#|| liam's dossier ||

[arachnidiots-a]

liam’s parents are so undeveloped idk what their jobs even are but i can tell you the exact order of colors that they go through when they change shoes every couple of months bc they broke another pair while being spider-man

[lilyoffandoms]

Cian’s Books

Had to redo that CoP cover after it finally hit me what they based this part of the stain glass on.

I’d been trying to place it since I first read that book and for the life of me I could not until a few weeks back when it hit me while riding the bus home from work.

Also, I did actually do that Heist one but don’t think I ever posted it. I’m working on the ILB but ugh my vision is NOT coming together 😅

Cian originally had the tagline of the CoP book as “The bejeweled goddess and the disgraced NYPD detective and exiled prince that brought her cult to its fiery end,” but he decided it was too sensationalist. Trystan learns about the original tagline and finances a one print run of the book with that tagline for his personal library much to Gabriel’s dismay.

Signed copies Cian has sent out to those that helped with each book:

Guardian Angel

Sam - “Gorgeous, couldn’t have done this without you. Thanks for wrangling Dave into his interviews as well. Never enjoyed watching something unfold as much as I did those moments. Top shelf whiskey on me next time I’m out your way. -All my love, Cian”

Dave - “Thanks for all your insights on this one but most especially thanks for arranging for me to meet Cassandra. -Cian” [Yes, he got a picture with her and autograph and yes, she is on his free pass list of celebs.]

The Way

Olivia - “You were invaluable in the writing of this book. Thank you for opening your icy home to me, for teaching me how to survive a Lythikos winter, and for teaching me two hundred ways to murder someone without a trace. You terrify me. xoxo - Your always willing victim, Cian” [yes he’s a serial flirt and yeah he has a death wish hehe]

Riley & “Liam” - “Thank you, your majesties, for opening up the royal archives to me and for your generous hospitality and kindness. I will definitely be back for an actual vacation soon. And will drag Flynn along. - My eternal gratitude, Cian”

Since I hc Cian and my TRR MC, Iara, as being siblings now, here is the inscription Cian would leave Iara and ‘Liam’: “Thanks for always being my biggest cheerleader and for inviting me to write about something so personally close to us all. Thanks for collaborating with me on this one (told ya it was the fun way to see your name in print). Love you to the moon and back, Kaa [his nickname for Iara] Thank you both for the late night dinners, the hospitality, the fireside chats, the drinks, and time spent snuggling my favorite stinky face. Love you all so very much!

The Face in the Flames

Trystan & Gabriel - “Cheers to the two best damn detectives in New York. Thanks for the dinners, the tours, the detailed rundowns, the late nights blowing off steam at The Drunk Tank. Thanks for being the best of unexpected friends. - Love you both more than words can express, Cian P.S. Gabriel, this wasn’t my idea.” [Flynn and Cian became good friends with Trystan and Gabriel during the course of writing this book.]

Ruby - “To my favorite Dr. Death, you know I’ll be coming to you with all the death and dying questions for every book from here on out. Thanks for all the knowledge and laughs. - You favorite murder author, Cian”

Mafalda - “Thanks to you and your agency for all the help you provided me and for giving me so many new ideas for subsequent books. -Cian”

Luke - “Thanks for the dossiers ;) - Cian” [He very much enjoys all the info Luke dug up on Flynn and the rest of the gang.]

Tommy - “Thanks for the drinks and the stories. I made sure to make your nibbling look badass just like you. Already have a new whiskey for you to sample when we visit next. - Cian”

In an AU where Lilah is the detective, Trystan & Lilah - “Thank you for being the two best detectives in New York. Thanks for the dinners, the tours, the detailed rundowns, the late nights blowing off steam at The Drunk Tank. Thanks for being the best of unexpected friends. xo -Cian P.S. Lilah, doll, my offer still stands. Just say the word and let me know when you want to ditch the former king for a middling true crime novelist. P.P.S. Trystan, don’t bother threatening me with the Drakovian Royal Guard, I’m friends with Olivia, nothing scares me except her.”

Veil of Secrets

He refused to write anything in these for anyone since it hit too close to home for him. The only exception was Kate - “Kate, light of my life, my sister, my best friend, and partner in crime. What do I say to the gal that brought me everything good in my life but thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you for everything that was, that is, and has yet to be. Can’t imagine doing this life without you! - Love forever and always and an extra day, Cian”

The Heist

Sonia - “Babe, thank you for all your unique insight and for filling all the blanks that the crew glossed over. Your secrets are safe with me. Also, tell Nash that he owes me a damn expensive watch when you see him next. - Cian”

Nash (my TH:M MC) - “That was damn impressive. Now give it back! - Cian” [Cian sent another signed copy along for Sonia to pass along to my TH:M MC who definitely stole his watch off him during their interview. Sonia passes it along and Cian has a very, very nice watch in the mail a few weeks later. Along with pictures of his watch on Nash’s wrist in various locales throughout the world.]

It Lives in the Woods

Still thinking on these. Mostly because I don’t know the ending I want yet.

My Art Ish Thing Tag (Choices Edition): @storyofmychoices @aallotarenunelma @twinkleallnight @thosehallowedhalls @dutifullynuttywitch

Event Tag: @choicesmonthlychallenge (spooktober - mischief)

[twinkleallnight]

Isle of Misfits

Chapter 10: Dealing with the Paparazzi.

Fandom: TRR x Platinum x OH x CoP x TNA x ?

Series: Isle of Misfits, Round Robin 24, hosted by @choicesprompts

Characters:

TRR – Liam Rys, Leo Rys, Olivia Nevrakis, Madeleine Amaranth

RoE – Katie Rys

TNA – Sam Dalton

Word count: 1240

The phone pinged.

‘1 new message’

Leo sighed and picked up to read. He was tired of explaining himself to Katie. The world never understood him or his desire to live a care free life. The paparazzi won’t let him breathe. But he thought Katie would understand. She would always know. He had tried to be honest with her, always.

He was struggling to stay abreast sailing through the rough waters when his brother decided to take the corrective action for Leo’s deeds . He was forced into this PR stunt of a circus with his childhood friend, Bertrand, playing the ring master. And as if Gods had not had enough of entertainment, he was paired with his ex, Madeleine! Just perfect!

Coming out of his reverie, he tapped his fingers on the home screen to check the new message .

‘Meet me at the beach restaurant in 10minutes to collect your dossier .

Countess Madeleine .’

“Better than having Sam Dalton as a mentor” he consoled himself. “His brains function through that Rocket in his pocket. At least Madeleine has her head over her shoulders.”

He dragged himself out of his bed. Sharp after 10 minutes he presented himself in front of the Countess.

“What do you plan to do with this?” He lifted the heavy bundle of papers filed into a folder neatly. ‘Prim and proper. So much like Madeleine.’

But Madeleine’s reply was totally off beat. “why you have not shaved?”

Leo shook his head as if trying to decipher. “What?” He moved his fingers through the over grown messy beard.

Madeleine scoffed, “ Let me make it clear Leo. You are constantly under lens.”

“That’s exactly what I don’t want.” He cut her off.

“You were the crown prince.”

“And I abdicated.” He tried to prove his point.

“Doesn’t matter. You can’t change who you are born as.”

“Why?” He pulls his fingers through his sandy blonde hair In frustration.

“Prince Harry abdicated too. But he is always in news.”

Leo scowled, “For heavens sake! Can’t they let me live in peace?”

“Only if you don’t give them chance to rip through your peaceful personal life.” She air quoted.

He nods in agreement. “And I can see, you are here to tell me, how.”

“Now you are talking business.” Madeleine smiled.

Leo closed his eyes for a moment. He had to do this for Katie, for his children. He took a deep breath. “Okay. Tell me what am I supposed to do?”

“You need to look perfect when you walk in public. It shows that you are leading a perfect and happy life.”

Leo smirked, “Yes it’s a very happy life.”

“Make it look like one and I can tell you, they will stop chasing you.”

“Fine! What next?”

“I have appointed a valet for you. He will help with your attire, hair and your over all appearance. You will not leave your room before he checks you.”

Leo rolled his eyes. He had no other option but to accept what was thrown at him.

For the next hour he went back and forth over the plans Madeleine had laid out for him.

******************************************

Bertrand’s office next day

Olivia was seated across Bertrand, discussing their next modus operandi. Olivia had successfully completed her task with Raleigh Carrera and was now assigned to the case of the exiled crown prince, Trystan Thorne, of Drakovia.

An urgent knock on the door brought them to a halt. They both looked at each other. Bertrand voiced, “Come in” , wondering who was their uninvited guest for the meeting .

