#And it worked out. Love you Diamond king but not as much as Nolan loves yo | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

let-it-raines · 4 years

Text

What a Wicked Game {14/15}

Killian met her in a pub on a rainy night in March. Going inside was only supposed to be a way for him to avoid the rain and fight off the demons in his head. It was a place for him to pass through, not stay. But then he was charmed by a blonde woman with a quick wit who had absolutely no interest in him or who he was.

That was a first. It was also the beginning of Emma Nolan helping to bring him back to life. It was the beginning of everything.

Five years later, with their worlds crumbling around them, Killian can’t help but wonder if this is the end of the peace they have known now that his family knows about his relationship. It wouldn’t be a problem if his father wasn’t the King of England.

rating: mature

a/n: all my thanks to @captainswanbigbang, @resident-of-storybrooke, @captainsjedi, and all of you! I hope you enjoy this nice little snapshot to the future that is 100% a homage to the original insane “epilogue” 😘

ao3: beginning | current

Tumblr: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |

-/-

December 2020

Emma’s in a white dress made of ornate lace and the most intricate beading work she’s ever seen. The material hugs her body, accentuating the curve of her waist and falling to her wrists where they stop so that the rings on her hands are visible. There are three now, two on the left hand and one on the right. Her hair is falling down her back in long, perfectly curled waves, and half of it is pinned back with a diamond barrette that almost perfectly matches the tiara gracing the top of her head. A veil is attached to it, and it wraps around her body and all the way down to the ground, the lace surrounding the edges of it.

She’s wearing a tiara.

Like, a tiara worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that she wore on top of her head for hours.

It was a year and a half ago and she’s worn plenty of nice jewelry since, but there’s something about looking at the pictures hanging in their hallway that still makes Emma stop in her tracks to stare at them.

It’s the nice clothes at first, her wedding dress and Killian’s black Naval uniform that he looked so handsome in, but then it’s the smiles on their faces, the true happiness written into their lips. Their foreheads are pressed together in this one, and while their lips aren’t touching, they nearly are. Killian’s eyes are crinkled, the lines prominent, and Emma remembers him telling her some awful dirty joke that had the photographer blushing and Emma laughing until tears were flowing from her eyes.

(They’d had to touch up her makeup, and it took forever because she couldn’t seem to stop laughing at her husband.)

Their wedding was on a sunny day at the beginning of June, and most of it was a blur. Emma’s stomach was in knots for the majority of the day, not because she was nervous about getting married. It was more over having to be in front of hundreds of people in the Chapel and millions more on television, as well as having to spend half of her day with Brennan. Thankfully, he stayed away from them as much as he could, seemingly respecting them enough to let them have their day without his disapproval and overall shitty attitude. It’s the nicest thing he’s ever done for her, letting her have that day.

It was a great day.

“Who the hell is that handsome bastard in the portrait you’re staring at, darling?”

Emma huffs and turns to look at Killian only for him to come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist, tugging her back into him before laying sloppy kisses all across her jaw and down her neck that has her stomach flipping. He’s always doing that.

“You’re so conceited.”

“Confident.”

“Eh.”

He nips at her ear, and she sighs back into him, letting heat simmer in her belly even if she knows that they can’t do anything about it right now. They don’t have time.

“You have to learn that my confidence is warranted. How could it not be when my wife makes noises like you just made when I barely brush my lips over her jaw?”

“I’m not helping your ego grow by answering that.”

Killian rolls his hips into hers, grinding into her ass, all while kissing her ear again, lavishing the sensitive spot that causes her flesh to pebble, and she just knows that he has a dumb joke in his brain about making something else grow. He’s thirty-one years old, and the amount of erection jokes that he makes is ridiculous. Granted, ninety percent of the time she wants to hear them, but that’s entirely beside the point.

“Killian,” she moans when his tongue licks along the shell of her ear while his fingers ghost over her stomach and up toward the underside of her breast, “we don’t have t-time. We’ve got to go to Sandringham in fifteen minutes. The car is scheduled to take us to the train station.”

“Fifteen minutes is plenty of time.”

“I haven’t finished packing.”

“I suppose you’ll simply have to walk around in the nude since kissing you is the only thing I can think of doing at this moment.”

Emma laughs, but then she’s turning her head to kiss him. Their lips collide together softly, and Emma twists her body until her hands are grabbing onto the lapels of his shirt, pulling him closer to him. His mouth is warm against hers, and it sends another thrill down her spine, curling around each inch of her. His erection is hotly pressing into her thigh through his jeans, and she feels it even more when Killian backs her up to the wall behind them. When she parts her lips for him, his tongue quickly flickers into her mouth, she follows his lead, eager to feel him in every way that she can.

