#i just want motivation! and a lot of people have good ideas. n e way

[orgrimmar-archive]

my comms are open.. this time with a NEW art section (woagh). just portraits (10$ for sketches and 25$ for color + shading) and landscapes (flat rate of 25 but can go up depending on complexity + architecture, and we can discuss prices if you want it fully colored shaded etc). bunch of examples in "#my art" tag both recent and ancient. dm me or watever if inch rested. i also have writing comms as always, i will link my ao3 for my public examples and can show you previous commissions if asked (protective over the individuality of these comms so i dont post them) examples and further pricing under the cut

ART COMM PRICING:

Portrait (Sketch): 10$ flat rate. Portrait (Color + Shading): 25$ flat rate. Will go up if character design is complex or you want a shading style different to my sort of colorblock shading. (I.E painterly). I DO use the symmetry tool as I like the effect.

CAN DO: Furries, I will ATTEMPT robotic/mechs, organic material (wood, metal, stone etc like statues) and humanoids but quality will vary on humans.. No gore + nsfw since I still am learning how to do liquid drippies and I want to give you the best cum/blood imaginable if you were to ask. Landscape (SKETCH): 25$+ Will do game environments or attempt from-life landscapes. Landscape (PAINTERLY, SIMPLE SHADING): Flat of 25 with an added 10$ for each hour spent working. (I.E if full piece takes 4 hours, it would be 55$, as the 25 accounts for the first stages.) Landscape (PAINTERLY, COMPLEX SHADING): ..... I will Attempt this. However, please be aware that this is an experiment. If there is complex architecture, shading or detail I will add a rate of about 5-10$ per hour I spend working on it. I will give estimates if needed, but I consider 4-6 hours to be my average turnaround time for most of my pieces (as I work on them while my boyfriend is away.) --- MANGA COLORING PRICING: Full Panels: 35-45$ depending on shading complexity. Icons: 10 -15$ depending on if you want any line edits Can do: Simple Line edits (adding earrings, stickers on cheeks, etc) PREFERRED if you BRING YOUR OWN PANEL!

----

WRITING COMM PRICING:

Flat rate of 35$ per 1,500 words (Hey, that's more words than last run!) +10$ for each thousand words after that with a cap of 5k words. I WILL WRITE ANYTHING as long as it does not harm a real-world group, spread hate, lies or misinformation, and does not contain the obvious illegalities (i.e a detailed plot about murdering your best friend from your POV.) Here is my Ao3: AO3 and you can DM me either here (or ask for my discord through here) for more examples. Here are some pieces I've done within the past couple months if you dont feel like looking through my tags:

(Last one was traced in many areas to practice but it still looks good so Im putting it in.) FINALLY: Manga colors from recent

PPS: thank you for reading this far. I didnt mention it but I also do emojis for around 5-10$ depending on complexity..

[de4dlyniightshade]

Dunno if u have seen it but I’d really love ur version of the NSFW alphabet for Spencer Reid

(Not sure if that really counts as a Drabble or a super long headcanon. I tried to go thru ur blog and I didn’t see where u had done 1 before!!)

ON IT!!!

doing it with sub!spencer ofc<3

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex): super sleepy and cuddly, just wants you to hold him and kiss him and play with his hair. also goes borderline nonverbal, just wants to be in your company.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s): his favourite body part on himself is honestly probably his brain ngl BUT otherwise i'd say his hair, he takes good care of his hair and takes the time to make sure it looks nice so i'd say his hair. as for on you probably your hips or eyes, your eyes is the answer he tells people but actually he just loves gripping your hips and pinching the fatty skin there and placing kisses on your hipbones.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically): loves cumming in you. so much. but also loves cumming on you, more specifically cumming on your pussy after fucking you, the way it looks running over you just making his head spin.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs): pervert. not a creepy pervert but still a pervert. will stick around if he walks in on you changing, stare at your boobs and ass when he thinks you don't see him, shamefully touches your underwear for longer than he should when he's doing laundry, will spend a good while scanning your body while you sleep, especially if you're wearing shorts or a tank top.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?): not experienced. has no idea what he's doing. he tries his best and learns fast but he needs a lot of guidance and care but he prefers you taking control anyway.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying): cowgirl. nothing beats getting ridden in his mind, the sight of you on top of him, your boobs bouncing with each thrust and the way you gripped his waist.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.): i wouldn't say he's serious but he's not humorous either, whenever your touching him he just becomes a moaning mess and can hardly think for himself, just completely lost in the pleasure.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.): not shaved bald but definitely trimmed, if not for your benefit then definitely for his own.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect): soooo lovey, just holding you and kissing you and snuggling into you and telling you that he loves you and thanking you.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon): definitely jerks off a lot when you're apart because he just gets really sexually frustrated without you.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks): mommy kink!!!

L = Location (favorite places to do the do): bed first, always, it's just more private and intimate but he also likes it on the couch but that's more of a spur of the moment thing.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going): anything and everything. you smiled at him? horny. kissed him? extra horny. hugged him? horny. literally anything you do can get him going.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs): blindfolds on him for obvious reasons, also domming, he just can't do it.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.): giving all the way!!! even if he's not that good at it he puts his heart and soul into it. more often than not he gets carried away and forgets he's trying to get you to cum bcs he just loves to taste you.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.): loves it fast but not too rough if that makes sense? like he doesn't wanna hurt afterwards and whenever he's on top he just gets so caught up that he can't help but fuck you desperately.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.): likes them a lot and however often you're up for it, especially before work. definitely walks into that building with a real pep in his step after a quickie in the morning.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.): definitely game to experiment with a lot of things you wanna try, but nothing too crazy like he wouldn't be into slapping or extreme bondage, but a little tying up he's game for.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?): not many. he gets easily overwhelmed and overstimulated bcs he's just so sensitive. can go three rounds at very best.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?): doesn't own toys himself but if you do he uses them on you, more specifically if you had a vibrator he'd use it on you when you're tired. also let's you use a vibrator on him, the feeling of it pressed to his tip making him cum embarrassingly fast. not to forget pegging, would let you peg him or use a dildo on him.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease): not at all, you're more the one to tease him but he doesn't have enough patience or self control to tease you.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.): very loud and doesn't even realise it, he just gets so lost in his own mind that he can't even hear himself.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character): loves being bitten by you, not aggressively enough that it hurts too bad but if he was on top and you bit into his shoulder when you came he'd definitely follow quick after.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes): around 7 inches, not too thick but not too thin either, curved upwards slightly, the prettiest pink tip and not overly veiny but definitely a few. also i feel like he has pretty nipples idc.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?): very high, needy alllllll the time like could go at it at the drop of a hat it doesn't matter what time of day he could be rock hard in seconds for you.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards): pretty quickly depending on the time, if it was one of those morning quickies ofc he can't but otherwise he tries to stay awake but never manages to actually stay awake that often.

[phefics]

congrats my darling!! you deserve it 🥺

🍪 could i request a nsfw alphabet with robin? 💖

𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝟏𝐤 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 // omg tysm love, of course u can!!! i have answered a few of these questions about her so i just copy-n-pasted my previous answers for some xoxo

a: aftercare (what they’re like after sex) very cuddly, rambles a lot about how much fun it was and how hot you are, giggles at the messy sheets, and probably wants to stay up talking after.

b: body part (their favourite body part of theirs/their partner’s) to quote steve harrington, "you like boobies" ... robin likes boobies but also thighs.

c: cum (anything to do with cum basically) robin gets really wet, which she initially thought was a bad thing until you assure her that it's a really good thing.

d: dirty secret (a dirty secret of theirs) the obvious answer would just be her liking girls but if you’re fucking her, you already know that, sooo i’d say its maybe her inexperience - robin prides herself on her intelligence and ability to get shit done regardless of her nerves, but admitting that she has never even kissed anyone is something she would be embarrassed to do, especially if she’s trying to impress you

e: experience (how experienced are they?) she is completely inexperienced, like, has never even kissed a girl before you!

f: favorite position (this goes without saying) robin likes to have you sit on her face, or to just lay between your thighs. if a strap is involved, she likes to fuck with whoever's being penetrated on top.

g: goofy (are they more serious/humorous?) tries to be serious but ends up giggling and being silly

h: hair (how well groomed are they are, etc.) robin isn't big on shaving but she does definitely keep herself trimmed.

i: intimacy (how they are during the moment) robin is giggly, talkative, and completely lovestruck.

j: jack off (masturbation headcanons) robin really doesn't masturbate?? she's inexperienced and a little behind when it comes to sexual awakenings - she figured out she was a lesbian like two years ago, ok?? and she doesn't really understand...how...and would probably need to read it in a book or have it demonstrated on her.

k: kink (one or more of their kinks) personally, i don’t see robin as super kinky, or at least, she’s not super experienced/informed and therefore wouldn’t know much about what she’s into. however, i can see her being into dom/sub dynamics (i think she’s more of a sub) and some of the more common things like edging and praise. i also think she has a tickle kink but that is just me projecting ajdkdjkdf...

l: location (favorite places to do it) robin would never risk getting caught in public, for many reasons, so her favorite place to do it is in bed - classic, comfortable, intimate, and safe from prying eyes

m: motivation (what turns them on, gets them going?) robin is turned on by just about everything you do, but she is motivated by the idea of pleasuring you, like, getting down on her knees to go down on you like a woman starved. she has a people-pleasing tendancy that definitely extends to the bedroom.

n: no (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs) robin doesn't like behind restrained or hurt in the bedroom, mostly because of the whole russian spy thing, but even without the added trauma, it just really isn't her thing.

o: oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.) robin loves oral sex from both ends. she prefers it to fingering and before getting more sexually involved, i feel like she didn't really consider that straps were a thing and assumed oral was the best-case scenario.

p: pace (are they fast and rough/slow and sensual?) robin likes to take things slow. when she's nervous, her instinct is to be frenzied, so she prefers to calm herself and do everything slow to savor it.

q: quickie (their opinions on quickies) robin prefers to just have sex in a more typical, vanilla way. in bed, take things slow, lots of kisses...so nah, quickies aren't her thing.

r: risk (are they game to experiment?) robin is down to experiment with most things, but she prefers to stay in her comfort zone most of the time, since sex is still new and intimdating for her.

s: stamina (how many rounds can they go for/long do they last?) robin is able to go for a long time, and can have multiple orgasms like most vagina-owners can - she can keep at it for a while.

t: toy (do they own toys/use them? on a partner/themselves?) robin is rlly into toys!! she loves strap-ons, whether that’s being fucked by one or fucking someone else. vibrators are also great, she has a tiny one of her own that she masturbates with, but using it with a partner would unlock a whole new world of fun!!

u: unfair (how much they like to tease) robin isn't good at trying to be a tease, because she will likely give in before her partner, lol.

v: volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make) robin is loud and talks a lot, she can’t help it - it’s sometimes nervous rambling and sometimes mindless babbling from pleasure

w: wild card (a random headcanon) self-indulgent one here, apologies - robin is super ticklish and often will accidentally laugh and twitch during sex when you touch her too gently or in a senstive spot. luckily, that isn't a turn-off for her, it just flusters her, so if you didn't mind, it could be something fun to play with...

x: x-ray (let’s see what’s going on in those pants) robin has a pretty bush, it's dark and doesn't match the curtains yknow?? her pussy is a dark pink and gets wet so easily, she's almost always glistening by the time her pants are off and you can spread her lips...

y: yearning (how high is their sex drive?) robin has been yearning for a relationship for so long, when she finally has it, she wants to fuck whenever humanly possible. it's not even that her sex drive is high, it's more like trying to make up for lost time.

z: zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards) robin is pretty hyper and struggles to sleep most nights anyway, and sex doesn't really tire her out as much as it probably should, so she'll be down to stay up and hang out afterwards.

[satoriberry]

"there's no ink." "yer kinda cute." - karasu tabito

★ resume: you need to make photocopies of a correction sheet for all 35 of your classmates. also, karasu can't use printers.

★ heads up: karasu is potentially ooc but imo he acts the way he does when it comes to football outside of bllk he's CRINGE BOOOOO, reader has hair that can be tucked behind her ear so it can be short or long yknow and uhhh nothing else ig, maybe just karasu being cringe but what's new. also reader is so fucking sick and tired of people in this so she's a bit rude but its justified :3

★ berry's note: oh wow im WRITING!! [😱😱] n e way, i hate this guy a lot and i cant imagine him excelling at using a printer by himself, so time to make a cutesy scenario out of it where he makes a fool of himself!!! enjoy!! :3

maybe it was because of the big, fat, red "57" that was surely an adequate and representative grade for your work - and not just your geography teacher being a bitch - but for some arbitrary reason, an itch developed in the back of your brain and made you feel a bit less tolerant of stupidity. at least until you get back home and sleep like a comatose patient.

you felt a slight comfort in knowing that even the self-proclaimed class genius got a gut-wrenching 60 on the same test, which isn't the nicest way of finding inner peace, but who cares? besides, geography is for losers who want to make statistics about the declining birth rate, and you couldn't care less about women giving birth to less and less children with each passing decade. strutting down the empty hallway, you gripped the sheet containing the answers to the questions with a bit too much intensity and aggression, slightly creasing it in your hand but you had bigger things to worry about. the printer room.

the godforsaken printer room - that served as the only motive to still keep hallway number 4 of the third floor accessible - possessed a myriad of faults and problems, the worst one being that they rarely kept the ink fresh; 'they' being the student body whose only involvement was that. keeping the ink fresh. they didn't even have to buy it, their only job was checking the printer's ink every 4 to 5 days and replace the cartridge if needed so. but, suprisingly (considering how competent they usually are), no one was bothered enough to accomplish this single task. nevertheless, it seemed that you weren't the student to first stumble upon this inconvenience today. the door to the printer room was slightly ajar and the lights were clearly on, so someone had to be in there.

taking the final steps, you lightly pushed the door all way to the end and gazed upon the wall where the (shitty) printers sat on an alignment of old desks. there was someone, you knew that already, but that someone seemed a bit familiar.

oh. it's that super soccer guy from bambi osaka. kawaru tamiko.

or at least you thought that was his name. you weren't good with names.

he was leaning forward against a table carrying an old canon®, tilting it forward with a grip on either side, and his hair flattened against the wall. almost like a person checking the label on the back of a cargo box that was too heavy to move. he was probably trying to look at the wires in the back, there was no other explanation for such an awkward posture.

it took him a few seconds to notice your presence, partly because he was so engrossed in the printer, and partly because you didn't care enough to say a word and instead opted for standing awkwardly with a hand on the doorframe. he turned his head towards you a first time and immediately went back to the printer before rapidly turning his head towards you again, this time fully absorbing your existence. kawaru abruptly let go of the table, producing a loud noise as it hit the wall, making you slightly wince at the idea of an even more damaged printer. you walked towards him.

running two fingers on the dust coating the surface of the printer, you lazily muttered, "it's not working, is it?", expecting nothing less from junk that was probably in use from before the fall of the soviet union. he had stood up straight and begun to awkwardly swing his arms back and forth, a clear attempt at de-stressing. "err, no, pretty sure there's a wirin' problem," he answered, though you were moreso talking to yourself than him, but that didn't matter.

"and uhh, this button right here hasn' stopped flashin' ever since i turned the thing on. prob'ly needs a technician," he continued, forcing a more assertive tone towards the end. you asked him to show you what button he was talking about, so he eagerly pointed at a flashing button located on the left side control panel of the printer. a button that had the image of an opaque drop on it. a button that had the faded word "ink" written underneath it.

the printer was working fine. it just needed ink.

and he thought it was broken.

you stood there in silence, physically and mentally unable to comprehend how someone can miss such an obvious clue. you didn't take your eyes off the flashing button, breathing quietly, trying your best to not lash out on kawaru. you noticed a frizzy lock of hair sticking out from your head and proceeded to tuck it behind your ear, then put your hand over your mouth in an attempt to hide your frustration, eyes still on the flashing button.

karasu, on the other hand, was waiting next to you, though his eyes were moreso fixated on you than the printer. did he know you? he didn't think so, but you seemed like someone he can find interest in, definitely the thinker kind since you appeared to be pondering a solution to this ordeal in a rather sophisticated manner. other questions flowed through his mind: what class were you in? were you a 3rd year? were you in the advanced course? did you have any mutual friends? did you do any extracurriculars? did you like soccer? have you ever been to one of his matches? he couldn't stop the flow of possiblities as to how to get to know you.

"there's no ink." "yer kinda cute."

you slowly turned your head to face him, body stiff and unmoving. he realized how outlandish the comment he just made was, and possibly inappropriate considering the circumstance.

"huh?" "what?"

you blinked at him with gradually developing bewilderment, fully certain that you heard what you heard but that didn't change the fact that you weren't awaiting that from him.

and sadly, you couldn't say that it displeased you. the opposite actually.

"i err, i...anyway, you said ink? there's a few cartridges in the desk's cubby. whaddya need? black? magenta? cyan? yellow?", he started to speak again at a fast pace, wanting to get done with this interaction and dwell in sorrow from his incapacity to talk to cute girls. "black's fine," you answered, looking away to make it less embarrassing from him. he dug in the cubby for a moment, hand banging the sides of the metal compartment before he got hold of a blocky object. he read the cartridge's sticker and made sure it was black ink before standing up again.

you expected him to press the button that dislodged the upper half of the machine and replace the cartridge, however, he stood quietly, fiddling with it while nervously looking at and away from you multiple times. oh. he doesn't know how to replace ink. exhaling through your nostrils, you stuck out your hand, wordlessly demanding him to hand it over - an order he prompty followed.

karasu felt you snatch the cartridge before he could even fully place it on your palm, making him feel even more guilty for wasting your time. he watched as you effortlessly pressed a series of buttons, took out things, replaced things and before he knew it, you snapped the top of the printer back on, which caused the flashing button to stop doing so. was he a loser or were you just a printer connoisseur? he didn't care enough to think of an answer though, he was once again focused on subtly seducing you and make you notice his more pleasant qualities.

you chose to ignore him for the rest of your stay in the printer room, procuring 35 copies of the sheet and preparing to leave when you felt a hand (his hand) lightly tap you on your back.

"yes?," you said, though you recognize you could have said it with a bit less bluntness in your voice. he took no notice of this however, and asked, "what's yer name? i think we've met before."

"(last name) (first name). no, we've never met, or at least i don't think we did," you replied before staring at him with more attention than before, noticing a few details about him that you missed. for example, the mole on his upper left cheek, or the weird angle at which his hair was styled. what kind of fucking product would you need for that?

"ah, hahaha, my bad, i was prob'ly thinkin' of someone else. umm, i...i meant what i said earlier," he mumbled his words more and more. you raised an eyebrow, not getting what he meant by 'what i said earlier', before remembering that he had called you cute. oh, right. that happened.

you involuntarily flashed a face of understanding, then lowered your head to bite your cheek. you didn't want to look like a loser while trying to hide your smile, a smile you rarely gave to guys with bad flirting skills, albeit this one was of the more good-looking variety so you can superficially excuse his lack of skills. "thanks, that was very sweet. i wasn't expecting it but it's still sweet. thank you."

"i can help ya' carry those papers to your classroom, that looks a bit heavy-"

"it's fine, really. but i do have a question. what's your name?"

his expression changed from nervous suaveness to a giddy grin, feeling honoured that you were interested in his name. "karasu tabito. i play for the local youth team, bambi osaka. you didn't ask fer that but, y'know...," ah. that was his name. karasu tabito. kawaru sounded a bit too childish for a guy like him.

"karasu tabito. yeah, i've seen you play. you're fun to watch." you tried to lighten the mood a bit cause the boy was seconds away from developing a rash if he kept scratching his neck like that.

"fun to watch? me? oh, thanks. i've been called a 'good player' and 'excellent' even, but 'fun', i've never gotten that before. w-whaddya mean by that though? what's fun, my playstyle or my presence or-,"

you couldn't afford wasting any more time than you already have, so cutting him off, you replied, "fun as in watching you in your element is rather entertaining, i don't do much sport outside of PE, but i can tell you love what you do. sorry, i have to leave, my teacher is gonna be up my ass about taking so much time."

karasu's lips formed a thin line, bitter about not making much of this exchange. and before he could even hold himself back, his mouth let out, "wanna watch my practice after school? you don't have to stay fer the whole thing, jus' to show you how i play outside of official matches."

"sure."

"what? hu-"

"i said, 'sure'. i'll watch you, i'll even stay for the whole practice, i've got nothing. catch you at the shoe lockers, bye."

and with that (plus a quick smile to soften the blow), you speedwalked out of the printer room and began to go down what felt like a dozen floors.

you didn't allow yourself to think about what happened up there, to avoid cringing at your bizarre attitude and not think about the fact that a (weird) guy you would consider somewhat out of your league, just asked you to watch him play.

bonus!!

lunch break finally rolled around, and your friends typically hung out in an obscure part of the courtyard to eat while hiding their cellphones from any faculty members. checking your messages, you noticed an instagram dm from someone whose username already crossed your mutual recommendations but you never took the time to open their profile.

kr_tabito23.

