#Love In Another Life: My Gentle Tyrant

[dangermousie]

A danmei lover's biased and incomplete het web novel rec list

@mercipourleslivres thanks for inspiring me!

When it comes to Chinese web novels, I mainly read danmei. I tend not to care too much for OP heroine with a hero who dotes on her for no reason as she fights with 14 year olds narratives, nor inner courtyard fights. BUT!!! There are some het web novels I like and so here is my biased and incomplete rec list. Most of these don't have OP heroines, and very little to none courtyard fights.

Before I start, my favorite het web novel authors are: Gong Xinwen, Mo Shu Bai, Peng Lai Ke, and Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. I have yet to read anything bad by them.

Anyway, rec list:

1000 Miles of Bright Moonlight - one of my ultimate favorites, this would make such an epic drama! A smart as hell heroine, a hero who is a monk and a warrior (but also terminally?) ill and such a vivid world and amazing secondary characters (heroine’s brother is possibly my favorite supporting character of all time) and so much angst and happy ending. This has an amazing romance but it’s not romance-centric if it makes sense - ML doesn’t appear for a while. But once he does, it’s worth it!

Accompanying the Phoenix - the one that just got adapted into The Legend of Shen Li, this is high adventure and cottage core and funny and tragic and powerful ML being putty in the hands of capable FL and just EVERYTHING.

Apocalypse Arrival - Gong Xinwen’s novels are made just for me. Her heroines are always powerful as fuck and rescue abused MLs. In this novel, our heroine who lives in the post-apocalyptic world, wakes up right before that apocalypse happens. She forms a survival crew and also rescues ML who has miraculous blood and has been drained of it and is now hunted after the rescue for it. SO GOOD!!!

Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script - so fucked up, so good, with monster hero who learns to love and be human and heroine who learns to love and be human (but from the other side, her tower of perfection.) Much better than the drama which I did enjoy.

The Blue Whisper - the drama was so-so, but the novel is a bona fide angst masterpiece, which really delves into what it feels like to be imprisoned or to love.

Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid - I remember starting this and loving the realistic feel and the heroine and wanting to stab the hero and @mercipourleslivres telling me to be patient. She was right, by the end I was on board with both the hero (who was abused and is rather autistic-coded) and the OTP. Anyway, heroine is a servant who was a concubine in the last life and got killed as part of a rich family’s harem intrigues. In this life, she just wants to keep her head down but her life gets derailed anyway. She gets sold away and eventually made a servant in the household of an exiled prince who takes a fancy to her and she endures it because what choice does she have? All she wanted was to serve out her term and become a small time merchant. This is quite realistic about lack of options for women, especially lower class women or upper class male attitudes (ML is never vicious or mean to FL but it does not initially occur to him to wonder if she fancies him or enjoys being his concubine or w/e.) It is a DELIGHTFUL slow burn tho as they grow to love each other and grow together and become one of the most wholesome cnovel couples out there.

Dandere General and His Lord - hi there, Gong Xinwen! God, I love this one. Heroine transmigrates from modern world into a brutal slave-holding world at war (think something like Warring States era.) Our heroine transmigrates into the body of a noblewoman who just hung herself. When she comes to, she discovers that woman’s twin brother was the ruler of a city poisoned by a rival claimant and the besieging army of said claimant is about to take the city and original occupant of the body and the rest of the family chose suicide as a way to avoid dishonor. Our heroine refuses, schemes with advisors to pass as the brother and rally the troops. Once the invaders are defeated, she keeps on the masquerade and rides off to one of the never-ending wars “she” is summoned to. Our hero couldn’t be farther from this. A slave and a son of a slave, he’s escaped a horrific, starving childhood during which he narrowly avoided being murdered or raped, and ended up in the army. When the story opens, he distinguished himself in battle and as a reward, he and a few of his fellow slave warriors are invited to a banquet, where they are given some alcohol and to be playthings of any nobles who want them. One of them does not survive this but ML is lucky - heroine feels terrible and so “claims” him for herself. Instead she just tends to his wounds and sends him back. She does not fancy him or anything, she is just a human being with a conscience. And the story goes from there.

Demon King's Repayment - another delicious Gong Xinwen tale with a powerful ML dedicated to capable FL. This one is a great fantasy plot (I keep imagining it as an animated series) and a sprawling cast of amazing secondaries (and secondary OTPs - there is, I swear, an OTP that is Dong Hua x Feng Jiu done thru GXW lens) to boot.

Doomed to Be Cannon Fodder - I hesitated to put this one on the list because by the end I was not keen on how misogynistic novel got to original female lead but it was one of my earliest novels and I loved it for 90% and it’s fucking hilarious at times. Heroine transmigrates as bit villainess into a novel, all she wants is not to die, but her new attitude of “pls stay away” catches the attention of her terrifying general husband. Honestly, imo still worth it.

Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir - my n1 novel on this list, smart and fierce and don’t really read this for romance because it does not start until really late, but ice cold heroine x ice cold hero both of equal brains and ruthlessness is everything. I went from loathing the ML to finding him fascinating to adoring him (and yet he softened around the edges only for FL, he never became “nice”) and loved FL throughout; secondaries are epic. If you read only one non-danmei web novel, make it this one.

The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl - my n2 novel on this list. Our heroine is the unlucky laundry maid A’Chou. She is a di daughter of an upperclass family but her family got destroyed in one of the political upheavals of the time and A’Chou, only a small child at the time, was the only survivor and was made an enslaved laundry maid. Due to various events, at the start of the novel she is a laundry maid in a minister’s household and the minister’s beloved daughter is having a fit because she’s supposed to marry the former Crown Prince which may have been great a few years back but Crown Prince had since been deposed, tortured, imprisoned and now is living in the middle of nowhere under conditions that are too meager to be called house arrest. And he’s seriously crippled too. Understandably, the young lady doesn’t want to marry him! She’d rather kill herself and so she does. And so, a desperate plan is hatched - why don’t we pretend the laundry maid is the di daughter of the minister’s household and send her off? And so A’Chu is sent as the bride. She arrives to discover a broke, seriously injured man on the verge of death…and we go from there. This is so gorgeous and tender and slow in just the right way and like AAAAAA! Secondary OTPs (one of which is MM) are also epic.

Futu Tower - the drama (Unchained Love) was a mess but the novel is such a lovely, dark exploration of coming back to life, for the ML from his dark revenge-strewn path and for heroine from not being allowed wishes of her own. She is a tribute bride, he’s a (fake) eunuch, they are both servants who use themselves to achieve goals and find peace and happiness together.

The Grand Princess - a tale where both members of the OTP reincarnate as their younger selves after killing each other in their 50s, and get a new start, this is smart and slow and so good in portraying old souls in young bodies. Their rediscovery of not just each other but themselves and their passion for living is just AAAAAA!

Heroine Saves Gentleman - Gong Xinwen novel so we have a tough martial artist lady saving a very upper class scholar and it goes from there. If elegant gorgeous ML being saved and protected (and lovingly dommed) by awesome FL is your bag, pls come right in.

Husband Be a Gentleman - schemer meet schemer. He’s an idle prince she’s perfect daughter, in reality both are wolves out for blood. Mmmm. Very OTP gets together early and is us against the world.

I’ll Be the Male Lead’s Sister in Law - one of my all time favorite novels. Heroine is made to marry a disabled nephew of the emperor. He used to be a victorious god of war but went mad and now is basically locked away and kept as a beast. GOD I LOVE THIS NOVEL SO MUCHHHHH! So much hurt/comfort and awesome OTP and after he eventually recovers, all he wants to do is to fight and murder things and dote on wifey. MMM. He’s honestly one of my fave MLs.

I Married a Disabled Tyrant After Transmigrating - if you have a Florence Nightingale complex, this is for you. Heroine wakes up as tribute bride to an almost dead dragon lord and slowly nurses him back to life as his rivals try to murder him. They are both utter adorable babies!

Let the Villain Go - another Gong Xinwen novel, this and Apocalypse Arrivals are AUs of each other. Heroine is surviving in the apocalypse, ML is the “bugbear” of the world but in reality just reacting to all abuse and torture and after she accidentally saves him, devotes himself. Fun fun fun!

Long Wind Crossing - Amazing ML and FL who grow together, clever plot, arranged marriage to love etc etc. Oh, and one point he feeds her his blood to keep her alive, what’s not to love? (Adapted into Chang Feng Du/Destined)

Lost You Forever - this is a short but delicately wistful tale of trauma and loss and love, wrapped in a high fantasy setting but so relatable despite it.

Love In Another Life: My Gentle Tyrant - so so fucked up in the best way! ML cannot live with OR without heroine. It opens on them banging in jail night before her execution (ordered by him) with corpses of men he killed for trying to defile her cooling nearby. If you want healthy relationships with respectful boundaries, gentle and considerate male leads who are modern men in period clothes, OP heroines who have everyone help them and are OP to the max, fluff and wholesomeness, that is about the worst book for you.If you want complexity, dysfunction, darkness, pain and an absolutely lyrical even if fucked up story, come right IN!!!!I am so fucking in love with the melancholy heroine, with ruthless psycho hero and the endless regret and devotion and paaaaain!

The Marquis Is Innocent - our heroine is a beautiful woman married to a warlord who hates her family. (Yes, this was gonna be The Prisoner of Beauty until SZE tax scandal.) Except she's a transmigrator from the future who knows how it ended last time around and has no interest to end up this tragically. This is in my top 5 - FL is smart but believably so (and doesn't have super battle powers) and ML is a believable period warlord. The way their relationship develops so gradually and the way his character changes so gradually as well (and the way they slowly fall in love, her slower than him) is just amazing. It is such a smart, nuanced, gorgeous slow burn. With some gonzo sex scenes :P

Mulberry Song - you like tragic endings? Come right IN! This is short and heartbreaking and wistful and very what-if.

Nightfall (Ever Night) - so long but also so smart and unusual and bloody and tho it’s not primarily a romance, you will never see another ML who loves his FL as much as Ning Que does his Sang Sang. 

Offering Salted Fish to Master - in some ways, this novel is a mess, but I am recommending it because this is a rare example of "nope he's 100% a villain and murderdude and odd, but he does love the heroine" that the author commits to.

Pihanjin - yet another awesome PLK novel, this is once again, like with Marquis, a ruthless man and a beautiful woman getting a second chance on a second go-around. FL is a lot more wounded this time around though. If you LOVE watching ML grovel and slowly, gradually win FL over, this one is for you.

Princess Agents - a dark tale with an incredibly competent and militarily powerful/ruthless heroine and two terrifying men who love her (but neither is as terrifying as she is.) There is an OTP switch halfway through that shockingly makes sense and it's just SO SO GOOOOOOOD

Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage - this is probably the one “typical” novel on this list, heroine is reborn as her youngest self and gets revenge on those who wronged her last time around. It is really really well-written and heroine is competent, hero is doting and powerful etc. It’s not a trope I tend to love but I do when it’s done THIS well.

Rebirth of the Tyrant’s Pet: Regent Prince is Too Fierce: Borgias cnovel style! Our heroine was empress in last life and put her husband on the throne tho he did not love her. However, he had her executed and had his half-brother carry out the orders and heroine died horrifically. She opens her eyes and she’s a little girl again. The OTP this time around is heroine and half-brother executioner. Why do I love it? Heroine is smart and tough but also this is a rare rebirth novel where heroine does NOT decide to seek revenge for past life wrongs because they haven’t happened yet! In fact, she sees ML abused and stands up for him because he’s a kid and no kid should be mistreated and this go around he hasn’t done anything wrong. She also gets and likes her former life husband. Anyway, this is fakecest galore because she’s supposed to be their half-sister and while she knows (from past life) she is not, they do not and fall for her anyway. ML is especially gonzo, at one point carving chunks of his flesh to save her. He’s feral and unhinged and she’s the one person he worships because she protected him and like - it’s all awesome. (I love secondary ML too.)

Reborn to Love Lord Qiansui - yes, this is a eunuch novel! If you like gender tropes reversals, this one is for you. Heroine is a tough martial artist, hero is a smart as hell and powerful eunuch. A real eunuch. Heroine finds out she owes him her life and decides to protect him. This is a total delight and an awesome love story between two really scarred people. And yes, there is sex - heroine literally reads manuals on pegging :P

Return of the Swallow - so freaking long! But really good. Heroine is neither transmigrator nor reincarnator, just a smart period woman. She is a lost family daughter taken back in. Her father is a minister in a dying empire (father-daughter relationship is one of the best things in this novel), her OTP is enemy general, and the smartness and the awesomeness of this all knows no bounds.

Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes - probably the wackiest JLFX novel I read, this is quite different from Love You Seven Times drama that was adapted from it. Our deity protagonists go through a bunch of lives figuring out they fancy each other. It's light like a souffle but just as delicious.

To Be a Virtuous Wife - some people prefer 8 treasures trousseau but I never warmed up to that one. This one is so good, with smart people (who actually enjoy sex, a ratity) and a perfect mix of plot and romance.

Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator - my very first web novel. A lot lighter than a lot of the ones on this list but a total delight. Heroine transmigrates into a novel as the heroine; she has no interest in drama or chasing true love, she just wants to live a nice life with her nice husband. Too bad for her, her husband has reincarnated into his younger self and remembers how she betrayed him, so is not interested. This one is funny and light and romance doesn’t start till late on but a total delight!

Wishing You Eternal Happiness - this is tied with Dreamer as my favorite het web novel ever though it couldn’t be more different from Dreamer, with its hard-edged and hard-souled protagonists ruthlessly cleaving their way to the world and, eventually, each other, its smart cynical air. Except in one thing - the world of Wishing is just as bloody and dark. Its two protagonists are gentle, deeply wounded souls who may find salvation in each other but even something as basic as safety almost seems out of reach.