It’s been eight years of this, eight years of her entire body thrumming and of Emma wanting him, and while there are days that it wanes and days where just looking at his face annoys her, it’s mostly like this.

Loving him is the easiest decision she’s ever made.

Choosing to be with him despite all of the insane highs and deep lows is the best choice she’s ever made.

Killian’s a good one. No, the best one.

(And she’s not biased at all.)

She grinds into him and groans against his mouth when he hits a particularly good spot, and in the haze of his fervent kisses, she reaches down between them until she’s fumbling with the button on his jeans and popping it open all the while Killian mutters filthy curses into her mouth.

“What happened to not having time?”

“Shut up.”

“I love it when you speak to me like that.”

“You are - ”

He doesn’t let her finish, not when his lips are slamming back into hers, and he’s kissing her so deeply that Emma can’t breathe or think or even focus on anything other than the feel and smell of Killian and the way his fingers are tugging her leggings down until the warm air of the apartment is hitting against her skin.

“God, I love you,” Killian murmurs into her jaw while his hands hook under her ass and urge her to wrap her legs around his waist.

“What are you doing? Are you seriously trying to show off athletic prowess right now?”

His hands squeeze on her ass, and he feels her smirking into her skin. The bastard.

“Absolutely, I am. I can’t wait to be sore tomorrow.”

Emma’s head tilts back with her laughter even as Killian slowly enters hers, stretching her the slightest bit while her arms tighten around his neck and her legs curl even further around his waist. He better not drop her. One time he did, and they should really find a couch or something. They’ve got at least fifteen in this damn place.

But then it just feels too damn good just like this. It’s hard and fast, their bodies completely pressed together, and all of Emma’s thoughts are blurred and mixed in with Killian’s muttered curses and her harsh pants and then their mouths finding each other once more. They’re close enough that Emma’s on edge already, each of his thrusts brushing her exactly where she needs him, and her eyes squeeze more tightly shut when she begins to fall, letting Killian’s encouragements guide her until she’s there.

Damn, Jones.

He must finish quickly afterwards, his legs nearly collapsing so that the both of them fall to the ground, but he manages to keep hold of them, supporting her.

“Thanks for not dropping me on my ass.” Killian huffs into her neck at her words, and she feels him loosen his grip on her so that she’s tightening her legs and gasping as he tries to drop her. “That’s not funny!”

“I found it funny.”

“How is dropping me to the ground funny? Aren’t you supposed to love me and cherish me or whatever?”

He leaves a warm, open-mouthed kiss on the side of her neck before pulling back so that she can see the ridiculous blue of his eyes. She’ll never quite get over them. “I do love you, which is why I haven’t asked you to get down yet even though my legs feel rather flimsy right now.”

Emma kisses the top of his head before unwrapping her legs and slowly falling to the ground, her own legs shaky. “I love you, too. We should probably go clean ourselves up and pretend that we weren’t just fucking five minutes before we got in the car to go to your family’s Christmas celebrations.”

“‘Tis the season and all.” Killian kisses her again, this time slow and unbelievably soft. Those are always her favorite. “Thanks for marrying me, darling. You’re just as beautiful today as you are in all of these pictures.”

“I’m not currently wearing pants.”

“That’s the way I like you.”

He’s an idiot...who she loves so damn much.

-/-

Celebrating Christmas with Killian’s family is weird.

There’s really no other way for her to describe it. For one, they spend at least five days having to circle around Brennan, which is hard enough as it is. He’s never going to approve of her and never going to love Killian the way a dad should, but at least he isn’t outwardly hostile to them anymore. It’s more of a quiet simmer with subtle rude comments that are made when Allison is out of earshot, and as awkward and uncomfortable as it is, Emma will take it. This is how it is, and there’s so much more to Killian’s family than his dad.

Allison, for one, is the sweetest woman alive who tries to make up for all of her husband’s downfalls (Emma still thinks she should divorce Brennan, but she knows it won’t ever happen. Appearances and all that. It’s also none of Emma’s business), and she’s taken Emma under her wing in the past two years, teaching her everything there is to know about royal life even though Killian and Emma both decided to not be as prominent as Liam and Elsa. They still work, are nearly always out and about working with some kind of charity they’re passionate about, but they’re not into all of the frills and the publicity.

