i'm a published transfem furry author whose newest project, a Patreon serial named STAR//CROSSED, just started its run TODAY!
it's going to be an indefinitely-running series of short stories that act as small chapters, updated monthly! the first one, Prologue 1, just dropped today, and is available for you to read immediately!
STAR//CROSSED takes place in the 2060s, after an alien species, the Pael (pronounced Pah-eel) stumbled upon Earth and revolutionized the entirety of Terran society. Everything changed overnight, from economics to culture to religion. Terrankind was thrown into turmoil, and while eventually things stabilized, and at a far higher standard than previously, the growing pains continue.
In order to further integrate the two societies, some Pael are going to Earth, and some Terrans are going to join the Pael in cooperatives on other planets. Though there may be an undercurrent of tension riding behind every single interaction, it's hoped that in pairing the two peoples together, everyone's natural personalities can lead to greater things in the future.
Funnily enough, Pael are only about a centimeter tall. Makes it all a lot harder - or more fun, depending on your perspective.
Here you can see some concept art of the four main characters below! Red Haehn the maned wolf, Baz Hohera the rabbit, and both Zhelv Meyaat and Pev Ul the Pael!
all concept art by @cath0degaytube !!
baz hohera belongs to @vespidazed !!
if you sub now, you'll be supporting me for less than a twitch.tv subscription, as well as giving me more money per payment! not only that, but you'll have over a YEAR's worth of other short stories in both the Verrillon Times and EXTIRPATION series! further, there will be other things uploaded in time, such as side stories and eventually another serial once i've cleared EXTIRPATION and the final Verrillon Times!
consider tossing me a fiver if you're 18 or above, get access to a bunch of writing both soft and loving and hardcore and dramatic, and i hope to see you around! ^_^ thanks for reading, and you can check out the prologue for STAR//CROSSED at the link!!
Get more from QuakeRoc on Patreon
and if you'd like a totally free look at some of my games writing (albeit a bit old!!), or buy a digital copy of my book SLIME TIME, you can check out my itch.io at the link below!
So this is officially a serial I guess. XD ah well.
Word prompt as you know is courtesy of @writing-challenges-and-prompts
Word prompt:
Gasconade
:: : extravagant boasting
:: : confident talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people
-o-
The new bride was quiet as her ornaments were removed from her hair, the gems lining her wrists and throat were carefully tucked away and her white and gold silk gown was slipped off her body by strangers and she was helped into a thin silk chemise beautifully embroidered with gold thread and pearls.
She was the first to wed as was the custom but for a royal bride of Grey Haven, most especially the royal bride she had discovered the tradition was for her to be solely attended to by the highest ranking senior ladies of the court.
Any request for the Duchess and her sister alike only would have been seen as most improper and a dire insult. Her duty as such and truly for her own survival meant Blossom must learn her new Kingdom's ways and quickly.
The wedding had been as magnificent and obsequious as she could have guessed.
After a quiet joining ceremony in sanctuary as Florian tradition dictated, a second wedding ceremony had begun forthwith. Amidst an explosion of colors and cheers the royal bride and bridegroom had walked the entire way to the grand cathedral.
"Are you well Blossom?" It took all her training to not jump from the whisper to her ear.
"Yes my Lord." Unlike him she kept her gaze forward, steadfastly focused on those ahead of her so not to tread on the long mantle of the King and Queen walking just ahead of them and also making sure to keep her equally long veil well away from the steady pace of the royal Brothers riding horseback behind them. Her own two dear ones rode in a carriage just behind them. The entire spectacle was sheer madness if one were to ask Blossom personally.
"You just have been silent since we took our vows."
"Would it not be difficult to hear anything over this celebration Sir?"
He had chuckled. "My bride… I would silence a thousand cheers to hear your one word."
But not bat a single eye to bother reading them… no, no. Blossom must let the past go for her duty.
She swallowed hard as she saw the crowd only swell the closer they got to the Cathedral itself.
But… he said nothing more. Only squeezed her hand suddenly quite tightly.
Strange.
"Are you frightened Princess?" One of the ladies broke her out of her thoughts.
"Of course she is you goose! What wedding night has ever gone well?" The severe looking blonde took up the gilded hairbrush and proceeded to… attend to Blossom's hair. She gripped the arm rests tightly at each yank. "A word of advice your Highness." Yank. "Just lie back and don't move, let his Highness do his duty and it will soon be over." Yaaaaaank.
"Lady Fa'tiale! For shame!"
"What use is a starry eyed lie going to do for her when the bridegroom is over there drinking and being fed even more drinks by the other men! They'll likely have to carry him in!"
Blossom gulped softly and gripped the arm rests harder. Her eyes burned both from pain and… embarrassment but no. No she must endure. She must!
"That is enough Countess Femil" The low matronly voice was calm and full of authority. Sareih, The Queen of Grey Haven, put a gentle hand on Blossom's shoulder. "While we ladies mourn with you as to the debacle of your own wedding night, I will brook no fear mongering on the night of my son and his bride. "You are dismissed from this gathering."
She imperiously held out her hand for the brush and so the Countess had no choice but to surrender the brush with a curtsy before she departed. Blossom hid her relief but only barely. The Queen spoke again.
"I believe her Highness is sufficiently dressed, if you ladies would now wait outside for the Prince and his party." Queen Sareih murmured and again, that quite voice held more power than one would think.
One by one the remaining ladies vacated leaving the Princess alone only with the Queen
"You may breath now my dear." Blossom exhaled quite by instinct. "See now? Isn't that better?" The strokes were gentle, no more yanking at least. "You did well today."
