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#bell orchestre
mywifeleftme · 1 month
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345: Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld // Never Were the Way She Was
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Never Were the Way She Was Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld 2015, Constellation (Bandcamp)
My prevailing memory of seeing Sarah Neufeld and Colin Stetson’s duo performance in a small room at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa was the way they spent much of the performance with their eyes locked on one another. When violinist Neufeld became lost in her own playing and arched backward, in the same motion Stetson would lean forward over his hulking, steampunk bass saxophone, his legs braced wide. It was as though the two of them were bound at the neck by a long, invisible leather strap. In the most intense passages, they would square off barely a foot apart, like two rams, the veins in Stetson’s sweaty neck and forehead standing out, Neufeld’s angled forearm a blur of precision cuts. Despite also seeing Stetson’s SORROW, an arrangement of Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony for a 12-piece band, during the same festival, it was the intimate physicality of the duo show with Neufeld that had the bigger impact on me.
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While Stetson has frequently performed in larger combos (as has Neufeld with Arcade Fire, for that matter), in solo and duo performances his uniqueness as a player is more legible. On Never Were the Way She Was, he uses his uncanny circular breathing technique to create ogrish drones (“With the Dark Hug of Time”), loop-like melodic phrases (“The Sun Roars Into View”), and even to emulate broken techno beats (“The Rest of Us”). Stetson is a pretty physically jacked guy, and when you see him do this stuff in person it’s a bit like watching a blacksmith going at his forge—on record it can be easy for an inattentive listener to miss the exertions required to produce these sounds. But when you start tuning in to the fact all of this groaning cacophony is produced by one man’s laboured lungs, its rawness and minor imprecisions become captivating.
Neufeld takes centre stage on the more somber, post-rocky tunes like the title track, her violin weeping rust as she overlooks a grey bay, Stetson contributing various fog horns and stomach upset. Now and again she wordlessly sings, but it’s always recorded distantly, like a memory of some ever-present sorrow you refuse to allow to surface. On “In the Vespers,” she sketches out a tricky rhythm that Stetson eventually echoes on a tenor sax, the pair running through an odd-time workout that would sound like prog were in not for the chilly clarity of her phrasing, the way the energy decays once again into remorse.
The pair’s previous collaboration was a 2013 film score (Blue Caprice), and the record is of a piece with the influential work Stetson has subsequently done as a soundtrack composer (notably Ari Aster’s Hereditary). As with fellow Aster collaborator the Haxan Cloak, Stetson’s work has helped to define the sound of contemporary unease. If you’ve watched a recent horror movie or psychological thriller, the palette of Never Were the Way She Was will already be familiar—but here the pieces aren’t tied to any preconceived scenario, and the interplay between the two musicians gives it a dynamism and complete-in-itself mood all its own.
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345/365
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adrianoesteves · 11 months
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sonicziggy · 1 year
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"Quintet" by Bell Orchestre, Colin Stetson https://ift.tt/8gzsnV0
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johnny1note · 7 months
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why the wedding scene in The Sound of Music (1965) is perfect:
1. Julie is divinely beautiful with her subtle makeup and simple dress and the set is lit such that she literally looks like a glowing angel. Slay Queen.
2. The way it opens with the sisters helping her get ready, much like a bride's actual sisters would, because they really are like her family of origin! And the Mother Abbess giving her the blessing to go forth and joyfully embrace her true calling 😭
3. The organ introduction with all the stops out slaps and I would really love to incorporate it into something in my own church organ playing if it wasn't so recognizable.
4. The Mother Abbess shutting the gate behind Maria as she enters the church being the visual symbolism of her final break with her former life plan, but all of the nuns still being visible through the iron bars and smiling as a sign that they are still supporting her spiritually as she goes forward to join her new family
5. The counterpoint of the wedding march with "how do you solve a problem like Maria" also slaps and turns the comic deprecatory song of the first act into a solemn declaration of triumph. Genius.
6. Christopher Plummer's VERY subtle smile in his closeups is so perfect for the character.
7. The way the procession is filmed makes very effective use of the horizontal length of the church aisle (and you get to see all of the gorgeous Baroque side altars) and the symbolism of a long nave leading to the sanctuary in church architecture, you feel like you are really following Maria on her spiritual journey.
8. The way that there's like 2000 people at this wedding, it's great demonstration of how marriage (and worship in general) is a public social good as well as a private good.
9. Maria ascending the stairs to the choir like she's literally climbing to God!!!! Symbolizes how the sacrament of marriage is an elevated, holy state of being.
10. The key transposing upwards to a triumphant E-flat, mounting tension as we approach the climax of the scene, and the sisters' voices drop out too, as to suggest that words fail to capture the significance of what is about to take place.
11. Continuing tension mounting as the brass in the orchestration increases and everyone approaches the altar and kneels.
12. The final closeup starting on the bishop and panning upwards on the altarpiece; similarly to point 7, this is great use of the verticality of the space and how church architecture draws our eyes upwards on purpose to suggest that we are there to be elevated to God.
There are three symbols of Christian triumph on the altarpiece which, in context, suggest that the sacrament of marriage itself is a Christian triumph and something that leads us towards God, but these three symbols also specifically relate to the story of The Sound of Music:
a. the risen Christ [Georg 'rose' by resolving his grief, waking up to his children's emotional needs, as well as his own]
b. the coronation of the Virgin [Maria is 'crowned' by being married to Georg and fulfilling her true vocation]
c. Michael spearing Lucifer [foreshadowing Nazi Germany's eventual defeat in WWII? Or maybe just Sr. Berthe and Sr. Margaretta wrecking Col. Schneider's car]
Overall, 11/10. My only potential complaint would be that Richard Haydn (Uncle Max) genuflects with the wrong knee but I choose to forgive this.
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imogen to bells hells now that she's taken off the circlet:
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leronboi · 9 months
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HOLYYY FUCKIN SHIT THERES ORCHESTRATED VERION OF UUUU AND LIKKK ALL OF BELLE'S SONGSSS KDJDKKSNSNS
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Honestly the orchestrated beginning part of Gales of Song is my fav part of the song haha so this version is 😚👌 perfect imo
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There's absolutely more but this is sooo fuckin cool. I had a conversation with my sibling that it'd be cool if there was a live performance of Belle's soundtrack and uhhh I guess that already happened!???? And I DIDN'T KNOW???? But man I wish I could experience this shit irl 😭😭. I'm a bit upset that Assault or Scorching the Facade isn't a part of the playlist cuz those are lik my fav songs. But the playlist is called Vol 1 so I'm wondering if there's gonna be more.
Also this whole orchestra played music from all of Hosoda's movies which is fuckin amazing. Wolf Children and The Boy and the Beast osts are fuckin bangers 🕺🕺
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composerinprogress · 1 year
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Hark! how the bells Sweet silver bells All seem to say "Throw cares away."
