#also they love him so much they made him look as tall as alexander

[yesloulou]

"On Tuesday we have Daniel Ricciardo driving." | @ redbullracing

#daniel ricciardo #alex albon #f1 #* #** #q #not to sound like an insane person but his lil hyperlordotic spine. oh my god 😳❤️ #gender #silverstone tire test 2023 #also they love him so much they made him look as tall as alexander

[napoleonic-sexyman-tournament]

This one is getting a read more for propaganda. So much stuff here.

Alexander I Pavlovich:

a. “Maybe not the most handsome or charismatic man in this tournament, but he has ample chaotic neutral energy that both baffles and fascinates contemporaries. In short, if you're into mysterious men, you won't find a sexier enigma than our imperator.”

b. “Look. Is this or is this not the monsterfucking website.”

c. There are lots of monuments dedicated to him. There's one in Moscow in the Alexander Garden right by the Red Square. While nowhere near as grand as the Alexander Column, I think it's still worth showcasing!

The monument is meant to celebrate his victory in the 1812 Russian invasion. He's holding a sword, proudly standing on top of his enemies' weapon.

The sculptors, however, have never seen the man in their life - all the people involved in the making are still alive and well (i think), so that should tell how new it is. The monument was opened for the public just a decade ago in 2014.

d. quote about this bust from the memoirs of Sophie de Choiseul-Gouffier: “No painter was able to properly capture the features of his face and especially his soft expression. Alexander didn’t like to pose for portraits and they were mostly done with some stealth. In this case sculpture have produced a better likeness. The famed Thorvaldsen made a bust of this sovereign worthy of a hand of such a remarkable artist.”

e. His family nickname might have been ‘our angel’ and the medal commemorating his death bears the inscription “Our angel is in heaven”, but did you know that to this day Alexander looks down on Sankt Petersburg as an actual angel, wings, cross, trampled snake and all? Alas, you cannot see it from the ground, the Alexander Column being so very tall, but the statue of the angel on top certainly seems to take after our sexy thrice-angel Emperor.

f. Apotheosis of Alexander! An eminently universal image, perfectly serviceable for his rise to the throne… of Napoleonic Sexyman Tournament.

It really looks like Peter and Catherine are instructing the Electorate. Gentlevoters, surely you wouldn’t dream of disappointing Sasha’s Grandmother and his scantily clothed giant of a Great-great-grandfather?

g. What is sexier than a man in a dress???

Edouard Mortier

a. “why does mortier the largest marshal simply not eat the others”

b. "mortier is a cute big huge cute boy, he is just a gentle giant, here's a real picture of him pls consider voting for him (he is also a certified wife enjoyer, he loved his wife a lot and his favorite thing about his wife was her eyes which i think is very cute and wholesome, they had a happy marriage)"

#napoleonic sexyman tournament

[lfc21]

Hii!! love ur fics ❤️ could you maybe write something where the reader is let’s say Trent or Ox’s sister or something, who also happens to be a football player, and she meets Darwin in one of his very first Anfield games. Maybe he’s lost or needs help in anything, I’ll let you decide that; but basically she helps him out in something and he tells her “hey i know you, you’re *player*’s sister and you also play, right?” and stuff yk and then he asks her out on a date later? Thanks!

A date?

TW: fluff

Summary: when you start your new job as a sky sports presenter the last thing you wanted was to fall head over heels for a Uruguayan striker.

"Y/n!" Trent shouted as he made his way back into the training rooms. You had just started your job in media for sky sports, which meant more football talk, more cold evenings standing at random stadiums and a whole lot more flirty footballers.

"Trent!" You shouted back in the same manner as you noticed your brother run back into the tunnel. You stood inside Anfield with yourself and Jamie Carragher as you waited for your queue to go outside. You still couldn't get used to the idea of having to spend way more time with your brother, as much as you loved him he did still seem to get on your nerves.

"You alright?" He asked with a smile as he swung his arm around your small shoulders. You pulled your face at the act of the already sweaty body attached to your side.

"Trent you are so sweaty" You explained trying to push your way from him without gagging. He simply laughed at your dramatics and went on his way into the changing room.

"Brother and sister love ey?" Jamie asked with a laugh as you simply shuck your head in annoyance at his question. You both got the heads up to go out onto the pitch. As you both wandered out you noticed a tall confused-looking man standing at the end of the tunnel. "Darwin!" Jamie called with a smile as he noticed the new uragyuan signing. His head snapped up at the announcement of his name.

"Jamie?" Darwin said as in a question as he wasn't completely sure if his brain was correct as to who it was in front of him. The striker had recognised the man from many champions league nights at Anfield and many interviews stood outside in the cold English weather.

"Are you alright? The lads have just come inside" Jamie pointed out as he pointed to the changing room where the lads were racing into. You stood silently next to the ex Liverpool player as you both tried to make sense of the strikers actions.

"Klopp told me to wait for him!" He said with a smile as he also started to make sense of his own doing. "I guess he has forgotten" He added with a laugh as his hand glided across his slick back bun.

"Y/n you wait with him for a second whilst I grab Klopp he is only down there" Jamie explained as he ran off to find the german manager standing on the pitch talking to his assistant manager. You nervously stood next to the man not knowing what words were best in this situation.

"So do you like it here?" You asked with a smile as you looked up at the 6-foot-2 player. You had never noticed how perfectly placed his eyes were and how his lips turned up into the warmest and most inviting smile. The feeling of butterflies was the only emotion taking over you right now. Every action of his own sent your legs into jelly and your mouth watering.

"Yes I do very much," He said back with a small giggle as he messed with the shin pads placed in his hands. His eyes were attached to you as if he was trying to make something clear in his mind. "Your Trent's sister right?" He quickly asked with relief as his mind finally clicked into place.

"Oh yes, I am," You said carefully, slightly taken back at his level of knowledge about you. "I work for sky sports now with Jamie" You added trying to stay clear of the point of being Trent Alexander Arnolds' sister. As much as you loved your brother being a footballer, you also loved the idea of making a name for yourself and not being someone's relative.

"Wow that's cool" He replied with those sparkling dark orbs. Your eyes were attached to his delicately sculpted face and his perfect sun-kissed glow.

"Darwin! Let's get you inside, your going to start tonight Bobby has picked up an injury" Klopp explained with hushed tones from the tunnel as he ushered the man inside. Klopp shot you a wide grin at the familiar sighting of you. "I have an interview with you after the game don't I?" Klopp added as he pushed open the changing room door for darwin.

"Yes! me and Jamie" You explained as your eyes where magnets to the large body going through the door. Darwin sent you a signature smirk as he passed through and you could of sworn your legs where about to buckle in. You had never seen the man in this light before but you couldn't help but want more from him.

-

As the minutes went by and you were sat hoping and waiting in the extra time your eyes yet again wandered over to the striker running for his dear life. You couldn't help but admire the way his hand came to his forehead pushing away the beads of sweat which ran down his face and the way he shouted to his teammates for the ball. He was adapting so quickly and as were you, you were adapting to his appearance more and more. You urged him to speak to him again. The final whistle blew and the sound of the Kop was the one thing to be heard. You jumped up out of your seats in the media room with glee as the celebrations were among you. Darwin had managed a hattrick causing a wave of proud emotions to come through your body.

-

As soon as you arrived on the pitch to interview some of the chosen players your eyes immediately met Darwins. He was standing answering a million and one questions from someone until his eyes captured yours, he shot you a cheeky wink before continuing with his interview.

"I think someone fancies you" Jamie pointed out as he nudged your arm with a laugh. You rolled your eyes at the man beside you as you moved your head away quickly to avoid any attention on your blushing cheeks.

"Oh shut up its just cocky footballers" You explained with a laugh as you lied straight through your teeth. Jamie knew you were lying yet the idea of him broadcasting it across the world whilst the man in question and your brother were around didn't seem to appealing. As you shuck the words that Jamie said off of you, you noticed the familiar man walking towards you, clearly finished with the press.

"Have you got a second?" Darwin asked you as he stood next to Jamie opposite you.

"Actually I am supposed to do an inte-"

"She has more than a second" Jamie said cutting you off and pushing you towards the man. You gave him a stern look before following Darwin down the tunnel. You could have killed Jamie at that very moment but you were also thankful. Your nerves were the one thing that was going to stop you in this whole situation.

"Is everything ok?" You softly asked as he took you both to one side.

"Yeah, everything is great actually" He started with his sweet Uragyuan accent running through your ears. "I was just wondering if you wanted to go out with me tonight. you know for some drinks?" He asked with a soft smile and sparkly eyes. Your heart stopped in your body at his ask, you thought the idea of equal attraction was far from the truth but it was not.

"I finish work late" You started as you watched his face turn low and his expression becomes somewhat of a sour view. "So it would have to be a late drink, around nine?" You added with a smile as you watched his face light up at the added news and question. You hoped this was the start of something so much more, rather than just a cocky footballer. You were thanking God for your brothers' great football skills and your skills at being an incredible media member.

Hey guys 👋🏻 I know this isn't exactly the request but I thought this could be a nicer idea 😄 I hope you still enjoyed this piece 😊 please leave feedback and requests 👏 have a great day 🥰 2022 masterlist ❤️ 2023 masterlist ❤️

@prettylittletrent @cornertakenquicklyyyy @trentalexanderarnold @robbo38 @robbothegoat @kostasstsimikass @chelseamount @chloereddy @tsimikasfamily @avenirdelight @blueathens @jordanhendersunshine @mrs-henderson @thatonesexycancerian @hendersons1truelover @nyctophilic0vitnir @peekapeaches @tsimikxs @tsimikostas @trentalexarnofan @leddows @moneymasnn @superkittywonderland @virgilvansike @virgilvandickmedown @hopefulromantic1 @robbo-trent-fanfiction26

#lfc imagines #lfc masterlist #liverpool imagines #lfc imagine #lfc x reader #darwin nunez imagine #darwin núñez x reader #darwin nunez x reader #darwin nunez imagines #darwin núñez #footballer x reader #footballer imagines #football fanfic #fanfic #writing

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Character Profile - Scotland

Character Name: Scotland. The Kingdom of Scotland. Alba. Alasdair Kirkpatrick. Alexander Kirkland. Alexander Kirk. Alasdair Kirkwood. Alasdair Kirkland. Uncle Alasdair.

Age: 10-12 upon the Roman invasion of the 1st century. 18-20 by 1300. Late 30s, early 40s modern day..

Height: 6'0/182cm.

Physical Description: Tall and musclebound, Alasdair was a warrior and his body still shows it. Broad-shouldered and strong-jawed, the transition from fighter to the financial brain of the British empire matches a large man with surprising grace and dexterity. He carries himself equally well in a boardroom as on a battlefield. The most classically handsome of his brothers but the least agriculturally valuable, he was locked in a triangle with his youngest brother and Francis for centuries, riding on his good looks for much of it. He also contributed much to his brother's children and added enough, especially to Canada. He made the lad damn near a strawberry blonde. He's getting a bit softer in middle age but still easily caber tosses the entire family on a human's strength if permitted. He's got a bit of a grumpy look to him sometimes, but he's also extremely tender-hearted if brusque with those he shares affection with, and those people know what his body language conveys, if subtly.

Eye colour: Blue-green-grey. A bit muddled and changeful like the churning clouds and waters of the highlands.

Hair colour/style: Red-brown curls. The shade of brown you can't tell is red or brown even in bright light. He wears it just long enough to show off the curl too it and often with a matching beard. Arthur is the one more often at sea, but Alasdair often looks like the quintessential seacaptain.

Other distinguishing physical traits: The family brows. Has a smattering of old war wounds that especially act up when he and Arthur are arguing. He and Brighid are also the source of the family dimples but Alasdair has to be positively grinning for them to show.

Personal Appearance/Style: A lot of sweaters, boots and trousers. When he put down the broad sword and picked up the abacus, he became quite interested in finer things and figured if he was stuck in this union with Arthur and Rhys, he might as well get something out of it. He's generally found in quite dull greens, browns and countrymen clothes these days but was once very fond of French fashion. He only wears a kilt on special occasions. Instead of having his own clan tartan or even wearing the national one, he most often wears a woad-blue and white plaid he remembers his mother having a cloak of.

Verbal Style: He can switch between various Scottish accents fairly well, lowland and highland alike. It gets thicker when he's speaking to Arthur to piss him off and when he speaks French because it makes Francis practically swoon. His Latin isn't a good as Brighid's in the modern day, but he's still pretty good with it; he learned languages as needed, especially as the sciences grew through history. Whatever the language of education is, he'll be fluent quickly. An interest in chemistry brought him to modernize his German; he's always loved reading in French.

Level of Education: This is almost impossible to quantify. He was the first country in the world to make education mandatory in the 15th century. He was meant from birth to be a warrior and he was very good at it with there hardly being anyone mortal who could challenge him sword to sword by the time he was as tall as the sword itself, but he was always in his heart more of a druid and a scholar. He's gotten so many degrees and learned so much over his life span its a little insane. And barring Alfred, he was largely in charge of educating Arthur's children. He's an absolute powerhouse at the sciences and maths but loves a good poem too. Physics, chemistry and pharmacy are his specialties and an incredible knowledge of medicine is still building in his head. He's also, of the British isle siblings, the best with money. Arthur is no slouch either but its Alasdair's running of the family money that they scrambled themselves out of poverty several times over before ever having any real international power. Once that started up, he was the real brains behind the money-making.

Occupation: Diplomat, surgeon, financial something or another.

Past Occupations: Doctor, surgeon, cattle raider, financial planner, merchant, trader, fur trapper, teacher, writer, artist, professor, soldier, crofter, farmer, fisherman, sea captain, shipwright, engineer, weaver, banker, etc.

Skills, Abilities or Talents: He's got the brawn to match his brains and is an incredible hand-to-hand fighter. He's a mental math whizz and has memorized almost everything written in Gaelic in the last 100 years. He knows practically all the major scientific disciplines back to front and their experiments and research patterns. He's probably more resistant to cold than Rhys or Arthur. Like all of his siblings,

Admirable Personality Traits: Innovative, resourceful, blunt, nurturing in a crabby sort of way, friendly, reliable, bold and practical.

Negative Personality Traits: Stubborn, impatient, grumpy, taciturn, reserved, slightly superstitious despite his incredible knowledge.

Sense of Humor: Dark, dry, direct, observational, sardonic, pawky.

Physical/Mental illness or affliction: He's probably the least mentally fucked of all his siblings, but that's not saying much. His liver is about as virgin as a dockside brothel. He's got a lot of old war wounds, but only a few bother him, and even then, he's not one to wallow.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, engineering, hunting, hiking, caber toss, golf, building ill-advised machines with Alfred in the garage.

Favourite Foods: If its fried, he'll fucking love it. He might be the only person on earth who likes Alfred's food as much as Alfred's. He loves Cullen skink, cured meats and cheeses, kedgeree, cranachan, scotch pie or any meat pie, and he'll still pile on rowan jelly on porridge for breakfast. Whisky, of course.

Most important personal item: The torc and penannular brooch his mother gave him is in the national museum, and he has a kilt pin with a chunk of diamond Francis gave him in the 13th century.

Person/friend close to character: He's somehow close to his brothers, all things considered, but he's also on the best terms with Brighid, and they tend to talk more than Brighid does with the other two. He's very close to Arthur if only because they figured out they could control a lot more power and money if they worked together. An uneasy but extremely effective relationship there. And because the Americans will reblog and add a paragraph about how special Scotland is to America if I spent more than five words on Canada, Alasdair played an outsize role in raising Matt. but yes, he's very close to Alfred, who is fascinated with all things Scottish and has the same kind of brain Alasdair does. The Appalachian mountains used to have the same range as the highlands, and the way it was peopled rather shows it.

Brief family history: He was the second child and first son of Brigantia/Brittania in the pre-roman period. He's about 200-300 years younger than Brighid and maybe 400-500 years older than Rhys and Arthur. His relationship with his siblings is complicated but generally more positive than Brighid's. His brother's children are important in his life.

Most painful experiences in the character’s past: Probably the Jacobite uprisings and the rough wooing, and god, they're 2,000 years old. There's so much shit here. The civil wars? Elizabeth I hacking Mary Stuart's head off??? He's seen famine, plague, two world wars, and god knows what else.

Their Song: Julie Fowlis - Dh’èirich Mi Moch Madainn Cheòthar

#Character Sheets || bodies and flesh of borders and fences #Alasdair || my heart's in the highlands #hws scotland #If anyone wants to give me feedback about anything that feels wrong about the brit bros I would very #very much like to hear it #these fuckers are HARD #so much fricken history

[ill-skillsgard]

What’s your favorite movie/show from a each of the Skarsgards?

Ouuu, well some of these might be obvious, but I'll try not to write a novel about how much I love the Skarsgards in almost everything! Let us start with the king. Our beautiful, perfect, hilarious and talented Bill... AKA the man of my dreams. AKA Horror Daddy. AKA the most gorgeous man who has or ever will exist. This is such a hard choice, but I have to credit his role as Pennywise as what introduced him to me, or rather, what got me HOOKED. Bill cemented himself in the horror genre as a God with this role. Not only that, but both chapters of the film are some of the best horror that has ever been done, period. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for IT. Honorable mentions goes to Villains because Mickey was sooo devastatingly charming and Bill was made for the role. I'd say Castle Rock too but then I might as well list everything he has ever done both big and small because I just love him in everything, always.

Now, onto my sweet baby Valter. Historically, I have rejected anyone's negative opinions about my BEAUTIFUL BOY and will continue to do so until the day I die. Okay, he's a bit of a brat, he's not as well-known as his father or brothers, but he is my 2nd favourite Skarsgard (sometimes in my brain he is number 1.) Valter Odd Skarsgard has this voice that narrates my fantasies, and lips I dream of often. So tall, mmph. So gorgeous! That smile, oh my GOD. My underrated man.

Valter dropped a nuke on me with his role as Faust in Lords of Chaos. This movie means more to me than the fact that Valter is in it. The story itself and the period of metal music in Scandinavia has always been on my radar, and then Valter shows up as my ACTUAL type and ruins me. Do I think Faust is a good guy? No. Do I think that Valter with long black hair, a leather jacket and a bullet belt is the most attractive thing on the face of the earth? Yes. Great film, directed by the legendary Jonas Akerlund... What could be better?

Now, when it comes to Gustaf Skarsgard, I feel like I cannot choose between Merlin and Floki. Both have such chaotic energy. Both were so well-played. Then there's the short film he did with his father, directed by Bill and Landon Liboiron. HE IS A SHAPESHIFTER. So talented. So handsome. Ugh, just ridiculously gifted in the art of acting. But I have to give it to Merlin because I have never wanted to be on an alcoholic wizard before. Would I rewatch Cursed over Vikings? I don't know. Would I watch a standalone series of Merlin? YES. Would I watch a standalone series about Floki? ALSO YEAH. Tough decisions here. Ahhh, give me that silly wizard man. I want him! Cursed was great and they were wrong to cancel it!

Then of course, there's Alexander. A Golden God. As talented as he is attractive. This one is very hard because he's been in a lot of really good shows and films that I love. I wanted to pick his role in Zoolander because I think it's one of the best comedy bits I have ever seen (ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCINOS) but I can't do him like that. I think I would have to go with Randall Flagg in The Stand, not only because it's another Stephen King adaptation with another Skarsgard, but because he annhilated that role and looked so damn good doing it. And also BEARD (idc if it's fake, he looks great.)

Now, Papa Skars is a TOUGH one to pick, but I have to go with Dune. Idk if it's because of Stellan that his boys can play evil pricks so well, but the Baron is like next level shit. He is so talented. I went over half my life not even realizing he's been in so many movies I've watched. But in recent times, since the Skarsgards have been on my radar, Dune knocked it outtttt and Stellan was a huge part of that. Thank you Papa Skars, for helping create your beautiful sons and unleashing them upon the world.

This could have been a lot shorter but oh well. My mens deserve all the shout outs. Thanks for asking! ❤️

#bill skarsgård #valter skarsgård #gustaf skarsgård #alexander skarsgård #stellan skarsgard #it chapter one #it chapter two #lords of chaos #cursed #vikings #the stand #randall flagg #dune #The Baron

[catharsis-in-a-bottle]

thoughts on The Sandman (2022)

oh, you knew this post was coming. i haven't done a bullet-list-non-chronological-thought-post in a LONG time. so here i go! my thoughts on the sandman show, in no particular order.

