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Winter's King 11
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No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.
Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, cheating, violence, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.
This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.
Summary: You are a maid to the Duke of Debray, a lord of the Summer Kingdom. That is, until the king of Winter appears with his particular air of coldness. (Medieval AU)
Characters: Geralt of Rivia
Note: friday, my day, am i right?
As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.
Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.
I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖
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You turn your legs over the bench, feet dangling over the floor as you look at the king, dumbfounded and dozy. He sits in the chair by the table, toying with a grab between his fingers as he watches you. Your heart hammers behind your ears as your breath licks like flames in your lungs. You daren’t ask it aloud but what is he doing there? 
“I only meant to look in upon you,” King Geralt says as if he can hear your thoughts. “I fathomed the night was long tending to my wife and I would make sure you are well-rested.” 
“Your highness,” you stand and smooth the front of your shift, realising you wear nothing more. No dress, no apron. You feel vulnerable to his golden eyes as they follow your hands. The fabric pulls taut on your chest before you can right yourself. “I... Apologies, I am unkempt.” 
You search around and go to take your cap from where you hung it. You cover your shorn locks and tie it tight above your nape. The king’s eyes narrow at you. 
“What is the purpose of keeping your hair short?” He wonders as he drops the grape back to the plate. 
You look at him, shuddering, “I do not... it is only as I’ve been bid, your highness. In Debray, all the maids do so.” 
“You are not in Debray now,” he muses. 
You’re quiet. You’re not sure how to answer that. You gulp and grab the clean dress from the pile and throw it over your head. It hangs loose, not like Jazlene’s carefully cut and laced gowns. You reach for your apron and the king clears his throat. You stop and look at him. 
“Your highness?” You blink, still dazed by his unexpected appearance. 
“I did go to see the lady of Debray,” he intones, “she was in a poor state. She would not permit me in her chambers for her condition.” 
“Oh my, your highness, I am sorry to hear. Shall I go look in--” 
“She has maids a plenty,” he insists, “I hoped...” he leans forward and reaches to his belt. You notice the top of his slate grey tunic is untied and shows the trim of his chest hair, “to share a pastime with her. I hoped perhaps we might see past our differences at last and start our progress towards the kingdom. Alas, despite my warnings, she overindulged and has left herself incapacitated.” 
You stare at him, clutching the apron. He flicks his fingers dismissively as his other hand brings forth a pouch, “leave that. Come, sit.” 
You can only obey. You put the apron down and cross the chamber. As you near the table, he pushes the tray of dishes out of the way. You lower yourself onto a stool as he opens the mouth of the pouch. He pours out the rattling contents. Carved diced in varying shapes, symbols painted on each side, and man longer pieces that look like bone. 
“It is a game,” he explains as the contents roll out, “I’d like to teach you.” 
You look down as he sorts out the many pieces into sets. He is lithe in his arrangement. When he is down, he presses his hands flat to frame the assortment. 
“You don’t mind?” He wonders, “if you are tired still...” 
“Your highness, I am awake,” you rub your eyes and drop your hands to your lap. “A game? How do you play it?” 
You lean forward and he seems pleased by your intent. He curls his fingers and takes a breath. 
“It is like bartering at a market, or the like,” he begins, “you see how the pieces differ,” he points to the longer ones, “there are tick marks here,” he shows you how one has an ex, another a line this way and the next that way, and a circle in another. “We each have our dice,” he divides those up and pushes a set towards you, “it is a matter of trade and cost.” 
“Hmm,” you push your lip out, concentrating. 
He continues to explain the balancing and leveraging of each roll. How once you have collected all the pieces with a particular mark, you may wield a greater demand. You tilt your head thoughtfully, your own fingers drawing lines in the air as you make sense of his instruction. You think you understand but remain uncertain. 
“We may begin simple,” he intones. 
So suddenly are you swept up in the intricacy of the game, that your shock at his appearance dissipates. You can only think of the pieces as he rolls a die. Then the next. You follow his lead and when at last the first trade comes, you hear his offer but have no response. 
“You have a question?” He prompts. 
“I am thinking, your highness,” you squint as your forehead lines. 
“I can tell,” he says brightly. 