-> coach is sick but i still want an excuse to talk to you

-> there's this really rad crepe shop in namba parks

-> im paying :]

-> you can't say no

-> lol kidding

-> sorry that was weird

you giggled at whatever he was trying to achieve, he was definitely a dork. you didn't mind that.

-> sure. still gonna catch you at the shoe lockers c:

and somewhere in the school, on the opposite side of the main building, next to the fountain where he and his friends usurped the benches, karasu jumped from his seat and into the air, bumping his fist and yelling unintelligible words while his friends watched, confused but happy for their normally cool and collected fellow.

★ berry's post-writing note: guys im gonna be honest i hate the ending my inspiration juice ran out so i just came up with something but i feel like it could've been a bit better. still happy that i wrote something cause ive been in a long ass writer's block since?? what??? february? anyway, criticism is always accepted and uhh thank you for reading till the end!! <3

[jophiel-extras]

Hello! Azi simp here, requesting NSFW alphabet for him. I’ve done one of my own but I love seeing other people’s takes.

summary :: Aziraphale nsfw alphabet

warning :: nsfw

note :: waking up to Good Omens requests are so sweet

A = Aftercare

Aziraphale takes aftercare very seriously. He does the whole lot, cleaning the sheets, running the shower for you, making a hot cup of tea and then gently laying you down with him for a nap. Most times, he’ll read to you whilst you’re loosely cuddled up to him, soothing you to sleep.

B = Body part

Aziraphale finds his eyes to be most useful. Best part of you is everything and without his eyes, he wouldn’t be able to see you. He doesn’t favour any particular body parts on you, though he does enjoy plumper areas like thighs, tummy or boobs.

C = Cum

Inside is where Aziraphale finds the most pleasure. Pulling out and cumming on you so too “pornographic,” for him. To release himself inside of you is too beautiful to miss out on anyway.

D = Dirty secret

Aziraphale loves to be flustered. Of course, if you do something he deems inappropriate, Aziraphale will blush and quietly reprimand you. Deep down though, he loves it. Loves the thrill of hearing you whisper the dirtiest things in his ear, or to feel you slide your hand up his thigh whilst dining out. The moments when you’re outwardly sexual to him, in very non-sexual situation, is absolutely addictive.

E = Experience

Very little if at all, Aziraphale would have some interesting ideology when it comes to angels and sex that would’ve stunted his sexual encounters greatly.

F = Favorite position

Missionary! So close, so loving. It’s perfect. Though, he’s certainly interested in The Amazon position. Generally, he just likes you on top.

G = Goofy

Not quite. Sex is serious for Aziraphale. The only time things might get a little silly is when he’s nervous and blurts things out.

H = Hair

Very well groomed! And the carpets do match the drapes.

I = Intimacy

Incredibly slow and intimate. Aziraphale makes love when he has sex, to him there’s no other way to do it.

J = Jack off

Shamefully, he does. Not often, maybe once a week if he’s particularly horny. The post-nut clarity on Aziraphale is horrible, always embarrassed for touching himself and even more so for thinking about you whilst doing it.

K = Kink

As established Aziraphale enjoys dirty talk, he might not return the words but hearing them gets him dripping with precum. He also doesn’t mind soaking, just laying with you, deep inside as you spoon no thrusting or movements. He’s also just a big fan of having a dominant partner.

L = Location

His bedroom inside the bookshop. Sex will basically never happen anywhere else.

M = Motivation

Sex doesn’t usually cross Aziraphale’s mind unless you put the idea in his head. It’s your flirting, naughty touches and words that’ll get him hard.

N = No

We all know Aziraphale is quite vanilla, so nothing too “kinky,”

O = Oral

Most will say Aziraphale loves to give oral, and he does, but boy does he love to receive. The sight of you licking and sucking at him is mind blowing. Words cannot describe how much he loves it. The mere idea of it gets his body hot.

P = Pace

Slow and sensual.

Q = Quickie

Not even on his radar. Quickies are just such a  foreign concept to him, who would want to rush sex? He thinks quick sex is bizarre.

R = Risk

He loves it when you take risks. Especially public ones.

S = Stamina

Usually one round is all, but it’s long and both of you are very satisfied afterwards.

T = Toys

Not at all. Aziraphale becomes nervous at the mention of sex toys.

U = Unfair

Aziraphale isn’t one to tease, but loves to be teased himself.

V = Volume

He’s quite verbal. He doesn’t grunt or groan but he moans and whimpers. Softly, mainly, but Aziraphale has been known to be a little loud.

W = Wild card

Working up to penetrative sex was a process for Aziraphale. He couldn’t help but feel guilty after sexual acts and the fact that he enjoyed them. It started with feverish making out, which then lead to body part kisses, to a little grinding, gentle touching, slight undressing, oral and then finally sex. It took a while but it was worth it for Aziraphale’s comfort.

X = X-ray

Thicker than average and probably about six inches.

Y = Yearning

Doesn’t really have a sex drive, but he doesn’t get horny from time to time. It’s usually whenever you’re in the mood.

Z = Zzz

Sex doesn’t tire him, but it makes him soft. He likes to bask in the loving aftermath of sex before sleeping.

[bugs1nmybrain]

Aizawa Shouta NSFW Alphabet

Warnings: NSFW (Minors don’t interact), fem reader, daddy kink

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Let’s be real, this guy gets so tuckered out after sex that he really doesn’t feel like dealing with the cleanup. But he’s a man who takes responsibility, so if you two had intense sex, he’ll make sure to check in with you and tend to any spots he may have been too rough with. 

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

For himself, he’d say his hair. Some may believe he doesn’t cut it out of shear laziness, and there is some truth to that. But he simply just likes having long hair. He loves the way you tug at it when you’re fucking. 

As for you, it’s your tummy that he loves the most. He loves to place his hands on it from behind, give it kisses, and rest his head on it while he sleeps.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

While he’d love to cum inside you, he doesn’t think it’s a smart idea because there’s always the risk of getting you pregnant. He likes cumming on your tummy instead. He likes seeing his white seed spread on it.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

A lot of his experience comes from late-night patrols and having sex in deep alleyways or on rooftops. He’s not proud of it.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Some, but not as much as you’d expect. He rarely gets into committed relationships because he’s worried about opening up to people, and he doesn’t trust people easily either, so his sexual experience stems mostly from one-night stands or friends-with-benefits situations. Aizawa is all about technique. He’s amazing at what he does and is very observant to what makes you soaked. 

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

He likes a lot of them actually. Mating press, spooning, cowgirl, doggy. If he had to choose, he’d probably say mating press because he feels the most in control of that position. And he just likes it when you wrap your arms around his shoulders and tug at his hair.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Not at all. He’s pretty serious and focused during sex. If you make a joke he’ll usually ignore it or give you a, “really?”

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

He does not and will not shave. He doesn’t see the point in it. It’s a waste of time to him, and if you weren’t supposed to have hair then it wouldn’t grow. 

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

He isn’t exactly romantic but he’s pretty affectionate with you. He’ll kiss you passionately and show you just how much he loves you.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

He’s very good at suppressing his urges, but he’s human. He’ll whip it out when he’s really pent-up. Sometimes he watches porn, sometimes not. 

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

This goes without saying but he likes bondage. Having you all wrapped up without any ability to move makes him feel good because it gives him the control he craves. 

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

The bedroom. Despite having had sex in alleyways before, he doesn’t particularly enjoy the setting. He likes complete privacy. He also likes the shower because there’s easier cleanup. 

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Stress. There is only so much he can handle, and releasing it through sex is a great way for him to cope. He also gets pretty aroused when you sit on his lap when he grades papers. He gets a boner quickly feeling your ass pressed against him.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

He doesn’t like any schoolgirl or Sensei stuff. It reminds him of work and that’s something he doesn’t want to associate together. 

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He prefers receiving more, to be honest. Sometimes a blowjob is all that he needs. The feeling of your mouth on his cock drives him nuts. He’ll go down on you pretty often, though. He knows it’s a two-way street. His scruff feels so nice on your pussy. He knows how to exactly move his fingers inside of you while he toys with your clit with his tongue. 

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

He starts off slow, sometimes achingly slow, but he progresses and speeds up, thrusting at a perfect pace. It gets rough and heavy by the end, he’ll pound your pussy, leaving you a slippery mess. 

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

He likes quickies because he’s usually short on time, but when he can help it, he likes to take his time and savor every moment of pleasure so that the climax hits just right. 

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Not very risky. He doesn’t like the risk of being caught or doing anything crazy. He knows what he likes, and he tends to stick to it. He’ll compromise with you if there’s something you really want him to do, though. 

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

One time. His refractory period is pretty long, and he gets so worn down after he cums. He can last a decent amount of time, though. 

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Before you, he didn’t own any, but he purchases a collar for you to wear. He also likes to use a vibrator on you when he goes inside of you because it stimulates your clit easier and the vibrations travel to his cock as well. However, he doesn’t really use toys often. He doesn’t need them to please you. 

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

SUCH a tease. Very big into orgasm denial and making you earn it. He’ll have you begging for him to let you cum, and he always does, but he’ll drag it out. 

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Not loud, but he does let out low hums and groans if he’s feeling particularly good. 

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Ok I know I said before that he doesn’t like being called daddy, and he insists he doesn’t. Usually, it takes him aback. But catch him at the right time in the right mood, and he’ll get all hot and bothered. He’ll pick up the pace and curse under his breath. This is a fandom consensus but he also likes to call you kitty/kitten, especially when you call him Daddy.

“Can my pretty kitty cum for Daddy? Come on, I know you can do it for me.”

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

6 inches or a little bit more. THICK. It’s also got some veins and his balls are heavy. 

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

His sex drive isn’t very high, but give him a while and he’ll get impatiently horny. From then on out, he wants to fuck the life out of you once he sees you. 

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He dozes off almost immediately after cumming. But he’ll make sure to pull you close to him to cuddle together until morning. Expect some forehead kisses and him stroking your hair. 

[axelsagewrites]

Ramsay NSFW Alphabet

Warnings: Smut, kinks, dom Ramsay

A/N: this is for an au where Ramsay isnt evil, just kinky, because Iwan Rheon made him hot and I refuse to write him like the writers did to Sansa

Masterlist Here

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Ramsay is quick to fall asleep after sex so after care is often accidentally missed. However as soon as the deed is over, he is pulling you into his arms to cuddle while he snores. If you shake him awake though he will make sure to do whatever it, is you need him to to make you feel better.

B = Body part (their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He loves your hips. He wants to squeeze the, grip them, spank them, hold them while he fucks you. He loves hips, he loves ass. He loves your body as a whole but he also is fond of your neck which he likes to wrap his hands around.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Ramsay definitely prefers to cum inside of you no matter the hole. There’s something about watching his lover take his cum that makes him almost cum again.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He almost gets off from just your face alone at times. During sex he loves to watch how your face contorts or to see how you blush in public.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

He was actually very inexperienced for a long time and spent a lot of his time fantasising about all the things he wanted to do while he masturbated. As soon as he found a willing participant to do all his fantasies with, he was quick to master them all since he never wanted to leave the bedroom.

F = Favourite position (this goes without saying)

Ramsay prefers doggy style but will also pin you against a wall and fuck you there if its closer.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

He’s either very serious or very teasy. If you have been teasing him all day, then it’s he is on a mission to get you to regret your actions, but his punishments just end up making you want more. However other times he just wants to laugh at you as you beg for his cock.

H = Hair (how well-groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Ramsay prefers to be well groomed so that he can show off the goods better.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

He doesn’t view sex as a romantic thing. If he wanted to be romantic, he’d send you gifts or flowers. When he’s horny he wants to fuck, and he wants to do it well.

J = Jack off (masturbation head canon)

Ramsay likes the idea of jacking off to watching you without you seeing with either a peephole or him watching you from his window. He is a bit voyeuristic that way.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

He’s definitely a dom who likes to humiliate his subs. He likes all the classics like spanking and choking but he is more extreme than most with kinks. He is a bit of a voyeur, but he is also a sadist when it comes to punishments. Paddles, flogging, spanking. He likes it all. He also wants to try a bit of bondage so tying people up and fucking them silly. Ramsay is a kink fiend.

L = Location (favourite places to do the do)

Its not something he’s done often but he loves doing it in the forest. Ramsay loves the idea of having his partner run through to forest to try escape him while he chases them down. Once he catches them, he’s instantly pinning them to a tree or onto the ground and fucking them into the dirt.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Seeing you blush or get embarrassed gets him going but also when you tease him or flirt with other people. He can be a bit jealous after all. He would like either a very submissive sub or a bratty sub so lots of things can get him heated.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

I can’t imagine many things that Ramsay would not try. As long as they were legal and moral, he would try them once. He would be extremely reluctant to be submissive but with the right partner he could contemplate trying it once.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Ramsay loves to fuck your face. Its honestly one of his favourite things. But he’s also not shy when it comes to going down on you and uses it as both a reward or a punishment as he teases or overstimulates you.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Fast and rough. He far prefers rough kinky sex than slow romantic sex. If he goes slow it’s just to tease you to tears.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

He’s fine with quickies but doesn’t want to have to limit his time. The stuff he likes usually takes more time to prepare for and mentally come down from, so he’d prefer to just cancel his plans if he’s horny enough and fuck you silly.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Ramsay is fine with risk if not excited by it. he doesn’t want a boring life, especially not in the bedroom or wherever he chooses to fuck you next

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Depending on what he’s doing he can last for hours especially if he’s punishing you for teasing him, but it usually lasts all in all a couple hours depending on what he’s up to.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Hell yeah. In universe Ramsay would have ropes and shit to tie you up with. Modern Ramsay would have a whole host of kinky toys to use on you. He keeps a bullet in his top drawer just to help him tease.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He. Lives. For. It. if you’re not squirming under him begging him to fuck you then he’s not done teasing

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Ramsay will grunt and growl during sex but the volume he makes is usually quite low. The sound of the bed slamming into the wall over and over not so much

W = Wild card (a random head canon for the character)

Modern Ramsay has a daddy kink and would buy his partner a subtle collar like a necklace or a bracelet that looks normal but only he is allowed to take off you

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

He’s pretty average size down below but has learned how to use it.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Its pretty high most of the time but then certain days it shoots where all he can think about is whisking you away or keeping you in his chambers all day

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

After its all done Ramsay pretty much only has time to fall to his side, lay down, pull you into his arms, put his head on top of yours, before he is snoring like a baby. Sex just seems to wipe all his worries away at times

Taglist: @clairacassidy @darkrose33

[minheelovelee]

Could you write about &team nicho smut?

yes! i liked my a-z nsfw w epex, so i'll start that w my other groups as well. nicho first!

nsfw a-z: nicholas

warnings: nsfw :)

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

things can get quite rough when nicho is in charge. catching your breath is the first step. that cliché where two people pant and stare at the ceiling, then look to each other and smile. that's nicho.

he flips a switch and goes back to his silly self. he's a good boy, so he'll cuddle you real tight and whisper cute things in ur ear. also, he makes sure to clean u up with a warm towel.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

he's quite confident in himself, so I don't think he has a favorite body part. he does like the way you hang off his neck and leave little bruises, though.

legs. he's a sucker for a long pair of legs. kisses everywhere! he also likes spending his time between them.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

he doesn't mind getting messy at all. clean-up is an inevitable part of sex. he's fine cumming anywhere. inside, on ur face, in his hand. whatever you're most comfortable with, he'll do.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

he wants to see you squirt. so bad. he won't tell you, because he knows that'll just make it harder. but he is obsessed with the thought. there are days when he doesn't tend to his own needs at all. his focus is on you. his fingers and mouth work your pussy until you can't go any further. then he'll fuck his hand and finish on your tummy, he's ready to try again tomorrow :)

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

it's hard to put a label on him. i think he knows a thing or two from porn and word of mouth. but has he ever experienced the real thing? i'm not sure.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

mating press. he wants to be so deep inside that you feel it in your tummy.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

i don't think that he's all that goofy during sex. he's a silly boy outside the bedroom. but inside, he takes sex pretty seriously, especially if you're in a relationship.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

i don't think he does much to clean up down there. he doesn't care at all. same goes for his partner. shave. don't shave. it's all the same to him. he eats starbursts even if there's a little wrapper left on it.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

nicho is so romantic. in and out of the bedroom. there's so much build up to the actual deed. he'll spend hours loving up on you before he even gets his clothes off. sex actually means a lot to him.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

he jacks off at least once a week. i think his needs are quite high when he doesnt have a way to channel them.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

dirty talk. he's nasty. he lives to see your reactions when he says wild things. if you're not reacting how he expected, he'll push further. even he is surprised by the words that leave his mouth. he's so naughty.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

bathroom. he likes the false feeling of security. anyone can come in or bang on the door to ask what's happening. seeing how scared you are by the idea of getting caught turns him on. he doesn't really care if he gets caught. eventually they'll leave.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

he likes to feel powerful. there's something so special about having control over someone. he takes that role seriously.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

he hasn't tried everything yet, so he can't say.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

bro loves getting head. he likes it sloppy and rough. he might even take away your control, fucking your face the way he wants.

he's not bad at giving, either. he's a fan of face sitting.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

he's so rough. he can't help it, just feels too good. you might have to ask him to slow down or let up on his thrusts, bc it can be quite a lot.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

he would be totally fine with quickies. he would do just about anything to get his dick wet. if that means pulling you into the bathroom for a quick fuck, so be it.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

he would be fine with just about anything. he's an open-minded person and believes that you can't say no to something unless you've tried it.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

up to two. usually he'll just want to cum once. sex is pretty hot and sweaty with him, so you might be too tired to go more than two rounds.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

he's a fan of toys. he likes a bit of bondage, so he probably owns handcuffs or a cute ribbon for that purpose. he probably has a vibrator to use on you and sometimes himself. i also feel like he got a vibrating cock ring as a gift. lol.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

he's such a tease. it's unreal. he never stops talking, always filling the air with some sort of sound. his teasing words are next level, he'll say some real nasty stuff sometimes.

orgasm control :( he'll make the situation all about you. letting you have his fingers and tongue bc you're so good. then he'll rip it away once you're close. he's mean like that. he edges himself too, so he can last longer.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

like i said before, he doesn't stop talking. but when he makes sounds of pleasure, it usually consists of groaning and hissing. when you do something he really likes, then you'll hear his cute moans.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

he's so embarrassing. being in the dorms with him is a nightmare. he doesn't care if the boys hear you. hell, he doesn't care if they see you. he'll eat you out on the kitchen counter in the middle of the night if that's what he wants. that's fun and all, but when fuma comes to get a drink,,,,, and sees you,,,,, that's not fun.

and sometimes he imitates your moans. if you let one slip out when ur supposed to be quiet, he'll repeat it louder. he thinks its funny...

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

he's pretty average in length and width. he fits his body proportions well. he might be a little longer than most, but he's relatively thin and has a nice vein that runs down the side.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

he has a high sex drive. not as high as others, but high enough where sex is an important part in a relationship.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

he usually gets his energy back quickly and can stay up for a while. he might just lay in bed after, but he can lie awake and talk for hours.

[ctitan98official]

Anonymous: could you please do A-Z mother miranda NSFW thank you ❤️

18+ Minors DNI

Yeah, buddy! Credit goes to @the-coldest-goodbye for their NSFW alphabet template. Let’s get into it!

