#Lesso is soft for Dovey

[ladyalysss]

The world moved on. I didn’t.

I was scrolling through TikTok and came across this video: https://www.tiktok.com/@swftposen/video/7169851542051327258 It hit me right in the heart — I had to write something. Here’s what came out.

Title: The world moved on. I didn’t.

Spring bloomed in lilac and breeze, but Clarissa Dovey didn’t notice.

The field around the grave was far too quiet for a world that had lost Leonora Lesso. She laid the picnic blanket over the grass just like she had during those stolen lunches between classes, back when trees still whispered secrets and Lesso’s eyes held color and warmth.

She set down two porcelain cups, a lavender tea jar, and a batch of the shortbread biscuits Lesso used to love — the ones she had learned to make herself, because no one else remembered.

“You would’ve called this sentimental,” she murmured, adjusting a small bouquet of daffodils at the base of the gravestone. “But I know you’d eat at least two before pretending they were terrible.”

The silence replied, but Clarissa didn’t mind. She stayed for hours, reading aloud from Lesso’s favorite books, telling her how Tedros was still as stubborn as ever, how Sophie had started wearing more black than pink — as if trying, at last, to understand grief.

She spoke of sleepless nights. Of dreams where she saw a flicker of that dry laugh. Of days when she almost called her name in the hallway.

“I’m not sure time heals,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Sometimes, it just distances. And that hurts more.”

By the time the sun dipped behind the trees and dusk painted the sky violet, Clarissa hadn’t moved. She likely wouldn’t.

A soft presence came up behind her.

Without words, Anemone slipped a coat over Clarissa’s shoulders and gently took her arm, helping her to stand.

No questions were asked. No speeches given.

Just quiet support, steady and warm.

Slowly, Clarissa let herself be led away from the grave, back toward the school and the world she was trying to live in — even if only for now.

[i-write-sometimes-maybe]

Unbearable- Lesso X Never!Reader

Synopsis: It’s the final battle, and it all seems to go according to plan, but plans change.

Warnings: Hurt/No Comfort, reader can see/communicate with the dead, mentions of death/dying, talks of slaughter though no descriptions really used.

Word Count: 1.3k

A/n: This may not be the saddest most heart wrenching H/NC, but I can guarantee some of y’all will still be mad at me lol, I love you guys! And if this does well I might do a part two with a better/alternative ending.?

© This is my work, you have no right to repost my work for any reason without my explicit permission, all rights reserved.

☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎☁︎︎

"And I shall slaughter you, just as I did her." You saw red whenever this man spoke, and you knew he was just trying to get under your skin.

Rafal had his arms outstretched, a wicked smile on his face.

As a Never, you adored the thought of Evil winning. But the way he treated your friends and your love, you'd do everything in your power to be sure that he doesn't walk the Earth.

But you knew something he didn't, you had the Excalibur. You smiled inwardly at the way his aggravating smirk faded as you revealed the sword.

It took everything within you to defeat Rafal. You had nearly collapsed from his strength, but you needed to prevail. Not for you, but you needed to win for Lesso. You needed her to know that love fights for you, not with you.

Ironically, you felt as if you could finally breathe once Rafal was lying on the floor, abdomen sliced open all thanks to you.

You were hunched over, the pain from your wounds and the absence of breath in your lungs was almost overwhelming. But you noticed something, something that helped you ignore it all.

You looked up to see the redhead, the amazing fierce Dean of Evil, looking around the disarrayed room before her eyes finally landed on you.

"We did it." Your words did nothing to hide the breathlessness and exhaustion you were feeling.

"No, you did it." She clarified.

You stood up and began walking to her as she made no attempts to walk towards you, "I'm so glad to see you. Everything I do, I do for you."

She smiled softly, "I wish there was a way to thank you for all you've done for me."

You looked in her eyes, "I just want to leave with you, to go anywhere but here."

"Darling-"

"We can now, we can do it! We can go and live our lives together."

"No, we can't."

You were beyond confused, to say the least, "What? Why not?"

"Darling, I'm not... I'm not here."

"No... NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME. Where- where are you?" You stuttered as the realization hit you.

You knew your power was to be able to see and communicate with the dead, but you never thought it would be as cruel as it was to play this trick on you.

"I'm just in the corridor, I was on my way to you-"

You didn't let her finish as you ran out to her. You kept running, not caring that you still hadn't caught your breath and certainly not caring about your sore body.

You kept running until you saw a familiar figure, lifeless on the corridor floor. Your lip instantly quivered as tears silently fell down your face.

You slowly crept closer, afraid of the reality laid before you. But then she reappeared next to you.

You desperately wanted to face her, to see her as you remembered her but that's not fair. You knew that wasn't how things would get to be.

"I never wanted to leave you like this."

You couldn't believe that Rafal had actually spoken the truth, the cruel truth that you never wanted to face.

You were frozen in your spot, only just a few steps away, staring at what was once your lover. Her spirit beside you, broken at seeing how destroyed you currently are.

"Please, say something," Lesso pleaded, never has she seen you so defeated, so hurt, so lost at what to do.

But you knew just what had to be done.

"I have no other choice."

Lesso was confused but remained silent to watch you continue.

You hesitantly kneeled beside her, your heart breaking all over again as you saw her pale face even paler than you've seen before. No emotions to be found on her face, at this moment, your decision was solidified.

You pushed a strand of hair out of her face, placing it gingerly behind her ear.

Her spirit watched on, knowing she couldn't do anything to console you. She tried with words, but she knew that hearing her words while seeing her in the way she was, meant nothing.

You placed one of your hands on her head, and the other on her chest above her heart. The spirit's confusion only grew.

"What, what are you doing?" Lesso started to feel funny, watching as your eyes closed to stay focused.

"I never told you the extent of my powers." You spoke in just a whisper, knowing she'd vehemently disapprove of your move.

"Okay? You can tell me."

"I can not only communicate and see the dead..." You started to feel woozy, though you weren't in perfect health at the beginning of this you still knew it would work. "I can bring someone back from the dead as well."

"There's-" Lessos spirit felt woozy as well, almost as if she were glitching, and that's when she saw her body twitch the slightest bit. "There's something you're not telling me."

You sighed, not stopping this ritual, "I can only bring back one."

"W-why would you only be able to bring back one?" Though her spirit was fading, her body was getting stronger, it was clear to you both.

Just as it was clear to her that you were fading even more, more than her spirit was and faster than she seemed to.

"Because," Your breathing was labored and your body was feeling heavy. "It's your life, for mine."

Lesso's spirit kept fading and fading fast. But you didn't mind as you saw her body grow stronger.

"Then stop! Don't, please don't do this. It's not worth it!" If Lesso's spirit could cry, it would be balling.

"I don't want to live if I don't get to live a life with you."

Just as you collapsed on the ground beside your lover, her Spirit vanished and her eyes opened.

It all happened so fast, yet it's as if it were in slow motion.

Just as Lesso finally had the strength to sit up and take probably the deepest breath she'll ever manage, she looked over to you, her freshly beating heartbreaking at the sight of you.

Now, you were the lifeless one. Body limp on the ground with flushed features. Your heart no longer pumping, lungs no longer breathing.

"That was so stupid! Why, why would you do that for me?!" Lesso wanted to be angry with you, wanted to be mad at your decision. But she also knew that if she could, she would've done the same thing for you.

Lesso moved closer to you, her heartbreaking down to dust while feeling how rapidly your body was going cold. Though she was still weak, she still found the strength to pull you up on her lap.

"No... you can't leave me too. I can't do this without you. I don't know how..." She's holding your lifeless body, frozen in time.

She mimicked the same move you did, brushing some loose strands of hair from your face. She felt shattered, so broken her body couldn't bring itself to make tears, to make a sound. She wasn't only broken, she was frozen. She didn't look away from your face, not once.

Not when she felt residual pain from her injuries. Not when people came in to see the damage done. Not when Dovey came in to count the survivors and gasped upon seeing her friend entirely a shell of who she once was.

Nothing could take her attention from you.

Nothing else matters.

Not now, not without you.

She is but a bird without a nest, without you. Without you, she has no place, no home, and nowhere she truly belongs anymore.

🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮🝮

Taglist: @inlovewithgreta @v3nusxsky @just-your-casual-nerd @bigolgay @hxzxrdous @pebbleswritessometimes @i-like-reading @scream-queenlover @darkth1ngs @sgelessoanddoveykissing

[bonobochick]

Where's that The School For Good and Evil sequel movie?? 🧐

Tedros’ unexpected rescue of Agatha tripping. 👸🏽

Netflix’s The School For Good and Evil 

[iamnotoriginalphil]

Merry Fucking Christmas (Lady Lesso x f!Reader)

Synopsis: It's the work holiday party, and Lesso is wondering how it came to this. Especially when you look as beautiful as you do.

Words: 2.2k

Warnings: swearing, mentions of violence

Lesso had no idea how Dovey had roped her into the whole stupid endeavour. Nevers didn’t celebrate Christmas. Nevers tried to steal the presents from under trees and burn the turkeys. They didn’t string up little lights and hang wreaths. They didn’t drape crystal snowflakes along the ceiling or hang mistletoe unless it cursed those who walked under it.

So standing in the middle of the ballroom with the Christmas decorations her staff had helped put up, a sense of unease rumbled through her body.

There was a band at one end playing, the Ever staff sweeping across the floor in some kind of waltz, twirling princesses in the arms of their handsome princes. Her lip curled up at the image. Without students, there was an air of revelry usually kept from their charges, alcohol flowing far more than usual, more exuberance and less care about maintaining a proper facade.

The entire idea of a staff holiday party was absurd on so many levels.

Her fingers clenched on the metal head of her cane, biting into her skin until she felt the prick of pain. Standing to the side of the hall she could observe, keeping herself hidden away from the prying eyes of those looking to mock. From her vantage point she could see Dovey, her wide smile bright in the light cast from the chandeliers overhead. She sneered at the other woman’s joy. It was painful, knowing her side had contributed to the happiness of Good.

Watching Dovey at least brought her some relief from the single person she didn’t want to be caught staring at. She was being careful, keeping one of those infernal Christmas trees between her and you, lest she find herself doing something drastic like watching you as you laughed.

You were practically glittering in the soft lighting. The moment you’d walked in her breath had caught and she’d frozen, not able to think of anything outside of the fact that everything about you called to her. She’d had to promptly turn away, smacking Manley out of the way with her cane as she’d swept to the furthest corner of the room. There was no sense giving in to the impulse to steal you away and see how quickly she could bring tears to your eyes.

You lent into Anemone as you spoke to her, your eyes glittering under the light of the chandelier. A slow smile spread over your face, soft and joyful, the exact kind she was certain the inane professor taught in her classes. It was vapid and vacuous and had no substance at all. That was why her heart was pounding in her chest. Because she was so angry.

No other reason.

Your laughter was so light, floating on the air towards her. It shouldn’t have reached her ear, not with the band playing. But it was as if her ears were attuned to you. Her stomach clenched, fingers tightening on the head of her cane. It was becoming too much, an overwhelming impulse to do something rising in her.

It wasn’t going to be pretty if she let it take control.

Edging her way around the wall, she placed another one of the towering Christmas trees between her and you. The air smelt of pine and spices, the fires roaring, magic in the air. It was sickening. Her stomach turned.

She snatched up a goblet of mulled wine, wrinkling her nose at it. She downed it before grabbing another. It was warm, seeping through her veins until her fingers could relax again.

Leaning against the wall, she glowered over the rim of her goblet as you were swept onto the dance floor. One of the Evers, a shining prince in his full regalia, was holding you in his arms, stiff and proper. You shone as he spun you around the floor, keeping perfect time with the music. Her teeth ground together.

“Can’t you put that scowl away for one night? It’s the holidays.”

She shouldn’t have let herself lose track of Dovey in the milling crowd. The annoying voice with the lilt of joy was enough to make her burst a blood vessel. Although, the undercurrent of annoyance was pleasing.

“I have a reputation to maintain,” she replied.

“Even Manley is having fun,” she said, looking over at the man dance alone in the crowd. Her nose wrinkled but she’d painted the smile on and wasn’t about to let it drop off for that muold stain of a man.

“Well, he is a buffoon,” she snapped.

“Just try and enjoy yourself,” Dovey said, losing patience, “everyone else is.”

Her eyes alighted on you again, watching the way the baubles in your hair caught the light of the candles around the ballroom. As you spun, your skirt fanned out around you, the puerile shade of blue only making your skin glow with health. There was nothing harsh about you, all soft curves and delicate lines, making her grit her teeth. You certainly looked as if you were enjoying yourself.

She wanted to sink her teeth into you until you begged her to stop.

“Why not find a partner and dance? You’ll have fun,” Dovey said.

She wasn’t about to admit she’d never learnt to dance like this. Nevers weren’t taught how to survive in a ballroom. Stick her in a forest and she would be fine, a concerning cottage and she’d thrive, a disreputable inn and she would delight in the experience. But give her a dance floor and she was lost.