Listen to what I orchestrated!
w intro
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loregoddess · 5 months
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I've seen two or three "what's the worst Christmas song" polls now--BORING, boring, also there's too much hate in the world, so tell me
also if you don't celebrate Christmas and/or don't care about the songs you're fine, you get a free pass, sorry I didn't give you an option to click. I think the 12 option limit is stupid and I would have given you one if I wasn't committed to the bit
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yurious-george · 10 months
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PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION IS SO STUPIDLY GOOD ITS INSANE
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autistic-autumn · 7 months
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Shout out to tubular bells for being one of the most awesome bits of percussion out there
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lyssitalennon · 1 year
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want to learn violin/cello solely to play those lines in the musicals GOD THEYRE SO GORGEOUS
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japhers · 5 months
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More genshin OC stuff as a treat for me (Étienne and Benoît, two musicians who are in a perpetual state of toxic yaoi divorce)
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◆ Name: Étienne ◆ Title: Devoted Chanson Bleue ◆ Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Fontaine ◆ Vision: Hydro ◆ Weapon: Catalyst (Gilded Lily) ◆ Constellation: Corona Borealis (Northern Crown)
Étienne is a teal-haired Fontanian conductor in a blue gilded coat, adorned with sashes and bows, who uses the flow of sweeping notes to attack and defend both. Peppy and optimistic but prone to tantrums and stress, especially as performances loom over the horizon.
◆ Name: Benoît ◆ Title: Frigid Rhythmkeeper ◆ Principal Percussionist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Fontaine ◆ Vision: Cryo ◆ Weapon: Claymore (Slay Bell) ◆ Constellation: Ursus maritimus (Polar Bear)
Benoît is a purple haired Inazuman oni who moved to Fontaine a few years ago and rose the ranks as a musician within the Orchestre Philharmonique de Fontaine. His spiky leather-bound purple suit is adorned with red-orange lining which match his red, gold-banded horns, and red body markings. His favorite weapon is an oversized set of sleigh bells which he wields like a club.
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fuckyeahgoodomens · 8 months
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Link 1, Link 2 :)
Digital Good Omens 2 Sountrack is coming out in 4 days! 🥳 CD version in October! :) ❤ Coming soon on vinyl…
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Out to Stream/Download from 25th August. Out on CD 13th October. Coming soon on vinyl…
David Arnold’s ‘end of the world’ complex and multi-genre soundtrack.
From the Award-winning composer of Sherlock and Casino Royale comes a follow up to the hugely successful, Emmy nominated Good Omens soundtrack.
Good Omens series 2 premiered on Prime Video on 28th July. The series follows the odd couple, angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) in their quest to sabotage the end of the World. The six-episode sequel to the popular adaptation of the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, concerns the Archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) arriving without his memories to Aziraphale’s bookshop. Aziraphale and Crowley attempt to find out what happened to Gabriel, whilst hiding him from Heaven and Hell, both eager to find him.
The Soundtrack
David Arnold’s soundtrack to Good Omens was first released in 2019 to favourable reviews, with BBC Music Magazine calling it “a rollicking trip to hell and back”. Blueprint Magazine described it as “a great listen” and Sci Fi Bulletin commented on “plenty of memorable themes” to conclude that “This is another work of art from Arnold”. At times nostalgic and eerie but always varied, beautiful and full of excitement, the Good Omens 2 soundtrack showcases Arnold’s every skill from his composer arsenal. Featured here are orchestral arrangements with sprinkling of Sugar Plum Fairy pizzicato and percussion, jaunty strings and mighty choral sweeps from Crouch End Festival Chorus. Added to the mix are rock guitar riffs, and psychedelic 70s sounds and all together they create a haunting otherworldly feel, complementing the fantasy and the quirky humour of the show. The spirited Waltz of the opening theme is also present in the second series and it wonderfully sets the scene for fantastical mayhem. In series 2, this robust, evocative, and funny music entity, becomes yet again another character in the story. Award-winning composer David Arnold is well known for his blockbuster scores, including Stargate, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Hot Fuzz, Paul, Independence Day, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Casino Royale as well as for his TV work such as Sherlock and Dracula. Also available: The original soundtrack to the first series of Good Omens >
Tracklist
– Disc 1 – Chapter 1: The Arrival 1. Before the Beginning 2. Good Omens 2 Opening Title 3. Into Soho 4. Something Terrible 5. To The Bookshop 6. Maggie and Nina 7. He’s Smoking 8. Tiny Miracle 9. Heavenly Alarm Bells Chapter 2: The Clue 10. Avaunt! 11. The Song is the Clue 12. It’s What God Wants 13. A Mighty Wind 14. Whales 15. Gabriel Returns 16. His New Children 17. Am I Awful Now? 18. Fallen Angel Chapter 3: I Know Where I’m Going 19. Police Arrive 20. Scotland 21. We’re Going to Hell 22. People Get a Choice 23. My Car is Not Yellow 24. Beelzebub in Hell 25. The Book 26. The Fly 27. Mr. Dalrymple 28. We Need to Cut 29. I’m Going to Save Her 30. Crowley Goes Large 31. Not Kind 32. Beelzebub Isn’t Happy – Disc 2 – Chapter 4: The Hitchhiker 33. Hell-O 34. Nazi Zombies 35. March of the Nazi Zombies 36. Crowley Pep Talk 37. The Magic Shop 38. Catch The Bullet 39. Zombies in the Dressing Room Chapter 5: The Ball 40. I’ll Let You Have It 41. We’re Storming a Book Shop 42. Monsieur Azirophale 43. The Candelabra 44. Here Comes Hell 45. Gabriel Gives Himself Up 46. Shax 47. The Circle Chapter 6: Every Day 48. Bin Through the Window 49. Gabriel Leaving Heaven 50. The Halo 51. Gabriel Revealed 52. Gabriel’s Love Story 53. Leaving The Bookshop 54. Gabriel and Beelzebub 55. Crowley and Muriel 56. I Forgive You 57. Don’t Bother 58. The Biggest Decision 59. The End?
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hyunsvngs · 7 months
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kinktober !
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kink: frottage
pairing: bang chan x fem!reader x yang jeongin
wc: 1.9k
frottage: sexual rubbing; non-penetrative sex, typically male-on-male.
You couldn't help but clench your thighs together, the growing pressure between them making your heart race. Your hand hovered above the doorbell to Chan's apartment; you were taunting yourself. The anticipation was your favourite part, after all.
You would have laughed aloud at that, if you weren't worried the resident inside would hear you. Your favourite part was having Chan's big fat cock buried deep inside you, undoubtedly. He was your favourite booty call. Well, one of your favourites. 
Not sure you could hold off for much longer, you rang the bell. Judging by how soon the door was answered, he couldn't wait any longer either. You smirked. It swung open to reveal… Jeongin? 
Shit.
Your other favourite booty call. And Chan's roommate. You didn't think he'd be here tonight. In all fairness, you hadn't asked, but neither of them had ever invited you over when the other was home.
"Well," Jeongin spoke, leaning against the doorframe. "Fancy seeing you here. I was thinking about calling tonight, actually."
You pouted. "Jeongin, no! You weren't supposed to be here. Now I have to choose."
Chan cleared his throat, pulling the door open further to reveal himself standing in the hallway. "You don't have to choose. If you don't want to."
You stared at him for a moment. "You mean…?"
Jeongin smiled impishly. "The three of us? I kinda like the sound of that."
Chan looked to you, raising an eyebrow in question. "Y/N? Would you be down for that?"
Had this been his plan all along? you wondered - before realising you really didn't care if this had been orchestrated or not. 
"Are you kidding me? This is a dream come true." You stepped into their apartment boldly, ridding yourself of your coat. "Where are we doing this?"