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Miranda loves aftercare. She likes to be taken care of. Wipe her down gently with a warm washcloth and give her cuddles. She deserves it for being a boss ass bitch.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Miranda’s favorite part of your body is your tongue ;) You are so skilled. She’s never been so satisfied. Miranda’s favorite part of her own body is her breasts. She loves to have them worshipped and played with. She’s so sensitive that licking one of her nipples almost brings her to climax alone.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Miranda loves when you lick up all of her extra arousal. It makes her feel sexy. If you have a penis, she is most definitely a cock slut and cum slut ;) She’s always very honest about that.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Miranda secretly loves the taste of her own arousal. It really gets her off. She knows that if her body is reacting this way to your actions, you’re doing a great job.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Miranda has a lot of experience being a power bottom, but… With you, she often likes to switch from power bottom to sub. She’s never been a sub for anybody before. You’re honored. When she gets submissive, all she can do is just lie there and take it. It feels so good to relinquish control for a time. She’s still learning about how to best perform this role in bed.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Missionary. Sorry, she’s a bit old-fashioned in that regard.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Miranda is serious. When she’s in control as a power bottom, she can also be super mean and bossy. Humor is not her forte, but afterwards, she will sometimes make a quip or witty comment that’s really funny and makes you laugh hard.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Miranda is very closely trimmed, but she does have a landing strip. She has flaxen pubic hair which is a little darker than her normal hair color.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Miranda is from a time when sex was only socially acceptable for people who were married. However, being so repressed all those years has made Miranda into a bit of a hopeless romantic. She shares her most private thoughts with you during sex. For her, that’s a HUGE show of trust and intimacy. She will only ever do this with you.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Miranda has a big sexual appetite that has only grown stronger since she met you. Sometimes, just the thought of you is enough to make her extremely horny. She’s masturbated quite a lot down in her lab when she can’t stop thinking about you.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Miranda has a kink for being bred. She loves the idea of people seeing her knocked up with your child (Even if anatomically that would be impossible). It’s a frequent fantasy. She also likes be tied up. She wants to be able to let you pleasure her without the chance of her interfering in any way.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Either in her lab or her bedroom. Miranda is a creature of habit and likes to have sex in places where she is comfortable.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Praise. She loves to be told that she’s doing a great job. Also, using your teeth to tug her panties off is a big turn on.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Miranda does not like to be humiliated. It puts her on edge.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Miranda loves oral. She’s a bit of a pillow princess and loves receiving.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Miranda likes things to be slow at first and gradually get faster as the sex ramps up.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Sometimes, Miranda can’t get anything done if she’s too sexually excited and pent up. Especially when she has to leave you for the day. She’s a big fan of quickies. It helps stave off her hunger for sex.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

For Miranda, the biggest risk she’s ever taken was when she first completely let go so you could take the reins for a bit. That risk definitely paid off in her mind. Miranda will try anything once, but only if it is with you. She feels safe when you two have sex and she trusts you completely.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Miranda obviously has a lot of stamina due to the megamycete. She is gracious and lets you rest to recharge. She could go for hours and barely get tired.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Miranda likes dildos so she can masturbate with them when you’re not near because, well… She is a cock slut as I mentioned previously. She likes huge strap ons as well. Seeing you with it on is so sexy to her.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

When Miranda is a power bottom, she doesn’t tend to tease you very much. She just wants to tell you what to do and have you get to making love to her. When she is a sub, she likes to be teased a bit. Being edged is always tortuous but so sinful for her.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Miranda is fairly loud, but she is often able to keep from screaming if she tries hard enough. She also makes whimpering sounds when she gets really close to climax.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Miranda likes to keep her nails at a moderate length… Shorter than average for her work, but long enough to do a bit of damage. She uses them to claw your back when she’s really lost in ecstasy during sex.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

While Miranda definitely has a trim figure, she’s also quite shapely. She has stretch marks on her stomach from her pregnancy with Eva. She loves when you kiss them or pay them lots of attention.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Miranda naturally has a very large sexual appetite. If you start running your hands up her sides… She needs you to take care of her pretty much instantaneously.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Miranda rarely sleeps. However, after a good sexual release, she falls asleep very quickly.

Masterlist

[foxymoxynoona]

To Kill A King (Chapter 14)

Banner and linebreaks by the talented @awrkives

Summary: What’s more charming than Prince Seokjin? Nothing, obviously. Except maybe the rotating palace guests who each smile and bow and charm in an attempt to hide their true motives. Fortunately Seokjin has a close circle of friends (well, servants) who watch his back and endure his humor and help him navigate the tumultuous seas of heartbreak, love, and an arranged marriage, not necessarily in that order. If only they had helped him keep a closer eye on his bride-to-be’s handmaiden, who arrives with her own agenda… or maybe it would have been better if he had noticed her less? One thing is certain as this royal drama of the heart plays out: there are many people competing to kill a king.

Main Pairing: Prince Seokjin x Female OC Genre: Historical Fantasy World, political conspiracy, romance Rating: 18+ Content Warnings & story tags: includes explicit sex (mxf, fxf), possibly graphic violence/injury later, love and sex triangles or uh quadrangles?, sort of e 2 l, sort of bodyguard trope, sort of arranged marriage, a lot of plotting murder (it’s literally in the title), maybe character death, grief, pining, angst, love, oral (f & m receiving), public sex, I don’t know everything yet as the story is long and still being written

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NOTE: check out the Character & Setting Cheat Sheet for a refresher on who’s who

Old habits die hard. Though Dulce had shifted her purpose to finding some way to prove Nasimiyu and her father were planning to overthrow the Kim family –a thing she hadn’t the faintest idea how to accomplish– an opportunity presented itself in her quest for information that was simply too good to pass up. King Dong-gun quit the palace to go on another of those maniacal cave hunting expeditions, and took most of the palace with him, including Nasimiyu and that ice-cold uncle. 

It had almost been funny, that brief moment in which Nasimiyu debated whether to take Dulce. Dulce was back on laundry duty –surprise, surprise– but was carting clean clothes up to the princess’ room. Nasimiyu called for something she could wear on a hunt, then informed Dulce they were going to the caves in the morning, then looked at her in silence for a long moment… before deciding Eula would go. Eula had cried about it all night because she was scared of caves and guns.

Mirta had given Dulce a day’s worth of tasks which she utterly ignored. Was Mirta going to fire her? That would suit her just fine; the only thing keeping her from quitting was needing time to find whatever she could take to Prince Seokjin or King Dong-gun. 

As soon as Nasimiyu left for the hunting trip, Dulce ransacked her room. She put everything back so it wouldn’t be obvious, of course, but she dug through all the spaces she normally didn’t care about –the drawers in the writing desk, the false bottom of her jewelry box, the tiara box in the wardrobe that used to house a secret supply of snacks until Nasimiyu ate through them within days of arriving in Priva. 

Rooting through the wardrobe made Dulce wonder if Nasimiyu would rat her out about killing the spying man at some point. She could. A princess’ word against a maids would result in nothing other than the death penalty for the maid. Nasimiyu could toss in that Dulce had threatened her about it. It didn’t even have to be true, Nasimiyu could say whatever she wanted and have Dulce’s head off in a moment. Rather than frighten her, this power disparity pissed Dulce off.

She clearly and obviously ought to leave immediately, before that could happen. What was holding Nasimiyu back from doing so this very day? She was clearly angry about Namjoon still, and hadn’t said a word to Dulce since she’d walked in on her and Prince Seokjin fucking. Was she waiting and hoping for Dulce to come groveling to her? Or just biding her time until she could surprise Dulce with an accusation and death?

It didn’t make any sense, and Dulce hated not knowing. She was too close to this one; she wouldn’t be able to leap away before Nasimiyu’s dagger plunged in.

She had to be fast. Faster than this.

But there was nothing incriminating to be found anywhere in Nasimiyu’s room. The letters from her mother were dull and saccharine. There were no letters from her father. She didn’t keep a diary, not even a fake, so there was nothing to betray her as a fiance either, no pining for Namjoon inked onto pages in her hand. Dulce had taught her too well, it seemed.

Dulce paid a visit to the old room Nasimiyu had stayed in, but there likely hadn’t been anything notable there either before it was wiped clean. Same for the rooms Prince Hamisi and Princess Simisola had lived in. 

What was Dulce’s next step here? She felt hopelessly out of options. She could approach Prince Seokjin and just tell him… but why would he believe her against his own fiance? He wouldn’t. Dulce was just an out of favor maid. Well, she could tell him more than that if she was willing to sacrifice her own security…

But how did one prove they were an assassin hired to spy and assassinate you? She had no written orders. No secret society brand on her shoulder. No poisoned dagger bearing Prince Hamisi’s emblem or any of the other clues that led to the capture of the villains in the Kalamouche novels. The emblemed dagger in the most recent book she’d read had really done her in, it was nearly enough to make her laugh, it was such a stupid idea. What idiot gave an assassin a clear and obvious connection back to the purse-holder? Dulce had found herself wishing she could meet the author and give him a good thrashing and tell him to do better –nobles were absolute idiots but in a very different way than that. But it had then led to the mental play of Prince Seokjin meeting the author and probably being so exuberant and excited about it because he probably read these ideas and thought they were genius and it had ticked her off so much, this day dream, the fact that she was daydreaming about Prince Seokjin. 

What was this man doing to her?! Why?! She had met so many men in her life and this one was… was ignorant and naive and too trusting and… honestly, a clown. And thoughtful and considerate and inappropriately chivalrous and unfortunately almost funny and generous and from what she could see, honest. If he was not honest, he had fooled her. Otherwise, he might be one of the only honest people she had ever met in her life. Everything about him seemed so sincere. Was that true? He did not seem to consider himself when he put himself forward to help someone –a maid who didn’t need rescuing, a crying child, a servant who was secretly his brother and an inherent threat to his throne.

Fuck that guy, he was messing with her head. She had to figure something out and then get the fuck out of here. She’d do her best to find some way to open his eyes to the dangers around him, but she couldn’t die for him. She needed to be gone before Nasimiyu figured it out. Possibly the only thing staying Nasimiyu’s hand right now was that she’d never directly caused someone’s death before. Could that be it? Was there some conscience after all beneath that ridiculous flower crown Prince Seokjin had given Nasimiyu for dinner last night?

She circled the palace trying to look like she had somewhere to be without actually having an aim. Prince Hamisi was too smart to leave anything incriminating in the Kim palace. Nasimiyu never had anything to leave around. She could try interrogating Nasimiyu’s guards or maids for anything but it would raise suspicion on herself unless she killed them afterwards, likely not get her anything, and another death around Nasimiyu would probably send the palace into another frenzy.

How ironic. Dulce was possibly the greatest threat to Nasimiyu, wasn’t she? It occurred to her that striking Nasimiyu down and lying in wait for Prince Hamisi to come running back would be the quickest way to ensure they couldn’t harm Prince Seokjin.

But actually killing Nasimiyu… It made Dulce’s stomach turn. She didn’t need to go that far right now. Dulce was efficient and purposeful, but she wasn’t wasteful. Death was inevitable, but that didn’t mean Dulce was eager to dole it out, not to someone she had so recently been so close to. Honestly, did Nasimiyu deserve to die? She shouldn’t be queen but..

Dulce was compromised. She was too sentimental. The objective truth was that no one person was worth more than the lives of dozens or hundreds of others, but right now Nasimiyu wasn’t a threat to dozens or even hundreds of people. If she died today, there would be a new and probably worse princess betrothed to the prince tomorrow. Nasimiyu was selfish and stubborn but supposedly had good intentions, so in a world where her rule wasn’t a threat to Seokjin’s life, Dulce would have left her alone. 

“I have a packet for the King,” a deep voice said, traveling closer up the hallway.

Another voice scoffed, “And I told you, he is not in the palace today so you will have to wait or leave your missives with me.” Dulce recognized the voice of Han-gyeol Jung –that weasley old man constantly looking down his nose at young men and squinting like he could see through the dresses of young women. Allegedly he served as a ‘deportment’ tutor for Prince Seokjin but seemed to leave his more palatable son to do most of the actual refining work. 

“I’m in a hurry,” the man said, which struck Dulce as odd. If you had things to deliver to the king, wasn’t that the most important thing you could do? Unless you were just impatient, but he didn’t sound impatient, he sounded… nervous. “They must be delivered directly to the King.”

When Lord Jung or whatever the fuck his proper title was refused to go and physically retrieve the King from the caves, the man snapped that he would try again tomorrow but he wasn’t spending a night here and stomped off. Dulce watched the elder Jung subtly around the corner. He looked completely unbothered by the man’s insistence, as if this sort of urgent entitled demand to see the king was a common occurrence. She found it more curious that he would act as a kind of butler or intermediary for the King in his absence rather than the Castellan or literally anyone else. It seemed outside of his job scope. But what did she know? Besides, most of those people had gone on the hunt. 

He strode off to do another task. So the King must not be lying in wait expecting anything urgent, otherwise surely he would let his butler know to fetch him at once should a messenger arrive. Unless Han-gyeol Jung didn’t know anything either and had just unknowingly thwarted something actually very important

Dulce had nothing better to do though (what, maid chores?) and decided to follow the man with the message. He’d not gone far and anyway his steps were loud enough to easily find him, the idiot. She tailed him out of the palace and down into the city, right out the front doors. Nobody looked at him, and she supposed she struck the right balance of looking like a nobody maid that nobody bothered with her either. The man did keep looking anxious around himself but he clearly wasn’t worried about an innocent looking maid with her hair wrapped in a white kerchief the only time he might have seen her over his shoulder.

They moved further into the city. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, which made it easier to keep up with him because his movements were purposeful and obvious. They passed through a couple neighborhoods before he entered an unremarkable tavern, the Bear and Beer.

“Need a room?” the innkeeper asked as the man went straight to the counter.

“Yes, only the night. Middle of the row if you’ve got it,” he said, already dumping coin on the counter as though he knew the cost. They didn’t seem to know each other but he must have been here before; he didn’t wait for further instructions about how to reach “Room 4” before taking the key and heading up. Locking doors meant this was a nicer place, though Dulce could have guessed that from the quiet and decently clean downstairs. The innkeeper kept the keys on a loop that jangled at his hip, which would make it harder to get the spare for Room 4 that he surely kept.

“What about you, need a room?” he called, unfortunately spotting her right away.

Annoyed, she said she was hoping to meet someone and ordered a beer for while she waited. Since it was early in the day, she had her pick of tables where she could watch the few folks who came and went. No one looked suspicious, or even remarkably unsuspicious which could itself be suspicious. Those who came down looked like they’d had a late night to sleep off. Three went up during the time she watched –a maid with an armful of clean linens and a pair with a massive bag between them and the air of disappointment, whatever their business had been that morning.

This was stupid. She was wasting her time on what was likely one of a thousand people who tried to visit the king on any given day and were turned away, and for what reason, because she was bored and frustrated around the palace? She’d have as much luck finding something useful blindly wandering the streets.

She paid for her beer and headed for the door but felt the shuffle of movement close behind her. Turning, she caught only the back of a figure heading purposefully for the stairs as several other people moved around the room at once, getting up to refill mugs of beer or empty tables or step closer to the fire. All normal gestures, but Dulce felt as if the world had thawed quite suddenly, which struck her as odd. Not everyone seemed to be orchestrating something, but rather like something predictable had happened –the waitress had brought in a large tray of food– just as she had risen from the table and others had moved in synchrony too. Coincidence. 

But the two people who slipped quickly up the stairs as if they did not wish to be seen felt more intentional. Like people trained to take advantage of a predicted moment of distraction.

Dulce strode forward and bumped into the waitress, who promptly toppled the whole tray onto the table. The patrons leapt up and the waitress leapt back and the innkeeper came running around from the bar squawking about the mess, shoving the waitress out of the way in his rush to apologize –which was just enough physical distraction for Dulce to unhook the ring of keys from his belt. It wasn’t even a twist latch! The fool.

She disappeared up the stairs in the chaos, shedding her cloak and the kerchief in the process, wrapping them into a bundle to mute the jingling of the remaining keys once she’d pulled off the one with the 4 scratched into it.

She put on her best oops wrong room face and rushed through door four… to be met with an empty room. The man had either left or met his fate, but it was definitely his pack still sitting on the bed. She frowned at the stillness and pulled her blade from her pocket, the little shitty one Nasimiyu had given her since it was the closet on hand. If she reached for her boot, he might rush out of the wardrobe or something.

He wasn’t there when she checked though, nor under the bed. Convinced she was alone, she promptly upended his bag. She shoved aside some light clothing, a miniscule bag of money, no more than a handful of jerky and a cheap necklace, and instead focused on the small leatherbound journal –oddly expensive compared to everything else– and a short stack of sealed envelopes. Everything else she shoved back inside, hoping it would buy her some time before the man realized he’d been robbed –of what was probably just a complaint about his neighbor. Dulce realized she was being very rash right now.

A noise in the hallway made her freeze, then leap into the wardrobe mere seconds before the door swung open again. In walked the man she had followed, pulling at his waistband as if he’d just pulled his pants up. 

Well shit.

If he had any wits about him, he was going to check the wardrobe in a moment to make sure his room was secure and find her, and what was she going to do? If he was rotten folk, she could kill him and be on her way, but if he wasn’t, she’d rather knock him out.

He didn’t check the wardrobe yet. Instead he sat at the table and produced some cheese and a hunk of bread from his pocket. She held her breath, expecting he’d open his pack for the jerky and notice his precious papers were gone– but he didn’t.

Were people really such fools they didn’t check their rooms first?!

Dulce set the keys in the bottom of the wardrobe with her cloak, moving slowly and carefully so as not to produce even the faintest brushing sound. Then, by the light creeping in through the shoddy cabinetry, she eased open the seal on the first paper and did her best to read. The hand was scratchy and rushed, masculine she thought but couldn’t be sure –her own hand was masculine, she’d been told long ago, as if that mattered.

HD not in Sartia as directed – SD alone

HD crossed border near Ft Gaysa, could not follow, gone 3 days

HD headed north

Dulce’s brow knitted. How annoying to be simultaneously in code but not really. Per request sure sounded like this man had been sent somewhere, to trail this HD to Sartia–

Hamisi Dabo. Dulce was no font of knowledge on famous or infamous persons, but Prince Hamisi had been headed to Sartia with his wife, Simisola Dabo. People were stupid and often the most obvious answer was right.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Was this important? That Prince Hamisi had lied about going to Sartia? What was at Ft Gaysa? If that wasn’t notable, the fact he had crossed the border down there sure was; no one was allowed to cross the southern Therepin border, it would nullify the very precarious treaty after the Therepin Border Wars.

She shoved the note down the front of her dress, blood pounding in her ears as she carefully opened the next. It was in a different hand and dated separately, sealed differently, as if the letters had been sent by two different people completely which left her unsure how they had both wound up with this man.

Summary report on investigation into recent Therepin skirmishes. Full reports arriving separately

1: No witnesses survived. Entire village dead and burned. Civilian deaths: 76.

2: Reliable eyewitness reports invasion of village at dawn. Military arrived 22 minutes later. Military deaths: 1, Assailants: 14 reported - bodies burned could not verify, Citizens: 7. 

3: Eyewitness claims assailants came around from the north not south!!! Military arrived in 11 minutes. Military death: 1, Assailants: 13 - bodies burned could not verify, Citizens: 18.

4: Two witnesses survived by hiding under floorboards, have gone missing since interview. Claimed to have heard assailants speak of belonging to Sons of Sunset. Military deaths: 0, Assailants: 32 reported - 3 bodies produced, rest burned could not verify; Civilian deaths: 49 + assuming 2 witnesses

Dulce’s mind was racing. These reports were exactly what she was looking for! Proof that Hamisi was up to something. He shouldn’t be crossing the border, and if the Sons of Sunset were attacking towns and blaming another country, the king needed to know!

But maybe he already knew? She couldn’t tell from just these notes if the King was investigating Prince Hamisi on his own, or if he was just looking into the skirmishes, or what. She knew the royal family had a network of spies, though they tended to be clumsy and easy to identify. This man seemed excessively clumsy though to be carrying such precious documents only to leave them unattended in his room for even a moment. He must not know what he had.

Damn she wished she knew more about what was going on at the border for the notes to make more sense. Namjoon had ranted within earshot at some point but she wasn’t very political and had ignored him. Nonetheless, she would now make sure these landed in the King’s hand directly. 

The third didn’t have a seal. Just a dashed, unsigned note on a thin slip of paper.

Delso dead. I’m followed. Take this copy in case I’m done. Watch your back cmdr dsk on the move hunting for squeakers

Cmdr Dsk… Commander Dong-suk Kim? These things weren’t even in code! Any good spy knew the point of code! Though she considered that if the point was to get this information to the King, maybe code wasn’t useful. After all, she was not part of his spy network but understood at least some of the message that needed to make it to the king. It wasn’t actually in the King’s interest for these things to be secret, it was only in the interest of the messengers themselves but by the point someone was reading them, you were likely already dead–

A knock at the door to the room made her head jolt up as quickly as this messenger’s. He rose slowly from the table at another knock. He took a step forward and drew his blade at an even harder knock, nearly enough to take the door off its hinges.

The man started to run for the window, but the act of grabbing his pack from the bed was too slow –he ought to have grabbed and run first, the fool! And he paid dearly for it as the door crashed in, the lock shattering right out of the doorframe as one of the suspicious men she’d seen slide upstairs earlier launched himself through.

A thrown dagger caught the messenger in the back of the neck and he toppled forward, metal protruding through the front. Still his body dragged him forward but there was no fight for life possible and by the time the large man carelessly ripped the bag from his shoulder, he was still and limp.

“Is it the right room this time?” a second voice demanded. He elbowed the door back into place after a peek down the hallway. “You sure it’s him?”

“This is the guy.”

“--Is what you said about the other.”

Dulce waited, calculating. If they’d made short work of someone in another room without even her hearing, they were a trifle better at their jobs than this careless messenger. She could remain hidden and hope they left, but only an idiot wouldn’t check the fucking wardrobe.

Two to one… she’d faced worse odds. All three notes carefully down her bodice, she eased her favorite dagger from under her skirt, touched the one in her boot to make sure it was at hand, took a deep breath, then launched herself from the cabinet.