But you with your perfect hair and perfect smile were right at home in the arms of some prince waltzing over the dance floor.

“Are those some students sneaking into the party?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“Where?”

Dovey whipped around and in her moment of distraction with the Never students crashing the party, she slipped away. Sneaking, that was another skill she possessed in great quantities. Catching one last glance at you, shining and sparkling like the jewel you were, she left the party behind with a snarl.

The icy wind bit into the skin of her face as she strode out into the gardens. The moon was high in the sky, full, casting silverly light down upon her as she found a secluded place to brood. Skulking in the shadows, she stared out at the forest, trees swaying in the wind. Snow fell about her, entirely too picturesque for her current mood.

The entire night could be filed under disaster, and not because she’d planned for it to be. She took a sip from the goblet she’d stolen from the Evers, the mulled wine warming her up from the inside out. She’d known the entire endeavour would be just another defeat to add to her long list. She pursed her lips, fingers tightening on the head of her cane until the pain of it soothed her. Pain was familiar and delicious. Pain never let her down. Pain was comforting when the rest of the world made no sense.

“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”

The thing about Evers were they were light on their feet. Delicate footsteps were easy to miss when she wasn’t paying attention. But there you were, walking towards her with one of those perfect soft smile on your face, practically glowing in the moonlight. Snow fell on your bare shoulders, melting in your hair, getting caught in your eyelashes.

She had to tear her eyes from your figure, staring out at the forest again. With a wrinkle of her nose, she sneered at your question. She hardly wanted to be in a storybook winter scene. She was certain if she was then it would be as she was chased by pitchforks and swords. That’s how it usually went when someone was evil these days.

“Weren’t you enjoying the party?” you asked, voice bright and not discouraged in the slightest. Why were you never discouraged by her unpleasantness? She worked so hard at it.

“I’m not some Ever that can be charmed by decorations and music,” she replied.

“No, you want something more substantive, don’t you? You’re not interested in something as surface level as beauty,” you said.

Her eye darted towards you, sweeping over your form. You weren’t even hiding the way you were watching her. Your eyes were sparkling and your lips were tugging up into a smile that made butterflies erupt in her stomach like she was some simpering Ever. Beauty, it turned out, did very well for her when it was yours.

“Still, the dancing was fun,” you said.

“I’m sure,” she replied, “you should go back to it.”

All you did was shift closer to her, only an inch, but enough for her to stiffen. She could feel you, so aware of the space between your arm and hers. Her jaw clenched and she had to fight against the impulse to lash out and shove you away. If you fell, all the better. That would teach you a lesson about simpering in her direction.

“But I much prefer the view out here,” you said and you batted your fucking eyelashes at her.

Her heart should not be doing a backflip. She should not be feeling her cheeks flushing. Her gaze should definitely not be dropping to your pretty pink lips. She growled but you only inched closer to her again.

Only then you were close enough for her to notice the way you were shivering. The snowflakes were dusting your skin, slow to melt. You didn’t seem to care. If it wasn’t for the fact the air was still biting at her skin, she’d almost believe you weren’t aware of the cold. But you were shivering even as you lent towards her.

The only time she wanted to see you uncomfortable was when she was causing it.

Like when her nails dug into your skin and your eyes watered. Or when she threatened you and your eyes widened. Or when she pinned you up against a wall and your eyes sparkled.

“You should get back inside. Wouldn’t want you to freeze to death out here,” she grumbled.

“Lady Lesso, I had no idea you cared so much,” you said, but you were smiling and she thought you might be laughing at her.

“Get out of here,” she snapped.

Your shoulder brushed against hers. She should have been paying more attention and not letting you get so close. Just the heat of your body was making her head spin. Something was wrong with her. So very wrong.

“I can’t tempt you to come with me?” you asked.

You could tempt her to do so many things that were not appropriate for an Ever to do. She could corrupt you so easily. You’d be doing all kinds of things that would leave you a flustered mess. She wanted to see you beg.

“Just go,” she said.

Your fingers were warm against her chin as you turned her face towards you. Your teeth had sunk into your lower lip and it took a great amount of self control not to take the invitation and sink hers in too. Leaning closer, your breath ghosted over her lips.

“What are you doing?” she demanded but her voice came out more breathless than she was hoping.

“Celebrating,” you replied.

Your lips brushed hers, soft and gentle, the exact way she expected Evers to kiss. Saccharine sweet, the exact kind of kiss that would spark true love. It shouldn’t make her heart flutter.

But then you pressed closer, kissing harder, your tongue running along her lower lip. Your fingers tightened on her chin, holding her in place and she found herself opening to you. You tasted like champagne and chocolate and all she wanted was more of it. The goblet tumbled from her had as she pressed it to the small of your back, hauling you as close as your full skirt would allow. You moaned, and it was filthier than anything she could have expected to come out of you.

You drew away, eyes slow to blink open, lips kiss swollen. She felt dumb struck, like lightning had struck her out of the sky. The blood in her veins was thrumming, the same way it did when she managed to pull off a particularly brilliant piece of villainy. Your lips curled up into a small smile, and you stepped back.

Her fingers clenched around the empty air, not liking the lose of your warmth. You chuckled, fingertips brushing over her cheekbone before you clasped your hands in front of you like the good perfect Ever you pretended to be.

“Merry Christmas, Lady Lesso,” you said, voice such a nice timbre it went through her like a shudder.

She watched as you disappeared back into the shadows, returning to the party she’d abandoned. Turning back to the forest, her hand rose to her lips, unbidden and unconscious. They still tingled from the feeling of yours against them, the taste of you still on her tongue.

Merry fucking Christmas indeed.

[ytace]

Just A Dean's Job

This took me awhile, And rather Late for a Christmas post. But I got "The villain giving presents in secret" type of idea in my mind and decided to put it to good use

[Song Recommended to listen while Reading]

Pairings: Student Reader X Leonora Lesso X Clarissa Dovey [Platonic, Can be Parental Dovesso]

Warning: NIL

Summary: It was Christmas night, students were all sleeping. The Two Dean's decided to be the schools Secret Santas and both caught each other in the midst of their plans.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆.𖥔

It was a chilly winter night at the School for Good and Evil, where the sound of distant winds howling through the trees had settled into an eerie calm. The snow outside lay thick upon the ground, and the moonlight glimmered against the frozen landscape like a thousand tiny diamonds.

Inside, the school was quiet—eerily quiet for a place that usually thrummed with life and magic. Students, both Good and Evil, were tucked safely in their dorms, fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the two figures moving through the halls in secret..

Lady Leonora Lesso, the strict and imposing Dean of Evil, had always carried an air of severity, yet there was something softer in her step tonight. Moving through the night with a quiet grace. Her dark, flowing robes swished as she walked, her boots making soft tapping sounds on the stone floors.

In her arms, she cradled a pile of carefully wrapped gifts. She would be using her magic if it weren’t for the fact that she wasn’t willing to wake up the students who were light sleepers, knowing the glow from her fingertips would only be attracting attention.

With a sigh she moved down the hallway, internally muttering about how inconvenient and embarrassing it is for someone like her to be doing such things.

Thinking that She was the first to arrive, as always, there was the grand Christmas tree that stood proudly in the center of the room. The tree was adorned with twinkling lights, glittering ornaments, and strands of gold tinsel—everything a student could imagine for the holidays…

As she neared the grand hall, Lesso’s heart skipped a beat. There, just ahead of her, was a familiar figure— Dovey the Dean of the School for Good.

“Shit.” She muttered as She tries to hide herself behind the pile of presents she was carrying, moving slowly away from the area that Dovey was at.

Dovey was placing down a Large box with a tag that simply read: To the students of good. Just Right before she turned and caught Lesso in the act.

“Lesso..?” Dovey thought to herself as she could not believe her own eyes, the thought of Lesso who’s always feared by everyone is giving out gifts in the middle of the night seemed almost amusing and hilarious to her.

Her blonde hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders, as her eyes lit up with mischief in her mind the moment Lesso made Eye contact with her.

"Well, well," Dovey said, her voice a soft tease, "looks like I’m not the only one with a secret." She said as she walks towards her.

"Dovey," she said, her voice was stiff as she tries to hide her true emotions.

“I wasn’t aware we have another Secret Santa in this school..”

“And No one needs to know.” Lesso said almost immediately, cutting her off out of embarrassment.

“And here I thought you didn't believe in Christmas."

"I do not," Lesso replied curtly, "But I do believe in duty. And this," she gestured to the pile of gifts in her hands, "is my duty tonight. The students of Evil must have something to wake up to in the morning."

“Uh huh.. Definitely something that the Dean for the school of evil do..”

Lesso glared at her, but there was no real heat behind it. "You will not speak of this to anyone," she said firmly. "This is a secret between the two of us. No one must know."

Dovey’s laughter rang softly through the hall. “Let’s keep it that way, shall we? As much as I would love to be telling everyone about how the great evil dean is actually Santa Claus in disguise.. it would ruin the magic wouldn’t it?”

“Of course.. we wouldn’t want to ruin that silly little make believe that the students still believe in.” Lesso scowled.

“And I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental. You’ve certainly got a soft spot for the little ones, don’t you?”

“I am not some sentimental fool,” Lesso said, though the slightest hint of affection could be heard in her voice. “I simply understand the importance of ensuring the students are inspired and motivated… even if they don’t realize it.”

“Ah, of course," Dovey replied, her eyes glinting with playful curiosity. "Because the students of the School for Evil have been so good this year, haven't they?" She exaggerated the word good, letting the playful jab hang in the air.

“You’re insufferable.” Lesso scoffed before she adjusted her long dark cloak and crouched beside the tree, placing small packages under the boughs with painstaking precision. Despite her stern exterior and reputation as one of the most formidable figures in the school, tonight she was an entirely different person.

There were many presents she carried, every present has its own unique charm to it. As if it was wrapped carefully to the students likings and personalities.

Some of which had ribbons in dark, Gothic hues. While some, had cute intricate designs of snowflakes tied with golden ribbons. She knew the nuances of each one's personality, their desires, their little quirks — Observed through conducting classes and teaching them for quite some time.

After placing all of the individual gifts under the tree, She carefully placed the last gift. A beautifully wrapped box with a tag that simply read: To the students of Evil.

Dovey bent down, picking up a gift from the floor and eyeing it with a playful grin. "I have to admit, Leonora, I didn’t expect to catch you in the act. I thought for sure you’d be asleep by now, plotting how to ruin everyone's holiday spirit."

Lesso sighed, as if to imply that she was forced to participate in these small acts of kindness against her will. But her eyes were betraying her hidden emotions. “I’d better been well off as the Grinch then.” She joked.

“The grinch who stole Christmas?” Dovey lets out a stifled laughter, as she walked towards Lesso.

“But even at the end of the story, he still cares.. No matter how evil he tries to be”

Boop!-

Dovey tapped her finger lightly on Lesso’s nose, before giving her a playful grin.

“You know.. It’s actually nice to see a different side of you, Leonora. You don’t let anyone see it, but I know you care about them..”

What Dovey said seems to strike a chord in her, as her gaze subtly shifted to the students' sleeping quarters. Each one of them sleeping peacefully, tugged in their beds.. Some slept in a disheveled posture which seem to almost bring out a slight tug on the side of her lips

"You’re allowed to enjoy this, too. It’s Christmas, after all."

“I suppose you’re right. It’s easy to forget, sometimes in all this…

— She replied while weaving one of her hands, gesturing to the bright lights and Christmas decorations around her. Though she couldn’t help but glance over at Dovey with a slight barely visible smirk.

“But don’t think this means I’ll start celebrating every holiday with you, Dovey. I have my pride.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Dovey laughed lightly, her voice full of warmth. “I wouldn’t dream of forcing that on you. Though, my door is always open.” She said with a grin on her face.

The room fell quiet, a comfortable ambience. As if everything fell perfectly in place.

“Merry Christmas, Lesso..”

Lesso’s eyes softened, there was a brief silence before followed by a reply that is soft but audible to the person standing beside her.

“Merry Christmas, Dovey.”

Was that a small smile, From the imposing Dean?.. Well, We would never know. All that we know is that the two of them shared the same goals, bathing in the fuzzy feeling of bringing a bit of joy to the students. They stood for a moment, looking down at the tree with its growing pile of gifts, and for the first time in a long time, both felt a little lighter..

"Ready to go, Santa?" Dovey asked with a teasing grin, nudging Lesso playfully as they both stood back to admire their work.

Lesso rolled her eyes feigning annoyance, before chuckling softly "After you, Dovey."

And with that, Both headmistresses slipped away into the shadows. Disappearing into the quiet halls of the School for Good and Evil, Knowing that the students would wake up the next morning to find their Christmas gifts under the Glowing tree..

.~.

It was now Christmas morning, and for the first time in a long time, there was a sense of peace in the air. The students had been awake for only a few minutes, stirring from their slumber in their cozy dormitories. As they began to trickle into the Great Hall for their early breakfast, a curious sight greeted them.

