#she should get them too they're my favourite flowers

[mspaint-flower]

向日葵

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

In Bloom 1

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Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, allusions to trauma, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: After wasting much of your youth in a toxic situation, things are starting to look up. That's until you meet a certain flower seller.

Characters: Cole Turner, short!reader

Note: Tomorrow is beach day for me.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

The city streets seem to slant around you, looming outside the car windows, blurring at the edges. Your displacement adds to the effect, making your dizzy, leaving your hands raw as you wring them compulsively. You shrink back into your seat, shying away from the world that seems so scary to you. 

Aunt Bev is completely unbothered. She sings along to her favourite 80s bop as she keeps speed with the rest of traffic. She's always in a sunny mood but that day, she beams even brighter. When you asked why, she was almost stunned by the question; 'well, sweetheart, it's your birthday!' 

You forgot. Or didn't care. You never really celebrate. Your last birthday you can barely discern from all the other grim days. You try not to think of that life you had before Aunt Bev showed up to drag you into the light. You suppose it's probably been just under a year since. 

As if sensing your grey thought, she reaches to turn the volume down. She resumes her firm grip on the wheel and peeks over quickly. She smiles as she stops at the changing light. 

"You get a free scoop. You got your ID?" She says. 

You nod. That's one of the things that's new to you. Before you never even had a library card. Before, it was like you never even existed. As far as the world was concerned, you didn't.  

You look down at the purse in your lap. Your cousin Lena gave it to you. She said she never used it and it suited you better. There was a lot she handed over, though without any real concern. Her and your other cousin, Mason, have so much, they hardly know the difference. 

You stare at the embroidered petals on the black velvet. Lena's wrong. It's too nice for you. 

You tear your hands apart and lift the flap. You slide out the small wallet within. Another inherited piece. You slip out the ID card and stare at the photo. It doesn't really look like you but you've never really been able to recognise yourself. Your features always struck you as unfamiliar. 

You remember when you went to fill out the paperwork. Standing in front of that lens, staring into its black eye, and the sudden flash. You tuck the card away and shove the wallet back in the depths of the purse. 

"Lena's making you a cake," Bev says, "she always loves an excuse to make a mess of my kitchen." 

You try to laugh, it's more a crackle. That's the thing about Aunt Bev, everything is so careless to her, so easy. It all feels so strange to you. You don't fit but no one else seems to notice. 

"Mason should be there but heavens knows he's always late. That's not my doing, by the way, your uncle's always been horrible about time," she scoffs. 

You hum to acknowledge you're listening. The mention of your cousin and uncle make you uneasy. It isn't that they're bad. No, they're so nice, like Lena and Bev, but they're men. You try not to hold that against them but you've never been very comfortable around them. Not that you spent much time around male counterparts. 

"Twenty-five," she preens, "exciting." 

You clear your dry throat, "yep." 

You tuck your chin down and fidget with the strap of the purse. Twenty-five. Halfway through your first decade of adulthood and you still feel like a child. It's nothing to celebrate but Aunt Bev sees everyday as a reason. 

She puts on her signal and waits in the line of cars. You squint through her side and see the bustling of vehicles and people in a large lot. All this for ice cream. You told her you aren't particularly hungry even but she insisted. 

She turns and rolls into the lot, finding a spot amid the tight lines. She sighs and pulls the visor down to check her dyed waves in the mirror. She's always so put together. She tried to help you but you don't like the feel of mascara and you had an allergic reaction to the lip gloss. She didn't try again. 

"Alright, ice cream!" She snaps the visor up, "do you know which flavour you want?" 

You unbuckle your seat belt and shrug, "I don't know what they have." 

"Fair," she tilts her head as she opens her door, "I'm feeling a good old vanilla cone." 

You get out and shut the door. You hook the purse on your shoulder and meet her by the hood. You walk in step with her, peering around at the other people streaming towards the other side of the lot. There’s a large archway leading to a large plot of booths and stands. It’s a market of some sort, the kind you’ve only seen on television. 

“I thought we were getting ice cream,” you say as you grip your purse. 

“They have ice cream. I have another surprise. For your birthday,” she insists, “I wanted to buy you a gift.” 

“Oh? I don’t need one.” 

“I want to,” she says, “me and Lena used to come here all the time. You’ll like it.” 

You don’t argue. You have no right to. She’s doing you a favour. Another one.  

It’s crowded but everyone seems happy. You’re not used to all the noise or clamour. A woman pushes a stroller ahead of you as her husband chases a lively toddler past her. You press your chapped lips together and hold in your unease. 

You’re not the best in these sort of situations. Too many people, too much going on. Just going down to City Hall to get your ID was a lot. The hospital too. Those stiff, cramped plastic chairs and people filling even the space between them. 

You keep your shoulders curled in as you walk with Bev. You end up behind her, following her lead, stopping where she stops, looking at whatever she looks at. She points out a crystal sunflower necklace and you smile and nod. When you see the price, you frown. 

“Maybe something else. I don’t wear jewelry,” you say. You don’t wear it because you never had it. 

“It would be so pretty,” she remarks. 

“No, really, it’s... nice, but not for me.” 

You sidle on. There’s a table of soaps so pungent they make your head cloudy, and candles that look like whipped desserts. You cross to another booth and Bev buys some local honey and apple butter. She likes the honey in her tea in the evening. She always makes you a cup too. 

She shows you the wildflower honey giddily and points you onward. You stick close, following her direction as it keeps your head from spinning. You go to crocheter’s stand with stuffed animals meant for the children shouting and running around more than you. That whale might be cute but you’re not a child anymore, are you? 

You carry on. Bev shows you several other things. A little compact mirror with mother of pearl on the case and a hand-painted wooden chest you could put on your dresser. The dresser she bought in the room she gave you in the house she pays for. 

“You really don’t need to buy my anything. The ice creams good enough,” you say as your doubt bubbles over but it’s too loud for her to hear you. And she’s too distracted. 

Aunt Bev stands on her toes, though she’s already a tall figure, and waves at someone. She grabs your wrist and you wince as she pulls you through the swaths of people. You want to tear away as her grip makes you itch. You don’t like being touched. You’re not used to it. 

She pulls you to another row of stalls and stops before a medley of plants. There's a little chalkboard sign in the corner that reads ‘Cole’s Corner’. Pots line the top of the table, cacti and spider plants and succulents. Their green and lovely and lush. 

Bev lets go and you stare down at them. They’re familiar. They’re pretty. You could smile if your ears weren’t burning from the bustling people around. 

You’ve always known soil, always known the smell of pollen and the tough roots of unwanted weeds. When you weren’t trapped in your room, you were stranded in the garden, searching for bright petals or nursing wilting stems. Out in the dirt, you didn’t have to worry about anything. 

Often Aunt Bev found you in the plot she allotted you among her rose bushes and tulips. The space you made your own with the gnome you painted yourself. That was one of her little crafts she liked to do. She always had an idea for something or the other; waxed-linen to use as reusable bowl covers or tie-dye tee shirts. 

You stare down at a pot of aloe vera. The pot is clay; the base is brown and the top is painted white. You admire the jutting rigid leaves as the chaos around you settles into the background. You lean in closer at the burst of colour behind it, a bunch of pleasant pink begonias. 

“Cole,” your aunt chirps, “busy today.” 

“Sure is,” the man behind the table answers and your eyes flick up as you nearly jump.  

You hadn’t seen him. You were too distracted by the fauna. You don’t know how you didn’t. He’s tall and his blue eyes twinkle as they meet yours. You quickly shy away as the sight of his soft hay brown hair lingers in your mind. 

“This your sister?” He asks. 

“Oh, Cole, don’t be silly. You can flatter me all you like. You’re still a horrible salesman.” 

“Usually works,” he chuckles, “daughter?” 

“You’ve met Lena,” she chides then introduces you by name, “this is my niece. Hon, this is Cole. He grows these all himself.” 

“Ah, the niece,” he snaps his fingers. “I remember.” 

As he turns away you continue to peruse. Your cheeks are burning. You’re suddenly not as content to browse the plants. Not as you feel the sting of that man’s gaze nipping at you. It’s just the way he’d looked at you. Maybe just that he’d even saw you. 

Suddenly, a pot wrapped in burlap is set down in front of you. You examine the yellow petals and peek over at Aunt Bev. She grins and her gaze trails between you and the man. You gulp and turn back to once more consider the flowers. 

“Daylily,” you murmur. 

He leans in and lets out a scratchy noise, “that’s right.” 

You suck in your lower lip. You hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Your lashes flick up then down as you can’t figure what to do with yourself. 

“You like flowers? Your aunt says you spend all your time in the garden.” 

You shrug, then nod, and once more dart a look over at Aunt Bev. She said all that? To him? Why? 

“How about that one?” She comes closer as she reaches for her purse, “it’s her birthday. I’d like her to get something nice for her.” 

“Can’t go wrong with day lily. They keep bloom for a while but each blossom only lasts about a day,” he turns the pot slightly as he speaks, “symbolic of devotion and forgetting worries. They brighten the place right up.” 

“So?” Aunt Bev nudges you with her elbow. 

You dip your chin, “um, sure, okay. Thank you, Aunt Bev.” 

“Flowers are always a good gift. These ones won’t need much in the winter either. They’ll come right back,” he explains, “is that all?” 

“Yep, I think you’ve bled me dry,” Bev kids as she hands over her money, “I only have so much room left in the backyard.” 

“Ah, don’t got that problem on the farm. Sometimes, I don’t know what to do with all the land,” he counts out her change from a metal box. 

“Must be nice. I swear, living in the city can be so... suffocating,” Bev mopes as she tucks away the coins. “Go on, hon, you wanna carry your flowers?” 

You mutter your acquiescence and step forward to reach for the pot. Before you can, that man, Cole, slides it out of your grasp. “Wait, one minute.” He turns and digs around in a crate hidden beneath the perpendicular table, “it’s your birthday, isn’t it?” He pulls out a ribbon, the same colour as the daylily, “just put a proper bow on.” 

He ties it up in a drooping uneven bow. You peek up at his face as he gives it a helpless smile and shrugs, “not perfect but... happy birthday.” 

He pushes the pot towards you and you cautiously take it. His large hand brushes yours and you quickly bring the flowers against your stomach, recoiling a step back from the table. His fingers fall onto the table and he taps them. 

“Oh, wait,” he turns once more and digs around, this time in a bag on the top of the table, “Marvita brough these over from her booth.” He takes out a small box and lifts the lid to reveal an array of macarons in a variety of hues, “I can’t eat them all.” he shoves the box at you, “please.” 

You don’t move but Bev eagerly accepts one; a pink one. “Go on,” she urges, “live a little, birthday girl.” 

You scrunch your mouth up and slant it this way, then that. You take a cookie; a green one. As you hug the plant with one arm and retract the other, you remember your manners. A tingle runs through the back of your hand, a memory of those lessons, as the ‘thank you’ tumbles off your tongue. 

You look up and once more your eyes meet. You blanch and swiftly turn away. 

“No problem,” he says brightly, “hey, Bev,” he calls as she goes to shuffle away, “next week?” 

“Eh, I don’t know, my husband’s been on me about the spending,” she laughs, “we’ll see.” 

“Oh yeah, see you then,” he snorts, “you too, I hope.” 

“Uh, bye,” you wave with the cookie and hurry past your aunt. You know he’s talking to you but you can’t face him. He’s just being nice and you won’t be back. 

“I love those, they’re so pretty,” Aunt Bev reaches over to touch the petals, “such a nice man, isn’t he?” 

[rogueddie]

Leap of Faith T | 1,286 words Prompt for @steddielovemonth: Love is saying 'I love you' even when you're scared

Eddie has never been very good at figuring out where his limits lay. It's something that usually proves good- he's willing to try to do anything, sure he can do it and he usually finds that he either can or he can pick up the skills neccessary very fast.

When it comes to romance, he's never quite got it.

He's not sure Robin "gets it" either, but she knows Steve better than he ever could. He trusts her to plan something that would, at the very least, be something Steve would enjoy.

It might not get him a boyfriend at the end of it, but it will at least make Steve happy. It's the best Eddie can bring himself to hope for.

But, even with all of that in mind, Eddie is terrified.

"You'll be fine," Wayne reassures him, for the eighteenth time. "That boy adores you. Even if this don't work out, you'll stay friends."

"Yeah, I know, but..."

"It's still scary," Wayne wraps an arm around his shoulders. "I get it, son. This ain't ever easy. I can't imagine how much harder it is when it's with another boy. But I know you. You're gonna do great."

Before Eddie can respond, there's a knock at the door.

"Oh, shit, I almost forgot-"

Eddie darts off to his room, quickly grabbing the tickets Robin had got him. He can hear Wayne and Steve talking, which makes him rush back.

"Hey!" Eddie says, slightly out of breath. "Sorry. You, uh... you look good."

"Thanks," Steve grins, glancing down at himself.

Objectively, Eddie knows it's an outfit he's worn before- a striped, yellow polo with his favourite jeans and go-to white sneakers.

But he tries to be optimistic, and it's easier than he expects. He's told Steve that those types of jeans suit him, he's told Steve that yellow looks good on him...

"You look good too," Steve adds, looking him up and down.

"Thanks. Uh..." he hesitates, glancing at Wayne, who pointedly raises his eyebrows. "We should head out, right? Movie starts soon."

"Did Robin tell you what movie we're going to see? She gave me the weirdest rundown of tonights plan."

"She told me not to tell you."

"Great," Steve sighs. He tries to frown, to look annoyed, but it fails completely. His excitement is too obvious.

