#working on exchange fics

[pleasetakethis]

That feeling when...

...a story just clicks in your mind. I wrote two false starts but the third one is The One™. I love this mood.

[bolithesenate]

i just really love designing togruta montrals

and thinking about how the patterns change as they grow

they are very shapes

[heliocharis]

Affirmations

[pastelhooman]

[WVW Exchange Event 2023!]

"The kisses on your lash, your ears, on the nose that keeps scrunching. The kisses on your hand, on your cheeks, and the exchanging soft words waiting for the break of day."

----- ID under break -----

A total of 6 pages of comics, starting with a close up shots of vash kissing sleeping wolfwood's nose, eyes, lashes, and he furrows them a bit. an overhead shot of the two of them in a motel room, on the bed with vash leaning over wolfwood from the left, laying soft kisses on him. their legs tangled. their normal outfits are thrown haphazardly on the floor, instead donning comfortable clothes. on the outside, the very first ray of lights are yet to shine.

"what a face you're making pfft" - vash says as he grabs both of wolfwood's cheeks, squeezing them a bit. wolfwood mumbles, "There's something that keeps landing on my face, it tickles." he grabs the hand that is on his right cheek. "Well you're letting it happens anyways right?" Vash muses, bringing the hand up to kiss on its knuckles. "Good morning Wolfwood. It's almost dawn"

"… Isn't it way too soon?" - wolfwood asks, but keeps to himself the prayers he's sending to god because the the boy on top of him was such a sight to behold. Vash flops down onto him, leaving the hand hanging and lace his own hand into Wolfwood's hair, peppering kisses to the side of his face. "Yep" - he answers - "But you woke up on your own tho" - facetiously. He giggles, saying that it was a joke after a beat of silence. A sigh, "don't make me upside you first thing in the morning." Wolfwood closes his eyes, hand combing through golden strands. "Heh, how merciful~" "We have a meet up with Milly and Meryl today, remember?" Vash reminds him, which does raise some vague memory. wolfwood hums, the other hand reaching around vash's torso, hugging him. " So, the sooner we arrive, the less likely she'll chew through my head." - Vash adds. "riiiight. And you were SO urgent in waking me up." in wolfwood's hold, both of them slowly turn to the right, towards the edge of the bed.

Well, you were just soooo cute, I couldn't help it! didn't thinkk you'll actually wakE UAA-!"

the bed creaks under the sudden shift in weight as wolfwood tosses vash over and under him, arms firmly hugging him, one at his back and one at his head, hungrily dives down to kiss. "!! Wolf-! Wait-!" Vash yelps, leg instinctively curls around the other's man hip to hang on, trying his damnest to grip on his shirt as HE is now half airborne, barely has any contact with the bed on his upper body. However, wolfwood seems to have another idea as he keeps deepening the kiss, pointedly holding Vash close, hands spread guarding the back of his head as both of them are sliding off the soft fabric.

"THUD!" a resounding fall, possibly enough to wake the room downstairs, followed shortly by laboured breaths amist wet smacks of lips. Heaves and huffs of air exchanging between the two bodies when the need to breath made itself necessary. They press close, cradling each other, and are lost to their own world. After a while they had to part. Metal arm shifts through black locks, caressing down to his nape and they hold eye contacts there, with lidded eyes, strands of saliva thins then breaks.

Wolfwood pushes up on his arms, looking smugly down at his now disheveled partner: "Now this is how it's done, Needlenoggin." he remarks. Vash tries to wrangle his thoughts back in order, but strings of Wolfwood's name and a wonderous question keeps filling his mind, of whether he should risk it all and have fun for a bit more. Regardless, snapping out of his trance, Vash sourly asks, with a wry smile and an aching head: "But did you really need to roll off the bed?" "Wrong side, whoops" - Wolfwood anwers unseriously, laughing as he finds the situation quite amusing.

