It Sounds Just Like A Song

Just my silly little blog about nothing. I mostly re-blog things that make me smile and Harry Styles makes me smile. i don't take credit for any of it.

[lilyrosedeppsforehead]

Polin Fanfiction Recs

Freeing You (by jentothenuh) https://archiveofourown.org/works/30809048/chapters/76053518

“Do you need something, Penelope?”

“I need you to divorce me.”

After two years of a marriage arranged by their families, Penelope knows she does not make Colin happy. So she suggests a plan to ensure freedom for both of them. Will Colin be able to break free from his oblivion and realize what he stands to lose?

Tempting Scandal (by Stillpink) https://archiveofourown.org/works/36338452/chapters/90594055

Penelope is an innocent, but her experiences as Lady Whistledown teach her that she has much to learn about what happens between men and women behind closed doors. Fortunately, she has a friend willing to teach her all she wishes to know.

It all seems so simple...until Colin Bridgerton uncovers her plan.

Friends with Benefits AU.

dress (by TheSushiMonster) https://archiveofourown.org/works/31581308/chapters/78139523

SPRING: Penelope needs to spice up the sex scenes in her latest novel. Colin wants to publish his travel journals as a book. When they strike up a deal to help each other, what begins as writing sessions between friends turns into something more... hands on.

Or, the Colin teaches Penelope about seduction AU.

The Storm to Weather (by Nevermore_red) https://archiveofourown.org/works/39545526/chapters/98984844

Colin helps Penelope out of an unwanted and scandalous situation with Lord Fife outside of a ball. Only, Portia and a group of people are heading their direction. In an attempt to prevent Penelope from being forced into marriage with a forceful rake, he kisses her before the group reaches them, ensuring that he would be the one she marries.

Now they must navigate marriage and Colin comes to some realizations about his feelings towards his wife.

Discovering Duty (by annasometimeswrites) https://archiveofourown.org/works/42294105/chapters/106200006

‘Come on,’ Colin said. ‘I ought to get you to bed.’

Penelope released his arms, putting a hand over her heaving bosom. ‘Mr. Bridgerton- I am for too intoxicated for that kind of talk.’

OR

Penelope drinks too much at Kate and Anthony’s first ball of the season and makes a confession Colin never saw coming.

But that’s not the only surprise of the night. Penelope and Colin’s drunken antics have attracted the attention of a few other members of the Ton, leading society to draw their own conclusions about what could possibly be going on between the pair.

The Gentlemen’s Wager (by murderbymushrooms) https://archiveofourown.org/works/42943293/chapters/107889417

After his careless words ruined Penelope’s prospects on the marriage mart, Colin is determined to do everything he can to restore her reputation and to find her a good match, even if it means pretending to court his best friend.

However, outside forces with a grudge against the Bridgertons inadvertently transforms a wallflower into the most coveted prize of the London Season of 1815.

Dr. Bridgerton; or With his educated eyes, and his hand between my thighs (by queenofthecon) https://archiveofourown.org/works/50755327/chapters/128214838

There lay in Penelope a sickness, or so she had been told.

A very specific kind that only this physician, as he called himself, could potentially be willing to alleviate for her, if there were any hope at all. At least that was what the flyer had said.

A gentleman by the name of Mr Bridgerton had developed a technique of stimulatory effect to relieve the sufferings of women. Of sharp tongues and short tempers gone in a few months or less, within three sessions with his special apparatus. 

Kintsugi (by Metamorphases) https://archiveofourown.org/works/44141013/chapters/110996193

Colin Bridgerton was not a fool, despite what hiis siblings might think. Nor was he merely a charming and handsome darling, as LAdy Whistledown has labeled him in the past. No, Colin Bridgerton was well-read and well-educated, and he was observant, even though his current predicament required no real outlay of any of these qualities.

Colin Bridgerton knew he had fallen out of favor with Penelope Featherington.

Watch as Colin Bridgerton goes to increasingly mad lengths to keep Penelope Featherington safe and sound (and away from other suitors).

An Agreement (by Royal_Darjeeling) https://archiveofourown.org/works/53290957/chapters/134863249

Every Monday (and on special occasions) Penelope took her husband to bed.

It was an agreement, after a year of marriage, that they would finally explore each other for the sake of having a child. It did not mean anything, not at all. 

Attachment (by lixabiz) https://archiveofourown.org/works/49029733/chapters/123695383

“I would like to marry,” Penelope said bluntly. She looked him directly in the eye, daring him to disagree.

“Right.” Colin gave a slow nod of the head, clearly taken aback by the declaration. His eyes had gone wide, giving him a look that was reminiscent of cornered prey.

It seemed that the heavens were intent upon tormenting her.

“Not you,” she managed to say evenly, although she felt tumultuous waves rocking the boat that was her composure.

“No, of course not,” he agreed hastily, embarrassment evident on his face.

(Set post S2. Some elements from the S3 synopsis, but not a prediction fic)

Remembering Mrs. Bridgerton (by Stillpink) https://archiveofourown.org/works/53893792/chapters/136412590

When Colin awakens, the world as he knows it has changed.

It’s You, You’re the Problem (by thathoppingmadtargaryen) https://archiveofourown.org/works/54491251/chapters/138050482

While Eloise goes on a six-month botany fellowship trip with Phillip, Penelope is left in need of a flatmate. Eloise’s solution: her third oldest brother than Penelope hates, and hates her in hreturn. While Penelope juggles one frustration after another, sparks fly between her and Colin. But as they start to get to know one another, misunderstandings come to light, and Penelope realizes that the man she thought she loathed may be the only one who can give her what she wants.

