fic: Cinderella At A Quarter to Midnight
May. 11th, 2021 01:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bonnefoisTitle: Cinderella At A Quarter to Midnight
Series: FEH/FE9/10
Character/pairing: Heather/Nephenee (Also mentions of Berkut/Rinea and Reinhardt > Ishtar, because it is the Splendid Soiree based.)
Rating: PG-13
Word counter: 2,036
Summary: Nephenee's a wallflower at the Splendid Soiree, until a certain someone from her land arrives late.
Word count:
Author's note:
I was inspired by this art and the latest FEH update.
I legit wish INTSYS had taken the option to give us Heather in this update. Or just in general.
Please, Intsys...give us Heather....
Happy birthday, SaraJaye.
The whole palace was all prettied up and grand, which only made Nephenee check to make sure there wasn't mud on her boots and the hems of her skirts over and over. The muck had a way of sneaking up on them, and there she'd be in front of the fancy folk looking like she fell face first into pig slop.
It wasn't like they were snobby sorts to her. Ishtar and Rinea were downright cordial to her and talked a bit before they went off to their dances. But, in the end, they were nobles at heart. Nephenee felt like she'd come in on fairy dust and pumpkin carriages. A pretty gussied up dress was like a bow on a hog.
It was evident that she didn't belong. Not in these fancy halls, and not with these elegant people from foreign lands she'd never even heard of. She was a wallflower here, waiting for a prince who would never come.
Well, not a prince exactly. Not even a princess, even though the one she had in mind was beautiful enough to be one.
The clock ticked down and nobody came.
"I thought for sure the minute I came in wearin' somethin' like this, Heather would appear, like she was summoned," Nephenee said under her breath.
Nephenee watched them all from afar, after the battles had ended. Rinea looked so happy in Berkut's arms. How gracefully they waltzed. He would lean in to speak to her, and she would laugh softly. Nephenee couldn't hear what they said, and wouldn't eavesdrop on lover's talk.
By comparison, the dance between Reinhardt and Ishtar was extremely composed. His posture was perfect, his steps seamless and never with any fault. They barely touched, except for his hand in hers.
She waited at the edges. At least the enemies had gone, and the dancing could go on.
Maybe she'd get herself a drink. Though there wasn't any refreshment table like the shindigs after barn raising. She didn't know where anything was, and was too shy to ask. The nobility was full of so many rules, she couldn't keep track of them. In the end, it was easier to keep quiet than have them mock her thick accent and lack of nobility.
Or maybe she'd turn in from someone else's celebration that she'd gotten stuck in, and sleep off her aches. Not that aching feet were anything next to war wounds.
As she turned, she saw gold in the moonlight.
"There you are."
Nephenee nearly dropped her fiddlestick bow.
"H-Heather, you came! I-I was thinkin' I'd never see you again..."
Heather wore a long dress of the deepest plum. She smiled, teasing and sensual as she climbed in the window.
"Call it being fashionably late, Nephneee, dear. I got waylaid by some petty annoyances. Be sure, they're all taken care of now."
Nephenee caught sight of a glint of a dagger at the slit in Heather's alluring dress. The more she saw of Heather's dress, the more reason she had to blush. From the plunging neckline which left little to the imagination, to the side slit that came all the way up to her hip. Her boots came up the her thighs, and revealed just a bit of skin.
"But it was all worth it to see you like this. My, look at you! You're the belle of the ball, Nephenee."
Nephenee turned away, face heated. Her frills didn't even begin to compare to how well Heather's dress hugged her curves.
"I-I'm sure the others would disagree."
Berkut had said how his fiance was the belle of the ball more than once now. He couldn't stop remarking on how lovely she looked. Perhaps he had drank too much wine, from his slightly flushed cheeks. Though Rinea was rather cute, with her blue dress, demureness and flowers in her hair.
And Reinhardt had said only a compliment to the perfection of Ishtar's steps, though something in his gaze said otherwise. But it was restrained, unspoken and hidden away.
"Well, they'd be wrong," Heather said.
"I-I'm glad to see you, Heather. It's been so long."
She held the fiddlestick bow to her chest.
