#chevalier x oc

[lorei-writes]

HC: Chevalier & Esther - Morning Routine

Chevalier x OC (OC Chart: Esther) Fluff Word Count: ~800

Content Warnings: none

Morning Routine

The routine differs, depending on whether Esther's illness is in a remission or a flare up period.

Remission Period

Esther opens her eyes as soon as the sun rises. Her day starts soon after.

Her first "proper" duty is to force Chevalier out of the bed. That being said, Esther has long given up on the thought of it ever going smoothly. She knows what scenario is likely to unravel if conventional means were to be employed.

It'd follow as such: After stopping at far enough distance from the bed, she'd call Chevalier, to which he'd reply with hiding his head below the pillow (the pillow and the covers if she were particularly loud). Past that point her only option would be to step closer, until inevitably she'd find herself within his reach and be dragged into the bed.

Checkmate. She'd lose. Again.

That being said, this awareness is what has enabled her to conjure a plan -- one that works reliably and produces satisfactory results.

It all starts roughly an hour and a half before Chevalier needs to be awake.

Esther enters the room quietly. She removes the chatlaine from her belt and sets it on the desk, careful as not to encourage its clatter. She drapes her capelet over the back of the chair, takes off her shoes, discards her skirts and shirt... and climbs onto the bed.

It has never been productive to aim for instant victory.

It has to be her and her alone that Chevalier reaches for once agitated. Having led to that scenario, Esther brushes his hair back.

"Good morning," Esther whispers.

"...Be quiet," he grumbles out after a short while, perhaps roused by her touch, her fingers still lingering in his hair. Nevertheless, he is yet to complain.

"The sun's already up."

He does not say a word as he drags her into his embrace. Has he not spared her two already? Not that she'd demand anything more.

Some days Chevalier nuzzles into her, other times he cradles her against his chest. The former indicates he may be more willing to get up once the time comes.

The duvet seems to whisper as Esther pushes it further up Chevalier's arm; any sound is loud, too loud, in this space and time. Her breathing stops the moment his muscles twitch. She watches her love closely, fearful that if she as much as blinks, she'll ruin what little rest he has left.

It is only once the tension leaves his limbs that she knows all is well. Chevalier's heartbeat is strong, at times to the point that she thinks its echoes spread within her body -- and perhaps in a way they do, the very palpable contractions of the muscle somehow resulting in surges of something as intangible as affection.

It isn't uncommon for Esther to kiss Chevalier on the forehead and temples right before he has to wake up for good. Perhaps that makes it more bearable for him.

Flare Up Period

Chevalier has never been particularly willing to rouse instantly... but if it is to let her rest, he will force his sluggish body to cooperate.

Esther doesn't generally get much sleep at nights during the flares. The symptoms she experiences get the strongest then, peaking sometime between 2 and 4AM. It leaves her exhausted, but being her stubborn self, she still wishes to continue on with her routine for as long as possible.

Provided that it is at all possible.

His days have been filled with listening -- listening to quiet footfall that tries to disappear at nights, to muffled down complaints, the water running in the bathroom... to the peaceful puffs of air emerging from her lips come dawn. It's been the sole sound he's been hoping for.

Chevalier is reluctant to move, but he does. As nimbly as humanly possible, he climbs out of the bed, dresses himself to then just as soundlessly turn his steps towards the door. He stops, however. He cannot leave just yet.

Perhaps attracted by some strange magnetism wielded in hands of purely not-quite-obligations, Chevalier approaches the bed. He circles it, a predator searching for his prey, or conversely, a beast fearing an attack of a greater threat than himself. He observes, he assesses.

He acts. Esther has lost weight. One blanket is not enough to keep her warm.

Chevalier may rouse by himself, however, it does not mean he's any more palatable in the mornings.

Any person who enters his room with the intention of disturbing his (and by extension, Esther's) rest can expect for punishment to be delivered swiftly. Chevalier is overprotective and it is hard to convince him to change his approach.

You've seen a typo? Please, tell me!

--

Tag List: @lancelotscloak @violettduchess @pathogenic @fang-and-feather @tele86 @rinaririr @keithsandwich @cheese-ception @bis-enti @claviscollections @queengiuliettafirstlady

+ @ochrosia , because I've mentioned this and you said you'd like to see it ^^"

Tell me if you'd like to be added to my tag list :)

[rexscanonwife]

They are soooo black cat and golden retriever coded 🫶🫶🫶

Taglist♡: @me-myself-and-my-fos @tiny-cloud-of-flowers @sunstar-of-the-north @dearly-beeloved @adoredbyalatus @changeling-selfship @crushes-georg @miutonium @cherry-bomb-ships @rosieaurora @rejaytionships @sunflawyer @in-true-blue-love @tropicalgothships @little-miss-selfships @hotrodharts @cupiidzbow @frozenhi-chews

[inafieldofdaisies]

Ship: The Chevalier and The Siren | Faith x Leslie

“Are you real?”, the words left his mouth, betraying the uncertainty Leslie felt as his hand retreated before it could make contact with her cheek. A part of him dreaded a repeat from the last time, how she had vanished into thin air, how her laugh had haunted him for far too long. Goddamn Bliss. “As real as the next breath you'll take.” He wondered if the smile Faith offered him meant to reassure him or only reel him further into some illusion Calahan would call a mindfuck. Does it even matter? “Yeah?” Silence hung between them as she grasped his hand in hers, warmth spreading across his skin at the touch. The move was a confirmation far stronger than anything she could have spoken out loud.

@strangefable @strafethesesinners @socially-awkward-skeleton @voidika @purplehairsecretlair

@direwombat @raresvtm @theelderhazelnut @imogenkol @wrathfulrook

@josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @trench-rot @dumbassdep @la-grosse-patate

@icecutioner @g0dspeeed @captastra @thesingularityseries @rhettsabbott

@harmonyowl @finding-comfort-in-rain @carlosoliveiraa @shellibisshe @derelictheretic

@jackiesarch @killyourrdarlingss @simonxriley @cassietrn @tommyarashikage

@katsigian @kyberinfinitygems @justasmolbard @cloudofbutterflies92 @simplegenius042

[aquagirl1978]

Meet my OC: Charlotte (IkePri)

Name: Charlotte Lelouch Paired with: Chevalier Michel Relationship: romantic Age: 27 Hair Color: dark red Eye Color: hazel green Birth Sign: Aquarius

Early Life

Charlotte came to live at the Palace in Rhodolite at an early age. Her mother, Clavis' sister, passed away when Charlotte was very young. With her father not in the picture, the now orphaned Charlotte moved into the palace to live with her aunt Leticia and cousin Clavis. Clavis and Charlotte were the best of friends, with Charlotte following her older cousin around and getting into trouble with him.

Incredibly intelligent and kind hearted, Charlotte was much like her cousin down to the matching birthmarks below their mouths. The one glaring area where the two differed was on their relationship with Chevalier.

Charlotte often acted as a buffer between the brothers. Clavis, never wanting to be alone with Chevalier, brought Charlotte along with him to make things more bearable. Chevalier, who tolerated so few people, allowed Charlotte to remain as, in his words, she, unlike her fool cousin, knew when to stay quiet.

After the death of the former queen and her aunt, Charlotte's future was unknown, until Sariel agreed to let her stay. He reasoned that it would be detrimental to her to remove her from her closest living family member.

Childhood Friends

When they were young, Charlotte had a somewhat distant, but respectful, relationship with Chevalier. She would remain (mostly) quiet in exchange for borrowing books from his library. They would sometimes read together, with minimal words exchanged. She was in awe of Chevalier - his genius, his grace, and as she got older, his looks. She never understood why Clavis hated him so much, and perhaps a part of her tried to get closer to Chevalier to improve their relationship.