----- End of ID -----

[rollercoasterwords]

like yeah obviously legality does not correlate to morality and i personally do not think ip laws should exist. however the reason i find it relevant to emphasize that selling fanfiction is illegal is not to make some moral stand about the sanctity of ip so much as to be like. hey this is the way it fucking is and if u break the law by selling fic u run the risk of creating larger legal troubles for entire communities of fic writers who just want to share their work for free. also more to the point the reason selling fic is so shitty is that it is a question of labor exploitation. i spent hundreds of hours creating something which you are now packaging and selling to make a profit without compensating me for my labor, which is not only exploitative but spits in the face of the spirit in which this fanfiction was shared—as a labor of love, meant to be free to anyone who wanted to read it. and the gag is that if u did want to fairly compensate me for my labor it would literally be thousands of dollars (assuming i’m charging even minimum wage for time spent writing & editing) which is why it isn’t fucking possible to sell fanfiction for a fair price!! all that on top of the fact that i (and many other fic writers) explicitly say “don’t sell or buy bound copies of my fic” just makes it flat-out undeniable that this is a fucking shitty thing to do, and i genuinely have no sympathy for people who go “wait what i’m not supposed to sell or buy fanfiction 🥺🥺🥺” like shut the fuck up i hate u

[guy-in-a-scarf]

Gift for @tigereyes45 for the mcspirk gift exchange 2024 <3

I really liked your fic and this was a lot of fun to draw!

Everyone go read the fic on ao3 it was so good <333

[raayllum]

shout out to everyone who drops "callum trades the cube for rayla" casually in their fics when talking about their history or aaravos' release. i see you and i appreciate you <3

[everliving-everblaze]

As You Wish

A Sokeefe Ella Enchanted story

(photo by Jonathan Francisca on Unsplash)

Written for the @kotlcfairytale exchange as a gift for @cavennmalore!

synopsis: Keefe Sencen is cursed with obedience. If anyone gives a command, he has to obey it. And his mother has come up with a new plot to control the kingdom—with him the unlucky star of it.

notable tags: ballroom dancing, getting together, marriage proposal, love potion, obedience curse

word count: 5,554

status: complete

taglist: @when-all-hope-feels-lost @fairytale-lights @bookwyrminspiration @floweringpanakes @bronte-deserves-better @dragonwinnie-kotlc @fanartofthelostcities @sunset-telepath @a-lonely-tatertot @silveny-dreams

[haladrielficxch]

Author Reveals are here! Read below the cut to see who wrote your favorite fics!

don't let it in with no intention to keep it by alicuntisms for @nuclearnik

galadriel is in need of a human - halbrand is in need of a warm place to sleep. a bargain is struck. if only galadriel knew who she was striking a bargain with....

A Lust for Light by cozy_ships for @liminal-zone

The magic is always just there on the periphery of his lands, threatening to spill over. Sometimes he swears he can feel it in the earth beneath his feet, taste it in the water, clear and bright and so utterly unlike his own. The flowing currents of it had drawn him to these lands, led him to stake his own claim and build his fortress along the borders of the Golden Wood. He knows who resides within, hiding herself away amidst the forest’s glittering bowers.

Tempered by eye_of_a_cat for @cozy_ships on Twitter

She focuses instead on smaller things. She notices the edges of him: the sewed seams of his bracers, the way they press against the skin of his hands; the shadow at his neck where the cloth of his collar falls loosely; the way the fuzz of hair on his arms glows a little in reflected firelight. He is all edges and joins, scars and soldered seams. There will be a way to break him apart.

at the dawn of our folly, we took from the tree that was rotting by ichabodcranemills for @lisenberry

Stranded togehter in the middle of nowehere, political rivals Galadriel and Halbrand learn they have more in common than they could've possibly imagined.

Love is heavy and light, bright and dark by lisenberry for @softlighter

There was a time in Lady Galadriel Artanis Noldor’s life when all she had to worry about was keeping her face out of the sun and her feet out of the mud. Her nose in her embroidery and her hands soft as lambskin. Her brain empty and her mouth shut.

Many things had changed since then.

and I feel like I just got home by Lizzen for @eye_of_a_cat on Twitter

A third age haunting of a sort; an alternate version of life as seen through the looking glass, and the impact resonate.

