fandom: shakespeare's code
pairing: roxanne montgomery / edward pembroke
rating: m
word count: 1192 words.
tw: mentions of nudity, mentions of suicide
mc: mariana, curse + sin
notes: this is part one of my four-part series on my sc mcs in a modern au ! i was thinking about posting it all in one go but i think it'd feel nicer for me to post them one by one. i hope you all enjoy ❤️
tagging: @rc-catalog, @juicyrottenapple
he's pointing at stars in the sky that have already died.
🎵 sun has set — beabadoobee.
"Well. "
Mariana slowly got out of bed, her movements followed by the groans of a somnolent Edward, wrapped in the dark bedsheets of his bedroom. His hands reached for her, but as usual, she fled through his fingers like a dream five minutes before waking up. A dream so good he wished he could hold onto and sleep forever with.
"Do you have to leave... ?"
He asked, as she stood in the mirror, bare for his walls to look at. Memorizing every detail of her skin as she brushed through her long, dark brown hair – the shade of it reminded him of a wilted tree in winter, and he couldn’t help but wonder if bringing her happiness would make her hair turn a more golden brown, like a tree reborn in spring.
His question was met with a heavy silence, before she opened the closet, reaching for some clothing items she had left in there ; grabbing her underwear.
"Yes. I do. I have that audition..."
Of course an actress like her wouldn’t escape the chance – Edward had put the stage days behind him, but she had not given up ; matter of fact, it was as if their separation motivated her to pursue this dream even more. A separation Edward regretted every day – the parting of Romeo and Juliet. He wished his limbs could extend to reach for her, maybe convince her to stay in bed – but he is only one man. And sometimes, one man is not enough.
And no man would ever be enough to contain Mariana Norfolk. That is the vow she had made herself.
"You’ve never changed, huh, Roxanne ?"
He smirked, but did not receive the reaction he’d hoped for – instead of smiling, she stiffened and stared at him. "I’ve told you not to call me that."
Edward was aware that her stage name, Mariana, meant more to her than a simple stage name, but –
"Roxanne is gone." She said, getting dressed. Looking at herself in the mirror as if to confirm her own words, green eyes shining with intent. Hands brushing through her own hair as she adjusted her costumey dress, the dark red sleeves swooshing around her elbows. The role of the witch is going to be hers. And no one will stop her.
"She isn’t." He spoke, causing her to turn around. If she could cast a spell to reduce him to silence, or feed him a potion to make him forget their past together, she would’ve without a single hesitation. Edward had, by now, gotten up, just as bare as she was earlier. Her eyes, of course, drifted down and smirked, though nothing in this situation called for her to make an attempt at humor. It’s almost as if she did it on purpose – not defusing the situation, but worsening it the best way she knew how.
Maybe if she destroyed enough situations, he wouldn’t want to see her again. Maybe, he would fall in her trap ; he would take her at face value, as a dumb, unserious woman who didn’t care about anything other than herself. That she was shallow, and selfish, and he would leave and focus on someone else.
"That girl is long gone."
Mariana said, reiterating her point, her voice lacking emotion. She wasn’t trying to convince him or herself – she knew Roxanne Montgomery was dead and buried, and all Edward’s insistence did was annoy her ; and she angered quick.
"She died when she left the troupe."
"Mariana –" Edward began, but felt his own blood boil. This was why they went together so well ; and was also the source of their downfall. The two of them angered quick – wrath had always been their fatal flaw. Their sin, if you will.
"Why do you so insist in drowning yourself in this image ?"
"Interesting choice of words." She remarked, a cruel grin on her face. "I wonder what little ‘Felia would think." Going in for the kill. Use it as a weapon before he can, before he can try and hold it against her, over her head like a sword of Damocles.
Cruelty had always been her weapon— and now, it was her nature. She was cruel. It was who she was.
Her words worked in her favor — provoking Edward, so at least one of them was winning. He stared at her as she smugly put her headband on, smiling in the mirror.
"Who are you, Roxanne ?"
