritance, since the Carvers was one of the richest and most prominent families in the city. A marriage between her and Jason would send her mother to Heaven.

That was the problem, of course. Christabel never wanted to do anything her mother wished.

"If we are to marry, can we live here?" she'd asked. It sounded as though she had accepted him already, but she didn't care. She looked around at the untamed parkland of the mansion, with the woods surrounding it on all sides and the sparkling lake in the distance. It may not be far enough from her mother, but it would be something.

"Of course!" Jason had said, squeezing her hands. "We'll come here for the summer, and—"

"No, you mistook me. I don't mean for the summer. I mean permanently."

Jason had laughed at that, thinking it was a joke. "We can't possibly live here! I have my business in town, and there's nobody here for half of the year anyway. Why would you want to live here?"

Christabel had tried to say that she wanted to live in Tuxedo Park precisely because there was nobody there for half of the year, but one look at Jason and she knew he wouldn't understand. Nobody would.

"I'm sorry, I can't," she'd said and withdrawn her hands.

She'd half-hoped Jason would try to get her to change her mind, that he would say they could live anywhere as long as they were together, but he had only shaken his head, said, "It's not meant to be then," bowed, and gone back inside, leaving her alone on the shore of that moonlit lake. Of course. No amount of love could be enough to compel a man to throw away his whole life like that, and even if he had made the offer, she couldn't possibly have accepted such a sacrifice. Perhaps it was for the best.

Still, that hadn't stopped things from being rather tense and awkward between them when they set out for the hunt that morning. Christabel had never enjoyed hunting, but she jumped at any chance to be outdoors, to be able to walk and run and move freely without being criticized for not acting ladylike enough. And another reason—her mother, having no interest in hunting and riding, always stayed behind on such occasions. That morning, though, Christabel could feel Jason's mournful eyes on her whenever she turned. She'd only wanted to be alone with her thoughts, but it was difficult when she was surrounded by the hunting party with their guns and dogs and servants. It was only when they came across a flock of partridges and the others' attention was diverted that she managed to slip into the woods.

Now, as she walked through the trees, Christabel pondered her situation. Would it be so bad, being married to Jason? It would at least let her be mistress of her own life... except that life would still be tied to another's. No, if she simply wanted to claim her inheritance, she would've married the first man that proposed and had done with it. This regret was simply because she had started to feel anxious about her future. Could she go on like this until her mother died? Could she live as a spinster, becoming brittle and bitter in her old age, facing the pity and contempt of others? Christabel felt the old, helpless anger toward her father blaze up inside her once more when she thought about the predicament he'd placed her in. What was the use of ensuring no one could touch her inheritance, if she had to saddle herself to a man to claim it?

She passed through the line of trees and came to a clearing on the side of a hill, gently sloping toward a small glen, where an old oak tree spread its cape of gold leaves over a murmuring brook. It seemed something straight out of a Washington Irving story—all that was missing was a covered bridge. Tucking her skirt into the top of her gaiters, Christabel threw her arms over her head and sprinted down the slope, letting the cool air fill her lungs and clear her head.

Near the bottom of the slope, her skirt slipped out of the gaiters and tangled around her legs. Her ankles twisted under her and sent her tumbling down. She rolled head over heels the last few feet before skidding to a stop right by the oak. Luckily, the hill wasn't steep, and her fall had been more embarrassing than painful. She cursed under her breath. When they received Mrs. Carver's invitation, Christabel had begged and begged her mother to let her have a split skirt for the occasion so she could move about with more ease and perhaps even learn to ride a bicycle, as some of her friends had, but Mrs. Cunningham had insisted that her old riding habit, with its long trailing skirt, would do just fine. Christabel shouldn't do much walking or moving about anyway, Mrs. Cunningham had argued. Men wouldn't be interested in overly energetic girls. And as for riding a bicycle, showing off her legs in those newfangled bloomers, like some common hoyden? Forget about it.

"Are you all right, miss?" a voice said somewhere over her head.

Christabel looked up and saw a pair of blue eyes. A man had stepped out from the other side of the oak tree and was looking down at her. She suddenly became aware that she was sprawled on the ground with her skirt hiked up over her knees. She bolted up and pulled her skirt down, face burning crimson.

"Yes, yes, I'm perfectly fine, thank you," she sputtered, struggling to her feet.

Her ankle turned painfully. The man reached out a hand to help her. His grip was firm and strong.

"Thank you." Christabel peered at him more closely. He was dressed for a day out in tweed and stout boots, but with a walking stick, not a gun. "Are you with the Carver hunting party?" she asked, for she did not remember seeing him. He was a little older than Jason and her circle of friends, in his late twenties or early thirties perhaps, tall, with a fine-boned, elegant-looking face. But what startled her the most was his eyes, as clear and blue as the sky above, fixed upon her with an expression of fascination and interest quite unlike anything she'd received from her suitors. She reached a self-conscious hand to her hair, trying to dislodge any dry leaf that may have gotten stuck there.

"Carver? No, no, I'm a guest of Dr. Brenner."

Christabel's eyebrows shot up. Dr. Brenner was an eccentric who had inherited one of the largest fortunes in New York, but rather than continuing to run the family business, he had devoted his time to studies of the occult and other esoteric sciences. Unlike most of the residents of Tuxedo Park, who only kept their mansions here as holiday homes, he lived in a cottage deep in the woods year round, engaging in all sorts of obscure experiments, never interacting much with his neighbors. They tolerated him out of respect for his family name; some saw him as a harmless old fool and even invited him to some of their parties to show him off to their out-of-town friends, much like the ornamental hermits that the English aristocrats of old often kept on their grounds. Unfortunately, the Carvers were not one of these open-minded people, so Christabel had never met Dr. Brenner. She had to admit that she sometimes felt envious of him and the male privileges that allowed him to give up his family business, but not his wealth, and pursue his true passion. Alas, no such luck for her.

And here was this man, claiming to be a guest of the mysterious doctor! Her curiosity was pique immediately.

"Are you?" she asked, with interest. "I didn't know he ever invited anyone here. You must be a man of science or some sort of scholar, for him to allow you to encroach on his solitude. What is your business with him?" Then she colored again, realizing how intrusive her question was. Usually she never allowed herself to behave so casually with a gentleman, but there was something about this man that freed her from the confines of propriety. Or perhaps it was the scene around them, the wild woods and the open sky that had no use for etiquette. Still, the habits of upbringing were hard to shake off, so she cast her eyes downward and murmured, "I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to pry."

"Not at all," the man said with a friendly smile. "As a matter of fact, my family came from this area before it was developed, and Dr. Brenner is helping me to research our history. I'm just looking for the ruins of their village."

"Oh. That sounds very interesting."

"And if there's anyone who must be pardoned," the man continued, "it should be me, for I have been so presumptuous in talking to you without so much as an introduction. You must allow me to make amends, Miss—"

"Cunningham. Christabel Cunningham," she said.

"What an unusual and beautiful name." The man looked into the distance. "The lovely lady, Christabel, whom her father loves so well. What makes her in the wood so late, a furlong from the castle gate?" he recited in his rich, musical voice whose reverberation seemed to reach Christabel's very core.

