#Imagine everyone wearing a masquerade mask and dancing

[namichanth]

Dc x Dp prompt #13

When Danny became the Ghost King. There will be a celebration for the Ghost King’s accession to the throne at his new castle in infinite realms.

But the problem is that he needs a partner for the opening dance.

So he goes ask his girl/boyfriend to be his partner.

[serpentandlily]

Mystique - Azriel x Reader

Mystique - Azriel x Reader

Summary: When the whole family is dragged to the new ballet show in Velaris, Mystique, Azriel never imagined a mating bond snapping into place...but as soon as she stepped on stage, he knew his life was about to change forever.

Warnings: mention of strict dieting of a dancer

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Going to see a ballet show was not how Azriel planned to spend his Saturday night, or any night really. Arts and theater were not something he was usually interested in. But Feyre had begged the whole family to go, claiming she had bought a private booth in the gallery for them to watch their opening night show. 

Elain had been the first to agree, so he followed along. If only to spend some time with her, to watch her face light up as she watched the performance. 

Mystique. That was the name of the show they were seeing tonight. He had no idea what it was about or what to expect. But he didn’t care. Not as he snagged the seat next to Elain and brushed his fingers against hers as she gave him a secret smile. 

The lights had dimmed and the audience fell quiet. It was a full house tonight, no seat below in the orchestra empty. Even the other private booths in the gallery were filled with rich nobles. 

He understood the name of the ballet once it started. All the dancers were wearing masquerade masks. That was about the only interesting thing about it. His eyes flickered from the stage to Elain every so often, more enthralled with her than the dancers. 

But then she came on stage. The main dancer partnered with some male. Her costume was a light pink, bejeweled with gems and flowers, with a tutu that showed off her long legs. It was the gleam of the jewels that had caught his attention, shining brightly in the faelights. 

And then his eyes had drifted up, to the pink mask that matched the costume and the dancer beneath it. 

He knew she was special the moment he laid eyes on her. Not because of the elegant, graceful way she moved on stage, or how she seemed to have captured the rapt attention of the audience. No, she was special because she was her. 

His eyes didn’t leave her figure after that. Constantly following her movements as she danced around the stage alongside the male and the other dancers, always standing out. 

When the show ended and the performers came out for applause and shouts from the house, he knew his life was about to change forever.

Because when she came out holding hands with her partner, bowing before the crowd masks off, a gold thread from his chest unraveled and the mating bond snapped into place. 

If it wasn’t for his years of training, of all the time he perfected his craft as the spymaster, he wouldn’t have been able to keep such a cool demeanor. He gave no indication to his family, said nothing as the dancers disappeared behind the curtains and everyone rose to leave.

“That was beautiful!” Elain chirped from next to him and he almost jumped. He had forgotten she was there. 

All he could think about was her. The dancer. His mate. His beautiful, beautiful mate. 

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱ 

Opening night had been a success and the second show had gone off without a hitch as well. Your legs and feet were so sore as you made your way back to the dressing rooms with the other gaggle of girls, already yanking the pins out of your hair. 

You rubbed at your scalp, soothing the tightness from the bun your hair had been in, as you walked up to your mirror on the long vanity table. You paused for a moment at the sight of a single rose lying beneath the mirror on the table. That had definitely not been there at the beginning of the show tonight.

You picked it up, twirling the stem in your fingers. The faintest scent still clinging to it was foreign from the sweet smell of rose. A hint of cedar and night-chilled mist, a very masculine smell. 

“What’s that?” your friend, Lena, asked, peering over your shoulder at the rose in your hand. 

“I’m not sure,” you mumbled.  

“Oooohhh,” some of the girls around you giggled and your cheeks turned pink at all the attention. “Are you hiding a male from us, y/n?”

You shook your head. “No, no. It must’ve been for one of the other girls. Probably didn’t know which mirror was hers.”

Your dismissal had the other girls turning back around, no longer interested now that there was no gossip to be shared. You wished you knew who the rose was for so you could give it to her but there was no note or anything—just that faint smell. 

The next night you were met with another rose beneath your mirror. You frowned as all the girls giggled behind you. Had the male still not realized his girlfriend had never gotten his rose?

“I think you might have a secret admirer,” Lena said, grinning at you.

“I don’t think so. Maybe we should all label our mirrors,” you suggested. “I’d hate for these roses to keep going to the wrong girl.”

“I think Lena is right,” one of the other girls said. “I think y/n has a secret admirer!”

You rolled your eyes, plopping down in your chair to start the long process of ripping the pins from your hair and taking off your stage make-up. “How would they even know where I sat? And a stranger would never be allowed back here.”

“Let’s do what you said then and write our names on the mirrors. Then we can find out who’s the true owner of the roses,” Lena said. She pulled out a tube of lipstick and wrote her name on the corner of the mirror before spreading the lipstick on her lips and kissing the spot she had just signed.

She handed the tube of lipstick over to you and you laughed, doing the same as her. 

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

"Alright, it's official. Y/n has a secret admirer!"

Your mouth dropped open as the group of girls giggling around your mirror parted and you saw another red rose on the vanity. You picked it up carefully, glancing up at your mirror to make sure your name was still written there.

The girls around you were still giggling, some making kissy noises as your cheeks lit up with embarrassment. That scent was clinging to the rose, the cedar and night-chilled mist. You took a small inhale, finding the smell to be so tantalizing. 

"Any idea who it could be?" Lena asked from beside you.

You shook your head. "No, it's not like I've had time to go out between rehearsals and the show. I haven't met anyone new in the past few months."

It was true. Your mother, one of the ballet teachers here in Velaris, kept you on a tight leash. Between classes, rehearsals and show nights, you didn't go out. Mother always said anything else was a distraction and that ballet involved sacrifices if you wanted to be a principal dancer. A role you had finally landed this season, which meant you were even more busy.

Besides, you hadn't ever been with a male like that. You had barely just turned twenty and had spent your whole childhood in ballet studios with your mother. The males that were part of those classes usually swung for the other team and the few that were into girls were usually snatched up quickly by the others. 

"How do you think he's even getting into the dressing rooms?" you mumbled to Lena, who shrugged before a mischievous grin spread on her face.

"Maybe we should ask one of the understudies to hang around here during the next show so they can catch him in the act. I'm dying to know who it is," she said.

"Not a bad idea," one of the other girls chimed in. 

"I’ll ask Helena. She's still nursing her sore ankle from her fall,” you replied, placing the rose into your satchel to take home. Pretty soon you’d have a whole bouquet.

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

“No one?! But how is that even possible?”

You stared at the new rose on the vanity before you. Helena had stalked out the dressing room but she claimed no one had ever entered.

“I don’t know, but I’m telling you, no one came in here,” Helena said back to Lena.

“And you stayed in here the whole time?”

Helena rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, I stepped out at one point to talk to Nicholas but I swear, my eyes were on the door the whole time! No one went in or came out!”

“Maybe they winnowed?” One of the girls suggested.

You shook your head. “This place is warded from that. Set up by our High Lord himself. There’s no way someone could break through those.”

“Perhaps we have a phantom on our hands,” one of the other girls laughed. “A romantic with a crush on y/n.”

All the girls fell into a fit of giggles as your cheeks turned bright red. You scowled at them, feeling a little embarrassed. 

Maybe someone was pulling a prank on you? But who would do that? You didn’t think any of the girls would be that cruel but…

Your mind was not going to rest until you found out who was putting these roses here. 

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

The next day you were rushing through the very busy streets of Velaris, trying to get to the ballet studio. You had slept in on accident and you were going to be late for rehearsal, something that might lead to your understudy taking over your role. Ballet teachers were strict like that, would see being late as a lack of self discipline and an uncaring attitude.

You sprinted around a corner only to smack right into the chest of someone. You let out a gasp, your ballet bag falling to the floor along with your folder full of sheet music for the pianist. 

“Watch where you’re going!” The Fae you had run into hissed, stepping over the strewn papers on the floor.

You were definitely going to be late now. You bit your lip, trying to fight back tears as you bent down and started to collect everything. You were so in your head that you didn’t notice the person kneeling in front of you until they were holding out a stack of the music sheets for you. 

“Thank you so much!” You said quickly, grabbing the papers and looking up to see who had stopped to help you.

Your eyes widened at the sight of the most beautiful male you had ever laid eyes on. His piercing hazel eyes bore into yours, his dark hair brushing against his forehead as he looked down at you, despite both of you kneeling on the ground. Giant wings sprouted from his back, hiding the sight of the bustling crowd. 

“Are you okay?” 

His voice was dark, just like the shadows that were now curling around his shoulders. Your breath caught in your throat as you realized who he was. The shadowsinger. One of the fae in Rhysand’s inner court. 

You cleared your throat when you realized you had been staring at him for a minute too long, your cheeks turning pink.

You shoved the papers back into the folder and grabbed your bag off the ground, standing back up. “Yes, thank you, I’m fine. It was my fault anyways. I was rushing because I’m late for rehearsal and my mother is going to kill me if I lose my role and—”

You shut your mouth as you realized you had started rambling. To his credit, Azriel didn’t seem annoyed. No, he looked more concerned as he stared down at you and Gods, now you were realizing how tall he was. 

“Sorry, I’m rambling. I’m y/n,” you said, hugging your folder against your chest. “You’re Azriel, right, the spymaster?”

He nodded in answer, his shadows dancing on his shoulders. 

“Would you like me to take you wherever it is you need to go? I can get you there faster.”

You were still mesmerized by his elegant beauty; he was so devastating to look at. You hadn’t even heard a word he had just said. Gods, you were absolutely embarrassing yourself. “Huh?”

He seemed amused now, faint color on his cheeks. “I asked if you would like me to take you wherever you need to go. My shadows let me travel faster than most fae.”

“Oh please, if you could! I just need to get to the ballet studio.”

You didn’t have time to deny his request, didn’t think twice of it through the panic of running late. He held out his arm for you and you placed your hand in the crevice of his elbow. His shadows surrounded you both until you were in complete darkness. 

It was a different feeling than winnowing, something you still had yet to learn how to do. But the feeling of traveling through Azriel’s shadows was slightly calming. 

Not a second later, the two of you appeared in front of the ballet studio, saving you the ten minute walk. You let out a breath of relief knowing that you weren’t going to be late anymore.

“Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver!” you chimed, untangling your arm from his. 

He gave you a small dip of the head when suddenly a familiar scent washed over you. It took you a second to place it but…No, it couldn’t be, right? It wasn’t the same smell as the one that lingered on the roses?

But that cedar and night-chilled mist smell was unmistakable.

Azriel was disappearing in a swarm of shadows when you waved a hand at him, shouting at him to wait so you could ask him about the roses but he vanished from view, leaving you standing on the side of the street alone with a million questions running through your head.

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

Another week went by and still every night after the show, a rose was waiting for you at your vanity. The same scent of cedar and night-chilled mist still faintly clinging to them. You hadn’t seen Azriel again since that day and part of you was certain you had mistakenly thought he smelled like the mysterious stranger leaving you roses. 

You were stretching your feet out, getting ready to do your warm-up before the show when the Head Teacher walked in, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Listen up, girls!” she shouted so everyone could hear her. “I have an important announcement to make. The High Lady loved our show so much she’s inviting the entirety of the Royal Ballet to a dinner at The House of Wind to celebrate our hard work. This is an honor and I expect you all to treat it as such. Next rehearsal, you all need to bring a dress that you plan to wear to the dinner so they can be approved by me. Now, back to work, girls!” 

As soon as she left the room, the chattering began. Everyone was excited about the news, mostly to have an excuse to dress up but your thoughts were stuck on the shadowsinger, at the chance to see him again and as weird as it sounded, see if his scent matched the stranger who was leaving you roses. 

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

You stared at yourself in the mirror, twirling around. Your mother had picked your dress like the controlling person she was, but for once, you actually liked her choice. It was a light pink gown, with a long A line tulle skirt and a corseted bodice with off the shoulder straps. The fabric was covered with stars that shined like diamonds and some pearl detailing. 

“Come, y/n,” your mother called out from the living room of the apartment you both lived in. “We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now.” 

You met the rest of the girls at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the House of Wind. The High Lord and Lady had assured you guys that transportation up to the House would be provided. The girls were all giggling with anticipation, gossiping together about what to expect. 

Four winged figures swept down in front of your group. The High Lord was one of them, dressed finely in all black with his huge wings held high behind him. The High Lady was next to him, dressed in dark blue harem pants with a matching crop top, both decorated with sparkling jewels. The General, Cassian, stood behind them wearing his Illyrian leathers, arms crossed with a friendly smile on his face.

And lastly, the Spymaster. He stood next to his fellow Illyrian, also in his leathers, and looked just as devastatingly beautiful as that day he had taken you to the ballet studio. His wings were giant, even more so than the other three, making him look like a dark angel. Your cheeks turned pink as his gaze met yours and you bit your lip, looking away. 

“Ladies,” the High Lord purred in greeting. “We are pleased that you accepted our invitation. The House of Wind is warded against winnowing, so we are here to fly you up. It is a short flight, but if any of you are uncomfortable with the idea, we will try to accommodate you.” 

You watched as the girls exchanged looks with each other, giggling and turning a bit red at the idea. You found your eyes going back to the shadowsinger, jolting as you realized he was still staring at you. Something jumped in your chest, causing your pulse to spike. 

“Now, who wants to be the first to go?” The High Lord stepped forward and held out his hand. 

Lena winked at you and was the first to volunteer. The High Lady also held out her hand with a smile. “I can also fly some of you up. I promise I’m just as strong as the boys.” 

Slowly, one by one, the girls from your company paired with the four winged faes, letting them fly them up to the House. It was a quick process; Rhysand hadn’t lied when he said it was a short flight. You hung around in the back of the group, feeling a bit nervous as you watched them disappear into the sky each time. 

You had never been that high up in the air before, a bit of anxiety curling in your stomach. 

“Lady,” the General was in front of you now and you realized you were one of the only girls left to go. “Are you ready to be flown up?”

He held out a hand to you but you bit your lip, looking up at the House of Wind again. “I-I’m just a bit nervous.” 

“It’ll be over quick, I promise,” he grinned, trying to settle your nerves. 

You hesitated again and suddenly the Spymaster was there, gently nudging his brother to the side. Cassian glanced at him in question. 

“I’ll take her, Cass,” Azriel said, looking at you. Something about his hazel eyes had your shoulders falling. “I can use my shadows so she doesn’t have to fly.” 

That seemed like enough of an explanation for Cassian because he stepped aside and moved on to the next girl who was still waiting. 

“Your shadows can get past the wards?” you asked, curiously. You glanced at the shadows that seemed to be dancing around his shoulders. 

“Yes, they can,” he answered simply. Azriel held out his arm to you, just as he had that day. You took it gently and waited for the shadows to cover you.

If his shadows could get past the wards of one of the High Lord’s residences, then they could absolutely get past the ones around the theater’s dressing rooms. Which could mean he really was the stranger leaving you roses. 

“I just want you to know I didn’t want to fly not because your wings scare me but because of the height,” you said, feeling the need to make that clear. Azriel glanced down at you with an unreadable expression and you suddenly felt even more nervous. “In fact, I think your wings are quite beautiful and I would never—”

You closed your mouth sharply, realizing that you were both rambling again and also that you guys were now in the dining room, where everyone else was taking a seat. You blushed and stepped away from him. “Thank you.”

He dipped his head and gestured towards the dining table without a word. You gave him a nervous smile as you scurried past him and to the seat next to where your mother was sitting, already saving you a chair. As you passed by him, you were met with that scent again. The cedar and night-chilled mist. 

This time it was so unmistakable that you whirled around to look at him. But he had disappeared already, likely helping the remaining girls down below. You let out a sigh and continued on your way to your seat. 

When everyone was accounted for, Azriel slid into the seat across from you and you had to keep your eyes glued to your plate to stop yourself from blatantly staring at him. Should you find a moment to ask him about the roses? Should you let him come to you? Or maybe he had been leaving the roses for you as a favor for a friend? That theory almost made more sense because the idea of the shadowsinger leaving you roses seemed so far-fetched. 

All throughout dinner you managed to sneak glances at Azriel as you ate. You joined in the conversations around you but noticed that the shadowsinger didn’t talk that much, seeming much more content in just observing. 

Once everyone seemed done with dinner, the High Lord snapped his fingers and it was all replaced by a huge spread of different desserts. Cakes, pastries, custards, tarts. Everything you could imagine. You didn’t get to indulge in sweets much, your mother was strict about your diet to keep you in shape as a dancer, so your eyes lit up at the sight. 

You started to reach for the closest thing to you, a tiny fruit tart, but your mother slapped your hand with a hiss under her breath, “You’ve had enough to eat tonight. You know the rule about sweets.”

Your brows furrowed, upset. You placed your hands on your lap under the table, nodding. “Sorry, mother.” 

She pressed her lips together and placed her napkin on her own empty plate. Your eyes lingered on what looked like a peach pie, longingly. You felt a ping of envy as you watched all the other girls trying everything. 

“You should try the pie.” Azriel’s voice had your head whipping up and his eyes connected with yours. “It’s the High Lady’s favorite.”

You glanced at your mother, opening your mouth to politely decline but she cut you off. 

“Well, go on,” she said, nodding towards the pie. “Don’t insult them by not eating any.” 

You ground your teeth together, turning a bit pink. As if she hadn’t been the one to literally stop you from having any just a second ago. You looked back at Azriel, noting the way a muscle in his jaw clenched, and nodded your head. 

“I will, thank you,” you said, eagerly taking a slice of the pie. 

It was delectable and you nearly moaned as you ate it. A small smile lit up your face as you tried it. 

“The High Lady has good taste,” you said to Azriel, who was still staring at you. “The pie is delicious.” 

He gave you the smallest of smiles and it warmed something in your chest. 

Once everyone was finished eating, the High Lord cleared the table and moved everyone towards the large sitting room. There were some servants walking around with champagne and wine, which kept the party going steady. It was exciting to be able to socialize like this and you were having a good time, especially now that you didn’t have to be glued to your mother’s side. 

Your eyes roamed the room, trying to find the shadowsinger. The glass of champagne you had made you feel a bit more brave. You wanted to talk to him, wanted to ask him about the roses. It took you a minute of walking around to finally catch sight of him. He was resting against the railing outside on one of the many balconies. You glanced around, making sure no one was watching you, before you stepped outside.

He didn’t turn to look at you, not even as the door shut behind you, cutting off the noise that came from inside. It was like he already knew who had stepped out. You fiddled with your fingers, staring at his back. Some of the liquid courage was chased away by the cold breeze, but you refused to back down now that you were out here. 

“You are the one who has been leaving me roses every night,” you said, quietly, walking towards him. 

“I am,” he answered as you slid up next to him, grabbing the railing to keep your hands from shaking. 

You were surprised at how quickly he admitted it. You were silent for a moment, staring at his profile. Under the moonlight, he was truly a vision to be seen. Your breath caught in your throat when he finally looked at you. 

“I apologize if it has made you uncomfortable,” he said, his shadows seemed to hide behind his wings as if they were scared of what your response might be. 

“It hasn’t,” you replied, gently. You gave him a soft smile. “They are quite beautiful. But I must ask why.” 

His shadows eased, cascading down his shoulders. His lips twitched, amused by your question. 

“I cannot lie to you,” Azriel said, his voice low and dark like his shadows. It sent a shiver down your spine. “I find you very beautiful, y/n. And I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since I watched your show.”