Leo stormed in and slammed a tabloid onto the desk in front of Bertrand. Olivia stared back at Leo’s fuming face while Bertrand looked in confusion, “ What does this mean?”

“Open and see for yourself.” Leo pointed out his finger.

As soon as Bertrand picked the newspaper and unfolded it, his eyes went wide with shock. Olivia leaned towards him to peer into the news.

The newspaper had images of Leo and Madeleine sitting in a cafe. The first one had Madeleine gleaming at Leo and the second one showed them shaking hands near the exit. The tag line read ‘Former crown prince Leo Rhys, spotted with his ex, Countess Madeleine, at leisure on a private island. Do we smell something burning in Katie Rhys’ sweet home?”

A smile played on Olivia’s lips.

“Seriously?” Leo asked looking at Olivia’s reaction.

“It’s not about you.” She fanned away with her hand.

“From what I can see, it’s definitely about me.” He turned to Bertrand angrily, “This is how you were going to help me save my image and my marriage?”

Olivia spoke instead, “Its not his fault. Madeleine should have been more discreet while planning her meetings.”

Just as on clue, Madeleine stepped inside the office. “Speak for yourself. I know my job well.” She snatched the tabloid from Bertrand’s hand and glanced at the pics, dismissing it in an instant.

She focused on Leo, “ This is the reason I insisted you need to dress up properly. Had you been in a formal attire, this would have been ignored by the media as just another business meeting.”

“Great ! So now it’s all my mistake? You know what my mistake is? Trusting you guys with my future.”

Bertrand replied in a calm note, “I think you are over reacting. It’s just two pics, we can change the flow of events. My PR company can assure you, we are good at turning the waves in your favour.”

Before he completed his sentence, the doors to his office opened with a bang. Drake barged in raging in anger. “The hell you turn things only in your favour. You Beaumonts are the most mean and selfish men walking on this damn planet.” His voice echoed across the halls outside the office.

Bertrand’s eyes roamed behind Drake to check if there were any audience at his doors. He settled his gaze back on Drake. “May I know the reason for this intrusion?”

Drake sneered, “You call yourself CEO of a PR firm yet you don’t have updates of the newsflash on TV channels across Cordonia?”

Bertrand gave Drake an irritated glare and picked up the remote to switch on the flat screen hanging on the wall across his table. The screen brightened up with flashes of red haired lady bouncing on a dance floor. All of them in the room knew that was Olivia but the next few moments left everyone’s mouth hanging open.

Bertrand came into the frame trying to dance. He made some lewd gestures and then grabbed Olivia into a smooch.

Leo and Madeleine jolted back at Bertrand. Even Olivia had shock written all over her face. Definitely she was drunk that she didn’t remember this incident.

Bertrand gulped and fumbled with the remote to switch off the TV. He didn’t want to listen or let others in the room listen to the reporter’s remarks.

“I... I ... I can explain”, he said nervously.

Drake sprinted to him in two steps and held him by collar. “How many times are you going to explain? First my sister, then your back stabbing brother took Riley and now you target my girl friend?”

“Riley is with Max?” The baritone voice from the entrance of the office brought everything to standstill. They all turned to see Liam standing in a thunderstuck state.

Tags : @angelasscribbles @alj4890 @tessa-liam @lizzybeth1986 @3pawandme @annabellewynter @bascmve01 @bebepac @busywoman @dcbbw @choicesficwriterscreations @harleybeaumont @iaminlovewithtrr @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @neotericthemis @mom2000aggie @phoenixrising0308 @princess-geek @sazanes @secretaryunpaid @sfb123 @sillydg @tinkie1973 @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @rubiwalker @703cowbarn @kyra75 @likealotus @kskvb20 @marietrinmimi @aussiegurl1234

[angelasscribbles]

The De Facto Queen Chapter One: Queen Without a Crown

Series: The De Facto Queen

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Drake, Riley x Liam

Rating: Teen

Warnings for this chapter: Language

Word Count: 5,355

A/N: Extensive Author's Note

My other stuff: Master List.

Unity Tour, Day 2, Portavira

Riley handed the color-coded, tabbed, and thick as a copy of War and Peace dossier back to Madeleine, “I appreciate all the hard work you put into this, Madeleine. And since you’ve done such a thorough job, I trust you to fill me in on the most pertinent details so that I don’t have to wade through all of this.”

Things had been crazy since Drake had been released from the hospital. There had been a press conference announcing their engagement, wedding planners had practically taken up residence at the palace, and there had been an entire security detail assigned to Riley that had taken some getting used to. She wasn’t accustomed to having people follow her everywhere she went. She had protested that it certainly wasn’t necessary inside the palace but both Liam and Drake had overruled her.

She had wanted to move into Valtoria as soon as possible but again she’d been overruled by both men who insisted that the estate be fortified and locked down as securely as the palace itself prior to her taking up residence.

These two men were going to be the death of her.

Drake, though still recovering from a bullet wound, had thrown himself vigorously into building her security team, as well as the one for Valtoria and he was both meticulously exacting and excruciatingly detailed oriented.

Liam seemed determined to make her queen in all but name. Her security detail wasn’t being called a queen’s guard, but it followed the exact structure of one. She was privy to details no one outside of herself and Liam knew. She received the same daily intelligence briefings as the king. She was given security clearances and thrust headlong into ruling.

No one seem to question why Cordonia’s newest duchess, the one that had been a commoner and a foreigner mere months ago, was ruling by the king’s side. Why she, and not any of the Cordonian-born noblewomen, had been given the privileges and responsibilities of the crown.

No one but Riley herself.

She assumed, and Drake verified, that it was because Liam trusted her, and he needed a ruling partner. It was too great a job for one person alone, that was the whole reason for the marriage provision in the succession laws in the first place.

She wanted to help. Drake may have been the man she said yes to, but Liam still held a special place in her heart, and she would never be able to tell him no about anything again. Not after saying no to the biggest, most important thing he had ever asked of her and shattering his heart into a million pieces in the process.

The memory of that night still physically hurt whenever it pushed its way into her consciousness. Staying busy actually helped distract her from that, and from the fact that her fiancée had almost died when he had taken a bullet meant for her. Those first hours when she thought she might lose him had nearly destroyed her. If she sat still too long, the fact that the perpetrator was still out there somewhere started to eat away at her, gnawing at her sense of safety and threatening her very sanity.

So, she’d thrown herself headlong into the business of governing.

Preparations for the Five Kingdom’s Festival, planning the Unity Tour, and being brought up to speed on the investigation into the attack at the Homecoming Ball had kept her in seemingly endless meetings with Liam, The Royal Council, and the heads of the Cordonian Armed Forces.

All that was on top of scheduling engagement pictures, the engagement party, private fittings for a custom-made dress, picking out flowers, and cake…… thank god she had Hana and Max to run point on all things wedding related. Still, the final decisions rested in her hands.

Then the attack on the orchards had happened, thrusting her somehow into a public relations role. Her, of all people. She attended meetings in the situation room with Liam and Drake, conferred with the palace’s PR team, scoured intelligence briefings, and made public statements to the press, hoping that she had found the right words to calm and reassure the people. Even though she herself often felt far from calm or assured of anything.

But the most difficult thing she’d done by far was swallowing her pride and convincing Madeleine to work for her.

Now she was standing in front of a full-length mirror having a strategy meeting with the woman that had been the bane of her existence for the entirety of the engagement tour, while Max held up dresses for her approval and Hana picked out her accessories.

“This one is the Ebrim house colors!” Max enthused.

“You haven’t steered me wrong yet,” Riley took the dress out of his hands and tried it on.

She admired herself in the mirror. The floor-length purple dress was sparkly with a plunging neckline, putting her cleavage on prominent display. She twisted one way then the other checking out how the dress hugged her curves before nodding in approval, “This is the one!”

She was rewarded an hour later when she exited the dressing room and saw her future husband’s face light up.

Drake had been waiting for her in the private train car. He was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall, phone in hand when he heard the door slide open. His eyes flicked from the phone screen to his fiancée, then back to the phone screen before jerking up to find her again. He fumbled the phone, barely keeping it in his grasp as his eyes raked greedily down her body, “Riley! Wow!”

“You like it?” She smiled as she spun to give him the full effect.

“Like it?” He pushed away from the wall and pocketed the phone so he could pull her into his arms, “That dress nearly killed me! Are you sure it’s not overkill for an informal dinner?”

“Oh honey, nothing involving crown business is ever really informal,” she told him as she tipped her head to the side to give him access to her neck.

