theprinceandagcd

[theprinceandagcd]

[Zelena] cursed me. My lips, actually. She wants to steal your magic. She thought I was the best way of doing that.

➤ every CAPTAIN SWAN kiss ONCE UPON A TIME | S3E20 “Kansas”

[theprinceandagcd]

REBLOG if you have amazing, talented WRITER friends.

Because I certainly do, and I love every single one of them and their work.

[theprinceandagcd]

Start your year right by yelling about how much you love your wife!!

[theprinceandagcd]

Driven to Distraction | E | Ch 1/10

She sends him a link to a Tweet from @espnf1: “Henry Fox, the current runner-up in the driver standings and the son of racing legend Arthur Fox, to leave Windsor. Next year, he will be driving for Ferrari.”

Alex doesn’t even have the time to process before he’s clicking on the link, going directly to Twitter to find out what the fuck is going on.

Ferrari’s decided to replace Alex's retiring teammate with Henry Fox. Alex’s fucking nemesis.

Or, the RWRB F1 AU.

[theprinceandagcd]

kiss me on the mouth (and love me like a sailor) | m | 5k

They don’t know what Henry is to him. Hell, Alex himself didn’t know what Henry was to him until very recently and is still uncertain of what they are to each other. He only knows that the idea of New Year’s Eve inspired a hopeless romantic side of him that he hadn’t known existed. All he’s certain about is this: He’s intent on spilling his guts tonight, he’s got a damn speech memorized, and he’s going to kiss Henry at midnight.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Henry feels the same as Alex, or that they’ll end up officially together. Alex reminds himself - not for the first time - to keep his hopes light. He’ll gracefully accept any outcome. He won’t think about how this may potentially blow up his friendship.

He’s fine, honestly.

Alex and Henry are good friends who happen to enjoy sleeping together. It's all fine and good until Alex has The Grand Epiphany™ and creates a Big Romantic Plan™ to carry out on New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year's Eve! I didn't plan to write another fic this year, but the idea for this one was impossible to ignore. It's been a rough year for so many of us, and I wanted to create a story that's simple and full of queer joy. This one is pretty different than my usual style, but it's also very special to me. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Special thanks to @miss-minnelli and @anincompletelist for beta reading and cheering me on every step of the way. I'm tagging a few mutuals, writers, and other fandom friends who might be interested!

@lfg1986-2 @meraki-yao @onthewaytosomewhere @thesleepyskipper @libbygrl @miharaikko @jafffacakess @caterpills @freyjaexplores @tinyarmedtrex

@inexplicablymine @kj-bee @porcelainmortal @ninzied @ladyknightellen @jamilas-pen @captainjunglegym @theprinceandagcd

[theprinceandagcd]

cheeks pink in the twinkling lights | 10.3k words | Rated M

My final contribution to the Red Umbrella December Collection and my last fix of 2024. Thanks for an amazing year, y'all. I owe you my life, genuinely.

“This is my only drawing, and you knew exactly where you were putting the cup.” Henry clicks his tongue, lifting his own mug to his mouth before replying, “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” “Oh my God,” Alex says with a laugh, something warm and strange bubbling beneath his sternum. “You’re actually sabotaging me.” Henry smiles, and that heat burns hotter in Alex's chest. “Just some friendly competition between coworkers.” Alex stands and walks over to Henry's desk, thrilled at the way that Henry’s eyes follow him with every step. He plants his palms on the dark wood and leans in until his face is only an inch from Henry's. Henry’s lips part on a soft gasp, and Alex can’t help it—his gaze dips down to Henry’s mouth before darting back up to his eyes. He can’t get distracted by his attraction here. There are bigger games at play. He'll just file the view of soft lips away for later, when he's alone in his apartment and can think about the way Henry’s mouth would look on his skin in peace. For now, he only smirks. “You're fucking on, Fox.”

[theprinceandagcd]

cheeks pink in the twinkling lights | 10.3k words | Rated M

My final contribution to the Red Umbrella December Collection and my last fix of 2024. Thanks for an amazing year, y'all. I owe you my life, genuinely.