She laughed to hide her blush. "A very fitting quote. Only it's not so very late, and while the Carver mansion is grand, it is far from a castle," she said. "And I'm simply taking a walk, not praying for my betrothed. In fact"—the noise from the hunting party had ceased, and she realized it must be nearly time for luncheon—"I'm just heading back now."

"And alas, I am no Geraldine," the man said. "But may I accompany you anyway?" He extended an arm toward her.

Christabel hesitated, thinking what her mother would say about walking in the woods with a stranger. But surely, there was no harm in it. The hunting party was not so far away, and she could always tell the truth—that she had gotten hurt, and this man was helping her. She took the proffered arm, and they started walking toward the Carver mansion, not following the route Christabel had, but taking the longer way, along the lakeshore, Christabel hobbling to keep up with the man's long strides. There was a dull ache in her ankle, but she bit her tongue, not wanting to complain.

"I see that you are an admirer of Coleridge, like my father," Christabel said.

"Your father must be a man of great taste then."

Her smile disappeared. "I wouldn't know. He died when I was very little." She caught herself again. Why was she telling this man, whom she met not five minutes ago and whose name she still didn't know, all these things about herself?

"Oh, I am so very sorry." The man took off his cap, revealing longish blonde hair that fell over his forehead in soft curls. His eyes were full of sympathy. "I know how difficult it is, losing one's parents. My own parents—" His voice hitched. "They died when I was very young as well. An earthquake, in San Francisco."

Christabel's heart panged with sympathy. "That must be horrible."

Those brilliant blue eyes dimmed for a moment. "It was."

"So you live in San Francisco?"

"I do, yes."

"What is it like?" she asked eagerly. Outside of Newport and occasionally the Catskills, she had never been anywhere. She had never even left the state of New York.

Before the man could answer, she put her weight on the sore ankle by mistake and let out an involuntary yelp. He turned to her, all solicitous concern. "Have you hurt yourself in the fall?" he asked.

"I must have," she replied reluctantly.

Tucking his cap into a pocket, he knelt down, took her ankle in his hand, and gently turned it this way and that. "Does this hurt?"

"Only a little," she said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, that won't do." He put one arm around her and the other under her knees, scooping her up easily as though she weighed no more than a feather. "I should have noticed sooner," he said. "I'm sorry."

"It's quite all right." Christabel was feeling a little dazed. None of her suitors had ever picked her up like that—indeed, none of them ever touched so much as the hem of her skirt without asking for permission first. She found that she didn't mind being handled, didn't mind the lack of permission-seeking. Nestling against his chest, she glanced shyly up at her gallant rescuer. Despite his slender frame, he was carrying her across the uneven terrain with no effort at all. The sun was shining upon his blonde hair, turning it into a gold helmet, and his blue eyes sparkled as he smiled down at her. She was glad they were taking the longer route.

But all too soon, the shingled walls of the Carver mansion appeared behind the trees, and the hunting party came into view. Christabel was afraid her rescuer would put her down the moment they came upon the others, but if anything, his hold around her seemed to tighten.

"There you are, Christabel," Jason said, stepping forward. "We were about to send out a search party—" His countenance changed upon seeing her in the arms of the stranger. "What happened?"

"Miss Cunningham had a bit of an accident," the man said. "I happened to come across her and took the liberty of escorting her home."

"How fortunate," Jason said, his voice icy. He all but yanked Christabel out of the other man's arms, as though she was a child, or worse, a doll, a toy to be fought over.

"I'm perfectly all right, Jason," Christabel said, fighting to put her feet on the ground. "It's just a sprain."

Jason relented and put her down. Christabel turned to her rescuer, who was replacing his cap on his hat, preparing to go. "Thank you so much," she said. "I hope I haven't delayed you from your quest."

"It was my pleasure. It's not every day a beautiful lady fell from the sky and landed at your feet, is it?"

She couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face. "I still don't know your name."

"Haven't I told you?" He looked confused.

Christabel frowned, trying to recall. "No, I don't think so."

"Ah." He tipped his cap at her. "Henry Creel, pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Will I see you again, Mr. Creel?"

He flashed her another of his dazzling smiles. "You can count upon it." Then, with a bow in the general direction of the hunting party, who was staring at him, he turned and disappeared into the woods.

Chapter 2

As usual, if you want to be tagged, drop me a line! Any likes/reblogs/comments will be greatly appreciated, thank you!

#hellcheer #hellcheer fic #hellcheer au #eddissy #eddie x chrissy #eddie munson #chrissy cunningham #henry creel #joseph quinn #joseph quinn fic #kas!eddie #vampire!eddie munson

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lookingfts · 4 months ago

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Thanks for playing the prompt game!

You guys literally sent 50+ prompts - absolutely wild! I could only get to a fraction of them last night and this morning, but I'm keeping the rest to work through whenever I'm in the mood to write a drabble, so there's a good chance yours will still be written! I hope you liked the ones I was able to fill.

Here are some prompts that I thought were great, but I just probably won’t have ideas for/I don’t have the knowledge to do them justice. So anyone who likes them is free to take them! Just lmk and I’ll remove that one from the list. (Alternately, if you know of an existing fic that fits the prompt well, please shout it out in the comments!)

Kate & Anthony are together but are both lawyers and opposing counsel in an acrimonious court case - either DA vs criminal lawyer or family law or pick your favorite court trope. (Fic rec - he looked up grinning like the devil)

The first time Kate brings down a 14 pt stag while on a hunt with ABC and Simon (they are scared, respectfully)

Kate is a professional Game Master Sophie hired to host a tabletop role playing game Benedict's been wanting to play. Anthony begrudgingly participates since it's Ben's birthday.

I also love a protective Kate, esp. against the Bridgerton family and their tendency to push their luck with Anthony

Your Kanthony interpretation of TSwift The Story of Us (TV) (Now, I'm standin' alone in a crowded room/And we're not speakin'/And I'm dyin' to know/Is it killin' you like it's killin' me? Yeah/And I don't know what to say since the twist of fate/When it all broke down/And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now)

Kate is an independent documentary filmmaker traveling with her small crew, which includes her sound guy, Anthony Bridgerton.

Established relationship between Kanthony. Anthony is a wolf (animal) and Kate knows. She either met him in wolf form (he humped her leg) or he told her what he was. She was surprisingly chill about it. Their relationship is unconventional but very satisfying.

Anthony and newton switch bodies. It takes Kate a bit to figure out what happened as they are both usually all over her. (Now turned into this fic!)

Words of the day = strip pall mall. Better yet drunk strip pall mall

Kate as a singer since Simone Ashley is opera-trained in real life (Anthony and Kate meeting during a Broadway production??)

Modern day extremely chaotic breakfast at the Sharma-Bridgerton house. Bonus: add Baby Mary

Helping each other pack knives and guns as they prep for a last standoff and give each other tips on their shooting/skills (like Mr. and Mrs. Smith ending scene)

Their first formal dinner party, at which they have to sit at opposite ends of the table

In a role reversal, Kate is the one who needs calming down when her temper flares at an idiotic comment by Fife or Cho or someone (maybe about Anthony?)

Kate and Anthony are married intimacy coordinators.

