#Royal Red Carpet Welcome

[luckyartdrawer]

100 FOLLOWERS MILESTONE!!! MER AU!!!

Y'all chose the MER AU to celebrate, and so say hello to some fishy boys! They are all quite happy to see you, though some seem to show it more than others!

Cookie cutter shark Sun can't wait to take a bite- I mean- erm- rather a hug out of you! Either way he's quite excited!

Threadfin Eclipse would rather all eyes be on him, but he would settle for just yours! His colors shifts in every way, he's hoping your eyes won't stray!

Jellyfish Moon doesn't mean to be so imposing -- towards you anyways. He just wants to see you and everyone happens to be in the way!

This is technically a PT 1 to the celebration, as we have a Royal AU to roll out the red carpet for as well due to a tie in the poll!

PT 2 is made!

vvv Sketch/line art and yapping below!!! vvv

Sketch/Line art

Hehehe I just had to share. I am so proud of how the lines came out. Sketch cleaned up as lineart method my beloved.

Uagh I keep looking back and seeing so many things I could do. I might update the images secretly one day, but for now I think I need to let it be free in the world before I just never finish lol

Welcome to my yap sesh! Thank you all for being here, I hope the wait was worth it! <3 I am very proud of this and spent soooo so long rendering it. (What was i thinking doing 3 characters end my suffering /J)

Here's some random factoids about these sillies!

Sun: Born in the depths. He is a dime of dozen of cookie cutter sharks, all of them insistent of taking chunks out of anything and anyone they can find. Sun at least has some restraint when it comes to mers he likes, but he always wants just one nibble! Sun tends to warm up fast to mers that give him a speck of attention and care. Cookie cutter shark mers are known to link up with mates as soon as possible, but Sun insists that he hasn't found the perfect fit yet. No one is tasty enough for it! Everyone needs to compliment the other! Sun is the fastest of the 3, relying solely on his speed and jumping out of hiding spots to catch prey. His sharp claws pierces easily and the long webbing between his fingers makes it really easy to ensnare prey in his grasp!

Moon: Born in the depths. Jellyfish mers are rather uncommon, being known as a mostly solitary species. Unlike their animal counterparts, Jellyfish mer go alone after maturing, not even inclined to search for a mate, though they can if they so desire. They live the longest of any mer species. Their transparent bodies keep their form hidden from prey as their bioluminescence lures them in. Moon is the slowest of the 3, but it does not matter to him. To hunt, he floats in a comfortable spot, amping up his bioluminescence and fanning out his ribbons to attract prey. If a victim gets within his vicinity, his ribbons will quickly wrap and tangle around them, sending painful stings and intense damage to the prey. While effective, there are times the mer will sit in one spot for days having not attracted any food. He can hunt directly like other mers, but he'd have to rely on his transparency over speed in order to get close enough to catch them, his melded fingers make it even harder to grasp prey directly.

Eclipse: Isn't actually born a deep sea mer but spent most of his life in the depths after finding out how delicious specific creatures are and how much attention his looks get him. His skin and scales are iridescent and he loves to flaunt them when he can. Eclipse tends to be very carefree, though also the most gentle when interacting with other mers. He is inclined to view anyone as a potential friend or more due to being omnivorous, though no many has caught his full, dedicated attention. He's not territorial, not competitive, and doesn't care where he goes as he can eat just about anything. Hunting wise he is the most tactical, using his colors and thick ribbons to lure and confuse prey. He isn't the fastest nor the slowest, but his long hands increase his likelihood of catching prey he otherwise would have been a little too slow to grasp.

Yeah i.... I ended up having a lot of fun coming up with these guys

Especially moon, those of you who know KNOW, but man... my moon bias is so strong.

I even have this cute expression idea where he can control how his cap looks and uses it for his own protection. When sometimes when sleeping or defensive, he will tuck in his tail, arms, and sometimes his ribbons within the cap and then, like a string bag, it closes off his entire body from the world. He's in his own cap bubble!!! When embarrassed or trying to physically interact with someone without fear of hurting them, he'll tuck in his ribbons and scrunch his cap around his head. He'll look a bit silly, and you can't touch his face, but you can hug him safely and play with the soft round cap that now encases his head. (His tail/neck ribbons have no stinging abilities, they're just glowy for lure purposes!) his coloration is mostly inspired by the Man-O-War but his species is more fantasy then based off only that like the other two are with their respective fish, so that's why I just call him simply a Jellyfish for now :3

Sorry about that... I still love all 3 of these goobas and have ideas for them though! Maybe one day I'll get a fic going for them, not saying anytime soon because I have TOO MANY to work on rn, but just know they are swimming in my head.

So many ideas, so little time......

Once again THANK YOU ALL!!! It is so lovely to see y'all here despite my whacky upload schedules. I always tell myself I should make more simple things sometimes just so I can get the ideas out faster, but then my hands always do something else smh. Hope you all find this art and my future works quite delectable! <333

[choicesmcappreciationweek]

Hello and be welcome to the Choices MC Appreciation Week of 2025! Years ago, user beaumontbash created this wonderful event where we had the opportunity to gush and show off about the wonderful and rich MCs in the fandom, and I have decided to bring back this awesome tradition!

Before I give you the prompts, here's some ground rules and things to have in mind during the event:

• You aren't obligated to post for every day! You can post any day you feel like

•The MC doesn't have to be yours

• OCs are welcome and encouraged!

•This event is MC-OC centric, and while a mention of LIs and other characters is welcome, please focus on the MCs

• Everything is welcome! From a screenshot of your MC and some fun facts, to meta and art and fanfiction!

• Posting about your friend/mutual's MCs is counted as an entry and highly encouraged!!!

• Be kind and respectful to one another. MC/OC and user bashing is extrictly prohibited

• Remember to have fun and don't be afraid to check the tag #choicesmcaw25 to see more OCs and MCs!

And now, onto the prompts...

Day One: Straight A+ Students

From The Elementalists, to Ride or Die, Roommates with Benefits, High School Story... Any MC who's a student, show them some love on this day!

Day Two: Terrific Heroes

From the It Lives Anthology, Terror Fest, Wake the Dead, Haunting of Braidwood Manor... Any MC who is involved in everything horror, today's your chance to show some love!

Day Three: Iconic Celebrities

From Platinum, Red Carpet Diaries, Hollywood U... Show some love to that MC that made it big!

Day Four: Awesome Adventurers

From Hero, to Endless Summer, to Blades of Light and Shadow, this is the day to show some love to those brave MCs!

Day Five: Nosy Detectives

From Veil of Secrets, Murder at Homecoming to Crimes of Passion, let us show some love to those MCs who always dig deeper

Day Six: Historic People

From Desire and Decorum to The Royal Masquerade to A Courtesan of Rome, today we show some love to those MCs who made history in the Choicesverse

Day Seven: LGBT+ and Proud

From All of Us, to Bachelorette Party, to Foreign Affairs... Any MC who is part of the community and didn't make an appearance on the other prompts, today's the day to show them off!

The event will be done on February, from the 3rd to the 9th! So start piling your MCs, dust off those WIPs and get ready!

Love,

noe aka @rosesnink

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

I completely understand the RF grey rocking but H and M have controlled the narrative to the point where any action they take (titles, Los) looks vindictive. But i guess I am speaking from an American point of view - most Americans have no idea about these semantics that they manipulate. I guess my question is do the BRF care about their impression on Americans?

The BRF cares about Americans in terms of tourism dollars and tourism dollars only. Pre-COVID, Americans were the largest demographic of international travel and tourism to the UK (and several other countries too). I'm not sure what the stats are post-COVID, but I'm sure the US is right up there still.

Harry and Meghan have not controlled the narrative here in the US. They haven't for a very long time. They control certain groups, but they lose influence by the day.

Trust me. When the royals come in 2026 for the semisesquincentennial, there will be warm welcomes, red carpets, and screaming, cheering, adoring fans everywhere they go. The Sussexes will be a mention in an op-ed.

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

(More of the Queen Adam story)

*Lilith looking at the newspaper celebrating the continued peace between Heaven and Hell, the picture was of her former husband Lucifer Morningstar, the King of Hell with his new Queen, Adam, who was also Lilith’s husband, the couple looked so happy and in love that it made Lilith sick with envy just looking at them, what made it even worse was the quotes from Charlie calling Adam her mother, she wasn’t really in love with Lucifer, more like she loved the adoration he had given her and the power that came with being his Queen*

Lilith: That fool is having what I should have, I will take back what is mine.

*at the Royal Morningstar Manor Adam put the crown for the Queen of Hell on his head, it went so well with his short brown hair and horns that was one of the markers of him being a fallen angel, Adam was dressed in a black and gold suit that really showed off his eyes that looked like molten gold, he smiled and looked down at the pregnancy test showing that he was pregnant again and he couldn’t wait to tell his Luci about it, they had four beautiful children and he couldn’t wait for more, just then the door opened and four children ran in, three of them were girls and one was a boy, the triplets Lyra, Lydia, and Luke who were six, and his little girl Avery who was five, Adam quickly hid the pregnancy test and knelt so the kids could hug him*

Adam: My babies.

Lucifer: They are just as beautiful as their mother.

*Adam blushed when he looked up and saw Lucifer standing in the doorway, the fallen archangel was the most beautiful man Adam had ever seen and that man was his King and his husband, Adam smiled, they were about to go to a royal gala and Adam wanted to tell Lucifer the big news there*

Adam: Don’t forget, you also contributed to how beautiful they are.

*Lucifer went over to Adam and helped him up*

Lucifer: We should go, you know how I love to show off my Queen.

*Adam blushed and smiled while he giggled a little, Lucifer loved to show off his Queen*

Adam: Alright kids, be good for your brother Cain and make sure Farly is taken care of.

*the four kids cheerfully cried out that they would while Lucifer walked out with Adam to the limo to take them to the Gala not knowing that an unwelcome guest was about to bring chaos*

Adam couldn't wait to tell Luicfer about the baby. He knew he would be just as excited as he was.

Their little garden was growing even more.

Adam: So after your annual speech, I have an announcement that I would like to make.

Luicfer: Oh really? And what would that be?

Adam: Nope! Not telling, it's a surprise. A good one I promise.

Luicfer got a mischievous smile on his face: You won't tell me now?

Adam shook his head playfully: That would defeat the purpose of it being a surprise silly.

