#BUT THEN!!! luminous crown is so full of hope!!!!!!!!!!!1 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sleepingsun501 · 2 months

Text

Shared Experiences

(Part 1, Part 2 tbd)

Pairing: OFC Sellé x Fives x OMC Aergad

Summary: Fives takes the chance at a threesome and being shared.

Rating: Explicit 18+ (Minors DNI)

Warnings: Threesome F/M/M, smut, bisexuality, hand-job, established open relationship between OCs, dirty talk, praise.

Word Count: 3.2k

Ao3 link

A/N: MINORS GET OUT OF HERE!! Hello everybody, it's been a while since I wrote much of anything. Been working way too much for my own good with not enough time to be creative. This has been sitting in my wips forever, and there will be a Part 2 eventually. For now, I hope you enjoy Fives being the bi king he is!!

Shared Experiences

Fives was no stranger to what went on behind closed doors in the storage closets and refreshers of 79’s. More often than not, he was the one who would run off to a vacant space with a willing partner in tow, but tonight, he had been pulled into the darkness of a hallway by a gorgeous, feisty Twi’lek woman.

“Fucking hell, Sellé,” he moaned, gripping the plush of her hips as she nipped at his neck. With her bright reddish-orange skin under the singular overhead light, she was nearly luminous in the dim hall, but her gold eyes were dark with want.

Sellé trailed her lips across Fives’ neck and jaw as she pressed a hand against his codpiece, holding his back to the wall. Even beneath the plastoid, she could tell he was getting harder as he rutted into her palm and grinned down at her.

“Take me right here, soldier,” she whispered against his sweaty skin. “I don’t want to wait anymore. Watching you all night has been torture.”

Fives shifted down to scoop her up, his hands full of her perfect ass as he pushed her little black skirt up her hips. In just a few steps, he was pressing her against the back wall, trapping her in a cage of blue and white armor.

She gasped as he pressed a thigh between her legs. The plastoid ridge put the most exquisite pressure on her sensitive folds and clit as he traced his tongue over the black ring piercing in the center of her bottom lip, begging for entrance.

Before he could draw a breath, Sellé invaded first, licking into his mouth and capturing his lower lip in her sharp teeth to pull him closer. He let out a sultry growl at the slight pain, but ground his hardening cock against her belly, wishing she had unclipped his codpiece first.

“Come on, Fives…” she begged with a needy gasp, gyrating her hips as his armor rubbed against her rapidly dampening core.

He pulled a glove off, chuckling and nibbling at her ear cone playfully as he worked her black lace panties aside. His goatee scratched against the hot skin of her neck as he prodded her entrance, and the drag of her nails in his hair sent a shiver rocketing from the crown of his head to the base of his spine. Every little sound she made went straight to his cock, and he was eager to feel more of her wet heat on his fingers.

He explored her folds expertly as she hooked her leg around his hip, pulling him closer and proving her impatience. Fives had no problem fucking her right there if that was what she desired, but her breathy whimpers suddenly turned to a fit of giggles, causing him to pause.

“What’s so funny, baby? Did that tickle or something?” he asked, confused and pulling back to study her. He was no expert on Twi’lek anatomy, but he had never had much trouble pleasing a woman of any species before.

Sellé bit her kiss-swollen bottom lip, looking suddenly adorably shy and trying to hide her smirk as her seductive gaze flicked past him. “No, but… we seem to have caught my boyfriend’s attention.”

Fives’ eyes nearly bugged out of his skull, and his stomach felt as if it had dropped to the floor.

“Your what?!” he exclaimed, quickly setting her firmly on her feet and whirling around. Although he had never been truly picky about his partners, Fives was no homewrecker and detested the idea of cheating. “You didn’t tell me you were here with someone!”

From the lights pulsing brightly just beyond the entrance to the hallway, he could make out the shadow of a tall figure leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed.

The seconds seemed to drag by as the figure lazily pushed off the wall and drew closer with long, slow strides. He could tell it was not another clone from the way the man moved, but Fives felt the panic start to rise in his chest when he noticed a crown of small, spiked vestigial horns encircling the man’s head.

Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit. He’s a Zabrak.

Fives had two options: either he was going to have to very convincingly talk his way out of this predicament, or fight his way out. Even with his venerable skills as an ARC trooper, the last thing he wanted at the moment was a scrap with an angry man of a species known for their natural brute strength.

“Don’t stop just for me,” the man suddenly said with a low chuckle. “I like to watch her have fun.”

Fives’ wary eyes flicked between the two of them as the man stepped into the dim light. He was a bit taller than Fives, leaner with a gentle grace about him, and looked as though he had no intention of picking a fight. As if to prove it, the Zabrak smirked at them as he affectionately brushed Sellé’s high cheekbone with his knuckle.

“Oh, please,” she huffed, rolling her eyes and distractedly playing with the end of one of her lekku. “You like to do a lot more than that.”

“Wait a minute,” Fives said, holding up his hands and looking between the couple again. He needed more information. “You’re both okay with this?”

“Relax, Fives, Aergad isn’t going to hurt you,” she said reassuringly, placing a hand on his vambrace and nuzzling up to him. “I like being shared, too, you know. Would you be interested in something like that?”

Fives gave Aergad an inquisitive look, his forehead wrinkling in surprise, and the Zabrak nodded suggestively.

The prospect of sharing a female partner, with someone other than Jesse for a change, had piqued Fives’ interest intensely. Although he was not entirely sure of the dynamic that existed between Sellé and Aergad, he was not about to pass up an opportunity to have a woman screaming with pleasure if she wanted him. Taking a quick, steadying breath, he made up his mind.

“I-I… uh… I wasn’t expecting this,” Fives’ stammered, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck as an involuntary grin spread across his face, “but y-yeah, I’m game.”

Nearly giddy with excitement, Sellé stretched up on her tiptoes to kiss Fives’ scruffy cheek and began pulling him back out of the hallway. Aergad wore a cocky smile as he clapped him on the shoulder good-naturedly as he passed, following on their heels.

The crammed cab ride to their apartment was thankfully short. If it had been any longer, Fives would have pushed up Sellé’s tight skirt again and had her cockwarm him because she would not quit wiggling in his lap. The warm, sugary vanilla scent of her skin was intoxicating, and he particularly enjoyed the way she would dig her nails into his neck every time he gave her ass a squeeze.

“Easy, Sel,” Aergad said, playfully admonishing her. “I doubt he wants to cum in his armor.”

“He’s right, sweetness. I’d prefer to cum in you,” Fives muttered, kissing the little black, diamond-patterned tattoo resting at the base of her throat. As she ground her hips down into his lap again and giggled her approval, he hazarded a glance back at Aergad, realizing they had not yet discussed any ground rules. “That okay with you?”

Aergad’s tongue darted out to wet his lips, and he gave Fives a sexy wink while he unabashedly readjusted himself in his pants, watching Sellé squirm with delight.

“If I’m okay with it, he’s okay with it, handsome. It’s safe for you to cum in me all you want. Let’s talk more about this inside, though. We’re here,” she said, scooting off Fives’ lap and out of the cab.

As he followed them into the turbolift to their upscale apartment, Fives found it a bit odd that Aergad was so willing to let his girlfriend so lewdly seduce and fondle another man right in front of him—a complete stranger, no less. However, he conceded that unless they had anything other than a healthy open relationship, he would have been grappling on the sticky floor of 79’s.

Sellé practically dragged them both down the hall and shoved them inside the apartment when they got to their floor, and promptly asked Fives to help unlace the back of her corseted top. With such an edgy beauty proudly shedding her clothing for him, it was extremely difficult for Fives to take his eyes off of her.

She let the corset fall to the floor, revealing more diamond-patterned tattoos flowing along the curves of her back, and shivered as Fives traced them with gentle caresses of his fingertips. He pulled her close as his hands wrapped around her waist with her tattoos, kissing her neck and giving her waist an affectionate squeeze.

“Get that armor off, soldier,” she sighed as his hands came up to cup her full breasts. “I’ll be right back.”

Fives released her and watched hungrily as she scurried off down a hallway. But out of the corner of his vision, he could not help but notice the way Aergad’s violet eyes were drinking him in with a look of barely-contained lust.

He could not deny just how attractive the Zabrak was as he recognized that look, and it made his half-hard cock twitch as he began placing his armor in a neat pile next to the discarded corset.

Aergad’s angular face was covered in smooth, light tan skin marked with sweeping, symmetrical linework tattoos of a darker shade, and his striking eyes were stoking that ember into a flame in Fives’ gut. The tight fit of his clothes also left little of his lean physique to the imagination, and if he said the word, Fives would have been on his knees in a second.

After finally plucking up the courage and stripping down to nothing but his briefs, Fives turned to face his admirer and asked, “Like what you see?”

Aergad gracefully pushed off the table he had been resting on and slowly circled him, trailing his fingers across Fives’ burning skin. Fives felt his cheeks darken, and he shuddered pleasantly at the taller man’s light touch.

“I think you’re absolutely gorgeous,” he mumbled, his hands settling on either side of Fives’ neck as they came face to face. “I’d love to fuck you.”

Fives blinked in surprise and swallowed nervously. “Oh, I thought you might want me to do that,” he chuckled bashfully, briefly locking eyes with him before averting his gaze again.

Shrugging, Aergad caressed Fives’ pulse points gently. “Either way works for me. Sel’s only into males, but I like to keep options very open.”

He did not quite know what Aergad had meant by that, but he had a good feeling he would soon find out—a prospect that thrilled him more than he expected. He was suddenly overcome with the need to kiss the beautiful man in front of him, but instead settled for resting his hands against Aergad’s trim waist.

The rush of nerves must have made Fives’ heartbeat quicken because Aergad quickly shifted his hands to Fives’ chest to steady him.

“Hey, now,” he said soothingly, “it’s okay if you don’t want me. You get to decide, since you’re our guest. If you only want Sellé tonight, that’s fine. I’m… I’m sorry if I’ve come on too strong.”

“No! No, you didn’t. I-it’s fine, really. I just…” Fives found himself gripping one of the man’s slender, but sturdy wrists, soaking in the warmth of his palms and searching for the right words. “I’ve been with men before, but I’ve only been a top. You’re the first who’s ever said he wanted to fuck me.”

“We can share you, too, you know,” Sellé said quietly, reentering the room. Her slender arms encircled Fives’ waist, and she pressed her lips into his shoulder blade. “There’s no pressure at all. If you want to stop now, if you need some time, it’s all right. Whatever you want, Fives, you can have it.”

“I… uh… I’m not sure,” Fives replied, reaching down and holding onto one of her arms as well. “Never been given so many choices before… with anything.”

Being sandwiched between them was starting to become overwhelming in the best way possible. He was already so hard from the knowledge of both of them wanting him, and the warmth and feel of their bodies were keeping him grounded as his curiosity burned hot for the first time in a long time.

“Aergad?” Fives finally asked, swallowing nervously. “Kiss me?”

Aergad smiled brightly for a brief second before cupping Fives’ face in his hands and bringing their lips together.

Something deep and primal sparked in Fives’ brain as Aergad’s lips slotted with his own. He breathed in sharply and leaned into the kiss, but he let Aergad control it. The Zabrak’s lips were thin, but both tender and firm at the same time as they moved against his. Though it only lasted a few seconds, Fives could feel the desire rocketing through him. He could barely hold back the urge to chase him when Aergad pulled away.

“I think I’d like it if you shared me,” Fives confessed, left breathless and dizzy from the kiss.

With a pleased smile, Sellé came around to his front and took his hands, guiding him to their bedroom.

Fives had barely noticed before, but the whole apartment was incredibly spacious and finely decorated, and the bedroom was no exception. Later he would wonder what they did to afford such a place, but he kept his eyes mostly on Sellé, loving the way her bare, luscious body jiggled slightly with every step.

However, the oversized bed draped in nothing but plush white blankets and pillows was difficult to ignore. As she sat him down on the bed and crawled behind him, Fives was certain he had never felt a softer bed in his life.

“Wh-what should I be doing?” Fives asked uncertainly.

Aergad quickly stripped off his vest, revealing his athletically lithe torso and even more sweeping tattoos. He came to kneel between Fives’ parted knees, resting reassuring hands on his thighs. “Tell you what, since you’re new at this, we’re going to take this very slowly. Have you ever used toys on yourself before?”

His voice was like rich velvet, and Fives once again felt the excitement bubble in his stomach at the sight of the bulge visible through Aergad’s pants. “Yeah. A plug… just a few times, but nothing fancy.”

“Perfect, I have a few I can use on you first to warm you up. That okay?”

Fives nodded, struggling to control the arousal coursing through him from his core to the tips of his fingers and toes.

“Go get comfortable with Sel first,” Aergad murmured, stroking Fives’ cheek. “I’ll get everything prepped.”

As he strode off into another room, Sellé pulled Fives further onto the heavenly bed. She waited for him to settle into the cloudy pillows before straddling him and grinding delicately over his still-clothed cock, smiling at his contented groan.

“Fuck, you’re kriffing hot,” Fives hissed, eagerly running his hands up her body and bucking into her gently. It was also the first time he noticed the barbell piercings in each of her nipples, and he gently thumbed one to tease her, delighting in her little moan. “I still wanna cum in you before the night’s over.”

Sellé giggled, kissing the tip of his nose and leaning into his touches on her breasts. “That can be arranged. But first, some ground rules. In this room, we use the color system, and ‘red’ and ‘no’ mean we stop immediately. I may look kinky, but I’m not into anything non-consensual. Neither is Aergad. Do you understand?”

Fives nodded seriously. “Yes, I do.” Just from her tone, he could tell he was in experienced hands in a very safe space. Nothing would happen without him wanting it to, and it helped him relax further.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, either. This is going to be new for you, and Aergad and I have done this before, so if we see you slipping, we’ll stop and check in. Understand?”

“Yes,” Fives replied again. Her gold eyes were just as fierce as they were affectionate, and he felt himself wanting to melt beneath her from the fire coursing through his veins. If it had just been the two of them, he imagined he would have already made her cum on his tongue, and that desire to do just that quickly cemented itself in his mind.

A heartbeat later, Aergad reentered holding a small container full of various toys, lube, gloves, and bio-sheaths.

“All set?” he asked, kneeling beside them and lovingly petting down the full length of Sellé’s lek to make her shudder pleasantly.

As both Sellé and Fives replied affirmatively, Sellé shifted further up onto Fives’ abdomen, covering his hands with hers as they continued playing with her breasts and piercings. She began grinding her aching clit against the curls disappearing into his waistband, searching for the delicious friction between them.

Sliding up against Fives’ side, Aergad began slowly pressing a hand up his muscular thigh and teasing the edge of his briefs, pulling them down just enough to reveal the swollen tip of Fives’ already weeping cock.

“I’ll use my hands first, then we’ll work up to toys,” Aergad whispered against Fives’ shoulder, kissing his bronzed skin as tenderly as his words. “I promise I’ll be slow.”

Fives nodded fervently in agreement and gripped Sellé more firmly above him. “Need one of you to touch me. Please… touch me,” he gasped, barely able to believe how desperately he desired them both.

Fives thrust involuntarily into Aergad’s hand as the Zabrak pulled his underwear out of the way and grasped his cock, and his moan sounded wanton to his own ears. The callouses on his palm were a bit rough, but it was nothing compared to the relief of the pressure and warmth. As he looked at the man beside him, he was once again captivated by his violet eyes.

“You have a beautiful cock, Fives,” Aergad praised, his mouth watering at the sight of it. He released him to thoroughly lick his palm and adjust his grip before stroking him even more firmly. “So thick and hard. Look at him, Sel.”

Sellé twisted around and grasped Fives’ length behind her, joining her grip with Aergad’s. “Oh, he’s gorgeous,” she praised, deliberately pressing hard against the prominent, pulsing vein running up the underside. “Can’t wait to have you inside me and stretching me out, soldier.”

“F-feels good… so good,” Fives groaned, his every nerve tingling with need at their words. “Want… I-I want…”

“It’s okay, don’t be shy,” she said softly, slowing her movements to lean forward again and take Fives’ face in her delicate hands. “Tell us what you want.”

Fives could hear his heart hammering in his ears, but he gripped her thighs and pulled her up with surprising strength. “I want you to sit on my face,” he growled, once again finding his confidence and dying to taste her.

As soon as she shifted up onto her knees and straddled his head, Fives pulled her down and began devouring her like a man starved. He felt his cock twitch hard in Aergad’s grasp as Sellé let out the sweetest gasp of pleasure, and he knew he was in for the night of his life.

TBC

Part 2

Join the taglist!!

Taglist: @wild-karrde @rexxdjarin @baba-fett @samspenandsword @ariadnes-red-thread @get-wr3ckered @liadamerondjarin @enigmaticexplorer @starstofillmydream @kaminocasey @twistedstitcher27 @geminixbunny @erellenora @corrieguards @the-cantina @briefartnaturewolf @zerohski @redheadgirl @wolffegirlsunite @commander-sunshine @cw80831 @kimiheartblade @mandoloriancookie

#arc trooper fives #OC Sellé #OC Aergad #twilek #zabrak #arc trooper fives smut #nsft #fives being a bi king #star wars #the clone wars #star wars fanfiction #arc trooper fives x ofc #arc trooper fives x omc

36 notes · View notes

yonderly-alamort · 2 years

Text

[ 𝟏𝟓 : 𝟒𝟏 ] 𝐎𝐌𝐆, 𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐒𝐎 𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐄! ─── 𝐡𝐪 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬.

author's note. this is a repost of one of the works from my old acc (@/baeloves-you.) here u will find some short, cute scenarios with the male characters from haikyuu!!

with. aone takanobu, tadashi yamaguchi, kenma kozume, bokuto koutaro and ushijima wakatoshi.

blog links. masterlist | asks/requests | general

ʚ 𝐀𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐁𝐔 ɞ i swear this boy here is the cutest thing i've ever seen in my life. he makes my heart go 💞💗yk? well, this time the thing that's causing me to swooning over him is this: imagine nobu growing an entire little garden with the prettiest flowers just for you. and, when all the flowers have blossomed, he would do one of these (or maybe both, aone's heart is filled with just that level of kindness ☹️): 1. he goes and picks up your favorite flowies and makes a handmade bouquet for u or 2. takes you on a date on that garden and spends the evening making flower crowns with his sweetheart while having a warm smile on his face. kiss him for me, please.

ʚ 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐔𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎 ɞ he's the one that brightens my day 💋 he arrived home shouting a "i got plushies!! are u excited?!🥺" you really had to gently shush him bcs he was loud and didn't want to see him sad by the neighbors' complaints. he hurried to be by your side and repeated this time whispering: "are u excited?" while showing the stuffed animals. one of them looked exactly like him, black and white feathers & golden luminous eyes; and yes, before asking, the other one was like you. giving bo a kiss on his cheek, you softly replied "yes, darling. they are amazing 💗"

ʚ 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐎𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐄 ɞ this was something usual for both if you; after some gaming & chill dates, you shared a minecraft world so u could play together 😌. well, the thing it's that for these past hour he asked you to not enter in the world yet while he was clicking his mouse in a somewhat aggressive way. after some (long) minutes, kenma gave you green light to turn on your computer. when the world has fully loaded you were amazed; it looked like a little and vibrating paradise full of life, your houses were decorated with new aesthetic items and he built a personal zoo beside them. his skin was wearing a white suit and beside him was a sign asking "will you marry me?" 💞🤧.

ʚ 𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐈 ɞ it was weekend, so toshi and you were free that day. ushijima may be someone people would describe add dense, but in that moment he noticed you being a little stressed. he thought that if you both had nothing to do ans his angel was feeling down, he should do something to help u ☹️ so he planned a spa at home night. toshi prepared a bath for you two and helped u dry your hair. after that he applied oils ans creams all over you while massaging you're back, shoulders and legs (baby was so gentle 😭). when you both got to bed he hoped you were feeling better, kissing your lips lightly and holding u on his big and warm arms 💗✨.

ʚ 𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈 𝐘𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐈 ɞ another shy baby 🥺✨ i'm crying. he ended all his summer homework and the volleyball team duties he was entrusted with, and tada has been missing you sooo much! ge texted you last night asking if you would like to have a simple, calm date with him in the park. also added for you to wear light and, if it's possible, old clothes that you wouldn't care if they get a lil' dirty; at this point you already had a vague idea of what he wanted to do. when morning arrived, yamaguchi and u sat on the blanket he put in the grass. there were a pair of plain canvas waiting to be colored. after some hours, tadashi finished and showed you a surprisingly well done portrait of u with the sunset in the background 😩❤️.

143 notes · View notes

demonsandmischief · 3 years

Text

Our Moment Pt 2

Marvel - A Captain America Fairytale AU

King! Steve Rogers x Female Reader

Here's Part 1

1.2K Words

Here's my Masterlist.

Our Moment Pt 2

the beginning of the end - angst alert

---

The scent of books hit your nose and you grinned at the familiar comfort.

"I take it you like this room," Steve smiled down at you.

His smile was contagious, and you gave an eager nod. "I've never seen so many. The bookstore in town only has a small collection that I have already read through three times."

"You are welcome to borrow whatever you'd like. This shelf here are my personal favorites. "

"Really?" you asked shocked, a smile finding its way onto your lips. It was almost always there when Steve was around. "I've read most of these."

"You have incredible taste."

You and the king had been spending a lot of time together for the last few weeks. You were undeniable close, and that terrified you, even still, you absolutely adored Steve.

You pulled gently on a book that caught your eye, tracing your finger over the cover.

"Will you be coming to the ball in a few days?" He stepped closer. You could feel the heat of him on your back and you bit back a blush.

"I don't-"

"I would like you to be there."

You turned around so you were facing him, and meeting his solemn blue eyes.

"You would?" your voice is a gentle whisper, and Steve's features soften as his lips curl up once more. His thumb grazes your cheek hesitantly.

"They're not much fun," he admits, keeping his voice as quiet as yours. "but they would be tolerable with you there."

"I'll think about it," you said.

He nodded, stepping back. "I'll wait for you under the gazebo in the courtyard just before midnight. I wish I could meet you earlier, but-"

"It's okay, I understand," you reassured. He took your hand in his and you bit your lip to hide the giddy smile.