(BEWARE: i have not yet read the comics, but now i intend to!!!)

first of all, i have not been so ENRAPTURED by anything in a long time. i binged watched for the first time with this show - i did NOT want to stop, and therefore made the poor decision to stay up until 5 in the morning - but it was worth it, i think, to have all the characters begin their lives in my head in one night.

let's talk about some characters, shall we? MORPHEUS! Dream of the Endless! (isn't that a badass name?) King of Dreams! i wanted him to smile so badly the entire time, and when he did - when he gave those tiny smirks around Death, and Hob, and i think some others - it truly paid off. an endless being who dresses in all black (rather like. neil gaiman) and speaks dramatically and never not once raises his voice... SO interesting, i want his outfits, etc.

the second one living rent-free in my various neural cortexes: THE CORINTHIAN! mainly because he's gay and looks cool, but we can go deeper than that. a nightmare personified! a nightmare who wants to be seen as something he is not - as a human! is that not THE queer metaphor? a nightmare who fears his destruction and whose creator says he was not made well? godDAMN!! also i want his outfits, etc, okay let's move on:

DEATH and DESIRE. death as an absolutely beautiful ray of sunshine giving comfort to the departed; desire as. as. a hot deceiver. what more can i say. death is wonderful and creates the BEST support for dream - she is the balance to his emo, you might say - and desire is just, you know, mason alexander park lol *dies on the spot*

LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR. is the lord of hell, and is very tall, and wears a leather jacket, and has an appetite for destruction. what more, pray tell, can i say. alright let's move on from characters because i want to talk about:

24/7. 24 fucking 7. the one that the comic fans, i have heard - and neil gaiman himself, for that matter - consider to be the darkest comic. and i've seen several of you say that the comic is darker than the SHOW, which is - astounding, considering i thought this episode was better than any horror movie i've ever watched. and it started off so innocently! i didn't know what to expect going in, and that made it SO MUCH WORSE when i understood what was happening. i think the moment where i just though 'yuck' and never stopped thinking 'yuck' was the "i fuck your son"; i literally just said "WHAT." and left my jaw hanging open for the entire rest of the episode. that is not a hyperbole - my mouth was open the entire fucking time. this is the world's darkest win for gay people, i guess. when everyone started going at it, i assumed the horror had stopped there - that the revelation of the truth led to new relationships, the ones that everyone actually wanted - BUT NO!!!!!! JOHN MCFUCKING DEE DID NOT STOP THERE!!!!! the idea that the revelation of our true desires leads to just... mass suicide in a diner, homicide, etc........ jesus fucking christ i LOVED that episode it slapped the shit out of my brain. i don't even know what that MEANS

anyway! *i brush the nonexistent dust off my shoulders* let's...... move on from that. i need to relisten to the soundtrack if i want to do any musical analysis, because let's face it, i was awake during the witching hours and i was NOT paying attention to those chord progressions. however, i DO remember that the music kept me engaged and fit very well with what was happening, so there's that.

this show also just, uh, slapped the shit out of my brain in ways i truly did not expect. because some of the moments were just so feel-good! the hob and dream sequence!!! (they're totally gay!) death!! rose and jed!!! and then there were just moments of - oh my god, the corinthian is taking jed into a serial killer convention. he's taking the 12 year old into a serial killer convention. jed's abuse at the hands of barnaby was also just one continuous 'YUCK' feeling; like, god, they really pulled that off didn't they. lyta's desire to leave the waking world to live with her husband in the dreaming.... her husband as a ghost in a place he is not supposed to be.... that is QUITE an exploration of grief, isn't it!! i'm going insane

three words: GREGORY THE GARGOYLE

i really love the juxtaposition of the endless and all the strange beings / creatures they encounter next to Humans Just Trying To Human. rose walker did not want ANY of this shit - she just wants to find her brother, maybe destroy part of the foster care system, have a nice apartment, etc. and then she meets dream of the endless, around whom you could not possibly act entirely human. john dee and johanna constantine truly feel like the in-between of "humans trying to human"; john dee has made himself into something not entirely human and is trying to put himself on-par with Dream, and johanna constantine is confidently facing demons. otherwise we have the endless, and dreams, and normal people. actually i suppose the corinthian is also one of the in-between - a nightmare who wants to exist as a human in the waking world, doing human things like Fucking That Girl's Housesitter

stephen fry was excellent as always. love when he gets to play an Extra British Man

let's talk about the queerness. i know this comic was queer from the beginning, and i cannot WAIT to experience that. i think there is a very subtle difference - a difference that we easily mistake, all the time - between queer characters added as tokens for representation, and queer characters added because the writers know and understand that queer people are a normal part of life. we may ask: is the queerness central to the plot? and in both these cases, the answer may be no; but one answers 'no' because the writers view the queerness as expendable or as a currency, and the other answers 'no' because the writers understand that queerness may be integrated into the story without being the story, that queerness is a fact of life. and i think we all know which one sandman is, and i deeply appreciate neil gaiman and everyone who worked on this show for that; it seems neil's been with us from the beginning, and learning along the way.

and with that, i will conclude this post. i love this show so much, and i cannot wait to get my greedy little hands on the comics.

#the sandman #sandman #neil gaiman #dream of the endless #death of the endless #desire of the endless #yep i'm throwing a lot of tags in this one!! suffer #the corinthian #corinthian #rose walker #jed walker #john dee #lucienne #lucifer morningstar #the sandman netflix #sandman netflix #hob gadling #sandman comics #johanna constantine #sandman 24/7

[sweetbillwriting]

In Another Universe (Love Just Happens)

Stilettos & Lace - Part 3

Description: In another universe didn't Bill become an actor and Aurora Lou didn't get her record deal but as soulmates they meet also in this universe but have other struggles.

Setting: This story is set in a parallel universe to my story Love Just Happens about Bill Skarsgård and my original character Aurora Lou.

Characters: Bill and Aurora is the same characters but because they have other experiences are they a bit different from the original story.

Warnings: 18+, age difference, ageism, cheating, jealousy, possessiveness, slut shaming, mentions about prostitution, smut, talk about weight.

Notes: Just to remind you, Bill is really different from how he is in the original story and it's because of how different his life has been.

"But… But you take your clothes off in front of… drunk men?" 

Aurora had put on her clothes again and even took her coat in her arms. Bill felt his nerves go up at once by seeing how distant she got. He couldn't lose her. He could not lose her. 

“But you sing!” he tried to say happily but heard himself that it didn't come out as authentic as he wanted. Maybe he wasn't as good of an actor as he thought. 

Aurora looked at him. She could see his eyes swimming with panic and worry.

She sighed a little and laid down her coat on the armchair and walked up between his legs. 

“You always look like you think I will just… Dump you?” She dragged her hands over his shoulders and Bill breathed out in relief. 

“I just…” he looked down at the floor but then pulled her into a hug. 

“I can't see why you would want a guy like me. I really…” love you. It laid on his tongue, with easy access but he swallowed it like an unchewed lego piece. It would scratch in his belly painfully instead. 

“As I said, you must work on your confidence. I can't understand how a tall, handsome, charismatic, intelligent guy like you can be like this.” Aurora straddled his lap but bent back to see his handsome face. She dragged her fingertip over his nose and lips and Bill smiled embarrassed. 

“Do you know my brother is Alexander Skarsgård?” He said and Aurora made a bit of a face to control a giggle. 

“What?” Said Bill confused. 

“I think I know what you're trying to say here. That he is famous, hot and like, obviously attractive?” Said Aurora with her hands on Bill's cheeks. He nodded but looked at her in confusion. “You're… older than me. He is my dad's age. But not just that… He’s pretty in that way I could buy him in a carton. You're pretty like someone tried hard to make you special,” she said with a giggle. Bill looked down with an embarrassed smile. “That's probably weird of me to say… I know I am pretty in a carton way too. It's few that are crafted like you.” 

Bill looked at her and swallowed hard. He didn't know if he had ever had someone saying such a thing to him and he got it from a girl like her. His wife was attractive but not like Aurora. Far from it and not even his wife had ever said such a thing to him. He kissed her softly, so softly like he thought he could pour the love in his chest over to hers. Aurora could feel his emotions in the kiss. They both knew they felt a bit too much too fast. Neither of them said it even if it was so obvious. 

Bill looked at her with a playful smile after and booped her nose with a finger. 

“I've never heard you sing. That's weird, right?” 

Aurora smiled and shrugged her shoulders as an answer. 

“Can I come and watch?” 

Bill felt his throat tight up when he said it. He wanted to see her, hear her but he also knew it would be hard to see so many men lust after her. It wouldn't be like when they were at the restaurant and the server gave her a bit of extra attention, at the show she would be in the center for so many men's fantasies. 

“Can you handle that?” Aurora asked and played with the hair on his neck. She wanted him there, she wanted to sing for him, dance for him but his behavior told her he wouldn't be so happy that other men would watch her. 

“Of course, of course. I just want to support you,” he said with a dimpled smile. Aurora still looked a bit doubtful but then giggled. 

“I would love to see you there, baby.” 

××× 

The same night Bill sat in a wine red velvet chair in a dark cellar club. The interior was in velvet, laces and fringe, in boudoir style. He sat alone by the round table with a whiskey and looked around at the people. It was mostly men but also couples and even a group of women in their 30s. Of course he knew burlesque was interesting for many but it was just straight men that would look at her like that. 

Miss Stilettos & Lace felt like a hidden exclusive gentlemen's club but when he googled it he realized it had a big following and good reviews. That was also how he found Aurora's Instagram. Miss Stiletto and Lace’s Little Lou with more than 50,000 followers. She posed comfortably in laced up corsets and red lips. She was sinfully hot and just the comments made his jaw tick. Now he sat with a coaster for his whiskey with a picture of her in a Betty Page bang sucking on a lollipop and no one knew she was his. 

Already when the show began a group of men in their early 30s screamed: 

“Lou! We want Lou!” 

They were obviously already a bit drunk but Bill gave them the evil eye anyway.

The men continued to scream at her even when other girls performed but no one told them to shut up. Bill left his coat by the table to go to the bar, both to get a new whiskey but also see if this was a behavior that was okay. He felt a bit sorry for the other performers but mostly irritated that they shouted for Aurora like that. 

The bartender laughed a bit at his question. He was his own age and had a big beard and lots of tattoos.

“Most people are here for Lou. Have you been here before?” 

Bill shook his head and sucked his lips. 

“You will probably be back to see her again.” 

The bartender smirked. Bill gave him a look and for a short second he wondered what relationship he had with Aurora but let that go when he saw the guy’s hand, a  wedding band. 

Bill just had time to sit down again before a girl in a suit and hat called Aurora into the stage. It wasn't just the group of men that screamed her name now but many others. Bill more or less held his breath waiting for her. He couldn't sit still while the music started to play and it felt like he needed to go and pee. His heart beated in the same rhythm as the drums but he could breathe out slowly when he heard her voice. It was a confident, gorgeous voice. High, clear and emotional. Bill smiled without realizing and leaned forward on his knees in expectation to see her. She came out in high heels with four dancers. She was dressed sexy in a light pink corset and lacy stockings up to her thighs. She was illegally hot but Bill could mostly just see her beauty, her talent, her playfulness. She had a charisma he had never seen before. For a short second he thought about his rings laying in a pocket in his suitcase. It was time for him to throw them away. He needed to become free. He wanted nothing else than to be totally free with Aurora. 

×××

Aurora had said no to him waiting on her outside of the club. She said she didn't know how long he would have to wait and it would be cold for him to stand outside. Bill had done like she said and went to the hotel but had promised to pay for the cab to the hotel. She had said no, joked that it was her dad who paid anyway but Bill insisted. He wanted to pay so he wouldn't feel so bad that she would go by herself to his hotel. 

Aurora felt the staff look at her when she came into the hotel in the middle of the night in her leopard fur coat and high heeled boots. She understood how it looked. She still had the make up from the show on and her hair laid in big waves. The receptionists followed her with their eyes and Aurora tried to look unbothered even if she felt cheap. She just came from dancing in lingerie to now visit a forty year old businessman in his hotel room. It would have felt even worse if she knew the whole truth.

Bill lifted her up in his arms at once when he had opened the door for her. She screamed with laughter when he pretended to drop her and it made him laugh too. He let himself fall down in bed with her over him while they still laughed. He helped her take off her coat and she sat over his hips. She had just a bra and leggings under the coat, a weird outfit but nothing he had time to comment on. 

“You're so great, so fucking amazing…” he said between kisses. Aurora worked on unbuttoning up his black shirt he had worn earlier that night too. They almost didn't notice the knocking on the door until the person outside of the room said Bill's name. He looked at Aurora confused and shrugged off his shirt so she could put it on instead. Aurora made a face when Bill had his back to her. His white tank top sat nicely over his broad shoulders and slim waist but it made him look less kind and innocent. He opened the door and looked down at the guard standing with his thumbs in his belt, behind him stood a nervous looking receptionist. 

“Bill Skarsgard?” 

The receptionist had followed Aurora. She had watched Bill open the door and carry Aurora in. Aurora, the girl with heavy make up and leopard fur. She had looked up Bill's room, 326 and found his information. Bill Skarsgård, 1990-08-09, Stockholm, Sweden. The bill would be sent to the New York University Archaeology department. What would a cheap girl like that do in his room? 

“Yes?” Bill said and furrowed his brows. 

“My colleague here says you have a woman here.” 

Bill laughed a little. 

“Yeah? Is that a crime?” 

He didn't understand at all. Bill was naive like that. He had never taken a woman to his hotel room at night time before. He had lived safe in his married bubble and never been with a girl who easily provoked people called cheap. 

The guard cleared his throat. It was obvious it was awkward for him to ask what he wanted to ask, especially when Bill’s obliviousness could be interpreted as arrogance. 

“My name is Aurora Lou Isaac, I am a singer and have worked tonight. My dad is Paolo Isaac and his lawyer's name is Fabian De Soto,” said Aurora and pushed forward. Bill looked down at her confused. He still didn't understand. 

The guard nodded and looked even more uncomfortable when Aurora pulled out her ID and credit card from her bra.

The guard looked at her ID and nodded a little. 

“Or do you want me to call my dad? I can call my dad,” she said with a bit of an attitude. Bill wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. He was a grown man and she talked about her father. 

“No miss, that's okay. I'm sorry for disturbing you in the middle of the night like this.” He gave Aurora her ID and then he and the receptionist walked away. Bill closed the door and looked at his young mistress. The fake eyelashes and the big curls. The leopard fur. Oh. 

Aurora shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him. 

“The receptionist was just jealous of my Chanel bag,” she joked. Bill smiled carefully and sat down on the edge of the bed. 

“But why did you mention your dad?” He asked with humor. He felt weird about it, especially when she had said his dad was his brother’s age. 

“He was in this series, Plastic Salvation on Netflix about plastic surgeons so many recognize his name.” 

“Oh.” 

Bill knew what series it was. He had never watched it himself but his wife had. 

Aurora started to undress again while Bill looked at her from behind. He admired every curve, every curl but Aurora just wondered why he was silent. She danced and sang that night. One man had screamed at her to suck his cock. Bill was a man with class. She gave the dark blue suit hanging on the wardrobe a glance and then down on the two pairs of dressing shoes on the floor. 

“You were amazing tonight. You're a great singer. I can't understand why you haven't been signed,” Bill suddenly said behind her and it made Aurora turn around. She stood in just panties and had collected her long hair to a bun high on her head with her hands. She smiled big and let her hair go. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah, you're better than the most singers out there.” Bill smiled with big eyes and rubbed his hands against each other. Aurora giggled and started to sing Moon River, one of the songs she had sung that night and walked up at him slowly and sensual. Bill looked at her, once again unconscious about his smile and leaned back on his hands. He let her move sensually against him until she had ended the song and she stood with her nose pressed against his. Bill closed his eyes and breathed her in. He laid his hands on her hips but caressed only softly. He was rock hard but not even that made him want to miss that moment. It was such a sensual moment between two drifters. 

××× 

It was Bill's last night in New York. He had promised her over and over he would be back soon again. That he wouldn't forget her. She had even cried while they made dinner in her cramped little kitchen. It was ugly behavior from her when she knew that she didn't want a serious relationship. She felt awful that she had fooled him like that but she had just fallen into it, he was so amazing. She cried again, she didn't want to lose him, even if she must. Bill gave her a worried look when he looked away from the screen to look down at her where she was laying on his chest.

“What is it, my love?” He said, softly while playing with her hair. He got worried something had happened to her, she knew she had conflicts at work but also that New York could be a dangerous city. Everytime it was something, could be something super tiny, he also became worried that she had found out about his secret. In his head he always tried to find a fast explanation to his crime but it always fell flat. He sounded like every other asshole. 

“It feels like I tricked you…” Aurora sat up and wiped away the tears with long manicured nails. Bill furrowed his brows but felt also relieved. She didn't know. 

“What do you mean?” 

“God… I'm really sorry Bill but this will not lead anywhere. I really, really like you but I must focus on my career. I can't get involved now, I must be able to work when it's needed.” 

Bill looked at her disappointed, even if he had a wife at home. He had plans to leave her and had started to see a real future with Aurora but that idea fell like a house of cards. 

“Oh…” he said and lowered his eyes. 

“I'm so sorry if you feel like I tricked you…” Aurora still cried and Bill looked at her messing up her eyeliner and bit a hole in her shiny lips. He tried to smile and kissed her forehead. 

“It's okay… It's okay. Of course you should focus on your career.” 

Aurora looked at him with big chestnut brown eyes and smiled a little. Bill wiped away a tear on her cheek and nodded to himself. He didn't have any right to say anything else. Aurora was too good for a cheating forty year old and of course she should focus on her career. She was so talented. 

“But I hope we can keep contact? Like, maybe see each other for lunch if you're in town?” Said Aurora with a hopeful smile. Bill wondered silently if lunch meant sex and dragged his hand over Aurora's waist. That perfect woman. Her perfect curves. Ass. Pussy. He pressed his eyes together like it was painful to think about. He opened his eyes and looked at Aurora, straight into her eyes. That perfect sensitive, big hearted girl. He could feel his eyes getting shiny but he blinked it away. 

“Of course we will keep contact. I want to hear everything about your record deal and your world tour,” said Bill and pulled her closer to him. Aurora giggled and laid her legs over his so they could hug really close while sitting down. 

“Lou… Lou… My little Lou…” he whispered in her ear and kissed her earlobe.

×××

Bill loved Stockholm. He loved his daughters. His friends. He liked the Christmas decorations and even his work sometimes but that didn't mean life was fun. He went up, went to work, made dinner for his family and went to bed. Then repeat the next day. His wife was there in the background but he gave her less and less attention. He didn't do it on purpose, it just happened like that. 

He thought about Aurora. Probably too much. Way too much but they didn't have any contact. If she didn't contact him he wouldn't contact her. He made himself believe his crimes weren't as big if he didn't contact her but it didn't stop him from fantasizing about their next meeting but also prepare for it. He got up an hour early three times a week to go to the gym. He wanted to die when he got up at 4.30 in Stockholm’s total darkness but the fantasy about showing himself ripped to Aurora motivated him. It was also great now when he had plans to go to auditions. It was Aurora who had inspired him and for now he kept it a secret from those who hadn't seen him at the manager. It was just his brother, Valter and another actor his own age. 

It was the 20th of December.

2006-12-20. 

The numbers came up in his head and made the side of his lips move up for a second. He stood and looked at the children’s made calendar at some friends' house but looked away when the man of the house came into the kitchen. 

“Cute calendar,” said Bill with a nod to the calendar with painted macaroni. 

“Yeah…” said the dude coldly and nodded a little. 

It was a “glöggmingel.” A Swedish cocktail party where you drank mold wine and ate christmas snack food. None of the people there were Bill's friends. They were snobbish hipsters while he still mostly hung out with his same low-key friends he had had since middle school. These were his wife's friends and they weren't amused by him at all. Maybe they would have been if his work was more exciting or his friends were cooler but now they just saw him as the boring Skarsgård. Quite often nowadays it felt like his wife felt the same thing.

He looked at people walking through the kitchen. He had sat down on a high chair by the kitchen island. He was bad at socializing for no reason, especially because he had nothing in common with those people. He scrolled through his phone and by accident… Okay, it wasn't by accident, it was absolutely himself who chose to click on Aurora’s bitmoji on Snapchat and add her. It was her birthday, he needed to congratulate her, that was all… 

She accepted him fast and he got a notice quickly that she had messaged him. Bill laughed with happiness from seeing it but covered his smile with the hand he supported his chin in. He looked around a bit with just his eyes to see if someone was close then he opened it. 

It wasn't Aurora. It was a girl of the same age but with light brown hair and purple glittery make up. Bill lowered the sound fast when he realized it was a movie. 

“Billy! Lou's dilf!” 

Another girl came up with a plastic trumpet and played it. Girly laughter could be heard all around until he saw Aurora's pretty face smile embarrassed. She didn't have any makeup on but a big golden tiara and his knitted sweater. He thought he had forgotten it but suspected now she had stolen his favorite gray knit. He smiled big just by seeing her. 

“I thought you'd forgotten me. Miss you baby,” she said and gave the camera an air kiss. Bill smirked but panicked a bit when he realized she would want a movie or at least a picture as an answer. He couldn't take a picture of his face, it would look weird in front of the party goers and it would look silly to take a picture in the bathroom. He took a picture of his hand instead. He redid it a couple of times just so the size and veins would show. He also wanted his watch to show but the rings he took off and laid to the side, out of picture.

Of course I haven't forgotten you. I miss you too so fucking much. Happy birthday princess.

He put on the rings again and waited for an answer. He didn't care if the people at the party thought he was boring. 

He looked at Aurora's next Snapchat. It was much more risky. She obviously was on her way into the shower and had taken a picture of herself in the bathroom mirror. Her naked back and ass. Bill cleared his throat and took a sip of the mold wine. It tasted like water after seeing that picture. He took a screenshot. He knew Aurora could see that he did so but he didn't care. He needed that picture. 

“Are you sitting here all alone?” 

Bill looked up at his sister in law’s boyfriend and smiled awkwardly. 

“I'm quite tired…” he said and put his phone between his legs like a teenager in class. The guy made a face and smirked a little. Bill knew why, he always said he was tired but it didn't make him want to be with them more, he was too old to try to please assholes just because they thought they were the coolest on Södermalm. When more assholes started to come into the kitchen Bill didn't have anymore energy for it. 

He walked into the living room to find his wife. She wore a wine red dress with wrinkled texture he couldn't really understand and her hair in a tight updo. He didn't mean to compare her with his young mistress but it was hard not to. He wondered how Aurora would look at her birthday. 

“I think I will head out now. You know, the soccer party is tomorrow,” he said to her but she didn't fully look at him, like she had better things to do than talk to him. He meant his oldest daughter’s soccer team’s Christmas party. He didn't know how it happened but in some way he had become a supportive coach just because someone remembered he was good at soccer when he was twelve. He hadn't played soccer sober since his teens and suddenly he needed to teach a group of twelve year old girls how to play. 

“Do that,” his wife said shortly then turned to her friend again. He felt invisible sometimes, in those moments he wondered if his life had been different if he had become an actor. He had never seen Alex or Gustaf be treated the way he could be treated. 

He snapchatted with Aurora the whole way home and then continued in bed when the babysitter had gone home and the kids were sleeping. He followed every step of her birthday and also how she made herself ready for the night. She explained to him that she didn't like when her birthday became a Christmas party so red was banned when people celebrated with her.

He didn't really know what to do when she sent a picture of her outfit to the night. A short pink silky skirt but to that were just strands of rhinestones. It was like a bikini top but it didn't cover anything and she explained how her friends would tape it on her boobs so it wouldn't move. As some sort of calming words she explained she would also have a white fur boa but Bill couldn't stop thinking about the rhinestone top. He had thought his wife's outfit was boring and weird but Aurora's… Was it sexy or just too sexy? She could wear it for him but she would go out in New York City.

He got even more confused about what feelings he felt for it when she sent a picture of herself in the outfit and he felt a stir in his boxers. When he looked at the video where one of her friends filmed her dance in the outfit he pulled on his black boxers and looked at his erection disappointed. She controlled him completely and he knew he would just write the outfit was super hot and keep every other thought to himself. She could wear whatever she wanted as long as she wanted him to be the one to take it off. 

Will you go home with…

He scratched it out and stared at the chat's white background. 

Should I worry…

Fuck, he sounded too pathetic. He looked up at the ceiling and played around with his tongue in his mouth. He sighed and accepted that was probably what he needed to be, pathetic. There was no other way. 

You're so beautiful. I just want you for myself, you know. Can I have you for myself?

He stared at the message. He was so pathetic, especially because he was still hard. He bit his thumbnail while waiting for an answer but she didn't even open the message. He dragged his hands over his face over and over but realized after a while he must sleep. Even if she didn't answer. He laid his phone under the pillow so his wife wouldn't see he was messaging Little Lou. 

××× 

Bill felt a hand over his naked chest, a finger tip circling around his nipple. He smirked a little and thought about Aurora's birthday outfit, she must have come home now and wanted his cock. He made a sound of pleasure when she kissed his neck but it was caught in his throat. The lips didn't feel right. Aurora's lips were pouty and always soft with either lipstick or lipgloss; these were not, it was even more obvious when they kissed. It wasn't Aurora’s soft kisses, this was his wife's more determined, dry kisses. Bill opened his eyes and looked down at her hand touching him over his boxers. He was still hard, probably still because of Aurora and her little outfit. For a moment he let his wife continue. Sucking his neck and dragging her hand over his erection, even if he was now used to a more careful and soft way. He let his wife top him in her underwear but when he opened his eyes and didn't see soft futures and brown eyes he pushed away his wife carefully. “I'm too tired…” he said lowly and turned his back to her. She made an offended sound. 

“Your are so fucking boring,” she said and pushed his back lightly. Bill closed his eyes tightly. He didn't know what was right and could hear his bad conscience like a group of seagulls in his head. They got company when his wife started to snore. It had probably been a bit too much wine for her at the party and Bill wondered if there was a guy from the night she thought about when she stuffed her hand in his boxers. Bill sighed and stood up with his pillow and phone and silently walked out to the couch in the living room. Could he leave his wife for a girl who didn't want a relationship? That maybe didn't even have real feelings for him? She probably hadn't, he was the boring Skarsgård after all. 

××× 

He walked up The Skinnarvik mountain even if he slipped on the ice over and over. He just needed a place to breathe. It was early morning and Södermalm hadn't woken up yet so he could sit down on a cliff and enjoy the silence. He wanted his guilty conscience to become just as silent but it had rooted in him and itched like a rash. 

He wanted to leave his wife but it was the wrong time. It was Christmas Eve in three days. He couldn't do that to his daughters and also risked being homeless over Christmas. He needed to wait. 

He looked at the clock on his phone, 7.45. Then it was 1.45 in New York. 

Are you awake?

He just needed to hear Aurora’s sweet voice. Her giggle and accent made him always smile. 

Yeah. I just got home.

She sent a picture of herself once again in the bathroom mirror. She wore his knitted sweater and had two ponytails in her hair. Her face was fresh from makeup. She smiled sweetly with young cheeks. He took a screenshot. His girlfriend. He knew he had no right to even think it but she was. In his heart she was. 

Is that the tenth screenshot you’ve taken tonight? :p

Haha probably. I miss you. Can I call? 

Aurora sat under her cover in bed with a warm chest. There was just something with Bill. She had never felt so warm and safe before. He was so sweet and lovable. Maybe it was some kind of a Swedish thing, or his age but it was just something that made him so obviously “husband material”. He was the kind of man she wanted for the rest of her life. 

Of course! 

Bill called her with cold hands with his heart in his throat. As soon as he heard her voice he forgot that he was cheating. It was just the two of them in the whole world. 

“Why did it take so long for you to contact me?” She asked carefully. 

“Ehh… I don't know. I guess I didn't dare?” Bill said and looked around at the Stockholm view. “You didn't contact me either,” he continued teasingly. 

“I'm a good girl. I was waiting for you,” she said playfully and with a bit of a childish voice. Bill laughed but then changed the subject. 

“How was your birthday, babe?” 

“It was good, chill. And I took another top! It was too cold!” It wasn't like she didn't understand what Bill thought about the top.

“I can understand that.” Bill was pleased and knew he sounded that way too. Aurora giggled. “What did you wear instead?” 

“Nothing special.” 

“You always wear something special,” Bill said with a smirk. Aurora giggled again. 

“I'm sending you a picture.” 

Bill moved his phone from his ear to look at the picture. She wore a black dress with white lace and bow detail. It was quite modest and he wondered if this was her way to show she was off the market. 

“You're so pretty. I love the dress.” 

“I kinda had you in mind when I put it on…” 

Bill smiled wide but didn't say anything, his heart was beating too hard. 

They continued to talk about her night out, his glöggmingel (but left his wife out) and he explained Swedish Christmas traditions. He had told all of his colleagues about Swedish Christmas but this was one of few times he liked talking about it. Her questions were cute, she made him think of things he had never really thought of and she asked about his girls in a thoughtful way. 

“You know I love you, right?” He heard himself say and he licked his lips nervously. On the other side of the line sat Aurora with a beating heart and hid her blushing face in the covers even if she was alone. 

“I love you too. And you're my dream man.” 

××× 

"You're my dream man."

Bill had a wide smile on his lips while he stood in the shower. He showered hot after being out for almost two hours in the snowy landscape. He let the water stream down, burning his skin like his emotions burned his insides. He looked down at his body. He was pleased with himself; he had started working out more and dragged his fingertips over his pubic hair. He would trim it down short and shave off his happy trail completely. He always felt his stomach looked more fit if he did that and now he could see abs when he flexed. As always the stomach was the hardest for him to train. His legs seem to be fit just by biking to work, his arms and shoulders just needed that one hour long gym time he have had before but a soft belly he seemed to get just by looking at pasta. 

He flexed his stomach again. He wasn't that fit yet he could see the muscles while relaxing so he would probably be forced to flex most of the time he was together with Aurora. He just wanted her to see his hard work. 

They had decided he would come around the fifth of January to her, his girls were back in school then but he also had time to manipulate his job to give him work at New York University. He said to Aurora he just wanted the trip paid for by them and that was why he would talk with them but in reality he needed an excuse to say to his wife. 

His wife stood outside of the bathroom and listened to Bill sing a song in the shower. It sounded like that new RnB singer but she didn't think he listened to such music. 

It wasn't like she hadn't noticed something was up with Bill. Especially when she had come home yesterday and saw him in bed. He was much more fit than he had been for years and a few days earlier when she looked through his phone she saw that he had sent a audition video to a Hollywood casting director. She looked through his phone quite often. She had it as a habit, she knew all his passwords. It wasn't something he knew but she was observant and just wanted to feel some sort of control. She had never expected him to cheat, she just wanted to see if he had other secrets. She took his phone that laid on the drawer in the bedroom. He didn't feel as innocent anymore. She locked it up easily, the finger print lock had been taken away after he had woken up when his oldest daughter had pressed his thumb to the screen. 

Bill otherwise deleted sensitive materials, it was just of some sort of paranoia but that day he hadn't done it yet. He had just come home. His wife looked through his messages and found nothing, also his call list but there wasn't anything strange either. Then she opened the image gallery. A young woman's face met her at once. A young woman's bathroom selfie. She had no makeup on but still was gorgeous. She clicked on the screenshot folder and found more pictures of the girl. She looked like she was in her early twenties. Picture of her in a black dress, close ups of her face with glittery lips and long lashes, a picture of her in a bra while another girl curled her hair. The last picture was one more picture of her in the bathroom mirror, with a naked backside. She was curvy at the right places and had a cute girly smile. Bill's wife could hear her pulse in her head. She didn't know if he had contact with the girl or if she was just some online girl he had gotten obsessed with. He was in the right age for suddenly getting obsessed with a teenager. 

She opened Snapchat and saw his top conversation. 

Little Lou. 

Just the bitmoji looked like the girl. Long dark hair, big brown eyes and full lips. It was painfully obvious her husband had some sort of relationship with a twenty year old girl. 

That pathetic man. 

×

#bill skarsgård #bill skarsgard #fan fiction #writing #story #bill skarsgård writing #bill skarsgård fanfiction #fiction

[sunspray-peak]

Ch. 67: Winter Star

THURSDAY - WINTER 25

“Rise and shine, Alexander, it’s Winter Star!” 

Achilles could’ve been banging pots and pans, and the aforementioned Alexander still likely would’ve only rolled over with a snore if the former hadn’t also jabbed him hard in forehead. In between a sputter and a yawn, Alex managed to murmur, “Is it Winter Star already?”

“Mmhm.” Achilles took advantage of Alex’s wide-reaching stretch to duck under his arms and lay himself underneath. “And look, it’s snowing, baby—well, I guess you can’t look, the curtains are closed…”

 Alex yawned again. “Never expected you to get excited over snow…” He gently swatted Voltaire, who had also joined the party, aside and pulled up the bed covers. 

“Oh, I still hate it, but it’s not too bad, and I’ve always wanted a White Winter Star. In Monstera, our Winter Stars are usually dry and… vaguely tannish.” 

“Yup, yup, makes sense…” Another yawn. “Geez, you’re already dressed?” Still bleary-eyed, Alex had pawed at Achilles’ chest only to encounter the soft knit of a wool sweater.

“It’s 9am.”

“Oh heck, seriously? Why didn’t you wake me up?” 

“Because it’s Winter Star! It’s your day off, you deserve to sleep in! Don’t worry, I made breakfast!” 

“I’ve never seen you so excited for a festival…” Yet another yawn. Clearly Alex hadn’t slept well—dark dreams, perhaps?—but his assessment was nevertheless fair. Winter Star had always been Achilles’ favorite holiday 

Back in Monstera, his parents had thrown a lavish, annual Winter Star party. It’d always been the talk of the town; there was live music and festive costumes and the most delicious food—roast beef and sweet potatoes and deviled eggs and lamb; the list went on and on. 

And Perry and Apolline had always made sure to order Achilles’ favorite—a chocolate cranberry pavlova. Oh, just thinking about it now made his mouth water… as Alex knew, he wasn’t usually a chocolate person, but the pastry chef for the Robinsons’ go-to caterer could not be beat. The pavlovas from the bakeries in Hyacinthia had never been the same, but Gus had promised him he’d do his best… 

Alex, however, clearly did not seem to share his enthusiasm for the holiday.

The two had been grabbing a drink with Emily and Haley the night before, and when they had left the saloon, Pelican Town was in the midst of its transformation for the festival. Multiple red carpets had been rolled out in the square encircling the massive Tree of the Winter Star. 

It had to have been nearly 50 feet tall, a real hefty pine tree Lewis had made sure to inform them had been sourced “right from our neighboring community in Sunspray!” And they had left the Stardrop just in time to see Willy flick on the lights, tiny silver bulbs illuminating baubles of gold and blue and red. And at the very top—a star that shimmered like a jewel under the moonlight. 

Privately, Achilles thought his parents’ tree was prettier, but even so, he had marveled at the towering sight. To his surprise, however, Alex had only made an uncharacteristic little “Hmph,” and hadn’t stopped to give it more than a second’s glance as they made their way back to Strawberry Farms. 

He could have chalked it up to familiarity—after all, Alex had lived in Stardew for nearly 13 years now, the tree wasn’t anything new to him—but in the carols Willy had begun to bellow, Achilles was reminded of Spirit’s Eve, and the memory to which he had borne witness.  

I think this was the first time I realized my dad wasn’t a good man. 

Even now, there was a heaviness to the way Alex was holding the glass of water Achilles had brought him. But perhaps he could help Alex create some new memories for the holiday.

God, you’re giving yourself too much credit, you narcissist… 

But Winter Star had always been only the most joyous of affairs in the Desrosiers-Robinson household. The parties were fun, but what Achilles had always loved most about Winter Star was the time with loved ones. Cheesy, but true. He had numerous fond memories celebrating with his family— holiday sweaters, the traditional breakfast of gingerbread muffins and peppermint hot chocolate, and then the presents! It was always a full day, packed to the brim with activities, and though there was no party here (perhaps he’d throw one of his own next year), he wasn’t planning on slowing down just because he was in Stardew. 

Achilles scurried up from the bed to draw back the curtains and welcome in the white shaft of sunlight that broke immediately through the blinds. It cut through the room like a knife, illuminating one half of Alex’s face and setting the bit of gold in his emerald eyes aglow. And even with Alex frowning and squinting hard into the glare of the glass in his hand, Achilles couldn’t help but stare. 

With his nose scrunched, Alex tossed Achilles a perturbed look as he scooted himself up against the headboard. “What are you looking at me like that for?” 

“Come on, you should know that anytime I’m looking at you, I’m admiring that overwhelmingly beautiful face of yours, my beautiful, beautiful boy.” 

Alex cleared the phlegm from his throat and rubbed the sand from his eyes. “Oh yeah?” 

“Yeah. I mean just look at that nose. Your favorite part of your face!” 

“That is true, it is my favorite—oh, okay—you’re in a—extra good mood—”

Achilles had hopped gently back onto the bed—he was straddling him now, holding his face in both his hands before leaning forward to kiss the aforementioned nose. He had taken their conversation two nights previously to heart. It had hurt to learn Alex had been anxious, but Achilles was determined to make it up to him now. Alex had been right—Achilles wasn’t naturally a touchy person, but he’d promised himself he’d be more considerate now for Alex’s sake. 

“Do you want to know what my favorite part of your face is?”

Alex drummed his fingers along Achilles’ thighs and fought back another yawn. “Just dying to know.” 

“All of it.” 

“Ha ha, Ash.” Alex rolled his eyes, but the morning’s melancholy seemed to be melting slowly away under Achilles’ touch, for he was now smiling as he slid a hand under the back of Achilles’ sweater. “Real, uh, diplomatic an answer.” 

“See, I’m sure everybody else says your eyes, but since I’m just so incredibly unique and quirky, I decided I’d—” But he cut his rambling joke short after witnessing the wince that had flashed across Alex’s face for just a fraction of a second. “What, you don’t like your eyes?” 

“No, no…” Alex gave his head a little shake, ran a hand though his bed head.“I dunno. I just wish they weren’t my dad’s.” 

Oh. 

“Hmm. Let me get a better look.” Achilles had, of course, committed the whole spectrum of those iris’ shades to memory quite a long while ago, but he took his time as he cupped Alex’s chin and studied him closely with a sideways tilt of his head before concluding his examination with a smart pat on the shoulder. “Hmm. I say, Master Mullner, I’m no artist, but yours are quite different a shade. Much warmer—an earthier tint, if you will. Sure, they’re both green, but you wouldn’t call an avocado peel the same color as a lima bean, now would you? Leah would be outraged.” 

Then, he kissed him once atop each eyelid as Alex laughed. Achilles was being silly, that was obvious enough, but even so… 

“Thank you,” Alex murmured, burrowing his head under Achilles’ chin and hugging him close.

They sat like this for a minute or two. Under the sunlight, in the silence. Achilles could feel his breath, warm against his chest, slow and soft—in fact, he wondered whether Alex had fallen back asleep, until his voice rang out, small and slightly muffled against his sweater, 

“What are we, Ash?” 

Oh no. 

“Hmm?” 

Achilles had, of course, heard him the first time, but he was choosing to buy himself a minute or two to formulate his response. 

“I just… I mean, I guess I understand if you feel it’s too early to have this conversation, it’s just that after Tuesday, I guess, I was just wondering… I don’t know. It’s been a few weeks, now. What are we?” 

This is so unfair. 

Achilles leaned back to better facilitate eye contact and almost immediately regretted it; those puppy-dog eyes—it was too much. “Well, what do you want us to be?” 

“I asked you the question first.” 

“You actually asked a different question, technically—”

“Achilles…” 

Your nose is twitching. Your nose is twitching! Drag it out, at least until you can get to the kitchen—

“We’re dating. Do you want more?” 

Alex bit his lip. “Do you want more?” 

“I asked you the question first.” 

“Okay, okay, okay—”

Just kidding, don’t drag it out, can’t you see how stressed he is! Ugh, forget about it. Just do it. 

Achilles sat backwards onto the heels of his feet and pinched his nose. “I had a whole thing planned out, you know. For Saturday. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, a nice speech, a wonderfully romantic walk along the boardwalk. It was going to be a whole thing, but I guess you’ll never see it now.” He sighed and tapped Alex’s forehead. “I want you to be my boyfriend, Alexander Joshua Mullner. How about that? Would you like to be my boyfriend, hmm?”

It was clearly not the response Alex had expected from the rate Achilles’ nose had been twitching—his lips parted in an ‘o,’ and it was several seconds before he managed to say, “Um. Oh. Yeah. I mean, sure. Yeah!” 

“Great.” 

A pause. Then both of them began to speak.

“I’m sorry, this would’ve been significantly less awkward on Saturday—”

“I’m sorry, I really futzed up your plan didn’t I—”

Achilles shrugged, smiling, though Voltaire seemed to give an emphatic “Mew.” 

“Nah, it’s okay, it wasn’t anything particularly fancy. The weather forecast says it’s supposed to be pretty warm, I thought perhaps we could have a picnic on the beach, we spent a lot of time there together this past year… Sit on the boardwalk where I, one could say, once regurgitated the contents of my alcohol-filled stomach with great gusto. You know. Very romantic.” 

“Oh, yeah, real romantic…” Alex chuckled and then looked back up at Achilles. “Well we can still have the picnic, can’t we? Like, do I at least still get the flowers?” 

“Absolutely not, you get nothing.”

“I get you.” 

The quip came quick, and Achilles couldn’t help but blush as Alex crawled forward to wrap his arms around his neck and kiss his cheek, whispering, “Happy Winter Star to me.” 

Oh hell, in the span of three minutes, he’d nearly forgotten it was Winter Star—there was a schedule to keep! Achilles jumped off the bed and hurled Alex a dark green sweater he’d purchased for him the week before. 

“Get dressed and brush your teeth. I baked some muffins and they taste best fresh.” He had scurried halfway to the kitchen when he remembered his promise and dashed back to give Alex a kiss of his own, only to be accosted with, 

“You baked muffins—?” 

*****

The muffins were good, the peppermint hot chocolate marginally less so (too much peppermint), but they took their vittles to the living room to lounge by the fireplace among the poinsettias and other decorations Achilles had put up in the two hours before Alex had woken. 

He’d someone, somehow, forgotten to purchase a tree—absolutely ridiculous, who even was he? Truly, never mind all the half-eaten takeout, that was the real indication of his mental state earlier this season…—and worse, had only realized it after purchasing a (wildly expensive) set of silver and gold glass ornaments. With no choice but to improvise, he’d hung them from the mantel like stockings and strung the white string lights and ribbon across the beams of the ceiling.

As for the crystal star topper he’d spent two days scouring the web for—he had tied it to the top of the potted plant Elliott had gifted him so many seasons ago and placed it in the center of the coffee table alongside an admirable stack of gift bags and presents, each neatly labeled with the name of their recipient—Elliott, Leah, Emily, Shane, among others. 

One gift bag was already empty, its contents and swathes of wrapping paper strewn across its giftee’s lap—a smart watch (the latest waterproof model, as Achilles had previously promised); a plush, embroidered towel; a pair of sneakers he knew Alex had been eyeing; and a bright blue bandana, a bag of treats, and a thin leather collar. 

“But that’s all for Dusty, not you, just to be clear,” Achilles said, taking a peek into the gift bag Alex had handed him just as Alex experimentally unclasped the collar. “I mean. Unless you want to wear it, I won’t say no, exactly…” 

Like a kid—the true Winter Star spirit—Alex dissolved into a fit of giggles so “disgustingly, overwhelmingly adorable” (as Achilles would say later that evening in a marginally more inebriated state) that Achilles’ cheeks couldn’t help but hurt from smiling so hard. To cap it off, Alex crawled across the couch to tackle him in a tight squeeze of a hug. “Thank you, Ash.” 

For Achilles, Alex had gathered a selection of small goods, each accompanied by a handwritten little note: a mini umbrella (“Because you still haven’t baught one, you punk. Remember that time you left Penny and I in the rain?”); a cat shaped mug, complete with a lid with ears (“Because you always spill tea on yourself”); a nice set of waterproof notebooks (“Because I accidentally totally ruined that one notebook of yours that time we went out on the boat, and especially now that you write around water a bunch”); a sheet of colorful temporary tattoos (‘Because your always doing a good job every day!’), and finally, a framed photograph that Achilles didn’t quite recognize.  

“It’s from my birthday party, when Haley was taking photos—she showed me this one a few weeks ago, and I just thought it was… nice.” Alex shrugged from over Achilles’ shoulder.

Now that he was taking a closer look, he recognized the game of beach volleyball going on in the background. It was a candid shot, for sure—Achilles half sprawled in the sand, laughing, after spiking the ball across the net. Alex grinning, kneeling down to help pull him up under the glow of the sunset. 

Achilles held the frame between his hands and stared resolutely down at the photo, his eyes beginning to burn just the tiniest bit. “Thanks, Al.” 

“Oh, but Voltaire, I’m so sorry, I’m the worst, I didn’t get you anything—”

With a small start, he looked up to witness Alex scooped up the maine coon in one fluid motion and bury his face in his fur. 

*****

“So, which one of those is for the gift exchange?” 

Post-violent cuddling, Voltaire had wriggled himself from Alex’s grasp and found a comfortable spot in Achilles’ lap, while Achilles himself had chosen to stretch across the sofa, his head in Alex’s lap. Alex subsequently had no lap to lie on, but he was now donning a giant green bow that Achilles had managed to violently stick to the top of his head after a couch-side tussle. Stuffed on muffins and hot chocolate, they had only a few minutes to go before they were to head over to Pelican Town for the community celebration. 

“Hmm?” Achilles glanced back over at the presents surrounding the Potted Shrub of the Winter Star. “What gift exchange?”

“The one for the festival?”

“Fuck. What one for the festival?”

“The one—well it’s why the town shows up an hour early—Lewis didn’t tell you? I told him you never check your—”

“Fucking hell—”

“Oh, Achilles, when will you learn—”

Achilles bolted from the couch, sending Voltaire sprawling with an indigent “Meow!” to the ground, and sprinted out the door to the mailbox. With a huff, he wrenched the little flap open and scooped the entire contents to the snowy ground. 

“Put a jacket on, put a jacket on—sheesh, man, you’re gonna get pneumonia again—” Alex, hopping bowlegged among the snow drifts, caught up a moment later, throwing a coat over Achilles’ huddled figure. 

Advertisements, bills (that he paid online), and letters, so many letters—seriously, who was sending him mail these days? He hurriedly dug through the stacks of paper fluttering about on the ground, keeping an eye out for the pale green envelopes he knew Lewis was apt to use. 

“‘Starting tomorrow, a traveling merchant fleet…’ No...” 

Alex was helping now, too, squatting next to him, squinting at a cream sheet of cardstock in his hands. “‘Dear Ah—Ah—’ Geez Louise, is that really how your name is spelled or is my dumb bunny brain just kicking into overdrive? ‘One… week from today…’ Man, this is from last season, Ash—”

“Gift exchange? Like a Secret Santa-esque event? Fuck, I didn’t even opt into this, does Lewis just assume everyone wants to participate?” Achilles flung a belated invitation to Spirit’s Eve into the “discard” pile. 

“Yeah, it’s kinda tradition…” Alex studied another sheet of cardstock carefully before adding it to the growing pile. “But heyyo, maybe you’ll have like Leah or Elliott, someone you already bought something for—”

“Oh, it’s going to be someone like… Demetrius. Or Caroline. Fuck, this is going to be so embarrassing—wait, oh my god.” 

“What?” 

“‘This is embarrassing… “

“It’ll be fine, we’ll figure something out—”

“No, no,I’m reading aloud—listen to this—

‘Achilles, this is embarrassing. I lost my lucky purple shorts. I’m telling you because I think I can trust you. If you find them, bring them back to me DISCREETLY. I’ll pay well. Th-th-thanks. M—Mayor—’” Achilles, whose voice had been remarkably increasing in pitch into teakettle territory as he read the note, began to succumb to his fit of laughter, barely choking out the final words. “‘Mayor Lewis.’ Pay well? Pay well? Does he realize who he’s trying to bribe?” He passed the note to Alex. “I can’t…”  

“Holy moly—”

“I can’t. I wish I had found this earlier—”

“Yoba, why the heck does he think he can trust you, you literally just moved here this year—”

“God, and the thing is, now that I think about it, I have seen a pair of purple shorts—”

“Oh, Ash, we have five minutes before we need to go—”

“—but what did he expect me to do—”

“Ash—”

“—just waltz into her bedroom and grab ‘em from the floor—”

“Achilles—are you listening to me, we have five minutes—”

“All right, all right, all right….” 

They continued to search, until finally, a little “Bingo!” indicated Achilles had found what they’d been looking for. He waved the envelope under Alex’s nose in celebration before unfolding the rest of the note.  

“Read it aloud!”

“Why? You got the same damn lett—okay, okay, fine… 

“’Dear Ashe Achilles…’” 

He glanced up. “How is it that the bastard still can’t spell my name?”

“Maybe if you opened a letter once in a while you could’ve corrected him earlier.” 

“Sassy. Ok—

“‘I would like to give you some information about an upcoming event: the Feast of the Winter Star. It’s a time for the community to come together and think back on all the good fortune we’ve had this year. A favorite tradition is the ‘secret gift exchange,’ where everyone in town is randomly assigned to someone else. On the day of the festival, everyone brings a gift for their secret friend—‘ Secret friend? Who says that? That sounds like something you’d call an affair partner—” 

“Keep reading you punk!”

“’And surprise them with something special! This year, your secret friend is—” Achilles flipped over the letter. “Please don’t be Clint, please don’t be Clint, I haven’t spoken to him in— Oh. A thing like that.” 

“Who is it?” In his anticipation, Alex nearly lost his balance from leaning so far over, but Achilles gave him a light shove. 

“Well you know,” he folded the letter and gave it an aggravatingly pompous little tap as he inserted it back into the envelope. “Lewis says I’m not supposed to tell anyone…”

“I’m trying to help, man—”

“You. My ‘secret friend’ is you. Well.” Achilles stood, both arms full of mail that he fully intended to use as kindling that evening. “That makes it easy. Come on, let’s just put something back in the box, I’ll rewrap it and bring it to Pelican Town. Can’t show up empty-handed, don’t need Lewis telling me I’m a disgrace to the community or something…” 

He padded back to the porch before turning back to Alex. “Damn, I’m sorry, Al. Could’ve surprised you with one more gift had I been a normal person and checked my mail…” 

“It’s okay!” Alex opened the door and gestured for him to go in first. “You’re my surprise gift. Although if I can be honest…”

From behind, Alex embraced Achilles as they reentered the farmhouse, and, lifting him slightly off the ground, gave him a little spin—god, he would never in a million years get used to the feeling of being wrapped in those arms—“I think ya boy may have low key been calling you my boyfriend in my head since like our first date.” 

“Oh yeah? You want to make Winter 13 our anniversary date instead? I’ve always felt sharing with a holiday halves the fun of both the holiday and the anniversary, so while you do get the same amount of fun overall, everything somehow feels… less… hmm. Saturated.” 

“I’ll take your word for it, you of all people would know.” Alex sighed at the pile of mail Achilles had dumped unceremoniously onto the living room floor before unclasping his new watch from his wrist. “Let’s rewrap this one, let me flex my rich boyfriend on all those other Zuzu townies…” 

*****

Crisis averted. Achilles had rewrapped the shoes (he had persuaded Alex that a gift as expensive and pseudo-flashy as the watch wouldn’t be in good taste for a public gift exchange, even though “Everyone knows you’re rich, Ash,” “I don’t even know how everyone knows, it’s not like I go around talking about it, that’s tacky as hell,” “Achilles, both your parents and you have Wikipedia pages and you singlehandedly fixed the town’s mining cart system.”) in a jiffy, and before they knew it, they were bidding farewell to Voltaire and making their way east to Pelican Town. 

“Achilles, this is where we first met!” 

Alex had given Achilles’ arm an eager little tug. He glanced at the approaching bus stop bench that Alex was gleefully pointing out. A year ago, they’d both dove under the stoop to hide from the Spring rain, but today the benches were soaked with melted snow that’d been blown under by this Winter’s temperamental winds. 

“Oh. Sure, I suppose.” He craned his neck for a better look—why was Alex pointing this out?“We walk by this almost every day, Al.” 

“Titanic?” 

“Pardon? Now you’ve really lost me.” 

“I was quoting Titanic. Remember? You quoted Titanic?” 

“No, when did I quote Titanic?”

“Here, at the bus stop! Oh, wait no, my bad, actually, I take that back, you quoted Titanic that night on the boardwalk…” 

“Oh, no wonder I don’t remember—” 

“You called yourself a poor little rich girl.” Alex chuckled at the memory. “I hadn’t watched it at the time, but I rented it with Haley a couple weeks after...”  

They were now parallel with the bus stop, and both stopped, standing side by side, to take a look.

“If it hadn’t rained that night, do you think we’d still be friends?” 

“Oh, for sure, we would’ve met each other sooner or later…” Achilles shrugged. “Small town. Even smaller number of people who could pronounce my name correctly, appreciate mediocre children’s literature, and enjoy House of the Phoenix.” 

“Yeah, that’s true…” Alex gave the bus stop a little tilt of his head before leading them onwards. “But even in a big town I like to think we would’ve found each other.” 

They entered Pelican Town walking in step, and as their shoes hit well-shoveled cobblestone and the sounds of carols filled their ears, Achilles slipped his fingers through Alex’s, prompting a little “Ope!” to escape his lips. 

“I thought you didn’t like holding hands?” 

“Mmm. But you do.”  

*****

Pelican Town was awash in pastel fairy lights twinkling like cotton candy stars across the snow. Massive candy canes, taller than Alex, rose from the ground alongside newly erected pine trees— smaller than the one in the center of the square, but ornamented with the same colorful cheer. 

The fences had been wrapped in garlands of green and red and wreaths hung from ever home. There were no actual carolers, but the music was blasting merrily from speakers hidden deftly within massive, faux gift boxes scattered among the town. 

Between the obvious festive cheer and the man standing next to him, Achilles’ heart couldn’t be set more aglow; he was holding onto Alex with both hands now, pulling him close as they laughed at nothing under the bright Winter sun. Yoba, even the temperature was perfect. Not a hint of wind now, and the snow was quickly fading to flurries… He hadn’t felt so carefree in years.  

“Oh my! Aren’t you cold, dear? It’s freezing!” Evelyn, herself in a bright pink puffer jacket, greeted them with a hug each. “That coat looks much too thin, Achilles… perhaps you can grab one of Alex’s before Lewis arrives…”

The Festival didn’t open to the public until 1pm; the hour before was reserved for the townsfolk to celebrate, and they were all currently waiting for Lewis to kick off the gift exchange. 

Achilles laughed—he was doing a lot of that lately—and waved aside her concerns. “I’m fine, but thank you, Evelyn.” 

 He was happy to see George greet his grandson, though the old man offered him only a stiff nod. Achilles wasn’t surprised; he was quite mindful of those beady eyes watching him grip Alex’s arm. But even so, it was an improvement over the silent treatment they’d both been receiving before. 

But as Evelyn ruffled his hair, he felt something slap his thigh and he looked down to see George force a single, still-steaming snickerdoodle cookie into his hands.

“Oh. Thank you… for this, George, these are my favorite.” 

George grunted. 

Soon, Mayor Lewis arrived, and after gathering the townsfolk in front of the tree in the center of the square, gave a lofty speech espousing the usual values of community and friendship and holiday cheer before finally kicking off the gift exchange. 

Achilles was given a tub of clay from Jas, which he accepted with a significant degree of feigned enthusiasm. Perhaps Leah would appreciate it. Shane’s god-daughter however, also handed him a second box that was revealed to contain a multipack of typewriter ribbon. He strongly suspected Shane must’ve intervened, a theory all but confirmed by the stout man’s intense stare as Achilles thanked the girl for the gifts. 

They could hear the crowds beginning to form—the Feast of the Winter Star was allegedly the third most popular festival for the Valley (behind, of course, Zuzu Time’s #1 Ranked Spirit’s Eve Celebration 10 years in a row and the County Fair), though Achilles wasn’t exactly sure why, given the lack of activities. Truly, outside of Haley’s photo booth, the Feast was, as its name suggested, mostly just a feast. 

It was free to attend, but donations were welcome. Achilles himself had donated five hundred dollars the preceding week, though apparently that hadn’t been enough for Lewis, who had cornered him halfway during the gift exchange, waving a metal tin under his nose and shouting something about “esteemed representatives of the community.” 

But all things come to an end—including Lewis’ nagging, and when 1pm hit, Lewis had no choice but to leave Achilles alone and open the gates for the public. The Feast had officially begun! 

*****

They had managed to snag a table before the majority of the newcomers streamed in, but the moment Gus declared the meals ready, Alex quickly leapt to his feet. “I can get us food—no, don’t get up! I’ll grab it, you stay here, don’t worry.”

He skipped over to wait in the already egregiously long line, leaving Achilles to fend for himself when Haley slipped into the seat next to him. She set her camera between them and folded her arms primly atop the table, giving a curt little nod in Alex’s general direction.

“Look at him,” she sniffed, not waiting for Achilles to follow her gaze. “It’s a strange thing to see, after knowing him all these years… Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been nice to all his girlfriends, you’re not special there. Keeping chivalry alive singlehandedly.” 

Someone—a stranger, likely from Zuzu—approached them to take an open seat, but Haley shot the man the most disparaging look down the bridge of her nose, and he scampered away. She continued as if nothing happened, tracing a line down the tablecloth with a perfectly manicured finger. 

“It was… different then, though. I always thought there was something… not inauthentic, per se, but you could tell the boy’s heart wasn’t really ever into it… Can’t believe I never called it, who even am I. Gay and asexual. Gaysexual? Who’d have thought, really, given the way that man allegedly fucked his way across campus sophomore year, though perhaps the ‘allegedly’ was really carrying all the weight this whole time—”

“Such a lovely way with words, you always have—”

“Anyway, all that to say, he still seems quite different with you. I don’t know how to describe it, exactly. Hmm… With you… Well.” Haley took a sip from her cider and slowly curled her fingers around Achilles’ gloved wrist. “He just worships the ground you walk on, doesn’t he?” 

Achilles watched Alex chat with Stardew’s favorite troublemaking trio in line. He was easy to pick out from the masses; the bomber jacket he’d pretty much stolen from Achilles at this point; the way he stood, perfect posture with his heels slightly off the ground, like a bird ready to take flight; the precise angle at which he tossed his head back when he laughed. 

Achilles smiled and turned back to Haley. “And I the air he breathes.” 

“Quoting something? That sounds like a quote.” 

“Mmm. Elliott’s novel, actually.” 

She tittered. “What were the chances you think, of him actually choosing you?”  

“I choose not to dwell on such inane, trivial matters.” Achilles took in her single raised eyebrow and rolled his eyes. “I don’t think about it. Why, you don’t approve?” 

“Oh, please.” It was Haley’s turn to roll her eyes. “Do not ever ask me again if I don’t approve.” 

And with a sharp flick of his nose, she stood and flounced away. 

*****

Sebastian, Abigail, and Sam joined Achilles and Alex at their table, plates heaping with food rivaling that of even his parents’ party. Roasted carrots popping against slices of honey glazed ham, gravy-laden goose next to crispy green bean casserole, cranberry sauce dripping into steaming corn bread—Alex had made sure to grab him a slice of chocolate cranberry pavlova as well (“You gotta get the desserts right away, otherwise they’re all gone”). 

As to be expected, Elliott and Leah soon followed, along with Penny and Maru. It was turning into quite the little Stardew Valley party over at their table; unfortunately Emily was stuck helping Gus with the catering, and Haley had returned to her photo booth. 

“Oh darn it, I forgot the drinks—I’m going to get some hot chocolate, I think. Do you want one? No, no, you stay here, I’ll grab you one!” Alex bounded from his chair for the drinks station. 

“Hi!” 

A girl seemed to have popped out of thin air—early 20s, if Achilles were to venture a guess, with gold ringlets and rather blinding white teeth. Instinctively, Achilles found himself stifling a groan.

“The guy who just stood up—are you guys friends with him?”

It was Leah who responded, in her usual sardonic tone, hands perched primly under her chin. “Well, seeing as we’re all eating and talking together, I would venture to say… yes.”  

The girl admirably remained unruffled and gave a little nod to another woman at the neighboring table. “My friend over there was just wondering if he was single, she was hoping to give him her number if so.” 

Elliott let out a hearty guffaw, and, with Leah, naturally looked at Achilles. 

This always happens, why does this always happen… He turned to look at the girl. “Ah. He’s my… partner.” 

But she only furrowed her brow. “Partner? Like… business partner…?” 

This time, it was Leah who snorted into her mashed potatoes, though Abigail and Sam’s eyes had both turned as wide as saucers at Achilles’ reveal. 

A reveal it seemed he’d have to further clarify. “No… like, a boyfriend sort of partner. He’s my… boyfriend.” 

It took everything in him to keep a straight face as Abigail and Sam flopped dramatically in their chairs and began beating the dining table with their fists. 

“Oh—oh.” The girl turned red and took a step back. “Oh my god, that’s so embarrassing—of, course, I’m so sorry, I’m an idiot—I’ll tell my friend, but you two—you two make a gorgeous couple— like, gorgeous, so cute—okay, bye! Sorry for disturbing you, have a happy Winter Star!”

“Is this my life for the next… I don’t know, for the rest of my life?” Achilles asked just as Alex returned with two mugs of hot chocolate. 

“Is what your life? Who was that woman you were talking to?” 

“Jealous?” That was Abigail, jabbing her fork towards his general direction for emphasis. 

“What?” Alex’s brows knitted in his confusion. “No—why would I be—”

“What else do women ever want went they approach us?” Achilles patted Alex’s hand as he took a swig from the mug. “You.”

Sam continued the bombardment, adding with a mock groan, “We get it, Alex, you’re hot. God, leave some for the rest of us, will ya—” 

“—now doncha worry, Achilles told her you’re his partner—” 

“Partner?” Alex turned from Abigail back to Achilles, who gave a little shrug. “Like… business partner?” 

Oh, Alex… 

But before he could explain, Maru jumped in. “A rapidly growing number of people around the country are using the word ‘partner’ these days in lieu of ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ when referring to their significant other. It’s a much more inclusive term, I’m surprised you haven’t heard it before—” 

Achilles quickly cut in. “I’ve personally just never particularly loved using the word ‘boyfriend.’ But I don’t mind if you do, you can use whatever you’d like.” He placed a hand atop Alex’s shoulder, gave it a squeeze.

“Partner…” Alex seemed to roll the word around in his mouth, savoring the feel of those two syllables. “It sounds very adult. I can see why you like it, seems on brand.” 

*****

After the feast came a performance from the Meteor Elementary children’s choir. Familiar faces, Achilles saw, peeking above red and white turtlenecks. He cheered alongside Penny, standing to applaud as the students took their bows.   

Near the tail end of the Festival, as the sun began to set and the holiday lights began to flicker on, Lewis and his crew began to clean up the food-laden tables to clear some space in the square. The jolly carols that had been playing slowly transitioned to a more crooning series of tunes, as those who remained headed for the dance floor.  

Neither Alex nor Achilles were particularly inclined to join, both rather full on one too many servings of ham; the former was deep in conversation with Megan and none other than Tanya from Orange Grove, while the latter was jotting down a sudden idea into a notebook propped against the edge of the table. But when his favorite Winter Star ballad came on, Achilles stood and offered his hand. 

“Sorry, I don’t know how to do this right,” Alex shyly mumbled as Achilles led him to the floor and slid his free hand around his waist. “I don’t know where I’m supposed to put my hands—never done this with… well, you know…” 

“Your boyfriend?”

“My partner?” 

“In crime or business?” 

Alex laughed and followed his partner’s lead, placing his hand on his back and leaning into his body, his cheek against Achilles’, with a small, satisfied sigh. 

*****

“Well. Now comes the painful hour where I must release you to your forebears…”

Achilles, slightly tipsy now from a handful of unsuspectingly strong hot toddies, gave Alex a low bow before accidentally tripping forward. 

“I’m not drunk,” he insisted, though he allowed Alex to scoop him up and then subsequently buried himself in his sweater, breathing in the lingering scents of garlic mashed potatoes and gingerbread, enveloping himself in his comforting warmth. “I just… lost my balance.” 

“You don’t need to defend yourself. Need me to walk you home?” 

“I don’t need it, but I mean… it is dark… who knows, I could get lost in the woods…” He walked his fingers up Alex’s chest as Alex chuckled softly and ruffled Achilles’ what had been meticulously styled hair. 

“Woods my butt, the only thing between your house and town is the bus stop. But come on. Let’s get you back.” 

The Festival had ended, the crowds had dispersed. The tree would stay up until the end of the season, but the rest of the decor was already being packed away by Lewis, Marnie, and the rest of the usual team. 

Having lain claim to Alex that morning, Achilles now had to bid the man farewell, for Alex was to spend the evening with his grandparents. They walked back to Strawberry Farms, Achilles with his two-handed grip around Alex’s arm (“This is not for stability, because, again, I’m not drunk. I actually just really like you, believe it or not.”), with only the sound of snow crunching underfoot. 

But he broke the silence as they passed the “Strawberry Farms,” sign Leah had carved for him, the paint looking just as fresh as it had when she’d given it to him that Summer, and half-tittered the chorus of a carol before asking, “Did you have a good Winter Star, baby?” 

“The best.” Alex gently pulled himself out of Achilles’ grip to wrap his own arms around his waist as they walked. “This morning was my favorite part, though, I think.” 

God, he was absolutely intoxicating—more so than any drink Achilles had had that night. Every part of him—his touch, his smell, even his voice, like whiskey burning through every one of Achilles’ veins. 

“I love you, Alex,” he murmured. He could see Alex smile under the faint glow of the approaching porch light. Achilles stepped forward, kissed him softly, and whispered again, into his lips, “I love you so much.” 

Alex responded by giving his nose a pinch (“Ow, what are you doing, it’s not even twitching.”). “Hey, you drink lots of water before you go to bed, you hear me?” 

Achilles waved him off. “Yes, mother—I told you, I’m not drunk.”

“Sure, sure.”

“No I’m not, I had maybe two drinks… as if I’d dare over indulge in public like that. And in front of Lewis, no less… but don’t you worry, Voltaire and I are going to make a very strong cup of tea tonight with our new mug.” 

“Good.” Alex kissed his cheek. “I love you.” And then, just before stepping off the bottom step into the dark, he turned and added, “Thank you.” 

#llnks #sdv alex #winter star #stardew valley fanfic #stardew valley oc #stardew valley alex #sdv fanfic #sdv fic

[carelessflower]

MALEC IN LONDON

They waited outside the London Eye, Magnus had the tickets in his hand, they both stood there in silence.

"Alexander can I ask you something?" Here goes nothing

"Yes?"

"I like you. No. What I meant was when we go back to New York, do you want to go on a date with me?" Magnus looked at him, Alec smiled, before nodding.

"Yes I would love that." Alec kissed his cheek, as they held hands. Magnus wrapped an arm around Alec and pulled him closer, some older couple stared at them with a look of digust as the elderly male mouthed, something that sounded racist towards Magnus, before Magnus gave them the finger, moving past them, and handing the man their tickets. He looked at the ticket before looking at the men.

"You guys have your own capsual. Just wait a minute." The man said, before he said something in his walkie talkie, and then he let them on.

"Did your cousin pay extra for our own capsual?"

"Looks like it." Magnus said, they both sat down, as the capsual started to move slowly.

"Youve never been to London?"

"I havent."

"You know Magnus, I would like to be your boyfriend. That would be nice." Why was he awkward.

"I would like that." Magnus smiled, as they kissed each other softly on the lips.

"Did your cousin hook us up?"

"I think he did." Magnus responded, as they both sat next to each other, taking in the view. He looked at Alec who rested his head against his shoulder. His phone buzzed.

Dad: your coming home tonight?

Magnus: yes? Why?

Dad: no reason.

Magnus put his phone away, as he hugged Alec tightly, they sat in the capsual in silence, looking at the view, the sun shone, causing a rainbow to appear. Alec took some pictures, wanting to cherish this moment.

The capsual doors opened, as they got off, holsing hands they made their way across the street, and into a cafe, where Stanley was sitting, he looked up, and smiled.

"So you asked him? Told you." Stanley chuckled, as a waiter came over.

"Can we have two chicken bakes, and one chicken pastie, with two cokes, and 1 earl gray." Alec ordered, as the waiter wrote it down, and went back to the kitchen.

"How much money did you spend these past two days?" Alec asked, he wanted to pay him back.

"Doesnt matter Alexander, its a treat. Also congrats we need to celebrate."

"Celebrate what?" Magnus looked at his cousin with an confused look. The blonde was about to say somethng, as the the waiter came back with the food and drinks, and walked to another table.

"You two dating. Come on Magnus back in New York before I go back to Oxford." Stanley took a sip of his coke, Magnus nodded.

"Oi you." A voice called out, they all looked up, it was the older couple from before.

"Shit." Magnus muttered, Stanley stood up.

"Is everything okay?"

"No, that boy swore at us."

"Did you?" Stanley looked at him.

"The fucker said something racist so I responded back."

"You little fa-" before the male could say anything, Stanley stood closer to the elderly couple, smiling, his eyes darkerning.

"Before you finish that sentence, and before I let my cousin say something else that would trigger you, im just asking for you to turn around, and get the fuck out."

"Your not the boss."

"No, but I know the boss of this fine establishment, and she would not let cunts in this shop." He sat back down.

"Goodbye." Magnus said, the couple stood there, before turning on their heels and leaving the cafe.

"You didnt need to do that."

"Well I did, you saved my ass last time."

"Are you both okay." Alec said looking at them. They both nodded.

"Do you know the person of this establishment?"

"No but ive seen the couple before, buch of assholes that gave the manager a lot of trouble." Stanley replied, as a tall, asian woman came over.

"Stanley thank you, and is this your friends?" She said.

"This is my cousin Magnus, and his boyfriend Alexander." He pointed.

"My name is Diya, nice to meet you." She smiled, as she walked back to speak to the waiters.

"She is from Malaysia, came over a few years back, she is a friend of a friend. You know Hannah, she is close with her." Stanley said, finishing his chicken pastie.

Hannah was one of Magnus's older cousin, she is first in line to the throne, and they have met a few times.

"I think we should stay the night, get the flight to New York in the early morning. We can go to a restaurant with Tessa and her family." Magnus said, standing up, Alec followed in suit.

"That would be nice." Alec said, linking arms with his boyfriend.

"Shit. I need to call my dad saying im coming tommorow."

"Same, I need to text my mom."

Stanley rolled his eyes at them, as he texted his sister, that he was going to be in London for one night.

Alec texted his mother.

Alec: Sorry for the late reply, but im staying over for one more night.

Maryse: that is fine.

Alec: love you.

Magnus dialled his dad's number.

"Yes?"

"Im staying the night at Tessa we will get a flight to New York in the morning.""

"Thats fine. Just text me when you land. Ill pick you up."

"Okay. Bye." He hung up, as the trio walked back to Tessa's house.

END..

yayyyy, malec having a peaceful vacation as they should!!!!

#ask

[duckielover151]

Some OPLA Thoughts: Episode 4

Okay. So I took an unintended hiatus from the live action One Piece, but I have rewatched what I already saw, and I'm back now.

This episode had its ups and downs so... let's go in a negative-to-positive direction. I prefer to end on the high notes.

So to start... I have encountered my first major disappointment with this series. For an adaptation that's gotten so many things so right... they really messed up the portrayal of Kuina.

I think I knew it from the moment she says her first lines... Because the Kuina I knew would never have gone over to try to comfort Zoro after a loss. If anything, she would have gone over to gloat about beating him again. Which was perfectly fine, because it made it that much more impactful when she finally does break down and share her fears that she'll never be able to be the best, just because she was born as a girl.

A fear the live action never once mentions she has specifically because her father's been telling her so for as long as she can remember.

On the one hand, this live action is a great opportunity to get a new wave of fans into this world and these characters. This was the first time I felt live action-only viewers suffered for not seeing the original, because I almost can't explain what an injustice this little plotline was originally. How Kuina was so rightfully angry, how she was actively proving him wrong-- beating not only the other kids at the dojo but all the adults who challenged her as well, the men included-- only to then have her father still be all, "It's a shame you'll never have as much potential as they do... etc." She fought against his sexist, old-fashioned beliefs with everything she had. To reveal that someone so strong was secretly afraid he might be right was a powerful moment.

Everything about Zoro's backstory just felt almost watered down. It's unfortunate.

The one thing I was kind of lukewarm about with this episode was that I don't feel like it showcased Usopp's strengths enough. (And at this point in the series, he really doesn't have that many of them so it's kind of necessary to go all out...) He slingshots a couple things in episode four, but it's nothing compared to the arsenal of tools and inventions he already had under his belt at this point in the original. What keeps his character afloat-- amidst all these other monstrously strong ones-- is his creativity, and I don't feel like the live action adequately showcased that. But this episode does end with the crew already getting into another fight, so that redemption may be coming soon.

That said, there is still more good than bad. Usopp's actor is doing such a good job bringing him to life. I really loved the energy he had in the last episode when telling his tall tales... but I loved to hear how it was almost identical to his tone of urgency in this episode, when he's trying to convince Kaya she's in danger. Makes it a little more convincing that she might not believe him.

Alexander Maniatis was also really great as Klahadore/Kuro. This series has deserved all the praise it's gotten for how well-cast it is. I think what's impressed me most is that every time I've gone to look someone up, their name is almost always followed by some variation of, "this is their first major role." (And I absolutely loved seeing how ruffled Kuro-- infamous Captain Kuro of a Thousand Plans, arrogant jackass who doesn't believe anyone could one-up his scheming-- was getting over the course of the battle.)

And finally, though it was nice to see the confirmation of something romantic between Usopp and Kaya, I was more pleased by the decision to keep Merry dead. One Piece is so hard-hitting when it wants to be. But it also walks this line of being just a little toothless at times. (I hated the twist that none of the important characters really died in Alabasta.) I've got nothing against Merry, but I don't think he was quite important enough to revive. Sometimes losing a few minor characters over the course of an adventure is necessary to really make an impact.

#one piece #opla #episode four

[godstaff]

Wanna hear about superwonder kids, they have a son and daughter:

the son named is Alexander who does martial arts including wrestling, boxing, and karate. He is a introvert but also a warrior like his mom. He got his mother weapons and powers as well.

The daughter name is Sophia who does cheer and book club. She’s takes after Superman gentle and sunny demeanor but also inherit her mother passionate nature. She does train with her parents and aunt kara with her kyptonian powers.

That's great!

I've already had my version of the kids: the elder is called Selene, She's a very tall girl, she reaches 7' as an adult and has blue hair (I took that detail from Frank Miller's Lara. I found it interesting, but they are not the same) and is 12 years older than her brother, Aster, who's height will be 7'4" (An entire foot taller than his dad). Coincidence: the initials of each name are the same as yours, S for the girl and A for the boy. Due to their uniqueness and towering above every other kid, they don't have a secret identity, because it would've been impossible to sustain. Their parents ditched their own secret identities a few years before having kids, because it seemed ridiculous and a waiste of time and effort. Besides, Clark Kent and Diana Prince together looked an awful lot like Superman and Wonder Woman together. No matter how much they hunch.

The children look more or less like this:

Selene (kryptonian name Lena-El. Lena: 'full moon' in Kryptonese)

Aster (Kypronian name: Ter-El. Ter: 'morning star' in Kryptonese)

Those are their "working" attires as Suprema and Starburst. Their birth was possible, in part, thanks to magic, because Diana is a being of magic, that's what made them so special. They don't have magic powers, even though Selene inherited her mother's universal empathic abilities.

Note: I've chosen the name Aster for the boy before we all knew of a hero named "Asteria" in Themysciran history, thanks to the WW84 movie. I'm glad everything clicked in the end.

Both kids practice martial arts. Terran and Kryptonian: Kung Fu, Karate, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu jitsu, Grecorroman wrestling, Torquasm Vo, Horu Kano and Klukor. Their mother insisted on it. They also have weapon training: sword, spear (hand held and throwing), bolas, knife (hand held and throwing), axe, etc. Diana wanted them to be prepared for anything in case they adopt their parents responsibilities as protectors of the planet and solar system. Kal thought it would be a wonderful and useful idea. Same as Cato Fong, from "The Pink Panther" movies, Diana suggested they engage in surprise attacks of each other, to test their readiness for any eventuality. She herself surprises her kids every once in a while. The children found this game hilarious and adopted it gladly.

The children embraced their parents protective tasks, because they fell in love with the planet. No so much with people, but they could see the potential of humanity. The words of grandpa Jor resonated in their ears: "They are good people. They wish to be. For this reason, above anyother else, I sent you, my only child to them. In time, they will meet you in the sun." The children wanted to honor their grandpa words. As their parents, they think of themselves as a team. Even with the difference in age, family and friends started calling them "the Star Twins".

Their uniqueness made it difficult to find couple. They found themselves looking for companion from other worlds. In one excursion to outer space, the now 18 years old Aster crossed paths with Queen Maxima. She hasn't aged a day since the days she made his father's life hell. She looked at the boy admiringly. He just saw a very beautiful ginger who seemed to be slightly older than him.

Maxima: My, my...you must be Kal-El's son. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. It became a taller tree, I see.

Aster: Hi, I'm Ter-El. I'm the son of Kal-El and Diana, now Queen Diana of Themyscira.

Maxima: Yeah, yeah. The Amazon. I hope they are alright -She added devoid of sincerity.

Aster: My dad told us about you. You were a bad kitty back then, weren't you, your Majesty?

Maxima: There's some truth in that. I'm not proud of my behavior in those days. I was a young, spoiled new queen. Smitten by your handsome father. I can admit it now.

Aster: I've done some searching. As it appears, you are a good queen for your people...

Maxima: I'd like to think so. I would invite you to Almerac to see for yourself, but I doubt your parents would aprove.

Aster: I can make my own decisions. And I find it interesting the chance of an alliance between our planets.

Maxima: Oh! How so?

Aster: Your Majesty: my sister and I now happen to be the appoined protectors of our solar system . With all the threats coming from everywhere in space, say...Darkseid, Mongul, Imperiex, Braniac (Dad deactivated him last time they fought, but with his ability to transfer his program and intelligence to any AI in the vecinity, you can't be absolutely sure).

Maxima: Good thinking, young one. Better safe than sorry. The invitation remains open. You can come to visit...with your sister, if you want.

Aster: I'm making a mental note of it. I can't say how good a monarch you are, but I can see that you are a very charming one, Majesty.

Maxima: Stop with that Majesty nonsense! Your family and I have history! Your father was part of the nobility of Krypton, the twelve important families. Please call me Maxima. Ter-El, right?

Aster: No, no! My father was the son of a farmer on Earth...

Maxima: I'm not talking of his life on your backwater planet. If Krypton would still be here, Kal-El would be attending meetings at the Supreme Council, like his father. How do you think he got the means for an interstellar ship to save your father? When I wanted to have an offspring with Kal-El, I did some research also.

Aster: That's certainly something to consider, Your Ma...xima.

Maxima: "Your Maxima..."? Crude, but it's a start.

Aster: Sorry for asking, Maxima: Did you solve the matter of your offspring and heritage?

Maxima: Yes, I have a son. About your age. One of my suitors, Saphron, son of High Father, made that gift to me before he passed away in an attack by the Furies. The name of my son is Taximon. Autentication of his lineage was a complete nightmare. High Father wanted me to renounce in his name to any claim to the throne of New Genesis. He's a strong an intelligent young man. I'm very proud of him. He's pretty much like you...not as tall, though.

Aster was watching every curve of Maxima's bodacious anathomy. He was familiar with the term "cougar". The queen filled all the specifications and his hormones were running rampant.

Aster: Maxima: I won't take much more of your time. It was a pleasure to have met you, and I'll serously consider an educational visit to Almerac when possible.

Maxima (seductively): Education may take many forms. It could be surprising. I will strive to surprise you. She made a gesture for him to bow and planted a kiss on his cheek. The scent of her skin was intoxicating. Aster almost pass out but managed to control himself.

Aster: I'm looking forward to be surprised by you, my queen.

Maxima: I'm sure you have in store some hidden gems yourself, Ter-El. Be seeing you soon.

Aster (mesmerized): Soon...

On the opposite side of the trading hall where the guests mingle, Selene was trying to get to know people of other worlds in order to struck deals and forge alliances. She was fascinated by the diversity, but she didn't see anyone of her liking to bond more closely. Unlike her baby brother, she wasn't a newbie in relationships. She still remembers her first time, during the 18th birthday of Billie Batson. She was 20 at the time and the young Shazam made quite an impression on her. He kept calling her "Glamazon", which, for some stupid reason, amused her. He wasn't too tall, but tall enough, she thought. In the apex of the party, they disappeared, to come back 45 minutes later, with their hair all messy and not looking at each other for a while. They repeated their encounters for a while, until the novelty wore off.

She descarded to find a Billie in all this alien multitude, but she was hopeful and open to possibilities.

Stranger: Hello. My name is Abar-tos. I'm from Daxam. I believe you are Kryptonian, aren't you? (looking at the symbol on her chest) Ah, House of El. My planet and that of your ancestors used to trade in goods and technology. We knew Jor-El very well as a commerce representative. He was honest and friendly.

Selene: He was my grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away when the planet blew, but managed to save my father as a baby on a ship to the stars. I always wanted to know what happened to the rest of the system where the star Rao was the center, when Krypton blew.

Abar: It was a disaster!! The gravitational forces were all askew. For a while it was hard to tell up from down. The debris impacted Daxam causing earthquakes and tsunamis. thousand of lives were lost. Fortunately, our leaders were levelheaded and acted swiftly. Ironically, we used the same technology we aquired from Krypton to minimize the damage and shield Daxam from the pieces of Krypton. It took twenty years before the orbit became stable again. There was two more planets between Krypton and Daxam. One was completely destroyed, the other broke orbit and became a rogue planet. Those worlds were uninhabited, but their loss messed the situation of the system. Our scientists developed solar sails to stir the globe In the right direction. The molten core rotation was restarted to correct the magnetic fields. It was an enterprise of planetary proportions. I'm making it sound easy, but it's been decades of struggle and uncertainty. We had the help of many of the worlds which's ambassadors you can find here today. We still can't believe it. For a while my people even considered moving to another planet, but the Daxaforming of another globe would take generations to be viable.

Selene: Are you conscious that, if Rao wasn't a red star, you may have developed superpowers like we both have here, under a white star, and solve the problems with your own hands.?

Abar: We discovered the beneficial effects of a yellow or white sun too late. We consider ourselves lucky of still have a homeplanet. We are continuously working to solve the problems that still exist. I promise I stop talking about Daxam. Sorry, I didn't hear your name, miss...?

Selene: Forgive my lousy manners. (extending her hand) Lena, Lena-El

Abar (smiling and shaking her hand): A pleasure to meet you, Lena. Can I buy you something to drink so we can continue our talk and get to know each other better? Not always I have the fortune of encounter a beautiful girl who towers a head above me. Can we go to another place? Here, near the landing docks there's too much lead from the ship's fuel. We Daxamites have low tolerance to lead.

Selene: I say we go to grab something to eat and drink and go for a pic-nic in the surrounding parks. If you have time, that is.

Abar: Magnificent idea! Love a woman with beauty and brains.

And just like that they lift from the ground together and flew to their destination.

She couldn't help feeling butterflies in her gut. She thought: He's probably ten years my senior, but he'scute, articulate and has a mellifluous voice. Score, Lena!

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Love Everlasting.

A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 19.8 K words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

TW: murder/execution and blackmail. If you are sensitive to any of those topics do not read any further. if you choose to continue on: THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY WARNING! READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED!

It's King Liam Appreciation Week! And y'all know me. I am a King Marquise (Liam) Stan! So to publish the latest chapter of Love Everlasting during this week is a MAJOR PLUS for me. I hope you enjoy Part One! 😘

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @kingliamappreciationweek @txemrn @peonierose @shewillreadyou @twinkleallnight

Chapter 11.) Fate. Part 1.

Shanelle stood beside her husband as he hung up the phone. His Majesty had just issued his first arrest warrant for murder. For his ex, Princess Naya Laurent.

“Are you okay?” she asked him.

“To be honest, no. But I have no choice. She poisoned Tariq.” Marquise replied.

“How can you be sure?” Shanelle asked.

Marquise sighed deeply.

“Trace amounts of Cantarella were found in the tissue sample collected,” he replied.

“Cantarella?” she asked.

“It's a type of poison that is identical to arsenic. Allegedly, it was used back during the time of Pope Alexander VI,” he replied.

“It's scary that you know that.”

Marquise shrugged. 

“I have to know it. I studied poisons, remember?”

“I stand by my statement. Thank you very much.”

“Besides, it's been banned in Cordonia since the 1600s.” 

“Why?” she asked.

“Because it's part of why Queen Kendra was killed,” he replied.

“There's a story there.”

Marquise settled into his chair. 

“In its purest form, Cantarella is a powerfully potent tranquilizer. If it's burned and then inhaled it can leave you comatose. If it's ingested it slowly poisons your bloodstream and causes organ failure. When King Fabian found out that it was burned the night his aunt was killed, he banned it from the realm except for a small sample. He wanted it to be studied so a cure could be made. But as I said, that was centuries ago.”

“Okay well, that explains how she got her hands on it. Her dad was a King right?” she asked. 

Marquise shook his head no. 

“King Elgin never knew about it,” he replies.

Marquise sighed.

“This is about to be a PR nightmare.”

“Why? You have evidence that she killed her husband.” 

“I have an autopsy report that shows the poison was in his system when he died, yes. But now I have to prove where she got it and how she used it to kill him. Not to mention I also have to figure out why she killed him.”

Shanelle wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders.

“It's a tall order but we will get it done.”

Marquise shook his head no.

“I will get it done. You're not getting involved in this.”

“It's cute that you think you have a choice in the matter. Per the law, Your Majesty, any time a noble is accused of a high crime like murder, their trial requires BOTH the King and Queen to sit at the head of parliament as the case is being heard. But only the first reigning Monarch can hand down the fate of said noble. So whether you like it or not, I’m in.”

Marquise groaned. 

“You have a grudge against Naya. Your being there could make you look biased.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes.

“I know how to compartmentalize my personal feelings towards her so they don't get in the way of the trial thank you very much.”

“I'm not saying that you don't. What I’m saying is that knowing you and your history with her, you wouldn't necessarily be entirely fair to her. She at least deserves a fair trial. Unless you want us to be seen like the former Monarchs.” 

Shanelle sighed.

“Okay fine, I see your point. But I promise that I can and will take whatever personal feelings I have toward Princess Naya out of this situation for the good of the kingdom and this trial.”

Marquise raised an eyebrow.

“Swear to it.”

Shanelle groaned.

“I swear to you my King, I will be fair and honest during her trial.”

Marquise nodded.

“Good. Now the arrest warrant should be here soon. So get ready for a media circus.”

“Yay!” Shanelle deadpanned. 

There was a subtle knock at his door.

“Come in,” Marquise announced.

An attendant dressed in black and silver entered the room carrying an envelope.

“Apologies my King but I have the arrest warrant. All that is needed is your and Her Majesty’s signatures.”

“Very well.”

The attendant opened the envelope and placed the warrant on Marquise’s desk.

“Well, this is it. Are you ready?” Shanelle asked her husband.

Rather than answer, Marquise set his jaw and then signed the warrant before handing the pen to Shanelle. Once she signed her name, he took out his small jar of clay and sealed the warrant before handing it back to the attendant.

“With this now signed warrant, you are to arrest Princess Naya Laurent at her home. You will not disturb anyone within her house or duchy. Is that clear?” Marquise asked the attendant.

“Yes, my Liege.” the attendant replies.

“Good. You have your orders.” 

With a curt nod, the attendant left the room as quietly as he came. Marquise let out a breath he’d been holding in.

“I can tell this is affecting you,” Shanelle said to him.

Marquise shook his head.

“Of course it is. Naya may be a lot of things but a murderer?” he asked.

“She's been spiraling for years, Marquise,” Shanelle replies. 

“This is true. Which is why this is so bizarre. Tariq made a deal with me to keep her out of a dungeon. Not because he had to but because he loved her. He knew that if the court found out she tried to kidnap you, it would ruin both of them. It doesn't make any sense why she would kill him. He's the reason she has any freedom.”

“It didn't make any sense when she tried to kidnap me all those years ago but still she did it.”

Marquise ran a frustrated hand down his face. 

“Look. I'm not the only one with a history with her. You have a history with her too. Yours is more intimate but still. At the end of the day, we have jobs to do. This trial is happening. Her murder charge is real. So we both need to compartmentalize our personal feelings about her and remember the facts. She murdered her husband and we need to find out why.” Shanelle said to her husband.

Marquise took a deep breath. 

“I know. I'll be fine.”

“Good. When will the trial start?” Shanelle asked.

“Ideally I want to start it as soon as possible. But I’m thinking after Khari starts school Friday,” he replies.

“Okay. Do I need to do anything?” she asked.

“No. My advisors will convene the Heads Of State. And Carlo will get to be a prosecutor.” he replies. 

“Carlo?” she asked.

“Yes. Whenever a noble is on trial for a crime like this the Keeper is the prosecutor,” he replies.

“And realistically what will we do?” she asked.

“As heads of the Monarchy and Parliament, we will get to ask both the prosecution and defense questions about evidence, witnesses, dates and times, that sorta thing during the trial. And once both sides have rested, the Parliament will convene and decide whether or not to convict or acquit. If she is convicted, it's up to me to decide whether or not she lives or she dies.” he replies.

“So basically I get to be Briscoe and you get to be Green?” she asked.

“No. This is not an episode of Law And Order! Besides you’re Green. I'm Briscoe. Thank you very much.” he replies.

“Why do you get to be Briscoe?” she asked. 

“Because he was the senior detective. And since I am the King…”

Shanelle sucked her teeth.

“Yeah yeah.”

“When was the last time a trial like this happened?” she asked.

Marquise thought for a minute. 

“I'll have to check with Carlo but I believe it was when my great-grandfather Leonidas was King. One of the nobles at that time was accused of spying on the Crown for another kingdom during WWII.”

“Wow!”

“So get ready my love. We're in for the trial of the century.”

The next few days were a whirlwind for the couple. Starting with their daughter finally starting school. And Her Majesty was anything BUT okay. She dreaded having to take her baby to her first day of school but she knew she had to. As they walked Khari to her class Shanelle’s emotions weren't having it. And Khari noticed.

“Now Mommy,” Khari said as she took her mother’s hands, “promise me that you'll be okay while I’m at school today.”

Shanelle wanted to die. She didn't want to let her baby go.

“…I promise,” she said sadly to Khari.

“Don't be sad Mommy! You still have Daddy.”

Shanelle’s bottom lip just quivered. 

“Mommy I gotta be a big girl now. Right Daddy?” Khari asked her father. 

“That's right my love. You’re a big girl now. Mommy knows that.” he replied.

“See Mommy?” Khari asked.

Shanelle whimpered and finally swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Okay, baby. Have fun at school today.” Shanelle finally spoke.

Khari hugged her mother. 

“I will! I gotta go! I love you! Byeeeeee!” Khari said before she took off to her class.

That's when Shanelle broke and Marquise had to drag her back to their car.

“Myyyyyyyyyy babyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!” Shanelle cried as they rode back to the palace.  

When they finally got back to the residence Marquise just looked at her. 

“Jesus Christ woman!” Marquise said before shaking his head, “And you have the nerve to always call me overdramatic. She's fine. We knew this day was coming.”

“That doesn't mean I like it!” she snapped at him with tears in her eyes.

He sighed then led her to a bench where they sat down and pulled her close as she cried. 

“I know you don't,” he spoke softly

“I don't like her not being with us. We are where she's safe. If anything happens to her—” she tried to say before her words were choked off by a sob.

“Shhhh! It's okay. As much as we hate it, my love, we can't stop her. She's a big girl now. She's ready to grow. She's ready to step out into the world.”

“You probably think I’m being ridiculous.” 

Marquise shook his head. 

“Not entirely. You’re a mother first and foremost. Your first instinct is to protect. And no one has protected our daughter more than you. No one has nurtured her more than you have. But she's more than just the Crown Princess of Cordonia who goes to ballet, voice, dance, painting, and piano lessons. While she succeeds at all of them she's ready to be around kids her age. She's ready for sleepovers and friends. The things we had as kids. Well, you more than me but I digress. She's ready to show the world who she is and who she can be.” 

Shanelle nodded her head. 

“I just love her so much that I…” she trailed off to get a hold of herself.

“Khari knows that. She knows that you're proud of her. And that you want her to do her best. That's how we've raised her to be.”

Shanelle smiled softly. Marquise kissed her forehead.

“Now dry your eyes. Because she’ll be home soon with a whole bunch of stories.”

A few days later, the couple were deep in conversation about their daughter's birthday party.

“While Khari’s at school, you and I can talk about the logistics of her birthday this year.”

He led Shanelle to a side garden where breakfast was waiting on them.

“Way ahead of you. It's happening at the winery.” 

“Wonderful!” 

“Sir. You will not be drinking at my daughter's birthday party.”

Marquise pouted. 

“I don't need your big ass hobbling around the winery drunk.”

“I beg your pardon madam! I will have you know that I can hold my liquor!” 

“Funny how you couldn't hold it that one time we were hosting a state dinner.”

Marquise made a face. 

“My drink was spiked!”

“That's funny. Because mine wasn't. And we were drinking from the same wine bottle.”

Marquise grumbled. 

“What is this giant teddy bear grumbling about now?” Margo asked as she stepped into the garden.

“Watch your tone or you'll be out of a job woman!” Marquise warned.

“Hah! You fire me now and you'll be a headless King by the time the Princess gets through with you.” Margo shot back.

“She doesn't get a say.”

“Hmm, I don’t know about that. One look at her and you'll fold like a cheap ass lawn chair.” 

“What are you implying, my Queen?” he asked.

“That you’re a pushover for your daughter and that you’ll be even worse when the twins get here,” Margo replied.

“She's not wrong.” Shanelle piped up.

Marquise groaned.

“Had I known you two would constantly gang up on me I wouldn't have gotten married.”

“But you did. And now you’re stuck with us.” Shanelle said.

“So get used to it, Your Majesty.” 

Marquise groaned as Shanelle and Margo laughed. 

“If I didn't love you two as much as I do.”

Just then an attendant dressed in black and silver entered the garden.

“Pardon the interruption, my Liege, but I have news for you.”

“Go ahead,” Marquise said to the attendant.

“The arrest warrant for Princess Naya Laurent-Miller has been carried out.”

Marquise nodded. 

“Where is she now?” Marquise asked.

“She is being processed before she is to be placed in a dungeon,” the attendant replied.

“Instead of a dungeon, keep her under heavy guard at one of the safe houses in the city center. Do not tell her husband anything about her whereabouts until the start of the trial.”

The attendant nodded.

“Take great care, do not let a word about this slip. Is that clear?” Marquise asked.

“Yes, my King.” the attendant replies.

“Good. Now you have your orders.” 

“By your command, my Liege.”

The attendant bowed to Shanelle and Margo.

“My Queen. Madam Geaneaux,” he said to them before leaving. 

“Naya? Arrested?” Margo asked. 

“Yes,” Marquise replied.

“Whatever for?” Margo asked.

“Murder,” he replies.

Margo gasped loudly.

“Murder?! What in the world?!” 

“Of Tariq.” Shanelle piped up.

Margo looked at Marquise. 

“I thought Tariq died of organ failure.”

Marquise shook his head no.

“That's what we all thought. But something always nagged me about the suddenness of his death. So I had his body exhumed and had an autopsy done. Turns out that he was poisoned.” 

“Poisoned?! My God! With what?” Margo asked.

“Cantarella,” Marquise replied.

Margo’s eyebrows shot up.

“Impossible. Cantarella has been banned since the time of your ancestor King Fabian. It is said that he kept a small sample of it hidden when a cure for the poison couldn't be made or found. But no one is supposed to know where he hid it.” 

“Well somehow it was found and used. And now we have a murder trial to prepare for.” 

Margo shook her head. 

“Lord Tariq was pretentious as all hell I'll admit, but that's no reason to poison him. It just makes no sense.”

“Well, we'll find out why she did it next Wednesday. That is when her trial will begin.”

Margo nodded.

“Very well, Your Majesty.”

Marquise nodded to Margo before looking at his wife.

“In the meantime, I have a meeting with Carlo about the trial that I can't miss. While you have a checkup to get to. I'm sorry I have to miss your appointment.”

“It's okay. I probably shouldn't have scheduled it at the last minute.”

“You'll call me if you need anything, yes?”

“Yup. Margo will go with me so I'll be fine.”

“Alright. I'll see you both later.” 

With a sweet kiss to his wife, His Majesty was off to meet with his cousin. When he got to his office, Carlo was waiting.

“Good morning cousin. I hope I wasn't keeping you long.” Marquise said in greeting.

“Not at all, my King. I had just gotten here maybe 5 minutes before you.” Carlo replied.

“Please have a seat so we can get started,” Marquise said as both took their seats.

“Well, this is quite the predicament we find ourselves in, cousin. Charging a noble, much less a female noble at that, with murder is highly unorthodox.” Carlo said to Marquise.

“I understand. But I can't just ignore the fact that a man was killed with a poison that has been banned for centuries.”

“What poison?” Carlo asked.

“Cantarella. It was found in a tissue sample that was taken when I had Lord Tariq Sauvageon’s body exhumed.” Marquise replied. 

Carlo nodded.

“And you think that Naya used it to kill her husband?” Carlo asked.

“Yes, I do,” Marquise replied.

“But why?” Carlo asked.

“That's for you to find out, Carlo. After all, you’re the prosecution,” Marquise replied.

“Very well. I will finish preparing my opening statement and I will see you Wednesday, Your Majesty.”

Marquise nodded. 

“I just have to ask Marquise. Given the history she has with you and your wife, can you and Shanelle be impartial?” Carlo asked.

“Of course. This is a serious charge, Carlo. I don't have time to be emotional about Naya. I am a King. I have a job to do and a responsibility to uphold.” Marquise replied.

“Very good. I shall take my leave now. I'll see you Wednesday.” 

Marquise watched Carlo walk out before getting on with his day. He had just finished lunch when there was a knock at his door. 

“Come in,” he called out.

When he looked up, a group of guards walked in escorting Naya with them.

“The prisoner as you requested my King.” the lead guard announced. 

“Thank you, gentlemen.”

Naya sat down across from Marquise with her chains making a loud clunking sound.

“Those won't be necessary.” Marquise indicated to the chains around her wrists and ankles. “I trust the Princess isn't stupid enough to try me.” 

With a curt nod, a guard unlocked the shackles. 

“Thank you. That will be all.”

The guards left the room, leaving Marquise alone with his former love.

“Well you certainly know how to make life difficult don't you?” he asked Naya.

She remained silent. Just glaring daggers at him. Which made him chuckle.

“The silent treatment eh? Very well. We’ll play this your way.” 

Marquise dialed a number on his office phone.

“Yes my King?” a voice answered.

“Get in contact with Donnie Brine. Tell him to go ahead and run the story.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” 

When Marquise hung up the phone, Naya had a terrified look on her face. 

“I suggest you start talking, Princess.”

“I've done nothing wrong!” Naya blurted out.

“I didn't know murdering your former husband was considered doing nothing.” 

“Murdering my former husband?! You're insane Marquise! I would never kill Tariq!” 

“Then explain to me how Cantarella got into his system.”

“What did you say?” she asked sheepishly.

“Cantarella. I take it that it's ringing a bell?” he replied.

He watched Naya shift in her seat uncomfortably. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don't. As far as I'm concerned this whole situation was orchestrated by your wife as a witch hunt!”

That's when Marquise presented Naya with the autopsy report. 

“Then explain this.”

Naya went pale as she read the report. 

“This is your only chance, Naya. What happened?” he asked.

Naya looked at him trying not to be scared out of her mind. 

“How did you…”

“You're not saying anything.”

Naya remained quiet. 

“Have it your way. Guards!” he called out.

“Wait!” she blurted out.

“Are you ready to talk?” he asked.

Naya nodded her head yes.

“Start talking.”

He watched her hang her head with tears. 

“I…I…I didn't mean it.”

“You didn't mean what?” he asked.

“I didn't mean to kill him! I swear!” she replied. 

“You expect me to believe that you poisoned him accidentally?” he asked.

“I didn't know it was poison until after he died. The original coroner's report confirmed that it was Cantarella that killed him. I knew that if you, his parents, or anyone else found out I’d be screwed so I begged the coroner to change the cause of death on the report.” she replied.

Marquise shook his head.

“You killed an innocent man Naya. I can't overlook this.”

Naya scoffed. 

“My late husband was a lot of things. Innocent was never one of them.” she sneered.

“What are you talking about? He loved you.”

“That's what he wanted people to think. In reality, I was just a trophy to him. A reason to elevate him and his parent's station. I was nothing more than a glorified contractual obligation.”

Marquise shrugged. 

“You agreed to the betrothal Naya. You were even given a chance to back out of the marriage before you got married.”

“And what good would that have done me?! It wouldn't have erased my father's debt and it wouldn't have brought you back to me so what other choice did I have?” she asked.

“If you were that unhappy why didn't you ask for a divorce?” he replied.

“I tried! I begged Tariq for a divorce. I even told him that I wanted nothing from him. I just wanted our marriage to be over but he said no. He was going to make sure that I kept up my family’s end of the agreement. I even went to your father and asked him to grant me a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences and even he refused. He said, while he understood why I wanted a divorce, it was none of his or the Monarchy’s business to get involved in our personal affairs.” she replied. 

“You could've come to me.”

Naya scoffed.

“Oh please! You would've been no better than King Constantine. Besides, you've had your head way too far up your commoner wife’s ass to care about me.”

“If you're trying to be funny, you just failed.” 

“There was nothing you could do for me.”

“For the record, had you come to me I would have granted you your divorce if you were that unhappy. But it's not just the divorce that you wanted. You wanted the divorce and you wanted me to leave my family for you.” 

Naya looked down at her hands.

“We should still be together. We belong together,” she whispered.

“For the love of God! Let it go Naya!”

Naya went to say something but instead suddenly clutched her stomach.

“Are you sick?” he asked.

Naya shook her head no. 

“When your guards came to arrest me, I had just gotten back from my doctor's appointment.” 

“Okay and? What does that have to do with this conversation?” he asked.

“I had a blood test done. And it confirmed that I'm pregnant,” she replied.

Marquise looked at her skeptically.

“You're lying.”

“I'm not lying!”

“Then why am I just now hearing about this?” he asked.

“Because you have me charged with murder Marquise!” Naya replied.

Marquise raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Naya, where did you get the poison?” Marquise asked.

Naya swallowed hard. 

“Answer the question Naya.”

“I don't have to tell you anything else,” she replied.

“Is that your final answer?” he asked.

“Yes. I no longer wish to speak with you without my legal counsel present,” she replied.

“Very well,” he said to her before calling out to the door. “Guard!” 

The guards entered the room.

“Take the prisoner back,” Marquise instructed. 

Just then Marquise’s phone pinged. 

“Well now you've just made front-page news,” he said as he showed her the headline that was going across his phone. “Also since you claim to be pregnant, you have 24 hours to produce proof of this pregnancy.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” Naya asked.

“That sounds like a you problem not a me problem. Get this woman out of my sight,” he replied.

Marquise watched his guards escort Naya out of his office. 

As Naya was escorted out she ran into Shanelle as she was coming back from her appointment. 

“Hello, Princess or should I say, soon-to-be former Princess?” Shanelle said to Naya.

“Go fuck yourself, Your Majesty!” Naya sneered. 

“Why do that when I can fuck the man you'll never have?” Shanelle asked smugly. “Get this bitch outta my palace!”

Shanelle watched as Naya was hauled away before walking into her husband’s office.

“You met with the suspect without me?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes,” Marquise replied.

“What did she tell you?” Shanelle asked as she sat down.

“Nothing outside of the fact she claims she's pregnant,” he replies.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Naya?! Your ex?! Is pregnant?!” Shanelle asked 

“That's what she told me,” he replies.

“Geez!”

“She has 24 hours to prove it though.”

“If she actually is pregnant God help us all.”

Marquise nodded as she joined him behind his desk. 

“Indeed. How was your appointment?” 

“It was good. She decreased my blood pressure meds and increased my potassium and iron intake. She said my levels aren't where she wants them to be.” 

“You're not anemic are you?” 

“Yes. Because this pregnancy is more than one baby, anemia is to be expected.” 

Marquise nodded.

“That means you need more iron in your diet, my love. I’ll call the kitchens to make sure that you are given more iron-rich foods.” 

“Yes, Mom.” 

He cut his eyes at her. 

“Don't get smart with me.” he snapped at her. 

“Ooh! Someone’s in a mood today.”

Marquise sighed. 

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you.”

“You can make it up to me by buying me a Birkin.”

“I take it back,” he muttered. 

He placed a hand on her belly. 

“And how are my little ones?” he asked.

“Still playing too damn much. They're not in position!” Shanelle complained. 

Marquise tapped a finger on her stomach. 

“Hello, my little ones. I'm not sure if you can hear me but Daddy needs you two to do him a big favor. I need you both to prepare for your debut. That includes the two of you getting into your birthing position. Daddy can't hold either of you if you two aren't in position.”

Shanelle laughed. 

“You love talking to them.” 

“Of course. It helps in their development before birth. Besides, I like hearing my own voice.”

“Gee! I hadn't noticed.”

Marquise snickered. 

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” she asked.

“Prepping for the trial,” he replied.

“Since you met with her, do you still think she did it?” 

“Yes, I do. When I asked her where she got the Cantarella she clammed up.” 

“She could be protecting someone.”

“That's the problem. She is protecting someone. And since she wants to protect whoever this person is, she can go to the dungeons for them.”

Shanelle had never seen him have this much conviction.

“You sure are confident.”

“I have to be. I don't have time to let her tears sway me.”

“Very well. I won't keep you long. Besides, I have to go pick up your daughter from school. I'm sure she and her friend will have a lot to say about their day today.”

The record in Marquise's head stopped. 

“Friend?! What friend?” he asked.

“You know her cute little friend Xavier. The one she always walks out with,” she replies.

“He is not her little friend.”

“Stop being jealous.”

Marquise gave his wife a lopsided look.

“She does not have a little friend!” he said through gritted teeth. 

“Poor Papa Bear. Can rule a kingdom but can't let his baby girl go.” 

“I said what I said!” he said emphatically.

Shanelle shook her head with a chuckle. 

“I'll see you later babe.”

“Uh-huh. I'll see you later.”

Marquise watched his wife walk out of his office before he went back to prepping for the trial. Later that night after prep for the trial and family time with his sweet girl, His Majesty was coming out of the shower with a million and one questions that had no real answers. 

It started to remind him of the first time she snapped.

The kingdom was abuzz for their new King and Queen. They had just returned to Cordonia after being married. They were greeted by fanfare and many were excited to get a glimpse of their new Monarchs. After meeting with the Parliament and establishing the new Monarchy it was time for the newest Royal Couple to host their first state dinner.

The palace was alight with activity. Many spent days preparing for the dinner. None more than Marquise. He had done these in his sleep but his new bride had not. And he was excited to show her what life as a reigning Queen was really like. The day of the state dinner was a busy one for the couple. But they handled it beautifully. They were almost ready to debut but something was missing for Marquise. 

“Okay, so why are we going to the vault?” Shanelle asked as they walked to the vault.

“You'll see in a minute,” Marquise replies.

Once inside the vault, they headed towards the Queen’s section. They were looking for a tiara for Shanelle to wear that night. 

“Look at them! They're all so beautiful,” she said to him.

“Indeed they are. And they’re all yours to choose from. The custom one I had made for your coronation isn’t quite ready yet. So that’s why we’re here. So you can choose one to wear tonight. So take your time but don't take too much time. We do have a debut to make.”

Shanelle shook her head with a smile before she browsed the many tiaras. Each one was unique. Some were simple and others were way too gaudy for her taste. She settled on one tiara that didn't look like the rest. It was studded with diamonds like the rest but this one also had a blood-red ruby in the middle that was surrounded by smaller rubies. 

“I think I found the one I want to wear,” she said to him.

Marquise looked at the tiara in its case with a fond look on his face. 

“Are you sure, my love?” he asked. 

Shanelle nodded her head yes.

“Very well.”

With a snap of his fingers, an attendant opened the case and removed the tiara and the ceremonial pillow it sat on, and presented it to Marquise.

“Thank you,” he said to the attendant as he sat it on the pedestal next to the case. He picked up the tiara with a fond smile on his face as he held it in his hands. 

“This one is my favorite out of all the tiaras,” he said before turning to Shanelle.

“Why is that?” she asked.

Before answering he gently placed the tiara on her head. She turned to the floor-length mirror to the left of her. 

“Because this was my mother’s crown.” he finally answered. 

She looked at him and then looked at her reflection in the mirror. 

“This was Eleanor’s crown?” she asked.

“Yes. It's been in the vault at the main house of my duchy for years. I had it brought to the palace in hopes that you'd wear it one day.” he replied.

Shanelle stared at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe he wanted her to wear something that belonged to his mother.

“No Marquise I can't. As beautiful as it is, I can't wear this. I wouldn't dare disrespect Eleanor, like that.”

As she went to take it off he stopped her.

“Please don't take it off. I want you to wear it. I want the world to see you wear it. It's a beautiful crown and it deserves to be worn by a beautiful woman. This is one of the many gifts I have for you. I want to see you shine in it. And okay, maybe I wanna stick it to the old codger my mother called her husband.” 

Shanelle looked back at herself one last time before nodding resolutely.

“If it means that much to you, I’d be honored to wear it. Besides, anytime we get to stick it to the old man is a perk for me.” 

“Now you’re getting it.”

He offered her his arm as they walked out of the vault. When they got to the main dining room Shanelle was nervous and Marquise knew it.

“Nervous love?” he whispered.

“That obvious?” she replied.

Marquise kissed her cheek.

“No need to be nervous. Let's take a deep breath, straighten our shoulders, and command the room and those within it the way it's supposed to be.” 

Shanelle snickered.

“You are about to have fun with this aren't you?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” he replied.

With a nod to the guard at the door, the doors opened and the couple made their debut.

“All rise!” the herald announced. “Introducing His Majesty King Marquise Rys and Her Majesty Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys!”

They entered the room to fanfare and with all eyes on the two of them. It was the first time in a long time that Marquise didn't hate hearing his name be announced to a room full of nobles. When he looked out into the crowd he saw her parents as well as George and Margo. Both couples stood proudly as they watched their children, the new Monarchs enter the room. When his eyes landed on the sour faces of his father and stepmother and then Shanelle’s aunt and uncle, he couldn't help the satisfied smirk that crossed his lips.

As they reached the middle of the room, Marquise held up a hand to silence everyone in attendance.

“Good evening one and all! On behalf of my gorgeous wife, I want to say thank you to everyone and welcome you all to the very first state dinner hosted by your newest Monarchs. Now I know that some of you are still getting used to the idea that little ole me has gone from Prince Of North Cordonia to the King Of Cordonia now. But I assure all of you that as your new King, it is my goal to make sure that Cordonia begins to thrive and work for all of us. And now I believe my beautiful wife would like to say a few words.”

Shanelle shook her head before addressing the crowd.

“First off, good evening everyone! Thank you all for attending this dinner tonight. I know there have been a lot of changes within the kingdom since His Majesty and I were married and we came home. But I promise all of you that these changes are for the greater good of Cordonia for all Cordonians. We have made it our mission to be mindful of all of you as well as the people when decisions are to be made. We want a prosperous kingdom for Cordonia and all of her people.”

Marquise smiled at her before addressing the room.

“Please everyone be seated so dinner can be served.”

As they took their seats, Shanelle noticed the venomous look on Naya’s face. 

“Husband of mine.”

“Yes, my love?” he asked.

“Your ex is giving me the death stare to end all death stares,” she replied.

Marquise groaned.

“She'll get over it. Now let's eat.” 

As they ate, Shanelle couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of being watched. After dinner and dessert, it was time for dancing. The room watched the couple take their first dance as King and Queen. Shanelle still felt uneasy as she danced with her husband and soon her father. And he noticed how troubled his daughter looked.

“Are you alright my darling?” he asked as they danced.

“Yes, Daddy. I'm okay,” she replied.

“Are you sure? Because you don't look okay.” 

Shanelle sighed.

“I think I’m being stalked.”

“By who?” Damien asked.

“Princess Naya Laurent-Sauvageon. Better known as His Majesty's former lover.” Shanelle replied.

Damien nodded his head.

“She's King Elgin’s daughter, yes?” Damien asked.

“Yeah, that's her,” Shanelle replied.

“I grew up with her mother Queen Bernadette. She was on my school’s debate team with me.” 

“What was she like?” Shanelle asked.

“She had her…peculiarities that's for sure. But she was mostly harmless.” Damien replies.

“Yeah well her daughter isn't.”

“I'll speak to Marquise about amping up your security.”

“You don't have to do that Daddy. I'll be fine.” 

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Shanelle replies.

“You can't blame me for being protective.”

Shanelle kissed her father on the cheek.

“I know. I love you.”

“I love you too my darling.”

As that night wound down Shanelle’s feet started to hurt so she stepped out into a side garden and sat down on a bench to rest with the music 

“Ugh! My feet! Note to self: don't wear heels to a state dinner.” she said as she rubbed her aching feet.

“Good evening, Your Majesty.” a voice called out. 

When Shanelle looked up she found herself looking at Naya.

“Good evening, Princess. Can I help you with something?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes, I was hoping I could have a moment of your time,” Naya replies.

Shanelle sized Naya up.

“Sure. What can I help you with?” she asked. 

“Let's take a walk, shall we?” Naya suggested. 

Shanelle looked at Naya sideways.

“Lead the way, Princess.”

The two walked down the cobblestone path toward a small pond.

Naya cleared her throat.

“Now that we're alone, I have a question for you.”

“Yes?” Shanelle asked.

“When are you leaving?” Naya asked.

That question stopped Shanelle in her tracks.

“What do you mean?” Shanelle replied.

“Just what I asked. When are you leaving?” 

Shanelle started to get annoyed. 

“I don’t know if you know this Naya, but I’m not going anywhere. I am the Queen Of Cordonia after all.” 

Naya scoffed.

“Not for long.”

“What the hell are you–” Shanelle started to ask before Naya pulled a knife on her. 

“You crazy bitch! Are you insane?!” Shanelle shouted.

“No. I'm tired. I am tired of you and I’m tired of seeing you with the man that is supposed to be mine. So we are going to take a walk and then you will disappear permanently.” Naya replied.

“I'm not going anywhere with you!” 

“You don't have a choice, Your Majesty.” Naya sneered. 

That's when Naya lunged at Shanelle but she was able to dodge. When Naya turned around Shanelle grabbed for the knife and the two struggled to gain control. Shanelle had just knocked the knife out of Naya’s hands when Naya kicked her in the stomach. Naya had just wrapped her hands around Shanelle’s neck when she was pulled off by Marquise. 

“Guards! Over here!” he shouted. 

A few guards rushed to their King’s side followed by Shanelle’s parents.

“Arrest her now!” Marquise ordered. 

As the guards subdued Naya, Marquise checked on his wife.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“No, I’m not alright! Your crazy ass ex just tried to kidnap and then kill me!” Shanelle said as she tried to catch her breath, “How did you know where to find me?”

“When you didn't come back inside, your parents got worried and they came to me. That's when I had the guards go looking for you. When they heard you shouting they alerted me.”

When the guards presented Naya to Marquise he was furious.

“Get this woman out of my sight!” he hissed. 

“Shall we escort her to the dungeons?” the guard asked.

“Yes. And find Lord Tariq! Now!” Marquise replied. 

The couple and her parents watched as the guards hauled Naya away; that's when Shanelle looked at her father.

“What were you saying about her mother being harmless?” Shanelle asked Damien. 

Later that night while Shanelle was safely with her parents, Marquise was in his office with Tariq.

“My wife did what?!” Tariq asked.

“You heard me. She tried to kidnap and kill your Queen.” Marquise replied.

“Your Majesty, surely there must be some logical explanation for this.” 

“Oh, you want a logical explanation for this? Here it is, your wife is fucking crazy and she will be stripped of her title and lands.” 

“No Marquise please don't do that!”

“You don't get a say in the matter, Tariq.” 

“Your Majesty, I beg you not to strip her of her title and lands. Because doing so would weaken my family’s standing in the court as well as hers. I will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.”

Marquise looked at him.

“You'll do anything?” Marquise asked.

“Yes, my King! Anything. Just name it.” Tariq replied.

Marquise thought for a moment.

“Here's the deal. You are to go pick your wife up from the dungeons and you two are to never return to my palace unless I send for you both. Also, you are to keep her under lock and key. She does not leave your house and duchy without you at her side. I don’t care if she's going grocery shopping or going to see her father. You will be with her while she is among the populace at all times. If I see her out or if I hear she has traveled outside of your home much less your duchy without you, I will publicly execute you both. Is that clear?” 

Tariq swallowed hard.

“I asked you a question, Tariq.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I understand.”

“Good. Now get out!” Marquise hissed. 

Tariq scurried out of Marquise’s office.

Marquise shook his head at the memory as he got ready for bed. 

The next day he and Shanelle were up bright and early. After breakfast with their daughter and getting her off to school, Their Majesties were getting dressed for the trial. Once his regalia was on, Marquise went to check on his wife. She had just finished pinning her hair so that it flowed down her right shoulder when her husband walked in. Because of her being so far along in her pregnancy, she chose to wear a simple olive green Maxi dress.

“You are a vision to behold my Queen,” he said as he walked up behind her. 

“And you are a kiss ass, Your Majesty. But I appreciate the compliment,” she replied as she stood up from her vanity. “Well don't you look official.”

Marquise smiled proudly.

“Like the Kings of old!” he replied.

Shanelle shook her head.

“You're such a dork. Are you ready?” she asked.

“Yes. I don't have a choice not to be,” he replied.

“Marquise look at me.”

Marquise looked at his wife. 

“I know that this trial will affect you. Because as strong and confident of a leader as you are, my King, I know that there's still a small part of you and your heart that still cares for Naya.”

Marquise sighed deeply.

“You're right there is. I will always care for and about her. There's even a part of me that wishes I didn't have to do this. Hell, if I’m to be quite honest with you, I don't want to do this. But she brought this on herself. She forced my hand.”

“I know. And I know you don't like this. I get it but as you and I both know, we have to do things and make decisions that neither of us will like or necessarily agree with. As you've taught me it comes with the territory of being the Monarchs.”

Marquise had a look on his face.

“What is it?” Shanelle asked.

“There's a bug in my ear,” he replied.

“Ew!”

“Not that kind of bug.”

“Then what do you mean?” she asked.

Marquise sighed.

“Something my father said to me years ago,” he replied.

“Oh, dear God! What?” she asked.

Marquise took a deep breath before contorting his face to mirror Constantine’s scowl.

"Pretty soon you'll find out that you can't have it all. You will have to make decisions that you won't like. Ones that will haunt you. And you'll have no one to blame but yourself and that girl you're so in love with."

“A.) don't ever do that again. B.) ugh! What the hell would he know anyway?” she asked. 

“He knew that if something like this were to ever happen, I wouldn't know how to handle it,” he replied.

Shanelle took her husband's hands in hers.

“Stop it. Stop it right now. Connie said that to attack you and shake your confidence in yourself and your abilities as King. Don't you dare let what that old bastard said to you get to you. You are ready. You are willing. And God knows you are able, Marquise. So let's go.”

Marquise nodded his head with a smile.

“Thank you, my love. I appreciate you,” he said before kissing her softly on her forehead.

“You're welcome babe. Now we have a trial to get to.”

“Indeed we do.”

He offered her his arm.

“Milady.”

“M’lord.”

The two walked out of her closet and headed to the northern wing of the palace where the trial is to take place. As they walked, Shanelle got curious.

“Now why is the trial in this part of the palace?” she asked.

“Because this part of the palace stands on top of the old courthouse. It was burned down when the old palace was burned down back in the 1700s,” he replied.

“What a time that must've been,” she said.

“Indeed.”

When they reached the doors of the courthouse, Marquise closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Shanelle laid her head on his right shoulder. He opened his eyes with a smile before kissing her forehead gently.

“Well, this is it. Are you ready, Your Majesty?” she asked.

“Yes, I am,” he replied.

“Then lead the way, my King.”

Marquise squared his shoulders and then nodded to the guard at the door. The herald on the other side could be heard.

“All rise and remain standing for Their Majesties! Introducing His Majesty King Marquise Rys! And Her Majesty Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys!” 

With the announcement of their arrival, the couple donned stoic masks as they entered the room. All eyes were on them as they made their way to their seats. All of the Heads Of State were in attendance as well as Shanelle’s family and Tariq’s family. Once at their seats, Marquise addressed everyone in the room.

“Everyone be seated.”

Everyone took their seats as Giancarlo addressed the room. 

“Good morning everyone. We are here today because one Princess Naya Laurent-Sauvageon-Miller stands accused of the murder of the former Lord Tariq Sauvageon of Duchy Arnaud. Her Highness’s former husband.”

Many in the room started to whisper amongst themselves. As Carlo continued with his opening speech, Marquise looked in Naya’s direction, he watched her have her eyes trained downward.

“You think she's scared?” Shanelle whispers to Marquise.

“She’s terrified. Because I got a look at Giancarlo’s witness list, the original coroner is one of the witnesses,” he replied.

“Does he know that you have the new autopsy report?” she asked.

“Probably not. Because he wouldn't be on the witness list if he knew,” he replied

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because I could charge him with conspiracy,” he replied.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes. It would be the same as charging him with tampering with evidence in America,” he replied.

“Safe to say she did not think any of this through.”

“That could be a gift for the defense.”

“How?” she asked.

“They could argue that only someone with intent to kill Tariq could pull this off,” he replied. 

Shanelle shrugged. 

“I mean she did hate him.”

“She hated the circumstance she was in. Not him.”

“Then why kill him?” Shanelle asked.

“I guess we'll find out,” he replied.

“One last question, when does this trial end?” she asked.

“It ends when I've heard enough from both sides and I’m ready for the Parliament to vote,” he replied.

Just then Giancarlo had finished his opening statement.

“Thank you, Giancarlo. And now Princess Naya’s legal counsel Lady Stephanie Hellstrom may rise and give her opening statement.” Marquise announced.

Just as Naya’s attorney began their opening statement, an attendant handed Marquise a Manila envelope.

“What's that?” Shanelle asked her husband.

“Let's find out shall we?” Marquise replied.

He opened the Manila envelope and raised an eyebrow as he read the documents within.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Naya was actually telling the truth. This is the result of her pregnancy test. It confirms that she is 12 weeks pregnant,” he replies.

“Seriously?!” she asked.

“Read it for yourself,” he replies.

Shanelle read the report and her face soured.

“Dear God! Here comes the Antichrist. Gird your loins, Your Majesty.” 

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“Stop that.” 

“So what happens now?” Shanelle asks.

“Once Lady Hellstrom is done with her statement, we get this trial underway,” Marquise replied.

“And how long will this last?” Shanelle asked.

“No more than 7 days. I'm not about to drag this out for weeks. We still have a kingdom to run.” he replies. 

“Okay. Well, Lady Hellstrom is almost done with her statement.” Shanelle to him.

“Good. Let's get this show on the road.”

Once Lady Hellstrom was done with her statement, Marquise cleared his throat and addressed everyone in the room.

“Now that both sides have given their openings, the trial may commence. Both will present their cases and once I have heard both sides, I will end the trial and the Parliament will convene. Members of the Parliament will then vote to either convict or acquit. Both sides get two days each to present witnesses for questioning and evidence for their cause. Any witness can be called or recalled by myself or Her Majesty at will. The prosecution may now present their case.” 

Giancarlo nodded.

“Thank you, my King. As my first witness, I'd like to call Lord Dr. Bailey Oscar the Medical Examiner of Duchy Arnaud.”

Shanelle glanced at her husband who was stone-faced. Many watched as the elderly man took his seat in front of the King and Queen. 

“Lord Oscar. Thank you for coming this morning. Now you performed the autopsy on Lord Tariq did you not?” Giancarlo asked him.

“Yes, sir. I performed the autopsy.” Lord Oscar replied.

Marquise steepled his fingers together.

“Tell me what was your cause of death?” Giancarlo asked.

“Organ failure. From what I gathered during the autopsy, Lord Tariq's organs had slowly been failing for months.” Lord Oscar replied.

“Could you tell me how a man who was relatively healthy suffered from organ failure?” Marquise asked. 

“Acute organ failure can happen to any one of us my King. But in the case of Lord Tariq, I determined that he had a sepsis infection.” Lord Oscar replied.

“And you know this to be true?” Marquise asked.

“Yes sir. Lord Tariq’s sudden organ failure was caused by a sepsis infection.” Lord Oscar replied.

Marquise nodded. 

“He's lying,” Shanelle whispered to Marquise.

“I know,” Marquise replied before clearing his throat.

“Lady Hellstrom, do you have any questions?” Marquise asked.

“No sir. I am satisfied and confident in his findings.” Lady Hellstrom replied.

“Very well. I have just one request for you, Lord Oscar. Will you take a look at this?” Marquise asked as he handed off the new autopsy report to an attendant standing to his right. 

“Of course my King. May I ask what I’m looking at?” Lord Oscar asked.

“A new autopsy report. I had Lord Tariq’s body exhumed and a new autopsy was done. Can you tell me, Her Majesty, and those of The Parliament what it says?” Marquise asked.

Lord Oscar read the report and his face paled.

“Lord Oscar, what does the report say?” Marquise asked.

“It says that Lord Tariq was poisoned.” Lord Oscar replied.

Gasps were heard throughout the courtroom. 

“Poisoned with what Lord Oscar?” Marquise asked.

“It says here that Lord Tariq was poisoned with Cantarella.” Lord Oscar replied.

“But Cantarella poisoning isn't on the original autopsy report you submitted is it?” Giancarlo asked.

“No sir it's not.” Lord Oscar replied.

“Why?” Marquise asked.

“I didn't think to test him for poisons, sir.” Lord Oscar replied.

“You are the Medical Examiner for Duchy Arnaud, how could you not think to test him for poison?” Shanelle asked.

“Because his body showed no signs of poisoning. I didn't think it was necessary. I've never been wrong, my Queen.” Lord Oscar replied.

“Except for this,” Shanelle said under her breath. 

“Then we have a dilemma, Lord Oscar because one of these autopsy reports is lying. And I need to know which one.” Marquise said to the Lord. 

Lord Oscar fidgeted with his hands. 

“Also you know what the penalty for lying to your King is, don't you?” Marquise asked him.

Marquise watched the Lord swallow hard before hanging his head.

“Alright! Alright! I admit it! The autopsy I submitted nearly a year ago is false.” Lord Oscar admitted.

“Explain,” Marquise said to him. 

“I ran a toxicology screening on the former Lord and I found that he was poisoned.” Lord Oscar replied.

“Then why lie on the autopsy report?” Marquise asked.

“I didn't lie. I just omitted the true cause of death.” Lord Oscar replied.

“A lie of omission is still a lie, Lord Oscar. But my question is why lie at all?” Marquise asked.

“Because I was told to.” Lord Oscar replied.

“By who?” Marquise asked.

Lord Oscar looked nervously between Marquise and Naya.

“By Lord Tariq’s wife. Her Highness, Princess Naya.” Lord Oscar replied. 

“Lord Oscar. How do I or anyone know that you aren't just saying all of this to save your own skin?” Shanelle asked.

“Because I would have everything to lose, my Queen.” Lord Oscar replied.

“What do you mean?” Shanelle asked.

“When Lord Tariq died, Her Highness inherited the duchy. She begged me to change the cause of death. Said that she would lose everything if his true cause of death came out. And initially, I declined to do so, but she said that if she lost everything then she’d make sure that I would lose everything. I couldn't put my family through that. So I went ahead and changed the cause of death.” Lord Oscar replied.

“What were you saying about this being a gift for the defense?” Shanelle asked her husband.

“Thank you for your time, Lord Oscar. You will return the day after tomorrow for the defense to question you as well.” Marquise said to him.

Lord Oscar bowed before taking his seat amongst those in attendance. Shanelle was thankful his testimony took two hours because she was starting to get hungry. 

“Think we can break for lunch now?” she whispered to her husband. “These munchkins are trying to tell me something.” 

“Very well,” he whispered back before addressing the room, “we will take this time to break for a 90-minute lunch. Giancarlo, I expect your next witness at the break’s end.”

“Yes, my King,” Giancarlo replied with a head bow.

Marquise helped his wife out of her seat before they made their way out of the courtroom. As they walked, Marquise shot off a text to have lunch brought to them. They walked to a sitting room with French doors that led out to a small garden. 

“Are you comfortable, my love?” Marquise asked his wife. 

“Yes. This couch is doing wonders for my back. That chair is too hard.” she replied.

“I apologize. Even I forgot how hard those old seats are. I'll have a cushion put in yours so you'll be a little more comfortable as the trial goes on.” 

“Thank you, baby. So when does this trial adjourn?” she asked.

“4:00 pm every day. I'm not about to spend all day staring at Naya shed crocodile tears,” he replied.

Shanelle snickered.

“You are so mean sir.”

He shrugged. 

“If you say so. Now how are you feeling? Anything sore?” he asked.

“No, but I think it's a good idea that I put my feet up,” she replied. 

Marquise tapped the inside of his right thigh so she could rest her feet on his lap. It made Shanelle giggle when he took off her flats and started to massage her feet.

“You and your foot fetish.” she giggled. 

“Look, you have your kinks and I have mine,” he said before kissing the sole of her right foot. “I don't judge you so don't judge me.”

“You are so grumpy! Wait until I tell your daughter how you've been visiting the planet of Grumpola again.”

Marquise rolled his eyes with a smirk. He found the pressure point on her foot and kneaded a circle into it disarming her.

“Oooh!” she cooed.

He watched her squirm in delight before he stopped, causing her to pout.

“Nooooooo!” she whined.

“If you want more of that you'll keep your mouth shut and not tell my daughter anything. Understand?” he asked.

“Yes, Grumpy Bear,” she replied.

“That's Mr. Grumpy Bear to you.” 

This was a side of him that she loved. Many have often assumed that because of his calm nonchalant nature, Marquise is soft. But Shanelle knows better than anyone that that's never been the case. 

He is just as dominant as she is. He's just not outwardly open about it as she is. He has always preferred to be the quiet yet firm and unrelenting type. He always has to keep his emotions in check. And she appreciates that about her husband. It's always what makes him so sexy to her.

#khoicesbyk #choices #choices stories you play #pixelberry #fanfic #choices fanfiction #love everlasting #king marquise #queen shanelle #king of cordonia #queen of cordonia #king and queen of cordonia #black king liam #black love #black marriage #black couple #choices fic writers creations #otp forever #my otp for life #my otp forever #my otp is perfect #otp #my otp of otps #KLAW #kingliamappreciationweek

[eloiselikescheese]

THINGS THAT WERE IN THE RWRB BOOK THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE MOVIE AND I’M MAD ABOUT IT (don’t get me wrong the movie was a masterpiece and I have literally watched it eight times but I’m still mad)

JUNE

JUNE

JUNE

JUNE

J

U

N

E

June and Alex going through magazines together

Alex and Nora pretending to be dating for the tabloids

CASHHHHHHHHHH

“Alex has seen her stab someone in the kneecap with a very similar embroidery needle” page 9, about Amy 

ALEX CARESSING HENRY’S PICTURE IN JUNE’S MAGAZINE WHEN HE WAS A KID OMGGGGGGGGGGGG I PHYSICALLY CANNOT 

Henry being “infuriatingly” tall compared to Alex 

Literally the entire first chapter minus the cake falling. They even changed the set up and dialogue for how it fell!

Chapter 2:

“Alexander,” Ellen says, her tone eerily calm. “Shut up.”

“You’re a dumbass. Love you.” -Ellen

ALEX’S LISTS OH MY GOD I MISS HIS LISTS

Alex bi panicking for Shaan 

Henry riding in from polo practice on his horse looking perfect, and Alex saying “I am going to throw up on you.” (Page 36)

Alex’s parents being divorced, it made Ellen even more powerful. 

The entire cornettos scene: Alex seeing Henry in a plain t-shirt, the post Alex made, Henry commenting on Alex’s glasses 

That mysterious part where Shaan gives Henry a pill, it intrigued both me and Alex. (Pg 41)

Actually hearing Henry’s interaction with the girl in the hospital. He’s so sweet. (Pg 45)

“You know,” he says into Henry’s hair, “we have got to stop ending up like this.” -When they fall on each other in the hospital closet. (Pg 46)

ALEX ELBOWED HENRY THEN HE PINNED ALEX DOWN WITH HIS THIGH IN THE HOSPITAL CLOSET. THAT WAS NOWHERE IN THE MOVIE I DESERVE THAT FRIGGIN PART. (Pg 47-48)

Alex putting his number in henry’s phone. So good.

Chapter 3

RAFAEL LUNA. RAFAEL LUNA. R A F A E L  L U N A. HE WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN MIGUEL RAMOS. HIS PLOT TWIST IS SO MUCH BETTER.

LEO!!!! HE’S SO SWEET!!!!! I LOVE HIM!!!

Ellen doing a wiping motion in front of her face, turning president face off and mom face on (pg 63)

The conversation where Henry texts “one does not foster a lifelong love of Star Wars without knowing an “empire” isn’t a good thing.” (Pg 72)

“tell shaan I say hi and I miss that sweet sweet ass xoxoxo” “I will not.” (Pg 74) 

Chapter 4

The extended turkey scene. literally the entire thing. So funny. SO MANY good lines. (Pg 76-83)

Ellen and Oscar’s divorce also made Alex a deeper character in a way.

Alex’s entire HOUR LONG phone call with Henry after his parents fight on Christmas Eve

June’s resistance to Ellen wanting her on the campaign (little details like this made the story so real.)

“Legendary Balls-Out Bananas White House Trio New Years Eve Party.” (Pg 95)

Pez actually asked June out, not Nora. You can’t just replace her like that!

The fact that Alex kissed NORA on new years. It was more personal.

Alex and Henry leaning against the tree together before they kiss (Pg 106)

Chapter 5

Alex tripping and scraping his knee on a run with June because he can’t stop thinking about Henry (Pg 113)

Alex having an actual job on the campaign 

Henry going out with a girl, it built more tension 

Amy being gay

Liam Liam Liam Liam Liam Liam Liam Liam Liam

Chapter 6

Alex being into henry’s accent just from the word “Oh.” (Pg 129)

“You’re not going kill him, are you?” “Probably not.” (Pg 131)

HENRY’S TIE IN THIS SCENE OH MY GOD I LOVED THAT ALEX GRABBED HIS TIE HE WAS WEARING A FRIGGIN BOWTIE IN THE MOVIE I’VE BEEN ROBBED.

“Stop thinking.” “Yes. Gladly.” (Pg 132)

Alex grabbing henry’s tie and whispering the “I’m going to do some very bad things to you” line. I’m serious that tie was important to me.

“Yes, you preening are, I’ve wanted you so long I won’t have you tease me for another fucking second.” (137)

“Alex rolls his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me good-night.” Henry looks back up at him, his mouth open and incredulous, and he throws his head back and laughs, and it’s only him, the nerdy, neurotic, sweet, insomniac rich guy who constantly sends Alex photos of his dog, and something slots into place. He leans down and kisses him fiercely, and then he’s grinning and gone.” (145-146) THEY EVEN ADDED A PAUSE WHERE HE WOULD HAVE SAID IT LIKE COME ON

Alex absolutely dying over the way Henry looks in polo gear

Seeing the actual emails they sent to each other, they left out a lot of the emails and the way they addressed each other was SO GOOD.

Chapter 7

“You’re a mad, spiteful, unmitigated demon, and I’m gong to kiss you until you forget how to talk.” -Henry texting Alex (158)

“Listen,” Henry is saying, heated, over the phone on a Thursday night. “I don’t give a damn what Joanne has to say, Remus John Lupin is gay as the day is long, and I don’t want to hear a word against it.” - Literally Iconic. *chefs kiss* (160)

Zahra telling Alex she’d chop off her own tit before letting him do something stupid to let Ellen lose reelection. (162)

Catherine, the badass way she married an actor even though the queen forbid it, because she loved him. 

WASPy Hunter, that’s literally the only way Casey McQuinston refers to him and I love it.

“You have so much in you, it’s almost impossible to match it. But he’s your match, dumbass.” June (178)

The entire scene of Alex coming out to June 

The entire phone call where Pez answers Henry’s phone and teases them (183-185)

The way Pez made MATCHING. KIMONOS. For The Super Six when they did karaoke in LA.

Bea being a bigger and cooler character 

Alex convincing Henry to do karaoke by… lets just say being sexy.

The scene after karaoke in the hotel, Alex wishing he could get up with Henry every morning, Cash bringing them hangover coffee

Chapter 8

“If only you had known the mighty work of thine loins would be undone by a gay heir who likes it when American boys with chin dimples are mean to him.” An email, from Henry to Alex. (203)

Alex being so extremely passionate about flipping Texas with the Texas binder and everything

Phillip being an absolute prick at Wimbledon, then Henry escaping the match to have sex with Alex in a storage closet, the last thing they “should” be doing. (216-218)

The extended piano scene where Alex is most definitely falling in love but is in DENIAL

I said it once but I need to repeat, RAFAEL LUNA’S BETRAYAL/PLOT TWIST

Henry just showing up for Alex because of Rafael. 

“Henry kisses his mouth over and over again and says quietly, “You are good.” (230) OH MY GOD HOW DARE YOU TAKE THAT FROM ME

Henry making a joke about being closeted when he hides in the closet from Zahra, also the fact that he “comes literally tumbling out of the closet.” 

“Oh my god, I thought you were getting into international relations or something.” “I mean technically-“ “If you finish that sentence, I’m gonna spend tonight in jail.” (232)

Chapter 9

Ellen basically saying “oh, that’s all?” At his bisexuality, THEN being shocked at the bomb drop of Henry.

ELLEN’S POWERPOINT ELLEN’S POWERPOINT ELLEN’S POWER POINT E L L E N ‘ S  P O W E R P O I N T. IT WAS AMAZING, HILARIOUS, HONEST, AND STILL SUPPORTIVE OF HER BISEXUAL SON. 

History, huh? Being in an email and becoming the big quote that people used in support of the relationship later.

The way they ended emails with gay/romantic quotes from letters in history

Henry said “Hi, Love.” Into a hug with Alex then they held hands in the jeep on the way to the lake cabin and if that isn’t love WHAT. IS. (249- 250)

Henry learning how to eat ribs (256)

Henry ending his goodbye note with “Thank you for everything. X” was 1. Heartbreaking. 2. Extremely romantic and makes you go “ooooohhhh he’s no just leaving for family stuff.” (265)

Chapter 10

After Henry left the lake cabin, Alex smashed a mug and his phone because he was so upset and restless (267)

Alex screaming at henry’s window making a huge scene until he was let in to the palace

“My birthright is a country, not happiness.” (272)

“What do you want?” “I want you—“ “then fucking have me.”

The fact that their argument descended straight into making out because Henry loves him and it kinda sucks but he still does and he’s crying as they kiss

The morning after Alex storms the castle, Henry and Alex are laughing snd kissing and Henry accidentally presses play on Ellen’s voicemail, which is “Diaz, you insane, hopeless romantic little shit, It had better be forever. Be safe.”

V&A, Alex “taking a picture of a national gay landmark, and also a statue.”

They clink together under his shirt, two homes side by side. (I admit the narration would be hard to do in a movie but readers would just KNOW and the camera could just focus on his necklace.)

Chapter 11

“You had the absolute audacity to love me back.” Henry in an email (300)

AN INCOMPLETE LIST: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WHALES     !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 12

Alex comforting Henry in the car because he’s getting a panic attack due to the pressure of lying (311-312)

“It would be a lie, because it wouldn’t be him.” Alex’s talking about getting a wife, arguing w/ Rafael Luna (317)

“Should I tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams… “Fuck!” He says a third time, spiking the newspaper at the floor. That one was his.” (324) AJSDHFLAGAHLKFAJG 

Chapter 13

Alex thinking he’s getting some sort of lecture or game plan from Ellen after the email leak only to have her ask if he’s okay like the good mom she is. (326)

Alex’s family all standing there for him after the leak, then Alex crying and collapsing to the floor in their arms. (331-332)

When Zahra gets Henry on the phone, Henry asks how Alex is doing But Alex immediately asks how Henry is instead because it is harder for him. Also, Phillip broke a vase that belonged to Anne Boleyn??? Amazing detail.

“I love him on purpose.” (344)

“I’ve been gay as a maypole since the day I came out of mum, Philip.” (353) it was better and funnier in this fight than their first night together.

Catherine sticking up for Henry so strongly against the queen 

Bea spilling tea on Phillip to shut him up (and just generally keeping him away from Henry to be protective.) (357)

Chapter 14

June wearing a “History, huh? Shirt and Alex tackling her into the tightest hug that they fall into a shrub (360-361)

Richards’ campaign being the cause of the email leak and Nora working her ass off to prove it 

THE FACT THAT ALEX MEMORIZED LUNA’S FIVE GUYS ORDER, AND IT WAS A SECRET. CODE. IN THE EMAILS. THATS SO FRIGGIN COOL ARE YOU KIDDING ME

“You are,” he says, “the absolute worst idea I’ve ever had.” (372)

I just need to repeat, R.A.F.A.E.L. L.U.N.A. A BADASS KING. I. WAS. ROBBED.

Chapter 15

Phillip starting to not be a prick

There is an entire page written, just describing the moment that Ellen officially got reelected. Everyone in different little bits of joy, and I think that could have been beautiful. (413)

HENRY BOUGHT A BROWNSTONE IN BROOKLYN FOR THEM YOU GUYS. PRETTY IMPORTANT DETAIL.

This list is so long but I could have made it so much longer I’m not even kidding. I cut it down to make it readable, and there is still so much in the book that just doesn’t translate to movies, but makes the story so much richer and amazing. Books are honestly ALWAYS better than the movie, but again, the list could be longer. This book is so beautiful.

Things that I actually liked that changed in the movie

“You act like the sun shines out of his ass, and you have a vitamin D deficiency.” (Instead of “and you make it convincing) 

“You’re wearing lifts, I know that too, sweetheart.” 

Alex saying “You’re late” smirking and closing the door, only to have henry walk right in and start to make out with him

“And I thought Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz was a mouthful.” “He is.” 

“I want you chewing on a goddamn crumpet by sunset… *Bows* Your Royal Highness.” 

“I wanna see your face COVERED in barbecue sauce, and then, I wanna lick it off.” 

That part where Henry asks why they have to maintain a traditional royal image and the king says “beca-beca-becau-Because!” Rambles about the country, then says “a prince who is… ✨HOMOSESGXSGSUAL.✨” but in the most funny disgusted voice

#rwrb #firstprince #lgbtq #red white and royal blue #lgbtqia #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #casey mcquiston

[jelliclekay]

:eyes emoji: Tugger kittens?

So many Tugger kittens

I went a little overboard and made way too many Tugger kitten OCs. But I love them all and so does Tugger <3

(Side note: I take the "produced 7 kittens right out of a hat" line very literally, so Misto in my headcanons has the ability to magic appear kittens for him and his mates, so 3 of Tugger's kittens were made this way)

Lumine (Tugger & Bomba)

I already talked about Lumi here but she is the first and only kitten Bomba has with Tugger biologically (Bomba is very much "one and done" when it comes to having kitten).

Trassel (Tugger & Misto)

TRASSEL. Yes, I use Gothenburg Tugger as a Tugger & Misto kitten but he looks and acts too much like a Tuggoffelees kitten. Trass is one of the magic kittens and he behaves pretty similarly to Lumine in that he is loud, dramatic and loves to show-off. Only difference is he has magic that he likes to use to show-off to other cats how special he is. He also gets jealous when his other siblings steal "his" spotlight.

Alexander (Tugger & Artemis)

Alexander is the son of Tugger and my OC Artemis, though besides having Tugger's eye color, he looks really nothing like his father and takes after Artemis completely. Alexander does end up being very tall, about Munk's height. Because of that and because of how well-behaved and soft-spoken Alexander is, Old Deuteronomy at first believes Alexander to be Munkustrap's kitten, much to Tugger's annoyance. He's a very nice boy though and plans on taking over as tribe historian after Artemis.

Lia (Tugger & Artemis)

Lia happens not long after Alexander, very much an accidental kitten, but a happy accident. Lia and Alexander are so close in age, some cats even mistake them as twins. Lia is also soft-spoken like Alexander, but has more of a bite to her and hisses when anyone is mean to her older brother Alexander. She's the most graceful of the Tugger kittens, and ends up being a talented ballerina when she's older.

Nemeia (Tugger, Misto and Bomba)

The 2nd magic kitten that Misto made for him, Tugger and Bombalurina. Nemeia is tiny and bitey, and she's always chewing on other cat's tails or ears. Her favorite targets are her parents, her siblings and Munk. She has a phase where she loves her Uncle Munk more than any cat in the world, and she cries when she isn't around him during that time. She has problems listening and often spaces out when older cats are talking to her. Nemeia also has magic powers, but her powers are more metaphysical and internal rather than outwardly and showy like Misto and Trass.

Kara (Tugger & Artemis)

Kara is the problem child lol she's most like Tugger personality wise. She's stubborn, snarky and mouthy. Kara speaks her mind, and as a kitten often says things that could be seen as rude without her realizing it. When she's older, she is still stubborn but is more mindful of what she says to avoid hurting feelings by accident. Also as an older cat, she also is absolutely gorgeous but has no interest in this attention and often turns other cat's down who try to win her affections.

Duncan (Tugger & Teazer)

Duncan is the adopted son of Tugger and Teazer, and he was found by Teazer during one of her heists with Jerrie. He's very friendly, just full of heart but isn't the brightest cat. Duncan is very skilled at acrobatics and tumbling though, and as an older cat loves to show off to his parents his skills. He's very food driven and loves to eat and Teazer is always bringing him back bags full of treats when she comes back to the Junkyard.

Gideon (Tugger, Misto & Artemis)

The baby, and the kitten who looks MOST like Tugger. He inherited his father's mane, and his markings are white where Tugger's more yellowy-brown markings are, but other than that Gideon looks EXACTLY like Tugger. Because of this, Gideon ends up being a total catch to the younger kittens and he has his own fanclub. Despite looking exactly like Tugger, his personality is more like Misto and Artemis, so he is embarrassed by all the attention he gets and he is very reserved and quiet.

#alright #i have finally talked about my Tugger kittens #feel free to send questions about any of them i have so much more written on these little guys #cats the musical #rum tum tugger #cats the musical oc #asks

[ofwolfandmuses]

Is that [JOE MANGANIELLO]? No, that’s [VICTOR CALLEN]. The [47] year old [OMEGA] [CIS-MALE] is a [HORTICULTURIST] in the [VENOIS] pack. If you ask their friends, they’re known to be [AMIABLE] & [COMPLIANT], but they urge you to be cautious, because they’re also known to be [SELF-CONSCIOUS] & [CREDULOUS]. Their friends also say that they’re into [PRAISE, BODY WORSHIP & CUDDLING] but don’t even think about trying [HUMILIATION/DEGRADATION, SCAT, GORE, EXCESSIVE PAIN] with them.

TW MISCARRIAGES & TW STILLBORN & TW ABUSE

BASIC INFORMATION;

Name: Victor Alexander Callen - Martel

Nicknames: Vic, Big Guy

Age: Forty-Seven

Secondary Gender: Omega

Occupation: Horticulturist in the Venois Pack

APPEARANCE;  

Height: 6'6

Weight: 245 pounds

Build: Herculean, Toned, Athletic

Hair Color: Black & Grey - He got that salt n pepper action

Eye Color: Brown

Shaved/Trimmed/Natural: Hairy, but not a thick coat - just enough to make it obvious he has hair but not enough that it hides how toned he is

Wolf Color: Dark Grey with an almost blue tint to it, lighter around the face

Wolf Size/Build: Slightly larger than average, stocky

SEX;

Kinks: Praise, Intimacy, Multiple Orgasms (giving), Obeying his partners, Being called "boy" or "pup", Younger/Smaller Tops, Knotting, Breeding, Service Topping, Musk, Body Worship

Anti-Kinks: Humiliation/Degradation, Excessive Pain, Scat, Gore, Dying Alone

BIOGRAPHY;

The true of the matter is that Victor, really, should not have been born. With both his sire and his dame being omegas, the chance of success of his birth was definitely minimal and yet when he came out of his dame with a soft cry, his parents were overjoyed that he had been born healthy and hearty, a pup of nine pounds at his birth. Of course, his parentage often had people wondering just what kind of wolf he would be, wondering what sort of strong role model he would have if the wolf were to wind up as an Alpha - being raised by two omegas, surely, would mean that he'd grow up to be soft, right?

Their concerns had been correct when he presented with his first heat at twenty-two - a late-bloomer - and they started to blame his parents for his secondary gender because for all intents and purposes, he looked like he should've been an Alpha - he was tall, broad-shouldered, and yet he was an Omega. They started to tell them that if he had just been sired by an Alpha, if there had been an Alpha there to raise him, that maybe he'd turn out the way that Mother Wolf had intended for him to be instead of what they made him. And the wolves his age often teased him, chided him for his size and joked that he wasn't a good Omega because he was so big.

There was one, in particular, though, that was always so kind to him. He called him the perfect omega, a beautiful soul and the kind of omega he could see could bear strong and hearty pups, and Victor was quick to fall in love. It wasn't much longer after that that the two of them mated with each other when he was twenty-six. Everything was perfect. His mate was always eager to bed him, to knot him and breed his hole, but... nothing come of it. A couple of years went by and the two hadn't had a pup, and so Victor went to speak with someone in an apothecary about what they could do to increase their chances of conception - the last thing he wanted was to be an Omega that didn't do his duty and provide for his Alpha.

With fertility potions, Victor and his mate tried again for pups for years and four times they were successful... at least in conception. Two of them had been early miscarriages, and the third Victor had nearly carried to term before having a miscarriage. The fourth time? He had carried the pup to term and he and his mate were ecstatic to finally meet their first child... But after hours of labor, the pup that Victor had birthed wasn't breathing and was pronounced a still born. His heart broke at that moment, knowing that there had to be something wrong with him if he was unable to give his mate a child... and his mate thought the same.

For years after that, the relationship between Victor and his mate took a turn. His Alpha would start coming home later and later, smelling of different wolves - of different Omegas - and when he did touch Victor, he was aggressive and only using him for his own means. And the words he spoke were absolutely heart-wrenching, calling him broken and that he should've known to stay away from him when no one else wanted him, and sometimes those words were accompanied by violence. It got to the point, really, where Victor couldn't help but notice his mate would smell like one Omega in particular and when a new scent popped up on his Alpha, he knew what it meant.

He became a father.

Heartbroken that he couldn't provide for his Alpha, Victor gathered his belongings - what little he had, anyway - and decided to head out in search of a new life. The village of Athos was one he had heard of a few times, by people that had traveled the roadside and rested in the farmhouse that he shared with his mate, and he figured that maybe he could start anew there. Of course, as soon as he crossed the boundary, he was greeted by the guards - a wolf of his stature, of course, was bound to bring up questions and once he was presented to the three packmasters, they all looked to the mark on his neck and the desperation in his plea and they knew... He was just trying to leave some sort of sad situation and they agreed to take him in.

The wolf hadn't been in Athos that long, merely a month, and he hadn't really formed any connections beyond those that worked in the fields with him as a Horticulurist - using his height to aid him in tended to the plants that some of the others struggled to reach - and while the mated mark on his neck is still strong, still standing... Part of him yearns to find someone else to mark the other side of his neck, to take him in and make him happy again.

But he knows that's a long shot. After all, he knows... He's too old, too broken, and too big to be anyone's Omega.

#ahqintro #tw miscarriage #tw stillbirth #tw abuse #abuse tw #miscarriage tw #stillbirth tw

[crushedbyhyperbole]

Promises - Chapter Thirteen

Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Original Female Character (Friends to Lovers AU)

Chapter Summary:   Izzy is presented with the possibility of a brighter future, one working with entrepreneur and former Senator Alexander Pierce. Will her future take her far away from New York? Or will she stay?

Words:  1.4k

Note:  Soooooo... it's been like 2 years since I wrote anything at all let alone considered updating any of my abandoned stories BUT I got a bit of the Bucky bug again (probs hormones) and decided to try to get the ball rolling again.

For those of you who have been waiting, I'm so so sorry for the neglect. For those who have just arrived, I really hope you get some kicks out of this. I really do love this story and will do what I can to see it through.

This is a short chapter to kind of get my toes wet again. My original plan was to have this full of filth and smut but it's now a set up to more, so the good stuff will come after ;)

Warnings:  None really.

***18+ Content - this fic is written for adults - minors do not interact***

PROMISES MASTERLIST  |  MAIN MASTERLIST

Moving On Up

The morning of Bucky’s party, the firm was abuzz with energy and excitement.  The partners were all in the conference room waiting for a big new client to arrive.  Izzy knocked on the frosted glass door and was ushered inside furtively.

“We’ll have to put certain cases on the backburner, of course.”  Claire spoke in her most practiced drawl – her version of a poker-face.

“With the retainer Mr Pierce is offering, we could put all of them on the backbur-oh Isabelle you’re here.”  Gerry Markham, one of the founding partners of Markham & Maddox fixed Izzy in his gaze. “I’ve asked you to join is today because I think you’ll be an asset in these negotiations today.”

Izzy was slightly confused. It wasn’t the first time she’d been included in new client acquisition but with the gossip she heard on her way up to the top floor, this new client was none other than Alexander Pierce of Goodwin Enterprises, formerly Senator Pierce and, even more formerly, Director Pierce of the government espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D.  Izzy nodded and settled in a chair next to Claire.  She would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.

Around the table were faces she knew and worked under, and hoped to join one day.  Could this be her opportunity to show them she was made of the right stuff to be counted amongst them in this glass penthouse? Could this be her ticket to join the partners?

The door opened and two men were shown inside.  The first was tall and butch with a rugged-looking face, his dark hair short and squared on top which reminded Izzy of military hair styles. He wasn’t unpleasing to the eye in his dark suit but she supposed that he was the bodyguard; he practically screamed “secret service” with his surveying glances around the room upon entering.  Her suspicions were confirmed when the second man entered.  He was much shorter, with smiling eyes, a slick-styled hair cut and wearing a much softer-looking grey suit.  He gave off an air of authority whist seeming quite casual.  This was Alexander Pierce.

Introductions were made, hands shaken, drinks served and then privacy restored; once the junior staff had left the room conversation began in earnest.  Izzy found Mr Pierce fascinating.  He seemed so kind and yet there was so much power and influence under the surface, she had no doubt that he could be ruthless too.  His companion on the other hand, his chief of security Brock Rumlow, didn’t even try to hide his manner or his masculinity for that matter. Mr Rumlow eyed Izzy and Claire like pieces of meat.  His appraising glare made Izzy feel like prey but Claire drank it in and returned what she got like the lioness she was.

“My needs are quite general and also quite specific, Gerry.”  Mr Pierce smiled, closing a Markham & Maddox brochure that was open in front of him.  “My enterprises require round the clock attention and my needs are both defensive and offensive.  I have many competitors in the various fields in which I operate so I requite a talented individual or team of individuals to be with me wherever I am based.”

“Of course, I think we can accommodate that, Mr Pierce.”  Gerry seemed nervous.  “You’ve had some time to peruse our partner and junior portfolio, is there anyone you feel will fit the bill?  I recommend Claire here very highly, she’s an excellent litigator as well you know.”

“Yes she is indeed,” Mr Pierce nodded and beamed a huge smile at Claire, his eye flickering slightly to Izzy at her side, “my congratulations on wining your most recent case.  Sadly, Luxor, one of my lesser enterprises fell prey to your prowess.”

Izzy had not realised that Alexander Pierce had owned Luxor, the company that her and Claire had shot down the other week when they tried to buy out their client.  Izzy had put a lot of work into that case, investigating them for everything she could think of.  They were a shell company, she’d uncovered that much, and their financials were shady at best.  Markham & Maddox had left him dead in the water, so why was Alexander Pierce here seeking to hire them?  Was he impressed with their work or was he seeking to get on side the only people who had ever gotten in his way?

“I’ve had my eye on Ms Freeman, actually.”  Pierce levelled Izzy with a bemused smile. “Her talents are varied, yet she’s proven herself to be both a thorough and skilled defence attorney and an expert litigator.  It was you, was it not, who assisted Ms Goldstein here in the case against Luxor?”

Izzy swallowed hard. “Yes, I was Claire’s assistant on that case.”  She kept her voice even and her face placid.  “As lead counsel, she did all of the depositions.”

“Not all of them.”  Mr Pierce’s bemused smile never shifted from his face.  “I followed the case closely and was quite impressed by you.  You have a keen mind and I need someone like you on my side.”

Around the room there was a mixture of pride and annoyance on the faces of the partners.  Mr Pierce was a bigger fish in the big pond, the money he would bring in was staggering.  There was no shortage of jealousy here, but these people had already made partner, this was her time to move up.

“I’m flattered, thank you. Credit where it’s due though, Claire is much more experienced than I am.  I’m happy to be part of these negotiations, I’m sure we can find the best possible balance for your needs, Mr Pierce.”  Izzy smiled, feeling good about the prospect of promotion if she was chosen for this role.

 Once Alexander Pierce had left and the rest of the partners were going back to their offices, Izzy flopped back in her chair with a great exhale.  Three hours of discussion and negotiations and she still didn’t know exactly what had been agreed.

“You did well.” Claire said, reaching to squeeze Izzy’s hand.  “Pierce seemed so dead set on having you head this up.  This could see you make partner.”

“Do you really think so?” Izzy hoped beyond hope, if not for the prestige then for the money.

“Even if you decline Pierce and I am appointed, it’s only a matter of time until you’re up here with the rest of us.  You’re good, Izzy.  Really good. You’re just not a natural shark like I am, you are capable of it sure, you’re vicious when you want to be but it’s another speed for you, not your primary one.”  Claire was proud of her, she could tell, and that meant a lot. “Who’d have thought I’d be second best to anyone.”  Claire laughed and pushed her chair pack, sweeping out of the conference room with grace. Later they might go for a few drinks to celebrate, but shoot,  it was Bucky’s party and she’d practically told Nat that she would show her face, if only to show support.

Izzy had a lot to think about for the rest of her afternoon.  Lunch had been a blur of sushi, hastily grabbed from place near the office, it certainly wasn’t her favourite place but it was convenient. The offer of joining Alexander Pierce’s team was fraught with tough decisions.  She had a case load already that would hae to be passed on, clients who trusted her would be pushed aside for her ambition. The offices Goodwin Enterprises was situated in London, England, which would mean that she would be moving to England for the foreseeable future, if not permanently. She would miss her family, her friends, her apartment; this city would be hard to leave.

Even though her and Bucky had fallen out, Izzy hoped to get their friendship back on track.  Perhaps she’d avoided him long enough.  Her heart yearned for him, it always did.  That was part of the problem; she was in love with him but for him she was just someone he could have regular sex with and not have to maintain a relationship.  She knew that that exact thing was what she had asked him for those few years ago, and their arrangement had worked for that long perhaps it would continue to do so if she chilled out more and tried not to hold every little mistake against him.

Izzy decided to talk to Bucky that night at his party.  She would try to mend bridges just in case she took the job with Mr Pierce; she couldn’t leave on bad terms.

PROMISES MASTERLIST  |  MAIN MASTERLIST

#bucky barnes fic #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes fan fiction #bucky barnes au #bucky barnes angst #friends to lovers #promises #cloudy's writing