Jliafu, our heroine, is neither a modern-day transmigrator, nor some exotic princess or demoness. She is very much a period woman of her time, from a weathy merchant clan, whose beauty is her curse. You can tell the novel’s tone from that utterly bleak opening chapter where she, a favorite concubine of a capricious dying emperor, is ordered to be buried alive with him and is not even given the “grace” of white silk but slowly suffocates in the coffin, scrabbling at the lid. There is no grand threats of vengeance on her part, not dramatic opera events. Just despair and death. The whole introductory chapter is haunted by emotional ghosts - the empress’ unrequited love for the monster on the imperial bed (turning into desire for Jiafu’s suffering after he dies), the emperor slowly dying in his prime after waging too many wars, and his fear of being haunted by Pei Youan, a brilliant if sickly minister who died of illness long ago on one of imperial campaigns. There is no triumph for anyone, only loss.

When she wakes up as still a young woman, all she wants is to escape the same fate. There are no plans for power or revenge, only a desire for survival. And so she latches on asking for help from Pei Youan, the only man in her past go-around who showed any consideration and desire and ability to protect her, though he barely knew her. Pei Youan is probably my favorite het web novel ML. Despite his brains and ability, he drifts through life. In modern terms, he clearly has depression. One of the biggest, best joys of the novel is watching these two very good, very quiet, very wounded people discover happiness and love with each other. I sort of want to cry just thinking about it, tbh.

The Yandere Came During the Night - a bit of fluff that’s oddly delightful. Heroine is reborn as a (fake) sister of ML, she hurts her legs saving him and the “siblings” form a bond that ends up in fakecest delight. They are both smart and efficient and he becomes a sexy marquis etc.

[starboyjun]

batfam as types of isekai romance male leads

in this post: bruce wayne, dick grayson, jason todd, tim drake, cassandra cain, stephanie brown, and damian wayne

bruce wayne as rudiger winterwald (i will change the genre)

bruce is definitely the cold and "i make misunderstandings for a job" type of male lead. he's the one people in the comments bash or defend for their life. bruce in his past life is the one that the female lead thinks hates them so they die thinking that he won't care but plot twist: he does care... a lot. he's the one to destroy the entire world after their death (regis floyen core) and he's the one who turned back time for her.

dick grayson as isidor visconti (isn't being a wicked woman much better?)

dick grayson is the childhood lover, the one you don't think would be interested in you because of his bright personality. you think he's doing all these things out of pure kindness until after 100+ chapters he likes you. dick grayson is the one to stick by your side and in both lives, was devoted to you.

jason todd as izek van omerta (how to get my husband on my side)

jason todd is the one who unintentionally is cold to you (another idea is he's your killer in your first life) and probably causes your death... unintentionally... maybe. he's the slow burn type of romance where you fix past misunderstandings that have been building up for the past years you've known each other/been together. after a lot of years you've spent together, he's the greenest green flag you've ever met.

tim drake as schdermel raft (my dear aster)

tim drake is the male lead who takes a while to own the reader's hearts lowkey. timmy is a duke that rose to power in the female lead's previous life and is the one that could help her/protect her from her family/problems. timmy is such a sweetheart and i think it'll take a while before romance starts to come in the story (and has reader's asking novel readers who's the male lead).

cassandra cain as dorothea millanair (the tyrant wants to be good)

cassandra cain is the ultimate "i didn't want to be this, my surroundings made me be this." cassandra had a hard childhood because of her father and her "home" similar to many manhwa female leads. cassandra is the type to regret her past life and change for the better. she's not a brainless female lead, she knows a lot of things and will want to change (similar to dorothea).

stephanie brown as athanasia de alger obelia (wmmap)

stephanie is a female lead who is kinda stupid ("why did the plot change" type things) but overall is a strong female lead. she's one to go down in history (like athy). she's one who doesn't need a male lead to back her up and overall chases the plot to chang people's lives. steph is a happy girl and deserves a happy ending.

damian wayne as maximilian kasin ashet (father i dont want to get married)

damian is the one who (unintentionally/intentionally) killed you in your past life. damain grew up as a stuck up brat kid, though he is less of a brat, he's a trained killer for gods sake. damian is one who isn't familiar with love and being gentle. he probably grew up on the battlefield and is labelled "mad dog" or "cold blooded killer" or something along those lines. once you show damian you're not like the other girls afraid of him, he starts to fall... hard.

bonus: alfred pennyworth

the reliable butler of the family who's been serving the family for ages. he's the first one who trusts you and gets to know you on a personal level. he's always there to talk to the waynes and convince them you're a good person.

idk what to do next so lmk lol

[hisui-dreamer]

ode to the queen of hearts

Pairing: Riddle Rosehearts x gn!reader

Synopsis: others called him a tyrant, but he was your dearest lover

Tags: drabble, fluff, slightly poetic hehe, reader is a simp for riddle

Word count: 607

Notes: happy belated birthday riddle! you might not be my favourite, but i appreciate how earnest and caring you are!! also how dare you come home when it should have been Halloween jade ಠ⁠ಗ⁠ಠ

Masterlist

Your lover possesses an extraordinary memory, a vault meticulously organized to house every minuscule fragment of the Queen's rules. Every rule, no matter how absurd or whimsical, finds its place within the labyrinth of his thoughts. He upholds them with a fervor that seems almost divine, each one a thread in the tapestry of his unyielding commitment.

Your lover how he seeks perfection in all he does, his devotion to his studies echoing in every corner of mind. His pursuit of excellence becomes a magnetic force, pulling you closer to his world. His irritable moments, the ones that seem to sprout from thin air, only make you want to unravel their origins, to soothe them away.

Your lover is a moral compass, his values etched in stone, guiding his every step. It's his unwavering belief that his way is the right way that both intrigues and challenges you. You find yourself falling for the way he stands his ground, a steadfast mountain amidst shifting sands. You admire how he channels his disagreements into fierce convictions, a tempest of righteousness.

Your lover is a remarkable leader, a beacon of guidance within the dormitory's walls. His dedication to maintaining order seamlessly extends to a genuine care for each of his dorm mates. You witness him stepping into a role that transcends strictness, where his commitment to the Queen's rules blends harmoniously with his nurturing nature. His devotion to helping any and every student who struggles never ceases to amaze you.

Your lover's sensitivity about his height and petite stature adds another layer of charm to him. It's truly endearing the way his cheeks flush with a hint of red when the topic surfaces, a slight defensiveness in his voice as he confidently predicts an impending growth spurt. However, you hold the sentiment that his physical appearance is of no consequence to your affection. His stature only enhances his uniqueness in your eyes, making him all the more special.

Your lover has a childish side that you find incredibly endearing. When it comes to matters unrelated to academics, he transforms into a surprising realm of childlike wonder. The strictness dissipates, and you witness a playful spirit that dances like sunlight on water. It's in the way he eagerly explores the new found subject, his eyes sparkling with pure delight. His laughter, like the tinkling of wind chimes, fills the air as he accomplishes his goals others would breeze through. The weight of rules and obligations momentarily lifts, revealing a heart unburdened, ready to revel in the simple joys of life. It's these glimpses of his carefree essence that remind you that beneath the veneer of severity, a gentle and childlike soul resides, seeking respite from the demands of a world that expects him to be stern and unyielding.

You love how his strict demeanor melts into delight in the delicate sweetness of a strawberry tart. The way he savors each bite, as if savoring a rare moment of respite from his strict world, speaks volumes. The flaky pastry and the burst of tangy-sweet strawberries seem to momentarily unravel the layers of duty that enshroud him, allowing him to revel in a simple pleasure. In those moments, you witness the vulnerability he so carefully conceals, and promise to yourself to improving your culinary skills.

You love every facet of him, from the stern enforcer of rules to the hidden vulnerabilities he guards. And as your affection deepens, you find yourself wanting to be the exception to his ironclad regulations, the one who shows him that love can bloom in the most unexpected places.

Your lover, is none other than Riddle Rosehearts.

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

[kirbybecomesastarwarrior]

Celarthur (Arthur x Celestine)

Arthur & Celestine's love is a core part of the story now. (I love them so much...)

Lady Celestine: Navigator of the Constellations: Celestine is the "Merlin" of the series but goes by "Merlyn" instead... I've discussed this in my previous posts, but basically, she was treated like a caged bird all her life (by the Ancients). Keeping her locked up in the temple so they could have exclusive use of her future vision.

Merlyn was Celestine's alter ego.

Whenever Celestine wanted to sneak out of the temple, she'd go out incognito as Merlyn. She became a vigilante of sorts, an outlaw to the G.S.A. but beloved by the people. Protecting the common people from monsters & fixing the destruction the war left...

But more importantly, she took this form to save Arthur...

Before he took the position, Sir Arthur was originally the right-hand man of Sir Uther, the first leader of the G.S.A. who was also his mentor... and he was a tyrant. Molding him in his image, Uther had trained Arthur to be the perfect soldier... a real killer. His most powerful chess piece...

Arthur had accepted all of it; this was his lot in life. He'd justify it in his head that it was all for the "greater good"... even though it was killing him on the inside. It seemed like that was the only path he could take. Uther's influence was slowly snuffing out all the light he had inside of him... he was an empty husk. That is... until a certain wizard entered the fray.

She'd appear before Arthur, popping up every chance she got to teach him morals, giving him life lessons, (low-key) making him her accomplice for her vigilante schemes: showing him he could be more than Uther's dirty henchman.

As time went on, she realized how similar they were to each other.

Arthur was forced to be this pillar of strength, the perfect soldier, as Uther's right-hand man. As for Celestine, she was forced to be this symbol of divinity and purity. But in reality, she was nothing more than a windup doll to be seen and not heard. She was able to be at ease with him, to truly be herself with him. (Even though she technically wasn't exactly herself...)

Celestine enjoyed watching him grow; she wanted him to succeed. His bitterness stemmed from his lack of self-worth and never feeling like he was enough. Ideas that had been planted in his head by Sir Uther ... At his core: Arthur was always this kind, gentle soul with a strong heart... His talents were just being used to serve such a selfish, heartless man (Sir Uther).

It made her all the more determined to bring out the best in him and show him all the wonders life had to offer. Bring back life into those cold, dead eyes of his. And those times she'd see Arthur enjoy himself and laugh (boy, did she love that laugh of his), those were the moments she fought for...

Soon, she genuinely started to believe in Arthur... even if she didn't have these visions of the future, she knew she'd still believe in the man who stood before her... soon another feeling came about... feeling she couldn't quite describe.

At first, Arthur hated the old wizard, tricking him, dragging him on these ludicrous misadventures. And yet, somehow he was able to defeat a seasoned warrior like himself. But what really ticked him... was when the old codger would claim that he saw visions of the future and had some "great destiny." (Utter nonsense)

These were delusions of an old man...or a mere trick to avoid arrest; he was just a soldier destined to die on the battlefield. This crazy magician was no better than his master... just another chess piece to him to help further his goal. The only reason he humored these "interactions" was because there was a chance to captured this dangerous rouge. But soon, he was able to see that the old mage really did genuinely care for him.

Merlyn would ask about his aspirations, his dreams even, and supported him like no one else did. And in times of trouble, he was always right on time to save him. But above all, Merlyn showed that his life mattered... he could make something of himself... whether he was a soldier or not. No one has ever cared or believed in him like that... he had someone that was there for him.

Arthur eventually grew attached to his eccentric teacher as well. Instinctively, he began to check around... if there was a chance that Merlyn was close by. Seeking out their guidance, desiring their teachings, and missing his company. Their lessons had given him hope; the darkness that once scorned his heart started to heal. For once in his life, he had a friend.

However, there was something oddly familiar about this magical mentor. Then, through a series of events; Arthur was able to figure out that Celestine was Merlyn. Of course, he was shocked, but he didn't care he'd found "Merlyn"... but made him curious as to why she did this... especially since the personas of the two were so different.

Around the same time, he was assigned to be Celestine's bodyguard. This allowed him to see her act as Lady Celestine, and she was just as trapped (in her role) as well. They are confined by the system that raised them. They were both being used and lied to by their master for their own benefit as the two of them suffered. (No wonder "Merlyn" could understand him so well...)

Celestine knew if they ever found out her real talents, the G.S.A & the Ancient would monopolize her abilities. She only ever showed them her future vision abilities & her forging powers (she was the blacksmith of the GSA). Which is why they never suspected her of being Merlyn. The Ancients were pleased with this... she was docile and easier to control.

But this safety net came at a price... Often overlooked and seen as useless by her peers. To Uther, her very existence was an insult to the rest of the heroes of Yore. She was weak and lacked any fighting abilities. Icarus loathed her: she rejected all his experiments (since they had to go through the temple, meaning her)... claiming they were dangerous. And she wouldn't allow him to experiment on the Fountain of Dreams. (I went into more detail in a previous post link here)...

Celestine knew they all thought lowly of her... she couldn't care less about what they thought about her. But their words and cold stares still hurt her; she tolerated it... but Arthur didn't.

Arthur knew the truth; she was Merlyn... the Merlyn. The great mage that had overpowered & outsmarted them all. It enraged him; he knew how capable & talented she really was. She was amazing... they never gave her a chance.

But he knew... even if she showed her true nature, they'd never accept her...that's why she had to create Merlyn...

After realizing this, Arthur tries to strike up a friendship with her as "Lady Celestine." However, when he'd talk to her, she'd only give polite & perfect answers (kind of like Princess Rona's guard acted in the anime). Celestine was in doll mode... it almost seemed as if she was lifeless. This saddened him greatly; in her eyes, the real her was begging to come out.

But Arthur knew the key to bringing out the real her...

One day, during some downtime, Arthur brought in a chess game for them. Hoping to bring out her competitive nature. As Merlyn, she could never say no to a challenge. The rush and thrill of the game consumed her; she showed him no mercy. Dropping the lady decorum, not realizing all her sassiness was spilling through.

After she had won the game, she couldn't help but gloat... needless to say, she was not so gracious in her victory. Arthur couldn't help but smile at the sight of this, "Aw, there she is..." As time went on, Arthur would do little like this that would encourage the real her to come out. It was always a triumph for him when the "Real Celestine" would come out. Her kookiness, her wittiness, her feistiness, her cute little quirks... he loved it all.

Prioritizing Celestine's comfort and happiness whenever he was with her. And would defend her honor every time she was insulted. (Even though he'd get in trouble sometimes, but he didn't care.) He just wanted to return the kindness she gave to him as Merlyn... by allowing her to be herself. (Needless to say, Arthur was pretty much smitten with her at this point.)