---

"Mother, if I finish my chores may I please go to the ball with you?" you asked as you cleared the dinner dishes.

The lanky woman with dark eyes and a polished face flashed you an assuming look. "Why would you ever want to go there? You know it's not a place for your kind."

"I understand," you whispered, even though everything in you recoiled at her harshness. "But I have never been to one and I would just like to see what it's like. That's all."

You swore she could see right through your sort-of lie. She sipped her tea. "I'll think about it. Continue along." She dismissed you.

You didn't expect her to give in so easily and it left an uneasy feeling in your gut.

The day of the ball, you were serving your step-mother and step-sister breakfast.

"You can go, but you must find your own dress and your own ride. You must get everything on this list done first."

You step-sister huffed, but you couldn't be more excited. You did your best to school your features as you took the folded piece of paper from her fingers.

"Thank you," you said, only to find out there was double the amount of chores as usual. There was no way you were going to finish before midnight. You didn't even have a dress.

Yet, you still did your best to remain optimistic and got started right away.

It was nearly ten at night when you finished, and an idea struck you about a dress. You yanked an old, dusty trunk from under your bed. It was the only box of things you had of your mother's.

You had kept her favorite dress tucked and wrapped protectively away. It wasn't nearly as fancy as some of the newer ball gowns, but it was perfect to you.

The soft baby blue bodice hung to your body before splaying out into a silky skirt. It felt like a dream, and luckily hid your tattered shoes.

You saddled up Peaches, and sped down the trail.

The large luminous clocktower in the distance was your only sense of time. The minute hand seemed to be moving faster then you could keep up with as you caught glimmers of it through the trees.

The loud croaks of midnight came just after you landed in the courtyard. You could hear the noise from the ballroom above, but the garden felt miles away as you focused in on the tall man with his back turned to you. He appeared lost in thought.

"Hello," you greeted gently, hoping he heard you approach. His body language unnerved you. "I know I am late-"

"I knew it was too good to be true. It was a set up all along," he said, his back still facing you.

"What are you talking about?" you asked, feeling your heart pick up speed.

He finally turned to face you, his blue eyes steely and unreadable. They gleamed from the glow of the party. "You don't have to keep up the charade. I know."

"You know what, Steve?"

"Don't call me that," his voice remained even, but you felt the bite to it as you took a trembling step back. "Your mother told me of your plan." He ran a hand through his hair, an aggravated sigh escaping his lips.

---

The presumptuous looking lady blocked Steve's sight of the door he was watching. He couldn't wait to see you tonight. He hoped you would show.

"Your highness," she greeted with an exaggerated curtsey. "I have something you would like to know."

"Alright," he answered, dismissing the men he was half listening to and shifting his full focus to her. "Please continue."

"My daughter had been sneaking out, and as a worried mother, I had to check in on her. She's never opened up to me, so I went to her diary. As it turns out, y/n has been meeting up with you."

He straightened. "You're her mother?" You didn't seem to have anything in common with this woman, certainly not looks. You were beautiful and natural and-. He shook his head.

She gave a fake charming laugh, "Don't act so surprised, My King." She dropped her smile to something that could only be seen as pitiful. "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but it's better to hear it from me. In her diary, she writes about how boring you are, and how much she dreads hanging out with you. She's only doing it for the crown."

Steve didn't want to believe her, but it was his worst fear coming into light. He felt his heart sink into his stomach.

Why else would anyone hang out with him? Should it really bother him that everyone was the same?

You though, he had expected different.

"Thank you for telling me," he said, turning away and missing the lady's evil, satisfied smirk.

---

"Why would your mother lie?" he asked you. He couldn't deny the miserable feeling in his gut from your hurt expression.

"She's not my mother. She's my step-mom."

"She found your diary," he pressed.

"I don't even have a diary," you whispered exasperated, smearing a fallen tear with your palm.

The silence was tangible.

"Why would you believe her over me?" The tears continue to fall and you decided to let them.

Steve extended his arm, but you stepped back, feeling the heartbreak close your throat. You struggled to swallow the lump.

You liked him a lot, maybe even loved him. You had spent an unbelievable amount of time together for how busy the both of you were, and maybe you should have clued him in on your home life. You just didn't want to be pitied.

Maybe this was for the better. You were world's apart, and you weren't ready to be something you weren't.

----

He called your name, but you were already walking away.

PART THREE

AN:

This was only supposed to be two parts but it got too long 🙈 a third is on its way. Hopefully it won't take me as long to get published.

If you want tagged in part 3, please comment on the FIRST PART. helps me keep track better.

Taglist:@lharrietg @eralen @animegirlgeeky @trudy-shams @liecastillo

Thank you for reading and comment and reblogging. I see every single one. It makes my day ❤️❤️❤️

#marvel #marvel imagine #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers angst #steve rogers #steve rogers x you #fairytale au #captain america au #captain america imagine #Chris Evans

151 notes · View notes

foxghost · 3 years

Text

Joyful Reunion, Chapter 89

Translator: foxghost @foxghost tumblr/ko-fi1 Beta: meet-me-in-oblivion @meet-me-in-oblivion tumblr Original by 非天夜翔 Fei Tian Ye Xiang Masterpost | Characters, Maps & Other Reference Index

Book 2, Chapter 20 (Part 3)

Xichuan, nighttime:

“Your Highness.” Zheng Yan strolls slowly over. “We’ll have to head out tomorrow. Your Highness should wash up and get some sleep soon.”

Cai Yan sits facing a pile of memorials from behind his desk. He sends Zheng Yan a glance, and replies politely, “Zheng Yan, you may go get some rest.”

“Still waiting for that guy?” Zheng Yan is always hitting him where he hurts, and he has no filter at all. Sometimes Cai Yan really does want to make Wu Du poison Zheng Yan to death.

“Who am I waiting for?” Smiling, Cai Yan answers a question with a question, “Well there’s no one in particular I’m waiting for, but who are you waiting for, Zheng Yan?”

“Oh — well naturally you’re waiting for a corpse, then?”

Cai Yan can’t even force a smile anymore; his expression is utterly forbidding. And so with a smile Zheng Yan says to him, “I’m going to go see your uncle and have a drink with him. Would Your Highness like to come? I presume the corpse won’t be coming any time soon.”

Cai Yan can only say stiffly, “Zheng Yan, you jest.”

“The general amnesty is coming tomorrow.”2 Zheng Yan rocks the cup in his hand. “I heard a whole bunch of bastards will have to be set free. Looks like Your Highness is just full of benevolence, hmm?”

Once again, Cai Yan seems to freeze. He says with perfunctory formality, “His crimes are not so grave as to be deserving of death, and now is the time for new blood. Unless there’s something you want to say about ‘Feng’, Zheng Yan?”

Zheng Yan looks Cai Yan up and down with a smile on his face.

“You’re not like your dad.”

Cai Yan’s entire expression darkens in an instant, turning terribly grim — as though he even has a mind to kill Zheng Yan now.

Zheng Yan adds, lackadaisically, “Life is bitterly short. One must make merry while one is able, hmm?”

“Zheng Yan.” Cai Yan’s voice is shaking, as though it’s filled with an anger he can barely contain. “Go get some rest. The day of sacrifice is already over. Don’t come to goad me again. I’m exhausted.”

But instead of leaving, Zheng Yan sits down instead on the steps in front of Cai Yan’s desk with his back towards him.3 He speaks, as though mumbling to himself, “The world is basically a great big dyeing vat; get close to a certain sort of person, and that’s what you’ll become.”

Cai Yan says gruffly, “What are you trying to say, Zheng Yan? Are you telling me to keep my guard up against ‘Feng’?”

"While it’s true that ‘Feng’'s schemes are malicious, what he has are covert schemes, and not overt schemes. They never did reach the level of needing one to go out of one’s way to be on guard against. I’m merely suddenly reminded of the late emperor.

“All the manifestations of the world are multicoloured and filled with far too many colours, and any person will be dyed the colour of whatever position they’re in; save the late emperor, who was his own colour altogether.” Pausing here, Zheng Yan rises, and smiles at Cai Yan. “Whether black or white, the late emperor with the Zhenshanhe in hand remained unmoved. Work for him long enough, and you’ll somehow see your own true nature. All the other colours will fade away, and what’s left is a sheet of white paper. It’s a bit like being able to steal a glance at the ‘will of heaven’, more or less. I only hope Your Highness will also keep this in mind.”

Cai Yan finds himself momentarily distracted, much to his surprise. Zheng Yan gives Cai Yan a shallow bow, and without showing any sign of his prior drunken stagger, kicks up the ends of his robes as he exits calmly from the room, leaving Cai Yan lost in thought in the palace hall.

An autumn wind blows by, and the gardens are full of fallen leaves. By now, barely anyone is left in the palace to prepare for the commencement of their journey tomorrow.

Li Yanqiu is sitting inside looking out at the view in the gardens, his mind wandering. Empress Mu Jinzhi has already left with the Mu retinue. The giant palace around him is full of empty halls and feels rather dismal. There’s a bowl of medicine on his desk, already gone cold.

Zheng Yan walks past via the corridor, looking as though he’s never quite awake. He sits down next to Li Yanqiu.

“Let’s drink!” Zheng Yan raises his bottle full of wine at Li Yanqiu. “I drink my wine, you drink your medicine.”4

Li Yanqiu picks up his medicine bowl and bumps it lightly against Zheng Yan’s bottle.

“Did you just come over from the Eastern Palace?” He asks.

“Your Majesty’s darling boy is still in the Eastern Palace, annotating memorials.” Zheng Yan leans back against the edge of the low daybed. “By the look of him I’d like to think he’s a bit like you, and not like the late emperor.”

The Li family founded their empire by military might, and this spirit has passed on through the generations so they’re not all that strict when it comes to etiquette. Li Yanqiu is rather casual in the way he treats his court subjects, but Zheng Yan is special — rather to say the relationship between them is that of an emperor and his subject, they’re more like old friends.

“He doesn’t have my brother’s temperament.” Li Yanqiu sighs and shakes his head. “But he has a good heart. I’m sure he resembles my sister-in-law in that way.”

Zheng Yan thoughtfully turns his gaze up at the blue sky beyond.

Li Yanqiu adds, “I fell asleep for a while earlier, and somehow had a dream about him. He didn’t come on his death anniversary, but he’s come now.”

Zheng Yan doesn’t reply. Absentmindedly, he takes another sip of wine.

“I dreamt that I was on a bridge. I suppose the opposing shore wasn’t even the mortal world anymore, and there was a sheen of moonlight over everything. He said to me, ‘My son’s come home, so it’s about time to relocate the capital. It’s been another year’.”

Zheng Yan has remained silent until now. “Your Majesty, you may want to rethink declaring general amnesty. If you let Feng out, he may just stir up trouble. The Eastern Palace really does need people, and if the late emperor is still around, I wouldn’t be so worried, but the current master of the Eastern Palace is the future lord of the realm. Your Majesty …”

“The general amnesty has already been announced.” Li Yanqiu sighs. “A ruler does not go back on his word. You think you can take it back? As for Feng, Rong’er was the one who requested him specifically. I’m sure you’re well aware of the pros and cons of such an act. Feng was a commanding officer in the Shadow Guard for many years, and even though he committed a crime against my father that landed him on death row, he’s still as loyal to Great Chen as he ever was.”

Zheng Yan shakes his head and heaves a sigh.

“But you’re quite right. As of yet, there aren’t any retainers in the Eastern Palace, and that’s not right. It’s been more than half a year since Rong’er returned, but since he had Wuluohou Mu to look after him and there’s been so many trifles at court, it’s slipped my mind. Once we move we’ll have to take the time to do so.”

“Forgive my bluntness, but,” Zheng Yan drinks and says casually, “the current Eastern Palace always feels like it lacks something.”

"It lacks spirit. Rong’er has great potential, and sitting in that position, he knows what he’s supposed to do. When it comes to reading and annotating memorials on my behalf and reviewing matters of commoners’ welfare, he’s doing an exceedingly admirable job. But he hasn’t realised one thing yet — this is his family’s estate, and he hasn’t been letting himself work on it with a free rein.

“Or, in other words …” Li Yanqiu picks up his medicine bowl, his gaze fixed on his own features in the pitch black decoction as though another familiar face is watching him from the reflection. "He hasn’t started seeing himself as one of the Lis. When he’s settling matters of state and steering the imperial court, he’s still doing it to help me, and not doing it for himself.

“But showing his talent and appearing too sharp is not a good thing, after all.” Li Yanqiu knocks back his medicine in one gulp, so bitter it makes him frown. “Zheng Yan, help me get this done for him. The crown prince still needs attendants; a study partner, for instance. Just recruit them in the guise of looking for retainers.”

Footsteps echo through the corridor, sounding in quite a hurry.

“The crown prince would like to request an audience,” a guard in the outer room announces.

Li Yanqiu raises an eyebrow. Both he and Zheng Yan turn their attention towards the corridor. Cai Yan appears from around the corner with a big smile on his face.

Cai Yan gives him a bow first, and then another person appears behind him — who else but the travel-worn Lang Junxia.

“Wuluohou Mu?” Li Yanqiu says with a frown, “You left without a nary a farewell, and I haven’t even punished you for leaving your post without permission yet. Where on earth did you go?”

“Uncle.” Cai Yan walks over to him and sits down. “Take a look at what he’s brought with him first.”

Lang Junxia takes a glance at Zheng Yan. They’ve never met before, but the other’s reputation precedes him.

“Here you are,” Lang Junxia says.

Zheng Yan gives him a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Here I am.”

Lang Junxia unties the sword from his back and lays it down on the table with both hands. The sword sheath is engraved with a relief of the Mahasthamaprapta riding on the back of a tiger as he cuts down demons; the sword handle is carved out of a giant clam shell, inlaid with a luminous, shimmery sarira.

“Fortunately, I did not fail my mission,” Lang Junxia replies before withdrawing from the room, and stands outside the door to await further orders.

Li Yanqiu puts one hand down on the hilt and pulls the sword out of its sheath, producing a low, resonant hum. The blade is plain and mottled with blood, and a name is carved into the metal: Duanchenyuan.

The morning is graced with brilliant sunshine and gentle breezes; farmers are busy taking in the autumn harvest on the mountain terraces across the way.

Standing outside their inn by the riverbank, Duan Ling yawns, stretches, and asks a server for a bucket to draw water with. After drawing some water he proceeds to boil it so he can make tea for Wu Du, and to change his bandages.

It’s the most peaceful night of sleep he’s had in a year, but Wu Du had tossed and turned the whole night through and didn’t fall asleep 'til dawn. Not long after he falls asleep, the commotion Duan Ling makes while boiling water has him going from half-dead to shocked sitting upright in an instant. Utterly exhausted, he puts a hand over his forehead, his mind racked with irritation.

“What time is it?” Once those words are out of his mouth he realises how wrong they sound — what kind of subject asks the crown prince the hour? He should have gotten up earlier to wait on him instead, but Duan Ling’s already boiling water, so what else can he do?

“It’s dawn. Are you alright? Not feeling well?”

Wu Du’s eyes are rimmed in red, and he stares at Duan Ling for a little while. “From now on, just leave me with the housework. Even if I don’t … don’t treat you like the crown prince, I should still be the one who takes care of you. That’s what I thought since the day we left Tongguan anyway. And besides, you barely even got to live comfortably for a few days since you’ve been with me …”

Duan Ling knows Wu Du has basically figured things out. “It’s not like any of that matters. If you didn’t know that Cai Yan is an imposter, and you’re his attendant on a trip, would you tell him that too?”

“Of course not. But you’re not like him.”

He poured a pile of words at Wu Du yesterday all in one go, and Duan Ling actually feels a bit embarrassed now that he’s thought about it. Smiling, he says, “Then if … the one Wuluohou Mu brought back was me, and we met under different circumstances, as people in different positions, would you feel that way too?”

Well, Wu Du has never thought about it, but now that Duan Ling’s mentioned it, his head feels even more like it’s been stuffed with a tangled ball of flax. If Duan Ling isn’t the Wang Shan he knows now, and they have to spend time alone with each other, knowing himself and his standoffish attitude, he definitely wouldn’t give his heart and soul to Duan Ling. At most he’d feel sorry for him, and go out of his way to pay more attention to him — of course, that’s under the pretext that the crown prince regards him with sincerity.

He does consider it for a little while, and after that Wu Du can but concede, “Fine,” he says. Finally at ease, he meets Duan Ling’s eyes, and they both smile.

“The whole night I was thinking about your problem," Wu Du says.

Duan Ling unties the bandages on Wu Du’s hand and reapplies the ointment. Without raising his head, he makes an affirmative hum.

“There is someone … I can take you to meet him. His name is Xie You, and as long as he’s certain that you are who you are, he’ll protect you even at the cost of his own life.”

“I know of him. He’s loyal to the rightful emperor, isn’t he? But the rightful emperor right now is my fourth uncle.”

Wu Du’s eyebrows draw slightly together, and he stops talking.

“As long as Uncle acknowledges me, Cai Yan won’t pose any threat at all.”

Wu Du nods. “There is one more thing. It’s still far too dangerous for you to show yourself. I’ve always had the suspicion that Chancellor Mu is going to do something about that imposter and His Majesty — the poison I was working on before? He never told me who he wanted it for. It may just be for the imposter.”

Duan Ling finishes re-bandaging Wu Du, and Wu Du tries to get down, so Duan Ling helps him put on his boots. Wu Du watches Duan Ling’s every move, and Duan Ling is waiting on him like it’s matter of course, then he puts one of Wu Du’s arms over his shoulder so he can support him as he walks outside.

The autumn sky is clear and bright, and the air is fresh and clean on the plains. Duan Ling washes his face, crouching by the river, and says to Wu Du, “Worse case scenario, Uncle doesn’t believe that I am who I am and locks me away. And we don’t have any evidence either … Then we’re totally done for.”

“That’s true.” Now that Wu Du thinks about it, that is extremely risky. Too much depends on luck.

“Best case scenario, Uncle does acknowledge my identity and kills both Wuluohou Mu and Cai Yan. But then what?”

Then what he’ll have to face is the violent power vortex within the imperial court — Mu Kuangda will very likely use every possible means to poison him to death. Of course, with Wu Du around, he doesn’t have to worry about anyone trying to poison him, but what is Mu Kuangda trying to accomplish anyway?

“And then,” Wu Du says solemnly to Duan Ling, “I’m going to tell you one thing. But you mustn’t let slip that you know about this in front of Mu Kuangda, otherwise some people are going to want the both of us dead … Aiya, but I suppose that doesn’t really matter.”

Duan Ling stares at him silently and a bit shocked.

“But if it really is exposed, they’ll come to kill you. Then all we can do is take a risk and try to fight our way out and poison the whole lot of them to death.”

“Um … Please tell me what it’s all about first.”