He said, his eyes feeling tears form in them. Yet Mariana didn't turn to look at him. She wasn't Roxanne anymore. Roxanne might have turned and looked— apologized— hell, Roxanne would never have said that.
But she wasn't Roxanne anymore.
"Try again."
"Roxanne—"
"And please don't paint yourself like the victim." She interrupted, her gaze moving to look at him, though she looked into his eyes through the mirror. Reducing him to silence, just as she thought.
"When your uncle accused me of provoking Ophelia's suicide, you didn't speak once. You let it happen. You let him have it." Now her tone had shifted, more accusatory.
Roxanne, unlike poor old 'Felia, had not killed herself. She was murdered— persecuted, driven to isolation and darkness.
And the dead can't come back. Nothing goes right when they do, anyway. It's better if what is dead stays dead.
"Don't pretend like you don't understand me, Romeo. You do. But Juliet has found new partners. Mariana prospers, and Roxanne is gone. That lost little girl you once knew died that night she ran from the troupe."
Silence reigned over the bedroom, as she made her way to the door, before Edward felt something within him ignite— an urge to make her stay. To not let her leave— to ask, to beg, to accuse, to blame, to cry, to laugh. Anything that would forbid her from leaving this room. It was as if closing the door would make her leave for good.
Unfortunately, he and her were cut from the same cloth. His tone replicating her accusations.
"And that new partner is Professor Dudley, huh ?" He bitterly spoke, Mariana turning to look at him— finally. At least he got part of what he wanted.
"I've seen the way he looks at you. The things his eyes say. You've given to him, haven't you ?"
But Mariana wasn't the woman he knew. She laughed, her green eyes shining with success. As if it had all been a game to her. He couldn't read her— and maybe, that was all she wanted.
"I need all the help I can get, in a world like this."
One more step.
"Goodbye, Edward."
And the door opened.
And she closed it, before he could do anything. She had slipped through his fingers— again. Just as she always had, and just as she always would. It was hopeless.
He sat and cried. Over what he had done— but moreso, over what he hadn't. Over what had never been, what could have been, what could have been different.
Hello! Today, we bring several announcements for you—some exciting, others upsetting.
Let's start with the good news, shall we?
I. Our team is expanding! Let's give Kiya ( @liykaii ) and Sandra ( @perperuna93 ) a very warm welcome as they're joining the catalog's team! We hope your time here will be exciting and fruitful! 🏖️
II. The summer event is about to start soon! The preparations are in full swing, and we already can't wait to see how you will like our theme this year, and what you come up with! Look out for a proper event announcement post in the next few days, where we reveal this year's theme and all the most important info! 🍉
III. We've decided to implement a new COTM eligibility rule, according to which the winner of one event isn't eligible for the next 3 COTM draws, so as to give everyone a fair chance to shine 🌞
IV. Now onto the last, sombre news. We're sorry to announce that mod Lucien is retiring. Aside from Vee, who created this blog, Lucien's the longest-standing mod in the catalog's history. Always full of ideas, extremely dependable, and a joy to be around—that's the only way to describe what an amazing person Lu is. You're going to be missed, love!
Mod vee: I'm going to be honest—if it wasn't for Lucien stepping in two weeks after the creation of this blog, this place wouldn't have survived til now. I know that from the outside it doesn't look like much work, but it is so. much. work. Especially during events or the holiday season. There was a time when it was just the two of us, and despite the insane workload, Lu never complained. They were always ready to offer support even while sick or on vacation, and I will never be able to repay this debt of gratitude. I love you so much dude, and I hope that whatever you get involved in next will bring you tons of joy.
it's very bittersweet for me. I know it's something I need to do for myself but at the same time, leaving rc-catalog, leaving our team behind, and not working under the world's best boss (vee).... sucks ass
I do still have hope that ill come back one day 🙏🏻 don't worry. it will happen. vee's not getting rid of me forever (eheheh, don't kill me for saying that)
to the team, lizzita ( @reneedenoailles ) , lilita, kikita ( @liykaii ) , sandranita ( @perperuna93 ) and veeveecita (yeah I really like these nicknames), you guys are so amazing and I have enjoyed every bit of time I've spent with all of you (within and without the catalog). I hope we can continue our friendships into the distant future 🩵, you guys are literally the best!!!
