#like Damien and my PM MC for example

[yourqueenb]

Yayyy 🥳🎉🥂

[the-unconquered-queen]

*This does not include LIs whose feelings for MC are necessary for the plot of the book, such as Liam in TRR or the MTFL LIs (because without theirs and MC's feelings for each other there's no story to begin with), just LIs who happen to like MC no matter how you play

[lizzybeth1986]

I’ve just dived into your perfect match posts, specifically the ones about the different dialogue for the various Haydens. Holy crap, PB put so much coding behind those and yet these days they can’t handle more than one meaningful romance route at a time, or get a GoC characters pronouns right.

Also I am just amazed at the depth you’ve explored some of these stories……wow!!!

Thank you Anon! I'm so glad to see my Hayden Young Project posts are still helpful, almost 4 years after I put it up! At the time I had planned an essay series to go with it, but I was too drained by the time I finished uploading all the screenshots to continue. Maybe one day...

But yes. Hayden was such a perfect example of customization done with purpose and thought towards the differences, while still giving the character itself a strong default core. No matter which trait/personality type you went for, there were certain things without which Hayden would never be Hayden: their questions about life, their thirst for knowledge, their fierce protectiveness, their desire to make sense of themselves and the world around them. They went through so much growth over the course of those two books.

Even so, in the larger fandom that effort and care for characterization was often ignored. More often than not, when PM was still playing, readers would find excuses to hate on Hayden and pretend they had no value. They spoke of Hayden as if they were an object, they hated on Hayden for normal emotional reactions - while their favourite Damien was hailed for his "incredible growth" even though we never once saw him apologize to the people he hurt - and even after the books ended, I would often see posts about how Hayden is "whiny" (fandom loved to wave around the "he's traumatized!" card for Damien yet waved away the abuse Eros had done on Hayden and the hostility they constantly faced like it was nothing). In fact, the whole reason I started the Hayden Young Project in the first place was because several stans (specially Damien stans) were lying notstop about how Hayden didn't have that many variations beyond the first few chapters.

For a character that really was crafted with a lot of care, the fandom clearly seemed reluctant to show any appreciation. And it's a pattern I see with a lot of the early customizable characters. They are far more easily written off as bland and boring and devoid of any development, meanwhile default white/exoticizable brown mains who get hundreds of diamond scenes yet still stangnate as characters - because their writers don't want to admit to their flaws - are hailed as the best written characters ever.

I definitely agree with your point about the current state of characterization in PB! (though a lot of my info is secondhand, so don't blindly believe me on this). I sometimes have a term for the way PB uses customization now - "bandaid customization". It has struck me, ever since I saw the note (post-BLM statement) from the company, as well as their one-year-later update, that they believe making their single main LI customizable is enough. But that doesn't allow for the character themself to explore aspects of their story related to gender or race (eg: TNA with an f!Sam skips over certain things related to sexism, that should affect her, but doesn't really) because the writers themselves seem unable to move out of the headspace that the "default" is definitely white and mostly male. And this is at a time when they prove that they KNOW how to change dialogue to reflect race or gender (eg. The D&D MC's responses to Luke when they discuss his father, or to Hamid when the two speak about racism). So you can get a black character, you can get a female character to romance...but it won't count for much. Because it's a lot more likely the writer is seeing a white and male main when they're penning the lines, and it shows...now more than ever.

Did these problems exist with the early customizables? Yes, definitely. But there was still a little more care and purpose to the way they were written, and not all the advancements PB has the ability to code in now were there before.

I call the currect state of customizable characterization "bandaid" because the company views this specifically as a solution for the lack of race representation, yet it really doesn't solve the core problem. But I may be wrong, and the new books that I haven't heard much about, could be better in this respect.

To go back to the subject of Hayden - not only was the PM team consistent about divergences in traits, but they also did the same for their different skills (polyglot, animal lover, music, massage). I found a number of incredible and really fun scenes that replaced a skill scene - my favourite one being Sloane trying to liven up our first real visit to their house with "baby-shower games" in PM1 Ch7 instead of us playing with Dipper 😄 Oh Sloane. You're such a treasure 💖

I just found the way they built Hayden so fascinating, and I wanted to share it with the fandom too...whether most of them wanted to admit to the value of such a character or not.

I definitely will try to get that essay series done, someday. Thanks so much once again, anon!

[mfackenthal]

The MFackenthal Show and Cordonian’s Gone Wild!

Anitah: Hello fabulous audience members!  We are so glad you’re here. I know it’s a little early for the show to start, but if you could please try to take your seats quickly and quietly, that would be super helpful.

Alicia: As you all know or can guess, we’re the guest stars for today’s show.  

Pam: But what you don’t know, because Megs doesn’t even know it yet, is that we are taking over today’s show!  

Gen:  So … really, we’re in a bit of a hurry here … we need to start this show before Megs gets on stage.  Can you freaking be seated already?!

Pam:  (whispering loudy to Gen) Yo, asshole, be nice to the audience.  

Anitah, Alicia, Gen, and Pam all take a seat behind or on the desk that Megs often sits behind to start her show.  

Anitah:  Sit, sit, sit, everyone.

Alicia:  Roll the cameras.  

Gen:  counting down using her fingers In 3 … 2 …. 1 …

Pam: Welcome everyone to the Cordonian’s Gone Wild edition of The MFackenthal Show!!!!

Anitah:  You may be wondering where Megs is - don’t worry, she’s in hair and makeup.  She should be out soon.  

Alicia:  For those of you who don’t know, I’m @leelee10898 - You can call me Alicia or Leelee, whatever you want.  This is @ao719 AKA Anitah.

Anitah: The other girls call me Nita so that works too.

Pam:  I’m @speedyoperarascalparty: Pam is my name.

Gen: And I’m @cocomaxley -  Genevieve or Gen or asshole.  Okay party people - Parties are not set up with an audience - so get your butts out of those seats, move your chairs to the left side of the room where the MFackenthal staff will help clear the room and bring in some more comfortable couches.

Anitah:  Then, help yourself to a glass of Maxwell’s Purple concoction.

Pam:  And don’t ask, we’re not allowed to share the recipe.

Alicia:  Seriously, as to what’s in it … just don’t ask.

Gen:  Anyways … everyone get a glass so we can raise a toast.

The audience scrambles out of their seats, following the directions as best as they can.  The whole room is quickly transformed, a disco ball is hung from the center, a dance floor being laid down in the middle of the room, couches are set up around the dance floor and there’s a table stage left with about a dozen punch bowls filled with Maxwell’s Purple Concoction.  

Pam:  Does everyone have a drink?

Anitah:  Everyone, please raise your glass.

Everyone raises their glass. The girls stand center stage - which is now the center of the room - and just as they’re about to raise their glasses, Megs comes walking out.  

Anitah:  To Cordonia!

Pam: And loyal, hot men!

The audience parts for Megs and the room gets quiet.

Alicia:  To … choices?  Why is everyone so quiet?

Gen:  Welcome to your show, Megs!  

All:  To Megs!!!!

The audience:  To Megs!

Pam hands Megs a glass of Maxwell’s drink.  Megs takes it and slowly does a full 360 looking around the room.  

The audience is cheering and clapping loudly.

Megs:  Damn, ladies.  If i didn’t know this was my stage, I’d never recognize it!  Tapping her foot, is this a dance floor?  Is this Maxwell’s purple concoction?  Do you know what’s in it?

The audience: Don’t ask!

Megs:  laughs.  Oooookay … well, the producers are telling me we are already rolling soooo …

Anitah:  So hello Megs and welcome to your show!  

Megs:  Welcome indeed!  Megs takes a sip of the drink and a steadying breath.  So … okay, well …

Gen:  Well, in case it’s not obvious - we’ve taken over your show.  We know what the people want-

Pam:  Don’t worry - we’ll give the people what they want.

Alicia:  So, just take another sip and let us take over.

Megs looks at the girls, shrugs her shoulders, looks around, and takes a seat next to an audience member.  

Megs:  Alright, ladies.  It’s your show.

Anitah:  Oh! That was easier than I thought it would be.  Alrighty!  So … ladies, what do we think the people really want to know?