I do not monetise my hobby translations, but if you’d like to support my work generally or support my light novel habit, you can either buy me a coffee or commission me. This is also to note that if you see this message anywhere else than on tumblr, do come to my tumblr. It’s ad-free. ↩︎

It’s called a general amnesty, which sounds like everyone under the heavens is given amnesty, but in reality it’s usually a couple dozen people, and it’s not complete amnesty. Maybe those sentenced to death would be exiled instead and so on; also, people who committed things like treason cannot be pardoned. ↩︎

In case you’re wondering, this is extremely rude. Actually, sitting with your back to the emperor is something you can lose your head over; I’m not sure what the punishment would be if you put your back to the crown prince. Cai Yan also never told him to sit down. Zheng Yan gets away with everything because he’s essentially Li Yanqiu’s only real friend. ↩︎

This isn’t a typo, Zheng Yan just be “I” and “you” at the emperor all the time like that. (He’s like this at Cai Yan too, most of the time.) ↩︎

#相見歡 #fei tian ye xiang #joyful reunion #xiang jian huan #fox translates things

28 notes · View notes

seattlesea · 3 years

Text

Songs I Listen to While Writing Sorted by Genre/Type of Scene

(Some songs will be in more than one category)

Romance Scenes- we fell in love in october by girl in red Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan Fool by Cavetown Call Me by 90sFlav Girls by girl in red 3AM by Finding Hope Dream Girl by Anna of the North Stay by Zedd & Alessia Cara Somebody To Tell Me by Tyler Glenn Secrets by One Republic Paris by The Chainsmokers Safe and Sound by Capital Cities Wild Heart by Bleachers A Thousand Years by Christina Perri Fire on Fire by Sam Smith Angel With a Shotgun by The Cab She Looks So Perfect by 5 Seconds of Summer Jet Pack Blues by Fall Out Boy Trade Mistakes by Panic! At The Disco When the Day Met the Night by Panic! At The Disco Moral of the Story by Ashe We Can’t Be Friends by Dream Koala Public Making Out Is Like Ugh by DNE Moon River by Audrey Hepburn Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens Alewife by Clairo Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko Futile Devices (Doveman Remix) by Sufjan Stevens Midnight Love by girl in red

Calm Scenes- Call Me by 90sFlav 5:32 by The Deli Crush by Esthie Coffee Breath by Sofia Mills Santa Monica Dream by Angus & Julia Stone Fool by Cavetown Golden Hour by Jonathon Morali Crosses by José González Death Bed by Powfu (Beat Only) 3AM by Finding Hope Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks Shy Girl by Kedam Counting Stars by One Republic Kaleidoscope Eyes by Panic! At The Disco She Had The World by Panic! At The Disco This Is Home by Cavetown Lua by Bright Eyes Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood Bedroom by Litany FLAMIN HOT CHEETOS by Clairo Will She Come Back by girl in red To All Of You by Syd Matters

Sad/Emotional Scenes- Obstacles by Syd Matters Runaway by Aurora Cancer by My Chemical Romance Unsteady by X Ambassadors State of Dreaming by MARINA Raquel y Sergio Juntos by Ivan M. Lacamera Coming Home by Falling in Reverse Spanish Sahara by Foals I’m Bad at Life by Falling in Reverse 7 Years by Lukas Graham Lost It All by Black Veil Brides Teen Idle by MARINA Hall of Fame by The Script Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish 21 Guns by Green Day Pirate Love Song by Black Heart Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez The Light Behind Your Eyes by My Chemical Romance Helena (So Long and Goodnight) by My Chemical Romance Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance I Don’t Love You by My Chemical Romance The Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance Bishop Knife Trick by Fall Out Boy Indomitable by Casey Lee Williams The End of All Things by Panic! At The Disco Always by Panic! At The Disco Impossible Year by Panic! At The Disco Dying in LA by Panic! At The Disco Northern Downpour by Panic! At The Disco Far Too Young To Die by Panic! At The Disco This Is Gospel by Panic! At The Disco House of Memories by Panic! At The Disco Moral of the Story by Ashe Reason to Stay by Sody Anchor by Novo Amor Sober II (Melodrama) by Lorde Mt. Washington by Local Natives Mountains by Message To Bears

Action/Fight Scenes- Finish Line by Skillet I Ran (Epic Trailer Version) by Hidden Citizens Another One Bites The Dust (Epic Trailer Version) by Hidden Citizens Back From the Dead by Skillet Never Give In by Black Veil Brides The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy DESTROYA by My Chemical Romance Warriors by Imagine Dragons Bella Ciao by Manu Pilas What’s Up Danger by Blackway & Black Caviar The Resistance by Skillet Feel Invincible by Skillet In The End by Black Veil Brides Days Are Numbered by Black Veil Brides Fallen Angels by Black Veil Brides Caffeine by Casey Lee Williams This Will Be The Day by Casey Lee Williams 300 Violin Orchestra by Jorge Quintero Radioactive by Imagine Dragons Ready Aim Fire by Imagine Dragons Silent Running (Epic Trailer Version) by Hidden Citizens I’d Love to Change the World (Matstubs Remix) by Jetta Tommy’s Theme by NOISIA The Sharpest Lives by My Chemical Romance Mama by My Chemical Romance My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light ‘Em Up) by Fall Out Boy The Carpal Tunnel of Love by Fall Out Boy Young and Menace by Fall Out Boy

Happy/Fun Scenes- Tongue Tied by Grouplove Bang! by AJR 100 Bad Days by AJR Wasted by Tiësto 3 Nights by Dominic Fike City in a Garden by Fall Out Boy I Took a Pill in Ibiza (SeeB Remix) by Mike Posner Safe and Sound by Capital Cities Collar Full by Panic! At The Disco Ahead By a Century by The Tragically Hip American Idiot by Green Day Superhero by The Script Wild Things by Alessia Cara Here’s To Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne Do It All The Time by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me Burn by Ellie Goulding Move To Miami by Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez King of the World by Young Rising Sons Bulletproof Heart by My Chemical Romance Na Na Na by My Chemical Romance Miss Missing You by Fall Out Boy Where Did The Party Go by Fall Out Boy Sunshine Riptide by Fall Out Boy Last of the Real Ones by Fall Out Boy Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) by Fall Out Boy Time To Dance by Panic! At The Disco Crazy=Genius by Panic! At The Disco The Overpass by Panic! At The Disco Roaring 20s by Panic! At The Disco Victorious by Panic! At The Disco LA Devotee by Panic! At The Disco Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time by Panic! At The Disco Something Good by alt-j Hollywood by MARINA

Badass/Dark Scenes- Pretty Waste by Bones UK Bubblegum Bitch by MARINA Born For This by The Score Kings & Queens by Ava Max Castle by Halsey Caffeine by Casey Lee Williams Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless Joan of Arc by In This Moment Believer by Imagine Dragons Sand Storm by Apashe you should see me in a crown by Billie Eilish Power & Control by MARINA Fancy by Iggy Azalea Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift Empire of Our Own by RAIGN Revolution by Unsecret & Ruelle Unstoppable by The Score Control by Halsey Gasoline by Halsey Tag, You’re It by Melanie Martinez Up In The Air by Thirty Seconds To Mars So What by P!NK Do It Like A Dude by Jessie J Ready For It? by Taylor Swift Teenagers by My Chemical Romance Centuries by Fall Out Boy I Don’t Care by Fall Out Boy Rat a Tat by Fall Out Boy Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea by Fall Out Boy Champion by Fall Out Boy Thnks fr the Mmrs by Fall Out Boy One Thing by Casey Lee Williams I May Fall by Casey Lee Williams This Life Is Mine by Casey Lee Williams Let’s Kill Tonight by Panic! At The Disco Girls/Girls/Boys by Panic! At The Disco The Good, The Bad, and The Dirty by Panic! At The Disco Mount Everest by Labrinth Legendary by Skillet Homewrecker by MARINA Modern Day Cain by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me

That One Vibin’ Scene- When I RIP by Labrinth Sweatin’ Somethin’ Awful by Okey Dokey Wasted by Tiësto Leave Me Alone by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me Piano Fire by Sparklehorse Blinding Lights by The Weeknd Good News by Ocean Park Standoff Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s East of Eden by Zella Day Hazy Shade of Winter by The Bangles (or the Gerard Way cover) 5:15 by Bridgit Mendler Here by Alessia Cara Joan of Arc by In This Moment Mr. Doctor Man by Palaye Royale Cool For a Second by Yumi Zouma Counting Stars by One Republic Daddy Issues by The Neighborhood Ho Hey by The Lumineers We Can’t Be Friends by Dream Koala Public Making Out Is Like Ugh by DNE Sober II (Melodrama) by Lorde North by Sleeping at Last 400 Lux by Lorde No. 1 Party Anthem by Arctic Monkeys Still Don’t Know My Name by Labrinth Primadonna by MARINA dontmakemefallinlove by Cuco

That ‘Holy Shit I Can’t Believe That Just Happened’ Scene- All For Us by Labrinth (or the Zendaya version) Raquel y Sergio Juntos by Ivan M. Lacamera Forever by Labrinth Coming Home by Falling in Reverse Superheroes by Falling in Reverse (also works really well for cliffhanger-ending scenes) Carry On by Falling in Reverse The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks (if you don’t like country music, listen to the All That Remains cover) Zombie by The Cranberries Obstacles by Syd Matters Glory and Gore by Lorde Empire of Our Own by RAIGN When It’s All Over by RAIGN Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

The Cinematic Teen Experience Scene- Amsterdam by Imagine Dragons Midnight City by M83 Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush (Meg Myers’ cover does better with the category though) Good News by Ocean Park Standoff Circles by Post Malone Rollercoaster by Bleachers Bad Idea! by girl in red Mr. Brightside by The Killers Fireflies by Owl City Undercover Martyn by Two Door Cinema Club Check Yes Juliet by We The Kings The Kids From Yesterday by My Chemical Romance I’m Not Okay by My Chemical Romance Fourth of July by Fall Out Boy Tip Toe by Imagine Dragons Someone To You by Banners Gone Gone Gone by Phillip Phillips Make You Mine by PUBLIC Out of my League by Fitz and The Tantrums Perks of Being a Sunflower by Soft Glas A World Alone by Lorde Wetsuit by The Vaccines Bored to Death by blink-182 There’s a Place by The All-American Rejects 18 by Anabor Mother by Smallpools Tompkins Square Park by Mumford and Sons 400 Lux by Lorde The Horse by Beach Fossils Ribs by Lorde Can I Call You Tonight? by Dayglow Hot Rod by Dayglow Marlboro Nights by Lonely God Under Stars by Aurora Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap Do Not Wat by Wallows Cold Cold Man by Saint Motel Forget Her by girl in red Buzzcut Season by Lorde A World Alone by Lorde Time to Pretend by MGMT Kids by MGMT Bags by Clairo My Tears Are Becoming a Sea by M83 Talia by King Princess (or the girl in red cover) Maybe by girl in red

And yeah that’s all I have for now. If you want any other categories just ask cause I’ll probably make a part two anyways.

#writing #author #songs #music #vibes #the songs i listen to are so specific #they have to be the exact song during the exact scene #its crazy #writer

21 notes · View notes

mahou-furbies · 4 years

Note

I actually really liked those insight posts about Precure brooches, items, and fairies. I was wondering if you could do one about their weapons?

The Precure rankings take quite a lot of time to write so it’s nice that someone reads them!

But yes, the weapons. I haven’t made it a secret that I dislike the toy ad-like weapon designs so I don’t really care for many of these (common complaints: looks ugly and cheap, too much pink even for non-pink characters, rainbow buttons where they don’t belong, buttons or lights that don’t seem to serve any purpose, too much detail), but reading about me complaining about that for dozens of paragraphs probably wouldn’t be very fun. So I won’t put that everywhere and this will be more about judging the items in relation to each other than how they’d fare against all fantasy item designs I know.

Especially with the season I haven’t seen it was a bit bothersome to see if an item was weapon or not, so I just made some quick judgements. I’ll do the other items that aren’t in this or the other precure item posts later.

Futari wa Precure

Not a huge fan of these kind of items where the design philosophy seems to have been “it doesn’t have to resemble a weapon in any way, a pink plastic thing with buttons will do”. I’m not against all weapons looking incredibly impractical (like I love Mew Ichigo’s Strawberry Bell) but here these just look incredibly bland and cynical to me (I mean cynical in a different way than me).

I was going to be more generous with this since I thought it was a bow and bows are always elegant weapons and I’m always happy to have those regardless of how dumb the design looks, but reading the wiki I guess this is a baton instead. Boo! Still I like how it can be both a heart and also be bent open. The design makes me think of a baby toy though with all the round corners.

Futari wa Precure Splash Star

I like how the girls wear their items differently and the way the heart is framed is nice. But apart from that I don’t find these particularly aesthetically appealing, and they also look a bit too busy compared to the rest of the costume. Busy item designs are less of a problem if its a handheld item that’s clearly not a part of the base design, but when the characters are supposed to wear the item it often looks very out of place, as if it was just tacked on because the marketing team demanded it. Okay I’ll stop with this now

Not pictured: the versions with a star instead of heart, but they look otherwise the same and I like the heart better.

Yes! Precure 5

We now reach weapons I actually like! They’re pleasantly simple without unnecessary buttons everywhere, but with the tulip-like design with the cute little swirl there’s actually some point to it and it’s not just haphazardly placed buttons and lights and jewels. And as a fan of customisation I really like how everyone has their own take on the item. The pink girl apparently doesn’t feel the need to fit the theme though and hers is a lot less interesting to me, but at least it can sort of look like a flower (more like a butterfly though) so it’s not completely out of place.

Laser swors? That is a good idea. The flower is pretty too but I’d prefer it if it was a bit smaller, now it looks a bit unbalanced, and also why does everyone have to have a pink one again? Meanwhile the powerup version looks a lot more cheap, busy and gaudy.

Not a fan of this one, it feels like a portable lottery wheel, which would be a fun idea if Milky Rose had to work around with an item that gives her random powers, but I’m guessing that’s not the case. Another option would be that she’d use this to cut pizza. The blue roses and purple handle would make for a pleasant colour scheme, but then there’s the rainbow mini roses which break that, I think this would look more appealing if the roses were detachable and she’d attach the one she wants to use, but I guess the spinning wheel is supposed to be the Thing here.

Fresh Precure!

Pretty standard magical girl wands, white with obligatory pink for everyone and rainbow lights. At least everyone gets a crystal thingy at the tip in their own colour and card suit and it’s nice that they use their items differently (though Berry this is not a sword no matter how you try to slice it) but otherwise I’m not really interested.

Nice colours and the wing is cute, and I actually like the bizarre idea here. Like you could add power to the harp with the heart while playing it, or attach different attacks or whatever. But this exemplifies my main issue with the Precure items: okay, you can’t sell an actual harp with actual strings to kids so you sell this instead, ok. But why does the item in the show have to be a 1:1 replica? Disney can sell Elsa’s castle legos or inaccurate cheap-looking dolls but the counterparts in the movies look perfectly serviceable, so why can’t Passion have actual strings in her harp instead of these huge led lights?

Heartcatch Precure!

I like the metallic or glassy sheen at least in this shot and the shape of the handle. What I don’t like is the middle heavy design, I’d rather have the rainbow thing in the middle (which I’d prefer not be rainbow) either be smaller and moved to the tip, or the end part being longer so it’d look a bit like a sword.

This one is rather basic, like it’s just a circle with hearts around it. But at least it doesn’t do anything stupid and the colour palette checks out.

Suite Precure

I like the idea of being able to split the item in two but especially Rhythm’s looks a bit silly when it’s not in two parts, like now it’s not a baton or staff or really anything I could describe. But somehow I still like Melody and Rhythm’s items, at least they have consistent colour schemes and despite initially looking very different actually use the same base so that’s nice customisation. But how come the pink girl didn’t get the more ornate one? The guitar looks more on the cheap side, this is a toy guitar, not a magic guitar. And are those multicoloured buttons I spy again? But thanks to the more calm colour palette it’s not the worst toy guitar ever at least.

Smile Precure!

My first impression on this was “wow this is so dumb”, but the horse’s sleeping eye with the glamorous eyelashes makes it loop back to awesome. This is girly fairy tale magical girl design cranked up to eleven and I can only marvel the boldness. However like with the Heartcatch wand this one feels a bit unbalanced, the bottom and middle are pretty big so I’d prefer if the “blade” part was a bit longer and again the rainbow hears feel unnecessary.

Based on design alone this is a contender for my least favourite battle item, but I’ll have to hold my full judgement until I see it in action. But this has it all, there’s obligatory pink and rainbow, overdesigned, looks very cheap and gaudy.

Doki Doki! Precure

This is some seriously extreme lipstick. I guess this is a serviceable design if you want to make a lipstick based weapon, it’d probably not look very impressive if it was regular size. I like the twist-able red jewel, and the fact that while she can use different lipstick colours, the item sticks to just red and yellow.

Here we have the collapsible bow I was hoping we’d get with Shiny Luminous. Apart from the obligatory pink palette for everyone I really like these, again bow makes for a great weapon, and I also like its collapsed form, that thing just invites you to press a button and have it open up. Though holding the bow looks kind of awkward. And is this the largest Precure weapon we have? Where are the huge staffs?

For starters, I find there’s something absolutely hilarious about the name “Magical Lovely Pad”. Story-wise it has the baggage of belonging to an attack where the other characters send their power to Mana (of course) so she can take all the spotlight, but as far as the design goes I guess it’s alright for a magical tablet. And I thought this was one of the items where it just floats in the air awkwardly but apparently the Cures do hold it in their hands, so points for that.

The harp is kind of silly looking but i have to commend it for at least having the strings not be thick as a straw.

Happiness Charge Precure!

A pretty straightforward item, nice colour palette and the heart ribbon things at the ends are the same as the bracelet and resemble the brooch too so it’s consistent with the reset of the items in the season. I also like how it can be split into maracas too.

I think the idea of a star-shaped tambourine is perfectly serviceable, but this one just looks kind of cheap, like we’re in the baby chew toy category again. But I feel this could be salvaged if you gave it a more harmonious colour palette, made the heart look more like a crystal and the jingles metal (i.e. not so plastic-y).

This one always felt hilarious in that you have a grown man character showing interest in this thing. But as a weapon it’s one of my least favourites. The makeup pens that come with this are fine I guess (though the makeup the girls put on themselves looks like the “this character doesn’t know how to use makeup” kind) but the main item is very unappealing to me. I guess it boils down to the fact that this kind of items feel more like that the Cures just push a button and then the item does its magic light blast of goodness and love on its own, while with the wands and musical instruments and such the Cures feel more like they’re actively using the weapon.

Go! Princess Precure!

An alright wand, even if the tip feels a bit too heavy. The mostly white-and-goldd design is a lot more preferable to the usual pink, the dress up keys get to take a part, and the tip looks a bit like a crown.

This is in the same category as Passion’s harp, nice colour palette and a musical instruments make for a great magical girl weapon in theory, but here the result is just too cheap and toylike. No way I can imagine a violin sound coming out of this, the only thing I hear is two pieces of plastic rubbing together.

This is it, the worst item. Magical girl weapons don’t all need to resemble actual weapons, but there are some limits to how far you should go. Out of all the Precure items this feels the most like the toy department just said “we want to sell a toy castle, so have the main characters play with one in every episode after its introduction”. Can’t they use a less awkward item to conjure this castle around them and sell a miniature version of that as a dollhouse or something?

As a toy this is fine, like I had a similar little castle (it was semi-transparent blue and you could turn on a pink light in it) and sure I could imagine placing some Pikachu toys on it and have them dance, but as a weapon in a story I hate it.

Mahou Tsukai Precure!

These look pretty nondescript and forgettable. At least they don’t have multicoloured beads running down the staff, but there’s not much to talk about.

This one is cute but kind of basic too; the gold butterfly feels a bit unnecessary but if you remove it the whole thing would be pretty bland. Still, there’s nothing overly stupid and I like that the flower bud doesn’t miss the obvious that it should open in an attack.

Kira Kira Precure A La Mode

This one is a bit too bulky, but at least it makes it stand out a bit more. It also helps the item not look so unbalanced with the huge glass (?) ball in the middle. And it’s nice how you can see the Kira Kiraru in it; it makes the item feel more real when you get to see the resource it uses. The cream like decorations are cute and appropriate and the walking cane shape reminds me of the candy filled plastic canes I used to get from the summer market as a kid.

I got nothing on this, it’s another magical girl wand that doesn’t particularly stand out in any way. At least the rainbow buttons fit the theme this time?

Google tells me it’s an actual product, but to me ‘creamer’ still sounds like a Wrong kind of name to use in a kids’ show. That aside the idea of piping cream on the enemy is fun, but I don’t think they do that in the attack... But for the potential I like the design; unsurprisingly I’d remove the multicoloured decorations on the handle but otherwise it’s alright.

Hugtto! Precure

This one feels really generic, white staff with pink accents and rainbow jewel thingies. Not interested, next!

These look a bit too bulky for my taste, I think they’d look better if the neck was longer. The colours are also a bit too gaudy for my taste (and the guitar totally disappears in Macherie’s dress), though in their defense in better pictures you can see they have more white so the result isn’t quite so stuffy. But still magical guitars make for a good weapon for idol themed characters.

This feels really generic, like it’s just a bunch of hearts glued together. Next!

Star Twinkle Precure

The wand is pretty basic, but there’s something in its simpleness that I like. If you removed the pink and purple crown thingy it would be better, like only neutral white and gold, and everyone’s theme colours equally in the shooting star (or I guess the star is also yellow for Soleil but it still feels more neutral than the usual pink). With its many colours and short tail the shooting star feels like something from a baby nursery but I guess if the tail was longer it’d start feeling more like a sickle.

As for the prefume bottle, I don’t find the design particularly attractive, and it also feels like yet another case where pink has been shoehorned in. And the little ribbon feels very unnecessary.

Healin’ Good Precure

My criticism on Passion’s harp also applies here, and this time I also find the overall design less appealing with several of the details feeling a bit tacked on.

(the wands have already been bitched at in the henshin item post)

#precure #stuff #ranking #Anonymous #responses #Hapuriainen bitches about children’s cartoons

37 notes · View notes

cowperviolet · 3 years

Text

Vittoria Accoramboni and a Renaissance Revenge Tragedy – Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

This is one of the most riveting stories from the Italian Renaissance history – the kind that seems to be ready-made for the stage or silver screen. It has everything: an ambitious beauty, jealousy, papal intrigues; Medici plots, vengeance and desire, and assassins hiding under beds.

Happy stories tend to end with weddings. This story starts with one.

Even given Rome’s great population of gawkers, few spectators turned out to watch when, in 1573, Vittoria Accoramboni married Francesco Peretti. The bride was one of the eleven children in a family of impoverished noblemen; the groom was a nephew of a remarkably poor parvenu cardinal whose own father had been a pig farmer in the Marches. There was only one reason that would have made people gaze as the wedding procession led Vittoria along on her traditional white horse, her hair virginally loose – namely, the luminous beauty of the bride.

Vittoria herself knew the value of that beauty. So did her determined mother, Tarquinia, who burned with desire to see the Accorambonis restored to their once-prominent place in society – and the most beautiful of her daughters was to be instrumental in this.

Three centuries ago, back in the 1200s, Vittoria’s family owned a castle in the town of Tolentino, and enjoyed all the accolades due to prominent noblemen in those feudal days. All of this was lost in one unwise move – the Accorambonis went too far, and rebelled against the Pope. In retaliation, they were stripped of their honours and their castle, and exiled to an old house in the tiny Gubbio, where they dwelled quietly for centuries after. This generation, with eleven mouths to feed and nothing more than a too-grandiously-named palazzo in Gubbio to bank upon, should not have been any different. However, Tarquinia was determined to turn the tide. If two of her daughters, Massimilla and Settimia, had no other choice than to join a convent due to their parents not having enough money for their dowry, Vittoria possessed a rare blessing – namely, the kind of beauty that could offer the family a way out of poverty once and for all.

Once on the Roman marriage market, Vittoria attracted a number of suitors. Francesco Peretti was the kind of luck they hadn’t expected at first – his family heard his intentions to court the most beautiful girl in Rome without enthusiasm. His uncle, Cardinal Montalto, might have had the appearance of a frail old man of quiet disposition, but he was not devoid of ambition, and would have much preferred to see his nephew marry a girl with a good dowry and connections who might have enhanced their political prospects. Francesco’s own mother, Camilla, was not amused, either – while not particularly ambitious herself, she always wished her brother success. However, she knew true love where she saw it, and, sighing privately, accepted Vittoria to her house and home with open arms.

Tarquinia, however, had less than romantic thoughts on their mind. She was counting days when the reigning Pope Gregory XIII is finally going to give his soul up to the Almighty, and clear the way for Cardinal Montalto.

While other states in Italy were governed by republican senates or petty princes, and the countries north of the Alps had their great feudal monarchies, in Rome the throne of St. Peter was the shining centre of the universe from which all blessings, material as well as spiritual, doth flow. The Accorambonis have always known it, and not simply because it’s the displeasure of a long-dead Pope that cost them their old fortune. Vittoria’s grandfather, Girolomo, considered the crowning achievement of his medical career to be the fact that he became the personal physician of Pope Adrian VI. Now Tarquinia was aiming for them to find a place even closer to the Vicar of Christ – namely, a familial one.

