#that masquerade ball was a LOT

[leche-flandom]

Watching "Remarriage & Desires" after experiencing "The Glory" was a bit frustrating because, yes, Seo Hye-seung was very nice and noble but...goodness gracious, Moon Dong-eun would have been dog walking Jin Yoo-hee in like the first episode. And had her begging for her life by the third, probably? Not to mention Moon Dong-eun's wardrobe choices are limited for understandable reasons, but even then her clothes were a million times better than the unholy frilly concoction Seo Hye-seung wore at that masquerade ball.

[sparrowdoodles]

Collection of cycle nut sketches I’m never gonna finish :,)

[puppiesandnightlock]

Link Nightwing and Flamebird

Aggggggghhhhhh this is the prompt i was so excited for!!! its my favorite one out of all of them!!

Summary: Its a masquerade ball and Jon is ready...if only he could find who he was supposed to be matching with.

i.e. damian and jon went matching to the gala but damian failed to mention who they were going as and they dance and its really cute.

A/N:

so, just a disclaimer, even tho i did do my reseach on the flamebird and nightwing thing and obviously ive read a shit ton of fics thta deal with this, im shortening it incredibly and switching up some things bc i have to fit it in the context its used for in this story   anyways this is the prompt i was most excited for bc yassss masqurade ball and i almost made it a royalty one but at the last minute did this lol

If anyone would have asked Jon, he would tell them that everything that happened that night was completely Damian’s doing. 

It started off simple enough, when the Kents had gotten an invite to the annual Wayne gala. He hadn't thought much of it, they were invited every year, his parents called to cover the event by the Planet. 

Jon had completely forgotten about it until a week before, when his brother waltzed in one night and asked him what he was going to be for the masquerade ball.

“W-What?” He’d sputtered.

“Yeah, you know the ball Tim’s family puts on? We’re going as demons and angels.” Kon had said, laying in the air with his hands behind his head in a resting position.

“They didn’t tell me that!” Jon whipped out his phone and began spamming Damian with questions until his phone started ringing.

“ Honestly, corncob, must you do this now?”

The familiar annoyed tone drawled through the phone speaker.

“Uh, yeah! What the actual heck am I supposed to go as?”

The two boys could hear the eye roll through the phone, followed by the usual “tt '' of disappointment. 

“ Calm yourself Jonathan, if it worries you so much, you can simply go matching with me. I’ll send something over in your measurements tomorrow, assuming they’re still the same from a few months ago .”

“Fine. What are we going to be?”

“ I think I'll let that be a surprise. I’ll see you next week, Jon.”

The phone clicked, signaling the end of the call. 

“You see, your boyfriend has your back.” 

Kon ruffled his hair, ignoring the angry screeches of “ He’s not my boyfriend, Connor!! You know what he is? He's a flaming piece of sherbet!”

“Still can’t swear.” He chuckled, zooming out the window. 

The fact that Damian wouldn't tell him didnt stop the flow of guesses coming from the farmboy.

He pulled the worst guesses after a while, disappointed when even the best ones had been vetoed. The sun and moon one had come close, Damian had nearly smiled when he said it so that was close at least.

When the night of the gala came, he stepped into his room only to be greeted by an intricate box tied with a ribbon on his bed.

Opening it, he found a black suit, flames running up to his elbow from the cuffs, the suit otherwise black but illuminated by the colors of the sleeves. 

The mask was built up with intricate patterns of gold, and when he put it on, it gave the picture of wearing fire itself. 

Gasping, he stumbled a little, pulling it off before placing it delicately back in the box. As he took the suit out to put on after a shower, he noticed a paper floating out from under it. He snatched it midair and noticed Damian’s elegant script.

“ You have your half, now you will have to come find me. No powers, by the way.”

Of course he couldn't just tell me what we were doing. This is fire, right? What's the opposite of fire?

He dressed, finding in pleasant surprise that the coattails of the jacket had the same flames his cuffs did, cut in an odd jagged pattern. As he spun in the mirror, they flared out, almost resembling…dragon wings?

He picked up the mask again, noticing the way it curved down on his face, resembling a snout.

An idea began to form, it was if he had all the pieces of a puzzle but couldn't yet fit them together.

His parents had insisted on pictures, marveling at the suit and mask. 

“Damian must have designed this himself. It has his mark of dramatics.” Lois traced the fire on the sleeve.

“What is he going as?” Clark asked as they got into the car that had gone to pick them up.

“He hasn't told me. I’m supposed to guess.” Jon rolled his eyes, the concept stupid to him.

Per usual, they were swarmed like celebrities themselves exiting the car, Lois and Clark mixing into the crowd as Jon stood alone at the top of the ballroom's large staircase, scanning the room of masks.

He caught Kon and Tim in the corner, both dressed in matching suits of deep red and soft white. 

Dick had a redhead on his arm, as usual(choose your ship), matching sun and moon. Jason was hidden away by the refreshments, Duke following behind him. Steph and Cass were out on the dance floor, with coordinated dresses like the queens they were. 

Tired, he gravitated towards the refreshments and fought the urge to run a hand through his slicked curls.

As he looked up, his gaze landed on a man there, sipping from a glass of champagne with an amused smirk on his face. 

His suit was a deep navy, almost black, with a thick light blue stripe making up the design. The coattails were a familiar dragon wing shape. It suddenly clicked in his mind who they were supposed to be, and without a second thought, he strode over and offered the shorter man his hand. 

“Care to dance?”

Damian’s green eyes twinkled at him as he set down his flute to take his hand. 

“Took you long enough.”

They swept out onto the dance floor, brushing by Steph and Cass, who winked at them and shot  thumbs up to Damian behind Jon’s back.

He huffed and turned back to Jon, the flaming colors of his mask making his eyes stand out like icy blue pools.

The song played on, and Jon leaned in to whisper. 

“Nightwing and Flamebird, huh?”

“Mhm. You were rather close with your sun and moon theory, and the fire and ice as well.”

They spun, transitioning into formal waltz.

“Never thought you’d go with an old kryptonian legend. They were partners, the best of the best. Soulmates. Flamebird kept Nightwing from falling too far into the dark, and nightwing vowed to be by his side forever.”

“Lovers.”

Jon nearly tripped over his own shoes. “What?”

“They were lovers, if I'm not mistaken.”

“Y-yeah, that too.” He grinned suddenly. “Dami, are you a romantic ?”

“No! The very thought is appalling, I would never stoop to such a level of meaningless gibberish.” 

Being the little shit he was, Jon listened to the skip in his c̶r̶u̶s̶h̶  best friend’s heart as he dipped him slightly, bringing his face closer. 

“I think you are.”

“So that’s the way you wanna play it, Kent?”

 Damian hitched a leg over his waist, doing a specific movement to the beat of the music and smirking at his blush. 

“Because you’re sure to lose.”

“We’ll see about that, bat boy.”

The world around them became blurry, the only thing in the room being the two of them and the rhythm of the music. 

One moved, and the other tried to top it. They wove it all together in a beautiful dance, daring each other with the way they moved, the sly grins and glints in their eyes the only words they needed.

