#three strand pearl bracelet | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

glitterforashes · 1 year ago

Text

𝐛𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 ; 𝐚𝐳𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

>> fluff, revenge fic, healing, self-empowerment, woman empowerment, women, just women, i love women, regaining self confidence. when i tell ya’ll that i squealed when i got this idea, i SQUEALED. originally this was just gonna be like an az x reader fight fic, but this is much better. the ending kinda sucks so excuse that!!! hope you enjoy<3

“you look.. beautiful.” azriel said, watching as you descended the winding staircase in one of rhys’ many estates, holding up your skirts gingerly. your face shone brighter than stars in the sky as you stepped softly onto the landing pad of the stairs, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “promise..?” your soft voice was hardly above a whisper compared to the sound of wind raging outside, slamming against the walls and scratching at the windows. “always.” azriel extended his hand to you. you took it.

tonight was the annual gala held for the courts. every year a high lord would host the gathering in their court, and every other lord was free to attend and invite whoever they pleased. it was the night courts turn to host, right around the time of solstice— which meant you and your lover had spent very little time together in the last few weeks. very, very little time. rhysand had been running around like a chicken with his head cut off for days, planning an entire months worth of festivities, and of course azriel was one to help with that.

you had offered to help, but were turned down. “just stay here and look pretty.” cassian had said. the scowl you gifted him in return was angry enough to keep the room warm for several days. needless to say, you spent the first week pouting in your room. but now the time had come to celebrate and flaunt all the things your high lord had accomplished in the short time he had owned such a title. you wore a dark crimson dress, dangly pearl earrings, and multiple dainty white bracelets. your dress dipped generously between your breasts, stopping above your belly button, the back was open— putting your spine tattoo on display. the fabric was long, pooling around your ankles and dragging a bit on the floor in the back. azriel wore a black suit with a crimson undershirt and had little pearls keeping the cuffs of his sleeves in place.

azriel’s thumb rubbed the back of your hand in slow circles as he gazed down at you. you watched every thought he had run across his eyes like a film before he shook himself out of whatever stupor he was in. “are you ready?” he whispered, giving your hand a little squeeze. “as i’ll ever be.”

azriel brought your hand to his mouth and placed three gentle kisses across your knuckles, slowly, letting you feel the warmth and love behind each one. you felt tears well up in your eyes, which you quickly blinked away. “don’t make me cry my mascara off.” you mumbled, and az chuckled. he gripped your hand in his and placed his free hand on your lower back, urging you closer to him. you closed your eyes, felt the whip of wind and cold and calm swipe across your face before you were surrounded by flitting chatter and clinking of glasses and slow, soft music.

the gala. az had winnowed you both there, to that ballroom under the mountain, right at the foot of the thrones. you looked up to rhysand and feyre, giving a little curtsy and curt bow of your head. they nodded in acknowledgement before cassian clinked a fork to his champagne glass, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. the music slowed to a stop as you met the eyes of nearly three hundred people. you just knew helion had invited way more than he was meant to. azriel sensed your nerves and squeezed your hand subtly, giving you a glance out of the corner of his eye. “ladies and gentleman, high lord and high lady of the night court.”

rhysand and feyre rose from their thrones, both adorned in black fabrics and crowns. you felt your heart swell with adoration, fighting to keep a toothy smile from breaking out on your face. everyone in the room bowed down as you squeezed azriel’s hand back. some further than others. “shadowsinger of the night court.” cassian announced. azriel stepped forward and stood on rhysand’s left, gazing out at the crowd with a blank, intimidating expression. you felt a warmth spread through your lower stomach, a warmth you were quick to stifle. you couldn’t even fathom how embarrassing it would be if the scent of your arousal filled the room. surrounded by his shadows, he stood there, looking so tough and so.. beautiful. like an angel of death.

“court overseer, of the night court.” morrigan stepped up and stood on feyre’s right, resting her hands neatly in front of her. she looked smug, and you knew she was making eye contact with beron. she was beautiful, adorned in a scarlett red dress that did very little to cover any part of her body and multiple pieces of dainty gold jewelry. a type of beautiful you could only wish to be. “high lord of the night court’s second-in command.” amren took a graceful seat in front of morrigan positioned slightly to the side, her legs drawn close to her and tilted at a sideways angle, giving her a look of feline elegance. one slip and she would be exposed to the entire room. it occurred to you in that moment that every one of the females of the night court was dressed… very little. the thought made a smirk quirk up on your lips.

“maid of honor of the night court.” cassian announced finally. you stood a little taller as you ascended the steps, your hips moving sensually as found your spot in front of azriel on the second level stair, positioning your legs the same way amren had. you raised your chin high, the way morrigan had taught you. a year ago she had said to you, “when you feel like nothing, pretend you’re everything.” you took that advice to heart. you felt azriel’s shadows reach out to caress you, just barely stopping themselves before they got to the back of your neck.

“and finally, war general of the night court.” rhysand’s voice chimed, springing an air of nonchalant amusement and dominance through the room. all rose and began applause as you sat, basking in it like a cat in a ray of sunlight. the tension you had unknowingly wound up in your shoulders released as azriel’s shadows wrapped around you, caressing your waist and hips and the valley between your breasts.

the night progressed smoothly for the next two hours. you made idle chatter with visiting occupants and had a few glasses of wine on your rounds. feyre and rhysand stayed perched on their thrones until midnight, accepting praise and offerings and casual conversations. once the clock struck midnight, it was time for you to give your speech. rhysand had recruited you to do it this year, for what reason, you didn’t know.

you ascended the steps to their thrones and bowed your head, giving a kind smile. rhysand and feyre stepped to the side, standing beside their thrones so you could be directly in the middle of all the attention. amongst the socializing, nobody had noticed that you now stood before them, nervous and shaky. you smoothed your hands across the fabric of your dress, your shoulders tensing again. you met azriel’s eyes across the room. he raised an eyebrow at you, questioning. you flared your eyelids, he tilted his head, you shook yours, he gave a face, you frowned. you communicated like that until a smile broke out on your lips, forcing you to lick them and try to stifle it.

azriel raised his wine glass and clicked a fork against it, drawing all eyes to you. suddenly it felt like you decided to jump naked into the sidra at peek population hours of the day. “uhm..” you started, looking behind you to rhysand and feyre for guidance. they gave encouraging nods and a wink, enough for you to loosen your shoulders and do a little wiggle to get rid of the nerves. you cleared your throat quietly and brought your hands in front of you, standing poised and presentable, how a lady of the night court should stand.