Most people would have considered her hope for Cardinal Montalto to become the Pope one day to be absurd – however, not everybody, and certainly not Cardinal Montalto himself. Yes, his late father might have been eking out a miserable living growing vegetables and tending pigs; yes, his mother might have been a housekeeper; yes, his sister Camilla might have been a widowed laundress. Still, ever since Montalto, as a young boy, joined the monastery that gave him a good education and his start in life, he was sure of his divine destiny. His parents agreed – after all, how else to explain him surviving the plague that killed his brother, the swimming accident that almost left him floating face down in a pond, and the fire that ignited his bed thanks to a forgotten oil lamp, except by the fact that God had a special plan for him?

Cardinal Montalto thought so, and Tarquinia thought so. Vittoria herself was more sceptical. Nothing in her new household screamed greatness, even a prophesized one. The Venetian ambassador who happened to visit the Perettis’ house some years later, in 1585, wrote in shock that the place was almost devoid of furniture. Moreover, Camilla Peretti, despite being a sister to a cardinal, did her own laundry and that of her household herself, pushing soiled linen with a paddle in steaming cauldrons. The small courtyard of the house, which was not big enough for a horse to properly turn itself around it, was full of running chickens. Cardinal Montalto’s income was only 8,000 scudi a year, which, for his position, was truly miniscule. Besides, he had to not only maintain his own household and that of Camilla, but also to spend greatly on charity works – if he wanted to climb higher in the world, good publicity was a must. This is not to say his contributions weren’t genuine – for example, he built houses for poor families in his down-on-its-luck hometown, and, in 1578, he built a school there and hired a teacher out of his own pocket. However, I highly doubt that any of these things would have meant much for Vittoria.

Neither was she likely to be amused when he used the entirety of her dowry to buy himself a vineyard – and put the land in Camilla’s name. Gradually, Vittoria persuaded him to change this last fact, and legally transfer the land to her and Francesco instead, so that the proceeds from the sale of wine and oil could pay for their upkeep. However, having to wheedle and beg for the ownership of a piece of land bought with her own money must have felt rather degrading. Later, when she realized that the young trees are too young to bear fruit that would bring her any substantial income, she sold the vineyard back to the cardinal for 750 scudi more than it cost initially, and put the difference into annuities.

This particular vineyard might have been paid with her dowry, and thus given her a moral right to protest about its ownership – however, in many other questions, Vittoria went way over the line. One document she and her family presented to Cardinal Montalto bluntly said that

‘And there remain many scudi of old debts that he will be forced to satisfy if he stays in Rome and lives among men’.

In other words, she was not averse to some blackmail – after all, she asked, the cardinal doesn’t want to undo all his charitable efforts by appearing like a skinflint when it comes to his beloved daughter-in-law and her closest relatives, does he?

Perhaps, she would have been more careful if she had known with him if she had known certain facts of his past that he, now that he was a cardinal with quiet papal ambitions, took care to keep from the public…

More on them, however, next week.

Sources:

Eleanor Herman, Murder in the Garden of God

#history #history geek #renaissance history #renaissance #medieval #medieval history #middle ages #the middle ages #historical reference #historical

9 notes · View notes

mysticmoonselene · 3 years

Note

Can I please have a general reading as well? Thank you so so much! LD 💛🎨🎀

I am getting that you want to their certain work/job/career but someone close to you, maybe a family, doesn't want you to do it. Now, you even question yourself about it?

But this career/work is something school related, learning more like a higher education. You chose to ignore those denies your choice, because you feel free.

Advice:

You doesn't look good at the moment, regarding mental and physical. But, just believe in yourself. As long as you have hope, you will be able to do it. Just remain focused and do your best. Just stay on that path. I got a sun card which indicates happiness. "everything will be good/ all is well"

I will be using Beyond Lemuria oracle cards to give you more advice.

1. Life-Force Energy

Revel in the bliss of being alive! This card is packed with luminous life-force energy for optimal health and healing. As much as is possible, seek joy and upliftment in everything you do. Consider the foods you eat, the environments you spend time in, the people in your life, and what you wear. Increase your awareness of how things come to be in your world and their energetic resonance. You may be inspired to work with healing energies, with the land, perhaps to grow vegetables. You are encouraged to joyously make your life a piece of Eden. As a result, you will shine with vitality.

2. The Infinite

As Lemurians were only partially incarnated, their bodies were much lighter, less physically actualised and less affected by ageing. They were also aware of their infinite nature. This card of rebirth can appear after challenges that have required a level of surrender. You have arrived at a beginning. Revel in your newfound inner freedom. Blockages have fallen away, and there are opportunities to step into. Stretch your wings and arise like a phoenix, born anew, ready for a new cycle of growth. Celebrate, honour the road that brought you here, and prepare to take flight with the tools you have gathered through your elevation process.

3. Crown Chakra: The Unlimited Self

The crown chakra is your link to the multidimensionality of your being. The seat of your soul, it gracefully connects to heavens. The infinity symbol of limitlessness appears within the unfolding petals and points to your most potent potential. Here, you can delight in the divine strands of light that dance with us when we are aligned with Spirit, purpose and truth. Be present and flow without rigid outcomes. Find your own way to meditate. Explore the state of flow and be receptive to the intuitive messages you may receive.

4. Full Spectrum

Step out of the black and white mentality of good and bad, honour the full spectrum of life and see through fresh eyes. When we judge something, we create a story around it. And often, these stories are limiting. Over a lifetime, we subconsciously gather so many of these stories. Create a space of no story for miraculous healing and crystallising new paths. This space empowers as to know our truth and be all we are. Embrace creation in all her colours, including the raw, muddy, earthbound shadow parts of a situation. to determine whether your stories are limiting your perspective. Let the compost of the challenges you have overcome feed new shoots and blossoms.

1 note · View note

buttsonthebeach · 4 years

Text

Lost Horizon, Pt. 3

Here we go again folks! @scharoux continues to blow me away with her faith in me as we take Rhaella on this journey!

This long fic picks up almost directly where The Last Game last left off - with Rhaella pregnant and alone in a world where Solas has removed the Veil, despite her attempts to stop him. Rhaella has now escaped Kirkwall (and Solas) with Merrill in tow.

My Ko-Fi || My Commissions

Part One of Lost Horizon can be found here

Part Two of Lost Horizon can be found here

Other pieces about Rhaella I have written include:

1. All Things Green and Growing

2. The Long Road Back

3. The Turning of the Year

3. The Same Kind of Scar (contains explicit content)

4. World Without End (contains explicit content)

5. The Last Game Pt. 1, the Last Game Pt. 2, and the Last Game Pt. 3 (contains explicit content), and the Last Game Pt. 4

Pairing: Rhaella Lavellan x Solas, post-Trespasser

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Other parts of the series contain directly referenced character death for a character from DAI, implied character death for characters from DA2, and general references to death and destruction.

This section contains depictions of childbirth.

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

At least they managed to get to the Emerald Graves without any problems.

Rhaella could count that as a blessing.

She cried herself to sleep more often than she didn’t, claimed she needed to take a break from riding because her back was sore when really she wanted to duck behind a tree and sob into her folded arms out of Merrill’s earshot - but at least they’d made it to the Emerald Graves. Beautiful, terrible, full of history. It was oddly soothing to be in a place that outwardly reflected what she inwardly felt, where past and present and heartbreak already collided.

It was not soothing to see so many spirits there.

These were not just the simple wisps that had followed them to Skyhold - these were fully matured spirits that could approach them and speak to them, or command them to go away, as did one spirit of Command as they entered the Graves.

Spirits with fully formed personalities who might pass on word of two elven women, one of them heavily pregnant, making their way through the Emerald Graves.

“Maybe we shouldn’t stay here after all,” Merrill said as it became apparent that they were everywhere, and not just in one isolated part of the region.

Rhaella felt the tears well up all over again.

She was exhausted.

Exhausted in every way a person could be.

She had ridden hard and hoped hard and tried her best and she still had nothing to show for it but a plan that fell apart every time she tried to stitch it together. She just wanted to be safe. To have space to grieve. To prepare to welcome her son into the world. She couldn’t think of anywhere else they could go. The Exalted Plains were still a blasted wasteland and far too exposed by and large - nowhere really to hide, no safe warren to build her nest - who knew what any Dalish clan there would think of her - she couldn’t go further into the heart of Orlais - there was no time to cross the mountains back into Ferelden -

She was dimly aware that her breath was coming in shorter and faster, that the roaring in her ears had returned. Merrill’s hand was on her shoulder. None of that mattered, none of it could override the terror of how trapped she was.

Then, in a puff of purple smoke, there was Cole, eyes luminous, pale blond hair gleaming in the waning sun.

“Panicked, breaking but not broken - you have been here before and you will be here again and you will always pull through. Be still, friend. I am here to help.”

Cole’s hand went to her other shoulder. Rhaella’s panicked breath began to slow.

“What in the name of all of the Creators -” Merrill murmured. “Where did you come from? Who are you?”

“My brothers and sisters are worrying you,” Cole said, still looking only at Rhaella. “Do not be frightened. They will listen to me. I will tell them what a precious secret you carry, and they will keep it. I am here to help. I am always good at helping, aren’t I?”

Rhaella thought of the cheese and mint, the barrels full of daggers, the honey spilled on windowsills. A compassionate knife easing the pain of the dying. The tightness in her chest receded.

“Yes, Cole. You are.”

“Cole?” Merrill asked, bewildered. “Isn’t that a human name? Are you not a spirit?”

“Am I?” Cole asked, his voice laced with amusement. He had grown somehow since Rhaella saw him last. Perhaps he was more at home now that the Veil was gone, now that he was no longer torn between two worlds.

“Cole is a friend,” Rhaella said finally, rising, one hand on her belly, waiting to feel some movement from her child. When she felt it, the final bit of fear eased. “An old friend at this point, I suppose. He is also a spirit of Compassion.”

“And you knew him from before the Veil fell?” Merrill asked. She reached out and took hold of Cole’s hand. “And he has a body? But he can appear and disappear? I have never heard of such a thing. Are you like Anders and Justice, a spirit and a person sharing the same body?”

“No. I am only me. Only Cole.”

“Fascinating.” She dropped his hand and walked in a quick circle around the two of them.

Cole tilted his head, watching her progress. “Bright, buzzing, beautiful - your mind is full of shining gears. So much more clever than anyone ever gives you credit for. You and I will be friends.”

Merrill laughed - giggled, actually.

“Well, that’s settled then.”

A wave of exhaustion overcame Rhaella even as she smiled. “Cole, do you know somewhere safe for us? Somewhere we can settle in for a long time and remain undetected? We’ll need shelter, room to garden, fresh water…”

Cole nodded slowly. “I think so, yes. I will look, and tell the others not to speak of you.”

With another puff of smoke, he was gone.

“Do you think he can teach us how to do that?” Merrill asked, green eyes wide.

Rhaella snorted and shook her head. She did not have the energy to express it, not with her panic so recently gone and her belly so heavy and her back so sore, but she was grateful that Merrill was capable and intelligent and yet also innocent enough to still find wide-eyed joy in the broken world around them.

Cole returned a short while later and told them to follow him. He led them through the woods to a place where the land rose into two sharp cliffs on either side of them, drawing them down into a gorge. It opened up eventually into an elliptical clearing with trees and shrubs, flat grassy spaces, and a stream that poured through the rock face at the very end of it.

“It’s perfect,” Merrill said, pacing around. “Space enough for us to camp, to keep the animals, to start planting that garden.”

“Only one way in and one way out,” Rhaella said, eyeing the high sides of the cliffs around them. “If someone finds us, we’re trapped here.”

“We’ll set daily wards far enough away from the entrance that we’ll know if someone gets too close. A second layer behind that so we can be certain they’re headed in our direction. That will give us time to prepare to move on.”

Rhaella nodded. The exhaustion felt stronger now that the possibility of rest was so close. She nodded at most things that Merrill said from that point on - about the location of the garden, about the idea of making a small pen for their mounts, about making a lean-to to provide better shelter for them. She nodded and nodded until finally their bedrolls were set up and she could lie down and seek oblivion.

Rhaella woke from that oblivion in a flowering field - a clifftop, overlooking waterfalls. She recognized it at once. It was the place she had gone with Solas when he saved her from death in the Crossroads. When they made love for the first time. They had sat here together and talked. It was a beautiful place, if bittersweet now. Bitter because it was yet another place where he left her - sweet because it was the place where their child had been conceived.

She felt the warmth of the sun on her cheeks and tilted her head back and closed her eyes and let herself focus more on the sweetness than the bitterness for a moment. She was going to be a mother soon. Something she had wanted but feared would never happen. She would always have a piece of Solas - of the man she loved still, she could admit that here, surrounded by wildflowers and sunshine - and she was grateful for that. Grateful that it had happened. She breathed in deeply and let the warmth of the thought fill her, crown to toe.

It spread, tingling all over her skin, warming her back - and then there were arms around her, and the warmth was coming from someone else’s body holding her close.

“Ma vhenan,” he whispered softly.

And that was when Rhaella realized what had happened.

She was in the Fade.

She had gone to sleep without taking Merrill’s draught, without setting her own mental wards through meditation.

The arms around her were Solas’s.

She stiffened in his embrace. She felt his arms loosen. She could stand, escape from his arms. Turn and scream at him. But she didn’t want to. She wanted to be held. To be safe in his embrace, to soak in his warmth, to turn and kiss him. She loved him. You couldn’t hide that kind of thing here in the Fade. It shimmered around you like the haze of a late summer afternoon.

She relaxed and felt him relax in turn, hold her closer. She breathed in the familiar smell of him, felt the beating of his heart, felt how her own ached and sped up at how much she longed for these moments with him still, after everything that happened. She heard him sigh, felt him nuzzle against her hair and breathe her in. She rested her hands on his forearms where they wrapped around her waist and felt tears rise in her eyes at the feeling of her palms on his bare skin, how good it felt. That simple connection that he had broken when he broke the sky open.

They lingered there like that for a while - how long she could not say, because love and time both felt infinite here - and then he finally spoke.

“Come home.”

That broke the spell.

“No,” Rhaella said. She started gathering her strength so she could wake. Had he been trying to locate her while they held each other? Had he figured out where she was? She couldn’t risk another second longer in his company.

“Rhaella, please -”

She pulled free of his arms but then his hand was on her chin, thumb on her lips, not holding her, not grabbing her, but cupping her. Longing for her.

She glanced back at Solas over her shoulder then, and it was like looking into the sun. His blue eyes, his freckles, the sharp angles of his face. His grief blinded her.

Ma vhenan, her heart sang back to him, but she did not let the words slip free.

“Come home,” he said again.

“No,” she said, and woke.

It was jarring to be back in the grotto with Merrill standing over her. Rhaella could still hear the roar of the waterfall in her ears. Could still smell the wildflowers. Could still smell him, feel him, at her side.

“Are you well?” Merrill asked. “I didn’t want to wake you but you were murmuring and twitching. Did you enter the Fade?”

Rhaella sat up and pressed the heels of her hands hard into her eyes, until her vision danced with spots of color. When she opened them again, and her eyes adjusted, she felt clear of the dream at last.

“Yes,” Rhaella said. “He was there. Solas.”

“Fenedhis. Did he figure out where we are?”

Rhaella thought about it a moment. She thought about the way he’d clung to her, the look on his face when she pulled away, how he kept asking for her to come home. Begging, really.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “I think he was really hoping that I would tell him. Or that I would just agree to come home. I didn’t get the sense that he was using his magic or trying anything covert.”

“He is the Dread Wolf,” Merrill said darkly. “The trickster. We can’t be certain. If you do really want to stay away from him, we have to assume that he would use an opportunity like that to track us. We can’t let you get so exhausted that you forget to take the draught or to guard yourself in the Fade.”

Rhaella imagined it again - the flowers and the water and the breeze and the sunshine and his arms around her. She ran her hands over her belly and imagined he was there with her, rejoicing in the new life they had created together. She imagined him being there when their son was born, the joy in his eyes when he held him.

Then she took all of those feelings and wrapped them carefully in a box and put them away.

“Yes,” she said to Merrill. “We will be more careful. I don’t want him to find us here.”

For two weeks, Rhaella and Merrill had space to breathe.

Not much space to breathe, of course - the opening they’d found in this ravine was not large, nor was the grotto in the shelter of the rock where they’d set up their shelter. But it was a sliver of peace in two lives that had not known much peace, especially not in the last several years.

They settled in at once with the practice of two Dalish women who’d been on the move many times before in their lives - arranging shelter while keeping an eye on the prevailing winds, designating latrine space well away from their fresh water supply, ensuring the animals had access to the water but likewise wouldn’t spoil it. And, of course, Rhaella’s favorite task - setting up a garden.

It was the garden that brought Rhaella the greatest peace in those two weeks, even more so than the fact that she no longer spent hours in a saddle, even more than the whisper of wind through the trees rather than the clamor of a city, even more than the fact that she could take a nap whenever she wanted to now. This had always been the thing that centered her, brought her peace. Her fingers in warm, dark earth, coaxing things to grow. It was how she and Solas had first begun to connect after all, wasn’t it? That gully in Crestwood, the blood lotus, their hands meeting in the rain.

Rhaella imagined connecting with her son over these same things. Showing him how to test the moisture in the soil, how to space the seedlings apart, which plants made good bedfellows and which ones didn’t. That was what brought her the most peace. The idea that she could build a life for her baby now, however small, however imperfect.

She was beginning to feel better about the idea of her son arriving soon. She and Merrill had no idea when it would be exactly, of course, but it had to be soon. Rhaella was big as a harvest moon in the autumn sky, heavy and tired every day now, working on the breathing exercises she’d once helped her Keeper teach other women in Clan Lavellan. She hadn’t yet reached the point of despair some women reached, where they became convinced the baby would never come, where the sheer weight of the waiting began to crush them. She didn’t think she would reach that point.

Your father made sure I was ready to wait for things with no idea of when they’d come. Thinking that they would never come.

Merrill was the only one who regularly ventured out of the grotto in those two weeks, mostly for the purposes of hunting. She reported hearing other elves nearby, though she never interacted with them. Some were Dalish, some Orlesian, and still others spoke Elvhen, the kind the two of them had only heard spoken by the likes of Abelas and Solas.

“I can mostly understand them at this point, and it didn’t sound like they were looking for anyone in particular,” Merrill reassured Rhaella. “I think they had just awoken from uthenera. They were trying to understand what happened, and find their way to civilization.”

That eased Rhaella’s tension. She had been vigilant about preventing exhaustion, about meditating before sleep, about taking Merrill’s herbal draughts. She had not entered the Fade since that night that Solas came to her, and she had not been using her magic either. She didn’t like the full feeling that gave her, like snaps of electricity might spring from her hands without her control the way they had when her magic first manifested, but it was a necessary evil for now. Eventually - someday - it would not be like this.

She was going to live forever now, after all. Wasn’t she?

When Rhaella was working in the garden one day and felt the staticky change in the air, she thought it was her overripe mana at first. Then she looked up at the sky, saw the high, billowing clouds in the distance. She took a deep breath and breathed in the metallic smell of oncoming rain.

“There’s going to be a storm,” she called back to Merrill, who was busy with something near their bedrolls, her back turned.

Merrill mimicked her at once - looking to the sky, smelling the air.

“You’re right. A good summer thunderstorm, and a strong one at that. I’ll work on blocking off the entrance to the ravine so the animals can’t escape if they are frightened by the thunder and lightning.”

Merrill tucked away whatever she’d been working on quickly enough that Rhaella felt a pang of confusion and curiosity. She didn’t pry further, though. Merrill had done more than Rhaella had any right to deserve since they escaped Kirkwall.

Then Rhaella felt another pang, not in her chest but lower down, in her belly and back. A tightening like a giant hand had come down and squeezed her whole midsection. The back of her neck prickled and her heart sped up.

Could it be - ?

It was better to just keep busy and keep moving. There was so much to do before the storm came. (Her belly tightened.) She wanted to check the trellises for the plants in the garden and ensure that they were secure. She wanted to wrap the baskets with their provisions in oiled cloth so that if water reached them they would not spoil. (Her belly tightened.) She wanted to move their bedrolls further back into the grotto, under the overhang of rock, and then cast a barrier so none of the elements could reach them. (Her belly tightened.) Could she sustain barriers over the garden and their animals, too? Barriers were simple spells and if she cast them without any particular flare, and cast them quickly, they would not attract anyone to them -

This time when her belly tightened, it stopped Rhaella in her tracks, locking up her breath within her chest. It came with a wave of pain bright and coppery as blood.

“Rhaella? Are you well?” Merrill’s voice broke through and Rhaella could breathe again.

“I am,” she said, even as nervous flutters filled her chest and stomach in the wake of the pain, as she considered what it probably meant.

“You can take a rest,” Merrill said. “I can finish the preparations for the storm.”

Rhaella had only gotten through half of her list. She couldn’t allow Merrill to take on everything else.

Her belly tightened hard when she started over towards their dry goods with the oiled cloth, and her steps slowed to a crawl, until she finally had to concede and stop moving. She felt Merrill watching her even through the pain that came with it, spiraling up her spine.

“Barriers,” Rhaella managed at last, after what felt like an eternity. “Could you help with some barriers? Just to keep the worst of the wind - ” The pain was lingering now, slinking through her body even when the tightness was gone. “Off of the plants and the animals and our provisions.”

“Of course,” Merrill said. “Are you certain you don’t want to rest?”

“Positive,” Rhaella said. If anything she felt the need to move and pace, however slowly she moved. Something was happening in her body, something she’d seen happen to dozens of women before her when she still lived with her clan, but something she still feared to name out loud.