The goal was to make each other as flustered as possible, and every gasp, blush, and breathy laugh was a prize. As the music began to slow, they spun out, back in, and into a low dip, panting heavily.

A flush of exhaustion brushed their cheeks, sweat beaded on their foreheads. For a moment, their surroundings had frozen, and there was just them. All the unspoken emotions, the words missed for years had somehow been spilled out in simple dance, and they were shook, the only thing snapping them out of it was the applause that sounded once they’d stopped dancing. 

Quickly they stumbled apart, smoothing their suits and giving a nervous bow as the gala goers clapped, having watched the whole exchange. 

Grabbing Damian’s hand, he led them through the crowd that had gathered to watch them, ending up in the hallway of the manor. 

Green eyes twinkled at him as he began trying to speak, stuttering out a long drawn confession speech he’d made somewhere around five years ago.

“For the love of- Get over here, Corncob.”

Damian tugged his shirt collar, reaching up on his toes to press his lips against the others.

The flush returned, more prominent than before. 

“I-ah…the feeling is mutual, then?” Jon squeaked, mentally slapping himself for such a stupid response. 

“Quite.” A pink color was dusting the caramel complexion of the shorter boy as well.

Grinning, he bent to place a kiss on the smaller boy’s cheek, taking his hand. “What do you say we get out of here, then?”

“I’d say yes.” 

*********************************************************************

for @super-sons-week-2023

[drowsy-dreamwalker]

Quentin joins the ball, fashionably late but he’s here nonetheless. Unknowing of what to expect he stays out of big crowds and sticks to the sides for now.... but he is open to chatting and loosening up with some help.  [interactions open!] [ @fogs-masquerade-ball​ ]

[vilandel]

Masked Waltz

Summary The other times, it was only a duty he couldn't wait to get over with. But this time, it was one of the best moments in his life...

A/N A little Nozessa special for Valentine's Day I posted today. I love this oneshot and I think it's a good start to post my fanfics here as well^^

Ao3 link

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If Nozel Silva hated something about the yearly Royal Masquerade Ball, it was probably everything. Obligatory for all royals, you really needed to have a heavy sickness excuse, a faraway mission if you were a Magic Knight or some parliaments matters that couldn’t wait if you were a member of parliament. In which case, only Damnatio Kira ever used this excuses, the other royals in parliament weren’t that big on their duty.

Long story short, this Royal Masquerade Ball just made him lose his time when he had more important stuff to do with the squad. But as the Head of house Silva, Nozel had to be present specifically.

It had been the same with his mother, but while Acier had still tried to have fun during the ball, Nozel remembered really well how it wasn’t really always a happy time for her. Mostly because her husband was rarely at her side then. Of course Lac Silva never needed any of the three excuses to not attend this ball, given how made himself so beloved within royalty and nobility.

And when he had been present, he barely had spent time with his wife, preferring to talk and dance with other women, leaving Acier to open the ball with a random noble instead with her husband.

Ah, yes, there was another thing Nozel really hated about this yearly Royal Masquerade Ball. It was a tradition that the three royal heads should open the by dancing a very specific waltz, only for them and their respective partners.

And since king Augustus never ever deemed any lady worthy enough to dance with him and since Achilles Vermillion claimed that he was too old for a waltz – the truth was, none of them could actually properly waltz and prefer to watch him dance, hoping he would make a mistake – so Nozel had to do it alone.

Not that he hated dancing, his mother made sure that not only he could do it, but that he would also enjoying a lot of classic dances, especially the waltz. But the problem were more the noble ladies he had to dance with. Mostly arrogant women, who hide very poorly the fact that they wanted to become the next lady Silva, or insecure ladies, who just repeated what their parents said, in hope to also become the next lady Silva. Plus subtle hints about Noelles reputation and how apparently his marriage with a noble lady, from high nobility at best, would for some reason make things better, with house Silva, with Nebras and Solids future and with Noelles reputation.

Nozel always hated those hints, especially about Noelle, and even more since he came to properly bond with his little sister. So, his own tradition was that after this famous waltz, he bowed politely to his partner and then left them. If he came to dance later on during this ball, it was always with his sisters or with his cousin Mimosa, on occasion with Océane, his Vermillion aunt.

Looking around the immense ballroom, Nozel saw Noelle at the buffet with Mimosa. For the first time, his baby sister seemed to have some fun. He felt his heart filled with pride at that. She also got a new dress, a gift from Nebra, who of course had the best fashion sense in the family. Nozel had been so relieved that his sisters came to bond over the last year. Not to mention that Noelle looked really good in her water-themed mermaid gown, plus the blue and silver mask, that looked coming directly out of the sea.

Noelle must have felt that he was observing her, as she turned around to look at him and gave him a soft, happy smile. So, Nozel smiled back. The first time since the beginning of this masquerade.

Nebra was somewhere else, next to the windows with the balcony, apparently putting some noble ladies back to their places. Despite wearing a pale pink empire dress with bright blue birds, Nebra looked more intimidating than those nobles who had dark red, black or golden gowns.

Solid must be nearby as well, but Nozel couldn’t see his brother anywhere in the ballroom. Hopefully he behaved. And didn’t eat all of the coffee éclairs from the buffet all by himself again.

Nozel sighed. It was just the start of the ball and he already wished that he was somewhere else. The famous opening waltz was coming very soon and he could practically felt the glance of many nobles and some royals on him. It was as if their ambitions and power hunger were touching him, as well as some judgements.

Like it always had been.

Even worse, Prudence Évantail and Athénaïs Vitrail were openly staring at him. Those two noble ladies that were considered somehow the perfect match for him, the perfect ones to be the future lady Silva. It was certain that a lot of the present nobility expected him to dance with one of those two, maybe even announce his engagement or something. Lady Prudence stared at him with without even blinking behind her scarlet and golden mask, matching her dress. Lady Athénaïs was trying to be more subtle, hiding behind her golden fan and trying to look seductive and mysterious with her gold-orange dress and the matching mask. But she was of course failing.

Nozel almost groaned and decided to hide behind one of the giant golden pillars. Wasn’t it possible to avoid this stupid duty for once? He always hated to dance with those women who only saw him as a price or a step towards glory. And since he had a girlfriend, he hated even more to waltz with a woman who wasn’t the one he loved.

Too bad that this ball was only for royals and nobles. If only Magic Knights would have been here as well, officially invited. She would have been here… He couldn’t wait the end of this stupid ball so that they could see each other again.

“Why hiding behind a pillar, handsome?”

Nozel flinched, but relaxed immediately as he recognized the voice. Her voice, teasing and melodious. She was here.

“Vanessa… Why are you here?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to see you. And to be fair, I know that we agreed to meet in your room after this ball. But I guess I’m not that patient and sneaking secretly into this ball to be with you seemed more exciting than drinking my patience away. Besides, I had to, the mere thought of you forced to dance with some stupid bitches… Geez, I couldn’t handle that. So, here I am.”

