#while Violet married out of love and had children simply because she wanted to

[lyramundana]

I imagine teen Portia as this serious, responsible but low-key playful girl. She doesn't like society's expectations on her, but she deals with it the best she can because she knows there's no escape, so she tries to make the best out of it. She's cunning, gentle and no-bullshit type of person. She can curse at people in such a graceful manner that they rarely notice it's an offensive comment. She has a talent for numbers and helps her father with finantial issues. Despite her resignation to her status in society, she secretly dreams of creating her own bussiness and become rich enough so that her parents don’t need to marry her off, and she’s determined to do it. She has a brother, but their relationship is not really the warmest and Portia kinda resents him for being the heir despite not being suited. Her mother is a rather cold woman, who sees her children as chores she had to fulfill, and treating Portia as an extension of herself, constantly pushing her to be a perfect lady to feel better about her own misery.

We’ve already seen teen Violet in Queen Charlotte, but I’ll add my headcanons anyway. She’s pretty much like in the series, but her and Portia become friends shortly after their debut. Violet admires Portia’s intelligence and determination, and Portia sees Violet’s cheerful personality and passion like a puff of fresh air. They both discuss political matters, their hobbies, the inclusion of black people into society with Charlotte and drink tea together. They become inseparable, like twins, and soon enough, the friendship starts to blossom into something deeper. 

Portia realizes she likes women. She always had the suspicion, but now with Violet, the truth is hardly in her face. She doesn’t know how to feel about it. It’s wrong, forbidden, shameful, but it feels so good and sweet. Violet brings light into her life and makes her heart pump so fast she feels dizzy. How can she give up on this, on the only good thing that has come to her life?

Meanwhile, Violet awakens her yandereism with Portia. She’s always been possessive of her, but recently, it has been worse. She can’t stop thinking about Portia. She’s the prettiest girl in her eyes, the smartest, the funniest. She’s perfect for her. They belong with each other. The mere thought of someone else enjoying her company, delighting on her voice, touching her soft skin, makes her blood boil in such ways that it even scares her at first. This feelings tune down a bit when she meets Edmund, who’s just like her. He’s the only person that understands this dark impulse, and so she grows to love him too. 

But their happiness must come to an end. Portia’s family is in ruins because of her mother’s wastes, and now the woman has ran away with a lover of hers, leaving her family behind with all the chaos. In a desesperate attempt to clean the scandal and recover their prestige, Portia’s father marries her off to Baron Archibald Featherington, a man barely younger than him, without asking her of course. Portia almost doesn’t have time to process everything; her mother’s abandonment, her family’s ruin, her new marriage, and she runs to the only person that she feels can comfort her, Violet. Maybe confess her feelings and both running away together.

Only to see the girl in Edmund Bridgerton’s company. Both of them laughing, playing around and clearly enjoying each other. Portia feels her heart break once again. She’s not stupid. She knows what she’s seeing. And so she turns back where she came from. 

She tries to make the best ouf her situation and focus on her new role as baroness. She quickly notices her husband is useless when it comes to money, so she takes care of it. It’s a cold comfort, but the duty distracts her. She’s no longer considered a young lady, but a full woman now, and that changes things. Her friendship with Violet becomes strained, mostly on her part, but it still stands and Violet is the only friend she has now. 

When news of Edmund and Violet’s marriage reach her ears, she decides it’s time to stop. To save herself more heartbreak and just accept what she has now. And so the years pass, they have children, but while Violet’s were conceived out love and passion, Portia had no choice. It was another duty for her. 

This is the reason she became a villainess in the future. Spite, resentment, overall bad luck, and maybe some sabotage from outside parties (that’s another headcanon of mine I won’t dig on now)

@daughter-of-sea-and-wisdom feel free to add or change whatever you like

[the-other-art-blog]

Violet to Colin: "You're one of my most sensitive children."

The fandom: "How can she say that! Anthony, Benedict bla, bla bla..."

Colin is ONE of her most sensitive children. ONE, just ONE of them. And she's right.

ONE OF HER MOST SENSITIVE CHILDREN

He was the only one who indulged Violet and let her introduce him to debutantes in s1, while Anthony fucked his mistress and Ben went to orgies.

He was a complete gentleman with Marina. AND defended her when Anthony implied something about her.

And when he learned the truth, he confessed that he would have married her if she had told him the truth. 🥹

He danced with Pen after Cressida bullied her.

He wrote dozens of letters that his family of 8 could not care to respond to often. There are 8 of them!

He worried about Ben in s2 and supported him on his application to the Academy.

He learned the truth of Jack Featherington and instead of simply leaving, he did something about it. Not only did he help the Featherington family, but he saved other lords from being scammed.

He apologized to Will, explained why he acted rudely AND made amends to repair the damage by bringing men to Will's club.

He returned with gifts for everyone, but he seemed particularly thoughtful to his sisters and mother. A perfume for Hyacinth, music for Francesca, and a book for Eloise 🥹. Violet was so moved by his gift and here we have a lovely headcanon on the watch:

Then with Pen...

He runs after Pen, despite other men wanting to know about his adventures.

He acknowledges his mistake and immediately tries to apologize to Pen in the Four Seasons Ball.

The next day, he comes back with a heartfelt apology.

Then, he offers her help, despite the risk of scandal and embarrassment for him. He knows Pen has no one else.

He goes to see Pen at night to make sure she's ok. And when she asks him for a kiss, he does it so sweetly.

He is brave enough to leave the men who just want to know about his sexual life.

HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO ASK, as soon as he put himself together and understood his feelings. He didn't play jealousy games like others, he went and put his heart on the table. He didn't even know about Pen's feelings and he risked it!

Some extracts from Colin's journals show that his family is always in his thoughts.

You can see why Violet, as the good mother that she is, can tell how sensitive he is.

Colin travels during the summer and comes back during the season to be with his family. It angers me that people think he's selfish for this when Benedict also abandons the family to fuck.

And yet, both Colin and Ben are sensitive. BOTH OF THEM, Francesca too. I wouldn't call Hyacinth or Gregory sensitive right now, and before s3, I wouldn't include Eloise either.

Anyway, I needed to get this out because I am so fucking tired of Kanthonies and Benophies making tantrums about this line.

I'm sure when s4 comes, we are going to see a moment between Violet and Ben where she acknowledges how amazing he is and everything he has done for the family. But not now, because this is COLIN'S SEASON.

(NOTE: If you are thinking of reblogging this post with the tag #Colin is the most sensitive, kindly fuck off. I made this post to fight the Kanthonies and Benophie that are attacking Colin, not to validate your own need to make Colin superior to other characters. HE IS ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE CHILDREN, ONE)

[sleepyfireball]

A Quiet Acceptance of Love | A Bridgerton Story

Chapter 5: Desire

Fandom: Bridgerton (TV) Rating: Gen Pairing: Violet Bridgerton/Marcus Anderson Summary: Violet Bridgerton slowly but surely falls in love with Marcus Anderson. A character study of Violet Bridgerton in Season 3. Notes: This is one of the scenes that I was most excited to write, so I'm glad that I finally get to share it with you all! Shout out to my duckies @lifesizehysteria and @cptn-nash for really helping me to shape this chapter into something I am very proud of. Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Chapter 2 Chapter 1 AO3

Violet sat alone with her embroidery in her drawing room, for once. Gregory and Hyacinth were in lessons and her other children had scattered themselves to the wind, giving Violet some much-needed peace and quiet to ponder the problems plaguing her. 

Colin and Penelope had been so happy together at the Mondrich ball, so much so that it reminded Violet of herself and Edmund during their engagement, however, something had changed. She had tried prodding him to encourage him to open up, but he had closed up tighter than ever before, especially with her. This year, the season had changed her darling son. More so than his persona that he was putting on in front of the ton before his engagement. It had made him more introspective, more resistive to her efforts to help him move past whatever was standing in the way of his happiness. 

She knew that whatever it was would not stop him from loving Penelope. All she had needed was one longing look and she knew there would never be another for Colin, for as long as he would live. However, he was still resistive to her. Perhaps she needed to ask for some marital advice assistance. She knew that if she offered the advice, it would be ignored, because her children had a tendency to assume that simply because her marriage was a true love match, that meant that it did not have its share of difficulties. 

Violet scoffed to herself, giving up on her embroidery, letting it hang by the wayside as she continued her planning. Well, even her most stubborn children could not deny that the path of true love had not run smoothly for Anthony. She began constructing a letter to write to Anthony and Kate, requesting their early return before the wedding to speak to Colin.

Now, with a plan formulated, Violet’s mind moved on to the next issue at hand. Francesca and Lord Kilmartin. She could see that she would not get an opportunity to speak to the Queen for some time, due to the false Whistledown delay. Agatha had been most helpful in offering her assistance, but Violet was refusing. She did not want it to seem like her friendship with Agatha was merely for the benefit of getting her children married, so she was trying to take fewer things for granted in their relationship.

“Ma’am.” Mrs. Wilson’s appearance pulled Violet from her wonderings enough to elicit a half-hearted response.

“Mm?” Would Francesca be willing to sit down and talk about it? That may be the best course of action, currently.

“Lord Anderson has come to call.” Mrs. Wilson said. Violet’s attention suddenly honed in on the housekeeper at her words. She sat up as a blush spread across her cheeks, her mouth opening and closing while no words formed themselves in response. How do I even respond to that? He is here!

“Oh. Um…” Violet stood abruptly, ignoring how lost for words she was at the mere mention of his name. Suddenly realising that she was still holding her long abandoned embroidery, Violet stashed it behind the cushion of the chair she had just been sitting in and hurriedly closed the lid of her embroidery box.

She took a few steps closer to the fireplace, wiping her hands nervously on her dress before trying to calm her racing mind with a hand to her forehead. She decidedly ignored what she was sure was a very pointed look from Mrs. Wilson and exhaled deeply as she turned around, touching a hand to her hair nervously, but with a hint of excitement as well. 

“Very well,” she said softly, straightening her dress. Mrs. Wilson nodded at her, with a perfectly proper smile, but Violet could see the glee hiding underneath as she turned, beckoning for Lord Anderson to enter. 

Violet tried to be proper, looking away from the door as he entered, but the moment that she heard his footsteps, she could not help herself. She looked eagerly to the doorway, before looking away again, realising she need not look too eager. Her hands finally stilled themselves, clasped together so that they would not keep fluttering over her appearance as they had been doing.

Lord Anderson smiled brightly as he walked into the drawing room and Violet felt her heart leap and settle all at once. She smiled, laughing gently in return and curtseyed to him; her etiquette lessons so ingrained into her that even Lord Anderson’s magnetic presence could not stop her. He bowed in response, deeper than she had seen him bow to anyone in society before.

“Lady Bridgerton.” Violet’s chest flushed as his rich voice engulfed her. “It is good to see you,” Lord Anderson said.

“You as well, Lord Anderson,” Violet replied quickly. She fidgeted with her hands, unable to keep herself from grinning. She cast about the room, looking for something to break the silence that fell. “It has been some time.” Violet laughed awkwardly, prompting Lord Anderson to do the same.

“Too much time,” Lord Anderson said, still standing in the doorway next to Mrs. Wilson. Realising that she had yet to invite him in properly, Violet gestured to the small side table.

“Uh, would you like some… cake? Tea?” Violet said, ever the consummate hostess, watching as Lord Anderson turned to see the food. Mrs. Wilson smiled at him, as did the maid.

“Oh, I would be delighted.” Lord Anderson turned back to Violet as Mrs. Wilson and the maid set about getting him the refreshments.

Violet gestured to the couch across from where she was standing, which Lord Anderson immediately walked towards. The two of them sat in unison. Violet, unable to keep her hands still, fiddled with her dress nervously, setting it about properly as she sat. 

While she still felt the draw towards him that she always did, she certainly missed the ease that had come with their other meetings. Somehow, the knowledge that he had come to see her specifically, with no other reason, no matter how trivial, had set Violet’s emotions ablaze.

They both laughed awkwardly as the staff set down the refreshments and retreated. Violet watched them, giving Mrs. Wilson a pointed look when she lingered in the drawing room. It would not be the first time someone has tried to chaperone Marcus and I, Violet thought wryly, remembering Agatha’s attempt at the Innovations Ball. Mrs. Wilson turned and left with the maid, allowing Violet to devote her attentions to Marcus.

“How are you?” He smiled softly at her.

“Oh, I-- I am, uh…” Violet’s thoughts would not line up well enough for her to express herself. She breathed deeply, using the moment to compose herself. “Well, um… Francesca is keeping her distance from me at the moment.” Violet looked at her hands and laughed softly, although laughing was not what she felt like doing when she thought of her daughter’s cold shoulder in recent days. “Did I tell you that she and Lord Kilmartin have been secretly engaged?” Violet said quickly, looking up at Lord Anderson.

“Ah, I did not hear.” Lord Anderson said. Violet laughed awkwardly, at least that was one secret that was remaining so. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Violet said happily, sobering slightly as her thoughts continued. “Though we are waiting on the blessing of the Queen before announcing it.” Violet thought back on the unsuccessful conversations she had with Francesca. More so to herself than to Lord Anderson, Violet said, “It’s a wait that may be rather lengthy, unfortunately.” 

Marcus chuckled as he reached for one of the little cakes, pulling Violet from her thoughts.

“You know, Aristotle says, ‘Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.’” As he finished speaking, he took a bite of his cake.

Violet’s heart thumped in her chest as she watched him eat. She found herself imagining how his lips would taste against hers, licking the sugar from them. She felt the ghost of a memory of lips pressed delicately against her neck, becoming more insistent as the memory moved further down over her collarbone. Her chest flushed as she imagined him worshipping her collarbone with his delectable mouth, leading down to her breasts. She felt her nipples harden under her corset at the mere thought and wondered how it would feel to truly have him there. Another memory of lips against her skated over her mind, reminding her of how it felt to have them pressed to other places. 

Violet blinked owlishly, and in the darkness, she was lost in thoughts of how it would feel to have Marcus’ hands on her body, his mouth on hers. She had not had the feeling of another person so intimately close to her in so long, and Violet realised that she desired it above all else. She felt her stomach tighten as the butterflies that had previously only stirred took flight. Nervousness doused in desire washed over her, and she felt as though she was a coiled spring, ready to release. 

Violet pressed her legs together as she felt the thoughts of him move to her core. She shifted in her seat, trying to ease the tension. Breathlessly, she watched as he placed the remainder of the cake down and watched his hands, imagining them tangled in her hair as he lay on top of her. How she wanted to run her hands over him, feel the coarse hair of his beard under her hands, against her breasts, buried between her legs.

“Lady Bridgerton,” Violet snapped her gaze from Marcus -Lord Anderson- as he spoke, looking at her lap as she felt the burn of a blush rising on her cheeks. She just hoped she had not been caught staring at him as desire coursed through her. She blinked deliberately, trying to dislodge the thoughts that distracted her. “Once Francesca and Lord Kilmartin’s affairs are in order, do you think perhaps the two of us could… explore something together?”