Chan grinned at your absolute readiness, heading into his bedroom and beckoning you both in. It was set up nicely, as it always was, his wall lights illuminating the space with a welcoming glow. 
Before you could even take a seat on the edge of Chan's bed, Jeongin had wrapped an arm around you, pulling you to him and kissing you deeply. You let out a squeak before settling into the kiss, letting his tongue play with yours. This didn't surprise you one bit. Jeongin was always cocky and eager, but today he had something to prove to his older roommate. Tonight, Jeongin would be ramped up to eleven.
Chan had taken a seat on his bed, leaning back and palming his growing bulge through his sweatpants. Calm, patient, he knew he'd get his turn. It was interesting that this dynamic was playing out just as you'd expected. You wondered if there was anything you could do to subvert things…
You tugged at Jeongin's waistband. "Off. Now."
Jeongin looked at you, slightly puzzled. He wasn't accustomed to being told what to do. And honestly, you weren't sure how it was going to go. Part of you thought he was going to put you in your place. But it seemed that this night was about trying new things for everyone. He pulled off his shirt, followed by his trousers. 
You turned to Chan. "You too." You had no doubt that he was going to follow your instructions. His cheeks were flushed red with arousal already. 
"Aw, Jeongin," you turned back to him. "Getting hard already?"
The steely look in his eye told you there was only so much backtalk he was going to tolerate. "Don't act like your pussy's not dripping wet already." 
You had nothing to say to that.
You went to the bed, climbing atop the boy who wasn't sassing you. Chan welcomed you onto his lap eagerly, hands palming your ass so quickly you thought it must've been a primal impulse. You pressed your body flush against his, your clothed chest pushing firmly against his bare, toned pecs. You captured his plump bottom lip between your own, enticing a low groan from the man. You took his tongue into your mouth, sucking on it lightly. Your attention was torn between the whimpering man beneath you, and the one who you knew was watching.
A thin string of saliva connected your lips to Chan's when you pulled away, which he licked up happily. 
"Let me see. Please." Chan's voice was barely above a whisper. He was always so quiet in the bedroom - until he cums, at least.
You knew from experience exactly what he was after. You took off your tank top, overtaken with the need to give the sweet man below you anything he desired. He wasted no time in burying his face in your chest, sucking hickeys across your tits, kneading at your ass as he did so.
You threw your head back with a moan. Jeongin, completely unwilling to let you forget about him even for a second, took a step closer to the bed, thrusting his hips forwards and letting his cock push into your cheekbone.
"Jesus, Innie," you huff. "You're gonna put my eye out with that thing. If you want me to suck it, just ask."
Jeongin grinned. "Why should I? I never need to ask." He pushed his tip firmly down onto your waiting tongue, dragging it across the muscle slowly. You closed your eyes, waiting for him to force his dick deeper into your mouth so you could wrap your lips around it. It wasn't long before he did so, thrusting into your throat and making you choke - he loved to catch you off-guard.
He found a rhythm, fucking into your mouth as you hollowed your cheeks, sucking tightly. Meanwhile, Chan's lips had found your nipple, licking and biting at it gently, and he was grinding up against you as he did so. His dick felt impossibly hard, and you yearned to touch it. God, you wished you were better at multitasking.
Chan's words echoed through your head. You don't have to choose. 
The instant the idea came to you, you were up, letting Jeongin’s dick fall from your mouth and tearing your nipples away from Chan's suckling. 
"Jeongin," you pointed at him. "Straddle Chan. Now."
He couldn't help but laugh at your sudden authority. "What?"
"Do it!" you insisted firmly. "I… It's something I saw in porn, okay? Just do it."
Chan shrugged. 
"Alright, little miss porn director," Jeongin murmured as he obeyed, climbing onto Chan, one leg either side of his waist. 
"Like this?" he asked you. Jeongin's longer dick was just centimetres away from Chan's thicker one, and the sight made your clit throb desperately. Chan's cock twitched ever so slightly, bridging the gap and meeting Jeongin's. 
"Yeah," you nodded, eyes wide. "Like that." 
With your saliva, and a few beads of precum, it was wet but nowhere near wet enough. You grabbed the lube from Chan's nightstand (peach flavoured, of course) and hopped onto the bed beside them. You squirted a generous dollop of lube into your hand, and shared it across both of your palms. You grabbed a dick in each hand, slicking them up. The men moaned in unison, like the most perfect fucking symphony you'd ever heard. 
You eased into it gently, starting by touching the tips of their dicks together as you stroked them. You looked at them both, trying to gauge their reactions.
Chan looked like he was about to blow already, and you'd only just begun. His hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat, his lip caught between his teeth. You could tell he was concentrating on holding back his pleasure - he didn't want to cum just yet, not at all.
Jeongin's eyes were fixated on your movements, his brow furrowed deeply. He was letting out soft groans every few seconds, enjoying this too much to even let out any snarky comments.
It was a struggle, given how well-equipped both men were, but you managed to wrap one hand around both of their dicks, squeezing them together in your grasp. Jeongin's moans picked up, absolute music to your ears, whilst Chan began to whimper softly.
It was undoubtedly the hottest sight you'd ever encountered, and the fact that this was entirely your arrangement only turned you on more. You slipped your spare hand into your panties, toying with your clit as you jacked the boys off together.
This didn't go unnoticed by Jeongin, who scoffed. "Look at you, you're fucking loving this. Dirty girl." 
"This is fucking hot, okay?" you grumbled.
Jeongin smirked. "God, I wanna fuck the whore out of you so bad."
You shook your head at him. "You cum on Chan's dick, or you don't cum at all." He huffed, but didn't fight back. 
The tip of Chan's dick seemed to be growing redder by the second - a tell-tale sign that he couldn't hold back much longer. This was unsurprising, given how desperate he'd been when he called you earlier, to let you know that he'd been edging all day and needed to see you.
"Jeongin. Play with Chan's nipples." 
You'd only been around 50% sure that Jeongin would follow your orders, but thankfully he listened, reaching a hand across to tweak Chan's right nipple. He didn't go easy on the older man, twisting harshly and making him cry out. It made you ponder… you knew Chan liked having his nipples abused. Did Jeongin know that too, or was it a lucky guess?
You pulled your hand out of your panties, giving their dicks your full attention. You were desperate for your own pleasure, but you knew they'd both be fighting to eat your pussy the second you let them. 
Chan's moans began to grow louder, and more high-pitched. 
"This feel good, Channie?" you cooed at him.
"Yeah," he whined. He looked from you to Jeongin frantically. "I'm gonna - Can I-"
You nodded. "Let go, babe, cum all over Innie's dick for me." 
He came mere seconds later, pearly white cum oozing from the tip of his dick and pouring down Jeongin's shaft. You continued to stroke their dicks relentlessly, your hands getting stickier and stickier.
"Fuck!" Jeongin let out a strangled groan. "It's so warm."
Chan cried out louder, the longer you continued to rub his dick against his friend's. He was whimpering with every breath, cursing incoherently, begging for something you couldn't quite make out.
Jeongin's hips stuttered. You wrapped your hands tightly around the two cocks before you, and allowed him to thrust into the tight gap, turning you into makeshift fleshlight for them to share. 
"Oh, god," Chan moaned. "This is too much - Jeongin, Jeongin, please fucking cum." 
