#author: high-queen-margo

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Love Everlasting.

A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 50K words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

TW: Mentions of Cancer. Reader Discretion is STRONGLY ADVISED!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

Matrimony. Part 2.

“Will you come on? We gotta go!” she said to him as she dragged him out of the residence entrance. 

“Will you slow down Shanelle?! Your duchy isn't going anywhere.” 

Shanelle stopped for just a moment. 

“I know it's not. I'm just anxious and excited to go. I've never had something like this and I’m just…I’m ready to see it.”

Marquise shook his head with a chuckle.

“I understand my love. I understand your excitement. But I promise you it's not going anywhere. We won't miss anything.”

Shanelle sighed.

“You're right. I'm sorry for being in such a rush.”

Marquise kissed her forehead. 

“No need to apologize. I understand your excitement.”

She smiled at him.

“Also I hope you don't mind. I invited a few people to come with us.”

“Who?” she asked.

As soon as Shanelle asked the question, George, with Ozzie on his leash, walked out of the residence.

“Good morning you two. Master Oswald and I are ready to ride. Aren't we?” George said to the couple.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“His name is Ozzie Papa.” Marquise corrected him.

“I know what his name is my boy. After all, you named him after Oswald.”

“Oswald?” Shanelle asked.

“He was my old hunting partner. A lovable beagle that my boy here was in love with. Unfortunately, Oswald passed away last year.” George replies.

Just then Margo walked out of the residence. 

“Look at you two! Looking like a vision of a true King and Queen.” Margo said to the two. 

“Merci, maman,” Marquise said to Margo before turning his attention to Shanelle, “now my love, are ready to go?” 

“Yes! Let's go!” Shanelle replies. 

Soon they were off to tour Shanelle’s duchy. The ride which lasted 3 ½ hours took them through beautiful fields of flowers, rolling hills, small towns, and quaint villages. When they arrived at her duchy estate, Shanelle’s jaw dropped. She couldn't believe what all she was looking at. 

“Sooooo…just to recap, THIS IS ALL MINE?!” She asked Marquise.

“All of it,” he replied.

Shanelle looked back and forth pointing between him and the estate’s main entrance. 

“Yes. Everything you see is yours, my love.”

“All mine. It's all mine. Oh my God! It's all mine!” she squealed happily. 

That's when a primly dressed woman walked across the bridge to greet everyone. 

“Good morning Your Highness! My name is Gladys Gibbons-Renaud. I am the Major Domo here at the Volterias estate.” Gladys said as she greeted Shanelle.

“I have a Major Domo?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes ma'am. I was personally selected by Mr. and Mrs. Geaneaux to handle the affairs and staff here at the estate. I am at your service at all times.” Gladys replied.

Shanelle looked between Gladys and Marquise with a hand over her mouth. Marquise chuckled.

“Yes, Shanelle. It's real.”

Shanelle couldn't contain her excitement. 

“Shall I begin the tour?” Gladys asked Shanelle. 

“YES!!” Shanelle ecstatically replied.

“Let us begin.”

Gladys led them on an extensive tour of the estate. When they got to the master bedroom, Shanelle lost her mind. 

“Oh. My. God! IT’S PURPLEEEEEEE!” she exclaimed. 

“Yes ma'am. His Highness let the staff members know that your favorite color is purple.” Gladys added.

Shanelle threw her arms around Marquise’s neck.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank youuuuuu!” 

“You're very welcome. Wait until you see your closet, my love.”

“M-m-my closet?!” she stammered.

“Right this way, Your Highness,” Gladys said as she led them to Shanelle’s master closet and bathroom. 

When they got to the massive walk-in closet Shanelle’s knees gave out on her. Thankfully Marquise was there to catch her.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?” Glass asked. 

“Yeah. I'm okay. Just a little wobbly is all.” Shanelle replied. 

“I understand. If you'd like to finish the tour at another time we can do that.” 

“I'd like that. Thank you, Gladys.”

“My pleasure, Your Highness. In the meantime, I have to prepare rooms for your incoming guests.”

“Incoming guests?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes. His Highness sent out invitations to your friends to stay here at the estate, while you're here. We can't have them staying in stables now can we?” Gladys replied.

“I love it here!” Shanelle squealed.

“I am glad you do. Now if you'll both excuse me, I have rooms to prepare.” 

Gladys bowed politely before leaving the couple alone. They walked out of her closet and sat on the plush master bed.

“Just to recap, you invited my girls without telling me?” Shanelle asked. 

“Unapologetically. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Marquise replies. 

“I can't believe you pulled this off. I get to spend time with them here at my duchy for a few days. We're gonna have so much fun.”

“Weeks actually.”

The record spinning in Shanelle’s head just scratched. 

“Weeks? What do you mean by "weeks?” she asked.

“Well considering that the Derby is next weekend and of course, you girls are hosting your very first tea here, and then you and I will be the stars of The Grand Hunt,” Marquise replied.

“But what about their jobs? I don't want to get them in trouble.” 

“They won't be in trouble. Their presence was requested by the Crown Prince of North Cordonia. I dare their bosses to argue with that.”

“Okay, I get it. When do they get here?” she asked.

“Next Friday. Just in time for the Derby next Saturday,” he replies.

“Will they be staying here?” she asked.

“Yes. I wanted your very first weekend here to just be you, me, and Ozzie,” he replies.

“And Margo and George,” she added.

Marquise chuckled. 

“Yes, mama and papa too. Here, come with me.” 

Marquise stood up and brought her to her feet. He led her out onto her balcony which overlooked a massive field and waterfall.

“I can't believe this is all mine,” Shanelle said quietly.

She felt him wrap his arms around her waist as he placed a small kiss on her right shoulder.

“Believe it, my love. This is all yours. You are the future Queen. You deserve this.”

They stood together and quietly watched the waterfall for several minutes.

“How are you feeling my love?” he asked.

“It's a lot. Like a whole lot. Hell, I’m still trying to process everything we've done and seen this entire week. But thank you for being patient with me. All of this is still new and it's hard to keep up with it all sometimes.” she replied.

“I understand. But I'm proud of you for trying. None of it is easy. Not even for me. But what good is a monarch if they don't try?” 

Shanelle smiled at him. They continued to enjoy the view just as Ozzie’s bark interrupted the moment. He was followed by Margo and George.

“Ozzie! Are you enjoying yourself here? Are you being a good loaf?” Shanelle asked him as she gave him scritches behind his ears. “Are you two enjoying your accommodations as well?”

“Yes, we are, Your Highness. We love the guest house. I'm currently trying to come up with a plan to steal those beds.” George replied. 

“The guest house? You should be staying here in the estate with us. I'll have Gladys make sure you two have a room.”

“No Princess. We would never want to impose.”

“Nonsense Margo. You two are practically family. Anyone who puts up with this walking beanstalk is always welcome to stay here in the estate.”

“I am not a walking beanstalk!” Marquise protested. 

Margo smiled at Shanelle.

“If you insist, Your Highness.”

“I certainly do. Now I don't know about all of you but I'm hungry so it's time for lunch. Besides, I want to meet the kitchen staff.”

They spent the rest of the day meeting the various staff members and touring the grounds. By the end of the day, Shanelle was exhausted yet happy.

“I love this bed.” she sighed happily as she snuggled against Marquise’s chest. 

“I love you in this bed,” Marquise said to her.

“It's so soft and comfy and it's mine. All mine.”

“Yes, it is,” he said before he kissed the palm of her right hand.

“I can't believe you are giving me all of this.”

“My Queen deserves no less than the best. And that is what I give.”

“I can't wait to bring my mom and dad here. They'll love it.”

“Have you spoken to him?” he asked.

“No, not yet. But I miss him. He's my dad. He fucked up. Completely. But I still love him.” she replied.

“Of course you do. Like you said he's your dad. And you love him just as much as he loves you.”

“If that's your way of saying that I’m a daddy's girl.”

Marquise snickered.

“Your words not mine.”

Shanelle shook her head with a yawn. 

“Are you sleepy?” he asked.

“Mmmhmm. It's been a long day. And I still have so much to see here.” she replies.

Marquise held her close.

“Goodnight Princess.”

“Goodnight Your Highness.”

Soon they went off to a peaceful sleep together. The next day they were touring a few of the towns, so she could meet her people. The people were eager and excited to meet the new Princess and couldn't wait to show her around. The couple toured a factory that made hand-blown glass and stained glass windows. She got to spend the day learning the different customs as well as learning more about the lantern festival she'll host once she becomes Queen. 

By the end of the day, Shanelle felt good about what all she had done and seen that day. She spent that night relaxing with him in a couples bubble bath and snuggling together in her bed. 

”I have died and gone to heaven!” she said with a contented sigh.

She felt his chin on her left shoulder as his arms wrapped around her. 

“Welcome to paradise my Queen.” 

“I don't have the title yet and you still call me Queen.”

Marquise softly kissed the back of her left ear. 

“You will have the title come this Wednesday.”

Shanelle turned slightly to face him. 

“Wait! Are you serious?!” she asked.

“Yes, my love. We will meet with the soon-to-be former monarchs Wednesday. Where we will sign the official transfer of Monarchial powers.” he replies.

“That means…” she trailed off. 

“As of this coming Wednesday, Cordonia will be ours. Yours and mine.”

“We'll be King and Queen for real?” she asked.

“Not quite. We won't be King and Queen officially until we're married. But we will be the regents. Also, Wednesday is when the kingdoms unite. There will no longer be a North Cordonia or South Cordonia but Cordonia as a whole.” he replies. 

“And it'll all be mine?” she asked.

“Everything the light touches is our kingdom,” he replies.

Shanelle snickered. 

“How do you feel about that?” she asked.

“Relieved mostly. I'm ready to burn this kingdom to the ground and rebuild it in our images,” he replies.

“I like that idea.”

“Yes, I knew you would. But mostly I’m ready to restore the people's faith in their leaders.”

“And we will. It won't be easy,” she added.

“I don't expect it to be but we will do this.”

“I have faith in us. We will restore Cordonia.”

“Indeed we will, my love.”

Shanelle felt her eyelids getting heavier by the moment as she lay in his arms. Eventually, the Princess dozed off into a peaceful sleep. After spending all the next morning in bed, that Sunday evening, they took two of the estate horses out for a walk along the river. Shanelle, having not ridden a horse in years, was feeling it as they went along the river’s edge.

“Yup my thighs are burning. This was a bad idea.”

“Well, we could stop and walk the horses ourselves the rest of the way if you prefer to do that.”

“Is that your way of telling me to quit complaining?” she asked.

“You said it, not me,” he replied.

Shanelle pouted.

“Besides, we're almost there.”

“Almost where?” she asked.

“You'll see,” he replied as they rode along.

They rode a little further up until they got to their destination. And when they got there Shanelle’s jaw dropped. 

“What is this?” she asked.

“Hmm?” he replied.

There was an entire picnic laid out in a field, with a large tent set up as well.

“I figured we could spend a night under the stars. Literally. Unless you want to ride all the way back to the estate and do something else.”

She wanted to kick him but she was too busy being stuck. She didn't have words. He helped her dismount and they walked over to the picnic. 

“You're silent,” he said to her.

“I'm speechless. How did you do this? How did you have time to do this?” she asked.

He tilted her chin up so that she was looking at him.

“When it comes to you when it comes to spoiling you when it comes to giving you everything you deserve when it comes to making sure you know how I feel about you, I will always have time. I will always make time. You will always know that you’re my #1 priority.” he replies.

She didn't know what to say or do, so she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. When their kiss broke she had tears in her eyes.

“Why are you crying, my love?” he asked.

“You did all of this for me when you didn't have to,” she replied.

“Yes, I did. And I would do it again and again and again and again. You tasked me with loving and nurturing your heart and your trust and this is just one way how I do that. By showing you true, real, unconditional, and genuine love. Now dry your eyes and let's sit down so we can enjoy our picnic.”

The couple sat down and Marquise immediately started unpacking the picnic basket. There were two champagne glasses, 6 covered dishes, utensils, and two chilled bottles of wine. 

“So what do we have?” she asked.

“Two first courses, two main courses, and two desserts,” he replied as he uncovered the first two plates.

“Ooh! Caesar Salad!”