Lucifer took his hand and kissed up his arm: And I can't sway you to tell me?~

Adam giggled, he loved when his husband did this but it always tickled.

Adam: You'll just have to wait like everyone else.

Lucifer: Staying firm. I respect that. Then I look forward to your surprise my dear.

They shared a quick kiss before getting out of the limo, the paparazzi were in full swing on the red carpet. Everyone wanted a picture of Hell's King and Queen.

Once inside, Adam and Lucifer greeted and shook hands with everyone they came across.

Lucifer and Adam went to the stage to give their opening ceremony speeches.

Lucifer welcomed everyone, thanking them for being here tonight and hoping they all have a good time.

Lucifer: And now my husband has some exciting news to share.

Adam: Thank you dear. As you all know, the royal family is a big one. Well, come this spring it's going to get even bigger. As we are expecting our fifth child.

The room erupted into cheers and congratulations.

Lucifer: Oh my father! For real?

Adam: For real my King.

They share a kiss.

Lilith: How touching.

Adam and Lucifer pull away and stare dumbfounded at the former Queen. The room goes silent and tense from the once happy mood.

Adam and Lucifer: Lilith!?!

[themisinformer]

Trump Welcomed in Saudi Arabia With Public Execution Display

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Calling it the best greeting that he’s ever received from a foreign country, President Donald Trump was welcomed in Saudi Arabia Tuesday with a red carpet, a crowd of cheering patrons, and a front row seat to a public execution that was held in his honor.

The ceremony included a display of convicted journalists, activists, religious minorities and homosexuals, all of whom were publicly beheaded in front of a large crowd, with President Trump and the Saudi Royal Family in the front row.

“You see? This is how you treat a world leader,” Trump reportedly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I’ve been to a lot of ceremonies. A lot. But this? I’ve never been to a ceremony like this before. A ceremony that treats its guest with such a terrific welcome — a welcome that people are willing to take their own lives over. It’s tremendous — spectacular, really.”

Trump also expressed interest in having public executions in the United States. “I’ve been telling them that we need to start doing what they’re doing in Saudi Arabia,” Trump said. “The people in Saudi Arabia have such respect and dignity because they live in a constant state of fear. They still have shame. But whenever I bring this up the left always goes on about ‘human rights’ and ‘tolerance.’ You won’t even believe how bad wokeness has gotten in our country!”

Mohammed bin Salman praised the event as a symbol of the nation’s “shared values,” something that both nations hope to bring to light during Trump’s visit to the country.

[stereopticons]

On this Day in Schitt's Creek - February 21

2019

Ex marks the (sore) spot [david/patrick, E, 15,362] by fanfic_or_bust

Someone from David's past stops by the store unexpectedly, and Patrick is forced to confront the strong feelings this arrival brings out in him. OR David's ex shows up out the blue and Patrick turns into a bit of a green-eyed-monster.

Without a plan [david/patrick, E, 8,344] by JessX2231

Patrick doesn't have a plan after leaving Rachel, so he just packs his stuff and drives. Along the way, he decides to stop in a random town and takes a trip to the bar, where he meets David. When Patrick finds out the guy David matched with on a dating app never showed, he gladly welcomes the distraction. Even if it's just for one night.

2020

give me shelter through every bit of weather [david/patrick, G, 1,864] by thegrayness

There is a storm in the forecast and, historically, David’s tentacles don’t love storms. Patrick makes sure everyone feels safe. For #rosebuddwrites February prompts #15: thunderstorm.

hit me with your best shot [david/patrick, T, 6,034] by ignisgayentia

“Ow!” David yelps, for no reason at all. He’s not even hurt, not really. He’d be surprised if he even had a bruise. Still, he was attacked. By a flying baseball. “Do people often come here to be attacked?!” “Hey, are you okay? I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have hit it so late,” a soft voice says from in front of him. David looks over just in time to find Puppy-Faced baseball player leaning over into the crowd with a look of none other than puppy-like concern.

make your real dreams [david/patrick, T, 386] by oh_la_fraise

“So how’d you break the last coffee table?”

new forevers. [david/patrick, M, 17,756, CW: violence] by falconeggs

“Patrick wakes. He has no idea how long he was out, or where, exactly, he is, but he knows he’s awake.” Or, the second life of a young vampire.

Perfectly [david/patrick, T, 2,607] by metalshootingstar

An ex of Patrick comes to Rose Apothecary, and things don't go so well.

Red White and Blue Jays [david/patrick, M, 67,331] by @grapehyasynth

Red White and Royal Blue AU. David Rose, First Son of the United States, hates Patrick Brewer, First Son of Canada. That gets him into some trouble - and then a lot of trouble.

WTF Ghosts? [david/patrick, T, 12,023] by Zigster

Basically, everything is the same . . . except for the addition of three ghosts who not only haunt the motel but are bound to it by a mysterious, unseen force. No one is quite sure how this came to be but they have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Maureen Budd's death, the cinnamon buns in the lobby, and the Batman Forever soundtrack.

2021

15-3919 [david/patrick, E, 7,205] by @ratchet

The rest of the house was a manageable project for the two of them once Patrick had reassured David that the distinct aura of the seventies could be easily remedied with a lick of paint and a few replaced carpets. At the time, Patrick had assumed that the lick of paint would be applied mostly by him, having seen first hand David’s disinclination around what he deemed messy or dirty projects. What he didn’t account for was David’s self-professed superior knowledge of the correct aesthetic for their home. After two years and change, he reasons, he should probably have known better. or: David and Patrick repaint the cottage. David, it turns out, contains multitudes.

a sense of expectation hanging in the air [stevie/ruth, M, 6,548] by @hullomoon

Stevie starts to realize she has feelings for Ruth. How long though, will it take for her to tell Ruth that?

Bedtime David [david/patrick, G, 3,488] by SoonerOrLater

The evening after 'The Incident' David and Patrick remake the bed. Patrick tells David why he'd never need a divorce for that.

Better Be Good to Me [david/patrick, T, 11,271] by TheBasilRathbone

David was not Patrick's first. Patrick really, really wishes he had been.

Business/Casual [stevie/ruth, M, 8,968] by @treepyful

“I’m afraid we only have the one room left, Ms. Budd, and it’s a single queen.”

Comoros [david/sebastien, T, 300] by Rosey_Peach

David Does Believe in SoulMates [david/patrick, M, 23,476] by BeneficialAddiction

The thing is, David actually does believe in soul mates. People always seem surprised by this – which, rude. How could he not with the way his parents fit together so perfectly, so utterly devoted to each other, even after all these years, with all their ridiculous flaws? How could he not, when Alexis meets a handsome veterinarian on holiday in the Galapagos islands and grows up, seemingly overnight? No, David Rose believes in soul mates. He just... isn’t sure there’s one out there for him anymore.

money, money, money (it's a rich man's world) [stevie & johnny, G, 2,518] by @hullomoon

When Stevie mentions hiring someone for the financials during a meeting, Johnny worries it'll be another Eli situation

Rosebud Motel Group PR & Merch [gen, G, art] by @hullosweetpea

PR and Merch designs for the Rosebud Motel Group [Art]

Show Me Your Wounds and I'll Wrap Your Bandages [david/patrick, NR, 3,001] by TuttleAsHimself

The Hike Coda David and Patrick finally see all of their missed texts and calls about Johnny's heart attack scare. Buoyed by their engagement and the promise of a lifetime of highs and lows, Patrick helps to navigate David through his rollercoaster reaction to the news.

The Hatchet in my Hands [david/patrick, M, 2,469] by imtelevisionsmoirarose

A couple years post-canon, David is contacted by Sebastien Raine with an opportunity for the apothecary. Patrick's urge to protect him grapples with his desire to let David heal.________________ Writing referenced in this installation of the Commonplace Book is a quote from fabulous poet and performer Brenna Twohy. Content warning: mention of domestic violence

The Weekend Getaway [david/patrick, T, 1,187] by xslytherclawx

David and Patrick go away for the weekend for their very first Valentine's Day as a married couple.

This is My Greatest Adventure [david/patrick, G, 3,987] by @agoodpersonrose

On two different occasions, Patrick and David each have a conversation with their respective in-laws about the state of their marriage which come to vastly different conclusions. Although, they do come up with one thing in common.

We just need a body [david & johnny, T, 1,687] by @lastchancecafe13

Johnny can't push away the image of a much smaller David. Red-eyed and pleading after a little league game that ended with a run-in with a wild ball. Johnny had brushed his concern aside, assuring David it was all part of the game. His son was sensitive to the actions of others and shared his mother’s flair for dramatics. He hadn’t listened close enough to hear the truth of his words. _____ David is injured during the baseball game. Johnny and Parick struggle with their guilt.

2022

[Podfic] Infinity Mirrors [david/patrick, G, podfic] by HowOldAreWe

For 8jodaiko's prompt: David takes Patrick to a museum/gallery. Podfic of Infinity Mirrors by barelypink

everything in transit [david/patrick, T, 3,748] by @ratchet

The romcoms didn’t teach him how to do this, how to just exist in someone’s space. That’s something David has had to learn for himself, one unremarkable drive home at a time. or: in the passenger seat of Patrick's car, David falls in love.

Getting to Know You Activities [david/patrick, G, 2,428] by obsessedwithdavrick

David is 100% positively sure that Patrick in accounts hates him, all because of a tiny mistake he made in his first week on the job. However, when he's costing events, they need to interact and this leads to inappropriate workplace behaviour. This is not an euphemism... until it is. lolz.

like a memory you'll never know [david/patrick, T, 4,945] by orphan_account

"This is a dream. It has to be.Either this is fake or the time he spent in Schitt’s Creek, with Patrick and Stevie and his family, is fake and he absolutely refuses to accept that." - After years of living in Schitt's Creek with Patrick, David wakes up stuck in the past, on the day his family arrived in town.

Lullabye [david/patrick, T, 1,500] by @filet-o-feelings

Songfic for Lullaby by the Spill Canvas Just a bit of hotel conference/air travel husband fluff.

This Bed Wasn't Built for Our Love [david/patrick, E, 16,836] by @delilah-mcmuffin

Ohmygod. A voice that sounds a lot like his husband’s echoes in Patrick’s brain. His parents heard them. Heard them having sex. Heard them having sex so rambunctious that they broke the goddam bed.