“Vanessa, I’ve told you already-“

“That it’s your duty and that you don’t like it and that you would have sneaked out on the first occasion to join me, I know. But I also know that it’s not fair you’re the only royal house head doing this. And I also know that you like to waltz. Wouldn’t it be nice to dance with your girlfriend for a change? Beside, this is a masquerade, remember? No one will knew that the mysterious woman you’ll be dancing with is the Drunken Witch of the Black Bulls. The perfect occasion for us to be open while keeping our relationship a secret.”

“It’s not quite of a secret,” Nozel replied. It wasn’t like their relationship was kept secret, at least not anymore. The Black Bulls knew, his siblings, his aunts and cousins, a lot of the most trust-worthy Silver Eagles, Fuegoleon and the Magic Knight captains. But to nobility, it certainly was.

Nozel wasn’t ashamed to love Vanessa, a witch and a Black Bull. On the contrary, it was one of the best things that happened in his life. But he also knew that most of nobility wouldn’t be open-minded about this relationship. And he wanted some peaceful time with Vanessa before facing the rumours that will certainly come.

But… since Vanessa was here and since this was a masquerade ball, wouldn’t it be like the perfect occasion to start going in the open? Step by step, showing to those people that he already had someone and that he wasn’t going to court her like everyone expected of him? Nozel was tired of expectations.

He took a quick look at her. Of course she was beautiful, Nozel didn’t know a woman more breath-taking than Vanessa.

But he didn’t know that dress. A black gown flowing around her, leaving her shoulders free, with purple embroideries and appliqués at the bottom and at the top. Flowers. But not any kind of flowers. It was lavender.

“Do you like it?” Vanessa asked with a grin, while turning around herself, letting the gown flow wonderfully around her. “It is from Soie Velours, apparently the most renown modiste in the kingdom. At least, according to Nebra. She practically dragged me into that fashion shop when she deemed I had no dress good enough for a royal ball.”

“Nebra knows you’re here?”

“Yep, she and Noelle helped me sneak in. I had to convince them a bit first, of course. But once it realized that it would be something good to you, they were more determined than I was. Oh, and I chose lavender, because I love your scent. Have I ever told you how amazing it is that you love lavender?”

“More than once.”

Nozel couldn’t help but smile. It warmed his heart that not only his girlfriend sneaked into an exclusive royal and noble ball so that he would enjoy the upcoming waltz for a change, but also that his sisters helped.

He was grateful to have those three women in his life.

“You look so beautiful,” Nozel whispered, while softly caressing her hair, which was braided in a bun behind her head, but letting her locks falling loosely down her neck and a bit on her shoulders. Her mask was also black, with some lavender decoration on the left. The black colour made her amazing amethyst eyes standing out even more.

“Thank you, you’re really dashing too, honey. So handsome. I love your one shoulder cape. And you really should wear darker colours more often.”

Nozel looked down at his ceremonial suit. It was new, a gift from Nebra, to raise his festive garderobe, as she said. Well, it wasn’t the first time that his sister took it in her hands to make sure he got well-dressed when he must. And according to her, he was easier to clothe, Noelle and Solid apparently had a worse taste in fashion. Was it true or did Nebra overreact? She was often inflexible when it came to fashion.

“Dark purple, almost black, some silver embroideries with the Silva cross, one shoulder cape with the same patterns and some black fur at the top. And beside your usual braid, that purple and silver mask suits you so well. Gosh, I might have the most dashing and handsome boyfriend in Clover.”

“Are you teasing me or are you genuine?”

“Both.”

Nozel expected this answer, so he smiled at her. And Vanessa smiled back.

They could have just looked and smiled at each other for the remaining time, but soft music started to play. The preparation for the waltz.

Vanessas grin was very cheeky. “What do you think, handsome? Shall we start?”

Nozel chuckled softly. It was a nice feeling, that for the first time, this ball and this waltz would a true moment of joy instead of some bothering duty.

But he still wanted to do it right. To ask her properly, because Vanessa deserved to be treated like a true lady.

So, he slightly bowed in front of her and offered his hand. “Would you do me the honour and dance with me?”

“Oh my, that would be lovely, your Highness.”

“Vanessa, you know that you don’t need to call me like that.”

“But you’re one of the only royals who truly deserves that title. And besides, you kinda love it when I call like that in the bedroom.”

Nozel blushed at her words. She was always so bold and while he came to appreciate that side of her, telling things like that in public was something else entirely.

Still, he smiled as he took her hand and lead her towards the dancefloor.

He heard the gasps, whispers that started here and there. He saw how lady Prudence and lady Athénaïs were shocked, as well as practically fuming with rage, which was surprisingly very satisfying. He saw king Augustus and lord Achilles stunned and somehow upset that they didn’t have to push towards a noble lady, forcing him towards a duty they always tried to avoid themselves.

But Nozel also saw happy faces. He saw Noelle with a beaming smile seeing him with Vanessa. He saw Nebra nodding with satisfaction, a glass of lavender syrup in her hand. He saw his cousins and his aunt smiling at him, Fuegoleon giving him an encouraging gesture, Charlotte and William giving him a thumb up.

It was good to have people supporting him. How did he never saw and realized that before?

The preparation music stopped once Nozel and Vanessa were in the middle on the dancefloor. Facing each other, Nozel put his right hand on her waist, while the left one took her hand. She smiled at him, her mask adding some mystery to it, as she put her other hand on his shoulder. They were ready.

The music started.

It felt so natural as they swayed around the dancefloor. It wasn’t like they never waltzed together before, but it had always been in the cocoon of his chambers, after Vanessa asked him one day to teach her all those classical dances, especially the waltz. But it was the first time they dance together at a ball, in public.

It was such a wonderful feeling.

“I like this melody,” Vanessa giggled quietly. “It has a mysterious touch. Rather fitting, since the gorgeous woman in your arms right now is a mystery to all of those nobles. Oh well, I guess masquerade balls have to be mysterious.”

Nozel smiled as he turned her around, before going back to the basic figure. When was the last time he enjoyed to dance during a ball? He couldn’t recall. It never have been like this before. When he danced with his sisters, with his cousin or with his aunt, it was just a family bonding moment. With noble ladies hoping to woo him, it was a dreadful moment at best, agony at worst.

But this right now, waltzing with Vanessa, with his girlfriend? There were no words to describe what happiness he felt in this very moment. Of course, they have danced together before, but without music and only in his bedroom. Vanessa had called it training for her, but Nozel suspected that she was using any possible excuse to be very close to him in any way possible.

“We should dance this more often.”

“What do you mean, handsome? Dancing together? Waltzing in front of many nobles while being masked and giving nobility a gossip bone to nag on? Wearing masks, attending balls or getting excited for another kind of dance in your bedroom?”

“Vanessa!”

“What? Don’t tell me that you don’t like our beddancing all of a sudden.”

“I… I do, of course. But we shouldn’t talk about those things in public.”

“I only whispered, no one could hear us and they’re too shocked or preoccupied finding out who could be that mysterious lady dancing with you to bother about what we’re whispering. And you don’t need to blush, even though I love- woah!”

Nozel overswayed Vanessa, stopping her flirty teasing. Looking over her, he felt quite satisfied as he saw the blush behind her mask and the surprised excitement in her amethyst eyes.

“What was that, Mylady?”

