Work Text
Once upon a time, as stories usually say, there was a village that was surrounded by a forest. No one ventured into the forest for the same reason Little Red Riding Hood was warned to be careful in the woods - fraught by danger and filled with a variety of beasts of all kinds. One of the villagers was named Janine and she was almost of age to be married, with her mother often fussing over her clothes and hair."Girl, you will never be a wife if your hair is unruly and your clothes dirty with mud. Above all, you must be subservient and never question your betrothed. Understood?"Janine nodded mutely. Does that mean that her future spouse was allowed to cheat or have casual flings but she couldn't? How hypocritical! But then again, men did not have to worry about getting pregnant, lucky them."Now," her mother ordered, "you are to go to town and get measured by the seamstress for your new dress. We found someone who wants to marry you.""Who, Mother?""Noah Bates, the son of the Earl."Janine gaped at her mother. Noah! He was a boor and cared not for anything except to brag about his title as if he were emperor."Don't stare and get going!" Janine's mother snapped.Janine set off in a huff but calmed down once she reached the bustling town. She also volunteered as dog walker, though her mother would not approve of such act, believing dogs to be 'manly animals'."Janine!"Three girls her own age ran up to her. Lilith, Demona and Saranna. Lilith was slender with auburn hair and wore a blue dress. Demona was brown with black elbow length hair, pink lips, chocolate eyes and wearing a black leather jumpsuit and heels. Saranna was pretty, brunette and wore a floral dress. They each had their secrets, but that was to be revealed soon enough."Oh, hey, guys. What are you doing?""We were going to hang out with you," Saranna answered. "Well, my mother wanted me to get measured by the seamstress. I'm going to get married soon. To. Noah."Lilith tutted. "Someday women and men can decide whether they will marry or not, rather than arranged marriages. Liberation and equality for all!""Yeah!" Demona cheered and Saranna and Janine echoed.A week before Christmas, Janine and her mother sat on the doorstep of their house, peeling and chopping potatoes and carrots and other vegetables.Janine's mother scoffed. "I’d hardly call those people friends, dear. You couldn’t possibly think that they’ll stay with you forever. Once you get married, you’ll be living a normal life here with us, a nice husband, taking care of your children.""Yes, I do think that they will stay with me. How can you even call them that? You know, that word is what all of those kids called me when they tormented me! And I will not be able to live a normal life after this, no way am I going to be tied down to someone and be forced to take care of kids for the rest of my life.""Young lady, I thought I told you to lower your voice. People will hear you." She waved her small knife at Janine, her voice low but threatening.If the target of the two parties' affections is beautiful, then one party will only be interested in a person's looks while the other cares more about their personality.If the target was once unattractive, but later becomes attractive, the Lust Interest will only take interest in someone after they become attractive, while the Love Interest will have taken interest before they became attractive. Alternatively, if the beautiful person loses their looks, expect the shallow party to immediately lose interest while their rival will (probably) remain in love.If the target of their affections is rich, the shallow person will only care about the money, while the truly loving person won't care about the money.If the rich person loses their money, expect the shallow person to lose interest, while their rival doesn't care. Similarly, a shallow person will have no problems trying to get with someone they disliked if said disliked person becomes rich, while the non-shallow person won't change their feelings based on money.When it comes to popularity, a shallow person will have no problems dating someone they don't (really) like for popularity, and will similarly have no qualms about dumping their partner when said partner proves to be a liability for their PR and/or status. Meanwhile, the truly loving person has no problems with their reputation taking a hit (or even being threatened) to be with the one they love.When it comes to loyalty, a shallow person will cheat on their partner if they can get away with it, and will dump them for someone "better" if the opportunity arises or if they get bored. Meanwhile, a true lover would never think of cheating, and wouldn't dump their partner for petty, self-serving reasons.When trying to woo someone, a shallow person has to rely on superficial qualities such as looks, money, or status to win people over, as they possess little, if any, genuinely likable traits; in contrast, the loving person will try to be likable as a person even if they aren't impressive on the outside. Expect the shallow person to be shocked and/or confused, when their superficial traits end up falling short in comparison to more meaningful qualities.