She is Everything You Want by MyrsineMezzo for @alicuntisms

As he looked at that tight braid with the light reflecting in her hair, Halbrand realized he knew who she was. Everyone knew who she was. Galadriel Noldor. She was the best and the brightest; the pride of the university who had been profiled in the recent campus magazine because she was on a sure ride through the NCAA fencing tournament system even as a sophomore. He realized Mel had followed his gaze when he heard a low scoff.

“Noldor. A loner who thinks she’s above it all. Now there’s a challenge worthy of the highest of prizes.”

the only song i want to hear by MyrsineMezzo for @ichabodcranemills

5 times Halbrand kissed Galadriel in exchange for a secret, and one time he did not.

Set throughout the first season of Rings of Power.

Deeper, Darker Things Than You by nuclearnik for @formerlyIR on Twitter

He is effortlessly charming—and everyone besides Galadriel seems to eat it right up—but something hiding just below the surface, coiled and restless, calls to her.

don't answer me (i'm calling just to hear you scream" by poeticmemory for @the-sweet-hibiscus

One year after her eldest brother‘s murder, Galadriel and her friends find themselves in the sights of a horror-film obsessed killer.

everything (except what it is) by softlight for @myrsinemezzo

“And what are you going to say?” “That I can be civil if you can."

Rival teachers Galadriel and Halbrand sign up to run the school show. Things do not go as expected.

the Curse of Linhir by TheSweetHibiscus for @justatinycollector

The morning of October 28th I, along with my unwilling companion, managed to flea the decrepit town of Linhir. I had ran, cloaked in nothing more than a t-shirt and the threadbare soles of my brother's old hiking boots, nearly twenty miles to the Regent's port home in Númenor. Each step was agony – the ill-timed impromptu marathon more than enough to cause my lungs and thighs to burn like coal cinders. Yet it was nothing compared to the sinking dread — a fear I hadn't gotten far enough away.

By the Moonlight by justatinycollector for @wyrd-syster

It would seem to Galadriel, in their first few encounters, that Halbrand would always leave her with something. Later, she’d come to learn that he never left a place empty-handed.

The Highwayman AU.

stones that move (and trees that speak) by Wyrd_Syster for @bad-surprise

Halbrand wants power and Galadriel wants her inheritance. There is no cost too high, no price too steep, to stop them from taking what they want.

A Macbeth AU with a dash of Sleep No More.

[vaderkin-is-a-lightning-rod]

Hello everyone!!

We’ve got a lot of amazing pieces of art and fictions for the Vaderkin Creative Exchange 2024! I’m super proud of all of you. 💜

On this day, until the 31 August...

🎊 🎉 🎨 THE CREATIVE FESTIVAL OFFICIALLY OPEN 🎨 🎉 🎊

For the artists and writers who had this idea for one of the prompt they received but didn’t have time to make it — this is the occasion!

For creators who missed the deadline and wanted to join the event — this is the occasion!

For people inspired by one of the drawings, or by one of the fanfiction scenes — this is the occasion!

How to participate?

On Tumblr: Tag your work Vaderkin Creative Festival 2024, precise the work that inspired your art, and mention the server blog @vaderkin-is-a-lightning-rod so we can repost you.

On AO3: Tag your work Vaderkin Creative Festival 2024, precise the work that inspired your art, and add your work to the vaderkin_creative_exchange_2024 collection

This is an event to give you the chance to draw fanarts or write fanfiction on the amazing creations this event produced. You don’t need to have signed up to the event nor receive / made a gift for it. You can make a fic or an art inspired by a fic which itself was inspired by another art, make a fanwork inspired by an art of the event, and begin an art fight! The only limit, is that it must be linked in some way to one of the event works.