“Oh, my, honey… you should get teasing more often, I love already this new side of you.”

And she was flirty again, smiling at him teasingly as they continued to waltz. Nozel closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying this feeling. It had been so unexpected that he fell in love with Vanessa and that she felt the same as well. They had to accept their feelings for each other and their loved ones had to get used to it. Noelle in particular had been in shock for days before becoming their biggest supporter.

But today… It felt like it was always meant to be. It was not something Nozel had been used to most of his life and he hadn’t believed in it since he lost his mother. But meeting Vanessa and daring new things, out of his comfort zone, proved him wrong.

“Honey, I totally get that you’re hung up in the moment, but I dare to say that you can’t see me with your eyes closed and I rather waltz looking in those mesmerizing irises of yours.2

“Then let me dare this.”

And he lift her up, much to Vanessas delight and certainly to the shock of many people present. He never dared to do any kind of figures before, he just waltzed because it was his duty and left it that way.

But with her, Nozel became more daring. A new side of him that he still needed to get used to, but he grew to appreciate the feeling from time to time.

Nobility was still gossiping and wondering who the masked lady in black dancing with the captain of the Silver Eagles was. Rumours might start to go wild and any other hoping to become his future wife might get anxious, especially lady Prudence and lady Athénaïs.

But Nozel didn’t care anymore. Not with Vanessa in his arms. Not during this moment of pure happiness and promises. After years of silent suffering, he would be a fool to not hold to this joy.

The music continued, they swayed across the dancefloor. Nozel and Vanessa felt like being in their own world. Behind their masks, it was the case.

[cursed-elo-images]

ELO AUTOCORRECT SENTENCES:

Jeff Lynne was the first person that came out of the game to win a championship in the first year. (not that weird but okay)

Bev Bevan was a great actor for the movie and he has done many great things in his life. (Wholesome I guess? Still pretty normal even if it’s historically inaccurate to the real Bev as he was a drummer, not an actor)

Kelly Groucutt is the only person that can make me believe that the world has changed since I started watching football. (Wh-??? Okay now we’re getting into the weird stuff)

Richard Tandy has a lot of potential but he doesn’t seem like a good fit for this position and I think he is going down with the team in the future. (Now that’s just mean…)

Mik Kaminski as a young man who was a member of the New York Band in Chicago who played the guitar and the piano in the background for the band and then the band played in a concert with the band’s first album. (Uhhh… good for him?)

Hugh McDowell has been on my radar since he got his first job in college and I think he’s going to make the most money in his life. (Ooo, drama~)

Melvyn Gale was the only person that I knew who could get me to go to the gym with a mask and I got to be in my room with my friends. (Wow. Going to a masquerade ball with Melvyn Gale at the gym. How beautiful is that?)

[gctchell]

So far for the 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖉𝖊, it appears that ..

𝒩𝒾𝒻𝒻𝓉𝓎 is going with @wonderful-balan's D'Zuko, her best friend who she will absolutely not be chaotic with.

𝕷𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖍 is going with @damnedrainbows's Lucifer (once he recovers from falling from a tree, bc ouch).

𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓪 is going with @arachnaemboss, because of course.

Since there can be multiple escorts, feel free to ask 'em if you're interested. :] I will be pinging you and invading your ask box throughout the Event tho, so be warned lol.

[qveenofgluttony]

She was a bit disappointed that there were not more guests coming up to the stage to show off their musical talents. Regardless, Beelzebub enjoyed Flora's performance. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if someone else went up there maybe more would follow.

Her lips curled into a smile and she started making her way towards the stage. Beelza looked surprised to see her mother walking onto the stage though she quickly tried to hide it so as not to give her identity away.

Yes, she knew she was taking a huge risk at being found out by coming up here but she found she just could not wait until later that evening to sing for her guests. As far as they were concerned a mysterious, yet oddly familiar succubus had come to participate in the Open Mic.

She looked towards the guests and began to sing.

"In the land of Gods and Monsters I was an angel living in the garden of evil Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed Shining like a fiery beacon"

Her low and honeyed voice surely carried over the background chatter of the guest's voice. Enough to turn a few heads at least.

"You got that medicine I need Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly Put your hands on my waist, do it softly Me and God, we don't get along So now I sing"

She moved as she sang. Soft, smooth, sensual movements.

"No one's gonna take my soul away I'm living like Jim Morrison Headed towards a fucked up holiday Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singing "Fuck yeah, give it to me" "This is Heaven, what I truly want" It's innocence lost Innocence lost..."

She finished her song with a playful little curtsy and sauntered off stage. This was just a little warmup. Her true performance would be much more extravagant.

[sezja]

I miss writing :c

[insidious-journalist]

Your boyfriend.... did a fucking blood eagle on a Jake and there is another Jake with a knife. Do you have like a leash to control him?

It's kinda amusing, how everyone just assumes that they're together like that. He can't blame them, really. On a surface level it seems obvious. Myers doesn't hurt Danny and keeps him safe, also acting as retribution towards anyone who does manage to harm him. And Danny in turn dotes on Michael in an affectionate way they both enjoy, really hammering home the surface level boyfriend assumption. But it's both more than that and not that at all. It's... Different.

But it's easier to just not explain and keep that can of worms shut.

"He's not a wild animal, you prick." Danny sips champagne from a glass as he eyes the garden, namely the bloody smear on the ground where he assumes a Jake has been mangled by Myers himself. It brings an amused smile to his face. "I don't control him. Nobody does. He does his own damn thing, and if he saw fit to do that then that's his business. Myers was even nice enough to take it to the gardens."

It irked him how people manipulated the already wrong assumption that they were in some sort of official relationship and further twisted it into the perspective that Danny was some sort of beast tamer. That he could use and control Myers at will, like he was a dog. No. If anything, Michael was more like... A cat. A big cat who did his own thing who stayed near Danny out of personal interest, rather than obedience or coaxing. Danny never liked calling himself the owner of anything, anyways. Even his own cats were allowed to leave as they pleased. "Take it up with the man himself if you got complaints. He's a great listener."

[labcampkill]

OMG! Giraffe Dwight is so cute! I love that idea. And Leslie in that Anubis with that suit.. That's kind of hot!

OOC MUN: I am glad that you like it... I am excited to have the boys go to the ball. I am especially excited to give Leslie a proper debut. He's definitely going to be interacting a lot if I have anything to say abou it.

[ophelialoveshandsomemen]

Say what you will about Van Helsing 2004; hate it, love it, be indifferent, But the All-Hallow's masquerade ball went sooooo hard and it had zero right to do so! It's a fun, campy, monster mash movie with wonderfully dated ( and expensive) cgi and non-stop action meant to be a popcorn flick one takes out to watch around spooky season. And it has this* chef's kiss* GORGEOUS 6 minute sequence plopped arbitrarily in the second act, which unexpectedly surpasses nearly every other ball in the last 30+ years of film( notable exception being the Cinderella 2015 ball) for literally no reason other than to be dramatic af.

Like feast your eyes on this Gothic masterpiece!!! Who doesn't want to immediately live in this picture?!??