The Modern Polin-Enemies to Lovers-Roommates AU no one asked for.

Honoring Mr. Bridgerton (by winterschild) https://archiveofourown.org/works/56987035/chapters/144917125

Every year since his father passed away, Colin has made breakfast for his family on his father’s birthday to help combat the negative emotions that are naturally going to come with the day. Naturally, Colin was 16 the first time he tried, and he didn’t know how to cook, so Penelope helped him. 

It became a tradition.

These are those breakfasts.

Pandemic Romantic (by KateofKanals) https://archiveofourown.org/works/57078004/chapters/145164721

Penelope Featherington finds herself spending the pandemic lockdown at Aubrey Hall with a good number of the Bridgerton clan gathered. There’s one Bridgerton that she isn’t planning on seeing--her best friend Eloise’s older brother Colin. They used to be friends--very close friends. But now, they’re more like strangers and she harbors a good amount of bitterness towards him. Sure enough, though, Colin Bridgerton is staying at Aubrey Hall too and she’s forced to interact with him. Can Penelope and Colin repair their friendship? And can they possibly find maybe a little more for themselves than friendship along the way?

Let’s Have This Weekend... (by Phoenix324) ​​https://archiveofourown.org/works/52106203/chapters/131785360

Colin, unwilling to let go, refuses to accept Penelope’s decision to end their friendship. Both of them leave the Danburry Ball feeling broken and defeated. However, an unsettling feeling lingers in Penelope’s heart. In a desperate attempt to preserve their sanity, Penelope proposes spending the entire weekend focusing on their friendship at the annual Hearts and Flower Ball. Will Colin be able to convince her that this is a disastrous idea?

i’ll use you as a warning sign (by TheSushiMonster) https://archiveofourown.org/works/32663455/chapters/81027079

The words on his body sound like Lady Whistledown.

His soulmate - the person meant to capture his body and heart, his partner and love of his life - ruins lives.

Perhaps it makes sense that she’s already ruined his.

Or, soulmate AU where the words you write show up on your soulmate’s skin.

I was going to drink some tea... but then I got high (by Twilight13) https://archiveofourown.org/works/41242068/chapters/103396251

The one where Violet and Penelope get high off of Benedicts Tea. Violet gets more bold in her matchmaking ways, even close to breaking the rules of propriety herself! Penelope with the effects of the tea makes her bold indeed to a few Bridgertons in the household. Colin is blind, but not that blind. Benedict really likes to tease his dense headed brother. Colin is jealous at his brother and at his pillow. 

What Ladies Want (by Monicapolinstan) https://archiveofourown.org/works/44789713/chapters/112691035

Colin Bridgerton comes home from his travels and slowly realizes that he has the ability to hear the thoughts of the women of the ton.

Model Behavior (by Katie_500, Stillpink) https://archiveofourown.org/works/40215912/chapters/100728123

The summer air at Aubrey Hall is warm and sweet. With Penelope and Colin in close proximity, their romance blossoms along with the roses in the garden.

Premature (by logogram) https://archiveofourown.org/works/44613403/chapters/112230367

Penelope’s refusal to dance with him at the Hastings Ball leaves Colin so worried and confused that he can’t help but follow her. As he comforts her, things take a turn for the physical that neither of them anticipated.

Loving you is not an obligation (by yellowflower95) https://archiveofourown.org/works/56978515/chapters/144893002

Set after season 2.

Penelope Featherington spends her time before the new season with the Bridgerton family at Aubrey Hall. After an accident on the ship, Colin Bridgerton returns earlier home to reunite with his family.

During a tense moment in a storm with Colin, Penelope falls ill. Colin is feeling guilty and deeply concerned and visits her room one night to check on her. However, Portia Feahterington catches him, leading to a forced marriage to protect Penelope’s reputation.

Both Colin and Penelope are conflicted; Colin is torn between his growing feelings and his anger when learning about Penelope’s true identity, while Penelope feels heartbroken and unworthy.

Will they be able to overcome their misunderstandings and find true happiness together, or will their secrets and insecurities drive them apart?

Love Potion (by Katie_500) https://archiveofourown.org/works/42527805

He didn’t understand what was happening- why was Penelope naked in the middle of a busy bar, and why was no one else reacting to it?

Premature (by logogram) https://archiveofourown.org/works/44613403/chapters/112230367

Penelope’s refusal to dance with him at the Hastings Ball leaves Colin so worried and confused that he can’t help but follow her. As he comforts her, things take a turn for the physical that neither of them anticipated.

Please Open Up (by winterschild) https://archiveofourown.org/works/57575089/chapters/146499658

Penelope is all happy that her neighbor and his frieldfriend seem to have such a healthy relaitonship, but it’s really annoying when she’s trying to sleep and they won’t shut up. However, when Penelope realizes tha the voices stop one day and Colin hasn’t smiled in a month, she becomes worried and refuses to leave until he opens the door. Their relationship can only develop from there.

or

‘dancing/singing/the bed moving/you two laughing and talking and i can’t sleep so i bitch about it to you 24/7 and one day it stops and one day turns to months and i haven’t seen you smile in forever please let me in, i’ve been knocking for ten minutes’ au Polin style

Closed Set (by LightLeadingMe, Sea_Dragonfly, Stilpink) https://archiveofourown.org/works/46203364/chapters/116318563

Penelope Feahterinton has finally landed the role of her dreams. Better uyet, she’s been cast opposite one of her oldest and dearest friends, Colin Bridgerton. The only problem? It’s a sexy regency romance that requires more than a few intimate scenes, and she just happens to be madly (and unrequitedly) in love with him.