Kate almost about to pass out due to a panic attack and Anthony comforting her and encouraging her to breathe

Regency Anthony meeting one of Kate past lovers before they say ILY. I want jealous Anthony on steroids

#LFTS short fic game #bridgerton #kanthony #kate x anthony #anthony x kate #bridgerton fic

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aroaessidhe · 1 year ago

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okay I was asked about fey books I’ve read that Do stick to folklore a bit more than certain popular books - and actually looking at what fey books I’ve read it’s a bit like.... books that stick to folklore closely I sometimes Don’t Love, and there are others that don’t stick to it as much but I like the overall narrative more? or some mix of that.

so here’s a list of a few - a range of how much they stick to folklore (which of course is an amorphous thing) and how much I like them, but it’s something!

That Self-Same Metal - literally just read this, it’s about a Black girl who’s the stage blade expert for shakespeare’s company and can see fey, and they’re appearing more and more in the city. explores a bit of the midsummer night’s dream fey but also like “shakespeare was wrong” and general folklore. definitely the start of a series and has a lot going on but I thought it has some cool ideas!

all Holly Black’s books deal with them well! the Modern Faerie Tales companion/trilogy has maybe aged a bit by now, and I hate way the romance ended up together in The Folk of the Air (and the way the fandom is about it) but otherwise I do really like how it deals with fey and politics! also enjoyed The Darkest Part of the Forest. these are all intertwined/same world

The Buried And The Bound - a hedgewitch girl keeps fey away from her town, and gets caught up with two boys who are cursed. mostly deals with minor fey and a powerful hag

An Enchantment of Ravens - it’s been quite a few years since I read this, but I do remember enjoying it. It is a bit more of a romance focused story also, an artist stolen into the fey realm for painting a fey prince as if he was human(iirc?)

The Bone Houses - not directly dealing with fey, but like the aftermath of the ancient fey’s curses? welsh myth inspired. which I think is cool.

At The Edge of The Woods - about a girl in a religious/patriarchial village who starts to have strange dreams about a fey boy luring her into the woods. it’s not super focused on them, but they’re very much the classic ‘dangerous fey stealing people away for entertainment’ kind of thing

Adult

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries - I sort of have mixed feelings about this - I really enjoy how it dealt with fey and the creepier folklore creatures side of it! the handling of the changeling was a bit iffy and not sure about the romance

The Wolf Among the Wild Hunt - dark fantasy novella about a wolf-shifter made to join the wild hunt to save his qpr. focused on the unseelie/wild hunt area

Silver in the Wood - gaslamp fantasy novella about the keeper of a magical forest, dryads and dangerous fey

The Wind City - a bit of a mashup of fey folklore and Māori atua in a modern NZ setting

Sinners/Veiled - very classic but also with the element of a modern setting where human pollution is like a drug to fey (and the MC is a drug lord.) (so kind of dark but also not dark in the sexy way bc the MC is aroace)

Under The Pendulum Sun - this is a gothic fantasy that has a bit of a new take on a fey world, but also definitely has some of those creepy folklore vibes.

Siren Queen - this only partly involves fey but I thought the way that it mashed up old hollywood and fey (aka shady deals for fame themes) was interesting!

Sorcerer to the Crown/The True Queen - my memory on this is hazy, but I believe it’s regency fantasy, with its own take on a fey world/magic (moreso the 2nd book)

Malice/Misrule - adult high fantasy lesbian sleeping beauty reimagining, this is kind of doing it’s own thing I guess (I don’t remember if they’re even called fey?) but definitely has a bit of the creepy creature/court vibes in book 2 especially

In The Jaded Grove - I was just looking up books to see if there was anything I missed and found this, which seems interesting to me!

I also haven’t read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (but I watched the show ages ago) and I believe that has the vibe too

#book list #im sure there are some im missing HAHA #some I left out like the witch king (kinda doing its own thing and then calling them fey) or ash/huntress (only lightly touches on fey tbh)#laya talks #the iron fey i loved some of the ideas but the story is kinda bad #wicked lovely.........i can't tell what is nostalgia and what is objective but I did love that series a Lot #(it's quite 2000s YA romance focused but like also. good fey)

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elucienweekofficial · 5 months ago

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Elucien Fanfic Crossword Answer Key- Fantasy AU

How did you do? It's our hope through this week of puzzles that folks are able to find an existing fanfiction that speaks to them! Consider these a small masterlist filled with recommendations from the community itself. Below you'll find every fanfiction recommended attached to the author who created it, added in the order they were submitted! Fics were also categorized to their best of our ability. Check them out below!

A Blaze In The Dark by @the-lonelybarricade

On the eve of her wedding, knowing nothing about her husband besides his apparent disinterest in his soon-to-be wife, Elain uses a spell to meet her true love in her dreams.

All Of The Girls You've Loved Before by @separatist-apologist

I want to teach you how forever feels

OR:

That time Elain was a witch and Lucien was condemned to hunt her down

I Am Not A Woman, I'm A God by @separatist-apologist

Elain Archeron only wants revenge on the man who jilted her and turned her village against her. On the Autumn Equinox, she decides to summon a demon and have her vengeance before leaving that village-and the life she'd once hoped for- behind. What comes for Elain is no demon. An ancient God of Chaos rises, binding her life to his. And when he speaks, he makes the most terrifying claim she's ever heard.

He says she's his wife.

Burnished Gold by @wilde-knight

Should I call you that, then?” She quirked her head. His noble brows curved in confusion. “Err–call me what?” he replied, still trying to find his way over the path of their stumbling first encounter. “Well, farmboy, of course,” she replied with the sly hint of a smile he’d treasure until his dying day. “As you wish,” was his only reply.

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An Elucien Fairy tale inspired by A Princess Bride

Pride and Prythian by MANGo

Regency Era Elucien Inspired By Bridgerton

After bumping into a beautiful woman at the seasons first ball, Lucien Vanserra has spent every day since trying to track this mystery woman down. All the while his best friend is making calls on the Archeron house, attempting to woo the youngest daughter - and all is recorded in the daily editions of Lady Whistledown

A Tale of Nymphs by @missarcheron

Elain is a nymph of spring, spreading beauty and happiness wherever she goes. Lucien is the Lord of Death, whose realm is, well- dying. When he meets Elain, he knows he will need her to save his court- and perhaps for some other things as well…

Prythian's Fantasia by @vulpes-fennec

It’s 1889. Desperate to save her ailing mother’s life, Feyre strikes a bargain with ringmaster-witch doctor Amarantha. As the Archeron sisters join Prythian’s Fantasia and head for the World’s Fair in Paris, they begin to realize the circus’s magic runs far deeper than its enchanting nightly performances.

Golden by @separatist-apologist

I once believed love would burning red. But it's golden.

To save his people, Lucien Vanserra will marry his most hated enemy.

But to love her? Well, that's another thing entirely

This Fire Won't Burn Me by @separatist-apologist

Princess Elain Archeron wants nothing more than to be reunited with her missing youngest sister and to see her father finally emerge from the fog of grief he's been living under since her mother died. When her step mother arranges for her older sister to fetch her youngest to celebrate Elain's impending engagement to a neighboring prince, it seems like she'll get her wish. That is, until her father's fearsome huntsman steps in and wrecks it all. Now she's on the run, hiding in the forest to keep herself- and her heart- intact.