Basically, be inspired, draw, write, and have fun! 🥳

Vaderkin Creative Exchange 2024 Masterlist

Fanfiction

Sáinnithe by @sinvulkt for @squad-724

Field of Dreams by @fanfictasia , TiranaSorki for @mina-jamsin-derulo

Letters by @fanfictasia , TiranaSorki for @mina-jamsin-derulo

Dying Stars by @fanfictasia , AminaGila for @acryliccassetteart

Heaven Swallowed the Smoke by AshCatchem for @nightingalewritings

As Everything Burns by @fanfictasia , RivanaRita for @zero-max

Paths by @wisechaosglitter for @sunrisemcashao3

Eyes on Ahsoka by @rinn-e for @mina-jamsin-derulo

Beyond the Stars: The Enduring Legacy of a Galactic Hero, 20 Years Later by Squidwonder for @tramp-fiction

grudging sacrifices by @unlikecharlie for @cinderfeather

just like a photograph by @withyourrhythm for @omaano

Is this the droid you want to die on? by @adragonsfriend for @ladyv-aka-via

Flightless by @ravenite-void for @fancyfrey

Fragments of a Dynasty by @tantive404 for @ravenite-void

Under the Moonlight by cherrycourage for @artmelody

Present, Past, and Future by @wendingways for @mina-jamsin-derulo

knowing how it goes (but never how to stop it) by MillionLights for @vandervoiz

The Restless Devourer by @vandervoiz for @sinvulkt

in thousands of agonies - i exist by @femmefangirl for @asteral-feileacan

Brillant and Blue by @nightingalewritings for @sinvulkt

In Common by @pat-the-togorian for @fanfictasia , RivanaRita

Angel of Fire by @asteral-feileacan for @starlesssky72

How to date a Time Traveling Jedi (quickest routes, no shortcuts) by @zero-max for @yatsukisakura

Don't Look Them in the Eye by @cinderfeather for @piroporopi

Art

A Scar In the Eye and [Panel 2] by @piroporopi for @vandervoiz

Alone by my side by @nightingalewritings for @tantive404

In from the desert by @nightingalewritings for @adragonsfriend

Vaderkin Creative Exchange 2024 art by @jarenka for @rinn-e

They were great and a family by @ravenite-void for Melly (ao3)

Through time and into darkness by @ravenite-void for @wendingways

Art for Vaderkin creative exchange 2024, The Winter Picnic and Art #2 by @wendingways for @unlikecharlie

[ART] Your Mistake by @asteral-feileacan for @fanfictasia , Tirana

No Respite From The Past and A Cord Unsevered by @vandervoiz for @letitrainathousandflames

Artwork by @artmelody for @pat-the-togorian

Vader kidnapped, Disaster trio (or with Padmé) being a family, Eldritch Dragon Anakin, Anakin transforms, horrified and Vaderkin falling from the sky by @fancyfrey for @sinvulkt

Beginning at the end by @mina-jamsin-derulo for @artmelody

Eyes on the future by @mina-jamsin-derulo for @christina-stark-skarlet-stileto

Until The Night Ends by @mina-jamsin-derulo for SquidWonder

Artwork by @starlessskys-artblog for @ravenite-void

The Clone Wars: 20 Years Later! Exclusive Interview with General Anakin Skywalker-Amidala by @tramp-fiction for @wisechaosglitter

To protect, Anakin... Or Vader?, Blob Vader get BOOPED and Surrender by @sinvulkt-art for @cinderfeather

The restless devourer, The dark wyrm, The puppeteer by @sinvulkt-art for MillionLights (ao3)

Anakin and Fives shenanigans by @omaano for @fanfictasia , Amina

Of Shotguns and Band-aids  by @zero-max for @asteral-feileacan

Artwork by @ladyv-aka-via for @shevek

Massive Mer Ani by @squad-724 for @zero-max

Medusa Vader by @squad-724 for @nightingalewritings

March on the Temple by @acryliccassetteart for @fanfictasia , Rivana

Panel by @yatsukisakura for @withyourrhythm

When Your Boss is Very Heavy by @cinderfeather for MaDonz(ao3)

[Art] Mom did it better by MaDonz for AshCatchem

Chaos by @fanfictasia , RivanaRita for @femmefangirl

"I'm prepared to sacrifice my life." by @sunrisemcashao3 for @starr234

This is the fourth step of the Vaderkin Creative Exchange 2024 event. You can find the full event rules here.

[halfratsalready]

Jack: Look me straight in the eyes and tell me the truth, Wanderlust!