Trey as she might to retain her professionalism, things start getting heated, until Penelope’s at risk of losing more than just her job.

Celebrity AU for Polin Week 2023

Ruin (by Sea_Dragonfly) https://archiveofourown.org/works/54092404/chapters/136950694

“Perhaps you should take a seat,” said Violet.

Colin wouldn’t remember the details of what his mother told him next. He would remember her hand warm on his knee, her eyes wide with concern, her voice gentle as velvet. All of it in stark contrast to the devastating news she shared.

Penelope was ruined.

with you, a girl could get bolder (by indiebitch) https://archiveofourown.org/works/56129797

“Penelope and Colin were in the middle of one of their writing sessions when The Question was asked.”

or Penelope and Colin’s adventures into pegging

A Night So Long (by FeedingDucks) https://archiveofourown.org/works/57675790/chapters/147023245

“Ruin me.”

If it wasn’t for her pride, Penelope wouldn't be in this situation - stuck in a one-room lodge with none other than Colin Bridgerton in the middle of a storm, with nothing but an erotic novel to keep herself entertained.

Touches (by FeedingDucks) https://archiveofourown.org/works/47903413/chapters/120773857

“Touch Yourself for me.”

In twenty eight years of her life, Penelope Featherington has never felt this hot. Her breaths grow shallow, nipples hard and core aches for something she cannot quite grasp. She is positively falling ill. Lucky for her, her dear friend Colin Bridgerton knows the exact remedy.

the sexual awakening fic no one asked for

Snowflakes in Her Eyelashes (by KateofKanals) https://archiveofourown.org/works/58385230/chapters/148708228

The Bridgertons are all jetting off to the Scottish Highlands for Christmas and Penelope Featherington is coming with them this year. She’s a close family friend and gets along famously with each and every member (young and old) with one significant expectation-- the third eldest son, Colin Bridgerotn. They may have been best friends as children, but now, in their mid and late twenties, they couldn’t be further from friends. These days they can’t even be in the same room with one another without trading verbal jabs that intensify steadily until someone literally has to pull them apart. After a lot of deliberation, though, Penelope accepts Violet’s invitation despite this fact. She figures they’ll be staying in a huge house and there will be a crowd of other people to distract herself with. What she can’t possibly know, however, is that the form of the century and a series of unforeseen events are going to make that house and that crowd much, much smaller.

[fstopsteph]

Read the first 3 and so good! Thanks to those who post these so I don’t have to scroll AO3!

[luke-thompsons]

#RIP Penelope Featherington you would’ve loved Regina George

[fstopsteph]

Literally, all I hear in my head when I watch this scene 😂

[curiousityoctaves]

Preview of latest chapter of Rubies By Moonlight

“Would you take off your dressing gown?” 

The request startled them both.

No one can see, Colin defended silently. The trellis was thick, and he knew the nearest neighbours were all at their country houses.

Penelope regarded him, eyes luminous with something like shock: uncertain, searching. He met her gaze and let the longing in his own spill free. 

Perhaps, after his poor treatment of her these last few weeks, he had no right to ask. But she had given him permission—encouraged him, even—to speak what was on his heart, without concern for how she might receive it. 

And after all the confusion, the missteps, the painful secrets between them—Colin was desperate to strip all the barriers away. Layer by layer, until it was just his friend, his wife, his Pen, in front of him. 

He needed to see her, fully. More than he needed breath.

Time stretched, a breeze rustling the wisteria—how could something so weighted with bloom, each cluster a cascade of petals within petals, remain suspended by such fragile stems? It should not have held. But somehow, it did. 

Still, Penelope did not respond. Not with words nor movement. 

His stomach plummeted. A creeping nausea hollowed out his bones, his foolishness reverberating through them. Had he ruined it, this fragile moment between them? What had possessed him to make such an untoward request? 

The earth digging into his knees seemed to harden, condemningly. He drew a shaky breath, preparing to apologise; to say he did not know what he’d been thinking, asking such a thing…

But then she stood.

His heart mirrored her, rising to his throat; aching there as Penelope’s skirts slipped through his fingers. She stepped a few paces away. He turned to follow, still on his knees, believing it was only right to remain there when he had so much to atone for. 

But before he could speak, she stopped, shifting to face him.

Her hands lifted, trembling, to the fastenings at her bodice. 

All thought vanished from his mind. He was utterly entranced. Nothing existed beyond the fragile motion of her fingers, hovering…

He did not breathe. Did not dare, for fear his exhale would pressure her. 

But after a few heartbeats, he glanced up, catching the uncertainty in her eyes—and he let his chin dip twice. 

The barest motion: silent, reverent, hers to accept or refuse.

Her breath caught. 

And then, slowly, she began to undo the clasps. One by one.

[wholesome-animal-images]

@wholesome-animal-images

[tea-stained-notes]

Colin x Penelope - What If You Fly? | Chapter 5

Penelope has got used to loving Colin in secret. To yearn for him when his work takes him around the globe and to hide her heart away when he is near. But a weekend together at a writing conference brings to the surface what has been buried for far too long. Will Penelope finally dare to embrace her ambitions as a writer and confess her feelings to her best friend?