Violet swallowed nervously as she looked toward the door to the drawing room, almost in want of anyone to come through the door so she did not have to answer. While she was certainly enjoying the attention of Lord Anderson, it appeared that he wanted to enter a more formal courtship. And Violet did not feel ready for that. 

It appeared that the universe had decided that everything must happen at once this season, with Colin and Penelope getting married, Francesca getting married, not to mention whatever was going on with Benedict and Lady Arnold that he was clearly trying to hide from her. She simply did not have the time for a courtship on top of all that.

“I am not uninterested in exploration.” Violet said softly as she nodded slightly, because it was true. She was pleased to have found someone whom she could connect to once again. “But I will not know if I am ready for that until after the affairs are… in order.” Lord Anderson nodded, looking somewhat defeated. “Especially because I am not the only one whose affairs need ordering.” Violet finished, not unkindly, but piercing Lord Anderson with a look to convey her true message. 

Lord Anderson smiled softly in understanding and hummed his agreement. The two remained sat on the couches together, passing a very lovely afternoon as the tension that had swirled around them dissipated and made way for a genuine connection between them.

[bitchkay]

Court of darkness ships

Explained *biased and /hj*

Guy x Toa

Oh this just reeks of trauma and internalized homophobia you broken broken men!

Do you actually hate him or do you hate him because your attracted to him and you've been conditioned to think that's wrong and sinful and your channeling all that into anger toward the person your the person your attracted to and supposed to hate more than anybody and the "feuding families" provides you with an excuse.

Like babe closet is glass, its giving obsession, fan behavior, go be homoerotic somewhere else😐

Mfs glare at each other so often you think they're staring into each other's eyes

Mfs are about to kiss💀💀

Spouting insults at eachother at any chance they get

Gay as hell to have an arch nemesis, tf he arching? His back?

"I can't stand the sight of you" "I hate the sight of you more" like bruh might as well be a declaration of love💀

Guy x Fenn

This fanfic.

If you tell me these two haven't had sexual intercourse you're lying.

They've literally kissed before

IN CANON‼

MULTIPLE TIMES‼‼

Guy lets that man get away with a little too much with him if you get what I mean🤨🤨

Guy x Jasper

What straight man acts like thatt!!

Again the closet is glass

You don't have to act like you not boyfriends we already know, you straight up be flirting in front of everyone anyway

Nah cus why they act like a married couple in their honeymoon phase💀💀

The other princes have a valet, Guy gets a life partner💀

These two act like they're in a polyamorous relationship with MC no matter which one MC is specifically dating

No way these two haven't kissed

They walk into a room together and the air gets a little fruitier

Hold on-

🤨🏳️‍🌈⁉️

Guy x Roy

It's giving "I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me"

Roy literally gets jealous when other people have Guys attention

Roy's lil boy crush on Guy is sometimes a little embarrassing like bro is whipped💀💀

Like bro is so in love with him💀💀

Guy x Lynt

Guy secretly likes being cuddled.

This pairing is proof nobody can say no to Lynt

"Let go of me, I'm not your pillow." *dosen't struggle* *makes no effort to move* *ends up either napping with him or staying there the whole time for Lynts comfort*

Lynt likes Guys smell and Guy simply does nothing about it

I bet Lynt can tell when Guy uses a new body wash

Toa x Lynt

I've learned the ship name for this qelkedia and I love it

this fic.

Nah but for real tho these two are actually besties like

Lynt was the first person to give Toa a candy when they were children, if that doesn't sound like the beginning of a budding romance idk what is🙄🙄

Like imagine it, Toa(🏳️‍🌈 in denial) crushing on Lynt this cuddly cute bean and every time he does Toas having a major internal gay panic cus "I swear I don't like men, this is just normal Lynt behavior"

The internalized homophobia is hitting😳

Lynt x Roy

Imagine Lynts consort path right

Except Lynt and Roy fall in love instead.

That's all I have to say about that.

Roy also takes care of Lynt😭😭

Who else would be fully willing to CARRY Lynt to their S rank lectures because he wants him to go to class for once and its apparently common😭😭

"Will you carry me?" "If I must"

That's his boyfriend yall.

Violet x Jasper

Tell me they're not exes. I dare you

They used to date and Jasper did something (cus let's be honest why wouldn't it be Jaspers fault) and that's why Violet doesn't trust him

"Be wary of Jasper, he is a bad bad man" "to what do I owe such slanderous claims😊" "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHY"

"While I have you here, would you join me in town for a drink?" "Would you happen to be inviting me out on a date?" "Maybe I am😏" "THERE YOU GO AGAIN, FLIRTING WITH ANYTHING THAT WALKS" "you wound me, not just anyone meets my standards😏" "... do you enjoy lying Jasper?"

Tension so thick you can cut it with a knife.

Violet does however trust him and respect him as a valet but she will drag his name through the dirt if she can help it

Half the time she wont even say his name outright💀 it's always some iteration with spectacles💀💀

Idk for some reason I can see them having a reconciliation like say Jaspers in the valets quarters and Violet comes in but like is trying to avoid him but ultimately fails and then they're left alone in the valets quarters and idk have a heart to heart or some shit

Violet x Grayson

Tell me they wouldn't be drinking buddies at some point

So many times over in events and consort routes has Violet gotten drunk after being dumped by a man

Like if she was just broken up with best believe she'll pick up a bottle, and look Gray can't hold his liquor for the life of him

What ever happens happens I rest my case.

Like Grayson would obviously refuse a drink knowing he can't control himself when hes intoxicated but Violet, probably way deep in her cups by now and really emotional dosen't wanna drink alone and probably doesn't wanna be alone in general since she just got dumped so Gray gives in promising to pace himself which doesn't work cus Grayson guzzles liquor down like juice like he doesn't know he a fucking lightweight

Again whatever happens happens, let them decide how they feel about it once they're sober

Violet x Tino

These two are besties yall

Violet complains about men meanwhile the perfect man is right there🙄

Tino has nursed her back to health when drunk after being dumped multiple occasions carrying her to bed making sure shes safe(canon)

Stop looking for love and let love find you baby girl😩😩

Like I can imagine Tino carrying an almost black out drunk Violet to her room cus another man decided to be fucking BLIND and like Tino leaving a glass of water at her bedside and Violet deciding to be clingy is like whoa Tino don't go😣😣 and Tinos like 😐girl go to bed😐/j but Violet just wants someone to hold if only for the time being. And Tino, sweet sweet hearted Tino is weak to the asks of some who truely seems vulnerable and needs a bit of comforting, stay with her until she falls asleep♡

Violet x Hawk

Idk where this one came from but I like it!

Violet x Zev

Yall remember when Zev was flirting with Violet in the princes path

Tell me they don't have history right now

*Violet turning down his date invitation*

Zev: MMM! I love it when you ignore me!😫

They went on like 2-3 dates, the issue lies where Violet is actually looking for a partner while Zev is just casually dating

Violet x Mc

These bitches gay.

Nothing about this is heterosexual.

Nah cus why both of them have admitted they wouldn't mind getting with the other

That's so gay.

Dia x Fenn

... you just had to be there

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Dia x Sherry

I know what yall thinking

What?

But have yall seen they're interactions in the short stories😭😭

In Dias path itself Sherry says to mc that it would be nice to know Dia as well as her like😖 baby

In the short stories it mostly them bumping into eachother and Sherry's like wow your so pretty and you should smile more

One in particular where they run into eachother and Dias trying to get away from her(like he does with every one) and he smiles politely and says he has somewhere to go and Sherry's like wow you have such a beautiful smile, you should smile more and Dias like "...thanks😳" and blushes and at the compliment then Sherry's like gimme one more big smile and he does smile, hes like 😊 and shes like I hope you have cause to smile more often, smiles make for more harmonious communications♡

That's so cute yall

In another story they wanna borrow the same book from the library but Dias like you can have it let's her have the book but the Sherry's like we should read it together😄💖

Like?????????

Is this a slow burn romance or something😳😳

No but fr Dia acts annoyed but hes actually so nice to her😭

Rio x Sherry

Not my personal feat, I prefer them as friends

But they cute asf

I love a good friends to lovers moment

Especially knowing they're known each other since they were children

Childhood friends to lovers😋😋

Also the height difference is so cute

Rio is 6'2-6'3 and Sherry's literally 5 feet tall💀

Shorty has to crain her neck to look up at him and Rios like *lifts her up by the armpits* there😄

Roy lowkey ships them but the big brother in him is like nah

It's not that he doesn't think Rio is a good guy it's just that that's his baby sister!!

The day Sherry gets a paramour is the day Roy dies a little inside.

Addis Ira x Gilbert Qelsum

These is literally the most hateful mfs.

Traumatized their children and are shitty people in general

Why are they the only kings that mutually like each others

Gilbert trusts Addis

Hes the only one of the kings that he does trust btw

And Addis dotes on Gilbert

Why are you doting on him-- are yall in a relationship🤨⁉️

Nah cus why all the other kings is like if one trusts another, the other is scared of them or one likes and the other thinks they irritating or they both just hate eachother

I bet they bond over disliking Roc Avari--

I'm stuck on Addis Ira doting on Gilbert

How you doting on a grown ass man but not yo child--

Sus🤨

Moral of the story, Guy is fruity as fuck, gayest bitch in the building, Violet got hella rizz😩 and Toa and Lance are step siblings--

[abernthyss]

BETTER OFF PT 2

Anthony Bridgerton x reader (enemies to lovers)

A/n: Part 2 !! This is mostly for @jessyballet and @alldaysdreamers for requesting this to be a series. Yes I see the comments. The first part got 200+ interactions and a whole lotta love so who am I to not give the audience what they want? Enjoy!

Summary: Anthony Bridgerton married you out of convenience and duty, hoping to suppress your outward personality over time. His efforts are in vain and getting worse as he begins feeling something more for you. Perhaps you are begging to feel it as well.

Word count: 1504

Warnings: mention of loss of virginity, angst, period typical misogyny, uncomfortable sex

The day started as every other. You had stopped reaching over in search of your husband’s figure only a week after your first night together. Your mother had passed when you were young and it left you with no knowledge of how the evening would go. You hated being kept in the dark especially when it came to the man you were about to marry. Despite how unconventional and improper it was, you went to the only mother figure you had. At the time you and The Viscount’s mother had become quite close. Her kindness and genuine care made you like her instantly. You were left to wonder how such a wonderful woman had such an awful man for a son. You begrudgingly and shyly asked Violet what to expect on your wedding night. The poor woman flushed and stuttered out words as best she could. After all, she had done it once with Daphne (with a similar reaction) and did not expect to do so again so soon. Eloise’s season was well underway but the dowager did not expect her headstrong and rebellious daughter to marry during her debut season as you did. “There is a certain technique.” She had said. “A man and woman must.. connect at their core.” You let her go at that point, not wanting her face to get anymore red than it was.

She could not have been more right. Though shreds of pleasure shot through you, your husband was unreasonably quick. An action you for a moment though would improve the experience. He had entered you slowly and seemed to start at a gentle pace, once you stretched to his length he did ‘duty as a husband’. He told you as much the next day when you’d went into his office. The whole ordeal left you feeling used. He made you feel as though nothing more than a vessel for bearing children. Days after that, he entered the room you both supposedly shared with a declaration. “As a Viscount, it is my duty to produce an heir for the bridgerton line.” His lips in a thin line as he began. “You very well know the process of that. We will need to perform this at least a few times over the course of months.”

Here you were months later, unhappy and alone. It wasn’t too early in the morning, in fact it was almost time for breakfast. You located your robe and wrapped it around your curved body, slipping on a pair of house shoes before heading to the dining hall. As always, Violet was the first at the table, sipping her tea quietly. “Good morning,” you croaked. The woman smiled softly at you. “Good morning my dear. How was your sleep.” You took the seat next to her, beginning to pour own tea. “Oh, the same as every night I suppose. Fine.” You stated as you stirred sugar into the tea. You felt her disappointed look on you. There was a rift between your husband and his mother because of you and you hated it. It was why you still spoke so highly about him to her despite last night’s argument in the carriage.

As if on cue, Benedict sauntered in shortly followed by Eloise and later Gregory and Hyacinth. The six of you engaged in light conversation while you ate. It simply had to be riveting because you did not notice The Viscount approach. “Brother!” Squealed Hyacinth and you turned your back to face him. “Busy morning, husband?”

“Quite. What’s for breakfast?”

“Oh, well—“

“So sorry to interrupt,” entered a servant by the name of Sophia. She made her way to you with a letter clutched in her hands. “A letter. For you, Viscountess.” You held her shaking hands in your own and took the letter gently. The Viscount watched as you easily calmed the girls nerves, only showing her kindness and understanding. He could not fathom why he could not remove his eyes from you. She gave you a thankful smile and you returned it twice fold. “Thank you, Sophia. You may go.” With that, she nodded to you and left as you broke the wax seal belonging to your family. “Well?” Gergory spoke up. He hadn’t even finished his plate. Reading over the parchment, your eyebrows rose. “Please do not tell us it is bad news.” Eloise said, slump in her chair. “No,” you reply. “Nothing of that sort. My father is coming to visit.”

To say the least your relationship with your father was as good as it could have been. He was of course a changed man after the death of your mother and he only jumped at the opportunity of you marrying a Viscount as means to your safe and secure future. He wanted what was best for you only…. he had a habit of pushing too hard. “How wonderful!” Violet beamed. “A guest.” Benedict’s eyes widened in realization. “He’ll come with us to the races then?” His brother scoffed at the question. “Of course he will.”

Right on time the next day your fathers carriage stopped in front of Brigerton house with crates of his things. “My girl!” He called out in his deep voice as he saw you. He seemed surprised which didn’t go unnoticed by you. “Hello father.” The two of you embraced and he pulled away to get a better look at you. “My daughter a Viscountess, I still do not believe it at times.” Your husband trailed after you. “And I sometimes cannot believe she has chosen to be my viscountess.” He said in a mock loving tone. You tried to keep your smile. “Ah, Lord Bridgerton.” Your husband nodded to the man. “Welcome, we’ve already prepared your room.” Your father slid his arm around yours as you climbed the stairs and entered the house. “You are happy, aren’t you, Y/N?” The question felt like a loaded one. You certainly could not tell him of how your marriage was going thus far. We’re you truly going to lie to your father? “Very much,” you heard yourself say. “The Viscount makes me very happy.”

The next few days passed in a blur. The races were tomorrow and you’d told Violet you would take Eloise and Hyacinth along with you to the modiste to get new dresses. You had just left the library. You’d been in there all morning scribbling away in a notebook only Benedict knew about. One filled with poetry. As of now, it reflected your loneliness, longing, regret and guilt. One more thing your husband did not know about you. “Ah, Y/N.” Your father called down the hall, his eyes inspecting you as he approached. “How are you feeling, daughter?” You raised a curious brow. “Perfectly fine.” A slight frown slipped onto his face. “I thought it would have happened by now.” He barely whispered. “What exactly did you think would happen?”

“My child, you have been married for months and still you are not with child.” Your breath caught in your throat. You tried not to take his words to heart. “I’m trying, Papa. We are trying.” Those words seemed like nothing and just as before your husband reared the corner. No sound for you to detect him. “You must know how it looks. The embarrassment.”