He knew the drill. No mussing up the hair and makeup before a royal event. After, and sometimes even during if they could sneak away, all bets were off. But perfection was required for making a proper entrance.

There was no lipstick to smear on the side of her neck and he loved the way she shivered when he peppered it with kisses. Her low moan and the feel of her body trembling in his arms just pushed his anticipation for the end of the night higher.

“Fuck, baby,” he whispered in her ear, “you have no idea the torture you put me through…”

“Oh, I have some idea,” she told him with a teasing smile as she pulled away, “You look pretty good yourself, Walker.”

Drake shook his head with a laugh at the reference to the suit he was wearing. The button-down shirt wasn’t a far cry from his usual, just dressier than denim. The jacket and slacks were an upgrade, but he still refused to wear a tie.

She didn’t care what he wore. The denim was fine with her. He was the one determined to fit into a world he’d always hated.

For her.

She sighed as she ran a hand down his chest and thought, not for the first time, that maybe she should have declined Liam’s request for help with…well, everything.

But she wanted to help him. She wanted to be involved. She liked making a difference in the world. And as it turned out, she was good at it! She fit seamlessly into Liam’s world.

But where did that leave her husband to be, she wondered as she watched him fidget with the collar of his shirt. It was sweet that he was willing to push himself outside his comfort zone for her, but she didn’t like that he felt like he had to.

She reached up and undid the top button, “Let yourself breathe babe.”

“I just don’t want to do anything to embarrass you tonight.”

“You couldn’t if you tried. I love you. Now, come on before we’re late, Liam is probably already out front waiting on us.”

Liam was indeed standing next to the limo when they exited the train. His face went slack when he saw her, “Riley! You look amazing!”

“Thank you,” she felt her face color not at the compliment as much as the obvious effect she was having on her former lover. She shot a glance sideways at Drake to see if it upset him but he didn’t seem to notice.

Liam recovered quickly, smoothing his face back into polite monarch mode and giving her a chaste peck on the cheek before helping her into the limo and then sliding in after her. He took the seat across from her. Drake slipped into the seat next to her.

Drake talked about the deep-sea fishing off the coast of Portavira as they drove. Riley’s eyes lifted slowly to meet Liam’s. It wasn’t the first time she had caught him staring at her with frank unadorned longing on his face. The sexual tension still hung in the air between them, so thick it was almost suffocating and how her intended never noticed it was beyond her.

The yearning disappeared from his face as he composed it into a cordial smile the moment he noticed her looking, but the damage had been done. Warmth had already exploded inside her, heating her blood and making her heart race. She glanced quickly away and slipped her hand into Drake’s to steady herself.

She had made her choice and she was in love with the man she had committed to. Drake gave her everything she could ask for from a man and so much more. He was loyal and brave, funny and kind, intelligent and endearing. He centered her, he calmed her, he grounded her. She loved everything about him. The deep rumbling of his voice, the way his hair fell in his eyes but he refused to cut it, the way he talked with his hands when something excited him, the way he loved with his whole heart. She loved his snarkiness, his sharp, witty repartee that kept her on her toes and she loved the tender, soul-baring honesty of the declarations he whispered to her when no one else was around to hear. She loved him.

But Liam still ignited a fire within her with every glance, every seemingly innocent touch and she had no idea what to do about it other than ignore it and hope it went away.

“How does that sound?” Drake asked as the car coasted to a stop in front of the seaside restaurant they were meeting the Ebrims at.

“That sounds lovely,” Riley responded, hoping it was the right answer.

“Great! I’ll find out where I can rent a boat for tomorrow night!”

Greetings and pleasantries were exchanged, seats were taken, orders were placed and the conversation turned to the weather.

“You’ve probably seen the news about the wedding,” Drake said as a way to segue into the topic they were really there to discuss.

“We have! Congratulations to both of you,” Landon responded.

“Thank you,” Riley beamed at him, “We would like to personally extend an invitation to all of you!”

While Liam and Riley attempted to sway the Ebrims toward attending the wedding, the waiters sat piping hot bread bowls filled with steaming bisque in front of them.

Drake started to tear off a piece of his bread bowl but froze as his eyes flitted around the table. Everyone else was eating the bisque with a spoon. He sighed as he picked up his own spoon, wondering what the point of a bread bowl was if you weren’t going to eat it.

“This is a nice place you’ve got here,” Drake commented when there was a lull in the conversation.

“The restaurant?” Landon asked, “We don’t own the restaurant.”

“No, of course not,” Drake stammered, “I just meant the whole duchy. It’s very nice.”

“It is quite lovely,” Hana agreed.

“And this food is amazing!” Max added, “Kudos to the chef!”

“Thank you,” Landon smiled at them, “This is my favorite restaurant, because of the food and the view.”

“It’s an amazing view!” Drake agreed, “It would make a great painting or postcard! I’d love to have a postcard of this place!”

“We don’t have…er, postcards..” Emmeline gave him a puzzled look.

“I just meant it’s a great view…” Drake trailed off in frustration. This was why he hated socializing. It was stupid.

He sighed as he leaned back in his chair. Fuck it. He tore off a chunk of bread and dunked it in the bisque before bringing it to his mouth. He closed his eyes briefly in appreciation as he chewed. Delicious!

That’s how you were supposed to deal with a bread bowl. He met Riley’s eyes across the table. She was biting back an amused smile, her eyes sparkling with mirth. He had to repress one of his own as he shook his head ever so slightly.

One glance and he knew that she knew the exact thoughts that had spilled through his brain. She really got him. And she shared his disdain for the superficial, hypocritical bullshit of court. The difference between them was that she knew how to play the game and could do it without letting it get to her.

Catty, backstabbing, and backhanded compliments rolled right off her. She suffered fools patiently with a serene smile pasted on her face. She charmed and coaxed the nobility, she turned fence-sitters into allies and enemies into fence-sitters. And she did it all without the extensive lifelong training that Leo and Liam had received.

Not that those lessons had taken in Leo’s case.

As angry as Drake had once been at Leo, he recognized that Riley would never have come into his life otherwise. If Liam hadn’t been thrust into the role of crown prince, they never would have been in New York that night. He couldn’t regret that.

Riley’s attention was pulled from Drake as the conversation turned to the devastating floods that had recently ravaged the port community.

She was instantly on alert. This was something they could use. Her eyes met Liam’s over her water glass. He gave her an imperceptible nod. She knew they were thinking the same thing. They were perfectly in tune like that. They made a formidable diplomatic team. Turning to Landon, she asked, “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“I’ve allocated crown resources of course,” Liam added, “but if there’s anything Riley and I can personally do…”

“We’re here to help.” She finished his sentence.

Liam felt pride stir in his chest. She had them. She always did. He had never worked a room with anyone as in synch with him as she was. Not Leo, not his father, no one. They made an unstoppable team and he regretted that he had ever questioned her suitability for the role.

The way she had handled the press after the attack on the orchards had cemented for him just how perfect she was for the role. When she had told the press, and the public, that “No true king would give in to their demands!” he had known then and there that she was exactly the woman he needed by his side.

His father had been wrong. The council had been wrong. She was perfect for the role. She was perfect for him.

But she wasn’t his.

His eyes flicked across the table to Drake, taking in the way his best friend’s eyes lingered on her, the soft, contented smile on his face as he watched her and he felt guilt, anger, and loss punch him in the gut in rapid succession.

The dinner wrapped up with promises for Riley and Liam and their entourage to join the charity polo match the following day. As everyone prepared to leave for the Ebrim estate, Liam pulled Riley to the side, “That was very well done.”

“Thank you, but I know I’m not quite at your level.”

“What are you talking about?” Drake walked up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist.

“I was just complimenting Riley on her diplomacy skills,” Liam smothered his irritation. Drake was with her nearly every minute of the day. All Liam wanted was a few moments of her time, a few crumbs of her attention.

Riley smiled as she ran her hands along the arms that encircled her, “And I was telling him that I feel like I still need some work. My nonverbal communication could use some polishing.”

“Well, I think you’re perfect!” Drake kissed her neck, just behind her ear.

“Mm,” Riley smiled and relaxed back into him.

Liam cleared his throat, “Yes, well... Riley does display a natural propensity for diplomacy, but she could benefit from a crash course in body language management.”

“Yes!” Riley agreed.

“I would be more than happy to give you a few pointers. Right now, if you like. So you’re more prepared for tomorrow.”

“That would be great, Liam!”

