#jane chatworth

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Another World - TDC Holidays - Day 22

Alternate title: “Arsinoe the thirst trap™”

DAY 22

AU: NEIGHBOURS

POV: BILLY

If there was one word Billy would use to describe his mother, he would seriously consider nosy to be one of them. Ruth Chatworth knew three days before they arrived that the Chatworth’s would have new neighbours and she had been preparing baked goods ever since. Billy thought she was going a little nuts.

Three days after she had first started baking, he had heard a truck pull up next door. He had been trying to study but it seemed that the new neighbours were moving in. He assumed they were some old money family and had gone back to reading. No one interesting lived in this neighbourhood anyway.

He looked back up when he heard the laughter. He peeked out of the window again and caught a view of three teenagers moving stuff from the truck. One was short and so pale the sun makes her glow slightly. She was balancing a couple of boxes in her arms, being guided by her sister, who was taller and pretty with long black curls. She calls out to a third person who appears from the truck. She was the tallest and wearing overalls that revealed scarred arms. When she turns her head, flicking choppy black hair from her face, Billy notes sharp scars arcing down her face. Her eyes catch his through the window and he looks away quickly.

~

The same night, Billy and Jane are forced to take cookies next door in order to find out whatever they can that will feed the gossip mill of intense country club trophy wives. Jane and Billy share a look only siblings can understand (it says “we’re gonna tell mum bullshit”)  and then leave with the cookies in hand.

Jane rings the doorbell until it’s eventually opened by the girl with the scars and shaggy hair. Billy and Jane both go very still. She is wearing shorts and a sports bra, a sheen of sweat on her like she had been exercising, but other than that she is showing miles of smooth, tanned skin. She leans a hip against the doorframe and waits for them to speak, a knowing smirk on her face.

Eventually Jane manages to push the cookies towards her and squeak a welcome. Billy is too busy - as the kids call it - looking respectfully. Arsinoe thanks Jane for the cookies with a warm smile that makes her eyes light up and then she’s gone, the cedar front door shutting on them.

Billy and Jane share another sibling look (this one says “fuck” and also “it’s so on.”)

~

The next morning reveals that Jane’s window lines up with the hot girl from next door and also that said hot girls name is Arsinoe. And that Jane got her number. None of which was revealed at the breakfast table, especially since their dad - who was very much unaware of the fact that neither of his children were heterosexual - had returned from “business” (also known as his various mistresses that he thought he was so subtle about).

Jane was awfully smug the whole morning, the way she was when she beat him at monopoly or got the last ice cream cone. Apparently this girl was stewing competition between the siblings and she didn’t even know it.

Billy had never seen Jane as competition before. They usually made their intentions with girls clear, but Billy couldn’t get Arsinoe’s eyes out of his head and he had heard Jane talk about her legs, describing them as being “carved by Michelangelo”.

That was how the siblings had ended up in Billy’s room, watching Arsinoe mow the front lawn next door. Because both were cliche gay (or in Billy’s case, bi) disasters who didn’t know how to interact with cute girls.

It was embarrassing how quickly they were able to dive out of sight every time Arsinoe turned back their way.

“Is this really worth the hassle? We could just go talk to her?” Jane asked as the slumped against Billy’s desk drawers.

“Okay you go. You know that I’m terrible with girls,” Billy said, nudging her. Jane snorted.

“Yeah, because I desperately want dad to catch me flirting with a girl. And you just get guys because all the gay guys in our school think you’re strong and handsome,” she declared and Billy scowled.

“Maybe we should just admit defeat at the hands of Arsinoe’s biceps?” Billy proposed. Jane considered the offer, twisting it in her brain.

“Yeah that’s valid. We should toast to this wonderful defeat,” Billy snorted and knocked his younger sister by the shoulder before standing to go steal alcohol from the cellar.

TAG LIST: @poisonerrose​, @alwaysbored005​, @nataliaarronn​

[rosesnbliss]

TWO DARK REIGNS SPOILERS BEWARE OF THE SPOILERS

Anyone gonna talk about Jules Milone being driven insane in tdr? Anyone gonna talk about how it's so tragic? Like, Madrigal, a new mother to a little boy, killed only when this boy, Fennbirn, was days old? And because of Madrigal's death, Jules Milone, her daughter and Fennbirn's sister, was driven insane by the unbound Legion Curse???? Can please talk abt this i-

[alwaysbored005]

What I wonder is if Jane and Billy acted like regular siblings despite them being raised all fancy and stuff.

Because could you imagine the very adequate(not sure if that's the right word but yeah), pretty easily irritable Mrs. Chatworth having to deal with two pairs of (normal) siblings by herself for a few months?

[lushlife-07]

am i the only one who pictured Jane chatworth as an actual like.. 12 year old?

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Okay but the only conclusion I can come to about Kendare Blake writing a character like Christine Hollen is that Christine is 100% the most closeted lesbian in the series and she 1000% wants to marry Billy so that she can be with his sister

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Compromise ~ a TDC one-shot

I was rereading some scenes in TDR and trying to figure out what would happen once Billy tells his mum about him and Arsinoe and this happened.

Compromise.

~ If Arsinoe and Mira hadn’t gone back to Fennbirn and Billy had told his mum about him and Arsinoe ~

It was stupid how nervous Billy was right now, standing outside the library of his house. His mother was in there, with Jane by the sound of it. He rubbed his hands on his vest slowly, unsure of why his palms were clammy.

He knocked on the door and pushed it open. Jane and his mother turned to him and he tried to straighten his posture, lest his mother try to reprimand him like she did Arsinoe last week at breakfast.

Billy had never seen his girlfriend so irritated then when his mother had told her that “only ugly people slouched.” If looks could kill both would be dead, especially after Arsinoe, in protest, had slouched further.

“My posture won’t change my lack of pretty, trust me,” she had said, gesturing to her scars.

“Billy, sweetheart, I thought you were out with the Misses Rolanth,” his mother said, delicately prompting Billy to come into the room, not that he really needed permission.

“We just got back. Jane, can I speak to mother alone please?” Jane nodded, an unreadable expression on her face, as if she knew something he didn’t. He waits until he hears the door click behind him before continuing to speak. “Mother, we need to talk about Christine Hollen,” his mother’s face lights up, her blue eyes becoming excited as she beckons him to sit beside her.

“Oh, I thought this day wouldn’t come. You can’t ask her yet, you’ll have to wait until your father returns, he has the family ring after all. Oh, the wedding—“ Billy sighs as she rambles before cutting her off as politely as possible.

“Actually, mother, I needed to talk about the ceasing of Christine coming to tea as I have no intentions of marrying her. Ever,” his mothers face fell.

“Billy, she would be the perfect bride. And you two would have such beautiful children. Besides, no other girl would go against her or her family.” Billy smiled and took his mother’s hands, in a comforting motion.

“Actually, mother, I’ve already fallen in love with someone more than willing to go against Christine,” his mothers eyebrows furrowed in confusion and then flattened in realisation. She stood.

“Really, the scarred one? You couldn’t even consider her sister?” Billy stood, trying to be polite despite the rage that filled him at his mothers ignorance.

“The scarred one’s name is Arsinoe. She is beautiful and funny, loyal, smart as a whip and unlike her sister, she has my whole heart and she has given me every indication that I have hers. I have every intention of marrying her when she is ready and I would appreciate if you could become comfortable with that notion with some haste mother,” and then he turns and walks out.

~

She has my whole heart is what rings through Elizabeth Chatworth’s head long after her son walked away from her. She hadn’t even realised that her son had fallen in love while he had been gone. She had been too busy trying to keep her family from becoming complete pariahs, not helped of course by the two girls (queens, Billy had said when they arrived) who she had to look after.

She was now walking down her halls, looking for the queens, when she heard music. Their music room was mostly for show as neither Jane nor Billy were truly musicians, so the soft, sweet piano music couldn’t be any of the Chatworth’s doing.

Elizabeth followed the sound, expecting to find Miss Mirabella as the culprit of the music. It was beautiful and sweet and something that seemed to reflect the older sister.

She was surprised when she pushed the door open to find Miss Arsinoe, her back towards the door as she pressed the keys to form a delicate and poetic melody. Elizabeth leaned against the doorframe to listen to the music, using the time to construct her thoughts into something coherent.

She didn’t even notice the music had stopped until Arsinoe spoke.

“Are you going to stand there and keep staring at me or did you need something?” Elizabeth sighed and stepped further into the room, taking a seat next to Arsinoe on the piano bench.

