#regatta speculation

[funky-boat-zone]

alright here’s the birthday party episode analysis. keep in mind that this is all a matter of personal opinion/speculation

for those of you who don’t want to watch the episode:

the episode begins with ten cents and sunshine discussing a surprise birthday party for otis. sunshine is very insistent on keeping the party a surprise, and ten cents promises to help her keep it a secret until it’s time for the party. sunshine invites sally and zorran (and the zero fleet) and further reiterates that the party is a surprise. the episode then cuts to ten cents and otis, who is suspicious that everyone is “acting strange”. ten cents continues to keep the secret and make excuses to throw otis off his trail.

from there, top hat asks for ten cents’ attention, and ten cents accidentally lets it slip that he can’t talk to top hat right now, he’ll see him later at the party. otis immediately catches on, to which ten cents tries to cover by saying he was going to see top hat at “pier t”. otis and top hat are not impressed in the least (or even happy to hear that there’s a party), and top hat says ten cents has spoiled the surprise and immediately departs the scene to go to tell sunshine. otis outright tells ten cents that he ruined the party because it’s not a surprise anymore. ten cents apologizes to otis and promises they’ll still have the party, but otis’ engine breaks down.

sunshine shows up to the scene and is very upset with (a very remorseful) ten cents, who even says that he hates himself for spoiling the surprise. the switchers then go to captain starr to try and resolve the issue, arguing all the while as ten cents insists that he didn’t spoil the party on purpose. sunshine is still insistent that it had to be a surprise, and they may as well cancel the party. otis has seemingly calmed down and says they can just throw a surprise party another time, but sunshine still insists on blaming ten cents for not being able to keep a secret. from there we get the “what do you want me to do, sink myself?/not a bad idea!” exchange.

otis complains about listening to the switchers argue before captain star shows up to ask what’s going on. otis and sunshine explain the situation, and captain star immediately asks ten cents if he apologized. ten cents explains that he did apologize— multiple times. captain star then says that it was for the best, because now she can give otis a new engine for his birthday. she then asks sunshine to forgive ten cents, and sunshine forgives him. ten cents thanks her for forgiving him and promises to do better next time. the switchers taking otis to dry dock for repairs, with otis saying that he hates to miss a party— especially his own. the episode ends with a parade (using footage from “regatta”). otis gives a speech about how disappointed he was that his surprise was ruined, but it didn’t matter— because the real surprise was what they did for his birthday party and his friends being there.

why is this episode so uncomfortable (to me, anyway)?

i think the primary factor is that the episode completely bungles the inciting incident by having ten cents spoiling the surprise come across as a complete accident. i could understand what the episode was going for if it opened with him saying something like “i don’t see why we need to keep this a surprise, because we’ll have the party either way” and dismissing how important this is to sunshine and otis, but he doesn’t say anything like that. in the scenes leading up to it, he seemingly was trying to keep suspicion off of the party, and even tried to cover for himself after he spoiled it. he talks about how sorry he is and how “next time (he’ll) do better”, but honestly i don’t think ten cents did anything wrong in this episode— or at the very least, he didn’t do anything bad enough to warrant such a weirdly severe reaction from sunshine and otis.

there’s also the fact that salty’s lighthouse!ten cents is seemingly(?) written as a child? or at the very least, he’s one of the youngest tugs on the fleet. meanwhile, top hat and otis are characters who are written as full-grown adults even within this series, and they barely do anything to try and diffuse the switchers’ argument or make ten cents feel better when he clearly blames himself for ruining the surprise— if anything, they actively choose to make him feel worse about it! otis doesn’t even have anything to say about the “sink myself” remark, he just complains about “having to listen to (the switchers) argue”. and when otis and sunshine finally forgive ten cents, it’s seemingly only because captain star told them to— even then, they can’t resist lamenting how the surprise party was ruined in otis’ speech at the end.

this episode also heavily uses footage from “quarantine” of the original tugs, meaning that the characters look upset/disgruntled for the vast majority of the episode up until the very end. that isn’t entirely relevant though, because this episode would still come across as weirdly mean-spirited no matter what footage they used.

and i think that’s the crux of the issue; this episode wouldn’t be half as uncomfortable to me if salty’s lighthouse didn’t have such a sugary, heavily-sanitized writing style. in most episodes of the show to have an argument between characters, it usually ends with all parties apologizing to each other and making up— but that doesn’t happen here, so it just comes across as almost 6 minutes of ten cents being browbeaten into apologizing for an honest mistake and none of the other characters apologizing for how they treated him. even captain star seems to be on sunshine’s side— when sunshine tells her that ten cents ruined the surprise, she sounds pretty stern when she asks ten cents if he apologized.

anyway, salty’s lighthouse!ten cents did nothing wrong in this episode and that’s a comically-small hill i’m willing to die on. i wouldn’t necessarily call this a worse episode than the one where zorran raps, the whole episode of vegetable puns, or the one where zorran sings the abcs while stuck on a rock, but i think this episode is an uncomfortable watch in a very different way than most episodes of salty’s lighthouse and that’s why it morbidly fascinates me.

[tdvotes]

Ranking the Votes, s5a

Welcome back to... Total! Drama! Ranking... the Votes! Today we will go through all of the votes in the season that had by far the most missed potential: Total Drama All-Stars! In this season, like the other worst seasons in my opinion, the votes were usually pretty obvious. As with all other seasons, 11 will be the easiest to figure out and 1 will be the most difficult.

There were 11 votes this season:

Heroes vs Villains: Lindsay

Evil Dread: Lightning

Saving Private Leechball: Jo

Food Fright: Sam

Moon Madness: Cameron

No One Eggspects the Spanish Opposition: Heather

Suckers Punched: Sierra

You Regatta Be Kidding Me: Cameron

The Obsta-Kill Course: Alejandro

Sundae Muddy Sundae: Courtney

The Bold and the Booty-ful: Scott

Now, let's get to it!

11. No One Eggspects the Spanish Opposition. Chris told Heather "The only vote that wasn't for Alejandro was for you, you, yoooou!" That means it was 1 vote for Heather, 5 for Alejandro

10. The Bold and the Booty-ful. Zoey came in first and got to choose her finale opponent from between Mal and Scott. 1 vote for Scott

9. The Obsta-Kill Course. "This was the fastest voting process in Total Drama history" was obviously a lie; just watch Grand Chef Auto or The Enchanted Franken-Forest. But I get the feeling Chris's next two statements were accurate: "The votes are unanimous -- except for one particularly artistic entry," and "But, everyone else wants Alejandro to surf the porcelain wave machine." That means it was 5 votes for Alejandro, 1 for Mal

8. Moon Madness. Cameron volunteered for the Flush of Shame to get away from Sierra. 1 vote for Cameron

7. Evil Dread. Jo says in the next episode that "We ALL voted him off." We can't confirm that because it was only Jo speaking and she probably assumed her tactics worked. But assuming she's right, the vote was 6 votes for Lightning, 1 for Jo

Now before this point, we were flat out told who voted for who. After this, there's some speculation and detective work involved.

6. Food Fright. After Sam was found to have pancake in his pockets, I would assume the other heroes were none too pleased with him. Cam probably voted Sierra because at this point she had gone from friendly to creepy with him. I'm going with 4 votes for Sam, 2 for Sierra

5. Saving Private Leechball. We can safely assume that Heather and Jo voted for each other. I'm going to say Scott also voted for Jo for getting him eliminated. That leaves us with 3 votes. Heather didn't really do that much in the challenge, but Jo was the LVP (for taking out Scott) and MVP (for being the last one standing) for her team. However, I think taking out her teammate was enough to make all the other villains hate her guts, so I'm going to say at least Alejandro and Duncan voted for Jo. Gwen may have voted for Heather due to their rivalry, but after reading the comment on my last post, I'm going to say she voted Jo as well. That makes it 5 votes for Jo, 1 for Heather

4. Heroes vs Villains. We know Courtney and Lindsay both voted Lindsay. I'm going to say Sierra probably voted Courtney because she was kind of snappy when she got out of the carriage. As for Sam, Zoey, Mike and Cameron, they probably all voted for Lindsay because she actually didn't want to stay. So I'm giving it 6 votes for Lindsay, 1 for Courtney

3. Sundae Muddy Sundae. Chris said that the final count this night was 3 votes to 2 in favor (or I guess, the opposite of favor) of Courtney. Gwen told Courtney she would vote for Scott, and she would try to convince Zoey to do the same. But she also said Courtney would have to vote for herself. I see two scenarios here: either Courtney trusts Gwen and votes for herself, and Gwen and Zoey vote for Scott, or Courtney doesn't trust Gwen and neither does Zoey, so Zoey votes for Courtney and Courtney votes for Scott. This is so high because we're not sure which one is true. But either way, we get 3 votes for Courtney, 2 for Scott

2. Suckers Punched. There was no vote in the traditional sense, but the Villains decided (reluctantly, veeeery reluctantly) to eliminate Sierra. Given that it was Gwen and Cameron who gave the verdict, and it was them who were the most fed up with Sierra, I think they were able to convince the rest of the team to eliminate her too on account of her clear signs of insanity. Hard to say whether there was any disagreement there, so I'm just going with 5 votes for Sierra

1. You Regatta Be Kidding Me. Obviously all the votes were for Cameron. This is in no way rigged. Every single person on the island wanted Cameron gone, even Cameron. 7 votes for Cameron

OK, but really: Mal and Scott voted for Cameron. Cameron voted for Scott. Alejandro could have honored his new alliance and voted for Cameron. As for the girls? Given Zoey's friendship with Cameron, maybe she voted for Scott too. And given Gwen and Courtney's friendship, I'm guessing they voted together. But who would they have voted for? Maybe Duncan if he was still in the game, but he wasn't. Maybe Mike if they believed Duncan's warnings about him, but they didn't. Maybe Alejandro if he didn't win immunity, but he did. We can also eliminate Cameron (thanks to Gwen's friendship with him) and Scott (thanks to Courtney's crush on him). By the process of elimination, that leaves Zoey. So I guess that makes it 3 votes for Cameron, 2 for Scott, 2 for Zoey

And that's all for now. Tune in next time for more... Total! Drama! Ranking... the Votes!

