Author: clorinspats

  • Sleepless

    Sleepless

    sick charlie, tbo offshoot


    It’s been well over two days and Charlie *still* can’t sleep. He doesn’t get it. Chamomile. Lavender. Cannabis seeds. Valerian root. Catnip. Nothing he makes brings sleep. It just makes him exhausted on top of the insomnia.

    He’s already useless as a doctor, but a doctor without sleep is worse. Things poke him, prod him, and he’s so weak-willed right now. Eventually, his constant weeping gets a gruff sigh and a shove into Thandi.

    “You’ve got potion for that, right, Thandi?”

    “I should… Charlie? Come along now, darling.”

    He stumbles after her, his wrist grasped tight. She sits him down in her bedroll, opening her bag and pulling out her signature silver flask. “This always helps me, Charlie. Vitani brews it herself!”

    “I… that’s your medicine, Thandi…” She looks at him, dark rims under his eyes giving him a ghoulish appearance. He’s looking horrible. In fact… worse than he should be.

    Manifestus veneficium.

    “What are you looking at, Thandi?”

    She shushes him, looking him over, and she sees it. A glittering thread, highlighted with her altered vision, mended into his vest. A curse given form. “There it is! You’ll be just fine, Charlie. Just like so…

    He watches her hand come toward him and he flinches. There’s a moment where it’s like she’s unraveling him, and then it’s gone. Thandi winds the thread between her fingers and holds it out to him. Charlie furrows his brows.

    “Come now, you have to break the curse. Just sweep your hand through, darling.”

    The thread is invisible to him, but he slices his hand through the air all the same. As soon as it’s broken, it’s like everything hits him all at once. Thandi catches him and eases him back to sleep on her bedroll. She straightens his hair with a small smile and lets him catch up.

  • Can’t Deny that She’s Attractive

    Can’t Deny that She’s Attractive

    arranged extra, nsfw, charlie masturbating


    He can barely sleep, but he wakes up earlier than anticipated. His wife’s masturbatory session seems insistent on being at the forefront of his mind, and though he didn’t see it, he knows.

    She would be beside herself with embarrassment if she… actually, would she? He remembers the morning before. The loose white shirt hanging off of her, the peek of her collarbone, her in his underwear. As sleepwear.

    She can’t possibly.

    Those beautiful legs. He can barely imagine what they feel like. What… do other people feel like? He’s worn gloves when he touches patients. When he does get touched, it’s always clouded over by pain.

    He strokes his palm with one hand.

    Rough?

    She has touched him before. Her arm in his, both for the marriage and for the party recently. And walking down the hall… and for treating his back. Amazing that he’s avoided it so far.

    Charlie purses his lips. The… heir making process… would not be the worst, if it’s with someone like her. Quickly and to the point. Hell, if they’re determined, he could just… artificially inseminate her… after all, bodily fluids—filthy.

    So, when he imagines her spread open like that, why is his body reacting? Physiology. Nothing more than that. He can wait it out.

    His body puts up a fight. He remembers that heavy breathing. The dip in her dress. The way the key to his room is swallowed between her breasts, hiding it while at the same time seeking to invite eyes to slide into her cleavage. Her smiling face, and her excitement at eating something nice. Her stern expression when reading.

    This isn’t going to go away on its own.

    He reaches down, pauses. Should he…

    His body wins this fight. Charlie’s hand massages himself through the front of his trousers, and… he forgot how good it feels, even just for that. It feels like forever before he unbuttons, reaches in, and continues the slow pace. He can’t seem to stray his thoughts away from her.

    Surely, when he’s done, he won’t have to think about her quite so much. He’s certain that he wouldn’t buy cake and books just to thank her and get her something nice if he could just. Do this.

    His breathing picks up with the pace of his stroking. He stops each time he gets too close. It’s rare that he does this and he may as well enjoy it. Slow stroking. Her legs. Her body… she looked kind of sad when he agreed that there would be no children from a union between them.

    Did she want… no. Disgusting. Filthy. Even now, what he’s doing—natural, yes. Gross? Absolutely.