“Yes. And for our main courses, we have Beef Wellington with a beautiful Red Wine reduction, Chicken Cordon Bleu, two beautifully cooked lobster tails with melted lemon and parsley butter, roasted garlic parmesan smashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and bacon, and roasted asparagus with Hollandaise.” 

“Shut up and pass me a fork!” 

Marquise snickered before they dug into their meal.

“Are you moaning over food?” he asked.

“Look. I make a lot of noise when I eat,” she replied.

“And when you drink,” he added. 

“That too.”

Once their meal was done it was time for dessert.

“Now what is this?” she asked.

“Chocolate Strawberry Napoleon and a Pot De Creme Au Chocolat L’Orange. They're absolutely delicious,” he replies.

“And what do you have?” she asked.

“Baklava! Specifically Chocolate Baklava,” he replies.

“I'm sensing a theme here.”

“And what theme is that, my Queen?” he asked.

“These are all menu options for a wedding reception,” she replied.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, my Queen?” he asked.

“Yes. We have officially tasted our reception menu,” she replies.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive. I want this menu at our reception,” she replies.

Marquise swirled the wine in his glass. 

“As my Queen commands.”

Shanelle snickered.

“I don't think I will ever get tired of hearing you say that.”

“You shouldn't. The day that you do is the day I have failed you completely.”

“Have I told you that you're hopelessly romantic?” she asked.

“Plenty of times. Now shall we explore our sleeping quarters for the evening?” he replies.

“As long as you bring the wine.”

Marquise grabbed the bottles before they made their way into the tent. It was spacious with an opening at the top so they could look up at the stars. Shanelle laid back and looked up.

“This view is amazing!”

“Yes, it is. And the stars are nice too.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes with a smirk.

“You never stop.”

“Nope and I never will.”

Shanelle sits up and takes a sip of wine before laying her head on his shoulder.

“Drunk yet Princess?” he asked.

“No, but I'm getting there," she replied.

She felt his arm wrap around her and pull her closer.

“I like having you like this.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“In my arms. I don't like letting you go,” he replied.

“Do me a favor," she said to him.

“Hmmm?” he replied.

She kissed him softly.

“Don't ever let go.”

He kissed her slowly. When their kiss ended all she wanted to do was melt into him.

"Is it wrong that I just want to stay here like this?" She asks.

"No. Because I owe this to you." He replied.

"I'm not a debt Marquise. You don't owe me anything."

"But I do. I owe you my heart and my love. And I promise to give you that. I promise to always give you that.”

She shook her head at him.

"Well, this weekend might not have been so bad after all."

“I wanted to make sure your first weekend here was peaceful.” 

“Mission accomplished sir.”

She snuggled closer to him.

“Go to sleep Shanelle. I'll see you in the morning.”

She smiled at him just before closing her eyes. The next morning they were back at the estate, readying to leave for South Cordonia.

“Is it wrong that I’m excited?” she asked.

“No, it's not. Today we get to travel to the capital city of South Cordonia. This is a big deal for you.” he replied. 

“Will it take long to get to South Cordonia?” she asked.

“Your duchy sits on the border of both North and South Cordonia. It's about 2 ½ hours away. Would you still like to go?” he replied.

“Yes, I would like to go.”

“We're not too far from the capital city.”

“What is the capital city?” she asked.

“Cloutier. And should you ever be asked, the name of the capital city in North Cordonia is Bélanger for future reference,” he replied.

“Thanks for the heads up. Do you think we would have time to visit my grandparents’ graves today?” she asked.

“Of course,” he replied.

“I've always wanted to see where they were buried. As weird as that sounds.”

“It's not weird at all. You were a toddler when they died. But I do know that they loved you. Especially your grandmother.”

“How can you be sure?” she asked. 

“The last time I remember seeing your grandmother, she was having tea with my mother. I remember running into the garden where they were, and how she called me a handsome little prince. But mostly she gushed about you. She was so excited to be a grandmother.” he replied.

Shanelle smiled softly. 

“Thank you for that. So what are we waiting for?” she asked.

Marquise shook his head with a smile. 

“Let's go.”

And off they went. The 2 ½ hour drive was smooth. They traveled along the river through several villages to the capital city of South Cordonia. When they got to the center of the capital city, the main street was filled with people eager to get a glimpse of the heir to the throne. 

“Look at all the people!”

“They're all here to see you. You’re the heir they've heard so much about.”

When they pulled into the motor court of the palace Shanelle was in awe.

“I haven't been here in years but it's beautiful.”

“Indeed. In the few times I've had to come here I was always struck by its beauty. But we aren't here to admire the palace, we're here so you can see your grandparents or at least their final resting place.”

Shanelle nodded solemnly.

“Are you ready, my love?” Marquise asked.

“No, but we didn't come all this way for nothing. So let's go," she replied.

Slipping her left hand into his right and flowers tucked under her right arm, they walked from the motor court to the memorial gardens. The closer they got to her grandparent's graves, Shanelle started to get emotional and Marquise noticed. 

“Are you okay, my love?” he asked.

Shanelle shook her head no.

“We don't have to continue.”

“Yes, we do. I just want to see them. I feel like I have to say goodbye.”

“If it becomes too much we'll leave, okay?” he asked.

Shanelle nodded before they continued. When they got to her grandparent's graves and saw the names on the headstone, she lost it. Thankfully Marquise was right there by her side. 

“It's okay my love.”

“I didn't think it would be this hard. I wasn't even here when they died or when they were buried.”

“That doesn't change the fact you love them, Shanelle. You still have the memories of them.”

Shanelle nodded while drying her eyes.

“I don't have that many memories of them because we weren't around each other long. But I do remember parts of my coronation.”

“Tell me about that.”

Shanelle closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled slowly.

“It was my first time here in Cordonia. I couldn't have been any older than 19 months old. Me, my mom, my dad were walking down the hall to the throne room and I remember seeing my grandmother’s garden. So when we were in the throne room with them and Edward, I was fussy because all I wanted to do was go see the flowers. So my grandmother took me out to the garden, and let me run around. I even picked one of her flowers and gave it to her as a present. Her favorite flowers were Roses, Hydrangeas, and Carnations. Because of her, they're my favorite too.”

Marquise nodded.

“Your connection to Cordonia is strong because of them. They wanted you to have this. They knew you were destined to be the Queen that South Cordonia needs.”

Shanelle smiled sadly at him.

“Do you see that inscription between their names?” she asked.

“Yes, I see it. What about it?” he replies.

“Read it.”

Marquise looked closer and read the inscription.

“In the memory of Flower and Baba. Loving and doting grandparents.” 

“Those were the nicknames I gave them. I called her Flower and I called him Baba. I was supposed to be saying Papa but 19-month-old logic and pronunciation at the time.” 

Tears started to well in her eyes again.

“I think I'm ready to go now,” she whispered.

“Alright. We’ll head back.”

Shanelle looked at the headstone one last time.

“Bye Baba. Bye Flower. I'll come back soon.” she whispered before they left.

They walked back to their waiting car and when they left the palace, Shanelle was quiet.

“Are you alright my love?” he asked.

“I will be,” she said as she laid her head on his right shoulder.

“Your grandparents would be proud of you. Especially your grandfather.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes. For years, he was the Iron King. Unrelenting and impenetrable. Nothing fazed him. He literally ruled with an iron fist until he found out that he had a beautiful granddaughter. There was a seismic shift in the way he ruled after he found out about you. He became more patient. More understanding. More kind. He began to have a more open mind and honest dialogue with his people. He even apologized to them for the way he treated them. Because he didn't want you to inherit his old ways as King. Your father was right. You changed your grandfather for the better up until he retired as King.” he replied. 

Shanelle smiled at him.

“Thank you for saying that. I needed to hear it.”

He kissed the back of her left hand.

“That's what I'm here for my love.” 

When they got to the palace in North Cordonia, all Shanelle wanted to do was go to sleep. 

That following Wednesday couldn't come fast enough for Shanelle and especially Marquise. It was the day the kingdoms would be theirs permanently and Cordonia’s two final Royal Families would begin the process of being one family. 

Marquise was up bright and early getting ready. This was his moment and he was going to take it. Once he was ready, he went to check on Shanelle who was getting ready in the palace boutique. When she walked out of the boutique his jaw dropped.

“What? Is it too much?” she asked.

“You are a vision, my Queen,” he replied.

She snickered. 

“Kiss ass.”

“Absolutely.”

Shanelle shook her head with a smirk.

“Shall we be off?” he asked.

“Yup. Let's go,” she replied. 

He offered her his arm and soon they left the boutique and headed for the main dining room.

“Is it wrong that I’m nervous?” she asked. 

“Why are you nervous?” he replied. 

“Because this is it. Today we are about to gain two kingdoms. You're about to be King and I will be Queen.” 

He stopped walking to face her.

“Look at me,” he said as he gathered, then squeezed her hands gently, “I understand that you are nervous but you are never alone. You've said it for days, we are a team. We are and will always be a united front.”

He watched her bite her bottom lip.

“You're cute when you do that.”

“Do what?” she asked.

“Bite your bottom lip. It's absolutely adorable. I love to watch you bite your lip. Here come with me.” he replies.

He led her to a large picture window looking out to the hedge maze.

“You are moments away from being a Queen of legend. Normally I would be biased and say that the title of Queen of legend belongs to only my mother but even I have to admit that title will soon belong to you. As it should. I have every confidence and faith in you and your abilities. You are a pillar of strength, beauty, intelligence, grace, and poise. And soon, Cordonia will see what I see in you.”

Shanelle closed her eyes and exhaled slowly before smiling softly.

“I love your faith in me.”

He kissed her forehead softly. 

“So let's shake off the nerves, let's each take a deep breath, and let's go conquer the former monarchs.”

Shanelle snorted.

“You're gonna have a field day with this aren't you?” she asked.

“Damn straight I am. I've waited years for this and now the moment I've been waiting for is finally here. So do excuse me whilst I get the rare opportunity to show my entire ass.” he replied. 

Shanelle snorted. 

“You're insufferable.”

“Very. Now if you don't want to talk to any of them, you don't have to. I will do all the talking. Okay?”

“Okay. Besides, I think I wanna watch you in rare form today.”

“Very well. Now, are you ready?” he asked.

“Lead the way, my King,” she replied. 

They continued down the hall to the main dining room where Bastien was standing guard.

“Good afternoon Your Highnesses. Are you two ready?” Bastien asked Marquise. 

“We were born for this. Open the doors.” Marquise replied.

With a curt nod, Bastien opened the doors to the dining room. When the couple walked in they are greeted by her uncle and his wife, Constantine and Regina, George and Margo, and two unexpected guests. 

“Mom? Dad? What are you two doing here?!” Shanelle asks her parents.

“You would have to ask the Prince that question, baby.” her mother replied.

Shanelle glared at Marquise with her arms crossed. 

“Before you hit me let me explain.”

“Start yapping.”

“This is an important moment for us both. And I thought it was pertinent that your parents share this moment with you. Besides, your father deserves to see his scheming pay off.”

“I guess…” she trailed off.

“Also, it's time the two of you sat down and spoke.”

“Now?” Shanelle asked.

“After we're done here,” Marquise replied.

Shanelle nodded. 

“Okay.”

Marquise turned his attention to everyone in the room.

“Please be seated everyone so we can get started and lunch can be served.”

Marquise pulled Shanelle’s chair out for her as everyone took their seats and earned a side eye from her dad.

“How about instead of giving me a look Damien, you be grateful I got your daughter to even look at you?” Marquise warned Damien before taking his seat.

Once everyone was seated Marquise spoke.

“First on behalf of Shanelle and myself, I want to thank everyone for joining us. Today marks the dawning of a new era in Cordonian history. Today signifies the end of the reigns of King Constantine Rys of North Cordonia and King Edward Miller of South Cordonia. And marks the beginning of a brand new reign of myself and Shanelle.” 

Everyone looked at Marquise as he continued.

“Now I know that 4 of you in this room are not very happy right now. And that is due to the work of 3 of you. Stand up, gentlemen! Let's have a round of applause while the three of you take your well-deserved bows because you've done it. You three wanted a united Cordonia after centuries of it being divided and you've succeeded. That is a feat like no other. Now, unfortunately, two of you have to renounce your titles as Ruling Monarchs thus giving up your kingdoms to achieve this goal of a united and unified Cordonia. Not that I can say that I'm sympathetic to your cause.”

Shanelle took a sip of her water to hide her snicker while Edward rolled his eyes.

“Are you finished, Your Highness?” Edward asked.

“Absolutely not. I just had to get that off my chest.” Marquise replied. 

“Need I remind you that you’re still just a Prince?” Edward asked.

“No, you don't but if you don't keep your mouth shut these proceedings will take all day,” Marquise replied.

Edward cursed under his breath but said nothing else.

“Much better. Now let us begin.” 

With a quick clap of Marquise’s hands, the first course was served. It was Lobster Bisque. It's one of Shanelle’s favorites.

“This Lobster Bisque is amazing,” Shanelle whispered to Marquise. 

“Wonderful. I'm glad you like it. This lunch menu was curated with just you in mind.” he whispered back to her before addressing the room. “While lunch is being served everyone, let's get down to the first order of business.”

Marquise watched as everyone turned their attention toward him.

“The first order of business is our upcoming wedding. We are here today to officially announce who will stand for myself and Shanelle at the ceremony.”

Marquise turned to Damien and Shantel.

“Because of the magnitude of this extraordinary circumstance, it would be customary for the King and Queen of South Cordonia to stand as the representatives of the Crown Heir but, because you two are her parents, I have but one question, will you stand as the representatives of Princess Shanelle at our wedding?” he asked her parents.

“Are you kidding?! Of course, Damien and I will stand for our daughter!” Shantel enthusiastically replied.

Marquise nodded with a smile before looking at Damien.

“What say you, Prince Damien?” Marquise asked.

“I would love nothing more than to stand for my daughter at your wedding,” Damien replied.

Marquise nodded before turning his attention to Margo and George. He looked fondly at Margo.

“Now you’re probably wondering why you and Papa are even here in the first place aren't you?” he asked Margo. 

Before Margo could reply, Connie finally spoke up.

“That's a very good question, my son. Why are they here?” Constantine asked.

“I'm glad you asked. Because you’re about to find out.” Marquise replied before turning his attention back to Margo.

He smiled at Margo softly as he took her right hand into his left hand.

“You have been like a mother to me. You raised me. You gave me love when I didn't think I was worthy of it. You challenged me. You fought for me. You taught me. You cheered me on. You encouraged me. You wiped away silent tears I’ve shed over the years. You kicked my ass when God knew that I needed it. You and Papa have been the parents I desperately needed. Especially when His Majesty couldn't have cared less for me.”

He cleared his throat while rubbing the back of her knuckles.

“You showed me what family is, what it should be, and how it should always look like. With that being said, Maman, I would be so honored and eternally grateful if you and Papa would stand for me at my wedding.”

At that moment you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunned. 

“Say something, Mama.”

Margo looked at him with her eyes shining with tears.

“You're certain?” she asked. 

“Yes. It would mean the world to me if you and Papa would stand for me as my representatives at my wedding,” he replied. 

“My love. Just say yes!” George says to his wife, making Marquise shake his head with a chuckle.

Margo looked at Shanelle who smiled at her encouragingly.

“If you’re both sure, Papa and I would be honored to stand for you,” Margo said to her adopted son.

“Papa?” Marquise asked George.

“Of course my boy. It would be an honor and a privilege to stand for you. Especially when it's to honor your mother.” George replied.

Connie scoffed.

“You mean he disgraces his mother. Eleanor would be offended and appalled.” Connie sneered. 

Marquise glared defiantly at his father. 

“I do no worse of a job at disgracing her name, her memory, or her legacy than you do. Furthermore, my mother trusted Margo far more than she ever trusted you. Not that I blame her, given your track record as a King, a husband, and a father.”

Connie went quiet, and that's when Regina spoke up.

“If your representatives for your wedding have been chosen, stepson, why are we, King Edward and Queen Genevieve even here?” Regina asked.

“Simple. You don't have a choice in the matter. To which you and Genevieve can thank your husbands for that. After all, Damien wasn't the only scheming father in this plot you know. The same man responsible for Leo and Madeleine’s disaster of an engagement is the same man who helped to orchestrate this whole thing.” Marquise replied. 

Regina huffed. 

“Now onto the location of the wedding, as you all know Shanelle is not native to Cordonia, she is native to New York and that is where the wedding will take place. And because it is customary for a former Monarch to attend the wedding of the new Monarch, the presence of the four of you is required to attend our wedding.” Marquise announced. 

His announcement was met with jeering protests from the Monarchs.

“Absolutely not! I will not step foot in that cesspool of a city!” Queen Genevieve shouted.

“As I stated to my father's wife, you don't have a choice in the matter, Your Majesty. Your presence is mandatory as is theirs. All thanks to your scheming husband.” Marquise said to Queen Genevieve. 

She glared daggers at him.

“That look may work on your subjects and children but it doesn't work on me. You’re not as intimidating as you think. Now the date is to be determined, but all of you are required to attend. And I expect to see all of you there.” 

Edward slammed his fist on the table.

“How dare you speak to my wife that way?!”

“Sit down Edward!” Shanelle snapped at him.

Edward scoffs.

“So now the Princess has a mouth eh?” he asked Shanelle.

“She also has a shoe that she will take off and chuck at yo big ass head if you don't sit yo sorry ass the fuck down!” she replied.

“You dare threaten me, child?!” he sneered at her.

“It's not a threat, it's a promise. One that I plan to make good on,” she replied.

“Why you insolent little-” Edward started to say before Marquise cut him off, “sit down and be quiet Edward!”

Edward glared at them both but sat down and kept quiet as the first course plates were cleared and the main course was served. The main course was a perfectly seared petite Filet Mignon topped with colossal shrimp and a crab Oscar sauce with creamy parmesan risotto and honey-roasted carrots with roasted hazelnuts. Shanelle loved it.

“Now that everyone has been told about the wedding details. It's time to sign the paperwork.” 

With a snap of his fingers, the official transfer proclamation was brought in. 

“I see no reason to delay the inevitable for much longer so let's rip the bandaid off and get it over with,” Marquise announced. 

Marquise took a pen out and signed twice then handed Shanelle the pen.

“Sign your name twice under mine, date it, and record the time.” be instructed. 

Shanelle nodded before signing and dating the document. Marquise then turned to Shanelle’s parents.

“Prince Damien, as the agent acting on Shanelle’s behalf, you are to sign, date, and record the time. Duchess Shantel as Mother Of The Heir, you are also to sign, date, and record the time.” 

Damien was first to sign then Shantel.

“Now comes the fun part! Stripping the two kings of their titles.” Marquise announced. 

Shanelle snickered.

“You're enjoying this aren't you?” Shanelle asked him.

“Immensely,” he replied with a smirk.

“You're a mess.”

Marquise shrugged. 

“I told you how I planned on acting.”

Marquise turned to the Monarchs who were all glaring at him. 

“Now let's start with King Edward and Queen Genevieve. Your Majesties, you both are to sign, date, and record the time, and King Edward you are to seal the document.”

“No.” Queen Genevieve said defiantly. “This disrespectful child doesn't deserve MY kingdom.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes.

“For the record, the kingdom you’re claiming is yours has always been Shanelle’s. You were nothing more than a glorified caretaker. Also, this deal was brokered and set in stone, long before you married Edward and had his children. You know this. All because he wanted to be a hero in his father's eyes.” Marquise said to Queen Genevieve.

“I don't care! This is my kingdom! I will not sign!” 

Marquise looked at her coolly.

“You can either sign on your own free will or be thrown in chains. Your choice Genevieve.” 

Damien choked on his water, Shantel took a satisfied sip of her lemonade, while Shanelle snickered at Genevieve’s facial reaction.

“Well, what's your decision, Your Majesty?” Marquise asked, “you are holding us up.” 

Genevieve angrily signed the proclamation.

“Are you happy now, Your Highness?” Queen Genevieve sneered. 

“Very! Now for your husband.” 

Marquise turned his attention to Shanelle’s uncle.

“Your Majesty you’re next. Now sign!” 

Edward gave Marquise a venomous look.

“You can look at me like that all you want. This was all your doing. And now you get to reap the seeds that you've sown. Don't be angry now. You and your co-conspirators caused this. Now sign the goddamn proclamation!” Marquise growled. 

The two stared at each other furiously with Marquise’s gaze unrelenting. Finally, with a long exasperated sigh, Edward gave in and signed.

“Seal it!” Marquise commanded. 

Using his signet ring, Edward applied his seal while cursing under his breath before handing the document over to Marquise.

“Perfect. Now for the moment, I have waited my entire life for.”

Marquiss looked at Constantine who looked disgusted with him.

“Now this…this is what you deserve. To be stripped of your kingdom and title just for it to be handed to me. The son you always called a failure. The one you threatened to have hung by the neck whenever I didn't do whatever you demanded I do more times than I can count. It's pretty sweet if you ask me.”

“Are you done gloating?” Connie asked with a sneer. 

“Are you six feet under?” Marquise replied.

Constantine gave his son a death stare. 

“I'll take that as a no. Now sign! Both of you! I'm out of patience.” Marquise ordered. 

Shanelle had never seen this side of Marquise. He was powerful, unflinching, and relentless. She loved it. Everyone watched as King Constantine and Queen Regina signed and sealed the proclamation without needing any provocation. It was official, Cordonia now belonged to Marquise and Shanelle. 

Marquise stood up and helped Shanelle to her feet to formally announce the signing of the proclamation.

“Let the signing and sealing of this proclamation signify the full dissolution of the kingdoms of North and South Cordonia, to make way for the creation of a new unified and united Cordonia. Per the betrothal agreement, all now former Monarchs will be allowed to keep their duchies both by birthright and by marriage, any summer homes, and whatever business holdings if any, they should have. Also, each former King and Queen shall receive a curated monthly living stipend. In terms of the palace in Cloutier, it will be turned over to Shanelle. The former Monarchs of the now dissolved South Cordonia will be given 90 days to vacate the property. After which, Shanelle will take full ownership of the palace.” Marquise announced.

Shanelle had to hide her excited smile as Marquise continued.

“In addition to the signing and signifying of this proclamation, Princess Shanelle Dominique Miller, Crown Princess, and Heir To The Throne of South Cordonia, and myself, Prince Marquise Constantine Rys, Crown Prince, and Heir To The Throne Of North Cordonia, do hereby officially renounce our titles as Prince and Princess. Henceforth, we will be the new King and Queen Regents of Cordonia until we are married. Where we will be the official King and Queen of Cordonia.”

Shanelle couldn't believe it. They did it.

“This proclamation will be entered into permanent record within the Hall Of The Royal Archives,” Marquise said as he handed the proclamation off to the attendant. He then turned his attention to his fiancee who was bouncing on the tips of her toes.

“Congratulations my love. We did it.”

Shanelle threw her arms around his neck while squealing excitedly.

“Oh, My God! We did it! This is real! I'm going to be a Queen. And you…you’ll finally be King. Marquise this is happening. It's no longer a dream! It's real!” she exclaimed. 

He brought her left hand to his lips for a soft kiss.

“Indeed it is my Queen. I couldn't have done this without you. The future of Cordonia is bright all because of you.”

Genevieve scoffed. 

“I hope you two are so proud of yourselves! Because if this dream of Cordonia of yours falls, which it ultimately will, you'll only have yourselves to blame.” she sneered at them both.

“Poor former Queen Genevieve. Upset you won't have any of the people’s money to spend on new gowns?” Marquise mocked.

Edward and Genevieve both stood up furious.

“Don’t you ever mock my wife, you simpleton! Our kingdoms have thrived and survived for decades thanks to our leadership!” Edward shouted at Marquise.

“You mean the kingdoms have suffered, you selfish son of a bitch! Maybe if you took your head out of your ass for once you would see that people are suffering! You four have done nothing but bleed the people dry and forced them to bend a knee! The nobles run amok because of each of you. Because of the incessant greed of the four of you, it is now our job to prevent a war from destroying the only home many of us have ever known! All while we will have to fix an economy you all have all but bankrupted!” Marquise snapped back.

“We don't have to sit here and be insulted by you!” Genevieve shouted. 

“But if you leave now, you'll miss dessert.” Shanelle quipped.

That was all it took for Queen Genevieve and King Edward to storm out of the dining room without looking back. The two shared a mischievous grin. 

“Now that all that ugliness is over, I think it's time you and your father sat down and talked. Don't you?” Marquise asked Shanelle.

Shanelle looked over at her parents and smiled wistfully.

“You're right it is time.”

Marquise nodded before they walked over to her parents.

“Marquise you were fantastic! I have never seen those two more embarrassed.” Shantel said to him.

He smirked then bowed slightly.

“Thank you, Duchess. I don't get to do that very often.”

Shanelle shook her head. 

“I came by because I think it is time that your daughter and husband sat down.”

“You're right. This has gone on long enough.” Shantel agreed before speaking to her daughter and husband, “it's time to end this.”

Damien and Shanelle just looked at each other before Damien awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Why don't we go out into the courtyard?” Damien asked.

“I think that's a great idea,” Marquise answered.

Damien nodded before opening the door for his wife and daughter. As he watched them walk out Marquise tapped the older Prince on his shoulder. 

“Fix this Damien. They are all you have.”

“I know Marquise. I thank you for what you've done.”

“I'll see you whenever you’re done.” Marquiss before he stepped away. 

As Marquise went to walk out of the dining room, he was stopped by Constantine and Regina.

“We need to talk. Now!” Constantine demanded.

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“Since you’re not going to stop pestering me, let's go,” he replied to his father.

He followed the elder couple down the hall, past the throne room to the Elder Rys’s office. As they walked Marquise noticed Connie’s stride was a lot slower than normal. Once inside Marquise took his usual seat across from his father.

“I'm here. What do you want?” Marquise asked, clearly annoyed.

“That was quite a performance you gave, my son. Very compelling. It's almost like you were trying to humiliate me.” Connie replied.

“I was. Because you definitely earned it.”

“You're not amusing Marquise.” Connie sneered. 

“Not to you anyway.” Marquise shot back. 

“Your attitude is starting to test my patience, boy.”

Marquise scoffed.

“Good.”

Constantine balled up his fists and shook his head.

“I have been trying to talk to you for weeks and you've done everything to avoid me.”

“That's because whatever it is you want to talk about is personal. And I don’t care for or about your personal affairs.” 

“You need to.” Constantine insisted. 

“No, I don't. But since you have me here, what is it?” Marquise asked. 

“It's about the surgery for my cancer,” Connie replied.

“The one you had 9 weeks ago? What about it?” Marquise asked.

“It wasn't successful. The cancer has metastasized to my liver. It's inoperable.” Constantine replies.

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning it's terminal. I only have 6-8 months left to live.”

“So you’re dying?” Marquise asked.

“Yes, my son. I'm dying.” Connie replied.

“Why are you telling me?” Marquise asked.

“Because you deserve to know that your father is dying,” Regina replied.

Marquise nodded then shrugged.

“Good. The sooner you die the better.”

Regina and Constantine reared back.

“How can you sit there and say that?! He is your father!” Regina snapped.

“Because I don't care! That's how. I have nothing for him. No love, no compassion, no empathy, and certainly no sympathy. Why? Because he doesn't deserve it. And that is a sad commentary in and of itself. I should be mourning my father. Hell, I should be terrified of losing him but instead, I can't fucking wait for him to die. And do you know whose fault that is Regina? That's his fault. After all these years of him being a piss poor excuse of a King, a man, a husband, and especially a father, because he would much rather spend his time being a self-centered, greedy, calloused, drunken whore, his karma has finally caught up with him and it's now biting him in the ass. ” Marquise replied. 

“You can't wait for me to die?! Are you really that damn callous, boy?” Constantine asked.

“I learned from the best. And the best at being a callous bastard is you.” Marquise replied. “Now as the King Regent, I will do what I need and have to do to ensure your final days and months, whichever comes first, are as comfortable as possible for you. And when you do eventually die, I will honor Cordonian tradition and give you a state funeral. But that is as far as I will go.” 

Connie just stared at Marquise.

“Are we done here?” Marquise asked.

Constantine shook his head. 

“Good. Now if you two will excuse me. I have better things to do than look at the two of you.” Marquise said as he got up and walked out. When he got outside Constantine's office, Margo was waiting for him.

“What happened?” she asked him.

“According to him, he's dying, mom,” he replied.

Margo was shocked.

“Dying?! But what about his surgery?” 

Marquise shrugged. 

“Apparently, the surgery didn't take, and the cancer metastasized to his liver. He has maybe 6-8 months left to live.” Marquise replied.

Margo looked at him. 

“How do you feel son?” she asked.

“I don’t care. I wish I could but I can't force myself to care about someone who never cared for or even loved me,” he replied. 

Margo looked at the office door before shaking her head. 

“Walk with me?” she asked him.

“Anything to get me away from this damn door,” he replied as they began to walk. Soon when they were as far away as possible from Constantine’s office, Margo finally spoke.

“You know you can always talk to me and tell me what it is you’re really feeling, son,” she said to him. 

“I know.”

“So what are you feeling Marquise? And don't say it's nothing. Because I know you well enough to know that isn't true.” 

Marquise stopped mid-stride, closed his eyes, sat down with her on a side bench, then took a deep breath. 

“I feel conflicted. I feel…a sense of relief. Because soon it'll all be over. I feel angry. I feel cold and callous. I feel resentful. I feel disgusted. I don't feel sad. I don't feel mournful. I don't feel sorrow. I don't feel scared.  And I should mom. I should feel something because my only living parent is dying. But I don't. Whether he dies today, tomorrow, 6 days, to 3 months from now. I won't mourn him. I can't.” he replied. 

Margo wrapped him in a motherly hug.

“Despite my feelings about Connie, I do hope one day that you'll be able to truly forgive him.” 

“I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.”

Margo shook her head.

“You're even more stubborn than an ox.”

“Moooooooooo!”

She rolls her eyes with a chuckle. 

“That's a cow.” 

Marquise snickered. 

“You love me, mom.”

“Yes, I do.” 

The two continued their walk back to the main dining room. When they got to the dining room, they saw Damien just standing at the window. With an encouraging nod from Margo, Marquise walked over to him.

“I thought you were fixing this Damien.”

Damien sighed.

“I am. I just…I don't know what to say to her. I'm scared that she'll never forgive me.”

“How do you know for sure?” Marquise asked.

Damien chuckled dryly.

“You're right. I don't.” Damien replies.

“Exactly. Now I can't tell you how she will react but I can tell you this, she loves you and God knows she misses you. So get out there and talk to her.”

Damien looked at him and then nodded.

“Thank you, Your Regency. Maybe you won't be such a bad son-in-law after all.”

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“Going now. Thank you again.” Damien said to him before stepping out into the courtyard. 

When Damien stepped out into the courtyard, his heart seized. There were his girls sitting together on a bench. The two women he would stop the world on its axis for. They were beautiful, smiling, and laughing with each other.

“I can't tell you how excited and proud I am of you, baby. You’re going to be a Queen. My daughter is going to be royalty.” Shantel said to Shanelle.

“I mean technically I already am royalty mom.”

“Oh, girl! You know what I meant!” 

The two laughed. When Shantel looked up, there was her husband. 

“Well well. Look who finally decided to join us instead of being a creep lurking in the shadows. Come sit.”

Damien sat down next to Shanelle who had a restrained look on her face. That look changed when Damien held out his right hand to her. She slipped her left hand into his waiting hand with a small smile. Damien cleared his throat before speaking.

“A Queen. My beautiful, smart, incredible daughter. The one who used to fall asleep underneath my desk when she was little is going to be a Queen,” he spoke softly.

“Just the way you wanted Daddy. Your hard work paid off,” she replied quietly.

“I think you mean all my scheming paid off.”

They laughed before Damien looked at her remorsefully. 

“I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I had no right to treat you the way that I did. I was cold, arrogant, and callous. I had no right to be. Especially to you and your mother. You are the light of my life. The reason my heart beats. I have been in love with you since the first time I held you in my arms. And God knows I have missed you so much. My beautiful Princess will now be a stunning Queen. I am so proud of you.”

Shanelle looked at her dad with tears in her eyes.

“I miss you my darling. I miss you so much. I have been so sorry. I hurt you and your mother in the worst way possible. And I can not tell you how ashamed I have been. With both myself and my actions. All I can do is beg you for your forgiveness.” 

Damien rubbed the knuckles of her left hand, toggling her engagement ring.

“When Marquise called last week and said that the transfer of power would be happening I was so happy and excited for you. And when he said that we were invited I couldn't wait to leave. I had to see you. I had to hold you again. I had to apologize to you for my callousness.” 

Shanelle threw her arms around her father and hugged him while crying.

“I've missed you, Daddy. I've missed you so much.”

“I've missed you too, my darling. You and your mother are the only things in this world that will ever matter to me.”

When Shanelle looked at her father, she smiled softly.

“I forgive you, Daddy. I know that at that time you were under pressure from your brother.”

Damien shook his head.

“That is no excuse. I will never forgive myself for the way I acted. I love you so much, my beautiful girl.”

“I love you too Daddy.” 

Shantel let out a sigh of relief. This is all that she wanted. She wanted her family back together and she was getting her wish. Marquise watched from the dining room with Margo at his side.

“They look so happy,” Margo said to him.

“I hope they are. I know how much having her parents here means to Shanelle,” he replied. 

Margo patted his arm.

“You did good, son.”

“Thank you. Now there's just one thing left for me to do.”

“What?” Margo asked.

“Asking her parents for her hand in marriage,” he replied.

“You didn't ask her parents for her hand?” Margo asked.

“At the time we got engaged, she and her father weren't on speaking terms mama,” he replies.

Margo reached up and hit him upside his head.

“Ow! Stop that!”

“What are you waiting for, son? Get out there!” 

“They're having a family moment mom. I don't want to interrupt.”

Margo put a hand on her hip and gave him a look.

“Yup. Going to ask for her hand in marriage.”

“Good boy. I think I'll join you so you don't mess this up.”

Marquise gave her a look.

“I will not mess this up!” he protested.

“Less talking, more walking Your Regency.”

“You are so mean!”

“I'm your mother. If I wanted to be nice to you I wouldn't have raised you.” 

Marquise shook his head with a smile as he opened the door to the courtyard for her and they walked out. 

“Hello everyone! I hope His Regency and I aren't interrupting.” Margo said as she and Marquise greeted them. 

Shanelle smiled at Margo.

“No, not at all. Let me introduce you to my parents. This is my father Prince Damien Miller and my mom Duchess Shantel.”

Margo bowed politely. 

“It's been a long time since we've last seen each other, Your Highness. It's good to see you. Your daughter is an absolute joy.”

Damien smiled proudly. 

“Thank you, Margo. It's good to see you again as well. How is George?” Damien asked.

“My husband is doing quite well, thank you. He continues to be a throne in Constantine’s side.” Margo replied. 

Damien nodded with a chuckle.

“That sounds like George.”

“I didn't know you knew George and Margo, Daddy.”

“Yes. They've always been amazing.”

Marquise cleared his throat before addressing Damien.

“I'm glad you all have had this time alone. But I have a question to ask you, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Your Regency? What is your question?” Damien asked.

“I would've done this when we were back in America, but that time was tumultuous. So I am formally asking you now. I would love to know if I have your and her mother’s blessing to have your daughter’s hand in marriage.” Marquise replied.

“Seriously?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes. It's tradition for the Regent to ask their bride’s parents for her hand in marriage.” Damien answered her before turning his attention to Marquise, “on behalf of my wife, Your Regency you may have our daughter’s hand in marriage on one condition.”

“Name it,” Marquise said.

“Normally I would be the one to walk her down the aisle, but instead, I want to greet her at the end. If you and her will have me, I would love to officiate your wedding.”

Shanelle looked at Marquise with a hopeful smile.

“I accept your terms, Your Highness.” 

“Welcome to the family, Your Regency.”

“Likewise, Your Highness.”

The two smiled at each other before everyone headed back into the palace. That night Shanelle was snuggled up with Marquise, gazing at her engagement ring. 

“What a day,” she said with a sigh of contentment.

“Indeed my love. We accomplished a helluva goal.”

“We're the regents now. Connie and Edward are no longer in power. Or at least they don't have a lot of power anymore. They haven't become figureheads yet.”

“True. We have a lot of responsibility now. It is up to us to form the new Monarchy. To make or break policies. To balance the scales between the nobility and the people. To be the voice of and for the people.”

Shanelle whistled low.

“That's a whole lot. But I think we will manage.”

Marquise nodded.

“Yes, we will. No one expects you to know everything about politics, love. Least of all me. But I believe in you and your VERY strong determination.”

She smiled softly at him.

“I never did thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For bringing my parents here. I know you didn't do it just for the transfer of power,” she replied.

He held her closer.

“You're right. I didn't. There was no way you were going to go on without seeing them. Especially your father. You two just needed a tiny nudge in the right direction.”

“Yeah. We did. I've missed him. And I think I punished him enough.”

“And now that you have your kingdom, it's time to show off.”

Shanelle snorted.

“How?” she asked.

“The Derby is this weekend. And your friends will be here. So now is your chance to show Cordonia who you are, my Queen.” he replies.

“I can't wait for the girls to get here Friday. We are gonna have so much fun. Having them and my parents here means the world to me.”

“Good. I'm glad to hear it.”

Shanelle sighed contently.

“I don't like how my dad went about all of this, but he was right about one thing. I deserve this. I deserve you.”

Marquise kissed her forehead.

“Indeed you do.”

Shanelle drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of his heartbeat. 

The next day she and Marquise were in the palace gym having a sparring session with blunted swords.

“Are you ready my love?” he asked.

“Let's go!” she replied.

Marquise lunged at her with practiced ease. Even though he had more experience, Shanelle didn't give up. She was able to parry, dodge, and evade his attacks. While getting a few shots of her own in. 

“Okay. So you’re not as bad as I thought,” he said.

“I took fencing lessons as a kid. I hated them but I took them.” 

“It shows. You have some things to work on but so far you're good.”

“Thank you.”

“Should we continue?” he asked.

“I'm game,” she replied.

They continued to practice until both were sore, with Shanelle holding her own.

“Alright. Let's take a break,” he said while catching his breath. 

“Well now, it seems like I've impressed His Regency. I must be doing something right.”

Marquise shook his head before taking a drink of water. When he put his bottle of water down he noticed Shanelle staring at him.

“See something you like, my love?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she replied.

She bit her bottom lip when he flexed his bicep with a smirk.

“You sure?” he asked.

Just as she went to answer, a voice answered. 

“Like she would ever be able to appreciate the way you look.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes as Naya walked up.

“Shouldn't you be at home with your husband instead of fawning over my fiance?” Shanelle asked.

“And this is how I know you'll never be an effective Queen. You don't even know the rules of the palace.” Naya replied.

“If you got something to say to me, please speak your mind.”

“Oh, believe me, I've got plenty to say to you. First of all, I am a guest of King Constantine. I have his permission to come and go as I please. Second, the palace gym is open to all nobility. Not that some common American mutt like you would know anything about being a noble. Hell, your father isn't even a good one.”

Shanelle stepped to Naya and got in her face.

“Don't you EVER mention my father!” Shanelle growled.

“Why not? He's almost as bad of a noble as you are. And don't get me started on how disappointing your grandparents were as Monarchs.”

That's when Marquise jumped in between them both. 

“That is enough! Both of you!”

“Nah. Little Miss over here wants to drag my family so I’m gonna drag her fucking face.” 

“Such a nasty thing you are. You'll never make it with the court with an attitude like that.” Naya sneered. 

“That's it,” Shanelle said before she tried to jump over Marquise.

“Shanelle stop!” he said to her before turning to Naya, “why are you here?”

Naya threw up her hands in mock surrender. 

“I just came to work out in the gym. That's all.”

Marquise let out an explosive breath.

“Translation: you pestered Alex and Bastien about where I was and you thought you would walk in here, bat your eyelashes, and I’d fall for it.”

Naya huffed. 

“But since you’re here, the gym is yours, Princess. Have a good workout,” he said to her before dragging Shanelle out of the gym. When they got outside the gym Shanelle was ready to fight.

“That bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is to talk about my family like that?!” Shanelle seethed.

“I know you’re angry. You have every right to be but I need you to calm down.” 

“I'm calm. Or at least I will be once I beat her ass.”

Marquiss steered her away from the gym.

“Not here. There are too many people on her side. They'll turn the court against you.”

“…fine.”

“I understand your anger. And Naya has a way of getting under the skin of people. But I don't want you to be seen as hostile toward others that you don't like. Because there will be people in court that you won't like. And as infuriating as Naya is, she still has considerable sway with the court. And she knows how to wield it.” 

“So what you're saying is try to use her ego against her?” Shanelle asked.

Marquise shrugged.

“I didn't say anything,” he replied.

[bugboi-connor]

I finally have my words to put together, let's go:

Bloom, Apple White, Miles

• Main character of their franchise

• Group-based focus in their fandom (Winx CLUB, Royals/Rebels, Arachkids)

• Corrupted version of themselves seen in their source material (Dark Bloom, Wonderland-Curse Apple White, Miles-42)

• Their love interest is an important character to the plot (Sky being her savior from Dark Bloom, Daring/Darling Charming 'whos the real love interest for Apple?', Gwen being the reason Miles is stuck in Earth-42).

Stella, Briar Beauty, Lyla

• Feminine focus who's not the love interest

• Sassy and confident

• The 'bestie' role/second-in-command to someone (Bloom's bestie, Apple White's 'Best Friend Forever After', Miguel's assistant)

• Beauty is important to them (Stella is obsessed with fashion, Briar is fashion designer, Lyla uses filters in that one scene)

Flora, C.A. Cupid, Pavitr

• Overlooked by other characters (Stella telling Flora she's useless cause she can't bring Mirta back, C.A. Cupid not having her feelings taken seriously, Pavitr being clueless about the 'just another easy day for spiderman')

• Cheerful with a love interest who's important to their story arc (Helia helps Flora earn her charmix, Dexter Charming helps C.A. Cupid come to her senses about romance, Gyatri having her death be Pavitr's cannon event)

• Being from another world (Flora from Lynphea, C.A. Cupid from Monster High, Pavitr from Earth-50101)

Musa, Melody Piper, Hobie

• Music-focused (Musa is the Fairy of Music, Melody is the Daughter of the Pied Piper, Hobie uses Guitar weapon

• Anti-society/anti-rules, restricted by parental/authority figures (Musa's father denying her trying to follow her dreams as a musician, Melody running an underground rave against school rules, Hobie being an anarchist)

Tecna, Cedar Wood, Margo

• Voice (Tecna being robotic/logical, Cedar only able to tell the truth, Margo's voice being 'not real' as only through a hologram)

• Sacrifice is important to story (Tecna's Enchantix sacrifice, Cedar's happily ever after and sacrificing her talking, Margo not influencing the 'go home' machine and sacrificing the multiverse in favour of a friend)

Aisha, Cerise Hood, Jess

• Betrayal is relevant (ditching the Winx, red riding hood story and being betrayed by her sister, turning against miles/hiding her true intentions)

• An additional power/object compared to their allies (Aisha's morphix, Cerise's wolf heritage, Jess' bike)

Roxy, Raven Queen, Gwen

• Manipulated (Wizards of the Black Circle want Roxy to give up her powers, Evil Queen wants Raven to follow her story, Miguel initially forced Gwen to abandon Miles)

• Follows the 'refusal of the call' trope (Roxy is the last fairy on earth but doesn't want to be, Raven is supposed to be the next evil queen but doesn't want to be, Gwen was forced to lie/betray Miles but doesn't want to)

If I had the brain cells and the capacity to sit down long enough, I'd type out multiple in-depth analysis comparing Across The Spider-verse characters and Ever After High characters.

I'd discuss the parallels between each of them as well as their goals and current character arcs.

There'd be predictions for character growth for Beyond The Spider-verse and what we could have had if Ever After High had continued.

But alas I am but a mortal human being with ADHD and autism. So I cannot find the strength or the willpower to type it out.

So it'll sit in my mind for who knows how long. But at the very least if this inspires somebody else to break out of their shell and type this up please do so. (@ me if you do)

[themagiciansreccenter]

Five @ Five @high-queen-margo

As a part of our author spotlight, we’ve asked each writer to highlight 5 fics and tell us a little about their experience writing (or reading) them.

Just To Bring You Home

“Can you go make sure the horses are ready?” Margo said. “The regular ones. We don’t ride the ones who can talk—not on business, anyway.”

“Riding?” Kady said. “As in, out in the open, where you got attacked last time?”

“You’re my bodyguard, not my mother,” Margo said. “Do your job and it should be fine, right?”

Kady sighed. “Fine,” she said. “Then we’re taking a different route than you did before.”

“Whatever. There are a billion of them,” Margo said. She drew one of the scrolls out of the sack and handed it to Kady. “Here’s a map. Take your pick.”

Kady unrolled the map and studied it while Margo fastened a plain black cloak over her dress. It was hard to tell which paths would be best, but she settled on one arcing in the opposite direction from the main road.

Margo’s horse, which Kady didn’t even know she had, was a dapple gray Andalusian mare with an impossibly long mane and tail. She swung up into the saddle with surprisingly practiced ease, and it struck Kady how comfortable Margo was in this world. It was no longer the fantasy world of a children’s book; it was Margo’s world, literally, and it was no wonder she came back here after her best friend died. Kady wondered how long she would have to live here before she considered it home, too.

This is a BattleKing bodyguard near-future AU. I didn't realize until early season 4 that Kady had only been to Fillory once on-screen, and I wanted to explore how she would adapt to living there with someone who knew Fillory and loved it despite its problems. It was challenging to write something focused on two such strong personalities, but it was also very interesting to figure out where they clashed, where they related to one another, and how they'd grow to love each other.

Echoes

“Janet—”

“It’s Margo, actually.”

Sam reached out and squeezed Margo’s shoulder. “Margo,” she said. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

Margo stared up at her, at the face both familiar and unfamiliar, and she could tell Sam meant it. Maybe Kady wouldn’t have, had she been herself and had she known who Margo really was—they never had gotten along particularly well—but Sam wanted nothing more in that moment than to soothe her. Tears prickled in Margo’s eyes.

“They’re my friends,” she whispered. “And yours. Quentin, Julia…Eliot. And they’re missing. They aren’t supposed to be missing.”

Sam brushed Margo’s hair away from her face and gently moved her thumb over her cheek to wipe a tear away. “We were—are—pretty close, aren’t we? All of us?”

Some of us, Margo thought, but she nodded. There was no point in telling the truth and driving her away when her real memories would do it soon enough. Sam slid her hands down Margo’s arms and took her hands in her own, and Margo tried to see through Sam’s face to Kady’s. They looked similar in a way: the strong jawline, the sharp eyes. She could even imagine the words in Kady’s voice. Maybe this is what Kady would have been like if she’d had a better life, and maybe Janet was what Margo would have been like if she’d had one herself.

This was so fun to write it only took me one day, which is pretty rare for me! I wrote it right after the season 4 premiere, running with the idea that Margo could get her glamour taken down in Fillory before everyone else. I was really intrigued by the physicality between Janet and Sam, so I wrote it as a BattleKing fic, but it's more about them dealing with the aftermath of their false identities. I definitely saw Kady as someone who wouldn't let hers go, so I leaned into that, and it feels pretty cool after 407 to know she didn't let it go in canon either! 

So Far From Where I Want To Be

When Margo showed up at school the next week under a thick layer of obsessively-refined makeup and the shortest, tightest dress she could get away with, nobody recognized her except by the mannerisms of her daemon who, despite taking the form of a regal tiger, cowered behind her legs as she strode along on the new high heels her mother had bought her over the summer.

It felt good. The head turning, the staring, the wolf-whistling. It meant she was doing something right. (She tried to ignore Alistair whispering to her that it wasn’t what they needed.)

Chris Gabriel, senior class homecoming king and every girl’s dream, took her in the stairwell between classes, saying “I’ve never seen a freshman look so good” and “let me see what you can do with that pretty mouth of yours” and “I won’t even deny it if you wanna tell everyone you got to ride on me.”

No thank you was what Margo wanted to say, but she caught herself. This was an opportunity almost no one else in the school would be given, and if anyone found out she refused, she’d never hear the end of it. And anyway, wasn’t this what girls were supposed to want? (She tried to ignore Alistair’s quiet pleas to leave as Chris’ daemon nipped at him and backed him into a corner, just out of Margo’s reach.)

This is a daemon AU and the secret Margo tells Eliot in the Trials. (Daemons, for anyone who doesn't know, are the animal-shaped manifestations of people's souls. They can change shape until the person reaches maturity, then they settle on the animal that best represents them.) It was extremely taxing to write, emotionally, and I had to keep taking breaks to cry, but I think it turned out pretty well considering it was my first fic for the show.

A Terribly Real Thing by @ourladyontheotherside

Shuffling sheets, shuffling bodies, the lights go out and Kady finds herself on her back, staring at the ceiling. Margo’s breathing is calm, steadying. Kady wonders if Margo ever had any doubts about her actions or if she’s always gone through life being sure of herself. Then it dawns on her that Margo spent the whole day with the monster. She helped that thing kill a god.

Turns to her side and looks at the back of Margo’s head, reaches out to touch her arm, says, “Margo?”

“Hmm?” Comes the reply, Margo turning over to look her in the eye while she speaks.

“We’ll get Eliot back.” Kady says.

Her chin shakes, her head nods. She takes Kady’s hand and holds it tight, breathes deeply. Kady can see the words behind her eyes that she doesn’t say, the fear, the hope, the desire to trust that what Kady says is true even if she doubts it. She’s never seen Margo this vulnerable, never seen her crack even just a little.

Moves closer and pulls Margo into her arms. Cradles her. Margo’s arm wraps around her side, grips the fabric of her shirt, buries her face in Kady’s chest. Kady wonders if it wouldn’t be awful to fight for one more person.

That maybe Margo’s been fighting too long. Maybe they all have.

This fic. Is so beautiful. I was already up in my BattleKing feelings because I found it right after I posted "Just to Bring You Home" and it made me so emotional I couldn't even articulate what I was feeling in a comment! The author caught so much of the kinship and intimacy and nuance I see between Margo and Kady and really brought their caring natures to light. Definitely one of my favorite fics I've ever read!

and then there were none by @lesbianmxgicians

Marina looked down at the scotch glass in her hand, squeezing her fingers around it. She turned around, launching it at the wall. It shattered loudly, glass shards flying back and falling onto the floor. A sob wracked her body. Slowly, Marina fell to her knees in the shards of glass.

That was two weeks ago. Today, Marina sat at the chipped, old piano that sat in the warehouse with her. In the midst of an industrial eyesore, it was the only relatively pretty and personal thing. Julia liked playing it.

Marina's fingers were clumsier than hers. She'd never learned to play, but Julia had taught her a little. Now, as she waited for her wards to fail and him to find her, she pressed down on the keys in the pattern she'd memorized.

Marina was ready to die. She never thought that would happen, honestly. There was always going to be magic and power in the world to control, knowledge to gain. Julia's death had done it for her. Marina figured that next time, if there was a next time, she'd try not to get so attached to people. Feelings; wretched things, really.

Not gonna lie, I cried more than I probably should have reading this fic. I have a weird soft spot for Marina/Julia and this really punched me in it. I love the idea of them having this normal thing they do in the apocalypse, just making music, just the same song over and over again, and then...Marina's alone. I love the little detail of the Beast finding her when she plays the wrong note on Julia's part so much! What a wonderful little fic.

[hmgfanfic]

Do you think Margo would ever choose Fillory over Eliot?

I’m not sure there’s much evidence Margo would ever choose anything over Eliot and his place in her life.

Through the series, she’s consistent about him being her priority, up to and including giving up her democratically elected kingship to save him. Her unwavering and ferocious and joyful and loving devotion is a big part of what made the Fish!Josh thing so jarring; not only was it insulting from a characterization perspective, it was also super fucking random. If they wanted to go with the [BAD] character arc of Margo growing away from Eliot so she can accept Josh’s love as a marker of self-actualization [🤮], they needed to do way more groundwork way earlier on to make it ring even remotely true.

As it is, the writers established a complex woman on the verge of growing into herself as a leader and who also knew her love for her best friend to be the one true guiding principle in her life—and then the show trashed all that by denigrating the self-knowledge they themselves built by basically saying, “Aw, honey, no! You don’t want that guy in that way! You want this guy, in this way.” And that happened within the span of two episodes, like whiplash. Truly bonkers/bananas, as they often liked to call their choices.

That being said, I do wish we had gotten a chance to see the practical growing pains of the switch from High King Eliot to High King Margo! As much as Eliot was sincerely proud and gracious in accepting her win, the two of them have canonical ideological differences [“They need to be inspired”/“They need to be ruled”] that wouldn’t just go away overnight. After the dust settled and their attention wasn’t divided, I think there would be a honeymoon period followed by an adjustment period, where Margo would be the one with the cart blanche decision-making power, for the first time, and I’d be interested in seeing that dynamic shift play out.

Frankly, as Quentin so eloquently put it, Eliot DID spend a little too much time as a king, and—while he would never describe himself as such—he’s a very principled person, which in a ruling capacity often translated to him bulldozing over Margo because, well, he ultimately held the power [e.g., not executing Bayler after they made a joint decision to do so, entering into a duel against Idri to prevent the war she declared, jailing her, refusing to give up Fray to the Fairy Queen, etc.]

So what happens when Margo is inevitably more aggressive in a tactic than Eliot thinks is right? Or she does decide to actually execute someone for crimes against Fillory? I’m not so sure Eliot would just passively nod and defer! The question comes down to whether Margo would listen to Eliot more than Eliot listened to her, whether Eliot would respect her authority in the way she once respected his, as well as when/where Margo would trust her own instincts, and how they’d create a sustainable partnership within this new, more just orientation, especially given her private insecurities. [“I’m faking it, El”; her sense that she’s a supporting player per 3x05; etc.] Again, that doesn’t strike me as something that can be instantly overcome—or at least, I don’t personally find it interesting if it is. Not something that would rip them apart, or anything close, but something that could’ve been worthy of exploration, IMO.

TL;DR — No, I don’t, at all, but I do think Margo’s relationships to both Eliot and Fillory are interesting ones and there’s a lot of unexplored nuance there.

[kythwena]

There wasn't a blood test to tell me to be High Queen. I chose it. And I have had to fight for every shred of authority. And no offense, but you can't understand, because it was handed to you. And now I'm supposed to abandon my kingdom? The Magicians | S03E07: Poached Eggs (2018)

[wizardsvslesbians]

Podcast Episodes

Here are all our episodes so far, in one convenient place!

Gideon the Ninth

The Unspoken Name

Ninefox Gambit

The Traitor Baru Cormorant

A Memory Called Empire

Harrow the Ninth

Gossamer Axe

Empress of Forever

Green

Divine Endurance

The City In The Middle Of The Night

Unconquerable Sun

A Desolation Called Peace

Fire Logic

The Unbroken

The Space Between Worlds

The Fortunate Fall

Bonus episode: The Steerswoman series (with special guest P. H. Lee)

The Jasmine Throne

She Who Became the Sun

Bearly a Lady

Foundryside

Black Water Sister

The Raven And The Reindeer

The Dyke And The Dybbuk

Shoujo Kakumei Utena (plus Isaac’s Utena Liveblog)

Bonus episode: Homestuck (with special guest P.H. Lee)

Girl Serpent Thorn

Bonus episode: The First Annual Wizzly Awards (with special guest P.H. Lee)

Girls of Paper and Fire

Light from Uncommon Stars

Short Fiction Roundup #1: ( “How to Swallow the Moon,” “Florilegia; or, Some Lies About Flowers,” "The Demon-Sage's Daughter")

The Midnight Lie

This Is How You Lose The Time War

The Priory of the Orange Tree

Provenance

The Thousand Eyes

A Master of Djinn

Trouble And Her Friends

Battle of the Linguist Mages

Among Thieves

Catfishing on Catnet

AMATKA

Bonus episode: 2022 Hugo Awards (featuring Leora Spitzer)

Last Exit

Bonus episode: The Sandman (featuring Kiana Stewart)

Fireheart Tiger (Aliette de Bodard) and Tiger Came Down The Mountain (Nghi Vo)

Spear

Uncommon Charm

The Saga of the Renunciates - a Death of the Author Special

Siren Queen

Short Fiction Roundup #2 - Our Souls To The Moon by Tamara Jeree, Onward by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, and A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad

The Dawnhounds

Slow River

Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence Apocalypse

Nona the Ninth

The Wicked and the Willing

Bonus episode: The Second Annual Wizzly Awards (feat. P.H. Lee, Kiana Stewart and Leora Spitzer)

The Book Eaters

Tamsyn Muir Short Fiction Roundup (The Magician’s Apprentice, The Deepwater Bride, Lalonde’s Inferno)

Payback’s a Witch

Sappho’s Bar and Grill

Unwieldy Creatures

Tomoe Gozen

BONUS: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Chaos on Catnet

The Outside

Even Though I Knew the End

The Fallen & The Infinite

Short Fiction Roundup #4 - “The Terracotta Bride” by Zen Cho, “Lay My Stomach On Your Scales,” by Wen-yi Lee, and “Margo Lai’s Guide to Dueling Unprepared,” by Alison Tam

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry

BONUS: The Night-Bird’s Feather

A Restless Truth

High Times in the Low Parliament

Some Desperate Glory

The Breath Of The Sun

BONUS: The Last Unicorn

The Mimicking Of Known Successes

The Babylon Eye

Mortal Follies

We Know the Devil

He Who Drowned The World

The Water Outlaws

STAKES

BONUS: Q & A Episode 1

I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself

BONUS: Translation State

Valhalla

BONUS: Relationship Advice, Hugos

The Valkyrie

BONUS: Travel Light

BONUS AGAIN: The Third Annual Wizzly Awards

The Witch’s Heart

Santa Olivia + Saints Astray

These Burning Stars

The Saint of Bright Doors 

Ex-Wives of Dracula

BONUS: Q & A 3

Planetfall

BONUS: Foreigner (featuring Ann Leckie)

Camp Damascus

Night in the Woods

All Good Children

The Book of Love

Carmilla (Carmen’s Version)

The Spear Cuts Through Water

Someone You Can Build A Nest In

BONUS: Disco Elysium

Those Beyond the Wall

Short Fiction Roundup #5 - Miss Bulletproof Comes Out of Retirement: https://podcastle.org/2022/03/08/podcastle-725-miss-bulletproof-comes-out-of-retirement/ (or https://giganotosaurus.org/2020/08/01/miss-bulletproof-comes-out-of-retirement/) Selkie Stories are for Losers: http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/selkie-stories-are-for-losers/ Nuca: http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/nuca/

Spirits Abroad (Just The Gay Parts)

BONUS: The Scholomance Trilogy (with Jenna Moran)

Daughter of Mystery

Daughters of Chaos

Daughters of the Coral Dawn

BONUS: Pale Fire (with Kat Weaver)

Ammonite

BONUS: Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (with Naked Bee)

The Seep

KILL LA KILL

BONUS: Q & A 4 (100 EPISODES!)

The Scorpion Rules

BONUS: The Summer Prince

The Lyremouth Chronicles (forthcoming)

An Education In Malice (forthcoming)

A Dark and Drowning Tide (forthcoming)

Also: the Unofficial but Officially Endorsed Wizards vs Lesbians Drinking Game

[laularlau8]

As Gillian Anderson walked through the lounge of a posh Los Angeles hotel late last fall, I wondered how it was possible that no one pounced on her for an autograph or threw themselves passionately at her feet. The star of Netflix’s Sex Education, The X-Files, and soon The Crown was clad in a bright fuchsia tailored suit and seemed to radiate stardust from her pale pink pores, yet not a single head so much as turned. Instead Anderson quietly settled in beside a fireplace to observe others going about their business: well-heeled guests silently playing a mysterious board game with crystal discs, and a pack of shaggy-chic hounds that darted in and out of the room pursued by their equally rumpled master.

Anderson and I were supposed to be discussing season two of Sex Education, the British teen dramedy that was a surprise hit when Netflix first released it a year ago. She reprises her role as Jean Milburn, a forthright sex therapist and single mom to Otis (Asa Butterfield), who—despite his own bodily anxieties and absolute inexperience—follows in his mother’s sexpert footsteps and offers counseling-for-cash to his fumbling teenage peers. But Netflix had declared so many plot points off-limits, you’d have thought it was a Game of Thrones spin-off rather than a sweetly off-kilter series doused in adolescent horniness and confusion.

“I looked at the list of spoilers—it is basically every single plotline that’s in the entire season!” said Anderson. Suffice it to say that Jean remains the kind of parent who would loudly announce, “I’m so proud that you’re at this stage in your pubescent development.” She continues dispensing advice and embarrassing Otis by overstepping parent-child boundaries whenever possible. She also unabashedly pursues her own pleasure, even as Otis gets to grips (yes, literally) with his sexuality. “Poor Otis!” Anderson sighed empathetically.“I haven’t played many moms,” she said, sifting through a lifetime of roles in her head. Although she has three kids in real life, Anderson noted that  she’s “mostly played women that don’t have children.” Anderson specializes in high-intensity heroines, such as the iconic Agent Dana Scully in the The X-Files, a compelling detective pursuing a serial killer in The Fall, Great Expectations’ Miss Havisham, and All About Eve’s Margo Channing.

Her character in Sex Education is a rare comedic turn, though she approached it with the same desire for unpredictability. Anderson told me last year she wanted Jean “to feel grounded and neurotic at the same time. I wanted her to feel like she had things under control, and yet she might be losing her grip at any time. I wanted her to feel that she really was feeling like she was trying her best, and yet kept making mistakes and saying the wrong thing.”

Anderson has embraced her character’s sexpert status, dubbing herself “Shag Specialist” on Twitter, where she regularly posts playful images of things that look like genitals, hashtagged #YonioftheDay and #PenisoftheDay. She revels in the dilemmas Sex Education writers cook up for the scripts: One of her favorites this season involved a sexual experiment with a stocking stuffer filled with M&M’s. “You know those tubes that you get at Christmastime in your stocking that you can hang on your tree?” she asked in her crisp American voice, which occasionally strays into a British accent because she has lived in the U.K. for years.

Waving distractedly to a man in the distance, Anderson muttered in a hushed voice, “That’s my boyfriend, Peter”—The Crown creator Peter Morgan. The couple have been working together on season four of the series, in which Anderson plays U.K. prime minister Margaret Thatcher, but she insists there was no nepotism involved in the casting decision. “I’ve heard Pete say that were we not together, I still would have been offered it,” she said. I believe it: Anderson’s forte is exactly that type of steely charisma exuded by Thatcher, which earned her the nickname the “Iron Lady.”

Although she spent a portion of her childhood in the U.K. during the 1970s, Anderson said her family never cared about the queen at all. “I never paid that much attention [to the royals] until I was in a relationship with Pete,” she recalled. Even then, she didn’t immerse herself in the topic until she joined the show and, she said with mock exasperation, “it became a topic of daily conversation!” She dove into research on Thatcher’s life, searching for the key to that impregnable self-belief and drive that gave the Conservative prime minister her towering aura of authority and ability to bulldoze through any opposition.

“It was almost like she came out of the womb with it,” Anderson said. “Just seeing still imagery of her standing next to her father who was an alderman, she’s so self-possessed and she started making speeches back then. She probably watched him write them and absorbed it. But none of that really necessarily explains the particular power she had—how determined she was. She really believed that she had the answers.” Anderson ascribes that in part to Thatcher’s religious upbringing as a Methodist: “There were certain ways of doing things, and if you stick to the right behavior and right mind and right action then there are good results at the end of it. She felt like she could whip the country into shape in the same way that she could whip a household into shape.”

The Crown spent its first few seasons dramatizing Queen Elizabeth’s halting journey toward embracing her own power. She grew into her role in part thanks to the counsel and encouragement of past prime ministers like Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. So it will be interesting to watch her more frictional relationship with Thatcher play out onscreen next season. Anderson said that while Elizabeth II and Thatcher were of a similar age, “their differences were such that you could understand why they would rub against each other.… They were the antithesis of each other.”

Anderson is fascinated by the way Thatcher came into her own later in life. Her own options seem to be similarly expanding as she grows older. She spent years adapting an Elizabeth Rosner novel into a screenplay but ended up putting the project aside because she was being offered constant acting work. “I haven’t been brave enough to create that time,” she said, “because there have been too many other tantalizing things.”

Her first big role as Agent Scully 26 years ago plunged Anderson into the maelstrom of celebrity sex objecthood—something that made her uncomfortable at the time. She said she feels much more comfortable in her skin these days. “Back then I never really quite understood what people were referring to, especially [with] Scully,” she said, letting out a throaty laugh when I stared at her disbelievingly. “I’m sure it had a lot to do with my own self-esteem or lack thereof at the time. But I can definitely own it now, in a fun way. Almost like, Really? Okay.” She paused to take a sip of tea and smiled. “I have fun with that because it won’t last forever.”

[themagicianshea]

Title: avenues of light (guide us home)

Author: @junes-discotheque [AO3]

Artist: @ruinscollector [Twitter | AO3]

Summary:

As Prince of Fillory, a remote mountain country, almost all of Quentin's life has been decided for him--including his upcoming engagement to Lady Alice, the ambitious and capable Countess. Quentin knows she will make a great Queen and, as he's soon to take over as King, he needs someone like her at his side. That's enough, he thinks, as they prepare to host a fundraiser gala in New York City on New Years Eve to raise money for a new hospital, and where Quentin has every intention of proposing. Eliot is a promoter and event planner for an upscale Manhattan club. When Prince Quentin comes to town with his presumptive fiancee Alice for a New Year’s gala, he isn’t sure what to expect. A chance encounter with a mousy courier named Q definitely isn’t it, though, nor is the realization that Q isn’t who he thinks. Margo is a designer and stylist for New York's socialites. When she finally gets to meet the future-Princess and it goes about as disastrously as it's possible to go, she's struck by how much she cares what the high-strung blonde thinks about her and is determined to set things right. As the gala, and Quentin and Alice's engagement, approaches, both Quentin and Alice have choices to make between their commitment to their duty and ambition or their sudden urges to follow their own hearts - and Eliot and Margo must decide if they, too, believe in happy endings.

Read the fic here! | See the art here!

[peaches-and-proof-of-concept]

Margo is THE fucking king and it’s important

For so long women have been told that the pinnacle of power for our gender is to be a ‘queen’. And don’t get me wrong there’s something lovely and sassy in reclaiming that word for female empowerment. But having Margo out there unapologetically saying “I’m the fucking KING” just has this glass-ceiling shattering level of resonance in it that has me shook.

Even if we’re trying to break down stereotypes in the colloquial usage of it, traditionally queens get there power from an absence of a man to rule as the high authority. Margo stepping into that role and not gaining her position from ceding authority to anyone fucks with the rules of both gender and power dynamics and it’s fucking fantastic.

[slytherinqueenmer]

Favourite Female Characters: 2/10

Margo Hanson

"There wasn't a blood test to tell me to be High Queen. I chose it, and I have had to fight for every shred of authority."

~strong

~independent

~passionate

~smart

~caring

[queenrojpag]

Countdown to season 4 | one day: favorite female character - Margo Hanson

There wasn't a blood test to tell me to be High Queen. I chose it. And I have had to fight for every shred of authority. And now I'm supposed to abandon my kingdom? Those fairy bitches wanna come for my crown, well... I'll shove it up their fucking eggholes.

[madwomanwithawarehouse]

Tagged by @high-queen-margo. Thank you!

1. Are you named after anyone?

My middle name is after my grandmother

2. When was the last time you cried?

Like an hour ago

3. Do you have any kids?

Thank goodness, no

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I think my tone can sound sarcastic when i'm tired so people think i'm more sarcastic than i actually am

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Probably clothing

6. What's your eye color?

Green/blue (it changes depending on surroundings)

7. Scary movie or happy ending?

Happy ending (most of the time)

8. Any special talents?

I'm really good at retaining virtually useless information (esp. abt fandom stuff, but i still have the phone number of a barbershop quartet i saw when i was 9 memorized), good at coming up with AUs

9. Where where you born?

Ohio

10. What are your hobbies?

Dance, theatre, fandom stuff (watching, reading, writing, art-ing)

11. Do you have any pets?

A cat named Tony!

12. What sports do you play?

My dance studio occasionally plays ballet baseball??? (i'm not sure how to summarize, ask me about it later)

13. How tall are you?

5'3" (and three quarter inches!)

14. Favorite subject in school?

Science! specificaly chem (unless art & drama count)

15. Dream job?

Forensic science is what i'm majoring in but true dream job would be an author/actor

Tagging: @downriversandroads, @dontfreakout, @the-3rd-key (again)

[redcarpetview]

ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEXT WAVE OF PROGRAMMING

       ATX Television Festival continues to announce major programming for season eight, which will take place June 6-9, 2019, in Austin, Texas.  

     ATX will premiere HBO's upcoming summer series "Euphoria," created, written by, and executive produced by Sam Levinson, as this opening night screening and panel on Thursday June 6th. "Euphoria” follows a group of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship. The screening will be followed by a panel conversation with creator/executive producer Sam Levinson, and cast members Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Barbie Ferreira, and Eric Dane. Executive producers also include Drake, Future the Prince, Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, Tmira Yardeni, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokady, Gary Lennon and Jim Kleverweis. "Euphoria" is produced in partnership with A24, and based on the Israeli series of the same name from Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin.

       ABC’s record-breaking medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” will screen the season 15 episode “Silent All These Years,” written by Elisabeth R. Finch and directed by Debbie Allen, which marks one of the series’ most riveting and emotional hours yet. The screening will be followed by a Q&A conversation with showrunner & executive producer Krista Vernoff, co-executive producer & writer Elisabeth R. Finch, and stars Camilla Luddington and Kim Raver, who will discuss the impact that the episode has had on viewers, as well as their approach to tackling topics of sexual assault and consent.

    Debbie Allen. Photo source www.facebook.com/TheRealDebbieAllen 

     This year’s festival will feature a screening of an all-new episode of Freeform’s “grown-ish,” followed by a Q&A with cast & creatives, including cast members Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Emily Arlook and Jordan Buhat, and executive producer and writer Craig Doyle. “grown-ish” returns on Wednesday, June 5, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT to finish out its sophomore season and joins the ATX line-up alongside the network’s freshman hit “Good Trouble,” which was previously announced.

       FXX’s award-winning, long-running animated comedy “Archer” will host an advance screening of an episode from the series’ upcoming tenth season, “Archer: 1999.” This season finds Sterling Archer, Lana Kane and their crew of acid-tongued misfits onboard the M/V Seamus salvage ship as they explore deep space and try to outsmart giant aliens, intergalactic pirates and vicious bounty hunters. The screening will feature a once-in-a-lifetime, never-to-be-seen-again special version of an upcoming episode -- with an element added exclusively for the ATX audience. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the creative team behind “Archer,” including executive producer Matt Thompson, actor H. Jon Benjamin (“Sterling Archer”), producer/art director Chad Hurd, and lead storyboard artist Taylor Parrish. “Archer: 1999” premieres May 29th on FXX.

        Yara Shahidi. Photo source Popsugar UK.

    In addition, Stephen Falk, creator/executive producer/writer/director of FXX’s critically acclaimed comedy series “You’re the Worst,” will participate in a discussion with writers, producers, and advocates who are working to destigmatize the conversation around mental health and mental illness through story and visibility. Additional panelists will be announced at a later date.

        Actor Kevin Bacon will join the festival’s previously announced presentation of the never-picked-up “Tremors” pilot from writer/executive producer Andrew Miller based on the 1990 film of the same name, featuring a selection of clips, a partial script reading, and discussion with cast and producers. Bacon, who was set to reprise his starring role as Valentine McKee, joins Andrew Miller, executive producer Jessica Rhoades, and cast members Toks Olagundoye, P.J. Byrne, Haley Tju, and Emily Tremaine for the panel.

             ATX’s non-profit foundation, The Syndication Project, will host a programming track for the second year, with a focus on encouraging actionable advocacy through storytelling. "Making Criminal Justice Matter," presented by the ACLU, in which writers and producers, along with a criminal law expert from the ACLU, will discuss the importance of working together to ensure authentic representations of current issues surrounding criminal justice, and  television’s impact on viewer opinions with regard to issues of police practices, racial profiling, and governmental and police abuses of authority. Confirmed panelists include co-showrunner/executive producer Sunil Nayar (“The Red Line”), showrunner/executive producer Joanna Johnson (“Good Trouble”), and showrunner/executive producer Anthony Sparks (“Queen Sugar”), with Twyla Carter, Senior Staff Attorney with the National ACLU's Criminal Law Reform Project, moderating. Additional panelists will be announced at a later date.

           “Resistance, Inclusion, and Creating Authentic Muslim Narratives” presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau will examine the collaborative efforts among consultants at MPAC and creatives and executives in the industry to raise the quantity and quality of Muslim representation on and off-screen. Confirmed panelists include showrunner/executive producer Carina Adly MacKenzie (“Roswell, New Mexico”), actress Nikohl Boosheri (“The Bold Type”), and Sue Obeidi (Director, MPAC's Hollywood Bureau). Additional panelists will be announced at a later date.

         The Television Academy joins The Syndication Project track with “Power(ful) TV,”  a panel discussion with writers & producers on how series can rise above trends and token characters by weaving in storylines of gender, race, religion, aging, immigration, health care, and more — all with the belief that exposing audiences to a variety of people, experiences, and worlds they might never encounter will foster understanding, empathy, and community. The conversation will be moderated by Television Academy President and Chief Operating Officer, Maury McIntyre. Panelists will be announced at a later date.

        Television Academy President and Chief Operating Officer, Maury McIntyre.       

    Previously announced programming includes:

 ●        “Presidents of the Guilds” panel, featuring Gabrielle Carteris, president, SAG-AFTRA, David A. Goodman, president, WGAW, and Thomas Schlamme, president, DGA

●        ABC Family series “Greek” reunion

●        Hulu’s “Veronica Mars” revival

●        Screening and Conversation with “One Day at a Time” Creatives & Cast

●        Hulu and Blumhouse Television’s “Into the Dark: Culture Shock”

●        “Letterkenny” screening and Q&A

●        An interactive conversation with Beau Willimon

●        “A Playwright Walks Into a Writers Room…” panel conversation with playwrights turned TV writers

●         “The House that Horror Built: Inside Blumhouse Television”

●        “Inside the Writers Room” panel with Starz’s critically-acclaimed series “Vida”

●        Closing Night Screening of Showtime’s “City on a Hill”

●        A panel exploring the “Power of Female Partnerships”

●        “Cancelled Too Soon” panel with “Men In Trees”

●        Freeform’s “Good Trouble”

●         “Let’s Talk about Sex (Scenes),” an honest discussion about empowering both writers and actors, and improving safe “sex” practices behind the camera

●        A panel presented by the Casting Society of America, featuring some of TV’s top casting directors

●        A one-on-one conversation titled “Scene Partners & Roommates,” with actors Margo Martindale and Shane McRae

●        “Everyone Is Doing Great” screening and Q&A

●        Netflix’s series “Atypical” panel

●        EPIX’s new series “Perpetual Grace, LTD” panel

●        An inside look at the “Tremors” pilot

●         IFC’s musical variety comedy “Sherman’s Showcase”

●        Comedy Central’s new sketch series “Alternatino with Arturo Castro”

●        Individual panelists Beatrice Springborn, Vice President, Content

    Development, Hulu; Jessica Rhoades, EP, “Sharp Objects,” “The Affair,” and Principal, Pacesetter; ATX Advisory Board member Kyle Killen, EP/showrunner of Showtime’s upcoming “Halo” series; and Mauricio Mota and Katie Elmore Mota, EPs, “East Los High,” and Co-Presidents of Wise Entertainment. 

       For the latest developments and information on how to attend, visit the ATX Television Festival official site www.atxfestival.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

       For co-promotion, please link to @ATXFestival #ATXTVs8 on Twitter.

[themagiciansreccenter]

The Great Blank Spot @high-queen-margo

So much goes into creating fanfiction even before the first words hit the paper. And in-depth spotlight on our writers and the process behind their work.

Tell us about your current project.  I'm currently writing Timeline 25 for the 39 Graves Project! I've split the timeline into two parts: Julia and Margo. Julia's half explores her time at Brakebills  leading up to her death and the Beast's first visit. In Margo's half, she picks up Julia's place by Quentin's side to find Fillory while Brakebills seems to fall apart around her.

The fics are finally posted fromThe Trials. Did you participate? I signed up, but unfortunately I was in my last semester at college and I just didn't have time to put in the work, so I had to withdraw!

What is your current word count? 21,659

Do you try to write daily? Do you have a word count or other goals you try to hit for each writing session? I try to write daily! Sometimes it doesn't work, but I do my best. My general goal is 500 words a day, but some days I struggle to hit it while other days I can manage up to 1,500.

What was the inspiration for this fic?  The entire fic is built off of the stipulations I was given for my timeline, so I'd say that's my main inspiration! Other than that, I just do what I think would be interesting.

How do you stay motivated between chapters/stories? I watch the show. A lot. It also helps to talk to my friends about what I'm doing with it; they're very supportive!

Did this fic require any research? How much research do you typically do for your fics? Only the show's lore and details, other than a little bit of looking into Columbia University--that level of research is about normal for my fics. I thought I had everything nailed down months ago, but I still notice a detail or make a connection I hadn't realized before and need to go back and tweak everything to fit. I realize it's not going to be perfect, but being as true to the show as possible is part of what makes this so challenging and so rewarding! 

Do you typically write ahead or post as you go? I don't normally do multi-chapter fics anymore, but when I did, I'd write ahead at first, get impatient, and then post the chapters faster than I could write more. And I never ended up finishing! I'm definitely more of a oneshot kind of girl. 

How much planning and outlining did you do before you started putting words on paper? Almost three full pages worth of a bullet outline, which is absolutely wild to me. I've never planned or outlined a fic before in my life. The amount of twisting and turning different plot events trying to get everything to click made it impossible to write without an outline, though, and I felt much better about tackling the fic once I did it.

Has it been pretty smooth sailing or rough waters? When things get rocky, how do you handle needing to rewrite sections or scrap scenes entirely? It was rough for a long time, but I think I'm getting into the swing of things! I started out switching between points of view whenever it felt necessary, then I scrapped it entirely and chose three points of view to do separately, then dropped one. It's a lot of grappling with which events the readers need to see and which characters would conceivably be there for them. When I rewrite or scrap a section, I copy/paste it into a different document in case I want it back later. I still have several pages of Alice's point of view that I won't be able to use, but I'm keeping it around to help me when I end up writing the same events from Julia and Margo's points of view.

Teaser Margo sighed and sat down next to Alice. “Okay,” she said, “Eliot and Todd are off getting help, and I don’t think that thing is coming back, so start from the beginning.” 

Alice nodded. “My brother, Charlie, he…he died here at Brakebills, years ago, and I wanted to know why. And I thought, you know, when I saw Marina at alumni week…she’s supposed to be so good at everything. I mean, she’s one of Brakebills’ greatest Knowledge students. If anyone could help me find Charlie, it was her.” 

“But she didn’t choose you,” Margo said. “She chose Julia, didn’t she?” 

“I swear,” Alice said, “I swear she wasn’t supposed to get hurt. She offered to help, and she adapted this ritual for two people, and it looked right. It felt right, at first. But it wasn’t, and I think I knew that, and I just kept going. She stopped and tried to stop me but we were so close to finishing and I just…I just kept going. The wards went down. Just for a few moments.” 

“And he got in,” Margo said.

The Great Blank Spot is an in-depth spotlight focusing on the writing process and previewing in-progress fics for our fandom. It is meant to be an organic, ever-evolving feature. Previously interviewed fic writers can reach out to us here, to have a specific work featured. If you’d like to have a work featured but haven’t done the author spotlight, reach out to us to get started. If you have suggestions for questions you’d like to see answered, shoot us an ask!

[douxreviews]

The Magicians - ‘Poached Eggs’ Review

By Ariel Williams 

“When things happen, they leave a mark. Figuring out how to deal with it takes time.”

So our characters contemplate how to bear the weight of their trauma and, well, existence. And there’s a fun jailbreak. Typical Magicians episode.

Let’s start with the jailbreak. So they still need to get the last key from the underground. They figure out a way to do this, which involves Penny turning himself into a book to break into the underground library, then passing the key to the Nietherlands library, where another traveler will be to bring it back home. The problem is their second traveler (Victoria from the Beast’s dungeon) is rolling with Harriet (fake buzzfeed, anti-library girl). They need to get Harriet on their side, so they need Kady, who’s been locked in a mental hospital since her conversation with Astral Penny. 

The jailbreak itself is lots of fun. Quentin and Poppy use their concerning level of knowledge about mental hospitals to get her out. Kady gets to punch someone. It’s all great. Except for Kady’s conversation with Penny, which is heart-breaking. Kady isn’t happy to hear about Penny’s part of the plan, that he’s once again putting his life on the line for everyone. And her exhaustion and frustration is kinda understandable. Because she’s right; Penny’s sacrificed for the group time and time again, and his last sacrifice got him pseudo-dead. At the end of the day, its Penny’s choice. But Kady still might not want to (and shouldn’t have to) watch him do it again.

In Fillory, Margo and Eliot go up against The Fairies. They almost have them with their kidnapping scheme, but then the Fairy Queen threatens Frey. Frey realizes, if family does mean loyalty like Fen says, then the fairies don’t treat Frey like family. So she betrays them and admits to Eliot and Fen that she isn’t her daughter. Turns out, their kid died at childbirth. Fen’s disappointed in herself, that she didn’t know, that she tried so hard to force Frey to be her family. Because she didn’t want to see the truth and she saw as a way of avoiding her pain. But that would have never worked, of course, which is what Julia realizes regarding her own trauma.

After Julia and Alice did their switcheroo (as Dean Fogg puts it), it doesn’t work as well as either hoped. Julia’s still haunted by Reynard. Alice can’t hold Julia’s magic; it’s killing her. Alice isn’t willing to accept her end of it. It seems that she sees magic as a way of finding herself again. So Julia has to stop her, before the magic kills her. Ultimately (after Alice accidentally almost kills Julia) Alice gives Julia’s magic back and they have a nice conversation about trauma and healing. Julia realizes there’s nothing magic about her pain, so there’s nothing magic she can do to fix it. She just needs time. Alice likely needs the same to figure out who she is and how to be. 

It’s a small conversation, but I found it to be the most important part of the entire episode. Because that’s really the answer to a lot of the character’s problems. Quentin can’t magic his way out his depression, he just needs time to accept it and learn how to cope with it. Fen can’t use a surrogate child to fix her loss. And Kady needs time to deal with kind of losing Penny. It’s that cliché saying: “time heals all wounds.” It’s not fun or entertaining, but it’s likely got some truth to it.

Bits and Pieces

-- Time alone isn’t going to save Margo and Eliot from the pissed off Fillorian residents, though. They could really use some magic about now.

-- For a moment there, Frey was starting to hate Eliot less. Which was a nice family moment. Until, you know, it turned out they weren’t really a family.

-- Irene Mcallistair’s magic reserve turns out to be creature excretions you take like cocaine. Nothing fishy going on there.

Dean Fogg, regarding Julia’s reason for rejecting her magic: “I'll file it under ‘entitled Millennial bullshit.’” This was a funny line, but I’m still annoyed by everyone’s inability/refusal to try to understand Julia’s reluctance.

Fen: “We had the most wonderful adventure. We went to the Square of Time, where no one sleeps. And it's always light.” Frey: “A man urinated next to me.” Fen: “Then we saw bards performing on your famous Broad Way." Frey: “You call it Cats, but it's just humans in cat greasepaint.” Fen: “And we tried a delicacy called pizza at an eatery that was ‘Family Style.’”

Margo, threatening: “So have fun on the little egg hunt, 'cause if you don't make this deal, we're about to boil and dye 'em like it's motherfucking Easter around here.” Fairy Queen: “I don't know what that means.”

Vampire, when Julia comes to save Alice: “Get out.” Alice: “No, I gave you my money.” Vampire: “Not enough to deal with hedgewitch Buffy.”

Margo: “There wasn't a blood test to tell me to be High Queen. I chose it. And I have had to fight for every shred of authority. And no offense, but you can't understand, because it was handed to you. And now I'm supposed to abandon my kingdom? Those fairy bitches wanna come for my crown, well I'll shove it up their fucking egg-holes.”

Three and a half out of four Easter-egged fairy fetuses.

[ohnotoomanyfandoms]

There wasn't a blood test to tell me to be High Queen. I chose it. And I have had to fight for every shred of authority. And no offense, but you can't understand, because it was handed to you.

High Queen Margo, the Destroyer