There came a time in Charlotte's education when she, to put it nicely, outsmarted the palace teachers. Sariel was at a loss as to what to do with her - being the hellcat's cousin, no one wanted her as a student. That is, until the second prince agreed to be her tutor.

From that day on, they would spend time in each other's room studying together. Chevalier was impressed with her intellect, and found her thirst for knowledge refreshing. Unlike her cousin, she was not obsessed with besting him and was therefore able to focus her attention where it mattered.

It was during these study sessions when Chevalier first noticed he was experiencing strange feelings. They weren't unpleasant, a bit bothersome if anything. Over time, he grew accustomed to them, so much so that he even enjoyed these new feelings. He knew then it was time for him to stop being Charlotte's tutor.

Dating Chevalier

Now we get to the anti-climatic part of this story. I don't want to put anything here, because this is where it gets fun - flirting and kissing and teasing and more - and I have fic ideas planned for their dating journey. I'm gonna kinda just end it here, if I don't I'll ramble on until I can't write anymore words on this post. Charlotte has lived in my head for close to three years now, and I have a lot of stories in my head. Some I might share, some I won't.

On that note, I do welcome any and all asks about her, about her relationship with Chevalier and Clavis and anyone else in the palace. I will be reblogging OC ask games moving forward - always feel free to ask about her. I also have a modern AU for Charlotte and Chevalier which deviates greatly from canon. I might actually be more invested in that one, as I have far greater creativity there.

I also had so much fun working on this for Charlotte, that I have created another OC, this one for Ikemen Villains, and I hope to have her page up soon.

[sxftriina]

happy pride month 🎉

a messy sketch i did bc I was having a moment and really wanted to draw them

[esther-viva-and-co]

Q&A: My Dear Rag Doll; I, Your Rag Doll

My Dear Rag Doll I, Your Rag Doll

Esther x Chevalier; pre-relationship; Action

Q: A lot has happened. Is there any direct connection between the... incident itself... and the merchant delegation from Croix?

Clavis: Haha, the investigation is private, I'm afraid.

Clavis: (...If I had more foresight, none of this would have happened. I should have kept a closer eye on the palace.)

Chevalier: (Unlikely. It was a catalyst at most; given the contents of Roux's notes, he was yet to be approached by his contact. He miscalculated and panicked.)

Chevalier: (... Ultimately, it was my lapse in judgement.)

Q: What was the purpose of inviting them then?

Clavis: Procuring goods, of course -- or much rather, establishing a longstanding business relationship.

Clavis: (Especially regarding those arms they are smuggling.)

Chevalier: (Given the location of Croix... Their network must be rather intricate to allow transportation over long distances. Some nobles must be involved.)

Chevalier: (The design of Roux's gun largely overlaps with the contraband we've intercepted, although it appears to be an early prototype. The ties are obvious.)

Chevalier: (... Rag Doll is lucky to still be alive.)

Q: And Esther...?

Esther: I'm all right. I've been told to rest and that I should be well.

Esther: (... I'm too naive, aren't I? I thought things would change, but I'm still a dead weight... I will try harder, I promise...)

Chevalier: (She shouldn't suffer any long-lasting physical harm, provided that she doesn't strain herself. The bruises on her back suggest she was hit with a rock or another blunt object.)

Chevalier: (The gossip is troublesome, however. Assigning her a guard would only escalate it...)

Chevalier: (... A dog should suffice.)

Q: Esther, when did you wake up?

Esther: It was already morning.

Esther: (We do not talk about the night.)

Chevalier: (We will not mention the night.)

Q: It must have felt good to be back in your room after such events.

Esther: ...Yes.

Esther: (They don't need to know the details... Some I don't want to find out myself.)

Esther: (...)

Esther: (...But I wouldn't mind knowing who washed me and dressed my injuries...)

Chevalier: (She won't be seeing her room until the window is replaced.)

Chevalier: (...And we still need to catch whoever broke into it. The condition of their blood should narrow down the number of suspects significantly.)

Q: And Roux?

Clavis: Ahh, I wish I could tell you, but it's part of the investigation as well.

Clavis: (... We're still searching for the head.)

Clavis: (I've never seen Chev this angry before. My maids are still complaining about all the blood.)

--

Tag List: @solacedeer @keithsandwich @bicayaya @faustianfascination

@sh0jun @m-mmiy

Tell me if you'd like to be added to my tag list :)

[sky-drgn]

Becoming Belle

Pronouns: you/your, reader described as wearing a skirt and heels Word Count: 1,397 Warnings: Spoilers for chapters 1 and 2 of Chevalier's route, contains dialogue from these chapters Notes: Part of the Secret Princess universe, my OC's universe. This is written as a reader insert! References to Flower Crown, the first fic in this universe, you don't need to read it to understand this one, it might help, but you don't need to.

Banners by @/cafekitsune

How did you become Belle? Honestly, no one knew. To be Belle you needed to possess a beautiful, pure heart, something you, the newly appointed Belle, do not normally have. 

Sure, you had worked at a bookstore in the capital of Rholidate for the last three and a half years. It’s peaceful in the capital of Rholidate; never once had there been a cause for you to show the impurities of your heart.

Now, here in the castle, those opportunities arose. Being in a position where you needed to keep your heart as pure as possible was not ideal.

The morning was relatively simple; you had introduced yourself to the princes of the domestic faction. The evening was fading into twilight as you were getting to everyone in the foreign affairs faction. Only to open the office door into one of Clavis’s traps. Flower petals rained down on you as you opened the door. Despite how easily some of them brushed off, you found more later when you changed for the night. With most of them brushed off, you asked where everyone else was. Clavis said Nokto was off doing other… activities… and Luke was probably taking a nap. But when Clavis started talking about Chevalier, you knew he was up to something. The way he asked if you were curious about what Chevalier was doing just before dragging you out to where he was before you could even finish answering. 

You couldn’t help but marvel at the rose gardens. A sea of different shades of red roses laid out in front of you. It was unlike the gardens you were used to seeing. Less colorful. That did not make the sight any less beautiful.

In the middle of it all was Chevalier. Clavis persuaded you to go up to the blond prince alone. Somehow that did not surprise you, having known he had a plan up his sleeve before the two of you even left the foreign affairs office. Knowing all wasn't as it seemed, you proceeded with caution, trying to take in all that could as you approached the blond.

“Good afternoon, Prince Chevalier.” 

His cold blue eyes met yours as he turned to face you. Blue eyes that scared nearly everyone. You were not scared. You remember those blue eyes. His name you could not pronounce as a young child. Yeah, he did not scare you in the slightest, not even the dark red stain on his cloak. The dyed red roses. The deathly still man lying on the ground. It did not scare you. You knew exactly what happened here. 

You watched as Clavis and Chevalier interacted. You are supposed to choose the next king, and since you could not use a pure heart to choose the next king, you decided to fall back on logic. You took in how they talked to each other, and noted how Chevalier seemed upset that his clothes were stained. 

“Why didn’t you- Ah no, never mind.” You decided it was best to cut yourself off, realizing he has his reasons for doing what he did in the way he did it. 

Noticing he was coming closer, you ungracefully stumbled back onto the grass. You blamed the high heels. Honestly, who wears heels in the grass and dirt? Normally you have perfect balance in any situation. Just… not in high heels. They have never been your first choice of footwear, recognizing when you needed to wear them and when you didn't. 