“My son has informed me that you and he are… have deep affections for one another,” she doesn’t miss the slight flush that appears on Arsinoe’s face or the way her fingers ghost over the keys as if she wants to move them. Elizabeth smiles at this. She remembers how it felt to be in love, a long time ago, before her husband had become the philanderer that he was. “For him, I am willing to compromise with you,” Arsinoe turns her head to watch and scrutinise her, deep coffee eyes making Elizabeth feel completely exposed. She tries to explain. “I know it may seem as though I don’t care about either of my children as anything more than tools to my own wealth but they are my pride and joy and all I want is for them to be as happy. And if you make Billy happy, then I will try to accept that, but for your sake, you must understand that this is a very different world from that which you came and that I do not find change easy.” Arsineo nods and considers before she speaks.

“If you and I are to find middle ground, then I have two conditions; you can’t try to change my personality, I am who I am, I like myself and your son likes me and; you can’t keep trying to convince me to wear dresses. You won’t succeed so you might as well not bother. In return, I will try to be a bit more ladylike. I’m not completely incapable of politeness,” Arsinoe says. Elizabeth doesn’t miss the slight lock of the young woman’s jaw before she replies.

“Anything else?” Arsinoe frowns and thinks.

“There is a sewing kit in my room. I would like material to make clothes out of, if only so I can stop borrowing your sons clothes,” Elizabeth frowns at the request.

“I thought you said you don’t sew,” Arsinoe laughs.

“I said I don’t cross stitch. It’s boring and a waste of time. But I’m somewhat talented as a seamstress.” Elizabeth nodded.

“I can do that. But I have conditions myself,” Arsinoe gestures for her to go on, “I would like to fix your haircut and if you could, don’t break my son’s heart,” she held her hand out for Arsinoe to shake and the young queen took it and shook.

~

When his mother had asked to borrow his straight shaving blade, he had very confusedly given to her and followed her down to the kitchen.

He was stunne to find her cutting Arsinoe’s hair with it, completely shaving the right side of her head. He stared in shock at the two. This morning that had been fighting like cats and dogs and now Arsinoe was comfortably letting his mother hold a knife to her head.

“Hey, Junior,” Arsinoe said, pulling him out of his shocked silence. He stepped forward and took her hand, “What’cha doing?” Billy kept watching his mother’s hand.

“The better question is what are you two doing and what did I miss?” His mother laughed slightly and Arsinoe squeezed his hand.

“We compromised.”

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 5

In the spirit of “the worlds going to hell but at least we have fanfic” If y’all can guess the title of my spinoff, I’ll send you a sneak peak! (clue: it’s a song title from a musical)

Chapter 5: Billy

~Glasgow, Scotland~

Scottish summer came sooner than it felt, but maybe Billy was just in a brighter mood lately. His father’s case had been won and although it irked Billy that his father had won, at least William Sr. was away from him. He had been slam dunking every case given to him, his relationship with his sister was as strong as ever and he had a brilliant soulmate.

Plus the promotion to senior partner at the firm was a nice change, even if some of his clients were assholes.

When his office phone was called, he picked it up to Arsinoe saying hello. He smiled at the sound of her voice. They hadn’t spent a lot of time together in the last week and he was missing her, an ultimately sappy thought that made Jane gag when he bought it up at their last family game night.

“Hi, A. How you doing?”

“I’m good. I was wondering if you were free tonight? I though we could go out for dinner,” Billy groaned, painfully.

“I would love to, I really would, but I got given this case that has a court date on Thursday and I only just got it so I have to stay back. I’m so sorry, Arsinoe.”

“No, it’s okay. Out of curiosity, where would you take me for dinner if you could?”

“Gillespie’s. You know the bookstore and they have that beautiful restaurant out the back,” Arsinoe hummed in acknowledgement and Billy ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe another night.”

“Okay. Are we still on for tomorrow with Jane?” Arsinoe asked.

“Yep. Tomorrow. Should be fun. Be prepared to get grilled,” Arsinoe laughed.

“Oh just wait until you meet Jules. Bye, junior,” Billy smiled at the term of endearment before he put the phone down.

Billy woke up to someone flicking him in the ear. He had fallen asleep at his desk soon after everyone in his office left except for a few hardworking first years. Billy groaned as he looked up at the person who had woken him only to be faced with the subject of his dream. He sat up and smiled sheepishly at Arsinoe as she dropped a take away bag on his desk and sat across him, kicking her combat boot clad feet up on the desk.

“Are you okay? You look exhausted. I bought dinner from Gillespie’s,” Billy stared at her and then at the take away box and then at her again.

“How? They only do sit down dinners,” Arsinoe shrugged and smiled.

“Luke Gillespie and I go way back. I’m like, his favourite person,” Billy smiled at her and stood, rounding the desk and kissing her.

“Have I ever told you how exquisite you are?” Billy asks quietly, not moving his lips very far from her own. He can almost feel the heat from her cheeks when she blushes and he smiles and grabs their dinner, passing her the pesto gnocchi and taking the penne carbonara for himself.

“So what’s this big important case you’re working your ass off on?” Arsinoe said, before eating a piece of pasta. Billy notices the paint that stains her fingertips and smiles.

“Eh, some company’s been accused of fraud  and they want us to defend them,” Arsinoe seemed to consider.

“They guilty?”

“Oh for sure, that’s why I have to work so hard. It’s my job to prove they’re not. It’s killing me. Especially with the court day so soon,” he rested his head on his hands and didn’t notice her stand and walk to sit on the desk in front of him, her hands gently moving through his hair and over his neck.

“You’ll be okay, just… breathe,” he breathed out and just let the feel of her hands sooth him.

“Where did you learn to do this?” Arsinoe let him sit up and watch her, his hands coming to rest on her waist.

“My older sister used to do that to me when I couldn’t sleep. It helped a lot,” she shrugged and rested her hands on his shoulders.

“You don’t talk about your sister a lot. Did something happen between the two of you?” Arsinoe shrugged noncommittally before moving back to her seat.

“Sisters… and um, some stuff happened but that’s a conversation for another time,” she cleared her throat and stood suddenly. “I should go, you have work. Enjoy your dinner,” Arsinoe leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, picked up her dinner and was out the door before he even had a chance to react.

~

Billy panicked over the next couple of hours. He hadn’t meant to upset her, not at all, he had just been curious.

So he picked up the phone and called her, only to be sent to voicemail. It was the best he would get, he decided before speaking into her answering machine.

“Hey, Arsinoe, just wanted to check you were okay. You seemed pretty freaked when I bought up… well when I bought up what I did and I’m so sorry. I didn’t realise you had probably never talked about it for a reason, so yeah… I’m sorry. I hope you can still come to Jane’s place with me tomorrow because I know she’s really excited to meet you. Anyway… call me or show up at my apartment tomorrow, whatever works. I… Bye,” he didn’t focus on the fact he had nearly said he loved her for the first time over a voicemail. That was a tomorrow conundrum. He put his phone down and glanced at his alarm clock. 12:21am.

Grumbling slightly, Billy rolled over and tried to sleep.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 7

Yay, new chapter! Life update: iso is getting me down and sucking any and all motivation and inspiration from my soul so if my Jules x Emilia fic isn’t ready for ages, I apologise.

Chapter 7: Billy

~Glasgow, Scotland~

Three weeks later, Billy is woken by the loud trilling of a phone call an hour before his alarm was set to go off. He didn’t even bother looking at the contact, assuming it was Arsinoe calling from one of her morning runs. She was the only person he could think of who would disregard his sleep schedule.

“Hello?” He says groggily.

“CHRISTINE PROPOSED!” His sisters loud voice yells down the line, successfully waking him up.

“Go again?” He said, sitting up and rubbing his face.

“Christine proposed. I’m getting married Billy,” and then she squeals so loud Billy has to move the phone away from his ear but he can’t help but laugh before bringing the phone back to his chin so he could get out of bed.

“When did she propose?”

“Last night in the park and she had rose petals and lights and a sting quartet and Billy I died, you know, died,” she speaks quick and excited and Billy can’t help but smile at his sisters ramblings as he tugs a shirt on and walks downstairs to make breakfast.

“What date should I put on the calendar?”

“We haven’t decided but Billy,” her voice got serious when she said his name, “could you walk me down the aisle? I really want you there and I know dad won’t show up nor do I want him to and-“ Billy chuckled before responding gently.

“Jane, of course I’ll walk you down the aisle. You never have to ask,” she let out an audible sigh.