Winning the Game [david/patrick, E, 8,377] by @ladyflowdi

This is what David had not known about Patrick’s family, before Patrick’s Year: the Brewer clan was hiding a dark underbelly of illicit gambling, questionable leveraging of homemade treats, and a frankly terrifying love of The Godfather.

2024

It's not good for our relationship. [david/patrick, M, 22,558] by @characterassassination-at-9am

David thinks it's fun to take what he sees on TikTok/Instagram/etc. and apply it to his own relationship. Patrick....doesn't. Title obviously from: "David, you have to stop watching Notting Hill."

Stats:

No fanworks for 2017, 2018, or 2023! 2019: 2 fics/23,706 words 2020: 7 fics/108,001 words 2021: 14 fanworks (13 fics, 1 fanart)/76,261 words 2022: 7 fanworks (6 fics, 1 podfic)/37,834 words 2024: 1 fic/22,558 words Total: 31 fanworks (29 fics, 1 fanart, 1 podfic)/268,360

[thescarletnargacuga]

THIS IS PROBABLY VERY SELFISH OF ME...

BUT I WANNA SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO

ARE YOU ABLE TO WRITE A LITTLE FIC OF MY KINGDOM AU SHOWTIME? MAYBE LIKE A CONFESSION?

IF YOU DON'T WANNA THAT'S OK 🩷

A/N: I like writing the characters in different universes and environments. It keeps things fresh :3