“welcome to the night court.” you said simply. soft applause came from the crowd, and you smiled. it was going good so far. to be honest, you hadn’t prepared this speech at all. you were just gonna have to start pulling things out of your butt. “how’s everybody’s night going?” you asked. there was louder clapping and some whooping that you were certain came from helion. you shook your head, smiling a smile azriel’s heart nearly stopped beating for.

“i’m going to be honest, i didn’t prepare this speech.” laughter. you smiled wider. okay, this was good. they were liking you. “i won’t keep you for much longer though, i promise. i just wanted to invite all of you to feel as comfortable as possible— without breaking our possessions of course.” you smirked and carried on, saying basic formalities before launching into how amazing it was to be part of rhysand’s court, how you were honored to host the gala this year. “before i step down, i’d just like to say—“ you stopped as your eyes met green. there he was, in the right hand side of the middle row, sipping deeply from his wine glass.

your worst nightmare. he never attended the galas, never volunteered to host. you felt frozen as memories began flashing violently behind your eyes. when you had first started out working for rhysand, you were assigned to make peace with the spring court. you met tamlin, high lord of the spring court— and he quickly became your secret lover. this was of course, many many years ago, but the whisper of him never quite left your mind.

he had destroyed you and built you up in ways you couldn’t describe. he’d kiss your lips and simultaneously pull your hair, tell you how beautiful you were while telling you that no one would ever love you the way he did. would buy you glorious gifts while cutting you off from your family and friends, keeping you trapped in his estate all the time. would tell you lies and spin your mind so that you’d only ever feel safe in his violent arms. rhysand had rescued you some hundred years ago and promised to never send you back to that horrible place.

you realized that you were still in the spotlight and had been gaping for a good six seconds. you looked desperately for azriel’s eyes, your eyebrows furrowing up in worry. you found his gaze in a heartbeat. his eyebrows creased. ‘what’s wrong?’ he asked you, communicating in the way only you two could. you tore your gaze away from his and cleared your throat, smiling a shaky smile. you spoke in a wobbly voice and your knees buckled as you willed yourself not to look at tamlin or azriel. instead, you found the arched doorway in the back of the room to be particularly interesting.

“uh, everyone have a great night and please eat the food we’ve provided because we will not be able to finish it all.” you gave one more smile as applause erupted from the crowd and boisterous music picked up. the second the attention was off of you, you picked up your skirt and rushed into the crowd, forcing your way through to azriel. you were swept into a dance before you knew what was happening. a hand took yours and another met your waist. you blinked and suddenly you were following an upbeat choreography like second nature. you had learned it years ago, with azriel as your dance partner. but when you looked up, it wasn’t azriel you were dancing with.

it was tamlin. you felt bile rise up viciously in your throat. he smelled the same, looked the same. you didn’t miss the way he held you tighter than he needed to, his fingertips digging into your waist and back of your hand. “(y/n).” he said, but his voice wasn’t warm like when you first met him. it was cold and entirely devoid of emotion. “tamlin.” you swallowed thickly, trying to force down the junk pile of emotions that threatened to explode out of your mouth and eyes. “that was some speech you gave.” he said, guiding you around the room as you two danced, twirling and stepping and swaying in sync. you didn’t respond. your eyes left his to try and find azriel through the blur of dancing bodies around you.

“look at me when i speak to you.” his voice growled, and you looked to him without giving it too much thought. it was as if he was your owner and you a dog, programmed to follow his every order without hesitation. “good girl.. you haven’t lost your training yet.” he smirked, sinister and disgusting and so gut-churning you nearly wanted to scream for help. he made you feel so degraded with so few words, you fought and lost to the tears welling up in your eyes.

you didn’t respond. his expression fell into a blank slate and he stared at you, through you, as he spun you faster with the crescendo of the music. you willed yourself to steel your heart and paint your face with aloofness, trying to pretend like you weren’t affected by him, by his presence, by his cold fingers against your skin. your nostrils flared in the way they always did when you were trying not to cry. “are you having fun being a night court whore?” he asked. your eyes flicked to his immediately, wide with shock. “oh, excuse my poor manners. i just couldn’t help but notice your choice of.. clothing.” he said, flitting distasteful eyes towards your dress.

“the night court is my home.” you said, voice firm and threatening. “i am not a whore of it, and you will not speak to me that way in my. home.” your words shocked you, you had never stood up to him before. but as your lips continued moving, you felt an awful sort of dark hatred start in your toes and spread, filling your entire body until it felt like it was going to crawl out of your throat and slit tamlin’s wide open. your face felt hot and you were shaking, stumbling as the dance abruptly stopped.

your eyes flicked from the floor to his, and you swear you saw him flinch. “how dare you?” you asked, voice hardly above a whisper. it felt like the storm from outside was in your skull now, whipping around so violently you couldn’t hear or think. your eyes were wild with rage as they stared into tamlin’s. your fingers were digging into his skin now as you tried to keep the violence that rose inside of you at bay. “how. fucking. dare you?” you asked again, raising your voice. he stared, expression void of emotion. “after..” you could barely breathe, borderline hyperventilating as you began giggling, a manic fit of disbelief putting itself into play.

you swallowed hard, laughing now. your eyes were wild still, but with something different. something worse. “after all you’ve done to me. after the years i spent running from you, trying to forget.. you think,” you push your fingernail accusingly against his chest, hard. “you think you can come into MY home and speak to me like THAT?” you laugh, a hiccuping, uncoordinated laugh that was anything but humorous. “fuck you, tamlin.” you sneer, chest rising and falling hard as you breathe, unable to stop your lips. “fuck you, and you’re godsdamned fucking face, and your mean hands, and your need to control fucking everything.”