Under the enormous Christmas tree, surrounded by glimmering decorations and flickering candles, were dozens of neatly wrapped presents—each one labeled with the student’s name. The silver and black ribbons, the sparkles of glitter, the way the gifts seemed to glow with a secret magic… it was as if the very essence of Christmas had been carefully arranged for them.

“OH MY GOD! GUYS! YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS!” one of the students called out from the Great Hall, which caused a ripple of students rushing through the hallway wanting to get a good look of the commotion.

You followed along blindly, only curious to want to know what was happening. Until you reached the Great Hall..

“Presents?! We get presents!!?” One of your friends was in shock, similar to all the other students who had just entered the hall. The students' chatter filled the room, but none of them had yet questioned who could possibly have placed the presents there. They all just assumed it was a Christmas miracle, as many children do when magic is at play. None of them knew the true masterminds behind this holiday surprise.

“This one is yours” one of the student held out the two nicely wrapped presents and placed them on the floor near to you before they continued to rummage through the crowd full of students who were either squatting on the floor or bent downwards trying to find their own gifts.

You bent down to grab the two small package with your name written in elegant, curvy script.

Meanwhile. In the back of the hall, near the large stone fireplace, two figures stood with quiet smiles—Lady Leonora Lesso and Lady Dovey. Both of them were watching the scene unfold, content and almost sentimental.

Lesso let out a small, amused breath as the students began to crowd around the tree, unwrapping gifts with joy. “How Noisy.. I’m starting to regret my decisions on giving them presents now.”

Dovey lets out a soft laugh, “I know you don’t mean it Leonora, admit that you enjoy seeing them happy. Besides, they are just eager to know who mysteriously gave them presents.”

For a moment, your gaze met Dovey's. She smiled at you softly, her gaze flicking towards the gifts that you were holding on your hands. As if she was anticipating you to open it.

You looked away quickly, unsure if you’d imagined it, but the feeling remained— a quiet assumption thinking that they were the ones who had placed the presents there. But you had no evidence nor proof that it was them.

Lesso's lips curled into a slight smile, looking at your expression that was filled with unspoken assumptions. “Let them wonder, The mystery is half the fun after all...”

“What’s wrong? Were you not expecting Santa to give you a present?” Dovey’s voice reached you from the doorway, teasing you slightly at your expression. “We’ll be here if you need us.”Her tone was soft, and gentle.

Though Lesso did not say a single word, she placed a finger to her lips. A soft and unspoken gesture that speaks volumes.

Noticing the subtle indirect hint of that action, you felt a faint, almost imperceptible tug in your chest.

The realization hits. The gifts were from the Deans…

"Do you think they know?" Dovey asked quietly, as she gazed to Lesso.

"I doubt it," Lesso replied playfully, her voice low but laced with an unreadable warmth.

"But I don’t think they need to."

Dovey’s smile widened. "Perhaps not."

As the students continued to unwrap their gifts with wonder, the two Deans exchanged a quiet glance, a silent understanding between them.

And for just a moment, as you stood there under the tree, surrounded by the quiet magic of the school, you understood. Sometimes, the most powerful gestures of all were the ones left unspoken..

[ilovehugslikealotalot]

Everything to Me

sum: Leonora seems to have gained interest in a certain Ever Professor

based on: the song She by Dodie

WARNINGS: fluff, slight hint of angst, forbidden love, happy ending!, soft!lesso, mentions of jealousy, Dovey being a little matchmaker :), gentle!reader, shy!reader

(Not proof read)

Lesso watched as Y/n walked into the dining hall, every morning, she’s show up on time always looking flawless. Sometimes a Pep in her step appeared when she’d walk in after a night out with a suitor, though, they never seemed to work out, much to Lesso’s delight.

Am I allowed to look at her like that? Could it be wrong when she's just so nice to look at

Leonora smiled at the Princess as she sat next to her with her plate filled with pancakes and other breakfast foods. Leonora found herself looking at her with a softness and adoration that would’ve surely confused the head Master as to why he placed the Dean into the School For Evil.

The Redhead enjoyed watching her smile and snort at jokes made at the table. She was the most prim and proper Princess but, In Lesso’s eyes, she was surely the most gorgeous. She wondered how a woman could look so ethereal and authentic at the same time.

After breakfast with the staff, Lesso and Y/n had a ritual of going on a morning walk, slowly making their way through the garden. Their arms linked as they took in the sight of sweet Magnolia’s and the warm gaze of the sun.

Leonora swore that she could smell the Lemongrass from where she stood, but knew it was from the woman next to her who still complained about wanting to take a nap. “Ooh! Remember when we took a photo here, it was so peaceful with the stars just sparkling above us” She exclaimed, sitting on the stone bench with that bright grin on her face, “I do remember, Princess, I still have the polaroid in my office if you’d ever like to see it.”

And she smells like lemongrass and sleep She tastes like apple juice and peach Oh, you would find her in a polaroid picture

——

Clarissa made Leonora stay behind at a meeting that evening, nothing how the woman had been spending so much time with the Princess. She could sense the pure love radiating from the two. No one could deny what was happening, not even the headmaster. “You must tell her how you feel, Leonora! You need to tell her before it’s too late!” The golden haired woman exclaimed, flailing her arms about knowing that Lesso would lose the girl sooner or later if she didn’t make a move.

“There’s nothing to tell her, Clarissa..” She whispered lowly, knowing that if she did confess she’s ruin y/n’s chance at a happliy ever after. She couldn’t take that away from her, no she couldn’t do that.

Afterall, Lesso was a Never and Y/n was an Ever. It was forbidden, no way they could pass the trial by tale, right?

I'd never tell No I'd never say a word

Clarissa pouted with a huff before exiting the room most likely plotting some other scheme, but Leonora was okay, admiring the other woman across the room even if it was for a moment. She enjoyed watching her hair perfectly fall on her shoulders and cascading down her back. Her warm and lovable smile, that laugh that was inviting. Not to mention her face was nothing less of perfection.

Lesso was comfortable, standing next to her while she greeted her students with a smile, which they returned and shyed away once they noticed the intimidating Dean next to her. They were fools not to see what they had, everyone did, even the more up tight Evers.

Though, the uneasy feeling in Lesso’s stomach never changed when she saw Y/n talking with an Ever prince that seemed to take a liking to her. Everytime her concerns were proved wrong, that was because y/n never liked any of them she said.

And oh it aches But it feels oddly good to hurt

———

“Leo! Leo! Look at what I found in the garden!” Y/n exclaimed, carefully holding something in her soft hands, as she stopped in front of the redhead, she smiled brightly holding out the delicate flower. It looked as tough as it did peaceful. “Hm, Black Dahlia, my favorite, you remembered?” Leonora smiled subtly, taking the flower in her own hands and admiring it.

“Of course I did! How could I forget my favorite person’s favorite flower?” Y/n felt a blush creep onto her cheeks, the ache in her neck from looking up at Lesso, seemed to disappear. The woman infront of her held back a wide grin, “You are very thoughtful, princess” she complimented, running her thumb across the Ever professor’s cheek. Gathering what ever courage she had left and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you, sweet thing”

Even though, y/n y/l/n would always love Leonora Lesso, she could never verbalize it. As for Leonora, she would never feel the warmth of love from the person she truly loved. And that was the true Evil.

So there they were again, another gala another night that they longed for each other. Stolen glances and subtle flirting seemed to tempt even the Headmaster into matchmaking the two.

and I'll be okay Admiring from afar

As the night fell, the more people retired to their respective rooms. Lesso was left to walk y/n back, the moon and stars lighting the way. It seemed like it was only last night that it was y/n’s first day teaching at The School for Good. They walked hand in hand as the Castle sat in the darkness the lights inside now putting the moon to shame. Lesso wished this was forever, she never allowed herself to think that way especially about people things that aren’t hers. But for now, she allowed herself to think about it even for a moment. Cause even when she's next to me We could not be more far apart

”That was nice, I always enjoy our time together!” She beamed, any traces of sleepiness leaving her. “I do too, sweet girl”

They stood there for a few minutes sitting in comforting silence, “Now that I think of it, I don’t want you walking in that cold. You’ll stay with me” Y/n stated, pulling her in by the jacket sleeve, “Woah, I haven’t even asked you out yet” Leo joked, chuckling to herself, though, y/n’s remained still her face now shying from Lesso’s gaze. “Don’t go all turtle on me now, Princess” she cooed, pulling her closer on for the Professor to tuck her face in Lesso’s jacket.

“Why haven’t you asked me out yet, Leo?” Y/n seriously questioned, looking up at the redhead with tears. It now came as a realization to the Dean that her preception of reality was not the same as y/n’s. “I‘ve dropped countless hints, I followed Dovey’s advice, I did everything I could think of! Do you not like me? Are you just leading me on?” She asked, already sniffling from the anticipation of the answer.

“What? No!” Lesso responded, clutching the Princess close, “No, you don’t like me?” Y/n let out a sob that could’ve woken up half of the castle if Lesso hadn’t shut her mouth. “I mean that I’m not leading you on, Yes, of course I like you, I think I might…love you” Lesso confessed, a weight leaving her shoulders as she held her close.

“I love you, Leonora Lesso” y/n choked out, pulling Lesso down for a long awaited kiss, “I love you most, y/n y/l/n” she replied with that wicked smile she loved.

Yes she means everything to me She means everything to me.

Lesso would feel the Love of the one she truly wanted and this time it meant a Happily Ever After for both of them.

———

first Lesso fic. Idk how I feel about it.

NOT PROOFREAD :)

[bunniebubbleswrites]

Blood runs thicker than water

Mother Figure! Lady Lesso x Never Student! F! Reader A/N: This fic will be loosely based on the books and the movie and yes parent's weekend is a thing in this world just consult the Ever Never Handbook bc that is the reason I got this idea in the first place. Also soft Lesso!! Warnings: Never student from an Ever family, mentions of parental abuse Words: 1411

The sound of excited Nevers and Evers filled the Theater of Tales. Parents Weekend had fallen upon the school, most students excited to see their parents if they were still alive. 

Sitting on the decaying pews with your peers, you scanned the room for your mother’s signature blue dress and your fathers sage suit. You hadn’t written any letters home fearful of how your parents would react. The only Never from a long line of Ever’s. Just imagining the disappointment and hatred in your family's eyes made you flinch. 

The sound of heels made you stand from the pews, the sound of heels hitting the marble sounded much different than the staff, they sounded meaner but it was a different sound than what Lady Lesso’s heels made. 

You walked down from the pews black boots making the decaying wood creak. You shoved your hands into the pockets of your black pants. You wanted this to be over as quickly as possible. Walking over the side littered with happy Ever’s and their parents. You spotted your parents, they were kind of hard to miss. 

Your mother in her elegant blue gown, not a blemish or wrinkle on her smooth skin. Your father by her side in his sage colored suit. The perfect fairy tale couple, your mothers eyes scanned the crowd of Ever girls looking for you. You stood on one side with your peers not allowed to cross over to the other. Your father spotted you and nudged your mother, catching her attention. Her eyes fell on you and a scowl graced her lips, your father indifferent like he always had been. 

They slowly made their way over to you. To anyone else it would look just like disappointment graced her features but you knew she was fuming. 

“ (y/n), dear. No wonder you didn’t write home,” you could hear the sourness in your mothers voice. “You're a never. Where did we go wrong?” She sighed but the smile returned like she didn’t hate you like you hadn’t ruined her life. 

That’s what you were always told as a child. That’s what she would say when she yelled and screamed at you. All you wanted was for her to be proud, and here you were class captain and ‘1’ ranks all across the board. 

The two deans came out onto the stage at the front of the room and you walked back over to the pews, hands still shoved in your pockets. 

“Hello parents and guardians, I am Professor Dovey. Dean of the School for Good.” Dovey’s voice carried through the room. Her golden gown shimmering. 

Dot leaned back in your direction and looked up at you, “So (y/n) where are your parents? I thought you said they were coming.” The girl said while shoving chocolate in her face. You put your head down to look at her, hair curtaining your face, and instead of your usual smile a scowl graced your lips.

“ Oh, they’re here dot,” You said bitterly as you looked up at where the Ever’s sat. “You see the woman with the blue ball gown and the man next to her that almost looks like Professor Sader?” Dot nodded “Those are my parents. I come from a long line of Ever’s.” 

Dot looked at you and so did Hester. They thought you were joking but your face said otherwise. You turned your attention back to the two women at the front of the theater, tugging your long sleeves down to cover your hands. Almost everyone in your school had seen them, the scars but you still hid them. You didn’t need people asking questions, but you didn’t want your teachers asking questions. Especially Lady Lesso. You couldn’t help but feel like you would disappoint her too. 

The sound of people getting up and chatter filled your ears once again. Taking a deep breath.

Let's get this done and over with.

Walking past your peers to meet your parents. Once again an invisible barrier in between you. You could feel eyes on you. You assumed at least 2 of them were Dot and Hester. 