    There’s a knock on the door and he panics, putting himself away and rushing to the doo.r did she hear him somehow? Does she know?

    He cracks the door open. He could smell earl grey, see her peering in at him. Oooh, no. He’s glad he didn’t open up all the way. His cock jumps at the sight of her, tousled from sleep, a little messy, a sweet scent that rolls off of her… wow.

    “Mr. Vanderbee, I’m going out.”

    What a stark reminder of her disinterest in him. Of course he was imagining an attraction. She’s simply being kind.

    “Going already? Er, have fun.” Look at her. Her hips are wonderful. Her fingers, elegant. Those eyes of hers remind him of looking into himself through Rev. Something deep. He shudders and closes the door, leaning against it. “Enjoy.”

    Rev follows her to her rooms. He’s been hanging around her a lot lately. Is it a sign that he himself is getting overprotective? Of, what. Her? His property? That feels… sick. She was acquired for what Byron thought she should do, not for what she could do.

    So this is a private matter to be kept under wraps. Only a one time event. He should finish up. Again, he drops to the couch, unbuttons, and this time, he spits in his hand—he’s going to hate himself afterwards regardless—and takes a firm grip on himself. He sets a good pace, going slowly. Agonizing over it.

    Rev starts sending reports.

    At her window. She’s in the bath.

    Yes, that’s fine.

    You should come over and get her to lay your eggs.

    Rev! You’re not helping. You’re making this take longer.

    Isn’t that what you want?

    No!!

    He can’t close the link. If something happens, she would be in danger if she can’t get anyone. And she’s naked in a room that anyone could get access to at the moment. Including him.

    What would he do? Even if she was receptive? Would she treat him like any of the pets around here? Pet and scratch and stroke and for some reason the idea makes the pleasure he’s feeling better.

    He leans back, ignoring the ache of his spine and bruises. His hand moves faster as his thoughts go in circles.

    Imagine actually taking her as his wife. Consummating it. Would she say his name? How would it feel inside of her? Hot? He’s heard it’s immensely pleasurable, but what little experience he has with partnered sex acts isn’t exactly a good measure.

    His pace increases. Just. To have sex with his wife. Hold her, kiss her, enjoy her while she enjoys him. Watching her react to him. Needing him. Loving him…

    He breathes out her name so softly that even he barely notices.

    It’s impossible that they would ever be together. She said as much. But just for a little longer, he wonders what their bodies would feel like when they’re pressed together. The smell of their sex. The heat of her body. Her wrapped around him, squeezing down, saying his name.

    A vivid image of Thandi, naked as a lark as she greets Rev. “Fuck!!

    That did it. He’s cumming, and it’s more than anticipated. Each rope of it is accompanied by her name, and a curse.

    “Fuck, Thandi…”

    “Shit… Thandi…

    “Thandi… Thandi… gods.

    He rocks his hips a little more into his hand, deaf to himself. Just… more. Need… damnit!

    Stop sending me this! It isn’t helping the situation!

    No.

    I don’t need to know!

    But he won’t be able to forget. Her chest, so cute and pert. Her waist, perfect for his hands. The curves of her body, that teasing patch of hair at her groin, the shine of freshly bathed skin! And the smile. Completely free of worry.

    It would be nice to see more of that.

    He curses himself again and goes to wash up and change for the day.

  • Bedtime

    Bedtime

    arranged extra, sleep, fluff


    Thandi pulls her husband into the bed, despite his arguing. “I don’t—I don’t use the bed, it’s…!”

    “It’s what, Charlie?”

    “I. It’s… I don’t like it.”

    “And the couch is so much better?”

    “No, but…”

    “Sleep in bed.”

    “I don’t…” When did he start getting so weak for her demands? He doesn’t have a lot of resistance in him anymore, not when it came to her. She so desperately seemed to… care. “It’s… I’m…”

    It’s too big. It’s too vulnerable. He’s spent so many nights terrified of what he’d find waiting for him. Or who. He can avoid it all by simply refusing to dress down and sleeping on the couch. Room only for one, and he can bolt in a heartbeat.

