#MBAW

[gwens-fiction]

Summer Vacation

A My Baby's A Werewolf short, that I thought I posted before but didn’t see it in my tags, so I’m posting it now.

With a long groan, Sebastian dropped his messenger bag and draped himself face down over the couch. "Remind me why I assign final essays and not exams again?"

Cody looked up from his magazine with an amused snort. "Because you’re an English professor? Were they that bad?"

"Not exactly….Just trying to focus on them was brutal."

"You need a break, Seb. When was the last time you got a full night’s sleep anyway?"

"Probably before Evelyn left. You know it’s just been crazy ever since."

"You need a vacation."

Sebastian lifted his head towards him, poking his glasses further up his nose. "Oh yeah? And what am I supposed to do about Amber? Look for hotels that accept pets?"

"I already paid the down payment for us to rent a cabin in the mountains. I picked one in the woods that isn’t close to other neighbors. The three of us will have plenty of privacy and quiet."

"I don’t know, Cody…A cabin in the woods sounds like a setting for a horror story." He sat up and sighed.

"Well, we are bringing our own little monster." He snickered.

"CODY. MY TODDLER IS NOT A MONSTER."

The slightly younger man gave him a very calm, pitiful expression. "Sebastian. Your toddler is a werewolf. By definition, she’s a monster."

"Still, there’s connotation there. Amber isn’t a monster. She’s a…"

"Creature? A little Beas—UMPH!" He grunted as a couch pillow hit him in the face.

Sebastian sighed, shaking his head. "My daughter the werewolf and my brother the troll, what am I going to do with you two?"

"Hey, as your brother it is my birth given right to drive you crazy. Now, the vacation? Is it a yes?"

"I’ll pack my suitcase." He smiled tiredly at him.

Cody jumped up. "No need! Amber and I already packed it and the car, we were just waiting on you."

"Suddenly, this is feeling less like a vacation and more like a kidnapping."

"Now that’s the spirit!" He grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Go ahead and load up. I’ll grab her." He gave him a nudge towards the door.

"You know, Cody? You may have been on to something with this idea of yours." Sebastian looked over from the novel he was reading, at his younger brother, who was manning a small, charcoal grill.

Cody pointed a spatula in his direction. "I told you. You needed a break."

"I don’t think I was the only one who needed one either." He sighed, looking now at his daughter, rolling around in a clover patch. "Amber seems to really enjoy it out here."

"Seb, she’s a werewolf. Where do you find wolves?"

"In the woods, I know I know." He rolled his eyes at him. "But this is too far of a commute from the college for me to live out here and work there." He paused. "But more frequent small trips I suppose could be managed during the year. It would be more peaceful grading out here than at my office."

Cody nodded, flipping over a steak. "I’ll keep an eye out for somewhere a little closer."

Sebastian nodded as well, returning his attention to the novel in his hands. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose once more and sighed. As much as he loved a good Jules Verne novel, his focus was gone. He needed to relax and take a break, this is true…But it wasn’t getting him any closer to finding a cure for his daughter.

Werewolves weren’t supposed to actually exist, they were folklore…and yet, here was his toddler, a living example that perhaps folklore may be more real than he and other scholars would want to believe. That being said, real or not, his toddler was not supposed to be one. It wouldn’t be safe for her to grow up into a full fledged one, either. As a werepup at least she was manageable….But what about in the future, when she’s grown up? The teen years has enough drama without werewolf secrets in the mix.

Sebastian was then jolted back to reality as something slimey was dropped on his hand. He nearly jumped out of his chair and dropped his book on the ground.

"Daddy! Look! Look, Daddy!" Amber giggled.

"Oh uh…Thank you, Amy, that’s a nice—" and then he looked at his hand. A long, spotted slug now rested on the back of his hand. "….slug. It’s….very spotty?" He faked a smile.

"Uh huh! Mine." She then took the slug back.

Sebastian watched her for a moment before signing deeply. "Here, Amy, let’s return Mr. Slug back to his home then go wash your hands, okay? I’m sure the slug has a family he’d like to go back to."

"Oh, okay." She nodded and offered the slug back to him.

"How about you sit him right here?" He squatted down nearby and patted a patch of grass. His toddler trailed over and plopped the slug right there with the widest smile.

"Good job, now come on. Let’s get you cleaned up for lunch." He chuckled, scooping her up in his arms.

[tired-demonspawn]

chapter 6 of my silly lil fanfic is now out :)

[maxwell-beaumont-appreciation]

How on earth did this get missed?

Maxwell Beaumont x MC (Kaede Labelle) fanfic [the royal romance]

Kaede woke up to the familiar sound of a knock on the heavy oak doors, “come in…’ she murmured sleepily. Peeking through the crack of the door was unmistakably Maxwell, with his bright blue eyes and cheeky wide grin that lights the dullest days up. “Maxwell, it’s 5am… can’t I sleep just a little bit longer? Kaede whined as she rolled over, clutching the warm duvet. “Well, I thought you personally could use some Maxwell Beaumont time with the one and only: MAXWELL BEAUMONT!!!” Maxwell shouted dramatically as he moonwalked towards her bed. Kaede said nothing but groaned in reply. Maxwell climbed energetically onto her bed and started jumping, missing Kaede’s head by millimetres. “ Okay, okay, Maxwell, I'm up, chill.” She sat up drowsily and made her way towards the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Kaede stepped out of the bathroom, but only to be greeted by an excited Maxwell. “Surprise!” Maxwell shouted, “ This dress is for you and you only, m’lady.” In the parcel was the most beautiful dress she’s ever seen, the silky aquamarine dress was embroidered with little squids, dotted with gleaming pearls. Kaede was stunned by the gorgeous dress, every seam and every embroidery, that’s when something caught her eye, steep pockets? The seams on the side of the pockets were messy but hardly seen. “M..Maxwell? Did you add a personal touch to the dress?” Maxwell blushed and replied, “Well, I thought you could use extra pockets, didn't everyone? I mean, I can ask the seamstress to take it off if you want…” “No, Maxwell, that’s so sweet, thank you! Let me try it on…” Kaede smiled as she gave him a short but fierce hug.

Moments later, Kaede reappeared with the aquamarine dress on her. Maxwell stepped back to admire her dress and she strikes a silly pose, “How do I look, Maxwell?” Maxwell grinned and put his thumbs up, “I don’t know which one is prettier, you or the dress. Come on, let’s go!” Maxwell shouted as he led her out of her room and to his.

“Before we go in, close your eyes.” Maxwell giggled as he shimmied from side to side. Kaede looked at him in disbelief, is he really STRESS DANCING? She decided to ignore that and closed her eyes instead. Maxwell held her hand as he led her into his room. When Kaede reopened her eyes, she couldn’t believe it, the plain little room was decorated with squid balloons, squid buntings, squid drawings, squid spoons and squid bowls? “We’re going to try every single Jello flavour with our Squid bowls and squid spoons!” Maxwell exclaimed Kaede scanned the room, from left to right, from the hand drawn squid king drawings to the hand drawn squid king buntings, then to Maxwell’s hopeful smile. She knew that smile was irresistible, “Thanks Maxwell, this is cute!” “CUTE? This is the despaired squid king, aka me! But since you like it, let’s eat JELLO” Kaede smiled at Maxwell’s energy and playfulness. As they walked towards the first bowl, Maxwell screamed, “WAIT KAEDE DO NOT TOUCH THE JELLO!” Kaede turned to look at him, wondering what was wrong. “Before I forget to give this to you..” Maxwell said as he took a squid necklace off his neck and put it on Kaede. Kaede blushed as his warm, smooth hand skimmed her neck, the necklace was still warm from him wearing it. “Now let’s get started.” Maxwell smiled. As Kaede walked towards the Jellos, she accidentally dropped her spoon. “Don’t worry, Kaede, you can share mine” Maxwell said calmly,

“Aaand that’s it!” Maxwell exclaimed as he awkwardly petted her head like a kitten. “Soooo, what’s next?” Kaede asked as she felt for her necklace. Maxwell looked down and murmured, “ I..I’m sorry, I don’t have anything else planned.” Kaede gave him a pat on his back, “Don’t you worry Maxwell, I had so much fun guessing jello flavours, and I got something planned for us if you’re up for it!” Maxwell nodded, grinning.

“Spin the bottle, truth or dare with you, Liam, Drake and Hana !” Kaede exclaimed. “Maxwell, go get our friends.”Now…where are the bottles?” As Kaede found a champagne bottle from the recycling box, she plopped on the ground, just as Maxwell hopped in with all their friends and spun the brown bottle. “Truth or dare, Liam?” Kaede chimed.

Hours later, one by one, all the friends soon left, leaving Kaede alone with Maxwell again. “Truth or dare,Maxwell?” Kaede asked. Maxwell picked truth . “Do you have a crush?” She asked mysteriously, Maxwell blushed as he buried his face in his arms, “No turning back!” Shouted Kaede. “Okay, yes I do…” Maxwell said. “Who? Tell me? Right now!” Kaede demanded. “That’s not the question.” Maxwell said, his face still bright red. That made Kaede frustrated, she leapt over to Maxwell, tackling him to the ground, so she was staring down at him, “F..Fine! I surrender! I surrender! I’ll tell you, it’s…” {TO BE CONTINUED}

fanfic by Kaede Labelle

[modelsof-color]

Mor Mbaw by Matthew Welch for Moschino SS 24 Lookbook

[arutai]

Mor Mbaw by Christian Oita

[onlyboyzz]

Mor Mbaw for Mans concept menswear Spring/Summer 2021 photographed by Kito Muñoz and styled by Hadrian Bernal

[twopoppies]

https://twitter.com/inaaya_winter/status/1636692330240696320?t=7h1TdBk5cPeAgoeTn-mBAw&s=19

Do you know where this is from like where did liam say this

You know, I don’t actually recall. Maybe @justapayneaway has some insight. Or anyone else?