Megs:  Looking away from the stage and putting a hand over her hand to muffle her voice, she loudly says:  What brought each of you to the fandom? Looking forward and feigning innocence Whoa, who said that?

Gen:  laughing real smooth Megs.

Pam: I was going through Drake withdrawals. It was between books and I needed a fix.

Gen: I found TRR after seeing numerous ads on social media for the Choices app. I spent a ridiculous amount of money to binge TRR book 1 and book 2. Then, like Pam, got super thirsty for Liam, sorry not sorry Anitah! I found AO3 first then after some google searches, I found tumblr.

Anitah: It was a total and complete accident! I was googling something about the game while (im)patiently waiting for a new chapter to be released in book 3 and I saw a link to a fanfic. I had never even been on tumblr before and had zero clue what it even was. But was so glad when I found this glorious fandom!

Alicia: @darley1101. Someone shared a damien fic she wrote on the choices fandom FB page.

Megs:  Oooh - here’s some insider information - @darley1101 has been booked to be on this show in the future.  Hey, so tell us - When did “Cordonian’s Gone Wild” get started?  How did it get started? What’s the real story here?  

Anitah: Seriously Megs - chill!  We’ve taking over!  But, great question!  So we all joined a huge chat group with what...10 other people? Lol. It was pure madness. Pam started writing one shots for people in that chat. Bringing their real selves into fics with their LI’s. And the four of us began talking in a separate chat and one night we were talking about how crazy, ridiculous and fun it would be if we all went to Vegas (with our pretend husbands because the IRL ones aren’t as much fun)

Pam: Or as 🍆

Anitah: So then I wrote One Night In Vegas...and we posted it just for fun and people really seemed to enjoy it. Do any of you remember who or how we got Cordonians Gone Wild?? Because I do not!  lol

Pam: Nope!

Gen: This was Anitah or Pam. I know that. But it worked out because we all had different LI's after I got thirsty for Rashad.

Megs: I wondered how Rashad came in to the picture and had to assume someone latched on to him ... or, don’t be mad ⁨Genevieve⁩ ... he was the “leftover” (straight) male

Gen: Actually this was @boneandfur’s fault. She wrote some Rashad one shots and I loved him after that.

Megs:  Ooooh, I wonder if she wants to be on the show?  Hmmmm...

Anitah: As we were saying … Then as we went on each of us kind of developed these character traits I think (feel free to chime in guys lol) but example...in Mardi Anitah steals the royal jet and that became her thing-  lol - so I always steal the jet and Liam gets pissed (which is exactly what I want)

Gen: Yep! I became the resident asshole which isn't too far off from real life. Actually it's exactly like real life.

Pam: Yea I mean, Pam is based off me. Gen and I realized we used to live right by each other in Illinois before I moved back to Michigan. I'm a marriage and family therapist. Went to Northwestern, so we wrote in Gen and I lived in Chicago together.

Anitah: Well, if I had a jet in real life I'd steal it…

Alicia: Shaking her head like she’s been zoned out … Actually I think I was the one who came up with the name lol. I remember mimicking it after girls gone wild.

Meg starts to get up to ask a question, but Gen is standing behind her and places both hands on Meg’s shoulders to push her back into her seat.

Gen:  If I know Megs, she’d now ask a process question, like How do you decide who writes for what couple?  Or how did you decide? Is it set in stone?

Megs glares up at Gen while she asks the question.  Then she nods and waves Gen back to stage.  

Pam: The couples are set in stone. They are our LI. Some of us are more committed than others..pam and anitah stare down gen and alicia.  Some should cower in shame.

Gen and Alicia appear to be utterly unphased.

Gen: (cackling) I can't help it! I have a soft spot for Mr. Sinclaire!

Anitah: Pam and I are just less adventurous.

Pam: Trust...honesty....FAITHFULNESS!

Anitah and Alicia mock Pam’s words and movements

Alicia: Leo Rhys is my husband and has my heart.... I just have a soft spot for, Colt, Logan, Matt, Adrian, Damien, Earnest.. am I forgetting someone??  Oh yeah Bryce and Beckett.

Pam: Cough..whore..cough

Alicia: sticks up middle finger

Anitah and Gen: continue laughing

Pam: We all write all the couples, but the pairings don’t change...even if avatars do

Gen: She's talking about you Alicia.

Anitah: As far as who writes for what couple, if it’s a group fic we all participate, but each of us writes the respective couple if it’s a one shot or what not.

Gen: Usually someone comes up with an idea and someone else will be like - I'll write it 🙋🏻‍♀️… Or sometimes it's crickets …

The whole stage gets super quiet, everyone seems to be listening for the crickets. Megs gets up and the four girls glare at her.

Megs:  No, no, I got it - your show.  Why don’t you all simply discuss who has read which choices books and what is everyone’s favorite while I go and refill my drink?  

Megs winks to the camera and walks to the table to get a refill.

Anitah: Oh god...there’s such a long list...

Pam: Anitah and I will sit this one out…

Gen: Prudes! I'll say it again, I love Mr. Sinclaire. But I've played AME, Bloodbound, VOS, TCATF, ROE (blah), PM and a bunch of others. But not a lot of the newer ones.

Alicia: Did you seriously just BLAH my husbands book?

Gen: Yes the fuck I did!

Alicia: The only one I have NOT read yet is most wanted. I have started the haunting of braidwood manor, both it lives and passport, but have yet to finish those. Otherwise I have read all books fully released and am up to date on current ones.

Gen: Most Wanted is so good!

Pam: Drake…

Gen: (pats Pam’s hand) We know, Pammy. We know.

Alicia: Some I have read numerous times.... like Ride or Die.... perfect match and blood bound…

Megs has come back to her seat.

Megs: Who is your favorite OTP?

Anitah: Liam x MC

*Everyone looks at Pam waiting for Drammy to be said 👀*

Pam: Drammy! I'm consistent

Alicia: Ah shit ummmmmm ...

Gen: Liam x MC

Alicia: Colt x Ellie

Megs:  Poor Rashad and Leo!  Shakes her head.

Gen: They’re fine.

Alicia:  Oh!  You know what we should talk about?  Ourselves!  Our jobs, our hobbies, our favorite things - what we do when we’re not writing …

Pam:  Okay then … when I’m not writing - I work, play with my kids, I'm a brownie troop leader for my 7 year old, I fantasize about Drake Walker

Gen: Working...always working. Jobs are stupid. And I have this part time gig called a husband and two teenagers.

Anitah: Playing with my kids, being annoyed by my irl hubby and photographer on the side.

Alicia: Be a mom and all the "Mom" stuff that comes along with it..... oh and work...

Megs: And for fun?

Anitah: Photography for fun. I love taking pictures and scoping out new places to take them.

Gen: I used to crochet a lot. I taught myself to cross stitch. I like hobbies that keep me away from electronics.

Alicia: ummm good question. Write?? Crafts. Garden. I actually really didn't know how much I enjoyed it until last year.

Pam: Writing is my favorite past time currently. I also like to do arts and crafts with my kids, cooking..not baking, just to be clear...I like doing home improvement projects, painting, playing with my kids, hanging with my IRL hubs. Also, auditioning for a spot on Nailed It.

Gen: OMG! The first communion cake! It was amazing!

Megs: I should have made you make us a cake to go with this punch, Pam.  Alicia mentioned favorite things … What’s your favorite work that you have written? Feel free to answer this as a group and about your work individually.

Anitah: Definitely NOLA is one of my favorites

Alicia: Same

Gen: NOLA was amazing!

Megs:  And that stands for???  

Anitah: Oh - New Orleans! I didn’t write it but it’s still one of my favorites

Gen: Max hugging Pams feet saying, “don't take my puppy, Bertrand.”

Anitah: Omfg I forgot about that part!

Alicia: NOLA, and Never Give Up.. does rhys smirk. That I've written Amsterdam.

Pam: I loved In Another Life, Amsterdam, Harry Potter

Anitah: I liked In the Doghouse too...it was rough but...angst🤷🏼‍♀

Gen: says the queen of angst.