They’d upended the backpack and the bigger man’s wrist tangled in the straps, which slowed him down enough for Dulce’s blade to slash his upper arm. His other first swung around and would probably have knocked her out cold if she hadn’t ducked just as the smaller man’s blade sliced at her back. Fabric caught and tore thanks to a hook on the tip of his blade that would do even nastier things to skin if she let it, but also presented a weakness. She tried to catch her blade in it to yank it away but misjudged the angle once, twice, three times; their blades struck and slid against each other, the metal grating noise making her skin crawl. It was too much thinking and not enough movement to keep her out of reach of the second man who wasn’t that bothered after all by his cut arm: he plucked her around the waist and threw her against the wall like a rag doll.

“Quiet,” the small man hissed at him after the thud. Dulce groaned and rolled onto her stomach, wheezing. But she’d managed to save some of the breath in her lungs by curling as she flew, and took advantage of their assumption she’d be down. She dragged herself deceptively slowly forward and when the smaller man lifted a leather boot to kick her, she stabbed her smaller blade right down into the toe of his boot as hard as she could. Those fine leather boots of his parted like butter; the toes she stabbed through put up more resistance. He yowled.

“Quiet!” the bigger man mocked and lifted Dulce from the ground by the torn back of her dress, his other blade already slicing at her middle as if to gut her. She slashed at his wrist with the second knife. He tried to knock it away, opening himself up to a straight stab to the gut with the blade from her boot, and another and another. Her blade sank in several inches each time, blood rushing out as she pulled it out, but nowhere deep enough to hit anything vital.

“Fucking whore!” he bellowed and dropped her just as the other man stabbed forward. They weren’t well coordinated and managed to knock into each other while she ducked down and spun away. It only saved her a moment though before both were on her again, small blades biting anywhere they reached. The room’s space was too tight to really maneuver away and they shoved furniture, blundered into the walls, tripped over the body of the messenger, crashed against the bed. 

“Just grab her!” the smaller man shouted. Dulce instinctively leapt away from the larger man as his fist clipped the back of her head, but maybe intentionally so, it had been a distraction and the smaller man slashed at her throat, just missing. Dulce struck back but another blow to her back pushed her right into the man’s blade; she knocked it away from her belly but he brought a second around to stab at her back. She slammed her foot onto his thigh and jumped high so that his blade sliced the side of her leg instead, tangling in her ridiculous skirt and tearing fabric and skin both. She returned the favor against the man’s face, an attempt to kill him that sadly missed.

Dulce felt a meaty hand grab the front of her dress and turn her for what was undoubtedly a death blow. She turned faster than the larger man expected and wrapped around him, the strings of her bodice ripping and tangling around his hand as she slid onto his back, her blade dragging across his throat like a caress. It was butchery; she couldn’t risk her cut being too shallow again. He threw himself backwards to avoid the depth, crushing her against the dresser as his blood fountained out and his body began to thrash in in a fit of primal survival. It took all the muscles of her arm to tear that pipe. She managed to slide away from him, diving after the other man who seemed monentarily shocked that she’d managed to down his companion –but not shocked enough to meet the same fate. 

He leapt towards her as the other man still flailed, blade extended. Dulce tripped on the dead messenger and it saved her skin; neither she nor the smaller man expected her to drop just then. She rolled around him instead and stabbed at his thigh; the blade sank in but her fingers were locked too tight so when he leapt away it jerked her along too, exposing her side. Her skirt twisted around her leg and later she’d curse herself for wearing such a stupid thing. He took the opportunity, blade going right for her ribs. Her turn dragged it instead across the tops of her breasts, a shallow slice that stung like a bitch. the other side of her torn bodice caught the actual hook of his blade. She stabbed in the direction of his arm. 

He surprised her, shoving his hand down the front of her chemise. She thought he was stabbing and tried to twist away. 

Instead he pulled out the notes she’d tucked, dashed with her blood and sweat and crumbled beyond belief. He flashed her a grin and was out the window in a heartbeat, unbothered by the knife she threw at his back. Dulce tried to stumble after him, to follow him out, but her legs refused and she merely crawled forward. By the time she reached the, he was long gone and she was alone in the bloodied, broken room with two corpses, the larger one still blinking and gasping but beyond consciousness.

Dulce panted for breath and felt herself, searching for anything fatal. It had all happened so fast. Bruises and cuts she hadn’t noted in the moment competed for attention but adrenaline kept her from surrendering to any of it just yet. 

The notes were gone. 

Fuck!

That’s what they’d been looking for.

She didn’t have time to think about it right now. They’d been noisy; any moment someone was going to crash through the broken door and she couldn’t be here. She refused to take the fall for whatever she had stumbled into.

Fuck, the notes were gone. It killed her. They were exactly what she had needed! She didn’t want to leave empty handed but pounding steps in the hall told her she had seconds to act. She grabbed the messenger’s coat he had previously hung on the chair and yanked it on over her torn clothes and with her braid tucked down, pulled his hat on low, and rushed towards the door. 

“Hey! What’s going on in there!! Open up!” the inn keeper or someone matching his anger shouted ahead of themself, storming down the hall. Dulce weighed her options. She could rush out but didn’t know how many people were there. The other man had gone out the window, so there was a way. He might be waiting but it was her best change.

She grabbed her favorite blade and leapt onto the windowsill, eying the likeliest path he had taken. 

Shake all you want, but you’re moving on, she told her legs and took the leap. It was a tight scrabble. Her fingers ached for purchase. She shimmied along the narrow ledge until she reached the lower roof, then tore over it before anyone from the ground would hopefully notice her. The stables on the other side had enough boxes to leap down like a cat and off she raced as soon as her boots touched ground. Some globs of blood dotted the hay-strew ground; she’d got the man good at least once and wished now she’d at least had a good look at his face. She would never recognize him in a room and that pissed her off. He might recognize her.

She noticed  the gasps and curious, nervous glances as she sprinted down the street until she knew her legs really were about to buckle. Then she slid into an alley, turned the coat inside out, and did her best to piece herself back together. 

In doing so, she discovered she still had one paper: HD not in Sartia as directed – SD alone

Useless on its own.

Now what to fucking do. She was injured, unclear how badly. She knew she looked awful and would raise too many questions if she limped into the palace like that, but where else did she have to go? She didn’t even have the money for a room to wash her face in.

Taehyung or Yoongi? Which could she get to without being seen? Which did she trust to help and not question? What a loss that Nasimiyu couldn’t shield her now.

Neither, she didn’t trust anyone. Ever. People were only loyal as long as it served them. No oath in the world was sacred, even one of love, and they had sworn her nothing.

But she had no other options.

She took her bet and set off, already crafting her story.

“Come on,” Drin cajoled, jostling Seokjin’s arm in the hallway. “You can’t avoid the hunt.”

“I’m not avoiding anything,” Seokjin lied, lied as big and strong as the angry surf that had crashed against the sea wall all night. It called to him, that sea. Only slightly in a macabre way –and not because of the wedding planning, that was fine. He wasn’t avoiding wedding planning. Why would he be avoiding wedding planning? Nor was he avoiding his uncle, as Drin now gracefully hinted it:

“You’re either avoiding your uncle or the caves but either way, you’re fucked. Your father has sent for you. A tummyache ain’t a good reason to skip the hunt.”

“Actually I find it a very good reason,” Seokjin quipped. “Would he have me shit my horse?”

“You can’t blame a stomach to avoid uncomfortable things, little prince. Turn right around and suit up for the hunt. Wear a baby’s swaddle to hold the shit, if you need to.”

“Does no one take me seriously?”

“We know you’ve a history of avoiding–”

“I’m not avoiding anything, except maybe the kitchen.”

Because god save him if he ran into Dulce there. Not after Dulce had walked in on him… with Nasimiyu… A cold shudder ran through his body, followed by the flush of a fever of mortification. It would have been bad for anyone to walk in –didn’t anyone fucking knock?! But of all people, for it to be Dulce, it just…

He wanted to scream. To cry. To throw up. He’d done none of those things. He had quickly dressed and fled to his room and taken a hot bath to wash the sex off and considered drowning himself more than once. For all he knew, his dick had shriveled into his body and would never emerge. Certainly he was never going to have sex again. He was private about sex, thank you very much, so for an unwelcome guest to intrude–

And for it to be Dulce– on or around her birthday, of all times!

Seokjin was not easy to embarrass. But this had done it. And, with little practice in recovering from an embarrassment he rarely felt, he was, in fact, hiding from a maid. Utter shock had emboldened him to hastily scribble the note with the book and send Jimin to deliver it to wherever Dulce slept and now his interactions with her were done and he would never look her in the eye again. Which meant avoiding any of the places they might ever run into each other, including but not limited to: the kitchen where she went for food, the yard where she sometimes passed by, any of the hallways near Nasimiyu’s room, and possibly the queen’s garden where she seemed to appreciate the flowers. He wondered if Nasimiyu would be willing to come to his room from now on… assuming this hadn’t just rendered him impotent for life.

Honestly wandering into a bullet’s path in the caves seemed like not the worst way to go right now.

Because in truth Seokjin also knew he could not avoid Dulce forever, particularly if she remained Nasimiyu’s maid. 

He felt like he’d assaulted Dulce. His note wasn’t enough. He didn’t know what else to do. He’d never been in the wrong in this way towards a woman before! And she might be around any corner in this palace, ready to turn to look right through him with those dark eyes that looked so warm behind a mug of hot chocolate. The whole thing was ghastly. How his father had allegedly carried on orgies in the dining hall was beyond Seokjin. Would it have been less devastating if it was someone else? He decided not to answer that, even to himself.

“Is Nasimiyu really going?” Seokjin asked Jimin over his shoulder. “Who’s she taking with her?” The question probably said too much but Jimin was sworn to loyalty and wouldn’t rat him out, even if he figured out the question behind Seokjin’s question. Which he probably did, seeing as Seokjin had told him what happened and had him deliver the book.

“She is, Sir, and expects you are too. She’s not taking any of her maids.”

That was good enough for Seokjin. 

“Fine, I’ll go,” Seokjin said to Drin.

“What now, really?”

“I’ll go change.” 

“No, you’re off to hide. You’re dressed fine, just take your jacket off. A fight doesn’t always wait for the prince go get changed into clothes he doesn’t mind bloodying!” Drin barked, and clapped Seokjin on the shoulder. He seemed shockingly sober, likely a result of Uncle Dong-suk’s arrival. The two had served together when they were younger, as peers. But Dong-suk was royal and rose to commander and Drin shattered his arm and decided to train the prince instead of remain on the battlefield. Dong-suk was of the mindset you should die on the battlefield instead of “give in to disability,” which Seokjin thought was rich to say when you had no such injury. As if being the private arms tutor to the prince was a mark of weakness!

“Why are you so eager?” Seokjin demanded, already regretting it. “We aren’t fighting, we’re hunting.”

“Is it different?” Drin cryptically asked and strode ahead, trusting Seokjin to follow to the courtyard where the hunting party gathered. 

“Did you really think you could avoid the hunt?” Jungkook asked, sidling up to Seokjin’s elbow as the prince dragged his feet but followed his trainer. Seokjin gave him a look, because obviously yes, he did and would have, even if it meant lying to his father and uncle that he was shitting his brains out. But also no, he had known he couldn’t, because Nasimiyu was going and he couldn’t leave her to hunt alone. Why had she decided to go?! It was that bit of information from Jimin that had dragged Seokjin from his hiding place. 

She sat atop her horse with only two of her guards at hand. Taehyung wasn’t far off, a horse lead in each hand, though he looked confused. Seokjin assumed it was concern over whether Seokjin would show and went right to him, hairs on the back of his neck prickling as his father and uncle no doubt noted his late arrival.

“I’m to go with you,” Taehyung said quietly.

“You? Why, you’re a stable boy,” Seokjin scoffed for any who might hear.

“I don’t know, your uncle said so.”

Seokjin glanced over at the two elder Kim men now. Uncle Dong-suk didn’t hide that he was watching. 

“Do you think he–” Taehyung broke off and looked away, poorly hiding his nerves.

Seokjin slapped a hand on Taehyung’s shoulder and announced loudly, “Congratulations on winning the honor of joining us on the hunt! Every month we’ll take along someone new from the household staff so that you may all experience the wonder and prestige of spending a day skulking around in the dark, looking for things to kill that aren’t even good to eat. You’ll ride with me today, aren’t you lucky?”

“So lucky,” Taehyung murmured. “Here’s your horse…” He glanced at the path down to the hunting caves as if considering whether he ought to just set out for Paloma now. Seokjin thought he should. This did seem suspicious, for Dong-suk to take any notice of Taehyung. He had visited Priva a couple times since Seokjin brought Taehyung to live here and never even looked at the stablehand, but Seokjin had always assumed his uncle knew and didn’t give a shit, as he didn’t have a direct descendent in line for the throne anyway. Nothing changed for Dong-suk if it was Seokjin’s ass on the throne someday or Taehyung’s.

But this was a change. Either he hadn’t know before and now did, or he was trying to make a point that something had changed now, and Seokjin didn’t like it either way. 

“Lady,” he called to Nasimiyu as he mounted his horse, one last prayer of bailing. “Are you well today?”

Nasimiyu’s brow knit as she demanded, clearly offended, “I am, why do you ask?”

“Are you sure this is how you want to spend a day? We might do… anything else your heart desires. Literally anything.”

“Oh there are Lord Jothi and Lord Theo, should we ride with them again?” Nasimiyu asked. “I do hope you’re able to catch something this time.”

“I caught your heart last time, can’t imagine what greater prize there exists then–”

“Let’s ride!” Seokjin’s father called as if recognizing his son was still trying to weasel out of this. The two dozen mounts in the courtyard moved as one, Taehyung rushing to swing into his saddle and pulling into line next to Jungkook in Seokjin’s wake.

Conversation with Nasimiyu ran dry during the ride down. She didn’t seem much inclined to talk, giving him the suspicion he’d done something to anger her, but he couldn’t fix it because he didn’t know what. She hadn’t seemed angry at dinner last night. 

“You decided to hunt alone?” he asked as they waited for servants to bring them weapons. 

“I have my guards and you. Who else would I want?” Nasimiyu asked with what he thought might be feigned confusion.

“Last time you brought a couple of maids, didn’t you?”

“Yes and they all begged not to come again.” She said it so casually, Seokjin had no reason not to believe her. With any luck, Dulce was avoiding him the same way, and they would never cross paths again despite living in the same palace.

Yay?

Once in the grand entrance cave, Jungkook pulled his horse close to Seokjin and leaned as near he could to murmur, “It’s going to be impossible to keep an eye on Taehyung and you at the same time.”

Seokjin knew he was right. This was the easiest place in the world to kill someone. He’d always thought how stupid that man who’d tried to assassinate him had been, sending a pig to do it, when one could just do it from a ledge or around a corner and no one would ever catch you. It was a wonder more people weren’t killed here –though he had his suspicions that the dark rumors his great-grandfather had hunted men down here for sport might be very true. He suspected Grandfather had too, though the old bastard had died when Seokjin was young enough to not remember much about him except his ice-cold hands.

“Watch him closer,” Seokjin told Jungkook.

“Than–”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine. That’s your order.”

“Ok…” Jungkook said as he leaned back in his saddle. He didn’t look pleased about this but he’d never disobeyed an order before.

“I mean it. Jimin will watch after me,” Seokjin said, turning to his right-hand man.

Jimin let out a guffaw and asked, “Did you just assign me bodyguard status? You must be joking, haha.” He hesitated to accept the gun handed to him by a staff of the hunt before taking it with a look of disgust.

Nasimiyu, having heard some bits of this, asked, “Is there a problem? Why is your butler being a bodyguard?”

“It’s just a joke,” Seokjin assured her. “Are we ready? Let’s get a head start.”

“Don’t we have to wait for your father to–”

“I’m the prince so I’ll do as I please,” he said, full of shallow bravado. “Besides, I don’t want to ride with Theo and Jothi again. They were flirting with you last time.”

Nasimiyu looked surprisingly thrilled as she argued, “No they weren’t… were they? I don’t think so…” 

“Eager to lead the charge, my son?” Dong-gun called, giving his horse a swift kick to catch up before Seokjin’s party made it through the first cave. Dong-suk pulled up beside his elder brother and Seokjin bit back his frustration.

Instead he teased, “Shall we make a competition of it, father?”

“I’d rather watch your technique and see the catch myself,” Dong-suk interjected, which was of course exactly the opposite of what Seokjin wanted. Did his uncle mean to shoot Taehyung himself?! He brought no guards, only the servant assigned to fetch his kills trotting along beside him, looking terrified by his assignment as if he too realized how disposable he was as a witness.

“Well you shall… certainly be in awe…” Seokjin stammered out as Drin too pulled forward.

“A full party, eh? Just like old times,” he beamed at Dong-suk. Dong-suk did not beam back. “He’s made good progress in arms since you were here last but his sharpshooting is second to none. Fantastic aim, that one’s got.”

Dong-gun clapped his hands and pulled his horse ahead, taking an uncontested lead that Seokjin had no choice at the moment but to follow –with every intention of carving Taehyung and Nasimiyu off to get “lost” down a side cave at the first chance.

Dong-gun and Dong-suk weren’t going to make it easy. They led them, practically boxed them in, down the central corridor, right past all the twisty windy smaller paths that would have made it easier to “take a wrong turn.” No one dared rush past them, so they were the first to enter the grand central cavern with its massive forest and craggy peak –not too dissimilar from the cavern he’d explored with Nasimiyu and Dulce and those bratty upstarts last time, so that an average person might think they were the same place. That was the danger with this place, it was a death trap if you didn’t have a good guide. 

Dong-gun and Dong-suk wasted no time along the way shooting anything that moved, no hesitation. Despite his uncle’s constant criticism of Priva and its excesses, he loved the hunt. It was about the only time he saw his uncle smile, just a tight-lipped slant when a deathcry followed the crack of his rifle. He scowled when Dong-gun would get one first, their array of servants running to and fro in the dark with low lanterns trying to find whatever they’d felled or take the long way round to chase what lay strewn against the far cliffs. 

“They’re going to shoot someone,” Nasimiyu gasped as a goat went stock still in the distance, illuminated by those shimmering blue lights overhead, then collapsed not too far off from a game master who raised his hands in a silent plea not to be shot next.

Seokjin’s father heard her and scoffed, “Never, Princess. You doubt our aim?” 

In one swift motion he’d turned his rifle towards Taehyung on his horse and fired, knocking Taehyung’s hat clean off. A pinch from taking Taehyung’s head with it, most likely.

Taehyung didn’t scream, just tightened his hold on his horse as it took a couple nervous steps.  

Seokjin screamed loud enough for both of them. He shouted, “Ah ya, what’s that!? You take aim at our staff guest? Are you confused, old man? Aim your gun that way!” His heart pounded in his chest, his fear urging him to take flight and trust Taehyung to follow and get away from this place. He’d brought his only living brother into a deathtrap, that’s what he’d just done. Was their own father the threat, not Dong-suk? Seokjin was shocked by what had just happened.

His father laughed and pointed out, “See? Horse or man, Privan stallions are made of stern stuff.”

Nasimiyu’s horror showed on her face and Seokjin was glad his father couldn’t see it, afraid it would only encourage him. 

“Onwards,” Seokjin gritted out and pulled his horse forward, nudging Taehyung to ride beside him, against the wall. 

Seokjin fucking hated it here.

It wasn’t long before Nasimiyu nudged her horse up beside him, forcing Taehyung to fall back, which was probably for the best anyway. 

“Shoot something,” she hissed at him.

“What?”

“We’re here to hunt, so hunt, or they’re going to be shooting at you next,” she whispered harshly. “The whole thing is a test, isn’t it? Your uncle is watching you so do something!”

Seokjin didn’t know how to explain a lifetime of misery and fear of his uncle to her. He didn’t think she’d be impressed anyway. What was he going to tell her, that anything more intelligent than a fish he found nauseating to kill? It wasn’t like they were killing to eat out of necessity down here. The game alway tasted like rocks. 

He was glad she realized there were politics going on but disappointed she wanted him to play into them, even though he recognized she was probably right. 

Drin was right that his aim was good; if he aimed true, he could fell something quickly, appease his father and uncle, impress his bride-to-be, and maybe protect Taehyung in case that had been meant as some kind of weird show of power. 

“Very well,” he murmured. “Yes, it’s about time I show off my marksmanship.” He took his time loading his gun as their horses dawdled after the others. He looked around for something inoffensive to murder, but the blue lights gave everything the same unearthly glow and made it hard to distinguish a mouse from a monkey in the trees. He looked at the ridge instead, and in doing so noted a something-or-other silhouetted against the stream trickling through the center of this stretch of cavern. 

