graveyard-ripper

[graveyard-ripper]

the penetrating cold reminds misty of the wilderness after sunset, when all is dark and impending. unlike those long nights, however, its presence will be short-lived here. there is a bed with a pillow and blanket awaiting her; now that she's eaten and washed up, she longs to lay her weary, aching body to rest in its embrace.

❝ you should sit. ❞ misty gestures to the stool, taking away the shirt and trousers. the queen will have her head if the princess falls ill in her presence. she does not know from which cupboard they were produced, so she sets them on a small table opposite the tub. the cold, dry stone underneath her feet makes her shiver, and her teeth begin to chatter; she unfolds the flowing garment and briefly holds it up to gauge its size. ❝ it will be cooler in the corridor, ❞ she assures before slipping the fabric over her head. after draping her damp hair down her back again, she extends a hand toward the princess, ❝ come. ❞

yes. they are for a boy. the woman's amusement at ivory's efforts is nothing short of captivating. strong cheekbones become accentuated and icy hues glisten, and the young royal thinks she wants to see it mimicked every day, for the rest of her life. a more prominent blush quickly colours her cheeks, heat rising through her sternum and dissipating into the colder air. it is fuel to an already blazing fire, and the princess is suddenly certain she may have caught the flu.

❝ uh. yes. yes, i have one. ❞ she stutters, turning to a more familiar cupboard where the linen is kept. it takes only a few moments for the brunette to tug a nightgown from the back. when she returns to her counterpart, offering the still folded garment, one hand instinctively presses against her forehead. ❝ i apologize. i'm just. . .  i'm feeling quite warm. ❞ she confesses, unaccustomed to feeling such overwhelming ardour.

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

now returns the clarity and charisma of her professor, whom she adores being teased by – as much as she adores being adored. it succeeds in scattering some of her annoyance, because it alludes to the power that ivory holds. her desire to elicit a reaction from misty. ❝ they are not my friends, ❞ she murmurs, grazing her partner's hip before reaching around to grab her ass. ( unfortunately, her tolerance of the frat boys shows that she finds their antics amusing and has bonded with them over low test scores. ) dipping her head, she presses hot, envious kisses to her lover's neck. ❝ i do not want them making you uncomfortable. ❞

getting a rise from misty rucker is one of the professor's favourite pastimes. although getting a proper response proves more difficult following their time in the graveyard ( and only lasts a few short moments after the embalmer enters her office. ) however, ivory sees that same peacock display of authority from earlier brewing under the surface, so she chuckles again at her lover's retort. ❝ because you want to ensure i have no attention to give to your little friends ? ❞ she hums amusedly, ignoring her partner's gesture as palms smooth atop her upper thighs, then under her ass. she repeats the movement, nails leaving behind dim stripes of red as her lips meet the older woman's collarbone. ❝ you know, they stop by my office quite often. ❞

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

why does the princess watch? ( misty can discern her stance from her periphery. ) is she accustomed to an impartial presence when with her handmaiden? or is she, understandably, uncertain how to behave when she is the one aiding? it off-puts the stranger only in the sense that she does not like being stared at, naked or otherwise.

❝ were these for a boy? ❞ inquires misty amusedly, holding the trousers up to assess their size. ❝ i am fine wearing a chemise, if you have one. ❞ the fabric of these bottoms is not necessarily suited for sleep – as she’s found sleeping in her clothes over the last two weeks. ❝ i wore pants because they were more comfortable while on horseback. ❞

the towel is released over damp shoulders as the stranger steps from the tub, allowing stray droplets to pool onto the bathmat. ivory steps aside, planning to grab another to wring out the woman's sodden hair. she freezes upon turning back, dark hues flickering across pale, bruised skin, observing the small spots that remind her of her own hidden imperfections. 

but can something truly be imperfect when it is so beautiful ? the princess feels her breath catch in her throat, heat rising high in pale cheeks as she glances towards the clothing piled neatly to the side. she has never felt so HOT, though surely a fever has not come on so steadfast, unless their untimely traveller carries the plague. ❝ i these should fit you. ❞ she manages, gesturing to the pile.

