#sirius oswald

[ikemen-revolution-archive]

Read from right to left.

A fun comic about an alternate reason why Alice may choose to live in Cradle, drawn by none other than Ikémen Revolution's character designer TCB.

[spagh3ttii]

Finished another Ikemen drawing AHAHAHA

[sakurawolfy]

Today is our Queen of Spades birthday!

Happy birthday, Sirius! I hope you enjoy your nice cake, and some Chutney cuddles!

[sunshine-and-her-ikevil-stuff]

I was curious what a VTS would look like if IkeRev was still getting updates and included, so I made this

I don't design clothes, and I initially tried to capture the Ikerev vibe but I don't think I succeeded probably more like smth out of Ikevil. But I hope they at least look slightly good. I tried, I struggled with the male one

Below the cut are transparent images of just the outfits if you wanna put them on your guy or avatar

[xxsycamore]

Finally, may I please have Sirius + 💋 - Demand for a kiss, right here, right now?

Thank you so much, Mo 💜 I can't wait to see what you come up with 😊

*usage of gendered terms (little lady/good girl)

[💋] 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚂𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗…

SIRIUS:

"Right here? Right now?"

Sirius's perplexed face only sweetens the pot of your little gamble against everything that is sane and appropriate to ask of a high-command army person on duty in broad daylight. It's about just as inappropriate to ask this of Sirius Oswald, your lover, given how easily flustered he is despite his masterful composure, and given his penchant for keeping these things behind closed doors.

The combination of the two? You being dragged to the nearest storage room. Your lips captured by the Queen of Spades before you can actually believe he is doing this. One of his hands on your chin, holding it still while he ravishes your mouth, the other on your waist to remind of his gentleness. His tongue swirling around yours, leaving you gasping for air and clutching the lapels of his onyx uniform.

The kiss leaves you breathless, as you feel him hotly on your lips even when he withdraws to catch his breath, the temperature of the cramped room rising up from your heated endeavor.

Sirius looks mad. Too bad that he's also red-faced as hell, so it's hard to take him seriously...

"Now, may I ask just what was that about, little lady? You got me worried that something bad had happened and you sought comfort in me, even if in this... not-so-innocent way. But your face tells me you're simply up to no good. I don't want to deny you these things - when we can indulge ourselves - but you've given me no choice. At least until you prove to me that you can be a good girl."

∎Steal My Heart!! - xxsycamore’s 1500 followers celebration event| 💌 event masterlist

[mxrmaid-poet]

the way lancelot is looking at him is insane 😭 there’s a glimmer in his eyes that r like “choke me, daddy”

bro prolly wants to make him more mad so he can see that expression again

[cloudcountry]

SUMMARY: some mildly embarrassing things that have happened to you while a certain black army member was pining for you.

WARNINGS: none!! :D

COMMENTS: currently meowing as i format this. man i wish i had a cat

ray finds himself showing off a lot more when he spars, pulling moves he wouldn’t normally pull and talking a lot more smack. when you cheer for him, his ego gets so high he starts really getting into it. the testosterone kicks in as he puffs his chest and totally destroys his opponent. he’s looking forward to that victory kiss, he’ll be even more smug about it.

luka thinks it’s embarrassing that he can think of nothing but you when he’s preparing meals. he makes your favorites far too often for it to be a coincidence, and of all the people who had to catch on first, it's seth. he won’t stop bugging luka whenever he’s in the kitchen, whether you're there or not, and he’s just about had enough of it.

fenrir is very proud of his skills with firearms, but those aren’t his only guns. he wishes you would notice him more when he flexes in front of you, rolling up his sleeves on the regular and lifting heavy things. it takes him pouting at you for you to finally look his way and offer up that sweet smile, telling him that of course he’s strong and that he never needed to prove that to you.

sirius isn’t used to being clumsy. in his defense, he also isn’t used to you coming up behind him and hugging him so sweetly, arms wrapping around his neck as you laugh in his ear. The watering can he was holding drops right on his foot and soaks his shoes, but he doesn’t hear your apologies over the ringing in his ears caused by his embarrassment over you.

most would argue that seth is usually embarrassing and that there’s no way he could sink lower. however, the entire army is proven wrong when he finds himself enraptured by you. he’s winking more than he ever has in his life, opening doors for you and pulling out chairs. you look so incredibly flustered and mildly uncomfortable with all the pampering and attention, but no matter how often sirius tells him to back off, he still manages to smother you.

