#trying to find a way to get Colin back as we knew him

[natti-ice]

Can I PLEASE have some Colin bridgerton smut? My man deserves it he's so overlooked by Anthony and Benedict that no one barely writes for him and it makes me sadd :(

Imagine you and Colin are on travel(or a honeymoon even) and he just ruins you on a balcony ofc you scold him for it but it's not like he would listen to you

Pairing: Colin Bridegerton x fem!reader

Warnings: 18+mdni, groping, teasing, clit play, semi public sex, p in v, creampie. (1.3k words)

Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated<3

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You're standing outside on the small terrace right outside your bedroom of the chateau you've been staying at for the past few days, the warm summer air blows gently across your skin as you watch the sun set in the distance. Your week has been quite hectic with all the traveling you and your now husband Colin have been doing, he always promised you that once you were wed he would show you the world and he's done very well at keeping his word. The day after your wedding the two of you set off into adventure, stopping off in many cities in England before working your way through Europe.

You were amazed at just how grand everything was outside of your city, you had grown so accustomed to the high social life you were brought up in, it never crossed your mind that others did not live the way you did, and when you found out, it was life changing. In such a short amount of time you had learned so much from the people you and Colin came across, he's quite the tour guide, he shows you to all of the best places for food and always seems to find the most unique forms of entertainment. You were so grateful to have such a special husband, most of the other suitors were bland and didn't care for culture but Colin was different, he had a thirst for exploration and he wanted you to come along.

Though he loved to travel around and see the sights, he also loved to spend time with you. More importantly, time alone... that man hasn't been able to keep his hands to himself since you both said "I do", his hands mindlessly wander around your body at any given moment, the feeling of his rough callused hands sent a rush through your body and he knew exactly what you were feeling. It was almost if he got off on making you shiver, seeing you try to pretend you don't feel anything when his fingers graze the back of your neck while talking to some local about the price of fish in his small town really gets him going.

You were lost in thought and didn't hear the footsteps creeping up behind you until suddenly long, toned, muscular arms wrapped around your frame causing you to jump. You hear his soft chuckle and immediately realize it was your husband, "my apologies dear, I didn't mean to startle you" your heart was already racing because of his sneak up but it pounded a little harder when his hands started to caress your sides so lovingly.

You let out a soft chuckle and lean against his chest "it's alright my love, my mind was in another word" you say, then you feel his hands starting to make their way up to your chest, his large calloused hands cup your breasts through the thin fabric of the nightie that clung to your body. A gasp gets caught in your throat as you feel yourself becoming more aroused, "Colin, we mustn't do this out here, the staff will see."

Colin's warm breath fanned on the nape of your neck leaving goosebumps in its wake as he whispers "we'll give them a good show, lord knows this place lacks entertainment." Despite your protests he continues to indulge in your body, you look over the balcony to see maids hanging up laundry to dry in the distance, surely if the looked up they could see you but in this moment you stopped caring. Your love and lust for Colin was much too strong to fight.

He moved one hand slowly down your front and lifted the hem of your dress to expose your undergarments that were now damp with your arousal, Colin runs his middle and ring fingers teasingly over your clothed slit sending a shiver down your spine. "Mmm, you're already so wet for me. Just how I like you." His dirty words make you feel like the only woman in the world, the pleasure he gives you is unlike anything you have ever experienced and you know you'll never find anything that will compare. His fingers found their way into your panties and he begun teasing your swollen clit with the pads of his fingers, you fought back moans, you didn't want him to know the effects he had on you but he was already well versed in your pleasure.

The hand that was still on your breast made its way you your neck, he held it gently but firm enough that you knew you weren't going anywhere.

"Tell me what you want, dear. Tell me what you crave." He whispers huskily into your ear, his desire for you strong in each of his words. His fingers slowly circled around your entrance, giving you a teasing taste of what's to come if you just ask.

"You," you let out breathlessly, "I want you." He hums as he is delighted by your response and pulls his hand from your clit making you whimper softly with need, he takes his hand off of your throat to quickly pull down his sleeping pants. You feel his hardened cock against your ass as he pulls up the fabric of your nightgown, his fingers hook into the waistband of your underwear and pull them down to your ankles. He spreads your legs with his knee and pushes your back forward slowly, your chest presses against the cool metal of the railing in front of you. He takes your hands and makes you grip the rail as he teasingly says "you might want to hold on, dear."

He lines himself up behind you and slowly runs his tip between your folds before pushing his length into your dripping pussy, your body shakes slightly as your senses are taken over by pleasure. He starts slow, rocking his hips against yours as he holds onto your waist firmly to keep you in place, his cock stretches you out deliciously making you moan softly. Your sounds encourage him to go harder, it's taking everything in him to not completely ruin you right now, he wants to prolong the experience to make sure you feel everything. Once he sets a good pace, that's when he starts to have fun with you. He snakes one hand under your bunched up dress and palms your bare tit, he groans into your ear as he pinches your hard nipple, "you feel so fucking good, fit so perfectly around my cock." You can't fight it anymore, you let your moans fly freely for the world to hear, you'll probably regret it later but you don't care right now.

You were certain everyone in the whole estate knew exactly what was taking place, your loud moans bounced off the walls as you came all over his cock, Colin was in complete ecstasy and couldn't care less about any onlookers. Let them watch. Let them see who owns you.

A few more pumps into your tight channel was all it took to send Colin over the edge, he groaned loudly as his hips bucked against you whilst his seed flooded your womb. He panted heavily as he slowly pulled out of you, both of your fluids covered his length in a beautifully raunchy mess. You slowly stood up straight and turned around to face him, the smile on his face matched yours as you both began to giggle softly. You feel so relaxed but you were still a bit embarrassed about allowing him to take you so publicly. "Colin Bridgerton, you are a very scandalous man" you say teasingly and lightly hit his left peck, he laughs heartily at your comment and takes your hand,  bringing it to his mouth and placing a soft, loving kiss to it. "My apologies, dear. You are too irresistible, I cannot contain my desire for you." He says with a smile and helps you straighten out your clothing before leading you back into your bedroom where he will most likely repeat the events that just transpired.

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Tag list: @let-love-bleeds-red @lovelyy-moonlight @themadhattersqueen @artzygurl

Join a tag list!

[captainsophiestark]

Bad Timing

Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2023!

Fandom: Bridgerton

Day 25 Prompt: "Do I look like I knew that?"

Summary: When Eloise needs help with a problem, she knows she can count on her brother and his new wife for help.

Word Count: 1,047

Category: Fluff, Humor

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"You know, lazy days like this are by far my favorite," I mused, curling into my husband's side as we laid in bed together. "No galas, no gossip from the Ton. Just the two of us."

"I certainly have to agree," said Benedict, my husband, as he traced patterns on the bare skin of my back. "Although, I do enjoy watching Colin wade through the swarm of Mamas every time we go out, now that he is the only unwed Bridgerton son. At least until Gregory gets a bit older."

"I'd say you were being mean, but he did ditch you and Anthony for quite a while in his travels."

"Yes, he did. So he deserves this."

I laughed, shaking my head a bit at my husband's antics. A moment later, he pulled me tighter to his side, rolling us so I laid completely on top of his chest. I rose up on my elbows to meet his eyes and found him looking at me with a mischevious smile.

"You know, it's just occurred to me," he started. "There are quite a few ways I can think of that our time would be better spent than talking about my brother."

"Oh really?" I asked, grinning and leaning down closer to Benedict. "And what might those ideas be?"

"Well for starters..."

With that, he brought his hand up to the back of my neck and pulled me into a searing kiss. I rested all my weight on him, kissing right back, until a knock at the door jarred us both out of the moment.

Reluctantly, I pulled away, and Benedict let me. We shared a look.

"Maybe whoever it is will go away if we ignore them," he whispered in suggestion. As if he'd willed it into happening, a voice from the other side of the door called out.

"Y/N! If you're in there, please, I need to talk to you."

Eloise. Benedict's little sister, who I'd become close with throughout the course of Benedict courting me. I gave Benedict an apologetic look.

"No," he whined as I rolled off of him, quickly wrapping a robe around myself and heading for the door.

"I have to," I replied. "I can't ignore her. Make yourself decent."

With that, I turned from my husband and went to open the door just wide enough to see Eloise on the other side, and for her to see me.

"Oh, thank goodness!" she cried, moving to push past me and into the room. I let her, just hoping that Benedict had done as I'd said. Eloise and I had done this a few times as we'd gotten closer, and whenever it happened, I knew she really, truly needed me.

I turned around to follow Eloise back into the room after shutting the door behind me, only to find her frozen just a few steps from where she'd come in. Benedict stood next to the bed, looking tired but resigned to our new morning activity as he laced up his shirt.

"Good morning, Eloise," he said, a little edge of teasing in his tone. "You know, I was trying to enjoy the morning with my wife-"

"Do I look like I knew that?" she cried. I fought back a laugh as I walked forward to wrap my arm around her shoulder.

"It's alright, Eloise," I said. "Benedict and I were about to get up for the morning, anyway."

Benedict shot me a look with his eyebrows almost into his hairline, and I glared right back, imploring him to go along with me. He cleared his throat.

"Right. That we were. What did you need help with, sister?"

She hesitated, so I walked around to face her, putting both of my hands on her shoulders and blocking her eyeline to Benedict. I gave her a small smile, so she'd know everything was alright, then spoke in a low voice that I knew Benedict wouldn't be able to hear.

"If this is a ladies' problem, or one you don't want your brother to know about, El, I'll throw him out of here right now and we can talk, alright? But if you're embarrassed about knocking when you did, then you truly don't need to be. We love you, and we'd both drop far more important things to help you whenever you need it."

Eloise sighed, nodding a little as she did. The bright red blush that had risen to her cheeks started to fade, and she at last met my eyes again.

"Thank you. I... suppose it wouldn't hurt to have Benedict's input as well," she said. I nodded, giving her a bright smile before turning around to face my husband.

"Put your problem-solving hat on, Benedict," I said. I started drifting for the couches by Benedict's turret window, one of my favorite features of his room. "We've got a family matter to deal with."

They both beamed at me as they started following me over to the couch. I'd considered a few of Benedict's siblings as good as family for a long time now, but it felt amazing to be able to say that and have it be completely true.

Benedict and Eloise settled into the couch on either side of me, Benedict resting his arm across my shoulders. Those kinds of casual touches would've been scandalous before we were married, but now we could do them whenever we wanted to, which also made my heart sing.

Eloise gave us both one last look with a raised eyebrow, then launched into her explanation of the problem that had brought her to our doorstep, which had something to do with a boy of virtually no social status who'd caught her attention. Benedict and I spent the rest of the morning, helping her as best we could, in the way only we could.

Although I hated that Eloise had to deal with the problems she dealt with, a small part of me sang the entire morning as Benedict and I worked together, the perfect team, to help his little sister. This was going to be the rest of our lives, with Eloise and maybe someday with children of our own, and I couldn't be happier thinking about that future with Benedict. We made the perfect team.

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Everything Taglist: @rosecentury

[dragon-kazansky]

Bridgerton shade of blue

Benedict Bridgerton x Female Reader

Benedict bumps into you, quite literally, at a ball while trying to escape his mother's attempts to find him a partner. You decide to humour him with a dance, not realising just how entwined you would become with him. It seems the universe will find every excuse to push you and Benedict together, no matter how much you fight it.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Season one

Chapter Three - Becoming acquainted

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When the letter arrived at your house, your mother squealed with delight. This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her, it would seem.

Though you did make a point to remind her, this is not what she thought it was.

Still, you were dragged off to be cleaned throughly and dressed in your best gown for the occasion. Your mother saw to every detail. It was tiresome.

You said not a word the entire time.

Once you were dressed, she guided you to the carriage. For the entire ride, she told you what to do. You spent the whole trip looking out the window, wishing to disappear. You had been looking forward to a nice dinner with an intriguing family, but you knew your mother would make this unbearable.

The thought to befriend Benedict and Daphne had crossed your mind after they left last night. That's what you would look for in them. Friendship.

When you arrive at their home you are left in awe of how beautiful the house was from outside. You follow your mother up to the front door and wait to be let in. You step inside and find yourself further in awe. Their home was lovely. It felt cosy.

Lady Bridgerton comes over to greet you both. "I am glad to see you here. Please, come inside."

You're led into the drawing room where everyone is sitting and chatting. You find yourself startled to see the Duke of Hastings present. He greets you with a nod. You nod back.

Violet introduces you to the rest of the family. Anthony greets you the same way as the Duke. Benedict offers you a small smile, though you're not sure if he's actually pleased to see you or not. Colin kisses the back of your hand, and you smile. Daphne smiles softly at you. Eloise says nothing. She just looks at you, a book in her hands. Francesca gives a soft smile. Gregory and Hyacinth both say hello to you.

Violet urges you to join the others until dinner is ready. You look around the room and find there are no available seats. Benedict realises this, too, and stands up. "Please, sit here."

You thank him quietly and sit down where he had been. The seat was warm. He must have been sat in here a while.

Conversation proceeds within the room. Anthony is talking away the Duke. Eloise has her nose back in her book. Benedict stands behind you, his hand resting on the back of the chair.

"I didn't realise your family knew the Duke of Hastings." You said softly, looking up at Benedict.

"Anthony and he were friends back in Oxford. Do you know him?"

"Not personally. I've heard much of his father, though..."

The subject was a sore one, so neither of you said any more. You glance at the Duke. He looks like he would rather be anywhere else right now.

Benedict brings your attention back to him. "I'm sorry about my mother."

"Don't be." You smile. "I know how it is."

Benedict smiles, too. "Still, I will admit, I am pleased you are here."

"You are?"

"I'm very fond of making new friends. Does that sound good to you? My sister could also perhaps use a friend right now too."

You glance at Daphne and then back at Benedict. "Yes. That does sound rather nice. I hear the Bridgerton's are quite the friends to have."

Benedict smiles. "I think we are."

You both chuckle and smile at one another. From Violet's point of view, she believes you two are getting along quite nicely. The Duke has yet to speak to Daphne at all.

The bell for dinner is rung, and you all rise. You walk with Benedict to the dining room. Your mother joins Lady Bridgerton.

Benedict pulls out a chair for you, and you sit down. Daphne sits beside you and Benedict across from you.

The Duke is seated on the other side of Daphne.

Dinner is lovely. The whole family is sitting together at the table. Conversation flows naturally. There are smiles and giggles.

The conversation turns to Lady Whistledown.

"Haven't you heard what we're talking about? For all we know, Whistledown may be some interloper living in Bloomsbury, of all palces." Colin says.

You chuckle.