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

the caress of a stranger's thumb tempts misty to grimace, but she smothers the urge underneath the guise of good manners. it is merely compassion, she reasons; and the princess cannot be shunned after she's been so patient. ( except the gentle approach affects her, making her want more of whatever led her highness to overlook the bad thing she's done. )

the tepid air leeches the heat of the bath from her body – and everything about her tenses and stands on end. she hurriedly climbs out and into the negligible warmth of the towel, shivering. it is easier now to take over, and she begins drying off the water as it beads on her naked skin.

ivory feels a substantial demand to care for the older woman, who appears much stronger when cleaned of mud and dried cruor ( despite being speckled with a multitude of bruises. ) the acknowledgement of her success causes white canines to flash in a bashful retort, color rising high in pale cheeks as her gaze momentarily lowers. ❝ you look much better as well. ❞ she admits softly, despite how, even covered in dirt and grime, misty rucker had been impossible to ignore.

when dark hues fall upon icy blue once more, the princess shifts, one and reaching forward to caress the older woman's cheekbone ; the pads of lithe fingers brush across the small bruises left behind in a disgustingly domestic gesture that showcases her fondness. ❝ let's get you dressed. ❞ the royal whispers softly, pulling a towel from the pile of clothing left on the nearby chair.

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

to call this kindness almost perplexes mary-anne. as a mother, she sows a little love in all those she meets – in hopes that one day her compassion will propagate. such benevolence, she knows, would have blossomed in the daughter that she lost. she wonders where it went wrong in the daughter that she sent away. saving misty from the cruelty soon to befall her was a kindness, but she has always felt guilty for it, because she knows she did not deserve it.

your highness, mary-anne feels compelled to say. ❝ ivory, ❞ the cook articulates, reaching forth with a warm, roughed palm to soothe her shoulder. ❝ you are always welcome in my kitchen. ❞ she murmurs, hushed to avoid insulting alexandre by claiming the kitchen as her own ( it is; they could last days without the chef, but they could not make it an afternoon without the cook ).

mary anne's voice rumbles in her chest, and for once, the unexpected noise does not cause the princess to jolt. ivory feels as if those sturdy arms will hold together her shattering pieces of a porcelain veneer, and when she finally peers up at her protector with those watery, deep doe eyes, she can only offer a shake of her head. mary anne's kindness surpasses simply tolerating the young royal out of necessity.

eventually, the arms that have found their way around the older woman's waist relent. ivory draws backward until she may turn that hug onto herself. even someone so soft, so perfect, appears entirely shattered in such a helpless position. but mary anne is a safe place to entrust her own vulnerability. ❝ you are too kind. ❞ she whispers softly, her dark, tragic gaze averting to the kitchen floor.

#WithIvy #OrangePudding #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

( when ivory seethes, when she is possessive, it is because she WANTS misty. and the older woman desperately wants to be wanted by her. for more than her body, but she will take what she can get. ) ❝ at times, ❞ she answers. brad and paul make vulgar comments about the professor almost every class; more often than not, their desire amuses misty – because she knows she will be the one living out their fantasies after class. ❝ i do not like when they make their interest in you so obvious to you, ❞ she continues while mirroring her counterpart's movements. she offers the shorts with one hand and holds out the other in turn.

ivory grimes laughs softly, the same dry, amused chuckle so often offered in the confinements of her office. her injured arm raises until she can softly grip the embalmer's chin, forcing her attention back to ebony hues. ❝ is that what you want ? me to seethe ? ❞ she whispers softly, adjusting her grip so the pad of her thumb may drag across her lover's lower lip ; yes, perhaps she would seethe had misty rucker enjoyed it. ❝ is that how you feel when the boys in class pay attention to me ? ❞ she continues, amusement highlighting paler than usual features, the corners of pale lips twitching slightly. her hands quickly drop to the waistband of her sweatpants, which oversized, would be much more fitting for the older woman. ❝ switch with me. ❞ she states simply, tugging the fabric over the curvature of her ass until she may step out of them.

