#“i work for the count and countess and they're BOTH in love with me

[bastart13]

How do you think Portia could have fit in with Nadia and Lucio if she'd met them before the death and coma thing?

Now that's a fascinating idea! I've said that Portia is the glitter glue that can get Nadia and Lucio to share a relationship, but that's 100% post-story vibes. Before Lucio's death would be very interesting

It's pretty much canon that Nadia and Lucio opened their marriage so they could spend time with people they actually like, and I can see both of them pursuring Portia.

She's a comforting ear to Nadia and they're different enough to bring balance to each other's issues. I can see them having long nights as a refuge from all their work and sincerely falling in love through this tough time in Nadia's life.

Then while Portia would get fed up with Lucio's selfishness, and it's not like she'd think he's a good person, but at the same time she's the one out of the cast I can best see in a relationship with him. They love animals and adventure, Portia wouldn't put up with his bullshit, and Lucio would see no reason not to indulge in making Portia feel special.

She'd kind of be trapped between two hot, rich, powerful people who love to spoil her. They would not share well so that's great angst and drama, even if I think Portia is more likely to be in love with Nadia over Lucio

[lynn-tged-posting]

tged webtoon ep 158 spoilers and thoughts but mostly it's just me laughing my ass off and also speculating on what happens, im still working on the novel but ill finish it soon trust <- has like ten billion different things she wants to do at the same time

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ARCOS AND MARBELLA IN THIS PANEL WAS ME FOR MOST IF NOT ALL OF THIS CHAPTER HELPPP LMFAOAOOO

javier you absolute fiend you ,,, you've learned so much,,, /aff

i figured that javier would tell them at least a semi-truth, or something like that to tide over the count/countess,,, their expressions here made me so worried for a moment,,,

LIKE THESE UUAGHGHHGHGHHHH that kind of anticipation is terrifying tbh like "has our son been dead this whole time, have we been living w someone else??" and the imminent grief looming over that thought i think got translated really well here the blank irises and the shadowed face im so ,,,, ueueueueueue

AND THEN TO GET HIT WITH THIS

HELP MEEEE HAHAHAHA BRAZEN JAVIER ROBOFACED JAVIER ITS REAL HES REAL LMFAOAOOOOO

OF ALL THE THINGS JAVIER COULD HAVE DONE TO GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION HE DECIDED TO EMULATE LLOYD I GIGGLED SO BAD I STARTED COUGHING

AND THE FULL COMMITMENT TOO TO THE BIT AND MAKING IT SEEM LIKE HE'S MORE FOULMOUTHED THAN HE LETS ON . AND SINCE JAVIER IS NORMALLY SO DEADPAN IT JUST. WORKS I GUESS HAHAHAHAHA THIS IS CRAZY

insane genuinely fucking insane i couldn't stop laughing HAHAHAHAA like this is completely absurd but the fact that it's coming from javier, someone who the count and countess completely trust at the moment, someone who's been by lloyd's side this whole time,,, PELASE HAHAHFHADHFDHSHAHA

the count and countess reacting too got me giggling a storm HAHA

also also early webtoon lloyd makes an appearance again i think it's really fun that the artist gives him the hairstyle from back then, before they changed his hairstyle heehee

oh his undershirt is also missing that X that's usually there in the current tged style too i didnt notice that at first but another little callback!!!

AND THEN JAVIER FINISHING OFF THE BIT WITH. SEPPUKU??? WHAT THE HELL ALDKFJLSDKJF ?!?!?!

I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THIS LIKE HE DIDNT HAVE TO but i guess it did kind of knock the count/countess out of their stupor bc by seeing something so insane from javier they think javier rlly regrets giving lloyd BRAIN DAMAGE LAKJDFSHDF FUCKING BRAIN DAMAGE

i did see some ppl say that its kind of odd that they thank javier for this and thats fair yeah i dont think id be ok w finding out "oh one of my loved ones gave another one of my loved ones MEMORY LOSS"

but i think it could be that they're relieved to find out (or are inclined to believe) that their lloyd is "still alive" - he's just changed, not dead (except he is dead, so javier succeeded in fooling them without telling very severe lies)

honestly with how their expressions were they were probably expecting the worst, esp w all the evidence stacked against lloyd. can u imagine that despair, realizing that the person you've finally come to love is not the person you thought they were?? that the person you thought you had a second chance with, wasn't that person at all? i bet all those regrets were washing over the count and countess all at once,,, and then the relief that comes when it's revealed (when they're lead to believe) that no, it's the same person. this second chance was with the same lloyd, not someone else. that's still their son. oooooh imagine the relief, the realization that you don't have to mourn, you don't have to grieve for a death that happened under your nose

i think that's why they reacted this way, instead of worrying over javier wacking lloyd upside the head; like, what matters now is that lloyd frontera is alive (to them) and that both lloyd and javier have grown and changed themselves and the estate for the better. that the child and the knight they raised have a bright future and isn't that what any parent wants?

tho ofc they dont realize that their assumption is not the truth, but well they dont need to know that,,, for everyones sakes,,, nice play javier

when lloyd shows up and we saw this panel i thought we were gonna have a nice moment between the two of them where lloyd thanks javier for covering for him and hiding the truth but then-

THESE TWO FUCKING IDIOTS HAHAHAHAHAHA /AFF

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH THEYRE SO DEVIOUS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

and then lloyds conversation with the count/countess after PLEASE

yknow this is kind of like that bargaining strategy where you propose something completely absurd and crazy so that the other party says no, but then you offer your real request that is objectively tasking but the other party thinks of it as lesser than the former request so they'll grant it . whatever the heck that strat is called thats what this feels like HAHAHAHA

AND ARCOS TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR LLOYD AND

AHFGSDLJKFSDGHH THRTHOWS UP

lloyd says "all i need is for you to stay healthy" and god that fucking. hurts ouw ouuuhhh owiee oww BUDDY U CAN HAVE BOTH U CAN PROTECT UR FAMILY WHILE ALSO RELYING ON THEM!!! LLOYD!!! LLLOOOYYYDDD

and yet of course this is smth that suho!lloyd would say ,,, he wasnt able to help his parents w their struggles back then but now he can and now it's all he wants to do ,,, i cant even explain how emo this exchange makes me i can't quite put it into words even after a whole day of sitting on this,,, especially after the events of 157 like lloyd im worried abt u!! he doesnt even realize he doesnt even realize the overwork the possible spiral that can come from trying to preserve this aghhh AAGGHHH

sorry for losing it anyways moving on, the title effects linking yippie!!! it was super fun seeing all the teams and all the people he's brought together,,, truly this was our greatest estate development /j