You peer up at him and smooth your expression. His cheek twitches as he leans back. You counter his offer and he clucks. 
“Mm, I see,” he rests his chin on his knuckles. 
He hands over his pieces and you bite the inside of your lip. You gather them to your side of the table and frown. You toy with the dice and wait. 
“Your turn,” he urges, “unless you are not having fun.” 
“It is an interesting game but I don’t want to be let to win,” you mutter. 
“I am not letting you win. It is the first turn and it is a long game,” he chides. 
“Mm, yes,” you pick through the dice, “your highness.” 
He exhales and leans on the armrest, “take your time. I am no hurry to be away.” 
You peer up at him and find his gaze set on you. You return your attention to the dice and toss them. He’s a king, should he have better things to do? 
⚔️
“It appears you have bested me,” King Geralt sighs and puts his dice down, pressing his hand flat over them, “you have the mind of a councilour.” 
“Your highness,” you bring your hands back to wring in your lap.  
“Truly, you’ve taken well to it,” he remarks, “it has been some time since I had harrying competition.” 
You offer a slight curve of your lips and look away. The window is dulled as the sunlight descends. You blanch and slip forward on the chair. 
“Your highness,” you stand, “it is late. I should--” 
“You may remain,” he assures you as he shows his palm kindly, “no hurry, little maid.” 
“But... shouldn’t you--” you keep yourself from asking after his duty. That is not for you to mind, “the queen will need dinner.” 
“As I said before, this place is ripe with servants,” he says coolly, “you should sit and bask in the time you have off your feet.” 
You face him and slowly sit. He drags his fingers along the wooden armrest as his expression tightens. He watches you as his square jaw clenches, “unless you would rather be away from me?” 
You twist around to look at the door, then to him. 
“I will go wherever you command, your highness.” 
“Yes, yes,” his hand balls to a fist, “that is not what I...” he sighs with exasperation, “I want to know what you desire. What do you want? What do you need?” 
There’s a stirring in your chest as he leans slightly forward, his eyes alight. You peer into the golden pools and your lips part. He is a king and yet speaks as if he would serve you. 
“I...” you wisp and clamp your lips tight, measuring your words, “I want to serve you and the queen, your highness. I want to serve the realm.” 
He huffs again and grimaces, “for yourself. Not the queen, not me, not the people.” 
“Hmmm,” you look down and shrug. You shake your head. You can’t think of anything. “I have a new dress and a hot bath and good food. I can think of nothing. What of you, your highness? What do you want?” You lift your chin slowly, “just for you?” 
Your question seems to startle him. He winces and for a moment, seems breathless. He stands suddenly and takes a step forward. He’s close and you think he might lunge at you. You shy away, expecting the same wrath you inspire in the queen. He falters and backs away. 
“I want...” he grits and turns his back to you. 
He walks to the window and looks out onto the lawns. He hangs his head and grips the window’s edge. He lets out a gravelly sigh. 
“I want you...” he utters, “...to come walk with me in the gardens. I would like to do so before we must depart.” 
You rise again, “yes, your highness, I will put my shoes on then.” 
He puffs out into the deepening dusk. You can feel his frustration roiling from his figure. You grab the stockings and the shoes and return to the chair. You roll the stocking onto your foot and pull it up your leg, rumpling up one side of the skirt as you do. As you hike up the next, the king faces you, surprising you before you can drop the fabric back down to your toes. You sheepishly bend to put your shoes on, embarrassed. 
“Thank you, little maid,” he approaches and offers his hand, “for keeping a miserable king company.” 
You look at his hand. It’s big and calloused and lined like a map. The invitation seems overly friendly. You accept it, not so bold as to turn him away. 
“Your highness,” You murmur as he squeezes your hand then lets his arm fall straight, tugging you away from the table. 
Silently, he lets his grip brush from your hand and instead hooks his arm through yours. It is an overly familiar gesture but you allow it. What more can a maid do? As you near the door, he stops and untangles from you completely, stepping away as if struck by the oddity of his actions. He reaches for the door handle and inhales. 
He opens the door and steps into the corridor, you follow him, just a pace back. He looks over his shoulder at you then turns ahead. You scurry to keep up with his long strides. He stops at the end of the hallway and you nearly collide with his elbow. 