[twinkleallnight]

HIPPO

Late post to Maxwell Beaumont appreciation week day 2: childhood : Fanart

Imagining Annabelle Beaumont posing with her baby hippo (future Lord Maxwell Beaumont). She would have hugged him if she was alive. And may be would have accepted Riley with open arms too. Things that could have been......He misses her.

Tags: @3pawandme @alj4890 @angelasscribbles @bascmve01 @bebepac @busywoman @dcbbw @gkittylove99 @harleybeaumont @iaminlovewithtrr @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @neotericthemis @mom2000aggie @phoenixrising0308 @princess-geek @riseandshinelittleblossom @secretaryunpaid @sfb123 @sillydg @tessa-liam @tinkie1973 @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @yourmajesty09

[dcbbw]

Praise the Lord (#MBAW)

 This story is my late af submission for #Maxwell Beaumont Appreciation Week. If I’ve done this correctly, it covers many of the topics and themes presented to honor everyone’s favorite Beaumont. You’ll hear from the love interests I’ve paired him with; an ex; family; friends; and possibly the Man of the Hour himself; all will share their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on who Maxwell Beaumont is and what makes him tick.

I borrowed @choicesflashfics’ Week #17 prompt #3: “You can disagree all you want, but that doesn’t make me any less right.” It will appear in bold.

THANK YOU to those who read over snippets of this endeavor; it truly is a labor of love and took a village. Special mention to @ao719 for her suggestions and insight.  THANK YOU to all who will read this; your likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated more than you realize.

Please excuse any and all typos, missing/extraneous words, and/or grammatical errors. MS Editor rates this story as 98% error free.

Going with T for TEEN for the rating

Not really pairings, just some Maxwell appreciation

No triggers or warnings

All characters belong to Pixelberry

Song Inspo: Norman Fucking Rockwell, Lana Del Rey

Word Count: 5,085

Duchess Riley Brooks Beaumont (Acquittal AU)

The Duchess of Valtoria enters the room slightly crouched, looking  down at her daughter Annabelle; a wide, pleased smile splits her lips as she watches her child toddle without stumbling or falling.

“I did it!” Annabelle crows proudly.

“Yes, you did, my darling,” her mother agrees.

It’s been six months since her husband’s acquittal on charges of treasonous acts against the Crown. The worry lines that had creased her brow are gone; the wariness in her eyes has faded. But she holds her daughter’s hand a little too tightly; she checks the door alarm, and her glance falls too often to the security monitors that have been installed throughout her Great House.

She reluctantly lets go of Annabelle’s hand to allow the child to roam freely throughout the room; the baby runs to play with a stuffed toy collection. It’s a sizable one, taking up nearly a quarter of the area and filled with sea creatures, farm animals, plush dolls, dinosaurs, peacocks, and a life-size, glitter-covered Peppa Pig.

“Her father bought her those,” the Duchess says softly in explanation. “Every piece.” Her eyes cloud over with emotion. “He loves her beyond measure. Belle is an answered prayer for both of us.”

She sits, tossing one shapely leg over the other. “I know no one anticipated Maxwell and I to marry; hell, I don’t think Maxwell and I expected it!” She laughs, a genuine one that tilts her head back. “Our relationship is something neither of us saw coming, which may be the reason it’s so special.”

“Mama, turn around,” Annabelle demands, and her mother looks over to see her daughter making a sequined squid and a bright green peacock dance.

The Duchess claps enthusiastically at the performance before resuming the conversation.

“People ask what I see in him, what he has that a literal King doesn’t. I don’t answer because my choice of a life partner is not and will never be dictated by public opinion or pressure. But in addition to our friendship, Maxwell is a helper. Liam defends me, which is nice and frankly the least he could do since it was his father and head guard behind the scandal.

“Drake could be considered a protector, but his arrival at my door that night in Applewood was sheer luck. But in the midst of the scandal … it was Maxwell. He helped me chase down the reporter, he helped find Tariq. Yes, it was at Liam’s directive, but Maxwell would’ve found a way to help regardless. It’s what he does. Sometimes not well, but that’s neither here nor there.

“During the social season, it was Maxwell who helped me navigate Court. Maxwell was the one who helped clean House Beaumont when the workers didn’t show up, it was Maxwell who came up with the idea of the pretentious description for an ordinary appetizer we pulled together last minute. He helps, and that’s important to me.”

She frowns slightly as she studies her wedding ring.

“He’s forgetful, loyal to a fault to the wrong people, tends to not take certain responsibilities too seriously, and DO NOT get me started on his stress dancing. But his love? His love is magnificent and unwavering and when he bestows it upon you in whatever capacity … it’s forever.”

Her eyes glance at the security monitor before falling upon her daughter who is singing Happy Birthday as she pushes a plastic teacup in front of a Raggedy Ann doll.

“And I wouldn’t have him any other way.”

Riley Brooks Beaumont (ex-wife, UnRomance AU)

Riley Brooks Beaumont enters the restaurant, the hem of her navy dress swirling about her ankles. Her eyes narrow as they adjust to the dim lighting. She makes her way to the table; Maxwell Beaumont’s ex-wife has reached her chair when her head swivels and her eyes widen slightly.

At the next table is a tall Asian man with dark hair and eyes, holding a lunch meeting with what appears to be a client. Spreadsheets, charts, and graphs lay before him, and the low murmur of his voice travels slightly as he explains what the numbers represent.

He looks up; there is no recognition as he locks eyes with Riley briefly before he continues speaking. She’s slightly flustered as she sits, and quickly swallows iced water with lemon. Her eyes, filled with puzzled disbelief, dart to the Asian man before she begins speaking.

“Max and I are still friends, still friendly,” she begins. Her voice is low, her tone nostalgic. “We’re definitely better apart than we ever were together, and it’s no one’s fault.”

A waiter arrives with a glass of wine she didn’t order, and she shakes her head negatively. The water is sufficient.

“We met in Cordonia where we were both backpacking our way through the Mediterranean. We arrived with separate groups, but we ditched them to explore on our own. I never saw those people again.” She chuckles slightly. “Our romance was a whirlwind, much like Max himself. He has an energy … a … restlessness that’s contagious. He sees everything through rose-colored glasses and has an inherent kindness that makes him pretty irresistible. He wants to do right by those he’s closest to, but it’s hard for him to take the necessary actions to do so.”

Her phone pings; with an apologetic look, she picks up the cell and swiftly reads a text message. She sets it face down on the table as she speaks again.

“Not saying that Max is lazy, but he needs pushing and direction at times. He needs focus.

“I need to be the partner, the helpmate, to be able to give up control and let the man lead. But I couldn’t do that with Max; I was the one working, worrying about bills, and running the relationship. I met his needs, he couldn’t meet mine. He was content to let me support his dreams, but not motivated enough to actually work on them.

“I ended up mothering him, and we both resented me for it. Yet for all the accusations and arguments, he didn’t want the divorce; I did.”

The waiter returns, this time with a tray of food. It’s the mahi mahi lunch platter, with rice pilaf and broccoli florets. A look of panicked bewilderment crosses her face; she hasn’t even looked at the menu. Her eyes dart to the next table again; the Asian man is engrossed in conversation between bites of fish and rice pilaf.

“There were good times. Fun times. At our wedding, we delivered our vows via a rap battle. We would get drunk off cheap wine and lay on the rooftop, staring at the stars and making wishes.  We danced, and dear God, could he make me laugh! We wanted children, but it never happened for us. Maybe things would’ve been different if it had.” Her voice trails off, and she looks sadly at her plate of food.  

“Max and I were what we wanted, but not what we needed. Since our divorce, he’s been focused on his goals and growing up. He’s dating my best friend, which is slightly awkward for me, but she isn’t trying to mold him or control him. Penelope lets Max be, and he thrives best when he can just be. His timetable is different from everyone else’s; he’s always been one to march to his own beat.”

At the next table, the businessman is putting away his paperwork; he stands as he and the client shake hands. He picks up his phone when he sits back down, fingers typing swiftly. Riley’s phone pings again. She glances down, then across at the man who is now signing his receipt.

“I have to go,” she says as she rises from her chair. “Please know that Max is a great guy, he just needs too much support; I couldn’t continue to give it to him.”

Her lunch sits untouched as she walks out the restaurant’s doorway, in step with the man from the next table.

Olivia Nevrakis (Max’s girlfriend, DC AU)

“I can sum Maxwell Beaumont in two words,” Olivia Nevrakis states as she blows over a cup of fragrant tea to cool the liquid. “Perfect peace.”

Her very expression softens as she gazes as a picture of the two of them that sits on a floating shelf. Olivia is facing the camera, her tongue poked out through unpainted lips while flipping the photographer the bird. Maxwell stands behind her, his head dipped downward and his lips pressing into her hair; his face is in profile and shadow.

“I’m a difficult woman; I’m self-sufficient, stubborn, and used to taking care of myself. Max … he doesn’t try to change me. He’s my safe space. I can vent to him, I can laugh with him.” A slight pause; she appears to struggle with her next admission.