Warnings: angst

Chapter word count: ~1300

MASTERLIST

Here's your sickly sweet epilogue, folks - hope you enjoy ♥️

A Year Later

“Oh my God, you actually booked us the exact same room?” Penelope breaks into a smile when they stop in front of their door. “Obviously,” Colin grins as he lets them in. “I asked them to push the beds together though.” “Presumptuous, Bridgerton.” “Well, it is our wedding night.” “Nevertheless.” Their eyes outsparkle each other. She will never tire of him looking at her like this. “It’s still crazy, isn’t it?” she whispers, looping her arms around his neck. “How that one weekend changed everything?” “The weekend didn’t. We did,” he says softly as he pulls her closer by the waist. “Masters of our own fates and all that.” “I see my husband is in a poetic mood.” She smirks up at him. “Now that is crazy.” “Not really, I’m used to your grand musings.” “I meant you calling me that.” His eyes sink into hers and her heart flutters slightly. She runs her fingers through the hair at his nape. “Well, I hope we don’t get used to it too quickly.” “I for one won’t, my darling wife.” Penelope smiles into their kiss. “Why don’t you pick out something for dinner while I nip into the bathroom?”  “Done.” He releases her with a peck to her forehead and she starts looking for the room service menu. Once the order is placed, she wanders over to the window, looking out at the lush, green landscape sprawling around the hotel. She lets out a long exhale. There is something wonderfully grounding about standing here, where so little has changed, when her entire life has been upended over the past twelve months. Just like a year ago in this same spot, Colin comes up behind her and encloses her in his arms with a soft sigh. But this time she melts into him, the way she craved back then, gently holding his wrist against her collarbone. Their golden wedding bands shimmer in the glow of the setting sun.

He asked her on their trip to Norway, a few months into the relationship. Penelope had been too mesmerised by the swirling Northern Lights above to notice him getting down on one knee beside her. Despite crying more than she did, he somehow managed to bring out the most heartfelt proposal she could have ever hoped for. It was fast, sure, but no one amongst their family and friends questioned their decision. While the romantic part of their relationship was new, everything else between them had been growing for two decades. They had already been part of each other’s families, had already shared so much of their lives together. And even after the initial enchantment had faded a little, everything about this decision felt right. This morning they finally had an intimate ceremony at Bridgerton House, with only their closest loved ones present. Afterwards they held a wedding breakfast, a beautiful mix of raucous Bridgerton shenanigans and heartfelt speeches from their mothers and siblings. Even Eloise said a few words, declaring that she would choose her best friend over her third-favourite brother any day, so he better be good to Penelope. As if he needed that reminder. Colin is everything she could once only dream of. A little messy and impulsive sometimes, a little too concerned with her safety. But he has brought so much excitement and vibrancy into her life while being a steady, ever-encouraging constant by her side through the fraught querying and publishing process of her book. She always thought it silly when people said they loved their partners more with every passing day. But now she truly understands. Penelope submitted her manuscripts to agents under a false name so that she wouldn’t get favoured by any of her colleagues. Thus, she was all the more floored when she ended up with five offers of representation. And even more shocked when she secured a publishing deal within a couple of months. Colin of course prided himself endlessly in having “a nose for these things”. With a life as an author on the horizon, Penelope has reduced her hours at the agency to work more seriously on this and other writing projects — whenever she’s not travelling with Colin. New York was quickly off the table, marked as a ‘maybe in the future’. She has enough adventure in her life as is. Instead, the two of them share her cosy flat in Richmond and are looking for a little house outside of London. Most mornings, Penelope still needs a moment to realise that the life she keeps waking up to is real. That there is a book contract in one of her desk drawers, that the warm body pressed to her back belongs to Colin Bridgerton. That there is so much more still to come.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” She hastily untangles herself from Colin, much to his chagrin, and bounces over to her briefcase. From there she produces a plain mock-up book. “Your advanced copy?” he asks with an excitement that almost exceeds hers. God, she loves him. “I haven’t had the chance to look at it yet.” She sits down at the foot of the bed, her fingertips ghosting across her name on the preliminary cover. While she did take the Bridgerton name this morning, she will publish under Penelope Featherington. She owes that to the little girl who dreamed of this day. Colin settles in beside her. “Does it have the blurbs yet?” She opens the book and gasps. “I actually got one from Ben Masoumi. I can’t believe he gave me second chance after that workshop.” “I may have pestered him a little for that.” “Colin!” He shrugs, a crooked grin on his lips. “He thanked me after he’d actually read it.” “Still,” she chides, blushing a little. “So, what has he written?” Penelope looks back down.  “Deeply haunting and yet the cracks let in unexpected light. Rich with scathing social commentary that evokes Austen and Atwood at their best. A modern masterpiece.” Her hand flies to her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Colin puts a gentle arm around her. “Am I forgiven?” She nods furiously, her gaze flicking across the other blurbs, full of equal praise. Unfiltered joy rushes through her veins. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispers into her ear before brushing a kiss to her temple. “Thank you, Col.” Penelope wipes at her cheeks as she beams up at him. “Oh. Speaking of you.” She flips a couple of pages until she arrives at the dedication and slides the book into his lap. His entire face starts glowing as he takes in the words before him. To Colin. Best partner in all things. It’s the greatest wonder to see myself and the world through your eyes. He turns towards her with the softest of smiles. “Right back at you, Featherington.” “You’re gonna keep calling me that?” she grins. “I’d miss it.” “So, when will you call me Mrs. Bridgerton?” Colin’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “Are you trying to turn this into the final scene of Pride and Prejudice 2005, US version?” “That is so absurdly specific and yet exactly what I was going for,” she admits with a chuckle. “That’s what you get for marrying your best friend.” He carefully sets aside the book to pull Penelope onto his lap until she straddles him. With a happy sigh he intertwines her fingers behind his neck. “Well, if this is the price I must pay, I suppose I shall learn to bear it.” “A heavy cross indeed.” “Will you shut up and kiss me now?” “Gladly,” he murmurs, coaxing her lips closer to his, “Mrs. Bridgerton.”