[ikemen-trifecta]

I couldn't fall asleep at all last night, so I don't have the energy to fix the image quality of today's meme. Please overlook the pixels. –Edi

[ciaossu-imagines]

numbers 2, 10, 11, 15, and 28 from prompt #19 + black army (ikerev)

Of course, my dear! Thank you so much for this request 😊 It’s so very rare that I get to write for this fandom and it makes me so happy every time it does happen.

Send me a number and I’ll tell you what character…

Would poison someone if given the chance

Out of all the boys, I think the ones that really fit this section are the ones that most people would likely never suspect of such a thing. Both Luka and Seth can have tempers that can run a little violent. I think it would take a lot to push Luka into ever actually doing it, no matter how horrible his enemy was, but I think that, when he does get angry or truly loses his temper, it might enter his mind and become a little fantasy while he was next cooking. Seth, meanwhile, would have littler restraint but less actual means. Even then, it would be something he would pull on truly the most despicable.

Listens to everything but common sense

Fenrir. Definitely Fenrir. The boy is a lot more intelligent than most would guess, I will definitely give him that. However, Fenrir is a lot more heart over head in not only his calculated approach to day-to-day life but in just who he is as a person. He can be a little reckless, a little impulsive. He’s going to run into battle without a second thought and anything that looks like fun, he’s jumping into with both feet, without a second thought. If something negative comes out of it, well, at least he’s learned something right? And besides, it always has a 50/50 chance of turning out amazing as well!

Gives nicknames to others

Ray sometimes does this but whenever he does, it’s not like a calculated choice or anything. He doesn’t even realize he’s calling someone by a nickname a lot of the time. It’s just what he starts calling them in his head and it’s what comes out of his mouth. However, he only tends to do this towards people he’s really close to. Sirius also does this as a sign of affection. He'll rarely use his siblings full names, unless he’s talking about them to someone else or introducing them to someone else. He has little nicknames he uses for all the members when they’ve done something he considers amazing or something to be proud of. When he uses them, the Army members kind of just feel…good about themselves. They feel satisfied and like a child being praised by a parent. They aim to continue doing better and better things just to have Sirius call them so affectionately, especially since Sirius, to most of the men, is someone they really look up to.

Would get a tattoo on a whim

Ray and Fenrir both. If they had the opportunity and were in the right mood, they’d totally go in during a boy’s night out, having seen the shop lights of a tattoo parlor all lit up, and would get spur of the moment matching or complimenting tattoos with each other.

Would keep up with celebrity gossip

I feel like Seth has a tendency to be a bit of a gossip himself. He likes hearing all the juicy, latest gossip about those he knows and he doesn’t mind spilling some. But his gossipy side extends past just those he knows. He’s the type of gossip who will keep up with all the celebrity gossip, who reads those tabloid magazines. He’s also the type of gossip who will, when people have speakerphone on in public spaces or are having very loud conversations in public places, will totally listen in on the phone call and will reveal in all the gossip and drama of it.

[ikemen-revolution-archive]

Playing cards shaped character icons.

[badass-at-fandoming]

IkeRev Power Throuple is go!

[somekidnamedkai]

I’m rereading Sirius’ route and ohh boy how I love this man

[sunshine-and-her-ikevil-stuff]

Only the ones who have a route for this poll I used up all the choice slots

but

Basically if you were to take their last name (I didn't realize the potential misunderstanding with the poll title until after I posted and I can't edit it)

Unreleased characters poll

[xxsycamore]

One Hot Love

╰┈➤ 📸 Because we're not ready to let go of summer just yet.