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

misty raises a disbelieving brow. there is a whole pantry and fridge that would suggest otherwise ( hence the plain cheese pizza; only pepperoni could make it more blasé ). she watches ivory with slightly narrowed eyes, watching as she draws closer – still hypnotized by their interaction in the bedroom. ❝ it does not make you seethe to know that a man was staring at my chest? ❞ in another situation, surely. the doctor has always enjoyed reminding misty that she's all hers. the embalmer tugs the waist of the shorts down slightly, trying to keep the fabric from riding up her crotch. ❝ do you have any bottoms that are a bit larger than these? i would like to be comfortable while i eat. ❞

the domesticity that envelopes the pair is acknowledged in the absence of her lover, it makes goosebumps speckle across still-dampened skin. ivory pads back to her bedroom, pulling on sweatpants and a tank top that showcases more pale skin than usual. when she finally makes her way into the kitchen, her caretaker has brought two boxes to the table. it causes the corners of her lips to quirk upwards in amusement. 

❝ don't worry, i'm not picky. ❞ she responds, amusement glittering in the depths of ebony hues. misty rucker looks adorable in her kitchen ( and in her clothes ) and the doctor rounds the table to brush her fingertips atop her lover's waist. ❝ i truly can not blame him. ❞ she husks, dipping her head to press pale lips against a barely exposed collarbone.

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

thin tears disappear into the enveloping water, silent and sorrowful. there is no doubt that her mother saved her life when they parted ways ten years ago. at the time, misty was not sure she wanted to be saved, and she certainly did not deserve it. ( she still doesn't; those vile thoughts have not gone away, and, if anything, they have only grown from the warm blood that has soaked her hands. )

the forceful undoing of knots causes misty to wince ( through reflections of how stirring it feels ). when, eventually, the present moment returns, her features are weakened and her muscles relaxed. ❝ thank you, ❞ she murmurs after sitting up. nearly all memory of her travels has been dispersed in the bathwater, leaving behind the bruises and scrapes that will heal within the coming days. ❝ i am feeling much more like myself now. ❞

the princess hums softly in acceptance, allowing the woman to express her feelings without validating them. of course she expects profound thanks, though she does not expect what for. mary anne had coddled and cared for the princess when the horrors of her past endeavoured to send her into madness. without such kindness, the princess could have easily succumbed to darkness. the cook is full of love, of light, it makes the turmoil that swirls within the young royal fade into the background.

❝ of course. ❞ she utters softly, the pad of her thumb wiping stray tears from where they have rolled into the visitor's hairline. she acts as if the gesture is the most common thing in the world, dipping her hands into the water so she may begin to work through what remains of tangled strands. ❝ mary anne very well may have saved my life, i am in debt to her. ❞

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

misty scrubs away the dirt and sweat that have accumulated over the last few days and wonders if her highness purposefully busies herself with looking for clean clothing. the tears of another have always unsettled her , and it is reasonable that they might unsettle the young royal, too – who seeks only to soothe and, upon witnessing her cry, feels that she has failed.

strangers to one another, the princess does not know how easily the tears come when misty allows them. and she has not for many years, because her father admonished their presence. ❝ i do apologize, ❞ she murmurs, draping the washrag over the edge of the tub. ❝ i have missed my mother dearly. i want to thank you…for taking care of her in my absence. ❞ the sincerity is almost crippling, so misty sinks into the water to do as she's told.

the princess is not used to her babbling resulting in a dulled spirit. lithe digits uncurl from where the washcloth is buried in the centre of her palm, offering the fabric to the melancholy foreigner. ❝ i'll fetch you clean clothes, yours will take ages to dry. ❞ she mutters softly, standing from where she had knelt beside the tub.

a few minutes pass as the princess rummages through the cabinets, humming soflty in thought. she hopes that her counterpart will have pulled the loose bits of her persona back together by the time she returns. men's trousers made of cloth and an oversized white shirt that laces in the front are tugged from a shelf, and the royal figures they are comfortable enough for sleeping. when she returns to her visitor's side, the garments are placed alongside the towel. ❝ lean back, i'll clean your hair before the water cools. ❞ she instructs.   