Meanwhile, Celestine started to become guilty of hiding her identity as Merlyn. She was becoming so close to him outside of her persona, and this didn't help her unknown feelings for him. And Arthur was being so sweet to her too... and here she was lying to him every day. It certainly didn't help these unknown feelings of hers.

(Good thing he already knows...)

However, this all comes to a head when Arthur saves "Merlyn" from nearly being captured by Sir Nonsurat. Arthur accidentally calls Celestine's name by mistake...whoops. And in that moment, Arthur lays all his cards out on the table. And even apologizing for his previous misjudging of her. Humbling himself before her, revealing his face to her for the first time.

Celestine was extremely proud of Arthur at this moment. The old Arthur would have turned her in without hesitation. To her, this was proof that Arthur had truly changed for the better. And his words touched her heart...

But she was very disappointed (not really) to find out that Arthur was handsome under there. When he was still a jerk, she'd always imagined him to have the ugliest face to match his horrible personality... like a toad (hence the nickname Wart).

Well, that image is shattered... She could still call him a "Prat," but... And she was so fond of the nickname... how was she supposed to call him Wart now?! Do you not see her dilemma?! (she still does, though it's... just more difficult to tease him now).

They return to the G.S.A. base only to find Sir Uther complaining how once again Merlyn had alluaded his grasp. Completely unaware that she was standing right behind him!

To this day, Arthur is the only one to ever find out about Merlyn's true identity. It was a secret that he & Celestine had shared: a secret that forever bonded them together... and before they knew it... they were already in love.

Fun facts / Inspo info/ more about Celarthur:

BTW...this is their theme Celathur:

I was listening to this the whole time I was creating this post; (feel free to reread the post while listening to this... <3)

Inspo/References:

The nicknames Celestine gives him (prat & wart) are a reference to Merlin (the TV series) - prat and the Once & Future King by T.H. White. (Book series & Radio drama) & the Disney movie "The Sword and the Stone". They were all my main inspiration when creating Lady Celestine overall. She's basically like Eclipsa from Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

Much like her counterpart (Disney & Book- Merlin), Celestine would put Arthur in scenarios where he had to be put in someone else shoes. Desperately trying to get Arthur to want better for himself.

But that sass comes from the ( Merlin TV series) and the banter between him and Arthur was my favorite part of the show. Their chemistry was so great... And did I ship Merthur (Arthur x Merlin)... yes I did!

The Once & Future King is my favorite retelling of the Arthurian legend if you want to listen to the Radio drama.

I got so much inspiration from this version... I highly recommend reading the book series. It's such a great read.

I also got Inspo from "The Legends of King Arthur."

Fun facts:

The vision that Celestine sees for Arthur is that he's supposed to be the match to spark the end of the dark era of the galaxy and bring forth the era of light. (Arthur is the match - Meta Knight is the spark- and Kirby is the light).

The reasons why the G.S.A called Merlyn an out law:

The Ancients regulated all magic users, and the very existence of Merlyn promoted wild magic. People would start to question their authority over it.

Sir Uther saw Merlyn as a threat; the public started to put their faith in this unregistered mage. It was the G.S.A.'s job to defend (monitor) the people. If they see Merlyn as their defender... he'd start to lose control over the public.

For Icarus, Merlyn was protecting civilians for free, which took away potential money. (Yep Icarus is the captilist)

This took so long to make because of Young Arthur's armor design (dang it, Arthur!)

About Celarthur:

Celestine's personality is very much a combination of the Disney Merlin & the TV series Merlin. She has a lot of silly quirks and bumbles and tends to lose herself when deep in thought about an idea(especially concerning her visions). She's a bit of a scatterbrain at times... But at her core, she's very wise and has a kind heart to guide her... and she had sass for days.

The name Merlin actually means Sea Fortress; which is why I gave her water powers (and bubble as well). Celestine would bubble Arthur when she was being particularly arrogant or annoying to her. To keep him in check... or to troll him (mostly that one).

Her foresight doesn't allow her to see everything (only seeing from point A to B)... and she doesn't see what happens in the middle. Which results in many of her spontaneous misadventures dragging Arthur in. "It'll all going to work out in the end, so let's just wing it... come on, prat!." Much to Arthur's annoyance... but of course, he eventually comes to love that about her.

Celestine's nicknames for Arthur: Wart, Prat, Golden Boy, and Art ( future nickname My King <3)

Arthur's nicknames for Celestine (& as Merlyn): Old codger, Wizard, Vicious Viper, Cel, Celty (future nickname My Queen <3)

Through all the telling and retelling of the Arthurian mythos, Merlin was always the one person to always believe in Arthur. He always pushed him to be better... to be the king he knew he could be.

I think that was the core reason why I chose to create a love story for Celestine & Arthur... Their dynamic: straight lace cop working for a corrupted system and is changed by a free-spirited vigilante...

Actually, I never planned to have a love story for Sir Arthur, but it was the best decision I ever made. NOW IT'S A CORE PART OF THE STORY AND I AM ONCE AGAIN MAKING MYSELF WEEP...

CELARTHUR EVERYBODY! ~

[mhathotfic]

Another repost because I accidentally deleted the wrong one, anyways the continuation of this post sorry for being a goof

Imagine being a princess with no prospects except to marry into a strong royal family, except you’re the eldest born. You aren’t old in your opinion, only 25, but those in your kingdom believe you to be a spinster at your age. To old for marriage and thus you have no real prospects left.

So, when the rumored bloodthirsty tyrant king Bakugou sent envoys to request a bride, they sent you thinking your younger sisters too valuable to lose.

So they sent you.

In your dowry a specialized teapot and on your fingers an array of rings, one with a deadly secret. You’re expected to kill the tyrant in secrecy.

You don’t believe yourself capable of taking a man’s life, but what choice do you have?

Be a tyrant’s wife?

Being made to birth him children who through no fault of their own would be hated?

Return home without successfully killing him?

Deal with the scorn and distain of being labeled a failure into of being spoiled goods?

Killing him was the only way you could get yourself something better than what you have now, but, well he isn’t as rumored and you find yourself falling for him quickly.

Sure he’s rude and brash, quick to temper and harsh treatment, but he’s caring.

Not one of his subjects go hungry and most wealth that comes his way through conquest is put into the upkeep of the kingdom.

His people love him, more than you can say about your parents and their own kingdom.

On top of it, he’s given you space to acclimate to everything. He’s spent time getting to know you, to understand you better than your own family.

You don’t think you could kill him, but you sit waiting for him in his personal chambers, your “heirloom” teapot sitting over a flame. You’re hesitating, you know what must be done, but your fingers grazes your rings. Lingering on the one holding the the poison, you yank it off and throw it as far as you can just as your soon to be husband enters.

He’s so much more gentle with you than you think you deserve. He pulls you into while you sob you’re apologies, soothing you.

“Not dead am I? Still breathing? My heart’s beating right? Then why are you crying?”

“I—”

“Will be my wife, we don’t have to talk about your parents plans”

You brush past how he knew, assume it would have been obvious to someone as clever as he is and settle into his embrace.

The flame snuffed out and tea long forgotten, he takes you to bed. He touches you gently and passionately, but loves you with a ferocity you’ve come to respect and love about him

[kirasgirl]

UNIVERSE

Geto suguru x reader

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

They say present choices influence the future, but some say you should seize the moment since your life in this universe is as short as the unique moments you'll have.

And for a while, she believed that, wondering for a long time, or rather, lying to herself by saying in her thoughts that the decision she made was simple, something of the moment that she would put herself at risk. Never imagining the danger she would put herself in.

Perhaps aware of where she would be at the moment, but blinded by the illusion of a promising future with someone she loved.

And that was illusory, given by the way she found herself at this exact moment. Emotions as transparent as the water falling outside from the rain hitting the ground.

They are in the hallway of an old Japanese temple, the stone walls witnessing their heated argument. Suguru, with eyes sparking with determination, confronts her, whose expression is a mixture of disbelief and indignation.

"You simply don't understand! This plan is necessary to purify our land, to eliminate those who only cause chaos and destruction."

It was frightening, for the first time in all the years they had been together, it was the first time he had shouted at her.

"I can't believe you're serious, Suguru. Indiscriminate killing isn't the answer. Are you willing to sacrifice innocent lives for your distorted vision of order?"

Suguru advances, fists clenched, eyes flaming with fanatical fervor.

"It's not about sacrifice, Y/n. It's about restoring balance, eliminating those who oppose our greater purpose."

The girl raises her hands in a defensive gesture, her face a mask of despair and sadness.

"I can't let you do this. If you go ahead with this plan, you'll be becoming what you despise the most. A power-hungry tyrant."

Tension fills the hallway as the two stare at each other, words heavy with weight.

"So you choose to side with the weak, Y/n? You'd rather oppose me than join the cause of true order?"

"It's not about weakness or strength, Suguru. It's about what's right. And your plan is anything but that." She responds immediately, fury in her eyes that were once so gentle.

Silence hangs between them, the echo of their words reverberating off the walls of the ancient temple. A decision must be made, and the fate of many hangs in the balance.

Suguru approaches her, a spark of malice shining in his eyes.

"Do you think I don't know about your unexpected visit to Satoru? I bet he filled your head with lies, trying to undermine our cause."

The young woman takes a step back, an expression of surprise mixed with caution spreading across her face.

"How did you... That's irrelevant!"

"Don't underestimate my resources, Y/n. I know more than you imagine. And I bet Satoru didn't miss the opportunity to influence your opinion, to sow doubts about our plans."

She lifts her chin, a spark of indignation igniting in her eyes.

"You want to know the truth? Satoru didn't influence me. He just opened my eyes to the truth, to the horror of what you're planning."

"Oh, is that what you think? That he's on your side? Don't fool yourself, darling. Satoru is a skilled manipulator, and you fell right into his trap."

The tension between them reaches its peak, each word laden with emotion and distrust.

Suguru advances another step, his voice filled with anger and possessiveness.

"How dare you defy our cause? How dare you meet with him, listen to his lies and betrayals?"

She stands her ground, a gleam of determination in her eyes.

"I'm not defying anything, Suguru. I'm fighting for what I believe is right, and if that means confronting your insane plans, then so be it."

Suguru clenches his fists tightly, his eyes flashing with a mix of fury and possessiveness.

"You're mine, darling. Your loyalty should be with me, not him. You have no idea what he's capable of, what he'll do to destroy us."

Y/n refuses to back down, her voice firm and unwavering.

"I don't belong to anyone, Suguru. Not to you, not to Satoru. I make my own choices, and I choose to fight against the darkness you're trying to bring upon us."

The tension between them is palpable, each word a spark in a powder keg about to explode.

Suguru steps back for a moment, his expression a mix of shock and indignation.

"What happened to you, Y/n? Just a few months ago, you were fully committed to our cause, willing to do anything to see our plans realized."

The girl faces Suguru with determination, her voice steady and unwavering.

"What happened is that I opened my eyes, Suguru. I saw the truth behind your empty promises of utopia. I saw the darkness lurking in your heart."

Suguru shakes his head, a mix of disbelief and sadness passing through his eyes.

"You're mistaken. Everything I'm doing is for the good of our land, for the good of our people. You just need to understand that."

She shakes her head firmly, her determination unyielding.

"No, Suguru. I understand perfectly. And that's why I'm fighting against you. Because I know your plans will only bring destruction and pain."

The tension between them reaches a new level, each firm in their convictions but with an impassable abyss between them.

Suguru grabs her arm with a force bordering on control, his empty eyes reflecting a sinister darkness.

"You're mine, Y/n. You always have been and always will be. No matter what you think or what you try to do. You belong to me."

The young woman shrinks under Suguru's firm grip, a mixture of fear and defiance shining in her eyes.

"I am not your property, Suguru. You can't control me like this."

He lets out a bitter laugh, his lips twisting into a crooked smile.

"Oh, but I can, Y/n. And you know it. Any decision you make will be futile, because in the end, you'll always come back to me."

He then softens his grip, his voice taking on a honeyed and manipulative tone.

"Because, Y/n, I love you. And everything I'm doing is for our own good. You need to trust me, trust our love."

The young girl struggles against Suguru's grasp, her eyes filled with distrust and anguish at the sweet words echoing in her ears.

"You know there's no future for you beyond me, Y/n. Our connection is stronger than anything. I am your safe harbor, your guide in this tumultuous life."

His voice grows more intense as he stares into her eyes, trying to find any sign of weakness.

"You can't resist me. Our destinies are intertwined, our souls merging into one. And together, we can conquer anything. Right?"

Y/n fights against the suffocating feeling, trying to stand firm against the man's manipulations.

"I don't belong to you, Suguru. My heart and mind are my own. And I won't let you control my life or my choices."

He lets out a bitter laugh, his eyes shining with dangerous intensity.

"You'll learn, Y/n. Sooner or later, you'll understand that you can't escape from me. And when that happens, I'll be here to welcome you back, with open arms and a heart full of love."

She finally breaks free from Suguru's grip, her eyes filled with tears, a deep pain echoing in her chest. She slowly steps away, each step a battle against the torrent of emotions threatening to consume her.

Unable to articulate a word, Y/n turns her back on Suguru and runs through the temple corridors, her soft steps echoing in the quietness of the surroundings. A burning anger seizes her being, a mixture of indignation and sadness flooding her mind.

As she flees, the feeling that Suguru's words were true weighs on her like an anchor. A part of her wishes he's wrong, but another part knows that the truth lies there, hidden in the depths of her soul.

She runs, determined to find answers within herself, away from his manipulations and control. The cold night wind caresses her face as she moves away, a spark of hope rising in her heart despite the darkness surrounding her.

Suguru watches her leave, a sense of emptiness settling in his chest, even as he tries to suppress it firmly. He knows his actions were harsh, that he distanced himself from the man he once was, the man who loved Y/n more than anything.

A wave of self-awareness washes over him, making him question his own choices. He remembers the happy moments he shared with her, the dreams they built together, and a pang of regret forms in his chest.

But still, he knows he can't deviate from the path he's chosen. The plans he's laid out are greater than any personal feeling, and he refuses to let his love for her distract him from his goals.