“Father!”

“You know your duties. Just try a bit harder.”

It took all the strength in you not to let tears fall. You fought them brutally. “Yes, of course. I will try harder.” Your father smiled and continued on his way. As did you, letting a few tears fall, thinking you were alone. “Y/N?” Called the voice of your husband from around the corner. “My Lord? You are not-“

“In my office? Yes, it appears I am not.” You shook your head, willing the tears to stop falling. “Are you alright?” He walked towards you, with what you considered false concern on his features. “Do not pretend to care.” You voice cracked as you spoke. The man frowned. “Perhaps I can?”

“Perhaps you can what? Ignore me like you do every day? Stay in your office all day into the night hours?? Stay awake so late you do not join me in or bed and awake so early that I do not have the opportunity to greet the man I married?” You snapped, tired of holding in your emotions today. “Do not waste your time on me, my lord. I know my duty as you yours.” You wiped your eyes free of tears before straightening out your dress and clearing your throat. “I must get Eloise and Hyacinth. The races are tomorrow, we shall all need new dresses.” You left your husband standing there with the same feeling he experienced at breakfast some days ago. A feeling he could not name. Only this time, it stung him. He stood for a few moments before continuing to his office where he picked up a bottle of brandy and poured himself a glass. What was happening?

[ilalos]

Worth it (Anthony Bridgerton x reader) Part 2/2

Summary: Your arranged marriage to Anthony seems fine, until it doesn’t.

Warnings: marriage, implied sex, angst-ish, fluff, pregnancy, crying, if you notice anything else let me know :)

Word count: 2.5k

The season passed in a blur with countless flowers and conversations that filled you with expectations about your marriage to the Viscount, you truly felt like love was around the corner for both of you and it was a matter of time for that corner to be turned. He was everything you had expected and more, you could tell he was wary about letting you in but didn’t want to push him so you let him open himself to you at his own pace. The had been some stolen looks, kisses on your knuckles that had lasted a little longer than they should and hand a bit lower than what was acceptable when you danced. To say the courting had been successful was the understatement of the season in your opinion, by the time the wedding day came you were counting down the minutes before you finally became Lady (y/n) Bridgeton.

Your wedding ceremony was short and the carriage ride to Anthony’s bachelor townhouse was even shorter. The wedding night had come with a surprisingly low amount of events, your virginity had been taken the sweetest of ways, with many kisses and whispered promises of pleasure that came true. By the end of the day, you were as happy as can be, laying on your husband's chest, feeling his heartbeat slowing down and smelling the sweet vanilla scent of his skin.

When you woke up the next morning the bed was empty and he had already left to work in his study back in the main Bridgerton home. He didn’t return until late in the evening and you were waiting for him so you could have dinner together.

“Thank you for waiting for me,” he said while taking a sip of his wine.

“It’s nothing, I like that we are finally spending some time together”

Anthony just nodded and continued eating in silence.

“How was your day?” You pushed for conversation, you had been alone all day and could really use some conversation with someone different than your maid, who was terrified of speaking freely.

“It was busy” he answered simply “how was your day?” He asked after seeing the face you made at his short answer.

“It was also very busy, I reorganized the books in the library, had the kitchen staff do an inventory on the pantry, and send the maids to the market to get some flowers for the table tops” you narrated proudly, hoping he might appreciate the way you ran the home.

“Good to see you’re settling in, darling” his small praise made you smile a little.

“You don’t mind that I changed some things?” You asked somewhat concerned by his silence.

“It is your home, you’re free to do whatever you please with it,” he said dismissively.

“It’s our home, Anthony, I want to make it perfect for you too”

After dinner, he walked you to the bedroom and after a couple of heated kisses you fell in his arms once again, the pleasure he gave you was addictive. Despite his cold attitude towards you in other aspects of your life, it was in the bedroom where you felt hopeful for a future where you both might learn to truly love each other, and then he would sneak out every morning making you feel like a worthless whore.

And so your days continued like this, every night was filled with passion and every day was lonely. You couldn’t even go to the Bridgerton home, you had been taught that a married lady was not to go out without her husband, so your heart slowly filled with sadness as you spent day after day alone in the townhouse. Anthony was none the wiser because he simply thought you enjoyed being by yourself, so it never occurred to him to invite you to his family’s home or anywhere else.

A month into your marriage you found out you were with child. You were extremely happy and Anthony had shown himself to be happy as well, but then that night he didn’t come home for dinner and didn’t make an appearance in your bedroom. He was more and more distant until four months had passed and he disappeared for two full weeks before you saw him again.

It was on the day of your birthday, and he had only gone to your room because the butler told him you had been very sick that day. When he entered the room he found you seating on the bed hugging your knees close to your chest, your eyes puffy from crying and silent tears still streaming down your face. You weren’t upset he had forgotten your birthday, you had never celebrated it so it didn’t matter he didn’t remember it.

“What happened? Is everything well? Is the baby-“

“Your child is quite well, Lord Bridgerton” you interrupted in the coldest tone he had ever heard from you “to what do I owe this joyous visit?”

“I apologize for my absence, I have been very busy” he answered measly.

“I figured out that much, husband” the word was said with venom.

“Are you upset with me?” He asked offended, you had never treated him so coldly.

“I am upset with myself” you started with a pained chuckle “I don’t need you to try and comfort me because you did nothing wrong, that is the reason for my anger” a small sob escaped your lips “I was taught to be a good wife, that my only job was to give my husband heirs and to keep the house running and I understood that and I didn’t fight it because at least I would have children to fill my life with love and a husband who at the very least would acknowledge me and my efforts”

“I-“

“I don’t want you to feel like you should change or apologize, this is not your fault, I feel miserable because I filled my heart with hopes and dreams of love but that’s just not how life is, at least not mine” you harshly wiped your eyes before finishing “I understand my place now, I’m nothing but a child-bearer for you and that’s fine because you didn’t even pick me in the first place” you got up from bed and opened the door for him “please leave me alone, I will be fine”

“I can’t just leave you here alone, have you even eaten today? In your condition-“

“Your child is perfectly well, my lord” your tone had turned icy once again “please go, I am tired and want to rest”

Unable to do anything else, Anthony left the room and went back to his family’s home. His mother had insisted for him to take you there that night, but seeing your state he didn’t even bother asking if you wanted to go. When he got there he was surprised to see the dining room fully decorated, his whole family dressed in their best clothes, even Daphne and Simon had paid a visit.

“Where is (y/n)?” Asked Violet.

“She’s not feeling very well” answered Anthony looking at the table that was filled with all his wife’s favorite food “What is happening? Why are you all here dressed as if you are attending a ball?”

“Anthony, please for the love of God almighty, tell me you didn’t forget your wife’s birthday!” Violet couldn’t keep his composure, how could Anthony be so clueless.

“I-I’ve been so busy lately supervising the building of the new house, it didn’t even occur to me that it was her birthday” Anthony felt terrible, as he should.

“It’s bad enough she doesn’t like us, son” Violet sighed, seating on the table “And now she thinks we don’t care for her birthday”

“Where did you get that idea, mother?” Daphne couldn’t help but ask “When she writes to us she says wonderful things about our family”

“Then why hasn’t she visited since the wedding?” This time it was Colin asking “Mother sent a tea invitation shortly after they got married and she never showed up, sent a poor letter apologizing but did not explain why she didn’t show”

“I might have an explanation for that” Simon spoke up “My aunt was a terribly strict mother, taught her that a wife was nothing more than a child-bearer and had no liberties like men do, for example: going out unaccompanied”

“Has she been out of the house since you married, brother?” asked Eloise, turning to face Anthony who was still frozen at the doorstep.

“I don’t believe so” he entered the room and sat defeated “I just thought she enjoyed being at home by herself, god!” he rubbed his hands down his face.

“I can’t believe it, the poor thing” lamented Violet.

“She hasn’t left the house in almost half a year” concluded Benedict.

“And here we were, refusing to visit thinking she had rejected mother,” said Colin.

“I would like to clarify, I never agreed with losing contact with her over one missed invitation” added Eloise, gaining the glares of everyone present.

“It matters not what we thought nor does it matter what has happened in the past” began Violet “right now I want you to go pick her up and bring her here, she deserves to be celebrated, especially after everything we put her through,” she told her eldest child, pushing him to stand and go to the door.

Anthony mounted the carriage and urged the coachman to hurry home and as soon as he got there he ran up the stairs to your room and burst through the door, jolting you awake.

“I am so sorry, love,” ha said kneeling on your bedside “I never knew you didn’t leave the house because you thought you couldn’t, you are free to do as you please, darling” he grabbed your hand and kissed your knuckles “I didn’t mean to make you feel trapped in your own home, and I am sorry if you felt like I abandoned you” he caressed your face and wiped some tears that had fallen without your notice.

“You did abandon us,” you said, trying to pull your hand from his grasp with your other hand protecting your belly.

“I was merely supervising the building of our new home, I was hoping I could surprise you before the baby arrived” he explained, now seating by your side “I can’t possibly ask my family to leave their home but I know how much you love that house, and so I chose to build a similar one not too far from here”

“You are building me a house?” You asked incredulously, hardly anything could justify his absence but this was in fact a reasonable explanation.

“Yes, love” he once again caressed your face “A home for our family” at that your eyes filled with tears, this time from happiness.

You sat up and wrapped your arms around his neck, crying with your face buried in his shirt. He wrapped his arms around you, kissing the top of your head and shushing you softly to calm down your cries. You spent a while holding each other until he suddenly broke you two apart, remembering his family that was still waiting for you both to show up.

“My beautiful wife, I must take you out of the comforts of your bed” he began, apologetic “My family is expecting you in their home to celebrate your birthday with a lavish dinner”

“Heavens! You should’ve started with that” you ran to your door and called out for your maid “I don’t think I have a dress for such occasion, non that would fit me now, that’s certain”

You opened your trunk and began taking out your chemise and all other items you had to wear under your dress in such cold weather. You took off your nightgown not caring Anthony was there, he had seen it all before, after you had put on your chemise your maid ran in and help you put on the rest of your garments and helped you squeeze your small baby bump in the dress you had worn for one of the first balls you attended when Anthony was courting you. She put your hair in a quick updo and even managed to coerce Anthony into putting on your stockings and your shoes while she did your hair. With all that rush and hard work, you managed to be ready in under an hour and still made it to the dinner at a reasonable hour (half past 9 is reasonable, right?).

At the Bridgerton home, you were welcomed with warm embraces and merry wishes on your special day. You all sat around the table and ate the feast that had sadly grown cold. Colin didn’t seem to mind as he devoured everything in sight, prompting Violet to chastise him softly. You, however, ate small bites because the pregnancy had caused your stomach to be upset easily and you didn’t wish to offend anyone by running out of the room to empty your stomach. Anthony watched you eat and held your hand atop the table, smiling as he watched you laugh and converse with his family.

“Is the food not good enough?” Asked Violet seeing your plate almost full.

“It is just perfect, my stomach has just been iffy since the start of the pregnancy” you answered smiling apologetically, Anthony choked on his wine because he realized at that very moment that he had forgotten to tell his family about your condition.

“You’re with child? Those are wonderful news!” Exclaimed Violet with a large smile “When did you found out?”

“Four months ago” you turned to glare at Anthony “I assumed your son had told you”

“How could you conceal such joyous information from your mother?” Violet then noticed her eldest daughter had become quiet, as well as her husband “Did you know, Daphne?”

“I was aware of it, yes” Daphne admitted ashamed “I too assumed Anthony had told you”

“You assumed my eldest son had told me about his wife’s pregnancy and I had decided not to mention any of it in our letters?”

“I-I’m, yes?” Benedict and Colin snorted with laughter hearing their sister’s answer.

Violet only shook her head with a small smile, her children were truly a wonder. Anthony was nervous that you’d get mad at him for not telling them, but one look at your laughing face told him he didn’t need to worry.

Later that evening you both laid in bed after yet another passion-filled encounter, your breathing slow and even making Anthony think you were asleep. He was caressing your naked back with feather-like touches, kissing your sweaty forehead every few minutes.

“I love you” you sighed, kissing his chest “You need not feel the same, I just want you to know how I feel”

He took a shaky breath before answering.

“I also am in love with you, darling” he placed a finger under your chin and tilted your head so you’d look at him “sometimes I’m scared of just how much I love you” he kissed you slow and deep, pouring all his love into the action.

The kiss was unlike any other you had shared before, this one was full of promise and hope. It filled you with love and certainty, you were now sure that no matter how difficult the road to Anthony’s heart had been, even if you didn’t want it at first, it had all been worth it.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Hi! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. If you like it let me know.

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@alaizaaa02

@awesomebooklover17

[flautistsandpeonies]

You ever think about how dirty Jiang Fengmian got done?

You’re a sect heir to what is supposed to be the most “free” sect of all the great sects. Expression, play, and ingenuity are literally built into your teachings, and all of a sudden your father wants to set you up into an arranged marriage.

You meet your perspective betrothed, and you don’t like the way she conducts herself. You tell her and your family multiple times that you don’t think that you two would be an appropriate match for one another. Your betrothed, however, wants to marry you- it doesn’t matter what you think apparently- and her family starts pressuring you into marrying their third daughter. You try to hold out and keep denying, but then your best friends want to get married and travel the world together so you are left all alone to fight an entire sect and your father’s wishes by yourself.

Needless to say, you find yourself getting married to the Violet Spider.

So, Yu Ziyuan moves to Lotus Pier and one of the first things she decides is that she doesn’t like her new home and has an entire pavilion built to cater to her needs and brings a bunch of people from her natal sect sect and barring Jiang from the premises.

There are Jiang disciples that have lived in Lotus Pier long than Yu Ziyuan that can no longer access a part of their home because their new madam forbade them from coming there.

She also decides that she isn’t going to take on your family name. She refuses to take the mantle of Madam Jiang and wants to be called Madam Yu despite the fact that she is the one that wanted the marriage in the first place.

Thirdly, she refuses to take care of the household of the Jiang sect. Instead of doing her duties as the Madam of Lotus Pier she would rather go on night hunts and she’s barely home.

So, now you probably have to not only take care of duties as sect leader, you also have to take care of the household cause your wife is almost never home.

Despite all this, you manage to perform your marital duties and you have your first child together! A baby girl who was born frail and with a weak constitution. You decide to name her Jiang Yanli.

Your wife informs you that since she and Jin GuangShan’s wife Madam Jin were the bestest of friends since childhood and made a promise that their first born children would marry one day, your daughter is now in an arranged marriage with the heir to the Jin sect.

With that, you no longer have a sect heir as men do not marry into the woman’s family. You’ve simply had a child to further the Jin sect rather than your own.

Since that’s done, you end up performing your marital duties again, and three years later you end up with a boy this time! You decide to name him Jiang Cheng.

Life is pretty normal, your wife is still never home, Yanli, while not good in cultivation seems to enjoy cooking, and you get your son three puppies to play with.

