#anyways Regina isn’t even that big of a bitch

[ava-dreel-thinks]

The mean girls musical movie is somehow gayer AND straighter at the same time. Also severely mid. Really hilarious highs, really cringey and awkwardly delivered lows, it averages out to be a 6/10 methinks.

[thequeenb]

Enemies With Benefits

Poppy x MC

This fic is inspired by @nerdy-twin post.

Warning: Smut

My, my did i heard right? My sources have been telling me all day about the hilarious fights between Queen Bee and our new starlet

Newbee proved to us since day one that she isn't one to be messed with but don't let her charms blind you. Yesterday Chlo-- i mean Poppy's dog got humiliated Infront of our eyes loves so grab your snacks because this is going to be a long semester isn't that right Bea?

Kisses, The T

Oh that's great. Another post from The T and everyone is looking at me again. Why do people care about this stupid blog anyways? Its so irrelevant and so--

"Oh my god Bea!!" Zoe runs up to me basically jumping from excitement

"Wow slow down what happened?" Seriously she can't even catch her breath

"Girl you are top 15 material now!!" she shoves her phone on my face and i gasp. Alright now i love this blog. Everyone around me whisper and after a moment i can hear cheers from every direction of the pathway

"Woooo B-E-A, B-E-A" they all chant my name and i bow laughing at my sweet victory, i cant wait to wipe Poppy's smirk off her face

Everything stops as i hear clapping behind my back, Aaaaand there she is. "Congratulations you managed to get pass the emo wannabes and the bimbos"

"Big words coming from a bitch like you" it feels like i am in a movie because everyone gasps not knowing how to react to that. Poppy stare at me long enough to kind of worry

"Listen here you ugly pathetic idiot--"

"That's not what you told me last night" i say kinda proud of myself and that's when basically everyone looks shocked. Zoe covers her giggles because she knows alllll about it and Miss Regina George over here have gone completely pink

"I would never not even in a million years touch someone as cheap as you, Chloe go fetch me a latte, ta ta garbage" and she walks away just like that

"Wow you really have an effect on her" Zoe comes behind me laughing and i roll my eyes brushing off another stupid fight

"Do you want to watch a movie and eat our feelings?"

"Girl you know me so well"

___

"Okay but do you want to watch Mean Girls, or the finale of Gossip girl?" I ask shuffling through Netflix

"Bea this school is the definition of Gossip girl and dont get me started on Mean girls, Poppy is--" And that's when we hear a knock on the door

"It must be Penelope i invited her" Zoe yells from the kitchen pouring us both a glass of wine

I walk to the door opening it wide and thats when i see my dear enemy

"What can i do for you?" I say smirking

"For starters buy better clothes, this shirt is hideous" she gestures at my Deadpool shirt, excuse me? How dare she?

"If i wanted to deal with your attitude i would have..oh wait yes you stalk me so you are always on my way"

"Agh can you just stop talking"

I roll my eyes so hard my brain hurts. What the school doesn't know is that we have our secret fights in the bedroom. Of course i was shocked as well but here i am kinda liking Poppy, gosh i probably hit rock bottom

"Goodnight boo" i smile slamming the door shut continuing my night drinking wine and gossiping with Zoe.

___

"I will see you after class, those new burritos are to die for" Zoe says as she kisses my cheek goodbye, i love this woman

I walk freely around the empty campus. One thing that i love about Mondays is that on third period i can just have five minutes to myself and collect my thoughts, that until i find my self pinned against a wall

"Never do that again" Poppy says pointing her finger to my chest

I gasp at the surprise and she looks amused, her and her little games "Do what exactly? Exist?"

She rolls her eyes but i can see how hard she is trying to hide her smile "No one slams the door at me Newbee" and she poke her finger once

"Oh please you are always being an asshole"

"Listen here, just because i let you kiss me once doesn't mean anything, you are still garbage to me and you will always be" and another poke

She tries to do it again but i grab her finger looking at her deep into her eyes

"No you listen Poppy, i am tired of your manipulative games, you are the most awful person i have ever met!" I am glad the campus is empty, if people were here they would probably record or take pictures for The T

"Oh please Hughes you play tough but you really aren't, maybe you were important back in pig town, but here? You are just another pawn" her glare is dangerous, her eyes on fire, our tension so thick you can feel it through your bones

So i did what every logical person would do, i lean in and i capture her lips before she can say anything else that will ruin the mood. At first she tries to deny and make a surprised sound but soon her tongue is dancing against mine.

I pin her against the wall taking a quick glance around to make sure we are alone. I should be in Miss Kingsley class right now but oh god am i distracted

She places her hands around my neck pulling me closer to her, didn't i tell you? She really likes me deep inside this cold heart of hers

"Am i tough now?" i ask, our lips so close, our breaths ghosting on eachother's faces. She swallows hard "Not enough"

And as these words escape her mouth i pin her hands above her head with my one hand effortlessly as my other travel from her waist down her thighs. Poppy always wears a mini skirt enough to ignite my fire

I dig my nails slightly into her flesh and ask once again "I said, am i tough now?"

Poppy moans against my mouth and i start kissing her neck, something that drives her crazy. She wont admit it, she never does but she knows well how much i turn her on and it annoys her

"Let me hear it" i say sucking at the sensitive spot underneath her ear

"Yes you are!" she says holding onto me tight like her life depends on it

My hand now goes beneath her skirt and my oh my do i make her excited. My fingers brush slightly against her underwear and thats when the bell rings, ugh cockblocker

We both immediately separate adjusting our clothes watching the campus slowly getting crowded. Poppy's cheeks are red and i can already imagine what she is thinking of. I smile to myself watching her walk away

And that's when my phone buzz, of course a notification from The T

Hello loves,

Another day another drama. My rising star is now top 10 material, i am proud of you girl but i wouldn't count on it because we all know Miss perfect always gets what she wants. I love drama and Hughes is providing me with the best one yet. Good luck, you will need it

Kisses, The T

I still cant believe what i am reading. Top 10?!! I am here almost two months and i have outsmarted most of Poppy's moves. I smile as Zoe approach me screaming

"I knew you had it in you!!" she hugs me tight spinning me around

"Suck it Poppy" i yell as students around us are cheering. It feels good knowing that people are on my side finally seeing who they are bowing to years now

Someone tugs my hand and as i turn around i see Chloe crossing her arms

"So you managed to reach top 10 i see"

"Oh do you want an autograph? Thats so sweet" i say smirking

"Poppy is waiting for you behind the field"

"And who says that i am going?" I practically laugh but her face remains the same

"Listen i dont have all day Channel is having--"

"Alright dog, good girl! You earned a treat" and like that i give her head a pat walking towards hell basically.

I am sure Pops is mad at me, maybe she likes me but she is serious when it comes to her reputation. I approach her enjoying how nervous she looks

"If you wanted a date we could have arranged it" i say sitting next to her

Her expression is cold and distant and i sigh defeated "okay what is it? Is it the fact that i am top-"

"That list isn't that important Hughes, i can drag you down to the bottom within seconds" Wow okay i get it thats not the reason you are grumpy

"Why did you asked your dog to fetch me?"

Poppy rolls her eyes clearly annoyed by every word i say. Again i sigh not knowing what to do exactly. Sometimes i like to take her in. The way her foot is jiggling, the way she flips her hair when she is awkward. Everything about her is so perfect when all the eyes are laid on her but when we are alone i see another version of her

"I hate how entitled you feel" she finally says standing up "since you got here the only thing that you want is to ruin me!"

I feel my blood boiling as i stand up to get on her level "Excuse me? You attacked me the first moment i laid my foot in here!"

"That's because you love to shove your nose where it doesn't belong!" she now takes a step closer, anger written all over her features

"Oh give me a break, you were always cruel, people just now start to realise it" i take a step closer as well trying to intimidate her

"I run this school Newbee, you like it or not so go back to your little town where you were important because here? You are nothing" she spats out coldly and all i can do is stare at her. Her mask now falls completely

I can see the worry in her eyes,regret. Her posture isn't radiating power, instead i can see how uncomfortable she is. Aw are emotions a new thing for her? How charming.

Without missing a beat i kiss her letting all this anger turn into passion. "I hate you" i say kissing her neck desperately trying to find an inch of bare skin to touch

"I hate you more" she tries to say but her voice trails off when my hand goes underneath her skirt. I smile between our kiss when i feel how wet she is

"Did our fight made you excited?" I ask teasingly

"More kissing less talking" she says capturing my lips into a passionate kiss. I push her against a wall as my hand connects with her center

"Oh Bea.." she whispers against my lips and thats when i increase the pace just to hear her moan. Only i can watch her like this, so vulnerable so real

With each stroke i can hear her shouting my name digging her nails onto my back. Finally her body shakes as she has a violent release and i hold her tight against me

I bring my fingers to my lips and i lick them clean locking eyes with her. For a moment all we can do is stare at eachother and i think we are both questioning what did we just do? I smile trying to reach for her hand but she pulls away

Great she turned on her bitchy mode. "I will see you tomorrow?"

"I will ruin your entire life Hughes!!" She yells while walking away. Well that wasn't what she was saying seconds ago, oh wait yes she was busy screaming my name

"And yes you will, now go fuck yourself!" She yells again and i flip her off smiling

Thats how the rest of the semester went down. Infront of the eyes of the school we hated eachother's guts but behind closed doors we did the craziest things in the bedroom. Overall i do hate Poppy Min-Sinclair but i have to admit, this woman knows her stuff, enough to wonder how many layers does she really has?

Tag list: @lolimugly @origmansello @greatestflirt-hero @mvalentine @otakufangirl-12 @sugarplumpnhoneybun @coldbatfriendroad @coldbatfriendroad @indecisive-choices @i-loveeveryone @kiara-36 @ognenniyvolk @somewillwin @it-lives-in-braidwood-manor

@ghalind @jayrnada @sergeant-pepper-loves-choices @dibberdipper @justastranger-passing

[ask-the-ace-attorneys]

What's everyone's least favorite case they've worked on?

Phoenix: Probably Turnabout Big Top, AKA State v. Galactica. It wasn’t because the case was too bad, it was mostly because of the Regina love triangle. She’s 16. Why.

Apollo: Turnabout Trump, or State v. Wright. I just hated having to use forged evidence, and it left me out of a job. Which reminds me, why did you do that anyway?

Phoenix: I... I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, and I completely regret it. I could have ruined your career before it even began.

Apollo: Da- Mr. Wright, I forgave you a long time ago. Also, Athena, we didn’t hear your least favorite case.

Athena: ...Turnabout Academy. Or State V. Woods. ARISTOTLE MEANS IS A BITCH ASS MOTHERFUCKER AND IN THIS ESSAY I WILL-

Apollo: Not Turnabout for Tomorrow? Where you literally got arrested??

Athena: Yeah but. Junie.

Apollo: Understandable, have a nice day.

Athena: On that note, why isn’t your least favorite case The Cosmic Turnabout?? State v. Starbuck?? State v. Cykes part two?? Seriously, there is so much for you to hate there.

Apollo: I... guess I blocked that case out of my memory. I’m changing my answer. The Cosmic Turnabout.

[cruddyborderlandstheories]

this DLC has me FUCKED UP and i keep screaming

spoilers for Bounty of Blood under the cut, keep reading at ur own peril. Also some Guardian Takedown spoilers for anyone who hasn’t beat it yet

tl;dr: a comparison between something taken from BL2 and a thing taken from Bounty of Blood. more spoilery tl;dr below the cut.

also the siren thing is not spoilers so i’ll share it here for anyone curious, it’s just this: siren tattoos are blue but when lily absorbs eridium in 2, they turn pinkish/purple. just like how vaults do from bl1 to bl2. they’re white/blue in bl1, then purple-pink in bl2 (and tps), y’know, after Eridium begins erupting from the ground. just a neat little detail i noticed that im not entirely sure was intentional but im gonna believe it is.

tl;dr: Gythian Blood = Core and the Ruiner is of Eridian Origin even tho everyone in the DLC likes to say it was created with Jakobs’ bioengineering. disclaimer: idk if I’ve found every hidden ECHO so I may be missing a few things but I have done every side quest and took ample screenshots of all important dialogue in the DLC : )

“man i just sat here for like 15 minutes staring at my keyboard mentally comparing core and eridium like the dumb bitch i am. 

it's not like we can do an actual comparison because we have no idea what the natural fauna of gehenna was like before jakobs came and mutated everything with core unlike pandora where we know what skags and rakk and shit were like BEFORE the eridium crust erupted. 

altho!!! there's a neat comparison between joey ultraviolet and rose. like obviously he wasn't getting tattoos and was just doing lines of crushed up eridium but the point stands they both have glowy eyes and unique powers so i don't necessarily think this means rose is a siren just because she has magic powers especially when we know she got the whistling passed down to her from her grandmother. 

especially because we've never seen a siren interact with core before. altho that leaves the question we have seen core tattoos now what are eridium tattoos like? actually rose's tattoos were on her right arm obviously she isn't a siren as we know them right now (I saw a post on reddit where people thought rose was a siren) 

of course that brings up the point perhaps siren tattoos ARE eridium tattoos. but then we hear the general's log about how the devil riders were tattooing a man with core and blood so obviously they're not ‘naturally’ occurring unlike siren tattoos. so odds are they're probably not equivalents but something interesting i thought of while thinking about this is how well siren tattoos compare to the Vaults from borderlands 1 and borderlands 2″

anyway. this is all ive been thinking about. yes yes i know guardian takedown post but! >:( im still salty even tho this update has been lovely (outside of Blane not getting his correct damage scaling ‘till today......). so i’ll do that at my own damn pace. now let me elaborate so i can sleep at night lmao

Eridium

refinement produces slag, which weakens people and can mutate things

has mutating properties, mostly with imbuing elements into shit- possibly causes insanity

seems to be connected to another dimension, likely the one the Eridians are from

Core

has a secondary form of Infused Core

has mutating properties, mostly regarding a thing’s body and mind

apparently radioactive

there are some things i wanna note

1) People throughout the DLC say the Ruiner was created by the Jakobs corp (the company) thru bio-engineering but I’m 99% sure that’s not true. The paperwork seems to me like they found the egg somewhere on Gehenna and decided to roll and experiment with it like all corporations do when they find weird alien shit. so maybe they experimented with whatever was inside the egg, but I don’t think they actually created it entirely

“Excavated from [REDACTED] ... Local legends speaks of a [REDACTED]. This theory is not endorsed by our research personnel.

2) The Ruiner’s design reminds me a lot of the Warrior.

3) Core immediately reminded me of Gythian Blood from Guns Love and Tentacles and I don’t think that’s coincidence to have 2 back-to-back DLCs where the big bad is focused on green death juice. I think Gythian Blood and Core are of the same stuffs.

4) Therefore, I think the Ruiner is (mostly) of Eridian origin (if you haven’t already guessed). 

This gives us an amazing look into how the Eridians actually create their beasts!!! And I’m so happy they showed us this.

(side note, Interitus Regina (the long name for Ruiner) literally means Destruction Queen and I think that’s beautiful <3)

i mean the idea that they plunge them from orbit to create an explosion similar to a nuke is fucking horrifying (but holy shit I love it so much ahhh it’s so cool!!!!)

the one side line from Oletta about how the company couldn’t control the Ruiner deffo makes me double down on this theory. I’m not entirely sure how Rose’s grandma knew about the whistling (I don’t think I’ve found every echo log in that area YET), but I would bet it was part of the testing given how many fuckin’ tape players they have throughout the facility. The Warrior was controlled by verbal commands via Jack, so it’s possible that the Ruiner was intended to be controlled similarly, but Jakobs intervention (or something like the way Rose hatched it) fucked it up.

now we know the Warrior was created to protect the Vault of the Destroyer (hmm.) so what the heck was the Ruiner created for? Ruiner is a name given to it by Jakobs/the people of Gehenna so we can’t really assume, but then again the monster names are pretty apt in this series even tho they probably technically shouldn’t be. 

it was only an egg, so maybe it was another test of Core? A Vault Monster incubating until it was ready to protecc and attacc but was never hatched because the Eridians ‘sacrificed’ themselves before it could? (I’m still not convinced the Eridians are the good guys. Listen. LISTEN. The guardian takedown is something to think about, BUT it doesn’t disprove that theory and I’ll stand by it because I 100% trust the Overseer more than bitchpants mcgee over here who thinks he’s soooo special for no reason fuck you and your dumb ‘I did what the Watcher could not’ bull you haven’t done shit.) ok sorry im done he just angers me. stupid guardian man. your whip is stupid and you should feel bad. oh also I totally called us actually being Guardians thru Guardian Rank before the game came out aha yeah.

I definitely think Gythian was a test/use of Core from the Eridians. We see in Bounty of Blood that core seems to mutate more the physical (and occasionally mental) parts of people, like with the crew challenges u do for Juno with all the weird hybrid people and whatnot. Gythian had the whole ‘the heart still beats’ thing going on (which is definitely a physical mutation if i’ve ever seen one), plus the whole, you know, mind control and shit. Which is p similar to what the menta gnats can do when charged with Infused Core. And keep in mind in BLaT we see DAHL notes on what happens to test subjects when injected with Gythian Blood. They mutated physically and went insane.

What im saying is Sirens and Eridium and Elements are connected, so what does Core equal? body/mind sure but are there unique creatures for core (yes holy shit I’m not talking about h2o au for once and FINALLY they gave us a canon name for the green stuff!!!). If not, I’d love to see a Siren interact with Core to see what it does to them. seriously why hasn’t tannis interrupted us yet. horrible excuse for a science lover (kidding kidding, I love her). I’d also really love a fuller rundown on what the hell Rose’s powers were. Because the whistling thing seemed to just be her grandma’s thingie passed down to her from her mom

but the core stuff

her gun seems to be infused with it. So did her sword thing. I didn’t really get a good look at it i was too busy trying to see thru my blurry tears of LOVE for this DLC.

Strangely while her tattoos are (mostly) green I actually don’t know if they’re core infused bc look at this

n look back at hers. hers aren’t very lime.

anyway

her eyes

I’d love to know if the core gives her immediate future sight or just increased perception or reaction times. there’s a huge difference but she seemed to be able to shoot the gun outta the sheriff’s hand near immediately and it seems kinda implied its because of the core (or at least because her eyes are glowing green)

there’s a possibility she has some unique core powers/possibly implants because of her relations to the project in the first place, or as leader of the devil riders after looting the facility. it’s really hard to say without more info and like i said im not sure if i missed an ECHO or two or not regarding her backstory :( 

Her hair is also green which I just noticed. Maybe she has core powers bc her grandmother got suuuuuuuuper irradiated/influenced working on project horizons and it passed down thru her n Rose’s mom, to Rose. Tannis does have a line about Sirens having unique hair colors and, if Sirens are linked to Eridium, perhaps those linked to Core also have unique hair color. Could also explain why only Rose seems to have those whistling powers. That said we don’t really see anyone else trying that whistling thing out afaik and idk if it was, like, a special ability or a certain tone/ditty or w h a t. 

i know being vague with everything gives them more creative freedom to create amazing characters and scenarios, but dammit I want A N S W E R S.

All THAT said man I’m so glad magic is real in the borderlands universe. oh, sorry, “magic”. It’s magic. Science it, tannis, I dare you. either way, I win. Either it’s magic and H2O AU is canon, or it’s science and I finally get my goddamn answers. Hey gearbox can you make a book just explaining all the science and eridian stuff. please. I’d love you forever. please. pleaheheheheaaasseee it’s all i’ve ever wanted.

oh also can i just say, suuuper disappointed we didn’t learn anything about anshin. Really wish non-fan favorite corporations would get the spotlight/lore for once. Like, I like Jakobs as much as the next guy, and I get WHY they did it (can’t have a corporation looking too good!!!) but they now have 3 DLCs (Jakobs Cove, GLaT, and Bounty of Blood) and also a hefty chunk of the main game. Like... we all know Jakobs fuckin sucks, look at what they did on Pandora. I really just want info on a medical corporation 😭 I have to do everything my damn s e l f. but SERIOUSLY IMAGINE the possibilities that could come from a medical corp getting its hands on eridian tech. like, yeah obviously the weapons corps are gonna use it for weaponry and stuff BUT WOULDN’T THE MEDICAL CORPS MUTATING PEOPLE MAKE MORE SENSE??? ldfhgldfshg I have to do everything my damn self...

anyway all that aside, this is definitely by favorite borderlands dlc by a LONG shot. Nothing comes close. Ahhh the lore, the nuclear aspect, the a e s t h e t i c (seriously, have I mentioned how much I adore Trigun???), the art, the music, the cryoslinger, the fact I can bust out going beeEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAans like Ray Chase at any time and it will MAKE SENSE. I love all of it.

oh, also, Rose is totally not dead. C’mon, they couldn’t find her body. She pulled a Lilith. “Are you sure she didn’t just suffer a wound that LOOKS fatal, only for her to come back in a blockbuster sequel...?” is a line from mr Jones himself (the movie guy)

I just hope when she comes back she gets to meet Captain Scarlett. I’d love to watch their interactions plus pirates and or ninjas. That’s 2 DLC villains now that have vanished without a trace. And I like Captain Scarlett way more than Rose (seriously I spent the entire beginning of the DLC complaining about how her voice bothered me- I was so happy she was a villain, I was hoping that was the case).

oh yeah, reminder, the people of vestige were living next to highly radioactive egg for likely years. i feel really bad for them :(

also!!!

this made me smile

[trailerparkflower]

hello i’m sorry to bother you but i’m in the process of writing my first harringtove fic and i was wondering if you have any tips on writing for Billy or Steve? especially Billy? if not thank you anyways and i love your work!!

hi hello im so sorry im answering only now! u see im not very active lately cuz my health isnt very good lately:( im so happy what u writing ur first harringrove fic u go baby!!! good luck and looots of inspo AND time to write for u hehe. and that's so cute what u asking me who aren't a very cool writer?? like?! wow u sweet thing!

Billy is honestly hard guy to write for me too, because u know he is just FULL of rage and fire and its one of many things i dont rly have in me! but it makes it even more fun to write him. im trying to keep his canon traits in mind when i write him, like:

he is actually very sensitive. he feels a LOT, cries like a crybaby. he is one of that fuckboys who post dumb sad boy memes. Very sensitive, very emotional

he ALWAYS naturally fills all free space to himself, he dominates it. its probably comes from his home life situation where he has to walk on the eggshells, but its still not a forced thing-he does it when he is relaxed, too. It's his natural trait. He is kinda like a big cat, or a lion pride male, he spreads his shoulders, he has a wide posture, he puts his arms on every free surface around him, he plants his feet wide. (and that's why im think he's a big spoon heh)

manipulative, charming, dangerous, good at getting information and good in observing things

literally a peacock. Sometimes reminds me of Johnny Bravo with his ways to flirt ghjkwj. Flexes his muscules, stands in a dramatic pose, pretties up himself with male jewelry, makes bedroom eyes, lowers his voice.......

a rollercoaster of a person-one second he is chill and calm, another second he is ANGRY and u never know what will make him mad and what will make him amused

Gross and nasty boy who isn't very hygienic

he is a secret romantic because that's how Dacre apparently sees him. fuckboy on the streets prince charming on the sheets!

insecure about himself but makes sure what no one will see it

very tactile, with both humans (like how he grabs Max when he's mad, on how is he CONSTANTLY touching-grinding-pushing Steve) and objects (how he plays with his zippo, how he puts hands on his car)

power-thirsty (bAnNED foR LIFE) and dominant person. He enjoys power so much like he is high on it. He is pushy even when he flirts, he is just very aries, u know?

ENERGETIC! he has too much energy!!! YET can be bored to death and really indifferent

mommy issues

im think its also important to remember what Dacre had his favorite headcanon about Billy having a God Complex and this is why Billy carries himself around with such confidence. He is religious, but like...in a strange strange way...

Very strong mentally, strong and brave even when is scared a lot. Stubborn also!

SECRETLY SUPER PROTECTIVE

He loveeees attention. u know he does.

 wow dis went long. i also realized what i dont write much meta on Billy in my blog, considering the fact i always seek hidden stuff for Steve and analyze him a lots. im think its cuz fandom dont rly writes much for Steve so i have to concentrate on him usually!! okay and for Steve, i also have these main traits what helps me to write him:

ANXIOUS! im think he has big anxiety issues, and even social anxiety. panics a lot and yells a lot and sometimes can act paranoid

he is charming. he is cute, and he is pretty in that soft but boyish way and he knows it, and he uses it when he wants to get something. which is kinda manipulative too but like...cute manipulative..

a Brat (big pout is his super attack), dramatic

Funny!!! Loves to joke. Jokes a lot in all of the situations-when he is in danger, when he is flirting, when he tries to comfort someone, he just always tries to be this positive joking guy

he is Bossy, but he also kind of a Pushover (because cmon, all his crushes is girls who can beat his ass and all his best friends-Tommy and Dustin-are a lot more active and pushy and Steve just goes along with it)

Daddy Issues (did u ever thought about how much he says about his dad being a jerk?)

big softie, hates conflicts, hates fights, hates confrontations, the coziest and lovey-dovey moment are the happiest he is. he just wanna hold hands and make love and maybe eat something yummy and call it a good day

yet he can be a really mean bitch, st1 Steve is SO Regina George. King Steve and King Billy is a very different types of popular jocks, because while Billys is an alpha dog aggressive active bully, Steve was more of a queen bee, idk? like its Tommy who was his muscle tank, Steve usually just stayed on the side and pouted/had that mean girl smile

does then thinks 

PROTECTIVE!!!!!!!!! VERY!!!!!!!!!

insecure and self-deprecating. thinks he is dumb:( 

he is playful, kind of immature, kind of lazy. Childish a bit, Joe himself said what Dustin is even more mature than Steve in some ways. and with that also comes some pureness, and even the way he trusts people who gonna let him down is how kids trust to people 

okay so!! i really really hope its gonna help u, even if a little bit! im sure ur writing gonna be really lovely

[forkanna]

[AO3] [WATTPAD]

They were about to find out.