Your eyes widened, your cheeks turning bright red. You hadn’t been expecting him to be so forthcoming. You hadn’t had much experience with males, so you fumbled with what to say back.

“Oh,” you squeaked out. 

That only seemed to amuse him even more. 

“Has no one told you that before?”

“Perhaps not quite so… candidly.” 

His lips twitched and you felt that spark in your chest again. He shook his head a bit, tousling his hair as he turned his body fully towards you, still leaning on the railing. 

“Well, now that my identity has been exposed,” Azriel said. “May I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?” 

“Y-yes,” you managed to stutter out, butterflies exploding in your stomach. Never in your dreams would you have imagined being courted by the Night Court’s spymaster. 

He smiled this time and the sight of it almost knocked you off your feet. 

“Good,” he said, then his hand flicked into his shadows and he pulled out a single, red rose. “For you. Since I wasn’t able to leave one tonight.”

Your heart was thumping in your chest as you reached out and took the flower from his hands. He dipped his head at you before disappearing into his shadows, leaving you alone on the balcony, twirling the rose in your hand with red cheeks and a warm feeling in your heart. 

꒰ა❤︎໒꒱

A month had passed since that night on the balcony. Azriel had continued leaving you roses after each show, something the girls all cooed over. You had also found out that he had charmed them to make sure they never died. So now you had a beautiful bouquet of never-ending roses in a vase on your vanity in the dressing room and even one in your room at home. 

Your first date went very well. You were surprised by how much the two of you had in common. And soon he had taken you on a second, a third, a fourth…and so on. 

You found yourself falling for him….hard. He was different around you than he was with most others. More talkative, more charming and funny. His wit never failed to impress you. 

Your mother wasn’t very pleased at first, especially since you hadn’t consulted her before agreeing to that first date. But once she found out it was Azriel who had asked you, she seemed pleased considering he was a high-ranking member of your court. You hated how superficial your mother was, but was happy she didn’t try to prevent you from seeing him. 

You hadn’t told him just how inexperienced you were, but he was a polite and kind male. He hadn’t even tried to kiss you yet. It was like he knew your hesitations and the need to take things slow with you despite you ever telling him that. But then again, he seemed to know everything you felt, at all times. Sometimes you even wondered if he was a daemati like the High Lord, but he had only laughed when you accused him of it. 

Today, Azriel had taken you out for some coffee and a small lunch after your morning rehearsal. Now the two of you were pushing through the bustling crowds on the streets, taking in the sights of the city. Your eyes lingered on a flower shop you passed by often, at the lovely moonflowers they had on display outside. 

Azriel noticed what had drawn your attention and pulled you over to the shop. You took a sniff of the moonflowers, basking in their sweet scent. “So beautiful.” 

“Would you like one?” Azriel asked in that voice of his that still sent shivers down your spine. 

You smiled up at him, nodding your head. 

“Azriel?”

You pulled your eyes away from him to look at the person who had just called out his name. The High Lady’s sister stood on the small steps leading up into the shop, a large pot in her arms and a bag full of seeds. 

Her doe eyes flickered between you and Azriel, until they dropped to something below. You followed her gaze to look at your conjoined hands. You quickly let go, face turning a bit pink. You had no idea why you suddenly felt as though you had been caught doing something wrong. 

“Hello Elain,” Azriel said, his voice polite but flat. 

She studied him and then turned that gaze on you, her eyes narrowing a bit. You looked between her and Azriel, not really sure what was going on.

“Oh, you’re that ballerina,” she said. “I remember you, from the show.”

“This is y/n. She is my…” He paused and you shifted from foot to foot. “She is my…friend.”

Friend.

His Friend.

Something about that sentence made your heart crack into two. A weird, unpleasant feeling curled in your stomach and your smile dropped.

Friends.

Elain seemed to ignore your presence, her gaze still stuck on Azriel. “I haven’t seen you in three weeks. Where have you been?”

Azriel went to answer but you tuned the conversation out, your thoughts whirling in your mind. Friends. He said you were his friend. 

Were…were you not something more? 

Had you completely misjudged his intentions? 

Or maybe he was tired of waiting for you to be ready for more? 

Maybe he was like all the males your mother warned you about. Only interested in females if they knew they could get sex out of it. 

Your heart dropped into your stomach, your breath catching in your throat. Suddenly, being here with him seemed so suffocating. Especially as he stood talking to some other girl that clearly knew him…clearly had feelings for him. 

You felt like you were going to vomit. You needed to leave. Needed to catch your breath. 

“Sorry to interrupt,” you managed to get out, causing the two of them to look at you. “I’m just going to go look in the shop while you guys catch up.” 

You darted away before either of them could say anything, only letting out a breath when the door closed behind you.  You rushed through the aisles, past the shopkeeper who was busy with another customer, until you spotted the door along the back wall. You slipped through it, into the small alleyway behind the shop. 

You felt bad for ditching Azriel but he had just crushed your heart, even if he didn’t know he had it. You wiped at a tear that spilled from your eye, almost laughing at how awful you felt. You had only known him for a short period of time. Maybe it was never his intention to make you fall for him, but you did and what had been a beautiful, all-consuming joy in your chest was now suddenly an ache that made it hard to even breath. 

You walked down the alleyway until you were back in the streets, sweeping through the crowd as quickly as you could to make it back to your apartment. You just wanted to get home. Just get home and then you could wallow in your own self-pity. Could cry as much as you wanted. 

The crowd thinned out the closer you got to the residential area until the street was empty. 

You let out a sigh, wiping yet another tear, just as your apartment building came into view. You hoisted your dance bag further up your shoulder and began the last few feet home. But a flapping of wings above you made you still, your heart lurching in your chest. 

Azriel landed in front of you with a small thud, his brows furrowed with confusion and his eyes unreadable. In his hand, he held a small bunching of moonflowers. 

“Y/n? Why did you leave like that?” he asked. 

You bit your lip, looking away from his face.

“Hey,” he said, grabbing your chin and turning your face back to him. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did something happen?” 

You wiped at your tears, frustrated that you couldn’t keep it together long enough to make him leave. You shook your head, staring at the ground. “No, nothing happened. I-I just don’t…feel good.” 

Azriel studied you, his thumb swiping your cheek. You hated how much the small gesture soothed you. 

“Don’t lie to me,” he said. “I know something upset you. I can feel it. What happened? Please, tell me.” 

“It’s n-nothing,” you stuttered. 

“Please,” he repeated, his arms falling limp at his sides. “It pains me to see you cry. What happened? You can tell me.”

You looked away from him again, rubbing your arm in discomfort. “It’s stupid. Seriously, Azriel, I’m fine. Just…just leave. Please.” 

He stood up fully, his wings stretching out behind him. He crossed his arms, his expression stern. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Not until you tell me what’s wrong. Did I…Did I do something?” 

Another tear slipped down your cheek and you took a deep breath. “You called me your friend.”

Azriel blinked a few times. “What?”

“To that girl you were talking to. The one you clearly have some sort of history with,” you said, begrudgingly. “You told her I was your friend and I thought…well, maybe I’m an idiot. But I thought we were more than that.” 

Realization dawned over Azriel’s face and then to your surprise, the tension in his body dropped and he let out a small laugh. Your eyes narrowed at him. Was he truly going to laugh in your face after your admittance of feelings for him?

“I don’t understand what’s so funny. You’ve been taking me out on dates, leaving me roses. What else was I supposed to think—”

“No, it’s not funny,” Azriel cut you off, but he was still smiling which only pissed you off. “I mean, it is. Just not in the way you’re thinking.” 

More tears slipped down your cheeks and Azriel lurched forward, placing a hand on the side of your face. “Don’t cry, please. Let me explain. You're right, y/n, you are not my friend. You are so much more than that. You have been since the day I laid eyes on you. You consume my every single thought, y/n, truly. I am relieved to hear that you share my feelings. You have no idea how much I’ve prayed to the Mother that you would feel for me, what I feel for you.”

You took a moment to fully soak in his words, the pressure in your chest easing a bit. 

“Then why did you call me your friend? Who was that girl to you?”

“She’s no one, I promise you that,” he said, stroking your cheek with his thumb. “And I called you my friend because I almost slipped up and called you my—”

He stopped suddenly and you looked up at him in questions. “Called me your what?” 

It was his turn to let out a long breath, his cheeks coloring. “My mate. My mate, y/n. You are my mate.”

Your eyes went wide, your heart frantically beating in your chest. Mate? You were his mate?

Something snapped in you then. Something that had been with you since the moment you could remember, unraveled in your chest. Your mouth dropped open as a gold thread shot out between the two of you, linking you together. You looked back up at him, at those beautiful hazel eyes that were full of joy, love and apprehension. Such vulnerability that you weren’t used to when it came to the shadowsinger. 

“Mate,” you whispered. “You’re my…mate.”

He nodded, his eyes flickering back and forth between yours, waiting for your reaction. That warm feeling in your chest spread throughout your whole body and you couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed on your face. 

Mate. 

Azriel was your mate!

You threw your arms around his neck and pulled him into a crushing hug. Azriel let out a breath of relief, his arms grabbing you around the waist and pulling you even closer. It felt so right being in his arms. Your heart sang at your connection, at the feeling he sent down the bond. 

Everything made sense now. The way he was able to always know how you were feeling, the accelerated feelings between the two of you, how right it felt to be with him—like he had been made for you and you for him. 

He pulled back, holding you at arm's length so he could stare down at you. 

“I have wanted you from the minute I saw you, even before the bond snapped into place,” Azriel said. “I have been searching for you my whole life, y/n. I never thought I would be blessed with a mate, and especially not you. You are so beautiful and so much more than I was expecting. There will be no one else, even if you decide you don’t want this bond. All I see is you, all I want is you. I’m sorry I made you doubt that, even for a second.” 

“I want it! Of course I want it, Azriel!” You were smiling so hard, your cheeks were beginning to ache. “I…I am already falling in love with you and it has only been a month. I can’t even imagine what a lifetime might bring us.”

Azriel was smiling now too, a rare sight that had the bond in your chest glowing. He rested his forehead against yours, shutting his eyes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I will thank the Mother every single day I get to call you mine.”

You placed a hand on his chest, smiling up at him as he opened his eyes again to stare at you. Butterflies swarmed your stomach, your heart was pounding drums in your chest. 

You needed him so much closer now. You needed to hold him, to kiss him, to hear him call you his. You were ready for that next step, ready to jump right into it. 

“Kiss me,” you whispered, your eyes fluttering to his lips. “Please.”

Azriel let out a small growl. “Do you mean it?”

You nodded, shyly, staring up at him from under your lashes. 

Azriel didn’t waste one more second, he leaned in and captured your lips with his. His lips were softer than you imagined, warm and tantalizing. The world seemed to fade away as you shared your first kiss with him, your heart pounding in your chest, your mind buzzing with need. 

His kiss was soft and tender, making you feel at ease with him. His arm wrapped around your waist and he yanked you even closer, deepening the kiss. Time slowed down. The bond between the two of you glowed. 

Finally, Azriel pulled back, locking eyes with you. He held up the moonflowers he was still holding, letting you take them as he pressed a kiss to your cheek.

“Flowers for the pretty lady,” he teased, causing you to giggle. 

He was still holding you around the waist, his other hand now slipping up into your hair. His hard body was pressed against yours, the flowers nearly crushed. He kissed you again and you felt it then, the promise he was making. 

You were his mate. 

And he would make sure you were his to have and to hold for the rest of eternity.

[lani-heart]

|| series masterlist || next // previously

parings -> ( eventually ) enhypen x reader genre -> soulmate au, fantasy au, angst warnings -> angst word count -> 1.2k

abstract -> dear snake... you're just being stubborn and self-destructive

y/n’s perspective

“So people can ask anonymously for a date? How does that make sense?” Wonyoung asked as Soha explained to everyone her idea. “I think it's romantic… being able to win someone’s love. And it's a masquerade ball, doesn’t anonymity make sense?” she asked and it kinda did. 

“Besides it’ll make more money for our budget” I whispered to my vice president and she sighed. “Okay, any other suggestions?” Wonyoung asks. “Should there be a dress code?” EJ asked and Wonyoung nodded. “Masquerade is our theme–” “Wouldn't it be fun to have a different dress code per school?” K asked and Wonyoung glared at him… most likely for cutting her off.

“What are you thinking about?” Wonyoung asked. 

“Well, Riverfield’s colors are navy blue and gold,” Maki said and I was curious. “Our colors are gold and orange,” Wonyoung pouted and I chuckled. “I think the color theme isn’t the best for us choosing what we’d wear but… we could do that with our masks” I suggested? “Hmm… like werewolves have big furry wolf masks,” Wonyoung teased, making us laugh. 

“Like having different masks being our school's colors. Or at least some accents of our colors” I said and she nodded. “That can be done,” Wonyoung said. 

“So we have to ask through these telegrams who the date will be?” Jungwon asked while he smirked at me. “I think if we have the anonymous options then it should be completely anonymous…” Wonyoung muttered. 

“Well, make sure to find your dates! And everyone in Stuco still needs to pay!”

“I don’t want to have to send you a stupid piece of paper… you’ll go with me won’t you?” Jungwon asked only to get smacked by Sunoo. “Yah! Quit trying to hog her! I will gladly buy one to win a dance with you” Sunoo said while switching tones and smiling sweetly at me. 

“Like she’d choose you,” Jungwon said as they argued. “Well boys, she does have six mates,” Wonyoung said and they groaned. 

“I’ll win your heart!” Sunoo said determined, causing Jungwon to scoff. “Yeah right! I will!” They argued, making me laugh. If they're arguing I can only imagine Niki sabotaging them. I don’t think Jay and Jake will jump onto this and Sunghoon… he’s a 50/50 for me. 

They were gonna be set up later this evening all the way to the end of this week. Everyone in the student council went back to their rooms to prepare. 

“You think this is a good idea?” K asks me and I smile. “Why not? Worried you won’t get a date?” I teased and he smiled softly. “I’m not too worried about that,” he said. 

“How about you? You’ll have to choose between mates?” he asks and I sigh. “I know… but I'll choose whoever gives me the most butterflies,” I said and he laughed. 

“Careful y/n, you might end up choosing someone who isn't your mate” he suggested. “I mean it is a possibility you are a little miss popular in Bright Sun, Riverfield, and IST Academy… Declis not so much” EJ said and I scoffed. “But she will have six just from their council,” Wonyoung said, which I truly didn’t believe. 

“Just watch, we’re gonna be swimming with confessions”

“So, how’s it going?” I heard him jumping a little. “Niki! Give me a warning next time!” I yelled and he chuckled. “Organizing?” he asked and I sighed. 

“How many people is this for anyway?” he said and I was worried about how he’d react. “All of them are mine… so far,” I said and his eyes widened. “It's barely the first day! Why do you have so many!” he yelled. 

“Oh! I did find yours though!” I said and he groaned whilst his cheeks reddened. “How’d you know?” he asked and I smiled. “You’re the only one who steals my pens,” I said and he laughed. 

“Recognized more of them?” he asked and I nodded. 

“This is Jungwon’s,” I said and he opened it and laughed. “He needs help with flirting,” he said and I rolled my eyes. “It's cute,” I said and he gagged. “How’d you know it was his?” he asked as he looked through more. “I’ve seen his handwriting everywhere,” I said and he chuckled. “Makes sense,” he said and got another one. 

“This is Sunghoon” he said and I opened it. “It can't be?” I asked and he chuckled. “He’s the only one who will mention himself being king, he’s running remember?” he asked and I sighed

The King and Queen would be nominated and voted for… Sunghoon is one of the competitors who have been campaigning. 

“This is Jake, he’s a messy guy,” he said while pointing out the blood-stained card. “He was also complaining earlier that he was eating whilst making you a telegram,” he said and I chuckled. I didn’t expect him to try…

“I don't recognize this one, '' he said while showing me a riverfield card. It was the only hint we had… each school had to write on their own assigned school cards. 

“You have quite a few from the riverfield,” he said and I chuckled as I stood up to hug him. “Jealous?” I asked and he smiled. “Why? You’re already mine… I just didn’t think you’d get this many” he said and I chuckled. 

“I wouldn’t choose anyone else but my soulmate”

heeseung’s perspective

“Why did he choose her?” she asked me and I knew the answer to that. “I don’t know Sooha” I lied. The truth would hurt her too much.

My oblivious princess…

“Hey, Hee? Why’d you reject y/n? She’s your soulmate… you're no better than K'' she said and I scoffed. That werewolf and I were not on the same level. He rejected you because of his little crush on MY soulmate. I met her first… before any of them. “Don’t ask that” I said and she sighed. 

“I just don't understand… I'm glad Jay, Sunghoon, and Jake all changed their minds but why won't you–" "Sooha shut up! What I do about MY soulmate is MY business, not yours!”

I didn't mean to yell.

“I… "I'm sorry I didn't mean to–” “Heeseung… you like her, you just don't want to admit it,” she said and I scoffed. 

Of course, I like her… but… truth is I don't have an excuse anymore. They all accepted her, I thought they wouldn't. So I didn't want to tie her soul to mine when I knew I was responsible for the band of misfits…

“Heeseung… you should send her a card!” she suggested and I scoffed. Bold of you to assume I haven't Sooha. “And you have a chance! What if she chooses–" "Sooha, don’t mess with me” I said and she sighed. 

“I sent one to K… but I heard he sent one to her,” she said and I sighed. That Riverfield wolf was getting bolder each time… She accepted six soulmates and he still tried?

It's pathetic and desperate. 

“It hurts…” Sooha said as she silently cried. I know how it feels… I miss them, and I'm jealous of them. 

Truth is… it's lonely. 

taglist -> @sunus-sun @loumin908 @on-1ce @shinkenprincess-oh @b-a-nshee-blog @bnnyniky @sakuxxi @chiiiiiiiiis @cncreams @pre1ttyies @justanunstablefrog @graythecoffeebean @starzniiky @singlepringle4you @chirokookie @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @imtoanonymousforyou @lovgfrd @ilovecheese09 @sousydive @pink-but-rosie @kyleebob @jihyosgf @in-somnias-world @jilxxasu @bee-the-loser @mitchikeli @cyberpunksunwoo @lhspeachie @loafsunshinesworld @vixensss @zhenya109 @luumiinaa @rosas-in-the-garden @b3tt7boop @moony-mari @vixialuvs @ilovecheese09 @capri-cuntz @emma2black @skzhoes

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[hisui-dreamer]

ensnared by the stars

Pairing: Jade Leech x gn!reader

Synopsis: You waltzed right into his trap, but maybe you had done so willingly.

Tags: masquerade ball, dancing, sexual tension, pining, jade is slightly yandere, im thirsty for jade but what else is new, bot proofread

Word count: 1.3k+

Notes: my brain didn't plan out the schematics of an all boys school having a masquerade ball, so let's just retcon it and NRC is now a mixed school :)

fun fact this fic is largely based on irl events lol

also if anyone would like music to listen to for this fic, i recommend cantarella for the darker vibe or mr. turner's waltz for the dancing vibe :)

Masterlist

Jade leaned against the wall, surveying the sea of masked guests as he searched for you. The grand event had only just begun, and the anticipation was palpable as everyone eagerly awaited the start of the masquerade.

But what a joke it was. Crowley had the genius idea of holding an inter-school masquerade with RSA, all as an attempt to improve NRC's reputation. And the shrewd businessman that Azul was, he had been eager to take the opportunity and drain the wallets of attendees, selling masks, setting up photo booths with steep prices, and of course, the catering was all supplied by the Mostro Lounge.