ALSO JAVIER BEING BY HIMSELF ON A TEAM LMFAOOOO "the team that does everything" HAHAHAHAHA

AND THEN AND THEN the last reveal of this episode THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HELLO!@?!?!??!@?!?@?!@! OH MY GOD

raphael looks a litte different here i could've sworn he was a turtle /j

BUT YEAH HOLY SHIT WOW i mean it makes sense, if theres a hell theres probably a heaven, and there was that line that javier said where he was like "alicia liking lloyd is more ridiculous than suho actually being an archangel" MAN I SHOULDA SEEN THIS COMING LMAO but im still excited to see where this goes

like the jewel of truth construction being ILLEGAL? what r they gonna do??? like,,, take the parts away?!?! how will lloyd avoid their like, divine punishment or whatever?? is it considered a crime to start mythical construction??? i wonder what their ruling will be

also the exiled student guy (forgot his name) and lupellan what r they up to will this interfere w them?? or with lloyd? a lot of stuff lined up oh GOD lmao

anyways thats all for right now, as always i yap more on my twitter if youd like to see more shenanigans from me, see yall next week!! !!!!

[sneakydraws]

Okay so!! Here's a little wap design compilation - not exhaustive, both because of the image limit and because there's many things I'm not settled on but I want to post some of it at least~

Organised by families because familial resemblence or lack thereof is one of my favourite factors in chardes! And because Tolstoy is so good at creating these family dynamics of shared traits! First, the Bolkonskys:

Lise, Mlle Bourienne and Nikolai jr. not included for now, maybe later. The shared traits I gave them all (therefore presumably coming from Nikolai's side) are sharp, angular features with a beaked nose and high cheekbones, thin figures and straight, dark hair. Both Andrei and Nikolai are described as short, so initially I wanted to apply this to them all, but then I thought it would be cool to emphasise Andrei's similarity to his father AND separate Marya out by making her much taller than them. It works really well because Andrei and Nikolai are both short yet straightened out to their full height while Marya cowers and hunches to hide hers - which also works to create the unattractive figure she's described as having. I use heads to note height - as in, how many heads tall a character is - mostly because numerous manga art tutorials ingrained those in me <:3c Nikolai has his signature bushy eyebrows, and his clothes and hair are inspired by his depiction in the first soviet wap movie because I really liked it!

In general I spent the most time on Andrei, both because he's my favourite and because he has a lot of tantalisingly sparse and at times interestingly contrasting descriptions - he's meant to look unassuming, his small and slender figure hiding his impressive stamina and his cushy administrative position contrasting with the rugged hussars (and his small hands are mentioned as well) but he has sharp features, and his design should showcase his proud, decisive nature as well.

The Rostovs! Not including the count and countess because while I have some features in mind I haven't made up my mind yet on the overall designs, and excluding Vera for reasons I'll divulge later. These Rostov kids are all energetic, emotionally driven and strong-willed and I wanted to reflect that in their designs - most of all in their hair, which is curly and kind of fluffy, making big, untamed shapes - I decided this they would have inherited from the Count. They're all rather short (I think some of the Rostovs are described as short so I extended it to the whole family) and a little stockier than the Bolkonskys - Natasha's figure is really incosistent because she gains and loses weight a lot over the book, but I settled on the slightly heavier side mostly to contrast with Sonya. I also love freckles and always associate them with energy and youthfulness so they got given to the Rostovs - presumably from the Count's side again. And their eyes and hair are all black or dark brown!

BIG RAMBLING RANT: The Countess is described as having "oriental features" and I wanted to incorporate that into the kids because it's like the most detail we ever get on someone's overall facial features lol but it turned out kind of frustratingly vague. I think my first idea was towards Georgia because Pierre mentions a woman with Georgian features in 1812, and because my ballets russes research included a very orientalist ballet about a georgian queen. I didn't find very good references though and turned next to Armenia, and when I found someone talking about common Armenian features that fit what I already had in mind for the Rostovs I ended up using that. However, later I realised those countries are in Western Asia and don't really fit the descriptor of "oriental (eastern)" from the perspective of Russia... Now I'm looking more towards the Kalmyk and Bashkir people after seeing them mentioned in one of my interlibrary books so I might revise the Rostovs yet. I did get kind of attached to the nose though so I'll do my best to keep it haha

The odd ones out in the Rostov household!! Sonya is, I believe, related to the Rostovs on the Count's side so maybe it would make sense to give her the fluffy hair and freckles, but she has enough descriptions in the book to form a separate design on her own (and she's only a second cousin to the Rostov kids, so it's pretty far away anyway). She's compared to a graceful kitten, described as almost unattractively thin and with a sallow skin, so I thought it would fit her to have a slightly unwell air, with portruding collarbones and a slight hunch. She also has her dark double braid.

Vera was fun once I got the idea to make her look very different from her siblings - to mirror her personality being completely different (cool, impassionate, meanspirited at times) and to visually reflect how she's disliked by the Countess - perhaps almost looking like she's not her parents' child 👀 She's taller and slimmer than her siblings, with straighter and lighter in colour hair, and her features are more smooth and soft. No freckles either.

The Kuragins! Those guys are fun. I have Anatole as the tallest in the cast (save for Pierre), and Helene as the tallest woman, with Ippolit the same height as her. Helene and Ippolit in general are described as having the same features so they ended up almost looking like twins! Later I'll talk a bit more about their facial features and hair but in terms of silhouettes, Helene has to have her round shoulders and impressive bosom (and low neckline), while Anatole has to look all broad-shouldered and masculine. He was actually the hardest to draw because I kept feeling like his head was too small and his whole body too long... I might go back and make him a bit broader still. A book I have says the elite life guards of the Russian army were known for their impressive, immaculate appearance, with some men padding their uniforms to add volume to their chest... That made me think of Anatole lmao.

A little roll call to show everyone's height in relation to each other.