Blossom bowed her head. "I thank you your Majesty."
"You may call me Mother if you wish." The Queen murmured. "I know your own dear mother has passed from this world." Blossom said nothing only clutched her hands firmly on her lap. "And I doubt your stepmother Queen Imogene had much to say."
"... We did not speak much no."
"Not allowed to no doubt. The Baron is quite… dexterous in his protection."
Isolation she meant. Blossom nodded.
"Yes Lady Mother."
"Women can see these things far more than men wish sometimes. You have quite a keen mind and impeccable manners." Again Blossom felt her face warm from the compliments. "I fear I must apologize for my son, I know he can be quite…much at times."
She decided it was better to say nothing.
"He's absolutely smitten with you. That much is obvious." She parted the strands. "A mother prays for her children to have a love match, therefore it should fill my heart to see but yet…"the queen frowned in the mirror.
"Your son is a gallant gentleman, most… forward speaking with his words."
His....letter had certainly shown that. He had had no qualms or concerns about... Decorum certainly. Praising her appearance to the skies... And yet.
Is that all he sees then... My looks? Am I to be nothing but a breeding mare?
Blossom was by no means a child. She was a woman of eighteen years and so the starry eyed fancies of youth she must now abandon for the hardness of reality and yet...
She bit her lip and the queen sighed.
"My son is more like his father than he would wish to admit." Blossom stiffened. "oh no, no my dear not like….that."
Sareih cleared her throat.
"The King… before he was thus now was… a gasconade truly. A man who so liked to boast and brag, to be the most well dressed, intelligent, accomplished, and... loved." Her voice trailed and Blossom saw her wipe at her eye briefly.
"He was a wonder. Truly so… and I see...so much of who he was in my eldest." Another sigh. "Both good and bad."
Blossom kept her voice steady. "May I ask what…to expect then from this… marriage?"
Sareih finished plaiting her hair. "I cannot answer that my dear, that is something both of you must come to discover in the days ahead."
"Discover...?"
"A royal marriage is for policy yes." The Queen secured the red ribbon at the bottom of the braid. "But is also a marriage between two individuals… the early days of my marriage to the King resulted from these early days your highness, and they were happy." Badum. "It is up to you to make them so. As a mother ..and a woman. Do not need Lady Fa'tiale's...words… or even blindly follow mine. You must make your own way. Both of you."
Blossom looked into the warm blue eyes of the red haired matron and not knowing why herself, threw herself into her warm embrace. The silent tears finally fell and wet the Queen's fine robes. Oh…
"Oh...o-oh I beg your pardon, I didn't mean-!"
"Shh, shh, hush now, it is alright. It is quite normal to be overwhelmed by this." She grasped her hands. "My son will be good to you or so help me he will feel my wrath tomorrow morning should I hear of anything amiss."
Her cheeks burned as the Queen's look softened.
"But I will not, I have taught him better than that. Know this my dear, a Queen not only bears a future king… but makes the future King. Do you understand?"
The Princess averted her gaze but nodded nonetheless. "I think I do...yes."
"Remember this and you will go far. The Queen is the silent power behind the throne. You too, will become so. Kings go and make war to add to their kingdoms… That their Queens are then left to rule. Again, do you understand?"
Another nod. "Yes."
"Allow yourself to have fear, allow yourself to feel in the sanctity of these walls because in the harsh light of court, you must feel nothing at all. But here in these private Chambers, there is nothing but you and he, and you must treasure those moments, for rarer and briefer they will become the more time passes on."
The Princess nodded at the matron's wise but also slightly warning words. It was true. This was a marriage of convenience and political necessity and not centered around love or even creating a domestic haven.
It was… business in a sense.
"I understand my duty Your Majesty." She finally whispered.
"I know you do sweet rose, my son is very fortunate indeed."
Knock knock knock
She jumped. The raucous outside was loud and oh… o-oh. Um.
"Courage Princess, now go under the covers."
"They don't stay and watch do they!?" She yelped. She couldn't help it! She'd heard of that barbaric ritual in other kingdoms and-!
"No my dear, the King abolished that arcane humiliation as soon as he was able. Now go on, to bed with you!" She waved her away and Blossom dove under the heavy coverlet as the queen herself pulled the curtains surrounding her bed closed and opened the door.
A redhead clad only in his nightshirt and long red robe was thrust in by a crowd of no doubt intoxicated men and Blossom shrunk further in. From the shadows and the loud voices she could just make out the two royal Brothers and the ambassador Fuzein. Blossom shrunk further. That loathsome man was completely slurred in his words,
"Now we must see'shhh the Royalsszzz brou-shhht to bedddd'shhh!" He cackled.
Oh he would. She'd seen the lustful glances towards all three of the brides from that wretch, were the alliance with Grey Haven not diplomatically beneficial for the King ( and Baron) Blossom had feared the Baron in his arrogance may have debated marrying one of the Royal princesses if not the Duchess to his kin.
And so… the two were alone.
"Now, now- our part in this is done, it is up to the newlyweds now, come now, out, out, away you go." The Queen ordered quietly yet firmly and mercifully, the great gathering finally vacated.
"My lady?"
Badum. Badum. Badum.
*****
Cliffhangers are just mean. I'm not sure if the next part would be here so much as only on a03 for....reasons 👀. But the part after that: The Duchess of More's .... Wedding saga well that will soon begin. :)
Word Count: 1,786
Time: 45 minutes ( gotta love Social media outages)
