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xxsycamore · 5 months

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A Soulmate That Wasn’t Meant to Be

╰┈➤ 🩷 While rare, there are some instances of a soulmate clock appearing to be broken, showing a negative countdown or one that you cannot outlive. Or both. You were just born under an unlucky star. One that destined you to not only fail to experience such a major event of your life as knowing when you've met your soulmate, but also for Arthur Conan Doyle to find out about it when you've successfully kept it a secret from almost everyone so far.

Arthur Conan Doyle x Gender Neutral Reader • rating: G • tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting; Alternate Universe - College/University; Alternate Universe - Reincarnation; Alternate Universe - Soulmates; Soulmate-Identifying Timers; Denial of Feelings; Feelings Realization; Fake/Pretend Relationship; Pet Names; Drinking; Time Travel; First Kiss • wordcount: 2,641 • masterlist

a/n: This is my gift for @oigimi, for the Secret Santa event hosted by @lemeowade ! I saw your preferences for AUs and I couldn't help myself searching for a connection...then I remembered soulmate clock AU is a thing, and then I remembered ikevamp deals with timetravel and I went "hmmm this can turn into something interesting!" and it spiraled out of control after that point 😭 i sincerely hope this isn't too big of a mess and that it's your type of fic! Hope you enjoy, I had a lot of fun!! 🥺🥺❤❤ Namesake song by Jess Benko. Take a look at the end notes for clarification on some parts of this fic!

"Remind me again why do I have to spend the whole day being your pretend partner. The party doesn't start until 10PM tonight!"

"Here you go, luv. Be careful, it's hot!" Arthur hands the freshly baked pastry to you, resuming your slow stroll in Jardin du Carrousel, the garden of the Louvre museum. You hurriedly take it from his hands if that would make him finally pay attention to your question. Of course it would be hot, he doesn't need to remind you - it only annoys you further, as he so obviously does it to look like a good boyfriend more than anything.

"Do you want to taste mine? I can taste yours too."

"No thank you."

You suppose it's partly your own fault finding yourself in your current situation, considering the recent events. In a world where everyone is busy chasing after time, enjoying the dating scene before their soulmate countdown turns to zero, or trying to rush in and see the countdown speeding up as they try to play with fate and meet with their designated soulmate faster, you're an outcast. An outcast with a broken soulmate clock on your wrist, condemning you to a lifetime of long sleeves and wide bracelets and false modesty to trick people's curiosity. You should be used to them by now, their comments about you not being interested in relationships. And even though you do feel fed up with it, the thought of lying about dating someone just so they can shut up never crossed your mind.

But it crossed that of Arthur Conan Doyle. The college's infamous frivolous playboy, a firm believer of the 'hook up as much as you can before you find your soulmate!' ideology. Now, you didn't want to have anything to do with a guy like him, but on one of those college parties you were dragged to, he decided to pick you for the lead role in his biggest, stupidest drunken decision yet. And you were equally as drunk to play along with it, nodding in the face of his ex-girlfriend as she looked at the both of you in disbelief. For a playboy like Arthur, you thought he was managing to control his dating life better than this. But you guess he just got bored of being surrounded by love.

Straightening the lapels of his grey coat, Arthur fetches the brochure handed earlier to him out of his inner pocket and takes a quick look at it to make sure you checked out everything of interest in the area before entering the museum itself.

The guy has a whole checklist of activities for the day. You've seen it. He purposely taped another page underneath just to scare you with its sheer length, but you're seeing right through his tricks, the page is full of gibberish written just to take space. You've got your best frown on to keep the illusion of ignorance, hoping that you'd get bonus points for agreeing to go through the full contents of the list, both the real and the fake ones.

But is it really an act? The occasional tidbits of satisfaction coming from beating Arthur's brilliant mind - not that you'd ever give him the credit for it - are hardly enough to keep you entertained throughout the day. When the activities you take on today are meant to be just that, entertaining. And romantic too.

Now, were you a normal couple, a true couple, then maybe you'd be having fun now.

"Arthur, I think partners are supposed to listen to each other and answer each other's questions. At the very least."

"But you see, dear…" Arthur wraps his arm over your shoulder, gently nudging you into taking a turn away from the crowded path ahead and into a more secluded walk. "By asking that question out loud with people around us, you've already answered yourself. We clearly have more training to do, or we won't appear as a genuine couple."

Ah. He's right, damn it.

"I only lowered my guard because these people don't know us, stupid… Let's get inside already!"

Getting ahead of him, you think that as long as you appear excited to see the exponates, you can get away with keeping a few steps distance from Arthur. Hearing his low, annoying chuckle triggers the sensory neurons in your brain until a neat little image of his smirk is produced with near-perfect accuracy. Have you simply seen it too many times? There's no escape even when you turn your back to him, great.

The Louvre is magnificent to explore with the many pieces of art it houses, instantly changing your infatuation with the slow passage of time into wishes it would stop altogether. There's so much to see that you'd frankly not mind getting lost in here just to have an excuse to spend more time surrounded by art.

You have to admit, Arthur chose the perfect dating spot. You're not sure if it was based on your own preferences - surely not - but you find yourself not minding it suddenly.

"Picture!"

Hearing the signal, you instantly turn in the direction of the raised-up phone, smiling for the camera as Arthur presses his face closer to yours.

"Oh, this is a good one, I'm definitely posting it. You look so inlove."

"I'm in love with Da Vinci's work, that's it."

"Uh-uh. That works for me too." Arthur replies while his fingers dance across the screen, likely typing some cheesy caption for the picture. A second later your own phone vibrates in your pocket, signaling that he posted the picture and tagged you in it, and you don't even bother looking.

"At least you're a natural, Arthur."

"What, in masking an expression? How are you so sure?"

You blink, meeting his gaze as some child holding a balloon separates the two of you for a mere second. Instinctively, you shorten the distance so you don't lose Arthur, looking for his hand to take hold of. You've already been through that today, linking hands in the crowds. And while there was no real need to do that right now, you just did that…

To the question in your eyes evoked from his last words, he smirks and adds, "There are pieces of art here that I look at with fondness just like you do."

Your heart sinks for a moment, only to create palpitations that mess with your head. You have no idea where they came from or what evoked this feeling in your chest, but while looking anywhere but at Arthur, your gaze falls on other couples passing by. It's because you were instructed to watch them if you're having trouble recreating the subtle romantic gestures that indicate dating. An advice from a writer no doubt, one that you wish you could forget because it's too late telling your brain to forget what it's been taught. But the question is, why the sudden turning of stomach at the sight of them?

While failing to watch your step, you lose your balance and stumble on your own feet, meeting the hard ground hands-first. You feel eyes on you for a short moment; just a mere second any stranger might spare to witness the unfortunate event before moving on with their tour.

That's it, except for Arthur - who is there to pull you up in a manner of utmost care, dusting off your clothes, taking you to a more secluded area with benches to rest on and asking you at least three times if you're alright before you can snap out of your surprised state and let out a murmur of affirmation.

In the whirlwind of emotions rushing through your slightly clouded mind, you put the embarrassment of your fall aside and realize you still feel hot. As Arthur turns your hand around to inspect it, you realize that no amount of hand-holding numbed your reaction to the touch of his warm hands.

And no amount of his exaggerated lovey-dovey gestures of affection could prepare you for the look of genuine worry over something so insignificant on his face.

"You fell on your hands, they must be scrapped… let's get them under cold water, it would wash away the dirt too."