“Thanks Billy. I have to go but I just wanted to let you know. Oh, and Arsinoe’s welcome, Chris and I agree that she’s awesome,” the line went dead and Billy smiled. It was a good way to start his day, smiling. He was glad to hear that Jane was so happy and he carried that energy all the way through his morning until he got to his office and Christine told him a call had come in from a past client and he picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello, William,” Billy scowled.

“Father. I see you couldn’t get my personal number from Arron so you wrangled my work one. What do you want?” He said tersely.

“I want to be back in your life. You and Jane both have soulmates and I want to meet them,” his father sounded oddly cheerful and Billy’s scowl deepened.

“Not gonna happen and if you go near myself or Jane, I’ll put restraining orders on you so fast you won’t even know what’s happened. The same if you call me again. Goodbye, father,” and then he hung up way too harshly. He took a deep breath in and held it before turning towards where his phone had just dinged. A photo text from Arsinoe.

The photo was of a painting he vaguely recognised from somewhere, but he couldn’t figure out where until she sent a caption.

I finished it said the text and it dawned on him. The painting was hers, a work in progress he had seen in her art room the last time he had been at her place. He had been happy to just sit and watch her paint. Christine had teased him the next morning for how chaste they were, commenting on the fact the two hadn’t gone any further than making out and sleeping in her bed - just sleeping.

But this painting had confused him when she had told him the subject.  He now understood it perfectly. An impressionist style blue hallway, too clean to be anything but from a  hospital. In the hallway, there were two blurs. One gold, the other red and finally, one black dot in the centre, the only clearly defined part of the painting. It was a beautiful piece and he said so back.

She sent him a smily emoji and then ‘have fun at work’ He couldn’t help but smile. How was it that she could turn his mood around so quickly.

~Six weeks~

The engagement party was in full spin by the time Billy and Arsinoe had arrived. Christine was fielding questions from people who looked like relatives and Jane was talking with some of Christine’s friends from work. But when she saw him, she excused herself from the group and skipped over to him, letting him pick her up in a hug.

“How you doin’, trouble?” Jane laughed as he let her go, moving to wrap Arsinoe in quick hug.

“You spoke to me yesterday, idiot,” he dodged as she punched his shoulder. Jane turned to Arsinoe next, “you should come meet some of our more liberal relatives. They’re eager to meet you,” and then she was pulling Arsinoe towards the centre of the gazebo they were in. Billy laughed and instead chose to greet Christine with a hug.

“Hey, future brother-in-law,” she said with a smile brighter than the sun.

“Hey, future sister-in-law. You excited to have this party over with and spend the next few months planning?” She pokes her tongue out.

“If you and Arsinoe ever get hitched, I’m gonna pull the same jokes.”

“We’ve only been together a couple of months.”

“Yeah and you have done nothing of actual note,” Christine wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Billy narrowed his eyes.

“Give up on that. It’ll happen when it happens,” Christine laughs.

“You are such the opposite of the guy I dated before I realised I was gay,” Billy hugged her to his side, talking amiably with her until Jane and Arsinoe approached. Billy’s shoulders clenched when he saw the frightened look on Jane’s face and a worried one on Arsinoe’s. Jane didn’t speak for so long that Arsinoe had to clarify the problem.

“Your father’s here,” Billy saw red as Arsinoe pointed across the crowd. Christine held Jane’s hand and Billy walked towards the monster that was his father. He could feel Arsinoe at his shoulder as they pushed through the crowd.

“William. There’s my son.” Billy was a patient person, a diplomat at heart but when someone threatened his sister, he got angry. And so when his father went to hug him, Billy punched him in the mouth.

“I told you to stay away from Jane, you piece of shit,” William Sr.’s face scrunched up in a way Billy knew meant he was about to be hit. His father lunged at him and Billy held an arm out to deflect the hit only for it to never come.

Because his father was being held down, one knee on the floor, by Arsinoe. Everything went silent and everyone just watched to see what would happen next. All Arsinoe did was lean down and whisper something that made William go completely pale. Arsinoe released his arm and he stood and fled, tail between his legs. Arsinoe stepped back to Billy and took his throbbing hand between her own scarred ones.

“Let’s get you some ice,” she led him out of the gazebo, catching a quick hug from both Jane and Christine.

“What’d you say to my father back then?” He asked, wincing slightly as the ice touched his knuckles. Arsinoe smiled gently.

“I told him I knew how to pull his spine out through his mouth and that if he came near you, Jane or Christine again that I wouldn’t hesitate to do so,” Billy looked at her, obviously so shocked that it made her laugh. “I’m kidding. I told him that I was a combat trained soldier who would show him just what it takes to survive in a war-zone if he hurt you or Jane again. I let his imagination do the rest. Imaginations are always worse,” Billy chest constricted at her words and he leaned forward and kissed her, pouring all of the love he felt for her into it. She kissed him back, one of her hands resting on the nape of his neck.

When he finished kissing her, he didn’t move all too far, instead pressing his forehead against her own.

“Would you like to stay the night at my place?” Arsinoe smiled, pressed her lips together in a line and then kissed him again.

“I would really like that. But first we should probably get back to the party,” she kisses him again before standing and, taking his unbruised hand, led him back to the party.

~

She was kissing his neck when he woke up the next morning. The night had been long and sweet and passionate and she had stayed the night, tangled together with him, her bare chest pressed against his ribs.

“What’cha doing?” Billy asked, groggy and only three quarters awake.

“Repaying you for all of the hickeys you put on my neck last night,” her voice was raw and gentle and she kissed him when he turned on his side.

“You know, I still don’t know the story behind all of your tattoos,” his fingers traced the Capricorn symbol on her left hip. “The rule was if I could see it, I could ask. Well, I’m seeing all of it so…” he said and watched as she took his hand.

“My sisters names so I could have them close to me, my rising sun to commemorate my time in the army, the J infinity because Jules and I were drunk and wanted to celebrate 17 years of friendship, the zodiac symbols represent my birthday, being right on the edge of both, and the paw is Braddock. And that’s it until I get another one. Maybe one for you. Haven’t decided yet,” she shrugged.

“Don’t they hurt?” She shrugged again.

“Not anymore than getting these scars did,” that was evidently true. Arsinoe’s face was not the only part of her with scars. Her right shoulder had a large burn spanning to her shoulder blade and she had a bullet shaped scar just to the left of her upper back. He traced her shoulder and kissed it. “Did you ever consider getting a tattoo?”

“Once. The first time I went with Jane to pride, I sat with her to get her tattoo and I considered getting something,” he said it casually, with very little for her to question. But of course, she did.

“Where, what and why?”

“I wanted a shield and sword just here,” he moved her hand to trace his ribs, just under where her names were. “I wanted it because Jane said that I really lived up to my name and when I looked it up the shield and sword felt right.”

“What does William mean?” She asked, her hand not moving even as he let it go.

“It means protector,” she smiles and leans forward to kiss him before rolling out of bed and pulling her underwear on, throwing one of his t-shirts over her head to wear.

“Let’s go then,” he furrowed his eyebrows and sat up.

“Go where?”

“To get your tattoo. You have so many of mine and if you would let me, I would like to have one of yours,” she goes to his drawers and rifles through, pulling two pairs of shorts out. She threw the blue ones at him and pulled the black ones up her own legs, tying them high up on her waist. She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and tied the hem of his shirt in a knot at rib level. “Come on, let’s go,” she admonishes, tilting her head at him and smiling. Feeling almost giddy, he smiled back and slid out of bed.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 4

Love having to remind myself to post about five times before actually doing it.

Chapter 4: Arsinoe

~Glasgow, Scotland~

The invitation had come in the mail and had gone straight on her fridge.

You are cordially invited to celebrate the union of;

Juillenne Avery Milone & Emilia Eden Vatros

Maple Valley, Gorski Kotar, Croatia on the 18th of November

The invite had also come with a letter from Jules demanding that Arsinoe be her maid of honour, which had ultimately led to a desperately needed FaceTime call with her best friend. Arsinoe didn’t even say hello when Jules picked up.

“We were on the phone two weeks ago and you didn’t think to inform me that you and Vatros were finally getting hitched?” Arsinoe asked impatiently, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Jules and Emilia had found each other not long after Arsinoe had returned from her service overseas and had hit it off nearly instantly. It came to no ones surprise that they were soulmates, only being confirmed after Jules and Arsinoe had gotten their complementary infinities. Arsinoe occasionally laughed to herself that Emilia had an A on her wrist, considering how Emilia and Arsinoe clashed nearly constantly.