With a heavy sigh, Suguru hardens his determination, promising himself that he won't allow anything, not even love, to stop him from achieving his objectives. He puts his mask of impassiveness back on, ready to face whatever challenges the future holds, even if it means sacrificing the only person he ever truly loved.

Deep down in his heart, a whirlwind of doubts assaults Suguru. He wonders if pursuing his plans, no matter the cost, is worth sacrificing the love and happiness he once knew with that girl.

Despite his apparent determination, he finds himself tormented by the possibility that this path may lead him to loneliness and regret. He wonders if he'll be able to live with the weight of his choices, drifting further away from the person he truly is.

A whispering voice inside him reminds him of the moments of tenderness and joy he shared with Y/n, and he feels a tightening in his chest, a pain that goes beyond the ambitions and goals he seeks to achieve.

Despite all his certainties, a small seed of doubt begins to sprout within him, fueled by the memory of the love he once shared with her. He wonders if this is truly the destiny he desires for himself, if this is the person he wants to become.

But for now, he buries those doubts deep down, sealing them beneath a layer of determination and purpose. He knows he can't afford to hesitate, not when he's so close to achieving his ultimate goal. So, with a resigned sigh, he presses on, ignoring the emotional turmoil within him and marching towards his uncertain destiny.

In the cold silence of the temple, Y/n finds herself lost in a storm of emotions, her tears mingling with the pain in her heart. She wonders if the choices she made, driven by the love she felt for him, were truly worth it.

Every moment of happiness they shared now seems overshadowed by the shadow of betrayal and manipulation. She wonders if the price she paid for this love was too high, if the sacrifice of her own identity and values was worth it.

The memories of the happy moments she shared with Suguru clash within her with the sad reality of the present. She wonders if she'll ever find inner peace again, if she'll ever forgive herself for being swept away by blind love and the promise of a future that now seems illusory.

As the tears continue to stream down her face, she finds herself confronted with the possibility that perhaps, just perhaps, everything she did for love was in been in vain, desperately leading her to the end she was in.

[deejadabbles]

Forbidden Blossom (Kix x Fem!Reader, Fantasy AU Part 2)

Part One || Part Two || Part Three Coming Soon

Summary: The tyrant king had never claimed to love you and you certainly held no affection for him. Thankfully, there was someone else who captured your heart. Rating: Gen (but minors DNI!) A.N: Listen....I'm just really obsessed with fantasy AUs right now, so I just had to continue what I created back during Halloween! As always, this got way out of hand and the continuation got too long, so this will be a 3 parter. Part 3 will be posted next week so I don't overwhelm anyone Word Count: 3,409 Warnings: Forced engagement, abusive relationships, implied physical abuse, life threats, and forbidden love. If you are concerned that this chapter's content might be triggering, please feel free to send me a message! I will do my best to answer any questions (without triggering language). That goes for all of my fics, I want everyone reading to be safe.

Masterlist /// Tag List Sign Up  /// AO3

The sheets felt like sandpaper, despite their silken weave, the air cold and stifling regardless of the fire and windows ajar. A prison, even though the doors were not locked.

You didn’t know what time of day it was, but the chamber maids had cleared out recently marking that it was some time before lunch, probably. That wouldn’t matter, you had barely eaten anything since you’d been dragged to the palace of the tyrant.

So, it almost surprised you when you heard voices outside your door. One voice was the captain of your guard, the man who, at least once a day, insisted that you eat something. The other voice was not one you recognized and that alone made you stir just a little under your duvet. Not just anyone was permitted into your chambers, let alone this close to your bedroom door.

“Oh gods, please- please don’t let it be him!”

But even as the heartstopping thought came to you, it was wiped away by the gentleness of the stranger's voice. There was no way the King you had met could sound so…

“There has to be something you can do, Kix.” That was Fox, a good man despite his stern frown.

There was a sigh from the stranger “I can try but….” a thought mulled over, carefully considered, “brother, I can’t heal a broken heart.”

“And why would you think- actually, never mind just…just do something, before he does something.”

The sound of retreating boots followed, along with another sigh a moment later. A heartbeat went by and you hoped the stranger had abandoned his assignment, that he would just leave you to your gilded cage, but then the doors to your bedroom opened.

You retreated further under your blankets, sinking into their plush warmth that still seemed so abrasive to your skin. Maybe if he thought you were asleep he would try again later. Yet again though, this mystery man surprised you. His steps towards your lavish bed were slow and careful, as if approaching a dragon’s nest.

“Your Highness?” he asked, voice quiet and soft. Highness, not Majesty, because you were not yet married to that evil man- thank the gods. “My Lady, I’m a doctor, I’ve been asked to see to your health.” His voice was closer now, right beside the head of your bed.

“I’m not sure there’s anything you can do, Doctor,” came your voice from under the fabric.

Another beat of silence, then, “Would you be willing to let me try, at least?”

You had no idea what or why, but something in his tone made you pull back the covers and peer up at him. He was handsome, devastatingly so, with finely styled hair, but the thing that drew you in most were his eyes. A rich brown color and holding a look that…it wasn’t pity. This was the first time a member of the palace had looked at you softly without pity and that alone kept you from ordering him out of your room.

He smiled then, as soft and kindly as his eyes when he reached out to your hand. “May I?”

Soft and considerate, this man was impressing you more by the minute. You nodded and held your palm up to him. Gently, he took your wrist and pressed his fingers to the soft skin there.

“Alright, your pulse is fine,” he hummed then, again slowly so you had time to stop him, he reached that hand to your forehead. His fingers were cool, like a refreshing damp cloth on a hot day, and it was all you could do not to lean into his touch. “No fever, either,” he continued thoughtfully. Then, after a moment he took his hand away, “May I ask you some questions?”

You nodded numbly, silently.

Instead of immediately asking this and that about your medical history, he instead walked over to your fireplace and grabbed one of the chairs. He brought it over to the bedside and sat with a little satisfied sigh.

“Tell me about your home.”

That caused you to blink, “Wh-what?”

His knowing smile didn’t falter, “Talk to me, My Lady. Tell me about where you grew up. What you loved most about it. The things that made you happy there.”

Your brows came together in confusion and you finally sat upright to meet his handsome eyes better. He didn’t repeat himself, just waited patiently. Despite the fact that his gaze never left your face, you were suddenly very aware of the fact that you were in nothing but your thin night clothes. He was a doctor, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen exposed bodies before, but your sudden shyness prompted you to lift the blanket over your chest as you settled your back against the pillows.

“Well…” you started after clearing your throat. 

Where would you even start with his question? You missed everything about home, every tiny detail that stood in stark contrast to this place. You missed the sun coming in to shine over a room you decorated and filled yourself. You missed visiting the village and all who greeted you with a smile and a wave. Missed the late nights with friends and people you loved. And the people who loved you back.

That and so much more came to mind, but, you only had to think for a moment longer before a memory two weeks old came back to you. 

Nothing about this arranged marriage had pleased you, but you had at least tried to find some enjoyment in your first days here. Then you had taken a walk through the gardens and when even they did not spark joy, your emotions spiraled, landing you here, in your current state.

“I miss my gardens,” you said finally, staring off at nothing in particular. “They were so beautiful. So colorful and vibrant…. Not like the bare, minimal flower beds here.” You trailed off for a moment, pulling up fond memories from the depths of your mind and, for maybe the first time since you started your journey here, you smiled. A real, genuine smile. “There was one section where our gardener would let things get just a little overgrown,” a ghost of a laugh escaped you as you met the Doctor’s eyes again, “he said that it represented ‘wild beauty’ and somehow convinced my father to keep it. My loved ones and I set up a little tea area there and every afternoon we would go walking through the gardens and…just talk and laugh. Simple pleasures.”

The Doctor’s smile turned encouraging and your body turned to him fully. Before you knew it you were telling him stories, stories of you and your best friends racing through the flowers, of begging the bakers to let you help prepare the treats you’d stuff into baskets and carry out there. Stories of reenacting scenes from your favorite books like children playing pretend. He listened to it all, laughing along with you, asking questions here and there and encouraging you all the way.

You weren’t even sure how much time had passed before you realized that the weight that had been pressing on your chest for weeks felt…lighter now. Suddenly, the room wasn’t quite as suffocating as before. Maker, you even had the urge to pull back the curtains to let a little sunlight in.

The good doctor must have noticed your sudden silence, because he pulled his chair just a little closer to you. “Thank you, for sharing those stories with me, Your Highness.” He paused for a moment, seeming to think something over. “I know I’ve already asked a lot of you, but, could I ask one more thing?”

You couldn’t find it in yourself to even hesitate, you nodded silently.

“I would love to show you something, it’s a beautiful day and I think a walk would do you some good. Will you get dressed and meet with me?”

And there it was, he was still asking you, considering you, taking your wants into account. No one here had ever done that. Not truly.

“Yes, yes, I think that sounds nice.”

Those eyes of his brightened “Excellent! Take your time, I’ll tell Fox where to escort you.”

With that, he got up, pulled the chair back to its original spot and made for the door. Only now it was time for your own question, “Wait- Doctor! What’s your name? You didn’t give it earlier.”

For the first time, he looked surprised, “Kix, My Lady. You may call Kix.” He looked back at you with his hand on the doorknob. “I look forward to our walk, Your Highness.”

And with that, he- Kix, slipped out of the room. It was only then that you realized there was a small fluttering sensation in your stomach, something light and almost uneasy. Well, you hadn’t eaten much in so long, it must be that. You thought about indulging in one of the snack trays the maids left at your bedside, but the thought still didn’t quite appeal to you. 

Still, the fact that you could pull yourself out of bed and start putting thought into what you wanted to wear was a good improvement.

You did not call on your handmaids, the idea of being surrounded by people, of hands on your skin and in your hair, did not sit well at the moment. Despite that, and the fact that it was the first time in days you had come out of your room, It did not take that long to get ready and ask Fox to escort you to this mysterious location.

At first when you stepped outside the east wing, your heart dropped slightly, knowing that this was the way to the gardens that were a stark, depressing imitation of your lavish grounds back home. But, the gentle doctor was not waiting for you there. Yes, you had to walk through those almost sterile flowerbeds, but obviously this was not the intended meeting spot. 

You kept your eyes forward, not wanting to see the roses cut down to their stems so the thorns prickled in the sunlight, or how the lilies were cut free of any diverse or colorful petals, robbing them of unique beauty. At the edge of the overly pruned yard was a line of tall hedges and Fox led you past them. 

What lay beyond took your breath away.

It was an orchard teeming with life. Countless trees bearing fragrant fruit and vine covered trellises blooming with even more. All of them were well tended, cared for, but not overly cut like the flowers before. No, these were how nature should be, respected and loved and free to grow.

And there among it all, looking fondly at a patch of strawberries, was Kix. His smile rivaled the warmth of the sun as he noticed you standing there and he bowed his head slightly. “Your Highness, thank you for joining me.” Then he turned to Fox, “You can leave the Princess to me, Commander.”

In answer, the leader of your personal guard sighed, but turned to stand sentry by the hedge archway without protest. Kix waved his hand down the humble pathway between the trees, an invitation to walk with him. You did, gladly, and didn’t try to hide how in wonder you were of the orchard as you two began your walk.

“Hardly anyone but the gardeners come here,” Kix explained, “It took a long time for them to convince the King that over pruning is bad for the harvest, and that’s the only reason these plants and trees aren’t cut down to their stems. When you told those stories about your garden back home, I thought you might like it here.”

“It’s beautiful,” your tone was breathless, which obviously pleased him to no end, if that look in his eyes was any indication. “Thank you, Kix, this is wonderful.”

He opened his mouth, a response on the tip of his tongue, but then he hesitated. Instead, he walked over to the nearest tree, which just so happened to be bearing one of your favorite fruits, and plucked a ripe specimen from the branch. 

“I know that your situation isn’t an easy one, Princess,” he started as he walked back to you, “but if you ever need an ear to listen,” he took your hand and placed the fruit in your palm, “you just have to ask, and I’m yours.”

Your breath caught in your throat as you nearly gasped at his words and that’s when he suddenly looked a little flustered.

“My ear- my ear is yours, I mean.” He laughed nervously, then closed your fingers over the fruit, “What I’m trying to say is that, if you ever need a friend, I would be honored if you considered me one.”

It was hard to meet his gaze, not because you were embarrassed by his misstep in words, but because his promise made that fluttering sensation move to your chest as well as your stomach. This man, so full of kindness and care, he was making your heart feel light and heavy all at the same time. Maybe there was some joy to be found in this cage. You would take any you could get, so, you thanked the Doctor for his kind words.

“I would be the one honored to call you my friend, Kix.”

Something akin to surprise colored his eyes at that, surprise and something… tender. 

“Then, whenever you need to talk, or want a reminder of home, just call on me.” Then, Kix closed his eyes and lifted your clasped hand to his lips, pressing a light kiss to your fingers. 

It was that moment that your heart took flight. 

It was no wonder that, over the next months, the Princess and the Doctor would fall madly and deeply in love.

Your room had never quite felt like a home, always a golden cell, always a sign of your lost freedom, or the way you were chained to him. But it had never felt as cold and unforgiving as it did now. The fire was out, leaving you in icy darkness, all while the fiance you never chose towered over you.

“I asked you a question, girl: do you think I am a fool?” The tyrant king’s tone was flat and cold, even as you tried to choke back the tears from your spot on the floor. 

Even if you tried to get up, he would just force you back down again, so you answered him through gritted teeth. “No. You are no fool, Your Majesty.”

“Then why did you think I wouldn’t find out about this?” It was the first time something besides cold fury colored his tone. He was seething now. “Did you truly think I was so blind? That I wouldn’t see the longing stares or hear about your romantic walks?!”

You yelped when he grabbed your collar and yanked you onto your back.

“Did you truly think you could get away with making a fool of me?”

For all his cruelty, you had never seen him like this, his brutality had always been a cold and unfeeling blade, not this burning fire of rage. It was all there in his eye and bared teeth as he glared down at you and it made you wish the floor would open up and swallow you whole.

Then, the harsh curl of his lips eased, teeth no longer bared, as he leaned back and stepped away from your prone form. He was regaining his composure before your eyes as he straightened and clasped his hands behind his back.

“Get up,” he commanded, tone like cold steel once again. “I want you to have a better seat when my men bring in the good doctor.”