In her quest to understand why someone would want her heart carved from her chest, Elain will have to reconcile what it means to truly be the fairest of them all

Your Heart, Beating Through Stone by @ofduskanddreams

An upstanding young woman from a disgraced family, Elain Archeron takes a position as a governess to avoid an unwelcome arranged marriage. She didn't know what to expect when she arrived at the Forest House but finds herself enchanted by her pupil Charlotte Vanserra, the only child of the Duke Eris Vanserra and his late wife, and her grandmother Serafina, the Dowager Duchess. Just as Elain begins to feel like she has a place in the world, everything changes.

Every summer, Lord Lucien Vanserra and his brothers return to their childhood home for holiday. You would not believe his surprise when he arrived early and found Elain Archeron, the girl he'd loved for half of his life, sitting in his chair at the breakfast table. When Lucien finally works up the nerve to speak to the woman again, a dangerous situation arises that may bind the two in ways neither of them anticipated.

They Are The Hunters, We Are The Foxes by @the-lonelybarricade

Nesta had been very firm in her instruction not to stray from the path. The path was safe—sprinkled with iron dust every morning by the mercenaries who protected their villages. But Elain had spied the blackberries, plump and ripe for the taking, if only because no sensible human would have dared. Ordinarily, Elain wouldn’t have. Too terrified of the fae and what she heard they did to young, pretty human girls like herself. But today, Elain was to be married. Even facing the woods was less daunting than that. - Elucien Little Red Riding Hood AU

Ex Luna Scientia by @kingofsummer93

Lucien Vanserra, seventh son of the Minister for Magic, is as loved by his peers as he is hated by his family. But behind the charm and irreverence hides a secret, as dark and menacing as the scar on his face.

Elain Archeron, middle sister in a trio of muggle-born witches, has only one wish: for someone to truly see her. Because when she sleeps at night, she can see it all.

Or- an Elucien at Hogwarts AU.

Flicker in the Night by @ablogofsapphicpanic

Elain is sure that Graysen is the man she's going to spend the rest of her life with. He's everything she could have hoped, and has been caring and kind to her in a time when her family is looked down upon after her younger sister, Feyre, disappeared over the Wall separating them from the land beyond it three years ago. But when reveals that he intends to marry someone else for the dowry she can offer, she desperately claims she will retrieve a star that they saw fall on the other side of the Wall and use that for her dowry. He accepts, but she only has a week to retrieve it. But how hard can it be to get a rock? Instead of a rock or a gem, though, she finds a man. But she refuses to let that get in the way of true love. The only problem is transporting a mouthy, uncooperative star all the way across Prythian and back over the Wall in time to meet Graysen and gain his hand, and all of the roadblocks that come with that.

never shall we die by @howlingcaptaincommando

One sunlit morning, the Archeron sisters are kidnapped from their ship by the Pirate Lord Rhysand, his spymaster, and his warlord — why, and what he wants from them, they don’t know. But they are soon to find out.

Twist of Fate by @damedechance

After an ill-fated night that alters Elain Archeron's friendship with Lucien Vanserra, Prince of Autumn, forever, Elain struggles to regain any semblance of civility with her childhood friend and crush.

You Are Not The Kind Of Boy (Who Should Be Marrying The Wrong Girl) by @c-e-d-dreamer

With her season and herself ruined thanks to her older sister's lover, Elain Archeron decides she's finally going to take what she wants.

ivy game by @thelovelymadone

Beron wants Lucien back in his court and intends to reinstate him in Autumn, willing or not. The Night Court tells Elain to accept the bond or face the consequences by the end of the day. Lucien is told by the Night Court that Elain intends to break the bond so the war between Autumn and Night Court is prevented. What is fact? In a lavender field, a few bargains are made. What comes before a storm? Calm.

#elucien #elucien fanfic #elucienweek2024 #elucien crossword

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sasslett · 1 year ago

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First Meeting AU Prompts

Have your followers send you a number to write about your characters/ship meeting in a:

Regency AU

Coffee shop/bar AU

Soulmate AU

College AU

Medieval fantasy AU

Scifi AU

Monster AU

Rivals/Enemies to Lovers AU

AU in the setting of another game/movie/book/show

Royalty AU

Wild West AU

Pokemon AU

Modern AU

Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian AU

Treasure Hunt AU

Pantheon AU (Greek myth, demigods and stuff)

Happy AU for you sick fucks who can't give your characters a break (lovingly)

Angst/Bad End AU

Courtesan/Escort AU

Cozy Farming AU (ie Stardew)

Criminal AU (Bonnie and Clyde style)

Role Reversal AU

Spy AU

Your character's life without their tragic backstory AU

Prince and Pauper AU (or Starcrossed Lovers)

Superhero AU

Bookshop AU

Pirate AU

Theater AU

Past Lives AU

Holy AU (angels/demons n stuff)

Sports AU

#Ask game #writing prompt #Prompts #Don't send to me #Can't you tell I'm bored at work today lol #Excited to send some to you! Doesn't have to be writing ofc

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the-dust-jacket · 2 years ago

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Hello. I've already read the Kingston Cycle, Half a Soul and I'm about to finish the Stariel books. Do you have more recommendations? Thank you in advance.

Oh absolutely!

A Matter of Magic, by Patricia C. Wrede (for cross-country Regency romps, rogues, magicians, spies, and Ladies of Quality)

A Marvellous Light, by Freya Marske (for murder and mystery and secret Edwardian wizardry, romance, grand old houses and creepy curses)

Spellbound, by Allie Therin (for forbidden love, found family, and frightening magic in 1920s New York)

Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal (for frothy and impeccably evocative Regency magic)

Sorcerer to the Crown, by Zen Cho (for schemes both magical and mundane and the world of fairy crossing into the world of the tonne)

To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis (for laugh-out-loud time travel shenanigans and questionable Victorian aesthetic choices)

Soulless, by Gail Carriger (for vampire assassins, werewolf aristocrats, interrupted tea time, and other terrible inconveniences which may beset a young lady)

A little darker:

The Magpie Lord, by KJ Charles (for semi-secret magical society, creepy family estate, steamy romance all in an Extremely Victorian Gothic setting)

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (clever and deeply atmospheric tour of a magical 19th century England, but definitely not romance)

Salt Magic, Skin Magic, by Lee Welch (for curses and magical bonds and frightening fairies)

Widdershins, by Jordan L Hawk (for Gilded Age mystery and romance featuring Lovecraftian horror and humor)

More fantasy:

Uprooted, by Naomi Novik (for fairytale magic and whimsy, adventure and romance and creepy trees)

Seducing the Sorcerer, by Lee Welch (for wizard fashion, romance and humor and whimsical magic)

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman (for wild romps in the fairyland next door, alternately humorous and haunting)

More historical:

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles (for saucy Regency romance and determined social scheming)

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (for dry humor, wacky hijinx, and extended family shenanigans)

Hither Page or The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian (village and manor house mysteries respectively, featuring lots of queer romance and found family with a dash of jaded post-war espionage)

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (for yearning and laughs and first love and an eccentric family living in an increasingly run down castle)

A little farther from the brief, but might be worth checking out On Vibes:

The Left Handed Booksellers of London, by Garth Nix

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, by Diana Wynne Jones

His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik (more Regency fantasy, but full on Age of Sail adventure rather than comedy of manners, romance, or secret magic)

Among Others, by Jo Walton

Arabella of Mars, by David D. Levine

A Natural History of Dragons, by Marie Brennan

It also sounds like a Georgette Heyer or Jeeves and Wooster binge would be really fun right now!