But for Jade, the lure of the masquerade was not the promise of profit, but the chance to win your heart. For him, it was a battle, and one he was not willing to lose. The thought of another man winning your affections was unbearable to him, and with each move he made, he staked his claim on you, marking you as his own. And he knew that he was close to victory, that he would soon claim the ultimate prize of your love.

He couldn't help but wonder what you would look like in full regalia. It was a rare occasion for you to don your finest attire, and he was eager to see you adorned in all your splendour, He imagined how different it would be from the casual wear you often purchased from Sam's massive sales, and the ill-fitting uniform you wore almost daily. Would your mask be as intricate and dazzling as the constellations above us? Or perhaps simple yet elegant, highlighting the natural beauty of your face?

Perhaps, no matter what you looked like, the stars would no doubt pale in comparison to the sparkle in your eyes, shimmering with a radiance that was uniquely yours.

Diamond’s voice resounded through the venue as he called out for the partners to take the floor for the first dance, breaking him out of his train of thoughts. The air was charged with anticipation, a feverish energy that pulsed through the area. Jade’s heart beat rapidly in his chest as he looked around the dimly lit space, searching for you amidst the sea of sparkling attire. His eyes flickered back and forth, taking in the rich fabrics and glittering jewels that adorned the guests. Despite the dim light that obscured the features of the guests, Jade's sharp gaze could pick out even the slightest details, giving him a distinct advantage over the others who struggled to find their partners.

His focus landed on a figure dressed in navy and silver, the colours reflecting the grandeur of the room. A matching mask adorned the figure's face, hiding their identity as they turned their head this way and that, searching the room for their partner.

You were his dearest partner for the night, and if Jade played his cards correctly, for a lifetime.

A smile curved Jade's lips as he watched your frenzied search for him. Even in the elegant mask, he could recognize the sparkling eyes that he loved so much, now even more striking under the soft glow of the string lights. You were a vision of elegance and beauty, captivating his heart with every turn and gesture.

He glided through the swarms of people with careful, calculated steps, his hawk-like gaze fixed unwaveringly upon the object of his desire, unyielding in its focus. He was determined to ensure that no other could snatch you away before he had the opportunity to claim you.

As he came to a stop directly behind you, his brows furrowed as he marvelled at your beauty, taking in every detail of your form. Despite his close proximity, you remained oblivious to his presence, lost in your own world as you tried to find him in the dark. With a wry shake of his head, he raised a hand to your ears.

Snap!

With the clear sound of his fingers snapping, you spun around, your eyes widening in surprise before settling into a look of recognition. A demure smile graced your lips as you whispered his name. He returned your smile with one of his own, a genuine, loving smile so unlike his usual ones.

Bowing slightly, he extended his hand with grace and poise, his mismatched eyes locking onto yours in a captivating gaze. "May I have this dance, my pearl?" he asked softly, his voice laced with a hint of longing that sent a shiver down your spine.

"I would be honoured," you replied before curtseying, feeling the warmth of his hand enveloping yours through the soft fabric of your gloves.

As the music began to play, the two of you moved towards each other on the dance floor, your bodies already attuned to each other's rhythm like a well-choreographed dance. His movements were like fluid silk, each step a masterful seduction that left you breathless and wanting more. His every dip and turn was a subtle invitation, a wordless promise of the passion and desire that lay ahead. The air between you seemed to vibrate with a palpable tension, as if the mere brush of your fingertips was enough to ignite a blazing inferno.

Your bodies brushed against each other in a teasing game of proximity as you locked your eyes onto his. The music swelled and he drew you closer, his movements growing more fervent and intense. Lost in the moment, you felt your bodies and souls intertwine in a fiery embrace. It was as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist, leaving only the two of you in a dance that was as eternal as the stars themselves.

As you spun around, you couldn't help but ask, "How did you find me?" The words danced between you like a secret whispered on the breeze, as you swayed to the music, the rhythm of your hearts beating in perfect harmony.

A mischievous grin played on his lips as he twirled you around like a puppet on a string, his eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky. "Oya? A gentleman never reveals his secrets," he replied playfully, his hand holding you close to his chest as the music slowed down to a gentle sway.

You could feel his heart beating against your own, as you looked up at him, taking in the warmth of his gaze. He leaned in, his warm breath tickling your ear, before whispering in your ear, "But I will say this—no matter where you are, I will always find you." His words came out with a fervent passion that surprised even him, his heart overflowing with love. The soft glow of the moon illuminated his golden eye that so many feared looking into, highlighting the intensity of his gaze.

You were ensnared in a web of enchantment, caught in the grasp of Jade's mesmerizing gaze. "Jade," you whispered, your voice full of emotion. A smile that you couldn't suppress formed on your lips, revealing the depth of love and admiration you felt for him.

You knew that you were under the spell of this cunning and intelligent man, and yet you were powerless to resist his magnetic pull like a moth drawn to a flame. You surrendered yourself to his embrace, your heart beating rapidly as your lips met his in a tender and passionate kiss. His hold on you tightened, and you felt the heat of his breath against your lips as he revelled in the victory of finally having you.

Despite the uncertainty of the future, you were willing to take the risk, like a sailor setting out on a stormy sea, to be swept away by his charm, to succumb to his every whim and desire, and to bask in the glow of his mesmerizing stare.

Perhaps you didn’t have a choice at all, after all, he would follow you to the ends of the earth. All to be by your side.

Masterlist

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[backseatbnha]

in which TOKOYAMI FUMIKAGE steals the crown jewels, and maybe even your heart

Imagine..

being dressed to the nines in a ballgown / suit, a masquerade mask on your face. You look stunning.

You hand your invitation to the doorman, and he lets you in. You're met with a ballroom of people just as finely dressed as you are.

You're surrounded by grandeur, with chandeliers of prism and gold hanging over you. Waiters and waitresses offer you appetizers and drinks when you enter.

You chat, you drink, and you laugh with nobles and elites. The food tables are full of only the best cuisine, by none other than Lunch Rush.

A slow song comes on, and the lights dim. Guests scatter to find partners.

You stand idly in the center, having no one to dance with.

A man, with the head of a bird, donned in all black, also seems to be in the same predicament as he stands next to you.

A black mask sits atop his beak. He's wearing a black cape over his suit.

He notices you staring, and after a moment of thought, silently offers his hand out to dance.

And the two of you dance.

He's a very good dancer. He holds you close, a firm grip on your waist. You look into his eyes - sharp vermillion eyes. They hold a sense of mystery. You want to know more about this man, but he has not spoken a single word.

He swirls you around the ballroom with precise and practiced movements. He's so suave with his movements, you're charmed. Everyone's staring.

He pulls you closer to his chest, and you feel your body move naturally with his own. His eyes never left yours.

The song ends and he finishes with a dip.

The entire ballroom claps as they scatter once more, off to continue the party.

The bird man holds you for a few more seconds, before he finally lets go. You kind of didn't want him to go just yet.

He begins to walk away, but you grab his arm.

You ask for his name. You wanted to know at least that. At least his name. The name of the man who would haunt your fantasies later.

His name is Tokoyami.

And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.

You stood there wordlessly. What a mysterious man. What a charming man.

You finally snap out of your thoughts and go back into the party. For the rest of the night, you smoothly mingle with more nobles. You even had the privilege of meeting the famous Sir Midoriya, who has been exceptionally kind to you throughout the evening.

As the night progresses, you meet even more nobles, including Prince Todoroki, Sir Iida, and Lady Ochaco, all of them expressing their pleasure of finally meeting you.

In the midst of dancing with your companions, the room suddenly plunges into darkness. The room fills with murmurs of confusion. You wonder what's happening, but before you can make sense of it, the lights flicker back on, and a panicked scream pierces the air.

"Someone has stolen the crown!"

The room erupts into frenzied panic, whispers growing louder as chaos ensues. You notice Sir Midoriya and Sir Iida's expressions immediately change into serious ones, and they spread out, scouring the room for the culprit.

Lady Ochaco clings tightly to you as the chaos escalates, and you do your best to stay close to her amidst the frantic rush of panicked guests.

Several knights, including Sir Midoriya and Sir Iida, rush to the scene, their weapons drawn as they conduct a thorough search of the room.

The lights abruptly go out once more, plunging the room into darkness. In the ensuing confusion, screams of pain pierce the air, one after another.

When the lights flicker back on, three knights lie unconscious on the ground. The guests scream in horror.

"There he is!" a knight shouts, and they all run towards the center, forming a circle around the culprit. Struggling to see clearly, you move closer, squinting to make out the figure. Your breath hitches in your throat when you realize it's him, the bird man from earlier—Tokoyami.

As the knights drew their swords, Tokoyami remained remarkably calm, almost indifferent, with the stolen crown perched smugly on his head.

His vermillion eyes swept the room until they locked onto yours, and your heart stops in fear.

"Surrender now, or face death," Sir Iida commanded, the circle of knights closing in around Tokoyami. And yet, Tokoyami showed no signs of panic.

"Three..." Sir Iida began to count.

"Two..." Tokoyami's gaze remained fixed on you.

"One."

Suddenly, a shadowy figure rose up from beneath Tokoyami's cape, grabbing you. You shrieked in terror as you were pulled against him. Tokoyami sent a menacing glare at the knights, causing them to hesitate and pull their swords away.

"Release Lady Y/N!" Sir Midoriya demanded, his voice laced with panic.

Frozen in fear, you felt the shadows grip you even tighter as Tokoyami stared challengingly at the knights.

"Drop your weapons," Tokoyami said, his voice low, but authoritative.

In fear for your safety, the knights reluctantly complied, dropping their swords to the ground and backing away. Sir Midoriya and Sir Iida looked panicked as they thought for a way to rescue you.

With you still in his grip, Tokoyami and his sentient shadow slowly backed away, their eyes fixed on the knights. They stopped at the exit of the ballroom, and Tokoyami finally releases you. He stared at you one last time, then gently took your hand, pressing his beak against the back of it in a gesture that felt like a kiss.

"Thank you." he whispered softly before his sentient shadow friend fully encapsulated Tokoyami. After a few seconds, the shadow disappeared, and so did any trace of Tokoyami.

"Lady Y/N! Are you hurt?!" Sir Midoriya, Sir Iida, and Lady Ochaco rushed immediately towards you, concern etched on their faces. They quickly escorted you to the healers, who gave you a thorough check-up, but your mind was completely blanked out.

In the days that followed, wanted posters of the bird man littered the whole kingdom, his high bounty attracting every bounty hunter's attention, even from across different kingdoms. Tokoyami became the subject of widespread gossip in Japan for a while.

You found yourself lost in thoughts, haunted by the memory of your encounter with Tokoyami—the thief, the assassin—who danced with you, held you, and then held you captive before unexpectedly kissing your hand and disappearing. What a confusing bastard, and yet, you couldn't stop thinking about him.

Late at night, you sat in your bed with the window open, letting in the cool breeze. You stole a glance at the wanted poster on your nightstand before shaking your head and blowing out your candle.

As you prepared to retire for the night and reached to close the curtains, you gasped, startled by a figure perched comfortably on the windowsill. His cape billowed in the wind, his feathers ruffled, and his vermillion eyes locked onto you.

"Hello again, Lady Y/N."

[mjolnirswriststrap]

Silver Bullet

Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader, Helmut Zemo x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1,670 Masterlist

Summary: The best night of the year, Halloween, turns into a night you just want to forget. PART 1/4.

Warnings: werewolves, cheating, backstabbing best friend, Zemo is a whore, truly.

Red cloaks filled the crowd. This years Halloween parade theme being Dracula. Rob Zombie blared through speakers anchored to lampposts. You and your friends all wore matching costumes, collectively going as the wives of Dracula. It was a good excuse to wear the hottest outfits you could find. Most people paled their skin with white face paint, and molded little pieces of wax to their teeth.

Not you, you wore basically nothing for your costume. Each friend had a different color of fabric, that was loosely draped and cinched around your body. The best way to describe it would be a Greek toga, instead of linen it’s sheer silk, leaving nothing to the imagination. You all wore the same gold collar, a dragon etched on the front; curtesy of the blue bride, Miranda’s, 3D printer.

You didn’t plan on staying, you all agreed to be a part of the parade, once that was over, you were all headed to Zemo’s annual Halloween masquerade. You don’t think he particularly liked having hundreds of people flooding his property every year. But having the biggest house in town was a blessing and a curse. He hosted most festivities for your rather large population of teens and young adults.

You had a fascination with the bachelor. He inherited the mansion, land and money from his grandfather, skipping over his father completely. His family was prominent in the community, both of his parents having a chair at city hall. They volunteered at the food bank and donated to every shelter. Any sane person would think they deserved the money in a way. So why Zemo?

You made it to the party late, everyone leaving the house for the back yard. Zemo had the trees lighted and a dance floor built, always prepared for a celebration. Your friends ditched you as soon as you all got drinks, saying they were going to find their boyfriends. Leaving you to explore the surrounding woods alone.

You nearly drop your red solo cup when you see Zemo pressing Miranda against a tree, practically swallowing each others faces. Tears of betrayal sting your cheeks. She knew you had a crush on him, and she has a boyfriend anyways. You stalk away in anger, losing the trail but not caring. You found a tree far enough from the party that no one would hear your sobs.

You downed the cup filled halfway with vodka, a drop of orange juice for flavor. It dried your tears quickly, leaving your whole body warm. “Stupid.” You say, standing up and brushing the leaves off your dress. “Stupid for liking Zemo.”. You agreed whole heartedly with that. “Stupid for thinking Miranda was my friend.” That’s what hurt the most.

In the midst of your self hate you failed to notice a looming figure. “You’re not stupid.” You jolt, throwing the plastic cup in the direction of the stranger. “Sorry, you scared me.” You giggle, when you see it’s just a guy from the party wearing a phantom of the opera mask.

“It’s okay.” He reaches down and picks up the liter. “Gotta keep our forests clean.” He waves the red in the air. You give him a dry laugh. Men are scary and being alone in the woods with a stranger was causing every alarm in your brain to siren. But the vodka numbed your sense of fear.

“I should get going.” You say, turning and trying to step around the tree. Before you could, the stranger steps closer. “Should you?” He says deeply. He’s close enough now that you can see his piercing blue eyes behind the mask. They render you speechless, the way the moonlight shone off them, put you in a trance. You shake your head, too focused to verbally answer him.

“See, you’re not so stupid after all.” He teases. You have no reaction. His words didn’t fill you with pride or embarrassment. Your veins filled with the distinct warmth of feeling safe. You don’t know where it came from, your body was irrationally reacting to him. You should be shaking with fear and trying to get back to the party, not calmly standing here waiting for something to happen.

It felt like you were locked inside a body that wasn’t yours. It was being controlled by some outside force. You let him reach for you, never flinching away. Your body produced goosebumps where his fingertips grazed your skin. “You’re so beautiful. I’d hate to ruin that.” You nod your head, not even thinking of a single way he could ruin your beauty. Your mind was blank, you couldn’t even say thank you.

“Promise me you won’t resist, once it happens.” You knew nothing of what he spoke, but again you feel your neck bow to him, nodding in agreement. The masked man looks up at the moon, reveling in its fullness. “Are you prepared for no return?” You agree with a nod, now you know you were fully possessed by something. His words should send you running, but a small voice in the back of your head says you would never.

He steps closer again, grabbing fistfuls of your gown, cinched at your waist. “You have to say it. Say I have permission.” His voice was desperate and darker than before. You try to find the words but the influence he had on you was slowly fading, the way he started pressing you against the tree brought you back to your senses. He holds your hips in place as he nuzzles his face into your neck, taking a long deep breath.

The stubble on his chin tickled you and you had to remind yourself yet again that this is a masked stranger in the woods. Even though your senses were coming back, the way his hands lit a fire inside of you was enough to make you not care. That fire pooled lower and lower the closer he got to you. He smelled like a mix of musk and pine. You couldn’t tell if it was him or the trees surrounding you. But it made your mouth water, filling you with a want to taste his skin, just to be sure.

He raises his hand to cradle your cheek, “Please.”. He caught your eyes again, boring into them with an assured look. He focuses on your lips ���Just say the words.”.

“I give you permission.” You say them without thinking of the consequences. He sealed your fate by closing the gap between your faces. Pressing his lips to yours. You moved your lips in sync with his, using your free will to wrap your arms around his neck. Before it could go any further the man disappeared. You felt him pull away, when your eyes opened to see why, he was already gone. You searched the surrounding woods with your eyes, there was no sign of him.

You grab your head, wondering if you drunkenly hallucinated. The moisture on your mouth and in your underwear was foolproof evidence that it really just happened. But you still began to question its validity.

You hear a twig snap somewhere near you, in hopes that it was the magnetic stranger you followed it, rounding an old fallen tree you spot a black dog. It was rather large in stature, must be a purebred if it’s that big. You knew an expensive dog wouldn’t be wandering the woods collarless. And you couldn’t remember if Zemo ever mentioned having any pets.

You stepped closer, never fearing animals. You loved dogs, you had a few of your own at your parents house. “Here boy.” You kneel down, reaching out your hand. It finally gives you its attention. Immediately showing his sharp canines, snarling loudly. “Oop.” You stand up and slowly back away, knowing the signs of an agitated dog.

When your view of it is blocked by the tree you turn around and sprint away. Not wanting to receive a rabies shot on Halloween night. You see the lighted trees nearing. That’s when you heard it, rhythmic thumbing coming from behind you. When you turn around you let out a scream, the dog is already pouncing on you, knocking you to the ground. You tray to scramble away. You see people’s feet running towards your screams.

The dog latches its mouth onto your leg, when you try to rip it away it only sinks its teeth deeper. You see Zemo come to your aid with a pool cleaner net, swinging it at the dog. “Get away.” He shouts, he ends up cracking the dog on top of his head with the plastic pole. It yelped, causing your leg to fall out of his mouth. He ran for cover, disappearing into the woods. Zemo drops to his knees beside you, shedding his jacket to wrap it around your bleeding leg.

“Are you okay?” Your eyes full with tears, embarrassment was an understatement. You didn’t want to face Zemo or Miranda. You didn’t want to see all the party goers pity filled faces either. You stood up, sucking a breath between your teeth at the pain. You limped past everyone giving eachother confused glances. Ignoring Zemo and Miranda’s fake concern.

You called your dad, sitting on the curb infront of the house. He rushed you to urgent care, spending the rest of the night with you in the waiting room. You were fine in the morning, a shot and a round of antibiotics set you on your way to recovering. You took ibuprofen for the pain. You called off of work for the rest of the week, needing to stay off your feet.

When you returned the next Monday, your boss told you there was a new bus boy. You waited tables all day before you finally saw him. Clocking in and disappearing to wash dishes. He was cute, dark brown hair and light stubble. He didn’t introduce himself to you or Mary, the other waitress, odd. But you had a feeling the little diner would grow on him eventually.

[kittenofdoomage]

Midnight

Summary: New Year’s Eve brings a surprise at the end of a crappy year.

Pairing: female!reader (Y/N) x unnamed male

Word Count: 3610

Warnings: angst, mentions of break ups of long term relationships, anxiety, fluff, masked dances, semi-public smut, some mild breaking and entering, fingering, full vaginal sex, some mild feelings of unhappiness

A/N: This is another one of those "pick your character" fics that I can't really post on Ao3, so I'm posting here to wish you all a very happy new year. I hope everyone has a peaceful and blessed 2024, and that the fall of the patriarchy/death of capitalism finally comes to fruition. Enjoy!