you pushed him back with one finger, stalking towards him as he backed up. you were pushing him toward the door without realizing it, people were parting like minos for a shark, but you didn’t notice. you could barely see, think, hear anything but the storm. you looked like a wildfire flame, the anger radiating off of you could heat the room. “this is MY. HOME.” you yelled, voice full and boisterous in the way his was everytime he had threatened to kill you. “and you are NOT welcome in it ever FUCKING again, so just GET OUT!”

you screamed at him, and then it stopped. the storm, the noise, the emotions, all of it. it all disappeared. you looked up at him with teary, confused eyes, your body trembling like an autumn leaf in the wind. “just get out.” you whispered, voice shaking as you pointed at the door his back was nearly against. he squared his jaw and shoulders in the way he always did when he knew he lost, and turned. “fuck you too, (y/n).” he tore the door open and slipped through it, slamming it so hard on the way out it rattled the entire ballroom.

silence. there was loud, horrible silence. your hair a mess, tears running down your cheeks, you turned towards the guests of the ball. they stared at you like you had just unleashed one of the beginning time beasts. your entire body broke out into a cold sweat, you couldn’t stop shaking. shaking, why were you shaking? you scanned less than half the room before azriel was in front of you, cupping your face in his hands. “(y/n).”

you broke. you threw yourself into his arms and crumpled, ugly, hot, fat tears flowing down your face. in his arms is where you realized how scared you were, how scared you had been. if it had been any different, if it had been in any other court.. tamlin would have killed you. very slowly did your ears begin to register the applause, the deafening applause that rattled off of every wall in the room. you detached your puffy, tear-streaked face from azriel’s chest and looked around, met the faces of every court member clapping and cheering for you.

you looked up at azriel confused. he held a hand firm on your lower back and grinned softly down at you. he put his hand softly on the back of your head and pushed it against him, holding you and your shock at bay. “never liked that prick anyway!” helion shouted from across the room, earning boisterous laughter from a group of males and females. cassian rushed towards you and swept you away from azriel, leading you back to the thrones. morrigan patted your dress down and messily wiped mascara stains off your face the best she could with her thumb and some saliva. you laughed, confused, but happy. your heart was thundering in your chest.

“ladies and gentleman,” cassian announced loudly, gesturing widely to you like you were a showcase painting. “maid of honor!”

the applause that erupted from the crowd almost moved you to tears again. you met azriel’s eyes and he grinned, sending an expression of admiration towards you that spoke a thousand and one words.

- extra ! -

two weeks later, it was the night of winter solstice. you, the entire inner circle, and elain were sitting around the fireplace, exchanging gifts and sipping wine and recalling stories from the year passed. with all the wine in your system, you didn’t notice when azriel slipped away from you. “okay, okay! my turn.” feyre said. “this is to you, (y/n).” she said. she motioned to the staircase, where azriel stood. next to him was a flat box about as large as him covered with a silk black curtain.

azriel cleared his throat, and you could tell he was nervous, though his facade hadn’t changed to the naked eye. “(y/n)..” he said. “i love you, and everyone else loves you. you are the strongest, most beautiful female i’ve ever seen. happy solstice..” he removed the cloth from the box and in front of you stood a painting of you at the gala, victorious, incredulous look on your face, mascara stains on your cheeks and all, being held up by cassian and mor as every court cheered for you.

your hands flew over your mouth as your eyes welled with tears, the tipsiness making you overly emotional. you stood and rushed to feyre, nearly knocking her backwards as you wrapped her in a hug. “it’s so beautiful! thank you so much..” you cried as azriel came up behind you and placed a hand on the small of your back, crouching down to sit next to the pile of you and feyre.

you turned and tossed yourself messily into his arms as everyone began making fun of you; with the exception of amren who was trying to find herself in the painting. “i love you azriel.” you sniffled. he lifted your chin and grinned down at you softly, pressing his lips against your cheek. he whispered against your skin, bringing your head to his chest. “i love you too, darling.”

#fanfiction #x reader #fluff #acotar #azriel #christmas #solstice #ewtamlin #inner circle #a court of starlight #azriel romance #azriel x reader #christmas fic #cutie pie #azriel x reader fluff

134 notes · View notes

gdn7-dollopole · 3 months ago

Text

I just thought about Arthur, Gwen, Morgana and Merlin going to fight, but dressing good for it (each one of them with their assigned weapon)

This could be set in whatever AU/Canon AU you’d like, where everything is good and these four fight together to unite the lands of Albion (basically my happy version of BBC Merlin).

See my vision.

They all wear long cloaks, with hoods that cover their faces and hair, including the clothes they wear under. The sleeves of their tunics are long, sort of under shirts made of linen, comfortable and flexible, no armour, to be worn under the cloaks, cut open at different points based on the weapons they use. Magic half protects them from the cold and the blows they take, blanketing them and securing them from their enemies. Their boots stretch until the knee and are striped, the trousers large and comfortable.

Each one of them has a colour assigned:

Morgana: white. It accentuates her dark hair, her appearance, that could seem innocent, but is actually fatal; three golden straight stripes descend over the front length of her cloak; the sleeves are round and half cut at the wrists; her boots are black; she wears a belt under the cloak where she can hide her weapon and pick it up easily; her gloves are black like her boots, wrist length, made of leather, simple; she still wears jewellery and a chain of metal around her forehead, with a white pearl in the middle of it, her black hair wavy and falling around and behind her shoulders, when she has council meetings, and tied up and in a braid when she needs to fight; she wears rings and bracelets. They decorate her fingers and wrists, two golden bracelet over her biceps, a long pendant made of a chain around her neck, that ends with a tiny, transparent vial where she keeps her favourite dried flower, round, five petals and of the same white colour of her cloak, the gift made to her by Gwen (I believe the flower is called, Oxalis incarnata).

Gwen: dark violet/light violet/pastel pink. I believe they’re her colours. Gwen is kind, and honest. Everything that she has ever made for herself and wore accentuated her character and personality as well, and the colour took a big part in it. It’s soft, and it resembles everything Gwen has ever been. Fierce, but vulnerable. A good leader. She has always ever been these two colours, and she wore purple the day she was crowned queen. Her cloak has drawings that she herself sewed into the fabric, of flowers and flying birds, intersecting one with the other, of a a white colour and with golden stripes painted on their wings and branches, resembling the one on Morgana’s cloak; her cloak and tunics are of a similar cut to the others, except that the sleeves are shorter and the leather gloves are longer, reaching her elbows, comfortable for her weapon, and of a deep brown colour, the same of her boots; her weapon is wrapped around her chest and draped behind her shoulders; she wears no jewellery; she keeps her hair short and curly, tied in a small bun behind the nape of her neck, two small strands cascading over her forehead.