So she did move, continuing over to the dry goods and kneeling down, wrapping each woven basket up in its cloth, pausing when another contraction hit her to rest her forehead on her arms. She could use the word now, she knew what was happening. Her child was on its way, and even just thinking the words filled her with twin tendrils of anxiety and excitement. She knew she should tell Merrill but the clouds were thickening and the chemical smell of rain was picking up and it would break soon, and sometimes this phase of labor went on for hours and hours anyway, and Merrill had already done so much for her -

Her belly squeezed tighter and tighter and pain burst behind her eyes in fractal patterns like lightning, and she leaned against another basket of dry goods and did her best to breathe through it, reminding herself to soften her jaw, to unclench her hands. Tried not to wonder what her baby would look like, if she would see Solas’s eyes looking back at her in a few hours.

Tried not to think about what was now irrevocable, undeniable - Solas would not be there for the birth of his child.

The sky darkened and their mounts wickered nervously and the wind picked up and Rhaella had just made her way into their sleeping quarters and laid down when the storm burst above them with a crack of thunder and a cascade of rain. Merrill cast her final barrier, sealing them into the grotto with a shimmer of magic light. The rain hit the barrier and flowed over it, almost like a waterfall, so ethereal and lovely that for a moment Rhaella just watched it, heedless of anything else around or within her.

Then - another contraction, so sharp this time she cried out, and a rush of wet between her legs.

“Now then,” Merrill said calmly, appearing at her side. “Don’t you think we ought to discuss the fact that you are having a baby today?”

Rhaella could not help but laugh, however weakly, as the contraction ended. The next one came on quicker, though, and then she was not laughing.

Merrill hummed to herself, barely audible above the sound of the storm outside, as she set about making preparations. She poured water from one of their sealed jugs into the pot they used for cooking and summoned heat into her hands so she could warm it to boiling, even though they always purified it before they put it in the jugs. She laid a large clean cloth beneath Rhaella and neatly folded several others nearby, and unrolled a pack of surgical tools that was part of any good Keeper or First’s pack at all times. Rhaella tried not to look at those. She tried to focus more on the excitement than on the nerves. She was going to meet her child at the end of all of this.

Lightning flashed while Rhaella labored, illuminating the grotto and casting severe shadows everywhere she looked. There was little room to stand and walk but Merrill encouraged her to move through different positions, to sway and rock and do anything she could to distract herself from the pain as it grew, grew, grew. Merrill fed little whispers of magic into her belly, just enough to dull the pain, but every time it seemed to come back stronger. The wind roared outside and her world narrowed down to just how much it hurt, how each hurt was coming faster and faster and stronger and closer together and how there was nothing but pain and the sound of the rain and Merrill’s cool hands soothing her, soft encouraging words that Rhaella could not longer hear or understand. There was only the pain and the present and the feeling that both were neverending - and then, layered on top of it, a sudden terror - the realization that this was real and if the pain ever did end she would be a mother and she wasn’t going to be enough for her son, she knew that already -

“You can do this, Rhaella,” Merrill said over and over again. “You can do this.”

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I don’t know how to this on my own -”

“You’re going to be just fine, lethallan. You have everything you need within you.”

“But I don’t have him, I don’t have -” Even in the haze of her pain she cut off the thought. No. She didn’t need Solas here. She didn’t need him at all.

“You have made it this far on your own power. You have everything you need, lethallan. I believe in you. All of our ancestors are here with you in this moment, and they are giving you everything you need.”

The next sensation that overpowered her was a deep pressure, a need to push that overwrote the feeling of pain swarming every part of her. She had to, had to, had to push, had to push right now, had to push as hard as she could, had to push even if it was going to break her, and she feared it might, and Merrill wanted her to try sitting up or moving to all fours but she couldn’t do it, not without him -

“Solas!”

The name was torn from her lips, primal as the sound of the storm, and she wished in that moment that he was as powerful as everyone said he was, that he might appear at her side, summoned like a spirit, and take the pain away, tell her he was here, that she was going to be okay.

But he didn’t come, and that was what she really wanted anyway, wasn’t it?

There was no more thought after that, only the pain and the urge to make it stop - and then, finally, one last long hard push, and there was a tiny, squalling, red-haired infant in Merrill’s hands. The pain evaporated and there was only wonder.

“You have a daughter,” Merill said, smiling, exhausted.

A daughter.

Not what she had imagined, expected. But small and perfect and nestled against Rhaella’s bare chest now, squirming and crying and balling up her tiny little fists. Rhaella felt tears of a different sort streaming down her face as she held her there, skin to skin, close as close could be.

“Hello, little one,” she said again and again over the cries as they quieted. “Hello, hello, hello.”

Then her belly tightened again, hard, and the pain and the pressure were back.

“What’s happening?” Rhaella managed as she felt the urge to grit her teeth - to push again.

“The afterbirth, most likely,” Merrill said, though even she was frowning as she felt Rhaella’s belly.

“No, this feels - this feels like what just -” Rhaella’s breath began to quicken again. She held her daughter back out to Merrill. “Take her.”

And just like that, like a nightmare that would not end, like a dam breaking, the pain flooded her all over again, coursing through her body, tearing another scream from her throat. She had to push, push, push again, but her daughter was already here, she wanted to hold her, she wanted this to be done -

And then there was more crying - another infant in Merrill’s hands.

“Creators above,” Merrill murmured, and then looked up, smiling. “You have two daughters.”

Rhaella laid back against the pillows they had arranged behind her, and held out her arms.

Merrill nestled both babies into Rhaella’s arms, and she held them, and studied their fine copper hair, the scrunched red faces. She marveled at how they both curled against her instantly, as if soothed by her presence. Her daughters. She had two daughters. How was she going to feed and care for two babies?

The ‘how’ didn’t matter, actually. She was going to do it. She already loved them both so much that it paralyzed her and gave her wings. She had two daughters.

Merrill checked them over while they cuddled against Rhaella and pronounced that they were both healthy, and that Rhaella herself was in good shape - nothing a little healing magic wouldn’t repair, which Merrill performed quickly. Rhaella wanted to sleep but she didn’t know how she would take her eyes off the two perfect marvels that were now spreading out their limbs, turning their little heads, exploring, suckling at her breasts. She didn’t know how she would ever sleep again when she wanted to memorize the exact slant of their little pointed ears.

“Thank you,” she said to Merrill when she finally remembered that there was a world beyond her two tiny daughters. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for trusting me to be part of this moment,” Merrill said, smiling. She looked worn out too. The storm was still going, though not nearly as intense as before. Rhaella wondered how long she had labored for. “I did have one more gift for you - though in hindsight, it is not enough.”

Merrill went over towards her side of their grotto and rustled around. She returned carrying a small woven cradle. Rhaella thought back to all the times she’d seen her friend working secretively over the last two weeks, hiding things away, and her heart was so full of joy and gratitude that it broke open again, and tears welled out from her eyes.

“I will have to make a second one, but they should both fit for now,” Merrill said, considering.

“I do not deserve your kindness,” Rhaella managed, barely a whisper.

“Of course you do,” Merrill said. “Everyone deserves kindness. And you have done so much for our world. It is the least I can offer in return.”

Rhaella let the tears fall a little longer. One after the other, her daughters fell away from her breasts, calmer now.

“Would you like to hold them?” she offered.

“Always,” Merrill said, arms outstretched. “That’s the best part of helping, isn’t it?”

Merrill smiled and cooed at them and Rhaella watched her and tried to wrap her mind around it all. She’d done it. She’d had twin girls. She’d borne Solas’s children, and he was not there. She had a family now, so many years after the family she’d known had disappeared. It was not exactly how she’d imagined how it would happen - perhaps not even how she’d wanted it to happen - but she’d done it, and she was beginning a new chapter in her life now. A happier one, because these two girls were in it.

“What will you call them?” Merrill asked.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” Rhaella laughed weakly. “I was convinced I would have a son.”

“That’s a decision for later, then,” Merrill said. “Rest now. I’d say you’ve earned it.”

They settled the girls into their bassinette, and as much as she’d thought she would stay awake forever watching them, Rhaella felt her eyelids growing instantly heavy, her whole body dropping like a stone into sleep, and then there was darkness.

When Rhaella woke she was in the field of wildflowers again - the high plateau overlooking the waterfalls. It was peaceful. Lovely. Quiet. Her shoulders and chest felt lighter than they had in years. She tipped her head back and felt the warmth of the sun on her face and let out a long, slow breath. She was going for a walk through this field. She had all the time in the world.

(There was, in the back of her mind, a small prickling, a little spike of doubt like a stubborn weed. But she knew that she deserved this moment. She knew this field was safe.)

The flowers and tall wild grass brushed soft against her fingers as she walked. She breathed in their scent - herbal and sweet and sharp and earthy. There was a river at the other end of the plateau. She’d walk there and let her feet dangle in the water. It had been such a very long time since she rested - really rested - and she had earned this.

(She knew, with all her arcane training, that something was off here - but she did not care.)

The river rushed over a bed of colorful rocks - tans, peaches, browns, creams, all rubbed smooth by eons of running water. Rhaella lifted her skirts and stepped into the river, feeling it pull at her ankles and cool her skin, enjoying the pressure and texture of the rocks against the soles of her feet. She’d been on a long journey, and this was her reprieve. She closed her eyes, and tipped her face up to the sun, and it felt warm enough to banish every winter to come. The sound of the wind through the field and trees filled her soul.

She opened her eyes, and the wolf was there on the other side of the river, looming large and black as the abyss of night.

He sat there on his haunches, and even without the six glowing eyes, she knew him.

Her reprieve was over.

“I’m not in the mood for parlor tricks. What do you want, Fen’Harel?” she said, words sharp as glass.

Smoke blurred the form of the wolf and when it cleared Solas was there, forehead creased with sadness, eyes so blue they pierced her like arrows. There was some pride left in the straightness of his spine - but his shoulders were slumped forward. Not enough that a casual observer would catch it, but enough that she did. She’d struck true and deep with her words.

“I wanted only to observe you for a while. To have the hope that you might look upon me as another part of this scene and not as something you hated.”

Vhenan, why? Why would you smash everything up and then sit and cry amongst the pieces?

“If you didn’t want me to hate you, you shouldn’t have done something so hateful.”

“Please -” he started forward, bare toes touching the river now. “You know it was not an act of hate. You know I wished there was some other way. You know I tried to find another way. But it is done now, and there will be no more secrets or lies between us. I lived a life wrapped up in secrets and I have torn them all away now. I only want you. Our life together. Please -”

Another step forward, and the river lapped around his ankles.

Rhaella did not move.

“You’ve spoken sweetly to me before and brought me only pain afterwards. This is just another one of those times.”

“Vhenan, that is not true. I have meant every sweet word I have ever spoken to you. I mean them now. I cannot keep you safe when you are apart from me like this.”

“You didn’t seem to care if I was safe or not the first time you left me. Why do you care about my safety now when I am the one who left you?”

“Rhaella, you do not know the stakes. The people who are out to find you now - the Evanuris - even you cannot stand before them unaided. And you must think of our child. Come back to me before they arrive, and let me protect you both - let me be the person I have always wanted to be, before all the lies - a man who loves and is loved. Let me be there for my child.”

Rhaella opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment a strong breeze whipped across the plateau, stripping flowers from their stems, bending the trees, bringing with it the scent of water and earth and new life -

And carrying the sound of a crying infant.

Solas went utterly still.

His jaw dropped slowly down.

“Rhaella -” he began, voice hoarse, pleading.

She woke.

“Rhaella. Rhaella.”

It wasn’t Solas’s voice that greeted her on waking, but Cole’s. He hovered over her, moon-pale eyes wide and unblinking. Rhaella came back to her body. She was sore and exhausted in ways she had never been, and her breasts were full and tingling, and she remembered it all abruptly.

My daughters. I had my daughters.

They were crying in their bassinette. Her heart leapt at the sound. Nothing on earth could have kept her from them in that moment. Not even the member of their father standing stock still in the river, eyes as wide as if he’d been dealt a killing blow.

Merrill was hovering over the bassinette, hushing them.

“I wanted to let you sleep a little while longer, but it seems they need you,” she said as Rhaella knelt beside her. Rhaella reached into the basket and touched her daughters, one after the other. Their warm full bellies and their soft rosy cheeks and their little balled fists. She reached for one of them, preparing to lift her. She was dimly aware that the storm had passed, that a thin, eerie mist had snaked its way into the grotto. That something felt wrong. But all that mattered was her two little girls, and she was going to care for them, and she wasn’t going to cry over the memory of their father standing there alone, betrayed.

“There is no time,” Cole said, his voice soft and urgent.

“What is it?” Rhaella asked, though her stomach had already dropped into her toes.

The air was too still. Then Merrill’s head jerked up suddenly, like a horse that had heard the snap of a twig. There was no sound - but Merrill was the one who’d placed the wards well outside the ravine. The one who would know if someone was approaching.

Cole straightened slowly, his gaze distant and unfocused, as he followed Merrill’s gaze.

“He is coming,” Cole said.

#beach writes #beach does commissions #lost horizon #scharoux #rhaella lavellan #rhaella x solas

38 notes · View notes

ferylcheryl · 4 years

Text

Cathedral

Chapter 1

CW Infant Death

Private Heather’s exposed brain glistens oxblood and rose in the dim light.

“It’s a pudding, basically,” explains Stanley.

“I would have said ‘cathedral’,” McDonald retorts mildly. “I suppose it depends on the man.” He glances at Stanley, that ineradicable teasing glint in his eye.

And how much he has endured, Stanley thinks to himself. After all, there had been a time that he, too, might have likened man’s brain to a cathedral. Actually, he would have reserved that particular metaphor for the body, for it was more apt: the ribcage curved over heart and lung like the kerfed ribs of St. Paul’s vaulting up over the nave. A lavish miracle of engineering, man and cathedral alike; the one’s form echoing the other. The brain, he might’ve likened more to a clock. No less intricate, far less ostentatious of a metaphor. Or a lightning storm. A nebula of tree roots. Not a pudding, at any rate—but now, that’s what he sees, and that’s how he calls it.

Anyway, he grudgingly likes McDonald. He comports himself with a cheery equanimity more befitting a cook or a seaman than a doctor, and Stanley’s own effort to model a mien more befitting go largely disregarded by both him and Goodsir (who is such a soft, scuttling thing he hardly warrants notice). But McDonald: there’s something of steel in the man, a kind of grit; perhaps the ability to face up to the horror of the brain exposed and scry in it a holiness—and to speak of it with gladness. There was a time they might have been fast friends.

He casts a sidewise glance at Goodsir, who is busy with flame and sealing wax. He’d asked to stay and watch McDonald cauterize the edges, asserted his will in that cringing way of his: how timid he is, yet he seems always in the way, somehow. His mere presence grates. Now, the eyes having been sealed—at Stanley’s request, Goodsir notes—and the cauters heated, Goodsir takes a moment to inspect the brain closely. It is the first living brain he’s seen, the skull shorn away with unnervingly surgical precision, and it is enough in itself. What he means is, man’s engine needs no metaphor to claim divinity: it is out of this labyrinth of pink hillocks and blood vessels as finely-forked and intricate as lightning that the whole of human history is sprung. Yet removed from the context of its vast scope of accomplishment, one might think of it as so much meat. Both men are correct, but neither grasps the full complexity of it.

Nor does Goodsir, in terms he could explain. But for a moment its full complexity is unfurled before him—like Bernini’s St. Theresa, this vision of the brain’s thousand manifestations, transfigurations, iterations pours down around him like shafts of gold: a cathedral, a pudding, a geode hatched open. A chorale of light, of impulse, of blueprints and ecstasies. The holy symmetry of the lobes, their earthen ugliness; by the will of the great animator a thousand cathedrals erected and puddings confected—metaphor is inconsequential in the blinding light of this revelation. Metaphor is language: this transcends.

But it only lasts a moment. He is used to it by now, these—what else can he call them but visions? It is like his mind’s eye is momentarily deluged with a sight not his own, and his intellect (which he recognizes with conditioned humility is not insubstantial) is left to sort it out. When he was a child he tried to share it with others, he discovered that he not only lacked the language but that others did not experience the same. *A capital imagination*, his mother had beamed to a friend once. *Unnatural,* the woman had retorted darkly. He was eight then and never spoke of it again. Not even when it took the form of instructive presentiment. At ten, idly plucking blackberries on a country ramble, he fancied he could taste—for all of him was given to these visions, brain and ear, touch and tongue—within each black-shining drupelet smaller ones, an infinitude of — what might he call them? The matter of all things parsed into smaller, invisible things. And the next week he learned of cells, discovering their name only after tasting them.

He raises his eyes and glances from Dr. Stanley to Dr. McDonald to Stanley again. And again he sees the darkness around Stanley’s head, a scrambled etch-work of black lines, like a child’s drawing of cloud. He drops his gaze. This he is accustomed to as well: a crown donned by the miserable. A few other men aboard wear it—Captain Crozier, for one; Lt. Irving for another. One learns to disregard it.

The room warms incrementally as Stanley leaves it. McDonald crosses behind him in the small space, grazing his hand along the small of Goodsir’s back as he does so. This he does often, and it is such a natural gesture for a man of such bonhomie that Goodsir has only recently begun sensing something more in so many seemingly incidental touches: a brush of fingertips as they exchange an instrument, the older man’s gaze lingering—kindly, but lingering nevertheless—a few seconds longer than necessary.

Perhaps he is imagining it. He hopes he is. Not just because he dreads disappointing McDonald with his eventual rebuff, but because he senses—again, it is nothing he can explain, nor does he see it the way he sees the naked brain before him, the low wooden beams of the sick bay, the anatomical drawings pinned to the wall—a weak, fluttering light, like the beat of moth wings, emanating from Stanley’s heart when McDonald is near. In close proximity, it flickers nearly steadily; it gutters and fades as McDonald moves away. Goodsir knows what it is, though he’s never experienced it firsthand: longing, affection. When shared between two lovers, it buoys him—an aimless sunniness, like one felt as a boy the morning of one’s birthday. But suppressed, as with Stanley’s feeling for McDonald (not even, Goodsir guesses, acknowledged by the sour-tempered veteran to himself) it is an agitation; one’s hands shake and all things, even breath, taste of ash and iron.

———

Stanley sits up in the dark, willing his breath to quiet. He can almost still feel her scant weight in his palms. A skeletal pink thing she was, grotesquely proportioned. All skull and looming eye, like an unfeathered chick. In the dream he bears her before him like an offering, walking down a sun-blown lane of cypresses, birds darting back and forth overhead. She’d come too early, and with her characteristic stoniness Mary had declared it useless to name her. But in his heart he called her Mercy. In the dream he knows without seeing—in that way that dreams manufacture context with no care whatsoever for waking reality—her face, luminous eyes and a prim mouth belying an adamant will. Not here but somewhere else she grows to be willowy and tart-tongued; she marries and bears children of her own. Not in this life but in another will she make him proud and glad. In this life, he wakes tasting ash and iron, his palms open as in supplication to a weight too phantom to quantify.

Goodsir, too, wakes. He does not sit bolt upright in bed but rather lies bleary-eyed, assembling the disparate elements of the dream. Not being his dream, per se, he is detached enough to hold it before his mind’s eye like an anatomical model, turn it this way and that. He does not know whose dream it is. He does know, however, that the dream lives of most of his fellows are dreadfully tedious, and so he’s grateful for this startling departure. Generally, men’s dreams are panting, damp, carnal messes: curves of flesh, gliding hands, blurts of soaked heat. He wakes embarrassed, his own body inert but exhausted. Or he’s seen the million fears any man can have transcribed into just a handful of symbols: the dream of the teeth falling out. The dream where you can neither scream nor run nor speak nor hear; you may as well be a girl’s doll. The childhood home distorted: these, at least, interest him vaguely, for it is a bit like travel. His own dreams? He doesn’t dream them. He sometimes wonders if someone else, someone like himself, does.

But in this dream he is standing at the end of an avenue of cypresses. At his feet, a neat dirt path, impeccably clean edged. A warm day but the breeze bears a chill and the smell of blood, and at the far horizon clouds curdle into smoke. Someone far away, arms held out before them, bearing something small in their cupped hands. The figure shimmers and twitches and he can make out nothing about it: male, female, what. He only knows that the clouds have turned to smoke, conflagration not far behind. It keeps coming and coming, never drawing closer—then it is there before him—first a shuddering dark slit in the horizon and then standing as close to him as only lovers stand. His face is a mass of scarlet and char, but he knows him, he knows him like he’d know his own face in a mirror, but now, upon waking cannot recall who it was.

Peculiar, that he should remember the rest so clearly, but not that crucial detail. Equally peculiar, he realizes, is that he is uncertain of the time; doesn’t know how long he’s slept. Now he’s wired awake in that way his body has of feeling tense and angry if he lies about, so up he gets, dresses in the weak light, and steps out into the dark. Most but the watch are sleeping: late, then, rather than early. He climbs stealthily onto the deck, startling Mr. Hickey, who by his crumpled posture and crabbish, ruddy expression—what Goodsir can see of it between his cap and his scarf, mostly those glittering inscrutable eyes and that outsized nose—was probably woken.

“Warn a man,” he grumbles.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hickey, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he says tartly, hunching his shoulders as he passes him.

“What are you doing up, eh? I’d give my left stone to be abed—“

“I thought you were,” Goodsir says, a bit unkindly perhaps—for he’s never done anything wrong that Goodsir’s aware of, but how he slouches about, the hungry way he is always listening, like a dog watching for a morsel from his master’s table. His proportions all out of sync: that round mouth big nose, all that muscle on a dwarfish little frame. Goodsir chastises himself: he’s an inch on you</>, he reminds himself. And the ladies probably fancy him a yard more for it. Not that Goodsir cares for ladies. He’s simply rather put out that they don’t seem to care for him.

“You’re a funny kind of man,” Hickey tells him.

“I beg your pardon?”

Hickey grins. “You know things.”

“Oh? And what kinds of things do I know?” He turns too quickly and looks Hickey too hard into the eye, sure the witchy vagaries of his brain are writ plain as ABC across his brow. (not that he can read, says Goodsir’s bitter half.)

But then Hickey cocks his head. “As the ship’s doctor, I mean. You must learn a great deal.”