Her accident still haunts her, the attacks of the media that occur every day following right behind, and it’s the reason they’re having a house built in Bucklebury so that they can have some privacy away from all of the business of living in Kensington. Emma’s doing her best, but she does not accept having to stop caring for her own life and her own wants simply because of who her husband’s family is.

It’s still so odd, Emma thinks. She fell in love with this wonderful, normal guy, and now she’s wandering around on an estate in formal wear to celebrate Christmas instead of lounging around in her pajamas eating junk food with her parents.

Her parents who are never invited to come for the holiday celebrations and who she misses dearly and will be going to see on the night of the twenty-fifth.

But besides having to spend time with Brennan, Emma also has to spend time with all of Killian’s cousins and aunts and uncles who she can never remember the names of despite her best efforts, and follow even more insane rules about what to wear and what silverware to use and what kind of presents to give. Killian held her hand throughout this entire week last year to help her learn, and he’s having to do the same this year. Though, she’s better at it now. She’s not a total fumbling fool.

Just a little one.

But she does know to always find Killian or Liam and Elsa, and if all else fails, she can spend time with Alex and Lizzie and be completely and totally charmed by their adorableness. Seriously. Emma thinks they might be the cutest kids alive, and she’s not biased at all because she’s their aunt. Alex is somehow four now even though she swears he was just two, and he’s the funniest child Emma has ever met. Lizzie is much quieter, more of an observer than anything else, but whenever she sees Emma, she runs to her and stretches her arms out so that Emma can scoop her up into Emma’s arms.

It absolutely makes Emma’s heart swell.

“Darling,” Killian calls out to her, and Emma’s head twists around to see Killian standing across the dining room from her in his tux, “would you come here for a moment?”

Emma turns back to the cousin - Rachel, she thinks - she was just talking to and excuses herself from the conversation to walk toward Killian, who is undeniably saving her before she got swooped away to talk to someone else.

“Thank you,” she whispers into Killian’s ear once she’s close enough, pressing her lips to the underside of his jaw and leaving a mark of red lipstick.

He kisses her temple and lazily loops his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Darling, I was just telling Liam that you were going to be on my football team tomorrow, and that he can’t draft you for his team first.”

Emma tilts her head and looks at Liam and Elsa. “Isn’t it Liam’s turn to have first pick? You had it last year.”

“Liam gave it to me last year,” Killian says, his eyes pointed at Liam, “even though it was his year. This year is technically still my year.”

“Rubbish. When I gave you first pick it was a gift because you were a newlywed, but we’re still supposed to switch off years.”

“No, this is still my year. Last year was a gift, and I did not agree to give up my pick.”

“I’ve just said that it’s not!”

Elsa rolls her eyes, and Emma brings her bottom lip between her teeth to bite. Seeing the boys be friends is never not refreshing, but it’s also obnoxious. They bicker all of the time in this friendly but obnoxious way, and if Elsa and Emma were to walk away, neither of them would notice.

“Babe,” Emma laughs, rubbing her hand up and down Killian’s back, “just give Liam the first pick. He’s not going to pick me. He’ll want to pick someone who’s actually good so he can beat you.”

“She makes a good point, little brother,” Liam says.

“Younger. It’s younger, and fine, you can have the first pick.”

-/-

Liam picks her first for the football game the next day.

Killian plays the entire game with murder in his eyes even if he immediately picked Elsa so Liam couldn’t have her on his team.

All’s fair in love and annual Christmas football matches.

(She and Liam totally kick Killian’s ass.)

-/-

When Emma wakes, she rolls over and checks her phone.

3:01 AM, December 25th, 2020.

It’s the middle of the night...or the morning, and she shouldn’t be awake. She’s got at least four more hours left of sleep, and she should not be awake. It’s been pretty much non-stop for the four days they’ve been at Sandringham, and she should be exhausted. Mostly, though, she’s hungry.

“Killian,” Emma whispers, reaching across the bed to poke his bicep. “Killian, wake up.”

He grunts and twists his head until she can see one eye open while the rest of his face is squished. “What?”

His voice is gritty and deep, and she’s really got to wake him up more if he’s going to sound like that. “How do I get to the kitchen?”

“What?”

“Where’s the kitchen?”

Killian twists again until he’s blinking at her and rubbing his hand up and down his face. “What time is it?”

“It’s three in the morning, and I’m starving. I have never figured out how to get to the kitchen in this place.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.”

Killian grunts and rolls over, throwing the covers off of him before standing from the bed and pulling his pajamas up on his waist so they’re not hanging indecently low any longer. “Come on. I’ll take you down there.”

“You’re my favorite person in the world.”