“Perfect shot, I should think,” Dong-suk mused from ahead, his horse blocking the path for everyone. His gaze tore into Seokjin, digging in deep, finding him lacking as always.

Seokjin raised his gun and aimed. It didn’t matter what it was at this point, he didn’t have a way out without further ridicule. His brother’s life might be in danger. He had to pull the trigger.

He hesitated.

A crack erupted, bouncing around them, echoing in Seokjin’s ears. The black lump slipped from the tree branch. Seokjin wanted to do the same from his horse but remained frozen.

“Fantastic shot, my son!” Dong-gun cheered. “Go fetch it, whatever it was. An owl?”

“I hope not…” Seokjin joked vaguely, and resisted looking except out of his periphery at Taehyung shoving the smoking barrel of his gun out of view under the pretense he was looking down the barrel still trying to find something to shoot.

“That was a great shot, Your Highness,” he called over his shoulder to Seokjin.

“Marvelous,” Nasimiyu agreed. She gave him a smirk, leaving him unsure if she had been fooled or not.

“Hm,” his uncle said. Seokjin doubted he was fooled but either way, didn’t say anything.

It was a kestrel. Beautiful. Seokjin hadn’t even actually killed it and still looked away.

They rode on, into a smaller cave called The Aviary thanks to the hundreds of birds that roosted in the trees that grew up and the vines that dangled down and the clear space in between.

“Can’t miss in here,” Dong-gun called back. “Want a go, Princess? I think your rifle’s still cold.”

“Of course!” she called back. “I’ve just been watching to learn the layout of the caves.” Seokjin started to tell her she didn’t have to –he’d take the attention away– but Nasimiyu lifted her rifle and fired once– twice– nothing. She handed it to her servant to reload, hand waving for them to hurry. Seokjin didn’t think she’d aimed at anything and decided she must be firing wide.

Except her next shot connected. Seokjin didn’t see what it was as he had been watching her face, but the cheer went up, he heard the broken cry behind him, and he saw Nasimiyu’s face –shocked, horrified, for only a moment, and then triumphant. Had she had a change of heart or pulled on a mask?

The bird was brought to her, a beautiful yellow-feathered song bird that draped across her hands, a bright messy red spot on its stomach where her bullet had punctured and killed. She stared at it and then at Seokjin, like she wasn’t sure what to do with this.

“What is it?”

“We call them Sun Singers,” Seokjin told her. “They sing every morning when the sun rises but not down here. They can’t see the sun so they never sing.” Do you understand how fucking sad that is? He was afraid she wouldn’t get it. He felt an innate certainty Dulce would.

“My lady, do you wish to have it stuffed?” the servant asked her.

Her face flickered with emotions he couldn’t name as she asked, “Can it not be eaten?”

“No, they only sing, they aren’t good for eating.”

“Take it away,” she said, thrusting it back at the servant. Dong-gun and Dong-suk had both brought down geese and Taehyung a duck. Rifle cracks left and right made Seokjin flinch. And the niggling worry in his stomach that his uncle knew he’d faked the shot earlier. He felt his uncle’s eyes on him even when they weren’t, the man sitting proudly on his horse obnoxiously nearby, in between Drin and Taehyung. Shit, he didn’t want his uncle anywhere near Taehyung!

In a hurry to cause a commotion and separate them, Seokjin raised his rifle. He’d shoot a bird, a duck if he could manage it, and invite his uncle over to inspect the bird and feel his warm rifle for proof he’d shot it, and then growl at Jungkook and Jimin to bookend Taehyung and not leave his side until they got out of this place.

There, a bird perfectly arching into view. Seokjin aimed, calculated, and pulled the trigger.

No one would be able to say whether it was the shot that spooked the horse or not, except that Jungkook would swear the horse jumped before the shot and Seokjin believed him because Privan horses didn’t spook. It was too quick. He was certain there had been nothing even close to his line of firing at the moment he pulled the trigger and yet suddenly there was Drin, nearly taking a bullet through the head.

This time Seokjin didn’t scream, just dropped from his horse and ran over as Drin did the same, slapping at his head like a bee had stung him.

“Damn horse!” Drin shouted. 

Seokjin grabbed his arms but Drin shoved him away in his startle, leaving a bloody handprint on Seokjin’s arm.

I’ve killed him. I’ve fucking killed him.

“Your head’s still on,” Dong-suk called, his voice cutting through the chaos. Seokjin reached for Drin again but Dong-gun took hold of him first and shone a light to the back of Drin’s head where the bullet had grazed but not penetrated. A red line across his scalp wept blood.

“I… I’m sorry…” Seokjin stammered, stumbling backwards.

Suddenly Drin laughed and gestured at Dong-suk, “That’s right, old man. I told you he’s got a good aim, eh? Bends bullets in mid-flight. Could have blown my head off thanks to that damn horse startling!”

But it didn’t make sense. Seokjin was too horrified to figure out what would. All he knew was that he’d almost killed his arms master, one of his friends. He didn’t know how he would have dealt with that. He couldn’t comprehend it.

Drin planted a shaking hand on Seokjin’s shoulder and laughed, “Good one, Sir. Think I’ll head back and get my rock stitched up now, no more hunting competition from me today!”

“I’ll go back with you,” Seokjin insisted.

“Nah, don’t bother. Still need to get your duck for dinner like you vowed!”

A crack over their heads echoed, followed shortly by the thump of a carcass hitting the path not far off. Taehyung lowered his smoking gun.

“I saved you the trouble, Your Highness,” Taehyung said to Seokjin, his brow lowered and serious. “There’s a duck for you.”

Uncle Dong-suk slid from the horse himself to pick it up and mused, “Nice shot, boy.”

“Great. That’s the end of the day for me. Nasimiyu, will you accompany me back to the palace as well? You come too, my horse will only settle for you,” Seokjin rattled off, calling his people to him, prepared for his father and uncle to protest his rapid departure. But terror strengthened his blood to iron and he would have shouted down his own father to get out of there

He’d almost killed Drin.

By the time he was in his saddle, Dong-gun and Dong-suk were laughing at these “children with their brief stamina” and venturing further into the cave. 

“I’ll lead us out,” he said. “Drin, are you able to stay horsed?”

“It’s not that bloody bad, nothing a stiff drink won’t pull me through,” the man insisted, sounding more like himself as he fished a flask out of his saddlebag. He needed help getting back into his saddle after the servants finished tying the makeshift bandage around his head, but once there seemed stable enough. 

“Do you know the way out?” Nasimiyu asked. She’d been quiet for a while. Seokjin had forgotten all about her, to be honest. What would she make of this? But it almost seemed like she’d missed it all; she kept glancing at the game bag attached to her saddle. She reached out and pushed the golden feathers peeking out deeper into the sack.

“I do,” Seokjin said simply and pulled his horse ahead.

It wasn’t until they were safely in the sunny courtyard, Drin off to the hands of the palace doctors, that Jungkook came right to Seokjin’s side and said quietly, “The horse jumped before the gunshot.”

“I almost killed him,” Seokjin rushed out, grabbing Jungkook’s arm. He felt less steady now than he had in the cave.

“It wouldn’t have been your fault. I’m telling you, the horse jumped at nothing.”

“I don’t think it was nothing,” Taehyung argued. “But whatever he did, I couldn’t see it clearly.”

“Who?” Seokjin asked even though he already knew the answer.

“Your uncle. Had to be him, but I couldn’t see it…”

“There were other servants around and it was dark,” Jimin pointed out. “Could have been someone else.”

“Why would anyone else give Drin’s horse a kick? Everyone around here likes Drin,” Jungkook argued.

It was Taehyung who swallowed and suggested, “Maybe they didn’t mean to kick his horse. Maybe it was supposed to be mine.”

The suggestion made Seokjin feel even clammier than he already did. As bad as it would have been to kill his swordsmaster, to kill Taehyung would be worse. He wasn’t sure he could live with it. He didn’t even want to kill a duck.

Seokjin didn’t know what to do about any of this. He didn’t want Taehyung to go, but clearly he wasn’t safe right now. If Dong-suk wanted him dead, nowhere would be safe though.

“Jungkook, stay with Taehyung. I’m going to my room so I don’t need a guard. Taehyung you should… pack.”

Taehyung’s face shifted quickly into complaint, as if he hadn’t just faced his own death once or possibly twice. 

“But I can’t leave yet.”

“Or die? You have to go if I have to wrap you in a carpet and toss you on a ship myself.” He paused, watching Nasimiyu speaking to the servant near her own horse, gesturing with disdain at the game bag the servant kept trying to press on her. 

Taehyung stomped off without further comment but clearly pissed. As if Seokjin wanted him to go! He couldn’t put into words how much he wanted Taehyung to stay here. He’d never been good at expressing brotherly devotion of any sort, and Seok-ho was the brother he’d been with for most of his life, but Taehyung must know that Seokjin cared very much for him! They would always be brothers, even if they couldn’t be in the same city, at least for now. 

Nasimiyu was gone. Seokjin was glad. He didn’t feel like facing her right now either. He wished he could just disappear. Even his bedroom wasn’t far remote enough, but it’s the only place he had, and so he went.

Nasimiyu bit back her sigh when the summons from Lady Zselyke came. The summons. Obviously it wasn’t worded quite as such but the intention was clear, and for now she had to endure it because until she actually wed Seokjin, the two of them were in an odd inversion of their proper roles. Lady Zselyke was the only female member of the Kim family, and older, and clearly extending her hand in an attempt to be some sort of mentor.

Annoying.

Nasimiyu had begged off the last invitation(s), and planned to do so again, claiming exhaustion from the hunt that morning. A week wouldn’t have been enough time to recover from all that and it had only been a few hours.

But the invitation had included a warning that the party was at risk, and anyway what else was she going to do, pace her room and try to get that dead bird out of her mind? How stupid to be bothered by a dead bird. Not that she thought the bird was the worst part of it, but that was the ghost her mind chose to haunt her with in every still moment right now, rather than the almost two deaths she had witnessed, one at her own fiance’s hand and the other by her father-in-law’s atrocious bravado.

So she went. Lady Zselyke wanted to discuss some of the details of the wedding party –unavoidable. The wedding itself was being carefully managed by the planner, but the party afterwards was supposed to be planned by Nasimiyu as a first show of her critically important role… as the royal party planner.

Annoying.

Nasimiyu put herself into a dress that already had a tricky seam on the verge of ripping, intentionally, so she could do so after an acceptable period of time and excuse herself to have it fixed. That was something Dulce had taught her early on –Nasimiyu could recall it in vivid detail: shortly after they’d finished fucking, Dulce had gone to get her trousers and a heavy ball had fallen out of her pocket and emitted a horrible stench that drove them both coughing from the room. A literal stink bomb. Laughing, Dulce had explained one should always plan an exit, though it was regrettable, she had not intended to use it with Nasimiyu. At least not that day.

Always plan your exit.

Even from an romantic entanglement?, Nasimiyu had teased.

Always.

Nasimiyu frowned at the maid who stepped ahead to open the door of Lady Zselyke’s parlor. Babs. She had Babs, hated that name, hated how overly eager the woman was to do the things Nasimiyu wanted ahead of her even asking. She didn’t like maids who acted like she was a cruel or unfair mistress when she really tried not to be unreasonable. She tried to treat them kindly. For example, when they had all looked horrified about who she would take on the hunt with her since it wasn’t going to be Dulce, she’d decided to take none of them. Kindness! It wasn’t like she wanted to be there either, but she needed the respect of the king and that nightmare military brother of his. 

Anyway she had strongly believed Seokjin would beg off anyway and then she would decline the invitation without him… but he’d bloody gone! And shot nothing and nearly killed someone. What sort of man took credit for a stablehand’s shot? Not that she was going to point that out in the moment.

ANNOYING.

Nasimiyu sat across from Lady Zselyke in the elegant, tastefully decorated parlor. So much of the palace was ostentatious but these rooms were slightly less so.

“Did you decorate in here?” Nasimiyu asked when Lady Zselyke had said nothing, only watched with her hands folded, clearly waiting for something.

“I did.”

“Did you decorate the rest of the palace?”

Lady Zselyke’s lips gave a tight tremble before she answered, “Some… it’s largely set by the late Queen’s tastes and the King’s though, and the King requires me to uphold it.”

“That’s a shame. You have lovely taste,” Nasimiyu said. Then, realizing it would be easy to read an insult to her royal in-laws from what she’d said, she appended, “I just mean–”

“You don’t have to excuse flattery towards me. I appreciate a discerning eye. The Queen had other interests. The King has other talents.” She said it in such a coy way that Nasimiyu wanted to recoil from; it sounded sexual. As far as she knew, there was no sex between these cousins, but the gutcheck made her tread a bit more cautiously. She wondered what Dulce would make of that idea…

“Well soon it will be yours to redecorate the palace as you like,” Lady Zselyke mused, looking around her room as though trying to picture it with Nasimiyu’s style. “Will you make it look very different, do you think?”

“Do you mean like home? It would take a monumental effort to make this Privan palace look Marvonese.”

“You will have all the money and workers you could hope for at your disposal. You could make this palace look exactly like… there.” The word sounded loaded, like a single syllable conveyed all Lady Zselyke had to say about Marvonese style. In short, she didn’t like it.

Nasimiyu felt insulted and said archly, “It ought to reflect the convergence of mine and Seokjin’s styles, don’t you think? Where is it you spent your childhood, Lady Zselyke? I don’t think it was here, was it?”

“Sartia.”

“Is that what this style is? I’ve never been to Sartia.”

“I don’t think it would be to your liking, since you don’t like the sea.”

Nasimiyu found it interesting Zselyke knew that about her. She had certainly never admitted that to anyone except Dulce. It made her wonder if Dulce and Zselyke had gotten close. She certainly didn’t know everything Dulce had gotten up to. She couldn’t be trusted after all; maybe she was fucking the king’s cousin to get information, who even knew with that girl anymore?

“Sugar?” Lady Zselyke offered

“No, thank you. The tea here is already so sweet,” Nasimiyu quickly intervened, reaching for the tea cup Lady Zselyke had poured. 

“You don’t like sweet things?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“The world runs on sweet things,” Lady Zselyke said, which Nasimiyu didn’t even pretend to understand. Her face must have shown it, because Zselyke clarified, “Any party must have sweet things. The nobles here prefer them. If you mean not to have sweets…”

Nasimiyu’s nose crinkled before she decided, “Why don’t you just choose the sweets for the wedding party then. That’s what we’re here to talk about, right?”

“Yes, we need to, I’m afraid we’re woefully behind schedule, especially if you have any grand ambitions.”

“I really don’t.”

“You should.”

“I’ll be honest, Lady Zselyke, I love attending parties, but I do not love planning them,” Nasimiyu said because she might as well be upfront about it.

Lady Zselyke looked aghast and argued, “You must learn to love it then, because it will be the most important thing you do as queen.”

“I hope that’s not true.”

“The delicate balance of maintaining power by managing the nobles– do you think Seokjin will do that?!” Zselyke screeched at her.

“He’s… charming, isn’t it?” Nasimiyu tried. She had not expected this cousin to shout at her and it caught her off-guard.

“Charming my left foot!” In her anger, she yanked up the teapot and refilled Nasimiyu’s empty cup and seemed to have forgotten Nasimiyu didn’t like sugar because she spooned some right in as she continued to berate, “Do you mean to say you won’t learn these skills and plan to let the social structure of the palace just die? The nobles here expect a certain schedule of entertainment! When important guests arrive from other places, they must be tended to! They–”

“It’s not that I don’t recognize how important it is,” Nasimiyu assured her, lifting her cup. Her own mother had certainly never yelled like this and she didn’t know what to do about it. It ought to fill her with rage but she was genuinely just stupefied. “I just don’t…”

“Like it?!

“Well no, not the planning part. I don’t have any talent for it and you do. Do you like doing it?”

“It is one of the most sacred tasks I’ve had since coming to the palace after the late Queen passed. Her taste in decor may have been questionable but she threw marvelous parties and I knew I needed to carefully maintain that so that her death wouldn’t pitch the nobility and thus the country into absolute chaos.”

“Well if you like it and you’re good at it, why don’t you keep doing it?” 

Lady Zselyke’s brow knitted as she explained, “Because I will not be here.”

“Why not?” Nasimiyu set the tea cup down without sipping it, intending to ask for a new one without sugar.

“Because… because you will be queen and not want an older woman here interfering with your work…” Lady Zselyke had stopped yelling and suddenly looked uncertain. “You did not know I would be sent away?”

“Who would send you away? Not I.” Nasimiyu did her best to look sincere about it. Honestly she had no love for this stuffy older woman but it hadn’t occurred to her that Zselyke would be gone. She saw at once how dismal it would be to take on the things Zselyke already managed. Dreary enough that enduring her was likely worth it. Besides, she managed Dong-gun and Seokjin to a degree, and even Dong-suk. She knew a great deal. Maybe it was at least worth keeping her around until they were gone. Nasimiyu couldn’t see Zselyke supporting her as queen if the Kim men were dead, and she might not want that, but… she might. Zselyke might do it, if she didn’t think Nasimiyu had any hands in the deaths. Regardless of her personal feelings about Zselyke, she knew things, she seemed actually quite good at what she did. That could be useful.

Lady Zselyke was watching her with unmasked confusion now and clarified, “You would not make me leave? Queen Soon-hee did the moment she married Dong-gun.”

“Why?”

“Well, that… that’s not something I can know…” she instantly fumbled out, clearly hiding some truth or at least suspicion. “It’s tradition, though. A queen mother will be sent to retire in Sartia and I am almost like a queen mother.” As soon as she said it, she looked like she regretted it. 

Nasimiyu grinned. She felt like she had just found a very pretty knife.

“I think you are too,” she agreed. “In a good way. I can’t imagine running this palace without you, it never occurred to me I would need to. I don’t want to. I refuse.”

Zselyke’s light skin turned a fascinating shade of pink, like she’d sat in the sun too long.

“Oh! But…”

“Maybe if the King retires at some point to someplace nice like Sartia, you would want to go with him, but I expect he will remain on the throne for a long time even once Seokjin and I marry.”

“Yes, you won’t be queen but you’ll be the crown princess which is the same thing in the absence of a queen,” Zselyke countered. 

“I don’t think tradition should dictate what we do when it’s not… convenient. I don’t see why you should be sent away or robbed of the duties you enjoy just because I’m here.” She mindlessly picked up the teacup again. “I can easily see a world where you maintain your status here and oversee the things you care so much about and are recognized and appreciated for it, which frees me up to attend to the things I care about –like supporting Seokjin, for instance. Raising his children.” She suspected Zselyke would struggle to accept an ambitious political princess just yet.

“He does need a great deal of support,” Lady Zselyke said slowly. “The kingly duties don’t come naturally to him…”

Nasimiyu smiled and nodded, agreeing, “He can learn with a wife nudging him along, and King Dong-gun can rest easier seeing his son take his future role more seriously.”

“Two women have never run the palace together before,” Zselyke said. Her words seemed to be poking at Nasimiyu, trying to find a lie or a threat.

“Women in Marvono know how to work together and rely on each other. I very much want to rely on you, Lady Zselyke. I wouldn’t dream of replacing you. Your balls would be a crucial loss to Priva!”

“I…” Lady Zselyke blinked rapidly at her, heavily stained eyelashes leaving residue on the tops of her cheeks. Clearly none of this had occurred to her.

“Together we can keep the Kim line respectable and strong, don’t you think?” Nasimiyu suggested as her finishing move. She lifted her tea cup to take a dramatic sip.

“Oh dear!” Lady Zselyke gasped, lunging forward. “You don’t like sugar! I put sugar in there! Let me trade that for you.” She wrenched the cup out of Nasimiyu’s hand in the blink of an eye and set it hastily on another saucer. “I think eventually you will need to take over these things from me… but maybe not… and in the meantime you can learn from me. It doesn’t seem you’ve been trained in any of these types of things. Things must be done very differently in Marvono…” She sloshed a little tea out of the cup in her haste to pour Nasimiyu a new one.

The door flung open before Nasimiyu could respond and in strode Mindeulle. Nasimiyu did not miss the way Lady Zselyke’s face hardened, despite Mindeulle’s bright smile and polite curtsy.

“I’m so sorry to intrude, but I’ve been looking for the Princess. Might I have a word?”

“Why don’t you join us?” Lady Zselyke offered instead. “We need to discuss wedding plans and then you can have her.”

“It will only take me a moment.”

“It can wait, I’m sure. Have a seat.” There was an edge to Lady Zselyke’s words that got Mindeulle to promptly do so. “Sugar?”

“No thank you,” Mindeulle muttered as Lady Zselyke poured her a cup. Servants fluttered in at a snap of her finger to refill the pot, which was getting low. Flowers and leaves danced inside the glass pot, briefly mesmerizing Nasimiyu.

“We are discussing Nasimiyu’s elaborate wedding party and what will best capture the deep love she and Seokjin share.”

