#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩

[starsallalight]

@encntada sent : “You always do that. You always warm me up.”

Smirking as he wrapped the blanket securely around his wife, Dominic kissed her hair. "It's my job." He replied with a wink. "I told you when I found you in the stable that you'd want for nothing here. And I intend to keep that promise."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Juliet #encntada

[starsallalight]

@encntada : Dom & Juliet

"Belle?" The young man called out in a whispered shout. After all, he didn't want to attract the attention of the beast Maurice had warned him about. And he had a feeling that the creature, whatever it was, would be far less merciful when a third stranger invaded its territory. It had let Maurice go, allowed Belle to take his place. But Dom was under no illusion that it would take him for her.

But he had to try. He couldn't just leave his friend here to die, not when her father needed her.

"Belle! Can you hear me?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Juliet #encntada #Ok but listen #I need that plot we were talking about with Dom and Belle both in different wings of the castle with Adam and Juliet

[starsallalight]

@encntada sent : TENDER: receiver wakes up to sender caressing them gently; a hand carding through their hair, brushing hair off their forehead, a hand on their cheek, a thumb swiping under their eye. (+REVERSE)

He'd long since lost track of the time, and couldn't say with any measure of certainty how long he'd laid there, watching his bride sleep. Dom's heart had never felt so full. And he couldn't stop himself from reaching out to brush her hair away from her shoulder.

When Juliet began to stir, however, he just chuckled to himself and leaned over to press a kiss to her face. "Well, good morning Madame. How did you sleep?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Juliet #encntada #Don't mind me just casually answering this after... 🙈🙈

[starsallalight]

@encntada : Dominic & Ella

Rubbing his lips together briefly, Dom reached out and took her hand softly in his; entwining his fingers with hers. Silently, he allowed his thumb to trace gentle lines across hers.

They had all but destroyed her... The vibrancy he knew when he'd first arrived was seemingly buried deep under fear and doubt. And it broke him to see. No one deserved to be burnt to a cinder like this. No one, least of all her.

And if he had any say in it, they would never darken her life again.

"Don't. Don't let them steal your shine, Ella. Don't let them crush and destroy everything that your father loved about you. That your friends love about you. That I love."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #Ella #encntada

[starsallalight]

@encntada sent : “come in here before you catch a cold.”

Wiping his brow, Dom looked up at the sound of Ella's voice. "Dunno about you, but I certainly wasn't expecting it to start pouring while I was fixing the roof." He chuckled. "But at least we know it won't be leaky again for quite some time."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #Ella #encntada

[starsallalight]

@encntada : Dom & Juliet

Hardly a day had gone by since his arrival in this strange little village that Dom didn't find something that sent his mind reeling. And this was by far one of the strangest. When he'd arrived for work that morning, the last thing he was expecting to find was a strange horse in one of the stalls. But then he'd seen the girl in the hay next to it.

He'd stared in confusion for a moment before instinct kicked in, leading him to come up and kneel next to her, a hand lightly placed on her shoulder.

"Mademoiselle?" He called gently, shaking her shoulder. "Mademoiselle, are you alright?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Juliet #encntada

[starsallalight]

@encntada : Dom & Ella

"Really, Ella, it's alright." Dom insisted, putting the box on the table. "I've plenty to eat. I want you to have it. Please, take it? For me?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #Ella #encntada #Abuse Cw #Starvation Cw

[starsallalight]

@fourcornersarizona : Dom & Vin

Vin winced when the stranger hit the proverbial nail directly on the head. He had worried that might have happened… he had gone silent for a good few years there, after all.

“Yeah…” Vin shifted his weight, rocking back into the heels of his boots. “I guessed that might’a happened. She sent letters over the years, but they never left the shipping office in New York. I didn’t get ‘em until I made my way back East and bought my ticket. Then I got handed a big stack of them. Took me half the trip to go through them all.”

He paused when the stranger asked the next question. “I sent word when I docked in London. I figure she’s gotten it by now, but I didn’t have time to write much. I had to catch my next ship. We’re going to have to talk about things properly when I see her again.”

While Vin had his concerns about this new stepmother, they were not enough to worry him unduly. He had dealt with far worse than a few overly pompous minor nobles in his time. Even if he had been listened as dead, it would not be a stretch to clear that issue up and set everything right again. And, if worse came to worse and Vin could not get this situation sorted, he would just invite Ella to return to America with him. She might fuss over leaving the farm, but they could always make a new home in Arizona. He had already made a start there… she could add onto it easily enough.

Brow furrowed, Dom listened to the other man's words and couldn't help but feel a pit begin to build in his stomach. No wonder Ella hasn't seemed right. No wonder Madame Tremaine was in a tizzy. Things seemed to be bordering an explosion into chaos, and he wasn't sure what he could do to help. How he could protect Ella and keep her safe.

"She told you about your father, then? In her letters?" He asked. "He passed. Almost two years ago. Left the estate in debt, I'm afraid. Lady Tremaine came here with significant ones herself, and from what Ella's told me, your father worked himself to death trying to pay them off and cover the ones she was incurring here with her lavish lifestyle. She was told there was no will. And between the debts and your supposed death, Ella, your stepmother, and her daughters were left with nothing... I'm sorry. He was a good man. Very kind and never judgemental."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Vin #fourcornersarizona #Death Cw

[starsallalight]

@fourcornersarizona : Dom & Inez

“Congratulations then.” Inez smiled, welcoming such happy news as a wedding, even if she did not know the couple involved. “I hope the Lord blesses them with many happy years.”

Her statement made, and not really seeing any reason to expand on sentiments for strangers least she accidentally insults the young man somehow, Inez continues to pick out the vegetables.