Merlin: dark blue/light blue. These colours are his. A symbol, the same as his eyes, since he has always wore them as a shirt, that matches the colours of the tunic and the cloak over his body, cut at the shoulders, his shirt unlaced at the chest and ending on both arms with a bishop sleeve; his gloves are gauntlets and made of leather, the same colour of his boots, blue, but a lighter/darker tone than the one of his own cloak; his raven hair is longer, wavy, and ends at the juncture of his neck, untied; he wears a beard long enough to cover chin and cheeks; he needs space and air to use his weapon, long and sometimes difficult to manoeuvre, so his cloak is cut from the start of his thighs to his ankles; the fabric also has a golden circle sewed on the chest and the middle area, a line travelling and curving around its circumference.

Arthur: red, or what us fans usually describe as Camelot red. It suits him and it accentuates his hair. He has the golden Camelot dragon sewed at the centre of his cloak, a size big enough to be able to fit inside Merlin’s circle; he’s covered completely, has two holes just for his forearms, and a brown belt for his weapon over the cloak; his gloves are also gauntlets and of a golden colour; his boots are brown just like Gwen’s, meaning two things: Arthur belongs both to the Once and Future Queen of Camelot, and to his Court Sorcerer.

Their weapons:

Morgana: magic and knives. She has always loved them, always used them, and they’re easy to fight with, quick, the magic assuring her the perfect balance the moment she loses it, aiming a blow in the rare case she misses. She likes them, and they remind her of the gift Arthur had made to her during her birthday. The knives are decorated with pearls too, and they shine altogether whenever Gwen picks them up (Gwen creates the knives Morgana fights with without telling her).

Gwen: bow. She is agile, short, and quick. She has always run left and right to assist everyone in need, bringing and handling stuff in her hands, so she can manage a bow perfectly, shooting and fighting from afar. Arthur thought her how to use it, or maybe she learnt it by herself (or with Morgana). She makes her own arrows, that change based on what she needs to do or on her target. The bow has deep carvings in it on both the upper and lower limb, and the initials of her name. She made them herself, similar to the one on her clothes. The string of the bow can be heard only by Morgana every time Gwen shoots (Morgana secretly carved her initials too on the face of the bow, thinking Gwen hasn’t noticed).

Merlin: magic and a staff. His powers makes it float and appear on command, it channels his magic better, which could be destructive if managed alone. It glows and vibrates whenever Arthur passes by (Merlin blushes every time it happens).

Arthur: Excalibur. It represents the Kingdom, it’s the sword of the Once and Future King. It has the desired balance, has just the right hint of magic in it and the writing on the blade pulses a golden colour every time the weapon is in near proximity with Merlin. The sword reminds Arthur of him, and it’s never out of his sight (Arthur denies it each time his sword brightens up, cursing Merlin as he does so).

#did i just use my small knowledge of fashion to write ALL OF THIS?!?!#probably #and i dropped out of school #take this my useless fashion designer teacher #the best would be if my description is actually horrendous #but see how good and powerful they would all look together #they would have created an inner circle with the knights and created this big revolution #fighting uther the toilet over albion and camelot #and they would have been very attractive in my very honest opinion #we were robbed #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin bbc #writing prompt

25 notes · View notes

the-pudding-is-a-lie · 1 year ago

Text

@heyninja suggested: Hmmmm I have a Thought. What about Jiang Cheng being very smug about a successful surprise? Your choice of target: Xichen or 3zun? ~.~ just imagine A-Cheng getting to dazzle…

And since summer break isn't over yet, it's doodling time! Anyone surprised that I interpreted this prompt as Jiang Cheng wearing lingerie...? (Please imagine 3zun's reaction to seeing him. They would be stunned speechless, all three of them.)

[image ID: a digital sketch of Jiang Cheng from The Untamed/MDZS in a modern au setting. He is dressed in a long, sheer robe that is falling off of one shoulder, panties and stockings reaching up to the middle of his thigh. He is kneeling on the ground, holding up the side of the robe that has slipped down. He is wearing Zidian in the design of The Untamed as a ring and bracelet on that arm. A harness made of delicate chains and pearls frames his torso. His hair is pulled up partially into a messy bun, the rest falls down loose over his back. A few strands fall into his face as he is looking down and smiling. End ID.]

#fanart #the untamed #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #cql #jiang cheng #wip #jiang wanyin #modern au #summer break doodles #doodle #chen qing ling #sandu shengshou #lingerie #image described

86 notes · View notes

e-spexially · 2 years ago

Text

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑼𝑪𝑲𝒀 𝑶𝑵𝑬 | 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑵𝑰𝑪𝑲 𝑶𝑫𝑨𝑰𝑹

synopsis. a retrospective look at the events that led Lorraine Cortez, Victor of the 68th Hunger Games, into the Quarter Quell with Finnick Odair.

pairing. Finnick Odair x fem!oc

part. 1

warnings. movie canon, hunger games typical violence, angst, family tension, enemies to lovers, angst, eventual smut, ptsd, torture

Despite the scorching heat of an artificial sun, Lorraine feels as if her blood is ice. Wide eyes scanned the others, looking for his face. She lets out a distressed whine and clenches her fists repeatedly once she realizes he is out of her line of sight.

“Let the 75th Hunger Games begin,” the familiar voice speaks from above. “May the odds be ever in your favor.”

You can do this, the words echo in her head. You’ve already done this. That was different, she thinks, he knew it was different. The girl shakes her head as she readies herself. The time to second guess was over now. As the countdown ends, urgency ignites in the pit of her stomach. “Three, two, one.” Taking one final breath, she plunges into the water and propels forward with great speed.

Within seconds, she's at the base of the Cornucopia and hoisting herself onto the black rocks. Lorraine snatches up two silver, hook-shaped blades and turns quickly, only to be met with the tip of an arrowhead inches from her face.