Pam: Yes!!! Loved Doghouse

Alicia: Ooh and Christmas. With max and the cow

Pam: I liked Naked and Afraid, but it was a bitch to write. Dates was fun too. Hawaii...the dance🤤🤤🤤

Anitah: OMG YESS 😂🤣😂😂

Alicia: the vein

Anitah: (laughing) The vein(s)

Alicia: Yes. But it was the 1st time Leos Rhys’ vein was displayed

Pam: Pony will never be the same

Alicia: Leo naked tackles me in the water

Pam: Yep....Drake’s junk over my face...🤤🤤🤤 Guys...I think I might have an oral fixation. For real.

Alicia: no shit. And i mean that it the nicest way

Pam: I need something else to do with my mouth than suck Drake’s dick

Alicia: Suck his balls?

Pam: That could work...🍊🍊

Gen: And the crazy train just went off the rails…

Megs:  LOL, well - you can find a full listing of their work now showing on the screen here.  

Anitah:  Awh, thanks Megs!  Oh!  The producers are indicating that it’s time for a commercial break.  So we’re all going to refill our drinks and then we have another surprise in store for Megs.  Megs - don’t forget to refill your drink and then join us on stage after these messages.

<Insert a commercial for the sponsor of this and all content:  Choices by Pixelberry.>

The 4 ladies and Megs are now center stage.  Everyone’s glasses have been refilled.  

Pam:  Megs, as the hosts of your show and now that you’re two glasses of purple drink in - we have some questions for you!

Gen: How did you come up with the idea to do these interviews? I think it's awesome because it really helps get to know the other people in the fandom. Oh! And what's your favorite color?

Megs:  The idea behind these interviews came from multiple conversations I had with some friends, especially @tmarie82, @lizeboredom, and @maxattack-powell.  I wanted to give back to this community but I wasn’t inspired to write fanfiction.  So I talked with them about different ways I could give back.  I wanted ways that were non-competitive and ways that I could highlight the work of a specific author or visual artist.  Multiple people mentioned how awkward it could be to reach out and start talking over tumblr but that they were always interested in process and the lives of the artists and I was like - I have no shame in asking all of the questions!  Let me ask and share what I learn.  Then I did a follower post - I think I had maybe 100 followers?  Maybe 150?  People had to enter - so I figured it was self selecting group and I did my first interview.  The Ellen saw my interview and offered me her time slot.

Oh! … and my favorite color is mint green.  

Anitah: How do you read so many fics to do your reviews? It’s amazing that you take all that time to do that and signal boost these writers to the fandom!

Megs: Awh, thanks!  The true answer is two fold.  One - tumblr mobile on my iphone.  Two - I’m a huge nerd.  I wake up and pretty much immediately start reading.  I read in line at the grocery store.  I read while waiting for the programs we use at work to switch between screens - because shit if that doesn’t sometimes take 5 minutes.  Why should I stare at the screen while the wheel of death turns when I can read a couple paragraphs about the men in my life?

Pam: How do you decide what to read? Are writers or fics recommended to you or is it just luck?

Megs:  At this point - tumblr tags probably play a larger than appropriate influence on what I read. I tend to check my notifications first and start there.  I’m a sucker for having a conversation, sharing a joke, or getting a response from another person - be in the author or another fangirl or fanboy.  I definitely take recommendations though.  And, on the off chance that I can just choose what I read, then I go through my feed and see what strikes my fancy.

Alicia: What's your favorite thing you have read so far? And what is your funniest tumblr moment?

Megs: I have no clue what my favorite thing is that I’ve read.  There is so much amazing work … but before I talk about my own funnies - I will mention two stories that had me laughing.  One is by @hellospunkiebrewster called Blackouts and Bad Decisions and let’s just say that Bertrand has a tramp stamp.  If that doesn’t make you laugh - nothing will.  The other one was published far more recently by @laniquelovewrites.  It’s called The Lion Prince and it’s inspired by The Lion King.  I thought it was so funny that I read it to my husband.  Who also thought it was funny.  Hmmmm … as for my funniest tumblr moment … it’s probably been those times when I find a way to make an author’s characters ask for what I want.  Like in this post - where I pretend Ethan and I are changing the clocks in the author’s house so that I can get the next part of the story sooner.  I mean, I think I’m funny at least.

Well ... that’s about all the tim-

Pam: Oh Megs, Megs, Megs, not so fast.  Did you think that our big surprise was asking you questions?  No, the final surprise is yet to come.

Anitah:  Yes, Megs, with the help of your amazing audience, we are going to play …

Alicia:  drum roll please …

Gen:  Never Have I Ever - CGW on the MFackenthal Show edition!

Megs:  shakes her head and smiles So … how does this work?  Like, when do I have to drink?

The four girls look at each other and shrug their shoulders.

Well?  

Pam:  You drink when we tell you to drink.

Gen:  Yeah, down what’s left of that glass and we’ll get you another!

Megs:  laughs … okay, well, I’m already buzzed … uh, can I say that on my show?  … well, kids, everyone here is old enough to drink.  Don’t drink and drive.  Everyone who has been drinking will be taking a ride-share home!

Anitah:  Okay, first question from the audience … Never have I ever been on The MFackenthal Show

Gen: this is my first time! So do I have to drink to this or not?

Pam: Looks like I'm popping my cherry!

Anitah: I’m drinking.

Alicia: 1st time… I'll drink to that!

Megan: haha, well, not as a guest … takes a drink.

Anitah:  Second question: Never have I ever fantasized about a fictional character.

Gen: Omg! Who hasn't? Because I'm thirsty. Always thirsty for my pixelated men...I mean man.

Pam: Hahahahaha...snorting and laughing hysterically. Oh..wait...you're serious?

Anitah: all the time (chugs drink)

Alicia: *Guzzles drink*

Megan: anyone who says no is lying … takes another drink

Alicia:  Never have I ever cheated on my partner.

Gen: I've never cheated on my IRL hubs. I've never cheated on Rashad either. Mr. Sinclaire doesn't count! 😂

Pam: I won't even cheat in my pixelated hubby by playing other books or romancing other LI...I believe honesty and trust are the foundation of all good relationships. STOP ROLLING YOUR EYES, ANITAH!!

Anitah: Never cheated

Alicia: NO!

Megan: Nope! I have a hard time even “playing the field” in the choices games.  If I want to see what it’s like to be with another LI, I have to do another full playthrough.  

Alicia:  Never have I ever...had sex outside.

Gen: In real life, yes I have. In CGW I haven't. So I guess that's a draw.

Pam: Yes in real life and Pixelated life.

Anitah: (laughing hysterically) Well pixelated life we know the answer to that because...kinky king. And real life, yes.

Alicia: IRL yep. CGW Yup!

Megan: Indeed I have.

Gen: Never have I ever Given a blow job in public like Pam.

Gen: (hides face) yes. More times than I care to admit.

Pam: laughs...yea let's just say my hubby enjoyed one of the star wars movies intimately.

Anitah: eyes wide as she chugs her drink

Alicia: takes a drink silently

Megan:  *takes a big drink* shaking her head from side to side

Gen: Never have I ever said your fictional husbands name in a moment of passion?  ... No. Thought about during a moment of passion? All the time. Do NOT tell my husband.

Pam: In my head? Over and over and over...lol. I did however call my husband Drake once, just in passing. He was less than pleased.

Anitah: Not in a moment of passion but I have absolutely thought about it. I did however call my 3 year old son, who’s name starts with L, Liam, and he proceeded to correct me with his full name while giving me the stink eye.

Alicia: no. Have I thought about it…. Hehehehe

Megan: No. If I had, I’d never hear the end of it.

Pam:  Get to drinking, Megs!  Next question from the audience, never have I ever tried to see how many marshmallows can fit into my mouth.

Gen: Marshmallows, saltines, cinnamon - this was bad. Really bad.

Pam: can't say I have!

Anitah: I sure did.

Alicia: no, I have not

Megan: Marshmallows make me feel sick to my stomach. I tend to claim I’m allergic to them, even though I’m fairly sure that would mean I’m allergic to sugar.  LOL

Pam: Never have I ever given someone a lap dance/received a lap dance

Gen: not in public…

Pam: Oh I've been to A LOT of bachelorette parties..so yep!

Anitah: Yes!

Alicia: sorta

Megan: Yes … my husband does this dance to Brittney’s toxic … Give me one of those questions. Takes a set of note cards from Pam and flips through them.  Okay ... Never have I ever broken a bone.

Gen: I've never broken a bone! Yes I'm proud of that!

Pam: Nope!

Anitah: knock on wood - no I haven’t.

Alicia: I have not!! Even though I am an absolute klutz.

Megan: I haven’t either!  Which is amazing because I have fallen out of a tree - totally sober, btw.

Anitah:  Drink up, Megs!

Megs: finishes her drink … Okay, never have I ever told my real life husband/partner about my pixelated hubby.

Gen: No, he already thinks I don't love him. This would prove it.

Pam: Yep! My hubby is actually super supportive. He has helped me plot a few fics...the Drake and Pam chocolate wax disaster was made exponentially better by his suggestions. He is known as our cinnamon roll and Gen wrote him into a fic as owning a cinnamon roll shop..LOL. When Drake and I eloped, I made him call me Mrs. Walker the entire weekend and would not respond to any other names. I'm such an asshole

Anitah: (laughing) No way! He knows nothing! He doesn’t know about choices or that I’m in love with a pixelated man. He doesn’t know about tumblr or that I write. No one I know in real life knows anything about this. It’s like...my dirty little secret.

Alicia: yes and no. He does know about choices, he does know about Leo.. he does not know my level of infatuation with him.

Megs:  Yup!  My husband often asks “are you playing your stories?”

~~~~~later~~~~~

Megs:  lifting her head off the armrest of the couch and blinking her eyes open hhhhhuh?  Where …?  Ooooh, my head is killing me … How is my studio back to how it looked before?  Was that a dream?  Megs gets up and pads over to her on-stage desk where she picks up a note and reads aloud, “You passed out shortly after our game.  We partied hard with your audience and then put your studio back together.  Whenever you want to do this again - let us know.  I’ll steal the jet.  Luv, CGW!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now for the tags! If you want to be added to the tag list for these or removed, please let me know!

@hopefulmoonobject @queen-among-writers, @hopelessromantic1352, @lilyofchoices,

[jamesashtonisbae]

I made a list of all my Choices MCs and LIs to avoid studying, so here it is :) 

BTW: I am done for the semester on Wednesday and on Friday will probably start writing again, so look for Part 6 of Why Not Both? my Open Heart series with Bryce x MC and Rafael x MC.  I’ll also probably crank out a couple of TF chapters with James x MC.  At the top are pairings I could see myself writing for, so I may write some other stuff too!  If any of those pairings look like something you’d want, I’d be happy to give some a shot if you want to let me know!  With the exception of Open Heart, the pairings are listed in the order I prefer the pairing (for example, I prefer Lauren x Thomas over Lauren x Levi for MOTY).

Pairings I would write:

Bach: Michelle x Ash

BSC: Tara x Dallas

TF: Lacey x James

LH: Mellie x Ben

MOTY: Lauren x Thomas; Lauren x Levi

OH: Bentley x Bryce; Bentley x Rafael; Bentley x Bryce x Rafael

Platinum: Anniston x Raleigh

PM: Maren x Damien (with others in background, but main focus on Maren x Damien)

ROD: Aleigha x Colt; Aleigha x Logan

VoS: Phoebe x Grant; Phoebe x Naomi

WT: Lila x Jaime

All Pairings

ATV: McAllister Elara - Zekei Sentry

AME: Darian (?) Michaels - Derek (?)

BB: Louise - Clint Covington

Bach: Michelle Wilkins - Ash

BSC: Tara - Dallas James

BB: Hattie - Jax Matsuo

ACOR: Hera - Syphax

DD: Lilith Harper - Luke Harper

TE: Addison Russell - Griffin Langley

ES: Riley - Sean Gayle

TF: Lacey Jae Morgan - James Ashton

THM: Harlow - Rye

Hero: Diedre - Grayson

HSS: Billie Carlson - Caleb Mitchell

HSS: CA: Dianne Walsh - Rory

HFTH: Laurie Joy - Nick Peralta

LH: Mellie - Ben Park

MOTY: Lauren Day (Waverly Day) - Thomas Mendez and Levi Schuler

NB: Nala - Cal

OH: Bentley Rogers - Bryce Lahela and Rafael Aveiro

PTR: Mallory - Ahmed

PM: Maren Park - Damien Nazario, Alana Kasuma, Hayden Young, Sloane Washington, Khaan

Platinum: Anniston Michaels - Raleigh Carrera

RCD: Ava - Matt Rodriguez

ROD: Aleigha - Colt Kaneko and Logan

TRM: Torrence Rosario - Kayden Vescovi

TRR: Queen Eliley Loretta Vanderbilt-Rys - King Adam Rys

ROE: Raya - Daniel Sloan; Tom - Elena Sanchez; Mimi - Audrey; Tess - Blake Yasuda

StD: Liv - Simon Hendricks and Fitz Mercado

SK: Merris - Samson

VoS: Pheobe - Grant Emerson and Naomi Silverhawk

WT: Lila Majors - Jaime

[ladykateofledfordpark]

OhHhHhh let’s see for the ask game ^^ desire and decorum, the heist Monaco, hero and veil of secrets!

Ahhh Maria, my beautiful friend! Thanks for these asks! ;)

Desire and Decorum: Have you ever had a hard time choosing between LIs? Who were they and why?

Well, you know this already. In TRR I had an impossible choice to make between Maxwell and Liam. I pretty much settled on Maxwell after playing both routes, but tbh I'm still not a hundred percent certain. Cause when Liam says his heartbreaking lines I kinda wish I chose him.

As to why... I think that Liam's really sweet, but he kinda bores me. And Maxwell I may see as more of a friend, but I love his childish side? Idk it's impossible to choose. Lol xD

In general, though, I only have a hard time choosing when I never really connect to any LIs. (Like in OH, ACoR and a few others.) When Ernest, Beckett and Hayden entered my life I knew immediately who I wanted. ;)

The Heist Monaco: What's your favorite squad/friend group?

The LH group, no doubt about it. I think they're the best friend group, hands down. Let me explain.

Most of the other friends group really rely on MC. For example, imagine in TRR Hana talking with Drake without MC in the picture at all. Or Beckett talking to Griffin just because. Can you imagine that? It's a bit weird, isn't it?

But the LH group don't depend on MC. Sure, she's an important part of them, but their reactions and dialog is just as good without her there. Each and every one of them feels comfortable around the others, enough to truly be themselves- and when they hang out without MC they hardly have to mention her. That only happened in LH.

Hero: Which MC do you feel is most similar to you and why?

Oooohhh that's a hard and personal one. Um... probably TE or WT MC. TE because of the teasinggg and WT because of... well... everything else.

Lol guess WT then? XD

I see myself in her in a lot of aspects: her background, her personality, her relationships. Plus, I can kinda see myself getting shocked and then making puns about it. Lol xD

Veil of Secrets: What is a choice you've regretted making in the books? Why did you regret it?

On my first playthrough of PM, I decided to date only Hayden in book 1. Book 2, however, I decided to date both Damien and Hayden. Regret it till today cause Hayden deserves the whole world and I'm sorry I didn't give it to him.

Needless to say, when I replayed PM I chose to be only with Hayden.

And I was so happy when I got this: (as you know)

[ladynonsense]

A Royal Disgrace (TRR/PM Crossover) : Epilogue

The end! Thanks for reading along, I had a lot of fun writing this series.

Catch up on my masterlist

Pairings: Liam x MC (Riley), Damien x MC (Kai)

Rating: T (pure, wholesome fluff with barely-there implications of sex stuff)

Summary: Fast-forwarding through the events of PM2 and TRR3, the gang has all moved on and manages to find some closure. Borrows dialogue from TRR3 chapter 22 and PM2 chapter 15.

Words: 3900ish

Tag List: @hustacks @hopefulmoonobject @brightpinkpeppercorn @choiceslife @perriewinklenerdie @pixieferry @nazariobae @zaffrenotes @ritachacha @h3llostrang3r @blackcoffee85 @wannabemc2 @sleepwalkingelite @debramcg1106 @furiousherringoperatortoad @bobasheebaby @sawyeroakleyscowboyhat @jlouise88 

Riley woke up slowly to late-morning sun already streaming through the window of the unfamiliar hotel room. Her body ached, cuts and bruises from the fighting the day before now even more painful than they had been when she went to sleep.

But Liam’s arms were around her, his warm chest pressed against her bare back. She sighed, pressing herself firmly against him, reminding herself that it was over. It was all over.

“Good morning…” he purred drowsily, “...my queen.”

She turned to face him, finding herself inches from his handsome face, even sexier before he’d had a chance to shave and smooth back his hair. “Liam...isn’t this a nice sight.”

He was glowing with happiness, and for the hundredth time she could hardly believe her luck to be loved by somebody like him. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

She ran a gentle hand over his hair and down his stubbled cheek. “Now that we’re married, it’s always going to be like this, isn’t it?” She tucked her head against his chest with a sigh. “Last night was so freaking hot.”

He chuckled, and she felt it vibrate through his chest. “I know it seems impossible, but every time that we’re together is better than the last, my queen.” Liam drummed his fingers thoughtfully against her back. “Having you last night and knowing that finally, you were my wife...it was more than I’d dreamed.”

Liam pulled her close and kissed her as she closed her eyes and forgot the world around her. “I want a lifetime of nights like that with you,” she murmured against his lips.

“Then the queen shall have it. You have all of me now. Now and forever, my love.”

Riley couldn’t stop smiling, feeling giddy from his sappy doting. Her first day married to Liam...her first day as queen. “So what are the royal plans for the day? Planting trees? Kissing babies?”

“I’m not ready to share you with the kingdom yet. I want you to myself this morning.” He pulled her into another kiss, deeper, but unhurried. When he finally pulled away, she was breathless.

“Liam…”

“Riley.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “I hate to bring this up, but I wanted to ask you something.”

“Oh?”

“Your friend travelled here for the wedding. Daniel.”

“Oh, yes! My old coworker from New York.”

“Right.” He drummed his fingers against her back again, and she realized he was nervous.

“Liam? What is it?”

“Is he...trustworthy?”

She laughed. “Of course. Daniel and I go way back. He’s harmless.”

Liam nodded slowly. “Do you think...could I entrust him with some sensitive correspondence? Something I wouldn’t want to send through the mail.”

Riley studied his face, surprised by the vulnerability there. Her heart broke a little for him as she realized what he was asking. “You need to send a letter to New York.”

He nodded again. “I am fine with leaving him in the past. You know that you are everything to me now. But I owe it to him to say something, if I can, without endangering him by reaching out to him directly.”

She squeezed him tight, snuggling into his chest once again. “I trust you. Always. Say what you need to say, and I’ll ask Daniel to drop it in the mail only once he’s back home.”

He kissed the top of her head, relaxing into her. “Thank you.”

--------------------------------------

“Say it again, Kai. Please.”

Kai laughed, wiping at the tears forming in his eyes. “I love you, Damien.”

Damien threw his arms around him, kissing his temples, his nose, his cheeks, over and over until they were both laughing.

“Kiss me for real!”

Damien obliged, his lips warm and soft as he kissed Kai tenderly, pouring years of unspoken feeling into the moment. “Sometimes it just hits me all at once… that after everything we’ve been through, everything you’ve helped me to overcome… you still want me.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “Of course I still want you...I love you.”

Damien grinned, breathless, like he could hardly believe it. “You love me.”

“And only you, Damien. You’re the love of my life.”

He shuddered slightly, his smile positively glowing. “I’ve loved you every single day since the moment I met you, Kai Park. And I never intend to stop.”

Kai punched him in the arm. “You’re such a sap.”

Damien laughed him off and stretched, popping his shoulders with a groan.

“So now that my phone service has inexplicably cut off,” he glanced at the phone cord, lying unplugged on the ground, “work is done for the day...and you’re here…maybe we could spend the evening together?”

“Of course.” He tried to play it cool, but he was barely able to contain his enthusiasm. “I’m all yours.”

“So...is there anything you wanna do? We could go somewhere…”

He looked around the familiar office, smiling. “I don’t know… There’s plenty of things to do here.”

“Like what?”

“I’d love to do some serious snooping through all your old cases.” He gestured at the files littering Damien’s desk. “Maybe we can even get this place tidied up.”

Damien shook his head, chuckling. “Tidy up if you want, but I’m not paying you.”

“You can pay me in sexual favors, if you want.”

“Mmm…” he pressed up against his back, hands on his hips, nuzzling into his neck. “OK, that I can do.”

Kai started shuffling through the mostly-unlabelled file folders with a sigh. “I don’t know why you bother with actual paper records of everything, anyway.”

Damien let him go, picking up some folders himself to sort through. “You can’t accidentally control-alt-delete a sheet of paper away.”

“That statement causes me physical pain…” he tossed some loose napkins from deep within the heap of papers into a garbage can. “Also, you could just as easily spill coffee all over a paper file, ruining it forever.”

“You can’t spill coffee on an entire filing cabinet,” Damien grumbled. “But drop one burrito on your keyboard, and suddenly all your files have been wiped from existence.”

“That’s an awfully specific example…” Kai picked up a folder and glanced inside, recognizing the case immediately. “Oh! What’s this? We worked this one together!”

Damien reached to snatch the folder away from him, but Kai easily held it out of his reach. A handwritten letter floated out of the folder and landed on the desk, as Damien watched nervously, holding his breath.

“What’s this…” Kai picked it up, tracing his finger over the elegant script as he read it to himself.

Dear D,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’ve entrusted it with a friend of my wife’s in effort to contact you covertly. Thank you for respecting this need for discretion and not trying to contact me over the past months. Your loyalty in doing so did not go unnoticed.

I feel I owe you both an explanation and an apology. No doubt you’ve put together several of the pieces on your own, as is the nature of your profession. But perhaps I can give a clearer picture and hopefully put your mind at ease over this matter.

The morning after we last spoke, I woke to an upsetting phone call presenting evidence of our relationship that I’m told you were privy to as well. I was rather strongly advised to break off all communication at once in order to prevent any further evidence from being collected and to increase deniability. As cruel as I felt in doing so, I believed it to be the safest course of action for both of us.

The blackmailer’s motives remained a mystery until we found enough evidence corroborating your theory about DK’s guilt to make an arrest. Immediately, he attempted to use the recording to bargain his way out of prosecution. I made the hard decision to give in to his demands in order to protect both of us. In the end I stripped him of his title and banished him, but he continues to live his life as a free man. For that I am sorry.

The way things ended between us weighs on me often. You know that I’ve led a sheltered life with little room for passion or risk. In the months that I spent determining who I would spend my life with, I was surprised by emotions that stirred in me. I had always thought the prospect of marriage to be political and transactional. When I found myself capable of real love and desire, perhaps I became reckless.

I should not have been reckless with you. However, I cannot find it in myself to wholly regret it. I hope you know that I have nothing but respect and fondness for you. Maybe when enough time has passed that I no longer fear a scandal, we can meet again.

One more thing: a message from my wife. She hopes that you will tell your dear friend how you feel about him. I have no specific comment on the matter, but I will say that taking a chance on love has been the smartest thing I have ever done. I wish you the best wherever your heart may take you.

Yours,

L.

Kai looked up from the letter to see Damien staring at him, biting his lip. He laughed to break the tension. “This guy is so cheesy, Damien.”

Damien chuckled, taking the letter and folder from him and tucking them both into the filing cabinet. “He’s a king. He doesn’t know how to flirt like a normal person.”

“Was that flirting? It reads like Greek tragedy.”

Damien leaned against the edge of his desk, grabbing Kai’s hands to pull him close. “Can’t fault his advice, anyway.”

“Mmm…” Kai kissed him softly, releasing his hands to run them through his hair. “Is that why you finally made a move? Your king commanded you to?”

“He’s not my...ugh. No. This was waiting for me when we got back from the whole Eros debacle. I had already told you how I felt by then.”

“Whatever. I’m never going to stop teasing you for seducing a king just because he reminded you of me.”

“Kai...you literally hooked up with my robot clone.”

Kai backed away defensively. “That is not the same! I thought he was you!”

“Right. Because at no point, while a man half your size…”

“You’re at least 85% of my size…”

“...While he’s picking you up and holding you effortlessly in the freezing cold while he fucks you up against a wall…”

“...I told Hayden all of this in confidence, by the way…”

“...It never once occurred to you…huh, something seems a little different about Damien today. Almost like he’s a super strong robot instead of a human being.”

Kai crossed his arms over his chest. “I am not having this discussion again.”

“Just admit it: You have a robot fetish.”

“I have a ‘people who look and act exactly like Damien Nazario’ fetish.”

“Sounds filthy.”

He bit his lip teasingly, grabbing Damien by the belt and pulling him back against himself. “It is.”

--------------------------------------

“Damien! Oh my god!”

Damien sat at his desk in his new home office, patiently waiting for Kai to come running in to tell him whatever news had him so excited. Sure enough, he appeared in the doorway a moment later.

“They’re coming!”

“Great. Who?”

“The king and queen! They RSVPed!”

“More information please.”

Kai was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, but managed to contain himself to the chair across Damien’s desk. “Right. I sent an invitation to King Liam and Queen Riley. I also sent one to the Queen of England and to President Thompson, you know, just to get the standard form letter congratulations for our scrapbook.”

“Right, of course you did.”

“Anyway, Liam and Riley actually said they’re coming!”

Damien pushed his reading glasses up on top of his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “They called you?”

“No...they filled out the form on the website like everyone else.”

“Oh. Well then.” Damien turned back to his work, unimpressed. “It was just a mistake, then. Or a prank.”

“You are such a drag, D. Why can’t you believe that your old friends would want to come to the wedding?”

“Oh, I don’t know...they’re royalty, they live overseas, they left on bad terms with me, they’re afraid to even contact me for fear of a scandal...should I go on?”

“You’ll see. They’re coming.” He stood back up and flounced out the door, calling back as he walked down the hallway, “I’m putting them on the list!”

--------------------------------------

Damien peeked out from the cabin, careful not to let the guests outside notice him. Folding chairs were set out in two tidy sections with a wide aisle down the middle. Leaves were falling gently off of the red and golden trees, swaying in the wind. He had been nervous about planning for an outdoor wedding in the fall when the weather could be so unpredictable, but the gamble had paid off beautifully. He closed the door again before he was spotted.

“Alright Dames, time for a final wardrobe check.” Hope cornered him with a lint roller, running it over every square inch of fabric on his body before fussing with the boutonniere on his lapel.

“Hope...I’m sure I look fine.”

“Yeah, well…” she smoothed his hair down with her hands, tucking it behind his ears. “You didn’t pay $4000 for a photographer to look ‘fine’ in pictures.”

His eyes went wide. “Hold up...we paid HOW much for a photographer?”

���Shhh. Don’t worry about it. Don’t tell Kai I said anything.”

Right on cue, Kai came barreling up the stairs from the basement. “Ok, that’s it! I can’t take it anymore, I want to see my… oh.” He stopped short when his eyes landed on Damien, dressed in his best plum suit, the one he’d worn to the gala way back when they worked together to save the president. Kai on the other hand was all black everything, from his shirt to his tie to his jacket to his shoes.

“You look amazing.”

“You do.”

Kai ran at him, almost knocking him over with the force of his hug. Damien wrapped his arms around Kai in return, holding his close, not wanting the simple, quiet moment to end. “I love you so much,” he murmured, his lips against Kai’s throat. “I love you so much it makes me crazy.”

Kai let out a happy sigh, kissing Damien’s forehead. “...Hard same.”

He pulled away laughing, shoving Kai gently back. “Moment ruined. Get out of here.”

“No! It’s time. We’re supposed to walk out there together.”

“We are? That doesn’t seem traditional.”

Kai smirked, linking their arms together. “When have I ever been traditional?”

--------------------------------------

Riley snuggled into Liam’s side, feeling more relaxed than she had in months. She felt a little silly that they were the only ones wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day -- did they do anything to obscure their identities, anyway? -- but Bastien and Mara had insisted they follow their security instructions to the letter, and that including goofy sunglasses. Oh well. Being anonymous felt good, anyway.

As they waited she snuck a granola bar out of her clutch and quickly scarfed it down, hoping not to attract any hungry birds. Liam chuckled warmly next to her. “Baby needs a snack?”

“Constantly,” she answered, tapping her open palm on her bump lightly. She surveyed the other guests as they all started to take their seats. “I don’t know anybody. Is it weird that we came?”

Liam shook his head confidently. “They invited us, right? I’m sure we’re not the only people here who don’t know the other guests.”

“I don’t know…” She looked around at the other guests all speaking to each other animatedly in rapid spanish, embracing and clumping together in large groups. “It seems like everyone here is related to Damien.”

“Hmm…” Liam scanned the crowd himself, looking for exceptions. “There. They look every bit as lost as we do.” He gestured subtly towards a couple in the back row, a beautiful but nervous woman in an elegant dress and thick glasses with a shorter man looking surprisingly dapper in a salmon pink suit and a man-bun. As they watched, a young boy came sprinting up to them, crashing into the man’s arms and squeezing him tight. All three of their faces lit up with unbridled joy, the woman’s obvious discomfort melting away as she reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair.

Liam’s grip on Riley’s hand tightened, and she looked up to see his warm smile still gazing at the little family. “Soon, love,” she whispered.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a family like this?” He gestured at the smiling, laughing group that had formed all around them, children and adults alike. “Just to be surrounded by love all the time.” A little girl in front of them shoved a boy to the ground over a struggle for a toy dump truck. The boy stood up and hit her in the face with the truck. A young woman, clearly not the mother, maybe just a teenaged cousin, got between them, shouting at them both until an older woman came and ushered them all off to the side, scolding them quietly.

“Wonderful, you say?” Riley smirked up at Liam, who still looked blissful.

“Wonderful,” he repeated, letting out a small sigh. “The memories of being tortured, teased, and tormented by my brother...they’re all warm and fuzzy now. The highlights of my childhood. The memories that hurt are the ones of absence. My mother’s death. My father being too busy governing to even eat meals with us or be there to say goodnight at the end of the day, much less play with us.”

“Will it be like that for you?”

He shook his head. “Never. My father feared the loss of power. I embrace it. The more people can share the responsibility of rule, the better. I know that we’ll need nannies and we don’t be with our children every hour of the day, but we will be the ones that raise them. You and I.”

She leaned in to kiss him, but something else caught her eye just as the music started to change. “Here they come,” she whispered.

--------------------------------------

The ceremony passed in a blur. Damien was nervous, shaking and shy. Kai was also nervous, talking too fast and too loud and laughing at everything, no matter how mundane. The little old lady who officiated just beamed at them, certainly having seen her share of awkward and slightly terrified couples in her day.

At the end they kissed and they thought it would be weird in front of their families and friends, but instead the world melted away and the whole thing immediately felt right.

It was in the receiving line after the ceremony that Damien first noticed them. He saw them coming, losing his focus on the beloved great-aunt in front of him as he started to mentally scramble for what to say.

In all Kai’s rushed etiquette lessons, staying up late every night reading him silly and dated advice for how to behave at one’s own wedding, there was nothing about how to face your two royal exes.

Thankfully, Liam had spent his whole life learning how to handle himself gracefully in social situations. “Damien.” His whole face lit up when he saw him, wrapping him in his arms before he could even register what was happening. “That was beautiful. I’m so happy for the two of you.”

Riley stepped in and did the same before Damien had even managed to speak. She stood on her toes to press a firm kiss to his cheek while she squeezed him enthusiastically. “I knew you two would figure it out someday. You’re perfect together.”

Damien finally snapped out of his surprised daze, taking in the warm and surprisingly friendly couple in front of him. “I can’t believe you came!”

Kai’s arm was around him suddenly, squeezing him into his side. “I told him you were coming! He had no faith in the online RSVP system. I’m Kai, by the way.” He shook Liam’s hand enthusiastically before turning to Riley for a quick hug.

“Yes, I remember you, Kai. You’re the guy my ex-boyfriend was transparently in love with the whole time we dated.” Riley punched him playfully in the arm, smirking.

“My apologies for being so distractingly hot. You seem to have done OK for yourself though.”

“Thank you for noticing!” Riley answered, squeezing Liam’s arm. “And I loved your online RSVP system. We had to travel the countryside and personally corner every potential guest and demand to know if they’d be coming, but nobody wants to hear that story.”

Liam nodded. “Yes, that was not one of our more interesting adventures.”

Damien’s great aunt was apparently a fan of Nadia’s art, and was holding up the line gushing over her. He looked back to Liam and Riley, glad to have an extra moment with them. “Wow. It’s been so long, and you two...you look so happy.”

It was true. Now past the stage of pregnancy where her face was blotched and purple from bursting blood vessels with the force of her vomiting, Riley was settling into a lovely glow. Liam was a little softer around the edges, a little grayer at the temples, but somehow only got more handsome with age. ‘Distinguished’ might be the word, but Liam had always been that, anyway. They were dressed down for the wedding, blending in as well as two extremely attractive people could, but still fashionable and put-together. For a moment, Damien wondered how he had ever really believed these two were his peers.

And then Riley belched, a foul-smelling, terrible thing, and both their eyes went wide with terror before they dissolved into laughter, Riley letting out a string of smaller burps as she struggled to pull herself together. “Oooh my god,” she croaked finally, “The acid reflux is killing me, guys.”

Liam rubbed her back lightly, still chuckling. “I suppose that’s as good a send-off as any. We unfortunately need to take off before the reception.”

Kai frowned, patting down his pockets. “Then you won’t be in any of our photos! One second…” He tapped Nadia on the shoulder, whispering frantically to her until she produced Kai’s phone from her clutch. “Here we go. Selfie?”

“Of course,” Liam answered, smoothly stepping behind them while Riley crouched slightly in front. He snapped several photos, giddy with excitement.

“Thank you so much!”

“Thank you for inviting us,” Riley responded, hugging both of them together. “And congratulations. It was beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Damien said again, a blush rising in his cheeks as he was crushed into a group hug. “If you can...I’d love it if you kept in touch.”

“Of course, D,” Riley assured him. “We’ll talk later, OK? I promise.”

“I’d like that.”

And with that they moved down the line, Sloane and Khaan following close behind and whispering dozens of questions about what they just witnessed, Hamza nearly falling asleep on his father’s shoulders from boredom as Nadia squealed and shrieked, realizing who Liam and Riley were. Damien tried his best not to look after them, but he kept stealing glances, tracking their progress down the line until he looked up one last time to find that they were gone.

[europeanguy]

11, 15, 23, 25

Thanks for the ask @estelajenmariakaitlyn!

11. Are you against dating a robot LI on principle?

Look. I know it’s just a game but I’ve thought way too much about this - even before PM. My friend and I were going to create a webcomic set in the future where there are android x human relationships, so yeah, I was in deep about this subject and I’M SO GLAD I CAN FINALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

The word “against” would be putting it quite heavily, because honestly I don’t care. Choose which LI you want, but personally it feels iffy to me. You gotta dive in deep about what makes humans really human. Hayden is at his (I’m using a male Hayden) basest form - a computer, and no matter how advanced Eros’ technology is, I’m having trouble comprehending how a computer could develop feelings. Programmed personalities? Completely possible. We’re doing it right now! (chat bots are a bad example but yes they count)

But feelings? I could still be… convinced. Honestly, if anyone thinks differently then I’d love to read opinions!

(There’s also the issue of aging. Like how does Hayden even age? Will Eros switch him out with a new slightly older model every year? That seems like way too much work and lost money on their part)

15. What book do you hate?

Definitely Newlyweds. God. I loved ROE and it should have ended at book 3. They ruined it with that Newlyweds shit they pulled. It almost makes me not want to see the TRR gang again if it meant that they would be ruined with a TRR: Newlyweds version. First of all, MC literally inherited a hundred million dollars. Excuse you? Where’s my mansion? Where are the luxury cars? PB says: Nevermind that! Here’s a pumpkin-carving festival and your murderous aunt that we’ll push on you until you forgive her! (or whatever that was)

23. What’s the hottest diamond scene?

I’ve read hotter fics LMAO but seriously let’s talk about the fling with Maxwell in TRR 3. Someone bring me my holy water. ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵐᵃⁿ ʷᵃˢ ᵂᴬᴬᴬᴬʸ ᵉᵃᵍᵉʳ.

It was so detailed and long lmao, it left me so shook that after the chapter I just sat there like :O am I still playing Choices by Pixelberry??? Did I accidentally transfer to those ripoff apps? WhAT? Especially if you chose the “go faster” option- BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

(I keep seeing on here that Damien’s train scene was iconic though. Anyone care to confirm this? I’m replaying but I’m not at that point yet sooo)

25. Who’s the most overrated LI?

I don’t wanna say I don’t wanna be roasted on pitchforks no thank you ma’am.

[boneandfur]

20 Questions - Writer’s Tag Game

for some reason, tumblr app won’t let me post... no clue why. I was tagged by @queen-among-writers & @kennaxval

Respond to the following writing questions and tag me in your response! I look forward to hearing your answers as I’ve always been curious about these!

1) When/what age did start writing?

I grew up literally right behind my town’s public library, so I was reading voraciously at a young age. But it wasn’t until I was seven that I started enjoying writing my own stories.

2) What inspired you to start?

For Choices fanfic, I’d been playing for awhile on my own. I was in The Hunger Games fandom at the time and went hunting for Choices fics on ao3, where I learned about Choices Creates on tumblr which was run by @clonedhayden . I was a huge rarepair addict from my time in Harry Potter/Death Eater fandom (pair anyone with anyone! Hermione x Neville! Seamus x Astoria! Draco x Hannah! Thorfinn x Fluer! Etc), and I’d noticed that Drake and Olivia had the whole love/hate trope thing going on which I LOVE, so I wrote a Dralivia called This Never Happened. And the rest is history.

3) Where and when does inspiration usually strike you?

I’m thinking about them all the time. Usually I can get inspiration from prompt lists, music, or the characters themselves. Often I’ll think of a scenario and just drop the characters in. Some characters work and some don’t. I don’t know how to explain that exactly.

4) Where and when do you usually write? Morning? Late at night? On the bus? In bed?

I usually write during the day on my day off, or at night when I get home from work. I can write on my work break but I get sucked in so hard that suddenly the whole hour vanishes. I prefer to do other things on my break.

5) Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what genre/playlist?

I listen to a lot of music while I’m writing or right before. I can write with total silence, but I like the mood certain songs evoke as I’m writing. So for example, when in writing about Flynn I’ll listen to Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Edmund and Perdita get The Chainsmokers and instrumentals from movie soundtracks. Maxwell is Avicii. Drake is often country, strangely.

6) Which category do you like best? Angst? Fluff? NSFW? Other?

I enjoy writing angst and drama that also includes smut.

7) Which category do you find most challenging to write?

Fluff! I have a really hard time with it oddly enough. It’s always a little angsty or a little smutty.

8) If you had to pick your favorite Choices book, which one would it be and why?

My favorites are: TRR, because I love the rags to riches story and the customizable MC. VOS, because it’s set in New England… and because I’m a diehard mystery fan. Last but not least PM, because of the insane plot line and the amazing characters.

9) If your Choices LIs were real, which one (and only one) would you personally want to be with?

If I were single, and not happily married, my type is pretty across the board: guy who plays music and has some sort of job in the trades. Can you guess? Oh yeah, it’s Flynn. We’d have a lot in common, both being from New England, plus he plays music (check) and works in the trades or has done (check). Plus I can’t resist those hard drinking, fist fighting, loyal as fuck Irish-American men (reader, I married one).

10) Do you share any physical characteristics with your Choices MCs? Pics/Selfies optional 😊

Hmm… There aren’t any Slavic-American looking MCs, so no not unless you want to list every baby face MC.

11) Which MC do you share the most personality traits with?

Probably Vos Mc. She’s very observational.

12) Which Choices character do you feel you have the best grasp of in terms of personality?

I feel I’m best at writing Damien, Olivia, and Maxwell to some extent.

13) What’s your favorite Choices pairing to write for?

Shit. My faves are, in no particular order: Perdita(MC) x Edmund, MC x Flynn, Nadia x Damien, Jax x Priya, MC x Maxwell & Drake x Olivia.

14) What is a pairing(s) you hope to start writing for?

Sooo… I replayed BSC. And bought scenes. Now I like it. It’s the pure romantic trash we deserve. Sawyer x Juliette x MC. I also want to write a Dames x Hayden. [And a love island the game fic.]

15) What do you hope to improve in your writing?

Finishing projects before I start new ones!

16) Any pet peeves related to writing?

No.

17) Are you inspired by any IRL experiences when you write? Care to share?

Nothing specific, just observational things on the way humans interact with each other.

18) Is there any particular piece of work you consider to be your ultimate writing goal? Something so amazing you hope one day you’ll be up to that standard?

I hope I can write a story as good as The Witch of Truro. For fanfic, I’d love to write one as good as Splint(warning: it’s 70+ chapters of the love story between a female orc and a ranger in LOTR).

19) Did/do you write for any other fandoms? If so which ones?

I’ve written for: Disney, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, POTC and many many many others.

20) In your spare time (when you’re not writing) what other hobbies do you pursue?

What spare time? Haha! I work part time as a shopper for online grocery orders which I just started last week. Otherwise I knit, read tarot, hang out with my kids, and our friends come over and chill every other weekend.

[endless-vall]

How come you're romancing Damien but not Drake?

Because they're different people and have different dynamics with my mcs?Okay, you could say that, yes, they are similar since they're both grumpy men that have a tough exterior but are soft underneath (and really love drinking whiskey), but it still isn't enough for me to romance both men.I see it that way - Amy (my pm mc) has known Damien for a long time. He's closed-off, has a tough exterior but she *knows* it, and she knows the softer, caring side he had underneath, she knows how to get through to him and they have a history. I hc they both had feelings for each other in some point, but never told the other about it till the events of the book. I started off with having Amy try to romance Hayden, give Eros a chance only to realize she never really got ober Damien after all...While with Drake, it's a completely different story. Even if I'd were to romance him, I'd have to create a different mc since I just can't imagine Amber falling for him.I don't have anything against Drake, don't get me wrong, he's great and i see the appeal in him. But Amber is a hopeless romantic and the story she has with Liam is the story they both need. Liam needed someone who'd teach him what true love was, who decided to stay and fight for him /for him/, not for his title or the crown or anything. Amber needed someone to whisk her away, to have a fairytale love story with and just simply have a very deep, true connection with her from day one. She and Liam were love at first sight, even if they tried to hide/ignore it in the first book due to the social season and in favor of giving the other contestants a fair chance. But they just couldn't get their hands off each other. They couldn't stay away from each other.Drake... wasn't just "closed off", he was also rude and made it even harder on Amber in a place that she was already an outsider in, a place that didn't want her to feel welcome from the moment he met her. Yes we get in the most recent chapter the explanation for that and it is a good one (Drake seeing how the court pushed Savanahh away and the fact he'd 'lost' Savanahh because of it) but look how long it took us? Amber could never see Drake as anything else but a friend.I'm not saying I don't like a rude (at first) LI too, since I absolutely love Nick (which is a perfect example of that), and Jake, but once again it's the dynamic with the mc and the mc's personality that makes the whole difference.

[lizzybeth1986]

I miss perfect match! Let's imagine a book 3? What would book 3 look like if you were the screenwriter?

I'm torn with regards to a Book 3. I love that book, no doubt, and I was just as sad as the next stan when it ended but at the same time do I want to read one more book of Sloane being treated like an afterthought? Do I really??

So if I'm going to do a Book 3, these 3 things have to come to pass, otherwise that third book can choke:

1. Damien FINALLY fucking apologizes to Hayden and Sloane. And not an apology in the "Hayden is a good person. Water is wet." way, but in the "I was a hypocrite and an asshole and there are no excuses for my behaviour" way. Not to a third party who would be biased in his favour, but to the actual people he hurt. It would be two books too late but it would be something, at least. While we're at it he needs to apologize to Alana too - specifically for acting like he's a better person than her when he actually isn't. If that can't happen then PM is not worth a Book 3.

2. We finally look at Sloane as something other than a love interest for Khaan. Honestly, to hell with that bullshit. If you can't explore Sloane's history both within and outside of Eros, if you can't even make her visit her mother without someone else taking over...then good riddance to PM 3, it can die in a fire.

3. I need to see more examples of the "opposite trait" behaviour in Hayden going on. We have at least a few in the second book, but you can afford to wriggle in at least 2-3 more. I also need this fandom to stop behaving like they're an authority on Hayden when they're clearly not. (they're really not)

Now that we've gotten that established...I think how a Book 3 will look...would depend on how a Book 2 would end? There are two ways they can end this: one is lengthening the story of our victory over Eros a little further. Which means that instead of us having the quick, easy victory at the beginning of the epilogue, we get to a complete breakdown point at the end of the book, but with hints towards an eventual resurgence. Our group would be at its lowest point perhaps in the end of the second book, and hope would begin to manifest in Book 3.

In a scenario like this one, I'd like to see the group accumulate more proof. A good start would be by making those videos that we saw in Book 2 (the one about the First Match, about the implementation of the Safety Code etc) more useful in the future. In the OG Book 2, we had to pay to watch all this CCTV footage without it benefiting us in any tangible way later on (we weren't even able to use this on the Winona show!!) The solution to this is to make sure the footage is helpful to us at a future point, and reveal other types of footage that would tell us more about Eros. There should also be more information about what will eventually become the Psyche group, more to learn about them and get them to work with/against us. Even if Rowan and Cecile don't lose in the previous book, we can still have our core group, and Psyche, work either together or individually towards defeating Eros. I would absolutely love to see more of Keegan. Hints of an Even Bigger Bad can be shown, so that if we defeat Eros earlier in Book 3, we can concentrate soon enough on the Bigger Bad after that.

The last point could be a Book 3 starting-point, if the ending of this Book 2 is similar to the epilogue of the original. We could have hints of this Bigger Bad in Book 2 which become a full blown danger in Book 3. In which case...the book would then revolve around Psyche and the MC's group's efforts to eliminate it, and rebuild their world. This is what I envision would be important in both:

1. How both groups will operate separately, what will bring them together, what strategies they both would develop.

2. The dynamics within Psyche itself.

3. What the rehabilitation program for discarded Matches would look like.

4. Sloane and Khaan's initiatives.

5. Return of some of the characters that are Matches (Mikhail the First Match - if he isn't completely destroyed - the other Hayden Matches who blew up the Arctic HQ, and of course Dames).

6. How does Harley (if alive) fit into all this? What is their relationship with Keegan and the other Matches like? Are they viewed as a traitor to that cause, or do they think Harley is a misguided Match who was ultimately under the thumb of Cecile? We don't get to know much about what Keegan feels about Harley, but I'd love to know whether a rehabilitated Harley could build bridges once they proved themselves to Psyche. How would a rehabilitated Harley contribute?

7. Of course, Khaan and Alana need to be developed further, and if the MC is in a relationship with everyone, I'd like to see better development of that plus the LIs themselves should be able to date other people as well. The universe does not revolve around the MC (even if this MC is a better partner than most!).

There is still some threads left in the LIs' stories as well. Hayden's story in Book 2 is amazing but there are particular things they've left up in the air, such as how they're going to deal with their traumas, what exactly the changes are doing to them, dealing with people who do not see them as a person, figuring out a life plan further than their bucket list. In a free world where they still have to keep their identity secret, what are the challenges that could arise?

With Sloane they pretty much left EVERYTHING they could have explored up in the air. Her life as an Eros employee, her guilt and empathy for the Matches and how that propelled her into working against Eros. Her heroes and how they've shaped her. Her relationship with her mother. Her relationship with Hayden. There is so much that would need to be done with a Book 3 with Sloane.

Hmm. Yep. Pretty sure I covered everything. I think that's about it. 😁