and special note for vee: I remember when you posted the first ever mod applications post on the discord server and I got so excited. I remember when I dmed you that first time, I was intimidated by you. likeeee will she like me, she's so epic omg
anyway, yeah after basically two years of knowing you (how time flies), I've realised how wrong I was initially. you're not scary at all... infact you're the sweetest person I've ever met. all the moments I've laughed with you, cried with you. they're all so precious to me. the two of us went through a lot while running this blog, but I'm so happy I had you by my side during those tough times!!! and im happy this blog is such a thriving ecosystem. I know our mods are going to be wonderful at running it 🥹🥹
and of course, thank you to our followers and our creators! your work to breathe life into our fandom is such a major reason this blog is here!
it's like saying bye to my baby
ok now before I end up writing a thesis, I'll stop now.
So the fun part about GenZ slang being almost 100% AAVE is that I have a dictionary from 2001, from before I was old enough to even know how to use a dictionary, right? And this ain't that abridged shit this is the three columns 8 point font, pages made of tissue paper bound into a book that is 4-5 inches thick shit. You follow?
And there are all these reports on how new slang is and how to understand it and getting it wrong. BUT 2001 GOT ME
lowkeyyyy been thinking how cool a book where the mc starts as an outsider in a new world would be, kinda like avatar or dune, where we'd need to learn about the culture and way of life, and slowly become a part of it
Happy Pride Month everyone! And with that— we're happy to announce the rc catalog pride event is in full session! Unlike last year, we've decided this time to let you guys go wild— do whatever you'd like! No specific themes, prompts or anything, just be wild, be queer & be sexy 💫
Our main rules being that it (of course) fits the Catalog guidelines & that it's a new creation, of course.
Make sure you put a page break if your creation is over 100 words
Book: Te Amo 2
Paring: Matt/Liz
Rating: E
words: 1400
Warnings: sexual content, masturbation, light voyeurism, sex, dick touchin
Actual smut? in the porn masterlist??? unheard of.
@rc-catalog
Stepping into the shower, he let out a sigh. He was going crazy. He was sure. It was getting harder by the hour not to touch her, when she made so hard throughout the day. The vision of her in that Instagram post stayed nipping at his ear no matter how frigid the water was.
She was at a beach sometime before they reconnected. Her legs stretched out towards the waves, a fruity blue drink in hand. A hand grabbed at her waist in the next photo, absently he wondered what it felt like to hold her as his hand reached for his dick.
Cool drops of water beat against his oversensitive skin as he thought of her. Of her hand in place of his, stroking him as she stretched to kiss him. He imagined her hair wet, clinging to her skin, then he imagined brushing the clingy strands away to take their place. Breaking their kiss only to lay them upon every other inch of her. What sounds would be brought out, if he licked at her neck?
Her breasts heavy and warm within his palms, and his skin much too thin for her nails that dug into it.
"Fuck…. Zara." he breathed out, his voice tight and raspy and surely not loud enough to break over the sound of the water, but even still, there was tense chill that blanketed the room as he paused his movements. He broke the illusion to look towards the still closed door. His eyes darted about the room but found everything as it was before.
He waited for a moment before he fell back into the rhythm, quickening his pace and catching his bottom lip between his teeth— his brows knitting together and his muscles tensing as he swiped his thumb across the head of his dick and once more grabbed hold of that fantasy from before, where she stood before him, her hands on his hips, as she leaned to press a kiss on the center of his shoulder, where the bone stuck out.
He curled his toes against the cold tile underfoot, a pit settling at the bottom of his stomach at the phantom touches of the audience he unknowingly acquired. He continued on, his loose lips and eager mind filling out the fantasy as curls of opaque steam moved up from over the glass door, stretching out to the ghost sitting on the counter, a flush rising to her cheeks as she watched him through half lidded eyes. She was contented to simply watch him, let his desire be a keepsake for her own, but that was before he spoke up again, Her name on his tongue raspy and broken. It poured over her like a warm, spiced drink stealing the air from her lungs as she shifted where she sat. Each call that escaped from his lips tugged at that invisible string between them, pulling her until she was before him.