“Admittedly, it was 3 am and I was more focussed on your issues. How is that going by the way?” Arsinoe tried to school her face and succeeded enough for Jules not to give her shit about it. Their makeup ice cream date had gone great and Arsinoe had looked like a smiley idiot for the next two days. They had gone out at 1:30 and and spent so much time talking that they ended up having dinner at 7. She hadn’t gotten back to her place until nearly midnight.

But she wasn’t telling Jules that.

“This call isn’t about me so fess up. Now, tell about the wedding. Why Croatia? Why November? How long have you guys been planning this? Yes, I’ll be your maid of honour, is Emilia there so I can give her another shovel talk? And what have your families said about it?” Jules smiled at her questions before ticking them off on her fingers as she answered them.

“Emilia’s family is Croatian and it was closer to you than Sydney, November because it was when we could get into the venue we loved, we’ve been planning it for about a year even though we weren’t officially engaged, I’m super ecstatic you can be my maid of honour, Emilia is at the base and our families are all losing their shit in a good way. Now, my turn. How did your date go? Is he treating you good? Have you had sex with him yet? What was his name, age and occupation again? Has he asked about all of your tats yet? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is he? Is he there to be given his first shovel talk? And will you be bringing him to the wedding?” Jules ran her questions off quickly, making Arsinoe laugh before she answered.

“The date went good, he is treating me like a princess so far, no we haven’t had sex, his name is Billy, he’s 28 and a lawyer, he has yet to ask about all the tats yet, he’s a solid 8 and a half, no he is not here right now and we’ll see about the wedding” Jules’ nose visibly crinkled at the fact Billy wasn’t there to get cursed out by an overprotective Paralympian who could probably beat the shit out of him is she wanted to.

“Are you gonna tell him about,” she paused and ran a hand under her left boob, where they both knew Arsinoe’s most important tattoos were, “or are you gonna wait until he asks?”

“I don’t know yet, Jules. I just… things have been going so well, y’know? And I really like him but what if I tell him about them and he realises that he doesn’t want someone with emotional baggage like that?” Arsinoe sighs and lies back on her bed. Jules gives her a sympathetic smile.

“How do you know he doesn’t have emotional baggage of his own that he’s hiding from you?”

“A guy like that? I don’t know Jules… and besides, I feel like you’re deliberately changing the subject. Tell me about how drunk you want me to get you for your hens night or is the athlete too scared of a little alcohol?” Jules laughed but let her steer the conversation away.

~

Can I come over?  The text from Billy reads. Arsinoe frowned at it. It was nearly midnight. Still, she picked up her phone.

Sure. R U OK?

I’ll let you know when I get there he followed that with a kiss emoji and Arsinoe rolled her eyes and put her phone down, not noticing the stupid way she was smiling.

When she pulled the door open, the look on Billy’s face had her crooking her head. He looked angry and tired. She silently let him in and led him to he living room, leaving him there to go make two hot chocolates.

“Are you okay?” She asked him as she sat next to him on her couch. “Did something happen at work or something?” Billy sipped his hot chocolate and took a deep breath before he answered. Arsinoe didn’t miss how his hands are tight enough around the mug that his knuckles are white.

“My father’s company is being sued for money laundering and of all the law firms in the city he could have chosen to represent him, he chose my one. I haven’t seen him since I got custody for Jane and I’m convinced that he is just hanging around long enough for me to punch him and get fired so I can come crawling back and take over the company when he kicks the bucket. I just, I hate him and I probably shouldn’t because he’s family right? And I know we’ve only been together for a couple of weeks but I don’t want to put Jane in a relapse because I bought him up to her and I wanted to talk to someone about it, so sorry,” Billy ranted to her before taking a deep breath.

“What happened with Jane and your father that made you hate him so much?” Arsinoe took the mug out of his hands and put both his and her mugs on the coffee table before pulling him closer to her so that his head rested on her chest. He took another breath.

“You already know that Jane is my little sister. I just didn’t mention that she is gay. She came out to me just after I left to study law instead of business like our father wanted. About halfway through my second year of law school, I get this call from Glasgow Royal to say my sister was hospitalised and requested that I be the one called,” Arsinoe felt her throat close slightly at where she thought this story would be going as Billy looked like he was struggling to speak.

“She had come out to our parents and my father… my father beat the shit out of her. She wasn’t 18 yet so I sued his ass off for custody and I won, so he disowned me as well, thinking that I would leave Jane and come crawling back for the family fortune, but I had been working enough that we were okay. In the end, it took a massive toll on Jane and she had to start going to therapy to work through it all. She’s okay now and I intend to keep it that way but I wish our father would have pissed off and never come back near me in the first place,” Billy’s shoulders shook and Arsinoe held him closer.

“I won’t say I’m sorry because I know from experience that it doesn’t help, but I’m here, I promise, okay?” Billy nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist.

~

“Can I ask about one of your tattoos?” Billy asked her an hour later. They were lying on the couch pressed chest to chest, lazily sharing stories from their childhoods, but that question gave her pause.

“If you can see it on me then you can ask about it,” Billy smiled and held up her right hand, kissing the tattoo on it.

“Why do you have a paw tattooed on the back of your hand?” Arsinoe laced their fingers together before she spoke.

“After I was discharged from the army, I had a really bad anxiety problem, especially in large crowds, so I got a service dog. He was this big chocolate lab I called Braddock and he helped a lot. When I moved to Glasgow, I left him with my best friend but he was a big part of my life so I wanted to always have him with me where I could always see it. Why?” Billy chuckled softly.

“When the tattoo appeared everyone said that soulmate was part of some gang with a stupid symbol,” Arsinoe giggled at that, her whole body shaking.

“Maybe that’s what I’ll start telling people,” Billy hugged her tighter, a bright smile on his face.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 3

What up? I’m on time this week!

Chapter 3: Billy

~Perth, Scotland/Glasgow, Scotland~

He ended up at Jane’s apartment an hour away. He could have gone to his parents in Greenock but the thought of doing so after years of conflict within their family had convinced him against it. His father would probably open the door just to slam it in his face.

Billy couldn’t believe his eyes when the door swung open and staring at him on the other side was Christine, wearing a shirt Jane had bought at a music festival three years ago and a pair of shorts.

“Billy,” she said awkwardly as she stared at him and he stared at her and she stared at him some more.

“Hey, Chris, whose at the doo- Billy!” suddenly he was catching his younger sister in a hug. He hugged her back and tried to equate the sight in front of him. He knew they were soulmates, had known since he had taken Jane to her first pride and when he went back to work, the tattoo he had sat with Jane through getting was on the ankle of the best paralegal in the firm. But he didn’t think they knew about it. “What are you doing here?”

“I fucked up,” a thought passed his mind that maybe this moment would have been more dramatic if it had been raining but he was glad that it wasn’t. Jane frowned and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, leading him into her apartment and sitting him on the couch gently.

“What happened?” Jane inquired, making Billy take a breath. Jane had a way about her, something that just made him calm when she spoke. It had been them against the world since he had been 21 and she had been disowned and they were two struggling siblings in a tiny apartment without any help from their unaccepting parents.

“I met my soulmate and I left her and ran, like a coward,” he hung his head as his sister and her soulmate watched him go in circles of doubt and regret. He shouldn’t have done it, can’t even imagine how Arsinoe could possibly feel or respond to that.

“Have I ever told you you’re an idiot,” Christine sits beside him on the couch and puts a hand in his forearm.

“Chris!” Jane scolds her.

“What? He needs to hear it. Billy, you fucked up and as good as you are with people, I think it’ll take a miracle to fix this. That girl’s so tough, even I wouldn’t mess with her and that’s saying something,” Billy takes a deep breath and meets his sisters eyes. She stares back and reaches across to take his hand with a sympathetic smile.

“Maybe you should drive back to Glasgow and go see her. Apologise. Talk to her,” Jane said, that small smile still on her face. She stood and sat next to him, hugging him. “Maybe stay the night first, because from what I’ve heard, she’s quite something,” Billy let out a soft laugh and nodded.

“Yeah, she is.”

~

It was 5am and he was knocking on her door without expecting much to come from it, but he had to try. Which was why he was epically surprised when Arsinoe opened the door in yoga pants and a sports bra. She paused when she saw him on the step and took in every sleepless element of him. He looked her over, the only tattoos hidden from him were the names and star signs but he could see the paw and the infinity and the crest.