"I was summoned here away from my friends. I met up with plenty from my land, and met others from different lands. More than I could ever imagine. But, I always... hoped I'd see you again," Nephenee said.
"I missed you too. In fact, I've got presents."
In her left hand were a whole bouquet of sweet smelling flowers.
"T-This many dragon flowers? Heather, you're too kind!"
Heather smiled. "Only the best for you."
She brought the dragon flowers to smell them, and they glittered and disappeared. Her body was suddenly filled with a new warmth. And not just the beating of her heart, or the blush that tinged her cheeks. She was filled with new power at this rare, lovely gift.
"Now, we should show them how it's really done," Heather said.
"It isn't a contest," she said.
Or at least, she didn't think it was. It had been rather sudden like, being summoned here and all. Maybe she missed a detail or two, being a wallflower.
"That's understandable. Because you already won. None of them can even begin to compare to you. I mean, just look at you."
Wouldn't they say the same? Or at least think it, in the case of one of them.
"You're the one who's stunnin'. That dress looks illegal in multiple countries it's so pretty."
Heather laughed. "You do have such a way with words, Nephenee, my dear."
Heather led her to the dance floor.
"I just gotta warn you, I'm sorry if I step on your foot, then I'm sorry. These boots are hard, and well, not used to fancy dancin'."
"I would be honored, even delighted to be stepped on by you, dear," Heather said.
Heather's blue eyes were filled with mirth. Suddenly, Nephenee had a feeling they weren't talking about dancing anymore.
Even though Nephenee felt like a pale imitation, a muddy pig in porcelain shoes compared to the fancy dancing nobles, Heather kept them smooth like. She didn't even make a peep when Nephenee stepped on her feet once, or maybe a dozen times. (Well, Heather did moan. That was unexpected, and made Nepheneee blush almost as much as Heather's revealing clothes.)
It was a mite bit difficult keeping her hands where they were supposed to be, and not run them through Heather's golden hair. Or to touch that soft dress, and the even softer curves.
Nephenee had never ever been tempted to get handsy in public before, but Heather made her think about risky, dangerous things.
Maybe it was that Heather was just too pretty, and it made Nephenee keep getting slightly off. A step out, a step on Heather's feet, a step that almost landed her tripped on the floor. Heather kept her steady, though, with a slow smile.
And even with all her missteps, so unlike the other two dancers there who were regal and elegant and never made a mistake, Heather was all gentle like. She had to admit it felt good in Heather's arms like this. Just imagine what fun they'd have at a shindig, doing a two step while a fiddler played a lively tune.
Nephenee might've been no good at waltzes, but a two-step to a fiddle? She'd show the rest of the farm kids that she could kick up her boot heels with the rest of them.
Midnight struck and the dance didn't end. There was no carriage filled with leaves of forgotten glass slippers. The dance continued on until her feet ached and they finally took a break.
Berkut and Rinea sat at the edge of the dance floor, and took drinks from their glasses. Berkut related a story as Rinea watched on in wonder.
Reinhardt brought Ishtar a drink, and prepared to give up his last dance to someone else, her fiance, perhaps. His hands lingered at the glass, the seconds stretched. Each step back to her was as grim as a goodbye.
Heather took her hand and led her away from the now empty dance floor.
"I haven't danced this much since my cousin's weddin'. My feet do ache somethin' fierce."
"Allow me."
Heather knelt before her, almost courtly and knight like. She removed Nephenee's boots and began ro rub her feet.
"Um, sorry if they stink. Sweatin' and all," Nephenee said.
"Nephenee, dear, I've been through war. I've smelled death and even worse things. I think I can take some slightly sweaty heels."
And the aches and pains all went running under Heather's strong and gentle grip. Nephenee blushed. Being rubbed like that made her think of the other kinds of things Heather could do with her hands.
She pushed those thoughts away, before she got distracted.
"I sure am glad to see you. I know I already said that, but I can't say that enough. But...
What about your mother? I know you wouldn't want to leave her behind. Or did she already..."
Nephenee couldn't bear to say the words.