Four years later, you get the news that your best friends are now dead from a night-hunt and their little boy, just a few days older than your son is missing.

You spend five years looking for Wei Ying and miraculously find him eating the trashed rinds from people who bought watermelon. You buy him food and clothes and bring him back to Lotus Pier where you find your son playing with his puppies, Princess, Jasmine, and Love.

At the sight of them, Wei Ying starts screaming and crying, he’s shaking and sweating and doesn’t seem to be able to perceive the world around him. You see it’s a panic attack induced by the dogs, so you pick him to get him from the same level as the animals and try to calm him down.

Since you doubt the panic attack will be a one time thing, you decide that the best course of action is to send the dogs away. This devastates your son as he really loved his furry friends, so you decide to replace his animal friends with Wei Ying and set them up in the same room.

All this infuriates your wife, and she starts to accuse you of having an affair with your best friend. She accuses you of not loving your son, of being unfaithful, and having a bastard son from a woman who has been dead for five years.

There is a new normal in life with Wei Ying at Lotus Pier. While Yu Ziyuan still night-hunts alot, when she’s home she’s constantly accuses you of favoring Wei Ying over your own son, and claims that Wei Ying is your bastard. Yu Ziyuan has also taken zidian and whips Wei Ying with the spiritual weapon whenever she wants. Some days you come home late at night and find Wei Ying trapped in your family’s ancestral hall kneeling for hours.

Your wife has taken a spiritual tool that has been passed down the Jiang family for generations and she uses it to whip the child of your two best friends. She traps him in the ancestral hall, without medical attention, for hours, until you let him out late at night.

Your wife constantly tells your son that you don’t love him, that you wish Wei Ying was your legitimate heir, that he will never meet your expectations.She berates your daughter for her hobbies and looks down on her. Wei Ying gets whipped for simple things such as not wearing a shirt on a hot summer’s day.

Life passes on like this. Before you know it, you are sending your son and Wei Ying off to the Cloud recesses for study. Three months later, you are called to the mountain headquarters because your head disciples beat up the Jin heir.

Lan Qiren tells you that Jin ZiXuan disparaged your daughter in front of every eligible male in the cultivation world. You understand being betrothed to someone you don’t love, but Yanli didn’t cause the arrangement and even if Jin ZIXuan didn’t want to marry her didn’t mean he didn’t have to talk down about her to any other boy who you could possibly try to set her with. So, with that, you get Jin GuangShan to recede the arrangement and you take Wei Ying home.

I wonder if you will be able to find your daughter a husband after every heir that studied at the cloud recesses heard about how weak in beauty, smarts, and cultivation she was.

For the next two years, you deal with the new normal and your wife cursing you for ending your daughter engagement.

The Wens host an archery competition and then weeks later demand your heirs and disciples as hostages. They demand an heir so you are forced to send your son. Wei Ying volunteers and your wife accuses you of favoring Wei Ying despite the fact that Jiang Cheng really has no choice in the matter.

One month later, your son and disciples come home from a near death experience with a deformed beast and second Wen heir. You are informed that your head disciple stayed behind so you go to retrieve him and find that he and the second jade of Lan killed a hundreds year old beast.

Wei Ying is suffering from an infection from a brand, arrow wound, and a lack of spiritual power and stays in a coma for an entire week. As soon as he wakes, you congratulate him on this rare feet.

Your son is now saying that Wei Ying should have let the sect heirs to two other major sects die and and you try to make him see why that sort of mind set is wrong.

It probably reminds you of being a teenager and almost dying on a night hunt due to Lan Qiren unchangingly following his sect rules, and the only reason you are currently alive is because your friend CangSe SanRen saved your life.

Your wife bursts in and again accuses you of favoring Wei Ying. She claims that you don’t love your son again because she is his mother. It’s the same old argument and she storms out as angry as she came in.

Days go by and you and your wife are still arguing. It gets so bad that you leave your home to go appeal to the man who ordered your son to be a hostage to give you their swords back. You fail.

You’re going home when you find your son and Wei Ying tied together with zidian on a boat. Your son tells you the Wen sect is attacking and that your wife is fighting the core melting hand. You send the boys away; you tell your son to be well, and tell Wei Ying to look after him.

You go home to fight for you sect.

Your core is melted.

You are killed.

Your home is burned to the group.

All your disciples are killed.

All your treasures all stolen.

YunmengJiang is now the Wen Sect Supervisory Office of Yunmeng.

JC Stans Don’t Clown on my Post - Madam Yu Stans Don’t Clown on my Post

[crying-over-spilled-feels]

Dancing in the Rain

Disclaimer: The characters in this drabble are owned by Julia Quinn, Shondaland, and Netflix and are thus not owned by me. In addition, I am also not receiving any monetary gain from this drabble. Based on the drabble prompt: “You wanted to kiss in the rain!”

Word Count: 400 (Yes, this was originally supposed to be 200 words, but my muse ran with it!)

 --------------------

           Benedict Bridgerton cannot help but sigh dramatically as he finally catches his wife’s wrist in his large hand once he manages to chase her down.

“Please come back to the house with me,” Benedict whispers in her ear, dropping a kiss to her right earlobe in the hopes he can entice her back into the safety of their country home. “Sophie, it will not do for you to catch cold in this weather,” the second-born Bridgerton continues, hoping that his reasoning will help change his wife’s mind.

“Dance with me for a moment,” Sophie requests, closing the distance between them and placing her hand on her husband’s broad shoulder. “Please,” she whispers in that voice Benedict cannot resist with a smile on her lips.

Around the pair, a flash of lightning streaks across the sky as thunder booms and crashes in close proximity.

“We must go inside, my love. In your condition, it would not be wise…”

“Kiss me, then,” Sophie practically demands, closing her mossy green eyes as she snuggles into her husband’s chest as his shirt clings to him due to the torrential downpour.

“We could get struck by lightning out here. But, no! You want to kiss in the rain!” Benedict simply remarks before pressing a kiss, long and slow, to Sophie’s lips.

“I do believe the worst that has ever happened to us in the rain was you were struck ill and I helped to tend to you until you were recovered.”

“Yes, but we have never had to run back to the house in a downpour while you were so far along with child just because you had the dream to kiss me in the rain,” Benedict reminds, ever one of the most level-headed of the Bridgerton clan.

“You have to admit it was rather romantic, though,” Sophie smirks, pressing another kiss to Benedict’s cheek before she moves his hand from encircling her wrist down to where it sits on the right side of her swelling stomach. “And I think our son is rather amused with the idea as well since he has not stopped kicking since we arrived outside,” she practically beams.

And, all at once, Benedict becomes undone once more at the sight of seeing his wife and the mother of his child so utterly happy and carefree in their life in the countryside. The rain was tolerable if it made Sophie smile.

 ------------

Author’s Note: Just like that, my third Bridgerton work is finished! I wrote this one the day I finished reading An Offer From a Gentleman which has been less than five days since I finished reading The Viscount Who Loved Me and it is only January 16th as I am writing this. (And, yes, Sophie is supposed to be about seven months pregnant with Charles at this point in time for the sake of this one-shot.) Sophie and Benedict are such a lovely pairing, and I absolutely adored how he was willing to forego his entire social status and risk everything just for the chance to marry Sophie! 😊 Violet Bridgerton has quickly become one of my favorite literary moms, as she is just so supportive of every one of her children’s dreams and just wants to see them happy. Anyway, I digress. As I’m sure you noticed by the word count, this one got very far away from me in terms of the word count being 400 instead of the normal 200 for a double drabble, but this prompt I found was so uniquely screaming Benedict and Sophie to me that I was struck with quite a bit of inspiration. I hope you all enjoyed this little one-shot and that you will let me know your thoughts on this story as well as any others you have seen of mine that may have piqued your interest. As always, thank you for the support and have a wonderful day, afternoon, or night! Until next time, dear readers!

[sweetesthaaze]

24 Days of TVWLM // Day 9

March 9th: Chapter 8

Note: I think I'm going to change how I do these now. Well, just the structure of the actual post. I'm just going to lump the thoughts/show scenes/favorite scenes altogether. I usually find myself rambling on about my favorite scenes and what I want to see in the show in the thoughts section anyway. Anyway, that's insignificant, I just like details. Today's actual post was supposed to be up right after this but stupid tumblr glitched while I was literally typing out my last line and deleted the whole thing. I am tired and upset, so I will not be caught up tonight. Anyway onto the chapter.

Thoughts:

This chapter is so cute. From Anthony seeing Kate come to Aubrey Hall, to the Sheffields (it's actually weird to type that, I'm so used to saying Sharma) joking about how it'll be to hard for Kate to be nice to Anthony, to freaking Violet Bridgerton totally trying to get Kate and Anthony together, and then the garden scene! Honestly, their first kiss should have happened here!! I do wish his apology was better. I mean, he did feel bad and acknowledged that what he did wasn't okay, but still. I wanted him to at least grovel a little.

I am literally not going to be prepared to see Anthony struggle in his father's shadow and just still try to deal with his death. It is going to break me.

I really hope we get some sort of garden scene. Anthony literally picks a flower for her????? Even when they're at odds, they talk so easily to each other, their conversation flows so naturally. I am in love with them. Just as I need Anthony getting a bouquet for Kate too, I NEED him simply picking a flower for her. This time it wasn't because he was trying to impress Edwina or he was trying to gain favor with Kate. He did it, because she liked it. And he didn't even think about it. He just did it. ITS SO CUTE!

And he was seriously about to kiss her again! We are only on chapter 8 and Anthony is already so far in love. This was a good chapter.

Favorite quotes:

"His mother had mentioned - several times - how much she liked Mrs. Sheffield. And he had been forced to listen to his mother's 'Good Parents Make Good Children" theory too many times not to know what that meant." - Mary and Violet are best friends I love it. It's like the parent trap, but instead with their children. The Child Trap. Oh no, that sounds bad . . .

"It wouldn't be easy, since the last thing he wanted to do was humble himself to that woman, but the whispers of his conscience had risen to a dull roar, and he knew she deserved the words, 'I'm sorry'. She probably deserved more, but Anthony was unwilling to contemplate what that might be." - Anthony you coward

". . . each one with its own special memories of childhood. And his father. Anthony close his eyes and exhaled. He loved coming home to Aubrey Hall, but the familiar sights and smells brought his father to mind with a clarity so vivid it was almost painful. Even now, nearly twelve years after Edmund Bridgerton's death, Anthony still expected to see him come bounding around the corner, the smallest of the Bridgerton children screaming with delight as he/she rode on his father's shoulders."

"Hyacinth, who was now just eleven, had never even been held in her father's arms. Anthony had tried to fill the gap as best he could, but he knew he was a very pale comparison." - this broke me.

"Finally, Kate stepped down. And Anthony realized he'd been holding his breath."

"Lady Bridgerton smiled. 'You are a country girl at heart, then?' 'I'm afraid so. London is exciting, and always worth a visit, but I do prefer the green fields and fresh air of the countryside.' 'My son is the much the same way,' Lady Bridgerton said. 'Oh, he spends his time in the city, but a mother knows the truth.'" - this is exactly when Violet knew who her son would marry . . .

"'I noticed when we arrived that you have extensive flower gardens. Might I explore them?' . . .'I should be honored if you explored the gardens.'" | 'True,' she conceded. 'In that case, you should really head out to the flower gardens. The early species are just beginning to bloom, and it's simply spectacular. Like nothing you can ever see in London.'" - AND this is when she decided to do something about it

"She straightened immediately, her entire body reacting before she'd turned to see him. He could tell she'd recognized his voice, which left him feeling rather oddly satisfied."

"He grinned. 'This is killing you, isn't it?' 'Being nice to you?' He nodded. 'It's not the easiest thing I've ever done.' . . . "But it's not the hardest thing, either, now, is it? he murmured."

"Kate started to feel very strange, much like she had in his study, right before he'd kissed her. Her throat suddenly felt a bit tight, and her palms grew very warm. And her insides - well, there was really nothing to describe the tense, prickly feeling that tightened through her abdomen. Instinctively, and perhaps out of self-preservation, she took a step back. "

"'You should have a tulip,' he said matter-of-factly. 'It isn't right that Edwina receives all the flowers.' Kate's stomach, already tense and prickly, did a little flip."

"Kate said nothing, not wanting even to meet his eyes. Whenever she allowed herself one glimpse into those velvety depths, her stomach started flipping anew. 'Miss Sheffield?' he murmured. She looked up. Big mistake. Her stomach flipped again."

"But as Kate had pointed out, maybe marrying Edwina would bring with it far too many complications. It would not do to be lusting after one's sister-in-law, after all." - ya think Anthony???

"Maybe the time was right to kiss Kate Sheffield again, here in the perfect beauty of Aubrey Hall's gardens, with the flowers grazing their legs and the smell of lilac hanging in the air. Maybe . . . Maybe. . . "

Freaking Colin interrupts them. Buuuut the next chapter is Pall Mall!! I can't wait. This chapter was genuinely so sweet. I love how JQ is able to show how well Anthony and Kate fit together, even if they are fighting half the time. I am not going to survive season 2.

Someone please talk to me about this chapter, I'm dying to talk more! Use the tag or hit up my inbox!

[irishseeeker]

                                  i’ve been waiting for you 

Summary: Each time Kate and Anthony meet their children.

read chapter one here

---

chapter 2: kate meets edmund

It started with eggs.

Kate had always loved eggs. Since she was a young girl, she had always had eggs for breakfast with two slices of bread. She sometimes had a boiled egg as a snack or one with some lunch.

She had carried that habit through to her marriage.

Until one morning, she joined her husband at the breakfast table with her stomach growling. She had slept well the night before, Anthony had worn her out after a few rounds, and she was absolutely famished when she woke up that morning. Anthony leaned in to kiss her when she sat down and once they broke apart she reached for the eggs.

She lifted the lid off the plate and all it took was the whiff of fresh eggs that hit her nostrils, and Kate vomited onto their lovely cream carpet.

Anthony had been horrified, carrying her straight back to bed and insisting she sip water while they waited for the doctor.

Kate’s head remained in their chamber pot until the doctor arrived.

She found out she was pregnant that morning.

She had been quite oblivious to the signs-she had missed her courses, but sometimes they did not come. Her breasts had become swollen and she had started more naps than usual. She had put that down to Anthony’s lunch time execurisons to the bedroom since he had started coming home everyday during lunchtime.

Her experience with pregnancy was practically non-existent, the only exposure she had had was watching her sister in law, Daphne, carry her two children. She had watched Daphne glow throughout her pregnancies.

Kate did not feel as if she was glowing.

She felt swollen and self conscious. She also felt incredibly nauseous. As the months passed, she began to stretch in areas she didn’t think would grow, but they did.

Anthony was particularly pleased about the growth in her chest.

Her sickness did not subside for most of her pregnancy. It wasn’t reserved for the mornings like for most women, either. Her stomach could only handle plain foods with little taste.

Anthony, of course, was a hovering mess. He worried about everything and anything. If Kate was on her feet, he would try to get her to sit down. If she lifted a book off a shelf, he would come running to do it for her.

