stranger worlds.

The Jurdan "actors with a history" AU

“Closer, please,” the photographer says. “Cardan, if you could put your hand on her waist.” Jude holds her breath. Warm skin and plush velvet brush against the exposed skin of her back. He settles his fingers in the dip of her waist. One simple tug across the soft loam soil and she’s flush against the side of his chest. His inhale pushing against her stomach. Jude wrangles some semblance of composure on her face. She has a job to do, after all. Two can play at this game. Or:  It’s photoshoot time. 

Ps : LOVE THE NEW CHAPTER OF GETAWAY GIRL!! It was amazing!! 💕

Dear anon, those kinds of fics are some of my favorites! I will definitely, definitely keep this in mind when I finish writing getaway girl 😉 Thank you so much for the request!

The Jurdan “Actors” AU

“How have you been?” The question is as double-edged as the blade in her hand. No matter what she answers, he’ll find a way to cut her with it.

She keeps her eyes on his feet, waiting. “Busy.”

Or: 

She hasn’t seen Cardan since the table read.

I believe will be a whole lot more than a sneak peak coming in, oh, a few hours? 😉

But in the meantime...

“What will you do while I’m away?” It’s a leading question, because she knows the right answer. And he does, too, even if he doesn’t like it.

“Await your return.”

“And after?”

“Await your return.”

IT’S LITERALLY THAT ONE MEME THAT GOES “what do you normally do when I’m gone?” “wait for you to come back” aaaaaa I love this!!!! 😂

Cardan: "I see!" said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the roses. "Off with their heads!"—and here, Alice mine, is a model example of a queen from which your mother takes great inspiration—

aka the Jurdan “Actors” AU

Since writing is taking a bit longer than expected, here is a little sneak peek of Chapter 2! 

[Read Chapter 1 Here]

“On the contrary. You’ll find my attention is exactly where I want it to be.”

That voice. It almost tips her over, hearing it again. The first words he’s spoken to her in two years. How is it that he sounds exactly the same? The shape of his vowels, the cadence born only of well-paid tutors and summers abroad. How is it that he sounds like not a day has passed since he said the words that changed everything?

I never thought she was you.

“Hello, Jude.”

A jolt runs through her when she sees that he’s looking at her. His eyes trace the length of her body, a lazy pass from her loosening ponytail to the scuffed toes of her shoes. She’s sweaty and flushed with the rush of a good fight. She doesn’t look anything like a glamorous, pampered, A-list movie star. She doesn’t look like anything that belongs in his world.

With that one disdainful look and the clear insinuation of his words, her mistake is glaringly obvious. She gave him an opening. She let her guard down.

She slams them back up. He won’t be getting in again.

Easing her face into a neutral position, Jude raises her practice sword. “Greenbriar.”

That’s when it happens. Like witnessing a car crash you can’t look away from, Jude watches as the corners of his lips curl into a smile she knows so well. A smile she has thought about, has dreamed about wiping off his face for too many years.

Yes. There. That mocking smile of his.

A very much delayed conclusion to the TCP reread for @wornpagelibrary​​’s January Book of the month! Every single scene in this last set of chapters could easily make my favorite moments list. But just like Cardan and Jude, I too have endeavored to repress myself and my raging feelings:

1. “I smile a lot when I’m nervous. I can’t help it.”—I love how this radically recontextualizes Cardan as a character. Up until this point, Jude has consistently narrated Cardan as powerful and scornful. He is always smiling mockingly at her. But this one line demolishes that veneer and exposes him for what he truly is: a dramatic, drunk, problematic hot mess with a crush on a pretty girl that he doesn’t know how to act around. Aka, the simp we knew he was all along.

The Cruel Prince reread hosted by @wornpagelibrary​! 

This set of chapters was packed with character development for Jude (and I love that for her, bye Valerian) but the whole time I was just so aware that THE KISS was coming. Sorry, Greenbriar family. I’m just here for the kithy kithy with a side of crossbow to the throat. 

1. Cardan getting kissed while staring at Jude during Locke’s party—This will never not be iconic pining, oh my God. Holly, if you’re out there: bless us with a Cardan POV of this and reap the harvest of our undying gratitude.