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charliedoyleloves · 5 years ago

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Well. Here he is. The new F/O I hinted to a little while ago.

The Tag will be “otp: sweet strategy”. tagging @insertofalord who listens to the ridiculous number of OP AUs I have and tries to force me to not make them so angsty in the middle. it will never work, but at least there will always be a happy ending

To start this up, considering it was an Arranged Marriage, I’ve done up the Wedding Questions for him! This does exist in an Au, which is tentatively named the “Sweet AU”.

During the time skip, I work with a should be Queen reclaim her throne from the World Government. As I work as the tactician and commander of her army and gain a reputation. During this time, Charlotte Linlin decides that she will help us if she marries a child of her into the royal family. The Queen is not excited about the idea until she remembered a technicality. Being that I’m the Royal Commander, I need to be recognized as a member of her family. So dubbing me her cousin, she put me as the member to be married. The idea being that both members on the throne should be from “our” country, to indicate our independence.

In order to try to keep myself out of a marriage, I pick the strongest Marine Base that I could and told the Charlotte family that only whoever could take over the base could be my spouse. If no one does it within a year, she becomes an ally without a marriage. While the rest of his siblings failed, Katakuri went when they started to make snide remarks that even he couldn’t do it.

However, my cousin notes that not marrying into her family will make Linlin see us as a threat.

Questions and Answers beneath the cut!

Proposal

1.) Who proposes? Technically, it’s me. In a round about way. Someone in his family was going to marry me no matter what, but he was the one who completed the challenge I set for my hand. When he completed it, we were engaged. Because it’s him meeting my standards, his mother is insistent that it means that I proposed. This is a social tactic, knowing that it would make it more awkward for me to go against the marriage. Not that I would, considering my word is my gold. I said I would marry any who met my challenge, so I will. 2.) Where do they propose? Upon taking the Marine Stronghold that I decided to be the challenge, I keep my word. I accept that I’m to be married to Katakuri. So, it ends up being right on the top of the stronghold. Our men are around us, and his are cheering for the moment when I say it. 3.) How do they propose? Is it romantic, or casual? The way I propose is Official. It’s me resigning myself to the fact that I need to be his wife to keep my men down there safe. I tried to look happy about it, but stoic was the best way I could do it. Specifically, I realized that this entire thing was going to be a performance. So I played it up, for his men and his mother. 4.) Were you/they surprised by the proposal? Neither of us are surprised. When he was planning his raid on the base, he realized why I chose this one. The only thing that has ever gotten in and out of this base was air. He knew, both because of logic and his observation haki, that his plan would succeed when he asked for my help. 5.) What does the ring look like?

It was chosen by him, made by his home’s finest jewelers. It was as much away to show his countries skill as it was to make the engagement official. 6.) Planning on a long engagement or a short one? Short engagement. Lowkey, the wedding was being planned before we were officially engaged. This is because of Linlin’s confidence in Katakuri, and his assuring her that his plan would work.

Wedding Planning

1.) Is there a theme for the wedding, or a color scheme? I suppose the closest theme is “Sweet Fairytale”. It’s not so much by my choice, but rather the choice of his home. He’s a Minister in the government, and very well known and respected by his people. (And Feared). The wedding was much more for them than it was us. The both of us would prefer to have a small ceremony and paperwork to make it official. The color scheme became Pink, Magenta, Silver and Royal Purple became the color scheme. It was a combination of his personal colors, my color (grey) and his position.

Like this.

2.) Who does most of the planning? Or do you share the workload equally? There are official wedding planners in Linlin’s employ. They handled the planning while we were taking the fort and returned to his home. 3.) What are the two of you going to wear? I have no sort of control over what I wear. Instead, it’s designed by Linlin’s people. However, upon hearing that I didn’t want a white dress, they went crazy. It’s still a princess style cut, but much more crazy. Almost cupcake like.

Katakuri does end up wearing a suit, though he forgoes the tie for his scarf. 4.) What does the cake look like? Or are you going with a dessert other than a traditional wedding cake? Being that this is a Charlotte family wedding, the cake is extreme. Like, It's big as fuck so Big Mom Linlin can hopefully get full from eating it. Even if for a bit. It was pink as hell, with a lot of sweet decorations to top it off. There was a solid Desert Buffet, during which Katakuri pocketed most of the donuts. Unfortunatly, most of it was too sweet for my taste, so I only took a bit of the donuts and some of the bit of dark chocolate there. 5.) Is it going to be a big or small wedding? Who’s on the guest list? It was a big ass wedding, considering Katakuris family makes it nearly seventy people on their own. While the ceremony itself was just his family, plus my Cousin, her girlfriend, and a few of my higher ranked soldiers. The reception, however, was wild. Both of our armies. The people of Whole Cake Islands. The extended Big Mom Pirates. It was basically a national event, as one of the Sweets Commanders married a technical “Princess" and commander. The reception happened in a city square, where people have traveled to wish us luck in our relationship. 6.) Who have you chosen for best man? Maid of honor? Other bridesmaids/groomsmen? Oven and Daifuku were his best men, supporting their elder triplet. While he wanted to be fair to his other siblings, the other two Sweet Commanders were also his Groomsman and woman out of respect of the military feel of it. On my end, my cousin acts as my Matron of Honor, and the commanders of the army and navy who work under me are my brides men. They both showed up in uniform, while she showed up in a simple gown.

The Big Day

1.) Who’s walking you/them down the aisle? Being in what is technically enemy territory, it’s a member of his won family who walks me down the aisle. However, the one who gives me away is my “cousin”.this is less about her being my family and more about the political implications of the marriage. She is literally giving me to the Charlotte’s for the safety of our people. 2.) Do either of you get emotional when you see each other at the altar? No. While to the people of Totto Land it looked like a picture perfect wedding, it was very emotionless. My cousin cried, out of relief that it was finally done, and a few of Katakuri's siblings did as well. But the both of us knew why we were there. This was a political marriage, not one made from emotions. 3.) Does anyone in attendance object to the marriage? If so, what happens? No, despite my trying to get someone to come to do so. Katakuri swore that if I could get someone who loved me true and marry me in his place, he would step down. However, since I failed in that requirement. 4.) Did you write personalized vows? Can we hear/read them? No. Our vows were the… cookie cutter ones from Totto Land. They are standard Christian styled vows said in front if a priest. 5.) How do(es) the best man/maid of honor speech(es) go? Funny? Serious? Sweet? The speeches are respectful and serious. All the humor and fun is outside the banquet hall, where the people are. In there, however, it takes a bit for the party to ramp up. However, its still just Katakuri’s family who get hype. He, myself, and my “family” are all a little dour because of what the marriage means for each of us. 6.) How’s the first dance? Fun, romantic? It’s awkward as hell. Tho, I do try to make it less so there is the major problem that I am only up to his knee. He ends up having to scoop me into his arms, me sitting on the crook of one while his other hand basically engulfed my hand. It ended up just being an awkward swaying.

Post Wedding/Married Life

1.) When's the honeymoon? Where are you going for it? While we go on an official honeymoon on his ship, it’s a very relaxed affair. We’re trying to get an idea as to how our relationship will work. We keep to his private quarters, with the crew given instructions to leave us be unless entirely needed. The trip is going from Whole Cake Island to his home, though the long way around so it takes about a week. 2.) Get any good gifts from your guests? Mostly just sweets and stuff made from sweets. The people of Totto Land are obsessive with the stuff. As well, I get a few pieces of furniture like vanities, with a piece of soul so it’s alive. It’s… disconcerting… 3.) What’s it like waking up married the next morning? It’s awkward. While we are in the same room, he refused to sleep on his bed the first night. Instead, he slept in a large armchair with his trident by his side. Being that he’s over three times my height, I have a separate bed beside his where I slept. Being used to sleeping with soldiers and crew mates, there’s no trouble for me to go to sleep. He seemed worried that I was going to kill him in his sleep. It takes a while for him to get comfortable around me. 4.) Is being married an adjustment, or does it feel completely natural? It’s an adjustment. He’s the one who needs to adjust more, despite being the one who expected to marry soon anyway. While I’m used to living in close proximity to people, he isn’t. Even when he was younger, he had his own space because of his appearance. 5.) Were you living together before you got married? Or even before you got engaged? We were not living together. All of my (very few) things were moved onto his ship during the reception. I am dwarfed by his presence in my new home, even when he’s not there. It does not help to make me more comfortable around him or his family. 6.) Will you make a scrapbook of your wedding/life together to look back on one day?We do not have to. An official one was made by the wedding planners. We have a large one (a little too small for his comfort and much too big for mine) which is ours to keep, and his mother has one as well. There is an edited one for public viewing in the Totto Land Records Building, if people want to look at it, alongside the rest of his family’s edited wedding albums.

#otp: sweet strategy #si: the acrobat

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existential-labrador · 5 years ago

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Sanditon Vent

So I’ve been thinking a lot about Sanditon - even more than usual I mean - since the announcement, or lack thereof, that it won’t be renewed by ITV. My initial thoughts and feelings were ones of despair and outrage. Remember my totally dignified (yeah right) emotional meltdown on here at the end of season one? I was all like, SCREW EVERYONE I’M LEAVING THE FANDOM. But after some time to calm down, lick my wounds and cry a bit, I thought, I can do this, I want a season two, I am all in! That took a lot of energy. So now, the thought that all of that energy was for nothing, is too much. I can’t. I can’t even. I just can’t. I have to believe that another broadcaster will pick it up for a second season. I have to. Accepting that season one was the end is not an option for me, or for most of us for that matter. Anyway, the whole announcement led to some smug and quite frankly unnecessary comments from some people on here about how the first season was trashy but we just went along with it because we wanted a second season. And I’m not going to lie, at the time of the finale and even some parts of the show, I agreed with a lot of those comments. As much as I was invested I felt like the plot was very soap-opera-y (technical term) and a bit all over the place and the sex and nudity was only there for a shock factor, Though objectively speaking I still think the sex and nudity probably was unnecessary, there is no-one on this earth who will change my mind that Sidney’s butt is a pivotal character in this show. Much like David Bowie’s crotch is pivotal in Labyrinth, though both are sadly uncredited. But seriously, I have been giving the plot and story arcs a lot more thought. Yes a lot of it was ridiculous, particularly Sidney’s ending...but...when you really think about it, was it any more ridiculous and soap-opera-y than Austen’s other stories? Now stay with me on this before you become enraged. Firstly let me say Austen is my favourite author and I worship her so I am not criticising her in any way. Her stories and her writing are incredible and I adore her. All I’m saying is, when you really break down the plots of her stories, Sanditon doesn’t seem so far off base. Imagine the other books weren’t already established, respected stories, imagine you were seeing them played out for the first time on T.V. Lizzie and Darcy are finally making headway when WHAT’S THAT? Lizzie’s younger sister has eloped with the guy Lizzie previously flirted/had an attachment to who also happens to be the ex-best friend of Darcy and who ruined his sister’s life?! Imagine that on T.V.! For the first time! Soap-opera-y! It is my favourite book of all time but it is! Oh I can’t believe Captain Wentworth is going to marry that other woman thinks Anne...WHAT’S THAT? She’s fallen off a wall and nearly dies but then falls in love with that other guy who lost his wife?! Edward looks like he might propose to me, thinks Elinor, but WHAT’S THAT? He’s secretly engaged to a woman I now have to pretend to be friends with? And then I think they’re married but it turns out she went for his brother instead?! And don’t even get me started on Emma! NEED I GO ON PEOPLE?! The only difference here apart from obviously superior writing because Jane is Queen, is that her other books are already established, respected stories. Also the sex and nudity etc. which we can all agree is unnecessary but hey, let’s not take it so seriously and enjoy it as a modern take of stuff that...guess what...would have happened. Even Jane herself does not deny that people have sex. Yes it was scandalous (naughty Wickham) but I’m gonna say Sanditon made it pretty clear having sex on someone’s floor is not cool.

Now I’m not saying the show is flawless, far from it! And I am aware I am saying all of this as someone who trashed the finale myself at the time and honestly I would still rather the series had been a mini-series and wrapped it up. But I feel better having given it more thought. And really, had Sidney and Charlotte really been through enough in Austen terms? Most Austen characters don’t get together for years! And the hardest parts of their journey are often in the middle/or towards the end of their relationship. Let’s just hope now, that Sidlotte get the ending they deserve. And by god if a broadcaster can’t give us that, then fanfiction will! Write or die guys! Write or die. Shout out to my Sanditon ladies, love you all <3

#Sanditon #sanditon itv #sanditon 2019 #sidlotte #jane austen #sidneys butt may not be the character we deserved but it is the one we needed #points for that reference #i do make myself laugh #sidneys butt and jareds crotch deserve credits #justice for sidneys butt #justice for jareds crotch

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kittymaverick · 6 years ago

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It’s that time of the year again: Mystery Case Files Rewind Commentary

I’m going to be putting these out in parts most likely, if not via edits, as I’m unable to buy the game at the moment. Spoilers below the cut.