“Okay,” Drake released her, “I’ll meet you back at the Ebrim’s.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

Drake’s eyes went to Liam and back to Riley, “Yeah…I don’t think I’m required for this. We all know that I’m never going to be good at it no matter how many pointers Liam has to offer.”

“I’ll wait over there,” Liam pointed toward the nearest dock, “while you say goodbye.”

Riley spun in Drake’s arms, “Diplomacy isn’t your strong suit. That’s why you don’t do it, remember?”

He combed his fingers through her hair as he spoke, “Yeah, but…I just want to be an asset to you, Riley, not an embarrassment…”

“Oh, Drake, you big marshmallow, you could never be an embarrassment! Are you kidding me? I prefer you just the way you are, rough edges and all!”

“Really?”

“Really!” She went up on her tiptoes, bringing her lips to his.

He returned the kiss with all the passion she’d come to expect from him. He showed his love through physical touch and acts of service. He wasn’t great with words, but god did he know how to let his body do the talking for him.

“I love you the way you are,” she told him when she pulled away, “You don’t need to change for me. Besides, you’re good at so many other things.”

“Oh yeah, like what?”

“Security for one. You’re a genius at it. Do you think Liam knows what securing the perimeter or shoring up the flank means?”

“Yes.”

“Would he know how to do either thing?”

“No.”

“And he sure doesn’t have your extensive knowledge of weapons, or horses, or martial arts, does he?”

“Yeah, but-“

“But nothing, mister! I’m the one that agreed to help Liam with all the crown business, not you. There’s no reason you have to be good at any of this!”

“I just don’t want you to think I don’t care about the things that are important to you!”

“And I don’t want you to feel like you have to change for me,” she insisted.

“Okay, you’re right,” he sighed with relief, “Does that mean I don’t have to do any more of these fancy dinners?”

“Not if you don’t want to! But you do have to play polo tomorrow, sorry.”

“Meh. Smacking a ball with a mallet is more up my alley than worrying about which fork I’m using anyway. And there are horses involved, so I’m all good!”

“Good! Now kiss me again before you leave!”

She was a little breathless when they pulled apart. He made her go weak in the knees and the cocky grin on his face told her that he knew it.

“I’ll be waiting at Penelope’s,” he whispered in her ear before glancing up and giving Liam a wave goodbye.

She watched him walk away then turned and made her way to the railing next to the dock where Liam was patiently waiting.

“Everything okay?” He asked.

“Yes, fine,” Riley replied.

“Good! Now, if you’re ready, I’ve taken the liberty of procuring a boat for the evening’s tutorial!” He gestured to what looked to be a sixty-foot yacht waiting at the end of the pier.

“Oh, wow! How did you manage that on literally no notice?”

He gave her a dazzling smile as he offered her his arm, “A man can’t reveal all his secrets, can he?”

“Fine. Keep your secrets,” she teased as she took his arm, “Lead on Captain Liam! Or should I say King Captain Liam?”

“I can do without the ‘King’ once in a while. I preferred it when I was ‘just Liam’ to you….” He trailed off as his eyes traced across her face.

She looked out over the water, away from him, hoping the darkening of the sky as evening faded into night hid the pink that flamed across her cheeks. “You’ll always be just Liam to me,” she replied quietly.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much it pleases me to hear that.” He told her as they walked down the dock and boarded the ship.

“Shall we?” he gestured to a row of lounge seats attached to the railing.

She took a seat as the yacht glided away from the dock and headed further into the Mediterranean. “It’s a beautiful evening.” She inhaled the night air deeply basking in the peacefulness. There was a beautiful starlit sky, and the weather was a perfect autumn temperature, not too hot, not too cold with just a hint of a breeze drifting off the water.

“I’ve always loved how quiet things are on the water. I could stare at it all night,” Liam said, “But I promised you lessons and the first lesson calls for props!” He pulled a chilled container out from under the deck’s bar and uncorked a bottle of champagne, pouring two glasses as he talked about toasts.

Riley’s eyes scanned the deck of the Italian yacht. Full crew. Chilled champagne, Armand de Brignac, her favorite brand, two Baccarat champagne flutes. There was no way this had been an impromptu rental. She was suddenly uncomfortably aware that they had not been alone together since the Statue of Liberty.

The night she had rejected him.

The night they had the most mind-blowing sex of their relationship inside the statue. She turned her head and rested her chin on the railing, pretending to stare out over the water to cover up her sudden nervousness.

Liam took the seat next to her and handed her a glass of champagne as the boat slowed to a stop and dropped anchor.

Liam talked, Riley listened and then they played out several scenarios involving toasts. Liam proposed hypothetical diplomatic landmines and Riley successfully navigated her way around all of them. She slowly relaxed as Liam’s nothing but professional and polite conversation and the effects of the alcohol soothed her.

“Look at you,” Liam smiled, “I told you, you’re naturally good at this. You barely need me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” she returned his smile.

“There is one more thing I can teach you, Riley….” He turned his body to face her, his arm resting across the back of the seating, “body language. You asked about nonverbals. I have a few suggestions.”

She leaned toward him, “I’m all ears!”

“Did you know that roughly eighty percent of communication is nonverbal?”

“What? That much? No!”

“Oh, it is! You can tell a lot about what people don’t want you to know by paying attention to their body language and facial expressions. You can learn to read the signals people give off unintentionally. Take Drake for instance, you can tell when he’s with someone he trusts, he hooks his fingers in his pockets when he feels comfortable.”

“Aww, he’s got a tell!”

“That’s how I first realized he had feelings for you….”

“What?” She was startled at the sudden shift the conversation had taken.

“He was relaxed and comfortable in your presence when it was just the two of you. The times you were together, but apart from the rest of the group, for instance, in a crowded ballroom, but in a back corner out of the way of said crowd. Reversely, he was nervous when the two of you were around other people. Especially me.”

Very rarely was Riley ever struck speechless, but that did it. “I…”

His eyes searched her face, “You didn’t know?”

“Know���.what?”

“That he had feelings for you from the beginning.”

“I didn’t know,” she replied quietly, eyes dropping to her lap.

“That’s what I thought,” Liam responded thoughtfully as he twirled the glass in his hand, watching the remaining liquid swirl around the sides, “Nice to know I haven’t lost my touch reading people.”

She reached for his arm, “Liam, I’m sorry-“

“What?” he looked up from his glass, “No, no! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable! I’m the one that’s sorry! Let’s…Let’s get back to those lessons!”

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

“I’m sure!” He diffused the situation with humor. Making her laugh had always been easy. They shared the same sense of humor. “Hey, Riley, why can’t you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?”

“What?” She laughed, “Why?”

“Because the “P” is silent!”

“Oh, my God!” She covered her mouth as laughter shook her body, “That was bad!”

“So bad it was good?”

“No!”

“But you’re laughing!” Her laughter made him laugh, which made her laugh harder.

“Okay, okay, okay!” She gasped, “I’m done! No more dad jokes, okay?”

“No promises,” he shook his head with a smile, “ready to get back to it?”

She wiped the tears of mirth from the corners of her eyes, “Yeah, I’m ready!”

Twenty minutes later she felt she had a good grasp of the concept. “Wait, wait, wait! Watch this!” She smoothed out her expression letting her face go blank, “What did that say?”

“Very little…which is the whole point. You’re the perfect example of courtly composure.”

“Thank you!” she let her smile rush back.

“Thank you, Riley, for agreeing to help me with all the diplomatic stuff. You’ve fallen into the role so well, it’s like you were born to it, honestly. You’re perfect.”

The unadorned longing was back in his face, and he wasn’t trying to hide it this time.

“Thanks,” Riley turned her head away to watch the play of the boat’s lights along the water as a myriad of emotions collided inside her. The only sound was the peaceful lapping of waves against the boat’s hull as it drifted through the harbor.

They sat in silence, staring out over the water, both lost in their own thoughts for a good while.

“In peaceful moments like this, you can almost forget what the region has been through,” Liam broke the silence and changed the subject, “They’ve had more natural disasters in the past few months than most of Cordonia has faced in years.”

The self-blame in his voice brought her up short, “Hey, don’t go feeling responsible for that. Kings can’t prevent earthquakes or floods, or meteor strikes!”

“If we could, that would be quite a superpower,” he chuckled softly, before heaving a sigh of discontent, “I don’t blame myself for this, Riley…but it’s hard not to feel my reign thus far has been one crisis after another.”

“Liam…”

He tipped his head back and looked up at the stars, “Riley….do you think I’m doing enough for Cordonia?”

“Of course you are! Things might be hard right now, but you’ll learn as you go,” she reached over without thinking and took his hand in hers. “And you’ll have me by your side.”

He turned his head to search her eyes and she suddenly became hyperaware of just how close they were to each other. She stopped breathing for a heartbeat.

He ran a hand gently down the side of her face as she dropped her gaze to her lap. His feather-light touch sent goosebumps chasing down her spine. Using a finger and thumb, he grasped her chin and tipped her head up. His thumb ghosted across her lips,  “I want to kiss you,” he whispered.

He waited for her to object.

She licked her lips.

His mouth met hers, and her lips parted,  his tongue slid softly against hers, moving languidly. One arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her closer, as the other continued to caress her face before moving to tangle in her hair.

She leaned into that kiss, her heart rate speeding up as her hands slid up his chest.

He pulled her closer and kissed her harder.

She pushed him away, gasping for air, “Liam….”

“I know, I’m sorry,” he reached for her, and their hands entwined with each other, his forehead resting on hers, “I got carried away. It won’t happen again. Please accept my apologies. I couldn’t bear to lose your friendship, Riley!”

“Liam…I….” Her whole body was trembling.

The two of them alone in the moonlight brought so many memories rushing back. All of the good ones.

But even the bad ones weren't so bad anymore. They had worked past coronation night, they had worked past her refusal of his proposal. They had salvaged a friendship and forged a working relationship. At least that’s what she had believed until this moment.

She still loved him. The realization hit her like a freight train. Then guilt plowed right into her, and she pulled away from him and jumped to her feet, “I guess we should…get back…”

“Certainly, if that’s what you want,” Liam stood immediately, reaching for her again, “but please tell me that my unwelcome slip-up won’t affect our working together, or our friendship,” he pleaded.

“That’s the problem, Liam….it wasn’t unwelcomed.”

“Oh! I…I’m not sure I understand….”

“Neither do I!” She fought back tears, “but it can’t happen again!”

“Of course not!”

“And I have to tell Drake!”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Liam asked hesitantly.

“Yes? No…maybe?”

“Whatever you think is best. I’ll follow your lead on this.”

It had been an accident, a momentary slip-up. If it was never repeated, then maybe she didn’t have to tell him, right? No, she had to tell him. “I…I don’t know, I’m not sure….”

“Well, perhaps sleep on it before you make any rash decisions.”

“I don’t know, Liam….I feel like he has a right to know.”

“I realize I might not be the best person to advise you on this, since I’m the one that just kissed you, so I won’t try. But I need you to know…”

“Know what?” She wasn’t sure if it was anxiety or butterflies clawing through her stomach. Maybe a little of both.

“That I’m here, Riley. For whatever you need.”

“Thank you, Liam. I appreciate that.”

The ride to the Ebrim estate was filled with superficial chit-chat, that felt wrong, forced, and awkward. Which wasn’t what she wanted at all. As the car rolled to a stop she turned and took his hand, “Liam, we don’t have to talk about the damn weather and the fluctuating cost of apples! I know what happened tonight threw us both for a loop but can we just…I don’t know…go back to being us?”

The moment it fell from her lips she realized her error, “I don’t mean us, like us…I mean, our friendship, the way it’s been since-“

“It’s okay, Riley,” he squeezed her hand, “I know what you meant, and I’m gratified that you value our friendship.”

“Okay, good,” she sighed with relief. She and Liam would be okay. If they could get past him allowing her to be drug out of the coronation and her refusing his proposal, they could get past this. It was just one little kiss after all.

The bigger issue was how she was going to explain what had happened to her fiancée. Especially when she wasn’t sure she understood it herself.

[choicesbookclub]

Inspired by our Crimes of Passion Book Club playthrough I thought we could all share our detectives + royals!

Whether you have a fully formed profile or just a cute moodboard or some vague HCs, feel free to tag @choicesbookclub or message me a link at @lovealexhunt and I'll add it to our list!

Make your own Dossier

You can also submit your character profiles to @choicesficwriterscreations's MC / OC page

Names Listed Alphabetically by Detective's First Names

🔎 Aisha Rose ~ @rookiemartin

🔎 Augusta Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @kat-tia801

🔎 Braeden Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne~ @txemrn

🔎 Callum Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne~ @twinkleallnight

🔎 Cameron Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @cariantha

🔎 Carolina Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne~ @jerzwriter

🔎 Casandra Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @ao719

🔎 Ceri Rose ~ @choices-ceri

🔎 Cheyanne Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @tessa-liam

🔎 Claire Rose ~ @lucy-268

🔎 Cordelia Rose ~ @openheartforeverinmyheart

🔎 Daria Rose ~ @fairymatchmaker

🔎 Emily Rose ~ @moominofthevalley

🔎 Evelyn Rose ~ @dr-colossal-pita

🔎 Gabriel Rose ~ @lilyoffandoms

🔎 Geneviève Rose-Lys ~ @casualoddities

🔎 Haelyn Rózsa ~ @a-cloud-for-dreams

🔎 Hirokazu Rose ~ @fairymatchmaker

🔎 Isabel Rosas ~ @jamespotterthefirst

🔎Jenna Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @peonyblossom

🔎 Jules Rose ~ @liaromancewriter

🔎 Lilah Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne~ @storyofmychoices / @lovealexhunt

🔎 Lyra Rose ~ @ladylamrian

🔎 Lorrie Rose ~ @gutsfics

🔎 Malone Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @quixoticdreamer16

🔎 Marianne Alba + 👑 Trystan Thorne~ @lawyerlies

🔎 Neera Roase ~ @noesapphic

🔎 Nora Rose ~ @inlocusmads

🔎 Sabrina Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @kyra75

🔎 Sofia Rose + 👑 Trystan Thorne ~ @trappedinfanfiction

🔎 Theo Rose-Collette ~ @choicesfrog

🔎 Xander Argento Rose ~ @farizrz

[disgruntledkittenface]

Hi maggie! Hope you’re doing well!! I just finished rereading darling so it goes for probably the 5th time since i first read it in late 2022. And it’s my fave fic of yours and in my top 5 fics ever. I really admire your writing and characterization in general but in this fic specifically it’s really something else, i wanted to ask you where do you think this story’s louis and harry are doing today? Did they adopt? How’s their every day life going? Anything you want to share really i just want to know more about their life after the fic. Thank youuuuuu for writing such a masterpiece ❤️❤️

hiii anon thank you so much! I am flattered with compliments and I genuinely can't express how much this sweet message means to me <3 I am honored that you think this much of the Grace Kelly AU and that you have questions about their future!!

I think a lot of the early years of Harry and Louis' marriage is about balance. They're on the right track where I left off, but it's going to take time to figure out how to fulfill their roles, prioritize their relationship with each other, and be the type of involved parents that they both want to be. It would be an ongoing thing for sure. I love the idea of them finding a couples therapist who could help them navigate those challenges -- imagine Liam researching people and compiling dossiers that no one would call a dossier!

It's funny that you ask about the adoption possibility now. I just read this article about ethical concerns and while I'm not sure if they end up going this route for one of their children, I do think Harry would do research before making that decision. Especially because their family, and kids, would be under so much more scrutiny than others.

I think Louis and Harry teach their kids to play hide and seek in the palace like Louis and Liam did, and Philippe decides to take early retirement. They definitely keep up the tradition of homemade cakes for breakfast on everyone's birthdays, and they probably celebrate as many birthdays at their mountain house as they can. They always go to Harry's parents' house for Thanksgiving, and Gemma forces Louis to learn how to make one super easy thing that becomes a yearly tradition. (I can't cook, what's easy?? Like mashed potatoes?)

I think the friends that feature in the fic are going to remain in their lives as their chosen family. I picture group vacations and everyone being referred to as Auntie or Uncle. I feel like Audrey is the friend who doesn't marry or have children, but flies in and gives the best gifts and is who the kids would run away to if they ever needed.

I do remember things cropping up in my research that would naturally happen after the events of the fic, so I couldn't include them, like an annual gala in Hollywood for the Princess Grace Foundation (so, the Prince Harry Foundation). Oh, and there's like an annual television festival in Monaco, and I love the idea of that being something Harry looks forward to every year.

...okay I did not realize I had that much to say! Thank you again for the prompt to revisit these characters and think about what they're up to, I really loved writing them <3

[lovealexhunt]

2023: ☆ January ☆ February-April ☆ May-June ☆ July ☆

Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer  [HollywoodU]  [Red Carpet Diaries]

In the Stillness of Sunrise:  Thomas and Alex share a soft morning moment.

Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley[Open Heart]

A Sweet Surprise: Bryce helps Olivia surprise her pediatric patients with a cool, sweet treat.