Jeongin leaned forwards, bracing his hands against the headboard, and thrusted with a new tenacity. "I'm - I'm not far off, I swear-" 
"Cum, Jeongin, please!"
Chan's begging seemed to tip him over the edge, and Jeongin came, his cum shooting upwards and painting the expanse of Chan's abdomen and chest. His thrusts slowed to a stop, and he sat back, panting.
You can't hold back your laughter. "I think this is the quickest I've ever seen you cum, Jeongin. You really enjoyed that, huh?"
Jeongin flopped back onto the bed, on the other side of Chan, and nodded with a grin.
"I'm covered in so much cum," Chan mumbled, sounding tired.
"Boohoo," you mocked him. "Welcome to my life." Jeongin chuckled at that.
"Let's go shower," you suggested. "And then we can see who can make me cum quicker."
Chan's eyes glinted. He looked across to Jeongin, who looked rather confident himself too.
"Deal," they said in unison.
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composerinprogress · 1 year
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Here's my orchestration of Carol of the Bells
I never ended up finishing it (inspiration ran short) so I'll share what I have
Enjoy!
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houserautha · 20 days
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These Destined Ends
Part 7
Summary: Jessica fulfilled the wishes of the Bene Gesserits to produce a daughter. You’re now burdened with the task of not only marrying the na-Baron, but also bearing his child — the Kwisatz Haderach. Will you take your fate into your own hands? Or will it always belong to those who control you?
Pairings: Feyd-Rautha x F!Reader
Word Count: 6.7k
Warnings: depictions of killing/death, a blood oath, oral sex f receiving, fingering, edging, dirty talk, p in v, no protection, breeding/pregnancy kink, creampie kind of
A/N: I hear wedding bells🎉 This took me a hot second to write up and edit, but it's also a little bit longer than I usually post. I hope you enjoy💕
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Sleep evades you. The day of your wedding slips in uninvited, a wash of sunlight to chase away the shadows from your room. The bed is empty. Feyd-Rautha hasn’t returned or, at least, hasn’t visited you since.
You convince yourself that you don’t care.
But still your thoughts stray traitorously to him — where he is, what he’s doing, what he’s thinking and if it’s of you.
You stare out at the Grand Arena. It’s more or less attached to the Harkonnen fortress and, to your understanding, typically reserved for political rallies. It’s the only place large enough to host a wedding where the entire planet is invited, though, plus the added benefits of its close proximity.
A platform has been erected and already citizens are filing into their stadium-style seats despite the early hour. They will wait all day to sit front row at the marriage between House Atreides and House Harkonnen. A historic event, you realize with detached clarity. To be remembered for generations to come.
This does nothing to quell your roiling stomach.
You turn at the sound of your bedroom doors opening, hope lifting stupidly in your chest. Because it is not Feyd-Rautha who enters, but Lady Jessica.
She looks more radiant than ever, though you suspect this partially has to do with the time apart that you’ve spent.
“Mother?”
Perhaps your lack of rest has warped your vision.
Jessica smiles softly, confirming both your deepest fear and most shameful want. “Daughter.”
For the first time in your life, you run to her. She embraces you, cradling your face into her neck. She smells like home and the memory of Caladan has you blinking back tears. “Why are you here?”
“Did you really think we would miss your wedding?” Jessica brushes your hair back. “They are treating you well? You haven’t responded to any of our correspondences.”
“They are treating me well,” you tell her. You can’t help but think of Feyd-Rautha’s lips on your skin, between your legs, but quickly dismiss it. “And I haven’t received any correspondences.”
“Mm, as I suspected. Your father thought that you might be too busy to write but I knew better.”
“He’s here, too?”
“Of course.” Your mother presses something cold and metallic into your palm, curls your fingers around it. “I wanted to give you this.”
You frown. After closer inspection, you realize that it’s a necklace. Simple, elegant, with a thin silver chain and delicate pendant. “What is this?”
“I wore it when I first met your father. Although we are not married, our relationship has obviously grown past that of an arranged partnership. I can only hope you find similar happiness.” She pauses then, examining you. “I know you are aware that your birth was…orchestrated. But that does not change our love for you. You are our greatest treasure, Y/N.”
Your mood falters, slipping from between your fingers and shattering on the ground like glass. “This is a fertility necklace.”
“Yes,” Jessica says, dipping her chin.
You have the overwhelming sense to grind the necklace under your heel. The tears in your eyes now belong there for an entirely different reason.
“I thought you came here today to support me but instead you’re just carrying out your Bene Gesserit schemes,” you hiss. A dry laugh rattles in your throat. “I’m such a fool! You don’t care for me. You only care about what I can provide. My whole life, everything has been for them. Everything.”
Jessica’s jaw clenches. “That’s not true.”
Aggravated, you spin on her, teeth bared. “Then tell me you came here today of your volition.”
Jessica holds your gaze but does not reply.
“I knew it,” you all but snarl at her.
“I thought these past few months would’ve opened your eyes to your potential, the importance of your duty,” Jessica snarls back, matching your viciousness. “But still you are blind to the truth. You blatantly refuse to accept a plan that has been in effect for centuries. Ten thousand years of deliberate planning and you act as if you are here as punishment. You are living proof of the Bene Gesserit’s power, Y/N.”
Chest heaving, you shutter your raging emotions. “Leave me.”
“That’s no way to speak to your mother.”
“I speak to you not as a daughter,” you retort, “but as the na-Baroness of House Harkonnen. And seeing that you are nothing but a concubine to the Duke, I demand that you leave.”
You know that with The Voice, Jessica could force you to bend to her will, to do any inexplicable amount of things. But she does not. She stands there, wavering, before striding back from which she came from without another word.
You hide the fertility necklace in the pot of a synthetic plant, and no one is the wiser when they come to prepare you. For the servants this is a joyous occasion and you do not want to dampen their enthusiasm. You mask your growing unease, laughing and joking with the girls as they recreate you into the image of na-Baroness.
“You look stunning,” Asha tells you privately. There’s quite some time before the ceremony starts, and she’s pulled you into a quiet corner of the room. “The na-Baron isn’t going to know what to do with himself.”
Oh, you very much doubt that. You catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.
Your wedding dress is a subtle combination of both Atreides and Harkonnen culture, a blend of elegance and functionality.
The dress itself is made from a lightweight, flexible material that mimics the look of metallic plates. Featuring overlapping panels that creates a segmented, scale-like effect, the bodice gives the illusion of Harkonnen armor. But the skirt, full and flowing, is entirely Atreides — layers of fabric cascading to the floor. Small, metallic accents line the hem that shimmer with your every step.
And, completing the look, a headpiece that forms a sort of M over your forehead and down your cheeks, adorn with jewels.
You bite down on the inside of your cheek. “Have you seen him today? The na-Baron.”
“No, I haven’t. Why?”
“No reason.”
Asha’s mouth quirks teasingly. “Are you nervous?”
“No,” you say, too quickly, “well, yes. But not because of him, because of the ceremony. This will be my first time in front of Giedi Prime.”
“They will adore you,” Asha says. She waves a hand flippantly. “And if not, then your husband will have their heads.”
You grin. “I suppose that’s comforting.”
“Of course it is.” She squeezes your hand.