“I’m not the ship’s doctor. Dr. Stanley is. I merely... assist,” he finishes lamely. The ladies must love that knowing grin of his.

At that moment, there’s a creak as Lt. Irving climbs onto deck. His eyes are hard. “Is Mr. Hickey ill, Mr. Goodsir?”

Hickey beams at him. “I’m right as rain, lieutenant. The doctor was having trouble sleeping, I expect, and thought a turn in the brisk air might do him good. Isn’t that so?”

Goodsir nods vaguely and makes to go back down. How funny it is to constantly receive these vague little pricks and pops of energy—like static electricity or near lightning. Like, he intuits now what he could not quite make clear before: first, that the collective fancies of all of London’s fairest would do Hickey not a whit of good, and second, that Irving knows it. By the time he settles back into his own bed, Goodsir’s fretful near unto tears. It’s much too much for one man, to bear scraps and fragments of all other men. He reads until the words blur and drift on the page, falls asleep, and blessedly does not dream.

#terror fan fic #harry goodsir #dr. stanley #dr. macdonald

2 notes · View notes

pamphletstoinspire · 5 years

Photo

Padre Pio Prayer Groups and Spiritual Children - September Meetings

If you are interested in becoming a spiritual child of Saint Padre Pio and would like to join a Padre Pio Prayer Group - either in a spiritual manner or in person - we have initiated this page wherein you can choose either to pray along with us as a spiritual member of one of our six prayers groups or join us in person at one of the meeting sites. You can choose which group best suits your particular situation. Once you have decided to join a group - and if you are unable to attend the meetings - please send us your contact information using the contact form at the bottom of the home page in order for us to register you as a member of that prayer group and also as a spiritual child of Padre Pio. If you live in the Boston area and would like to attend our Prayer Group meetings below are the times and places when the meetings are held.

NOTE: WHEN PRAYING WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP - PLEASE ADJUST FOR YOUR TIME ZONE SO THAT WE CAN PRAY IN UNISON

We are official Padre Pio Prayer Groups under the auspices and guidance of the Archdiocese of Boston - Cardinal Sean O'Malley

The dates and times that the prayer groups meet are as follows - All are Eastern Standard Time

1. First Tuesday of The Month from 7 - 9 PM EST

ST. MONICA PARISH

212 LAWRENCE ST.

METHUEN, MA 01844

Questions please call the parish 978-683-1193.

2. First Wednesday of The Month from 7 - 9 PM EST

ST. MARY OF THE ANNUNCIATION PARISH 8 MYRTLE ST. MELROSE, MA 02176

Questions please call the parish 781-665-0152

3. First Saturday of The Month from 12:30 - 2 PM EST

The Carmelite Chapel in the Northshore Mall

210 ANDOVER ST.,

PEABODY, MA 01960

Questions please call the Gift Shop 978-531-8340

4. Third Saturday of The Month from 12:30 - 2 PM EST

THE CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR

475 WESTGATE DRIVE

BROCKTON, MA 02301

Questions please call Brother Thomas at the Chapel Gift Shop: 508-583-8357 ext 4.

5. Fourth Sunday of The Month from 1 - 3 PM EST

MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES PARISH

270 ELLIOT ST.

NEWTON, MA 02464

Questions please call the parish 617-244-0558

6. Fourth Thursday of The Month from 7 - 9 PM EST (Except in November and December when we meet on the third Thursday of the Month because of Thanksgiving and Christmas)

St. Anthony of Padua Parish (Chapel) 250 Revere St Revere, MA 02151

Questions please call the parish 781-289-1234

The following prayers are recited at Every Meeting:

1. The Rosary based on the Meditations of Padre Pio:

Click here for meditations

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_db77f305ce814584b901b1e8430dbbf1.pdf

The Five Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and, during the season of Advent, on Sundays:

1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation 3. The Nativity 4. The Presentation in the Temple 5. The Finding in the Temple

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays:

1. The Agony in the Garden 2. The Scourging at the Pillar 3. The Crowning with Thorns 4. The Carrying of the Cross 5. The Crucifixion and Death

The Five Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesdays and, outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, on Sundays:

1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit 4. The Assumption 5. The Coronation of Mary

The Five Luminous Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Thursdays:

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan 2. The Wedding Feast at Cana 3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God 4. The Transfiguration 5. The Institution of the Eucharist

YouTube - Glorious Mysteries

https://youtu.be/8mSeisxwkmU

YouTube - Joyful Mysteries

https://youtu.be/wtyWoskCAzY

YouTube - Sorrowful Mysteries

https://youtu.be/RJL2N7r2S4I

YouTube - Luminous Mysteries

https://youtu.be/AYhye5VLxZ8

Praying the Rosary - Familiarize yourself and/or your group with the prayers of the rosary.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be (The Doxology)

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Reciting The Rosary - You May Also Follow With YouTube Presentation Above:

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.

On the first bead, say an Our Father.

Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.

Say the Glory Be

For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.

While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Mary's while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.

(After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.)

After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diagram On How To Recite The Rosary - See Below

2. Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Click here for the Chaplet

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_8b3e3c2893638e5fd10bd9d166b12ce1.pdf

3. Prayer Before The Crucifix

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity; true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment.

While I contemplate, with great love and tender pity, Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me and calling to mind the words which David, Thy prophet, said of Thee, my Jesus: They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones." Amen.

Then - The following may be recited - (Prayers for the Holy Father) -

Our Father:

Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the Father (Doxology)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

First Saturday Prayers: For those who observe the First Saturday of the month in honor of the Blessed Mother - the following prayers may be recited:

1. First Saturday Devotional Prayers

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_a72293f3a434423e9dc47f1df57ca945.pdf

Monthly Lessons:

Each month we discuss various topics of interest with the members of the prayer groups.

For September - below are the stories selected for the month:

1. Litany of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_ee4f3c301ee44d0a8d0b1696550866cb.pdf

2. Litany of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_3e9c1495a90e4279b22d58ca4b685b2a.pdf

3. Devotion to The Holy Cross of Jerusalem

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_7d00088c836845728e08beef91c3a517.pdf

4. Sermon on The Cross of Jesus Christ Is Precious and Life-Giving

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_07bbb4aacb6c44dd868c898372a664dc.pdf

5. Story about Padre Pio

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_82702dd731c84a65bfb29a3ca10a2fa2.pdf

Link to Prayer Group Page for more details - music - diagram on how to recite the rosary.

https://www.pamphletstoinspire.com/spiritual-children-of-padre-pio-1

From: https://www.pamphletstoinspire.com/

#padre pio prayer group meetings

9 notes · View notes

teamflareaugustine101 · 5 years

Text

Lacewoodshipping drabbles#1 : Dates

writing this, but hey it’s the first for many more planned! It seems a bit short or maybe not enough said I guess? But let’s just roll with it for the sake of some Lacewoodshipping fics to start!

Dates

Funny little suggestive outings, innocent bouts of conversations and of-course lots of kissing. (If you were at that stage) Which Serena and Augustine certainly were.

“Are you ready my Cherie!?” Augustine yelled down the corridor of his apartment. situated in a newly built part of Lumiose, he used some of his savings for a place which Serena suggested wasn’t so close to his labs and work place.. Or rather not the loft to the scientific department of his work/office. She always told him that it wasn’t healthy and it would get him out of those crazy all nighters he used to pull.

Upon trying to encourage him to be normal; to leave and turn up for work like any other person would. He seemed to be getting a lot more ideas for their date nights, which Serena was not complaining about one bit. Their date nights were mostly things they agreed on together, their style was a spur of the moment decision which suited them just fine and being Augustine with his persuasive attitude, he could make anything sparkle in the eyes of Serena

“Okay! I won’t be a minute, geez Augustine don’t be so impatient!” Serenas voice could be heard muffled behind the door to the bathroom, the next door down to where he stood in the modern and surprisingly tidy kitchenette. He was practically almost ready to sprint out the door whilst frantically looking at his simplistic vintage watch he loved so much - courtesy to his grandfather who gifted it to him upon the occasion of graduating from his Phd. He sighed heavily closing his eyes and rested a hand on his forehead. His hair in his usual trendy flicks, more tidy and his stubble shaved.

He then rested extended arms on the kitchen side, chanting how they were going to be late and what the time was already.

I mean usually there’s a bit of sparkle before the date.

“We are going to be late mon amour!” His voice low and serious.

And as if on cue he was relieved to hear the clicking of heels walking into the kitchen from the hallway. Mesmerised by the sound alone he turned around from where he faced the faucet on the sink to where his love stood before him adorned in a black off the shoulder velvet dress, knee length but carried out a suggestive slit that stopped mid thigh at the side. Black elegant open heels and a mini purse hung off her shoulder. She curled her hair loosely so it looked more different than her normal natural wave of golden blonde hair.

She was seen going through her purse as if she was doing a mental checklist in her head. “Augustine next time you rush me out the door, I’ll refuse to go anywhere with you, have you got the keys?” She huffed and glanced his way to catch where he stood, only to double take when she saw the way he looked at her in this present moment.

He was completely taken aback by the way she looked, she got him every single time; without fail. He was sussing every little detail out - new dress? Had he seen her wear that before? I think not.

He thought he would of seen that dress somewhere on her side of the wardrobe amongst his own belongings, otherwise he would of made her wear that a lot sooner.

It was true that they were not currently sharing a place of their own, but they liked to accompany each other at each others own apartments as if they did live together, which for the moment kept a healthy place in their relationship. Serena had a lot of bad habits to break him out of yet.

He was giving her the look - the look of taking her right on the spot as far as crude thoughts go in his mind.

But alas he kept himself tame and he just battled his emotions enjoying the mix of her looking flawless and stubbornness etched in her tone she provided courtesy to his impatience,which he was so not sorry for if he got to see her feisty side he didn’t get to see often. He smirked at her but struggled to keep a cool exterior and not let his guard down no matter how beautiful or sexy she dresses for him.

She tilted her head and gave him a look as of to say ‘not now, we’ve got supposedly somewhere to be’. Rainsing an eyebrow to play his smirking game. “Augustine keep your eyes eye level, get your keys, and stop giving me that look, we have to go. Now.” Smiling in triumph at the shock his face suddenly took hold of as if he was being told off by his mother. She walked past him and swayed her hips grabbing the coat that hung at the hanger near the door.

Oh she knew what effect she had in him.

She turned and winked.

“Are you coming or not?” She snapped him out of his trance.

It worked and he bolted up straight realising that they did in fact need to go. Internally wining with the vision of the way that dressed hugged her figure before she draped her coat over herself. He cursed under his breath. “Merde”

He smiled approaching her in a quick pace, that smile he always gave her so lovingly, grabbing his own black trench coat and tossing it over his shoulder.

“You look beautiful.” He said with no sign of kalosian, meaning every word for her to hear with no errors in his language.

“You don’t look half bad yourself.” She remarked with a little playfulness, playing with the collar to his pale blue shirt; his Serena, his champion of the league, his assistant in studies and of-course his lady of beauty before him. She began to open the door beside them to take the leave of his apartment, whilst doing so she gave a suggestive kiss to his cheek as he pushed closer to be beside her. He suddenly slammed the door before she could escape after breaking the kiss from his cheek to pull her in by the waist giving her a passionate kiss full on the lips, tugging her and moving her body to fit his shape. She was completely under a spell from the shock of being forcefully tugged back to a crushing lip lock she could tell he so desperately couldn’t hold back. He pulled away and kissed her softly again and again. Satisfied he pressed his forehead to hers and sighed shaking his head. “I’m beginning to rethink our plans for tonight.” His voice low and husky, mischievousness was not lost on him.

“Behave yourself Augustine! “ she giggled, fighting his grip to disentangle herself.

“Alright alright, let us venture out into the fine evening of Lumiose” he said dramatically ushering her out of the door finally.

Door locked then reaching an elevator at the end of the corridor turning right, after 9 floors and a smart apartment set up lobby, they finally reached the front entrance to the entire building. He held the door open for her whilst he stretched the coat over his arms and fairly broad shoulders embracing himself for the cold draft of night air that hit them both like a force.

He welcomed her to his side, she leaned in like second nature, an accustomed act which they fell into naturally upon being together whilst walking the streets of luminous, he wrapped an arm around her attempting to keep and retain any warmth he may be able to giver her. Lapels on his coat up and head practically burrowed his head. He wish he could just kiss her and hold her more intimately than he was in the present situation. But this was literally as close as he could get in order for it to be suitable for the public to view affection at its most innocent

He looked down at her, studying the way her golden hair curled around the frame of her face, the subtly blush and long eyelashes that dusted her on her solid sapphire eyes. He was smitten with her for sure.

“So... where are we going this time.” Speaking up amusingly after ashort silence in the night of Lumiose streets, dimmed laced street lamps hanging gracefully over their heads.

“If I told you.. that would ruin the surprise.” He spoke genuine and with no hint of giving anything away. She rolled her eyes, smiled up at him catching a glance of his cobalt eyes hoping to break him in telling her the truth.

They walk a few more blocks and turned into the central streets of Lumiose, heading towards to the more entertaining venues and cafes. She walked elegantly next to Augustine, no more proud than she was having a stunning beauty like her by his side, the young woman she was, fierce and heavenly all wrapped into one. He scanned the area, about a dozen other couples and groups all out to enjoy the evening, dinning, drinking enjoying people’s company all the same. He looked ahead to see if he could spot their destination before she could, swiftly breaking away from their moving cuddle; he moved behind her only to cover her eyes in the oldest couple tricks in the books.

“Augustine!” She laughed at his antics, he was surely full of surprising behaviour himself.

“Ssshhhh my dear! Are you ready for where our journey on foot ends from here?” He chuckled.

“What are you talking about..?” She trailed off slowly as he revealed a vintage looking building, an old theatre which was at its best, people bustling around the station as if just moments a production was about to start.

She gasped in amazement “Oh my this is so lovely!” She smiled adoringly at him.

“I thought you might like the opportunity to see a proper play in Lumiose, traditionally set that is.” He kissed her cheek, she couldn’t contain her excitement, he had never taken them to a play before, sure she had been to see various productions with friends and family, but never like this.

“I don’t know what the play is about, so I don’t know what’s it’s going to be like, I thought maybe we could experience something new together; oui?” He propped an arm round her once more to shield her through a small crown of people entering the building as they did.

“It’s perfect, I can’t remember the last time I went to see something new in the theatres.” She reminisced the last time her mother took her to see a play back on one of her birthdays, a mix between medieval situations and the modern life, she loved any kind of productions people created in theatre, they were all so entertaining and exciting, no matter what they were about. Admittedly Augustine looked pretty slick handing over pre-bought tickets to the old clerk at the ticket stand upon entering where they would be seated, the theatre was all red carpeted and regal looking, the seats as comfortable as they could be for a mass produced seating area.

“Here are our seats.” Serena examined the tickets Augustine had passed onto her in letting her lead him to where they would sit. Their seats rather central and not too far back or to the front where they wouldn’t be able to see clearly, many more people started to gather in the room now, lots of chatter before the show began. Augustine shedded his coat whilst taking Serenas and popped them over an empty seat where no one seemed to have claimed. “It’s getting rather busy, maybe this ones more popular than we thought.” She looked around surprised and leaned into Augustine as she relaxed more into the atmosphere. “I suspect it should be starting soon.” He hummed under his breath as he looked at the watch on his wrist. “People look like they are starting to settle down and I can see some of the actors peeking through the curtains.”he mentioned with amusement in his voice, Serena smirked and kissed him on the cheek, also whilst trying to look where he might of spotted the curious person through the red drapes before them.

The lights began to dim and Serena’s excitement seemed like it wasn’t contained, she couldn’t help the soft squeal escape her when people finally stopped the bustling and sat last minute before the stage turned bright and the actors emerged with dramatic purpose...

—————————————————

The theatre ended with Augustine and Serena chattering happily with mirth after the production, left pleased smiles and memory on their features. Augustine’s arm once again guarding around Serena to try and shield her as best as he could from the harsh cold in the streets of Lumiose.

“I especially loved that part, I can’t believe their combination of modern art and vintage time worked so well.” Serena referring to the renaissance time the play was so clearly set in. The latter it was traditionally clever and entertaining.

“The random stories in itself, I had to say it was very well done for a combination of shirts that merged to one entire storyline was rather peculiar but great in its own right.” Augustine agreed hugging her to his side tighter. “Did you enjoy tonight?”

She looked up to him and smiled lovingly “I loved it, thankyou for the wonderful surprise my dear Augustine.” Emphasising the last bit in her sentence to heighten his ego.

“Nice to know I can please my lady like so.” He rolled his eyes and chuckled at her sly choice of words, they reached the door to the apartment building retreating up the stairs to the right floor. It had grown accustomed to Serena that staying the night with him after a lovely evening was just the right ending, the more cuddles the better, he does try his best after all.

Shedding their coats for the final time that day, he caught a glimpse of her in all her beauty, like he was basking in her sun rays even on the darkest of nights. She was stunning no doubt, by that certainly didn’t stop him from sneaking a few suggestive motions.

She was readjusting herself shedding her shoes and whilst bending over and getting back up in the process, arms snaked round her waist in an almost reassuring way that instantly made her relax into his touch, such heaven for him to touch the velvet of that dress again; the way it cling to her skin to her shape. She sighed as he just took a moment to run his hands along her sides, to then move to her arms, tracing bare skin. He rested his head onto her shoulder purposely breathing low breaths onto her neck but not quite engaging where his lips loved to lay. When he memorised enough of her skin he lay his hands to trace the tops of her thighs, the sudden movements were letting a string of notes play from her lips, quiet sighs and little sharp breaths, sensitive.

He turned her to face him and he cupped one hand to her cheek to bring her face closer to hers, sensually rubbing her body like a worship. He was gentle when he wanted to be, Serena knew him well, but there was something in tonight where she could see he didn’t want the fuss of desperation but only to caress the moment. “Mom amour.” He sighed cIosed eyes as he pressed a kiss close to her lips but not directly, it was a butterfly’s touch.

“Your a hopeless romantic Professor Augustine Sycamore.” She whispered back at him unable to contain the small giggle and wide smile as he smirked into cheek.

“Ma chère Serena, tu me fais les choses les plus merveilleuses...”

“I know.” she cupped both his cheeks in her hands to pull him a fraction apart so she could search his eyes, she found love and littlest bit of charm that could only resemble that he had only a vision for her alone. She smiled in earnest, and kissed him full on the lips, slow but chaste. His hands wondered lower to give a little squeeze, that was all it needed for them both to let loose a little bit, letting it turn to a full fledged make-out session.

——————————

“How did I ever manage to get someone like you I will never know.” Augustine sighed laying in bed bare next to Serena who was equally as bare as he was; hugging his side laying her head to his chest. The time had flown by reaching well past midnight and Kalos’s couple lay basking in afterglow on one of their seemingly innocent date nights. He traced patterns on her back, which she quickly relaxed into, her hair that was once perfect now messy from the tugging and foreplay from the fooling around they did just moments ago.

“I agree, you are one lucky man..” she responded cheekily, she knew he could feel her smiling at her own comment, an opportunity she wouldn’t pass up on him.

He pinched her side. “I’ll pretend you meant that as a act of affection and not as harsh one would think!” He said lowly behind a tired chuckle. “My love, it would be as if you should think to know my place more with you.”

“Well of course, you mean like who’s boss? Who’s the dominant one in this relationship?” She challenged.

He grinned. “We know who that one is then.” Serena snorted and they both spoke at the same time next.

“Me”

Looking at each other he growled.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Try me.”

#lacewoodshipping augustine sycamore pokemon #augustine #augustine and serena #augustine serena lacewoodshipping imaginesycamore #augustine sycamore #lacewoodshipping #serena #professorsycamore professor sycamore #professor sycamore #pokemon

18 notes · View notes

thedefinitionofbts · 6 years

Text

Upon Your Existence (2)

Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3

Pairings: Jeon Jungkook x Reader (ft. the rest of BTS)

Genre: Science Fantasy, Fluff, Angst, Royal Au

Words: 8.1K

Description: …and so they just meet each other in these stories written inside these worlds built in their minds. Of course some will be sad, and others happy, but that’s just the way the universe is…chaotic, imperfect, but magnificently beautiful.

As the sun vanishes in sync with the rising moon, red lanterns glow luminously in the crowded courtyard, bringing the palace grounds to life. Court ladies, guests, and members of the royal sphere gather for the much-anticipated celebration. Dancers dressed in festive costume rush to the center stage, beginning their elaborate performance as music and sounds of laughter fill your ears, submerging you in a haze.

You weren’t particularly fond of imperial parties such as this one, overly extravagant and fundamentally pointless, other than the fact that it was part of tradition and a deliberate way of displaying wealth and power. You didn’t like the noise, the blinding lights, the fancy props, or the amount of wine every one drowned themselves in. It was uncomfortable, aggravating even. Your eyes search for an opening to make your escape, hoping that the eclectic assortment of activities will be enough of a distraction to conceal your empty seat next to your mother, the empress.

Luckily you find your opportunity just as she stands to serve your father wine. It’s a hasty getaway; one that you are not so unfamiliar with, as you have taken the exact same course of action at every other party that has threatened to swallow you in mind-numbing boredom.

The music diminishes the further you run, and the air finally feels breathable. You stop when you’re sure it far enough your head stops spinning, still trapped within the palace walls but at least it was a more peaceful area. It was quite, sans the chirping of crickets and occasional breeze that rustles the leaves on the trees.

You exhale a long sigh of relief, finally able to relax.

“Nice, isn’t it?”

You head whips around to the source of the voice, heart almost leaping out of your throat. “Who’s there?” You hiss, pupils shooting in various directions until it lands upon the figure sitting comfortably on the bench. It’s difficult to tell, but you can at least make out that he is a man.

He only chuckles at your alarm. “Don’t worry, I’m a prince not some assassin.”

You take a step closer to examine him. “Are you sure you are a prince, and that you are even allowed to be here?” You eye him suspiciously, his plain brown rob making it quite obvious he’s either lying or in disguise. Judging from the design of his attire, he must be from the state of Jeon, if you weren’t mistaken and if those private tutoring sessions where finally paying off.