He grunts again and starts walking away, not bothering to find a shirt or shoes, and Emma quickly follows. She’s also got to pee right now, but asking Killian to wait might not be her best option when he doesn’t seem too thrilled about her waking him up in the middle of the night. She gets it. She wouldn’t be thrilled either.

All of the hallways are dark, but Killian easily navigates them, twisting and turning and taking several different staircases until he’s pushing through a set of double doors and they’re entering an industrial kitchen that doesn’t at all mix with the rest of this house.

Emma literally has no idea how they got down here.

“What do you want to eat, love?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Nope. What do we have?” He opens the fridge, and she steps into his space until she’s looking inside as well at what looks like a hell of a lot of baked goods that they can’t eat. They’re probably for something else. “Can we eat any of this?”

“I think the baked goods are Mum’s gifts to the staff to take home to their families, but I can make you something. Do you want a grilled cheese sandwich?”

“Do you even know me at all?”

Killian laughs, but then he’s reaching forward and grabbing cheese and butter and moving away from the fridge, shuffling around and getting everything that he needs. When she offers to make it herself since this was her idea and Killian doesn’t even like grilled cheese, he tells her that he’s got it if she can make him some tea. They’re probably not going to sleep again, so they might as well get some caffeine.

Caffeine and maybe some cookie dough that she found in the freezer.

(She can’t help herself.)

“You know,” Emma yawns, “I used to be up at three in the morning all the time, but now I can’t do it.”

“It’s because you’re getting old, darling.”

“Says the man who is in his thirties, meanwhile I can still say that I’m in my twenties for ten more months.”

“And then once you hit that thirty mark, you’ll officially be old.”

“I will not be old. Thirty isn’t old. That’s a social construct.”

“It’s too early in the morning to be focusing on things like that.”

“True,” Emma sighs, taking a sip of her tea while Killian plates her sandwich, sliding it over to her with a napkin. It smells freaking amazing. “Thank you for this.”

“It’s no problem. You’ll burn your mouth if you eat it right now.”

“Some things are worth the risk.”

Killian chuckles and leans forward to grab his own tea, taking a large gulp. “I wouldn’t get up at three in the morning to cook for anyone else. I hope you know that.”

“I do know that. I wouldn’t wake anyone else up to make me food at three in the morning. Though, I really only needed you to show me where the kitchen was. I didn’t need you to cook.”

“It’s not a problem. You’re suffering through Christmas with my family for the second year in a row. This is literally the least I can do.”

Emma finishes chewing her bite before leaning forward over the counter to press her lips into Killian’s. “I’m happy to do most everything that I have to do as your wife. It’s weird and definitely not how I ever imagined my life, but I wear a hell of a lot of Spanx for you. That’s true love.”

His eyes crinkle, and Emma is so incredibly charmed by him and his stupidly mussed hair and sleepy smile. It’s kind of ridiculous, but she loves that smile and the way his hair can’t be contained when he hasn’t combed through it.

“And I make you the grossest sandwich in existence.”

“It’d only be the grossest if it involved mayonnaise and tuna or something.”

“This is true.” It’s Killian’s turn to lean over the counter until his lips are brushing across the tip of her nose. “I truly am thankful for you and not simply because you wear Spanx for me and heels that make your feet scream.”

“Yeah, babe,” Emma sighs, her heart content. “I know.”

“Merry Christmas, Swan.”

“Merry Christmas, my love. Should we steal some more cookie dough?”

-/-

February 2021

“This is weird.”

“What is? Being here?”

“Yep,” Emma hums as she looks out the window and sees the congested streets of Manhattan. “I don’t know...I knew it would be different to be back in America, but it’s just - I don’t know. I’ve only been to New York three times, so it’s not like it’s somewhere I spent a lot of time. Driving on this side of the road is kind of freaking me out.”

Killian huffs, but then his fingers are twining together with hers and he’s pulling her knuckles to his lips to kiss right above her wedding band. “We’ve been in America for a week, darling. I feel like you should be used to it by now.”

“Yeah,” she yawns, “I know, but honestly, I can’t tell you what we’ve done this week. It’s all a sleep-deprived blur. What are we even doing today?”

“I believe we’re going to a basketball game to meet with some children and promote the North American opening of Kidding A Goal, and then tomorrow we have several charities we’re visiting before a meeting with our U.S. diplomats.”

“And then we go home?”

“No, then we have the function at NYU. I’m giving a speech, but after that, I believe we’re going home. We’ll have to ask Ariel when we get to the hotel. I’m sure she’ll have everything mapped out to the exact minute.” Emma yawns again before her eyes flutter closed and she’s lulled into drowsiness. “Emma?”