"Wait, don't look!-"

With the distraction slowing down your reactions, you fail to stop Arthur on time before he can roll up your sleeve.

Your soulmate clock instantly makes him adopt an expression of perplexion, as the quick look he gave it was enough for him to notice the bizarre sight of one too many numbers aligned on the width of your wrist.

-46 750 days, 9 hours, 17 minutes, 35 seconds

"Your countdown is…"

"Screwed up. I'm one of those people."

While rare, there are some instances of a soulmate clock appearing to be broken, showing a negative countdown or one that you cannot outlive. Or both. You were just born under an unlucky star.

One that destined you to not only fail to experience such a major event of your life as knowing when you've met your soulmate, but also for Arthur Conan Doyle to find out about it when you've successfully kept it a secret from almost everyone so far.

It has to be some kind of irony, being here with him today for these reasons. He who made up this whole plan because he needs an escape from love, while you on the other hand-

"Now that I've seen yours, it would only be fair I showed you mine."

"It's nothing, you really don't have to-"

You try to avert your gaze as Arthur extends his hand and rolls up his sleeve, turning it so you can see the inside of his wrist.

-12 616 days, 9 hours, 16 minutes, 51 seconds

"Huh…" You freeze for a moment, not believing your eyes. The guy you secretly envied for having the privilege of being sure about meeting true love to the point he'd chase ephemeral trysts just to kill time. Turns out he also won't be able to…

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't think I'm all that sad, luv. I was never destined to have a soulmate, but that's fine by me. Maybe that's what I deserve."

Your head spins with emotion once more, and this time it's guilt. And it weighs down on you heavier than all else there is, and you suddenly want to disappear.

It's probably not wise to turn your back on Arthur without saying a word, but you'll be regretting this later. You start running, and he calls out your name but it never approaches you. He's not even chasing after you, but you're glad - you've already started thinking of the apology you're going to drop in his direct messages before blocking his number.

Just as you halt your step and check behind your back, you spot his tall frame amidst the crowd, trying to push his way toward you. Without much time to think, you open the nearest door and pray that he'll lose you from his sight and continue ahead on the corridor.

This section of the museum appears different somehow, ontop of being strangely devoid of visitors, with the exponates carrying an air of extra antiquity to them. The path ahead is quite narrower in contrast to the other hallways too, the lightning more sparse, and the feeling of unease tells you to wait out Arthur's chase attempt and then go back where you came from.

Except, he finds you.

You hate it that he read your mind about entering that door, and you hate that you're now practically given the privacy to talk. Not wanting to face him now, you simply continue ahead, hoping to blend with the crowd at the other side of that corridor and escape him then.

Arthur follows behind you, continuing to call out your name, and your mind becomes dizzy out of a sudden. You're ready to blame it on one too many things and you don't pay much attention, until something odd happens. A blinding light flashes before you, making you unable to advance further. Arthur catches up with you just in time to put his hand on your arm.

The light is gone in the next moment, and you slowly open your eyes to find yourself in a different hallway, together with Arthur.

Sinking to your knees, you try to make something out of the bizarre situation, and Arthur follows you on the ground to soothingly massage your back, simultaneously checking for injury. A tiny part of you remains sane and warm, and it's glad that he's here.

"A-Arthur! Look at my-"

Moving his gaze from your shocked expression to your outstretched hand, he gasps as he sees your soulmate clock suddenly speed up, losing years upon years, seemingly not planning on stopping anytime soon. Another portion of shock hits you as you notice his own clock doing the same, and you drag up his hand to get his attention to it.

At a pace slower than yours, Arthur's clock reduces its countdown. The two of you can only watch in alert silence, everything else becoming irrelevant in the face of the miracle happening to those who accepted their deprived-of-love fate long, long ago. In the lone hallway, two sets of eyes search for a third person who does not exist, as one might do when that moment approaches.

The days on the counters reduce to what at most adds up to a few years, then a few months, then finally they turn to zero; followed by the minutes, and at last, followed by the seconds as well.

The rows of zeros align on both of your wrists, signaling that…

"My soulmate is…"

"It's been you the whole time?"

***

After being found by the residents of what you came to know is the mansion of Comte de Saint-German, you were introduced to the lord of the house himself. His explanation eased some of your concerns while still being bizarre enough to be hardly believable.

Being trapped here for a month surely sounds like you'll have enough time on your hands to unpack everything that happened today. But you're glad you're not going through this on your own.

Once you find yourself alone in the company of Arthur again, the butterflies in your belly are revived, stubbornly refusing to let anything overshadow the realization you came to just awhile ago.

Arthur seems to be able to tell what's on your mind. His deep sea-blue eyes lock into yours, and you don't know what to say. Luckily, he takes the initiative.

"We traveled back in time. The clocks were never broken… we were meant to meet here."

An echo of his words reverberates in your head as you try and let them sink in, absurd as they sound…there's no other explanation.

He starts laughing, much to your dismay.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, just…" He casually puts his hands in his pockets, admiring a painting hanging on the hallway's wall as he picks his words. "Seeing as we won't be showing up to that party… I guess we don't need the pretend couple lessons anymore."

It's a laugh you didn't know you needed. You aren't sure what is it about human nature that nudges you to seek the solace of a smile no matter how sobering and hostile a situation is, such as finding yourself in an unfamiliar place, in an unfamiliar age. But you're thankful.

"It's a shame." Arthur turns to you. "I was looking forward to kissing you as our grand final lesson."

Your eyes widen, and Arthur has that stupid smirk plastered on his face. Without taking his hands out of his pockets, he leans into your frame and shortens the distance.

"It's a shame indeed…" is all you can muster before sealing those damned alluring smiling lips of Arthur with your own.

a/n: The soulmate clock AU normally uses the countdown for the couple's meeting but here they've clearly met before, so I wondered if I could instead make it count down to their first meeting in the place they're destined to fall in love at, Comte's mansion in 19th century Paris.

Arthur's countdown differs from that of the reader because his clock is synced with the timeline of his previous life - practically, he was born in 1859, lived through the year 1895 when they were destined to meet with the reader - but because it wasn't the right timeline, his clock began to run backwards. Arthur then dies in 1930 and gets reborn into 21st century Arthur, with a clock that still counts down to the year 1895, but the countdown picks up from the moment he died in his previous life - july 7th 1930 (his death day). This is why his and the reader's clocks aren't synced and they can't see it coming that they're each other's soulmate LMAO get doomed by the narrative

"mo are you alright why is this a 4 different AUs at once, 2600 word fic without any planned squeals" yes I think it's perfect as it and I had fun!

