Swagger Inn (The Snug - extended)

[SisterHelenoftheEternalCatchUp]

For them that wants it, since the old snug is nearing the end of its life.
Come in, sit by the fire and relax with a Fuzzy Tom (or whatever drink grabs your fancy) and indluge in some drivel about which Musketeer is the FAFest.

If you're lucky, a literary wench might tell you a story.

(PS - No doilies allowed)

This thread is not be replacing The Tavern.
It's not a thread number
It's rumbling-in-the-background for anything that people don't want to put in the Tavern.

Whether it is or not livia, having some variety re authors, characters & smut level is good. I liked your Cardinal being a tease & enjoying his power as that's so very him. I may not like him in the same way you do (understatement ) but I really liked him as a character & the way PC played him, I miss him .

Now sf, this may or may not be coherent

Striding, shirtless Aramis? - yes please (love the braces detail)
The whole 'depth' thing & the watching?
The bit he muttered in her ear at the end? OMFG

Hmm, still not very coherent.

I think we can all agree on those points Fancy . .

Well Liv that's raised an eyebrow chez Comtess. .

Have never been aroused by anal rimming/fingering as it's all just like doing prostate DRE's to me I'm afraid! Ditto actual PIA bumsex tbh. Interesting how we are all wired differently to respond to different things.

Having said that, I think you write the Cardinal very well, and I liked the bit where he realises she wants him as a man not for his power which I felt rather pleased for him about .

Awwwww you are both so lovely!

Because of the power imbalance, and because of the way I imagine the Cardinal to be totally dominant, I wanted to make it clear from the start that he wasn't in any way taking advantage of either of them. That's why it took me so long to do the first chapter and also I agonised for ages about how to introduce the slash element without it appearing that anyone was uncomfortable with it!

Who knew - writing porn is a minefield

I admit I'm totally projecting in the story, which is why it's not just everybody casually shagging

Yes well I think you've done that very well Liv because they are all very happy to be there, doing whoever they're doing . It IS. A minefield I think because we all have a few things we like which others might find a bit 'outré'. I for example have a very pronounced kink for muscular forearms and being 'held' in a certain way which I imagine others might be quite uncomfortable with. So I've not written that one yet.

Also, can I say Liv that I wanted to give you some feedback because it is a very brave thing to write and share it. And I think you've been just wonderful replying to my comment which I didn't want to be negative but just honest. And I admire you even more for that.

xx

Awwww Comtess you are so sweet! I didn't see anything remotely negative about your comments at all!

It's good to get genuine feedback - I know that the slash stuff isn't everyone's 'thing' and I know what you mean about having our own little kinks that others would find odd

I only started it because I wanted to write a Malcolm/Jamie fic but wanted a bit of practice first but I am totally loving writing the Cardinal!

^^

Right, I’m going to skip plot because I’ve completely forgotten what I was going to do. When we left Aramis and Juliet, they’d been at it all night but unfortunately Captain was on his way. Oh dear. Needless to say, they didn’t get caught. Juliet was summoned, along with her father and the Musketeers, to the palace because of the information Juliet needs to pass to the King. Blah blah blah someone with a clue (read the Snug contributors) would have sorted all this out but my brain can’t work it out.

Anyway, they all arrive at the palace and Juliet is given rooms at the palace, to be protected by the Musketeers. Surprisingly enough, Aramis volunteers to take first guard shift which involves him guarding Juliet whilst actually being in her rooms. They kiss and partly undress.

Aramis drew Juliet into his arms. They kissed tenderly, Aramis’s hands cupping Juliet’s face, her hands tangled in his hair. The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate. Aramis broke the kiss, and as his glanced around the room, a wicked smile spread across his face. In the corner of the room stood a full length mirror and to the side a chaise, covered in a beautiful damask fabric.

Aramis turned Juliet so her back was against him. They were now both facing the mirror. Aramis brushed Juliet’s hair away from her shoulder and pressed gentle kisses against her neck. Juliet’s head fell backwards to rest against Aramis’s shoulder.

“Do you like that, Juliet?” he asked. Juliet murmured her pleasure.

“I want to be sure. Look in the mirror mi amor. You see my arms around you?” Juliet stared at the reflection of her and Aramis in the mirror. As she stared, he slid a hand from her waist and caressed her breast through the thin fabric of her chemise. Julie moaned in pleasure.

“I want you to keep watching. Keep looking in the mirror whilst I touch you, whilst I kiss you. And if I see that you’re not looking any more” he whispered teasingly “I’ll have to stop.” Juliet nodded, unable to speak.