1. YAAAAS IT’S VICTOR THE MOST INCOMPETENT OF THE DALIMARS. (Hey, wasn’t he a skeleton in the closet at one point?) My chances of retaining my sanity have increased dramatically.

2. “Did you know Victor is the clumsiest villain of the entire franchise?” Yeah, I’ve noticed. (Says the Master Detective who got captured and also buried by said clutz.) ...Shut up. 3. Queen: Hello Master Detective, so there’s this place called Hotel Victory which is trying too hard to NOT be related to the Dalimars-- Hello? Master Detective? Are you listening? MD: *Having flashbacks and reaching for the lighter in her pocket*

4. Queen: Yes, we think it’s Victor, the one who locked you up in his cottage-- MD: You Majesty, please... Queen: And totally caught you with a grave trap. MD: Stop rubbing that in my face, it was so many years ago... Queen: While his father Charles made you relive his childhood. MD: Actually, it was more than that, but I don’t want to talk about it. 5. Queen: Do write back and tell us how this investigation goes. You always write the best stories. MD: How I wish that were not the case. 6. Mannequin: I would help but I’m broken at the moment. MD: Yah no, stay down plz. Mannequin: I suppose I can try-- *starts crawling* MD: NOPE! STAY DOWN. Mannequin: *breaks* MD: ....That works. 7. ...Sheesh, have the Dalimars ever thought of moving AWAY from Blackpool? Is there any property here they haven’t touched at this point? 8. “Fusing their bodies with TV sets--” MD: NOPE. I’M OUT! PEACE. 9. Yes, check into the hotel where strange things are happening. This can only go well. (This is like... basic horror 101 mistakes) Oo! Stickers for each game on the suitcase! Speaking of, where’s my buggy? 10. *Opens suitcase* *Finds familiar suit with a rose lapel--* MD: NOPE NOPE NOPE. 11. *Opens door* *Electricity starts sparking* Me: REALLY? Terrible decisions with consequences ALREADY? MD: Hey don’t look at me I just open puzzle doors and find objects! 12. ...did they just obliterate the MENU? 13. ???: Oh, it’s you. Me: Hey, it’s... MD: .... Who are you? Me: Good question, not a lot of people standing against us survive-- Charlotte: DAMMIT IT’S ME, CHARLOTTE. Me and MD: Oooooooohhhhhh right. MD: BTW, Alistair killed Gwen, not me. 14. Charlotte: Yeah, we’re stuck in this rift of time until Victor figures it out. MD: ....I’m not sure what is more worrying, the fact that we are in a rift, or the fact that you are waiting for VICTOR to figure out how to fix it. Me: ...Does that make Victor a time lord? 15. Charlotte: Well I suppose it’s better if you figure this out if you want to get out. MD: .......You’re just going to stab me in the back, aren’t you? Anyway, I’m gone-- huh? Charlotte: You’re back? Aw, it’s like you miss me. MD: ...... Fuck, you really ARE your father’s daughter, and grandfather’s granddaughter, and brother’s sister-- YOU GET WHAT I’M SAYING. Me: Esta familia es loca. Charlotte: What is it with your fascination with us anyway? MD: EXCUSE YOU, YOU’RE THE ONES WHO WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE. 16. Me: Haven’t missed a single Dalimar reunion since you first met?... Actually, that’s true. You ARE like a part of their family. 8D MD: Kill me already. 17. Collect key fragments? Feel like we’ve done this before... Also ehehehe “key” fragments. MD: The story of my job. 18. The CRIME COMPUTER? This is ANCIENT. MD: It’s like seeing a computer that’s still running windows XP. 19. DOOR PUZZLES ARE BACK. ALSO THE BLOODY BOX WITH THE FACE. “You’ve found an item tied to this guest--” MD: IF ALISTAIR’S HERE, I’M TRIPLE OUT. 20. Charlotte: BTW, my sister and I need to go back. Me: You gonna tell her Gwen’s dead? MD: No you do it. Me: No you. Though experience say that death for the Dalimars don’t seem to last anyway. MD: *sighs* 21. Charlotte: HAHA I tricked you into giving me all the clues. Kthxbye. Me: Yeah, that.... MD: We totally saw that coming. 22. Victor: CHARLOTTE WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WE NEED EVERYONE IN THEIR SEATS FOR THIS TO WORK. PUT YOUR HELMET ON. Me: Oh hi Victor. MD: Did he just say SEAT and HELMET? Me: Oh yeah he did. MD: *RUNS* This is where the workthrough I’m watching ends. Might not be able to do any more of these things depending on my time, but for now enjoy what there is.

#Mystery Case files #Mystery case files rewind #rewind

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millerallison816 · 3 years ago

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모바일현금섯다 Strategy - Playing Aggresively #373

Casino-style gambling in the United States has skyrocketed in the last 35 years, expanding from just two states (Nevada and New Jersey) to 40 states in 2014. Outside of Nevada (which alone has over 200 operations), the U.S. has more than 700 casinos, including sizeable facilities owned by Indian tribes. Of the 20 largest metropolitan areas, 17 have casinos within a one hour’s drive. Caribbean Stud Poker offers the Player the challenge of poker but uses an easier to-play format. In addition, it is the first progressive play jackpot ever offered with a table game. It is played on a special table, similar to blackjack, and is based on five-card stud poker. Caribbean Stud is the world’s most famous poker game played in thousands of casinos around the World. It’s a five card poker game played heads-up against the dealer. The objective is to beat the dealers’ hand with your best five card poker hand. In the United States casinos were for many years legal only in Nevada and New Jersey and, by special license, in Puerto Rico, but most other states now allow casino gambling, and betting facilities operate clandestinely throughout the country, often through corruption of political authorities.

Crapless craps, also known as Bastard Craps, is a simple version of the original craps game, and is normally played as an online private game. http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=모바일현금섯다 Decks with fewer than 52 cards are known as stripped decks.The piquet pack has all values from 2 through 6 in each suit removed for a total of 32 cards. The king of spades, who used to exist David, no longer continues a harp. This institution is closely associated with animal tarots. 24 card decks, removing 2s through 8s are also sold in Austria and Bavaria to play schnapsen.

Placing the cards remaining in the deck on top of the stack of cards that were cut and placed on the cover card pursuant to section (c)(1)(ii) above; and Removing the cover card and placing it in the discard rack; and Deal the cards in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 7, 8 or 9. Guest, Charlotte. Playing Cards of Various Ages and Countries (Selected from the Collection of Lady Charlotte Schreiber). Vol. 1–3, London, J. Murray, 1892. Flush is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit;"Straight" is a hand consisting of five cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit, with an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 being the highest ranking straight and an ace, two, three,four and five being the lowest ranking straight; provided, however, that an ace may not be combined with any other sequence of cards for purposes of determining a winning hand (e.g., queen, king, ace, two, three); Payout is the percentage of funds ("winnings") returned to players.

Wherever a sign is present, ideology is present, too” (Vološinov, 1973, p. 10). This logic is greatly pronounced during the time around the French Revolution. For instance, if your ante bet was $ 5 and you decide to call rather than fold, your call bet will be $10. So, you would have bet a total of $15. Due to the fact that you’ll find that the dealer’s hand generally qualifies 50% of the time, you should make sure that your hand is strong enough to beat the dealer’s hand even if you are at least holding a high card (an Ace or a King). The other 56% of the time, the dealer will qualify, and you’ll have about a 50/50 chance of beating the dealer. But in order to stay in the game and try to beat the dealer, you have to triple the amount of money you’re wagering. (Remember–the bet is always twice the size of the ante, and you have to place the bet in order to stay in the hand).The player is then given 5 cards (like five-card draw) and has the opportunity to discard one or more of them in exchange for new ones drawn from the same virtual deck.

While other decks abandoned the queen in non-tarot decks, the French kept them and dropped the knight as the middle face card. In some forms of early American roulette wheels, there were numbers 1 through 28, plus a single zero, a double zero, and an American Eagle. Another approach is to "set" the dice in a particular orientation, and then throw them in such a manner that they do not tumble randomly.Nonalcoholic drinks and snacks are sometimes provided free of charge.

But that depends on price transparency, which exists for most of the day-to-day purchases we make. In that case, you best go elsewhere: Princess Caroline made it illegal for citizens to gamble in the casino in the mid-1800s, insisting that the revenue generated come only from foreigners. Blackjack is available to play for free at a number of online casinos.These vendors (ostensibly independent from—but often owned by—the parlor owner) then sell the tokens back to the parlor at the same price paid for them (plus a small commission), thus turning a cash profit without technically violating the law.

This is an updated and improved version of Edward O. Thorp's approach, where Newtonian Laws of Motion are applied to track the roulette ball's deceleration; hence the British title. There are 7 possible outcomes where only one die will match the number Most casinos prohibit "call bets", and may have a warning such as "No Call Bets" printed on the layout to make this clear. This means a player may not call out a bet without also placing the corresponding chips on the table. 몰디브게임사이트 The tiers bet is also called the "small series" and in some casinos (most notably in South Africa) "series 5-8".

The house must always win in the long run. In 1999, 29% of players thought of themselves as having a gambling addiction to pachinko and needed treatment. Another 30% said they went over their budgets and borrowed amounts. Japanese pachinko players have not shown significant signs of protest in response to the incorporation of koatari; on the contrary, battle-type pachinko machines have become a major part of most parlors.Players wager by choosing numbers ranging from 1 through (usually) 80.

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thearrangment-phff · 7 years ago

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XXX. Weddings

March 2017

The week after meeting with Harry about the guest list, Isabella joined her parents on a plane to Belgium. Isabella's aunt Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein and her uncle Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and his wife Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg also attended the mass to commemorate the deceased members of the Belgian Royal Family at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk or Église Notre-Dame, depending on which of Belgium's major languages you prefer. The members of the Grand Ducal Family joined their Belgian cousin, King Philippe, and Queen Mathilde as well as Princess Esmeralda and Princess Lea for the mass.

The press went crazy that day because of Isabella. Everyone wanted to know more about the Swiss-born Archduchess of Austria and seeing her give a kiss on each cheek to Queen Mathilde of the Belgians before giving a deep curtsy with her head bowed was different. Kate had never done that to a queen and many thought she broke protocol, but the press always got those things wrong. When they were leaving the church one photographer yelled if Kate had taught Isabella how to curtsey. Queen Mathilde gave a little laugh before replying, "You can't teach what one has known since birth."

Some took that as an insult to Kate, but Queen Mathilde was simply saying the truth. Isabella curtsied to her grandparents when the ruled Luxembourg, then to her uncle when he became Grand Duke. She's curtsied to King Baudouin, Queen Fabiola, King Albert II, Queen Paola, King Philippe, and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians. There were more Kings and Queen of Europe too. The press acted if she was the one who was new to the royal life. Isabella was royal. Isabella was more royal than Harry.

When you look at Isabella's mother's side all there is Princes, Princesses, Kings, and Queens. On her father's side, she had Princes, Princesses, Kings, Queen, Emperors, Empresses, Dukes and Duchesses. The closest relation that didn't carry the title of Princess was Isabella's great-grandmother Philippine de Noailles who was the daughter of a Prince of Poix. French nobility was different than other European nobility so Philippine could not carry the title Princess, but that didn't discourage the fact that she was the granddaughter of a Duke of Mouchy and Princess of Murat. Philippine was of noble blood regardless.

People wanted to act as if she didn't know about royal protocol, but that was the farthest from the truth. Then the press remembered that Isabella was Catholic and made articles about how Harry was going to be taken out of the line of succession to the British throne for marrying a Catholic. Few people corrected the press with the fact that in 2013, Her Majesty allowed members of the British Royal Family to keep their place in the line of succession if they married a Catholic. Then more ridiculous stories came up about the war between Isabella and Kate. To Isabella, Kate would never be competition because she and Kate were completely different women. Isabella also wasn't going to feed into the media's game of pinning woman against woman. It was too misogynist for Isabella's taste.

Isabella returned to London after the Belgian trip. Louis had to get more protection for the house because the press would not leave the surrounding area in hope of getting pictures of Isabella. The Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family had to release a statement saying that the house is private property and press can be arrested on site. To which photographers, simply got better cameras to take pictures from far away and only backed up about 10 or 20 feet. The property in which Louis lived technically belonged to the Luxembourg government and with the help of Jean, Isabella paid a small amount of rent to the Luxembourg government in order to live there. Because she was the granddaughter of the former Grand Duke and many government officials knew Isabella since she was a small child they had little to no objections to her living with Louis.

In the beginning of March, Isabella and Harry flew to Jamaica to attend the wedding of one of Harry's best friends Tom Inskip to the Hon Lara Hughes-Young. Harry hadn't even bothered to tell Isabella that Kate wanted to invite her to dinner after their first meeting went horribly because Harry didn't see a point. Isabella and Kate were two completely different women who wouldn't get along. Since Isabella didn't seem to get along with William and Kate, Harry feared that Isabella and his friends wouldn't get along either.

It happened to be the opposite, some of Harry's friends welcomed Isabella to their group of longtime friends. Isabella even chatted up the bride on more than one occasion. Since Harry never set up a proper meeting between his cousins and Isabella, this event was perfect. Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie was in attendance and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York struck up a conversation at one point in the night and the two could not stop laughing. Sarah even delighted Isabella with some stories of Harry when he was younger, and then gave a cute story of Harry and his mother Diana that warmed Isabella's heart.

Jake Warren, another one of Harry's friends, poked fun of Harry much to the delight of Isabella who loved all the fun stories of Harry's childhood and days at Eton College. Jake even insisted that Isabella call him Jakie because all of his friends do to which Isabella gave a little laugh and replied that he and everyone else must call her Belle because her family calls her that.

Isabella loved Harry's friends because they were so fun. The crude humor didn’t bother Isabella. Though she didn't get to meet many of them because talking with Eugenie, Sarah, Lara, and Jake took up much of her time. When Lara invited Isabella and Harry to join them the next day for a swim Isabella declined. Harry took the opportunity to joke that she would look like a lobster if she were to go out in the sun. Isabella replied with a small hit to one of his thighs, and Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek as a sorry to her. Lizzie was one of Harry's friends that Isabella didn't get to know too much. Lizzie Wilson, an American heiress, was married to one of Harry's good friend Guy Pelly.

As the night dragged on Harry got to a point of dancing to which Isabella found herself seated next to Sarah, Duchess of York instead of dancing with Harry and his friends. His attempt at doing the moonwalk was exciting at first and ended with a small disaster. Harry was danced into a waitress and sent the drink on the tray flying. Harry could not stop apologizing and Isabella had gotten up to help the waitress pick up the broken glasses with Harry.

After the three-day wedding celebration, Isabella and Harry returned to London to continue planning their wedding. Though it wasn't an official engagement for Isabella, Harry had invited her to a match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium in Southwest London. Isabella wasn't a big fan of sports but that didn't stop her from cheering on both teams. An older man, that Isabella didn't know but guessed he was of some type of importance, asked why cheer for both. To which Isabella gave the elder man a small smile and replied, "Well sir, I am to be a citizen of the United Kingdom soon. I shall represent the United Kingdom too and I can't simply cheer on one team. Scotland and Northern Ireland hold places in my heart, just like England."

The press fell in love with that quote. The British Royal Family members had come under scrutiny in the past for only supporting England in sports so Isabella's little quote made people of Scotland and Northern Ireland love her just a little bit more.

Isabella's first official engagement with Harry was a ceremony at the Embassy of Nepal to celebrate UK-Nepal relations. Isabella did a bit of research on Nepal prior to the ceremony and greeted some of the officials in their language. She asked questions and was genuinely interested in the country. In the end, Isabella was asked if she would come to Nepal after their wedding, to which Isabella agreed that she may come there one day.

Harry had another engagement the following day, without Isabella, so she spent the day packing for the both of them. Marie Gabrielle's civil wedding was going to be the following day and Isabella and Harry would both be attending. It would one be a one overnight stay in Luxembourg and they were going to stay in the Grand Ducal Place as a guest of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He was now getting into the habit of meeting Isabella's family. The names he still would get confused but the titles were becoming easier. He knew who to bow to and things were just getting easier in general.

At the civil wedding of Princess Marie Gabrielle of Luxembourg and Antonius Willms, Harry was treated like family. He talked and joked around with Isabella's brothers and cousins. Before everyone went outside for pictures, Harry stood next to Isabella as she told her cousin Charlotte that she wanted her to be her maid of honor. Charlotte replied with complete excitement and jumped up and down. Charlotte was so honored that Isabella chose her.

Once that excitement was toned down Harry did receive some questions about the wedding. The guest list had been finalized a couple of hours before they flew to Luxembourg. The bridal party was almost complete, but Harry had yet to decide on who would be his supporter. He knew nothing about Isabella's wedding gown and only knew about the tiara Isabella was wearing because his future sister in law, Marie Christine, had said Isabella would choose one of the Luxembourg Grand Ducal family's tiaras like every woman in their family has done.

There was a small dinner after the civil wedding at the Grand Ducal Palace. Harry and Isabella had yet to choose a real date and that bothered a lot of people. The wedding should happen in June, which was in 3 months and there was no finalized date. Even the press was getting anxious. But Isabella surprised Harry by deciding June 24th as their wedding date. It was the week after Trouping of the Colour so that meant Isabella couldn't stand beside him on the balcony. Of course, the Queen could allow her if she wanted, but Harry remembered that it might be breaking tradition somehow. Isabella thought it would be the perfect day so after dinner, Harry called his father, his grandparents, and the wedding planner about the date. All agreed and were happy about the wedding date.

Marie Gabrielle told Harry her religious wedding would be in Spain in early September so Harry now had to remember that. Then Marie Astrid, Isabella's mother, informed Harry and Isabella that the wedding between Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Olga Galitzine would happen in Spain in late May so that was another wedding to remember. Princess Olga's Galiztine's 3 other siblings were also marrying this year but had yet to choose a date so they would have to go to those weddings as well.

At one-point, Jean joked that 2018 would be filled with royal children. Harry knew that to be true. Then he wondered about he and Isabella. Isabella wanted children, but they weren't at a point in their relationship to engage in sexual activity. Then Harry remembered Isabella talking about invitro-fertilization, but that would cause problems. If people were to talk, then would be a PR disaster. Having children seemed scary now. Closer and closer to the actual wedding meant the possibility of having children grew greater. The dream of children would a big possibility.

After returning to London Harry had an engagement with William and Kate for a Heads Together campaign. Kate asked where he was and Harry was surprised that William hadn't said anything.

"I was with Isabella in Luxembourg to attend her cousin's civil wedding."

"You've been going to Luxembourg a lot," said Kate.

"Yes. Many of Isabella's family lives in Luxembourg."

"You just go out more. Isabella's brings out this new side of you. It's nice."

"Yes. We're going to the Vatican next month. Isabella's is the godmother of her cousin's son."

"Will the Luxembourg royals be there?" Asked William.

"Of course. Her cousin's son is Prince Liam of Nassau, the youngest grandson of the current Grand Duke and Duchess."

"Have you ever been to the Vatican?" Asked Kate

"No, but Isabella was there last November when all the Habsburgs met the Pope. She'll help me find my way around," answered Harry.

"Is Prince Liam her first godchild?" Asked William.

"No. I think she mentioned Princess Eleonore of Belgium being her first godchild. Prince Liam may be the eleventh or twelfth," replied Harry.

"When do you think someone from her family will ask you to be a godparent?" Asked William. Partly because despite William being his brother, he never asked Harry to be a godparent to George or Charlotte. William's reasoning was Harry was already their uncle so he would be in their life. But for Isabella's family, it was normal to ask an uncle or aunt to be the godparent.

If Isabella's brothers and sister continued to have children Harry might be asked. He had a good relationship with Isabella's cousin Guillaume and her brother Alexander. They might ask him, but Guillaume had yet to have any children with his wife and though Alexander had a serious girlfriend, Harry didn't see Alexander having children soon.

Marie Christine was nice to Harry and she recently had a son, but Isabella was already asked to be a godparent over Christmas. Last time he heard any new on the youngest Count de Limburg-Stirum was Marie Christine was planning an April christening in either Germany or Spain. Another thing Harry had to remember to go to. A year ago, he would never be doing any of this. There wouldn't be plane rides to Switzerland, Luxembourg, or Spain. No 4 weddings and 2 christenings to go to.

"I won't push anything," replied Harry.

After the engagement, Louis invited Harry over to his house so he and Isabella could have some time together to which Harry happily agreed. Isabella made chicken alfredo for Louis and his sons and Harry forgot how good Isabella cooked. He hadn't had something she prepared in a while.

"I've missed this," smiled Harry as he looked at Isabella.

"Believe me, those boys love coming home from school with such a delicious meal on the table. I always thought Tessy went all out with dinner, but Isabella takes everything to a whole other level," agreed Louis.

"I still remember being in her flat in Geneva and she made me chocolate ice cream," recalled Harry.

"I want chocolate ice cream!" Yelled Noah, Louis' youngest son.

"Maybe next week," replied Isabella with a small laugh.

That day was amazing to Harry. Though he would have preferred to have a dinner with just Isabella, Louis, and his 2 sons were a joy to have for company. Harry spent the rest of the night in Louis's home in London telling Noah and Gabriel stories about Sandhurst and serving in the army. Since Louis and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Tessy both served in the Luxembourg army, both boys had planned on going to Sandhurst like their grandfather and great-grandfather. Noah even told Harry that the army was in their blood which Harry agreed. Noah and Gabriel would make wonderful soldiers and bring much pride to the Nassau and Bourbon-Parma name.

Just days after returning from Luxembourg for Marie Gabrielle's civil wedding, Princess Charlotte of Murat informed Isabella and Harry that Infanta Alicia, Duchess of Calabria had died at the age of 99. It was then explained to Harry that Infanta Alicia was the most senior royal lady in the Spanish Royal Family. She had married the grandson of King Alfonso XII of Spain, but more importantly, Infanta Alicia was born a Princess of Bourbon-Parma making her Isabella's double first-cousin-twice-removed as the descendants of Robert I, Duke of Parma. There were other ways the two women were related. Infanta Alicia's mother was an Archduchess of Austria and she was a descendant of Eugene, 8th Prince of Ligne.

Isabella was told to go into mourning by Charlotte of Murat and she would be going to her funeral. Isabella then asked Harry if he would accompany her to Spain to attend the funeral, to which Harry agreed. The two flew into Madrid and were personally escorted to Infanta Alicia's former residence by her grandson Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria who now inherited the property. There were photographers following their every move, and many didn't understand why a British Prince would be attending the funeral of a Spanish Infanta, but no one cared Isabella was there. They cared enough to take pictures of them so they could sell to tabloids.

It was in Madrid where Harry got more acquainted with the Spanish Royal Family. Isabella greeted both King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia with kisses on the cheek before curtsying. Isabella had only done that publicly to Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and it showed the world that Isabella was comfortable with certain royals. Harry shook their hands and bowed like it's been taught to do with those who have higher titles than him. Isabella greeted the current King and Queen of Spain differently. There were no kisses on the cheek, just simple curtsying. Isabella also greeted Infantas Cristina and Elena of Spain, but there was no curtsying on either part.

There were some royals Harry recognized. Prince Carlo, Duke of Parma was head of the House of Bourbon-Parma and titular Duke of Parma. He helped negotiate terms for Isabella and Harry's upcoming marriage. There were other Bourbon princes in attendance to which Isabella explained was exciting because Bourbon princes all lay a claim to the Spanish throne. Then Harry remembered how when they were discussing the guest list someone had said: "Franco gave him that throne". Harry really needed a history lesson if he was going to understand Isabella's extended family.

Isabella introduced Harry to some Spanish dukes and other men in the Spanish nobility. Much to Harry's surprise, Isabella didn't know everyone at the funeral. He had gotten so used to Isabella knowing everyone's name and family background.

#PHFF #Prince Harry Fanfiction #Prince Harry Fanfic #Royal Fanfic #Royal Fanfiction

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creativemorningsvancouver · 5 years ago

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We're thrilled to present Michael Green, as our January speaker, presenting on the topic of Roots.

Michael Green is an award-winning architect, speaker and author known internationally for his research, leadership, and advocacy in promoting the use of wood, new technology and innovation in the built environment.

Michael is the founder of MGA | Michael Green Architecture, an architecture and design firm creating ambitious, innovative modern timber buildings, DBR | Design Build Research and TOE | Timber Online Education, a non-profit school and research platform.

A Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Michael is the author of several international publications on mass timber and tall wood.

Q&A How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?

Enduring childhood abandon, a deep desire for adventure, a willing exploration of risk, and an undying dedication to love.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?

This one is simple; in nature.

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?

You will find yourself when you find yourself; never force it and never expect more of yourself than the moment you are in.

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?

Yvon Chouinard, founder of Great Pacific Iron Works, Chouinard Equipment, Patagonia, 1% for the Planet and a host of other progressive organizations and companies but most importantly a father of modern day ice climbing and designer of my first ice climbing axes.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

There is a long and silly list of craziness; from free climbing solos to rappelling off a suspension bridge into a waterfall wearing my cap and gown at Cornell graduation, to being the first to ever kayak the northern border of Afghanistan (with my son Makalu when he was 9 years old), to some big scary climbs in Alaska and the Himalaya, to kayaking off glaciers with huge katabatic winds and swells in Antarctica with Makalu when he was 10; to pinning a poem I wrote on the trees – line by line – on the hike up the Grouse Grind for a girl so she would see it on her morning run; or I suppose believing we could create a seismic global shift in construction to address climate change and starting a free global online education program to make that happen. I think maybe I have a long list of crazy……

What did you learn from your most memorable creative failure?

What’s a creative failure? How could anything creative have such a narrow definition of success as to have any possibility of failure?

What’s your one guilty creative indulgence?

Closing my office door, scratch that; having an office door.

What are you reading these days?

Several things;

Educated by Tara Westover,

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek,

Conquistadors of the Useless by Lionel Terray

What fact about you would surprise people?

I have very nice looking feet and….. that I am an introvert.

How does your life and career compare to what you envisioned for your future when you were a sixth grader?

It is exactly the career I might have hoped for in grade six…. or better. It is also full of the same youthful optimism, beliefs and loves I had then. I feel lucky.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?

I’m an architect, alpinist, ice climber, woodworker, writer, artist, vegetarian, animal person and dad.

What's the most recent thing you learned (big or small)?

New Math: As + (2xWw) = Hache

(An Aperol spritz + two glasses of white wine = a headache this morning)

If I could open a door and go anywhere where would that be?

My grandpa’s woodshop in 1984 just before he died. It was heaven for me to sit with him with the smell of wood and stories softly told about a world I was yet to know.

What keeps you awake at night?

The crazy lady that lives next door. Seriously.

What myths about creativity would you like to set straight?

That some people are creative and others are not. I believe all kids in early elementary school demonstrate creativity but that slowly we take from many as they grow up through our schools.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?

My grandfather – my mom’s dad. He was a historian, woodworker and climber. He, at one point, was the head of the American Historical Society and a deep scholar, and yet his best friend in life when he died was a 90 year old farmer with a grade 3 education. I have always loved my grandfathers commitment to all things and the way he never saw the world in layers and never valued anyone for the degrees on their wall or the ‘achievements’ society might adorn them. People are people and they all matter. Its profoundly important to actually see all people and not look past anyone; everyone has a life to share and good things for the world.

What are you proudest of in your life?

My kids; Makalu and Elsa. They are my loves.

If you could interview anyone living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?

My dad’s dad. He died in the second world war. He was a surgeon and for a year was apparently the young doctor for Balmoral Castle meaning he may have looked after Queen Elizabeth when she was a little girl visiting Scotland… we don’t really know. My family have a tradition of adventure and I would love to know more about my grandfather and his parents and grandparents. My dad was only 6 when his father died so I don’t know much. My father immigrated to the Canadian arctic and learned to speak Inuktitut, living his own life of adventure. I would love to know more about the roots of this spirit. I feel part of a lineage of adventurers; my creative spirit and my physical life are rooted in it. I think our heroes reside within us in the stories we create as much as the stories they offer. I’m interested in the seeds planted for me and how they inform the seeds I will plant.

If you could do anything now, what would you do?

I can do anything now. We all can. That’s what is so amazing about life.

Where was the last place you travelled?

This fall has been insane with public lectures; Geneva, Copenhagen, Halifax, Helsinki, Oslo, Madrid

And then there were trips for projects too…..California, NY etc

And fun trips; Montreal, Vermont and New York, Cannes, Monaco, Paris, Bern

Technically the last place would be last week in New York City where I had a meeting with a new client in Mies Van Der Rohe’s masterpiece Seagram’s Building.

What music are you listening to these days?

This morning’s playlist

“Hold Strong”

- Bugle

“Bouncing Around the Room”

- Phish

“Everything Goes”

- Broods

“Wildfire”

- Mandolin Orange

“Where Were You”

– Jahmiel

“I and Love and You”

– Avett Brothers

What was the best surprise you’ve experienced so far in life?

A girl liked me, actually if you add them up so far in life like 4 did!

Where is your favourite place to escape?

My property on Salt Spring Island; I chop wood, build, kayak, hike and mostly just reconnect with myself in the trees and on the ocean. I am happiest with dirty fingernails and scratches on my legs. My kids and I share a family motto

“He who dies with the most scars wins”.

Salt Spring is my place to pull ahead in the race.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

All things are possible.

I believe this as a simple truth and from that I have come to believe that

it is every parent’s job to tell their children they can change the world; but first it’s our job to show them.

What books made a difference in your life and why?

Let my People Surf; Yvon Chouinard

My hero in many ways; from climbing to environment to business practices; enduring inspiration for running my practice.

Endurance; Alfred Lansing

Shackleton’s Antarctica trip; Defining leadership and extraordinary bravery.

Charlottes Web; EB White

Deep love, friendship, honour, integrity and heroism. Why I believe in speaking for those who can not speak for themselves and why I don’t eat animals.

Travels with Charlie; Steinbeck

Wanderlust and solitude with his dog Charlie; simple, quiet, pure; Steinbeck was dying and capturing what matters most to live.

What practises, rituals or habits contribute to your creative work?

I take baths, I walk on the beach or forest daily, I look for moments of quiet to recharge and I let my heart be open to all possibility

When you get stuck creatively, what is the first thing you do to get unstuck?

I don’t think I am supposed to say this out loud but to be honest this isn’t a thing for me. I have so many balls in the air that I move quickly and creativity thankfully is never in short supply.

If you had fifteen extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?

Snuggle Fisher and Luna – my two dogs (one of whom was born a cat but identifies as a dog)

What has been one of your biggest Aha! moments in life?

There is nothing stopping us from solving the world’s greatest challenges other than an assumption that someone else will.

What object would you put in a time capsule that best represents who you are today?

A pen, and a blank piece of paper. There is always something yet to write, draw, teach, explore, learn and create.

What is the one movie or book every creative must see/read?

Book

Leo Lionni; Little Yellow Little Blue

Movie

Quadrophenia

by the Who

What is the one question we haven’t asked that you want to answer?

What is the deepest motivation in my work.

The answer is LEGACY; the duty and beauty in serving generations beyond our own.

#cmvan #roots #creativemornings #vancouver #yvr #community #creative

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dumpsterfirebooks · 7 years ago

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10-11 Questions Answers

So a million years ago there was a thing going around where you answered 10 questions then wrote 10 of your own. Obviously at this point I’m not going to write any but have some answers. Tossing this all under a keep reading because it’s hella long.

@azuremirwae

Questions were:

1. Which would you choose to do: go to a cafe alone with a book and music, or sit on a bench in the woods with music and a book?

Woods with music and a book. Cafe’s still have a habit of being loud.

2. What is your favourite colour and why?

It really depends on my mood but I lean towards blues just because they’re calming.

3. When, during the day, is it most likely for you to feel sleepy/tired?

I get up at 4:30 every morning for work so I’m basically sleepy all day. Around 1PM is when it gets the worst.

4. When upset, which method usually helps you feel better: talking about it to somebody, or dealing with it alone?

It depends on what upset me, if it’s my family that upset me it’s definitely better to talk to somebody about it.

5. Do you have a specific vision of how you want your life to be in the future? If so, what is it like? (The answer to this does not have to be realistic.)

Honestly I just want to be happy. If that means living in a tiny house traveling the world awesome, if that means living in a mega mansion that’s cool, if it means nuclear family with the husband and 2 kids that’s fine. I just want to be happy 300 out of 365 days a year.

6. What are some of the things/causes you are very passionate about? (Optional: why?)

Umm idk if there really a cause I’m passionate about. Charity wise I always try to donate to the Progeria Research Foundation and I donate my hair to Wigs For Kids.

7. Given no one would object to it or judge you for it or that there won’t be any trouble, and you’d have all the materials for it, how would you like to dress everyday? What would be your aesthetic?

Pajamas, I would live in pajamas. I’m way too lazy to plan outfits. If I had the energy and patience I’d be all over the leather jackets, and skinny jeans. I don’t have the chest for body suits but if I did I’d wear them with the jackets and jeans.

8. What is your favourite aspect of nature?

Just weather in general. I love thunderstorms, I like when it first snows, and I love the air in spring.

10. Which one is your favourite: forests, mountains, or the sea? Why?

Forests because I love the woods. I’d say mountains because of the view but I can’t with really tall places.

@illyriangoddess

Questions were:

1) Favourite YouTuber?

I don’t actually watch YouTube often.

2) Fave time of day?

Sunset

3) In which fictional world would you want to live?

Oh god I don’t think I’ve seen a fictional world that’s made be want to live there pronto. I like fantasy and dystopian books so those don’t generally breed pleasant worlds to live in. I mean Prythian would be lovely because of Cassian and Azriel but they’re already kind of taken so I’d probably be pretty bored.

4) Most recently used emoji?

The laugh/crying one

5) Place you want to visit?

The U.K

6) Favourite gif?

I mean I use the James McAvoy fanning one a lot and the Charlotte squealing one a lot, but anytime I can use a Game of Thrones gif I’m happy. I loved this one from Ru Paul that said something like “past thirsty straight to dehydrated’ and B made me one that I can’t find right now that’s “it’s so smutty I’m gonna die.”

7) Pick a gif that describes yourself

Somewhere between the “you’re kidding right”

and laughing so hard I can’t function.

8) Least favourite character?

Of any book geez umm idk. I’m just going to pick from some of the more recent books I’ve read and say Mal from The Grisha Trilogy.

9) Favourite Villain?

*Eyes my bookcase suspiciously* “Big Brother” not a character but a group of characters from 1984.

10) What kind of perfume do you own/like?

I’m obsessed with scents I swear I basically own a store sized shelf of Victoria Secret body sprays. Here’s a really bad thing, I have different ones I use when I’m around different people. My everyday don’t care one is Vanilla Lace, I used to wear Pure Seduction a lot. If I’m going to be around a guy I like a lot I wear Bombshell but I also love Tease (those are the these cost more so I’m obviously trying scents.) So basically I’m a terrible person.

@highladyofnorta

Questions were:

1 - Do you like cold weather or hot weather?

Cold I can always put more layers on, if it gets too hot there’s only so much you can do.

2 - Do you actually like studying?

I do. I love learning new things and constantly wish I could just go to school as a profession. Not teach because that’s literally what I went for, started doing it and hated it, but just be a professional student.

3 - Dream vacation?

Trip around the world.

Europe: Greece, Italy, Croatia, France, Belgium, Germany, U.K, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland.

New Zealand, Australia, Maldives.

4 - Say one thing you like about your home country.

The food. Deep fried everything is so bad for you but it tastes so good.

5 - What’s your favorite book atm?

That’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is. I like my favorite is always going to be Wuthering Heights or 1984. Wuthering holds a special place because I was 1 of 7 people who picked to read it in my British Lit class in high school (everyone else chose P&P because of the movie) and actually understood it. 1984 because it’s first off such a good book about the influence the government can have on you. Second, how quick a person will rebel against the system and how quickly they’ll conform back.

*I’ve just now read this says atm so basically my answer is Rhapsodic.*

6 - What do you like about your best friend?

Which one I have multiples? They’re all funny and good listeners.

7 - When was the last time you did something nice to someone?

To someone? Geez ugh I’ve got a no touchy rule right now so I haven’t done anything nice TO anyone. For people though, I unloaded my mom’s car for her so she wouldn’t have to be in the heat and I sent Clarie a care package a few weeks ago filled with all kinds of nonsense.

8 - Do you like shopping?

Yes. Especially if it’s online and I have money. Hello Amazon Prime my dear friend.

9 - Most embarrassing memory of your childhood?

Well geez there’s just so many because I’m a walking embarrassment. I’ve told the “good lick” story but when I was in high school I wore a sleeveless shirt to school with a hoodie and didn’t realize that the top had come down when I unzipped the hoodie and I spent a good 10-15 minutes walking around in my bra so that was cool.

10 - How would you react if a flirty anon showed up in your ask box?

Hit me. Idk I’d probably be flustered as all hell or literally not even process there’s flirting. I have a habit of being exceptionally oblivious when it comes to things like that.

@Rugrat-mama who’s new url I don’t know

Questions were:

1.)If you could be any character in a contemporary novel who would you be? 

I have absolutely no idea.

2.) You are sent to Prythian for 24 hours to kill any High Lord, who do you take out and why? 

Beron because I don’t dislike the others that much.

3.) Go to TV show? 

I’m so bad with t.v. lately but Law and Order:SVU is always good.

4.) Do you think the cauldron made a mistake making Elain & Lucien mates? 

Lol, I wouldn’t call it a mistake they’re both lovely characters I just personally don’t ship them. I’m also more than happy to see a relationship play out where the mating bond is rejected. I like the concept of Feysand being mates and accepting, Elucien being mates but denying, and Nessian not being mates with anyone, but choosing each other.

5.) Do you have a favorite classic movie? 

I haven’t seen any classics which is bad I know. To me classics are things from the 80s and that’s terrible.

6.) What is your favorite childhood memory? If you don’t have one, you can skip it, I understand.  

Going on vacations with my immediate family and my grandparents.

7.) Do you believe in love at first sight and/or soulmates?

I believe in lust at first sight for sure. I like the idea of love at first sight because I’m a low key sap, but I’ve never experienced it so idk. Soulmates would be rather nice, but I’m mixed on it. It seems nice to know there’s for sure someone out there for you but at the same time it’s like you don’t really have a choice. Or what if you miss each other for whatever reason.

8.) If you had to choose between Azriel & Lucien, for yourself, who would you choose? 

While I do enjoy sarcasm I don’t think I could handle that with Lucien forever we’d kill each other. Azriel has that mysterious vibe to him where you’d constantly be learning new things about him and that makes things a little more interesting. Yeah not everything you learn will be great, but I feel like he’s still evolving more as an individual whereas Lucien is a take him as you see him kinda guy.

9.) Do you ship Mor with anyone? 

No one in particular. I know some people ship her with different Archeron sisters but I already ship them with people so I guess Viv’s sister.

10.) Describe your dream vacation.

All expenses paid trip around Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Maldives.

@justbooklover

Cold or hot weather?

Cold

Favourite sweet food?

I have a really bad sweet tooth, chocolate mousse is my absolute favorite

Favourite movie/s?

Super random but here they are: Labyrinth, The Swan Princess, Beauty and the Beast(animated), Daylight. Literally so damn random I know especially since Daylight is a terrible movie but for some odd reason I love it.

Favourite music genre?

I’ll listen to just about anything even country is starting to grow on me.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Read or sleep. Anything quiet where people leave me alone is generally great because I’m around constant chaos.

Have you ever wanted to smack someone’s face against a wall?

Yes and I have.

Do you smile often?

Idk if I smile often but I am a giggle queen. I’m always laughing.

Pineapple on pizza?

No, but I like pineapple on it’s own. I’m weird with pizza though I don’t like any kind of sauce.

Favorite author/s and book series?

Shakespeare. I have a lot of Anne Rice that I’ve been working on for the past 10 years, Nicholas Sparks even though every book is basically the same, and I’m slowly working through the Outlander series.

Single, taken or waiting for a special fictional character?

Always waiting for a fictional character but otherwise single.

Sweet or salty popcorn?

Salty like my personality. The more salt the better I know it will kill me someday but salt is my favorite unofficial food group.

#this literally took me a month #10 questions asks #i'm so sorry

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gaymusicchart · 7 years ago

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GAY MUSIC CHART – 2017 week 39

Welcome to the Gay Music Chart, the LGBTQA related music videos TOP 50 actuality and most request.

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Here is the recap for this week :

OUT : Benny - Never Apart (LW: 17 / WO: 15 / PEAK: 17)

OUT : PVRIS - What's Wrong (LW: 22 / WO: 13 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

OUT : MRSHLL 마샬 - Circle (visuals) (LW: 25 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 25)

OUT : Tom Bleasby - Where Is The Love (audio) (LW: 27 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 27)

OUT : George Michael feat. Nile Rodgers - Fantasy (Audio) (LW: 31 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 31)

OUT : Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy (Arnaud Rebotini Remix) (LW: 33 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 33)

OUT : ERASURE - Just A Little Love (Official Lyric Video) (LW: 35 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 35)

OUT : Falko - Undercover (Official Lyric Video) (LW: 37 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 33)

OUT : Mickey Taylor feat. ØMC - In The Night (LW: 38 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 20)

OUT : LP - No Witness (A Night at The McKittrick Hotel) (LW: 40 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 18)

OUT : Detonautas Roque Clube part. Leoni - Dias Assim (LW: 44 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 44)

OUT : Germán Díaz - Dentro de tí (LW: 45 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 42)

OUT : Tuure Boelius - Eikö sua hävetä (LW: 47 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 43)

OUT : Tokio Hotel - Something New (LW: 48 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 48)

OUT : State of Sound - Heaven (LW: 49 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 49)

OUT : Tom Goss - Click (The Interactive Music Video) (LW: 50 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 15)

01 (+ 2) : Kevin Chomat - Sens Interdit (LW: 03 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

This new single of the French singer reached the top 10 YouTube trending in France. His first album will be released next September 25, 2017.

02 (- 1) : Logic feat. Alessia Cara, Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (LW: 01 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

This powerful music video, which is also a promotion for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, follows a gay teen couple and is the incarnation of the "It Gets Better" slogan.

03 (+ 9) : Kevin Chomat - Un homme à terre (LW: 12 / WO: 33 / PEAK: 01 (x3))

For his third single, the French singer is talking about infidelity, with his boyfriend who cheated on him.

04 (+ 2) : Alvin Point - Il a dit (LW: 06 / WO: 52 / PEAK: 01 (x4))

The first single of the 24 years old singer is talking about a romantic gay love story. The title means "he said".

05 (=) : P!nk - What About Us (LW: 05 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 05)

The music video includes audio contents from the tragic events in Charlottesville for denouncing the hate speeches from the supremacist movements, and shows several people dancing under the intimidating eye of the authorities, including two men together.

06 (- 4) : Leon Else - What I Won't Do (Lyric Video) (LW: 02 / WO: 15 / PEAK: 02)

The British singer has recently came out on Facebook.

07 (+ 3) : Lizzo - Good As Hell (LW: 10 / WO: 41 / PEAK: 02)

This is taken from the EP "Coconut Oil".

08 (+ 13) : Harel Skaat - Radio (LW: 21 / WO: 21 / PEAK: 01 (x3))

The Israeli singer has uploaded on his channel a full concert. Go check it!

09 (+ 20) : Autoheart - My Hallelujah (LW: 29 / WO: 09 / PEAK: 11)

10 (- 3) : Wrabel - The Village (LW: 07 / WO: 8 / PEAK: 04)

This engaging song was written the day after US President Trump removed new federal protections for trans students in public schools last February. Trans actor August Aiden plays the role of a young transgender who tries to be himself despite the hostility of his father in the music video.

11 (+ 8) : Michele Bravi - Solo Per Un Po' (LW: 19 / WO: 19 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

The Italian singer has came out earlier this year, just before coming fourth in the San Remo 2017 music festival in the Champion category. This single is the second single of his album "Anime di carta" which reached #1 in the top album in Italy.

12 (+ 1) : Zayn feat. Sia - Dusk Till Dawn (LW: 13 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 12)

This is the new collab of Sia.

13 (+ 26) : Superfruit - Worth it (LW: 39 / WO: 11 / PEAK: 02)

This is the third single of the duo taken from the "Future Friends - Part One" EP. The music video breaks down gender norms with these two young dancers.

14 (+ 14) : GAREK - Stray (LW: 28 / WO: 50 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

The single taken from the album "Take the King" is a conversation with his 8-year-old self about accepting who he is, the talk he wishes he had as a child, because he "spent so many years hating [himself] because [he] listened to the voices around [him] saying that people like [him] were disgusting".

15 (NEW) : Maggie Szabo - Don't Give Up (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 15)

In this Canadian music video, a teen couple is going to prom, but one of them isn't really excited about it, until the other let his transgender lover to dress as a men. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Ali Forney Center which helps LGBTQ youths.

16 (- 12) : Alfie Arcuri - If They Only Knew (LW: 04 / WO: 12 / PEAK: 04)

This is the new music video of the winner of The Voice Australia 2016. What must do a gay man when he's in love with his best male friend, who's dating his best female friend?

17 (- 9) : Eli Lieb - Shangri La (LW: 08 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 03)

Eli Lieb is completely bare in his new music video.

18 (+ 8) : Beth Ditto - We Could Run (LW: 26 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 10)

This is taken from her first solo album "Fake Sugar."

19 (NEW) : Mainland - I Found God (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 19)

This music video shows people running to found their love. Several real LGBT couples are featuring in it.

20 (- 5) : Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan - There For You (LW: 15 / WO: 17 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

21 (NEW) : Charlotte Gainsbourg - Deadly Valentine (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 21)

Charlotte Gainsbourg & Dev Hynes are lifelong lovers for this music video from the French actor and singer.

22 (- 11) : Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (LW: 11 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 11)

The British singer is back with a new upcoming album.

23 (NEW) : Cassandre - Paris la nuit (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 23)

The French duo sings a love declaration to the city of love. It's perhaps a little cliché, but, as Parisians, we are probably not really objective. Sorry not sorry :)

24 (+ 22) : Ria Mae - Bend (LW: 46 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 07)

This is the new single of the Canadian singer.

25 (NEW) : Pierre Lapointe - Sais-tu vraiment qui tu es (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 25)

This is the new single of the new album "La science du cœur" from the famous Canadian singer.

26 (- 12) : La Prohibida - Baloncesto (LW: 14 / WO: 10 / PEAK: 03)

27(- 18) : Myckael SG - Strong or Best (alternate version) (LW: 09 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 04)

28 (NEW) : Mr John - Neon (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 28)

Instead of covers, this time, the Brazilian singer delivers an original song.

29 (NEW) : Jeffery Austin - Bulletproof (Official Audio) (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 29)

This is the new single of the out former contestant of The Voice 2015 in the USA.

30 (- 14) : Benny - Boys Will Be Boys (LW: 16 / WO: 38 / PEAK: 02)

It took two years for the 17 years old YouTuber Ben J. Pierce to release a new music video after "Little Game", but the wait was worth it, because it's really good. It talks about toxic masculinity and the effects it can have on a person.

31 (NEW) : Michele Bravi - Diamanti (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 31)

This is the third single from the Italian singer taken from the album “Anime Di Carta”.

32 (+ 4) : Namuel - Yugoslavia (LW: 36 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 16)

The Chilean singer is back, and is playing Adam and Steve in his new music video.

33 (NEW) : Macklemore feat. Kesha - Good Old Days (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 33)

An unexpected collab.

34 (- 10) : Neon Trees - Feel Good (LW: 24 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 17)

After a break for his first solo album "Excommunication", Tyler Glenn goes back with his band for a new song.

35 (NEW) : Superfruit - Hurry Up (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 35)

This is the ninth single taken from their first album "Future Friends".

36 (+ 5) : Chester Lockhart - Save Me from Myself (LW: 41 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 32)

37 (- 7) : Superfruit - How You Feeling? (LW: 30 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 30)

This is the eighth single taken from their first album "Future Friends".

38 (NEW) : Bjartmar Thordarson - Hringd´í mig (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 38)

This is the new track of the Icelandic singer.

39 (- 7) : MUNA - I Know A Place (LW: 32 / WO: 33 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

The new song of the L.A. queer trio band is an LGBT anthem which imagines a place where none of them would need to be afraid. This is taken from their first album "About U".

40 (- 17) : Greyson Chance - Back on the Wall (LW: 23 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

The 19 years old singer has recently came out on Instagram. He was revealed with his cover of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at a school talent show 7 years ago (almost 60 millions views on YouTube) and is produced by Ellen DeGeneres.

41 (RE-ENTRY) : Rainbow Riots - Freedom (LW: - / WO: 8 / PEAK: 12)

This is the second single of the album "Rainbow Riots", an album composed and produced by Swedish Petter Wallenberg with queer artists from Uganda, South Africa, Malawi and Jamaica, to fight LGBTphobia.

42 (NEW) : Perfume Genius - Wreath (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 42)

This is the third single taken from the album "No Shape".

43 (NEW) : Sia - Rainbow ("My Little Pony: The Movie" OST) (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 43)

Team Bronies: paws up!

44 (RE-ENTRY) : Cub Sport - O Lord (LW: - / WO: 4 / PEAK: 17)

This is the debut single of the Australian band from Brisbane, taken from their album "Bats".

45 (- 25) : Marc Devigne - Çà va (LW: 20 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 20)

From the Canadian TV miniseries "Shadowlands", Marc Devigne and Charlie David play a couple whose time together is cut short. Originaly posted on Vimeo.

46 (- 28) : Paris Bang Bang - Poseída (LW: 18 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 15)

The drag queen is from Mexico City.

47 (- 5) : Pabllo Vittar feat. Mateus Carrilho - Corpo Sensual (LW: 42 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 18)

The new song of the famous Brazilian drag queen is with one of the member of Banda Uó. Quente...

48 (- 14) : Brockhampton - Junky (LW: 34 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 34)

49 (NEW) : Michael Perry - Perfect Love (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 49)

After "Underwear Model", this is his new single.

50 (- 7) : PVRIS - Anyone Else (LW: 43 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 31)

A portion of every ticket sold for their upcoming fall tour will be donated to The Ally Coalition in support of LGBTQ equality.

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK

La Pelopony - Desastres De Un Capítulo Final

Yeyo feat. La Pelopony - Llegará El Día

Johnny Robinson - Flames Of Love (Matt Pop Mix)

The British drag queen is back with a new track.

VELO - Oye Papi

From the album "Cruzin".

Gussy - In Order to Love

This is the new track of the Australian singer.

CRIMER - Badface

This is the third single of the EP "Preach" from the Swiss singer.

Girls' Generation - 소녀시대 All Night

There is three drag queens in this South Korean music video from the most famous kpop girlband.

Ольга Бузова / Olga Buzova - Мало половин / Malo palavin

This Russian music video is full of shirtless dancers hunks.

Mia LJ - Ambiguous

The young singer shows she's attracted to both men and women in her music video.

Conchita Wurst feat. Russkaja - Wanted More (live @ "Willkommen Österreich")

A cover of Betsy from the Austrian drag queen.

Miley Cyrus - Malibu (live @ BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)

Miley Cyrus performs her track from her own Rainbowland Studios in Malibu.

Miley Cyrus - Younger Now (live @ BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)

Miley Cyrus performs her track from her own Rainbowland Studios in Malibu.

Miley Cyrus - Week Without You (Audio)

Taken from the album "Younger Now".

Kim Petras - Hillside Boys (Official Audio)

This the second single of the young German transgender singer.

Subside, Brayton Bowman - The Second I'm Rich

Eli Lieb - Kissing Your Tattoos (Lyric video)

J Pee - Jellyfish

After "I'm Not Gay" 4 years ago, this is the new comic song of J Pee, where he thanks a jellyfish to give him the opportunity to realise his dream to pee on his best friend.

Pablo Hernandez - Toys (Parody)

This is a naughty parody of "Boys" by Charli XCX, with Laith Ashley and Manila Luzon in the music video.

Mikey Bustos - I Wear Speedos (Parody)

This is a parody of the song "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi ft.Daddy Yankee.

The Hound - Sissy That Walk (RuPaul Cover)

See you next week and don’t forget to vote for your best LGBTQA music videos ! Here are the rules :

1 ) You can vote for many videos as you want under the videos on YouTube in the comment section. It could be recent or past music videos, which must provide at least one among the following conditions:

- the music video has LGBTQA related content, in the lyrics or the music video

- the artist is LGBTQA, an LGBTQA icon or eventually ally

- LGBTQA medias talked about it.

2 ) You can’t vote more than 3 songs of a same artist per week.

3 ) In case of an artist who receive votes mostly by a fan base, we will count only one song, in a limited time of 10 weeks of presence in the top.

4 ) You can vote with only one account.

5 ) If you make 5 votes or less, your first vote will represent 5 points, your second vote 4 points, etc… until your last vote and following 1 point. If you make 6 to 10 votes, your first vote will represent 10 points, your second vote 9 points, etc… If you make more than 10 votes, your first vote will represent 20 points, your second vote 19 points, etc…

6 ) People who make 1 to 5 votes form the amateur ranking, those who make 6 to 10 votes form the fan ranking, those who make more than 10 votes form the expert ranking. We form the jury ranking. The Gay Music Chart is the addition of the four charts. In case of equality, the number of votes and the dates of votes will count.

7 ) The votes will close on Thursday, 8 PM, European time.

#GayMusicChart #gay #music #chart #top #videos #singles #lgbt #queer #lesbian #bisexual #drag queen #transgender #2017 week 39

1 note · View note

terreisa · 8 years ago

Text

The Savior and The Scoundrel: Best Laid Plans

Emma has had a few titles attributed to her in her life: princess, captain, pirate but none sat so heavily on her shoulders as Savior. When fate forces her to step into the role prophesied before her birth the only saving she wants to do is to bring back the man she loves. Fulfilling the Prophecy along the way is an additional reward. Sequel to A Crown and A Captain.

Prologue, Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4

ff.net, AO3

“You’re going to wear a path into the stone.”

“I’m going to do more than that if you don’t shut up.”

Roland stuck his tongue at at Emma as she passed by him once more. She almost reciprocated but thought better of it as she ground her teeth, fearing she’d bite off her own tongue in her agitation.

“You don’t know if he’s truly upset with you.”

Emma stopped mid-stride and spun to face him, “The King of Balliolshire, the one with no heirs and enough troubles in his own kingdom, hasn’t decided to come here to have a cup of tea and discuss the weather. The last time I saw Liam we were only civil to each other because we had to be. It was also the last time he saw his brother.”

“He can’t blame you for that. I don’t blame you for it, none of us do,” Roland stated emphatically, his warm brown eyes boring into hers.

“He can and he will. Even if he’s making me wriggle on the hook by taking so long to get here,” she grumbled and resumed her pacing.

“You know, if I had known that all I’d needed to do was cast a curse to meet so many royals I would have done it years ago,” Roland commented lightly after a few minutes.

“We’d be hunting you down, not seeking your advice.”

“True,” he said thoughtfully, “Let’s see, Belle doesn’t count because I’ve known her for years. I’ve met you, Princess Emma of Misthaven, Prince Killian of Balliolshire, Princess Charlotte of-”

“Can’t you just say the names and skip the formalities?” Emma huffed, resigned to listening to his ramblings.

“I could say your whole title if it’ll help pass the time,” Roland smirked. It turned to a wide grin as she rolled her eyes at him, “Now where was I? Right, Princess Charlotte, Prince Lucas, Princess Sophie and her twin Prince Josef-”

“And all of them were swept up in the curse. I hope you weren’t trying to make me feel better,” Emma groaned.

“A secondary goal that’s failing apparently,” he said, shrugging apologetically. “Shall I continue? I think I will because all that’s left is your mother Queen Snow and now King Liam. I think meeting the Savior tops them all don’t you?”

“No, and I told you to stop calling me that,” Emma snapped. She took a deep breath and cast about for a less fraught topic, “I didn’t know Belle was royalty.”

“She was,” Roland said slowly. “But while she was held as Regina’s prisoner her kingdom fell to ruin after her father’s death. When Will helped her escape there was nothing left for her to return to. My father told her she was always welcome to stay with us and she hasn’t left since.”

“I didn’t want to.”

Emma whirled around to see Belle standing in the doorway of her study. She and Roland had been pouring over maps of the kingdom before her nerves about Liam’s arrival had gotten the better of her. It was two months past the spring equinox and none of them had any clue as to when he’d arrive. Equally frustrating was the continued lack of any substantial information to be found in any of the books left in their possession, despite Belle and Snow’s determination to go through them all.

“I had sacrificed myself to save my kingdom and had resigned myself to never sitting upon a throne. When I discovered that my cousins had squabbled so thoroughly over what would have been mine, that there was nothing left to inherit I was almost relieved. I have been much happier with my life as it turned out than what it might have been,” Belle said fixing on Emma with a knowing look.

“I didn’t mean to pry,” Emma said, wondering uncomfortably how much Snow had told Belle about her continued reluctance to become queen.

“Don’t worry about it Emma. You would have learned about it eventually, Will loves to go on about how he’s swayed two queens to leave their throne for him. Even if I was only ever a princess.”

“Two queens?” Emma asked unable to help her curiosity. Especially if it would give her something to hold over Will, who still seemed to regard her with a wary eye.

“His first wife Anastasia was a queen in Wonderland. She was killed by the Queen of Hearts. It’s part of the reason he hates magic wielders so much,” Belle explained almost apologetically.

“Oh, I- I didn’t know,” Emma whispered, horrified that her petty need for dirt on Will unearthed something much more personal.

“It was a long time ago,” Belle assured her with a gentle smile.

“I thought he hated magic because of everything Regina and Zelena have done,” Roland said in mild accusation. Emma looked back at him in shock and he shrugged, “Like Belle said, it was a long time ago and he’s been married to her for much longer than he had ever been with Anastasia.”

“We celebrated twenty three years of marriage this past fall,” Belle said modestly. Then she frowned, “I didn’t come up here to natter on about my life. I think we’ve found something.”

Emma stilled. She was afraid that if she made a single move or even breathed that what Belle had said would prove to be another cruel dream. In the tension filled weeks since the announcement of Liam’s intent to speak to her she had dreamed of Killian every night. While none had stuck with her as that first one had she had come to anticipate and dread laying her head down for the night. It was never a guarantee that the dream, when it came, would be good.

“Really? What?” Roland asked eagerly.

He jumped up from his seat and raced past Emma. She blinked rapidly before slowly following him to Belle’s side.

“Come with me to the library and I’ll explain along the way.”

Belle started walking without waiting for either of them to agree to her request. Roland shot her an amused look before following. Emma trailed behind in a daze, still trying to convince herself that she wasn’t dreaming.

“After Will pointed out that Zelena’s curse probably took everyone to a different realm Snow and I decided to alter what we were looking for.”

She smiled to herself at Belle’s diplomatic way of reminding them of the time will had called them all ‘bloody idiots’ for not even considering the missing had been transported to a different realm. Emma had snapped back using language that made her mother blush to tell him that not everyone ran away from their problems to a completely different realm and therefore didn’t see it as an immediate option. It was a pointed guess on her part that had struck home almost too accurately. What had ensued was a yelling match between them that had the others scrambling from the room and ended with every candle and fireplace in the castle set ablaze and Belle sending Will on an extended hunting trip. Alone.

“We didn’t know where it might have sent them so we started by searching for everything we could about realms apart from ours. Will had told me about Oz and Wonderland and both Snow and I had read of other lands in the past. It quickly became clear as we learned of more and more lands that we had no way of knowing which one Zelena chose. There were dozens that we had read about and probably hundreds that we hadn’t.”

Roland groaned in frustration while Emma was not surprised. Snow had told her as much after a particularly frustrating day of listing numerous realms that she and Belle had come across. However Belle sounded far from discouraged as she ushered them through the doors leading into the library.

“Even if we had a way to travel to a different realm we’d have no way of knowing which one to choose. On top of that if we happened to choose the right realm we could spend years searching and still never find the people we were looking for. It seemed no matter what the odds were against us succeeding,” Belle said solemnly but Emma could see an excited look in her eyes.

“You’ve found a way for us to do all of that haven’t you?” Emma smiled widely, feeling elated that they were finally making some kind of progress.

“Yes,” Snow answered, beaming at them as they approached the table she was sitting at. “We might even be able to find a way to the new realm at the same time we find the object we need to guide us.”

“What is it?” Roland asked eagerly as he hurried over to the book laden table.

“This!”

Snow held up a large tome and flipped it around for them to see. Amidst the words Emma wasn’t close enough to read was an intricate drawing of a compass. There seemed to be nothing in the sketch that indicated the compass held any spectacular abilities beyond indicating direction and Emma hoped the text proved otherwise.

“A compass, Your Majesty?”

Emma snorted at Roland’s attempt to sound impressed instead of disappointed. He shot her an annoyed look.

“It’s not an ordinary compass,” Snow said patiently. She tapped on the drawing with her finger, “This particular one was enchanted to aid those traveling through a portal. Specifically if the traveler is not quite sure of the destination.”

“How?” Emma asked stepping forward to get a better look at the sketch.

“According to this whoever is holding the compass only has to think of what they’re trying to reach. It could be a place, a thing, or a person as long as they keep it fixed in their mind,” Snow explained as she passed Emma the book.

“But it only works with a portal?” Emma peered closely at the words to read the purpose of the compass for herself. It took a moment for her to realize it was written in a foreign language and another moment before she slowly recognized it as the written version of the fairy language, something Blue had taught her to read along with her practicing her magic. She sighed, “Magic beans are not easy to come by.”

“Which brings us to where the compass was last seen,” Belle said reaching around Emma to grab another book that looked more like a journal. “According to this it was amongst a hoard of treasures discovered a little over thirty years ago during the war with the giants. Your father mentioned seeing a compass, here, in his journal and there’s every chance it’s the one we need. Since contact with the giants has been essentially cut off since then it’s possible the compass is still there.”

Emma looked sharply at Snow. It had been because of Prince James, not her father David, that the war with the giants had happened at all, that nearly all contact had ceased between the giant’s holdings high in the sky and the humans down below, and that only one lonely giant remained to guard and remember it all.

“We can’t. We signed a treaty,” Emma protested, heart sore for a different reason than she had been as of late.

“Anton will understand why we need it. He’ll let us use it if we promise to bring it back once we return-” Snow grasped her hand, “Sweetheart, he knows better than anyone what it’s like to lose family.”

“You want to ask about the beans too, don’t you,” Emma said flatly.

Disappointment and hope warred in her veins. She tried to reconcile herself with the idea of going back on the promises they had given one of their most tentative allies. Reaching out to the giant Anton, the only survivor and last of his people, was one of the first acts of diplomacy she had spearheaded. Even at the age of thirteen she’d recognized the need to try and mend one of the many bridges that had been burned by her uncle’s blackened heart. To approach him with the singular goal of exploiting his own heartaches to soothe hers left a foul taste in her mouth.

“I feel as though I’m missing something,” Roland said slowly as he looked from Snow to Emma, a scowl forming on his face. “The giants have been extinct since the war. Your father killed the last of them for some treasure and glory before chopping down every beanstalk so no one could attempt to raid for gold as he had done. Even raised by thieves I know when a man has no honor.”

“You are missing something,” Snow bit out in a voice laced with steel, “My husband did not commit those acts

“Forgive me Your Majesty, but everyone knows of the deeds your husband committed under the guise of heroics before he met you. You may have brought about his change of heart but you cannot make us forget the suffering his ego caused before that happened,” Roland sneered, lifting his chin slightly and squaring his shoulders as though preparing for a fight.

“Knock it off Roland,” Emma snapped wearily. “That wasn’t my father, it was his twin brother James.”

“His twin?” Roland blinked quickly, clearly caught off guard.

“And there’s still one beanstalk left with one very lonely and very mistrusting giant at the top,” Emma continued, ignoring his mouth opening to most likely question her further. She turned back to Snow, “The first time Dad and I went there Anton didn’t believe we were only there to talk. He made it clear that he destroyed every bean he had. If we’re looking to create a portal we’ll have to find another way.”

“He might know where others might be. There was a time where humans traded with the giants for beans, it might even be how the compass ended up amongst their treasures,” Snow fired back undeterred.

“There have been accounts and rumors of beans scattered across the realm since the last skirmish with the giants,” Belle chimed in hesitantly. “Perhaps we don’t even have to ask your giant friend, Anton, where they could be.”

“But we’d still need the compass,” Emma pointed out, trying to ignore the roiling in her gut as she realized she had already begun contemplating the best way to persuade Anton to give her the compass. There was a dry click in her throat as she swallowed, hating what her next words would be, “I’m going alone then. If we’re going to ask this of him it has to come from me.”

A volley of arguments broke out around her. She let each of their reasons for accompanying her wash over her as she strengthened her resolve. Finally, once they began to repeat themselves, she cut in.

“Anton will refuse outright if I show up with strangers in tow,” she said, addressing Belle and Roland first. “Belle you need to stay here and try to see if you can find anything that will lead us to a bean and I mean anything. Even a whisper of a rumor will do at this point. Roland you’ll help Grace and my mother prepare for King Liam’s arrival-”

“Exactly why you should wait and then I can accompany you!” Snow broke in quickly. “Liam is coming here to speak to you. It wouldn’t do for you to not be here when he arrives.”

“Then he should have been here when he said to expect him and not months later!” Emma snapped. She took a deep breath to calm herself, “Look, I’ll only be gone three days at most. The beanstalk isn’t far from here and talking to Anton will take an hour or two regardless of his decision. Most of my time will be spent climbing up and down the beanstalk. We know they only threat will be me falling off the thing and even if someone was with me there’d be nothing they could do for me if that happened.”

“But Liam?” Snow protested once more but Emma could see that she knew it was a weak argument.

“He won’t turn around and go back to Balliolshire just because I’m not here. There’s questions he needs answered and I… I’m the only one that can do that.”

Emma ended her statement in a near whisper, blinking down at the toes of her scuffed boots. She wasn’t running from what would happen when Liam finally arrived but it was a near thing. Worrying about how to approach and convince Anton to give them the compass was the perfect opportunity to get out of the castle and out of her own head and her swirling thoughts. If only for a moment.

“You should take something with you, a gift to assure him that you’re not there to merely take the compass with no regard for him,” Belle suggested softly. “I think I have something that will be perfect.”

“No, Belle, I can’t-”

“When are you leaving?” Belle asked with a stubborn set to her jaw.

“If I leave soon I’ll make it to the beanstalk before nightfall.”

Belle pursed her lips thoughtfully, “I’ll meet you in the kitchen in twenty minutes?”

Emma nodded and watched bemused as Belle walked away from them muttering to herself with the journal that belonged to James still in her hand.

“If you insist on doing this now I’d wish you’d take Roland or Grace with you.”

Her mother was giving her a small, hopeful, smile. Albeit one tinged with a resignation that Emma could see easily in her eyes.

“I’m sorry but I can’t. You need them here more than I do. Especially if Liam and whomever he brings with him do finally arrive.”

Snow gave a quiet sigh, “Then give Anton my best wishes and tell him I regret being unable to be by your side when you ask him for the compass And be careful, sweetheart, it’s been a very long time since any of us were able to visit him. He may not be pleased to see you at first.”

Emma frowned as she considered that startling fact. Before Zelena’s attack their family had visited Anton two to three times a year to not only prove to him that they wanted nothing more than to be allies but also to assuage the crushing loneliness of being the only giant left in the realm. In the years she herself had been on the run Anton had been left more isolated than even Snow had been in her island tower. She at least had had guards to keep her company.

Quickly shaking herself from the melancholic thoughts Emma said goodbye to her mother, promising to stay safe and that she would keep them informed of her progress through her glittering messenger birds. As she turned to leave she wasn’t surprised to see a grim expression on Roland’s face. He followed silently as she left the library and headed towards the stairwell.

He remained quiet all the way to her quarters and stood just slightly inside her doorway with his hands clasped behind his back as she packed. She moved about her room in agitation as his taciturn silence and dour expression began to grate on her nerves, throwing items she thought she needed haphazardly into the pack she had emptied upon their settling into the castle so many months before.

Realizing she needed one more thing she gritted her teeth and stuffed a pair of trousers into her pack with a bit more force than was necessary.

“Close your eyes.”

“I beg pardon?” Roland’s hands dropped to his sides in surprise.

“I have to get something for the climb and I don’t want you to see where I keep it,” she huffed, waving her hands at the room at large. Then she tilted her head, considering him, “Turn around too.”

“Close my eyes and turn around?” He asked indignantly.

“You said it yourself, you were raised by thieves,” Emma shrugged and then squared her shoulders for the fight she knew had been brewing since she’d snapped at him about his misjudgment.

Roland’s mouth dropped open in shock, “You don’t trust me.”

“I do but I can’t help letting what rumors I hear override everything I’ve learned about someone by actually getting to know them,” she said pointedly, arching her brow at him. “Now close your eyes and turn around.”

He did as she asked without further protest but not before she caught the look of hurt in his eyes. Emma knew it had been a low blow but his earlier accusation had been just as low. Her years as sailing under the guise of pirate had inured her to all kinds of suspicions and labels but she had never been able to ignore slights against her parents. It had caused more than her fair share of bruised knuckles and even once or twice being forced from a port earlier than anticipated.

As soon as she was sure Roland wouldn’t sneak a peek she moved to the foot of her bed. Geppetto, with Pinocchio’s help, had carved the beautifully intricate frame her down mattress laid upon. There were depictions of scenes from her favorite stories, including her parents’, on the headboard, mythical creatures from land and sea wrapped themselves around the posts that held the canopy aloft, and on the footboard was a finely detailed, down to each individual feather, carving of a swan floating on calm waters. With a final check on Roland she unerringly pressed the second feather of the wing above the waterline and smiled to herself at the sound of the secret compartment unlatching.

Pinocchio had made the hidden drawer for her at her request blending it seamlessly into the waterline beneath the swan. At the time she had merely wanted somewhere to stow her childhood treasures where a nosy maid or her mother wouldn’t find them. Many of those trinkets still remained and she sifted through them quickly before she found what she was after. The plain, black leather cuff was scuffed and weathered, hardly looking like anything of value but it was essential for her to wear it when she climbed the beanstalk. It had been enchanted by Blue to counteract the magic used to keep humans from making the climb. There was another to match but Emma didn’t know where her father had hidden his. Another reason she had to make the trip alone.

Emma grabbed it and quickly shut the drawer. She crossed back to her pack and stuffed it deep under the clothing she hadn’t bothered folding to fit nicely inside. Her trust in Roland only extended so far and if he knew what she had grabbed she didn’t doubt he would scour the castle to find one exactly like it to follow her. Whether he wanted to protect her or discover Anton’s side of the story Emma didn’t know and didn’t have the patience to find out.

“You can turn back around,” she said as she cinched her pack closed.

He turned and quietly watched her for a moment as she fiddled with the ties before saying quietly, “If your father isn’t James then why continue with the charade all these years? I doubt the people would object or feel betrayed by the subterfuge. Your parents were fair and just rulers.”

Emma bristled slightly at both his use of the past tense and his essentially calling what her parents and even herself had done as lying to their subjects. No matter how true his words were. She sighed and moved back to her bed where she flopped down onto it, finding comfort in the way her body sunk into the mattress. She knew she looked like a petulant child as she threw her arm over her eyes but the answer to Roland’s question made her feel like throwing a childish tantrum at the unfairness of it.

“My grandfather isn’t truly my grandfather,” she began with another sigh, clenching the fist that was at her side. “It’s a long story that I don’t want to get into but the Dark One was involved.”

Roland made a choking noise and Emma wondered what his history could possibly be with the imp but tucked it away to question him about later.

“While my mother was fighting to retake the kingdom from Regina my father was fighting to keep my mother safe from King George. They succeeded together against Regina but the fight was far from over with Grandfather. He couldn’t expose my father without exposing the weakness of his own kingdom for having no heir but he promised to stop at nothing to end my father’s happiness.”

“But your kingdoms are at peace now. What happened to change his mind?”

“I did or at least that’s what I’ve been told,” she grimaced. Removing her arm from her eyes she propped herself up on her elbows, “After my parents announced that I had been conceived Grandfather changed his tune. He tried to form an alliance, one that benefitted him and his kingdom over my parents and Misthaven, but they refused. It took months but they finally settled on terms that prevented either kingdom from attacking the other, as long as an heir united them.”

“As long as you continue to live, then?” Roland said with distaste. He walked over to the side of the bed and hesitated, only sitting when she patted the space beside her, “But his wrath couldn’t have ended just like that. You are a singular woman but to put a stop to such a contentious feud.”

“Grandfather’s kingdom was failing long before my father took James’ place and I was the saving grace-” she shot him a wry smile, “His vendetta against my parents nearly brought his kingdom to ruin and he has never had any kind of magic on his side, unlike the loyalty of Red, her grandmother, and the assistance from the fairies that my mother enjoys. She had also proven herself as a champion of her people through her years of struggle against Regina. If Grandfather had tried to attack my mother or father or attempted to take the kingdom by force he would have been defeated thoroughly and he knew that. Peace with Misthaven became his only course of action.”

“So your father had to remain James to appease your vicious grandfather? Seems like an unfair deal, keeping your true identity a secret and being saddled with the reputation of a man without morals.”

“My father didn’t seem to mind so much. There were a few who knew and even they called him James in private. I think he realized that he could do more with the reputation of a prince that had found his soul than a shepherd who had married into a crown.”

Emma sat up fully and was relieved to see that Roland was nodding in thought to himself. She somehow knew that he wouldn’t protest her leaving quite as adamantly as he would have before her tale.

“I promise not to go looking for your hiding place while you’re gone,” he said pleasantly, giving her a cheeky smile. “It’s a cupboard or drawer of some kind, am I right? Nowhere near where you had your pack, perhaps closer to this side of the room. I’d wager it’s somewhere in this astonishing bed frame.”

“Thief,” she grumbled good-naturedly as she heaved herself off the bed. Belle was most likely waiting for her down in the kitchens and she needed to get a move on if she wanted to get to the base of the beanstalk before the sun had set for the day.

“For a pirate I’m surprised you don’t take better care with hiding your treasure,” Roland stood beside her, his smile sliding into a teasing grin.

“If I really didn’t trust you I would have made you leave,” Emma said hoping he’d hear the apology in her words.

“I know and I’m sorry that my words made you doubt me, Highn-”

“Ugh, enough of that. I need to go meet Belle.”

She grabbed her pack as Roland chuckled at her annoyance, following her as she headed down to the kitchens. They were discussing exactly how much food she’d need to take before she realized that they were almost to the kitchen doors and she could hear Will speaking to someone inside. While she wasn’t thrilled to have to speak to Will herself before she left she was glad for Belle’s sake that he had returned in one piece.

Emma pushed through the doors, ready to trade barbs with Will and stopped short at the sight of too many bodies before her. She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar faces before her and Will, smirking at her as he stood from the stool he had been perched upon. He was blocking her view of someone behind him but before she could crane her neck to see who it might be one of the men moved forward and bowed.

“Your Highness, it is an honor to see you again,” the man straightened and she felt a niggling in her memory of the face looking back at her. “Despite the circumstances of our visit rest assured that we offer our assistance in any way possible.”

“We?”

Her confusion slowly melted into awareness as she took in the appearance of the half a dozen men in front of her. They were all in uniform and while most of them appeared to be low in rank the one who had addressed her was much higher. With a jolt she suddenly recognized him, the colors of his uniform, and recalled his surname, Turner, but worst of all remembered exactly who his superior was. It was at that moment that Liam stood from his own seat and stared hard at her from over Will’s head.

“Came across them on my way back to the castle. Thought it’d only be proper to escort them in, as it were,” Will said with a smirk, seemingly enjoying her discomfort.

“Bloody hell, that’s Liam?” Roland whispered behind her.

Turner glared at him, “His Royal Majesty, King Liam, requests an audience with Princess Emma.”

“King Liam can ask for one himself,” Emma snapped, focusing her anger at the situation on Turner instead of the man whose eyes reminded her so much of Killian’s.

“I- but Your Highness- he shouldn’t-” Turner spluttered as he looked helplessly over in Liam’s direction.

“It’s alright, Turner, we both know that the princess has the manners of a pirate. Even with her seemingly miraculous return to the throne.”

Emma wanted to draw her sword, even though she wasn’t wearing one, instead she carefully made sure that she gave no outward appearance that Liam’s insult had affected her, continuing to look at Turner alone. She knew her tenuous hold on her temper would break sooner rather than later but she didn’t want it to happen in a room full of people that already held a low opinion of her. Roland was the only one she counted as being on her side.

From the corner of her eye she saw the men step aside to make way for their king to approach her. Turner gave a deep nod as he stepped back, leaving her staring into the depths of the kitchen as she continued to ignore Liam’s presence. From behind she could sense Roland’s hesitation and then the movement in the air as he bowed deeply. She couldn’t help the roll of her eyes at that.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness,” Liam’s voice dripped with insincerity, “I would like to formally ask for an audience, in private. If you would be ever so kind.”

Like, Turner and Roland he bowed beside her. Emma knew it wasn’t out of respect. She hadn’t held hope for civility from the man but she had thought that in the months that had passed since she had informed him of his brother’s fate his temper would have cooled. The soldiers and Turner shifted uncomfortably as their eyes skittered away from the two of them. She felt a gentle touch at her elbow.

“My lady?” Roland asked hesitantly.

He stepped to her side, setting himself between her and Liam. She recognized the gesture for what it was and gave him a grateful smile. By placing himself in that exact spot with his back to Liam he was not only declaring his loyalty to her but insulted the man and the crown he represented as well. Still facing Turner she saw him scowl deeply at Roland, making her smile.

She turned to Roland, keeping her eyes firmly on him. It was easy enough when he was both taller and broader than Liam behind him.

“If His Majesty requests an audience, then I’m happy to oblige,” Emma said in a saccharine sweet voice. Roland’s head tilted slightly at her tone, “Roland, why don’t you go and fetch my mother. I’m sure the Queen would appreciate know our honored guest has finally arrived.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Roland replied with a smirk, catching onto her game.

“Could you also inform Lady Belle that her husband has returned as well? I doubt he did so himself seeing as how he brought the King here to our humble kitchens instead of a more appropriate room. It seems his time away did little to improve his manners,” she shot Will a smile that matched her tone.

He scowled back.

“Consider it done. Shall I also escort His Majesty’s guard to the rooms we’ve prepared?” Roland asked seriously, lips twitching.

“No, Will can do that,” she turned back to Turner. “I’m sure Mister Turner will want to inspect His Majesty’s rooms. They may not be much, sir, but they’re the best we can offer considering the state of the castle.”

Emma watched with joy as Turner bristled at her thinly veiled insinuation. From the minimal time she’d spent with him back in Agrabah she knew he prided himself on his proper conduct and manners. By the flush she could see creeping up his neck it was easy to tell he would have done exactly what she’d suggested, but only after he was out from under watchful eyes. She could also tell he was bursting to correct how she addressed him as a commoner instead of using his proper rank title she had determined from the embroidery on the cuffs of his uniform.

“I’m sure they’ll be more than sufficient, Your Highness,” Turner said tersely, with a curt nod of his head.

“Gentlemen, Will, allow me to escort you out and leave His Majesty and Her Royal Highness to their discussion,” Roland said, smiling widely at her before gesturing for the others in the room to proceed him out the door.

“Now wait a bloody minute, I won’t be havin’ you tell me what to do!” Will snarled, stalking towards her.

Roland’s hand struck out as quick as a viper and snagged Will by the upper arm. Will winced.

“You swore before me, your wife, and our men that you were loyal to the royal family of Misthaven. Which means following the Crown Princess’ orders,” Roland said in a dangerously low voice. Will’s nostrils flared in pain as Roland seemed to tighten his grip further, “It’s high time you prove where your true loyalties lie.”

Will stumbled back slightly as Roland released him. Emma sensed that there was a history behind the confrontation. More than just Will’s attitude towards her. She didn’t get a chance to dwell on it, becoming distracted by Will storming from the room and Liam’s guard stumbling over themselves to catch up.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Emma said softly to Roland.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he sighed. He looked at Turner who was whispering feverishly with Liam, “Come Mister Turner, it seems I’ll be the one to show you to the quarters we’ve prepared for His Majesty and yourself.”

“That’s Vice Admiral Turner to you,” Turner said disdainfully, lifting his chin to try and stare down Roland who stood half a head taller than him.

“Of course, Vice Admiral Turner, Sir. If you’ll follow me.”

Emma laughed to herself at Roland’s mocking tone and watched as he strode from the kitchen without waiting. Turner looked at Liam seemingly aghast at the lack of manners afforded him. Liam chuckled, something Emma studiously ignored, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. As the door swung shut behind Turner Emma found herself alone with Liam for the first time since Agrabah. Back when they had been informed of his father’s death and had discovered who each of them truly were.

“I’m impressed, Swan. If I didn’t know who you really were I’d say you were fit to be queen.”

She realized her mistake a moment too late as her eyes locked onto the ones that looked so much like his brother’s. Behind the brilliant blue was a fire and a rage that she’d only seen in Killian’s once and not in any way directed at her. Fighting the instinct to step back or even look away she stared back trying not to show how affected she was by his gaze or that he’d called her by her moniker instead of her title.

“And who do you think I am?”

“A woman who fancies herself a princess when we both know the scoundrel pirate is her true nature. After all, only such a person would find that a bloody letter would be enough to suffice when alerting a king that the second in line for the throne had vanished without a trace. Not to mention that with those same unfeeling words you informed a man that for the second time in the span of a year that a relation, his own brother and last remaining member of his family, was gone. They say that Queen Elsa has a heart of ice but you, Your Highness, have no heart at all.”

“You’re wrong,” Emma said, hating the shake in her voice.

“Am I?” Liam snorted, but there was no amusement in the sound. “When we were first ordered to go after the Brooke I admit I was intrigued. Who had made such a powerful enemy of the Queen that she strong armed my father into sending his heirs after them? I had heard the many rumors about the captain of course but merely chose to believe that it was a personal grudge that had escalated too far. My mistake of course.

“Killian looked forward to your capture as a grand adventure, something to attribute to his name other than philanderer. I merely saw it as a way to keep ourselves from suffering at the Queen’s hands. It was his enthusiasm and eagerness to prove himself that became his downfall. That and your pretty face.

“I shouldn’t have told him to go with you. I knew he was already losing his head around you but I wanted to stabilize our kingdom first and in turn get the Queen on uneven footing in her own. You were a means to an end. I just didn’t realize it would be at the price of countless lives and cause ripples across the realm that have turned to tidal waves.”

“The people lost are still alive,” Emma said with conviction through gritted teeth.

“Perhaps, but the price of a life isn’t always death, Swan. Although there has been plenty of that where you’re concerned. Hewitt and Thompson would still be alive if I had listened to my good sense instead of trusting you and from what that Scarlet fellow has told me the loss of life didn’t end there either. You are a maelstrom that destroys everything that comes near it. I’m only glad that Killian isn’t here to see how you truly are.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s clear you didn’t expect to be here when I arrived. The surprise on your face when you entered and the pack over your shoulder are proof enough of that. Merely running from your problems, your obligations, again,” Liam’s eyes flitted to the doorway and back. “While he never said as much in the few letters I received from him I knew Killian had fallen for you. I wasn’t entirely sure his affections were returned and now I’m convinced they weren’t. Tell me, Swan, did you drag that oaf of a man into your bed before or after the sheets cooled from my brother’s disappearance?”

Emma registered the sting in her palm before the action that caused it. Liam’s head had rocked slightly to the side, an angry red mark rising on his cheek as the sound of her slap echoed in the vast space. Without pause she curled her other hand into a fist and sent it careening into his jaw with more force than finesse, causing his head to snap back to the other side. She felt a flash of pain in her knuckles that did little to quell her ire.

“How dare you,” she spit out, taking satisfaction in the blood welling at the corner of his mouth. “I have been doing everything I can to get everyone back and it’s not enough. You don’t know anything about me or what I’ve had to struggle against my entire life. You have no right to judge me when your only hardship has been watching your kingdom thrive through an alliance with Regina-”

“My father died-”

“And my parents were imprisoned for eleven years! My kingdom was no longer mine, I was without a home, torn from my family and I did what I had to to survive. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me that you wouldn’t have done the same,” Emma scoffed. She shook out her hand that had begun to ache, hissing against the sharp pull across her knuckles. Looking down she saw that a split had formed across them, blood trickling down her fingertips. The sight caused the fight to leave her, “You were right about one thing, however. I don’t have a heart. How can I when Killian possesses it wholly?”

She wouldn’t say that she loved Killian, not in so many words. She had promised herself that he would be the first to hear the declaration out loud. Liam’s jaw ticked, his mouth tightening into a frown. He grimaced, his hand moving to his mouth and looked at the blood on his fingertips with indifference.

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can garner any sympathy from me with crocodile tears or more tales of how unfair your life has been,” Liam said with disdain.

“I don’t want your sympathy or worse your pity,” she spit back, stalking to the small stash of liquor they kept to tend to her hand.

Emma wanted to hate him but found that she couldn’t. He was hurting and had likely not had any outlet for it. As a king he would have had to remain strong for his people and hide behind a mask of stoicism to prevent anyone from seeing weakness in their new ruler. She wondered if even Turner had seen anything close to the strong emotions she had seen from Liam in the short time they’d been fighting. Breathing deeply she willed herself to not hide her own emotions as she turned to him.

“I know you hate me and abhor the idea of working with me but I’m asking you to put that aside. I can’t find Killian and the others on my own. Please, for him, will you help me?”

Liam stared at her with a hard, flat gaze. She stood unflinchingly under his scrutiny but couldn’t help herself from noticing the tiny details that made his face different from Killian’s and the ones that were painfully the same. They both had blue eyes that sparkled brightly, contrasting with the darker coloring of their hair and skin, making them stand out all the more. For the first time in months a clear image of Killian was forming in her waking mind but differences in their noses, the shapes of their jaw, the way they looked at her kept his true likeness from taking shape. She wanted to close her eyes against the visual assault but knew Liam would perceive it as her backing down and they needed him and his resources. Her pain could be boxed up once again.

“I will help you,” Liam said slowly, formally. “Not only for my brother but for the sake and stability of the realm.”

“Fine-” Emma nodded once, letting out the breath she had been holding.

Turning back to the bottles behind her she pulled out the rum. She moved about the kitchen grabbing strips of cloth from the rag pile and two pewter mugs from a cupboard, ignoring Liam for the moment. When she had everything she needed she sat herself down at the table, across from the seat he had occupied when she had first entered the kitchen. Indicating he should join her by pointing with the bottle she went about pouring out a measure of rum for the both of them before holding the rags over the mouth of the bottle as she tipped it upside down.

“Bloody waste,” Liam harrumphed as he sat down across from her.

“It’ll get the job done,” Emma hissed as she dabbed at her knuckles with one of the rags. She tossed the other to Liam, “We don’t have anything to make a poultice and I’d rather not die from infection.”

“If you’re implying that I’m diseased-”

“I wouldn’t bother with being subtle about it,” Emma said rolling her eyes. She smirked at his frown and pushed one of the mugs towards him, “I’d just say it.”

She had just placed the rim of her own mug to her mouth when the kitchen doors swung open, revealing Snow. Her mother’s eager face twisted into confusion as she took in the sight of them and Emma groaned under her breath. She had never been very diplomatic with visiting royalty when she was younger and she had a feeling Snow was more disappointed than surprised that blood had been spilled.

“Queen Snow, forgive me for not finding you sooner to pay my respects,” Liam said as he stood and bowed.

“It seems as though other matters took precedence,” Snow frowned briefly at Emma before looking back at Liam, “My apologies, King Liam, for not being able to offer you the service or accommodations that you are used to but you are aware of our circumstances at the moment.”

“My men and I are honored to accept whatever you are able to provide.”

“If this round of formalities is going to take a while I think I’ll find Belle and be on my way,” Emma said already halfway off her stool.

“But Emma-”

“You’re leaving-”

“Leaving, not running,” she said pointedly, staring at Liam. “We think there’s something that can help us find where the curse took the missing people. That’s why I had my pack. I should be back in a few days.”

“Emma, now that King Liam is here I think you should wait to leave,” Snow held up her hand to stop Emma’s protest. “At least until we’ve learned what information each of us has to share.”

“That brings me to why my arrival was delayed,” Liam said with a grim seriousness. “Because of the sudden disappearance of the ruler of Misthaven there has been a void of power that has disrupted the peace between kingdoms in the realm. Many, whom you mentioned you’ve written to Queen Snow, are trying to maintain stability in their own kingdoms but there are a few poised to strike. I’ve spent most of my time in Camelot, placating King Arthur and trying to stem his ramblings about a Savior and a prophecy about his kingdom.”

Emma’s hand twitched and she moved to grip her mug to cover the reaction. Luckily Liam appeared not to notice.

“I’ve written to Arthur, he seemed eager to help us if needed,” Snow said, sounding far from convinced at her own words.

“Arthur is a duplicitous snake and you should be wary of any help he offers,” Liam sneered. He frowned, “But he’s not the one you need to concern yourself with at the moment.”

“What do you mean?” Snow’s eyes darted to Emma’s in worry.

“I have it on good authority, from my own spies and missives from other kingdoms, that King George is planning on taking control of Misthaven. He’s been assembling troops and with no defences once he crosses into this kingdom he’ll be successful. That is the true purpose of my visit. I come to offer myself and my soldiers to help you win this fight.”

Snow looked stricken. Emma could do nothing but laugh. They had found a step forward only to find another thing that was pushing them back. She caught the confused looks of her mother and Liam and it just made her laugh all the harder. When she could manage she downed the rum in her mug and poured another healthy measure into it, sliding it towards her mother.

“I have a feeling we’re going to need a lot more of this before the day is done.”

As she rose to grab another mug for herself she tried to push down the thought that fate would have its way no matter what choices she made. The prophecy was still months away from being fulfilled as it should. She couldn’t help but wonder what else would happen before her twenty eighth birthday came to pass.

If you’d like to be tagged so you don’t miss future chapters let me know.

Tagging: @teamhook, @galadriel26

#cs ff au #cs ff #captain swan #ouat au ff #cs au ff #savior and scoundrel

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