[spaghetti-james]

Virtual Sketchbook #3

The painting "Watermelon Regatta," measuring 70 by 96 inches and created with oil paint, showcases a vibrant array of colors and shapes. Some colors that this painting portrays are bright red, blue, brownish green, and many other colors that appear to be more dim than the others. The shapes that this painting offers are mostly organic, like the shape of the boats. The artist, known as "The Master of the Fertility of the Egg," was active in northern Italy during the late 1600s to early 1700s, yet their true identity remains a mystery, adding an element of intrigue and speculation to their works. This particular painting captures a whimsical scene of a boat race where watermelons, cantaloupes, and even oversized shoes serve as boats, creating a playful and imaginative atmosphere.

In terms of composition, "Watermelon Regatta" is flawlessly balanced, which a symmetrical arrangement that emphasizes proportion and rhythm. The figures, whether human or animal, are relatively the same size, contributing to the harmonious flow of the painting. Each element, from the colorful clothing to the unique boat designs, adds to the overall rhythm and energy of the scene. The repetition of shapes, such as the watermelons used as boats, creates a sense of unity, while the diverse array of subjects and colors adds variety and visual interest.

The emotional impact of "Watermelon Regatta" is multifaceted. On one hand, it exudes a sense of playfulness and excitement, drawing viewers into the lively boat race depicted on the canvas. The unconventional use of fruits and vegetables as boats adds a humorous and whimsical touch, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in this imaginative world. Additionally, there's a subtle hint of nostalgia that the painting evokes, perhaps stemming from its historical context or the universal themes of joy and competition portrayed.

What makes "Watermelon Regatta" even more captivating is its recent restoration, which has brought the artwork back to its original vibrancy and charm. The mystery surrounding the artist's identity, coupled with the unique nature of the painting and its timeless appeal, contributes to its significance in art history. The visual experience is not only delightful but also a reflection of creativity, cultural celebration, and the timeless appeal of mysterious art.

The "Watermelon Regatta" painting, with its intricate details and depth, provides viewers with a glimpse into a world where imagination is limitless. It exceeds mere representation and becomes a storytelling medium, allowing viewers to engage on multiple levels, highlighting its lasting relevance as a medium for expression, reflection, and connection across generations.

Attached to this post I have added in 4 pictures. The first two are proof of me visiting the Ringling Museum, the second two (from left to right) are of the Watermelon Regatta, before and after its restoration.

[irlwakko]

I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL I just have seen you reblog like. one or two malejandro things ever and was curious

my opinions on malejandro involve screaming and crying and wishing tdas was a better season and wishing mal was more well-written and wishing he got an actual good conclusion to his character and and and (actual thoughts under the cut because I don't know how long it's gonna get)

first of all the "the content is horrendous" thing is SO fucking valid. the ao3 tag for them is a cesspool i'm not even gonna touch. tumblr fanart is better but the tag is so barren,,,, one time i malejandro'd so hard that i scrolled all the way back to 2013 LIVEBLOGS OF TDAS

also as for one of them being from a post-roti season. Yeah. yeah that's also fair. as the mal enjoyer of all time I have to begrudgingly put up with tdas though unfortunately. honestly nowadays most of my tdas experience is picking out the parts I like and throwing out the rest, which is USUALLY a really bad way to interact with media but like. come on. it's tdas

ALL THAT SAID. honestly me shipping malejandro started out as a joke. I was rewatching You Regatta and made a joke to my friend about how flustered Mal sounds being like "hey Alejandro so uhhhh I was wondering uhhhh haha if maybe you wouuuuuld join an alliance. with me. or something. hehehe 👉👈". and then I rewatched Obsta-Kill and heard the "that handsome jerk" line and was like :0

so it started out as like. Mal finds Alejandro attractive and he's mad about it and can't handle his feelings like a normal person. basically this

anyway. then as ends up happening with most joke ships, it quickly became Not a Joke

something really fun about them is that they basically have almost no canon dynamic (because mal's barely even a more-than-one-dimensional character in canon. he is but just barely) so I get to speculate what could've happened between them if tdas was a better season if they'd interacted more

first of all i mean I like what they have going in canon already. as little as it is. it seems like Mal has SOME level of... begrudging 'respect' for Alejandro. calling Alejandro "the most manipulative player in Total Drama history" (which btw. implies Mal watched TDWT, possibly while in juvie, which is just. a lot of funny possibilities on its own) almost sounds like a COMPLIMENT when it's coming from another manipulator. plus he doesn't just disregard Alejandro like he does everyone else, he sees him as a really genuine threat. which requires some level of respect for how he plays the game, at least. (all this is setting aside "that handsome jerk" i'm purely talking about how they act). and Alejandro has a level of respect for Mal too, saying he's impressed by his persuasion skills, the comment of "unexpected, just the way I like to play" (granted he said this before he knew Mal was Mal). also this is a good place to mention I just really like the line "hola, strange one"

if Mal hadn't been a dumbass (#justmalthings) and tampered with the votes and tried to frame Alejandro for it, I could've honestly seen them becoming an engaging dynamic to follow (if Alejandro had lasted longer, or if the seasons were longer, oh how I wish). like come on. an alliance of two people who both know EXACTLY how manipulative the other one is, and maybe the two of them can't even stand each other but they know that the other one is better "on their side", even temporarily and shakily, than as their enemy? oh I love that

so they'd be fun to watch just as allies (or """allies""" with them both trying to backstab the other, I'd take that too), and also they'd be fun to see become friends/interact platonically, but for some reason i like them romantically too because. I don't know. this part is harder to put into words

first let me start by saying for them to ever be like. a serious healthy couple, there would need to be. So much therapy given to Both of them. (honestly I feel like between the two of them, Mal would probably end up in therapy first-- even if it's just because the system dragged him there-- whereas Alejandro would stubbornly insist he was fine and that his family and the events of the show didn't affect him. but sometimes he'll say something incredibly messed up that happened in just. casual conversation as if it's a normal thing and Mal will be like "dude. therapy.") I feel like they'd both have the nothing-happened-it-wasn't-that-bad-I'm-fine response to trauma (both from the show and from before the show) and like. Could see that it was bullshit and a front when the OTHER person was doing it, but couldn't see it in themselves. I could see them meeting up one day after the show was done to "settle their differences" and it ending in like... a late-night, tell-all conversation about their lives. somehow I can see this. trust

also just. Mal showing affection in weird, weird ways. I know this can (and should) definitely go for them as a platonic pairing too (trust I have SO many platonic Mal and Zoey headcanons along these lines) but just. AGH yeah. I made a post once about Mal finding out about Alejandro's sleeping bag thing and thinking "huh. well that's kind of weird but I don't want him to feel bad about it" so the next time he sleeps over he just brings his own sleeping bag. and they lay together, in the bed, in the individual sleeping bags, and in Mal's mind this is the kindest thing he's ever done for anyone. I read another REALLY good fic where Mal hadn't been seeing Alejandro much and wanted a day with him to himself, but instead of like. Saying this like a healthy normal person, he intentionally covered Alejandro in these black lipstick kiss marks that wouldn't wash off so that Alejandro would stay in the next day. The Sillies!!!! it's so fun

And just the contrast between them too... Alejandro is Alejandro and Mal is MAL. enough said. like Alejandro would be really flirtatious and affectionate and at times sappy, even, and Mal would just. Roll his eyes (secretly he loves it, deep deep down, but even the CIA couldn't get that secret out of him). basically any time Alejandro opens his mouth Mal's like this

ughhhhh I feel like I should write so much more (I say at the end of this absurdly long post) but I can't totally explain why I like them so much. basically they're funny to imagine interacting more than they did, as a couple or not, but also like. they can be so so much more than that. it can be so so deep. if you Believe

i need all the malejandro opinions GO

Ok im gonna dissapoint you so hard because i don't have much of an opinion on them??? lowkey i'd be interested in ur opinion on malejandro cause like,, i don't have that great of a grasp on their dynamic and u seem to like em alot

i mean, evil gays for the win ofc but sadly malejandro suffers from both the "half the content for them is fucking horrendous" curse and the "one of them comes from a post ROTI season" curse big time

they could be fun as a ship but with the way i see them in my head it's just alejandro and his insanely unhinged friend who's also crazy weird and expresses his affection in an equally strange way

i like em, wish they got better content man

[spacecleavage]

what a green eyed monster

so this all someone's fault! you know who you are!!

this will probably my only fic for the next fews days, i've got a double shift tomorrow and probably a busy on the next, i'll see you all on the other side of the ep! good luck!

rating: t

words: 859

Sidney Parker thought he may actually kill someone. No, not someone. He was going to kill one person only, a person who had basically signed his own death warrant. He glared again at James Stringer as he ducked his head down to talk to Miss Heywood. Anger boiled in his stomach and his hands clenched so violently that they almost felt as if they would break from the strain of it.