Originally, her plan for New Year’s Eve had involved a family-size bag of Doritos and whatever movies she could find on Netflix. She had no work for the next week, no boyfriend since Andrew had dumped her in the summer, and when Dee had surprised her with a ticket to the annual city New Year’s Masquerade Ball, she had ultimately failed to provide an excuse good enough to turn it down. 

“All of us are going,” Dee had informed her excitedly, making sure Y/N had no wiggle room. “I’ll help you find a dress, we’ve got a huge car booked -”

“Okay, okay,” Y/N smiled, internally dying at the thought of an evening around strangers, even ones in masks. “I’m in.”

Maybe it would do her some good. Since the end of her relationship, she’d been unable to summon enthusiasm for anything, and she had to admit, shopping for a dress and giggling over imagined possible events at the ball with her friends was more fun than she had had in a while. She hadn’t realized just how stale her life had become, even before Andrew broke up with her.

The downside to the evening presented itself with the understanding that she would very much be the proverbial fifth wheel. Dee and Jenny both had dates for the night in the form of their long term partners, David and Leanne, respectively. Still, they assured her that they wouldn’t ignore her in favor of their company - Leanne had even offered up a blind date, but Y/N quickly turned her down, politely, because although she didn’t want to seem ungrateful, she didn’t think it would make her evening any more enjoyable. It would probably have had the opposite effect.

New Year’s Eve rolled around faster than she wanted it to, despite her excitement for the party. She started preparing ridiculously early, and by the time her cab arrived to take her to Dee’s, she was trembling with nerves. Her friends didn’t make it any better when she got there, chatting excitedly, making her feel like she’d be wallpaper the entire night. Still, she smiled and nodded along, following quietly when the car arrived to take them to the hotel downtown.

The Masquerade Ball was held in the same place every year. It wasn’t exclusive, but it was limited, another reason Y/N had been reluctant to turn down the ticket. They arrived in plenty of time to join the queue, and the chilly evening had her wishing she’d brought more than her light jacket. She shuddered in silence, keeping up with Dee as they shuffled closer to their destination, feeling more and more underdressed in her simple unembellished evening gown as she took in the stunning dresses and tuxedos everyone else was wearing. Of course, she couldn’t see anyone's faces, which made it marginally better, but she still felt underwhelming in comparison.

They made it inside within thirty minutes, accepting direction to their table in the grand ballroom several floors up. It was busy, and loud, and the dancefloor was already bustling with bodies grinding together to the late nineties pop tune that was currently playing. The ticket had stated a mixture of classical and popular music, with opportunities for “proper” dancing. Around the room there were several booths, the capitalist side of the event, and as the group seated themselves at the table, Jenny grabbed Y/N’s hand and pointed toward one booth at the back of the room.

“Look, they’re doing the Dance Card stall this year!”

Y/N scrunched up her face. “What’s that?”

“It’s like a game, people can sign up and get matched with a dance partner for a song. You can do it as many times as you like.”

“So it’s like Speed Dating?” Leanne asked, pulling a similar face to Y/N.

“I don’t think so,” Y/N giggled, shaking her head at the thought of getting up close and personal with a stranger. “I just wanna enjoy the party.”

Dee leaned into her, smiling. “I’ll dance with you, baby girl, don’t worry.”

The ballroom was filling quickly, and for the first part of the evening, Y/N stayed with the group, chatting over the music and drinking. Occasionally, Leanne would drag Jenny off to dance, or Dee would make David, but they never left her alone, something she was grateful for. She shared a dance with Dee, but quickly found the crowd overwhelming, so she remained at the table while the others took turns in dancing.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna try the dance card thing?” Jenny asked, leaning in as Dee pulled her boyfriend from the table. “Just once?”

Y/N looked over at the booth again, ready to deny it, then her gaze caught on one figure that seemed to stand out from the crowd. He was standing off to the side of the booth, leaning against the wall, a full glass in one hand with the other in his pocket, and she was certain he was looking right back at her. There was something familiar about him, not that there was anything extraordinary that would have made him stand out in the first place. The tuxedo he wore was the same as a dozen others she’d seen, and he was wearing the standard mask they were handing out on the door for those who forgot or didn’t have one.

“Oh my god, you’re thinking about it,” Jenny giggled, touching her forearm and bringing her attention back to the table. When she looked over at the booth again, the man was gone, and disappointment settled into her stomach.

“I’m not,” she assured her friend. “I thought - nevermind.”

Her mind was already wandering as Leanne distracted her girlfriend from badgering her. It couldn’t have been him, even if her gut was telling her it was. He wouldn’t be in the city, let alone at the same party she was at, it was impossible. The one that got away had gone away permanently, a long time before Andrew was even a blip on her radar, and it was just wistful thinking making some random stranger look like him.

Dee returned, breathless from her dance, though David didn’t return with her. “He’s getting more drinks,” she explained as Jenny asked where he went. The two other women took their turn to go and dance, and Y/N drew back into herself a little, realizing they were spending their time keeping her company when they should have been enjoying themselves.

“I’m sorry,” she said suddenly, looking at Dee, who blinked in confusion.

“For what?”

“You’re -” Y/N gestured wildly. “Looking after me, like usual. I’m a buzzkill.”

Her friend laughed. “Honey, do I look like my buzz has been killed? I can’t dance to every single song anyways, I’m not seventeen anymore.”

“You’re sure?”

Sighing, Dee leaned in, covering Y/N’s hand with her own. “You need this,” she insisted. “Since Douchebag McDouche left you - yahoo, by the way - you’ve been in a slump. And I hate seeing you miserable.”

“I know,” Y/N mumbled, sagging in her seat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so… boring.”

“You’re not boring,” Dee replied, squeezing your hand. “You just need to rediscover yourself a little.” She picked up her almost empty drink, draining the last of it. “You could always try the dance card thing. Maybe you’ll find someone to kiss at midnight. Even if it’s just for midnight.”

The idea was less than appealing but Y/N looked in that direction anyway, just in case the mystery man was there again. When he wasn’t, and she sighed, Dee frowned.

“Not up for it?”

“It’s not that,” Y/N murmured, wary of their companions returning. “Do you remember after college, there was that guy -”

“I got fresh drinks for everyone!” David announced, arriving back at the table with a tray in his hands. Instantly, Y/N fell silent, and Dee quickly realized she wouldn’t be getting anything more out of her. “Another rum, Y/N?” David asked, handing her a drink regardless of her answer.

She got to her feet with a forced smile. “Actually, I’m going to find the ladies room,” she informed both of them, stepping away and waving off Dee’s almost immediate offer to join her. The crowd wasn’t as dense as it looked, and she easily found her way to the lobby, following the posted signs for the restrooms. There was a queue that she quickly joined, pulling her phone from her purse, scrolling through her Twitter feed to pass the time.

Someone across the lobby yelled, which made everyone look that way to see a gentleman being forcefully exited by security. Y/N watched along with them, and as the scene died down, she went to turn her attention back to her phone, only to see him again. This time he was at the other side of the lobby, standing with a group of people, and when he caught her eye, he smiled, raising his drink a little in her direction. She froze in surprise, staring back, and it took the woman behind her in the queue jostling her to get her to look away.

He was gone again when she glanced back, but the queue was moving too quickly for her to do anything. Her heart was in her throat as she rushed to be done in the restroom, scanning the crowd the second that she was out in the lobby again, finding the group he was with gone and him with them. It was stupid how disappointed she was, when she wasn’t even sure if it was who she thought it was or even if it was the same person.

For all she knew, she was going crazy.

“Idiot,” she muttered to herself, heading back into the ballroom to find the table again. None of her friends were there, all busy on the dancefloor, and her stomach dropped, anxiety rushing in at her. “What am I doing?” she whispered, certain she was going to cry.

“You look a little lost,” said a man from behind her, in a voice she recognized even after all this time.

“Yes, well,” she replied, keeping her gaze on the dancefloor in case she was imagining him. “These things are more for couples, aren’t they?”

He laughed, and her insides churned with a need to see his face, to make sure it was really him, because she felt like it was a dream. She still remembered the last time she’d seen him, just the back of his head as he left, taking her whole heart with him even if he didn’t know it. “I suppose so,” he agreed, and a hand brushed the small of her back, making her inhale sharply. “Would you like to dance?”

Why was he here? How? What was happening?

She nodded, holding her questions in as he took her hand to lead her to the dancefloor, just as a slower classical number came on. Finally, she turned her head, disappointed that the mask covered his face, but recognizing his features underneath. Her heart soared, nerves gathering as butterflies in her stomach, and she couldn’t help but smile through her mask at him. He smiled back, pulling her closer as they reached a spot with enough room not to feel cramped.

Neither of them spoke. Her desire to know where he had been, why he was there, was held at bay by the simple comfort of just being in his arms. He was still fond of the same aftershave by the scent clinging to his clothes, and his hair was slightly different, but otherwise he was exactly as she remembered, and she couldn’t help leaning in to rest her cheek against his shoulder as they moved slowly to the music. Across the dancefloor, she met Dee’s confused gaze from where she was dancing with David, recognizable by her hair, and Y/N smiled at her so she knew everything was okay.

“You look just as beautiful as the last time I saw you,” he murmured, making her lift her head to look at him. “Can’t believe it’s been so long.”

“How can you tell that I look the same?” she asked playfully. “I’m wearing a mask.”

He chuckled. “I just know,” he shrugged, smirking at her.

“You’re still just as big,” she said shyly. “Your hair is different.” The music picked up speed a little, transitioning to a faster beat, and Y/N frowned as couples around them started to get a little showy with their movements. “I don’t think I like this song,” she joked.

“Let’s go somewhere quieter,” he agreed, stepping back and taking her hand again.

As they moved through the crowd, they passed Dee, who stared at the man with her in shock, recognizing him, and mouthing a “is that who I think it is” while pointing at him. Y/N nodded, not stopping to explain as he led her into the lobby and towards a fire exit. “Wait,” she hissed, “where are we going? It’s gonna be midnight soon.”

He glanced back with a grin. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “No one’s up there.”

The there he was referring to escaped her, but she had always trusted him, and she had no reason not to now. With a nod, she followed him through the fire exit, into the stairwell and away from the noise. He started to climb the steps, looking back to make sure she was with him, and on the next floor, they entered a larger, empty room that was only lit by a few lamps.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“A lounge,” he replied. “There’s a balcony we can watch the fireworks from.”

“Won’t someone catch us?”

His eyes sparkled behind the mask. “Only if we’re not quiet.”

The balcony was separated from the room by large doors that weren’t locked. Y/N followed him out into the night, feeling her breath get snatched away by the view of the city. There was a balcony on the ballroom floor too, and she could hear the music below and the chattering of people on the balcony. She pulled away from him to approach the stone ledge, unsure she’d ever seen anywhere look so pretty.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

He was behind her, one hand on her hip as he pressed into her, burying his nose in her hair. “Isn’t it?” he mumbled, though she wasn’t sure they were talking about the same thing.

“You’re really here,” she turned to look up at him, “after all these years, you came back.”

“It would have been sooner. But… things happened. And when I came back to see you, you always seemed happy with someone. I didn’t want to take that away from you.”

Guilt made her insides churn because she hadn’t been, not really. Enough to fool herself, enough to hurt herself, maybe, but she’d always known what had slipped through her fingers. “And now? How did you know I’d be here?”

His cheeks darkened. “Dee posted a picture of you guys getting ready,” he explained, a little sheepishly. “I pulled some strings. This is not actually my tux.”

“You know,” she whispered, “I had a pretty crappy year.”

“Me too.”

Lifting a hand, she pressed it to his cheek. He leaned into it, covering her hand with his own. “I never thought I’d see you again. This feels like a dream.”

“It’s not,” he replied softly. “Lemme prove it.”

She wasn’t quite expecting him to kiss her but after the split second of shock, she melted into it, wrapping her arms around his neck as his tongue slipped between her lips. The action made her moan, and he groaned in reply, clutching at her like she might disappear. When they broke apart, she felt almost high, unable to stop herself from smiling.

“We never had a chance to do that before,” she gasped breathlessly. His fingers were digging into her hips, pulling her body flush with his, and she could feel his erection through the fabric of his pants. Her body reacted with a rush of warmth between her thighs, and before she could stop herself, a lustful whine tore itself from her lips.

His gaze grew hungrier. “There’s a lot of things we never had a chance to do,” he practically growled, voice so low that she shuddered in his hold.

“There’s no one here,” she said abruptly, surprised at her own words.

Her dress was already bunching in his hands as he tugged it up. “Tell me to stop,” he grunted as he pulled the fabric higher, pressing his mouth to hers in a desperate, quick kiss. “Tell me to stop and I can wait, I promise -”

She stopped him with a deeper kiss, rubbing her hand against the bulge in his pants. “I can’t,” she whimpered.

He turned her, pulling her back against him. “You’re so beautiful,” he hummed, pulling her dress up again until it was bunched over her ass, pinning it there with his body. Sliding a hand underneath the fabric still covering her front, he rubbed his fingertips over her mound, pressing his lips to her throat. “Are you wet?”

Her answer wouldn’t come out as she struggled to process what was happening. He chuckled, working his fingers underneath the waistband of her panties, finding the answer himself when he stroked her slit. She moaned, throwing her head back against his shoulder, rubbing herself into his erection.

Two thick fingers spread her open, sinking into her with ease, and she yelped, lurching forward. The roar of the party below became clearer as she caught herself on the balcony edge. “Someone could hear,” she panted, unable to stop her hips from rocking into the same rhythm as his fingers. “They’re right below us -”

“Guess you’ll have to try and be quiet,” he replied with a low chuckle. “The fireworks will be starting soon.”

She nodded, gasping as the heel of his palm ground into her clit, thick fingers still thrusting inside her. His lips brushed the shell of her ear, and a breathy groan made her shudder and push back against him. The consistent stimulation was making her head swim; her eyes fluttered shut and her hands tightened on the stone balcony.

“Are you going to cum?” he asked. She whimpered, nodding when she couldn’t make herself speak, and he laughed again, working his fingers a little harder until the tremble that had started in her knees seized her whole body. Her cunt clenched around the intrusion, the sound of her wetness reaching her over the party noises below them, and finally, she cried out once, covering her own mouth as she shuddered around him.

His hand withdrew, leaving her bereft. She gulped down air in her brief reprieve, then inhaled sharply as his hot and heavy cock landed against her exposed bottom. He didn’t wait, thumbing the tip down until it slotted between her thighs, rubbing right against her sensitive labia. The hunger for more returned, and she tilted her hips, allowing his thick head to find its target, and she arched as each inch filled her until she could feel the soft fabric of his pants pressed against her ass. Only when he was fully sheathed did he stop, dropping his lips to the bare curve of her shoulder with a tiny, contented sigh.

“Only ever dreamed of this,” he whispered, grinding deep inside her. “Feeling you wrapped around me -” He sighed again, the same happy little noise. “Fuck -”

She whimpered his name when he pulled back to sink home again with his hands grasping her hips tightly. His height forced her to lift slightly, but he quickly bent his knees, enabling him to drive into her a little harder, forcing a squeak from her lips when he bottomed out again.

“Listen,” he grunted, leaning in close, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. Below them, the crowd was chanting, and it sounded like the whole city was too. Her lover started to count with them, slamming into her hard enough to punch the air from her lungs with every number. “Seven, six, five -”

Her pussy clenched around him, and as the countdown drew to an end, she cried out, letting the sound be drowned out by the sudden burst of fireworks that lit up the night sky. She pushed back into him as she came, and his pace quickened, his own climax filling her hot and thick as the party music struck up again from the floor below.

A pleasurable buzz left her dizzy and she clutched the balcony, letting her blurry gaze linger on the city underneath. The sensation of his withdrawal made her hum happily, and when he pulled her to her feet, she stumbled right into his arms and his kiss. His lips left her dizzier than before, and she gave him a dopey smile as he chuckled and cupped her cheek.

“Happy New Year.”

She leaned into his touch. “Happy New Year.”

“Your friends will be wondering where you are,” he murmured.

“Let them wonder,” she replied, almost drunk on him, clinging to the front of his tuxedo. “What now?”

He inhaled deeply, wrapping his arms around her. “Well, I was hoping to take you home,” he said quietly, lips twitching with a smile.

“And tomorrow?” she asked, daring to hope.

His smile became a grin. “I waited so long for this, you think I’m gonna give it up now?”

Her heart pounded as she smiled back up at him. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”

Psst, if you wanna tell me who you were imagining, send an ask or reblog 😘

[fluentmoviequoter]

hi love! i was hoping you could write more about Dalton, maybe like where he meets the reader at a Halloween party from a sorority, since Chris is trying to get him a gf. It can be kinda like a Cinderella kind of thing since everyone is wearing costumes and masks, he doesn’t know who is the mysterious girl that danced all night.

I love this idea so much!! This was a ton of fun to write! I don't think I actually said this was a Halloween party, just a masquerade party, so if you want to imagine it taking place at a different time you can. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! :)

Warnings: switches POV, movie references, fluff, maybe a little angst?. 1.8k words.

A/N: I loved writing this so much and it actually inspired me to do a Halloween Writing Party, so I'll be posting more information about that at the beginning of October! The title and the last lines are references from Another Cinderella Story (2008), and I recommend listening to the song 'Just That Girl'. :)

Just That Girl

“We should go.”

Chris looks at the party invite on the desk, then looks around like she’s entered an alternate reality.

“Who are you and what did you do with Dalton Lambert?” Chris asks.

“Chris, it’s a party where no one knows who anyone else is. It’s a party with no complications, no danger. Let’s do it.”

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I am agreeing because this will never happen again. And we can finally get you a girlfriend,” Chris states as she stands.

“It’s a party, not a date. We need masks and costumes.”

“Oh, dear Dolphin, never fear when Chris is near.”

✧✧✧✧✧

“The wig doesn’t seem excessive?” you question, holding the synthetic hair up to your head.

“No. It is entirely necessary, it pulls the whole look together,” your friend insists.

You roll your eyes but comply, tying your mask on before securing your wig over it. Your friend adds a few finishing touches before deeming you ready to go.

“I didn’t realize sororities had so many themed parties with such strict rules,” you state as you exit her bedroom.

“Yeah. Which reminds me, you aren’t allowed to take off your mask, change your costume after you arrive, or tell anyone your name.”

“My name?”

“Yep. Gotta let everyone wonder who the mysterious pretty girls are.”

As you descend the stairs, all the sorority sisters are already welcoming guests, and people are dancing and talking. You nod to your friend and go your separate ways. Walking through the growing crowd, you notice the many costumes and masks. Entering the kitchen, you’re surprised to see only two people getting drinks.

“You’re still not going to tell me where you got this costume so quickly?” the boy asks.

“Flynn Rider,” you interject, “wherever she got it, it’s a great costume.”

He looks up and smiles, the only part of his face visible. “Thanks.”

The girl looks between the two of you before walking away, asking a guy to dance as she exits the kitchen.

“Would you like to dance?” you ask.

“Sure. I’m not very good, never really danced before,” he answers, taking your hand.

“No one’s good, we just pretend to be. Let the mask give you all of the confidence you need,” you whisper conspiratorially.

He laughs, and you wrap your other hand around his forearm as you navigate through the crowd entering the kitchen. He pulls you closer and doesn’t let go until you’re on the dance floor. You interlock your fingers behind his neck, smiling at him as his hands settle on your hips. He begins swaying you as a slower song plays.