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @ale-teodora @kimi00twin @otomelady @privilegedpancake @g-kleran @pumpumnnnp @thesirenwashere @ravenarld @kimmy-banana @devonares @galaxyprison @sadshaxk @starshards26 @thewitchofbooks @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @lordsister @ikemen-banshou @themysticalbeing @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @coornn @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @aquagirl1978 @ikemenlover24 @mcofthemansion @joy-the-reader @katriniac @ikemen-writer @tele86 @lovely-bubb1es @aria-chikage @babyblue0t7 @rhodoliteschaos @shrimpy-kitsune @nightghoul381 @xbalayage @lucyw260 @kittygrimm88 @lokis-laugh Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikemen vampire arthur #ikevamp arthur #ikemen arthur #ikemen vampire fanfic #ikevamp fanfic #ikemen series #ikemen #cybird #otome #otome games #SSEvent

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natimiles · 4 months

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“I was already hearing bells when she smiled.”

their something new and blue | Arthur&MC wedding

12 Days of Arthur — @scummy-writes & @oigimi Day 9: something new / blue

Masterlists

#he actually says that on his side story #i screamed when i found out #and we have vic because we love him #it was really special for me to do it because my wedding was all blue and now i'm emotional #12 days of arthur #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp vic #ikevamp edits #ikevamp moodboards #ikevamp arthur x mc #ikevamp mc

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moonstruckmelancholic · 4 months

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12 Days of Arthur: Write You Erotic

Written for @scummy-writes & @oigimi's 12 Days of Arthur event Prompt: Day 1: warm drinks / sharing and inspired by Late Night Feelings by Mark Robson ft Lykke Li

Rating: M/Explicit Pairing: Arthur/OC M/F (my Ikevamp OC Persephone)

Minors DNI

Summary: Set during the Ikevamp Interlude In the aftermath of Vlad's attack on the residents, the mansion is thrown into a state of disarray and everyone's emotions are running high Arthur steps back into his role as Doctor. But who cares for the carers? Persephone decided to spend a little time caring for Arthur in the quiet hours of the night and two damaged hearts begin to come together

3696 words

The aftermath of Vlad’s theatre of horrors weighed heavily on the residents. Shakespeare was in a bad way, but he’d recover, however everyone else was still shaken by their pasts literally coming back to haunt them. Arthur and Dazai escaped direct confrontations with their own ghosts, but that meant they went into overdrive looking after the fallout of everyone else’s. Dazai taking the role of clown to try and lift everyone’s spirits, Arthur taking up this medical bag again to ensure the physical injuries were taken care of. The mental injuries would be added to the list of traumas each of them carried and would have to fade with time.

But who cares for the carers? It’s something that had been on Persephone’s mind since the dust had settled and everyone retreated into their rooms. She’d popped her head round every door and sure enough the facade of normality was back up but there was someone who kept appearing in her mind.

Arthur.

Despite the rocky start, she’d come to care for him quite a bit. More than she’d expected certainly and tonight confirmed the dirty flirt had wormed his way well and truly into her affections. When she heard the Gauguin had pulled a gun and Arthur had intervened her heart felt like it stopped. But in the aftermath he’d cheerfully put on his carefree act and had been tending the Will for hours. As she padded down the hall, the light from his room was finally seen spilling out under the door and she knew she needed to do something for him.

The kitchen was surprisingly chaotic, even Sebas was too weary to put everything back in its right place but thankfully the coffee tools were together. It may be late but coffee and fudge always cheered him up and it seemed more important tonight than ever. The ritual of grinding and brewing leading to the smell of smoke and herbs filling her nose, proving to be soothing in its familiarity, but it needed something more. Arthur was terrible at holding his drink but a measure of whiskey in his coffee shouldn’t floor him. Well, perhaps two measures - it had been a long night. She prepared herself some too, with a bit of fudge placed on a tray.

The trip to his room was surprisingly quiet, she’d expected someone to be around but thankfully they weren’t. The silence and the moonlight her only company, even the sound of her steps muffled by the carpet. The light was still creeping from under the doorframe, she let out a sigh of relief at the fact he was still up because she didn’t want to wake him from what little sleep he could manage.

The knock was tentative, and there was a pause before she finally heard him answer. Even through the door she could hear an undercurrent in his voice. He’d not escaped his ghosts after all she mused.

“Come in” the slightly confused voice beckoned, the door handle feeling slightly awkward as her hand trembled while opening it.

Turning to face her, his eyes didn’t hide their shock, perhaps the weariness making schooling his expression less smooth than usual. But, his face settled into his usual smirk, albeit wearier his voice taking on a slightly deeper huskier tone. It felt more sensual than usual, making her skin prickle as he spoke

“Why dove, bit late for you to be about but must say you are a sight for sore eyes” he leaned back into his writing chair, letting his body relax again, with his legs crossed over one another watching her cross into his space. The scent of coffee already perking up his senses. She sets the tray down near the chaise lounge, and he slowly makes his way over to sit next to her.

“Seemed like you could use a pick me up after a day like today” she said placing the coffee mug in one hand and the fudge in the other making his eyes light up with joy

“Coffee and fudge, by jove I’ve been blessed by the goddess of the mansion” he theatrically said, taking a swig, only to register that his coffee has an added treat. The slight shock on his face morphing from smirk to full on grin.

“Thought a slightly Irish boy could use a slightly Irish coffee” Persephone smiled taking sips of her own drink. The comment on his ancestry taking him off guard and earning her a slightly baffled look “How the devil did you guess-wait the name wasn’t it” he corrected himself and cursed his lack of sleep for making such a painfully obvious comment.

“Well that and your talent for spinning a yarn” another sip of coffee and whiskey warming her up. The near positive comment reminded him of what she said on their first night she arrived and he introduced himself. The comment on his body of work was ‘oh, the detective stories, they’re cute’ bristled him more than he cared to admit despite his adversarial relationship with his most famous creation.

He chucked with a wry edge “I thought you said my stories were ‘cute’”

“Well, yes your detective stories. I always preferred your ghost stories” she said between sips. Arthur nearly spat his coffee across the room, she continued ignoring his reaction “A particular favourite is the Captain of the Pole Star, I’ve always been curious at what the captain was grasping for to die with such a smile on his face. I read it a lot after my parent’s died and it was a surprisingly comforting story despite its eeriness. Actually when I was trying to make the decision between pursuing ballet as a career or going to uni, it was those ghost stories that spurred on my choice to study English Literature & Art History. Actually wrote my dissertation on some of your work…” Her voice trailed off as her body relaxed into the seat, allowing her legs to stretch and exaggerate their lithe shape, the robe falling just enough to bare her claves. The leanness of her dancer’s body becoming apparent beneath.

Arthur let his gaze travel once he recovered enough from the fact that not only did she actually know of his other work but she had just opened up more than he’s ever heard. The mansion’s newest resident had been a particular mystery to him, ask affable as she was, she was surprisingly cagy about her own life so trying to get more than superficial details from her proved a challenge; her speciality was to deflect and focus on the residents the moments he began to prod more so this candidness somewhat strange and endearing. Adding the coffee in making him feel warm and relaxed. The whiskey giving his mind a haze and the comfort he rarely allowed helped too.

“Persephone luv, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you talk so much about yourself. Feeling somewhat honoured to get to see a little more beneath the surface” the flirtation in his voice amplified by the husky edge of exhaustion “surely not this little amount of booze has loosened your lips”

“Effy. You can call me Effy. It’s been a long time since anyone used that nickname but you can…if you want. Probably safer than letting you pick” she chuckled thinking of poor Newt, but her eyes were gazing off past him, scanning the titles on his bookshelves. “Well, suits you better than Percy” Arthur mused “Still someone is rather open tonight. Must say despite coming across like a little lost bunny whose face seems to give away her every thought, you’re more tricky to unwrap that expected”

“Seems like a good night for it” she simply stated looking him in the eye “and if I ask you how you’re truly feeling you’ll just find a way to deflect. Plus, even for immortals apparently time is no guarantee. Guess it’s a round about way to thank you for your writing” her thoughts tuned back to Shakespeare’s bloodied form and trying to get enough rouge in him so he can heal. It was a quiet thanks, but it still reached him. It meant more to him right now than he could really elaborate with words alone.

