#reluctant royals

[cha-melodius]

firstprince hug prompt #30

(You sent two and I said I was gonna combine them, so I did. And because you said you were constantly adding "between spies" to the prompts in your head, that's what you get too. 😂 hug ficlet prompts)

30: The reluctant hug from someone who isn’t exactly a fan of physical affection; 13: The hug which tells you everything you need to know.

Alex is not ok.

He’s trying not to show it, of course, but they’ve been working together long enough for it to be obvious. They’ve been partners long enough, have seen each other at highs and lows, and this, Henry knows without a doubt, is a low. Maybe the lowest he’s ever seen Alex, and that’s saying something.

He doesn’t know what happened. Is too afraid to ask when Alex returns and doesn’t immediately start giving him a play-by-play. Whatever it is, it must be quite bad for Alex to have retreated into himself like this. He’s in pretty much the same place he collapsed on the sofa after he came back to the safehouse, answering Henry’s questions in single syllables, staring at a newspaper without reading it. He doesn’t even read the newspaper under normal circumstances. Henry’s the one that always picks it up, because he likes the idea of some things being true enough to print in indelible ink, even when he knows they’re not, and Alex makes fun of him for being an old man.

Henry doesn’t know what to do. He’s not equipped for this, not after so many years in the Service. He’s not built for providing comfort, not beyond making a pot of tea, which certainly won’t help Alex. But he wants, unaccountably, to make things better somehow. Needs to.

He won’t pretend not to know what’s behind it, even though he probably should. It’d be safer for both of them if he just let Alex be, let him handle whatever happened on his own.

Instead, he slowly lowers himself to the couch next to Alex and takes the newspaper out of his hands. Alex doesn’t fight him, just gives him a wary look like he’s afraid Henry’s going to ask more questions that he doesn’t want to—or can’t—answer.

But Henry slides a hand onto Alex’s shoulder and opens his other arm in the universal sign of offering a hug, and asks, “Can I?”

Perhaps predictably, Alex stares at him. “Are you sure? You don’t have to just for me. I’ll be fine.”

Just as Henry knows him, he knows Henry. Knows that Henry avoids most physical contact outside what’s necessary for his work, has pretty much since his father died and his mother withdrew and his sister disappeared, and no one hugged Henry for literal years. Knows that the demands of the job have only made it worse. Alex is careful with him, never asking too much, even though Alex is definitely the kind of person who thrives on casual physical affection.

Even with all of that, Henry wants to do this. He’s not sure it will help—not sure he even knows how to give good hugs anymore—but he’s sure he wants to try. “Yes,” he tells Alex. “I want to. If— If you do,” he adds, suddenly uncertain.

What if Alex doesn’t want a hug from him? What if he understands the magnitude of this, because there’s no way he doesn’t, and it’s too much? What if—

Alex very nearly launches himself into Henry’s arms, pressing in close as he curls his own arms around Henry’s waist, burrowing under skin and muscle and bone until he’s securely lodged in Henry’s ventricles. The hug almost hurts, and not because Alex is squeezing him so tightly, but because Henry’s chest is cracking open at the feeling of Alex shaking apart in his arms. Henry holds him just as tightly, murmuring soft words of comfort as he smooths a hand over Alex’s wild curls, and lets him stay as long as he wants.

(It’s all night—Alex stays in his arms all night, and Henry never once wants him to leave. Their partnership will never be the same. Henry will never be the same.

He doesn’t regret any of it.)

[notonlymice]

Emilie de Ravin as Prudence Thorp in The Reluctant Royal (2025)

[watchinghallmark]

[twosidedcherrytrees]

I hate this man

Original image:

[lyrainbeleriand]

Rumplestiltskin & Belle | After Dark (+AU)

I watched the reluctant royal and was rendered speechless by emilie's beauty OH MY GOD SO I HAD TO DO THIS QUICK LITTLE AU that is completly owed and inspired by the amazing @notonlymice ‘s post. There really isn't a solid plot here, mostly just me making fun manips of emilie and bobby being gorgeous together, but I did sneak my whole 'belle would never accept the dagger because that will be taking away his free will and choices' thing and rumple being at belle's bedside kissing her hand (was inner debating on whether to use rush's scene or the scene in Carla's Song, I guess i will use carla the next time)

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

Upcoming Hallmark Movies for March

Hallmark Channel

The Royal We Saturday, March 1, 8pm/7c When her older sister elopes with a non-royal, Princess Bea who has lived her life away from her royal duties must now step in and honor the arranged marriage to a small kingdom prince. Starring Mallory Jansen and Charlie Carrick.

The Reluctant Royal Saturday, March 8, 8pm/7c Philly mechanic Johnny is surprised to learn that his long-lost father is a duke. But the duke isn't quite what he expected, nor are his growing feelings for the duke's advisor Prudence. Starring Andrew Walker and Emilie de Ravin.

Royal-ish Saturday, March 15, 8pm/7c Lacey is an amusement park princess who befriends 8-year-old Rose, a real-life princess, and is recruited by her handsome father to travel to their kingdom and be the new governess. Starring Nichole Sakura and William Moseley.

Hearts Around the Table: Jenna's First Love Saturday, March 22, 8pm/7c Jenna plans a charity event for Billionaire Tom Redlands. But working with Tom's right hand Andrew is proving difficult, especially since Jenna and Andrew have a romantic history. Starring Ashley Newbrough, Steve Lund and Mindy Cohn.

Hearts Around the Table: Shari's Second Act Saturday, March 29, 8pm/7c Shari just moved back to D.C. after a breakup and hopes to start painting again. Inspiration hits when she meets Evan, a repairman who winds up actually being a gallery owner. Starring Mishael Morgan, Brendan Morgan and Mindy Cohn.

Hallmark Mystery

Mystery Island: Winner Takes All Thursday, March 13, 8pm/7c Mystery Island hosts contest winners vying to solve a fake murder for a grand prize, but the event goes awry when an employee is murdered, and secrets are uncovered. Starring Elizabeth Henstridge, Charlie Weber, and Kristin Booth.

[pearlypairings]

Am I working on a photocheer princess diaries au?

I'll never tell......

Or maybe...

Lemme tell you Jonathan does not handle that news well lol

Tagging @empress-of-snark since she gave me the idea quite some time ago 💖

[raisedbyanother]

Emilie de Ravin and Andrew Walker Stills from "The Reluctant Royal"

[sophie1973]

Bloodstream (tell me when it kicks in)

COMPLETE AND SAFE TO BINGE

Tagging a few people who were kind enough to read it as I posted (you brave souls) or showed interest by reblogging or commenting when I posted snippets :)

@onthewaytosomewhere @stellarmeadow @iboatedhere @saturntheday

@caterpills @tailsbeth-writes @whoevenknows-things @thesleepyskipper @thighzp @grace-in-the-wilderness

@idealuk @anti-homophobia-cheese @bitbybitwrites

[icespur]

You know what I love that I don't see enough of?

AU fanart and fanfics where Shido raises Goro.

There's one that I love called Ruin or Glory, where Shido is a doting single Dad, which is precious, but might I suggest an alternate scenario?

Begrudging DadShido who got forced into the father role after Goro's mom dies in childbirth. The Doctors tracked him down and went "Hey, Prime Minister deadbeat, come get your fucking newborn." leaving Shido no choice but to drive to the hospital to take custody of his "consequences of his fucking actions, maybe this'll make you think twice before refusing a condom before calling over your favorite Health Maid" child.

At first, Shido considers this baby a nuisance, an obstacle. Because juggling a baby while working on a Political Career was not part of the damn plan! But, very slowly--he starts to warm up to his son. It takes a long while, it's practically a character arc because Shido is so damn stubborn and stoic, but it eventually happens.

Which is fine, because reluctant DadShido is the funny part.

If he isn't bald already, Goro is going to make him bald from the stress.

For the most part, Shido hires Nannies to watch and care for Goro so he doesn't have to deal with him. But what about when there's no Nanny available leaving Shido little choice but to interact and cater to Baby Goro?

I think it's safe to say this man has no experience with babies, so he's struggling.

The hospital staff did give him a quick crash course on the basics when he first claimed Goro, so he's not completely incompetent.

He didn't pick up on the secret cry language of infants, though. So he's often irritated, struggling on how to get his screeching infant to shut up, and tries everything until he gets it right after the fifth try that Goro was screaming his little lungs out just trying to communicate to Dad that he's fucking starving.

When he gets a little older, Goro's cry translations update from:

"Father, I require food"

"Father, I am in agony, my butt feels icky and I don't like it, change me! (I may or may not take the opportunity to piss on you)"

To:

"I have decided I hate my crib. I will not stand for sleeping in this thing. I require human warmth to slumber, specifically your warmth." Where Shido has to lie down and hold Goro against his chest to get the clingy brat to fall asleep while Shido, dead tired, just stares up at the ceiling questioning his life decisions that lead to this moment.

When Goro becomes old enough to become mobile, he gets into everything. Anything and everything he can reach or get his little pudgy hands on. Shido better start baby-proofing, and fast!

Even though Shido isn't the most affectionate father, Baby Goro adores him and Shido has no idea why. Goro's practically Shido's little shadow, where Papa goes, he must go, whether Papa wants him to or not! Shido soon learns that one of the prices of being a parent to a curious clingy infant is "privacy and personal space is dead." Because God forbid he closes the bathroom door to take a shower or take a piss, or leave Goro in another room while he locks himself in his office to do important business stuff.

Goro will sit outside the closed Bathroom, lightly shoving and hitting the door with his tiny hands, confused and frustrated as to why this darn wooden blockage won't let him pass when he can hear Papa doing things in there without him!

For working at home, Shido makes the stupid mistake of leaving Goro in a playpen, so he can go to his office to work.

Shido greatly underestimates his little troublemaker's intelligence though, because after witnessing Shido close and lock the playpen gate enough times, Goro figures out how to open it, leaving him with free unattended reign to the Apartment!

As you can imagine, he does what any infant would do, get into shit.

That keeps him occupied for a good while, but eventually, he gets bored, misses Papa, and waddles his way to Shido's closed Office door. He tries pounding and pushing on the door, but to no avail, and he's too small to reach the doorknob yet. He toddles off to fetch a stool and drags it to the Office door to help him reach the doorknob.

Shido is typing on his computer, enjoying the calm, when he hears the doorknob followed by a thud of the door being roughly pushed open.

"Papa!" A very happy Goro squeals from the now open doorway on top of his stool upon spotting Shido.

Shido lets out a resigned sigh as his toddler cheerfully waddles over to him, most likely to demand uppies.

On days Shido goes to the Official Office, what if he's put into a situation where once again there are no available sitters, so Shido has to take Goro to work with him?

Shido sitting at a conference table, talking about important matters, while at the same time, Goro is chilling in a baby carrier strapped to Shido's chest.

Unfortunately for Shido, Goro is in his babbling phase and seems to want to contribute to whatever he and his associates are currently discussing because between his monologue Goro chimes in with incomprehensible babbles and gurgles.

Give me cute Baby Goro and Dad Shido fanart and fanfics. I need more, gimme!

[izar-tarazed]

I somehow think they're not too comfortable around each other.

[notonlymice]

Emilie de Ravin as Prudence Thorp in The Reluctant Royal (2025)

[watchinghallmark]

[bookwormchocaholic]

Someone is going to have to Rumbelle "The Reluctant Royal" at some point.

Just sayin'.

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

The Reluctant Royal - photo preview

(photos 1, 7, 9, 12 and 14 are from parade.com)

[pyrepostings]

Exploring the reluctant whumper and whumping the caretaker tropes through Ciarán and Julian in fbaf dragon au.

~~~

"Listen to me, Ciarán. You have to, it is your job. Your father and the court all expect you to be able to command me. Order me around in front of them, have me kneel at your side during meetings the way your father does your da."

"But how he treats him is horrible, I don't want to be him!"

"I know, I know. But you need the courts approval when you succeed him. If you fail to master one slave how will they believe you can master all the lands and people your father has?"

"I hate this. I don't want to hurt you."

"I know. But think of it this way, I would so much prefer it be you than him. Because I know you are not doing it to be cruel, but that is what the court needs to see to follow you. It is what your father needs to see to not think you are weak for having your first few years being spent around humans."

Ciarán pulled him close. "Just promise me to tell me if I go too far."

And undermine your authority in front of the court? "Of course," Julian lied.

"Just continue your studies, make friends in high places. I will handle protecting your da in the meantime. This will all be over before you know it. Once you are commanding armies yourself, you won't need to treat me like a toy. You will have them on your might. But for now, trust me, kid. I can take it."