#brooke x dean

[verobatto-messy-art]

And this is @ficwip 's All Ships Ship Week last day!

October 17th. (Day 7) Free day!

Have my favorite ships kissing 💋 😘

[queenofallerdalehall]

@normalpeoplescaremeh @violentdelightsproductions @ddriverpicksthemusic @langmery @ineed-a-cigarette @girlshunttoo there's only 365.... 364 days until next Halloween!!!! And for the first time ever we had a draft AND storyboards for next Halloween BEFORE Halloween passed. The hope Samhain is very pleased with us 🎃🎃🎃🎃

So it's the day after Halloween (and inside I am still sleeping inside) I have to say that despite all the bumbs along the way, this year we made art.

And what I love the most about this time of the year is that it brings back some old friends and usually.... Some new ones along for the ride.

So big thank you to everyone that supported us and our work. We sincerely can't wait to do this again next Halloween 👻🎃

[soulc-hilde]

Day she/her pan '02 liner

sleep-deprived + depressed + cigarette coded men-centric / stubborn + bubbly + lovesick coded women-centric / blog contains sfw with slight nsfw work

black woman writer = black woman characters

01 rules

02 m.list

03 w.i.p

my asks are always open

[rubyvhs]

writing a fic for every song in an album for november?? i loved the idea of something per song on an album and i wanna do it in oct but obv i’d need some time + i’m taking exams rn + i’m starting my new job in a month so… nov it is. choose an album‼️

[prettywhenibleed]

𝕾𝖚𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖆𝖑

𝕾𝖆𝖒 & 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖓'𝖘 𝕾𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗: When Worlds Collide Pt 1 - Pt 2

𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖓:

Dean Winchester Smut

𝕽𝖊𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖘:

Spam liking without reblogging = blocked

[loveofstelena]

Multicouples • Telescope (for @handonsdream)

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Magically Mine

Summary: It's your birthday and Dean knows just how to make it magical.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader (You)

Warnings: Nothing major. Some smuttiness. Oral (f receiving). Kissing. Making out. Fluff.

Word Count: 1079

A/N: So, it's my dear friend, @arcannaa 's birthday today!! And she asked for a Dean fic as a gift, so here you go, sweetie! I hope you enjoy it! And for anyone else who has a birthday coming up, consider this my gift to you too! ❤️ Wrote this quick to try and get it to you on your birthday, so please excuse the mistakes.

Dean Drabbles || Dean Master List || Main Master List || Tag Lists

Dean pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. You looked over at him, grinning. “Okay, NOW will you tell me what we’re doing here?” 

He just threw you a mischievous smile and pushed open his door. You followed him out of Baby’s warm interior and into the cool night air, chafing your arms to try and warm yourself. Dean came around the front of the Impala, sliding his big leather coat off his shoulders and then pulling you close so he could drape it over yours.

You frowned slightly. “Well now you’re gonna get cold.”

But Dean just shook his head. “N’ah. Got you and that beautiful body to keep me warm; am I right?” He waggled his eyebrows and made you giggle. 

“You’re such a dork.”

Dean scoffed. “A dork you’re in love with.” His gaze softened a little and he tilted his head slightly. “Right?”

You melted beneath his questioning gaze and raised yourself up to grab his cheeks and pull his lips down to yours. You kissed him with all of your love pouring out of you, hoping it would convince him.

You were panting as you pulled away, nodding. “Right.”

Dean licked his lips and stared at your mouth for a moment more before he grabbed your hand and pulled you along after him. He reached into the back seat and grabbed the green cooler and a blanket before tugging you up a hill and through a line of trees.

You were panting and laughing as you stumbled after him.  “Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see.” He threw back over his shoulder.

Finally, when you’d trudged to the top of the small hill, Dean pointed down at what lay below and you gasped. It was a wide open field, about the size of half a football field. The sky was clear, and a bright full moon and twinkling stars shone down, unhampered by clouds, to reveal that the expanse was covered in dew sprinkled wildflowers. Somewhere off to the right you could hear the trickle of a little brook, and buzzing all around the wide meadow were dozens and dozens of fireflies, putting on a little light show for you and Dean. 

It was extraordinary. Dean set down the cooler and snapped the blanket open with a flourish, letting it settle down onto the grass at the top of the hill. He opened the cooler and inside you could see beers and containers of food.

Dean raised his hand towards the cooler. “Dinner.” He said, grinning and then lifting his other hand towards the field. “And a show.”

He reached out to tuck your hair behind your ear. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

You beamed at him, having no words for the beauty of his gift, and stepped into his arms. He tilted his head so he could slot his mouth over yours, making you moan as he licked your lips open and plunged his tongue inside to savor you. He accidentally pushed his jacket off your shoulders as he yanked you close to him and buried his hand in your hair, tugging hard so he could expose your neck to his silky, searching lips. 

You barely noticed the loss of the coat, however, as a rush of fire spread through your veins and over your skin. His hands slipped under the waist of your long-sleeved t-shirt, and the rough calluses on his palm made for a glorious kind of friction. You clung to the sides of his open red and black flannel trying to bring him closer somehow; you wanted to crawl inside him.

No, you thought, I want him inside of me.

With that in mind you pulled away, panting, and nodded towards the cooler. “Is there…” Your voice was croaky with desire and you cleared it quickly. “Is there anything in there that won’t keep a little while?”

Dean glanced at the cooler and then kicked it shut with his big, booted foot. “N’ah it’s good.”

You nodded and bit your lip. “Good, cause I was wondering if maybe you had one more birthday gift for me?” You asked with a naughty glint in your eye as you ran your hand down his broad chest and flat stomach to pop the button on his jeans and then unzip them. You slipped your hand inside to cup him through his boxer briefs.

Dean groaned and his head dropped back. “Fuck me.” He said through clenched teeth.

But as you started to sink to your knees, Dean shook his head and maneuvered you to lay back on the soft blanket instead, following you down to cover you with his thick, solid body. 

“No, sweetheart. You’re the birthday girl, you get all the treats.”

He slowly worked his way down your body, removing clothing as he went, so that nothing could impede his wandering hands and silken lips. You trembled and sunk your fingers into his hair as he found the very center of you and began to pull you apart easily.

His mouth was perfect, hot and wet and ravenous. It took him no time at all to have you coming hard and fast, calling out his name so loudly, you made the insects stop buzzing and chirping for a little while. 

When you came back down to earth, scattered to bits and falling like stardust, Dean was kissing your stomach softly. He rested his chin on your belly and grinned up at you. “How’s your party so far?” He asked cheekily.

You laughed breathlessly. “Fucking magic, Dean.”

You cupped his cheek and he leaned into your palm. Pushing your fingers through the hair at his temples, you scratched your nails over his scalp, making him shudder as you knew it would. “You are magic.”

He blushed adorably and pressed his lips against your skin again, kissing his way back up your body. As he crawled back up, you pushed the flannel from his shoulders and then pulled his t-shirt over his head, so you could run your hands over his warm, taut skin and press your nails into the muscles that shifted in his back.

He teased your lips and you sighed into his open mouth before speaking softly. “And somehow, you’re magically mine.”

Dean stared into your eyes and nodded slowly. “Yours. Completely.”

Your eyes got a little teary as your heart filled with happiness and love. “Well then, happy birthday to me.”

@lyarr24 @lacilou @deans-spinster-witch @globetrotter28 @suckitands33

@alwaystiredandconfused @jzackles @jackles010378 @impala67rollingthroughtown @krazykelly

@candy-coated-misery0731 @envyaurora95 @spnwoman @deans-baby-momma @luvr4miya

@arcannaa @viviwatchestv @winharry @ladysparkles78 @kr804573

@whimsyfinny @lastcallatrockysbar @roonthelittlespoon920 @slamminmine @zepskies

@safiyas-world @aylacavebear @kazsrm67 @slut-for-evans-stan @sexyvixen

@nancymcl @hobby27 @waywardcheshire @libby99hb @k-slla

@leigh70 @eevvvaa @kickingitwithkirk @foxyjwls007 @roseblue373

@mishkatelwarriorgoddess @avanatural @mrsjenniferwinchester @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone @deangirl96

@stoneyggirl2 @fanfic-n-tabulous @traiitorjoe @lastcallatrockysbar

[cottonlemonade]

Scattered Belongings

word count: 769 || avg. reading time: 3 mins.

pairing: University!AU Oikawa x chubby!Reader

genre: angsty fluff, implied pining

warnings: mentions of bullying

synopsis: Oikawa’s fanclub dumped your bag in a brook and he comes to help

Your feet went numb. The water running around your ankles was freezing cold and you wanted nothing more than to slip back into the dry socks you had stuffed into the boots waiting on the narrow bank next to the few soaked items you already retrieved.

You already couldn’t feel your fingers anymore and switched hands so that the left would hold the phone’s light while the right dug around between the rocks and boulders on the lookout for the rest of your belongings. Your vision blurred and you wiped your tears away on your shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

A rather sweet melodious voice sounded from up the slope but you didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Mind your own business.”, you called without getting up.

You didn’t hear steps behind you indicating he had moved on, so you straightened and turned.

Oikawa stood there, hands in his pockets, very obviously not about to leave. The small lamps running along the walkway did little to light up his features.

“What happened?”, he asked calmly, almost disinterested.

You bent down to continue your search.

“My bag fell.”

You knew it was a poor excuse, considering your bag had to have fallen on the ground, rolled down a slope that was very grassy with plenty of shrubbery to catch it and then hopped over the rocky little bank into the water.

“Huh.”, he made as if to say “how positively odd”.

You finally found your pencil case and lopped it over to the rest of the wet, excruciatingly slow growing heap.

A tear dropped from the tip of your nose into the steady little brook and you gave an involuntary sniff.

One moment later you heard him making his way down the slope, placing his bag on a boulder next to your shoes and sitting down to untie his laces.

“What are you doing?”, you asked.

He didn’t give an answer, just rolled up his sleeves and the bottom of his pants and waded into the water, phone flashlight aloft.

You didn’t speak as you scoured between the stones and pebbles, you only muttered a Thank You when he caught you as you slipped on one of the slimier rocks.

You felt unsteady afterwards, not finding any good footing that allowed a safe stance.

Observing your struggle for a couple of moments he waded over to you and offered his arm. Under protest you eventually let him lead you to the boulder next to your bags where you sat down as he went back into the water.

You rifled through your things, wringing out your bag and trying to put what you already found back where it belonged, still not saying anything.

“What is still missing?”, he asked a little while later, “It might make it easier for me to know what I’m looking for.”

You checked your bag.

“I think it’s just … the case for my reading glasses. It’s brown.”

He nodded and continued.

You saw how red his hands and feet were from the cold and felt horrible for letting him go on.

“You know what? It’s not important.”, you lied. You usually put your grandma’s necklace in there before heading to the gym like tonight.

He straightened, looking at you.

“Are you sure?”

You nodded, putting on a smile. Maybe, once he was gone you would just continue your search, you thought.

He tracked back to the bank, using his scarf to rub his feet dry and gave his toes an experimental wiggle.

“You should report them to the dean.”, he said to his socks as he pulled them on.

“Hm?”

“You can’t let them get away with it. I’ll… I’ll come with you, if you want. As a witness. Kind of.”

For the first time that night you actually looked at him, the little light that broke through the shrubs glinting softly in his eyes. To be fair it wasn‘t really his fault. He couldn‘t help that his fan club started leaving threatening notes in your books when you became his project partner. Or that they tried to trip you when walking down the stairs. Or that they whispered very unkind things loud enough for you to overhear about your chubby figure.

You nodded, so did he and continued to put on his shoes.

He helped you up the slope and offered to walk you to the bus stop but you declined - then parted ways with him.

The next day you found the glasses case on your desk with a note saying he would wait for you at the dean’s office.

a/n: I swear the next Oikawa post will be fluffy 🫠

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Love Story

Pairing: Sam Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.2k

Warnings: minor angst, mostly fluff

Request by @fuiabarcelos: I was thinking of a fluffy one-shot inspired by "Love Story". The reader is a kind and charming girl, but she was raised by Crowley. The reader falls in love with Sam, but Crowley does not approve of this relationship because he is a hunter. Oh, I really like the idea of having a ball, like in the video clip. But I want you to feel free to add whatever details you prefer🥰❤️

Summary: You and Sam have a very secret love. Your dad hates the Winchesters and hates that you're with them all the time. He tries to keep you in Hell but you always manage to find your way back to the youngest Winchester.

Square Filled: “where have you been? Do you know what time it is?” (2023) for @heavenandhellbingo

Author’s Note: any and all comments are appreciated <3

x

You peek into the main throne room where your adoptive dad is. He is sitting on his throne going through paperwork with a demon by his side. Maybe if you go the back way, your dad won’t see you sneaking out… again. It’s his own damn fault that he’s trapping you in Hell. You hate it here. You hate everything about it. You hate demons. You hate the King of Hell. You hate the torture. You want to live life on Earth but your dad doesn’t want you to get mixed up with humans.

After all, you’re only half-human.

There are many doors in and out of Hell, and some of them aren’t even guarded. You’ve been here long enough to know which ones are safe and which ones are heavily guarded. You’re out in record time and already on Earth, loving the feel of the sun on your skin. Everything about Earth is amazing; you’re not sure why people hate it so much. You love the waterfalls, babbling brooks, heavily guarded forests with tall trees, mountains that seem to reach the sky, gentle winds, and sandy beaches.

Why would anyone want to leave here?

There is only one person you came here to see, so you head over to the rendezvous point and wait for him. Ten minutes later, you hear the delicious rumble of the Impala pulling into the parking lot. Sam steps out and you go running into his arms.

“Sam!”

He catches you so you can wrap your legs and arms around his body, and you kiss him like you’ve been wanting to do since your last hook-up. It’s been so long since you’ve gotten to feel his touch and kiss his lips. Your dad likes to keep you locked up in Hell for as long as he can. He doesn’t like you embracing your human side.

“I’ve missed you,” you whisper against his lips. “It’s been hell waiting to see you again.”

“I’m here now. I got us a room.” He sets you back on your feet and guides you to the room he booked for the night. “It’s not luxury but—”

“It’s perfect. Trust me, I’ve lived worse. This is actually an upgrade. Where’s Dean?”

“Back home.”

“He was okay with you taking his precious car?” you grin.

“He might have been drunk when I asked him.” You giggle. “So, how’s Hell?”

“Hell. Crowley doesn’t see that I hate it there. I keep finding new ways to escape no matter how much security he has.”

Your dad doesn’t approve of your relationship with a human, especially a Winchester. Not like you care what he thinks. You are in love with Sam, and it’s because of your human side that you can feel things like love, pain, and happiness. Your biological dad was a demon who came to Earth and fucked a human woman. Crowley was the one who found you and took you under his wing. You’re not sure if he did that to have a daughter or to have a powerful Cambion on his side.

You gained the powers of a demon while still having your human soul in you. You’re very powerful but you don’t like using your powers. You didn’t ask to be born this way so you’re going to do everything you can to hold onto your humanity. Sam is that anchor. Without him, you’ll succumb to the dark side.

It’s rare to have an entire night with Sam so you two spend it talking, catching up, making out, and enjoying each other's company. By the morning, you two hadn’t gotten any sleep. He’ll probably rent this for another night and sleep before going back to Dean, but you have to get back to Hell before Crowley notices you’re gone… if he hasn’t already. He hasn’t sent a fleet of demons after you like last time, so you think you’re in the clear.

“I have to go,” you whisper.

“Stay one more hour.”

“If Crowley knows I’m gone, I’m in big trouble. That might mean trouble for you.”

“Eh, I can handle a few demons he sends my way.”

“Still. I love you but I have to go,” you say and kiss him quickly. “Until next time, my love.”

You use the same way you took when you escaped Hell in hopes your dad didn’t notice you were gone. He tends to leave you alone when you’re in one of your moods, so you made sure to act out right before leaving.

Hell seems quiet when you get back but you don’t let that fool you. Usually, that means your dad is out conducting business but that can also mean he’s set a trap for you knowing you were gone. You sneak past a few of the guards and get to your room but you’re not safe yet. You close the door as quietly as you can but jump when you notice a shadow in the corner of your room.

“Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?” Crowley scolds.

“You’re not my dad,” you roll your eyes and take off your jacket. “Stop acting like one.”

“I am the one who raised you!”

“Only because you had to, not because wanted to. You wanted a soldier on your side but I don’t want to embrace my demonic side! That just pissed you off!”

“Where have you been?” he asks again.

“Does it matter?”

Crowley gets up and walks over to you. He leans in and sniffs the air only to roll his eyes in annoyance.

“You’ve been with Moose.”

“If you knew then why did you ask?”

You push away from him and open the door to let him know that you don’t want him in your room anymore.

“You know I don’t want you seeing him.”

“Tell me why. What has he ever done to you?”

Your dad laughs as if you’re a fucking comedian.

“Squirrel and Moose are a pain in my ass ever since I became the King of Hell!”

“How is that my problem?”

“Watch your tone, young lady,” Crowley glares.

“I am going to bed. Please leave,” you sigh.

Despite still having this conversation, he walks to your door.

“You are not to see that man ever again. He is a hunter who hunts our kind.”

“Your kind. I am not a full demon! I still have my humanity left, and that’s something you’ll never have.”

“You are the child and I am the adult!” You’re not really a child, just much younger than he is. “You are not to see him again. In fact, I’ll have someone assigned to you to make sure you stay here. You have duties here you need to fulfill.”

“I hate you!” you scream and slam the door in his face.

“Kids,” Crowley rolls his eyes.

Crowley kept true to his word and kept you locked in Hell for the next couple of days. Thank God for wireless internet because that’s how you’re able to contact Sam from Hell.

I am going insane here. Crowley wants this perfect demon daughter. I just want to be with you.

Maybe you can. Dean and I are going on a hunt involving a shapeshifter who robs people and takes on their forms to steal whatever they have left. They “kill themselves” as soon as they’re done and move on to the next victim. We tracked him down to a ball of some kind. Want to join us?

Say less. Where is it?

As soon as you got the address from Sam, you concocted your plan of escaping again. This time, you’re going to use your powers to get what you want. If Crowley wants to send his minions after you to keep you here, you’re doing whatever it takes to escape their clutches.

You open your door and the guard standing there turns to face you.

“Are you really going to keep me locked in my room?”

“No. I’m here to escort you to wherever you want to go.”

“How charming. I’d like something to eat. Can I do that alone or do you need to be up my ass for it?” The guard shifts uncomfortably in his spot and you roll your eyes. “Come on.”

You leave your room but quickly turn and place your hand on his head. You pull him into you and use your powers on him. His entire body glows orange as you slowly kill him from the inside. He’s just following the King’s orders but he’s an unnecessary evil. You drag him into your room and throw him on your bed to make it look like you’re sleeping. If Crowley comes in, you might fool him long enough to meet up with Sam.

You don’t have clothes for a ball so you’ll have to get some when you get topside. You use the same way as you did last time to leave Earth and end up in the city that Sam and Dean are in. It’s easy to snag an outfit with your demonic powers in a city that has a bunch of rich people.

Once dressed in a beautiful golden dress with open sleeves, you head to the beautiful mansion that already is flowing with a bunch of people. Sam and Dean are at the front when Sam spots you. He looks so ravishing in his tuxedo but he has metaphorical stars in his eyes.

“Where did you get this?”

“Do you like it?” you grin and spin for him.

“I love it.”

“Damn, Y/N, you know how to clean up for a demon.”

Dean hasn’t yet come around to you dating his brother. He only tolerates it because you’re half-human.

“It’s always nice to see you, Dean.”

“Seriously, you look stunning,” Sam compliments.

“Thank you,” you grin and kiss him. The music is very elegant and slow-moving but the DJ puts on something that you can waltz to. “Let’s dance!”

“Let’s slow it down a bit. Grab a partner and join us on the dancefloor.”

Sam looks at his brother who nods.

“Go dance, Romeo. I’ll keep an eye out for our shifter.”

“Yay! Let’s go.”

You grab Sam’s hand and drag him to the dancefloor where there are other couples. The woman stands on one side of the dancefloor while the men stand across from you. They bow down and the ladies curtsy at the start of the dance, and you step toward Sam. You extend your hand to him and he goes to grab it but stops before he can make contact with your skin. You step in a small circle around him before suddenly switching positions.

You’ve never done the waltz before so you’re letting the music guide you. You’re not entirely sure you know what you’re doing but Sam takes over. He’s done a few of these dances in college so he knows some of what he’s doing. Meanwhile, Dean is scouting the area for the shapeshifter, content with doing this by himself. A shifter is nothing and he doesn't really need his brother.

At the end of the dance, you pull Sam close and kiss him lovingly. You pull away when you feel a shift in the air, and you look to the right to see demons standing at the entrance of the mansion. Shit, they found you. Crowley found you. If you split from Sam now, they’ll leave him alone and go after you. They won’t dare go after a Winchester. That’s like going into a gunfight with a knife.

“Meet me by the gazebo outside,” you whisper to him.

You’re gone before Sam has a chance to question you. You leave the room before the demons catch you. Maybe you can make it out of here without them knowing. However, you can’t leave without saying goodbye to Sam. You make it to the gazebo outside and wait for Sam to come. The gazebo is fitted with golden lights that make it look like it was torn right out of a fantasy book.

“Hey, what are we doing out here?” Sam whispers from behind you.

“Demons are here. They haven’t seen me yet but that means Crowley knows I’m gone. I killed the guard outside my room.”

“You’re quite the troublemaker, aren’t you?” Sam chuckles.

“Crowley thinks he can tell me who I can and cannot date. He hates you.”

“Yeah, he has good reason to.”

The feeling you got when you felt the demons in the room is getting stronger. They’re looking for you and will find you if you don’t move now.

“Shit, I have to go now. They’re coming for me. I wish I could stay here forever with you. Dean needs you and I need you to not get killed by my dad’s minions.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. When will I see you again?”

“Probably sooner than you think. I’m more powerful than Crowley realizes. He can’t hold me.”

You kiss Sam before parting ways with him. You hate the situation you’re in but you love sneaking around with Sam. It’s the thrill of the chase, and someone like Crowley isn’t going to keep you from being with your one true love.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[thebiggerbear]

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that." - Rachel Gatina Prompt Response

Summary: Rachel, who has never spoken to you before, approaches you to ask for a favor. Despite what Bevin said, Rachel decides that she has to gauge this whole "being into girls" thing properly. And she's picked you to help her with that. ...Lucky you.

Pairing: Rachel Gatina x Female!Reader

A/N: Prompt from @creativepromptsforwriting (#941). I started quite a few scenarios for Rachel's response to this prompt but none of them felt right until this scenario popped into my head. I tried to keep this as 2000's as possible. Hope this is okay.

Both characters are over eighteen.

This is meant to take place right after the Bevin and Rachel bathroom scene in 4x13.

Unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.

Warnings: mention of implied sex; internalized homophobia (I hope that's the correct term)

Word Count: 3757

Taglist: @avada-kedavra-bitch-187; @rieleatiel

Rachel Taglist: @nancymcl

You can also read on AO3

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that."

Soldier Boy version ✨ Beau version ✨ Dean version ✨ Jenny version ✨ Jason version ✨ Tom version ✨ CJ version ✨ Anael version ✨ Alec version ✨ SDV Leah version

You were just getting your books out of your locker when someone suddenly appeared next to you. You glanced over to see a familiar redhead smirking at you. You rolled your eyes and went back to your locker. “What do you want?”

Rachel Gatina had been the new girl at Tree Hill High who was giving Brooke Davis a run for her money and her non-exclusive boyfriend. Now, she was besties with Brooke and constantly toggling between mean girl and party girl. Either way, she had never been very nice to you or anyone else (except Mouth) who wasn’t in the “cool cliques”. 

“Can’t one senior come over to say hello to her fellow senior?”

“When said senior has never spoken a word to this fellow senior? Then no.” You slammed your locker shut and moved past her to head to class.

“I’m speaking to you now.” She was keeping pace with you, great.

“Oh, well then let me put my entire day on hold since Queen Rachel is speaking to me.” You turned a glare on her. 

“Not queen, just…maybe a little royalty.”

You rolled your eyes again and kept moving. You were going to be late for AP Lit and you did not want to be late for that class. Mr. Barton had a rule that he enforced with an iron fist: one minute late, no class for you. He would lock the door and not unlock it again until the class was over. 

“As it so happens, I need a favor.” She was still following you.

“Oh, imagine that. A favor.” You still didn’t stop. 

“Oh, come on. For someone I’ve never spoken a word to before, you’re being awfully harsh, don’t you think?” She wasn’t wrong. The truth was that she intimidated you a little bit. And that was your go to when it came to intimidation: pushback and biting sarcasm.

“I’m late for class,” you threw at her. “And if I don’t hurry, I’ll be—”

She grabbed your hand and yanked you off to the side, right into the girls’ bathroom.

“What the— Rachel, what are you doing? I’m about to be locked out of class.” You hurried towards the door but she blocked you. “Rachel,” you growled. “The bell is about to—”

The bell rang before you could finish your sentence. You had now officially been marked absent from Mr. Barton’s class and you were locked out. Great. You were screwed.

“So you miss one class, big deal. It’s not like you’re flunking.”

You crossed your arms and sighed. “How would you know that?”

“I asked around. I make it my business to know. Now, about that favor.”

“That you made me miss one of my most important classes for.”

She laid a hand on your shoulder. “Don’t worry. Just tell Barton you had a girl emergency. He’ll offer you a make-up paper before you can get out the word ‘tampon’. Besides, it’s not like you’ll be lying to him exactly. This is a girl emergency.” She smiled, placing her hand on her hip.

You walked over to the gross looking tampon dispensing machine and gestured to it. “If you needed one, it’s right here. Are you out of quarters?”

She smirked and flicked her hair back. “I like you. It’s a shame we didn’t talk before this. I get the feeling we could have been friends.”

“A cheerleader hanging out with a loner? Yes, I can definitely see that.”

“You call yourself a loner?” She laughed. “You’re far from it from what I’ve heard.”

You narrowed your eyes at her. “And your emergency is?”

She pressed her lips together and sat on one of the sinks, swinging her legs back and forth as she settled. “I’m not sure how to ask this without sounding…you know, gay, so I’m just going to ask.”

Your heart started to pound at the word ‘gay’. Oh no.

“Will you kiss me?”

Your eyes widened and your heart stopped altogether. Was she for real? 

She gave you an encouraging smile. “It’s just to see if something Bevin said is true or not.”

“Bevin?”

“Yeah. We had class together last period and we had to do this stupid assignment together. She said this thing and now I can’t get it out of my head.”

“So let me see if I’ve got this right. Bevin said something to you in class during an assignment you both were working on together and that had you finding me, who you’ve never spoken to before, to push me into the bathroom with you to ask me to kiss you but not wanting it to sound gay. To see if what Bevin said is true or not.”

Rachel shrugged. “More or less. Yeah.”

“Right.” You immediately began opening stall doors, seeing no one was in here thankfully. You then began checking underneath the sinks, the bathroom mirrors, anywhere a recording device of some kind could be installed. 

“What are you doing?” She asked when you quickly looked under her sink. “I said a kiss not…that.” 

“Wouldn’t you be so lucky,” you snapped. “I’m looking for recording devices of some kind. Someone hidden in here who’s going to jump out and let me know I’m on Punk’d or Candid Camera or something. Maybe you’ve got a couple of the cheerleaders hiding somewhere with a camera to take a picture. Maybe Brooke and a couple of jocks are just waiting outside the door to laugh and spread rumors.”

Rachel crossed her arms. “You are way too paranoid, you know that?”

You shrugged. “Can’t be too safe, especially when it comes to high school. Especially this high school.”

“I’ll have you know that most guys would be dying for the chance if I gave it to them. if I asked them to kiss me, they would already be over here, all over me.”

“I’m not a guy in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Of course I noticed, that’s why I asked.”

“So, you’re just looking for any girl to kiss you. Is that it?” Lucky you.

“Not just any girl. You.”

“Why me?”

“I’ve heard the rumors.”

You tensed up. “What rumors?”

She leaned forward. “You know. And I know you’re into me, even if you won’t admit it.”

She was right; you weren’t going to admit it. “Right, right. Question, how did you fit through the door just now with that massive ego of yours?”

“That’s not the only thing of mine that’s massive.” As if to illustrate her point, she leaned forward a little more until you could see straight down her cleavage. Well, she certainly wasn’t lying.

“Alright, first off, those rumors aren’t true. Secondly, let’s say I do this for you. What do I get in return?”

“This is a favor, not a deal,” she scoffed.

“How long would this have to be for?”

She shot you a look and sat up. “Wow, talk about giving a girl a complex. Is the idea of kissing me really that horrible for you?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m merely trying to determine what I’m going to be asking in trade.”

“Now, it’s a trade.” She huffed a laugh in disbelief. A moment later, she glanced over at you. “Five seconds. No more, no less.”

“Okay then, what I want in return is this: you never tell anyone about this.”

“That’s what you want in return?”

“Yep. I want your word that you won’t whisper a word of this to anyone. When you go away to college and you’re experimenting or whatever, sure you can mention that one kiss in the girls’ bathroom one time, but not here in Tree Hill. Never here in Tree Hill. Or to anyone from here and that includes Brooke. Deal?”

She gave you a nod. “Deal.”

“Alright.” Now you were feeling nervous and self-conscious. “So do I, uh, just come over there or do you come over here or do we meet in the middle or—”

“Just come over here,” she ordered, impatience coloring her tone.

“Okay,” you muttered, moving over to her. 

Rachel studied you and you began to feel like an exhibit in a museum or something. “So, we doing this or—”

“Shut up.” She cupped your face and leaned in, pressing her lips to yours. 

You were sort of having a little meltdown in your brain right then. Rachel Gatina was kissing you. The beautiful, cocky, queen of mean, sexy cheerleader Rachel Gatina was kissing you. Ever since she’d arrived, she had been turning heads, even yours. You never had the courage to approach her or say hello to her, even at a party the two of you were at. Especially since she didn’t seem all that nice. Never mind the whole cliques thing, Rachel had been right; there were rumors going around about you. Most of the girls on Rachel’s side of the hallway so to speak avoided you like the Plague and only acknowledged your existence to make fun of you or gossip about you if somehow the rumors got a second wind (which you made sure they never did, not from you anyway). 

But Rachel was beautiful although personality wise, she wasn’t exactly your type. Though she did prove to be a lot smarter than she let on. You may have asked around yourself, overheard a few things. Plus, you had it on pretty good authority that she may have been the one to cause the whole time capsule business which then led to— You didn’t want to think about that. Now or ever quite honestly. Besides, Mouth had made you promise to keep it to yourself about the capsule. It was obvious that even Mouth had a crush on her. 

You counted down the seconds in your head as you enjoyed the softness of her lips against yours, the smell of her perfume, the feeling of her hands on your face. When you reached the end, you went to pull back but she tugged you back in. Not only did she keep you there but she deepened the kiss. You could have sworn you felt the edge of her tongue against your lower lip.

You continued counting in your head and by 27, Rachel finally let you go. You took a step back and watched as she held her fingers up to her lips, staring at you. Then she did the last thing you expected (or if you were being honest, you totally expected it). She laughed out, “Oh my God.”

There it was. You waited for the joke, for Brooke to pop out of a stall that she mysteriously appeared into and begin laughing and pointing, for the whole school to start filing into the bathroom, one by one, to join in the merriment. “Yeah, that’s usually the reaction I get,” you muttered, wiping your lips with your fingers.

“No, not you. I mean…Bevin was right.” She laughed again, seeming almost pleasantly surprised.

And there was the joke. “Great. Glad she was. Now, if I can be set free from this Bathroom Bastille, that would be awesome. Thanks for the laughs.” You gave her a peace sign and began to walk towards the door. You fully expected to find some cheerleaders or Bevin or Brooke on the other side of it.

“Hey! Hold up a second.” She jumped down from the sink and grabbed your shirt sleeve to stop you. “You don’t have to act like kissing me was such a revolting thing for you to do that you’re now relieved it’s over. You really do know how to give a girl a complex.”

“I know how to give a girl a complex? You’re laughing after you kissed me. What about that doesn’t give a girl a complex?”

She nodded, sticking her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “True. I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you.”

You arched a brow over at her.

“Scout’s honor.” She stuck two fingers up in a gesture that you were pretty sure they didn’t use in the Scouts but you kept that observation to yourself. 

“Then what were you laughing at?”

She looked uncomfortable then and you had to wonder if she had been telling you the truth just now. “That Bevin was right. …And not.”

“Right about what?”

She bit at her lip. “Okay, here’s the thing. I don’t know you just like you don’t know me. So if I tell you this, you can’t tell anyone at all. Even if they’re not from Tree Hill. Like ever. Got it?”

So, she also had a secret that she didn’t want getting out. You could understand that. You held up your fingers in the actual Scout’s honor sign. “Got it.”

Rachel looked uncomfortable again but her discomfort also seemed to be tainted by a little sadness. “I was telling Bevin that I never really feel anything with the guys I sleep with.” Ah, you knew where this was going. “I mean, I got this new body and everything but it didn’t change anything. Except for how they looked at me.” She bit at her bottom lip again which you were starting to see may be a nervous gesture on her part. “So, Bevin said she always wondered what it would be like to be a guy, checking out chicks. And I said that might be my problem, maybe I was into girls.”

You kept your face carefully neutral but inside you were half-shocked, and half-not so shocked. 

“She kissed me on the spot which totally took me by surprise, and asked if I felt anything. I told her I didn’t because I really didn’t. She said if I was into girls then I would’ve felt something because she’s a great kisser and I’d be into her.” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at that one. Maybe Bevin was a great kisser like she boasted but that wasn’t exactly how it worked. You would know.

“And you weren’t?”

“No,” she snapped. “I like Bevin well enough but no. The class ended and that was it. But then it got me thinking.”

“Ah. You thought you’d go to one of the girls rumored to be gay in this school and ask her to kiss you, you know just to make sure.”

“Well, not to put too fine a point on it but yeah.”

You snorted. “Well?”

“Well?”

“Did you feel anything?”

She looked uncertain for a moment so you figured the answer would be no. But then she surprisingly took a step closer to you, giving you a hint of a smile that was absent of her usual cockiness. “Yeah, actually.”

“So according to Bevin’s vast array of knowledge in these matters, you must be into girls then. Mazel Tov. I’ll see you around, Rachel.” You turned to leave, eager to put this whole thing behind you, when she gently grabbed your arm. 

You sighed and turned back. “I did what you asked. I don’t get why—”

Rachel leaned in, kissing you again. 

When she broke away, your brows drew together. “Uh…?”

“Did you feel anything?”

Hell yeah, you did. You felt that down to your toes. But you weren’t about to tell her that. “I, um… It’s really hard to tell. I might need further exploration on the subject.”

She let you go and gave you a look. “Really?”

“Yep. As a matter of fact, I’m going to go find another cheerleader and shove her into a bathroom to make out with her so I can find out. Great idea, Rach. Thanks. Later.” You went to leave when she grabbed you again.

Smiling at you, she pulled you closer. “Shut up.” She kissed you then and you couldn’t help but kiss her back.

You glanced up when you heard the bell ring again, signaling you needed to get to your next class. You groaned and it wasn’t because Rachel’s lips were attached to your neck. You both were currently in a stall with her in your lap (because she refused to get her clothes dirty sitting on a gross toilet seat though she was slightly taller than you with the heels she was sporting, which made positioning awkward at times) and you literally had been making out now for most of the period. 

“I need to get to my next class.”

“Skip it,” she breathed before kissing you again.

“I can’t skip it,” you panted. “I already missed one class while you’re having your gay awakening.” 

She pulled back, scowling at you. “I’m not gay.”

You inclined your head at her sitting in your lap. 

She shoved her hair behind her ear. “That doesn’t mean I’m gay. I’m just…trying new things.” She gave you a bright smile. “Besides, if I was gay, don’t you think I would have enjoyed kissing Bevin?”

“Yeah, that’s not how that works.”

“And you would know.”

“Says the girl who’s currently sitting on my lap and has been trying to convince me to meet her at her house later so she can get me into bed.”

She wrapped her arms around her neck. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Brooke won’t be there if that’s what you’re worried about. She has a date tonight. And I need to find out if those rumors are true.” She leaned in to place a kiss to the corner of your mouth.

“I hate those rumors,” you muttered.

“Why? They’re not true?”

“What do you think?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Good point. So is it or is it not true that you and Donna DiLorenzo went all the way in the eighth grade at summer camp?”

You couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Summer camp? How cliche.”

“So they’re not true then?”

You shook your head. “No. Donna and I were just friends. And I never went to summer camp.”

She shrugged. “Fair enough. But obviously, the other part of the rumor is true.” She smirked and ran a finger along your jaw.

“That I’m a raging lesbian who’s always on the prowl for girls? No. Sorry to disappoint but your friend Brooke made all of that up.”

She didn’t say anything to that. How could she? “But if you’re making out with me, then—”

“I like both guys and girls. That’s the real truth. Which goes without saying, is to be kept secret along with this whole little makeout session and what you told me earlier. It all goes into the vault, for life. Got it?”

She nodded, that cocky smirk making a reappearance. “So I really can’t convince you to come by tonight once Brooke leaves?”

You heard the bell again and you let out a huge groan. “That’s two classes now.”

“You have me on your lap, asking you to come to my house later so we can continue this, and you’re worried about class?” She actually seemed insulted.

“Yes. Because I don’t need the absences which will turn into zeros when they realize I’m cutting.”

Rachel studied you for a moment and flicked her hair back, holding onto you. “Well, since you don’t have to rush off now. Care to feel me up?”

You arched your brows in disbelief, silently asking if she was serious, to which she only smiled wider. “I hate you,” you muttered.

“You certainly have a weird way of showing that.” She ground into you and interlocked her fingers at the back of your neck, grinning. “Come on. You know you want to. They’re a hell of a lot bigger than Donna DiLorenzo’s,” she teased.

“Like I said, I hate you, and I wouldn’t know.”

“You’ve had your hands on my ass for the last half hour. While I’m flattered, don’t you want to feel what my other attributes feel like?”

“You mean holding onto your ass to keep you from falling? You’re welcome.”

“Come on.” She reached down and began to lower the straps of her tank top, her jacket having been hung up on the back of the door long ago. 

You stopped her. “If I agree to drop by your house later, can we stop this ridiculous conversation in its tracks?”

She shrugged, moving her straps back into place. “I wouldn’t call it ridiculous but sure. Brooke’s date is picking her up around 8:00. Why don’t you swing by around 8:30?”

Your jaw tightened. “If this turns out to be some elaborate prank with cameras and people popping out and Brooke, I swear, I will go nuclear on your secrets. The vault won’t be able to withstand the heat of that explosion.”

“You are so incredibly paranoid but got it, loud and clear. For the record, I wasn’t inviting you over as a prank. I’m not Brooke,” she finished in a whisper. She then cleared her throat. “As it turns out, I am inviting you over to watch a movie.”

“Awww. You’re going to show me your Girls Gone Wild collection? How sweet.” 

She swatted your shoulder. “Shut up. I’m talking about that movie The Grudge. Have you seen it?”

You shook your head. “Didn’t really want to if I’m honest.”

Her smile grew. “Perfect.” She leaned in and kissed you, chuckling into your mouth when she moved your hands from her ass to her breasts. 

You squeezed them for good measure and muttered to her lips, “There. Very nice. Happy now?”

“Not yet.” She launched herself at you, kissing you deeply. You barely heard someone knocking on the bathroom door for the fourth time since this whole thing started, and you had stopped counting the seconds in your head long ago. Rachel Gatina was making out with you and she was inviting you over to her house later to “watch a movie”. There was no way in hell you were passing that up or paying attention to anything else (even if you had been dying to see The Grudge since you missed it while it was in theaters). You had missed two classes for Rachel’s experiment, after all.

That made you pull back for a moment. “I can’t miss another class, though.”

She nodded, panting. “You agreed to come over later so, yeah. I got it. But you still have forty five minutes.” She gave you that wicked smirk again before moving back in.

You moved your hands back to her ass and she moaned into your mouth though you could feel the smirk against your lips right before. You didn’t know Bevin Prince very well but damn if you weren’t going to send her some kind of gift basket as a thank you.

Please let me know if you would like to be tagged for this character.

dividers by @firefly-graphics

banner by @cafekitsune

[waywardxrhea]

Brooke's Tuna-Tober 2024 Masterlist

Hey everyone! I was recently brough into the ranks of the ever wonderful Murdock's Tuna Team discord server and the legend @pastafossa came up with a list of prompts for us to write for the month of October! Instead of it just being angst or fluff or kinky, we have all three options per day and can choose one or combine to our heart's desire! I have a wide range of characters that I came up with ideas for a lot of the days and I can't wait to share them!

My little disclaimer as usual is that I am working part time and going to school part time, so I may not be super on time with posting day by day, but dangit, I'm gonna get everything posted that I have ideas for! It may end in November, but it'll be fine! I have also taken some of the days off because the muses weren't feeling them or any of the backup prompts, whoopsie!

Anyways! without further ado, my tentative list of writings for Tuna-Tober!

All pieces are written as character x fem!reader unless specified otherwise!

Day 1: Falling asleep in a hospital room (angst) - Spencer Reid

Day 2: “Why? Why do you love me?” (angst) - Qrow Branwen x fem!OC

Day 3: Role reversal (smut) - Matt Murdock (self reblog)

Day 4: “This isn’t you” (angst) - Bucky Barnes

Day 6: “Shh, I’ve got you now. I’m here.” (angst) - George Weasley

Day 7: Nothing underneath (smut) - Matt Murdock

Day 8: Overstimulation (smut) - Matt Murdock

Day 10: A hug that lasts a little too long (fluff) - college!Matt Murdock x gn!reader

Day 12: “I did it for you” (angst) - Sabine Wren

Day 16: Against a window (smut) - Din Djarin

Day 17: Tickling (fluff) - George Weasley x gn!reader

Day 19: Touch starved (angst) AND “I’ll always be there for you” (fluff) - Matt Murdock

Day 20: There was only one bed (fluff) AND “You were made for me, weren’t you?” (smut) - TBD [may or may not get to this one]

Day 21: Fainting/collapsing (angst) - Spencer Reid (self reblog)

Day 23: Father (angst) - Sam Winchester

Day 24: Drunken confession (fluff) AND “Shh, do you want them to hear us?” (smut) - Dean Winchester

Day 26: Under the desk (smut) - Matt Murdock

Day 27: Near death experience (angst) - Sam Winchester (self reblog)

Day 28: [prompt switch out] “I'm in love with you, and that scares me” - Bucky Barnes

Day 29: Forehead kiss (fluff) - TBD headcanons for multiple characters [may or may not get to this one]

Day 30: Road trip (fluff) - platonic Winchester Brothers

Day 31: Blanket hog (fluff) - Matt Murdock

[shmalk]

hi there !! this post isn't obligatory to view my content, but i'd love to introduce myself to you !

MY REQUESTS ARE : OPEN !

ʕっ• ᴥ • ʔっ here is what you need to know ! : ̗̀➛

• im shmalk ! you can call me malk, blue, shmalk, whatever you like !

• i write about almost anything, if i haven't heard of it, i'll do my best to do some research and write it as best i can !

• i mainly do { x reader } but i will also write { character x character } !

CURRENTLY, I WRITE FOR :

COD CHARACTERS :

simon riley, johnny mactavish, kyle garrick, john price, kate laswell, phillip graves, könig, horangi, valeria, alejandro, rudy, and farah karim.

ONE PIECE CHARACTERS :

luffy, zoro, sanji, nami, nico robin, brook, ace, frankie, trafalgar d law,

HARRY POTTER CHACTERS :

[ others ] newt scammander, tom riddle

[ marauders era ] james potter, sirius black, remus lupin, peter pettigrew, regulus black, lily evans,

[ golden era ] harry potter, ron weasley, hermione granger, neville longbottom, seamus finnagin, dean thomas, george weasley, fred weasley, charlie weasley, bill weasley, percy weasley, ginny weasley, cedric diggory, draco malfoy, blaise zambini, mattheo riddle, theodore knott, lorenzo berkshire,

TWILIGHT CHARACTERS :

[ vampires ] edward cullen, alice cullen, carlisle cullen, bella swan, jasper hale, rose hale, emmet cullen

[ wolves ] jacob black, paul lahote, sam uley, quil v ateara, jared cameron, embry call, seth clearwater, leah clearwater,

[ humans ] charlie swan, tyler crowley, mike newton, eric yorkie, jessica stanley, angela webber, lauren mallory,

[lo-diehards]

2024 TV Season Analysis – Organized Crime Tops the Franchise, Law & Order Better, SVU Needs an Overhaul

The 2023-24 TV season has been a truncated TV season of 13 episodes, due the ongoing WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes that happened last year. A lot of scripted TV was back burned until the strikes ended. TV writers struck their deal first and were back to work promptly, long before actors/actresses, this should have given time to plan out their already short season. Production crunched for 13 episodes to be shot between late November until this coming week, where SVU and mother ship reboot will be wrapping up shooting their finale episodes.

But where does this season grade in its entirety? I’m going to summarize – as much as I can - my views on where the franchise stands for this season from best to worst. Click below to read.

Organized Crime – The best in the franchise creatively, hands down!

New show runner/executive producer John Shiban (The X-Files) and his writing staff understood their assignment and have definitely delivered. Organized Crime is the most entertaining series in the franchise this season, week-over-week. The storylines are so fleshed out and they don’t drag on as they had since the series started. Shiban has shifted focus to the OC main characters and their backstories as well as expanding on the OC unit in its entirety. We’ve even seen 2 of SVU’s former stars show up (Tamara Tunie, Chief M.E. Melinda Warner / Dann Florek, Donald Cragen) as well as an appearance by Peter Scanavino (ADA Dominick Carisi). We have even been introduced to more of Stabler’s family, his brothers – portrayed by guest stars Dean Norris and Michael Trotter – and while they’ve come in and shook things up for Stabler, one thing I can point out, it’s the first season since OC premiered where I haven’t felt that Elliot Stabler is on a quest for vengeance or retribution of some kind.

The cast has been firing on all cylinders this season, especially with the episode that just aired last week (“Crossroads”), where one of OC’s new team members went missing and was found to be killed, Stabler having the bury his body as he is undercover with the group that found Detective-in-Training Samir Bashir (guest star Abubakr Ali). This story is still playing out so as of now we don’t fully know who killed him but I’m sure we’re about to find out. Stabler’s younger brother, Joe Jr. may have some involvement as the investigation is about to come full circle. Meanwhile, the scene in question in this episode has Christopher Meloni and Danielle Mone Truitt deliver their most powerful scene together yet in the series and they have delivered quite a few, this one stands out though.

Excellent only begins to describe it, and Organized Crime this season. Organized Crime has yet to be renewed for the 2024-25 TV season.

Law & Order (reboot) – It’s improved, but we still have a ways to go.

There is a lot to be said of the mother ship series, both the original and this reboot. But this reboot has seen a lot in its short time on air, in this short season alone the cast has changed twice already. Jeffrey Donovan (Detective Frank Cosgrove) and the series parted ways weeks before production was set to start and veteran Sam Waterston (District Attorney Jack McCoy) chose to depart before mid-season. Sam Waterston is/will greatly be missed and he leaves behind a full legacy on the show, which he joined in 1994! Meanwhile newcomers Reid Scott (Detective Vincent Riley) and Tony Goldwyn (District Attorney Nicholas Baxter) have been welcomed by fans with open arms. The cast of the reboot no matter which season is very solid and they are all very talented, but their talents often seem crippled.

The reboot seems to have an issue fleshing out the characters. Det. Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and ADA Sam Maroun (Odelya Halevi) – and add DA Nick Baxter (Goldwyn) to me, week-in and week-out are the unsung heroes as with them we can see depth, we can understand why they make the decisions they make or feel the way they do on certain topics. I’m still on the fence about Riley’s development but he’s definitely has a more solid partnership with Shaw than Cosgrove did, and he certainly is a better character. I think they’ve got a great detective duo here – reminiscent of that of Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) in season 18. From about the third episode this season on up, there has been an improvement in the writing, I must say in comparison from where the season started. Most of the episodes this season seem to have one singular writer who stands out, Pamela Wechsler, who also serves as executive producer. Girl power!

What can help the reboot:

The writers need to get away from talking points and political affiliation when it comes to the characters and even the weekly storylines - looking at you show runner Rick Eid - it makes the characters come off as caricatures and stereotypes. And maybe not directly rip the episodes from the headlines near verbatim. It takes away from it if we already know how it plays out – where is “the Law & Order twist?” They need to deep dive into Vincent Reilly, Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy) and Kate Dixon (Camryn Manheim); we have talented actors on here, give them something that makes us stand up and clap and relate to these characters and stop making them one-dimensional, especially ADA Price. I must say I’ve been enjoying the legal side a bit more with the addition of Goldwyn’s Baxter, his back-and-forth every week with Price has a feel of the original series run, where we see multiple points of views on cases and it doesn’t feel/sound like rhetoric. And speaking of that run, it wouldn’t hurt for them to find ways to invest those old characters in the reboot. Just because Sam has departed doesn’t mean we still don’t want to see old faces or even faces from the other L&O series show up. Elisabeth Rohm (ADA Serena Southerlyn) and Milena Govich (Det. Nina Cassady) have directed episodes! Raul Esparza and Hugh Dancy both starred in Hannibal, I could see former-ADA now Defense Attorney Rafael Barba sitting at the defense table and likely wiping the floor with Price! Tony Goldwyn even wants Mariska Hargitay to direct an episode. Let’s make the mother ship enjoyable to watch again!

It was renewed for a 24th season (4th for the reboot). The mother ship has a second chance at greatness and to continue its legacy on television, not a lot of shows get that. It would be wise that those in charge on mother ship remember that.

SVU – The 25th milestone season ranks as one of the worst.

I originally had a two-page long document on this season of SVU alone and I’ve had to shorten it down and it’s still not that short. But if I had to describe the 25th record-breaking season of SVU in 1 word, that word would be “bad.” There are calls on social media for show runner/executive producer David Graziano to be fired from the series. I’m not one to openly call for people to lose their jobs, but clearly there is something wrong and the downward spiral of the ratings mixed with bad press for SVU episodes this season is showing that. Nothing about season 25 jumps out as milestone season and there are only a handful of episodes as of now, that I would consider episodes worth going back to watch again: “Tunnel Blind”, “Duty to Report”, “Probability of Doom”, and “Children of Wolves” which was directed by Mariska Hargitay.

It’s the writing and direction of this season, period. There is no other reason or excuse that flies. There is clearly no investment from the management level behind the scenes at SVU in this milestone season being the best it could have been. The Maddie storyline overtook the season and its resolution didn’t exactly hit the mark either. Where is the retrospective? Why haven’t we gone over past cases? Seen former victims/survivors (other than 2 minutes worth of Maria from “911”)? Why did Olivia stop seeing Dr. Lindstrom (Bill Irwin)? Where is the ‘healing?’ The guest stars? We haven’t seen any former stars, other than Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins), and that proves to me that it was a mistake to fire her in the first place. “Where is the energy? Where is the spatter? This is life-less dreck. A cheap knock-off…” (diehard SVU fans; if you know, you know). But seriously, nothing about this season overall screams “25 years!”

With the season opener, I was sure David Graziano and the writers turned the page on the mess that was most of the entire 24th season of SVU. Turns out I was wrong to think it. It seems to be doubled down. It’s proof that despite his behavior, he’s just not a good fit for SVU. He doesn’t seem to understand how to write for this show and be the voice of who women/people look up to and the voice that victims and survivors need. I honestly think he would serve better on a Criminal Intent reboot or something since he seems to like that aspect of the crimes more so than investigatory and the legal side – Peter Scanavino’s screen time has greatly decreased and well as legal scenes.

What can help SVU:

A lot of damage is done, but it’s not irreversible. The best call is to replace the person at the top if they aren’t going to change themselves, (sorry but not sorry David). The popular eras of SVU are seasons 3-7 and again 13-17 and for good reason; Neal Baer and Warren Leight remain the two people who have seen SVU at their peaks. Going into a record breaking season 26, someone who can understand the intricacies of SVU needs to take the helm and get this show turned around. Focus needs to be on steadying the storylines and fleshing them out in a meaningful way to where they connect and not have crucial bits just disappear into thin air. We need to get SVU’s focus back on uplifting the voices of victims and survivors and their journeys, as well as to delve deep again into the world of the NYPD SVU squad. It’s not just about “rape case of the week” the actual SVU deals with kidnappings, crimes against the children, the disabled/elderly, working in conjunction with the Hate Crimes unit/federal govt., trafficking and more, let’s get the variety back in the crimes – and let’s stop showing the crime taking place on screen and in graphic manner. The crime scene analysis, forensics, court scenes and legalese needs to be put back into this series, I’ve honestly felt it decrease even before S24 as far back as some S22.

We need to see Carisi navigate through these cases and the back-and-forth with the defense as well as in his own bureau. We’ve yet to see Carisi interact with the district attorney (Jack McCoy, Sam Waterston – now Nick Baxter, Tony Goldwyn) much like his preceding ADAs. Benson’s character needs to go back to therapy and deal with her issues head on (Lindstrom, Bill Irwin), she had done that up until EDMR in season 24 became her new way and it’s not working for her, since the writers seem to use it now as a crutch to say “she’s healing” but then turn around and have her do things to suggest otherwise. Benson also needs to be written as a leader and delegator more so than taking every case away from her “squad” and solving them personally. Actually from a story standpoint it would be great to see Benson face repercussions for continually doing this, in the real world that would have consequences as how can she personally investigate cases and run the unit?

And with the unit, their stories need to be dissected more. Velasco (Octavio Pisano) in particular, he had an edge in season 23 as the new guy that might be a snitch for the Chief of Detectives (McGrath, Terry Serpico) but in season 24 they pushed this character into a corner with liking Detective Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett, who departed last season) and the Chilly storyline last season and can’t seem to get him out of that corner. Velasco comes off as “just there” much in the way Fin (ICE T) is starting to. And where is Phoebe (Jennifer Esposito)? Detective Bruno and Captain (to-Detective or Chief?) Curry (Kevin Kane and Aime Donna Kelly) are pretty much holding down the squad and are actually the more I look to, to solve the cases and they are the only ones peaking my interest.

SVU is heading to record-breaking season 26, if they want to reach their goal of stopping at 30. Dick Wolf, NBC and those behind the scenes need to get serious about it if that is what they really want. Otherwise, you’re about to have long-time viewers and new viewers alike turning away. Despite what people believe about ever-lasting loyalty, it does have an end date.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to respond!

[reigningqueenofwords]

Doing the Math

Pairing: Dean x Reader, Sam x Reader

Final part of Welcome to the Family

Dean had his suspicions about Brooke that started to creep in around the time that she turned two. He had walked in one Saturday morning after a hunt to see her sitting on the floor. When she turned and smiled at him, with her shaggy brown hair and big hazel eyes, and it was like looking at Sammy all over again. He told himself that it was because she was a Winchester. Brooke was his little girl, so he shook it off, and moved on.

“Daddy!” She got up and ran into his arms, excited to have him home.

His heart melted as he lifted her up. “Morning, princess. What’re we watching?” Dean asked, moving to sit on the couch with her.

“Cartoons.” She giggled, saying it like it was the silliest question she had ever been asked.

Hearing her yell ‘Daddy’, you smiled. You were currently making yourself a cup of coffee, wearing one of Dean’s shirts and a pair of sleep shorts. Picking it up, you moved towards where you had left Brooke. “There’s my handsome husband.” You said softly, looking at him with so much love.

Dean looked over at you and his face lit up. “There’s my gorgeous wife.” He smirked.

“How was the hunt?” You asked, moving to sit with them on the couch. He’d been gone just about a week, so there had to be something interesting to tell.

Brooke was almost four when you got sick. It was Sam’s turn to be off on a hunt, as Dean had done the last one, so he was playing nurse. Nothing was helping, and he was getting worried. It came and went, and that’s when it hit you. “I’m pregnant.” You whispered to yourself, unaware that Dean was nearby. Your eyes were staring at nothing, trying to wrap your head about this.

“You’re pregnant?” He asked, sounding excited as he moved towards you.

Looking up at him, you nodded. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.” You told him. “It all fits.” Of course you had wanted more kids, but planned. This took you by surprise.

Cupping your cheeks, he kissed you gently. “How far along are you?” His green eyes lit up, looking forward to everything that would come after this.

You quickly did the math in your head and felt like you’d be sick. Licking your lips, you knew this was the end. Dean was about to find out about you and Sam. “Eight weeks.” You breathed, watching the look on his face go from love and excitement…to confusion, pain, and then rage.

Dean shook his head, backing up. “What?” He asked, his own tears starting. “That can’t be right.” His gut told him he’d known for years, but he still didn’t want to believe it. “I wasn’t even home.” His voice was dangerously low. You were shaking, your world falling apart. “Brooke isn’t mine, is she?” He asked, and you could hear the heartbreak.

Closing your eyes, you shook your head. “She’s Sam’s.” Your voice was just above a whisper.

He ran his hand through his hair. “Are you fucking kidding me?!” Finally, the rage was being heard as he yelled, making you jump. “How long have you been fucking my brother?” He asked, jaw clenched. When you didn’t answer quick enough, he got a bit closer. “HOW LONG?!”

“Since after I came back from hell.” You choked out.

Nodding, he started pacing. “So, I’ve been raising Brooke as mine, did Sammy know that she’s his?”

“No.” Which was the truth as far as you knew. You’d never told him, and he’d never asked.

“And now, here you are. Pregnant with another of Sam’s kids.” You’d never had him look at you like that before. “Now, I don’t care what you fucking do with Sam from now on. Brooke is staying here with me. She is my daughter, she is MY little girl.” His eyes locked with yours. “The only time I ever want to hear your voice again will have to do with her.” Your cheeks were wet with tears, your heart shattering. It was your own fault, and you knew that. “Move your shit out of my room. I’ll deal with Sam when he gets back.” He growled.

A week had passed since you’d moved out of the room you had shared with Dean. No word from Sam- not a text, or a single call. Brooke was too observant for her own good, knowing that mommy and daddy were ‘mad’ at each other, and sleeping in different rooms.

No matter how much you prayed to Cas, he never showed. Just like every night, you’d prayed to Cas, and then cried yourself to sleep. It felt like minutes had passed before you were woken up by the sound of your phone ringing.

It was Sam’s ringtone.

You were instantly wide awake, grabbing your phone. “Sammy?!” You gasped, your heart nearly pounding out of your chest.

“Uh, no…” Came a voice that was most certainly not Sam. “My name is Hank. I think your buddy is dead.” Your heart sank, taking your stomach with it.

“Wh-what?” You asked, getting out of bed quickly.

Hank chuckled. “That all you have to say?” The voice had changed, sounding disgustingly happy as he spoke. “I tell you that I think your buddy is dead..and you only ask ‘what’?” He laughed. “So, since the cat’s got your tongue I guess I’ll just give you the good news. Sam Winchester is dead.”

Tagging: @callsign-ember

[yet-another-deanw-girl]

Chapter 2: Protocol EG-64 initiated

||The Prophecy Series||

She knew for 15 years that this day would come. She knew her destiny had already been written. That her death had been foretold.

She knew she would have to stop him. She knew she would have to kill him. And she thought she was prepared for all of it. But the day she met him she realized how wrong she was…

Set in Season 10

Pairing: MoC!Dean x Female!OC

Warnings: the usual SPN, language, injuries

Episode mapping: After episode 4 of season 10 "Paper Moon"

Note: The events of this story are following season 10 of Supernatural and are taking place between October 2014 and July 2015. I tried to make sure that all the references to weapons, tech, etc. are accurate with the time period.

AN: This is my first time writing a fanfic but the story has been in my head for too long and it just needed to get out. I hope you like it.

AN: English is not my first language, I apologize for any mistakes.

I slowly regain consciousness and I’m overwhelmed by the familiar smell of the humid air.  I’m home…  But then the memories from the cabin come back to me.  I struggle to open my eyes but I'm fully awake and I focus on hearing the silent conversation coming from the other side of the room. "What were we supposed to do? Drop her in some hospital? And say what? A bear attacked her?" Sam's voice is concerned. "She just saved our lives, Dean! She will be fine in a couple of days and then she'll be gone." "I know…" Dean sighs. "I'm just not sure if she is safer here with us... with me… or in a hospital on her own!" I'm finally able to open my eyes and start sitting up. "Hey, hey, easy there!" Sam says when he sees me and rushes to me. Dean stays in his place next to the door.  "You are safe here! We are not going to hurt you!" I managed to stop myself before responding with some sarcastic comment like "You should be worried about me hurting you!". I must not behave like the military trained special ops soldier right now. I must act like an American hunter. A little bit of politeness and a fake confusion would be the best way to go. "What happened?" I ask, looking down at my stomach. The wound was stitched up and bandaged. My jeans are covered in blood and my shirt is gone, leaving me only in my sports bra. Sam turns around and produces a plaid shirt from somewhere and I quickly put it on. It is way too big on me, so I roll the sleeves and tie the bottom to a node around my waist so the bandages are not visible. "You were injured by a werewolf while you were saving us. Thanks, for that, by the way." He smiles. "My name is Sam Winchester. This is my brother, Dean. What's your name?" My name? They have probably already found my fake ID. What was the name on it? Nadia? Natasha? "Natalie, Natalie Brooks. Where am I?" Playing 'damsel in distress' is not my favorite role. I'm far away from helpless and confused as you can imagine. But I just need to play the part and go on my way as fast as possible. "You are… ahm… Well, we live here. We didn't want to just drop you in a hospital." Sam explains. Dean hadn't said a word. Hadn't moved. He was just standing with his back against the wall next to the door, his arms crossed. Looking at me the whole time. Studying me.  I really need to go. Now! "Well thank you, for stitching me up. But I think it's time for me to go now."  Sam tries to stop me when I stand up on my unstable legs.  "I'm fine, thanks! I'll just go. I really don't want to intrude." I walk past Dean and open the door but before I run to the exit, I stop myself remembering, I was not supposed to know the layout of this place. I look both ways and turn around with a confused look. "Ahum... Can you point me to the exit? And…um… I suppose my car is not here?"

"Who are you?" I am sitting in the back seat of a black Impala. We have been on the road for about 40 minutes before Dean speaks to me for the first time. I'm looking through the window, lost in my thoughts, so I'm not entirely faking this time when I startle at his abrupt question. Sam looks at him with a scolding expression, like he is on the verge of lecture him for being impolite. I stifle a scoff and instead, put a confused look on my face. "What do you mean? I already told you who I…" Pain grips every nerve in my body. "Stop the car!" I hiss, grabbing at the door handle. "What the hell are you doing!!!" Dean exclaims. "Dean, stop the car! Something's wrong!" I can hear Sam saying. "Her nose is bleeding!"

Created with Microsoft Designer

I stumble out of the car and start moving back down the road frantically. My mind is trying to grasp what is happening. This is not possible. Not now! Not here! When I'm about a hundred meters away from the car, the pain suddenly stops. I gasp for air and when my breathing normalizes I hear the Winchesters running toward me. "What happened?" Sam asks, the concern in his voice even more evident from when I woke up earlier. I wipe out the blood from my nose ignoring the question and dig out my phone from my jeans back pocket. I already know what is going on but I open my navigation map anyway. The exact distance from the Men of Letters bunker is… 64 kilometers…  Fuck!  Fuck!  Shit!  Fuck! "What the hell is all of that about?" Dean asks, raising his voice. I take a deep breath and straighten my back. I knew this was coming. It was inevitable. And it is just the beginning. And, of course, it has to be the renowned Winchester brothers. "I asked you a question, damn it!" Dean growls.

I slowly turn around to face the boys. I compose myself despite the panic and dread in my chest.  My feet - slightly apart… my back - straight… my hands - clasped behind my back… my chin - parallel to the ground… my face - expressionless. I lock all of the feelings in the tiny little black box inside my head. There is no point in panicking… there is no point of feeling any of this… It is what it is… I had accepted that a long time ago… "I'll have to make a call first, and then I'll explain everything." Dean tries to argue, but Sam stops him.

"Commander! Where are you? You've missed your exit window." I hear the voice of the general on the other side of the line. It looks like I'm on speaker because I can hear the usual noises of the command center. "Sir, I just initiated protocol EG-64." The line goes silent. The entire room around him is deadly quiet. They are just standing there not knowing what to say. "Em..." I hear the general's gasp. "It's right on time, sir."  Another long time of silence. "Sir, I need confirmation." My voice is monotone, drained of any emotion, like a good soldier. The man on the other side of the line clears his throat. "You have confirmation. Initiating protocol EG-64."  Silence…  "Soldier!" The general says and I hear the familiar noise of a keyboard. Everyone else is just quiet... I can imagine their faces and the looks that they are exchanging… "Can I do anything for you, commander?" "Sir, I need official permission to disclose my full identity to the active members of the American Men of Letters - Samuel Winchester, born May 2, 1983 and Dean Winchester, born January 24, 1979." The brothers are staring at me with curiosity, distrust and disbelief. "You have permission. You know the rules - only the need to know information." "Yes, sir." "And… you have permission to disclose your identity to everyone that is involved with your task as you deem needed. Call if you need anything!" "Thank you, sir!"

Created with Microsoft Designer

There is nothing left from the confused and fragile girl that woke up in the bunker a couple of hours earlier. That was actually the thing bothering me about her. She had barged in that cabin, killing those werewolves… And when she woke up… She played… almost helpless… But not anymore… The person standing in front of me is the same small framed, 5 '7 tall, 115 pound woman, wearing the same bloodied jeans and my too big plaid shirt under her leather jacket, but she has the stand of a trained soldier.  Who, the hell, is she?  I knew something was up with her, from the moment she stormed in that cabin, but I was not able to put my finger on it until now.  I look at her closely. Her dark hair is held in a tide braid, her military boots are perfectly laced and going around her ankles, definitely not just a style choice.  It all makes sense now.  She was holding back.  She was trying to hide her training this whole time.

She is standing still like a rock the entire time she is talking on the phone. Not moving a muscle. Her expression is cold and distant, showing no emotions. "Yes, sir." …. "Thank you, sir!"

She hangs up the phone and puts it in her back pocket. Her right hand joins the left one behind her back.  "My name is Emilia Nikolova. I'm a tac team commander of The European Division of The Order." She recites with a monotone voice. "The bad news is that there is something wrong with your bunker. The worse news is that I'm going to kill one of you and the other one is going to kill me."

Chapter 3: The stand-off >>

||The Prophecy Series||

[sfb123]

Hands Down

Chapter 2: "Waves"

Catch up here!

Pairing: Liam x Riley

All characters belong to Pixelberry

Summary: Can Liam and Riley still find their way to each other despite Riley turning down Maxwell's invitation to Cordonia?

Rating: G

Word Count: 3,304

Song Inspiration: Waves - Dean Lewis

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out, life hit me hard the last month (both good and bad), but here it is. I promise I'll be better about regular releases.

A/N 2: Thank you to @ao719 for the song suggestion, and helping me work through some of the made up in my head issues.

A/N 3: This was not properly beta'd, so please excuse the many errors.

Tags are below the cut/in the comments. If you'd like to be added or removed, please let me know!

“His Highness, Crown Prince Liam Rys.” 

All conversations halted, and heads turned to the doors at the front of the room as Liam entered the ballroom. It was the final night of the social season, and he was only hours away from becoming the King of Cordonia. 

This also meant he was only hours away from having to announce which suitor would become his queen. 

He surveyed the room, observing each of the women, hoping for some sign as to who the right choice would be. He had spent the last few months with them at various events, spending one on one time with each woman, trying to make a connection or find a spark of something. He would always end up comparing them to her, and they would always come up short. 

But she wasn’t here. She rejected the invitation. 

Throughout the social season, his mind would drift to thoughts of Riley Brooks, memories of their night together. But that’s all they were, and all they would ever be. He had barely slept since the season began, spending his nights going over his options, trying to figure out who would be the best choice to rule by his side. 

Kiara Thorton, a polyglot with a natural sense of diplomacy. She would certainly be an asset in building relationships and alliances. But would she have the compassion and candor needed to win over the citizens? 

Penelope Ebrim, compassionate to a fault. However, her naivete would prove challenging during the more complex aspects of the job.

Hana Lee, a newcomer to Cordonian court. In the brief interactions Liam had with her, he found her to be kind yet incredibly timid and insecure. It was a toss up which one of them was least enthused to be a part of all of this. She was obviously there on her parent’s order alone.

Olivia Nevrakis, one of Liam’s oldest and dearest friends. She certainly cared for him, and he for her. But not the way a husband should care for his wife. Besides, she was a Nevrakis, a family with a checkered past in the Cordonian history books. She would be a controversial choice, questioned by many. 

And finally, Madeleine Amaranth, the top contender in the press and with the council, including Liam’s parents. She had been his brother’s chosen suitor, jilted when he made the decision to abdicate. It was an unofficial betrothal agreement when they were children, so she had spent her whole life in training to sit on the throne. Everyone was sure that she would be Liam’s choice. Everyone, except for Liam. 

While he did agree that Madeleine would be an excellent queen, there was something missing. He didn’t feel he could be the best king possible with her by his side. He needed a wife that would see him, and support him as a man, not just a king. He wanted to be able to retire for the evening and spend time as a family. He didn’t see that with Madeleine, her strength was also her weakness. He needed to be able to just be Liam sometimes, with Madeleine, he would always be the king. 

“Little brother!” Liam was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of his brother’s voice. 

“Leo? What are you doing here?” 

“I couldn’t miss your big night!” He clapped his brother on the shoulder. “So, have you made your choice?”

Liam sighed at the question. His choice would have been for Leo to live up to his birthright, allowing him to remain the spare and hold on to a small semblance of freedom. “You will see in due time.” He responded, not wanting to admit that he still hadn’t decided. 

“Oh, come on. Not even a hint?”

“How was the cruise?” Liam asked, diverting the attention away from himself. 

“Ugh,” Leo groaned. “It didn’t go quite as planned.”

“So that woman, the one Madeleine found in your bed?” 

“Yeah, she’s in someone else’s bed now.” He said nonchalantly. 

Liam’s jaw ticked, as his fists clenched at his side. The woman who had captivated Leo so much that he had abdicated the throne, and put all of this on Liam’s shoulders, was with someone else. Leo gave everything up for nothing. 

“Your Highnesses,” a voice interrupted before Liam could respond. The brothers turned to find a photographer holding up a camera to them. “Can I get a quick picture?” 

“Of course, my good man!” Leo threw his arm around Liam, pulling him to his side. Liam put on his most stoic smile, hiding all of the emotions that were flowing through him in that moment. 

Once the picture was taken, the photographer thanked the pair before bowing and stepping away. 

“I don’t regret a second of it,” Leo continued once they were alone. “Everyone comes into your life for a reason, she helped me to see that this wasn’t the life I was meant for.” He signaled to the opulence of the room around them. “I needed to step away and find my own path. I’m not there yet, but I’m figuring it out.”

Liam nodded, noticing the parallels in their situations. In that moment, it all clicked, and he knew exactly what his decision would be. “If you’ll excuse me Leo, I need to meet with father before the announcement.”  

“Of course, knock ‘em dead, bro!” 

As Liam walked across the ballroom, looking for his father, his mind began to race. Maybe Riley wasn’t the love of his life, maybe that night was just meant to be a sign. Perhaps he could have it all, be the best king he could be without sacrificing his happiness. 

“Excuse me,” Liam said, interrupting Constantine, who was deep in conversation with Madeleine's father. No doubt making plans for the impending engagement tour. “Father, if I may have a word with you, privately?” 

“You’re going to be making your announcement shortly, we can speak afterwards.” He replied dismissively. 

“Please, it’s urgent.” Liam insisted. 

Constantine excused himself from his conversation and followed Liam into his study, closing the door behind him. As soon as they were away from the eyes of the court Liam’s demeanor changed, he seemed anxious, pacing back and forth across the floor. Constantine attributed it to the changes he would be going through in the next hour, and was grateful that he was able to conceal those emotions when he was in front of others. 

“Godfrey and I were just discussing the engagement tour. We are going to begin in Fydelia, since it is the home of your future betrothed.” Constantine broke the silence in the room.

“I’m not choosing Madeleine.” Liam stated flatly. 

Constantine’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Well, there will certainly be some damage control needed, but it’s not the end of the world. Don’t tell me you’ve chosen the Nevrakis girl. I know you two are close, but she was only invited to participate out of obligation. She cannot sit on the throne.” 

“No, I’m not choosing Olivia.” Liam took a deep breath, preparing himself. “I will not be choosing one of the suitors.”

“But son, you need to be engaged to ascend the throne. You know I’m in poor health, I need to step down before…”

“That’s why I wanted to speak with you,” Liam interrupted. “I would like for you to make a change to the law. One final decree as reigning king.” He noticed his father’s trepidation, and continued speaking. “I just don’t think I can be the king Cordonia needs, or deserves, if I am married to one of those women. You know how important it is for a king to have the right queen by his side.”

“I do, that’s why I’ve been encouraging you to choose the countess. She has been preparing for this role since she was a child.” 

“So have I, I went through all of the same lessons that Leo did. I can be a great king on my own, until I find a queen that will be good for this country, and for me.” Liam pleaded with his father. 

Constantine studied Liam’s expression, he was steadfast and unwavering. “And if I refuse?”

“Then when I go up on stage tonight and I will announce my abdication. I believe the line of succession would then fall to the Nevrakis girl,” he mimicked Constantine’s earlier tone. “And you’ve made it quite clear how you feel about that.” 

The reigning king’s eyes went wide at Liam’s ultimatum. “You would throw thousands of years of tradition away over this?” 

“Over my happiness? Absolutely.” Liam’s expression softened in a final attempt to get his father to understand. “Cordonia deserves me at my best, and I cannot do that with one of these suitors, so I would rather step down than give them anything less.” 

“You are certainly a fierce negotiator.” Constantine observed. 

“I’ve learned from the best.” Liam replied, he smirked at his father, hoping to lighten the mood slightly. He was unsuccessful. 

“And where do you imagine you’re going to find this woman?” Constantine asked. “I will not have you plastering your personal information all over these dating websites I’ve been hearing about.” 

“No sir, I wouldn’t,” Liam assured. “I much prefer making a face to face connection.” 

Constantine stood in pensive silence, thinking about Liam’s proposition, but also studying his son. He was looking for even the slightest break in his expression, but there was none. Liam knew he was being tested and failing was not an option. 

“If I do this for you, you will make the announcement and deal with any of the fallout on your own.” He warned. 

Liam nodded in understanding. “Of course.” 

“Son, this conversation has shown me that you will be exactly the ruler this country needs.” Constantine placed a hand on his shoulder. “With or without a wife.” 

“Thank you, father.” Liam’s tone remained even, afraid his father might change his mind if he showed too much enthusiasm. Inwardly, he was screaming. 

“I will need about an hour to make the arrangements. You are to return to the ball, and keep this information to yourself. No one is to know until you step onstage and make the announcement.” 

“Yes sir,” Liam extended a hand, which his father shook briefly before pulling him into a hug.

“I’m proud of you, son.” Constantine said, patting him on the back before pulling away. “Now get out there and keep everyone occupied.”

Liam nodded with a smile, and returned to the ball feeling lighter than he had in months. 

As soon as he set foot in the ballroom, he was approached by Penelope, who asked him to dance. He obliged, and led her to the center of the floor. Penelope hadn’t stopped speaking once during their dance, but Liam didn’t hear a word she said. All he could think about was his announcement, and what this meant for him. He was one step closer to living his dream, and falling in love. 

Once the dance was over, Liam parted ways with Penelope and made his rounds through the room, his eyes intermittently flickering toward the door. As the time passed, his nerves grew, worried that his father may renege on their agreement. 

Liam was in the middle of a conversation with the Beaumonts when the music stopped, and a throat clearing over the speakers pulled his attention. He looked up to see his father standing on stage. 

Once the crowd quieted down, Constantine began to address them. “The moment we’ve been waiting for all season has finally arrived. It has been my great honor to serve Cordonia these last few decades.” His expression sombered as he continued. “We’ve had turmoil, but Cordonia has pulled together even during our toughest times. I couldn’t be more proud to have been Cordonia’s king.”

The crowd applauded as Constantine searched the faces for his son. When his eyes locked on Liam, he nodded. Liam took the signal and made his way to the stage. When he took his spot at his father’s side, Constantine continued. 

“I only now pass the crown to Prince Liam because I know he’ll carry on exactly as I have. I couldn’t ask for a better successor.” 

“Father…” Liam’s expression softened, touched by his words. 

“It’s true. I love your brother, but you are the king Cordonia needs.” He turned to smile at his youngest son before continuing. “You have more than proven that to me. Especially tonight. Today, I pass the royal signet ring to you. Cordonia is yours, my son.” 

As the crowd cheered, Constantine took a step back, standing beside Regina, as Liam took his place in front of the microphone. “Thank you all for being here tonight. This is an incredible honor and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I only hope that I can serve Cordonia with the distinction that my father did.” He turned to his father and step-mother, bowing to them before pulling them each into an embrace. 

“And now, the time has come, your prince will choose his bride.” Regina announced. 

“Actually,” Liam returned to the microphone. “In the interest of hitting the ground running, I spoke with my father earlier tonight, and he has put through one final decree as king.” Liam looked to his father, who nodded in approval. “I truly appreciate all of the ladies that participated in the season. Your grace and poise throughout the weeks has not gone unnoticed. Your unwavering support for this country is an inspiration. However, I will not be choosing a bride tonight.” 

The crowd immediately broke into gasps and murmurs as they took in Liam’s announcement. He looked out over the confused faces, taking in each of the suitors' reactions. Shock appeared to be the general consensus, until his eyes landed on Madeleine. Her expression remained impassive, but he could see the fire in her eyes before she abruptly turned and exited the ballroom. Liam did feel bad for her, this was her second time thinking she would become queen, and the second time the opportunity had been taken from her. 

Liam heard a throat clear behind him and he turned, locking eyes with Constantine. He didn’t have to say a word, Liam understood. He lifted a hand to silence the crowd. “If you will allow me to explain,” he said, once the noise had died down. “As I said, each of the suitors showed immeasurable grace and dedication to their country, all of which are crucial qualities for a queen. However, there was one very important qualification that I could not find. I was unable to connect with them in the way that a man should connect with his wife.” 

He paused for a moment, allowing a few whispers of confusion to ripple through the room. “I want to give this country my absolute best. To do that, I believe that I need to forge my own path, and find the right partner for me, and for this country.” 

Questions were shouted out rapid fire from the crowd, Liam once again raised a hand and waited for the room to quiet down. “I understand that there will be many questions and concerns, I will do my best to answer and address them all in due time. However, right now, we do need to proceed with this evening’s agenda. I appreciate your support, and look forward to continuing to guide Cordonia into greatness.”  

Liam ignored the lingering comments that were scattered throughout the crowd, and the evening went on as planned. He took his oath and was officially crowned the king of Cordonia. Despite the upset earlier in the evening, the tone for the rest of the event was full of cheer and hope. There were, understandably, lingering doubts about Liam’s decision, but the court had enough faith in him to be able to celebrate this moment for what it was, a new beginning for Cordonia. 

At the end of the night, once the guests had retired to their rooms, Liam sat on his throne, taking in the gravity of what had just happened.

“You know you don’t have to sleep on that thing, right?” The gruff voice of his best friend pulled him from his thoughts. 

“I know,” Liam responded. “I suppose I’m just letting things sink in.” 

“That’s fair,” he shrugged. “So what now?”

“Well, there will be a few interviews and photo ops with the press. I will need to be formally introduced to our allies and neighboring countries.” He paused for a moment. “I suppose we will need to rebrand what was supposed to be the engagement tour. I will work out the details in the morning.” 

“Yeah, let’s talk about that for a second,” Drake smirked. “What happened?”

Liam let out a humorless laugh. “Leo, of all things.” Drake looked at him curiously. “I was speaking with him earlier, and he was telling me about that woman from the cruise. It didn’t work out.” 

“Shocking.” Drake deadpanned. 

“Right? Well, he said something that resonated with me.” Liam explained Leo’s theory, and how it inspired him to stand up to his father, and forge his own path.

“That’s great Li, I’m really proud of you for standing up for yourself.” Drake congratulated his friend. “So when are you going to New York?” 

Liam’s gaze snapped up, meeting Drake’s. “What do you mean? Why would I go to New York?” 

“For the waitress.” Drake said with an arched brow. He knew Liam better than that. “That’s what all of this was about, wasn’t it?”

“Not quite,” Liam sighed. “Riley was my sign, not my soulmate. She made it clear that my feelings are not returned.” 

“What are you talking about? I’m pretty sure it was obvious to everyone but you that she was into you.” 

“Then why didn’t she accept Maxwell’s offer to join the social season?” 

“Seriously?” Drake slapped his palm against his forehead. “Listen, take a step back and look at it from her point of view. She has this whole life, a job, a family, friends, and you expected her to give all of that up and join this mess because of a couple of hours? Nobody in their right mind would do something like that.” 

Liam let out a deep breath, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter, the moment has passed. I’m sure she’s moved on.” 

“Li, you literally changed history for this woman. You mean to tell me that you’re not even going to try?” 

“I changed history for myself.” Liam corrected him.  

“Fine, you changed history for yourself, but it was because of her.” Drake rolled his eyes. “You’ve got a couple of weeks before the tour starts, right?” Liam nodded. “Okay, so take care of all the press and that stuff now, once that’s died down, fly out to New York and find her. If she’s going to reject you, at least have her reject you to your face so you know for sure.” 

A silence took over the room as Liam considered Drake’s words. 

“At least think about it.” Drake finally spoke up.

Liam locked eyes with his friend. “Thank you, Drake” 

Drake nodded and took his leave, not wanting to push any further. It was a decision Liam would need to make on his own. 

As Liam walked to his room, the king’s quarters, he found himself more conflicted than ever. He thought that his announcement would leave him feeling lighter, more at ease with his new role as king. However after his talk with Drake, he had so much more to think about. Should he return to New York? Was it possible that he could still have a chance with Riley? 

He needed to start focusing on his duties as king, but once again, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. 

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