“Y’know, I was a doctor on a whaling ship like the Pole Star, you’ve can probably guess how that inspired me” he grinned “granted, for all the things I learnt, the smell haunted me for years” he gave a light shudder that made both of them laugh, ending up in a comfortable silence as they continued their drinks. Effy ended up stretching her legs into his lap, enjoying the sensation of him lightly running his fingers over her ankles, it was intimate but neither cared to comment and break the peace between them. He enjoyed the last piece of fudge before asking

“Where did you go to university?”

“Edinburgh, doubt it’s changed much since you attended” the softness of her gaze and her answer brought a grin to his face

“My, what a coincidence” he looked over his nearly drained mug finding something quite sweet in the happenstance “often want to sneak back there and see the old place again, but there may be a few issues regarding my timeline and as much as I like winding up daddy, he occasionally has a point” they looked at each other as he shrugged.

Their eyes stayed trained on each other, seeing who would make the first move. Arthur was weighing up if a move would even be welcome right now. Despite the intimacy of the quiet hours of the night, when the morning comes consequences come with it and for all his levity, the fear of pushing her away by acting too forward now bubbled amongst the other anxieties that were threatening to burst fourth. A constant reminder of his own cowardice always there to creep up and ruin the most peaceful moments, if it wasn’t for the shifting of the seat and the feeling of Effy straddling him dragging him from the darkness of his own mind he’d consider this all a delusion.

It took him aback but he managed not to show it, the feeling of her body beginning to make his warmer, more sensitive. Her eyes held his, making the words dry up on his tongue, the feeling of her hand gently caressing his face made the blush forming on his face grow as her touch grazed down his neck and start to slip under the fabric of his shirt. Each touch felt so delicate he dared not move as she worked the remaining buttons open, he was losing his composure and knew he had to stop her before this could go beyond the point of return

“Effy, luv-“ he was silenced by a finger on his lips and it took all his restraint not to try and draw it into his mouth. He wanted to taste her, but he didn’t trust himself.

“Shhhhhh” her lips made a pretty shape he wanted to commit to memory “Arthur just relax. You’ve been busy doing the caring. Now you need someone to care for you” and with that, Effy gently undid the robe and let it fall from her shoulders, revealing that there was nothing underneath. Dark hair cascaded over a long and lean frame, her freckles extending from her face down her body like constellations across her skin, Arthur wanted to trace every one but was almost to scared to touch, in case the apparition in front of him was simply the hallucination of a sleep deprived mind.

As if sensing his trepidation, she took one of his hands and placed it on her breast and slowly drew it down to the curve of her waist, never once looking away from him. She only let go to capture his face between both of her hands and planted a surprisingly chaste kiss on his lips, a light taste to tease him, remind him she was here and wouldn’t vanish without having to say it. He felt like he was falling, so her grounded himself by holding onto her hips, soft but more muscular than he expected but it didn’t do much to help as her lips became bolder, his body reacting and making him dance to her tune. She was unexpectedly bold, he was enjoying the feeling of her melting into him, feeling skin on skin where his shirt had opened. He wanted more, needed her closer. His arms wrapped tightly around her and he slipped his tongue through her lips.

Her taste was mixed with the whiskey and coffee and it made for an intense flavour. Paired with the sensation of his shirt being removed and her hands beginning to work on his belt, the jingle of metal a prelude to the feeling of her hand fondling him. It felt like electricity jolted straight to his groin making his hips buck gently. An opportune time explore her more.

Wet heat awaited him as he slid his fingers down her hip and between her legs. The moan she made as he began to explore her made his head feel light, enjoying the sensation of her body massaging his digits and beginning to grip onto him. The thought of this on his cock made him swell in her hand. He used his free hand to pull hers away from his cock because he knew he’d lose the last shred of composure he had, so he pulled her wandering hand to his lips, kissing each finger while gazing at her.

He’d fantasised about this, the prospect of having her at last but it was better than he could have imagined, even just having her ride his fingers felt incredible and he didn’t want it to end, so when she pulled away he couldn’t help but let his face drop

“Shhhhh” she murmured lifting her hips “tonight I want to care for you Arthur” she whispered into his ear, her breath grazing over the shell of it. “Although…” Her face flushed a deeper shade as she said “it’s been a long time since I’ve been with a man and I’m not exactly an expert at being on top” she bit her lips causing them to look even more swollen and tempting, the sight absorbing Arthur until he felt her lower herself onto him slowly.

They moaned in unison, her body adjusting to the size, the slight stretch making her back arch until her was sheathed to the hilt. Arthur’s mind went blank, his body sensitised and overwhelmed by the feeling of her, being really inside her. He couldn’t hold back a growl of desire while trying to keep enough sense to reassure her

“Luv, you had me fooled” he said with a smirk on his face making the lust in his eyes look more intense. He was curious, as much as he wanted to take control and push her down onto the sofa and ravish her, his patience held and relaxed into the feeling of her beginning to ride him slowly and he thought to himself that this moment was even more perfect than anything he’d ever imagined.

Effy was struggling to keep her mind on track, feeling him fill her and enjoying the sensation of him inside, the heat, the heaviness but she began to move with a gentle roll of her hips. She couldn’t help but feel conscious of her lack of experience especially with a man like Arthur, someone who knew his way around pleasure and the thoughts kept disrupting her slow rhythm but looking down at him her heart skipped.

He was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world, his eyes blown with lust and head falling back but it was the smile on his face that stunned her. Not a smirk, not a grin but a gentle smile making him look almost boyish, vulnerable. The emotions swelling in her causing her to stop her movements just to kiss him, feel him this close. There was a passion but moreover a fragile intimacy between the pair caused by a rawness that only happens in the liminal time between now and tomorrow. She broke the kiss and began to build her pace, not too fast nor rough but with more force as she sunk down his cock causing Arthur to begin panting her name, his hands settling on her hips with force and beginning to guide her movements more. Each thrust made her shake, the head of his shaft brushing against the sensitive spot in her depths maker her voice sing out his name, the feeling of her wetness pooling all over his balls making the most obscene noises as they moved. Arthur began to take more control, moving his hips in unison causing his cock to delve even deeper into her, getting faster and rougher. Sweat tricking down his neck, the veins and muscles twitching, his Adams apple moving making his sensual masculinity even more pronounced and driving her even wilder. The pace began to become ragged, unpredictable making his hands on her hips the only thing anchoring them together until she felt him sucking her nipple, light bites and his tongue rolling over them, his fangs scraping against the sensitive flesh.

“Yo-you, ah” she gasped between thrusts “bite me” her voice almost pleading him as he worked her breasts. She could almost feel his cocksure smirk as he spoke into her chest, making his breathless voice muffled and somehow more arousing “Patience be luv” the vibrations of his murmur adding to the sensations ripping through her.

Arthur began to power into her. Despite being on the bottom she begun to realise he was in control and all she could do was hold on as he pounded into her, her cunt tightening due to the stimulation, the sudden flutters and clenches making Arthurs eyes roll back “Fuck Effy, you’re gripping me so tight you’re going to drive me over the edge before I’ve even had the pleasure of feeling you come on my cock like a good girl” he practically growled into her ear. A predatory edge taking over his handsome features, she could have sworn his eyes were practically glowing. His hand slipped from her hip and before she could register his fingers were rubbing the pearl between her legs making her already overstimulated mind and body burn hotter.