“Hi,” he started. She raised an eyebrow and stepped out onto the porch with him.

“You left,” she says back. He nods and takes her in before she can tell him to leave. She looks like she had a rough night and she frowns when she speaks next. “I don’t really want to have something with someone that leaves. Enough people have left me for that,” he nods and takes both his gloves off, revealing his matching paw and infinity.

“I’m not going anywhere. That’s all I came to say, but if you want to talk, I’m here, okay?”

“You talk like a lawyer,” he smiles at her and sticks his hands in his pockets.

“I am one, so I’ll choose to take that as a compliment,” he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is if you feel like talking, because you look like if you don’t get moving, you may freeze,” she smiles wryly and takes the note, tucking it into the waistband of her pants, before gesturing towards the sidewalk. He followed her to her gate before they go their seperate ways.

~

She calls him the next day when he is at work and he blatantly flaunts the no mobiles rule to pick up her call. She doesn’t even say hello, just gets straight to her conversation point.

“Are you free Saturday at 1 pm?” He checks his calendar on his computer.

“Yeah, why?”

“You owe me ice cream,” he laughs at that, but hushes when Pietyr Arron walks into his office.

“I have to go, I’m about to get in trouble with someone. See you Saturday,” Billy says as casually as possible despite the slight smirk on Arron’s face.

“See ya, Junior,” the line goes silent.

“Hollen is a gossip you know?” Billy sat back in his chair and watched the blonde man. “She’s basically told the whole office that you’ve been taken off the market by a mystery soulmate. Is she correct?”

“Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers? I was just on my personal phone so what do you think?” Pietyr’s smile was as sharp as a knife as he shrugged.

“I like seeing people squirm. It makes me a great lawyer. Although some would also say it makes me an asshole,” Billy was not about to disagree. The two had butted heads since their first meeting and while both still thought of the other as an asshole, they had come to grudgingly respect each other. “Anyway, your father’s in the building and I have to say that I like you better,” Billy looked up as a panicked feeling rises in his chest and he storms from his office towards Pietyr’s where, lo and behold, his father stands to greet him.

“William,” he smiles as if he didn’t hate his son with every ounce of his being. His smug smile fell when Billy spat his response at his father.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 6

I would like it on the record that I did not intend for the angstiest chapter in this fic to be posted on April Fools but here we are.

Chapter 6: Arsinoe

~Perth, Scotland/Glasgow, Scotland~

“And that would be another $300 to me, thank you very much Junior,” Arsinoe laughed as her soulmate begrudgingly handed her the monopoly money. Jane giggled behind her hand. She was the first to go bankrupt at her brother’s skilled hands, but Arsinoe had bought all of the monopoly skill she had gained from playing with Jules for years. She wasn’t backing down and it was amusing to all except for Billy, who she was basically robbing. Christine as the banker was also trying to hold back her laughter. Billy was after all, meant to be an expert in real world financing.

“I’m never playing Monopoly with you ever again. You’re just cruel,” Billy pouted, prompting Arsinoe to poke her tongue out before rolling the dice again, landing on another of her own properties.

It took two more rolls for her to be crowned champion, much to everyone’s surprise. It seemed that her partner was usually the reigning champion.

They left soon after, Jane hugging her before they did.

Billy walked her to her door and just before he turned to leave, she took a deep breath and spoke.

“Do you want to come in? I wanted to talk to you about last night,” Billy frowned and followed her in to the living room, where she told him to wait on the couch, before receding to her bedroom. She closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath.

“Come one, Arsinoe, you can do this,” she says firmly to herself before going to her bedside table and picking up the photo frame that sat there. She glanced at it and returned to the living room, sitting at the opposite end of the couch to him and handing him the photo frame. She watched as he took in the photo taken on their 17th birthday, eating cake on a hospital bed. He takes it in before glancing to her, waiting for her to speak.

“Katharine is the bald one on the middle and Mirabella is the pretty one on the left. They are… were my sisters,” Billy’s eyebrows furrowed as if trying to figure something out. Arsinoe waited until his eyes lit up in recognition and then saddened.

“January 24th, February 1st,” Arsinoe nodded, her throat clenching. “Do you want to tell me about them?” Arsinoe nodded and let him take her hand in his own.

“Mira was older than me by 3 minutes and she was brilliant. After our parents decided they would rather get rich in Europe and Asia and left us an endless cycle of babysitters she became this super sister. She was beautiful, inside and out and she protected us like no one else would. Kat was younger by 10 minutes and she was the baby of us three. In high school, I got a suspension for breaking the nose of a boy that had hurt her. Mira and I both would have done anything to keep her safe. And then, just after our 16th…” she paused, brushing away the tears that had started to fall and taking a deep breath. “After our 16th, Kat started acting weird. She woke up one morning and had a seizure at the breakfast table. When we took her to the hospital… she had malignant brain cancer. Also known as the worst type of cancer you can develop,” as calm as she spoke, Arsinoe could feel her own throat tightening and she took another breath. Billy crossed the distance between the two and pulled her into his side. Arsinoe buried her nose in his ribs and tried not to sob. She hadn’t even finished telling the story yet. She pulls back from him and wipes away tears before continuing to speak.

“About a month after our 17th, I was with Kat at the hospital because the doctors had told us that she didn’t have much time left, so we were trying to spend as much time with her as we could. Anyway, she tells me that I need to go away and spend the day with my friends because Mira was on her way to the hospital. I only listened when she threatened to call security. I went to meet up with Jules and we were going to go to the movies. Just before we went in, I got a call from the hospital. I expected to be told that Kat had gone, but instead they asked if I was Mirabella’s sister,” she sobbed and Billy pulled her back to him gently, letting her sob grossly in his shirt until she was calm enough to continue. She didn’t miss the tears in his own eyes as she kept talking.

“Some asshole driving a semi-trailer wasn’t paying attention and had jack-knifed on the highway. He had swerved lanes and the car behind Mira didn’t break as fast as her. She died on impact,” she paused again.

“They put Kat on life support that night, told me that it was up to my parents to turn it off. When they called my mum, she told them to leave the choice to me. I pulled the plug the next week, after I had organised a funeral for the two of them,” Billy frowned.

“Where were your parents for all of this?” Arsinoe scoffed.

“On business in Tokyo. They came back to see the funeral they had paid for but eventually mum made such a scene that I kicked them out of the wake. I haven’t seen them since then and the last time we spoke I told them I was going to the army when I was 18. I’m better off without them anyway,” she sniffles and wipes her eyes. “Anyway, that’s it. So if you wanted someone with less baggage, the door is that way ,” she goes to stand and walk away away hurriedly only to be caught by Billy’s hand. He gently pulls her onto his lap and hugs her tight into his chest.

“I wouldn’t want anyone but you, Arsinoe. Why would your past make me want to leave someone so excellent,” she shook slightly, hugging her photo to her stomach and letting herself be calmed by his gentle hands at her back. “Besides, you didn’t think less of me for all that stuff with Jane so why would I think less of you for this?” He kissed her forehead and let his lips rest there, giving her time to calm down and rationalise her thoughts.

Eventually Arsinoe stands again, holding his hand still.

“Would you stay tonight?” Billy nods and stands, letting her lead him to her bedroom.

~

The first thing Arsinoe noticed when she woke up was that her curtains were open and sun was in her eyes. The second thing was Billy’s arm around her waist. She turned and watched him open his eyes. He smiled at her and she felt warm and fuzzy.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi,” she whispered back.

“I love you,” her eyebrows rose slightly. It hadn’t been what she expected him to say at all.

“Do you want to come to a wedding in Croatia with me?” His eyebrows scrunched.

“Why?” Arsinoe shrugged as much as she could.

“Well if we’re in love and I’ve met your family, it’s only fair that you have to meet Jules and the rest of my crew sometime soon,” Billy smiled.

“How scary could that be?” Arsinoe laughed at his nonchalance.

“Jules is a Paralympic archer and Emilia is a decorated officer in the 2nd Commando Regiment in the army. So very scary,” Billy’s eyes widened only slightly.

“What exactly is 2nd Commando Regiment?” Arsinoe smiled and patted his chest.

“Special Forces. Kind of like Australian marines.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Are you okay? You’re looking a bit pale,” she leaned in and pressed a hand to his forehead, as though checking his temperature. He wasn’t pale at all, nor was his temperature rising, but goddess was it fun messing with him. But her teasing made his face calm and he grabbed her hand, kissing her palm.