They used those candles with oil in them so that they would have real candles, real string orchestra( I believe), probably around 100 real life extras( something which is tragically absent in modern film), said extras are all in beautiful fully decked-out costumes( which are in luxuriously dark colours, but nearly no fully black, another thing you cannot say for much modern cinema), REAL CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMERS for all the acrobatics!!!! Hell, instead of filming in a sound stage, where they could control the reverb and the acoustics and the size of the set and the bloody lighting ( they apparently had a heck of a time emulating the firelight for this sequence) and the temperature( it's very cold in stone churches!) better, they filmed in a Baroque church in Prague! As I said, peak dramatic splendour, jfc...

Think about that a second...They filmed a vampire masquerade in a Baroque Catholic Church( St. Nicholas' in Lesser Town, if you were curious) with amazing over-the-top acoustics and marble statues and real, tiled floors and marble pillars and a choir loft which they very much utilized, covered the pipe organ and the altar with a grand brocade curtain so it wouldn't be so obviously a, you know, a church! And there's a gold gilt elevated and canopied pulpit into which they put two vampire kiddies for, again, the sake of being dramatic.

And the costumes! They remind me of the 25th anniversary Phantom of the Opera Masquerade costumes. Same quality, like they're old, well-cared-for costumes pulled out of a warehouse, instead of fast industry churn-outs. With lots of trim and colour and masks and lace and feathers and..just...ugh.. they are all perfect! Just look at all the head pieces on the ladies and the hats on all the gentleman ( save Dracula of course) and the powdered wigs on the musicians. ANNNNDD! The dresses are historically correct!!!!!! It's the 80's bustle era! Nobody does the 80's bustle era in film anymore and it's a bummer. Oh and one other thing! Anna's ( and other women's) hair, at least here in the ball, is also historically accurate because it's all pinned up! None of those fucken modern beachwaves at a ball! Everybody's got updo's!

Gah, I swear, Dracula in his gold cloak really does things to me in this scene!

By the way, the acrobatics are bonkers in here for just background stuff!! Especially the random guys on unicycles and the dude playing the violin whilst standing on a ball...Like....WHAT?

Anyways, all this to say, that this masquerade ball feels sooo real and tangible and because of that it blows every other film out of the water, and no, I will not change my mind!!!!!

Here's a few more gifs, bcuz, why the hell not, this scene is sexy as fuu*ck?

Alright I need to go to bed now.

[sarahisslytherin]

•❣•୨୧ 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 ୨୧•❣•

benedict bridgerton x princess!reader

summary: benedict has always been against marriage, but when he meets the princess one fateful night he can't help but fall in love.

contains: fluff and a lot of flirty banter.

a/n: another series cos it was just too much for a oneshot! this was so fun to write i just adore him. to the anon who requested this, i hope you love it and all its upcoming parts!

word count: 1.2k

You feel a heavy gaze on you as you glide across the ballroom. The chandelier above you twinkles with a warm glow, the light catching in your hair as you’re spun around by this suitor and that. The king has tired of begging you to select one for yourself and has threatened on more than one occasion to marry you off to the next prince to set foot in the palace. You know he doesn’t mean it, but you also know it is your duty to carry on the royal bloodline. Your father is right. You must choose. But certainly not this young man dancing with you. No, he’s far too boring. Not unsightly by any means, but he doesn’t make your stomach flip, doesn’t make you giggle as if possessed by an unearthly amount of joy. Still, you feel the eyes of another on you.

Benedict Bridgerton has long been a firm believer of marrying only when absolutely, undeniably in mad love. He hasn’t found that, not yet. That is why when his sisters begged him to accompany them to the royal ball he only agreed under the condition that they leave him free to speak to all the lovely women attending. Perhaps he might be able to take one home tonight and part ways come morning. That had been his original plan, anyway, which lay discarded from this very moment on; the moment he laid eyes on you.

Your current dance partner bows before you as the song comes to a close. He gives you a playful smirk before leaving you, and you resist the urge to laugh. You sigh, exhausted. You’ve got half a mind to find your father, tell him you’re not feeling well and retire to your bedroom for the remainder of the night. You’re grasping at the ruffles of your gown to turn and leave when he appears before you. He has a boyish grin fit to make the most reserved of women melt, and his ocean eyes glimmer like moonlight on waves. “May I have this dance, Your Highness?” You couldn’t say no if you tried.

It’s a different ballroom tonight, but you feel yourself searching faces in the crowd, hoping you might catch a glimpse of that handsome stranger you danced with only a fortnight ago. It was no simple feat escaping the palace. You struggled to squeeze into your gown on your own, but couldn’t risk any of your ladies in waiting knowing about your little disappearing act. You slipped on a cloak and placed a mask over your face. You followed an emergency tunnel beneath the palace grounds until you finally found yourself beneath the pale glow of moonlight. You knew it was mad, but you simply had to see him. He consumed your dreams, and when you were awake, your daydreams. He had been whisked away too soon by his family. You couldn’t even get his name, only his surname: Bridgerton. They have always been a respected household, and at tonight’s masquerade ball you can only hope to encounter them.

Music fills the halls of the Featheringtons’ estate, but the plucking of strings and sweet melody of the violins does little to soothe your nerves. You resolve to distract yourself from your anxious mind and seek out a dance partner. They’re playing a lively song, one that makes you laugh giddily as you hop to the rhythm. You’re so overjoyed, you almost forget all about that Bridgerton lad and his blasted piercing blue eyes. That is, of course, until you step aside to catch your breath and are met with them for the very first time since the night of the royal ball. 

“So we meet again, Princess.” he teases, and your eyes go wide. 

“How did you recognize me?” you ask, your voice barely a whisper.

“The same way you recognized me, of course.” he smirks, almost as if he weren’t speaking with royalty. “I would know those sweet eyes anywhere.”

“You’ve got quite the silver tongue, haven’t you, sir?” you smile, your cheeks taking on a faint blush as you fan yourself coyly.

“So I’ve been told.” he replies cockily. He gets closer to you; simultaneously too close for comfort yet not close enough. You’re not sure what to make of this man who makes your heart pound in your chest like no other has ever done before. This man whose name you do not even know.

“Tell me,” you demand in the tone you have grown accustomed to using to get what you want, “what is your name?”

“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.” he giggles like a mischievous schoolboy, and you’d be lying if you said you don’t find it endearing. 

“You know mine.” you retort. “The entire kingdom knows it.”

He feigns shock, clutching his heart and letting his jaw drop. “Why, aren’t we full of ourselves?” You laugh, your eyes crinkling behind your lace mask. 

“I know one of us certainly is.” you tease him back, and he loves every second of it.

“Princess?” he asks, but is quickly hushed by you.

“Lower your voice, do you wish for the entire ballroom to know of my presence here?” you urge him.

“Forgive me, Pri-” he begins once again, but you give him a playful shove your father would have undoubtedly reprimanded you for, seeing as it isn’t very ladylike. “Forgive me, my lady.”

“Much better.” you smirk, satisfied with yourself. “You are forgiven, my lord.”

“Now you tell me.” he says. “What is a lady like yourself doing at a ball like this? Surely you’ve been to better ones.”

You’re suddenly thankful for the white mask hiding your bashful expression from him. “You’re right, I have. But, you see, I was hoping to run into someone.”

He replies with a playful, “Oh?”. You can tell he is clearly intrigued by the information you’ve provided him. “What a coincidence. I was hoping for the same, though I must admit, never in my wildest dreams did I think my hopes would come true.”

“Well”, you go on, “I dare say they have.”

Suddenly, his eyes change and all playfulness is replaced with earnestness and solemnity. He lowers his voice down to a baritone only you can hear. “Princess, you truly must know you have haunted the chambers of my mind since the moment I laid eyes upon you. I may not be royalty, but I have other virtues you will discover if you only allow me. I can love you like no suitor or prince has done so before. Say the word, my lady, and I am yours.”

You’re a bit taken aback by his sudden outburst, but you can tell by his eyes, those gentle eyes, that he means every word he utters. And his words couldn’t have described your own feelings any better. “You’re quite the poet.” you grin. “But how can you be mine if I don’t even know your name?”

He laughs once again, and the tension is lifted. “Benedict Bridgerton, my lady.”

You extend your hand to him and his lips ghost your knuckles. “A pleasure to meet you, Mister Bridgerton.” 

“The pleasure is all mine.” Benedict beams, rising once again. “and I’m hoping the next dance will be, as well?”

“Of course.” you nod, a glint in your eye only Benedict can catch. “I’m all yours.”

tagging: @velvetcloxds @oweninadaydream @holdthegirrrl @enchantedbytomandhenry @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @dd122004dd @marvelspogue

[ohisms]

↪     𝑺𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 , updated .     (  a  collection  of  various  settings  meant  to  inspire  drabbles  or  be  used  as  prompts .   )

001.   the seaside ,  as the sun is setting .

002.   a cabin in the middle of the woods .

003.   a picket-fenced home in the suburbs .

004.   a dark bus stop lit only by street lights .

005.   a private jet miles high in the sky .

006.   a funhouse’s room of mirrors .

007.   an office building ,  bustling and busy .

008.   the back row of an empty movie theater .

009.   a run - down motel room .

010.   a loud house party on a suburban street .

011.   a university lecture hall during a class .

012.   the rooftop of a very tall building .

013.   a great ballroom during an elegant party .

014.   the back of a wailing ambulance .

015.   the wine cellar of a large mansion .

016.   behind the school’s gymnasium .

017.   a boisterous bonfire at the lakeside .

018.   an otherwise empty parking lot .

019.   the shady bar of a noisy , dark club .

020.  the grounds of an empty summer camp .

021.   a large hedge maze ,  easy to get lost in .

022.   a neglected or derelict treehouse .

023.   a spacious ,  light-filled meadow .

024.   an underground illegal fighting club .

025.   an abandoned scrapyard .

026.   a large penthouse overlooking the city .

027.    an apple orchard in the middle of spring .

028.   an empty playground with squeaky swings .

029.   an extravagant greenhouse .

030.   the base of a large waterfall .

031.    a spacious walk - in closet full of lovely clothes .

032.   a solemnly quiet hospital room .

033.   the dark depths of an abandoned mine .

034.   the deck of a fishing boat at night .

035.   the thick crowd of an audience at a show .

036.   a long ,  winding road .

037.   the scene of a violent crime .

038.   a fork in a hiking trail deep in the wilderness .

039.   a cramped dressing room .

040.   a dusty antiques shop full of relics .

041.   the street of an unfamiliar city at night .

042.   between the tall shelves of a thrifted book shop .

043.   a building abandoned during construction .

044.   a house without power or running water .

045.   a mysterious trail found in the woods .

046.   the back of a taxi stuck in traffic .

047.    the inside of an elevator that won’t move .

048.   fairgrounds during a large event  (or after hours) .

049.   a garden bountiful with flowers or produce .

050.   a childhood home or bedroom .

+   30  more  setting  prompts :    1 / 3 / 2024

051. the site of a horrible accident .

052. a closed pool , after everyone has left .

053. a home holding horrific memories .

054. by the side of a dangerously quick river .

055. a private hotel room .

056. a police station in the middle of the night .

057. a ferris wheel carriage under a sky of fireworks .

058. a lavish , invite - only party .

059. a public transit stop as rain is pouring down .

060. the back of a taxi going in the wrong direction .

061. the underworld .

062. a dusty , forgotten attic .

063. on the set of a television show or movie .

064. a lighthouse overlooking the raging sea .

065. in a post - apocalyptic bunker .

066. on a ship hundreds of miles from the nearest coast .

067. on the rooftop of a perilously tall building .

068. a tent pitched in the middle of the woods .

069. a crowded stadium during a football game .

070. the morgue during an identification .

071. an otherwise empty library during a late study session .

072. a place that feels familiar , yet you've never been here before .

073. a long hallway that seems to stretch on forever .

074. a signpost at the start of a hiking trail .

075. a bar or tavern bustling with life .

076. the dance floor of a masquerade ball .

077. inside of a car parked in a secluded area .

078. at the edge of a cliff overlooking a large lake .

079. inside a very old house with very old haunts .

080. the antiseptic interior of a space station .

[girlkisser13]

being married to bruce wayne would include

• galas, charities, balls, etc. become more a part of your life than you probably ever wanted them to be.

• once you two officially become a couple, you become gotham’s "it" couple. whether you want to or not.

• in the press, the two of you are often depicted as gotham royalty.

• even before the two of you start dating, you swear you feel someone's presence at night whenever you walk home from work.

• it wasn't until a mugger attempted to steal your purse that you finally learned where that feeling of being watched had been coming from.

• when the dark knight told you to be mindful of your surroundings and to hurry home before swooping away into the night, you could only nod with widened eyes.

• you didn’t say anything until you got home, to be honest, you geeking out: it’s not every day that someone gets to meet "the batman".

• you gleefully call your boyfriend about it. he doesn’t answer it until later, but you can hear a smirk in his voice as he responds to you fangirling.

• eventually, you find out about his identity on accident.

• as expected, you’re a little upset. someone you were romantically involved with was masquerading around town dressed like every night was halloween, getting into dangerous situations.

• after the two of you talk about it, you begin to understand why he does it and while you may not necessarily agree with some of his more controversial methods, you can’t help but feel a sense of pride that he’s putting everything at risk just to make sure what happened to him doesn’t happen to anyone else.

• alfred always reports to you first whenever something happens to bruce, knowing how much he truly means to you.

• you’re the one he listens to the most (even more than alfred) when it comes to what he should be doing whether it be a complicated mission or something as simple as eating a much needed meal.

• most of the time you would find yourself waiting at a restaurant for an hour before he would text you that he can’t make it because he’s being held up.

• when he does show up, he’s late, he looks like a mess, and he greets you with a lop-sided smile and half-lidded eyes. and you melt because you remember that he did choose you and you do love him.

• bruce’s absence is always outweighed by his affection. he loves touching you even if it’s just your shoulders or your fingers or your elbows. he always finds a way to be close to you when you’re together.