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

muscular thighs strain against the smooth fabric they are now hemmed in, as does her bottom – which she knows her lover will appreciate when she walks away. she is uncomfortably aware of the lack of underwear ( however, this will not be the first time she goes without around ivory; she only wishes the shorts fit better ). the t-shirt, thankfully, fits well.

while misty places the pizza boxes on the dining room table, ivory emerges wearing a new set of pajamas – her long, tousled hair beginning to lighten as it dries. ❝ i was unsure what kind of pizza you like, so i hope one of the two appeal to you, ❞ the necrophile says, the sourness of her tone turning her politeness. ❝ the delivery driver made it obvious he found my tits appealing. ❞

misty is so sexy when she takes control ( and when she speaks in that dominant, raspy voice. ) the professor does as expected, melting backward into white sheets and releasing gentle, breathy whimpers. her hands have just begun to knit through dark tresses when the doorbell causes her to jolt upwards. dark, doe eyes widen in fear a few short seconds before a calm settles over tense limbs. right, the food. misty rucker was taking care of her in other ways before they got carried away.

❝ i . . . of course. ❞ the professor stutters. she should inform her counterpart of the old clothes that fill the dresser across the room, though it would be quite obvious this is not where the scholar stores her everyday garments. the 'pyjamas' in question are nothing but running shorts ( which will show much more skin on her lover ) and an oversized band shirt.

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

overlooking the princess' decline in health is understandable when, as an under-servant, you are not meant to look her in the eye. ignoring it, still, is easy for others when there is fabric to hide her feeble figure and powders to smooth her gaunt face. holding her, however, makes it impossible to ignore the toll her illness has taken on both the mind and body.

the young royal is starved of what makes a person whole again. mary-anne does not want to release her, for this is the first moment in which she seems to have found solace. ❝ jane, ❞ she calls to a woman across the kitchen, ❝ we need a a bit of bone broth heated for her highness. bring, too, one of the sourdough loaves and a knob of salted butter. ❞ then she peers down at the princess, who is still nestled in her collar. ❝ is there anything else we can prepare for you? ❞

OH. the princess has never been held like this. naturally, the relationship with her mother remains complicated. where ivory yearns for that same, motherly affection, their dynamic has always been off-centre. katherine rules with a hard exterior and a heavy hand ( as a ruler should ) and her daughter's smarts have made her wise beyond years. the young heir has never expressed her need, endeavouring to appear equally as strong, and the queen has never coddled unprovoked for the same reason. at the end of the day, their dynamic exists only because each of them fears looking weak in the other's eyes. here, late at night alongside the kitchen staff, the princess does not care about her fragility.

❝ i . . . ❞ am not hungry, the words die before reaching her tongue. ❝ thank you. ❞ ivory sniffles, though she does not release the hold she has now melted into. the princess coddles those who show no need, fearful that they are merely silent like her, growing sick of mimicking the same strength she grew up witnessing. this is nice, she likes this woman. the royal has never felt safe, and mary anne oozes protection from her pores.

#WithIvy #OrangePudding #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

misty listens, yet becomes distant. the landscape of her mother looks different than she remembers; so many seasons have passed, and so much has changed. she can read now, and she is a proper cook ( a talent that she aways had but that is more refined here ). she is endeared to the princess, and perhaps the royal family as a whole.

misty feels as she did ten years ago – an overcast sky, a constant blue eclipsed by the dark. it is, in part, why she resisted separating from her mother when the princess requested that she come away for a bath. she still feels like the young girl that was sent away, damaged and irreparable. tears well in her eyes – hot as the bathwater – and dribble down her cheeks. ❝ may i have the rag? ❞ she croaks. ❝ i would like to finish my bath. ❞

oh, that comment illuminates momentarily darkened features. the change of subject provides a purposeful distraction sufficient in tugging the princess away from the horrors of her past. most days, the royal spends hours lost in her mind, it takes copious effort for staff to pull her from the depths ( though those assigned to her care would never divulge such desecration. ) misty rucker provides a constant salve to an otherwise lethal wound, so white canines glisten in the lamplight as the royal giggles.