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Likes, reblogs and comments are more than welcome ♥️

Tag List: @paolapop1997 @crazylady182 @babymontserrat @hedraoctober2180 @thefirstnoel84 @kitcat599 @lukolaforever @thekindwolf99 @keddiej-blog  @importantnachoshark  @jiara444  @chenford777  @lady-of-the-creed @camarlez @hippiefairy02 @carolineforbes-mikaelson @manrblog @ktkoko88 @cauewhynot @morningsarenice @unapologetichyperfixation @mariareima @sweetasleepdreams @goldstarsgirlie @shipperqueen6 @sleepyfacetoughguy @cathreaux @laisa-bel @ennaed1024 @ppaegopa @linn2 @jhilik23 @benevol-ence  @suzibear1963 @world-dream-polin @camarlez @rainmyselfinharmony @fish-wifey @keddiej-blog @juldooz @mileven-in-love @goddesswarandwisdom9 @sadshamsi @macywoo13 @tangovangogh @salo-ojitos @lizzzliz @btlandlesmisfan4ever @k-mackay @chocolele-blog @godzillahtries @kristoffxannafanatic @katie1234sworld @ogcyn @fstopsteph

[fstopsteph]

Such a sweet ending for our Polin!!!

[lieaday]

heart shaped forget-me-nots

[mycstrade]

50 years old Colin Bridgerton spends every Sunday morning driving for three hours to visit his old friend. Eventually, he decides he wants to stop visiting her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her instead... but Penelope does not like the idea at all.

OR: middle-aged polin try to overcome the past to be able to welcome a bright future that awaits

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66122248

[fstopsteph]

A middle aged Polic fic?!? Yes!!!

[tea-stained-notes]

Colin x Penelope - What If You Fly? | Chapter 2

Penelope has got used to loving Colin in secret. To yearn for him when his work takes him around the globe and to hide her heart away when he is near. But a weekend together at a writing conference brings to the surface what has been buried for far too long. Will Penelope finally dare to embrace her ambitions as a writer and confess her feelings to her best friend?

Warnings: angst

Chapter word count: ~3100

MASTERLIST

Your girl is seriously in the writing zone at the moment, so we're merrily marching on with this story 😄

Day 2

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Colin asks as he digs into his porridge. Penelope glances at the itinerary beside her plate of toast. “After the opening event I’ve got a panel on TikTok marketing strategies, then one on new publishing models. Lunch. An editing workshop for agents. After that I’ve got a few meetings with prospective clients scheduled. Then hopefully a breather before dinner and cocktail hour.” “No writing events at all?” “You know I’m not here as a writer,” she says quietly, spreading the Marmite on her toast with a little too much force. “But they have all these great events. Surely you could make room for a couple.” “Colin—“ “Please, Pen. For me?” He does his puppy eyes and she sighs in half-defeat. “You’re insufferable.” “I’m just a man who’s obsessed with his best friend’s literary fiction.” “You haven’t read anything of mine in ages.” “Not for a lack of asking.” Penelope takes a bite of bread. It tastes like ashes. “I know you’re working on something, Pen, you always are. There’s a workshop at five where everyone reads something from their current project and the others offer critique. It’ll be fun.” She looks down at her laptop. Her latest manuscript, currently on its third draft, is sitting safely in there. Back in the day she still occasionally shared her work with Colin and even Eloise. But the more serious she got about writing, the more protective of it she became. Typing away in the dark while her current Colin stand-in snores beside her, stealing even the smallest moments at work, spending entire weekends at the library. Every word clutched closely to her chest. And now he’s asking her to just whip it out in front of some strangers? Potential clients? Her palms grow clammy. “I can’t.” A long beat. Then Colin reaches out to take her hand, not flinching at the cold sweat. “I will always be grateful that you encouraged me to send my work to magazines all those years ago. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. And all I’m asking is that you dip your pinky toe in the water here. Everything will stay in the room, there are no repercussions.” She lets out a humourless laugh. No repercussions, right. “I’ll think about it, okay?” His lips curl into a soft smile. “Thank you.”

Penelope can barely focus for the rest of the day. Her mind constantly wanders to the workshop. She avoids Colin at lunch, using meeting prep as an excuse to pick at a sandwich alone in a corner while pretending to pour over manuscripts. Still, he stops by to set down a plate of warm apple crumble in front of her. “Probably not as good as mine but I thought you could use the pick-me-up,” he winks. “Thanks.” She smiles up at him. “And one day I’m going to make you tell me what your secret crumble ingredient is.” He dramatically lays his hand over his heart. “Why, Miss Penelope — it’s love.” “Alright, Bridgerton, bugger off into the Hallmark movie you just escaped from.” “Oh, who do you think I’d be? The rugged Christmas tree farmer? The grieving husband who needs a nanny for his children? The struggling artist who has lost his passion for—“ “The annoying sidekick who’s there for like two scenes to further the plot. Bye, Colin.” He sticks his tongue out at her but his eyes are still sparkling. “Fine, I’ll see you at five. Room three.” Penelope sighs and rubs her temple. “Col, I don’t know if I’m—“ But he’s already gone. She tries to calm the butterflies in her stomach, which are for once barely his doing.