Do we? was on the tip of Nasimiyu’s tongue. She didn’t say it, but Mindeulle gave her an amused smile as if she had, which gave her a start.

“I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful,” Mindeulle said.

“The wedding of a century,” Zselyke agreed. Nasimiyu did not understand why Zselyke sounded so defensive about it, unless this was just her enthusiasm about remaining here as a royal party planner showing through. “Seokjin has told me to spare no expense, he wants the world to understand how deep his love and devotion to his bride are.”

“That’s lovely,” Mindeulle said.

“It is,” Zselyke agreed.

The fact they hated each other seemed very obvious to Nasimiyu and now it was her turn to smile. If they both remained in the palace with her after she married, that would be perfect. The two of them hating each other would make them eager to be her most trusted and relied upon, and she could trust they would never join forces to work against her.

It amused her to watch them politely bicker as more details of the party were discussed; Mindeulle seemed just as eager for it to be perfect and her own suggestions seemed to rile Lady Zselyke into even grander plans. Nasimiyu would have been happy to eat her olive and thyme biscuits and let them have at it and giggle through whatever resulting wedding party they planned but the door opened again and in came Lidmila.

“It’s a regular party isn’t it? I didn’t plan for this,” Lady Zselyke murmured as Lidmila curtsied and sat in the final chair at the table without being asked.

“I apologize for my unexpected arrival. My parents are here but I wanted to find the Princess for company instead. Is it all right if I join?”

“Yes yes of course. What business do your parents have here?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. Something with the tax collector or the city planner?”

“That seems like business for your father, not your mother,” Lady Zselyke said. 

“Sometimes my mother helps with those things, I think…”

Lady Zselyke shook her head at this and sighed, “It’s quite a business, being a wife.”

“Have you never regretted not marrying?” Mindeulle asked, a twinkle coming to her eye that hooked Nasimiyu’s attention.

“Heavens, no! Of course it’s a high calling to be a wife, however…” Lady Zselyke looked embarrassed by her answer and like she wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m sure you will all make good little wives. My hands are quite full supporting the King.”

Honestly, did she hear herself? Probably Dulce could find out in an instant what the real relationship was there but Nasimiyu was not sure she wanted to know.

“But what will you do once Nasimiyu is queen?” Mindeulle asked. “You won’t be needed here anymore.”

“Actually I’ve asked Lady Zselyke to stay and support just the way she does now,” Nasimiyu quickly interjected. 

Lady Zselyke gave Mindeulle a smirk and agreed, “Of course I have accepted. Nasimiyu recognizes the value of this work and her own untrained skill for it so it will be an honor.” She dumped a spoonful of sugar in Mindeulle’s drink and poured more black for Nasimiyu. Lidmila had not yet touched the cup on her saucer, Nasimiyu’s discarded sugared tea from earlier, now gone cold.

“Oh, I don’t like sugar in my tea,” Mindeulle said. “May I have a different glass?”

“Dear, I forgot. Well it’s only a little bit of sugar,” Lady Zselyke dismissed. 

“I’m sure we can get a new tea cup,” Nasimiyu laughed. 

“I don’t mind sugar and I didn’t add any to mine. Why don’t we trade, Mindeulle? It’s a little cold though,” Lidmila suggested, passing hers across the table.

“Don’t be silly, that’s a perfect way to get sick.” Zselyke tutted and blocked the pass with her hand, nudging both cups back towards their original owners. Nasimiyu could not make sense of such crazy behavior but thought it was rather funny. Lidmila and Mindeulle seemed briefly mystified and set their cups back in their sauces.

“I’m not very thirsty. I’ll have a cookie instead,” Mindeulle decided. She nudged her tea setting closer to Lady Zselyke to make room for a plate, helping herself to several different pastries from the trays in the center.

“I’ve had enough tea and I can assure you I’m not ill,” Nasimiyu offered, pushing her cup closer to Mindeulle. “I’ve taken no sugar so you can have my cup.”

“Oh, there’s sugar in mine after all,” Lidmila realized, looking into her cup.

“Have you tasted it?” Lady Zselyke asked her, her voice rising so abruptly in pitch it startled them all. She pounded her chest and couch delicately into a napkin. “Did you like the tea? How much did you try?”

“I haven’t yet. Is it very special? Is it better to taste it without sugar then?” Lidmila considered.

Lady Zselyke nodded and reached for the cup, insisting, “Yes, you’ll like it better without. That’s the Princess’ old cup. We’ll get you a fresh cup.”

“I do like sugar and sweet things though, is it bitter? I don’t mind that it’s cold for a first taste so it won’t burn my tongue.”

“Try it without,” Lady Zselyke insisted, snatching the tea cup away from her. She went to set it on her own saucer but paused, hand hovering over hers and Mindeulle’s cups now right next to each other. 

Nasimiyu laughed, “It’s like a game. I’m not sure which is yours anymore, they’re all mixed up. It doesn’t matter though does it? I’m sure we’re all healthy here and close companions can share a tea cup.” She hoped it would encourage a sort of bond between the group to begin forming. Lady Zselyke was older but not old. It would be good to have some close companions who weren’t all younger than herself. She could learn to like Zselyke, probably.

“Oh nonsense, we don’t have to go so far as trading tea cups,” Zselyke immediately intervened. “We need another setting!” she called to the servants with a clap of her hands. “Take these three away,” she commanded. “And bring a fresh bowl of sugar, Miss Lidmila likes her tea sweet.”

Lidmila giggled and pointed to the full sugar bowl, insisting, “I don’t need more than that in my tea!”

“If you like sweet things, I think raw sugar will taste better than this refined stuff,” Lady Zselyke told her. “Minor details matter. A subtle change can have a great impact, it’s an important lesson for young ladies.”

“My brother says the same thing,” Mindeulle chirped.

Lady Zselyke looked down her nose at Mindeulle and insisted, “I don’t think we need to talk about your brother’s words to young ladies. There is more to discuss than men.”

Nasimiyu reached out to grab Mindeulle’s hand, fully expecting her to launch from the table. She did not, just stared at Zselyke so blankly that it felt menacing.

“Like Nasimiyu’s wedding! Oh, but that’s to a man…” Lidmila mused with a thoughtful frown. It was endearing. Nasimiyu found herself chuckling under her breath. Honestly she would have expected to find someone with Lidmila’s innocence obnoxious, but it was actually refreshing to be around someone so sincere and good-intentioned. Nasimiyu wasn’t used to those sorts of people. Lidmila might be one of the only truly good people she had ever met. Simple, but good.

Mindeulle must be on that list too, though the sharpness of her mind as she gradually revealed it made her seem less doe-eyed about the world. She too had that air of enthusiasm as she pressed Lady Zselyke on what else she was thinking of for Nasimiyu’s wedding, and if she intended to plan the honeymoon too. There was an edge to her Nasimiyu liked a lot.

“What do you mean by that? Of course I will, if you’d like me to, Nasimiyu darling.”

“You suggested Sartia before–”

“But you don’t like the sea, so… hm, I will think on it,” Zselyke said.

“You don’t like the sea?” Mindeulle and Lidmila both parroted.

“It’s all right. Maybe I should take Seokjin to Marvono instead…”

“Maybe you’d like Therepin more,” Mindeulle suggested. “It has the elegance and beauty and splendor of Sartia, but no seas.”

Zselyke looked repulsed and gasped, “Therepin is no place for a honeymoon!”

“Why, because you don’t like the government there? I’ve never honeymooned but I don’t think government is very involved…” Mindeulle tittered. Lidmila’s face opened up in surprised laughter and Zselyke seemed angry. “None of us have honeymooned, maybe we should ask someone else to plan it.”

“I am quite capable!” Zselyke scowled. “Less taunting me and more eating, girls, it’s important to keep our strength up until supper.”

“But our figures…” Lidmila pointed out.

Zselyke gave her a gentle smile and assured her, “You have nothing to worry about. And Therepin adheres to no such beauty standards, so Mindeulle’s prospects won’t be upset by some extra padding.”

“Not that I care about my weight, but why would I look for a husband in Therepin?” Mindeulle countered. 

Nasimiyu ate her cookies and felt like this was all rather a lot of fun, watching the back and forth. Dulce would hate this, but she found it amusing.

“I suppose your brother and parents will, regardless.”

“They take into account my wishes. They’ll let me choose the partner I want.”

“Will they?” Zselyke pressed and it seemed so pointed, Nasimiyu could tell she must know something and be taunting Mindeulle with it. She wanted to know too –not to taunt, but just to know. 

“What does that mean?” Nasimiyu intervened as Mindeulle looked troubled. “Do you have a personal tragedy, Mindeulle? You don’t need to say at the table but if you’d like to talk in private– if there’s anything I can do to aid you–”

Mindeulle pressed a hand to her flushed cheek and insisted, “No, Princess, there’s nothing. Lady Zselyke only speaks in riddles to make it sound like she knows more than she does.”

“Didn’t you come here to find a husband? To Priva, I mean?” Lidmila suggested, perhaps in an attempt to help. “There are so many men here who I’m sure would be honored by your attention.”

“I came with my brother,” Mindeulle said simply, even though Nasimiyu vaguely thought she’d heard Mindeulle mention before she wanted to marry here and remain. Hadn’t that been a hope she had for the ball? She couldn’t recall clearly now.

“Well you certainly aren’t going to find a husband spending all your time with your brother and Seokjin,” Lady Zselyke scoffed. “They are related and taken. I suspect your parents will call you home soon for a match.”

“Not if I don’t wish to marry,” Mindeulle countered. “You have never married, Lady Zselyke, and you spoke moments ago about it as a burden. Surely you had your reasons?”

Lady Zselyke filled their tea cups and said airly, “I did. There are many types of love which are worthy of a life’s devotion. Your devotion to the prince is admirable but inappropriate now that he will have a wife.”

“I–!” Mindeulle gasped. She looked quickly to Nasimiyu and insisted, “It’s not that, I promise. He is like a brother to me!”

“I know that,” Nasimiyu assured her. For all she knew, Mindeulle did have a crush on Seokjin, but it failed to trigger any jealousy in Nasimiyu. There didn’t seem to be anything adult about it if it was there, more like childish admiration. She hadn’t witnessed a single ambitious attempt, nor did Seokjin act any way towards her but brotherly. “I’m sure Lady Zselyke didn’t mean to be a gossip,” Nasimiyu admonished, arching her eyebrow at the older woman smirking to herself as she served Mindeulle more tea.

“Oh yes, I meant nothing by it, except that with men, you can never be too careful. You will have to curb your closeness with him so that it doesn’t cause… problems,” Zselyke scolded as she dumped a heaping spoonful of sugar thoughtlessly into Mindeulle’s tea. “I’m sorry I ruffled your feathers. Have some tea and settle down about it, have another pastry.”

“You’ve put sugar in it again,” Nasimiyu said, deftly reaching for Mindeulle’s tea cup and handing over her own. “Mine has none, we can trade.”

“You don’t like sweet things,” Mindeulle said. Nasimiyu found herself surprised each time the people around her knew things about her she had not explicitly told them. It made her feel very special and admired and flattered her into insisting,

“It’s not a hard rule. My lips are plenty puckered by now, some sweet on my tongue may be a relief.” 

“No, the tea is much better without that refined stuff–” Lady Zselyke said, rising from her seat and reaching for Nasimiyu’s cup.

Lidmila suddenly kicked the table hard and cried out, “Ah! My ankle got caught in my skirt and I’ve hit my shin…”

The flurry of commotion was all startling enough that Nasimiyu put her cup down, laughing, “Is there alcohol in the tea? Why is everyone so clumsy suddenly?”

“There is certainly nothing like that in the tea,” Zselyke sniffed. “But if you tire of it, I can bring coffee or wine or juice or–”

“Nothing else, thank you,” Nasimiyu dismissed.

“She’s right that the raw sugar is better though,” Lidmila said, still rubbing her leg beneath the table as she lifted her saucer and passed it over. “Let’s trade.”

“I really don’t mind.”

“You are going to be queen, Nasimiyu, you should let those around you take care of simple things,” Mindeulle insisted. So Nasimiyu was shamed into trading teacups with Lidmila, who looked adorably proud to have made the swap and settled herself with the apparently less-desirable white sugared tea. 

However before she could even have a sip, Lady Zselyke reached for a pastry but her dragging sleeve managed to upset the whole sugar bowl and Lidmila’s tea cup.

“Oh goodness,” Zselyke gasped. “I’ve made a mess of my own tea…” She gave Nasimiyu the kindest smile of their acquaintance so far and laughed, “Maybe the tea did get us all a little drunk! It’s only flowers in there… maybe it’s the talk of weddings going to our heads!”

The table was soaked now though, they’d all logged themselves with unsweetened tea, and the pastries were going stale. Nasimiyu thought everyone seemed relieved when she suggested tea come to a close for now, and promised to meet with Zselyke again the next day to resume their wedding chat, and suggested Lidmila take a turn with her in the garden, and Mindeulle too if she wished.

“I would love to, but I really only need to ask you a question and then return a letter to my parents,” Mindeulle said as the three women left Zselyke’s parlor. 

“That’s right, you said you needed to speak with me.”

“Yes… privately, if that’s all right? It’s about… some private business,” she murmured, glancing at Lidmila. “I hope you understand.”

“Of course. Why don’t I meet you in the garden, Princess? Have your servant bring a parasol though, it looks like it might rain.”

“Don’t you need one too then?”

“Oh… maybe I can share yours? I didn’t bring one…”

“I’m sure we can,” Nasimiyu said, or else she would bring another, or they could find someplace else to walk, it really wasn’t a big deal. Lidmila seemed content with this plan and flitted off, hopefully not to wander out into the rain before Nasimiyu arrived. She was sweet but perhaps not the brightest.

Mindeulle insisted on leading Nasimiyu into a room with a closed door before she admitted, “I’m sorry if I seem so cryptic, but I’m looking into this mystery with my brother and Çiğdem.”

Nasimiyu instantly cringed and suggested gently, “Does your brother know? He may not want you poking into his personal affairs…”

“So you think he did it then?” Mindeulle caught.

“I don’t know but…” Nasimiyu thought of Namjoon fucking Dulce at the masquerade ball. “I don’t know him well enough to say anything regarding his relationships with women but I think we can all move on.”

“We can’t move on. You saw how Lady Zselyke treated me at tea, and she’s not the only one.”

“You think it was because of that? I suppose that comment was rather… barbed.” 

“Lady Zselyke already dislikes me and Namjoon because of the trouble with the Prince’s former fiance… but he has you now, that can be behind us. But this… this wasn’t him either, I’m sure of it! And now the families here want even less to do with us because they think my brother has a habit of leading women on, which he most definitely does not! He’s been framed both times and I intend to figure out who’s doing it.”

“I think you should let it go,” Nasimiyu admitted.

“But we’re being ostracized.”

“Does he care about something like that?”

“No, but… but I do. If society here shuns me I’ll have to go back to Therepin. I want to stay here.”

“I’ll protect you and your reputation, it doesn’t need to be tied to your brother’s.”

“You don’t believe me and won’t help me,” Mindeulle frowned, taking a step away.

“I didn’t say that, I just think…”

“Çiğdem’s family are not kind people. They aren’t the sort of people I want as family enemies. They are going to make you choose and if I can’t prove my brother is innocent, you’ll have to choose them.”

“I don’t have to do anything.”

“There are politics here you don’t understand yet,” Mindeulle said. When Nasimiyu shifted unhappily, Mindeulle hurried to add, “Only because you are new here and you aren’t used to these families. They are sensitive and vengeful. The only reason they haven’t outright attacked us yet is because it means admitting Çiğdem was writing letters to a man, so they’re trying to figure out something else to pin on us.”

“I’m not interested in their petty accusations–”

“But if you anger them, they will interfere with your marriage,” Mindeulle insisted. “They’re powerful enough to do it.” Mindeulle paused and seemed to think about what she said, then shook her head to clear it. “I need to clear my brother’s name. Please let me at least try.”

Nasimiyu sighed and conceded only, “What help are you asking from me?”

“I need the letters from Çiğdem. So I can compare to my brother’s handwriting and language and prove they aren’t his.” Nasimiyu had to admit that was a good plan.

“What makes you think she still has them?”

Mindeulle looked stunned and nearly laughed, “Why wouldn’t she? Don’t you keep every letter anyone has ever written you?”

“No one has ever written me letters,” Nasimiyu admitted. “Is that strange?”

Mindeulle seemed to think it was very sad.

“Well… I believe she has them,” Mindeulle insisted. “I bet even though she’s angry, she still has them. She might give them to you if you ask.”

“I’m not that close with her.”

“Or if you ask Lidmila to ask for them, even better.”

“I don’t know…

“But Lidmila will do anything you say, she worships the ground you walk on.”

Nasimiyu had to admit that seemed true. So in the end, she agreed to try. 

And as Mindeulle predicted, when Nasimiyu brought the subject up of investigating things herself with Lidmila as they strolled through the warm summer rain under a shared parasol, Lidmila readily vowed to try, too –no, to succeed! It wouldn’t be easy but she would convince Çiğdem to let them see the letters under the guise of Nasimiyu wanting to understand Namjoon’s sins for herself. Lidmila admitted Çiğdem seemed to be having a hard time letting go of it all and probably would be eager to share.

All the moving of social chess pieces left Nasimiyu exhausted by the time Lidmila left with her parents and Nasimiyu could finally flee to solitude. She tossed the parasol to the ground and slipped off her damp shoes as soon as she was through the door. She’d take a bath to get that humid sea-city slime off her skin, she decided, and called for the maids to draw the bath.

As she moved around her room undressing, trying not to notice how quiet it seemed in here lately without Dulce emerging from the shadows to slide into the bed or bath with her, she began to notice things. Little things, small things that someone without her eye for detail might not: her gowns twisted in the wardrobe in a way she nor the maids would ever leave them; her shoes lined up too perfectly when she only ever lazily kicked them off; the papers on the wrong side of the desk from where Dulce had sat writing a coded message to send to Prince Hamisi (Nasimiyu sure hadn’t touched them since then), obvious because Dulce was left handed and scratched things out hunched over the right corner of the desk like someone who’d barely learned to hold a pen.

Had someone been here? 

She didn’t like that feeling. It didn’t just scare her, it angered her, this idea that someone had come into her room –somehow, despite the guards posted outside. She looked around herself, trying to determine what someone had been looking for, what they might have found, though there weren’t secret things to find. The letters from her mother were nothing but that, nothing notable in them. She didn’t think any of her jewelry was missing, at least none of her favorites. What else would they have taken?

“Did you girls clean in here today?” she asked as she shed her clothing for a bath. The two maids looked at each other, uncertain how to answer. “If someone did, they didn’t do a very good job. My gowns are tangled up in the wardrobe.”

“We’re sorry, Princess,” they quickly said. “We’ll fix it right away.”

Well, mystery solved then. Nasimiyu sank into the bath and washed it all away. 

The palace was stifling.

Seokjin had almost killed a man.

Taehyung had almost been killed too.

He had to get out of here. Hiding in his room with the comfort of his fur babies wasn’t enough, but Jungkook wasn’t on duty so Seokjin couldn’t pull off his disguised anonymous jaunt into the city. It would be too much for him right now anyway. He needed to be alone but not alone… he didn’t have a solution for that.

Muhtar followed him at a bothersome distance, not quite far enough, as he set out for the sea wall. The sun was setting, drawing some touristy crowds to admire the vibrant hues brushed across the cloudy sky, but for the most part the people of Priva did not find a regular sunset anything remarkable. They saw this every day. They had other things to do.

Seokjin, however, still found it remarkable. He hoped the day never came that he forgot about the miracle of a sunset, how the air itself became orange and red and that honey warmth seeped into your skin. He paused once a respectable distance from the palace to take it in.

And then saw her.

He should keep walking, he knew immediately. He had no reason to approach. She sat there, legs dangling recklessly over the edge, face cast towards the sun and a hood on so that he shouldn’t have even recognized her. He could not have explained how he did. And he’d been avoiding her for days now! Muhtar was with him; he didn’t trust any of his bodyguards to keep his secrets the way he trusted Jungkook, and sitting to enjoy the sunset with the maid of his fiance was one of those things that deserved to be a secret. The last time he’d seen her, he was fucking said fiance. The last time he’d spoken to her, she’d been furious. 

He should keep walking.

He fully intended to keep walking.

He eased himself down on the ledge beside her, careful not to lose his step and plummet to his death because that would just really be the icing on this shit-cake day.

She didn’t even glance at him, as if not surprised at all. Maybe she’d somehow sensed him standing behind him. She so rarely seemed surprised by anything.

She had looked surprised when she walked in on him and Nasimiyu.

“About what you saw…”

“I didn’t see anything,” she said, voice a low murmur weaving through the aggressive crash of waves against the rocks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

So it would be like that. Yes, that was for the best.