More about the Kuragins! I tackled Helene with the aim to make her beautiful by the standards of the time, and luckily there's actually an 1812 bust of the Greek Helene! It was too poerfect of a coincidence so I leaned heavily into it. I find that typical features of ancient Greek or 19th century Hellenistic busts are a very straight nose that flows smoothly from the forehead, a very round jawline with a somewhat portruding chin and that particular curve of the neck. I gave Helene all of those along with heavily-lidded, downturned eyes and an expression that hopefully conveys calm confidence and intelligence. Ippolit is supposed to have the same features but made to look ugly by his stupid expression - this actually turned out easier than I thought? Though it might just be that the moustache looks kind of stupid - maybe I should try a version without it. Anatole I thought ought to look impressive and masculine so in the end I kept the squarer jaw and strong forehead (and I couldn't resist the slicked back hair) but I considered a more Hellenistic version too, with the short curls and round jaw. Helene's hair was tricky because none of the styles I saw felt quite right - I settled on a sort of combo of the Hellenistic curls from the statue but a bit looser with the braid she's described to have in the book. She'd also probably wear a lot of hair accessories but I'll have to do more research on those.

More Natasha and Sonya, and Andrei - Andrei is so difficult!! I always kind of oscillate between "stern, strong-willed soldier", "sharp-featured intellectual" and "soft pampered prince/troubled poet" (where I try and fail to imitate this gorgeous illustration by Vadimir Serov). The Brutus haircut is tempting in its historical accuracy, but I'm just a little bit too fond of the immaculately slicked back hair...

Edit: I completely forgot @visualnoteslibrary was on Tumblr!! Thank you so much for collecting all the descriptions, you spared me quite the Easter egg hunt through the Gutenberg version <3

[anonymousbeefriendfanfics]

B with Asra and Nadia mayBEE?

I'm very punny I know

Sure! I adore you and your puns!

Fandom: The Arcana

Characters: Asra & Nadia

Warnings: None

Fluff Alphabet prompt: Boo! - How do they feel about surprises, giving and receiving?

Asra

Let's be honest here - Asra lives for surprises. He has a tendency to live life one minute at a time, so if you're going to be with them, you're going to get used to spontaneity.

That said, if you hate surprises, he'll do his absolute best to avoid them, but... it still happens kinda frequently. They do try to soften the surprise element, though, and will let you know about their new ideas or plans as soon as possible.

But anyway! Assuming you're on board, Asra loves surprises. So, so much. It's practically part of their love language at this point. They're constantly bringing you little surprise gifts - "I just saw this in the market and thought of you!" - or arranging little surprises for you! You'll come home from a long day at work to find that the upper floor of the shop has been transformed into the most relaxing place he could create, with oversized pillows and the fluffiest blankets strewn everywhere, and plenty of their best tea, and incense sticks burning a soothing scent, and just... everything they could think of.

Asra's favorite part of surprises is the reaction of the person receiving them. He lives for the look of surprised excitement, the way their eyes light up and the way they smile. It's addicting, and as absent-minded as our favorite magician can be, his favorite people are often on his mind whenever they see things that said people would like.

They also just enjoy surprising people in general, like showing up unannounced to bring them lunch or just hang out, and playfully spooking people from behind or popping out from behind something. That's one thing Asra and Faust have in common - both of them enjoy games and harmless pranks, and Asra is associated with the fox for a reason! You've lost count of how many times you wake up and roll out of bed only to end up in a magical sinkhole of pillows, or slip your shoes on only to find them, somehow, made of water, or misplace a book or something only to find it in the most unexpected place... The prank wars with Asra and Faust will be epic!

As for being the one getting the surprise, Asra absolutely adores it. They'll love anything you give them, truthfully, but they're a curious one - mention you're planning something and suddenly he's like a child impatiently trying to find their present before Christmas comes. Good luck hiding it with Faust around, too, because she can slip into the tiniest of places to search. Best to keep it quiet until you're ready.

Throw a surprise party for Asra's birthday. Chances are, he might've forgotten it, too - after all, I don't imagine Asra is one to keep track of dates very well, and the calendar he's got is almost always at least a month behind whenever it actually is. Invite all their friends, make a big deal out of it. Make them feel really special for once, because he is special!! Asra might feel a little embarrassed being the center of attention, but trust me, the reminder that they're loved and appreciated is well worth it.

Also, if you can give him random little gifts?? Perfection. It'll make Asra's entire day to know that you found something and thought of him - or, even better, made something for him. Your skill level doesn't matter, so long as it's done with love, Asra will see the beauty in it and cherish it forever.

Nadia

I don't think Nadia is one for surprises, at least, not in the beginning. She's the Countess of Vesuvia, she needs everything to go smoothly and she must be on top of everything at all times. Surprises stress her out. If you'd asked her earlier, she'd tell you she hates them. 'Surprise,' to her, means some sort of prank pulled on her by one of her many sisters, or some stunt Lucio has pulled, or something being wrong that she must attempt to fix, a courtier showing up unannounced to insist upon speaking with her. All negative things, nothing good ever comes from a surprise. That is... until she meets you.

You change things for her. Showing up unannounced is no longer an annoyance that she must make time for, but a pleasant moment she wasn't expecting. Bringing her gifts isn't something that must leave her mentally scrambling for political reasons, but a completely harmless, well-meaning gesture.

She doesn't even realize her perspective on surprises has shifted until you grab her by the hand and tug her gently towards a mystery destination, cheerfully informing her you have a surprise for her. Her shoulders instinctively tense at the word, but for once, she isn't dreading what you have in store - no, this time she's eager to see what it is you've prepared, and she feels the flutter of excitement in her chest for the first time as you lead her. Perhaps it's a soothing spa day you've arranged in that incredible pool-sized bath to help her relax, perhaps you're leading her to a secluded room for a little tea date, or maybe you're leading her outside to go and gaze at nature together - whatever it is, she will surely love it, and surprise takes on a different meaning for her.

On the other hand, Nadia is one who surprises you constantly, though she prefers not to think of it that way at first. She absolutely showers you in gifts, little tokens of her affection, and she often plans things for the two of you as well, surprising you with little trips to various places and the occasional date to go somewhere more special and intimate. She's a very busy woman, so she doesn't often have the time for much in the way of event planning, but she wants your company wherever it is she's going and does her best to make it enjoyable and not just... work. Impromptu stops are very common on these little trips, as she'll see somewhere that she'd like to show you or a cute little shop and pause the journey to go explore.