"She's fine last time I saw her. And one day I'll go back to her again. But, with so many different people from so many different lands, I definitely will find a great medicine. Maybe even a cure. I just need to keep asking around. I'm truly lucky to end up in a place like this. Plus, there's other benefits."
Heather let her hungry and sensual gaze linger on Nephenee.
Nephenee blushed and stared down.
"Did I save your night from boredom, Nephenee? I'm surprised I didn't have to fight off ten other dancers for your hand," Heather said.
"Naw, nobody asked."
Heather glanced back towards the other dancers and frowned.
"Were they mean to you? Snubbing you like--"
Nephenee held up her hands. "N-No, it wasn't anythin' like that at all. They were perfectly nice. But, Berkut's engaged to Rinea and doesn't want to dance with anyone else but her. Ishtar's engaged too, though she shared a dance with her bodyguard, for old time's sake I think."
Nephenee folded her hands, and glanced down.
"I was just...waitin' for you all along. The night went on for so long, I started to think you'd never come."
Nephenee laughed, a little. "At first, I thought puttin' on this silly frilly dress would summon you outright. It seems you always appear like that," Nepehenee said.
"Well, I'm glad I showed up just in time," Heather said.
"Thanks for livenin' up the party."
"Were you bored?" Heather said.
"A mite bit. One of these days, I got to take you to a barn raising. Now there's a real party," Nephenee said.
"Oh, I've been to those before. I come from the country as well, remember?"
"Yeah, but this time, you'd come as my...guest. Special guest."
"Are you asking me out on a date, Nephenee dear?"
Nephneee blushed. "I reckon so."
"I would be honored to go with you, be it a grand Soiree or barn raising," Heather said.
Midnight had come and went. The moon was high, and the party was winding down. But, they had lots to catch up on. They could talk until the cows came home and the sun came up.
Author's note: I don't know what happened with Heather there in the middle there. I guess that's what I get for writing Laurent fic and Heather fic back to back. Whoops! The step on me jokes slipped in.
(Except for Laurent they are not jokes and are 100% canon.)
Series: FEH/FE9/10
Character/pairing: Heather/Nephenee (Also mentions of Berkut/Rinea and Reinhardt > Ishtar, because it is the Splendid Soiree based.)
Rating: PG-13
Word counter: 2,036
Summary: Nephenee's a wallflower at the Splendid Soiree, until a certain someone from her land arrives late.
Word count:
Author's note:
I was inspired by this art and the latest FEH update.
I legit wish INTSYS had taken the option to give us Heather in this update. Or just in general.
Please, Intsys...give us Heather....
Happy birthday, SaraJaye.
The whole palace was all prettied up and grand, which only made Nephenee check to make sure there wasn't mud on her boots and the hems of her skirts over and over. The muck had a way of sneaking up on them, and there she'd be in front of the fancy folk looking like she fell face first into pig slop.
It wasn't like they were snobby sorts to her. Ishtar and Rinea were downright cordial to her and talked a bit before they went off to their dances. But, in the end, they were nobles at heart. Nephenee felt like she'd come in on fairy dust and pumpkin carriages. A pretty gussied up dress was like a bow on a hog.
It was evident that she didn't belong. Not in these fancy halls, and not with these elegant people from foreign lands she'd never even heard of. She was a wallflower here, waiting for a prince who would never come.
Well, not a prince exactly. Not even a princess, even though the one she had in mind was beautiful enough to be one.
The clock ticked down and nobody came.
"I thought for sure the minute I came in wearin' somethin' like this, Heather would appear, like she was summoned," Nephenee said under her breath.
Nephenee watched them all from afar, after the battles had ended. Rinea looked so happy in Berkut's arms. How gracefully they waltzed. He would lean in to speak to her, and she would laugh softly. Nephenee couldn't hear what they said, and wouldn't eavesdrop on lover's talk.
By comparison, the dance between Reinhardt and Ishtar was extremely composed. His posture was perfect, his steps seamless and never with any fault. They barely touched, except for his hand in hers.
She waited at the edges. At least the enemies had gone, and the dancing could go on.
Maybe she'd get herself a drink. Though there wasn't any refreshment table like the shindigs after barn raising. She didn't know where anything was, and was too shy to ask. The nobility was full of so many rules, she couldn't keep track of them. In the end, it was easier to keep quiet than have them mock her thick accent and lack of nobility.
Or maybe she'd turn in from someone else's celebration that she'd gotten stuck in, and sleep off her aches. Not that aching feet were anything next to war wounds.
As she turned, she saw gold in the moonlight.
"There you are."
Nephenee nearly dropped her fiddlestick bow.
"H-Heather, you came! I-I was thinkin' I'd never see you again..."
Heather wore a long dress of the deepest plum. She smiled, teasing and sensual as she climbed in the window.
"Call it being fashionably late, Nephneee, dear. I got waylaid by some petty annoyances. Be sure, they're all taken care of now."
Nephenee caught sight of a glint of a dagger at the slit in Heather's alluring dress. The more she saw of Heather's dress, the more reason she had to blush. From the plunging neckline which left little to the imagination, to the side slit that came all the way up to her hip. Her boots came up the her thighs, and revealed just a bit of skin.
"But it was all worth it to see you like this. My, look at you! You're the belle of the ball, Nephenee."
Nephenee turned away, face heated. Her frills didn't even begin to compare to how well Heather's dress hugged her curves.
"I-I'm sure the others would disagree."
Berkut had said how his fiance was the belle of the ball more than once now. He couldn't stop remarking on how lovely she looked. Perhaps he had drank too much wine, from his slightly flushed cheeks. Though Rinea was rather cute, with her blue dress, demureness and flowers in her hair.
And Reinhardt had said only a compliment to the perfection of Ishtar's steps, though something in his gaze said otherwise. But it was restrained, unspoken and hidden away.
"Well, they'd be wrong," Heather said.
"I-I'm glad to see you, Heather. It's been so long."
She held the fiddlestick bow to her chest.
"I was summoned here away from my friends. I met up with plenty from my land, and met others from different lands. More than I could ever imagine. But, I always... hoped I'd see you again," Nephenee said.
"I missed you too. In fact, I've got presents."
In her left hand were a whole bouquet of sweet smelling flowers.
"T-This many dragon flowers? Heather, you're too kind!"
Heather smiled. "Only the best for you."
She brought the dragon flowers to smell them, and they glittered and disappeared. Her body was suddenly filled with a new warmth. And not just the beating of her heart, or the blush that tinged her cheeks. She was filled with new power at this rare, lovely gift.
"Now, we should show them how it's really done," Heather said.
"It isn't a contest," she said.
Or at least, she didn't think it was. It had been rather sudden like, being summoned here and all. Maybe she missed a detail or two, being a wallflower.
"That's understandable. Because you already won. None of them can even begin to compare to you. I mean, just look at you."
Wouldn't they say the same? Or at least think it, in the case of one of them.
"You're the one who's stunnin'. That dress looks illegal in multiple countries it's so pretty."
Heather laughed. "You do have such a way with words, Nephenee, my dear."
Heather led her to the dance floor.
"I just gotta warn you, I'm sorry if I step on your foot, then I'm sorry. These boots are hard, and well, not used to fancy dancin'."
"I would be honored, even delighted to be stepped on by you, dear," Heather said.
Heather's blue eyes were filled with mirth. Suddenly, Nephenee had a feeling they weren't talking about dancing anymore.
Even though Nephenee felt like a pale imitation, a muddy pig in porcelain shoes compared to the fancy dancing nobles, Heather kept them smooth like. She didn't even make a peep when Nephenee stepped on her feet once, or maybe a dozen times. (Well, Heather did moan. That was unexpected, and made Nepheneee blush almost as much as Heather's revealing clothes.)
It was a mite bit difficult keeping her hands where they were supposed to be, and not run them through Heather's golden hair. Or to touch that soft dress, and the even softer curves.
Nephenee had never ever been tempted to get handsy in public before, but Heather made her think about risky, dangerous things.
Maybe it was that Heather was just too pretty, and it made Nephenee keep getting slightly off. A step out, a step on Heather's feet, a step that almost landed her tripped on the floor. Heather kept her steady, though, with a slow smile.