❝ mhm. ❞ the queen would scold her for such ineloquent language. ❝ her own stories are the best. though when she reads, the books tend to alter. ❞ ivory starts, turning solemn as her chin rests atop her knuckles once more. ❝ words that sound the same are often spelled differently, sometimes she grows frustrated and carries on from memory. ❞ or carries on in absurdity to please the princess. despite even her best efforts, the cook’s recollection can not surpass that of her majesty. ❝ however, she continues to impress me each time she allows me to teach her. it has been an honour. ❞ 

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

❝ you will, ❞ misty husks. when all of her muscles soften in the aftermath of an orgasm, she will relax further into kisses, then into another bout of sleep. the embalmer releases her nipple with a soft sigh and trails lips down to her naval, intending to take care of the heat she stoked between her legs while in the bath– when a clear bell chimes. the front door. misty looks up at her lover, as if it is a discussion who should answer it. ❝ that would be the pizza, ❞ she murmurs, and it occurs to her now that she has no clean clothes to wear. ❝ i– ❞ sitting up, she spots the pajamas ivory set aside for herself; she points to them. ❝ may i? ❞

ivory grimes, once regarded expert in all things, does not know how to relax. the realization had dawned on her long ago, though it is always pushed aside ( as is anything else the scholar does not immediately master. ) she does not know how to be taken care of, though with such diligent teaching, the professor is becoming educated on the subject. it is hard to fail with such a thorough teacher, and ivory grimes resumes her earlier position almost instantly. melting under her lover's touch, the once-feared professor becomes entirely malleable. pale lips part to exhale pitifully, her back arching towards such careful attention as both arms ( one now lovingly bandaged ) wrap around her lover's still-damp neck.  ❝ i can't relax when you touch me like that. ❞ she breathes. clearly, she's taught misty rucker a few things aswell.

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

many talk of what life is like for the royal family. as a child, living in a small village, misty heard speculation of their wealth and indulgence. the privilege of their golden blood. in the city, in recent years, she has heard accounts from merchants who have dealt with the royal court, or figureheads who have visited the castle. however, none of it seems to amount to the reality she’s come to face this evening. there is a coldness about her majesty, an absent warmth seemingly passed onto her daughter – who is entirely too kind for someone that should be far removed. 

misty regards her lamp-lit features, at ease in the presence of a stranger who is not wholly a stranger. ❝ she can read? ❞ the stories that her mother told were spontaneous, whisked from the ether, and the artistry of the performances always mesmerized her. has that changed now that she can read from a book?

ivory grimes does not dwell on the reality of her partner's inquiry. an overactive fight or flight response could easily drive the princess to madness, though she overlooks her own anxieties in fear of katherine sending her away again ( so she may return shiny and new. ) even her majesty hears the whispers, despite how she wants to ignore them. perhaps, in that aspect, ivory grimes and misty rucker are similar.

❝ the pureness of someone's heart, where their loyalty truly lies, is not defined by a castle uniform. ❞ the princess states dryly. after all, it had been a similar betrayal that had resulted in the royal's near demise . . . the castle's protectors are only as useful as those who choose to serve it. the reality keeps her up at night. content with her efforts, pale hands draw to rest against the basin's edge, her chin resting atop them. ❝ your mother is honourable. she reads to me at night, i do not ever fear harm will find me in her presence. ❞