“I only see the sunset,” she told him.

“It’s a good one.”

They sat in silence for a while. Gradually Seokjin’s mortification settled into a dull hum in the back of his mind, beat away by the waves. That experience seemed fake. Nasimiyu seemed fake, his engagement seemed fake. Certainly less real than the hues streaking the wispy clouds dawdling over their heads.

“What’s your favorite color in the sunset?” he asked. She didn’t look at him, but he could see enough of her profile to watch her brow pinch. 

Why, why was he so desperate to reach out and smooth it down?! She was just some woman. It didn’t make sense. He barely knew her at all, as she had made crystal clear. Why was it so easy to think of a thousand things he wanted to say to her, and equally easy, for once in his life, to say none of them and simply sit there watching the sunset?

“Pink,” she finally said. He’d forgotten the question and gave her a confused look. “I don’t seem like the kind of woman who likes pink?”

“I like that it makes my hair look pink,” he told her. “I think I’d look really good with pink hair.”

“Your hair doesn’t look pink.”

“A little bit.”

“Not at all,” she insisted, so seriously as she looked at it that he couldn’t help the laughter. 

It died quickly as he noticed the bruise on her cheek, the bandage on the side of her neck.

“What happened to you?” he asked, quickly turning towards her, reaching only to hover because he had no right to touch her.

“Hm?”

“You’re injured!”

“Oh. Accident in the laundry room,” she said, lifting a hand to her cheek like she’d forgotten all about it. He thought he saw the shadow of another bruise on her jaw and resisted the urge to turn her face and confirm.

“What the hells happened in the laundry room?!”

“Everything is fine. How was the hunting trip?”

He didn’t answer, torn now between the dread of what had already happened and a desire to not be shaken off from her injuries. He wasn’t sure she was telling him the truth. He hadn’t heard of an accident in the laundry that had caused serious harm to a maid. If there were safety issues, they needed to be taken care of immediately! 

“What happened in the laundry room?” he tried again.

“How was the hunting trip?”

He narrowed his eyes. She stared a moment, then turned her gaze out at the sunset in a way that made clear she would not be answering his question. 

“You know,” he shrugged. “It was… unpleasant. It’s good you didn’t go along today.”

“Might have been better than the laundry room.”

“No.” He thought of Dulce witnessing what had happened. Or, worse, Dulce being involved with what had happened. He didn’t say anything more, uncomfortable with imagining it. A horrible thought came to him, of his uncle somehow figuring out that Dulce was… notable to him. She’d be in grave danger, he was sure of it. A princess had some protection from a sadistic uncle-in-law. A maid had none. He glanced back at Murtah, worried his own bodyguard might report this to his uncle. Could anyone be trusted? Murtah was older, kind, formal, serious. He looked up and down the seawall, always on alert. 

“I don’t think it’s safe for you to go hunting down there,” Dulce said, a rush of words he hadn’t expected. He raised his eyebrows at her unexpected concern. “It’s too easy for an accident to happen. It feels like it was designed for accidents.”

“Nowhere is safe from accidents. Apparently not even laundry rooms.”

“Your joke makes it clear you’ve never been in one,” she muttered.

He had to admit, “No. Are they dangerous?”

“Yes. But a hunting party in the caves is particularly dangerous for you, I think. You’re the crown prince. You’re never safe.”

“I have a bodyguard,” he said, jerking his head towards Murtah.

“He doesn’t look very good.”

“He is.”

“He’s not even listening to our conversation to know I insulted him.”

“He’s discreet,” Seokjin argued. “He’s like you, he’s not reactive.” Dulce scrutinized the bodyguard like a duel partner, then looked back out at the water. The wind tangled in loose strands of her long hair and danced it around her face. He wondered how wild it would look if she let the hood down and her braid out. It seemed to want to curl around her neck; a perfect ringlet had formed and he had that intrusive urge to reach out and tug it. The hood made her look particularly beautiful. 

Brooding. He’d meant she looked particularly brooding.

He felt so calm right now. It was strange, he’d come out here hoping to feel that way but not expecting too. The nervous energy that had kept him restless all day got washed out to sea with each tug of the tide below. It was almost embarrassing for Dulce to see him all calm. He had an image to uphold, after all. Funny, energetic, charming.

He was tired.

“Have you ever been fishing? What’s your favorite fish?” he asked, deciding to make an effort.

“Are you ever just silent– nevermind,” she said quickly. Then, “My apologies, sorry.” He wasn’t sure that she’d ever apologized for being blunt before and was surprised to see her cheeks darken with a flush.

“What?” he laughed. “Say what you were going to say. Am I ever just silent? Not really, even when I’m alone I talk to myself.” Her lips tightened. “What does that face mean?” he laughed. 

“It’s just my face.”

“No it’s not. Are you… blushing? About what?”

“I am not,” she snapped, scowling at him, and in any other lifetime he would have grabbed and kissed her right then. He couldn’t explain it. She was so put out with him.

You want to kiss her. You need to get and stay away from her. He knew that was true. He understood this clearly in a way he had danced around for days now. Weeks? He didn’t know how long but he knew he wanted to kiss the bruise on her cheek and the one on her jaw and her fingers and that this feeling of his would get her fired at best. He couldn’t think of the worst.

“You’re quiet when you fuck, that’s what I meant,” she suddenly said, tearing her gaze away from his and crossing her arms. “Maybe that’s the only time.”

“I thought you didn’t see anything,” he cried, now his turn to blush a bright red. Here he was contemplating the tragedy of this woman bringing out the romantic in him when nothing could ever come of it and then she had to wallop him in the face like that.

“I didn’t hear anything either, that’s my point.”

Now silence enveloped them again, a less happy one. Seokjin didn’t know what to say. The thought of having sex with Nasimiyu made him want to run away screaming. Not a great foundation for a marriage but one he was going to have to work through, just like he was going to have to keep distance from Dulce, and neither thing seemed possible right now. 

No, he could do it. He would. He was the crown prince, he did tons of things he didn’t want to simply because it was his duty.

He wanted more than a duty marriage with Nasimiyu.

He needed to squash these feelings about Dulce immediately.

“I didn’t mean to criticize,” she murmured, glancing nervously at him. Probably because he was staring. She had a very pretty profile. He bet she would hate it if someone pinched her chin but it was perfectly pinchable. “Nasimiyu speaks… highly of your time together.”

He grabbed for the lifeline she’d thrown him and laughed awkwardly loudly, “Oh, lovely. She speaks of it?”

“Brags, more like.”

He knew he should be flattered. A small part of him was. 

“Yes, well, good. What can I say? I have many talents and pleasing women is one of them.” Dear gods what was he saying?

“I don’t need to hear that. When I said you don’t know me, I didn’t mean we should get to know each other,” she said. 

He laughed, flat out laughed, “Dulce, why are you so mean?”

“I… sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“Yeah for me too but I’m still my pleasant charming self. You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. I almost watched my father kill another of my friends. It was the shittiest hunting trip you can imagine.”

“Did you shoot anything?”

“I almost killed another of my friends, does that count?”

“Taehyung?”

“No… what made you think of him?” She shrugged. “No, Master Drin, my arms masters. His horse reared and threw him in the path of bullet right as I aimed at some mysterious creature in the woods that didn’t deserve to be shot at in the first place. Sliced the back of his head open but he lives.” The words poured out, a tirade meant to make her laugh even though it wasn’t funny and he didn’t even mean it to be funny. His laugh cracked as he repeated, “I almost killed someone today.”

“People die.”

“Come now.”

“People die in hunting accidents all the time,” she said again. “That’s what I meant by you shouldn’t go.”

He grinned and nudged her arm without thinking about it, teasing, “Are you worried about me?” She stiffened and he immediately leaned away. Oops. 

She didn’t comment on the physical contact, just asked, “Have you never killed anything before?”

“I’ve shot ducks.”

“A dark stain on your soul.”

“I see their eyes every night before I sleep,” he joked. “I remember their names.”

“I don’t,” she said thoughtfully. 

“Killed a lot of ducks, have you?” 

“A few.” She said it so seriously, he couldn’t decide if she was joking or not. That made things she said even funnier, when he genuinely couldn’t tell. He had an inkling she did it on purpose. He wondered if Nasimiyu knew that about her.

“We’re still talking about ducks, aren’t we?” he teased.

“What would we be talking about?”

“Didn’t you grow up on a farm? I don’t think I have the guts for it.”

“I didn’t tell you that,” Dulce said sharply and Seokjin felt a ridiculous victory at very clearly having guessed something correctly about her. “I seem like a farm girl to you?”

“Is there anything besides farms in Paloma?” Her eyebrows raised and he snickered, “Oh no, did I just insult you?”

“You don’t know anything about Paloma.”

“No but I know you grew up on a farm.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Your reaction gave it away.”

“I don’t react,” she insisted and he felt laughter bubbling brighter in his chest. He had the playful childish urge to knock her over and wrestle now, to crow about his victory.

“You’re wrong. You have very big reactions, if you know what to look for.”

“I do not.”

“The more you deny it…”

Her face twisted in what seemed like a fake rage. She kept her mouth pressed tightly closed and stared at the sky now sliding to purples and blues. What she said earlier might seem right, that darker colors suited her style more, but he loved knowing now that she liked pink. 

“I hate farms,” she said, possibly the closest to a confirmation he would ever get. He didn’t think it was a joke. There was an air of sadness to her voice that seemed shockingly sincere. 

Or was he projecting it all? He realized that was possible. He might be sitting here feeling like their hearts were stitching together in a way that was going to hurt very much when he stood up, and she was sitting there thinking what a nuisance he was. It wasn’t like she said or did anything that hinted at feelings for him. She endured him. Humored him at best. She had no choice. The power imbalance was real and he’d be a fool not to remember that his company might be less welcome than Namjoon’s –which she may have loudly hinted at before.

He stared out at the water, debating. He should leave her alone. He knew that. Everything in him knew that. But he didn’t want to just yet… could she endure him for a few more minutes? That was the least guilt and horror he had felt all day. He had almost killed Drin.

“You didn’t kill him.”

“Wha?”

“You didn’t kill the man so you shouldn’t let it haunt you. Even if you had, accidents happen.” 

He stared at her, eyes wide, stumbling over the words, “How did you–”

“I won’t reveal my methods.”

He was struck dumb for a moment, astonished at her acuity. Could she read minds? Oh, he’d be so fucked if she could read his mind right now. The threat of her seeing what kind of man he actually was –the kind who developed affection and desire for their fiance’s maid– was  horror beyond belief.

Just to test it, he thought of some really crazy things. Six foot tall rabbits and a throne made of spaghetti and a giant fish leaping from the water to swallow them and carry them down to meet the king of the sea. She did not seem to read those thoughts.

“If you don’t want people to know what you’re thinking, don’t think so loud.”

“Don’t listen,” he countered. Which clearly brought her up short. She gave him what could only be characterized as a scandalized look, then stared out again at the sunset as if it was the most compelling thing she had ever seen.

He still felt like she was listening. Worse, he felt like he could talk to her. He felt like she could say anything and nothing would surprise him and she’d tell him her direct thoughts, he could count on it. Alone but not alone, that’s how he felt with her.

“I don’t even want to be the cause of someone’s death,” he admitted, verbalizing it this time.

“You’re going to be king. You’ll be the cause of many people’s deaths.” Yep, just like that.

He blew air out and looked down, for a moment allowing the intrusive thought of what it would feel like to just plummet down to the rocks and die. Then he’d never hurt anyone.

“I’ll be a different kind of king,” he tried to convince them both. “No wars, no hunting, no more hunger or… no poverty. I’ll take care of Destin and Paloma and… we’ll just all have good lives reading books and playing games and…”

At least she was kind enough not to tell him what a fucking idiot he was. She struck a nice balance of silence and directness. He appreciated that about her.

“And birthdays!” he said, suddenly recalling. “Is it your birthday soon?”

“What?”

“Is your birthday soon?”

“No, why?”

“Are you telling the truth?” he pressed, leaning closer and scrutinizing her closely. 

She batted him away, revealing bandages on her hand that was quickly tucked back under her cloak despite the warm evening. 

“My birthday is in the winter,” she said.

“An answer! Or close to one. Look how far we’ve come,” he teased.

“Why do you think my birthday is soon?”

“Nasimiyu asked Yoongi to make a Paloman dish and he thought your birthday was soon.”

Dulce considered this before admitting, “Maybe she thinks it is.”

“She doesn’t know?”

“Do you know the birthdays of your servants?”

“Yes,” he answered easily. “Murtah’s is in late August and then Jungkook’s is September first.”

Dulce didn’t seem to know what to say to this. He watched the pensive look on her face out of the corner of his eye, trying not to look like he was watching her. 

“Are your injuries bothering you?” he guessed.

“No.”

“Are you sure? You were hurt at the palace, it’s understandable you should see the palace doctor to make sure–”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t think you’re fine. You seem…” He couldn’t think of the word. Not that she was usually chatty but she seemed… “Weighed down.”

“So do you.”

“I think I’m my usual charming self.” When she didn’t respond, like she wasn’t buying it, he conceded, “I told you I almost killed my friend. I feel that on my handsome broad shoulders.”

She was silent for a while. He couldn’t tell if she was debating an answer or simply not going to give one. Which was fine. He would like for her to say but it was always unpredictable.

“I think you need to be extra careful,” she said. “You should be more concerned that your bodyguard went missing.”

Seokjin frowned and pressed, “What do you know about that?”

“You don’t think servants notice when one goes missing? You aren’t careful enough. People wish to harm you.”

“Well… yes. I’m the crown prince. That’s always been true and always will be true,” he admitted. “I’ve learned to live without worrying about it. If I die… well, I’ll be dead and won’t care about it anymore, will I?”

Her head snapped up, her face showing how absolutely incomprehensible she found his answer. It made him laugh again, he couldn’t help it. 

“Did you think I’d scream and cry and hide away? I don’t want to die but it happens to all of us eventually. My mother, my brother… it won’t change my fate to sit around worrying about it every day.” He couldn’t believe how brave he sounded about it, although the things he said were true. He tried not to think about death every day. He tried to live as best he could.

“You aren’t afraid to die but you’re afraid to kill?”

“Well see… yes. Yes, that’s about right.” He gave her a bright grin. “I don’t want to, but I can endure a lot. Of course I guess you don’t really endure death, at that point you stop enduring–”

“What is a lot to you?”

“I’m still alive, so I suppose I don’t know yet.” She was taking this so seriously and he felt bad about that. “You don’t need to worry about me. I was born into this life and I’ll die in it too someday. But not today. Some days closer than others but…” He shrugged. “Best I don’t go into the laundry room, I guess.”

She didn’t laugh at his joke and he realized it was a bad one. She’d been badly injured in one. He was inclined to march back to the palace and ask someone working in the laundry what the hells had happened, but based on the last time he intervened in Dulce’s well-being, he suspected she would not be pleased. Did he care? It depended how badly she was hurt… 

He sighed, not sure how to navigate anything. He wouldn’t intervene. She’d made clear she didn’t want him to. He was supposed to be putting more space between them now. He had promised to respect her wishes. Soon he was going to promise to love and devote his whole heart to Nasimiyu.

He wanted to say something but the longer the silence lasted, the less inclined he felt to. She didn’t demand anything of him, and he felt tired now by what he’d managed for her entertainment. Wrung out. This was a long day. He didn’t know what to do about his father shooting at Taehyung. Who was that a warning for? It would take a couple days to bundle Taehyung off to somewhere else since they were arguing about where that someplace else would be; was it better to spend those days in the palace or in an anonymous inn? Seokjin was debating having Taehyung just sleep in his room, gossip be damned.

“I have something for you,” she said eventually.

He immediately realized his gift must have felt like an obligation instead of an apology, especially since it wasn’t her birthday.

He waved his hand, “No, no, you don’t need to–”

“Not a gift. Someone gave me a letter to pass on to you.” She dug around and pulled it out of a bag across her body, looked at it a moment, then handed it over.

“What is this?” he asked. The front was blank, the envelope crinkled from passage. The red seal on the back immediately brought recognition and understanding –he’d recognize the imprint of his brother’s ring anywhere.

“A letter.”

“Yes I managed to figure that much out on my own,” he snickered. He had an idea who it was from, so instead he asked, “How did you get this?”

“Someone gave it to me while I was out walking here and begged me to put it in your hands,” she said. 

“A woman,” Seokjin guessed.

“Yes.”

“Do you know what it’s about?”

“I didn’t read it,” Dulce said. “She didn’t say.” She looked him right in the face as she said this, direct eye contact that made him want to believe her… and yet he had melted and reattached enough seals to notice the telltale sign of staining on the paper.

“Please keep the existence of this letter between us,” he said lowly, tucking it into the pocket on the inside of his vest so it couldn’t be stolen until he got a chance to read it. After which he would probably need to burn it, depending on what it said, and if he was right about the sender. After all this time, he figured she was dead, in which case this letter might be something different. Either way, it was probably something dangerous for Dulce to know.

“What letter?” she asked, holding her hands out to show they were empty. He believed she would keep the secret, anyway, whatever she could actually glean from the contents. “I thought about not giving it to you, in case it’s trouble,” she admitted.

“I’m glad you did. Not every prince is a damsel who needs protecting, you know.”

“I think you may be a particularly reckless one.”

“How many princes do you know? Nevermind, Prince Hamisi, that was too easy. Well, this prince would be happy to walk you back to the palace now.”

“I’m fine. I’ll stay here a bit longer.”

“Is it safe?”

“It’s no laundry room so…yes.”

He was loath to leave her, but at least guards roamed the sea wall and she was less likely to meet trouble here than anywhere else. 

Still, “Will you at least promise to stay out of the laundry room from now on?”

“It’s my job.”

“I can make it illegal for them to put you on laundry duty. I’m a prince. I don’t mind being an eccentric one.” She gave him a baleful look that felt like victory but she shook her head and he wasn’t going to push her. He didn’t want to undo what had felt like progress towards forgiveness.

“Thank you for your company,” he told her with a slight bow. He meant it. The events of the day still troubled him but he felt soothed, despite the fact she hadn’t actually had anything comforting to say –clearly she did not understand the magnitude of what it meant to take, or nearly take, a human life. He was glad of that though.

Murtah shortened the distance between them as they walked back towards the palace so that within a few minutes they were side by side.

“Your Highness.”

“Murtah.”

“This wasn’t wise.”

“I believe you are here to guard, not to advise,” Seokjin pointed out. “I was only watching the sunset.”

“With your fiance’s maid.”

“A coincidence,” Seokjin insisted, then quickly added, “But don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”

“It can’t.”

“No, it can’t,” Seokjin agreed with a sigh. He was projecting an attachment on a woman he barely knew. Was he just frightened by his impending promotion to husband and flailing about for diversion? 

Her bruises and bandages bothered him more than his own troubles, he couldn’t stop thinking of them.

The safest thing for them both was not to get close enough to notice them next time.

Maybe Taehyung wasn’t the only one he needed to find a safe, cushy place for, far from Priva. How much money would it take Dulce to go away and not tell Nasimiyu why?

Yes, that was the answer. Money. See? Seokjin was already thinking like a king.

PREVIOUS | MASTERLIST | NEXT

[overwatchfics]

Hi! can i request junkerqueen sfw and nsfw alphabet? i love ur work! 🫶🏼

Junkerqueen NSFW Alphabet

A/N: Two people requested nsfw alpha for JQ so knocked 2 birds out with one stone!

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

She glasses of water is already by the bed, she pulls you into her arms and big spoons you, her body keeps you warm on the cold Junker Town nights.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Of herself, she likes her abbs, she catches you staring at them a lot and will flex them to see your reaction. On you? She likes your shoulder, that's her favorite place to leave bites, the skin is so smooth there.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Does not care to get messy, but she isn't obsessed with it.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Brings Gracie into the bedroom and loves to use it to cut your clothes and maybe some slight knife-play on freakier nights.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Has fucked around in the wasteland a bit before becoming the Junker Queen/ She has an idea of what she's doing

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Lap sex, on her throne, you above her. Hands down. If she's feeling more romantic, she'll have you on her lap in bed with her sitting up, leaving kisses along your shoulder and neck.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Capable of being goofy in bed, but not a whole lot.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Up to you reader, but I personally see JQ as a woman who has full body hair and it's so hot.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

At time's she fucks just to fuck but can get very romantic if the moment calls for it. lots of hand holding and neck kissing (no biting)

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Has a relatively low sex drive, doesn't really do it

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Bondage, throne sex (when perfectly alone), knife play, and biting

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Either the bedroom or the throne room (maybe the bath)

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

You being soft with her. No one has ever been soft or sweet with her in her life and she gets this carnal possessive attitude that she must protect you, make you hers, convince you that she is yours.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

No degradation, you are her world. No sadism, and nothing that would restrain her.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Doesn't mind receiving it, though she loves giving it. She's very good with her mouth/

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Slow, she likes to take her time, savors every moment as she never knows what tomorrow brings.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Not big on them, but if you want to, she'll accommodate you.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Not big, she wants to keep you safe so anything risky is out of bounds.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

A long time, this woman has a ton of stamina. Can last for hours, as she was a cage fighter in the wasteland her endurance is crazy good.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Just a strap on, and maybe a butt-plug

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Only when she wants to see you ask for it.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Not loud at all, maybe some panting and grunting.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Her seeing you with her crown on your head really gets her going in no other way possible.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

C'mon she's a beef cake

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Not very high at all, couple times a month

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Very quickly unless she's got some post-sex thoughts.

[1p2p-heta-suggestives]

Can you do 2p England nsfw alphabet?

(Read more here for now so people don’t accidentally read this kind of content without wanting to!)

A - Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

• He takes his time to make sure that they feel loved afterwards. He makes sure to get them something to drink and a little snack if they seem tired. He does fall asleep quite fast afterwards so it’s common for him to just cuddle up to them and fall asleep.

B - Body part (Their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

• He loves his smile, people used to make fun of it a lot due to his “bunny teeth” but he’s really grown to love it despite that

• He loves their face, he thinks they’re adorable no matter what and he’ll pepper little kisses all over their face whenever he can

C - Cum (Anything to do with cum, basically)

• Prefer to cum on their stomach, prefers they do the same to him. He sees it as easy to wipe off that way, not much effort.

D - Dirty secret (Pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

• He used to have a lot of one night stands when he was younger, it’s not the biggest deal to other people but he’s forever embarrassed about it

E - Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

• He’s not super experienced compared to the other countries but he’s definitely not clueless or anything

F - Favorite position (This goes without saying)

• Classic missionary, he can give them as many kisses as he wants that way.

G - Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment? Are they humorous? Etc.)

• He’s not serious at all, he doesn’t see it as something that should be serious

H - Hair (How well groomed are they? Does the carpet match the drapes? Etc.)

• He keeps it trimmed as best as he can, it’s a shade of strawberry blonde since that’s his natural hair colour (in my head) before he dyes it. He’s considered dying it the same shade of pink as his hair but is too scared to put dye anywhere near there.

I - Intimacy (How are they during the moment? The romantic aspect)

• He’s usually very romantic and soft with his partner, he absolutely loves being intimate with them during sex

J - Jack off (Masturbation headcanon)

• Not often, he really only does if he can’t get to sleep because he’s hard

K - Kink (One or more of their kinks)

• Food play (shock to none)

• Praise/Degradation (He won’t degrade his partner but he won’t complain if they do it to him)

• Secretly loves his hair pulled

L - Location (Favorite places to do the do)

• His room, he’s just most comfortable there and he hopes they feels the same

M - Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

• Massages, number one way to get him hard, he loves them more than anything

N - No (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

• Causing them any kind of pain, he doesn’t want to do that to them at all, the most kind of pain he would inflict is a little bite when he’s overstimulated and he feels bad even with that

O - Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

• Shock to most, he’s really good at giving head. He prefers to give, he wants his partner to feel as good as possible.

P - Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual? Etc.)

• He defaults to slow and sensual with his partner, he wants them to know how much he loves them.

Q - Quickie (Their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

• Not a fan, he prefers something intimate with them

R - Risk (Are they game to experiment? Do they take risks? Etc.)

• Experimenting and risks both worry him, he’s not entirely against it but he’s prefer to just stay as is

S - Stamina (How many rounds can they go for? How long do they last?)

• He’s good with two rounds, he just wants to sleep after that. He lasts for around 8 minutes, pretty average.

T - Toys (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

• Way too embarrassed to get any, he’s absolutely mortified at the idea of anyone finding them so he doesn’t have any

U - Unfair (How much they like to tease)

• He doesn’t tease his partner at all, it just doesn’t do anything for him

V - Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

• When he tops, he’s more verbal, a lot of praises and “I love you”s. For vocalness, it’s really only shaky breathes and the occasional moan.

• When he bottoms, he’s more vocal. Moans, whines, he even whimpers sometimes (especially when he’s overstimulated). It’s very easy to get him to be loud.

W - Wild card (A random headcanon for the character)

• He’s easily embarrassed about sex. Not in a “smol innocent bean” way, he was just raised religious so it’s always a weird topic for him.

X - X-ray (Let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

• He’s a little smaller than average, around 4 inches, and it’s not that thick. It’s the same shade as his skin tone.

Y - Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

• It’s not that high, he usually has sex when the other person asks rather than him actually being horny

Z - Zzz (How quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

• Almost immediately, he would fall asleep in 5 minutes flat, if he didn’t feel the need to reassure them he loves them

[beebbg]

wassupp i was wondering if you still write nsfw alphabets? if you by any chance still do can you write one for Catalyst preferably with a gn!reader, im so down bad for this woman it’s unreal 🧎

Honestly I am too, but I still do write them!

Tressa “Catalyst” Smith x Gn! Reader

Warnings: Nsfw, maybe some grammar mistakes

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Very cuddly-

Holds you close, legs tangled in each other, the mushy romance shit

Would almost if not always asks if you’re ok after

“Hey, you ok? I didn’t hurt you, right?” Tressa asks. She strokes the side of your face gently. The same as always. It wasn’t a bad thing. If anything, it’s an amazing thing. Having the woman you love so close and looking at you with basically heart eyes was the best thing you could ask for.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

I think it’s safe to say Tress’a favorite body part on her self are her hands

She can bend and twist them in ways to make you feel good or use the goopy goo (which she controls with her hands)

Her favorite part on you is your chest

Hearing your heartbeat quicken with each small touch she leaves on you is kinda arousing to her

She also loves to kiss that area leaving hickeys in the process and if she has her famous black lipstick on she leaves lipstick marks all over your chest

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Loves seeing it all over your face, gets her going

The way you would lick your lips to catch some and use your thumb to scoop some extra

She’s pretty much gone

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

She’s pretty vocal of the ideas she wants to try but for some reason she would want to fuck you in the middle of a match (with probably a high chance of getting caught)

She hasn’t told you but she may bring it up some day

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Most of her life she lived on Boreas (???) and hung out with her group so

I wouldn’t say she isn’t completely inexperienced, she knows stuff and have been in a few relationships here and there

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

She’s up to anything so it doesn’t really matter but I can see her being into the 69 (har har) position

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Not a big goof but can crack a joke when the moment’s right

Most of the time she takes it seriously but you guys still have a bit of fun

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

She’s very well groomed, doesn’t have a lot of hair

Probably has patterns

(She dyed her pubes blue)

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

VERY intimate, she makes you feel so loved it’s sickening

She goes slow and takes her time feeling you, every inch of your body is never left untouched

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

If you’re out for a long time and she thinks of you she’s gonna get off to whatever reminds her of you

Or anytime she thinks of you

But it’s not to the point where it’s everyday more like once in a while

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Gets off to being praised, it’s just her kink-

Like you complement her during the moment and she’ll be a mess

(No one can tell me otherwise)

“You’re so pretty.” You sigh, looking at Tressa in awe. This affected her because the next moment, her face went red.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

The bedroom or the couch in her living room

You guys can be watching a movie on the couch and then have you ripping her clothes off like mad man

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Do something hot

When she comes home to you wearing a new lingerie, she’s basically drooling

Or dress up in blue bc that’s hot

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

She’s not hurting you in anyway

Even if you’re ok with it she doesn’t want the people she love to get hurt

In this case you

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

She’s into giving a bit more, the satisfaction she would get by making you scream her name

Doesn’t mean she doesn’t also enjoy it-

But she def goes down on you and puts that mouth to use

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

More slow than fast

She takes her time with you, like said before she feels every inch of you

She also takes her time pleasing you

Smooth hands trail up the curves of your hips as you squirm under her touch. They’re cold, a big contrast to your warm skin. She takes all the time to feel every part of you. Hell, you two might’ve been here for hours by now.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

She’s up to them

She kind of digs the possibility that you two might get caught, not completely though

If she eventually tells you that she wants to do it when you guys are in a match then she’ll have you on the nearest wall

Or maybe hide first…

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Not entirely but it can be arousing sometimes

Still she takes risks if you’re up to it

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Around 1 or 2 rounds but if she’s feeling up to it then 3 or maybe 4

Just hope you’re still together by round 3

I think she lasts around an hour or more bc she takes forever

(Hurry up)

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Glass dildo-

I did mention in my last work that Catalyst keeps a glass dildo in her room

She did use it on you like once but it’s kind of for display (???)

She owns a lot of different toys to experiment from with them being mostly black or blue but she goes out of the color scheme and has some pink toys

Because pink is cool

“Just one more. You can do it.” Tressa purrs (meow). The pink toy vibrates violently on your clit. Tressa teases it down to your cunt, threatening to thrust it inside. Only the tip grazes between, stretching you a bit.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

She’s very much a tease

(Not funny)

Even though she loved you she can be a total ass sometimes

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

She’s not very loud

She lets out more breathy moans and noises

Would spew strings if curses under her breath too

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

While she was using her ferrofluid for intercourse she made like a huge mess

It kind of got everywhere, especially on you

Don’t worry she cleaned it up

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Yk that one clip of Sam and Max where little same goes “Boobies!” … yeah…

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Sex drive is pretty average, she isn’t super horny all the time

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Most of the time she falls asleep after you

If so she looks at you with loving eyes as your chest rises and lowers each breath

An; boobies!!!

[pastryfilledpup]

(You don't have to publically answer this I just want to be a weirdo and vent my admiration for your work haha)

I commented on your story but I wanted to reach out to your tumblr but I love your feeder s0ush!n fic so much I just wanted to say it again. I'm so happy you mentioned your tw!tter- I went there instantly haha. All of that sh!n art is so good he's soo cute when he's so fat and so soft. The convenience store uniform and the ramen picture were my favorites but they're all wonderful

(Apologies for rambling now and it might be tmi!) I appreciate extreme wg a lot, but I do think I lean to the less extreme side usually. I still like him big though haha. In your story I loved your description of his waistband pressing against his stomach until his button fly popped, that type of thing is really really hot shdjsj the taughtness of a full belly after being overfed a big meal is one of the best things ever.

But a soft, big tummy after gaining weight over a long period of eating good food every day is really good too! I think both sudden and slow wg suit s0ush!n a lot.

With the way S0u photographs sh!n a lot, one of my absolute favorite things to think about is how he would love to document sh!n's weight gaining progress over time both with pictures and written log of how sh!n enjoyed (or not) his meals that day or if he needed to shop for new clothes that fit him. He would take his measurements and weight down too of course haha. Having the photos to visually compare his body from the beginning to the weight he is at now is an added bonus.

Thank you for sharing your work again! I loved s0u pouring ramen broth into sh!n's mouth so much, but if I could make any request for any future works it would be so nice to see a hand-feeding s0ush!n scene with food you can eat by hand!

(again you do not have to answer this- just the fact that I could get my feelings out is enough! thank you for all that you share and I look forward to all of your future writing!)

no actually i will answer this mwuahhaha 😈😈😈

but omg???? do NOT apologize to me this kind of ranting is what i live for!!!! do you understand the rush of dopamine and inspiration and motivation i get from seeing things like this???? that's why i ask people to reach out! it's such a huge encourager and omfg i just want to write write write!!!! you're words are so kind and so sweet...ahh im tearing up smiling and laughing.

also your ideas for soushin???? nomnomnom im eating them UP! ill be honest im not even a huge soushin fan but i feel their dynamic is perfect for feederism...poor shin who wants to stop being thin, and the overly affectionate to the point of being sadistic sou, who just wants to show his love for the boy...aghhhh is so good. i would love to do a handfeeding fic sometime! handfeeding is so intimate and sweet...so relaxing and gentle... but i feel sou might not be too sweet the whole time, haha.

oughh and the things you said about the photos and documents ahiqoahywjaj uthrhshgajak urhhhghhgg ohhhh that's rotting my brain...id be so down to do something like that but doing a long slowburn is very intimidating... perhaps sometime in the future...

also im in the same boat haha. i don't like extreme sizes too much and usually find them more fun in art, but i cap myself to certain limits when writing and such. the convenience store one i admit i didn't give the artist much description, just told them to make him huge 😅. but i still love how he came out, and i love that artist very much. the soup one is also very lovely! part of my fic was inspired by that one. my personal favorite is the sleepy catboy, since i just want to cuddle with him so bad 🥹

but again, thank you for reaching out to me!!!! it makes me so happy im like yeah yeah yeah!!! weirdos forever!!! i have given up hiding my weird interests which is why i uploaded and started doing these works, because i was tired of not getting any good or genuine ones!!! being open about this has made me so happy, especially knowing there are others like me who want it! and dont ever be afraid to ramble as i eat it all up!!!!! my brain is rotten with wg shin ideas, do not be afraid to share i would love to hear them. my ask box is always open, and so are my dms. i am available here and anywhere you are comfortable. thank you really truly thank you. you are wonderful. i hope you enjoy what i have coming up next.

from your friend, pastrypup <3

[blot-squisher]

SFW alphabet for Rebecca Chambers

(I've still never played a RE game... So here we goooo!) SFW Alphabet Ask Meme for Surviving the Game for Rebecca Chambers!

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?) Unlike a lot of the people she's used to working with, Rebecca is amazing at giving honest compliments. If she sees something, she says something.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) Rebecca is easy going and generally very good natured. Expressing any interest in chemistry, general science, or basketball, and ya'll will be friends in no time.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) Used to being the shortest person in the room, she might climb you if you're tall/big enough (and she knows you're okay with it). Even if it's totally platonic, being physically affectionate with her friends is just a part of how she shows she cares.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) Settling down could be nice, but not any time soon. Due to the nature of her work, Rebecca is very tidy and good at keeping the place clean. She can cook, just not a wide range of things. Due to school and work, and getting into collage early, she really just never had the time to learn.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) Face to face, probably over coffee. And a muffin. It's hard to be sad when you have a muffin.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?) Although the idea is nice, she's not in a place in her life where she feels ready to take such a big step with anyone.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?) Herman should take lessons from her on bedside manor. If you're hurt or just need someone to talk too, she's one of the best people you can go to.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) Rebecca has those really nice hugs that aren't too tight or sweaty. She likes to give and receive hugs, and oftentimes can pick up on when someone could use one without them saying a word.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) Platonically? Rather quickly. Romantically? That'll take a bit longer.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) Rebecca is young and still inexperienced in some aspects of life, but that doesn't mean she's going to shut down or act like a child. Jealousy can be a great motivator when directed correctly, and she'll do what she can to use it as motivation to do better.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss their partner? Where do they like to be kissed?) Soft, sweet, maybe a little hesitant. Rebecca hasn't had a lot of experience with romance, so she's still got a lot to learn.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) Rebecca likes kids. She finds their energy and curiosity endearing, but she isn't sure if she'd ever want any of her own.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?) Hopefully you don't mind getting up early! Someone's got to grab coffee and donuts for everyone on the way to work!

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?) More relaxed than the morning, that's for sure. Grab a good book and a cup of tea or coco, and feel free to curl up next to her on the couch.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?) Rebecca can be a chatter box, especially when she's working. Oddly though, she knows how to talk without really saying much of anything. A few personal stories will make it in here and there, but only the things she's ready for you to know.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) Rebecca is more prone to becoming exasperated before jumping to anger. That isn't to say she won't get angry if the situation calls for it.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about their partner? Do they remember every little detail they mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?) She has a pretty good memory, but if she forgets something important she'll do her best to make up for it. That kind of stuff happens from time to time.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in their relationship?) Working on a big project together. Whether or not it worked out isn't what's important, getting to have fun together is.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect their partner? How would they like to be protected?) Despite being relatively small and soft looking, Rebecca is proficient at both hand to hand and armed combat. She will fight if she needs to, although she prefers to look after the ones on the front lines before going there herself. Keep out of trouble and have her back when trouble finds you, and she'll make sure you both make it out alive.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) Rebecca likes to play (harmless) pranks, so if you have a very small not super important date coming up, she's going to go all out. Everyone you know is going to be invited. There will be cake. But if it's something serious or personal, she'll take care to make it something special for you without going overboard.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) Girl bites her damn nails so much her teammates actually put tape on her fingertips for a week to try and make her stop... She chewed through the tape...

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) Although she likes to look good, it's not at the top of her priorities.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without their partner?) Considering it would be her first real serious romantic partner, yes. For a very long time.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) She looks up to Jill and Ada more than anyone else in the Realm. Having known Jill since before being taken by the Entity, getting to see her again was a relief, and her expertise at dealing with Wesker was a boon to everyone.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?) She's simply not a fan of overly dominant, gotta be in charge, super macho types. You can be tough and in charge without being an ass. There is no I in TEAM after all!

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?) Buried under a mountain of pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals. Infinite comfort items!

[xchildrenofthemoonx]

Cielo Bralia NSFW Alphabet:

A= Aftercare (what they're like after sex?)

He enjoys a drink, cuddling and some good conversation after sex.He’ll also have one of his servants draw up a bubble bath for the couple.

B= Body part (their favorite body part of theirs/you)

Cielo’s favorite part of Krista’s body is her eyes; she could truly get anything she wanted  if she just looked at him a certain way.

C=Cum (anything to do with cum)

He prefers to cum inside the woman he’s with but, after meeting the blonde…he would feel just as satisfied by cumming in her mouth.

D=Dirty secret (a dirty secret of theirs)

The undead man loves having a woman sit on his face, he absolutely adores making them squirm just by using his tongue.

E=Experience (how experienced are they?)

He has hundreds of years worth of experience,most sexual things he’s already tried and mastered at this point in his afterlife

F= Favorite position (self explainable)

Cielo’s favorite positions are the ones where he could look into the woman’s eyes.These positions would be missionary, cowgirl and the lotus.

G= Goofy (are they more serious or humourous?)

He is more serious during sex but, that doesn’t mean he won’t crack a smile or laugh a little every once in a while.

H= Hair (how well groomed are they?)

The oldest Bralia sibling  is very well groomed, shaving himself everyday since he enjoys the smooth feeling.

I= Intimacy (how are they during the moment?)

He is incredibly intimate during sex. He loves holding the woman he’s with close, whispering sweet nothings, praising them and making them feel as amazing as he possibly can.

J= Jack off ( how often do they masturbate if they do?)

He is a very busy guy meaning he doesn’t get to jack off often, maybe twice a week if he’s lucky.

K= Kink (do they have any?)

Cielo is into light bondage, choking, overstimulation and is an overall pleasure dom.  

L= Location (where do they like to do the do?)

He likes locations that would be considered romantic, such as in a bed surrounded by rose petals, on a balcony, in front of a mirror, in a jacuzzi, etc.

M= Motivation (what turns them on?)

The vampire is turned by romantic gestures, light teasing and when the woman he’s interested in wears elegant outfits.

N= No (something they won't do)

He will not do anything that has to do with blood or biting, it’s too dangerous to even consider it, in his mind.

O= Oral (giving or receiving/are they good at it?)

Cielo being a blood sucker has made his oral skills amazing, he prefers to give than to receive.

P= Pace ( are they fast and rough or slow and sensual?)

He prefers a slow and sensual pace, enjoying taking his time and making the woman he’s with really feel the pleasure, That doesn’t mean he’s not willing to go rough and fast if he or the woman he’s with, are feeling it.

Q= Quickie ( do they care for them/ how often?)

The undead man doesn’t care for quickies and wouldn’t want them to be a regular thing.

R= Risk (are they willing to experiment?)

He is more than willing to experiment and would probably be the one to bring the idea up in the first place.

S= Stamina ( how many rounds can they go for/ how long?)

Cielo has amazing stamina due to the fact that he isn’t alive so while he can get tired, it takes him a very short amount of time for his body to calm itself down. He can last about 20-25 minutes and the amount of rounds is up to who he’s sleeping with.

T=Toys (do they own any/use them on you or themselves?)

He has a lot of toys. Everything from paddles and rope to a simple vibrator. The toys are meant for his partner’s pleasure.  

U= Unfair (how much do they tease?)

The black haired being can be a huge tease if he’s in the mood to be. He loves nothing more than when the sexual tension building between two people.

V= Volume (how loud are they / what noises do they make?)

He is actually pretty quiet during sex, only letting out soft groans and occasional whimpers. He also is into a lot of dirty talk.

W= Wild card (random HC about character)

Cielo has been in many orgys and threesomes back in the day. He at one point even opened his own bdsm club but had to close it down when his position in the Bralia family started to become more serious.

X= X-ray (how big are they?)

He’s a solid 6 1/2 inches

Y= Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

The heir to the Bralia throne has little to no sex drive because he’s so busy but it’s very easy to turn him on and once he is turned on then his sex drive sky rockets.

Z=ZZZ (how quickly do they fall asleep?)

He can’t fall asleep but he’s willing to pretend for Krista.