“Mhm?”

“Do you need to stay in the hotel tonight and sleep? No one would blame you if you missed the game.”

She scoffs. There are literally thousands, probably millions of people who would blame her. Brennan would be the first person, and then all of the people who already hate her would be right in line after him. She’s been hailed as some kind of American princess for years now, and all of their aides and publicists have been marketing this visit with her returning to her roots or something.

Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City aren’t exactly her roots.

But this is her life. She loves it even when she hates it. She can roll with the punches.

“I’m fine,” Emma promises. “Of all of the things we’ve had to do on this tour, I think going to a basketball game might be the easiest.”

-/-

The basketball game takes forever.

Seriously. How can a game that’s slated to last a certain amount of time exceed that time by hours? Either be like tennis where you have no idea how long it’s going to take or like football (soccer) where when the time is set, it usually stays that way.

This is why she’s never liked this sport.

And really, the entire time that they’re there, one of the publicists from the team talks down to her like she doesn’t know what’s going on. Granted, she doesn’t know all the rules, but there’s a difference between explaining something and talking down to someone. But it’s all fine and good, and she and Killian have a nice experience sitting courtside and stuffing their face with popcorn while sweaty men with squeaking sneakers run by them. Afterwards (and during honestly) there are a million and two photo ops, but Emma likes getting to talk to all of the kids that are there for them and for the game. They’re all adorable, and they give her and Killian matching jerseys that she feels like Killian is definitely going to be wearing more often than he should.

He seems to like basketball more than she does, but maybe she’d enjoy it more if she wasn’t so exhausted that she could fall asleep standing up.

They probably don’t get back to the hotel until two in the morning, and when they do, Killian promptly kisses her goodnight and then falls asleep.

Emma doesn’t.

Because, of course, she can’t fall asleep, and when their alarm goes off the next morning and Killian rolls over in bed to kiss the side of her neck, lingering there as he whispers sweet words against her skin, all Emma can think is that she only got two interrupted hours of sleep.

Her makeup artist is going to kill her.

If Emma doesn’t fall out from exhaustion first.

Several cups of coffee and a hell of a lot of concealer later, however, she’s good to go for another day of representing her new country to her old country.

Life gets weirder every day.

She’d do it all over again in a heartbeat for Killian.

-/-

“Love, have you packed our toiletries already?”

“Love?”

“Emma?”

There’s a tap against her shoulder, and Emma jumps, blinking several times until Killian’s blurry face comes into clearer view so that she can see the blue of his eyes and the scar on his cheek.

“Emma, darling, are you alright?”

“Yeah,” she says, waving him away and grabbing a pair of leggings out of the drawer. There’s no way she’s flying home in actual pants. That’s too long of a flight for anything that doesn’t have a soft elastic waist. She’s also wearing comfortable shoes because she’s going to boycott heels for a month. “Did you need something?”

Killian’s head tilts while his brows furrow. “I was asking if you’d packed away our toiletries. I’d like to brush my teeth again after drinking coffee, but I can’t seem to find the bags.”

“Really?” She begins to walk across the suite in their hotel room toward the bathroom. “Because they should be on the vanity. I haven’t packed them up yet. I - ”

Her feet catch in the carpet as her head suddenly begins to spin, and not for the first time in the last few days, Emma feels light-headed. But this is different. She can’t focus on anything, every object around her a pixelated version of itself, and before she can grab onto a blurred version of a dresser, she’s falling to the ground with the sound of Killian’s voice echoing behind her.

-/-

I did say this was pretty much like that original epilogue, didn’t I? Sorry to all of you newbies 😘🙈

tag list: @mrtinski @klynn-stormz @jonirobinson64 @snowbellewells @therealstartraveller776 @thejollyroger-writer @sherifemma @shardminds @captainsjedi @galaxyzxstark @galadriel26 @idristardis @karenfrommisthaven @teamhook @spartanguard @searchingwardrobes @itsfabianadocarmo @owlways-and-forever @jamif @shireness-says @ultimiflos @nikkiemms @resident-of-storybrooke @onepunintendid @bluewildcatfanatic @397bartonstreet @killianswannn @carpedzem @captainkillianswanjones @mayquita @jennjenn615 @onceuponaprincessworld @a-faekindagirl @scientificapricot @scarletslippers @xellewoods @ultraluckycatnd @stahlop @kmomof4 @tiganasummertree @singersdd @tornadoamy @captainswanbigbang

#what a wicked game #cs fic #cs ff #cs fanfic #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #captain swan fanfic #captain swan #csrt #captain swan rewrite a thon

118 notes · View notes

joybooth · 5 years

Text

Vogue 73 questions with Mike Lawson and Ginny Baker

“Hey Mike, what’s going on?”