Then Charlotte smiled at him, and that anger changed so quickly from boiling to frozen that he almost felt sick... it should be him that she smiled for, not that jumped up foreman. Sidney imagined ripping him away from Charlotte, flinging him into the river before this stupid regatta even began. Then sweeping her off her feet and taking her far away from these strutting buffoons.

Before he could move towards them, a hand fell on his wrist and he was brought back to his own body. Eliza smiled up at him, but he could see the tight corner to it and the way her eyes were cold.

"Don't they look like a cute couple, Sidney?" She spoke so mildly that he nearly missed the gleeful look she sent their way. Sidney made himself look at them again, instead of Eliza's desired effect of making him leave them alone it just spurned him on all the more.

He stalked towards them, devoid of all reason, knowing only that if he didn't take Miss Heywood away from the wretched man he may have actually carried through with his plans of murder. 

The rage was so great that he could feel himself shaking with it. It shouldn't have shocked him that she was smiling and talking with Mister Stringer, he could recall their gentle teasing at the cricket match. He had thought things had changed between himself and Charlotte, after their trip to London and of course their dance. But then, he had that with his other guests, particularly Eliza, his time had been in such short supply, and he had not been able to speak properly with her again.

How he had longed to! But only, Tom needed his help with one thing or another and he found himself having to entertain his guests, lest he lose his own investment. There never seemed to be time to more than merely nod at Charlotte before beginning another action packed day. But surely, she knew of his affection for her, he'd been as obvious as he could be; flirting with her at the masked ball, even dancing with her (properly this time, unlike when Georgiana had interrupted halfway through), and of course their boat ride together.

As he got closer, he could hear what they were actually saying to one another, or rather what young Mister Stringer was saying.

"I know that we have only known each other a short time, but in my experience, that can be enough for a heart to know what it truly wants. And I want you Miss Heywood, most ardently." Young Stringer's accent was thick, no doubt, and only became thicker as he spoke those words. And Sidney was on the wrong side of them to see either of their reactions, but the anger rose even further in him and threatened to burst at the seams.

So, he didn't see the emotions play across Charlotte's face as she comprehended what James Stringer was saying. He couldn't see the soft smile that Charlotte gave Stringer, or the way that his face fell as he realised what the smile meant. He definitely didn't hear the gentle words that Charlotte spoke over the blood rushing through his ears.

When he was a scant two yards from the couple, Young Stringer turned towards him. Sidney, usually the sharp young man who noticed everything, almost didn't see the tears brimming in his eyes, or the reproachful glance that he gave him as he went to join his teammates.

All the emotion that had been tormenting Sidney since he had seen them together, the jealousy, the unbridled anger, and the despair he felt clench his soul when he had seen her smile, that beautiful smile, almost burst out of him in a fit of temper. But he caught himself

There was no trace of her smile now, only an expression he couldn't quite read.

"Mister Parker?" Her voice held a quiver he did not even know it could contain.

"I…"

Before he could stop himself, he lent towards her and did what he should have done at the ball. He kissed her.

He knew his jealousy had overcome him entirely, but that didn't stop him. No, he craned his head down and claimed her lips.

It was strange to describe how his imagination had captured exactly how it felt to kiss Charlotte. But it was not all that it could be, she stood as stiff as a board before him. Not moving at all, as he lifted his hands to grasp her own.

He pulled back, opened his mouth to speak, only to feel the sting of a slap across his face and see the back of her marching away from.

[cordonian-literature]

Forever Mine

chapter three 

❦ summary — The time for Princess Riley to step into her role as queen fast approaches and finding the future king is Cordonia’s top priority. Commander Liam is aware of that, and has plans to make sure the princess ends up with someone suitable.

➺ chapter warnings: none

❦ catch up here!

➺ word count: (+/-) 2081

*all characters belong to Pixelberry, except those unique to my story*

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

The waves crashing and the fresh breeze brings life into Commander Liam’s step, who walks towards the beach with the King to his left. Constantine continues talking about his favorite parts of the Regatta, though Liam doesn’t care much to listen.

The Commander had been cooped up in his office for the past three days straight. He fell asleep and woke up in the same position in his chair, and whenever the King needed to speak with him, Constantine simply marched into the room himself.

He hadn’t seen a single glimpse of the princess since the picnic. Even now, Liam still hadn’t spotted her. He understood that she needed to give her attention to her suitors, but he became increasingly confused as to why he hadn’t put himself up to be one as well.

No matter how much he wanted to fling himself in front of Riley and be at her mercy, he knew it was no use: it was too late for him to become a suitor. And, more importantly, it wasn’t smart for Liam to put himself in such a vulnerable position.

Constantine’s words fall on Liam’s deaf ears, but the King goes on and on, not noticing that the Commander wasn’t paying attention. Only when Constantine walks away to announce the beginning of the races does Liam focus on him. As Constantine makes a few strides towards the front of the crowd, Riley appears next to him.

While Constantine speaks about the war and loyalty and Riley, the Princess’s eyes reach the Commander. Once Liam smiles at her, she pushes her shoulders further back, and her smile widens.

Months ago, after Leo had abdicated and Liam tried to teach Riley what he could, the princess had been reluctant to accept the role. She had even approached Liam with a request to tell her father to not announce Leo’s abdication. She wanted to draw it out, maybe wait until Leo had heirs that could take the throne and the crown could skip over the pair of siblings.

Her anxiety had overtaken her. Liam had been the one to witness the worst of it: the labored breathing and heavy tears and incomprehensible phrases. She had cried and asked him to leave her room, and though he had wanted to embrace her, he walked away.

But the next day, Liam urged her to continue her lessons. When she refused, he asked her what she was afraid of. He put it in his mind that whatever words she would utter he would make disappear from this world.

With her hands shaking, Riley had explained to him that ever since she was a child she had done absolutely nothing in the public light. During any event, Riley would only be allowed to stay long enough for the press to take pictures and for her to smile at important persons before she was led back to her room in the palace.

Liam knows her words are true, and from the bottom of his heart, he pities her. The poor girl had never expected to have so much responsibility on her shoulders. She had most likely come to terms with the fact that she would never have any political significance and was just meant to be a pretty pawn at a man’s side.

That day, which had been months ago, he had gently urged her to stand and told her that the people loved her and that there was nothing she could do wrong to upset them.

Most of the things he had told her were lies, but they had quelled her anxiety thoroughly. With every concern she had, Liam had a better plan as to how she would rise above it.

Now, while she stands next to her father as Neville’s, Rashad’s, and Prince Alexander’s boats launch themselves into the race, Liam’s heart swells as Riley begins to walk towards him.

Her angelic voice rings out, “I haven’t seen you in days! I’ve missed y—”

“RileyRileyRiley!” Maxwell cries, running up to the pair.

“Maxwell, what—”

“I’m really hungry right now and I’m smelling something fantastic from Zeke’s boat,” he says. “Please come investigate with me?”

“No!” she cries.

“Please?” Maxwell asks again before Riley can continue her sentence.

“It would be better for the two of you to join Lord Michael’s party on his boat,” Liam advises, though internally he hopes Maxwell will run off so he can get another moment alone with Riley.

“But—” Maxwell whines.

“Go see what Lord Michael is serving his guests, and I’ll try and figure out what Zeke has on his boat,” Riley proposes.

“Oh, and we can ask for samples!” Maxwell cries. “But remember, Riley, don’t be shy just take the whole tray. Say you’re about to pass out from hunger or something. They won’t risk the princess’s health!”

“Perfect, Lord Maxwell,” Liam pats Maxwell’s shoulder a bit harder than he meant to. “Now go along, the princess will catch up.”

Focused on food, Maxwell runs off, leaving Riley and Liam alone.

Riley’s giggle fills the air around Liam. He tries to come up with a joke to prolong her laughing, but before he can say anything she speaks.

“I should go talk to the press with my father.”

Liam nods. “Yes, that would be a good idea.”

“What should I say if they ask me about the war? Or about Prince Alexander?”

“Say that Cordonia’s generosity is greater than her selfishness, as the Regatta symbolizes. We didn’t choose conflict, we were forced into it.”

“Okay, that...” she pauses and frowns, causing an adorable wrinkle to appear on her forehead, “that makes sense. And what about Alex?”

“Prince Alexander,” Liam reminds her. He didn’t mean to be forceful, but her shoulders jerk up.

“Sorry, sorry! I just...”

“No worries,” he comforts her. Liam maintains a stoic expression, but his insides boil as he wonders how many affectionate nicknames she’s given people. Did Riley have a nickname for Liam?

“I...” Riley stutters again.

“Deep breaths,” he tells her, noticing her face becoming pale. She obeys his command, and once she’s calm again he continues. “Tell them that you and the prince are still getting to know each other. It’s true, and doesn’t make it seem as if you favor him.”

“Alright.” She nods at him confidently, looking towards the reporters still talking to her father. Liam thinks she’s about to walk off, but her eyes meet his again.

