#sleeping beauty turquoise

[gemville]

Robinson Pelham Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Cascade Pendant Shown On 18k Yellow Gold Identity Necklace

Photo Courtesy: Robinson Pelham

Source: forbes.com

[itsbulkgemstones]

The Fascinating World of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Unveiling the Rich History and Mystique of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Introduction: A Gem of Distinction

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is a gemstone that has transcended its physical beauty to become synonymous with the very essence of turquoise. Its allure lies in its striking sky-blue color, free from heavy matrix, and has captivated people worldwide, often rivaling the coveted robin's egg clear Blue Persian Turquoise among collectors. This exquisite gem typically takes the form of nuggets with a soft white matrix, occasionally bearing traces of quartz or pyrite. Over the years, as preferences shifted towards stones with matrix, techniques like artificially darkening the matrix with shoe polish emerged to create higher contrast.

Discovering Sleeping Beauty Turquoise: A Humble Origin

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise from Arizona traces its roots back to the Native Americans during the Anasazi era, where it was initially mined with rudimentary hand tools and collected bit by bit. During this period, this gem found its way to Pueblo Bonito, serving as a vital trade center for Anasazi Turquoise for tribes spanning North America, Central America, and even South America. In later years, the Sleeping Beauty Mine underwent development by Anglo settlers in their pursuit of copper and other metal ores. The mining operations were managed under contract by Monty Nichols, a miner often credited with metaphorically "tearing down a mountain" to unearth the illustrious Sleeping Beauty Turquoise – a testament to the tremendous effort invested in acquiring this iconic gem.

A Tale of Accidental Discovery: Turquoise Through the Ages

Imagine yourself transported back to the era of King Tutankhamun in Egypt, circa 1330 BC. Thousands of laborers toiled in the mines of the Sinai Peninsula, unearthing turquoise to adorn the Pharaohs. When King Tut's treasures were unveiled, they included exquisite pieces of brilliant blue turquoise. Although the mines of Sinai had long been forgotten and depleted, they were rediscovered in the mid-1800s, sparking renewed interest in turquoise mining.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, in the realm of Native Americans, turquoise was being mined for the Aztec Kings. It served various purposes, from crafting pendants and beads to facilitating trade. Evidence abounds that the prehistoric peoples of the Anasazi and Hohokam tribes mined turquoise in what we now call the Southwest, trading it across hundreds of miles from its source.

The renowned "Persian Turquoise," with its robin's egg blue hue, was cherished by people in Persia (now Iran), Afghanistan, Siberia, and Turkistan (now Turkey). This precious gem was discovered in ancient graves dating from the first to the third century AD. It embarked on a journey to Europe in the late 1600s, and owing to its passage through the French-named Turquie, some believe that it derived its name from the Frenchmen who believed Turquie to be its place of origin.

China, too, shared a profound love for turquoise dating back to the thirteenth century AD, employing it predominantly for carving and decorative items. In Tibet, turquoise was utilized as currency and amulets. Although China had a few turquoise mines, their primary sources were Persia, Tibet, and Turkey.

Benefits and Significance of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is celebrated for its exceptional qualities, with stones ranging from chalky-blue "robin's egg" blue to sky-blue to deep blue. The rarer the deep blue hue, the more prized the stones become. However, in the realm of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, achieving the perfect sky-blue color is paramount for jewelers and gemologists. They seek gems devoid of matrix, replicating the vintage Persian Turquoise appearance, as these are considered the most precious Sleeping Beauty Turquoise stones.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise holds metaphysical and healing significance. It is revered as a purification stone, capable of dispelling negative energy and shielding against environmental pollutants. Turquoise is known to harmonize and align all chakras, promoting emotional stability, inner calm, and aiding in creative problem-solving. It symbolizes friendship and stirs the flames of romantic love.

In addition to its metaphysical properties, Turquoise is believed to facilitate the absorption of nutrients, bolster the immune system, promote tissue regeneration, and detoxify the body. It offers relief from cramps and pain, making it a cherished gem with both aesthetic and therapeutic value.

Conclusion: The Enduring Allure of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is not merely a gemstone; it's a living testament to history, culture, and the enduring fascination humans have had with this mesmerizing blue gem. Its vivid sky-blue hue and metaphysical properties continue to captivate jewelry enthusiasts, artists, and collectors alike, rendering it a cherished and timeless icon in the world of gemstones. Whether adorned in jewelry or admired for its symbolic significance, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise remains an eternal source of inspiration and beauty.

[drowxiv]

Since I was sick after my vacation, I decided to finish up the "Oasis" house I was making for my IRL partner.

I should probably mention he plays a Lalafell Paladin who is sworn to protect the Sultana. So there's portraits of her in places of importance where his character would spend the most time. In actuality he just crafts in his house but I tried to keep it "lore accurate" to his character anyway.

I believe he's keeping it locked for now, but I still wanted to show off all my hard work! I built it on my alt to get the sizing correct, although the tall ceilings are "friendly" to tall races, they won't fit through doors, under the patio archway, in the bath, and they can't sit or doze in the bed.

Bonus of my alt testing it out, you can see the full extent of the "bath" here, which I'm proud of squeezing in.

Viedyn for comparison.

[aspiregemshk]

Turquoise Faceted Rondelle Beads, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Beads, Natural Arizona Turquoise

[rincontrading]

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise-Globe,Az

www.rincontrading.com

[lonesomedovescry]

Oh my god please hear me out: Arthur. Pining.

Maybe it's just me but a man pining is everything. He's so resigned to the way being in love makes a fool out of him. He's whipped and he knows it and it drives him insane, but dear god, he cannot and would not ever trade away the way he feels. He says he would, maybe even believes he would, but he wouldn't. Not when holding and being held feels so sweet.

Your writing is everything by the way!!!

thank u sm for your kind words and more importantly thank you sm for this delicious FOOD OMG

arthur was born with heartache in his veins, unfortunately. yearning is as much part of his dna as the color of those turquoise eyes. falling in love was rare but rich in depth and heat. so much so that when he began to fall for you, it was as if he was choking on it.

he watches you in the mornings through the steam of his coffee, elbows on his knees as he rests by the fire, heavy with the weight of exhaustion from a long night’s ride. you brush your hair with a comb missing more than a few teeth and bind it into a braid with a frayed ribbon. the next time he finds himself in town, he replaces the comb and buys you a ribbon the exact shade of his eyes.

“oh, arthur.” you hum with pleasure when he shyly gives them to you. “these are beautiful. you really didn’t have to do that for me.”

your smile was damn near sweet enough to break his heart.

those around camp can see he’s lovesick despite his gruff attempts at nonchalance. they use your name like a weapon, watching with satisfaction as your mere mention drags his focus to you without hesitation. micah, damn him, taunts the man for his softness. arthur’s snarled reply denies any redemption offered by love, though he knew better.

by loving you, he was getting redemption he never deserved. if he had any sense in him he would put a thousand miles between himself and your darling eyes, yet there he was, tucking into your tent in the pitch of night, kicking off his boots and laying beside you in your bedroll.

you reached for him instinctively, still asleep, seeking his warmth. soon, you were curled against his chest and sighing at the smell of gunpowder and leather, and he was left holding you and succumbing to the sleep that always beckoned the moment he allowed himself to lay down.

[leyiorr]

i wonder what i look like in your eyes.

gojo ⋮ geto ⋮ sukuna ⋮ toji ⭑ how they see you and what you are to them.

¡! wc: 1.1k

¡! genre: tooth-rotting fluff, awful + contagious cases of lovesick men, you're literally their reason for existence

¡! an: i dropped this on another account but then abandoned it so its being posted here lolz!

☆ - satoru gojo ⋮ a nebula

when it comes to satoru, he's always been alone in his orbit. a level of his own. he's a god among the mortal race; both blessed and cursed to walk the earth. he's his own galaxy - the brightest and the boldest.

yet his galaxy is unbearably lonely. it's expansive, a cosmic canvas of infinite possibilites. it's an inky black celestial wonder, one that leaves a hollow feeling in his chest.

until he meets you, and you become the only being in existence allowed to orbit with him. you're his nebula, chaotic and disorted yet so effortlessly the most beautiful element of his galaxy.

you blaze in brilliant, radiant light; core searing it's permeant place in the midnight backdrop. you illuminate the space with shades of the deepest indigo and violets, mingled with wisps of turquoise and teal. crimson and oranges are vibrant in your centre.

the colour stretches into the void forming intricate patters, ones he finds himself untangling to better understand you.

in the silence of space, your nebula spoke volumes; comforting him at his worst, lulling his mind into dreamless sleep. your edges are softer, the colours more muted as you bleed into him. no one can tell where you begin and he ends.

you are so so small in comparison to the void, but so unbearably bright that you light it all with practiced ease. he tends to watch in awe as you decorate his solar system; nursing new stars to weave into his soul.

with you there, his universe becomes easier to live in, easier to navigate. you're a cloud of interstellar stardust - held together by the gravitational attraction of satoru's galaxy.

☆ - suguru geto ⋮ the artist

to suguru, you're the best thing that's happened to him. ever.

anyone who sees him with you knows. they know he's infatuated, enamoured. he's so far gone that people often think that he's been blinded by love, but he has simply never felt an emotion so intense.

with you he thinks he truly sees the world in all it's glory, innocent and pure. with you he traverses unpolluted by the atrocities of the world, you who colours his world.

he looks at you like you personally hang the stars in the sky when night rolls around, like you paint the sorbet sunsets by hand. he stares at you adoringly, as if you chose the colour of the sea and dusted white on the peaks of mountains to keep them warm.

he peers at you like you solely gift the flowers with their petals, dipping them in shades you deem beautiful enough. like you create the sand from scratch and lay it in pretty semi-lunar shapes next to the ocean.

he gazes at you like diamonds were invented in tribute to your tears, like you drew the prettiest landscapes alone in the quiet, before the age of humanity.

he studies you like you've sculpted the very shape of his heart - every ventricle and atrium handcrafted with your pretty fingers. as if his very existence was molded by you, hence why you fit so perfectly together; two pieces of a puzzle.

he could stare at you for hours and days on end, eyes full of love for the person who introduces him to a plethora of hues and tones that he imprints on the back of his eyelids when he sleeps.