“Not much, lookin’ forward to doing this interview.”

“I am too. Are you guys ready to answer 73 questions?”

“Sure, let’s go find Ginny.”

It turned out they found her sitting on a lounge by the pool in leggings and a t-shirt.

“So, you guys just finished playing in the World Series, any regrets?”

“No, we were excited to get there again this year,” Mike answered sitting next to Ginny.

“I mean, I hate to lose, but we played hard and that’s all you can do.”

“How many baseball games do you think you’ve played in your life?”

“For me? I have no idea. I’ve been playing since I was 5. That’s 35 years, between little league, AA, AAA and the majors? Let’s just say a lot,” Mike laughed.

“Same, minus 10 years,” Ginny added.

“Which of your competitors has helped you improve your game the most?”

“I would say Aaron Judge, a great hitter always makes me work that much harder for a strike.”

“Nolan, Nolan Arenado. I like to steal, but he keeps me honest.”

“If you could play any other sport, what would it be?”

“Tennis?” Ginny shrugged.

“I’ve always liked hockey.”

“Past or present who would you love to play with?”

“I gotta say Babe Ruth,” Mike said.

“For me, Cy Young or Yogi Berra.”

“What’s are you superstitious about?”

“I like a certain practice cage. I don’t know if it is a superstition, but I always go for that one if it’s available, and Mike used to sleep with his bat on game days.”

“Where do you go when you need to relax?”

“If I told you that, it wouldn’t be relaxing anymore,” Mike joked.

“We spend a lot of time at home, but we just took a vacation to Baja and that was really nice.”

“What is your nickname?”

“I call him old man.”

“And I call her rookie.”

“Who is the funniest person you know?”

“Dwayne,” Ginny answered after a moment of thought.

Mike nodded. “He is great. We were at a fundraiser for his foundation the other day, and everyone at the table was laughing crying.”

“Wait, do you mean Dwayne Johnson?” the interviewer asked.

“Yeah, we met at the Espys and get together every now and then. He throws a great BBQ every year.”

“OK, what is your go to karaoke song?”

“Baker loves anything by Beyoncé or Katy Perry. I stick to the Eagles and Duran Duran.”

“What song always makes you want to dance?”

“He is right. I love Katy Perry and Beyoncé, but Uptown Funk is my jam.”

“I don’t dance much, but no one can resist Love Shack.”

“What is your walk out song?”

“I have a mix I listen to, it’s mostly instrumentals to help me clear my head.”

“I go for the classic, eye of the tiger.”

“If you could only read one book from now on, what would it be?”

“Treasure Island has been my favorite for a long time. I’ve read it 5-6 times, and I wouldn’t mind reading it again.”

“That is really hard for me, because I don’t read things more than once very often, but… I’m going to say Esperanza Rising. I know it is a kid’s book, but I still have the copy I read in 5th grade. Someday I want to be able to share it with my kid.”

“Most absurd rule in baseball?”

“It’s not really a written rule, but there is this thing where everyone must be involved in am on-field fight. When Gin went after the Mountain, our assistant coach had to walk out there and hold onto the other coach. These guys are in their 60’s hugging on the field so it is nice and even numbers. I mean I get it, but it can look pretty silly.”

“Describe your style in one word?”

“Comfy?” Ginny ventured.

“If you could raid anyone’s closet who would it be?”

“David Beckham,” Mike answered quickly.

“Serena Williams.”

“Any hidden talents?”

“I love to knit.”

“No kidding. I can’t tell you how many times she got me with one of her needles on the bus.”

“On purpose?”

“No, he is just clumsy and doesn’t look before he sits down.”

“I did get some cute hats and that blanket over there out of it, though.” He gestured to a knit blue and white blanket with a Padre’s logo on it draped over a leather chair.

“Looks nice, now for a hard one. What is love?”

“Baby don’t hurt me?” Mike joked, Ginny batted his arm. “No, seriously, love is different for different for different people but for me, it is a commitment to something that you care deeply about.”

“That and finding someone to see the best in you even when you can’t see it in yourself.”

“What is the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?”

“He leaves me notes in my locker on days when we don’t work together.”

“She rubs my back.”

“Best or worst pick up line someone has ever used with you?”

“I thought it was funny when this guy said, I was so distracted by you that I ran into that wall over there. So, I am going to need you name and phone number for insurance purposes.”