“This is my only drawing, and you knew exactly where you were putting the cup.” Henry clicks his tongue, lifting his own mug to his mouth before replying, “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” “Oh my God,” Alex says with a laugh, something warm and strange bubbling beneath his sternum. “You’re actually sabotaging me.” Henry smiles, and that heat burns hotter in Alex's chest. “Just some friendly competition between coworkers.” Alex stands and walks over to Henry's desk, thrilled at the way that Henry’s eyes follow him with every step. He plants his palms on the dark wood and leans in until his face is only an inch from Henry's. Henry’s lips part on a soft gasp, and Alex can’t help it—his gaze dips down to Henry’s mouth before darting back up to his eyes. He can’t get distracted by his attraction here. There are bigger games at play. He'll just file the view of soft lips away for later, when he's alone in his apartment and can think about the way Henry’s mouth would look on his skin in peace. For now, he only smirks. “You're fucking on, Fox.”

[theprinceandagcd]

Writing Reference: Grief

“Grief is the emotional reaction to a loss, in this case, to death” (Samuel, 2019, p. xvii), and mourning is the process of adjustment to a world without that person.

The following physical sensations and perceptual experiences often accompany the grieving process (modified from Worden, 2009):

Hollowness in the stomach

Tightness in the throat and chest

Being oversensitive to noise

Feelings of unreality

Shortness of breath

Muscle weakness and lack of energy

Dry mouth

Strong emotions typically occur during grief, including (from Worden, 2009):

Sadness. Failure to acknowledge and embrace sadness can cause more complicated and prolonged grief.

Anger. A common reaction to loss that leads to many issues during the grieving process.

Guilt and self-reproach. Often regarding something that happened or was neglected at the time of death.

Anxiety. Ranging from feelings of insecurity to panic attacks, sometimes associated with fears of being unable to take care of yourself in the absence of the other person.

Loneliness. The loss of a day-to-day relationship can leave someone feeling all alone. Social support can help but does not remove the sense of a broken attachment.

Fatigue. Feelings of apathy and listlessness are not uncommon following the death of a loved one and may limit behavior and activity.

Helplessness. Survivors can be left feeling vulnerable and helpless, especially when they have young children to look after.

Shock. Sudden death, by its very nature, can cause the survivor to experience shock.

Yearning. Yearning or pining for the loved one is a typical reaction to death, and as it reduces, may indicate the mourning process is coming to an end.

Emancipation and relief. It is not uncommon for a survivor to experience a sense of relief, especially where the deceased was oppressive or was suffering a prolonged illness. While a normal response, it may be accompanied by feelings of guilt.

Numbness. While the previous feelings are common, so too is an absence of emotions, at least initially. With so many feelings to experience and manage, the early stages of grief may be overwhelming and result in a protective numbness.

It is important to note that each person’s experience of grief is different, and while the emotions above are typical of loss, they are not exhaustive.

Types of grief can take various forms, including (Elizz by SE Health, 2019; CaringInfo, n.d.; WebMD, n.d.):

Abbreviated grief. A short-lived response to a death, possibly following the experience of prolonged anticipatory grief or something immediately filling the space left by the loss.

Absent grief. The bereaved may not acknowledge or may remain in denial of what has happened. If prolonged, the lack of response can be concerning and require specialist support.

Anticipatory grief. For a caregiver, grief can begin before the person being cared for dies. It may be associated with a sense of losing what they expected life to be like. Such feelings can start with a terminal diagnosis or a worsening state of health.

Chronic grief. A sub-type of complicated grief (see below), left untreated, chronic grief can involve extreme feelings of hopelessness, a sense of disbelief, and a loss of meaning, leading to severe clinical depression or thoughts of self-harm and even suicide.

Collective grief. A shared experience of grief that affects a family, group, or community, often preceded by an event (natural disaster or attack).

Complicated grief. Where grief seems to deviate from what’s expected, complicated grief interferes with the ability to function. Complicated grief may include chronic (see above), delayed, or absent grief (American Psychological Association, n.d.).

Cumulative grief. Multiple deaths over a period of time can leave the bereaved without the opportunity or capacity to process each loss.

Delayed grief. Grief may not occur immediately after losing a loved one but may be postponed until another significant event occurs, resulting in what may seem an excessive response to the present situation.

Distorted grief. An extreme form of complicated grief exhibited as self-destructive behavior, anger, guilt, or hostility toward others.