• he’s always trying to make up for the lost time with you by getting you expensive gifts and trips, only for you to reassure him that he doesn’t need to do all this.

• you’re always able to tell when he’s had a particularly rough night. his usual silence feels different; heavier.

• he becomes a lot more handsy with you, more affectionate. as if you’re the last flower in a prized garden and he never noticed until now.

• if you’re asleep by the time he gets back, you may get woken up by him caressing your cheek, rubbing a thumb over your hand, or him putting his big arms around you to pull you in close.

• one of your favorite things though is definitely seeing the family. most of the time you see alfred and always try to tease recipes out of him which expertly deflects.

• whenever the bat kids are at the manor, he invites you because they love you and he knows you love them too.

• dick constantly flirts with you and teases you and bruce. you love to play along with him because it makes bruce very uncomfortable.

• he finally proposes to you after three years of the kids telling him to do so. you obviously say yes.

• the two of you decide to have a small, private ceremony at the manor. friends and family only.

• bruce 100% cries as soon as he sees you walk down the aisle in your wedding dress.

• alfred volunteers to be the wedding planner, because he always knew that you would be the future mrs. wayne. <33

[cheesus-doodles]

Letters

Yandere Rollo

Masterlist | TWST Masterlist

‎

i like my repressed christian boys a lot if yall can't tell ;-;, couldn't pass up on this....tr will be back on schedule next!

Rollo Flamme never imagined himself as simply ordinary. He had always been destined to be extraordinary, committed and focused, willing to put in the work to achieve perfection. Yes, there was no doubt that there were ways to go to meet his goals, seeing as his fire lily plan went up in flames on first contact with that wretched Malleus Draconia and his Night Raven buddies despite his months of meticulous planning and careful scheming.

Yet here he was, walking at a speed Rollo hoped didn’t divulge how fast his heart was pounding away, your letter carefully tucked away deep within his robes, pressed right up against his chest. Green eyes concentrated on nothing but his next step, his poker-face and overall reputation as the Student Council President a god-sent for keeping unwanted attention away as he cut a path through the school towards his room, hands clasped in front of him as they always were. 

Outside the gates of Noble Bell College, Fleur City was as lively as ever, the hustle and bustle of a city coming back to life under the gentle evening sun echoed throughout the conversely silent campus as people enjoyed busking in the remaining sunlight after a long day of work. It was an exceptionally cool day too, the white-haired boy noted to himself, the breeze sweeping down the hallways and bursting forth into the open air strong enough to lift the ends of his robes.

A respectful mumble of “Rollo-kaicho” rose from the scatter of students milling around as he walked past, though nothing that a returned nod of acknowledgement couldn’t settle.

The peacefulness that blanketed the stately campus as the sun sank further and further down the horizon reminded him much of the night of the Young Mage’s Social ball, and more so, you. Rollo could recall that particular evening with perfect clarity, the sights and sounds replaying again in his head as the purple-clad mage made his way indoors, the old wooden door swinging shut behind him with nay a creak, shutting out both the wind and the sounds of the city.

‎

His own footsteps were the only sound ringing across otherwise empty corridors as the boy turned the situation he had found himself unexpectedly stuck in over and over again in his mind. It had never been his intention to fall over his own set trap, yet how was it he did so anyway despite all his wariness and discipline?

This had all begun as a plot for revenge right after he had been bested, by villains no less. It would be hard for Rollo to even admit that he had come to terms with the beating he received several months ago, let alone the night after it happened, and his next plot had already begun to hatch the moment you swept into view dressed in your masquerade costume, accompanied by none other than Malleus himself. From everything he witnessed, it was clear that the Draconia housewarden cared greatly for you, and dare he guess, maybe even had some unexpressed feelings for you. 

Not that he hadn’t noticed you before that night, but it was certainly the first time that he had come to realize just how central a place you held among the Night Raven College students, and how crucial a card you would be in his next plan to wipe that smug smirk off of that wretched fae prince’s face.

The night of the Young Mages’ Social ball had been surprisingly ordinary, given what had just happened. He had been exhausted and dead on his feet, even if he showed no sign of it outwardly; the orderliness of the hall that he painstakingly cleaned after the last fire lotus had withered was a welcomed sight. Alas there was no time for sleep, not that it would matter given his already heavy eyebags. But despite his state, you had instantly caught his eye at the start of the ball, quietly huddled towards the back of the Night Raven group, trying your best to look anywhere but at him or at the rest of the crowd as you and your friends were singled out as the saviors of Fleur City. And it was obvious that you were feeling even more out-of-place as the dance began in earnest, though whether it was from the crowds or just general awkwardness, Rollo could not say.

Taking his leave from the merrymaking, the white-haired Council President could find no surprise within him when he found you sitting alone later outside of the hall, enjoying the peace and quiet that had fallen over the city with the arrival of night, looking up at the blanket of stars, a glass of what looked like juice in your hand.

“May I join you?”

You had jumped at his words, though you did settle quickly upon realizing it was just him for reasons unbeknownst to Rollo. “By all means,” you replied, waving him down to join you. After all, he did just try to essentially kill your friends and all mages in general. Perhaps you knew something he didn’t, the purple-clad student mused to himself, subtly watching you from the corner of his pale green eyes. Or perhaps you were just presumptuous, given you hadn’t been affected as badly as the rest.

The dark sky was clear of clouds, the dark of space dotted with twinkles as far as the eye could see, the moon hanging alone amidst the barren sky; an alluring sight for weary souls - and judging from how discreetly you had excused yourself from the social, you definitely were tired. 

A pause as Rollo took a seat a respectful distance from you. “Too much?”

You nodded. “Too much.”

Whatever it was, you seemingly held no ill will towards Rollo, simply accepting his quiet company. And so the two of you sat in comfortable silence as the young mages danced and laughed the night away just a stone’s throw away. The minutes melted into hours as the world continued to turn, though the calmness of the reality around him was a far cry from the turmoil of thoughts within his head. 

When the night started to grow old and the cacophony of noises began to die down, it was as if an unheard bell had gone off, and you reluctantly stood, empty glass now in hand - your friends were bound to come looking for you should they notice you were missing. And with you leaving soon and that night being the last one you were spending at Noble Bell College, it was finally time to launch the first phase of his plan.

”I would like to write to you,” Rollo started, immediately cringing internally as the words left his lips, but there was no going back now. “If it is alright with you.”

He held his breath as you considered his request, your head cocking to the side as you contemplated. “Sure, why not?” You shrugged, shooting him a light smile, your hair gleaming in the waning moonlight. “Goodnight, Rollo.”

Exhale. And that was that.

‎

But now here he was, Rollo mused, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to read your letter alone. Has his plan gone astray? He shook his head, attempting to clear his thoughts of you, just till he could be alone. For all his routine and self-discipline, you were the one temptation he couldn’t seem to get squash down.

Coming to a pause at the fork in the hallway, the Noble Bell Council President paused. The last thing he wanted was to be interrupted tonight in the midst of his much-needed analysis of your letter, so against the burning desires of his heart and the weight of your letter heavy in his robes, he forced himself to take a detour, his feet carrying him down sparse corridors towards the councilrooms. It was easy to spot his Vice President still hard at work amidst the otherwise empty room, scouring through a stack of papers at his desk, head down and pen scribbling away.