Arthur was in bliss, having her wetness all over him and sweaty body pressed against him. The first stirrings of her climax and having her cling to him like he was the only thing that mattered in the universe bringing out his more vampirish instincts, the want to possess her, consume every part of her from her pretty swollen lips, pert little nipples rubbing against him to the liquid soaking his balls and most of all, her blood which smelt sweeter and more enticing than ever. All she could do was moan, pant and say his name as he got faster, determined to feel her come for him, come on him, made keeping his fangs out of her a difficult task. So much so he almost gave in. But not yet, he wanted her on the brink before he drank from her. He wanted her at her sweetest and drowning in a pleasure only he could give her, even he was mildly surprised by quite how possessive he was getting. To the point, part of him never wanted to let her out of his room again.

The scraping of her nails across his neck and shoulders drew him back to the moment, a pride swelling in him at the prospect of her leaving scratches all over him as he felt her orgasm build, each flutter, jerk and moan pushing her closer until he felt it. The tension in her body signalling her hitting her limit was the sign he was waiting for and he sunk his fangs into her causing her to scream his name, the pleasure of his bite and the climax of his stimulation making her body tremble as she clung onto him while he fucked her through it his own high not far off. Effy felt like she’d not only been hit by a wave of pleasure but battered by it and drowned in it, her mind was rendered incoherent between his bite and the rather powerful orgasm he gave her converging, leaving every never in her body raw and sensitised to the point where she was struggling to even remain conscious. Thankfully Arthur wasn’t far behind her as he stopped drinking from her and buried his head into the juncture of her neck and shoulder damn near growling as she felt a warm sensation filling her up, her body clinging to every part of him in a vice like grip. To her surprise, he was shaking too, his body seemed to be humming with pleasure so much so they both stayed still, panting and trying to come back to reality neither daring to move too much and break away from the other. Arthur even refraining from some witty remark just to pant into her skin. He’d used the bite as foreplay more times than he could count, but using it now at the point of climax like this was more explosive than he had imagined; to the point he nearly was overwhelmed with the desire to drink a dangerous amount from her.

Time felt suspended around them, their bodies coalescing while they shared the experience of the slow fall from their joint high, the wait for the sensations to calm and the afterglow to dim. Eventually he pulled out from her reluctantly but the exhaustion of the events of the last few days paired with the sexual and emotional intensity wore away even Arthur’s inhuman stamina. Effy was barely clinging to consciousness and only let out a quite murmur as he lifted her to his bed and laid himself down next to her, their bodies intwining again as they both dropped into a deep sleep. Too deep for even his nightmares to reach.

#ikemen series #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp smut #12 days of arthur #ikevamp interlude

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fang-and-feather · 4 months

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Ikemen Vampire - Arthur x Reader - Family Fic

For Day 5 of 12 Days of Arthur hosted by @oigimi and @scummy-writes

This week was a nightare for writing, i'm glad I at least finished this, as improvised as it was

IkeVamp Masterlist / General Masterlist / AO3 Link

“When will dad get here?” Your daughter asked impatiently, sitting on the floor by your feet, Vic resting his head on her lap.

“He’ll be here soon, dear.” You ruffled her hair, hoping Arthur wouldn’t take too long.

I still took a few more minutes before the door opened, Vic rushing to it.

“Down, Vic!” Arthur said firmly, trying to calm the dog that jumped at him, as if to get to the box in his arms. “Down!” Vic finally listened, sitting back, but still staring at the box but he was replaced by the little girl, that darted from her place by your side to cling to him.

“Daddy!” She hugged him, then looked up, eyes shinning as she noticed the box. “You really got me a pet!”

“Why do you think so, dear? Maybe it’s a toy. Or a gift for your mother.”

“There are holes in the box, like mom made when we brought that bird to the forest. And you already got mom a gift, that’s why you got home late last week.” She explained.

Arthur looked so proud when she said that. You knew he loved the fact that your daughter was so observant at such young age. Maybe it was just a phase, in which she was awestruck with him and his skills, and trying to copy him. But she was smarter than other kids her age, especially in things that required logic, attention and observation, and he always got so proud when she showed that.

“Smart like her father.” You laughed. “She’ll be outsmarting you before you know it.”

“Is that the confidence you have in me, luv?” Arthur should know you were teasing, still he clearly didn’t like the notion that anyone could outsmart him, not even his own daughter, because he was definitely pouting.

“Don’t worry, daddy.” Your daughter chimed in. “You will always be my champion.”

“Well, thank you, dear.”

“But mom said good students get better than their teachers.” She added, making you laugh harder.

She wasn’t even the one you told that to, but apparently she heard your conversation and took your words seriously.

Arthur looked like he wanted to protest, but all that noise seemed to wake the dog in the box, who had been quiet until now, as he started to bark and try to push the box open. Vic stood up, barking back.

“I think we all got a little out of track here, and someone is getting impatient.”

“True.” Arthur crouched down to get to his daughter’s eye level, extending the box to her. “Merry Christmas, little robin.”

The little girl sat on the floor, opening the box.

“Here, little one.” She told the puppy that poked his head out. He barked at her and she reached out to touch him a little hesitantly, but smiled in delight when he let her do so, tail wagging, before she picked him up. “I think it likes me!” She exclaimed, excitedly.

The puppy was the same race as Vic, but in a different coloration.

“And you like him?”

“I love him! Thank you, Dad!”

Vic had approached her, sniffing the new puppy, who barked at him. Vic barked back, then walked back to Arthur.

“Seems like Vic approves, too.”

The girl let the puppy down, following him as he started to explore the room.

“What will be his name?” You asked her.

“Sherlock.” She declared, without hesitation.

You tried not to laugh at the obvious shock on Arthur’s face. Not even he was prepared for that turn of events. He would probably regret agreeing to get her a dog for a while.

“Who told you about Sherlock, dear.”

“I saw it in one of dad’s papers, then I asked uncle Sebas.” The puppy ran up to Vic, barking as if calling to him, and your daughter followed, finally noticing Arthur. “Daddy, are you okay?”

Arthur closed his eyes, gulped, took a deep breath and managed to smile. Not finding the courage to complain at his little girl.

“I’m fine, little robin.”

She nodded happily and scooped Sherlock up, before running to the door.

“Where are you going?” You asked her.

“Show him to Vincent and Lis.”

“Don’t run on the stairs, and don’t lose him.” You shouted as she ran to meet her friends, with Vic following her out.

“Okay, mum!” She shouted back.

Shaking your head, you turned back to Arthur.

“Seems like she already won this round. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m not fine, exactly.” Arthur admitted in a low tone. “Of all things… But you underestimate me, luv.” He added with a weak grin. “This is not exactly a loss. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to win a game, that’s part of the strategy.”

“Strategy for what? The only time you brought up a game regarding her was last year.”

“And you really thought I would let it end in a draw like that?”

You laughed, nuzzling into his chest.

“You’re impossible. But you know you didn’t need to go that far, right? She would have understood if you talked to her.” Arthur tensed a little, and you tried to pull away to look at him, but he hugged you tighter. “Don’t tell me the great detective didn’t figure out how emotionally mature his daughter really is?”

“Maybe. But you don’t take uncalculated risks when you want to win.”

“I’ll leave it at that.” You said, laughing. You knew Arthur didn’t want to admit he was unable to say no to his little girl. After all, it defeated the purpose of the game if you didn’t know it was still ongoing. But you would let him have this moment, at least for this day. “Merry Christmas, Arthur. I love you.”

Arthur finally pulled away to face you.

“Love you too, bird. Merry Christmas.” You two kissed, enjoying each other’s warmth a little longer while you could. “A shame we can’t continue this right now, luv. Let’s get your gift then, shall we?”