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Bess stepped outside and took a deep breath; the hour was late, and the darkness of the sky was pure. She descended the short flight of stairs to her left, and waiting for her on the grass was a tall, dark figure. His chain of office caught the moonlight. "Mistress Dormer."Within a half hour, he had what he needed from her, and wanting to keep their relationship amicable, Cromwell thanked her. "Do you require any more wine, Mistress Dormer?" "No, thank you, sir. Is that all?" "Yes, it is. You are free to go." She got to her feet and wrung her fingers through one another. "Would you please walk me back, sir? I fear the dark." He rose and offered her his arm in a grant, chivalrous gesture. "Of course, my dear."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“How beautiful we are,” Artemis said. She brushed the water with her hands. A thousand reflections of their embracing bodies swirled around them. Artemis stared not at Callisto, but at the copies of herself in the water. She was beautiful, muscular, firm, like a living sculpture, her skin so smooth and golden.“You wonder why I run from you. Is it not because we are the same? We have the same weaknesses. The same rare beauty. Look at us, Callisto! Are we not the same and the most beautiful?”How could she not become entranced by her own reflection? Yet, I look beautiful too when I am with her. I was terrified to see the image of myself but our bodies fit together so perfectly.The water subsided, lapping at their feat. Artemis pushed Callisto up onto the grassy shore, and arranged her on her lap. She bent over and kissed her on the lips.“I love you, Callisto. I love you because you are weak, because you are fragile, because you are mortal . . . because you are completely innocent of all things. That is why you are beautiful. But why won’t you open your mouth?” Artemis pulled Callisto’s face towards her, and kissed her more forcefully, pressing her tongue against her lips. Her hands stroked up and down her body. She pushed Callisto’s arms away from her chest, and squeezed her soft breasts. Everything was like a dream, glistening and strange.Her head fell against Callisto’s breast. She sucked heavy kisses over the exposed flesh, from the warm flesh under her breasts, up to her collarbone. She sucked Callisto’s nipples gently, eliciting the most beautiful sensations, until Callisto shook with pleasure in her arms. Then she playfully bit down with her white teeth. Callisto’s breath quickened. Her breasts felt swollen and heavy. She looked down and saw that her breasts were covered with red welts from the heavy kisses. Artemis parted her legs, and pressed her fingers against her wet folds.“Am I hurting you?”No, you could never hurt me. I love you.“Good. Oh Callisto, I cannot be gentle when I burn with lust for you!”She wrapped her legs around Callisto.“I always wondered what this would feel like.”She thrust against her thigh."No, it’s not good,” she said bitterly. “Can’t you see that it’s all wrong? But you are so innocent. You’ve never even been touched before.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
March 2019. Norma was at home, chilling on the sofa, until Lucifer showed up. "What do you want?"
"Give me an heir and I'll give you what you want."
"Give me a country estate and then I will agree." Norma then found herself in said country estate. "I'll give you an heir."
He slowly removed his blazer, then tie, then shirt, leaving him in his cotton vest and trousers. He caught Norma looking at him longingly. When he stood completely naked, Norma looked away in shyness. Lucifer positioned himself between her legs and, wasting no time in sugary talk, pushed right into her.
Oh.
He had not expected for this…to feel so good. Growls fell out of his mouth as he got used to her velvety sensation.
It was only after Norma reached climax that Lucifer did the same.
He will ensure that his legacy continued, and that his power would thrive and enemies died. On November, Norma had her son whom she named Alfie.