“Who said that?” Mike asked.

“Never mind, what’s yours?”

“A girl just walked up, put her hand out and asked me I could hold it while she went for a walk.”

“Did you?” the interviewer asked.

“I did,” Mike smiled, then he reached out and squeezed Ginny’s hand.

“Who was your childhood crush?”

“This guy.”

“She finally admits it. She had my poster on her wall, but now I have hers too.”

“What was the last show you binged?”

“We just got done rewatching all of Brooklyn 99.”

“He was a thing for Rosa.”

“She does too.”

“I mean, doesn’t everyone?”

“Name one thing you can’t live without.”

“Air?” Mike joked.

“A good wifi network,” Ginny groaned. “I hate when I’m on the road and we finally get to a hotel and they have super slow internet. I just want to relax and watch Youtube or scroll tumblr.”

“Name something you are terrible at.”

“Bowling,” Ginny answered.

“I suck at word games, scrabble, boggle, all that stuff. She usually beats me by at least 100 points.”

“What is the most nervous you’ve ever been?”

“My first game in the majors.”

“Same. Mine, not hers. I wasn’t really nervous for her because we didn’t know each other, but I remember almost blacking out the first time I walked onto the field.”

“Name one bad habit you just can’t break.”

“I bite my fingernails, so I have to keep them super short, but that’s fine, because I would have to for pitching anyway.”

“I am an emotional shopper. When things aren’t going well in life, I use retail therapy way too much.”

“He is not kidding. The good thing is he cleans his closet out once every six months and donates a lot of impulse buys to charity.”

“Craziest fan moment?” “A lady told me she named her baby after me and asked me to sign her. I signed her little shirt, but it was a little weird.”

“What is one phrase you use too much?”

“I’m just sayin’. She keeps reminding me how much it annoys her, but it just rolls off my tongue.”

“That’s ok, I always say my bad, and he hates that, so we are even.”

“If you could be any animal, what would it be?”

“I want to say something bad ass, but really I’m a house cat.”

“I can totally see that. I am a… a bear, but mostly because I just want to sleep and be left alone sometimes.”

“Can you say something in a different language?”

“Que bola? Its Cuban for what’s up. I picked it up from Livan.”

“I speak some Indonesian, from my mom. Tidak apa apa is no worries, which is what I use most in like everyday conversation.”

“What is one cause you care deeply about?”

“It is hard to name one, but I work a lot with our local children’s hospital,” Mike answered.

“I support NAACP legal defense fund, Equal justice initiative and the African wildlife foundation.”

“How do you celebrate your wins?”

“Ice cream or beer depending on the day.”

“How do you deal with loses?”

“I try to figure out what went wrong, so I can do it differently next time,” Ginny said thoughtfully.

“How do you deal with haters?”

Ginny laughed, “You just gotta block’em out.”

“If you could redo one game which would it be?”

“The game where I messed up my knee the first time.”

“Yeah, when I almost got the no hitter and instead messed up my arm, that was pretty bad.”

“Besides baseball what would you like to be remembered for?”

“Being a good person.”

“If you weren’t baseball players, what else would you be?”

“I would do something with cars.”

“I would do something with history? Teaching or maybe be an anthropologist?”

“Do you have a pregame ritual?”

“I have a pump mix but mostly I like to meditate and mentally prepare. I usually go over the lineup one last time with Mike.”

“How many MLB teams can you name in ten seconds?”

“The Padres, the Braves, the Dodgers, the A’s, the Rockies, the Yankees, Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Astros, Mariners…”

Mike took over, “Jays, Giants, Angels, Brewers…”

“And that’s time, good job. Name the best baseball player who ever lived.” “Babe Ruth.”

“Willie Mays.”

“If you could only eat one thing forever, what would it be?”

“Pizza?” Mike answered.

“Burgers, but they have to come with fries,” Ginny chimed in.

“What movie always makes you cry?”

“Field of dreams.”

“The Lion King.”

“What movie makes you scream in terror?”

“My friends dragged me to the Omen once, which was pretty scary, but mostly I don’t watch scary movies.”

“I watched the exorcist way too young, and that pretty much put me off scary movies for life.”

“What is the most inspirational sports film of all time?”

“I always liked Cinderella Man with Russel Crow.”

“I really liked the Life of Pi.”

“Who do you want to play you in the movie of your life?”

“I don’t know that they would make a movie of my life, but when they make hers I think Ryan Gossling is a good choice, or Ryan Reynolds, or any of the Marvel Chrises.”

“If they made a movie… I would say… Letitia Wright maybe?”