Can I Have this Dance?: Some dances last a few minutes, others a lifetime, but every so often, there’s one that lasts forever.

Anchored in Love: Bryce and Olivia share a tender moment between patients.

The Warmth of Love (Bryce x Olivia): Morning snuggles with Bryce and Olivia aka the literal sunshine couple.

Mal Volari x Daenarya [Blades of Light and Shadow]

Beyond Riverbend: A Kit's Call to Adventure:A certain smug adventure has gotten under Daenarya’s skin, but she won’t let him define her.

The Reign of a Short King: Mal is very insistent that a half inch makes all the difference… in his height 😉 

How to Distract a Rogue : Daenarya devises a new way to keep Mal distracted.

Old Hair, New Look: Daenarya has a few thoughts about Mal’s new armor (from Blades 2) + ART

Crime and Punishment: Mal expresses the idea of never leaving bed, but Daenarya has an idea of her own.

Trystan Thorne x Lilah Rose [Crimes of Passion]

Close Talking: Lilah is at the office, typing up her report on the Iverson Ball, when Trystan stops by to check on her.

Happy 4th with Marple: Lilah shares a celebratory pictagram post featuring Marple

Troy Hassan x Astraea Callen [Wake the Dead]

The Princess + The Dragon: Astraea is ready to start the day, but Troy just wants to sleep.

Shadows and Deceptions: A Royal Murder Mystery (Mini Series) [TRR, COP, BOLAS, & D&D]

In the heart of Cordonia’s grand ballroom, an eclectic cast of characters gathers, their lives interwoven as a result of a shocking turn of events. Trystan Thorne, the exiled prince with a taste for mystery, Olivia Nevrakis, the snarky Duchess skilled with daggers, Tyril Starfury, the noble elf Lord a defender of the realm, Amalas, the enigmatic spy queen, and Prince Hamid, the charming and formal imperial prince. Amidst the grand party of the birth of King Liam’s third heir, Princess Ariana, the joyous celebration is broken by a piercing scream, a dead body, and a room full of royal suspects.

Daenarya admiring Mal's new armor by weetlebeetle

Bryce and Olivia are Barbie movie ready by _artsbymena_ (IG)

Sleepy mornings with Bryce and Olivia by lizbyart (IG)

Trystan looking quite handsome by ohhheyitsjulia (IG)

Edits + Moodboards

Bryce at Olivia's ultrasound appointment

Mal Volari: new armor, old hair

Olivia (Holland) in her doctor coat gifted by jamespotterthefirst

Lilah Rose's detective dossier

Lilah Rose + Trystan Thorne moodboards

Asks

Watermelon: who likes it, who spits the seeds like a game

Trystan and his view of his family

Barbie movie ask: who's going?

[alj4890]

It's Over

(Leo x Madeleine) in a Choices Rules of Engagement drabble.

Thirty Kisses in Thirty Days Challenge with the prompt: a kiss to prove you no longer have feelings for your lover.

A/N I know. I do. But I think Madeleine was down dirty in Rules of Engagement. Maybe that's why she acted the way she did in The Royal Romance. Leo might not have taken their engagement seriously, but I believe she did.

Once again, I have no idea who tag for this 😂

@hopelessromantic1352 @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam @krsnlove

Masterlist

"Madeleine? We need to..." Leo trailed off when he saw her dressed for a formal dinner.

She turned around with a forced smile.

"Good. You're back." She checked the time. "If you hurry and dress, we should make it downstairs in time."

She avoided eye contact with him. After the past couple of months of his galavanting around the Mediterranean on some cruise with that woman, she was not only disappointed with Leo but also incredibly hurt.

How could he do something like that to her? His fiance? The one he was supposed to be with? Supposed to love? Supposed to protect?

And yet he'd been captured by eager photographers with that woman in his arms! Then he had the nerve to bring her to Cordonia. The palace! He brought that woman into what would one day be their home...where they would raise their children...where they would spend the rest of their lives.

Madeleine refused to let him see just how heartbroken she was. He was supposed to be her Prince Charming. She'd grown up, believing he would be the one to make her happy. After seeing the loveless marriage of her parents, she'd secretly hoped that she could have something different.

Being told she was meant for someone gave her the security she'd craved. Madeleine worked hard to become the perfect future princess for her prince. She memorized all the rules of etiquette, studied numerous diplomacy tactics, and constantly reviewed dossiers on Cordonia's nobles and other European rulers. Every night before going to bed, she quizzed herself with flashcards on all she believed a future ruler should know.

It all seemed to be for nothing the moment she walked in on Leo and that woman. And then for him to comfort the interloper instead of her...it was too much!

Leo cleared his throat as he took off his leather jacket.

"I'm not going down to dinner."

Madeleine sighed. She was used to having to remind him of his duty.

"You must. As the Crown Prince, you can't offend the prime minister from-"

"I'm no longer the Crown Prince." He told her.

She paused. Her eyes raised to his.

"You're what?"

"I abdicated, Madeleine."

"Why?" She couldn't wrap her head around what he was saying.

He slipped his hands in his pockets. Looking away from her, he tried to find a way to make her understand.

"I think we both know I don't possess the temperament nor the inclination to be a proper ruler."

Madeleine rolled her eyes. Anyone could see that. She thought he just wouldn't make himself behave.

"I think," she tried to be diplomatic since they were engaged, "if you put your mind to it, that you could be a good king for Cordonia."

"I disagree." He walked over until he stood directly in front of her. "And I don't want it."

She rose from her chair. Her brow furrowed over his words.

"You don't want it? How can you say something like that?" She cried. "It is your destiny! God himself, allowed you to be the first born of the royal family. And you just decide to give it up?!"

"Madeleine--"

"Why would you throw away the very thing you were created for?" She pleaded. "Leo, you and I are what Cordonia needs! Our marriage and family are meant to--"

"There won't be a marriage, Madeleine." Leo said softly.

She took a step back as if struck.

"What?"

He ran his hands over his face.

"Since I'm no longer the Crown Prince, our royal engagement is over." His eyes studied hers. "I don't have to marry now."

"So, not only are you throwing away your future; you decided to toss mine in the rubbish bin too?"

"I--"

"What about our love?" She blinked back tears. "You said you loved me!"

He turned away from her, unable to watch her face as he admitted the truth.

"I tried to love you Madeleine. But when I met Katie, I realized what love really is."

Madeleine shook her head as if she could make his words disappear. This couldn't be happening. She'd done everything right! For years, she'd tried to be the woman he not only wanted but that Cordonia deserved.

"Leo," her voice trembled as she approached him. "Please. You can't mean that. Not after all we shared."

Leo faced her once more.

She licked her lips. "It's been so long since you were home." Her hands slid up his chest, arms wrapping around his neck. "We haven't been able to be alone and--"

"Stop." He pleaded, grasping her arms. "I love Katie."

Madeleine briefly closed her eyes over that particular blow to her crumbling heart.

"I gave myself to you." She whispered. Her eyes narrowed upon his. "Remember? You said that sleeping together would make us closer. Make our love grow even stronger."

Leo winced over that.

"How can you stand here and say you love that woman after all that?"

"Because you deserve to know the truth." He explained.

"I don't believe you." She declared. "I think whatever it is you feel for her is just lust."

"It isn't." He argued.

"Prove it." Madeleine challenged. "Prove that you don't feel anything for me."

Leo's lips parted to argue, yet ended up capturing hers in a kiss.

He could feel her stray tears fall as the passionless kiss continued.

"I'm sorry." He said softly against her lips. "You deserve someone better than me, someone who will love you."

Madeleine glared silently at him as her tears fell.

Leo dropped his head, running a hand through his hair. "I hope you can forgive me one day."

He grabbed his jacket on the way out. Without a backward glance, he left her and the future he'd been trapped in.

Madeleine watched Leo leave. She knew that he took all her cherished dreams with him.

[rayondelun3]

Le printemps arrive. J'ai hâte du printemps, des fleurs... Les magnolias sont magnifiques et les jonquilles fleurissent un peu partout.

Aujourd'hui j'ai prié fort pour qu'on m'arrache de la salle d'attente. Il y avait des types étranges qui me faisaient flipper. Mon infirmière part dans un mois et je compte lui offrir des chocolats avant qu'elle parte... Ou peut-être quelque chose d'autre à manger mais des chocolats c'est plus commun et ça fait moins bizarre ? Je lui ai demandé si c'était ok. Elle m'a dit que j'étais « toute belle » alors que bon j'étais à peine maquillée et je portais mon leggings avec une robe et un haut (assez habillé remarque). Elle m'a aussi dit que je la faisais souvent rire - quand je vais mieux évidemment quand je suis en rechute j'ai du mal à la faire rire.