“You know what? Sounds like fun. Maybe I can beat you a monopoly in front of your friends,” Arsinoe laughed and let him tug her into his arms.

“No can do. Jules says I’m not allowed to play monopoly with Emilia. We give each other bruises too often and then Jules quote unquote ‘has to deal with both of us’ and apparently we’re both pains in her ass so board games are no longer allowed. How good are you at Mario Kart?” Billy laughs.

“It’s been a while but I was a master at Rainbow Road,” Arsinoe gently pushes his shoulder with a scoff.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he kissed her.

“I love you,” Arsinoe smiled and kissed him.

“I love you right back.”

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Three Dark Christmas’ ~ Day 25

Merry Christmas Every One <3 This one is really short pls forgive.

Day 25 - Jane Chatworth x Christine Hollen

Universe: Mainland Lesbians Part 2

Setting: Indrid Down, Fennbirn

Coming home to her girlfriend was heaven. Having a home with Jane was heaven. Christine went to work where she got to work with the Queen Crowned and her wife, make beautiful dresses for elegant parties and when she left work, it was to return to the love of her life.

She was grateful more than anything. She had sent a letter back to Arsinoe and Billy three weeks into her arrival on Fennbirn thanking them for everything (her letter to Billy had also included a set of wedding bands for them but alas).

Jane had also settled in fantastically. And she was taking after her almost sister-in-law, her wardrobe almost filled to the brim with shirts and pants. If anyone asked Christine if she thought scandalous thoughts every time Jane wore tighter pants, she would lie because the answer was a resounding ‘yes’.

She was wearing a pair of said tighter pants when Cjristine got home that night. Jane smiled at her from where she was at the stove. Christine came up behind her and wrapped her arms around Jane’s waist, kissing her neck softly and gently flicking the stove off.

“Chris, what are you doing?” Christine tilted her head and kissed her on the lips, starting to pull her towards their room.

“You, I’m hoping,” Jane blushed and let herself be led.

~

Jane was kissing her softly, her lips a barely there pressure on Christine’s collarbone. Christine’s finger absently traced the curve of Jane’s waist and laid her lips in Jane’s hair.

“Jane?” Her girlfriend looked up with a hummed assent and Christine kissed her again. “Marry me,” the only indication that Christine’s proposal had surprised Jane was the slight raise of her fair eyebrows.

“Why?” Jane asked softly. Not what Christine was thinking she would ask.

“Because… because I love you and I want to celebrate how much I love you with everyone we want there. We’ve been here for nearly two years, and I have loved you for 5 years and I want to be able to tell people about my wife and how brilliant she is. If this isn’t what you, I won’t take offence, I’m happy to love you like now,” Jane just kissed her quiet and took her hand.

“I want to marry you, but not now,” Christine nodded and let Jane kiss her again.

~

Six months later, Jane had a plan. It involved a festival, and a flower crown, and a dance. Every summer solstice, there was a dance done by lovers that wished to wed. It was a proposal of sorts and Jane wanted to dance it with her girl.

Jane had it all planned out. As soon as Christine arrived at the celebrations (looking absolutely stunning as usual) Jane threw the crown on her head and dragged her in to have a dance with others wearing the same crowns.

Jane holds her lover close as the spin and dip to the music. The song finally ends and Jane kisses Christine harsh on the mouth. When she pulls away she’s breathless, but she has one last thing to ask.

“Christine Hollen, will you marry me?” Christine’s face lights up like a Christmas tree.

“Yes, Jane Chatworth, I will marry you,” Jane kisses her again as the light and sound rushed around them.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Three Dark Crowns ~ Day 14

Forbidden love! Yay!

Day 14 - Christine Hollen x Jane Chatworth

Universe: Mainland Lesbians

Setting: New Estra, The Mainland

Christine was pretty sure that Jane Chatworth was the prettiest girl, nee, person, she had ever met. Even if she shouldn’t be in Jane’s bedroom to see how gorgeous she was. These were the mornings that they played with fire. Christine had let Jane kiss her into not leaving through the window and they both prayed that her mother wouldn’t take advantage of the fact that Jane’s bedroom door had no lock.

Jane was kissing her desperately when the door swung open and a voice filled the room.

“Hey Jane have you got any concea- oh my goddess!” Jane was turning in seconds to see Arsinoe closing the door quickly and press herself against it. Jane pulled her covers tight to their chests and they all stared at each other for an indeterminable period before Arsinoe took a breath and spoke as calmly as possible.

“Hello, Christine. Jane, do you have any concealer that I could borrow?” Christine blushed but was paralysed as Jane responded.

“Why do you need concealer?” It was Arsinoe’s turn to blush as she tugged down the neck of her - no, it must have been Billy’s - sleep shirt to reveal splotches of dark purple bruising around her neck and clavicle.

“Lord above, Arsinoe! Okay turn around,” she did and Jane slipped out of her bed and slipped her robe on to help her. Christine desperately wanted to leave but the only options were the window and the front door, neither of which looked great at the moment.

Jane hurried her almost sister-in-law out the door as quick as possible and slid down against the door, hugging herself.

“Shit.” Christine couldn’t help but agree.

~

“How long have you two been together?” They were at a garden party a week later when Arsinoe approached Christine, a small smile on her face free of judgement. The dreaded question. If anyone found out the answer, she would lose everything, as would Jane and that was ultimately worse. But Arsinoe already knew, and Jane was still safely in her home, so she was hoping Arsinoe truly did have values that were as unconventional as she had heard.

“I- um, we have been together for 18 months, but I have loved her twice that,” Christine whispered through gritted teeth. Arsinoe merely nodded and passed her a flute of champagne.

“Is she why you wanted to marry Billy? To be close to her?” Christine nodded, but Arsinoe seemed to harbour only concern for her. She watched Christine with a look of deep contemplation before she spoke again.

“I know what you guys have is something you have to hide and I’m immensely sorry about it. I’m not trying to push you into anything but if you ever decided you need somewhere to go where you can love Jane freely, I might be able to help you out,” with that she walked away to join Billy in his discussion with whichever lord he was conversing with.

~

Arsinoe’s words played on her mind for weeks and weeks after before Christine finally broke and ran to her. Admittedly, it was more of the fact that her father had asked her to meet with an heir who was willing to marry her because he knew she was “so upset” at the “rejection of that Chatworth man.” Christine had nearly vomited at the dinner table at the thought of marrying a man who was coming from Salkades, so far away from where the woman she loved was.

That was how she found herself sitting on a picnic table at the local park across from Arsinoe far from where anyone could hear them. Arsinoe had listened for 15 minutes as Christine rattled questions off worriedly. When she answered, it was soft reassurance in her voice.

“I know it’s far from home, but if you really wanted it, you could go to Fennbirn. Work in the Volroy, go to university or learn a new trade-“

“Would Jane and I be allowed to-?” She trails off and Arsinoe smiles before pulling something from her pocket. A small photograph. She looks at it but refrains from showing it to Christine.

“This photo was one I took at my friends wedding. Jules became Queen Crowned after the civil war that Billy and I fought in before he came home.” she turned the photo around and Christine took it and had to cover her mouth so she didn’t sob. It was a photo of two women dancing, their foreheads pressed together. What got Christine was that they both wore beautiful wedding dresses. She handed the photo back and Arsinoe pocketed it.

“If the monarch of Fennbirn can marry a woman, so can you. I can even get Jules to pull some strings and get you wherever you want to go.”

“Can you send a letter today? Because I can’t marry the man my father wants me to,” Arsinoe nods, pats her shoulder and stands to leave.

~

Three weeks later, the sun had risen on the two lovers standing at the railing of a ship. With the help of Billy and Arsinoe they had escaped and made it to the docks at 3 am where a Fennian crew had been waiting, along with Queen Jules and her Consort Emilia, both of whom gave Billy and Arsinoe warm greetings before they left. Luckily, the two had been travelling in Centra, not too far away. Jules had organised Jane a job in the Volroy and Christine an apprenticeship with the best seamstresses of Fennbirn.