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[rayless-reblogs]

20 Book Challenge

I saw this challenge on a post by @theresebelivett. The idea is you pick 20 of your books to take with you to a desert island, but you can only pick one book per author and series. Here are two further guidelines I set myself: They have to be books I actually own, as if I really am gathering them up under my arms and heading to the island; and I'm defining "book" as a single volume -- so if I just so happen to have 100 novellas squashed between two covers, it still counts as one book.

We'll go alphabetically by author.

Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre. An old standby, a classic, I can jump into it at any point.

Daphne du Maurier: Rebecca. Have only read it once, but loved it and I suspect I'll get more from it each time.

Clare B Dunkle: The Hollow Kingdom. If I can only take one book from this excellent and unusual goblin series that captivated me in the mid-2000s, it'd better be the first one.

William Goldman: The Princess Bride. This book had an outsize influence on my own writing. I can quote a lot of it, but I wouldn't want to be without it.

Shannon Hale: Book of a Thousand Days. I love the warmth and humility of its heroine Dashti. Plus, Shannon Hale very kindly wrote a personal response to a fan letter I sent her years and years ago, so her work always has a special place in my heart.

Georgette Heyer: Cotillion. I don't actually own my favorite Georgette novel, but the funny, awkward, and ultimately romantic Cotillion is definitely not a pitiful second-stringer.

Eva Ibbotson: A Countess Below Stairs. Countess was my introduction to Eva's adult romances, and she is the past master of warm, hardworking heroines who should really be annoying because they're way too good to be true, but somehow you just end up falling in love with them.

Norton Juster: The Phantom Tollbooth. I first read this when I was like eight, and even for an adult, its quirky humor and zingy wordplay hold up, no problem.

Gaston Leroux: The Phantom of the Opera. Can't leave without Erik, nope, the French potboiler has got to come. Perhaps I will spend my time on the island writing the inevitable crossover fanfic, The Phantom of the Tollbooth.

CS Lewis: Till We Have Faces. Faces is my current answer for what my favorite book is, so I'm taking that, though it feels criminal to leave The Silver Chair behind.

LM Montgomery: The Blue Castle. As much as I love Anne and Emily, it came down to Blue Castle and A Tangled Web, and I'm a sucker for Valancy's romantic journey.

E Nesbit: Five Children and It. Probably the most classic Edwardian children's fantasy, though still a hard choice to make. Nesbit is another author who had a huge influence on me as a writer.

Robert C O'Brien: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. A childhood book I'm really sentimental about. I should re-read it.

Meredith Ann Pierce: The Darkangel. The first in the archaic lunar vampire trilogy. This will always be frustrating, only having the first in the series, but if I can only read the first, maybe I'll forget about how angry the third novel left me.

Sherwood Smith: Crown Duel. At one time, this swords-and-manners fantasy duet was one of my absolute favorite fandoms, and clever me has both books in one volume, so I don't have to choose.

Anne Elisabeth Stengl: Starflower. My favorite of the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. We'll have to test whether I can actually get sick of Eanrin.

JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings. I've never actually read it through as an adult and, look at that, I have a three-in-one volume. Cheating!

Vivian Vande Velde: Spellbound. I've read much of VVV's YA fantasy and liked a lot of it, but none more so than The Conjurer Princess and its fast-paced tale of revenge. The Spellbound edition includes the prequel and a bonus short story, so I'm good to go.

PG Wodehouse: The World of Mr Mulliner. There are some hilarious novels I'm leaving behind here, including all the Bertie Wooster stuff. But there are some absurdly fun Mulliner stories and this edition is like three hundred pages. That'll keep me happy for a long while on my island.

Jack Zipes (editor): Spells of Enchantment. This is an enormous compilation of western fairy tales. I've owned it since 2004 or so, and I've still never finished it. Now, on my island, I'll no longer have the excuse.

Tagging anyone else who feels like doing this!

[lilac-den]

Can we have a snippet of Enid and MC after they're married? 🥺❤️

Warning: I wasn't sure if there is a gender neutral term for Lord and Lady, so I have to use Your Excellency or maybe even Liege for this. ;; If anyone has a better word for it, please let me know!

Also, had to change the line a little because it just doesn't seem to fit Enid's style XD

Enid Caespes is a woman of class.

A woman of intrigue.

More withdrawn and silent than Maverick, she is the very definition of a wallflower as she eavesdrops, spies and observes the ropes and bridges of nobles from one after the other. It's how she grasps the latest rumors upon the ton.

So to hear her spouse's name out of the lips of some neanderthal, spewing some offensive nonsense about them being a commoner and being frightening due to the backing of Grand Nature, it leaves Enid seething.

She's been trying to stomach through the evening and stay neutral. Not because of her position as a noblewoman, no. If anything, Enid would have pulled out blackmail or the like.

But because of how [Name] is enjoying the food, she has to resist.

"Mmph...!" Speak of the Devil, she thought. She turns on over to her spouse, who has come down to sit next to Enid with a small plate of little cakes. Nobilities are more on socializing and dancing than food and drinks, unlike how commoners and mercenaries work. But [Name] has been a bit of a foodie, so their preference is quite unorthodox for the more conventional nobles. [Name] turns to Enid and flashes a smile. "Enid, you need to try this tiramisu."

"You're going to drown in sugar before the night ends."

[Name] scoffs. "Please, you would too if the choice is this," they gesture subtly to the dancing people, who have taken the center of the ball and attract the eyes of the people, "or that."

Enid rolls her eyes, but she doesn't deny it - she really would rather go back home and spent the rest of her evening having dinner with [Name] or work.

Or both - going out on a nightly sneak with [Name] in the name of investigation before going to a tavern to eat.

"Lady Caespes, what a lovely surprise!" Enid cringes and she glances over. A woman has come up to them now, dressed in a white and blue gown and an eye-catching ornament on her hair. "Why, I was worried you wouldn't be coming tonight. I thought you were stacked at work."

"I was, but I received an invitation I couldn't refuse."

Two immovable forces were there when she received the invitation. One had been Maverick telling Enid it was a royal ball of the King's birthday. Another is the cruel incentive Ittania told her, putting the thought of [Name] being excited about the food.

Oh, and showing off their marriage. There was that too.

"Who might you be?"

Enid moves a hand to [Name]'s thigh with a reassuring touch, trying to calm them from the cautious tone in their voice. Enid approves of it, of course - what strange noble who they never met would come up to the two of them without addressing themselves first?

"I believe we weren't introduced." The woman curtsies, "I am Countess Briss."

Ah. Enid has heard of the countess; sister of another count and wife to Count Briss, a vassal of House Caespes. It was said she had returned to the capital after leaving for a vacation a year or two ago for health reasons.

Word on the street is that she has been trying to match her brother to someone of higher status.

"I couldn't help noticing you just sitting with your companion, Lady Caespes." The Countess observes, "How about a dance with my brother? Surely you need to have a little fun! A woman of your stature shouldn't be loitering with a companion."

Enid's grimaces, but she maintains her expression. She must have not read how Enid is married to said companion.

"I must decline, Countess Briss. The company of my...companion is certainly enough."

She can hear [Name] snickering a little, the little bastard.

Unfortunately, Countess Briss seems too determined, or too oblivious, to understand that Enid is not just with anyone. "Nonsense! Just come with me, I am certain my brother will be delighted to see you!"

The countess grabs Enid's wrist. Enid flinches.

Then a hand latches onto the gloved wrist of the countess, tight and taut.

"My wife said no."

The countess looks up now and pales slightly at who she sees. Whether it's because the Countess had been too oblivious, too focused on Enid or [Name] has hidden their presence well, it doesn't matter now that they have made themselves known to her. The Countess's smile weakens. "Y-Y...Your Excellency." The smile is crumbling. "My, it's so nice to see you again."

"Is it?" Enid looks towards [Name], where the once jovial tone they had has shifted to a harsher, more dangerous tone. "Because, quite frankly, I'm crossed." They look at the countess's hand. "Very crossed."

The countess winces and finally lets go of Enid's arm. But [Name] still has a hold and they lean forward while tugging the countess closer to whispering something in her ear. Enid, who has learned how to eavesdrop the moment she could walk, listens in.

"Be inconsiderate to my wife again," they warn, "and I'll bring his mistress to the next party."

They finally let the countess go and the countess takes her hand back, staring wide-eyed at both of them. Enid glances over, seeing the feral glare and obvious frown on their face.

They usually have a good poker face. They must be very upset this time.

"Well," the Countess starts as she busies her hands in brushing down the skirt of her dress before folding them politely, "it seems I have...been away for too long." Countess Briss tries to smile diplomatically, but it comes out shaken and weak. "It was nice meeting you, Lady Enid." Enid can see the hesitation in her eyes. "And you, as well, Your Excellency."

"I wish I could say the same," [Name] comments neutrally, "if it wasn't for the sour fruit from the pleasant cake I had."

It didn't take a genius for a noble to interpret that: If it wasn't for how you sour our mood, my wife and I would have been having a pleasant time.

The semi-blunt drop in the mood is enough for Countess Briss to make herself scarce.

-----

"Then why didn't you stand up for yourself?"

Enid's first question comes out in the midst of the hooves trotting the smooth road, the carriage barely rocking and only repeating the beats of wooden wheels rolling. The party has ended and Enid and her spouse are heading their way home.

But the question has burned so strongly that Enid couldn't wait to ask at their home.

"Huh?" They look so perplexed, they're almost foolish. Enid can't even help mentally wondering how she even fell in love with this adorable idiot.

"I know you heard the nobles back there," she clenches her hands into fists, "what they say about you."

"...Oh. That." They look casual about it before shrugging. "I don't see the need for it."

"[Na-]"

"I mean it." And they do. Enid can see it in those eyes, the way they dim slightly. "To me, their words are simply repeats of what I have once heard. The world of politics, though different in styles, are still very much the same."

Enid can't even imagine just how rough of a lifestyle [Name] once had. She had only ever been told bits and pieces, but [Name] had described it as a very long, very sad nightmare.

"The only difference is that you're with me." [Name] reaches out, pausing and looking up with eyes for permission.

Enid turns one of her hands over. The hand that meets hers, grasping and comforting, seems so afraid of letting her go.

"Having you there with me calms me." [Name] continues, "It also frightens me. Angers me. When I saw Countess Briss grabbing you, I...I don't want to wake up and see you gone. Or hurt." [Name] can't help but give a laugh and Enid can hear the way it shakes a little in the end. "The fact that you married me, it still feels so heavenly."

A hint of disbelief. Insecurity. But if anyone were to ask Enid, no one has been a more attentive partner to her than [Name]. And to hear them believing to find their marriage a paradise they still had trouble processing, Enid bares her soul, just a little.

"You're beautiful," [Name] looks at Enid with shock. She interlocks their fingers before looking at their face and eyes, unwavering, "sometimes, I still can't believe you're mine." She squeezes their hand and her voice softens, the sharp edge she usually has dulled. "All fucking mine."

And the proof [Name] accepts her soul, is by the tears that glisten in those beautiful eyes, their own soul weeping with bliss.

~~~~~

A/N: When you attempt something decent and ended up with angsts again. (/OAO)/

[empires-au-ideas]

Hehe he. The Cold Wanderer is very inspired by atla, so we DO need a Zuko.

...

It had been two weeks since King Xornoth had taken over Mythland and both of its colonies. Two weeks since they killed Sir Carlos.

Sausage's mother died when he was five, his father dying when he was ten, making him king. Sir Carlos, the only form of guidance he's had for all this time, died when he was twenty.

King Xornoth said this was normal though. They were PROTECTING Sausage. He was surrounded by Rivendell guards now, twenty four seven. They brought structure to thr chaotic kingdom, guards everywhere, ruling with the iron fist Sausage never had the strength to.

"Sausage," a guard harshly knocked on the door. He wasn't allowed to leave his room without supervision, Xornoth said it was in case of any political adversaries, but the people loved Sausage. But it was whatever Xornoth said, he guessed. "The king wants to see you in the throne room."

Sausage got up and opened the door, getting escorted through the massive hallways of Mythland's castle to where King Xornoth was sitting on Sausage's the throne.

"Sausage," Xornoth addressed him. He bowed. "I do thank you for your cooperation through all of this. Guards, you are dismissed."

The guards marched out, leaving Sausage a little more scared than he already was.

"Now," Xornoth leaned back, holding their chin up. "I understand you are familiar with the Grimlands and the Crystal Cliffs, Mythland's colonies."

Sausage nodded, keeping his head bowed. "Have they been providing your resources without much trouble? I understand how REVELIOUS my colonies can get, especially since you haven't let me tell them what's happening-"

Xornoth held their hand up. Silence.

"The colonies have been obedient. What I was wondering," Xornoth's tone soured, they didn't like it when Sausage got all rambly. "Was if you knew who the successors to the Wizard Gandalf and the Count and Countess were going to be."

"Gem and Fwhip?" Sausage looked up before meeting Xornoth's eyes, looking at the floor again. "Yes. Gemini of the Crystal Cliffs and Fwhip of the Grimlands. We are childhood friends."

"Then do you know that they have ran away from their lands?"

Sausage gasped, he wanted to pump his fist in the air. But why would he be happy at their escape? They're not where Xornoth can protect them. "No I did not."

"Well they are to work under you, and therefore work under me," Xornoth hissed. "What kind of king doesn't have control over his colonies."

Sausage bit his lip.

"To fix this error," Xornoth continued. "Someone will need to go fetch them so I can properly bring them to justice."

Uh oh. Sausage silently begged. Please no please no please-

"Since this is youre mistake for negligence to your colonies and not having a tight enough grip on them," Xornoth leaned forward, making Sausage feel very very small in front of an ACTUAL king's presence. "You shall travel throughout the continent and not return until you have caught the Tay twins."

Sausage nodded, pushing down a sob.

He couldn't do that. Not against Gem, with her powerful magic that puts Sausage's sorcery to shame. Or Fwhip, who could come up with plans and set up traps on the fly.

Not to mention they were the only people he had left. Sir Carlos is dead, and the twins were the only other people he could ever go to.

Sausage bowed again. "As you wish, King Xornoth."

[sxftkxssxs]

The M6 in the Hogwarts Houses? Slytherin, Ravenclaw, etc. But of course if you have watched or read the books/movies and know about the houses- sorry for bothering you and have a good day :’)

oh no!! you haven't bothered me at all love! I'm a huge harry potter fan (we ignore JK Rowling) so I know exactly what you're talking about!!

also this does contain some spoilers so if you haven't completed their upright ends I would skip this post <3

Asra

I feel like they'd be either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.

Ravenclaw because they're thoughtful, and they know so much.

Even though they know so much he goes through the effort to learn more.

he shows wit from how quickly and cleanly he thinks. and also funny ways, I mean? replacing blood with pomegranate juice?

Hufflepuff because he's hardworking and patient, they show they've been loyal to the mc even after their death.

Even then they stay by the mc's side even if they choose someone other than him.

He's patient, he's shown that from literally biding their time to both raise mc from the dead and teach them everything all over again

final decision, would probably be Ravenclaw, they're much more similar to more of those traits.

Julian

HUFFLEPUFF!

No other correct answer in my book

He's loyal to his family and the mc, to the point he gets himself into trouble trying to keep them safe and happy.

You see his hard work from how he worked during the plague and how he changed with the mc in-game.

he is iffy in the justice department at first, but he does end up pretty okay at the end with justice.

patience is something you'd need to have if you traveled everywhere and then came back to Vesuvia for answers yes?

Julian is a Hufflepuff and no one can change my mind <3

Nadia

Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.

she's smart and always researching. Practically the definition of Ravenclaw!

she's got the wit too, thinking ever more clever than Asra would.

Shown by outsmarting half the courtiers and her ex-husband

But she also showed that she's extremely brave, even if she's scared of what's to come, shown when she's faced with Lucio's return to Vesuvia

Nadia obviously has nerve, she hunted Lucio in that forest and then went and broke down both him and his courtiers

She's very much close to the Gryffindor definition too.

girl is like 50/50 and I'm gonna say Ravenclaw as a final decision but it could go either way

Muriel

he's a Gryffindor

the Neville of the group if you will

he's much more reserved and embarrassed than any of the others.

but that's what makes him even braver, a big quality of a Gryffindor.

He shows that he's brave, often taking risks that could get him killed in his upright route

he's obviously got nerve! he walks right up to the devil count and woops him in a game contest! the count that basically held him, hostage, nonetheless!

would make a better farmer than a knight though- he still does have some of those traits.

Portia

she's a tough decision, but I'd say Hufflepuff like her brother

Hufflepuff because no matter what she does, she's loyal, even when that loyalty pulls at her from both ends ( from her brother and the countess) she finds a way to keep both sides

She's very with Justice ( unlike her brother ) and tries to convince both Julian and Nadia that you shouldn't hang an innocent man. The only reason they go through with it is because of Julian's plan/idiocy

she's plenty patient, she deals with snobby nobles and the courtiers all day, could you?

hard work? girl runs her own garden and keeps the palace in check, even when it gets completely torn apart in her upright ending! evidence? Every single servant and citizen/noble in that palace listens to her orders in that crisis

Lucio

hear me out, Slytherin OR Gryffindor.

yes he's cunning, and a leader (in the battle sense)

he is resourceful, getting out of sticky situations that while he did get himself into, he wiggles out of them.

he's done anything to get his way in the past as well, something Slytherins are known to do!

BUT he's also brave and almost as good as a knight would be, especially once the mc straightens him out

Lucio would most likely be a Gryffindor that would've been on the same path Peter Pettigrew was, but the mc just- yoinked him back to start

also he seems to really like red and gold so, Gryffindor is basically canon guys-

[sennamybeloved]

If Lucian and Senna could appear in one skin line of your choosing, which skin would you choose? If you could go anywhere in Runeterra with the two of them, where would you go? What initially made you fall for them?

HI TYSM FRIEND!! these are some very good questions. this probably going to be a very very long post though, so be warned.

1 - there are SO many skinlines i want to see lucian and senna in dude, i don't even know where to begin. i've written them into so so many over these past 2 years i could go on about this question for literal hours. but, for the sake of your sanity, i will only be including the most notable of the bunch;

demacia vice senna!! ik demacia vice is 6 ft under but i will never let go of her. in my version of her lore, she and lucian were once a married couple that worked for the dpd as detective partners, before they were separated by a terrible accident that left lucian on the brink of death. he was fortunately rescued from the rubble, after which he promptly underwent an emergency surgery that replaced most of his body with machine. he was saved, but senna was nowhere to be found. she was essentially wiped off the face of the earth for the next many years... before eventually turning up as a respected and revered crime lord out of literally nowhere. what happened to her in those seven years is entirely unknown, but now she and lucian are on opposite sides of the battlefield, and she shows know sign of switching back anytime soon. but even if she didn't have my complicated ass backstory, i would still love the skin. i just want to see her in a fun vaporwave setting.

i want to see both her and lucian in winter wonder! or, well, wanted, because that skinline is dead too. but seeing them in big fluffy winter coats and pastel blues would've been adorable!!! so adorable.

star guardian lucian/senna is forever my dream. i'm tired of them being so edgy and sad all the time i just want them to be cute magical girls that wear pastel colors and fight weird interdimensional alien creatures. i might get part of this dream fulfilled soon because,,,,cough cough, ,,leaks,, but bring it to pc and give me both of them riot. pj guardian skins would also be very appreciated

SPACE GROOVE WHERE THEY BOTH GET AFROS.

harrowing skins where they're both vampires. count lucian and countess senna.......they're an ancient vampire couple that live in an old victorian castle together........cmon riot.

and finally, i'd like to see any skinline where either of them are cast as a villain. blood moon demon senna, coven senna, some type of soulhunter/soulstealer lucian.,, egh. i love them so much

2 - i would take them to ionia! it's so beautiful there. i just want to take walks in the beautiful ancient forests with them or take them to some of the festivals.......it would be so nice to see them exist in a more peaceful setting for once

3 - honestly i,, don't know?? i just laid eyes on them one day and they haven't left my brain since. but i do think a huge contributing factor to it was how in love they are with each other. listening to their little interactions and seeing all the cute fanart of them warmed my heart so damn much. i still think that like, 60% of my yearning is just me thinking about them kissing each other.

[bastart13]

hi bast!!! love your art of little two kids, they're soooo cute and a question just occurred to me with that . What will those kids attitude be towards MC? We all know the story takes place when the Count and the Countess were clearly divorced and had no longer have a relationship. So how will they react when they know that their parents are no longer together, and MC is going to be their new parent? I know it's a tough question for kids when their parents were separated soooo it's ok not to answer it. Again, love your works!!!

Verena is the hardest to win over to a new parent. As a child, she's very bossy and likes having things her own way, but she doesn't have a good grasp on her parents' situation. In her head, the MC would be trying to take her mama and papa away from her again, so she's very possessive of both Nadia and Lucio, always clinging to them and stopping anyone else from getting close. It's tough to win her over, but with enough attention and praise, she can learn to accept someone else, as long as Nadia and Lucio still spend time with her. As she never really remembered Nadia and Lucio being married, she doesn't really care that they're not a couple. All she cares about is that she can see them regardless.

Najm is older and more thoughtful, so he doesn't make as much of a fuss. He's a bit harder to get close to as he lives in his own world, but if the MC takes an interest in whatever subject he's learning about and encourages him to talk about it, he'll warm up to them immediately. He understands that Nadia and Lucio aren't together and he's mostly alright with that as long as they don't argue around him.

[cocomaxley]

Chance at Love

Chance at Love Chapter 8 - Rashad x Greysen(OC)

Synopsis: Greysen James is an attorney that had to do everything on her own. After years of hard work, she finally made it. She didn’t take time for herself let alone time to date. One fateful day, on her way to her best friend’s wedding in a small Mediterranean country called Cordonia, that all changed.

Some notes: This is sort of an AU. It would take place at the beginning of Book 3 when Liam x Anitah (MC) are engaged. Anitah will often call her Greys (pronounced like Grace). I have never written fanfic or anything outside of school/work documents, so please be gentle.

Warnings: Implied smut and implied NSFW. So if you’re under 18, please look away. I don’t want messages from your mommy and daddy.

Word Count: 1,632

Tag List: @ao719 @leelee10898 @speedyoperarascalparty @hopefulmoonobject @katurrade @riseandshinelittleblossom @bobasheebaby @brightpinkpeppercorn @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @blackwidow2721 @fullbeaumonty @liamxs-world @stopforamoment @krsnlove @alexpottrechoices

The wedding goes off without a hitch. Anitah is the picture perfect bride, and Greysen couldn't be happier for her best friend. After she helps load Anitah and her dress into the carriage, the bride and groom leave the cathedral. Rashad pulls her into a waiting limo. Alicia, Pam, Drake and Leo are already inside the vehicle along with another couple she hasn't met yet.

Leo makes the necessary introductions, “Greysie meet Maxwell and his wife Stephanie, Max and Steph, meet Greysie, Anitah’s best friend.”

Maxwell is bouncing in his seat like a little kid on his way to the zoo, “Aw yeah! This is going to be Beaumont Wedding Bash 2K18!”

Greysen turns to Rashad confused. He and Stephanie both just shake their heads. She giggles understanding she will likely learn what this means later tonight.

Leo rubs his hands together and says, “Let the party begin, ladies and gents!”

He pulls out four bottles of champagne from the limo fridge and hands one to each of the men. They pop the corks and fill the ladies’ glasses. The group clinks their glasses and downs their drinks.

They are arrive at the palace and make their way into the ballroom. It is beautifully decorated in wine and navy colors to match the men’s tuxedos and the ladies’ mermaid style dresses. The navy blue three tier cake with deep red flowers and gold accents sits on a table in the middle of the room.

They take their seats at the head table as dinner service starts. More drinks are poured and Greysen clinks her glass with her fork, winking at Anitah as Liam leans in to kiss her.

Maxwell’s eyes widen and he says, “Ooh, let's play a drinking game! Every time someone clinks their glass for them to kiss, we all take a drink!”

Drake groans and Pam sympathetically pats his hand. Rashad raises his glass and drinks in acknowledgment. Greysen does the same, understanding that Beaumont Wedding Bash 2K18 has just begun.

Alicia nods her head and says, “This sounds like a horrible idea, let's do it!”

Leo just smiles. The last time Greysen saw that smile, she paid the price with the worst hangover the next day. The next thing she knows, Maxwell has clinked his glass 4 times in a matter of minutes before Drake rips the fork out of his hand.

Maxwell whines, “Awww come on, Drake!” As he reaches for his spoon. Drake quickly yanks that out of his hand and removes any silverware within Maxwell’s reach.

Stephanie giggles, “You know that'll just motivate him more, Drake.”

All of a sudden the group hears someone tapping on a microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen of the court, please join me in clinking your glasses so the royal couple can kissssss!”

The group breaks out in laughter as people start tapping their glasses. Anitah and Liam share a deep kiss, smiling at each other as they pull apart.

It's time to cut the cake, the happy couple cuts their slice of cake and Liam puts the fork gently into Anitah’s mouth. Greysen’s eyes widen when she sees the mischievous look on her friend’s face. Anitah takes a handful of cake and smashes it all over her unsuspecting husband’s face.

Liam laughs, “Oh, so you want to play, huh?” He grabs his own handful and smears cake on her face. She's completely surprised at his retaliation and starts throwing cake at him. Liam picks up a napkin to shield himself from the flying dessert as he returns fire.

Bastien walks towards the king, unsure if he needs to step in. He thinks about it before walking back towards the door resuming his post. Stephanie has to maintain a tight grip on Maxwell's suit jacket to keep him from jumping into the fray.

Regina is so shocked at her step-son’s antics, “Liam! Anitah! Show some decorum!”

As she continues to clutch her chest, both of them are doubled over with laughter completely covered in cake. Their white clothing streaked with blue and gold frosting. They quickly excuse themselves to clean up.

Drake and Pam head to the bar and Alicia and Leo slip out of the ballroom. Rashad takes her hand and leads her onto the dance floor. He holds her close and she rests her head on his shoulder. He leans down and places a soft sweet kiss on her lips. She smiles at him. What did she do to deserve this man?

As they're dancing, she notices Madeleine and Kiara shooting daggers in her direction. She gives Madeleine a wicked grin and a wink, pulling Rashad down into a passionate kiss that he eagerly returns.

After what seemed like forever, Anitah and Liam finally return to the ballroom looking flushed and giggly, their hair a mess. Leo and Alicia slip back into the ballroom shortly after, both looking just as giggly adjusting their disheveled clothes.

The emcee announces that its time for the bouquet and garter toss. The ladies line up, Greysen, Pam and Stephanie are standing to the side of the crowd not participating in this particular tradition. At the front is Kiara, Penelope, Madeleine and Alicia. Anitah turns around so her back is facing the crowd and throws the bouquet into the air. Alicia trips Penelope and pushes Kiara out of the way so she and Madeleine are the only two battling for the flowers.

“Over my dead body, Maddie!” Alicia screams as she elbows her right in the face and triumphantly catches the bouquet.

Leo watches proudly as his girlfriend takes down the three noble ladies until he realizes she's holding the bouquet in her hand. He swallows hard and pulls at his collar with his finger.

Liam takes his place in front of the single men and turns around launching the garter behind him. All of the men, except for an unknowing Leo, take three steps out of the way and the lacy garter lands directly on Leo’s boutineer. Liam turns around and bursts into laughter, “Bullseye, brother!”

Leo stands in the middle of the dancefloor completely dumbfounded at what just happened. Drake walks over and claps him on the shoulder.

“Looks like you're next buddy!” Drake chuckles as he makes his way back to his wife.

The party goes late into the evening, drinks flowing non-stop. The men go to the bar leaving the ladies together. Greysen hears someone clearing their throat behind her. The ladies turn and see Madeleine. Pam immediately rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

“A true queen would never act so barbaric during a special wedding tradition. The cake cutting is symbolic between husband and wife”, Madeleine says with an evil smirk.

Greysen smiles at her, “Maddie, why are you such a bitch? Do you really think you're that much better than everyone? Even though you've been turned down by the three most eligible men in your own country, to fun American women.”

Madeleine looks affronted and is about to retort when the men return from the bar. Rashad wraps his arm around Greysen’s waist.

“Countess Madeleine, I recall telling you to leave my girlfriend alone. It seems that was unnecessary since she had no problem putting you in your place”, Rashad says with a chuckle, “I believe Lord Neville is still looking for a marriage prospect. You two would be quite the pair. Now, please excuse us.”

He quickly leads Greysen away from the group and out of the ballroom. Once they're down an empty hallway, he pins her up against a wall and captures her mouth in a heated kiss. She grabs the front of his shirt to keep him from pulling away.

“Rashad”, Greysen moans breathlessly as he kisses her neck.

He responds a low tone, “Tell me what you want, Greys.”

“You, I want you.” She pulls him into another kiss.

Just then Pam and Drake enter the same hallway, Pam pinning Drake against the wall.

“You like that, Walker?” Pam purrs.

Drake notices they aren't alone and tries to grasp his wife’s roaming hands, “Pam, stop. We aren't alone. PAM!”

She opens a door and quickly pulls Drake into the room. Rashad groans, resting his forehead against hers. Greysen giggles at his frustration, “Come on lover boy, we can't leave until Anitah and Liam leave for their honeymoon anyway.”

“I can't wait to get to New York so we can have privacy. Being here is like living with your horny brothers that always have their even hornier girlfriends over”, he grumbles as Greysen continues to laugh.

“Don't worry, baby, I'll make up for it later” she whispers in his ear, pulling him in for one last kiss. He growls before he melts into the kiss.

At the end of the night, the crowd of people thin out. Maxwell is the still dancing and Stephanie has her head laying on the table.

Alicia and Leo have disappeared again. Pam and Drake were just making their way back into the ballroom. Anitah runs up to Greysen and pulls her into a big hug.

“Thank you for being here, Greys. This past month has been amazing!”

“Aw, Nita, thank you for asking me to come. I missed you!”

Anitah releases her and turns to Rashad, pulling him into a hug, “Take care of her please. She means the world to me.”

Rashad smiles at her and kisses her cheek, “I will, I promise. She is my world.”

Anitah and Liam bid everyone a final farewell as they head to the airport to leave for their honeymoon. Rashad puts his arm around Greysen’s shoulders and starts walking back into the palace.

“Now… I believe you made me a promise” he smirks at her.

“I believe I did”, she giggles as they make their way back to her room.