Thankfully, Chevalier didn’t say anything about your ungraceful fall. But his sword glittering in the setting sun caught your attention. The sound of something rustling behind you also drew your attention. You quickly understood that Chevalier was no threat, but what behind you was. Thankfully Chevalier handled it. Or, maybe not so thankfully, as you felt something warm on your skin. That something undeniably blood. 

“What you were about to say might have been a grave mistake on your part.” 

Asking why he killed them instead of knocking them out with the sheath of his sword might actually have been a grave mistake in this instance, but you didn’t have a comeback for that. Instead, you looked up at him with a slight glare, not knowing what to say. Admitting defeat was not something you were fond of. 

“If you don’t want to end up like those two, I suggest you learn your place, fool.” Chevalier cleaned off his sword with a flick of the wrist, sending the blood onto the grass nearby. “Now, what business do you have with me?” 

Deciding you did not want to have a conversation with a prince while he looked down at you, uncomfortable on the grass, you stood and brushed off your skirt. Dirtied from the fall and bloodied from Chevalier’s actions. You grimaced at how dirty your appearance was, uncomfortable with the bloody setting for such a conversation. “My apologies for having interrupted you. I’ll catch you at a better time.” You decided it was best to introduce yourself another time when you weren’t uncomfortable in multiple ways. 

Swiftly walking away you left the two brothers alone. You wanted to get onto a solid path with your heels still sinking into the grass. Going out into the gardens always meant flat shoes or staying in areas with pavers. You sighed when you realized you would have to get used to it. This place was not your home. You could not get a change of shoes so easily. Another sigh escaped your lips at the thought as you bumped into Luke.

The conversation with Chevalier came later than you expected. You knew that you would be busy learning what you needed to to be Belle and that Chevalier, as a prince and leader of his faction, would be busy as well. However, you thought you might get one chance to talk to him during the day. You almost thought he might be avoiding you. Clavis seemed to have another idea as he convinced you to talk with Chevalier, tame him even. You questioned how he didn’t notice that you don’t need convincing. You quickly realize he likes leading conversations, so you let him go on. It was a good way to obtain information. Like how Chevalier called you a simpleton, and how they think you are a rabbit, a bunny. While the animal is adorable, and you were fond of them, you almost found it insulting that they had been comparing you to such a frail animal. 

Hearing a sigh and a wish to be left out of his little brother's schemes, you turned to see Chevalier. You wondered how you didn’t notice his presence. Having prided yourself on knowing your surroundings, who or who might not be around, you wondered how you had slipped up twice in as many days. Noticing the light move of his eyebrow, you realized you had done nothing but stare at him.

“I don’t believe you have what it takes to tame a beast,” Chevalier said, and for the first time, you saw him smirk, an almost smile. However, it was only for a moment. Sounds like a challenge you readily accepted.

Noticing him walking away with his cloak fluttering behind him, you grabbed onto his cloak asking, more like demanding, him to wait. An action that does not please the blue-eyed man as he glared at you. You just met that gaze head-on without a hint of fear. Your actions are very much one of a “simpleton” as you learned he called you. Well, if he thinks you're such a simpleton and you are supposed to be a commoner, why not play into it a little bit.

“The business I had with you yesterday evening. I would like to formally introduce myself-” 

“Unnecessary.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Instead of giving me your name, show me your worth. Show me why you deserve to have me listen to what you have to say.” 

Well, you weren’t going to give him your name, just what you have been going by. However, you liked the sound of his words. Proving yourself was something you have done over and over. Not that you believe this time will be any easier than the others. In fact, this time will probably be the hardest. 

Maybe being Belle won't be as boring as you had been expecting it to be.

IkePri Masterlist | Hidden Princess Masterlist

[aphroditestempleimagines]

The Obsidianite Jewel

A fem!reader x Chevalier Michel Fanfiction

Chapter 14 -> Chapters Masterlist

Words: 3329

Warnings: none

Summary: It all started when your fiancé, Prince Gilbert, brought you to the palace of Rhodolite. He hoped he would find the secrets of the princes. Instead, he lost your heart to the brutal beast. However, Gilbert is not going to let your heart wander away easily

"Be quiet!", whispered Yves, "We'll get an earful if we're noticed"

"Oh come on", laughed Leon, "We're hardly children. Sariel can't say anything to us. And I doubt his majesty cares"

He winked at Emma as he climbed atop the bannister and slid all the way down to the ground floor. Emma laughed as the lion prince took a graceful bow.

Yves blew his fringe away from his face. "And I'd appreciate it if you weren't this familiar with my girlfriend", he murmured.

Emma slowed down her pace and leaned in to give him a small peck on the cheek. Yves' face turned red like a radish. He turned his head away, his honey-blonde hair falling over his blushed cheeks and nose, keeping them out of sight. But his shy smile was evident.

Licht greeted the two of them at the entrance. He was standing straight, hand on the hilt of his sword. He looked around for guards and signalled the rest to follow, treating their childish dalliance as an important military mission. Jin was with him, body sprayed on the stairs as he enjoyed a glass of whiskey and smiled at the silly seriousness of his younger brother.

The five of them made their way to town. It was no accident that the guards left them alone, as attempting to stop them would be going against their orders. However, they all treated the lack of resistance as proof of their successful endeavour. They reached a small tavern, tucked in an alley near the central square. Jin and Leon favoured that place and always took any opportunity to steal some time in there. For Yves and Licht it was a first. Yves would not be there at all if Jin had not convinced Licht to follow them on that day, claiming there was suspicious movement in the area; a lie, of course.

They bathed in the golden candlelight of the tavern the moment they opened its door, a far contrast to the blue hue of the night that reigned in the town. A sweet tune on the lute filled their ears. The atmosphere was warmer than usual, that much was clear. The place was much more crowded, even though it was later at night than when the princes used to frequent. People sat on their tables all around, their backs turned to the door, drinks in hand as they looked at the far back of the room. Their gazes were focused on a slim young man with untamable curly hair. He was the one playing the lute, his dexterous fingers plucking the strings with grace and elegance as he sang his song as if he were telling a story. The people were drawn as much from his voice as from his smile. He played a few chords, setting an end to the ballad.

He laughed as he called, "Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you remember the words!"

He smiled sneakily at his audience as he climbed up on a small stage behind him, where a small band of local musicians sat. He began playing again, his tempo shifting to a much faster one. He started singing loudly, pouring all his passion into the words as the band joined alongside him.

"And a princess gone and two brothers left from a kingdom's rotten view

though she was first and valiant, a black sword ran her through",

he climbed on the nearest table,

"And though they never could amount to her talent and her wit

they still looked up and loved her cause she'd do the same for him.

Oh the Thorn Princess, the destined Queen,

a guardian of the weak.

The Thorn Princess, the destined Queen,

the one whose crown we'll free"

His green eyes sparkled as he took in the applause that followed his song. He gave a graceful bow, executed to perfection and better than any actor's ever dreamed.

"Thank you, thank you!", he cried, hand elegantly waving in the air His eyes had already spotted the small company of royals, even though they were doing a decent job of being inconspicuous. He approached their table after they sat (and he had gathered a fair amount of coins from the crowd around him). "Greetings new friends", he said. His foot on the bench, he placed his elbow on his knee to lean in towards them. "You don't seem to belong here", he whispered. His eyes darted towards Yves for a moment. He was still smiling charmingly. His voice was anything but threatening, but Yves still took offence, talking over Leon's awkward laugh.

"I'm sorry, but what do you mean like that?", he said, "What did we even do? You're the one who's new he-"

"Your gold pendant, your highness", the young man said calmly. He remained calm in front of Yves' exaggerated tantrum, never raising his voice.

At the sight of his own pendant, peaking under his shirt, Yves was thrown into a frantic effort to hide it back again. His hands covered his face, shielding it from the man's gaze. "Thank you", he spat, almost as if he was made to do so.