Fenrir Godspeed x Main Character + Fenrir/Alice/Ray/Sirius/Luka/Seth • rating: E (MDNI) • tags: Polyamory; they're all dating; but focus is on fen/alice; Beach Sex; Road Trips; modern elements; i gave them cars and car radios basically; Skinny Dipping; Water Sex; Vaginal Sex; getting caught; Outdoor Sex; Banter; Black Army polycule • wordcount: 1,780 • masterlist

a/n: That was me paying homage to the passing summer WHAT HAPPENED, WHY COUDN'T I POST THIS ANY SOONER? Anyway, One Hot Love by Makoto Matsushita was THE summer song for me this year, and at one point it aligned with my ikerev nostalgia so here we are... always wanted to write a black army polycule <3

"Man, that song is stuck in my head now. Putting the only CD we could find on repeat was no doubt better than going the whole drive without any music on, but…"

"What are you talking about, you could have listened to Seth's melodic voice instead~!" Alice gawks, a hand over her heart in a display of affection that seems to be aimed at riling Fenrir up. Though, knowing how the 10 of Spades has her head over heels for him, Fenrir won't be surprised if that's her genuine reaction to listening to the man's monologues for four hours straight. And despite that they all love Seth, Fenrir is sure that in this aspect Alice is alone.

They came here with the rest of the officers and the King to check out what was reported to be a group of disciples from the Magic Tower disrupting the peace around the coast. Ray insisted on checking it out personally and the others kind of tagged along and from there it turned into a (work) road trip.

"Uhuh. Either way, boss looked like he's seconds away from taking the gun from my holster and aiming it at the car radio."

"He wasn't even the one driving, though… Was he too sleepy or something? We did get here only after it got dark yesterday but I thought it wasn't past his bedtime…"

"Pfft, sounds like him! But no. I know what got him so worked up but I won't tell ya~"

"Feeeeen! C'mon!"

Stopping in her tracks for a second, Alice lets out a deep sigh when the Ace just keeps taking long strides across the sandy path, refusing to satiate her curiosity. Letting out a loud "Hmph!" that falls on deaf ears due to the sea breeze surrounding them, Alice dashes forward to join Fenrir's side again, and keeps the pace until he's the one walking behind her instead.

A harsh and sudden gust of wind blows by, and Alice all but feels her uniform skirt flying upwards.

"Eeek!"

"Ohh, so you're wearing the pink ones! Nice!"

Putting her hands protectively on her rear as if they aren't the only two people on this beach to begin with, and as if Fenrir didn't just see everything there is to see, Alice throws him the best mean look she can muster before slowing her step so they're side by side again.

"Sorry for teasing ya. I promise I won't cheat if you want to play guess the panty color with the others tonight."

"It's really not about that!!" The focus of Alice's bewilderment quickly shifts from his ridiculous logic to the way he stops her right there and then for a kiss, full on the lips and tasting like the minty ice cream they shared awhile ago. She finds herself savoring his sweet lips, feeling the sun's warmth engulf them fully now that they stopped in their tracks.

"Ya know, I could really go for a swim right now."

Seems like he's not the only one feeling hot now.

"Just like that? Isn't the water cold…"

"One way to find out." Fenrir grins boyishly, the same smile she once fell for, and then kept falling for every day since then. Before she can even blink, Fenrir is already pulling his hoodie over his head and walking in the direction of the shore. Following the rush of wildness, Alice is no different as she gives into the moment, stripping down to her underwear. At least she diligently folds her clothes before putting them down on top of one of the nearby rocks, even if it means Fenrir would beat her at getting to the water first.

"Woohoo! Alice, come here! The water is perfect!"

Losing no more time to join Fenrir, Alice gives up on her cautious approach and lets the waves splash against her as she runs towards them, even when they make her squeal.

"Liar! It certainly is at least a little bit cold…"

"I gotcha."

Before she can complain more, Fenrir enfolds Alice in his toned arms from behind, acting like a big blanket.

"Fen… you're not wearing any underwear…"

"Yeah? Are you?"