#ask a bookseller #love that? read this!

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mollywog · 2 years ago

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Asks are open: Talk to me!!

No promises, but prompts and suggestions welcome!

New icon by @charlunday!!

(Previous Icon by @theartofdreaming1!!🩶)

The Hunger Games

Fics and such

Some things I've written

Work in Progress List

Tumblr exclusives: War is Canceled AU, Where the Mockingjays Sing Part 1, #Fake Fic Ask Game, how am I supposed to focus… Prompt, Gadge concept [2], Sleepless in Seattle AU, dark!Peeta Concept, Somewhere in Time AU, Mayor Peeta, Laurel (part 3b)

Fic inspo/aesthetics: Laurel, Daydreams & Dandelions, Odds, Lake Glass, Hanging Tree, Everyday Magic, Midday Musings, The Fruit Stand, Acts of Goodness, Wild Wednesdays, The Lake House

Regencylark: THG Sense and Sensibility, fic recs, Regencylark Series, WtSA AU, Regency Katniss & Regency Peeta, Regencylark art! Hunting

Other things I love

The Blue Castle, (#blue castle book club) I run @dustpileofherown

Anne Shirley, Gilbert Blythe, and LM Montgomery in general

Emma and Jane Austen in general [x]

Far From the Madding Crowd

North and South

Copious amount of links below the cut

I don’t know how anyone finds anything here so I’ll just excessively link posts - whoops!

Katniss: Why did Katniss vote yes, Girl had it bad!, Katniss Prim’s-the-only-person-in-the-world-I'm-certain-I-love Everdeen, time spent, and the Lynx

The enigma that is Madge Undersee - Madge and Katniss’s friendship pin

Haymitch: knew right away Katniss was a contender, [ x ] [ x ], star crossed lovers strategy, Haymitch and Katniss similarities, part of why he chose Katniss [x], The crushing weight of caring, always

An Ode to Platonic Everdair: pt1, pt2, pt3

Peeta: in the sewer, the Mellark Men, Peeta and Gale almost friends, eyelashes, making friends

Gifts, the Mockingjay Pin

74th Tributes

Victors, do you think we would have ended up like that? Annie, Cecilia

Reaping Slips Math

Valley Song/Reaping parallels

Headcanons - pumpkins, Post-War Victors, home furnishings disposal, Katniss the District Vet, spud, photography, a light on at midnight

Come to my Garden: Wild Onions, Berries, Mountain Laurel

Not mine: character analysis

#Ficback Friday

Fic Rex

I make a list in my head [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [moody]

#blog index

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edda-grenade · 5 months ago

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who's ready for some regency shenanigans :D

we have the season and the ton, except it's hunters and hounds (who are… not Not werewolves) trying to find a bond partner to go fight the darkness

bc it has eyes, and claws, and teeth :>

saar's a hunter who looks like she should be a hound, solas is a hound who looks like he should be a hunter if not a bureaucrat, they're gonna court each other in probably v unhinged ways

the rules are different, but there are still So Many Rules bc this IS regency

also fantasy mary anning is here. she wants to study eldritch monster corpses, but to do that you need access to the combat zone, and while she has a dog, she doesn't have a hound nor is she a hunter. so saar said, not to worry, i'll get a bonded hound and then We're In

to which solas said, you're both insane

[first image is based on the portrait of jean-baptiste belley by girodet]

#drawing saar fully human is. An Experience. cherish that one picture with white sclera bc it's the only one you're getting #v much a style experiment with that second picture but i'm really pleased with it!! i basically never do lineless art so this was Wild #art tag #saar gets her own tag #solas #bc like; he IS turning into a wolf here so. close enough #fantasy mary anning #only reason i haven't made a naming language for this project yet is that the urge to draw was stronger #regency wild hunt #regency #regency au #Technically lmao #original art #fanart #continuing to try the image alt text. if anyone's using a screenreader; i'd love to know how that's working out #if it's too much detail; too little; etc

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vintagelacerosette · 1 month ago

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Tag games 🌷💖

I was tagged to do 3 tag games so that you to these darling buttercups thank youu 😍

Evie @energievie Jess @jrooc Jessica @guinguin1984

Kat @mybrainismelted Ice @spookygingerr

Rare and unusual tropes/AUs either/or game!

Highlight the one you’d like to read or write in bold (or a colour)

---

Demon au or shapeshifter au

clones or bodyswap

medieval au or edwardian au

steampunk au or cyberpunk au

gothic horror au or monster au

arranged marriage or rebound romance

reincarnation or immortality

circus au or theatre au

body sharing or telepathy

regency au or western au

dreams or psychic visions

farm au or spaceship au

meeting for the first time later in life or reconnecting later in life

gods au or superheroes au

epistolary or crossover (none)

pirate au or spies au

Thank you for these questions Evie 🥰 & thank you for saying either won't get upset at the choice I needed to hear that lmao 😂

A little game for you today: imagine you’re friends with both Ian and Mickey (I’m talking hanging out at their apartment, going out for drinks, the whole nine yards). Which one of them would you take with you for the following activities and why? No cheating 😅 Only of them because I promise you the other won’t get upset.

But first…

Name: Myn

Age: 28

Location: Terra Australis

And now, for the activities:

Fishing: Ian - I think he'd be more outdoorsy & I'll get him to put the bait on & then just read books & relax while he does most of the work lol & he'd be enjoying himself

Rom-com marathon in the park: Mickey - I he's can he a secret soft & had to endure watching them bc of Mandy. This is a chance he gets to watch without the survival mode in his childhood

Clubbing: Mickey - Listen, i know Ian's the club king buuuut, I'll bet last night's bottom knows how to throw it back with all the practice he gets on Ian lmao. I just need to get him a nice kind of drunk & look at us gooo

Wine tasting: Mickey - Ughh I'm not a fan of wine I got that gene that makes red wine so bitter but taking Mickey would be hilarious with all that snark

Escape room: Mickey - Absolutely in agreement with every one our boy successfully escaped prison y'all. Give him a room he can escape lmao

A day at the spa: Mickey - our guy can be a little ball of stress so I think he'd need some relaxation. But how he'll react will be a wild card lol

Office Christmas party: Ian - This guy would be charming as heck & we'd have a good time haha

Darts competition: Mickey - Hmmm this one I found hard lol they're both good aim with all they shooting they've done lol. But, I think I'll go with Mickey bc I think he'd have fun

Treasure hunt: Ian - I feel like he'd be so resourceful & stay on task

Assembling IKEA furniture: Ian - He'd be so reliable if I get confused lol

Monster Movie Tag Game👻

Curse of the Massive Werewolves 🐺

Sooo uh is it bad my mind went & thought kinky...? 😂

Not tagging anyone but feel free to play if anyone wants to!! 🥰

#Tag game

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procrastinatorproject · 8 months ago

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WIP Folder Game

I wasn't actually tagged, but I saw this on @beautyofsorrow's blog and just... couldn't resist.