Wanderlust: You can’t expect me to look into your eyes and be straight.

[crossbackpoke-check]

it’s all the rest of what i want with you

connor dewar/brandon duhaime :: 8k

Summary:

“Brandon,” Connor says with a sigh. “There’s no baby in there.”

“Not yet,” Brandon says. Connor feels his stomach twist, almost like what he would imagine a baby kicking to feel like.

in these trying times of dewvorce, may i offer you 8k of pwp inspired by @stillfertile’s wonderful art which i had. several breakdowns about 🫶 anyway please enjoy!!!

[arom-antix]

I will never not be insane for wizards, magic, ice and badass Yuuri

@blended-ice Thank you, besiyr, for indulging me and being just as normal as me about this

Obligatory Viktor reaction:

[bbcphile]

TWF you think you have a great bit of symbolism in your fic, and then you realize it is something that doesn't happen with normal bodies, just in people with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

Lol. Welp, time to find a work around.

(And also, from now on, any time I write a passage that is particularly embodied, I am going to have to look up how normal bodies respond to things to make sure that the thing in question is in fact an ordinary aspect of having a corporeal form and not only normal to people with collagen defects. I will be laughing forever about this.)

[chaosgremlinmunson]

For the event: @steddiesummerexchange written for thunderously_halo who I'm not sure I have the Tumblr username for?? If you see this I hope you enjoy it!

Preview: Dustin Henderson goes to Australia to visit Steve and Eddie, he's blindsided by meeting someone unexpected.

Dustin was frantic, he had to get to the airport within the next twenty minutes and he was having a hard time finding everything he was needing. It was his own fault for deciding to host hellfire at the last minute last night, and not pack anything until the day of his trip. Steve had told him to be prepared, he told him they couldn't get him a different ticket if he missed his flight, and he had to be sure to have everything if he was flying clear to Australia to visit with Steve, Eddie, Robin and her new girlfriend.

Now, where had he set his passport again? Shit! He was going to be late, and if he missed this flight he was going to lose his mind. He ran to his room again, dumping all the boxes and drawers and pulling off his blankets. Suddenly, he popped up fist held high. “AHA!” he yelled. He'd found it in his sock drawer, how it'd gotten there he wasn't sure, but at least now he could haul ass to the airport to make his flight.

Once he made it through security and sat in his seat on the plane his body fully relaxed and he drifted off to sleep.

“Sir? the plane has landed, it's time for everyone to exit the plane.” A short blond woman was touching his shoulder when he opened his eyes. For a moment he sat stunned, she reminded him of Suzie so much, yet he hadn't seen Suzie in months. She'd dumped him the moment she found out about him knowing and willingly being friends with queer people. She'd had questionable, and sometimes down right rude things to say about it all and so Dustin had easily let the relationship go. Now, he was faced with a girl who looked like Suzie had dyed her hair, and significantly changed her style.

Blinking up at her, he smiled, “thank you, do you know where I go to call a cab here? Well not here…once I'm out of the plane and terminal…I'm visiting my brother and his family.” Dustin felt his face lighting up in flames.

The girl giggled while talking with him, her nose scrunching up with a smile, Dustin was overwhelmed by how breathtaking she truly was and then his brain halted when she took his hand and scribbled some numbers on his arm.

“Call me sometime, I'd love to have a coffee with you.” She said softly before he sprinted off the plane.

When he left the airport he sighed, and he called Steve.

“Steve, I think I just made a jackass out of myself in front of the cutest girl I've ever seen.” Was the first thing he blurted when the phone was picked up, only Dustin heard Eddie cackling on the other end instead of his big brother.

“Well, I'm not Steve, but that's hilarious Dusty buns, Steve is at the airport waiting for you, look for the silver jeep. He's picking you and Freya up, his cousin who lives out here, she's getting off work so you'll be riding together.”

As Eddie finished his sentence he looked up to see the same girl from the flight at the window of Steve's jeep, smiling and talking with him and he felt like melting into the floor. Scratch that, he wished the upside down would open back up and make him disappear. There was no way she was going to be riding with him and he'd made a total fool of himself to her.