She took advantage of the fact he was too lost to notice her, taking in the sight of him without haste. His lips parted, his eyes still closed and his brows still pushed together as he let out a shuddering breath.
"Fuck… I wish I could touch you." It escaped from the back of his throat, where all his desired blocked his airway.
It summoned the boldness needed to reach out to him, her hand resting against the restless beating within his chest. The world fell away— the sound of the water much quieter than the labored breathing of the tall man under her palm. Her hand fell to his hip, Her thumb settled in the line above his hips, her eyes flicking upwards to look at him to find his eyes open.
It was the longing that danced with the green of his eyes that curled her toes, that settled withing her center with a strange and thrilling sensation. "Touch me." She demanded, soft and low, almost pleading but not quite. He obliged with only a brief moment of hesitation, his lips finding hers and his hand settling upon her waist, swiping the bottom of her ribcage.
Their touch, despite how eager they weren’t hasty or even insistent, just a slow, tender pressure. Maybe it was that neither one was fully convinced that he wouldn’t fall through her. clumsy and a little unsure her hand fell to his leaking erection. His skin was flushed down to his chest, and as she slid her hand down the length of him, he let a soft groan fall into her mouth. His hand sunk into her flesh as if pleading her not to leave him— it was fair, wasn't it? If the universe was in the habit of making his wishes come true, then she'd stay with him in this moment, under the thick drops of water that rained down on them. Because wasn't it her wish too?
that string that connected them did not ease when they were this close as if the touch of their noses and the labored breaths that fell into the other's waiting mouth wasn't enough, They panted into each others opened mouths.
Her free hand grabbed hold of his arm as she broke their kiss, "I want you."
“Why the rush?” He asked, shifting his gaze down to her chest, before he urged her closer to the tiled wall, moving forward until they were pressed against each other, where he lifted one of her legs by the knee as he kissed her the column of her throat, pushing closer as she arched into him, her head tilted back to give him more access to her heated skin.
"Perfect." He rasped out, his lips trailing down to her collarbone. He muttered something else she couldn't quite gather her wits to understand into her skin as his lips trailed down to her chest, taking her nipple into his mouth as he pressed against her. She pulled the wet fistful of red hair, pushing him forward with her leg as she let out a string of curses.
“I can’t take it.” she said when his hand found her clit, circling her as she squirmed beneath him. He offered a smile and another kiss but not what she asked for. “You can.”
Still, she shuddered and tensed against him, standing on the tops of her toes as she called out his name. Her nails dug into his shoulder, leaving deep crescent marks just as he wanted them to, and her lips, reddened and glistening, came to capture his lips again. She liked the way he moaned, when she moved herself against his erection as he worked his fingers inside her.
She let out a soft whine against his lips, her legs bending and threatening to give way as he found the spot he was looking for within her. He hummed, pulling her up again and letting her lock her legs around him, before he at last entered her. Neither one would last all that long, too close to the edge to hold off. It was, at least, his plan to jump together.
Their kiss was bolder and much more heated this time than the last as he moved within her. His now free hand gripped at her bottom, drawing a small, pleased sigh from his throat. He favored the hand that hadn’t been broken; she realized the other was a little harsher and less refined— but in an odd way it was all the most pleasant in its own way. It broke up the tenderness of the rest of him, of the gentle, insistent kisses and the warmth that he produced. Where under it there was just a touch of something else.
She reached back to the title for something to hold onto, her nails gripping at the grout as she arched into him, and with a smile he reached above her head, finding her hand and interlocking their fingers as he leaned down to kiss her neck again, leaving small marks against her flushed skin. It was too much, truly— the sound of their breathing that overtook the room— the frantic beating of their hearts and the feeling that spread down to the very tips of their toes.
it didn’t take long, the white flash covered their eyes and brought every previously tense muscle to a tremble.