She held Jane on the railing in the open because she could and when she felt like crying, she hid her face in Jane’s shoulder. They were free and Christine couldn’t be more grateful for the fact.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Okay but consider, Arsinoe with glasses - HC

idk this popped into my head

so, Arsinoe with glasses

she gets them bc one day Billy watched her looking at things for nearly three hours with her eyes squinting like crazy at every thing and he was like “maybe I should take my girl to an optometrist before she stops being able to see��

and the optometrists response to Arsinoe is literally “how can you even walk straight. your vision is f***ed”

and thus begins the saga of Arsinoe with these black glasses with big ass frames and thick lenses that make her look a little crazy bc of the prescription on them

Arsinoe detests them 

a common phase is “as if my face didn’t attract enough attention as it was”

Billy thinks they’re just about the cutest thing he’s ever seen

his response is always “people look bc you’re beautiful and striking”

everyone has a different opinion on the glasses

Mrs. Chatworth says she looks like a bug

Christine Hollen says that Arsinoe makes them look chic

Jane has no clue what to say to her sister-in-law

Jules says that it made more sense now why she walked into so many things

Pietyr laughs at her for a solid 7.5 minutes (Emilia timed it)

Arsinoe ignores all of them (except for Christine)

she is the queen of forgetting she has glasses on

she falls asleep with them on a lot and Billy has to gently take them of off her before he goes to sleep bc otherwise she has the mark of the arms pressed into her face the next morning

she goes to rub her eye and knocks them nearly off her head

she wears her sunglasses on top of her head and her glasses on her face and her sons laugh a little at her

and to her eternal annoyance, they fall off her face at the most inconvenient times

*cough* when she’s having sex with Billy

she picks them up by the lenses so they are always 100% smudged and Arsinoe is just like “yep, this is cool idc”

either that or she completely forgets she needs to wear them and she’ll be walking into things and not being able to read and Billy will tap her on the shoulder and hand them to her with a kiss on the forehead

she leaves her glasses everywhere

her bedside table, her dresser, the coffee table, the kitchen bench, the bathroom vanity, her desk, on bookshelves etcetera etcetera

also catch Arsinoe in the daily struggle of trying to drink her morning coffee and it fogging her glasses up right as her husband comes down stairs in all his shirtless glory

it’s honestly a travesty

she also struggles to take her shirts off without getting her glasses tangled and she’s over it

in conclusion, Arsinoe’s internal monologue is something along the lines of “i can see properly but at what cost?”

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

This post but I just wanted to do it all with BillyxArsinoe

Who is the most affectionate?

Both are super duper affectionate but Billy takes the cake. Whenever he feels like it, he’ll just hug and kiss her and, according to his mother, it’s very inappropriate.

Big spoon/Little spoon?

They kind of switch depending on who needs it more. So, both have really bad days in terms of depression/PTSD and just need the comfort of being held

Most common argument?

Which of their chickens is the best. Both have taken sides and every now and then they just throw the fuck down over it. Jane gets popcorn and watches just to throw in commnets that escalate the argument.

Favourite non-sexual activity?

They like to go the races. It’s just a nice and exciting date for them where they can feel young and wild.

Who is most likely to carry the other?

Billy. Sorry but in my head he’s jacked.

What is their favourite feature of their partner’s?

Billy loves Arsinoe’s scars because they are proof of how far she will go to help and protect the people she loves - which is something they share. Arsinoe likes Billy’s hands because they’re so gentle and she knows that she’s safe in them.

What’s the first thing that changes when they realise they have feelings for the other?

Both of them are very “oh shit” about it but because neither wants to give away how they feel, they just are more touchy with each other in a way that is only vaguely platonic

Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

Obviously, Billy is and will always be “junior” but every now and then Arsinoe will call him “darling” bc she thinks his reaction is nice - he’ll look confused and then smile really wide. Billy usually just uses Arsinoe’s name or “sin” but if he’s tired, he’ll call her babe.

Who worries the most?

Honestly, probably Arsinoe. Billy has to work in different places a lot and she can’t go with him all the time, so she stresses.

Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

Arsinoe. Simply because Billy always gets the same thing but she changes her mind every time so Billy never gets the chance to memorise

Who tops?

It just depends on how they feel, so it’s a pretty 50/50 split.

Who initiates kisses?

Arsinoe. 

Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

The reach at the same time

Who kisses the hardest?

Arsinoe

Who wakes up first?

Usually Billy, but he doesn’t get out of bed, he kind of just stays and watches Arsinoe sleep because she doesn’t look that peaceful when she’s awake.

Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

Arsinoe, but only if she’s getting cuddles. She’ll get out of bed on time if Billy’s not there.

Who says I love you first?

Billy

Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?)

Usually Arsinoe because she thinks they’re cute and she doesn’t work (bc the patriarchy) so she doesn’t need to pack lunch. Usually they’re just terrible puns but on anniversaries they’re heart felt I Love You notes

Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

Billy because Arsinoe doesn’t have any family that doesn’t already know

What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

Everyone on Arsinoe’s side are big fans because they adore Billy. The Chatworth’s/Mainland friends are iffy but will let it go because Billy and Arsinoe make each other so happy

Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Billy but Arsinoe’s a better dancer 

Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

Both of them have been banned from the kitchen at least twelve times so neither

Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

Oh God both of them and it’s horrific to watch

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

Both of them to the point where Mrs. Chatworth has stopped inviting them out to the theatre bc they just giggle all throughout whatever performance is happening

Who needs more assurance?

Arsinoe. She has a lot of moments of doubt and guilt over the civil war, making Jules queen, her use of low magic etc. so it helps when Billy’s there to boost her up

What would be their theme song?

Fred Astaire by Jukebox The Ghost (which is a banger btw)

Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

Arsinoe because she’s an amazing singer

What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Neither of them sleep very well, but Billy mostly works and Arsinoe reads or sews herself new outfits

one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

The only sad one I can think of is too cruel to inflict on y’all so I’m skipping this one

one headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Arsinoe builds the chicken coop and makes Mrs. Chatworth big mad with her overalls. Billy really really likes the overalls ;)

Billy buys Arsinoe a racing horse that she takes out for a ride every day and lets Jules compete with it whenever she’s staying on the Mainland

They have a few children and get to raise their children in households full of love and absent of the judgement or big expectations they were raised with

They agreed when they got married that they shouldn’t go to bed angry so they always talk it out no matter how long into the night they might be arguing

On weekends they always stay in bed late and they go out to a beach house every summer for holidays

They hang out in the mansion’s library and usually Billy will fall asleep on Arsinoe while she reads a book being held above his head

Both cry when they get married (they were doing great until the vows and then it was all over)

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Family - TDC Post-Canon series 1

Ok so this originally was a post canon one-shot but then I really liked the idea so I’m going to do more of these focussing on Arsinoe from TDC to old age likely and all of the things that entails. 

Also, I couldn’t let go of the idea that Billy has more siblings, so I made them! Enjoy!

And then he leans close and kisses her tenderly, as the rooster clucks happily between them (fdf).

Arsinoe feels warmth flood through her, from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes as Billy’s gentle but firm hands hold her close at the waist. She missed him, missed him like he was a part of her that she lost. In a way, she guesses, he is. Finally they hear a throat clear behind them and she wants to scowl at Jules. She pulls away to glare at her friend only to realise it was actually a passing lady in a ghastly dress who obviously didn’t approve of her and the man she loves kissing on the street. She sticks her tongue out and the woman looks even more scandalised. Billy chuckles and buries his smiling face in the hair sitting against her collar, his hand fisting in her vest.

“We should probably go inside before those pants give someone a heart attack,” Billy says and takes her hand, leading her up the path. Right before they get to the door, he pauses and finally seems to remember that she still has a chicken in her vest. He gestures with his hand and she passes him the chicken. He darts around the side of the house and after a minute, he’s back empty-handed. She tilts her head slightly and he shrugs.

“There may be a semi-chicken coop in the backyard,” Arsinoe smiles and ignores the way Jules mouths ‘semi?’ to no one in particular as they finally make it in the door, where the sounds of ladies conversation drifts from the main room. But Arsinoe doesn’t tense up like she used to. She’d been to war now, which means the thought of society ladies was only slightly less daunting. Only by a little bit. Billy looks horrified though and pauses just inside the door.

“I just remembered that my mother has been ambushing me with ladies with the hopes of marrying me off,” he pressed a kiss to her hair. “Thank God you’re here again to save me,” Arsinoe squeezed his hand before holding an arm out, gesturing for him to lead them into the room. 

Ruth Chatworth looks exactly like Arsinoe remembered, obviously not a fan of change, but Arsinoe had to admit she now understood why the woman never wore black. It definitely did not suit her pale complexion. However, her calm smile and light shoulders gave away no mourning, like she actually only wore black and closed the windows for show. Arsinoe likes her a hell of a lot more for it.

Christine Hollen sits on the loveseat facing away from the doorway but turns when Ruth sees Arsinoe and stops speaking mid sentence. Christine seems just as surprised as Ruth does.

“Hello Arsinoe,” Ruth says, standing and approaching her, obviously appraising her pants, vest and longer hair. She then seems to spot Jules behind Arsinoe and seems affronted at the clothes and the cougar at her side. “Who is your friend and why is there a large animal in my house?” Arsinoe almost wants to laugh.

“Hi Ruth. This is my best friend and the Queen Crowned of Fennbirn, Jules Milone. The big cat is Camden, her familiar,” Ruth pursed her lips at Camden but seemed unwilling to enter into a debate about it. Arsinoe sidled past her and sat down next to Christine with a smile. The Governor’s daughter looked lovely (as usual) in a sky blue dress, her blonde curls tied back in an elegant chignon. “How are you, Christine?” She looks affronted but quickly catches herself.

“I’m well, Arsinoe. Are you going to be sticking around this time?” She says, sipping her tea demurely. Arsinoe smiles gently and leans over to make her own tea. 

“I will actually Christine. My business on Fennbirn is over and I have no interest to go back,” she said, picking up a sugar cube. Christine hummed.

“And your sister?” Arsinoe’s hand froze halfway to her cup before pursing her lips and considering. She didn’t have to be a member of polite society to know that telling Christine how Mirabella died was too heavy for afternoon tea. It was too heavy for any time of day really, but sunny afternoon tea especially.

“She died in the war,” Arsinoe settled on, finally dropping the sugar cube into her teacup. Christine went quiet for a beat.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Arsinoe. I know you and her loved each other immensely” the socialite says gently and Arsinoe nods in recognition, taking a sip of her tea.

“Thank you, Christine,” the conversation was interrupted by Billy, Jules, Jane and Ruth coming to sit with them. Billy sat right next to her and put a hand on her knee, a movement not missed by Christine, but she didn’t comment

“So, Arsinoe, what business bought you back to New Estra?” Ruth said and Arsinoe knew exactly what she meant by that. 

Arsinoe sipped her tea and sighed. 

“Well, Ruth…”

~ 6 Months ~

Arsinoe didn’t have a whole lot of experience with children. She liked children and was pretty sure that they didn’t outright hate her back, but she had never really spent extended periods of time around them, Finn excluded. Which is why she was viscerally surprised to wake up to one crawling over her.

“Uncle Billy, don’t you know girls have cooties?” The child said and Arsinoe turned, slightly offended and ready to assert, rather childishly she must admit, that she did not, in fact, have “cooties.” The red-headed child (that she only recognised from photos on the mantle in Ruth’s drawing room) wasn’t paying attention to her though, instead waiting for an answer from Billy, who was groaning.

“John, she doesn’t have cooties. What are doing in here?” Billy says, sitting up so that he was at eye-level with the child.

“Mumma told me to come get you up. She wants to meet Ar-“ he seems to stumble over her name and instead points to her.

“Arsinoe,” Billy and Arsinoe say at the same time and John nods before climbing over Arsinoe, his knee going straight in her gut, and jumping down. 

“Sorry,” John says.

“All good, kid,” she says, waving him off and he runs back out again. Arsinoe turns to Billy, confused. “Who exactly was that?” Billy kisses her cheek to say good morning before leaning his forehead against her shoulder.

“My nephew,” he says and she raises an eyebrow, “my oldest sister’s kid. She lives in Bevellet and John wasn’t a great traveller when he was younger so I don’t get to see her very often. But if Viv’s here then so is Henri and her husband so be prepared,” Arsinoe clicks her tongue in acknowledgement and rolls out of bed. From her side of the wardrobe she pulls a pretty forest green jumpsuit (something she had designed and sewed herself, much to Ruth’s shock and vague horror) and the ribbon that went with it to go in her hair before going into the ensuite to change.

When she comes out, Billy is buttoning his shirt up and Arsinoe grabs a necktie. She wraps it around his collar and uses it to pull him in for a quick kiss. 

“Compared to your mother, how scared should I be of your sisters?” Billy smiles.

“You’ll be fine,” he says, taking the tie from her hands and tying it before offering his hand and leading her out the door.

The kitchen was loud when they got downstairs and the sound only escalates when the people in the room notice the pair. Billy lets go of his hand to go hug two women who she gathers must be his older sisters and two men approach her, smiling.

“And you must be the newest addition to the family,” one of them says. He’s just taller than her (though that was saying a lot) and broad in the shoulders, with red hair and a truly impressive moustache. He’d be intimidating if he didn’t have such clear laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. “I’m John Moore Sr, Viv’s husband, and this is Edward Allen, Henrietta’s husband,” Edward was shorter than both of the two and lanky, with clear blue eyes and brown-gold hair. He seemed quieter than his brother-in-law but his presence wasn’t uncomfortable by any means. She stuck out her hand to them and shook with a smile.

“Arsinoe Queen, it’s a pleasure to meet you gentleman. I believe I met your son already John. He’s lovely, even if he may have bruised my ribs,” she says with a smile and John tilts his head.

“I’ll make sure he apologises for that, miss Queen, we wouldn’t want to scare off the only woman willing to keep Chatworth, after all,” Arsinoe’s eyebrows raised in surprise before she chuckled.

“Eh, he’s not so bad,” she says, making John laugh and turn to the rest of the group. 

“Chatworth, look after this one, she’s a gem,” he calls and Billy smiles and winks at Arsinoe before both have their attentions drawn by a kind feminine voice sitting at the table.

“Well, don’t keep her sequestered, let us meet her,” John nodded and gestured for Arsinoe to move past the two men, where she finally got a glimpse at the two people she hadn’t yet met. Both were women in their twenties who shared Billy’s warm features and she smiled at them, sitting on the chair Jane had vacated.

“Hi Arsinoe,” one of them said, taking her hand to shake. “I’m Henrietta, but most people just call me Henri or Hen,” she smiled with a grin she recognised on Billy’s face and she can’t help but smile back, matching her energy. 

“Hen, don’t try anything until she’s met all of us,” the woman sitting next to them says and Arsinoe turns to meet her. She leans forward to shake but is hindered but a very pregnant stomach. Arsinoe leans forward to meet her in the middle. “ I’m Viviana, Viv if you will. I think you met my son in the last half hour. Ignore any schemes himself or my sister try to drag you into,” Arsinoe laughs slightly.

“I only involve myself in schemes when I can’t be caught, don’t worry,” she hears Billy snort from behind her, “Billy may attest differently but ignore that,” Viviana smiles and pats her hands, letting them go in favour of continuing to eat her breakfast.

~ 3 years ~

“Welcome to this month’s meeting of The Chatworth Spouse Club,” John says, smiling as they clink their beer glasses together. Edward smiles.

“This month we finally can officially add a new member to the Club,” he says, turning to Arsinoe, who was tapping her new wedding band on her glass. “Welcome Arisnoe, to the best kept secret in the family,” he said, loud pride in his usually subdued voice.

“Thanks gents. Is this Club only for official spouses or will we be inviting Penworth into the fold soon,” she smiled with joy as they scoffed in unison.

“He wouldn’t be invited even if Jane was unfortunate enough to marry that wet sock,” John said, making his companions cough but not disagree. “Let’s just admit now that Penworth would spoil our nights away from spouses and children by being his usual self,” Arsinoe tilts her head in agreement. 

“I’m surprised how happy you are at the thought of being away from home, John,” Arsinoe says, sipping her drink.

“Oh no home is great,” Joh says with his usual wide smile, “It’s just with the new baby on the way and three already… well, here, it’s nice to talk to adults every now and then. Edward would agree, right, Ed?” John says and Edward nods.

“Yeah, Henri and the twins are handfuls all the time so breaks are important. But also I can’t wait to be home with them whenever I leave. Why didn’t either of you warn me how much you miss your kids when you’re away,” he sighs lovingly and Arsinoe raises her hands. 

“Don’t look at me, I don’t have children to speak on. Blame John,” Edward smiles at her before turning his smart eyes on John.

“When are you gonna get to doing that by the way, missy?” John deflects back to her and she shrugs with a smile.

“It’ll happen when it happens and besides, I’m never gonna complain that I don’t enjoy just Billy and me. Not that we haven’t had fun trying,” she admits with a small blush and John whistles with a laugh.

“Well, drink up folks so I can kick your asses at darts,” he says and Arsinoe drinks her beer, trying not to laugh. Neither of them had ever beaten Edward at darts. They probably never would if they were being honest with themselves, but she still had a blast trying.

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