“I am not miserable because of you,” he angles his head towards you as he keeps his voice low, “if you worried...” he shakes his head at himself, “come, little maid.” 
You do as he says and trail him through the corridors. It is late and while soldiers remain on watch, most of the lords and ladies have tucked away for their evening meals. The king continues his unstoppable advance with you at his heels. Down a flight of stairs and across the great hall. 
Outside, several soldiers bow their heads at his passing and another nears. He dismisses them without a word. You carry on, sensing how his mood darkens with the sky. You’re uncertain of his demeanour, so suddenly shifting from affable to affronted. You didn’t say what he wanted and now he is unhappy. He can be rather like his wife. 
He stalks onward to the archway that marks the green gardens of the capital castle. He passes between the leafy pillars and stops to look this way then that, then opts to walk along the middle row. You flit between the hedges behind him as the sky ripples with the looming night and a cool breeze stirs around your skirts. 
He is silent as he walks, almost as if he’s forgotten you. You wonder if you fall out of step, if you are lost behind him, would he even notice? Finally, he slows before a pond dug into the center of the gardens, amid lilies and daisies and blue bells. The moon shines down and reflects off the tepid pool. 
He treads around the edge of the pond as you stand by the bushes. He circles around to a wooden bench and sits. His shoulders slouch and he leans his head back. The silver light limns his strong features. When he opens his eyes, they glow as they did in your dream. 
“I have come this far, I have conquered as I vowed to, I have vanquished the old king,” he speaks to the sky, “I have done all I sought to and yet I am wanting.” 
You dip your head, sad for him. You might assume a king would be happy for all his gold and power. That a crown would bring delight as much as glory. All you see is a man in mourning. For all he’s won, he’s lost just as much. Loyal men and many months. 
“I have a wife who is petulant, I have an ally who is cowardice, and I have nothing left here to claim,” he continues, “should I remain any longer, I might give it all up.” 
He hangs his head and leans forward, gripping the edge of the bench. He sits in silence as he watches the water. A frog hops onto a large stone protruding from the shallows and steals your attention. You watch it leap again and again until it meets the other side. 
“Little maid...” the sultry purr crawls over you and you glance over to find the king observing you, “sit with me.” 
You shiver and cautiously make your way around the pond. You near him and sit at the end of the bench opposite him. You fixate on the moonlit water. He leans to grab your wrist and hauls you closer. You sidle down until you are almost against him. He slips his hand around yours, covering it in his grasp. He pulls it onto his thigh and rests it there. 
He clings to you just like that. You feel a pluck in your chest for him. He has a wife who should share in his troubles but she is too buried in the anguish she made for herself. Yet, she is not there, and you are; a paltry substitute for what he truly needs. 
Silence pervades the night but for the chirping of insects and the sweet singing of birds. The king’s grasp on you tightens, then lessens, and tightens again. He eases his hold entirely and pets your hand. 
“Will you play another game with me?” His timbre is silty as he looks over at you. 
“A game, your highness?” You babble. 
He hums and nods, “a child’s game,” he explains, “it is simple.” He sits straight and pushes back his hair, “you will run and I will catch you.” 
Your heart lurches. Your lashes flutter. You played the game before, when you were young, with the queen even. But that was years ago and you were smaller and faster. You look at the king. 
“Your highness,” you utter. 
“It’s my command,” he says, “run.” 
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midnight-scugs · 2 days
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You know what. I'm gonna talk about FP/UI more, in reference to this post from the other day. This one goes out to @matchedpowerofthesun (sorry for the random ass mention from this Tumblr rando aka me o7 but you mentioned innopebbles in your reblog tags and that jolted some creativity juices out of my brain so like this one goes out to you).
Starting off; some relationship history. Pebbles and UI were the first two iterators of the third generation; built only a kilocycle or two apart. The first time they met was through UI reaching out to Pebbles via one on one message. UI was not nice to him at all at first! They were bored and had no real friends so they liked fucking with him and being mean for fun. Pebbles would be an ass right back because he had zero chill.
Then eventually he just...stopped fighting back. He just took it and didn't have the same bite in his replies anymore, then stopped really replying at all. UI got bored of messing with him after that because he wasn't fun for them to be mean to now that he didn't fight back. They pretty much lost contact with each other for kilocycles after that.
Eventually though, they ended up meeting again, when one of them was urged to contact the other by their admins in a bid to form an alliance with a close neighboring city. They started actually talking like adults instead of bullying each other all the time, and started reconnecting and actually getting closer from there. Neither really had any true close friends still, so it was nice having someone to talk to, especially someone so close in age. Over time one thing sort of just leads to another, and in turn to them getting together as partners.
Their relationship is open knowledge here; people rely on iterators more than ever, why hide it when neither of them will face any formal consequences? (Informal consequences however are still a rather dangerous possibility...) Plus they're both quite young and reckless (I'd probably put them both at about early to mid 20s in terms of equivalent maturity), so why not rebel a little in a way by breaking what is or used to be so taboo?
They honestly care a lot about each other though. They know more about each other than most others do, whether it be generally personal things only a close loved one would know or intimate things only a partner would know. They still bicker sometimes, but nothing awful or to nearly the same level as when they first met. They're pretty good to each other and for each other these days.
UI is also... quite worried about Pebbles honestly, even before the start of the focused upon time period of AU and the events that follow. They do know a lot about him after all.
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grubzillla · 3 years
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[posts silly little drawings i made with my silly little hands] "this is so silly"
click for qual :)
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novenarius · 2 years
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i haven’t watched the archive 81 show on netflix (and i probably won’t), but based on posts i’ve seen on here and the review of it i read on variety... most audio dramas really should not be turned into tv shows and marketed towards a general (specifically cis and straight) audience because then we get issues like this whole thing with melody.
podcasts are a really interesting form of media because most of them are independent productions by people who aren’t doing it just to make the most profit possible, so we get these really batshit plotlines and lots of queer representation. these things are inherently not “marketable” in mainstream hollywood and therefore many audio dramas would not translate well and we would have to deal with characters and plotlines getting changed to be more palatable for a mainstream cishet audience. 
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radioduo · 3 years
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drop 3rd life/last life/hermitcraft main blogs for me to follow. self promo is allowed
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treasure-hwa · 3 years
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If you speak a language other than English, would you mind sending me some words, your favorites or whatever, and their meanings? I am in a language learning mood today :D
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danhoemei · 3 years
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Sometimes i wonder how long you can keep on giving until there is nothing left of you
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arctic-bookclub · 2 years
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i’m intensely thinking about c!phil today,, he deserves so much better from this fandom good lord
i’m too lazy to mess with tags so i’ll add some thoughts here instead (these are about the characters):
i’ve seen people warp phil’s recent advice (the advice of letting people heal without you on the ’bust’-stream) and i just,, it genuinely makes me upset to see because it was Good advice, like actually good advice just irl too y’know? you can’t expect to be able to fix everything, you can’t expect to be forgiven when apologizing to someone, and sometimes you just, have to learn to let people go. and let them heal on their own and let your paths branch in your own directions seperate from each other. that’s just how life is, you can’t fix everything and sometimes you just need to accept that and let both of you move on and heal
also i saw someone shit on phil because after hearing that ranboo lost a live, he asked if it atleast was for a good cause and just,, what the hell are you expecting him to say instead? he can’t undo the death. the death happened and it’s too late to do anything about. asking if it was at the very Least for a good cause is a way of trying to understand it, not to justify it. he was trying wrap his head around it and find a way to comfort the person griefing infront of him, his son. c!phil isn’t an emotionally open person, he’s not going to cry or throw a tantrum at will over the news. he’s upset at the death and will suppress it or grief on his own time in private
also nothing against c!crimeboys fans but please. please don’t make the lily of the valley solely a c!crimeboys’ thing i’m begging you. it’s a gift to phil from his wife, please let us hold onto the little pieces of lore we get please. you can talk about the coincidental symbolism all you like but Please don’t credit the flower to cc!wilbur or imply it was intentionally set up by cc!wilbur Please /nm
i’m done for now i think. c!phil deserves better from the fandom and people need to actually watch c!phil’s pov for once in their life before making critical posts about c!phil, just, please, it’s the bare minimum please
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igarbagecannoteven · 2 years
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x
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rickety-goose · 3 years
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I'm having a good time drawing for wayhavensummer, but I also really want to do stuff for hws... except I cannot for the life of me come up with ideas (except for this one prompt)
HOWEVER. Reading all those great hws wips made me think: Would anyone want and be comfortable with me using their writing as a starting point for some prompts? :0
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nightincrow · 3 years
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hi! i’m currently in process of writing thesis about sexualisation of women in video games and i have a big, big favor to ask y’all. can you suggest me titles with prominent female characters (it would be great if they were also victims of unnecessary sexualisation or written with sexist tropes, but well executed female characters are also welcome!). i have already gathered a list, but i could always expand it and i just don’t want to miss anything important, so i would be very grateful for your help 🥺🥺
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gayvangeance · 3 years
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How do you think Patri reacted when he figured out that the human he's sharing a body with will not just shut up about birds, and he can't even kill william to make him shut up because he cares too much about him XD. And how rhya reacted when Patri told him of his woes?
YEAHHH
I don't think he ever found it annoying. I feel like it's a common interest between the two when it comes to nature and he can even talk about some old types of birds that possibly went extinct
There were times William would completely space out and think about a type of bird for several minutes until Patri chimed in like, "hey... you're at a captains meeting" "oh"
Patri's the one that encouraged him to keep on studying the types of birds! There was a time period where William didn't feel as inspired because of familial issues, although luckily Patri was there to pick him right up
When Patri talked about William to Rhya, at the time he was being quite dramatic about the bird talk but ultimately had nothing bad to say.
Actually!! There have been a few times while Patri was writing a midnight sun report and William took over to "do something important" which was actually just him wanting to doodle a bird in the corner :))
William: It looks 10x better already. Don't you feel inspired, Pat pat?
Patri, deadpanned while looking at the bird doodled on his page with an inspirational quote: Yes. I feel so much better (surprisingly not sarcasm)
Once they were separated, William was quiet at first and took his time before opening up again. Not because he doesn't trust Patri, but it's a completely new thing for him to be able to see the soul he shared a body with all those years.
Patri was very much aware of this and missed his rambling
He wouldn't admit it though
So what did he do? He managed to get his gremlin elf hands on a book about birds and slid it over William's desk.
Rhya is in the distance sighing heavily because he knows that in approximately 5 business hours he's gonna have to listen to the new bird facts Patri learned
Patri: birds... birds everywhere
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path-fndrs · 3 years
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sigh.
#and here we are venting again. forgive me I’ve already packed my journals#don’t reach out to me once every six months to keep me at arms arms arms arms ARMS length and not give me the time of day#anyways now IM spiraling. fuck me I guess#mom can’t talk for more that five minutes and dad is hanging out with my brother which you live together and see him everyday bro#:(((((#I went inside after crying and was like if you don’t pay attention to me I’m gonna cry#so now I’m needy#and I just want affection and idk what it is that has him in the same place as my parent figures dispute him being the worst example of hoe#to act as a person#I don’t like you like that but that’s absolutely the vibe that’s given#like so sir this isn’t weird but also no one hugs me anymore and everyone has conversations over me when I talk#and amongst the people closest to me I feel unheard and just not really cared about#and I’m fed up with myself and everyone else#and the friends I’m staying with are the only people who feel real and genuine and I feel like I can’t be good enough for them#and why do have to keep me at arms length now? I’m sorry I’m afraid of you!! I’m sorry you’re afraid of me!! but don’t fucking reach out#and drive me damn crazy all over again it spills into all my other relationships and I feel like shit shit shit shit shit shit#personal i guess#to tag it#leave me alone :( I can’t heal when I look for you in other people and then have to force an attention to make up for what#for what you dangle in front of me but just out of reach
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chesedelhim · 3 years
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love to talk abt post death plans AND vc all in the same instance in the group chat its such a vibe
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dreamhot · 3 years
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aaa I’m a bit late but happy birthday lee smiletwt!! I hope you have an amazing day/night :DD <3
thank you so much !! <3 👻👻 just past 10am here so you're not late at all, don't worry ;D
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seaofashes · 3 years
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I'm just sitting alone in my corner being the only one I know who's excited for The Bad Batch.
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