Seven Years Earlier - District 4

In a small white house, two unsteady hands did their best to pin up brown locks. Once that was secure, Lorraine scanned her reflection in search of flaws. She strained to see all angles of herself, desperately ensuring nothing slipped through the cracks. Surely this time, there wouldn’t be anything to fix.

Her Reaping Day attire was a sea-green dress handed down by her sister Charlotte and a homemade pearl necklace that glinted faintly in the light. The dress hugged her flatteringly, the way it had with her sister before she hit her growth spurt. Lorraine never liked tempting fate on a day like this, but was secretly sure that she would have another chance to wear this outfit. She slipped on a pair of white sandals and left her bedroom. They clacked against aged wooden floors, being the only sound in a relatively quiet house.

She made her way into the kitchen, where her mother was laying breakfast out on the table. Sunlight streamed in through the small window above the sink and made the faded blue dress she wore look much brighter. Seeing that neither her siblings or father were in the room, Lorraine tried to turn and retreat silently, only to be given away by the jingle of her bracelet. It was the smallest sound, really, but her mother could have heard it from the docks.

“Good morning to you, too.” The woman spoke. She had an authoritative tone by default and it always made Lorraine feel as though she was about to be scolded. The girl reluctantly made her way to her mother. She muttered, “Good morning,” and waited patiently for her examination.

Her mother turned away from the sink to begin inspecting her until she could find something wrong. There was always something wrong. Sure enough, she pulled out the pin from Lorraine’s hair and gathered more hair to bring back. The girl winced as the pin was forcefully scraped against her scalp. Then she positioned a few strands out in the front to frame her daughter’s face. Her hands swatted Lorraine’s own as they moved up. “Leave it. You look beautiful.” The compliment surprised her and convinced her not to argue. She thanked her mother and allowed the woman to wrap her arms around her, as she did every Reaping Day.

Her mother’s skin was soft and cold, permanently chilled from years of working in the cold packing house that shipped fish to the Capitol. Lorraine didn’t care that the touch caused goosebumps, she savored any moment that her mother was close like this. The woman squeezed her for a few seconds before returning to her task. And just like that, the moment was over. It was the only thing that left Lorraine emptier than the reaping.

She had little time to dwell on this as her sister entered the kitchen. Charlotte was in a white dress that stopped just above her knees and heeled shoes, the look on her face confirming that they were her mother’s idea. The older girl greeted them casually, bending her leg to fidget with a strap on the shoe. They would take some getting used to, as she spent most of her time barefoot in the sand, setting and emptying traps for their father or gathering shells to make jewelry with.

“I can’t wait for this to be over with,” Charlotte griped as she sat next to her sister. “These things are torture.” Lorraine snickered as she stared under the table at the other girl’s shoes.

“Tell me about it,” She gestured to the left side of her head. “She practically shoved this pin into my skull. I bet you it still won’t stay up.” As the two shared their discomfort, their brother’s voice sounded from behind them.

“I just can’t believe you’re really wearing a dress.” Devon laughed. He was wearing a blue collared shirt that was tucked into light-colored slacks. A silver fishhook, gifted from his girlfriend Vidia, hung around his neck. “It actually doesn’t look that unfortunate!”

“At least I don't smell unfortunate,” Charlotte snapped in response. “It reeks of fish bait in here now.”

The boy went to say something rotten back to his younger sister, but was interrupted.

“That's enough.” They all turned to their father who was emerging from the living room, slipping on his worn blue sweater. Seeing the man calmed the growing feeling of dread in Lorraine’s stomach as the time to leave their home was nearing. He had a way of making her feel better in situations like these and it was no secret that she’d always felt closer to him. After all, she had more in common with him than her mother. Devon and Charlotte were more like the woman, which was probably the reason she never could find anything too wrong with them.

Her mother ordered them all to sit so they could eat together before the ceremony. Devon tore open a roll and slathered it with salty butter from the dish in front of Charlotte, causing her to scowl at him as he reached over her plate. He laughed at her irritation. Although he was trying not to show it, Lorraine could see his usual blithe attitude was slightly rattled today. Their parents didn’t seem to notice as they were handling their own private anxieties.

Charlotte looked to be handling things better than the rest of them. It must have been easy for her to accept the possibility of being picked out of that glass bowl. Between her and Lorraine, she was more physically capable of taking care of herself in the Hunger Games. These last few months she’d spent helping her father, she’d developed more muscle along her arms and legs and was just as strong as Devon. She was a force to be reckoned with among the fisherwomen in the district, surely the Games would not be difficult for her.

Lorraine swallowed a spoonful of the creamy soup her mother made, mulling this over. She scolded herself for thinking this way, for even bringing the idea of her sister being picked into existence. A pang of guilt went through her.

Eventually, the siren called for everyone to make their way to the town square and the steady conversation at the table halted to a stop. Lorraine tried not to let her hands shake too much. Their father put his napkin down and cleared his throat.

“Join hands.” His voice was firm, but only to hide the nerves. They did as they were told and looked to their parents. Lorraine focused on her father and sister’s hands in her own, using them as an anchor to ensure she didn’t spiral. Their mother was never good with this sort of thing, always opting to let her husband do the talking.

“We love you all, very much,” he said lowly. “Good luck today and remember that we’re always with you.”

The town square was crowded by the time they arrived. Lorraine stood behind Charlotte in line to sign in and squeezed her finger as tightly as she could, hoping to numb it a bit before the finger prick. There was a gentle chatter floating in the air as children found their spots and parents socialized. Many of them weren’t worried, District 4 was often lush with volunteers. The thought eased Lorraine’s racing mind a bit.

“Next.” The woman at the desk said. Lorraine gave the woman her hand and winced when the needle pricked her finger, scanning the crowd for her friends. When the woman ushered her along, she rushed to where she spotted her friend Cecily.

“Your brother looks handsome,” was the first thing the blonde girl said, staring ahead at the stage. She glanced at Lorraine with a smile before turning back to the stage. The other girl rolled her eyes before looking at the stage herself. “What are you looking for?” She asked.

Cecily scoffed as if this was a foolish question. “Finnick Odair!”

The mention of his name made Lorraine perk up. “I forgot!” She now scanned the stage, looking for him as well. Charlotte, who stood behind them, spoke up.