Dominic remained beside her and, abruptly, offered some advice on Ella’s favorite foods. A note of relief moved through Inez. “Thank you for the advice.” She smiled at the younger man. “Vin likely knows, but food mainly exists in his world as a means to not starve to death. If it does not get away from him first, he’ll happily eat it. He does not worry about favorite or least favorite foods. Ella has a more discerning palette, but she is also unwilling to talk about these things with me. I have tried to get answers from her but….” Inez sighed, shrugged, and selected a few sweet potatoes for her basket.

“Of course, what I would really like to see are some peppers.” She confided with an impish smile, “I really think they would do wonders for Lady Tremaine’s refined tastes… but it seems they have not made much of an inroad here in Sark. I suppose some foods are staying firmly in the Americas.”

Dom's face fell, and he shuffled awkwardly. Things had been tense at the estate lately, what with all the changes going on. And he felt awful for Ella. Losing so much, then gaining some back would throw anyone into a state of chaos. Add in an evil stepmother and two blundering stepsisters to the mix, and it could get downright hostile.

Ella had often had to come and see him because she was afraid of what would happen if Lady Tremaine caught him coming to see her. But ever since Inez and Vin had arrived... Well, sometimes, she'd come and stay longer than normal. Others, she'd stay away for days at a time. And when she did come, she'd find reasons to linger, though she never really said much. He knew her, though, and could tell what she didn't say.

"It's been hard for her, having to adjust to everything. She's afraid, I'm sure you can understand that." He sighed. "And she's confused. She's usually very warm and open. She takes to people right away, without effort. But... I think she feels like her position is even more precarious now that you and her brother are here. Don't get me wrong, she's grateful. I know she is. But it's... It's like she's waiting for the next shoe to drop. You know? For something to happen that would take it all away and leave her with nothing again."

And, of course, there was the conversation that the two had had by the barn at the estate he worked... Surely that was playing into her distant manner. As much as it gutted him to cause her more distress, Dom knew that he'd had to tell her. He couldn't watch her suffer anymore. All he wanted was to see her happy again, like she was when they first met.

He still had to talk to Vin, though... Once he heard from Ella...

"I have gifts for Ella, from France. Is she feeling up to a walk today? Do you know? I didn't want to just show up and make Madame Tremaine more cross with her."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Inez #fourcornersarizona

[starsallalight]

@familyxxdutyxxhonor : Dominic, Amélie, & Ella

Stepping out of the carriage, Dominic took a deep breath and gave a hearty sigh before turning toward the house. It had been a while- about seven years- since he'd last been here to visit his adoptive father's brother and his family. But he had been in the area, and wanted to stop in and spend some time with his cousins.

He'd been about to head toward the front door when he heard voices coming from the garden. Directing his steps that way, he beamed when he saw his aunt's figure, and made his way over. Once he was close enough, he waved and beamed.

"Tante Amélie. How are you?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; All The World Was Right #Amelie #familyxxdutyxxhonor

[starsallalight]

@encntada sent : ❝ are you ever going to tell me who you’re in love with? ❞

The question caught him so off guard that Dom almost dropped the box full of supplies that he was helping her carry. Though his eyes nearly started out of his head, he quickly forced himself to recover long enough for them to set their burden down and begin to unpack it.

As they worked, he couldn't help but look wistfully over at Ella. Innocent in her ignorance, she was somehow even more beautiful than usual. He could easily tell her... Reveal the truth, see how she felt, and if she reciprocated, ask her to marry him and return to his family's home... Where she'd be safe and far away from the Tremaines...

And yet, though he'd offer a way out and a path to protection, something told him that she wasn't ready to take that leap yet. She was still too tied down to the house and all its memories.

"Maybe someday." He finally answered, turning away as his shoulders dropped heavily.

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #Ella #encntada

[starsallalight]

@encntada sent : “if it's meant to be, it will find its way. But don't let your happiness depend solely on someone else."

It took everything in his power not to wince at her words. But still, Dom slowed turned to look at Ella with a heavy, wistful sadness in his eyes.

If she only knew...

But still, Dominic couldn't fault her. Ella was dealing with so much. And she was doing so alone. Even he didn't know the full extent of what went on behind closed doors in that house. Every day was a fight for survival for Ella. He couldn't blame her for not seeing what he thought he'd made obvious.

"I hope you're right." He added in a whisper, looking down at his hands.

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #Ella #encntada

[starsallalight]

Open to Ella

A tender look filled his eyes as Dom gazed over at her. "Don't listen to a word they say, Ella. You're so much better than they are or ever will be. You'll live a good life, and theirs will never be anything but miserable."

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #V; The Memory Of The Dance We Shared #V; Better Left To Chance #Ella #Open

[starsallalight]

Open to Ella

"You don't deserve it. No one deserves this, but especially not you. Won't you let me help you, Ella? Please?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #V; The Memory Of The Dance We Shared #V; Better Left To Chance #Ella #Open

[starsallalight]

Open to ships

"Well, well, well." Dom chuckled, pausing in his task of grooming the stubborn stallion when he saw his friend coming up to him. "Look, Brutus. We've got company. Best behavior with the lady. Mademoiselle. How are you today?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #V; Could Have Missed The Pain #V; Better Left To Chance #V; Might Have Changed It All #Ella #Danielle #Open

[starsallalight]

Open to Ella

"Ella!" Dominic gasped, racing forward toward her. "What happened?"

#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 ; ❨tales❩ #V; Holding You I Held Everything #V; Better Left To Chance #V; All The World Was Right #Ella #Open