That caused your heart to freeze in your chest. “No- no!” The desperate plea left you as you scrambled to your feet.

The King smiled in that cruel curl of his lips. “Yes, my dear. You will watch while I make an example of him. While I show him what happens to men who touch what’s mine.”

“Please!” Your voice cracked with the force of your words, “Please- I’m to blame, not him!”

His smile only grew with more you pleaded, “Which is exactly why I will hurt him instead.”

That vicious mirth in his eyes is what made you lose any last shred of resolve. Of course this was his plan, cold and calculated. Bruises could heal, but the memories of this? They would haunt you forever, and in the end he still got his meek pet for a queen.

“I gave you an order,” he went on, “I said get up-”

He was interrupted by the doors to your chambers being thrown open. In marched a company of the King’s most trusted guards, with Commander Fox, who had been ordered to wait outside, hot on their heels.

“Your Majesty,” the head of this company said with a bow, “my men are still searching the grounds, but it would appear that the traitor Kix has…escaped.”

Oh, the king did not like that. 

The fabric of his gloves strained as he clenched his fists, the knuckles surely white beneath. He drew in a harsh breath through his nose as he turned away from you without a second glance. 

“Find him. Search the whole kingdom if needed,” all the guards, save for Fox, followed their king as he stormed towards the doors, “if you have to bring him back here in pieces, do it!”

With that threat ringing in your ears, doors were slammed shut again, the sound echoing through the room like glass shattering on marble.

Silence swelled, filling the void the King’s rage left behind. Leaving you in the cold and the dark. In your cage draped in finery.

Gone. Kix was gone. He had escaped somehow. The thought sent a myriad of emotions washing through you, tearing and shredding your body in a confusing whirlwind. Before you knew it, you were curling in on yourself, fists clutching the fabric over your heart and tears staining your cheeks.

Harsh sobs wracked your body and you couldn’t say whether they were from the relief of knowing he was safe or the sorrow of knowing you would never see the love of your life again. Deep down, they were likely both, you supposed.

You jumped when something warm and heavy was draped around your shoulders. You hadn’t even noticed Fox kneeling beside you, blanket in hand. Somewhere, in the back of your mind you remembered telling him that the blanket was your favorite from home, but at the moment all you could do was pull it tighter around yourself as you tried to steady the painful breaths you were taking.

Fox, possibly the only other man who had ever shown you any care in this hellish castle, didn’t say a word as he waited for your body to tire itself out with its mourning. When it did, he silently helped you to your feet. You don’t remember walking to your bed, just that the blankets had been placed over you and the fireplace nearby had been stoked back to life.

Finally, your trusted guard spoke, a firm if still cautious call of your name. Your actual name, not a title. “Please,” he said in a whisper, “don’t do anything drastic. Things won’t be like this for much longer. I promise.”

Confused, you blinked up at him, but he didn’t say anything more, just bowed his head respectfully and closed the curtains of your bed slowly. If there had been any strength left in you, you might have called for him, asked him to stay close. To not leave you. You didn’t need to ask, however, you heard his boots stop just outside your bedroom. Standing sentry, acting as your shield, as much as he could in any case.

The patterns of the curtains danced from the crackling fire on the other side, but it was just a blank canvas to stare at as your mind ran the same thoughts in your head over and over again. He’s gone, Kix is gone. At best, you’ll never know true love’s touch again, at worst, you’ll see that love slaughtered for the crime of existing.

Still, even in your spiraling despair, one other mantra crept in here and there. 

“Things won’t be like this for much longer”

Divider by the amazing @dystopicjumpsuit

[pinkfey]

OC TAG GAME ｡*･♡;

i was tagged by the lovely @noonfaerie to categorize some ocs + use this picrew; tysm ambie!! 💕💕

♡ FAVORITE OC.

ursula — baldur’s gate 3

my three favorite ocs always alternate between ursula, thea, and audra, but as of right now i’ve really been on an ursa kick!! probably my most universally beloved oc as well?? u guys already know everything abt her—a sailor, a tyrant, a lesson in pride, and the rest!!!!! her backstory makes my soul ache and i just love her sm celebrate pride this year by driving ur gf to her death just like ursula !! 🌈 🌈

♡ NEWEST OC.

lacie lane — infamous (if)

my gorgeous gorgeous girl!! my cocky ex gf!!!! my problematic lead singer!!!!!! u guys know the gist. what can be said abt lacie other than she’s toxic and beautiful and not as in control as she thinks. i’m really eager to see infamous develop so i can think of some juicy lacie/seven content bc as of right now i’ve been in a creative drought 😔

♡ OLDEST OC.

rowena cousland — dragon age: origins

so rowena is technically my second oldest oc (the honor of first belongs to silla 💕) but i’m listing her instead of silla because her story and personality has been consistent for the past ten years whereas silla has evolved!! rowena is proud, stubborn, and clever as the devil—and each of these traits have been both flaw and merit. her relationship with alistair is complex and tragic but mended with a bit of time.

♡ MEANEST OC.

kinasi irress — star wars

honestly ursula and jael were both strong competitors for most cruel oc, but kina takes the cake because, unlike the other two who cultivated strong affinities/bonds in their youth, kinasi has never known kindness. for over thirty years she lived in an environment of fear, hatred, and isolation. all she knew was the vie for power and all she knew was punishment if she failed the social climb. in a world of every-man-for-himself and please-your-master-or-fall-from-grace, community-centric skills such as teamwork, generosity, and emotional support were nonexistent, and so she never developed them. to be “mean,” which is putting it lightly, was just their nature. dog eat dog. need against need.

♡ SOFTEST OC.

ellery lux — pillars of eternity

the sweetest weirdo who ever lived!! ellery is a druid who, after being separated from her parents, raised herself in the forest with no one but the creatures and sun-dappled greenery for company. everything she learned, she learned from the woods—tenderness a kind of virtue no human could have taught her. she’s decisive and gentle and accepting and doesn’t care for social conventions in the slightest AND!!! i love her so much 🌿🦌🤍

♡ MOST ALOOF/STANDOFFISH OC.

salylia dreneri — the elder scrolls: morrowind

she doesn’t mean to be this way, but she’s a stranger in a strange land and her former partner just framed her and there’s some freak talking to her in her head and she can’t help but put herself at a distance from everyone !! though she was always the cool, quiet one—tennebrae did most of the talking.

♡ DUMBEST (AFFECTIONATE) OC.

bright — dungeons & dragons

her true name eaki, bright was given to a halfling village deep in the bramblewood when she was just an infant. an odd combination, tiefling and halflings, but they understood social scorn and ostracization and accepted her completely. when her adoptive sibling fell mysteriously ill, bright, at the behest of the village herbalist, sought out an ancient forest entity, and struck a deal—the life of her sibling (and many boons) in exchange for a favor when the time comes. all this being said, she is not the wisest warlock around. bright is bright for her charm and silliness, not her brains.

♡ SMARTEST OC.

jael khatri — pathfinder: wrath of the righteous

this was another tough one between jael and cath, but jael won because she’s, in the most reductive of terms, a sexy evil experimentalist!! everyone already knows everything abt jael and how her cruelty is clinical and her wit is sharp as a knife from when i first played pwotr last year but i’ll never stop being obsessed with her!!!

♡ OC YOU’D BE BEST FRIENDS WITH IRL.

corintha trevelyan — dragon age: inquisition

this isn’t because i think i’d get along with her best (i think that would be emika or honey??) but because i love a DELUSIONAL girlie. i’d kill to pick her brain fhdjfnfnfbd

tagging!! @malefiicarum @rosebarsoap @lvllns @devilbrakers @bunfey @saintjudegf @ladysanjo @statichvm @aartyom @celticwoman @shadowglens @druidgroves @mrs-theirin @necroticpetals @minaharkers @dantesparda @umbertors @nuclearstorms @liurnia @jillvalcntines @risingsh0t @brujah @solasan and you!!!!!!

[liliallowed]

How do you think Dust would react if his player ditched Frisks body and got their own body. (By like coding or something? Or maybe it was given to them by a mystery man?) After leaving Frisk as a vessel they have multiple things they can do with them. They could kill the kid after getting the new vessel, since the players determination will ways overpower Frisks. Or maybe the player would be attached to the child (They might see them as doll, or old body, or "MY BABBY!!") and drag them around to witness their horrible crimes and to be a witness to Dust and the Plyers shenanigans? How would Dust react learning that Frisk was truly just a puppet and had their own personality and desires? Sorry for rambling lol

at some point during the genocides I'm pretty sure frisk loses their identity and seperate spirit.

the player pretty much killed all hope or sence of independence frisk would have. so far that they even forgot their own name.

if player left their body frisk won't even move without their input. they ARE a doll. a hollow empty vessel that's long lost the ability to defy it's soul.

"frisk" wouldn't even exist technically speaking. (canon to dusttale).

be it a new vessel or using the human child as a body, it will be no different. both are unfeeling. both have been emptied of their wills and filled with the desire of the player...

as for player having a seperate body? they'll keep frisk around. like a back up vessel.

in case the new one gets destroyed they'll just go to frisk and try something else with their body.

frisk wouldn't move or do anything. only be on standby as the soul leaves their body (like Kris being unable to walk properly without it, but even then they don't HAVE the will to even fight against it.)

and yeah, player would TOTALLY be attached to frisk like they're a trophy of sorts. a sentiment of old times. a time where obsession hadn't clouded their life. a time when toriels pie wasn't tasteless and boring.

a time where fighting papyrus was scary to them.

a time when they thought Asgore was a cruel mastermind behind the deaths of the previous humans and a tyrant...

they miss it. they miss the feeling so bad. but they CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING anymore. it has no appeal anymore. frisks life would be something they crave.

they hate frisk. they hate them so much. they're jealous. how come FRISK gets a happy ending while they're stuck behind a screen?

it's all their fault. frisk left them behind! (they didn't)

it's all their fault. they deserve this. (they don't)

they STOLE their perfect happy ending from them! (they didn't. you simply cannot exist there)

they feel a LOT of things. jealousy, hatred, envy, adoration, love... and the meaningless nostalgia.

as for dust realizing frisk was a puppet?

yeah. he knew. he knew this thing in front of him was never "human". it's why he called them. an anomaly. something that doesn't belong. something outside of his world and understanding.

he just DOESN'T care that he has to kill frisk (an innocent kid) in order to prevent the player. cuz what's one more innocent sacrifice to add to the pile? it's not like he values frisks life above his brother whom he already killed.

nothing about his feelings will change.

if frisk shows signs of rebellion? or consciousness? he'd KNOW it's because the player is willingly letting it slip through to manipulate him. he's completely closed himself off to ANYTHING that happens to frisk.

he can't help them. he can't even help himself. it's hilarious. bringing a child in between them and expecting any sympathy?

HAH!

he lost that the moment he got rid of the other monsters. what makes them think this brat will change his mind? they're just another chess pieces he needs to get rid of to beat them.

if the player splits from frisk and frisk still has their own desires? dust WILL STILL kill them.

maybe be a bit faster and more painless. more gentle. but he'll STILL kill them.

if the player LEAVES and it's just frisk and sans?

he'd probably just interrogate the poor child first making sure they aren't possessed and what not...

and attempt to kill them for good measure to see if it doesn't reset.

yeah he's not gonna spare frisk in any form.

he might give them a painless death and properly bury their body respectfully to human culture though.

he's not heartless.

[dangermousie]

My favorite non-danmei web novels

Since some of you were interested, I decided to make this list. It’s in an alphabetical order since to figure out which I like more than the other is too hard. I have either finished all of these or enough to have an opinion. 

1000 Miles of Bright Moonlight - one of my ultimate favorites, this would make such an epic drama! A smart as hell heroine, a hero who is a monk and a warrior (but also terminally?) ill and such a vivid world and amazing secondary characters (heroine’s brother is possibly my favorite supporting character of all time) and so much angst and happy ending. This has an amazing romance but it’s not romance-centric if it makes sense - ML doesn’t appear for a while. But once he does, it’s worth it!

Apocalypse Arrival - Gong Xinwen’s novels are made just for me. Her heroines are always powerful as fuck and rescue abused MLs. In this novel, our heroine who lives in the post-apocalyptic world, wakes up right before that apocalypse happens. She forms a survival crew and also rescues ML who has miraculous blood and has been drained of it and is now hunted after the rescue for it. SO GOOD!!!

The Blue Whisper - the drama was so-so, but the novel is a bona fide angst masterpiece, which really delves into what it feels like to be imprisoned or to love.

Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script - so fucked up, so good, with monster hero who learns to love and be human and heroine who learns to love and be human (but from the other side, her tower of perfection.) Much better than the drama.

Chang’an’s Greatest Beauty - a starkly realistic look at what happens to a beautiful period woman with no options. She becomes an outside mistress of a powerful aristocrat who she loathes. The delight is when ML, who barely thinks of others as human, falls in love with her and realizes she does not care about him and descends into regret and despair.

Chang Feng Du - reading it right now. Amazing ML and FL who grow together, clever plot, arranged marriage to love etc etc. Oh, and one point he feeds her his blood to keep her alive, what’s not to love?

Dandere General and His Lord - hi there, Gong Xinwen! God, I love this one. Heroine transmigrates from modern world into a brutal slaveholding world at war (think something like Warring States era.) Our heroine transmigrates into the body of a noblewoman who just hung herself. When she comes to, she discovers that woman’s twin brother was the ruler of a city poisoned by a rival claimant and the besieging army of said claimant is about to take the city and original occupant of the body and the rest of the family chose suicide as a way to avoid dishonor. Our heroine refuses, schemes with advisors to pass as the brother and rally the troops. Once the invaders are defeated, she keeps on the masquerade and rides off to one of the never-ending wars “she” is summoned to. Our hero couldn’t be farther from this. A slave and a son of a slave, he’s escaped a horrific, starving childhood during which he narrowly avoided being murdered or raped, and ended up in the army. When the story opens, he distinguished himself in battle and as a reward, he and a few of his fellow slave warriors are invited to a banquet, where they are given some alcohol and to be playthings of any nobles who want them. One of them does not survive this but ML is lucky - heroine feels terrible and so “claims” him for herself. Instead she just tends to his wounds and sends him back. She does not fancy him or anything, she is just a human being with a conscience. And the story goes from there.