"You are most welcome", the young man said.

"How do you know of our heritage?", Leon frowned, "You don't seem from around here. We might as well have been rhodolitian nobility who were able to afford a trinket like that"

"Trinket?", the word caused Yves to show his face once more. Leon smiled at him.

"I grew up serving in a palace", the man said, "You hear all sorts of things in the halls, and see all sorts of things". He backed away and brought his hand to his heart as he took a bow. "My name is Jonathan Lively", he said, "Your loyal bard".

"I loved your song Jonathan!", Emma cheered.

"Ah a compliment by the most beautiful of ladies", the bard placed a hand on his hand, "i play to live up to your kind words"

"That's a northern accent", Jin commented, "Where are you from?"

"Oh, all sorts of places honestly", Jonathan responded, " My mother is from Jade, my father considers himself to be one with the Wolf tribe of the north but I grew up in Benitoite"

"Oh so that's how you know so much about Rhodolite", Emma smiled.

"I suppose you could say flower", Jonathan sweetly smiled back. He scratched his nape with his hand. "I don't really consider myself Benitonian though. I don't agree with their work-first lifestyle", he laughed.

The waiter brought the drinks the company ordered to their table and added a beer for the musician, on the house of course.

"So who's the princess?", Licht asked after a strong sip of his drink, "Who's the story about?"

Jonathan focused his eyes on his drink. "Someone I've heard tales about my whole life", he said.

"Hey Jonathan!", one of the villagers cried, "Sing us another song will 'ya?"

Jonathan giggled over his beer. He raised his head proudly. "Well I must go", he said. He gulped down his beer and shook his head to shake off the dizziness that followed. He fixed his tattered jacket. "A bard's duty never ends", he said. He grabbed his lute and climbed upon the stage once more. "Do you want another one?", he asked to which the crow responded a strong "yes". "I have a new one I wrote myself quite recently", he said and passed the lute's belt over his shoulder.

Sweet music filled the room once again. "He's funny", said Emma.

"Not in a good way", puffed Yves.

Leon laughed. "I like him".

Jonathan reached the refrain of his song.

His eyes darted towards the small group and he smiled.

"A love that is strong, a love that is true, battles all storms and always wins too.

Someone could love with a heart made of wool

but nothing can thrive when the heart is not full.

A frozen heart and a heart of stone

will either break or they'll change their tone"

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

You felt an arm wrap around you as you were surrounded once again by warmth. Chevalier, eyes still closed, buried his head in your shoulder as he held you tight in his sleep. You took his hand in yours and brushed your thumb over his knuckles. A smile crept upon your face. The past two weeks had been a dream. The war had been officially over. Gilbert was moved to a much more secure fortress in Rhodolite until the nations affected by the war he started decided what to do with him. Peace was restored between the four nations and the princes were working towards restoring the lost resources and caring for the wounded of their country. Yet each and every one of these undeniably happy facts paled in front of waking up next to the person you loved. The person for whom you had longed for for almost half a year.

You turned around and wrapped your hands around his muscular body. You buried your face into his chest, the buttons of his half-opened blouse tickling your cheeks. The smell of soap and roses conquered your senses. Chevalier caressed your head, his fingers entangling with your beautiful locks. His breathing was calm. Relaxed. He leapt between sense and dream. His golden hair was messy. his cheeks rosey from sleep. You could not help but cup one of them. All tension evaporated from him as you did.

You gazed to your left. The handle of the small dagger peaked from underneath his pillow. His sword lay a few feet away. It was curious how Gilbert had kept everyone away with fear or false promises, while Chevalier accepted their wrath and retaliated only should they act upon it. They were both hated, but one forced love and obedience while the other withdrew and accepted the feeling as a natural response to his actions.

You clenched your fists. Why? Why were they willing to go this far? All Chevalier did was look to a brighter future. He had hardened his heart, sacrificed love for years in order to make himself able to stomach the hard decisions are left to the crown. He was, in all aspects, a leader. He cared even for those who hated him as long as they did not hinder the course of his actions. It was a hard path he had chosen, but it was a path bound by duty. One which you yourself had taken, in your own way.

Chevalier placed his hand over yours as it held his cheek. You startled. You returned your gaze to his face. His eyes were still closed. He guided your hand to his lips and kissed your palm. "You're overthinking again", he murmured.

"I'm not"

He opened his frozen blue eyes. There was no ice left in them. He cupped your cheek, tucking your hair behind your ear. "Yes, you are", he said, "I am in favour of thinking, but you focus on the wrong things". His eyes turned to the dagger. You followed them. He must had noticed the sorrow in your gaze cause he held you closer and placed a kiss on the crown of your hair. You sighed in his arms. Soon, he had gone back to sleep.

You tried to wiggle out of his arms. It was no use. You turned back to him. There was a slight smile on his lips, one you had learned to notice after spending so much time with him.

"I have work to do you know", you said.

"Ten more minutes", his arms were unwilling to let go of you.

"Chevalier", you said but somehow your lips were unable to say no. You relaxed. "Alright", you sighed.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

When Emma, Yves and Licht went outside to have their morning tea someone was already sitting in their regular settee. The princess of Istidor was dressed in a beautiful light blue off-shoulder gown with a book splayed open on her thighs and a cup of sweet tea on her lips. She greeted them with a lovely smile as they came close.

"Your Highness!", Emma cheered, "It's lovely to see you again!"

"It always is", said Yves and placed one of his signature cakes in the middle of the table. Licht sliced it and offered the first piece to her. She politely nodded and pointed towards the space in front of her. "Thank you", she said as Licht left the plate in front of her.

"So how come you're out here?", Licht asked.

"I'm-"

"There you are!", a man's voice called from behind.

The princes were startled by the sudden arrival. Licht's hand fell on his sword, ready to draw. As they turned to face their visitor however their eyes frowned in a completely different way, shifting from distrust to confusion in a matter of seconds. Jonathan was walking towards the settee, a joyous smile on his face. The former dishevelled appearance of his clothes was no more, for they were replaced by a long aubergine coat with golden embroidery on the collar. A long sword peaked from underneath, and so did a buttoned-down vest and a gold pocket watch. He passed his hand over his short brown curls.

"Long time no see", he said. He turned his gaze to Emma and the princes. "We meet again", he told them, "It seems my life is destined to be filled with beauty".

Both Emma and Yves turned red for entirely different reasons. An out of breath Sariel arrived shortly.

"Your Highness, please", he called, "Your presence here was not officialized, the guards were not informed"

"That's alright", Jonathan smiled at him, "I know how to get around unnoticed"

"Clearly", y/n said over her cup.

"I'm sorry", said Yves, "Do you know this man?"

"Your Highness", said Sariel, "Allow me". He pointed his hand towards Jonathan. "This is his Highness Prince Jonathan of Istidor", he said, "Duke of Premin and third in line to the throne"

"But that would mean he's-"

"My idiot brother", y/n smiled as she returned her cup to its saucer. She laid her elbow on the back of her seat as she crossed her legs. "What are you doing here?"

Jonathan laughed as he pulled back his long coat to sit on the nearest chair. "I'm here to see my big sister!", he said.

"Come on, spit it out", y/n's tone was scolding, yet her smile was still there.

"Fine...I need some help", Jonathan sighed, "I think I got myself into something that is more than I can handle.

Y/n let out a deep breath. "Is this about your pest problem in Premin?", she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"I'm afraid so", he said, "I have a plan to be rid of them once and for all but I'm afraid a specific individual might interfere"

Another deep exhale. "Is this about Alex again?", said y/n.