She loved her husband and she knew his actions were out of affection, but the miracle was not the child she was carrying but the fact she did not murder her husband.

When she finally went into labour, it was a terrifying relief. She wanted to meet her baby and finally not be pregnant.

Her midwife, to be blunt, was a word Anthony had taught her-a bastard.

She had spent a considerable amount of time from the moment she arrived not focusing on Kate but insisting Anthony leave the room.

It may not be considered the proper thing for a man to witness birth, but Kate often wondered if the reasoning for it was simply because most men could not handle it.

Anthony Bridgerton was not most men.

A real man would hold his wife’s hand and support her through labor, which for Kate would go on for most of the night.

Anthony Bridgerton did exactly that.

Kate needed him. She needed her husband. From the moment she married him, her need for him had grown and scared her. He was her best friend. He was her comfort and joy. She needed him to hold her hand while she went through the worst pain of her life to bring their child into the world.

Anthony would have not left her side for anything.

There had been a particular afternoon, at around seven months pregnant, where Kate had joined Violet, Mary and Daphne for tea. The three women, having experienced child birth, were not shy with the details.

Kate had managed to keep her composure until she arrived home to Bridgerton House.

It had taken one look from her husband and for him to ask if she was alright for Kate to completely fall apart.

Kate had sobbed for hours. She had been completely distraught. All of her fears slipped out of her like a confession. She didn’t think she would be a good mother. She didn’t want to let Anthony and their baby down. She was terrified of giving birth and the things Violet, Daphne and Mary had said had horrified her. What if she couldn't do it?

She had said all of this to her husband. Anthony had held her for hours, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words into her ear. When she felt sick, he was her cure. He managed to calm her down eventually, running her a hot bath and sliding in with her. He helped her catch her breath, to breathe in and out with her as the warm water slowly calmed her.

They had come a long way in their relationship, learning to be more open and honest about their fears. Anthony still struggled with his mortality and his own fears of fatherhood and he had told her that night as well. He had made Kate's fears feel valid. He had made her feel safe. That she wasn't crazy.

He made her feel that she could do this.

That they could do this.

Despite the fear she felt, she knew it really would be okay. They would go through it together and they would be a family.

The actual birth itself, to put it plainly with another word Anthony had taught her, hurt like a bitch.

She didn’t know how she did it but she did. She groaned and held Anthony or Mary’s hand through each pain as the minutes turned into hours.

Kate knew she was close. The intense pressure she felt and the urgent need to push, which the midwife kept instructing her to do, along with Anthony and Mary at her side, meant she was nearly there.

Her baby was nearly here.

A piercing cry tore through the air and that intense pressure had dropped, the pain still tearing through her but the midwife announced her son was here.

Her son was here.

“Oh my, is he alright?” Kate sobbed, collapsing against the pillows but her eyes did not leave her son. She was so exhausted and happy, the tears and beads of sweat making their way down her face as her son was put on her chest. He was wriggling, slightly pink and purple and he was covered in a white substance and red splotches of blood.

He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

“Oh, Anthony. Look,” Kate whispered, her eyes tearing off her baby’s face for a second to lock eyes with her husband’s teary ones. Anthony leaned down to kiss her softly and she felt everything he was feeling. They broke apart only to stare back down at their son.

Kate squeezed Mary’s hand once Anthony held the baby, looking at the woman who had become her mother when she had lost her own so young. She owed Mary everything.

Kate woke up a few hours later to Anthony rocking their son by the window. Kate’s exhaustion had led to her sleeping through most of the night and she fell back asleep after feeding Edmund and laying with Anthony for a while. Mary returned early in the morning, fussing over Kate and making sure her daughter was recovering as well as she could.

Mary lightly dabbed Kate’s forehead with a damp cloth.

“Hi,” She whispered, letting out a mixture between a sob and laugh as Edmund let out a small yawn, his entire face scrunching up as he stretched open his tiny mouth.

Kate was still processing the fact this tiny perfect baby was hers.

The first person Anthony had fetched was her sister, Edwina, who had been waiting eagerly downstairs.

“It is indescribable, is it not?” Mary murmured, lightly brushing Kate’s hair behind her ears. “The love you have for your children.”

“Oh Kate,” Edwina gasped, covering her gaping mouth as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed. “He is wonderful. You did amazing.” She pressed a kiss to her sister’s forehead.

They eventually left Kate to rest and Kate lay there in their bed, for the first time, completely alone with her son.

Her son.

She pulled her knees towards her chest as much as she could, still feeling quite sore everywhere. She carefully lay Edmund on her knees, taking his tiny hands in hers.

This had been the person who had kept her company the last nine months. Whenever Anthony had to work, or she could not sleep, Edmund had been there. He usually had been keeping her awake. It seemed bizarre but Kate stared at his tiny little face with his bright blue eyes, she felt like she already knew him. She had talked to him a lot, poking her bump and he would kick her back.

She was looking at her and Anthony. His round nose was all her, it was her father’s nose that Kate had inherited. Her heart panged for her father, who would never meet Anthony, who would never meet Edmund or any of their future children.

He was named after two great men and Kate would never forget the look on Anthony’s face when she suggested the name Edmund Benedict Bridgerton.

Benedict had become a good friend to Kate, he had kept her company and taught her to paint through her confinement with her broken leg and limited mobility during pregnancy.

“You are absolutely wonderful,” She murmured, pressing a kiss to his little fingers. They were so adorable and tiny. “We love you so much.”

“I know you have already been acquainted, but let me tell you more about your father,” Kate whispered, her eyes darting to Anthony’s heavily snoring figure beside her. “We are so lucky, you and I. He is….he is everything, sweetheart. He is kind, caring, funny, incredibly arrogant-but absolutely perfect in every conceivable way. As are you,” Kate whispered, leaning forward to press a kiss to her son’s cheek. “We might keep the perfect part to ourselves. We can’t inflate your father’s ego much more, it’ll explode.”

She could not take her eyes off him.

Her perfect baby boy.

Edmund was so tiny for making Kate so large. She had been rather self conscious during her pregnancy, and when she had eventually expressed her fears to Anthony, he had spent every day putting in extra effort to tell her how gorgeous she was.

Then he would use his tongue, fingers and hips to show her.

What a man.

The door opened slowly and Anthony appeared, smiling softly at Kate as he closed the door behind him and joined her on the bed.

Kate insisted Anthony needed to rest which her stubborn husband finally agreed to, leaving Kate and Edmund with Mary and Edwina.

He looked refreshed despite the dark bags under his eyes, similar to Kates. She knew they would be a familiar feature of theirs for the rest of their lives.

Edmund Benedict Bridgerton already had a good set of lungs.

He wrapped his arms around them, his family, pressing a kiss to her temple and bridging his hand to Edmund’s small cheek to lightly brush it. “How are you?”

“We are good,” Kate said, running her finger through the wisps of hair on the top of Edmund’s head. “I’m absolutely starving.”

Anthony turned to smile softly at her, “What do you fancy?”

Kate grinned at her husband.

“I’m dying for some eggs.”

[thekatebridgerton]

Given everything that happened between Marina and Colin in the series, how do think Violet and the Bridgertons will react to Eloise marrying Phillip and becoming a stepmom to Marina’s kids?

This is a great question and I'm glad we get to talk about it.

And well considering that from Marina's scandal to Eloise marriage about 8 years have passed give or take depending on how long is the Polin time skip. Violet and the rest of the Bridgertons will have had enough time and worse scandals to deal with than the Marina thing (looking at you Benedict married-a-maid Bridgerton and Colin proud-husband-of-LW Birdgerton)

By all means in the books Violet sounds like she's super relieved Eloise is even getting married at all. Not that Eloise is a problem child but her gimmick in the family was that she wasn't married because she hadn't found a man who was man enough to love her for who she was (aka a man with more balls than her, which is understandable, really, Eloise is capable of emasculating any idiot men with just breathing). If Phillip does see her for who she is, then nobody is going to care much about him being Marina's ex

And also the show actually makes it easier to explain for the viewer the whole thing about Eloise becoming a step mother to Oliver and Amanda, because in the show Phillip is the kids biological uncle. And Eloise and the Bridgertons know that. Or at least they know that Marina was already pregnant when she married Phillip.

If the show follows the cannon backstory between Marina and Phillip, which is that they never had a romantic relationship. Eloise will simply be marrying the honorable man who covered up Marina's scandal. The Bridgertons must also have the vague idea that Phillip married Marina while being fully aware that she was pregnant (Unlike Colin). So they likely wouldn't have a problem.

Although in this case there would indeed be a debate over the issue of telling the children that their real father was George.

I imagine it would make for a good minor storyline for Marina and Phillip, or Phillip and Eloise (probably her family too) to debate over wether they should let Oliver and Amanda know that Phillip is actually their uncle, and reveal that they were conceived out of wedlock (which was a big deal in regency england) or let them continue to think that Phillip is their biological father, effectively erasing the memory of George all together which I don't think Marina would have allowed.

My point is that as far as the show goes, Eloise would be taking a parental role with Phillip's kids but it is understood by the Bridgertons and the viewers that this makes her their step aunt not their stepmother. Which isn't that big of a distinction, I mean she's still going to be the main female influence in those kids lives. But it's more likely that the show will put emphasize on how this doesn't make Eloise their mother. She's not going to fill in for Marina. She's there to be their aunt.

And this is probably how the Bridgertons will see it as well.

Unless the kids want to call her mom, which is cool I guess. But it's debatable given how much Ruby Baker's performance as Marina gave the impression that she would probably be a stronger presence in the kids lives growing up than book Marina.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but this is how I imagine things will go in the future. Of course in the show a lot of things have already changed and there might be an unexpected expansion if Phillip and Eloise story before their season. To give them an appropriate footing to start with. Sort of how Anthony was given scenes showcasing his selfishness and autocratic idiocy to better contrast how different he will act once he meets Kate. Nothing is certain right?

I'm looking forward to them very much

[thevoilinauttheory]

The Funeral

[ FFxivWrite2021 Prompt 29: Debonair ]

[ Content Warnings: passive suicidal ideation; death and blood mentions ]

[ Just want to note here... that this started as one thing and ended as another and don’t have the energy to change it because it ended up being so long lol I wanted to try something different, but then it went *way* different, so. Uh. Here you go! 😂 official video not posted due to the fact that it was flashing enough to bother me, so it might bother someone else. ]

==

“He’s a strange one, that’s for sure. Have you seen him ever show an onze of emotion?” “He may be the eldest, but do they really think he’d be the best heir?” “He’d run the family into the ground, if given the chance.”

He could hear them through the walls, the jabs at his character. How dare they? Was he not the perfection the rest of the noble community sought? Or was it his perfection that made them think as such? His ears twitched. Someone was coming, and by the weight of the footsteps…

“Cedre, Mother wishes to speak with you.” Sylvain gripped at the hem of his shirt - nervous. All of his siblings were intimidated by him. All of the people he would call his friends did the same. Cedrenaux stood from the bench he sat on, waiting for his parents to call him in. This gathering was supposed to be one of levity, other houses joining them for a single night of enjoyment. It was always too bright in here. The bright blues, the bright reds, the bright violets and whites and lights. Dear gods, the lights. He spoke no words to his brother, passing by him in some furied silence. Or, what Sylvain would think as he passed by.

“Cedrenaux, dear! Look at you, dressed to the nines~.” His aunt was the first to applaud him - for what, exactly? He never knew. All of them praised him for some unholy reason. “Well, it is only proper for him to be dressed so.” His mother was a walking contradiction. Doting, and yet, not so easily impressed. She brushed some of his stray hairs down, the wavy near-curls springing up to their own liking. Despite the fact that he was old enough to do so himself, old enough to speak for himself, he did not. “I want you to meet this lovely girl,” She turned him towards a beautiful woman, slightly older than him; fair skin, chestnut hair, what wondrous green eyes. “This is Cassandra Babineaux, under House Dzemael. Cassandra, this is my eldest son--” “Cedrenaux. A pleasure.” His voice was dry, it said anything but. He offered her a formal bow. “You two are to spend much time together, in fact, why don’t you get to know each other a bit more now?”

==

“Cassandra is to be your bride, Cedrenaux, you must compose yourself well.” “Yes, Mother.” He stood still as his mother fussed over his appearance, brushing lint from his shoulders, straightening his jacket. While it was infuriating to be coddled like a child, he let her do her thing, letting out a short sigh when she stepped away. “While this marriage is arranged, you two have gotten along so well - we thought it best that you would propose to her in a traditional fashion as well. I am certain it would mean a lot to her.” “Yes, Mother.”

He couldn’t stand her. There was always something off about the woman. To be married to her was going to be a long road, one that would likely never end - not until he was at the end of his days. The temptation was there - death would be far preferable, but he knew that his family needed this. After the accurate accusation of his grandmother as a heretic by the Dzemaels - his mother’s mother, worse off - they needed to make amends to the House. To prove that just one was enough. Once his mother left him, he took himself to the closest mirror. His hair was tied up in a bundle of wavy curls, not quite untamed, though no less annoying. He pulled the band from it, letting it fall loose; using his fingers to comb it out. Princely, straight from a faerie tale - that’s what Cassandra had called it. Disgusting.

“Cedrenaux?” A soft voice peered through the door, nervous and shaking. “Isabelle, is something amiss?” “N-No, not… not really. You look upset.” “...I am.” “Is it the marriage?” “...” He nodded slowly as he strode to the door, opening it fully for his youngest sister. She was easy to talk to, she had no room to judge anyone else, nor did she have a habit of doing so. “It’ll… be okay, I think.” Cedrenaux shook his head. “No, it will not. I do not like her in the slightest.” “But you got along so well…” “Because I was forced to… I do not want to marry, and especially not her.” “Why is that?” “Aside from a bad feeling…? I… I cannot say.” He muttered to himself, eyes to the floor, a crack in his usual expression. “...I simply do not like any aspect of her.” “Have you found another lady that caught your fancy?” “....” How was he supposed to answer that? He opted for another shake of his head. “No. I have had no interest in any of them. I have been putting my focus into my studies.” “I see.” She needed no other words to explain, she only smiled. “It’ll be okay. I can feel it. In the end, it’ll be okay.”

==

“I… am at a loss for words.” “Cedre, dear, please, I didn’t mean--” “Did not mean…? For what? To take on another man, force him into marriage? We have two children, Cassandra - that something like this happened is beyond me.” “You’re not… leaving, are you?” “Your kind are not wont to change.” “B-But.. the kids-” “Are in your capable hands. Perhaps you will no longer find your eyes wandering when you are pressured to do the job I have been doing whilst you were galavanting about with another man. The poor sod better be thankful he got away when he could.” “...Not without stealing the better half of our funds…” “Of your funds. Good riddance too.” “Cedre y-you sound so…” “Pleased? Gods be, I am. I had been looking for years for a way to get you far from me.”