☆ - ryomen sukuna ⋮ the breath of life

sukuna is not a good person. everybody knows that. he's taken innocent lives, sapping their energy like it's nothing. he's all-powerful; he stands amongst the deities - gods who have the capacity to bend fate to their will.

but after millennia of having everything under his rule, he's gotten bored. he has servants to order as he pleases but nothing they do entertains him. the god of death is bored, embarrassingly so.

until he acquires something known as a significant other, the other half of his soul as the humans say. you're his breath of life, a release of old, stagnant energy. it's as if you breathe vitality into everything you touch, all life forms flocking to you naturally.

you're so much softer than he, touch delicate yet profound, an ethereal caress that lights sparks in his eyes. he tends to linger quietly by your side when you walk in the garden he constructed just for you - though he would never tell you that.

wildflowers are coaxed into bloom with you around, their colours a testament to your nurturing touch. the dew-laden grass basks in your presence, gleaming a shade brighter than before. even the trees seem to gravitate toward you, branches reaching for you as you pass by, their leaves sighing in contentment.

sukuna's convinced the waves follow your pace, each push and pull matches your breathing.

you were the essence of renewal. his world had found it's pulse, it's rhythm, as you dance the unending dance of life in the centre. you sustain his beating heart, so sukuna's oddly content with merely watching.

☆ - toji fushiguro ⋮ a lover

toji sees you as not only a lover, but the lover. the only one he will have in this life and the next. there's no after you. it's a forever kinda thing.

something so simple as the title of 'lover' is so complex for toji, a man who's a veteran assassin, a man who previously had no regard for anyone else.

you're the only person toji promises to protect, to never lie to, to make happy for as long as his heart pumps and his chest rises with each breath. you're a miracle gifted to him by the gods - though he doesn't know what he's done to deserve it.

he's rough around the edges but with your standing as 'lover', you smooth him out.

he subconsciously thinks of you, always worrying for your satefy. you must be a deep ocean of the emotion known as 'passion' because he's willingly drowning, not even looking for shore.

toji looks at you like you're an extension of himself, the other half of him that the deities intended for him to find. he can't remember times before you or imagine a future without you.

he makes a deal of reminding you that you are his, just as he is completely and utterly yours. as his lover you hold his bloody, beating heart in your hands; he knows you'll keep it safe.

he stares at you like you'll disappear; like he's not even sure you actually exist. you love a man like him after all - that's a miracle in itself.

[madridnoora]

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ Pedri - A Warm Summer's Night

⋆｡˚Pairing - Pedri x fem!reader

౨ৎ Summary - You and Pedri take advantage of the off season and enjoy a few days away on the island of Mallorca.

⋆｡˚Word Count - 2.7k

౨ৎ Warnings - 18+, with mentions of alcohol and sex.

｡˚

The first time you stepped out onto the villa balcony in Mallorca, it felt like a crisp breath of fresh air. Like someone had bottled up freedom and gifted it straight to you, pouring it straight into your body.

The view was beautiful -- the cliffs surrounding you were white washed and the sea that lapped gently in waves was so turquoise and endless. The salt air was soft on your skin, like the gentle kiss of summer. The breeze was warm and comforting, it danced in the hem of your white linen skirt and long flowing wavy hair.

It was late in the afternoon, you were freshly tanned from sunbathing on the beach all day and your skin was freckled and glowy under the amber sunset skies.

Behind you, the glass door slid open with a whisper.

"You weren't going to wait for me" Pedri's voice was soft and groggy. He had just woken up from a post beach afternoon nap.

You glance over your shoulder, flicking your hair back and your face covered with a dimple making smile.

"I thought I'd let you sleep, you barely rest all season"

Pedri stepped forward onto the light brown tiles of the balcony with bare feet. His hair was messily laying on top of his head, one of his shorts was bunched up at the top of his thigh. His shirtless chest bore the impressions and marks of the bedsheet he had just been wrapped up in.

"I don't want to rest, I want to spend time with you. We only have three days" Pedri said, now standing behind you and wrapping a caring arm around your bare waist. His chin rested on your shoulder, his body warm against yours and you both looked out at the view -- just breathing the peace in.

Three days.

That was all before football once again whisked him away. International break of course, and then media commitments and sponsorship press. The work never really stopped for Pedri, but that was the price he paid to do what he loved and earn the money he did.

You sigh, letting your head fully lean back against his shoulder.

'Then we shouldn't waste them'

-౨ৎ ⋆｡˚-

That night, under the light of pink and orange skies, you walked hand in hand through the old town together. Pedri took you to a small seafood place that was quiet, with tables which sat right out over the blue ocean and were lit by flickering candlelight. He ordered a beer, you ordered a sangria. He ordered the shrimp paella, you ordered salmon with a sweet lemon sauce.

The soft clinking of glasses and the low hum of conversation and delicate noise of old Spanish music embraced around you as if it were the back track of your's and Pedri's own little world.

You talked as you ate, speaking of life and the future. Speaking of what would happen when you got back to Barcelona, how long he would be gone for international break and if you were coming to watch him play. When conversation quietened, you could feel his honey brown eyes on you. You could feel them studying your face in the light of the candles and disappearing sun. Then you felt them travel lower, his eyes darting over your arms and your flowing white dress.

"You're staring," You said, as you pick up your wine glass and take a sip.

Pedri watches as your plump pink lips wrap around the rim and as you leave the imprint of gloss on the clear glass.

"You're glowing," He replied, unbothered that you had caught him.

"It's the candles" You say, never good at taking compliments.

"No, it's you," Pedri shrugged as if he had just stated a fact that could not be argued with.

You can't help but blush at him, blush at the way he makes your stomach flip and flutter. Blush at the way he's so smooth and confident with you. You had only been dating around five months, everything was still so new and fresh, learning each other and knowing each other more with every passing day. You never imagined this would be your life, dating a footballer -- infact, that was quite the opposite of what you thought your life would be. Ever since you were a kid, your grandmother had told you to stay away from athletes and you did but when Pedri came into the cafe where you worked all those months ago the connection was instant and couldn't be fought. He knew it as well, that's why he started coming in everyday until he eventually asked you out. And now you're here, looking at him with lovestruck eyes over the white table in Mallorca.

"Now you're the one staring," Pedri's voice pulls you out of your memories. You bite your lip to hide a smile, shaking your head gently and glancing away from his smirking face before looking back.

The sea breeze was colder than before, the salt air blew stronger making your hair sweep across your face. You delicately life a hand to sweep it away behind your ear.

Pedri watched you with intention, thoughts running rowdy behind his eyes. Thoughts of having you right here on the restaurant table, such testosterone filled hunger swirling in his veins for you. The breeze made your hair dance against your cheekbones, the last of the light kissed your skin like you were the prize of the island itself, like it was making every effort to show you off. You didn't even notice the thin strap of your dress fall gracefully off your shoulder, but Pedri did. It made a breath catch in his throat.

She's not real, he thought, She can't be.

Inside, he felt on fire.

There was a tension of aching and yearning in his chest, a slow pull to your body. His hunger wasn't just physical -- though that was there under his skin like a sparkler. It was the deep desire to know you deep, more completely, to have every version of you. The version of you laughing, tired, touched by the sun, lost in thought and out of breath.

He wanted you to whisper stories to him in the middle of the night, he wanted to trace the freckles on your face and see the visions of your dreams when he closed his eyes. He wanted you soft and sleepy in his arms as the morning light pooled in just as much as he wanted you with hot flesh and moaning his name in the darkness of night in tangled bedsheets.

He wanted you.

With lust and love. And the love was there, growing to terrifying in its depth like everyday he woke up feeling more than he had the day before and there was no end in sight. No limit to the love he felt for you.

You were talking about something now while leaned back into the wicker seats, but he wasn't listening. Not really. He just nodded and laughed when you laughed because he could not focus on anything but the feeling which beat inside the cage of his chest.

You looked ethereal, an angel sent from heaven and placed in front of him like some cruel yet perfect test.

He was never meant to fall in love, he was meant to focus on football. He was young and had only potential to be the greatest in front of him until you came along and sent his head spinning. Now, in training he's thinking about when he gets to see you next. Now, when he scores goals he does it for you and not for him.

You leaned forward, reaching for a piece of bread in the middle of the table while giggling through a story you were telling -- your eyes were so wide and doe like, twinkling like stars in a dark night sky.

That was when Pedri knew he was completely gone.

He was irrevocably and irreversibly in love with you.

His mind and soul undone by the effect you had on him.

"We should head back," He said quickly, and you agreed.

-౨ৎ ⋆｡˚-

The hour was late now, the sky a deep rich blue. The pale white streets of Mallorca's old town were lit by handing lanterns which illuminated orange. You wrapped your arm around his bicep as Pedri walked beside you with his hands in his pocket. The air was warm and sticky with humidity. The moonlight shimmered on the wet sands of the beach, and the calm waves crashing in the shore.

You didn't say much, and neither did Pedri but the silence was peaceful and warm. It tingles with electricity, like the tension of exchanged looks and flirting at dinner had started to press closer and closer with a demand to be felt.

Once you got back to the villa, you slipped inside and unbuckled your strappy heels from your feet. Then, you reached forward for the light switch sitting central on the wall of the hallway.