Dustin cringed and grabbed his luggage making his way to the jeep, he strained a smile and climbed into the back seat as Steve went through introductions and Dustin slid down in his seat for the entire ride back. When they pulled up he hurried to the front door rushing ahead of them and past Eddie into the house as Eddie cackled even more.

‘Great.’ he thought, ‘Eddie realized it was Freya I was talking about. This is going to be the longest month of my life.’ he plopped onto the guest room bed where Robin had shown him to go and groaned. How was he supposed to act normal now?

He flipped over onto his back and stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours but was probably only a few moments before Steve came in and sat on the end of the bed.

“Hey man, is everything okay? Freya seems to think you don't like her too much, she was asking you about yourself in the car and you didn't respond to anyone.” He started softly with a hand on Dustin's ankle.

“Shit.” Dustin murmured, “no, Steve, I…fuck okay so I met this super cute girl on the plane when I landed right? And I fumbled so bad, and like sprinted away from her? Well, turns out that girl is Freya? Tada??” Dustin covered his face with his hands, “How do I face her and not make this weird now? Like, we're going to be staying at the same place for a month and my first impression I gave her is that I am in fact just a bumbling idiot!”

“Freya? My cousin..wait, you think Freya is attractive? Oh my God. No, no, no. You can't date my cousin man, you're like my brother. Plus she has a girlfriend.” Steve stood his hands on his hips.

“Dude, date her? I couldn't even speak to her! And bisexuality exists you troglodyte! If she wasn't with her girlfriend she could still be into men, also you can't tell me I can't date someone, we're not related and it would be up to them, not you.”

Steve stormed out of the room and Dustin was sure this visit was just getting worse and worse. Thirty more days in a foreign country and already he'd mortified himself and argued with Steve. Surely this trip couldn't get any worse right?

Eventually Dustin left the room, he couldn't avoid everyone forever, but when he came out to the kitchen he saw Steve and Eddie stop talking, glancing over at him before Steve turned and left the room. Dustin sighed and came to the counter sitting down after grabbing a bottle of water.

“I shouldn't have been rude to him. I know he's worried about Freya for sure but also about me. I just, he was talking to me like I'm a child, and honestly I was annoyed about it. It doesn't make it right, and I don't know how to apologize or explain how I feel without it seeming like I'm being ungrateful.” He started softly rolling the bottle between his hands.

Eddie leaned on the counter, his knee clicking as it had for years since everything in ‘86 had happened, he raised an eyebrow and sighed before speaking.

“Dustin, you are and always will be one of the most important people to Steve and I both, but you need to understand, Freya knows nothing about what we all endured back then. She's had a really rough past, and Steve knows you both are still so young, I mean come on man, you're only twenty one, she's nineteen. If this was to go south and he already sees you as a brother, think of the position that puts him into? He'd feel like he's in the middle and that's stressful to someone like Steve who loves everyone so selflessly he often forgets to even put himself first. He loves you man, he's not saying you're not good enough, just that he's worried.”

Dustin nodded, looking down into his lap, “I understand. I just don't know how to fix this. And Eddie, I don't want Freya to think I don't like her or that I have an issue with her, I just. Ok, she makes me so nervous, I've never met anyone as beautiful as her since Suzie, and honestly I'm just intimidated.”

Eddie laughed softly, “you sound like me when I first met Steve. He was beautiful and this badass protector of this nerdy group of sheep, and I was so out of my depth. But Dustin, start by just trying to be her friend. And please, please, try for Steve to not pursue this. Please.”

Dustin sat for a moment with that, being her friend might be a good thing, but still, he felt like maybe Steve felt he wouldn't be good enough to marry, wait, no, date, Jesus Christ, date his cousin.

A bit later Dustin made his way to the backyard and was sitting in the swing set up, he stared out at the night sky lit up with fireflies, and he thought of Hawkins and home, of younger years when he'd be outside capturing a jar full of them. He'd loved those little bugs, and wondered how they lit up like they did, it brought him back to thoughts of Suzie, of childhood and first loves. How absolutely shattered he'd been to learn the girl he thought he might marry one day wasn't who he'd thought she'd be.