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

The problem, of course, is that my "WIP folder" is in fact four different Scrivener projects with a sum total of over 100k unpublished words, so this is gonna be LONG 😅🙈 But in the past, I have found great inspiration in looking through all my wild ideas and wip's that mostly consist of a couple paragraphs or a screenshhot of a discord conversation with friends. So I'm gonna do this anyway :D

WIPs that are only notes or snippets of conversations with friends where I tell them about My Great Fic Idea

Breathe

Field Medicine

5+1 holos

Moriarty

Bashir & Soji

All in a Day's Work

Kidfic

Merged

Sugar Rush

Circuit (Dark Academia)

S1 Agnes POV

CYOA/Scavenger Hunt

The Train Job

Regency AU

Holo-Admonition

He Never Gets Any Nicer (meta)

WIPs that are mostly notes (sometimes very long, elaborate notes) but do have a bit of actual writing attached

Conference Emails

Calluses

A Day at the Faire

Cosmic Detours (one unpublished chapter)

From the Mouths of Babes

Mittens on a String

Squad

Rescuing Dahj

Podcast

WIPs that are a single paragraph (or sentence) or two with not a lot of notes or context

ricepudding

Nostalgia/Nerdiness

The Quiet Spaces in Between (Raffi & Tuvok)

Kestra (Holoween)

All Aboard

Bed Rest (Seven)

Dino Hunt

Ready Room

Cosmic Detours (one unpublished chapter)

Valkriss Tales

Brainwashing

Choose Your Path

AI Malfunction

WIPs that are quite substantial already but still need a lot more work (or for me to sit down and JUST WRITE THE THREE MISSING SENTENCES ALREADY MY GOODNESS!)

Virus

Check-Up

Raffi Whump

Game Night II (Holoween)

Snapshots

Bed Rest (Rios)

Bed Rest (Picard)

Bed Rest (Agnes)

Homecoming

Dynamic Chaos

Meadow (two unpublished chapters)

Baby on Board

Space Shark

CMO's Log (some notes and a couple unpublished chapters)

Favouritism

Four Cakes

Sleep-Deprived

In the Shallows

In the Palm of his Hand (couple unpublished chapters)

Mittens on a String (5 + 1)

Institutional Knowledge

Kestra & Rios

The Cake Is A Lie (Findings and Conclusion)

And finally: WIP's so big they are their own Scrivener Project and will never be finished because they'd be the length of a novel. Or two. (Though I usually only have a few paragraphs/chapters written, the rest is wild ideas and notes)

Star Trek: La Sirena, Episode 2 (and notes for five or six more episodes)

Star Trek: Second Chances

Post-Rusker [semi-disqualified]

Synth Ban Thriller

Star Trek Holo Novel

And I'm not gonna tag as many people as I have WIPs, because that would require me to count them. And even though I rationally know the number of WIPs is morally neutral, I still have deep shame about Not Finishing Things. I'm working hard to dismantle that and have come a long way, but I'm not there yet 😅

(Also, I may not have enough mutuals for the number of WIPs 🙈😅)

So, if you, too, would like to stroll through your WIP folder and have people ask you about some of the stories that live in your head rent free, take this as permission to go for it! 😁🖖

#wips #ask game #lili's writing adventures #star trek picard #star trek la sirena #(most of them are in fact LAS (i.e. either set before and during season 1 or after season 1 but ignoring the later seasons)#but there is a handful of season 2 things in there)

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lazysublimeengineer · 8 months ago

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the viscount who loves his princess - I

Summary: “A new romance has bloomed in one enchanting night? Princess Senju and Viscount Mikey share a special night together under the radiant garden of the Palace.” Takeomi read loudly on the first page of broadside that morning.

Senju could only heave a deep breath before sipping the cup of Earl Grey slowly to her lips.

“You’ve been seeing Viscount Mikey without any chaperone? Lady Whistledown is having a field day with your scandals.” Haruchiyo snorted as he prepared a cup of coffee for himself.

“You know how Lady Whistledown is. So, stop believing her stories for a moment. It’s quite exaggerated sometimes. Besides, I am not going out with that fool! Hell freezes over that happens!” She exclaimed indignantly.

A chance encounter between the Viscount and the Princess which caused a rumor mill circulating in their town.

(A/N: This was supposed to be a sequel from that Doramitsu regency fic I’ve written a long time ago. But plot bunnies came out of me and decided that “oh hey wait a second. Why don’t we make a multichaptered crossover regency period fic series between Tokyo Revengers and Blue Lock in the world Bridgerton?” And here you go. This is the second part of this series with Maisenju as the main pairing. Takes place after the events of the first series of this fic, “sweet liaisons.” I don’t own anything from this franchise. Respective ownership belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura for this wonderful manga and Julia Quinn for this romantic book and series.)

“Senju! Are you done yet? You’re going to be late for the special occasion arranged by the Queen herself. It’s not a good image for a lady to be tardy.” Her older brother, Takeomi, admonished her from downstairs while Senju struggled adjusting the straps of her corset inside her room.

“Give me a few minutes! This dress is bollocks! Why do I even have to wear this ridiculous thing in the first place?!” Senju exclaimed indignantly as she finally laced the straps successfully around her torso but not before holding her damn breath for a few minutes.

Jesus Christ.

Why do women like her must suffer from these societal expectations in the first place?

“It’s not that hard to put on the corset if you listen carefully to what the teacher has been teaching to you before!” Takeomi replied in exasperation. “Also, Haru get the carriage ready so that we won’t be late this evening!” He added.

“I’m on it!” Haruchiyo’s voice rang from the background.

Senju tuned them out and focused on putting the gown next to her body.

“If you’re not down here yet within a minute, I’ll go up there to see what’s the problem!” Takeomi’s annoying voice rang out again.

“Hold your horses! I’m done already!” Senju yelled back in exasperation.

With a one, last inspection on her frame and face in the mirror, she quickly went out and closed the door behind her and walked downstairs.

“Finally!” Takeomi exclaimed before he inspected her critically from head to toe.

“Not bad. Although next time try it with your hair down in curls. That seemed to be the thing these days.” He commented.

Senju rolled her eyes. “Oh hush. I tried my best in making a French braid for this occasion. The least you can do is take notice of them naturally.” She replied in a grumpy voice as she walked diligently inside the carriage.

They finally reached the palace wherein several guests and royal families were already present and going inside.

Senju grew nervous.

Even if she was naturally born confident and used to be under the scrutiny of other people, this was still different because she was facing the Queen at this event.

Her Majesty will choose tonight who will be crowned as the Diamond girl this year.

Senju had no patience for events like this. She’d rather go to the forest and hunt some wild boars or practice fencing while she’s at it.

But alas, if there were advantages in being born in an upper-class, royal family there were disadvantages as well.

Especially if she’s the only female sibling of the Akashi family and a princess, nonetheless.

The responsibility fell on her to carry their name in the social class and mingle herself with the ladies in the same social stratum and earn herself a status befitting of a princess and marry off an earl or duke for that matter.

Just the mere thought of those weighted responsibilities solely put upon her made her want to throw a fit and leave this place. But she kept her composure and calm.

‘This is just for tonight. Tomorrow you can do whatever you like.’ She chanted at herself as she took a deep breath and got ready.

“Okay remember what we’ve taught and practice beforehand.” Takeomi reminded her when he helped her in getting out of the carriage.

“Yes, my dear brother. You have reminded me of these several times already that I’ve lost count.” She deadpanned.