"Fraid so", said Jonathan, "All I need is to keep him preoccupied really. But please don't kill him. I'm rather fond of him"

Y/n stood, hands flattening out the creases of her dress. "Fine", she spat, "But you owe me a big one this time"

"I am aware", Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck.

Y/n passed him by. She spoke to Sariel as Jonathan poured himself a cup of tea. She stopped midway to the road inside. "You're not coming?", she cried back to him.

"Oh I am!", Jonathan raised his cup, "Just thought I'd try the tea here, you know how much I love tea!"

Y/n shook her head at her brother's eccentric habits. Another figure soon joined her side; Chevalier. He smiled at her, and so did she. All four of the people who knew him were left astounded by the sight. Y/n gave him a kiss and proceeded to speak to him, her hands holding his. He listened attentively before he gave her a kiss on the cheek and one on the forehead and bid her farewell. He came to join the group on the couch as his love disappeared back inside the castle, followed by his minister. He passed by Jonathan. There was a difference in the man's smile this time. Without having the means to compare, Chevalier sat himself opposite to him and waited.

"So. You are the one they call the brutal beast", said Jonathan, "You don't seem that scary to me"

"Give it time", Chevalier blew on his own cup of tea.

"Hm", the other prince extended his threatening smile, "You're funny are you?"

Chevalier did not respond. The other prince frowned for the first time since he had stepped in Rhodolite. He let his cup down and leaned towards Chevalier.

"I've heard the rumours about you", he said, "And I don't like them"

Chevalier remained silent. Jonathan scoffed.

"Let me make one thing clear: My sister has been through hell. She has taken care of me and my brother her whole life and has only ever been rewarded with war and mistreatment. I'm impressed and thankful that you managed to effectively diminish the obsidianite threat. But my sister is free now. She can be happy. So don't you dare hurt her. Or I will kill you myself. I am against violence, but this I will do. I don't care who you are. Even if you're the king here, Istidor is an empire almost as powerful as Obsidian itself, but with much greater connections. If you hurt her, I will kill you, and it won't matter whether I do it in secret or not"

"Perhaps you can", said Chevalier, "If I do ever hurt her perhaps I'll let you". Chevalier's eyes fixed on the other prince's, his brilliant blue meeting the emerald green. "But I'd say it's quite hypocritical when the one she's suffered the most from was the man you had let her get engaged to"

Jonathan caught his breath. "I never liked Gilbert", he stood, "But if I knew one thing about him was that he loved her. I knew that when it came to a choice between her and his kingdom he would choose her every time. But you? You would never make such a choice."

"Even if I did", Chevalier responded calmly, "Do you really think she would let me?"

Jonathan clenched his fists for a while before letting his hands relax at his sides. He chuckled to himself. "Maybe you're right", he snuffed his smile away once more, "Maybe you do love her enough. If you prove this to me, that she is happy here with you then I will back you up to the end"

"What are you talking about?", asked Licht.

"Y/n is far from ordinary", Jonathan refused to look away from the rhodolitian king, "One could say she is another brilliant mind in this continent, one that was left unrecognised by no other reason than her gender". Jonathan turned to the group. "Why else do you think two monsters like them would fight over her?", he said, "There is a reason she was engaged to Gilbert and it's not merely what you think. They could had given me away to another kingdom and conquered Obsidian altogether. But they didn't. She is second in line. The heir. I'm just the spare". Jonathan turned back to Chevalier. "What do you think you can offer Istidor?", he told him, "A kingdom the size of our capital or a few more pennies to add to the vastness of our gold mines?". The prince moved closer to the Brutal Beast, something few people dared to do and even fewer were left alive afterwards. "You may be a cold-hearted beast but she is not. Our family is not. My father is closer to the throne than ever. Obsidian is no longer a threat. He will put family above everyone and everything else. Whether that includes you it's up to be seen".

And with that, Jonathan walked away, hands behind his back. A regal air surrounded him, one made of shadows unseen before, hidden by the brightness of his smile. But with his smile gone, another self was revealed. A calculative and calm mind, a loyal son and a a dutiful brother.

He was a shadow himself. He had called himself "the spare", but he showed no wish to become "the heir". The shadows were his element, and he reigned most brilliantly in them.

He had promised to kill Chevalier. And there was no doubt in anyone's mind, though many had tried before, this man could do it.

[keithsandwich]

Could I ask about Esther x Chev and Viva x Leon? (Esther and Viva are both pisces)

✨Esther ♓ x ♏ Chevalier✨

Like it or not, Chevalier wants to protect her. The thing is, both Scorpio and Pisces are Water signs -- Water, the most sensitive element, the conductor to all of our emotions -- but while Scorpio have a shell (and a weapon) to protect themselves, Pisces is all vulnerable. It can make Esther hurt too easily, or lose herself too easily, or get into situations too easily. Chevalier would want to take her with him inside his shell, where she can be safe. And that's a positive side of being water without a shell: Esther can get inside anywhere she wants. Maybe this is how she got into his heart. She found that tiny little crack he tries to hide, and poured herself into it. Now his heart is complete, and she's safe.

✨Viva ♓ x ♌ Leon✨

For this ship the symbolism I want to talk about is Jupiter-Pisces with Sun-Leo, because I think their connection begins with the deep love and compassion they have for everything. Pisces feel all the threads that bind things together and how they're part of it. There's no "I", only "we". For Leo there is an "I", but their strong sense of self only finds true meaning in serving others. The Sun burns to give light and life, and Jupiter wants nothing more than to see this life prospering. So I can see Viva and Leon bonding over their ideals and having a mutual admiration. Viva's heart sings with joy in Leon's warmth and passion. Leon can't take his eyes off her when she talks about her dreams and everything she loves. They're gonna be wonderful reigning together.

[littlekohai77]

Soo..... Yeah... I made another one.

Y'all remember that scene in chev's route where Emma was on a ladder and then fell and chev did nothing and just watched? Yeah, that's where this came from.

Oh and I made this also.

That's Nokto hugging her btw. They have a weird foxes flocking together type of relationship.

Not necessarily friends but more like, the person who carries Nokto back home.

And you can bet your ass that he just wrapped his greasy ass self around her like it's nobodies business all drunk and smelling like "midnight trysts" 🤮. You can't blame her for being annoyed.

[lorei-writes]

OC Thoughts: Esther Materna #1

... or why she is constructed the way she is. ;)

Contents

Character: Personal Story

Reconsidering Relationships

Chevalier

Character: Personal Story

What is their story? Are they the main character? A supporting actor? What conclusions do I want to arrive at and what circumstances do I need to enable that?

Initially, Esther was meant to be merely a side-character without too much exposition. In the first draft, she was the ill twin sister whose condition got progressively worse, to the point of her life being endangered. If the centre of the universe was her twin, then Esther was an excuse -- she was the means of pushing Viva into a dark headspace, the reason for revenge.

The second draft for the twins' personal stories came with a variety of "what if" scenarios... and the question of how to bring them towards reality. What if Esther wanted to save Viva? How would she go about it? What if she talked with Chevalier? How would she do that? Why?What if she took on a more active role? Would she dare to? Should she? And, more importantly... if she was the primary focus of the narrative, what story would she tell?

Esther's core was decided: she is the ill twin sister, loyal to the point of being willing to abandon her life. She does not believe she has much time left. To contrast her with Viva, she is not brave. However, she's willing to push herself for the sake of her loved ones.

Reconsidering Relationships

Esther's relationship with Viva was set in stone from the very beginning. However, that much could not be said about any of the other characters. Since her general design was still fairly vague, my aim was to look for any interesting interactions that could occur given Esther's core. The rest of her, as such, was fleshed out with the intention of bringing out the most out of those possibilities.