Alice shivers as he runs one hand down to check, but the touch is more than welcomed, to her own surprise. She turns around in his arms and places hers around his neck, looking at his deep magenta eyes.

"Remember what you promised me a few months ago? About the next time we go to the beach together?"

"That I'm gonna finally have my way with you in the water like I always fantasized about? Why are you smirking at me like that now?"

Being called out on it, Alice's grin only transforms into a series of chuckles that she tries to hide against Fenrir's broad chest, hoping that he'd get the idea already.

"Alice, mind if I check once more if ya still wearing those pink panties? Just to make sure."

"F-Fen-!"

Receiving her affirmation in the form of her arms tightening their hold around his shoulders, Fenrir's calloused fingers find their way down the curve of her ass and between her legs. They slip under the thin material, crawling inside to find her dripping sex.

"Haah-"

"Still making sure, hold on."

His touch ghosts over her folds, his other hand joining on her front to stroke her clit inside her panties.

"What were ya asking about my promise to you?"

"Do you…think us coming here today counts? Ahh-"

Rubbing on her aroused nub with no remorse as if determined to make her explode on his fingers in mere seconds, Fenrir uses the proximity to the fullest as he nibs Alice's earlobe playfully.

"Do ya want it to count, Alice?"

It's a silly question, with how far they've already gotten. When they're together, it's always hard to say who started things first. The firm erection pressing flush against Alice's belly tells her they're not leaving the water without one last unforgettable summer memory.

"Make it count. I want you so bad."

"Hah! You finally said it." Fenrir chuckles, leaving a trail of wet kisses across her nape all the way to her lips, capturing them with his.

It serves as a distraction as he picks her up, making her instinctively wrap her legs around his torso.

"Hold on tight, Alice. I'm not stopping 'till you're seeing stars."

Running her fingers through the unruly locks at the base of his neck, Alice groans as she feels him guide the tip in, letting gravity do the rest as she sinks down on his girthy length with delight.

"Gods- Why haven't we done this before-"

"That's what I was asking! Ahhh- Fuck, Alice. I want you everywhere, all the time, what are you doing to me?"

Alice's hearty laughter is interrupted by the erratic moans ripped out of her throat by Fenrir's deep thrusts, and she knows perfectly how he feels.

"You can have all of me, Fen! I want you so bad! Ahhh-"

Moving her body up and down on his length at a rapid pace, Fenrir kisses every part of Alice he can put his lips on, her sun-kissed shoulders, her arms sprinkled with small seawater drops that are salty on his tongue, her nape with the sweet strawberry scent of her shampoo mixing with the sea breeze.

Alice sinks her nails into his shoulder blades, knowing how much he loves it when she does that, and lets herself go; the orgasm rushes through her body like a lightning strike, pleasure spreading hotly from deep inside her and making her whole body glow in ecstasy. She opens her eyes while throwing her head back, and takes in the endless blue sky above.

Fenrir keeps thrusting into her, making water splash around them as he whispers how close he is, how good she feels around him - and then he brings her down on him hard one last time, keeping her flush to him before filling her with his warmth.

With the cease of movement, they can finally enjoy the kisses they can't hold back from giving each other, the rustling of the sea drowning the little moans of afterglow that escape their thirsty lips. Suddenly feeling giddy again, Fenrir holds her up a little more and makes a little spin in the water, enjoying the girly squeal she lets out. It's only when she is turned to face the shore that she notices.

"Oh my god, that's Sirius and the guys!!"

"Huh?" Fenrir looks over his shoulder and indeed, he can see the figures of one man with his arms crossed on his chest and another three standing not far behind him. "Should we wave at them?"

"Hell no! C'mon, let's go!"

***

"We already ate without you, by the way."

"What?! Noooo! I'm never going patrolling with Fenrir again!"

While Alice laments the loss of her lunch, Seth is already there to squeeze himself between her and Fenrir the very second Alice lets go of Fenrir's hand.

"But Alice!~ Your knight in shining armor is here to save you from the brute, and he even packed you leftovers! I'm not letting my Alice die from hunger like that. Oh my, your face is so hot! Why haven't you put sunscreen on?"