J'ai enfin remonté un peu la pente. Il y a cette peur des gens et ce stress quand je suis avec eux - y compris mes amies proches, qui s'est installée et qui ne part pas.

J'ai un dossier à rendre pour la semaine prochaine. J'espère ne pas faire de hors sujet parce qu'on me demande 9 pages et je me connais... J'écris comme je parle même si je fais plus attention dans mes devoirs. Je pense qu'il faudra que je prenne le temps de faire une double correction (voir triple mais ce sera trop risqué vu que c'est à rendre pour jeudi).

J'ai perdu du poids et ça c'est vraiment chouette.

Il faut que je m'occupe de ce devoir et de ma chambre.

Liam a eu 21 ans... Je ne l'ai pas vu grandir. Il me manque. Mais je pense que je le revois bientôt.

Photo : Elly qui m'a demandé de l'accompagner pour lui montrer comment on empruntait un livre à la BU ; je m'en suis occupée telle une professionnelle haha. Foutue BU qui ne m'a pas embauchée...

[toxichem]

✧･ﾟ ——— ❛ @galaxythixf. ❪ continued from here ! ❫

———GREEN EYES ROLL IN FOND AMUSEMENT , LIPS QUIRKED UP IN A SOFT , HIDDEN SMIRK . stepping up behind him , sabine reached around his side to grasp his wrist , angling it slightly so she could see the screen & interface . there , in bold , black font , were the words ❛  no internet connection  ❜ & the router details below , with an empty dialogue box for the password .

      ❝  she normally posts a bulletin when she or amir plan to change it for security ' s sake , & given the last was posted just yesterday , no , i don ' t think it ' s been changed just yet .  ❞ a quick glance at her tablet shows the date & time of said bulletin , three - fourteen in the afternoon , dated yesterday . ❝  are you sure you ' re typing it in correctly , liam ? correct characters & all ? because i can recall quite a few messages you sent with typos after klara first installed the messaging app on there . . .  ❞ her small smirk blooming into a teasing smile .

      ❝  after all , you did type ❛  akight tram  ❜ quite a few times before figuring out the spacing of the keyboard .  ❞ laughter underlines her words , even as she stepped back & around liam to face him .

      she knew caps lock was the issue , had since she ' d looked over his shoulder . klara & amir were very specific the wifi passwords were case - sensitive . they needed to be , considering the sensitive information often shared on their network , not to mention amir ' s surveillance data , & the dossiers hazal still wrote up in her spare time , now on omega & kingdom people of interest .

[twofacedtrickery]

DOSSIER CHEAT SHEET

~~~~

BASICS

FULL LEGAL NAME: Rene Fischer currently, formerly Liam Ward, formerly many other things, originally Isaac Laurens Beck

NICKNAME(S): Professor, Heretic, probably other things he doesn't think about

DATE OF BIRTH: 06 February, 1791

GENDER: Cis Male, probably, unlikely to ever consider other options

PLACE OF BIRTH: Unspecified in the Dutch Republic (modern day Netherlands), for the body, Antarctica for his current self as well as its predecessor

CURRENTLY LIVING: Honestly, he arguably spends more time in transit than anywhere else

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, Dutch (though he is reticent to speak it)

EDUCATION: PhD in Sociology from University of Chicago, though his current records say otherwise

~~~~~

PHYSICAL INFORMATION

HAIR COLOUR(S): White, formerly dark blond

EYE COLOUR(S): Icy blue

HEIGHT: 5'11"/181 cm

WEIGHT: 160 lbs/73 kg

FACECLAIM(S): None

~~~~

FAMILY INFORMATION

PARENT/GUARDIAN(S):

Laurens Beck (estranged father) (deceased)

Henrika Beck (née Stegenga) (estranged mother) (deceased)

Marinus Beck (paternal grandfather, raised from age 8 on) (deceased)

Jorien Beck (née Mulder) (paternal grandmother, raised from age 8 on) (deceased)

SIBLING(S): Annelis Ineke Beck (estranged younger sister) (deceased)

RELATIVE(S):

Gideon Beck (paternal uncle) (deceased)

Ida Beck (née Damen) (paternal aunt through marriage) (deceased)

Coenraad Stegenga (maternal grandfather) (deceased)

Tessa Stegenga (née Geelvinck) (maternal grandmother) (deceased)

Esmee Stegenga (maternal aunt) (deceased)

SIGNIFICANT OTHER(S): Functionally Unnamed Delta Member (long-term romantic partner, cover identities are married) (his students have concluded, incorrectly, that Gamma Captain Bobby Liu is his side piece, help him)

CHILDREN: Not Applicable (despite what his students have managed to conclude)

PET(S): None, despite his best efforts, that gecko does not like him

~~~~~

RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION

SEXUALITY: Bisexual, slight preference toward masculine

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Romantically involved

SINCE WHEN: 08 September, 2019

~~~~~~

BONUS STUFF FOR FUNSIES

SONGS ASSOCIATED: Cult of Personality by Living Colour

TAGGED BY: I was not

TAGGING: Nope

[caliberbook]

PART 1 VINCENT Chapter 1 (Part 3)

            How lonely that must be, Marielle thought as her mind moved to Sasha, another radiant, as such people were called. Marielle always thought that Sasha, whose agent name was Sova, was one of the more attractive men at Valorant. The Russian man was tall and fair, with long, flowing golden locks and one striking blue eye. The other had been lost in an accident and replaced with a mechanical blue orb, but that didn’t make him any less attractive.  Marielle shivered a little just thinking about him, which made her giggle—Sasha loved the cold. He was proud, but on the softer side, and highly trusted. He was one of the few Valorant members reliable enough to watch detainees at any given moment if someone else couldn’t take a shift. All of Sasha’s abilities were based on radianite technology, and most of the agents believed that many of them lay in his fake eye, which gave him hawk-like vision.                 Marielle was brought out of her memories when her cellphone rang a second time. She turned the water in her tub off and rushed to her cell, her hand complete again.                 She answered, trying for a less shocked tone this time. “Sabine?”                 “We need you to come in.” Sabine’s icy, masked voice came through the other end.                 “I was on my way anyway,” she replied anxiously. Silence. “What’s going on?”                 “Just come in.” Sabine sounded exasperated. “Jamie’ll be waiting for you at the front with the dossier.”                 Marielle drummed her bottom lip, waiting. “Sabine, what’s this about?” Silence. “Is this about… him?” Click.  Sighing, she went back to the bathroom and got into the steamy tub, scrubbing off the perfume and left-over makeup from her failed date, then quickly washing her hip-length black hair.                 She didn’t take the hang up too personally. There were several reasons Sabine’s agent name was Viper, and her cold demeanor definitely played into it. Not that Marielle could blame her. She’d always been cold, but the events of five years ago had ruined her ability to have a friendly or empathetic thought. She was all spite, bitterness, and anger.                 “Him…” That was one way of referring to what had happened at Valorant headquarters over the last week. It all centered on the mysterious “him.”                 At an event that Marielle had not been part of the Saturday before, a mysterious stranger had shown up, aimed and fired a gun at Liam, and then disappeared, reappearing in a different part of the room. Then, according to the accounts of those who had been there, this same gentleman had proceeded to pull his weapon into his arm, where it had vanished in a flurry of color into what looked like a golden tribal tattoo that had appeared on his face, neck, and arms.                 This gentleman hadn’t said a word to anyone since, and was being kept—guarded, really—at Valorant headquarters until further notice. No one except those on guard duty had seen him. He was a big mystery to all. Liam had told her very little, except that they might eventually want her expertise.                 Liam was in charge of everyone at Valorant headquarters. He was forty-six, red-headed, blue-eyed, and big—much bigger than she was, anyway. This thought process always made her chuckle, since she was only five foot two and didn’t weigh a whole lot. What she lacked in height and size, she made up for in bravery, or at least that’s what everyone at Valorant said. In training, she always rushed in, attacking without fear.  ------------ WANT MORE?! https://www.caliberbook.com/

[mothers-and-fuckers-of-the-jury]

I posted 18,409 times in 2022

That's 2,360 more posts than 2021!

168 posts created (1%)

18,241 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@junkirat

@void-of-erebos

@anarchy-and-asexuality

@string-on-my-poptart

@stupid-lemon-eater

I tagged 941 of my posts in 2022

#bean speaks - 134 posts

#beanie speaks - 133 posts

#saved for me - 59 posts

#critical role - 37 posts

#jjba - 20 posts

#crit posting - 18 posts

#jojos bizarre adventure - 12 posts

#crit role - 11 posts

#mcr - 11 posts

#the umbrella academy - 9 posts

Longest Tag: 138 characters

#lord of the flies was specifically about english boarding school boys because that’s where the author taught omfg it wasn’t supposed to be

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

liam o’brien writing an entire childrens story because jester wanted to read it is so so cute and so indicative of how much the cast loves each other im sobbing over this

62 notes - Posted January 24, 2022

#4

<3 chubby trans men <3

98 notes - Posted January 10, 2022

#3

and when pat the bunny said “it’s alright, it’s okay, except that everything’s fucked” and when pat the bunny said “are god and void equivalent” and when pat the bunny said “i’m mean and bitter and a failure at everything i believe”

105 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

#2

hey psssst if u can’t afford $30 per 5e sourcebook there’s definitely no links here at all whatsoever under the cut that would be CRAZY

Active pdfs for 5e sourcebooks, as of 10/06/2022 (now alphabetized!)

Acquisitions Incorporated: https://anyflip.com/emkqr/yvpp/

Basic Rules: https://anyflip.com/samg/iupm

DM’s Guide: link too long click here

Eberron: Rising from the Last War: https://anyflip.com/rbal/zmrp

Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount: https://anyflip.com/efdfy/dgdn

Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons: https://anyflip.com/vuzeh/avpt

Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica: https://anyflip.com/xlyr/rogd

Monster Manual: https://online.anyflip.com/duex/ixpz

Monstrous Compendium Vol 1: Spelljammer Creatures: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mcv1/spelljammer-creatures#CreaturesAZ

Mordenkainen’s Fiendish Folio, Volume 1: https://anyflip.com/pckhp/efrd

Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse: https://dndwikii.com/Monsters-of-the-Multiverse/

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes: https://anyflip.com/afgs/ibpl

Mythic Odyssey of Theros: https://anyflip.com/rbal/nqho

Player’s Handbook: https://anyflip.com/dkneq/yerq

Sage Advice Compendium: https://anyflip.com/yfqjo/fslt

Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos: https://anyflip.com/uauje/rjos

Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide: https://anyflip.com/opng/ahma

Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: https://anyflip.com/xmzfy/tsdc

Tal’Dorei Reborn: https://anyflip.com/bhxqp/kqsu

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything:

The Tortle Package: https://github.com/kwmorris/DnD/blob/master/5e/Books/D%26D%205E%20-%20The%20Tortle%20Package.pdf

Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft: https://online.anyflip.com/vuzeh/aqnr

Vecna Dossier: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x6ZkGO9evuNEmqP5z_VUWZcVAs0CnCwU/view

Volo’s Guide to Monsters: https://anyflip.com/ibtno/esiq/

Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron: http://anyflip.com/yulf/dcvr

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: https://anyflip.com/rmzy/oapq

134 notes - Posted January 27, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

boyfriend always asking me why a slug is staring at us. my brother in christ you decided to kiss me in front of him.

209 notes - Posted March 6, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[cxrsedsouls]

ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕟

Liam has a Californian Accent. Though he was born in Ireland, he came to America to live when he was just a toddler and spent the rest of his life (while he was alive) in California. Though, there have been times when either flirting or when he is really angry or out of it that his parent's Irish accent comes out. It’s rare but it happens. Plus it suits him rather well considering. Ah, it would be the cherry on top of the sundae if he still had those freckles on his cheeks like he did before he was turned.

[zigsexual]

amalas said bad taste rights !

[shctteredillusions]

The vampires and preferences. Taken from @arcxnumvitae and @thewolfisawake. I’ve also written out who is taken relationship-wise just to make sure it’s not confusing.

Megane: What isn’t this woman into? Pretty much everything and anything. She literally is the furthest from picky you can get and is the literal definition of pansexual. Men, women, any gender, any species, she’s the type to find something attractive about everyone.

Haru: Women with an attitude. A woman who isn’t afraid to tell him no. Confidence, long dark hair with no particular preference on a color other than that. He likes a woman with style, someone who can take his BS and fire it right back. A baker is a huge selling point since he has such a big sweet tooth. And he’s definitely not into a woman who shows too much skin, funnily enough. He does actually like some modesty in that department and keeping certain things to the imagination until they’ve gotten to that point.

Minami: Intelligence, a man who can give her a challenge in some way shape or form. She has what usually comes off as a harsh and severe type of personality, can be quite controlling and is a bit of a neat freak so they’d have to be able to handle that with ease. Mystery is a big seller for her though because she’s so used to knowing mostly everything that when she comes across someone or something she doesn’t know or can’t figure out she’s instantly intrigued.

Seto: He isn’t a sexually active man and isn’t really interested in becoming one. But if he were, it’d likely be with someone soft and caring, but still confident and strong. He’s got a thing for good voices and no particular preference for men or women. At the same time, he doesn’t like anyone who talks too much because he really enjoys the quiet and peaceful times.

Kensei: Strong and fierce warrior type women. Holy crap can he be weak to soldiers. Especially when she’s actually in a uniform. Skills with a weapon of any kind, good training, someone who knows how to show respect where it’s deserved and demands the same in return. Confidence but without it being overbearing.

Vasilios (unavailable): Long dark hair, coy smiles, flirty personalities, and intense eyes. He’s never had any preference of one gender over another but he does prefer thicker women, whether that’s simply curves or even those with some weight on them. Bigger girls. Men though he likes lean and fit. But more so than anything he likes a battle for dominance. Whether he ends up the dominant one or submissive doesn’t matter nearly as much as the fight itself. Plus he is hypersexual and shit if someone can match his urges, needs, and stamina then man is he in heaven.

Raiden: Women. Women. Women. Gosh, he’s far from picky. Cute girls, gorgeous girls, badass girls, dorky girls. It doesn’t matter because Raiden will find every girl he meets to be utterly beautiful in their own right. Which of course means he’s sexually attracted to them too.

Ariadne: While she prefers men more, she isn’t against women on the subject. She likes height, attitude, someone who can take her fiery personality and deal it right back. She also seems to prefer humans more so than not. But other than that there isn’t a lot she’s shown interest in.

Zephyr: Zephyr is a lover and a fighter but boy is he such a huge sap of a lover too. Big gestures, lots of teasing, old school courting type stuff gets him the most. He likes to banter, someone with a big heart and a playful side. And man he has the hots for the motherly types. Women with thick curves, nice thighs, big chests but a thoughtful and caring smile but eyes that speak of wisdom and experience. Men with more athletic builds, nice hair and a charming personality.

Odette: I don’t really know for sure with her but I think she’d prefer someone gentle. Someone she feels she can trust. She does prefer men, she’s had quite a few bad times with women before and doesn’t trust them as easily. But I don’t think she even knows what she’s attracted to since she’s never really been given the chance to explore it.

Shiori (taken): Assholes. Fuck she loves someone with an attitude, a smart mouth, and a good smirk. I mean, technically I’d think she’d have an easier time with women considering her past with men. Sarcasm, someone with a violent streak who can handle her.

Ichirou (taken): Strong, confident, independent women. Women with goals and priorities. Stylish women with curves that could break his neck from looking back. There’s just something utterly entrancing about a woman who doesn’t need anyone else.

Yuka (taken): Never really had a preference in most ways, but she likes revealing eyes, charming smiles. Oh yeah and nice voices with really good accents. She likes someone who she can talk to, feels comfortable with. And she definitely has a thing for taller people and thick hair.

Ayame (taken): someone who is calming, feels safe. Someone with a bright smile and this warmth that makes her feel alive. Musically talented in any way is a huge bonus for her. Someone with a relatively sunny disposition and affectionate. Adventurous personalities but nothing that overbearing personality wise like overly confident or self-assured. Someone with a warm and gentle presence.

Liam (unavailable): Sexual wise, Liam is far from picky. Generally, because he uses such things as a distraction more than anything else. But preference wise he does seem to have a thing for the unusual ladies. One he can’t quite understand and ones that take him by surprise. He’s a leg man and loves long legs and creamy thighs and can be so easily ruined when that’s used against him. Short skirts, heels, tight jeans, a nice rear, boy he’ll fall apart at the seams if she has a sexy walk too.

Kaname: No clue! Kaname is still a mystery to me. I know physical attraction is possible and that there’s no particular preference but he is like the image of Demisexual and won’t feel attraction in the slightest until a bond is formed.