As he was lost in his musings he felt the swing sink next to him, he turned his head to see Robin with a throw around her shoulders a cup of tea clasped in her hands.

“Hey Robin.” He started quietly, he knew if she'd come out silently she was probably also upset with him for the incident with Steve earlier.

She turned and looked at him, opening one side of the blanket and pulling him in close.

“I need you to do me a favor, Dusty.” She said her chin propped on his head.

“Yeah, anything.” He gulped, Robin wasn't a touchy person so he knew this was serious if she was the one to reach out first.

“First, I need you to talk with Steve. Really talk, explain how you feel, get honest with him without being defensive, okay?” She pulled back to look down at him, and he nodded looking up into her eyes, “Great. Then after that I need you to try for Freya, please. Just try talking to her normally, be her friend, get to know her. I know about the crush, and trust me, I get it. The girl is beautiful and sweet, but Dustin, Steve is terrified that he'd be forced to choose if you ever did date and it didn't work out. He's not worried that you'd hurt her, or her you, he's just worried that if anything happened and you both got your hearts broken he'd be torn. Between you and me though, her girlfriend Mel is not good. Be careful, she's tough and would absolutely try and hurt you if she knew you even looked at Freya wrong. The girl is nuts, but we are trying to be supportive so Freya has a support system in place and knows she can come to us all.” She took a deep breath, “You remember my first girlfriend you all met, Vickie? She seemed so nice and sweet in the beginning, and then she learned about me being friends with Nancy and she changed. She became jealous and controlling, and honestly I'm surprised Nancy didn't end up having to threaten her with her guns. All this is to say that this Mel girl? She's worse. I don't know what is going on, but I've seen Freya come back here with marks on her biceps, she swears nothing is happening, but I don't trust the girl. She needs a friend, just, please, try and be that for her while you're here. She likes you, she said you seem nice, and Steve talks about you and all that you're accomplishing.”

Dustin nodded, his own heart lurched in his chest for this girl. Robin was right, he did like Freya, she was beautiful, but what she needed right now was support, a friend. And Dustin knew the best thing to do was just be there, to respect Steve's wishes, and enjoy his time here. Besides, a month goes fast, what if they did begin dating and then he has to leave? Steve had a point, they'd both be heartbroken and he can't be the reason someone else is hurting.

After a few moments another girl Dustin had yet to meet came out to where they sat. She was gorgeous, bright red hair, kind blue eyes and a sweet tentative smile. She pushed her wired rim glasses up her nose and perched on Robin's lap placing a kiss on her forehead before extending her hand to Dustin in greeting.

“You must be Dustin,” She started, “my name is Abby, i'm so glad you were able to make it out to see us all.”

Dustin gave her a bright smile, “You're Abby? I'm so glad I get to meet you! Robin has told me so much about you in her letters!”

She giggled looking down at Robin whose face was bright red, and kissed her forehead again. They spent the next hour talking before Robin let out a huge yawn and they decided it was time to turn in. “Oh!” Robin said turning to him again before they made it all the way to the house, “I'm letting you in on the plan, in a week on Thursday we have plans to go to a restaurant, Eddie's planning to propose to Steve. I want you to know because we need to help him sneakily set everything up, but you can't say anything, swear?”

Dustine crossed his heart and mimed locking his lips and tossing the key with a huge gummy smile on his face, “I wont say a word, and anything you need me to do, distractions, planning, anything. Just let me know.”

The next morning when Dustin woke up he was greeted by Eddie pounding on his door. He rolled over and immediately fell off the bed groaning in pain. When he came to the door to open it he saw Eddie standing there with a grin on his face. He grumbled and walked out into the hallway to see Steve looking at him, a single brow raised before turning to walk into the den. Eddie motioned for Dustin to follow, and he did, his body tense as he sat across from Steve who had his arms crossed.

“Dustin we need to talk.” he started, he still was holding his body defensively looking at him, and Dustin had the sinking feeling that this conversation was about to be extremely difficult. He needed to have this talk, he knew, but he was apprehensive that it may lead to a fight yet again. Still, he took a breath in before opening his mouth.