Tag List: @tele86, @nightghoul381, @natimiles

If you want to be tagged on future writings, you can reply to this post or send me a message

IkeVamp Masterlist / General Masterlist

#12 days of arthur #ikemen vampire #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp #fanfiction #ikevamp fanfic

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misty-moth · 4 months

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Day 5 of 12 Days of Arthur: puppy 🐶

Lil’ puppy Vic is too precious, too adorable, too lovable, and too dapper in a tie.

Just like Arthur 🫰😌

(They also both have flippy floofy hair/fur)

Also~ @oigimi and @scummy-writes

#thinking of arthur meeting puppy vic melts my heart #idk if this looks like a puppy vic #i tried 🥲#ikevamp arthur #ikemen arthur #tick tock it’s loving Arthur o’clock #12 days of arthur #arthur my beloved #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #moth’s art

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scummy-writes · 5 months

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A very small entry for 12 Days of Arthur, an event @oigimi and I are hosting. This is supposed to be for Day 3, but I have been very busy IRL and this got delayed. My entry for Day 4 and another will be late as well.

A little Arthur weekly planner! He will cheer you on through the tasks you need to get done. This is set to fit a full piece of printer paper easily, and I typically use a piece of sticker laminate to cover it, so I can use it as a dry erase board with some dry erase markers!

For the event, prompts are going on until the 23rd, but you're able to keep posting entries until the end of December- so if you'd like to join in on the fun of showing Arthur some love, there is still plenty of time to do so!

#ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp arthur #ikemen vampire arthur #12 days of arthur

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mcofthemansion · 4 months

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random lil' ike-husband question!

have you ever imagined a scenario where you and your guy have a kiddo or multiple together? Like for ikevamp, ikepri, ikesen, ikerev, ect...

What would you name them? What's a big thing you'd imagine about the senario?

Something that I see for my beloved Arthur is if we had a son, Arthur would totally want him to have the middle name be Theodorus since Theo is his best friend! (Or more if you're all in a poly relationship!)

and I just keep imagining the scenario where we introduce the kiddo to everyone in the Mansion and say that his middle name is Theodorus and...just...that moment between Arthur and Theo would make me so happy 🥺💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

It's something I'd want to see...idk why but I think about it sometimes...he'd also be a great dad to a lil' girl! I just know it! But that son scenario keeps replaying itself in my head! And I'm just imagining a miniature Arthur that wants to be just like him and my heart is going all squish-squish melty...

Anyways...maybe it's because Arthur's been in my life for so many years but I keep imagining a kid with him!!! XD

Anyways! I wanna know if anyone else thinks about having a fictional family with your fictional guy and your own scenarios about what you'd name the kiddo and everything! Like personally to your liking! Screw any audience! How would you imagine this moment with your guy(s) to go?

(Maybe I'm just to stuck thinking about my program that kids won't leave my mind 😅 still I wanna ask!)

So tagging people! And sending hugs! Hope I'm not bothering you...

@yanderepuck @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @violettduchess @venulus @oigimi @lokis-laugh @tiny-wooden-robot @scummy-writes @kisara-16 (and anyone else that wants to reply sorry my phone is making tumblr so screwy and it's not letting me tag anyone else rn ;-;)

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikepri #ikemen prince #ikerev #ikemen revolution #ikesen #ikemen sengoku #cybrid #hugs!#arthur my beloved #ikevamp arthur

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weird-profiterole · 5 months

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For @oigimi , after her cute drawing of Michelangelo 🥺💖

Don't repost, only reblog

#other people's ocs

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faustianfascination · 2 months

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Write You Erotic

Written for @scummy-writes & @oigimi’s 12 Days of Arthur event Prompt: Day 1: warm drinks / sharing and inspired by Late Night Feelings by Mark Robson ft Lykke Li

Rating: M/Explicit Pairing: Arthur/OC M/F (my Ikevamp OC Persephone)

Minors DNI

Summary: Set during the Ikevamp Interlude In the aftermath of Vlad’s attack on the residents, the mansion is thrown into a state of disarray and everyone’s emotions are running high Arthur steps back into his role as Doctor. But who cares for the carers? Persephone decided to spend a little time caring for Arthur in the quiet hours of the night and two damaged hearts begin to come together

3696 words

Arthur.

“Come in” the slightly confused voice beckoned, the door handle feeling slightly awkward as her hand trembled while opening it.

“Seemed like you could use a pick me up after a day like today” she said placing the coffee mug in one hand and the fudge in the other making his eyes light up with joy

He chucked with a wry edge “I thought you said my stories were ‘cute’”

“Where did you go to university?”

“Edinburgh, doubt it’s changed much since you attended” the softness of her gaze and her answer brought a grin to his face

“Effy, luv-“ he was silenced by a finger on his lips and it took all his restraint not to try and draw it into his mouth. He wanted to taste her, but he didn’t trust himself.

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp oc #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp smut #ikevamp interlude #Arthur x Persephone #Arthur x OC #bolts writes things #persephone grey #ikemen ocs

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oigimi · 1 year

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changed my url!

frivolousplayboy —> oigimi

#jekyll’s thoughts

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khutao · 2 years

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✨ jekyll/eniko . he/it/she/they . hyv writer and artist ✨

my main blog is @oigimi where i post about otome games, mainly the ikemen series! likes and follows will come from there as this is a sideblog

about the blog

please check the rules page for characters i will not write x readers for as well as what themes i will not write

i occasionally take art requests, but i am way more likely to do them if you commission me!

i'm mostly a yume blog but i do write ships sometimes!

if you are under 18, please blacklist the tag x18 as that is what i will use for my nsfw content!

i am mentally disabled as well as a uni student so content production may vary

i am a hu tao main hehe

masterlist guide to tags rules

#pinned post

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maiji · 6 years

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Thoughts on Grasses of Remembrance (The Tale of Genji through its poetry)

Finally had some time this weekend to sit down with A Waka Anthology, Volume 2: Grasses of Remembrance Part B by Edwin A. Cranston. This book is the last in an impressive and intimidating collection translating a number of major classical poetry anthologies. It’s basically a speedrun through Tale of Genji (if such a thing were possible) filtered through all 795 waka poems written or uttered by the characters over the course of the novel.

Poetry was a Really Big Deal during the Heian era. If you were an aristocrat, not only were you expected to compose decent poetry, you had to be able to do it off-the-cuff appropriate to the occasion. AND to do this properly, you were expected to be able to recognize and respond cleverly to references to a ton of other existing classic poems from memory that people would just mention casually in conversation or writing (kinda like how people quote the Simpsons today lol). This was a prime marker of how intelligent/competent and - no joke - how sexy you were. So not surprisingly, these poems are extremely important to the development of character interactions and themes in the Tale of Genji which has a lot of romance and relationship plotlines.

However. Translating Heian era Japanese into modern Japanese is already challenging. Rendering Heian era Japanese waka poetry into modern English is, as you might imagine, harder for a bunch of reasons. Considering how dense the actual novel already is, it’s super easy to gloss over the poetry, and some modern translations simply integrate the basic intent of the poems right into the main text/dialogue.

I was really interested in finding something specifically focusing on and analyzing the poetry, and this book appeared to fit the bill.

Short review: IT TOTALLY DOES. If you’re into Tale of Genji, Heian era, classical Japanese history, classical Japanese literature, Japanese poetry, or just love reading translators articulating eloquently while sassing characters or flailing through linguistic complexities, I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Long review: blah blah blah thoughts follows, including some quotes/poem for reference.

The book starts with a quick 2 page intro setting the context of the Tale of Genji, then goes straight into the poems. TBH I personally found it more flowery and redundant than necessary (it repeats a few poems that are then explained later). But it’s only 2 pages, we’ll live.

Then, the poems. For every poem (or poems, in the case of an exchange - sometimes a flurry of them with multiple characters speaking or dashing letters off to each other) there’s an intro and summary of context followed by an analysis, including notes on meaning, narrator and character intent, structure, symbols and wordplay. The original Japanese is included in romaji alongside the English translation. The commentary also flags known references to other classic poems (WITH those poems in-line! This is awesome because I don’t have the rest of these books!), and even mentions poem and folk song quotations from the rest of the novel where the characters have not composed new poetry, but are reciting other existing known pieces.

Overall, I have only three real “warnings” about Grasses of Remembrance Vol 2b:

1) It’s very academic and flowery in tone. If you’re not used to it, it can be hard to read. But then again, if you’re not willing to get past that, how are you reading Tale of Genji? lol. In any case, I personally thought the commentary was a lot of fun. Cranston definitely has opinions and can get pretty sarcastic in places, which I found hilarious. Here are a few sample quotes:

“Tamakazura has remarked to herself how superior the Emperor [Reizei] was in looks to all the courtiers in his train (It is a principle with this author that superior people be dashingly handsome or ravishingly beautiful).”

“The ruefully witty poems exchanged between Yugiri and To no Naishi [Koremitsu’s daughter, the Gosechi Dancer] are rather more to my taste than the soggy ones Yugiri and Kumoi no Kari exchanged on their wedding night. Might it be the case that a totally sanctioned relationship is literarily uninspiring?”

“The old lady reaches for the melodramatic ultimate and dies just as Yugiri’s letter arrives.”

The overall effect is like an exceedingly well-educated, gossipy and sassy ride through the entire novel hahaha.

2) Minor typos. I noticed some speckled throughout the text every so often (e.g., Tamakazura being rendered Takakazura, Akashi as Asashi, instances of accidental extra letters, etc.). It was pretty clear what the correct spelling was supposed to be, and TBH considering this is the last of a huge-ass series of over 1300 pages I think it’s forgiveable. Maybe a few that spell-check should have caught, but oh well.

3) This book is NOT CHEAP. As I mentioned in a previous post, not only did I not buy the entire collection, I didn’t even buy a complete Volume 2 - I only bought the last half of the second volume lmao. And the Tale of Genji translations are only HALF of this half of a book. The rest is actually the footnotes, appendices, notes to poems, glossary, bibliography and indices (including indices for every poem by author and by first line) for this beast of a translation/compilation project. This includes a lot of additional commentary and other poems and makes for pretty interesting reading itself, even without the rest of the volumes/parts. The price can definitely be scary and an issue for a lot of people, so if you’re interested in it, I suggest try checking it out at your library or on Google Books first. (In fact, Google Books is how I learned of this book in the first place.)

For me, the depth of insight for the poems was fantastic. It gave me a lot more appreciation for the scenes, including the mental state of the characters, plus a million more symbols, metaphors and ideas for my own creative works like the Genjimonogatari illustration series, North Bound and other original stuff.

It also clarified several fuzzy translation questions I had that relied on specific knowledge of Heian culture and history/evolution of the use of the language and wasn’t easily found in Google searches or online language resources. And even if you’re already familiar with common allusions, metaphors and puns/homophones in Japanese poetry, it’s still helpful to see them all summarized. And sometimes lamented by the book’s author too. SO MANY PONIES EATING GRASS. SO MANY PINES. Especially the pines. (It IS an amazing pun though, especially because it works in both English and Japanese. Pine [tree] -> to pine, matsu/pine tree -> matsu/to wait)

In term of the actual translations themselves, you may still find them coming off a bit roundabout in some cases when comparing to the original Japanese. But overall I find Cranston’s translations more direct/flavourful than how they were rendered in the Tyler translation, partly because of how Tyler chose to juggle his set of translator’s challenges for rendering not only meaning but also more technical aspects of the poetic form. So the imagery ends up being, to me, a lot more vivid. The overall effect usually ends up more colourful, more emotional, more erotic, more cutting, more entertaining, and whatnot.

For example, Kashiwagi’s suitor’s poem in the Kocho/Butterflies chapter. When reading the novel, I was like, uh-huh, yah, OK. When I read it here, I was like whoa, dude, that’s a little intense lol. Cranston’s translation amps up the connotation of the heat of the water based on the rest of the line. For comparison:

(The original non-romaji Japanese in the samples following are thanks to the Japanese Text Initiative from the University of Virginia Library Etext Centre and the University of Pittsburgh East Asian Library. Their Tale of Genji page has a FREAKING AMAZING side-by-side comparison of the novel in original Japanese, modern Japanese and romaji. Bless them and the people who had to organize and wrangle that text together.)

Original Japanese: 思ふとも君は知らじなわきかへり岩漏る水に色し見えねば Omou to mo / Kimi wa shiraji na / Wakikaeri Iwa moru misu ni / Iro shi mieneba

Tyler version: You can hardly know that my thoughts are all of you, for the stealthy spring welling from the rocks leaves no colour to be seen.

Cranston version: Hardly can you know / Of the longing that I feel, / For the boiling wave / Is merely colorless water / As it drains away from the rock.

Here’s another example. Oigimi (Agemaki in the book, as Cranston used Wayley’s names for the sisters) telling Kaoru that he’s the only one who’s been actually visiting them and Kaoru is like all riiiight :Db! From Shii ga Moto / Beneath the Oak chapter:

Oigimi’s poem 雪深き山のかけはし君ならでまたふみかよふ跡を見ぬかな Yuki fukaki / Yama no kakehashi / Kimi narade Mata fumikayou / Ato o minu kana

Tyler: No brush but your own has marked the steep mountain trails buried deep in snow / with footprints, while back and forth letters go across the hills.

Cranston: Over the bridges / Clinging to the cliffs along / Our deep-snow mountains / No letter-bearer leaves his trace: / Those footprints are yours alone.

Kaoru’s reply つららとぢ駒ふみしだく山川をしるべしがてらまづや渡らむ Tsurara toji / Koma fumishidaku / Yamakawa o Shirube shigatera / Mazu ya wataramu

Tyler: Then let it be I who firsts ride across these hills, though on his mission, / where ice under my horse’s hooves crackles along frozen streams.

Cranston: In the sheets of ice / Covering the mountain streams / My steed crushes / Such letters as form my reason, / My first, to cross as a guide.

In other examples, Genji’s “*throws hands in the air* I give up” poetic reply to Suetsumuhana about how she keeps using Robes of Cathay/Chinese cloak imagery in her poems in the original Japanese alongside the translation cracked me up even more. And one of my favourites is a pair of poems between the future Akashi Empress (as a child) and her birth-mother the Akashi lady. It’s really sad, sweet and cute all at the same time and completely flew under my radar when I read the novel originally.

The poetry analysis for the Uji chapters is especially intriguing. The plot pointedly pits Niou against Kaoru as opposing personalities with particular similarities and contrasts that drive their relationship with each other and with the woman they’re competing for. Especially in the latter half of the story, a lot of their poems, even ones written independently (i.e., to Ukifune), are specifically composed to highlight those attributes and play off of each other.

Finally, it’s also super interesting to see my experience with the narrative changes through the lens of the poems. Obviously, as I mentioned, some things I easily missed without paying as much attention to the poems in between the rest of the story. But also, some prominent characters have very few poems, so the narrative shifts away from them. Meanwhile, a number of otherwise very minor or usually overlooked characters stand out even more, thanks to the fineness, loveliness, resonance, and sometimes just sheer consistent presence of their poetry. This book definitely gave me a lot of additional perspective on the Tale of Genji, and enhanced my appreciation of the novel and the skill behind its crafting!

#tale of genji #genji monogatary #waka poetry #a waka anthology #grasses of remembrance #edwin a. cranston #royall tyler #japanese #translation #japanese tranlation #heian period #kaoru chujo #oigimi #agemaki #kashiwagi

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misty-moth · 5 months

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Here is Day 2 of 12 Days of Arthur: Music 🎶

Just a fluffy little scene 🥰

A thank you again to @oigimi and @scummy-writes

Arthur fluff, ~480 words

It was a late start to the day, but Arthur supposed that was simply the price of being an author. After a mighty stretch, he braved the hallways to procure some coffee.

Gleaning from the sun rays filtering in through the windows, he reckoned it must be a bit past noon. A smile graced his face, knowing she would be in the kitchen at about this time. A chipper hum flowed through him.

Taking a brief pause just before his entrance, Arthur’s smile grew wider as he heard the quiet shuffle of feet beyond the door. He froze then, becoming even more grateful that he’d taken the time to listen in.

Within the kitchen, her voice took up a small tune; she was singing the very tune that he had finished just a moment before.

♪ “Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester Square~ It’s a long, long way to Tipperary, but my heart’s right there.” ♪

There was a strange flutter in his chest, followed by a warmth he’d long grown disaccustomed to. Had the two of them been on the same wavelength? Arthur found himself liking the idea of that. Why, he’d liked that idea far too much.

Not so fond of the idea of waiting any longer, Arthur made a far more excited entrance than he’d initially planned.

“Why, I didn’t know you were a songbird! You should have told me, luv,” Arthur’s lilted voice made her jump, but she turned toward him with a shy smile.

“You’re waking up rather late today,” she teased.

“A writer’s work is never done, I'm afraid. We simply rest our eyes for a few hours here and there until we can fuel up on coffee made by beautiful morning birds.”

Her cheeks were determined not to grow any pinker, but it was a challenge. She brought up a cup and began brewing.

“Speaking of…” Arthur stifled his enthusiasm as he broke the brief silence. “I would have thought the only music you and I would both know would be one of Wolfie’s. I’d never imagine you’d know It’s A Long Way to Piccadilly.”

She chuckled, “I’m actually pretty sure Mozart’s pieces are the only songs we both knew.”

Arthur blinked, puzzled. “But you were just singing it word-for-word?”

Her eyebrow raised as she wrapped up her coffee preparations. “Arthur, you sing that song practically every day. I’ve picked up the words pretty quickly from it,” she giggled. “I used to think it was just when you were at your happiest, but really it’s just all the time,” she grinned, handing over his cup.

Bugger me... There went that damned fluttering again.

“No, luv, I think you were spot on. I think the amount of happy days have simply grown exponentially as of late.”

“Oh? Well that’s good!”

Arthur nodded, the warmth within him threatening to combust. “I think so, too.”

Writing Masterlist

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#12 days of arthur #tick tock it’s loving Arthur o’clock #Arthur my beloved #ikevamp arthur #ikemen arthur #ikevamp #ikemen vampire #moth’s writing #scheduled

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misty-moth · 5 months

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Day 1 of 12 Days of Arthur: Warm drinks :)

Wanted a lil view of Arthur’s desk 📝

Arthur likes his coffee black? Yes, but consider: coffee art is cute and is therefore acceptable

I did the paw prints in regards to Vic, and made it blue because of Arthur, but now… Blue’s Clues 👀 perfect for the detective trio~

@oigimi and @scummy-writes, thank you for running the event :3c

#12 days of arthur #arthur my beloved #ikemen arthur #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp #ikemen vampire #moth’s art #scheduled

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fang-and-feather · 5 months

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Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Rating: G

Category: F/M, M/M, Multi

Relationship: Arthur Conan Doyle/Isaac Newton/Reader

Prompt(s): Calendar from PolyamShipping Day at @polyamships and love letters from Day 4 of 12 Days of Arthur by @oigimi and @scummy-writes (hope it's okay to have a polyship fic for this)

Summary: Arthur receives a surprisingly heartwarming gift from his partners while they aren't home

IkeVamp Masterlist / General Masterlist / AO3 Version

Arthur had been having a good writing week, still, it was bothering him not having his partners around.

Isaac had been invited to give a lecture in another city, and since he would have some time, invited you and Arthur along.

Arthur was the one who refused to go because of his writing; he was somewhat inspired and in no need of a long distraction. You could have a trip together some other time, he told you. He would be okay by himself for a few days.

But it was the first time you had spent that much time apart, and he found it quite strange.

He went to pick up some coffee for a break, missing you bringing it, or being able to spend that break with either of you. At least you should be coming back today.

When he entered his room, there was something different. Someone had taken the opportunity, while he was away, to sneak in and leave a gift on his desk. But the only people who would give him a gift weren’t home. There was no way you would have arrived without him noticing. Besides, what reason was there for this gift?

Arthur picked the card that was placed with it to find out you sent something ahead because you wouldn’t be home at the planned time. Although someone else had snuck the gift into his room, the gift was from you.

Inside was a sort of daily calendar. It seemed simple, but each day had written in it what seemed to be a part of a love letter.

‘Our dearest Arthur

Although it’s early for a Christmas gift, we thought it was a good time to show you how much you mean to us.

I, especially, wanted to first thank you for supporting me through my homesickness every year. I miss home a lot this time of the year, and you always go out of your way to help lessen it, or at least comfort me. And it has become easier through the years.

There was never a moment where I regretted staying with you, and now with Isaac as well, and I’m glad that you understand that. I love how supportive and understanding you are.’

And that was only on today’s date. It was clearly incomplete, but enough to warm his heart. You didn’t need to thank him for these things, and you certainly didn’t need to write him a letter for it, let alone make such a gift.

Arthur debated if he should just read the rest now, or a bit each day, like you clearly had planned. He was curious and happy that you had made him such a thing. He leafed through the calendar, noticing some parts were clearly written by you, but others were in Isaac’s handwriting.

Isaac’s first entry was written:

‘I’m not as good with words as you, but I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you what I’m not able to do often and tell you how, despite all the awkwardness of our relationship, I love you.

When we first met, I genuinely despised your teasing and thought I hated you for it, but I know now that even that comes from a place of kindness. It’s not easy to deal with, but you just wanted to make me feel like a part of the group, and I feel grateful for that, even if I wish you had a less annoying way to do so.’

You should be enjoying your trip, but you took time to do something for him instead.

Despite his eagerness, Arthur chose to save the rest for later and treat it like a proper calendar. And when he read everything, he would write you two letters in response and find a way to surprise you, too.

He never expected that the opportunity to exchange a love letter with his beloveds would make him this excited. There was something special about putting your thoughts on paper and having something you could keep for a long time. He had written plenty of small letters for both of you, but this was the first time he received one first, and he couldn’t wait to read more of your thoughts and to finally share his with you.

Tag List: @tele86, @bicayaya, @nightghoul381

If you want to be tagged on future writings, you can reply to this post or send me a message

IkeVamp Masterlist / General Masterlist

#PolyamShippingDay #12 days of arthur #ikevamp #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp isaac #ot3: arthur x isaac x reader #polyamory #ikemen vampire #fanfiction #ikevamp fanfic

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