“This is for your own good and so that you won’t be making any mistakes.” The muffled voice of her other sibling, Haruchiyo said from behind her.

“Oh please. You’re the last person I should hear of this from you.” Senju groused.

“Stop with these childish acts you two.” Takeomi admonished them and Senju kept her mouth shut but not without a small pout gracing her features.

Nevertheless, upon arriving inside the palace, she quickly schooled her features into a pleasant smile and moved with a ladylike grace even though she felt her muscles stiffened at the strict movements of her body.

“Oh my. Princess Senju fancy seeing you here. You look lovely as always.” The light and feminine voice of Hina caught her attention and she beamed at her.

“You look breathtakingly beautiful as well, Lady Hina.” Senju complimented her in a sincere manner. It’s true that Hina was one of the loveliest ladies in their town. And one of the most graceful and dignified as well.

With her alabaster skin, slender frame, beautiful ginger locks and a beatific smile, who wouldn’t fall for her beauty and charms? It’s probably a normal day for her tending to her suitors who visited her abode every day.

Moreover, she wouldn’t be surprised if she earned the Diamond girl status from Her Majesty tonight.

“Oh, shush you... You still got a silver tongue beneath your mischievous nature.” Hina chuckled softly under her breath.

As she was about to respond, another familiar voice caught her attention and turned around to see the smiling face of Emma waving simply and approaching them.

“Princess Senju. Lady Hina. What a pleasant night it is to see you both here.”

“Same here Lady Emma. You’re looking lovely as always.” Senju replied smilingly. Unlike her brother, Mikey, Emma is a pleasant woman to be around and not infuriating. Senju wondered how she could tolerate her brother's impertinence daily.

“Why thank you. I do hope that my brother hasn’t been a nuisance to you lately.” Emma replied jokingly.

“Tell me about it. There hasn’t been a day when he wasn’t bothering me every time when we crossed paths around the city.” Senju replied with a small pout on her face as she took some glass of punch from the waiter who was circling around and giving them.

Emma chuckled softly under her breath. “Forgive my brother. It seems that he has a habit being like that with you.”

“Well, I would appreciate it if you can inform him that he needn’t to do that everyday.” Senju replied as she took a sip from the glass of punch.

Her eyes darted around when she heard some announcement in the middle of the stage.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It’s our pleasure to have you here on this occasion for the annual event of Her Majesty choosing our precious Diamond for this year. As you may know we have gathered some reputable candidates to be crowned for tonight.” A male announcer said and the Queen finally appeared and was sitting down on her throne.

“Oh! It’s finally starting.” Senju uttered to herself and hastily put the glass of punch from the side of the table to make her way towards the direction wherein several female candidates were lined up from the corner.

The next few moments passed in a blur with the ladies performing one by one in front of the Queen with their practiced grace and dignity in front of her.

Senju watched in awe as the ladies before her performed a graceful dance and curtsied in front of the Queen. Hina and Emma’s performance were outstanding in her eyes and they moved as if it they were born for the role itself.

Her heart pounded and her anxiety spiked as her part will be coming soon.

She finally took a deep breath when it was her turn and tried to calm down her frayed nerves.

‘You got this Senju! Your brothers are watching so you need to get it together!’ Her mind tried to cheer for her.

As soon as it was her turn, her mind and body focus on the present situation beforehand and her movements, remembering on what was taught to her by her governess. Her movements were fluid and clear as she danced elegantly to the tune of a minuet which was a stately ballroom performed under the courts.

The audience watched her in rapt attention and captivation as she moved in a slow yet elegant manner against her assigned partner.

It was already nearing perfect when she accidentally stepped on her gown and stumbled down on the ground.

‘Oh bollocks! Why did it have to be now!’ Senju’s mind raced at her mistake before she quickly stood up as if nothing happened and resumed dancing the few remaining steps and tune of the piece.

She quickly bowed when she was finished and went to the side.

“You were great out there.” Emma whispered sincerely beside her.

“I’m glad that you think so even if I may have ruined it in the end.” Senju whispered back with a wry smile on her.

“Oh hush. Everyone makes a mistake. At the very least you’re still graceful at the end.”

Senju was about to reply when the announcer’s voice chimed in at the stage once again.

“Tonight we’ve seen these wonderful ladies with their immense talents of course. But only one can prevail. And for tonight’s Diamond coronation, Her Majesty is bestowing the crown to Lady Emma Sano of the Sano family.”

Emma’s eyes grew wide for a moment before a surprise yet victorious smile broke out from her lips.

Senju quickly hugged her before she let go. “Congratulations Lady Emma! You certainly deserved it. Now go get your crown up there.”

Emma hugged her back before she pulled away. “Thank you, Princess Senju.” She murmured before she made her way up the stage and accepted the crown bestowed by the Queen on her head.

Senju gave a round of applause amongst the crowd. There was no ill-feeling of envy or regret in her bones as she knew that there were other outstanding and well deserving ladies who much deserved it rather than her.

Nevertheless, there might be a lecture waiting for her back in the household from her older brother again of not trying her best.

Oh well.

Best of luck next time.

“Ah, finally. Some peace and quiet.” Senju sighed in contentment as she sat on the grassy field filled with small flowers. She took a quick detour and a needed break from the bustling crowd inside the palace.

Her eyes gazed upwards to the sky which was filled with countless stars that made up for the brilliant darkness tonight.

“I’m getting sleepy. Hopefully, the occasion will be over soon.” Senju mumbled to herself.

“It’s a good thing that the household princess doesn’t trip or bumped into someone with that tall heel of yours.” The familiar, idle voice sang from the background which made Senju ground her teeth and faced him with an exasperated smile on her face.

“If it isn’t the infamous viscount or should I say the manchild of the Sano household.” She quipped back, looking at him from head to toe with an unimpressed look on her face.

Although she inwardly admitted that Mikey looked dashing in a velvet crimson robe which had a circular cut, a pair of shiny, coal hued boots and a nice woolen white cloth inside his robes which leant him a regal, sophisticated aura despite his miniature height and youthful, vibrant face. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t admit that outwardly to him. His ego was huge enough like an inflated balloon and she didn’t want him to get the idea that she was disgustingly smitten towards him like of those other women who was besotted and would probably throw themselves at his feet if given a chance.

Senju was better than that and had more acquired tastes thank you very much.

“And you’re the infamous princess who moves like a man and curses like a sailor.” Mikey replied playfully.

“Have you ever heard of the word assertive and adventurous? I guess not when you’re used to women who threw themselves at you.” Senju snorted. “And what brings you here by the way?”

“Me? I’m just the dignified chaperone of my sister tonight considering that Ken has already resume his duties as a duke and travelled to another land away from here. And maybe I’m the good luck charm seeing that she won tonight!” Mikey replied with an impish grin on his face.

“Oh please. Don’t think highly of yourself. Lady Emma won because of her grace and efforts and not because of you or someone else.” She scoffed lightly.

“What can I say? Being successful and victorious runs in our blood.”

“God, I’m just speechless at your conceited nature.”

It made Mikey laugh in amusement while Senju rolled her eyes and looked away.

After a while, Mikey refrained from laughing until it was quiet between the two of them but only for a moment.

“Even if you didn’t get the coveted Diamond status from the royal family tonight, you’re still great on your own.” He said quietly.