Aramis resumed the rain of butterfly kisses on her neck, resumed stroking her body, all the while murmuring promises of what he wanted to do with her. He lifted his head, meeting her gaze in the mirror. “I see you’re still watching. Do you like it?” “Yes, Aramis” she signed. “Excellent mi amor”.

He lifted the delicate skirt of her chemise and slid her undergarments off her, Juliet kicking the silken garment to the side. Instead of letting the skirt fall, Aramis kept it grasped in one hand, moving his other hand round to teasingly stroke Juliet’s thigh.

Juliet’s eyes drifted shut in pleasure as she felt her lover’s fingers caress her skin. Aramis looked at Juliet in the mirror and stilled his fingers. “You’re not watching Juliet” he smiled against her cheek “Don’t you want me to touch you?” She opened her eyes, lids heavy with desire. Aramis nudged Juliet forwards slightly towards the chaise. “Lift your foot on to the chaise”. Juliet did so, and as she did Aramis slid a finger inside her, feeling her wetness. “Keeping looking Juliet. What do you see?” Juliet struggled to speak as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her chemise had slid from one shoulder, revealing one of her breasts. With her foot now placed on the chaise, she was completely exposed. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing becoming shallower as she watched Aramis fucking her with his finger, brushing her with his thumb. He whispered in her ear, indecent promises which heightened the sensations coursing through her body. She could hold on no longer and her orgasm shook through her body, Aramis clutching her to him.

Almost before she had chance to recover, Aramis turned Juliet to face him, his kisses more urgent now. He pushed her backwards towards the sumptuous bed, pushing his breeches down. He looked at Juliet and she nodded, wrapping her legs around his waist as he thrust into her hard. He stilled for a moment, taking a breath. Juliet lifted her hips, urging him to move, tightening around him. Needing no further encouragement Aramis pushed into her again and again, harder and harder until he too could hold back no longer.

He leaned towards Juliet, whispering her name and his love for her.

OMFG LetUs! Why did you leave it so long?!

That was HOT. I can just see him making her watch like that. Ooooofttttt.

Also liked the brief recap at the start, almost glossing over previous storyline in the hurry to get to the smut "Let's skip to the good bit."

Ooofft letus! The idea of Aramis whispering dirty sweet nothings in your ear is very hot . Agree with sparks on the watching thing - he'd love that!

livia, agree with comtess that posting is brave as people's tastes are so different, especially with smut!

Interesting point you make about the power dynamic, as you're right, with his postion & controlling character you have to put in some effort to show that the whole arrangement isn't abusive. I don't like dub con, so if I'm still reading you can assume that I'm satisfied they're all having fun.

oooooooooooooohhhhh, brilliant letus
I think wrt liv's tavlit, we all assume she's writing about herself, which means we know for sure that she's every bit as into it as he is. iyswim? So for us at least that's a shortcut to the dynamic innit.

It is brave writing any of this, smut or plot, (I find plot harder tbh) which is why when no-one reads it, (and the only way to know if people have read it is if they say they've read it) it feels more personal, almost like a slight. iyswim?
I'm not having a go, I'm trying to be honest. I'll say no more. bit of plot appreciation wouldn't go amiss though as that's what gets you to the arasmut after all

What's dub con fancy?

Absolutely plot is harder. I love reading all the details that all the tavlit writers include and seeing the way the stories are going. I think mine had a story at first but I've had that scene in my head since about last September and in the meantime completely lost what was going on. I quite literally lost the plot

This just about sums it up from my point of view

Dubious consent norah.

I always find it difficult to comment on plot, don't know why, & I'm therefore crap at doing it, sorry.

letus

LetUs That was brilliant! Love the mirror, that's clever - I could see it all in my mind.

What always strikes me about the TavLit (not necessarily mine, obvs!) is that it is always written so well - I have read many fanfics that are badly written, whether it's plot or smut, and it can really spoil something that is a good concept. It's very distracting.

And when it's that well written, it's enjoyable to read, no matter who it involves, iyswim.

Norah Dubcon is dubious consent. I don't like it as a genre.

Because I am writing about myself, of course I am totally projecting onto the character. At one point I had to delete some romantic stuff as it didn't quite fit into the story! Because my main PC fantasy actually involves snuggling, I am tempted to write that into a separate chapter!

You're right livia - there is a lot of crap fanfic out there. What I like most about the Tavlit (apart from the obvious) is that the authors keep TM, and the Cardinal , in character.

Oooft LetUs this is good (shame about you losing the plot though ), we have a veritable smorgasbord of smut. Team A must be v. happy.

Also agree with comments about bravery of smut wenches for actually writing/posting this stuff. I love the plot stuff - the little details like SF having them check their bed for fleas at the inn etc. they bring it to life.

Hey snuggers

Totally agree Helen, the little details are really important.

Fucking Hell LetUs that was brilliant. Loved the mirror bit. And the language thing which meant he was Aramasanti really . Marvellous stuff

Bloody Hell. Have just had a huge catch up. Days worth of porntastic writing. I feel throughly sated and just a little bit dirty. Perfect.

And yes agree very much with what others have said. I really enjoy the plot, and the details, as it is what brings the smut to life. Am always happy to read a plot only post as am enjoying the stories as much as the shagging. And I like the different styles and characters.

And I really really really really want to be fucked hard against a pillar. Anyone got a Dyson handy??

Previously... they're still at Kates house, Aramis is flirting outrageously.

----
D'Artagnan and Aramis were at the kitchen table while Maddie played on the doorstep - dogs tolerating her attentions with an air of resignation as any ears or tails within reach were grabbed with enthusiasm. Eleanor sat with her and looked up to see Kate and Athos coming out of the stables, talking. He stopped suddenly and took Kate's arm, pulling her round to face him. Kate reached up and pulled a piece of straw from his hair as he said something, then leaned in to kiss him. He smiled, then looked puzzled, glanced behind him and returned to the stables as Kate carried on to the kitchen. She paused by the back door to rinse her hands in a bucket of water.

"Going ok then is it?"

Kate grinned at Eleanor. "Hmm? Oh - you know. He's utterly besotted, values me beyond all treasure, etc." D'Artagnan and Aramis exchanged startled looks as her voice carried into the kitchen.

Eleanor raised her eyebrows "He said that?"

"Oh no." Kate grinned mischievously "I told him. Thought it would help avoid any misunderstandings. " She scrubbed her hands clean. "To be fair, I did also point out that he thinks I'm an irritating pain at times, and he curses the day he met me - if he ends up lobbing me in the Seine it won't be without cause. So we've hopefully got a workable balance in there somewhere." They grinned at each other, amused. Aramis snorted, nearly spraying his mouthful of ale across the table, and D'Artagnan choked slightly, both trying to suppress their laughter.

Kate froze by the bucket, realising that Eleanor wasn't the only one in earshot, then looked cautiously round the door. Athos arrived and shot them a questioning look, wondering what Kate was looking so embarrassed about.

"She was winding me up and didn't realise she had an audience." Eleanor explained with an impish grin. "It's an old joke - nothing to worry about." There was an awkward pause, then Eleanor turned to Kate. "So... up to the waterfall? Fish for lunch...? We may as well make the most of the weather while it lasts."

Kate raised an eyebrow "Are you catching the fish?" A shadow crossed Eleanor's face and she looked away.

"I can catch fish." Aramis cheerfully ignored the sudden undercurrents in the conversation "As long as one of you is a decent cook..."

"There we go, problem solved." Eleanor's smiled was slightly forced and she glared slightly at Kate who began running down a list.

"We need five horses - not yours obviously, since they need 'resting'." She shot Aramis a sideways look as he smiled innocently "Food, drink... what does Maddie need?"

....

The ride up to the pool was filled with voices and laughter, though Eleanor was slightly subdued until they arrived and Kate took Maddie from her, telling her to take Aramis to the top pool and show him where the fish were.

They watched as Aramis and Eleanor set off, and then looked at Kate with mild incredulity "You sent those two off together to 'catch fish'?"

She shrugged "The best fish are in the upper pool, Eleanor knows the way and it's not very suitable for small people..." Maddie clapped and giggled as Kate smiled and blew a raspberry on her hand.

"But... are you actually expecting them to bring back some fish?"

"There will be plenty under the overhang here if they don't."

"But...?"

"But what?" Kate looked up at them in mild amusement then back to Maddie who yawned while Kate continued in a sing-song voice "They're both adults aren't they sweetie, and God knows none of us are in a position to judge - he..." she nodded towards D'Artagnan "is having an affair with a married woman, and he..." she nodded towards Athos "may well be married still in the eyes of the church - especially if the Cardinal has his way," Maddie giggled again and pulled at Kate's hair "So we won't even talk about what that makes me, eh?!" She looked up at them and shrugged as Maddie stuffed the end of Kate's braid into her mouth "Besides, life's too short."

Verrrrry clever Nonny!

Now, life IS too short.....to wait for long for that waterfall scene. HURRY HURRY HURRY.

Ninny that was ace! Fantastically written. Love the bit about Aramis saying he can catch fish if someone can cook them

Nonny - you and SF are my muses! I only wish I could write as well as you do!

Lovely nonny, espcially like the gentle teasing and of course Aramis being all charming and good humoured.