Okina City had more opportunities for fun compared to the sleepy town of Inaba. Lots more shopping, dining, sights, sounds, smells. Rise breathed in the atmosphere with a huge grin as she walked through Okina Station, a slight warmth blossoming in her middle; even if she was very comfortable in her hometown, she did start to feel stir crazy due to the limited activities available. It was nice to get out once in awhile.

"Ebi-chaaaaan!" she called out to her cheerfully as she jogged down the station steps. The teen queen clad in the pink A-line with the kitschy black belt barely turned to look at her when she was tackled from behind.

"AH! Hey, hey, easy on the merchandise! Which is me, of course."

"Nope! We're gonna start bonding right away! I won't let you down!" That was one of her catchphrases in a drama she had starred in briefly. She even threw in a wink.

"Ugh. I'm not a hugger, okay?"

"Well, you said you wanted to give friendship a trial run, and this is the kind of thing friends do."

"Fine. Now that we're here, Atzrbucks or that fancy place? Chagall?"

Rise waggled her eyebrows at Ebihara, who only raised her own. "Oooh, fancy. You going to treat us with Daddy's money?"

"Sure. I mean, what do I care? As long as I don't buy a random sports car it's like the bank account is bottomless." Then she sighed. "No… I said I would stop doing that. And I will. But I don't think going to an upscale cafe would be a problem."

So they moved on to the Cafe Chagall. As they walked, Ebihara cast a longing look aside at a clothing store called Croco Fur, but she didn't stop until they were inside the lovely restaurant just past the boutique.

"Hey, you sure you didn't want to hit that place?"

"What?" Ai asked distractedly as they claimed one of the seats in the corner. "Oh… no, not really. I used to go there a lot… with…"

She didn't even have to finish. Rise frowned across the table at her. "I miss him, too."

"Hey, we don't have to spend this whole time throwing ourselves a pity party," she scoffed. "To hell with that. We are a couple of gorgeous, fierce women, and the world is our oyster. Maybe we can cruise a few guys."

"Oh, you're over Yu-kun already?" she asked, surprised.

"No. But it doesn't seem to matter, does it? He's gone anyway."

Rise felt her heart strings twinge. Poor Ai didn't even want to admit that she missed him — or at least, not the full extent of how much she missed him. So she reached across the white-and-blue-plaid tablecloth to pat her hand.

"So is that a no on cruising for guys?"

"I dunno," Rise laughed softly, taking her hand back as a man with dark glasses approached. She would have thought he was some random creep if not for the apron denoting he worked there.

"Good morning. You are more brave than I expected from girls of your age."

"I… huh?"

"My brewing process results in a blend that requires strong intestinal fortitude to weather," he went on in an ominous tone, jaw set behind his goatee. "I refuse to compromise my standards for anyone, even women."

"Excuse me?" Ebi demanded with raised eyebrows, sitting back and folding her arms over her chest. "You think we can't handle your coffee just because we're girls?"

"Hey, we're a lot stronger than you think, dude," Rise shot up at him. But unlike her friend, she felt guilty afterward and bowed slightly. "Sir." He was their elder, after all, and the owner of the establishment by the look of things.

"Are you?" he murmured, turned away from their table and staring off into the distance like some kind of anti-hero. "Very well. Then you shall place your order and the chips will fall where they may."

They both stared at him for a moment before Ai said, "Anyway… I'll have a nonfat latte, a drizzle of caramel."

"We don't serve that here. Not on my watch."

"Then what do you sell?" Rise asked more reasonably, hoping if she wasn't rude they would get this interaction over with quicker. "I thought I saw some pastries in the case on our way in."

"That is none of my concern."

"What kind of place is this, exactly?" Ai demanded in a rising tone of voice. "Do you want us to be clientele or do you want us to take our business elsewhere? Because you sure don't act like it matters if you make a sale right now!"

The man slowly shook his head, still staring into the distance. "That matters not. Only the experience, the rejuvenation of your mind."

Before her friend could speak again, Rise quickly said, "Two! We'll take two, and a couple of scones. Or whatever cake. Just bring us something."

The other two looked a little surprised, but the man did nod and move off behind the counter. "Got rid of Mr. Intensity 1994," Ai whispered. "I'm impressed, Kujikawa."

"Thank you, thank you. I'm doing my best!" She gave an exaggerated wink and giggle, earning her a long sigh from the other girl. "Okay, okay. So now we're here, we ordered coffee. What's up next?"

"You're asking me? I thought you were some big expert on friendship. Everybody knows you."

Rise smiled, looking around at the rest of the customers in the cafe. People going about their lives. "You would really think so, wouldn't you?"

"Hmm?"

"Listen. Just because I'm popular now doesn't mean I always was. Nobody expected me to amount to anything my whole life. And my parents… I still don't think they care about me. When I was little, all they wanted was for me to behave myself, so I did my best, like I always do, hoping that would earn their love. At least my grandmother has always believed in me, but even her, I would overhear her talking to my mom, telling her how worried she was that I wasn't going to be able to find my way in life. So… until I won that idol competition, I pretty much thought I was trash along with everybody else."

There was a small noise from the other side of the table. When she looked up, she could see Ebihara's lips squirming. "Ugh. It's really hard not to insult you when it's so easy. You're making it easy! Are you trying to trip me up on purpose?"

"What? No! God, can you stop being so paranoid? I'm really opening up to you — and you're the one over there coming up with insults!"

"FINE!" But immediately after half-shouting that, she ducked her head and covered her eyes. "No… you're right, I'm being a dick. Ignore me."

"Yeah, that might be a little difficult when the whole point of today is me getting to know you," she laughed.

"UGH."

"Hey. You seemed to talk with no problem last night, over text. Is it just harder to do it in person?"

This time, despite being taller than Rise, Ebihara looked small and helpless. With visible effort, she leaned forward and whispered, "I don't have to hear people's tone."

"Huh? What tone?"

"Mocking tone. You… tease me, everybody's teasing me… it's been like that my entire life. I had to change my behavior and assert my dominance, take control of my destiny. Or I would have been kicked around forever. Surely you can understand, after what you just told me."

Rise started to defend herself, the words were on the tip of her tongue. But she forced herself to say nothing until she had fully absorbed everything her schoolmate was telling her. Then she reached across to grasp Ebihara's wrist — ignoring the way she started at the touch.

"I'm not making fun of you all the time. Teasing you sometimes, yeah, a little. Nothing major. But even when I do that, it doesn't mean I think you're stupid, or not a person! You're just a huge bitch to everybody and I feel like you deserve being poked at now and then. To keep your head from getting too big."

Though her friend had tensed all over at the b-word, she relaxed as she listened to the rest, even if her expression was not too terribly thrilled. "I guess I am a huge bitch. But everybody else was to me first. I thought that's what I had to do to survive."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "It's a pretty valuable skill. I had to learn that one, too, but I also learned to start off with a big smile. So it's… kinda both? Works out best using both but starting with charm."

"Hmm… I don't… have that." Now she just looked completely lost. "You're probably sitting there thinking how pathetic this all is. How pathetic I am."

"Nope. Just that it's really sad everybody around you was so mean that they turned you into Regina George. It's not your fault. I think you probably did the best you could to be fabulous instead of frustrated."

"I did. And when we moved to Inaba, I swore to myself that I would never be bullied again. That I would take control of my destiny and totally reinvent myself. And I did! But I guess… you and Narukami have really proven to me that my journey isn't finished yet."

"Nope," she said with a big grin. And this time…

Ai smiled back at her. The expression was hesitant, the smile tiny, and her eyes were just as sad as they had been before. But it was such a big step in the right direction that Rise felt her heart leap in her chest. It was working! Maybe deep down, she had believed it was a pointless endeavour, but it was working against all those odds. Miracles happened every day.

"I got you," Rise said quietly, gripping tighter. "For real."

"Gross. But… thank you." The moment passed, and Ai pulled her hands back into her lap with a clearing of her throat. "Ugh, too much sharing and caring. Now I feel weird. Where is our goddamn coffee?!"

"Right here."

Both girls practically threw their chairs back from the table as their intimidating waiter set down a tray in front of them. As requested, two cups of coffee, and two scones.

"Oh… I, u-uh, thanks," Rise managed with a shaky smile. "What do we owe you?"

"Perhaps nothing. Perhaps… everything. Only time will tell." As he adjusted his sunglasses, a gleam reflected from the lighting; it was oddly cinematic. Privately, Rise thought she should probably mention this guy to the next casting director she worked for.

"Freak," Ai muttered as she pulled her cup of coffee closer once he had left them in peace. "Alright, it smells pretty good, but strong… should we just suck it up and, well, suck it up?"

Giggling, she said, "Good one. Alright… one, two… three!" Both of them took a healthy swallow.

And the world turned itself inside-out. The twisting in their guts couldn't possibly have been natural. Who would craft such a beverage? Why did they hate humanity?! It was as if they were being directly injected with adrenaline, all while the warmest, darkest creature ever spawned tried to claw its way out of their stomachs. This was far too much for any teenage girl to be expected to tolerate. In fact…

In fact…

                                                                  ~ o ~

When Rise came back to herself, she found she was lying down. Why? And where was she?

Once she sat up, she saw the barely-familiar surroundings of Cafe Chagall and only felt her confusion grow. Did she really pass out in the middle of a restaurant?! This was going to be some spectacular tabloid fodder if anyone had recognised her and decided to whip out their cell phone; not that everyone would do that, but just enough people to make it a concern. They would probably all start whispering about her having an underage drinking problem.

Well, to hell with that. Careful not to rub her face so she didn't smudge her barely-there makeup, she pinched the bridge of her nose and looked around.

"Oh."

Ebihara was blinking across at her, in a similar dazed state. Then she suddenly scooted away… on the long bench they were perched upon. Which wasn't even where they had begun — they were at a table with chairs! Though if they were both like that, it probably meant…

She had been lying with her head in Ai's lap. Wasn't that a little too close for them barely being friends?

"What… the hell…?"

"What did you do to me?" Ai breathed, her hazel eyes wide, chest rising and falling rapidly. Then a little more strongly, "Hey, I did not sign up for this. You had better explain yourself right now."

"Me?! Are you kidding? You had better be kidding, I really hope you don't think I could do something like-"

"Well I never thought we could have some kind of serial killer in a crappy little town like Inaba, either, and look how that turned out!"

Rise shook her head out firmly, clutching it through her hair as she pushed all that from her mind and tried to focus. "That coffee... call me crazy, but I think… that had something to do with it?"

"You are correct."

Both girls just about jumped out of their skin again before Ebihara shot to her feet and snapped, "Are you insane? I should have my daddy sue you for trying to frighten us to death!"

"To die would be a grand adventure," the mysterious man replied, eyes still shrouded by his sunglasses.

"Wow, not your choice. As soon as you're done spouting weird mystical crap, you can see about giving us a refund."

A long pause. "We do not believe in the myth of refunds."

"Just give us our money!"

                                                                  ~ o ~

"Well, I guess that was kind of a bust."

Ebihara looked as furious as Rise had ever seen her look as they stomped their way out the door. "Can you believe that weird old man? He might even have been some kind of creep — maybe he did things to us while we were unconscious! He-"

Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks, and Rise nearly ran into her. "Wha- hey! What's wrong? I hope you're not thinking about going back in there, I've had enough!"

"No… no, I suppose he wasn't a creep. Or he would have…"

With no forewarning, Ai took a sharp left and speedwalked inside Croco Fur. It was all Rise could do to keep up with her, still completely bewildered as to the reasons behind her bizarre behavior.

"Hello hello!" called out the cheerful woman behind the counter, bowing quickly. "Welcome! It's been a while, Miss Ebihara!"

"Yeah, yeah," she replied distractedly as she glanced behind her, as if she were running from some kind of demon. But the only one there was Rise — whose eyebrows were lifted so high they were practically part of her hairline now. "U-um, what do you have that's on sale?"

The woman started. "On sale? You've never been interested in that before, you just wanted to know what was new or trendy. And then told me-" She suddenly cut off and cleared her throat with an awkward smile. "My apologies, you can shop for whatever you want, of course!"

"Thanks, Reiko. C'mon."

Rise nearly stumbled when she was suddenly being dragged across the room toward sale racks. But she was too poised to actually faceplant; all that modeling experience.

"Okay," she hissed once they were in the corner, their lowered voices covered by sugary pop music playing overhead. "Spill, Ebi. What's gotten into you?"

"I'm just… really creeped out about that guy. Sorry." Ai finally refocused on her companion and grimaced. "Sorry, really. I know I'm acting like a spaz."

"Yeah! I mean, I'm freaking a little myself, but I'm pretty sure he just moved us to that couch because we passed out. Wow, what does he put in that coffee?!"

Out of nowhere, Ebihara started to chuckle. The sound was so unexpected that Rise just blinked at her for a moment, bewildered, before she finally started to laugh along with her. Then they were clutching each other's shoulders to keep from falling over due to the overwhelming power of their mirth.

"What the hell?!" Ebi finally giggled. "It's… not funny, it's terrifying!"

"I know!" she laughed back, wiping her eyes with her free hand. "We should probably call the police or something!"

Nodding as she grinned down at her friend, the girl who was normally such a bitch now looked like she was having the time of her life. Such a stark contrast. "Okay… okay, I'm done. We should probably shop so we don't look stupid."

Which they did. They didn't find much of interest, but they did enjoy flicking through the racks and commenting on how bad some of the selections were. Ebihara found a scarf she rather liked, even though it wasn't scarf weather, and Rise found a tube top with a popular cartoon character in the middle that Ai confirmed was cute enough that she could work it. A few other odds and ends ended up at the register by the time they were through. They soon departed with their bags of goods, in much better spirits than when they had woken up.

"Oh, I needed to pick up something else," Rise quickly spoke up when Ai started to turn toward the train station steps.

"Hm? What?"

"My friend needs a poster for… well, it's Yukiko. She needs a poster for Chie's birthday."

Ebihara smirked slightly. "You forgot I actually know who they are, didn't you?" When Rise only squirmed, she shrugged. "I know. This is officially the first time I have ever been nice to anyone, so you probably forgot I was the same person as that raging cunt from Yasogami High."

"Hey, I never said 'raging cunt' in my mind," she hissed at her. "So do you know where we could get something like that? A poster from an old kung fu movie?"

"Hmm… yeah. I mean, not for sure, but there's a place right down that way. Not far."

                                                                  ~ o ~

Okina Books wasn't especially bustling, even for the weekend. Few customers were poking around its crowded innards, in search of CDs or books or DVDs to fill gaps in their collections. The world's oldest music was playing from the loudspeakers, and Rise tried not to cringe; was this really the most modern choice available from their stock? It didn't even sound like it was from this millennium.

"Hey, Ebihara."

"Hey, Ohashi," Ai said to the cashier. She knew that overweight guy? Ai knew that guy?! "Anything new for me?"

With a little shrug, he stuffed the rest of his Pocky stick into his mouth and prised himself out of his seat to rummage around behind the counter. At first, Rise wasn't even sure he had heard her — until he came up with a CD that looked just as old as what was currently playing. If not older.

"'Purity'," he told her with slightly more enthusiasm than before. "With the original obi. This is some choice city pop, believe me."

Ai picked it up and tapped her chin. "Ritsuko Kurosawa… yeah, I don't know her. Really, who is… wait, did she do 'Hot Boy'? Or was that not her?"

"YES! Poor Rizco, she really didn't quite hit her target audience… just…" He made a whooshing motion with his hand over the glass countertop. "Blew on past and nobody saw her."

"I'll see her," Ebihara breathed with her eyes closed. Then she sighed and said, "Alright, how much?"

"Oh, two thousand."

"That's it? Wow, you spoil me." She handed over a couple of thousand Yen notes. Rise thought that might have been a little steep for an old CD, but not too unreasonable. "Any luck on…?"

They both looked up at the ceiling when she pointed, and Rise's eyes followed. It was still the same upbeat disco as before. "Oh, Mariya?" he chuckled easily. "I'm sorry!" His words of English were practically in time with the woman singing the very same, and Ai laughed with him. "No, no, it hasn't popped up on my radar. Sorry, really. But you'll be the first to know; I would call you for that one."

"Um… I don't get it," Rise finally put in with a slight laugh. "What are we talking about?"

"'Plastic Love'," they both said at the same time.

"I… huh?"

"It is pretty obscure," Ohashi admitted with a shrug at her. "Didn't chart much back in the 80s, either. Can't really blame you for looking at us like we're from… Mars…"

But now that was precisely how he was looking at her. He didn't even have to speak and Rise already knew what was coming; she had seen that look a thousand times before, and she was already summoning up her skills of both acting and diplomacy. Bracing for impact.

"Wait… are you-?"

"Yep!" she said cheerfully, but quietly. "But I'm just here with my friend, so if you could please-"

"Whoa, whoa, Risette is in my store. This is a special occasion!" Laughing a little more, he whispered from behind his hand, "Listen. You sign one of my copies of 'True Story' and I will comp you two whatever you want! Er, within reason, of course. Don't bankrupt me!"

Though Ebihara looked a little embarrassed that he was reacting this way, Rise quickly said, "I would be happy to just because you asked. Just one, though; I want to focus on my time with my friend here."

"Naturally." Then he was hissing at Ai, "Why didn't you tell me you knew Risette?"

"Because I have only gotten to know her recently," she sighed impatiently. "Guess it doesn't matter that I am a loyal customer."

"Well, it does, but… I mean… look, it's Risette."

"Yes, I am aware," she told him frostily before storming off into the recesses of the bookstore.

Honestly, Rise couldn't blame her. Even while she was cheerfully responding to Ohashi's gushing and relenting to sign not one but two copies of her last single for him, she felt a little twinge of guilt for stealing Ai's thunder — no matter how unintentional. But what else could she have done? Now all she could do was hope her new friend wasn't so upset that their tentative friendship ended before it began.

                                                                  To Be Continued…

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: The Real Housewives of Storybrooke (16/?)

A fic based on this premise here, following the lives of Storybrooke’s elite wives, with all the scandal, bitching and backstabbing that goes on behind the scenes of high society…

This verse is open for prompts!

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[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Eleven] [Twelve] [Thirteen] [Fourteen] [Fifteen] [AO3]

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BELLE

Belle turned this way and that, looking at herself critically in the full-length mirror. Her morning sickness had finally managed to get itself under control and she was feeling well enough to head out to the gala with Cameron tonight, but she couldn’t help feeling like her pregnancy was suddenly obvious to the world at large, despite her not being anywhere near close to showing. She felt as if there was a huge sign hanging over her head announcing it to everyone.

Perhaps it was just because she knew that she was much paler than usual due to a lack of regular diet and she was wearing more make-up to cover it, but hopefully the atmospheric lighting in the ballroom where the party was taking place would help with that. 

Cam slipped into the room and came over to her, putting an arm around her waist and leaning in to kiss her forehead gently, not wanting to ruin her make-up or coiffeur. 

“The taxi’s here,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” She gave a twirl, the skirt of her golden silk gown flying out around her legs. “I’m not sure I’ll be up for much more dancing than that this evening, but do I look all right anyway?”

“You look perfect, as you always do.” Cameron took her hand but made no move to leave the bedroom. “You know that you don’t have to come if you don’t want to; if you would be more comfortable staying here.”

“No, I’m definitely going after putting all this work into getting ready.” She smiled. “Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this occasion. Well, I was looking forward to it until I started throwing up all the time. Since then all I’ve been looking forward to is not throwing up. Still, it’s always nice to be able to go out and show you off. I like having my dapper husband on my arm. Especially when he’s wearing a bow tie.”

She let go of his hand in order to adjust the tie, not that it really needed it. Cameron was always impeccably turned out whenever he left the house, which was why it was so much more exciting when she got him hot and bothered and dishevelled. She had not been in the mood for much of that lately, but she was hoping that it would come with time. Mary Margaret had commented on the middle trimester of happy hormones when she had been expecting Neal. 

“Come on,” he said. “We’d better go or else we’ll end up being unfashionably fashionably late. I know you’re not one who likes to make a big entrance.”

The taxi ride to the venue wasn’t all that long, but Belle wouldn’t have liked to walk it in her dress and heels. She hadn’t been all that involved in the planning, needing to focus on doing her day job when she could and taking care of herself when she couldn’t, but Ariel had been giving her regular updates, and as she and Cameron stepped into the ballroom, she could see that Regina had once again outdone herself when it came to presentation. She really should set up a sideline in party planning, and Belle wondered how she’d ended up working in local government in the first place when she had such artistic and organisational flair. 

“Belle! I’m so glad that you came!” 

Ariel was the first person in the crowds who noticed their arrival, and Belle was glad of it. She wondered if Ariel and Eric had been hanging around by the entrance all evening for the express purpose of catching her on the way in. 

“Mr Gold, I’m going to have to borrow your wife for a moment to tell her just how ravishing she looks.” Without any further comment, Ariel hooked her arm through Belle’s and pulled her away in the direction of the buffet table. Cameron was happy to let her go, accepting a glass of champagne from one of the waiters circling unobtrusively. 

“You really do look wonderful,” Ariel said. “Now I see what they mean about pregnant women glowing.”

“I think that’s probably more to do with the lights reflecting off the dress,” Belle said. “I feel about as far away from glowing as it’s possible to be at the moment. You look amazing too.”

Ariel swished the skirt of her mermaid tail dress, completely covered in sequins that faded from purple down to green. “I know, isn’t it shiny? It’s super-heavy though, you wouldn’t believe how much tape I’ve got holding it up. Anyway, that isn’t why I cornered you.”

“No, I kind of gathered that much. You’re about as subtle as a brick. What do you need to warn me of?”

Ariel pointed to the left in the direction of the bar where Zelena was entertaining a crowd of hangers-on. 

“Yes, well, I know we all hoped that she wouldn’t come, but it was really wishful thinking, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Ariel sighed. “Still, she seems to be on a roll tonight. I’m half-expecting her to start charging for gossip.”

“Well, I know to steer clear of her at the best of times, but thanks for the warning.”

Ariel patted her shoulder. “Any time. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

“I’d kill for a triple vodka and tonic but somehow I don’t think that’s going to be a good idea, so I’ll settle for orange juice. I need some sugar and food probably isn’t a great thought right now.”

Ariel grabbed a waiter and sent him off to source some orange juice, and in the meantime they turned to speak to Robin, who was, as expected, trying to hide behind the buffet table. 

“I don’t even have the excuse of needing to watch Roland, because he’s with Marian this week,” he lamented. “I’m beginning to consider texting her to make up some kind of fake emergency to get me out of this, but at the same time, I want to stay and support Regina. I just don’t like wearing the penguin suit.”

“You look very dashing in it. Who knew that you scrubbed up so well, Robin?”

“I did.” Regina came over and kissed his cheek. “Hello Belle. It’s good to see you; you haven’t been out and about for a while. Is everything ok?”

Belle nodded. “Yes, it’s fine, thank you. I’ve just been a bit under the weather, that’s all.” She wondered if Regina had already put two and two together.

“Uh oh.” Robin took a step back behind Regina. “Here comes trouble.”

Belle looked up to see that Zelena had shaken off her hangers on at the bar and was coming over to them. 

“Let’s hope that we can make her go away quickly.” Cameron had come over, slipping his arm around Belle’s waist. “Can we just pretend that she’s not here and that she’s not speaking?”

“Hello, everyone.” Zelena had reached them. “Belle, it’s so good to see you, you’ve been lying low recently. I do believe congratulations are in order.”

Regina raised an eyebrow. “Indeed?”

“Yes.” Zelena nodded in Belle’s direction. “She’s finally managed to get herself knocked up, haven’t you, dear? Got your claws in good and proper.”

All of a sudden, despite the music from the band and the general chatter of all of the other people around them, Belle was certain that she could have heard a pin drop. Everyone in their circle was looking at her and Zelena, and Belle felt her face begin to drain as her stomach rolled. 

“Oh, sorry, was it a secret? Oops.” 

Belle just felt sick, and something in the back of her mind weighed up the pros and cons of the mortification of throwing up in public versus the satisfaction of throwing up all over Zelena. No one was speaking. Everyone was just looking at her. 

Then she heard Cam’s voice, low and quiet and so very, very dangerous. 

“Never speak to my wife like that. In fact, never speak to me or my wife again.”

“Get out,” Regina said. “Leave. Now. Go. You’re the vilest and most revolting person I’ve ever had the displeasure to know. How dare you?”

“What, tell the truth? Look at her, she can’t deny it. I saw her coming out of the maternity clinic at the hospital looking very pleased with herself.”

“Mom, that’s awful.” Robyn peered into the circle from behind her father’s shoulder, her face stricken. “God, I knew you were catty and mean, but that’s something else. So what if Belle is pregnant? It’s not for you to tell the world that.”

“Darling, I was simply concerned…”

“Like hell you were,” Robyn snarled. “No, you just wanted to cause a scene at someone else’s expense like you always do. You’re pathetic.”

Belle’s nausea was gradually subsiding, and all she felt was anger, an icy ball of fury building up in the pit of her stomach and bubbling there. 

“You know, Zelena, I pity you. You’re so sad, and so lonely, and you’re so unable to find happiness in your life that you’ve decided that everyone else in the world has to be unhappy alongside you so that you can feel superior. You’ve been determined to punish me for being the one that Cameron chose over you, ever since we first became a couple, and for the most part, I’ve never fought back against you. I’ve never felt the need, because I know that Cameron loves me, and I love him and his feelings towards you… Well, there aren’t any. No matter the amount of mud you sling my way, you’ve never succeeded in making me feel insecure in my marriage. You’ve made me sad, you’ve made me angry, you’ve made me so enraged I hit you round the face, which I’m sure you don’t want a repeat of. But ultimately, you’ve always failed, because every time you try and come between us, it just makes us stick together even more. And now we’re having a child together, one that we have wanted and planned for over six months, and you can’t stand that all your efforts have failed. You’re a sad, pathetic little creature and you’re lashing out in your pain. I’d feel sorry for you if you weren’t such a horrible human being.”

She turned to Cam, who was looking at her with awestruck admiration. “I don’t think we need to stay here any longer, Cam. Will you dance with me?”

Cam offered her his free arm. “It would be my pleasure, my darling.”

“Not too fast and twirly,” Belle muttered as they made their way through the dumbfounded crowds towards the dancefloor. “I still might throw up at any second and I’d rather projectile vomit over her than you.”

Cam just kissed her, long and deep and in a way that could leave no-one in any doubt as to the solidity of their relationship. 

“Belle, you are a wonder, and I think I may just have fallen in love with you all over again. That was masterful.”

“I’m shaking like a leaf, but it felt good to say it. Everything just became clear. It was like a veil had lifted. She’s cowed me one too many times before, but suddenly, I just stopped feeling that way.”

As they swayed softly to the music together, Belle looked over Cam’s shoulder to see Robyn dragging her mother towards the exit, both looking absolutely furious. Despite everything, she smiled, resting her head against Cam’s neck and feeling his arm warm and solid around her back. 

Nothing was going to bring her down now.

[sprnklersplashes]

heart of stone (7/?)

AO3

Unlike most of his peers, Damian isn’t excited at all about moving out. There’s a lot he loves about living at home-having a mom who cooks him his own meals, not having to pay bills, living withing walking distance of his best friends and a not having to do his own laundry. All those little conveniences are things he’ll miss sorely when that day comes, but the biggest reason has nothing to do with any of that. No, the reason he dreads moving out is because he’s not sure if he’ll be able to find a roommate that will put up with his constant singing around the house. Especially around audition time.

Which is why now, he’s practicing his rendition of Dressing Them Up in his bedroom, his mom being incredibly cool about the whole thing downstairs and Janis on Facetime, earbuds in and bopping along with him and giving him more enthusiasm than the actual audience probably will.

“You sound great.” She’s sitting cross legged on her hospital bed in a sweater and leggings, her face more bare than it was yesterday, but her eyes still bright and laugh lines creased around her eyes and mouth. She’s still her.

It was tough, seeing her for the first time, but weirdly, it wasn’t nearly as tough as he thought it would be. Once he got past the strangeness of the hospital environment and the little emotional hiccup she had with Cady, he knew she’s still her. Hard situation, uncomfortable new world, but still his Janis.

“You think so?” he says. “I don’t know about this song. All the forums say it’s a really good song to audition for the Emcee with.”

“And it’s your party piece,” she tells him. “Remember freshman year, you sang it for my grandpa?”

“I miss your grandpa,” he sighs.

“I’ll let him know. He calls me weekly now.” She shifts on the bed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Before he even realises what she’s doing, he checks her arm. No IV in there. Why does that make him feel better? “So do you think you’re going to change it?”

“Should I?” he asks, looking through his music. “The audition’s tomorrow. I don’t know if I can research and learn a new song by tomorrow.”

“Then don’t,” she tells him. “You’re overthinking it.”

“You’re telling me off for overthinking,” he says rather indignantly, raising an eyebrow at her. “This is the same girl who texted me at 2 in the morning for my opinion on a dog meme to send to Cady.”

“I needed a second opinion,” she says.

“Thought you didn’t need opinions,” he teases.

“Maybe I need yours,” she says softly, the grin on her face lighting up the screen. “Dick.”

“Don’t even love you,” he replies, blowing a kiss softly to the screen. Janis giggles, hiding her face behind her hand.

“Okay, you have the scene worked out as well?”

“I think so.” He picks up the extract from his bed. He’s done it for everyone, Janis, his mom, Janis’ mom, Cady, even the plastics. He learned that day that Gretchen is amazing at giving weirdly specific compliments and also knows more about theatre than he’d have guessed. Maybe in another life she’d be a drama geek like him. “It’s just an audition anyway. They’re not looking for the finished product. Just potential.”

“And you my good man are 6’2” of raw mother fucking potential.”

“Janis, language!”

“Raw mother freaking potential. Sorry, mom.” Somewhere behind the phone, Janis’ mom says something and Janis chuckles, rolling her eyes. “I’m not allowed to cuss in here. Since this is a ‘children’s ward’.” She quotes the word with her fingers. “Which is apparently where I belong.”

“You are a children,” he reminds her.

“I am older than you!” she spits back, laughter shaking her voice. She leans back on the bed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. The joke slips from her face, leaving soft sincerity in its place. “Are you nervous?”

“I don’t get nervous.” She raises her eyebrow at him, of course. By now she can see into his brain like there’s a little window on his forehead. It’s why he can’t bullshit with her, and conversely, why she can’t with him. “A little. I just really want a good role, you know. It’s our last show.”

“Which is why you’re going to ace that audition so hard,” she tells him. “Just don’t drink dairy in the morning and do your breathing before you go in. And stay away from the candy!”

“Pity you’re not here to remind me,” he says.

“True, but I did take the liberty of passing on all the info to Cady,” she tells him. “She knows what to do.”

“You’re a hero, babe.”

“Don’t I just know it,” she says. “Are you going to do the whole ‘dress for the part you want’?”

“Of course.” He runs over to his wardrobe and shows her the outfit he’d picked out for tomorrow, black silk waistcoat and black skinny jeans, his dance shoes in his bag. “What do we think?”

“Oh, that’s so sexy,” she tells him. “We need to bring waistcoats back to the collective again. I miss them.” Before he can answer, she looks beyond the camera, nodding along to a conversation he can’t hear. She casts an anxious glance at him, so quickly that he would have missed it if he blinked. “Okay. Okay, yeah fine, I know. Okay fine.” She turns back to him, letting out a long exhale that makes the hair on his arms stand up. He can’t help it; he has built-in parental instincts and they’ve been heightened ever since Janis went to hospital. So much so that even when she flashes up a peace sign and grins, it’s hard for him to grin back. “I have to bounce. Go get a good night’s sleep, ace it tomorrow, and tell the drama club that my services are still available.”

“I’ll let them know,” he says. He sits on the bed, tucking one leg under his body. He’s reluctant to let her go, their time together so precious now. “I love you, honey pot.”

“Love you more, bitch.” Her face freezes and then she’s gone. Not gone, he corrects himself. Just… not around for him right now.

“Okay,” he exhales, giving himself a shake. She’s fine. She said she was fine, she looked fine, she is fine. And she will be fine. She even said that she might be well enough to come see him in the show, all things going smoothly. The thought alone is enough to make him smile. Of course she will. The show won’t be for months anyway. He just has to get through this first. So he picks up his music and bounces down the stairs, ready to treat his mom and sisters to yet another rendition.

                                                                                               *****

It’s just after second period when the nerves do start to kick in. He’s not scared or intimidated, he can’t be he approaches auditions the way Cady would a calculus test, as a thrilling challenge to be overcome and a way to improve, whatever the outcome. But like he said to Janis, it’s his last year. He’s not gotten parts before but would be different. He wouldn’t throw a fit or leave the show if he didn’t get it, those types of divas make him cringe so much it hurts. But he can’t shake the idea that it wouldn’t be as special if he were in the ensemble in his last year. Besides, this is his part. Always has been.

“Hey.” He jumps off the floor, so wrapped up in his own thoughts he’d barely noticed the person sliding up beside him. He’s even more surprised when he sees who it is; Regina, wearing a lacrosse jersey over her white dress and a smile that’s uncharacteristically apprehensive. Since when did Regina George doubts? More to the point, since when did Regina talk to him? He wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t even know his name until Cady told him. He just assumed he was ‘Janis’ gay friend’ to her, nothing more. The same way she’s nothing more than ‘asshole Queen Bee I’d punch given the chance’ to him.

“Hi,” he says flatly. Her smile falters at his tone, and he has to hide his own smirk behind his locker door. Someone clearly isn’t used to not being given the golden treatment.

“So… how’s Janis doing?”

And the surprises keep on coming.

“You care?” he snorts.

“Yeah, I do.” Her tone is more defensive this time, the familiar anger that’s become her trademark making an appearance. Somehow, she sounds more natural this way. She shakes her head and tosses her dark hair over her shoulder. “You’ve talked to her recently, I’m guessing.”

“Of course I have. She’s my best friend,” he fires back, suddenly finding himself on the defence. Heat prickles on his skin and he wants nothing more than to get out of this conversation.

“I just… wanted to know how she’s doing,” she says, her voice quiet and her arms crossed over her chest. He closes the locker door and looks at her, trying to find some semblance of the ruthless predator he knows rather than the timid, vulnerable creature before him. It’s unsettling, seeing her like this, and he’s almost certain it’s a trap. “So how is she?”

“She’s great.” He slams the locker door closed and now it’s her turn to jump. “Janis is doing great. And she’s being let out for a week on Friday. So, she’s great.”

“O-okay,” she replies. She picks at her nails, her eyes growing wide. It’s only when she takes a step back that he can breathe again. She gives an attempted smile and it doesn’t look right on her face. “That’s cool. That’s good to hear.”

“Yeah.” He puts his bag on his shoulder and pushes past her. Admittedly, he does feel a little guilty here. Regina’s a horrible person, but she’s still a person, right? Maybe she is worried about Janis, that there’s some sincerity beneath the make-up.

No. Of course not. And if Regina wanted his respect, she should have started back in middle school. And in any case, why is he even thinking about Regina? He’s got way bigger things to worry about today than her.

He checks his phone at lunch, finding nothing from Janis. Which is normal these days. Normal re-adjusted pretty quickly and she’s just finished another round right about now, so she’s probably resting from that. Besides, no news is good news, as his mom likes to say.

“Damian. Damian!”

“Woah, yeah, I’m here.” He shakes his head, grabbing the side of the table. He really needs to tune back in today. Cady is sitting beside him, her hand on his shoulder and her eyes big with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am,” he says, patting her hand. “Just daydreaming, kid.”

“Okay.” Silence settles over them, tight and uncomfortable. It hurts. Janis’ absence hasn’t rocked their friendship at all, but at the same time it’s felt like there’s been something missing since the start of the year. And that there’s constantly something going unsaid with them. “When’s your audition?”

“T minus four hours,” he tells her. “They’re after school.”

“Speaking of I see you’ve broken out the two-litre bottle of water.”

“Are you kidding me?” he asks. “Honey, I am a professional.”

“A professional drama queen,” she teases. “You think you’re ready?”

“As I can be. My mom and sisters all gave me a standing ovation,” he says proudly. “And I think my cat liked it.”

“I mean that’s all the validation you need,” she says. “When you go into your first Broadway audition, all you need to tell them is how highly your cat recommends you.” They burst into laughter as Karen and a forlorn-looking Gretchen sit down next to them, Karen holding the other girl’s hand and looking helplessly at Cady and Damian.

“Hey, what’s up, Gretch?” Cady asks. Without a word, Gretchen slides a crumpled sheet of math questions over the table and lets out a huff. Despite trying not to look, Damian can’t help noticing the score at the top, and the “see me” written at the bottom. Cady’s face falls instantly as she takes in a sharp breath. “Well, it’s just the second week. And it’s one homework.”

“Oh, what’s the use,” Gretchen sighs. “I’m never going to get it. It’s all so complicated. I wish I had a brain like yours, Cady. You’re super great at math.”

“Well you’re good at stuff too,” Cady responds.

“Yeah,” Karen agrees. “Like you’re super good at English. And at picking out clothes.”

“I don’t think Ms Gardner will appreciate me picking out clothes,” she says glumly. “Besides, I need to get better at math this year. For one thing, my dad will totally kill me if I get another C.”

“Well… hey why don’t I tutor you?” Cady offers, changing Gretchen’s entire demeanour in an instant. She sits up and gasps, a smile breaking out across her face and lighting up the cafeteria.

“You would? Really?” she squeaks.

“Of course! I mean, I did all this stuff last year, so I know it well. What do you say?”

“Oh, thank you so much!” She reaches out the table and grabs Cady’s hand, and judging by Cady’s face, it’s stronger than you might think for Gretchen’s slight frame. “This makes me feel so much better.”

“What does?” Regina sits down beside her, looking from Cady to Gretchen and funnily enough, avoiding Damian entirely.

“Oh, Cady’s going to tutor me in math,” Gretchen explains.

“Oh, cool,” Regina says. “You know that’ll look great on a college application.”

“Yeah. I mean of course that’s not the only reason I’m doing it,” Cady replies, smiling at Gretchen. “But I know. All I’ve heard since we got back is ‘college applications’.”

“Me too,” Damian sighs. “And I am not looking forward to telling Miss Meyer I want to do theatre.” He rolls his eyes and mimics shooting his head.

“Oh, hey Damian, Cady?” Karen asks. “Can I ask you something.”

“Um… sure?”

“What kind of muffins does Janis like?” The four of them all fall quiet, Damian looking to a confused Cady before back at Karen, who seems to be the only one who sees the sense here.

“Muffins?” he echoes.

“Mm-hm. Well, I want to bake her muffins to cheer her up, and since you two are her besties, I thought you’d know,” she explains. “Trust me, there’s nothing worse than bringing someone the wrong muffins. One time my cousin brought my other cousin muffins that weren’t her favourite and I was so, so ashamed for her.”

“Oh, okay,” he says. Karen nods severely, apparently taking the muffins incredibly seriously. “Um… she really likes raspberries I guess. Oh, and white chocolate. That’s one of her favourite combos.”

“Perfect!” she chirps. “I’ll start shopping for those tomorrow. I told my mom about her and she said she might like something sweet.”

“That’s… really nice,” he says. Life with the former-Plastics is a surprise even after spending the summer with them. He isn’t sure how ‘former’ he’d consider them, especially Regina, but they’re softer than they were a year ago. Gretchen more caring, Karen more kind. Or maybe they were always like that and he simply didn’t notice.

As they get up to leave, he takes out his phone and checks it. Still nothing from her.

He walks Cady to her next class, the two of them being on the same floor.

“Should I wait for you until your audition’s done?” she asks him.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” he says, patting her on the back. “Go live your life, little one.”

“Okay, but…” She rests her head on his shoulder and warmth sparks in his fingers and a stupid grin crosses his face. “Would you like me to wait until after your audition? We can go to the donut place after?”

“Did Janis tell you to do that?” Grabbing donuts after auditions to unwind has been their tradition since middle school.

“Well, yeah,” she says, shrugging innocently. “Just thought it would be cool. It’s what you always do, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah of course, totally. That’d be awesome.” They stop outside her history classroom. “Okay, I will see you later.”

“I’ll be in the library,” she explains. “You can meet me there?”

“Awesome blossom.” They have a quick high-five before he sets off down the hall to American Literature. As he goes, he finds a small but fierce sense of anxiety sparking in his chest and he can’t work out what it’s for. Probably the audition. After all, no amount of experience can chase away the terror of this process. Waiting around, learning and re-learning lines, sitting by his computer waiting for an email and fighting through crowds to see the cast list. He puts up a confident face, but that will never stop shaking him.

He takes out his phone again, just to check the time and location again. There’s nothing from Janis again, which is fine. Completely.

“Damian Hubbard.” He halts and looks up at the face of his Literature teacher, Mr Bock. He’s not great, but he’s not awful either. Once upon a time he may have actually liked kids. “Is that phone meant to be out during school hours?”

“No, sir,” he replies, sliding it back into his pocket and hoping for the best.

“Well come on, you’re in my class next and I won’t have anyone being tardy.”

“No, sir,” he repeats, doubling his pace and making it into the classroom, looking up at the clock as he does so. Just three more hours to go.

                                                                                               *****

He spends the time waiting for his slot breathing and doing small vocal warm-ups, enough to get him ready but not enough to irritate anyone else. As well as consoling a fearful looking little freshman kid. There are few things in the world that warm his heart quite as much as seeing new faces in auditions and watching them bloom during the show. He always makes sure to build connections with each and every one of them, taking up the role he wished someone had done for him. By the time Damian’s name is called, the freshman is grinning and his hands are nearly steady and he even whispers ‘good luck’ before he goes in.

“Afternoon all,” he greets the panel; Miss Petersen, the director/oldest drama teacher, and the perky little new one, fresh out of teaching college and rearing to go, as well as the choreographer and head of the drama club. Three familiar faces and one new, all smiling back at him. Something he tells every freshman; they want to cast you. He hands the sheet music to the girl at the piano and takes his spot, always remembering to smile and compliment her.

“Hi Damian, how are you?” Petersen asks.

“I’m great,” he replies. He clears his throat slightly, not having realised how tight it was. Did he not warm up enough? “Ready to go.”

“Okay so what song have you picked for us today?” the new teacher asks. Miss Hadsell, someone said her name is. She’s cute, with wide dark eyes and blonde hair in a messy braid. He wonders if she also takes art, he hasn’t seen her around the art room.

Then he remembers he hasn’t been in the art room this year.

“I have picked Dressing Them Up from Kiss of the Spider Woman,” he says brightly, bringing himself back. Here and now, that’s what matters.

“Good choice,” Miss Petersen says. “And you’ll be reading for the part of the Emcee?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Okay.” She grins at him, although it doesn’t really do anything to bring his focus back. What is wrong with him today?

He takes two deep breaths, and then another, and quickly shakes out his hands before nodding to the pianist. Once the song starts, he’ll be fine. Lost in the music, laser focussed. And he is. After missing the first note. He’s never missed a note before. Still, he manages to pick up the rest of it and keep going, throwing everything into it.

But it doesn’t feel enough. Like something is holding him back. Every time he’s sang this song before it’s come as naturally as breathing, the movements coming from him, not a character or persona. Now nothing feels right. Like he’s on a string and someone else is moving his limbs and every gesture is artificial.

By the time he finishes, it’s almost a relief. And he’s never thought that about performing.

“That was great!” Miss Hadsell says. “You must love that song a lot.”

“It’s an old favourite of mine,” he agrees. He can still bring this back. Maybe it was better than he thought.

He reads through two scenes for them before he’s asked to leave. At least those are stronger, partially because he knows them like the back of his hand. He feels more himself in them, or rather he feels more like the character. Even if his mind’s still a little fuzzy, it clicks for him. If only it could have happened earlier.

Rather than running right to the library and Cady afterwards, he sinks down onto a bench in an empty corridor, wringing his hands together. He doesn’t remember ever feeling that nervous or having an audition like that. Not even when he was a kid. Being in drama clubs since he could walk chased away the strong jitters that could affect him like that. So what happened in there?”

You know a voice in his head whispers. He goes to wave it off, but he can’t quite do it. Because what if there’s some truth in it. He’s worried about Janis, he’s only human. But he has it under control. She’s getting what she needs and she’ll be back with him by Christmas, and they’ll move forward like nothing ever happened. He presses his fist into his palm and bites his cheek. He’s handling it, and his own issues have never affected his performances before. Why would they now?

There’s no point in worrying now, he tells himself. It’s over, so just go home, tell everyone it was fine and whatever happens, happens.

It’s with that mantra that he gets up and heads to the library to pick up Cady.

                                                                                               *****

The next day is Wednesday and when he wakes up he’s suddenly immensely excited and won’t pretend he doesn’t know why. As his mom likes to say, ‘Wednesday is halfway to the weekend’. Which is enough of a reason to be happy in itself, but this means something more. It means it’s two days until Janis gets out of hospital and three days until they hang out again. They arranged it a few days ago; a movie night in her place, just like always, with blankets and pillows and junk food and an equal balance of musicals and old sci-fi and horror. So he can’t not be excited, so much so that it’s enough for him to block out the memories of his audition yesterday.

So when he half-walks, half-dances into the kitchen, it’s justified, and what’s more, his mom picks up on it.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” she remarks.

“Sun’s shining, birds chirping,” he replies as he puts on the coffee pot and pops bread into the toaster.

“Did you talk to Janis at all last night?”

“A bit.” He pours himself a cup and one for his mom. All the milk in his and one sugar for him, black and two sugars for his mom.

“How’s she doing?”

“She’s fine,” he says. “You know her. Tough as hell, fighting anything.” His phone vibrates in his pocket and it brings an instant smile to his face. “As a matter of fact that’s her now… oh…”

Janis’ message is a picture of the medical student, Jackson, fiddling with her IV, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Below is the caption ‘forgot to send you this yesterday. Thought you might enjoy’. And a winking face, of all the emojis.

‘Appreciated, thank you,’ he texts back. ‘Though I am debating the ethical ramifications of this.’

He probably won’t get an answer for a while. She tends to sleep in in the mornings.

“Her poor mother,” his mom sighs, seemingly to herself. He looks up at her, her hands tight around the hug and her head shaking. “I mean, poor Janis as well of course. No one deserves to go through that. But if anything like that were to happen to you…” She runs a hand through his hair, a fond smile along with her sad features. “God knows what I’d do.” There’s a small moment, a sigh, and then she kisses his head.

“Mom, you’re so mushy,” he sighs, not meaning any of it. Mushy is a well-established Hubbard trait passed from mother to son and he’s not ashamed of it, not at all. It’s that exact mushy-ness that gives him the capacity to love his friends the way he does and let them feel it every chance he can. He’d never trade it for anything. “I have to get ready. Don’t want to be late. Love you!”

When he gets into homeroom, Cady is bent over her notebook with her pens out, which strikes him as odd. Surely the study bee Cady Heron isn’t catching up on homework already. He’s not even catching up on homework yet.

“Hey.” He pulls on her ponytail, a far more amusing way of getting her attention that tapping her shoulder. She grins and looks up at him, stretching out her arms. “What are you working on?”

“Trying to make a schedule for tutoring,” she explains, handing it over to him. The page is divided into seven days and those into hour long slots, and true to form, everything is colour-coded. School is green, Mathletes is blue, and so-called ‘Janis time’ is purple. Her name is written in silver glitter pen rather than black ballpoint, and there’s a little star doodled in the corner. It’s nothing short of adorable, and Cady’s cheeks go pink as he knowingly catches her eye. “Gretchen says she can’t do weekdays, so I might squeeze her in on Saturday mornings.” She takes the page and tilts it, scrunching up her face. “Wonder how many more I can fit in.”

“How much tutoring does she need exactly?” he asks.

“It’s not just Gretchen,” she says, shrugging. “I just thought, well, why not expand it. See who else needs tutoring? I could make some money off of it. And it looks great on-”

“The college applications,” he finishes, earning an eyeroll from her. Still, they both smile. “I think that’s a great idea little slice. As long as no-one’s faking stupid to score a date with you.”

“Oh hush,” she chides, swatting at him playfully. “Besides, no one would dare. Half our grade is kind of terrified of Janis.”

“We all know she could still kick their collective asses.”

“Even hopped up on chemo, she could.”

“Yeah, completely.” Something shifts inside him, and suddenly his smile feels more plastered on that natural. Keep it together, he tells himself. “So has anyone gotten back to you about tutoring?”

“I haven’t put the word out yet,” she says. “Although I did make this!” She reaches into her bag and hands another page to him, this time with a photo of her in the centre and “Tutoring Services-Math and Science, specialising in calculus” printed below it, and her phone number and email address in a different, cursive font below. And true to form, she decorated it with little ClipArt lions and tigers. “What?”

“Nothing.” He hands her it back. “It’s just very you. And if I needed help with math, I’d call you in an instant.”

“You flatter me,” she jokes, putting it back in her backpack and dropping it on the floor. It catches his eye and he doesn’t understand why it would for a second, but then he remembers. She bought this backpack the day they went to the mall. She picked the white one with the little frogs. Janis had laughed at it, affectionately calling her a ‘permanent child’. That was the day Janis had passed out. The day she had overslept. The day before she had gotten that doctor’s appointment. And all the while, none of them knew the truth. None of them had put the pieces together.

“Damian?”

“Oh, yeah.” He nods quickly. “Yes, you should definitely do that.” Across from him, Cady’s eyebrows are shot up, her mouth half open. He’s blown it. Whatever ‘it’ is.

“Okay,” she sighs. “Um… are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay.” He leans back in his chair and tosses his head.  “Look at me, I’m the King of Okay, baby girl.”

“I know a bad Doctor Who reference when I hear one,” she tells him. She taps her pencil on the desk. If she knows a Doctor Who reference, then he can recognise a tell. She’s building up to something. “Look, it’s okay if you’re not okay. I mean what’s going on right now with Janis… it’s rough. It’s okay if you’re a little out of it. I am too.”

“Well that’s fine, but I’m not.”

The words shock him as soon as they leave his mouth. He wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t said them at all, rather someone behind him, and he wishes that were the case. He’s not like that. Those words are sharp and he’s rarely ever sharp. He made himself a promise never to be sharp or cruel or nasty unless absolutely necessary. He’s put in so much work over the years building up his cheerful, warm persona and it took a while for it to become fully natural. Apparently, he still needs work, because Cady’s face is falling at his outburst and she’s turning around him her chair and his gut is twisting and churning with guilt.

“Caddy, wait.” He reaches out and grabs her shoulder. “I’m-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that. It’s just-I’m so sorry, Caddy.”

“Hey.” Cady takes his hand and wraps her own around it, giving it a comforting squeeze. “It’s okay. Everything’s a lot right now.” Is it? Well, it is anyone can see that. But he’s coping, he’s sure of it. He woke up today so full of happiness he may have burst. How did he go from that to this in the space of an hour?

“Yeah,” he simply says. He runs his thumb over Cady’s knuckles, still shaken from what he said. He grips her hand tighter as if that can make sense of it. “I’m sorry.”

Despite Cady telling him it’s okay, a bad feeling follows him around all day, guilt combined with something else he can’t figure out. It leaves him feeling nauseous and uneasy all through his classes and even during lunch with his friends. It sits there all day, right in the pit of his stomach and wearing him out. By the time his first class after lunch starts, all he wants to do it go home. That very last bell is music to his ears and he barely remembers to bid goodbye to his friends before bolting out the door.

His hands are cold and unsteady as he pulls books out of his locker, his heart beating quickly and faintly beneath his shirt. He checks his phone, his messages empty, and makes a mental note to text Cady later before closing his locker and heading to the front gate. Hopefully by the time he gets home he’ll have come back to himself.

“Damian!”

Oh god, he thinks, suppressing a sigh. Ms Towers slips out in front of him, a file held close to her chest and her glasses perched on her head. She’s the school guidance counsellor, someone he’s never really interacted with. All of his issues were either fixed or in the process of that by the time he reached high school. She sure had her work cut out for her when the Burn Book was released though.

“Um, hi,” he says.

“Could I grab a quick word with you?” she asks.

No you cannot is what he wants to say. The school bell has gone, I’m free now.

“Sure,” is what he says instead, and his body follows her into her little office and even takes the seat she offers. It’s only when she sits down that he turns off autopilot. “Is this going to take long? Only I’ve got a lot of homework.”

“Not long at all,” she replies. She clears her throat, pretends to fix some papers on her desk, and leans forwards on the desk, her hands clasped beneath her. “Damian, what you’re going through is very difficult.”

“That’s indeed one word for it.”

“And the schoolboard is fully aware of any challenges you might be facing this year,” she goes on. “You probably know your teachers are all aware of the toll this may take on your schoolwork.” He hadn’t actually thought of that before. “But there are many support systems in place outside of the classroom. I want you to know that if you need any of them, we would be more than happy to schedule something for you. You could talk to me, or one of my colleagues on the care team, during one of your free periods maybe once or twice a week? Or if you want, our pastoral care team would be more than willing to talk to you in the school chapel-”

The image of Damian sitting in a church sitting on a pew talking to a priest about anything is so ludicrous to him that he actually bursts out laughing in her face.

He’s really being the resident asshole today, isn’t he?

“Sorry,” he replies, making a show of clearing his throat. “Something caught in my throat. You know how it is.”

“Oh, of course. I can get you some water if you like.” He shakes his head, taking his own bottle out of his bag, and gives her a gesture to keep talking. “Just if you want to avail of any of these services, they’re here. We’re all here for you Damian. So… do you think you might?”

“I appreciate the offer,” he says. His hand wraps tightly around his knee. “I really do. But I’m fine. I don’t need any school therapy or anything like that.”

“I don’t mean therapy,” she says. “Well, I could. But just if you needed a quick chat. This is a hugely stressful situation.”

“I know,” he snaps. He takes a deep breath in. He feels as though his insides are shaking, like a town caught in an earthquake. “I know. But I’m fine. I’m coping. And I have my own people anyway. I’ve got my friends; I’ve got my mom.” He stands on sore and unsteady legs and puts his bag on his back. “Besides, everything’s fine. Janis is coming home this weekend and we’re going to have a movie night and it will be exactly like it always has been. So we’re all good here.”

He lets her nod before bolting out the door. He doesn’t let anyone slow him down this time as he runs outside, down the front path and out the school gates, only starting to slow down when he’s off that street.

All the while, he doesn’t let himself think about Ms Towers’ offer, because doesn’t need it. He’s good. He’ll make himself good if he has to. He’s had enough practice at that after all.

                                                                                               *****

Saturday night takes forever to come around. The clocks on the wall tick by too slowly no matter where he is. Janis must get home late on Friday, because at some time after nine she posts a video of her dog cuddling her on her bed with the caption ‘I missed this boosh so much’. While Maxie takes up half the screen, he can see the smile in her cheeks. She looks good, healthy, happy, and that’s the main thing.

But finally the time comes, and he’s standing on her doorstep with a rucksack full of treats, DVDs, and the sleepover essentials. Butterflies flutter in his stomach, something he hasn’t felt since the early teens, and he has to hold back his arm lest he press the doorbell again.

“Hubbard!”

“Sarkisian!”

The moment he’s in her house, he envelopes her in a hug, letting her head rest in his shoulder and his hand rubbing up and down her back. His knees buckle in relief once she’s back with him, back hugging him. Sure he’s seen her before back in the hospital, but that was too alien. This is home. This is real.

“Missed you, dork,” she whispers.

“Missed you more,” he replies. When they finally let each other go, he sees her dressed down, blue and green galaxy leggings and a deep purple sweatshirt with a cartoon dinosaur on the front. Sleepover wear.

In the living room, Laura is setting up a bowl of popcorn and a try of tortilla chips, as well as a litre bottle of water and one of lemonade. She brightens up at the sight of him, hugging him lightly like you would a family member.

“Nice to see you, kid,” she tells him. “Hey how were the auditions? Janis told me they were this week.”

“Oh yeah,” he replies. It’s an effort not to wince. “They were fine. You know.”

“Well, we’ll be expecting front row tickets,” she tells him. “And a discount.”

“Sorry Laura no can do. Janis knows the importance of providing funds for the drama club.” Behind her mom, Janis nods as she fiddles with the DVD player.

“Oh, Janis, hon, let me do that.”

“It’s fine,” she replies, force behind the words. “I’ve got it. Besides you’re the one always asking me how to work it.”

“Fair enough,” she mutters. “Well, you two enjoy your night. I’m just down the hall if you need anything.”

“Cool. Thanks Mom.”

“Do you want me to take the dog out?”

“We can keep him. I think he’s missed Damian anyway.”

“And I’ve missed him,” Damian adds in. Maxie is pawing at Damian’s legs, his head rubbing against his legs and his tail wagging.

“Okay, just make sure you keep him calm. Otherwise he won’t let you sleep.”

“We’ll keep him calm,” Janis promises. “He’s a good boy.”

Laura mutters something to the contrary as she leaves, the door clicking shut behind her. Janis rolls her eyes at her.

“She’s so mean to the baby,” she says, patting the ground. “Come here Maxie-boy. Isn’t mama just the meanest and nastiest to the poor baby boy?”

“Should I leave you two alone?” he asks, only half-joking. Janis looks up from where she was making kissy faces at her dog and chuckles.

“I missed him,” she says. “Can you blame me? Imagine not letting your dog into the hospital with you.”

“It’s lunacy all right.” He kneels down beside her, opening up his rucksack. “Okay, I brought chocolate peanuts, I brought mini pretzels, I brought sour gummies. And to top it off, I brought your faves… crispy NemNems!” He holds up the box of M&Ms, wiggling them in her face. She bats them away, grinning.

“Perfection. Okay, what do we watch first?”

“You pick. That’s the rule after all, remember?” he reminds her. “Your house, your rules.”

“Okay. Then I pick…” She holds up the DVD to him; A Nightmare On Elm Street and wiggles her eyebrows. One of her favourites, which just so happens to be one of his least favourites. He’s not a horror fan. It’s one of the few disagreements they have.

“Deal. But I may have to hide behind your hair.”

They settle themselves on the couch, a pair of blankets resting on the heater behind them and Maxie plopped on top of them for extra warmth. His little head is on Janis’ lap, demanding pets, and she is only too happy to oblige. He snuggles further into her with his paws up on his legs and whimpering whenever she so much as shifts.

“Someone missed you.”

“Yeah he did,” she replies, her voice fond. “You know when I came into the kitchen last night he peed himself because he was so excited.” She leans down to the dog and starts speaking in what they call her ‘Maxie-voice’. “Didn’t you to a peepee on the floor and Daddy had to mop it up?”

“Awww. Also ewww.” Janis digs him the ribs even as she laughs. Maxie is oblivious to this, his ears pricking up as he looks between the two of them. Damian cracks open the snacks, already commandeering the tortilla chips (what can he say, he’s a carb lover) and placing the rest of them delicately between them before opening the M&Ms and handing them to Janis.

“Oh, thanks…” She picks a few out of the bag while holding the dog down with the other hand, lest he eat something he shouldn’t.

When he looks back in the bag, it’s like no-one took anything. Sure enough, there’s probably only three or four in her hand right now. And they’re one of her favourite things in the world, ever. She’s hidden them under pillows at sleepovers before. Before he can stop, she notices him looking and gives him a shrug.

“I’m just not that hungry,” she explains, taking a sip of the water. “It’s fine.”

It’s fine. There you go. She said it’s fine, so it’s fine.

Despite that reassurance, and against his better judgement, he doesn’t stop taking peeks at her as the movie goes on. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t like this movie. She picks at the food she would normally be fighting him for, eating a pretzel here and there and nothing else, only long, slow drinks of water. The hair on the back of his neck pricks up at it, his instincts once again kicking in.

Maybe instead of instincts, he thinks he might just be paranoid. Janis said that she hadn’t had much of an appetite recently. It’s just a side effect of the medicine. Nothing to be worried about, surely, especially with the way her eyes are wide and her grin is excited and bright, the way she jumps at scares she’s seen ten times over and ‘ooh’s at Freddy coming down the hall. She even calls him a ‘magnificent bastard’. Why should he focus on what she’s eating when she’s still her and is in good spirits? With that in mind, he turns his attention to the movie, properly this time, accompanied by Janis’ rantings and commentary.

When he does lose focus on Freddy Kruger again, it’s nothing to do with Janis or ‘instincts’, but rather nature calling, courtesy of a half-empty lemonade bottle on the floor. He stretches his stiff legs and turns to let her know, probably having to tap her to pull her out of the movie… only to find her curled in on herself, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. Her hand rests limply on Maxie and her chest rises and falls slowly. How long has she been like that, he wonders.

“Janis?” he whispers. Nothing. “Janis.” She doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch. That’s her for the night.

She looks younger in sleep, especially without make-up. And a lot less tough. It’s easier to see her as the little girl he met crying in a bathroom all those years ago. But she was tough even then, and she’s even stronger now. He rises slowly, careful not to wake her. Maxie is still awake, but antsy at sitting down for too long.

“Come here, kid,” he says quietly to him. He lifts Janis’ hand a little and coaxes him off her, patting his knees until he reluctantly climbs down. He settles beside her instead, sitting beside the couch like a little guard dog. “Good boy.” Next he takes the blanket from the heater and throws it over her, making sure to tuck it over her shoulders. That’s what moves her, and for a second he panics, but she only murmurs something and burrows into it. His heart swells in that moment, and he presses a swift kiss to her head.

“Good night, kid,” he whispers, even if it’s still light outside.

He doesn’t go home after that. He sticks around all night, despite Janis’ mother asking if he wants to go home. Neither one of her parents are surprised she fell asleep, telling him she’s tired a lot in the hospital. Her dad heaves a sigh before telling him that’s how they know it’s working. Damian nods, unsure of what else to say, and heads back to the living room. The idea of leaving her alone in there unsettles him for whatever reason.

He slides Cabaret into the DVD player, the volume at 2 and the subtitles on. At least if Janis does wake up, it’ll be to something she likes. For now he bounces between watching the movie and watching her until he gives up entirely. He changes spreads himself on the couch next to him, the light from his phone the only light on in the room. As he does start to doze off, a mere four hours after Janis, he starts thinking about what her dad said. If this is how they know everything’s working, then he can take it. Because it means she’ll be okay at the end.

[andy-loves-corgis]

All of The Lights - Ch 6 (TRR AU)

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: I’ts really messy this one

Rating: M (I can’t make them not curse  I guess…)

Word count: ~ 6,700 (I did it because I love you!)

Notes: This bitch is back after her big event, and I brought you a lot of words to make up from my absence, thanks for waiting for me ♥️

WARNING: Read the Prologue! Every chapter has TWO timelines, Before (about a year before the Prologue) and After (two years after the prologue), if you don’t pay attention to that you might get confused!

Between broken glass

Thank you for the grave, I needed me a place to sleep...

BEFORE

He was careful not to be late, after Riley’s little stunt the week before Drake wasn’t remotely interested in facing her rage once again, so he knocked on her door 15 minutes earlier, though he wouldn’t admit it, he wanted to check on her, this wouldn’t be a great day, he knew by heart.

 Riley didn’t answer his knock, so he opened a peek on the door just to see if she was there, the image greeting him being priceless.

 “Why man great til they gotta be grey? Woo!” Riley had her back to the door, headphones on, and was swinging her behind, her injured foot supported by a fluffy pillow on the ground, a canvas half painted in front of her. “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m a 100% that bitch. Diva when I’m crying craz... Drake!”

 He was leaning on her doorframe with his arms crossed on his chest, an amused smirk on his lips.

 “I don’t think those are the actual lyrics” he watched her roll her eyes taking off her headphones and moving to kiss his cheek.

 “I’m not a woman to comply with such things as actual lyrics, Drake” it was his turn to roll his eyes.

 “Are you sure you wanna do this?” He asked carefully even though he knew she wouldn’t change her mind.

 “There’s no Royal Ballet casting without Riley York, even if she isn’t dancing. Shall we?”

 Drake sighed and gave his arm to support her, a quick and dead silent ride to the national theater was enough for Drake realize Riley’s mood shifting, sulking, her jaw clenching. He shouldn’t have let her come.

 The press swarmed the place, Drake forgot the women in the social season were trying for a part too.

 “Lady Riley, here! David Combs from Cordonia Weekly.” Someone shouted behind Drake and Hans. “How do you feel watching the cast from the audience for the first time in four years?”

 A surging will of punching him washed over Drake, he hated press and their way to make everything worse for the nobles.

 “I’m happy for the other contestants” Riley faked a smile and kept walking, putting more force than needed on her injured foot.

 As they got inside the contestants were greeted by the Royal Family, no one looking in their direction, he couldn’t spot Savannah among them, secondary parts weren’t that important for the Rhys.

 Riley dragged him to a row farther from the rest, pulling her leg to the middle of the seats in front of her and taking from her purse a bag of Doritos and her bottle of pills.

 One by one the contestants went to the dressing room and the royals filled the front seats. Sherman Dowley, a bald lean man who had led the Royal Ballet for the past 10 years took the stage.

 “Thank you all for your presence today, as you know the Royal Ballet of Cordonia is a centennial institution and housed incredible talent over the years. Cordonia is a magnificent kingdom and I’m humble to start our casting with the presence of our monarchs. God save King Constantine!”

 Everyone stood and Riley cursed beside him to get her foot from between the seats, giving up and standing on one foot.

 “God save King Constantine!”

 “For this year presentation, we are doing our version of Swan Lake, our dancers have been training for the past weeks for their tests. As I told them last week, our version looks for passion, a meeting between Tchaikovsky piece and the raw emotion from the beautiful tragedy. First, come our little swans”

 They clapped and Drake spotted Savannah among the other dancers in their pristine white collants. He could hear Riley counting the steps beside him, and smiling as he thought Savannah land gracefully all the steps, he knew she had been helping his sister improve since the year before.

 After the girls, it was time for the boys to try for the main role, surprisingly Drake found Maxwell Beaumont among them.

 “Now” Dowley started again “it’s time for our graceful Odette with their deceiving Odile living inside them.”

 “What’s this story about?” Drake whispered to Riley, who by now was in the middle of her Doritos.

 “Love, revenge... Odette was cursed by Rothbart, becoming a swan for the day and a woman through the night. She met Siegfried, a Prince that never loved no one, they obviously fall in love, but Rothbart tries to deceive him with his daughter Odile... really? Adele? I adore her but she couldn’t play Odile... or Odette...”

 Drake watched as the girl on the stage slowly lost confidence on her movements.

 “Anyway” Riley turned back to him. “Siegfried is deceived by Rothbart and chooses to marry Odile”

 “And...?”

 “Well, it depends on the end they choose. Siegfried can battle Rothbart, kill him and live happily ever after with Odette by his side... or she can decide to die.”

 A shiver ran through Drake, he didn’t know why.

 Next on the stage was Olivia, her first routine as Odette was too sharp according to Riley, being more suited to Odile.

 “She always loses because of that, ballet is art, not battle.”

 Next was Madeleine, her movements graceful and surgical, but her face, as always, was stoic. He wondered if Madeleine had emotions at all.

 Drake grabbed the bag of Doritos from Riley’s hand and tipped the crumbles in his mouth, bored to death, some random girl was messaging him, and he decided he wasn’t answering.

 Finally, after what felt like a week to Drake, Dowley was back to the stage with all the contestants.

 “First, I would like to congratulate all of you, you were amazing. Let’s start with our swans, so graceful, the main dancers for that part are Rachael Kaine, Tzofiya Scudder, Abella Alladon, Penelope Cranddler and Savannah Walker!”

 The crowd cheered and Savannah looked delighted while Drake and Riley were raising their thumbs to her.

 “For our Siegfried, it was a close tie, but mister Maxwell Beaumont showed all the grace for the main part”

 Another round of applause and a curt nod from Bertrand followed. Dowley called other names Drake never heard of, then he felt Riley tensing by his side.

 “Now, our Odette and Odile, the star of our night, all of you young ladies brought your personal touches to the part, while one of you brought the grace we all needed...”

 “I could’ve beaten all of them with my eyes closed” Riley muttered; Drake could almost taste the bitterness in her words.

 “Congratulations, Lady Madeleine!” 

 Her ever present mask didn’t fall even while being selected, she opened a sweet smile and bowed with her hands on her heart, and an unmistakable glint in her eyes, she knew she was going to win.

 “Bullshit” Riley crunched the Doritos bag into a ball and chewed on her lower lip, she was hurt. “I wanna leave.”

 “You know you can’t without congratulating them, the press will make their day for a picture of you losing control” Drake held her shoulders. “Don’t give them this.”

 “Then I wanna get wasted tonight” she pouted.

 “As long as you’re buying” Drake smirked as she punched his arm. 

 They waited on the line to congratulate the dancers, Madeleine wearing a victorious smile beside Leo, who was on his fourth glass of champagne in five minutes.

 “Oh Riley, I wished you could’ve been here” 

 Of course you did, beating Riley would be even better than the rest, you snake.

 “I wish too but you were so marvelous that I felt like I was dancing with you” Riley’s words slipped as lines on a long-forgotten play, her smile just a shadow of what it was in reality. “You’ve earned every bit of it”

 It reminded Drake why he hated court and how he felt seeing Riley so deep in the venom and lies.

 “You made it!” Her attitude shifted instantly once she saw Savannah, giggling delighted by the compliments, he noticed her throwing furtive glances towards where the Beaumonts were gathered with Penelope’s parents. “We need to celebrate, let’s go to Maveen, I can set some private couches for us there!”

 Even though he saw his sister glow with the possibility of go out clubbing with Riley, Drake was fast in reminding Riley she was underage.

 “Oh right” Riley chewed on the inside of her cheek, “but... you know... isn’t it better if you can keep an eye on her, to teach her when she goes alone?”

 He knew the innocence of her words were feigned, but he couldn’t deal with those chestnut and sea-blue eyes pleading to him at the same time.

 “Okay, but you’re leaving at one, and Hans is to take her to the palace!”

 “YES!” Savannah exclaimed jumping on her brother. “Ohmygod I need to go back and choose a dress! Thank you, Riley!”

 “Have you heard? Madeleine is taking the whole VIP lounge of Maveen to celebrate the ballet; everyone is invited of course” Kiara and Madeleine approached them.

 “Even you Savannah, you earned it!” Madeleine added in her diplomatic tone.

 “Yeah sure, we were headed there anyway” Riley answered in a tired tone. “We better head back to the palace to get ready, see you there!”

 As she turned to leave, Riley ran on the Royal Family.

 “Oh, I’m sorry Your Highness, blessed to see you all here.” She added as the three of them bowed.

 “It was a pity not seeing you up there, Lady Riley” Regina started, and Liam excused himself to go talk to Bastien.

 “But also, a breath of fresh air for someone else leading the show, Countess Madeleine is so precise and clean in her movements” Constantine continued as if Riley wasn’t there.

 “Madeleine is immensely talented” Riley lowered her head.

 “I hope we can see your passion on stage soon! And congratulations on your casting, Lady Savannah.”

 “Thank you, Your Highness” Savannah and Riley answered in unison, the first one with a gushy smile, the second barely showing her teeth.

 “Let’s get out of here” he whispered to Riley, who just nodded, inhaling deeply before putting on a smile for the press.

 Drake couldn’t process the questions, it went from her feelings towards Madeleine’s victory, to her lack of appearances with Liam.

 A loud sigh was heard as soon as Drake stepped on the limo.

 “Is everything okay with you and Liam?” Savannah couldn’t hold herself and avoided Drake’s glare.

 “I don’t know, the ‘Liam and I’ thing is something I have to keep up with daily, like those Kardashian’s show” she tried to crack up a laugh but sounded mechanical.

 “Drake should help you, I mean, take you out to relax...”

 “Savannah, if you don’t stop, I’ll make you go to the palace by foot...” Drake clenched his jaw. “I don’t get involved in my friend’s relationships; you should start doing it too.”

 An awkward silence filled the limo after Savannah opted to stay silent, for the next minutes of the ride, each one was buried in their cellphones.

 “Well, we can leave by 9, ok?” Riley asked when Hans parked outside the palace entrance and the Walker siblings just nodded. “See you there!”

 “Savannah, stop with your fantasy of Riley and I together, she’s my best friend, we grew up together, there’s nothing here...”

 “Sorry” she muttered “I just think you would be better for her than Liam”

 “If Liam isn’t good for her, it’s only up to her to decide.”

 Drake decided to nap the rest of the time he had before being dragged out to meet their group of nobles in a stuffy club.

 Riley was wearing a colorful Versace dress that looked like it cost hundreds of euros, and it probably did. Savanna was behind her with a dark green knee-length dress, she borrowed it from Riley for sure, he remembered that dress.

 The club was everything Drake hated, crowded, expensive and full of nobles and other rich kids.

 “You’re allowed three glasses of champagne, sister” Drake said as soon as they entered the VIP area, music blasting through the speakers, he was looking for a corner where he could drink a good whiskey in peace.

 As he found it, he proceeded to watch his sister from afar, giggling with the girls, dancing with Riley and darting looks somewhere to the other side of the room, she was pure and innocent, but he knew eventually he wouldn’t be able to control her anymore.

 “Hey” Drake heard someone say beside him, Kiara was wearing a short black dress with some strategic transparencies on the chest, her long hair was down, and her dark eyes glinted. He understood the appeal. “Aren’t you lonely in here?”

 Lonely. Drake didn’t see himself as a lonely person, his best friend understood he wasn’t the type of guy to talk about Polo with Neville and Rashad, like Liam was.

 “No, I’m good. Not very into this club thing.”

 “Me neither.” She chuckled; he didn’t know if it was a lie. “But it’s kind of an obligation to stay here to congratulate Madeleine.”

 Poor Leo had a Gin bottle to himself on the other corner.

 “Well, to less days kissing ass…” he raised his glass and she laughed openly before clinking her glass on his.

 It was when he noticed her standing in the middle of the room, he could always tell when Riley was bothered with something and as she moved closer and closer to him with her encased leg making her limp, he just knew she was.

 “Hey guys” she smiled to him and Kiara “Drake, you promised to get wasted with me. Come on!”

 Riley grabbed his wrist and pulled him behind her without sparing a second glance to Kiara as she moved to the bar.

 “You can thank me later, chances were that she was going to roofie you...”

 Not paying attention to her path and looking back to talk to him, Riley ended up stumbling on Rashad and spilling the remainder of his drink on the floor.

 “Oh my God, I’m so sorry Rashad!” She put a hand in Rashad’s shoulder as he looked to see if it has spilled on him. “I really didn’t see you. I’m really sorry, I can send it to dry cleaning if you want.”

 “It’s all good, no damage made!” He shrugged giving her a smile.

 But there was damage made, Liam looked furious.

 “Try not to make a scene when you’re drunk” he mumbled to his whiskey.

 “What was that, Liam?” She got closer to him; it was a bad idea.

 “Just try to stay composed when out drinking, nobody needs a scandal” he didn’t look at her. 

 “I stumbled, Liam! You have no idea how hard it is to walk on this shit!” She pointed to her leg.

 “Language, Riley. My father is right you need to be tamed.”

 Riley stood there blinking at him.

 “Tamed?! I’m not an animal!” she winced.

 “Well, you’ve been very irrational not to think someone would take pictures of you drunk at a party and send them to my father.”

 Drake saw sheer shock wash over Riley’s features, she shut eyes angrily and sighed deeply.

 “Liam.” Her voice was tired. “I couldn’t care less about that.”

 Liam was completely taken aback by her words and advanced a step towards her, she intended to turn around and leave but in the process,  she hit an empty flute of champagne that laid on the table next to her.

 It shattered instantly opening a large gash on the side of her hand.

 “Fuck!” She held her hand close to her chest.

 “It’s better if you leave, Lady Riley” Neville intervened, and Liam gave her his back.

 “Fuck you” Drake heard her whisper, as the blood started to run through her fingers.

 “Hey, let’s put a bandage on this ok?” He tried to sooth her as they walked far from Liam and his group, Drake took some napkins from a nearby table and gave to her to stop the bleeding.

 “I wanna leave, call Hans, please” she was breathless.

 “No, I’m going with you, I just need to text Savannah” he took his cellphone from his pocket and typed a series of rules for his sister, who was now laughing beside Maxwell and Bertrand.

 Drake was careful to see if Riley was crying, but she just looked like if she wasn’t there at all, instead of calling Hans, he got an Uber to his favorite place out of town.

 “Where are we going?” Riley asked.

 “You said we were going to get drunk and you were buying” he bumped his shoulder on her.

 Her chuckle put him at ease for once in the past hour.

 “Show me the way then.”

 It was a rustic bar, all made from applewood, vintage barstool, some tables and booth seats, a small stage for bands and “talent night”.

 “Hey Al” he waved to a bearded middle age man, the owner of Wood Wheel. “Can you get me a table and a first aid kit?”

 Al looked puzzled realizing Riley’s presence behind Drake for the first time, there was some smeared makeup, a bloodstained Versace dress and an orthopedic booth, it wasn’t a very usual image for that bar.

 “Sure thing, Walker. Go hide in your table with your lady.”

 Drake rolled his eye and followed to the furthest booth of the place; Riley was wincing pulling the napkin from her cut.

 “Will you want anything to drink?” Al asked passing the first aid kit to Drake. “One whiskey for Drake and... Sex on the Beach for the lady?”

 Suddenly forgetting her pain, Riley shot a brow up, challenged.

 “Excuse me?! The lady likes her drinks like she likes women... strong.” She smiled to Al. “What’s your strongest drink?”

 It was time for Al shot a brow up.

 “There’s a shot of Traban, a pirate liquor, are you up to it?”

 “Bring two cups” when he left, she added in a lower voice. “I’m gonna fucking need it, shit this hurt”

 Drake chuckled pulling a piece of glass from her wound, as Al handed him his whiskey and the two cups Riley asked for and kept standing there.

 “I need to see you drinking, if you do both, I’ll put you on my Hall of Fame!”

 Riley inhaled deeply, her nose crinkling, she took one after the other without breathing, biting her lower lip after swallowing.

 “You brought a thought one, I liked her!” And he vanished looking for his polaroid.

 “You ok?” Drake asked studying her face.

 “That shit is insane, I feel numb.”

 “Good, ‘cause that’s gonna hurt” he poured anti-septic on the wound and Riley grunted to the point where she punched the wooden table, clenching her teeth as her eyes watered. “There, see you won’t even need stitches!”

 Riley laughed as he carefully bandaged her hand, he realized the alcohol was starting to take over her, afraid to fall behind, he gave his whiskey a big gulp.

 “Ok, how did you find this place?” She asked

 “After Jessica and I broke up, I couldn’t sleep so I drove aimlessly through the night and ended up here... Bastien had to pick me up, I left my car here.” Drake gave another gulp in his whiskey.

 “Was she your first love?” Riley rested her face in her hand, blinking her glassy eyes slowly.

 “I guess so...”

 “Oh, they have talent night here!” She suddenly changed the subject spotting a flyer on the wall. “Why don’t you come?”

 “Because I have some dignity left!”

 “No, let’s play a game, we need to guess right three things about each other, if I lose, I have to... offer a toast to Olivia at Cordonia’s Anniversary Ball” she was putting on high stakes. “But if you lose, you have to come on the next talent night.”

 “I know everything about you, York!” He shot the remainder of his whiskey down his throat. “This is going to be easy”

 “Let’s see, you start.”

 “Which horse, from all of the ones I take care of, including yours, is my favorite?” She would never guess.

 “You make everyone think it’s Zeus, because he’s strong and you absolutely love to train him, but your favorite horse is Avalon, the renegade horse who couldn’t compete because of the malformation on his hooves, I remember how you were when they put him down... he will always be your favorite, you’ve tried until the end”

 Shit

 “Whatever, your turn”

 “What was my favorite song when I was 6?”

 “Come on! You’re being too specific!”

 “You said you knew everything about me, let’s test that” she smirked drunkenly.

 Drake forced his memory, when she was 6 he was 9, so they were at a stage where she was still too fragile for his pranks, but not a baby he had to watch over, it was back in time they were very into fantasy...

 “I know! It was from that really old movie from the 80’s with Bowie! Shit...” he started to hum the melody that Riley made slam through the speakers so many times. “... As the world falls down.”

 Riley slammed her fists on the table, defeated.

 “How can you remember that?”

 “I’m a winner, my turn” Drake started to feel the alcohol start to act on his system. “What’s my mother’s middle name?”

 “Melrose... and she hates it!” Riley sipped from a drink Drake haven’t seen arriving. “Ok, what I wanted to be when I grew up?”

 “Come on Riley, you’re making it too easy. The first astronaut to make a triple spin on Mars.”

 “That was a good one! I think I’ll pursue it”

 “Who was my first crush?”

 “Oh, that one is VERY easy” Drake didn’t know how, he had only talked about her to his father. “Lady Sophia, daughter of the Swedish diplomat, you sang to her on the talent show at the Apple Day that year. You were like... 11”

 “How can you know that? I’ve never told this to anyone!” Maybe his brain wasn’t in full function anymore because of all the alcohol.

 “Who was my first crush, Drake?” 

 “Liam, obviously, you two were basically promised to each other at birth”

 She started drunkenly laughing.

 “Well, I hope you remember the lyrics of that song you sang to Sophia, because you’re coming to the talent show. You’re wrong.”

 “No, I can’t be wrong, the only guy - who wasn’t a fictional character from a book or a cartoon - you ever talked to me about, was Liam”

 “Drake, you’re so silly” she was blinking very slowly, he could see her cheeks turning red, it was very unusual for Riley to blush.” I remember vividly of you singing to Sophia, because my first crush was... you.”

 What?

 .

AFTER

 Drake woke up with a headache and cursed himself for drinking too much, he wasn’t even supposed to be at that party last night, Madeleine’s birthday was the last thing that he wanted to celebrate, but being part of the court it would be a crime not to be there, and drink some fancy whiskey, or a lot of fancy whiskey.

 Cassidy called him 3 times and he didn’t answer, he sighed shutting his eyes close, head hung low as he supported his weigh on his bathroom sink. He refused to fall back on this behavior, blame it on this fucked up reality he was living in.

 He made his way to the kitchen certain that by this time he could get the leftovers of the breakfast, and maybe some Advil.

 “Someone had a very good night” Eleanor teased him from the sink as he got some eggs and croissants in his plate. “Was their whiskey better than our beer?”

 “Whiskey is always whis…” he stopped talking once a very familiar picture appeared at the TV. “Turn it up!”

 ALCOHOL, PILLS AND SUICIDE Inside Lady Riley York stay outside Cordonia

 They showed a series of pictures of Riley from two years prior, her partying, on her riding lessons, smiling with Madeleine and wearing ballgowns, then came the footage that made him lose his appetite.

 It showed a skin and bones Riley sitting on her bed at was looked like a hospital, probably the facility she stayed in Switzerland, her eyes had deep dark circles behind her eyes, she looked like a corpse, her hand was bandaged and it looked like she was being scolded.

 “We had access to her medical reports also.” Started the reported pointing to the side of the screen, which highlighted a lot of information from a document. “She entered the facility after a suicide attempt by drug overdose, several opioids were found in her system. The medical reports issued by Kusnacht Practice, a luxury rehab center in Switzerland, said she was resistant of the treatment in the beginning, but after 8 months, Lady Riley was completely clean and focused on her treatment.”

 “Well Taylor…” started the other journalist beside the woman, with an amused look. “… It is a facility that costs almost 80,000 euros PER WEEK, we’re talking about a 2.5 million stay in a 5-star hotel, it must have been horrible for poor Lady York. A rich girl, with a past of party animal, It’s a lesson for a lot of girls…”

 They moved back to the footage and Drake realized all the hair Riley was losing under the brush, how lost and dead were her eyes…

 “Enough!” Eleanor barked. “They have no respect!”

 Even though Eleanor saw how devastated Drake was after Riley left, she always had a soft spot for Riley, Drake knew that. He then heard a motion coming from the garage and marched there.

 “The press issued a request for a press conference directly from Lady York, as you know, if Lady York is here, the palace is forced to arrange it under five hours” Bastien started; he was with Mara, Hans and two other guards, Drake noticed Riley on the corner pulling dried skin from her lip, it was already bleeding, she looked lost. “I have orders to move lady Riley back to Valtoria, but I’m afraid they already issued the same request to your state…”

“If she isn’t in any of the places, how long does she have to issue a statement on her on?” Drake barged in, “if she isn’t in an official estate, she can only release a statement, right?”

“Right she could write, but if any limo leaves the palace she will be followed.” said Hans.

“I’ll take her to my property; from there she can decide how she will proceed on the next hours, I’ll keep you updated.”

“Are you sure?” Bastien added in a small voice to him, as Mara gave instructions to Riley to hide while passing through the staff gate.

“She… didn’t deserve that” Drake said as Bastien pat his shoulder.

By this time Mara was already moving Riley to his truck and Drake hadn’t had any time to register what he had done, he just got inside his truck as Riley lowered herself, hugging her knees. He looked outside but it didn’t look like anyone was outside the staff’s gate, he waited just a few more minutes, until the hit the highway to tell her the coast was clear.

Riley got up and pulled the seatbelt; as she moved to cross her legs Drake was taken by a déja vu; orange sky, music blasting through his speakers, Riley putting her foot on his dash and him pretending he was angry about that.

But in a blink of an eye he was back to the silence, her legs were crossed along with her arms, as if she was protecting herself from impact.

“Thank you” she muttered glancing at him then back to the empty road ahead of them. “I’m sorry, I don’t wanna be a burden, I… I can think of somewhere else to go.”

“You’re not going anywhere, York. I offered you my house, you can stay there thinking about your next step, call Hana and Maxwell if you think they can help you.” He noticed the scar o the side of her right hand from the shattered flute at Maveen’s, and a few other gashes on her knuckles and the back of hand.

She noticed his looks and fidgeted with the fabric of her sweater.

“It was on the day of that leaked video. I had been allowed to have a mirror on my bathroom after two weeks.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I punched it really hard, I was son angry.”

“Why?”

“Because I couldn’t remember, I woke up on the other side of the Adriatic Sea without knowing why I was there, it took me weeks to remember most of it, but not everything.” She stopped for a second to breathe, her hand grabbing her own arm.

“Go on…” Drake almost whispered.

“I was frightened, they took everything, my cellphone, all the mirrors and sharp objects from the room… they… they took the bobby pins from my head, anything was harmful to me.” She stopped to breathe again.

“It’s okay to cry, Riley”

She turned her head fully to look at him, her blue eyes as deep as the Adriatic Sea.

“I’ve shed all my tears on that, on everything, I think…” she looked away, and he was glad she did. “I’ve spent the first week curled on the floor crying, I wanted to just vanish, disappear, it was all too much, I’ve stopped eating… And then I felt numb, I would eat if they told me to, smile if they told me to… until I saw myself in that mirror, I couldn’t handle that, I didn’t know who that person was.”

Drake realized he wasn’t breathing and inhaled deeply looking as the trees passed by.

“They stripped me of everything, I was alone, so I attempted to get better and start fresh, when I was discharged I flew to Thailand, lived among the people there, teaching English, thinking that it would be those trips to find myself. Then I moved to the US, started taking courses at NYU…until my mom decided six months ago that she wanted me back here, and now I think that it was because of Liam’s social season.”

“The dates match. Why didn’t you come back?”

“I was frightened that… that I would come back being old Riley, that this place would crush me. So, when my mother cut off my money, as bizarre as it looked to everyone, I started working as a waitress at a bar near my new and very small apartment in Brooklyn, which I shared with other two people.” She chuckled, easing the mood.

“Why did you decide to come back?”

Riley stayed silent for long seconds, fidgeting with the bunch of rings on her fingers.

“I had a bizarre dream. When I was checked in at Kusnacht, I had a wound on my head, I’ve dreamt about someone shoving my head on the hood of that Lamborghini I used to have, I remember vividly of the blood contrasting with the yellow. Something shifted inside of me, I don’t know why, I was obsessed with finding out what happened, but I knew that here was the only place that held the answers.”

Silence filled the inside of his truck like thick smoke as anxiety start taking over Drake.

“I need to ask you a question, and you need to make an effort to be honest with me” there they were again, the piercing eyes, full of doubt and curiosity. “When did you start to take those things again?”

Riley moved her eyes to her hands, that was a bad sign.

“Those were very disturbing times, with everything, with… us, and the attack.”

“You were clean even after the attack, you know what I’m asking Riley.” He grunted and sighed as he got silence as an answer.”

“There were a lot of people who nailed my coffin, but at the end of the day, I’ve crawled inside it alone. You’re not responsible for what I did in any way, you weren’t even here, Drake” she pleaded.

“I’ll rephrase my question” by this time they were almost at his house, and he felt like he was going to puke. “When did you start taking pills again? What day?”

Her head turned to the passenger window and he could see a tattoo peaking on her neck.

“It was the day you left” she murmured but he heard it clearly. “I… I wasn’t on a very good place at that time.”

“I’m sorry.” He said the words he never thought he would say to her.

“You shouldn’t be, you were the one who got me out of it, I… I just wasn’t strong enough.” She moved her hand as if to touch his arm, but held it back pulling it to her chest. “I’m the one who’s sorry. Now is time to clean the mess I’ve made.”

He pulled his truck on the pavement leading to his house and was greeted by his dogs, Bradley, his Staffordshire Bull, and Chance.

“What are you gonna do now?” he asked as he squatted to pet Brad and she lowered herself to pick up Chance who wiggled his tail dramatically to her.

“First, I’ll avoid my mom’s calls, then I’ll ask for a cup of coffee as I wait for Hana and Max.” she started kissing Chance’s derpy face. “Oh, I’ll obviously sue Kusnacht and try to find out how Madeleine got access to my records.”

“How do you know it was Madeleine?” he marched alongside her to the inside of his house.

“It’s her typical power move, she locked Olivia and I on that prisoner’s room below the wine cellar yesterday just because she knew Liam came to see me before her party… and probably because he isn’t done sleeping with Olivia.”

As the door creaked open he made his way, right to the kitchen to put some space between them; the more he suppressed the memories, the more they flew vividly in his mind, there wasn’t a single room in that house that he hadn’t taken her, not a single surface that wasn’t hit by their clothes being thrown in the heat of their affair. Even while making coffee he remembered how she would barge in wearing nothing underneath his shirt and kissing his naked back.

I was a dead life now, and these memories belonged in the past.

“I’ve been thinking these past few days” he started as he met her in the living room, her eyes were focused on an empty point in his shelf, where it used to have a picture of them with the dogs, ‘family picture’ she used to call it. “I will help you to find out what happened”

She turned to him grabbing the cup of coffee he offered her, her eyes glinting.

“But there are rules.” he added as she shot a brow up. “First, I won’t do nothing that can affect my job. Second, no touching, at all.”

“Ok, we will seal this deal with a nod” she laughed. “Is there a third? You know that you made me want really bad to poke you right now, right?”

“I’m being serious, York. Nothing remotely physical will happen”

“Even if I’m… I don’t know, hanging halfway outside a moving train and you need to pull me inside?”

“Riley…”

“Sorry” she bit her lip.

“Third, in exchange you gotta help me find Savannah.”

“What? Wasn’t she in an Exchange program in Italy?” Riley looked puzzled

“We thought so, until she changed her number and sent me a letter asking to let her live her life.”

Before Riley could answer, the bell ringed and they welcomed Hana and Maxwell inside.

“It was insane in the palace; Liam just can’t stop asking about you!” Max exclaimed and Hana cleared her throat.

“Well, thank you Drake for rescuing her and for having us here to help” she smiled politely at him. “Ri, I’ve been searching all the social platforms where the video was published, and even though people are loving the gossip, there are very few detractors, I believe you should release a statement on social media, that could be as easily shared as the video, and you would also stop any journalist from distorting your words, what do you think?”

“I need a cigarette before that” she muttered and moved outside.

“You can use the backyard if you want” Drake suggested and saw as Maxwell and Hana follow Riley outside, he would stay in, the least involved he got the better.

From the kitchen window he saw as she sat on the grass with Chance on her lap and Brad by her side, the whole ordeal took an hour, by the middle of the afternoon Maxwell got a call from the palace saying that after the publishing of the video, the journalists and paparazzi waiting outside the palace left and it was safe to get back.

“Thank you again for having us, Drake” Hana gave him a quick hug, as Maxwell shook his hand.

Riley just waved to him, muttering another thank you.

He cooked dinner with the dogs playing by his feet and decided to scroll through twitter on the couch after eating, when he stumbled on her video, curiosity took the best of him and he pressed play.

The wind was blowing strands of her on her face and she looked peaceful, more than he thought she would.

“Hey everyone, as you know I’m Riley York, you’ve probably saw a lot of me today and heard a lot of things, and you know that’s why I’m here. First of all, I’m recording that to remind everyone, on the media and out, that I am a human being and even though I was born in extreme privilege, I have flaws, I fell in love, I’ve gotten sick, I’ve drank too much, I’ve had my fair share of mistakes.”

She looked somewhere beside her, as to find forces to continue.

“I’ve had my privacy invaded today, where you saw a version of me that even I can’t handle looking, what you saw is above my titles, my money, my lands, you saw a face that wouldn’t be on a television screen if I wasn’t the heir to a duchy. You saw a person deep in depression, someone suffering from addiction, someone who tried to take their own life. There are people living this every day, but again. It only matters to many of you because I’m noble, but I care beyond that, as many outlets liked to point out, I’ve had access to a very expensive treatment due to my social status, so I’ve decided to donate the same amount that my treatment cost so we can improve the treatment of my people in Valtoria and all across Cordonia, depression and addiction are serious issues and I’ll help people in need in any way I can. Thank you.”

If it was any other noble, Drake would think it was just a publicity stunt, but after his conversation with Riley he couldn’t help but think she was genuine, although he would prefer not to think about her in any way.

He was surprised when his doorbell ringed.

“I can’t stop thinking about you!” he heard her say and couldn’t help but smile when she hugged him, and their lips found each other.

“I’ve missed you too, Cas.”

.

Don’t kill me...

Tagging the amazing: @drakewalkerrosenberg​; @sleepwalkingelite​; @agent-bossypants​; @pug-bitch​; @rtinaz​; @saivilo​; @iplaydrake​; @likethetailofacomet​; @notoriouscs​; @mind-reader1​; @annekebbphotography​; @walkerismychoice​; @tmarie82​; @blackwidow2721​; @thequeenchoices​; @missameliep​; @jovialyouthmusic​; @perksof-everything​; @choicesmacmakes​; @carabeth @drakenazario​; @drakesensworld​; @moneyfordiamonds​; @ao719​; @lynne1993​; @ilovedrakewalker23​; @msjpuddleduck​; @drakewalkerisreal​; @violinist3121; @wannabemc2​; @gibbles82​; @furiousherringoperatortoad​; @jens-diamondchoices​; @rainbowsinthestorm​; @bee1arw​; @world-of-dreams-and-muse​; @pintobomb @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore​; @emceesynonymroll���; @andy-loves-corgis​; @addictedtodrakefanfic​; @texaskitten30​; @dcbbw​; @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​; @kimmiedoo5; 

[msjr0119]

The Greatest Show

“A Million Dreams”

A new 9 part series- all chapters are based on each song from ‘The Greatest Showman’

Characters belong to Pixelberry except MC - Amber Smith-Beaumont

Warnings: Swearing, sarcasm 😉, smut

Tags - using combined tagged list, if you want to be removed please let me know 👍🏼

@annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @yukinagato2012 @dcbbw @qammh-blog @nz1091 @beardedoafdonutwagon @cordonianroyalty @custaroonie @indiacater @seriouslybadchoices @rainbowsinthestorm @princess-geek @jared2612 @desiree-0816

*****

Liam wandered back through the ballroom after his talk with Amber, providing fake smiles. Thinking back to his childhood he had a million dreams that he had dreamt up with his closest friend the Scarlet Duchess.

Liam and Olivia had always been close due to her parents dying young- Constantine had basically taken the young woman under his wing.

Every night I lie in bed

At night time as a young man, Liam would go to his private quarters- laying in bed realising that this country was going to be all of his- due to his brother’s abdication.

The brightest colors fill my head

Whilst laying in bed, he couldn’t sleep- instead he would imagine all the positive things regarding becoming the king. Never thinking about negative thoughts.

A million dreams are keeping me awake

The thoughts kept repeating in his mind, every night. Imaginary adventures of him as king, Olivia as his Queen and Wife- the possibility of children. Something he had looked forward to.

I think of what the world could be

Thoughts regarding how he could be a great king, nothing like what his father is as the present king.

A vision of the one I see

His vision of the future, may be different to others- but he was the next in line, everything decided would be in his hands. It was his turn to create the future, one that only he could see.

A million dreams is all it's gonna take

Keeping his mind open to all the dreams he had imagined- in a way his future seemed clear.

A million dreams for the world we're gonna make

A million dreams that he would make reality with Olivia- that was until they found out about her parents. It was then forced upon him to complete in a social season, as his brother previously did.

He had promised Olivia that as Leo was the crown prince that their dreams would become reality. How wrong was he? Even though Constantine had allowed Olivia to participate in being a suitor- he had made it quite clear that Liam couldn’t choose her as his future Queen. Maybe I should listen to Ambers advise- So just play the game, seem interested in me and the other ladies- then when it comes to your coronation just say her name. It’s simple. Seeing Amber resuming her position along her ‘sponsors’ he took the opportunity to find Olivia and take her somewhere private to explain what his father had said to the newbie.

“Liam, we cant be seen like this.” She said in a seductive manner whilst stroking his arm.

“I know. But I just need to explain something about Lady Amber.”

“You’re falling for her?” Olivia’s eyes were green with envy- paranoid that he would sway.

“No Liv! You’re the only woman for me. My father has asked her to ‘woo’ me.”

“So?”

“But she isn’t interested. There’s something about her- she’s hiding something. She doesn’t want to be here, my father is holding something against her. She suggested to play it fair between everyone then at the coronation just say your name. Rather than marry politically and have the traditional Cordonian marriage. It makes sense. If we can have her on our side, nothing matters.”

“Are you sure she will agree to it? Because if she doesn’t I’ll have my daggers ready to slit her throat...” Liam shook his head, whilst laughing. “However big, however small. Let me be part of it all. Share your dreams with me Liam. You may be right, you may be wrong with decisions. But say that you'll bring me along. To the world you see- to the world I close my eyes to see.”

“Liv, our million dreams we made as children- will become a reality. I love you, you are my future Queen. A million dreams is all it's gonna take. A million dreams for the world we're gonna make. For the world we're gonna make- as King and Queen Of Cordonia. I love you. Sneak into my quarters later.”

*****

“So Amber, are you ready to do the Cordonian waltz with Prince Liam?” Drake smirked at her.

“Ready, it doesn’t mean I want to.”

“Can you even dance?”

“Of course I can, I have Beaumont blood in me. Can you?”

“Nah, I’m not into all that fancy shit.”

“Same, gotta keep up appearances though.”

“What are you hiding? Why are you here?”

“I owe that moron for something I did many moons ago. It came and bit me on the ass. Sooner this thing is over the better. Sorry my phones ringing, if Maxwell asks just tell him it’s Daniel- he will know what you mean.”

Daniel, shit! She has a boyfriend. She’s not safe here- she’s going to cause a scandal.

****

Staring at her phone, she didn’t answer straight away- wondering what lame excuse she could use this time without getting her head caved in. Brett wasn’t stupid- she had began to lie to him about her whereabouts just to see her friends. He was jealous of the friendship she had with Daniel- that jealous, that she made a new Facebook profile and blocked Brett immediately to keep in touch with her friends and family in secret.

“Hey baby. What’s up?”

“Where the fuck are you? Are you in bed with Daniel? Is he lying?”

“No, I’m not with Daniel. I have never slept with him. He’s a friend. If you must know, I’m with my cousins- in Co- Canada. I’ll be back soon baby. They came into some money and invited me along. Everyone needs a vacay right? I’m missing you. I love you Brett. But I have to go.”

“Amber! If you are not back in New York by tomorrow- you’ll be wishing you hadn’t left!” Hanging up abruptly, she felt as if she was about to hyperventilate. Tears began to stream down her face.

“Hey. Are you okay?” He asked softly.

*****

Drake stood smirking at Liam, talking to all the women. Kiara came upto him after her talk with Liam. Since they were children, Kiara had become fond of the commoner- almost suffocating him every time she saw him. He hadn’t seen her in a year or so- when he witnessed her walking towards him he had hoped that someone would rescue him.

“Bonjour Drake. Ca va?” Ca va fuck off kiara!

“Hello Ki. You’re looking well.”

“As are you. You become more handsome every time I see you.” Stroking her hand along his arm, he didn’t want to make a scene but wished she would just leave him be.

“Erm thanks. You should really stay with the other suitors.”

“What like the Beaumont’s suitor? Apparently she’s their cousin, but I think they are lying. She doesn’t act noble.”

“Not everyone wants to be noble Ki.”

“I’ve been watching you, you’ve not kept your eyes off her.”

“Yes because she is a newbie. I need to suss her out for Liam.”

“We know that’s not true Drake.” Before Drake could respond by spouting more lies Maxwell and Bertrand came bounding over. Thank fuck! Surely she will leave me alone.

“Lady Kiara, it’s so nice to see you.”

“You too your grace. Au reviour.”

“Where the fuck have you two been? She’s annoying and I’m stuck on my own with her!”

“The more important question - where is amber?”

“She’s on the phone to Daniel- her boyfriend I assume?”

“Shit!” The brothers said in unison.

“What’s up?”

“She’s not on the phone to Daniel, she’s on the phone to her arsehole boyfriend Brett!”

*****

“Hey. Are you okay?” Wiping her tears, she didn’t want to show herself up.

“Er yeah I’m fine.”

“I’m Prince Leo, you probably won’t remember me. I’m around eight years older than you but shhh don’t tell anyone.”

“You look good for your age, remind me to buy you a zimmer frame for your next birthday your highness.”

“Hey cheeky! Remind me to suture your lips together to keep that sarcasm in that American mouth of yours.”

“Good come back.”

“Are you coming back inside? You look cold.”

“I’m fine, it’s a bit stuffy in there. Full of stuffy nobles.”

“You’re a noble too.”

“Like hell I am. Noble blood yes. I’m not an heir or anything like that. I’m a bit rusty with the noble lifestyle. I only had Max, Bertrand and Uncle Barthelemy teach me when i was younger. But it’s easy to pick up right? Especially if it’s only for a month.” Uncle.. hmm okay Amber. Their family is more dysfunctional than mine and Walkers. None of them have a clue.

“I’m sure your COUSINS will teach you all you need to know.” Emphasing the word cousins- he wished that they all knew the truth.

“Yeah, they’ll take me to the other side. The dark side of being a noble.” Winking at him, he liked her sense of humour.

“There you are! What has he done to you?”

“Hey I’ve done nothing!” Leo exclaimed defending himself.

“Not you! Amber a word inside now.”

The brothers escorted her inside, Drake and Leo following shortly behind. Standing in a corner they were arguing with her discreetly. Before she stormed off abruptly. Maxwell ran upto Drake- out of breath.

“Buddy, could you go and check on her? No one notices that you’re at these events anyway- so you won’t be missed. We are going to have to say that she’s jetlagged and talk to Connie, Regina and Liam.”

“I’m not a fucking babysitter Max!”

“Please. I’ll buy you a crate of beer? Whiskey?”

“Fine!”

*****

Knocking on the door, she answered crying assuming it was Maxwell and Bertrand.

“What are you doing here?”

“Apparently I’m here to babysit you.”

“I don’t need babysitting Drake, thank you but no thank you.”

“If you want to talk or bitch about nobles I’m your man, and I have whiskey.” Waving the bottle around, her eyes widened, her lips curled up.

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“You didn’t give me chance to.” Allowing him into her room, she pulled two tumblers out. Wiping her make up off- she was ready to collapse on her bed.

“Could you unzip my dress for me? It’s doing my head in. I’m usually a legging and hoody kind of girl.”

“Erm sure.” Unzipping it, she stood out of it in front of him. Gulping - he knew he had to avert his eyes.

“Amber, you do know I’m stood here right? You could have warned me so I could have turned away- given you some dignity and privacy.”

“What’s up Drake? Haven’t you seen a girl in her underwear before? Oh god you’re a closet gay aren’t ya? I’ve never had a gay best friend.”

“I’m not gay... I’m totally into women. Can you please put some clothes on.”

“Okay okay. Chill out. You sort the whiskey out and I’ll get dressed.” Returning the lounge area, she had pulled her hair into a loose pony tail. Wearing a crop top and shorts, she was ready to let her hair down and act normal behind closed doors.

“Hey, why don’t we ‘Netflix and chill’... you guys have Netflix right?” Drake nearly choked on his whiskey.

“You do know what that means?”

“Yeah, chill out and binge on Netflix series.”

“You really should dye your hair blonde to match your personality.”

“Why?” Scowling at him, she was beginning to dislike his personality.

“It’s an euphemism for sexual activity. You know like casual sex.....”

“Oh god. I say it all the time. No wonder my friends back at home have stopped talking to me. Shit. You learn something new everyday. Imagine if I said that to Bertrand.”

“He’d have a heart attack and be put in an early grave.”

The two of them spoke about their experiences in the states, both having a lot more in common than they knew about. They had finished a full bottle of whiskey before they knew it.

“If you get any spare time during the social season, I’ll take you to the stables and go for a ride with you.”

“I’d like that. Thank you for cheering me up. You’re a great guy- not the miserable bastard that Maxwell describes you as.”

“Just wait until I see him. Goodnight Amber.” Kissing her on the cheek, he left the room.

She’s fine, no need for babysitting. I’ve left her now. See ya tomorrow Beaumont.

Thanks Drake, they fell for the excuse. See ya tomorrow buddy.

*****

Drake returned to his room, he was unsure what to think about Amber. He enjoyed her sense of humour, he believed she was beautiful, he had never held feelings towards a woman before. Due to growing up around nobles, they all criticised him due to the lack of title. Amber however had only just met him and had called him a great guy. Thinking about her made his cock twitch- feeling guilty, he released his manhood. Shit. Walker she’s here for Liam, even though she has a boyfriend. What is up with you? Holding his cock, he gently rubbed up it up and down gradually increasing his speed, eventually spilling his seed all over his hand. This must never happen again, he thought. A million dreams are keeping me awake.

[selfshippinglover]

~Headcanon Tiiimeees Part 2!~

@spectralsapphic The cuteness concludes!

Vanessa:

~Randomly steals you away for trips

~Always acts cool and casual but blushes over you in secret

~Talks to you about deep things and random things

~Goes with you to Paris

~Blows you kisses

~Winks at you from across the street or in the crowd

~Sings loudly around only you and her family in the car

~Allows you to keep secrets so she can have hers

~Never loses faith in you

~Compliments you very casually

~Isn’t all that touchy-feely but craves you being around her

~Honest to you about everything that she’s willing to share

Stacy:

~Gets flustered around you easily

~Goes out with you ALL the time to everywhere in town

~Is nervous around you and plays with her hands

~Tries to hold your hand or brush past you at any opportunity

~Talks to you about everything under the sun

~Loves to share drinks with you <3

~Easily excited when you’re around

~Talks about you to anyone that will listen

Linda:

~Talks to you about her touring days, saying how she wishes you’d been there

~Giggles and laughs a lot more around you, cheeks staining slight red

~Talks about future plans with you in a realistic yet fun fashion

~Likes to plan your meetings since she’s a very busy women

~Always smiles when you’re around

~You guys kiss all the time

~She just loves you wholly and unabashedly

Candance:

~Freaks out every time you talk to her

~Frets over every little thing when you’re around because she believes you deserve perfection

~Lots of cuddles, kisses, and anything else

~Movie dates and sleepovers are ya’ll go to hangouts

~Though the mall is one too!

~SHE TELLS EVERYONE ABOUT YOU AND IS ALWAYS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION BRO

~Overthinks everything she gives to you cause she wants her love to expressed to the fullest

~You two jam and dance to The Bettys

~DUCKY MOMO BINGE

~Concert dates are a must!!

Janis:

~She’ll straight up kill a dude for you ngl

~Stands up for you

~Always makes sure you feel heard

~Eating lunch together everyday <3

~YOU SPEED DOWN HIGHWAYS IN HER CAR WITH THE MUSIC TURNED WAY UP

~Expect her to kiss you all over 

~Holds your hand when in need of a boost or comfort

~Ya’ll gonna makeout real hard

~She isn’t jealous, just protective

Regina:

~She’ll burn people to social and mental SHREDS for you

~Jealous and clingy AF

~Wants you to burn the world with her

~Flusters when you laugh

~You gotta buy her stuff, you know?

~Reads books about love triangles and rants to you about them

~Threatens anyone that flirts with you

Gretchen:

~More than anything, she needs to know that you’ll be there for her

~Cries at sad movies with you

~Keeps her crush secret from everyone

~You’re one of the only people that can put the light back in her eyes

~Asks you to stand up for her since she can’t bare to herself most of the time

~Only does things like kisses and cuddles in private

~seriously, please tell her how beautiful she is cause’ you’re the only one that can get through to her at times

~She’ll sing but only if you sing with her

~You two will share many starry dates where you stare up late and chill on the roof

Ember:

~Rock concerts 24/7

~She sings songs with and for you on stage

~Lots of terrorizing the locals

~Totally mind controls people to do stuff for the two of you

~Gets pissed and tells you all about whilst you hold her

~She flushes when you get angry and/or protective cause’ no one has ever been mad for her sake

~Will mess anyone up that starts problems for you

~Puts arms in front of you protectively if others try to involve you

Penelope:

~She’s always seeing you after school to, “study”

~Doesn’t brainwash you since you’re in love

~She’s honestly shocked when you confess to her cause’ no one has ever liked her like that much before?? 

~Like, she laughs in your face and then is all, “Wait, you’re serious?”

~If someone threatens you, it becomes personal to her to make them pay

~She hisses at people that interrupt the two of you talking

~She’ll kiss you in front of the students so watch  out sahfhwej

~Follows you around in her shadow form

Vlad:

~Is jealous and will make it obvious that ya’ll are dating(I.E. kissing you, sweeping you into a dip, grabbing your hand, etc)

~Privately cuddles and spoils you

~Asks you to live with him in his mansion

~Gives you expense things

~Kisses you all through the night

~Holds you tight in his ghost form

~Flashes his fangs and winks at you

The Hex Girls:

~They all shower you with love and laughter

~They wink at you in the crowds at their shows

~They ask you to come up on stage and dance

~They like to have you be a guest star at their shows just to fluster you

~Seriously, like, they’ll compliment and faun over you at anytime

~Cuddle piles every night!

Isabelle:

~Cuddles and long sleepovers are constant

~She always has encouragement for you

~Stands by you no matter what

~Is little spoon

~Clings to you a lot 

~Is always smiling when you’re mentioned and blushes to herself

~Asks to live together

~Cooks all kinds of food for you!

~ADORES YOUR FOREHEAD KISSES(THEY FLUSTER HER SOOOO MUCH)

~Is honest with you about everything(though she’s also a bad liar)

~Her tail wags when she sees you

~Loves your scent but tries to hide the facet that she looks for it in crowds

Gothel:

~Will actually slay a bitch for you

~Loves to hold you captive with her eyes and arms

~Does the “hands against the wall” thing lots

~Seriously, there’s no way you can’t know that she likes you

~Protective and kinda obsessive about you

~If someone looks at you the wrong way, maaannnn I fear for them

~Hopes you’ll join her in eternal youth

~secretly a little spoon

~Longs for you to understand and not fear her

~Will fetch you cool things from the woods to make your favorite meals 

Honey:

~Easily flustered when she sees or even THINKS ABOUT YOU!!

~Wants to show you everything she makes!

~Talks to you about her life and everything about herself

~Tells you bad jokes

~Finds creative ways to gift you things

~CUDDLES CUDDLES CUDDLES 

~Makes you coffee

~Makes inventions for you

~Would love it if you would pet her hair

Elsa:

~makes snow magic creatures and structures for you

~You are her main source of calm

~She really admires you

~Holds onto your waist when scared

~Meets you at every royal endeavor to vent

~Sing alongs of course!!

~Long, unyielding kisses

~Camping out underneath the sunset

~Starry nights trading stories

~Long bouts of staring at each others eyes

Megara:

~Hates that she has a crush on you

~Avoids trying to see you ends up doing so anyways

~You two end up rescuing one another a lot for some reason??

~She just straight up wants to kiss you until neither of you can breathe

~Competes and trains with you

~Argues playfully with you

~Sings to you in a secret place(the garden)

~Always pushing you to do your best

~Keeps you on your toes with her actions and flirting

~Really likes it when you cuddle her from behind but will never say it out loud

Octavia:

~Plays her violin for you 

~Not very cuddly but loves giving you surprise gifts

~Whatever she gives you holds meaning

~She’s so sincere towards you

~Holds you tight in bad situations

~She really cares about your feelings and will go to great lengths to not upset you

~Always invites you to her concerts before anyone else

~Isn’t really jealous but will be curt about it if somepony is giving you trouble

~Supports you in everything you do and gives you blunt, realistic feedback

Queen Chrysalis:

~Celestia save anypony whom would dare hurt you is all I gotta say

~Super clingy and will NOT SHARE YOU

~Hisses at anypony that has something bad to say about you two

~Makes you a personal bed in her throne

~If you’re going the redemption arc route, then she feeds off of your love for her eternally <3

~If not, then she wonders why you like her and keep coming around??

~Like, every other pony doesn’t. You can’t seriously like her, can you? ~she decides to use your self-proclaimed “love” as a weapon against the main six

~But as you continue to devote yourself to her(no matter how reluctant you may be) she realises you really DO love her

~And something in her changes

~Everypony can see it when you’re with her

~Yes, she still wants revenge but,it’s not the only thing she wants

~She wants you

Princess Luna:

~Takes long walks with you at night

~Takes care of your nightmares as fast as she can

~When a crisis strikes, she fights with herself about whether to help you first or not

~Luna comes to you in dreams

~Wakes up early to hang out with you

~Is flustered when complimented

~Geuinely wants to know what you see in her so she can try and see it in herself

~Big spoons you often but doesn’t mind being little spoon

~Is still learning how to show affection

~Tries writing you love letters 

Natsuki:

~Likes you and does everything to be around you despite sounding mad

~Bakes you goodies 

~Likes to teach you things

~flusters at anything remotely flirty happening

~Takes naps with you

~sleepovers mostly happen at your house

`You are her safety and the one person she can trust with venting

~Enjoys bantering with you

~Shares her cute collection with you 

~Buys you merch and manga she knows you like

~Reads to you

~Calls you out on your problems bluntly and does her best to help you with them

Yuri:

~Shows you her book and knife collection

~Shy and flusters at small touches and prolonged gazes

~Longs to talk to alone about everything she is thinking

~Tries to figure out your schedule to run into you on “accident”

~Tries to read any books you like

~Writes poems for you

~If we’re going bad rout though, she’s a yandere so there’s all the things that come with that

Monika:

~Possesive and clingy but lowkey

~Aims to impress you in anyway that she can

~Writes you songs, writes you poems, sings for you

~Feels more relaxed with you

~And like herself

~Gosh, she holds so many daydreams of you two together in her head

~She’s always trying to get you to notice her, but in subtle ways

~Asks you to go with her to run errands

~Invites you to hang out with her in and outside of school

~If we’re talking about bad end, then, you know, your hers forever :)

Sayori:

~She’s always loved you but was scared to say it cause of wht happens next

~Still, she does her best for you and herself

~Making sure you’re keeping up in with your studies

~Helping you make friends

~Making sure you know she’s always there for you

~When you confess, she’s so happy happy her heart could burst!

~You guys walk back fourth from school hand in hand

~She compliments you 

~Flusters when you do the same

~Playfully kisses and cuddles with you

~Slowly comes to express all of her fears to you

~There’s just so much love and care

~Wholesome overall

~If we’re talking just Sayori, however, then get ready for friends eternally :DD

[pug-bitch]

That’s not why I’m going (36)

Won’t be broken

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Drake Walker x Amara Suarez

Rating: some foul language, some extremely suggestive. This is absolutely NOT appropriate for people under 18.

Word count: about 5,400 (let me know if the ‘keep reading’ cutoff isn’t working well!)

Notes: This picks up pretty much where we left off, after the massive shitshow that happened at the rehearsal dinner, starting with Drake’s POV. This, once again, is a lot of filler, but it’s important to set up the Decision Ball, so bear with me :)

*****

‘Thank you,’ Amara says to Hana, who is giving her a cup of tea. Hana plants a sweet kiss on the top of her friend’s head. Amara offers her a faint smile.

Drake has had a knot in his stomach ever since they left the Palace, ever since he saw Amara’s pain, obvious on her face, in her eyes. He wishes he could take on her suffering, take it upon himself, and set her free from it. But all her can do, all he’s been doing since Michael showed up, is hold her hand, hold her in his arms. That’s what he did in the car, which Liv drove like a mad person, with Hana in the front. Drake and Amara were in the back, their hands intertwined, Amara’s hand shaking against his. He did what he could to stabilize it, but nothing worked. Occasionally, throughout the drive, she would smile at him and say ‘Babe, don’t worry. I’ll be ok.’

That’s the woman he loves. She’s having a PTSD episode, she had a panic attack and could barely breathe out there at the Palace, but she still wants to reassure him. When all he wants, all he needs, is to protect her. He and Max had promised it to each other. Amara comes first: her well-being, her recovery, her happiness. Max is handling the Michael side of things, which Drake is grateful for. The poor guy must not know what happened to him, he’s been catapulted into this mess of a courtly life, probably lured in here by ill-intentioned people such as Madeleine, and God knows who else.

But they’ll figure this out later.

For now, he needs to be here for her. All the time, always, even when she says she’s ok and does not need to be coddled.

He sits even closer to her on the sofa and wraps his arm around her. She looks up at him and smiles. Her face is beautiful, torn, raw, and tired. The tears have dried, and she looks calmer now than she did at the Palace during her panic attack, but she looks exhausted. ‘Hold me,’ she says softly.

Drake is happy to comply. Liv is pacing angrily in the living room, she has been ever since they got back and Amara looks better. Olivia was a true rock at the Palace, but now that Amara’s attack has faded, her anger has come out.

‘Liv,’ Drake says calmly, ‘sit down. You’re making me dizzy.’

Olivia snorts. ‘I should have used my daggers on this bitch while we were still there.’

Amara lets out a long sigh. ‘It’s ok, Liv. Thank you for dropping everything to come with me. You guys didn’t have to,’ she says as she looks at Liv and Hana.

Hana waves her off. ‘Are you kidding? There’s no place I’d rather be than with the people I love. I could give two shits about the rehearsal dinner.’

Drake will never get used to Hana’s sudden swearing. He chimes in, ‘Suarez, we’re here for you, you don’t have to thank any of us.’ He kisses her cheek.

Olivia plops down on an armchair. ‘Yeah, as if I wanted to hang out with those fucking traitors. Of course we came with you. I knew it, they’re afraid of the three of us and tried to break us because we represent a threat. Those fucking weaklings.’

Amara laughs sadly. ‘Well, I might qualify for that too.’

‘What?’ Liv asks abruptly.

Amara shrugs. ‘Seriously. Not that I care that much about what everyone thinks, but… they’d be right to think I’m weak. Look at me,’ she gestures at herself. ‘My brother-in-law shows up, and I have a full-on PTSD episode.’ She scoffs. ‘So fucking pathetic.’

Drake sits up and takes her hand. ‘Suarez, stop saying this. You’re not weak. It’s not just about Michael showing up, it’s about the fucking speech that was fed to Liam. About those words he said, about what they represent for you. It was violent, we all felt it, so I can’t even imagine how it must have felt for you. No one is judging your reaction. Especially not those of us who know what happened to Sergio.’

Hana nods furiously, and Drake notices that her eyes are wet with tears under her angry frown. ‘Exactly. What kind of monster would trigger you like that? And trick Michael into doing this to you? No one is judging you, and if you must know, Liam was the one who looked like a fool. You just looked like you were suffering, which makes a lot of sense given the situation.’

Drake and Hana turn to Olivia. ‘What?’ she asks. ‘Obviously Suarez is not a weakling, she’s a beast of a woman who has been wronged. Everyone knows that.’

*****

‘Here,’ Maxwell says as he hands Michael a glittery business card with a turquoise squid logo on it. ‘Here’s my number. I’m only about a ten-minute drive away, if you need anything, let me know.’

Michael takes the card and nods. ‘Thank you, Maxwell. I don’t know how to express my gratitude, you took the time to talk me down and you got me this hotel room,’ he says as he gestures to the room all around them.

Max shakes his head. ‘Amara’s family is also my family. I wish I could put you up at Ramsford, but again--’

Michael nods and interrupts, ‘I know. Too soon. Max, I feel like shit, I made her suffer, when all I wanted was to apologize. That speech, what that sash guy said… it’s not at all what I wanted.’

Maxwell smiles at the ‘sash guy’ comment. ‘I know. On some level, I’m sure Amara knows too. And if she doesn’t, I’ll make sure to tell her.’

Michael looks like he’s about to cry. ‘Thank you.’

Maxwell smiles faintly at him. He wishes he could do more, but he’s anxious to get back to Amara, who must be back at the manor by now. ‘Michael, I mean it, if you need anything, you call me. Promise?’

Michael nods. ‘Thank you so much. I really don’t know how to thank you. At least let me pay you back for the room. Do you have PayPal?’

Max smiles. ‘It’s my treat. I get a discount here anyways. Please don’t hesitate to order food or to raid the minibar. I know you probably need a big fat drink.’

*****

Liam went straight to bed after talking to his father. He tosses and turns, but he can’t sleep. The events of tonight haunt him. He should not have read this speech out loud, not when he had just been handed the sheet of paper a mere moment prior. But the pressure from his father…

He feels responsible. But also, he feels like he’s missing a part of the story. What had Amara done? Clearly, it elicited a strong reaction from her. She had to leave the room in panic, followed by her group of friends. It can’t have been nothing, right? Maybe she really did make a mistake.

The King doesn’t see her as a fit Queen, and Liam knows she doesn’t love him, so it should be a straight shot, he shouldn’t pick her. And yet… something in him wants to, still.

At the very least, he wants her to stick around, get to know him, and then maybe… even if he marries someone else…

A Cordonian marriage doesn’t sound so bad.

In the light of his talk with his father after dinner, there seems to be only one viable solution.

*****

King Constantine walks to his bedroom, slowly. He has trouble breathing and moving, but he’s still standing. He won’t let go until he knows his country is safe.

‘Do you need anything, Your Majesty?’ Bastien asks him, walking right behind him.

Constantine waves him off. ‘No, Bastien, you can go.’

‘Very well, Your Majesty.’

Constantine turns around. ‘I’m satisfied with how things went today, Bastien. Thank you.’

Bastien nods curtly. ‘I’m just doing my job, Your Majesty.’

Constantine turns back and continues his walk. ‘That, you are.’

Even opening the door is a struggle, his movements are jagged and they hurt constantly. But he won’t admit that to anyone, not yet. It was necessary for Liam to know how dire the situation is, so he can get serious about his future, but no one else needs to know that King Constantine is reaching his last weeks.

He sits on the bed, too tired to get out of his clothes yet. He looks at the big, fluffy sheets. They’ve been empty for months, ever since Regina started sleeping in her own room again. His night terrors are getting to be too tough to handle for anyone, and he needs his wife to be well rested. After he’s gone, she’ll need to be there to help Liam make the right decisions.

The King removes his shoes, painstakingly, as slowly as he can. He would certainly need help, but he doesn’t want the servants to start talking. He stretches his legs on the bed, just for a moment, he’s not ready to get back up and get ready for bed yet. The walk from his study to his bedroom has taken a lot out of him.

Thank God for tonight’s events. Everyone involved has done their job well. The Mexican had to leave the room, she couldn’t even stand up on her own, and now she looks like a weak fool. Not to mention that the speech read by Liam suggests that she did something terrible to her family. No one can trust a foreign woman who is not family-oriented, and who cannot handle disruptions.

Still, Liam seems worried about her. The King makes a mental note to remind his son of his duty yet again tomorrow. Liam needs to understand that his country simply needs to come first, and a Mexican whore with no principles and no decorum cannot be trusted with Cordonia.

If he still doesn’t believe it, not to worry --more proof is coming his way tomorrow. He won’t be able to deny it much longer.

*****

‘How are you, babe?’ Maxwell asks as he gives Amara a long, tight hug.

‘I’m ok,’ she says unconvincingly.

He smiles. ‘You look a bit calmer. Need a drink?’

Hana says, ‘I’m making more tea.’

Max gasps dramatically and says to Amara, ‘Don’t tell me these guys haven’t broken out the good stuff yet!’

Amara laughs. ‘Not yet, no. But I wouldn’t say no to something a little stronger…’

Maxwell winks. ‘I have some cognac somewhere.’

‘Thanks, Max. Bertrand went up to bed, he wanted to wait for you, but his eyes were closing, se we told him he could go.’ She smiles. ‘He gave me a bear hug and asked me five times if I needed ice cream.’

Maxwell bursts out laughing. ‘Did he get these tips from Bridget Jones?’

Amara shrugs. ‘It was sweet.’

Max disappears into the kitchen. Amara, still seated by Drake, nervously plays with a button on his shirt. He strokes her hair reassuringly, and occasionally kisses her cheek. She’s so grateful for him that her heart might explode. His concerned face makes her love him even more. She feels guilty for making him so worried -- her panic attack caused quite a stir among her friends and she feels terrible about it. She feels better now, though. They helped her calm down, and they also made her rationalize what happened. Michael had obviously been tricked into coming under false pretenses. She needs to be stronger, and then the joke will be on them, on the people who leaked Hana’s and Liv’s pictures, and who were likely to be at the origin of her problem, too.

Max comes back with a tray, with cognac and glasses for everyone. He distributes them, starting with Amara. ‘Here you go, honey. Drink up, there’s plenty more where that came from.’

She smiles. ‘Max, I didn’t even get a chance to tell you how proud you made us all, today. Bertrand was beaming with pride. We all were.’

Maxwell blows her a kiss. ‘Thank you, love. It feels good to be out.’

‘I’m sorry that my personal shit overshadowed your moment,’ she adds, looking down at her glass.

‘Oh please. I’m glad that it wasn’t the center of attention, but if I could, I’d divert focus from you, so you can be in peace.’ He gasps. ‘Oh! Should I put on an Elton John suit and parade around the Capital on a peacock?’

Drake chuckles. ‘That’s animal cruelty. You can’t ride a peacock, Maxwell.’

Max nods seriously. ‘True, true. Well, we’ll find something.’ He smiles at Amara. ‘Love, do you want to talk about Michael? It’s ok if you don’t.’

Amara looks at Drake, who nods at her encouragingly. She nods at Max, too. ‘Thank you for taking care of him. I appreciate you being there, Maxxie.’

‘Of course. I put him up at the Squid. He’s got my number if he needs anything. He feels terrible about the way it all went down. I’m sure you realize that he didn’t sign off on the speech.’

Amara nods and says, ‘I figured. He said very hurtful things back in New York but I know he wouldn’t do that to me.’

Maxwell smiles faintly. ‘Exactly. Well, he was told that you had talked about him to everyone and were adamant about wishing he could come. He was misled, for sure.’

Amara nods. ‘I feel bad. I didn’t even want to talk to him.’ She sighs. ‘I’m not sure I can, right now…’

Drake tightens his grip on her hand, protectively. ‘It’s ok,’ he says, ‘take your time, baby. You don’t owe him anything right now, and I’m sure he understands.’

Maxwell nods. ‘He knows it’s too soon. But he said he’ll be here when you’re ready.’

*****

Michael paces in his room, a glass of tequila in his hand. He feels guilty for spending more of Maxwell’s money, but he really needed to calm his nerves. At least ten times, he almost clicked on the FaceTime button for his father-in-law’s phone. He needs to talk to him so badly, only Jorge would understand. He needs to see his daughter’s little face, the only person capable of drawing a smile from him right now. But he doesn’t want to worry them. They don’t even know where he is, what he’s doing. Confessing to Jorge would upset him, and maybe it would even reignite his cardiac problems. He would tell him eventually, but not tonight, not when Michael’s face is obviously a mess, and his eyebrows are completely unable to do anything but frown.

He simply texts Jorge to reassure him.

Hi Jorge - all is well, the wifi is sparse, I will call you soon. Give my love to Nancy and tell Callie that Daddy loves her. Love you, Mikey.

Jorge was the only one besides his own parents who called him Mikey. He had hated that nickname growing up, but now he had embraced it. He adored his f ather-in-law, a sweet man with a heart of gold. Jorge looked manly and severe, but truly, he was a softie. He called everyone he loved ‘sweetie’ or ‘sweetheart’, and when he had first started saying that to Michael, he knew he had made it into the family.

Jorge texts back with an out-of-focus picture of himself, Nancy, and little Callie, captioned:

We love you too, Daddy.

Michael sniffles. The tequila isn’t helping much. He feels so alone, the one person he knows in this country is not ready to talk to him, and he doesn’t want to hurt her more.

He sits at the desk, and pours himself another shot. Why the hell did he believe the bitch who had contacted him? That’s what desperation does to you, he thinks. He was so miserable about having alienated Amara that he had jumped on the occasion to make amends, without thinking much.

‘Fuck, I’m so stupid,’ he says to himself. He pulls his phone out of his pocket again, and looks through his old pictures, his sanctuary. Family photos of him, Sergio, and Callie. Amara and Sergio in their police uniforms. Even those pictures were comforting, although right after Sergio passed, Michael couldn’t even look at them. Now, everything that reminds him of his husband is like a reassuring blanket, wrapping him in warmth and memories.

He grabs the remote. Maybe TV will help lull him to sleep, or better yet, oblivion. He turns it on. He settles for a Friends rerun and watches it absentmindedly. Chandler is trying to break up with Janice and tells her he’s moving to Yemen.

His eyes land on the glittery squid logo on the card that Maxwell gave him.

*****

Amara washes her face and puts on her night cream. Drake is watching her from her bed, visibly still worried. She smiles fondly.

‘You can stop worrying. I’m feeling better, I promise,’ she says as she walks towards him.

He opens his arms to her. ‘Let’s leave tomorrow. Let’s just blow this popsicle stand,’ he says as he holds her tight.

She smiles. ‘Drake, there’s nothing I want more than just being with you, away from this shit. But I think I need to face things, now. There’s only one day left in this fucking competition, and I’ll be damned if I let everyone think that they’ve broken me.’

Drake lets out a long sigh, and Amara can’t decide whether he’s relieved or annoyed. He says, ‘God, you’re so amazing.’ He kisses her neck. ‘You’re so fucking strong. You’re right. Let’s face those bitches, and whenever you’re ready to get the fuck out, I’ll be ready.’

*****

Michael opens the door nervously. ‘Hi, Maxwell, thank you so much for coming.’

Maxwell walks into the room, a bottle of cognac in hand. ‘And I’ve brought a nightcap!’

Michael thanks him profusely and closes the door. He can’t believe he had the guts to text Maxwell, who had already done so much. He curses himself for being such an imposition. That’s not what Michael usually does. He’s a provider, someone who fixes problems for people, not someone who creates more trouble.

Maxwell sits at the desk. ‘How are you holding up?’ he asks.

Michael nods. ‘I’m ok. Just...restless. I can’t believe I’ve caused Amara so much pain. How is she?’

Maxwell smiles. ‘Our little blossom is very resilient, you know.’

Michael smiles at the nickname. ‘Yes, she is,’ he says. ‘I’m sorry for calling you and putting you in an awkward position, Maxwell.’

Maxwell cocks his head. ‘What do you mean?’

Michael gives him a guilty smile. ‘Well...you probably had to lie to Amara and make up a reason to leave--’

‘Oh, not at all!’ he exclaims, interrupting him. ‘I told Amara you needed to talk, and she completely understood. I didn’t lie to her at all.’

Michael’s heart relaxes a bit. The ache falters, just a little. ‘Really?’ he asks, hopeful.

Maxwell nods. ‘Of course. She loves you, Michael. She’ll come around. She feels extremely guilty, and she definitely needs a little more time to muster up the courage to face you. But I promise you, Michael--and I wouldn’t say this lightly--that she will come around. She told me and Drake that she wishes she could talk to you. She’s still in shock, and frankly, she was embarrassed and humiliated that her personal life got spilled at court.’

Michael nods. ‘I get that.’ He pauses. ‘Drake is the dark-haired guy I saw running after her, right?’

Maxwell gives him a bright smile, but restrains himself a bit, as if he were trying not to say something. ‘Yeah, that’s him.’

Michael nods absentmindedly, thinking back on what Jorge had told him, about the FaceTime session he had with Amara, and the nice man she was with. Jorge had expressed his hope that they were more than friends. He had been worried about Amara being alone ever since she left Rick, in the wake of Sergio’s death. Michael was, too, but he gets it. She wasn’t ready to share her life, especially the baggage it came with: the guilt, the grief… But maybe now was the time? He hoped it was. So he asks Maxwell, ‘Is Drake someone special?’

Maxwell opens his mouth and closes it, then mimes a zipper closing his lips. ‘I mean…’ he says maliciously. ‘He’s one of my best friends, so I’d say he’s very special.’

Michael smiles. Clearly, Maxwell values friendship. He’s grateful for the flock of people around Amara. The way they all followed her out, the scary redhead holding her up and guiding her outside, Drake and that beautiful Asian woman following suit, it was heartwarming amidst the heartbreak. ‘But is he special to Amara? Jorge--her father, he told me that she called him and introduced him to a guy, a very nice, handsome man named Drake. He was hoping… you know. He’s been worried about her being lonely.’

Maxwell smiles even more brightly, so much that he could light up the room. ‘Alright, if Jorge wants to know, who am I to stop the truth… Yes, they’re together. But we’re still keeping it a secret, until the end of the competition, just so Liam--the Prince, he’s pretty obsessed with Amara-- just so he doesn’t kick them both out. But yeah. Long story short, they’re together, and Michael, it’s a sight to behold.’ He pauses dramatically. ‘They love each other, it’s an inspiration, really.’

Michael feels a tear in his eye. He’d never really seen Amara happy with someone. Rick was a nice enough guy, he and Sergio liked him, but he remembers how Sergio constantly said, in private, that Rick and Amara were not endgame, that she had yet to meet her soulmate the way Sergio had met his. The tear falls.

‘OMG Michael,’ Maxwell says, getting up to come sit by him on the bed. ‘Are you ok? I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Michael smiles through his tears. ‘I’m ok. Thank you. I’m just--I’m happy she’s found someone. I’m happy she’s loved.’ He takes a deep breath, realizing that Maxwell’s hand is resting reassuringly on his shoulder. ‘I failed her lately. She’s my sister, she’s my family. Sergio would be ashamed of the way I’ve treated her.’

Maxwell gives him a benevolent smile. ‘No he would not. He would understand that you’re grieving. You’ve never stopped loving Amara, you just haven’t had the space in your heart to show her.’ He squeezes his shoulder before letting it go. ‘But you’re back now. You’re here.’ He chuckles. ‘You’ve created quite a commotion, but maybe it was necessary. Maybe you can both turn it into something positive.’

Michael nods. ‘That’s one way to see things. I’ll try to see it as an opportunity to patch things up with my sister.’

Maxwell smiles some more. ‘You know, I haven’t known Amara for very long, but I do see her as my sister. So, you can rest assured, I’ll do everything in my power to help you guys move forward.’ He raises his glass. ‘To family.’

*****

The next morning, Liam wakes, still not at peace with his decision, but knowing it will be the best thing for his family, and for Cordonia. He’ll figure out the rest later, when things have calmed down a bit. Before falling asleep, he came up with a solution to have his cake and eat it too. Let’s hope his father is on board. He needs to be firm, and to tell him that it’s non-negotiable. He’ll tell him after the Decision Ball, once his father is pleased with his selflessness and his focus on Cordonia.

Liam calls for breakfast and settles down on his balcony, ready to be served. Someone knocks, right on cue, but they don’t wait for him to answer, they just barge in. He frowns, and gets up from his chair, ready to rip them a new one, but he quickly realizes that it’s not a servant.

‘Hey little bro,’ Leo says cheerfully as he wraps him in a bear hug.

‘Oh! Hi, Leo,’ Liam responds, surprised.

Leo lets him go and gives him a dashing smile. ‘You look...regal,’ he says as he looks him up and down, and pokes his ascot.

Liam protectively puts a hand by his neck. ‘Thanks, I guess. What are you doing here? I thought you were in South America.’

‘I was, I just left Brazil yesterday. I wouldn’t miss this for the world, you know, this whole charade,’ he gestures all around him.

Liam rolls his eyes. He has to keep his mouth shut --all he wants is to yell at Leo, to tell him that nothing would be the same if he hadn’t given up on the throne. Maybe Liam would have a normal-ish life, and would have been able to date Amara without the games and power moves. Maybe she would have liked him.

The two brothers sit down at the table and wait for the staff to show up. The servants arrive and give them their coffee and pastries. Liam catches him up, Leo’s eyes increasingly big through the stories.

‘Jeez, Li,’ he says, once his brother has finished retelling the events of the competition, ‘it’s so much worse than when it was me! And, I mean,’ he gestures at his own body, ‘you just know those ladies were throwing themselves at me. But this…’ He takes a sip of his coffee. ‘You’re deep in shit, kid.’

Liam frowns. ‘I’d like to see how YOU react to the same situation. I don’t have a choice.’

Leo shrugs. ‘We always have a choice.’

Sure, Liam thinks. Leo always has a choice. But his choice annihilated Liam’s. So, now...here we are. ‘I guess. But Dad is in a bad place, Leo, and he needs to know Cordonia is gonna be taken care of. It’s the least I can do to alleviate his anxiety.’

Leo nods. ‘You’re a good egg, Liam. I knew you’d step up.’ Liam remains silent, and Leo continues. ‘How’s Walker? I was expecting to see him here!’

Liam takes a bite of his croissant, not in any rush to tell Leo about the new developments in his friendship. But also, how to explain them? There’s no rational explanation. He swallows hard. ‘Drake and I took some distance, for some reason. Since the beginning of the competition.’

Leo looks surprised. ‘Oh? You did?’

Liam shrugs. ‘Drake did, mostly. He, um. He got closer to Maxwell and Bertrand, and he hasn’t stayed at the palace a while. We had words a while ago, about…’ he thinks about the best way to explain it, but remembers this is his brother, and mincing words is not necessary with Leo. ‘He became friends with a contestant, Amara, the woman I told you about. One night, I got a little too close to her and tried something, and she rebuffed me. Drake did not appreciate how’ he mimes air quotes, ‘entitled I was acting. We’ve talked ever since, but I guess it hasn’t been the same. He’s made it clear to me that he doesn’t appreciate how the competition allegedly changed me.’

Leo’s eyes are as wide as saucers. ‘Oh wow… I never expected this sort of thing to happen. So, he took this girl’s side rather than yours?’

Liam shrugs again. ‘I suppose you could say that. Since then, he’s invited me to the cabin with everyone and we had a great time, but I guess he hasn’t been the same with me as he always used to be. I think his hatred of court has flared up since the beginning of the competition.’

Leo throws his hands in the air. ‘Maybe it was bound to happen.’ He pauses and makes solid eye contact with his brother. ‘I can talk to him if you want me to.’

*****

Amara sighs, happy and relaxed --finally- in Drake’s arms. They woke up together this morning and made love lazily, initiated by Amara. She needed to be close to him, to feel him near, to be with him. She looks at his blissed out face, still reeling from their pleasure, and takes in the view. Drake’s hair is a mess, which Amara loves, and his smile betrays his happiness at the moment they just spent together. She plants a kiss on his lips, and she lingers there a while.

He whispers, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too.’ She hugs him tighter. ‘Maybe we should take a shower and make our appearance downstairs.’

Drake sighs. ‘Maybe. Don’t get me wrong, I love these guys, but I would love to be alone with you today, away from everything.’ He looks at her and twirls a strand of her hair around his finger. ‘I suppose we’ll have to wait a bit for that to happen.’

Amara nods sadly. ‘We’ll be able to steal moments here and there, we’re good at this. But yeah. We have shit to face. Especially me.’

Drake kisses her forehead hard. ‘I’m proud of you, Suarez.’

*****

‘Maxwell, finally!’ Bertrand exclaims, as he pours coffee for Hana and Liv, both already awake and dressed in their casual clothes.

Maxwell emerges with difficulty --he came home quite late after his long chat with Michael, and only slept for a few hours. He’s usually a morning person, but today, he feels tired. ‘Hi guys,’ he says as cheerfully as he can. ‘Sorry for keeping you waiting. You should have started.’

Bertrand hands him a cup of coffee, and Max adds the milk. Liv looks at him quizzically and finally asks, ‘So? How was the guy?’

Maxwell takes a sip, and it’s as if his brain opens up through the caffeine molecules. ‘It was good. I’m glad I went. Michael feels terribly about putting Amara in this situation, and he needed someone to talk to.’

Liv scoffs. ‘So does she!’

Hana puts a calming hand on Liv’s arm. ‘Amara has all of us. She was not alone last night. Michael doesn’t know anyone here. I’m also glad you went, Max. He needed support.’ She turns to Liv. ‘Olivia, he’s suffering too. He’s trying to fix his family.’

Liv opens her mouth and closes it. She nods, sipping on her coffee. ‘I guess,’ she mutters.

Hana’s face lights up as she sees Drake and Amara coming down the stairs. ‘Morning, guys!’ she beams.

Maxwell notices right away that Amara’s face is a lot more relaxed than it was before. ‘Hey, little blossom, hi Drake!’

Drake pats Max and Bertrand on the back and hugs Hana. Maxwell can’t help but notice how far his friend has come. He used to be so closed off, so bored with the world, and now he gives morning hugs. With everything they’ve all been through, it’s not that surprising, but for anyone who knew the Drake from before, it’s a miracle.

Bertrand smiles nervously. ‘How did you both sleep?’

Drake smiles faintly, and Max knows right away that he didn’t sleep much. ‘Pretty well,’ he says, ‘right Suarez?’

Amara nods. ‘Yeah, I feel better, thanks Bertrand.’ She sits down silently and takes the coffee cup held out by Hana. After a bit of silence, she finally speaks. ‘Guys, no need to walk on eggshells. I’m fine. Right, Drake?’

Drake nods. ‘Hmm. We talked a while last night and Amara has decided to still go to the Decision Ball.’

She gives a slightly brighter smile and turns to Olivia. ‘You were right, Liv. I won’t be broken.’

Liv smirks. ‘I knew it would be a matter of time til you start listening to my wisdom, Suarez!’

Amara chuckles. ‘Don’t get me wrong, if I stop and think about it…’ she looks at Drake and gives him a sad smile. ‘I just have to fight myself a bit. And there’s something else I need to do, too.’ She turns to Maxwell.

He understands right away. ‘You sure, honey?’ he asks. ‘You can take your time, he understands completely.’

Amara nods. ‘I’m sure. I can’t ever thank you enough for holding down the fort, Maxxie. But now it’s time I talk to Michael.’

Maxwell nods enthusiastically, and takes his phone out of his pocket. ‘That’s great, babe. I’m gonna text him that I’ll pick him up as soon as he’s ready.’

*****

Taglist:

@drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @andy-loves-corgis @jovialyouthmusic @mariahschoices @drakesensworld @thequeenofcronuts @notoriouscs @drakewalkerisreal @nikkis1983 @simsvetements @alesana45 @iplaydrake @emceesynonymroll @lily1999love @drakewalkerwhipped @drakxwalker @drakewalkerrosenberg @drakeswalkers @drakelover78 @silviasutton1989 @dcbbw @carabeth @furiousherringoperatortoad @hollygirl1269 @sirbeepsalot @ladyangel70 @thisperfectmemory @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @i-bloody-love-drake-walker

Thank you for your encouragements, everyone! Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist :)

[0chronophobia0]

;; How do you imagine kurono relationship with each one of the members of the precepts?

-insert eyes emoji + sparkling emoji- this will be fun

ps- sorry this took so long to respond andlkjafkbhsegkb I fell asleep like 3 times while writing this and got distracted several times by philkas and malec

——–

Chisaki Kai (Overhaul) 

So, it is normal to see Kurono hanging out in the background when Chisaki is in the room, as he’s always following him around in case he needs anything at all, Overhaul’s thirsty? He’s got him covered, Fiji water for the best boss on earth 

Kurono has such a high admiration towards him, you’ll be able to catch him gazing at Chisaki and melting every time they lock stares, you’ll be able to view the exact moment Hari spills his uwus every time Kai looks at him

Would never dare address him as Chisaki or Kai though, he’d be dead where he stands if he did, he respects Kai too much, and therefore only calls him Overhaul, though sometimes he might slip but pick himself up before he can call him by his name, he’s slick and therefore able to distract Chisaki when stuff like this happens 

They’ve known each other for the longest time, Kurono knows almost everything about Chisaki and views him as his best friend, yet Chisaki has a hard time admitting he too sees Hari as his friend, but it is not as if it bothers Hari, as he is completely fine with the fact that Kai doesn’t view him as highly as he does, or so he thinks, Kai’s the boss anyway so it SHOULD be this way, right? 

Irinaka Joi (Mimic) 

Their relationship is… complicated. like they are friends but they are not at the same time.

They’re both very competitive when it comes to being the best co-leader of the Shie hassaikai, they’ve got this silent game where they are always trying to outsmart each other, well more like it is Kurono trying to be better than Irinaka and getting frustrated when Joi receives praise and he doesn’t, but Hari ain’t gonna complain because complaining will lead him nowhere. 

definitely takes advantage on the fact he’s very obviously Chisaki’s favorite to make sure Irinaka goes through a pranks hell, you bet Mimic was woken up in a daycare with other toys just as kids come racing in, of course, he can’t do much other than escape and assist work late because goddamn Hari had to so kindly deliver him to some children which pulled at his little arms and legs and drenched him in saliva, and also stabbed bows into his head, you know, peachy, has to burn that body afterwards because there’s no way in hell Kai will let him get close to him, so many fucking germs.

overall though, they are able to hold a serious conversation, but if they are left alone for too long Kurono might start pushing Joi’s buttons until the room becomes a battlefield.

when Kurono is angry he will pick up Mimic and throw him against a wall, it doesn’t hurt him much so… gotta take advantage of that.

Nemoto Shin

oh boy, oooooooohhhh boy. when you see these two together, you know you gotta be scared, be very afraid, they are NOT here for good, don’t move, don’t shake, don’t speak, don’t even b r e a t h e, one wrong move and you’re fucking dead

Together, they’re like those popular beautiful stereotypical blond high school girls, sarcasm is their virtue, and you bet they know every flaw about you, the moment they get together, and they land their eyes on you, you’re dead meat, so bitch you better go perfectly still or hoe, you already fckn ded.

Nemoto is Kurono’s go-to friend, since you know… Chisaki isn’t exactly the best best friend, Kurono has Nemoto to back him up whenever he needs something Kai can’t provide, aka something emotional or physical, Hari finds Shin lots of fun and it isn’t rare to catch them talking when Chisaki is nowhere to be seen, or even laughing with each other.

They do tend to keep things strictly professional around Chisaki or Irinaka though, often meeting up right after to talk about whatever and chitchat 

It may not seem like it, but Kurono loves drama, and who better than Nemoto to make people spill the tea? His quirk’s name should be tea spiller, not Confession, and honestly? Hari loves it, something he will more than proudly admit 

When the situation is given, they both flirt with each other and call each other lovey nicknames, you know like… “asshole”, “dickhead”, and occasionally they address each other as “boo” but that’s more of a friendly thing

None of them talk about it but once they got so high together the next day they woke up in the same bed, luckily fully dressed, but it ain’t like either of them cares, it is simply that Chisaki would kill Hari if he knew this.

Sakaki Deidoro

Well there isn’t much to say about Kurono’s relationship with him, other than he occasionally tagging along with him and Nemoto to go bar hopping incognito at 3 AM while Chisaki is asleep, Kurono often being forced to take a thorough shower when he gets back because the smell of alcohol isn’t something Chisaki likes to find on his #1 assistant 

For the most part, their relationship is due to work, as Kurono doesn’t see himself to be great friends with him, but still is willing to socialize with him, after all, he isn’t supposed to form strong bonds/relationships with the expendable bullets of the yakuza

Rikiya Katsukame

Again, there isn’t much to say, Hari things Rikiya is hot, he’s tall, muscular, and able to burst through a wall very easily, Kurono finds that amusing, and therefore is often seen checking him out with Nemoto, who simply agrees and adds on lmao.

_Doesn’t even talk to him tho unless it’s job-related, though sometimes he might tell him he’s done a good job after accomplishing a mission and leaves right after_

Hekiji Tengai

so, their relationship is quite complicated, since there are times Hari is responsible, stoic, and well-mannered, which is when he gets along with Tengai, they will talk politely over a cup of hot chocolate and Kurono will keep him up to date with anything he knows

but then there is when Kurono is in the mood to mess with everyone and you bet Tengai is his go-to target

Hari will tease him non-stop and make sure Tengai regrets seeing him that day, though when overhaul walks in he can’t say shit since by the end of the day he’s just another expendable serving under their command, and it’s not like Hari bothers him that much, as it is mostly just Kurono budging him and likely to get slapped, which only causes Hari to laugh whenever he’d get hit after annoying him

Rappa Kendou

Hari’s #3 favorite tbh, like, he simply likes this guy, there are no reasons why. Actually, there is, and it is that Rappa is simply a big puppy? You know, the kind to destroy your house while you’re gone and wants to bite everything with its little hurtfully sharp teeth? That Rappa to Hari

He’s so big,,,, Kurono loves that, he loves having to look up to stare at him in the face, he loves his strong build, he loves his arms, oh god his arms

you bet Kurono loves praising Rappa, whenever he fights, after overhaul, he is the first one to get a piece of Hari’s mind about his well-done job, thus boosting the guy’s ego, he often finds himself being able to control him better than many, this thanks to his quirk quick practically paralyzes him? until he’s calmed down

Kurono loves his gigantic pupper, you bet that Hari spoils him, Rappa is a good guy, if only he didn’t want to fight everyone to literal death, and that’s something Kurono acknowledges and finds amusing, he does his own thing, and doesn’t like being put into teams, as it has been seen before, but we all know Hari would not say no to overhaul

Setsuno Toya

Toya, Hari, and Shin are the mean girls of the Shie hassaikai, Hari is Regina George, Shin is Gretchen Weiners, and Toya is Karen Smith, he has the least power out of the three, but he’s nice to have around so they keep him in the group lmao

Kurono talks to Toya more through text than face to face, mostly because they send each other lots of memes and funny/ugly selfies, they also make mischievous plans to mess with Overhaul almost every day, and rarely have they been caught

Setsuno allows Hari to take his phone and send Overhaul vines asking him to see them, after all, Toya is suicidal, so he’s got nothing to lose, and even though Kurono appreciates Setsuno as a pal, he knows he can’t get attached, and therefore just does as he wants

though when Setsuno needs help, Kurono is more than willing to offer himself first, he may not be very good with advice and emotions though, but he is a good listener and will sit and hear him out through every rant along with a cup of hot chocolate 

They once made a plan together to prank overhaul and Kurono replaced Chisaki’s usual black surgeon mask with one that said ‘owo’ one morning and paid Toya to go up to him and say “good mowning mitew owohauw” and record it, but in addition to that, which made the video way better, Overhaul replied with a sigh, and in a very disappointed tone… “hewwo” 

Soramitsu Tabe

chompy boie, Kurono doesn’t usually talk to him, but sometimes he will bring the weirdest foods and feed them to Tabe just for fun 

He likes to invite him and Hojo when he hands out with Setsuno, since they are Toya’s friends, and together they will find reckless/fun stuff to do, of course, Overhaul never knows that Hari tags along with them, they keep Kurono covered -insert thumbs up emoji- 

Once, Hari gathered all the precepts and made them sit in a circle around Tabe and brought in a deep fried sock, together they all chanted until Tabe was so overwhelmed he ended up eating the sock

Yu Hojo

welp, Hojo is one of the only people he actually maintains a calm and professional relationship with, unless the gang gets together, but that’s another story

They chat and discuss about serious topics, sometimes Tengai will join them, and they’ll have a nice and calm time spent together but that’s about all they do

They also read novels and watch those dramatic Mexican novellas, and it is normal to see them talk about them, Hari knows Spanish and has tried teaching Hojo, but his accent is poor and his pronunciation is hopeless, though Hari still tries to teach him and Hojo tries even harder to learn

[rattycattyfanfic]

good girl

Fandom: Once Upon A Time Pairing: Regina/Maleficent Genre: Romance/Smut Rated: E Words: 3,079

Maleficent treats her lover after a hard day's work being the Good Queen.

Response to generated kink baths and water + good girls.

AO3

warnings: smut, swearing, praise kink, light D/s, pet-names, "good girl" and "little one" if that squicks you. kink prompt generated here.

It’s been one of those days at the office where all Regina wants is a lay down in a dark room and a glass of wine or three – the kind where everyone must be in on some plan to test just how good the Good Queen is these days with extreme fucking incompetence. The council meeting had dragged some of the fairies trying to butt in and monopolise, suggesting stupid, naïve solutions and being generally self-righteous, and then she’d gone to her office and had to correct Hook’s poor paper work, and it’s just been bad.

She’s irritable as she shuts the door of her mansion behind her and toes her heels off, sighing as she does. The house is quiet, dark, and she hadn’t realised how late it had gotten, hadn’t seen the clock tick past eleven while she’d been working away in her office, but it must have.

“Regina? Is that you?” comes a voice from the open study, and Regina smiles. Dark, quiet, but not empty – not anymore, never anymore. Big Henry doesn’t live here anymore, has a lovely little house near the forest with his wife and daughter and visits often between adventures, but King Henry, little Henry from the wish realm stays with her every other week, and now there’s –

“How was work?” Maleficent asks gently, coming around the corner into the hall where Regina is still lingering. She takes her into her arms, against her warm body, and Regina allows the touch, relaxes easily into it.

“Shit,” she answers, dropping her head onto Mal’s chest and wrapping her arms tight around the blonde’s slender waist. “I may just kill Reul Ghorm.”

Mal hums quietly and the corner of her lips quirks into a smile. “She’s not worth destroying everything you’ve built, but I’ll be happy to accidentally torch her if you like.”

Regina laughs softly and turns her head up to look at her girlfriend, drink in the welcome sight of her calm eyes and plump, red lips. “Careful, I just might take you up on that.” She wouldn’t, couldn’t kill the stupid fairy anyway – Blue really isn’t worth her reputation and family, her new title (she’s never cared much for her titles, but this one feels well earnt and sentimental). She’s well past ripping hearts out and snapping necks these days, even if some days that old familiar rage flares up.

Soothing hands run up over her back, firm and massaging and Regina groans softly, rolls her tense shoulders and leans in to press her lips against Mal’s chastely.

“You’re tight, little one,” the dragon murmurs when they part, focusing her attentions on the sore muscles of her shoulders. Regina’s stomach clenches, reacting instantly to the affection and the nickname. She knows what’s coming when Mal calls her that, and fuck, she needs it. “How about I run you a hot bath while you get a drink?”

Regina nods and smiles, squeezes Maleficent’s hip gently. “God, yes, thank you.” They separate reluctantly, and she stays to watch as Mal heads upstairs to the master bathroom, admires the curve of her ass and the dip of her waist before making her way to the kitchen.

Once she’s upstairs, a full glass of red in one hand and the remaining bottle and a second glass in her other, she’s greeted by the scent of lavender and chamomile, and the smokiness of matches blown out. Mal is kneeling by the bath, testing the temperature with a few fingers, and there are lit candles in the corner, the lights low.

“It’s ready whenever you are,” Mal tells her, turning the tap off and standing, and Regina just about swoons. Who’d have thought a scary dragon bitch could be so sweet? (She did, she always has since those nights in the castle, incense burning and soft kisses on bruised skin.)

Regina sets her wine down by the bath, hands the second glass and bottle to her lover with a small grin, and begins unbuttoning her shirt. Mal sits down on the edge, crosses one knee over the other and watches appraisingly. She quirks two fingers and uses magic to pour her wine so she doesn’t have to look away for one second, and Regina feels wet heat grow between her thighs at being admired so openly.

Her shirt drops to the floor and she reaches back to unzip her skirt, letting it fall down her hips next to the silk. She’s left in her underwear and stockings, and she’d love to drag this out and tease Mal a little, but it’s chilly today, so Regina peels away the black lace unceremoniously and climbs into the bath, slipping beneath the hot water. “Thank you,” she murmurs, stretching out her tight muscles and delighting in the relaxing effect of herbal oils. They’re her favourites, the same she’d enjoyed a lifetime ago as a trembling girl in Maleficent’s castle. Mal always remembers these things, and it’s one of the things Regina loves about her. A dragon never forgets.

Regina reaches for her wine and drinks deeply, and they both sit like that for a little while, in comfortable silence, enjoying the smaller pleasures in life. Everything is always so insane, so huge and earth-shaking for their families, even now after the uniting of the realms, and these moments of quiet are priceless.

The hot water and oils work on her muscles, soothing, washing away the grime of a day’s work, and as she relaxes and becomes more comfortable, Regina feels herself heating up, growing achy for the feel of Maleficent against her. “Join me?” she requests softly, setting her glass down.

Maleficent smiles knowingly, those cool blue eyes burning into Regina, and stands to undress. She sees the hunger in her lover’s gaze, and purrs, “So it’s like that, is it?”

Regina hums in agreement and watches just as Mal had her, drinks in the irresistible appearance of creamy skin being slowly revealed until she’s nude, tall and muscular. Her platinum waves fall over her shoulders and hide the hardened peaks of her nipples and Regina wants nothing more than to push it behind her shoulders and take the nubs into her mouth.

All in good time.

Maleficent steps in behind her, somehow elegant in a way that should really be impossible, and sits in the space Regina has shuffled forward to make for her. “Come here, little one,” she says, voice like honey, and pulls Regina back into the space between her thighs, her back flush against Mal’s chest.

Regina moans under her breath as her brain turns somewhat fuzzy and soft like it tends to when Mal calls her that when they’re alone. It’s a sort of haze that comes over her, and suddenly everything feels easy and calm. She doesn’t have to think too hard, doesn’t have to be anything she’s not or live up to lofty expectations of queen or good or mother or hero. Mal’s arms snake around her waist beneath the water, settling low on her belly, her fingers tracing teasing patterns, and the stress of the day just slips away.

They soak in the water for a little while, Mal humming a soft tune into her ear and Regina letting her eyes slip shut in bliss. At some point, the blonde grabs a small cup from the side and dips it underwater to fill it. “Tip your head back,” Mal instructs silkily, and Regina obeys.

The warm water trickles through her hair, a soft hand on her forehead to catch any stray droplets that might get in her eyes. It’s nice. It’s a kind of pampering that none of them have time for ordinarily. It’s luxurious, when Mal squeezes some shampoo out into her hand and eases it through her dark hair, massaging her scalp and the nape of her neck. Regina groans and reaches down to squeeze Mal’s thigh, to rub her thumb across the skin appreciatively. A silent thank you, thank you for doing this, for treating me good.

The soap is washed out slowly, and then the whole process repeats with the conditioner. Slow, always slow, a show of love more than just getting clean. Then comes the body wash, and Regina swallows when Mal eases her up, straighter so she can begin to lather the apple-scented gel over olive skin. She starts gentle, innocent, rubbing her hands over Regina’s shoulders and back, massaging the knots as she goes, and then slowly inches around the front to her stomach, her ribs.

Regina is holding her breath by the time Mal’s fingers and palms tease up the side of her breasts. The blonde moves up to cup each breast in her hands, squeezing lightly and drawing a needy sound from the back of Regina’s throat. “God, Mal,” she breathes and trails off. Please, she wants to say, wants to beg for her touch lower, down between her thighs where a slow, insistent throb has grown.

Maleficent shushes her soothingly, rubs soapy circles over each breast and then teases both nipples into stiffened peaks with her thumbs. “I want to savour you. You’ll have what you want soon enough, if you just wait.” And then, lower, into Regina’s ear: “Can you do that for me? Wait, like a good girl?”

Oh, gods, Regina thinks and bucks her hips ineffectually. “Yes,” she promises breathily.

“Good,” Maleficent purrs, and pinches one nipple hard, causing her lover to yelp. She twists the other, rolls it between her fingers, and the yelp becomes a low moan. “I’m going to make you feel so good. You’re going to be absolutely boneless when I’m done with you.”

Regina squirms through the slow teasing for a few minutes. A slight warm, relaxing buzz from the wine has set in and everything feels lovely. She can’t for the life of her remember what she’d been so tense about less than an hour ago.

It’s hard to think of anything when one of Maleficent’s hands slip lower down, dancing over her stomach, down under the water again to push her thighs apart. She pulls one knee up to rest against the side of the tub so that her leg is bent, and she’s spread open. Regina just thinks yes and hopes to god Mal finally decides to touch her properly.

“How are you feeling?” Maleficent murmurs. Her fingers just trace lazily over her inner thighs, from her knee to half-way up, side to side, little shapes and letters before glancing up, almost to Regina’s core and then back down again. She’s all but given up on actually washing Regina now, those little lusty whimpers and hitched breaths too irresistible.

“Good,” Regina answers quietly. “Relaxed. Horny.”

Maleficent laughs and gives her thigh a squeeze. “I’m sure.”

Regina’s lips quirk up at the beautiful, rare sound of Maleficent’s ringing laughing, and the mood is light, silly for a second, before Mal ghosts a finger up the length of Regina’s slit. She barely touches her, so torturously light and teasing, but it has her moaning all the same. “Gods, I need you, Mal,” and her mirth is gone. She just rocks her hips up enticingly.

“You’re lucky you’re so irresistible, Regina. I don’t think good girls top from the bottom like that.” Maleficent kisses the nape of Regina’s neck, the stretch of her throat, her jaw, and acquiesces all the same. Gently, lightly, she grazes her lover’s clit with her thumb, circles once, twice, three times and watches as Regina moans loudly and arches in pleasure. Sometimes, she wonders how the hell she lived without this for the three or so decades she’d been trapped as a dragon (and thank god they made it past that).

“Sorry,” Regina mumbles, and Maleficent hushes her softly, keeps moving her fingers.

“You’re forgiven,” she says, dropping a kiss to an exposed shoulder. “This is about you anyway.”

She keeps teasing Regina’s clit, flicking lightly and pinching it occasionally, until the woman is trembling, letting out a melody of whispering moans and stifled whimpers and soft curses. Only then, when she’s shaking with need, gasping fuck me, does Mal press a finger inward, into wet warmth. Regina clenches around her, pushes back, and Maleficent takes that as a good sign and adds another finger on the next thrust.

“You’re beautiful like this, little one. Always, but especially like this,” Mal praises as she fucks her. “Does it feel good?”

“Yes,” Regina gasps. “Yes, god, so good. I love how you touch me.” And then she’s twisting, tipping her head back to press her lips against Mal’s, a little sloppy with arousal. Their tongues brush together, lips moving, and Maleficent can’t help but hum in pleasure herself, a moan in the back of her throat. She doubles her efforts between Regina’s thighs in response.

Regina cries out, her thighs shaking, and she admits in a wobbly voice, “I’m close, Mal.”

She does moan at that, at her lover telling her how close she is, giving Maleficent the option to deny her like she occasionally loves to do. But this isn’t one of those nights, this is about Regina’s pleasure, and the admittance alone makes Mal suddenly yearn to feel the woman come undone against her.

Her other hand resumes toying with Regina’s breasts, squeezing harder now that Regina is on the edge. Maleficent speeds up her ministrations, adds another finger tentatively and begins to move faster when Regina stretches comfortably to accommodate her. “Come for me, little one. I want to watch you come around my fingers.”

And Regina’s breath catches in her throat, her chest heaving with pleasure. “Yes,” she moans loudly, the word echoing off the tiled walls. “Fuck,” Regina gasps, and feels herself coiling tight. Mal switches up the rhythm on her clit, rubs a little harder, a little faster and murmurs good girl, good girl, come for me.

Regina comes hard, feels herself go rigid as wave upon wave of pleasure hit her hard. She’s moaning with abandon and can’t stop herself, just thanks the gods no one else is home tonight as she clenches around the fingers within her and rides out her orgasm. Mal is whispering praise in her ear as she trembles, good girl, you’re so beautiful, my queen, her fingers still moving and the water sloshing slightly around them.

Slowly, Regina begins to come down, her muscles liquid and her cheeks flushing hot. Her entire body is electric with her high, but suddenly exhausted, boneless just as Mal had promised as she goes limp against her lover, breathing hard. “Thank you,” she murmurs, resting her head against Maleficent’s shoulder.

“My pleasure,” Mal replies and absolutely means it. “I love seeing you like this. You’re gorgeous when you come.” She kisses the top of Regina’s head.

Her lover hmms lazily, nudging Mal’s thigh. “Careful with your words, you’ll get me all hot again.”

“Maybe that’s what I want,” the dragon teases, flicking a hard nipple and smirking as Regina squirms, too sensitive.

“I thought this was about me,” Regina retorts with a curling grin, tipping her head back slightly loopily. It’s adorable, and Mal concludes that she’s been successful relaxing her lover and making her forget about whatever stress she’d dealt with today. “I don’t think you finished washing me,” she pokes when Maleficent is uncharacteristically speechless.

“I may be wrong, but I don’t think good girls make demands either. Maybe I’ll just leave you to do it yourself,” she murmurs into Regina’s ear only half-serious. She’d love to continue their little game, but the way her lover is heavy against her, eyes hooded, Maleficent doesn’t think she’s got another half-hour of sex in her. She looks like she needs pyjamas and bed and maybe a last glass of wine, and the water’s starting to cool anyhow.

She grabs the bottle of body wash despite her words, squeezes it out and begins to finish where she left off, fingers kneading, and Regina says nothing more, just sighs happily. By the time Mal finishes with the soap, Regina seems to almost be dozing against her chest, breaths deep and slow, and the dragon chuckles.

“Regina, dear,” she murmurs next to the woman’s ear, and gets only a sleepy hmm? “Let’s get you rinsed off and into bed before the water gets cold.”

“Hmm, ok. Bed sounds good,” Regina concedes, and shifts, coming to fully. She twists to meet Maleficent’s gaze, eyes glinting with promise and a devilish smile at the corners of her lips. “You deserve the favour repaid.”

That damn smile has Mal smiling too and murmuring, “We’ll see,” before kissing her softly. She’s strong and gentle as she helps Regina rinse off and step out of the tub, as she cocoons her lover in a huge fluffy towel and rubs her down, eases a brush through her damp hair and does the same for herself.

When they finally get into bed, Regina is in fresh, softly scented pyjamas and snuggles close to her dragon’s warm body, trails her fingers over the soft mauve silk nightgown. She fully intends to repay the favour, to slip down between those thighs and lick and suck until Mal knows just how much she’s appreciated, but there are fingers running through her slowly drying hair, rubbing the back of her neck and all she can do is groan and close her eyes. “Mm – stop distracting me, I want to taste you,” Regina says half-heartedly, pressing lazy kisses up the blonde’s throat and down over her collarbone, the tops of her breasts.

Maleficent chuckles, a low thing that rumbles in her chest, and shakes her head. “As much as I appreciate the sentiment, you can hardly keep your eyes open, Regina. There’ll be plenty of time for that tomorrow, and I fully intend to collect.” She wraps her arms tighter around the Queen and kisses her hair. “But sleep now, good girl.”

And Regina just grumbles quietly, but curls up all the same, giving up her leisurely assault and just resting. “Your good girl,” she murmurs, followed by a small, “thank you,” just as Mal begins to hum softly again, her voice intimate in the quiet dark of the bedroom. Tomorrow, she'll be working hard again, the Good Queen and all its stressors instead of just good girl, but for tonight, Regina basks in the feeling of complete and utter relaxation, of her lover’s tender, protective touches and words, until her breath evens out into soft snores.

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 4X06 - Family Business

After spending ten minutes trying to make a pun for this one, I don’t SNOW if I can do it!

...Well, there you go!

Review’s under the cut!

Main Takeaways

Past

I’m torn between disliking and liking the writing choice to have Anna doubt Ingrid so fiercely. On one level, I sort of get it. After being betrayed by Hans (And more recently, Rumple), Anna’s become a bit less trusting. That’s good character development. However, to have Anna be untrusting to this degree is just a little too far fetched for me. I think had Anna wanted to accept her and been more outright friendly, but was too curious to settle for Ingrid’s non answers, the story would’ve been a bit more palatable for me.

So, as far as Belle goes, I’m kind of inclined to treat this episode in a way as a precursor to Belle’s attitude later in life, kind of like“Best Laid Plans.” Just like how Snowing dedicated themselves to being the best people they could be after their horrible sin, Belle does the same thing through a combination of seeing Anna be taken and learning the truth behind her mother’s death. That also having been said, I feel like had they stated that the stone of memories was a one-off item, I wouldn’t be so frustrated with Belle because why not just get another stone after saving Anna?

That also having been said, I get that it didn’t matter. What mattered in this segment was that Belle’s selfishness fucked over someone and the point of this episode was to realize that and show that she’s grown from it. And that is the important part of the episode and it was delivered well. What I pointed out were smaller narrative crumbles that don’t amount to absolutely nothing, but are ultimately less important than the delivery of the theme.

Present

I can talk about a lot of aspects of this episode (And I will), but let’s be real here: The big part of this episode really comes down to a singular moment. While most of this episode is pretty clearly framed otherwise, so much so that I wonder just how much can write about, this moment’s where shit gets complicated and messy. That, of course, is Belle’s use of the “dagger” to make Rumple take her to the Snow Queen’s fortress.

Let’s break my thoughts on this down a bit.

It’s...a complicated situation. I’m sympathetic to Belle in the sense that she’s trying to stop The Snow Queen and making a hard choice like that is something she sees as just something that has to be done. Additionally, the mirror scene establishes that Belle might have doubts about the validity of the dagger, so there might have been a part of her doubting that it would work. I also get that this was Belle’s weakest moment and thus, it’s something she doesn’t want relayed.

That having been said, this episode frames Belle’s motivation as wanting to keep a secret. That’s the reason why she doesn’t relay her information to Emma and Elsa. And for a secret that is so relatively small in the grand scheme of not only the scope of the universe, but what villains have been forgiven for around in these parts, I find it rather weak and makes for a stark contrast to her attitude of just shutting up from the present scenes prior It’s brought on by a sad conversation with Elsa and Belle finds it more appropriate to use the dagger on her husband than just simply tell the truth, a moment that when finally comes to pass, isn’t given any gravitas, meaning that Belle keeping that secret wasn’t that big of a deal. It’d be one thing if Elsa was so mad that she froze Belle or shut her out or something like that, but she doesn’t, making the reason Belle wants to hold out telling the truth fall flat.

I also almost wish this moment had come earlier in the season, maybe before “The Apprentice” because that look of fear on Rumple’s face when he realized that his own wife is using the dagger to control him would’ve been a hella effective point in showing why Rumple feels like he needs to go to the extreme of putting people in a magic hat to ensure that he never has to be controlled again. That said, it does work here, albeit not as effectively.

I do think that the framing of this moment works. Ignoring the motivation behind it, Belle is shown as going too far by using the dagger, BUT the more complicated nature of the dagger being as real as a $3 bill isn’t ignored by the narrative either.

Okay, now that that’s done, let’s move on.

The mirror scene is a really chilling look into Belle’s psyche. Not only is there a great display of Belle’s insecurities on display in this scene, but it truly sets up the mirror as a genuine threat. Belle is one of the purest characters in the show, second to probably only Ariel at this point. And yet the mirror is able to pull at the weaknesses she doesn’t possess as easily as loose Jenga pieces. Within a minute, she feels helpless.

I also really like the way Rumple is presented here! He’s at once a villain and a victim in a way and the balancing of that was well done!

Stream of Consciousness

-I like the costume Belle has in the first bit of her flashback. It does a really good job of painting her youth and naivete.

-I love how literally every piece of Belle’s wardrobe and decorations in her room are Beauty and the Beast colors!!! Dude, if she wasn’t the actual Belle, I’d accuse her of being the biggest fangirl in the world! XD

-Really, Rumple? Belle doesn’t know about the hidden safe by this point?

-”Before we open.” So I guess that library scene really didn’t carry over in any capacity. That’s a shame.

-I absolutely LOVE the zoom out shot as everyone takes in the Snow Queen video tape! All eight of the mains are in the shot as well as Elsa! And everyone is so serious, even the woman in the blue sparkly dress! I know it’s been said 1,000 times, but it’s totally CSI Storybrooke up in this bitch! XD

-Belle, you are amazing at tracking! And you dig any chance to be a hero! Why the fuck are you willingly stepping down?! XD

-Why does everyone diss books?! And if you’re gonna diss the book, maybe take the book? Like, I don’t want Maurice to take the book, but if he’s gonna go to the trouble of being a douche nozzle, at least go all the way.

-I feel the need to ask if Ingrid has employees at “Any Given Sundae.” Does she just switch off between driving the truck and running the shop? Did she ever have an intern? XD

-”Was she afraid someone was gonna steal the rocky road?” You’re three episodes off, Emma.

-Ice powers are the world’s most dangerous mood rings! XD

-”Do you really think she would’ve discovered that if I didn’t want her to?” And what part did you have to play in Emma discovering that evidence? Like, every piece of evidence Emma has uncovered has been by total coincidence! The video, the truck? Both of those were spur of the moment decisions!

-I feel like mirror Belle is what would happen if Lacey had Belle’s memories.

-Ummm, if that was the real dagger, would that slash have killed Rumple or would it kind of be like what happened with Dark Hook where only the lethal cuts matter? But then again, that was close to the throat.

-Belle, where the hell did that gorgeous ass coat come from? Because holy hell, I LOVE it!

-Okay, am I the only one who feels like Maurice had some personal experience with Rumple prior to Belle’s summoning?

-”Spend a little more time in this town love, and you’ll realize that just about everyone’s related.” This is true and I LOVE it! XD

Favorite Dynamic

Regina and Robin. I really like Regina’s scene with Robin in the forest. Lana perfectly shows Regina’s frustration at having tried every possible approach to waking Marian and failing at it as well as this sense of resignation about what she has to tell him. It’s a fantastic moment in how it’s performed and written. Regina’s in her best form by being blunt, but not unsympathetic: If Robin wants to save Marian, he has to fall in love with her again, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. You can tell that this is the last thing she wants to say, but she knows it’s the truth. It’s a really good display of her growth as a character. Something very difficult for her to do and the truth isn’t pretty, but she’s delivering it anyway, even at her own expense. The added bits of snark additionally really help it too by giving the scene a bit of levity and gives the dialogue a bit of that Regina fierceness.

Writer

Kalinda Vazquez comes in for her second episode in a row, a first for a writer for this series outside of A&E! Alongside her is Andrew Chambliss. I gotta say, it’s nice not having a newbie this episode. While there are some character issues, I think the episode works more than it doesn’t due to the more complicated nature of the present segment’s story and the fact that the framing is spot on.

Rating

8/10. I think there are a fair amount of good elements to this episode. The delivery of the themes is solid and that is the ultimate make or break piece of an episode like this. Additionally, the framing of this story was hard, but successful.

-----

Hey! Sorry this wasn’t my best review. I don’t know what happened with this episode, but it just took me so long to figure out how I felt about it. I hope what I put out made sense.

Thank you for reading, if you did as well as to @watchingfairytales and @daensarah. Love you!!!!

Season 3 Total (42/230)

Writer Scores: Adam and Eddy: (9/60) Jane Espenson: (10/40) David Goodman and Jerome Schwartz: (10/50) Andrew Chambliss: (14/50) Dana Horgan: (6/30) Kalinda Vazquez: (14/40) Scott Nimerfro: (6/30)

*Links to the rest of my rewatch will no longer be provided. They take posts with links outside of searches and I spend way too much time on these reviews to not give them that kind of exposure. Sorry for the inconvenience, but they still can be found on my page under Operation Rewatch.

[aspenwardlowell]

hello again, it’s pepper, you know the same girl her posted her first intro hours ago and got too lazy to write up the second one until just before midnight?? love this for me. solid time management on my part. anyways lmao down bellow will be a bit about aspen, she’s kind of new though so you bet this is gonna be a whole ass mess. 

[ MUSE #101 ] ●● is that NANA KOMATSU? no, that’s just ASPEN WARD-LOWELL, the 18 year old CISFEMALE who is a HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. some say they’re ODD AND FICKLE, but their family and friends will swear they’re CREATIVE AND DEPENDABLE. when i think of them, i think of the glow of a laptop screen in the dark, neat cursive scrawl, a tongue peeking out from between teeth, pastel pens assorted by colour, and intricate coding. i wonder if HER family knows that SHE HAS NO PLANS TO GO INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD, OR EVEN TO COLLEGE. ●● ( pepper && twenty two && est && she/her)

aspen was adopted before she can remember. she never really knew her birth parents and honestly, she never really felt the need to seek them out or find out more about them. her mothers were the only parents she ever knew or really ever needed, so she saw no reason to be curious. 

that said, her mothers are now single handedly ruining her concept of love. for the longest time aspen believed in fairytales and grand romances but now that her parents marriage is falling apart she thinks the entire concept of love is a sham

for years aspen got impeccable grades without really even trying, but seeing as aspen is kind of more of an adrenaline junkie than a sheep she but she quickly got bored of that and started anonymously selling her work online for money. she’s actually made a whole website for it tbh, because surprisingly this homecoming queen is actually pretty techy. at gradeupgrade.com you can get an essay of whatever length and grade you need for low, low prices. she has yet to be caught and she plans to keep it that way. honestly she has the perfect cover. 

at school aspen is kind of That Bitch. very much the ice queen, she can be a bit shallow and a bit mean on her worst days, and sometimes on her best but dfkjfdjfd underneath all that crap lays a heart (???) that only her family really sees. she is fiercely loyal and will pull through for those she cares about no matter what (even if she might complain) but yeah most people only see her being a raging bitch. she does put on a pretty air tight facade at school though, seeing as she is also head cheerleader and ruling the school with an iron fist, like that’s aspen atm. running for prom queen, and she thinks she’s a shoe in.

she parties a lot, drinks a lot, will take most drugs as long as they’re not hard drugs. 

is actually lowkey a hardcore gamer. i don’t think anyone but her siblings really know about it but yeah, aspen loves video games and has actually been making one of her own on the side. she mostly programs it at night, though she doesn’t really know what to do when she finishes it. 

dates around a lot but gets bored really easily, so most of her relationships don’t last more than a couple of months. tends to be kind of erratic in her behavior sometimes, like she will occasionally play the crazy girlfriend just to fuck with whoever she’s dating (asking to go through their phone only to program it to automatically send ‘me so horny’ whenever they receive a text), mostly because she’s never invested in the relationship 

plans to get the heck out of town as soon as she graduates. she doesn’t really know where she’s going to go but she figures that’s the fun of it. 

honestly doesn’t really know who she is, and she isn’t actively trying to figure it out. she figures she’ll just party and mess with people until she dies. 

when it comes to aspen’s own assignments she now puts in the bare minimum. she gets C’s or B’s if she even bothers to hand anything in. Usually she’ll write things up last minute and sign it with a lipstick stain just to annoy her teachers. 

Has taken gymnastics for years, and is a flyer on the cheerleading team because this binch is tiny. 

Is actually kind of considering joining the circus as an acrobat instead of going to uni. Like she’s legitimately considering this.

Is kind of afraid of living a boring life tbh, which is why she tries so hard to make her own life interesting. 

Can and will hack the hell out of you if you cross her. 

Very morally grey. 

And I think that’s it, thank you for getting to the end of this mess. 

WANTED PLOTS ;

exes - aspen is hella bi so this is open to everyone. i feel like i’d love some exes who aspen was just with because she was bored so she messed with them a lot, maybe an ex who was also messed with her in return, maybe a BIG EX who she actually had feelings and dipped out of fear of them because that’s always fun

someone who she sells homework too - aspen would know who they are but they wouldn’t know who she is, so i feel like it could be fun. daisy

party buddy/ride or die - aspen is wild most of the time, and she sneaks out of the house to party a lot so someone who matches her ‘here for a good time not a long time energy’ would be great. miles, aria

minions - someone who aspen kind of considers the gretchen and karen to her regina if you know what i mean. these people would likely be on the cheer squad. skylar

fwbs, best friends, childhood friends who actually understand aspen (good luck cause this bitch barely understands herself), neighbors maybe?