Disenfranchised grief. When others do not recognize the importance of the loss, such as the death of an ex-partner, pet, or colleague. Society may consider the loss as minor or not legitimate.

Inhibited grief. Grief may not always be outwardly visible; it may result from a conscious effort to maintain privacy or keep emotions hidden from close friends or family.

Masked grief. Atypical physical symptoms and behaviors can be a response to grief without being attributed to the loss.

Normal grief. While there may not be a ‘typical’ grief shared by everyone, normal grief is considered to be when emotional intensity surrounding the death gradually decreases or basic daily activities begin to return to normal.

“We need to learn to support a healthy grieving, and to help people to understand that each person goes at their own pace” (Samuel, 2019, p. XX).

The treatment given to those attempting to process grief must be specific to the individual and their experience. The following approaches overlap and complement one another in supporting the bereaved (modified from Worden, 2009).

Helping the survivor actualize loss

When and where did the death occur?

What happened?

How were you told and where were you?

Visiting the grave can also make the loss more concrete.

Helping the survivor identify and experience feelings

Many feelings may not be recognized or felt to their full degree during intense grief. It is essential to help survivors experience the following:

Anger – arising from feelings of frustration and helplessness.

Guilt – for what the bereaved did and did not do to affect the outcome (usually irrational).

Anxiety and helplessness – feelings of helplessness can leave the bereaved unsure if they can survive alone and concerned about their own mortality.

Sadness – it can be challenging for many to show their upset in front of others. Crying can be helpful if associated with an awareness of what was lost.

Assisting living without the deceased

What problems are you facing, and how can they be resolved?

It is important to neither rush the bereaved to make decisions nor encourage a sense of helplessness, but instead communicate that they will be able to make decisions when they are ready.

Helping find meaning in the loss

Why did this happen?

Why did this happen to me?

How has this loss changed me?

Allowing for individual differences

No two people grieve in the same way; the process and feelings associated with loss are unique. There is tremendous variability in the following:

Intensity of affective reactions

Degree of impairment

Length of time it is experienced

Source ⚜ Bereavement ⚜ Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[theprinceandagcd]

cheeks pink in the twinkling lights | 10.3k words | Rated M

My final contribution to the Red Umbrella December Collection and my last fix of 2024. Thanks for an amazing year, y'all. I owe you my life, genuinely.

“This is my only drawing, and you knew exactly where you were putting the cup.” Henry clicks his tongue, lifting his own mug to his mouth before replying, “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” “Oh my God,” Alex says with a laugh, something warm and strange bubbling beneath his sternum. “You’re actually sabotaging me.” Henry smiles, and that heat burns hotter in Alex's chest. “Just some friendly competition between coworkers.” Alex stands and walks over to Henry's desk, thrilled at the way that Henry’s eyes follow him with every step. He plants his palms on the dark wood and leans in until his face is only an inch from Henry's. Henry’s lips part on a soft gasp, and Alex can’t help it—his gaze dips down to Henry’s mouth before darting back up to his eyes. He can’t get distracted by his attraction here. There are bigger games at play. He'll just file the view of soft lips away for later, when he's alone in his apartment and can think about the way Henry’s mouth would look on his skin in peace. For now, he only smirks. “You're fucking on, Fox.”

[theprinceandagcd]

Just in case you don’t hear it enough, I’m so proud of you. I am proud of you for every time you picked yourself up off the ground. I am proud of you for all the times you kept going when it seemed impossible. You may not be ready to see it yet, but you have so much worth and value. You are enough. And you have always been enough.

[theprinceandagcd]

cheeks pink in the twinkling lights | 10.3k words | Rated M

My final contribution to the Red Umbrella December Collection and my last fix of 2024. Thanks for an amazing year, y'all. I owe you my life, genuinely.

“This is my only drawing, and you knew exactly where you were putting the cup.” Henry clicks his tongue, lifting his own mug to his mouth before replying, “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” “Oh my God,” Alex says with a laugh, something warm and strange bubbling beneath his sternum. “You’re actually sabotaging me.” Henry smiles, and that heat burns hotter in Alex's chest. “Just some friendly competition between coworkers.” Alex stands and walks over to Henry's desk, thrilled at the way that Henry’s eyes follow him with every step. He plants his palms on the dark wood and leans in until his face is only an inch from Henry's. Henry’s lips part on a soft gasp, and Alex can’t help it—his gaze dips down to Henry’s mouth before darting back up to his eyes. He can’t get distracted by his attraction here. There are bigger games at play. He'll just file the view of soft lips away for later, when he's alone in his apartment and can think about the way Henry’s mouth would look on his skin in peace. For now, he only smirks. “You're fucking on, Fox.”

[theprinceandagcd]

sorry I've been so MIA from all the writing games on here - hoping to participate in WIP Wednesday this week and do better in 2025! thanks to those who have kept tagging me, I appreciate you 💜

[theprinceandagcd]

in the kindest way possible, for the love of god—

PLEASE KNOW YOU’RE NOT A BOTHER WHEN YOU RE-READ AN AUTHOR’S WORKS

i haven’t updated anything on any of my ao3 accounts in months because I’ve been too busy, so to know that someone is still out there reading is incredible and ABSOLUTELY encourages me to come back to those stories when my life calms down a bit!

You’re NOT a bother if you read and comment!

You’re NOT a bother if you re-read and comment!

You’re NOT a bother if you read nothing at all and comment that you’re excited to read!

Your comments are EXCITING!!

[theprinceandagcd]

together (apart)

Falling in love with Alex during the summer was never a part of Henry's plan, and even when had always known he needed to leave in the end, he has spent the last 30 years waiting for another chance to be brave enough to come back and love Alex as he deserves. Maybe this time he'll do it, Henry just hopes he's not too late. [Updating Weekly]

Tags: Alternate Universe, Slow Burn, is it a slow burn if it takes both a few weeks and then 30 years to burn, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Second Chances, Friends to Lovers, Exes to Lovers, Dual Timeline, Hurt/Comfort. Alex Claremont-Diaz Speaks Spanish, Mutual Pining, Smut, Eventual Happy Ending, trust me with this one, La Teoría de los Archipiélagos AU

[Read on Ao3]

[theprinceandagcd]

cheeks pink in the twinkling lights | 10.3k words | Rated M

My final contribution to the Red Umbrella December Collection and my last fix of 2024. Thanks for an amazing year, y'all. I owe you my life, genuinely.

“This is my only drawing, and you knew exactly where you were putting the cup.” Henry clicks his tongue, lifting his own mug to his mouth before replying, “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” “Oh my God,” Alex says with a laugh, something warm and strange bubbling beneath his sternum. “You’re actually sabotaging me.” Henry smiles, and that heat burns hotter in Alex's chest. “Just some friendly competition between coworkers.” Alex stands and walks over to Henry's desk, thrilled at the way that Henry’s eyes follow him with every step. He plants his palms on the dark wood and leans in until his face is only an inch from Henry's. Henry’s lips part on a soft gasp, and Alex can’t help it—his gaze dips down to Henry’s mouth before darting back up to his eyes. He can’t get distracted by his attraction here. There are bigger games at play. He'll just file the view of soft lips away for later, when he's alone in his apartment and can think about the way Henry’s mouth would look on his skin in peace. For now, he only smirks. “You're fucking on, Fox.”

[theprinceandagcd]

Having never really given it much thought, I always sort of assumed that Henry's pause was to think of an answer, and the smile that follows simply a reaction to his imagined life, only then I actually thought about it and I realised...

Henry already knew the answer, because of course he did. He's miserable, trapped in a world where he has to hide away all the parts of him that truly make him who he is. He knows exactly what he would be, given half a chance, only no one ever asks. Or, at least, if someone had asked him before, it was undoubtedly in an interview where he'd have had to lie through his teeth and give a palace approved response.

And sure, Henry prompted the conversation with his own question, but Alex still took the bait, still cared enough to ask Henry back and give him the chance to answer, to say it out loud and expose this little part of his heart to someone else.

It's still bittersweet, because it is and, at this point in his life, he believes it always will be, an unattainable fantasy, but at least, for once, he gets to share it with someone outside his tiny inner circle of Bea & Pez. And not just anyone either, someone who matters, who won't dismiss him or assume he's joking. He gets to tell someone who he is and have them hear him.

No wonder he smiles.

[theprinceandagcd]

you wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me