Chevalier

Esther's circumstances make her fragile yet oddly durable at the same time. She endures and she's readily willing to endure, regardless of the price she may have to pay for her loyalty.

Fragile against Powerful. Loyal despite reason against Logical. Terrified yet determined against Terrifying.

Selecting Chevalier as a close counterpart for Esther provided a set of interesting contrasts and enabled multiple paths of exploring her as a character -- her sense of uselessness correlated with her illness, the rift between physical fragility and mental prowess, emotion being the source of courage, determination that defies reason, etc. etc. Then it became the question whether that set up is mutually beneficial. Or, in other words, can Esther serve as a driver for exploring Chevalier? The answer, obviously, is "yes".

Chevalier is certain he can protect anything. As such, details of Esther's illness were decided (and modelled after actual existing illnesses) to counter that statement. How do powerful feel when they are helpless? How does a genius react to failure? Can he move on from it? How will he live knowing he cannot protect the one thing dear to him? How does it affect Chevalier's understanding of strength? How does it change how he views his role?

Further details were added to increase the number of such "unknowns" and to level the field between them.

Esther is well-versed in emotion ⇄ Chevalier is extremely logical

Esther is religious ⇄ Chevalier is (likely) not religious

Esther is observant (especially in regards to humans) ⇄ Chevalier is observant (relatively well-rounded, albeit with limited understanding of human emotion)

Esther cannot allow herself to be afraid of Chevalier if she wants to help her sister ⇄ Chevalier is not used to not being feared

Esther grows daring once not fully aware of herself ⇄ Chevalier is not used to being approached in a daring manner

Esther is generally rather reserved ⇄ Chevalier is direct in conduct (at times, to his personal amusement), however:

Esther is determined ⇄ Chevalier challenges others

... and the list goes on :)

[practicingbushiho]

My trainwreck WoL and his Exasperated Giant Boyfriend

[inafieldofdaisies]

Ship: The Chevalier and The Siren | Faith x Leslie

Signs on my skin Plying lines where your hands have been, scribing me So tell me what it's for Why the wilds want you, riverborn All our bodies shorn But the dust adorns you, ever more

@strangefable @strafethesesinners @socially-awkward-skeleton @voidika @purplehairsecretlair

@direwombat @raresvtm @theelderhazelnut @imogenkol @wrathfulrook

@josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @trench-rot @dumbassdep @la-grosse-patate

@icecutioner @captastra @thesingularityseries @rhettsabbott @g0dspeeed

@harmonyowl @finding-comfort-in-rain @carlosoliveiraa @shellibisshe @derelictheretic

@jackiesarch @killyourrdarlingss @simonxriley @cassietrn @tommyarashikage

[violettduchess]

A/N: This is an official entry for the @flash-exchange In a Flash Creation Challenge. A huge thank you to @lorei-writes for all her help with organizing this so that I can post the whole thing at once.

Ikemen Prince OCs and their Suitors. Thank you to everyone who shared their OCs with me and trusted me to write them. It really is an honor! 💜

WC: 3.3 k

Esther x Chevalier (@lorei-writes) Bright fingers of sunlight try to push their way through the hazy white curtains, but even their insistent prodding isn’t enough to wake Chevalier. Esther, propped up on one elbow, takes a moment to study him, sunlight washing across his features, brightening the pale blond of his hair, gilding his long eyelashes, caressing the sharp line of his cheekbone. She smiles, allowing her fingertips to brush the soft, fair strands away from his forehead before leaning down, her own hair falling in curls over her shoulder like a curtain of ringed sunshine. “It’s morning, Chevka.” Her voice is brimming with affection, rounded with love. He grunts, the only sign of life aside from his steady breathing. Warmth blossoms in her heart and Esther knows what she must do. Cupping his face in her hand, she lowers her head until her lips touch his. She lingers there, reveling in the feel of his mouth, the scent of him, remaining still as a marbled statue until she feels him respond: there’s the curve of his smile against her lips and the sudden, secure wrap of his arms around her. In a voice thick with sleep and purring with tenderness, he kisses her back through the following words: “Good morning, my Ragdoll.”

Imogen x Nokto (@yarnnerdally) Nokto watches from the bed as Imogen rubs a towel through her damp chestnut hair, expressive green eyes narrowed in concentration. She catches sight of him in the mirror and turns, hand on her hip. “Something funny?” Slowly and shamelessly he sits up, allowing the bedsheets to slide down his lean torso and gather enticingly around his hips. “You….being so annoyed at having to bathe.” Imogen shakes her head, huffing out a breath. “You try getting all that chocolate out of your hair!” He grins slowly. “When I suggested we use chocolate, I believe your response was something like ‘Show me what you mean’ in a very seductive voice.” She rolls her eyes and his heart echoes the motion, flipping about in his chest as if he were some lovestruck youth. So what, he thinks. So what if he is? With a flourish he throws the bedsheets back and stalks towards her, relishing the way her expression goes from startled to heated in a matter of seconds. Nokto slides his arms around her, pulling her against his naked body, and dips his head so his lips brush the shell of her ear. “How about we take a bath together?” He kisses the sensitive spot just below his whispers and Imogen’s breath catches in her throat. “But…I’m already clean,” she murmurs, towel slipping from her hand to the floor. She feels his huff of laughter against her neck, the sharp nip of his teeth before he kisses the pink skin. “Then I will just have to dirty you again.” The words are throaty, a soft growl. She sighs happily, her body already saying yes as it yields itself to his kisses and his touch.

Melinda x Chevalier (@dododrawsstuff)  “I have something to show you.” With these words, Chevalier reaches for Melinda’s hand, threading his fingers through hers tightly, and leads her through the winding halls of the palace and into one of the salons. “What...?” she murmurs as he drops her hand a bit quickly, a bit awkwardly. She watches, perplexed, as he makes his way to the elegant white piano and lowers himself onto the bench. There is no sheet music in front of him. What is he.....and then he places his hands on the ivory keys and begins to play. At first she is simply captivated by the movement of his beautiful hands, the dexterity of his elegant fingers, but then the melody breaks through and she gasps. It is a song from her home country, one she sings to herself when she feels the lonely pangs of homesickness echo through the corridors of her heart. It is a song made famous by a woman who sang from the very depths of her vibrant soul, whose voice not only comes from Brazil, but IS Brazil. Melinda’s vision blurs as she makes her way over to the piano. She never knew he was listening, let alone that he was mentally recording every note she sang. His hands still as the chords fade and he turns towards her. “I had to infer certain musical elements but I believe this was an adequate—” He stops speaking as Melinda leans down, capturing his face in her hands and kisses him, words unable to convey the gratitude and love for this man who sensed her sadness and tried to bring a piece of her home to her. He relaxes under her touch, eyes only opening when she pulls back to rest her forehead against his. “Obrigado meu querido.” Thank you, my love.

Beatrice x Yves (@bicayaya) The kitchen is filled with the smell of cinnamon and sugar. Humming to herself, Beatrice carefully uses the flat end of her knife to spread the thick, pink cream across each of the cookies that have cooled enough for decoration. She leans down, concentrating as she makes sure the spread is even, each cookie matching the one before. She doesn’t notice that Yves has returned from the small garden just outside the kitchen, nor does she notice the way he’s paused, simply watching her with sunny affection dancing in the bright blue skies of his eyes. “There,” she says, straightening up again, staring down at the sea of pink frosted cookies proudly. Glancing over her shoulder, she spots him and smiles. “Don’t they look wonderful?” He pushes off the doorway he’s been leaning against, his smile curving into a grin. “They do, little bee, but….” He stops in front of her and with a small laugh, touches the tip of her nose, his finger coming away pink. “It looks like you decorated yourself.” Beatrice gasps softly, touching her nose and then starts laughing when her fingertip is also pink. “I guess I got too close!” Yves sets down his small basket of edible flowers, reaching for a clean dish towel. Gently, he cleans her nose and then leans forward, giving it a light kiss. He starts to straighten up but she catches the back of his neck. “Ah ah….not when I have you so close.” He melts into her touch, sighing happily as he slides his arms around her and meets her lips for a kiss sweeter than all the cookies in Rhodolite.