"There he goes again…" Fenrir frowns, resorting to joining Ray's side instead, the latter patting his shoulder sympathetically. Returning the gesture by bringing his arm around Ray's shoulders in turn, Fenrir notices the label sticking out of Rey's uniform shirt.

"Oh? What do we have here?"

Upon tucking it back for him, Fenrir sees something curious and pulls a little more on the fabric, leaving a confused Ray as the group stops in their tracks.

"Hey Boss, since when are your initials S.O.?"

Seth is the first to grin knowingly, chiming in. "And aren't your sleeves a little too long?"

Luka inspects the truth of those remarks, blinking in question. "A mishap with the laundry?"

Seth trades his dear Alice's presence for that of Luka's, just so he can lean down and whisper something in his ear, shielding it with his hand while looking directly at Ray.

"That's- Hey. You two better keep your mouths shut, or- And Fenrir, we haven't finished with you yet. We talked about this."

"What? Fucking on the clock? Like hell we're the only ones doing that. Besides,"

Fenrir arrives at Alice's side again, wrapping an arm around her waist for emphasis."…That's what summer's for. Having fun."

Alice blushes, attempting to make things better even if she's just as guilty.

"Fen, it's hardly summer anymore. But… I think you can blame our love for that.

"That's one hot love, then!"

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @ale-teodora @kimi00twin @otomelady @privilegedpancake @g-kleran    @pumpumnnnp @thesirenwashere @ravenarld @kimmy-banana @devonares @galaxyprison @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 @judejazza Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

[ikeromantic]

CinderAlice pt2

The winner of the IkeRev 1K AU story poll was Cinderella! Featuring the Black Army guys and Alice as Cinderella. 2900 words Pt. 2/4

Part 1

Alice finally pulled herself out of bed some hours later. Her step-sisters and Lady Tremaine were already gone, off in a hired carriage to the palace. “At least I have the house to myself,” she muttered as she shuffled to the kitchen.

Technically, she wasn’t allowed to cook food for herself, but the lady never noticed as long as she didn’t use much and cleaned everything up after. Tonight, she promised herself something sweet.

She set her dress on a stool and began pulling out the cream and sugar, berries and flour. Outside, dusk was slipping into evening and she could see the faintest light from the first star of the evening. “I wish there was something better than this,” she sighed. “I just wanted . . . I don’t know. I guess it’s stupid. And here I am, talking to myself. Also silly.” Alice gave a dry laugh. 

As she turned back to the table, a strange blue glow caught her eye. Alice turned back toward the window. She expected to see someone passing by with a magic crystal lantern, but instead, there was a man. He stood just outside the window, staring in, and the glow was coming from him. “AHHHHHHH!” She screamed and threw the spoon in her hand at him. 

“Ah! Ouch! Hey!” The man caught the spoon just before it hit him. “That’s no way to greet a fairy godfather, now is it?” 

“A what?” Alice grabbed a nearby frying pan, ready to defend herself. 

“Fairy. Godfather. Didn’t you just make a wish, sweetie?” He smiled brightly. 

She had, of course, heard of such things. In stories. But she had to admit, if there was a fairy godfather, they would look just like this guy. Ethereally pretty, skin aglow with the touch of magic, a cheery look in his eye, and a sparkle in the air around him. “I did,” she said finally, lowering the pan. 

“Oh good. Because I had my heart set on a makeover today!” He came through the window and walked to the table. When he snapped his fingers, the entire kitchen turned into a fancy dressing room. The counters became vanities with hair and makeup tools, the pantry turned into a walk-in closet hung with gowns a queen could wear, and the dish rack became a shoe rack. 

Alice blinked and set the pan down, only realizing as she did that it was a hairbrush now. “I - I don’t understand.”

“Oh honey, we are going to that ball tonight. And we are going to be the prettiest people there.” He laughed at her expression of surprise. “You wanted a night like a dream, right? So . . . I’m here to make sure it happens. When I’m done, you’ll be too gorgeous to look away from. Although -” He looked her over with a grin, “you’re already irresistible.”

She felt her cheeks heat at the compliment and the glint in his eyes. “Ummm. Ok. I don’t really know what I should do. I don’t - I can’t pay you anything, Mister - ah, Godfather, sir.” 

“As if I’d accept a penny.” He crossed the space between them. “And please, don’t call me mister. It makes me feel old. Call me Seth.” 

Alice nodded mutely. She wasn’t sure what to say or do. This didn’t feel real, but it was too crazy to be anything else. “So how does this work?”

“Like so.” Seth guided her over to one of the vanities and sat her down. A comb and brush appeared in his hands and her hair fell out of its bun. He grinned at her surprised gasp. “Don’t look so surprised,” he laughed and bent close to add, “I’m just getting started.”

His breath tickled her cheek and his lips were so close to her ear that Alice could almost feel the satin brush of them as he spoke. Her eyes went wide and heat stained her face. 

Seth’s smile held a knowing look as he met her gaze in the mirror. “You know you don’t need to go to a royal ball to have a good time. We could throw our own little party here.” His voice was low and husky, different completely from the bright sing-song tone of his introduction. 

“I . . .” Alice swallowed, trying to think clearly. 

“Just kidding.” Seth straightened, his playful expression back in place. “Now let’s get this makeover going!”

It took him almost no time to style her hair and apply her makeup. He swapped out her dress with a gesture, going through a whole season’s worth of designs and colors. Some, Alice had to walk and turn in, giggling as he commented on the fit like she was in a fashion show. Every outfit was incredible, but none felt quite right. Until a familiar multi-colored silk settled over her skin. 

“Seth! This dress! It looks -” her voice trembled a little as she smoothed her hands over the embroidery of the bodice. “It looks just like the one I made. Only . . . are these real jewels? And this, it’s thread of gold!” The panels looked like painted silks instead of barely matched swatches, and the layers of the skirt fell lightly together like flower petals.

His smile was kind and a little wistful. “It’s the dress you would have made. Your vision, recaptured by magic.” 

She reached out and clasped his hands. “I want to wear this one. Please!”

“It looks perfect on you. All you need now are the accessories.” Seth stepped around her to place a choker on her neck, his fingertips caressing the nape of her neck for a breathless moment. 

Her heart sped up as he slipped a bracelet onto her wrist, but she got ahold of herself as his hands brushed her ears. “Wait! I have earrings.” She fumbled at the skirt, remembering they were in the inner pocket. Though her dress now should have no such feature, she found them anyhow as if under the layers of silk, she still wore her apron and rags. 

Seth laughed as he took them from her hand and put them in. “Lovely.” He took a step back and looked her over. “The only thing you need is a stylish pair of shoes. And I know just the ones.” He snapped his fingers and they appeared on her feet. Lady’s slippers cut from magic crystals. They held a soft glow that lit the silk of her dress from beneath, and made the entire outfit gleam. 

Alice laughed and spun, making the skirt flare and swing around her legs. “This is amazing! Thank you Seth! You are the best fairy godfather a girl could want!”

“Your smile makes it all worthwhile.” He set a hand on her shoulder. “Just remember, fairy magic isn’t permanent. The spell holding this outfit together expires at midnight, so don’t stay out too late.” 

“Midnight! Got it!” She hugged him. “You really are the best!” Then she pulled back, realization dawning on her. “But wait, I don’t really know where to go! And I can’t walk there . . . not dressed like this.”

Seth shook his head, laughing. “You don’t think I’d forget to provide you with a ride. And you already have the address.” He closed his hand and then opened it again, revealing a scrap of paper with an address scrawled on it. “This is where you go and -” he pointed toward the window, “there’s your ride.”

“This is the paper from that man I bumped into! Sirius! He works at the castle?”

“Sir Oswald is the prince’s senior advisor.” Seth raised an eyebrow, teasing. “You didn’t know?”

“Oh my god! I bumped into Sir OSWALD!” She felt mortified. Not only had she slammed into him but then she hadn’t recognized him either. “This is too embarrassing.”

Seth grinned and slipped a finger under her chin, tipping her face up. “Don’t worry. Tonight, you aren’t the serving girl from Central. You are a mysterious princess, exotic and lovely. Now go and have fun!”

And just like that, Alice found herself in a sparkling white coach pulled by a team of bay stallions. The coachman took the scrap of paper with a nod and they were off.  

As they drew closer to the palace, the evening filled with soft strains of music and the hum of distant conversation. Alice felt elated, excitement and nervousness coursed through her the louder the sounds became. When the coach rolled to a stop, and the carriage door swung open, she almost didn’t step out. But the coachmen smiled up at her kindly and held out his hand, so she took it. After, she was handed off to a palace guard who guided her up a wide gilded marble staircase to the ballroom door. He knocked once, and the door swung open to reveal a tall man with gorgeous mauve hair and eyes of rose-petal pink.

“Sir Godspeed,” Alice gasped. Everyone knew Fenrir Godspeed. He was a knight, a hero, and often spent time in town helping people. He was also supposed to be a bit wild and unpredictable, which she could believe, seeing him up close. There was something mischievous in his smile, something that made her heart pound.

“Just Fenrir. Nobody calls me Sir,” Fenrir laughed and held a hand out to her. “So who’re you?”

A-Alice?”

He pulled her close, leaning in to look at her expression. “Not sure, huh?” Fenrir chuckled and then reached up to ruffle her hair. “Don’t look so nervous, Alice. Royal balls are just like any other party.”

She nodded. “Ok. I - I’ve never been to one before. I don’t want to look silly.”

He ruffled her hair once more before taking her arm and turning her to face one side of the room.

“See that guy over there in the hat that looks like a giant mushroom?” 

“Yes?”

“No one’s gonna notice as long as you don’t look sillier than that guy. Got it?” Fenrir nudged her. 

Alice couldn’t help but giggle. The man he’d mentioned did look pretty ridiculous. 

“You look even prettier when you smile like that.” Fenrir’s gaze was warm and friendly. “Guess what? I’ll do you a favor. I’ll keep an eye on you tonight and if you look bored or out of place, I’ll rescue you. Got it?”

“Got it.” She grinned at him. But there was still a tension to her shoulders that she couldn’t quite shake. Alice looked away, not wanting him to see that she wasn’t completely cheered. 

Fenrir’s thumb grazed her cheek. “Hey! That’s not the smile I wanted to see.”

“Heh. Yeah. Sorry. I just - are you sure it’s ok that I’m here? Even if I don’t make an idiot of myself, I’m just a servant. I cook and clean all day. Everyone else is noble and -”

He took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face back toward him. “Hey. Don’t let anybody tell you where you do and don’t belong. My buddy the Prince held this ball for all the people of Cradle and he’d want you to have fun.”

It looked like he wanted to say more, but he was being called over by a group of ladies. Sir Godspeed was very popular, and having met him, Alice could understand why. She patted his arm. “Thanks Fenrir. I’m going to go have a good time.”

“That’s the spirit.” His fingertips grazed her jawline, sending a little shiver through her as he let go. Then he gave her a thumbs up and then sauntered over to his fans to see what they wanted.

Feeling better, and a little more relaxed, Alice made her way into the ballroom. There were people dancing in the center with people standing at the edges and chatting in groups.She did not see her step-mother or step-sisters, though she knew they were here somewhere. Hopefully she could avoid them for the night. 

Her eyes lit on a table of sweet treats in one corner, and she decided to grab a snack. They looked delicious. Chocolates that looked like flowers and tiny cakes with pearls of icing and -

“Why hello there little lady! I was hoping I might see you here tonight.” 

Alice spun at the words and came nose to chest with the tall, amethyst-eyed man from town.  “You! You didn’t tell me you were Sir Oswald! I am so, so sorry I bumped into you!”

Sirius smiled and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It was my fault. And I hope you don’t hold it against me.” He chuckled, his smile kind. 