Your moment with Asha passes as you’re both pulled back into the revelries — spice-laden champagne, food that looks suspiciously like harvested organs, and the pounding, ear-splitting music that’s popular among the Harkonnens. By the time you’re called for the ceremony, your mood has lifted significantly, almost enough to make you forget that you’re the reason for celebration. It’s a sobering reminder.
Your heart threatens to burst from your chest. From inside the walls of the fortress, the roar of the crowd crests and falls like a tidal wave sent to sweep you away. The corridor is alive with mumbled conversation. A procession will precede you to the altar — noblemen and the likes, your parents, who you avoid — along with your betrothed, who is nowhere in sight. The gathered members of your bridal party shift and part, panic seizing you with white-knuckled fingers as the Baron maneuvers toward you.
He greets you with a saying repeated to you many times that day, one that after several iterations you’ve come to understand means, “May your death be swift in battle”.
How it relates to marriage, you are too nervous to inquire about.
“What a wonderful day,” he muses in a rasping lilt. “It would be a pity for someone to ruin it.”
“Indeed,” you reply, eyes narrowing.
“You understand the importance of the ceremony, don’t you?” You don’t respond, sensing that he will tell you nevertheless. “This is just one more step for Feyd-Rautha toward taking my place as Baron. How the ceremony goes will influence his standing with his people.”
You suppress the urge to roll your eyes. Of course this was just another political move. What did he think you would do, riot in the middle of the ceremony? You retort, “I understand.”
“Welcome to the family, Y/N.”
The chill that brushes down your spine, seeping into your bones, is deterred by the sudden clash of a gong. War drums erupt in tumultuous exalt. The very sound of them resonates deep within you, invoking a primal response of adrenaline, as if your body is preparing you for battle.
Which, you suppose is fitting.
And who else to be summoned by the promise of war then Feyd-Rautha.
He enters the room as he always does, commanding the attention of everyone in it. The effect is only amplified today, though, in his polished ceremonial armor and resolute intensity, a heady combination of brutality and valiancy.
Gazing at him us purifying fire, searing you from the inside out, and you take your time charting the unholy beauty of his face, gazing back at you with terrifying reverence.
In that moment, you possess no past or future — there is only him. An eternal now.
And then he steps past you and into the black sun, exultant, thrusting the knife above his head.
A championing cheer follows, impossibly louder than the thunder of the drums. Feyd-Rautha lingers and something in your chest expands at the sight of him dwelling in their approval, their admiration, somehow transcendent of any humanity he manages to have.
He truly is a god.
From your secretive position, you peer at him as he strides down the aisle to the platform where the officiant is waiting for him. At the top of the stairs, he turns and faces his people. In an act that surprises you, everyone who isn’t already on their feet rises, and in sync pound their fists to their chests. One two three.
Their utter devotion to him is staggering.
Feyd-Rautha raises his chin, simultaneously moved and expectant of this. He then takes his place at the altar.
Which means it’s your turn.
You loathe having to follow such a devastating display of power and love. There’s no telling how Giedi Prime will react to you, after all, considering that you are technically the enemy. Asha’s words come to you, emboldening you, and you lift your gaze. You will not falter.
A shushed quiet falls over the arena as you stride out, then enormous applause. You can only imagine what you look like to them, your people, but the only one who matters looks upon you with such unwavering devoutness that it nearly brings you to your knees. As you climb the steps to the altar, Feyd-Rautha’s hands clench into fists, a gesture you interpret as a sign of restraint.
Oh, if only he could touch you with those hands.
The officiant, a representative of the Imperium, begins to recite the traditional Harkonnen wedding script. A translator repeats the words to you, but you let the harsh language wash over you as you focus instead on the row of guests at the base of the altar. Your parents — looking fiercely protective, Leto smiling somewhat reluctantly; Jessica maintaining her cool demeanor — the Baron, emotionless, and beside him Rabban.
Did he wish it was him on the stage?
He catches you staring and flashes you a sickening smile. You look pointedly away, a fist forming in your stomach.
The beginning of the ceremony is tediously long and drenched in tradition, most of which you don’t understand even with the translator’s help. Marriage is not generally a romantic affair for Harkonnens, and the proof can be found in their strangely clinical rites. Again it’s impressed upon you that you are preparing for battle, one in which you would reside besides the most fearsome of its participants.
A pause on the officiant’s part draws you back to the present. You know what comes next, and the thought repulses you — Harkonnens of the Imperial House do not get married with the weight of enemies on their shoulders, pursuing a clean slate of sorts. You watch as a row of prisoners are led before the altar, hooded and bound and forced to their knees by a Harkonnen guard. You shiver despite the insurmountable heat.
You are familiar with war, with combat, the knife-thin edge upon which each fight balances. Life or death. But you can hardly stomach the idea of executing a helpless opponent, even if they are an enemy of your House.
Your throat thickens as Feyd-Rautha is bestowed a ceremonial blade.
Each hood of the prisoner is removed except for one, a man at the end who wavers to stay upright. Feyd-Rautha ignores this man, starting at the opposite end. His grin is apparent as he slashes through the throats of the prisoners, the blade his brush and the bodies his canvas, painting them both with ink-colored blood.
When Feyd-Rautha makes it to the still-hooded man, he pauses, shoulders heaving with the exertion of his wicked precision. Rivulets of blood stream down his armor. He says something unintelligible to the man, then removes his hood.
Your blood runs cold as you recognize him.
Ze’ev.
Now that you know who it is, you inspect him closer. There’s hardly any traces of the man you briefly knew. He is emaciated, bones lining his scarred flesh, clearly beaten within an inch of his life. After your encounter with Feyd-Rautha, you know that Harkonnens heal quickly, and the scars on his body indicate to you that he had been torn open again and again.
Feyd-Rautha turns. When he approaches you, his face is full of such naked adoration that it causes you to take a step back. He offers you the bloodied blade.
“For you,” he rasps.
You whisper fiercely, “What are you doing?”
“He is a gift, for you. On the day of our wedding.”
Every fiber of your being is screaming at you to refuse him. But to do so would be to decline your husband, shame him in front of his people — bile rises in your throat as you accept the blade, your fingers wrapping around the handle.
You breeze past him, refusing to meet his eye.
Ze’ev trembles as you advance on him. Though from his delicate condition or fear, you can’t be sure. His lips form a sneer. “You won’t do it.”
“It’s nice to see you, too,” you say dryly. “I thought you were dead.”
“I should be. Your husband certainly brought me to the brink of it and back, telling me that he was saving me. For you.” Ze’ev spits at your feet then, a dark and bloody glob.
On Arrakis, this would’ve been a sign of respect.
But this wasn’t Arrakis.
You raise your arm in an upward swing, then across your body with exuberance, his blood hissing as it splatters the ground. Splatters you.
The crowd applauds your demonstration, and the sound of their approval echoes in your ears as you take the stage once more, the prisoners’ bodies carted away quickly. You feel numb. Bewildered.
But also deliciously righteous.
You face the man who put you in this position, who put the blade in your hand as a gift without considering the consequences. And he smiles because he knows — he knows that you are delighted, that the freckles of drying blood elicit an indisputable, terrifying delirium in you.
He coaxed this from you, what was better left in the dark.
And you don’t know if you should thank him.