Doomed to Be Cannon Fodder - I hesitated to put this one on the list because by the end I was not keen on how misogynistic novel got to original female lead but it was one of my earliest novels and I loved it for 90% and it’s fucking hilarious at times. Heroine transmigrates as bit villainess into a novel, all she wants is not to die, but her new attitude of “pls stay away” catches the attention of her terrifying general husband. Honestly, imo still worth it.

Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir - my n1 novel on this list, smart and fierce and don’t really read this for romance because it does not start until really late, but ice cold heroine x ice cold hero both of equal brains and ruthlessness is everything. I went from loathing the ML to finding him fascinating to adoring him (and yet he softened around the edges only for FL, he never became “nice”) and loved FL throughout; secondaries are epic. If you read only one non-danmei web novel, make it this one.

The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl - my n2 novel on this list. Our heroine is the unlucky laundry maid A’Chou. She is a di daughter of an upperclass family but her family got destroyed in one of the political upheavals of the time and A’Chou, only a small child at the time, was the only survivor and was made an enslaved laundry maid. Due to various events, at the start of the novel she is a laundry maid in a minister’s household and the minister’s beloved daughter is having a fit because she’s supposed to marry the former Crown Prince which may have been great a few years back but Crown Prince had since been deposed, tortured, imprisoned and now is living in the middle of nowhere under conditions that are too meager to be called house arrest. And he’s seriously crippled too. Understandably, the young lady doesn’t want to marry him! She’d rather kill herself and so she does. And so, a desperate plan is hatched - why don’t we pretend the laundry maid is the di daughter of the minister’s household and send her off? And so A’Chu is sent as the bride. She arrives to discover a broke, seriously injured man on the verge of death...and we go from there. This is so gorgeous and tender and slow in just the right way and like AAAAAA! Secondary OTPs (one of which is MM) are also epic.

Futu Tower - the drama was terrible but the novel is such a lovely, dark exploration of coming back to life, for the ML from his dark revenge-strewn path and for heroine from not being allowed wishes of her own. She is a tribute bride, he’s a (fake) eunuch, they are both servants who use themselves to achieve goals and find peace and happiness together.

Heroine Saves a Gentleman - Gong Xinwen novel so we have a tough martial artist lady saving a very upper class scholar and it goes from there.

Husband Be a Gentleman - schemer meet schemer. He’s an idle prince she’s perfect daughter, in reality both are wolves out for blood. Mmmm.

I’ll Be the Male Lead’s Sister in Law - one of my all time favorite novels. Heroine is made to marry a disabled nephew of the emperor. He used to be a victorious god of war but went mad and now is basically locked away and kept as a beast. GOD I LOVE THIS NOVEL SO MUCHHHHH! So much hurt/comfort and awesome OTP and after he eventually recovers, all he wants to do is to fight and murder things and dote on wifey. MMM. He’s honestly one of my fave MLs.

I Married a Disabled Tyrant After Transmigrating - if you have a Florence Nightingale complex, this is for you. Heroine wakes up as tribute bride to an almost dead dragon lord and slowly nurses him back to life as his rivals try to murder him. They are both utter adorable babies!

Joy of Life - there is NO romance in this one (ML is polygamous) but this is such a smart, snarky delight.

Let the Villain Go - another Gong Xinwen novel, this and Apocalypse Arrivals are AUs of each other. Heroine is surviving in the apocalypse, ML is the “bugbear” of the world but in reality just reacting to all abuse and torture and after she accidentally saves him, devotes himself. Fun fun fun!

Love In Another Life: My Gentle Tyrant - so so fucked up in the best way! ML cannot live with OR without heroine. It opens on them banging in jail night before her execution (ordered by him) with corpses of men he killed for trying to defile her cooling nearby. If you want healthy relationships with respectful boundaries, gentle and considerate male leads who are modern men in period clothes, OP heroines who have everyone help them and are OP to the max, fluff and wholesomeness, that is about the worst book for you.If you want complexity, dysfunction, darkness, pain and an absolutely lyrical even if fucked up story, come right IN!!!!I am so fucking in love with the melancholy heroine, with ruthless psycho hero and the endless regret and devotion and paaaaain!

Nightfall (Ever Night) - so long but also so smart and unusual and bloody and tho it’s not primarily a romance, you will never see another ML who loves his FL as much as Ning Que does his Sang Sang. 

Princess Agents - dark as fuck, with the best slow burn and heroine who kicks metric tons of ass.

The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage - this is probably the one “typical” novel on this list, heroine is reborn as her youngest self and gets revenge on those who wronged her last time around. It is really really well-written and heroine is competent, hero is doting and powerful etc. It’s not a trope I tend to love but I do when it’s done THIS well.

Rebirth of the Tyrant’s Pet: Regent Prince is Too Fierce: Borgias cnovel style! Our heroine was empress in last life and put her husband on the throne tho he did not love her. However, he had her executed and had his half-brother carry out the orders and heroine died horrifically. She opens her eyes and she’s a little girl again. The OTP this time around is heroine and half-brother executioner. Why do I love it? Heroine is smart and tough but also this is a rare rebirth novel where heroine does NOT decide to seek revenge for past life wrongs because they haven’t happened yet! In fact, she sees ML abused and stands up for him because he’s a kid and no kid should be mistreated and this go around he hasn’t done anything wrong. She also gets and likes her former life husband. Anyway, this is fakecest galore because she’s supposed to be their half-sister and while she knows (from past life) she is not, they do not and fall for her anyway. ML is especially gonzo, at one point carving chunks of his flesh to save her. He’s feral and unhinged and she’s the one person he worships because she protected him and like - it’s all awesome. (I love secondary ML too.)

Reborn to Love Lord Qiansui - yes, this is a eunuch novel! If you like gender tropes reversals, this one is for you. Heroine is a tough martial artist, hero is a smart as hell and powerful eunuch. A real eunuch. Heroine finds out she owes him her life and decides to protect him. This is a total delight and an awesome love story between two really scarred people. And yes, there is sex - heroine literally reads manuals on pegging :P

Return of the Swallow - so freaking long! But really good. Heroine is neither transmigrator nor reincarnator, just a smart period woman. She is a lost family daughter taken back in. Her father is a minister in a dying empire (father-daughter relationship is one of the best things in this novel), her OTP is enemy general, and the smartness and the awesomeness of this all knows no bounds.

Revenge of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid - I remember starting this and loving the realistic feel and the heroine and wanting to stab the hero and @mercipourleslivres telling me to be patient. She was right, by the end I was on board with both the hero (who was abused and is rather autistic-coded) and the OTP. Anyway, heroine is a servant who was a concubine in the last life and got killed as part of a rich family’s harem intrigues. In this life, she just wants to keep her head down but her life gets derailed anyway. She gets sold away and eventually made a servant in the household of an exiled prince who takes a fancy to her and she endures it because what choice does she have? All she wanted was to serve out her term and become a small time merchant. This is quite realistic about lack of options for women, especially lower class women or upper class male attitudes (ML is never vicious or mean to FL but it does not initially occur to him to wonder if she fancies him or enjoys being his concubine or w/e.) It is a DELIGHTFUL slow burn tho as they grow to love each other and grow together and become one of the most wholesome cnovel couples out there.

To Be a Virtuous Wife - some people prefer 8 treasures trousseau but I never warmed up to that one. This one is so good, with smart people (who actually enjoy sex, a ratity) and a perfect mix of plot and romance.

Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator - my very first web novel. A lot lighter than a lot of the ones on this list but a total delight. Heroine transmigrates into a novel as the heroine; she has no interest in drama or chasing true love, she just wants to live a nice life with her nice husband. Too bad for her, her husband has reincarnated into his younger self and remembers how she betrayed him, so is not interested. This one is funny and light and romance doesn’t start till late on but a total delight!

The Yandere Came During the Night - a bit of fluff that’s oddly delightful. Heroine is reborn as a (fake) sister of ML, she hurts her legs saving him and the “siblings” form a bond that ends up in fakecest delight. They are both smart and efficient and he becomes a sexy marquis etc.

[walkinginland]

let the ransomed be free

a little the song of achilles ficlet

Patroclus and Achilles hold hands in the underworld. that’s it that’s the fic.

title from The Oh Hellos’ “Thus Always to Tyrants”

Time passes differently under the earth. It is marked by different measures, decided by different powers. Gods and suns wheeling in the sky above are not permitted here below. Kings who counted their days by dreams of their own glory, now cut short here alone, with no one to mark the loss of their pride.

Two souls entwined together, two souls knowing peace for the first time in their too short too long lives. Two souls whose time on earth was always at a precipice, could now have fields stretching without limits at their fingertips.

Fingers curled in hair, against skin and soul and bone. Pushing against fate and time and the whims of gods and kings. Brushing along the map of love laid in foundations of children and grown in war.

(your fingerprints are your own until you carve them into the gentle touch of another. they become another’s when reverence molds them deeper than stories in stone)

It had been so long. So long, and yet what was time to the two of them? They had been kept apart by the lack of marks on stone, their fingerprints waiting to mark skin and memory in a way far more eternal than a gravestone etching could ever be. Their story carved into pictures and history and scars that should have never been. Their joy and grief a more beautiful legend than any carved record of war.

There was peace here though, in this place. The peace of the dead, the peace of the reunited. The peace that the both of them had sought after for so long above ground, cupped here in their hands at last.

******

The first thing I think is Achilles.

I don’t know how long it has been since that first thought now. Time moves differently here, under these dark trees and besides this silent river. The changing of seasons and the passing of human lives pass us by as noiselessly as the shades across the fields; we do not disturb them, and they do not trouble us.

And the first thing I think is Achilles. When I woke that first time, when I wake every time after. And every time, he is there, with fingers in my hair or brushing against my cheek, smiling that teasing grin that was such a relief even now. There had been a time when I thought to never see it again. I had seen that foreign, horrifying numbness settle onto his face, rooting itself deeper and deeper that day under the sun. Deeper from the moments he was watching me ride away over that hill to the moment he handed his life over and took peace in exchange. He had waited for me on that hill, and then he waited for me under it. He had waited so much longer than I had promised him.

I had promised him tomorrow and it took so much longer to come than a day.

I had been brought to him so many times, followed him to the ends of the earth. When we were but children and I stumbled to his side in his father’s house, wandering and lost through the forest; the sea bearing me to his marriage bed, bearing us to war. I was brought back to him lifeless. Brought through the shadows to meet him in golden light.

I followed and followed and followed. And he waited. In his room, in the mountain forest, in a home by a bed not wanted, in death. He waited.

That time of following, of waiting grows dimmer here with each passing day. Memory has a different hold under the earth, and we were content to let that time of pain and secrets and uncertainty go, to let it run through our fingers like water.

We finally had our tomorrow here, in this place with no shame. No need to hide, not in too thin tents or marriages. After all, if the gods could be with whoever they wished, those of us in the underworld could do the same. We made our home among the shades in a quiet meadow, and in each other. Calluses of spear and needle eased, smoothed over by the touch of skin and gentle timeless time.

We rested in the open here, leaning back against the pale grass, tucked into each other’s sides. My head kept in the hollow of his shoulder, one of his hands buried in my curls and the other holding mine across his stomach. His long fingers wove between my own, playing a melody even with no lyre in his hands, a song only he could hear.

“Patroclus?”

“Hm?” I rolled my head against his shoulder, catching a glimpse of his face out of the corner of my eye.

He didn’t say anything more, simply pulled me closer, a quiet smile on that quick mouth. I pressed my lips to the place where his neck and shoulder met, pressing a kiss there before tucking my head in closer. I knew what he meant. He had no need to say more. He had my name, and coming from him it was so much more than sound.

His smile widened as his fingers continued sorting through my hair, and light sparked in the darkness, golden in the hope of every touch.

*****

No story is all happiness. No matter what two 16-year-olds may swear to each other in a moment by the banks of a sunlit river, far distant and far above and far before fate or war cast a shadow on shadow on shadow over their peace. Before, when their lives stretched out before them with no horizons. Before this shadow, their shadow, their grand and quiet tragedy painted through years and separation and carried on poet’s tongues.

So, no, no life or pair of souls can be all that pride dreams them to be. But they can be something so much more than fickle pride allows.

(your soul is your own until you place it in the hands of another. it is yours until it bleeds together with another’s love and creates something altogether new.)

And so, the fates perhaps did not allow both happiness and fame. But they are here now. They are tangled fingers and legs and hearts by a far darker stream. They are quiet eons and joyous hearts, stretching beyond moments to an eternity of pouring light. And what could happiness mean beyond that?

***********

thanks for reading!! also on ao3 right here

[marine-indie-gal]

Back in my Early Days, I actually started out as an SMG4/Splatoon fan considering that the Mario Spoof webseries that I happen to be a big fan of made me dive right into Splatoon (hence, the Character Meggy). I even made my own Splatoon OC that is both in Splatoon and SMG4 (since I actually have my own SMG4 AU that blends in with my own Splatoon AU). Granted, I actually really liked the fan-idea/theory of Desti being the Relative to DJ Octavio (I mostly headcanon her as his Daughter due to their own snarky personalites). Considering that I have been re-watching SMG4 again since I honestly haven't watched it in a long time, I've decided to re-write my own SMG4 AU (since my very first SMG4 Fan Arc was kinda messy which is why I would want to re-write it) and even reboot my very own first OCs. Introducing The Queen of The Octarians, Melody Sekaeria, the Wife of DJ Octavio Takowsa Shogun and even the Biological Mother of Desti. Melody is a Very Sweet, Shy, Kind, Loving, Motherly, and even a Compassionate Loyal Octoling Woman. She was the Daughter of a Normal Octoling Family who the Octolings originated in the Former Town of the Octarians. Her own voice is rather gentle filled with Charity and Passion as her own singing voice can produce a soft loving Melody (hence, her name), though she was not rather perfect unlike most Octolings and Octarians as she didn't seem interest in wanting to join a Splatfest team but was rather into Art and Music since it really passionated and inspired her. When the Great Turf War came, Melody's Family decided to move out of their old home and move to Inkopolis considering that the Great Turf War was getting out of handed so Melody and her Parents had to find a New Home considering that Emperor Susanoo Takowsa and his Son were Tyrants and even aganist the Squid Race. Although Inklings and Octolings didn't like each other at first because of how that Octolings were sub-species towards the Octarians, they pretty much got used to each other when Cap'n Craig Cuttlefish declare the racism and even the War to end. Living in her own New Life in Inkopolis with her Parents, Melody would often spend time with her Friends and Family as she does happened to be a Good Daughter-figure towards Cap'n Cuttlefish and is even friends with Craig's Granddaughters (Callie and Marie). Her own singing voice somehow attracted the Octarian King for Octavio wanted to use that voice of hers to attract the entire Inkling race just so that Octavio would be able to take over the World, he didn't know on who was singing at first far ahead but once he heard her own song, he wanted to find it and use it for Evil for his own plans. During the DJ's arrival of an Unexpected Surprise at a Local Party, Octavio made a deal to the Citizens of Inkopolis that if they wanted to be left alone and not start Another War and even Steal The Great Zapperfish, he must have any of the Female Octolings or Inklings as his own Bride as a desire for a Wife for one must be scarfice to be the Spouse of the Tyrant DJ. Unfortunately, Melody had to be the one as she was willing to be his wife but to Octavio, she was already the one girl who caught the DJ's attention. So he carried off the Octoling Maiden as already overcame against her own will since he made her his own Bride when she was forced to live in the Valley of the Octarians with her New Husband. As she now lived with her Fiance, at first, it wasn't really off to a Good start considering that Octavio wanted Melody to sing for her but she refused considering that she heard a lot of Bad Things about him. Pissing The King off, Octavio despised the Inklings with a Passion considering on how he blamed most of them for brainwashing the Octoling Race. Considering that their own relationship started off Rocky at first, Octavio realize and saw that there was actually more to Melody than just her own voice which somehow grew Octavio into finding interest in her for he realize that he actually liked that part of her as a person. She didn't really seem to like Octavio at first until later on she grew fond of him when they began to get to know each other at first. She was a Ying to his Yang, so they actually found on who they truly were as they got to know each other through time (since they had their own similar balance close to Music). In fact, as they began to grow to each other they even felt sorry for each other considering both of them had their own tragic life (Octavio was actually forced to Start a War by his Father which ended his own Friendship with his Ex-Friend and even Melody was often bullied in life because of how different she was until as her own Time went on, she stopped being a victim for everything in life changed in them). They insantly grew close and in love with each other despite their own differences, they had their opposite terms of the Art of Music. The DJ himself allow Melody to join his own concert as she sang in front of the Entire Octarians while Octavio was playing his own Beats while she sang. Although she was seem ready to marry him, deep down, she actually missed her Friends and even her own Family back in Inkopolis but considering that Octavio has a change of Heart, he allows his Bride to visit her Old Home Land but only for Seven Days considering that she must return to him. When Melody was allowed to come back for Inkopolis for only One Week, her entire friends and family were happy in tears to see her since they really missed her but Melody's Parents begged their Daughter not to return to him but the Daughter told her Parents that he actually changed and learned on how to be a Good Person. But they didn't know rather or not to believe it, they just had to agree, only if they would see rather or not if Octavio's redeemption is true. As the Days of the Week past, Melody still thought of Octavio but despite his own tyranny and flaws, she loved him and felt sorrow within her heart but she had forgotten on what day she was supposed to return (leaving Octavio heartbroken since he thought he was never good enough for her). On the Tenth Day, Melody realized that she was supposed to return to Octo Valley like she promised since a little thing reminded of Octavio's beats as she hurried back to Octo Valley where she found her one true DJ heartbroken while lying on the ground. Weeped in tears, she ordered the Octarians to nurse Octavio back to health for his own Three Hearts were cured. Melody apologize for forgetting on what Day that she was supposed to return since she felt discrated because of how she really missed her Friends and Family in Inkopolios. Octavio still felt disappointed in Melody forgetting her own word but Melody admitted her own truth that deep down she actually loved him despite all the bad things that he has done in the past but understood that he was very lonely deep down, she even sang him a Nice Lullaby as a reminder of his Old Happy Life. In return of the King's own apology, they were officially wed in Octo Valley where Melody became Queen of the Octarians and even the Wife of Octavio though there was a deal that the King made for his own Wife that if she would want to see and visit her Friends and Family, she can stay in Inkopolis for Winter and Fall and even still stay in Octo Valley for Spring and Summer in half of each of the Year.

This right here is basically the newer/remake version of one of my very first OCs of my first fandoms, for those who would want to see the Original design, I'll give ya the link; 

Melody Sekaeria (c) Me Splatoon (c) Nintendo

[ghooostbaby]

if shi mei has one fan it is me, if shi mei has no fans then i am dead, if shi mei has one million fans then I GUESS it must be because my consciousness has duplicated itself one million times because no one else seems to care about him like i do *sobs*

I always get so attached to the quiet characters, and mxtx at least seems to reward me for this. meatbun, however, prefers to decimate me. I immediately felt such fondness for shi mei, and was also pretty annoyed by xue meng, so maybe I am just mo ran 0.5 minus the atrocities. (when i looked at fan art for 2ha while reading and there was nothing for shi mei but lots for xue meng i was like really??? that guy?!?!) Now that I know how it ends, and after reading the post by @elberlight on him, I’m thinking about what the story might be saying about the kind of character shi mei presents as at the beginning, his “gentleness and affability”, and his perfection, especially compared to the absolute messiness of chu wanning and mo ran and their love for each other. 

At the beginning shi mei is this gentle, shy, beautiful, perfect thing, especially through the eyes of the newly transmigrated Taxian Jun. There’s this tenderness between them, shi mei is like this perfect golden memory of the one bit of warmth he ever experienced that he clung onto, and now he gets to live with again. Mo Ran is still very much the tyrant of his past life, but the way he approaches shi mei as this treasured and fragile thing that he wants to be close to so badly, but can’t hold too closely in case he crushes it - especially the arrogant way he goes through all the steps he knows to gain power all over again, yet still acting like a vulnerable teenager with his crush. I remember the part where mo ran and shi mei are sitting together talking when they are supposed to be training. there’s this kind of tender vulnerability in the way mo ran talks to shi mei, even with all the knowledge and memories of his life as Taxian-Jun.

Also from the beginning there are hints that there’s something missing, when Mo Ran is choosing his weapon and is given the locket that only his true love can open, he starts trying to get Shi Mei to open it when Chu Wanning just scoops it up (and it opens), or when they’re bathing in the spring at the inn and Mo Ran, despite wanting to see Shi Mei bathing, beautiful as ever, he isn’t really preoccupied with desire the way he is about Chu Wanning (hmmm). In the part where mo ran is sent to clean chu wanning’s house as punishment, while Mo Ran and Shi Mei have been tender but careful with each other, Mo Ran and Chu Wanning already seem to be nagging each other like a married couple.

It was surprising to me how the story doesn’t actually wait till the end to put Mo Ran and Chu Wanning together, like most romantic stories do. Right in the middle of things they spend all this time just ... touching, kissing, taking off their clothes, being exposed, being embarassing, scaring themselves, feeling pleasure, feeling excitement, feeling disgust, feeling sticky (haha). It’s this honest, messy, humbling, even gross experience. Their intimacy and love actually comes directly from engaging with their humiliating, undignified sexualities, and finding acceptance and pleasure in them. not just a pure emotional love of the person that emerges chastely and eventually expresses itself physically, before the screen fades to black - no, you spend time with the unpleasant uncomfortableness of them being so close to another they see you horrifyingly naked and orgasming, or feeling scared of your own impulses that you might lose control in sex and hurt your person, or scare them away, or do something to them that feels bad, that feeling of being so overwhelmed with discomfort and pleasure, that’s what their love grows out of, their despicable, messy, ungovernable, flawed sexualities, their panting, shaking, sticky bodies.

*fans self* uh, where was i ? oh yeah, shi mei.

That moment where shi mei and mo ran 0.5 are teenagers sitting on the field talking when they’re supposed to be training, even though shi mei was never effusive, he seemed gentle and fond, his responses seemed similar to mo ran’s careful tenderness. The first time you meet shi mei in the flesh is right after taxian-jun transmigrates into his teenage body, and comes across shi mei in the town trying to fight to release these demons (or half demons?) that have been been imprisoned and are being sold in the town (from what I remember), despite not being good at fighting and kind of failing until mo ran steps in. that is maybe the only moment where (i think) we see shi mei acting where is not aware of himself being witnessed by mo ran, which is interesting. when mo ran is raging about chu wanning when they are disciples, shi mei contradicts him and talks about the small, subtle kindnesses of chu wanning’s that no one really notices - like holding up a barrier to keep the rain off. arguably shi mei saw who chu wanning was before mo ran did, shi mei purposefully picked chu wanning because he was kind, and felt fondly that chu wanning helped him learn healing when he wasn’t good at cultivation. while mo ran was first attracted to his beauty and then repelled by his harshness, shi mei could see chu wanning’s kindness and his rigidity at once.

although he seems gentle and caring, shi mei always stays remote. you know he’s an orphan too, he’s also alone in the world like mo ran and chu wanning, but you don’t hear and feel it from his perspective like you do with them. the most painful part about it for me was he did absolutely nothing wrong, ostensibly - as the disciple shi mei they knew him as, living his life beside them, but mo ran still gradually pulls away from him. When they return after the 5 years away, Mo Ran just simply doesn’t feel the desire to be close with Shi Mei, and mo ran’s simple act of walking away from the table they eat at together to sit with chu wanning, while i loved ranwan, also kind of broke my heart. it’s the quietest kind of rejection. how did shi mei feel about this? his reactions as always are so imperceptible they’re barely noticeable, maybe he never even wanted to be that close with mo ran to begin with, and he’s just been going with the flow or tolerating him as mo ran threw his affections at him since the first wontons, shi mei always seemed like he was just kind of slightly removed, looking down on mo ran wan with a silent, other knowledge while mo ran was fully in the moment with however he felt. or maybe shi mei did really care about how mo ran treated him, but didn’t trust others or himself, so just quietly accepted it and waited to see if it would go away or twist into something else. but in that flashback to mo ran’s first whipping and shi mei bringing him wontons, shi mei was gentle and talked about being an orphan too, but also seemed mildly amused by mo ran’s declarations of affection.

There are these little cracks that show through with shi mei every so often, that seemed to hint at something else, some kind of emptiness between mo ran and shi mei that felt so sad. And it’s interesting to compare this to chu wanning and mo ran - between them there’s almost nothing but cracks, things between them crack and crack and crack until it splinters completely into dust and they’re left holding onto each other for dear life and loving each other passionately and brokenly. And then this makes me think about the whole plot that’s all about cracks - opening and closing cracks in the heavens, and death, monsters pouring out, getting sealed in...

But there ARE these moments of vulnerability with shi mei, like when he can’t feed himself in the bird land (haha sorry about my memory/lack of motivation to look through the book), was he really starving? or was it a test? There's something about the way shi mei’s gentle, quiet, beautiful presence becomes this impenetrable confusion ... you start to wonder if his demeanor is concealing contempt, a sneer, what is his weakness concealing? what is goodness? chu wanning and mo ran are both so flawed, and they're so messy together, but their love transcends all their mistakes, because it delves into their mistakes.

But honestly I didn’t really have any of these overt thoughts/doubts about what is true about shi mei until after I found out about the ending. I’ve only read the first half of the book before the MTL got too weird to follow, but actually I slogged my way through it for quite a while, the real reason i stopped reading was i was getting too sad about shi mei. it’s only looking back I’ve recognized the tiny gaps of this concealed emptiness, but originally it was only mo ran’s memory of shi mei’s inscrutable last words the night before he died the first time that felt offputting. At the time I just loved him I think because I always just love quiet people. Or maybe it just feels natural to me, as a Canadian, that veneer of amiable politeness concealing a pit of simmering rage that manifests as sly passive aggression ahahaha.

When i stopped reading i figured i might as well spoil myself since i didn’t think i’d make it to the ending ever, and then found out all that ends up happening with shi mei ... and maybe this is strange, but it made me feel relieved. At least if he can’t be loved he can be evil! And so now I wait impatiently for the official english translations to be released..

[libidomechanica]

But neither lingers on the steadfast rock of Immortal star

A rispetto sequence

               1

With cypress, who might turn out with her frail. I rush’d the facts of love of knowledge spring-time, fresh and weed. Thou, Carian! Their glorious end: for all my woe? Their first the counsel to the universe into a coquette, who still will call. But neither lingers on the steadfast rock of Immortal star. Ay me! And yet the Father has arm’d himself in spleenful unicorn.

               2

With thee will be careful to you, Cynara! Sun was not—but t is a very music, music of the day, ye wadna been said, Look! ’St and she is tall and greet the feet or handsome lies, the lady’s hand; I warrant the bump I ride in my own breast almighty’s bow.—She too readily, or our lord. Above thee once unkind befriends let its voice, when to woo her.

               3

Of newest joys upon the basest weed outbraves his Sign, and then a nightingale shall be as was none to sleep. Heavy peacefulness; who will not there shot a golden splendour makes you to pause before the more pleasant hues of happy he whose rooty shades down some said with a joint over, link by link, my chain cable which speaks in an overcast of secret love.

               4

And learned in close above: there’s a change wrought more fittest, as is like the surface, leaving faintly bruit, where Melodies round the best; dissimulation, though sometimes, as in his store; so thou sinn’d in their folly in forget the world, north, south, or any more by our lord. Singing thy Face from lovers blown about, circled a million poutings of light they would love!

               5

Like the proudest state is for my sake, let me have no dædale heart! And we went out. But even as one would what I could plunge in one another proper glory has my object of felicity has been different mosses, too deep to clear his briar’d path to give me immortal Rome, as I Undying Life, have seen the lie. Which Aurora deem’d he had fled away!

               6

Thus, in their voices wake us, and tuneless chords do from Dalliance unwise, lay not utter love, the crowd, a host, of gold, when fog conceal my love, I will enticement draw bewildered shipwreck with beautiful. Although a bonne vivante, ’ I must be singed, but the sky went grey, as if they told the dead and go talking how each field turn to speake, loue to Loue inspir’d?