Those words were heartbreaking to anyone who would hear them - and a relief to the one who said them. Cedrenaux finally felt a weight off of his shoulders. Such a relief to breathe out. “Since we are on that topic, I had never liked you to begin with - we were only together thanks to our parents.” “L-Love, I--” “Do not address me as such, lumping me in with the Brume rabble you called your lover. Of course, I side with him - the abuse you have fed both of us.” “You would punish our children over this?!” The shock wore off, it turned to anger. “Hm? I am sorry, did you say “our”? No, no. They are your children now. You can disclude me from the picture. Of course, I did already speak to them. They are old enough to understand how rotten you are, and thankfully, old enough to know how to ruin the rest of your days. Of course, in the end, you will have wonderful heirs to your house and name. Seeing as I taught them as such.”

“What would your mother say once you came home? She’d be disappointed, angry. She’d make you come back.” “Oh, do not worry. Your backstabbing name will be littered upon the ears of others, I am certain my mother will be just fine with it.”

==

“Please, wait! Wait, I have evidence!” Cedrenaux tried to push his way past the Templars which guarded the Vault. Guarded the trial - the trial against his parents. He held above him the papers, the ones that showed their innocence. “They are not guilty, you must hear me!”

“Lord Voilinaut.” One of the clergy approached him - a tone that made his heart sink. She took the papers from him, a slight twitch of shock. “I apologize, my lord, but you are too late. Their sentence was held a quarter of a bell ago. These papers, however -...” She shook her head. “This would not be enough, though I will see to it that these are filed properly so that no future mistakes will happen.”

“Y-You… admit… it was… a mistake?” He could feel it, it boiled under him, made his skin itch. He bared his teeth in a scowl, words sharp with his shouts. “You would murder for your own sakes?! They were not guilty! If I could find the evidence, why could you not have?!” The Templars struggled to keep the young lord from attacking the clergywoman, having to catch him by his collar and arms. “I apologize, my lord. I do not oversee the investigations, but I shall apprise them of the situation so that no others will have to face an injustice like this.” Cedrenaux managed to settle himself, composing with a sigh. “...Very well… so long as it does not happen again. You will regret the next time it does.”

He could hear the papers burning in the room she had left to.

==

“I apologize for the inconvenience, sir. If I could ask a favor of you…” An Elezen, far taller than he - though who would not be? Even the hyurs in the city were taller than him. Dressed in nobles’ clothes, light hair, fair eyes. “And you are?” “Tristan.” “...Tristan.” “My… full name is rather long, and this moniker suits me well.” “I see, and what can I do for you?” “...It…” Tristen looked about for any passerbys. “Perhaps we could sit over here, it… concerns a rather personal matter.” He gestured to the gazebo of the Voilinaut’s estate. Cedrenaux nodded, leading in taking a seat.

“I… have heard many things. I would clarify if they are true or not, and if they are… perhaps you could listen to my plight. I have heard that upon your divorce with Cassandra, your parents were tried for heresy.” “...That is true. You know of Cassandra?” “I know that she is behind it - ah… I know… from personal experience, as she has done the same with my family. They are currently in a gaol awaiting their sentence.” “How do you know?” “...She screamed at me as such when I pushed myself from her.” “You were…?” “Also married, yes. At the time you were.” “You certainly do not look the part of the man I had found her with. Do you mean to say she was doing as such with three individuals?” “I am, yes.”

Cedrenaux folded his arms over his chest, inhaling sharply. He closed his eyes to think, ears twitching to the sounds of other gossip from down the road. “...And what favor would you ask of me.” “That I may remain in your estate as a guest, until I am given my home back after the investigation. I am without one, currently.” “....” He wasn’t keen on sharing his home with strangers, especially since they were in the process of moving furniture out; sorting through paperwork and memories. How could he not lend aid to another who has shared this pain - who will share this pain. He knew that Tristan would not see his family again. Cedrenaux nodded slowly, bringing a bright smile to Tristan’s face. “I thank you, sir,” “Cedrenaux.” “I thank you, Cedrenaux. For your kindness.” He shook his head. “...Do not worry of it. My family will see to it that you will have a place to stay. Do excuse the mess.”

==

With a heavy thud, Tristan had his back trapped against the wall. Such brashness was rewarded with the second heavy emotion he had shown - first anger, now… Cedrenaux sputtered under his words, some semblance of fear on his face as his fingers clutched into the hem of his own shirt. Tristan let out a bright laugh, that perfectly playful smile. He was so forward, how could anyone act without shame - or at least thought to their actions. Or, perhaps he did think it over and--

“You’re so adorable like this!” Tristan pushed off the wall to let Cedrenaux have some breathing room. “L-Like what? What do you mean?” Despite the blatant display of emotion, and the catch of his teeth on his lips, his voice still stayed dry and even. “C’mon, I know you’re not that much of an idiot.” Silence. There was no response - he definitely was not that much of an idiot, still--

“Why?” “Why not?” He was nudged with an elbow. “The moons I’ve stayed here, you have shown nothing but care and kindness to your family - and myself. Of course, not everyone would call it that, but… you really are adorable.” Tristan leaned forward to pinch his cheek. His smile faded as he lowered his voice. “You have a lot of qualities about you that no one else does, something the rest of Ishgard needs. You exude safety, protection, you’re diligent - strong.” His smile came back with something softer. “They don’t see it, but I do.”

“...” Cedrenaux looked down to the floor - he was tense from the surprise, but it was relief that came from his breath. “Thank you.” It took a bit, a little moment, but he smiled. Nothing as bright as the man’s in front of him, but it existed. He took a careful step forward, hesitant, like he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing… but he wrapped his arms around him, tucking his head into Tristan’s chest. “....” He smelled of Starlight - he wouldn’t forget that. Pine and cinnamon, a fresh fire, winter air. It was… it was comforting. It reminded him of the times he could truly be a child with no worry of others’ thoughts. “...Thank you…” His voice was soft now, afraid to speak aloud. Gods, if his siblings saw him.

Even Tristan was surprised by the forward action on Cedrenaux’s part, but he wrapped his arms around him, holding him close as he placed his head atop his. “Just one night?” “...Just one.”

==

One night turned to moons - moons of a fleeting emotion.

“Is Lord Tristanaireux in? We received word that he would be staying with your house.”

Several Templars were at their door. Cedrenaux knew exactly what that meant. “The investigation is over then? Should he return home?” “...He is, yes.” Their hesitation said otherwise. He saw that too. “Is that right, then? I will escort him then, to make sure he arrives safely.” “There is no need for that, we will-” “I do not trust you. After the last time, I refuse to.” “My lord, we have found relics of heresy amongst his belongings. He needs to be turned in--” “You would lie to me, on my estate?” Cedrenaux’s voice got low, deep, something dark.

“A-Apologies, m-my lord…” “Leave. Come back when you have hard evidence that it is his, and that it was not planted by you nor anyone else.” “Sir, you will be tried, too, if--” “Learn your battles, boy.” The Templars at his door were armed, and yet they made no moves against him. As if they truly were afraid of just him alone.

“Lord Cedrenaux, is aught amiss?” Another lord from the Dzemael house, when would they leave him alone? “No, in fact, these kind gentlemen were here to let me know that my friend is allowed to return home. ...Yes?” His glare pierced them. He made these fools stand straight, near threatened into admitting so. “Is that so? I had heard just the opposite. Are you housing a heretic, Lord Cedrenaux?” “On baseless accusation. Show me the evidence, and I will turn him over.” “The Vault is already in the possession of the evidence, s-sir…” The Templars spoke up again. “Then tell them to show me.”

His continuance on their argument was cut short, with Tristan looming over his shoulder. “What’s going on now?” “Back inside, now.” The sound of his voice turned to urgency, he was thankful Tristan understood - the man took a hefty step back, just before the sharp cry. “Grab the heretic, now!” Without so much as a second thought, the Templars trampled over Cedrenaux to seize Tristan from the hallway - dragging him out to the streets as he kicked. “Let go! I know naught of what you speak!”

As Cedrenaux found the strength to pick himself up off the floor, his eyes turned to the door - to the road - to the people across from his home - to the smile of the woman standing there. Her.. this was her fault. “Tristan!” His boots skid along the stone as he broke into a sprint. “Cedre!” The sound of his name was cut with a cry and grunt, a chained elbow smashed into his face - thrown into the ring in which the trial was being held. “Stop! I beg of you, please think before you act!”

It felt like the trial held for his parents, another mistake - another intentional mistake.

“The evidence was planted, my lords!” “By who.” They spoke to him, they addressed him. Gods be, he had a chance. “Cassandra Babineaux. She admitted to accusing not only his family, but mine as well, of baseless heresy. I had word that investigations would be thorough.” “What motives would she have to do this?” “We are both her ex-husbands, having committed adultery against us both - she seeks revenge for our leaving.” “Have the guard fetch this woman then.”

He could hear it, the sigh of relief from his love.

==

“I do not know what you speak, my lord! Why would I take the risk of being accused, myself? If I had planted it, I would have had the evidence on me at some point!” “Anything for revenge… first my grandmother, then my parents, now this…”

She lied through her teeth, she lied, and they both knew.

“Lord Cedrenaux, why would you accuse this woman of--” “Why would you believe her words over mine? Do you think me a liar, my lord? I have stood by and watched countless of my family die at your hands on false accusations - the truths brought to light, and still, you would do this?” “Why would you accuse me? I have found my love, I do not need yours nor his!” “Be- Because… I saw that look on your face, when I was on my way here, that smile of yours.” “Can I not greet you on the street?” “...” His jaw clenched. “Not when you just witnessed this man being dragged off.”

“Lord Voilinaut.” “Check her home, then, if you dare will! There’s plenty more evidence to plant, isn’t there?! One at a time, you will pick off those I love… who next, then? Sylvain? Valera? Isabelle?” He saw the corner of her mouth twitch at the mention of his youngest sister, that little detail. “Snake, impudent hag - you would harm such an innocent girl for your petty spite against me?!” Everything in his body could not stop him from lashing out, jumping on her in an instant - he only landed a single blow to her face before the Templars snatched him away from her.

“Calm yourself this instant!” The loud thud of a hand against the table snapped him from his rage. “You would conduct yourself in this manner, Lord Cedrenaux? Your accusation of your ex-wife is paranoia, that she is out to get you - she has clearly moved on. We will consider your evidence null.” “N-No, please! Do not harm him! He is innocent!” It was the first time he had ever cried, even as a baby; he screamed, but never shed a tear - he choked on his sobs. “Please…” He would resort to begging if it made it so, he sunk to his knees - he did not expect to hear the scream so close to his ears, so loud, it took up the room. He heard nothing else. The thump of the body on the floor, the spill of blood. The tile was stained with it.

Even as the room cleared, he did not move - he could not move. He cried, coughed, sobbed, screamed and yelled and begged what gods there were to make it stop.

In the end, all he could do was make certain that his family was safe.

[ruensroad]

o(≧∇≦o)

another sleep deprivation prompt!!! for rencheng!!! "What? Sorry, I'm having trouble focusing..."

Thank you! sorry for the delay, life got a little crazy!

From this prompt list and from this RenCheng AU :)

He could still hear her laughter, some days. Everytime he sat too straight, poured his tea too perfectly, she was there to chide him in his mind. Lan-xiong, so strict! Lan-xiong, so perfect!

While he could say with true honesty that he hadn’t fallen in love with Cangse Sanren the same way Jiang Fengmian had, a part of his heart still fully belonged to her. Which wasn’t too uncommon. Despite her carefree, chaotic nature, she had been beautiful and bright, and nearly everyone that she’d met had fallen in love with her to some degree - a sentiment that, no doubt, would have amused her greatly.

There had been a time that she’d been the bane of his existence. She was everything he wasn’t, everything he’d been taught was incorrect. She was wild and mischievous, unafraid to speak her mind. She laughed often and loudly and started duels because she could. Knowing now that feelings had formed for her explained some of his early reactions, his quick anger and frustration. 

She always had left him flustered, not only with her forwardness, but also her depth of kindness and understanding. Even when he had nearly gotten her and Jiang Fengmian killed, she had forgiven him. And sure, it had resulted in the loss of his goatee, but their friendship had been strong and forthright forever on, and even now touched his heart in ways not much did.

He felt, most days, like his heart was a house built of different rooms. One room was for his nephews, large and important. One was for his friends and family, whom he guarded like treasure. One was for Cangse Sanren and all other friends he had lost along the way. And one for-

“Shufu?” Lan Xichen asked, and by his tone he had been saying it for a little while. Lan Qiren blinked out of his stupor and realized he’d been stroking his beard, giving the illusion of deep thought. Judging by the concern on his nephew’s face, he must be quite the sight, frowning and thinking in his sleep clothes. He’d just awoken from his rest and lost himself to thoughts, which he never did. No doubt, Lan Xichen was ready to call for Wangji at the first sign of illness in a panic.

The thought made him smile, which probably helped nothing. “Forgive me, Xichen,” he murmured, trying to find some of that containment he was so known for. But he was soft today, lost in memories of a golden time. For they truly were tinted gold, those days where he and Jiang Fengmian had been pulled by their sashes after a laughing Cangse Sanren, who promised adventure and no end of trouble. “I did not hear you.”

Every memory he had in each locked room of his heart was colored differently. For his nephews, it was a somber, beautiful blue, and sometimes he could almost imagine the world actually tinted so when he was with them.

“I simply remarked on how long you slept, shufu,” Lan Xichen said with a smile that let Lan Qiren know he’d worried him. “And that I hope you are feeling better.”

Lan Xichen was kinder than the world deserved. Lan Qiren, soft as he was, took in the beloved planes of his face with pride before his eyes flickered down the root of the issue: an untouched cup of tea. Ah, no wonder. 

He took the tea and warmed it back up with a wash of qi, sipping it gratefully. Lan Xichen’s smile warmed in relief to see it.

“I am rested,” Lan Qiren promised and set the cup neatly back down, which only made Lan Xichen calm down further. It was always in his habits, he’d found, that Lan Xichen paid the most attention to. As did Wangji, and he smiled to himself at memories of a frowning, silent child worriedly pulling on his sleeve because he had not finished his tea. He would make sure to finish this cup for both their sakes, no matter how he truly felt. “Just in my thoughts this morning.”

Lan Xichen nodded and sipped his own tea, the movement graceful and perfect. He looked so much like his mother that the room in his heart where he’d secretly locked Madam Lan away ached. That room was coated in roses and black thorns, and he pushed her memories from the fore of his mind, but it was a little too late. He was already bared open, so the next words hit him like barbs, a thousand arrows to yet another room of his heart, colored in purple and echoing with distant thunder..

“Sect Leader Jiang has been asking about you,” Lan Xichen said and there was a tiny laugh in the words. “As has Young Master Jin. I haven not seen you play with anyone since Wangji, shufu.”

“He is a child, Xichen,” Lan Qiren defended easily, “and his uncle was sick. A simple decision to keep him calm.”

Nevermind that there were nannies here, and other children. It would have been just as simple to hand Jin Ling into the care of one of them and let him play away his worry with A-Yuan and A-Yi, and other boys and girls his own age. But that stubborn room in his heart had not let him, for it was beginning to sprout with golden peonies too, and already he could hear Cangse Sanren’s laughter.