“I can be vulnerable with Max. I can cry around him. I can tell him my secrets, my innermost thoughts. Do you know how hard that is for someone as jaded as I am? But with Max, everything is just … easy.

“You know what? We never quarrel. Never. And trust me, I try it. Because he’s a little too good to be true sometimes. But he looks at me with those impossibly blue eyes of his and says, “You can disagree all you want, but that doesn’t make me any less right.” She sips her tea and grimaces at the taste. “Who can argue with that?”

Olivia reaches for a jar of honey and pours some into the cup, followed by cream. She stirs briskly, blending the flavorings into her beverage. An expression of satisfaction settles over her features when she sips again.

“Max is … balanced. That’s the only way to describe it. For all the weed, sex, junk food, and silly dancing … there’s meditation, massages, flowers for no reason, deep conversations, and cuddles. We share the chores and split the bills. We support each other in whatever way we need to. He doesn’t pigeon-hole either of us into roles or societal norms. We’re a team and a team gets in where they fit in.

“Now if I can just get him to curb his generosity when it comes to freely sharing the good green, he would be absolute perfect peace. “

Duke Liam Rys (Max’s fiancé, Laxwell AU)

“Max is my favorite subject; he’s my favorite everything!” The Duke of Valtoria laughs as his cheeks color pink.

“I’ve known him practically my entire life, but it took Drake Walker running away for me to truly see Max, to wonder what he and I could have without losing our friendship. And I want to clarify right now that Max is NOT a rebound! He’s too special, too pure to be anything other than first choice. Hell, only choice!”

Liam looks through his closet, pulling a pair of tan-colored linen pants and tossing them onto his bed. The bed he shares with Lord Maxwell Beaumont. He’s agreed to pick his fiancé up from Ramsford; from there they are headed to Portavira for a seafood dinner with the Ebrims.

“Max is horribly underestimated. Everyone sees the party boy, the slacker, the former fat kid with the jokes. But there is so much more to him than that. He’s in university, working on a double major in economics and digital marketing. His social skills are the envy of Court; he isn’t the best at reading a room, but Max is the best at reading a person. He has not one enemy within Court, and that is a testament to who he is as a person.

“His jokes are his way of covering his insecurities; he’d rather make you laugh than be the butt of laughter. He can keep a confidence. If I had to choose only one of his best qualities, it would be that he doesn’t gossip. Except with me, and even then, it’s on a need-to-know basis.”

A short-sleeved linen shirt the exact color of the pants gets tossed onto the bed as well. The Duke squats as he inspects rows upon rows of shoes.

“He saved me, you know,” Liam whispers, almost to himself. “Max was there at the two lowest points of my life. First Drake, then the assassins. You know how they say when one door closes, another one opens? You just have to get there. Believe me, it is utter hell in the hallways between doors. Max held my hand in the hallways.”

He pulls a pair of cognac-colored fisherman sandals, his eyes narrowed as he studies the contrast in colors. “It’ll work,” he sighs as the shoes join the outfit.

“Max is the yin to my yang. He stops me from being too serious, and overthinking everything. He turns the fear into excitement. Everything with him is an adventure.” The young noble gives a boyish grin. “I need adventures.” The smile falters. “I’m only able to love him because he loved me first. He taught me how to love both of us.”

His cell rings, and his face lights up. It’s Max. With a nod and smile, Liam walks away as he murmurs into the phone. Silence as he listens.

“NO WAY am I bringing ANY of those murderous peacocks with me! I will swim to Portavira first!”

Drake Walker

Drake’s expression is introspective as he takes a long pull from his flask. After a long swallow, he swipes at his mouth with the back of hand as he sets the flask a little too loudly on the wooden tabletop.

“Maxwell Beaumont? So, we’re going there.” Drake rakes shaggy bangs off his forehead as he ponders what he can safely say in appreciation about Lord Beaumont.

He pulls a pack of cigarettes closer to him, his fingers pulling one out of the pack. He digs in his shirt pocket for a lighter. The pad of his thumb scrapes the spark wheel; the small flame briefly illuminates his stubbled jawline before it’s extinguished.

“My relationship with Beaumont is … complex. There’s a lot of moving parts.” He inhales deeply; when he speaks, his words mingle with bluish-gray smoke.

“I’ve been told I’m ungrateful, but what people fail to realize is I’ve been baptized in dirty water. Every break I’ve gotten, every blessing bestowed … it’s come with a price I had no choice but to pay. I don’t owe anyone here anything.”

The Commoner’s hands clench, his jaw tenses. “Beaumont … that bastard KNEW where my sister … the only family I had left in Cordonia … he knew where she was the entire time! I was going fucking INSANE trying to find her. He was there all those times when I was taunted and teased by Olivia as to Sav’s whereabouts. He KNEW where she was when Liam sent security to find her.”

Drake’s voice cracks. “And he never once said a word!”

Silence as he smokes his cigarette, plucking columns of dead cinders into a full ashtray. “Motherfucker,” he mumbles.

“Yet, I don’t hate him. I can’t. For all the bullshit he’s put me through, I can’t help but admire him for his loyalty to and friendship with Savannah. I’m grateful someone had her back and made sure she and Bartie were taken care of.

“And despite our stations in life, Beaumont is the one person I would say gets me. We’re both outsiders, for different reasons of course; we’re the slackers of the bunch …our jobs are being friends with a King, but I’m the one who gets the heat for it. Beaumont gets a pat on the back. And let’s face it, we’re both mooching and sucking at the tit of the Crown.

“The difference is, in exchange, he’ll give them a song and dance and a helluva party. And I give him crap for it. Me … I give ‘em the finger, and he defends me for it.”

Drake scoffs before shrugging his shoulders. “How can someone have your back and still stab you in it? I mean, what are you supposed to do with a guy like that? ”

He shakes his head before barking out a wry laugh. “I swear to God, me and Beaumont are a couple of half-assed orphans … we aren’t complete orphans because as much as they don’t have anything to do with us, we each have a surviving parent … and we’re just walking each other home.”

He pulls at the flask again. “It’s nice walking with him. Sometimes.”

Bertrand Beaumont

“The one question I am constantly asked is if Maxwell and I are really related. The unfortunate answer is yes,” the Duke of Ramsford says slowly as his eyes read over treaties and agreements. “We are blood brothers. Literally.”

Bertrand pauses to sign and seal an arrangement between the Duchy of Ramsford and the Isle of Crete for the import and export of wines between them. He places it in a stack of papers to be couriered to the Palace for final review and approval by the King.

“We have both suffered the consequences and effects of having Barthelemy Beaumont for a parent, but Maxwell definitely received the brunt of it. Nothing he did was ever good enough because in father’s eyes, Maxwell wasn’t good enough. As the second-born, father had little use for Maxwell, so he grew up with mother as his primary parent.

“I believe that is where my brother learned and honed his humor skills, and how he is able to see the potential and not the worst-case scenarios.” A small smile plays upon the noble’s lips. “Perhaps his fear of missing out as well. I believe people call it FOMO.”

Bertrand’s eyes mist over ever so slightly, and his voice takes on a faraway tone. “Maxwell was determined to spend every available minute with mother. He would awaken before the sun rose and sit outside our parents’ bedroom door, waiting for mother to step out. As a toddler, he rarely used the bathroom for fear of being parted from her; he once went 17 hours without relieving himself.

“He and mother would go for walks, they read to each other, they danced. From courtly waltzes to disco to American pop and rap … they danced and laughed and shared inside jokes. However, for as much as Maxwell loved mother, he was never a mama’s boy. He’s always had a bit of a rebellious streak that came to the forefront with her death.”

He glances at the vintage timepiece that sits on his desk, then returns his attention to another agreement. “I admit I haven’t been the best sibling to my brother, and that our relationship isn’t always the best it can be. It’s a clash of personalities, but the difference is, unlike father, I’m learning to listen to and attempt to understand Maxwell. All while struggling with my own FOMO.

“He had mother, who encouraged his dreams. I had father, who killed mine.”

The Duke’s lips purse in disapproval as he reads over another trade agreement. “I definitely got the worst end of that bargain.”

Duchess Savannah Walker-Beaumont

The Duchess stands in her kitchen, her hands and forearms deep in a mixture of raw meat, eggs, onions, peppers, and breadcrumbs; a whining Bartie tugs impatiently at her pant leg.

“Drake’s coming over for dinner, so we’re eating American tonight. Mom’s meatloaf,” she offers in explanation.

Savannah glances down at her son as her hands knead and combine the ingredients in an Amish Farmer bowl. “Mama’s gonna make you some lunch real soon, okay?”

The child nods slowly as his eyes dart suspiciously between his mother’s face and the bowl.

A soft smile curves Savannah’s lips as she speaks. “Max? I love Max. Not in the way I love his brother, but I definitely don’t love Max as a brother. It’s more than that, but not like that.” She laughs in embarrassment. “Quite sure that made absolutely no sense at all, but it’s hard to verbalize what Maxwell means to me.

“You know, growing up in the Palace, surrounded by Court, it’s easy to blend in. Get lost. I was lost.  Court didn’t know who I was. I was never Jackson’s daughter; merely Drake’s little sister. The guy who hated their guts was more well-known and well-liked than the person who actually wanted to be there!