"Leave it," Pedri said from behind you, his voice low and hoarse.

You turned, slightly confused and slightly hot from his tone, "What?"

"The light, leave it" Pedri said as he began unbuttoning the soft white linen shirt he had been wearing to dinner, exposing his toned red tinted chest underneath.

You let your hand fall from where it was reaching, and swallowed as you trailed his body.

Moonlight illuminated the room, spilling in through the sheer curtains which covered the large balcony door and silvered the tile beneath your bare feet. The window was cracked open, causing the room to be filled with the sound of waves and the curtains to occasionally dance letting the moonlight flicker.

Pedri removed his unbuttoned shirt and then looked up at you, his eyes were different now. Darker and shadowed by something more sultry than just desire. They took in your body in the white dress, they took in your beachy hair and the curves of your collarbones. They took in the bare flesh on your neck which looked so kissable and enticing.

"You're going to be the death of me," Pedri said softly. "You have no idea of the way you make me feel by just simply existing"

He stepped forward, slowly but with intention. Like an animal hunting it's prey. When he reached you, he ran a curled finger over your freckled cheek. You breaths deepened and became more ragged, as you head tilted to look in his brown iris's.

"I need you," His words sounded like a growl trying to be kept back. Rough and harsh, but controlled. His eyes scan over your face as he waits for the signal, as he waits for you to give him permission to have you.

You heart thuds in your chest as you look at him and realise just how much you need him too, not just now, not just in bed but in life. You realise just how important he has become to you in these short months and how you could never imagine not knowing him, not loving him, not touching him.

"So have me," Your soft words break the silence.

They were all he needed.

He surged forward, his mouth crashing with yours in a kiss which tasted like sangria and sun. Everything he had been holding back at the dinner table now spilling from him in chaotic passion. His hand gripped your waist, pulling you flush against him like he was scared he would lose you.

The kiss deepened, both messy and sweet, filled with soft moans as your hands found themself tangling through his brunette hair and tugging gently.

His hand came to the zip at the back of your dress and pulled it open, the soft white fabric dropping to the floor around your feet. Pedri broke to kiss to take a step back and look at you in your matching white lingerie set. A lace see through bra, and white lacy thong.

"God" He groaned a silent prayer as he took you in, instantly the fabric of his jeans tightening in the crotch.

You bit your lip in shyness as you felt bare in front of him.

Pedri came closer and kissed you again, this time slower and more tenderly. His hand delicately on your waist, then brushing across your back and down to your bum as though he was relearning your body all over again.

"Jump," He whispered against your puffy lips.

And you did.

Your legs wrapping around his waist as he lifted you effortlessly, your arms wrapped around his neck and your smile beaming.

He carried you through the moonlit villa, down the short hallway and into the bedroom. He laid you on the bed with such care, as if you were so fragile he was scared you could break.

He hovered over you, his small cross chain dangling just over your chin and a short distance away. He looked like a god himself in this light, his glowing skin and messy hair that was buzzed short on the sides. His muscles so sculpted and defined in the light of the night. You can't help but reach up and touch his cheek, caressing it and making sure he was not just a figment of your imagination.

His mouth met your, and this time, there was no holding back.

-౨ৎ ⋆｡˚-

The night went on. Slow and heavy. Passionate and steaming. Between kisses and touches were the thrusts of him inside you. In the air of the four walls were the hushed breaths of your names over and over against combining with pleas to God and hushed swear words.

His forehead would lean against your shoulder, your fingers would scratch down his bare back. Both of you at the brink of undoing at every moment and trying to savour this night.

You didn't speak much, you didn't need to. Everything that needed to be said was coming out in every touch, every thrust, every nip and bite of skin. It came out in intimacy and the moment of giving yourself to someone who knew exactly how to hold you.

-౨ৎ ⋆｡˚-

Hours later, after a few rounds of love and wrapped in the white bed sheets with your bodies naked and your head resting on the soft skin of his chest while he stroked lazy pattern on your back, you spoke.

"Three days with you is not enough," A subtle sadness filled your voice as in a few days Pedri was needed in Madrid for national team training duties and you would have to stay in your small apartment in Barcelona with your two roommates, worlds away from this bliss.

"I know," Pedri said, now stroking your messy hair.

"I hate football," You said, with a straight face and only half joking.

Pedri boomed a laugh, his chest rising and falling against your cheek. "Without football we wouldn't be here"

And that stumps you silent, so all you can do is simply huff in annoyance and trace spirals on Pedri's abs.

"I got you tickets and a flight, for the game in Germany"

You perk up and look at him with eyes, resting your chin on his chest. You had only been to a few Barcelona games, never had you seen him play for Spain.

"Really? You want me there?"

"I want you with me everywhere, amor," Pedri's words make you blush and you try to hide your face against his chest. He chuckles.

"I'll be there," You tell him.

"I wasn't asking you to come, I was telling you too," Pedri said with an air of cockiness and nonchalance, the type that got your heart racing again. The type that had you feeling hot beneath the sheets.

You didn't say anything, you simply nodded your head with a smile and snuggled your head into his bare chest once again. His heart beat was steady and peaceful, enough to make your eyes begin fluttering shut. Pedri noticed your breathing slowing and leaned down planting a caring kiss on your head before settling in comfortably against the bed.

Outside, the sea whispered against the rocks.

Inside, Pedri and you slept peacefully -- arm in arm, and never planning on letting go.

౨ৎ

[annewithaneofthegreengable]

Prinzessin

My masterlist

You lay back on the deck, closing your eyes as the warm sunlight bathed your skin. The gentle rocking of the boat coupled with the sound of the waves was incredibly soothing, and you felt a sense of tranquility wash over you. You took a deep breath, inhaling the salty air and feeling the tension in your body gradually dissolve. Despite the initial annoyance of waking up before Toto, you found a strange sense of peace in being alone with your thoughts, the vast expanse of the ocean acting as a natural salve for your irritation. As you continued to recline on the deck, basking in the sun, you couldn't help but marvel at the stunning beauty of your surroundings. The clear blue sky was dotted with wispy clouds, and the ocean gleamed like a sparkling gem in the sunlight. The boat rocked ever so gently, creating a gentle lulling motion that was both calming and invigorating.

The last few days spent with Toto were nothing less than perfection. When he first brought up the idea of taking you away to celebrate your recent graduate school graduation, you were completely taken back. Toto’s lifestyle and the way he chose to spoil you was something you were still acclimating to. A romantic dinner and a movie? Sure - but to be whisked away on a yacht to the middle of nowhere was something else completely. However, you couldn’t deny that it was nice to finally have some alone time together.

Between the stress of the last few weeks of classes and the Mercedes’ team finally winning two races out of the three during the triple-header, the two of you had barely been able to see each other. After some convincing, you finally agreed to a getaway with Toto for the weekend and you didn’t regret it for a second. Wining and dining you, he had spent the last few days making sure you felt like a princess. Watching the sunset together, eating 5 star meals, taking a swim in the ocean - everything felt like it was straight out of a dream. That’s not including the white hot, passionate sex that filled every other moment of your trip. Toto knew how you treat you but he knew how to treat your body even better.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaching made your eyes flutter open, and you turned your head to see Toto's tall figure making his way towards you. You couldn’t help but giggle at his scrunched up face and wild bed head but as your eyes trailed down his torso you took your bottom lip between your teeth. He wore a turquoise pair of swim trunks and a white button up shirt that was open in the front, exposing his chiseled torso to you.

Toto's face broke into a small smile as he spotted you lying on the deck, a relaxed expression on your features. He made his way over, settling down next to you.

"You're up early," he commented, his voice laced with a hint of surprise. "Normally, I'm the morning person in the relationship." Toto’s voice was low, gravely, and made you clench your thighs together.

“You looked peaceful. I didn’t wanna bother you.” You sat up completely, pushing your sunglasses up to sit on top of your head.

You gave him a playful smirk, still feeling a bit cheeky from your previous annoyance. "Well, even early birds need their beauty sleep, Toto," you retorted, stretching lazily like a cat in the sun.

Toto chuckled, running a hand through his tousled hair. "True," he agreed, his eyes studying you for a moment. "Although, I have to admit, I was enjoying having the bed to myself for once."

You let out a small laugh, amused by his comment. "Oh, don't pretend you don't enjoy my nocturnal disturbances," you teased, giving him a nudge with your shoulder.

Toto feigned a look of mock offense. “Disturbances, huh?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Is that what we’re calling your relentless bed stealing habits now?”

You let out a mock sniff of disdain. "You're just jealous that my sleeping habits are way more efficient. While you're stuck in one position, I'm maximizing the available bed space," you teased, enjoying the banter.

Toto shook his head in amusement. "Maximizing bed space, huh? More like making it impossible for anyone to get a decent night's sleep."

“You didn’t complain much last night when I kept you up for some rather adult activities” you smirked and said. 

Toto's cheeks flushed slightly at your comment, the memory of the previous night's activities clearly not far from his mind. He cleared his throat, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Well, I suppose there are some benefits to your... 'bed-stealing habits,'" he conceded, his tone slightly gravelly. 

As Toto looked over to you, the sun glinted off your neck at just the right time, exposing to him that you were wearing the diamond necklace he had gotten you. A devilish grin spread across his face as he squatted down next to you and cupped your neck in his large hand, thumb tracing over the chain of the necklace.

“Here I thought you didn’t like this necklace.” Toto stated, eyes watching as his thumb moved back and forth over the crease of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine that made him grin even more.

“I never said I didn’t like it.” Your voice was soft, barely above a whisper. The smell of his cologne clogging up your senses, making it feel as though your head was in a cloud. “Jus’ said it was too much.”

Toto's smile grew wider as he continued to toy with the necklace around your neck, noticing the effect it was having on you. He leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over your skin.

"Ah, so you do like it, hmmm?" he teased, enjoying how his touch was making you shiver. "You're just too stubborn to admit it, Prinzessin."

You let out a breathless laugh, trying to maintain your composure despite the warmth of his touch and the intoxicating scent of his cologne. "Maybe I just don't want to stroke your ego even more," you countered, giving him a mock glare.

“You can always stroke something else of mine.” He said while looking directly into your eyes, those hazel brown eyes slowly lured you into the wood or somewhere so magically. The way Toto looked at you had always made your heart skip a beat. You didn’t know it was possible for someone to have so much love and adoration in their eyes when they looked at someone. Toto always told you that you were his greatest gift in life and he made it his mission to ensure you felt that way. Although the attention, the love, the gifts, proved to be too much at times, there wasn’t anything you wouldn’t do to get that look from him for the rest of your life.

“And you’re wearing my favorite…” A single finger ran down the strap of your swimsuit top, the coldness of the finger was a stark contrast from how warm your body felt from the sun.

“Not like I had a choice. You ripped the other one yesterday.” You teased.

Toto grinned at the memory of yesterday’s escapade. The man was lucky he was rich because he had a bad habit of ripping your clothes when they didn’t come off quickly enough for his liking.

“I’ll buy you another one.” Toto quipped.

Before you had a chance to respond, he pressed his lips to yours. Almost immediately, his tongue pressed against your lips, begging for access. You could taste mint toothpaste as he swirled his tongue around yours. You sighed into the kiss, feeling your joints buckle as they typically did whenever Toto kissed you. Every kiss you shared was filled with intensity, passion, desire, and made you feel as though you were floating on air. Instead of relying on your arms to keep you upright, you wrapped your arms around his neck and tangled your hands in his messy hair. Toto grinned, going down on one knee to make sure neither of you toppled to the ground. You felt your bottom lip become trapped between his teeth as he pulled away lightly, letting it go at the end.

“I want you to lay back. Can you do that for me, Liebe?” Toto cooed.

This time it was your turn to bite your bottom lip as you nodded, obediently laying back against the deck while you kept your eyes locked to his. As soon as you settled into position, Toto’s body was over yours and you couldn’t help but run your hands along his torso.

“I love seeing you underneath me.” Toto whispered, peppering kisses along your jaw line and tracing them down the column of your throat.

As Toto's lips continue their journey down your throat, sending shivers down your spine, you can't help but arch your back in anticipation. His hands are exploring your body, making your heart race with every touch. His fingers deftly unbutton your shorts, slipping inside to caress the warm skin beneath. He kisses a trail down your sternum, his hot breath making you gasp. Reaching the waistband, he pulls your shorts and panties down in one swift motion, revealing your glistening folds.

With a low growl of desire, Toto buries his face between your thighs, his tongue lapping at your swollen clit. He devours you with a hunger that borders on feral, his fingers spreading your lips wide to grant himself deeper access.

Your back bows off the deck as his tongue plunges into your aching heat, lapping at your walls with a skill that drives you wild. He sucks your clit between his lips, rolling the sensitive bud with his tongue while his fingers curl inside you, stroking that sweet spot that makes your vision blur. With a delicate flick of his tongue, Toto teases your entrance, encouraging you to arch your hips and beg for more. He plunges deep into your wetness with a gusto that has you gripping the edge of the deck

His lips form a tight seal around your throbbing clit as he suckles greedily, his tongue darting and swirling to drive you to the brink. You're a whimpering, mewling mess beneath him, your fingers tangling in his hair as you try to pull him closer.

Toto's tongue is relentless, stroking and circling your sensitive nub with an expertise that borders on cruel. You're a quivering, sobbing mess, your thighs clenching around his head as he feasts on your arousal.

A sigh left your lips once more as you threaded your fingers back into his chestnut hair. It felt as though every hair on your body stood up straight as Toto flickering his eyes up to meet yours, Toto leaned forward and slow up the pace. Your head fell back with a whine as your hips involuntarily jutted toward his mouth.

"Please, Toto, more.." you gasp, your hips bucking against his mouth as he ramp up the intensity. His purring vibrates against your clit, it served you so well right now.

“Oh god.” You groaned, arching your back and pushing your cunt further into his face.

Toto's tongue flickers over your clit, sending sparks of pleasure coursing through your body. Your toes are curling and your legs start to shake uncontrollably as he pushes you over the edge. He pulled back slightly and gathered your folds between his fingers and squeezed them together.

“Such a pretty pussy, Prinzessin. Love seeing the way it’s dripping for me.”

Immediately he was diving back in, letting go of your folds to hold your legs back in place. The obscene slurping noises coming from between your legs had you moaning in pleasure. The feeling of his tongue prodding at your entrance made your hands fly to his hair and your legs lock over his back.

“Go on, Liebe. Use me. Fuck yourself on my tongue.” Toto mumbled, sticking his tongue out and allowing you to rock your core over it.

“Shit, shit, shit. Oh fuck, Toto, I’m-I’m gonna cum.” You squealed, increasing the speed at which you ground yourself against him.

Just like that, you felt the white hot pleasure of your orgasm rip through you, legs shaking slightly as you clenched your thighs around his head. Instead of pulling away, Toto doubled down and dug his fingers into your hips as he pushed his face further into your core. He lapped up your orgasm like he was put on this earth to do so.

The sensitivity from your last orgasm made you jerk away from him, but Toto had no intentions of letting you go.

“Come on, Schatzi. Give me one more, I know you got one more for me.”

Toto pulled back and quickly replaced his tongue with his middle and ring finger, curling them upwards as he thrusted them. At the same time he snaked his hand over the front of your swimsuit top and yanked your breasts free, making sure to pinch and tug on your nipples as he continued his rough pace.

There was no holding back the scream that erupted from your chest as you came for the second time. The orgasm that ripped through you was one that was so intense you could swear your eyes rolled all the way back into your head. Toto placed light kisses over your mound as you came down from your high.

“Good job, Schatzi. You did so good for me.”

Your eyes fluttered open slowly as Toto crawled back over you, grinning at your fucked out state. His nose traced the curve of your jaw as he waited for you to come back to. Licking your lips you pushed on his chest, signaling for him to let you up. As he sat up you followed him, only to push him down to the floor. Toto grinned at you proudly.

“Schatzi you know you don’t have to—“ Toto’s sentence was cut short with a low groan as you ran your hand over the length of him through his shorts.

Quickly ridding him of his swim trunks you took the length of him into your hand and pumped up and down a few times. You’d become wholly familiar with his anatomy in the time you’d been dating, but each time you saw his cock always felt like the first. Toto groaned, lips slightly parted as he looked down at you. Maintaining that eye contact, you leaned in and swirled your tongue around the head.

“Fffuck.” Toto breathed, gathering your hair at the top of your head so he wouldn’t miss a single view of you wrapped around his cock.

Moving down toward the bottom, you licked a stripe up the underside of his cock before taking as much of him in your mouth as you were able. Toto grunted loudly, doing his best to keep his hips from bucking up into your mouth.

“Jesus Christ. You feel so good, Liebe.” Toto praised.

You looked up at him from under your lashes as you continued to suck his cock. The blissed out look on his face made your core throb. There was something about the way you made him feel so good that you absolutely adored. You took your time, taking as much of him as you could as slowly as you could. Other men you were with liked their head messy and fast, but Toto always commented on how much he loved the way you took your time with him.

Pulling away, you continued to stroke him with your hand as you moved down to take his balls into your mouth and suck on them gently. As you began to do so, you felt his cock jump in your hand and a grin spread across your face.

“Fuck, Liebe, stop, stop.” Toto grabbed you and pulled you up.

Crashing his lips to yours, the kiss was needy and messy. Toto held your face tightly in his hands as you scrambled onto his lap. You pushed the shirt off his shoulders and Toto shrugged it off, pulling away to look at you.

“God, you’re gonna be the death of me one day, Schatzi. You make me feel so fuckin’ good.”

Positioning yourself over him, you sank down slowly on to his cock. The stretch was something you still hadn’t gotten used to, but god did it feel incredible. Each and every time you wondered how it was possible to feel so full. Toto grabbed your face and pulled you into another kiss as you allowed yourself to get used to him. Your arms wrapped around his neck and you pulled away from the kiss.

“Please move, Toto.” You panted.

Toto’s hands found their way to your hips as he slowly started to help you move back and forth. A long groan came from you as you leaned your head back. Toto took the opportunity to nibble gently on your pulse point. The rock of your hips back and forth had his pelvis hitting your clit each time, causing a surge of pleasure to shoot through your body.

“More, I need more.” You moaned out.

Toto wrapped his arm around your waist as he flipped you onto your back. The moment your back hit the floor, his pace increased tremendously. The lewd sound of slapping skin filled the area and you were grateful you were out in the middle of nowhere.

“You were fuckin’ made for me weren’t you, Schatzi? Goddamnit, you fit me like a fucking glove.” Toto growled, pushing your leg back even further so he could drill into you at a different angle.

You wrapped your hands around his forearm as he held on to your hip. The drag of his cock against your velvety walls had your eyes rolling into the back of your head once more. The hand that rested on your hip moved to rest on your lower abdomen right above your pelvis as he continued to piston in and out of you.

The movement only made the pressure in your abdomen increase tenfold and you could feel yourself starting to clench around him involuntarily.

“P-please, I-“

“You need to cum, hmm? My pretty girl gonna cum?”

“Please!” You yelled out as he snapped his hips particularly rough into you.

Toto placed both hands on your hips as he lifted you slightly off the ground, pounding into you with all he had. As he did so you reached your hand down your front and rubbed your clit in fast circles.

“Oh fuck, yeah. Rub your clit Liebe. Cmon, cum for me.”

After a few more snaps of his hips you felt yourself tensing up, toes curling as your third orgasm washed over you. This time your legs were shaking visibly and you groaned loudly.

“So fuckin pretty when you cum, Schatzi. Fuck.”

It was obvious that Toto was close. You could feel him twitch inside of you as well as the way his hips were beginning to falter.

“Want you to cum in me, Liebe. Wanna feel you cum in me.” You whimpered up at him.

“Fucking Christ!” Toto fell forward, hands on either side of you as he shoved his hips forward, painting your walls with his spend.

Toto remained leaning over you, pressing his forehead to yours as you moaned in tandem. Breathing in each other’s breath, you reached up and cupped his cheek. Toto wrapped his fingers around your wrist and turned his head to press a kiss to your palm, biting down on the flesh of your hand slightly. You giggled, watching him grin at your noise.

Toto pulled away from you, using the towel you had been sunbathing with to help clean you up. Toto laid down against the deck and you curled up against him, pressing a kiss to his chest as you tangled your leg with his. He stroked your hair with his hand as he pressed a kiss to your crown.

“Yeah,” he started, twirling your hair around his finger, “I’d say you deserve the moon.”

You laughed, hitting his chest for his dumb joke. Toto chuckled, taking your hand in his and lifting it up to his lips for a kiss.

“I love you, Schatzi. And I’m so proud of you.”

You could feel your heart swell at his words. Whenever you were with Toto, all you felt was love.

“I love you too, Toto. Thank you, for everything.”

The two of you remained tangled in one another while you regained your strength. The boat was quiet, the soft crashing of the waves once again soothing your senses as you let your eyes closed.

“So…” Toto’s voice brings you back to reality, “how about a round two?”

[crystal-to-bloom]

Chapter 2: Snow in July

Grayson family x child dragon reader

𝟙, 𝟚, 𝟛, 𝟛.𝟝, 𝟜 ,𝟝

When Nolan’s ship touched down in the backyard, the grass beneath it frosted over instantly. It was mid-summer, but the air shimmered with cold. Debbie stepped out onto the porch barefoot, stopping in her tracks as the leaves glazed with ice.

— “What the hell…” she whispered, staring at Nolan as he stepped out, cradling something in his arms.

It was an egg. Oval-shaped, glowing with a soft turquoise light. Cold mist clung to its surface like breath on glass.

— “Nolan. What did you bring back?”

— “Not what,” he said quietly. “Who.”

Inside, she helped wrap the egg in an old blanket, but her hands trembled. Her eyes kept flicking from it to Nolan. To her, it wasn’t beautiful — it was unknown. Alien.

Mark was crouched beside it, his face lit with wonder.

— “Is it alive? Is it really from space?” He leaned in, his breath fogging the shell. “Dad, I think it’s breathing. Look—inside, the frost is moving!”

— “I don’t know who’s in there,” Nolan said. “But I know they were alone. The whole planet… it’s gone. Dead. And this egg—” he paused, glancing at Debbie “—it was in the heart of a frozen temple. Guarded. Waiting.”

Debbie turned sharply.

— “And you just took it?”

— “I spent hours there. Scanned everything. There’s no life left. No movement. No heat signatures. It looked like…” he hesitated “...a graveyard.”

She folded her arms tightly, voice sharp.

— “And what if you stole it from something? What if you brought back a threat? Or a curse?”

— “If it’s a threat, I’ll deal with it” Nolan said firmly. “But I’m not leaving a child to die alone in a tomb”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she watched as Mark gently pressed a toy dragon against the egg.

— “You can have Zubble” he whispered. “He keeps me company when I’m scared. He’ll keep you company too.”

That night, long after the house went quiet, Debbie sat by the egg. She didn’t trust it. Couldn’t feel the wonder Mark did, or the instinct Nolan swore by. All she saw was a fragile line between peace and disaster.

But she couldn’t look away.

Far beneath ground level, in the control room of the GDA, Cecil stared at Nolan’s mission report. He tapped the table, reading it again.

Too clean.

Too precise.

Too quiet.

— “You’re hiding something, Nolan,” he muttered. “But fine. I’ll play dumb… for now.”

He closed the file and leaned back.

— “Just don’t make me regret it.”

The house was silent.

It was nearly midnight when Debbie found herself back in the living room, unable to sleep. She stood in the doorway for a while, arms crossed over her chest, staring at the faint blue glow that pulsed from the egg resting on the blanket-covered coffee table.

Mark had fallen asleep on the rug hours ago, curled up with his toy dragon tucked under one arm. Nolan had carried him to bed. But Debbie stayed behind.

Something about the way the egg sat there—so still, so cold—unsettled her.

She sat down on the couch slowly, arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes never left it.

The frost that clung to its shell hadn’t melted, even in the warmth of the house. Tiny snowflakes formed on the fabric beneath it. It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense.

— “You don’t belong here” she whispered to it. “And I don’t know what that means for my family”

She felt stupid saying it aloud, but it helped to hear her voice over the silence. There was no one to argue with. Nolan had made up his mind. He’d brought it here like it was something sacred, something chosen.

But Debbie hadn’t been given a choice.

Nolan had always brought back pieces of the stars—stories, knowledge, things Mark barely understood—but this… this was different. This was alive. This was permanent.

She didn’t know if it was a child or a weapon. A gift or a mistake.

Her fingers dug into the couch.

— “If you hurt him…” she whispered, thinking of Mark, “…if you hurt either of them—”

Crk.

The sound was so soft, so delicate, she thought she imagined it.

Then it came again.

Crk.

A thin fracture appeared across the shell—no wider than a strand of hair, running from the very top down to the side. A soft mist hissed from the crack, curling like breath in cold air.

Debbie leaned forward, her heart in her throat.

— “No, no, no—” she whispered, her fear turning to panic. “It’s too soon. We’re not ready—”

She reached out a trembling hand… and stopped just short of touching it.

She wanted to push it away. Wrap it back in the stars and send it into space. But Mark’s words from earlier echoed in her ears.

“You can have Zubble, He keeps me company when I’m scared.”

Debbie closed her eyes, her breath shaking.

Another crack

This time it stretched lower, and something—something small—pushed from the inside. Not violent. Not threatening. Just a nudge.

A presence.

Alive.

Debbie stood, backing away slowly, eyes still fixed on the egg.

She wasn’t ready. But something inside her knew: this child was never meant to be alone again.

previous part 》 Chapter 1

Chapter 3

[thesweetestapplepie]

‘to remember by’

mc: 2.2k

tags: angst and fluff, mentions of weight loss and brief mentions of sex

Arthur Morgan couldn’t sleep. On the long list of reasons Arthur Morgan can’t sleep, it isn’t a single one. Even on account of him not sleeping most nights to begin with, the many reasons Arthur had to be restless despite being so sore all the damn time is extensive to say the least. There was the stress of the coming week’s volatile air, the worry Dutch and his ramblings are causing, the Marstons and their ever so narrowing predicament; he felt a solitary bead of sweat slink down the side of his face. Hands clammy, pinched a graphite pencil which sat rigid over the smooth clean paper. Then, as if guilty of debauchery, he steals a glance from you as you sleep peacefully in his cot. Just as you had looked 7 minutes ago when he last stared at you—ever so beautiful and peaceful when you’re granted the grace of rest. Even the under circles of your eyes, flushed in red, swollen from tears, Arthur held every little piece of you close to his chest and even deeper in his heart. Though, he supposes those tears are only for him to blame, for you had not stopped crying ever since hearing of his diagnosis.

Arthur supposes that is the other reason for his restless nights. He was a sick man. Dying. Living a regretful, deceitful life has a tendency to catch up to someone no matter how many train cars they hop and how many strangers they aid. Nonetheless, even then that wasn’t the reason Arthur Morgan couldn’t lay his head down to rest.

No, it was you. It’s always you. Even as the very foundations of his reality and world twist to spin poison in his ears. And yet, he does it all for you. He'd run the entire New Hanover with bodies on top of bodies on the back of his horse just to pay tribute to the sounds of your infectious laughter. He had thought of ripping the skin from his bones when the Colter snow left you pale and sickly. He lived to split men in half, to burn down families and foundations to ash all to earn the security of your smiles when he sleeps so soft against your skin. Soft turquoise eyes stick to your red nose and heavy heaving chest and he feels the familiar guilt hang in his ribs. Two weeks ago the two of you had argued long about the issues of you sleeping in his cot when he was so contagious. Even as he had argued his way into a fair point proven, he could not scold you further seeing you cry so much.

You didn’t deserve to live like this. It frustrated him and plagued his brain to no end. To be picked up down on your luck by a group of degenerate criminals, taken from your soft, warm bed to sleep on a rickety, springy cot. To live such a dishonest life as such a happy, compassionate woman. A woman made of honeycomb and goodness, meant to live a comfortable, gentle life. All just to be tethered to a family that had slowly lost their ties moons ago, a family with only a last name to share. And now, here you were, sleeping in the hot and humid terrain of a swamp with nothing but a dying, penniless man to show for it. A man who could never be a doctor or a farmer. A man who could never give you the life that you would read about in your books and marvel at in the movies. A man who dragged you into this mess and is now going to die leaving you in it. If he could at least write you this goddamn letter could his mind stop running with these senseless noises.

Arthur loved you to death and he knew that with every good beat in his body. Even as he absentmindedly watches you stir in your sleep on the cusp of a dream, he hopes you’re somewhere warm and sunny. His hand instinctively ghosts over your cheek, lingering to capture the warmth of your skin as you softly shudder in your sleep. The image tightens the corners of his lips. Still, Arthur found himself at a complete loss of words or a sliver of idea on what to write for you. He thought it would be nice, though thinking does nothing for him anymore. Arthur chews on the memory for just a moment, the way something in your eyes had shattered when he pushed you away to cough blood into a handkerchief. The horror followed by the tears when he tried to explain, to soothe the blow that must’ve splintered through your body. You were too wise to know Arthur could see the pure denial and despair in your barely composed hands and speech, offering to take care of him and love him even as the cough takes over his lungs. There was an ironic, cruel amusement lulling in Arthur's mind when you’d cry far more than he had.

.

How you tried to not be emotional at every thought of your lover’s condition, the way his body withered no matter how many hot meals you spooned to him. The eruptive coughing fits coated with crimson blood and shuddering breath. The loose fit of his work shirts became too much to process. You’d sit with him, somewhere where the sun hit and the streams ran, trailing fingers over his chapped lips and sunburnt skin. There was always that bitter pang in him whenever he saw your eyes begin to gloss up. You’d try so hard to smile as you kissed the corners of his mouth, trying so hard to make him better again. You held him as if you had a greater trade to sacrifice, your laughter for the air in his lungs, your body for the relief of his fatigued lumbering frame. The very ugly, bad in him was ever so comforted by the prospects of your tears. Yet, he knew that the sight of your sorrow had only withered him further, another grey hair sprung from his head.

“My sweet girl, wastin’ tears over me..” He’d say through faded breath, a heavy hand coming to urge you closer to him.

“Oh–I try so hard not to, Arthur..” Your voice drops sincerely as your volition is only so strong to stifle your cries. Small tears pearl down your cheek and he’s quick to run a calloused finger under it. So gentle, you’d akin him to something of a deer.

“Not even dead yet, darling—you’re gonna be all out of 'em the time that comes..” He tries to keep his voice light, the affectionate jest in his tease brings you closer. He knew you’d only scowl at his darkly playful attempts to make you smile, and it's the bad man in him that loves the way your face scrunches at his remarks.

“I'm so scared, Arthur.” The thick pain in your tone had spoiled his composure, and he fumbles. “Can’t imagine how you could begin to joke about this–” Your voice clips into a soft pitched cry, trying to look away from him when he gently takes your wrists. Your hands instinctively flex around something larger on account of his declining weight and health and it does nothing to heal your heart. “How can it not scare you–you—oh–it's all too soon” You trailed off, face coming to bury into the lining of his shirt, shuddering like an animal licking a wound.

“I’m terrified, baby. Hell, I’m a mean bastard for talking like that..” You’d lower your head to his chest, succumbing to the warmth of his solace and the creaking, slow beat of his heart.

“I’m sorry.. You know I just don’t know when to quit..” He’d speak with remorse heavy in his voice. Because the truth was, Arthur was extremely terrified. Scared even as he kissed away the tears that ran down your cheek. Even if it were bitterly ironic of him to comfort you, the emotions you bore had satiated his yearn for consolation.

.

He teeters in his chair as a cough rakes over his body, like a bullet splintering in his ribs. Coughing into his left hand, his right hand reached out to instinctively run over your head softly, as if in a vain attempt to protect you from his illness. You still laid in your deep slumber, exhaustion embedded into the crevices of your wrinkled face. It’s starting to hurt thinking about you, thinking about how much he cared for you. It hurts to realize how much he’ll lose when death does eventually come to take his head.

Hurt floods his veins when he runs his thumb over your lips, selfishness in his eyes. So long was Colter when your cherry pink lips were frozen blue from the angry ice storm. How he’d sit with you in the back of the wagon for hours at a time, your warmth bleeding into his side when he kept you tucked under the overbearing wing of his arm. He couldn’t move at the sight of your shivering slowly melting into a satisfied hum, and how he couldn’t stop smiling when you had reflexively pulled him closer. His mind fantasizes of that first so intimate encounter with a reflective fondness. How time had only crystallized your beauty and metamorphosed you into one brilliant, gorgeous thief. The hurt only blossoms into his affections for you, so delicate and yet ever so painful in his chest.

He knew to treasure the rich jewels of your laughter when he’d kick the dirt off of paths. His horse would dash to the sounds of your colorful voice, the way you’d sing praises on the back of him with hands locked around his waist. You’d giggle oh so innocently in his ear and how he had hoped you wouldn’t notice his ever so slipping glances. It was as if by some miracle his brain told him to remember such simple times, the water dribbling down your jaw tastefully as you had replenished the energy of your spirit. It only made him thirst. There he had immortalized the lightness of your laughter and the sick thrills of your adventure, your constant search for sensation and emotion.

How the closest he had felt to heaven was at the mercy of your flesh and body. When you had allowed his tongue to externalize his deep seated crave for your closeness. Every open mouthed kiss breathed word of his devotion. He finds the sensational slope of your hips and he relinquishes his addictive need for your essence in deep thrusts that make your body burn. The ever so pitchy cries of your swollen lips as he had taken you over and over, holding you through it with the sincerest need to have you tethered by skin. His heart burned like hot coal when he had looked down at you ever so lovingly, a swelling in his chest that he feels every time he dines to the sound of your pleasure.

You had filled his life with so many sensations, so much thrill and light that he had been so blind to for the better of thirty years. And he had felt selfish for still wanting to keep it so close to him even now. Even when he knows he doesn’t deserve it. He cannot help but give into the urge to kiss the top of your head, such a gift and such a mistake to have you walk into his life. Such a gift is your voice that seems to always play his favorite love song when you’d kiss him so sweet. Such a gift are your ever so warm hands that always know how to make his ears burn when you’d lather his worn body in foam and soap with a scolding tongue. A gift are your eyes which sing a color that lulls him to sleep each night. How he will willingly cut himself on the merge edge of your wit, that mind of yours always perplexing him with the darndest of things. He’ll miss the ever presence of your life around him. The way more of your items began to make an appearance in his tent. The way he’d find your hair around his cot. He’ll yearn the way you barrel rush to his arms at the first sight of his horse, tripping over yourself to have him catch you in his sturdy safe grasp. How he’ll miss laying next to you, covered in dewy lime grass with an oceanic blue sky hanging over your heads. Nothing but dreams in the clouds and hopes for better lives. How Arthur Morgan treasures every bleeding strand of his life with you.

And he’ll continue to share that life with you, even to the very end. And he doesn’t dare want to waste a second of it when he has such little of it left. He closes his journal—maybe he’ll think of something tomorrow night. With a weak hand he turns the dial of his lantern, the flickering yellow light smoking into nothing but ash and ache. So he lays next to you for another night in hopes that more will be just like this, even if he won’t be allowed the peace for too long.

When he turns back to look at you, he lets the image of you ever so peaceful soak into his mind one more time, with your hair free of ties and bandanas. Your body unrestricted by cloth and corset, natural and unfolding for his gaze. Your fountain of bliss and youth floors him in every regard and the sweet vibrance of your person and livelihood replenishes him of the air that was stolen from him in sickness and health. Oh, he was going to miss you oh so much.

His eyes rest on your face for another moment. And yet, he pockets the soft peaceful lines of your face again to treasure for his last dying breath.

[n0vaisnthere]

Reader is actively bothering dan heng and at some point starts scratching him under his chin and he purrs

And then they kinda,, settle down and he falls asleep on their lap. I need purring dan heng please

Dragon turned cat

Summary —☆ giving grumpy Dan Heng chin scratches to bother him!

Contains —★ fluff, Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng, mischievous reader, pre established relationship

Dragon turned cat. Except he sleeps like one.

Honestly.. After getting back after that big fight with ‘Phantylia’ on the ‘Xianzhou Luofu’, no doubt everyone is drained. So trudging back to their room, (Reader) makes an exhausted trek over to the car door. Himeko is going back to creating her 5th coffee, and Welt is just going to take a much needed break. March 7th is going to do some mild stress-shopping online. No worries.

But Dan Heng? Well, is it ‘Imbibitor Lunae’ now? Even just asking themselves that question makes (Reader) more tired. Though, they do feel pity for the Express’ cloud-piercer-turned-Vidyadhara. He really had gotten a lot of pressure from that and (Reader) couldn't imagine how he felt. So for now, they just wanted to go to their room and take the fattest nap they could, leaving Dan Heng to relax and rejuvenate himself.

Arriving and flopping on their bed, (Reader) turns and lays on their back to stare at the ceiling. You'd think that they would be passing out right away, but they aren't.

“..Damn..” (Reader) gruffed to themselves, body feeling achy, yet mind awake. “..Dan Heng…”

Pause.

“..Really did look even more attractive with horns and a tail.” (Reader) has come to that embarrassing conclusion purely on intrusive thoughts and thinking out loud. Which they quickly realized and groaned into their hands. “..Oh cmon (Reader).. He could be insanely hurt and all you could think about is how attractive he is…”

Internally berating themselves, (Reader) should be leaving poor Dan Heng alone. And yet here they are, gushing and tweaking out over the pure adrenaline of seeing a new side of the normally stoic and quiet member of the Express. To ease their now rioting mind, (Reader) closes their eyes in an attempt to sleep. But of course, that does not help. And instead, pictures and moments from the fight with ‘Phantylia’ kept playing over and over again. Fortunately, it wasn't all just frames of Dan Heng in his dragon form, but from how admirable he is for continuing to fight even though he could easily be exerting himself.

And that's one of the things that made (Reader) feel so fond of Dan Heng; For his constant determination and passion to protect everybody is just admirable, even if he gets hurt in the process.

..Which is why (Reader) suddenly feels the need to check-up on Dan Heng and make sure he’s okay.

Filled with an abrupt injection of energy, (Reader) springs out of bed and makes a quick trot down to Dan Heng’s room, filled with good intentions.

And yet they pause in front of his door, about to knock. They stop because… What if Dan Heng wanted to be alone? To think about all of the sins that he had to inherit from the previous ‘Imbibitor Lunae’? All of a sudden, (Reader)’s head gets heavy with guilt for lack of consideration on that part.

But to make themselves feel better, instead of making this an energetic pick-me-up for Dan Heng, (Reader) decides to just gently ask if Dan Heng needed anything. And so they knock.

Knock.

There was silence on the other side, but a small, tired ‘Come in’ was heard. (Reader), being ecstatic that Dan Heng seemed willing enough to let them in, quietly opened the door and peeked their head inside.

“Dan… Heng?” (Reader) starts off with a mellow voice. “You doing…” Their eyes glaze over Dan Heng, who is still in his Vidyadhara form for a few seconds. Those beautiful turquoise horns on the dark shade of his hair.. And that long mystical tail that curled around his body as he sat on the floor was just adorable and serene.

Shaking their head, (Reader) clears their throat softly. “..Al..right?” They finally finished as Dan Heng turned his head around.

And so, that's where his fatigue is clear. His face was a little gloomier than his normal gloomy, visible clues on him being very exhausted. Those greenish-blueish eyes were also glazed with overwhelming swirls. Stressed out this poor man. Truly.

Blinking and sighing, Dan Heng looked down at his crossed legs. “..I’m.. fine. Thank you for asking (Reader).” He responds, but just has that kind of vibe that he is clearly trying to make himself feel better and not have (Reader) worry about him.

Sensing absolute BS, (Reader) tilted their head as they ended up walking inside and closing his door behind them. “You sure? Cause it looks like you could drink some of Himeko’s coffee..” They joked, but quickly regretted it as it didn't seem like the right time to say that.

In response to that, Dan Heng only ‘Hmm'd' and didn't comment on (Reader) entering his room without explicit permission, which (Reader) subconsciously thanked.

The silence being so damn loud, (Reader) tries to then find some things to say or do that would lift Dan Heng’s spirits.

“..So…” (Reader) says a bit awkwardly. “..Do you need anything?”

“No thank you. Not at the moment.” Dan Heng responds with a firm tone that quickly falters to being a lazy and muttered response at the end.

“..Ah.” (Reader) nodded slowly.

At this point, they're just mentalling kicking themselves at how poorly planned out this little thing is becoming. Or well, didn't become since it’s been a literal wreck since (Reader) put their idea in motion.

“..I was just going to go back to meditating; Thinking about all of my newly shouldered responsibilities and stuff..” Dan Hend uttered as he sighed, staring back down on the floor.

Clearly he has been meditating for a long time, not physically sleeping or resting his sore body. (Reader) could very well see that.

“Okay well.. Couldn't you take a break from meditating for a little?” They suggest. “Maybe even catch some needed sleep..” (Reader) adds. But stop at that because it just sounds like they're bossing Dan Heng around.

However, the dragon didn't think so and looked up at (Reader) from the ground. “..MAybe you're right… But still. I have a lot on my mind and can't seem to relax.” He admits.

(Reader)’s heart pangs from feeling the heartfelt vulnerability coming from Dan Heng, as he really does try to handle things the best he could. So walk over and sit next to Dan Heng, also crossing their legs in that same kind of meditating position.

“Well, since you're tired and wanted to read, why don't I read whatever you need to you?” (Reader) offers with pure intentions.

Dan Heng’s face brightened up at the kind offer. “..How nice of you (Reader)..” He nodded appreciatively. Then shifted around and leaned back towards his small collection of books.

Tail moving out of his way, Dan Heng grabs a book about further research on ‘Synthesis’ or something. Handing (Reader) the book, Dan Heng leaned and relaxed on the floor, still in a restrictive ball.

(Reader) holds the book and shifts over to Dan Heng, but not too close. “A book on ‘Synthesis’..” They murmured in some amusement, then just opened up to a random page. “..Uhhh… ‘Omni-Synthesizer’ is used to create…”

And so for the next 10 minutes, (Reader) and Dan Heng both chill on the floor. (Reader) is much more energetic than the dragon, as the latter was just sitting there, listening along in silence as the tip of his tail flicked occasionally. But of course, things were getting repetitive, that was clear when (Reader) started to read with less energy. Even Dan Heng was nodding off to all of the ‘super intellectual information’ on the Omni-Synthesizer. Taking this as the cue to stop, (Reader) closes the book softly and sets it aside.

Sighing, (Reader) scoots up against the wall and rested their heavy on the shelf behind them. “Hah.. Sorry Dan Heng. But If I have to read ‘Omni-Synthesizer’ again I might knock myself out.” They apologized, looking at the horns on Dan Heng’s head first then at his tired face.

Dan Heng on the other hand, also followed in (Reader)’s lead, moving up and leaned against the shelf. “..It’s alright.”

“..So.. Do you feel more relaxed or..” (Reader) asks quietly, a yawn suddenly comes over them, so they just yawn into their hand. “..Cause I’m feeling tired again..”

At the question, Dan Heng’s tail sways back and forth on his floor, making no sound. “..I do feel.. Better, actually. Maybe I can actually sleep.” He sighs, feeling a little relieved and grateful for (Reader)’s help.

Smiling, (Reader) nodded and thought for a few seconds. They had an idea. A stupidly personal idea. But an idea. “..Yeah? Well uh,” They patted their lap with uncertainty. “...Maybe… A… HEAD MASSAGE would get you to fully relax??? You said before that you had a lot on your mind so why don't I smooth out those overwhelming feelings and thoughts?” (Reader) babbled.

Dan Heng stared blankly at the suggestion. Then sighed. “...Would that even work…?” He asks skeptically.

“..I don't know.” (Reader) admits sheepishly.

“Then it would be best to not try it. It might make my head hurt more.” Dan Heng said. Then looked away. He takes a deep sigh, seeming to calm his breathing.

Feeling a little embarrassed, (Reader) also looks away and at the lamp near his bed. “..Maybe you can't sleep because the light is on.” They say, reaching over then turned the lamp off.

Click.

The lights are off, and Dan Heng’s room suddenly turns dim. The only light source is coming from the radiating light from the nearby technology in the room.

Dan Heng makes no comments. And instead just sat there in silent brooding.

Silence again.

(Reader) thinks again and looks at Dan Heng once again in a side-glance. “..So.. How does having horns and a long tail feel?” They ask quietly.

Dan Heng looked over and looked away again. “It feels the same. I find myself not being able to feel them after a while.”

“Ah..” (Reader) slowly nods.

Awkward silence again.

“...So.. Were you always part of the Vidyadhara? Or did you just reconnect with…” (Reader) makes a confused hand gesture. Then dropped them, waving a hand. “..Nevermind.” They muttered at their dumb question.

However, Dan Heng paid no mind to it, and kept focusing on clearing his head. At this point, a few minutes pass with the heavy silence. And maybe from too many awkward moments, (Reader) starts dozing off. Or well, their head is going up and down repeatedly. Glancing over once again, Dan Heng looked up and down (Reader) and made a few shifts over. Their knees make contact and (Reader) jolted up and awake, only to be met with sudden weight on their lap; A pair of light blue eyes meet up and gaze at their own from below, and blinked tiredly, only to look off to the side.

(Reader) doesn't say anything at first, and just sits there stunned. And only did their attention hone in as one of Dan Heng’s horn things ghosted against their shirt. They stare and stare, Dan Heng stares and stares off to the side in return. Kind of an awkward action, but (Reader) makes do with it and slowly brings a hand to pat the top of Dan Heng’s head,

His hair is soft. It was visually longer, and more… Luscious?? Voluminous? Whatever it is, it’s satisfying to the touch, quickly making (Reader) addicted to petting it as weird as it sounds. Dan Heng just closed his eyes at the sensation, and does not reject or fuss about it. So (Reader) continued for a few more strokes and moved down to Dan Heng’s face.

Testing the waters, (Reader) makes a few pokes at his cheeks. Dan Heng makes a surprised grunt at first, but does not react any further.

So. Progress..? (Reader) stops poking and moves down to his chin, cupping the soft V-shape with their fingers, thumb rubbing up against his cheek. Dan Heng’s eyes remained closed, but slightly tensed at the newfound touch, but he ultimately leaned into (Reader)’s hand and made a shallow, relaxing sigh. But that ‘sigh’ comes out as some kind of… Purring noise.? Or the small, cute and soft ones that a cat would make.

(Reader) freezes, then resumes again. Who knew dragons could make such noises. Every few strokes and rubs on his cheeks produced similar meowlings, and caused some reaction in his tail - which swayed back and forth in a gradual pace, much like a feline.

Not sure how much time passed, (Reader) figured that this would be a good time to have Dan Heng take a nap and rest his body finally. Only to look down and find the Vidyadhara-being already dozing away, still leaning into their warm, soft touch with his smooth skin. (Reader) smiled to themselves, happy that they could finally have Dan Heng rest and get the sleep he deserved.

Dan Heng made another faint purring noise as he slept, and (Reader) had to hold back snickering.

Ironic how a majestic Vidyadhara could make such adorable noises while being comforted and sleeping soundly.

.・。.・゜✭・WRITTEN BY: vxxxvnii (email me for more direct contact: vxnaly@gmail.com)

A/N: Please enjoy :3 Lmk if you guys like me or NOVA better /j SUPER LONG IM SORRY!!!! I was having a brain fart writing this

[hannie-berrie]

Hiiii! I absolutely love your works o(^o^)o

Can i suggest a go hyun tak fluff (*^-゜)vThanks!

Hi loveee ❤️ I hope this is just like you imagined it 🙏💗

The Surprise at the Flower Market

You hadn’t planned on going out that morning. Your hair was still a bit messy from sleep, and you were wearing an old hoodie Hyuntak had left at your place few days ago. But when he’d shown up outside your door with a grin and said, “Come with me, I have something to show you,” you didn’t really have a choice.

Now you were walking hand-in-hand through a flower market tucked between rows of old brick buildings. The air smelled like damp earth and lavender, as vendors called out their best prices.

“Close your eyes,” Hyuntak said suddenly, stopping in front of a stall bursting with color.

You squinted at him. “What? Why?”

“Because you trust me,” he smiled like he had evil plans, already moving behind you to cover your eyes with his hands.

You laughed but let him. “If you try to make me smell something weird again, I swear”

“No weird smells this time,” he promised, guiding you gently forward.

When he uncovered your eyes, your breath caught. In front of you was a beautiful bouquet of all your favorite flowers, wild and soft and mismatched in the most pleasing way. They were tied with a turquoise silk ribbon the exact shade of your favorite sweater.

“I asked the vendor to make this last night,” he said quietly, caressing the back of his neck. “I just thought… you deserved flowers you love, not just pretty enough for display.”

You stared at them, then at him.

“Hyuntak,” you said, almost a whisper. So moved you could barely contain the tears in your eyes. “You remembered everything.”

You jumped in his arms, holding him tight, he couldn’t help the smile cracking on his face, the one he only ever did when he was nervous but proud. “Of course I did. I remember everything about you.” He arms wrapped around you tighter, pushing his face in the crook of your neck, still holding your flowers behind your back.

And right there, in the middle of the noisy market, with strangers and flower petals and sunlight all around, you leaned up on your toes and kissed him.

____

more Gotak (Hyuntak) fluff

[jemiswumbo]

she’s out of her mind

luke castellan x daughter of hades!reader

anon prompt: Hey babes! I saw your post about wanting prompts and I was wondering you could write Luke Castellan x Daughter of Hades! Reader where it's like sunshine (Luke) x grumpy (Reader) trope?

authors note: hello i am back with a small drabble for the cute prompt above! i got drunk off of applebees dollaritas and wrote this in 15mins so do with that information what you will. hope you enjoy! :)

title is from she’s out of her mind by blink-182. lyrics are a lil fitting.

warnings: none? i think? it’s just fluff, i think. sort of.

“Wake up, sunshine.”

You groaned low and deep, releasing a guttural sound full of pure agony. Rolling over on your (extremely warm, cozy, sleep inducing) bed, you came face to face with your boyfriend, Luke Castellan, who was currently opening up the curtains in your cabin.

Being the only child of Hades at the camp, the entire cabin was sparse and empty, save for the corner you called home. There was a bed with black sheets and blanket, a side table full of the few memorabilia you had to your name, and a dresser beside that which held your extensive collection of black clothing. The walls resembled the inner workings of a cavern; slick rock prodded with small bones and beautiful jewels encapsulated the bedroom areas. Sconces held lit torches burning bright with turquoise Greek fire.

Your favourite part of the cabin, though, was the specially-crafted blackout curtains that were typically drawn tight over the windows. Not even a sliver of light could penetrate the thick, black, velvet drapes. That was, until, your idiot boyfriend took it upon himself to draw them open. The harsh blades of sunlight violated your eyes, illiciting your pained groan. You hated it when people interrupted your sleep.

“Luke,” You whined, shoving your face into your pillow, hoping to evade the blinding light. “Let me sleep, please, for the love of the gods.”

“Fuck the gods,” Luke said, and you could hear the smirk in his voice without needing to see his (cute, devilishly handsome) face. “Anyways, it’s 9am! You’ve slept in long enough and I wanna have breakfast with you and your pretty face.” Luke flopped down on the bed beside you and flipped your body back over with ease, in a foolish attempt to force you into the world of the living.

Typical for a child of Death, you kept your eyes squeezed shut and pounded the bedsheet with your fist. “I will literally, genuinely, actually murder you without hesitation if you don’t leave me the fuck alone.”

“That’s no way to talk to your boyfriend.” Luke said, pressed a small kiss to your nose. You swatted him away with anger.

Any other (normal, rational, smart) kid at camp would’ve soiled their pants and fled in terror from such a threat uttered by the one and only daughter of Hades. You were capable of a simple killing — you were graciously bestowed the gift of sucking out the souls of mortals with a mere flick of the wrist — and so it was only logical to fear such a ghastly claim. Luke, however, had realized early on in your Camp days that you were full of shit and would never hurt a fly. He took an opportunity to befriend you and you’d been dating for a few years now. You were (truly, madly, deeply) in love with him and yes, despite your immense hatred for morning sunlight, you would never actually hurt him.

“Come on,” he prodded again, cuddling up beside you and tapping your forehead mischievously. You mustered the courage to crack open one eye (barely) and saw him grinning down at you. “Wake up, baby. Let’s get breakfast and then spend the day at the docks. We can swim and sun bathe and have a picnic—“

“Gods, you’re ambitious today,” you grumbled, rolling back over to face the opposite direction of Luke (and, the open windows), allowing him to grab your waist and pull you up against his chest. “I hate being in the sun. You know this.”

“Yeah, but I like to try new things with you,” Luke said, peppering a few kisses down your jaw and the side of your neck, squeezing his taut arm around your torso. “And I’m dying to see you in a bikini.”

“Perv,” you mumbled, but deep down you felt butterflies erupt in your stomach, causing a crimson blush to bloom over your chest. “Give me another hour to sleep.”

“No,” Luke said, and now it was his turn to groan impatiently. “Please, now, for me? I love you and want to spend time with you.”

“I hate you and want you to leave me alone,” you replied, pulling your fluffy duvet back up over your shoulders. “Bed time.”

“Beach time,” Luke decided. He sat up slightly and ripped the blankets entirely off your form, exposing your body to the cold air of the morning.

You shrieked. “Luke, you asshole—“

Luke jumped out of the bed, smiling wide. He gathered up all the blankets up into his arms, much to your dismay, and held them away from you. You only wore shorts and a tank top to sleep last night, and the chill in the room froze you right to your bones. Luke bundled up the bedding into a ball and fired it across the room. “There, now you’re acclimated.”

“You’re dumb as hell.”

“You are a grouchy, sleepy demon who needs breakfast and vitamin D.”

“Ugh!” You exploded, finally shoving yourself out of bed in a fit of exasperation. Luke had the audacity to applaud you. “Okay, there, I’m up!”

“So proud of you, my sleeping beauty,” Luke remarked. He crossed the room to you and placed a tender kiss to your lips, making sure to nip at your pouty bottom lip.

“Sorry for being rude,” You murmured, after having kissed him back. “I love you. I just don’t love being woken up.”

“I know,” Luke said with a grin. “I actually think you’re cute when your grumpy, so I do it on purpose to bug you.”

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t stop the small smirk from appearing on your cheeks. “Whatever. You promised breakfast and I’m starving, so let’s go.”

Luke mimicked your playful eyeroll. He took your hand, leading you out the door and towards the dining pavilion.

note 2: hi hi! if you read this and enjoyed it and maybe want to read more from me, i would super appreciate prompts and requests sent to my inbox! can’t guarantee i’ll write them all but i will for sure try my best! thanks for reading! :)

[nikethestatue]

Peace and Quiet

Azriel loves the beach. He loves the sun, first and foremost, the brightness, the warmth, the way it burns his skin, the way it makes her freckles pop, the way peaches taste when still warm from the branch.

He loves the softness of the sand beneath his feet, how painfully hot it gets under the blazing rays.

But most of all, he loves the sea. The ever changing colors, the teal and the turquoise, the periwinkle blues, the gold-tipped waves. He likes the sound of the sea, the lapping of water over his feet, and the sparkling path that the setting sun leaves upon the surface.

He sneaks to Summer Court as often as he can. There are secluded beaches there, which he found upon his travels. There, he can swim and sunbathe without anyone gawking at him. His wings aren’t strange, and if anyone recognizes him, then they don’t show it. If he has the time, he rents out a small white house, where he sleeps, watches the sun rise above the pristine waters, drinks wine, eats fish that he buys from the fishermen. They know him. They never see his shadows, so he isn’t known as ‘the shadowsinger’. Only as an Illyrian.

One day, he takes her there.

It’s not planned.

She is in the kitchen, waxing poetic about an apricot tart that she’d eaten in her childhood and that she never forgot. He listens, because whatever she says is somehow interesting to him. Or maybe it’s just her voice. The lilting nature of it reminds him of the sea.

He grabs her hand and winnows. The scream dies in her throat by the time they land.

It’s awkward. He is usually not this impulsive. But they are in the tiny garden next to the whitewashed house. There is an apricot tree, heavy with fruits. Dumbly, he mutters ‘apricots. For the tart.’

The tart is forgotten.

There is nothing more beautiful to him than the look of awe and love on her face when she looks at the emerald sea. He remembers that she is a merchant’s daughter, and that the sea is in her blood.

Without a word, she unbuttons her dress. It’s summer, it’s light, and it falls around her feet with a whisp. He is flabbergasted. He just watches her toss her silky undergarments off and whether he is hallucinating or not, he isn’t sure, but he is quite positive that he is watching her walk naked into the sea.

And just like that, the sea becomes an even more magical place.

He doesn’t hesitate. He tears off his own clothes and he is so impatient that he flies the short distance between the house and the water. He dives in loudly and messily. She laughs, watching him.

The sun is warm. Her freckles pop. Her brown eyes are the color of coffee. Her golden brown hair shine in the sun.

Peace and quiet.

Azriel is happy.

For the first time in his life, he is happy. He reckons that there is something that he loves even more than the sea.

Elain.

@elriel-month