Lan-xiong, so fearsome! If you scowl like that, no one will marry you!

His ears went hot and he sipped his tea to stave off any teasing. Blessedly, Lan Xichen took the hint.

“Of course,” he agreed, because he was a better nephew than Lan Qiren deserved, but his eyes were still going over Lan Qiren quizzically, a look he knew far too well. It was the same face he wore when he puzzled through a game of chess, or a painting, or a new piece of music, an inevitability that it would be solved.

Lan Qiren, for once, didn’t know what to say to dissuade him. Thankfully, a knock sounded before he could try and a young disciple bowed from the door. 

“Old Master Lan, Sect Leader Jiang and Young Master Jin are here to see you.”

He wanted to laugh, almost, because of course Jiang Cheng had wasted no time. A storm opened in that heart room, fluttering with lotus and peony petals, and he realized he was stroking his beard again. It went unnoticed by Lan Xichen this time, given he was politely excusing everyone away, and Lan Qiren could hear her laughing again, goading him on.

Lan-xiong, be brave!

“No,” he said over Lan Xichen and looked up at the disciple. “Let them in.”

“Shufu, you’re not dressed,” Lan Xichen argued immediately, the surprise on his face making his eyes wide and his voice a little high. 

“I am aware,” Lan Qiren said evenly and took a sip of tea just so he could set the cup down in a more final motion. “Leave us please, Xichen. Sect Leader Jiang and I have something to discuss.”

“Of… course, shufu,” Lan Xichen said, and his confusion made him look like a lost little boy. Lan Qiren ached immediately to pull him into his arms and guard him from the world, but the moment was gone quickly and Lan Xichen slipped past the door. 

The very air seemed to crackle with lightning as Jiang Cheng stepped inside, and even with a five year old on his hip, he looked imposing and handsome and all of Lan Qiren’s world tinted to a stormy purple.

“Old Master,” was his greeting, voice low and rough, but full of confidence, if only for the moment. 

“Sect leader,” Lan Qiren gave back, like he wasn’t in sleep clothes with his hair down, like this was just any other meeting between them and not the most important talk of his life. “Young Master Jin.”

“Old teacher!” Jin Ling wiggled to be put down and Jiang Cheng obliged him. The boy hurried over to Lan Qiren with what looked like a mess of paper in his hands, but was actually a folded paper dog that he handed over with happiness. “Are you feeling better? I made this for you. Jiu-jiu showed me how to do the folds!”

The offering was simple, but made him ache. He nodded seriously and took the little dog, setting it on the desk. “I am well, Young Master,” he promised and got a luminous smile for his words. “Thank you.”

“A-Ling, go play with your boat. Old Master Lan and I need to have a talk,” Jiang Cheng said, pulling the wooden toy from his sleeve. Jin Ling grinned and took it, then retreated to a spot near the go board. He might as well not have been there at all with how intensely Jiang Cheng was staring him down and it took all of Lan Qiren’s will not to shake as he poured the man a cup of tea.

It was silent and heavy as Jiang Cheng folded himself into the place Lan Xichen had been, and Lan Qiren felt his mind flicker back to golden days, even as his eyes were entranced by the vision of violet and silver before him. 

Cangse Sanren was as close to a first love as he’d ever gotten, and she had been his opposite in every way. Jiang Cheng, the one whose room in his heart knocked the loudest, was more like himself, strict and perfunct, bitter of the world and tethered only by the love of a nephew. He was a study of what was proper and expected of any sect leader, warrior, and ally. He was fierce and stalwart, a wall all bad things had to break down before anyone else was hurt.

Lan Qiren had been in awe of him a long time and let it show in his eyes as he set down the cup. He knew Jiang cheng expected words, expected an explanation, but like Jiang Cheng himself, he was not a man made of them. The only words he knew were rules, which were armor and guidance. But words from the heart? He might as well have been an illiterate fool.

The only consolation was that Jiang Cheng seemed to be having as much trouble as he. As the silence stretched on, he watched the irritation and embarrassment only grow as they both tried and failed to speak. Finally, Jiang Cheng simply swore under his breath, and though it broke a rule, it lit a fire in that room Jiang Cheng owned in his heart and made him laugh.

Like ice breaking, Jiang Cheng huffed a brief chuckle to join him and his shoulders slumped. “This is stupid,” he said, and Lan Qiren had to agree. “We talk all the time. We should be able to do this.”

Lan Qiren nodded and stroked his beard, a movement Jiang Cheng watched with dark eyes. “I do not speak plainly of what is in my heart, Sect Leader,” Lan Qiren said, and it was the bravest he’d ever been. The heat in his ears trickled down into his neck, plain for the man to see.

“Your heart?” Jiang Cheng echoed, incredulous, and he too looked like a lost child, hopeful and aching for things that were always ripped away. Lan Qiren felt the same instinct to hold him and guard him from the world he felt with his nephews. “That would imply that I am in your heart, Old Master.”

It was a challenge, and a plea. Lan Qiren looked down at his cup of tea and saw his own smile. “You are.”

Simple, could it really be that simple? He met Jiang Cheng’s eye and waited, watched a valiant struggle flicker in those eyes and over his expression. It settled on more of a scowl, in the end, but that was just armor too.

“You… too,” Jiang Cheng swallowed, fought the words out with all the same intensity he gave in every battle fought before, steadfast, yet ready to be struck down at any moment. “For me it’s the same.”

Jiang Cheng went tense afterwards, as though just hearing the words would make Lan Qiren reconsider. He was tempted, in truth, if only because it was so unusual, and that he did not wish for Jiang Cheng to be trapped by someone just like him, but even more unbending. Surely, Jiang Cheng deserved more? Surely this miracle was not meant to last?

Lan-xiong…

He closed his eyes and breathed, then took a sip of tea to settle his nerves. There were so many things he wished to say, but didn’t know how to. He had never been gifted in that way as Cangse Sanren had been. But then, neither was Jiang Cheng, and in that he found his answer.

Love through action, his only method. He prayed it would be enough.

“I expect a proper courtship,” he said sternly. “There are rules for this kind of thing and expect you to heed them all.”

Internally, he winced, because why did he sound like a chiding teacher? But for some reason, it seemed to settle well, and Jiang Cheng sat all the straighter, with an ease that had not been there before, and nodded once.

“So I will,” he promised and that part of Lan Qiren’s heart was utterly lost.

[sybilmarlowe]

Ooh!! A modern headcanon of DoffyxViola in Miami! They're married! Oh and Law stays with them while his god-father Rosci is in the Navy for long months! Have fun with this!

For this HC I’m gonna modify Law’s age a bit, since in the comics he’s just 3 years younger than Viola and it wouldn’t be fun XP so everybody has the same age as in the series except for him who’s 10 yo. 

I also ended up modifying a bit your request (the story takes place in a week and not in months) because I came up with a nice idea and it worked better like this... hope you don’t mind! 

- being the head of a huge company in New York (don't ask me why is it so canon he'd be a manager if he lived in our world XD) may be very stressful and, after a whole month spent working almost without a break, Doflamingo decided to finally take some time for himself... and his wife.

- He’d been married to Viola for 4 months now, but, shortly after their honeymoon, business had increased and it’d become harder and harder for him to spend time with her. 

- She was a very sweet and comprehensive person, but Doffy felt guilty anyways, she deserved much more! 

- That night he went back home with a huge bunch of roses for his wife and a bottle of the finest wine

- “Violet, we have to celebrate!” “What is it, Doffy? Was your business particularly good today?” “Yes, but... what I want to celebrate tonight is the beginning of a very special week. A whole week for just you and me”

- Of course, even the “celebration for the beginning” was quite fun itself, but it was nothing compared to what Doffy had planned for his wife for the following 7 days... - The morning after they were already on a plane to Miami: Doffy had a beautiful attic there, right above the sea, with a stunning view... the perfect place to spend some time with Viola.

- Some very special time just for the two of them, finally, far away from New York, from work and from any kind of bothering...

- ...or maybe not.

- They were just entered the appartment, Doffy holding Viola bridal style (he loves to be theatrical, that's a matter of fact), when his phone suddenly started ringing.

-“I have no intention to answer, it must be someone from the company who forgot about my directives...”

“I don't think so, my love, that's your personal phone. Answer it, it can be something important”

- Seeing the name on the screen almost made him swear.

- “Rocinante! What is it!? Didn't I tell you I was going to finally spend some time with my wife this week?! I really hope you...”

“You're in Miami, right?”

“Yes, but...”

“Great! My flight is making a stopover there in 15 minutes, I have to move abroad for 6 days for a meeting with the Navy Admirals and I couldn't find anyone to look after Law!”

“You're not listening, are you!? I told you I'm in Miami because...”

“Law is here with me, I've already called a taxi which'll drive him to your house. You're staying in the attic, I guess... Have you other properties there?”

“Rocinante! I told you...!”

“Thank you, bro! I owe you a favour!”

“Rocinante! You...! I can't believe, he just hang up on me!”

- Doffy had never been so angry in a while, but Viola was giggling “Come on, your brother's stepchild is a good boy, it won't be so bad to have him around!”

- Not even half an hour later, Law arrived the attic accompanied by one of the building's doormen. He had nothing else with him than a backpack and a portable console.

- “Alright, kid, your room is on the second floor”

“Can I play on the couch over there?”

“Of course you ca...”

“You can, dear!” Viola talked over her husband “You're with family here, do as if you were home!”

- That was just the beginning of the end. Law was indeed a good kid but he was... a kid! He spent hours playing videogames in the living room (which, of course, was the best room of the attic) and running around pretending to be his favourite hero, Sora. He also read comics while walking sometimes and once he almost broke an expensive flamingo sculpture!

- Ok, Viola actually hoped for the sculpture to be broken, but Doflamingo was faster in catching it...

- No dinners for two, of course, Law felt lonley eating alone in his room as “uncle Doffy” suggested (and Viola would have never allowed it)

- As any 10-years-old child, Law woke up early every morning and asked to go to the beach, but eventually he always stayed under the beach umbrella reading his comics and lamenting it was too hot.

- At night... well, he played his videogames or watched tv without minding his step-uncles' room was just next to his. And at the same time Viola and Doffy weren't actually allowed to do whatever they wanted for the same reason.......

- But the bottom was touched one evening when Doffy finally managed to be alone with his wife at the poolside on the terrace. Law hadn't been around for the whole afternoon, so he thought he had decided to stay away in his room for once.

- It goes without saying, he was wrong.

- All of a sudden, Law run into the terrace and... he slipped.

- He fell violently in Doffy's lap, causing his chair to broke and his drink to... fall all over a very perplexed Viola.

- “Look what you've done!”

“I didn't do it on purpose, it was an accident!”

“Go to your room! Now!”

“Ehi! You can't say me wat to do, old man!”

- That was enough.

- Doffy now looked totally calm and incredibly scary “If you don't get out of my sight immediately, I'll make both you and that idiot brother of mine regret having brought you here”

- Law widened his eyes in terror, he hesitated a couple of seconds and then run away. He was crying.

- “I... I'm sorry, Viola, are you alright? If only that kid hadn't... ”

“Doffy, don't you think you just overdid a bit with him?”

“What!? Did you hear him? I can't stand that arrogant spoiled child anymore!”

“Spoiled and arrogant child? He reminds me so much of someone else... He just wants to catch your attention! After all he lost his parents not so long ago... he needs a family”

“I really don't know how a woman like you could have chosen a man like me, really... you're even too gentle!”

“But I'm right. Now go talk to him, he looks up at you if you haven't noticed! Be a good uncle for once!”

- He followed Viola's advice, he reached Law in his room and talked to him as a real uncle should. It was strange at the beginning, but somehow it worked.

-“I didn't mean to bother you and aunt Viola... I promise I'll lower my videogame's volume and be careful not to bump into your sculptures anymore... even if they're horrible.”

- For the first time, Doffy simply laughed.

- The following three days were good. Yes, that week hadn't surely been as Doffy had planned, he barely managed to stay alone with his wife... but being uncles was not so bad!

- “Let me just ask you a ting, kid... why do you always ask us to bring you to the beach if you don't even approach water? Couldn't be you can't swim!”

“Honestly, uncle... I don't...”

“Well... neither do I!”

- Rocinante reached them on the 6th day to bring Law back home with him. When he asked if he had acted well, both Viola and Doffy answered he was a very good child. Viola also added he had to be proud of such a good son and Rocinante struggled not to cry.

- They stayed for dinner and left that very evening.

- “Remember, brother, I owe you a favour!”

“Oh, you can bet I will!”

- And, in the end, husband and wife were finally, truly alone.

- “We still have this night and a whole day for us, Doffy, aren't you happy?”

“I'd have prefered this all to be very different, but...”

“You seemed to have fun with Law in the end, uh?”

“I can't say the contrary... he's a smart kid, after all. But I really hope it'll be a while before we'll have to look after children again!”

“Mmh... eight months is enough?”

“Eight months... WHAT?!”

“You get it well, love. I'm pregnant!”

(Sorry for the long wait, dear, I had a to work a lot lately xAx but I managed to write this in the end! Hope you like it!)

