#shubrine

[hmshermitcraft]

False knew it was stupid. False is a taken woman! Shelby was taken! But, damn, Shelby was just. All that, she's amazing. No way it could ever happen, Shelby is so obviously inlove with Katherine, that much was true. False was also, evidently, down bad for Gem. No way they could ever date!.....right?

(Meanwhile, Katherine and Gem having a tea party wondering when their partners were gonna realize that they could simply be a polycule.)

Katherine and Gem don't even care about dating each other. They could go either way on it really. But, at this rate, it seems like bringing up the topic will be the only way to get through to their partners!

But then they couldn't have gossipy tea parties about it, so they'll let the pair simmer a little while longer.

[hmshermitcraft]

Shelby is pining okay, there she admits it! It's so hard not to when Katherine is just- borderline perfect. Katherine is amazing, but no. She already rejected Shelby at the festival. Shelby just needs to, get this off her mind. It's alright, Shelby is already around 50% over her anyways.

Katherine is not pining. No. No way in hell. Just because Shelby is sweet, pretty, smart and amazing does not mean Katherine is pining. Just because Shelby is all Katherine can think of recently, just because Katherine regrets what she said at the festival, just because Katherine daydreams about Shelby- no. She is not pining, no shot. Not when Shelby is already over her, Katherine is not pining.

She doesn't completely regret what she said. There were valid points there! But maybe she does a tiny bit regret shutting down any possibility of a relationship.

Because, really, Shelby hadn't been pursuing her in the same way Joey once. Katherine doesn't like that she was treated as a thing to be won, but that was Shelby's only offence. And she's been so nice and sweet since, and it would be so nice to take her out on a picnic...

Agh, this is awful! How's she supposed to make a move now?

[hmshermitcraft]

Ever since Sausage killed or uh, revived? Whatever Sausage did, ever since that, Shelby has become stronger. I mean way stronger, like, rivalling Joel stronger. Joel is a literal god! Yet now, Shelby can do the same things he can. And honestly, Katherine thinks that's quite attractive. I mean-, no she doesn't!

She already could shift dimensional planes - but now she even has better control of it! Which is useful when Joel gets too big for his boots (literally, in some cases!)

Katherine totally doesn't find that hot too. No way. A confident woman? Hot? Never!

[hmshermitcraft]

Katherine was confused.

Like, really confused. What do you mean soulmates are real!?

When she first heard about it, about the fact that everyone had a soulmate and eventually you’d get a red string connecting to your soulmate, she thought it was a joke. It had to be! There’s no way that’s real! It can’t possibly be real…

Until it happened. She just… woke up one day and there was a string attached to her finger! Just… there! She couldn’t de-attach it, trust her, she tried.

She did wonder who it was though. She was a princess, so surely it would be whoever her parents married her off to, right?

Shelby thought the idea of a soulmate was pretty cool! If a bit unbelievable. Sometimes, she stayed up at night imagining who it would be. She wondered what their voice sounded like, what they acted like, looked like.

So when she finally got her soulmate string, she was ecstatic. At last, she would find out who it was! She was new to the mangrove when she got it so she hadn’t met all that many people yet, she had met Katherine thought… she secretly hoped she was Shelby’s soulmate.

Katherine decided to follow the string, alright? But it was only because others had started doing it and found their soulmates already. Not because of a certain witch, no, that’s dumb.

…and then she saw her.

It was Shelby, standing right there with that adorable shocked look on her face that made her feel all sorts of feelings that she shouldn’t be feeling.

But, saint Pearl, was Shelby pretty…

There's a lot of things you feel upon finding your soulmate. The two of them celebrate, holding each other's hands and talking without pause.

Neither of them expected the stress.

Shelby doesn't have any social standing - she's even new to the area! And her witch schooling is... Mm. Best not to talk about that. Yet, now she has to be a match for a princess! Katherine doesn't care about any of that (and Shelby will love her forever for it) but everyone else does!

And Katherine didn't expect to need to justify her soulmate. She literally didn't choose Shelby (though if she had a choice... Just don't tell her parents that part!)