    Sometimes Thandi doesn’t seem to think until he shows his fear. This is the case today as she unbuttons his vest, chastising him. “Mr. Vanderbee, how are you supposed to overcome anything without rest?”

    He’ll poke back today. “Well, Mrs. Vanderbee seems intent on picking up the slack.”

    Ahha. She freezes, cheeks reddening dramatically. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that he’s embarrassed her. He does, though, and she must be incredibly angry. She puts a hand to his chest and pushes him backwards into the bed.

    His heart seems to stutter at the excitement—

    Excitement?

    No, no.

    …perhaps?

    His eyes slide down her body, almost like seeing her for the first time. The dip in her dress, her chest hanging over him, exquisite hips, her deep, glittering eyes. He didn’t so much mind her touch anymore.

    And they had already raised a child together.

    Would it be so bad to…

    “Charlie! Did you hear what I said?”

    “I… sorry, no.”

    Why are you so frightened of comfort?”

    “I’m… just…” Say it. “Lonely.”

    She’s going to get the wrong idea.

    “You poor thing. Let’s get Camellia inside, and—”

    “No… just… I… not that I would be against her coming in, but—sleeping is… vulnerable.”

    “You haven’t had a problem sleeping around me.”

    “…yes.”

    “There you go! It’s just fine, darling.”

    He pinks. He pinks a lot. He could be her darling once in a while. “I mean… it’s not. Safe.”

    “Then I will watch over you!”

    “Wh—”

    “I’ll be right here! And then you’ll see that’s it’s all okay.”

    Charlie nods reluctantly, and she tucks him in tightly. He closes his eyes, feels her hand stroking his cheek. This is… nice.

  • Sure of It

    Sure of It

    nsfw, modern, charlie masturbating


    It can’t wait.

    She was so close today. The feeling of her fingers in his hair and over his body. They’re lingering on him. He’s dying for release.

    The door to his apartment slams shut and he kicks off his shoes. He doesn’t even bother taking off his necktie as he drops onto the couch, unzipping, remembering the shape of her hips as she fell back into him weeks ago.

    Thandi.

    He’s so stupidly in love with her. Every little touch sends him spiraling. They flirt. They play. She calls him darling, makes him food.

    His guilt freezes him midstroke. Is he a pet to her?

    Thandi…

    He wouldn’t mind. Not at all. If he could live with just what she gave him now, he’d still be happy. Especially when she pets him. Oh, he loves that. She’ll be teasing him and her hands touch his chest, his back, his stomach.

    He wishes, just once, her hands would venture lower.

    Thandi!

    His hips rise and he gasps at the feeling of near-release. Just a little more.

    Remember how soft she is, how kind, how doting. Remember that gentle way she smiles when he’s down. Her fingers in his hair. Tangling. Grabbing. Her voice. What sorts of noises would she make?

    It doesn’t matter as long as it’s his name coming from her. She’d say it and kiss him with everything she’s got. Does she think of him? Does she remember that fall, his hands on her waist, holding her to him for that short moment? Does she think about touching his hair, kissing him?

    I love you, Thandi!

    Charlie catches his breath and slumps. Of course he does. Of course he loves her. There’s no world where he isn’t hopelessly in love with Thandi, he’s sure of it.

  • Arranged

    Arranged

    hook, regency, fake dating


    Charlie bristles as he looks across the long table to his newly wedded wife. He radiates dislike, and as good a face he put on for their wedding, he was far from happy.

    He knows her name and nothing else. Thandi Kahsu. Her family had heard of the Vanderbee empire and practically dropped her into his lap to enjoy his family’s wealth.

    She’s just another idiot lusting after money. An idiot with the good fortune to surprise him with a wedding instead of courting him.

    Charlie clears his throat.

    “I want to make things clear. I hate you. I want nothing to do with you. There will be no marriage bed and no touching. I don’t care for conversation or meals together. We are married on paper, but we certainly aren’t in reality.”

    Meanwhile, Thandi is fuming. She sets her silverware down delicately. How dare he. After she was forced to leave her studies, her magic, her everything behind. She’s a bauble in his family’s home.

    “Well,” she says quietly, voice heavy with gravitas. “That makes both of us. You disgust me. It will be of mutual benefit to draw a line between us and if I never see your disgusting face again, it will be too soon.” She gives him that award winning smile, and Charlie is infuriated.

    He throws down his silverware. “Thus the only agreement that will hold weight in this sham of a union!” At this, he rises and leaves the dining room with a slam of the door.

  • Lost

    Lost

    depressed charlie, thandi returns to faerun, tbo offshoot


    After Thandi’s departure, Charlie was lost. He was like an unanchored boat, drifting away from everything. No resistance. No arguing. He barely spoke. Never smiled.

    For months after that, he could barely take care of himself. He was a zombie, lost in grief. He had thought that she loved him.

    And she left. Without a word on why, how long, if she’ll ever return. Thandi simply… ceased existing in his world. And he could not recover. Not on his own. Not for years.

    He couldn’t reason it out. Had he not given her enough? Had he not impressed upon her the extent of his love? Had he given her the impression that he didn’t care? Could he have done more?

    Agony was his only friend. He refused others. He couldn’t bear to see anyone, to hear one more it’ll be okay, you’ll find someone new. As if he could! As if Thandi was someone who could be replaced!

    No.

    He turned inward. There’s nothing left for him to do. He simply looked around him one day and concludes that there’s nothing worth staying human for.

    So he walked in the woods and that’s the last anyone ever saw of him.

  • Separation Anxiety

    Separation Anxiety

    depressed charlie, thandi returns to faerun, tbo offshoot


    Charlie could feel the gentle caress of Thandi’s love reaching for him. She was so gentle when it came to him. She would take his face in her hands and tell him that he mattered. That he made a difference.

    He treasured her above all else. He kept quiet about the extent of his affection for her. His love. His intense attachment. And quietly, very quietly, he thought of her as his.

    The journey took months. Years. And he couldn’t help doting on her. His feelings were secure in her hands, knowing that she distanced herself from most others just enough that they didn’t make advances. He was the only one who she cried into, the only one she vented her troubles to, the only one who could hold her.

    It took him time to realize that she started putting that distance between the two of them. Less nights sitting with her at the fire. Less time trading quiet confessions. Less time… period.

    He’d been such an idiot. He had believed the smiles and the laughs. She didn’t tell him she was leaving. He found out from everyone else. The day of.

    She hugged Pike as he wished her luck. She gripped Merre’s hands and they exchanged encouragement. Senet gave her food to leave with and a promise to cook if she ever returned. Tirel simply asked her to write.

    Charlie was baffled.

    “What’s going on? Where are you going?”

    Everyone’s faces. The pity as they realized that Thandi hadn’t told him, so he didn’t try to hold on. He wasn’t even supposed to be here.

    “Darling,” Thandi said quietly. “I have to go home.”

    “But I’m your home!”

    Her smile is sad. Her hand is on the handle of the door to the inn. Charlie’s face pales and he opens his mouth to protest.

    “Goodbye, Charlie.”

    The door opens and shuts. He runs to the door, knowing what he’ll find, throwing it open anyway. She’s gone. He drops to his knees, in shock. It’s like his entire body is curling in on itself.

    Charlie shatters. No one knows what to do, unused to him expressing something so… real. And him. He knows the only thing that can possibly help him comes in the form of two warm hands on his cheeks and her voice reminding him that everything is okay. He’s such a fool.

  • It Clicks

    It Clicks

    my side of the mountain extra


    Barely sixteen and he’s claiming he’s already married. Josiah has no idea what to do with his son, who won’t sit still for a second. It’s exhausting to try to build a familial bond that had broken four years ago, and even moreso when Charlie—no, Briar—wouldn’t spare a moment for his parents.

    The first few weeks are spent catching the boy and bringing him back to the manor. Briar is dead set on getting back and finding his ‘wife’. It breaks Josiah’s heart to have to deny him that much.

    The day it finally clicks, Josiah is sitting outside with him. Briar sticks to bland foods, much of the menu usually served being overwhelmingly rich. He gathers most of it still, as if intending to stay sharp for his eventual escape.

    “Briar, she won’t be there anymore. We spent four years trying to find you, and it was only because of Master Wildhart’s magic that either of you were found.”

    “We didn’t want to be found, Josiah!” The tears roll down his face. “I love her. She’s my family. She’s my wife. We had children… sort of…”

    “Briar… you know that if you want to marry her for real… you have to grasp how the world works.”

    “Why would I want to? We lived wild! Free! Nothing could stop us! Everything we did was all for ourselves! What’s stopping us from going back except for all of you!”

    Josiah sighs. “Briar, what would you do if she ran away?”

    “She wouldn’t.”

    “Bear with me, please. What would you do?”

    “I’d do anything to get her b… ah…” Briar looks at Josiah, maybe understanding for the first time the depth of his parents’ agony during his absence. He bows his head and pulls his knees to his chest and cries.

    Josiah pats his back. The touch is allowed.

  • Cookie

    Cookie

    fluff, drabble


    Thandi sits and studies, idly eating cookies. When she focuses, the cookie hangs from her lips, as if completely forgotten.

    Charlie finds it absolutely adorable.

    When he approaches, he teases. “Might I have a cookie, dearest?”

    “Mmhmm.” Thandi’s focus is absolute. Charlie smiles to himself and leans down, takes the cookie hanging from her lips between his teeth. She stares, gaping, blush forming on her cheeks. The crooked smile as Charlie turns away, hips swaying ever so slightly, oh… something about it lights her up.

    She watches him go. The view isn’t bad.

  • Pneumonia

    Pneumonia

    sick charlie, fluff, tbo offshoot


    Charlie coughs, bleary-eyed and sweating from fever. He flips through a grimoire, cross referencing it with older druidic scripts. Vitani had loaned him books on his particular brand of magic, and so long as he kept them in Thandi’s room, he could use them as he pleased.

    The combination of studying and Thandi pretty much made him a permanent guest in the little pocket dimension. Sometimes she just left him there as he studied, for once barely noticing when she came or went. It was nice to see him focus.

    Well, usually. Winter was taking a toll on him, and he was supposed to rest in her room while the party continued their trek to the next town. The man can’t stand to be idle for long, with exception to summertime naps.

    So, when Thandi walks from the inn, she gasps in outrage. “Charlie Vanderbee! What are you doing?

    “Ah,” he wheezes. “Just. Studying.”

    “You’re supposed to be resting!”

    “I am!”

    “Charlie. Come now. If you were your own patient…”

    He grumbles his reluctant agreement. “…fine. I couldn’t sleep. The… the ceiling freaks me out. Still. I can’t get used to it.”

    “Oh, darling. Me neither. Come along, now—”

    “It just feels like something is going to come out of the… void.” She sees him stare upwards, unsettled, and reaches out to take his hand. Gods! He’s still burning up!

    “I’ve used this room for a long time, Charlie. It’s safe, I promise.

    “Hmmm. I still think that you should stay with me…”

    Thandi laughs it off. He’s a little off from his fever. She lays him down in her bed and pulls the blanket up for him. Quickly, she wipes his face and neck, leaves the rag there to cool him, and he stares at her.

    “Thandi. I really would like to…”

    “Why don’t I read to you, darling?”

    His heart jumps as high as his eyebrows do. There’s a grin sneaking onto his face, pulling his mouth to one side. That’s a yes if Thandi ever seen one!

    She pulls a book out of her nightstand, and as she passes him to regain her seat, she feels a tug on her dress. Charlie’s eyes are wide. “Thandi dearest,” he breathes. “Please? Come closer? So I can…”

    Thandi gives him a small, sad smile. Hopefully Vitani approves. She moves her seat closer, within Charlie’s reach, and opens her book. His hand grasps a small amount of fabric at her knee, and his eyes are already drifting shut.

    She reads. She reads splendidly. Every character has a voice, and her delivery is theatrical. Award-winning, even. At least, she’s sure that Charlie would say so, judging by the smile on his face. She leans forward and brushes his hair back.

    “My darling…” She can’t seem to help the feelings that bubble out of her now. If only she could kiss him like this, pneumonia and all.

    “Thandi…”

    The smile on her face has no equal.