Viva x Leon (@lorei-writes) Being king means many responsibilities and one of them is dealing with ambassadors. Most are skilled at what they do and therefore polite, but every now and then, one comes along who believes that rudeness may prove more advantageous than civility. Leon watches one such man walk away and sighs heavily into his champagne glass, keeping his expression as neutral as possible. The man was arrogant, condescending and above all, an idiot. At least Viva didn’t hear some of the insulting things he had said– “How dare he speak to you like that!” He winces inwardly, turning to see his beautiful wife puffed up with indignation. Her eyes are narrowed, her shoulders squared and she’s about to chase down the man and possibly cause an international incident. Leon quickly sets down his glass and catches her hands mid-raise, turning her away from the gathering so that she can only focus on him. “Viva, my love.” He smiles, tenderness welling up inside him at the sight of the indignant fire blazing her eyes. “That boar of a man–” she rumbles, ready to let loose a storm. Leon gently tugs her towards him and places a calming kiss on her lips. “Forget him, my beautiful, valiant rooster.” Her attention snaps to her husband at that and he laughs, triggering her own, answering chuckle, deflating the cloud of umbrage. He twirls a curl of her golden hair around his index finger, head tipped as he regards her. “How about we get out of here?” Viva grins slowly. Never has she heard a better idea.

Romarin x Leon  (@ikeprinces-stuff) He follows the sound of music, the soft, mournful notes that guide him away from his study and up the winding stairs towards the salon on the third floor. It is a room he does not visit all that often. The walnut-colored door is open, just a crack, and he slowly pushes it further, peering inside. She’s standing by the window, magnetic jade eyes closed as she plays her beloved violin, that constant companion that saved her in so many, many ways. He watches her from the doorway, his heart aching in his chest at the story her music is telling. A song of sadness, of loneliness, of the dark, secret shadows that haunt a person’s heart. Her whole body bends as she plays, one with the instrument. The final note fades, leaving the room in silence until Leon clears his throat. Romarin’s eyes open, at first startled, but when she sees who it is she relaxes slowly like a skittish feline that needs a moment to recognize a kind face. “I didn’t know you were there.” He doesn’t answer with words but crosses the room to where she is standing. She notices the way he swallows, emotion balling in the back of his throat, before he places his hands on her shoulders and bends to place a kiss on her cheek. She breathes in deeply, the cool scent of him flooding her senses and steps closer, her violin hanging by her side as she rises onto her toes and kisses him, marveling at the way his mouth fits perfectly against hers. He sighs her name, sliding his hand along the silken moonlight of her pale hair. That sound, her name from his lips, feels as romantic and full of longing as any serenade, any sweet piece of music, could ever be.

Carina x Leon (@fang-and-feather) The campfire burns a warm orange, crackling steadily as it releases tiny red embers up into the night. The forest trees stand tall, reminding Leon of gentle, peaceful guardians keeping watch over the campsite he and Carina have built. Speaking of his love…he pulls his gaze away from the flames and stands, frowning. Where has she gone? Squinting, he looks beyond the tent towards the water. Moonlight glints off the smooth surface of the lake, silvery and idyllic. But there is no sign of her. A tiny tendril of concern sprouts in his heart and he’s about to call her name when suddenly, a dark shape explodes from behind several trees and leaps into the water, shattering the peaceful silver and filling the air with a loud gasp of laughter. He grins slowly. Of course. Carina waves from the water, still gasping from the shock of cold on her bare body. She watches, sapphire eyes alight with mischief and anticipation, as Leon makes his way towards the water, shedding his clothing piece by piece as he goes. Only when he is as bare as she is does he pause with a leonine grin on his face and then takes a running leap into the water, diving towards her. Their laughter fills the isolated area and when she holds out her arms in welcome, Leon swims to her and accepts her embrace. Moving aside her damp curls, he begins pressing kiss after kiss to her cheek, her neck, the curve of her shoulder, his mouth so very warm against her cool skin. Above the stars gleam brightly, tiny diamonds in a black velvet sky.

Ciel x Rio (@floydsteeth) Rio adjusts the straps of Ciel’s quiver on his shoulder as they walk back through the fields. He listens, bright blue eyes alight with adoration, as she explains the characteristics of the mushroom she is holding, a beautiful brown and pale green specimen she spotted on the way back from archery practice. “They only grow for a period of two weeks and then they’re gone. We’re so lucky we found—” Her words cut off and they both stop in their tracks. Just ahead, grazing upon the lush grass in the field, is a massive horse. It’s easily seventeen hands high, with powerful muscles that roll underneath its glossy silvery coat with every movement it makes. Ciel freezes, the little mushroom tumbling from her hand. “Rio.....” Her voice is small, shrunken with fear. But he’s already moving, walking towards the huge beast, calmly, fearlessly. “You seem to be in the wrong place, fella.” His tone is soothing, gentle. The horse lifts its great head and nickers. Before Rio can say another word, a red-faced stablehand comes huffing and puffing over the mound of tall grass. “This one got away,” he manages between deep breaths. “C’mon now Llwyd, let’s go.” He leads the horse away and Rio quickly returns to Ciel’s side. She’s pale but breathing steadily. Setting down the quiver of arrows, he reaches for her, pulling her against him and embraces her lovingly. “It’s ok.” He presses gentle kisses to the beauty marks on the side of her face. “It’s ok.” One final kiss, this time to her lips, soft and reassuring, a candle in the darkness. “Let’s go home.” He bends down, picking up the quiver and the tiny mushroom which he presses gently into her palm once again. “Let’s go home and you can keep telling me all about this little one on the way.”

Oliver x Sariel (@olivermorningstar) The sun has long since set, sinking into darkness, as Oliver adjusts the focus of his microscope. He wants to observe the bacteria he’s been cultivating just a little bit longer. The door to his study opens, the hinges squeaking softly, but he is so focused on his subject that he doesn’t even look up. The sound doesn’t even register. He’s muttering to himself, his black quill scratching against the parchment as he records his observations and questions they spark. It’s only the surprising sound of someone clearing their throat that breaks through, letting him know that he isn’t alone. He turns, eyes wide behind his glasses and then relaxes instantly when he sees Sariel. “It’s late,” the minister says as he approaches Oliver. The researcher sighs, turning to look over his shoulder at his instruments and his notes. “I know, I know but I just wanted to finish collecting my observations on this particular–” Sariel reaches up, gently taking hold of Oliver’s chin and turns his head back towards him. His eyes, an arresting dark violet, are full of something soft, something admiring. Still holding Oliver’s chin, he leans forward and presses a delicate kiss to his lips. Oliver’s breath catches in his throat, any and all protests crumbling immediately. Sariel kisses him again, then lets his fingers trail down his neck before falling back to his side. “I’ll wait here while you finish.” A rush of warmth colors Oliver’s cheeks. Sariel is so patient, so considerate….and somehow, in the greatest mystery known to mankind, he has chosen him to love, to care for. He nods, reaching out to briefly squeeze his hand. “Just another minute.”