And even with all her missteps, so unlike the other two dancers there who were regal and elegant and never made a mistake, Heather was all gentle like. She had to admit it felt good in Heather's arms like this. Just imagine what fun they'd have at a shindig, doing a two step while a fiddler played a lively tune.
Nephenee might've been no good at waltzes, but a two-step to a fiddle? She'd show the rest of the farm kids that she could kick up her boot heels with the rest of them.
Midnight struck and the dance didn't end. There was no carriage filled with leaves of forgotten glass slippers. The dance continued on until her feet ached and they finally took a break.
Berkut and Rinea sat at the edge of the dance floor, and took drinks from their glasses. Berkut related a story as Rinea watched on in wonder.
Reinhardt brought Ishtar a drink, and prepared to give up his last dance to someone else, her fiance, perhaps. His hands lingered at the glass, the seconds stretched. Each step back to her was as grim as a goodbye.
Heather took her hand and led her away from the now empty dance floor.
"I haven't danced this much since my cousin's weddin'. My feet do ache somethin' fierce."
"Allow me."
Heather knelt before her, almost courtly and knight like. She removed Nephenee's boots and began ro rub her feet.
"Um, sorry if they stink. Sweatin' and all," Nephenee said.
"Nephenee, dear, I've been through war. I've smelled death and even worse things. I think I can take some slightly sweaty heels."
And the aches and pains all went running under Heather's strong and gentle grip. Nephenee blushed. Being rubbed like that made her think of the other kinds of things Heather could do with her hands.
She pushed those thoughts away, before she got distracted.
"I sure am glad to see you. I know I already said that, but I can't say that enough. But...
What about your mother? I know you wouldn't want to leave her behind. Or did she already..."
Nephenee couldn't bear to say the words.
"She's fine last time I saw her. And one day I'll go back to her again. But, with so many different people from so many different lands, I definitely will find a great medicine. Maybe even a cure. I just need to keep asking around. I'm truly lucky to end up in a place like this. Plus, there's other benefits."
Heather let her hungry and sensual gaze linger on Nephenee.
Nephenee blushed and stared down.
"Did I save your night from boredom, Nephenee? I'm surprised I didn't have to fight off ten other dancers for your hand," Heather said.
"Naw, nobody asked."
Heather glanced back towards the other dancers and frowned.
"Were they mean to you? Snubbing you like--"
Nephenee held up her hands. "N-No, it wasn't anythin' like that at all. They were perfectly nice. But, Berkut's engaged to Rinea and doesn't want to dance with anyone else but her. Ishtar's engaged too, though she shared a dance with her bodyguard, for old time's sake I think."
Nephenee folded her hands, and glanced down.
"I was just...waitin' for you all along. The night went on for so long, I started to think you'd never come."
Nephenee laughed, a little. "At first, I thought puttin' on this silly frilly dress would summon you outright. It seems you always appear like that," Nepehenee said.
"Well, I'm glad I showed up just in time," Heather said.
"Thanks for livenin' up the party."
"Were you bored?" Heather said.
"A mite bit. One of these days, I got to take you to a barn raising. Now there's a real party," Nephenee said.
"Oh, I've been to those before. I come from the country as well, remember?"
"Yeah, but this time, you'd come as my...guest. Special guest."
"Are you asking me out on a date, Nephenee dear?"
Nephneee blushed. "I reckon so."
"I would be honored to go with you, be it a grand Soiree or barn raising," Heather said.
Midnight had come and went. The moon was high, and the party was winding down. But, they had lots to catch up on. They could talk until the cows came home and the sun came up.
Author's note: I don't know what happened with Heather there in the middle there. I guess that's what I get for writing Laurent fic and Heather fic back to back. Whoops! The step on me jokes slipped in.
(Except for Laurent they are not jokes and are 100% canon.)
no subject
Date: 2021-05-14 10:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-15 02:20 am (UTC)Also, I haven't seen you in a while and I post femslash and you appear? I see I inadvertently found the Samuraiter Summoning Method.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-15 11:24 pm (UTC)Short recap of lost comment: My job has been eating my life, so I have not been able to do much more than lurk since February.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-16 03:43 am (UTC)