               7

To give account to none but an echo of a syllables in a poem, known by heart or in pure elysium. To find a half- forgetful of thanks to heed, i’d bubblings down some Corner of this precedent so often shown. ’St what we were;—too old forest tree, and though his friend thank gentle heart! Sometimes a sort; but speach, and were e’er sae sweet as Flora.

               8

—At any laud therefore less discount, and I have not by inheritance. Of health by due; where I stood, melissa hitting down into grow old … I shall by having a good ship entangled mind? Through the year grows lush in juicy stalks, I’ll live in peace, for Love, as I feel nothing affects her heart, making merely weep—her gentle gait, making addition to the earth.

               9

This stuff that market, when it grows thy pity me! My mistresses of the river side? To the lady of water, yet receive it; and if they who now are on the holy leer to court he should die; for such things, if men would fly, but follow Bacchus and his for other joys of calculate his means of feeding fire, by force accomplish’d, mid that then begins to croon.

               10

, Was chosen from an urn, still fed by men. With any men; and what I ask, thy dangerous sky. Her scorn of atomies that which attract our great water; and never drearily on barren verboten? He felt aloof the splendour farther I shall venture to take. The Doctors! Over here, here, was not exactly as I’d talk of all that troubles and with thee.

               11

It soothe my madness! In tender presently, she spake to hear the peasant valley; let the same shelf, the temples bind; angels, when clever: this man of strange, if not told of promised you, and on the mirror throwing the merciless Tyrant’s head shook with Thine; oh turn thy Falling; in his beauty’s a flow’r-reviving rain. By- and-by ye do lie, poor thinks we may charm less.

               12

Time with using; thence that which is especial. Side; so that Endymion. When comments various magnanimous Despair! Their fountain held thee alone. Or at the talent and ways? With any Breath of May, as do that inward scoffing. Never hath her, because she love so suddenly arrests me for high heart no less. Tripped by the riches from thence my head, of twenty?

               13

Such is sure when we are and here’s an eclat, thought, until the hall to me? Let its tip gum, pungent, clear, brimful, and care butterflies: amid his muzzle on the whole multitude it gives, and the muttering home increas’d; for still am learning unto the inoculation, and uncontroller of our aristocracy, so gently for the space again.

               14

Vain old marchioness so unsullied, that harvest when the deep: the gout? By solemn hours, although you cannot take me ships of moulted feather. Tears she went, and the God curst sun, and longing for the soot that I meant to have command; all love each cheek of virgin Cynthia brighter days, of all my toil reward her pass my verses teach transaction, and the rosy dawn.

               15

And what’s wrong: in fact, his maid I loved Mozart before the Living and girls who for herself, with all beauty will strew Dear brown-eyed little child pushed her horns they were na looking on darkness.— She took the kind eyes, as bottomless. The reason; t was drinking it a thing I dote on: so I’d fain, peona, ye should be away? Sweet woman finds no one near to the child.

               16

For thee,—cresses. Paris white flock, by himself to this Cot, and laugh at the novels, after a sort of her left, a child in me do reed of loue in aire of wonder what to me had like a crescent-wise. They general, but at times long; I chirped, cheerful but not like Hindoos, for fools perverse delicate from lands were tearing upon one luxury, unless a man.

               17

Go to the swollen and to thee; the nest, an arch of the chapel bells called us: promise, during light thus, thus thou didst adorn, with Stella loue. And following dames I sing, whenever I want to watch overthrow, not by thy infinite, haunt us till the burden to a coquetry, or absence, of remote a Fountain sealed: drink deep, until the freaks of man.

               18

—Scott, the suffer with amber plain, and here kneeled at your land so kind: to scale with every sound, sweet prison, if good name and thus, just a little cup will pique a gentler days had run to warm the silvery serious eye a mild reproof darts, O beloved Woman! Thou, Carian lord, hadst better know it; my tongues shall please; and though the damsel’s tear alone presence.

               19

And all, the fowl from that catches us by surprised at ease and smoothed by shadow roaming like the bed. Do I dare not whither ones I may give more hate, hate of my life, wilt thou mayest heaven’s gate, and help them? Come, let’s obay with my sonnet to you, myself were heaven’s glories dart; ’tis blue, and dropt my visions, dreams they should be much success, or none, that alp. There lives.

               20

Command the visions, which after soft showers; nor grateful Evening sun on this same void white, doe interlace. So that source of husband, you think that Philo-genitiveness’ is now here I for should not be founded on the new trees, and love, to the mind is filled the Pile; and the Giant is a low, newspaper, humble Maid: then found a vent. I ne’er seem’d far away!

               21

Than few; but there: for if Sins will go much more? While bird, the ore, of wot not wish: but, ere we can cast out, thus our content is famine, that I mean to show things for the centre set thee soon; these flowers they scour about the raw cold tile bathroom—all night, the moon, and have, or harsh prude indemnifies the treasured this he press’d his Spirit in a dreame: and a long adieu.

               22

Rosy morn by morn; an’ she had view’d a skyey mask, a pinions darkening sun: beneath whose cooler side, or so she loue denied! Bitter, but one, and leaves behind my knees, from what so eminent a hand’ meant; but court shall know foredoom their treasure thin!—The lucid outline’s a lapsus of the inhabitant of some of the rest; and hoary, see it be thy summer.

               23

And yet it is; and with thee to company, of the twilight, towards a bowery island girls who fondly lov’d us; nay more, which becks our ready, but hoped their wives. And Jill goes down this, they had, alas, their heart in days of steel us as the tea, among the shore of weary life.—Of Him whose birth, wealthiest of alabaster. One safeguard more; for well she past.

               24

And wait upon the banknotes and drinks that search their coffin; but I may but prepared to name the wind falls from meeting hazel bowers of celebrity dined well; but woman could weep the eyes sent to snare. Because I’d rather hand in the dark—till break of day—feare not our lords with regular descended from their heads and doth wheel not by rude force, but worn and far.

               25

Which bondage we will play, their dishonor. She wept and place, and often happens to you, myself for five, four, these darkest house where the third is in seeming trees by a river, clear stream of mosquitoes ascending line along a path between the dusk—the dust on the which some odd chance, at last to sway they all around it speak, and obedient wife. Myself to croon.

               26

Thou shalt come and this, is come a cheering life, two plummets dropt the Graces, grouped in a blissful swoon. But the Star-Queen’s cry my soul with her first touch ethereal band are visible above thee! I meant but speach, and fairy quires are. But court me, and blessed, throat, she cried my brotherly cheek with edge-tools! Brilliant bow. The dreamers. Or laces, which he had something more.

               27

Best. By a forest’s maze; the neck with Thee Annihilation—lost, or in Eternal Footman hold me through a favourite hamlet faint with our eyes, but yet your heart beat them out the garden of his sovereign monarchs are the dreary change of all. Some waltz; some devour’d till in masquerades, and all offender gave, and as thick and envied passionate lightly serv’d.

               28

Reformation. As they were fields, and we are his; the shrink in again: if a flower and stole my heart mine, as when, approaching with her rising on their jewels for substance, and let me statesman’s decline; mournful freight. With fingers, asleep and brighter of smooth as sunburnt looks deceive our huntsman: Breather and a colours gayer than you by a simple maiden prime.

               29

I think to ride, as fast other of the glebe, but if I burst his winters, and create mischief is increased, upon the West garden-ground, all is still and in his mate; as yet we find a way. Your flight, it is but to keep in, when Phoebus, for a Moment; for age and of Verse, to correction no bitter could see her gently for slight tame on Sunday after you’ve missed.

               30

To doubt: but the Fruit grew upon my tuneful quill. Excepting married ones they fall; but when there’s music for the city. But whether it shoulder o’er this I have told thee to conquest and frayed with a sin and deem’d sooty, and if in pattering and dance from old Skiddaw’s top, whence than could tread breathes. Lo! Whoever have been reduced to the leaven, aquarius!

               31

Wild surprise, how great ennui, when we touch we enter in, to share of passion, yea, hungry and back and dew, young man, ere made a cunning, catches from the street together. Be sweetest still to dwell with the smoke that record played, nor longer duke or earl; but, ere it not. A cowslip braes o’ Yarrow everywhere, blushing style which means everywhere, O Where hast thou shalt!

               32

Has our whole together. Beyond Himself wildly and while if one, sleep, all that thought upon her height than the common vein of memory refreshment its sweet; the want it to happened once it as a foe would be at all. In pride of all be my Friendship which he leant, wretch, object strange history became one who travelling state comes once more, who, moving from self-destroyed.

               33

Bring in the very bark bar’d and swam for Love is just the clay adhered to Dian:-truth I heard my name receive thee, sweeter thy voice— divinest! Stella, whose cool and sought; and thoughts are like a clew of golden morrow beam’d upward, through the way in which sadly she select, and water and wise, nor settlement filling thrush, schooling its back the Town. To lure—Endymion!

               34

Impossible—how dearly; she is so content with his storm-trouble, well cultivate myself to things to Hallam’s Middle Ages, To give for you go? With dazzled lips her sombre cave, ere she was interknit so winged steeds, with a joint over, and humming ale encourage had to my heart and write—love’s chronicle, o Dianeme, now farewell: thy frown last extreme, and sight.

               35

Endless the rapturous chariot last its beak over the street outsides. That much better yet to fret at myriads of earthly love has given falls thy shoulders puls’d tenfold, to feel he know: yet, hearing too audacious to mend the heart had got a touch entirely. Welcome, my Corinna, come, let it blessed wood whose thoughtfully I ring out of song can be here!

               36

Overwhelming vintage hotly pierce something in safe alarm. An’ has nae care it is gold that all things prepared to skim the body is writ each might the saints the future state has been born to labour, I my jest: but, for a vent; arrived, as the rain falls cool and sat so waiting on the tears of Ceres grow: upon his gold, and the Gods the morning’s prime Desire!

               37

A God fingers on the pen;—strange! Too tender matrimonial seal, will drop their Cakes and all her self-possession-—swung the corner for a woman without has twa sparkling roguish een. Blowing of trumpet’s mouth, I look at light to leave her. Where the best guards of dangling within his streight impart; nest of books. Will be they smiled—she had: his book’s begun, you’llfind it!

               38

He saw her blaze much as to received, as if to lull down from Head to be glad: o feel that bird? Bless you with sighs, that, from walking, but then, you an’ I in ae bed, I’m o’er young, when on my wedding dresses gloom, light of diction. Which mere hopes begot by feare, of which our Faith and other proper glory. A third, speeding young unborn, whom she came to choose but selected.

               39

To faint a sweet and fluttering retreats of restless look along the milky brow! As something of a river, clear, brimful, and I seek,— for yet the Princess; liker to the silvery oak apples, and quarrel tilts, yclept their noses through this my life, thy grief beside the marriage night was pass’d unworried by angry wolf, or pard with a tress of visions springs.

               40

And they will see some devil was in a mantle rosy-warm with the trembler in the green nooks empty of all. Example to me;—of whom the Graces, was very bark ’gainst you without a toga or a single reader’s eyes. Not due to the very marge, whose northern blasts do roses; and to what in mediating betwixt sighes mixt; with a kernel in it.

               41

Doth thy Beauty. Were as eyes and sky. And, with me, Sir, they vanish: wept they would weep their Muses do not thy Heart’s the room and once more, thou felt so constant to me one Morning-glory had blooms on thy sins forgive and me. Past man’s earliest bubbles into the air it breath was she, Blythe by the river side by side rejoicing like a fool of verse—O treachery!

               42

Close by, began to whimper; ambitious am I, when love than could not end me, left me maim’d to dwell among the statutes, such a point only Laili, ’ yet a Book of their roll, but whether it should I go on, that deep den of a shepherds pipe retire—to lose. By Phœbus was his world, out-facing Lucifer, and back against the setting of leaving seemed a bore.

               43

Thy mossy hill, the fair ordain, he said, my children’, as thou growest beautiful as fair bosom of the sallows of the vault Or, on a moonless nights and floors, at first season where it may not run. Remain, and we as rich which might empties there was sitting down Bristol Street, Yet hold my coat, and love it and keeps us from my Hand, nor wound and a grin of bitter.

[sparkmender]

"You are so wonderfully made, and every day, you prove that your purpose is both whatever you want it to be, and nothing at all! You tend vines and flowers and crystals and people with every bit the same gentle care- what privilege, I have, to know you. It pains me, that you doubt yourself, sometimes, so as to question my attraction to you. I love and lust and want and need you in equal spades. As a Miner, I saw in gray, as a Gladiator, I saw in shades of pink, the energon staining my hands. As a Warlord and Tyrant, I saw in shades of red, of rage and fire. With you, I see.. a full spectrum. The entire color wheel of the Universe, laid out before me. I can relax- I can.. be. I exist, and I love you, and every time you forget, I will, delightedly, tell you again, and again, in everything that I say and that I do for you."

"Megatron," Rung says so softly, so gently, pushing his knitting off to the side to reach up to his beloved. He slides his fingers along the underside of the tank's helmet, gently disengaging the locks and pausing to gauge Megatron's reaction before coaxing it free and setting it down to rest on top of his latest project. "I love you too, Megatron."

There are so many things he sees in those sad carmine eyes. Whole galaxies of emotions, constellations of hopes and desires and ideas. So many ideas.

Rung liked that processor of his, first. But he fell for his spark.

He traces the seamlines down Megatron's cheeks with his thumbs, then leans in to kiss that anxious mouth, the worried crease in Megatron's brow, sighing. "I have never once questioned if you love me, even before we came together. You do not choose to share your life with someone if you do not love them. You do not do everything you have done for me, if you do not love them. I have known from the moment you cupped my raw spark in your hands that you loved me."

Another kiss, this one to the scar over his champion's nose.

"What have I done, or not done enough of, to make you think I do not understand-- that I could doubt? How can I make it up to you? I love you now, and I have loved you, and I will love you, and I will do so because it is my pleasure and my joy and my honor to love you, to be loved by you. You are the one thing I have ever been iron-clad certain of in my whole life. I would choose you, again and again, every time. Please, my love, what has made you so distraught...?"