“I know, but first I just want you to know that I'm sorry,you are one of the most important people to me too. I know you have your reservations about me and Freya potentially dating since I had said I thought she was attractive. I also know she has a girlfriend, and I know that that worry comes from how things might end if she and I were to date. Steve,I honestly don't even know if we would, first I have to actually talk to her, without, you know, freaking out and running away. But! I also want you to know that I care about you,about your opinions and thoughts, and I would never want to do anything that could make me lose my best friend. You mean the world to me Steve.”

Dustin looked up at Steve to see his eyes softer, his hands now sitting on the table, and a soft smile on his face. “Thank you, and I want you to know that you also mean the world to me. Freya does have a girlfriend, yes,but I don't know if anyone has told you yet or not, she's terrible.” he chuckled, “More than anything though, I just want you both safe. I need you both to be happy. So, if,and it's a huge if,Dustin, but if you both decided to date as much as it pains me,I will be supportive. Just know,I will wring your neck if you hurt her, loving you or not, she's like a daughter to me at this point.”

As if on cue who walked in but no other than Freya,Robin,and Abby. Robin and Abby made eye contact over Freya’s head both with eyes wide,while Freya looked from Steve to Dustin.

“Not trying to be rude, but a few points. One, I am an adult. I love youStevie, and I always will. You've been one of my biggest supporters lately, but you can’t decide for me about anything I do in mylife. Two, I’m not dating Mel. I actually came home this morning because when I went to her house to pick her up for our lunch date I found her in bed with Rosalie. Three, and this seems rather important. Why wouldDustin and I date if he can't even bear to be near me, let alone actually speak to me?” Her hands were on her hips, and in that moment Dustin saw the family resemblance. He also helped with nerves before deciding he should probably just speak to her already.

“I can,actually, I mean bear to look at you. And I want to speak to you, but full disclosure, You are so beyond beautiful, and kind, and interesting. I just, I got nervous around you. I’m sorry. I want to get to know you, I swearI do, but you smile at me and I forget how to breathe. It's like staring into the sun.” his face had lit up with a blush as he spoke,but hey all cards were on the table now. “I don’t know if you should date me or not, but ifI had even the smallest chance to, I would never do anything to you that could bring tears like that. Can we, maybe, start over and be friends? Anything you want Freya, the decisions are all yours. You Can tell me to fuck off if you want to,if that’s what you want I’ll do it.”

For a moment she just stared at him,and then stuck her hand out, “Ok, friends.”

A few weeks went by and Steve came out to the backyard to see Dustin and Freya with their heads together whispering and then to his abject horror saw Freya lean in and kiss Dustin, her hands tangling into his curls before climbing into his lap,Steve turned and rushed back into the house. Dustin had received a call from the Institute he’d been working with to ask him if he’d be interested in transferring out to Australia for their newest branch and Steve had been going to relay the message, Little did he know that a few years down the line he’d be front and center to another kiss after heartfelt vows between the pair.

[ishipallthings]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Original Work Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Queen With Evil Reputation But A Secretly Kind Heart/Her Arranged Marriage Bride Characters: Queen With Evil Reputation But A Secretly Kind Heart, Arranged Marriage Bride, Princess Beatrice of Trelonia - Character, Queen Alice of Charenth - Character Additional Tags: Magic, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Arranged Marriage, Weddings, Secrets, Trust Issues, Falling In Love, Pining, Protectiveness, Angst with a Happy Ending, Trick or Treat: Treat Summary:

When all the preparations were completed at last, Beatrice took a few minutes to study her reflection in the full-length mirror of her dressing room. The paleness of her face was disguised with rouge, her mouth painted with lipstick, and a glittering tiara crowned the complicated hairstyle that the royal dresser had finally decided on for the wedding ceremony last week. Her dress was unquestionably breathtaking, a floor-length ivory gown made from Trelonia’s highest quality silk, the bodice boasting an intricate beading design that must have taken months to put together.

Beatrice looked in the mirror and saw a stranger.

Written for Trick or Treat 2023!