The officiant switches to the common tongue. “The time has come to bind these lives together in the sight of their people. As na-Baron and na-Baroness, they pledge their loyalty and protection to one another, their flesh and blood now shared in duty and alliance.”
A second blade is brought out on a satin cushion.
“na-Baron Feyd-Rautha, do you swear to protect and defend na-Baroness Y/N, to uphold her honor and safeguard her well-being, as your duty demands?”
“I swear.”
“na-Baroness Y/N, do you swear to protect and defend na-Baron Feyd-Rautha, to uphold his honor and safeguard his well-being, as your duty demands?”
You dip your chin. “I swear.”
“Then, as symbol of your shared duty and alliance, I ask you to exchange your blood.”
Feyd-Rautha takes the blade and, with surprising gentleness, turns your palm over and kisses it before gliding the tip of the blade over it. Your blood wells, bright red.
You take his own hand — large, scarred and calloused — and repeat the action.
Before he can heal, the officiant wraps a white cloth around your now joined hands, red blood mingling with black.
“You are my body, an extension of myself,” Feyd-Rautha rasps.
You tense. This isn’t part of the ceremony.
Feyd-Rautha, one hand still clasped in yours, uses the other to beat his chest. One two three. You watch as the crowd responds in kind: the same gesture, reverberating throughout Giedi Prime.
It’s incredibly intoxicating, to be the focus of such a powerful gesture. You let it wash over your skin and infiltrate your bloodstream, alter something inside you, rearranging your very cells into what it takes to be a fearless ruler. You would do anything to garner such a response again.
The officiant waits until the last thump can be heard before he declares, “May your bond be as unbreakable as the strongest fortress. United by duty and alliance, I present to you — the na-Baron and na-Baroness!”
Having spent so much time dreading the ceremony, you never stopped to think about what would happen after it. Currently you sit atop the dais in the throne room, accepting an endless line of Harkonnens who want to congratulate you on your feat of an arranged marriage. Your palm that the blade cut stings with every hand you shake.
After what seems like a small eternity, it’s time for you to join the nobles at the reception. Memories of the last time you sat at the table trickle in through your exhaustion — which you promptly shove away.
The feast passes in a blur. You don’t have the appetite for any of it, but hopefully do a convincing job of moving your food around on your plate.
And then: it’s time for your first dance.
Reluctantly you let Feyd-Rautha sweep you into the center of the room, the usual security you feel in his presence succumbing to your own fears. He holds you tight against him. His tone is clipped, political, plush lips on the shell of your ear, “You had never killed before.”
Ah, your first words as husband and wife.
“No I had never killed before,” you snap at him. “Not everyone goes around just slaughtering whoever they feel like.”
Feyd-Rautha is a surprisingly agile dancer, though you figure that it isn’t all that removed from fighting. “I didn’t intend to upset you.”
“Perhaps, but you did.” Your throat thickens. “What I did is irreversible.”
“You told me you wanted him to pay for what he did.”
“I-I did. I just didn’t think —”
“If you let someone who crosses you live, then others will try,” Feyd-Rautha says, incensed. “You must strangle the serpent while it’s a hatchling, for once it grows, it will seek you out while you lay in your bed and slip around your neck.”
You can’t suppress your shudder. What a lovely metaphor. Apparently Giedi Prime has loads of fun phrases alluding to death.
“You could’ve told me,” you mutter in lieu of a response.
“It was a gift.”
You bite down on the inside of your cheek. Was that all it was? Another part of your game?
“Most people give jewelry as gifts,” you retort.
Feyd-Rautha’s lips twitch. “I am not most people.”
“I know.” To prove your point, you coast your fingers over his side where the dagger went in.
He pulls you tighter against him. “I would have you right here in front of everyone if you’d let me.”
You can’t help but smirk. “I know.”
He opens his mouth to continue but he’s interrupted — by Rabban, nonetheless. “na-Baron, I request a dance with my sister in-law.”
Feyd-Rautha’s grip on you tightens. “No.”
“Yes,” you say, loosening his fingers from around your waist. “It won’t be long.”
Feyd-Rautha stares after you unhappily as his brother leads you away. Other couples have now taken to the floor in an elaborate dance that you don’t know. It doesn’t matter anyway, seeing that Rabban just drags you after him for each step.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” he says finally.
“You suppose?”
“If it was up to me, Feyd-Rautha would be the one extending his congratulations.” Rabban’s small, dark eyes examine you. “Though the Bene Gesserits have chosen well for a Harkonnen bride. You are a formidable force.”
“Thank you,” you reply, sensing more.
“There are…things…in order that will happen because you will not submit to me,” Rabban says.
Your jaw sets. “Like what?”
“You’ve made your choice.” There’s a twinge of pity in his voice. Not for him. For you? “I thought I should forewarn you.”
“Rabban, what are you talking about? You never said anything about —”
“The day of the Crucible. I told you my wishes and you denied me them.”
“You said nothing that would warrant a warning. I thought you just envious of your brother for obtaining something else that you can’t have.”
“Envious? No. More deserving? Perhaps.”
Behind Rabban, a soldier materializes from the crowd. Sardaukar. You stiffen — it hadn’t come to your attention that anyone from the Imperium had attended your wedding.
“Excuse my interruption,” the soldier says. “I wanted to congratulate you on your union on behalf of the Emperor. He extends his deepest apologies that he isn’t t able to be here himself.”
You nod curtly.
The soldier’s gaze slides to Rabban. “May I have a word with you?”
Begrudgingly, Rabban releases you with a final look. You watch his retreating form, mind reeling with confusion. What did the Sardaukar want with Rabban? And why did the soldier look so familiar to you? Idly, you wonder if the violent nature of the Sardaukar soldiers remind you of the Harkonnens.
No, that isn’t it. That soldier had been here before, at the dinner a few weeks before. He had been the one to call the Baron away, you recall. But he had been dressed as a Harkonnen soldier then, not a soldier of the Imperial army.
The revelation creeps over you uneasily.
Before you can give it much thought, however, someone whisks you away into the next dance. A protest forms on your tongue before you realize it’s Asha — cheeks pink and beaming at you.
“Asha!” You can’t help but laugh, partly out of relief. “I thought you were another terrible admirer.”
“I am an admirer,” she says, “though I would hardly consider myself terrible.”
“Terrible for taking so long to get to me.”
“My apologies, but the na-Baroness is in high demand.” You settle into a comfortable rhythm as the music plays and Asha leads you in the unfamiliar dance. After some time, she grows uncharacteristically serious. “I know your feelings for the na-Baron are…complicated…but your ceremony was beautiful.”
You raise a brow. “Really?”
“The way he saluted you…” Asha trails off, waving her hand as if to ward off tears. This reaction spurns your curiosity.
Trying not to sound too interested, you ask, “What does it even mean?”
A slightly dreamy expression crosses Asha’s face. “Generally it’s reserved for military generals as a sign of respect, something that soldiers do to show their loyalty.”
“So when he did it to me…?”
“He was signaling that he sees you as someone superior to himself, someone to respect. That he is your willing soldier.” Asha grins. “Everyone has been talking about it.”
“Oh.” It’s all you can think to say. “Should I have done it back?”
Asha shakes her head. “Definitely not. It would’ve been an insult to him. His judgement. You did the right thing.”
You’re not sure what the right thing was, but you let the subject go. It lingers in your mind, however, to the point that you over-analyze the moment during the ceremony, replaying Feyd-Rautha’s expression as he saluted you.