“I know we’re not supposed to talk about personal things, but the girl you came with?”

“Best friend, former roommate, constant pain.”

You laugh and lean closer to him, wondering what you would be talking about now if you were elsewhere.

“What about you? Here with someone?”

“There is no someone to bring.”

He dances with you for three slow songs before the DJ changes the music.

“One more? I love this song,” you declare as the beat speeds up.

“Your wish is my command,” he answers, bowing before following your lead.

As the song ends, your friend comes over and asks you to help her make more punch, so you tell your mystery man you’ll see him later, hoping that you really do.

✧✧✧✧✧

Dalton watches the mystery girl walk away, catching a glimpse of the clock, which says it is nearly midnight. He sets out to find Chris, wondering how he can tell who she is with all these costumes. Luckily, he hears her before he turns a corner.

“You ready to go?” she asks.

“We can hang out a while longer,” Dalton answers.

“You want to dance with mystery girl again.”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re going to try to find her tomorrow, I hope?”

“If she implies she’d be okay with it, absolutely.”

“I saw you two dancing; she’d be totally on board.”

They agree to meet in the front yard in thirty minutes and then go different ways. Dalton spots the girl walking out of the kitchen and rushes to her side.

“Any chance you have one more dance in you?”

“For you?” She responds, “Absolutely.”

✧✧✧✧✧

You sway through the end of a song, resting your head on your mystery man’s shoulder, attempting to wish your mask away. He pulls you closer, his hands on your back as he leans down to whisper in your ear.

“I have to go, my friend is waiting.”

You lean back and look at him, pouting. “You’ll find me, right?" you whisper.

“Is that what you want?”

“More than anything.” You smooth his jacket as he nods. “I’ll be waiting. Thanks for making tonight so special.”

“Would you get in trouble if I told you something personal?”

You nod, then mumble, “Unless it’s really vague.”

“If we meet again, I’d like to draw you. But for now, our time is up.”

You hold his eyes as he backs up, your shoulders slumping when he finally turns around. Closing your eyes, you force yourself to remember every detail of his smile and his eyes.

“May I have this dance?” someone asks beside you.

Watching the spot where your mystery man just left, you accept the offer to keep yourself from chasing after him.

✧✧✧✧✧

“The sorority house isn’t a good idea, is it?” Dalton asks, pacing his dorm.

“Nope. They won’t tell you anything. Those shrews will probably conspire to keep you apart.”

“Shrews?”

“If the shoe fits.”

Dalton rolls his eyes and rubs his neck as his gaze drops to the sketch on his desk. He has drawn every detail he remembered but doesn't know how to find her.

“What if you just hang out in the center quad? You'd see her eventually, right?”

“I’m not going to do that, Chris. One, super creepy. Two, tons of students walk by at different times of day, it would be nearly impossible to find her that way.”

“And obsessing over her picture to devise a plan to find her isn’t super creepy?”

“Not when she said I could.”

“Wait, if you told her that you draw, why don’t you just hang out by the art building all day? If she’s as interested as she said, which she is, may I add, she’ll find you.”

“You’re a genius, Chris!” Dalton yells as he runs outside.

“I know!”

✧✧✧✧✧

You watch all of the students exiting the art building, standing on your tiptoes to get a good look at faces. None of them appear to be your mystery man. Sighing, you drop your head and walk to your class.

✧✧✧✧✧

Dalton waits outside the art building for two days, but his mystery girl never comes.

✧✧✧✧✧

By the end of the week, you feel like crying because it seems impossible.

“You look miserable,” your friend says as she enters your room.

"Because I am.”

“Mystery man?”

You nod, looking out the window as if he'll be there.

“Don’t give up, it’s only been a few days. That party idea was stupid, I see that now.”

“Especially stupid if you fell in love with a guy whose face you haven’t even seen.”

“Alright, Cinderella, buck up and find him. You’re not doing any good sitting here.”

✧✧✧✧✧

Dalton sighs as he slips his sketchbook into his bag after class is dismissed.

“Dalton, a word?” Professor Armagan asks.

“Of course.”

“Your works recently have been different. Not bad, only different. It’s as if the energy surrounding your art has shifted.”

“What could cause that?”

“Any emotion. Has something happened recently?”

“I met a girl at a masquerade party.”

“And now you’re living a Cinderella story?” Professor Armagan asks with a smile.

“Something like that,” Dalton answers before chuckling.

“Dalton, you’re an artist. Use the girl to make the art, and the art will get the girl. Does that make sense?”

Dalton tilts his head before shaking it.

Professor Armagan pats his arm. “It will.”

As Dalton walks out of the building, he thinks about what Professor Armagan said. He doesn’t realize his bag is unzipped until someone says something.

“Excuse me? You dropped this.”

✧✧✧✧✧

You pick up the paper and call out to its owner. Unintentionally, you see the drawing and look up quickly.

“Your hair is long,” you observe as your mystery man says, “You were wearing a wig.”

“You actually drew me,” you state, holding the picture up. “I thought that was just a line or something.”

“Beauty like that has to be documented. And I needed to remember what you looked like while I was searching.”

“You looked for me? I’ve been looking for you.”

Dalton mirrors your smile, stepping closer as he takes the sketch from you.

“We had to have passed each other.”

“I waited outside the art building between my classes but never saw you,” you explain.

“I must’ve gotten out while you were in class.”

You raise a hand and brush the hair from his eyes. “The mask did a disservice. Anything that covers that face does.”

“You’re one to talk. Who convinced you to cover up that face and hair?” Dalton counters, raising his hand to hold your wrist by his face.

“Can I kiss you?” you ask. “I wanted to run after you at the party and do it.”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you more every day since,” Dalton whispers. You lean forward, and he places a hand on your waist to stop you. “Am I allowed to know who I’m kissing?”

“The girl in the picture,” you tease before telling him your name. “And I’m guessing you’re not really Eugene Fitzherbert?”

“Dalton,” he tells you.

“Well, Dalton, pleasure to meet you.”

“And you.”

You raise both hands to his jaw as you kiss him, shivering as his hands pull you closer by your waist. Tipping your head back, Dalton deepens the kiss just as you pull back.

“Will you go on a date with me? Preferably one where I can see your face?” you ask.

“I was about to ask you the same thing. I’m never letting you hide from me again.”

“Yeah, my friend called me Cinderella,” you tell him, laughing.

“My art professor said I was in a Cinderella story. She also said ‘Use the girl to make the art and the art will get the girl,’ whatever that means.”

You tap your hand against Dalton’s chest excitedly. “That’s exactly what happened!”

“So I’m the only one that doesn’t get it?”

“Dalton,” you begin, and Dalton has never heard his name sound so good. “You drew a picture of me, and then you dropped it, which is how we found each other again. You used me to make the art, and the art got me!”

Dalton smiles and nods. “I guess you’re just that girl.”

[acourtofwhatthefuck]

Fireleaf (Part Five)

Lucien Vanserra x Reader

Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four

Thank you so much for all the support I've had on this story so far <3 I cannot express to you how much my lovely friend @greeneyedivy helps with this story. I very much consider it our story, because while I do the writing, her brilliant brain cells come up and help with so many of the ideas and plot points, so she deserves just as much credit<3

Warnings: None for this part!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“A masquerade?”

Two weeks later, Dion strolled beside you, sliding his hands into his pockets. A considerable distance was kept between you as the two of you braved the crisp air.

“It’s a type of ball where everyone wears masks—”

“I know what it is,” You cut in, snorting. “I’m just not sure why we’d be invited to a masquerade ball in the Spring Court.”

“We are…tentative allies with Spring. And Lucien is a friend of the High Lord, Tamlin. We were invited out of courtesy.”

Lucien seemed to have friends all over the place — something you’d only learned from your snooping, brought about entirely by boredom, over the past fortnight.

You’d certainly noticed a change all around — namely, and gradually, in Dion’s behaviour. It seemed that without the staring eyes of gossiping nobles, he no longer felt the need to be so openly affectionate towards you; as though the public displays of your courting throughout the festival had merely been for show. The touches had begun to become less and less, few and far between. Gone were the subtle brushes against your hand, the kisses to your temple, the sweet remarks laced with suggestion. By now, all of it had been replaced with behaviour much more appropriate in a platonic relationship. You were acting like friends.

And you found yourself not even slightly bothered by that. Whether that spelled doom for your nuptials, you hadn’t decided.

“It’s seen as an honour — for one court to be invited to another’s event.” Dion said. “And it’s also not a bad thing for us to present ourselves as a good ally to their people. We’ll be decked out in Spring Court attire as a mark of respect.”

Spring Court attire. You didn’t know what that looked like. You’d never seen another court — never even glimpsed another High Lord. The idea of leaving the lands you’d grown up in and seeing, hearing, smelling an entirely new place…it almost made you giddy with excitement. It was almost enough to tune out that ever-present panic and sorrow gnawing at you.

Because Dion’s change in behaviour over the past two weeks hadn’t been the only difference that had jarred you. It was how quickly you’d been thrown into wedding preparations — how only the day after you’d sparred with Lucien, you’d been subjected to a lesson by Beron about all the important members of his court, all the vital people who would be coming to your wedding and where you would have them sit. That same afternoon, you’d pored over gown materials with the Lady of Autumn. All of it had taken off so damn fast, and had made for a chaotic two weeks that’d left you grasping, in your own time, for some sense of self. You knew you’d pushed the limits a few times – that the High Lord himself had spied you wandering places you had no business going, and taking horses out for rides without his permission. You’d even offered, at times, to help the servants with their work. To do anything that you had chosen to do, that made you feel normal. And if Beron got sick of your behaviour and sent you back to your family…well, you certainly wouldn’t be complaining.

So — yeah. You could really use some fun.

“So I get to dance and enjoy myself?” You knocked your arm into Dion’s. “Or do I have to stand by and be a pretty piece on your arm?”

“Well,” His grin was wicked. “That’s the beauty of the masks, isn’t it? They offer you enough anonymity to throw caution to the wind.”

True, you thought. You may never have been to a masquerade ball before, but you could imagine what a tantalising combination the masks and the wine and the dim lighting were. A real chance for you to let your hair down; you could have cried with relief.

“In that case,” You slowed to a stop, turning to Dion. “Perhaps that night, we can just…be Y/N and Dion. No pressure on us. No worrying about who’s watching. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”

His mischievous grin softened into a gentle smile, and he nodded. “I like the sound of that. Just Y/N and Dion.”

⤲

You were so excited, you couldn’t possibly sit still.

Already, you could feel the urge to dance rippling through your bones. Could feel the draw to a night of freedom that awaited. You wanted to slip your mask on and be somebody else for a while.

Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court, did not do things by halves — a fact you became all too aware of a week before, when he’d sent his own personal designer, tailor and seamstress to the Autumn Court to have you all appropriately outfitted for the ball. It was the first time in a while that you hadn’t cared about being poked and prodded and rotated while your measurements were taken, and a sketch of the gown you were going to wear was brought to life. The first dress in a while that you were excited to put on.

Anyone could be forgiven for thinking you were a Spring Court female, you realised, as you stared into the mirror on the night of the ball. The tulle gown was a soft, sage green, tight-fitting at the bodice and pooling to the floor in a swish of gauzy material that felt light and easy to move in. It was more daring than the gowns you wore in the Autumn Court — with delicate, off-the-shoulder sleeves that left most of your arms and shoulders exposed, and a neckline that dared to dip a tad lower than your usual dresses, you’d never felt so—

Sexy. You felt sexy. And light on your feet, and airy. And the mask that had been made to match the gown — an utter artwork in itself. It covered half of your face, and was of the same green shade as your dress. Adorned with glittering petals and jewels and stones, you’d spent a while just admiring it before you’d allowed the dresser to fasten it on your face. And perhaps your most favourite feature — the flaring green feathers on one side — possibly those of a peacock — that swept brilliantly upwards towards your hair, styled into an immaculate updo and accented with little vines of green Spring Court leaves and butterflies crafted of painted glass.

Now this — if you could wear this to your wedding, you’d marry any of the damn Vanserras.

A light rapping on the door had you straightening yourself out. You looked up, half expected to see Dion in all his finery.

Your stomach twisted a bit when the High Lord sauntered in.

You watched, in the mirror, as he approached you from behind. He didn’t yet don the mask that had been made for him, but the tailored green-and-gold brocade suit was undoubtedly a thing to behold, giving a hint of the sculpt of muscles underneath. Beron Vanserra was, indeed, a handsome male.

But inexplicable nausea always arose in you whenever he was around.

He stopped behind you, a mere hair’s-breadth away. The warmth of his breath fanned your exposed neck, and you felt yourself go rigid, taut.

“High Lord,” You greeted quietly, dipping your chin.

“Look at you,” One corner of his mouth quirked up, his eyes raking over your reflection. “My son is certainly a lucky male.”

You swallowed, wondering how subtly you could inch away. “I appreciate the compliment.”

“Hmm, I’m sure.”

You watched – watched so carefully as he slowly circled your body, stopping in front of you. Dark, empty eyes stared down into yours. Assessing. Cold.

“I don’t suppose,” He hummed, reaching out to touch a stray curl that hung loose from your hair, “that I need to remind you not to embarrass my court tonight.”

You lifted your chin. Stared up at him. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

His lips twitched into a calculating smile – like he didn’t believe your words for one second. “I would hope not,” He said. “But I’ve had my eye on you these past two weeks, since your family returned home. It would seem that you’ve been a tad restless. Perhaps you’re trying to cause trouble in the hopes that I would call off this engagement and let you leave?”

Your eyes narrowed at him. Had your behaviour, your thoughts, truly been that blatant? It threw you off – made you feel less confident before him.

And he could see that; he seemed to be aware of every minute expression on your face. The way your features were begging to be kicked up into a sneer that his mere presence naturally provoked.

He smirked, letting go of that one curl he’d been toying with. But his hand only moved inches, settling at your neck, his rough thumb sweeping strokes over your throat. “If you miss your dear family so much, we could always invite one of your sisters for another visit.”

Knowing him, he was fully aware of the tensions that existed between you and Molly – would probably send for her just to spite you–

“The youngest one — Willow, is it?” He tilted his head. “You seem to be quite fond of her. And I’ve heard she’s had some…marital issues. What a poor situation for the poor lamb to find herself in. Our court is always open, should she ever crave a higher echelon of Autumn males.” That wolfish smirk widened. “I think Jareth got quite taken with her, too.”

You knew you’d frozen, gone entirely rigid – and not because of his hand still brushing your neck. Sickness unfurled inside of you like a wave, and you wanted to reach, to grab for anything to steady yourself. For Beron to be so aware of your closeness with Willow…for him to have already concocted calculating thoughts about it, to now be standing in front of you with a glimmer of threat in his eyes, his voice…

You swallowed. Eased yourself back a step. “My sister is unavailable for the foreseeable future. But I thank you, High Lord, for your thoughtfulness.” Gods, the pleasantries were nauseating. They physically pained you.

And Beron could see that. He seemed to be trying to rein in a laugh as he flicked his gaze over you once more. “I’m glad we have an understanding. If you behave as you’re expected to, I’m sure no measures will have to be taken.”

Such clear calculation in his words and his tone. And yet all you could do – for Willow – was dip your chin in acknowledgement. That you understood his threat. That you would heed it, like the obedient little female you were.

“Come.” The High Lord straightened himself out, offering you his arm. “I shall escort you to the sitting room. The others are waiting. We don’t want to be late.”

⤲

They were lined up in a row. All five of them.

And yet you stopped dead in the doorway. Gaped at them. Eris was the only one you could pick out immediately – only because he favoured having his hair cropped much shorter than that of his brothers’.

But the similarities between the other four were almost frightening. They all wore the same tailored outfits – a deep green, velvet version of Beron’s, accented with leaves. All had the same green-and-gold, cat-like masks that covered half of their faces, leaving the full lips and sharp jawlines as the only real visible things. And with Dion, Lucien, Jareth and Rian all leaving their long, red hair unbound, cascading around their shoulders, it took you a moment of intense scrutiny to actually pick your fiance out of the four of them.

Took Dion stepping out of line, towards you, for you to be absolutely sure.

“Mother above, look at you.” He grinned, his eyes flicking over you in appreciation. “I hope I get to dance with you before you’re stolen away from me.”

You smiled, inclining your head in thanks. “You clean up quite nicely yourself.”

He reached a hand out to you. “Shall we?”

His hand was warm, as you slid yours into it – not at all like Beron’s touch on your skin. And you found yourself sidling closer to Dion, found yourself wanting to make sure you didn’t catch yourself alone again any time soon.

“Let’s go,” Beron stepped forward. “I’ll not have us being late.”

And so Beron joined hands with the Lady of Autumn. Eris with Lucien and Jareth with Rian. And in a sweep of lurching darkness, you each jumped from Autumn to Spring.

⤲

The smells hit you first. Crisp and floral. Like freshly mown grass and rose petals.

Your group came to a stop on what appeared to be the lawn – though the size of it was more like a damn field. And as your eyes took in the sights before you…the pinks and oranges as the sun set over Tamlin’s estate, the expertly-trimmed hedges, the masses of different plants and flowers and trees, flowing fountains and pristine walkways that wended throughout it all…the only thing you could do was gape in utter awe.

If it looked like this in the dying light of evening time…you could only imagine its beauty first thing in the morning. Or bathed in warm afternoon sun rays.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Dion smiled, also drinking in the sights.

Behind you, Jareth scowled. “If it doesn’t make your nostrils sting, yes.”

“I seem to remember you complaining about that the last time you visited, Jareth.”

Every one of you turned at the deep, gravelly voice that came from behind. And it took only one sweep of your eyes to know that this — this was Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court.

You’d heard about him, of course. Heard that he was quietly handsome and rugged. Heard that he could shift into a beast on command. You believed that was entirely possible as you studied the broad expanse of his muscles. The male was huge.

And looking directly at you.

He, too, was showcasing what you were quickly realising was considered Spring Court Green. And he looked every bit the High Lord with his golden locks flowing around his face and the glimmer of emerald eyes you peeked through his mask of the same colour.

“You must be Y/N.” He greeted you politely. “Welcome to my court.”

You dipped your chin. “It’s very beautiful.”

“What, I don’t get a special greeting anymore, Tam?”

You glanced round — just in time to see Lucien step forward, the biggest smile on his face you’d ever seen. It was glowing, breathtaking. All you could do was stare.

“As if you don’t visit often enough and eat all my food?” Tamlin’s answering smile was just as broad. He clasped Lucien’s arms. “You’re looking well, friend.”

You watched the interaction, trying not to gape…because in the time you’d been at the Vanserra Estate, you’d never seen Lucien show the tenderness for his family that he currently displayed, unguarded, to Tamlin. It stirred something inside you that you couldn’t quite place a finger on.

Maybe…maybe there were other places that Lucien felt more at home.

“Thank you, again, for the invite, Tamlin.” Beron stepped forward. His strained voice told you just how rarely he thanked anyone for anything, but he squared his shoulders and forced himself to be pleasant.

“It’s my pleasure.” Tamlin smiled, and you tried not to gawk at the pure radiance of it. He turned to you and Dion. “And, of course, myself and my court extend our deepest congratulations on the news of your engagement. Shall we go in?”

Huge he may have been, but he was a picture of utter grace as he turned and headed towards the ginormous doorway – that was, until Lucien playfully shoved him, and then draped an arm around his shoulders. You watched the whole display as the rest of you followed; read the ease and lightness with which Lucien walked. An ease and lightness he never seemed to possess around his blood.