When she slinks into the workshop room a few hours later, Colin spots her immediately and waves her over with a dazzling smile. She carefully lowers herself onto the chair beside him, eyes flying over the other attendees. Her fingers tighten around her laptop. “Hey, it’s okay.” Colin takes one of her hands in his. “I’m right here. I’ve got you.” Her reply gets stuck in her throat. There’s a hum of excitement in the air, all those people ready to share their stories, chatting and laughing with each other. A couple of writers she met with this afternoon greet her in surprise and she gives them nervous smiles in return. Penelope flinches when the instructor claps his hands. “Alright, folks, ready to begin?” Everyone quiets down and settles into their seats, flipping their laptops and notebooks open. “Hi everyone, I’m Ben Masoumi, novelist and essayist. I’ll be leading this workshop today but I’d prefer to let you do most of the talking. Each one of you will give a brief introduction to the project you’d like to present and the specifics you would like feedback on, then read a couple of paragraphs. No longer than a minute, please. After, you’ll get short critiques from two to three people. Keep it kind but honest, specific but brief, okay?” He looks around at the nodding heads with a smile. “Great. We’ll start here on my right.” Penelope is the second to last to present, so she leans back, trying to just take it all in for a while. The atmosphere reminds her of literature classes back at uni and with every passing minute she lets herself sink further into it. Of course she works with aspiring writers all the time, but the sheer amount of passion and talent in the room is staggering. She is delighted to give feedback, despite the heat crawling up at her neck when everyone’s looking at her. But the closer to her turn it gets, the more her pulse is rushing in her ears. She stares down at her half-opened laptop, the screen angled down so that not even Colin beside her can catch a glimpse. This has been her own little hideaway for so long. A safe place she can return to, playing around with characters whose lives are infinitely more interesting than hers. Of course there has always been that quiet promise that she would try to get her work published one day. After all, she’s been harbouring this dream ever since she found out as a little girl that normal people like her had created these magical portals on her shelf that allowed her to escape reality for a while. That she, too, could create magic. But to actually unleash it is something else entirely.

“Alright then, Penelope.“ Ben smiles expectantly at her. “What have you got for us?” “I…” She gnaws on her lip, her sweaty fingers gripping her screen, but not moving it an inch. “I have a novel project about, um… three old friends who reunite at medical school where they slowly find out about the traumatic experiences that once drove them apart and have now brought them to this path.” Years of perfecting summaries have the words rushing from her lips. Although her eyes are glued to her laptop, she can feel everyone else’s on hers, most of all Colin’s which seem to burn right through her skull. Heat envelops her, her breathing shallow and rapid. “Sounds very interesting. Which aspects would you like feedback on?” Penelope swallows harshly, even though her mouth is bone dry. Colin places a gentle hand on her knee and she can sense rather than see the encouraging look on his face. With shaking fingers she lifts the screen a little, inhaling deeply. Then she snaps it shut. “I’m sorry,” she rasps. “I can’t.” “It’s alright if it’s not perfect yet,” Ben says kindly, “that’s why—“ “I just really can’t. Sorry.” Her face is on fire and she stares longingly at the door. “I’ll go next.” Colin lets his open gaze sweep across the room. “I’ve brought a journalistic piece I wrote on a recent trip to Guatemala. The metaphors seem a bit stale to me and I haven’t quite cracked the atmosphere I tried to capture here.” His hand remains firmly on her leg, squeezing comfortingly while he reads out the introduction of his article. She tries to let his voice soothe her. But all she can hear is the echo of her own failure.

Dinner consists of Penelope stirring aimlessly in her soup and barely replying to Colin’s questions until he pushes back his chair with a slightly strained smile. “Let’s go for a walk.” She furrows her brow. The only thing she wants to do is curl up in bed and tune out the world. “Come on, Featherington.” He carefully pulls her up, then slings an arm around her shoulder. “We’re in the famous Cotswolds, let’s enjoy the place.” “Fine,” she moans. They make their way through the foyer and out into another gorgeous countryside evening. Immediately, Penelope breathes more deeply, her stiff muscles relaxing a little. A tender wind swirls around them, carrying a few bird songs and the smell of fading summer. “Listen, Pen, about the workshop…“ “I really don’t want to talk about it.” She finally winds herself out of his arm, the relief of it mingling with regret. “You can sleep on it and give it another go tomorrow.” “Absolutely not.” “But—“ “Col, can we please just enjoy this for a bit? Please.” He bites his bottom lip, his head bowed in defeat. “Sure.” Tension hangs between them as they stroll across fields, but it dissipates in the peacefulness of their surroundings. Penelope is grateful he’s dragged her out here. Being under an open sky puts her struggles into perspective — today was not the end of the world.

Colin jumps up onto a stone wall, balancing for a few steps before folding himself into a seat, dangling his feet with that air of ease that often clings to him. In that moment he bears a striking resemblance to the lanky boy she fell in love with all those years ago and her heart stutters briefly. "Come up here," he smiles. "We can watch the sunset." She climbs up with a little less grace but he supports her until she is seated beside him. Then he drops his head onto hers and she tries to ignore the swoop in her stomach. They sit in silence for a while as the sun bleeds into the horizon in shades of pink and orange, turning the cloud formations into exquisite art. "Do you ever miss England when you're away?" she whispers. "Sometimes. I mostly miss my family. A good cup of tea.” He pauses, his next words so quiet she might be imagining them. “And I always miss you." She lets his confession hang in the air for a while. The familiar blend of delight and hurt scratches at her lungs. “But we talk all the time,” she finally says. “It’s not the same though, is it?” He lifts his head to look at her. She doesn’t know how to tell him that it’s easier for her not to have him near. And yet agony at the same time. Colin pulls a wrapped sweet from his pocket, turning it around in his fingers. Butterscotch. He always carries some in his pocket and eats one when he’s nervous or simply low on blood sugar. It also makes him a favourite amongst his nieces and nephews. He now offers it to her and when she shakes her head unwraps it and pops it into his own mouth.