You want to confront him about it, but apparently your first dance is all you will see of your new husband on the eve of your wedding. Even trying to catch his eye is impossible as you are both continuously pulled in different directions.
“Is this a bad time?”
At first you bristle, afraid that you’ve been caught sneaking away from the festivities. You have no idea of the time but it has to be well into the morning now, and you just wanted a moment to collect your thoughts. The spot you’ve chosen in a darken alcove gave you a perfect vantage point of Feyd-Rautha, infuriatingly charming as he speaks to a pair of nobles out of earshot.
You tear your gaze from him.
“Father!” You run into the arms of Leto, Duke of Arrakis, who ambles down the hall to you. It’s reflective of your greeting with Jessica this morning, but he inspires only warmth and fond memories. The brush of his beard across your cheek fills you with longing. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
“I apologize for not going this morning to visit you. Your mother insisted she go alone.” A frown tugs on his handsome features but disappears as quick as it appeared. “You look breathtaking.”
“Thank you,” you sigh. It’s as if you are a child again, the light of your father’s attention basking you in a sunny glow.
“I…” Leto pauses, deliberates. Your father is usually not someone to be lost for words. “I wish I had done something to prevent this.”
You touch his arm. “It’s not your fault.”
“I blame myself, it’s true. What kind of father willingly hands his daughter over to that…monster?”
“You had no choice. Neither of us did.”
“Listen, Y/N, your mother regrets how your conversation went this morning. She has only wanted the best for you,” he adds softly.
His words prick at you, and suddenly the warmth of his light diminishes. “We both know that’s not true.”
“Her intentions can be…muddled by her Bene Gesserit training. But that doesn’t change the love she feels for you.”
“Her love.” You chuckle bitterly. “All that she loves is what others can do to forward the Bene Gesserit agenda. You. Me. Don’t you realize?”
Leto’s expression softens. “Just come with me. She’s waiting for us. She wants to try again.”
Anger seizes you with white-knuckles and stifling heat, blooming in your chest. “I’ve given her too many opportunities to make things right. You just told me that you wish you could’ve prevented this. She could’ve prevented this. I do not wish to speak another word to someone who has orchestrated my entire life since conception.”
Perhaps you can blame the time that you’ve spent apart, the exhaustive events the day has presented you, but there is a side to Leto that you have forgotten — his frightening, unwavering loyalty to Jessica. A loyalty that not even you, his daughter, can temper.
His voice is that of a diplomat, detached and commanding as he says, “You will not speak of your mother in such a way.”
You’re not sure what you were expecting, but jumping to the defense of your mother cuts you deeper than any knife can. You swallow your disappointment.
“You’re fooled by her just like everyone else.”
Leto’s mouth tightens into an angry slash. “You are not the daughter I remember.”
“No.” You tilt your chin. “She is gone.”
“Then I have no business with you.”
Your tongue rolls in your cheek, over your teeth, carefully selecting your next words. “So be it. I won’t inconvenience you with my company.”
You can’t stand to witness his expression, or let him see the grimace of pain that graces yours, so you turn from him before either happens. You go, not back towards the party, but away — you can’t be here any longer. It feels as if your bones are trying to flee from your skeleton, your skin suddenly stretched too tightly.
Truthfully you have no destination in mind but your feet carry you to the one place that you know will guarantee silence.
Feyd-Rautha’s strategy room.
In the dark your fingers find the seam of the door and you ease it open, slinking inside. For the first time since this morning, you’re alone, and there’s no auditory assault of voices or music.
Back against the wall, you slide down to the ground and pull your knees to your chest. You will tears to your eyes but there are none to summon, lost to the icy numbness claiming you. Any other feeling is cast adrift.
Could it have only been three months ago that you were on Arrakis, sparring with Gurney?
You no longer recognize yourself.
The closest identifying factor is when the door open and Feyd-Rautha appears. There’s a resemblance there, a call of darkness in him that something within you answers. Your mouth twists in distaste. How did he find you?
“Go away.”
“No.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“I don’t care. This is my strategy room, and I can come and go as I please.” Cast in shadows, you can barely make out his face, but the scorch of his gaze is telling of his scrutiny. “Get up off the floor.”
“No.”
“Get up or I’ll make you.”
You weigh his words. Then you reluctantly rise to your feet, unable to look at him.
“This…attitude is unbecoming of you.”
“You’re a prick,” you fire back.
“A na-Baroness, brooding alone — and on the floor, nonetheless, like a common stray. I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior.”
“Or what?”
A muscle feathers in his jaw. “I will have to remind you who you are.”
Heat flickers in your belly, a weak flame. “And what is that? A whore, a womb? I am nothing but what others have made me to be.”
Feyd-Rautha laughs.
He actually laughs.
The sound of which is so unnatural, so unnerving, that your muscles tense like they’re anticipating a fight. You flush with shame — anger — and raise your hand to strike him but Feyd-Rautha catches your wrist. His words lilt with ill-timed amusement.
“Surely you don’t believe that.”
You struggle to wrest yourself from his grasp, but the effort is futile. “Let go of me.”
“No. Never.”
Feyd-Rautha’s lips crash into yours. He steers your back to the wall, colliding with your spine. He swallows your cry of pain with his mouth, slanting it over yours, hands bracketing either side of your face. His fingers delve into your hair, pads of his thumbs pressing against your cheeks. The weak flame inside you ignites into a raging inferno.
He kisses you with a fierce, concentrated energy, as if his sole purpose is to bruise your mouth with his own. His tongue flickers across your bottom lip, behind your teeth. You moan at the same time Feyd-Rautha chooses to coast his hands down your sides and your head lolls back, neck bared.
He grabs onto you as his mouth flies to your exposed throat, hands greedily clutching at your waist. Feyd-Rautha presses a series of kisses that turn swiftly into nibbles, bites. He sucks and licks at your neck, no doubt creating a necklace of love marks, eagerly staking his claim on the sensitive skin. Each bite and lick winds you closer and closer to an orgasm, the idea of his lips marking you wickedly delightful.
Feyd-Rautha moves his hands to your ass, to the underside of your thighs, and hikes you up. Without thinking, you lock your legs around him. The action brings his hardened length nudging against your center and you whimper, grinding into him, desperate for friction.
“I want you so fucking bad,” you pant. “Please.”
He hums against your neck. “What did you say you were — a whore?” His hips roll with yours, the memory of him inside you inciting a moan from your lips. “The na-Baron doesn’t bother fucking whores.”
“Please,” you say again.
In response, Feyd-Rautha bites down on the juncture of your neck and shoulder. You wince even as pleasure floods over you. “Beg all you want but I won’t fuck a whore.”
You fail to conjure a response as he pins you to the wall with his hips, your arms thrown around his neck, and effectively loosens his hands in order to hoist your dress up. Your flesh pimples as it’s exposed to the cool air of the strategy room.
Feyd-Rautha’s hands skim over you, brush over your center. You whimper, “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to tell me who you are,” he rasps.
Feyd-Rautha teases your clit through your panties, drawing lazy circles with his fingers. You buck your hips in an effort to gain reprieve but he denies you this.
Your voice pitches nearly into a whine. “I-I don’t know.”
And you don’t — not after the sequence of your day, not with Feyd-Rautha unraveling you with his his hands and his mouth. You are infinitesimal, insignificant, clay waiting to be shaped in his capable touch.
“Then I will remind you,” Feyd-Rautha says. He pushes your panties to the side, ghosting his digits over your entrance so that you writhe in desperation. “You are my wife, the na-Baroness of the House Harkonnen. You will raze cities to the ground and bring men to their knees. I will fuck you often and fill you with my seed, keep you pregnant so that you bear my children. You are not nothing, you are magnificent.”
His words are punctuated by his short, breathy pants, fingers pressing to your cunt without giving you any of the pleasure that you seek.
“Now — tell me who you are.”
“I-I am the na-Baroness. I am your wife.”
A wail looses from you as Feyd-Rautha plunges his fingers inside you, relieved from your aching by his careful ministrations. Each pump of his hand brings his palm to your sex, quick and authoritative. A hand that had killed six men today, saluted you, bled with you, and the severity of the situation has your walls clenching around him — he is Feyd-Rautha, and he is fucking you with his fingers, littering your body with bites and kisses and mumbled, appreciative praises.
It’s not surprising that this drives you to orgasm with record speed, to alleviating the pressure building between your legs —
Feyd-Rautha removes his fingers, depriving you of your release. You almost howl in frustration.
“Close,” he says. “But I’m not convinced.”
“No, please —”
“You can cum once you’ve convinced me that you remember who you are. Until then — your pleasure will be withheld.”
Again, he punishes you with his fingers, splitting you open as he inserts them. Your back bows.
“Now,” he pants, “tell. Me. Again.”
“I am the na-Baroness. I am your wife,” you repeat, mustering as much conviction as you can. You would tell him anything if it meant cumming on his fingers.
Harder, faster, wrist snapping: “And?”
“And…I am magnificent.”
Feyd-Rautha’s satisfaction is evident even in the dark, judging only by the pulse of his fingers, the breathy laugh fanning into your neck. He removes his fingers again, though, to your chagrin, trading positions for one that allows him to see your face. “Oh, you are,” he purrs. “And I bet you taste even better.”
You hitch your legs around his shoulders at his prompting. Feyd-Rautha sinking to his knees while applying enough weight to keep you trapped against the wall. You suppress another whimper. Your thighs are nearly flush with your chest as Feyd-Rautha dips his head to greet your cunt, driving you higher up the wall and forcing you to grab onto his armor for support.
You can’t see him with the skirt of your dress in the way, but you feel his mouth hovering your entrance.
Feyd-Rautha presses a kiss to you. He flicks his tongue over your clit, then licks a stripe up your center back to it, lapping eagerly between your thighs. His mouth works in tandem with his tongue, his teeth, treating you to the same nipping and sucking that he administered to your neck. Your hips buck to meet his every stroke.
And then, there it is again, your orgasm fighting for completion, raking claws of molten lava through your belly, your pelvis.
From between your legs, Feyd-Rautha rasps, “Convince me and I’ll let you cum.”
You swallow down a cry of protest. If you don’t get your release, you might actually implode. You do your best to summon his words from before, “I am the na-Baroness. I am your wife. And I am magnificent.”
“And how will I fuck you?”
Your teeth grind as you recall, “Often.”
“Why?”
“To-To keep me pregnant,” you stammer out. You rarely allow yourself to imagine your body in such a state, afraid of what it will invoke, but you do now: belly swollen with Feyd-Rautha’s child, breasts full, a physical manifestation of the vigorous fucking he regularly bestows.
And just like that, like the snapping of a rubberband, he returns his mouth to your cunt and laps at you until you finally, finally, reach your orgasm. Feyd-Rautha holds you steady as the prolonged release cleaves you in half, shuddering against his mouth, your vision swimming with stars. Tears wet your cheeks with your relief.
You sag into him, and he effortlessly lifts you back to your feet, still trapping you to the wall, one hand lazily skimming your hip.
“Do not, ever again, think so lowly of yourself. Do you understand?”
Your head bobbles stupidly. “I understand.”
“Good.” He brushes hair back from your face, runs his finger along the scattering of angry welts he’s left on your neck. “Now, my jewel, how do you want me to fuck you?”
You commit him to memory, this renegade angel, a contrast of darkness and your own personal deliverance. “I’ll let you choose.”
Without missing a beat, Feyd-Rautha carries you to the strategy table and lays you flat on your back, maneuvering to grab your ankles, one in each hand and spreading you wide. He takes his straining cock from his pants and strokes it as he admires you. “Mm, my beautiful wife, so eager for me to fuck her.”
He traces your entrance with his fingers, then notches his cock there, sliding the tip of it between your slick folds. You ache to take him but with your ankles in his grip, he keeps you firmly in place. Like a silly, wanton thing, you try desperately to grind against him as he drags himself, up and down, teasing you.
“Please, Feyd,” you beg, “please fuck me.”
“Say it again.”
“Fuck me, Feyd. Please.”
The ridges and crests of the strategy table bite into your back as he drives into you. The ecstasy of finally having him inside you is almost too much to bear — hips snapping, groans rumbling through his chest. He is inspired like this, immersed in the feel of your walls clamping down on his cock, pupils blown, plush lips parted with each panting breath.
If you only you could bottle up this moment, savor the way you both rise to meet the other like waves upon the shores of Caladan.
He pounds into you in a borderline frenzy, each near-violent thrust surging your orgasm higher.
Then Feyd-Rautha releases your ankles, your legs returning around his waist, and he captures your wrists instead, holding them over your head. The angle allows him to press himself to you, spearing you deeper, winding your desire tighter and tighter.
“My wife,” he rasps, “my jewel. Look at me.”
You meet his gaze. Feyd-Rautha smirks, pleased with himself, with you, and thrusts into you with swift finality. Your orgasm peaks and suddenly you’re shuddering and convulsing beneath him, pleasure wrought from every fiber of your being.
Distantly, you feel your cunt draw out Feyd-Rautha’s own orgasm, hips rolling against you as he spills himself inside you. He collapses on top of you, both of you panting, greedily drinking in lungfuls of air. Ostensibly, he recovers first and peels himself from you, tucking his cock back into his pants.
He helps you to your feet and you thank him breathlessly, thighs quivering as you stand, the wrinkled skirt of your dress cascading back to the ground.
“I suppose no one will question whether or not we’ve consummated our marriage,” he says.
Your cheeks burn. “Does it matter?”
“It’s typical for someone to watch to confirm,” he tells you, lifting a shoulder. “I said that it would be obvious enough.”
You gasp and swat his chest. “You didn’t.”
“The alternative was some noble peeking in on our fucking. Would you have preferred that? I do know you like to watch.”
“I suppose I wouldn’t,” you admit.
“Precisely.”
Feyd-Rautha’s eyes flicker over your face, and you can only guess what he sees there — you’re coated in a thin sheen of sweat and, undoubtedly, love marks, hair tangled and headpiece askew.
You shy away from him. “Do we have to go back to the reception?”
“No,” he nearly snorts, affronted that you would even suggest such a thing. “I fully intend on taking you to my bed and fucking you until you’re a mewling, quivering mess.”
Your cunt, still full with his cum, dripping with it down your thighs, clenches in anticipation.
“Then what are we still doing here?”
Part 8
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