#how is she related to dorian? great grandmother or something? so interesting i want to know OTL

[beaulesbian]

#i understood that reference

(part 2)

[rufousnmacska]

part 2 of this little modern manorian au

Manon had forgotten how awful her maid of honor dress was until this moment. “You know Asterin, you really didn’t need to do this to us in order to make yourself stand out. You’re the bride. Everyone will already be looking at you.”

The others moaned in agreement but Asterin just laughed. “I know of one dark-haired princeling who will not be looking at me.”

Manon sighed and stared at the ceiling. And here it comes. The reason she hadn’t mentioned Dorian to anyone, even when she didn’t know who he was. As the room erupted in laughter and questions, she glared at Asterin.

“Nothing happened. If you don’t believe me that’s your problem. And I’m not going to let ANY OF YOU GET UNDER MY SKIN.” She emphasized those last words with a finger pointed viciously at each of them.

Vesta stood up and shouted everyone down. “Hey! Leave her alone!” She gave Manon a wink then continued. “This one is rich and hot. We don’t want to scare him away!”

Laughter broke out once more and Manon gave up, used her middle finger this time, and walked towards the door. She was dressed and Asterin was dressed. That meant her duties were done for the time being. The rest of them could fend for themselves.

Out in the hall, she looked around for a way outside. Catching her reflection in the french door, she released a long, annoyed breath and dropped her head.

This dress was ridiculous. But in combination with the hair and makeup... Her aunt had insisted they get all this shit done and Asterin hadn’t wanted to argue any more than was necessary. And she was perfectly willing to throw them under the bus to keep her mother happy.

At least as the maid of honor she was allowed some individuality. And the color of her dress didn’t make her want to vomit. The rest of the cousins looked like peach-colored clones who had been dipped in hairspray and costume jewelry.

The thought of Dorian seeing her like this did make her want to vomit. And that made her feel even worse. She’d known him for less than a day and she was this concerned?

The thing was, she felt like she’d known him for a lot longer.

They’d spent hours taking turns driving his sports car around the city. Driving and talking. Her claim that nothing had happened was not a lie. Nothing sexual had happened. Not even a kiss. But there had been a hell of a lot of sparks. And even more, some indescribable connection had formed between them.

They had a lot of things in common besides an interest in cars. They came from opposite ends of the class system, but they shared a lot of the same pressures. Both had overbearing family expectations. Both were trying to go against those expectations to do what they loved.

His father wanted him to go into politics while her grandmother wanted her barefoot and pregnant. Although he had the money to support a not-yet-published author’s lifestyle, as an only child, he bore the brunt of his father’s demands to uphold the family legacy.

At least Manon had all of her cousins and their families to hide behind when her grandmother was in bitch mode. Of course, that wasn’t much of a consolation during the months when her sculptures weren’t selling and she couldn’t afford rent. Grandmother’s bitch mode went into overdrive then, with constant harping about needing to find a husband and give up on her worthless art.

But she got loads of love and encouragement from her cousins and friends. She couldn’t imagine how Dorian got by without that kind of family support system. He’d told her he did it by choosing his family. Close friends instead of blood relations.

His parents were nothing more than obligations at this point. He’d shrugged it off but she could tell it was painful. She supposed that losing her parents when she was a baby put them in a similar boat. Except her abandonment had not been by choice.

Getting cold, she headed back in, steeling herself for more teasing. On her way, she heard a knock on a window and turned to find Dorian waving at her from the groom’s suite of rooms.

Fuck me, she thought looking down at the baby blue monstrosity she wore. I guess he’ll see it sooner or later. With bright red cheeks too warm to be from the weather, Manon copied his move from the other day. She smiled and shrugged, then added a little turn so he was sure to see the huge bow across her ass.

When she came around to face him again, he had the sweetest smile she’d ever seen. He gave her two thumbs up and disappeared to finish getting ready.

Oh man. I am in trouble.

At least the photos were going to turn out well.  There was no way this smile was leaving her face anytime soon.

God that dress is a crime against humanity, Dorian thought with a laugh. But it hadn’t done a thing to dim Manon’s beauty. He didn’t think the pearls and heavy makeup were her thing either. But as with the dress, they were easily overlooked. That smile and her incredible eyes were all he needed to see.

“I can’t believe you let her drive your GT S,” Aedion called from across the room. “Surprised she didn’t burn out the clutch. Women cannot drive stick.”

Dorian ignored him and sat down. Aedion was only in the bridal party to fill out the groom’s side. All those cousins as bridesmaids made it a challenge to even things out.

Gotta feel bad for the one who has to dance with him later, he thought.

Chaol caught his eye - they were clearly thinking the same thing - then joined him on the couch. “So. You got in late last night.”

Dorian laughed. “Always so subtle Chaol.”

“Yeah well. I could just be an asshole,” he said, staring at Aedion. In a deeper voice that sounded suspiciously like the asshole in question, he added, “You two hook up bro?”

Dorian bit his lip to keep from laughing.

Leaning closer, Chaol whispered, “I’m just trying to keep up with all the testosterone in here, man. These guys are built like brick shithouses. I don’t even know why I’m here.”

“Same reason most of us are here,” Dorian said. “The Blackbeak clan is huge and Fenrys needed bodies.”

“Why not elope,” Chaol mumbled. “Less hassle for everyone.”

Dorian glanced at his best friend and rolled his eyes. Chaol was a great guy, but romance was not his thing. Luckily for him, Nesryn was not into all that stuff either.

Which brought his thoughts back to Manon. They’d spent an amazing night together just talking and riding around. She had a tough, badass exterior. But he knew there was more to her than that. That instantaneous connection he’d felt for her had only grown stronger throughout the night.

He’d tried asking Fenrys about her but only got superficial answers. And nothing he didn’t already know. She was an immensely talented artist, she loved cars more than he did, she dreamed of traveling to both Poles, and she was struggling to escape from her grandmother’s control.

Her devotion to her family was something he admired but couldn’t quite understand. She told him about their teasing and gossip, but her voice was full of love, not the annoyance she’d been trying for. They were a close-knit group despite the different personalities and fighting. He wished he knew what that felt like.

Instead, he was shackled with cold, distant parents who only ever called to berate him. And ask when he was going to give up writing and run for office. He was waiting for them to cut him off. They couldn’t touch the trust fund he’d received from his grandparents. But that wouldn’t stop them from trying to keep him dependent on them.

Dorian laughed to himself thinking about their reactions to what they’d find in his accounts. He was living solely off the trust fund and the few decent investments he’d made. But the monthly transfer from them got spent as soon as it came through.

There were several small charities that depended on a regular check from an anonymous donor. Charities that would make his father explode if he knew his money was funding them. The food bank, the animal shelter, a woman’s health clinic just to name a few. Places that actually helped people. Unlike his father.

A loud whistle interrupted his moping.

“Let’s go people. Time for Fenrys to get hitched to his old ball and chain.” Aedion turned, waiting for everyone to laugh.

The only reply he got was from Lorcan who called him a fucking asshole. That got a round of applause as they all filed out of the room.

Dorian’s heart skipped a beat as he realized he’d be seeing Manon in a few minutes. He already knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off her, horrible dress or not.