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

the tepid air enriches with a soft, confident chuckle. perhaps misty is teasing, but ivory practically invites her to. stepping across the line that separates lustful expression from seduction, the necrophile endeavors to continue undoing her lover – just so she can put her back together again. while wiping the bit of vaseline left on her fingers off on the edges of the towel, she dips her head – smug smile and all - to kiss across her breasts. a subtle tease that evolves when her mouth resumes what had been so rudely disrupted while they were in the bath. ❝ relax, ❞ she breathes, moving to the opposite side, ❝ let me take care of you. ❞

misty rucker is not big on compliments, though the impulsive admittance of attraction causes the brunette to chuckle. the room spins as the older woman's hands explore intimate flesh, lust overpowers any emotion the professor prioritized while her partner finished in the bath. the bizarre day only grows stranger, and ivory is content laying among windswept sheets with her pupil as though it is the most natural thing in the world. ❝ you look sexy when you take care of me. ❞ the doctor responds, lip bottom caught between white canines as she watches her lover bandage a once horrific wound. it comes full circle, from the suturing kit in the confinements of her office, to the gentle coddling atop white sheets. ❝ you're teasing. ❞ even if it was not admitted, misty is not blind, and professor grimes comes undone much quicker with a hand around her throat.

#WithIvy #WhatsForDinner #ProfessorAU

[graveyard-ripper]

a wince hides behind the twitch of her tired eyes; a yellowing bruise persists beneath the mud that the princess scrubs at, and, by now, she cannot remember from what. ❝ the castle and its guards do not? ❞ misty sincerely asks, turning her head to take in a better view of the royal. there is a thoughtful, painful distance to her young and beautiful visage. it seems unfathomable to feel unsafe when there is so much protecting them from the outside world. for her, a stranger within the castle walls, there is little security, because she knows her sanctuary is dependent on the generosity of the royal family – but it feels safer than any other place she's been.

ivory hums softly at her counterpart's admittance, allowing the gentle sound to smooth over steaming water. mary anne is one of the few people the princess would trust with her life. even through the most brutal night terrors, the woman remains her constant confidant. ivory trusts those hands as though they are her own, and by default, she trusts misty rucker as well.

❝ she has been very kind to me, especially when i fell ill. ❞ ivory mutters softly, dragging the washcloth across the woman's collarbone once more. the fabric is wrung out with both hands before scrubbing a muddy area below the visitor's temple, though the princess remains lost in thought. ❝ she makes me feel safe again. ❞

#WithIvy #StrangersInTheNight #RoyaltyAU

[graveyard-ripper]

mary-anne does not, per se, expect thanks from the princess, though her rise from the stool impresses that she intendeds to express her gratitude. what the cook cannot anticipate is for her to do so with her frail body as arms wrap around her waist. it is almost absurd, yet she cannot rebuke such a sweet gesture from the young royal. and it has been so long since she felt the reward of motherly affection…

the older woman embraces her highness, arms strong and steadfast. alexandre looks at her, wide-eyed, as if she's broken a plate – but he nods, indicating that she endear herself to the princess. ( in fact, there is a notable lull through the entire kitchen as everyone stops and stares. ) ❝ my… ❞ mary-anne exhales, gently rubbing the back of princess ivory's shoulder. ❝ everything's okay. you are such a tiny thing, let me get you something to eat. ❞

oh. it is so rare that the princess laughs, and even when she does, it does not fill her diaphragm nor illuminate her pale features. here, in the camouflage of night alongside the kitchen cook, she chuckles. those large, damp irises turn from solemn to amused, and ivory grimes watches the grand display with complete engagement.

mary anne is a mother through and through, the fact is evident in her eyes, and in the way she coddles the princess at any sign of a trembling chin ( many do, though their attention lacks the same finesse. ) perhaps it is the woman's intention, or perhaps it is anything but, though the princess can see herself behind the facade of the ugly carrot.

mary anne does not have to entertain the princess with such enthusiasm, though she does. as the story ends and silence falls upon the pair, ivory stands. it is not considered acceptable behaviour for a princess, though many castle staff accost her strange behaviour to madness. upon rounding the table, the royal tucks herself into her protector's arms as if it is the most natural thing in the world.

#WithIvy #OrangePudding #RoyaltyAU