You glanced at his brothers. All of them had seen, and yet none of them seemed to care.

The thought made your shoulders slump slightly.

“Don’t be nervous.” Dion slid a hand to the small of your back. Misread your demeanour entirely. “Remember what we said. Just Y/N and Dion.”

You tried not to think about how odd it sounded as you followed him to the wine.

⤲

Such a brilliant thing – faerie wine. Not that you’d ever had the opportunity to try much else, but Linden had once told you of a time he’d drunk human wine – and likened it to muddy water.

But within two hours, every reservation, every worry, every sad thought…just gone. The other masked, dancing people around you didn’t matter as Dion spun you around in his arms, and the two of you laughed and chatted like there was nobody else in the huge ballroom. You were…euphoric. On top of the world. And if this was what it was like to be on Dion’s arm…you thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

He gripped hold of your hand, spinning you with a fluidity that he, himself, didn’t quite match. He wasn’t a bad dancer by any means, just…not a natural. Not light-footed and nimble like Eris had been when you’d danced with him on the final night of the festival. But with the wine, with the music, the masks…none of it mattered. You felt like you were walking on air.

“Shit.” Dion snorted as he watched his own steps, his back and shoulders stiff. “I’m definitely not a natural dancer.”

You grinned up at him, a laugh bubbling from your lips that was barely loud enough to be heard beneath the music. “Not a natural, no. Not smooth like Eris.”

He scowled playfully, his hands landing on your hips. “Eris is a show-off. He practises this shit in the mirror – do not tell him I told you that.”

You couldn’t help laughing again, throwing your head back and leaning into the pure joy you felt in that moment. It felt good to enjoy yourself. To enjoy someone else. And even though you were flushed all over, and giddy, and the mask was tight on your face and the dress too hot on your body, you thought you might like to stay like this forever. To dance, smile, laugh, forever.

The room was big enough that you only got the odd glimpse of Vanserra hair – but aside of recognising the short length of Eris’s, there was no telling which brother passed you by, or which was dancing with the pretty Spring Court girls, or which was necking wine at the tables pushed against the wall. And you liked it this way – the anonymity. Having a night where no eyes – not even Beron’s – were interested in following you.

“How about,” You grinned up at Dion, placing a hand against his chest, “you go and grab us some more drinks, and when you get back, I’ll show you how to relax your posture.”

Dion snorted, brushing long, orange locks from his face. “Alright — deal.” He squeezed your waist. “I’ll be back.”

Pressing his lips to your fingers once, he released his hold on you and disappeared into the sea of people, the sight of him becoming swallowed up immediately by flamboyant masks and extravagant gowns and the slick dances happening around you. You stepped just slightly out of the way, watching from the sidelines, in utter awe of the lethal precision of the moving bodies.

It only occurred to you – as you waited and waited for Dion’s return – just how thirsty you were. But you wanted to get back out there, to throw yourself into the hands of the music and feel alive. You fidgeted restlessly as one song drifted into another, the beat quicker, more frenzied. When it was nearing the end, and Dion still hadn’t returned, you scowled and pushed your way through the crowd. No doubt, he’d got distracted talking to somebody.

Hands grabbed for you as you passed, trying to pull you into dances that you politely declined. Your eyes scanned for every flash of red and orange in your periphery – bouncing over Eris, who was dancing expertly with a light-footed female, and a woman wearing a mask bedecked with glistening rubies; another who twirled around in a gauzy gown of a burnt orange colour. Another song was starting by the time you finally spotted your fiance – sure enough engrossed in a conversation with a Spring Court male, an almost-finished glass of wine in his hand. He turned away from the male as though he’d sensed your approach.

“Hey!” You reached him, grabbing his hand. “Come on. Don’t worry about the drinks. I wanna dance.”

You didn’t wait for his reaction – didn’t wait for him to finish his conversation, prising his drink from his hand and setting it aside. You were light as air and euphoric as you dragged him back onto the dance floor, twirling your way around the other dancers and finding your way to the middle. You preferred it there – felt more secure. More…anonymous.

The two of you fell into the dance easily, that extra glass of wine having done wonders for his fluidity. One of Dion’s hands clasped yours whilst the other was secured at your waist. His grip on you was firm, pleasant, and you couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt so good as he pulled you around, matching your steps and keeping up with you. Clearly, you hadn’t given him enough credit – he was a much better dancer once he relaxed and let go.

“I love this one,” You shouted over the frenzied tune, barely loud enough to reach him. “The rise and fall of the notes – all of it. I love it.”

“You know this music?” His voice floated to you as he spun you around confidently, brilliantly, all earlier reservations about his dancing gone.

“I never cared much for dancing as a girl,” You fell into step, your front pressing against his, “Because it was something I had to do, I didn’t like it. But when Linden began to train me, he made me realise that what I wanted to learn from him, and what I hadn’t wanted to learn from my dance teacher, were actually very similar things. He took me to a dance, once, to prove it – and this was played there.”

“And you enjoyed dancing that night?”

You smiled at the memory, nodding as you moved with him. “I did – I think for the first time ever. Because I had chosen to go with Linden that night. I had chosen to dance that night. And I realised that was all I’d wanted.”

“Choice.” Dion stared intensely down at you, your glazed eyes snagging on the moving lights and shapes behind him. “Because choice makes a whole world of difference – doesn’t it?”

It did. And to hear him say it meant more to you than he probably realised. To know that he understood…that you may not have been each other’s choices, but he understood, still, what it meant to you.

He got you. And you…you thought you got him.

It made some small, fiery thing alight inside you. A thought that perhaps…perhaps this didn’t need to be doomed, just because you hadn’t chosen it for yourself. That you didn’t need to oppose it on mere principle.

Dion was a good male. A good male who listened to you, who got you. And here, like this, in his arms…his hands touching you, his hair splaying around him beautifully as the two of you spun around, his presence that felt safe and right…you thought that maybe you could choose him.

Thought, for the first time, that maybe you wanted to.

You stared up at him, the upbeat song coming to an end and transitioning into one that was slower, much more sensual. Both of his hands immediately tried to pull you into a more languid dance – but you stilled him. Met his gaze with your own.

“What is it?” He cocked his head.

You didn’t answer. Merely cupped the back of his neck with your hand and pulled his face down to yours.

The dancers around you didn’t spare you a glance as you caught him in a searing kiss. Burning. Passionate.

And without even a second of hesitation, he was kissing you back immediately, his hands sliding around your waist.

The kiss was deliciously hard as he lifted you just slightly, enough for your body to press against his. Enough for you to slide your hand into the silken strands of his hair and somehow pull him closer to you, to press his mouth firmer against yours.

It was the most delicious, heady kiss you’d ever had. And you wanted more – to taste his tongue around yours, to inhale that delicious scent – the familiar, earthy smell that all Autumn males seemed to have, but tinged with something different tonight. Something that bizarrely made you think of early morning daylight, wrapped up in crisp bedsheets. Perhaps the result of Autumn and Spring mingling. Whatever it was, you wanted to gulp it down greedily.

But neither of you had taken a breath. And only when you were both gasping for air, huffing into each other’s mouths, did you pull away.

You stared at each other, chests heaving, breaths panting. Dion glanced at your lips again.

“More.” His voice was a deep growl as he took your face in both of his hands and leaned in, the music seeming to encase that one, daring word just between the two of you–

But his kiss didn’t have a chance to land as another dancer backed into you. As she stumbled, her wine flute slipping from her hand and tipping towards your dress. Dion tried to pull you out of its path, but the liquid had already sloshed over one side of the gown.

The young female blanched, blinking at you. “Oh gods—I’m so sorry—”

Her eyes caught the vibrant shade of Dion’s hair, and you could see — see the fear in her eyes, her mind already considering what Beron Vanserra’s reaction might be to someone embarrassing a member of his court — even by accident.

“It’s absolutely fine.” You tried to make your face as reassuring as possible behind your mask. “No harm done.”

“Your dress—”

“It was an accident,” Dion leaned down, collecting the fallen flute and returning it to her outstretched hand.“We were…distracted.”

The woman’s wide eyes tugged at your heart enough for you to gently lay a hand on her arm. “Don’t worry about it — really. I just need to clean up.”

She dipped her chin in thanks — looked so grateful, you thought she might well up. You turned to Dion before she could, shooting him a flustered gaze, your eyes once again snagging on his lips.

“I’ll meet you back out here once I’ve sorted this.” You said.

He nodded — and glanced at your lips, too, before you turned from the mass of dancing bodies.

⤲

It took so long — so long for you to wash the wine out and dry your dress that by the time you returned to the ballroom, some of your intoxication had lifted. You felt clearer, less foggy — and just as ready to dive into the dancing as you were before.

Your lips were still tingling from Dion’s kiss. And the fact that he so readily, so greedily, wanted to kiss you back…you liked it. Felt the undeniable tug of something deep inside you that was thrilling and giddying and beautiful. You wanted more of it. To kiss him again. Feel his big, steady hands clutching you again.

The formation of dancers was far different when you returned. Instead of couples filling the floor, small groups clustered in circles all around the room, their hands joining. You frowned, searching for the brilliant orange hair of your fiance — and felt a warm, gentle hand grab yours.

“There you are,” Dion’s voice filled your ears as he leaned down. “The circle dance is just starting. Come on.”

You turned in his arms, smiling up at him. “The what?”

“A Spring Court dance,” His answering grin was wicked. “You have two circles, see?” He pointed to the group closest to you. “An inner circle and an outer circle.”

Sure enough, inside the ring of dancers — around ten of them joining hands — was another identical one. They each faced the person in front of them.

“The music plays, and one circle dances clockwise while the other dances anti-clockwise,” Dion explained. “And then when the music stops, you have to kiss whoever is in front of you.”

You snorted, smiling up at him – and almost blinked at the dusting of pink creeping up his neck. The way he swallowed hard – nervously, his earlier confidence gone. It warmed your heart, and you knew…knew that your eyes said it all, that they were reassuring. That you were going into it knowing who you wanted to kiss when the music stopped. That you wanted to kiss him again.

“It’s starting.” He smiled, tugging you over to the group. “You join the inner circle, I‘ll join the outer.”

And so you did just that, joining hands with two Spring Court females as Dion stood in position in front of you. And then the music began.

It was like…taking off. You wondered if this was what flying felt like, as you gave over the control in your body and allowed yourself to be pulled into motion. Your surroundings blurred, the speed of the dance picking up with the tempo of the music, and then there was nothing but you and light and music and flashing shapes. You could feel yourself laughing, feel your head falling back in ecstasy as you spun and spun, and you didn’t know how you hadn’t been entirely lifted off your feet — nor did you care. Not as you became the music.

And then as fast as it had taken off, it stopped. The music halted, and you were yanked to a standstill, your head still spinning as you forced your feet to ground you. Your laughter mingled with that of the other dancers.

With that of Dion’s, who had stopped in place before you.

“What a coincidence,” He chuckled deeply, gazing at you as the other partners leaned towards each other.

You snorted, stepping forward. Your hand reached for his, fingers brushing. “That it is.”

That one hand latched onto yours, the other coming to cup your jaw. Dion stared down at you, and he seemed to be…to be nervous, as he swiped his bottom lip with his tongue and released a breath. Because this was different — not the heat of the moment first kiss you’d shared earlier, when no one had paid attention. It felt more naked, somehow, now. Like he was trying to grasp for any scraps of his earlier confidence with people watching — expecting — this kiss.

You smiled reassuringly — communicated, with your eyes, that you wanted this — again. And the room seemed to melt around you.

He leaned down. Pressed his lips to yours. You reached up to touch your free hand to his cheek.

It was a different kiss…to the one you’d shared earlier. Not as passionate or searing, but…soft. Sweet. How you supposed your first kiss should have been, unlike the surging need you’d shared in the middle of the dance floor. Dion’s lips were almost tentative, careful…and maybe it was just because of the many other people around you, or perhaps because you’d sobered up a bit, that it was just…different. Not bad. Different.

But you didn’t care; not as the lightness in you continued. The best you’d felt in weeks. In a year.

You buried your fingers in Dion’s hair, deepening the kiss just slightly—

And he broke away – no, was pulled away, you realised, as he was yanked into a different circle of dancers. Your heart was thudding, mind reeling and cheeks scorching as you touched your fingers to your lips, just managing to dodge out of the way as a Spring Court female tried to tug you closer.

You smiled politely, stepping back. The room was heavy, pressing, and you knew if you didn’t feel the brush of fresh air on you soon, you may just collapse.

“Fresh air.” Was all you explained, before turning on your feet.

You’d already lost sight of Dion completely, the music once again picking up as you wended your way through the sea of bodies, some still dancing, some still kissing – some just talking. You didn’t have a clue where you were going, but the press of cool night air and the sudden influx of floral scents told you that you were headed in the right direction. You turned a corner, pushing through a pair of huge double doors, and found yourself stepping out into the sprawling gardens.

An inky, starry sky bore down on you as you came to a stop on a private patio. A few people milled about, strolling through the hedges, but nobody seemed to care that you were there. It helped you to relax as you pressed your back against the wall, feeling the cold bite of the concrete seeping through your dress.

You gazed up at those stars, breaths still heaving as you smiled to yourself. Tonight had been…fun. The best night you’d had in a while. Perhaps even the best night you’d had since you’d found out you were to be married, over a year ago now. Your mind had been so crowded since that day Barric had come to your family’s estate; crowded and suffocating, with barely any relief.

But tonight had been a relief. Tonight, you’d felt more like yourself than you had in a long time. The feeling was beautiful, familiar, and you were excited to carry on that way, to lean into the euphoria and light you’d craved for so long–

Until someone snorted from beside you.

You started, pushing off the wall. You turned back to the doors to find Lucien leaning against the frame, no longer wearing his mask. He stared at you with an unreadable expression, cocking an eyebrow.

You shrugged. Stared back at him questioningly. “Problem?”

“You know,” He chuckled, stepping out onto the patio, his boots clipping against the concrete, “For someone who claims to not want to be caught with her hand between her legs, you sure seem eager to replace that hand with the first male that walks by.”

You gawked at him.

Gawked at him, and clenched your hands at your side.

You’d barely run into him over the past fortnight. Certainly not shared a word between you, and his glances were sparse and scathing, too.

And yet here he was, mouthing off. Again.

“What did you just say to me?” You demanded.

Lucien shrugged – the picture of ease, as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “I don’t think you need me to repeat myself, Lady.”

“If you have a problem with me kissing my soon-to-be husband,” You snapped, “Perhaps you should peel your eyes away and go annoy someone else. It’s not like we won’t be doing far more than that on our wedding night.”

Lucien snorted again, shaking his head. “At least you know what’s expected of you, I suppose. I see you’ve really thrown yourself into the role.”

You were entirely lost for words as he stared at you, his lips twitching – perhaps to smirk, or perhaps to sneer. You didn’t feel like waiting around to find out – especially not if he seemed hell-bent on ruining your good mood.

So you squared your shoulders and brushed past him.

“How about minding your own damn business, Lucien?” You murmured, and slipped back inside, the warmth enveloping you immediately.

And you didn’t look back to find out which one it was – a smirk or a sneer. Or perhaps both. His eyes remained on your back as you strode away, and something told you that he probably knew–

That for whatever reason, his words got to you far more than they should.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[dizzycloudzzz]

Let's talk about Grom

With them in the epilogue phase

What if

It were a Masquerade Ball?

Cause it's cool and

Masked

Everyone arriving at the party in the University of Wild Magic with their fancy costumes

And let's use the ✨Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir✨ effect and pretend no one can recognize someone with a mask

Luz would be courting Amity saying "hey, mrs. cotton-candy-haired goddess, will u grant me this dance? 😼" "sorry, I was waiting for my- oh, OH, yes, suddenly I have an urge to dance" and they pretend they don't know each other to have their romantic night, using cute code names like "Azura" and "Hecate"

Boscha put apple blood (this thing has alcohol 💀) in the punch just for the heck of it, she looks like a goth diva at this grom BTW

Willow is dancing among other witches

Dancing is what to do (to do)

Dancing's when I think of you (of you)

Dancing's what clears my soul (my soul)

Dancing's what makes me whole (me whole)

She's enjoying the vibe, POOR HER WITHOUT KNOW SHE IS GOING TO BE THE GROM QUEEN THIR YEAR 👹 anyway

Gus thought wearing just a mask would be silly so he decided to use illusion magic to actually be a new character, then Matt is flirting with Gus without knowing who he is (he knows... he definitely knows, don't tell anyone), Gus is enjoying every second, he thinks it's fun, his other name is Avery for a ✨Cosmic Frontier✨ reference

I dunno why I like the thought of Vee, Edric and Emira chilling together, but it's certainly canon (in my head)

And then there's Hunter, he's... He's being the wolf of the party.

Don't judge this guy, he gains a lot of confidence when he has a mask on, so imagine him getting on top of a table and suggesting a witches duel- DANCE BATTLE he meant, and then everyone clap and agrees with him cause if you look in a dictionary THIS MAN is the definition of "cool", or almost that

CALL HIM CALEB (YES HE'S CREATIVE AS HELL) AND MAKE ROOM ON THE DANCE FLOOR, HE IS GOING

Yeahhhhhhhhh I spent a lot of time thinking about one thing... One specific thing...

HUNTLOW DANCE GROM AND I'LL NEVER GET OVER THIS (EVEN CAUSE IT NEVER HAPPENED DAMN ☠️☠️☠️

I make animations just like my face (horrible but hardworking

WILLOW IS WITHOUT HER GLASSES SO SHE HAS NO IDEA WHO SHE IS DANCING WITH but she likes to imagine it's Hunter

Whether or not Hunter is a little shy and fakes a voice so that this one doesn't recognizes him (if she is who he's thinking she is), don't tell his secret, WHO'S HUNTER? IDK

Let them have their moment 💚💛

[twisted-fanboy]

His Kiss

|Hello everyone who see this. I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful day or night.

Leona, Jamil, and Kalim (separate) x A Male Reader.

The scenario: There is a masquerade ball in which the boys were invited to. Leona was invited because he is the second born prince. While in Kalim and Jamil's, Kalim was invited due to his family and Jamil was his plus one. The ball is for the first prince and heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. During the ball they meet the handsome prince. Who just so happens to be their crush from school as well.

Warnings: Minor spoilers for chapter 4.|

Leona:

Leona hated a lot but one thing he hated the most was his naps being interrupted. He was on a holiday from school and was just planning on sleeping. His plans were quickly foiled by his brother. Here he was pampered up for a ball. He remembered this prince once a very long time ago. He couldn't really remember the encounter so it was nothing to him. The ball was for officially declaring him as heir. Leona had argued with his brother for two whole hours about him not going as it was pointless. He would've snuck off to take a nap until the whole ordeal was over but his brother was watching him closely. He was even getting annoyed with his nephew talking his ear off.

(Y/N) was ready to leave his own ball. After all he hated these things. Fake people trying to get in his good grace all cause he was heir to the throne. He hated getting dressed up and being treated like he was better than others. He loved being at Night Raven College for that reason. No one really knew of his status and he was able to be himself. He gave a sigh at the scene of everyone dancing. He knew his parent set this up to try and get him to find a partner.