They'll get through all this together. Life brought them to each other, and now with their combined powers, they're gonna kick some ass!

Hopefully. And mostly socially.

[hmshermitcraft]

Magic comes naturally to Shelby, it appears on her fingertips, she can practically feel it surrounding her, consuming and flowing out of her very being. Which makes her magic, a little finicky, it's very strong, dangerously strong, in ways Shelby can't control sometimes. But it's powerful and has so much potential, something Shelby will shape so well.

Another thing about her magic, it makes her emotions clear as day. When she's happy, her eyes have small rainbows in them and the air is evidently fresher, when she's sad there's a little rain cloud above ger head, when she's angry the air around her is suffocating and electric.

When she's very happy when she sees Katherine, the rainbows in her eyes are painfully obvious, the area around her is brighter and her hands are stained with pink and hearts. Katherine finds it so endearing.

It feels like the magic of the world gathers around Shelby. It's exhilarating just being around her, Katherine could never get enough of it. She loves Shelby, and she loves how the world loves her too.

[hmshermitcraft]

Katherine's had a lot of suitors, as in a lot. She didn't like one, not one. It concerned her parents quite a bit, all these handsome men and her daughter didn't want even one? Ah, I guess they just have to keep trying. Eventually they land on the Prince of Rivendell, Prince Scott. Katherine is oddly accepting of this one? Well, it's good for both kingdoms so they can't protest.

Truthfully, Scott and Katherine are friends, very close friends. Thing is, they both swing the other way, this is just, well, a cover up of some sorts. To get their families off their backs, and their partners Jimmy and Tango for Scott and Shelby for Katherine, know about it and have no issue with it.

When they tell their parents they're out on a date, they are. Just not with eachother.

It's the perfect cover up, in their opinions. Because if their parents find out now, they'll simply have to accept it. Making a big deal about it would cause more issues for their families - why fix something that isn't broken!

As long as they get to keep living their lives how they want to, they're happy.

[hmshermitcraft]

Monsters are supposed to be scary, right? Atleast, that's what Katherine was taught, that they were blood thirsty, vicious, monsters. Especially Wardens, they were seen as the most ruthless monster of the overworld.

Katherine found an ancient city, she couldn't not loot it. In hindsight, she probably should've asked for company. But it was going well, till she fell, made too much noise, and awoke the warden. This warden, seemed more human, than any other warden she's seen. Long white hair, a bright golden eye, pale human skin, dark-blue stormy themed clothes. But there was skulk all over the girl, her other eye was infected with it, turned a light blue.

But. She was friendly, her name was Shelby. Shelby said she didn't mind Katherine looting, she had no use for it. Katherine would go daily, every night after monster hunting, Shelby would always patch her up. Whoever said wardens were scary, clearly haven't met Shelby.

Shelby would point out Katherine hasn't met other wardens. Shelby talks to them sometimes, through the skulk, but they're not very good conversationalists. She much prefers Katherine's company. And, Katherine coming here keeps her safe from the other wardens too! They're more grouchy than she is.

It does mean Shelby has been working hard to find interesting things for Katherine. She doesn't want to run out, what if Katherine stopped visiting!

Meanwhile, Katherine is realising Shelby is the most interesting treasure in the whole city. If only she could find a safe way to bring Shelby back with her...

[hmshermitcraft]

Shelby has wings, big bright colorful wings. She takes great pride in them, she makes sure to preen them very well and they're always presentable. They're very sensitive though, one wrong touch and you'll suddenly hear loud thunder and have Shelby's scythe pressed to your neck.

Which is why Katherine is extra gentle with them, so utterly gentle as if the wings were made of glass. Katherine's the only one allowed to touch it without asking, she can preen them aswell. Katherine even makes little accessories to hang off them!

Katherine is so sweet, only problem is. Katherine is pinning, and she doesn't know what these actions mean in Avian culture. So while Katherine panicks and worries about how to ask out Shelby, Shelby assumes that they're already dating.