Eddie holds the door open, gesturing Steve through.

When he turns back to say bye, Wayne mouths "good luck" at him, giving him a thumbs up too.

Eddie rolls his eyes. "Thanks. See you later, old man."

Steve is already stood by his car, expression making it clear that he'll lose if he tries to argue that they take his van instead.

"We're not going in the van," Steve says, the second Eddie pulls out his keys.

"I know! Just- one minute!"

He climbs in the back, shoving things aside so he can grab the small box, grabbing the flowers once he's climbed back out.

"For you," Eddie says, holding them both out.

The carnations aren't anything special- Eddie had only picked them specially because they're cheaper- but Steve holds them delicately, eyes full of awe.

"Thank you," he breathes, finally tearing his eyes away from the flowers. "They're, uh... they're really pretty."

"Yeah, they're... you're welcome."

"Could, um... you don't mind if we stop by my house, on the way, right? I should- these need to be put in water."

"That's fine, yeah, I don't mind."

The ride to Steves is quiet, but tense. Eddie keeps his eyes firmly forward, struggling to keep his expression neutral with how Steves eyes keep boring into the side of his head with his glances.

When Steve darts inside, Eddie grabs the box that Steve seems to have missed with the flowers stealing all his attention. He carefully props it on the steering wheel.

He keeps glancing at it as he waits. By the time Steve comes back out, he's wiping his hands on his jeans, anxious.

"Oh!" Steve grins, grabbing the box, excited. He only hesitates for a moment, glancing at Eddie, who gives him a nod. "It's not even my birthday."

He freezes once he finally opens it. He turns to look at Eddie after a moment, expression blank.

"It's, uh... you said you liked it," Eddie explains. "Saw one the other day and, uh... here we are."

"Thank you. Really. I didn't think you'd... well, it's great. Thank you."

The ring is almost plain, a silver band with simple designs carved. It doesn't help that it's old, clearly second-hand.

Eddie thinks the age adds to its charm and, judging by how Steve immediately slides it onto his finger, he seems to agree.

"We're eating after we watch this film, right?"

"Yeah. I thought we'd go to that little burger joint?"

"The one ran by Diane?"

"I think it is. It's got those weird tablecloths with the-"

"The lace things, yeah, that's the one. I love that place!"

Thankfully, conversation comes easy after that. It makes the journey to the cinema less tense. By the time they park, they're teasing each other as usual.

The movie, for Eddie, is boring. Another rom-com that Steve loves.

Eddie spends almost the entire time staring at Steve, enjoying his love of the movie, basking in the second hand joy.

He's almost disappointed when the credits roll.

Their meal makes up for it though. Steve spends the entire time talking about the movie, gushing about the parts he loved and why. The lovesick expression he has, when describing the love the protagonists shared, is worth the price of admission.

Steve gets out, when they pull up to the trailer park, walking him to his door.

"Eds," Steve says, quickly, grabbing his arm when he goes to unlock the door. "You know, tonight was amazing. It was really fun. I'd, um, love to hang out again. If you want."

"Yeah?" Eddie shifts, nervously glancing around. "What if, um..."

Steve waits for a moment but, when it becomes clear that Eddie is too nervous to continue, he asks, "what?"

"I don't want it to be a hang out," Eddie rushes out to say. The words jumble together in his rush, making him almost unintelligable. "I want it to be... to be a date."

"Really? That- yeah. Yeah, I'd love that. Was- this was a date too, right?"

Steves smile is wide, eyes crinkling at the corners. It makes Eddies heart flutter.

"Yeah, I mean, if you want it to be, because... I do. Want it to be a date, I mean."

"It was a date," he nods. "And it was a great date. Perfect."

"Good." Eddie shifts a step closer, taking a shaky breath. "Sorry I didn't ask you, like, properly. I really, um... I really like you, Steve."

"I like you too."

"No, I mean... I'm pretty sure I love you."

"Good, because I'm pretty sure I love you too."

He leans in, quickly kissing Eddie on the cheek. His cheeks are flushed as he quickly looks around.

"Oh, look," he snorts, pointing to one of the windows- Maxs face is peering through the curtains and she gives them a thumbs up. "Brat."

"You... don't mind? That she saw?"

"No? She's like family, man, she's safe." Steves smile falters. "Unless you don't want them to know? Is it too soon? Am I-"

"No, it's great. I just wasn't sure."

"Well, to be clear, I'd scream it from the rooftops if it didn't put a target on your back."

"On our backs."

"Eh, I've got a nailbat, I'm fine. You've been through enough."

"So have you."

Steve rolls his eyes, sighing. "Sure, yeah, whatever. Come on, let me kiss you again before we say goodbye."

[bon2bonn]

Flowers to you

Words count : 1.6k

*First life update!🌷 with little Mari, the firstborn of the Leclerc-Sainz clan .

The Small grunts made Carlos smile in amusement, slowing his steps a bit for his determined daughter to catch up with . her steady pace was due to the big bouquet she was holding onto for dear life , refusing to let anyone else hold it or even come close to touch it , a special gift for her Mama , insisting on each colour , type and even made sure to ask politely if they could wrap it in blue wrapping papers .

That's why now she's carefully making her way up to the front door supporting her precious flowers , pausing every now and then to adjust her small hands around it and huffing dramatically as she tried to and failed to blow away strands of hair that stubbornly fell over her face but that won't hinder her from doing what she planned to.

Carlos chuckled at her struggling form , asking softly " you want some help there Mari? " , she shook her head or at least tried , answering confidently " non papa , I got it! " he hummed unlocking the door to let her get in first before he did the same , both taking off their shoes before heading to the kitchen when they took notice of the quiet house, making sure to not make too much noise in order to maintain the peace. Both washed their hands and made their way to the counter, where she stood on on her stall , a set of steps for her to reach the counter, the sink ....etc , patiently waiting for her father to get one of her favourite vases down for them to work on.

" So , miss Mari what do we do first ?" Carlos asked with his hands on his hips, feigning confusion making her shake her head dramatically, pointing at the vase then at the counter " the vase , papa! Did you forget already ? " His face broke into a grin as he set the vase on the counter where she leaned over to inspect the inside and nodded in approval, then he turned again to grab his wife's clippers , waiting as little Mari carefully unwrap the flowers and untangle the secure knots at the stems, taking out one at a time to hand over to him to clip out the excess leaves , shorten the stems before taking them back to arrange into the vase to her liking.

She hummed a tone as she took one from his hand delicately adding it to the rest before picking another from the pile, nodding at her work with a focused look on her face , her brows creasing as she took out one that she didn't like and put it aside before proceeding, and once she's done she took out the blue ribbon out of her pocket , the lady on the counter was kind to give her a one to match with the wrapping , saying it was for good luck , so she now took it and wrapped it around the vase , asking with frown for her Papa's help when she couldn't make the knot as neet as she wanted, then she leaned back a bit to give it a final inspection, Carlos crossed his arms over the counter where he leaned on it after putting everything away and cleaned the remains of leaves and wrapping paper " so , what do you think miss Mari ? You think Mama would like them ? " She nods confidently her small hands on the counter " Mama will love them , they're her favourite and , we made it with love because, we love Mama , so she'll love them " he propped his head on his hands with his elbows still on the counter and asked in amusement " and how much do we love Mama ? " She gave him a wide grin answering " as much as I love papa " making him ask again " and how much do you love papa? " She held out her hands giving an exaggerated measure "as much as there is stars on the whole whole universe" he placed his hand over his heart Groaning dramatically " too sweet , ugh ! My Mariposa is too sweet what should I do !" He then scooped her up spinning around the counter , emitting a loud laugh out of her as her hair fell all over her face " papa! My hair! " He placed her down and sighed in content " alright how about we wash our hands and go show Mama what we made ? " Her face lit up and she hurriedly made her way to wash her hands, dried them and waited for him to do the same , he teased her by doing so slowly making her groan impatiently and throw her head back , just like her mother .

He then picked her with one arm and grabbed the vase with the other on their way out , heading up the stairs for the master bedroom where they left her resting before going out .

Her second pregnancy was a difficult one to say the least , suffering from long restless nights accompanied with back pains up to high blood pressure overall it was a complicated one , and on her latest appointment her doctor finally declared she needs to be on bed rest for the remaining period of the pregnancy, strongly advising them to change the birth plans to surgical option, to avoid any complications or risks as she put it, trying not to alarm the already stressed couple, but precautions are a must with her condition , specially through the last stages of it .

The moment they stepped into the room their daughter exclaimed at the sight of her reading peacefully with raised arms " Mama! " Making her look up , a smile lit up her face as she was greeted with them standing before her, with little Mari barley containing her excitement as Carlos set her down on the bed , leaning over to greet her with a kiss " hi" she smiled at the kiss , greeting back a quiet " hey " then leaned back to open her arms for a big hug from little Mari who crawled her way up to wrap her arms around her neck, leaving a kiss on her Mama's cheek and cuddled into her arms humming as she asked her " how was your trip ? ", both parents grins in amusement as she perked up in a burst of excitement pointing at the bedside table where Carlos put the vase earlier " look mama , we got your favourite " , she admired the blooming flowers along with the baby blue ribbon around it , appreciating the effort they put into it and turned to her " I love them baby " leaning to kiss her on the cheek " and the blue ribbon too " Mari's smile widened at that as she gently patted her Mama's belly " it's for Mateo " then she leaned down to leave a kiss on the side of it, speaking quietly to the baby " hi Mateo , we brought you and mama flowers today , I'm sure you're gonna like them when you're here , Mama liked them and I did too so I'll get some for you too , okay? " she promised unaware of the knowing look shared between her parents , they didn't reveal the baby's gender yet , but , Mari decided long ago that it's going to be a boy , even declaring his name to be Mateo just like she remembered from the dream she had , stubbornly refusing to settle on anything else .

Carlos then gave a sound of protest " what about me !? where's my kiss? , I did help! " his wife looked at her daughter in question , who in turn gave her a wide grin " he did Mama " making Carlos look at her pointedly, she then opened her arms for him , and he didn't waste time leaning over to receive a kiss on his cheek, then he turned his head to steal one from her lips , before leaning down to place another on her belly, before moving to the end of the bed to take her feet into his lap , massaging them to relieve some of the aches .

Meanwhile Mari leaned over to not so quietly whisper to her Mama with a frown on her face " Mama " receiving a humm before she proceeded in a serious manner making her mother frown in turn " what's wrong baby ?" Making her answer with a solemn look as she recalled her conversation with her uncle " I think thuthu is right " her mother then asked curiously, knowing her youngest brother's antics " really? And what did he say this time ? " She answered with a pout " papa is forgetting things , he didn't know what to do earlier !! , and thuthu said that means papa is getting old " that made Carlos snap his head their way , his smile fell and a frown on his face , his eye twitched as he called out in denial over his wife's loud snickers " AY ! I'm not old ! , he's lying! " He then glared at his wife who was cackling when their daughter innocently answered back with a sympathetic nod " he said old people say that too " .

[plenilune]

well. got horrible news and then worse news this week that my favourite aunt's incredible butch wife was a) diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder after a few months of sudden health problems b) then given three to six months as her condition worsened c) then died several days after being given at least three months. one of those things I have no idea how to process, because my aunt and her wife are deeply beloved but not part of my daily life -- we've always been the type of family who don't see each other for a year and a half and then pick up immediately like no time has passed. the real grief may not hit till I next see Amy and Cyn isn't there with her.

my aunt is the only other openly queer member of my extended family that I know of, so there's also... that feeling... as well as, now I have to deal with my messy, messy immediate family, who I do not want to deal with At All In Any Capacity, but must.

arrangements have not been made yet. I'm figuring out how to get out to the Philly area once I know anything more. just. god. what an evil fucking year. the last time I saw Cyn, at my grandmother's funeral (a much happier funeral occasion, as my grandmother died at 89 still fully in possession of her self, hobbies, memory, and interest in the world, so we were all gathered teary-eyed and laughing, sharing stories and hoping that's how we all get to go when it comes), she was relieved that I was also wearing a suit, so she wasn't the only female-in-the-family's-eyes person wearing one. her suits were incredible. she and Amy cut up the dance floor at my sister's wedding a few years ago, Cyn in her sharp blue suit and Amy in a fluffy little dress and platform heels with the rainbow of colours in her hair matching the flowers in her wife's buttonhole. they're in their fifties. they both have kids. they were so, so delighted by each other. they should have had so much time.

Corey and I and my middle sister and her husband and Amy's two kids (my age) were the only of Amy's family to come to her wedding. (her mother, my grandmother, wanted to come, but she was too frail to leave her care home. she told my sister when my sister visited how annoyed she was at all of her other four children, including my father, for politely making excuses not to be there.) Corey and I drove about twelve hours in a single day to get there, because we knew that was going to be the case. Cyn's family was all there, though, welcoming and funny and eccentric. the wedding was a masquerade ball. Cyn and Amy both wore gold velvet cloaks that Amy sewed for them, pinned with mallorn leaf pins.

I have a wine bottle from their wedding with their names on the label on the top of my bookshelf. it's full of dried yellow roses.

anyway I don't... know how to feel yet. Corey and I took a really beautiful late afternoon walk in the thick-clouded winter grey with the dog, pointing at architecture and at people's light displays. I'm working on some collage projects tomorrow. I have leftist book club on Wednesday. and something horrible has happened. my body has built up a resistance to something horrible happening. it doesn't remember how to feel it. if I feel it, the whole thing could come down and I could become insane. this happened a few winters ago. I don't remember large swaths of it.

they should have had so much time.

[nyxthejinx]

Hello! How’s your day/night going?

May I request a drabble of Diluc with an g/n s/o that haves fox’s ears? Like Miko but it’s pointing upwards not down. And their ear’s go with their emotions ;

Happy = go straight up

Sad = slowly go downwards

shy/embarrassed = go downwards really fast

If not that’s completely fine! Have the good rest of your day/night!

Archons-know-how-many-months-later, my night's going pretty well, sleep deprivation aside. I'm sorry it took so long, but it was an interesting prompt to go with. I'm not fully satisfied with how it came out, but I hope you'll like it anyways <3

𝐓𝐖: Nothing but fluff, one kiss. It's a misunderstanding but comical.

𝐅𝐭.: Diluc - GN!Reader

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧����: 1.1k

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨: Hanging With the Boys - OMORI

Diluc has always been secretly fascinated by your ears.

He never really brought up the topic or pointed out anything, fearing it would make him sound rude and you feel uncomfortable. And yet still to this day he founds endearing the way you show emotions through them.

On most days they'd be staying up proudly, paired with one of your unresistable smiles, while on some occations he'd seen them bend like a withered flowers, pulled downwards just like your lips in a sign of sadness.

But his favourite has to be without a doubt the sight of them flattening in a heartbeat, as you poorly hide that clumsy shyness he's grown so fond of.

What Diluc doesn't like, though, are those days when they're leaned backwards, forming a sharp 90 degrees angle with the back of your head. Days when you're upset, annoyed at something and/or someone.

Days when he automatically returns on his footsteps and tries to figure out whether it was his fault or not.

Today is one of those days.

It had started in the morning, with you marching down the corridor and completely ignoring the open door of his office. Being with his nose buried in paperwork, Diluc didn't exactly notice the lack of usual "have a good day" kiss. It was Adelinde who pointed out your strange behaviour and rang the bells in the back of his mind.

But why? He'd come home earlier yesterday, cuddled on the bed while you read your book, had a nice dinner together and slept with you in his arms. You'd kept your ears pointed all the way up the entire time!

Was someone bothering you? Did he subconsciously annoy you? Were you feeling unwell? Should he call a doctor?

"Please, calm down, master Diluc," Adelinde sighs, as she dusts the libraries in his office. "If they were in any pain they'd voice their discomfort. Master [Name] knows how concerned you get over their wellbeing."

Diluc, on the other hand, is having none of it. "I wouldn't know, Adelinde." He sinks in his chair, a frown etched on his forehead. "We're both well aware of their stubborness."

"You ought talk to them, then." She says. "Communication is the key."

Communication is the key.

Well, it is either the key for peace or chaos, Diluc thinks, an idea that's surely bound to fail popping up in his mind.

Candles? Lit. Table? Set. Dinner made by the man himself? Ready to help you ease the mood, it's your favourite after all.

It took him the rest of the evening to lay everything out for when you'd be back. It's a bit old fashioned, nothing too special, just like he is, but he knows you like it exactly this way.

Adelinde actually shook her head at the length he was going for this whole ordeal. But anyways-

Diluc stands by the window, waiting for any sign of your arrival. He focuses on his dull reflection, checks the outfit he'd chosen -casual, but still flattering in a way- and perks up upon seeing your figure approaching the manor.

He squints and- yes, your ears are still bent backwards, but not completely: more like a perturbed neutrality.

Well, make or break.

The door clicks open and he hears you shuffling around.

"Welcome back, Love." He makes his way to the entrance, hoping to look natural in his movements. When in reality he's a nervous wreck. "Let me help you with that."

Diluc gives you a small smile, makes quick work of your jacket, hanging it to the rack and subtly pushing you towards the decorated table. He doesn't give you time to ask any question, nor elaborate your confusion and stupor, as he accompanies you by the small of your back.

"How was your day?" He questions. Meanwhile he's already moved the chair, waiting for you to sit.

"Uh, fine, I guess?" You don't hide your hesitancy, as you lower yourself on the cushioned seat with a quirked brow. "What about you- this," You gesture around yourself, then towards Diluc. "What's the occasion?"

Diluc pushes you into position. He clears his throat, hands stilling on the seat back. "You seemed... Off, earlier this morning, Love. I was hoping a nice dinner would ease your mind."

"I prepared your favourite." And with that he slinks away. Or at least tries to.

You're quick to latch your fingers onto the sleeve of his shirt. "'Luc, I appreciate the thought, but I'm pretty sure there's something more going on."

You yank him gently, force him to face you fully and look at you in the eyes, when you notice that his gaze is aimed a little above yours.

"...Well?"

He stares up, back down, up again. And then he sighs. He sounds absolutely mortified. "It was my intention to have a chat about your sour mood. You appeared distressed when you left the Winery, your..." His cheeks start to gain colour. "Your ears. I've only ever seen them that way after an argument, or whenever you're upset. I was worried I enraged you unknowingly."

His free hand flies to cover the lower half of his face, as if he knows he's blushing like mad, while his eyes wander to the floor. Diluc looks like a kicked puppy, poor thing.

And suddenly you chuckle, your ears perking all the way up like usual. As if nothing at all had happened.

"'Luc, Love, I'm sorry." You smile. "I wasn't mad at you!"

"U-Uh?"

"Remember the book I was reading before bed?" You place both your hands on his biceps and get on your feet. "Well, I read the few pages I had left right this morning. And I didn't like the ending at all."

Oh. Oh.

So it was about the book.

Diluc stares at you dumbfounded. He's overheating, and he doesn't know if it's from shame, stress discharging or the incredible proximity of your bodies.

He feels your hands slide all the way up, locking behind his neck as your face inches closer and closer. A soft, yet amused smile pulling at your lips. "You're too sweet for this world."

And you peck him, quick but loving nevertheless. Take a step back and pat his chest. "You said you cooked my favourite, right? Can't wait to dig in."

And you sit once again, starting to ramble about your real day with a cozy enthusiasm he loves so much.

It takes him another ten seconds. But then he smiles, gazes at you with eyes brimming with adoration.

How he loves seeing you with your ears up.

DON'T copy/repost my work. REBLOG instead! ©nyxthejinx

[overstuffd]

mmmm thinkling about being a hacker who sees a perfect target while tapping through unsecured webcams one day.

cute, curvy, a small belly peeking out from under her shirt. she doesn't know anyone's watching as she idly snacks on the open bag of chips on her desk. I decide to see how little prodding it takes for her to give in to indulging her every whim.

i start off by subtly influencing her social media feeds. delicious food and porn, side by side and one right after the other. she might notice something seems different, but the porn is welcome considering the selection of toys i had amazon 'misdeliver' to her house have been getting a lot of use.

once she's started associating her newly increased orgasm rate with food, it's time to start upping the portions. she gets her groceries delivered, so it's easy to make a few substitutions and editions. Extra-thick, honey sweetened yoghurt instead of her normal low fat brand. Her favourite diet soda was 'sold out' but luckily she's well stocked in the full sugar version.

she's sure she didn't add these bags of chips to the order, or this box of donuts, but the delivery guy shrugs and says they're free so it would be silly to throw them out.

i make sure the first thing she sees when she turns on her phone in the morning is something to turn her on and something to get her stomach rumbling. hot pancakes, oozing syrup. a plate stacked with greasy bacon and eggs with a mountain of fried potatoes. some upscale bakery showing off their latest cream stuffed pastries.

at this point i'll be tracking every like, every video she lingers on just a bit too long to know exactly what she'll be unable to resist. and it's such a coincidence that a coupon for that exact bakery appeared in her inbox just as she was looking at them. it's such a good deal, and it expires today, so it would be a shame not try all of the ones she's had her eye on.

doubling her order as it comes through is a simple, explainable glitch. still, most of these pastries won't be good tomorrow, so she might as well try all of them, it's not like she has to finish them all.

later that night, as she goes back to the fridge for the fourth time, she scoops the last blob of frosting up with a scrap of pastry and sighs. she's definitely getting a little softer around the middle, but she can't worry about that now - she's just found out she's lost her job by email. she's so lucky though, because later that day she gets offered a spot on a medical weed trial she can't even remember applying for. a few well placed changes on my part and she's getting paid to smoke up every day at home, fresh flower and vape carts carefully delivered every week.

the 'study' pays well, so why shouldn't she get most of her food delivered? she's too stoned to move most of the day anyway, and she has such good luck with ordering in lately, every restaurant seems to be throwing in free extra desserts and appetisers every time she orders.

that night, her large meat feast pizza (already more than she used to order) comes with garlic bread, wings, curly fries, soda and icecream and fist sized tubs of creamy sauces. you try and ask the delivery boy a question but he mumbles something about a promotion, and what, is she going to say no to free food?

as she sits down, she barely notices as i set the youtube on her tv to start a playlist of cute girls trying different fast food places, giggling as they took huge bites of rich, calorific foods.

the strain i picked out for her has already got her hungry and horny, so she flops down on the couch in her sweatpants and t-shirt. this shirt used to be loose on her, but it's definitely stretching tighter across her tits and slightly bulging stomach. she barely notices though, grabbing a slice of pizza and chugging soda straight from the bottle as her already hazy mind gets softer. she doesn't realise she's finishing what should be a meal for a family of four until most of it's gone.

her stomach feels uncomfortably tight, straining against the waistband of her now-tight sweatpants. she pulls the band down and her stomach springs out, angry red marks showing where it had bitten into her soft flesh.

my conditioning has been working, and she doesn't know why, but the feeling of her being so stuffed makes her pussy ache, and she slides a hand into her pants to find herself dripping wet. she starts playing with herself as she finishes the lst slice of pizza, forces a few more fries into her heavy gut. the more she eats, the better her fingers feel on her clit, her flabby brain well trained at this point to associate food with sex, being stuffed full with cumming what was left of her brains out.

she's on the edge now, but she's finished the food and even though her stomach is straining and sensitive she can't make herself finish without something to eat at the same time.

she's lucky she forgot to put the icecream in the freezer. she pulls the melted tub towards herself, too pinned under the weight of her bloated stomach to even lean over for it. the thick mix of cream, sugar, chocolate and caramel pour down her throat as she slowly begins to chug the mixture. her free hand is back between her legs, frantically fucking her needy pussy as her belly stretches beyond what she thought she handle. as the last of the icecream drips down her throat she cums, harder than she thinks she's ever come before.

she slumps back, too happy to care that she's surrounded by greasy pizza boxes and that there's melted icream smeared across her tits.

watching through her webcam, i'm already planning all the fun deliveries she's going to be getting in the next fes days.

[changingplumbob]

Glenn had a good sleep his first night, like his body was relaxing into the surroundings. When he woke up the sun was shining and after going for a quick run and showering he headed to another spellcaster's house. He had meant to visit Harmony yesterday but Drusilla had kept him too busy. Practicing his smile, he knocked on the door of the house she and Koko shared. He stood for a minute before hearing the sound of it unlocking and took that as his cue to go in.

Glenn: Good morning

Koko: Morning. Harmony this is Glenn, I met him last night during a gap in my meditation

Harmony: Nice to meet you Glenn. Are you getting settled back alright?

Glenn: For sure, I did miss all my plants when I was gone

Harmony: *chuckles* I know exactly what you mean, they're like my kids. I'd hate to be parted from some of my favourites

Glenn: You're in to gardening?

Harmony: I enjoy nature. I'm not a massive academic on plants though, I just have a few favourites. I enjoy water based magic, not as much as Marisol obviously, but enjoy using all the elements together

Glenn: So your powers are like Jackson and Coleman

Harmony: Not quite. They mainly deal with the transfer of heat, I work all elements and make new ones

Glenn: New ones?

Harmony: I have a gift for conjuring

Glenn: Like Carmine then?

Koko: Harmony is more powerful than her

Harmony: I'm just older and have been at this longer. Carmine transfigures, she takes what is there and changes its form. Similar to how Gillian changes her form. Conjuring is different

Glenn: I thought they were the same

Harmony: Not quite. Conjuring is crafting something from nothingness. The creation of matter rather than the manipulation of it

Glenn: I mean... is that even possible

Harmony: I've conjured a lot and I assure you, it's possible

Koko: It's just your science brain telling you it's impossible

Glenn: I said I don't follow science much anyway

Harmony: But you like plants, yes? There is science in that. Ph of soil, grafting of different types-

Koko: How much light they should get, that's super important

Glenn: I suppose. I just didn't think it was that technical since I understand it so easily

Harmony: Lesson one Glenn, never downplay your talents

Koko: Others will do that all by themselves, it's best not to help them

Glenn: Well... I guess I do have one good trick

Harmony: Care to share?

Glenn: Well, I can tell what a flower is going to be

Koko: Like what species

Glenn: That sure, that's easy if I've seen the type of plant before. But I mean like when the flowers are starting to bud, I can tell what colour they'll be when they flower, even if I'm not sure what type of flower they are

Harmony: Oh now that's pretty cool. See, we'll have you shouting about your talents in no time

Glenn: I'm normally pretty good at showing off. The whole bc experience just shook me a bit I think but I want to get back to who I am

Harmony: Sounds fair. First time I got my heart broken I was awful company for months, it really stifled my practicing

Glenn: Practicing! I almost forgot that's why I'm here. Phoebus wanted me to check in with you for any magic tips. He said you're the best at untamed stuff

Harmony: Untamed is just a category for stuff people can't fully comprehend but sure. I might be able to teach you to conjure small things, or umm... you enjoy plants, can you move the earth?

Glenn: Move the earth?

Koko: Earthquakes *makes rumbling noises*

Glenn: I don't know about earthquakes

Harmony: There are smaller applications. Scooping dirt and moving it with magic rather than your hands. Being able to tell what bugs are in the soil, that kind of thing might be helpful

Glenn: For sure. Oh, do you reckon I could cast a barrier to keep aphids off the plants

Harmony: Probably but with such small creatures it requires a lot of finesse

Glenn: I'm good at finesse

Harmony: Okay. Well I'm often busy with my own studies in conjuring but I'm sure I could fit in some tutoring once or twice a week

Glenn: That would be amazing

Koko: Oh if you're wanting to learn more everyday type of magic you should talk to Elise

Harmony: Oh absolutely! She's right next door, gems are her thing

Glenn: Alright. Well thanks for the chat

Harmony: Any time Glenn, good luck with that confidence building

Koko: And happy dreams

Previous ... Next

[6okuto]

nia please tell me about cove… where does he come from… who is he…………………………

(I saw a glimpse of him in the “more posts like this” recs and I’ve been blessed)

REV REVERIE-STARLIGHT U JUST MADE MY DAY. Ok. mild spoilers (the beauty is in the small moments and casual intimacy,, But that's the Game so i can only say so much.) If u want to hear more Let Me Know. everypony should play and see for themself though. wink. my vn masterlist has some cove too!!

Cove Holden is the love interest in GB Patch's visual novel "Our Life: Beginnings and Always" available on Itch.io and Steam for free. You play through 4 life phases: childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and fully grown—all with different moments you can play in any order!! Steps 1 to 3 have their own DLCs for 4USD each, and the wedding DLC is only 3USD, but the base game easily has up to 20 hours of playtime alone!! FOR FREE!! (there's also 2 NSFW DLCs on patreon. planning 2 get the second one soon. cove wait for me)

while you don't actually have to romance him,, cove can be the childhood friends to lovers story OF UR (MY) DREAMS!!!! his personality and appearance change depending on your choices (but can also be customized) bUT in general!!

he's very sweet and cares about those close to him deeply!! he's very thoughtful and respectful!!

it's stuff like,, he'll offer to give you his homework when you think you've lost yours. he'll buy you a gift to surprise you with at a market, even though you are Also at the market albeit separated for a while. there's a scene where you're watching fireworks and if you say that they're loud, cove will cover your ears to muffle the sound :'))

he loves the ocean (his special interest)! he surfs, volunteers to help clean the beach (you can join him), has pet fish, etc etc.

^ cove's canonically autistic!! some traits here

climbs through your window a lot.

my crybaby... /sooo affectionate. sobs..

clingy /affectionate /pos /my dream. he always wants to be with you if he can. you obviously don't have to be physically affectionate but i, too, am a clingy cuddly person especially when it comes to him... he can give you piggy back rides, you can cuddle on the couch and in bed, he'll offer his hand to hold, etc. etc.!! and he gets so so smiley and happy whenever you hug and kiss OHHHHMYNGJH

he gets flustered and shy about flirting orz... he has to kinda hype himself up to try a cheesy pick-up line on you 😭🩷

something that comes up is how cove can struggle with new things or taking steps (romantically) and how you stay patient with him!! because he really does want to do them!! I don't kneow it's very heartwarming to me 🥹

u can make it a slowburn! u can have a crush from the very beginning! U can say i love u first! He can confess! U can propose! He can propose (in multiple ways)! WHAT A WORLD!!

6 foot 4 (193 centimeters) 👍

his favourite flower is white linen poppies! :-)

he likes anklets. as in you can wear an anklet and he's like ( !!! )

bit messy /still affectionate. didn't want to say slob. he'll wipe his hands on his pants and there's sand on his bedroom floor hebsbdjsbdj

loves his parents.... there's some angst and struggling but. by step 4 him and his parents are so :-((( WAHHHHH!!!!

"i pick her and she picks me" -> "i pick you and you pick me" Ok. wjy. mi cabesa. MI CORAZON NO SABE YO COSA HABLA BUT WWAAAAHHH 😭😭😭😭🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Step 3 DLC Happiness Moment....

step 4 coves + opened my game for quick screenshots. Do u think he's a cutie patootie handsome beautiful gorgeous perfect angel boyfriend BEcuauseheis. HE IS 😭😭😭. Akaashi and Cove are the same level of boyfriend husband to me. Gen Srs. if u told me to pick one i'd spontaneously combust in front of u

If u like my writing U'll Probably Like Cove And OL. If you want to get to know me and also be so so happy giggly sentimental for a couple days,, U, reader,, should play OL and tell me so we can talk about it TOGETHAH!

aND! if u like the look of this, GB Patch is currently developing Our Life: Now and Forever!! a new story in a new town with two new love interests (qiu and tamarack my beloveds) and even MORE customization!! ^___^ YIPPEEE

[moaihybitoyoidaics]

Some Things Never Change~ Jurdan

Jue and Cardan return to the Duarte family home to find a gift for Taryn's baby shower. A trip down memory lane leads them to reconnect with Jude's childhood best friend.

A chapter from The Captured King on wattpad (@ teddyhawkins thats me)

Word count: 2148

Jude's POV

The house still stood as it had the day I had left, almost identical to the pictures we had saved more than ten years before. Although now, instead of sun filled windows there were wooden boards, and the parallel-striped lawn was over grown. The door hung ajar, slightly off its hinges. I turned to look at Cardan, whose face was an indecipherable mask.

"Home sweet home." I muttered under my breath before heading up the cracked paving slabs. Running after me, Cardan's composure fell away a second later.

"Jude, are you sure we're okay to be here?" He asked quietly. "Are you sure nobody will be watching the house?"

I stopped just shy of the front door. "As far as this world is concerned, the Duarte family were massacred almost twelve years ago. No one is looking for us anymore, and no body is bothered about this house." I nudged the door open, groaning as it went. "There are things I should like to retrieve, if they're still here." "I'd follow you to the ends of the earth my dear, lead the way." He followed me inside, creeping as if he could somehow wake the ghosts that remained here.

The carpet was ripped up, presumably taken when the police came to investigate the murders. Still, though, a muddy brown stain remained and the floorboards in the vestibule. The sight turned my blood to ice and a cold sweat bead on my upper lip.

"Jude," Cardan tests, his hand grazing my shoulder blade. "What is it?"

I remembered the day Madoc took us, the day he made that stain. I remembered my white converse skidding in the blood, my legs too short to step entirely over it. "I- it's just hard. Being here, it makes it harder to pretend it all away. Let's just get what we came for and go."

I stepped over the stain and moved on through the house. In the lounge the TV was gone, the sofa was charred as if it had been set alight, soot crept up the wall behind it. On the chimney breast someone, probably an edgy teenager, had sprayed a pentagram, dripping and red. I moved on to the kitchen, noticing the notch in the door frame and another dirty brown patch on the floor. I looked out of the window, into the back garden. Our old swing set stood unused, the chains rusted orange, creaking gently in the autumn breeze. I turned to see Cardan sat on the breakfast bar.

"So this is a mortal kitchen."

"You've been to Vivi's apartment, you know what our kitchens look like."

"It's strange to think of you living here. Before all the... stuff happened." He spoke so softly, I could hardly hear him.

"It's stranger to be back." I left the kitchen and made my way upstairs. I had the best chance of finding what I came for up there. "You can wait here, if you want." I called back to him. He shook his head and jumped down off the island.

"No chance."

I pushed open the door I remembered to be mine. The sight sent another shiver through me. The room has been preserved, almost untouched. There drawers were still open, with the clothes we left behind. The bunk beds, made up with Peter Pan and pink floral sheets. "Mine was the bottom bunk, I used to be obsessed with Peter Pan. Sword fighting, pirates, fairies... I guess some things never change."

"Taryn had the flowers, I'm guessing."

"Like I said. Some things never change." I made my way over to our old bookshelves searching for my sister's favourite book. "Taryn would never like to admit this, but she always wanted to be a homemaker. My mom bought her this Tumtum and Nutmeg, I got the first Harry Potter book instead- which is also about magic-"

"I know, I've read them." Cardan said, surprising me out of my nostalgia.

"You've read them?" My mouth was agape, a shocked laugh at the back of my throat.

"The magic is somewhat rudimentary, I mean using wands? But I did cry in book seven." He seemed confused by my obvious shock.

"Okay, we'll discuss that on the way home. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to return her old copy, you know? For the baby shower." I shoved the book into my satchel and made my way towards the bedroom door. "Let's go."

He caught my arm. "Do you not want to stay? Take back some of your old things?"

"It's painful being here, with everything that happened here." For the first time, I realised how strong my husband was. "I do not know where you find the courage to sit in the burgh everyday, where your family was murdered. I am so sorry."

He shook his head. "You are my family. I don't need to dwell on that anymore."

We made our way out of the house, on the front lawn I took one final look at my old family home and sighed. "I can forget this now. I think I can do that." Cardan kissed me softly on my forehead and smiles.

"I think I saw some ragwort by the side of the house. I'll be right back."

I nodded and he turned and jogged away. I took the opportunity to look around the street I used to play on, the cracks in the asphalt, the weeds on the sidewalk, the girl across the street running out of her house...

"Jude?" I was startled out of my trance. "Jude Duarte?" She called.

"No, sorry." I panicked.

"Liar."

"You have the wrong perso-"

"So you're Taryn then?" I knew the girl. Or rather I used to know her, twelve years ago. A lot had changed since then. "I know it's you Jude."

"Jude Duarte is dead." I lied. "So is Taryn and so is Vivienne. They all died."

"Bullshit." She furrowed her brow and pursed her lips together.

Cardan strode around the corner, clutching a fistful of ragwort stalks, "Jude, are you ready to ride?" It was moments like that which made me remember why I used to hate him.

"Sorry, Jude Duarte is apparently dead." She called to him as she smirked at me. Cardan looked to me, visibly confused.

I sighed. "It's Rosie, right?" She grinned again and nodded. "Okay, Rosie, we were never here. "

"I knew he didn't kill you." She yelled. "I knew it! Everyone said I was crazy but I knew I saw him take you."

"Wait, you saw what happened?" Cardan asked. "You were there?"

"I called the police!" She continued to yell. "You left your bike at me house and I was returning it, I saw that guy take you. Sorry who is this guy?" She pointed to Cardan.

I turned to look at him and realised how strange this must've been for Rosie. Cardan, as beautiful as he was, did not look human. I had dressed him in sneakers and jeans but of course he hadn't concerned himself with disguising his pointed ears or his uncanny features, this was supposed to be a quick trip- in and out. Not to mention the fact that for all intents and purposes, to Rosie I was dead and had been for more than a decade. I looked back at Rosie and sighed.

"Would you like to come in? My folks aren't home, but I have some lemonade in the fridge." She asked sweetly. "I have some videos from when we were kids, if you want to see?"

There was a pang in my chest, a deep yearning to look back in time. But the thought of spending more time here with Rosie and seeing who I could have been coiled around that longing.

"We would love to." Cardan answered for me, taking my hand and following her across the street.

***

Rosie knelt next to an old VCR, feeding it an even older VHS tape. The label on the back of the cassette read Rosie and Duarte girls 2008. 2008? The year we were taken. The TV static dissipated and kicked into life, showing grainy footage of an orange summers day, brown lawns and tanned kids in shorts. The first few seconds of footage primarily consisted of Rosie's dad trying to figure out if the camera was on, that was until I heard a familiar voice; like something pulled from a forgotten dream.

"Mark, the red light is on. It's recording." The camera snapped up and I saw a man. The scruff of his beard and the chestnut brown of his eyes, the slight auburn of his hair catching in the August sun. I I grabbed Cardan's hand and squeezed.

"Jude?"

"That's... uh that was my dad." I said, lump catching in my throat. He squeezed my hand in return, his thumb rubbing gently circles against my skin.

I saw a girl, twin to my younger self sat on the grass with a young Rosie, pulling daisies from the grass and lacing them together, coronating each other with flower crowns. Taryn of course. Then of course there was Vivienne, a few years older than us but an eternity younger than I could recollect, sat under a shady tree. She wore the same disapproving then as she always had, as if she had never taken it off.

"I swear you're in this one Jude. Just wait a minute." Rosie mumbles, fast forwarding through what she must've thought was the most mundane memory, I didn't want to miss a thing. She pauses a rewinds it for a second. "You're going very fast, blink and you'll miss it."

For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant. Until I heard my father cheering and my mother screaming in horror. "Jude! Pull the brakes!"

There I was, a blur peddling faster than my little legs had ever gone before, or since for that matter. I flew down the street on my purple bike, which at the time I had insisted I was tall enough for, before crashing into my neighbours trash cans and flying over the handle bars. I landed in a heap on the floor, blood pouring out of my nose, my knees and elbows skinned and covered in gravel. The camera fell to the floor as Mark, Rosie's dad, ran over to me. My parents caught up a second later, picking me up and dusting me off. My mother fussed over me, pulling a Kleenex out of her pocket and dabbing my nose, but I pushed passed them and picked up my bike.

"I'm going again. I will jump over the trash cans." I couldn't help but laugh, some things never change.

***

We spent the afternoon and most of the evening in Rosie's living room, pouring over childhood memories. Cardan howled watching myself, Taryn and Rosie performing a dance routine to Wannabe by the Spice Girls, trying to convince our parents to let us have another sleepover.

"Jude still can't dance." He said, trying to catch his breath.

Rosie watched him cautiously, still unsure of what to make of him. "So, why did you never come home?" She asked tentatively. "I mean I always thought I saw you at the mall or in coffee houses or one time at a pool I think, so you I know you could come back but you never came home."

I thought about it for a moment before answering. "Where I've been, well where my sisters and I have been, is different. We had to change to survive. If you saw what I was truly like now you wouldn't have invited us in." Cardan watched me try to explain myself, engrossed. "Honestly, I am happy where I am. I made something of my life! But being here and seeing how things could've been for me... it makes me feel homesick but for life."

"Life sick?" She whispered.

"Exactly."

"I still have your bike." She grinned, sensing I didn't want to answer any more questions.

"Her what?" Cardan asked. I shot him a look that I hoped told him to shut up.

Rosie led me outside, she wandered into her garage and pulled out my purple bike, still scuffed with a flat tyre, but it was my bike.

"Take it home with you, wherever that is now. But come and visit us sometime, I want to prove to my folks that I'm not crazy."

I wheeled my bike up the driveway and out into the cool night air, turning back one final time to wave goodbye to my old friend. "Can you make her forget?" I whispered to Cardan.

"Why?"

"It'll be too hard to leave if she knows I'm still out there." I sighed. "There'll be questions, people will think she's lost the plot."

"No." He placed his hand on the small of my back. "You deserve to be remembered."

[fruity-legos]

okokok

questions relating to Nova (what you headcanon to be the answers to this questions)

What’s Nova’s favourite season? Does Nova like singing? If so what would be her go to karaoke song? Who’s Nova’s favourite music artist? Is Nova a cake or pie person? What flower/plant do you associate with Nova? Bonus what do you think her favourite plant would be? Would Nova admit to having a crush on Izzie first or would she wait for Izzie to make the first move? What subject do you think is Nova’s favourite? + what do you think is her least favourite? Nova’s thoughts on astrology? If she managed to get her hands on a Night Bureau badge what do you think would be the first thing she’d do with it?

Hehe

-her fav season is autumn cuz she thinks it's the best time to make conspiracy theories

-Nova is a great singer but she's too scared to sing in front of people </3 but if she was to go to karaoke uumm... Teeth by 5 seconds of summer... She was def a gacha kid

-Paramore, definitely. She listens to kpop a bit only for Izzie tho

-cake. Precisely cake pops cuz those things are so scrumptilicious

- Hebe blue gem, its literally her. Her fav plant are pink lilies of the valleys, reminds her of Izzie in some way, she also thinks it's cool that they're like dropping n stuff

-Nova has the most OBVIOUS crush on Izzie ever n the insomniac in keeps telling her that she should go for it but she's too scared </3 Izzie also had the most obvious crush on Nova lmao everyone is just waiting for them to get together (everyone is me btw)

-kk so basing this off subjects from my school in Canada cuz idk that much about school in the US: her fav subject is art mostly cuz she makes up theories about everyone's drawings lmao. Her least fav subject is math she absolutely despise math (just like me no way)

-she likes it. Not her main interest but I can see her know more than average on this stuff. Tho she doesn't believe in all the like soulmate stuff

-stare at it for 5 minutes. Show it to the insomniac club. Infiltrate the night bureau. Become Grand inspector.

[st-clements-steps]

Ohhh, crunchy! 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 24, 36, please :D

Hey, hey, hey, lovely, the questions are from here

2. A minor or extinct house you need more lore on; you think I'd go Mallister, but no, I want to be part of the people making the Mallister lore, I have stolen them from GRRM, they are mine now, I'll share them obviously with other patrek, patrek, patrek enthusiasts. All those really borderline magical houses intrigue me, House Reed and all the other Crannogmen please; the Knotts and the Liddells and the Flints of the mountains, all those nomadic northern ones; that one at the edge of the Iron Islands, House Farwynd, are they Selkies? Are they warging into seals? Are they just a little bit like Shetlanders? Also it's kind of basic bitch of me, but House Dayne, they're very bloody sexy but I just want to see their real depth. (Also were House Poole once Crannogmen, their name kind of fits?) 5. Dead female character I need to save: Kyra. Obviously. Also I really should save Elia because personal affinity reasons. And then I think I'd have to save Lyanna too (I have written a POV of an older, saved, her, thanks to Eva being galaxy brained, and oh it was so interesting). Also Dacey so I can marry her please. Plus let's save all the live women, Jeyne P. and Jeyne W. and Pia especially. 6. A book or character you didn't like at first but have come to love - had a difficult initial relationship with feast and at first I found Brienne's chapters tricky but I came to really enjoy them. (I love her and I love wee Pod). And I didn't dislike Arya at first, but I was a bit bored by her, she just seemed quite like all those tomboy preteens I'd read as kid, Scout and Lyra and Tyke Tiler (British 70s children's novel that was still the kind of thing forced upon you in English in 90s Britain). But actually once she gets to Braavos, I'm much more enthralled and the Mercy chapter, oh, it floors me. 9. Build your small council - Tyrion, Gilly, Missandei (even though she's 11), in fact let's go Shireen too, and Wex (master of whisperers), and then before Tyrion kills me for making it a model UN class project, Barbrey, Arianna, Davos, and one of Asha's ratboys to be master of ships (She's busy ruling the Iron Island in my head). 10. A quote so good it makes you crazy -  Tyrion ruminating on the inevitability of history (and it feels like nature and nurture too, how generational trauma gets woven into us); It all goes back and back, Tyrion thought, to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them. We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance on in our steads. Theon arguing vociferously that trauma does not need to be physical; The noose I wore was not made of hempen rope, that's true enough, but I felt it all the same. And it chafed, Ser Rodrik. It chafed me raw. Sansa realising how her trauma has a molded her; My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel. (I love this, I steal it for characterisation constantly, because being porcelain is such an interesting image especially)

And finally my boy Jon being a poet; The pale pink light of dawn sparkled on branch and leaf and stone. Every blade of grass was carved from emerald, every drip of water turned to diamond. Flowers and mushrooms alike wore coats of glass. Even the mud puddles had a bright brown sheen. Through the shimmering greenery, the black tents of his brothers were encased in a fine glaze of ice.

So there is magic beyond the Wall after all. He found himself thinking of his sisters, perhaps because he'd dreamed of them last night. Sansa would call this an enchantment, and tears would fill her eyes at the wonder of it, but Arya would run out laughing and shouting, wanting to touch it all. 15. Favourite Parent - Cersei (she's a terrible parent I realise, but she's the only parent who lives in my pocket) 24. A ship that gives me the ick - Jon Arya (actually find shipping her with anyone very difficult, she's very 11 in my head, I know its weird because I ship Sansa with a whole raft of people and there's only 2 years between them, but it is what it is, but also for me the idea of them being romantic very much diminishes their current love for another, why does a heartfelt sibling (or platonic in some other sense) relationship need to be really just oh its actually all lust filled romance?) 36. All the dub-con, non-con that gets sexy, I'm just there scrunching my nose, wondering if there's something GRRM needs to properly address with his therapist rather than continually writing into asoiaf. Oh and the timelines piss me off no end, House Stark in charge of the North for 8000 years! Eight Bloody Thousand? Really? And there's been basically no systemic change in society over that time? Was feudal back then? Still feudal now? Hardly any linguistic evolvement over those thousands of years? Etc. Thanks so much.

[fareehaandspaniards]

can i get uuuuuuhhh Olek for the character ask game !

HOLY MOLY yay!!

Favourite thing about them:

I can summon him so often! And I like him being ONLY in pthumeru chalices. I suppose this is his special interest

Least favorite thing about them:

Wasn't really helpful in a battle with Amygdala in the Chalice. Queen Killer won this round

Favorite line:

favorite LINE. in a FROMSOFTWARE game. when 5/7 of my favs have no LINES

Can I put there quote from my fic then? XD

"I don't know. They're all heavy and… To me, they're all equally uncomfortable and incomprehensible. I have to learn to work with all of them though. Olek, why did you choose the kirkhammer… You're Olek, right? I apologize if I-”

Damian nodded his head in apology, but his speech was interrupted by the other.

"Nevermind. Yes, the name is Olek. You see, buddy,” and the conspiratorial tone made Damian laugh. "this weapon is a contrast in itself. Deafening power and deadly speed"

Olek said it with feelings, and his eyes widened with emotion. It seemed like he is about to press his lips to his hammer.

"I don't know how to wield it myself, but for the sake of such a juicy silver lady, I should at least try…."

-------

"People usually end badly when they think too much of themselves"

Olek rubbed his chin thoughtfully, the light stubble growing on his darkish skin.

brOTP

Olek x Gremia. No, really, their union is something incredibly silly and funny. They are two guys who grew up on the street, so they understand each other perfectly, communicating with the "lower" Yharnam dialect. They had each other always, until the very end, and Olek healed Gremia's broken heart many times (when Damian left Tomb Prospectors) with drinks and walks around the city, as well as sometimes making fun of the Church servants. And Gremia did for him the same, when Olek felt sad or tired!

The two of them would look in the direction of a beautiful girl, and Olek would be like, "What a hot chick 😏😏😏" and Gremia would be like "Yeaaaah 🤤" and everything is fine, until it turns out that Gremia was staring at the old hunter with a cane standing behind this girl (and it's not even Damian)

OTP

Olek x Lady Maria.

I can elaborate!! I don't ship them, because for me Maria will always be with Gehrman. BUT. According to the plot of my fic, Olek often visited the Research Hall, where he met Maria. And of course he was attracted by her ancestry. At first, it was even more of a scientist's interest, and he tried to find out from Logarius, from Gehrman and from Ludwig who she was. And when he tried to get to know her to learn more about Cainhurst Castle and its queen, he found that next to Maria's straightforward kindness and politeness he was speechless. Literally couldn't say a word because of embarassment. And he couldn't ask her anything. He fell in love with her, but the feeling remained unspoken, and Olek tried to kill it in himself. And although he often made small signs of attention for Maria, like bringing treats or tea or flowers, he was never able to get close to her or at least find out what was weighing on her heart and soul. He did his best 🥺

And Logarius ridiculed his sensitivity

nOTP

doesn't exist

Random headcanon

Throughout his life, Olek is haunted by failures in romantic adventures. Although he is a kind, caring and rather reverent guy, he does not manage to build a long-term relationship due to various reasons. He is hampered by his work, stubborn nature, and obsession with the Pthumerians (which makes him think about them almost constantly). He would make a wonderful family man, but in the end he gives up in search of his soulmate and remains forever in the dungeons of Ptumeru.

When he reached the tomb of Queen Yharnam, he took a blood oath and in madness asked for communion to pthumerians

Unpopular opinion

There are probably no Popular opinions here. I don't know actually. Only that he is much more important than it seems and a part of the story just as other old hunters

Song I associate with them:

Language of Love by Ylvis or Janym by Ylvis lol

Favorite picture:

[queers-gambit]

Not a request obviously because they're closed so don't worry 🤍 These are just questions I have had since I started reading your fics and that I have wanted to ask you but feared it would sound too futile. If you don't want to answer them please feel free to ignore this ❤️

What is or what are the Billy Hargrove fic(s) that you wrote and that you love the most and why ? ❤️

What is a thought/headcanon/idea/storyline about him (either with reader or him on his own) that you haven't seen being explored enough in the fandom and that you would love to read ? ❤️

What's your favourite part/aspect of writing him in your fics ? (Examples : The emotional turmoil ? Him recovering some lost childhood innoence ? Describing him being turned on ? Describing his secret feelings for reader ? etc ) ❤️

I'm genuinely curious to know. 🤍

Stay safe ❤️❤️❤️

why would it be futile? i love answering messages! you are always welcome here - no matter the subject or content matter or reason. hear me? always. welcome.

lets get into it -

favorite fic and why?

my favorite Billy fic might be Bobby Flay or Billy Flayed because i'm a sucker for the loyalty plot. you know, the "i can tell something's wrong because you're acting weird and i know you too well" trope.

i was young when my eldest brother was in high school and had this girlfriend that i adored. so i took from that experience / memory to try to skim over the detail that Max is close with Reader / Billy's girl - or at the very least, trusts her enough to seek help. Max is almost coveted in the sense that Reader understands their relationship is fractured, so, she tries to help push them towards reconciliation from the sidelines. Reader is this pillar to Max and i really like that - when younger siblings actually like the significant other. it's a different kind of relationship. younger siblings are like bloodhounds and if something isn't right, they'll fuck you up - so i like the idea that to get the Muse, you have to "unlock" the younger sibling's trust first.

siblings are just cool, my mother always says they're built-in best friends for life. i have two, and while i don't have the best experiences with them, it's fun to write. in a way, it feels cathartic - like i'm healing my own past with writing. i can write the older sibling i deserved when i was a kid. i can write about love and loyalty as i think it should be - not what i've been shown.

what do i want to see more of?

maybe i'll even say that's what i want "explored" more of. when reading, i teeter between wanting something that establishes Max and Billy trying to heal their relationship, and not even mentioning her at all. however, i do like those small tidbits where Max is just a fleeting presence, felt but not seen, like a ghost; it alludes that she and Billy are on better terms. i'm even a sucker for Billy going to Max for advice 'cause she's a girl and he doesn't know what he did to upset Reader. Max is young, yes, but she's going into / starting high school, so she has a foundation of understanding. and Billy's just a dumb boy, he needs guidance. so i like the idea that Max is like "i don't need to know what happened; she's right, you're wrong, go buy her flowers and apologize."

Max and Billy? the unlikely duo we all deserved. the writers fucked us out of what had the potential to be a beautiful relationship and i'm annoyed. but i digress.

i like the idea that Billy protects Max against Neil. like if Neil is losing his shit and Billy manages to get away, he's rounding around the house to tap Max's window. she climbs out and they leave together; maybe going to the arcade where Billy lets Max play while he figures out their next move. did i just give myself a new idea? goddamnit, Cherry, your draft count is in the 30's!

honestly? i don't know what i want "to see" from the fandom. i like almost any story i come across! i like each author's interpretation of Billy and what his character arch should be. he's a bad dude, so we get the "dickhead to everyone but her" trope - which i love. he's a playboy - so we get some good smut; including B being the sub. there's a lot unsaid, so there's room for authors to really fill in gaps, fleshing out who they understand Billy to be / what they want him to be.

HOWEVER - being said, i like internal monologue. so maybe in some fics, if Billy's actively being a dick, a quick little switch in POV to give readers a glimpse into Billy's mind and maybe a look at WHY he's doing / saying / behaving the way he is. like is he even aware of it? is he doing this on purpose? what was his trigger? why is there conflict? is it premeditated? spontaneous? what's the decision making process? where do characters go from here? how does this change them? i think it creates authenticity; by showing internal turmoil, you establish a bond with the audience and how difficult everything is to navigate. that what's "right" isn't always known. that while we might not have the same reason for getting there, we've arrived at the same feeling / destination - which is called empathy. i think that's cool, but that's just me.

favorite aspect writing for Billy?

-> i like the emotional turmoil, yes. Billy is a great guy to write for when i'm writing to cope - to expel emotions. -> i love that he's a known, established bad boy, so he works for my favorite trope, "dick to everybody but her". but also how that isn't always 100% true - i mean, couples still fight, but i love Reader being "that" person for Billy. -> he's fun to write surprises for. you know, a situation that he might react differently to than what's expected. -> i think he's much more empathetic than given credit for and that's a common theme in my writing; like Billy and Reader both have experience with life being shitty. -> Billy's easier for me to relate to - possibly because of the abuse. -> he's very transparent. he's an enigma, yes, but also, once the story is in front of you, he's easy to see through. like he does THIS because of THAT - so as an author, it's fun to play on that. he's like a piece of paper - strong, pristine, useful, and then the moment he's wet, he literally falls apart. -> being said, the way i write Billy's character is literally 75% influenced by semiotics. so, i appreciate that not everything has to be black and white; a slap in the face; be a bright neon banner. a lot of him is "inferred", hence the semiotics. this gives me a lot of room to engage my imagination.

super quick unpopular opinion? i want a main character to die. like die-die, like, ain't no coming back - no resurrection - no nothing, just a dead body. because fuck Stranger Things for giving us fantastic, interesting, deep side characters and fucking killing them all! don't just threaten me, actually hurt me - kill a main!

Bob Newby, Superhero? a gem. Eddie Munson? a sweetheart. Billy Hargrove? complex with space to develop. Alexi? babygirl. at least they gave us Robin - for now.

thank you for writing in, poppet. i love talking to you guys! i hope to have something new out soon, too! i am sending you all my best wishes! and all my love 🖤

[links-in-time]

Spinning

🔞

This is my response to this writing prompt I saw. I can't remember who posted it unfortunately. If you know who it was perhaps you can tag them in the comments.

Synopsis : Zelda finds herself admiring one of her aunts servants and can't resist dancing with her at a ball.

Breath of the wild, Pre-calamity Zelda.

Minors do not interact.

18+ smutt content. Lesbian/ wlw.

Please enjoy.

She was new in the castle. She had to be. Zelda was certain she had never seen the young woman in question before. The Princess took pride in getting to know all of the palace servants, no matter their station. It always put a smile on someone's face when the Princess of Hyrule addressed them by name. And wasn't it her duty to bring joy to her people.

After asking the butler and the head of the castle staff, Zelda discovered the woman's name was Jade. She was as a chamber maid for Zelda's Aunt Violet, accompanying her while she was staying in the castle, visiting her brother King Rhoam.

It took a while for Zelda to cross paths with Jade, as her Aunt kept her attendants busy day and night. But eventually they bumped into each other in the palace gardens. Jade was sitting on a bench bathed in the midday sunlight, the gold buttons and braiding on her royal livery glittering like jewels. She was gorgeous, stunning even. Zelda thought to herself if she could tidy Jade's wayward hair a little, she could pass for actual royalty.

"Hi. It's Jade, isn't it?" Zelda asked, as she approached.

Jade looked up with a start to see the Princess walking towards her. She quickly got to her feet and gave Zelda a curtesy.

"Good day Princess," she uttered.

"Good day. I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to. You looked so peaceful sitting there. Please sit," Zelda insisted and Jade resumed her seat on the bench.

Zelda perched herself beside the young woman and instantly felt the warmth of the sun on her face.

"Mmm, gosh this is nice. I suppose you're hiding from my Aunt?" Zelda sighed, raising an eyebrow at Jade.

"Hiding?!" Jade exclaimed, eyes wide as though she had been caught in something terrible. "No of course not."

"I didn't mean..." Zelda sighed. She back tracked and softened a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply you were sherking your duties. I've seen you around the castle and I can tell you're a very diligent attendant."

"Oh, thank you Princess," Jade replied, visibly relaxing a little. "I was taking my break and I saw the sun was shining. I didn't think anyone would mind if I came to sit in the gardens. Honestly I thought I was alone out here."

"I often visit the gardens when I need to clear my head. Though I love being in the library and the Sheikah laboratories, having the chance to escape and relax with the sun shining and the birds singing is always a pleasant change. Also the flowers are particularly beautiful this time of summer."

"The foxgloves are my favourites," Jade announced, pointing to the the towering spikes of delicate purple and pink flowers.

"They're one of my favourites too. Though everyone assumes it should be the silent princesses. They're nice enough. But I get gifted bunches of them from admirers all the time." Zelda sighed, perching on the end of the bench.

"Hmm, speaking of admirers, where's your knight? The young soldier," Jade asked curiously, suddenly looking around for Zelda's usual retinue.

"I managed to give him the slip half an hour ago. Sometimes I get a little tired of him hovering around me all the time. And Impa is just as bad. I know they're both only looking our for my wellbeing. But sometimes their attention can feel a little suffocating. That's why I come out here."

Jade had observed the young Hylian Knight dutifully following Zelda to and fro. His bright blue eyes always alert and observant. Jade doubted whether Zelda had actually managed to sneak away from him, and if he was somewhere hiding in the bushes. Maintaining the illusion the Princess was unobserved, while still perfectly safe. Link was certainly loyal and devoted to his position. But Jade couldn't help but feel Zelda could do with destressing every once in a while.

"It's a shame your Aunt will be returning to her estate soon. I'd liked to have had the privilege of spending more time with your highness," Jade said warmly,

Zelda was surprised by Jade's statement. It felt entirely too familiar for a servant. But Zelda found she didn't mind it so much. It was refreshing to meet someone of a different station who treated her like an ordinary person. Not the Goddess reincarnated.

"Well Jade, there are still a few days until you have to leave. Perhaps I could put aside some of my duties until then?" Zelda suggested, flashing a bright smile at the surprised attendant.

"Your highness I could hardly expect you to do that for me. Your duties are far more important than mine. And if your father found out I'd be dismissed for sure!" Jade replied, panic lacing her voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't think about that," Zelda sighed, her shoulders slumping as she sank a little.

"But the fairwell ball is tomorrow. My mistress is allowing me and another of her ladies to attend. Perhaps we could spend some time with each other then? No one would bat an eyelid if you decided to mingle with your Aunt's attendants." Jade proposed, turning her body a little to face Zelda.

Zelda considered for a moment. Jade was right. She often talked and danced with the higher ranking servants when her father threw a ball. It wouldn't be considered out of the ordinary to spend time with Jade. And Zelda really wanted to spend time with Jade. Her presence was so refreshing and warm. Just like the summer afternoon they were sharing.

The crunch of gravel suddenly caught their attention. Jade and Zelda looked up to see Link walking towards them up the gravel path. His bright blue tunic glowing in the sunlight. His gaze flashed across Jade, clearly assessing whether or not she was a threat to his charge. Apparently deciding she wasn't his attention returned to Zelda. He came and stood to attention before her.

"It's time for your meeting with the King," Link signed.

Jade's knowledge of Hylian sign was rusty, but she got the gist of what Link had said. She got to her feet and gave Zelda another curtesy.

"Good day your highness, I must return to my mistress."

Zelda watched Jade turn on the spot and drift away through the garden and out of sight. Her eyes lingered on the spot where she had disappeared for a long time. Eventually she could feel Link's gaze on her back and she let out a long sigh. At last Zelda stood, smoothed out her clothes and walked away. Feeling the familiar ghost of Link's form following three steps behind her.

***

When Zelda returned to her chambers that evening she slumped against her bedroom door with a heavy sigh. Her meeting with her father had not gone well. Rhoam had raved about the progress his forces were making excavating and activating the Devine Beasts, as well as the Guardians. Simultaneously, he was woefully disappointed with the progress (or lack of) that Zelda had made in accessing her sealing powers.

She was trying everything she and Impa could think of to access her inherited power. But nothing seemed to be working. No matter how much reading or preying Zelda did on the matter, nothing seemed to click. Her relationship with her father had slowly deteriorated over the past few months. They hadn't ever been close to being with, but with each passing day of failure on her part, Zelda could feel her father drawing further and further away from her.

Inside her bed chamber, Zelda noticed a flash of pink near her bed. Walking towards her side table Zelda smiled at the stems of foxglove flowers which had been placed in a vase by her bed. She trailed her slender fingers over the fragile blooms, drawing in their headdy scent. Jade. It had to be. Zelda thought back to their brief conversation in the gardens and found herself yearning to be in Jade's presence again.

Her maid servant entered a few minutes later and helped the princess out of her dress and into her nightgown. She dismissed the woman a little too eagerly before settling herself into her plush warm bed. Her mind on the charming young woman, Zelda's fingers crept under her nightdress towards the sensative warmth between her legs. Jade's vissage swam before Zelda's eyes as she pressed a finger between her folds and began to massage her clit.

"Mmm," a moan escaped the princess's lips and she continued to pleasure herself. Jade's curves and the fullness of her lips at the forefront of her mind.

***

The night of the ball rolled around quickly and Jade was rushed off her feet preparing her mistress for the nights festivities. Though she had the help of the other attendants, Jade bore the brunt of her Lady's demands. She wanted a long bath. She wanted her hair braided in a particular style. She wanted those shoes, not THOSE shoes!

By the time the Lady was dressed and satisfied enough to head down to the ball, Jade was fighting back her fatigue. The other girls were already dressed and helping each other do their hair and makeup ready to accompany their mistress.

"Aren't you coming Jade?" One of the girls asked with concern. She recalled Jade being particularly excited about attending the ball earlier in the day.

"I'm not sure. I'm exhausted after all that! You go on ahead with her Highness. She'll be late if you wait for me," Jade insisted with a wave.

Regretfully, Jade watched the other attendants escorts their mistress from her chambers and down towards the ball. The echo of music drifted up the stairs and Jade kicked herself for not getting ready sooner. With a woeful sigh she turned and walked back to her room in the servants quarters. It was only a short way from the guest suites and a few moments later Jade opened the door to her room.

In her dazed state she almost missed the object laid on the bed. Shaking herself awake Jade stared blankly at the dress on her single bed. It was a deep purple velvet with gold braiding. She had no idea how it had appeared in her room, but as she came back to herself, Jade had an idea who had left it here. She shook her head at the over familiarity of the Princess. It wasn't that the dress wasn't beautiful. And it wasn't that she didn't want to wear it and show her figure off before the enchanting Princess. It was the opposite. Jade wanted to do all those things and more. She had felt Zelda's eyes on her since the day she arrived in the palace. At the time Jade had thought she was kidding herself to think she warranted the Princesses attentions. But now, with such a lavish gift beneath her fingertips, Jade began to realise Zelda wasn't just being polite during their conversation in the garden. Had she been... Had the Princess actually flirted with her?

Reinvigorated by the potential night of enjoyment escaping her, Jade dressed in the long slippery dress Zelda had left for her. Tied some simple braids into her hair and decorated them with a few small purple flowers, then hurried down to the ball.

***

After a quick glance around the ballroom in the centre of Hyrule castle, Zelda's heart sank. She hadn't spotted Jade at all. Wearing the dress she had secretly gifted her or not. Her Aunt had entered attended by two other girls, but Jade was nowhere to be seen.

Half an hour later Zelda found herself being spun rather violently around the dance floor, by a noble she had only been introduced to five minutes previously. Just as she felt herself becoming dizzy, a flash of deep purple passed before her eyes. Mercifully the song the musicians were playing came to an end and Zelda stopped spinning.

Link started to approach and her dance partner bowed low before turning away to join a group of other young nobles. Zelda's eyes were already scanning the crowd once more for Jade. She felt Link squeeze her hand. Their prearranged signal for him to ask if she was alright. Zelda smiled sweetly at him and nodded. She had to admit he did look handsome in his royal guards uniform. The dark blue might have matched her dress, but she thought it brought out his eyes rather well. While hers were green and she considered the royal blue a terrible clash.

"I'm alright Link. Thank you. I'm just looking for someone." Zelda replied in a hushed voice.

An instant later she found Jade's face amid the crowd, standing close to a wall near where her mistress was gossiping with a gagle of noble ladies.

"I'm going to talk to someone," Zelda said to Link, as she hurried away.

Link watched as Zelda practically skipped across the room towards the girl he recognised from the gardens the day before. A small smirk found its way to his lips and Link quickly forced it away before turning away and finding a spot from which to observe Zelda from afar.

"You look awfully fetching this evening Miss," Zelda remarked, as she approached Jade leaning against her patch of wall.

"Your highness," Jade said politely, dipping low to curtesy. "I believe I have you to thank for this gorgeous gift."

"I thought it would look good on you and I do believe I was proved right. You look absolutely radiant Jade," Zelda grinned at her own success in having gotten Jade to wear her gift.

Jade flushed a little. She thought she was pretty, but radiant might be a step too far. But if the Princess thought such a thing, perhaps it wasn't far from the truth. She certainly wasn't going to argue.

"Thank you your Highness," Jade sighed, a sweet smile playing on her lips. "I really do appreciate it. And it's certainly more beautiful and well fitted than the dress your Aunt picked out for me. But please don't tell her I said that!" Jade exclaimed quickly. Suddenly afraid her mistress might be within earshot.

Luckily she was nowhere near and Zelda chuckled at Jade's candid remark. Jade enjoyed listening to Zelda laugh. It was a sweet sound like birds in spring. Though she had often heard Zelda could be a somber and cold Princess, that hadn't been Jade's impression of her thus far.

"Would you, would you care to dance with me?" Zelda asked, suddenly unable to meet Jade's gaze.

Surprised by her sudden shift in temperament, Jade held out her hand for Zelds to take and fixed her with a reassuring gaze.

"It would be an honour to dance beside you Zelda," Jade replied.

A little relieved, Zelda took Jade's hand and slowly the pair stepped onto the dance floor together, eyes locked on one another. As the musicians picked up their next tune, Zelda's ears twitched and her steps felt a little lighter. Jade noted the change and grinned.

"I take it this is a favourite of yours?" She asked, stepping forwards to stand face to face with Zelda. She nodded.

"I learnt it when I was young. It was one of the first songs I learnt to dance to and also to play."

"I didn't know you played an instrument," Jade remarked, curious about other things people didn't know about their Princess.

"I don't play in public. Impa taught me to play the harp. She said it might help connect me to other Princesses of the past. I find it brings me comfort when I'm playing alone. My mother used to play. It's one of the few things I remember about her." Zelda enlightened her, shrugging her shoulders a little.

Jade nodded, not wanting to interrupt Zelda's favourite song by talking over it any more. The two women too each others hand and waist, pulling each other a little closer. Their torsos touched and Jade couldn't miss the moment Zelda's eyes flicked down at her cleavage pressed against her own. Unlike Zelda's dress, Jade's had a much lower neckline, while Zelda's covered her all the way to her jaw line. Jade wondered how Zelda might look in something a little more, revealing.

The music began to rise and the other couples began to dance. Jade knew a few dances. She had had them hammered into her as a ladies attendant. Luckily Zelda had chosen a step Jade knew fairly well. Zelda decided to lead as she could feel Jade's hesitance. She assumed it was due to the eyes staring at them from all around the room, her father the King included.

"Everyone's watching us," Jade whispered, after they had spun around the room a few times. Zelda nodded.

"I know. I'm used to their attentions. But if you'd like to stop that's alright," Zelda insisted, feeling the way Jade gripped her hand and tugged on her waist.

"No, I like dancing with you," Jade said a little too quickly. Zelda chuckled.

"I like dancing with you as well. Would you mind if I spun you?" She asked.

Before Jade could answer, Zelda let go of her waist and Jade span away from her. Letting out a small yelp, Jade spun a short way across the dance floor, her hand still gently held in Zelda's. Her dress floated around her like the trumpet of an enormous flower. Jade could feel herself blushing from her cheeks to the tips of her pointed ears. But Zelda was back beside her a moment later. Jade found her embrace an enormous comfort as they continued to dance slowly around the room.

"That's wasn't so bad, was it?" Zelda teased, as she caught Jade's eye.

"I'm going to let it slide because you're a princess," Jade huffed, her face still flushed.

"And if I wasn't a princess?" Zelda asked out of curiosity. Jade stifled a laugh then leaned a little closer so that only Zelda could hear her whisper.

"If you weren't a princess Zelda. There wouldn't be so many people watching us right now. And you wouldn't be so covered up!" Jade uttered.

The hint of playfulness in her voice sent a shiver up Zelda's spine and she came to a stop. Luckily the song had also ended and no one noticed the abrupt stop to their movements. No one but Link that is. He had been watching Zelda and Jade the whole time, trying to guess or lip read what the pair were saying to each other. He had a feeling he knew where this encounter was headed.

Zelda and Jade drew apart a little to applaud the musicians with everyone else. But unlike the other dancers they didn't fade back into the crowd. They remained standing together for a long time. Not noticing or not caring that they were still drawing suspicions glances from the people assembled.

"Would you like to leave?" Zelda asked a little breathlessly. Her leaf green eyes fixed on Jade's.

Jade was continually surprised by Zelda and found she couldn't predict what the Princess was going to do next. What she did know was that she wouldn't be able to survive another dance and she would very much like to leave, so long as Zelda was coming with her. Jade nodded, and Zelda could see the eagerness behind her eyes. With a smile she quickly turned to find Link. Finding him nearby where he always was.

"Can I ask you to do something for me?" She asked, stepping close to him and flashing Link a pleading grin.

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"If my Aunt or Father asks for me for the rest of the night, can you cover for me. Tell him I was tired and wanted to go to bed early. I'll apologise to my Aunt in the morning."

Link continued to stare at her with an expression which seemed to convey the sentiment, 'really?!'

After eyeing the Princess for a moment Link inclined his head towards the double doors of the ballroom. Zelda's pleading expression washed over with gratitude and she squeezed Link's hand.

"Thank you," she breathed.

Link stepped forwards, holding her hand for a moment as he bent to whisper in her ear.

"Make sure you aren't discovered your Highness. I can't cover for you if you aren't careful," Link insisted.

Despite the shock of hearing Link speak and what a rare occasion that was, Zelda took his warning to heart and stepped away casually. She bowed her head to Link and he gave her a low bow, sweaping his berret off his head and holding it to his chest. Zelda thought it was a bit much. Link thought it was appropriate.

Turning back to where Jade was waiting, Zelda tried not to hurry across the room. She grasped the other woman's hand and kept walking towards the doors to the ballroom. Zelda preyed she wasn't drawing too much attention. But even if she was she didn't care. Zelda wanted out of that ballroom and she wanted Jade to come with her.

Just before they left, Zelda spotted her maidservant close to the doors and she beckoned her closer. Jade heard Zelda whisper something to her but didn't make out what it was. A moment later the servant disappeared through a side door and the two women left the ballroom.

***

After hiking up a few flights of stairs Zelda and Jade emerged onto a large balcony looking over Castle Town and Hyrule Field beyond. Braziers had be lit along the walls and flags fluttered in the orange light. A few stars were visible overhead but clouds had drifted in, obscuring the view.

"I haven't been up here before!" Jade exclaimed, walking over to the banister and leaning over the edge slightly.

In an instant she felt Zelda approach behind her. Jade turned around so they stood face to face. But she didn't have long to register her rurprise before the Princess's lips were on hers. Jade's eyes flew wide open as Zelda's lips crashed into hers. For a moment she was frozen with surprise but slowly her inhibitions relaxed and the warmth of Zelda's embrace coursed through her. Pressed between Zelda and the balcony, Jade had no where to go. Not that she wanted to. The Princess of Hyrule had snuck out of an important ball to be with her. Jade wasn't going to waste a moment of this never-ending luck.

"Mmm, Zelda," she said with a huff, as she tries to draw air into her lungs. Jade didn't want to stop kissing Zelda, but she also needed to breathe.

"I've been wanting to do that all night," Zelda sighed, closing her eyes and touching her fingers to her lips.

"You have?" Jade asked hopefully, as she wrapped her arms around Zelda's middle.

"Uh huh." Zelda nodded, bitting her lower lip. "And now I don't want to stop."

She leaned in for another kiss and this time Jade wasn't so hesitant. After a while their tongues met and Zelda moaned at the feeling of Jade's tongue dancing inside her mouth. She pressed her breasts against Jade's body and relished in the tingling sensation building inside her.

"Zelda," Jade uttered, trying to speak between Zelda's insistant kisses. "Zelda," she said again, more firmly.

"What wrong?" Zelda asked, her eyes filled with hunger for the woman standing before her.

"Nothing's wrong, but don't you think we should find somewhere more private?"

"Oh I hoped you'd say that. But I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable," Zelda sighed, seemingly relieved. "We can go to my chambers. No one will disturb us up there."

A short while later Jade found herself being bustled through the door to Zelda's chamber. It was a large room with an enormous fireplace and a large four poster bed to one side. The rest of the room was a blur as Zelda pulled Jade to one side towards another door. Upon opening it, Jade found a circular room with an enormous bath tub sunken into the centre. The pungent scents of lavender and rose pettles wafted out towards them along with a good amount of steam.

"I asked my maid servant to draw us a bath. That's why we had to take our little detour to the balcony. Would you like to have a bath with me Jade?" Zelda explained a little bashfully.

A smile of surprise and joy wove across Jade's face, as she turned to Zelda and cupped her cheek with her hand.

"Nothing in the world would make me happier Princess," Jade insisted. Touching her forehead to Zelda's before kissing her softly.

Zelda couldn't help but let out a giddy chuckle as she tugged Jade behind her into the bathroom. Closing the door behind them Zelda began to unfasten the belt over her dress, fumbling with eager fingers.

"Here, let me. I know a think or two about dressing royals." Jade insisted, laughing at how Zelda could be so assertive, yet struggled to undress herself.

Begrudgingly Zelda allowed Jade to help remove her dress and her corset. Though it's familiar embrace was quickly replaced by Jade's hands on either side of Zelda's hips. Tugging the princess closer Jade kissed her, pulling Zelda as close as the world would let her.

"Am I having this bath alone ore are you going to join me?" Zelda teased, as she slipped off her stockings and her underwear, now standing fully naked before Jade.

"Um," Jade hesitated, her mind filled with the naked image of a goddess. She shook herself and began to unfasten her own dress. "I'm right behind you, I promise."

Zelda smiled and stepped down into the bath in the middle of the floor. Bubbles and rose pettles drifted away from her as she sent small ripples across the surface. Sinking down to her shoulders Zelda turned and watched while Jade undressed. She allowed the velvet dress to fall away and pool on the floor where it landed with a muffled flump. Jade's hooded eyes caught Zelda watching her, so she made a little more of a show of taking off the rest of her clothes.

She took her time unhooking the front fastenings of her corset before tugging her slip off over her head. Jade kicked off her heals and slipped her underwear down to her ankles before stepping out. Zelda's heart raced watching Jade undress for her. Every moment sent shudders of anticipation racing through her. It was a fantastic extra treat she hadn't expected.

Eventually Jade stepped forwards and dropped into the bath opposite Zelda. The water was hot and the bath was deep enough to stand up in, though there were places one could sit down around the edge. Zelda moved closer to Jade and once again tried to pin her against a wall. But Jade realised what Zelda wanted to do and submerged herself in the water. Disappearing beneath the bubbles, Zelda couldn't see where Jade had gone.

A moment later Jade popped back up through the surface of the water behind Zelda. The Princess gasped as Jade's wet hands snaked around Zelda's body to settle on her chest. With a groan from Zelda, Jade began massaging and squeezing Zelda's breasts. One of Zelda's hands reached back and rested on Jade's wet hair, while the other found her hip.

"How would my Princess like to have her bath? Clean? Or dirty?" Jade hummed in Zelda's ear, giving an extra squeeze to emphasise her last word.

Zelda drew in a shocked breath as she shuddered against the other woman's body.

"That's no choice to offer a princess!" Zelda protested, though she grinned despite her objection.

"I didn't think you wanted me to treat you like a princess. In fact," Jade focused her attention on Zelda's nipples, rolling the perky buds between her fingers and thumbs. "I think that's why you like me. I think you like being treated like a person. A person with needs and desires."

As she spoke Jade stopped playing with one of Zelda's breasts and slowly moved her hand below the water, down Zelda's torso towards her crotch. Zelda shuddered again and tried to turn around, but Jade was stronger then she looked and she was having far too much fun turning Zelda into a puddle in their bath.

Though they both stood in Zelda's bath tub, Jade could feel the difference in wetness as she slid her fingers over Zelda's clit towards her folds. Zelda's breath hitched as Jade started rubbing her middle finger against Zelda's vulva. She grinned as the Princess started to grind herself against Jade's hand and gripped at the wrist playing with her nipple.

"Oh!" Zelda gasped out.

"You didn't give me an answer Zelda. So it's going to be dealers choice. Why don't you go and take a seat on the edge of the tub?" Jade cooed into Zelda's ear, sending more shivers down her spine.

Zelda simply nodded and when Jade released her hold Zelda slowly moved away. With a little effort Zelda pushed herself up out of the water. All the while Jade's eyes were on her ass, watching the water running down Zelda's long golden hair towards her butt. Jade couldn't help but smile as she waded through the water towards Zelda and watched her turn to sit on the edge of the bath.

Jade reached forwards to run her hands up the inside of Zelda's legs. Planting soft kisses as she went, Jade gently pushed Zelda's legs apart. Zelda chuckled to herself and watched eagerly while Jade's hands moved closer and closer to her crotch. Jade pulled Zelda's legs further apart and pressed a thumb into Zelda's clit, making her shriek with the feeling of the sudden stimulation.