“I was one of three things: an oversight, an annoyance, a joke. I had two friends at Court: Maxwell and Kiara. We were the misfits. They were the only ones who knew about me and Bertrand. When I got pregnant and Bertrand pushed me away, they were the ones who helped me plan to run away to Paris. Kiara gave me French lessons, not only speaking it but reading it as well. Max arranged for the travel and helped me find lodging.

“I know lots of folks think I just mooched off Max the entire pregnancy, but I landed a job quickly when I settled in Paris. I was a waitress, just like Riley, until I couldn’t work any longer. THAT is when Max stepped in with offerings of the financial kind. He insisted that Bert owed me and Bartie. I didn’t feel right taking the help, not with Bertrand not knowing, but Max insisted, saying a Beaumont always takes care of their obligations.”

She wipes and washes her hands before reaching inside the refrigerator for barbecue sauce and minced garlic. The mother looks quickly over at her son, who is now loudly banging pots against the floor. Savannah studies the contents of the fridge before pulling leftover chicken, peas, and sweet potato out for Bartie’s lunch.

“I never wanted to be a burden or have Bartie viewed as an obligation, but Lord knows the extra money was a godsend.” Her voice grows quiet. “Max is my guardian angel, even now. Drake has Liam, I have Max.”

The Duchess scoops her son in one arm, and the pot with her free hand; she places the pot on an eye of the stove before pointing to the leftovers, explaining to her son that will be lunch. He grins happily before planting a wet kiss on her cheek. She laughs as she rubs noses with him.

“You wanna call Uncle Max and invite him over for meatloaf?”

Barite nods enthusiastically. “Unca Mack, Unca Mack,” he chants.

She opens a box of animal crackers, handing Bartie one before they leave the room to fetch her cellphone.

Riam

“Oooooh, we’re talking about Maxwell?” the Queen asks eagerly as she joins her husband on the drawing room sofa.

Their three-month-old twin sons are napping, and the monarchs are enjoying a quick lunch during the downtime. Plates of food are strategically scattered along the cherrywood coffee table; the King picks up a plate with a double lamb burger laden with mayonnaise, gouda cheese, grilled onions, and mushrooms; French fries; and a sliced kosher dill pickle.

The Queen chews on a deep-fried, corn-battered chicken fritter before selecting a taco salad. She mixes rice, guacamole, beans, ground beef, and seasoned rice as she speaks.

“THAT mofo! Let me tell y’all about Lord Beaumont. The man can’t tell the whole truth to SAVE.HIS.LIFE! He’s been half-assing it with me from the very beginning! It started when he convinced me to come to Cordonia. Pack a bag, he said. Everything is covered, he said. It’ll be an adventure, he said.”

She pauses to eat several forkfuls of salad and steal some of her husband’s fries. “It was not ANYTHING he said it would be! I wasn’t noble, so I didn’t know a damned thing! Apparently Maxwell didn’t either, so thank GOD for Hana Lee! I didn’t have ball gowns and riding outfits, or the money to buy them! And let me add that suitors did not get a participation discount! I maxed out all my credit cards paying full price, which wasn’t hard because of the stupidly low limits on them.

“I ALMOST GOT KILLED ON MY WEDDING NIGHT! But, to give Max credit, dude can FIGHT! Like, he kicks ass! He beat Anton like that man owed him money. But back to bashing … that fool writes MY STORY, puts HIS picture on the cover of the book, and now he’s GETTING RICH off of me! While I’m sitting over here, a broke single mother with a poor credit score.”

She shakes her head. “I should take his ass to court and sue the pants off him because he owes me ALLLL the royalties, but I’ve heard rumors about him releasing his kraken. Liam wouldn’t want me to see that.”

King Liam stares at his wife for a brief moment; she has abandoned the taco salad for a plate of sliced grilled chicken, garlic pasta, and broccoli au gratin. He dabs at the corners of his mouth before talking.

“My wife is correct, I would not want her seeing any kracken, but I think Riley doesn’t have the complete picture of Lord Maxwell. He is sweet, kind, empathetic. He believes in fairytales and that no one is too old for them. Yes, he’s forgetful and excitable and can be a bit of a jester, but it all comes from a good place. He has good intentions.”

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” Riley interrupts around a mouthful of food. “And where was all this positivity when he dragged us along on his Hollywood tour?”

Liam mulls his answer as he pours a glass of iced tea.

“Maxwell is unused to attention. Once his mother died, he became an afterthought to his father, brother, and the majority of Court. Hierarchy plays a large role in how people are treated, especially within the upper echelons of society; Lord Maxwell is merely noble, not royal. He is second-born, not expected to ascend any higher than his current station.

“Also, he’s used to not being in the spotlight. Any questions directed to him can be fielded to Bertrand, the Duke. His biggest claim to fame before the book and film was being the architect of the Beaumont Bash and even that has to have final approval from Bertrand.

“Now, he’s the man of the hour. He’s the one with the answers. He’s the final approver. Understandably, it went to his head.”

“Are you defending him?” the Queen demanded. “When I am the reason anyone even knows his name? Who’s going to pay off those credit cards? HE OWES ME, Liam!”

“Riley, all your financial affairs were settled upon our engagement … three years ago!”

“Not by him, they weren’t!”

“Is this about your credit score, or settling a score with Lord Beaumont?”

The Queen’s eyes are narrow slits. “You don’t know me. At ALL.”

Lady Kiara Theron

“Agreeing to be Maxwells girlfriend is definitely a tally in the win column for me,” Lady Kiara Theron says happily as she steps onto the balcony of the Midtown Manhattan hotel.

The future Duchess is in New York City for a UN Junior Ambassadors event.

“He has taught me so much about letting loose and having fun. Before Max, life was all work and studies and culture. It was routine. But now, there’s freestyle dancing and late-night rides to nowhere and roller skating and all the things.

“There is a trade-off because we both believe in learning and teaching and growing. So, there are lessons and educational activities, but fun ones: cooking, languages, painting. Life with Maxwell Beaumont is something I never knew I needed, and I wonder what I ever did before him.”

The smile fades slowly from her face as she takes in the view from the 33rd floor, and her expression becomes pensive.

“When I think of all the time I spent pining after Drake Walker …”

She shakes her head.  “I think that’s something Max and I have in common. We were never seen by the folks we crushed on because we weren’t seen as threats. And I don’t mean in a dangerous, risky type of way.” She falls silent as she formulates her thoughts into words.

“Drake didn’t see me as someone who could capture his heart; I wasn’t romance material, not relationship material to him. I mean, I don’t know why … look at me!”

She spreads her arms wide and gives a little twirl, her hair flying against her face as she giggles.

“Same with Riley and Max. And when you aren’t perceived as a threat, you’re never seen as a contender.

“It makes sense now given who they eventually ended up with. Drake needs someone who’s going to meet him at his level. I can’t do that. If the best version of Kiara has to show up, the best version of you does too. Not the best you can do, the best version period.

“Riley wants the huge romantic overtures; the glitz and the glamour. Max isn’t an overt person in that way. One thing I’ve learned being with Maxwell is that love isn’t always butterflies and heart palpitations. It isn’t always loud. It’s small gestures and meaningful actions. I’ve discovered that like love finds like love.”

The smile is back on her lips and lights up her face. “Max and I found each other. What I love best about him is that he loves me, he loves himself, but he loves us the most.”

The hotel phone rings, and Kiara hurries inside to answer it. The conversation is quick and one-sided. After hanging up, she rummages in her purse for her wallet before pulling out currency.

“The greatest thing about being in a relationship with Max is, he insists we take time for self-care. One day a week, we spend apart doing whatever it is we need to do for ourselves. Be it errands, business-related matters, or just vegging out. It’s our day.

“Well, today is that day and I’m going to enjoy genuine New York pizza and watch that Netflix series he insists we watch together because my boyfriend is greedy and without fail, talks through movies and tv shows. Sometimes, no matter how deeply you love someone, you just need a whole pizza to yourself and uninterrupted entertainment.

“Don’t tell him that, though. He’ll get over the pizza, but not the Netflix.”

Maxwell Beaumont

“Folks are TALKING about me?? Is it bad? If it is, you can’t believe a word they say! Will it be in the tabloids? Are there pictures? Did they get my good side? I hope so.”

Tagging:   @jared2612 @ao719  @marietrinmimi @queenjilian @indiacater @kingliam2019 @bebepac @liamxs-world @mom2000aggie @liamrhysstalker2020  @neotericthemis @twinkleallnight @umccall71 @superharriet  @busywoman @gabesmommie1130 @tessa-liam @beezm @gardeningourmet @lovingchoices14 @mainstreetreader @angelasscribbles @lady-calypso @emkay512 @jovialyouthmusic @princessleac1 @charlotteg234 @queenrileyrose @alj4890 @yourfavaquarius111 @motorcitymademadame @queenmiarys  @choicesficwriterscreations @burnsoslow @harleybeaumont @maxwell-beaumont-appreciation​

[angelasscribbles]

Max's Room: A Bad Romance One-Shot

Series: Bad Romance Continues

Original Series: Bad Romance

Fandom: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Pairings for series: Riley x Liam x Max, Riley x Drake, Riley x Rashad

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Max (mostly)

Rating: R

Warnings for this chapter: Language, sexual innuendo

Word Count: 5,670

A/N: This is my submission for Maxwell Appreciation Week Day 3 "The Early Years". Though this is set in the present, it references his childhood frequently and even includes a flashback.

A/N2: This is also both a birthday gift and a collaboration with @harleybeaumont. It wouldn't have reached the levels of, for lack of a better word, Maxness that it did without her suggestions and input.

A/N3: καρδιά μου is Greek, is pronounced Kar dee ah mo, and means my heart.

My other stuff: Master List.

“We’re here!” Riley called out as Maxwell threw open the front doors and they strode into the foyer.

Four members of the Queen’s Guard followed behind them, arms filled with unassembled packing boxes.

“Riley!” A short, heavy-set woman with greying black hair that was piled on top of her head in a bun threw herself at the young queen.

Riley laughed as she returned the hug, “Matilda! How have you been?”

“Bored without you and Lord-I mean Max,” She beamed at the younger Beaumont brother, “to keep things interesting!”

It had taken Riley months to convince the head of Ramsfords housekeeping staff to dispense with formalities and call them by their first names. Years of Bertrand’s insistence on following protocol and using proper titles had been hard to overcome. She still only did it when the duke wasn’t present to hear. At some point, Matilda had decided that a queen outranked a duke, but he was still her boss.

Max hugged her next, “You were always my favorite, you know that right?”

Matilda laughed, “Only because I let you sneak cookies before dinner! What are you doing here?”

Ever since Max had taken the position of first assistant and top advisor to the queen, he had been largely absent from the estate. She had missed his shenanigans.

“Bert said I had to come clean out my room.”

Matilda looked at him in puzzlement, “All of the bedrooms are kept clean, especially yours and Riley’s!”

The staff pretended not to notice that Max spent the night in Riley’s room when she was there, with or without the king present.

“Not that room. The other one.”

Matilda glanced at Riley, taking in her very unqueenly attire of short cropped denim pants, a t-shirt tied in a knot at the waist, and a colorful bandana tied in her hair, “Are you here to help him clean out his junk room?”

“Treasure room, Matilda! Room of wonderous treasure!” Max corrected her.

“Mm.” Matilda looked at him skeptically, “Duke Beaumont calls it a junk room.”

Max rolled his eyes, “Which is why we are here to clean it out! I have to rescue my stuff!”

“Is it in danger?” Matilda asked.

“Yes! Bert said he’s going to donate it all if I don’t come do something with it!”

“All right. To the treasure room then!” Riley exclaimed, waving bye to Matilda as she pushed Max toward the staircase.  

The guards deposited the boxes in the hallway outside the door Max pointed at and retreated as Riley waved them away, “We’ll call you when it’s time to carry things!”

Max had been clear that he didn’t want the guards going through his things. Riley was the only person he was allowing to help him sort through his treasured possessions.

“Why do you have a separate room for all this stuff, Max?” Riley asked as she pushed the door open. Her eyes swept over the room, taking in the flotsam and jetsam of Max’s childhood and young adult years.

Random pieces of dirt bikes were scattered across a long collapsible table. A hoverboard lay on its side, nearly tripping her as she tried to get into the room.

“Sorry!” Max said sheepishly as he picked it up and sat it on top of the octopus-themed pinball machine that rested next to the door.

Riley picked her way through basketballs, soccer balls, discarded fencing gear, and for some reason one of those inflatable tube guys.

“To answer your question,” Max said as he quickly assembled a box and started scooping DVDs into it, “it’s because Bert said I had too much stuff in my room. So, I found another room to put it all in.”

Riley raised an eyebrow as her eyes swept across the debris. A full quarter of the room was devoted to music. There were multiple guitars, both acoustic and electric, as well as several amplifiers, a karaoke machine, and DJ equipment including turntables, mixers, controllers, and speakers strewn everywhere. Several of the speakers had peeling stickers on them that read “DJ Beats-well”. Band posters hung on the walls and there was a large glass punch bowl full of guitar picks.

The corner across from the deconstructed DJ booth was devoted to fencing. Several swords hung on the wall and there was a rack holding fencing jackets, pants, and masks. There was even a piste taking up a good portion of the room on that side, there were fencing gloves and shoes scattered everywhere on the mat.

She turned her head to observe the shelves gracing the wall closest to her. Peacock showing awards and breakdancing trophies adorned several of the shelves, but what intrigued her were the small statues, “Hey, Max…”         

“Yeah?” He didn’t look up from the pile of books he had started sorting through.

“Why do you have garden gnomes in here?”

“Oh!” Max jumped up, tripping over the box he had just filled in his haste to get to her, “Those have to stay together! They’re a family!”

“What?” She laughed but fell serious as she took in his expression. “Ah, Max, is this how you dealt with losing both of your parents?”

He flushed, reaching to take the gnome out of her hand and setting it back on the shelf next to the others, as he mumbled, “I know it’s stupid…”

“It is not!” She assured him, “You were a kid! And no offense, but your brother wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.”           

“Oh yeah, no, he did his best and he was really stressed out trying to learn to run everything himself at such a young age and-“

“Max, Max, Max!” Riley reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, prompting him to turn toward her, “I wasn’t judging him! I was just empathizing with teenage you! I know he did his best, but he was your brother, and you needed a parent!”

He pulled her into a hug, “Thanks, Ri. You’re right. And you know what?”

“What?” She asked as they pulled apart.

He took the gnome off the shelf again, “I have a family now! I have you and Liam and Ellie and even Drake, so I don’t really need-“

“Don’t even think about it!” Riley yanked it out of his hand before he could put it in the donate box and deposited it in the box marked “Valtoria”, “The whole family is coming to live in our garden! Gnomes prefer it outside and they’ll brighten the place up!”

“Thanks,” he said softly as he helped her pack the rest of them into the box.

Riley enlisted the four guardsmen that had accompanied them to carry the boxes marked “donate” outside for pick up as they were filled. They sorted quickly through the obvious things. Fencing gear and all the other sports-related paraphernalia were being donated to youth programs in the area, along with the pinball machine and hoverboard.

The more sentimental possessions were going either down the hall to his room or to Valtoria or back to the palace with them.

At the back of the walk-in closet, Riley found an octopus cup holder. She held it up triumphantly as if she’d just found something valuable, “This is coming home with us!”

“Really?” Max asked in excitement, “Bertrand wouldn’t let me keep it in the kitchen here, he said it was vulgar!”

“Well I think it’s fabulous and it’s going on our kitchen counter at the palace!”

“Oh! Wait! I have cups that go with that!”

As Max was packing the coffee cups, Riley found a wooden keepsake box in the closet and slid it onto her lap. She unlatched it and opened the lid curiously. “Hey, Max…”

“Yeah?”

“Why on earth do you have a box full of do not disturb tags?”

“Oh, shit!” He fumbled a cup in his haste to get to her. He rolled rather than stand up and walk. He tried to snatch the box out of her hands, but she was quicker.

She walked across the room as she flipped through them, “These are all from different hotels…why do they have names written on them?”

“Riley, you were never supposed to see those!”

“Why not?” She glanced up at him then back down at the box as her eyes widened, “Oh shit! Are these like…trophies?”

Max stood up and lunged for the box again.

Riley sidestepped him easily as she held one up and read, “Thomas G. Paris, The Grand Hilton….” A wicked smile spread across her face, “These are trophies!”

“Fuck!” He gave up, tilting his head up to stare at the ceiling in consternation, “You’re going to tell Liam about this, aren’t you?”

She ignored the question as she continued to rifle through the box, “Damn Max! How many guys have you fucked?”

“Riley, please!”

Her smile disappeared as she plucked out a tag with a woman’s name on it. Dropping the offending tag back into the box, she shoved it into his hands, “Here, this isn’t fun anymore!”

“Why do you think I didn’t want you to see it?” He asked as he took it from her and tossed it into the waste bin.

“I know you had a past before me, I just don’t like thinking about you with other women!” She knew she sounded petulant, but she couldn’t help it. The idea of Max with any other woman drove her mad with jealousy. Other men were fine.

She never claimed to be logical.

“Barely,” he reminded her, “They were mostly men. But it doesn’t matter, I have you and Liam now and the past is in the past.”

“I know…”

“Besides,” he did a little dance move as he shimmied up to her, “they don’t count. No woman has ever affected me like you do and I’ve certainly never been in love with another one.”

“I know and I love you,” her fingers stroked down his cheek and ran along his bottom lip.

He dropped down to his knees in front of her as he took her hand in his, “I’m yours, one hundred percent. To do with whatever you want!”

Her pupils dilated a little as she pushed him away, “Okay, enough of that! Keep it up and we’re not going to get any more cleaning done, and I don’t want to have to come back tomorrow! Get up!”

“Fine, but this is to be continued, okay?”

“Oh, fuck yeah it is! And don’t worry, I won’t tell Liam about all the guys.”

Liam got as jealous and possessive as she did. It was in nobody’s best interest for him to have a list of names of men that Max had been with. Especially the men whose names were on that list.

“Thanks.”

Riley went back to sorting through the walk-in closet. She became so deeply engrossed in Max’s postcard collection that she didn’t notice him creep up to the door with a large ventriloquist dummy in his hands.

Max stayed outside the closet but leaned the doll around the corner so it was peeking at Riley. He suppressed a giggle at the thought of how surprised she was going to be as he mimicked a high falsetto, “Riiiiiiileeeeey!!!”

Riley had just stood to reach up for the next box on the closet shelf when she heard the weird voice. Turning toward it, she saw a hideous miniature monster peering around the corner at her. With an ear-piercing scream, she drop-kicked it, sending it flying across the room to thump into the far wall.

Max was distressed by the turn of events, “Why Riley? Why? What did Mr. Giggles do to deserve that?”

“Mr. Babadook you mean?”

“What? No!” Max shot her an offended look as he darted across the room to retrieve the fallen doll, “Mr. Giggles is good!”

“Max that thing is hideous! Where did it come from? Why do you have it?” she demanded.

“Well, like you pointed out, I was lonely as a kid after my mom died so my dad bought me these dummies, either to be nice to me or just so he didn’t have to play with me, I’m not sure…but either way…they were my friends!”

“Wait! There are more of those?”

“Yeah, want to see?”

“No, I do not!”

“But-“

“Those are not coming home with us, Max!”

“Oh, come on! Maybe not all of them, but at least Mr. Giggles!”

Riley crossed her arms and shook her head sternly, “No.”

“Damn. It’s not even the first time Mr. Giggles has been banned from the palace…”

“Wait. What?”

“The one time I took him to a sleepover with Liam, Constantine said that the path of destruction he left was too expensive to be repeated.”

Riley uncrossed her arms, “Max, tell me this story!”

“Liam! Liam! Liam!” a nine-year-old Max bounced up and down gleefully, “I can’t wait to show you my new friend!”

“New friend?”

“Yes! His name is Mr. Giggles and my dad got him for me! Look!” Max pulled the dummy out of his suitcase with a flourish.

Liam jerked back in surprise, his eyes going wide, “Oh…I…uh…”

“Isn’t he great?” Max gushed.

“Y..yeah…sure,” Liam covered his repulsion. The thing looked like something out of a horror movie, but Max was excited so Liam pasted on his best prince smile and tried to be supportive.

“Where’s Drake?” Max asked, “I want to show him too!”

“I think he said he was going to the kitchen to raid the pantries,” Liam said carefully. He wasn’t sure Drake was going to be as diplomatic as he had been about Max’s new toy.

Before Liam could protest, Max was heading out the door, “Come on!”

With a sigh, Liam followed him through the palace to the darkened kitchen.

They found Drake digging through one of the larger pantries. He had climbed up onto a countertop and was standing on his tiptoes trying to reach a tin of cookies on the top shelf.

Max put his finger on his nose to indicate to Liam to keep quiet as he walked up behind Drake, holding Mr. Giggles in front of him, “Draaaake…”

Drake turned his head down and to the side, his eyes grew bigger than they’d ever been in his life and a hoarse scream ripped from his throat as he lost his footing on the countertop and fell backward, pulling the entire shelving unit with him.

“Drake, are you okay?” Liam lunged into the pantry to help his friend up.

Before Liam could make it to him, Drake jumped to his feet, balled his hand into a fist, and punched Mr. Giggles so hard that the doll’s head smashed into Max’s face, sending blood spurting out of both nostrils.

“Ow!” Max instinctively threw the dummy at Drake and grabbed his nose.

Drake saw the monster flying at his face, he scrambled backward, his body thunking into the shelves filled with glass containers of pasta, flour, sugar, and cornmeal. Drake covered his head and dunked as glass jars fell and shattered on the hard floor of the pantry.

By the time Drake lifted his head to survey the scene, Max had darted forward to grab his doll. As he plucked it off the floor, the toy’s arms swung back and forth. What Drake saw was Max with a bloody face and Mr. Giggles attacking him.

“AAAiiiieeeeee!” Drake ripped the doll from Max’s arms and threw it with all his might toward the open door of the pantry where Liam had retreated to when the second shelf had gone down and things had started to fall.

Liam released an ear-splitting scream as he tried to shove the dummy away while jumping backward away from it. He careened into a service cart, sending it, and everything on it, clattering to the floor. He landed in a heap in the middle of the mess.

“What the hell is going on in here?” A voice boomed out as Leo, followed by Olivia, came to investigate the noise.

“Drake punched my friend!” Max cried, tears and snot mixing with the blood on his face.

“Your what?” Drake cried, “I just saved you from that thing!”

Leo doubled over in laughter as Olivia picked the discarded doll up from the floor, and held it up in the air with disdain, “Is this what caused all that racket?”

“You guys were afraid…of a doll?” Leo howled with laughter as he held his stomach.

“A what?” Drake looked at the dummy now limp in Olivia’s grasp, “It was moving!”

“It was me! I was moving it!” Max sobbed.

“Hey, Liv!” Leo snatched the doll out of her hands, “Want to see the maids lose their minds? Come on!”

“Wait! No! It’s mine!” Max wiped his face on his sleeve and took off after Leo and Olivia.

Leo sprinted from the kitchens into the formal dining room where several of the maids were busy cleaning. He skidded to a stop in the doorway, his eyes quickly assessing the best target. There, at the largest of the palace’s China cabinets stood a maid on a stool, dusting and replacing each item.

Leo stifled a giggle as he made his way stealthily across the room, Olivia right behind him, hand clamped over her own mouth in an effort to keep quiet.

“Leo, no!” Max skidded into the room, but it was too late.

The maid turned her head just as Leo thrust the doll up toward her. She whacked at it with her feather duster as she fell back with a scream.

She toppled off the stepstool, jarring the cabinet on her way down. The cabinet thumped against the wall and then forward again, plates and teacups tumbling from the glass shelves. Pieces of dinnerware splintered, cracked, and smashed all around her as she covered her head and howled with terror and rage.

“Maria! What in the world-“ a second maid hurried across the room but stopped short as Leo turned toward her, propelling the doll into her face.

“Aaaaahhhhh!” the second woman slapped the dummy out of Leo’s grasp as she stumbled backward screaming for help.

Jackson Walker strode into the middle of utter chaos. Leo and Olivia were laughing so hard that they were turning red. Maxwell was crying and clutching a doll to his chest, one of the maids was sprawled in the middle of the floor surrounded by broken dishes and another was making the sign of the cross as she prayed out loud in Italian.

Before he could react to the sight in front of him, Liam and Drake trailed into the room. Drake was covered in flour and bits of dried pasta. Liam had removed his shirt, leaving it next to the cart that had spilled an entire pitcher of tea all over him. His hair was wet, sticky, and matted from the tea and sugar he had rolled in.

“Do I even want to know?” Jackson sighed.

“Oh, my God, Max!” Riley was delighted, “That’s hysterical!”

"No, Riley, it was traumatizing!”

“And Constantine banned you from bringing it to the palace again?”

“Yes, and not just because of all the broken stuff. Apparently, he had to give the maids raises to get them to stay.”

“Just because of that?”

“Oh, no. That was by far not the first or only prank Leo ever played on them! I think it was a straw that broke the camel’s back situation.”

“Hm,” Riley tapped her fingers against her lips thoughtfully, “And Drake was really scared of it?”

“Yeah…why?”

“No reason,” she tossed her hair as she gave him a grin and headed back to the closet to finish sorting through postcards, “You can bring him.”

“Really?”

“Really. Just…keep him away from me…and Ellie!”

“Done!” Max jumped up and down a little.

“I’m not going to find any more of those in this closet am I?”

“No,” he affirmed, as he pointed, “They’re all in that steamer trunk over there.”

“Okay, good!”

Max decided to move the trunk to his bedroom down the hall. He wanted to keep the dummies, but there was no need to take them to Valtoria or the palace. Except for his favorite. He placed Mr. Giggles near the door and went back to sorting. He had five piles in the middle of the room: donate, move to his room, take to Valtoria, take to the palace, and throw away.

Once the postcards had all been boxed up to donate to a local preschool for art projects, Riley tackled the desk in the corner nearest the closet.

The computer itself would be donated. Max had a newer, better laptop he currently used. The desk could go too, but first, it needed to be cleaned out. Riley slid the top drawer open, her hand rummaging through pens, pencils, half-used erasers, paperclips, rubber bands, and other various assorted office detritus.

She dumped the entire drawer into the waste bin and moved on to the middle drawer. Old CD-ROMs, some partially used notebooks, legal pads, and sticky notes sat in the drawer collecting dust.

The contents of the middle drawer also went straight into the trash.

She pulled the bottom drawer open and removed a stack of papers, placing them on the desk in front of her. She shuffled through the stack, her interest growing with each document she skimmed.

In her hands she held manuscripts, half-written screenplays, and sheaves of paper containing short stories, poetry, and scripts. She stopped sorting and started reading, becoming so engrossed that she lost track of time. When she finally looked up, it was to exclaim, “Max! These are good!”

“What?” Max glanced up from the PSP games he was matching with cases and packing into a donation box. His eyes went wide as he took in what she was doing. Stumbling to his feet, he darted across the room, “Riley, no! Don’t read those!”

“Why not?” she asked as she turned her body to put it between him and the papers.

“Because they’re not any good!”

“Yes, they are!”

“No, they’re not! You’re just being nice because you love me!”

Riley gave him a level look, “Since when have I ever pulled any punches just because I love someone?”

“Okay….fair point. But-“

Riley held up an oversized white envelope, “This one is fully written, sealed, and addressed to a publisher! Why didn’t you send it?”

“I told you, it’s no good! Bert told me it was silly….”

“I thought we already established that Bertrand can be a colossal dick with a humongous stick up his ass.”

“I know, but-“

“You never sent any of them?”

Max shook his head.

“What’s this one about?” She tapped the sealed envelope.

A dark flush spread across Max’s face, “It’s a fictionalized account of your relationship Liam.”

“Really?” Surprise pulled through her.

“Really. I mean, I left out a lot, like all the scandal-causing parts, but maybe it was my way of dealing with stuff when you dumped me for him.”

“Ah, Max,” She dropped the pages onto the top of the desk, as she stood up and pulled him into a hug, “I’m so sorry for that.”

“It’s okay,” he told her, but he squeezed her back tightly, “It all worked out in the end!”

“It did,” she agreed as she released him and scooped the papers off the desk, depositing them into a box marked “palace”.

“We can just throw those away,” Max protested.

“I don’t think so, Max. Even if you never publish any of them, these are good, and you poured your heart and soul into them. They come with us.”

“Okay,” a shy smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. It made him happy that she liked his writing.

One of Riley’s queen’s guards popped his head into the room, “Excuse me but Captain Walker just called. He’s ten minutes out.”

“Thank you, Marco!” Riley sang out, then turning to Max, she said, “All right, let’s wrap this up! Drake is picking us up, we’re going to lunch at that new Greek fusion restaurant in town.”

The restaurant had already been cleared and secured by the guard pending their arrival.

Max’s head swiveled around the room, “I think that’s just about everything.”

“Why don’t you take those two boxes of things that stay here down the hall to your bedroom, and I’ll have the guards finish getting the stuff that goes with us loaded into the back of their SUV.”

“Okay!”

The moment Max was out the door, Riley plucked the sealed manuscript out of the top of the cardboard box she had tossed it into and placed it in Marco’s hands, “Put this in the outgoing mail when we get back to the palace, but don’t let Max see it!”

“Yes, ma’am!” Marco gave her a curt nod and then bound down the stairs to secure the envelope in his vehicle before it was spotted by the younger Lord Beaumont.

Drake was standing outside, leaning against his car, deep in conversation with one of the guardsmen when Riley came out. His eyes lit up when they fell on her. He quickly wrapped up his conversation and hurried over to greet her.

“There you are, καρδιά μου,” he pulled the car door open for her, “You ready to go?”

“Hey, babe!” She turned her cheek up to him for a kiss before she climbed into the passenger seat of his deep maroon Devore GT, “Yes, I’m starving! We’re just waiting on Max.”

Drake pushed her door shut and walked around the car to lower himself into the driver’s seat. The guards would follow in one of the crown-issued SUVs. He liked to do his own driving whenever possible. Since he was the head of the Queen’s Guard, he got away with it. It helped that his car was custom-built with a full roll cage and bulletproof glass, just like all the cars in the royal fleet.

“So how bad was it?” He asked.

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad-“ Riley was interrupted by Max tapping on the window. He opened the door as she leaned forward, pulling the seat with her so he could climb in behind her.

Max slid into the backseat, Mr. Giggles leaned over the front seat, “Hey, Drake! Look what I found!”      

Drake turned his head, his body jerked away then he instinctively punched the doll in the face before jumping out of the vehicle, “Fuck no! Get that thing out of my car!”

Fortunately, Max was prepared this time and moved out of the way without getting a bloody nose. “Ah, come on, Drake! Let bygones be bygones! Mr. Giggles is sorry…” he wiggled the doll back and forth.

“I will fight you, Beaumont! I have never laid hands on you in a violent manner before, despite the many, many times I’ve threatened to, but this time I’m fucking serious!”  

Riley leaned across the console and peered up at him from inside the car, as she shook with laughter, “Ah, come on cuddle bear! It’s just a doll!”

“I-“ Drake’s head snapped around as he heard laughter.

The laughter cut off as his eyes landed on Marco and the other guards who all turned abruptly and pretended to be doing other things.

“For the love of Christ!” He muttered under his breath as he got back in the car, “Keep that thing away from me or it’s going in the trunk and then the woodchipper when we get home!”

“Okayyyy…” Max sat Mr. Giggles in the seat next to him and buckled the seatbelt around him.

Drake cut his eyes sidewise at Riley as he started the car, “Really, babe?”

She shrugged, “No, yeah, I agree, it’s creepy as fuck, but it makes him happy.”

“Are you sure we’re not all living with a serial killer?”

“I heard that!” Max snapped.

“You were meant to!” Drake snapped back.

Riley dropped her hand on top of Drake’s with a smile, “We can sneak up on Liam with it when we get home.”

That drew a smile out of him, “Yeah, okay. That’ll be fun.”

********

Three months later…..

“That’s weird,” Max said as he stood at the counter sorting through the mail.

Liam looked up from the table where he was trying and failing, to get crown princess Eleanor to eat her breakfast, “What’s weird?”

“There’s a letter from a publisher addressed to me…but I never sent anything to a publisher…”

“Huh, that is weird,” Riley took a big bite of her scrambled eggs and looked the other direction.

Drake paused with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth, “Oh, I know that look! Riley, what did you do?”

She widened her eyes at him as she shook her head.

Liam gave up trying to get his daughter to eat and handed her a sippy cup before turning his attention to his wife, “What did you do, love?”

She swallowed her eggs and reached for her orange juice, “Why is everyone looking at me?”

Max stared down at the envelope in his hands, “Riley….did you send one of my manuscripts to a publisher?”

She set the glass carefully on the table in front of her, “Maybe…”

Annoyance and excitement fought for dominance as his finger toyed with the flap, “Which one?”

“The one that was already addressed and ready to go, of course,” she pushed away from the table and walked up behind Max. Laying her hand on his shoulder, she told him, “Well, go on…open it!”

Liam stood and joined them, “I didn’t know you wrote, Max. What did you write?”

“A book about us!” Riley answered.

“Oh! I…uh…” Liam stammered as panic spiked through him.

“No, no!” Max exclaimed, “I left out any details that could cause a scandal! It’s a highly fictionalized account!”

“Oh, thank God!” Liam sat back down to accommodate his suddenly rubbery knees.

Drake smirked at him as he slathered jam on his toast, “I’m glad no one gives a shit what I do!” he said before jamming half the slice into his mouth at once.

“Are you mad?” Riley leaned into Max from behind, trying to see over his shoulder.

“No,” he touched the hand that was still resting on his shoulder, “I could never be mad at you, for any reason.”

“Good! Now open it!” she commanded.

Max slid the letter opener under the flap and tore it open. He pulled out the paper inside and unfolded it. Smoothing it out, his eyes scanned down the page then his jaw dropped, “It’s an offer of publication! They like it! They want to publish it!”

“Eeee, Max! I knew it!” Riley spun him around so she could hug him, “I told you that your writing was good!”

“Either that or they just want the inside scoop on you and Liam,” he said as he hugged her back.

“They wouldn’t want to publish it if it wasn’t good, Max!” She admonished him.

“She’s right, my little niblet,” Liam told him, “Insider information or not, they wouldn’t publish something of subpar quality. Offer you money for an interview, maybe, or make the offer contingent on heavy editing, so if they want to publish as is, it’s good.”

“He’s right Max,” Drake chimed in as he scooped more food onto his plate, “and what the fuck is a little nib-you know what? Never mind, I don’t want to know. You guys and your weird terms of endearment…”

“Really?” Liam turned to him with a smirk, “Cuddle bear?”

“Yeah,” Max joined in, “Snuggle bug? Marshmallow? Squishy?”

“Hey!” Drake’s face flamed red, “Those are all her! I can’t control what she does!”

“You like it!” Riley told him saucily.

“Mmm,” was his only response but it was all that was required. He did like it and they all knew it, so he decided to just drop the subject altogether.

“Congratulations, Max,” Liam started gathering his things to leave for the day, “I’m sure it’s amazing and I can’t wait to read it!”

“Thanks, babe,” Max blushed as he read the letter again.

Drake finished his third helping of breakfast and pushed away from the table to fill his thermos. Once that was done, he set it on the counter nearest the door so he wouldn’t forget it on his way out. “Congrats, buddy!” He smacked Max on the back then grabbed Riley and pulled her into him for a goodbye kiss.

Liam kissed Max goodbye then turned to Riley and Drake, “Ahem! May I kiss my wife now?”

Drake pulled away from her reluctantly, “Fine!” He huffed, “I’m late anyway!”

“I’ll see you at lunch, cuddle bear!” she called after him before letting Liam pull her into a passionate embrace.

“And I’ll see you at dinner, my king,” she told him when he finally broke the kiss, “just the two of us!”

“Can’t wait!” Liam hurried toward the door, “Have a good day!”

“Oh, I will,” she waved bye to Liam before making her way to the table. She removed the highchair tray and started wiping Ellie’s hands and face “I have the morning free. I want to give Ellie her bath and play with her a little but when she goes down for her morning nap, maybe you and I can celebrate this accomplishment properly!”

“I’d like that, blossom. And hey….”

She looked up as she pulled Ellie from the highchair, “Yeah?”

“Thank you for believing in me,” he crossed the room to embrace her again, “I love you.”

“Oh, Maxey,” she held her daughter in one arm and reached for him with the other, “I love you too!”

He leaned down and kissed her while the tiny princess in her arms pinched his face. They were standing in the middle of the aftermath of their family breakfast, the kitchen in total disarray, his skin greasy everywhere Ellie touched him, her little fist clenching his cheek in a death grip, but Riley’s lips were on his, the people he loved believed in him, and he was blissfully, perfectly, unequivocally happy.

[gwens-fiction]

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Tell me about a victory, either your characters or your own. I wanna hear about some triumphs

Thank you! Mmm, I’ll give something for both.

I still feel triumphant back in college, a poem my creative writing teacher gave me an 80 on because it was about a ghost (I wish I was joking, it was inspired by the ghost stories of that college), and I submitted it to the college’s literary magazine and it won second place over all.

As for a character's victory, Sebastian felt pretty victorious when he found a babysitter who wasn’t freaked out by his werewolf toddler.

[tired-demonspawn]

chapter 13! wow, hope you guys handled that 48 hour period well! :D

hope nothing too crazy happens which might be hinted at in that silly lil picture i drew!

full clean sketch that i saved cuz i thought the whole pose looked really cool, but the crop was more dramatic, so i cropped it, whatever. it's under the cut is my point

[maxwell-beaumont-appreciation]

MBAW Romance

Carefree, a Maxwell x MC(Kaede Labelle) fanfic by Kaede (again, yes)

This is hopefully a late entry for the Maxwell Beaumont Appreciation Week, romance fanfic <3

Kaede woke up to the familiar sound of a knock on the heavy oak doors, “come in…’ she murmured sleepily. Peeking through the crack of the door was unmistakably Maxwell, with his bright blue eyes and cheeky wide grin that lights the dullest days up. “Maxwell, it’s 5am… can’t I sleep just a little bit longer? Kaede whined as she rolled over, clutching the warm duvet. “Well, I thought you personally could use some Maxwell Beaumont time with the one and only: MAXWELL BEAUMONT!!!” Maxwell shouted dramatically as he moonwalked towards her bed. Kaede said nothing but groaned in reply. Maxwell climbed energetically onto her bed and started jumping, missing Kaede’s head by millimetres. “ Okay, okay, Maxwell, I'm up, chill.” She sat up drowsily and made her way towards the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Kaede stepped out of the bathroom, but only to be greeted by an excited Maxwell. “Surprise!” Maxwell shouted, “ This dress is for you and you only, m’lady.” In the parcel was the most beautiful dress she’s ever seen, the silky aquamarine dress was embroidered with little squids, dotted with gleaming pearls. Kaede was stunned by the gorgeous dress, every seam and every embroidery, that’s when something caught her eye, steep pockets? The seams on the side of the pockets were messy but hardly seen. “M..Maxwell? Did you add a personal touch to the dress?” Maxwell blushed and replied, “Well, I thought you could use extra pockets, didn't everyone? I mean, I can ask the seamstress to take it off if you want…” “No, Maxwell, that’s so sweet, thank you! Let me try it on…” Kaede smiled as she gave him a short but fierce hug.

Moments later, Kaede reappeared with the aquamarine dress on her. Maxwell stepped back to admire her dress and she strikes a silly pose, “How do I look, Maxwell?” Maxwell grinned and put his thumbs up, “I don’t know which one is prettier, you or the dress. Come on, let’s go!” Maxwell shouted as he led her out of her room and to his.

“Before we go in, close your eyes.” Maxwell giggled as he shimmied from side to side. Kaede looked at him in disbelief, is he really STRESS DANCING? She decided to ignore that and closed her eyes instead. Maxwell held her hand as he led her into his room. When Kaede reopened her eyes, she couldn’t believe it, the plain little room was decorated with squid balloons, squid buntings, squid drawings, squid spoons and squid bowls? “We’re going to try every single Jello flavour with our Squid bowls and squid spoons!” Maxwell exclaimed Kaede scanned the room, from left to right, from the hand drawn squid king drawings to the hand drawn squid king buntings, then to Maxwell’s hopeful smile. She knew that smile was irresistible, “Thanks Maxwell, this is cute!” “CUTE? This is the despaired squid king, aka me! But since you like it, let’s eat JELLO” Kaede smiled at Maxwell’s energy and playfulness. As they walked towards the first bowl, Maxwell screamed, “WAIT KAEDE DO NOT TOUCH THE JELLO!” Kaede turned to look at him, wondering what was wrong. “Before I forget to give this to you..” Maxwell said as he took a squid necklace off his neck and put it on Kaede. Kaede blushed as his warm, smooth hand skimmed her neck, the necklace was still warm from him wearing it. “Now let’s get started.” Maxwell smiled. As Kaede walked towards the Jellos, she accidentally dropped her spoon. “Don’t worry, Kaede, you can share mine” Maxwell said calmly,

“Aaand that’s it!” Maxwell exclaimed as he awkwardly petted her head like a kitten. “Soooo, what’s next?” Kaede asked as she felt for her necklace. Maxwell looked down and murmured, “ I..I’m sorry, I don’t have anything else planned.” Kaede gave him a pat on his back, “Don’t you worry Maxwell, I had so much fun guessing jello flavours, and I got something planned for us if you’re up for it!” Maxwell nodded, grinning.

“Spin the bottle, truth or dare with you, Liam, Drake and Hana !” Kaede exclaimed. “Maxwell, go get our friends.”Now…where are the bottles?” As Kaede found a champagne bottle from the recycling box, she plopped on the ground, just as Maxwell hopped in with all their friends and spun the brown bottle. “Truth or dare, Liam?” Kaede chimed.

Hours later, one by one, all the friends soon left, leaving Kaede alone with Maxwell again. “Truth or dare,Maxwell?” Kaede asked. Maxwell picked truth . “Do you have a crush?” She asked mysteriously, Maxwell blushed as he buried his face in his arms, “No turning back!” Shouted Kaede. “Okay, yes I do…” Maxwell said. “Who? Tell me? Right now!” Kaede demanded. “That’s not the question.” Maxwell said, his face still bright red. That made Kaede frustrated, she leapt over to Maxwell, tackling him to the ground, so she was staring down at him, “F..Fine! I surrender! I surrender! I’ll tell you, it’s…” ~~TO BE CONTINUED ~~

by Kaede

[modelsof-color]

Mor Mbaw by Christian Oita for Man About Town Magazine May 2023

[harleybeaumont]

Bye, Bye, Bye

A silly Maxwell drabble where Max bleaches his hair. Written for @maxwell-beaumont-appreciation​ week

Day 1: Monday, January 23rd, Maxwell Appreciation Day: Appreciation and Headcanons! Tell us what you love about Maxwell, and/or tell us your headcanons. This can take the form of a fic that highlights it, artwork that depicts it, or even a simple list!

What do I love about Maxwell? The list is endless lol, but I’ll name a few things. I love his honesty, his playfulness, and how he is able to turn any situation into a good time. He loves with his whole heart and even though he doesn’t like confrontation, he defends those he cares about to the end. Maxwell Beaumont is unashamedly himself (unless he’s around Bertrand) and adorably naive to what others think about him.

(Also check out this edit done of Maxwell’s sprite!)

Maxwell bleaches his hair-

-30 year old Maxwell stands in front of the mirror, considering. 

-Sure.. this is going to piss off Bertrand, but it's also going to look totally badass. 

-He’s been wanting to do this since he saw an NSYNC concert in grade school. It’s finally time. 

-He opens the box and mixes up the bleach and god it smells awful. 

-He rolls up his sleeves and gets to work, painting the bleach mixture all over his dark brown hair until his head is completely covered and itching like crazy. 

-I hope this doesn't make my hair fall out. 

-After he rinses and shampoos his hair a few times with purple toner, he looks in the mirror and his jaw drops. 

-He looks like a boy band member from the 90’s and IT. IS. AWESOME!

-For the final touches, he adds some sculpting cream and spikes his hair. 

-Just call me Lance FUCKING Bass. 

-That night, Maxwell throws open the doors to let in the guests for the annual Beaumont Bash.

-Everyone freezes, simply staring at him

-Bertrand rounds the corner, face pale from shock, before it turns a deep shade of purple

-”Maxwell Percival Beaumont!” is shouted loud enough to shake the walls.

-Max spins and runs out of the room but not before shouting..

-”BYE BYE BYE!”

[bebepac]

Meet My Maxwell Beaumont!

It’s funny, I remember when I played TRR the first time around, even though it PB says you can wind up with different people I was shocked  when people were posting their “wedding pictures” and Maxwell was legit a L.I. in them.   BLEW. MY. MIND.  

Original Post 1/29/23 at 3:06PM EST. 

I played all of one full chapter with Maxwell  as LI, which was the Vegas fling chapter, which not going to lie really surprised me, and part of the first chapter of book 3 and honestly for me, I still see Maxwell, as the adorable and sweet friend / brotherly character. For my Riley, Maxwell will always be her best friend (don't tell Hana 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) , but the sweet guy will always find love in any AU I write, where Riley's sister Taylor emerges as a character.

Here are my Maxwell Beaumonts FCs I use in my various series.

1. Meet Maxwell Beaumont:  The Royal

OG Maxwell:  He is who I think of when I think of my Maxwell

Funny, quirky, and sweet, this is my first Maxwell when I came onto the fandom that I used. For me, he just screams Maxwell. This is my Maxwell in all of my Royal story lines.  He appears in my series:

The Life of Riley: Book 2

Heroes and Villains

Fast Forward

The Days the Earth Stood Still

The Cordonian Arrangement

University Student Ellie

2. Meet Maxwell Beaumont: The Stand Up Comedian

This Maxwell was accidental to be honest. I started a series where I changed some things up including my Liam which sparked me to change some of the other characters that would be in Liam’s life.  So with this came a different Maxwell.  This is my non-royal Maxwell in my story lines that feature Maxwell a little older. You can see this Maxwell in 

Greek Meat

The Meet

3. Meet Maxwell Beaumont:  High School/College Cool

This is who I think of when I write Maxwell when I think of Maxwell the young one.  He’s sweet, cute a little bit of a mess.  But we love him just the same and he’s the life of any party. You can see this Maxwell in my series.

Pop’s Place

School Dayz

Mia’s 🌎 World