Shelby is wearing the accessories with all the pride of a doting partner. She shows it off to everybody possible, and at this point anybody even slightly familiar with avian culture assumes they're dating.

So imagine the surprise when Katherine comes to Scott asking how to ask Shelby out. Scott can't believe he's the one having to break this news - of all people!

[hmshermitcraft]

Katherine loves shopping, specifically, clothes and plushie shopping! Shelby loves Katherine. Katherine drags Shelby along for shopping trips often, and it will always end with Shelby getting covered by the mountains of stuff Katherine buys. Katherine doesn't even notice!

Shelby loves it! Look at her, being all strong and cool, carrying all her girlfriend's stuff. Yeah! You wish you were her! Then they get to go home and find a place for all their new plushies to live, and model outfits for each other... Shelby lucked out!

[hmshermitcraft]

Nature wives for the superpowers theme perhaps?? Like idk Katherine’s a hero and Shelby gets kidnapped or smth?? Uh empires s2 🙏🙏 :D

Turns out, being a witch with powers to alter reality (just a little bit!) make you wanted by the wrong kinds of people. This is a lesson Shelby has learnt the hard way, after the third time she's been kidnapped from her cozy cottage at the edge of town.

She was really looking forward to that soup as well; she'd spent all day working on it.

Last time, and the one before, she'd escaped on her own merits. She was in the process of planning another grand escape when the boarded window to her left crashes in. Amongst the wreckage is...

A hero?

She's dressed in all black, offset by white accents. In her hands is an incredibly large hammer. Shelby is pretty sure that's bigger than her head! She's using it to attack the people who kidnapped Shelby and not Shelby herself, so she'll take that!

Also, the hero is very pretty. To not only be rescued, but also be rescued by a cute woman?

Shelby wonders if she likes soup.

[hmshermitcraft]

Any omegaverse omega!Shelby x alpha!Katherine headcanons/ideas, if you will? -🐺

You wouldn't be wrong to believe Shelby is a docile, sweet omega. Often she is! Katherine loves doting on her too. Their sex can be as soft and gentle as it can be rough and fast.

The mistake is to assume Shelby is only a docile, submissive omega. People assume Katherine is the person to be scared of in the relationship. And she still is! But get on Shelby's bad side and she packs just as much of a punch as Katherine's axe. Then, she'll turn on the tears and innocence to pull people to her side.

She only uses it to people that deserve it - so many alphas think they can push omegas around just because, or that she shouldn't leave Katherine's side and ugh. They deserve what's coming to them.

She returns to Katherine's side with no guilt, gleefully nuzzling into her neck and enjoying her girlfriend's scent.

[hmshermitcraft]

Any Vampire!Katherine x shelby ideas? Dark or soft, sfw or nsfw(suggestive?)

Katherine met Shelby through the local blood bank. Shelby was one of the volunteers that helped run it! She also assisted in the growing and processing of plasma fruit, which was used to keep the supply topped up. Not quite as tasty as normal blood, but it works!

Katherine was surprised to see a human helping at the blood bank, but Shelby was perfectly nice. More than nice, even. Katherine would describe her as cute (as long as nobody was listening.) It's pure coincidence she changed her collection schedule to figure out when Shelby is in so they could continue their little chats.

Shelby has a pet cat, she's a practicing alchemist and volunteers at the blood bank because she likes being able to help others. Katherine is a woman with a van, helping do odd jobs for people that need them. The short chats become long chats become "Hey, do you want to go out for a coffee sometime?"

It turns out, Shelby knows some very nice cafes with options for vampires. She helps distribute the supply after all.

Shelby tells Katherine, on maybe their third date (they're not sure when to start counting) that she isn't interested in sex. It's nothing about Katherine, no, she's very hot! Very sexy vampire! Shelby just... Never has been interested. She says it in the way that makes Katherine wonder how she expected Katherine to react.

She shrugs, and they continue dating. But Shelby seems a little lighter in their interactions now, like she was before they started their dates.

(And, they discover that drinking blood? That can be a pretty fun activity between couples with no sex involved. As long as they don't cover their bedroom in blood like they did the first time...)

[hmshermitcraft]

And Katherine loves how sheby doesn't take shit from anyone, alpha, beta, or omega. Including her considering when they first met Katherine had made a comment about how most omegas come in for a collar and not a hat and if she really didn't want anything else, without thinking about it.....

....Which shelby had not yelled but definitely told her off....she still ordered the hat, though. Katherine made sure to apologize and bring flowers as an apology along with the hat

Now that the princess thinks about it- that's probably what piqued her interest in the omega -🐺

first ask!

People have treated Katherine differently since she presented. Sometimes she enjoys it. Sometimes she finds it frustrating. She just wants to be a normal person occasionally! Not powerful, or to be worshipped, or... Whatever. She's tried to fit into the role of an alpha and what's expected of her, but it's never quite worked for her. Like a dress that's just a bit too tight in the wrong places.

Shelby didn't let her. Shelby shut her down, dressed her down, and left Katherine feeling thoroughly embarrassed.

She thinks she needs that in her life; somebody that isn't afraid to talk back to her. If somebody's agreeing with everything she says to make her happy then that's just... It's not what she wants.

Shelby. Shelby is what she wants. Now she needs to put the work in to win her over.

[hmshermitcraft]

Glimmergroves nobility and royalty is especially strict with the structure and dynamic, as they are the oldest kingdom and have a lot of beta and alphas(so lots of bias) and so their omega laws arent as good as...literally every other empire(the sanctuary has the best btw)

This is mainly due to the nobles of glimmergrove keeping the laws in limbo through bribery or arguments, etc. A lot of the laws in limbo have passed since Katherine inherited the throne. But also she's spent all her time around nobles and their ideals and has been traumatized/influenced by them. So she's hesitant on others unintentionally....until shelbys comes along and she starts to unlearn everything she was, wrongly, taught. And it starts from their frost meeting

the argument went a bit like this: most omegas come in for collars you know- are you sure enough only want the hat?, .....I'm sorry- what?, well most omegas usually have someone special when they come in here and so order collars- or have a mark you don't got either, so?, nothing just a bit odd, you do realize what you just implied right?, hm?, not all omegas have a partner you shouldn't assume they do- and even if they do they shouldn't have to buy a collar they don't belong to whoever their dating, I- I know I didn't mean it like that-, yeah well it sure as hell sounds like it., I- I'm sorry, I didn't think-, yeah a lot of people dont...., ....sorry...., just don't do it again.

That was how Katherine learned that unlike what other alphas taught her, omegas do not think of the collar as a gift. But as an insult, like they are below everyone else. And most of the classes below nobles and royalty know this- it's why when Alpha and omega couples come into her shop(the oens who live here) seem awkward, the alpha seeming guilty and the omega seeming nervouse. She always just thought it was because she didn't have enough varieties of collars or they had a fight before coming in(gg has the ancient and biased law that omages gotta wear a collar or bite mark to show their not single so they dont 'tempt other alphas' katherine realizes how biased it is now)

So now if she doesn't understand what a law for omegas means or thinks it's weird she'll get shelbys opinion on what exactly it'd mean for omegas.....to her suprise these laws have been passed in every empire, that's in the are aka the main other 11 minus s+k, except hers which makes her feel angry and sick/guilty. Shelby reassures her by saying shes doing more then any previouse ruler of her land and how its 'better late then never right?'(It also makes so much more sense now as to why so many omegas moved out of glimmergrove)

-🐺

She still faces a lot of resistance, treading a thin line between change and fighting against the nobles. That's before her own life experience even gets involved. She refuses to be like her parents, though. Everybody should feel welcomed in Glimmergrove. (Katherine wants Shelby to feel welcome here, in her home.) She knows how it feels to be ostracized for something out of your control.

She does what she can to form relationships between communities. People are understandably reluctant to meet with her. Shelby must see something in her, because she often helps Katherine get her foot in the door. Katherine doesn't think she'd have been able to meet Sausage without her help (his expertise was incredibly valuable. And to her surprise, she didn't even think to ask what his designation is!)

Things are going well, and Katherine begins drafting up more powerful laws to protect the omegas within Glimmergrove - ensuring they have the same right as any beta or alpha to exist as their own person. She's already noticed the bristling in court, but she's an alpha for a damn reason. How is it fair that omegas aren't even allowed in these discussions about the laws and leadership of their kingdom? Laws that affect them, especially!

Money and power, it turns out, talks.

Katherine can barely get a word in as one of the oldest council members argues that she is a curse upon the kingdom, just as was foreseen at her birth. They say her corruption will tear the kingdom apart. They've lived in comfortable stability for centuries, they cannot let the cursed princess shake the foundations of their peace.

In a room of threatened, powerful betas and alphas with a whole lot to lose, Katherine is alone. Her counter arguments are ignored, because of course they would be. For all their fancy words about peace and stability, she knows they mean 'power'. She wants to cry that if their stability is built on injustice then it deserves to fall, but she doubts that will win her any favours.

The first assassination attempt is only a few days later, clearly discontent with the long process of stripping her political power formally. Katherine is lucky it was one of the nights Shelby was visiting. Her visits are in secret, especially considering the current situation. But it meant the would-be assassin wasn't expecting her.

When they step outside the room, all of Katherine's guards are gone. Not dead, no. But not a single one is at their post. They've stuck a target on her back and cleared the way to it as well.

Shelby squeezes her hand tightly. Katherine grits her teeth and squeezes back.

[hmshermitcraft]

Shelby knows Katherine's trying- whe fell for the alpha very quickly. Though no matter how much she loves her and wants to be her mate she's not gonna let any comments slide

Katherien doesn't mean any of the comments- she doesn't even realize their offensive or she makes them! It's just stuff she's heard other, much older, alphas say or been taught

Shelby knows that, which is why she accepts the courting gifts and gives her own, katherines not going to forget what's been drilled into her head for fear of being a 'failure of an alpha' after all

-🐺

1 & 2

Katherine is sweet! Shelby wouldn't give her the chance otherwise. She listens to Shelby when she explains why something can be offensive and she's trying to change! Shelby imagines the hierarchy is even more regimented for royalty. The fact Katherine is willing to put the work in for her means a lot.

Shelby is happy to meet her halfway. She accepts the gifts (and they're so sweet and well researched! Potion ingredients and flowers.) She gives the occasional gift in return as well - usually fabric she can use in her shop! She can see Katherine bristle at first. It goes out of the usual omega and alpha structure, after all. The alpha is supposed to be the provider, the one chasing the omega, blah blah. She shakes it off eventually, excitedly bouncing around with the fabric and rambling about what she could make with it.

It's the first time anybody's given her a gift in return.

[hmshermitcraft]

For the theme:

Katherine hosts another boring ball. It's always like this, once a month, she has to make a party, and it's always boring as hell

Maybe seeing Shelby in that dress makes it a bit less boring, though. She looks cute, Katheirne likes it on her! She looks so pretty! she'd like it better if it was torn off by her

If she had a choice, her parties would be different. It would be her and her friends actually having fun, not dancing around with basically strangers that just want a marriage proposal. It's all politics and keeping up appearances. Katherine may hate it, but she knows how to play the part.

Shelby always looks stunning. It's the highlight of every ball. Never outshining Katherine (as it's rude to outshine one's host) but Katherine still can't take her eyes off her. Why should she dance with all these mediocre men that look the same when she could dance with someone beautiful?

Mostly, she wants to take Shelby's hand and run away. She wants to run through the halls eating stolen pastries, their laughter echoing off tall pillars. She wants to dance in the garden, under the moon's glow to their own music. They don't need to follow steps or a routine. She wants to kiss her against every wall of the castle, feeling Shelby's hands - warm - fitting perfectly on her waist.

She wants to just be them.

Instead, she smiles politely at Shelby across the room. Shelby smiles back, dropping into a curtsey. And things continue as they always have - separately.