His words made Senju turn around to face him before looking away, feeling the tips of her ears growing hot.

She needed to leave this place and away from this viscount who’s making her feel strange inside.

Senju tried to get up, but it proved to be a struggle due to the weight of her gown.

Her actions were noticed by Mikey who looked at her curiously.

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you.” She retorted. “It’s a lovely and peaceful night here before your presence has ruined it.” She added with a scoff before she tried to stand up again, but it was futile.

“Need some help?” He asked with a hint of amusement.

Senju glared at him before a deep sigh left her lips.

“Yes please.” She muttered as she accepted his offered hand and tried to stand up again but not before she lost her balance and toppled down.

Together they tumbled down on the grassy field with Senju laying on top of him while Mikey laid beneath her.

They looked at each other with wide eyes before Senju struggled to pull herself away from him, her cheeks burning in mortification.

And that’s how one of the maids from the palace found them in the garden under a compromising position.

‘Couldn’t this night get any better?’ She thought sardonically to herself.

The next day at the Akashi household...

“A new romance has bloomed in one enchanting night? Princess Senju and Viscount Mikey share a special night together under the radiant garden of the Palace.” Takeomi read loudly at the first page of broadside that morning.

Senju could only heaved a deep breath before sipping the cup of Earl Grey slowly to her lips.

“You’ve been seeing Viscount Mikey without any chaperone? Lady Whistledown is having a field day with your scandals.” Haruchiyo snorted as he prepared a cup of coffee for himself.

“You know how Lady Whistledown is. So stop believing her stories for a moment. It’s quite exaggerated sometimes. Besides, I am not going out with that fool! Hell freezes over that happens!” She exclaimed indignantly.

“Language.” Takeomi warned her.

“But it was an accident! I just stumbled upon him and—.” Senju stopped midway before getting up. “It’s no use. Just don’t pay attention to those bollocks.” She grumbled as she began walking out of the house.

“Where are you going young lady?” Takeomi asked.

“Just at the market. I may need to buy something to ease my growing vexation towards this nonsense. Don’t worry I’ll be back in a moment.” Senju didn’t wait for Takeomi’s response and took her hat, putting it on and leaving the house.

“Just let her go for now big brother. Senju is growing up and she’ll grow out of that phase.” Haru said casually.

“I can’t believe I’m dealing with you two.” Takeomi replied in resignation before shaking his head and focusing back on reading the next page of his broadside.

“Oh no I’m late! I need to deliver these parcels soon to Mrs. Springfield and—.” Takemichi’s hasty murmurs to himself and running across the street were cut off when he suddenly bumped into someone, resulting in his parcels falling to the ground and him stumbling on his feet.

“Can’t you see where you’re going you fool?” An exasperated voice caught his attention, and he was met by a young man who was dressed majestically and possessed an aura that screamed of royalty and wealth.

‘Is he a member of the royal family? If he is, then I should’ve known him! But it’s the first time I’ve seen his face around here.’ Takemichi’s thoughts raced inside his head as he tried to get up and bowed respectfully at him.

“My deepest apologies Sir! It’s not my intention to ruin your day in this city. I am just in a hurry to deliver these important parcels!” There was a tinge of regret and apology in his tone, but he still didn’t raise his head for fear of disrespecting him again.

“Do you know my name boy?” The man asked haughtily.

“N-no...” Takemichi stammered. Was he supposed to know him?

The man looked at him with a cruel amusement on his eyes and a complacent smile on his lips.

“Raise your head boy.” He ordered.

Takemichi quickly complied and stared into his eyes which were startingly deep blue. He possessed an aristocratic nose and a small yet perfectly shaped pair of lips. He tried not to be distracted by the arresting features of the man and tried to focus on the present situation at hand.

“I am an Earl. An Earl you foolishly bumped into. And for me to be able to forgive you, kneel before me and kiss my shoes.” The man remarked casually as he inspected his nails in a disinterested manner.

“P-pardon sir...?” Takemichi paled as he blinked at him owlishly.

“You heard me, right? Or your line of hearing has a defect too and I must need to repeat myself?” The man replied sardonically.

Before Takemichi could reply, a familiar, casual yet firm voice rang behind him which made him turn around and met the displeased expression of Chifuyu in front of him.

“Takemichi? Is this fellow bothering you?”

“Prince Chifuyu!” Takemichi gave a quick, respectful bow before standing up straight. “This is nothing that you should be worried about—.”

“Oh? Who is this interesting lad beside you hmm? It seems that she’s gotten up at the wrong side of the bed.” Kaiser cut him off silkily and asked in his usual airy voice.

“It’s Prince Chifuyu to you.” The blond glared at him and for his impertinent words.

“Oh, my bad. My name is Earl Michael Kaiser. But you can address me as Michael if you want.” Kaiser remarked with a playful wink thrown over his direction.

“I believed it is not appropriate to address you so casually when were not even acquiantances.” Chifuyu huffed. “Also, I would appreciate it if you stop harassing my friend and let him do whatever errands he needs to do today.” He added stonily.

Kaiser raised his hands placatingly. “I seek no trouble Prince Chifuyu. In fact, I’m getting acquianted with the citizens here seeing that I may stay here for awhile.”

Chifuyu was about to retort when the rushing footsteps from the background caught his attention and saw a young man with dark blue hair and dressed in a formal whiteshirt and light brown pants.

“My Lord! Where have you been? Your Grace has been looking for you!” He exclaimed when his eyes landed on the familiar figure of the royal prince which made him bow immediately.

“Good day Prince Chifuyu! Please forgive me for not being able to greet you first when I came here.” He said in an apologetic voice.

“Calm down Yoichi. I’m sure that my absence for a few minutes will not merit any hindrance or trouble to the events at all.” Kaiser remarked idly.

“Good day to you too Sir Yoichi. Are you with the Earl Kaiser?” He asked.

“Yes. I’m one of his advisors. And we’re here because we’ve been invited by the Queen for an event in this place.” Isagi replied when his eyes landed on the familiar figure of Takemichi whose eyes lit up in recognition but both kept their silence for the meantime.

“I see. It seems that the Earl has taking into a liking of this place seeing that he was already going for a stroll around the streets.” Chifuyu remarked.

“Indeed Prince Chifuyu. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we must be going on our way now.” Isagi replied in an apologetic voice.

“Of course. Don’t let us hold you both back.” Chifuyu replied in a congenial voice before he narrowed his gaze at Kaiser to which the other male smirked at him.

“We’ll be on our way then.” Isagi gave a quick respectful bow and shot a meaningful glance at Takemichi before he pulled the Earl away going back to their carriage and left them behind.

“That Earl is something else entirely.” Chifuyu said with a frown on his face. “He didn’t hurt you or anything Takemichi?”

Takemichi shook his head. “Not really. ‘Sides it’s quite my fault for bumping into him earlier. But I do appreciate your good timing. Now, I really need to go and deliver these items to Mrs. Springfield. See you later!” He quickly bid goodbye and ran off to the other side of the street.

Chifuyu watched him go, shaking his head a little before heading back to his own carriage and going back to the castle.

(A/N: Well, that’s wrap for the first chapter. The next and last chapter may take a while to be uploaded as I’m on a hectic schedule now with work. Hopefully, you’ll be patient enough to wait as it is. Reviews are amusing so let me hear them from you.)

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