THE ROYAL GALA

A KINGDOM AU ONESHOT

AU credit: @allisonraeyt @tadk-ask-blog

WARNING: none

~~~

The Royal Gala is a formal annual event hosted by the different royal families around the world. This year was Prince Caine's turn to host. The castle was cleaned extra spotless and decorated to the nines to impress the visiting royals.

The Gala would be a night of music, dancing and live entertainment. All Royals were expected to attend and dance. This was a gesture of good faith and communion between the kingdoms.

The grand ballroom was vibrantly polished. The marble floor reflected the painted ceiling. Banners displayed the royal seals of every kingdom, but the main color scheme was that of Caine's royal colors. Thousands of mystical lights softly lit the room.

As evening fell over the castle, dozens of carriages filed through the castle gates. Prince Caine was ready to welcome his guests, dressed in his full formal Prince attire. He was rather dashing, if he said so himself. As each guest was announced and welcomed, he couldn't help but look to the grand staircase. Princess Pomni should be down any moment. He couldn't miss her arrival.

~

Pomni was still in her room getting ready with the help of her handmaidens, Gangle and Ragatha. Pomni fussed with her dress as Gangle secured a tiara to Pomni's hair. Ragatha finished Pomni's makeup, "There! You look amazing." Ragatha smiled at Pomni in the mirror.

Pomni smiled back. "Thanks. You did such a good job." Pomni moved her head side to side to inspect how well the makeup was done.

Gangle sis her best to move with Pomni but was having a hard time finishing securing the tiara. "Um...Princess-"

Pomni stood, excited to get downstairs. "Thank you so much! I can't wait to show Caine!" She picked up the front of her dress and quickly went out the door.

Gangle frowned. "...I couldn't finish putting the tiara in place."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Royal ballroom dancing isn't that strenuous." Ragatha reassured.

~

"Announcing Kinger and Queenie of the Chess Kingdom!" The Royal barker proclaimed, standing at attention.

Kinger and Queenie followed the red carpet to Prince Caine, who welcomed them with a respectful bow. "Good to see you, Kinger. Lovely as always, Queenie." Prince Caine kissed Queenie's hand.

"Charmed, my liege." Queenie graciously accepted Caine's gesture. "You've outdone yourself. The castle looks stunning."

"The staff worked tirelessly to bring out it's beauty. I'm glad it paid off to impress you." Caine chuckled.

"Announcing Princess Pomni of the Digital Kingdom!"

Caine almost cracked his neck turning so fast. His heart skipped a beat. His eyes dilated to the size of dinner plates. There at the top of the stairs in a beautiful pastel pink dress was Pomni. He didn't take his eyes off of her as he walked towards the stairs, shouldering several people that didn't get out of his way.

He met her half way on the stairs, offering her his arm. All eyes were on them, so he kept his voice low. "You're so beautiful."

Pomni took his arm and went the rest of the way down the stairs with him. She blushes lightly from his comment. "Thank you, you look amazing too."

The dancefloor was alive with music and patrons waltzing around the room. Caine escorted Pomni through the crowd to the very center. To prevent dancing from being an awkward experience due to their significant height difference, Caine used his magic to make Pomni float. Pink sparkles fluttered under her feet and dress as she flew at eye height.

Pomni hadn't been expecting it and held tight to Caine's hand. "Woah!" She giggled. "This is cool! I'm not going to get tired anytime soon if I don't actually have to dance."

"And I won't have to break my back bending over." Caine held Pomni's waist and pulled her close, but kept a socially acceptable distance between them. He smiled, his heart overflowing with soft feelings for her. "Guess that means we can dance the night away."

Pomni held his shoulder, so tempted to touch his face. "Yeah....we could." Caine was incredibly handsome on any given day, but under the mood lighting and music, he was striking. She was transfixed as Caine led her in a waltz in time with the other dancers.

Caine moved a bit stiffly at first, finding it hard to focus on getting the timing right as he was distracted by the gorgeous woman in his arms, but relaxed as the song went on. Soon, he didn't pay any mind to the others. He swung and twirled Pomni around just to make her smile and laugh. It didn't matter to him if it matched the music at all.

At the end of a song, Caine leaned Pomni back in a shallow dip. His heart raced, not just from the exercise, but how close he had to hold her. His throat felt dry when he tried to speak. "Princess-" His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "Pomni, would you....uh, that is....could I-"

He couldn't get his sentence out fast enough. A new song started and they were separated by new dance partners. He watched Pomni get swept away in the crowd of dancers. While he danced politely with his new partner, he kept his head on a swivel for Pomni.

The spell Caine cast on Pomni kept her afloat as she moved with her new partner. He was some Duke from somewhere she didn't care about. She made eyes with Caine from across the room. She knew she had to do this, but she desperately wanted to get back to Caine.

Caine strategically moved his partner so they wouldn't notice him moving his finger, pointing it at Pomni's partner. The man's shoe came undone and he tripped. Unfortunately, before Caine could dance his way to her, she was taken by a new partner. He huffed with frustration.

Pomni's second partner was less cordial. He danced way too close, making eyes at her that made her uncomfortable. They danced along the outer edge of the dancefloor, and she saw Bubble floating by. "Pixie stick!" She said out loud and Bubble went berserk.

"WHERE!?"

Pomni nodded her head to her dance partner and Bubble swooped in for a bite. The man ran off with Bubble chasing him for a taste. Pomni tries to move on her own, swimming awkwardly through the air in her poofy dress. She got another new partner, but this one she recognized.

Kinger took Pomni's hand with an amused look in his eyes. "Now isn't this convenient. It's not everyday I see you at eye level."

Pomni's small 4'8 stature compared to Kinger's towering 6'10 often made it hard for them to even have a conversation. "Heh, yeah. Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Absolutely. Prince Caine knows how to host a proper gala." Kinger danced with Pomni through the remainder of the song. He bowed to her when it was over. "Thank you for the dance, Princess."

Pomni curtsied. "Thank you, your highness." She looked around, but didn't see Caine in the crowd. She didn't want to be taken away by another partner. "Would you help me get a drink? I'm rather parched and it turns out moving around while under a hover spell is rather challenging." She laughed awkwardly.

Kinger held Pomni's hand and guided her to the refreshment table, happy to help. He stayed to have a drink with her and keep anyone from taking her away.

Caine frantically searched for Pomni from the dancefloor, all but ignoring his current dance partner. He spun around quickly, his partner getting terribly dizzy but too polite to say anything. He stopped when he saw Pomni having a drink and smiling with Kinger. It was bad enough that Pomni kept getting taken away by other dance partners but now she's off with KINGER!?

Another dancing couple crashed into Caine and his partner, toppling them to the floor. The other dancing couples went around, trying to ignore the fiasco but many people saw.

Embarrassed, Caine stood quickly and straightened his uniform. The other couple that crashed into him was helping his partner off the floor so he walked away from the situation as quickly as possible. Reputation be damned, he was tired of sharing Pomni all evening.

Pomni laughed at one of Kinger's stories and was about to sip her drink when the magic holding her alot shifted her backwards. "Woah!" She hit Caine back first with a thump. She felt his arm hold around her waist. "Caine??" Her tiara fell forward and she tried to hold it in place.

Caine held eyes with Kinger. "So sorry to interrupt, but Pomni and I have business elsewhere. Good evening." He turned sharply, swinging Pomni around with him and briskly making for a door out on to the veranda.

The outside air was cool and crisp. The veranda overlooked a large lake that reflected the pale moonlight. Cricket and frogs filled the night air with song. Fireflies and moths danced around the mystic lights. No one was outside but Caine and Pomni.

Caine took a deep breath of fresh air. "It's nice to escape the hustle and bustle of society. No drama. No judgement. Just quiet." He didn't let go of Pomni but his grip on her waist relaxed.

"And you dragged me with you because...?" She looked at him with a shy smirk. She could guess, but she wanted to hear him say it.

Caine cleared his voice, knowing he'd been caught. "I apologize for assuming, Princess. I only wished to share the same peace with you. These events can be overwhelming."

"Indeed." Pomni paused for a moment to listen to the night and tried to replace her tiara again. Darn thing kept sliding.

"Allow me." Caine gently took her tiara and placed it on her head, sliding the ends into her hair where it would hold. His hands lingered, brushing down her hair and caressing her cheeks as he slowly pulled away. "There..."

Pomni was flustered by the Prince's attention. "Th-thank...you." she said quietly.

"A princess shouldn't be without her tiara." He stumbled through his sentence, entranced by Pomni's eyes.

"...or her Prince." She said without thinking. "EEP!" She squeaked and tried to hide behind her hands. "I'm SO sorry, I don't know what came over me! I- uh! Um!"

Caine blushed but smiled. He took her hands from her face. "I agree." He said lowly. "Would you honor me with another dance, Princess Pomni?"

Pomni's heart was going mad. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. "Yes..."

They held close, chests touching as they placed their hands in position to dance Caine led her in a slow and steady waltz across the veranda. Fireflies flew around them as their movements disturbed the insects. They moved to their own music, smiling and giggling as the dance gradually crescendoed.

The dance ended with Caine twirling Pomni out away from him and pulling her back in the closest she's ever been. Both of his arms around her middle, her arms around his neck. Their faces were inches apart, both breathing heavily and flushed from their fun.

The hearts in Caine's eyes told all. He couldn't keep it a secret from her anymore. "Princess-....Pomni. There is something I must confess..."

Pomni's heart leapt. "Yes, Caine?"

"Your beauty and grace has captured my heart and refuses to let it go. I find myself drawn to your presence like a moth to a flame, and you are a blaze I could never control. The day you fell from the sky was the first day of the rest of my life. You are truly a gift from the heavens." Caine poured out his heart and bared his soul. Once it was all out in the open, he subtly held his breath awaiting her response.

Pomni's eyes grew wide and teared a little finally hearing the confession she had hoped for for so long. "Caine, you have no idea how happy you've made me. I've been charmed by you since day one. I could only ever hope to one day have your attention the way you've taken mine."

Caine brushed a loose strand of hair out of Pomni's face and tucked it behind her ear. "You have my full and rapt attention. I wish to court you, Pomni. That perhaps one day...we can rule together."

Pomni smile widened. "I would be honored, but I'm afraid you're already ahead of the curve."

Caine arched a brow. "Oh? How so?"

"I'm already compelled to kiss you. No courting necessary."

Caine's heart skipped a beat. His eyes drifted to her lips, but came back to meet her gaze. He smirked. "Far be it from me to deny a Princess what she desires."

They pulled in together, closing eyes and locking lips to teeth. A sliver of pink magic came from Caine's chest, swirled around the two of them and flew off over the lake to explode into a finale of fireworks.

[leakyweep]

Doflamingo x gn!Reader - Patience

@kyuuin9in ; Morning, hope you’re doing better! It’s 💜 anon, decided to come off anon for the request. :D I’ve had this on my mind for a while; how would Doffy feel if he met someone who actually read him like an open book to the point where his s/o actively (but not verbally) tries to teach him healthier habits, such as handing him a glass of water instead of letting him reach for the bottle of wine after a nightmare, proving him with emotional support without outright asking him about it and not expecting him to tell her about it. But also being basically attached to the hip to him and just doing things for him without him asking her to. He’s thinking about getting some salt? Well, would you look at that his s/o already passed it to him. (I also think his s/o wouldn’t like Trebol too much cause he’s an active enabler of Doffy’s bad habits 💀💀)

A/N ; Thank you for this lovely request! Writing Doffy being soft is so fun and challenging, so I hope you enjoy <3

Words ; 0.8k

Warnings ; None, just pure fluff. Although this fic is sfw, my blog is not. Minors, you are not welcome on my blog. Thank you.