Maeve x Keith (@keithsandwich) Maeve’s emerald eyes are closed, her head resting comfortably in Keith’s lap. The grass is soft beneath her bare feet and every now and then, a bird chirps, adding its music to the soothing sound of Keith’s voice as he reads to her from a new collection of Jadean poetry. In one hand he holds the slim volume, the other is holding hers, reveling in the feel of her slender fingers entwined with his. He’s reading a poem about love and nature and fate, about stars in the night sky that bless those who have found the sacred bond of lovers. Then he feels Maeve’s hand squeeze his and he lowers the book to find her looking up at him, those eyes wide open and bright, green as springtime, beautifully wild. Under that loving gaze he feels his heart unfold like a flower beckoned by sunshine and he can’t help himself, he has to kiss her. The book falls to the soft grass as he leans down just as she reaches for him. Gently he shifts her, pulling her into the warm circle of his arms, his lips moving over hers with wordless declarations of love and devotion. It is moments like this, enveloped in the safety of her love, that he understands a poet’s desire to try and capture the enormity of what it means to love and be loved in return. Maeve kisses him and the world is born anew. She smiles and it is daylight illuminating a field of wildflowers. He loves her and she loves him. There is nothing more natural or more beautiful.

Céline x Gilbert (@celiciaa) Céline slashes her way through the underbrush, single-mindedly heading towards the narrow dirt path that runs through this part of the dark Obsidian forest. Her sword bites into bushes and brambles, an extension of her fury. Gilbert knew they were being followed and went without her to take care of it. Damn it. Damn him. Her blade hacks through the last scattering of vegetation, revealing the earthen road and she stops when she sees the sight laid out before her. Gilbert, face flecked with crimson drops, pistol still in hand. Several bodies are laid out like fallen petals before him. He glances up from the havoc and offers her a bright smile. “They made poor choices.” Céline throws her long white braid over her shoulder, her sword falling to the ground as she crosses the space between them in several long strides, throwing her arms around him and kissing him fiercely. She catches his lip between her white teeth and bites down. The sound he makes is fire to gunpowder, sending a wash of heat straight through her body, every nerve feeling like it might explode at any moment. He pulls her tightly against him, their mouths restless and searching, rough and savage. She tastes blood, but it doesn’t matter. There’s blood everywhere anyway.

Leyla x Silvio (me) —  The overcast sky matches the expression on Silvio’s face. He watches as the last of the crates are loaded onto Siren’s Call. Leyla’s ship. The one getting ready to leave the royal Benitoite port. “That’s the last one, Captain.” First Mate Kai clamps a large, reassuring hand on Leyla’s shoulder and she nods at him. He inclines his head towards Silvio, a begrudging sign of respect, before heading onto the gangway. The silence between Silvio and Leyla hangs as heavy as the gray clouds above. “I don’t get why you gotta go. You know I could–” Leyla cuts him off with a sharp shake of her head, her gold hoop earrings swaying with the movement. “I won’t be a kept woman. You know that.” She sighs heavily, brushing aside several wayward strands of hair that the wind has plucked free of her dark braid. Silvio’s fingers ache at the sight. He curls his hands into fists, fighting the burning need to touch her. “Besides,” she continues, “It’s not that long. Just a few months.” Her words are hollow with forced optimism. Silvio looks down at his boots, jaw clenched. “Fuck.” His voice is ragged. “Captain!” Kai’s deep baritone calls from the ship. “The tide!” “I know!” she barks back, her own voice scraped raw with emotion. Trying to ignore the vice squeezing her heart, she turns to Silvio. He lifts his head and in his eyes she sees all the words his mouth can’t form, all the storm clouds churning in his heart. At the same time they stumble towards each other. The kiss is messy and desperate, tinted with anger and sharp with longing. It’s Leyla who pulls away first, afraid she won’t be able to take a step towards her ship if she holds him a moment longer. “Good-bye.” He doesn’t answer. He can’t. He only watches as distance shrinks her figure, taking her away from him, with her kiss still lingering on his aching lips.

Taglist: @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage

@redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet

@silver-dahlia @wendolrea @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @ikesimpleton

@ikemenlibrary @namine-somebodies-nobody @cellophanediamond @whatever-fanfics @justpeachyteastea

@chirp-a-chirp @got7igot7family @kookie-my-little-sunshine @mastering-procrastinating @portrait-ninja

@starlitmanor-network @sh0jun @queen-dahlia @themysticalbeing @nightghoul381

@whitelittlebunny @chi-the-idiot @ozalysss @bestbryn

[ikemenlibrary]

Ikémen Prince Gift Exchange Masterlist

Thank you to everyone who chose to participate in this event and helped make it a success! Everyone is so talented, and I am in awe of all of you <3 Going through all your pieces have been truly enjoyable and I've loved every minute of it!

Prove It To Me | Jin Grandet x Reader | by @nightghoul381 for xxsycamore

They Say Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder | Nokto Klein x Emma (MC) | by @xxsycamore for nightghoul381

Unaccepted Together | Clavis Lelouch x Reader | by @nightghoul381 for scummy-writes

Autumn Daze | Gilbert Von Obsidian x MC | by @scummy-writes for daegupaksu

A Starry Tryst (Artwork) | Nokto Klein x Noele (OC) | by @daegupaksu for drachonia

Sea at Sunrise (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci x MC | by @drachonia for nightghoul381

Bookmarked Dialogue | Keith Howell x Julie (OC) | by @ikemenlibrary for queengiuliettafirstlady

The Gentle Stag Rewrites The Stars | Keith Howell x MC | by @queengiuliettafirstlady for ridiculouslly-ridiculous

Princess Picnic Pick Me Up | Rio Ortiz, Clavis Lelouch, Silvio Ricci, Gilbert Von Obsidian, MC | by @ridiculouslly-ridiculous for misty-moth

Peter Clavis and the Lost Boys (Artwork) | Clavis Lelouch, Nokto Klein, Luke Randolph | by @misty-moth for pondlilies00

Take a Rest (Artwork) | Sariel Noir x MC | by @pondlilies00 for alydra (bluejay-writes)

This is fine. | Chevalier Michel x MC | by @bluejay-writes for randonauticrap

Ember Glows the Heart | Leon Dompteur x MC/Reader | by @randonauticrap for myonlyjknight

A Clavish Day Off | Clavis Lelouch x MC | by @myonlyjknight for claviscollections

Petrichor | Yves Kloss x MC/Reader | by @claviscollections for pillowpillowillow

The Voyager Prince (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci | by @pillowpillowillo for aquilapolariz

In Business, In Life | Silvio Ricci x Hyacinth (OC) | by @aquilapolariz for tacogawa

La Belle et la Bête (Artwork) | Leon Dompteur x MC | by @tacogawa for kokorokai

The Tyrant's New Wife (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci x Airin D'Avalos (OC) | by @kokorokai for airin-queenz

Chilly Morning's Date | Licht Klein x MC | by @airin-queenz for ikemenlibrary

Read to Me | Chevalier Michel x MC | by @ikeromantic for aquagirl1978

What Was I Made For | Gilbert Von Obsidian x Rosemary (OC) | by @aquagirl1978 for prisoniclover

Return | Leon Dompteur x Emma (MC) | by @prisoniclover for chirp-a-chirp

Cat-astrophe | Clavis Lelouch x MC | by @chirp-a-chirp (with art by @aide-falls) for katriniac (ohtomatotome)

Getting There is Half the Fun | Keith Howell x Emma (MC) | by @ohtomatotome for violettduchess

Practical Magic | Clavis Lelouch x Emma (MC) | by @violettduchess for ikeromantic