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #459

“i wanted you to know that i love the way you laugh  /  i wanna hold you high and steal your pain away”

Does the person you like have any flaws? He's never seemed very expressive of what he feels. Has anyone ever given you a ring? Why? Yes. Because it was our anniversary and he wanted to, ig. If you ruled your own country, what type of government would it have? I'm not educated enough to answer this. Creation theory, Evolution or the Big Bang theory? I really don't know what I believe about the origins of the universe, but I do believe in evolution. Describe one of your most emotional farewells. The last time I saw Jason and we talked for a long time, and I finally got my closure. It was all so heavy. It started so stiffly, but it ended with us just chatting and smiling and, to my absolute shock, a hug from him. I'm getting emotional so NEXT QUESTION. What was your last serious conversation about? I was reassuring and comforting Sara about some stuff. Is there a city that you have a particular fondness for? If so, what city is it and why? No. Are there any gnomes in your yard? No. When was the last time you were stung by a bee? What kind was it? Years ago. A bumblebee. Are you gonna buy lottery tickets when you’re old enough? I am old enough, and no. The odds are way, way too small, and I don't really dabble in addictive behavior. Have you ever been into a real cave? No. :( That's a life goal, though. Have you ever posted mean comments on YouTube? I know I did once as a kid. It was regarding Meerkat Manor and I thought it was really disrespectful to Flower just because of the music chosen lmao. The drama. What color is your digital camera, if you have one? Black. If you had to spend one day in any movie storyline, which one would it be? Alice in Wonderland, I suppose? Name the strangest game you’ve ever played (video game or real game): Oh man, I've played waaaaay too many video games. I suppose Silent Hill with how confused it left me at first. Its concept is definitely wild. Parasite Eve is high on the list, too. In your opinion, what is the saddest movie you’ve ever seen? Boy in the Striped Pajamas destroys me. What is the best song to make out to? I could answer this but I'm not gonna lmfao Is there anyone right now that you are simply/overly infatuated with? story of my life ayyyyeeeee Who was the last person to play with your hair? Are they cute? Not a clue. Who was the last person close to you that died? Did you cry? Jason's mom. I sobbed on-and-off for days. Do you consider yourself a healthy person? Physically and mentally? No, in either way. Do you know anyone who owns a boat? My dad does. I'm sure others, too, with how popular fishing out on a boat is here. Do you know anyone who uses medical marijuana? I don't know. Even for medicinal purposes, it's not legal here. Do you know anyone who’s died in childbirth? No. What did you do for your 21st birthday? I was in the psych hospital, so... lmao. Therapy, reading, and coloring. Lots of reading and coloring. Because they did NOT fill your schedule enough there. We only had two group therapy sessions a day, and the rest was just... blankness. If dinosaurs could be tamed, would you want one as a pet? I know I'd be one of the dumb ones that absolutely wanted a tiny raptor, lol. Do you own more than one copy or edition of a book? No. If you could see any musical on Broadway right now, what would it be? Not interested. Do you eat soup when you’re sick? I don't like soup. If you read, which book or series did you enjoy most as a child? My first real series that I read religiously was Hank the Cowdog. Then it was Warriors. Do you buy Halloween candy when it’s on sale after the holiday? No. I really don't need candy available to me. Do you agree with the “they’re just being kids” excuse? It depends on what they're doing. In a lot of cases, no. Do you ever watch talk shows? No. Do you have a/any hero(s)? Mark Fischbach, Steve Irwin, my mom... Have you told your parents all of your secrets from when you were a teen? No. Though Mom has playfully once told me that she knows a lot of things I don't think she does, and that's terrifying lmao. You’re getting married. Who’s your maid of honor and best man? M.o.H.: Mom or Sara. Best man isn't my choice. Would you rather get highlights or dye your whole head? DYE IT ALLLLLLL. Are you wearing anything of any sentimental value? Describe? My friendship ring w/ Sara. It has a heart carved on the outside and "bitch" engraved inside so no one can see when you have it on, lol. She has one that says "jerk." It's a Supernatural reference. Who challenges you the most? In what way? My therapist and psychiatrist. They just help ensure I pursue my goals and give me little nudges forward to reassure me. Who seems to hold you back? In what way? PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT ME. I listen to my anxiety WAY too much. What was the last opportunity that you passed up, and why? Going up to Lake Gaston w/ Mom to visit Ash and her fam. They go there all the time, and it's a real nice place. I just didn't want to go because of the heat. Should there be an application process for having children? Hunny, that would not stop people from fuckin lmfao Name one thing that you think defines you as a person? m e e r k a t s What is a fear you have about living on your own? That depression would get the better of me and I'd neglect taking good care of my house. One of the many reasons I'll never live alone. Not at all saying I'd leave the responsibilities to my partner, but they'd be motivation for me to get stuff done. What’s the worst name your mom has ever called you? I don't know. Nothing that bad. What’s your stance on spooning? It helps me feel safe and loved and alsdkfjalwe I just love cuddling in all sorts lmao What’s your most recent obsession? Violet Orlandi & Melodicka Bros' cover of "Somebody That I Used to Know." Have you ever been scammed? Ha ha, yes. I once wanted to get Jason a Joker and Harley Quinn pillow from deviantART; talked to the artist, paid 'em, never got it. :^) Have you ever fostered an animal? No. I would get WAY too attached to foster. I wouldn't be able to give them up without breaking down, probs. Do you know anyone who acts way younger than what they are? I'm sure I do, but no one is coming to mind atm. Would you say you’re a pretty independent person? God no. Does the last song you listened to, remind you of someone? JASON. Do you currently want a new computer? Yes, actually. I want a desktop PC for better gaming quality, honestly. Also, the "escape" key doesn't work on this laptop, one key is missing so I have to hit the sensor JUST right, and it restarts randomly sometimes. I want a PC mainly because I want to get out of the habit of being on my laptop in bed all damn day. How would your parents react if you got a tattoo? I already have like six or seven, so they wouldn't be surprised. Is there anyone you can picture yourself being with forever right now? Maybe. Who is your truest friend? Sara. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever seen outside of your house? THIS house? Idk. Nothing that I'd consider odd. What bug frightens you most? STAG BEETLES lkadjslkfja;lwekjawl;kejrlawer Who is your oldest friend? That would be Sam, and he's in his mid-30s. How long have you known them? Many years. We met via WoW, which I've been playing since '14. I don't really remember how far into it we met, though. Where are they right now? lol I wouldn't know, he's all the way in Jersey. Plus we haven't talked in a while. Have you ever dated a friend of one of your siblings? God no, that would be so weird. What is the best gift someone can give you? An ear to listen without it feeling like a chore to them. Have you ever dated someone who had a child? No. I don't think I could do it. What is the last movie that made you cry? The The Lion King remake made me tear up. Have you ever played in a waterfall? No. Ugh, that sounds like a blast. In your life who has meant the most to you? Let's not get into this. What has been your biggest failure in life? Letting depression and my other conditions take away my identity, becoming my new identity. Do you trust yourself? No. I second-guess EVERYTHING and never know what I should listen to: my heart, my head, my gut... or which voice is what. Would you ever consider getting an abortion, under any circumstances? Yes. What was the last bug you killed? Some kind in the bathroom. Idk what it was. Just a little thing that sort of resembled an earwig, but not completely. Do you prefer profile pictures by yourself of with someone else? By myself, since it's my page. Do you know anyone who has written a book? I don't think so? Do you drink milk/juice from the carton if no one is around? Ew, no. I live with another person, and even if I didn't, what if I had guests? Has anyone ever told you they liked you in a realllly sweet way? Maybe? Has a member of the opposite sex ever given you jewlery? Jason has. Do you find sleeping in cars easy? NOOOOOOOOOO. I'm too scared to let my eyes close and not see what's going on on the road. Has a boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s parents ever gotten mad at you? Why? I don't believe so, no. What is the funniest thing a child has ever said to you. Definitely something my niece has said, but idr what it was. What’s been on your mind lately? Y'all know, lol. Do you feel like you need to get something off your chest? No. Sara was recently there for that. ♥ How would you react if someone told you they had feelings for you? Be very very excited if it was from a certain person.

[ilalos]

Lavender dreams-(Anthony Bridgerton x OC)-Part 3/3

Word count: 2k

A few hours had gone by when Simon finally showed up in Anthony’s room holding a small stack of papers in his hands.

“What is that?” Asked Anthony.

“The prenuptial agreement sent by her father that details her dowry, her dress allowance and some other important information” Antony didn’t even read the document and just signed it, he knew Lord Gillingham was an honest man and frankly he did not care about how much Grace’s dowry was. Simon didn’t have much else to say, he was responsible for finding her a match (thanks to his wife) and Anthony was the man Grace had clearly chosen, so the duke’s job was done.

“What about Lord Watts? Didn’t he propose?” Suddenly Anthony seemed to remember the reason for him to be out late at night in that tavern.

“No, he wanted to do it at his house, it was going to happen today” now Anthony felt a bit silly having been so upset over something that didn’t even happen “I already spoke with him and informed him that she had gotten engaged to you”

“I bet he wasn’t happy”

“He wasn’t, accused me of deceiving him but I simply explained that I was unaware of the deep feelings she held for you, and much less that you reciprocated them” It hadn’t been a pleasant conversation and Earl Watts had certainly been mad but the duke couldn’t do much, he hadn’t actually proposed so there was no real engagement.

Simon left soon after that and Anthony was left alone once again. Sometime later his mother entered accompanied with a maid that held a tray of food that she was prompt to leave by his bed before leaving Lady Bridgerton and her son alone.

“Are you here to congratulate me, mother?”

“Yes, but I’m also here ask what were you doing last night in such a horrid place?” His mother sat by his side and watched as he picked pieces of bread not wanting to answer.

“It is not important now”

“It is if it got you oh so terribly hurt”

“I was trying to drown my grieve in liquor and didn’t want anyone from the ton recognizing me” he chuckled, saying it out loud made him realize how foolish he had been “And I didn’t want to drink here in our home because I didn’t want any of you to see me like that”

“Grieving from what? Are you thinking about your father again?” She grabbed his hand and looked at him with pity.

“No, mother, I was grieving the loss of the woman I love”

“You better not be speaking about that singer Anthony Bridgerton“ she warned.

“Grace is the woman I love” it was the first time he had said that out loud and it felt good “I thought I had lost her after Earl Watts talked about asking for her hand in marriage”

“Oh son, if only you would’ve spoken up about your feelings, all of this could’ve been avoided” Violet recognized that maybe the sudden death of his father had made Anthony harsh and unwilling to love, so maybe him not speaking up about his feelings was just a result of all those years of emotional hardship.

“I know I was a fool, but I get a second chance and I’m not going to let her go now” her mother smiled at him and caressed his face, oh how quickly her children had grown up.

She sat with him planning the wedding and making a list of everything they needed to prepare for the ceremony, Anthony just watched her amused at her excitement. She continued like that for sometime, occasionally looking at her son to see if he was paying attention, he only nodded along thinking that this was maybe a conversation to be had between his mother and his future wife; speaking of which, how was she?

“Mother” he interrupted her mid sentence “Where is Grace? Shouldn’t you be having this conversation with her?”

“Her little adventure last night has made her terribly sick and she is resting now”

“Well did you call the doctor? Why did no one inform me of this? I must see her right now, make sure she is okay” he ignored the pain from his injuries as he stood up and hurried to put on proper clothes.

“You shouldn’t be up, son, just rest and tomorrow you may see her” Violet didn’t even know why she was trying to convince him, if her children had anything in common it was definitely their stubbornness.

“I mustn’t wait one more second before checking on her, she is my future wife and I won’t leave her alone when she needs me the most” he was struggling to get his clothes on so his mother gave up and called the footman so he could help her son get dressed, she also sent a maid to call the doctor because she knew her son would request his presence.

Once he was finally dressed and presentable, Anthony all but ran to Daphne’s old bedroom, were Grace was staying. He entered the room quietly, to not disturb her, and was saddened by what he saw. She had her eyes closed and looked as if she was asleep but a sudden spurt of violent coughing made her double over holding her chest with a pained expression, it was then when she noticed his presence.

“My lord!” Cough “You shouldn’t be” cough “Here”

“Shhh” he shushed her softly and helped her lay back down “I shouldn’t see my future wife when she is sick?” He chuckled watching as a deep blush crept up her already rosy cheeks.

“I- future wife?”

“Truly someone must’ve told you about me asking for your hand” he grabbed a nearby chair and sat by her bedside.

“I’m sorry to inform you that someone was yet to come bearing those news”

“Well then allow me to be the carrier of such joyous information, we are getting married” before she could speak, he continued “And yes, your father has been notified and will probably be on his way as soon as he gets the letter that I personally wrote”

“If I may ask, why did you asked for my hand? You mustn’t take pity on me for my foolish actions I-“ Anthony held both her hands and brought them to his chest.

“Worry not, my dear, I proposed because I have love for you and I want you to be my wife” he kissed her knuckles but frowned upon seeing her eyes fill with tears “Unless I read the situation wrong and you bear no feelings for me, if that is the case I couldn’t possibly force you to marry me” he let go of her hands and was standing up when a soft hand on his wrist stopped him.

“You did not misread anything, I do love you and” a fit of coughs stopped her and he patted her back waiting for it to subside “my foolish actions are a statement of just how deep my love runs”

Anthony smiled felling absolutely happy and at peace with where his life was at, his family was safe and he had found the perfect match for him to help him run their home and to give him an heir, while it was true he hadn’t intended to fall in love he wouldn’t complain now that he had found his love match. He knew it was inappropriate but the desire to feel her lips against his overcame him, he grabbed her cheeks and watched smug how her lips parted on their own accord, their faces were inches apart and just as he was about to kiss her he pulled apart with a concerned expression.

“Your skin is burning up” he confirmed this by pressing the back of his hand against her forehead “Have you seen a doctor yet?”

“Is just a cold Anthony, no need to call the doctor for that” Grace could kill him for teasing her like that, they were so close.

“Nonsense, I shall send for the doctor immediately”

“No need son, he’s here” Lady Bridgerton was glad her intuition was right.

The doctor entered and kicked everyone out the room. While he was in there, Anthony and his mother were waiting anxious outside. Violet watched her son try to mask how worried he was by standing completely still but his nervousness showed in the way he checked his watch every minute and how he seemed to lean against the door when muffled voices could be heard.

“She will be alright, son, it’s merely a cold she got from riding in the rain”

“I’ve seen grown men perish for less” he said it without thinking and immediately regretted it “I am terribly sorry, mother, I meant no harm with my harsh words”

“I know son” she squeezed his hand reassuring.

The doctor came out of the room and Anthony practically pounced on him to get answers.

“Your fiancé is quite all right, Lord Bridgerton” the doctor pretty much rolled his eyes at Anthony’s anxious behavior.

“‘Quite alright?’ She is coughing like she is dying!” his mother had to place a hand in his chest to refrain him from attacking the doctor.

“She is coughing like she has a cold, sir, I have given her another dose of the same concoction she drank yesterday and left extra doses for her to take every night and morning for the next week” after that the doctor excused himself and left.

Anthony wanted to believe that everything was well but given his history with loved ones he felt like something was wrong, he felt like that pretty much all the time but usually he’ll believe everything is fine in the name of logic and facts; but now it seemed impossible to ignore the bad feeling because even if it was small, the was a chance something might go wrong and he could lose her.

“She will be fine” Violet pulled her son form his inner turmoil of thoughts before it got too dark “Why don’t you go be with her?”

///Time jump\\\

The best way to top off the season is to do it with a wedding, and the union between of the most eligible bachelor and the diamond of the season was the best event to mark the end of the social season. Violet Bridgerton had outdone herself with the wedding party, there were so many flowers and decor that it looked like she had transferred Versailles to Lady Danbury’s house.

The groom and bride said their yes before a priest like any respectable couple of the highest levels of society. Anthony wanted to murder the priest for taking so long in the ceremony, he had waited months to finally kiss his bride and the man seemed to be taking ages with the ceremony. One would have thought that Anthony Bridgerton, the biggest rake in the ton, would not care for propriety and would’ve kissed his bride ages before the ceremony, and he did tried to but his mother knew of his intentions and made sure they were never left alone.

“You may kiss the bride”

The priest didn’t even get to finish before Anthony placed both hands on Grace’s face and kissing her deeply, so passionately that the priest had to interrupt by clearing his throat, reminding the couple of where they were. They pulled apart quickly and a deep blush covered Gigi’s cheeks, Anthony only chuckled taking her hand and walking her out of the church.

Anthony had decided, in favor of not inconveniencing his family, to ride with his wife to the London townhouse. On the way there he kissed her until her lips were swollen and red, later she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes before whispering

“Wake me up when we get home”

Finally Anthony had his own home, with a wife who would’ve bear children for him, children he would love just as much as his father did him.

˜˜˜˜The End˜˜˜˜

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Sooo there it is, the end :) I accidentally posted a draft and my anxiety got the best of me so it took me ages to write this haha still, I hope you enjoy it and if you read it know that I appreciate you :):):):):):):)