“I’ve actually been thinking about spending more time here.” “In the Cotswolds?” He chuckles. “England, silly. I don’t want to be that guy anymore that mostly sees his family and friends through a screen. And I think I might like to settle somewhere.” Heat rushes through Penelope. “Somewhere? Like London?” “Maybe. But I’d prefer something on the outskirts. A little more peace and quiet.” “Huh, that’s… that’s great,” she stammers. “Have you told your family yet?” “You’re the first.” He pushes the sweet around in his mouth, his eyes fixed on the grass beneath their feet. “But you don’t seem too excited at the prospect.” “No, I am, it’s just…” She helplessly rifles through her brain for words that neither betray her true feelings nor make her seem like the most horrible friend. Colin looks at her, something wounded in his gaze. She reaches for his hand without thinking, a small electric shock making them both flinch, then grin a little. “It’s quite the change of heart for you,” she finally says. “I’m just wondering what’s suddenly brought this about.” His thumb strokes gently along her palm. “Actually, it’s been a few years in the making.” The dying sunlight tints his eyes in a warm glow and for the briefest of moments Penelope imagines something more in them. Something she’s been craving for so long. Then she shakes herself out of her stupor, willing her racing heart to slow as she slips down from the stone wall. She has to stop doing this to herself. Reading something into their relationship that has never existed on his side. “We should go back before it gets dark.” “Right,” he murmurs. “There’s that cocktail thing tonight. We should socialise a little.” “Isn’t that what we’ve been doing all day?” He trudges down the path behind her, mild irritation in his voice. “Don’t be a grump, Bridgerton. It doesn’t suit you.” Penelope tries her best to sound like the prospect of chit-chatting with inebriated strangers isn’t exhausting. Like she won’t mind seeing the people from their workshop when the embarrassment is still smouldering in her stomach. She just doesn’t think her heart could stand another cuddly movie night. Especially after Colin’s revelation. She’s got used to only having him in small doses, to pull herself together for a few hours or a couple of days at at time. Always in the knowledge that he’d leave again soon. Outside of Christmas he’s never home for even a week. So the idea of him ‘settling somewhere’ is foreign and frightening. How long would she be able to keep up her guard?

Penelope has been floating from person to person for hours, weaving herself in and out of conversations with other agents, editors, authors. Her gin and tonic is an accessory more than anything else, she certainly doesn’t want to worsen the headache that’s already thumping behind her temples. When she takes out her phone to check if she can excuse herself for bed yet, a new e-mail has popped up. Hi Penelope, Hope you’re having a good time at the conference. Have you thought about New York? We’re excited to hear from you - Lisa She glances up at Colin who is laughing with a group of people from the workshop. His eyes briefly catch hers and he flashes her a warm smile that burns through her chest, along with a sudden certainty. She looks back down at her phone and types out a reply. I have. Let’s talk Monday, okay? I’m excited as well. - Penelope

“So, why exactly did you insist on doing that?” Colin asks as they walk back to their room. “Don’t complain, you had some good conversations.” “It was okay, but I saw you escape to the loo like five times.” “Sorry for having to pee.” “You had half a drink.” “Were you spying on me?” They’ve reached their door and he lets them in with a sigh. “Can you please just answer my question?” “You know my job involves a lot of cajolery, even when I don’t feel like it.” Colin eyes her carefully for a moment. Then he bites his lower lip and turns away to take off his shoes. She wonders whether he’s caught her half-lie or is simply frustrated once again because he feels she’s stuck in a career that’s not right for her. Either way, she decides to hold her tongue as well. They get ready for bed in silence and just when Penelope can’t stand the awkwardness anymore, she remembers a ready peace offering in her suitcase. She is clutching it in her hands when Colin turns off the bathroom light behind him. “Ready for the quarterly book exchange?” Her voice is laced with tentativeness and forced enthusiasm. But Colin barely takes a beat before meeting her attempt at smoothing the waters with a small smile. “Always.” He retrieves a couple of books from his bag and they ceremoniously hand their little stacks to each other. She’s given him a cerebral Sci-Fi novel and a non-fiction work about regenerative farming. In return she’s received an essay collection by Margaret Atwood she’s been meaning to read for years. The other book is a contemporary romance novel. Her stomach sinks. Colin loves a good romance, so they often make their way into the exchange ritual. It would be sweet if they didn’t always painfully emphasise what she can’t have with him. She flips to the customary note stuck to the title page. The heroine reminded me of you. Smart, kind, and talented. I hope you’ll see yourself in her as well. x C. Her eyes flick up and find him looking at her but he quickly glances down at his own books, then lifts up the Sci-Fi story with a crooked smirk. “That one sounds fun. Will you read the beginning to me?” Penelope hesitates for a second before swallowing her mixed feelings. “Of course. It’s a bit creepy though, so don’t blame me if you can’t sleep after,” she grins. “You know that hearing you read never fails to put me to sleep.” “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.” “Believe me, it is.” He gives her a soft smile and she hopes he can’t see her blush in the dim light. “Alright then, Bridgerton, hand it over and buckle up.” “You mean snuggle up,” he winks, eliciting a groan from her as she snatches the book from his hands. “I swear, your dad jokes are worse than Anthony’s.” He gasps. “You take that back.” Penelope just chuckles to herself while she climbs under the duvet, relieved they’re back to their normal banter. After a few more seconds of fake pouting Colin gets comfortable as well, his eyes expectantly on hers. And for just a moment a reel of memories flash through her head. Of reading to him in their tree house, in a torch-lit tent, in his childhood bedroom, in her first own flat. Of having him hang on her every word until sleep finally claims him. Despite everything — how lucky is she to have loved this boy for most of her life.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Likes, reblogs and comments are more than welcome ♥️