"What should be so terrible about Bloomsbury?" Benedict asks. "That people ther actually work for a living?"

"She does seem to be someone with access." Daphne points out.

"Who knows if Whsitledown is even a she?"

"Fair point." Anthony chines in.

"Because she is simply too good to be anyone but a man?" Eloise asks.

Benedict pulls a face at Eloise. You chuckle.

"Well, I think it rather obvious that the writer is Lady Danbury." Francesca says firmly.

"Lady Danbury enjoys sharing her insults with society directly." Daphne adds. "She would never bother herself writing them all down."

"Could it be Lady Featherington?" Hyacinth asks.

"No!" The whole table explodes into laughter.

"You have yet to read what Whistledown writes of the Featheringtons, little sister." Eloise tells her.

The table fills with different conversations now. Everyone is talking to each other about different things. You listen mostly to Benedict and Colin.

"I'm to spar Jackson himself." Colin says.

"You?" Benedict looks at him with disbelief.

"Is that envy I detect in your voice?"

You chuckle at the brothers. You're so focused on them thst you don't notice Daphne looking at the Duke beside her.

"Judgement, brother. I shall need to witness this." Benedict says.

Colin rolls his eyes, and you laugh again. Benedict looks up and smiles at you. "You'll come, yes? We shall watch as my brother fails in this endeavour."

Colin looks at you. "Please do not feed into my brother's terrible influence."

Benedict pretends to be hurt as he puts his hand on his chest. "You wound me."

You giggle. Benedict and Colin both chuckle with you, smiling at their own banter.

Things are getting tense beside you between Daphne and the Duke. You look at your plate, trying to ignore the atmosphere building.

"You are a rake... through and through." You hear Daphne say. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"Who is to refrain from thinking about whom again?" The Duke asks.

"I assure you. I am anything but interested in you." Daphne states.

"Good."

"Quite."

"And I am anything but interested in you, the eldest sister of my oldest friend, yet another subject of a certain writer. Chaste, neat, desperate."

You glance up at Benedict and Colin. Colin glances at Anthony, Benedict looks up at you as if checking to see if you're okay.

"I shall have you know-"

"To marry, that is." The Duke cuts her off. "Tell me I am wrong."

Elosie laughs, but the look her mother gives her soon had her quiet again.

"Hastings, I'm so glad you decided to join us this evening." Anthony says, breaking the tension. "It was most spontaneous of you."

You feel yourself relax again.

"Not at all." Simon responds. "With Lady Danbury accepting your dear mother's gracious invitation on my behalf... Well, however could I have declined."

Anthony looks at his mother, not looking too pleased with this news.

"You must stay for dessert. You too," she addresses you.

You smile. "Thank you."

"It's gooseberry pie, Your Grace." Violet smiles at the Duke.

"Ah! Lovely!" He sounds pleased.

Violet chuckles.

After dinner, you find yourself back in the drawing room. You're standing by the window with Benedict. He had been telling you a little bit about the house.

"It seems your mother has become quite acquainted with my own," he says, guiding you to the sofas.

"Yes. They spent a good portion of dinner chatting."

"I do believe mother only intended to invite you tonight," he chuckles.

"Yes. Well, mother is quite... eager to see me married. She thinks I stand a chance with one of you." You chuckle. "Fear not, I am not after your hand."

Benedict chuckles. "I do think we may become rather good freinds."

"You do?"

He nods with a smile.

"Then I am delighted to earn your companionship."

You both chuckle.

"You're welcome anytime." He tells you.

"I feel rather honoured."

"You should," he grins.

The hour starts to grow late. Violet passes by the doors of the drawing room. For a moment, she thought you and Benedict were alone in there, but as she comes closer, she spots Eloise reading in one corner, and Francesca working on her embroidery.

Violet enters the room. "I hope dinner was alright."

You look up and smile. "It was lovely. Thank you for inviting me."

Violet comes a little closer. "Well, any friend of my sons and daughters are welcome in my home." She glances at Benedict, who smiles at her.

Lady Bridgerton understands that her son has no intention of courting you. Nor do you seem to have any interest in him that way. However, a mother can hold onto hope.

"Benedict, why don't you escort her home?"

You rise from the sofa with him and bid goodnight to his sisters, who both say goodbye in return. Violet sees you both to the door. Benedict takes your arm as you exit out onto the street.

It only dawned on you that your mother was nowhere to be seen. Benedict realises you're looking for as you exit his home.

"It would seem she left a little earlier. Apparently, you were enjoying yourself so much with us. She decided to let you stay a while longer."

You smile. "Is that so?"

"I'm guessing. I have no idea." He grins.

Benedict takes you home, making sure you get inside safely. Before you leave his side and head in for the night, he asks you a question.

"Will you be attending the ball tomorrow?" He asks.

"I believe so, yes."

He smiles. "Save me a dance?"

You chuckle. "Of course. We have to help each other, no?"

Benedict smiles and watches you go inside. Even when the door shuts behind you he remains standing there for a moment.

Yes, you could help each other. You could help keep his mother at bay for a while, and perhaps he can help bring some attention your way.

Sounds like a plan.

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@callmemana - @lilscast - @imgondeletedis - @benedictbridgertonss - @clownsdiehard - @wxnterwidow333

@sillynilly27 - @autumn-slaves - @ben-has-arrived - @ajdelilah - @aadu2173

@booknerdlife - @tamlinrose - @sarahskywalker-amidala - @cheryyluv - @louschan - @lou-la-lou - @cultish-corner

@hopshusushi

[weirdmorefics]

Could you pls do a fake dating fic with Colin bridgerton? Tysm xx

A Life Long Scheme

A/N- Sorry for the delay! I really do have the fanfiction writer curse! I say that every time but I mean it! I got my appendix out and rode in an ambulance. They don't even play music in them FYI.

Readers Pronouns- She/Her

Word Count- 2,512

Summary- You convince Colin to fake court you to gain the attention of other suitors but jealousy consumes Colin.

I knew I would have a hard time finding a suitor from a young age. My family may be wealthy enough to attend balls but certainly not enough for a sizable dowry for each of their children. I grew up competitive trying to prove myself worthy even if I came with a small dowry. My siblings relied on their looks but I was determined to be the best at everything. I will treat coming out like I do life competitively. As the eldest, I must set an example.

I was lined up with the others coming out into society this year. They all nervously played with their clothes and looked to the floor. I too felt like doing that but I kept my emotions bottled tightly in my chest and held my head high. We all took our turns bowing in front of the Queen she looked completely unbothered by us, dare I say bored.

I was last in line she looked me up and down and said, "I am unsure if anyone qualifies as a diamond this season."

I can't fight back the sharp inhale I take, I can physically feel my heart launch its way into my throat. I feel as if I may hurl as she gets up and walks away escorted by her guards. I look around at others visible shock. I can't help but feel the Queen just left because of me. I mean I was the last one. I need to do something! I can't fail already I just came out into society!

My night was filled with pacing and plotting. There has to be a way to impress Her Majesty. My Mama tried to comfort me but Father quickly told her there was no point in speaking to me when I was like this. I hate to admit but he is unfortunately correct. Once I am in a thought spiral there is no getting out. I thought of other seasons for most of the night as I lay in bed. What did they do to gain the Queen's attention? The most notable season of late would have to be Daphne's. I can't recall the last time The Ton has seen a marriage done with such haste before. She had a massive amount of suitors after her though that was only after The Duke's appearance.

The idea hit me suddenly I launched out of bed, put my carpet slippers on, and ran out of the house. I am lucky my family sleeps so soundly because I am sure I sounded like a horse trotting as I ran through the house. The Bridgerton manor is right next to ours, so close in fact that I grew up playing games with all the Bridgertons. Colin has always been my dearest friend (even though Mama always told me a male friend was improper). I knew Colin would go along with my plan, we have been scheming and pranking since we were children. This should be no different! It unfortunately hit me how late it was when I stood in the darkness of the Bridgerton Garden. I was here now I refused to backtrack just because it was an untimely hour.

I used the bushes to help guide me to Colin's familiar window. Once there I gathered tiny pebbles and started ricocheting them off his window. It did not take him long to wake and open the window with a messy bedhead and a lit lantern. His face instantly flushes at the sight of me.

"My god Y/n what are you doing out here in this state!" He shouts

I follow his gaze to my clothes and feel my face heat. My god, I did not think this through as I stood in front of Colin Bridgerton's window in the dark, in my silk nightgown. I will see this through the damage is done. "I have a plan," I smile.

He sighs and rubs his forehead, "Oh no… you are lucky my sleeping schedule is still askew from traveling abroad. Now get inside before someone sees you!"

I met him in the drawing room and he refused to look me in the eye, "So what is so important that you have decided to grace the house with your presence at this ungodly hour."

"I am here to present you with a proposition," I clasp my hands as he finally looks at my face suspiciously.

"And what might this proposition be? I can assume nothing good," he questions.

I roll my eyes and pace as I recite my plan."As you know Daphne was utterly suitorless during her season courtesy of Anthony. However, the moment a Duke entered the picture she had men competing for hand. They could not care less about Anthony's interventions."

Colin nodded confused, "Your point?"

"My point is I need competition! So I propose that you pretend to court me! If you will? I know you are aware of my Papa's financial situation… I mean the whole ton is after Lady Whistledown published his unfortunate business decisions and his one-too-many daughters for a dowry. None of this will matter if I can get a suitor who loves me and will help my family but that can't be done if I can't attract a suitor!" I continue to pace as Colin looks entirely unsure of what to make of this situation. I take a deep breath, "So what do you say?"

Colin looks at me with puppy dog eyes, "Of course Y/n. You are my dearest friend. I must know why you decided to discuss this so late at night in your…" he flushes again and looks to the ground. "In your nightgown."

I suddenly became all too aware of my attire and became a stuttering mess, "the conversation was of utmost importance the time of day and clothing choices have nothing to do with it!"

Colin smirks, "I see."

"I must save my Papa's business if not for him but for the chance my sisters will get to marry for true love and not for financial gain," I sigh. Colin's eyes which were once teasing turn to sadness, "Do not look at me like that Colin. I don't need your pity, I need your help."

He nods and straightens his posture, "Of course Y/n. Of course, I will help."

I quietly snuck back into the house after speaking to Colin. The plan was set in stone he would be the first dance on my dance card and we would round up potential suitors together. We were joined at the hip for every event and I purposely chose the busiest times to promenade so the most amount of suitors would see us.

I soon began to gain the attention of many suitors and even had many coming to my house to call on me! Mama was so proud I was so happy to take her mind off the situation with Papa.

Mama pulled me to the side of the drawing room, "Maybe hanging out with the Bridgerton boy will help you! Maybe their fortune will rub off on us!" I was proud to inform her I was to promenade in the park today with Colin. It was odd to see her smile with excitement instead of pale at the thought of her daughter spending her time with a man who never planned to court her. I wish she wasn't only proud of me when I wasn't doing something that benefited me in finding a wealthy suitor. It's no matter though, I will do anything to make her proud, and it feels like I'm finally doing it. She spent the whole morning with me to find a suitable dress for my outing.

Colin arrived promptly at the time we set previously and accompanied me to the park. As we promenaded I felt many eyes on us they truly believed Colin would court the daughter of a family barely escaping financial ruin. It is truly almost humorous how easily we have swayed the ton.

"It is truly working Colin! Mother is so proud that I will be the one to save my family's reputation. Such a shame she picked such a layered gown for one of the warmest days of the season," I whisper and fiddle with the seams of my dress.

Colin sighs, "How many suitors are you getting from this Y/n? They can't all have honorable intentions given your beauty and your family's standing."

I roll my eyes, " Why Colin Bridgerton are you jealous? I would not think you are the type. Do not worry you will always be my dearest friend. No husband could replace you."

His face turns serious, "I am just worried. I hope you are doing this for the right reasons and not for the sake of your Mama… and I am most certainly not jealous."

For someone who said he is certainly not jealous he didn't sound quite certain. That, however, is not what distracted me. "You think I want to marry a man not for love but purely for financial gain? It is every woman's dream to marry for love! We can't all have the privilege to do so! Especially one born into a family with a gambling addict for a father and a mother too frail to defend herself. My mother has been preparing me for coming out since I was a child! This is my job as the eldest! To secure a good future for my siblings so perhaps they get the opportunity to marry for love as I will never get to!" I back up as if I may burn from Colin's shocking gaze but I still point a finger at him, "And the fact that you don't already know this Bridgerton is having me question if we ever truly were friends! Perhaps all those travel stories in your head leave not much room for anything else."

I storm away from the Bridgerton, I think after his initial shock he calls for me but my rage prevents me from looking back to see if it was true or a cruel trick of my ears. It was perhaps not the greatest idea to run off from a suitor with no chaperone. Maybe I wouldn't have found myself in such a precarious situation if I had chaperone. I find myself cursing my father in my head for his terrible gambling habits that prevent anyone from wanting to associate with the likes of us. Therefore getting me into this mess in the first place.

"Y/N L/N, we have been watching you for quite some time. Your father never described your intense beauty but how could one put it into words?" The seedy man approached me.

I smiled politely, "Thank you! May I inquire how you know my father?"

"Oh darling I think you know why we are here. I mean the whole ton knows about your father's habits shall we say." He smiles menaceingly and I think to myself of course this has to do with his damn gambling habits.

I back up in case I have to make a quick escape and he unfortunately catches on. He grabs my wrist to keep me in place, "We have been very patient with your father. Given his position in the ton, we thought we could be lenient with his payment schedule. However, it turns out we were mistaken. What is more shocking is the fact that his daughter thinks she has a chance of finding a suitor with no dowry."

"Sir please unhand me," I try to pull away from his grasp.

"You think being in the company of the Bridgertons will help your family situation? Perhaps we could take you as payment? You do draw a lot of attention despite your social ruin. We could use you to bring more men to the establishment," he smiles sinisterly.

I yank my hand away even harder out of fear but his strength still outmatches mine, "Why would I ever help you put more families in financial ruin!"

He laughs, "Darling you think you have a choice?"

His eyes narrow at something behind me and I hear Colin's voice, "I believe the lady asked you to unhand her."

"This does not involve you, sir," he growled.

"You see it is my business when you have your hands on my betrothed, Colin growls back.

My eyes furrowed in confusion. He had been fake courting me of course but we certainly did not discuss a fake betrothal.

The man laughs yet again, "I read in Lady Whistledown that you were courting her but the fact a Bridgerton would sink to the likes of the L/N family."

I took in a shallow breath and Colin growled in response. This situation was going quickly downhill.

"You will not besmirch the lady's name! Now I won't ask again unhand her!" Colin shouts.

"Whatever you say," he smirks and tosses me to the ground. Colin's grimace seems to only encourage the man more, "I'd honestly prefer to use her to replace her father's debt but if you want to drag your family name down with her so be it." He walks away with a peppy jaunt in his step and I glare at him from the ground.

Colin quickly helps me to my feet, "I would have dueled him right here and now if I was not in the presence of a lady."

I brush the dirt off my gown, "It's fine. I'm fine. I will handle it."

"No, you will not! you will not take a step towards that insipid man," he yells.

"Well, Colin you don't really have any choice in that matter! Do you? You are just fake courting me. Or fake betrothing me now? I don't know. I have lost track honestly!" I rant.

His face turns serious, "Y/n I care for you! I would forsake my whole family name for you! You think I do not burn with rage every time I see a new man attempt to call on you after I started court you! I noticed your beauty and your smarts before any of these men did! The fact that they only noticed you once another gentleman entered the picture is disgraceful! I will always notice you Y/n! I will never let your family go through this! I hope to be a love match for you and help your family."

Tears collect in my eyes. As the oldest sibling I've never been the one that was cared for but the one that does the caring. Colin's words made me feel full. I try to tease but it comes more out as a sob, "Mr. Bridgerton are you proposing to me."

He smiles, "I think it is about time I finally proposed to you after you always proposed your schemes to me. So what do you say Ms. L/N? Would you like to continue proposing schemes to me for the rest of our lives?"

I nod aggressively smiling. There was no stopping the happy tears now.

[eddieandbird]

One More Request —

A reimagining of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s first kiss.

A/N: happy Bridgerton day everyone!! I am still fully on colin and pen brainrot, so enjoy my take on this scene! Even if you don’t watch Bridgerton, I still think it’s a super cute concept -bird

tags/warnings: fluff | 2.2k words | f!reader | love realization

———

As the sun dipped down in the Hawkins’ sky, you gently dropped another cardboard box into Eddie’s van with the rest of your belongings you’d be taking with you to college.

“Okay, I think that’s the last of it,” You grunted, shutting the door.

“Alrighty Miss Indiana State. Are you ready for big girl school?” Eddie chuckled, leaning his back against the car.

“Almost,” You said with an exaggerated exhale. “I have one more request,”

“Oh boy. It’s that bad huh?” Eddie had a wry smile. “Okay, what is it? I’ll try my best not to laugh,”

You gave a humorless chuckle “Oh, I think that’ll kind of be hard,”

Eddie’s eyes widened for just a moment as if to say ‘oh my god’ then he spoke up “Well come on, don’t make me nervous. Out with it, kid,”

“I don’t know, I’m having second thoughts now,” You bit your thumb nail.

Eddie could see you were serious. He had hoped you were just pulling his leg, so he could laugh it off. But of course, you weren't. He peeled his back off the van so he could face you.

“Come on, spit it out. I promise I won't laugh that much,” He grinned, trying to lift your spirits.

You covered your face in your hands for a moment before taking a deep breath.

“Will you kiss me?” You shut your eyes tight, terrified to witness his reaction.

Eddie shook his head and waved his hand in confusion “Excuse me? What in the hell-“

“Eddie, I don’t know how to say this, but I leave for college in a couple of days and I still never had my first kiss. And there’s no way I am letting my over-prepared, always anxious self go to college; the land of hookups and parties, without having my first kiss!” You explained so quickly that you had to pause to breathe.

Eddie looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back at you with a bewildered expression, “You sure you're not just messing with me now?” He smirked then nudged your shoulder.

When you didn’t laugh back, he paused, and looked down again with a blank stare, as if he was putting the pieces together in his head, “Oh you’re serious aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I know it sounds totally insane, but it’s kinda important to me. I wanted to do it with someone I really trust,” Your shoulders slumped forward a bit in embarrassment. You knew you were throwing a curveball at Eddie with this request, but he was one of your best friends. It made better sense in your head.

Eddie shook his head, stammering “But I’m not your- I mean we’re not-“

“No! No, please it’s not like that, it doesn’t have to mean anything or be amazing or whatever! I just really want to do it,” You gulped, your thumbs toying with the cuffs of your sweater.

Eddie was still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing. Your reasoning was rational, you wanted your first kiss to mean something rather than just some fling or a situation you were pressured into like most people. He couldn’t help but be impressed, you were such a perfectionist and you truly thought this through.

He sighed, looking at the ground with a cheeky grin, “Yeah alright. C’mere, I’ll do it,” He jokingly scoffed.

You let out all the air you were holding in your lungs when he said yes.

“Oh thank god. I thought I was about to be humiliated,” A nervous giggle was woven into your words.

“Okay do we just do this here or-“ You suddenly realized you did not know what else to do.

A part of you didn’t think you’d get this far, but you were damn proud you did. Unfortunately, the lack of preparation for this part left you a bit frazzled. Eddie chuckled, finding your plan endearing. He was a little nervous himself, not even considering the possibility that you would ever ask him this favor.

“Yeah here is fine, unless you wanted it out in some field of wildflowers and a sunset or something,” He said, grinning wickedly. “Just get closer,” He motioned toward him.

You playfully scoffed as you leaned in, trying not to roll your eyes at his implication. A romantic atmosphere was the least of your worries.

“You said you wouldn’t make fun of me,” You mumbled, stepping forward and shifting your gaze upward to meet Eddie’s.

“I said I wouldn’t laugh, I never said I wouldn’t tease you,” Eddie countered. He swung his arm around your hip, pulling you even closer.

You let out a soft gasp as he grabbed you. You cleared your throat.

“Fine, whatever, just tell me what to do first,” You said, feigning impatience.

“Don’t get an attitude with me,” Eddie said with a smirk.

He was enjoying this power that he suddenly had over you. He’d never seen you this nervous before. He was used to you having a witty comeback or retort to counter anything and everything he said, but you were flustered and vulnerable in front of him.

He chuckled as you asked him what to do next, and he grabbed your other hip, so you were standing flush against him.

“Just relax,” He brought his face down closer to yours, your noses nearly touching.

You could hear a gulp clearly in your ears. You tried to relax your shoulders and empty your mind. Eddie then pressed a chaste kiss to your lips, so softly you barely felt it, as if it was a butterfly flapping its wings on you. He was unsatisfied at the quickness and subtly it had, so he decided to do it once more, this time with more enthusiasm.

You were in no state to refuse him. With your eyes closed, you were left to only feel; his breath that tickled your face and his lips that were pillow-soft on yours. He was surprised at how willing you were underneath his touch. Normally you were strong-willed and stubborn. But now, you were soft and quiet. His mouth moved against yours, molding his lips to yours perfectly. His breathing grew stronger as he kissed you, forcefully exhaling through his nostrils.

Eddie pulled back after the second kiss, his eyes slowly fluttering open. It was more of a real kiss, a proper one. To his surprise, he found himself coming undone at the feeling and the thought of you. The kiss completely morphed his view of you as just another person he had grown up knowing and caring for, to someone he didn’t want to let go of.

Eddie’s emotions slowly started to unravel. He always pushed away these thoughts of you or rationalized them in his head. But now, as he had you pinned against the car, his chest against yours, and his fingers tangled in your hair, he was struggling to keep his feelings in check.

You both stared at each other for a moment in silence, standing there frozen in each other’s arms. You were the first to pull away. It shocked you because it actually happened, but also because you enjoyed it. Your body reacted in ways you never experienced before. Your skin was flushed and your heart pounded harshly against your ribs. Fight or flight kicked in, and you decided you had to flee.

“I should go. It’s late and mom’s expecting me to be there for dinner,” You sputtered, halting the silence. “Thank you so much for um… doing all this,”

You gave Eddie one more quick hug before storming off inside your home.

“Oh shit…” Eddie muttered to himself.

He realized then and there he had feelings for you. This sent him into a spiral as he had his back pressed to his van with his chest heaving. You were leaving for college soon and he needed to make a move before he lost you forever.

~~~

Eddie came to see you around the same time the next day. He sheepishly rang the doorbell, then shoved his hands back in his pockets. You opened the door looking at him puzzled.

“Eddie? What are you doing here? We don’t have to get on the road for another ten hours,” You asked, stepping out and closing your front door.

“Hey, yeah, I know. I just have something a little urgent I gotta tell you. Can we go sit in the van?” He pointed with a head nod. He looked worried. You followed him to the back of his opened van, taking a seat beside him.

“Everything okay?” You asked, attempting to decipher his pained look.

Eddie was trying his absolute hardest to hold back his anxiety, but he knew you could see right through him. His hands were shoved in his pockets to stop himself from fidgeting, and he was rocking back and forth on his feet awkwardly. He didn’t know how to word his thoughts at that moment.

Once he was seated with you in the back of the van, he closed the door for some privacy. He was looking down at the ground, avoiding eye contact, before he finally spoke up.

Eddie took a deep breath before speaking, still avoiding eye contact with you. “Yeah, sort of. There’s just something I really need to tell you before we leave tomorrow.”

His mind was racing as he tried to put his thoughts together. How was he going to explain his newly found feelings to his closest friend?

“Oh? Well, I’m sure I don’t gotta remind you that you can tell me anything. What’s going on?” You asked curiously, but light-hearted, hoping to alleviate his anxiety over the conversation.

You tried not to read too much into his expressions, but you noticed that his demeanor was a whole lot like yours from the night before. Eddie chuckled slightly at your words, knowing how much truth there was behind them. You were right, you were his best friend. And he could tell you anything. That also scared him, because what he needed to tell you just so happened to be something he didn’t even fully process yet. He finally looked up at you and met your eyes, but for a split second before looking away again.

He let out a shaky breath, “Yeah I know you’re my best friend, which is why I feel like I should tell you this before you leave tomorrow. I don’t want you to go away thinking I couldn’t man up and tell you my true feelings.”

“True feelings?” You repeated, your voice trembling as you were piecing together what he was trying to say.

Once you did your mouth hung open and your eyes rapidly blinked in shock. You placed a hand on his knee, keeping his attention on you.

“Eddie, what exactly are you trying to say?”

He finally looked up at you and held your eye contact for a couple of seconds.

“God, this is even more embarrassing to say than you asking me to kiss you,” He muttered.

He looked back down to your hand on his knee and he placed his on top of it. “I think I have feelings for you.”

With your predictions confirmed, you were completely beside yourself. You shook your head in confusion.

“I thought- but we’re friends-” You said instinctively.

Eddie saw your stammering and became even more nervous. “I know. I know we were totally in agreement and complete understanding yesterday before that kiss happened, but it made me realize so much and I-“

You interrupted him by cupping his cheek, bringing him into a kiss that matched last night’s urgency. This time you were in control. Your lack of experience or confidence mattered very little. You poured your feelings, all the unspoken affection you had for him finally manifesting in this one action.

“I feel the same. I wanna be more than friends too,” You confessed quietly as you pulled away.

When you leaned in to kiss him, Eddie felt the tension melt away. Suddenly all his nervous energy faded away as your lips touched his. He let out a breathless gasp as you pulled away and then his mind processed what you had said. A grin crept onto his face at your words.

“Yeah? You really mean it?” He asked, bringing a hand to your cheek and looking into your eyes.

Then his smile fell again as he realized the circumstances. “But what about when you leave for college?”

You refused to let school get in between each other. This would not be the end.

“I’m only an hour away,” You said starry-eyed as you brushed your thumb over his cheek. “We’ll make trips out to each other and I’ll be home for every semester break,”

Your tendency to over-plan was working its magic once again. Your heart and mind were racing as you felt his stubble underneath your fingertips.

“I promise I’ll call you every night after class is over and write you cheesy letters all the time,” Your voice was shaky but full of hope. “What do you say, Eddie?”

He was always so in awe of your determination, and how it could transform a problem into a plan. He smiled at your list of promises and ideas, knowing deep down that you always managed to get what you wanted or find a way to make it work. He loved that about you.

“I say you’re a lunatic for wanting to have a long-distance thing with me. But, I don’t care. I like the sound of all that,” Eddie shook his head before bringing himself to kiss you.

[mariailoveyou-guerin]

the reason people aren’t getting Colin might be because they didn’t have flashbacks in their faces telling them exactly in big letters why he is the way he is like they did with Simon and Anthony, it was so subtle and if you aren’t focusing on him, the story or his arc or even blink at times you won’t catch it!

So here’s why he is the way he is for people in the back!

You can tell he’s always felt like he came 2nd or 3rd his entire childhood to his other siblings with Violet and Edmund, like 11th wheel of the family Anthony Edmund were like two pieces in pot and Daphne had Violet who was obsessed with her and only had eye on her, he felt like a middle child without really being the middle child!

So ofc him feeling that way in such big family and as child he developed this voice in his head that he’s not good enough and I’m sure the voice got louder and louder after his father di*ed repeating it that he’s not enough and you can tell Colin been trying to drown that voice out with things like food, traveling (the traveling was also for a way for him to be him without being Colin Bridgerton the man who’s got a family to take care of be responsible emotionally mentally and sometimes physically) to escape it and then it was just matter of time before it tuned into his hero complex and feeling like no one really loves him unless he isn’t doing something for them or trying to save them or being there for them that’s why we see him having such huge parts in his siblings lives and why he’s always there for them! You see him leave for 4 months and the second he’s back in s2 Benedict is already bombarding him with his trouble and Colin (doesn’t mind and is happy to feel needed wanted why the fact that they don’t write back to him when he writes them constantly hurts even more because hee thinking since I’m not there doing something for them they don’t care to check up on me or write me back) didn’t leave his sight until Benedict got his acceptance letter the fact even before bed he looked in on Benedict, the whole family was with Benedict while Colin was gone yet none of them was there for him or probably didn’t even notice his problems but Colin bavk for 5s did and the same happens in s1 with Daphne only he notices and helped her get in time to stop Simon Anthony from killing each other and again in s3 with Eloise how she’s been different he’s back for few hours and he already knew Eloise was different and something wasn’t right with her! He kept constantly asking her if something was bothering her and why her friendship with pen stopped, Something her family whom she shares a house with didn’t her mother sure but siblings nope!

And like Luke N said he’s clear that Colin is the bridge between all his siblings and their mother after their dads death it’s clear Anthony went to do duty stuff and Benedict who is free spirited was dealing with finding himself as the spare as the son who isn’t the heir to the title and then there’s Colin taking on the whole family responsibility being there for not only their grieving mother I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one taking food into her room as she wouldn’t eat with them and was the one checking on her as that’s something Colin does repeatedly even for people that isn’t his family the way he checks in Marina even Will after people was talking down on his bar saying he wasn’t a gentleman or such things and Penelope after the ball! So ofc Colin was the one outside his mothers room while she was crying about his father it’s very clear in how she has the strongest bond with him out of her children when her other kids never listen or are always running away from her and her advice Colin seeks out her advice and takes her out dancing to late into the night! You just don’t get they kinda mother son bond without work and childhood mother son trauma bonding is strong!

then there’s the way Colin was the one Daphne felt she could talk to because he would listen and help her and the fact Colin remembered details of the stuff Eloise talked to him about after meeting pen years ago “Penelope this and Penelope that” even remembering what they read and what they wanted to be bc Colin is the one sibling everyone goes to for their troubles sparrows joys and everything! Not just his sibling but even for Penelope and her family saving them from being ruined even helping Cressida from getting scammed so ofc he developed this people only love me if I’m doing something for them and why he couldn’t accept that Penelope loved him for him he even kept questioning it trough out the season even said 3 times “ as if I was undeserving of your love” “I will understand if you got swept up in the carriage and don’t feel the same as me now” and his “then why good am I too you and how am I meant to help you”

It’s also very clear Misses Wilson has a motherly energy towards Colin maybe she was the one who took care of Colin as he was being his mothers rock during her time of need since she couldn’t take care of him and that’s why Colin has more familiar bond with her I truly think since he was not invincible but unnoticed since he was perfect middle child who didn’t cause trouble he could notice others his mom siblings pain suffering because no one did him notice him I mean and that’s just sad😭

[audiblehush]

“Let Down” doesn’t even BEGIN to cover it.

Part 1 was pretty phenomenal setup. Perfect? No, but really good in terms of how they were approaching their characters in all their complexities and contradictions.

Part 2 threw ALL of that in the trash. I feel like I can’t even really articulate all my complaints about it right now; it’s too raw. These characters became cardboard cutouts of themselves and I’m just like… how could they fumble the ball so badly?

I have been saying for AGES that the latest Part 2 could get away with Colin finding out about LW was the beginning of ep. 6. That would allow him an ENTIRE episode for him to work through his anger and heartbreak AND for Penelope to fight toward earning his trust back (idk, like the episode name IMPLIES?! “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton” … where?! Where was the romancing?!).

Instead we have him finding out AT the start of fucking episode 7, with the most manufactured drama “will she won’t she” lead-up EVER. And then they’re not speaking for the majority of the FINAL two episodes while I fast forward through Ben’s threesomes trying to find more non-existent Polin?!

We were told it was going to be “Polin against the world” in episodes 7 and 8 and we got NONE of that?? I had no problem with Colin being angry, but the TIMING and PACING of it was always going to be critical and they fucked up big time. We got ONE real Polin sex scene BEFORE Colin knew about LW. I was willing to excuse that if the writing made up for it later but yeah… that’s not what happened. The level of betrayal is unreal.

They spent all this time giving Cressida a sympathetic backstory to just… ship her off? To show the similarities in her home life to Pen only to… do nothing with it? A chance for Pen to “use her quill responsibly” and she doesn’t because nope, gotta shift to one of MILLION plots that are in the air! So many possibilities they could have employed there with Pen and Cressida but NOPE - ship her off to a controlling aunt!

They did NOTHING for Colin aside from a few lines about him working on a manuscript? That’s it?! We don’t even REALLY get him sitting down and talking with Penelope about LW and her reasons, his own insecurities… we just get like, a brief line about it in the last episode? We didn’t get him (OR Pen) calling out his family for the way they often treat him as an afterthought?! JUSTICE FOR COLIN.

And to have Pen still writing LW at the end? To have her keep the coping mechanism that she developed out of the result of an ugly home life? (that makes no sense even because logistically it only worked with her IN THE SHADOWS). When you could have made her a novelist? You just immediately hand-wave the column and make her a baby making machine?!

No fucking thanks.

The writing let Pen, Colin, Cressida, and Eloise ALL down.

The writing in part 2 just didn’t respect these characters of their journeys. That was always going to be a death blow, based on all the comments actors have made… I have to imagine so much of this season ended up on the editing room floor… because part 2 was a DISASTER. I guess this is what fanfic is for, but to barely have my babies together in THEIR SEASON growing into their own and together? It just breaks my heart.

Nicola and Luke deserved better.

Pen and Colin deserved better.

[smilesrobotlover]

First|| <-prev next->

AO3

Chapter 9: Why Are You Here?

Hoz’s horse did well taking the three to Castle town in a short time, and before Kori knew it, they were at the gates. Colin hopped off and helped the other two down, and he led Penelope through the empty town. She was still fidgety over what happened in Faron woods, and Colin was clearly struggling to keep her under control. Meanwhile, Kori stuck to Rela’s side, staring at the ground, struggling to comprehend what had all happened. It was dark, and Kori was exhausted, but he had to drag his feet wherever Colin was going.Finally, he was able to drag Penelope to an empty stable, putting her in a stall and turning away with a huff. His brows were furrowed, he had bags under his eyes, and he overall looked distressed.

“Hopefully they won’t mind that I’m leaving her here,” he muttered, while Kori and Rela only stared. He ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh, staring back at them. They continued to stare, waiting for him to do something. Colin sighed again and glanced at the castle, his hand repeatedly going through his hair. Kori looked in his direction and spotted the large building. He’s rarely been to Castle town, and he’s never noticed the giant castle in the town. He wondered if a princess lived there.

“Well, I should go try to talk to the queen, huh?” He muttered, and he glanced back at the kids. “But you two should go to pa and Link, find a place to stay. If they’re still here.”

“My papa is here?” Kori asked, an ache for his father forming in his chest. Colin shrugged.

“Best case scenario, they are. They won’t be happy to see us… but we need to talk to them,” he turned to the castle. “But I need to deliver a message to the queen, as soon as possible.”

Rela walked up to Colin and leaned against him. “I’m tired, big brother.”

Colin sighed and patted his sister’s back. “I know, Rela.” He gave the castle one more look, then sighed, disappointed. “Let’s head to the bar. I’m sure pa and Link are there.”

Kori and Rela followed Colin as they walked through the empty town. Doors and windows were boarded up, lights were off leaving the town dark, and it was eerily quiet. Colin seemed to notice it too, looking around nervously as if something were to pop out and attack them. The group walked past a large fountain that filled the empty silence with its water, and they walked through an alleyway with many shops lined up and closed down. The darkness was getting to be too much for Kori, and he felt his throat tighten as tears once again threatened to escape him. What if that black beast was here? If it was, how would he be able to spot it? He remembered it being so dark it seemed to absorb all light; if it were here, it would’ve blended in with the black surroundings so much it’d be practically invisible. A chill ran up Kori’s spine as they walked, and he found himself staring too long at a black void in a corner. He shuddered as memories of the terrible monster flooded in from the sight of the pitch blackness—the way it snarled at him, the way it chased after him, the way it held the soldiers in its terrible grip. He whimpered again. Was Hoz ok? Did that monster hurt him? Or…. kill him? The thought of the monster devouring Hoz made him grow nauseous, and he felt himself beginning to shake, his stomach sinking further and further to his feet. He wanted to curl up into a ball and cry, he wanted his papa here to protect him, he wanted to be back at home with his family and his toys. The fear caused him to hug himself and he shuffled his feet, trying to keep the tears from forming. Colin moved slowly as well, clearly tense with the darkness and silence. They passed by a dark alleyway, and Kori made the mistake in looking down it. It was just a void of blackness, with nothing to be seen, yet black shapes that represented the silhouettes of the homes and lamps swirled into the shape of the monster from Faron the longer he stared, and though Kori knew it couldn’t be it, he froze in fear. He heard his uncle and aunt move further away from him, but he couldn’t follow them, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t think.

He suddenly saw the silhouettes begin to move, and he felt faint. It wasn’t a trick, it wasn’t him thinking too hard—it was here, the monster was here. He whimpered again, staring wide-eyed at the darkness in front of him, wanting to disappear, to hide.

Hide. Hide. He needed to hide. He needed to hide but how? Where? Where?

Kori felt himself move; he felt himself move to somewhere he could hide. He felt himself fall through the ground, and he was curled up in a ball, staring up at the sky. Something wasn’t right.

“Hey!”

Kori flinched at the booming voice, and he strained his head to see. His whole body shifted up and saw what the shadows were from before. Three Hylian guards marched towards Colin and Rela, who looked terrified.

“What are you two doing out?” One of them asked, one hand on his hip and the other holding a spear. “We’re on high alert! No one is allowed out during the night!”

“S-sorry!” Colin began to stammer, holding Rela close. “I was sent by captain Hoz to deliver a message to queen Zelda—”

“Quiet you!” The guard snapped, he walked closer to Colin, looking up at him with a disgusted look on his face. “Psh, just a bunch of Ordonians. You don’t belong here, kid.”

Colin huffed and straightened his back, staring down at the guard. “I was sent here to deliver a message on Hoz’s behalf! He’s in danger, and this is vital for the queen to know!” Colin turned to Rela and gestured to her. “I just need to get to my pa so my sister and my nephew can get rest, but I…” Colin trailed off as he searched the alley-way, and his fair skin turned paler as his eyes widened with realization. “Kori… oh no… Kori!” Colin began to frantically search around him, with Rela following his lead. The guards glanced at each other and shook their heads in disbelief.

“Kid, you need to head inside–”

“No! Not without my nephew! He was right here!” Colin cried, and Kori frowned. He was right in front of him, wasn’t he? He waved his hand in an attempt to catch Colin’s attention, but even when his uncle looked right at him, he seemingly didn’t notice him. Kori frowned again, feeling his throat begin to tickle with his voice trying to call out for Colin, but he didn’t find it. He only remained silent. Why couldn’t he see him? Kori looked down at himself and gasped at the strange and new sight. His normal pale blue and black skin was replaced by a translucent, black shadow. It was spread across the floor and the ground thanks to the hint of moonlight, and it connected to the other shadows also being cast by the moon. Kori… was a shadow. No, he was inside a shadow. He was hiding behind it as if he were hiding behind one of the boxes in the shops. So that’s why Colin couldn’t see him…

Colin was having a meltdown at this point, desperately trying to spot Kori, but the young twilian couldn’t figure out how to step out of the shadows. How could he? How did he even step inside the shadows in the first place?

“Alright, listen kid, we can take you to the castle where you can get help… or something,” one of the soldiers offered, clearly growing worried over him.

“No, no no no I have to find my nephew!” Colin shouted, sobbing at this point. The tough soldier also began to grow worried and he rested a hand on Colin’s shoulder.

“Easy now, let’s just…. Get you kids inside, alright?” The soldiers began to lead the two down the alleyway towards the castle despite Colin’s protests. Kori attempted to step out of the shadows as they passed by, but instead he slipped into one of the soldier’s shadows. He wanted to let Colin know he was alright, but he couldn’t find his voice, and he didn’t know how to reveal himself. He was stuck, and he began to panic. What if he was like this forever, never to see his family ever again because he couldn’t escape the shadows?

The group made it to the castle, one of the soldiers giving the others orders, and they along with his aunt and uncle walked away, with Kori staying with the remaining soldier. The soldier huffed and marched through the castle, passing by many pillars, paintings, and tapestries that caught Kori’s eyes. He only saw the ceiling and the walls, but they were huge. His entire house could probably fit in here. The soldier reached a door and gave it a knock, entering inside when he heard a muffled “come in”.

“King Edmund,” the soldier greeted, bowing towards a desk. Kori attempted to step outside the shadow again, but he once again slipped into a different one, remaining hidden. He was able to get a better view, however; being in a shadow on the wall, he spotted a tall and thin man with unruly red hair, hunched over papers. His curly mustache shifted as he pursed his lips, and he glanced up at the soldier.

“What is it?”

“We just found these two hysterical kids outside in Castle town. My soldiers are taking them to the maids to be taken care of.”

The man stared for a long moment, his thin eyebrows practically resting on his eyes. He sighed and nodded. “Very well, I’ll take care of them in the morning. Thank you.”

The soldier bowed and left the room, and the man sighed, resting his head in his hands. “Labryn… these blasted Hylians,” he mumbled as he rubbed his face. He glanced out the window, the dark sky beginning to lighten with the sunrise. The night had already passed? But Kori didn’t even get to sleep! He huffed and decided to try stepping out of the shadows again, imagining them as a box he was stepping out of. He nearly lost his balance as he left the wall, and he looked down himself. To his relief, he was back to normal, but he realized how trapped he was. He was in a messy room with papers scattered everywhere, different trinkets and clocks decorating the walls and the desk, and the man seemed to have not noticed him as he stared at the paper.

“An all-nighter,” he mumbled again, sniffing as he straightened his back. “Great…”

Kori stepped closer to him, fear taking hold of his throat once again. He didn’t know if he should say something, or if he should run to the door, or if he should go back inside a shadow. But he was once again frozen with fear. The man sniffed again and glanced over at Kori. He looked away but did a double take, flinching when he comprehended another person’s presence. The man yelped as he toppled out of his chair, and Kori jumped back, pressing himself against the wall. The man scrambled to his feet, his green eyes wide as he stared at him.

“Holy sh—wha—what are you doing here? Who are you? What are you? Good goddesses, you gave me a heart attack!” He yelled, holding his chest as he breathed heavily. Kori couldn’t hold it in anymore, and the tears began pouring once again. The man’s fearful and angry expression quickly melted away into a concerned and guilty one. “Oh… no no no, don’t cry, I’m sorry for yelling,” the man’s harsh voice softened as he raised his hands defensively. Kori continued to sob uncontrollably, the stress from the past day finally getting to him. The man got on his knees and rested his hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you.”

Kori sniffled and finally took in a shaky breath. The man’s voice and demeanor reminded him of his papa, and his lower lip jutted out in a pout. His heart ached for his parents.

“Shhh, it’s ok. I’m sorry I frightened you. I was just… uh… frightened myself,” the man said with a light chuckle. Kori sniffed again and stared at the ground. “What are you doing here, little one?”

Kori’s voice was once again taken away from him. Why couldn’t he speak? The man stared for a long moment, then sighed.

“It’s alright. My name is Edmund. What’s yours?”

Kori bit his lip, staring hard at the ground as he struggled to find his voice. “K—K—K…” He swallowed and let out a breath. “Kori.”

Edmund nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Kori. Why are you here in my office? And Uh… how’d you get in here?”

Kori glanced at the shadows slowly changing with the sunrise. He swallowed again and looked down. “Captain… Hoz… um…” his voice was quiet, and Edmund leaned in.

“Sorry, I don’t have good hearing, what did you say?”

Kori sucked in a breath and tried again. “C-captain Hoz… he… um… my aunt and uncle were uh…. Um…” Kori clamped his mouth shut, his voice leaving him once again. Edmund’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at the wall.

“Captain Hoz you say? What happened? Where is he?”

Kori looked down, his voice still gone. Edmund watched him for a moment, then he sighed.

“Where’s your aunt and uncle?”

No matter how hard he tried, his voice couldn’t escape him. His eyes started to tear up again and he hugged himself. Edmund sighed and stood up, towering over Kori’s little frame.

“Well, you’re safe now, little one,” he said, patting his head. “Perhaps when you’re able, you can tell me where your aunt and uncle are?”

They were taken by the soldiers, Kori wanted to say. They were the ones the main soldier told you about. Please, they're here, just take me to them.

It was uncomfortably silent as emotions ran rampant through Kori, until a knock came at the door. He and Edmund turned to it as it opened, and to Kori’s surprise, a young girl about his age peeked her head through.

“Father?” She asked, and she froze when she made eye contact with Kori, her gray eyes widening.

“Amber! What in Labryn’s name are you doing up so early?”

Amber shifted, her eyes never leaving Kori’s. “Who is that?” She asked, pointing her finger at him.

Edmund glanced at Kori, his mustache curling up in a smile. “This is Kori, Amber,” he nudged him towards her, and Amber loosened up slightly. She stepped through the door, her hands clasped politely in front of her. She was wearing a simple, pink dress with a little bird plushie in one of her arms. Her head bowed in greeting, her brown curls with hints of red bouncing as her head moved.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kori,” she said, and Kori only stared with his mouth hanging open. Amber glanced up at Edmund, a confused look on her face. Edmund looked down at him and smiled again.

“Amber, my dear, Kori is a little scared right now,” he began to explain, kneeling on the ground to be on Amber and Kori’s level. “He’s separated from his aunt and uncle and could use some comfort. Could you take him to your room?”

Amber blinked. “But what about my studies?”

“Oh, you can miss them for the day. I want you to take care of him for now.”

Amber’s eyes lightened up and she grinned.

“Ok father! Come on!” She grabbed his arm and started to drag him out of the room. Kori looked back at Edmund who had a pleasant smile on his face, his fear for his aunt and uncle leaving him as he was pulled through the castle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the two kids disappeared, Edmund collapsed in his chair. Gods above, he was too tired to think clearly. He should’ve taken care of Kori better, like searching for his missing family or something, but he couldn’t think clearly from his late nights. Despite how many times he chastised Zelda for neglecting herself, he was no better than her when it came to neglecting his own needs. He laid there for a moment, his eyes threatening to close shut as the sun beat through his window, feeling like a blanket wrapping around him. A harsh knock on the door shook him out of it, however, and he groaned as he stood up.

The soldier from before was on the other side with an awkward look on his face. “U-uh, your highness, I would’ve waited much longer to come to you for this but…. the kids we brought in last night….”

“Yes yes, I’ll take care of it,” Edmund mumbled, walking past him and marching to the quarters where the homeless and poor took refuge. As he walked, he thought about the little boy that somehow snuck into his office. He wondered how he would find his parents, or his aunt and uncle. Kori was a race that he never recognized; he could’ve been part zora or something, but Edmund figured since Hyrule was filled with all sorts of races, that he was probably a race he simply didn’t know. He hoped that his daughter could coax some information out of him, especially information about Hoz. Zelda sent a mysterious letter to him, telling him that everyone must stay inside at night, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Hoz had something to do with this. As he got closer to the rooms where the two kids were, he heard shouts and spotted a blond human yelling at the maids.

“Let me out! I need to find him!” He yelled, and the maids pushed him back.

“Sir, we cannot let you out until sunrise! That is by order of the queen!”

“The sun is up! You can’t keep us here anymore!”

“Sir, please—” The maids turned to Edmund and quickly bowed, the young human’s eyes widening as he spotted him, shrinking away.

“What’s going on here?” Edmund asked, staring down the young man.

“King Edmund, he was just—”

“I need to find my nephew!” He blurted out, and Edmund frowned, his mind instantly thinking about Kori. But he quickly pushed that out of his mind; this young man looked nothing like Kori.

“Alright, just take a deep breath,” he said, nudging the man back into the room. He spotted a little girl on a bed, glaring at him as he pushed him inside. “Now, what’s your name?”

The young man glanced at the little girl, then back at Edmund. “I—I’m uh… Well I—”

“Your name?” Edmund pressed, his patience growing thin. The boy looked down and took a deep breath.

“Sorry. I’m Colin, and my little sister over there is Rela,” he gestured to the girl on the bed.

Edmund glanced over at Rela who was still glaring. He could certainly see the resemblance. “And where are you two from?” He asked, turning back to Colin. Colin pursed his lips and stared at a corner in the room.

“O-Ordon.”

Edmund frowned. “Isn’t that the human village to the south?”

Colin nodded. “Yes.”

“And what are two Ordonians doing here at Castle town in the middle of the night?” He glanced at the window. “Or… in the morning to be more accurate.”

“Well—w-we have to… uh…” Colin sighed. “We need to speak to Queen Zelda. Captain Hoz sent us.”

Edmund’s breath hitched at the mention of Hoz. It was the second time he’s heard his name, so that must mean….

“Is Kori your nephew?” He blurted out, and Colin’s eyes widened.

“You’ve seen Kori? Is he ok? Where is he?” Colin asked, grabbing onto Edmund. The king peeled his grip off of him and he huffed.

“Gods above, you Hylians have no respect for royals!” he grumbled, dusting off his arm. Colin hopped back and bowed apologetically.

“I-I’m sorry, I’ve just been so worried about Kori.”

Edmund’s anger quickly fizzled away and he sighed. If his Amber went missing, or heaven forbid any of his nephews, he’d be desperate as well.

“Kori’s fine. He’s with my daughter. He wasn’t speaking and I hoped that she could help him feel better,” Edmund explained gently, and Colin practically crumpled onto the bed parallel with Rela’s with relief, his hand running through his hair as tears formed in his eyes.

“Thank you Ordona, thank you,” he muttered, rubbing his face tiredly. Edmund looked down and pursed his lips. He should get Kori, but his curiosity on why Hoz sent Ordonians to relay a message in his stead ate at him. Edmund decided to talk to him first, and he sat next to Colin, resting his back against the wall. Colin stiffened and stared at him, his big blue eyes holding a hint of fear.

“Colin, you and Kori both mentioned Hoz,” he started, not turning his head, but his eyes meeting Colin’s. “What happened?”

Colin glanced at Rela for a moment, the gears in his head turning. “I… I need to talk to Queen Zelda—”

“Zelda isn’t here right now,” Edmund cut in. “I’m taking care of things for her right now. So you will tell me what Hoz needed to tell her.”

Colin still seemed hesitant. “And Kori is ok?”

“Of course. My daughter is taking good care of him. I can grab him after you tell me everything.”

Colin’s brows were drawn together, but he finally submitted.

“Alright.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kori remained silent as he was dragged through the castle with Amber talking excitedly about things he didn’t understand. The castle was huge, much bigger than what he realized, and it made Kori feel much smaller inside it. When they reached Amber’s room, he couldn’t help but gasp at the sheer size of it. Her room seemed to be the same size as Gramma Uli’s house, with a large bed in the middle and a chest right in front of it. A window that practically reached the ceiling led onto a balcony, and there were several doors on each wall; whatever they led to, he had no idea. Amber stopped by the large chest, her hands clutched in front of her.

“It’ll be a while until my maids come by to get me ready, so…” she glanced at the box, then back at Kori. “We can do whatever you’d like.”

Kori stared blankly at her, not daring to move a muscle. Amber’s eyes looked around the room, her lips pursed as she traced the chest, Kori’s eyes following.

“It was Kori, right?” She asked, and he nodded. “I am princess Amber Zelda Hyrule, daughter of Nebula Zelda Hyrule and Edmund James Labrynna. You may call me Amber.”

Kori nodded, barely understanding what she meant.

“How old are you?” She asked, her voice high and sweet, which put Kori more at ease. He shifted slightly and stared at the ground.

“Ten,” he mumbled, and Amber gasped.

“Ten? H-how?”

Kori looked up at her with a confused look.

“You’re so small! You can’t be ten!” She continued, an even more confused look on her face. Kori frowned. He was pretty small but he wasn’t that small. He was much smaller than Rela but that was because she was eleven. Amber seemed to be bigger than Kori as well, so how old was she?

“My birthday was a while ago,” Kori mumbled, his hands waving around. “I’m ten.”

“B-but…” Amber huffed and crossed her arms. “But I’m nine!”

Kori’s eyes widened. He was older than her? He giggled and pointed at her. “I’m older than you!”

Amber glared and turned away with a huff. “How is that even possible? What are you?”

Kori withdrew, his hand returning to his side. “I… I’m a twilian, I guess.

Amber’s anger went away and she tilted her head. “What’s a twilian?”

Kori shrugged. “I guess I’m part Twili and Hylian.”

“What’s a Twili?”

Kori shrugged again. “I dunno, it’s what my mommy is.”

It grew silent between the two, until Amber stepped up to him.

“I’m part human and Hylian,” she said. “So… I know what it’s like to not be something exactly.”

“Human and Hylian… I guess that makes you a humian?” Kori commented, and Amber raised an eyebrow with an amused look.

“Or a Hyman.”

Kori giggled and Amber joined it, and it grew silent again. Kori stared at the large chest, and finally curiosity got the better of him.

“What’s in there?” He asked, walking closer to the chest. Amber hummed and opened it, causing Kori to gasp at the sight. Hundreds, possibly thousands of toys laid before him. He didn’t know it was even possible to have this many!

“These are all my toys,” she explained, reaching in for a doll and grinning at him. Kori continued to stare with wide eyes.

“You have so many!”

Amber giggled. “Yes well… I get a lot of gifts for my birthdays!”

A lot of gifts… Kori would be lucky if he even got one. The amount of toys he could’ve gotten if he’d gotten presents every birthday… Spirits, it sounded incredible!

“That’s amazing! I only have two toys, Billy and Jasper…” Kori said glumly, jealous of Amber’s large inventory.

“Billy and Jasper?”

“My goat stuffie! And my cat stuffie! I got Jasper for my birthday,” he explained, and Amber’s eyes widened as she hugged her bird stuffie closer.

“I love stuffed animals…” she mumbled, her face in her bird’s head. “I never get them though. Everyone believes I’m too old for them.”

“What?!” Too old? Kori was older than her, yet he didn’t feel like he was too old for plushies. He couldn’t imagine not being able to get them! “That’s so sad!”

Amber nodded. “I’m not too old for dolls though,” she muttered, staring at all the many dolls in her chest. She didn’t seem to like them all that much. Rela didn’t like dolls either, and instead opted for toy soldiers and swords. But Kori liked the dolls that could be dressed up, so he grabbed one with a blue dress on. Several dresses missing from dolls laid in the chest and he reached for a small hat and brown shoes. He stared at the doll and put the two accessories on while Amber watched.

“Do you like dolls, Kori?” She asked, her head tilted. Kori giggled nervously and shrugged.

“I’ve never had one. But I like the clothes on them.” He stared at the doll and handed it to Amber who took it hesitantly.

“This hat doesn’t belong to her,” she commented, and Kori shrugged.

“It looks good.”

Amber observed the doll and nodded. “I guess so.”

Kori looked back into the chest and gasped at wooden soldiers on top of different doll dresses. He grabbed one and pulled it out, observing the delicate carvings.

“You have everything!” He exclaimed.

Amber smiled and shrugged.

“If I had this many toys, I would never be bored ever again!” Kori exclaimed.

Amber’s smile faded and she looked down, still hugging her bird. “Toys are great, but they grow tiring when you have no one to play with.”

Kori turned his head at her, his brows drawn together.

“You have no one to play with?”

“I-I… I have my father… he sometimes plays but,” Amber’s expression grew sad. “He’s been pretty busy.”

“What about your mommy?”

Amber looked up at him, her expression growing more sad. “I never see her.”

Kori’s stomach sank a little, and he looked back at the soldier.

“I am happy that my father is here,” she continued, “but… sometimes I…I…”

“You want your mommy too?” Kori finished for her, giving her a knowing look. Amber looked up at him, her brows pinched together. “My mommy is gone all the time too. I don’t know when she will come or how long she’ll stay, but she has other stuff she needs to do at her home.” He sighed and sat down, his back against the chest. “I miss her when she’s not here. I have my papa, but I feel… happier when my mommy and papa are with me.”

Amber joined him on the floor, a look of understanding on her face. “Yeah! My mother has been gone for so long and…” She paused, her eyes staring at the floor distantly. “I just never see her. Sometimes I wonder if she loves me.”

Kori’s heart hurt for her. Though his mommy was gone a lot, she always spent her time with him. He knew for a doubt that she loved him. The thought of not knowing if she really cared for him was almost too painful to think about. He scooted closer to her and put an arm around her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, and she leaned into the hug, her bird plushie still in her face as she hugged it close. They stayed there for a short moment before Amber began to stir, and she returned to her chest of toys.

“Anyways… I’m not sure how long you’ll be here but… do you… want to play with me?”

She seemed almost bashful as she asked Kori; her eyes were avoiding his, her voice soft and quiet, and her bird plush still remaining clutched at her chest. Kori smiled and nodded enthusiastically, looking into the chest again.

“What do you want to play?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Release the princess you old creep!” Kori shouted while waving the toy soldier around. Amber planted her dress-up doll in front of the soldier, cackling maniacally.

“You’ll never save her!” She shouted back, the toy moving around violently as if she were casting a spell. “I’ll turn you into a spider and you’ll have to be crawling around for the rest of your life!”

“Noooo!” Kori’s toy dodged out of the way in a dramatic fashion, and he began to smack Amber’s toy as if he were fighting her. “Die die die!”

Amber seemed surprised at the sudden violence, but she played into it, making noises of pain as the evil witch died.

“Nooooo! It can’t end like thiiiiiiis!” She wailed, making dramatic dying noises. Kori watched as she put her whole body into it, laying down with the toy and sticking her tongue out. He let out a giggle when she finally went silent, and she looked over at him, a smile on her face. She shot up and pulled out her princess doll, shoving it towards Kori. “My hero! You saved me! Now we can get married!”

Kori’s nose scrunched up. “‘Married?’”

Amber nodded, giving Kori a look as if he was stupid. “Yeah! Every time a knight saves a princess they get married! Obviously.”

“But… they barely know each other!”

“So?”

“So it’s… it’s… weird.” Kori glanced down at his toy soldier, fiddling with his sword.

“It’s not weird! It’s romantic,” Amber sighed dreamily, her eyes staring at the ceiling with her toy clutched to her chest. Kori stuck his tongue out in disgust and turned away. Amber suddenly snatched his toy soldier out of his hands and pressed the princess and knight together, making kissing noises. Kori squealed and cringed away, giggles escaping him as Amber got louder with the teasing. Soon the two kids burst out laughing and laid out on the floor, holding their tummies as they grew sore from the laughter.

“You’re so weird,” Kori laughed, and Amber grinned widely at him. The two laid there in silence, a few giggles escaping one or the other. Kori sat up and was about to say something, but the silence was interrupted by a knock on the door. Amber scrambled to her feet, with Kori following as the door opened, and Edmund entered, his eyes widening at the room.

“Good gods, what have you two been doing in here?”

Kori glanced around at the room. The two had certainly made a mess with it, with different toys scattered everywhere and blankets being used as forts. He looked at Amber who had a guilty look on her face, and she quickly got to tidying up the toys.

“The princess got kidnapped and Kori had to save her,” she explained simply, throwing one of the dolls into her chest, and Edmund’s face softened.

“Alright. Well I’m glad you two had fun, but the maids will have much work to do,” he turned to Kori and gestured to him to follow with his head. “Come with me, I’m going to take you to your uncle.”

Kori gasped at the mention of Colin, and he walked across the room to where Edmund stood, but he stopped. He turned back to look at Amber, who had a sad look on her face.

“He’s leaving?” She asked in a quiet voice, and Edmund sighed.

“Kori needs to return to his aunt and uncle, my dear. Say goodbye, now.”

Kori glanced up at him and walked over to Amber, pulling her into a hug. She reciprocated immediately, her head falling onto his shoulder.

“I hope I can play with you again,” she said, her voice muffled.

“Me too! You were fun to play with!” Kori gave her one last squeeze and pulled away. Amber’s eyes had grown watery and she sniffed slightly.

“Could we… write to each other?” She asked, and Kori shrugged.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how it works. But I’d like to!”

Amber smiled and put her toy soldier in his hand. “Write to the castle, and I’ll be sure to respond. I’ll… see you later?”

Kori stared at the toy soldier for a moment, and looked up at her with a smile. “Yeah! I hope so.” He began to back up towards Edmund, who watched silently. He waved at Amber as he walked out of the room, and Edmund closed the door behind them. It was silent as Kori followed the man, feeling like a mouse compared to him, and the discomfort to go with it. He already missed Amber as he fiddled with her toy soldier, the silence growing uncomfortable for him. Eventually, Kori heard talking, and he spotted a familiar blond whose eyes lit up when they made eye contact.

“KORI!” Colin shouted, running to him. Kori felt a weight lift off his shoulders as his uncle ran to him, and he quickly melted into his embrace, tears streaming down his face. “Oh thank the spirits,” his uncle mumbled, giving Kori a squeeze. Rela came up behind him and joined in the hug, sighs of relief coming from the family.

“Goddesses, Kori,” Colin started after pulling away. His hands rested on his arms and he looked him over. “What the heck happened? Where were you?”

Kori looked down, not knowing how to explain his situation. “I was… in the shadows?” He answered, shrugging his shoulders. Colin stared for a moment, confusion apparent on his face, but he pulled Kori in, not caring what he meant.

“I’m just glad you’re alright. You had me worried, kid,” he muttered, and Kori smiled.

“I was worried about y’all too,” he replied. Rela stepped up and put her hands on her hips, pointing at herself.

“Well I knew he was going to be ok!” she cut in, giving Kori a proud look. “I taught him how to take care of himself!”

Colin gave Rela an unamused look and stood up. He turned to Edmund who remained silent and bowed.

“Thank you for taking care of him, Your Highness,” he said, and Edmund nodded.

“Of course. It was my pleasure,” he said with a smile. “And thank you for telling me about Hoz. This information is vital to the safety and protection of Hyrule.”

Colin nodded back at him. “Of course. Just… make sure Zelda gets the information, ok?”

“Zelda will get it, I assure you,” Edmund replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Though just because she isn’t here doesn’t mean things won’t get done.”

“R-right, sorry…” Colin turned to Rela and Kori and sighed.

“Do you have a place to stay?” Edmund asked. “If not, you may stay here until it’s safe to travel.”

“No no, we have a place to stay, don’t worry,” Colin assured with a smile. “Thank you though, you’re very kind.”

Edmund glanced between the group and nodded. “Then it’s best for you to leave. I’ll escort you out.”

The king began walking towards the larger doors with the rest following him, and Kori squinted at the sunlight that shone through the frame. Edmund walked them across the courtyard and stopped at the gate, turning to Colin and gesturing to the town with his head.

“I take it, you can make it on your own now?”

“Yes, your highness. Thank you.”

Edmund nodded one last time and watched as Colin, Rela, and Kori crossed the gate, but he stopped them before the gate door closed.

“Hold on,” he called out, and Kori turned around. “Kori, you’re from Ordon, right?”

Kori glanced at Colin who looked confused, and he nodded. Edmund smiled and glanced back at the castle.

“I’m just making sure. Thank you… for playing with my daughter. I’m sure she had fun.”

Kori’s eyes widened and he grinned. “Yeah, I had fun too!”

Edmund chuckled slightly and bowed his head before finally leaving the gate, it shutting closed behind him. Colin turned to Kori with an eyebrow raised.

“Spirits, did you play with the princess, Kori?” He asked, and Kori frowned.

“No, I just played with a nice girl,” he explained simply.

“Kori, you do know that we talked to King Edmund. His daughter is the princess. You played with her!”

Kori paused. Amber was the princess? He knew Edmund was the king, but he didn’t even think about Amber being a princess. Was that why she had so many toys and such a big room? But… she seemed like a normal girl, not at all like how he expected a princess to act. Colin burst out laughing and ruffled his hair, turning to the town.

“You made friends with the princess of all people, kid. That’s somethin’ not even your pa could do.”

Kori followed, his hand holding onto Rela’s. He didn’t know why that was such a big deal, but he figured it was just adult things that he’d understand when he got older. The town was drastically different from how it was last night when the group finally reached it. People were running into each other, zipping from place to place, chatting at the fountain, and listening to singers by the front gates. It was less scary than before, and Kori grew fascinated at all the different characters running past him. Some ignored the little boy, others gave him weird looks, but overall, they minded their own business as he, his aunt and uncle walked through the crowd. Rela’s hand tightened around Kori’s and he moved closer to her, hugging Amber’s toy soldier to his chest. He still didn’t understand why she had given it to him, but he knew he had to ask his papa if he could see her again. Kori didn’t have many friends besides Rela; it would be nice to have one closer to his age who liked to play with the toys the way he wanted to. As the group wandered through the town, all he could think about was the game he and Amber played, and how much fun he had. Rela was great and all, but she was older than Kori, and a lot more rough. She preferred to play with swords and pretended to kill monsters. Plus, being his aunt, it also felt less like a friendship since she was family. Though, the way she protectively kept him close as they walked through the town, he was grateful Rela was there for him like a friend. Regardless, Kori longed for a friend outside of his family, one who he could play fun games with. Just like Amber…

The three finally reached a staircase that led into an empty area of the town, and Colin confidently went down the stairs, marching straight towards a door. Colin reached for the handle but paused, staring at it for a long moment.

“What is it?” Rela asked after a while of staring. Colin sighed and looked at her and Kori.

“It’s nothin’, I just… Pa is gonna kill us, that’s all,” he muttered, and he finally opened the door. Kori’s eyes slammed shut at the sudden stench inside. He didn’t know what he was smelling, but his fingers squeezed his nostrils shut, his eyes watering from the awful smell. His ears drooped as well, the loud shouts and laughter of drunk men assaulting his long ears. He huddled closer to Rela, staring at the sweaty men drinking a foaming liquid that poured out of their mouths. This place was awful! As Kori looked around, he spotted a group of people across the room, and he quickly recognized his grandpa standing at a table. His brows were pinched together as he stared at the table, but his blue eyes glanced up to see the group of kids walking towards him. His serious expression turned to horror, and Kori saw his own papa turn around to see him. Tears escaped from Kori and he broke away from Rela, sprinting across the room to his papa. His papa was out of his chair, a confused expression on his face, and Kori rammed into his chest, wrapping his little arms around him as he sobbed into his shirt. He quickly reciprocated, rubbing his back as he cried.

“Kori, what the heck are you doing here?” His papa asked in his gentle voice, which made Kori cry harder. Spirits above, he missed him so much. He missed him so much and he didn’t want to let him go. Kori heard talking from his uncle and grandpa, but he didn’t listen as he clung on desperately to his father. His worries melted away, and all that was there for Kori was him and his papa.

[devine-fem]

why don't you like jayjon? Genuinely asking btw and I'm neutral btw I don't really ship superheroes kids, so yeah

Alright, firstly I have always come across damijon shippers that ship them as kids because their purest connection peaked when they were young so you kind of permanently keep Jon and Damian as kid in your head because of what DC did to them.

We ship them in a ‘wholesome crush on your best friend, twisting inside you over time that you snub out till you reach your adulthood and have the maturity to deal with it’ type of way. The beauty of Damijon is not the fact that it’s Bat x Super. I honestly don’t care for this dynamic ergo not shipping superbat and not liking Timkon at all. The beauty of Damijon is that they could become something with a friendship to back it up, then continue to push each other’s characters forward while being in a relationship if the writer cared enough. It’s a plus that they care for each other so much and have the personalities to really balance each other out.

I enjoy ships like Daminika, Dami x Colin and other Jon ships as well. I just only post damijon and talk about them. It’s only Jonj*y I have issues with. It’s not about ‘getting in the way of my ship’ nothing can ever get in the way of me enjoying damijon and fandom is just gonna have to deal with that. We all come here for enjoyment because we should supposedly enjoy DC for DC and find community in that, enjoy our ideas and takes on it and one person is not going to perceive or enjoy something the same way but we are so damn MEAN to each other. Damijon gets a lot of heat, mostly because twitter damijon stans are annoying and horrible and damijon antis are just as bad.

So the problem I have with Jonj*y is just deep rooted.

Firstly, I hate the way it came about. The last thing Jon’s character needed was to be in a relationship period but then for it to be a queer relationship used as a tool to garner sales? There’s nothing in the world I dislike more than queer baiting. The last thing we needed from DC was to pull something like this and as a queer person it just really gets under my skin - as it should anyone, to be honest.

Even regardless of that Jonj*y is the relationship equivalent of stale bread. They have no chemistry, Jay has no character besides catoring to Jon’s sexuality, and even if they were to explore him there’s no point because objectively they’ve tarnished Jon Kent way too much to be wasting comic ink on Jay.

I don’t like aged up Jon Kent as a whole, it’s not like I want him to stay a kid forever - obviously not. The fun of a comic book character is their growth! Jon over time should have never been able to get to the age he is now when other comic book characters struggle to get near that age in decades. I MEAN HE’S NEARLY OLDER THAN KON RIGHT NOW. Bendis did what he did to Jon because he ain’t even like him.

There are real serious issues with Jon Kent’s age up than him getting with Damian. I know how to seperate my ship/fanon from canon. I can go on and on about the problems with it without mentioning Damian once.

I had to put “JonJ*y apologist DNI” in my bio because the stans kept coming to my page and spewing BS 24/7 so I thought it was my absolute right to make sure they knew this page was not for them.

If you enjoy the ship at all then you will not like me because I have almost every single active Jonj*y poster blocked because I have fought with them at least once because they wanted to be stupid and spew nonsense on Jon Kent when you can tell they haven’t read a damn comic besides SSOKE and it really shows.

If you enjoy it, just block me. It’s only a matter of time before we fight anyway, so don’t waste your breath because the whole time you could be trying to open your mouth, you could open a comic book instead, how about that?

Thanks for the asks though, LOL.

P.2

[sea-owl]

More on my bullshit on how Daphne and Eloise have the same taste in men: Brother edition!

So in The Duke and I and To Sir Phillip, with Love, the Bridgerton brothers break into the male leads house to beat him up on the defense of their sister. Anthony actually does it twice on Simon.

We all know the famous one in To Sir Phillip, with Love. Gregory punches Phillip and then Anthony and Benedict have him pinned against a wall. Colin is sitting in the corner eating the food and missing his wife. Eloise then proceeds to defend her man by jumping on Benedict's back and yanking at his hair. Anthony looses his shit when he sees Eloise's black eye and proceeds to choke Phillip, lifting his feet off the ground. The scene ends with things being clearned up that no Phillip did not hit nor kidnapp Eloise. Phillip was not trying to compromise Eloise if anything Eloise was trying to compromise him!

Speaking of compromising people this leads me to Simon. He was also beat up by Anthony before his wedding day. By the time Simon and Daphne married he had two black eyes, one from Anthony, and was almost shot by that same man. Later in the book Anthony proceeds to break into Simon's house twice. The first time was still during Simon and Daphne's fight. Daphne was in London while Simon was in one of his country estates. Not Clyvedon but somewhere else. If I remember correctly, Anthony busts into Simon's office in the middle of the night where they proceeded to talk and Anthony gives Simon a note from Daphne that ultimately leads to Simon going back to London. The second time Anthony busts into Simon's home Benedict and Colin are with him because in there eyes they gotta defend their sister. It ends quickly though because Violet busts in after them and yanks them all out by their ears leaving behind a laughing Simon and Daphne.

What I find in though that in these fights with the brothers, both Simon and Phillip don't fight back. They both could, Simon was a world travler at this point, so he knew how to somewhat defend himself, and Phillip is a boxer, so he knows how to fight. They choose not to, though, for varying reasons. It's actually Daphne and Eloise who fight back, and chill the brothers out. Simon was getting too close to Daphne for Anthony's liking in that field and for some reason the only way Daphne could think of was by punching Simon herself to show Anthony he ain't going to hurt her. Anthony knows from experience Daphne hits hard. Eloise terrorized Benedict to get him away from Phillip.

But yeah another point that Simon and Phillip are the same men different fonts, and Daphne and Eloise are more alike than they think.

[helpimstuckposting]

TMAGP 30 Speculation

Now that it’s season finale time, I’ve got a LOT to say and a lot of ideas so I will ramble them here and either I’m horribly wrong or horribly right but unfortunately we have to wait to find that out

First, I can’t believe Alice had two mysterious talks with her friends saying they have something super important to say with a horrified quiver to their voices and she didn’t have time to listen to EITHER of them. Teddy and Colin are high high high on the list for ‘died off mic and we only find out next season’

Since Gwen was promoted (idiot) and Sam is… mmm… missing, it looks like the OIAR will need to fill at least one position, and I think it would be fun if Teddy came back to take his place as a main character. It’s possible that what he had to say was “This new job… it’s not exactly [working out]” and he was simply looking for a new one, and it’s no more ominous than that. If that’s the case, I can absolutely see him taking his position back next season. Colin’s probably dead, though, I’ll be shocked if he’s not tbh

Speaking of Colin, he called the system Freddy while talking to Alice. You know, the same guy that said “Don’t give it a personality. We shouldn’t even be calling it Freddy.” So the change up here is really blatant to me.

I’m still really attached to the idea that Jon and Martin (and Jonah’s) voices were stolen and they’re not actually trapped in the computers. However, I *do* think the voices are sentient, I just don’t think we’re right about who’s behind them. I think Freddy, the program itself, may be using the voices to push its own agenda and manipulate the decisions each OIAR employee is making. Alice gets a lot of JMJ errors, and is specifically the only person on staff who actively tunes the cases out and does not read into them.

OR, if it does turn out to be our guys, then I think it’s possible they’re working counter productively to Freddy, and the JMJ errors are a result of that — like they’re actively trying to work against Freddy. This could also be why Colin said he messed up, like maybe his attempts to deal with the JMJ errors made Freddy more powerful.

Either way, it seems the OIAR is in a huge bind going into season two. Colin probably did something buck wild and pissed the computer off, he’s probably dead, Sam is missing and they’ll need a new hire, Lena is gone (the only person who presumably knew anything that was going on) and Gwen just got promoted to boss despite having 1) absolutely no idea what’s going on with anything at all, 2) an inability to handle the externals and several panic attacks, and 3) no clue what Lena’s job even was, with no direction from the man who promoted her. It seems like even the PM has no real clue what the OIAR does, how it functions, or who it employs (“I’m sorry, do you hire a lot of murderers for contract and consultancy work?” - the answer is Yes, actually, several!)

Picturing the team next season as Alice, Teddy, Celia, and their boss Gwen is… a comedy of errors (or comedy of [ERROR]s? … Sorry) like that absolutely cannot go well. Although, we are pretty used to people being hired as a boss while they have no qualifications of the sort (also did not go well)

As for Sam, the Archivist, and Hilltop Road, I have a few questions about what could possibly happen. First, if the crack in reality was specifically calling for and tugging Celia toward it, we can probably assume that it’s the TMA universe on the other side, right? Which means Sam and the Archivist are now in our original beloved universe. I’m curious to see if Sam is just going to be MIA for the entirety of season two, or if we’ll get tape recordings of him at the same time as our TMagP friends, and we’ll have updates between both universes. I could see that being very interesting if some voice actors appear as two different people in the same episode (their TMA part, and their TMagP counterpart) but that would probably be really complicated to pull off in an audio format.

Also, we know the TMA fears cannot be separated, and that they’re possibly just one entity and have been one entity the whole time. That’s why they couldn’t start the apocalypse without all of them participating, and that’s why when Annabelle opened the crack in reality they all left the TMA universe. “Any attempt to separate the fears is doomed,” is what she said. She also said, “I would either travel with them, or I would die. I do not know which... Most would simply lose whatever power they have been gifted.”

So, if an archivist travels back through the crack in reality, what would happen to them? They’d be cut off from the entity that gave them power, right? So either the archivist will die, or maybe we’ll find out who Beth Eyre (the voice of [ERROR])’s character really is? Who they were before they became an archivist?

I don’t think they’d introduce [ERROR] and then just get rid of them without any resolution, which leads me to believe we will eventually find out what happened to Sam. I don’t think Sam’s just going to be dead or missing and never come back, I don’t see how there’d be any point to that. He is still the only person we know of who’s survived telling their whole statement, and even though he had a headache I feel like that must be significant. The janitor turned into a rock, I really don’t think a normal person would just walk away with a headache. Like, for all intents and purposes, Sam probably should have had his skin ripped off if we’re following the pattern of [ERROR] related deaths.

I hope next season focuses on Hilltop Road, because the lore in this episode was amazing. First of all, it was hard not to notice how each shop had a different danger. The custodian mentioned the drunk man walking into the newsagent and then he “ignored the smell of burnt hair and charred meat”. Then there was the shop that turned a woman into a mannequin, and Sam and Celia walked past the appliance shop where doors kept opening and closing, and the dentist that wanted peoples teeth. There was also the antique shop from episode 7 that almost buried the manager alive, plus the institute also used one of the units. I could be reading too much into it, but it feels like each fear from TMA has uhhhh… set up shop?

It’s also interesting to me that Annabelle said every owner on Hilltop Road in TMA was marked by the Spider, and died a grizzly death.

“So many schemers and spiders and full-throated monsters. Twisting manipulators and furtive liars. Each meeting a violent, grotesque end.” (TMA 196)

And the owner of Hilltop Center was no different.

“I found the owner dead in his office, with every blood vessel stripped from his body and strung around the room in a grim cat’s cradle.”

Not only did he die a violent and mysterious death, but his blood vessels were strung up ‘in a cats cradle’, which is pretty web-like if you ask me.

Anyway, I’m really really hoping to learn more about Hilltop Center next season, that’s the ONE thing I’m super latched on to post-finale

[cbk1000]

So what exactly is it about Merlin and Arthur that make them so ship-worthy, sparking million-word fanfics? Why does it remain one of the most popular fandoms? Why do you never seem to tire of them as a writer? (Not that I am complaining or anything. I just find the loyalty fascinating considering how much new stuff is coming out every day).

Bradley and Colin and their chemistry together as performers certainly is an important aspect of the popularity of that specific ship, but I think the endurance of the Merlin fandom as a whole is due primarily to two main things, which are: that tragic ending, and the unrealised potential of the show.

The primary consensus amongst Merlin fans if you ask them about a piece of media they're still obsessing over, twelve years after it ended, is, "BBC Merlin is terrible; it's so good." The premise and characters are interesting. There are some absolute banger lines. There are bits and pieces of it that are good. But as a whole, it's a muddled piece of trash (I still love you, BBC Merlin, don't worry). Uther is a tyrant who has committed literal genocide, and they make the main villain a woman who is a part of the oppressed class of people that he's indiscriminately murdering. Women in general get to be one of two things: love interest, or moustache-twirling villain. Arthur grows as a person only for the writing to immediately walk back that growth, usually for a cheap joke. The major narrative arcs, the most familiar, identifiable aspects of Arthurian legend in the cultural consciousness (Lancelot, the love triangle, the fall of Morgana, Mordred's betrayal, etc.) are either barely present (see: Lancelot's two seconds of screentime) or completely devoid of believable character motivation (see: Mordred suddenly turning on Arthur because he executes a woman who committed terrorism who it turns out was someone Mordred knew as a kid and completely forgot about till the moment he saw her in her jail cell).

When something is, in some ways, quite good, and in a lot of other ways, hot garbage, it leaves a wide-open sandbox for fans to play in. I think if the show were much more well-written, and consistently so, the fandom would have died out years ago. But instead, we never saw the Golden Age of Camelot. We never saw Albion united. We never saw Merlin and Arthur reunited. We were left, at the end, with one main character dead, and the other centuries later still waiting for a person the show literally describes as his other half to come back to him. People haven't moved on because they spent five seasons watching a silly, stupid family show to see its main character fail at what he was literally prophesied to achieve and hold his best friend while he died. We don't even know for sure in the end that Arthur came back to him. We see Merlin alone, in modern day, at the lake, still waiting for him, with no indication that Arthur is rising again. And for people watching the show as it aired, the BBC delivered this nut punch on Christmas Eve.

I think it's about what the show didn't do, and the space that creates for fans to come in and do it themselves, over and over again.

Also, personally, I'm trying to self-soothe.

[pain-is-too-tired]

Spoilers for The Magnus Protocol Season 1 finale

I-wow.

Sam no 😭

Sam did not deserve that. Oh my gods. Idk if Alice is gonna get told the full thing but If so she's 100% not gonna forgive Ceila if she does.

I try not to over compare them to the Tma gang cause they're they own character

But Alice not forgiving Ciela would be a actually clearer minded/reasonable reason of not forgiving someone than most of the "we don't forgive you Jon for stuff mostly out of your control or even partly our fault-" that tma had and I'd be so down for that

Like, tma kinda over did it with characters putting all the blame on Jon. Like it made sense in tiny bits, they couldn't really do anything against Elias or the eye and Jon took the brunt of that. But it became annoying after awhile especially in s5. Tim was the only one that at least had a big reason to hate Jon, stalking and all that. And they wrote him really making it clear the reasons for his hatred and distrust.

So- if Alive goes a similar route, with even more reason to hate Ciela if she finds out what Ciela wanted to do, I'm so down for that as long as it isn't annoying.

Also, speaking of that. Oh my gods. This made me realize... did she switch to Tmp universe before or right at the world going back to normal? Like, we don't knew how she got to tmp universe. But I do wonder, maybe some people got sucked in with the fears? The specifics of that I'm not sure of, but it's kinda interesting. Assuming she IS from tma universe which I'm pretty sure she is. She says there's nothing to go back to, might be because she doesn't know things were reset.

Also. The Archivst... what was that? Why did it want it? It said "finally it's mine". Why did it want the tear? And. If it ends up back in tma universe... jeez.

Like, lot of people talk about the choice of how to end the eyepoclpse/fears in tma. The job vs everyone else thing. But if the fears could just..come back through? Just like that? Literally all that "let's just make it other universe's problem" was for nought. Obviously killing everyone was wild, and probably the Archivst/fears here are their own thing(probably very likely.) But,as mentioned by Ceila, something being displaced makes things unbalanced.

Does that apply to the fears? Is that also why it became a center piece for shops/other fears to be pulled to? Because it was trying to bring equallibruim to the universes?

Like...did they fuck up the other universes more then just giving them the fears? Did they cause an cosmic unbalanced they could come back to haunt them???

Also back to the Archivst. I saw some mention Jon(which unlikely,they seem to have a more feminine voice iirc) and another mention Tma Gertrude which I can see. Either way they do say an Archivst and it could be anyone. We know it seems be like the Archivsts in season 5 they came across. At least I think.

Anyway. Gods help Teddy and Colin. Part of me feels like they might be more part of the cast next season. That's gonna be something.

[entertaining-two]

My Biggest Problem With Bridgerton Season 3

I wanna start by saying if you wanna stay in the positive reviews for Season 3 I totally get it, I have been too because I do truly enjoy season 3 and seeing people tear it apart sucks a lot and can take the joy out of it for some.

My biggest issue with the season and take on what could've been done slightly better will be below 🥰

So I wanna start by laying out that I think the groundwork done in previous seasons really set up Penelope to have a story be flushed out and examined when it came time for her season. I think with Colin's character things were much more nuanced because it was a lot of internal work. But the main point is everything was lined up to have both of their characters reach good growth milestones within their season to wrap up their stories.

So going into season 3 I think for those of us who didn't read the books but knew the gist of what the story was about anticipated a certain level of attention put on Colin and how he had to come back into himself. He is a character known for trying to find himself, and we see it shown in trying to marry the first girl he remotely is interested in, trying to travel to find his purpose, trying to save his friends family, traveling again for more purpose, and then when he returns to the ton and has put on a facade. So when we finished the season my annoyance was that there was not much emphasis on Colin's journey.

They dove into Penelope's extensively, her battle to be seen, to have her purpose with Lady Whistledown and letting herself be loved. But Colin, we the viewer are so set up to misunderstand him this season which is why I don't blame anyone for not grasping his character at all because they don't give us a ton to work with.

Personally, as much as I adore Penelope's character and her importance to the narrative, her character got more growth and attention than Colin did and it was technically his season as he is the "Bridgerton" in question. I truly don't think that Jess or the writers knew what to do with him to get the audience to understand his story without centering it more around Penelope's perspective. I mean the big emotional moments of the story are centered around the Featheringtons, healing the relationship with her mother, healing the relationship with her sisters etc. Which is amazing I loved it, but also I felt like Colin was just kinda.... there. Especially in the second half.

So here is a list of a few things that I think could have improved the way we see Colin's emotional journey throughout the season (I will remind you again I have not read the book so take this with a grain of salt if it is super inaccurate to that).

Flashbacks: Both previous seasons give us flashbacks for the male leads, I think that it could've been useful here as well. A few that would have been nice to see would be Colin when he is younger with his brothers older and him feeling lost in the middle of them and Daphne. Colin and Pen when they were much younger laughing/speaking candidly to each other as they got older. Or flashbacks to Edmond and Violet because we know they were friends to lovers too, perhaps this is how Colin knows what love truly is.

Colin Traveling: I think a flashback to Colin on his travels and showing him receiving no letters from his family, alone in some city and trying to find comfort in a woman/ trying to find a connection but instead it's just sex/flirting and seducing someone. - I think this would have been much more impactful than having him in a brothel right away. He clearly doesn't love being there, he is there because he wants the connection that he lacks and this is the easiest way to get it. So if we got some context into why Colin comes back a different person, I think it would make it easier for people to understand this version of himself he puts on and make it more impactful when he stops acting this way and realizes he loves Pen.

Narrating: I know the only narrator we ever have is Lady Whistledown but I think it could have been an interesting parallel to have Colin narrate more of his journal entries as the Lady Whistledown discovery happens so that we can better understand how he feels about things. I've seen quotes from the book and it seems like a great deal of the realizations happen completely in Colin's head and we can always infer things based on actions and thats fine, but I think we would have had a deeper understanding of his inner workings if we had got this instead of Colin just sitting at his desk staring or writing and guessing at what he could be thinking/feeling based on past experience.

Give them more scenes: Everyone has been saying it but it's true. I think there are some spots that could have been longer conversations or just a conversation in general. For example: When Colin walks in on Penelope getting changed and we get that longing moment from Colin, I wish Pen would have asked him to stay or something of that essence, and then we could have gotten a heart to heart moment where Penelope lets Colin explain what he is feeling about this situation a little bit more, the war between loving her wanting her but also feeling betrayed. Even if it still ended in them not being on the same page and him sleeping on the couch I think it would have given us another scene that isn't as heated especially post their wedding and how it ended. They were almost coming to an understanding until the queen was there and I think having that raw conversation soon after would have been impactful for his character arc.

Last Convo with Violet Bridgerton: Something I was confused about in Ep08 was that we saw Colin prepare to sit his mother down and explain that Penelope is Whistledown after Pen send her a letter. And instead of seeing that we see the Featherington sisters excited by the details of their ball (fun but also I think the other conversation is more meaningful and that scene could have been shorter or just cut and instead explained when guests got to the ball). Violet is a major catalyst for the previous Bridgerton siblings and their story arcs. She is a binding force, a motivator, and usually the one that gives her child the words of advice/moment that is most needed. I know we got the Kate older sister moment about secrets with Colin which I loved, but I think for Colin's character who has long been a mamas boy sensitive one it would have hit hard to have one more scene with Mama Bridgerton. Especially because in part 1 we have two big conversations between the two of them: when she tells him that her and Edmund had the courage to ask in order to break from friends into lovers, and then when she tells him he's always been the sensitive one worrying for others and that Penelope might be getting proposed to. Both of those moments were catalysts for his next actions both emotionally and physically. So imagine a last conversation with her, him explaining not just who Pen is, but his own feelings hes been dealing with, letting the other person he has trusted with his feelings the most hear the worries that have plagued his mind for the past weeks since hes found out. Explaining his worry for Pen's safety, his families safety, and his feelings of betrayal and jealousy; Violet Bridgerton would absolutely know the perfect thing to say in that moment that helps get Colin over that last small obstacle. Because truly, we don't get Colin having a full heart to heart with anyone who knows who Whistledown is besides Eloise, and Eloise just asks if he can ever forgive Pen, but we need someone older, someone Colin trusts to give him advice and hold these complicated feelings and honestly Eloise was never going to be that character for him. We needed Mama Bridgerton, to lovingly hold her sons thoughts and feelings and tell him that it is okay that he felt betrayed by the person he knew best, that it's okay that he is perhaps a little jealous of her success, but that it was also okay to love her and forgive her. But also re-affirm to Colin that she is proud of him and he is capable of the success and purpose he strives for too. As well as put Colin's mind at ease in terms of how she accepts Penelope as Lady Whistledown, having his mothers approval of it may help him accept it too. Violets approval, Violets words of understanding and assurance would help untangle the confusing thoughts that then lead Colin to that final confession of love. It would make that scene all the more impactful knowing then more about the feelings that tangled through him that we are now privy to because he spoke about them to his mother, we would now understand more fully the emotional journey he had to go on to get to that point of forgiveness and understanding.

Make up scene: I think I speak for most of the #polin community when I say that we needed a longer makeup sex scene. I think with this new found understanding, post his admission of love and purpose that was so heartfelt and beautiful, it would have been all the better with a slightly longer scene where we perhaps got a few more lines of dialogue with these two. We needed a true makeup scene where they are giggly and happy that things are finally good and they can just be truly in love with each other once again without the angst between each other. I think this would have been very satisfying story wise when taking into account that (imaging that flashback scene to Colin on his travels) Colin starts so disconnected from who he is and very lonely, but would then end having been connected to his purpose and to the person he loves who loves him just as equally.

Ultimately I love Colin and his character and I do believe we got a lot of great moments with him, however I can't help but have wished to have more. I hope that next season we get a cute, sexy, domestic side story with him and Pen where we can see him be the Colin "my wife" Bridgerton that we all love.

Let me know if any of these points you also thought could work and maybe I write them into a fic of some sort 🥲🫠 Thanks for reading all my little thoughts 💕🥰

[babytarttdoodoo]

Can you write one of Jamie showing up to training sick and the team has to convince him to go home? Then someone takes him home (I want it to be Roy even though Roy probably shouldn't leave training when he's in charge for Roy/Jamie shipping reasons, but all the lads wanting to care of him would also be nice)

Who needs realism when we can have fluff? I went a bit off script but I hope you still enjoy it.

Thank you for the prompt!

(Prompt Fill Masterpost)

—

Isaac was generally the first player to arrive for training at Nelson Road. He tried to set a good example, being captain and all that.

Jamie, despite living closer to the grounds than most, usually strolled in with less than 10 minutes left to get changed and out on the field.

It used to annoy members of the team, Isaac included. These days, he knew that Jamie and Roy had extra early workout sessions together and that Jamie was just genuinely awful at managing his time in the mornings. It was fine - he never held anyone else up.

But it was therefore extremely surprising to find him in the locker room a full hour before training was due to start, dressed to play and slumped halfway into his cubby.

“Alright, bruv?” Isaac gave him a cautious nod and dropped his stuff at his section of the bench. “What are you doing here?”

Jamie was slow to answer, blinking bleary eyes at Isaac and apparently needing a minute to take in the question.

He sniffed. “... training, innit?”

“Yeah…” Isaac affirmed, frowning at his rough voice and general dishevelled state. “Don’t normally see you this early, though.”

Jamie hummed and nodded like that was a fair observation.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

Well, that probably went some way to explaining the state of him. There were dark smudges under Jamie’s eyes and his hair, rather than carefully styled in the swept-back quiff he’d taken to lately, hung limp and unkempt over his forehead.

He looked kind of terrible, actually.

Roy wouldn’t have let him come in if there was anything seriously wrong, though. That much, Isaac was sure of.

He hadn’t been overly surprised when the pair had told the team they were together. There had always been a weird level of intensity between the two and more than one person over the years had quietly speculated that at least some of it was down to sexual tension.

Any worries about how it would affect team dynamics had simmered down quick enough, too. If anything, they both seemed to overcompensate at work to make sure they couldn’t be accused of dropping the ball, so to speak.

But they did obviously spend their mornings together, training or otherwise, even if they arrived on different schedules. And though Roy was still hard on Jamie as a coach, he was also exceedingly protective as a boyfriend.

If something more than a bad night’s sleep were at play, he would have insisted Jamie stayed home.

Still, Isaac kept a careful eye and ear out while he went through his routine of getting ready. It probably wouldn’t be the worst thing for Jamie to fall asleep where he sat and get a quick nap in, but it was best to be ready to catch him if he toppled off the bench in the process.

Dani was the next to arrive, far too perky for the early hour and seemingly not phased by Jamie’s presence. His smile did dim at the lack of response to his bright greeting but Isaac caught his eye and gestured for him to keep it down a bit.

The message was received and passed on through silent glances and elaborate head tilts as more players filtered in, a collective effort to let Jamie close his eyes and snooze overriding the usual rambunctious atmosphere. Isaac was very proud.

Nate was the first of the coaching staff to arrive. He looked confused at the lack of rabble in the room and his gaze followed everyone else’s to see Jamie snoring softly. They all shushed him frantically when he opened his mouth to clearly try and rouse him.

Isaac, Sam and Colin beckoned him over to the other side of the room.

“What’s up with Jamie?” he asked quietly, looking between them.

“Just said he didn’t sleep well.” Isaac shrugged. “He was in before me. Seemed kind of out of it.”

“He doesn’t look alright.” Colin put in, frowning over at their pale and sleeping teammate.

“Have you heard from Roy today?” Sam asked Nate, worry pinching the corners of his eyes. “He must know if something is wrong.”

“I haven’t.” Nate checked his phone but shook his head. “No, nothing. They don’t always come in together, though.”

“But they train in the mornings.” Dani whisper-shouted from his end of the bench, clearly listening in and echoing Isaac’s own thought processes from earlier.

“It could be that Jamie did not sleep because they had a fight…?” Richard ventured reluctantly, holding up his hands in defence when the room hissed at him in disgust. “Just a suggestion!”

“If Jamie were angry or upset, he would be running laps or sulking, not sleeping.” Sam pointed out.

“And they wouldn’t bring that shit into work.” Isaac stated with surety.

Nate looked back at Jamie and checked the time on his watch.

“We’ll need to wake him up soon and make sure he’s okay. He can’t just sleep in here all day.” He peered over into the coaches’ office and looked relieved to see movement. “I think Beard’s arrived - I’ll go see if he’s got any ideas.”

The air of respectful quiet had shifted to uncertain worry as everyone started to question, internally or amongst themselves, exactly why Jamie was so exhausted. He didn’t have the best track record with open communication when something was wrong.

Could there be something up between him and Roy?

As if on cue, their manager stalked into the locker room and was immediately taken aback by the subdued environment. He stopped dead in the doorway and scowled.

“What the fuck’s up with you lot?”

“Roy?” Jamie stirred and opened his eyes to a squint in search of the familiar voice. Roy’s head immediately snapped to the side and took in Jamie’s half-reclined form.

“You look like shit.” Only years of experience let Isaac pick up on the surprise and concern in Roy’s voice. Vague worries about trouble in paradise dissipated immediately.

Jamie - predictably - pouted up at him. “‘S not nice.”

The slurred speech sent Roy’s eyebrows flying up in alarm and his emotions suddenly became a lot more visible to the untrained eye. He quickly pressed the back of his hand against Jamie’s forehead, cursing quietly at whatever he felt there.

“Fucking hell, Jamie. You could have called me.”

“Were you not together?” Sam asked, now also clearly edging back towards distress. Nate and Beard emerged from the office at the new wave of commotion.

Roy shook his head. “No. Phoebe’s been staying at mine while she’s off school with the flu. Told this idiot to go home last night and get some proper sleep.”

He sighed and, despite his harsh words, gently smoothed back Jamie’s hair.

“You’re supposed to tell someone when you catch the plague, you muppet.”

Jamie just whined pitifully and leaned into the contact so hard he almost slumped right off the bench. Half the team jolted in place with aborted attempts to catch him.

Roy was right there, though, and easily tipped him back to a safe sitting position, grip steady.

“Alright, prima donna. Let’s get you home.” He looked over to Nate and Beard. “You two good to get things started? I can be back in an hour or two.”

“Take your time.” Beard gave him a firm nod and Nate mumbled his agreement, brow furrowed at the scene. “We got this.”

Declan swept in to help pack up Jamie’s things as Roy cajoled him to his feet and slid an arm around his waist to keep him upright. He accepted the duffle bag with a grateful grunt and started shuffling his boyfriend towards the exit.

“Let us know if you need anything, yeah?” Isaac demanded when they were finally underway.

Roy looked back over his shoulder and half-smiled at the room of worried eyes staring back at him. “Will do, captain. Keep an eye on the rest of them for me.”

[mandaplease10]

A Polin Take Nobody Asked for #7

Show Polin VS Book Polin Part 2

Comparing Polin in the show vs the books since so many are complaining about the differences. Part 1.

Show Polin: Falling in Love

I actually prefer their love story in the show because we really get to see it develop, plus it's a true friends to lovers trope compared to the book.

I know that several people think that Colin didn't have feelings for Penelope until Season 3, but I beg you to give their scenes in season 1 & 2 and the beginning of season 3 another watch.

Yes, there was the only Marina storyline, but it's very obvious that Colin was into the idea of her than actually being with her. He wanted a purpose/meaning in life and he thought by getting married was the answer. By that's another post for another day.

Personally, I think Colin started having more than friends feelings for Penelope at towards the end of Season 1 and got stronger in-between season 1 & 2 and even more in season 2.

What about the "Never Court Penelope line?" This was another example of Colin trying to fit in with society and trying to play down his feelings. Just before this scene, he talked about how special Pen was to him, so yeah it was a bad thing to say on his part, but it doesn't mean he didn't have some type of feelings for her.

When he comes back in Season 3, it's so obvious that he has feelings for her!!! His outfit at the garden party, the way he tries to flirt with Pen, and how upset he looks when she walks away from him. The fact that he is eager to make things right with her and willingly seeks her out. I mean, the mans speech in the Featherington Garden is practically a love declaration in and of itself.

Book Polin: Falling in Love

Colin returns back to Mayfair after being away for a while. He starts spending time with Pen and he notices there's something different about her. She's more confident and sure of herself and they have genuine conversations. We know how Pen feels about Colin and we get a little inkling of Colin slowly developing feelings for Pen. We get more uncertainty of whether Colin loves Pen because he doesn't really know what love is, he assumes it's a "thunderbolt from the sky" , but realizes it doesn't have to be. Loving someone is created by their smiles and spending time with them and never wanting to be away from them.

So, basically, I feel like in the show we get a better visual and story of how the two fell in love and why they love each other, whereas in the show, it's very quick and we aren't provided a lot of details/self journey like in the show.

Show Polin: Lady Whistledown Reveal

So many people hated how the show handled this storyline because it wasn't the same as the book. I actually like how they handled this, the only thing I wish they did differently is the timeline of events. I think Colin finding out would have worked better at the end of Ep 5 and then have Cressida's announcement as LW come out in Ep 6.

Regardless there are so many reasons why Colin reacted differently in the show compared to the book. The main thing is Colin is a decade younger in the book, so he's more immature and still finding himself. The other main thing is Colin has more issues with LW because of the whole Marina revelation, Eloise, and of course him not knowing himself. So, to him, he is finding out that the one person he thought he knew, the one person who he loves more than anything, has written these horrible things about him and people close to him (even if they were all true) and of course that is going to hurt. Especially, when you think this person has been 100% honest with you, only to find out they haven't and then you start to question everything.

Those two reasons in and of themselves are enough to justify his actions. Then the writers added in the jealously storyline on top of that, which makes it even worse.

Book Polin: Lady Whistledown Reveal

This happens before Polin actually get together, which means that there are no secrets amongst them when they get engaged or hook up in the carriage. However, the stakes also aren't as high because the worst thing LW wrote about Colin is the fact that he's charming. The biggest issue at first that Colin has is for Pen's safety, which makes sense. She's been living this double life, going to a shady part of town unchaperoned for years, and knowing that she's written things about some powerful people who could easily hurt her.

But one thing I keep seeing people who prefer Book Colin is how angry he got when she published after Cressida's announcement. He was so upset that he grabbed her arm to the point of bruising and mentioned wanting to kill her. So, yeah, Book Colin may not have separated himself from Pen, but he was very angry, more so than Show Colin.

Show Polin: Wedding & Aftermath

The simple fact that we even got a wedding, a wedding breakfast, a wedding dance already makes it better. I mean it was beautiful and everything I could have wanted for Polin. Yes, I would have rather them not still be at odds, but it shows that they were willing to put that aside and fight for their love despite them having trouble. That in the end they loved each other and they would make it work.

I wish we got them reconciling before the end of the episode 8, but when we look at other seasons, this is pretty much how those went as well. Hopefully, next season we just see them happy and if there is any drama they are a part of they are facing it together.

Book Polin: Wedding & Aftermath

We're told about the wedding. We don't actually get to 'see' the wedding happen in the book. Colin and Pen aren't at odds or sleeping separately. However, Colin is trying to deal with his jealously of Pen with her success of Whistledown. This all happens within the last few chapters of the book, so there really isn't much time to spend on how each are feeling in the moment until Cressida's blackmail comes in, which I will talk about in part 3!