There was a warm wind with a high tide at the south side of the hill
There was a young girl, off-picking brambles, that I followed with a will
Good day to you my young lady, let me show you where to go
To where the berries, they grow much sweeter, at the quiet loch side shoreWell I'm a man when I'm feeling the urge to step ashore
So let me charm you, not to alarm you, tell you all fine things and moreUp, ride with the Kelpie, I'll steal your soul to the deep
If you don't ride with me while the devil's free, I'll ride with somebody elseSay goodbye for all your dear kin for they hate to see you go
In your young prime, to this place of mine in the still loch far belowUp, ride with the Kelpie, I'll steal your soul to the deep
If you don't ride with me while the devil's free, I'll ride with somebody else
I'll ride with somebody else
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Yanking away from Edward all at once, Lissie sang out cheerfully, "Begging your pardon, my lords, make way!" and dashed through the crowd. Edward was several paces behind, less graceful and bulkier, and Lissie was in Cromwell's line of sight before he had any chance of catching her. She slid past Cromwell, finally making eye contact, and murmured as she ducked behind his back. "Help me, help me, help me," she pleaded. Cromwell's forehead wrinkled and Edward slowed as he approached, his face the picture of confusion as well. Lissie placed both hands on Cromwell's back, palms to his shoulder blades, using him as a human shield. "Master Seymour," Cromwell bowed a little. "Mistress Seymour. How fare you both this afternoon?" Edward applied an affable smile. "My sister has just received word that she and Jane are to remove themselves to the country for a spell. Taking it quite hard, I'm afraid." Cromwell spoke to Lissie over his shoulder, his tone light, teasing. "D'you not fancy the countryside, Mistress?" "I do," Lissie allowed cautiously. "The order and its enforcement seem a little brusque to me. I have not had time to gather my belongings." Edward rolled her eyes. "You have belongings enough at home. Come, Lissie, I've things to do." Cromwell held up a hand. "I see the lady's point. Perhaps she could be permitted to retrieve a few items from her rooms and report to your presence within a quarter hour," he suggested. Edward paused. "She has a history of…" "I swear, Edward," Lissie broke in. "I only want my gowns and linens, and a prayer book from childhood. That I shared with Jane," she fabricated easily. Whatever it took to appeal to him. "The sun sets, Mistress, and you've an obligation to your brother's authority," Cromwell said firmly as he turned to Lissie. "I shall be there well before dark," Lissie vowed, and swept both men a real curtsey. She turned and fled down the corridor before Edward could stop her. Cromwell turned back to Edward, whose dark eyes threatened to burn a hole in his sister's back. "Is she recalcitrant, my lord?" He tried to arrange his face in as disinterested an expression as possible. "Her loyalties are torn," Edward explained. "I doubt her allegiance to the family and Jane sometimes, to be truthful." "She will learn. Perhaps she does not fully understand the situation. Perhaps you could explain it to her." Edward shook his head. "She's young and stubborn. She thinks she knows better than men." Maybe she knows better than all of us, Cromwell thought. "Shall I have a word with her, my lord?" One corner of Edward's mouth curved upward. "That may be just the antidote, Master Cromwell." "In that case," Cromwell tucked his dossier under one arm and nodded at Edward. "Give her a few extra minutes. Let me see what I can do to help." "You are a man of many talents, sir," Edward said conspiratorially. He held out his hand. Cromwell shook it. "Incidentally, my sister Jane wished me to bid you her warmest farewell." "Ah. Tell her I pray nightly for her health and well-being," Cromwell smiled. "And if your family requires anything in the coming days, do not hesitate." A knock on Lissie's door caused her to jump. She backed against a wall, trying to see if there was anywhere to hide. Edward would be furious at her. "Lissie?" The low voice was not her brother's. Elizabeth flung the door open. She had a bundle in her arms. "What on earth happened?" "Edward caught me, dragged me off my feet and started to carry me down the corridor. He said I was leaving and could not say good-bye." Lissie's eyes peered over Cromwell's shoulders, waiting for her brother to jump out of a doorway. Cromwell rubbed his temple. "And you've packed your things now?" "Yes," she said breathlessly. "I've – Master Cromwell, I – I want to bid the queen farewell. I think I shall never see her again." "Lissie…" "Please." Her eyes filled with tears. "Please, you said you'd help me. I need your help." He stared at her for a long moment and then sighed. "I've got to stop making promises in moments of passion. Fine. Have you got everything you need?"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
NURSE: I'm a nurse. Where is he?My son. He's at the bottom of the fire escape. He's not moving!User with this ability either is or can transform into a fairy, a being that is either a nature spirit, a pagan god, an angel aligned with neither Heaven nor Hell, or something completely else. The way this power manifests varies greatly, but among the possibilities are pointed ears, unusual coloring (hair, skin and/or eyes), and animalistic features (horns, animal ears or eyes, tail, antennae, etc). Others change their size, manifest sigils over their body, produce an ethereal glow or have no changes at all. Faeries are among the most variable known beings. In terms of morality users can be good or evil, but are most commonly neutral.For practical reasons faeries can be divided into three groups defined by what they are formed from:Physical Faeries aren't necessarily solid matter, but they are material/energy beings with a relatively defined/stable form and often at least a somewhat human-like mind. Most users that aren't originally of faery stock have this variation. Note that faeries of this group aren't necessarily any weaker than those of the other groups. They are simply more "solid" in mind and body.Spiritual Faeries are completely spiritual beings, and thus far less bound to the "Material World". Many of them think in ways that are only tangentially relatable to humans, and their forms are both transient and often downright surreal.Ethereal Faeries are often both the most powerful and ancient faeries, in some ways closer to sentient concepts representing aspects of nature than anything else. As such, relating to them in any way is likely impossible.