Happy May, everyone! We hope the warm temperatures and nice weather (or slowly lowering temperatures, depending on where you live) help improve your spirits after the dark, long winter months. Of course, we also hope the weather and—of course—this week's RC update, result in the most incredible creations 💖
Now, without further ado, we'd like to announce April's Creator of the Month! Everyone, please welcome @silver-horse, a fairly new but definitely not unknown presence in our fandom! Congratulations!
As always, below the cut, you will find a short interview with the winner— we'd love to invite you for this short read from which you can learn a bit more about M. 🪽
🎤: INTRODUCE YOURSELF!
💬: Hi! I am M. (If you use discord, you may have seen me in some of the RC servers) I am a 29-year-old, I am a fan of historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi mainly. My tumblr blog is a mix of lots of video game fandoms. I make gifs of RC's collectable cards, CGs, and other scenes. I plan to make a lot more in the future. :)
🎤: WHEN AND HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER ROMANCE CLUB?
💬: I started playing in September 2025, so I am a fairly new player. I found RC because I saw the fanarts for The Thunderstorms Saga, and I love drow and elves :D So big thank you to @erixadraws and @vrbv-art and many others. Thunderstorms is still one of my fave stories. My other big favourite is Song of the Crimson Nile. I love ancient Egypt, and I wish there were more games, books, and movies that take place in that time period. I am also invested in the conclusion of the Heaven's Secret series.
🎤: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING?
💬: I've been occasionally making simple gifs for video game fandoms for many years now. When I saw the collectable cards in RC, it gave me the idea that these would look good in gif format, and I just wanted to collect them on my tumblr blog. I am also planning to make full gifsets of them, where a single gifset shows all cards from a certain story.
🎤: DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST EVER CREATION?
💬: For RC, it was a gif of a Sha'arnez CG and then shortly after Tai's card. I still mostly follow that format, although now I record them on a wider screen
🎤: DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR HABITS WHEN YOU CREATE?
💬: Not particularly, I mostly use free online tools. I wish I had higher-quality software. I plan which scenes I want, I record them, and then I procrastinate actually making the gif for a long time haha
🎤: IS THERE A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? OR READERS, IN GENERAL?
💬: Hmm, maybe just don't be afraid of making something that is imperfect. Fandom is for fun, enjoy it and create for yourself first and foremost.
🎤: CHOOSE 3-5 OF YOUR FAVOURITE WORKS AND RAMBLE AWAY!
💬:
I. Sha'arnez's card, because it was on my wishlist for so long, I was really happy when I was finally able to make a gif out of it
II. Song of the Crimson Nile gifsets, because I fell in love with this story immediately, and I really wanted to create some gifsets for it:
III. This winter storm scene with Lane, because the weather was just like this when I created the gif, and that really put me in the mood
IV. Mimi and Vicky's wedding scene, I posted this right after finishing Heaven's Secret 2 for the first time, and I just loved the aesthetics here with the flower petals
🎤: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE RC BOOKS? MCS? LIS?
💬: As I already mentioned The Thunderstorms Saga and Sha'arnez made me start reading RC stories. Now I also have a Tai romance slot.
Song of the Crimson Nile…. Evthys is one of my fave MCs, and I love the love interests, and even the side characters are so interesting in this story. Livius and Amen are my main LIs, but I recently started Ramesses, Agnia and Anubis slots as well.
Lane from Heaven's Secret Requiem is another fave MC for me. I love how Cain and Lane were written, they are so perfect for each other. Special shoutout to Mimi, Raphael and Hunger… my other fave love interests from the HS universe.
I started the Kali series after I fell in love with Song of the Crimson Nile, and the writing and the love interests didn't disappoint there either. Ratan, Ram and Saraswati became my faves.
I recently started Legend of the Willow… I am convinced it will become another big fave :) I already love Kazu.
Averris the Riftborn is a story that has just began but I already love it, the MC and all the love interests are awesome
andulkaphoto
baratheonpilled
ellievsbear
dailybridgerton
kianamaiart