“ (y/n), dear I think me and your father are going to leave. I mean we don’t really have any reason to stay.” Your mother said as a frown graced your father’s stoic expression. You loved your dad, you really did. You don’t think you’ll ever truly understand how they ended up together but you wanted to spend time with your dad and you like the same thoughts consumed him.

“ Don’t have a reason to stay, really that's the best you got. I’ve worked my ass off trying to prove to you that I’m worthy of your love, but I will never be good enough will I?  I earned my spot as class captain, I earned all my 1st place ranks and no thanks to you. So go ahead and leave. I have friends who would actually enjoy my company today.” Your face was flushed and your breathing heavy. The last time you had talked back like this you had some nasty bruises all over your body.

The sound of skin hitting skin made everyone go silent as it echoed through the room. “Don’t you dare talk back to me young lady. I am your mother and will treat me as such.” Your mother had slapped you in front of hundreds of people. Students and parents alike. You were rendered silent, regaining your composure fairly quickly. You turned on your heel and quickly made your way out of the theater through the Nevers entrance. 

Tears rolled down your cheeks and you ran back to your dorm room. The sound of your boots hitting the floor, it was evident to anyone still in the building that you were running. Reaching your room you bust the door open and threw yourself onto your bed and just cried. You had been bottling up the emotions since day one but you just couldn’t take it anymore. You just wanted someone to hold you and tell you everything was going to be okay. 

A knock on your dorm room door startled you. Wiping your eyes and cheeks off you opened the door and there you were met with the concerned face of your dean. 

“Lady Lesso, why are you here?” Instead of a response she pushed you into the room and shut the door behind her with a swish of her finger. 

She pulled you into her arms, “Tell me, tell me what they did to you.” The minute those words left her lips you burst into tears and told her everything. You told her about how your mother would scream and yell at you and how your father would tend and bind your wounds after your mother was finished unleashing her wrath onto you. 

Once you had finished spilling your heart out to your favorite teacher, she wiped your tears and smiled at you reassuringly.

“ You know that saying ‘Blood runs thicker than water’?” Lesso asked you 

You nodded, “ My mother says it all the time to justify the things she did to me.”

“ It’s a bunch of bullshit.” You smiled at her and nodded. You both walked out of your dorm room as she escorted you back to the Theater of Tales. 

As soon as you entered the theater with Lesso behind you. You turned and thanked her and before you ran over to your friends to meet their parents you heard Lesso whisper,

“ I could never be disappointed in you kid.” You smiled back at her as Dot and Hester enveloped you in their arms and Andail joined in on the group hug as well. 

Even though your parents were nowhere to be seen, Dot’s parents welcomed you into their family as if you were their own.

Maybe this Parent’s weekend wouldn’t be so bad and you knew that you could go to Lady Lesso for any and everything. She had shown you more love than your mother ever could. You would make her proud in any way you possibly could and you knew that your friends would help you achieve that goal.

When you looked back at your dean, you saw a small smile form on her lips before it disappeared. You knew she could never be disappointed in you and Dovey saw it too, just like she could never be disappointed in her students. Maybe Evil had a shot at winning this time around.

[hxzxrdous]

The School for Good and Evil

Platonic Lady Lesso x reader

TW: None

SAFE WITH ME

It was a cold friday evening. Lady Lesso was strutting down the hallway, making rounds through the dormitories, making sure all Nevers were in their beds when she suddenly stumbled into a first year Never in the corridor by one of the windows, sobbing. Lady Lesso would usually drag the student into the Doom Room for breaking curfew but something about the 12 year old girl was tugging at her heartstrings.

Looking at the young girl, Lady Lesso sighed internally before deciding to help her. Gently lifting the sobbing child off the floor, she carried her to a nearby bench.

"There there, Y/N, right?" she whispered softly.

"Why don't you tell me what happened?" Lady Lesso asked, giving the girl a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder.

"N-n-nightmare-" you hiccuped, "s-sorry."

Taking a seat next to the girl, Lady Lesso wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Nightmares can be terrifying, especially for someone as young as you. But remember, they're only dreams - nothing more than shadows dancing behind closed eyelids," Lady Lesso gave her a gentle shake.

"Now dry those tears and let's get some sleep, alright? We wouldn't want your studies to suffer because of nightmares now, would we?"

You nodded, suddenly throwing yourself into Lady Lesso's arms, taking the dean by surpise.

Shocked by the sudden burst of affection, Lady Lesso hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms tightly around the girl. As she held her close, she couldn't help but feel a strange warmth spreading through her chest.

"Remember," she murmured softly, "if you ever need someone to talk to or just want some company during bedtime, I'm always here. Now let's get you tucked in and chase away those nightmares once and for all."

Standing up with the girl still in her arms, Lady Lesso carried the girl to her office. Lady Lesso sat down on her chair with the girl nestled in her arms, she took off her trench coat off, wrapping it around the shivering Never.

Leaning back in her chair, Lady Lesso cradled the sleeping girl gently against her chest. The softness of the moment caught her off guard, reminding her of a time long ago when she too had needed comforting from Dovey after a particularly vivid nightmare.

"You're safe with me, sunshine," Lady Lesso murmured.

[baubeautyandthegeek]

Happiest Ending - Leonora Lesso/Clarissa Dovey

A/N: Day 8 Part 2/4 for @aprilisthecruelestmonth

“I’m cursed…” Leonora’s voice is soft, almost sweet, despite what she’s saying. She had known, for a very long time that being a Never is cursed, that she will never be allowed to be happy. She had confronted it many times in the last few years but now… now it felt different. Learning to like, care for, Clarissa had made it harder. An ever and a never should not be allowed to love, yet… Clarissa doesn’t seem to care and Leonora has slowly stopped trying to stop her. “Clari…” She’s silenced by a kiss, gentle but firm. Clarissa’s voice is gentle, warm, strong and caring. She has known this day was coming, since the moment she realised Leonora was learning to trust the way she loved her. “We keep the balance here, my dear Lesso, if I want to be Happy with you, they have to let it happen, the universe has to let it.” In the end, of course, Leonora relents, allows Clarissa to lead her, the two finding ways to blend the schools has been a long time coming but now, here, at the Evers And Nevers Ball, it feels right.

[pruesgaultier]

clarissa's birthday

in which clarissa's parents come to visit for her birthday and suddenly clarissa being in love with lesso makes sense, so much sense.

note; this is rushed and all over the place, but i hope you enjoy. criticism is welcome, but only if you’re not rude !

note 2; our first dovesso x abbott cross over. Clarissa’s parents are Barb and Melissa.

warnings; suggestive language, a lot of it

Soft kisses woke Clarissa up from deep sleep, she groaned quietly, turning her head in the opposite direction. “Leo, I’m sleeping.” she whined, curling up tighter in the bed. “Too bad, wake up.” the evil dean replied, amused by her girlfriend’s antics. Clarissa sighed and rolled over to lay on top of her girlfriend; snuggling into her neck. “I just wanna sleep, somebody kept me up all night.” the blonde emphasized.

Sharp, silver nails grazed the exposed brown skin of her back, making Clarissa shiver lightly, “I didn’t hear you complaining.” Leonora remarked, then uncharacteristically yelped when she felt a pinch on her arm. “Hush!” she didn’t even have to look at her to know the blonde was blushing.

The shorter woman sat up, and Leonora gazed up at the woman she loved. The sun shining through the window gave her an ethereal glow and the purple of her bonnet and pajamas helped enhance that glow. “Happy Birthday, Princess.” the redhead spoke, looking at her softly. Clarissa smiled at her love, if only others saw this side of her, she thought to herself. “Thank you, my love.”

“What time are your parents getting here?” The redhead asked. “I have no idea, they wouldn’t say, but they’ll be here in time for the ball tonight.” Clarissa replied, getting off Leonora and heading toward the restroom to get ready.

“I still don’t think they like me.” Leonora said, walking toward the closet. “That’s not true! My mother loves you.” Clarissa’s parents could be protective, she was their only child after all, but they absolutely adored Lesso. “Really? Which one?” the redhead asked curiously. Clarissa just smiled coyly and closed the door. “Dove?” All she got in response was laughter.

“Stop looking at me like that!” Clarissa scolded, flustered at the look on Leonora’s face. That look meant trouble, that look meant being late and they could not afford to be late, especially to an event in Clarissa’s honor.

“Like what?” Leonora asked in a faux innocent voice. She enjoyed flustering the blonde, it was adorable how she would blush and act shy.

“Like you want to ravage me where I stand.” The shorter woman retorted. The redhead took in Clarissa, in her signature gold but this dress was different, less student appropriate; luckily this is adults only. It was off the shoulder with big puffy sleeves, gold pearls going across the top of her decolletage. The bottom flared out with a high slit that was borderline indecent for the fairy godmother.

“Have you seen how you look in this dress, can you really blame me?” the evil dean exasperated, pulling the fairy godmother closer to her before wrapping her arms around her. She gently grasped the blonde’s chin before pulling her in for a kiss that made Clarissa swoon. The shorter woman pulled away, panting softly. “Later.” she breathed out, “much later.” Lesso nodded, “I’ll hold you to that, Princess. Now, let’s go. We have a party to attend.”

An hour into the ball, after mingling and catching up with friends, Clarissa was taking a break. She was also wondering where her mother’s were, they should’ve been here by now. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait any longer. “Now presenting Barbara and Melissa Dovey.” Barbara is a tall, beautiful, woman who wore a gold metallic dress, one shoulder dress, and her back curly hair was down past her shoulders. She stood arm in arm with Melissa, an equally beautiful, but shorter, redhead. She wore a blue velvet long sleeve dress with silver detailing. They looked amazing together and suddenly Clarissa and Leonora being together made so much sense.

“Like mother, like daughter.” Emma said, breaking the silence, making everyone laugh. Clarissa blushed at the comparison, yes she did take after her mom, Barbara, when it came to her love life and her love for the color gold.

The party resumed and the two walked over to their daughter and her girlfriend. “Happy birthday sweetheart.” Barb spoke, giving her daughter a hug and a kiss to the forehead. “Tesoro, happy birthday.” Melissa greeted, also greeting her with a forehead kiss. “Thank you, Ma.” Clarissa smiled. The shorter redhead turned her eyes to Leonora. “Lesso.” she greeted, coldly. Barb pinched her wife, who pouted, and also greeted Lesso, however she was much nicer. She had instantly taken a liking to the Dean of Evil ever since Clarissa brought her home for the first time.

The four of them talked for a while before Clarissa got antsy and wanted to dance…again. “Nora.” she started sweetly, the evil dean narrowed her eyes slightly, that was the voice the blonde used when she wanted something. “Will you dance with me?” she asked. Lesso internally sighed. She despised dancing, especially because of her leg, however; her leg currently felt fine and she could never truly deny Clarissa anything, especially on her birthday.

“Of course, Princess.” she stood up from the table, holding her hand out to the fairy godmother who gladly took it before dragging her to the dance floor.

The two older Dovey’s watched them with a fond look in their eyes. “You need to stop giving Leonora such a hard time. She clearly loves Clarissa very much.” Barbara chided. “But it’s fun. She gets so nervous.” Melissa laughed, gleeful that she could strike a bit of fear into the Dean of Evil. “And they call me the evil one.” Barb mumbled, causing her wife to laugh. “Babe you are the evil one. I’m just having a bit of fun.” Melissa replied. “Good is supposed to defend.” The taller one reminded her wife. The redhead scoffed. “I’m defending our daughter.” she sputtered out. “Mel.” Barb warned, leveled her with a glare causing her to sigh. “Fine, I’ll stop giving her a hard time.” she grumbled out, leading Barbara to give her a soft kiss. “That’s all I ask dear.” And with that, they turned their attention back to their daughter who was smiling in Leonora’s arms.

The next day at lunch, when the students saw Clarissa’s parents a collective “ohh” of understanding came from the students. They could see why the Good Dean was in love with Evil Dean, it made sense. They were polar opposites; good and evil, where Clarissa was demure, Leonora was brash. They balanced each other out, just like her parents balanced each other out.

[jeri4lifer]

Tear You Apart ~ Leonora Lesso x Clarissa Dovey (Modern AU)

Soooo, this is quite literally my first time posting on tumblr, but i wanted to try.

Any ways I give you guys a little preview. ;)

Enjoy

hand fidgeting with her earrings as she finally meets her green eyes. 

“What’s a girl like you,” She pauses, glancing at the blonde’s figure before meeting her eyes again. “Doing in a place like this?” Clarissa sighed as she downed another glass of whatever the hell she  ordered before the last two drinks started to hit, the bar had a soft ambiance while calm jazz played in the background. No amount of alcohol could drown the thread of sadness and loneliness running through her veins that seeps youtube of every pore, her goal was to not think, not feel anything but the gin and tonic in her hand while she silently sulks in her work clothes, not wanting to go home just yet.

Clarissa nearly missed the gorgeous blonde pulling a chair out next to her at the bar table, waving to the male bartenders with the many hidden tattoos under his sleeves. She glances over before doing a double take to casually staring at the mysterious woman while she orders her drink, as the woman finishes her request she sighs and finally looks over to Clarissa once she feels her brown eyes on her.

Clarissa blushed when the woman gave her a striking grin, occasionally taking several glimpses from the blonde, the look of interest in her eye didn’t go unnoticed by Clarissa as she continued to finish her drink while averting her eyes from the observant woman. 

“Can I get a whiskey?” The woman asks the bartender before glancing over to Clarissa. “And add a gin and tonic for the angel here.” Clarissa releases a dull chuckle while turning her head to the seemingly bold woman next to her, her 

Clarissa sighed while pretending to be the least bit interested in the woman’s words. “I’m simply enjoying a drink with my own company until you decided to join me.” she snarked, rolling her eyes with a level of passiveness.

“Oh,” She mocked, turning her body towards the reluctant blonde. “Well I am truly sorry for disturbing you, darling.” 

“Are you really?” She sighed, glancing over at the woman. “You seem quite...unapologetic to me.”

Leonora chuckled, dropping her head at the blonde's snarkiness, she continues to observe Clarissa as she sips her drink. “I’m surprised a woman of your religious stature would come to a place like this.” 

Clarissa scoffs at the woman’s words, whipping her body around to face the woman. “And what makes you think that?” The redhead gave her a lopsided grin as she finally caught the tensed blonde’s attention, gesturing to the gold necklace with the virgin Mary dangling from the chain.

“It’s quite gorgeous if I might add.” Clarissa clasps the necklace in her hand before shoving it into her shirt, she ignored the way the redhead gazed at her cleavage shamelessly.

“Thank you...my husband gifted it to me for our tenth anniversary.” She blushed, throwing back the last of her drink to avoid the woman’s eyes.

The woman narrowed her eyes at the woman before leaning forward, causing Clarissa to slightly lean back in her chair while blushing furiously. “Huh...married and modest.” She stated, running her tongue over her red lips. 

Clarissa guilty around the room with her red face, she glanced down at the woman’s lips before clearing her throat. This wasn’t something she was use to, her body was having all these strange reactions that felt nothing like when she was with her husband, her perfume smells like bergamot and amberwood while her pale green eyes roam her physical and spiritual body, it was overwhelming.

The woman finally leans back in her chair, taking a sip of her whiskey that was order before speaking. “Tell me,” She sighs. “Why are you here?” 

Clarissa takes a deep breath, before answering. “I don’t want to go home just yet.” 

“Oh...is hubby not so good in bed, or is it the temper?” She mocks. 

Clarissa shrugs. “I love him but...his temper, his ego...the need to be better than everyone is taking away everything I loved about him.” She paused, removing her glasses while keeping her eyes on the counter.

The redhead holds out her hand, enticing the blonde to shake it. “Leonora. Leonora Lesso.” Clarissa stared at her hand for a moment before cautiously taking it, her pale hands were soft, perfectly manicured with black polish.

Clarissa brought her eyes back to Leonora’s, completely mesmerized by the aura she exuded; she couldn’t seem to bring herself to pull away, no matter the guilt quietly building in the back of her mind, the warmth in her stomach was somehow stronger.

“Would you like to...find something more entertaining to do?” Leonora gestures to the exit, standing up and holding out her hand for the blonde.

Every reason and excuse ran through Clarissa’s mind as she contemplated the offer, it was enticing. “Depends...what you’d have in mind for entertainment ?” She smiled, taking her hand. 

Leonora smiled, tilting her head. 

Here's the rest of the work, hope you guys enjoyed.

teehee

[anyasivy]

Granted Surprise - Dovesso

A little origin story of how Dovey got used to Lesso calling her princess. Please note that english is NOT my first language, and I haven't read any SGE book! (I based this on the movie, and I swear I will read the books sometime.)

Enjoy <3

The first time it slipped out of Lesso's tongue, she had said it out of want— curiosity overtaking her. Knowing the good dean had been known famously as Cinderella's fairy godmother, always taking care of princesses and never being one herself. For Lesso, it had been said out of snark. A tease to pull a nerve. Maybe two. But Dovey had taken a step back that moment, bewilderment echoing on every inch of her face at the well-lit school library for Good. Her reaction had been the opposite of what Lesso had in mind. Nevertheless, she liked the small part between Dovey's lips, the little furrow of her eyebrows, and all the emotions gathering all at once in those beautiful eyes. The reaction was nothing but subtle. You could see, plain as the night sky, the complication of Dovey's feelings.

"Princess?" Dovey repeated, as though Lesso had mistaken her for one. It wasn't the intention, of course, but the dean could play along. Dovey turned around, her back facing Lesso as she fakes a giggle. "Ridiculous! Nonsense... nonsense." Her lips felt dry, and the room started heating up. Dovey calms herself down on the corner of the library between two dusty bookshelfs.

Leonora crossed her arms, examining the entirety of the situation. What would she get out of this? What more could she get of this? Dovey had reacted well to her liking. She figured that was it. Her cue to leave, that is. But she continued looking at Dovey's back, hunched over as she breathed deep and soft. Lesso lets out a small chuckle. "It was a mere word."

Like an actress' cue on a movie scene, Clarissa turned swiftly. The complications and mixed emotions that had translated in her face turned into something of fury.

"A word that is not true. I am anything but."

Lesso raises a suspicious eyebrow, "Is that insecurity I hear? Isn't the School for Good about being beautiful and all that bullshit?" The opposite was taught in the School for Evil. But the polar opposite schools taught one thing in common on all its students; acceptance. The beautiness and ugliness of everything that you are and that comes with you. There is no honest truth without the importance of acceptance. Just a farce.

The professor frowned at the profanity, looking away from Lesso's piercing gaze. "Don't even start, Lesso." She inhaled sharply, now moving past the said and unsaid things. She grabbed the hem of her dress as she walked past by the dean. "I have a class in 10." And with that, Dovey disappeared behind the two golden doors screaming of richness and of great value. Lesso would have to give it to Dovey for always brushing things off within seconds. Minutes, if she felt like it.

Leonora glares with certainty at the two golden doors. What a princess.

The second time, it had been around the other professors and the school master. It was intentional. To get a rise out of everyone but most especially at the targeted figure. The evil dean did not know why she had felt like saying it, especially around these tyrants. But the word was itching to get out of her every time Dovey's within earshot, and it just so happens Lesso loves to have that itch scratched this very moment. Dovey stared at Lesso with such confusion and hate. Good does not hate, Lesso remembered thinking, but it was a beautiful look on Dovey. She mentally chuckles.

"Lesso—"

"Yes, Princess?" Her tone was taunting, a one she wishes would perfectly rot all the goodness within Dovey. Lesso leans back in satisfaction and anticipation of what will happen next, of what emotion Dovey displays this time, and if she could ever control it and move past it like the last time.

The woman in question looks around frantically, embarrassed for both herself and Lesso. Dovey looked wary and aware of her surroundings and inviting the evil dean to be the same. But of course, Lesso couldn't care less. She wanted to see, for some reason, a look on Dovey's face. The explosion of it all. She crosses her arms, throws a daunting smirk, and tilts her head menacingly. She was inviting Dovey as well. And it went on like that for minutes, with the atmosphere granting nothing but stillness and thrill. The good and evil professors watched them profusely, batting eyes at Dovey, Lesso, and the invisible line that separates the two of them. They had known for quite a while the cockiness and evilness of Lesso, she'll kind of give it away the instant you meet her. So it wasn't really a surprise witnessing this moment right now.

Dovey exhales, slowly. She takes her time as she presses the heel of her palm against the long table, standing up while looking at Lesso. The veins in her neck were visible as she said, "Can we talk in private?"

Lesso replied with, "And leave the audience questioning the ending?" she smiles, "I do not think so. That would be rude."

"I'm sorry, let me rephrase that." She glances around at the said audience. They looked away the instant. Then she glanced back at Lesso, feeling the hard thrumming of her heart against her chest. The hatred she feels for this woman was excruciating. "Let's talk in private, Lesso."

"Was that a command, Princess?"

Dovey bites the inside of her cheek, hoping she was biting Lesso's ferocious mouth instead. And no, she did not mean that as some kind of a sexual thing.

"Yes. I'm commanding you to talk with me in private, Lesso. Now."

There was some sense of urgency in her voice, some bitterness as well that hints Dovey was not at all enjoying this. Just like what Lesso expected and liked. Without any word, she stands up as well, not breaking eye contact with Dovey. Lesso found it challenging the very first seconds, just then noticing the similarities between Dovey's eyes and the deepness of both the ocean and the universe. It doesn't make any sense at all, but it was the only thing Lesso could think of to compare at that moment.

When Lesso heaved a sigh, Dovey was the first to break and strove on her flat shoes away from the others. Lesso followed her shortly, walking just a few steps behind her, only delaying since it was hard to strut as fast as Dovey when wearing heels.

Lesso could feel the eyes of the professors and the school master aimed at her back.

Perhaps it was better they missed this part of the show.

Soon enough, Dovey led them inside one of the school's hidden rooms that consisted only of the things of those students who had failed classes 3 times and were transformed into whatever creature that sucked. Lesso closed the door behind and when she turned around... there it is.

"You look mad." The evil dean commented, there was a small curve on the side of her lips at the sight of Dovey's current situation.

"Princess?" Dovey scoffed. "Of all evil things that you could call me, that's what you picked up on?"

Lesso shrugged her shoulders, seeming ignorant. "It fits you."

"It's not even an insult!"

"Then why are you insulted?"

Dovey stopped at that, her chest rising up and down as she panted. The room felt hot again, and it was like the air was closing in on her, and she wouldn't be able to breathe the next 2 minutes.

She didn't let herself be, of course. She pulled herself together. She had to. She wasn't about to break down and cry in front of the very person she'd rather bury herself alive than be in a room with.

Dovey clears her throat, looking down at the ground and the gap between Lesso's heels. She frowns, "I don't appreciate you calling me Princess... much less with the teachers and the school master around." She announces without meeting Lesso's gaze.

Lesso tuts. "Are you commanding me?"

"I help princesses." Dovey emphasizes, and she feels her heart's walls thickening and pushing against. "I am not one."

The other dean leans against the door, crossing her arms as she did. She scanned Dovey from her adorable headpiece to the flat shoes she wears. She had plenty of the same shoes but with different colours. Unlike Lesso, who had many variations of shoes with different heights.

"I do what I want."

Lesso left without a word right after that, satisfaction ringing in her every step, leaving Dovey completely dumbfounded— irked. Dovey had tons of nerves, and she was able to pull all of them conventionally. Just what the hell was Lesso's problem? I mean, Dovey gets it, the whole being evil thing and that. But why does it have to be her, of all people? There was Emma, who is all about beauty. Not that Dovey wanted Emma to feel the same as she does when Lesso teases her, but she was the better target between the two. So why, God, why did Lesso have to pick her? She hadn't done anything to upset the evil dean. As a matter of fact, she had been cheerful and giddy the first time she met Lesso. Kind. And Lesso had glared daggers at her, perfecting it with a mischievous and smug smirk. Dovey could still remember the intimidation Lesso caused. She had shivered in her position at that moment.

Dovey caught herself against one of the walls facing the door and took a moment to keep it all together. She didn't mean to overreact, nor did she mean to storm off of the private meeting. But there was something about Lesso, the princess calling, and the look she gave her every single time. Something so deeply irritating.

She couldn't put a pin on it. And she does not wish to waste her time trying to. She'd just reason that it was Lesso. Simply Lesso.

Dovey nodded her head at herself, decisive.

The most recent time Lesso had called her princess, Dovey hadn't reacted. She hadn't shifted uncomfortably in her position. She hadn't frowned. She hadn't shot a dreadful glare at Lesso, nor did she demand a private chat. She just went on with what she was doing; looking over at books for her next class. There had been a great improvement in regards to the School for Good and its lessons to its students. Dovey just can't be truly sure if it was an improvement she agrees on, but nonetheless, there were rules to follow.

Leonora visibly looked a bit excited at this development. Dovey caught it and chuckled. The evil dean takes a step closer from where Dovey was working. "Well, this is a surprise." Granted surprise. Lesso comments, her eyes observing the tiniest inch of Dovey's face to see if there was anything, anything at all, that could hint her that this was a facade. That Dovey had practised herself into not reacting. But there wasn't. Lesso bit her lip, "Princess it is."

"What book did you need again?" Clarissa asks, moving past it and hoping Lesso would do the same. She did. Lesso places her arms on her sides and starts off the furthest corner of the room. Dovey walked behind her. There was a bookshelf with a title on the top, 'Beauty Spells'. Lesso grabbed the thickest book on the display. "You're grabbing a beauty spell book." She points at it.

"We need more ugly spells. I can't have never students this year be particularly into their looks." Lesso scans the book, brushing off Clarissa's eyebrows furrowing.

"Beauty spells doesn't exactly help with that." There was a humour in her tone, a friendly remark. Lesso can't decide whether she should let it be or comment on it to completely get rid of whatever was on Dovey's mind that could clue her Lesso didn't mind being... casual. She definitely minds.

Lesso went around Dovey, walking past her. She could hear distant footsteps behind. "I don't need anything more, Princess." And the footsteps halted.

She sighs as she exits the library, but not without Dovey's, "That is a beauty spell book, Lesso!" shouted from across the library. Lesso mentally laughs at Dovey's brazeness. All evers are brazen, she realizes. And it is exactly why she doesn't get along with them. Lesso loved shame. The petrified look on people's faces as they realize what they had done was more than an embarrassment. It was art in her eyes. Evers were an offence to that.

This time, when Lesso had called her princess— Dovey smiled. Like a true, genuine smile. Perhaps it was also because of the context and the scene before them. But Dovey smiled at the nickname, Princess, which Lesso had been throwing around to spite her back then.

"What do you know?" Dovey confidently speaks, "Good wins again!" She sang cheerfully, her chest exploding in warmth and joy as the Ever students broke into screams of success and effort. It was a good and exciting battle, and Dovey hadn't doubted her students a tiny bit. They had been well-trained all year round. And God knows Clarissa had spent all the time she could to harness them.

Lesso sulks behind her. "What do you know." There was sarcasm haunting her voice. Dovey only giggles at it. "Next year, it will be us. We have to balance it out, Clarissa. Good has been winning for almost a hundred years. That is not something we can just approve of."

Dovey scrunches her nose at her. "Next year, then!" She exclaims, not a single ounce of happiness lost at Leonora's snark. Before the evil dean could rain even more on her parade, Dovey descended down the stairs and unto her precious evers. Lesso groans at the sight of it.

"Next year, Princess."

[bunnyblogs25]

Lady lesso x reader

Florian was not too new to the school but he definitely stood out from the crowd, his hobby was collecting old records and he loved singing. So when he was around you would always know, at first lesso was annoyed and dovey would have him put on shows from time to time in the dining hall or the auditorium. Anything and everything about music Florian would be into it 100%.

One night Florian was singing Africa by toto and lesso was doing her hallway rounds to make sure the students were in their respectable dorms. She scoffed slightly but decided to stand in the shadows of the school and listen to the echoes that travelled through the night. "Hear the drums echoing tonight

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

She's comin' in, 12:30 flight

Her moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation". A chill swam down her spine listening to your voice. She's heard him before but never took the time to actually listen listen. "So my little siren of the night where did you learn to sing like that"? She asked opening your dorm room door. You quickly turned slightly startled. "Oh, h..hey professor". He spoke quietly. "Oh, don't go quiet on me now little lamb". She said smirking softly. You walked up to her and smiles softly. "My mother used to sing to me in and outside of the womb, so I guess because of that I became accustomed to singing myself". He said putting his hair in a messy bun. Lesso took the time to admire his features and never thought she'd be suaded to being attracted to a man but there was something about Florian she couldn't put her finger on. She bit her lip softly and leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips, not knowing how to react he went wide eyed but dared not move.

Lesso pulled away slowly and looked into his eyes, but stepping back she decided to trail her eyes a little farther down to admire more of him. "You're gonna be my new friend ". She said winking before leaving Florian stunned and stuck to the floor.

[iamnotoriginalphil]

Curled Up Together (Leonora Lesso x f!Reader)

Synopsis: Sharing a bed with you was not something Lesso ever wanted to do.

Words: 2.4k

Warnings: Some swearing

Lesso was going to curse Dovey. There was no two ways about it. No one would be able to convince her otherwise because she had been dropped in her own personal version of hell and it was all Dovey’s fault.

You sighed and she froze. Eyes dragging down to you she felt her jaw clench. You were curled up on your side, facing towards her, and she had no idea how you were asleep. It seemed sharing a bed with the Dean for the School of Evil had no effect on you and it made her blood boil.

In the moonlight she could see the curve of your eyebrow, the shadows from your eyelashes on your cheek, the thin skin of your eyelids moving as you dreamt. You were heartbreakingly beautiful in sleep and you’d never know.

Dovey had done this. Dovey had forced the two of you to take the room together by her inability to be accommodating. Dovey was at fault for the absolute hell she was going through.

She couldn’t help but take another glance at you. Your lips were parted, looking entirely too tempting, and your breathing was even. She could feel the ghost of your breath on her shoulder. your body heat rolled towards her under the covers and suddenly it was hard for her to breathe. You were close enough to touch.

She rolled over, presenting her back to you, tugging on the covers to try and take more than her fair share. You made a small noise but that was it. Even in sleep you never fought back with her. You remained calm and still, letting her do as she wished until she tired herself out. It infuriated her. It intrigued her. She wanted more of it.

She felt you shuffle over the mattress. Your fingers brushed against her back and your breath ghosted over her neck. She froze again, hoping you would move away. You only shuffled closer, seeking out the warmth she had stolen from you.

Oh yes, this was all Dovey’s fault. Just because the leaking roof had displaced you both from your rooms over in the other school didn’t mean Dovey could shove you into a room together that happened to only have one bed. As if the pink frills weren’t enough. She was being tortured for an evil she had committed. That had to be what this was.

She practically jumped out of the bed when she felt your nose brush against the back of her neck. On the furtherest edge of the bed, she clung to the mattress to keep from toppling out all together, but she had to put some space between the two of you or she would go mad.

Dovey must have seen the way her eyes lingered on you whenever you were in the room. She must had heard the soft tone in her voice whenever your name came up. She must have watched the way she smiled when you talked to her.

Yes, this had to be some devious match making plan on the part of the other dean. There was no doubt about it. She probably thought she was doing the right thing, but was only making it worse. There was no way this ended well for anyone.

You hadn’t seemed to have noticed any of those things. You’d been oblivious to the way you snagged her attention, the way you occupied a different part of her brain to everyone else, the way you were special. You had no idea Leonora had a crush on you and she was hoping to keep it that way.

You grumbled something, shifting even closer to her warm body. She couldn’t move lest she fall out of the bed, but you were right there and just the brush of skin would make her head spin. Another grumble fell from your lips, ending in a sigh. You shifted again, giving her a little more room, but then you stilled.

“Am I pushing you out of the bed?” you asked, voice slurring from sleep.

“Not at all,” she replied stiffly.

“You’re about to fall out.”

Your hand shot out in the dark, snagging her wrist. You tugged and she let you pull her back onto the bed properly. With the other hand you rubbed at your eye. In the moonlight she’d never seen anything more beautiful than a sleep rumpled you.

“Did you steal all the covers?” you asked.

“Well, I am evil, love,” she said then immediately regretted the use of a pet name.

“Then I should have pushed you out of the bed.” Your lazy smile made her heart constrict painfully.

“You little demon,” she groused but there was no fire behind it. It was shockingly close to fondness. You blinked at her and if she’d less control over herself then her cheeks might have flushed.

“If you give them back I’ll stop pushing you out,” you bargained.

She sighed, redistributing the covers until you were covered too. You let out a contented sigh, snuggling down into the soft mattress again. She turned her head to look at you, only to find your eyes already watching her, peeking just out from the top of the covers.

“You’ll never sleep if you don’t relax,” you eventually said.

“You’ll have to excuse me if sharing a bed with someone is less than ideal for me,” she snapped.

“Sorry.”

She fought against the impulse to pinch the bridge of her nose. Your eyes were wide and worried, a flash of hurt passing over them. You shuffled away from her, giving her even more space. The gap between your bodies was a gaping hole, and there was a moment of desperate disappointment seizing her.

But she couldn’t apologise. The Dean of Evil didn’t apologise for hurt feelings. That would be a step too far. And would definitely let you know about her feelings. Which she did not want in any way, shape, or form.

“If you want I can make up a bed on the floor? Let you have the bed to yourself,” you offered, sitting up, covers pooling around your waist.

In the moonlight, your skin practically glowed. Long arms and low cut chemise. It was a veritable feast for her eyes and it was with great effort that she pulled her eyes away. Rumpled hair fell about your shoulders and her mouth grew dry.

“That’s not necessary,” she managed to spit out.

You looked down at her, bottom lip worried between teeth. She would have groaned at the sight if not for the fact that you would hear.

“I don’t want to be the reason you’re crankier than usual in the morning,” you said. Her heart thumped extra hard as a small sparkle lit up your eyes.

Her hand shot up, grasping your shoulder. Your warm skin under the touch of her fingers had her digging her nails in, surprised at her reaction. The shoulder wasn’t a particularly sexual body part, but your skin was soft and delicate and she wanted to sink her teeth into it.

She tugged you down, until you were lying beside her again. You huffed out a laugh and that sent a thrill through her. Dovey could never get such a sound from you. In the shadow of night it went right through her, so intimate, so close. Her fingers were still on your shoulder. She retracted them, almost caressing your skin as she took her hand back. Your laughter cut off and your eyes turned to her.

“Sleep,” she commanded, turning away from you.

“Goodnight, Lady Lesso,” you whispered across the space.

She did her best to ignore you. You shifted, then again, a tug on the covers, before you grew still. She listened to your breathing slowly evening out, trying to pace her own to yours. Maybe it helped. With her eyes squeezed closed she could feel her muscles begin to relax, the sound of your breathing helping lull her to sleep.

When Lesso awoke, she was warm and comfortable. Arms curled around her waist and there was a nose softly brushing against the skin of her neck. Something soft pressed along her spine, shifting closer, legs tangling together. Her entire body felt as if it was melting into the mattress and for the first time ever she hadn’t woken up grumpier than she’d gone to bed. She allowed the other body to curl around her, drifting back into a doze.

A soft murmur, lips brushing over her shoulder, fingertips slipping under the hem of her shirt to rest on the soft skin of her stomach. She arched into the touch, not bothering to think about it too much, enjoying the feeling of it. Like electricity on her skin, burrowing into her veins to set her alight.

“Lesso,” you sighed, sweet and drowsy, lips managing to brush the skin of her neck, body pressing into her.

Her eyes snapped opened and she froze. The lazy relaxation in her muscles was gone, and her mind was already racing. You sighed her named again, pressing closer, pulling her towards you. Your hand slipped further up her body, flames licking through the ice settling in her veins.

She considered pulling out of your hold, unsure if you were awake or not. If you were, she would have to face the fact she had slept wrapped up in your arms, if you weren’t there was no way of getting out without waking you up. There was no winning.

“Relax,” you murmured, and she wondered if she was being tortured for something. The drowsy timbre of your voice was addictive, rough like sandpaper and yet soft like silk.

Your arms tightened around her, nose running along the length of her neck. Your lips brushed along her pulse point and she shivered. You hummed, melting against her again.

“Stop it,” she snapped, pulling out of your hold.

She sat up, staring down at you, cheeks flushing and eyes flashing. Your mouth had fallen open, eyes widening, and you looked like every single one of those princesses in the other school, waiting to be saved by their princes.

She was no prince.

“Don’t touch me,” she growled.

“Sorry,” you said, scrambling away from her, “sorry.”

“Just…” She pressed the hell of her palms to her eyes, “fuck.”

She felt you jump before a thump sounded in the room, loud and all consuming. Looking up, she found you on the ground beside the bed, looking surprised at your own predicament. Laughter bubbled over her lips, and despite the embarrassment and fear curdling in her stomach, she couldn’t help it. The look on your face was perhaps the most adorable thing she’d ever seen.

Which, being the Dean of Evil, should not have made her begin to relax at all.

“Come on.”

She extended her hand, offering you help back onto the mattress and off the cold, hard floor. Your hand in hers reminded her of the feeling of your fingers on her stomach. She pulled you up, a little harder than she meant to, sending you toppling towards her. An arm caught you around the waist, and Lesso realised being pressed against you from the front was just as intoxicating as from the back.

Her eyes met yours, and for the first time it was as if she could consider that maybe whatever was going through your head might be close to what was going through hers. You were staring at her, lips parted, eyes molten. Her arm tightened around your waist.

“Sorry,” you whispered.

You tried to pull out of her arms. She refused, tightening it further until the space between the two of you had disappeared. Staring down at you, she was trying to read the emotion in your eyes behind the rising panic.

“I don’t…” You struggled against her hold, “it’s… I’m just… It’s fine.”

“It’s not,” she replied, voice lowering into something resembling gravel.

“It is.” Your voice was getting higher.

“I’m telling you it’s not,” she growled.

“I’m sorry.”

“Fuck this.”

She grasped your face, pulling you in for a long drawn out kiss. There was a moment, one she knew would be burned into her brain, when you melted against her, hands seeking out her waist. She shivered when your hands found their way under her shirt again, seeking out warm skin to map.

Your tongue brushed against her lower lip, and she groaned. She couldn’t stop touching you, wanting to know every single inch of you with the same intimacy she had with villainy. Your hands were strong as they pushed her back, straddling her lap as you kissed her deeper. Her fingers trailed up your legs, pushing past the hem of your nightgown and you whimpered. You actually whimpered.

She was going to have to remember that for next time.

Your lips were trailing down her neck, finding her pulse point again. Your hands were pushing further up her shirt, exposing her skin to the cool morning air. Your name fell from her lips like a prayer and she was ready to worship you.

“I’m glad I convinced Dovey to put us into one room,” you murmured into the skin of her neck.

“Yes,” she hissed before the words managed to penetrate the cloud of lust, “what?”

She sat up so suddenly you fell back, landing on her shins. She was glaring at you, and all you did was smile. It was infuriating. Anyone else would cower under that look but you seemed to preen.

“You asked Dovey to put us into this room together?” she demanded.

“It wasn’t so much asking. More like, dropping subtle hints for weeks until she thought it was her own idea,” you replied with a small shrug and a mischievous smile.

“That’s devious.” She couldn’t help the grin spreading over her own face.

“Do I pass?” you asked, sliding up her legs again until you were in her lap.

“Top of the class,” she replied, leaning towards you.

Her next kiss was searing, wanting you to feel the fire you’d ignited in her. So soft, so seemingly innocent, so beautiful. She’d never wanted anything more than she wanted you. You moaned into her mouth, fanning the flames until she felt a desperation she was unused to. She wanted you in every possible way, at every moment of the day, for the rest of forever.

Which, if she thought too much about it, would feel entirely too much like the true love those simpering Evers craved so much.

[ytace]

Good, Evil And Grey

Lawrd I procrastinated so much, But I thought it would be a good or at least interesting idea to include a Morally Grey MC in a world that’s defined by good and evil.

[Song Recommended to listen while reading]

Pairings: Student Reader X Leonora Lesso X Clarissa Dovey [Platonic, Can be Parental Dovesso]

Warning: Slightly swearing, Falling from heights

Summary: You were in the midst of rewatching a movie you've been wanting to watch for awhile, until something mysterious happened. Opening your eyes to Find yourself in the movie.

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The Soft glow from your IPad flickered in the dim room, casting a calm light against you. Nuzzling against your pillow against your chest with a comfortable blanket tucked above you, you placed a bowl of half-finished snacks to the side. It was one of those quiet nights — Warm and simple, just a time to escape the cold reality by rewatching the movie that you’ve been waiting ages to watch..

Without hesitation you wasted no time to hit the play button. The movie was just as nostalgic as the first time you’ve watched it, familiar faces of Sophie and Agatha was on the screen as they started off their adventure in Gavaldon. The warmth and comfort of the atmosphere embraced you as you felt yourself slowly nodding off, mixed with the soft rustle of your blankets.

Growing drowsier and drowsier..

The enchanted voices of Sophie and Agatha echoed in your mind as the world you were watching through your screen began to blur, becoming more like a dream than the movie you were watching. You barely noticed how the room around you started to soften and fade, as the edges of your vision growing darker and darker. Leaving all that you could hear were the muffled dialogues, the moment you decided to lean your head against the warm pillow.

Your eyelids fluttered shut.

Only that Something felt… off. You were somehow lying on damp grass, a strange chill tickling the tip of your skin making you stir slightly in your sleep.

Annoyed and persistent, you tossed and turned to the other side not wanting to wake from your slumber just yet. Still obliviously unaware of the situation that you have caught yourself in…

The abrupt sound of wind—sharp and cold—pulled you from the edges of sleep. It was like being dragged from the quiet warmth of a blanket into the chill of a strange, open space. "Ugh-" You grunted, Shooting up from the patch of grass out of irritation, you opened your mouth. And the exact moment curses were about to come out from your mouth. Your eyes had only registered that this was no longer your room, The world around you was... unfamiliar, dark, and, for a moment, a little too real. Frustration was quickly filled with a mixed of confusion with terror.

“What the fuck..” you muttered under your breath. As this was definitely not how you wanted to wake up,

Taking in the unfamiliar view of your surroundings..

Trees were Rooted Firm and tall, Stems curled up in twisted forms covered in thick moss, and the ground beneath you was uneven, soft with grass on top of soil. You heard the distant howl of wind, but there was no sound of cars, no city hum…

Wait a minute.. This sight, why was it so oddly familiar?

It feels as if you’ve just seen it before..

“The School for Good and Evil...? It can’t be.”

Except this wasn’t a film anymore. This was the real thing.

A rush of panic swept over you. What was going on? How had you gotten here? Was this even real? Scrambling immediately out of panic as you could feel your senses tingling with the unmistakable pulse of magic.

“I was watching this movie literally just a while ago!- What the actual fuck?”

You took a few steps, brushing your hands against the trees nearby to do a reality check, to see if everything around you wasn’t an illusion.

Everything felt real, From the rough sensation and dented patterns of the tree to that same chill the wind produced the moment you opened your eyes. As you continued to make sense of your thoughts. A faint red hue began to engulf the clouds, spreading it slowly as the sky begun to take in the different shades of red — ominous, mysterious, And full of Magic — feeling the weight of the air as if something was swiveling around you.

Almost out of instinct you turned around, only to see a clouded misty entity with glowing red eyes staring directly at you. Catching eye contact with it, A gasp caught in your throat.

"No.. no.. NO!-" You prayed as you try to run from the source, knowing it was most likely A Stymph. You didn’t even have enough time to run — Taking only a few steps before feeling massive talons lodged onto your shoulders.

"SHIT IM NOT-"

Without even letting you finish your sentence, it immediately Suspended you into the air the very moment it decided to fly off into the horizons. Letting out a raw and unfiltered scream, you felt yourself accended high into the air as the path away from Gavaldon seemed to disappear bellow you. Wind was brushing past your face, hearing the loud thumping of your heart — feeling the surge of heat rushing through your veins, from head to toe. Was it out of Terror? Or was it out of anticipation?..

Could it be both?..

Fuck it, you couldn’t care less about it currently. Your thoughts are purely on treating what you remember from the movie as a survival guide, knowing where your heading next is the enchanted school.

The creature’s body glided through clouds , parting them as if they were cotton candy. The soft mist swirled and shifted all around you like blown dandelions dancing in air. With every beat of its wings, you could feel yourself approaching an adventure.. Each passing moment, the school drew nearer making your eyes immediately drawn to the silhouette of both the schools Its looming presence is almost impossible to ignore.

“Ok.. If I Land in the School for Good, Don’t hit the Fairies.. and if I land in the school for evil, Hold my breath…” you recited. In the midst of being carried through the air, your mind profusely browsed through your memories— reassuring yourself that you’ve watched the movie before, hoping to give yourself some confidence in surviving this whole ordeal.

The School for good first came into view, Basked in warm sunlight glistening off the tips of its majestic towers and fine structures. It’s was an exact replica of what you’d expect in Disney fairytale movies..

You sighed and closed your eyes.

“Just in case” you muttered while Bracing yourself, knowing that there might be a chance the stymph would release you into the pits of flowers and roses. Seconds felt like minutes, as you waited. But it definitely doesn’t seem like you belong in good…

The School of evil loomed just right ahead, as you thought this just might be the destination you’ll end up in. Just like you thought, being flown nearer and nearer, you held your breath — Knowing that you’d be dropped into the pits of the muddy water below.

To your surprise, Destiny has other plans..

It doesn’t seem like you belong in evil either. Since the stymph flew past the school for evil, infact it’s heading back towards the school for good only for it to stop in the middle. Looking bellow you was a small narrow concrete pathway, and anything over the pathway was a pit of deep ocean.

“THE BRIDGE?!-“ you screamed, watching the stymph Hovered along with your body, circling the area that connected both schools.

From afar and high, you squinted your eyes as you saw two familiar figures that seem to be chatting with each other on the bridge. One of them had messy wavy hair, Rigid and composed, wearing a black suit while she held a cane. The other had a much more gentle demeanor, adorned with a warm yellow gown.

“Lady Lesso and Professor Dovey..?” You thought to yourself, hovering in the air. You recognized the two anywhere.

Before A rush of wind followed by a piercing scream was heard, the stymph decided to let go of your shoulders making you fall like a comet from the sky. However luck was cruelly kind — your hand barely grazed the edge of the bridge as you held onto your dear life.

"OH MY GOD, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!- YOU COULD HAVE DROPPED ME ANYWHERE ELSE BUT BY THE BRIDGE?” You yelled out in frustration, cursing the stymph for putting you in such predicament. Your hands grazing and trembling holding onto the hard pavement of the bridge as veins stood up out of exhaustion, pulsing onto the effort on holding on — it felt like an eternity.

“Please, someone. Anyone.. I can’t hold much longer” you prayed.

As if almost on cue you heard a voice.

“Ah, another scream. How delightful, And Terribly Inconvenient.” Lady Lesso murmured, as though disrupted by [Y/N]’s predicament, walking over and glancing down at the teenager who’s desperately clutching to the edge of the bridge.

“But however…” She continued. “I’ve never seen Any Readers ever get dropped off in the middle of the bridge before…”

“Isn’t that Interesting.”

Her sharp gaze was piercing through you, a cruel smirk curling on her lips before she deliberately tapped her cane gently against your fingers, putting on some weight onto your shaking hands.

“I wonder.. just how long your little fingers can endure before they finally give out?”

With each gentle nudge, she was testing your willpower and your willingness to persevere. Almost like a twisted game of endurance, where danger felt real. But never letting one of her readers fall — Only teasing.

“If you can’t hold on, then perhaps you were never meant to be here..” She said in a smooth voice, laced a hinge of cruel undertone.

Dovey who was distracted, admiring the beauty of scenery wasn’t aware why Lesso had walked front before her. Right until she laid eyes on what was happening further of her, Her Source of morning Calmness now seemed distant. Filled with panic and frustration she yelled out,

“WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING LESSO?!”

Clutching the gown’s delicate lace of silk in her hands. Lifting it high enough for her to take swift and large strides towards Lesso.

“Just doing what the dean of evil would do..” Lesso replied nonchalantly.

Dovey’s expression immediately softened into one of gentle disapproval, her brow furrowed as she glared at Lesso. “Lesso, You know that this not a game! Someone’s life is at stake, You don’t get to treat their suffering as entertainment!” Her voice laced in frustration, as she quickly shoved Lesso’s cane away from pressing against your hands.

“How dull.. Right, I suppose you were never the type to have a little fun. Very well then, since the Dean of good says so..”

Just as your weary hands slipped off the edge of the bridge, you felt yourself being pulled by gravity into the abyss bellow. Time seemed to slow down as you prepared for the heavy impact whilst feeling the wave of fear morphing all over you.

But before the void could claim you, A soft, glowing light flickered at the edge of your vision — It was Lesso’s fingertip Glowing, as she flicked her hands casting a warm coat of magic that enveloped you. Lifting you back toward the safety of the bridge.

Though Lesso’s face remained composed, there was still that undeniable tension in her eyes. You remembered in that split second, when you plummeted, your eyes caught Lesso's reaction but only for a brief moment.

the subtle flicker of panic in her eyes. Her pupil contracting to a small, tight dot. In that fleeting moment, her usual demeanour cracked. If you would've blinked in that moment you wouldn't have noticed.

With one final flick of her finger, the magic solidified, bringing you back to solid ground as if nothing had happened.

"Are you OK?! Are you hurt?, Do you need to sit down?" Dovey’s asked frantically, Her voice cracked with concern. Her words tumbling over each other in a rush, as if she couldn’t ask fast enough. Before scanning you from head to toe, her gaze searching for any sign of injury, of something wrong.

"Really, Dovey?" Lesso’s voice cut through the air, smooth but laced with annoyance. "The reader's fine. You can stop acting like they're about to drop dead any second."

Despite saying that, there was a faint worry buried just beneath the surface that She would never admit.

As they were bickering in the background, You realised that you're still pretty distraught from that, infact your hands were still shaking quite abit from the traumatic experience. And legs that was still trembling from the aftershock.

The moment your legs gave out on you, it caught both the Deans attention. Dovey first rushing over to you, swiftly kneeling down so that you wouldn’t hurt yourself. While Lesso reached out to catch you before you hit the ground, pulling you into her arms to prevent you from falling further. Hoping that you’d regain your strength.

Her grip firm and reassuring, though she was unsure of what to do next. Unlike Dovey who has already had their arms opened offering a comforting hug, she took over Lesso as her soft fingers brushing against your back as she whispered comforting affirmations to ground you. Her gentle touch was like an anchor to calm you down.

Lesso who was watching from the sidelines seemed cold towards the situation, her gaze focused and calculating. But there's a noticeable undercurrent of worry in her eyes that she’d quickly mask — you can even say there was a slight feeling of guilt and Envy.

"Pretty impressive for a first year.. I never thought you'd held on this long." Lesso said, Although you could tell she was trying to brush the slight guilt she was feeling.

“Thank you, uh my name is-" Before you get to say your name, Lesso shushed you. And with a smirk on her face, she answered as if having to have done this same act every year.

“Hmm [Y/N].. Did I guessed it correctly? I always do”

"How do you.."

"I recognise a Never when I see one.." Lesso replied,

"Wait. A Never? Are you sure it's one of your students Lesso..? I'm pretty sure you've made a mistake"

"Don't Be ridiculous Dovey, i am never mistaken. [Y/N] is in my list of arrivals." Lesso spoke confidently.

"Strange.. [Y/N] Is also in my list of arrivals as well.. Infact, Isn't that a little weird given the peculiar circumstances? A student who isnt a Never or an Ever."

"Right.. And this little one does seem to be different, the stymph dropping them off in the middle of both schools is solid proof." Lesso added before tapping the tip of her cane to where you landed.

Just At this very moment, Both the Deans were equally lost in their thoughts. Uncertain on how to proceed in a scenario that didn't really fit into the categories of good nor evil. It was something new they've never seen within years of teaching.

Most of the students who were sent to the school would be categorised into Good Or Evil.

But this year… it was different.

[let-your-chaos-explode]

The Secrets of Lady Lesso, Chapter 4

They hadn’t seen much of each other in the time following their walk around the lake. Previous years, Clarissa might have thought that she had been too familiar with her. But these months had allowed her to hope that maybe Leonora enjoyed their friendship just as much as she did. She knew enough of the more guarded woman, now, to feel secure in their interactions. 

The weeks bled into each other in the rush of the end of semester exams and upcoming holidays. Most of the students and staff returned to their homes for the break. As respective deans, their responsibility was to the school and the students with no homes to return to. 

Clarissa had scoured the grounds from top to bottom looking for her friend. The halls were relatively empty and no one had seen the severe teacher. 

Dovey knocked softly against the door to Lesso’s personal chambers and frowned at the hollow echo. No answer was forthcoming. There was only one more place to look. She gathered her skirts and made the dangerous trek to the dungeons below and to the Doom Room. She hoped no student was unfortunate enough to unleash her ire so close to the holidays. But even she knew the fiery woman could be unforgiving at the best of times. 

Clarissa pushed the heavy, wooden door aside and peered into the darkened chamber.  Light from the small, solitary window in the room trickled down to a chair on a raised podium. Lady Lesso sat in it, casually reclining with her legs draped over one arm. She was tossing a dagger into the air in lazy circles before catching it by the hilt. 

Dovey cleared her throat softly to alert the other woman to her presence, and to avoid a knife being thrown at her. 

“Professor Dovey, what a pleasant surprise! What brings the most wished for Fairy Godmother in the Endless Woods to my humble, little Doom Room?” Lesso drawled without so much as looking in her direction. 

The knife never slipped as she continued to toss it. 

The quiet sloshing of water in the corner of the room ceased, drawing the attention of both deans.

“Did I say you could stop?” Lady Lesso snapped at the Never student mopping the floor. 

“Already?” Dovey asked her incredulously. “Break has hardly just begun and you’re torturing poor children in the Doom Room.”

The knife finally stilled as Lesso embedded it harshly into the arm of the chair she occupied. “He deserved it.”

The unfortunate boy began scrubbing the stone floors with increased vigor. 

“Well, I had come to see…” Clarissa trailed off as she eyed the student eavesdropping. “I had come to see if you had the budget reports for next quarter. If not, it would be ever so good of you to bring them to our office this evening after dinner. It would be best to go over them before the meeting next week.”

If Leonora was surprised at the ease of which the lie so easily fell from Clarissa’s lips, she did not show it. Dovey, herself, was shocked at how casually she was able to feign an administrative meeting. 

“You know damn well I don’t have those reports ready.” Lesso grit, playing along. 

“I will see you in the tower, then. No later than eight o’clock, if you would please. I need my beauty sleep.” 

Leonora’s sarcastic snort echoed through the dingy chamber. 

“Don’t be late!” Clarissa called over her shoulder as she made her exit. “I have some other things I would like to give you, too.” 

The heavy door slammed and Leonora fought the amused curl of her lip. 

“Does that mean I can go?” The student asked dumbly from the corner. 

“Shut up and get back to work.” Lady Lesso snarled. 

Clarissa stoked the wood burning in the fireplace and sighed in contentment at the surge of warmth and crackling pops that emerged from her attention. She turned a critical eye to the decorations she had placed around the office. While it was a shared space, she knew Leonora still preferred working elsewhere. She wasn’t quite sure if it was the library or her personal chambers. Actually, she wasn’t sure Lesso did paperwork at all. 

She had, unfortunately for herself, scaled back on the amount of holiday decorations she normally decorated the castle and her personal quarters with. While Dovey knew that Lesso did, in fact, enjoy and celebrate the Christmas season, she knew the Dean of Evil was more reserved in the expression. 

A nine-foot evergreen from the forest beyond stood proudly in the corner next to the hearth. Atop, a glowing, golden star shone brilliantly. She had used just a touch of magic to preserve the small dusting of snow on the branches and the occasional cone still clinging to stem. Sheer, golden ribbon was wrapped in loose waves around the bulk and white lights twinkled merrily in between. Underneath, a long package lay pristinely wrapped underneath in shiny, green paper and adorned with a perfect, red ribbon. 

Clarissa twirled her finger and let the glow shine brightly. Sparkling lights began to form swirling trails around the edges of the ceiling, illuminating the darkened corners of the room warmly where the fire’s light couldn’t reach. With a satisfied nod, she smiled widely. 

The clock had barely struck eight when the office door swung open. 

“Now what was all that cloak and dagger…” Leonora trailed off as she took in the decorations. 

She softened her stride and inspected the tree. Clarissa bit her lip in self-consciousness, claiming a seat on the sofa in front of the fire. 

“Do you hate it?” she asked hesitantly. 

Lesso did not turn to face her. Instead, she reached out a hand and plucked at one of the tree’s branches. With raised brows and a teasing smirk, she lit her own finger and a large box appeared in her hands. 

“You’re forgetting the best part! Get off your ass and come help me.” She said as she lay her cane atop the fireplace mantle. 

Clarissa let a relieved smile break across her cheeks. Peering curiously around Leonora’s shoulder, she spied polished, glass orbs of a magnificent red in the box. 

“In Gavaldon, magic only existed in the fairytales we would read about.” Lesso said quietly. “So the decorating of the trees was always done by hand.”

Lesso placed a few of the ornaments before sharing the box. They worked together in silence until they both felt the tree was sufficiently decorated. As they finished, they relaxed into the plush cushions of the sofa. 

“Thank you for sharing that part of yourself with me.” Clarissa said softly. 

Leonora nodded succinctly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. She cleared her throat and tilted her head toward the tree. 

“Thank you for sharing that with me.” She said, gratitude unfamiliar on her tongue. 

Clarissa allowed the subtle deflection before depositing the long package from under the tree into Leonora’s lap. 

“What’s this?” Lesso asked with arms askew, as if the parcel would reach out and bite her. 

“That, Nora dear, is called a Christmas present.” Clarissa grinned. “One generally gives them to friends and family to celebrate the season.”

Lesso raised a perfectly arched brow in response to the nickname and the unabashed sarcasm. She brushed against the seam of the decorative ribbon before reaching into her coat pocket. She withdrew a small box and thrust it haphazardly into Dovey’s chest. It was unwrapped, but Clarissa was in shock that the Dean of Evil would have even thought to have gotten her something. Clarissa held the box tightly to her chest and nodded to the present in Lesso’s lap.

“Well, open it!” She said excitedly. 

Leonora gave her one more hesitant glance before using her sharp nails to cut the tape at each end, preserving the pristine wrapping without a single tear. The paper gave way to a hinged case. She unsnapped the fasteners on either end and curiously lifted the lid to peer inside. 

Nestled snugly in the custom molded case was a beautifully crafted, ebony cane. Clarissa’s eyes watched as her fingers trailed up the length of the polished wood and ghosted over the handle. A perched raven was carved expertly into the wood, separated from the length by a silver cap. 

“Pull it out.” Dovey encouraged quietly. 

Lesso carefully removed the cane from its cradle and pulled at the raven handle. With a sharp ring, the head slipped from the body, revealing a thin blade within the casing. Leonora’s eyes widened in awe. 

“I just thought that it might make a fine addition to your collection.” Clarissa justified with obvious self-consciousness. “I wasn’t sure about exact measurements or function versus comfort, so I just did my best guess.”

Leonora looked at her askance. “You had it made custom?”

Clarissa smiled warmly in affirmation. “Of course! I wasn’t about to go pick something meaningless off the shelf! I ordered it from Gepetto quite a few weeks ago. I was actually worried it wouldn’t be here in time for Christmas.”

Lady Lesso swallowed thickly and looked away. 

“You’ve told many stories about the reason you use one. I may never know the truth, but I know you use them and you enjoy spinning some creative tales.” Clarissa continued, trying earnestly not to offend her friend. 

“It must be the Reader in me.” Leonora sneered. 

Clarissa frowned at the tone and scooted closer. She settled a confident hand against Leonora’s forearm and squeezed tightly. 

“It must be the strength in you.” She corrected. “Reader or no, you had the brains and the desire for a different life. It takes incredible bravery to be offered something new and unknown and to make it yours.”

A heavy silence built between them, but Lesso didn’t pull away. A wry smile found its way to her face and she tapped the cane pensively. 

“I don’t actually need to use them.” She said finally. “I just like it. Gives me an air of dashing charm and intrigue. Don’t you think?” 

Clarissa scrutinized Leonora’s face for a long moment. Unable to contain it any longer, a toothy grin broke free from Lesso’s control. 

“You’re never going to tell me, are you?” Dovey laughed, slapping Lesso’s shoulder in chastisement. 

Leonora shrugged and rapped her knuckles against the box still clutched in Clarissa’s free hand. “Your turn.”

The box was plain and white, giving no indication to what contents it hid inside. Clarissa removed the top lid and found curled wisps of parchment cushioning another box, this one wooden. The cherry wood was polished with a shiny lacquer. It reminded her of a music box. 

“It’s beautiful!” She whispered, pulling it out to inspect it further. 

“Wait till you see what’s inside.” Lesso said with a firm roll of her eyes. 

Clarissa eased open the front latch and pulled out the prize. Pinched between her thumb and forefinger, a chain swung low and heavy. A cluster of clear crystals that looked like a burning star made up the bulk of the unusual pendant. Above it, smaller circular and tear-shaped crystals decorated the chain. It was stunning. 

“What is it?” Clarissa gasped as she twirled the gem. 

“It’s called a sun catcher. It uses the sunshine to cast rainbows.” Leonora stated. “It’s nothing special. I just saw it and it made me think of you.”

Clarissa placed it carefully back in the box and set it aside before trapping Leonora in a bone-crushing hug. “That’s what makes it special.” 

Lesso sat stiffly in the embrace but made no attempt to escape. Dovey reveled in the unexpected tolerance and smiled into Lesso’s hair. She smelled warm like smoky sandalwood with a dash of bergamot. And a hint of the bourbon she had likely imbibed prior to their meeting. 

Leonora cleared her throat and Clarissa pulled back quickly, an embarrassed blush burning across her face and ears. An awkward silence settled between them. Lesso stood suddenly and smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from her trousers. She took a few strides around the room with her new cane and graced Clarissa with a wholly unexpected and genuine smile. 

“It’s the perfect height. Thank you.” 

She bent to retrieve the sun catcher from the box on the floor and beckoned Dovey to the window. She cast a quick spell and affixed the long chain to the top of the window and draped the crystal in its center. Clarissa felt that familiar rush of affection fill her chest as Lesso continued to fiddle with it, making sure the placement was just right. And with dawning clarity, she finally realized that the warmth that filled her was more than a platonic fondness for her friend. It ran deeper than that. Warmer and stronger. 

Clarissa closed her eyes against the sudden epiphany and willed the rising anxieties away. She had worked so hard for a simple friendship with Lesso. In what world could she ever hope for anything more? 

No, this friendship would be enough. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Lady Lesso asked, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. 

Lesso’s fingers were cold as her knuckles bussed against the apple of Dovey’s cheek. The touch was fleeting. It was as if she remembered herself and pulled her hand quickly away. 

“Yes!” Clarissa chuckled with a watery smile. “I just…thank you. I love it. And I can’t wait to see it in the morning sun.”

Leonora’s eyes narrowed in disbelief but she let it go. “Thank you, as well. I should be heading back to my side. I have patrol tonight.” 

Clarissa nodded and walked with her to the door. Leonora paused at the threshold. 

“You’re staying?”

“I still have some things to attend to. I won’t be much longer.” 

Lesso’s eyes pinched in thinly veiled disagreement. “Don’t work yourself too hard, princess. It’s the holidays, after all.”

“Half an hour, tops.” Dovey promised. 

Lesso hesitated for a moment before leaning in and brushing a featherlight kiss against Clarissa’s cheek. 

“Merry Christmas, Dove.” She murmured, brushing her thumb against the lipstick she left behind. 

Leonora didn’t wait for a response and strode toward the stairwell. 

Dumbly, Clarissa held her cheek. 

“Merry Christmas, Nora.” She whispered to the empty hall.

Chapter 5