“He’s not there yet.” She reported, being taller than both of them. “Besides Cecily, he already said he doesn’t like blondes.” Cecily turned to her quickly.

“He didn’t say that!” She then turned to Lorraine. “Did he say that?”

“It’s true,” Charlotte answered. “I heard it myself, in an interview.”

Cecily let out a hmph. “I don’t believe you for a second Charlotte!” She crossed her arms superiorly. “I’ll just have to ask him myself when I volunteer.” Charlotte turned to the girl in surprise.

“You’re going to volunteer?” Lorraine had shared her surprise when her friend had first shared this news with her weeks ago. She never thought Cecily would be the type to do such a thing. Imagining the skinny girl with a ruffled dress in the arena made her want to laugh.

“Yup. My father had a training room put in last month.” Charlotte nodded, somewhat impressed.

“Well, good luck when you get there,” She said, sounding relieved that at least they would be safe. “And try not to fall on stage, I would hate for you to embarrass yourself in front of Finnick!” She said the boy’s name with a mocking tone. Cecily shot her one last scowl before the microphone was tapped harshly.

Lorraine looked back up to the stage, silently asking whoever was listening to keep Cecily safe. They’d been friends for a few years now and she would have liked to see her again.

“Good afternoon!” The District 4 escort was a tall, thin woman named Freesia Fallows. She wore a wide, green fan around her neck, giving her the appearance of an angry lizard. “Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Drowning out the dramatic music that played from the repetitive origin story of the Games, Lorraine scanned the other faces on stage and found the one she’d been searching for. Cecily found it as well, nudging her subtly. For the last few years, the only part of the Reaping worth getting worked up over was Finnick Odair. He was practically golden in the sunlight that peeked under the awning above and it seemed that even the summer day was trying to catch a glimpse of him.

Lorraine and Cecily had followed his Games closely, always eager to see the older boy’s face on their television. Cecily’s mother didn’t particularly enjoy that they were watching him violently eliminate his fellow Tributes, but they weren’t paying much attention to the action.

“It is time to select one young woman and one young man to represent District 4 in the 68th Annual Hunger Games!” Freesia made her way over to the bowl full of girls’ names. Lorraine glanced at Cecily, waiting to hear how she would declare her volunteering. Knowing her, she’d want to wait until a name was called so she could step in courageously. Lorraine smiled at the thought. Freesia returned to the front of the microphone and opened the slip of paper she selected. She cleared her throat.

“Lorraine Cortez.”

Lorraine let out a small laugh. What were the chances? She was sure Devon and her parents were panicking. With a small smile, she turned to Cecily.

“Go ahead,” She whispered. “This is your chance!” The blonde girl was not smiling back. She looked like she’d seen a ghost, her naturally pale face almost translucent now. Lorraine nudged her. Maybe she hadn’t heard.

“Lorraine Cortez?” Freesia called out once more.

“Cecily, you have to tell them.” When she received no response besides a few shuddering breaths, she turned to Charlotte. Big, dark eyes identical to hers were filled with horror. She had always been able to read people quickly and realized the problem long before Lorraine did. Realization washed over the younger girl just then as she looked at her friend.

“Cecily…” She said, her tone soaked with fear. “Cecily, come on.” Cecily turned to her, looking like a scolded child.

“I’m sorry,” her voice trembled. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

The woman from the sign-in desk pointed Lorraine out to the Peacekeepers and they marched over to her row.

“Cecily!” She screamed as they grabbed her by her arms and dragged her away. She tried to hold onto Charlotte’s hand as long as she could but was ripped away from her. Her hair came unpinned as the Peacekeepers set her down in the aisle. Two more joined them and formed a square around her, blocking her in all directions. She faced the crowd of adults and found her parents. Her mother wore the same stunned look Cecily had. Her father had a hand clamped over his mouth and was shaking slightly. Lorraine had never seen her father cry before and it only frightened her more.

“Come on honey!” Freesia called. The Peacekeepers began to move forward in unison, ushering Lorraine forward to the stage. She clasped her hands to hide, hoping that would hide their trembling. Getting up the stairs felt like climbing a mountain. She caught a glimpse of Finnick from the corner of her eye. She wanted to run to him and ask him to save her, somehow. Finally, she stood next to Freesia.

“Perfect! Moving on…” The woman trailed off, heels clicking in the direction of the boys’ glass bowl. Lorraine stared out at the crowd. Cecily was red in the face, crying profusely. Charlotte stared back helplessly. She tried to find Devon in the crowd, but couldn’t quite see him in the back with the eighteen-year-olds.

Freesia returned with the final slip of paper and read it loud and clear to the microphone.

“Devon Cortez.”

Lorraine wasn’t sure what was louder, the collective sigh of relief from the boys or the single cry from her mother. This had to be some sick joke. She waited patiently for a male volunteer, but one never came. A sob sounded from the girls’ side and Lorraine’s eyes shot to see who it was.

Vidia. Of course.

The dark-haired girl was held by the girl next to her as she watched Devon march stoically up to the stage. He avoided his sister’s eyes and took his place on the other side of Freesia.

“May I present the Tributes of District 4,” She announced. “Lorraine Cortez and Devon Cortez!” Tears threatened to spill from Lorraine’s eyes. She looked at Charlotte, who shook her head. Don’t cry, she was saying. Lorraine nodded.

“Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!”

#finnick odair #finnick odair fanfic #finnick odair angst #finnick odair fluff #hunger games finnick #the hunger games #catching fire #mockingjay #mags flanagan #the hunger games fanfiction #finnick odair x reader #finnick odair x oc #💌

199 notes · View notes

the-empress-7 · 3 months ago

Text

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, in a dress by Markus Lupfer, a German-born, London-based designer; Princess Diana's three strand pearl bracelet; and the dreamiest shoes by Prada 😍

Berlin, July 2017.

#the duchess of cambridge #that was then

16 notes · View notes

bathgardens-sims · 7 months ago

Text

MBTI Sims (♀) WCIF Compilation Part 2/4, xNTx

Part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Find on the gallery:

Creator ID: Bathgardens

Title: MBTI xNTx F

GENERAL CC USED ON MOST SIMS:

Pyxis EA Teeth Begone

Kijiko Remove EA Lashes

Kijiko 3D Lashes Version 2

Miiko Face-Kits NO.1 + NO.2

Praline Cleavage Overlay Collection

For skin blends, lashes, and other skin details, I would recommend downloading ALL forms (e.g. forehead crease, mouth crease, glasses, etc.) because I often layer details!!!

ENTJ

Skin: Simbience Haute

Hair: CandySims4 Hard Rock Hair (Candy Color Palette)

Eyebrows: Praline N155 Kuta

Eyes: Praline Treasure (default)

Earrings: Christopher067 Brennan

Necklace: Christopher067 Hillside

Bracelet: S-Club WM 201801

Eyeshadow: BreezyTrait Petals

Liner: Crypticsim Kat

Blush: Ridgeport The Ridgeport Set Cloud Paint

Lips: Angissi Lipstick A99

Top: Christopher067 Sanderson

Bottoms: GreenLlamas Greenhouse Jasmin Jeans Duo

Shoes: Serenity Ashley

ENTP

Skin: Lamatisse Olympia

Hair: Okruee Shiloh w/ Strands (w/ hair tie accessory)

Eyebrows: Praline N153 Engan

Eyes: Praline Treasure (face paint)

Earrings: NataliS Three Nails

Necklace: Aretha Secret Society Raven Choker

Blush: Miiko Shy

Tattoos: Cubersims Bloody Mary

Top: Nucrests Unify Button Up

Bottoms: Sentate x Aretha Alexa Skirt

INTJ

Skin: Lamatisse Olympia

Hair: Simstrouble Jazz Riff

Eyes: Praline Treasure (face paint)

Earrings: Bobur Sapphire Earrings with Pearls

Glasses: Praline Libellule

Outfit: Sifix Tasha

Shoes: Madlen Bernand Boots

INTP

Skin: Lamatisse Mercuria | Miiko mouth corners

Hair: Miiko Denise (w/ bangs and accessory)

Eyebrows: Miiko Softie

Eyes: Northern Siberia Winds Eyes (extra)

Earrings: Christopher067 Bare Hoop Earrings (all)

Glasses: Praline Papillon

Necklace: Christopher067 Panorama

Makeup: Sims3Melancholic Highlighter #3

Top: Serenity Sasha Tucked | Aretha Ana Accessory Top

Bottoms: Caio AF Socialite Skirt

Socks: Serenity Back to the 60s Socks V1

Shoes: CloudCat Duality Shoes

Thank you to all of the creators featured!

@pyxiidis @kijiko-sims @miikocc @pralinesims @lamatisse @christopher067 @arethabee @serenity-cc @simstrouble @natalis-sims @candysims4 @simbience @s-club-tbr @crypticsim @ridgeport @angissi @greenllamas @okruee @cubersims @nucrests @sentate @cloudcat @northernsiberiawinds @caio-cc @bobur-tsr @sims3melancholic @sifirkilometreimpala @madlensims

#mine #wcif #sims 4 #the sims 4 #ts4 #show us your sims #mbti #mm #maxis match #ts4 maxis match #ts4cc #sims 4 cc

12 notes · View notes

thepastisalreadywritten · 10 months ago

Text

11 Meaningful Pieces In Catherine’s Jewellery Collection That Belonged To Queen Elizabeth II

By Emily Chan

6 December 2023

First worn by the Princess of Wales in June at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa Al Saif in Amman, Jordan, the Greville chandelier earrings were seen on Queen Elizabeth II throughout her reign.

The dazzling diamond earrings made by Cartier were a wedding gift to Her late Majesty from her parents – the Queen Mother had inherited them from Dame Margaret Helen Greville, a British socialite, in 1918.

Catherine was most recently seen wearing the jewels at a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace.

On Remembrance Sunday this year, Catherine debuted a pair of diamond and pearl leaf earrings that were previously seen on the Queen during a visit to Nigeria back in 2003.

Some experts believe that the earrings may have been detachable pieces from the brooch featuring the same design.

Commissioned by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II’s Festoon necklace features 105 loose diamonds that her father inherited when he ascended the throne.

Featuring three strands, the monarch wore the piece on numerous occasions throughout her life, from attending state banquets to posing for official portraits.

The Princess of Wales paid tribute to Her late Majesty by wearing the piece for the official Coronation photograph when King Charles III officially assumed the throne on 6 May.

The Princess of Wales wore Queen Elizabeth II’s three-strand pearl necklace – an item Her Majesty was famous for – during a Buckingham Palace lunch for the governors-general of the Commonwealth nations prior to the monarch’s funeral in September 2022.

The then Princess Elizabeth received this jaw-dropping diamond necklace by Cartier from the Nizam of Hyderabad as a wedding gift in 1947.

Featuring a rose motif, the royal picked the necklace herself, along with a matching floral tiara.

The Princess of Wales first wore the statement piece at a gala for the National Portrait Gallery in 2014, before rewearing it at a Buckingham Palace reception for the Diplomatic Corps in 2019.

Queen Elizabeth II was first photographed wearing these diamond and pearl earrings during her Silver Jubilee celebrations – marking 25 years on the throne – in 1977.

Catherine has sported the earrings a number of times in the past, including after Prince Louis’ birth in 2018 and while visiting Commonwealth troops ahead of the Queen’s funeral.

Queen Elizabeth II commissioned royal jeweller Garrard to create this four-strand pearl and diamond choker, using pearls sourced from Japan in the early 1980s.

Princess Diana was loaned the piece for a state banquet in honour of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982, while the current Princess of Wales has worn the necklace on several occasions, including for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary in 2017 and Her Majesty’s funeral in 2022.

The Princess of Wales debuted Queen Elizabeth II’s emerald and diamond earrings during an evening reception in Jamaica in 2022, along with a matching bracelet.

Both pieces are from Her late Majesty’s emerald tassel suite, which the monarch first wore at a state dinner held for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates at London’s Claridge’s Hotel in 1989.

First worn by Queen Elizabeth II during the 1990s, the Princess of Wales has borrowed Her late Majesty’s diamond and pearl leaf brooch a number of times over the years, including on a visit commemorating the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium in 2017.

Catherine wore the piece in tribute to the monarch while attending her funeral procession at Westminster Hall in September 2022.

The sapphire and diamond earrings

The Princess of Wales borrowed Queen Elizabeth’s sapphire and diamond earrings for a visit to Edinburgh in 2021.

The sapphire earrings are part of a suite of sapphire and diamond jewellery by Asprey, which Her late Majesty added to her collection during the late 1970s.

The Bahrain pearl drop earrings

Featuring two pearls gifted to Her late Majesty by the Hakim of Bahrain as a wedding present, these diamond and pearl drop earrings were also worn by Princess Diana in the 1980s.

The Princess of Wales was first spotted wearing the earrings at a Remembrance Day service in 2016, before going on to wear them for Trooping the Colour in 2019 and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.

#Queen Elizabeth II #Princess of Wales #Catherine Princess of Wales #Catherine Middleton #Kate Middleton #British Royal Family #jewelries #Jewellery Collection

12 notes · View notes

aimeedaisies · 2 years ago

Text

Repost from britishroyaljewels on Instagram

Let's have a look at The Duchess of Gloucester at the Coronation!

Always impressively bejeweled, The Duchess did not disappoint. She wore two diamond rivière necklaces, a diamond cross pendant, large diamond earrings, and a diamond brooch all from the collection of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Down her dress she wore three diamond daisy brooches that were once connected by a chain and lent to her daughter Lady Davina.

The most historic jewels were her bracelets. When King William IV ascended the throne, instead of creating a Royal Family Order he gave his relatives either a pair of diamond roses set with a miniature of himself and Queen Adelaide or a pair of enamel and pearl brooches with their cyphers.

The Duchess wears two of the roses on five strands of pearls.

#we knew we could count on birgitte to bring the glitz and glamour #shine bright like a diamond #as soon as I find clearer photos of the other pieces i’ll add them on!#birgitte duchess of gloucester #prince richard duke of gloucester #coronatiAnne

29 notes · View notes

diamondcrownacademy · 1 year ago

Text

DCA Info Part 37: Outfits from 2020 - 2021 (Part 2)

View Part 1

Art colored by @au-ni-ro

🐠 Cerule Oceana

🐙 Octo Extravagance Outfit

As shown by the image, this dress is designed for performances and appears to take inspiration from Ursula. The dress is purple and black in color and includes a sweetheart bodice, while the purple bubble skirt includes black skirt bustles, black strings arranged to resemble arches, and a dark purple overskirt. The footwear consists of a pair of black heels and a pair of grayish black stockings.

The accessories include a black headband with loops, a gold nautilus shell pin and black ruffles on the side, a gold nautilus shell necklace and a pair of black fingerless gloves with light purple details and gold bands.

🐚 Seashell Serenade Outfit

This ensemble is made for fun on the dance floor! This turquoise dress consists of a bodice that partially resembles a fan and a three layered asymmetrical skirt with yellow ruffle trim. The first and final layers of the skirt are turquoise while the center is a lighter shade and has a chain of pearls and purple nautilus shells. The footwear consists of a pair of lavender heels with turquoise ruffles, purple shells and pearls straps.

The accessories include a pearl headband attached to a purple shell clip over a pale turquoise ruffle, a pair of turquoise gloves with pearl strands, and a purple waist belt attached to a pair of pearl strands which are in turn attached to a gold nautilus shell with smaller purple shells.

🌊 Seahorse Rhapsody Outfit

Likely taking influence from dresses worn at bars, this fuchsia dress includes a bodice shaped like an upside down fan and is a light shade of pink and the dress's skirt has a strand of black pearls. Over the dress is a black bolero jacket with pale mauve ruffles and the cuffs have purple nautilus shells. The footwear consists of a pair of dark purple heels with light pink ruffles and black pearl strands. Additionally included is a pair of lavender stockings with designs that resemble octopus legs.

The accessories include a pink flower hair clips at the back of the wearer's head, a black pearl necklace with a purple pendant, a pair of black gloves, and a black waist belt and attached to the belt is a light pink ruffle ribbon with black filaments.

🏝 Vidya Nazari

🌺 Desert Flower Outfit

Inspired by Princess Jasmine, this outfit consists of a blue floral vest worn over a teal dress with the bodice having gold details and the skirt having navy teal blue upside down hearts with gold outlines as well as pale yellow lotus buds. The footwear consists of a pair of navy teal blue sandals with the straps being light teal and having magenta gems while the ankle strap has navy teal blue ruffles.

The accessories include a gold headband attached a light teal transparent veil with a gold outline and attached to the headband/veil are pink flowers and a gold pearl chain with a magenta gem, a gold collar and necklace with a magenta gem, a pair of "sleeves" that are navy blue and the light teal portions resemble angel sleeves, and a waist chain of gold pearl strands attached to magenta jewels on the skirt.

🐍 Golden Scarab Outfit

Inspired by the gold scarab that guided Jafar to the Cave of Wonders, this outfit consists of a orange puff sleeved top with the bodice having henna patterns and various gold trim throughout the top and a pair of light orange harem pants with an overskirt that features the same henna patterns as the bodice. The footwear consists of a pair of light orange heeled sandals with scarabs on the straps.

The accessories include a orange ruffle hair clip resembling a flower, a gold collar attached to a chain which is attached to a gold scarab charm, and a pair of gold bracelets with teardrop like charms on them.

💃 Dancing Ensemble

In this picture, Vidya is shown wearing a purple sleeveless tunic worn underneath a red sari with the top having a gold outline and the bottom being lined with scarlet fur.

The accessories include various jewelry with circular charms, including the headdress which has teardrop charms, the necklaces and bracelets. The only other accessory is the gold belt with the henna looking flower on it.

The man Vidya is dancing with would be the basis for Alejandro.

Briar and Vidya Outfit Swap

Here, both girls are wearing outfits based on the opposite girl's cultures and aesthetics.

Vidya is wearing a teal medieval style dress with gold accents and deep purple sleeves. She accessorizes with a gold crown and transparent teal veil with a floral print.

Briar is wearing a light pink Arabian dance outfit with gold accents and transparent bishop sleeves. Much like Vidya, she also wears a gold crown and veil, but her veil is pink with a henna print.

#clothing information #DCA info #diamond crown academy

13 notes · View notes