A quiet clearing of his throat was enough to get the attention of the occupant inside. “Rollo-kaicho!” Said student rocketed up from his seat, hurriedly adjusting his slipping striped cap. “What brings you here at this time of day?”

“I wanted to check in before I retired for the day,” replied the white-haired boy, giving a courteous glance to the rest of the unoccupied desks before returning his gaze to the other. “Is there anything I should know about?”

The Noble Bell Vice President stuttered for a moment, lost for words and wrecking his tired brain in an attempt to find what to say. “I-uh-“

Pulling out his celestial-patterned handkerchief, his movement just barely managed to cover the disgusted look that fell over his expression, eyes narrowing and eyebrows furrowing as the stench of magic overwhelmed his senses, though Rollo still managed to keep his tone neutral. Even if he was the one to initiate contact, that hardly made a difference with his nausea. “It’s fine,” the magic-adverse mage managed to grit out without a hint of distaste, his tone as neutral as it always has been. “Please have the points ready for me tomorrow morning.”

“Of course, Rollo-kaicho. I apologize again.”

‎

Finally being able to lock his room door behind him brought a relief much like cold water over hot iron, ending the depraved pulsing in his mind that the mere presence of the envelope in his robes against his chest brought on with every passing second. Tossing the heinous paper carelessly onto his well-worn table top, Rollo instead hurriedly picked it back up again, pale green eyes scanning for any further damage he had caused, though fortunately there was none to be found.

Letting out a sigh of relief, the white-haired boy settled into his chair. Now, to satisfy both his curiosity and anticipation.

Trembling fingers carefully peeled open the envelope, revealing a slightly yellowed, unevenly folded paper much to Rollo’s chagrin - he would have much preferred if you used a perfect white piece of paper, quality stationery instead of this random piece you must have had left over from your homework, and if you had folded it the same way he did all this time. But he supposed he couldn’t expect that high a standard from you, given the riff-raff of mages you found yourself in the company of. As he gently freed your letter from its paper enclosure, his sensitive nose caught a whiff of a familiar scent, the smell probably having lingered on from when you first mailed it out.

The light fragrance of your favorite shampoo, Rollo deduced, bringing the paper up to his nose. He recognized it, no matter how faint it was. You must have just finished showering when you wrote and sealed the letter if the aroma still endured. A breath of fresh air amidst the rank odor of magic and mages.

And then he began to read.

Dear Rollo, the letter began as it always did, those two words enough to have his heart skip a beat like nothing else could. But this time, the next few that followed were even better. Your letter came late, and it was sorely missed.

Line by line, you spelled out your daily ongoings, your interactions with your fellow schoolmates, your inner thoughts. Rambling about anything and everything that came to mind, thoughts spilling out without filter straight onto paper. About how Grimm (that filthy magic cat) nearly failed his test again and about how Deuce and Ace got into their latest spat of trouble with their housewarden Riddle. About how Jack and Epel were like to work with on your history project, and how you felt about one of your lunches being stolen by Leona.

Just like that, the minutes slipped through his finger, and with a pang in his heart, Rollo came to the end of your letter.

He placed the paper down on the paper, taking a breath.

How was it that he could feel so attached to another person through a simple piece of paper? How did you ensnare him so effortlessly, bypassing his hard-fought discipline as if it didn’t exist? Did all this mean that his revenge plot against Malleus had already gone awry?

‎

The night was cool and quiet, the moonlight that shone through his stained glass windows bringing the Noble Bell Council President back to that fateful night. A light gust of wind seeped in through a small crack, creaking the old wooden panels in the floor as it blew through his room. 

Your writing had improved, Rollo noted, as per his guidance in his previous letter. You were using a ruler to ensure straight lines, and your handwriting had neaten greatly; a far cry from your first reply to him, the memory of those scrawling letters that ran up and done and every-which way except straight across the paper still causing shivers to run down his spine. That was bad.

Carefully and painstakingly refolding the paper, Rollo stood, returning it to its envelope before moving to stow the letter within his secret compartment above the fireplace, with previous letters neatly arranged upright according to date received. His fingers lightly brushed past all your correspondence with him, his chest fluttering at your willingness to speak with him, his mind already churning with how and what he should reply to you. Would you be interested in perhaps coming back to Noble Bell? Maybe he should visit Night Raven College? Even if that blasted Draconia was there, it would be worth it just to have some private, personal time with you, the white-haired mage calculated, his hand tapping an unknown rhythm across his desk that he now leaned against.

‎

There was no point in denying his obsession with you, not at this point - it had been awhile since you started to occupy his every waking moment and thoughts, and being as organized and detailed as Rollo was, he could pinpoint the exact moment when he began to spiral. Sure, his first letter had been full of nothings, meaningless pleasantries and stories that he polished to perfection over the course of a night of restlessness. But what he got back was your heart on your sleeve, your mind like an open book for him to pick apart and examine.

As things turned out, the more he picked, the more he found. Questions he sent always came back answered, with you evidently letting slip more than you intended to originally say, sometimes directly and sometimes when he read between the lines. 

A single line in your third reply to him was all it took to begin his unending slide. 

You were from a different world.

The more he sat on it, turning it around and round in his mind, the more his chest grew warm, and you began his center of focus. Even the mere passing pondering of what you were doing now was enough to grip Rollo’s entire being, to have his heart rate increase and his thoughts to jumble. After all, in this foul, tainted world, there could be no purer person than someone who came from a place where no magic exists.

You were perfection embodied. 

In a twist of fate, you turned out to be pure, a shining beacon amidst the foul-smelling heathens. A gift from the heavens, a blessings from the divine meant for none other than him, that no one could properly appreciate except for him. Sure you weren’t the most orderly, and you did have your moments where you were occasionally wowed by magic, especially the inhuman feats from that wretched Malleus Draconia, but you remained untainted despite your constant proximity to the taint of magic that surrounded and cloaked you as if a heavy fog. Never indicated anything more than a passing interest in the magic that your companions wielded and an admiration that Rollo was sure he could rid you off. All you needed was time away from those mages, spent instead in his company.

‎

Stepping away from his desk and moving now towards his personal bathroom, Rollo came to the answer he had been looking for as the boy moved to undress himself for a nighttime shower. It had been in front of him all this time.

The answer was no. 

No, he hadn’t forsaken his plan to wield you against Malleus; sure the exact details had changed as the months went by, but everything he did was as he had schemed. Just that now, you didn’t have to be a means to an end, you didn’t need to be just another casualty wrecked up amidst his crusade against the villains. Stealing you away from the fae prince would be one of the largest blows he could deal with to that condescending prick, the beginning of his downfall - the excitement tingling at Rollo’s arms as he imagined the crestfallen expression that would twist Draconia’s face, the streak-free bathroom mirror reflecting the pale green eyes that lighted up in callous pleasure.

It would be glorious.

But for now, Rollo determined, schooling his face back into its usual neutral look as he turned to step into the shower room, what he needed to concentrate on was his next letter to you.