“I . . . thanks. I don’t.” Alice took a step back, hoping he wouldn’t notice the heat in her cheeks. There was something about being so close to a man like him that made her pulse race. Which was silly. He was just being nice, afterall. She returned his smile. 

“So it looks like you were about to sample one of the petit fours? The glace are the best. Here, try this one.” He picked up a small caramel tartlet and held it out for her to take a bite. 

Alice felt herself go even redder. She couldn’t remember anyone feeding her a bite of anything, ever. It felt like an intimate gesture, but she didn’t want to be rude. She leaned forward just enough to take a small bite, and felt his fingertip brush her lip as she came away. It was impossible to focus on the pastry. 

“Pretty good, isn’t it?” Sirius didn’t seem to notice how red she was getting, or if he did, he was kind enough to pretend. 

She had no idea how the tartlet tasted. Her lips still felt buzzy from that satin barely there touch but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Yep. Delicious.”

He glanced away, a thoughtful look on his expressive face. “Would you like to dance with me?”

“Dance? I - I don’t really know how.” 

Sirius held out his hand to her. “Let me show you.”

Alice felt more than a little nervous about it, but the couples on the floor did look as if they were having fun. And what was the point of going to a royal ball if you didn’t dance? She set her hand in his, feeling the large, calloused palm enclose her fingers. 

He led her out onto the dance floor and then turned to face her. Sirius kept holding her right hand, but set her left hand on his shoulder and put his left on her upper back. “Alright. I’m going to go slow, little lady. Just follow my lead, ok?”

And then they began to move. Alice felt horribly awkward at first. Step forward, and to the side and feet together and - she just kept focusing on not stepping on him or tripping. But his smile and the confident look in his eyes made her begin to relax. 

“Now you look like you’re enjoying yourself.” Sirius smiled. “I’m glad.” His expression turned a little bashful. “You know, I was just thinking, I’ve met you twice now and I still don’t know your name.”

“It’s -”

“Hey old man! Stop hogging the prettiest girls to yourself.” Fenrir tapped Sirius on the shoulder, interrupting the conversation. 

“Hey! I’m not that much older than you.” He let his arm drop, but kept hold of Alice’s hand. 

Fenrir chuckled. “Yeah, says the senior advisor. Anyway, you had enough time with her. If she’s dancing, it’s my turn.” 

Sirius sighed. His violet eyes found Alice’s gaze, and she saw the flicker of something incredibly tender in their depths. “If it’s alright with you?” At her nod, he let go of her hand and took a step back. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Of course. Thank you for showing me how to dance.” She gave him the best curtsy she could do. 

“That guy was teaching you how to dance? You should have asked me. I can show you how to really move.” Fenrir grinned, his smile full of joy and a hint of pride. 

Alice couldn’t help but smile back. “Alright. But this is my first time to dance, so go easy on me?”

Fenrir laughed and took her hand. “The only thing you gotta remember is this.” He pulled her close until their noses were almost touching. “Trust your partner.” Then they were moving. He walked her through another set of steps, similar but with a very different feel to dancing with Sirius. Step and step and step and tap and - 

She squealed as he swung her out and then spun her back against him, surprised. But it was so much fun she was laughing too. 

“See? Now let’s go!” 

From there, his speed increased, and Alice found the best way to keep up was really just to follow his lead and trust him. He spun her in circles and tossed her in the air, slid her between his legs and out the other side to catch her again. They were both laughing and it was honestly the most fun she’d had in a long time. So different from the reassuring solidity of Sirius, though Alice supposed it wasn’t a good idea to compare the two. Like apples and oranges. 

When Fenrir paused to let Alice catch her breath, there was a literal line of ladies waiting to dance with him next. She even spied Druzilla waiting. “You should probably see to your fans,” she sighed. “I don’t mind. I think I need a break anyway.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Alright. But don’t go far. I’d like to dance with you again. You’re a great partner. I can’t believe it’s your first time at a ball!”

Alice felt giddy from the the compliment. She hadn’t expected to have this much fun tonight, nor to get a dance with two of the most famous and beloved men of the royal court. It was everything she could have dreamed of.

Part 3