Tag List: @paolapop1997 @crazylady182 @babymontserrat @hedraoctober2180 @thefirstnoel84 @kitcat599 @lukolaforever @thekindwolf99 @keddiej-blogloglog  @importantnachoshark  @jiara444  @chenford777  @lady-of-the-creed @camarlez @hippiefairy02 @carolineforbes-mikaelson @manrblog @ktkoko88 @cauewhynot @morningsarenice @unapologetichyperfixation @mariareima @sweetasleepdreams @goldstarsgirlie @shipperqueen6 @sleepyfacetoughguy @cathreaux @laisa-bel @ennaed1024 @ppaegopa @linn2 @jhilik23 @benevol-ence  @suzibear1963 @world-dream-polin @camarlez @rainmyselfinharmony @fish-wifey @keddiej-blog @juldooz @mileven-in-love @goddesswarandwisdom9 @sadshamsi @macywoo13 @tangovangogh @salo-ojitos @lizzzliz @btlandlesmisfan4ever @k-mackay @chocolele-blog @godzillahtries @kristoffxannafanatic @katie1234sworld @ogcyn @fstopsteph

If you’d like to be removed from the list, just let me know 😊

[fstopsteph]

This chapter was so good! Gave me the tingles in a way where I could feel both Pen’s and Colin’s emotions.

I can sense his struggle but stupid boy needs to tell her how he feels if he feels something!! Boys! He can’t just expect her to pick up on it and love her life. Doesn’t he know she’s struggling over here?!?

[bronwynburnett]

[fstopsteph]

Best bacon sarnies!

[pumpkin-land-usa]

{{SIGH}} He's so pookie

💙

[didanagy]

PERSUASION (1995)

dir. roger michell

[curiousityoctaves]

Chapter 4 is finally out in the world! Read here to find out how Colin reacts to Penelope's annulment offer.

Endless thanks to my beloved beta @wereadtoliveathousandlives for helping me through this one! As well as all you lovely tumblr friends who read little drafts (or big drafts) and encouraged me along! @martina4398 @poor-unfortunate-soul9927 @faneliana @fstopsteph and more!!!! <3

[fstopsteph]

Go read!! Please! It’s so beautifully written!!

[fstopsteph]

I was just thinking how interesting it would have been if the scene in which Penelope renters society after the fallout of the Ton finding out she was using Colin’s help to find a husband and the two eligible dudes she tries to talk to give her a little bit of shit and walk away with a sort of giggle and a “have a good evening”…

I would have LOVED to see Penelope stand up for herself or replied with a witty reply. I mean, what the fuck is she supposed to do. She’s not doing anything different from any other girls. They are all literally trying to find a husband. She was smart about it and took a friend’s offer to assist.

It would have been great to see her give a sassy reply back and then walk away because those two asses weren’t worth her time.

[curiousityoctaves]

Preview/proof I am still writing this elusive story. Read chapters 1-3 here.

Chapter 4

The garden floor bit into his knees as he slipped from the bench and knelt at her feet. The silk of her dressing gown bunched between his fingers where he clutched it, holding on to any piece of her he could.

“What?” Colin finally managed to whisper. 

Penelope’s aquamarine eyes widened, startled as she took in his position on the ground. Moonlight and tears made her whole countenance glimmer. Bravely, she lifted her chin.

“An annulment,” she repeated, voice quiet yet unflinching, as if she had no notion of how the word wrenched through his chest. 

His lips parted, but no sound emerged—only the sharp, stifling rush of breath that filled the hollow space inside of him. Then they closed. Once. Twice. Three times. 

“I—I know it would not mend all that has passed between us,” she continued, her voice weary. “But perhaps it could mitigate the worst of the damage.”

“Damage?” The word felt foreign, wrong in his mouth.

Penelope closed her eyes, as if fortifying herself. 

“Your family,” she said softly. “You said as long as I am Whistledown, my lies will hang over all of you.”

His jaw twitched. He had said that. On their wedding day.

When a fear like nothing he had ever known coursed through his veins. 

His fingers had still been tingling from the exquisite softness beneath them—his newly wedded wife’s cheek—while the faint scent of lemonade lingered on her lips, coaxing him closer… And then the Queen of England herself had descended upon their wedding breakfast, leaving utter ruination in her wake.

Their moment in the center had shattered in an instant, obliterated by Her Majesty’s zealous fervor to rout out Whistledown, root and stem. 

His hands clenched at the memory. He had not known what to do. How to shield Penelope from the Queen’s inquisition. How to navigate the trap closing in around them. 

It had been Anthony’s assurances that finally put the Queen off, but Colin had known it would not be for long. 

Penelope was his beloved friend. His wife. The young lady he had sworn to always look after.

And yet he had no notion how. Not then. Not now.

“I know it is not an ideal solution,” she continued, faltering as she misread the anger on his face. “No matter how we go about it, there will be talk.”

Her gaze grew calculating, determined.

“But I think, if all goes to plan, it is possible to extract you with relatively little damage to the Bridgerton name.”

[fstopsteph]

So good!!

[frantastical]

Another NEW pic of Luke on SAG awards night. Love it! 😍🥵

[fstopsteph]

[totsuma]

[arylleth]

to love someone is firstly to confess: i'm prepared to be devastated by you. by A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt