#otp: there is no answer but eleanor is the answer

[i-will-sing-no-requiem]

Every All Too Well Lyric as a Ship

Eleanor & Chidi (The Good Place)

(1/53)

[insp]

[mikaharuka]

Hey there, saw this post, read it all the way through, and then made a masterlist of questions to ask!

So, here are the numbers! 8 14 17 22 26 34 44 50

Also, hope you're having a good day so far, seems like you've gotten into the right headspace to write!

Heyo Salty! Thanks for the ask~

Also, with the topics of these questions, I'm tagging @udaberriwrites (continuation of what I was rambling to you in the DMs about some time ago) and @mrsmungus (because she's a total romantic and also fairly curious about this stuff in general).

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8. Who loves to pull pranks on the other? What type of pranks do they pull and do they pull their pranks off?

Carlisle/Beau - This is interesting... because on one hand, Beau is far more likely to be involved in any sort of prank, being friends with Edward and all. On the other hand, he'd definitely not prank Carlisle... at least not intentionally, while Carlisle would absolutely have fun teasing Beau (beyond a certain point)... but wouldn't do pranks intentionally? I honestly don't know which way to go on this one?

Edward/Mike - Edward is definitely the prankster... but Mike is petty, so this can only end in a prank war/petty revenge match up XD

Rosalie/Elle - Elle's definitely the likely prankster of this pair. Teasing is more her style, but she might do a food prank or two on the family.

Alice/Mina - In the strangest way... neither of them? Alice is too chaotic to pull one off without help and while Mina might very well be the type to grab popcorn and watch, she doesn't initiate stuff, so...

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14. Who makes puns with numerous things that they find?

Carlisle/Beau - While neither of them is "punny", Carlisle lived with a certain "punny" person for more than a millennium, so inevitably, a pun or two might unintentionally slip from him, to Beau's delight.

Edward/Mike - I think the answer is pretty clear here haha. Though Mike might do his best to keep up, Edward had more than a millennium to nail down his vampire pun game and more XD

Rosalie/Elle - Elle for sure. She's basically a calmer, less chaotic version of Edward and loves to mess around in good nature~

Alice/Mina - Alice... for the same reason as Elle and Edward. Alice is probably more out there than Elle, but not at Edward's level yet haha

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17. Who looks at the other person like they are their world when the other isn’t looking?

Carlisle/Beau - Definitely Carlisle. Which is not to say that Beau doesn't try to hide stuff and sneak peeks at Carlisle. Likewise, Carlisle is open about his feelings, but the gap between direct/in-person and what goes on in his mind is... well, Mike notices this at one point.

Edward/Mike - Edward, but only because Mike has a mostly solid poker face when he tries, and Mike really tries to keep his cards close to him. Edward's the type to joke and tease Mike to his face, but then be serious when Mike isn't looking directly at him.

Rosalie/Elle - Rosalie for sure... but that's because Elle is pretty open about her feelings. She doesn't really hide anything and would look at Rosalie like she's her world even when she's looking :D

Alice/Mina - Mina, for the same reason as with Rosalie and Elle. Alice is pretty open about everything... and while Mina doesn't "hide" the way Rosalie does, Mina's calmer nature results in this outcome.

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22. Who is in love with the other person’s laugh? - Answered here!

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26. They are grocery shopping and this turns into a race on who can get their half of the list completed faster. Who wins?

Carlisle/Beau - Probably Beau, since he did the shopping in Arizona.

Edward/Mike - Mike, not just because he occasionally runs errands, but because Edward is a mess and usually Elle does the shopping.

Rosalie/Elle - Definitely Elle. She's the main food shopper of the lot.

Alice/Mina - Probably Mina, since she's systematic and diligent.

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34.  Who is more likely to call their partner ‘dude’? - Answered here!

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44. What do they love about each other the most?

Carlisle/Beau - [whew, had to think this one out for Apricity] To Beau... at first, it was the obvious surface attraction. Beyond that, Carlisle cares a lot for his siblings, is knowledgeable and diligent, and as empathetic as a vampire like him could be. It's his stabilizing, supportive, and grounding presence that ultimately wins Beau over. To Carlisle... at first, it was the attraction combined with bloodthirst. Once that is under control, he notices how well Beau fits in with his siblings. Beau is persistent in trying things out and reaches out to him at first. Beau is enthusiastic about everything - his hobbies, trying/learning something new, asking after Carlisle... and while Carlisle is seen as a stabilizing force, Carlisle sees Beau as that.

Edward/Mike - [likewise, had to think through my Apricity stuff] To Edward, Mike is really observant, witty, and quick on the draw, and despite what his sass/sarcasm might suggest, supports and puts other people first... sometimes to a fault. To Mike, Edward might seem like a chaotic joker with his puns and teasing (and Mike likes it), but Edward is protective. With Carlisle around it's easy to forget that Edward is also an "older brother" as well, and is a stabilizing force of his own. He's also a bridge between the 'ancient' world and the current world, with how quickly he adapts.

Rosalie/Elle - [still piecing some backstory stuff here] To Rosalie, Elle is social and supportive, easily adapts to circumstances and makes the best of the situation. To Elle, Rosalie is ambitious, smart, bold, but still intuitive and sensitive - so a perfect mix of everything.

Alice/Mina - [still piecing the details on this one for a future fic] For both of them, it's strength and determination. They both had respective histories that weren't so great and came out of it solidly. Alice also had the added challenge of courting and trying to win Mina over in the end.

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50. Who accidentally drinks too much caffeine and who has to deal with their partner bouncing off the walls? - Answered here!

[mylittleredgirl]

20 questions for fic writers

thanks @annerbhp for the tag! i really enjoyed reading her answers too!

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

215

2. What’s your total ao3 word count?

646,705 (average of 3k per fic, which sounds about right)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

stargate atlantis most often, followed by sg-1, various star treks, and the x-files (with other miscellaneous fandoms on demand for exchanges and gifts).

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

No Sooner Met (voyager, janeway/chakotay)

Career Day (sg-1, mini!otp)

Next Chapter (the good place, chidi/eleanor)

First Date (voyager, janeway/chakotay) editor's note: man my title game was weak in my voyager era

Occupational Hazards (the good place, chidi/eleanor)

it's so funny to spend my online time in small or inactive fandoms and look at statistics because i'm like yeah... i'm kind of a big deal... people know me... i have many leather-bound volumes... and not a single one of my fics crack 300 kudos (& very few over 100). the person i reblogged from topped out over 9,000! what's it like to write long fics for popular fandoms? is it cool?

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

i do now! and it's awesome! for a long time i was intimidated by praise and had a hard time responding, but my brain works now and i really enjoy exchanging comments that turn into long threads of headcanon back-and-forth and sometimes new friends.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

oh god PLEASE let me unburden my soul about Twilight (sga, john/elizabeth). it's so uncharacteristically hopeless for me -- far future fic, complicated family dynamics, elizabeth has dementia and john is estranged from their son... really no one is having a good time. i think it's interesting and a cool departure from my usual writing style, but it's also a big sad mess.

i still feel sooooo guilty about these two thousand words of misery that i REGULARLY think about writing a sequel where john and his son fix it with time travel and mend fences. like i lie awake at night worrying about these characters because one time in 2007 i didn't give them a happy ending and suggested john might not break the bad father generational cycle. normal fic writer behavior.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Weaving Loose Ends (sg-1, sam/jack)! i love happy and hopeful endings but i think of all of them, this one is the most resolved and least complicated.

8. Do you get hate on fic?

nope. oh!!!! there was the one time when i caused Big Drama in a corner of the Dancing With The Stars fandom by turning people's headcanons into rpf, which everyone liked until one included porn. people got so heated with each other over this one smut fic (doxing! splinter factions! a fandom schism!) but somehow no one was ever actually mean to me. i didn't even get blocked or banned for my rpf transgressions, i was just standing there at the eye of the storm. so... i guess the answer is still no??

9. Do you write smut?

yes! i should probably write more, though. it has been all slow and gauzy the past few years, somebody should really get railed pretty soon.

10. Do you write crossovers?

nope.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i don't think so. happily toiling in obscurity.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

back in the x-files days i think someone translated some of my doggett/reyes fics for a spanish archive, so those might still be out there.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

no i haven't!! i am really not doing well collecting my fic writer girl scout badges here!!

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

john sheppard/elizabeth weir my beloved.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but probably won’t?

i have 10k of an sg-1 episode-by-episode soulmate fic that started really strong and i would love to share someday, but i lack staying power so it will surely just go to seed in my dropbox forever!!

16. What are your writing strengths?

hopefully character complexity and dialogue. dialogue is interesting in fanfic, because the dialogue on many TV shows is really different than how real humans speak (it's scripted to be clearer, more concise and direct, uninterrupted, etc), so it's a fun challenge to balance that and get something that sounds both in-character and realistic.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

long fics!

the big related weakness is that i find it incredibly difficult to keep writing on a fic after i show it to anyone (as a sneak peek, or because i want feedback / encouragement / brainstorming help). i lose steam on my own, but posting or inviting other people into the process is like pouring sugar in the gas tank. why is that!! how do i fix this!!!

and i don't know if this is a "writing weakness" or an "egregious personal character flaw" but i sure did finish an exchange fic this year literally forty seconds before reveals, so that's... pretty bad.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

SO SCARY aughhhh my fear of Being Wrong really nukes me here. it doesn't even have to be a real language. it's like the ghost of JRR Tolkein himself is standing over my shoulder telling me that if i don't backwards engineer an entire proto-latinate space language instead of just chucking words into google translate and calling it Ancient i'm committing unpardonable sins.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

star trek! first internet-published fics were x-files, but first limited-print-edition fics were xeroxed hand-bound voyager stories my sister and i would give as "gifts" to family friends (and then stand there staring at them while they read the first few pages and told us how clever and creative we were and promised to "read the rest later").

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

new answer! i have always answered this before with ain't no sunshine (sga, john/elizabeth) or career day (sg-1, mini!otp), but i think i really stuck the landing this year on pieces (sga, john/elizabeth). which, incidentally, is the one i finished forty seconds before reveals so i'm definitely not going to learn anything from that narrow escape.

tagging @ussjellyfish if you haven't already done this one, @coraclavia, @havocthecat, @lonesomehighways, and anyone else who made it through this long post and would like to do it!

[tessa-liam]

Smoke and Mirrors 

Chap. 3: What’s Important 

Book: The Royal Romance Finale AU 

Series Premise: Hidden in the shadows, poised to challenge the status quo are enemies of the state. The loyalties and honesty of family and of friends will be tested. ‘Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.” 

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks-Rys, OTP ‘LiRi’ 

2nd Pairings: Leo Rys x Amalas (past, Olivia Nevrakis x Amalas)           Drake Walker x F!OC Delaney Leigh 

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except Delaney Leigh, Interpol Director Ryerson, Criminal Intelligence Officer Cossoy 

Rating: M *Series Warnings: NSFW material, sexual innuendo, adult language/swearing 

Category: Alternate Universe/on-going series/angst/fluff 

Words: 2197, Read: 10 minutes 

Smoke and Mirrors

Chapter 3: What's Important

Chapter Summary: Don’t ever forget what’s most important. The ones we love. 

Music Inspiration: Who We Love by Sam Smith, Ed Sheeren 

A/N: My submission for Week #18 Prompts, Prompt #3- “Why are you like this?”> “It’s part of my charm.” @choicesflashfics @choicesficwriterscreations 

A/N2: Not beta'd, please excuse all errors.

Previous Chapter: I Will Fight for You, Masterlist 

*** 

Royal Chambers 

Liam's Thoughts/POV 

Thinking back to yesterday... 

The traitor was found, named, and arrested. Bastien... 

Interpol Director Ryerson and his team uncovered an elaborate web of deception that was set in motion by my father, all those years ago. 

Bastien was complicit at every turn; with insider information. With access to everything. To anyone. 

Once my father was gone, who did he answer to? 

It was supposed to be me, his monarch. But it wasn’t. 

Finally, getting sloppy, he was caught orchestrating the jailbreak of a prisoner by the royal guard’s second in command, Bastien’s top lieutenant. Who, to his credit, in turn disclosed his concerns to his friend Drake. Drake, loyal to the crown, revealed the breach to the Royal Council. 

Bastien has been charged with treason; now named a criminal being held in confinement in a jail cell in France.  

A criminal, that past Kings would have executed by their own hand for the crime committed, treason. 

It didn’t stop there. 

After the realization of the betrayal, by a man sworn to protect him, and his family, there was the added bonus of the discovery of a possible sister. 

Tossing and turning, sleep evaded his night.  

As Liam stared into darkness his mind kept replaying the events of the day over and over again. The memories of Director Ryerson’s words, “Her name is Lena Eleanor Rys,” and “apprehended by the Royal Guard, that was later released by Bastien Lykel”, on repeat. 

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. 

Fuck!!! 

His mind would not let his body sleep. 

He looked down at his wife, his queen, curled into his side, peacefully asleep. 

A woman that took the revelations in stride. Sure, she was livid about Bastien’s treachery...but, she wasn’t surprised.  

Riley knew, all too well, that Bastien followed the command of his monarch, without question.  

So instead of getting emotional, she turned her anger into resolve; determined to find answers. 

She is my inspiration. My partner in everything. 

Kissing the top of her head, he carefully moved her arm as he sat up. 

Liam left his chambers with plans of going down to the gym to work out and de-stress. Moving down the hall, he passed by Ellie’s chamber. Peering through the small opening of her door, he saw Chance sleeping at the foot of her bed. Her guard, stationed outside her door, bowed to Liam as he continued down the hall. 

*** 

Across from the Royal east wing, Leo sat on his terrace in the west wing of the palace, long into the night, also unable to sleep. He’d spent most of it watching the stars and thinking about what he and his brother had learned from the Interpol director. 

...and thought about how much he wanted to personally punish Bastien for his duplicity and deception.  

It was strange to think that they had a possible sister. It felt like some kind of twisted fairy tale. One thing was for sure...his father was a selfish and cruel man. How could he do something like this? Why did he knowingly want to hurt Liam with deception?  

What did his father do to make life so miserable for his own mother to leave him behind? Sure, the court members were vipers. But his father had all the power to protect and shield her. 

He thought back to when he first met Queen Eleanor, his stepmother. 

She was so sweet and kind. She was always smiling and happy even though she was married to my bastard father. She genuinely made me feel wanted and part of the family. True to form, Constantine didn’t protect Liam’s mother either.

lost my mother and my stepmother. 

Leo raised his glass, finishing the last of the scotch, when his laptop chimed signaling an incoming video chat.   

“Hey baby!” Leo said as soon as the video came up. 

“Hello there handsome,” Queen Amalas smiled at him. 

Leo returned the smile, “I have missed you.” 

Amalas sighed, “I have missed you too. When are you coming home to me?” 

“Soon. I need to be here a while longer. Once my brother has everything in place with the new head of the Royal guard, I will join in the search for our half-sister in Monterisso.” 

“...and then, you are all mine. No more distractions will separate us?” 

Amalas somberly asked. 

"Why are you like this?", Leo asked pointedly. “I am not used to you being so ‘clingy’.” 

Amalas looked into the camera and sighed. “I don’t know. After everything I have gone through with Olivia, I don’t want to be a secret, or an afterthought anymore.”  

“Baby, I promise you that you are in my thoughts constantly. I would give anything to be with you right now in person.” Leo smiled genuinely. 

“I miss you terribly,” Amalas confessed. “How do you always know the right things to say?” 

“It’s part of my charm.” Leo winks and suggestively says, “get lots of rest baby, because when I get to your palace, I will wear you out in the best way possible.” 

*** 

It was 5:30 am, when Liam returned to his chambers after completing an intense workout. Moving into the bathroom, he stripped out of his shorts and turned on the shower. 

Standing underneath the shower stream of hot water, Liam felt his body begin to relax as a sense of relief washed over him. His eyes closed and he let out a sigh, feeling like all the tension had now been released from his muscles.  

Not hearing Riley enter the shower behind him, he was pleasantly surprised to feel a pair of hands move over his back, massaging in slow soothing strokes. She moved her hands down to his ass squeezing and kneading with firm pressure before moving around to his front brushing against his hardening shaft. 

Liam groaned, “Riley, love...this water is too hot for you and the babieser.” He gently grasped her hands and turned to face her, blocking the flow of water. 

Riley reached up to stroke his cheek, resting her head on his chest. 

“I love you Liam, so much.” She felt him smile against her palm and then his kiss pressed her palm. 

“...and I love you,” he whispered in her ear. 

“We need to get out of this steam.” Liam gently turned Riley around to leave the shower. Taking his hand, she led him into the bedroom. 

“You know,” she said as they walked, “I don’t think we have time for a morning sex session.” 

“No?” he feigned surprise. “Are you sure about that?” Liam teased. 

Riley smirked, shaking her head as she pulled him down to sit on the edge of the bed. Stepping between his legs, Riley knelt down in front of him. Looking up at him through her lashes, "this Is a little something to tide you over till after the meeting, Your Majesty.” 

Liam quirked his brow, “oh, really?” 

“Yes, I want you all to myself this evening so that we can really enjoy each other when everyone is gone, uninterrupted,” she purred. 

*** 

King’s Study, Royal Council 

Drake was the second member to arrive at the Royal council meeting. He walked in with a smile and took his seat next to Hana at the boardroom table. He noticed that she seemed to be nervous and was curious to find out why. 

“Good morning, Hana. It’s great to see you here.” 

“Hello Drake, thank you.  Can I ask you something?”  

“Sure, what’s up?”  

“Is Neville a part of this council?” 

Drake grinned, “Do you really think that Riley would give him any voice and make him a member? Why do you ask?” 

Before she could answer, Director Ryerson and Officer Cossoy entered followed by Leo and Rashad. As the remaining council members took their seats, Hana whispered, “Neville found out that I am back in Cordonia, and wants to meet with me.” 

“Oh, what a desperate motherfu...,” Drake chuckled. “Give me the word and I’ll kick his ass for you.” 

Hana grinned, “thank you. I hope it doesn’t come to that.” 

Riley entered next, followed by Liam, each taking their seats at the head of the long table. 

As the royal guard closed the doors, The Interpol officers began the meeting to present the status of the investigations, and to answer any questions. 

After the long 3 hour presentation ended, Liam stood to formally thank the Interpol officers for the update and asked the council members to remain. 

Liam continued, “we need to plan a trip to Monterisso.” 

*** 

Sitting at the dining table, Ellie waited patiently for her nanny to spread butter on her brioche roll. The wait staff bowed to Riley as she entered the room. “Mmmm...something smells so good,” Riley said as she took her place alongside her daughter, unfolding a cloth napkin on her lap. 

“I do not know what it is, but I would like some please,” Ellie asked excitedly. 

“Daddy will be here soon, sweetheart.” Riley said with a smile and kissed her little girl’s forehead. “Tell me about your day, what were your lessons about?”  

Before she could answer, she heard Liam greet the chef in the hall. 

“Daddy! Ellie exclaims. 

“Well, hello, my princess.” Liam bent down to kiss her cheek. 

“I learned about spelling words, and we read stories today.” 

Liam kissed Riley on the lips next and moved to his chair, 

“Ewww, Daddy!” Liam let out a deep laugh. 

“When you are married one day, you will like kisses.” Riley laughed at Liam’s expression to that comment. 

“That won’t happen for a long, long time, princess.” Liam shot Riley a look, and she chuckled. 

Under the table, Riley ran her foot up Liam’s leg. He sat back smiling at his wife.  

“You are in so much trouble Ri...just wait till later." His voice barely a whisper.  

“Ellie, what would you say to going on a trip to visit Micaela?” Riley asked, changing the subject.  

“Oh yes, mommy!” Ellie happily clapped her hands.  

*** 

Riley sat at her dressing table, brushing her long chestnut hair. Anticipating Liam to join her soon, she felt her heartbeat quicken when she heard his voice speaking to the guard posted outside their chambers. 

She rose from her stool, to check her reflection one more time and walked out onto the balcony. The night air was crisp, and she shivered as a cool breeze blew her hair. She leaned against the railing overlooking the garden below. 

“There you are.... You are so beautiful.” He pulled her into his arms for a kiss that left her breathless. Liam pressed himself closer against her body, feeling her curves beneath the thin silk of her chemise. He could feel his desire rising as he looked down at her, admiring the softness of her skin and the peaks of her nipples under the silk. He moved her straps down her shoulders, and lowered his head slowly and took one of her breasts in his mouth, sucking on it gently. Riley moaned softly as his warm tongue brushed over her sensitive nipple.  

“Oh God!” she cried out in surprise when she felt him slip his hand between her legs and yank her chemise down between her legs. Riley gripped Liam’s biceps as he slid his fingers along her wet pussy lips. He slipped two fingers into her and began to pump them in and out. Riley whimpered in pleasure, grinding her hips against his hand as she succumbed to her orgasm. 

Liam was now rock hard and throbbing as he spun Riley around to take her from behind. It didn’t take long for Liam to find his release. 

Climbing into bed, both sated, they fell into a deep, restful slumber wrapped together. 

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed ⚘️

@txemrn @ao719 @peonierose @queenmiarys @703cowbarn @mom2000aggie @malblk21 @indiana-jr @winkyluxhumanoid @rubiwalker @kingliam2019 @marietrinmimi @imashybish @angelasscribbles @isha26 @cordonianredruby @hopelessromanticmonie @tinkie1973 @belencha77 @honey358luv @jared2612 @urfaveaesthetic101 @xpandass420x @kyra75 @late-to-the-fandom @3pawandme @sammiiieeevaaans @lsvdw-blog @blueaster-blog1 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @queen-arabella-of-cordonia @miss-america-erica @princess-geek @karahalloway @cathx91 @walkerdrakewalker @squid-princess-teach-swallow @thesvnsins @surrenderronnie1 @delmissesryan @iaminlovewithtrr @deepestphantomstranger @fuinseoga @hotkingu @busywoman @twinkleallnight

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

2023 Fandom Year in Review

I'm a bit late on this because I kept being busy, but here! I probably forgot a bunch of stuff in my answers - c'est la vie.

✨Dollsome’s Fandom Year in Review!✨

Favorite new (to me) shows of the year:

Rectify

Joe Pera Talks With You

Reservation Dogs

Dave

The Righteous Gemstones

The Gilded Age

The Buccaneers

Beef

Somebody Somewhere

Vice Principals

Feel Good

Creamerie

Colin From Accounts

Poker Face

Favorite shows with new episodes this year:

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH!!!!!!!!!! 🏴‍☠️💘

Good Omens

Succession

Ted Lasso (kind of? 🫤)

What We Do In The Shadows

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Great

Abbott Elementary

Sanditon

The Nevers

Black Mirror

Some favorite TV show episodes watched for the first time this year (one per show! Just for a challenge!):

Our Flag Means Death - 2.04 “Fun and Games”

What We Do in The Shadows - 5.05 “Local News”

The Great 3.07 “Fun”

Succession - 4.09 “Church and State”

Ted Lasso - 3.10 “International Break”

Good Omens - 2.05 “The Ball”

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - 5.06 “The Testi-Roastial”

Beef - 1.10 “Figures of Light”

Dave - 3.10 “Looking for Love”

Reservation Dogs - 2.04 “Mabel”

Black Mirror - 6.05 “Demon 79”

Joe Pera Talks With You - 2.01 - “Joe Pera Talks With You About Beans” and 2.04 “Joe Pera Guides You Through The Dark” (Cheating and picking two because the episodes are so short!)

Favorite books read this year:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh, Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Favorite song, album, or artist to listen to this year:

I discovered this album a few years late because I got tickets to a concert by them this year, but Bitter Better by Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards! I also loved Guts by Olivia Rodrigoooooo. 

My favorite song is “Misbehavin’” from Righteous Gemstones, a bop like NO OTHER.

Favorite movies of the year:

No Hard Feelings, Saltburn, Barbie, M3GAN, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Rye Lane, Next Goal Wins, Quiz Lady, Eileen, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Cocaine Bear 🤣

First fandom of the year:

In January I had a major Jurassic Park/World resurgence wherein I watched all the Lego Jurassic World shows about Claire and Owen on Netflix and also read all of Tess Sharpe’s tie-in novels, while also feeling nine zillion feelings about Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler on the side because they are THE movie otp. I regret none of this, it was fun as hell.

Best new fandom discovery of the year:

The Gilded Age. I can’t believe I was living without Bertha and George Russell, and Julian Fellowes’ extremely stupid yet incomparably enchanting writing, for so long.

Biggest fandom disappointment of the year:

Ted and Rebecca not happening and also not getting nearly as much significant screentime together as I wanted. 😭 That one hurt me real hard, even though I always kind of saw it coming. I somehow just knew all the way back in season 1 that it was too wonderful and refreshing to happen. But even more disappointing to me was Keeley and Roy not getting back together. (And the fake-out of them seeming to get back together and then not really doing so. Ouch!) I wish they hadn’t broken up at all! That whole plotline gets a million thumbs downs from me. It made me feel so, so bad inside, a badness that never healed.

Honorary mention: Roman and Gerri’s last ever interaction getting deleted from 4.09!!!!!!! FERAL SCREAM!!!!!

I also really didn’t like what they did with Orlo’s character in s3 of The Great.

Biggest squee moments of the year:

(I can’t possibly narrow ‘em down well but let’s try.)

Like the entirety of OFMD season two, but I’ll narrow it down with great restraint to Mermaid Stede, the conversation on the sofa in “Fun and Games,” and the “You wear fine things well” redux kiss.

Roman watching Gerri recite the limerick and being besotted! Gerri caring about Roman with her eyeballs at the funeral! Roman’s Gerri tribute martini! Gerri smiling at Roman making fun of Greg that one time even though he didn’t know she was! It was a rough season, okay!

Guillermo dancing in the Pride Parade episode! Nandor always knowing that Guillermo didn’t have what it took to be a vampire and helping him become human again! The vampires doing the news!

Old ladies Midge and Susie making each other laugh at the end of TMMM! What a perfect way to go out.

Rebecca spitting her tea in Ted’s face in an act of fond vengeance. I really thought we were so happening after that one, mates! (And that moment in the hallway! And the Ted’s A Work In Progmess scene! Everything that made it feel like it might be happening!!!)

I also squeed during the Morning After Ted In Rebecca’s Kitchen Fakeout until I was dashed back down upon the rocks of cruel reality. Congratulations, show: I 100% fell for it. (Though part of that was because the people watching with me were like, “Wow, congratulations! It happened!” as if I had somehow personally willed it into happening. And you know I would have if I could have!)

Crowley and Aziraphale’s big scene at the end of Good Omens. It was a squee moment tinged with terrible pain, but such a squee moment nonetheless!

Also, Aziraphale’s “Smitten, I believe” lil’ look/remark. Will delight me forever.

Gregory and Janine kissing on Abbott Elementary! The flowers!!!!!!

Kelvin and Keefe’s first kiss (finally!) on The Righteous Gemstones!

Also on The Righteous Gemstones: Judy and BJ walking into the party to “Dance Hall Days” while BJ is rocking his shorts-romper ensemble. A moment that simply stunned me!

The end of the first episode (I think?) of Beef where “The Reason” by Hoobastank is playing specifically in the context of, I just found my nemesis whose life I’m going to make a misery. That made me so happy.

Seeing the Doctor and Donna Noble together again!

Favorite Main Character of the Year:

Catherine from The Great. Season three was such a tour de force for Elle Fanning, and I just loved every note of her character’s journey! I’m so bummed that we won’t get to see what happens to her next and I’m going to miss that performance and that character so much. 😢 She is INCREDIBLE!

Favorite Villain of the Year:

The briefly-seen Logan Roy, and the way he haunted his kids and kept tearing them apart after he died, and yet they still stared at him with such love and fondness and longing in that video in the finale and then proceeded to try to tear each other to shreds because that’s what he raised them to do. AAAH!

Favorite m/f couple of the year:

Gotta be RomanGerri. Good lord, what a time we had!

Runner-up: George and Bertha Russell, the morally questionable marrieds of my dreams.

Favorite f/f couple of the year:

I loved Midge/Susie with all my heart and rambled weirdly about them being Luke/Lorelai in (slightly) different clothes for the entire run of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, from the pilot being in that pilots contest onwards (remember that??). So it was just so wonderful and satisfying to have their relationship so loved on in the last season. And to get some canon ‘Susie is in love with Midge’ vibes going on, aaah! (Midge is in love with Susie, too. To me.)

Runner-up: Anne and Mary on Our Flag Means Death. I know they were only there for one episode but I’m god damn obsessed with them and will always dream of seeing them again in hypothetical s3. Staying at Ed and Stede’s inn? Swashbuckling into their lives on the high seas, possibly wearing other people’s faces? I will take ANYTHING!!! They ARE love and romance!!!!!!!!

Favorite m/m couple of the year:

Ed/Stede!!!!!!!! They came back to me!!!!!!! They were so in love and so deranged about it in so many moments that were absolute bangers!!!!!!!!! It was a total dream come true and I will never love another season of television quite in the way that I love season two of OFMD!!!!!!!!!

Also Crowley and Aziraphale, hoo boy. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what season two did to us as a society!!!! It was spectacular and I loved every minute of my deranged feelings.

And Nandermo always always always, and more with every season. Sorry, WWDITS showrunner dude!

Favorite fictional friendship of the year:

I really enjoyed getting to see Mabel and Oliver and Charles again in Only Murders in the Building season three! And the Rez Dogs in Reservation Dogs, which I finally watched! And the return of the Doctor and Donna to finish off the year!

Also, this doesn’t totally count as friendship per se, but George obstinately pretending to be Catherine’s bestie for self-preservation reasons in season three of The Great was riveting at every second and I was obsessed with it.

Your fictional boyfriend of the year?:

Edward Teach, going through every single human emotion and being so god damn beautiful doing it! 🥹

Your fictional girlfriend of the year?:

Gerri Kellman, my love, my light, THE stone-cold killer bitch of all time. 👑👑👑

Fandom that you never expected to get into:

I guess I never expected to get AS into Succession as I did. But somehow that final season really hit the exact vibe of ‘Your dreams could come true but they never will’ that absolutely and lastingly obsessed me.

Fandom that made an unexpected comeback:

Community, I guess? I’ve been really fixated on Community since our rewatch was begun! I always forget exactly HOW obsessed and emotionally invested I am until I am watching it again. And then I’m left in an abyss of feelios.

Fandom that inspired the most crack:

Oh, it’s gotta be Succession. That’s the only way to engage with Succession.

Last fandom of the year:

As mentioned: I am currently very in my Community feels due to my rewatch! Oh, does this show ever dwell in a tender and sweet place in my heart.

Overall favorite fandoms of the year:

Succession, Good Omens, OFMD

Your main fandom of the year:

Oh, gosh. Is it Succession?? I feel like the three above all got some major attention, but Succession might have been stretched out over the longest amount of time. Just, y’know. All that trying to recover!

The most missed of your old fandoms:

My year was definitely too Gilmore Girls lite for my liking! I also already miss Ted Lasso and simply insist that they make a fourth season. Even if they have to do it without Ted anymore 😢, I could dream of Roy and Keeley getting back together and see Rebecca and Nate and Higgins and Beard and the team and all my buddies again. I just feel like season three did not feel like an ending season and there’s still so much more juice in that ensemble.

Fandom resolutions for next year:

Just keep having a jolly time! Maybe watch less TV. Be more discerning in choosing which TV shows to watch so that there are more free hours in my day.

Fandom predictions for next year:

I predict Ted Lasso is going to come back in some form. It wasn’t over! It still isn’t over!! (I know if this happens it probably won’t include Ted, but wouldn’t it be hilarious if the desperate dream of Ted/Rebecca was suddenly back on? And by ‘hilarious’, I mean ‘everything to me’?)

I’m still quietly predicting the Killing Eve fix-it movie. I know it won’t happen, that Jodie and Sandra have moved on, but I’m dreaming of it anyway. And dreams can come true!

I predict that Jeff and Annie will finally get to be in love in the Community movie if it comes out. I am just choosing optimism and sweetness in this moment. I am choosing to believe.

In that vein: I predict that OFMD season three will exist!

I predict that Hugh Grant and Colin Firth will finally make a romcom together as the love interests. WHY NOT. IT'S TIME.

[fredoesque]

Rules: Choose any three fandoms (in random order) and answer the questions, then tag 10 people you want to know better

i was tagged by @unrealwasteland, thank you :)

I choose:

the terror

black sails

disco elysium

the first character you loved:

hickey <3 as much as gay cannibal liar is like. #1 most fredoesque favorite character conceivable, i actually got attached during his very first appearance before any of that was even revealed

silver!! who has the character introduction of all time if you ask me

kim ofc

the character you relate to most:

billy orren bc if i was on those ships i think i'd also die instantly before anything really bad even happened

transgender icon with 5 seconds of screen time mark read. as i am also transgender

trant heidelstam. i love yapping about my niche historical interests

the character you'd slap

kind of a cop-out answer perhaps but now that i've thought of it there's nobody else i'd rather slap: john barrow sr

woodes rogers i hate youuuuu

in a fantasy scenario where i could do this and survive. measurehead

three favorite characters in order of preference

hickey, jopson, dundy

silver, max, rackham

jean, klaasje, kim (also honorable mention the paledriver)

a character you liked at first but don't like anymore

hmm i don't really know if there is anyone. i mean i guess i remember being really charmed by mcdonald when i first watched the terror, and he's way less front-of-mind now but like. i still like him ultimately

thomas hamilton. i wouldn't say i really dislike him now but when he first shows up and flint is revealed to be gay it's this really incredible moment. only past that it turns out he doesn't interest me as much. type of guy who's more interesting as an off-screen haunting yknow?

lena. like many people i had the experience of thinking i was talking to a nice old lady only for her to suddenly drop the most unhinged racist rhetoric on me

a character you did not like at first but now do

ok funnily enough i reallyyy didn't like goodsir when i first watched the show. his hypocrisy and self-righteousness got on my nerves. luckily now i see his hypocrisy and self-righteousness are some of his best traits <3

eleanor in a way. she is such a piece of shit and again can really get on your nerves but also. sooo compellingly written in all her complexities and ugliness and sooo ultimately tragic. but i'm not sure if i ever truly disliked her and i'm not entirely sure i like her now. you get it

jean. i thought he was being a dick at first but i've realized since he was actually entirely justified in his being a dick. also cuno actually he grows on you like mold

three OTPs

hickeytozer, jopkey, rossier

silverflint, maxanor and. ok wild card pick but silver/muldoon. muldoon's death scene haunts me like actually

jeanharry, harrykim, rubyklaasje

i already tagged a bunch of people earlier today and i don't want to spam anyone, so i'm not tagging anybody specific in this. however anyone who sees this and wants to do it, please consider yourself tagged :)

[sergeantpixie]

Too 5 TV OTPs? In order if possible :)

...Now feels like a pertinent time to remind people that ships are personal opinions because I have no popular TVD OTPs tbh.

Caroline/Elena

Klaus/Elena

Caroline/Hayley

Bonnie/Elena

Jeremy/Anna

EDIT: LMAO TV NOT TVD I probably should've ate dinner before I answered this question....

anyway!

Dean Winchester from Supernatural/Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Diaries

Alison DiLaurentis/Aria Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars

Lenny Bruce/Midge Maisel from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Rory Gilmore/Logan Huntzberger from Gilmore Girls

Chidi Anagonye/Eleanor Shellstrop from The Good Place

[bethanydelleman]

Asks about my OTPs

Pick your top 10 OTPs without reading the questions, then answer the questions after you've made your list (I will do my top 10 Austen OTPs)

Catherine Morland & Henry Tilney

Fanny Price & Henry Crawford

Elizabeth Bennet & Fitzwilliam Darcy

Harriet Smith & Robert Martin

Caroline Bingley & Sir Walter Elliot

Elinor Dashwood & Edward Ferrars

Marianne Dashwood & Colonel Brandon

Emma Woodhouse & Jane Fairfax

Eleanor Tilney & her laundry Viscount

Sir Walter & Himself

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6? – When Edward comes to Barton and makes fun of Marianne's love of dead trees.

2. Have you ever read a fanfic about 2? – Yes, my favourite is Fanny: A Mansfield Park Story by Amelia Marie Logan, and I've written severa, including one full length novel.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr screen saver? – Nope! Always my kids these days.

4. If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be? – This actually happens in FF quite a lot, people are always killing off Brandon early into the marriage and leaving Marianne with a baby. It makes me sad, let Brandon be happy! He's only 37 when they marry he probably has another 20 years at least! (Honestly, since Brandon has survived to his age, Marianne actually has a higher chance of passing away since she's the one making babies).

5. Why is 1 so important? – Because they are so uncomplicated and happy. Just two very cute people making a cute marriage and I would defend their ship to the ends of the earth.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship? – Um, it's a whole joke that Austen didn't reveal a new character because the new viscount made a laundry list that Catherine found. But I love Eleanor so much that I do seriously want her to be happy.

7. Out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry? – Henry & Catherine, Harriet & Robert I think? I may be a bad judge of "chemistry".

8. Out of all your ships listed, which ship has the strongest bond? – Elinor & Edward, I'm always surprised how sure they are of the other's love in spite of of all the obstacles.

9. How many times have you read/watched the 10’s fandom? - I honestly don't know at this point, I read Persuasion once as a teenager and I didn't like it but I LOVED Sir Walter. I've watched all the adaptations (including 1971) and I've read/listened to the book multiple times now.

10. Which ship has lasted the longest? – Sir Walter & himself obviously, that's been going strong for 54 years. I hope it continues until his death at 93. All the others are new pairings.

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up? – The only Austen couple to break up and get back together is Anne & Wentworth, so zero for Elinor & Edward.

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8? – Huh, Fanny & Henry or Emma & Jane? They both have a sickly member, which is not great for their odds... Emma is smart but often distracted which would be really bad but Jane is a devoted learner.... Henry would "improve" his estate with zombie moats... I'm voting for both Fanny and Emma don't make it and Henry Crawford & Jane Fairfax find their second true pairing together.

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason? – Colonel Brandon is attempting to hide his regard out of respect for Marianne and that's why I love him so much.

14. Is 4 still together? – Yes, eating walnuts and petting "her" little cow. Man they are cute!

15. Is 10 canon? – Yep! Though a bunch of the others aren't

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win? – I'm going to put my money on Colonel Brandon, who will do anything to save Marianne. He would be the Katniss and she is the Peeta.

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship? – Yes, Mr. Elliot has been trying to prevent Sir Walter from marrying again so he can inherit the baronetcy. He almost succeeds!

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond? –  Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney, they are the only couple I can't bring myself to break up in fan fiction.

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page? – Um, none? I end up seeing Elizabeth & Darcy stuff no matter what, I have tags on the lesser known Austen characters.

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink? – That is hard because these are my favourite, but I guess Emma can marry boring Knightley instead of having a torrid enemies-to-lovers affair with Jane Fairfax...

I'm not big on chain letters. Thank you @firawren for the tag, if anyone wants to try go ahead!

[atsadi-shenanigans]

For the OTP game!

14, 35, 71 and 78 please 👀

14. Probably Astarion? I see him as becoming interested in something, going balls to the wall over it, and either sticking with it in that mode, or getting bored and abandoning it.

35. Astarion. Dude already knows like five language. Despite what Cazadick made him believe, he's actually really smart. And as he begins to heal and recover a sense of self and worth, that starts to grow and bloom again. And he's going to use it to be an absolute menace.

78. Who boy, here's where my more luddite self gets exposed: I don't really know the spotify??? 😅 I don't like streaming services in general, and I buy and download and store songs I like on my own external hard drive. I used to use a site (app? I'm not a granny, I promise, I just don't pay as much attention to internet stuff as a lot of my peers and The Youths) called 8 track because you could just, like, set a playlist with ONLY the songs you wanted? And I tried spotify and THEY ADD SHIT. And it irritates me. So I've never had a spotify wrapped and honestly cannot answer this question, I'm so sorry!

I do image they're both music dorks who like a lot of eclectic stuff, because BOTH are finding music in Faerun. Astarion didn't get to like, go to concerts or anything under Cazadick, and Eleanor doesn't even go here.

Question list here.

[leofrith]

black sails anne bonny for the niche asks!

OH HELL YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!! she's so cool fucked up and interesting. i'm not sure i have a fully formed opinion of her yet but i'll do my very best 😇

a song that reminds me of them: i haven't been into black sails for long enough to reach my making character playlists stage of brain rot but after a very brief search i think post traumatic love by actors could be about her if i do enough mental gymnastics about it.

what they smell like: copper and sea water

an otp: max and jack. together or separate doesn't matter. ot3 of all time.

a notp: her and whoever the fuck her husband was. good riddance bitch!!!!

favorite platonic/familial relationships: charles i guess?? also her brief little frenemy team up with eleanor was extremely funny agdfhasf

a headcanon that is popular in the fandom but that i disagree with: i haven't been around long enough to see any headcanons really, least of all for anne, so any answer i come up with for this is going to be me literally inventing a guy to get mad at. which is exactly what i'm gonna do now 🤪 but based on when this show first came out and what i know of fandom spaces at the time, i'm going to guess that a lot of people on this here hellsite would have pointed at early s1 anne and said she is a prime example of "woman character written by a man" syndrome and that she's suffering from a serious case of internalized misogyny/homophobia. which i really don't think is the case at all and i think her initial, loud contempt for max is way more rooted in her being forced to consider her own individual identity separate from her relation to jack, perhaps for the very first time since she met him. and i think that when i first tried to watch this at the tail end of high school, i was a bit put off by anne's character because i fell into the former category. but i'm quite a bit more media literate now than i was back then. so yeah!!

the position they sleep in: alone? on her side with a hand on the knife under her pillow. with a very trusted partner? she's the little spoon. that scene when she's fast asleep between jack and max i'm telling youuuu.

a crossover au i’d love to see them in: i feel like black sails isn't something i would be super interested in crossing with another piece of media to be honest? but this cast as space pirates in star wars could be fun i guess! but also anne and jack as jaeger pilots. hello.

my favorite outfit they’ve ever worn: i do love her look in the s3 finale when they're sneaking aboard that english ship, especially because we so rarely see her without some sort of headgear. also her head scarf road bandit look when they're breaking jack out of the caravan. muah. anne i am free on thursday hiiiiiiii

send me a character and i will answer these questions!

[mikaharuka]

5, 16, 28, 34 and 42 for the OTP ask game - you can choose whichever couple you like, I'm just happy to know more about your world :)

Heyo Miranda! Thanks for the ask~

5. Who loves saying ‘my wife’ or ‘my husband’ or ‘my spouse’?

Carlisle/Beau - Definitely Carlisle in the grand scheme. I mean... the whole 'pet names with a slight possessive vibe' already showed its face, so... yeah. Also see the answer to #32 in this post. Beau would likely stick to names or the title 'Doctor' when referring to Carlisle.

Edward/Mike - Edward for sure, with his various drama/antics. Mike doesn't strike me as the type to show familiarity in that way.

Rosalie/Elle - Definitely Elle! She's just open in that expressive way. Not that Rose 'hides', just that Rose shows affection differently.

Alice/Mina - Alice for sure, because Mina is like Rose in that regard.

-

16. What do they say to one another before they go to sleep?

Carlisle/Beau - In the grand scheme... I think these two would be pretty emotionally expressive? So something along those lines?

Edward/Mike - Probably something snarky or some sort of joke lol

Rosalie/Elle - Something fluffy and affirming plus "good night"

Alice/Mina - Something about looking forward to the next day

-

28. How do they playfully roast one another?

Carlisle/Beau - I think Carlisle would have gentle teasing down to an art form (he did live with Edward for a long while, after all). Beau... would probably be flustered in the moment, but sic Edward or Mike on him later on. Or persist in calling him "doctor" every other line.

Edward/Mike - Oh no. These two could probably go at each other for a while. Edward with the banter and Mike with the petty sass in turn.

Rosalie/Elle - These two are just super fluffy. It would be a soft "silly you, you forgot to do X, but here you go" sort of vibe?

Alice/Mina - Alice has Edward's energy, but Mina is definitely calmer than Mike. So while Alice says a lot, Mina can mic drop a one-liner!

-

34.  Who is more likely to call their partner ‘dude’?

Carlisle/Beau - Beau, but only because "dude" is not in Carlisle's vocabulary. Though Beau calls Mike and Edward "dude" pretty easily, he's definitely not the type to refer to Carlisle that way.

Edward/Mike - Both of them, and equally so. See above answer.

Rosalie/Elle - Elle, but only because - like with Carlisle - "dude" is not in Rosalie's vocabulary.

Alice/Mina - Alice for sure. Mina might, but it wouldn't be common

-

42. Who is the dramatic one? - Answered over in this post

[tessa-liam]

All is Fair in Love & War

Book: TRR, The Royal Heir Book 2 AU 

Summary: The King and Queen of Cordonia VS The King and Queen of Auvernal, battle for dominance in Tango 

Song Inspiration: King of My Heart, T. Swift 

Video Inspiration: Tango for Two, L. Tarantino & G. Cocomero 

Visual Commission: Liam & Riley @artbyainna 

Dance Tutorial: Argentine Tango by Diego Blanco & Ana Padron 

Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks-Rys, OTP (LiRi) 

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except Daniella, who belongs to me. 

A/N1: This is my submission for week #8 @choicesflashfics, Prompt #3 “I’ve never done something like this before.” 

A/N2: This story has not been Beta'd, please excuse all errors. 

Rating: A, 18+, adult conversation 

Word Count: 1663 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Riley's POV 

As Dr. Ramirez gently places the baby on my chest, I am overwhelmed with emotion, at finally holding our beautiful baby. Gazing upon her for the very first time, I forget about all the pains of childbirth and all the fears I had dissipated. 

“She’s perfect, Riley.” Liam says with tears in his eyes. 

“I can’t believe that just happened! This moment...It’s just so amazing. I’m just so happy to be here with you right now...and with our baby!” Riley tearfully confesses. 

“A little girl...It’s been a long time since we had a princess running around the palace. I’m going to give you the world, my little princess.” Liam emotionally whispers to Eleanor, taking Riley’s hand in his. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Liam’s POV 

It feels like yesterday since our baby was born. From that birthday on my primary focus is, and always will be, Riley and my children. 

Their happiness and security are my highest duty; as a husband, as a father and as the King of Cordonia. 

 I refuse to waste my time dwelling on the problems with Auvernal.  Their attempts at coercion to force a betrothal will not succeed. Thus, I delegated the mundane task of dealing with those issues to my Royal Council. 

It’s Monday morning, and I have my usual morning conference with my advisers scheduled to begin in 20 minutes. 

While taking a sip of my coffee, I touch Riley’s number on my cell, knowing that she is in the palace gymnasium. 

“Hi Liam, how is everything?” Riley answers breathlessly on speaker. 

“Riley, you're not overdoing it with these exercises, are you?” 

Maxwell interrupts by saying, “Li, don’t worry, we are fusing dance with the exercises. I will make sure it’s a relaxing and fun experience.” 

“Thank you, Max. I’ll hold you to it. Riley, I will come down after my meeting to take you to lunch.” 

The call is interrupted by a knock on the door, and Liam ends the call and directs his advisors to enter. 

“Your majesty, good morning.” Rashad, Olivia, Bertrand, Kiara, Hana, Drake and Bastien step into his office, each taking seats at the boardroom table. 

Rashad, acting as Liam’s chief legal counsel, begins the meeting with an overview of the challenges caused by the Auvernese leaders.  

After listening intently to each presentation by each council member, Liam states, “whatever actions we decide upon today, always remember, to keep your friends close, your enemies closer.” 

Liam goes on, “One of the greatest books on war strategies, was written by Sun-tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist, ‘The Art of War’. This dispute is not about military force; it is psychological warfare.  

At the end of the productive meeting, a practical action plan was devised. Liam left the meeting with the direction for the council to plan the implementation. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Riley and Maxwell had finished their workout and were chatting and enjoying a light snack of fresh fruit and infused water on the patio outside the gym. 

Feeling energized, Riley spotted Liam walking towards her carrying Eleanor in his arms and got up to dance her way to him. 

Liam burst into laughter watching his wife sashay towards him. 

“Hello, my love,” Liam bends down to reward his wife with a kiss. I see all this exercise hasn’t worn you out.” 

“Never! Max is teaching me how to tango,” Riley animatedly exclaims while gently lifting Ellie from Liam’s arms. 

“I wouldn’t say I am an expert...but...tango dancing is a great cardio workout and body toner,” Maxwell states. 

Liam nods in agreement, “tango is a ballroom dance. I learned the Argentine tango as part of my Royal training, as a matter of fact. 

I will arrange for that instructor to join the two of you tomorrow morning. 

...and I will join you as well.” 

“Really? You will work out with us tomorrow?” 

Liam wrapped his arm around Riley, “let’s go for lunch. Max, you are more than welcome to join us.” 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

“I have an idea that I want to run past you, Riley.” Liam sits back on his chair at the dining table, cradling Ellie at lunch. 

“...and you as well, Max.” 

Riley smiles, “you’ve got my attention.” 

“Mine as well,” Maxwell responds. 

Liam moves the baby to rest on his chest, holding her close with one hand. 

“How would you feel about dancing with me at the military charity ball being held in Auvernal later this month? An Argentine tango?” 

Riley’s expression turns inquisitive.  

“I’ve never done something like this before.” 

Maxwell smiles wide and exclaims musically, “that would be awesome! You are so ready to handle this, little blossom. And with Liam leading you? Wow, this will be epic!” 

In the royal gymnasium the next morning, Liam and Riley arrive early to warm up for their first joint dance lesson. 

As the dance instructor enters, followed by Maxwell, 

Liam teasingly calls to Riley, “Okay, your majesty, get into position.” 

“You are so bossy this morning!” Riley saucily responds back, bending down to adjust her shoe strap. 

Liam smirks, tempted to smack her behind, but he has to show decorum. They were in public. So, instead he murmurs in her ear, “just wait till later!” 

Riley stands and straightens, standing beside her husband. Her smirk quickly changing into a smile as they stepped forward to greet their instructor. 

After pleasantries are exchanged, Daniella, the instructor begins, 

“The Argentine tango is a passionate ballroom dance that is great for expressing love between two partners.” 

Riley bashfully smiles lowering her gaze to the floor. Liam gives her hand a squeeze, winking at her when she looks up at him. 

“Tango dancing involves quick, graceful, and playful movements with plenty of room for improvisation. These fun moves create a simple, yet elegant dance that consists of eight steps taken across eight counts.” 

Daniella turns to Maxwell, “we will partner to demonstrate each step.” The grin that formed on Maxwell’s face was enormous.  

“The tango is a fairly straightforward walking dance that just requires precise footwork. It is relatively easy to perform once you master the eight basic steps and understand how the count works.” 

These dance lessons continued daily for the next 3 weeks. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Military Charity Ball, Auvernese Royal Palace, Auvernal 

Arriving at the palace in Auvernal, Liam and Riley, along with their Royal council, are ushered to the ballroom. 

Rashad, Bertrand, Kiara and Hana enter the ballroom, while Isabella and Bradshaw meet with Liam and Riley before being heralded into the Ball. 

Olivia, Drake and Bastien stealthily went up the stairs to meet with their contacts on the viewing balcony above the ballroom. Leo stood with Queen Amalas with wide grins as they held up the folder with the birth records for the twins 

As Liam and Riley were learning the tango, the Royal council learned that the children claimed to be royal blood by the King and Queen of Auvernal were illegitimate. Bradshaw’s lover was pregnant with twins. Isabella needed an heir, arranging for the affair to continue if she could falsely claim parentage. Since Leo was courting Queen Amalas in Monterisso, he volunteered to bring the proof with him to the ball, along with Amalas. 

“King Liam and Queen Riley, welcome to our beautiful country,” Bradshaw pretentiously croons. 

Isabella meanwhile studies her queen rival with a jealous eye. 

Riley, after all the dance practices over the past three weeks, was down to her pre-baby weight with added curves that Liam adored. Her shimmering gold cocktail dress hugged her curves perfectly. 

Her dress didn’t go unnoticed by Bradshaw and noticing his lustful gaze, Isabella was shooting seething glares at him. 

Liam’s facial expression remained neutral as he took notice of the unwelcome gawking by his rival towards his wife. He does, however, protectively wrap his arm around Riley snugly, barely keeping the distance required for proper decorum. 

“Yes, thank you for hosting this charity event.  I am sure the military paraphernalia will be well received,” he conceals his contempt for the pair knowing that they now have legal documentation that annuls the betrothal agreement. 

As the evening moves forward, the orchestra begins the first notes of the Argentine tango.  

“Are you ready for this?” Liam questions Riley. “Oh yes, let's bring it on.” Riley answers enthusiastically. 

Liam leads her to center of the dance floor, and once there, he moves his body close to Riley. He extends his left hand forward to capture Riley’s upward flexed right hand. Liam places his right hand on Riley’s back moving her flush to him. Riley places her left hand on Liam’s shoulder. 

Liam nods to the maestro to begin the music, and he takes the first step of the tango. 

All the practice they had dancing allowed them to perform the steps flawlessly. They ended the dance provocatively as she ran her leg up the side of Liam’s leg to his waist. Riley then wrapped her hand around his neck and Liam returned her affection with a passionate kiss. 

The applause was deafening, as they bowed to the audience. 

Isabella was livid. As she began her dance with Bradshaw, she angrily moved around the ballroom like a ‘bull in a China shop’. Bradshaw looked so uncomfortable and he stopped dancing. 

Kiara and Hana, watching them, couldn’t believe the spectacle they were witnessing. Rashad and Bertrand and members of the Cordonian Royal guard encircled Liam and Riley, as Bradshaw and Isabella stormed out of the ballroom. Olivia, Drake, Leo and Amalas intercepted them to confront them. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

 Returning back to Cordonia at once after the ball ended abruptly, Liam glances down to Ellie sleeping peacefully and securely in her crib. Riley wraps her arms around him and smiles down at their baby, knowing that all is good in their kingdom. 

@txemrn @bebepac @ao719 @peonierose @phoenixrising0308 @queenmiarys @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @703cowbarn @mom2000aggie @malblk21 @queenrileyrose @indiana-jr @winkyluxhumanoid @rubiwalker @harleybeaumont @kingliam2019 @marietrinmimi @imashybish @angelasscribbles @isha26 @sfb123 @tinkie1973 @belencha77 @honey358luv @jared2612 @urfaveaesthetic101 @xpandass420x @kyra75 @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks

@late-to-the-fandom

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed.

[ladysansalannister]

Chidi telling Eleanor he wishes they met “like normal people” and then admitting he doesn’t know how normal people meet each other…….Like Real People Do by Hozier really is their song

[jeffreywinger-archived]

I was dropped into a cave, and you were my flashlight.

[teamdevi]

Yei 💕, okey for the ask game, Benvi and Trent x El (do we already have a ship name for them?)

benvi:

tbh I feel like anyone who follows this blog should know how much I adore Benvi...they're definitely in my top 5 ships of all time and I just love them sm 🥰

trent x eleanor:

they're just so random 😅 I don't have that many thoughts on them since we haven't actually seen their relationship onscreen, but since Trent and Eleanor aren't characters I particularly care for on their own, I'm fine with pairing them off because their relationship could potentially make them both much more interesting.

send me a ship for the ship bingo!!

[ginger-grimm]

What songs do you associate with Elanor and Jeremy?>

Mercy by Shawn Mendes, My Love Won't Let You Down by Little Mix, Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy, Life Without You by Stanfour and Esmeè Denters, Rescue by Lauren Daigle, Lost Without You by Freya Ridings