“I... will be in the library later tonight,” she states. “If it’s not too much to ask, will you meet me there? Shortly after midnight.”

“Why so late?” Liam asks, his curiosity peaked.

“I don’t want anyone to speculate, you see.”

Liam is partly glad at her responsible outlook, but is intrigued at the fact that she thinks people might believe she holds affections towards him. Is she truly just worried about how people would view her, or was she trying to hide her feelings as well? Was this her way of voicing her feelings?

Before the silence becomes frighteningly long, Liam pulls himself out of his thoughts. He reminds himself that this is her social season. It’s too late for anything to happen between them.

“Of course,” he tells her, lifting her soft hands to his lips, stopping himself from kissing her wrist.

“Wonderful,” she says, a slight blush appearing on her face as she walks away.

... 

After the three suitors and their boats returned to the harbor and Lord Neville’s victory was announced, the short man made a beeline towards Riley, allowing her to compliment him.

From the sidelines, Liam wondered where this man’s confidence came from, and more importantly, how to get rid of it. He watched as Neville brought Riley into his boat for the party and kept her at his side while speaking to other nobles. Riley never made a move that showed she wanted to walk away from him, but the one time her eyes met the Commander’s, Liam understood what he had to do.

He didn’t stay for the beach party, even though Lord Maxwell lightly urged him to. Instead, Liam went back to the palace and straight into his office, where his right-hand-woman was waiting for him.

Zoe Zacharias, a talented and highly intelligent soldier that Liam had trained with. She was not prepared for the role of Commander as her strategic skill wasn’t as sharp as Liam’s, which is why she was not chosen by the King. But once she began working under the new Commander, Liam saw her improve and knew that she would be a perfect successor to him, God forbid his death were to come earlier than expected.

What was even better was the fact that she listened and went through with every one of Liam’s commands without question or hesitation.

“Commander!” Zoe salutes as Liam walks into the office.

Without batting an eyelash, Liam tells her to look into Neville’s background and history.

Zoe nods, a slight smirk on her face. “Need to find a weak point, sir?”

Liam grins. She caught on quickly. “Before midnight, if you can.”

“Yes, sir.”

Liam leaves to prepare for dinner, keeping his meeting with Riley at the back of his mind at all times.

At the dinner table, when he notices Neville sitting next to Riley and comfortably talking to her, Liam averts his gaze and hopes that Zoe has found something.

Thankfully, only an hour before midnight, Zoe enters Liam’s office with a report. Reading over it, the Commander’s shoulders relax. Leaning back in his chair he takes out a pen and a piece of paper to start writing a letter.

…

“Highness?” Liam’s voice echos along with the sound of his boots, reaching Riley. She lay on a pile of blankets in front of the fire, a small basket of food next to her.

“I thought we agreed that you would not call me that anymore.” She pats the space next to her, and that’s all it takes to summon Liam to her side.

He sits on the blankets with her, allowing his fingers to brush against her ankles and over the thin material of her dress. Liam glances up, seeing that Riley’s face was impassive. He allows himself to smile at the seemingly empty way she gazes at him, knowing what type of game she is playing.

Liam notices assortments of bread in the basket. “Will some bread lighten your mood, princess?”

Ripping a piece of bread from the loaf, Liam holds it out to her for half a second. When she doesn’t move to take the piece, he gently presses the soft bread against her lips, and her face becomes softer.

The glow of the fire lets the tiredness in her eyes shine through; Liam saw every uncomfortable emotion in her changed expression, and brought his forehead closer to her’s.

She was overwhelmed, he knew. She couldn’t muster the energy needed for these events. Liam’s pity for her runs deeper. Just an hour ago he had read an article written by the same reporters who had asked the King and Princess questions during the Regatta. They criticised the way she executed her answers and made false assumptions about her personality that made Liam’s heart ache.

The social season had so far only brought Riley pain, and Liam’s anger at the King increases. The old man was foolish, selfish. What was the use of protecting his daughter from a world he would later push her into?

Liam burrows his head against the crook of Riley’s neck, his heart calm when she asks if they can stay that way for a while.

But after a few seconds, Liam moves away from her. “It’s late, princess.”

She sighs and stands. “You’re right.”

Liam collects the basket and the blankets, putting them to the side where the servants could take it away. He takes her hand and softly kisses her knuckles, hoping to prolong the moment of quiet peace. But Riley takes her hand out of his grasp and gently rests it on Liam’s shoulder, then leaning forward to land a soft kiss on his cheek.

Liam’s expression doesn’t falter, but he waits for her face to come into view. He wants to view her kind eyes and loving expression before the stressful night ahead. But Riley turns her head quickly and leaves the room.

Minutes later, Liam leaves, too. As he makes his way back to his office, he hopes that Zoe has already delivered the letter.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

a/n: i know this is probably crap, and i know i havent updated in more than a month and im crazy sorry for that - life stuff got in the way and i wasn’t doing so well mentally either. but!! my mojo for writing is back!!! hopefully it stays lol

also, i understand my lack of updates was probably annoying, so please let me know if you want to be added/removed from the tags!! no hard feelings!

@twinkleallnight​ @gkittylove99​ @sweatyrysconnoisseur​ @kingliam2019​ @marshmallowsaremyfavorite​ @queenrileyrose​ @royalromancer​ @princess-geek​ @mom2000aggie​ @zoehanji​ @claireloutoo​

[officalroyalsofpierreland]

HIH Princess Minerva attends Charity Regatta in the Isles of Paradisio: Is she dating HRH Crown Prince Alexios of Greecesim?

HIH Princess Minerva attended a charity regatta in the Isles of Paradisio today. The main race was against students from the University of Paradisio, which sailed for the Paradisian Conservation Society, and a team from the University of Athenos, which sailed for Watch's Children, a Greeksim charity focusing on Pre-K education for underserved areas and included HRH Crown Prince Alexios of Greecesim as a teammate.

Prior to the start of the race, Royal watchers saw Her Imperial Highness in the company of the Crown Prince, with some saying the two were looking pretty cozy and comfortable in each others company, with Her Imperial Highness looking quite happy. Many were also shocked to see her not wearing The Heart of the Crown, an heirloom given to her by HRH Crown Prince Nicholas of Lunaria (@simsroyallegacy) which has been seen around the neck of our Princess for months. This is leading to speculation that Princess Minerva is fully moving on from the heartbreak with some sources saying that "[she] is still utterly crushed from the heartbreak, she really saw a future with [HRH Crown Prince Nicholas], but she realizes that she does need to get on working with her charities and helping repair Lunarian and Pierreland relations."

HIH awarding the trophy to the winning team from the University of Athenos which was captained by rumored boyfriend Crown Prince Alexios.

While the race was nail biting, the University of Athenos came out on top and both charities recieved over a million simoleons each, with HIH awarding a million simoleons to the Paradisian Conservation Society.

[renaldiroyals]

The Duke of Berkhamstead Competes in the Royal Regatta

HRH Crown Princess Charlene and the Duke of Berkhamstead were among the first to arrive early at the Marina before the day’s activities and were pictured sharing several personal moments.

The Crown Princess who is known for breaking the rules opted out of the formal day wear and chose to match the Duke in a sailor dress and wedges for the entire day.

Lately the couple’s insistence for privacy has led to some speculation on the state of their relationship and future wedding but their multiple appearances at the docks and around town have reassured fans that all is well.

As for the races, this year the proceeds from both the men’s and women’s races will be evenly divided between the Royal Marine Association (An organisation close to the Duke’s heart and Reach Out and Read (A charity which helps children from disadvantaged communities with educational resources)

Beginning || Previous || Next

[the-empress-7]

Thank you for speaking up about the eating disorder accusations. This is one part of royal watching that is painful for me. I did struggle with an eating disorder for about two years. The accusations didn’t help me then and they really infuriate me now as I am healthy physically and mentally. Yes, I workout, I eat a balanced diet, and I prefer to be on the low end of the healthy weight range. No, that doesn’t make me sick. Thin does not equal sick. As for Kate, she looks amazing! And she 1/2

2/2 has resources I envy! I’m not sure she has a chef and a personal trainer but I’m thinking she does and I would love to have that help. Actually a nanny would be great for working out, too! Anyway, the regatta was a glaring example of her physical health and muscle tone. It is obvious she and William are both fit. I will say it one more time. Thin is not sick. And “too thin” is something to be determined by science and medical professionals, not spectators.

-------

Dear Anon, let me begin by saying that I am so glad that you are in good health. I apologize if my posts were triggering in any way. There are so many diseases that are invisible to the eye. We wouldn't go around claiming someone has cancer, then why speculate on something as serious as anorexia or any ED for that matter. Kate’s health is between her and her GP.

You are right, thin does not equal sick. Now swap out the word thin for fat. People go around judging Kate for being a little too thin. The very same people would be outraged if I said Meghan (or any woman) is a little too fat. A little empathy would go a long way in royal watching. 

[hollygoeslightly]

Hi Holly! I wonder. What do you make of Sidney's words in the finale: "I have to fulfill my side of the bargain"? Those exact words.. Seem odd to me. Almost like he and Eliza made a deal, and that he was not lying to her about his feelings? I mean, he must've said something to her after the regatta, to make her leave for London. I doubt that he didn't reject her advances. And she knows that Charlotte is her rival in his affections. So, what did he tell her that made her accept his deal/proposal?

Hi!

I’m so happy you sent me this question, because the word choice during this scene is something I’ve been meaning to talk about for awhile.

First of all, just so we’re all on the same page, here is the dialogue from Sidney and Charlotte’s goodbye scene at the end of 1x08:

Sidney – “I don’t love her, you know.”

Charlotte – “You must not speak like that. She loves you and you’ve agreed to marry her. You must try to make her happy.”

Sidney – “Yes. Yes, you’re right. I have to fulfil my side of the bargain.”

Which, you’re right, “I have to fulfil my side of the bargain,” is an odd word choice – especially when describing an engagement.

Unfortunately, both this moment and the obvious tension between Sidney and Eliza at Lord Babington and Esther’s wedding is all we have to go on when it comes to how exactly the engagement between the two came about. So with that in mind, all I can offer you is my best guess as to what all this means.

Judging from Sidney’s heartbroken expression when he broke the news to Charlotte that he was now engaged to Eliza, I imagine that Sidney exhausted every possible avenue in trying to secure funding for the Sanditon rebuild before he approached Eliza. So while Sidney approached Eliza in desperation, I doubt that the exchange of marriage for money came from him – or if it did, it wasn’t until Sidney realised that Eliza would not help until she received more than a return on her investment in Sanditon.

I’ve speculated before that Eliza may believe herself in love with Sidney, but regardless of whether she loves him or not, she does want what he represents and is happy to overlook his previous rejection and feelings for Charlotte. With Sidney as her husband, Eliza would not only have wealth and a high social position, but also a young, handsome husband who was so broken by her decision to marry another man that he physically fled the country (“I’ve never seen the point of entering as races unless you win it.”) Simply put, Sidney is the perfect accessory for a woman who values her position in society as highly as Eliza appears to (her decision to marry for money over love for example).

Eliza is also a smart and calculating woman, just take her shameless rewrite of her history with Sidney (“I’ve waited 10 years. What’s another quarter of an hour?”). So I imagine when Sidney came to her asking for help in keeping Tom from the debtors’ prison, she saw an opportunity to have everything she ever wanted and she took it. I don’t believe she’s under any illusion that Sidney is still in love with her, however whether she imagines he may fall in love with her again, I’m not sure. Regardless of who was first mentioned the exchange of marriage for money, I have no doubt that Sidney and Eliza are well aware of where they stand with each other and that for Sidney, his marriage to Eliza will be one of convenience.

As to what Sidney’s said to Eliza after the regatta, I think most likely told her as kindly as he could that he was no longer in love with her and that they could not resume their relationship. I don’t believe he would have mentioned his feelings for Charlotte. Firstly, it would have been unnecessarily hurtful and secondly, I don’t believe Sidney would ever intentionally do anything that would risk Charlotte’s reputation, especially when at the time of the conversation no feelings had been declared.

As I said above, this is simply my best guess and it’s more than possible that come S2 (if and/or when that happens), Eliza will be revealed to have had a genuine reason for breaking her engagement for money and she sees this as her second chance at happiness. However, at the moment, I don’t think that is the story the show is trying to tell us.

Thanks for the question!

[mimicofmodes]

Sanditon, episode 7 part ii

I have had a moment to recover.

If I may speculate on symbolism here, I feel like Charlotte and Mary Parker both being in blue spencers with white-grounded gowns in this scene ties Charlotte in as a Parker “wife”, if only -to-be.

Georgiana is feeling REAL BAD, and it’s only made worse by the fact that she has to listen to preacher man read scripture at her. Fortunately, Arthur comes to rescue her, very awkwardly! She puts up her hair and gets dressed in the dark plum pelisse she has only worn, I think, in that first escape attempt that led to her almost jumping off a cliff. Not a good sign of her mental state!

Charlotte goes rowing with Sidney so he can practice, and they have a veiled conversation about marriage. He gives her the oars and helps her row, which is ... okay, it’s kind of nice, if we hadn’t broken Stringer’s heart I wouldn’t be loving this. As they’re silently and companionably sitting together, Eliza and co. come by, and it seems clear to her that his heart is elsewhere.

Esther click-clacks down a room in some anachronistically heeled shoes. Very soft flats were the order of the day in the Regency. As she reaches the piano where Clara once taunted her about Edward, the man himself bursts in, trying to turn the situation to his benefit. She breaks up with him, very understandably.

Meddlesome Susan provokes Eliza and Sidney to talk about marriage, then interrogates everything Eliza says to try to get her to admit that she sees Charlotte as a rival. Charlotte’s done with this and leaves - a victory for Eliza, until Sidney comes after her. But Sidney can’t just say he likes her, so she pushes him away (emotionally) and storms off from him as well.

This is clearly going to be an emotional race: Stringer has realized that Sidney is his rival and wants to beat him; a drunken Edward tells Babington that he’s welcome to his sister, as she’s dead to him.

Yes, this definitely feels intentional.

Charlotte wishes Stringer luck as Mary wishes it to her husband, and he’s confused. I’m confused! Is there still hope??

I feel like ... maybe Crowe and Babington ... aren’t going to show well ... and indeed, once the fourth team in the race (the only one made up of randos) starts gaining on them, Crowe steers them all directly into the bank. This leaves Stringer vs Sidney.

And Stringer’s team wins, adorably! Take that, upper classes!

Susan basically promises to get the Prince of Wales to Sanditon, which of course pleases the Parkers. As she leaves, Tom tells Mary that the regatta was both of theirs and apologizes for keeping stuff from her, which is sweet. But he should really have put his waistcoat and coat back on, it’s very very bad to be out in the street half-dressed, even for a man.

Edward and Clara meet for the last(?) time, Clara in her red Gothic gown, which now certainly seems symbolic of, you know, her scarletness. She’s definitely handling this a lot better than his drunken ass, pointing out that she’s always had nothing but that this new life is going to be hard for him. I really want to know what she’s going to do next.

Interestingly, Esther is also in red - a red gown and that spencer. Babington bursts in and starts saying that he understands her because obviously Edward has given her poor self-esteem, which I can’t tell if the narrative is endorsing because it seems pretty wrong to me. (She has always had an equal share of power in their relationship onscreen, and while he’s been a jerk from time to time about how she won’t get married, there was nothing to suggest that he’s been training her to hate herself.) She collapses into tears, which implies that the narrative does endorse this interpretation.

A tense meeting between Charlotte and Sidney in the Parker home by romantic candlelight. 1) Eliza’s gone back to London, 2) Sidney’s not going with her, 3) he’s his best self when he’s with Charlotte. “That’s all,” and he walks away. Credits!

[chookity-dookity]

Thoughts on “The Toro Regatta”

I love how Gary’s immediate first reaction upon seeing HUE’s new robot body is HUG ME RIGHT NOW. What a wonderfully sweet relationship.

And honestly, all of the reunions in this episode were really nice. “My little Spider-Cat” is the clear standout, but the Gary/Mooncake reunion and Nightfall’s cheeky “you finished causing trouble?” were also excellent moments. And just in general, this episode hit a lot of good emotional beats.

I’ve seen a lot of people saying that Olan’s voice acting is better this season, but tbh I think it’s mostly that the sound editing is better. Everything just sounds... softer? nicer? I don’t know how to describe it, I’m not a filmmaker. But I think everyone sounds a lot better this season, not just Gary.

Plotwise this episode was solidly mediocre, probably the weakest of the entire show. Lots of things just sort of... happened, with no real reason or buildup. It felt like they had a checklist of plot points to get through, and they dutifully checked them all off, with minimal sense of continuity or flow between them. But I guess that was a necessary sacrifice in order to quickly establish the overarching plot.

I wonder how in the world they’re supposed to track down all these dimensional keys, seeing as Bolo didn’t give them much help. Perhaps Nightfall knows something? As for the keys themselves, that second one is looking pretty snakelike, so I’m guessing that it’s the one that was mentioned in the Chapter 13 episode description and is somehow related to Ash’s home planet. Key number four looks like it might be connected to that spider creature that appeared in the promo clip on twitter a few days ago.

On a related note, Nightfall mentions the name “Invictus”, who I’m guessing is the owner of the creepy voice later in the episode. (And who does indeed seem to be voiced by Vanessa Marshall!) Is this one of the Titans? It/she seems to be the one pulling LC’s strings, though to what end is still unclear.

Drop-driving is also interesting, although I’m not sure I understand the purpose of it. Is “dimensional space” akin to Inner Space or Final Space? Or is it something that exists between them?

Other speculation: I’m not expecting any mid-season major character deaths this time around. If you were paying attention to the actor credits last season (as indeed I was not), then you may have noticed that Steven Yeun was included among the “starring” cast while Coty Galloway was listed in the second tier of actor credits, which kind of spoiled Avocato’s status as Decoy Deuteragonist. But this time around the entire crew (Fred Armisen, Ashly Burch, Ron Funches, Tom Kenny, Jane Lynch, Conan O’Brien, Olan Rogers, Tika Sumpter, and Steven Yeun) are all listed as “starring” cast. The only potential exception is Quinn/Nightfall, since Tika voices both characters. Speaking of Quinn...

Is Bolo being genuine here? At the end of S1 I was 98% sure Quinn would be back--not because I had any in-universe reason to think she’d survived, but just because it made narrative sense. But now Bolo offers a second narrative path: what if Quinn actually is dead, and Bolo is just using the false hope of rescue to manipulate Gary?

I’m not sure I believe that, but I definitely think all the ambiguity surrounding Quinn’s fate is intentional. Olan’s never hesitated to confirm that yes, Avocato really is dead, and he likewise spoiled everyone else’s fates almost immediately after the S1 finale. So they’re deliberately holding back information, and I’m guessing that over the next few weeks they’re going to try mislead us one way or the other. For the moment I’m still leaning more towards the “Quinn is alive” side, since dragging this out for multiple episodes just to reveal that she really was dead the entire time seems pointlessly dark in a way that’s off-brand for Final Space. But I’ve been surprised by this show before.

More than anything, I’m curious about how the next 2-3 episodes will play out. The Toro Regatta felt more like a prologue than a full episode, carefully putting our characters and plotlines into place, and I think the next few episodes will give us a clearer idea of what the overall tone of this season is going to be.

[ao3feed-janeausten]

what a green eyed monster

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/356Q52s

by spacecleavage

"Sidney Parker thought he may actually kill someone. No, not someone. He was going to kill one person only, a person who had basically signed his own death warrant. He glared again at James Stringer as he ducked his head down to talk to Miss Heywood. Anger boiled in his stomach and his hands clenched so violently that they almost felt as if they would break from the strain of it.

Then Charlotte smiled at him, and that anger changed so quickly from boiling to frozen that he almost felt sick... it should be him that she smiled for, not that jumped up foreman. Sidney imagined ripping him away from Charlotte, flinging him into the river before this stupid regatta even began. Then sweeping her off her feet and taking her far away from these strutting buffoons."

jealousy at the regatta

Words: 859, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Sanditon (TV 2019), Sanditon - Jane Austen

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Sidney Parker, Charlotte Heywood, James Stringer

Relationships: Charlotte Heywood/Sidney Parker

Additional Tags: Canon, Jealousy, Angst, 1x07 speculation

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/356Q52s

[lizzybeth1986]

Part 1 - His Crown

Read the introduction here

Part 2

Part 3

It is impossible to understand King Liam without understanding Cordonia.

This small (and yes, fictional) European country with its quaint traditions and booming casino scene, forms the core of what Liam is. Liam has been brought up from an early age to consider the needs of this country and put it first no matter what, even before he became king. So to understand why Liam acts the way he does most of the time, we need to first discuss the country he is now ruling.

From snippets of dialogue in both RoE and TRR, we know Cordonia to be a monarchy that operates its moves with the consent and approval of a Council, has a booming casino scene that hosts celebrities from all over the world and can boast of having the Cordonian Ruby apple as a national export. It has been known as being a largely peaceful region that keeps healthy ties with its neighbours (for example, the Royal Regatta race is upheld as an example of Cordonia's generous spirit and willingness to reach out to other countries with help, and Liam tells us in the same sentence that Cordonia has not seen a war for several hundred years now). It has a rich and glorious history, subtly hinting at the exploits of Queen Kenna Rys of Stormholt, who united the Five Kingdoms.

All in all, Cordonia seems like a largely traditional, but thriving, country that seems to be doing well for itself. However, but is that really what the ground reality looks like?

At least three Cordonians (Liam, Constantine and Olivia) tell us, over the course of the story how bad things really are. Each of them refer to instability and in-fighting within the country, which winds up lowering public morale.

Liam explains this further at the Masquerade Ball:

So how did Cordonia reach this level of instability? Given the timing of the MC's arrival to Cordonia, one could speculate that Leo's abdication had a lot to do with it, and this guess can be easily confirmed in Book 3 of RoE:

We're never told exactly in what way Leo's abdication has affected the economy, but we can guess. The rulers are, for the most part, meant to set an example for their people and be their guide in times of crisis, which is why the royal family favours stoicism so much. In contrast, Leo lives life dangerously, follows his gut, lives for adventure AND manages to break his engagement with the woman picked for him during his social season. This decision will not just affect the family but the nation, as Madeleine points out to the RoE MC in RoE Book 2. Note how her emphasis is not on the King and Queen but on the people.

But is Leo's departure from the kingdom the sole cause of Cordonia's instability? Most likely not, as further revelations in TRR tell us. Cordonia - particularly its royal family - has been facing turmoil for DECADES.

And it doesn't just end with the abandonment of Leo's mother and the death of Liam's. Around this time, or slightly later, we are told that members of the nobility were planning rebellions against King Constantine. At Liam's Coronation Ball, Olivia is told that her parents did not die heroes like she had always assumed, but were planning rebellions against Constantine. Basically, Leo's abdication was the rotten cherry on the crapcake that is Cordonian politics.

Conclusion? Basically, Liam has inherited a royal mess of a kingdom and the pressure is on him to turn things around, to be different from his brother, to give Cordonia the hope that it can rise above its turmoil and regain its old glory again.

But for him to inherit a kingdom, it is essential for him to be married or at the very least engaged by the night he is crowned king. At the Coronation Ball, Madeleine explains to the other suitors why he cannot refuse to marry when he becomes king.

This is where the social season gains importance. While the MC insists that the main reason for this "The Bachelor"-like competiton is the Prince and what *he* wants, the social season setup suggests otherwise. Liam tells us during the Masquerade that it allows for the royal family, the Council and the public to get to know their future Queen and decide if she is equipped to deal with a responsibility this huge, and whether she can fit in and partake in various aspects of Cordonian culture (such as the Regatta Race, the Fox Hunt and the Apple Blossom festival).

Given the importance of marriage for the Cordonian monarchy, can Liam at least have an independent choice in who he wants to marry? Only to an extent. He can only pick a front-runner who has gained approval from all sides. Suitors who have been left behind in the competition are no longer eligible, as proven to us by an exchange between Kiara, Penelope and Madeleine in TRR Chapter 17. Here, Penelope feels sad over not succeeding in the social season and Kiara comforts her - "there's still hope, cherie" - to which Madeleine (who has been through the rigors of a social season once already, and therefore is more aware of the rules) calls them "delusional". This obviously means that if a front-runner of the Prince's choice is taken out of the picture, he cannot choose brides from among those that the Council has already rejected. He HAS to go with whichever front-runner is left.

We also need to take into account the timing of the scandal. It is around the end of the night, immediately after Constantine has passed over his signet ring to Liam. The MC wasn't given documents or photos to blackmail her the way they did Olivia, nor was she given indication that these photos would be spread (because if she had indeed been blackmailed with those, she could easily tell them the truth behind the pictures and get witnesses to support her). It was manufactured in a way that would foster chaos instead, so that the MC would not have the time to even make clear her position. With the ball growing to a close, a scandal causing uproar immediately after, and the rules stipulating that the King HAS to make his (approved-by-Council) choice before the night ended, there was literally no time given either to him or to the MC to calm down and discuss what happened. The aim was to completely tear down the image the MC had so carefully built to fit in with Cordonian society, to the point where it would be detrimental to the King and his people to choose her. The aim was to toss the Court so headlong into chaos that the only way to quell it would be to make the announcement and get it over with. Had Liam not done that, chances are the Cordonian people would find him not very different from his brother, who had already pushed the country into turmoil once.

Chances are, Cordonia would be plunged headlong into political turmoil all over again.

[x-whispers-of-october-x]

The future of ‘Sanditon’: Who holds the purse strings?

The finale of Sanditon’s first season is rife with tragedies, broken promises, departures, and uncertain futures for many of the show’s leading characters.

One of the most unsettling moments, however, involves the fate of Sanditon town itself.

Here guest writer Maddison Rhoa shares some thoughts about its future…

Sanditon is left in shambles after a destructive fire demolishes a portion of the budding town. Against this dreary backdrop, members of the Parker family discuss their dwindling finances and try to formulate a plan to save Sanditon once more.

In an economically pragmatic move, Sidney Parker betrays his promise to Charlotte Heywood in favor of marrying wealthy widow Eliza Campion, whose fortune would be able to salvage the ruins of Sanditon.

The final episode ends on a particularly dour note as Sidney and Charlotte, who clearly have grown to love one another, try desperately to move on not only from Sanditon, but from the memory of each other.

If all that is needed to save Sanditon is funding, then there are several other characters who have it in their power to finance the rebuilding and breathe new life into the troubled seaside resort town.

In this article, we speculate about which characters might reach into their pockets and pull out a miracle to not only save the town in a possible second season, but discourage Sidney from marrying Eliza for her money.

Lady Denham

The wealthy, opinionated, and powerful Lady Denham is, after having funded the development of Sanditon in the past, a natural contender when it comes to the Parkers finding a potential source of capital.

However, she ends the first season upset with Tom Parker and his demonstrated fiscal irresponsibility, and therefore seems a rare contender when it comes to loosening up her purse strings. Still, she sits on a large sum and may yet be convinced by someone (almost certainly not Tom) that investing in the refurbishment of Sanditon will not be in vain.

Could Esther, Babington, or perhaps even Mary Parker or Charlotte convince Lady Denham to invest in the beleaguered seaside town once again?

Georgiana Lambe

Heiress Georgiana Lambe has proven herself to be a true and constant friend not only to Charlotte Heywood, but to youngest Parker brother Arthur, as well.

However, during the first season of Sanditon, Miss Lambe was not of age (hence why Sidney was tasked with her guardianship), and therefore not in control of her own fortune. In a second season, she would realistically gain hold of her accounts and be able to invest her money where she wishes – that is, if she remains an unmarried woman.

With her loyalties tied to her good friends in Sanditon, Miss Lambe’s agency as a potential savior of the town would be unparalleled.

Lord & Lady Babington

The wedding of Esther Denham and Lord Babington at the end of season one solidifies the bond between two strong personalities who, together, would quite easily be able to influence the development of Sanditon.

Esther is not only Lady Denham’s sole remaining heir, but the mistress of the Babington estate. Immensely clever and now with plenty of assets at her disposal, shrewd Esther and her good-hearted husband could become incredibly influential should they choose to frequent Sanditon once more.

With this pair of equals in command, the potential for an act of charity to rebuild the town where they met, courted, and married would likely be well received by all.

Lady Susan

We only get a few short glimpses of Lady Susan in the first season of Sanditon, in which she acts as a wise friend to Charlotte. Otherwise, she seems generally disinterested in Sanditon as a budding seaside town, especially when compared with more populous resort towns such as Brighton.

Lady Susan’s influence is incontrovertible, though, as her arrival in Sanditon naturally brings new guests to the town for the regatta. She likewise hints, before her departure, that she will visit Sanditon again and intends to bring many more influential friends with her next time.

Another favorable visit to Sanditon by Lady Susan and her wealthy associates might just be enough to convince her to invest in the town’s future.

Arthur & Diana Parker

Arthur and Diana are the two unattached Parker siblings, save for their desire to remain the closest of companions as they both age without the comfort and security of spouses.

Diana worries about Arthur becoming engaged to Miss Lambe, but he assures her they are nothing more than friends, and gently squashes the notion that he will ever become romantically involved with a woman.

Still, as two unmarried Parker siblings, prospects for either Arthur or Diana making a fortuitous match – even one based on companionship alone – can’t be ruled out completely. If that were to happen, and a generous spouse were to marry into the Parker family with money, then Tom’s great project might stand a chance yet.

Sidney Parker & Eliza Campion

And, of course, the most unfortunate solution for many would be if Sidney did go through with his supposedly loveless marriage to Eliza Campion, allowing him access to her fortune in order to recover Sanditon.

The question is, though, would Sidney remain in love with Charlotte, or would he have his head and heart turned by Eliza, a woman he admittedly loved in the past?

Would manipulative Eliza fight Sidney on spending their money to improve Sanditon? Or would this match, characterized by its financial practicality, really turn out to be the best solution?

There are plenty of options available to the Parker family as they consider how to rebuild and refinance Sanditon as a resort town – many of which do not require Sidney to marry Eliza for her money, but do require charitable action on the part of other characters. Which scenario do you think seems most likely?

[drowsyreaper]

The Summer Girls

Happy Mer-May, everyone! Here’s my humble contribution to the cause. Enjoy!

Heron’s Point was as small and old a seaside town as anyone could imagine. The populace skirted a fine line between neighborly and incestuous, the economy relied too heavily on summer tourists, and most of the buildings were only holding up against the hurricanes and harsh winters thanks to hope, prayers, and no small amount of black magic. 

It was a fact, though a rarely acknowledged one, that seaside towns only survived and thrived based on the strength of the contract made at their founding. Every town had its source of life-giving magic –- a ley line, bargains made with local cryptids or minor deities, magic amplifying quirks of geology, space rocks, et cetera –- and Heron’s Point was no exception.

Heron’s Point had the Summer Girls.

There’s was a simple, reciprocal contract, one that asked little and yielded much. The old-timers felt an acute, undeserved pleasure at the bare bones of it, as if they’d been the clever ones who’d crafted it centuries ago. All they had to do was host a single Girl each summer and the town would prosper. Simple!

The contract went something like this:

Give the Summer Girl whatever She wants and you’ll never know hardship. Feed Her and your nets will never break, nor be empty. House Her, and your homes will stand against the most fearsome storm. Give Her gifts, and money will fill your coffers. Giver Her blood, and She’ll never spill yours.

In practice, it worked out a little more like:

Let the Summer Girl take and take and take, any and everything She wants, and if She takes something dear, well, is it dearer than your life?

The answer was – and had always been – a resounding no. Easier all around for people to just look the other way. Adhere to the contract. Take care of the Summer Girls. They would take care of everything else.

There were rules, of course. A Code of Conduct had been drafted ages ago, to make sure no talented fool doomed the town by accident. Every spring before the tourists arrived, amidst the Memorial Day parade preparations and 4th of July regatta fundraising campaigns, they reissued the Code. Fliers were sent home with children on the last day of school. Leaflets were slipped under doors. The local radio station – a tiny affair, broadcast on an AM frequency which only the townies knew to listen to – issued daily reminders along with updates on the Girls all summer long.

The phrasing of the Code would change every few decades; to adjust to the current vernacular, to add more relevant details, to include new horrifying anecdotes, and so on. But in the end, the Code always boiled down to four key points. 1. Be polite (or else). 2. Give the Summer Girls whatever they wanted (or else). 3. Do not interfere in their affairs (or else). 4. Keep the secret (or else).

Nestled between the lines, unspoken but always right there if you paid attention, was the understanding that tourists and out-of-towners were fair game. It was their blood that paid the balance in full each year, after all.

It could be hard on the locals, sometimes, to see families looking for a missing child they already knew to be beyond saving. Hard to misdirect grieving relatives looking for people whose blood and bones belonged to the sea. The citizens of Heron’s Point felt for these strangers, they really did. But the town needed the Summer Girls, and the Summer Girls needed their due, and, well, everyone had to die sometime. Better that death mean something in the grand scheme of things, right?

That’s not to say some people didn’t try to play the hero every now and then. The town was rife with cautionary tales. Canny observers could often tell if a Girl fancied someone in particular, and the more softhearted citizens would, on occasion, try warn these people off.

Everyone thought they were clever. Right up until the Girls came for them.

Winter storms would demolish specific houses but leave the rest untouched. Crews vanished from their boats in calm seas. Brief disappearances ended with the bodies showing up in shallow water, with all the soft bits gnawed off. And then a decade would pass in peace until someone got the itching of a conscience again.

The ocean was not known for its’ forgiving nature and neither were the Girls.

Heron’s Point had adapted to it by developing a sort of town-wide neighborhood watch. Had anyone been rude to a Girl? Was someone talking too much to a tourist? Was it an accident or idiocy? Was there time to apologize?

Most often the watch succeeded. It had been decades since anyone had offended a Summer Girl all that badly. But it had not been so long ago that the repercussions were beyond living memory. Thus, the watch persisted.

That year, they hosted Marisol. She arrived with the summer solstice, when the moon was waning gibbous and a storm raged far off on the horizon. Later, some folks would speculate that those had been omens. But you could spend a lifetime analyzing omens about the Girls and learn many fascinating things but few useful ones. And besides, most people said, there was little point in looking for signs after the fact.

Regardless of the weather, the locals were primed to be wary. Marisol was a new Girl, one they’d never seen before and of whom they had no record. New Girls put the town on edge.

Certainly, it was possible Marisol had visited before (records were always a dicey matter in Heron’s Point, as the fury of Girls past had decimated the Town Hall at least four times that anyone could be sure of, and Thomas Vert had set that fire in ’49 after his wife left him, and, well, you could say there were gaps in local history). But if she had come before, it would’ve been before living memory, and that did nothing for the town’s collective nerves.

Every Summer Girl was different, you see. They were a pleasant species in general, soft and smiling, with lithe bodies and big eyes and toothsome smiles. That pleasantness made it easier to look the other way when they, well…. The town even had a few favorites! Girls who claimed their due with such sweetness it really, truly felt like they were doing you a favor.

But there had been troublemakers before –- Girls who tricked residents to break the Code, Girls who took person after person after person, Girls who wandered into houses and broke all the dishes and pinched the babies and cut off the dogs’ tails –- and the townsfolk had to stay alert.

The town watch was ready in any case.

Like all Summer Girls, Marisol’s skin was pallid and her black eyes were too large for her face. Her hair, a mass of algae-tinged dark curls, was tied back with strands of seaweed. Some thought she looked like a sea fairy. Others thought she looked like the fish that lived in the deepest parts of the ocean and hunted in the dark. Neither thought was necessarily wrong.

She didn’t approach anyone that first day out of the water. Instead, she sat beneath a pier in mismatched clothes while the tide was low, and poked at her legs and feet with too long fingers. Mostly, she stared, motionless, at the water for long stretches of time.

All this was included as part of the 6pm news bulletin, read by Janine, the perennially chipper station reporter, from a ketchup stained, hand written napkin “report” submitted by two street vendors who worked near the pier.

Marisol (they’d learned her name two days later, when she asked the Italian ice girl for something to eat) had a quietness to her that unnerved the locals even more. It had little to do with how often she spoke, or her volume or tone, and more to do with every single other thing about her. Other Girls had been quiet, too, but somehow less so. With Marisol, a body never knew if she was listening to nearby gossip or the music on the speakers or her own thoughts, if she was staring so intently at a person or the horizon or a memory. If her body was resting or waiting.

It was bad form to suspect a Girl of being trouble when she’d done nothing to earn it besides keep to herself, but the town watch nevertheless followed her anxiously and waited for the other shoe to drop.

That whole first week, the only request Marisol made, besides food, was for a job. She asked the man who ran the tour boats if he had any openings. He said yes, though he didn’t. Instead he fired his niece from the ticket booth and put Marisol there instead. She was paid in cash at the end of each day, which she then spent on trinkets and bells and anything deep fried or coated in sugar.

Beyond asking for the job, she’d made no other demands of the town. Whatever she took, she paid for; what she ate, she consumed in private; where she slept, people could only guess at, but she was always in time for work the next morning.

It was bizarre.

On the other hand, it was also refreshingly low maintenance. People grew to like her in that tentative way folks with bad pet allergies like a puppy or a kitten. By the end of her first month in Heron’s Point, everyone had begun to think they might get off easy this year.

Then Lex got involved.

Lex’s father, Skip, had spent his whole life in Heron’s Point and knew all the dirty secrets. Lex did not. She’d been born inland and raised by her mother’s family, closer to the city. Skip hadn’t had much to do with her while she was growing up, but they were trying to bridge the gap. Lex had come to Heron’s Point that summer to that end, with the benefit of beach to spend the days on.

In mid-July, one of the laborers on the boardwalk fell and hurt himself too badly to work. Skip, who worked about a half mile down the beach at the marina and had been struggling to find things for his daughter to do, offered Lex’s services for the rest of the season. Lex was plenty happy for the income. Heron’s Point was happy to welcome back and help out a lost daughter.

But Lex didn’t know about the Summer Girls.

When she started working on the same pier with Marisol, all she knew was that Marisol was the most beautiful girl she’d ever seen.

And to the horror of her father and the townsfolk, the attraction was mutual.

On breaks, the two girls ate their lunch together, and when the work day was over, they’d often disappear together until dark, when Lex would finally go home. On the job, Lex would make an adoring goof of herself whenever she passed the ticket booth. And she made sure to pass by often.

When neither were busy, Lex would plant herself at the ticket stand with her phone and show Marisol her favorite cartoons and movies. Marisol would buy her funnel cake and curly fries and deep friend twinkies to share. The tourists thought it was darling. The citizens of Heron’s Point were having fits.

Debates rumbled across the AM airwaves and in town halls and across dinner tables. Should they tell Lex about the Summer Girls? Were they allowed to tell her? She wasn’t a local, but she wasn’t a tourist either: where did that put her regarding the Code? Was there a loophole? If there was a loophole, would they still be punished for using it? Was it worth the risk to the town, helping a girl most of them didn’t even know? They knew her dad, though. Oh, Lord, how was Skip doing? And on it went for weeks.

By mid-August, Lex’s father had resigned himself to the inevitable. He’d never been a very good father, and now the one time he’d tried, he’d doomed his little girl. He’d tried warning her, just once or twice, dropping pointed hints about Marisol’s otherness and what would happen after the summer ended. Lex hadn’t listened to a word of it. And when he’d dropped her off at work the next morning, Marisol had been waiting. She wanted to have a few words with him. About the Code.

Skip began to spend a lot of nights at the bar.

By the end of August, the town was still divided. The majority had decided that the situation was regrettable, but if the Summer Girls counted Lex as an outsider, then they had to as well. But there were vocal dissenters. Lex may not have been one of them, strictly speaking, but she had blood vested in the contract just as far back as anyone else in town, and it was a damn unsettling notion that being raised away from the water made that meaningless.

A small posse had formed to take matters in hand. Pastor Andy from the Lutheran church, and an alderwoman had broken with the town watch. The bartender, Jake, was sick of Skip bringing the mood down in his bar. A junior reporter from the Heron’s Point weekly newsletter offices. A few others. The mayor’s son loaned them his van with all the spare seats taken out to make space.

They’d decided that it was easier to strike at night, when the streets were empty and everyone had crawled back to their hotel rooms and their B&B’s to sleep off the sun and sea. When there was no one out and about to see the paneled van pull up alongside Lex as she walked home. No one to see the doughy pastor and wiry barkeep pull her into the back. No one to see the van speed off, heading inland as quickly as the aging machine could go.

They bound Lex’s arms and legs -– a struggle, since a summer of heavy lifting and running around on a beach had made her much stronger an out of shape pastor and aging barman had expected –- and they covered her mouth. When she was quiet, they poured out the whole story of Heron’s Point, from mysterious beginnings to humdrum, yearly ritual sacrifice.

But they hadn’t even gotten a full mile beyond the city limits when they realized she wasn’t fighting anymore. In fact, she’d been rolling her eyes a lot.

They removed the gag. In agonized silence, they listened as Lex revealed that Marisol had told her all of this weeks ago. She knew about the Summer Girls and their arrangement with the town. Obviously, she knew that, come fall, she wouldn’t be seen again; she and Marisol had been talking about whether she wanted to see her mom before she went. She knew that people who spent more of their life away from Heron’s Point and the water lost its’ protection, no matter how long established their family was. She knew… a lot of things, actually.

With a screech of wheels, the van swerved and shuddered to a stop in the shoulder lane. The would-be rescuers felt their hearts drop through their feet as, through the windshield, they saw Marisol strode toward them. Beneath the stark light of the streetlamps, she looked more monstrous than any Summer Girl they’d ever seen. She was also soaking wet.

So used to water everywhere, they’d forgotten that the road inland crossed several inlets. One of them gleamed under the lamps and moon light a few yards ahead. And there, by the waters’ edge, more Summer Girls. They made terrible silhouettes against the water, standing like sentinels with their fingers webbed and clawed. In the water, strange shapes bobbed up and down with the waves, watching….

The screeching of metal broke their terrified silence. Marisol had torn the side of the van open with the ease of a child ripping into wrapping paper. Her face was- they couldn’t bear to look at it. Everyone pressed themselves against the remaining walls of the van, frantic to put as much distance between themselves and Marisol as possible.

“Hey, babe!”

Lex was smiling, wide and joyous as the monster bore down on her. Claws sliced through her bindings, and girl and Girl fell into each other’s arms. Then, Marisol pulled her out of the van.

The other Summer Girls converged around them, bodies poised aggressively between the lovers and the humans in the van. As one, the pack moved to the water, and one by one, they disappeared beneath its surface with Lex. The floating shapes which had watched from afar disappeared beneath the waves as well.

Pastor Andy was the first to break the silence.

“Fuck.”

A week later, the cops had performed a perfunctory investigation. Lex was ruled a runaway; Marisol, a drifter; they’d keep an eye out for her but she’d probably come home on her own, blah blah blah and scene.

Skip and his ex-wife got into a one-sided screaming match outside the bar her father was drinking himself to death in.

The kidnappers prepared wills and prayed for mercy.

The mayor’s son mourned his van.

The people of Heron’s Point held a succession of Town Halls so that everyone could ask their questions and get what answers there were to be had.

Did everyone the Summer Girls took know what they were getting into? Maybe. Would local children be up for grabs too from now on? Not so long as they stayed in Heron’s Point. Was it hypocritical for the people of Heron’s Point to concern themselves about this now, after centuries of just letting things happen? Probably. Should they void the contract? Could they? What would happen to the town; so many people had interfered so badly?

Some questions would only be answered by time.

The Labor Day fireworks marked the end of the season. The very last of the tourists departed the next day, relieved to shake off the strange gloom that had encompassed the little town. And with no one left to pretend for, the people of Heron’s Point settled to await their fate.

And wait.

And wait.

It was a slow agony as fall turned into winter and nothing happened. Hurricane season passed uneventfully. The fishermen’s hauls were as plentiful as ever. The tides were regular, as were the migrations of local birds. There hadn’t even been one single remarkable shadow on the moon. Nothing that could ease the pain of waiting.

It wasn’t until February that the Summer Girls laid down their verdict. A squall swept up the coast, with high winds and merciless waves. But it didn’t make landfall until it reached the little town of Heron’s Point.

Heron’s Point flooded completely for the first time in more than a century. Trees were felled and roofs were torn off in the wind. Cars went swimming. Shutter and screen doors were ripped off their hinges. Houses were submerged and every road out of town was swept away. But miraculously, mercifully, when the waters receded, all the foundations still stood and no lives had been lost. Well, none beyond those anticipated.

As the ground sobered up, neighbors went to check on the one-time kidnappers. Surprisingly, their homes and apartments were in the best shape of all. The ground around them was dry and firm. Structurally, they looked untouched.

There were no bodies inside. But there were parts of bodies, sometimes. Jake the barkeeps hands were left on the floor of his apartment. Pastor Andy’s tongue -– they assumed it had been Pastor Andy’s, anyway -– was laid out on the communion tray. The alderwoman’s house actually was wet, but with blood instead of water. And on it went.

Skip walked into the ocean when he survived the storm untouched, but the waves kept carrying him back to shore. Hypothermia finally did what the liquor couldn’t and water wouldn’t.

The mayor’s son survived, but he’d seen something in the storm and developed an intense hydrophobia. In the end, he ran off to live in a camper in Arizona.

People talked in the aftermath, more honestly and more fully than they ever had. Maybe this was too steep a price to keep the town afloat. Maybe they could keep business coming on their own. Maybe there was no shame in leaving, in building a life somewhere that wasn’t so steeped in blood.

But winter turned to spring, and the nets stayed full to bursting while their neighbor towns up and down the coast struggled. Tourists were making reservations for their summer holidays already. This was home. And the Summer Girls were going to come anyway….

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