Being with Doflamingo was a full time job. It didn’t matter that you lived under his income, under the roof of his stone palace, in his pink satin sheets. You helped out the servants in your free time, making up for the harsh side Doffy always showed the helpful staff. You stood in the kitchen, cutting vegetables, preparing lettuce, learning how long to cook meat to the exact temperature the master enjoyed. You found the servants to be quite pleasant; and while your husband was off in some meeting, you got to know his underlings, smiling and listening to their interesting stories and anecdotes. 

At the end of the day, when changing into your silk pajamas in front of your beloved, he asked you why in the hell you spent your days folding laundry with his servants, thanking them at the dinner table, tucking them in and telling them about the days you spent on the sea when you would join him on his expeditions – and your answer was simple. 

“They’re people too.” 

This made him… think. In his office, in bed, with the other members of the royal family. Of course, your least favorite cohort, Trebol, had many negative things to say about your kindness. He found it pathetic, trying his best to convince Doffy you were his weakest link, that your emotions were too strong. Of course, this made your love see red, grabbing his closest commander by the collar to tell him never to speak about you that way. Although your heart swelled, it discouraged you from being around Trebol for long bouts of time.

One particular night, you had joined him in bed later than usual, too caught up in your screaming thoughts as loud as a freight train in your ears. Sitting in the plush armchair Doffy had gifted you for a birthday in the past, you watched the moon slowly ascend into its place in the dark sky, trying your best to focus on all the good things in your life, the most prominent being the large, snoring figure just feet behind you, sleeping wistfully beneath his heavy comforter. This was short lived, though, when he was snapped awake by a harsh nightmare, his breaths ragged and uneven. 

You turned from your seat to ask him what was wrong, but before you could, his large hand reached for the bottle of red wine on his bedside table. You frowned at him and when his golden eyes met yours, you shook your head. 

“Darling, let me put that away for you. I’ll grab you some water.” Your footsteps were soft against the carpet as you took the bottle before he could argue. You disappeared to the kitchen to grab a glass of cold water for him as he pouted like a little boy who got his toy taken away. His expression upon rearrival made you chuckle gently while handing him the glass. With a roll of his eyes a mumble of gratitude, he took the glass and sipped. He fell back asleep in your arms that night, your manicured nails gliding through his blonde locks to calm him back to his dreamland.

Over time, you began to learn small habits to change for his well being – wine was forever replaced with water on his bedside table, you found yourself passing him things before he could ask at the dinner table, learning his triggers to help him calm himself when he was tested, being his kind ambassador when going to the town to enjoy the nightlife. You wouldn’t change it for the world, you thought. You loved this man – and you realized that while he was ruthless, powerful, and malicious, he also had feelings, and he just needed a little help dealing with them in a self-sustaining way.

Doffy’s heart had grown a few sizes since meeting you, or so he was convinced. The way you were kind to every living creature, how you spoke to children and laughed at their terrible jokes in the streets of Dressrosa, your calming tone as he felt those tendrils of anger threaten to choke him and devour him whole and completely dissipate at the sound of your voice – it all drew him closer to you, wanting to smother himself in the absolutely pure and selfless aura that radiated from your smooth skin. Hearing your laugh after a long day of work and dealing with absolute imbeciles was like medicine. Making love to you was like nothing he had felt before. All these things combined into one, and Doffy was marrying you within the next year. 

You were thankful for him, just as he was for you. And you knew as you grew old together, he would change, and he would grow, and that he just needed time. 

You were willing to be patient with him until the end of time.

[signed-sapphire]

The Fallen Star ✨Wish Reimagined

Chapter 1 - Welcome to Rosas

We open to a picture book with the title The Fallen Star on the cover, and it flips open to the end as a voice similar to that of the Golden Age princesses starts narrating.

Once upon a time, in a land… actually not that far away, there was a kingdom off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Rosas.

The picture book opens to a jungle, zooming across a beach and a sea all the way up to Rosas.

Rosas was a beautiful kingdom, with beautiful people, a beautiful king and queen, and their beautiful daughter.

The picture book goes to look at the crowd, then to the other page to Magnus and Amaya waving to the crowd, then down to Asha waving to the crowd

Princess Asha. This is her story.

As well as his story.

The page flips and zooms down to Gabo.

And hers.

And their story.

Hal and Bazeema, then Dahlia, Safi, and Dario

And his story.

Simon O'Donahue

And my story.

Don’t worry.

You’ll meet me in a bit.

But for now, let’s start at the beginning.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

The picture book flips backwards to the beginning of the book, landing on a page with Steamboat Willie, which fades into real life and flips for motion

The flipbook stops at the last frame where a pencil erases and redraws an ear.

“Baaaaa!” A goat, dressed in indigo pajamas, jumps up on the stool next to the artist.

“Hey, Val,” Asha smiles. She turns back to her paper. “I’m not sure about this character. I mean, he looks like he’d be popular, but… he’s giving homophobic vibes. What do you think?”

“Baaaaaa!”

“You’re right. I’m going to burn it,” Asha decides. She pets Valentino’s fluffy head. “Thank you for your input, good sir,” she coos.

Suddenly, the bell tolls outside.

“Oh, goodness. It’s time! Come, baby!” Asha grins, closing her sketchbook and slipping it in her dress pockets.

Asha walks out the door and through the halls, so we get a good look at the beautiful architecture of Rosas.

We pass by the docks, where a ship pulls in by the harbor.

Just like in the movie, a boat docks on the harbors of Rosas. The boat is decorated with flags and plants and nets and fabric, and a group of lively tourists exit the ship.

“Hello!”

We see a smiling young woman waving to the tourists. “My name is Dahlia Tsurugi! I’m so glad you came to our city. I’ll be your tour guide, along with my friend, Bazeema Sriprasanna!”

Her friend jostles at her name, eyes darting to the crowd and waving shyly.

“Care for a cookie?” Dahlia asks as Bazeema pulls out a tray. “Courtesy of my parents, the royal bakers!”

The crowd looks excited, taking a few cookies. “Sugar cookies, just like how Their Majesties like them,” Dahlia explains. She gives Bazeema a thin smile, but before they can move forward, there’s the sound of trumpets.

Dahlia and Bazeema startle and turn towards the noise.

“Helloooo there!”

Now we’re getting to Asha! Our girl is smiling at the tourists, a golden tiara on her head and a group of servants rolling out a red carpet for her to walk on.

“My name is Princess Asha Arman of Rosas! I’ll be your tour guide today!” Asha smiles. “I’m glad you came to our wonderful and fantastic kingdom! Trust me, you’ll love it here.”

“Oh, Princess,” Dahlia says, grin faltering a bit. “You’re a bit early.”

“Don’t worry your pretty head over it, Doc,” Asha says sweetly. “What kind of main character would I be if I ran in here, needing to catch my breath? Couldn’t be me.”

Dahlia blinks. “I see.”

She recovers quickly, turning back to the tour group. “Well, you’re in luck. Today you get to meet our very own, Princess Asha!”

Asha waves and smiles. There’s a bleat, and Asha lights up. “Oh! And this is my goat, Valentino. Say hi, baby!”

Valentino jumps up and bleats, nuzzling against Asha’s dress. Asha coos and pets his fluffy head.

Bazeema whispers something to Dahlia, who smiles sympathetically. Asha turns back to the crowd. “Well! Shall we start, then?”

🎵 Welcome to Rosas 🌹

Asha

Dahlia

Bazeema

All three together

Welcome to Rosas, come on, come this way

Asha bounces in front of the tourists

We hope that you’ll like it and choose to stay

Arms out

There's no other place just as full of surprise

Where your dreams and your reality can collide

Hands mashed together

The happiest place on earth

Hands clasped, singing

A land of laughter, joy, and mirth

Want to ride a carpet or rub a lamp’s base

Hand outstretched to carpet hanging (Aladdin’s carpet) lowers hand to Aladdin’s lamp underneath)

Well, hey, you've come to the, right, place

Gently leans down to the child of the group

'Cause here in the kingdom of Rosas

Asha cuts in front of Bazeema, the other girl girls join in

You can turn all your wanting to wishing, no what ifs and no wonders

Oh, here in the kingdom of Rosas

It's unlikely that you'll be unhappy with so much to discover

A home for me, for you, and all of us

The kingdom of Rosas

So our wonderful king, many years ago

Dahlia fixes her glasses

Stars destroyed his homeland, fire, rain, and snow

Uses free hand to mime out

He battled the Stars and chased off their glow

Hand towards the sky, fist closed at “chased”

He makes sure they can’t hurt us again, oh no

He founded Rosas

With his wife and their young lass

Though to be honest—

Unsure Bazeema

Hey. Our princess grows on you, I promise

Dahlia gently interrupts, then turns to the tourists

Hey, did I mention, when you turn eighteen

Asha pops up behind them, taking their attention

You may have your wish granted by the king and queen

‘Till then, they keep them safe, protects them at all costs

So to the Stars again no one ever is lost

You give your wish to them and live a life of bliss

Yes, you do forget what it is, but now Stars won’t be able to take it from you

Boops nose of youngest

Besides, if you keep it you endanger everyone you love, so forget with no regret and live life safely

Arms like “why”, “gotcha” movement, running backwards

Here in the kingdom of Rosas

Flamenco staircase dance

You can turn all your wanting to wishing, no what ifs and no wonders

Oh, here in the kingdom of Rosas

It's unlikely that you'll be unhappy with so much to discover

A home for me, for you, and all of us

The kingdom of Rosas 🎵

The tourists are all excited, Dahlia happily explaining more about their kingdom.

“We tried to make it in time, but— ACHOO!” Safi sneezes before he can finish his sentence.

“It was my fault,” Simon says apologetically. “I overslept.”

“And I told you, it’s fine, big guy,” Safi says, patting Simon’s arm. “Your dad worked you hard last night. Dahlia can handle it. And Bazeema— ACHOO!” Safi’s eyes widen. “Is there an animal nearby?”

“Oh, sorry,” Dahlia rushes. “Guys, we have a visitor on the tour with us. Be careful—“

“Ahem.”

The four teens straighten their posture. Princess Asha stands before them, holding Valentino in her arms. “What are you doing here?”

“We came to support our friend Hal, Your Highness,” Safi pipes up.

“Aaaaand why are you interrupting our tour?”

“Well, we—“

“Ugh. This is boring me. You’re boring, you know that?” Asha asks. She hums. “Hal. She’s the granddaughter of the Rosas beekeeper, right? Parents were the royal jesters? She’s funny. Be like her.”

A bell tolls, and Asha lights up. “Time to head to the meeting, Val.”

Her goat bleats and jumps down from her arms. Safi sneezes again, and Asha pulls back her skirt with a snarl. “Watch it, Sneezy! Don’t get your germs on me.”

“S-sorry, Your Highness,” Safi sniffles. “It’s just that animals make me— AH—“

Dahlia and Simon put their fingers under Safi’s nose to stop him from sneezing.

“Here, let me help you with that—“ Bazeema starts, but Asha backs up. “No touchy! Nooooo touchy, got that?”

“Sorry, Your Highness,” Bazeema murmurs.

Asha huffs and glances at Safi. “Stay away from Valentino,” she says curtly, before pushing open the castle doors. “Doc, Bashful, with me! Let’s finish this tour so I can get back to my regular duties.” She smiles at the confused crowd. “Come on!”

Bazeema smiles at Simon and Safi. “We’ll meet you inside, okay?” she asks quietly, then nods to Dahlia to come along.

Asha leaves the crowd with Dahlia and Bazeema to prepare for the meeting. Every month the citizens of Rosa’s could come to her parents about their concerns. It usually wasn’t hosted often, but somehow someone found something wrong.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

“Asha, darling!”

Asha puts on a smile she sees two people standing inside her room. They’re regal, dressed in whites, blues, and golds, and smiling. King Magnus and Queen Amaya, or, as Asha knew them…

“Magnus, Ams,” Asha smiles.

“Well, how did the tour go?” Magnus asks with a warm grin.

“It went pretty well. You know me,” Asha smirks. “There was a snag, but I dealt with it.”

“Did you get to know your people?” Amaya asks, brushing Asha’s hair behind her ear.

Asha steps back. “Amaya.”

“Now, Asha, what do we always say?”

“‘To be a good ruler, you have to understand your roses so they can come to full bloom,’” Asha recites, rolling her eyes. She smiles. “Ams, I get it. And I love Rosas. But they don’t love me.”

“Were you kind?” Amaya asks.

“Yes!” Asha exclaims. “I complimented their friend and gave them a job to do on the tour! They got to be in the presence of me! The ward of the Wishgranter and his wife! The princess of the kingdom that literally grants wishes!”

“We keep wishes safe,” Magnus corrects. “And we were once like them. And you’re our daughter, Asha. You’re family.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Magnus smiles. “I love you, Asha.”

Asha puts on a smile again. “Love you too, Magnus.”

Magnus grins and turns to his wife. “And I love you, mi vida.”

Amaya laughs as Magnus attacks her face in kisses. Asha groans and hides her smile.

“Okay, we should head out for the meeting,” Magnus mumbles against Amaya’s neck.

“Yes, mi rey.” Amaya smooths down her dress. “Asha, are you joining us, dear?”

“It’s my duty as a princess,” Asha says, standing up straight.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

“Hello, Sabino!” Magnus greets as the doors open to a man and a young woman. “Ah, Hal! Hello, my dear. How’s the juggling going?”

“It’s going well, Your Majesty,” Hal says brightly. “Practicing my best. My Saba helps me a lot.”

“That’s lovely. Now, tell us. Why did you grace us with your lovely presence this morning?” Amaya asks.

Hal steps back to give her Saba the spotlight. The doors close, Hal’s friends wave at her from the side rows.

(Sabino looks like this concept of his movie counterpart ⬇️)

“Well, Your Majesties,” Sabino says, bowing his head. “As you know, I am turning 100 today.”

“That is quite an accomplishment!” Magnus exclaims.

Sabino smiles. “Yes, it is quite an accomplishment. Although… it may be my last.”

“What do you mean?” Amaya asks.

Sabino goes on to explain how he was sick and old, and the sickness would soon claim his life… or something along those lines. It was hard to listen to every detail and draw.

Asha liked to call herself akin to the royal scribe. Except, through art.

As Asha flips through her book we can see some concept art from previous Disney movies.

She was currently working her way through a flipbook of Sneezy sneezing, jolting Sleepy awake. The boy kept dozing off, though he looked as if he was trying his hardest to stay awake and support Happy.

Hmm. Asha wondered if she should get Sleepy something to keep him awake. Maybe a prick would keep him awake.

That’s it! She would get him a magic spindle! It would gently prick Sleepy whenever he started drifting off! She was such a good princess.

There, Amaya. She understood the roses now.

“A-and, I know it was something to do with my health and life.”

Right. Sabino was still talking. Asha made another note in the corner of her sketchbook.

“So, I was wondering, if your Majesty would be so kind…” Sabino’s voice trailed off.

“Sabino. My good man.” Magnus’ voice was gentle. “I can tell you that you are right. Your wish has to do with your lifespan. But the Wishgranter has reasons for keeping wishes.”

“Yes, but—“

“Your Majesty,” Hal interrupted. “It’s my Saba’s 100th birthday. He’s waited this long to get his wish granted, no?”

“Hal, I understand your Saba’s patience,” Magnus says. “But there are some wishes that can’t be granted.”

“Your Majesty—“

“I’m sorry, Hal. For the safety of Rosas, Sabino’s wish must stay with me. I will keep it safe, however. The Stars will never harm his—“ Suddenly, Magnus doubles over, clutching his head. His eyes flash gold for a second, then they’re back to normal.

“Magnus!”

“Mi rey!”

Asha and Amaya scramble up to Magnus. Magnifico shoos them away. “I’m fine, my dears. Just another headache.”

“Did you do your monthly check on the Stars?” Amaya asks.

Magnus runs a hand through his hair, then sighs. “No. That’s what it is. Tonight I shall perform the check to ensure that Rosas remains safe. Thank you for reminding me.”

The king composes himself and turns back to his audience. “My deepest apologies, Sabino. I can have the royal Healers come over to your home to see if there’s anything else we can do.”

Sabino falters, then nods. “Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 2

Author’s notes

Okay! I think I like this format. I’m really happy with the dividers.

This is just setting things up. It’s a lot quicker than comic form, and this will work until I find enough time to sit down and draw. Perhaps this summer.

What I wanted to accomplish during this chapter was to set up the storybook intro and distinguish that from “Welcome to Rosas” (bc in the movie, the song is completely useless? Just add one more page in the book?) but this time, the storybook sets it up with a mystery narrator, and “Welcome to Rosas” introduces Mag and Amaya.

I will be referring to him as “Magnus” while he’s himself.

Intro is done! We know about Asha, what Bazeema and Dahlia are like (which the movie didn’t really touch on), and the backstory of Rosas

Now we can get to the actual call to action! I’ve already written most of Chapter 2 (it’s just formatting stuff) so I’ll see you then!

Thanks for reading! <3

[daytaker]

i have come back with more questionable mc behaviours as a treat

mc who’s a LeVeyan satanist, that or another idea of a similar variety which is when mc gets teleported they were wearing a “hail satan” shirt

also i loved the creepy scientist like mc (๑>◡<๑) - clown anon

Clown Anon MCs - [ Clowncore MC | Death-Fixated Science Geek MC | LeVeyan Satanist MC ]

I want to own a Sheep MC plush that wears a Hail Satan shirt. I want that to be among my possessions when I die.

That out of the way...

(cw: references to drug use, references to sex, this is the church of satan. sex drugs and rock n roll. this gets extremely silly towards the end.)

Satanists Don't Believe in Satan

You were vibing to Eurythmics, sitting cross-legged in your bedroom and trying to meditate while your Snake, Dr. Faust, wound his way around your arm. And then, suddenly, you weren't. The shag carpet was replaced by a hard wood floor, and the warmth of your bedroom was replaced by the cool draft of a large assembly hall with windows. And some punks in military academy uniforms were scowling at you.

"What the fuck? What gives?" You were really confused. Did you already hit the acid and you're so high you forgot? You stood up and looked down at yourself. You were still wearing your CoS shirt and pink pajama shorts, and you still had on your fluffy slippers.

"Welcome, uhhh...." A big guy in red squinted at a piece of paper, then looked at me. "Is your name actually Omen LeVey?"

"That's what it says on my driver's license, bitch." Dr. Faust wound his way up your arm and into your shirt. He clearly didn't appreciate the change in temperature either.

"It's not too late to swap them for someone else, is it?" whispered a dark haired man to Big Red.

Big Red ignored him. "Welcome, Omen, to the Devildom! I'm sure you're very confused, but everything will make sense soon. You have been chosen to participate in an exchange--"

"Where do you think you're going?" The dark haired bitch cut off Big Red as I walked to the door.

I turned around. "Uh, out?"

"Out where, exactly?" asked the bitchy one.

"Out of here? I'm not sitting around waiting for you to go through some sort of timeshare presentation with me. However I got here, I'm sure I'm high as fuck, and I'm not going to spend my time high as fuck getting talked at by this dude. No offense, Red."

Ten minutes later, you were tied to a chair in the middle of the assembly hall. Big Red, the bitch, and three other guys stood around you, unsure what to do.

"Is this, like, an ex of yours or something, Satan?" one of the extras asked another. They were both twinks, and they were also both quiet up to this point, so you couldn't really think of how to differentiate them on the fly.

"No? What are you talking about?"

"Their shirt!"

All five guys stared at your graphic tee, which was black with white splatter text that read:

"CHURCH OF SATAN "DO WHAT THOU WILT SHALL BE THE WHOLE OF THE LAW" - SATAN PROBABLY"

"I can't believe Satan has an entire church dedicated to him! I wonder if there are churches to me," Twink 1 said with a sigh.

"That's not a church dedicated to me," replied Twink 2. "Their entire doctrine is a repudiation of my very existence. You should educate yourself, Asmodeus."

"Helloooo? Excuse me?" You wobbled in your seat, trying to get their attention. "Since I don't have any choice but to listen, I'll allow you to go ahead and tell me what the fuck is going on."

Big Red sighed at began to explain again. "You've arrived here in the Devildom as an exchange student from the human world. For the next year, you will be living here in the Devildom with us demons, attending the Royal Academy of Diavolo, or "RAD", we we tend to call it."

"...Okay, so clearly this is a bad trip, so I'm gonna politely ask if we can skip to the part where I'm finished having sex with my downstairs neighbors and I turn into a ball of energy? Like. C'mon. Chop chop."

"I am Diavolo, acting lord of the Devildom. And this is Lucifer, my right-hand demon and confidant." He gestured to the bitchy one.

"Charmed," you said in a voice saturated with sarcasm. "What about those three?"

"Ah," Diavolo said, nodding. "Those are Asmodeus, Satan, and Beelzebub. They are Lucifer's brothers."

"This is so wild. So Satan and Lucifer aren't the same dude?"

"Careful what you say," said Twink 1--or Asmodeus, as you now knew him to be. "You'll make Satan angry!"

"Sorry bro. Look look look, though, I'm in your fan club." You hope your shirt with Satan's name on it will butter that one up--Satan is Twink 2, as it turns out; a skinny blonde kid with a yellow bow tie. You aren't sure how to feel about that, exactly. You'd always pictured him as a cartoon goat-man, more or less.

"Do you really think you can butter me up by claiming that the Church of Satan is my fan club?" He scowled at you, looking indignant. "Didn't you hear me earlier? I'm aware of what your so-called 'church' teaches, and while I'm not opposed to the ideology in a broad sense, I can't support a group that considers my very existence to be a joke."

"Hey, hey, it's not a joke," you said soothingly. "You're just the theological equivalent to the Queen of Engand. Powerless, probably fake, definitely dead, but you look good on merchandise."

"Do you want to die?"

"Sometimes."

"Omen, you will be living with these four and two of their brothers for the next year." Diavolo smiled at you, apparently choosing to ignore every word you've spoken.

All four of the brothers looked crestfallen.

"Oh, yeah, I feel real fuckin' welcome. Roll out the wagon, why don't ya?"

"Is your name actually Omen LeVey?" asked Big Red again in a murmur, looking at his sheet with as mystified an expression as ever.

Dr. Faust, still coiled around your arm, peeked out at the world again and flicked his tongue. Asmodeus screamed, and Lucifer pointed at you and demanded, "Diavolo, swap it for a different one!"

---

Epilogue.

Eight months later, you and Satan marry. Dr. Faust officiates. Together, you have three children, all of whom refuse to acknowledge their fathers' objective existence.

[corpsebasil]

Modern!Prince Nikolai

because I know you filthy bastards are obsessed with him

AN: SEE MY MODERN NIK MASTERLIST FOR MOOOORE

Nikolai’s mother is losing her mind.

“I have incompetent sons.” Queen Tatiana, proud single mother and Queen of Ravka, scoffs, pacing around the vast parlor as she grumbles complaints. This has been going on for the past thirty minutes and the three younger royals are exhausted. “Incompetent!”

Nikolai’s eyes are shut as he takes slow, deep breaths, his mind racing. All he can focus on is you. You who won’t answer a single call; you haven’t in almost a month. You who he craves desperately, the news headlines on almost every source of media he has access to constantly screaming at him.

‘Commoner to Royal Lover: A Fraud’ was the first title he saw when he opened his phone that morning and the image of the two of you grinning at a camera, the photo having had been taken at last year’s Christmas party, made him so upset he ended up locking his door so no maid could witness him breaking down.

He feels nauseous every time he thinks of you or hears your name, his heart so broken by your absence that he thinks he might be losing his mind as well.

“Banned from North America.” His mother is saying, exasperated at her youngest son. She wags her finger at the brunet and glares, her cheeks flushed with annoyance. “Banned. And right before the Independence Day Ball, good God, Olly. I raised you better than this.”

The prince in question, Oliver, raises a dark brow at his mother. The boy is slumped dramatically in an arm chair with wide sunglasses on his face, his dark brown hair tousled in the messy, rock-star look he prefers. Nikolai pinches the bridge of his nose when his brother exhales a long plume of smoke, tossing his bright-red vape up into the air almost contemplatively.

^^^ this is Olly’s dumbass idc that’s how I see him fight me in the comments

“To be fair,” Oliver starts, grinning wickedly as he crosses one leg over the other, his Gucci loafers catching the light from the elaborate chandelier on the ceiling. “the President’s daughter was very welcoming.”

“Oh I’m sure she was. Now the White House wants you to give a formal apology for allowing the poor girl to be caught topless in a closet with you.” Tatiana rolls her eyes, running a hand through her blonde hair as she continues her pacing.

All Oliver can do is grin.

“You’re an idiot.” Nikolai’s youngest sibling, Jenna, huffs, sprawled out on the carpet in front of the fireplace, her laptop charging beside her constantly tapping foot. “You and your stupid antics. I for one would never be caught dead making out in a closet, especially not with someone like you.”

“She couldn’t resist me, my dear sister.”

“You’re wearing a leopard-print coat. I don’t know how she didn’t.”

“Maybe if you had better style you’d get girls too.”

“I have a girlfriend you giant dick-licking dumb—”

“Shut up.” Nikolai speaks for the first time and both siblings glance at him in surprise. He doesn’t usually take that tone with them. Not ever.

“Nik.” His mother scolds, eyebrows furrowed as she looks between the three of them. “That’s no way to talk to your siblings.” Even if they’re idiots, her expression adds, but the eldest prince can’t find it in himself to be amused.

“Neither of them have said anything of substance in over an hour.” Nikolai argues, rising from his seat. “Oliver cant go two weeks without causing an international incident, Jen somehow thinks she’s not a princess and can skip every state meeting ever, I’m so stressed out I can’t breathe and the love of my damn life hates me.” He runs a ringed hand over his face, eyes squeezed shut, and misses the sympathetic grimace on his siblings’ faces. “I’m going for a walk.”

“Nikolai, darling—” his mother starts, but he’s already gone.

-

That night he’s alone on the balcony when Jenna approaches him, crossing her arms to lean against the rail. Nikolai lets out a long stream of smoke and glances over, raising a brow at her pinched expression.

“I messaged Y/N.” She says, avoiding his gaze as she stares out at the vast gardens outside the palace. She picks at her nails for a moment—black polish chipped and practically gone—before giving her brother a side-eye. “She won’t answer my calls.”

“Welcome to the club.” He lets out a small, sarcastic laugh before taking another drag off his cigarette. The end burns bright red in the night air as he sighs, popping his neck from side to side. “As far as I’m concerned she’s never going to speak to me again.”

“That would be well deserved.” Jenna comments, then sighs aloud. “Jesus, Nik. A PR stunt? I thought everything was genuine. So did Olly.”

“It was genuine, damn it.” He grunts, putting out the cigarette before tossing her an annoyed look. “No matter what the press wants to say, I love her. I mean that.”

“Then what happened?” The princess’s brow is furrowed as she crosses her arms. “I mean, I thought you two were in love.”

“So did I.”

NEXT OASAART COMING YOPP

meant to say next part but I will not be changing it

[simshousewindsor]

By Shon Gableton | Published by SNN

EASTON, Windenburg (SNN) - - The State Visit of Nigeria's Prince Sobwati III has officially ended. It's the first state visit to the country by a Niregian prince in more than 100 years, and Windenburg gave the red carpet treatment to Prince Sobwati III, the man who survived a coup and reignited his country. In Windenburg, on a three-day state visit, the Niregian ruler was hailed as a hero.

During a coup of his country from 2013-2021, the Prince was imprisoned for seven years and the rogue government abolished the monarchy. Amid growing domestic and internasimnal pressure and fears of civil war, then Niregian President Kwame Abinaday released Prince Sobwati in 2020.

Mass protests in the country led to their 2021 general election, in which the prince led the Niregian National Congress (NNC) to victory and became president. They reinstated the monarchy shortly after.

DAY ONE

Crowds of sims waited outside the Simchester Hotel to welcome the ruler. Chanting 'Sobwati', 'Sobwati', they waved Niregian flags and craned their necks for a view of the man who was once known as the Niregian Pimpernel.

Prince Sobwati's state visit to Windenburg began according to tradition. Met by the Duke and Duchess of Kent at Easton's exclusive Simchester Hotel, he and his wife, Dr Jolah Okunola, were whisked off to inspect a guard of honor and be formally welcomed.

At 12:40 pm local time, a Royal gun salute boomed across the capital as the Prince's car glided down the Mall, into the palace grounds.

More crowds lined the streets of The Mall hoping to catch a glimpse of the leader.

The formal welcoming party, headed by the Queen, the Prince consort, Prime Minister Linwood Keller and several top ministers, bore all the traditional pomp and ceremony befitting a visiting head of state.

Queen Katherine appeared pleased to meet the Niregian leader.

Lead violinist of the Windenburg Guards played the Niregian national anthem, incorporating the last few bars of the old Afrikaans anthem, signifying the transition from old to new.

Prince Sobwati, wearing an Eze Kaftan and Osi Cap, then inspected the honor guard.

His walk was stiff, but he appeared as dignified as ever.

Later in the day, the Queen and Prince consort gave a state dinner in Sobwati's honor.

Prince Sobwati and Dr Jolah both wore pieces from The Naija Collections 1 and 2, throughout the course of their State Visit. For the banquet, Dr Jolah matched Prince Sobwati's Eze Kaftan, wearing the Nkechi Dress.

Queen Katherine wore an ivory Royal Tour gown by @rustys-cc for the banquet. The cream color coordinated splendid with the gold and green sash of her Niregian decoration, the Order of Good Hope. The queen coordinated her jewels with the emerald green shade from her order, wearing pieces from Zarah, Queen Dowager's Emerald collection - the Emerald tiara, necklace and earrings. She finished her look with the Order of the Garter, and the Royal Family Order of her father, King George.

Not to be outdone, Prince Rainier also showcased his Order of Good Hope decoration. The Queen and Prince consort were bestowed them earlier in the day.

The pair were seen chatting just before entering the Grand Ballroom, surely discussing something very important.

During the splendid state banquet, the sovereign's speech is highly anticipated. Many were eager to hear how the Queen would address many issues including the long gap between the two nations meeting.

Queen Katherine hailed the former political prisoner as the savior of Niregia, stating:

"I am delighted to welcome you to Buckingsim Palace on this the first state visit to Windenburg by a ruler of Niregia. By coming here you give Prince Rainier and me a chance to return the favor on our own visit to Niregia and thus to underline once more the close friendship between our countries. You have provided the leadership and by your willingness to embrace your former captors have set the course towards nationsim reconciliation and freedom for all the sims of Niregia."

Senior members of the royal family taking seats at the high table were the Queen Mother, who sat between Prince Sobwati and the Prime Minister, and the Duke of Kent, who sat to the left of Dr Jolah.

The Earl and Countess of Boykins sat at the first table to the Queen's right and were often seen chatting.

The Duchess of Kent started the first table to the Queen's left, sitting adjacent to the Duke of Kent.

The Duke and Duchess of Hastings sat beside her, enjoying their first state banquet.

A host of other dignitaries and Nobles filled the Grand Ballroom, all getting quite excited when dinner was served; mixing traditional Niregian dishes with Windenburg favorites.

The most exciting item on display in the rear of the Grand Ballroom was a portrait of Queen Katherine and Prince Rainier from their Oct 2013 wedding. The portrait replaces one of the late King George and Queen Rowena from their Jul 1990 wedding.

DAY TWO

Rising early to plant a commemorative tree in Edward park, Prince Sobwati then went on to meet the Commonwealth Secretary General, address business leaders, and have lunch with the Prime Minister.

Prince Sobwati met with 15 of the top business leaders in Windenburg. The visit was designed to persuade Windenburg business to invest in Niregia.

When Prince Sobwati arrived at 10 Downing for lunch and talks with Linwood Keller, it was already his fourth engagement of the day.

Full Windenburg pomp and ceremony then surrounded the Niregian Prince at the Palace of Windsor, where he addressed both Houses of Parliament.

He pointed to the newly planted tree as a symbol of the growing bond between his country's fledgling democracy and the United Kingdom.

That evening, the Prince and Princess attended a special ceremony at Buckingsim Palace in which he was showered with honorary academic degrees.

At the suggestion of the Prince consort, who is Chancellor of the University of Britechester, Prince Sobwati received doctorates from five universities -- including Foxbury and Britechester.

DAY THREE

The Niregian Prince and Princess were mobbed by an adoring crowd when they went on a walkabout in south Easton on Sunday morning - the last day of his state visit to Windenburg.

A larger crowd greeted the Prince in central Easton's Platz Plaza. Prince Sobwati addressed that crowd from the balcony of the Foreign Office.

Thousands later packed the lawn of the Energy Centre in south Easton to catch a glimpse of the Prince. A huge cheer erupted when, accompanied by the Queen Mother, he finally arrived.

The mic was virtually drowned out by the audience chanting and clapping for the Niregian prince to speak.

At last, he took the microphone, obviously touched by the display of devotion saying:

"I wish I had big pockets so that when I leave I could take all of you and put you in my pockets and go back to Niregia with you."

During Prince Sobwati's last engagement in the UK, he spoke of the support he and his wife gained from the Windenburg sims.

He then left to host a special lunch at the Simchester Hotel for the Queen, followed by a private audience at the palace with Her Majesty.

When he departed for the airport, waiting outside the palace was yet another huge crowd. It was their chance to bid farewell to the man who had captivated Eastoner's hearts for the last three days.

In that short time he'd been toasted by the Queen, received the freedom of the city, addressed both Houses of Parliament and was showered with honorary university degrees.

Sobwati also defied the norm of wearing a suit during his visits to Buckingsim Palace, maintaining his signature bright African-inspired prints that defied the rigid royal strictures reserved for other dignitaries when meeting the sovereign.

A royal insider said of the pair:

"They share the same sense of duty, the sense of service and a calling that they adhere to throughout their lives, and there's a visible deep respect between the two of them, having an appreciation for tradition within their own sims nations."

We are sure the Queen will be planning a State Visit to Niregia soon but for now, Windenburg and the Queen can bask in the success of a marvelous State Visit.

[world-of-wales]

Hello, can you share your thoughts about Harry's comeback?

I figure this is about the new article that's been out about reconciliation with quotes from 2 'friends'. I haven't read the whole thing specifically, but I saw some quotes people had posted from it on Twitter, and tbh it's all bs to me. There's zero chances of that guy being back in the rf in any official capacity ever especially after the drama the sux have generated and been a cause of the past 3 years.

Also, this is just a pr pattern from them. Every few months, there's a series of stories about a possible reconciliation & return and how it's all just round the corner. The media runs with it for a few days. Everyone in the fandom has things to say, and then everything moves back to normal.

One of the quotes I read mentioned one 'friend' being like there's chances that he'll come back in some low-key capacity in a working royal role and that's never happening. Especially with William De Medici existing. William, Catherine and even their kids have been dragged into the sux drama on so many occasions in the past few years & we all know about the disgusting cruel things they've had to deal with coz of that thanks to some sections of people. No way is H ever gonna be welcomed back with a red carpet after that and the constant mudslinging on the family. At most he'll be at family gatherings like he was at the funerals or the jubilee and that's it.

And finally, I would like to think personally that, especially after that book and that so-called documentary, the rf is gonna stay firm at the current position that's been taken when it comes to him.

Also side note the article (from the parts I read) made it seem like the Spencers are leaking to the press and if that isnt to be the most spencer thing I've heard about...

[theroyalsims]

QUEEN AND PRINCE JACQUES' BRIDGEPORT TOUR ENDS WITH SWANKY DINNER

How time flies when you're having fun! Her Majesty and Prince Jacques ended their three-day tour of Bridgeport last night.

HM and HRH were the guests of honour at the banquet thrown by The President of Bridgeport. The soiree was held at the Bridgeport House, which serves as the President's official residence. The grand presidential mansion was decorated in Brindleton Blossoms, Brindleton's national flower. Instead of rolling out the red carpet, HM and Prince Jacques were treated to a special blue carpet welcome, again, a nod to Brindleton's colour.

(Above: (L) Pres. Hellers toasts HM and Prince Jacques; (R) The Queen and Prince Jacques caught sharing a laugh before dinner.)

The A-list event was attended by some of the biggest names in Bridgeport and Brindleton. Case in point, the entertainment for the evening was none other than global superstar, Brianna, who serenaded the royal couple with some of her biggest hits.

(Above: Global icon Brianna provided the entertainment for the evening. The legendary songstress stunned in a strapless teal dress from couture brand Riod, which she paired with statement gloves.)

The President also gave a toast to The Queen and The Prince, and thanked them not only for their historic visit to the country, but for further tightening the bond and friendship of the two nations.

The dinner marked the end of a jam-packed tour for HM and HRH. For the second day of their trip, they visited the stock exchange, a library, a museum, and even managed to stop and pose for a photo at the Bridgeport Harbour.

(Above: The Queen and Prince Jacques pose for a photo at the Bridgeport Harbor following a quick visit to the Bridgeport Stock Exchange on the second day of their tour.)

However, some reports from Bridgeport claim that the Queen looked "exhausted" during the white-tie event. That's not entirely surprising, looking at their very busy calendar alone - plus, these two aren't exactly spring chickens anymore!

Nevertheless, Her Majesty still managed to dazzle, thanks to her sparkly ombré gown which perfectly matched her ruby and diamond jewels.

(Above: HM wore a pink and red ombre dress which matched her jewels including the versatile ruby and diamond Brindleton Foliage Tiara.)

A lot of royal fans were surprised to see HM wearing the Brindleton Foliage tiara for the occasion, seeing as she hasn't worn the piece in a while. Nowadays, she tends to opt for the big guns like the Brindleton Nest Tiara and this 300 year-old stunner.

The Queen and her Prince have reportedly landed back in Brindleton, ready to resume their duties after a day of rest.

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia (Pt. 3)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Riley travels to Cordonia, but what will await her there?

Word Count: 2.2k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

Pulling along her suitcase, Riley followed Maxwell to the front doors of the palace. Maxwell nodded in acknowledgement to the officers of the King’s Guard dressed in their black uniforms as they opened the doors for them.

The coffered ceilings of the castle were much higher than she imagined they could be with beams laid in a grid which created a pattern of recessed squares. There were rooms leading to sitting areas that had furniture and objects fancier than she had ever seen with plush velvet couches, dainty bouquets in vases, intricate gold and glass centrepieces, and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

“I thought the outside was amazing on its own, but being inside…” Riley wondered aloud, her head swivelling around as she lost her trail of thought.

It was only until she entered the palace where she realized how different her world was from Liam’s. He had grown up here, learned to follow his father’s footsteps as a prince, met all kinds of nobles, and possibly brought fancy socialites home after dates. This was his childhood home; his whole world seemed to embody glamour and prestige.

She, on the other hand, had grown up in a cramped but cozy apartment with her mother and father. It wasn’t much, but the love her parents had for her and each other was more than what most people were lucky to have. With her American upbringing, her Korean mother’s roots, and her father’s Filipino culture, she was grateful for the homes she would forever have in the U.S., the Philippines, and South Korea.

They showered her with love and reassurance, frequently reminding her that family was the most important thing to cherish that motivates and grounds you at the same time. She never felt like she had lacked anything in her life, not when she had the most loving, supportive parents anyone could have.

At least that’s what it felt like before she lost the two people she loved the most in her life. But that was a story for another time, one for where there was less pressure and anticipation facing some of the most important people in Codonia.

A small piece of doubt began to spring up once again in her mind. Based on her appearance alone, it was clear that she was not from Cordonia, much less part of the country’s nobility or highly-respected citizens. She didn’t want to let Maxwell and his brother down from her upcoming representation of their house.

But in a split second, as she’d done everyday since they were no longer in her life, she heard her parents’ words in her mind saying, One day at a time.

“It’s like a whole other world, huh? Don’t worry, you have tons of time to roam and explore and get used to it,” Maxwell reassured her, as he followed her gaze landing on all lighting and fixtures. “After all, you’ll be here for the next few months of the social season.”

They made their way to the grand staircase with gold handrails decorated with artistic panel inserts of flowing swirls. A large velvet red carpet regally covered the steps leading up to the top platform where it separated into two staircases that led to the left and left wings of the castle.

“So, what’s the deal with Drake? Why is he… so jaded?” Riley questioned, fixating on the elegant staircase she had only ever really seen replicas of in movies. Seeing all the luxury decorations and furniture reminded her of Drake's annoyance with her fascination with all the new sights she was seeing. “Is he always like that?”

“I can get that for you,” Maxwell offered, implying Riley’s suitcase as she willingly handed it to him. He lifted it up as they climbed the staircase together, before answering her question, “Oh, don’t mind him. Drake’s never really… fit in. He doesn’t like court as much as others love being part of it.”

“Not used to courtly life?” Riley suggested, glancing at Maxwell for confirmation.

“Definitely not. Technically, he’s a commoner. He grew up here at court with us, but he’s… always been an outsider here in a way. Even if he is Liam’s best friend,” Maxwell responded, even though it was something he wondered himself as well.

With a nod, Riley pondered his answer. It made sense why he seemed to stick out like a sore thumb compared to Liam and the others, although it didn’t seem plausible that someone would choose to stay in a place where they would only be somewhat excluded.

She questioned, “But if he’s not fond of spending time with royals and nobles, is there a reason why he tries to tolerate it so much? Besides being there for Liam, I’m guessing.”

“Beats me,” Maxwell responded, shrugging his shoulders. “Sometimes it’s hard to know what he’s thinking. He’s pretty much known for being mysterious and antisocial to almost everyone, so I wouldn’t take it personally.”

At the top of the stairs, Maxwell and Riley turned down one of the many elegant corridors of the castle. The ivory marble floors were decorated with intricate designs of mosaic art and sophisticated medallions. A gleaming chandelier glistened from the sunlight peering into the hall through the arched glass windows. The gold accents on the walls brought out the pastel blue that brightened up the space.

“Your room’s here in the west wing. In case you need anything from me or my brother, our rooms are just a couple rooms away,” Maxwell informed her, as the two of them walked past several large wooden arched doors.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. For some reason, Maxwell struck her more as an only child with his keenness for adventure and love for the spotlight. She wondered if his brother was as easy-going and laid-back as he was. Riley curiously commented, “I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“Yeah, an older brother. His official title is Duke Bertrand Beaumont. As the eldest son, he’s the heir and I’m the spare. You’ll see him tonight. He’ll be excited to meet you,” Maxwell answered with a smile, although his last sentence had a hint of uncertainty that Riley hadn’t noticed. He already had a slight idea on how his brother would react, and well... let’s just say they would have to brace themselves.

Maxwell stopped short in front of a magnificently ornate door with the dark wood accentuating the designs. As Riley stood beside him, he turned the doorknob. Oh, boy. If this didn’t get her even more excited than he was about solving House Beaumont’s problem of not having a suitor, he would run down the corridor and do three cartwheels in a row.

“This is it… Here’s your room!” Maxwell revealed, with a giddy edge to his voice.

Riley entered a lavish guest room with a gold and dark magenta palette accompanying full-length paintings and gilded ceilings. Two end tables with beige and gold accents to the solid wood foundation were placed on both sides of the queen bed with understated white lamps on top of them. A shiny gold candle chandelier hung daintily above Maxwell and Riley, where they stood underneath it beside the bed with silky cream sheets and dark fuchsia pillows matching the ottoman nearby.

“Wow…” was all Riley could muster, as her neck craned high and low to take in the simple, regal style of the bedroom.

It was official; she had fallen asleep and dreamt of being in an alternate universe where she was treated as if she were royalty. Even if it was only temporary, she could only imagine what her younger self would do if she knew how lucky she was to be where she was now.

“As a royal guest, you’re spared no luxury,” Maxwell said, matter-of-factly as he observed her walking out the balcony where the cool, fresh air blew in peacefully.

Looking over her shoulder back at him with a hint of mischief to her smile which he recognized as resembling one of his own, Riley asked, “So nothing’s stopping me from jumping on the bed?”

“There’s not much anyone can take away from you by doing that. Maybe only your dignity.” Maxwell guffawed, watching as her shoulders rose up in anticipation.

As her smile turned up even more in delight, Riley clasped her hands together and simply said, “Perfect.”

With a running start, Riley rushed over from the balcony and leaped on to the bed with a soft plop. As she sunk into the mattress and felt the smooth silk sheets over her, she sighed happily. When was the last time she had ever been able to let out a true peaceful sigh in a very rare calm moment? Due to school and work, it seemed she hadn’t been able to rest easy in years.

“Ah… this is so much better than memory foam,” Riley complimented, snuggling with a fluffy pillow and allowing herself to close her eyes to cherish the peace and quiet. “I feel like I could sleep here forever.”

“Just one of the perks you have as one of the Crown Prince’s suitors,” Maxwell remarked, laughing in goodhearted nature. He walked away from the bed towards the door. “I’ll let you settle in before your big debut tonight.”

Immediately, Riley’s eyes opened in shock at his words. What did he mean? She sat up in surprise, calling after him, “My what?”Maxwell stopped at the door, before turning back to Riley with a nervous smile. Whoops. He knew he was forgetting something, but he couldn’t figure out what.

“I’m sorry, I keep forgetting that you’re not used to all this. Things are always complicated around here when it comes to special events like this, but we’ll take it one step at a time,” Maxwell reassured her. Riley’s shoulders relaxed a bit, so he continued to clarify, “The first event of the social season is tonight… The Masquerade.”

“Oh… it sounds important,” Riley commented, fiddling with her fingers. Her knowledge of fitting in with socialites and moguls was limited. She couldn’t help but think about how out of place she might look in front of the finest nobles of Cordonia. She thought she would have had a little bit more time to prepare. “I’ve never been to an event like that before. Are there scheduled activities I need to prepare for in advance?”

“Compared to the balls held to welcome nearby countries, not really. Sometimes, they go full-out with the masquerade theme where everyone takes off their masks at midnight. Then, networking goes on for hours,” Maxwell explained. “This ball, though, is where all the suitors will be presented to the Prince, as well as to the King. Most people at court already know each other really well, so it’s less uptight in a way. Just good music, dancing, and food.”

“Does that mean the guests have to be in specific costumes with masks prepared tonight?” Riley questioned, finding the idea of attending a masquerade for the first time interesting.

Shrugging his shoulders, Maxwell replied, “Not everyone dresses in costume, but some people plan months finding one to wear for it. You can be sure that the ladies competing for Liam’s attention will be pulling out all the stops.”

For a split second, Maxwell glanced doubtfully at Riley’s modestly-looking suitcase. When they were at her apartment back in New York, he watched as she hurriedly packed her most essential belongings. Among her things in her suitcase were keepsakes and books as well as her quintessential New York attire.

“I’m guessing it’s too much to ask if you’ve got a costume or fancy ballgown in there,” Maxwell joked, although he was seriously racking his brain trying to remember if she stuffed one or two in there as a backup.

With a sheepish smile, Riley lifted her suitcase on the bed. She unzipped the main compartment where she pulled out a flowy, floor-length dress as blue as the calm Cordonian sky. “I packed a dress.”

“Well, I wasn’t sure, so I’ve made an appointment for you at the palace boutique. Maybe you’ll find something you like better there!” Maxwell cheerfully informed her.

For once, he wasn’t scrambling to fix things; he was actually preparing in advance. Bertrand would be so proud of his initiative. Maxwell just knew it.

Tucking her dress back into her suitcase for the meantime, Riley replied, “I’ll check it out. There’s nothing wrong with another option or two.”

“Remember, tonight is very important. It’s your chance to make a first impression on all the influential people at court and to stand apart from everyone else. If you’re going to leave a lasting impact, you might as well stun them with some style,” Maxwell responded, with a hint of cool confidence in his last sentence.

Triple S’s and alliteration? Man, was he on a roll with smooth words. Maxwell could definitely shimmy his way into being a reality TV show host. Maybe The Bachelorette or The Bachelor could use a new host in the near future…

An eager grin made its way on her face, as Riley reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam