#trr crack fic

[txemrn]

Déjà Vu

Chapter 1

Series Summary: After an unforgettable night with a stranger, Princess Eleanor finds herself caught in a secret love triangle between a noble and a commoner.

Chapter Summary: Eleanor prepares for a night out with her best friends despite her mother's wishes for her to attend a special family dinner.

Pairing(s): Liam x Riley (in discussion); more to be revealed

Word Count: ~2740

Warning: 🔞 Mature Audiences Only 🔞 this chapter references drinking; brief language

A/N: Welcome to my Crack Fic! No one asked for this... at least no one of sound mind, and if you're a big fan of TRR, you might actually hate this (no, I'm not killing Liam!). When I pitched this idea (half-joking, half-serious) to some buddies after reading the book Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, the eager encouragement I normally receive was met with (what's that TikTok trend with that T Swift song?) "horrified looks from everyone in the room". But... I could not get this idea out of my head. So, here we are! I have a general idea of where this story is going... but I'm actually leaving myself open to possibilities. No matter how the road twists and turns, I would be honored if you join me!

A/N 2: This story takes place approximately 2 decades after TRR/TRH. I have made some canonical changes (they will be mentioned). Characters and some plots belong to our friends at Pixelberry! Huge thank you to @charlotteg234 for looking over this for me (and laughing like a maniac with me)! This was not Beta'd; please excuse my errors.

~🖤~

Eleanor

Tapping my newly manicured nails against the glass topper to my vanity, my gaze nervously shifts back and forth between my choices for the evening. I don’t know why this is so hard–or why it’s taking me this long to decide–but somehow, here I am in quite the conundrum.

Perversion or Temptress: that’s it. But, when it came to darkening the outer-corner of my eyelid, picking the right hue of eyeshadow matters. Yes, yes, they’re both a deep black; one is a dark matte that has the potential to smudge all over my porcelain face, but the other one, while dark, has little flecks of silver.

Biting my lip, I look at myself in the mirror before looking back at the YouTube tutorial I was following.  I feel silly making such a big deal over the color; afterall, this is supposed to be fun. Normally, for me, it is.  I’m actually really good at doing my own make-up, thanks to the internet and to my mother who convinced my father when I was fourteen that mascara and lipstick would not lead me down the path of destruction and eternal damnation.

Well, I guess I should clarify: I do a great job on my make-up, my everyday natural, diplomatically poised look. Think lots of pinks and taupes. It’s the latest trend for crown princesses; I should know.

But tonight, I wouldn’t be Princess Eleanor. I didn’t want to be Princess Eleanor. 

Dangit, that came out wrong. I don’t mean to sound like some stereotypical spoiled brat that is born into money and power, who craves freedom from her poor little privileged life.  I am content–actually, very grateful for the life I have been born into. I have been given incredible opportunities and experiences because of it. But, I’m not naive; I know I have a high-calling, one filled with much responsibility and dedication. Someday I will be queen of Cordonia.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves... 

Tonight, I’m just Nora–at least that’s what my friends call me, and since I’m turning twenty this coming Tuesday, they wanted to take me out over the weekend. This weekend. See? Responsible. But, there is just one problem…

There’s a sudden knock on my door, my mother instantly inviting herself in.  “Dinner’s in thirty Eleanor–”  she freezes as her eyes grow wide. “Y–you’re make-up… don’t you think it’s a bit on the, um… heavy-side?”

“Mom,” I singsong, "it's supposed to be. This is how all the celebrities and models wear their make-up when they hit the town." 

"Hit the town?" My mother gave me that eyebrow, the one that gives away her true unspoken feelings. "You're going out tonight?"

"Mhmm. To dinner." I settle on Urban Decay's Perversion, and start tapping the color against my eyelid. "I told you and Daddy that Josie and Beth were taking me out–"

"Eleanor," my mom shot her first warning signal with her tone. "We discussed that tonight wasn't a good night. And if you ladies could do things tomorrow–"

"It's just a family dinner," I continue to work on my look. "Daddy said it was fine–"

"But you know how important this dinner is. We have a special guest."

Yes, yes. We know.

His name is Drake Walker, and he is–well, was, my parent's best friend back in the day before I was born. He actually grew up with my dad, Drake's father serving as my Grandpa Rys's royal guard when he was king of Cordonia.

But, then there was a falling out of some sort…well, that's according to my Uncle Leo. He means well, but I'm fairly certain the truth has been stretched.

Anyway, I'm not too clear on what happened, but shortly after my parents got married, Drake moved back to his home in America to start a normal life. He never settled down with a wife, but he kept busy with his construction company.

That is until four months ago when he discovered his business partner had been siphoning company funds into off-shore accounts. Now he spends his days laid up on the couch with a fifth of whiskey. And broke as a joke.

Drake's brother-in-law Bertrand Beaumont, the Duke of Ramsford, serves on the royal council with my parents, and after a late meeting one night, he shared the truth about their former best friend. 

Daddy and his bleeding heart… sure, he can see fiery red from time to time and his temper can bubble over, but my father is known for his grace, forgiveness, and charity towards others. He contacted his old friend… which then led to an invitation back to Cordonia.

'It's only for a little while, until he gets back on his feet,' Daddy assured my mom.  'We'll give him tasks around the palace until then.'

Mom called it a 'midlife crisis'. I don't think I was supposed to hear the latter part.

I began to draw on my eyeliner as my mother crossed her arms, glowering at me. Feeling the disappointment radiate from her glare, I stop, shrugging my shoulders. "What?"

"Part of being royal is posing as a unified front as a family."

"You act like this is some official business or a press event–"

"Our closest friends are going to be here, Elle, and–" she stops, her eyes playfully smoldering as her voice becomes angelically romantic. "--I think even Bartie is coming." 

"Mom!" I chuckle, my cheeks pinking in embarrassment from her inflection. "It's not like that with him."

Oh, but it was…

Bartie Beaumont is one of my closest friends. He's a few years older than me and well… I really enjoy spending time with him.  He's incredibly kind and charming in and out of social situations. He's quite handsome with his dark, well-kept hair and deep chestnut eyes. And smart–goodness, he's smart. He can keep up with my father, round-for-round in debating politics and foreign policies.

He's always been fiercely protective of me, even when I was a little girl. But he was always just Bartie, my honorary older brother… that is until he asked me to dance at a charity gala when I was sixteen. I had never been asked to dance by a boy before; I was normally paired with other noble children, usually from the suggestion made by their mothers. But this? It was different… and special. Someone chose to dance with me because they wanted to. And until that moment, I never understood what it meant to let a partner 'lead you', and well… I digress. It was nice. Bartie… he's just nice.

"But seriously, Mom," I continue, "the girls have already set everything up for tonight, and I'm the guest of honor for that. I can't just stand them up."

My mom gives me a long sigh. She's having that internal argument with herself where she compares her younger years as a commoner versus her younger years as a royal. "I guess I was hoping you'd get to meet your Uncle Drake tonight–"

I couldn't control my giggles. Growing up, Mom and Dad always referred to their close friends as 'Aunt' or 'Uncle', like my Uncle Max and Aunt Livvy. But they were also active members in my life that I saw frequently. 'Uncle Drake'? I don't even know the guy. 

"Isn't he living on our couch for a while? I'm sure I'll meet him at breakfast sometime." 

My mom pursed her lips. I think she realizes she has no other reasons to keep me home. Thank goodness.

"Is Lars going with you, or is one of the other guards?"

"Mom," I whine.

"Eleanor, you know the rules–"

"But I just want to be a normal twenty-year-old for the night–"

"Almost twenty-year-old," she smirks, stepping forward to fidget with my wavy, honey-brunette hair. "It's just not safe, baby. People know who you are–good people… and bad people. Even under all of this make-up, people will still recognize you."

I give a little huff, but she was right. I once dyed my hair purple and wore thick-rimmed frames to a show for a local punk band, and I'm pretty sure I posed for more photos with fans than the musicians.

"Fine, I'll ask Lars," I give my mother a half smile. "Anything else, your majesty?"

"One more thing," she twirls me around to face my reflection in the mirror. I'm keeping it pretty casual tonight with a white shirt and black ripped skinny jeans. I am pairing my black moto jacket with some gold accessories and my red Jimmy Choo pumps. Surely the woman doesn't think I'm showing off too much skin. 

Suddenly, she raises my shirt in the back and unclips my white bra.

"Mom!" 

"Eleanor," she snickers, shaking her head at me. "We've been over and over this ever since you got boobs: white shirt, nude undergarments."

I whip off my bra, quickly grabbing a skin-tone t-shirt bra. "No one's going to be looking."

"Someone is always looking." 

After hooking my bra and smoothing out my tee, Mom gave me an approving nod. And then she put her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. "Have a good time tonight. I love you, my twenty-year-old baby."

"Almost twenty-year-old baby." We both fall into titters as we squeeze each other closer. "I love you too, Mommy."

------

I text my bodyguard Lars to let him know about the evening, and as expected, he'll be ready with the car in ten minutes. 

Poor guy was ball-and-chained to me when I got my driver's license. I'm sure when he signed up for the guard, he pictured himself traveling around the world, looking like a badass with my dad. Instead, he got me, and the only traveling he normally does is to gather my morning espresso and cronut. He's made more trips to Sephora than any man should ever make in his lifetime–even more than my Uncle Max.

He's a good guy… if you like the serious, never-crack-a-smile type. He looks like John Cena with a permanent angry expression, complete with a single bulging vein in the center of his forehead. He's a man of few words despite my attempts to make him laugh, but underneath all the brawn and muscle, he has a big heart. He has literally given me his coat so that I wouldn't have to walk through a puddle of half-melted snow. And to think, he has sworn to give so much more for my own life… 

My phone abruptly pings. Beth.

>>> "Hey, bday bish! R U ready for the nite of ur life?"

I chuckle under my breath after reading the text. Night of my life… She always has a flare for the dramatics, but then again Beth has always been the life of the party. She has more personality in her pinkie finger than all of the citizens of Cordonia combined. Her mother is the Countess of Fydelia, and ever since Beth's father left, she's been indisposed.  Mom says that's a more tactful way of saying, 'alcoholic'. 

Beth walks more on the wild side, a real risk-taker. When I get in trouble, chances are she is somehow involved, like the time I got caught with a bottle of Smirnoff Ice at the Baron's Ball. Ugh, talk about the hangover from hell… and that wasn't even my punishment…

But she, along with Josie, are my ride-or-die. My BFFs. My "You jump, I jump, right?". We've grown up together, became women together, and nothing was about to ruin that bond.

I fire a text back to Beth. 

>>> "Can't wait! My car will be ready in a few. What restaurant are we meeting at?"

My phone instantly dings, catching me off guard in my attempts to glide on some lipstick. That was fast. I tap on the message.

>>> "We're coming 4 u! Be ready!"

My face falls. I know it's probably hard to believe, but my friends often forget that I'm a princess. Like, the legit crown princess of Cordonia, and because of that, I need a bodyguard present during all activities outside of the palace that have not otherwise been secured by the royal guard. As you can imagine, that rule made me so popular in grade school when my parents tried giving me a 'normal life'.

In retrospect, I'm quite grateful for the security through the years, especially when I hear about plots made by secret coups against my dad. But still, it would be nice to get my own darn breakfast. And I'm sure Lars would love to sleep in for once.

I text back.

>>> "And Lars"

>>> "R U kidding me? Ur shadow has 2 come?"

I let out a defeated exhale.  She knows this. My phone suddenly rings, her picture lighting up the screen. "Hey–"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" She sounds irritated, as if I did this maliciously to her.

"Beth, you know my parents won't allow me out without him or any other–"

"He can't come with us," she interrupts. I can hear Josie in the back, trying to calm Beth down. 

"And do tell–" I cross an arm over my chest, raising an eyebrow, "--why is that?"

She lets out a huge sigh. "Fine. It was supposed to be a surprise for your birthday, but–" she hesitates, sucking on her front teeth.  "I got us three VIP passes into Core!"

I blink a few times, racking my brain for this to somehow trip a memory. "Core?" Nope. No tripping. "What's Core?"

"Nora!" She scoffs in disbelief. "It's only the newest and hottest club in town. Tonight is opening night. Half price shots–"

"Uh, Beth–?" I could feel my stomach sinking under the weight of her excitement. And Josie wasn't any better, squealing over the line. 

A club? Like, with dancing and drinking? I had never been to one before. And something tells me that the king wouldn't be too approving of his nineteen-year-old daughter partying with half-drunk strangers, groping her in the name of dancing. Still, it sounds like so much fun.

"--and we have a VIP table with bottle service until midnight!"

"Beth!" I call out to get her attention again. "There… there's just no way I can do that. Especially without Lars."

"C'mon, Nora. It's your freaking birthday. You're supposed to let loose–"

I hang my head into my hands. "You know I want to, but… I–I can't do that. My parents–"

"--don't have to know."

That silenced me real quickly into deep thought. I might not be the world's most perfect child, but I have learned never to hide things from Liam and Riley Rys. Never. 

But I'd be lying if a glimmer of hope and excitement didn't blossom in my chest at the thought of going out despite my parent's knowledge. Besides, I am an adult; I'm almost twenty for crying out loud. If anything, I've shown them how responsible I am, and that I can be trusted. Plus, Aunt Livvy has taught me more than enough self-defense maneuvers that I could probably take a second job as a spy with her wife.

Okay. Maybe Beth has a plan.

"And how won't they find out? Lars has to give a detailed report–"

"We won't bring him."

That's the plan? I snicker under my breath, chewing on the inside of my cheek. "And… how do you suggest I get rid of him?"

"Why not a sleepover?" I hear Josie suggest in the background.

A sleepover. That could work. There were few places I could go where security didn't have to be right beside me once a building was given the all clear. Beth's house happened to be one of them. 

"But I'm already dressed up. And–and I told my mom we were going out–"

"So?" Beth interjects. "We changed our minds. We'll have dinner catered."

Crap. Am I really considering this? I look at my reflection in the mirror as I twist my lips. Dangit. And I'm having a really good hair day.

"What's it gonna be, Nora?"

I take a few cleansing breaths. I can feel my pulse, galloping like a racehorse in my ears. Could I actually get away with this? I've been to Beth's house thousands of times. The guard comes in, does a quick sweep, and then keeps watch outside, never to return until it's time for me to leave. We could sneak out the back through the guest house. He would never know.

I swallow thickly, adrenaline pouring into my veins.

"Okay. Let me make a call."

~🖤~

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------

Thank you so much for your support! Every like, comment and reblog means the world to me! 🖤

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[karahalloway]

The Highwayman: Part I - Look For Me By The Moonlight

Fandom: TRR (Historical AU)

Pairing: Drake Walker x F!OC (Harper Gale)

Series Summary: On a dark, moonlit night, a highwayman's luck runs out...

Masterlist: The Highwayman

Chapter Summary: Harper and Drake make a plan...

Word Count: 3,600

Rating/Warnings: M (swearing, references to smut, references to illegal activities)

Chapter theme song:

A/N1: So... This installment took a bit of a turn. Harper and Drake sprung a massive change on me because apparently, the original story was not heartbreaking enough... You have been warned.

A/N2: Astute readers will probably notice that Drake and Harper 'sound' different in this fic. This is deliberate, because this fic is historical fiction (set in the 18th century), rather than contemporary fiction, so I adjusted their vernacular accordingly (that said, I didn't go full Shakespeare because I'm not that extra 😆).

A/N3: As promised, this is my first submission for @choicesprompts January 2024 Song Rewrite Challenge. The song I chose to rewrite is below. I hope to do Parts 2 and 3 shortly as well, but I can't promise both of them for January. But I might surprise myself!

Part I - Look For Me By The Moonlight

The wind lashes the black expanse of the moor, flattening the browned-out clumps of grass against the frozen ground.

I reach a gloved hand up to wedge my cocked hat more securely onto my head, in a bid to stop it from blowing away.

The surefooted Merèns I am sat on picks his way through the brush of gorse and heather, seemingly oblivious to my plight.

"Bloody weather..." I grumble under my breath as a particularly vicious gust cuts through the buttonholes of my knee-length justacorps, instantly snatching away any vestige of warmth I may have managed to salvage.

The horse flicks his ears at the sound of my voice, as if questioning my assessment.

"Your opinion doesn't count," I tell him through gritted teeth, trying to work some warmth back into toes that have become chilled to the bone.

Drogon throws me a flippant raspberry as we skirt ‘round a flat-topped cairn.

Just then, the wind blasts through the cracks in the rocks, causing a ghostly tune to whistles out into the cold of the night.

The coal-coated stallion flattens his ears against his head, tossing his head in displeasure at the unearthly sound.

"Not so cocky now, eh, mon gross?" I grin, reaching out to give him a reassuring pat on his neck.

The horse responds with a sour-faced snort, stepping quickly past the moss-covered waypost — a brazen reminder of this land's heathen roots.

Because despite the House of Rys' conversion to Christianity almost a millennia ago, in the far-flung reaches of the kingdom — where the roads ran out, and the name of the King is just that... a name — the tenet of the old ways is more than just a memory.

It is a living, breathing ethos. Suffused into the very heart of this harsh, rugged, yet beautiful land. Where portents, spells, and otherworldly creatures exist in the same breath as Christ, the Eucharist, and Judgement Day, and the very air crackles with mysticism and superstition.

Which is partly what drew me here — to the edge of the proverbial map, where the laws of Cordonia fray into irrelevance in the face of the jagged peaks of the snow-capped mountains, and your fortune is what you craft it to be.

Not that I can afford to be flippant with my conduct...

As even this far from the capital, the King's Greencoats still man outposts and send forth patrols in a bid to maintain order. But their presence is cursory at best. Because if you know the moor — like I do — it becomes simple to lose yourself in the mist.

Plus, the superstitious inclinations of the border folk have aided in cloaking my less than savoury operations in the guise of fireside tales — spreading news of my exploits while keeping my identity masked behind successive, and ever more fantastical embellishments.

The Black Cavalier. The Raven Rider. The Headless Huntsman. Midnight Jack.

These are all names I've carried over the years.

But — more often than not — I am referred to simply as The Highwayman.

For that is what I am. A bandit. An outlaw. A common rogue living on the wrong side of propriety with no hope of redemption. For I've committed far too many sins in this life.

I've lied, cheated, stolen, and fleeced. Not to mention evaded the Greencoats one too many times for their liking. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the promotion-hungry Captain Belvedere Beaumont — who has been after my head for years — keeps a noose specifically for me in his saddlebag.

Because, worst of all, I've killed.

I've taken men's lives at both gunpoint and sword-point. Sometimes they've even begged. But I've cut them down regardless.

The ultimate sin.

But, there has never been honour amongst thieves. And if an unfortunate bastard chooses to pull a weapon on me, then I'm going to make damn sure that that becomes his last mistake, not mine.

I like living too much.

Especially as — after nigh on one-and-half score years on this Earth— I have finally found something to live for.

From out of the darkness, a lone spec of golden light hoves into view, nestled between the lee of a pair of windswept hills.

And, in spite of the hellish nature of the night, I feel the corner of my mouth lift.

As gold and jewels — while pretty and useful — pass through your hands just as fast as you acquire them, and sure as hell don't keep you warm at night. That is... unless you have someone to share your treasure with.

"Hue!" I urge, nudging Drogon into a trot.

But the opinionated stallion clearly has other ideas. As after a mere two steps, he launches into a full-fledged canter.

Not that I can necessarily blame him. We've been on the road... or lack thereof, for hours, and the sight of the twinkling promise of reprieve from the cold is enough to warrant anyone — man, or beast — to pick up their feet.

But, instead of riding up to the front of the gable-arched establishment, I direct my steed 'round to the back.

Slipping out of the saddle in the shadow of the stable block, I pull my sabre carefully from its scabbard as I reach for the metal of the door handle.

Creaking the heavy wooden door open, I sneak a glance inside. A man of my profession — and reputation — cannot afford to be lenient. So, an over-abundance of caution is a must. As is a well-sharpened blade.

Four horses occupy the darkened space, their heads coming to poke out into the gangway to assess my arrival. And, apart from the barn cat dozing on a bale of hay in the corner, there is nary a soul in sight.

Pushing the door wider, I lead Drogon into the relative warmth of the structure. Espying an empty stall to my left, I direct the horse towards the manger affixed to the wall, when I suddenly hear the scrape of boots on the hard-packed earth behind me.

Whipping around, the cold metal of my sword flashes through the air, like the talons of a kite, seeking its target.

A loud gasp of surprise rises into the air as the point of the blade meets the soft flesh of the intruder's gullet.

"Please, sir!" cries Emile, the stable hand, in fright. "I only came to—"

"Drop that lantern, and there'll be almighty hell t' pay..." I warn, seeing the lantern that the youth is holding shake dangerously in his hand.

The last thing I need tonight is the barn catching fire.

The lad swallows nervously, but nods, tightening his grip on the brass handle.

"Anyone else about?" I ask, scanning the dark.

Emile jerks his head. "Jus' me an' Lupin..."

Glancing past him, I spot the bedraggled hound ambling towards its master on bowed legs.

Sheathing the weapon, I move back towards Drogon to unclasp the saddlebags. "Feed and water the horse, but leave him saddled. My business will be brief."

"Of course, sir," bobs the lad, having recovered control of his faculties somewhat.

Hefting the bags onto my shoulder, I reach into the hidden pocket of my coat. Pulling out a ha' piece of silver, I flip it to the boy.

He catches it with wide eyes.

"For the trouble," I tell him as I stride past. Glancing back from the doorway, I add, "And if anyone asks, you never saw me."

"Thank ye, sir!" he affirms, quickly pocketing the coin. "An’ welcome back t’ The Crown & The Flame!"

Slipping back out into the night, I make my way quickly along the side of the barn. Locating the weather-worn ladder that leads up to the hayloft, I quickly scale the somewhat slick rungs. Grabbing onto the extruding stone lintel above the hayloft door, I use the imperfections in the crumbling mortar to pull myself up onto the peat-lined roof.

Scrambling across the ridge of the gambrel, I draw upon my destination — a lone, casement window suspended on the side of the inn, the light of a single candle flickering within.

Crouching down, I cup my hands to my face. Taking a breath, I imitate the call of a cuckoo, hoping that it will carry over the sound of the wind rattling the shutters.

I wait a second... then two...

The window creaks open.

"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me..."

She is leaning against the side jamb, head cocked to the side as she regards me with a wry look, her long, flaxen hair lying half-pleated over one breast.

I scoff back at her as I pull the saddlebags from my shoulder. "Not a chance in hell, lass."

She rolls her eyes at me, but pushes the stile wider, nevertheless.

Securing my stance, I assess the distance. Raising my hand, I test the weight, and with a determined movement, send the pack sailing through the air.

Reaching her arms out, she catches it with practiced ease.

"It's heavy," she remarks, slotting the bags down.

"That a complaint I hear?" I ask dryly, straightening back up.

"'Tis merely an observation," she replies with a shrug, the soft cotton of her shift sliding seductively off her shoulder in the process.

I shake my head as I retreat back across the stable roof somewhat. This lass is going to be the death of me...

Turning back 'round, I take a couple of long-legged strides across the hardened peat, before throwing myself across the divide.

My gut drops like a leaden ball at the momentary sense of weightlessness — my actions at diametric odds with my God-given sense of self-preservation — as the passage of time seems to slow...

...but then my boot hits the metal sill of the window and the heavy hand of Chronos comes crashing back down on me like a hard wave against the shore.

Grasping the coolness of the central mullion, I pull myself into the haven of her room.

"God," she says with a shudder, throwing her arms 'round my neck. "You send a piece of my soul to the grave each time you do that..."

"You'd rather I take the stairs?" I drawl, the honey and wood-fire scent of her hair washing over me, warming me like the heat of the summer sun.

"And risk being caught?" she tuts. "In truth, I am not certain what would be the worse fate."

"Getting whipped by your father, for sure," I reply solemnly. "I don't think my pride could survive it."

She pulls back from me with an aghast look. "So, you would risk a broken leg... or worse, over my Da's ire?"

"Until the day I can make an honest woman of you, aye," I confirm, lifting her face to mine with a gloved finger. "I will not risk your reputation."

She laughs up at me. "You shredded my reputation when you tumbled me in the hay, good sir!"

"Aye," I concede with a smirk. "But no one knows that."

"Well, they might soon..." she admits, dropping a hand to the front of her shift.

The breath tangles in my throat. "You... You are not..."

Her hazel eyes sparkle with feeling. "With child... Yes."

Her words hit me like grapeshot out of the blue. "Nom de Dieu..."

Her smile falters in the face of my no-doubt ashen expression. "You... You are not pleased?"

I bark out a laugh. "Pleased? Mon coeur, I am over the damn moon!" Lifting her into the air, I spin her 'round in a joyous arc. "I believed myself to be blessed already for the fact that a golden-haired siren such as yourself even deigned to look at a wretch like me, much less offer me her heart."

"I offered nothing," she counters breathlessly as I set her back down. "You stole my heart the very moment you looked upon me."

"Lucky for me that I have some skill in that area," I smirk, bending towards her.

She lays into me with a playful smack. "Incorrigible rogue! Your silver tongue could disarm the devil!"

"I should hope so..." I murmur, tangling a hand in her silken hair. "It managed to disarm you..."

Our lips meet, and she melts against me with a sigh.

"Christ, I love you, Harper..." I groan, tightening the heartfelt hold I have on her, albeit mindful of the new life budding inside her.

"I love you too, Drake," she whispers, gazing up at me with complete adoration as she runs her fingers down my face. "With all that I am."

My heart constricts in my chest.

A child... Our child...

In truth, I never dared dream of it. It is not something that I believed to be in the cards for me, living as I do, in the shadow of the night... and the law. Where one simple miscalculation could end with a bullet to the gut... or a noose around the neck.

But I never thought to trade it. The thrill... The freedom... It was too addictive.

That is... until I chanced upon the bright-eyed lass currently cradled in my arms.

I hadn't meant to succumb to her. I hadn't meant to do anything quite as foolish as fall in love. But she managed to slay me with a single smile. And I've been a fool for her ever since.

Fool enough to get her child, it seems, before I even secured her father's blessing, much less married her!

I really am an incorrigible rogue...

"Drake?" The softness of her voice cuts through my senses. "My love? Are you—?"

"I am fine," I assure her, turning my head to drop a kiss into her palm. "I was just thinking..."

"Always dangerous..." she quips with a smirk.

"Hey," I counter, clasping her hands in mine. "It was a lack of thought that landed the two of us in this quandary, so—"

Her mouth parts in shock. "You dare call your own child a quandary?"

I meet her eye with a level look. "He will be called a damn sight worse if he arrives into this world out of wedlock. Not to mention the fate that awaits his mother..."

Her shoulders slump in dejection. "My father would disown me for sure..."

"And cast you out onto the moor, newborn babe in tow," I add grimly.

She heaves a morose breath. "I do despise it when you talk sense..."

"It is the thankless burden I was born to bear..."

She smacks me again.

"But in all seriousness," I continue, catching her hand in mine once more. "We must be prudent, mon coeur. The child will be here before we know it, and it is our precious duty to do best by him."

"How do you know it will be a he?" she asks softly as I lift her hands to my lips.

"Have I ever given you cause to doubt me, lass?" I ask her, feathering a kiss over her knuckles.

"Cocksure rake..." she admonishes. But her fingers tighten 'round mine nevertheless.

"So," I conclude, straightening back up, "I am thinking that it's high time we eloped."

Her eyes widen. "Elope!"

"There is a small church, about a half-day's ride from here—"

"But my father...!"

"The contents of that saddle bag should more than compensate him for the loss of his serving wench," I tell her. "As well as cover your dowry."

Her mouth opens — no doubt in planned protest — but she suddenly thinks better of it. "Alright," she agrees, raising her face to mine with a beaming smile. "Let's find that priest!"

"Whoa, whoa!" I chuckle, pulling her back into my arms as she tries to spin away. "Hold your horses, woman!"

"I thought you wanted to be quick about this," she counters.

"I do," I affirm. "But it's the middle of the night and I don't have a horse for you, much less a ring..."

She glances towards the window. "I am sure there's something in those bags we can misappropriate for our purposes. And I can saddle up Devlin. He is a cart-horse, but I am sure—"

I shake my head. "Nay. I want to start our new life together as a reformed man. No more thieving... No more profiting off ill-gotten gains."

"But how will we—?"

"Don't you worry your pretty head about that, my sweet," I assure her. "I have enough booty stashed away to buy you a palfrey, as well as a ring that is worthy of your otherworldly beauty—"

She blushes at my compliment. "Don't exaggerate, sir..."

"'Tis no exaggeration," I assure her with a wink. "And perchance even enough to let us acquire a flat in town, or a small holding in the interior... Or if none of that takes your fancy, I'll build us a cottage in the woods, or a cot by the sea, and—"

"I've never set eyes upon the sea..." she breathes in wonder.

"The point is," I conclude. "We have sufficient coin to afford ourselves the freedom of choice, mon coeur."

She arches a skeptical brow. "And when we run out?"

I let out a low exhale. "And when we run out, I suppose I'll have to pick up an honest trade."

She scoffs. "You? Honest? Those two words don't abide each other, Drake. You've been a scoundrel your whole life!"

"And yet... somehow,"I roll my eyes at her ruefully. "You are about to make an honest man out of me, Harper. So, I am loath to admit that the concept may not be as outlandish as it may appear at first blush."

"I suppose," she concedes with an equally wry quirk to her mouth. "Just don't lose your zest for life. It is the very thing I fell in love with."

"I thought it was my roguish charm," I counter.

"The two go hand in hand," she assures me, lifting her face to mine again.

Our lips fuse — with greater ardency this time — and I am loath to part from her.

But, I know that I must. The night is wearing on, and if I am to abide by my promise to her, I must get back on the road.

"Unpack the bags and hide the gold where your father is sure to find it," I tell her, pulling myself away with great difficulty.

She nods silently, cheeks flushed from our heated exchange.

Slipping out of my arms, she retrieves the saddlebags from their place by the wall and carries it to the other side of the room. Locating the loose floorboard at the foot of the bed, she dumps the contents in and replaces the covering.

"When will you return?" she asks, handing the bags back to me.

"As hastily as I can," I assure her. "But if the Greencoats are out in force, I may need to trek via the marshes, which will take longer and be more arduous."

"Please take care," she pleads, grasping my hand in hers. "The marshes are treacherous, especially in the winter."

"I always do," I soothe, reaching up to cup her face with my free hand. "But should I do not return by noon, then look for me by the moonlight."

"I will," she affirms, eyes shining with fervour. "I love you."

"I love you, too, mon coeur," I rasp, drawing her in for one final kiss.

She presses herself to me, as aggrieved by our forced parting as I, and I kiss her hungrily back. But I know in my heart that the brief absence will be worth the bitterness of the sorrow.

Because this time tomorrow, I hope to call her my wife.

Breaking off the kiss, I swing the empty bags back onto my shoulder and turn towards to the still-open window.

"Wait!"

Turning around, I spot her pulling the dark red ribbon from the unfinished pleat in her hair.

"What's this?" I ask as she holds it out for me.

"A good-luck charm," she replies. "To speed you back to me."

I lift the silken strip from her fingers, and press it to my lips. "I'll always return to you, mon coeur. Even if hell should bar the way."

"I know," she says simply. "But a small trinket cannot hurt your efforts. Now, fly! Fly like a witch on the wind! And give Drogon a kiss from me."

"I'd rather steal another kiss from you," I admit, tucking the ribbon against my heart.

"I'd rather save some for the wedding night..." she counters with a sly look.

I throw her a sidelong glance as I climb back onto the window sill. "Lass, you can rest assured that we'll be doing a damn sight more than kissing on our wedding night..."

The waves of her now loosened hair brush my shoulder as she leans in to whisper, "I didn't say which part of you I'm saving the kisses for."

A deep-throated groan tumbles from my lips as she drops a teasing kiss on my neck. "You're going to be the death of me, woman..."

"A little suspense never killed anyone," she counters cheekily.

"Somehow I doubt that," I scoff as I drop back into the night.

The story continues in Part II - On The Stroke Of Midnight

A/N: Translations for the French below:

Mon gross - lit. 'my fat' but as a slang term, it is the equivalent of 'my buddy' or 'my bro'.

Hue - apparently this is a somewhat archaic equestrian command that was used to tell the horse to go (equiv. to giddy-up). Not 100% sure if the e is supposed to have an accent, so if anyone knows, tell me!

Mon coeur - lit. 'my heart' but connotatively the same as 'my love'

Nom de Dieu - lit. ‘name of God’, but connotatively the same as ‘Oh, my God’ or ‘Good God’

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#harper gale #drake walker #the highwayman #trr au fanfic #choicespromts #song rewrite #historical au #Spotify

[jerzwriter]

One Night in Cordonia Chapter 8: All's Well That Ends Well

Series: One Night in Cordonia, a @choicesprompts a Round Robin Event. Fandom: TRR, with some OH introduced here Pairings: You'll See lol Word count: 2.2k (I went over a little - sorry!) Rating: Mature Warnings: talks about sex, innuendos, language Prompt: Cocktails, Gala - @choicesjunechallenge A/N: Every now and then, it's fun to just take your characters and put them in different surroundings. This lil' crack fic allowed me to do just that. I was going to say it's not really "my" Ethan and Tobias here, but, to be honest, it could be them in my Ethan/Kaycee world. Thanks for putting this together and including me Angela!

Next author: ??? @angelasscribbles ???

Summary: It's Leo's social season. The day is Beaumont bash after the formal dinner is done and the royal couple has left. Anton sends his second in command, Claudius, to spread a fog, "Death Smash," that would leave the guests paralyzed and he would attack. But the gas delivered was Shagging smog 2.0 by mistake, leading to a sexual frenzy amongst guests. Anton himself goes to check and falls prey to the gas. The only unaffected members are Max (immune), Leo (because he was in the gardens), and Olivia (partially affected, trying to fight the effects).

The pretty brunette flight attendant was shaky on her feet, and for once, turbulence nor the ridiculously high heels Constantine insisted his flight attendants wear was the cause. No, this time, the mesmerizing aqua-blue eyes of her passenger were the culprit. She hadn’t dared to look at them directly for fear of what they could do to her, but she could feel them raking over as she attempted to pour his bourbon. She only hoped he didn’t notice how she trembled.  

“That’s good right there, darlin’,’ he droned, his husky voice rolling off his tongue like honey. “Any more than that, and I’ll have to wonder if you’re trying to take advantage of me.”

A blush settled on her cheeks as she attempted to come up with a reply. Luckily, the other, equally aesthetically pleasing passenger spared her when he sighed with disgust.

“For Christ’s sake, Tobias, could you maybe have just an ounce of decorum?”

“You know Ethan, decorum is overrated,” he winked. “I prefer fun. You may want to try it sometime.”

“I know how to have fun, and it’s not harassing our flight attendant.” 

Ethan looked over to the young woman, who could not look away before his sapphire orbs met hers. Fuck! She thought because those eyes would render her equally as helpless.

“I apologize for my colleague. Apparently, he was raised by wolves.”

“Hey!” Tobias jumped in. “My mom would kick your ass if she heard you say that!”

“Really? Well, I’m sure she’d love to hear how you are treating this young woman,” Ethan pulled out his phone. “Shall I dial her?”

Tobias threw both hands up in surrender. “Nope! Truce! Truce!”

A satisfied smirk crossed Ethan’s face. “I think you’ll be left in peace for the remainder of the flight,” he smiled. Completely oblivious to the look of disappointment on the woman’s face as she exited the cabin.

Tobias sipped the amber liquor and let out a slow moan. “Mmmm.  This is amazing,” he growled. “Have you tried yours yet? I know you’re a total snob, but I swear, this shit will make you weak in the knees.”

Ethan eyed his untouched beverage and shut his eyes.

“I’ll get to it,” he grumbled. “This whole thing, it’s just… it’s obscene!”

Tobias leaned over and took the papers his companion was reading out of his hands, shoving them into the attaché at his side.

“Hey, what are you….”

“Shut up,” Tobias spat. “Seriously, Ethan. The hospital insisted we go, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. We’re on one of the most luxurious private jets on the planet on someone else’s dime. Our every need is expected to be catered to, and if you hadn’t interrupted… that might have included the beautiful Ashley.”

“Ashley?” He asked.

“The flight attendant…”

“Her name is Amber, you idiot. And sexual harassment isn’t something I wish to add to our resume on this trip.”

“Ethan, relax. I was joking!”

“I’m sorry, I just hate this whole thing. The wealthiest people in the world summoning us across the damn Atlantic to take care of their potential PR disaster is not what I went into medicine for.”

“I don’t disagree,” Tobias shrugged. “But what they’re paying us for two days’ work will fund our department for the next year. So look at the bright side for a change Mr. Sour Pants.”

“You have a point,” Ethan grumbled. “Let’s just make this quick, get in and get out…”

“That was my plan with Am….”

“SHUT UP!” Ethan hollered as Tobias adjusted his sleep mask and drifted off, pleased he had accomplished his goal of getting under his boss’s skin.

~~~~

Upon landing, a heavily guarded motorcade awaited the two doctors and drove them to the Beaumont estate. 

“Is this still fun for you?” Ethan asked.

“Fuck yes! I’m living out some major James Bond fantasies right now.”

Ethan fought the genuine smile that attempted to spread on his lips; maybe there was something to Tobias’s constant glass-half-full approach, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

When they arrived at the scene, Constantine and a Lieutenant from the King’s Guard greeted them at once. The Lieutenant handed each man a gas mask.

“Gentlemen,” Constantine enthused. “We are so happy to have you here! It’s not our first incident with shag smog in Cordonia, but this one is not responding to the normal antidote. That’s why we called in the experts.”

Ethan quickly adjusted his mask, but Tobias made no effort to put his on, earning him a questioning glare.

“No need,” Tobias smiled. “I’ve been exposed in the past, so I’m immune.”

“Of course you have,” Ethan groused. “How bad is the situation?”

“Worse than you could imagine!” The Lieutenant began. “There are only a handful of people present who weren’t affected, reasons unclear at this time. Some may have had prior exposure, some, well… this could be their natural state of being; it’s hard to tell.”

“OK, so we have a handful of people who haven’t turned into sex-crazed lunatics,” Tobias assessed. “But how many have? Do you know how many were in attendance?”

“Several hundred,” a woman’s voice rang out from behind, and Tobias’s body went rigid. He’d know that voice anywhere. “Anyone who is anyone in Cordonian society is here, plus a few plebeians from other nations who are delusional enough to imagine they can fit in with us.”

Tobias turned slowly toward the red-haired beauty, salacious grin in place.

“You say plebeians with such disdain, Duchess. From what I recall, you haven’t always minded rolling around in the dirt with at least… some of us.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed, her icy gaze meeting Tobias’s heated stare. “You!” she hissed.

Ethan clapped his friend on the back. “It’s so good to see you have fans everywhere. Please tell me you made her acquaintance at a Cordonian History seminar.”

“Yeah,” Tobias chuckled. “Something like that. It’s been a long time, Duchess.”

“I’d prefer it if you called me Olivia,” she seethed.

“Heh! That’s not what you wanted to be called last time we were together.”

Constantine turned to Ethan with a look of distress. “Are you sure the sex pollen isn’t impacting him?”

“No,” Ethan sighed wearily, “Sadly, that’s just him.”

“Tobias?” a naked Maxwell hollered as he approached the group. “Is that you?”

Ethan turned to Constantine, aghast. “I thought you said all the impacted were contained!”

“They are! But that’s Maxwell and… sadly, that’s just… him.”

“It’s me,” Tobias nodded, averting his eyes. He removed his lab coat and tossed it in Max’s direction. “Would you put this on, for Christ’s sake! No one needs to see that damn hippo tattoo.”

“Oh, yeah…” Ethan rolled his eyes. “That’s what we don’t need to see!”

“So, what do we do, gentlemen?” The Lieutenant asked. “Normally, pumping in the antidote smog does the trick.”

“Not with this new variant,” Tobias interrupted. “It’s essentially a concentrated form of GHB in vaporized form.”

“So, how do we reverse this?” Constantine asked.

“There’s been some success with the administration of diclofenac and NSAIDS,” Ethan advised. “But that would require injecting each of the infected individually. There is no way to ‘gas’ everyone back to normal.”

“Well, that could take hours! Days!” A voice called out.

“This is my son, Leo, the crown prince.” Constantine chimed in.  “And I agree with him. We need to get this display of debauchery under control before it’s a scandal!”

“Forgive me if I’m more concerned about the people who were poisoned, not your Palace’s reputation.”

“Dr. Ramsey, I believe I’m paying you quite handsomely to take care of both,” Constantine reminded.

“Going room to room won’t be the fastest way,” Tobias agreed. “But it is the best way. Not only can we ensure it’s administered properly, but you can send someone in with us to confiscate everyone’s mobile devices. That will give you time to destroy any embarrassing pictures you wouldn’t want out there.”

Olivia spat out a laugh behind him. “Yes, Dr. Carrick. Because you, of all people, know about embarrassing blackmail photos. Don’t you?”  

Tobias shot her a knowing look. “We’ll talk after… Duchess. Right now, I have work to do.”

~~~~~

Tobias and Ethan ran up the ornate marble staircase; the team Constantine assembled to assist them quick on their heels.

“So, dare I ask what the deal is with you and Olivia?” Ethan asked.

A blissful look came over Tobias’s face, and Ethan momentarily wondered if his friend was being impacted by the gas.

“You know I’ve always had a thing for redheads. Plus, have you ever had a woman pull a switchblade out of her stilettos and threaten you in the middle of some of the most mind-blowing sex you’ve ever had in your life?”  

Ethan looked at Tobias in horror. “No! I can’t say I have.”

Tobias reached over and tapped his friend’s shoulder. “Well, add it to your bucket list, buddy. I promise you, it’s a rush.”

“Gentleman,” Leo interrupted, “if you wouldn’t mind visiting this room first. My brother, Liam, is in here.”

When the men entered, Liam immediately rushed toward them.

“What the…”

“Thank God you’re here!” Liam squealed. “This is shag smog… isn’t it?”

“It is,” Leo frowned. “But… you’re coherent… weren’t you impacted? Do you want to screw any of us right now?”

Liam calmly looked over the three men and shrugged. “I mean, you’re all cute… but not my type… and you’re my brother!”

“But if you weren’t impacted, why are you locked in here?” Leo asked.

“Madeline locked me in here. That woman has been dying to have her way with me and thought she believed this was her big chance.”

“Wait…” Tobias interrupted. “I’m not up on all of the societal gossip, and I know you people have your own little… proclivities… but,” he turned to Leo, “isn’t Madeline your fiance?”

“Technically,” Leo sighed.

“OK, then,” Tobias simpered. “Well, how about we leave you two to sort this out while we go administer the antidote to others.”

Leo nodded at Tobias, “Excellent idea. We’ll meet up again outside.”

~~~~~

Several hours later, Tobias joined a team of King’s Guards assigned to delete all incriminating images from guests' phones. He was having too much fun helping, chuckling repeatedly before hitting delete. He turned to Ethan with a grin.

“You know, if we want to retire early, all I need to do is forward some of these to our phones. Our offspring’s offspring could live off of the blackmail money.”

He heard what sounded like the knuckles cracking behind him and found Oliva glaring his way. “I assure you, that would be ill-advised.”

“Relax, sweetheart. Don’t you know a joke when you hear one?”

Ethan looked between the two and shook his head ruefully. “I know I’m going to live to regret this… but you mentioned blackmail photos before… what were you talking about?”  

Tobias howled with laughter. “She took some photos of me and planned on using them against me. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t factor in that I have no shame. So, she got nothing.”

“Oh dear God,” Ethan groaned. “What the hell was on… you know what… no… I don’t want to know.”

“Why?” Tobias asked. “They were just pictures of me… in various states of undress… some may have involved latex… and a couple had switchblades….”

“OK, STOP!”

“In one,” Tobias said, standing up with dramatic flair, “I was kind of bent over like this….”

“I SAID STOP!” Ethan yelled as he rushed away, muttering under his breath.

Amused, Olivia slid up next to Tobias and gently caressed his forearm.

“He’s a bit squeamish, no?”

“Hey, they can’t all be me,” he laughed. “You’re looking good, Dutchess… you know, I wouldn’t exactly turn down the opportunity to … engage… again….”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Tobias, you’re a terribly handsome man. And as much as I can appreciate someone who eagerly follows my orders and calls me Duchess throughout, I must admit… I rather get off on the fear in my companion's eyes when I unexpectedly pull a sharp object in the heat of the moment… the fact that you kind of got off on that… it takes the fun out of it for me.”

“Hey!” Tobias protested. “Fear? Is that what you’re looking for. Listen, gorgeous, I had four years in drama club in college, and I can feign fear like the best of them. I think you should give me another shot.”

Olivia’s eyes raked over him, slowly taking him in from head to toe, a fiendish grin growing.

“You’re willing to wear a harness?”

Tobias scoffed. “When have I ever said no to that?”

“OK,” she smiled, rising to her feet. “The Beumont’s armory is in the basement. Go down the staircase, make a left, and it’s the last door at the end of the hallway. Meet me there in fifteen minutes. Oh, and get your lab coat back from Maxwell. Make sure you’re wearing that… and nothing else… when I enter,” she winked. “That’s the main course. The harness will be dessert.”

Tobias looked at her with darkened eyes. “At your command, my Duchess.”

Anxioulsy hopping to his, Tobias yelled to Ethan as he made his way to the door.

“Hey, buddy! I’ve got .. uh.. some things to do. Keep yourself occupied… look around for Bertrand… you both love boring things. He’ll know what to do.”

Liam and Leo leaned against the wall, shaking their heads at what they had just witnessed. 

“And that’s without the shag pollen,” Leo sighed. “Could you imagine them under the influence?”

Liam shook his head vigorously. “It would be the demise of Cordonia.  Perhaps the demise of civilization.”

@choicesficwriterscreations Tagging others in RB.

#choices fanfic #the royal romance #trr #open heart #open heart choices #playchoices #choicesprompts #choices fic writers creations #ethan ramsey #tobias carrick #olivia nevrakis #the rys family #trr au #round robin

[openheartfanfics]

Newly Added Fics

May 20 - 26, 2023  

🎭 Angst  |  🦚 Angsty Fluff  |  🛸 AU  |  ☁ Fluff  |  ♥ NSFW  |  📚 Series  |  📷 Edit  |  📱 TextFic  |  Ⓜ Mature

BRYCE X F!MC

Serendipity [OH/TRR Crossover] - @deb-1106 & @walkerismychoice 🛸Ⓜ

[extended: wip] Drake gets injured and seeks treatment at the hospital. TW: Gun Violence

Part 3

ETHAN X F!MC

A Different Fate… - @jerzwriter 📚🎭

[mini: wip] A conversation with his friend, Tobias, has Ethan recalling a night from long ago and how it still lives in his heart to this very day. Feat. Tobias Carrick, Sienna Trinh

Part 4: A Glass Door

Break Free - @whenyourheartskipsabeat 📚

[extended: wip] Landry comes back into Alyssa's life but has he changed?

CH 1: Fresh Start

Degree of Fancy - @amortentiaopenheart 📚🛸

[mini: wip] New school, new friends....and a best friend?

Part 1

Part 2

Doppelganger - @cariantha ☁

Sawyer meets her doppelganger.

Everybody Hurts Sometimes - @coffeeheartaddict2 📚Ⓜ

[extended: wip] Casey is a top intern at Edenbrook, Ethan is the lead of Diagnostics. They share a secret of treating the revered Dr Naveen Banerji but is it all they will share. TW: Addiction and abandonment issues

Part 10: Fall From Grace

Part 11: Confronted

Part 12: Crash

From The Heart - @alj4890 ☁

Thirty Kisses in Thirty Days Challenge with the prompt: A kiss to the neck from behind.

Greetings From Hawaii - @potionsprefect ☁

Ethan and Victoria send out some special postcards.

Once [The Nanny Affair/Open Heart Crossover] - @peonierose 📚🛸

[mini: wip] Addison has stage four ovarian cancer. So Sam and Addi seek a consultation with Dr. Ethan Ramsey at Edenbrook. Will they make it in time? TW: Illness, cancer, mental health Feat. Ethan Ramsey

Part 4

Sweatin' - @socalwriterbee ♥

After another restless night, Tessa heads down to the gym to work out what ever has her tossing and turning, Ethan's turns up to help her with a different method. [Public Places]

Unfortunate Misadventures - @liaromancewriter ☁

Ethan Ramsey had seen people do stupid things before, but none quite like this. [Crack; Ethan POV]

We're Still Friends - @txemrn ☁

Ethan and Tatum have a study date, and reach first base. [Young Ethan]

SIENNA X M!OC

When The Stars Align - @liaromancewriter 🛸☁

Sienna must decide if she will take a chance or let go before she falls deeper.

TOBIAS X F!MC

Heading Home - @jerzwriter 📷

The Carricks are bringing Baby Samantha home, and of course, the usual craziness ensues! [Domestic; Family]

_

SUBMIT OPEN HEART FICS & WRITERS HERE

#open heart #open heart choices #choices open heart #open heart fanfics #open heart fanfiction #choices fanfics #choices fanfiction #playchoices #bryce lahela #bryce lahela x mc #ethan ramsey #ethan ramsey x mc #sienna trinh #sienna trinh x oc #tobias carrick #tobias carrick x mc #newly added fics

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC Writer of the Month: Utterlyinevitable / Catchinglikekerosene

Each month CFWC highlights one of our many talented fanfic writers and this month’s writer of the month is @utterlyinevitable​! (Also @catchinglikekerosene ) We hope you will enjoy learning more about her and her work below! Writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

Blog: @utterlyinevitable (and @catchinglikekerosene)

Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? dom

1- When did you start playing Choices? What's the first book you played? 

I was a casual player early on - like the summer after Rules of Engagement came out early. Then I rediscovered it in 2019, playing ROD and TRR before bed. True obsession didn’t kick in until 2020 when I became enlightened to Open Heart’s existence.  

2- When, and why, did you join Choices fandom?.

I joined the fandom early summer-ish 2020, when oph2 was on their first break. Also was the instigator of my return to tumblr and the joy of fanfics. Ethan Ramsey became my pandemic hyperfixation and I NEEDED to know what happened after the 2.9 kiss!

3- How did you pick your url name? 

I never liked fandom-specific names so I went for something that could ebb and flow with my obsessions. Something about ‘delaying the inevitable’ and Ethan and MC being utterly inevitable seemed to fit 😆

4- Go back to your archive and tell us about the first post on your Choices blog. 

Oh godddd okay… 

my first ever post on my sideblog is this reblog confession about wanting an oph prequel. I’d still kill for one! 

the first post by me on my sideblog is this one calling ethan out for removing his shirt instead of just the metal parts in the fmri scene lol 

and my actual first ever post in the choices fandom is part 1 of Do We Have A Future? (on my main blog, back when the series was just a one shot) 

5- How long have you been writing fanfiction?

Noooo don’t call me out like this 😂 !! I’ve been writing since twilight was in theatres…. 

I took a very long break from it when I went off to uni

6- What is your favorite Choices book to write about?

Open Heart. I love their characterizations and how relatable and flawed all of them are. Makes for some great fic material! 

7- Share the first fanfic you wrote with us. Do you still like it or would you change anything about it?

Do We Have A Future? 

I love this series. Anyone who has read it will know that it’s very personal. 

The only thing I would change about it is the opportunity to make it longer. A life goal of mine is to make this series into 3 novellas. 

8- What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

It’s a tie (sorry, I can’t choose just one!). My magnum opus FATL and my longest one-shot Make Believe. I love these two because they’re emotional and driven by non-verbal cues. They’re hopeful and just a little sad. Which apparently is my brand. 

↠ For All The LiesTwo years after OHSY and after Becca left, she’s back in town and runs into Ethan. She never imagined she’d see him again, let alone to hear those words.

↠ Make Believe Ⓜ️    Becca and Ethan are cuddling in the chalet, fantasizing about what their meeting would be like if they were normal people. Set in OHSY Chapter 14.

9- Do you have a fic that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to be, but it could use a little more love?

I’m still surprised by the love that Hurricane got! At the time it was the closest thing I’ve ever written to crack fics - a ‘protection’ prompt spiraling into something else. At one point this fic was the bane of my existence because I couldn’t get the plot just right. 

Because I’m a little vain and thrive on validation, I’ll choose a fic from each of my main pairings that could use a toot or two ;) 

An Evening in December (Bryce Lahela x F!OC) - this piece specifically is from a bigger original work project that any sort of feedback is most appreciated! 

Music & Secrets: Part 3 (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC) -  my sweet friends-to-lovers babes going on their first unofficial date! 

Again. (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC) - written with only an audience of 2 in mind, but part of the DWHAF saga and thus it belongs on a pedestal. 

10- What is your specialty as a fanfic writer?

Pain? Sadness? At one point I did win an open heart award for angst 😆 

I write realistic and flawed characters, usually not under fluffy circumstances.  

11- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Angst. There are hundreds of ways any confrontation or situation could play out and I like to explore those choices and feelings. And they could have a happy ending too! 

12- Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MC’s or in your writing?

lmao yes. All my MCs have parts of me. Becca is by far my projection character, Hannah gets all my flaws, and Odette I live vicariously through.  

13- What element of writing do you struggle with most?

Descriptions! They suuuuck! 

Whenever I write a piece the first thing out of my head is the lines of dialogue. Since my fics aren’t dialogue-driven they serve as a map for all the describey bits. 

14- Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

So many in my wip graveyard and fic requests I really need to finish. 

Because of what’s happening with Roe vs Wade I’ve really been keen to finish writing my mini series Unethical, which I started writing Summer 2020. 

15- If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first?

This is such a loaded question! It depends on the work tbh and who the person is. My hubs is not allowed to read anything because he’d definitely be concerned, my bestie is. Though I’d only show her DWHAF or Make Believe. 

16- Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing?

So many! Fandom writers, there’s @alwaysmychoices who can have you crying in a single sentence and I admire the way she describes scenes, and the world she’s created for Ethan and Charlie. Then there’s @jamespotterthefirst who not only is an amazing writer and the queen of content, Bree has such thought-out characters, really inspires me to think past the piece I’m writing and develop my characters further. 

I’m sure there are authors that have inspired my writing and I’m blanking on them all right now. If I could ever write something with the acclaim, simplicity, and metaphorical complexity of The Great Gatsby, I’d die happy.  

17- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

Is it weird that I envision all my works as a piece of film whilst writing them? 

If DWHAF ever became a bigger project, that’s what I’d like adapted. 

If I could only have one scene put to screen I’d like it to be Crescendo. 

18- Do you write original stories?

I try. There are certain fanfic pairings I have that I use specifically to help me navigate original thoughts and storylines. 

19 -  What other hobbies do you have?

Hobby? What hobby? I’m an adult. 

lol 

aside from writing and doomscrolling, I read and cook and play with my puppy. 

20 - What’s your favorite emoji? 

😂 is my most used emoji. 

21: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

Thank you @choicesficwriterscreations for selecting me! I know I haven’t been the most active recently so it means the most that I’m still being considered. Also a HUGE shout out to @gryffindordaughterofathena and @liaromancewriter for all the work they’ve been doing to maintain @openheartfanfics in my absence. This fandom is amazing and unlike any other, I am so thankful for all the friends I’ve made the last two years <3

#choices fic writers creations #cfwc writer of the month #writer of the month #utterlyinevitable #catchinglikekerosene

[leelee10898]

Confessions of Liam's desk. Aria&Leo

Pairing: Leo & Aria

Rating: Nsfw, 18+

This is a collaborative odd ball crack fic effort. Each author @speedyoperarascalparty @ao719 @bobasheebaby @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @riseandshinelittleblossom will give their take on the many moods, thoughts and reactions of Liams desk.

**********

It had been a very long week. The king was busy with some important trade deal, countless stacks of papers being slammed down on me, pens digging into my finish. The heated arguments ringing through my head, making me want to scream, that is if I had a mouth.

I took pride in being the desk of a King, I was a very important fixture in helping run the country. Many treaties and Bill's were signed right here on me. The worst part about it, as I mentioned before, was being prime real estate for many lewd acts.

The king had been going on about some ball he was planning, so I knew he would be away for at least the night. I could not wait for some peace and quiet, and catch up on my rest.

I was probably about 3 hours into my slumber when I was awoke by the sound of muffled giggles. "What are we doing in here?" A soft voice spoke, a woman. "Finishing what we started in the ballroom Love." Another voice came, deeper and much lower, a man. My head began to spin, oh no, not again! "This is my quiet time, find another fricken room." I tried to shout, I forget I dont have lips. I felt something bump against me, and then weight on my lower half. "Your so fucking wet baby, I need to taste you." The man moaned.

I felt more weight on my head now as the soft hair tickled me. "Hey lady, tables are for glasses, not asses.." I'm pretty sure it was the lady, the men were always heavier. "Oh fuck, yes, oh my God Leo I am going to cum." The woman screamed out. "Oh no, not him." The one the call Leo, he had defiled me many of times.

I tried to brace myself for what I knew was to come. I tried to scream out for help but sadly no one would hear my cries. "Oh fuck, yes Leooo." The lady screamed again, suddenly I felt wetness running down my side. "Oh, great, real nice guys." I felt the weight shift back down to my lower half as the woman's body was pulled, dragging her bare ass across my beautiful finish. "That better not leave a mark." I tried to yell, again with the no mouth thing.

Suddenly I could feel the hard banging of knees up against my side rattling my sturdy build, Leo's hands pressing firmly against my surface. "Um ouch, hey that hurts." I wanted to yell at them. I felt something slip off my surface and crash to the floor, the lamp that shines a little warmth on me during a cold winters day. "You better pick that up." I internally screamed. "Oh yes, Leo fuck yes, I'm gonna cum again, dont stop."

"Yes! please stop, for the love of God please stop!!" I tried to tell them.

Their moans and grunts filled the room. As I felt another gush of fluids drip onto my sleek surface "oh come on now guys that's disgusting." I am getting really fed up with the lack of a mouth. "Turn over love." I heard the one they call Leo command. If I had hands I would hold on for dear life. This is when things get bad.

I felt two squishy blobs press firmly against me, they were actually nice, I didn't mind them. What I did mind was her digging her nails into my sides, and screaming right into my head while the one they call Leo pound himself into this woman with so much force my drawers rattled open, one fell out. IT FELL OUT!

I swore to God there was an earthquake, but it was not. The sound of flesh slapping together and the screams of this poor lady as this Leo guy thrust into her like he was a wild beast told me otherwise. I wanted to offer her an ice pack after he had his way with her, but again with being a Desk not being able to speak. That and the lack of hands.

The grunts and foul language coming from this Leo character told me he was close to finishing his crusade. Oh great, there goes another fricken drawer, you know LEO I hope you get your balls stuck in one of these drawers one day.

The screams intensified as the lady hollered Leo's name repeatedly. I felt another surge of warm liquid splash on me. "Oh fuck Aria, baby."Leo gruntt as his thrust slowed and stopped. Ahh the the lady's name is Aria.

Finally they were finished. I felt disgusted, I was covered in sweat and other bodily fluids. The contents of my drawers laying on the floors, I lost two drawers, and they left their disgusting juices on me.

I could hear the pair re dressing. "Shouldn't we pick up this mess?" Aria asked. "yes, you should totally pick this mess up."

"Na, just leave it, a puzzle for Liam." The Leo guy chuckled.. "you sir are a jerk!"

"Let's get back to the ball shall we?" I heard Leo say.

"Hey, what about me? Clean this shit up! Hey, come back here right now now, guys? Hey guys, where did you go? Oh for the love of Pete, whyyyy?"I cried out, but nobody could hear my silent plea's.

So there I sat, defiled, used and disgusted. Until someone else comes along and uses me in their sick, twisted sexual encounters. I really hate being a desk sometimes.

@brightpinkpeppercorn @mind-reader1 @hopefulmoonobject @coldcollectornight08 @liam-rhys

#trr one shot #trr crack fic #leo rhys #leo x aria #trr fanfic #trr #choices trr #trr liams desk

[bobasheebaby]

For Tonight [NS*W]

Pairing: Athena x Perceval x Bastien

Word count: 3,229

Warnings: pure crack, smut, threesome, Dom/Sub/Dom, PWP

Summary: There’s no harm in looking. Athena gets caught checking someone out with surprising results.

A/N: @riseandshinelittleblossom requested a few prompts for Bastien & Percy back in October 2018 (oops) and I finally figured it out with the help of @lolablackwrites and @sirbeepsalot. Last prompt didn’t make it (oops?) but I plan on doing a just Percy x Bas fic using it. 24 “Behave.”; 25 “What did I just say?”; 66 “Ah, he’s playing hard-to-get, thats cute.” Prompts will be bolded. As always thank you @sirbeepsalot for your insight and unwavering support. This would not be done without you cheering me on! Okay now I’m gonna go hide cause I’m really nervous about the reaction to this pairing.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I only own Percy, the rest I’m borrowing from PB.

Athena bit her lip in appreciation as she slowly traced her eyes down the lines of his firm body. She had to admit he knew how to wear a suit, the way it hung off of his broad shoulders. Even with the jacket in the way she could tell his pants hugged his ass perfectly. She stifled a moan as she thought about the hard, tanned body his clothes contained.

“Who you looking at Doll?” Percy questioned, lips ghosting against the shell of her ear.

Athena jumped in surprise, cheeks turning bright red at being caught. “No—no one.” She replied, voice cracking.

“Mmmhmmm. I don’t believe you Doll.” Percy’s lips grazed her ear, a shiver running down her spine. He followed her sightline, lips curving into a smile. “Bastien. Very nice,” he murmured as his hands grazed the curve of her hip.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Athena protested. She attempted to turn to face him, but his hands grasped her hips holding her in place, his firm chest pressing against her back.

“Can’t say I blame you. He is very sexy.”

Athena swallowed nervously, heart pounding in her chest. That’s right, didn’t he say something happened before? Maybe that’s why I can’t keep my eyes off of him. “I guess.” She struggled to keep her voice steady.

She felt like a kid caught trying to sneak a cookie before dinner. She wasn’t sure why she felt so guilty—all she was doing was admiring a godlike body. Is it all I’m doing? Or am I actually wishing his body was pressed against mine?

“Would you like him to join us?”

“What?!” She gasped, chocolate brown eyes wide in surprise. She turned, finally able to wrench free from his firm grip.

Percy’s hazel eyes sparkled, alight with mischief. “We both know you were undressing him just now.” His hand grazed the underside of her breast, her breath hitching in her throat.

Athena’s mind raced, was there any point in denying it? She could feel the burning heat of her flushed cheeks and hear the pounding of her heart in her ears. “I wasn’t.” She tried, but even she didn’t believe her own words; she doubted he would believe them either. His smirk confirmed her suspicions. She struggled to think of a way out of this awkward situation. She gripped the lapels of his jacket pulling him down to her. “Why would I want him when I have you?” Her voice soft and sultry. She hoped it was enough to erase the fact she’d been caught admiring someone else.

Percy pulled her hips flush with his, his growing bulge pressing into her. “Why choose when you can have both?” His voice a low growl that sent heat pooling directly to her core.

Her head spun—this couldn’t be real. Could he really be suggesting they share? Did she want to talk her way out of this or did she really want to give in, say yes and see where the night took them? She swallowed as she considered her options. She could continue to deny her own desires, or she could admit to them and maybe be left with the memory of a lifetime. “Okay.” She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ask him.” What if he says no? Her heart pounded harder at the thought. She considered backpedaling and changing her mind. The thought of being rejected filled her with dread. What am I doing? She’d never before done anything like this, and yet now that the possibility was there, it was all that she wanted. Her chocolate brown eyes locked on hazel as his fingers pressed harder into her hips.

“You sure Doll?”

She smiled, he always knew how to put her at ease. “I’m sure.” She quickly realized there was nothing to fear when she was with him.

He nodded. “Go wait in our room.” He leaned down his hot breath fanning against her ear. “Be waiting naked on the bed when we get there.”

A shiver ran down her spine as she turned, finally released from his grasp. She gasped as he lightly swatted her bottom as she started to walk away. All the promise of his words and the thought of possible punishment making her skin tingle. Tonight certainly would be one she wouldn’t soon forget.

--

Athena shifted back on the bed as she waited. The minutes seemed to tick on forever. She glanced at her watch; it felt like she’d been waiting for hours when it had been under ten minutes. Get a grip. She smoothed down the front of her dress, she knew a punishment was coming for not obeying the command, but that was the idea.

She perked up as she heard the doorknob rattle. Her heart hammered in her chest. Here we go. There was no turning back, not that she wanted to. She didn’t realize how much she really wanted this until she had been alone in their room impatiently waiting for them to join her.

Their voices reached her before she saw them. Percy was handsome as ever, cool and calm like this was completely normal. Bastien somehow seemed to grow hotter in the span of time since she’d been caught admiring him. It’s just tonight, it’s all I need, my heart belongs to Percy.

Percy stopped, his brow arching as Athena came into his line of sight, surprise etching his face that she was still fully dressed. “Why are you still dressed?”

Athena sat up, shrugging her shoulders in response. She thought about being honest; the words ‘it felt weird to wait here naked’ lingering in her mind, but the anticipation of being punished kept her quiet.

“I think she’s looking to be punished,” Bastien said stepping next to Perceval. “Not surprising, you always did go for the ones who don’t obey.”

Percy stepped closer, his hand gently caressing her cheek. “Is that it Doll? Looking for us to punish you?”

Her mouth went dry at the thought of both men before her doling out her punishment. “Yes.” She croaked.

“Yes what?”

“Yes Sir.” Percy smiled, though she noticed an unfamiliar glint in his eyes. Is he upset that I didn’t use his usual title? The thought was banished from her mind as his fingers skimmed along her neck and shoulder pushing the thin strap of her dress over her shoulder.

Athena found herself surprised as Bastien mirrored Percy’s actions, his calloused fingers lightly tracing her smooth skin as he guided the strap down her arm. The fabric slid down her sides, gently pooling around her waist. She lifted her hips, leaning back on her elbows as they pulled the dress down over her hips.

Their gaze burned into her as they took in her lace clad body. She fought the urge to shrink away under their eyes, their heated gazes almost too much to bear.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she raked her eyes over their still covered bodies. She tried to imagine what Bastien had hidden under his crisp suit. Would it be hard, yet still soft like Percy’s, littered with dark chest hair and faded tattoos, or would it be more toned, unmarred by inked memories? Oh how she wished their clothes could magically dissolve revealing what they hid beneath in an instant.

As she opened her mouth to speak her request they turned to one another sharing a silent conversation before they started to shed their clothes tossing them into the growing pile on the floor. Her pulse raced as more and more skin became visible.

Her eyes flitted between both men, her eyes admiring the adonises before her. Both men sported sunkissed skin, and chest hair peppering their chests and abdomens, though Bastien had a deeper tan and less grey. Percy always stirred feelings in her loins, it was as though he was etched out of stone, perfectly made for her. Bastien made her heart race in unexpected ways. She had assumed he would be more defined with the job he kept, but she wasn't expecting him to be that cut. The deep ripples of his chest and abs drew her eyes down to his cut v, which led her to bulge straining against his dark boxer briefs.

Her tongue darted out wetting her bottom lip, her skin tingling with anticipation. This is real … this is happening. She had been uneasy when it was brought up earlier, she’d only attempted something like this once before, but she had chickened out before their clothes hit the ground. Maybe it’s better I waited to do this with someone I love and trust completely.

Her eyes raked down the plains of Bastien’s body. What else is he hiding? A low moan slipped from her lips as she imagined what was waiting to be released from its cotton confines. Her eyes lifted to his face as his chuckle reverberated through the room.

“I think someone likes what she sees.”

She ducked her head slightly, her thumb playing with her golden bands. Embarrassment flooded through her at being caught admiring someone other than her husband.

Percy stepped forward, his hand cupping her cheek, thumb softly brushing over her bottom lip. “It's okay Doll.” She raised her eyes to meet his as her features slowly relaxed. “I wouldn't ask him over if I didn't want you to look.” He leaned forward, voice dropping to a whisper. “Besides, he likes being admired.”

Her eyes returned to their visual exploration of Bastien’s body. She bit her bottom lip, his abs were impressive, each appearing to be chiseled from stone.

“He has very impressive abs doesn’t he?”

She hummed her agreement, her body flushing as a shiver ran down her spine as she envisioned her hands tracing over the hard plains of his toned body. She could feel the goosebumps erupting in the wake of her trailing fingertips, hear him suck in a breath as her fingers curled around the waistband of the final piece of clothing keeping her from her quarry. She’d pull the fabric down releasing his length, her fingers wrapping around his girth.

She pushed the image away, it wouldn’t match the truth. She blinked as Percy lifted her chin, her cheeks tinged pale pink as she realized her daydream made her miss something he said.

“What do you want Doll?” He asked barely covering the slight amusement he felt at her new flustered demeanor, finding her unexpected shyness sweet.

She paused, her throat growing tight. What do I want? The question felt loaded, no answer coming to her lips. Before tonight, the answer was easy, Percy. He was all she wanted. In this moment with two men standing in front of her in only their underwear ready to have their way with her the question seemed impossible.

How did she expect this to go? Did she want to give into her new desire to be worshipped by two men and have them strictly pay attention to her? Two sets of hands and mouths exploring her body making her back arch off the bed and white flash in front of her eyes.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the words worship me formed sitting at the tip of her tongue. She swallowed as she tried to force the words to pass her lips.

“I—” Why can’t I get the words out?

“Are you sure you want this?” Bastien’s smooth baritone filled the room. “If you aren’t comfortable I can leave.”

“No—I mean I do want this, it’s just … ”

“This is the first time you’ve done something like this?”

“Yes.” She drew her eyes down, never before had she felt as inexperienced as she did in this moment.

“We won’t do anything without your consent.”

“We could give you a massage to help relax you Doll.”

Her eyes met Percy’s, a smile forming on her lips. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to how well he read her. “Okay.” She nodded.

“Lay on your stomach.”

She unclasped her bra as she rolled onto her stomach, tossing it over the side of the bed. She laid down, raising her ass in the air as she rested her head on her arms.

She felt the bed dip on either side of her. She suppressed a shiver as a calloused hand ran up her spine. Her head spun as she felt Percy’s hand run up the length of her leg. She softly moaned as his finger caressed her inner thigh, barely grazing over her slick heat.

She felt added weight on her back as the unmistakable feel of Percy's bearded chin rubbed her ear. “I bet you want to feel him inside you Doll. Feel a man other than me.”

She bit her lip as a wanton moan escaped her lips. Do I want to feel him inside me? Yes. More than feeling she wanted to see him, run her hands along his body, wrap her mouth around his cock, tasting him on her tongue.

Percy traced his hand down her back between her legs, his fingers teasing her through wet lace. “You’re so wet Doll.” She gasped as he slid her panties to the side, his fingers slipping between her folds. “I’d like to watch him take you from behind.” He growled. “Would you like that Doll?”

The thought of him taking her from behind, unable to see him only feel him made her walls pulse. “Yes.”

“Tell him what you want.” He whispered slipping his fingers from her as he sat up.

She pushed herself up, her eyes drinking in Bastien’s nearly naked form. You can say it. Her eyes locked with his. “I want you to fuck me,” her cheeks flushed as she swallowed. Suddenly the thought of saying it out loud in front of both men making her stomach twist in knots. “ … from behind.”

Bastien eyed her. “Are you sure?”

Her eyes met Percy’s. “It’s okay Doll.”

She turned her gaze back to Bastien, a new sense of self assurance washing over her. “Yes.”

“Mmm.” His hand lifted towards her face, thumb barely grazing her lip. “First how about you tell me what you like most about Perceval’s body?”

Athena smiled as she turned towards Percy. Her eyes raked over his body, resting on his chest and arms for a moment. She loved the way she felt so safe and secure wrapped in his arms, the way they flexed when he held her up. Her eyes moved up to his mouth, the way he used his mouth and tongue drove her crazy. Her gaze swept down his body. “His cock.” Wait, what did I just say? Her eyes went wide as her mouth clamped shut.

The men chuckled and their eyes met as Bastien shifted closer to Percy. “She's smart. I agree with her assessment.” His fingers ran down Percy’s chest before he paused. “May I touch your husband?” Bastien asked making her eyes go wide. Athena gulped as she nodded, the thought of someone hands other than her own on her husband turning her on more than she could imagine. “He does have a nice cock,” he said as he gently wrapped his hand around it. “I bet it feels good in your mouth, it's the perfect size.”

“Show him Doll. Show him how much you like my cock.”

She fell to her knees, eyes wide as she looked up between the two men. Her eyes locked with Bastien’s as she leaned forward, her tongue licking Percy’s hard shaft before taking him in.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as she moaned around his hardness. She swirled her tongue around his shaft, gasping as she felt a calloused hand running down her back. She took Percy deeper into the warm wet heat of her mouth as fingers curled under the band of her lace panties.

She sucked in a breath as she felt Bastien’s tip rubbing against her core. She bucked her hips back, desperate to feel him inside her.

His fingers curled into her hips holding her still. “Patience.”

She groaned, the sound muffled by Percy’s cock. The first time since the men joined her she felt truly like herself. She struggled to control her urge to press his buttons.

Her eyes opened, locking on Percy’s as she felt Percy’s hands fist in her hair. The smirk on his lips told her he knew how hard she was fighting to stay still.

Bastien’s thumb brushed her clit and she rocked her hips back desperate for more. His fingers pressed harder, bruising her pale skin. “Behave.”

Percy chuckled as Athena whimpered. “It’s not in her nature.”

Athena hummed in agreement, the vibrations pulsing through Percy’s length making him groan and buck his hips.

Time ticked forward and her need grew. Too many minutes passed before she finally felt his length sink into her warm heat. She tried to cry out, the sound muffled by Percy’s length.

She closed her eyes as Bastien thrusted into her roughly. His cock felt so good going in and out of her. She gasped as her husband's hand rested on her inner thigh, his tongue licking her swollen clit. She opened her eyes unsure of when he’d moved. She shook her head, she was overcome with sensation, the fullness of cock mixed with a tongue begging to be cummed on pushing the thought from her mind.

Her walls pulsed, the combined touches drawing her closer. Her fingers curled into the sheets, her breathing coming out in short pants. She was right at the edge, she could feel the end drawing near. Her eyes squeezed shut as she anticipated the flash of stars behind them.

Athena jolted awake, heart thundering in her chest, her breathing heavy. It all felt so unbelievably real, she glanced beside her, finding Percy sleeping peacefully. Fucking hormones! Every night she’d woken from intense dreams that she thought for sure were real until she woke in her bed.

Every dream was the same, her and Percy, except this one. Why the change? It had been so vivid, she could still feel Bastien’s warm calloused hands roaming over her smooth flesh.

Normally the dreams started to fade the second her eyes opened, leaving her panting, sweating and completely aroused. This time it was firmly engraved in her mind and she wasn’t sure she would ever forget it. Athena rolled to her side, her hand sliding down his chest under the covers as she trailed kisses along his bearded jawline.

Percy moaned as her hand palmed his hardening length through his pajama bottoms. “Another dream Doll?” He questioned, his eyes slowly blinking open.

Athena hummed her reply, her teeth gently grazing the column of his neck. “Need you.” Her words muffled against his neck.

“Come here Doll.”

Athena threw her leg over his hips, pushing herself up to straddle his lap. His hardened length pressed into her clothed core.

“What was this one about?” His hands slid up her smooth thighs, settling on her hips.

Athena shook her head. “I don’t remember.” Liar!

His hands slid up her thighs dragging her nightgown up. “You never do, do you?”

“No.” She gasped leaning forward, hands pressing on his bare chest as she rolled her hips.

He rolled her to her back, hands dragging her damp panties down her thighs. “Let’s give you something to remember.”

Feedback fuels me, please like, comment reblog or send an ask. Feel free to scream, I promise I can take it.

Masterlist can be found in my bio.

Taglist will be reblogged.

#athena x percy #perceval hunter #trr bastien #trr au #the royal romance #the royal romance au #bastien lykel #choices the royal romance #athena x percy x bastien #pure crack #ns*w #lemon #following her heart #for tonight #requested #prompted fic #fics for friends #long post #read more #crack fic #thirsty thursday

[stopforamoment]

Wacky Drabble #20: The Ice Queen

TRR About the Time Madeleine Knows She’s Going to Be Kicked to the Curb Bastien Lykel x Countess Madeleine Word Count: 570 (under budget!) NSFW for language, references to sex and adult content

I haven’t written or posted in a long time, so I thought I’d catch up on some of Enna’s wacky drabble challenges and resurrect this shit show fic that never went anywhere. I think I originally meant to write it for a Bastien crack fic? It turned into a four-part series. This is my submission written for @emceesynonymroll wacky drabble challenge Wacky Prompt #20 Have you lost your mind? Prompt is bolded in the story. Bastien and Maddie? What kind of crack fic hell????

Wacky Prompt #20: Part Three (of Four) The Ice Queen

“What are you doing?” Madeleine hissed. “Don’t make a fool of me.”

“You’re here because you want to be respected. Admired.” He slowly slid off Madeleine’s shoes and began massaging one of her feet. “Worshiped. Adored.” When she looked into Bastien’s eyes, Madeleine could see the spark as his hands slowly stroked her calf. “Wanted. Desired.”

Madeleine closed her eyes, relaxing under Bastien’s sensual touch, until he went higher. Then that inner voice returned.

Madeleine, have you lost your goddamn mind?

Suddenly Madeleine’s eyes snapped open and her legs snapped shut. Bastien quickly retreated. “Lady Madeleine, please accept my apologies. I’ll give you a moment, and I promise that I won’t touch you again, but you do have to exit the room with me.”

Madeleine’s lower lip was trembling and Bastien scolded himself as he turned away to respect her privacy. What the fuck was I thinking? My God, she’s more even broken than I realized.

“Bastien?”

Bastien kept his back turned as he acknowledged her. “Yes, Lady Madeleine?”

“My legs aren’t shaved.”

Bastien started to turn around but quickly stopped himself. “I beg your pardon, Lady Madeleine?”

“My legs aren’t shaved.”

Bastien pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to laugh at how absurd she sounded. But then he heard her quiet sobs. “Lady Madeleine? Your unshaved legs are the last thing on my mind. I want you to feel comfortable, but I promise I don’t mind that at all.”

“Leo did.”

Bastien sighed. “I’m not Leo.”

“Bastien?”

“Yes, Lady Madeleine?”

“It’s been—awhile—since I’ve needed to . . . Bastien, I’m not trimmed either.”

Bastien smiled. “I actually prefer that, Lady Madeleine.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I love it when a woman is comfortable with her body, and many women prefer to be shaved. So I love it when a woman is shaved and feels beautiful. And yes, I do appreciate when a woman is shaved when I taste her. But a woman without hair looks . . .” Bastien paused, unsure of how to explain it without sounding like a predator. “Lady Madeleine, I want to fuck a woman, and it’s natural for a full-grown woman to have hair between her legs. It's part of her natural beauty.”

The silence was becoming uncomfortable, and since his back was still turned, Bastien couldn’t read her body language. Did he embarrass her? Horrify her? “Lady Madeleine, if it’s something else . . . may I please sit back down? I promise I won’t look at you.”

“My underwear. It isn’t . . . I’m embarrassed to be seen in them.”

Bastien chuckled. He imagined she wore white cotton, full coverage granny panties. “I was looking forward to taking them off myself, but if you would like to take them off and hide them behind the throne I promise I won’t peek.” This was getting ridiculous, and it was doubtful either of them would get anything out of this fuck if it would ever happen. Shit. It would have been easier if she were on her period. He earned his redwings years ago and it never bothered him as long as his partner was comfortable. But Madeleine clearly wasn’t comfortable with anything. Especially herself.

Bastien heard her shoes drop and the struggles as she took off her pantyhose and underwear. He sighed as he looked down at his very flaccid penis.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

#wacky drabbles #wacky drabbles challenge 20 #have you lost your mind? #trr choices #bastien lykel #crack fic #trr madeleine

[alj4890]

Crack Fic Request

(Psych! X Choices: The Royal Romance) as requested by @krsnlove 😂

A/N WARNING This is pure crack. I am combing two of my all time favorites: Psych and The Royal Romance cast of characters. If you haven't ever watched Psych about a fake psychic detective, please...do so. You have no idea the laughter that is missing from your life. If you are a fan of delicious flavor, then read on.

I have no idea who to tag other than my other fellow Psych lover, @hopelessromantic1352

Masterlist

History? What About Her Story?

"My love, have you seen the book you gave me on our wedding day?" Liam walked along the shelves of the palace library, searching each brown leather spine.

"No. I don't believe I have seen it since the reception." Riley set her book down and began to help him search. "Did you allow someone to borrow it?"

"No." He frowned and called for Bastien. A search was conducted with no results.

"It has to be somewhere in here." She muttered.

Maxwell and Drake joined them, bringing Hana and Olivia. After much discussion, Maxwell offered to call in a favor.

"I know a guy who is able to solve these type of mysteries." He pulled his phone out and scrolled through his contacts.

____________________

Santa Barbara, California

"Chief, the psychic realm is buzzing with gossip and a little ethereal bird told me to stop by." Shawn announced, bursting in on a meeting between Chief Vick, Head Detective Carlton Lassiter, and Detective Juliet O'Hara.

"Mr. Spencer, I don't know what birds are whispering in your ear but they need to remind you not to interrupt a meeting." She said in a frustrated tone.

"Sorry Chief, but when they tweet, I must answer. Usually with hashtags. Right, Gus?" Shawn turned to his best friend and partner.

"It's true Chief. He uses an unusual amount of hashtags." Gus added.

"Dude! You know my Twitter followers need to be in the know. I can't just offer a thought without a dozen or so carefully phrased hashtags to explain it's significance." Shawn reached over for Juliet's doughnut and was immediately batted away.

"Jules! Sharing is caring." He reminded her.

"If there are doughnuts, we need to be made aware of their location." Gus searched the room and looked out toward the main room of the police station.

"Enough!" Carlton yelled. "Spencer, you and Gusster go find a doughnut and leave."

"Come on, Lassie. Don't you want to break bread with us. Or a doughnut as the case might be while we discuss the next step in our investigation?" Shawn tried to secretly slide Juliette's doughnut his way, earning another slap.

"I would rather go to a hot yoga class with McNabb." Carlton uttered in a deadpan voice.

"Well, I for one am ready to find this Corduroy antique." Shawn said sitting down and propping his feet up on the table.

"Cordonian." Gus corrected.

"I've heard it both ways." Shawn quickly repsonded.

"Shawn you didn't even know it was a country." Gus added.

"Gus, I can't help that the psychic tweets didn't give a geography lesson with the message. There's only a limited number of characters allowed." Shawn argued.

"Gentlemen!" Chief Vick interrupted. She stared pointedly at Shawn until he took his feet off the conference table. "Due to the international attention you and Lassister and O'Hara have gained with past investigations, the King and Queen of Cordonia have asked the four of you to come help find out what happened to one of the king’s prized possessions. The mayor insists you go to show how Santa Barbara is keeping up international relations."

"The tweets never lie." Shawn said, a smile lighting up his face. "What type of clothing should we pack?"

"It's in the Mediterranean." Juliet told him.

"So, snowsuit?" Shawn asked.

"Be ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning. King Liam is sending his private plane for you." Vick flicked her hands for them to leave.

__________________

"Gus, I was meant for this lifestyle. Private planes. Servants. Ruling over a small country. Adored by my people." Shawn reclined in the Corinthian leather chair as the plane flew over the Atlantic.

"Dude, your people would overthrow you within a week." Gus muttered.

"And what a glorious week it would be." Shawn replied.

Gus glanced behind him to where Juliet and Carlton were sleeping. "What did Maxwell tell you?"

"Some brown book filled with the country’s history is missing. The queen presented it as a wedding gift. Who gives their spouse an ancient book as a gift on their wedding night? Do you think there was underwear in it? I bet--"

"Shawn." Gus attempted to reign Shawn's ramblings in.

"Anyway, they can't find it. So it is up to us to find out who took it, why they did, and where it is now."

"Great. Did Maxwell offer any leads?"

Shawn frowned. "No...but how many people actually were in a small palace of a tiny country?"

_________________

Liam and Riley walked with Maxwell down the corridor. "A psychic?" Liam asked again. "I can't believe we invited a psychic detective to assist in this."

Maxwell nodded. "Shawn isn't some run of the mill psychic. He has solved numerous thefts, murders, even stopped a notorious serial killer. I think he will have this book back in your hands by this evening."

They walked into the study and warmly greeted their guests.

"Maxwell!" Shawn walked up and fist bumped him. "How long has it been?"

"Um...I want to say a two months since I was in Canada. The whole book tour being interrupted by Pierre Despereaux's thefts was when we last met." Maxwell explained.

"Thefts?" Riley asked.

"An international art thief, your majesty." Juliet explained, dropping into an awkward curtsy.

"Please, there is no need for any of that." Riley said with a smile. "I'm still not used to it. Every time someone needs a refill on drinks, I hop up to get it."

Juliet laughed and clapped her hands. "Your story is the stuff of dreams. I love how you and King Liam met."

"O'Hara." Carlton muttered.

"Right. Sorry." Juliet straightened up beside him.

"Can you tell us if you have any new staff, possibly seen anyone suspicious around the book?" Carlton asked.

"No, most have been here for years. The ones visiting the palace are nobles and friends that have never caused a problem of this sort." Liam explained.

"Of this sort?" Gus repeated. "So there have been problems?"

Liam shared a loaded glance with Riley. "I recently created a council of both nobles and commoners to help my queen and I rule to the best of our abilities. After the terrorist attacks from the Sons of the Earth, I wanted to try and not allow a situation like that to develop again."

Shawn raised his hand to his head. "I'm sensing that there were a few who did not agree with this."

Riley nodded, eyes wide. "There were some, one in particular, Lord Neville."

"The singer of Tell It Like It Is?" Shawn asked.

"That's Aaron Neville." Gus corrected.

"Right, the quarterback for Green Bay." Shawn asked.

"That's Aaron Rogers!" Gus exclaimed

"Right. Love his neighborhood." Shawn put his hand back to his head. "I'm sensing that Lord Rogers--"

"Neville." Gus whispered.

"That Lord Neville might wish to get back at you. Mayhap even--" he turned to Gus. "Did I use mayhap right?"

"Yes." Gus answered

"Too pretentious?" Shawn furrowed his brow.

"A little bit." Gus shrugged.

"It's this setting. I mean look at this place. Velvet sitting chairs. Who has this? Really, even velvet drapes? Does Elton John visit?" Shawn walked over and lifted the red drape.

"He has..." Liam replied, trying to keep up with Shawn's thought process.

"Is he planning on visiting soon?"

"I--" Liam shrugged. "I don't think so."

"Hmm. To solve this mystery, I am going to need to become one with this palace. I am going to need to eat what you eat. Sit where you sit. Touch what you touch." Shawn winked at Riley, earning a smack to the back of the head from Carlton.

He glared at Shawn before turning to Liam. "Rest assured that O'Hara and I will do all we can to solve this for you."

"If you wouldn't mind, we need to speak to your head of security." Juliet added.

"Of course, right this way." Liam and Riley walked out with the two detectives.

Maxwell grinned. "Alright guys, show me that magic you did in Canada."

"Oh you will see the magic." Shawn promised.

"We got magic for days." Gus added.

"At least for a couple of hours." Shawn corrected. "Maybe an encore card trick or two."

Maxwell chuckled and finger gunned them on his way out. "Great. Let me know if you need anything."

"Magic for days? Really Gus?" Shawn shook his head and left the study.

"What? The man asked for it. What was I supposed to say? Shawn!" Gus ran after him.

__________________

"We start with the list Maxwell gave us of those that are normally in the palace." Shawn explained. "From there, we can easily say Neville did it and we receive some kind of royal award, like a spare chest of jewels or a quick swim in the gold vault."

"Liam is not Scrooge McDuck." Gus reminded him.

"Are you saying he doesn't have a gigantic money vault that he secretly swims in while wearing a bathing suit from the turn of the century?"

"Yes. That's what I'm saying."

"Well, that's disappointing." Shawn muttered.

The pair stopped by an office and knocked. When they opened the door they saw a petite, strikingly beautiful blonde filing some papers. "Who are you?" She asked, eyes narrowing.

"My name is Shawn Spencer and this is my partner, Sir Spinsalot. We have been asked to assist in locating the King's missing book."

Madeleine sat down behind her desk. "And?"

"We were wondering who you suspected." Gus leaned closer. "A lady of your talents of changing the minds of the people should have a few suspects in mind."

A proud smile formed. "When King Liam chose an American waitress as his Queen, there were some that were less enthused with his choice."

Shawn zeroed in on her fingers tensing, the old issues of magazines behind her desk, and the faint tan line on her ring finger. There was also a flyer partially hidden with the word rebound on it. A sticky note had a m and a f with groups of numbers listed. 1728 and 1817 were written down. "I'm sensing that these nobles preferred someone else. They wanted you to be queen."

She momentarily stilled. "Yes they did. After my upbringing as the Countess of Fydella, I was the natural choice as queen."

"I bet they were disappointed when Liam ended your engagement." Gus added.

A hard glint came into her eyes. "I suppose so. Who wouldn't wish for one trained since birth how to run a country and interact with nobles and dignitaries around the world without an entourage to constantly tell her what to do?"

"Good to see you're not bitter." Shawn stood up. "Thank you for your time."

"Do you think she did it?" Gus whispered as they walked down the hall.

"Nah. She has moved on with this new position. Plus it looks like she is getting some type of rebound counseling after being dumped. She's the kind that has to be needed." He explained.

"I think I could need her." Gus grinned, brushing his thumb across his nose.

"I say this with all the love in my heart. Something is wrong with you." Shawn stepped outside.

__________________

"He did it." Shawn nodded toward a man dressed in a demin shirt talking to Juliet.

"What? That's the King's best friend!" Gus exclaimed.

"Doesn't matter. He did it." Shawn persisted. "Only a thief would flirt to distract the investigation."

"He's not flirting. Juliet is." Gus pointed out.

"Man." Shawn shook his head and walked over.

Juliet was smiling. "....I named him Sprinkles because of his dappled coat."

Drake's smirk appeared and he looked up as Shawn and Gus approached. Juliet turned and introduced them.

"Drake, this is Shawn Spencer and Burton Gusster."

He nodded to them. "How's the investigation going? Any leads?"

"It's going." Shawn answered. "I'm not at liberty to reveal any parts."

Drake cocked an eyebrow. "You're not at liberty?"

"That's right, Jack! The psychic's relationship with the visions he is given is precious. Has to be nurtured. It's a circle of trust and it gets upset when I share its secrets with suspiciously handsome dudes that flex their muscles in a barn. Or stable. Is this a stable?" Shawn pulled the door open.

"It's a stable." Gus decided.

Juliet looked up in silent frustration. "Thank you Drake for your time. Guys, I will see you back at the palace." She walked away.

Shawn noticed Drake checking Juliet out and spoke harshly.

"So what do you do here?"

"Er...I do...things." Drake muttered.

"What type of things?" Gus asked.

"I...you couldn't really put a name on it. I do a variety of...stuff." Drake stuttered.

"Is theft of antique cornucopia history--" Shawn began.

"Cordonian." Gus corrected.

"Cordonian history rank as one of your things?" Shawn asked.

Drakes eyes narrowed. "What? Are you actually accusing me of stealing from my best friend?"

"No!" Gus said while Shawn said, "YES!" At the same time.

Drake glared at them and stormed off.

"What's his problem?" Shawn asked.

"Shawn, you just accused the man of stealing. What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Maybe point me toward the most likely suspect. Didn't he seem a little more secretive than one would normally be?" Shawn asked.

"Maybe. Why?" Gus watched Drake walk into a hidden side door.

"I think he's hiding something." Shawn motioned his head in the direction Drake disappeared. "We need to keep an eye on him."

___________________

"There has to be food somewhere in this joint." Shawn muttered.

Gus threw his arm out, stopping Shawn. He took a sniff and turned down a hallway.

"Super sniffer activated. What!" Shawn exclaimed following his friend.

"Do you smell that?" Gus asked, stopping again.

Shawn took a deep breath and let out an exaggerated moan. "It smells like heaven's bakery: one filled with cinnamon, sugar, chocolate, and our third grade teacher Ms. Ferguson wearing that sundress on field day."

Gus closed his eyes in memory. "You know that's right. Every teacher should look like her."

They stepped into the kitchen and watched a lady in a pink dress remove a tray of snickerdoodles from the oven. She brushed her long dark hair back and began to place the cookies on a cooling rack.

"I'm in love." Gus whispered.

Shawn nodded at the vision before them. He walked up to her with a look of wonder on his face. "Excuse me, but are you an angel?"

Hana looked up and giggled sweetly. "I know you! You're the private detectives Maxwell called in." She wiped her hands before holding one out. "I'm Lady Hana Lee."

"My name is Shawn Spencer and the suave gentleman stealing cookies is my partner, The Duke of Earl."

Gus quickly swallowed and gave a slow wave. "Hello."

Hana's grow furrowed. "The Duke of what?"

"Earl. But you can call me Slade." Gus replied with a seductive look.

Hana nodded and motioned toward the counter covered in sweet treats. "Please, help yourself. I tend to overdo it when I bake."

"That is impossible." Gus muttered. He took a bite of a still warm brownie and rolled his eyes in pleasure. "I'm proposing to her tonight." He whispered to Shawn.

"Tonight? I'm proposing marriage this afternoon. She can't be real." Shawn filled a plate with a variety of sweets and sat down. With a mouthful of food and a few moans of pleasure he began to question her. "Lady Hana, have you noticed anyone acting suspicious lately?"

She poured them each a glass of milk and chewed on her bottom lip. "No."

Gus slapped Shawn's hand away from his plate. "Stop playing Shawn!"

"Come on son. You grabbed the last of the macarons! The least you can do is offer one or two."

"Not my fault you took your time with the magic bars." Gus countered.

"They literally have magic in the name. They taste like what I imagine Siegfried and Roy playing with baby tigers feels like." Shawn reached over again and shook his head when slapped. "I can't believe how greedy you're being."

"I don't care." Gus replied in a high pitched voice.

Hana laughed and went over to one of the containers filled with more macarons. She offered it to Shawn and blushed when he exclaimed over her. "I don't care what you say, I can see your wings and halo."

"This is what nice people do Gus, they give." Shawn held up the cookies Hana handed him.

"Suck it Shawn."

"You suck it."

They began to talk quickly over each other and suddenly stopped. Shawn took a drink of milk and focused on Hana. "I'm sensing that you have seen someone you are close to acting odd recently."

Her lips parted in surprise. "Yes, I have. But he couldn't have taken the book! He is much too loyal to ever do something against Liam."

Shawn placed his hand to his head, closed his eyes and slapped Gus for trying to take another brownie. "I'm sensing that the one you are worried about is Drake."

Hana gasped. "Yes! Maxwell told me you were the real thing, but I couldn't believe it."

"I am merely the vessel," he slapped the back of Gus's head for trying again, "that the visions use. Now, would it be too much trouble to find something we can use to carry all of this with us?"

______________

“I don’t like this.” Gus whispered as he crept behind Shawn through the dark palace halls.

“Drake wasn’t in his room. It’s two in the morning. Where is he?” Shawn responded. “I’m telling you, he is up to no good.”

“You’re just jealous that Juliet was flirting with him instead of you.” Gus muttered.

“Please. Me? Jealous? Just because Jules basically giggled like an eighth grade girl over that ridiculously good looking man means--” He held his hand up and stopped Gus. He pointed down another hallway where he could see Drake standing in front of a door.

“What’s he doing?” Gus asked.

Shawn moved in an exaggerated manner to hide behind a suit of armor. He motioned for Gus to follow. He shook his head no. Shawn began to motion faster while Gus silently argued back. They did rock, paper, scissors three times with Gus losing. He snuck over.

Drake looked behind him before knocking in a strange pattern. After a few moments he tried the pattern again, his brow furrowing with the continued silence that followed.

Shawn went to move to another suit of armor, only to end up frozen with a sword to his throat.

“One more move and you and your little friend will be a shish kabob.” 

A sultry red head moved out of the shadows and narrowed her green eyes at the pair. “What are you doing here?”

Drake turned around and glared. “It’s those psychic detectives Maxwell called in.”

Olivia kept her sword against Shawn’s throat.

“You would need at least three more.” Shawn suddenly said.

“What are you blabbering about?” Olivia demanded.

“For kabobs.” Shawn continued. “Everyone knows that you can’t just have two things. You need something to make the kebobs pop, like onions, tomatoes, something green. Most add some zucchini yet I think bell peppers add more zing--”

“SILENCE!” Olivia said over his ramblings. “Why are you following Drake?”

“Could you lower the sword?” Gus asked.

She dropped it down. “Now talk before I change my mind.”

“We are searching for the cornstarch--”

“Cordonian!” Gus corrected yet again.

“Cordonian history book.” Shawn finished.

“They think I took it.” Drake folded his muscular arms across his chest.

“Why would Drake steal the book? It is only about nobles and ancient scandals. I think one of the last entries was from 1817.” Olivia noted. 

Shawn thought back as his brain flashed to that post it note with that particular year listed. He raised his hand to his temple. “I KNOW WHO STOLE THE BOOK!”

________________

Everyone gathered half asleep in Liam’s study. Shawn stood in the middle of the room. “I’m sure you all wonder why I asked you here.”

“Cut the crap Spencer.” Carlton replied. “We know you have some half cocked theory that will somehow be correct.”

Gus shrugged when Shawn turned to him.

“Really you too?” Shawn asked. 

“It’s late Shawn.” Gus countered. “We flew across the country and the Atlantic ocean to get here. I haven’t slept in thirty-six hours. You know how I get without sleep.”

“Gus, don’t be that can of Coke Zero. Bring back the sweetness.” Shawn pleaded.

He turned back to the group. “This missing piece of history isn’t filled with only boring facts. No! I sense that it is filled with the dirty secrets about what goes on in the unknown, deep, dark recesses of this palace.”

“It’s actually pretty bright everywhere.” Maxwell spoke up with a yawn.

Shawn ignored that. “Even though the scandals go back thousands--”

“Hundreds.” Gus whispered.

“Hundreds of years.” Shawn repeated. “They are still ones that some will want to remain in secret.”

“Who wouldn’t want that?” Drake muttered.

“Someone wanted to erase these recorded memories. Someone who has already gone through humiliation. Someone who doesn’t want their name added to their ancestors’ naughty times. Isn’t that right...LADY MADELEINE!”

Madeleine paused yawning. Her eyes widened for a moment. “I beg your pardon!”

“I can see it all now.” Shawn stood over her. “You were already sick of seeing your name in the magazines as the jilted fiancée of the King. When Riley asked you to be her publicist, it was a slap in the face for a Countess and former Queen in training. But you took it, because your family name was on the line. You had to correct your image somehow. What better way than to appear not only fine being pushed aside, but also being magnanimous to the foreign interloper.” 

Madeleine stared silently at him as he continued.

“It was going well until Riley decided to present Liam with a rare and very odd wedding gift. Seriously. Naught underwear is what all men want for gifts.” Shawn turned to Riley and Liam. “Back me up on this guys.”

“It’s true.” Drake muttered.

“Drake!” Riley exclaimed.

“No, he’s right, blossom. It is all we want.” Maxwell added.

Riley blushed and turned to Liam. “Were you disappointed?”

Liam shook his head. “Of course not. I love everything you have given me.” He frowned at Shawn, Drake, and Maxwell. “Proceed Mr. Spencer.”

“If only Riley had not found it.” Shawn continued. “You didn’t realize what it had until you flipped through it. Then you saw what your ancestors did. It wasn’t just on your mother’s side in 1728 that your people got into trouble, but also on your father’s side in 1817. After a little bit of research and the help of Olivia’s memory of your father being from England, it seems the former Duke of Karlington was involved in trying to overthrow Queen Charlotte. Couldn’t have that be discovered, could you?”

Madeleine glared at Olivia. “I should have known that a descendant from traitors would make certain to point out other decent noble’s despicable relatives.”

“You took the book and decided to have those pages removed. But how to do it in a way that Liam wouldn’t notice?” Shawn interrupted before Olivia could retaliate. “You needed to have the book taken apart by a specialist and then rebounded. Simple glue apparently wouldn’t do with the old leather. That’s why if we go to your desk we will find a brochure for a book binding place called Rebound.”

Madeleine paled. She stood up and lifted her chin. “Yes, I took it. If I refuse to recognize my ancestors that betrayed their monarchs then no one else should.”

Gus and Shawn shared a fist bump as Liam had Bastien lead Madeleine away.

Once she was gone, Shawn turned his sharp eyes on Drake and Olivia. “I see what the big secret is. I wasn’t sure which John Hughes movie you were. I thought maybe a gender switched Pretty In Pink. But now that you are all together, I see you guys are The Breakfast Club.”

“What?!” Everyone exclaimed.

“Olivia is Molly Ringwald. She’s rich and fallen for the less economically sound tough guy, Judd Nelson or Drake in this instance. Liam is Emilo Estevez. Nice. Popular. Everyone likes him. I guess that means Riley is Ally Sheedy. Hmm. Hana doesn’t really have a character. We could make you the principal but that just seems mean. Maybe the little sister to Anthony Michael Hall...but you’re too sweet for that too.  Maxwell...you’re Anthony Michael Hall but way cooler.” Shawn pointed at each one. “And just like in the movie, Molly and Judd are meeting in secret to be together.”

Everyone stared at the duchess and the commoner that were both speechless at their secret being discovered.

“And my work here is done.” Shawn exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. He walked over to the door. “If you will excuse me, I’m going to catch up on that sleep everyone was mentioning earlier.”

_____________

“I am going to miss this country. After Hana refused my offer of marriage, I guess this will only be a fond memory.” Shawn said as he boarded the plane with the others.

“I’m just glad she made us going away bags.” Gus opened his and frowned. “Shawn! Where are my cookies?”

“Hmm? Seems like another mystery.” He held tight to his bag as Gus demanded he either share what he had or return what was stolen. “Man, I didn’t take your cookies.”

“You must be out of your damned mind if you think I believe that.” Gus argued. The best friends began to talk over one another, bringing up the great cupcake incident of fifth grade.

Juliet sighed as she sat down with Carlton. “It’s going to be a long flight.”

Carlton nodded. “Good thing I stole Guster’s bag of baked goods.” He offered a cookie to Juliet. She glanced at Shawn and Gus before biting into a chocolate chip cookie.

#choices the royal romance #psych! #shawn spencer #burton guster #carlton lassiter #juliet o'hara #liam x riley #trr liam #trr maxwell #trr drake #trr hana #trr olivia #crack fic

[zigsexual]

8 ball (drake/liam)

note: this is a tiny snippet of a moment olivia called out in the final driam vignette that @callefortaleza then peer pressured me to write, so throwbacks to the highschool days yet again! i’m never going to actually finish this so it’s just going to be a ficlet i suppose but wanted to post if for you all anyways. this is feat. one-sided olivia/liam because miss olivia has not figured out her life yet.

summary: it’s maxwell’s 17th birthday party and olivia nevrakis did not not plan on spending it watching drake flirt with their prince, but here she is.

word count: 840+

• • •

It’s been about an hour since she arrived at Maxwell’s party, and already Olivia is questioning why she felt the need to come in the first place. She’s not sure what she expected. A respite from the tedious boredom of traipsing through a palace that would never be hers? Maybe. A chance to mingle with the other elites who sit in the same realm of notoriety as she? Certainly not, if the attendees she’d crossed paths with already were any indication.

No, the reality of the situation was this: she had come expecting Liam, and she had found Liam and Drake.

She watches them now from her position tucked aside in an alcove, lips pursed. A few minutes prior she had been overjoyed at the prospect of finally getting Liam alone, leading him into a side room under the pretenses of playing pool. How was she to know that he would actually expect to play the game? And how was she to know that Drake would find him with the exact same idea as well?

Or — perhaps not the exact same idea. She crosses her arms as Liam comes up behind Drake and rests his hands on his shoulders, explaining the way he should angle his body to line up the best shot. Drake moves so willingly under his touch that there’s no doubt in Olivia’s mind he’d come down here with an ulterior motive.

For what it’s worth, he’s doing an excellent job of pretending he has no idea how to play. He lifts the cue with a shred of apprehension, turning over his shoulder to look back at Liam. “Where do I put my hands again?”

Olivia lets out a loud sigh, but neither pays her any attention. She’s seen Drake line up a shot a thousand times all on his own without a second thought. In fact, the night prior he’d managed five straight games against her without so much as a single loss. And now he has the audacity to pretend he’s a novice? She’d almost be impressed at his tenacity if she weren’t so thoroughly disgusted.

Liam, naïve as he is, brings his own hands down to rest atop Drake’s, gently moving him to the correct position on the cue. He’s talking, trying to explain the reasoning behind the way he adjusts Drake’s fingers, but Olivia can tell by the blush in Drake’s cheeks that the only thing he’s paying attention to is Liam’s chest pressed against his back.

She frowns. What are they — twelve? Isn’t playing dumb the most baseline of flirting techniques? Olivia leans her head back against the wall, staring up at the ornate carved ceilings and wishing for some kind of distraction to put a stop to this nonsense. She could leave, of course, but if she did that it would mean the two of them alone, and she’s not quite ready to resign herself to another loss at Drake’s hands. Although, it would mean he’d first have to take a fucking shot, and judging by this display, he’s at least a few years away from playing that sort of game.

She pushes herself off the wall and strides towards them. “Are either of you going to break, or do I need to do everything around here?”

“Sorry Olivia,” Liam responds, sweet as ever. “I think Drake’s got the hang of it now. Don’t you?”

Drake locks eyes with her across the pool table, and she regards him knowingly. “Sure,” he says, making it very clear how much he wishes she were anywhere else but here, “I’ll give it a shot.”

The shot he does give is damn near perfect. Liam claps a hand down on his shoulder, smiling as though his impromptu lessons had any part of it. “See, you’re a natural!”

Drake smiles back at him, and Liam’s hand lingers, and the tension between them is giving Olivia a headache.

She leans against the table, raising one eyebrow at Drake. “I recall you being fairly practiced when you played against me last night.”

He turns his head away from Liam to shoot her daggers. “Beginner’s luck.”

“Oh, you’re a beginner?”

“Maybe you’re just not cut out to accept defeat.”

She narrows her eyes, although he does have a point. Liam’s hand is still on his shoulder, and she’d be remiss to pretend he would ever touch her so casually. The thought makes her sad, and the sadness makes her angry. Now more focused than ever, she lines up the cue and manages to sink the first ball in a corner pocket.

“Olivia’s always been great at pool,” Liam says, smile now directed at her for once. “She’s better than me at most things.”

She softens. “Only because you’re too noble to be ruthless.”

“You’re not ruthless,” Liam answers, “You’re wise.”

She beams back at him, but his attention has already shifted. While they’d been talking, Drake had somehow landed two in one pocket with a single shot.

As Olivia’s face melts into a scowl, he shrugs. “Liam’s a good teacher.”

#driam #drake x liam #trr fanfic #playchoices fanfic #trr #my fic #driam oblivious flirting is my crack #and so is olivia #so why not bang this out adsklfja

[karahalloway]

Sex Bomb

Fandom: TRR

Paining: Leo Rys x Adelaide Amaranth

Series: None (this is a one-shot and can be read independently of the rest of my fics)

Word count: 4,000

Warnings: swearing, alcoholic tendencies, smut, outrage, crack ship (you have been warned)

Theme song:

A/N1: This is my long-awaited (and very much demanded) follow-up to the part I wrote for One Night in Cordinia; however, you should be able to read the current fic as a standalone.

A/N2: Since I love killing two birds with one stone, this is also my submission for this year's Smutember event hosted by @choicesprompts. The prompts that this fits into is 'Caught in the act' and 'We shouldn't be doing this...'

A/N3: Certain parts of this fic were somewhat inspired by the scene between Finch and Stiffler's Mom from American Pie. The clip, for anyone who hasn't seen the movie, is below the cut.

Sex Bomb

"Bloody hell..."

Leo dropped the edge of the heavy brocade curtain he was holding, letting it fall back into place behind the dais to conceal his presence once again.

The ballroom was heaving. And the evening had barely even kicked off. Lord knew how many more people were still battling the traffic to get a coveted front-row seat for the royal event of the century.

The Coronation.

...or, as Leo liked to call it, the Royal Nail in the Coffin.

Because in his mind, that's what it was. The final, inescapable blow that would seal his fate for good, and maroon him forever on the desolate island that was kingship... shackled in life-long matrimony to Madeleine Amaranth.

Leo shuddered at the thought. Especially when he recalled his fiancée's naked form getting skewered loudly by that Justin What's-His-Face PR pansy on the steps of Beaumont House mere days ago.

Not because of the fact that she'd had sex with someone else. Hell, he'd tapped more ass than he could count! So, he couldn't exactly begrudge his soon-to-be wife's promiscuity. Especially when she couldn't remember any of it...

No, it was the fact that here he was, on the eve of his engagement to his future Queen, and all he could think about was her mother.

That sexy vixen of a woman, Adelaide. The Duchess That Had Got Away.

Very literally.

Because in the chaos of the Shagging Smog-infused assassination-attempt-gone-wrong — aka the Beaumont Bash — Leo had lost his one chance to notch that coveted mark on his bedpost... especially considering that she would've actually been game for it, given the mind-altering effects of the aerosol-based dispersant.

Talk about fucking irony...

Leo heaved a breath.

Maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe there was a reason why—

"Quite the crowd out there, huh, son?"

Leo clenched his eyes shut. "Yes, Father."

Constantine clapped a hand onto his eldest son's shoulder. "It's going to be quite the night!"

"Yes, Father," Leo intoned, forcing himself to swallow down the bile that suddenly threatened to bubble up his gullet.

The King's fingers tightened on his jacket. "All eyes will be on you, lad. Do not cock this up."

Leo felt himself gag. "'Scuse me...!"

Slapping a hand over his mouth in an attempt to keep the scotch-laden contents of his stomach under wraps, he lurched past his father.

Stumbling across the ante-room, he barely made it to the nearest ficus plant before the 20-year old single malt regurgitated itself into the perfectly hydrated potting mix in front of him.

"Christ, you are a royal disgrace..." muttered Constantine as he marched past him. "If God would've had any sense, he would've made Liam my heir instead of you. But here I am, stuck with your worthless hide instead..."

The slam of the mahogany door reverberated around the room.

"The feeling's mutual, old man," muttered Leo, shooting a wad of spittle into the planter to cleanse his mouth.

Lifting his head, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

A drink. He needed a drink.

Mostly because he'd just thrown up the five fingers worth of Dutch courage he'd consumed less than an hour ago, and there was no way he was subjecting himself to the shitshow on the other side of that curtain even remotely sober.

And if Constantine had an epileptic fit...? Well, he deserved it.

The old tosser had given Leo enough hell during his 30-odd years on Earth, trying to mould him into something that the wayward prince wasn't, and never would be.

Making his way to the other side of the room, Leo located the hidden door that led to the service corridors and slipped inside.

A few twists and well-worn turns through the rabbit warren, and he emerged out into the smoking room, a plushly decorated space filled with heavy brocade curtains, velvet armchairs, a billiards table, and — most importantly — a well-stocked liquor cabinet.

Making a straight line towards the blessed promise of inebriation, he grabbed the nearest decanter of scotch, and pulled the heavy crystal stopper out.

He was about to pour himself a healthy serving when he heard the rustle of heavy taffeta behind him.

Glancing around, he nearly dropped the priceless Swarovski crystal on the floor.

"Pinching a cheeky tipple?" asked Adelaide Amaranth, surveying him over the rim of her own glass.

"Shit, Maddy's mum...!" Leo quickly composed himself. "Erm... Thought I'd get a head start on the party."

"Mmm..." purred the Duchess of Krona, perching herself on the edge of the billiards table. "Man after my own heart..."

Leo swallowed loudly as the skirt of her dress slid apart to reveal the length of her toned legs.

After the unmitigated disaster that had been the Bash, she'd appeared to him again, luscious and alone — like a siren rising from the dark depths of his previous failure — tempting him with a second chance...

...or goading him with the unattainability of his crusade.

Either way, Leo felt his guts tighten at her unexpected presence.

"So..." Her voice interrupted his thoughts. "Are you all set? To become King and all?" she asked, swirling the remnants of her drink around in the crystal tumbler.

"Furthest thing from," Leo admitted, sloshing himself a drink with shaky hands.

Whether it was nerves or anticipation, he wasn't sure. Either way, he was now doubly, triply in need of the hard stuff... in part because he could feel some other stuff becoming hard as well.

"Hence why you're looking for something to take the edge off," she mused, running her aqua-coloured gaze over him. "Smart thinking."

"Tell that to my father..." scoffed Leo, dropping the decanter back on the cabinet top, trying to maintain his cool in the face of her intoxicating closeness.

"Or my daughter," agreed Adelaide with a roll of her eyes. "If anyone needs a bevvy, it's her! Speaking of... have you see her? She's quite disappeared on me..."

"Nope. Can't say I have," admitted Leo, throwing the scotch back greedily.

Adelaide surveyed him for a long moment before shrugging. "Probably for the best, really. She can't stand me on the best of days. She's under some misguided impression that I'll say or do something that will embarrass her..."

"Welcome to my world," muttered Leo, reaching for the decanter again. "I am the living embodiment of my father's resentment. You know, he even told me tonight that I am — quote-unquote — a 'royal disgrace' and Liam should've been his heir instead."

"Hmm..." murmured Adelaide, sliding off the billiards table yo shimmy up to him. "I don't know about any of that... I think you'll look fantastic in a crown..."

Leo snorted. "That is hardly a qualification for kingship..."

"Isn't it?" pressed Adelaide, leaning her empty glass against her cheek as she cocked her head at him.

"I have it on rather good authority that there's a bit more to it than that..." murmured Leo ruefully, unable to stop his gaze from sliding down her neck to the bare skin of her cleavage that sat exposed between the lines of her dress.

"Don't listen to them," chided Adelaide, reaching up to run a finger through his thick, blonde hair. "A king needs only three things — a royal bloodline and an iconic profile. Everything else will be taken care of for you."

Leo felt an uncharacteristic shudder course through him as her fingertip brushed over the sensitive skin of his temple. "Apart from the actual ruling..."

"You'd be surprised..." she smiled. "I haven't set foot in Krona in months! The equerries take care of all the pesky details."

"Running a kingdom's a tad more involved than running a duchy..."

"Pfft!" she scoffed. "Duchy? Kingdom? What's the difference? You sign the odd piece of paper, and throw the occasional ball. That's it!"

"And lead Council meetings, host foreign dignitaries, review petitions, attend—"

"Leo, darling, you are terribly overthinking this!" chided Adelaide with a laugh, reaching for the decanter to pour herself another glass. "You think the kings and queens of old bored themselves with all the minutiae? No! They delegated, so they could have fun fighting battles and posing for portraits."

"Not sure fighting battles was exactly fun..."

"My Prince," she said, leaning in, as if imparting a secret. "All I'm saying is you have nothing to worry about. You could conquer nations with that jaw-line..."

Leo's heart stopped in it's tracks as he swore he felt the tip of her tongue flick over his skin.

"...your sense of duty is just a bonus."

"And... and the third thing?" he stammered.

"The Crown Jewels," she declared, pulling back to fix him with a knowing look.

Leo frowned. "You mean the Apple and th—"

"I mean these jewels," she corrected, grabbing the front of his trousers without warning.

Leo nearly jumped out of his skin as he felt her manicured nails close emphatically around his meat and two veg.

"Holy f—!"

"Mmm," purred Adelaide, tightening her hold on him. "Seems to be present and accounted for..."

Leo merely squeaked in response. He had no idea what was happening, or how he'd even gotten to having Adelaide's hands wrapped around his sex pistol in the first place, but he sure as bloody hell wasn't going to tell her to stop!

"...but one cannot be sure without a proper inspection."

Leo froze. "Inspection?"

Adelaide lifted her gaze to met his square on. "Darling, you are marrying my daughter. I cannot — in good conscience — let you bed her without ensuring that all the royal parts are in working order... and capable of producing grandchildren."

"Trust me..." wheezed Leo as he felt Adelaide's hands reach for his belt. "The lads have never let me down."

"Oh, yes," smiled Adelaide, undoing his buckle and letting the ornate belt drop the floor. "I am well aware of your many... conquests. But I also know the papers like to exaggerate. So, surely you cannot begrudge a mother for wanting to obtain independent confirmation."

"How 'bout a live demonstration?" blurted Leo, grasping at the edge of the drinks cabinet for support as Adelaide wrestled with the buttons of his trousers.

Hell, if this was happening, then he was gonna make damned sure that it was happening!

"Don't jump the gun, darling," Adelaide tutted, ripping the fronts of his pants open. "You need to pass muster first."

Leo gasped audibly as his sexcalibur sprang — finally, blessedly! — free of its confines.

"Not one for briefs, I see..." she observed, running her fingers critically over him.

"I threw them all out years ago," he panted in response to the feel of her silken touch on his heated gherkin.

"Another thing we have in common," she smirked, reaching for his hand to guide it over the back of her dress.

A desperate groan escaped him as his palm skated over the smooth, unencumbered expanse of her backside as she continued to fondle him. "So, what's the verdict?"

"A package worthy of a king," Adelaide assured him, rolling his plums together in her palm.

Leo felt his eyes tip back into his head at the overwhelming sensation...

...before it stopped just as quickly as it had started.

Creaking his eyes open, he saw Adelaide throw him a cheeky smirk over her shoulder as she glided sinuously towards the billiards table.

"Aren't you coming, darling?" she whispered back at him.

Leo nearly tripped over his own trousers in his haste to get to her. He was going to get the chance to live out his dirtiest, most depraved fantasy, after all! He was not wasting one more second!

"Lord, you have no idea how long I've waited for this..." he gasped, stumbling across the room towards her.

"Oh, I know very well," she assured him, leaning back to spread her arms out over the polished walnut. "I've seen you looking at me, Leo."

He faltered. "You have?"

"Of course, my darling," she assured him, cocking her leg seductively. "You were hardly subtle in your attentions. A woman notices these things..."

"You know this is highly improper..." he pointed out as he finally made it to her.

"Oh, sweet boy!" she laughed. "This would be the scandal of the century!"

"Then we better give them something to talk about," he grinned, grabbing her by her toned derrière to lift her onto the edge of the billiards table.

"Mmm... I can think of a few things..." she breathed, planting her hands on his shoulders to push him down towards her nether region.

"I'm sure you can, m'lady," he grinned, shifting his hands to the back of her knees to yank her towards him, the sudden momentum sending the top half of her body falling back onto the felt. "But allow me to put even your wildest dreams to shame."

"Bold words..." purred Adelaide with a coy smile as he lifted her legs up to anchor her Valentino Gavarani-clad feet on his shoulders, causing the skirt of her dress to cascade down towards her hips.

"I've yet to receive anything other than a stellar review," he winked at her, grabbing her waist to invert her almost fully as he lifted her sacred centre up to his face.

"That may be so, darling, but unlike some ladies, I have high standards..." murmured Adelaide, lifting her arms above her head in anticipation. "I don't dish out gold stars to just anybody..."

"I don't intend to disappoint," Leo assured her with a cocky smirk as he bent his head towards her.

"...why must I do everything myself!" seethed Madeleine, stomping down the otherwise empty corridor in her Valentino sling-backs.

She'd known Leo was an immature and unreliable cad who was more interested in finding the next skirt to lift than paying any semblance of attention to actual matters of state.

And while she would've definitely preferred a more dedicated and biddable prospect — such as his younger brother — to share the rigours of governance with, she ultimately wasn't marrying the Playboy Prince because she liked him.

In all honesty, the man could've had warts and halitosis and she still would've gone through with the union!

Because this was a political match, pure and simple. The House of Rys allying itself with the House of Amaranth, the richest and most influential noble family in Cordonia in order to keep Queen Kenna's line alive...

...with the added benefit of elevating Madeleine's own status to that of Queen. A role that she'd been training for since before she could even walk, given her father's unrelenting pursuit of power by any and all means — an endeavour that she very much shared, much to her mother's disgruntlement.

But she couldn't exactly get engaged if her intended was missing! Tonight, of all nights!

Who, in their right mind, disappears on their own coronation?!

Of course, she was well aware of Leo's infamous tendency to pull vanishing acts, but what the blasted hell was the man thinking? To leave an entire country in the lurch?

Certainly not on her watch!

She'd already dispatched Bastien and all available members of the King's Guard to search high and low for the errant prince. But the Palace and its grounds were massive, and given the sheer number of people that had descended on the Rys stronghold for tonight's event, trying to find anyone was an exercise akin to weeding a needle out of a haystack.

So, she'd been forced to join the search herself. Even though it was insulting beyond measure and much below her station.

But, desperate times called for desperate measures, and she'd rather sweat into her ballgown running up and down the corridors now, than stand like a hapless bimbo in front of all the dignitaries and news crews trying to explain why her future king and fiancé had skipped out on an entire nation on one of the most important nights of its recent history.

No. She most certainly did not need those headlines running in the morning... or ever.

Best that she focused her efforts on helping locate the wayward heir, and hope that he wasn't halfway out of the country already... because by God, she'd send the Cordonian Secret Service after him if she had to!

Arriving at the next set of doors on her mental task-list, she wasted no time in pushing the handle down...

"Leopold?" she called, stepping into the room.

...only to freeze in shock at the sight in front of her.

There he was — the next in line to the Cordinian throne — head thrown back, trousers around his ankles, thrusting like an animal into—

"MOTHER?!"

Adelaide raised her disheveled head from the billiards table at the sound of her daughter's distraught shriek. "Oh, sweet pea! There you are!"

Leo raised his hand in a wave. "Hi, Mads!"

Madeleine's rouged lips jerked soundlessly, trying to formulate some kind of response, but nothing was forthcoming.

Never — in all her life! — had she imagined that she'd ever witness such sordid... brazen... obscenity!

She was literally lost for words. Her! The person who has been giving televised interviews since the age of four!

"Darling," soothed Adelaide, propping herself up onto her elbows to reveal the tautness of her age-defying, silicone-enhanced breasts, "I know this looks frightfully ghastly, but I can assure that—"

"Shut up..." she finally managed to croak.

Adelaide frowned. "Darling, are you—?"

"I SAID, SHUT UP!" Madeleine screeched.

Both Leo and her mother's eyes widened in the face of the uncharacteristically deranged outburst... but they nevertheless managed to refrain from commenting.

"I don't know how this..." She gestured derisively in the couple's general direction. "...colossal cock-up happened. Nor do I care. But what I do know — and most certainly care about — is that the coronation ceremony is starting. And I will not let you, Leopold—"

Leo groaned at the sound of his full, Christian name. "Jesus, Mads! I told you I—"

"Do not interrupt me!" snapped Madeleine. Sucking in a breath to collect herself, she continued, "I will not let you fuck this up for me, or the kingdom. So, if you want to keep your royal bratwurst, then I suggest that you pull it out of my mother and get your fatuous arse to the ballroom before I have the Guard drag you there."

Leo glanced down at Adelaide. "You sure she wasn't adopted or—?"

"NOW!!!" thundered Madeleine.

"Okay, okay, sheesh!" huffed Leo, grabbing for his trousers, given that he was already very much deflated, his fiancée having managed to suck the literal joy out of his joystick with her mere appearance .

"And you, Mother..." hissed Madeleine, turning her attention to her disheveled parent. "You have undermined me for the last time."

Adelaide scoffed. "Darling, all I have ever done is—"

"Which is why my first act as Queen will be to banish you to Krona," finished Madeleine with a haughty air of finality.

Adelaide's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"

Her daughter's demeanour was icy. "You're lucky I'm not banishing you to Siberia. But if you test me—"

"Siberia at least has decent vodka..." chimed in Leo, sauntering past her out the room.

Adelaide tipped her head contemplatively. “He's got a point, you know…”

"Argh!!" screamed Madeleine, slamming the door behind her with such vehemence that it rattled the bottles in the liquor cabinet.

Vile cretins! The whole bloody lot of them!

Grabbing her intended by the arm, she hauled him all the way back to the ball, ignoring the profanity-filled protests.

Stopping in front of the pair of footmen that were manning the ballroom doors, she snapped, "Inform the King that Prince Leopold is ready for his coronation."

"Actu— Ow!!"

She brutally silenced the forthcoming objection with a heel to Leo’s foot.

As the servants rushed away to do her bidding, she manhandled Leo back into the same ante-chamber that he'd disappeared from earlier.

"Mads, stop!" he pleaded as she pulled him across the Persian carpet like a stubborn mule. "Can you please just—?"

"No," she declared, shoved him through the velvet curtains and onto the gilded dais without ceremony. "You will do your duty, even if it kills you, you ungrateful oaf!"

The hubbub of the crowd instantly ceased as Leo stumbled to a stop.

"There you are!" snap Constantine into his ear. "You have some nerve—"

"Just get on with it..." sighed Leo, the weight of finality crashing down on him as he caught his brother's the eye from across the room. Liam always hated it when his brother and father argued, and Leo didn't want to subject him to a public spectacle.

Constantine looked like he wanted to say more, but quickly decided against it. Turning to the congregation, he spread his arms and launched into his pre-prepared speech.

"Good evening, one and all! It is a great honour to have so many of you come out tonight to show your support not only for—"

"Pay attention!"

Glancing down, Leo caught Madeleine's disproving glower from the foot of the dais.

He suppressed a groan.

How they were going to sire royal babies, he had no idea...

...probably with copious amounts of drugs and alcohol...and possibly even a paper bag.

Because he already knew that there was no way that he wouldn't be able to not think about Adelaide while doing it with her daughter.

As even now, in the midst of his own coronation, his mind kept drifting back to the passionate coitus they'd shared on that billiards table before it had gotten oh, so rudely interrupted.

The way she'd moved... The sounds she'd made... That thing with her tongue... It sent shivers down his spine all over again.

And suddenly he had a stark realisation.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't go through with the coronation.

Not if it meant never being able to see her again.

"...and, now..." his father was saying, holding upon the ancient Rys signet ring, "with the bestowal of this ring, I—"

"I abdicate!"

A collective gasp of disbelief rose from the room.

Glancing up, Leo found his father and step-mother staring at him with open mouths, all semblance of propriety forgotten in the face of the shocking announcement.

But he was not perturbed. He'd made his decision. "I, Leopold Maximilian Fernando Constantine Rys, hereby officially and irrevocably renounce my royal titles as Crown Prince of Cordonia and Duke of Applewood." Turning to Constantine, he added with an apologetic shrug, "Sorry, Dad. Just wasn't feeling it."

The heavy gold band clattered to the floor as the cameras exploded into a frenzy of flashing.

"What the devil are you doing?!" demanded Madeleine, appearing in front of him as he hopped off the stage. "Get back up there and—"

"Better luck next time, Mads!" he shouted over the growing dim as he quickly skirted around the edge of the ballroom.

Reaching the closest set of French doors, he threw them open and — with the practiced ease of a man who'd done this exact manoeuvre a hundred times before — vaulted over the edge of the balcony.

Landing on the gravel, he caught sight of the lone pair of headlights idling in front of the Palace steps, and the figure that was in the process of getting behind the wheel.

A knowing smile spread over his face.

Loping across the drive, he managed to intercept the Aston Martin Vantage convertible before it had a chance to drive off.

The driver raised a brow at him as he approached. "Aren't you supposed to be getting crowned?"

"Realised I had somewhere more important to be," he admitted, coming to a stop by the side of the car. "Room for one more?"

Adelaide's lips curved into a smile. "Always, darling."

"Excellent!" exclaimed Leo, hopping into the passenger seat.

She cast him a sidelong glance. "You know this is never going to work out..."

"And?" he grinned, kicking his feet up onto the dash.

Throwing her head back with a laugh, Adelaide pressed the pedal down, kicking the tail of the Aston as they left the ball to dust.

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#sex bomb #leo rys #adelaide amaranth #crack ship #choicesprompts #smutember 2023 #Spotify

[lilyoffandoms]

OPH & TRR Crossover Drabble - Bryce x Olivia

Warnings & A/N: It’s a crossover. Leave it be if it’s not your thing. Going to imagine they are at Riley and Liam’s engagement party (alcohol mention in relation to that). Saw a comment on @storyofmychoices Bryce x Olivia fic (different Olivia) and well next thing ya know, here we are.

“There is someone you must meet,” Riley said leading Olivia by the hand toward the bar where a young (obviously) American boy was standing with a drink in hand.

“Bryce!” Riley called out. “This is the girl I was telling you about.” All smiles as she came to a stop beside him and gestured to Olivia scowling in front of them.

“Girl?” Olivia sneered in disbelief at Riley.

“Duchess Nevrakis,” Bryce said and held his hand out to her which she accepted.

Surprise crossing her face when he turned her hand over and kissed the top of it. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh well, yes,” Olivia’s rather unusual composure cracking a bit in surprise.

“Well,” Riley beamed, “I’ll leave you two to it.”

“Tutu what?” Bryce teased and with a peck on his cheek and a giggle Riley took back off across the room.

Olivia turned to the bar fuming that she had allowed Riley to lead her into this trap, resting her elbows on the bar top and happily accepting the drink the bartender slid across to her.

Bryce followed suit and took a slow sip of his own drink before saying, “She’s a force of nature that’s for sure. And by the way Duchess, you don’t have to stay here. I’ll tell Ri that I made a complete and utter American fool of myself and she will leave it be.”

Olivia gave him a skeptical sideways glance and scoffed.

“Okay, well she will let it go for tonight at least. And in two days time I’m on a plane back to the States and you will be free of her pestering.”

“I am never free of it. And she’s introduced me to worse people tonight. You seem,” she turned to look him over with calculated consideration, “you seem at least remotely interesting and truth be told, I loath these events and the insipid chatterboxes that attend them. So I will stay until I am no longer amused.”

Bryce laughed and finishing the last sip of his drink, ordered another.

“You certainly know how to flatter a guy,” he teased.

Olivia rolled her eyes but took a drink to hide her smile.

“So, Bryce, how do you know Riley?”

“Met her when she was my patient back in Boston.”

“So you work in Pediatrics then?” Olivia smirked.

Bryce chuckled, “Surgeon. She broke her arm trying to skateboard back when I was still doing my residency. We hit it off and stayed in touch ever since.”

“Only she would break an arm in a manner that required surgery,” Olivia glanced back across the crowded room where Liam and Riley were dancing.

“She’s not the most graceful person I’ve ever known,” Bryce grinned and followed her gaze. “But she’s one of the most fun.”

“Yes, she is,” Olivia said absentmindedly before catching herself. “Do not repeat that to her.”

“And just what’s to stop me?” he challenged with an easy smile on his face.

“I know a hundred ways to kill you where you stand and each and everyone of them would look like an accident,” Olivia returned his smile and challenge with one of her own.

“I don’t doubt that for a second. Knew you were more than just a duchess.”

“Smart man.”

“Smart enough to know when I should ask a lady to dance,” he winked and held out his hand.

#olivia nevrakis #bryce lahela #the royal romance #open heart #my drabble #i like to live dangerously and so do not edit forgive me any mistakes #had some time on the bus ride across town so why not

[openheartfanfics]

Newly Added Fics

June 19-26  

🎭 Angst  |  🛸 AU  |  🍘 Crack  |  ☁ Fluff  |  ♥ NSFW  |  📚 Series  |  📷 Edits

Bryce x F!MC

Maggie’s Choice - @lucy-268 🩺☁ What choice will Maggie make for her future? [3.16] 

The Beginning - @trappedinfanfiction ☁ It’s Zoe’s first day as an intern and she hopes she will get along with her new coworkers. [1.1] 

Ethan x F!MC

A Day Off - @lucy-268 ☁ The competition for best intern and the spot on the diagnostics team is underway. [1.5; Ethan’s POV] 

A Father’s Day - @bex-la-get 👔☁ Natalie surprises Ethan with some wonderful news and celebrate his first Father’s Day. [Family] 

A Thank You - @trappedinfanfiction ☁ Celia got through the hearing, now she needs to say thank you. [1.17] 

Becoming a Father - @mm2305 👔☁ Ethan receives some news on Father’s day. [Family; Pregnancy] 

Colossal Pain - @takeharryandgo ☁ Ethan and Zaid bond over their disdain towards the interns. Feat. Zaid and Landry

Decisions for the Future - @lucy-268 ☁ Charley and Ethan make decisions for the future. [3.16] 

Each Others Backs - @potionsprefect 🩺☁ Whispers fly amongst the walls of Edenbrook Hospital [Post Ending; Interns; Protective] 

Ethan’s First Father’s Day - @lem-20​ 👔☁ Ethan celebrates his first Father’s day [Family] 

Five Stages of Grief - @gryffindordaughterofathena​ 📚 [mini: wip]  Pain is like a drop of poison, it withers you from within. A series of drabbles, where Diana deals with Ethan’s departure to the Amazons.

Anger   |  Bargaining

Good Girl - @irisofpurple 🩺♥ What happens when Lana comes home to Ethan, fashionably late after a girls night? [Post-ending] 

Hurricane - @utterlyinevitable 📚 [extended: completed] 

Part 6 Alternate Scene

I’ll Be Seeing You - @takeharryandgo 🩺☁ Months after Meredith left Edenbrook, Ethan reunites with her again in Miami. [Meet Again; Post-Ending; Domestic; Conference; Miami] 

IN TOWN - @a-crepusculo​ 🩺📷 The Bisognin sisters are reunited in Boston to celebrate Marchia’s new role as Head of Diagnostics team. [Post-ending] 

Night Changes - @alina-yol-ramsey ☁ Miami x Hawaii moments [Miami; 3.11] 

Not A Minute More - @lsvdw-blog 📚 [extended: wip]  The aftermath of Ethan seeing the news of the day that threatens to rock him to his core and change his life. TW: mentions of explosion

Part 3

One Last Night - @takeharryandgo ☁ For a few hours more, they are just people. Set at the end of Book 1. [1.17]

Open Heart: Second Year Rewrite - @genevievemd 🛸📚 [extended: wip]  After deciding to stay together, but in secret, Ethan and Genevieve navigate the ups and downs of her second year of residency. [Secret Relationship] 

Prologue: Departure | Chapter One: Treacherous

Private Celebrations - @liaromancewriter ☁ After a major team win, Cassie’s in the mood to celebrate. When the drinks start flowing, Ethan discovers a new side to his girlfriend’s personality. [Drunk] 

Red Light - @alina-yol-ramsey 🎭 Ethan drives MC home after they met at Donahue’s. Ethan's POV. [Ethan’s POV; 2.1]

Surprise - @takemyopenheart 👔☁ It’s Father’s Day, and Luz and baby Rey have special news for daddy. [Family] 

The Birthday Enthusiast - @genevievemd ☁ It’s Gen’s 29th birthday, and she doesn’t want to celebrate. [Birthday] 

To Weather a Storm - @jerzwriter 🎭 Ethan and Casey made it official after her brush with death, but since that time, his obsessive behavior has become a growing concern. Can Casey help him move forward? TW: Anxiety; PTSD; Abandonment [2.12; Hurt/Comfort; Traumatic] 

50 Shades of Ethan - @jerzwriter​ 🍘♥ Former college roommates Gaby Dalton (TNA), Queen Riley (TRR) and Casey MacTavish (OH) each bring a friend to see the new release of 50 Shades of Grey. It is an enlightening experience, especially for Casey.

Love Triangle 

Delaying the Inevitable - @jerzwriter​ 📚 [extended: wip] Feat. Ethan x F!MC x Tobias

Chapter 7

Tobias x F!MC

Look to the Future - @lucy-268 ☁ Decisions need to be made about the future. [3.16] 

Zaid Mirani 

Colossal Pain - @takeharryandgo ☁ Ethan and Zaid bond over their disdain towards the interns. Feat. Ethan x F!MC

_

SUBMIT OPEN HEART FICS & WRITERS HERE

#open heart #open heart fanfic #open heart fanfiction #choices open heart #open heart fanfics #ethan ramsey #ethan x mc #ethan ramsey x mc #bryce lahela #bryce lahela x mc #bryce x mc #tobias carrick #tobias x mc #newly added fics

[bobasheebaby]

Youthful Transgressions (NSFW)

Pairing: Perceval x Leo

Word count: 1,148

Warnings: smut, slash, porn, crack pair, crack fic

Summary: Sexual encounter in a hedge maze. Leo is 20 and Perceval is 23 for refernce.

A/N: @mrsnazario1223 Pushed my ass to do this pair and helped write it. (It wouldn't leave me alone and I really didn't want to do it, but I needed it out of my damn brain!) Love you girl!  Let me know if you want the tag!

He was at another fucking ball, another stupid noble party, his father forced him to attend, he was a Lord after all, a future Duke. He couldn’t care less about his title, the title he would hold one day. He’d seen how nobles acted his entire life, how they could have such little disregard for others, even those with titles.

He didn’t want to be here at the palace, around her, the woman who helped take his mother away. She acted so smug since claiming her new shiny title. He spent the night avoiding the reproachful woman, tossing back drink after drink to simply remain in the same room as her.

He finally had enough of watching his father pine over the woman who tore their family apart, of watching her with the smug look on her face. He slipped outside and found himself wandering the maze he knew so well. Bottle of pilfered Scotch in his hand, taking an occasional swig as he wound through the familiar paths. He wasn’t headed to any particular part of the maze, he simply needed to get as far away from the party inside as possible.

He soon found himself standing in front of the old wishing well, a place his mother used to bring when he was younger to take his mind off the fancy parties.

“Hellooooo Lord Perrrrceval.” Leo fake slurred mock bowing at the slightly older man.

Perceval turned taking in Leo’s appearance, his tie undone, his wavy dark blonde hair disheveled, a half drunk bottle of aged whiskey in his hand.

“Aren’t you still underage your highness?” Perceval chided playfully, dipping in his own mock bow.

Leo shot Perceval a ‘screw off’ look making Perceval chuckle. Leo crossed the space between the two, tripping over a stray twig landing on all fours.

Perceval stifled a laugh at his friends clumsiness, reaching a hand down to help him up. Leo looked up his eyes falling on the outline of the other man’s large cock. Leo licked his lips, imagining his cock in his mouth, hitting the back of his throat over and over. Their relationship had always been jovial, flirty, but they never crossed that line, but oh how Leo wanted to.

Leo reached for Percy’s belt, undoing the first loop, Percy grabbing his wrists stopping him from going further.

“What are you doing Leo?” Perceval asked looking down at the man on his knees before him.

“Come on Perceval, don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it.” Leo replied, his eyes blown with lust. Perceval couldn’t deny it, the truth was he had thought about it, too many times to count, but they were just fantasies, he never figured anything would come of it. He hesitantly released his grip from Leo, the other mans hands continuing their work on his belt. Leo’s fingers grazed the bulge in his tight pants as he worked open Perceval’s belt, his palm glancing over the length as he pulled down the zipper. Perceval’s length started to harden with every light touch.

Perceval bit his lip, as he watched Leo release his hardening length from the confines of his pants. Leo wrapped his hand around the half hard cock, slowly stroking it as he licked his lips, eager to have it in his mouth. Leo leaned forward, flattening his tongue he slowly licked from base to tip along the thick vein, twirling his tongue around the head. Perceval moaned at the feeling of Leo’s wet tongue gliding over his thick hard length. Leo took the head of Perceval’s thick length into his warm mouth. Perceval grasped the back of Leo’s head guiding him as he bobbed up and down on Perceval’s hard cock. Leo took more of Perceval’s thick length in his mouth, the head hitting the back of his throat.

“Oh fuck Leo. That feels so good.” Perceval groaned out. “Why don’t you bend over and let me fuck your ass?”

Leo groaned at the thought of the other man’s cock buried deep in his ass, sending vibrations through Perceval’s cock. Leo slipped his mouth off of Perceval’s hard length. He stood up, undoing his belt and pants, shoving them down around his ankles, his hard cock springing from its confines. He rested his hands on the edge of the wishing well, leaning forward, his legs spread and naked ass in the air.

Perceval stood behind Leo, gently cupping the round globes of his ass. The head of his hardened length rubbed against Leo’s ass, making both men moan with need. Perceval spread Leo’s cheeks before teasing Leo’s tight hole with the tip of his hard spit slick cock. Both men groaned as Perceval eased the head of his thick length past the tight ring. Perceval slowly eased more of his hard length into Leo’s tight hole.

“Fuck Leo! You’re so fucking tight!” Perceval groaned as he bottomed out, his length fully buried in Leo’s ass.

“Shit Perceval! Move! Please!” Leo groaned.

Perceval slowly pulled all but the head of his cock out before thrusting hard back in with a snap of his hips. Perceval kept a constant pace, slowly pulling out and forcibly slamming back in. The head of Perceval’s cock hit Leo’s prostate with every hard thrust, pulling moans from the younger man. Perceval tightened his grip on Leo’s hips, fingers digging in the flesh hard enough to leave bruises as he pounded into his tight ass. Both men grunted and panted as they edged closer to their release.

“Fuck! Perceval!” Leo groaned, “I’m gonna cum!”

Perceval’s thrusts became erratic as he felt his cock twitch inside Leo’s tight hole. “Shit Leo!” Perceval growled as he came squirting hot sticky cum deep in Leo’s tight ass.

Leo grunted as he came, hot ropes of cum spilling on his hand and the grass.

“Fuck that was—” Leo panted

“Yea—" Perceval groaned in response slipping his now soft cock from Leo’s ass.

Perceval tucked his soft length back in his pants and zipped them up.

“Ahem.” A young new guard cleared his throat, adverting his gaze, clearly embarrassed by catching them. “Your Highness your father requested you back in the ballroom.”

Leo lightly chuckled at the embarrassed guard, this wasn’t the first time a guard had found him in a compromising position and probably wouldn’t be the last. Leo hastily pulled himself together before following the guard back to the ballroom.

Percy ran his hand through his hair as he headed back to the palace. This certainly wasn’t his first time with a man, but it was his first experience with a prince. He’d always been open with his sexuality, occasionally sharing his bed with a man. He was never one to be judgmental when it came to carnal acts of passion. He had preferred the company of a woman but he was never one to deny his desires.

A/N: Surprise Perceval is bisexual. How do you think he knew about Leo's habits? No he did not have sex with Liam. Yes Athena knows he's bisexual, no it doesn't matter because he only wants her. To be clear he never had an issue with Leo or Liam's sexuality he said that dig in a middle of a fight trying to get Liam to tell Athena about Drake, he had suspicions of their relationship- or at least that it was still ongoing but he wasn't sure until the train.

Story of a Duke Masterlist

Masterlist

Tags: @walkerismychoice @mrsnazario1223 @ladynonsense @madaraism @hhiggs @butindeed @boneandfur @drakewalkerwhipped @mfackenthal @pens-girl-87 @nobodyfromnowhere45 @drakelover78 @awesomeevaneposts @kawairinrin @indiacater @laniquelove-blog @mlmseangayle @omg-foreverfilledwithweird-posts @imafictosexual @jyruesser85 @trr-fangirl @itsalliepg @theroyalweisme @liam-rhys  @crookedslimecreatorpasta @umccall71 @lizeboredom @speedyoperarascalparty @xxrainbowprincessxx @lolablackwrites @imma-winchester-addict @hopefulmoonobject @moodygrip @alicars @mrsdrakewalkerblog @greyeyedsmile14 @foghedgehog

#slash #smut #choices fanfic #choices the royal romance #trr au #Leo rys #perceval hunter #young perceval #Perceval x Leo #leo x oc #crack!pair #crack!fic #ns*w #mlm #lemon

[stopforamoment]

Wacky Drabble #19: The Princess Bride

TRR About the Time Madeleine Knows She’s Going to Be Kicked to the Curb Bastien Lykel x Countess Madeleine Word Count: 1,594

I haven’t written or posted in a long time, so I thought I’d catch up on some of Enna’s wacky drabble challenges and resurrect this shit show fic that never went anywhere. I think I originally meant to write it for a Bastien crack fic? It turned into a four-part series. This is my submission written for @emceesynonymroll wacky drabble challenge Wacky Prompt #19 Who hurt you? Prompt is bolded in the story. The quotations are from the movie The Princess Bride, and I think everyone should know at least one quotation from the movie. Even Bastien and Madeleine.

Wacky Drabble #19: Part Two (of Four) The Princess Bride

Madeleine’s mouth opened in shock. She knew there were several ways this could play out, but realistically she knew—or thought she knew—that this wasn’t one of them. Why did he leave? To bring reinforcements? To prove that even he, a mere guard, had more power than she did? Or did he simply abandon her, just like everyone else? Madeleine sat. Stoically. The security cameras already recorded her sobbing. Captured her failed attempts to seduce a guard. Stupid, Madeleine. So stupid. You know better. She sat on the throne, unconsciously reaching for Bastien’s handkerchief. Clutching it. Squeezing it. Forcing herself to breathe. In. And out. You’ll survive Madeleine. You survived Leo’s infidelity. A broken engagement as he escaped to America, making a living with motorcross racing, of all things. Her mouth twisted into an ugly smirk. Really, Madeleine. Who hurt you? No one. That’s who. No one hurts the Countess of Fydelia. Certainly not a playboy prince or his lovestruck little brother. As the reality hit her, she began to shake. Twice. Twice she has been discarded for American whores. They were more preferable than—her. The bitch. Damaged goods. The Rys brothers’ reject. The cruel, catty Cuntess of the Cordonian court. Countess Madeleine of Fydelia. Fydelia. Fidelity. To her country. To her first love. And where did that get her? No, it was life that was cruel. And being a bitch was the only way she could protect herself. Madeleine tried to stand up, but the room spun and she couldn’t move. That’s how Bastien found her when he re-entered the room. . . . . . “Lady Madeleine?” Madeleine’s eyes snapped open. Bastien was standing in the room, holding a carafe and two glasses. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Did you come back to taunt me?” Bastien shook his head. “No. I left so I could delete the camera footage of you in his room and turn off the camera for maintenance. I thought that would be . . .” He paused before continuing. “In everyone’s best interest.” He gestured to Constantine’s throne. “May I?”

When Madeleine didn’t respond, Bastien stepped onto the dais and relaxed into Constantine’s throne. There was an amused look in his eyes as he surveyed the room, and he looked surprisingly at ease. “Would you like a drink? I asked the kitchen to make pineapple punch for you.” He poured the contents of the carafe into the two glasses and handed her one. When she refused to take it, Bastien chuckled. “I promise, it isn’t poisoned.” He took a drink from the glass before attempting to pass it to her again. “Thank you.” Madeleine hesitated before taking a delicate sip. She smiled as she thought of her favorite movie. “Iocane powder,” she whispered to herself. She looked up in shock when she heard Bastien’s deep laugh. “They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up immunity to iocaine powder.” Madeleine pinched her lips, a scowl furrowing her brows. “That isn’t funny.” Bastien shrugged. “You’re the one you mentioned iocane powder.” “Don’t laugh at me.” Bastien’s lips twitched. “As you wish.” He look a long drink from his glass, ignoring Madeline’s silent glare. Finally Bastien reached over to clink his glass with hers. “Suck it up, Buttercup.” “You can die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces.” Her voice was cold, but Bastien could see the slightest glint of humor in her eyes. Bastien leaned back, enjoying her retort. “Hardly complimentary, your highness . . . Why do you assure venom on me?” Madeleine suddenly looked down. The movie was too close to her reality, and she was unable to conceal the tremor in her voice. “Everyone mocks my pain.” Then she swirled the contents in the glass, unsure of that to do next. She knew Bastien was staring at her, but she didn’t know how to react to that. When she realized that he wouldn’t speak, she looked up again. “Bastien, do you think I’m a fool?” “No.” “A victim?” There was a pause. “I think collateral damage would be a better way to explain it.�� “But that assumes all of this was unintended. That Constantine and Leo had no intention of hurting me.” Bastien’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “Touché” he whispered as he sipped his drink before focusing his steely gaze onto her. “It also assumes that you were an innocent bystander. May I be blunt, Lady Madeleine?” Madeleine nodded. “Everyone knows you’re a cold, calculating bitch. You knew what you were getting into. Yes, I used to feel guilty, protecting Leo as he slept his way across Europe while you stayed in Cordonia. I used to think you were the victim of Leo’s selfishness when he abdicated, leaving you and Liam to pick up the pieces. But I don’t anymore.” Madeleine’s nostrils were pinched as she took calm, steadying breaths. “I could have your career for that.” Bastien gave her an indulgent smile. “Madeline. I’ve been serving the royal family for over 20 years. I’ve seen and done more for Constantine and Leo than you could imagine. Stop being a petulant child. You’re wasting your time—and mine.” Madeleine’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are you here? Why are you being nice to me?” Bastien shrugged. “It’s fun to swap Princess Bride movie quotes with you.” Madeleine took another drink. She knew she should leave, but he was actually listening to her. Talking with her. Even if it was just to exchange movie quotations and poorly hidden barbs that were only meant to mock her. “Okay. Then let’s keep going. I never said my fiancé . . .” She paused and took a deep breath before starting again. “I never said that Liam was my dearest love.” Then she shook her head. “But I truly thought he would save me.”

Bastien leaned forward. He wanted to ask what Liam would save Madeleine from, but he followed her lead. “You admit to me you did not love your fiancé?”

Madeleine’s voice was a hoarse whisper. “He knows I do not love him.” Bastien took another drink and when he spoke, his voice was gentle. “Are not capable of love is what you mean.”

Madeleine’s body shook as she fought to control her tears. “I love Leo more deeply than you or anyone in court could ever dream.” Then she downed the rest of her drink and stood up. She needed to get the fuck out of there before she made an even bigger fool of herself. But Bastien grabbed her hand, apologizing and asking her to please, sit back down.

“I’m sorry, Lady Madeleine. You asked me why I was staying here with you. Why I was being nice to you. I should have given you a serious answer. And the answer is that I don’t really know. Maybe it’s guilt. Constantine and Regina knew you’d be collateral damage, but it was a calculated risk they were willing to take.” His eyes darkened and his voice lowered. “Or maybe it’s schadenfreunde. It was your choice to come back for Liam’s social season, and your choice to be an insufferable bitch to Riley and the other suitors. Even though Leo hurt you, you must still take responsibility for your actions and their consequences. Madeleine. It’s also your fault that you are so unhappy and so alone right now.”

Madeleine had regained her composure and she sat, rigid, with perfect posture. She was Countess Madeleine of Fydelia again with that stick rammed up her ass, so Bastien took another sip from his glass. “Why do you like this drink so much? It’s so sweet. Almost sickening.”

Madeleine shrugged her shoulders, but she still faced forward as she addressed Bastien. “It’s pretty, and it tastes good. Like sunshine and happiness.” She immediately felt vulnerable after saying something so stupid, but so honest, so she lashed out. “Besides. If I remember correctly, you enjoyed some sickening rum concoction at Leo’s bachelor party.”

Bastien laughed again, another deep belly laugh, and it surprised Madeleine. Was he laughing at her, or was he laughing at what she said? It wasn’t a joke. She was insulting him. Surely Bastien wasn’t that obtuse.

“Yes, Lady Madeleine. It was called a Magical Oasis. Chaz was a magical rum wizard and he refused to share the recipe with us.” Bastien’s eyes darkened as he discreetly moistened his lips. Chaz did eventually share the recipe with Bastien, and over the years the two kept—in touch.

“So we both enjoy tropical drinks and we’ve both had to wait for Leo during his extracurricular activities.” Madeleine put unnecessary emphasis on the last word as she turned to Bastien. “What else to do both have in common, Bastien?”

Bastien took another drink and arched his brow. “What made you think I was always waiting?”

Madeleine flushed when she realized what Bastien was implying, and she quickly pivoted. “Bastien, is this your first time in the throne room?”

“Is it yours, Lady Madeleine? Or were you going to offer me the royal tour?” Bastien’s eyes wandered across her face, down to her breasts. He watched the rise and fall as her breath quickened before he slowly looked back into her eyes. “I think we’ve both been inconvenienced by Leo and compromised by Constantine. Those are other things we have in common.” Before Madeleine could respond, Bastien rose out of Constantine’s throne and knelt before her. “I also think a woman’s first time on the Queen’s throne should be memorable. Don’t you, Lady Madeleine?”

#wacky drabbles #wacky drabble challenge #wacky drabble 19 #Who hurt you? #trr choices #bastien lykel #crack fic #trr madeleine