“I am.” He answers with a slightly amused grin and a mysterious glint in his eyes. “But are you sure you are allowed to be here?”

The audacity. You make an offended face. “I’m a princess! Is it not obvious?”

He tilts his head to get a better look, making you suddenly tense at the weight of his inspection. No man has ever had the guts to stare so intently at a princess, especially not one as highly ranked as you, the first daughter of the emperor’s main wife. Even princes would not even dare to look a princess in the eye unless they were arranged to be married.

“Who knows?” He comments nonchalantly. “You could be a commoner trying to sneak into that party.” He nods towards the vivid lights filling the palace you had barely just been able to escape.

“What commoner could get their hands a dress made of dragon silk and embroidered with golden phoenix feathers?” You cross your arms.

He shrugs, feigning oblivion.

“And for the record, I was sneaking outof that party.” Your revelation causes him to cock a brow.

“A princess sneaking out of one of the grandest celebrations in the land?”

“Ugh, not you too” You frown, sighing heavily. “I don’t particularity enjoy being the center of attention, especially not when the sole purpose is to celebrate my birth.”

He looks up with the sudden realization, eyes wide but not completely in shock. “Let me guess, you’re the emperor’s first daughter.” His expression is hard to read, not as stunned as you would expect, but you usually have to give people a few minutes to let these things sink in.

“Took you long enough to figure out. Did I not just say this dress is-“

“Right, dragon silk and phoenix feathers…” He drops his gaze, face flushing ever so slightly as he nods, smiling to himself for not putting two and two together earlier.

“And you? Why are you snooping around here?”

At that he looks up, lips still curved upward. “I too just came out of there.” He tips his head toward the direction you had come.

“Oh, were you among the princes who attended?” You attempt to recall if you saw him among the group of what your mother would call “potential suitors”, but all you can dig up from the depths of your recent memory is a crowd of faceless men.

“Wow, I must really be unappealing.” He clutches his chest, pretending to be hurt.

You laugh, throwing your head back at his self-deprecating statement. “You’re…” You glance back at him, scrutinizing his features under the silvery moonlight.

As you take a moment to allow your eyes trace over the outline of his profile, you find yourself lost in how contrasting yet complimentary the details of his appearance are. His skin is glowing with youth, nose tall and perfectly shaped paired with lips that are small but plump. His jawline is sharp but his cheeks are still impossibly soft. And then there are his eyes, large and round orbs that seem to hold the stars.

“…above average.” You swallow finishing your sentence with a blatant lie and praying he can't tell you’re flustered because truth be told he was way beyond average. In fact, you don’t think you’ve ever met a prince this attractive.

“I’m honored.” He grins, making your heart do things it’s never done. “It’s not every day the crown princess ranks you above average in looks.”

Your cheeks are on fire and you have to look away. “Well, there aren’t many handsome princes.”

“So are you saying I’m handsome?” His face lights up playfully.

“No! I mean, yes!” You face palm at your give away, squeezing your eyes shut and cursing your lack of composure.

He holds back a laugh, choosing to let his attention be drawn towards the surrounding area. It’s too dark to make out the trees and shrubbery, but you’re too caught up in your own embarrassment to notice him absorbed in his own thoughts. The moon is so round it almost looks fake, hanging like a giant silver coin in the dark indigo sky, so close it’s like you could touch it if you reached up.

A moment later, he speaks again. “Well, for the record, you’re just as beautiful as they say.”

At that you turn to him, meeting his gaze. Time stills with only the sound of crickets chirping and the muffled noises of the celebration present to signal it’s still getting later.

“May I ask your full name?” You manage to request.

“Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook.” He replies, lips twitching up at the corners.

“Jungkook...” You repeat, solidifying the syllables in your head. “How long will you be staying here?”

“A while actually.”

“Oh, I see.” You nod, suddenly too nervous to solicit your next question.

Thankfully he jumps in just before the pause becomes awkward. “If you’re free, we could maybe, perhaps meet at the summer garden sometime?”

“I am!” You mentally face palm again, regretting answering so zealously, like you weren’t a princess meant to stay poised.

His face lights up again. “Then I shall be waiting.”

…

Early morning calligraphy lessons were the worst.

Master Lee was one of the best teachers in the land, but that also made him extra strict when it came to your writing. From the way you held the brush, to the form in which you maneuvered your wrist to paint each stroke, he was critical down to the last detail. You didn’t like calligraphy class, never did. Being shut in a room for hours at a time with your instructor breathing down your back was never your cup of tea. It didn’t help that you never saw much improvement in your skills, despite having taken lessons since you were six years old.

This morning was no different from any other, with the sun’s pale yellow rays barely penetrating through the window, open just wide enough to light up the dusty room but not enough for you to comfortable enjoy the view of the outdoors, a place you long to be.

“Stay focused, and loosen your grip” Master Lee’s stern voice echoes from across the room, making you whip your head back to the thin canvas in front of you. The characters you had already written in black ink staring back at you, each more hideous than the last.

You hated calligraphy.

“Master Lee, can you tell me about the State of Jeon?” The query slips past your lips, surprising even yourself, but ever since last night, you had not stopped thinking about the mysterious prince you had met.

“They are craftsmen. Artists. Known for their paintings and music.” He replies, slowly walking around the room. “Why the sudden curiosity?”

“Well, I met a prince from there last night.” You pause, regretting not being more discreet.

“Ah, the eldest Jeon and heir to the throne.” He nods, before stopping to furrow his brows. “Junghyun, was it?”

“He said his name was Jungkook.” You correct, wondering if you actually heard wrong last night.

“Oh, the younger brother.” Master Lee chuckles. “I’ve heard much about him. Yes. He’s quite the talented painter, cares nothing about statewide affairs or politics, but loves the arts.”

Your ears perk up at this newly revealed information. Today was the day you were supposedly meeting him at the summer garden, an arrangement you had hastily agreed to less than twelve hours ago. The thought of it makes your heart pound. Would he actually show up? What if he forgets? And why are you so excited to see someone you barely knew?

The questions continue to spin through your mind, along with fuzzy images of his appearance under the moonlight, the way his eyes twinkled beneath the stars and his alluring smile somehow conveying more than words ever could.

“Princess Y/N” Master Lee’s abrupt reminder triggers you to jump in your chair.

You look down to see that in the midst of your daydreaming, you had let your soaking brush settle in one spot for too long, causing the ink to drench the cloth sheet, leaving a giant black glob where the end of your stroke should’ve glided smoothly into a pointed tail.

“Sorry, Master” You clear your throat, hoping he won’t report this to your mother, or worse…make you start all over.

You hear him release a loud sigh, the disappointment evident in his features. “One more time” He grumbles.

…

The spring breeze is dry and not so subtly grassy. Warm sunlight drapes over your exposed skin, putting you at peace amidst the subdued, yet perceivable anxiousness building in your stomach. After being inside for so long, the brightness of midday is almost blinding, but your eyes soon adjust enough for you to take in the lovely scenery- the calm surface of the pond blanketed with lily pads and lotus flowers, the small stone bridge drawing a perfect half circle above the water, and the willow trees dancing along the shores.

It’s a scene you’ve been familiar with since you were young. The beauty of the summer garden always drew you to make daily visits, always alone, always for the purpose of escaping the maids who watched your every step, away from your mother who would endlessly remind you of your duties as a princess, and away from confining palace life, even if it was short lived and not even that far away. Trips to the garden were always relaxing, but today your heart is brimming with anticipation.

Your eyes scan the area for signs of the person you had come to see, the person you expect to be waiting for you. It doesn’t take long for you to spot him standing under the pavilion overlooking the picturesque area. His arms are crossed behind his back, and you suspect he has yet to become aware of your presence.

“Prince Jeon?” You voice as you walk up to him, feeling the knot in your chest tighten a tad bit.

He’s initially startled when he turns, eyes stretched wide akin to that of a child’s, but a joyous smiles appears the second he realizes it’s you.

“Princess Y/N” He bows respectfully, causing you to giggle.

“What’s this now? You’re finally convinced I’m not a commoner?”

He laughs. “Would you prefer I ditch the formalities?”

“Sure” You shrug, having never been a fan of the rules of proper conduct to begin with. “When no one else is around, we can just be commoners. So I can just call you Jungkook, right?” The name rolls off your tongue surprisingly well, like muscle memory, despite it being only the second or third time you’ve physically pronounced it.

“Of course.” He gazes into your eyes for a moment too long, as if waiting for something serendipitous, but it only elicits a choked up response from you.

“On second thought, Prince Jeon works too” You divert your eyes, wishing your heart would stop skipping beats.

He only smiles at that, switching his attention back to the pond.

You decide to change the subject. “You said you would be here in the capital for a while? For what reason?”

“I’m taking lessons like I suspect you do as well, only they’re probably not as fun as yours.”

“Ugh, my lessons are not fun. I hate calligraphy.”

He giggles. “Hey, at least it’s better than arithmetic and imperial history.”

Your eyes enlarge in realization. “Oh, you’re preparing for the imperial exams.”

He scrunched his nose cutely, sticking out his tongue in distaste. “If only I could get out of it. I honestly don’t see the point.”

“You have no interest in obtaining a government position.” You state, recalling Master Lee’s words.

“Not in the slightest.”

The two of you end up chatting for the rest of the afternoon. You don’t actually learn that much about him because you find yourself talking more about yourself than asking him the questions you had formerly been curious about. Prince Jeon is just too good of listener that you don’t feel the need to hold back on anything. He’s not judgmental, and he seems to always know the right thing to say, which has never been the case with a single soul you’ve had the honor of speaking to. You have honestly never met anyone this easy to open up to, not that you had any secrets to hide or anything, but it was just like conversing with a friend you always wished you had, one who genuinely enjoyed your anecdotes and complaints about life as a princess, no matter how stupid they were.

“And so I told my mother that she stole my necklace, even though she didn’t.” You feel nonsensical revealing such an embarrassing story that painted you in such ugly light, but it was freeing to finally get it off of you chest after so many years. “Petty, right?”

Jungkook pauses in consideration. “Petty, but understandable. I mean, she only visited you to receive gifts, and she didn’t even want to be friends with you. Of course you had to find some way to get your mother to stop inviting her over.”

“Exactly!” You exasperate, finally feeling validated. “And here I thought I would never be forgiven for my sins.”

Your outburst makes him laugh. You were about to join him until you feel the side of your shoe break. Looking down, you see the whites of your sock poking through the silken fabric and the sole flapping down when you lift your foot.

“My mother is going to kill me.” You groan. “You would think the shoemaker would choose more durable material for the royal family.”

“I guess he didn’t anticipate the princess being on her feet for hours.”

You look around to gauge how far you are from the palace; mentally calculating how much more damage you could do if you decide to hobble back on one foot. The summer garden wasn’t that far from the outer walls, perhaps you could make it back with clean socks if you are careful. Only that would probably take double the amount of time, and a glance at the sky tells you the sun is quickly inching closer and closer to the horizon.

Jungkook senses your contemplation. “If you allow it, I can carry you back,” He offers.

You turn to stare at him in disbelief, sensing your cheeks heating up at the thought. “C-carry me?”

He nods as if it was the most normal circumstance to be in, and it only makes your heart pound faster.

“I’m r-really h-heavy though.” You stutter, swallowing the saliva that had built in your mouth.

“I’m really strong though” He smirks, tilting his head suggestively.

You almost choke at his gesture. “I- I m-mean, ok-”

You aren’t even allowed to finish your sentence before he sweeps you off your feet bridal style. Holding your breath and squeezing your eyes shut, you can feel the firm muscles of his arms on the back of your thighs and curving around your back. Swinging your arms around his neck in fear of falling off, you pray that he can’t hear how loud the thumping in your chest is.

“So tell me about the time you purposely got sick just to skip class.”

“Oh god, you really want to know the details?” You feel the knots in your stomach loosen and your heart slowing down. Either he can tell that you’re nervous, or the part about him knowing exactly the right thing to say is so true it’s uncanny, you decide it’s better to not question it.

The sun was beginning to set, making you wonder where the time had gone. If only all of your private lessons passed by this quickly you’d really be set. Lost in your thoughts and wishes, you continue your stories as he carries you securely all the way back.

…

You end up meeting Prince Jeon in the garden many more times after that. Spending most of your time chatting, over anything and everything, or just strolling around in silence enjoying each other’s company.

The garden hadn’t changed in all the years you played in it when you were younger, but being here with someone you were slowly falling in love with was an entirely new experience. You could never get enough of that feeling of being with him, listening to his voice tell you words you didn’t even know you wanted to hear, meeting his gaze and catching glimpses of the way he looked at you as if you were the prettiest girl in the world.

You still remember the first time he suggested sneaking down to the village, dressed in commoner’s wardrobe consisting of ragged pants and a brown robe much like the one you had seen him sport the first night you met him.

“No peeking” You warn, looking to make sure he’s looking the other way before you undress.

“I won’t,” He assures with his back still facing you.

You had quickly removed your silken robe to put on the scruffy brown one, glad that it fit well enough to not look like stolen clothing.

“Now we are both commoners.” He giggles, eyes crinkling at the edges.

And just like that, you sneak out of the palace without the knowledge of the royal guards or the maids responsible for having their eyes on you. It’s a short trip once you get past the assorted gardens and the spacious homes of the nobles that encircle the palace just outside the impenetrable stonewalls.

You had only ever captured glimpses of these kinds of villages through the curtain of your horse drawn carriage on those rare instances you traveled for royal affairs, mostly to accompany your father on his visits other states. You had never imagines one day walking along a busy street, exploring the endless commodity stalls and restaurants clustered along cobblestone roads packed with people.

It was thrilling, seeing so many new things and tasting food you’re sure you aren’t allowed to eat, to go where you wanted and not worry about conducting yourself the way you have been told to all your life. You felt uninhibited, and you absolutely loved it.

You loved laughing so hard your belly hurt. You especially loved watching Jungkook’s eyes light up when he found something exciting to show you and his smile when you react in an equally fascinated way. You loved hearing his laughter ring through the air that embraces you, the look on his face when he puts something delicious in his mouth and subsequently offers some for you to try, and his enthusiastic voice when he spots a place he’s sure you’ll like, which you always do. And most of all, you loved the way he intertwined your hands as if proving to the universe that they were meant to remain that way, forming a perfect pair like the sun and the moon. He would hold one to you tightly, leading you through the streets of the crowded village and making sure you were never separated, making sure you were always together.

Everything felt too good to be true, and just when you thought life as a princess was finally starting to become tolerable with the aid of these escapades; you are proven to have spoken too soon.

…

It’s always when things are steadily going well in your life that people have to come and ruin it.

Your future marriage was the one subject you despised more than calligraphy class, and leave it to your mother to guilt trip you with mentions of your responsibility as the daughter of the emperor and how hard your father has worked and will work to build an even stronger empire. So of course you are obligated to agree to whomever she deems the best arrangement for the sake of your ruling family, even if that person was someone you had never met. You had avoided it for as long as you could, but being at the age you were, it was only a matter of time before the agreement had to be settled.

“You’re still going down to that garden to play?” You’re mothers voice rings across the empty hallway just as you were about to leave the palace. You hear her exhale loudly, and you were not in the mood to deal with her.

“It’s one of my favorite places.” You defend, feeling a bit annoyed at her attitude towards you and the things you loved, although you should be used to it by now.

“You’ll never grow up, will you?” She shakes her head powerlessly, acting like she wasn’t one of the main reasons you felt the need to escape in the first place.

“Nope” You answer, running off and allowing your legs to carry you faster than they normally do, wanting nothing more than to get out of that prison of a palace, that life you wished you were never born into.

You try to block out the thoughts of the conversation you had had with her the night before as you race to the usual meeting spot, almost bursting into tears when you see the only person you ever really want to see.

“Jungkook!” You shout as you jump into his arms, relishing in the manner he lifts and twirls you around in the air so effortlessly.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, when he senses something is not right.

“I, umm, have something to tell you…” You swallow, trying to figure out the best way to break the news. After all, he of all people deserves to know. “My marriage arrangement has been settled.”

There’s a suffocating pause.

“And you’ve agreed to it?” He doesn’t look at you directly, choosing to instead stare blankly at the blooming flowers on the ground.

You search for signs of disappointment, almost in desperation, but find his countenance impossible to read.

“I had to…I’m of age...” You murmur, swallowing thickly.

“Is it some old king who has offered your father his land in exchange?” His voice is stiff, and you can see his jaw clench. “Or perhaps command of his army?”

“Are you implying my parents would throw me under the bus for the sake of the empire?” You glare at him more sharply than you intend to, feeling your blood start to boil.

He looks up to meet your eyes. “I’m not saying that’s what I’m saying… but that’s exactly what I’m saying.” He inhales heavily. “What’s the point in being the emperor’s eldest daughter if you can’t even make your own decisions?”

“The point is, I have a choice…” You swallow tautly, quickly losing confidence in your own statement. It wasn't a complete lie, but anyone even remotely familiar with the imperial system would know that royal weddings are for the sole purpose of keeping peace between the warring states. Only a fool would believe personal preference was ever taken into account, even if one was the emperor’s eldest daughter and crown princess.

“To choose among those already chosen?” His words aren’t in any way mocking, though you had expected them to be based on how he’s expressed his opinions so far. His tone is rather despondent, and you find it difficult to determine what his stance on the matter is. He doesn’t sound like he cares, in fact, why should he? But at the same time, his expression tells a different story.

“I’ve already chosen Yifan from the State of Wu.” Now you are actually lying. You avoid his gaze as the memory of how your mother had convinced you to agree to the arrangement on the fact that relations between your father’s empire and the State of Wu have always been rocky at best.

“The Prince of Wu, huh?” Prince Jeon nods, staring blankly at the ground and refraining from commenting further.

You cross your arms, unsatisfied with his partial response that you don’t even know what to do with. “What? Is he not a good choice?”

He looks up. “Oh no, no. I have nothing against your…choice…” He walks over to examine the old willow tree by the pond, pretending to be partially distracted which only elevates your annoyance at his evasiveness. “He just doesn’t seem like your…type…”

You smirk at his last sentence. “And how would you know what my typeis?” You counter in the same tone as you walk over to grab his attention.

He turns around just as you sneak up behind him and almost knocks you backwards in the process, but he slings his arm around your waist just before you stumble. “Someone’s who’s not going around collecting concubines.” He flashes you another one of his amused smiles and you can feel his warm breath flutter over your parted lips.

You had heard rumors of Prince Wu’s promiscuous activities, but you didn’t know word had spread beyond the boundary of maid’s gossip.

You groan in defeat, realizing he had seen right through you from the beginning. “There’s nothing I can do about it.” You reveal the truth in a dejected murmur, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes.

There’s a long pause and you fear that he really doesn’t care enough to comfort you anymore, but when you look up to meet his soft gaze that had never left you, you’re unable to move an inch.

“Run away with me.” His hold around your waist is steady, and his eyes are so sincere you forget to breathe.

Your mouth drops open at his statement, at loss for words or any kind of response for that matter.

“There are lands beyond this empire, magnificent places where you and I can be free from all of this that we have no say over.” He gives you a firm, confident squeeze, eagerness written all over his features. “Wouldn’t you like that as well?” He adds in a more tender manner.

“R-Run away?” You repeat, slowly slipping out of his embrace in an attempt to clear your mind because god knows you can’t think straight when his lips are mere centimeters from your face looking so luscious and soft.

“We can leave at dawn,” He asserts, placing his hands on each side of your shoulders and forcing you to look him in the eyes. The sunlight reflecting off his glassy pupils is enough to convey his longing for you to say yes, and in that moment, you can’t stop yourself from doing so even if you wanted to because truth be told, he could’ve proposed to jump off a cliff together and you would gladly accept.

…

The following morning happens in a blur.

Jungkook comes for you exactly as he had said, at dawn when the first light of the daybreak sun has barely emerged above the treetops. It's dark, and you are not entirely awake. Everything is delivered in hushed voices and whispers of encouragement. You remember your frenzied thoughts, the torrent of worries and questions that spin in your head. They do not plan on slowing down anytime soon, but Jungkook’s grip on your had is the only sedative you need. It's an unspoken promise to protect you, to never let you go.

And that is more than enough to prevent you from looking back. Not when the sunlight finally hits the palace walls, not when it cascades over the summer garden like a sheet of gold, and not even when the last sights of your former home disappears in the distance.

“Will you miss it?” Jungkook’s voice is soft as you continue to stare at the path in front, not realizing you hadn’t said a word to him since the two of you snuck out of the capital. It must have been hours, and he hadn’t disturbed the silence until now, giving you much needed space to let this all sink in.

“I don’t know.” You answer truthfully, still trying to make out what you were feeling. It wasn’t that easy to figure out. You had never done something so daring, so unplanned, so…borderline insane. You couldn’t possibly feel nothing, but would you really miss a place you had always wanted to leave?

“I will” He exhales. “I’ll miss my family, my room, going hunting with my father, the only place I ever knew…”

“So you regret it already?” You cut in, confused by his confession.

He shakes his head, smiling as he searches in your eyes. “I don’t regret any of this.” He holds up your interlinked hands, giving you a tight squeeze. “I never will.”

There’s an uplifting firmness in his tone, full of hope and life, and it makes you certain you won’t ever regret any of this either.

Jungkook had packed enough food to last until the two of you make it to the next village, according to the map he had on hand. You hadn’t even thought of the preparations he had made for this journey, but judging by all the things he was carrying, this was far from a last minute decision.

“You made this yourself?” You examine the flower shaped rice cakes in the small tin box, studying the intricate details and wondering how he managed to make something so beautiful.

“It’s probably nothing compared to what the royal cook makes, but everything tastes good when you’re hungry right?” He takes a bit and you follow suit.

The sweetness of the pastry engulfs your taste buds, making you gasp. “They’re delicious!” You compliment with your mouth full, blushing when he smiles as your delight and gazes lovingly into your eyes.