"Uh!" Zelda tensed for a moment, but relaxed as Jade began massaging little circles into the sensative bud.

Zelda hummed contentedly to herself while Jade continued to pleasure her clit. Her other fingers slipped easily between her folds and began to slide up and down over her hole. Zelda shuddered and quaked, biting her lip and letting out little gasps of breath. Jade loved every reaction she managed to draw out of Zelda. Every moan and every hitch in her breath. Zelda was her play thing and she was going to enjoy every second she had with her.

Slipping a finger inside Zelda, Jade hooked the digit inside and pushed back and forth. Zelda let out a long laboured groan and her eyelids fluttered for a moment. Jade added another finger, then another, stretching Zelda out to accommodate her soft fingers. The water had wrinkled them slightly but Zelda didn't seem to mind. Jade moved her hand at a steady pace, but the way she was stretching Zelda had her gasping for air. With each little movement Zelda wondered if she might come undone. Jade was doing everything she could to draw Zelda towards her climax, she was close and the ball of tension inside her kept growing and growing. At last, with a forceful thrust from Jade, Zelda came with a shudder that Jade felt up and down her arm.

Jade pulled her sickened fingers out and washed them off in the water. She stared up at the blissed out expression on Zelda's face above her. Her head tipped back, her chest thrust forwards accentuating her breasts. Jade watched in satisfaction as the post high shudders rocked Zelda's body. The Princess leaned back on her arms and let out a long satisfied sigh.

"Oh, oh, I've never cum so fast! Where have you been all my life?" Zelda exclaimed in a breathy voice. Jade chuckled, making little circles on Zelda's thigh with her finger.

"I'm only here to serve your highness," Jade teased.

Zelda leaned forwards and Jade stood on tip toe to reach Zelda's lips. They shared a long kiss before Jade dipped back into the water. As she did so, she eyed Zelda's vulva hungrily.

"Can my Lady take a little more?" Jade asked, a musical note to her voice.

"Hmm, I think I can manage a little more. So long as you allow me to return the favour you at some point."

"Of course," Jade grinned, her eyes hooded as she dropped her head between Zelda's legs.

Once again, words failed Zelda and she let out another cry, as Jade's tongue slid over her folds. Quickly flicking her tongue up and down, Jade pressed her face into Zelda's crotch. The sweet and tangy arhoma of Zelda's body filled her senses. She swirled her tongue around Zelda's hole for a moment before sliding inside. While Jade fucked Zelda with her tongue Zelda couldn't help moving a hand to Jade's head. Her slender fingers tangling up in the woman's hair as she bobbed up and down.

"Fuck! OH Jade! Mmm Fuck!" Was all Zelda could summon to say, while the other woman continued to lap at her entrance.

Zelda's jumbled expressions were all Jade needed to hear. While her tongue continued to slip in and out, she moved a hand towards Zelda's crotch and began to rub her clit in unison.

"Oh Fuck! Oh yes!" Zelda cried out, her voice going up an octave. "Uh, oh, oh, OH!"

Zelda came once more and Jade lapped at the hot sweet cum as it spilled down her chin.

"Good thing we're already in the bath huh?!" Jade asked, a little out of breath as she drew back.

Zelda was no longer sitting upright. She had fallen back onto one elbow, her head dipped down towards her chest. While Jade watched Zelda enjoying her orgasm, she noticed the bath water beginning to cool around her.

"Perhaps we should dry off and get warm. Not that I'm not enjoying our bath," Jade giggled. "But the watter is starting to get cold."

"Of course," Zelda replied in a breathy sigh.

She tucked her feet under her and stood up with some difficulty. Jade watched her carefully, ready to catch Zelda in case she fell back into the tub. A moment later Jade pushed herself up out of the water and joined Zelda by a heated rail on the wall, where large fluffy while towels were hanging waiting for them. Zelda wrapped a towel around Jade's shoulders and gently rubbed her arms and back.

"Mmm, so warm!" Jade hummed.

Zelda smiled as she continued to help Jade to dry off a little. There wasn't much to be done about their wet hair. But neither woman minded too much. Not when Zelda started to guide Jade back into the main chamber towards the enormous bed. She sat down on the edge with a towel wrapped around her chest. As Zelda crossed her legs it fell away slightly exposing her thighs.

"Now, I promised I would return your affections. And I have something you might enjoy trying out." Said Zelda, as she reached down for a drawer in her nightstand beside the bed.

Jade frowned as she watched Zelda pull out an object, an inch and a half in diameter, and 12 inches long.

"Purah and I used some ancient Sheikah tech to build this together. It has a miniature motor inside which emits a steady pulsing rhythm. I've had it for some time now and, believe me when I say it's effects can be extremely... stimulating." Zelda shot Jade a conspiratory smile.

Jade joined her on the bed, sidling close to Zelda and stealing a kiss, as Zelda began explaining far too much technical information about the strange device. Distracted from her explanation their kisses reached fever pitch quickly and the flames ignited by the bath were fanned anew. Jade pulled back to gaze into Zelda’s eyes. She didn’t want this evening to end.

“I believe I promised to return your affections.” Zelda teased, as she pushed Jade onto her back on the bed. Jade was taken by surprise and fell into a fit of giggles, her towel falling from her body.

“Oh Princess are you to ravish me here in your chambers?” Jade mocked light-heartedly.

She still couldn’t quite believe it was real. It all felt like a dream, one she had had several times since arriving in the castle.

“I think I will, but I’ll have to gag you if you don’t keep quiet," Zelda threatened playfully.

Zelda’s tone mocked her official royal tone, but the authority in it had Jade melting beneath her, as Zelda placed kiss after kiss over her collar bone. Moving down her body Zelda placed strategic kisses, teasing Jade relentlessly. Kisses over each breast but only the slightest brush of her lips over her firm nipples. Jade’s back arched to try and entice Zelda to take the bait, but Zelda continued her teasing descent down Jade’s body. Snaking her way down her stomach, Zelda lingered along the top of her pubic area.

“Zelda … please” Jade whispered, barely audibly.

Zelda couldn't resist any longer, she was getting just as excited seeing the affects her teasing was having on Jade. Zelda positioned herself between Jade’s legs and this time making her way up Jade’s thighs she made a beeline for her wet folds. Zelda slowly slid her tongue up and down. Jade's breathing became heavy and laboured as Zelda’s tongue zoned in on the spot that made Jade’s moans louder. Jade’s thighs were stronger than Zelda anticipated for an attendant, but she loved the feel of them pressing her face harder against Jade’s wetness.

With a reluctance Zelda pulled herself away with a gasp. She intended to show Jade something new, and gather extra data on the design of her and Purah’s device. Jade was reeling. She felt like her insides were burning. She wanted Zelda to continue. She wanted her to ride her face. She wanted to fuck Zelda or be fucked by Zelda. She wanted all this and more. She couldn’t think straight. All she knew was that if she didn’t have Zelda that instance she would explode.

Zelda slowly crawled back up to eye level with Jade. “Now that you’re all warmed up, are you up for joining my experiment?”

Zelda pulled the device from behind her, hitting a button on the base. It buzzed and glowed blue as energy seemed to flow through it. Jade was apprehensive, she had never used a device like this one, but she was also incredibly worked up and very much interested in trying the sensations Zelda promised.

“I’m always willing to help the pursuit of science” Jade giggled. Zelda laughed, as she leaned in for a kiss, sloppy and full of passion.

The toy whirred to life in Zelda’s hand, she slowly traced the toy up and down Jade’s wet folds. The device created a low buzzing vibration that Jade had never felt before. It sent sparks of sensations through her body. Jade could only lie back on the bed and hang on as her moans grew louder and louder. Zelda’s hand reached up to fondle one of Jade’s breasts eliciting further gasps and moans of pleasure. Dialling the device up, the vibrations grew more and more intense. Zelda knew from her own experience that this level was particularly good and Jade was clearly also enjoying it. Jade gripped the bed sheets as pleasure filled every part of her body. All her nerves were firing. Zelda knocked the toy up one more setting. Jade’s eyes flew wide as her whole body convulsed. Wave after wave of her orgasm rocked through her.

“ZELDA!” Jade screamed, as she collapsed back onto the bed. Zelda quicky switched off the toy and put it to one side. She carefully laid herself down in Jade’s still twitching arms as she watched the final waves of Jade’s orgasm dissipate.

“So on a scale of 1 – 10 how would you rate your sensations?” Zelda jokingly quizzed Jade.

Jade tried to speak but the incoherent nonsense said more than she could. She resigned herself to a thumbs up, which left both of them in fits of giggles.

[askthethorpeparkrides]

(Everyone) What's you guys' favourite drinks?

- The Islanders rely on their favourite beverages to take them through the demanding task of entertaining parkgoers. Some other fun facts:

- Stealth will only drink Coca-Cola out of glass bottles. "The plastic ones just aren't as cool!"

- Colossus also likes bubble tea. Her favourite flavour is vanilla, but it's pretty uncommon in the stores, so she tends to settle for taro. She tried making it herself once, but it ended in disaster. The Lost City folks and her have wonderful tea parties every week!

- Saw is lactose intolerant, but also allergic to soy, so his go-to alternative is oat. In fact, if he can't have oat milk in his coffee for whatever reason, he'd rather just get tea.

- Xavier's drink is a whisky on the rocks with a bit of still lemonade. They're very particular about most things, and also likes to talk to the night bartender. Who knows why Derren's having a coffee at this time of night, though.....

[Image ID:

Image 1: A 4 paneled comic reading from left to right. Panel 1: Nemesis Inferno, a young woman with medium dark skin, orange eyes and brown wavy hair with orange highlights sits at a table, holding a tumbler of lemon iced tea. She rests her chin on one hand with a ponderous expression and says: "That's a good question, actually! I'm drinking lemon tea right now, even though it's out of season, but it's not my favourite. Or maybe it is? Well, I do love a good smoothie, or just juice (though not orange, yeuch) and flavoured water is nice too. I guess there's just so many that it's hard to decide. Maybe I should narrow it down by starting with drinks I don't like. Hmm..."

Panel 2: Stealth, a young Asian man with light-medium skin, bleached white hair with navy tips and dark red eyes wearing a black, white and red racing suit and a trans flag pin thrusts a glass bottle of Coca Cola towards the viewer, winking charismatically. He says: "Nothing quenches my thirst better than the refreshing taste of Coca-Cola!" A small caption at the bottom of the frame reads: "Note. Stealth is not sponsored by Coca-Cola. Please don't sue us."

Panel 3: Swarm, a young dark-skinned black person with black and grey hair braided into a coily ponytail, dark green eyes and dressed in a camo coat and black bulletproof vest, holds a can of Pepsi Max and asks Stealth: "What about Pepsi Max? That's my favourite." Stealth is turning round to give them a thumbs up and says with a friendly smile and eyes closed: "It's good!"

Panel 4: Chibi versions of Stealth and Swarm stand in front of a descending dark purple gradient. Stealth opens the bottle of Coca Cola and says: "but Coca Cola is still way better." Swarm smiles, unconvincingly, and replies: "Uh, yeah. Whatever you say, big guy." End Image 1 ID.

Image 2: a 4 paneled comic reading from left to right.

Panel 1: Colossus, a fat white woman with curly pale teal hair dressed in Ancient Greek attire, holds a fancy china teacup filled with brown tea. She smiles with her eyes closed and says: "A cup of Earl Grey is my favourite, and it's even better when my friends are at the table!" She's surrounded by a pink glow and cartoon flowers. Behind her, far in the distance, stand Quantum, an elderly Sikh man waving at her with a cup of tea in his hand, Zodiac, a red-haired white woman wearing long loose clothes and smiling, Rush, a woman with medium skin and turquoise hair in a grey dress and eating cake, and Vortex, a dark-skinned woman with deep purple hair and a starry dress who's posed and smiling at the camera.

Panel 2: Saw, a pale-skinned white man with messy, curly dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, a thick beard, dark circles under his eyes and wearing a light grey shirt with a rusted metal cage over his shoulders and ribs, is looking at the viewer and signing the BSL for latte, with his index finger to his palm. He says: "Vanilla oat latte. One shot of espresso."

Panel 3: Xavier, a dark-skinned desi masc with curly dark brown hair with lilac highlights, red-blue heterochromia and a plaster over their nose, wearing a black tank top with a light purple X on it and a scuffed black leather jacket, sits at a tabletop with a whiskey on the rocks in front of him and his hands on his chin. They look downhearted, and say: "...And yet things still aren't the same anymore. This whole zombie thing's just....not my style. It was far simpler, well....back in the 90s. Look, I know, it's cringy, the park's evolved way beyond then and everything, but it all made sense. I was x, the cyberpunk secret agent, the biggest draw, cool with the teens, and liked being me, too. And denim doesn't suit me at all. I wish I could decide my theme instead of always having to chop and change at the marketing team's whims, and........ hello? Did you catch all that?"

Panel 4: it's now clear that Xavier is sat in front of the counter of a bar. He looks to the right in annoyance at the bartender, a white person with freckles and a red ponytail in a blue button down shirt, who is not listening to him but serving Derren a coffee. Derren is a medium-skinned, slightly older man with long, brownish-red locs in a ponytail tied with a blue ribbon, dressed in an elegant red coat with silver tasseling, gloves and a stationmaster hat. The bartender says: "Soy milk cappuccino with cocoa powder and a pump of hazelnut?" A small bit of text under their speech bubble adds: "Though I thought this was a bar, not a coffee shop..." Derren grins delightedly with his eyes closed and one finger up, saying "Why thank you! Yes, that's tremendous." End ID.]