The Savanaclaw student noticed a man off to the corner that looked a bit familiar. His long brown hair and green eyes hidden by a mask. Upon closer look there was no way that wasn't his dorm leader. He remembered Leona being the second born prince of the Afterglow Savana. He figured Leona wouldn't recognize him. Dancing with him might also provide you with some entertainment. He walked over and put on a smile. "Excuse me may I have this next dance?" He asked offering a hand. He chose to ignore the glare he was getting from the future king. Leona's nephew surely did love his uncle.

Leona looked at the person. He saw beautiful eyes and a hair color that matched his current crush. The person was wearing a heavy cologne which made it hard to tell his natural scent. He looked around and saw his brother encouraging the action with two thumbs up. While his nephew clung to his leg with pleading eyes. "My apologies but I must refuse. I don't feel like dancing." Leona answered. Since the man looked so much like his little herbivore that he liked he did consider it. However The lion seeing his brother encourage it made him refuse. He saw the other give a laugh which caused him to glare slightly.

(Y/N) heard whispers all around about how Leona had rejected the heir of the kingdom they were currently in. He could only imagine the comments of shock and jealousy his dorm leader heard. "Then may I steal you for a moment to have a chat?" He asked. His dorm leader grabbed his hand nodding not looking around this time. He could tell the lazy lion seemed bothered by all of the noise. The two walked out to a balcony away from all of the noise.

The lion crossed his arms when they got out there. "So what do you want to talk about?" He asked. "Oh nothing really. You just seemed annoyed with all the noise Prince Leona. Plus it was an excuse for me to be able to leave." The heir stated with a smug smile. He received an amused smirk from Leona. "You're pretty bold. You remind me of a dorm member I know." He stated leaning on the railing. The other watched the lion's tail sway a bit.

(Y/N) leaned against the railing. "Wow I feel honored that Prince Leona thinks I'm bold." He teased. The two talked for a while longer. completely ignoring the ball. When they were about to part ways the heir decided to be really bold. He leaned close and kissed his dorm leader's cheek. If Leona hated it he can pretend it never happened. It didn't seem like the lion recognized him anyways. He turned around. "It was nice ditching my ball with you Prince Leona." He said as he as about to leave. He felt something tug at his arm. Next thing he knew his heart was racing as his lips met the other's. He stared wide eyed at green eyes.

(Y/N) felt jealous of his Prince guise at this moment until Leona removed his mask. "You know herbivore I couldn't tell who you were because of the cologne you were wearing but no that it has worn off your scent is easy to detect. It seems like you liked me as much as I did you. Hiding the fact you're a Prince from me. That seems like that warrants you owing me something wouldn't you agree?" The lion said breaking the kiss. He removed his mask and showed his super smug face. While your face became a dark red. He held you close as you lost the function to speak.

Jamil:

Jamil was dragged along Kalim to a royal masquerade. He was of course just Kalim's escort. He had no idea about anything going on other than it's for a prince or something. He was off to the side watching Kalim very closely. That was the entire reason he was there. "Jamil! You should enjoy yourself. You don't have to babysit me." Kalim said with a smile. Jamil raised a brow giving him a look. "What if an attempt is made on your life while I am having fun?" He asked. He watched Kalim think for a second. "How about we have fun together then." Kalim said before dragging him to the dance floor.

(Y/N) was bored this ball sucked. He was off at the corner. He was supposed to find a proper suitor for when he becomes king. He stood off to the side with his knight. He refused anyone that asked him to dance. He watched those on the dance floor with his arms crossed. "My price you need to at least agree to dance with someone." His knight stated. He rolled his eyes choosing to ignore the words. Then someone caught his eyes. He was stunned at the dancing. He walked closer to get a better look. His eyes widened when he realized that the two dancing was his dorm leader and his vice dorm leader.

The Prince was surprised to see them both here. He figured Kalim got an invite and Jamil was dragged along. His eyes became focus on Jamil. His movements were so smooth. He seemed to get lost in the music. The prince had already fallen for the other why did he have to be at this ball. He walked over after the song ended. "Excuse me may I have the next dance." The moment he asked there was a lot of gasps heard. Jamil's eyes lit up in surprise. There was no doubt the vice dorm leader recognized the prince. Kalim seemed to recognize the other as well. The prince gave a small smile holding out a hand.

Jamil was about to refuse before he was shoved forward by Kalim. "Of course he'd love to dance with you." The white haired boy stated. Jamil quickly resisted with a scowl on his face. "Kalim I have to watch over you." He said in protest. "My knight can watch him. He's trained against assassination attempts. Please Jamil I only wish to dance with you." (Y/N) said with a hopeful look. Jamil looked away with the faintest blush. He hated that look on the Scarabia student. "I can't it's irresponsible. Should anything happen to Kalim I'd get in a lot of trouble." Jamil stated. "My Prince I agree it is irresponsible." The knight said. Jamil's eyes widened when heard that. Kalim also seemed a bit shocked at the words.

"My Prince?" The two Scarabia heads asked surprised. They saw the prince frown and give a pointed look to his knight. "Yeah I am the eldest prince of this kingdom. Though I don't want to be." He mumbled the last part. Jamil had barely caught his words. Jamil felt his heart drop the person he liked was so far out of his league. How could he a future free servant be able to love a prince. (Y/N) grabbed Jamil's hand and started leading him out. He looked at his knight. "Don't let anything happen to Kalim. I can handle myself if anything happens." He ordered. He dragged the long hair boy through the halls to somewhere private.

He gripped Jamil's hands. "Please don't be angry. I really need to talk to you." The prince begged. Jamil felt very conflicted. He wasn't angry at his crush but more so the fact society would frown on any relationship they might of had. "Why did you drag me off and not Kalim? People might make assumptions" He said. Jamil saw the prince frown at that statement. "I could care less what all those pricks think. I don't want you to have any misunderstanding. Plus Kalim isn't the person I like romantically." He said the last part very quietly. He looked a bit dejected. He felt upset that the long haired male seemed to reject the idea that the prince cares about him. Jamil became very aware of what the other meant.

Jamil noticed that the music could still be heard. He grabbed the others' hand. He started leading him in a dance. "No don't go sulking without talking this through with me." He said and saw the other blush. "Does this mean you like me as well?" The prince asked. Jamil blushed looking away with a small nod. He figured that he shouldn't be the only flustered person. He leaned in and gave the prince a kiss. "We will have a lot of obstacles proceeding I hope you're aware." He said as he pulled away. He saw a determined look on the Prince's face. "I could care less about them I'd deal with them all if it meant I could be with you." He said moving closer to the other. The moment was quickly ruined by two idiots falling with a now open door. Jamil quickly covered his face seeing Kalim and the knight.

The Prince quickly grabbed Jamil's hand again. "Don't follow us again." He shouted as they made their way to the garden. He didn't want to deal with anymore confrontations. Jamil was a blushing mess. Kalim had heard that all and he wouldn't be able to face the other for a week. He knew that all of Scarabia would be able to know about his new relationship. He couldn't handle the thought of that. "So much for not leaving Kalim alone." He joked with a smile.

Kalim:

(Y/N) gave a sigh. He wanted to have some fun away from the ball. He knew that a lot of people had hidden motives. He had stepped out of the ball room to get away from the noise when he came back he saw a guest leading everyone in a dance. This peaked the Prince's interest. He walked over and immediately saw crimson eyes with white hair. Not even a mask could disguise his dorm leader. He gave a laugh and a smile. He walked over to greet Jamil while Kalim was having a blast.

"Oh (Y/N) what are you doing here?" Jamil said seeming a bit surprised. "I was invited because of my family. Kalim sure knows how to be the center of attention doesn't he?" The prince lied. He could tell Jamil didn't buy his story and had a nervous smile. "If you wish to lie you might want to try it on someone else. So want to try again? There's no need to lie to me." Jamil asked crossing his arms. The Prince was saved by their dorm leader coming over. He seemed surprised to see Jamil talking with someone. "Who are you talking to?" He asked excited to see the other making friends. Jamil gave a raised brow to the question.

The prince gave a laugh. Kalim was really bad at recognizing other's faces. He just had his hair done and a mask. "Kalim I am a member of your dorm." He said with a smile. Jamil was looking at him. "Hey don't dodge my questions." He said. The Prince was clearly looking for a way out of that situation. "Kalim would you mind having the next dance with me?" (Y/N) asked wanting to get away from his vice dorm leader. He gave a sigh of relief when the crimson eyed boy eagerly agreed. He got dragged away from Jamil. "Sorry Jamil. Maybe I will answer your question later." He said. This felt like a double win. He got away from a mini interrogation and he gets to dance with his crush.

The two danced with a lot of energy. (Y/N) couldn't get rid of his smile as they danced. He did have to ignore a lot of jealous looks directed to Kalim. He leaned close to the other's ear. "Would you like to see something cool?" He whispered. Kalim thought for a second. He definitely didn't mind spending time with the other. Kalim was unsure if the other noticed his small shiver when he whispered in his ear. The other's voice shook his heart and made him feel intense feelings of like. He gave a nod finally. Kalim hoped Jamil wouldn't mind him leaving for a bit.

Kalim was lead away by (Y/N). He felt excited as the other held his hand while leading him. He heard something when they were leaving. "Do you think our Prince likes that boy?" They asked. His eyes widened. "Wait (Y/N) you're a prince?!" He shouted in surprise when they were alone. The other looked a bit startled. His expression very quickly became bashful. "Yeah but that doesn't matter to much to be." He said rubbing his neck.

Kalim seemed surprised but gave a brighter smile. "Don't worry I won't treat you any differently. Cause you are still my friend." He said grabbing the prince's hand happily. The prince blushed darkly. His heart was racing incredibly fast. He couldn't believe his dorm leader. Why did Kalim have to be so cute. The promise put his mind at ease. The two arrived to a fountain in the courtyard. The water shined brightly under the night sky.

(Y/N) watched Kalim remove his mask. He did the same. "Hey Kalim may I do something?" He asked and watched his dorm leader nod. "Of course. I trust you." H answered and got a kiss on the cheek. Kalim smiled brightly after a small pout. "(Y/N) You missed." Kalim said before pulling them into a short and sweet kiss. The two long forgotten about the ball until Jamil came and dragged them back.

[mvsicinthedvrk]

valentines minievent masquerade ball starter call!

i'm limiting each to only a few starters but may add more slots later. i tried to include some baisc information about what everyone is doing, though this is not technically a ~plotting~ call. but if you want to plot beforehand, just send me a dm-- otherwise, if you request a starter, i'll take a look at your plotting/starter call and just come up with something that seems like it'd make sense. please only request 3-4 total starters, since i have limited characters and want to make sure i can write with everyone! thanks for your consideration!

wei wuxian-- going with lan wangji! he's going to be dragging his husband lan zhan around the museum to see absolutely everything, and he'll spend a good deal of the night on the dance floor, too. last valentines day was a disaster, so he's looking forward to having a nice time for once, without worrying. he's very naturally chatty, so if your muse needs someone to talk with, he's right there. wei wuxian starters for wen qing (kasey), jiang yanli (aria), ??-- (2/3)

xie lian-- going with hua cheng! not only does he get to spend valentines day with his memories finally intact, but the ball also falls during spring festival, which xie lian cares very much about. so he's looking forward to having a wonderful time with all the people he loves. if he separates from hua cheng at all during the evening, he'll try to find his friends, and he'll share a dance or a snack with anyone. shoutout to mu qing, who helped him choose his outfit. xie lian starters for feng xin (kasey), kieran hunter (atlas), shen qiao (june), sophie hatter (maig), ?? -- (4/5)

he xuan-- going with shi qingxuan! he xuan imagines he'll likely be here until the very end of the ball, given how enthusiastic his date is about these sorts of things. he'll basically just be going along with whatever qingxuan wants to do, and won't try to draw much attention to himself. he'll also be found near the snack table for a good portion of the evening. he xuan starters for shi qingxuan (sunny), patch (atlas), ??-- (2/3)

sha hualing-- she's neither going with a planned date nor a blind date, though she's keeping an eye out for hunter lance-sharpe at the ball. sha hualing will mostly be finding interesting places to take photos, and see if she can be a nuisance to her friends on dates. she's never opposed to causing a little trouble either. sha hualing starters for doom (atlas), zoe rivas (hali), ?? - (2/3)

liu qingge-- on a blind date with tadashi hamada (atlas's muse)! so qingge has no charisma. he has no romantic experience. he has no real understanding of what valentines day is, and his mask will barely count as a mask. but he should get points for being here at all, truly. he will do his best to stick it out for a few hours. liu qingge starters for ?? - (0/3)

dongfang qingcang-- going with xiao lanhua, with extraordinary reluctance. he will immediately look for reasons why they should head home before chaos strikes. in fact, chaos is just another name for xiao lanhua left unsupervised so it's not looking like the night will be in his favor. dongfang qingcang starters for xiao lanhua (kasey), rory gilmore (atlas), ?? -- (2/3)

chu wanning-- going with mo ran. chu wanning is very excited about this, but he'll be equally stressed about overthinking everything about the evening. he won't risk doing anything that would lead to him embarrassing himself so he'll be staying away from both the dance floor and the bar. chu wanning starters for ?? -- (0/3)

filippa kosta-- going with their girlfriend, amara! she didn't feel much like wearing a ball gown, so she'll be in a blazer of sorts. the concept of valentine's day is 'sweet,' in theory, so they'll be socializing as well as trying to show amara a good time. keeping things very chill and if your muse needs someone to vibe with in a corner of the room, they can go find filippa. filippa starters for mei nianqing (sunny), ?? -- (1/3)

qi yan-- qi yan's going with her wife, nangong jingnu! she'll also be dressed in a blazer and trousers. honestly, catch her taking in the museum sights (because she never has time to come see it otherwise) and making sure her wife doesn't get too drunk. qi yan starters for yin yu (sunny), ?? -- (1/3)

kaz brekker-- kaz is not actively anti-valentines day but he is the most apathetic about this holiday that a person could possibly be. i will send him to the ball because i think he'd use it as an opportunity to talk to business connections while they're all masked, or maybe pick some pockets, but he is not too excited about the ~valentine's~ aspect of it at all. kaz starters for zoya nazyalensky (moon), will herondale (siri), jesper fahey (june) -- (3/3. SLOTS CLOSED)

mo xi-- going solo, though he'll be keeping an eye out for gu mang. this is his first valentine's day in the city, and he doesn't really know what the day is all about, though he's slowly picking up on it the more decorations he sees. someone please take pity on him and come talk to him even though he doesn't look super welcoming. mo xi starters for bryce quinlan (kasey), ?? -- (1/3)

pei ming-- on a blind date with rebecca barnes (kow's muse)! let's just say that valentine's day is the busiest time of pei ming's year. 💀 he sees opportunities for short-lived romantic entanglements everywhere, and he thinks there's plenty of him to go around. but he's going to try to be a gentleman like rebecca seems to want, at least for now. pei ming starters for xuan ji (moon ?), shi wudu (kasey), ling wen (june), rebecca barnes (kow) -- (4/4. SLOTS CLOSED)

xiao chiye-- going solo. he's only here to make an appearance and see if he can catch sight of some of his friends. despite recently having some direct dance instruction, he probably won't be dancing. instead, he'll be taking full advantage of the open bar. xiao chiye starters for nie huaisang (sunny), shen zechuan (june), ?? -- (2/3)

lu junyi-- on a blind date with aluma ruairi (megan's muse)! junyi loves love and will be leaning fully into the valentines aesthetic, heart eyes all the way. if your muses need encouragement to get into the spirit, just look for her and she'll try to gently prod them into the holiday spirit. lu junyi starters for aluma ruairi (megan), ?? -- (1/3)

feng yu-- on a blind date with celeste kipper (sammy's muse)! he is here for just a nice, very regular time. his expectations are respectably neither high nor low, but you'll likely find him around the snack table making very mediocre small talk. or caught up reading every single plaque on every one of the smithsonian exhibitions. feng yu starters for ?? -- (0/3)

[laremsworld]

Imagine this:

Season 3 starts 5 years after S2. Kate and Anthony have welcomed two kids, Colin was once again travelling and is now coming back, Penelope and Eloise are technically considered spinsters now, but they both look so much more mature and beautiful (not they didn’t were stunning already.) Francesca is married and happy, the kids (Greg and Hyacinth) have grown up, but the one who changed the most is most surely Benedict Bridgerton. Being 33 now, he has his own house quite near to his brother’s and his mother‘s houses. The man, who was so much fun in Season 2, is gone. He stopped drawing, he stopped writing poems, he‘ barely seen on parties nowadays and he even skips his mother’s very own balls during the season.

This is not really communicated in the third season though (mostly because it‘s Polin‘s season and Benedict’s drama is meant to be a side story.)

But after Penelope marries Colin she can’t unsee how everyone seems to have „given up“ on Benedict. Violet, still hoping to find a good match for Eloise, is not even trying to search for someone for Benedict. Kate, who grew pretty close to all her brothers- and sisters-in-law, blocks Pen whenever she tries to talk about it.

One day, shortly after Colin and Penelope return from ther honeymoon, Pen suggests to set up a meeting between Benedict and a drams cousin of hers, but Colin shrugs it off. „We all have accepted that Benedict is not going to marry“, he explains.

„But why? He‘s still pretty young - actually most bachelors are in their thirties when they finally decide to find a wife, so it‘s not too late.“

„It‘s not that“, Colin tells her.

Penelope patiently waits for him to continue. She knows him well enough to not further push for details. He will eventually spill the beans anyway.

„Do you remember the masquerade my mum did a few years ago?“

„The one where I came as a mermaid?“, Pen asks.

Colin laughs „God, this costume really wasn’t made for you.“

Penelope can feel her cheeks getting red. „Let‘s focus on the part where this affected Benedict, please.“

„Alright“, Colin is still laughing. „Do you remember a certain mysterious woman?“

„The lady in silver.“

„The lady in silver“, Colin confirms.

„They danced in the private balcony. Talked a lot, even shared a kiss - don’t tell anyone I told you that though - but when it was time to reveal the faces, she refused to take off her mask and insisted on going. She told him her name - Sofia - and promised to wait for him in the park the next day. And that was it. She never came to the park and we never saw her again.“

„And Benedict has been searching for her for five years now?“, Penelope asks.

Colin nods. „She was wearing gloves with the signature of the Duke of Edinburgh, but when he arrived there, they told him that the Duchess had left the country in the morning, because her daughter was about to marry in Greece. You may know that the Duke himself was half Greek, so apparently he set up a marriage between his stepdaughter and a distant relative before hsi death.“

„Oh, poor Benedict!“

„It was hard“, Colin confirms, „Benedict followed them - I went with him. But when we arrived it was too late. She had already married. Benedict never recovered from that, Pen. It still hurts me to see him so broken. So unhappy…“

In that moment, Penelope‘s lady‘s maid, Maria, enters the room. She has been working for her for five years now (and has been a stable extra during the third season) and Penelope had insisted on taking her with her when she married. Maria places a plate with fresh baked cookies in front of the couple and proceeds to go. „Thank you Sofi-“ Penelope stops in the middle of the sentence.

„Her name is Maria“, Colin laughs, but stops when he sees his wife‘s face of utter shock.

Penelope seems to not even realize that Colin is with her, as she stands up and proceeds towards her lady‘s maid, who looks extremely uncomfortable now. „Sofia Maria Behrakis. What-have-you-done?“

[a-world-of-whimsy-5]

If you would like to write that other idea for Beleg, then I say GO FOR IT. I would absolutely love to read it 💚💚💚

Thank you!

"The masquerade dance"

Pairing: Beleg x Fem. Reader (Human / Second person POV)

Themes: Smut | Soft | Aftercare

Warnings: Height/size kink | Kissing | Dirty talk | Penetrative sex | Oral (Fem receiving) | Rough sex | Nicknames | Dom Sub aspects | Creampie | Explicit language

Word count: 2.6k  words

Rating:🔥🔥🔥  | Minors DNI | 18+

Summary: A night out at the dance with Beleg turns out to be more than what you imagined it would be.

Want to be tagged? Want to know the rules? Read all here.

The hall was filled with a riot of silk and jewels and elaborate outfits. It was vast enough for the large crowd and the room warmed despite the chill of the night. Food and drink and laughter flowed freely, and the musicians kept up a lively pace. No one wanted for entertainment, and by midnight, the dance was in full swing.

And Beleg was enjoying himself immensely. As an ellon who preferred forests, furs, and leathers, he thought there would be nothing about tonight's festivities that would bring him joy. Much to his surprise, Beleg enjoyed everything on offer, from the food to the music—and you most of all. Oh, how splendid you looked in that gown of yours, with your eyes sparkling behind an elaborate mask. Beleg was enthralled by it and how you looked in it. "You look beautiful, petal," he said, as he led you across the dance floor. "Melian herself could not be in finer form."

You looked up at him and fought a blush. "Flattery becomes you, my love," you said, your lips curling into a bashful smile. "And thank you. I was so nervous about wearing this."

At this, Beleg looked down at the dress you wore. It was simple but cleverly cut. The material clung to all the right places, revealing just as much as it revealed. And Beleg loved it; he loved how you looked in it. And that mask of yours—oh, how he couldn't get enough of that mask and how it made your eyes stand out. A wicked thought crossed his mind, one that he would have crushed right then and there. But seeing you like that, so tempting and alluring, made it impossible for him to do so, and he yielded to the demands of his baser urges. 

"The dress suits you, my love," he said as he led you away from the others to a more private corner, so the two of you were alone. "As does that mask," he said, his hands gliding down to your back. "I wonder how you would look with just the mask on you."

You gasped and looked around, hoping no one had heard you. Everyone else was busy dancing; no one was looking, and you felt relieved. "Hush now," you chided, your cheeks warming instantly. "What if someone hears?"

The music was loud enough and no one was close enough to hear. "That is not possible, my love," Beleg said and gave a gentle squeeze, ripping out a gasp from you. "And you know it."

You looked around again, hoping no one noticed what he was doing to you. "Beleg," you breathed, shivering as those hands squeezed and squeezed, leaving you all flushed, lightheaded, and so very dizzy. "What are you doing?"

Here he gave word to the wicked thought that arrowed neatly into his gut a little while ago. "Seducing you, petal," he leaned in close and pressed his lips against your ear. "Is it working?"

You hummed, for it was working. "Maybe," you said and looked up at him, at those steely blue eyes that gleamed triumphantly. "But I think more effort is needed."

Oh, a challenge, and how Beleg loved his challenges. "I would take you to a room upstairs, petal. Then," he said, pulling you to him, "I will take my time with this dress, remove it inch by slow inch, run my hands and lips all over your exposed flesh..."

Heat started to gather in your core. Your pulse scrambled and you looked up at him, your lips slightly parted, your eyes slowly darkening with need.

And Beleg saw it and reveled in it. He continued on, relishing the effect he was having on you. "I will taste every inch of you. Touch every inch of you." he leaned in and whispered harshly, his body reacting heatedly when you trembled against him. "Run my lips, my tongue, my fingers, all over your body. I will leave you a mewling, whimpering mess. And then,  when you cannot take it anymore, I will fuck you senseless. What do you say, my pretty little petal? Are my terms agreeable to you?"

It felt as if nothing existed outside the little bubble around the two of you. You hummed, your entire body pulsing with anticipation. To flee with Beleg to a quiet room, allowing this tall, powerfull ellon to have his way with you even as the dance continued... It made you both nervous and excited at the same time. You looked back at the revelers, too busy enjoying themselves to notice the two of you in a dark corner.

"Tell me, petal," Beleg moved his hands higher, wrapping his arms around your waist. "Is that what you want?"

The dance looked like it would continue till dawn, and you were no longer in the mood for dancing. Beleg's touch was enough to make you want other things. You fixed your gaze on him, your mind made up.

"Yes," you breathed, and let him escort you out of the hall. 

The room Beleg spoke of was a large, airy bedroom, a place he made use of whenever he had business in Doriath. It was always for his use alone, and oh, how he planned on making use of it tonight. For now, he let you wander around, taking in everything that lay before you.

It was nearly dark, save for the light of a single taper that scattered some of the gloom. You barely made out the outline of a large stone hearth, of large chairs arranged in front of it. The carpet beneath your feet was thick and soft, muffling your footsteps as you walked around, trying to get a feel for the place. The delicate scent of fresh roses hung in the air.

Somewhere near you, a second taper came to light. And a third, and a fourth. Soon, a warm, golden hue subtly illuminated a bedroom with high ceilings, polished stone walls, and a four-poster bed large enough for the ellon looking at you expectantly. Beleg was leaning against a wall, arms crossed, as if waiting for you to go to him. And go to him you did, a smile spreading across your face. 

"So," you murmured, your breath hitching when he uncrossed his arms and threw them around your waist instead, locking you into his embrace. "Just my mask, you said."

"Just the mask," Beleg hummed, his hands already gliding up to undo the clasps of your dress, "And nothing else."

Your eyes lifted to his, excitement growing in yours when you caught the flash of need in his. "And the things you wanted to do to me?"

"All that and more, petal," Beleg breathed as the last of the clasps came undone, loosening your dress at the shoulders. "All that and so much more."

Oh, how that made your body tingle. Beleg pulled your dress down your arms, inch by slow inch, taking his time to skim his hands over your exposed skin as he did. And he knew exactly how to touch: with slow, gentle strokes that left goosebumps rising in their wake. You shivered as your dress was pulled down past your hips when he sank to his knees, and his hands grazed their way down your bared hips, your thighs. Soon, your dress was pooling by your feet, and you found yourself slipping out of your shoes. Unable to help himself, Beleg leaned in for a taste, ordering you to stay still.

Sensation after sensation struck you, little arrows of pleasure and arousal striking you again and again as his mouth slowly moved up your legs, his teeth grazing over sensitive flesh as he did so. His lips grew so hot, and the air so thick, and then you moaned, long and deep, when he pushed your thighs apart and his mouth settled over your slick heat.

Gasps kept ripping through you, your body moving as if by instinct. Beleg moved slowly, gently, his arms hooking around your thighs to keep you steady. Stars. You saw stars when you closed your eyes. Each lick, each gentle tug sent wave after wave of pleasure crashing over you, pulling you into a darkened tunnel of desire. And he was relentless. Every time you moaned, every time you mewled or whimpered, Beleg would grunt and press deeper into your slit, growling in satisfaction when your hands got all bunched up in his hair.

He took his time to savor the sweetness of your arousal, the subtle taste of your quivering flesh. And he did not miss it, how your body trembled and trembled, how your muscles tightened like coils. Beleg held onto you even tighter, determined to take you over the edge, growing drunk on the sounds you made. His tongue was ceaseless, not stopping until it found a rhythm you liked, a place you liked being touched. "Th-there," you babbled as you grew breathless, as your heart fluttered in your chest. "R-right th-there."

Beleg didn't stop. Not when you cried out his name, not when your body shook violently. He kept lapping up as you poured onto his greedy tongue, groaning when your fingers raked through his hair. And he held you, keeping you steady while your body trembled, while your breath shuddered and shook. Finally, after what seemed like an age, he moved his lips higher, placing soft kisses around your belly. Beleg looked up, his arms still around your trembling thighs. He smiled when you opened your eyes and looked down at him, your cheeks flushed. 

Your body still kept humming even as it recovered from its high. And you knew Beleg was far from done. The gleam in his eyes showed he was far from done and you eagerly readied yourself for what was about to happen next. Beleg's eyes reflected the pleasure in yours and in one swift move, he lifted you as he rose, and carried you to bed.

And that bed. A veritable lake of soft linens and softer pillows. You didn't have much time to enjoy it as Beleg made quick work of getting rid of his boots and his clothes, tossing them to the growing pile on the floor. You swallowed as he towered over you, his eyes drinking you in.

You looked even more stunning, clad in nothing but that mask of yours. Beleg took a moment to admire you, just one, before the demands of his body insisted on being satisfied. He joined you in bed, kissing his way all over your body and relishing how you started to tremble beneath him.

"The sounds you made, petal," he mumbled as his teeth left marks all over the insides of your thighs, your tummy. "I could not get enough of it. I wonder if you would indulge me by letting me hear them again."

Your back arched when those teeth nipped over your ribcage. "Beleg-" you began, but that look he gave asked for silence. You swallowed and held your tongue, your body pulsing beneath his.

"Your skin is so soft," Beleg moved higher and higher, kissing the soft swell of your breasts, leaving a damp trail all over your body. "And perfect. Meant to be touched by me. Marked," he said, before dipping to nip again. "By me. Kissed by me," his hands shot up, running their way all over trembling limbs. They touched and caressed over and over again, not stopping till you were a trembling mess beneath warm palms and skilled fingers. Beleg moved over you, his lips just a hair's breadth over yours, his thighs pushing yours apart. "Fucked by me," he rasped, before that sinful mouth of his captured yours in a kiss. 

Oh, how that kiss seared. Beleg kissed you till you moaned; he kissed you until your lips parted for his tongue. Pure instinct was driving you now. Your arms circled his shoulders, your legs hooking around his waist. His hair was a tangled mess in your hands; his chest heaved heavy against yours and you didn't care. All that mattered was what he was doing to you and what he was making you feel. You felt him, thick and hard against your hip. You could taste yourself on his tongue, on his lips. It was all so intoxicating and pulled you under again, and you couldn't help but arch into him, your fingers digging into his broad shoulders. Beleg groaned, his own need to take and devour overwhelming all else. "Fuck," he muttered before flipping you over, making you straddle his lap.

You blinked and forced your eyes open at the feel of his cock rubbing up against your soaking slit. You knew what he wanted, what he craved to do and you let him guide you, his hands firmly on your hips as he lowered you onto him little by little. You scrunched your eyes when he entered you, going inch by glorious inch, stretching your fluttering walls, with pain and intense pleasure pulsing through your body as you sheathed him. And you whimpered. Oh, how you whimpered. It was slow, borderline agonizing, and you feel him, all of him, your entire body burning as he filled you to the hilt.

"Fuck you are so tight," Beleg groaned harshly, his skilled hands gliding over your waist, your belly, moving slowly to cup your breasts. You could only hold on, your body trying to adjust to his length. Your breath had shallowed out to pants and before you could even think, he started rocking his hips against the insides of your thighs.

It felt like you were clinging to the edge of some high cliff with just the tips of your fingers. When Beleg's hands moved back down and grabbed onto your hips, to bring you down harder, you lost all sense of control, your body moving in rhythm with his, the lewd sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room. You could feel him, deep inside of you, his hands leaving their mark over tender flesh, his hips bruising the insides of your thighs. And the room grew hot, deliciously hot, as he thrust greedily, moaning when you rode him, your own body nearing its peak again. "Y-yes B-beleg!" you sobbed shamelessly as he drove hard and deep, hitting that one spot that gave you more pleasure than you thought possible. "Please! Please!"

Beleg lost all sense of control, and his body snapped as a hot wave of pleasure washed through him, moaning like a dying man. He shuddered and used every ounce of willpower that he had to see you through to the other side. 

You felt your muscles coil even as your hands scrambled for purchase against his shoulders. You barely heard his moan, barely felt his hips still rocking, and then, something shatteredm and the world felt like it skidded to a halt. You could do nothing but arch backward, your fingers digging into his flesh, your mouth open in a silent moan, your body feeling as if you were drowning. You lost your balance and fell against him, your chest heaving as his arms hooked around you, holding you steady. You barely heard the soft words he whispered while he stroked your back, and your body went limp, suddenly tired.

It took a while for that haze to clear, for Beleg to open his eyes. "Petal," he crooned softly, refusing to let go. "Are you alright?"

You swallowed, blinking once, then twice, as the room slowly came into view. The faint strains of music and laughter floated up the stairs to the rooms above. The dance was still going strong, but you were content to stay where you were, in his arms. 

"I am fine," you managed, your body still trembling when he reached behind your hair to undo the ribbons of your mask, tossing it to one side once he pulled it off of you. You felt lazy, not wanting to stir out of bed and leave him. "We... We do not have to go down, do we?"

Beleg sighed contentedly, as he did not want to leave the room either. "No, petal, we do not. Come here," he said, holding you closer. "And rest a little. There is no hurry to go anywhere."

[pianostarinwonderland]

You guys have no idea how much Azul’s new SSR means to me.

There are things I’m going to be losing from this. Obviously, I’m going to see my gem and key count dwindle because I have no idea if I’m going to be lucky tomorrow. I have exams next week, and this event is going to really affect my concentration horribly. I really can’t afford to not get low scores on these exams since my grades are horrible.

But this card… It’s everything that I’ve been dreaming of for the past two years.

I’ve gone through two whole years of eating crumbs, and maybe that sounds entitled since Azul got his story and SSR really early on. But it’s because his story was concluded really early on that afterwards, I don’t get to hear much from him. I really only look forward to February, I have to seek food about him from other characters (especially from Jade and Floyd), I have to feed myself every day with my own thoughts. Some days, I’ve considered on looking for new fandoms to join because I’ve gotten bored of even myself. But I still stay because of two things: (1) I have friends who still love this game very much, and (2) Azul means so much to me that it’s enough of a reason to stay.

And now, here we have him. A beautiful SSR in the most gorgeous outfit. There are so many things I want to say about this card because it is every single fantasy in my head coming to life.

Like, the setting? I once had a Honeymoon Un Deux Trois phase back in 2020-early 2021. There was something about dancing a waltz with Azul that really made me feel so giddy for months. I would always imagine us under the moonlight, on stone streets and bridges with lamps on, and dancing to that song. I never cared if it was graceful or not, because it was a dance with Azul.

Babes, besties, and bitches, the setting of that card art is exactly the setting of that imagination. Even the lights of those buildings are the same. It’s like Yana read my mind and put it on a digital canvas. The only thing different is the gate behind Azul, but otherwise, it’s everything that I’ve seen in my dreams.

Then Azul’s outfit! I’ve long entertained the idea of Azul in a masquerade outfit since last year. It was so appealing because he hides behind a mask all the time to seem more pleasing to others. It pushed me to plan out and write a (work in progress) fic where Azul is a masked pianist. He’d be decked in black and purple, mostly purple. He’d have a hat with a feather, and he’d be wearing a mask with that same shape you see on the card.

You know in fact, I always imagined since late last year that the next Abema stream was going to be me seeing Azul getting a masquerade SSR. And then I would be screaming.

And 😭 I got it. I got the masquerade card, and his outfit has similarities to what I envisioned for him. I now also know that his hat is called a tricone, and that is really awesome to know.

And to top it all off? His tailcoat. I always loved tailcoats even as a kid. There was something about how simple it is yet the way it billows in the breeze as it trails behind you creates a certain aura about you. It looks classy and almost authoritative. It catches your attention.

And guess what? Azul Ashengrotto comes in with at least 6 tail ends on his tailcoat.🧍This mcfucking octopus.

Anyway, I’m just… I am just so happy right now. 😭 Sundays have recently been my worst day of the week for certain reasons, but I had such a great day today because of Azul.

The gacha is coming tomorrow, which is really exciting but also anxiety inducing xD! I really want to stream for everyone, but I don’t think I can :( I think my stream would end up lagging horribly. But I’ll definitely share what happens here.

This post is really different from how I’d usually scream about Azul. I’ll admit, much of my energy is gone because I have melted down in a vc with friends xD but mainly, I just feel so tender about this card. It’s two years of my dreams put on a screen for the world to see. It’s two years of all the times I thought about him, talked about him, wrote about him, bringing me to a time when I can actually for the first time freak out about his event SSR when I could not do that for Beans Day. It’s two years of loving him, and now I’m here. 🥲 And I’m so thankful and happy right now.

[theartoflovingthomashunt]

Farewell to Hollywood U #8 : A Night to Remember

Art by the lovely and talented @/irdeinfierno (Instagram)

Characters: Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer (F!MC / OC) Book: Hollywood U (Art from Hunt Date #01, drabble takes place around Date #10) Word Count: ~550 Rating/Warnings: General (fluff) Prompts: @choicesmonthlychallenge HWU ; @choicesaugustchallenge : “you were always going to realize what I am.”

Synopsis: While moving in to his their house, Alex finds a small curious box with something familiar.

[All Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer Masterlists] [HollywoodU]

"You kept it!" Alex marveled. Her fingers glided across the familiar silver mask in the black velvet box she had discovered while unpacking her stuff in their bedroom. 

"Of course," Hunt stated, joining her in looking at the masquerade mask. "I anticipated there would be future masquerade galas to attend and thought I could utilize it again."

"Is that so?" Her eyes narrowed at him, her lips curling up in a knowing smirk. "I've never seen you wear it since that night."

"No—" He smiled, meeting her gaze. "I suppose that night was one of a kind."

"A night to remember," she agreed.

"You were utterly enchanting." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You are enchanting. You captivate me completely."

Her finger traced down his strong jaw. "It took you a while, but I knew sooner or later that you were always going to realize what I am.”

His hand cradled hers, holding her there. Something he wished he could have done that night. "And what is that?" 

"Your perfect match!" She chewed her lower lip. "Your...soulmate."

A subtle smile tugged on the corner of his lips. His head shook to the sides. "I never fell prey to the concept of soulmates or 'the one'. The thought that two people could be perfect and completely suited for one another is implausible.” Before she could protest, he continued. “However, with you—I don't know what to say or how to describe it—with you, I feel complete. With you, I met my match. We were never perfect on paper. So much was against us, and so many people said we couldn't work, but here we are. You're the best thing to ever happen to me." His strong hands cupped her face. "Whether it exists or it's a romantic myth, I choose you to be my one." 

Her eyes misted over, but his thumb caressed away each tear as it fell. "I choose you, too. Today and every other day. No matter what obstacles we face. You are my one. Now and always."

Hunt closed the gap between them, kissing her softly. "I love you, Alex, more than I ever imagined possible."

The warmth of his confession tickled her lips as he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you too, my Thomas." She closed her eyes, letting the moment linger, their lips a breath away from one another, but this was enough. Just lost in the comfort of being together. Their noses brushed together as they gazed down at the box still open on the shelf. "It's missing something."

"What?" He questioned, turning to see what she meant. "It looks intact."

"No, not that. Hold on!" Alex quickly shuffled through some boxes, digging through her still-packed items. "Aha! Here it is!" She pulled a blue mask from a satin bag and set it beside Hunt's silver one. "There. That's better."

"A perfect match." Hunt's arm looped around her waist, pulling her in. He brushed a kiss on her temple as they both looked at the masquerade masks, letting the memories of that night dance in their thoughts. "I'll have a new case made to store them both together. They shouldn't be apart."

She interlaced her fingers with his, “and they never will be.”

The lovely artist who took this commission was kind enough to not only give me too backgrounds (one from inside the Masquerade Ball and one on the balcony from the end of the date) but she also gave me the unmasked versions as well! For your viewing pleasure :

Thank you so much for reading and viewing this art. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Thank you to everyone who likes, comments, and reblogs. I feel like a broken record at this point, but it does mean the world to me. Thank you! 🙏