It is not long before you are back on your feet, making your way along the trail. The path winds into the forest, making it difficult to see the end, not that you could tell if it even had one. You were aware the two of you were walking on an incline, knowing that an impenetrable mountain range acted as a fortress around the capital city. They always looked so far away from atop the palace walls at the watchtower, so majestic and foreboding. You would’ve never imagined you’d one day be hiking up them like this.

“This is going to be a long trip, isn't it?” You sigh heavily, already feeling your legs getting sore. You had never walk for this long, let alone treaded up mountains. You vaguely wonder how Jungkook can carry everything he is and not feel tired.

“I prefer to call it a quest.”

You burst into laughter. “A quest?”

“Sounds more fun that way” He grins.

“How do you know all of this?” You’re suddenly hit with the urge to inquire, having forgotten to ask him how he had planned such a big move.

“All of what?” He smiles playfully, verging on mischievous.

“About the lands beyond my father’s empire.” You gesture to the endless plains below, the farmlands and rice paddies, all the way to where the celestial sky meets the earth. “Ever since I was young, my mother had always told me all the lands beneath this sky belonged to my family, or at least will eventually once all the states are united.”

You hear him chuckle lightly. “I read about it once. In a book I found in the forbidden library. Don’t ask how I got there. I was five and there was a secret passage.” He grins to himself as he recalls the foggy memory.

“And ever since then, you’ve wanted to run away?”

“Oh, no” He shakes his head, laughing even harder. “I was way to scared to do that…” He falls silent. “…until I met you…”

…

Days pass so naturally, you lose track of time.

The mountains are endless, but the world is breathtaking. You visit quint little villages with children running around, bustling towns full of goods from across the land, and quite farms that extend for miles on end. You travel through various forest filled with the unique scents of varying flora, past grasslands that ripple in the wind, along rivers leading to vast lakes and spectacular waterfalls, witnessing the raw beauty that had been denied to you all your life; places you would’ve never gotten to see had you not chosen to run away with him, and for that you are already eternally grateful.

Sometimes you find him observing the wild flowers on the side of the road, braiding their stems together and creating colorful bracelets that he’s always ecstatic to gift you. Most of all, you liked to watch him when he didn’t know you were there, admiring the care and concentration he pours into anything he does. You’ve memorized the way his eyebrows are knitted and pupils are trained on the object in his hands, almost able to feel the force of his devotion even as a bystander.

You had never seen a man take the time to create something so delicate, something that required so much patience to come to fruition. Your brothers and all the royal men you’ve met in your life had glorified activities such as sword fighting, archery, and horseback riding while poking fun of weaving and braiding as things only suited for women and the weak. But here you were presented with a man who has proven his strength time and time again take part in such a meticulous act while genuinely enjoying the process.

You’ve grown up learning that men were aggressive, controlling and assertive, but Jungkook was affectionate, compassionate, and gentle. He is the rain that showers the earth with love in the form of liquid crystals, the sun that rises each morning without fail, the soft wind that whispers secrets in your ear. He is an open book that invites you to read and turns out to be a story you can never forget.

You are lying in his arms late one evening, hidden under the arbors of giant trees, when a random thought strikes you.

“Are we any different from criminals now that we’ve essentially broken the law?”

Jungkook hums softly. “Well, I am not a prince anymore, and you are not a princess.”

“We are just commoners then?” You draw circles on his chest, calmed by the motion of his breathing.

“Hmm, I think lost stars would be a more accurate description.”

“Lost stars?”

He points at an opening between the branches, exposing the sky that is now a dark expanse dotted with gems. It’s a view you had never spent enough time looking at, but now that you are, it’s mesmerizing.

“They are so far apart, and yet from here, they look like they are right next to each other, mingling in a place that would be empty without their light.” He turns to cradle you in his arms, an action you are more than willing to welcome.

His body is so warm that you didn’t realize how cold you were until his skin came into contact with yours. Your eyelids are heavy, and you have to fight the slumber that is trying to overcome you. You want to stay awake, to listen to his soothing voice tell you more about the stars, but it’s a battle you cannot win.

Your last thought is not tainted by the fear that he might be gone the next morning because you know you will wake up in his arms. You don’t think you’ll ever be more certain of anything.

…

The cool blue sky merging with the warm glow of the orange sunset is a color combination engraved in your heart.

Along with the mountains casting shadows over the grasslands and the sound of roaring waterfalls that never falter, it is a continuous reminder that this moment had not stilled and that the world is still in motion. Time is flowing like the stream that weaves through the valley, and your heart has never felt so full.

You let your eyes settle on the man standing next to you, his lips glistening from the waning light, hair ruffling in the breeze. He is engrossed by the scenery, but you are enchanted by the sunset reflected in his eyes.

It almost makes you feel guilty for not fully appreciating the beauty that surrounds you in a moment as rare as this, but he is too captivating, the way his features fully capture the essence of the splendor you have soaked in for the past few weeks.

Tracing along the outline of his profile, your breath hitches when he suddenly turns to catch you staring at him. His lips curve upwards matching the dreamy look in his eyes and the faint flush of his cheeks.

You forget to take your next breath as he leans in, irises previously reflecting the sun now reflecting the most dazzling image of you.

“May I?” He whispers, his lips already lightly brushing yours.

You nod, closing your eyes when he presses his lips deeply against yours, sending shock waves running up your body. You can feel his hands secure your waist, making sure you don’t lose your balance. There is no urgency in his movement, no unhinged desire displayed by his tongue, but instead the action is coated with a tenderness that speaks of unbroken promises. It’s calm like the sunset that was slowing fading, flickering like the stars that were gradually appearing, and delicate much like the way he braids flowers.

And it is there on the edge of a cliff overlooking the land beneath the earth’s sky, that you share your first and last kiss with Prince Jeon Jungkook.

…

Maybe you had underestimated the power of your father’s army, or maybe this was fate’s way of punishing you for breaking the rules.

You can feel his hand gripping yours as the two of you run as fast as your legs can carry you, and you know he can get away if you just let go, if you just stopped and turned yourself in. The imperial soldiers were really only after you, and maybe if you gave in now, they would spare Prince Jeon’s life and let him flee.

“J-Jung-Kook” You croak between your heavy breathing and your quick glances to check if the men on horseback were closing in. You allow your hold on his hand to loosen.

“I- know what you’re-thinking” He says, gripping your hand even tighter, preventing you from making the sacrifice you had been mulling over.

His words are reassuring, but there’s an undertone of desperation that hints at something more. You don’t have the time or concentration to figure out what it is, but your ears are thankfully sharp enough to pick up his last plea.

“Please, never let go of me” It’s barely a whisper, and you almost think you are hallucinating when you see him turn to set his eyes on you one last time. Those glassy orbs never fail to make your heart skip a beat, upturned lips unfitting of the situation you were in, but nevertheless providing the exact kind of comfort you need.

It’s a kind of smile you hadn’t seen on him before, one that isn’t easy to decipher because it wasn’t making an appearance due to joy or relief or even for the purpose of soothing the tension in your chest. Instead, its manifestation makes you feel a sense of familiarity that does not stem from however long you’ve known him, but more….

More…

What is it?

…

...

“What happened to him?”

“Hmm?”

“The prince” Namjoon clarifies.

“Oh, he…” You see a flash of red, the sound of horse hooves thumping against the ground, the shouts of men on horseback, arrows zipping through the air, and a deafening cry of pain. “He and I lived happily ever after.” You force yourself to smile, despite knowing that it’s a lie.

Namjoon remains still, and you’re afraid he read past your fabrication. “That’s nice.” He murmurs, smiling to himself and looking at the ground.

You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. It’s become a habit of yours-convincing yourself to believe in something you know didn’t happen. And it’s not that you weren’t a fan of sad endings, in fact, you’ve always enjoyed stories that made you cry because they were always more memorable that way. But knowing that it was he who met a tragic end was just too…heartbreaking.

“Is it enough to know he only exists in your mind?”

Namjoon’s abrupt question echoes through the lab and disturbs your silent thoughts. You look up to see that he is on his computer; analyzing your brain recordings from the session you just came out of. It takes you a moment to register and come up with a proper response, but you manage to form an honest answer.

“I’ve been convincing myself it is for years.” You exhale fondly, reminded of how hard it was for you to accept the truth and how it still lives as embroidered scar in the center of your heart. The fact that he doesn’t exist is something you’re glad you finally came to terms with because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to do what you do now.

In the past, the thought of him not being real was painfully depressing, leaving you distraught every time you thought about him and how wonderful it would be if he existed in reality. At one point, instead of making you grateful that you could at least feel that sort of happiness in your mind, it became draining and upsetting, always being tangled in wishes that would never come true. It was a difficult time, being in your mid-twenties, so lost in life, both in terms of your career and family. With everyone around you trying to give you unasked for advice, none of it being even remotely helpful because no one understood that you didn’t really want any of that.

And there you were, longing for someone you could barely put a name or face to. It’s ridiculous to think about now, but it’s a past you can’t deny. Luckily, you’ve found your way to a healthier state of mind.

“Do you ever wonder if he’s someone you might’ve met in real life?” Namjoon has turned to peer at you now, expectantly waiting for a response.

You pause, holding his gaze for a bit longer than usual. “I can’t think of a single person he’s even similar to. He’s too perfect.” You chuckle to yourself, feeling like a teenage girl talking about her crush.

“I mean, even in dreams, do you ever see people that you’ve never seen in real life?” Namjoon furrows his brows. “There has to be a source that all of this stems from.”

“My childish fantasies?” You continue laughing, and even Namjoon is forced to smile, shaking his head.

“Tell me more about it.” He walks over and pulls up a chair in front of you, folding his hands and placing them gentle on his lap as if he were waiting to listen to a lengthy story.

“About what? About him?” You cock a brow, finding it peculiar that he’s so interested in your adventures, but he always has been.

“About everything.”

You lay back down on the metal surface, staring at the ceiling. “When I’m in these sessions, I’m not consciously aware that I am and that none of it is real. I meet him for the first time every single time, and yet there is no incongruity in my mind or my memories. It’s like everything is wiped clean, and I start off on a blank slate. I just get this visceral feeling of familiarity and it’s so vague and weak, I just ignore it.” You purse your lips, digging for the right description. “The series of events are already planned, and I can’t change anything even though it feels like I have control over my decisions. I’m actually just living through a story that is already written. There are sessions where I only spend a single day with him others where it spans over the course of years, and yet each one has never felt short of a lifetime.”

“Does he look and act the same every time?”

You shake your head, closing your eyes and trying desperately to recall his face, but you can’t see him. It’s a blank canvas.

“He different depending on the story…but there’s just something about him that doesn’t change. And I can’t describe what it is, but it’s the reason I can recognize him in every scenario no matter what character he plays.” You sigh. “Well, I guess he always looks more or less the same. Maybe with a different hair color, or different clothes perhaps…” You chuckle under your breath, attempting to conjure that heart fluttering feeling you get when you see his physical appearance. “Am I superficial for making him absolutely beautiful?”

The corner of Namjoon’s lip twitches upward as he shakes his head. “No, not at all.”

“But, I think…I think I could recognize him even if I were blind.” You trail the patterns on the ceiling, zoning out ever so slightly. “He’s the only person that can hear me. And in the end it's always almost as if he knows, but at the same time it’s impossible for that to be true. And I know it’s just something that has to do with the way my brain constructs the whole scenario, but I just can’t seem to get over that look in his eyes. I know it’s not real, none of it is, but in that moment, he is the closest thing to reality.”

“What in reality is the closest thing to him then?” Namjoon’s question induces your vision to refocus.

“I don't know. There isn’t anything.” You answer without giving it much thought.

“Then tell me this, Professor Y/L/N,” He diverts his gaze to window overlooking the university campus; the colorful autumn leaves littering the lawns. “Can you accurately imagine a feeling you’ve never felt before?”

His inquiry catches you off guard. “Are you trying to convince me I’m wrong to believe the human mind is as boundless as it is?” You turn to face him.

“No” He shakes his head. “I’m merely…curious. I find it fascinating that the subconscious mind has such powerful abilities…I also find it hard to believe that a women like you has remained single all these years.”

You can see the hint of rosiness staining his cheeks, but his expression speaks of nothing but admiration and respect. “I have long past those days of receiving such flattering comments. But thank you.”

He smiles widely, a pair of dimples forming where the rosiness once was.

...

#bts fanfic #jungkook fanfic #networkbangtan #armiesnet #bts scenarios #bts imagines #jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #bts angst #jungkook x reader #royal au #scifi

89 notes · View notes

catholic-rosary-beads · 5 years

Text

New Post has been published on Rosary Bay

New Post has been published on https://www.rosarybay.com/mary-immaculate-queen.html

How to Enthrone Mary Immaculate Queen in Your Home And Consecrate Your Family to Her

On October 11, 1954, His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical letter, Ad Caeli Reginam, decreed and instituted the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be celebrated throughout the world every year on May 31. Likewise, he decreed that on that day “there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

Mary Immaculate Queen

Mary Immaculate Queen, with all the emblems of her royalty

Her cloak, with its border of ermine, envelopes the earth and denotes sovereign majesty.

The sceptre in her right hand, which she holds slightly inclined in token of mercy, affirms her power and authority.

The dazzling whiteness of her garments, and also of the lily lying at her feet, evokes her virginal purity.

The side of her cloak turned towards men is the color of dawn and speaks to them of hope.

The rosary she wears invites us to prayer, and the roses adorning the large beads are symbolic of her boundless love.

She moves forward on the sphere, which represents the world, to meet her children in order to assist them in their trials; yet her feet do but glide over the earth as a reminder that this world is but a passage leading to the Eternal Homeland.

How to Enthrone Mary Immaculate Queen in Your Home And Consecrate Your Family to Her

A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary or an icon of Mary should be blessed; If convenient, ask a priest to perform the ceremony, otherwise the head of the family leads the consecration. Prepare her altar with flowers and ideally beeswax candles, giving her an honored place in your home where all will see her and often pray to her. By choosing to enthrone Mary as Queen of our home, we wish to allow her to take over our lives, so the She may teach us to receive God’s grace and make of us true sons and daughters of the Church.

Follow the Steps and Recite Prayers Together (kneeling):

Imprimi potest: + Michael Epus Galviensis, 4 June, 1966

1. Act of Contrition

O MY GOD, I am heartily sorry for offending Thee. And I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the fires of hell, but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

2. Hail Mary (Three times) or recite/sing The Angelicus.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3 Glory be (Three times)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

4. Invocation (Three times)

Mary Immaculate Queen: Triumph and Reign

5. Act of Consecration

O Mary Immaculate Queen, glorious Queen of the Universe, most powerful Virgin, merciful Mother of a merciful God and refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to thy Royal and Immaculate Heart.

It is through thee that Jesus Christ our King has come into the world to save it. It is also through thee that He is to reign over the world.

In order to obtain this great benefit for ourselves and all mankind, we come to thy feet to consecrate to thee our persons, our lives, all that we are, all that we have, all that we love. Keep us, enlighten us, dispose of us, reign over us.

May all hearts and all homes willingly proclaim thee as their Immaculate Queen.

6. Prayer

O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. Thou know our misery and our weakness. O Thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.

Jesus has confided to thee the treasure of His Grace, and through Thee He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, thy children come to Thee as their hope.

We recognize thy Queenship and ardently desire thy triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother’s Heart. Thou art for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In thy clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, Thou Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen.

Amen.

2 notes · View notes

les-eaux-d-eunoe-blog · 6 years

Text

Comment réciter le chapelet ? How to pray the rosary in English and French

(img source)

I love the rosary.

It’s a beautiful form of meditation through repetition and intention.

I’ve had some very powerful feelings of peace, joy, and strangely, self acceptance, during my several attempts at praying it. I recommend it to anyone. You don’t even have to be Catholic.

As I’m trying to practice French in some form each day, I thought memorizing the more common prayers of the rosary in the language of a country that is historically heavily Catholic would be lovely, especially since my time in France played a role in my own initial interest in Catholicism.

Rosary Basics

If you are new to the rosary, here’s a quick rundown on how it works:

The rosary is composed of a cross or crucifix and a series of beads, each of which represents a prayer.

It helps to hold each bead as you move through the rosary. This allows you to keep track of where you are without counting, so you can focus on meditation.

That part dangling down to the cross? That’s where you’ll begin. You work your way up from the cross, then around the neck. You can move either clockwise or counter clockwise, it doesn’t really matter.

When you get to the main loop, there are five sets of beads, organized into what are called “decades.” For each decade first you’ll set your intention, which is to meditate on one of the Mysteries of the life of Christ (more on that later.) You can also additionally set your own intention here and add your own prayer.

Say the Rosary / Réciter le chapelet

Here’s how to work your way through the rosary and the corresponding prayers:

1. Make the sign of the cross. Faire un signe de croix.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Au nom du Père et du Fils, et du Saint-Esprit, Amen !

Say the Apostle’s Creed. Réciter du symbol des apôtres:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Je crois en Dieu, le Père tout-puissant, Créateur du ciel et de la terre. Et en Jésus-Christ, son Fils unique, notre Seigneur ; qui a été conçu du Saint-Esprit, est né de la Vierge Marie, a souffert sous Ponce Pilate, a été crucifié, est mort et a été enseveli, est descendu aux enfers ; le troisième jour est ressuscité des morts, est monté aux cieux, est assis à la droite de Dieu le Père tout-puissant, d’où il viendra juger les vivants et les morts. Je crois en l’Esprit Saint, à la sainte Église catholique, à la communion des saints, à la rémission des péchés, à la résurrection de la chair, à la vie éternelle. Amen.

2. Our Father / Un Notre Père

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Notre Père, qui est aux cieux, que ton nom soit sanctifié, que ton règne vienne, que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel. Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain de ce jour. Pardonne-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous ont offensés. Et ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation mais délivre-nous du Mal. Amen.

3. Say 3 Hail Marys, one for each bead. Réciter 3 "Je vous salue Marie," une pour chaque perle.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Je vous salue, Marie pleine de grâce ; Le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes, Et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles, est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, Priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs, Maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen

4. Conclude with Glory Be and Oh My Jesus. Each decade also closes with these prayers. Concluez avec “Glorie au Père” et “O Mon Jésus.” Chaque dizaine se termine également avec ces prières

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Gloire au Père et au Fils, et au Saint-Esprit, comme il était au commencement, maintenant et toujours, et dans les siècles des siècles. Amen

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.

O mon Jésus, pardonne-nous nos péchés, préserve-nous du feu de l'enfer et conduis au ciel toutes les petit âmes surtout celles qui ont le plus besoin de ta miséricorde.

5. (& 9, 10, 11 12) Now, the meditation on the mysteries begin. Puis la méditation des mystères commence.

For each decade, begin by announcing the Mystery (they’re listed below,) then say the Our Father (see Nº 2.) Pour chaque dizaine, commencez par annoncer le mystère (ils sont énumérés ci-dessous), puis dites le Notre Père (Nº 2.)

6. Recite 10 Hail Marys (see Nº 3), following the beads. Récitez 10 “Je vous salue Marie" (Nº 3,) en suivant les perles.

7 & 8. Conclude each decade with Glory Be and Oh My Jesus before moving on to the next decade. Concluez chaque dizaine avec “Glorie au Père” et “O Mon Jésus” avant de passer à la prochaine dizaine.

13. After all the decades are complete, finish the sequence with a Hail Holy Queen, followed by a final prayer or the sign of the cross. À la fin, terminez la séquence avec un Hail Holy Queen, suivi d'une prière finale ou du signe de la croix.

Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

Nous vous saluons, Reine, Mere de misericorde, notre vie, notre joie, notre esperance, salut. Enfants d'Eve, nous crions vers vous de fond de notre exil. Nous soupirons vers vous, gemissant et pleurant dans cette vallee de larmes. O vous notre advocate, tournez vers nous vos regards misericordieux. Et apres l'exil de cette vie, montrez nous Jesus, le fruit beni de vos entrailles, tendre, aimante, douce vierge Marie. Priez pour nous, sainte Mere de Dieu. Afin que nous devenions dignes des promesses de Jesus Christ. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Prions: O Dieu dont le Fils unique, par sa vie, sa mort et sa resurrection, nous a merite, les recompenses du salut eternel, faites que, meditant ses mysteres dans le tres saint Rosaire de la bienheureuse Vierge Marie, nous mettions a profit les lescons qu'ils contiennent afin d'obtenir ce qu'ils nous font esperer. Par la meme Jesus-Christ, votre Fils notre Seigneur. Amen.

The Mysteries

For each decade, you’ll reflect on 1 of 5 certain events of Jesus’ life, depending on the day of the week. I usually like to pull up a classic painting of the event before I announce it, and look at it while I recite the Hail Marys.

Joyful Monday & Saturday | Mystères joyeux Lundi & samedi

The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Birth of Jesus, The Presentation in the Temple, Finding of Jesus in the Temple

L'Annonciation, La Visitation, La Naissance de Jésus, La Présentation au Temple, Le Recouvrement au Temple Sorrowful Tuesday & Friday | Mystères douloureux Mardi & vendredi

Agony the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning of Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, The Crucifixion

L'Agonie de Jésus, La Flagellation, Le Couronnement d'épines, Le Portement de la Croix, Le Crucifiement

Glorious Wednesday & Sunday | Mystères glorieux Mercredi & dimanche

Resurrection of Jesus, The Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Coronation of Mary

La Résurrection de Jésus, L'Ascension, La Pentecôte, L'Assomption de la Saint-Vierge Maria, Le Couronnement de la Saint-Vierge Maria

Luminous Thursday | Mystères luminex Jeudi

Baptism of the Lord, Wedding Feast at Cana, Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven, The Transfiguration, Institution of the Eucharist

Baptême du Christ, Noces de Cana, Proclamation du Royaume, Transfiguration, L'institution de l'Eucharistie

Learn more about the mysteries here.

So there you have it! How to pray the rosary in both English and French.

I’m not a native speaker, so I almost certainly made some mistakes. Absolutely correct me if you notice any. :)

#langblr #french #french catholicism #français #catholicism #catholic church #catechumenate #roman catholicism #studyblr #french studyblr #french prayer #hail mary #rosary #chaplet #le rosaire #mother mary

13 notes · View notes