“What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?”

“As a kid I broke my ankle trying to do a skate board trick,” Mike scratched the back of his neck and flushed slightly.

“What is one skill you wish you had but you don’t?”

“I am trying to learn to cook, but Mike still does it most of the time.”

“If you were a super hero, what would your name be?”

“Black Diamond.”

“Beard-Man.”

“Who’s your most famous follower on twitter?”

“I don’t have a twitter.”

“A lot of people follow me to hear about Ginny, I would say Anna Kendrick is the most famous.”

“You travel a lot for work, what are three things you take with you everywhere?”

“My headphones, a neck pillow, and my phone charger.” “Same.”

“Do you have an pets?”

“We have a dog,” Ginny whistled, and a mini pie ball dachshund call running out. “This is Chip. I named her after the cup from beauty and the beast. She is a super sweet girl.”

“What’s your zodiac sign?”

“I am a Libra and Ginny is a Leo.”

“What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?”

“He likes coffee or half-baked and I like Cherry Garcia.”

“What’s one household chore you hate to do?”

“We both hate the dishes, so we do them together, so we can get it over with quickly.”

“Do you have any collections?”

“I have a snow globe collection, and Mike collects baseball memorabilia.”

“Who is more competitive?“

“Me!” they both said quickly, then looked at the other and laughed.

“What is your go to date night?”

“We like to go see comedians.”

“He just got us tickets to see Ali Wong for our anniversary.”

“If you could go anywhere on vacation where would it be?”

“We are going to Kenya next month, and I am really excited about that,” Ginny answered.

“Me too.”

“What is your love language?”

“I like acts of service and words of affirmation,” Mike answered seriously for once.

“and for me, it is quality time.”

“Sleep in or rise early?”

“Sleep in!” Mike grinned.

“Read a book or watch TV?”

“Watch tv,” they agreed.

“Kiss or hug?”

“Kiss,” they both snapped.

“Strength training or cardio?”

“Cardio,” Ginny answered automatically

“I like strength training,” Mike added.

“You guys recently got married, what was the biggest change?”

“Not really anything? We already lived together.”

“Calling him my husband, is weird sometimes.”

“What was your favorite part of the wedding?”

“When we left?” Ginny laughed.

“What kind of cake did you have?”

“Just plain yellow cake with chocolate frosting,” Mike answered.

“Who caught the bouquet?”

“My agent, Amelia.”

“What song was your first dance to?”

“Unforgettable.”

“What are you doing today?”

“We’re going to the farmer’s market, then coming home for dinner with some friends.” Ginny answered, walking toward the door.

“Can I come along?”

Ginny made a face. “No, thanks for stopping by though.”

#and my homegirl Ginny B #Ginny Baker #ginsanity #pitch #pitch rewatch #pitchwithdrawls #pitch fic #bawson #bawson fanfic #bawson fic #mike lawson #missing mike Lawson

54 notes · View notes

lilacmoon83 · 5 years

Text

Finding You Always

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 186: Interlude

Snow hummed contently, as he kissed her deeply. She lay sated atop his bare chest, after a passionate bout of morning lovemaking. It had been a week since they returned to Storybrooke and it had been pure bliss. They had done everything they promised to do in that short week. They had picnics in the woods where they pretended to get lost for hours, made love on their picnic blanket down by the Toll Bridge, spent some much needed downtime with their children and family in the form of dinners at Granny's, barbecues in their backyard, and trips to the reserve.

They had also tended to business by telling their friends and family of their upcoming undertaking. The uniting of the realms. It took a bit for Granny, the Dwarves, and James and Aphrodite to get their heads around it, but when the Goddess revealed the all the realms had once been one, nearly three thousand years ago during and when the Crystal Kingdom had both existed and been in its prime, everyone easily got on board.

Next, in a Town Hall meeting, Snow revealed the idea to the residents of Storybrooke. She and David answered their concerns, which included things like crowding, increased crime, and just general fear of change. Snow assured them that a good curse, as she had coined it, would expand the land that Storybrooke occupied and the magic of the chalice would keep them concealed. Aphrodite described it as sort of a pocket dimension and Snow continued by assuring that all the Kingdoms or realms would still have clear borders and each would still have an independent leader responsible for governing their realm. Regina chimed in to assure they she and Snow would provide those leaders with guidance and support. Then came the question of security to which Snow answered that David would be hiring many more deputies and they would work in conjunction with other Kingdoms to train their Knights and peace keepers for a new type of policing. She had already appointed her husband as Supreme Sheriff, General of their police and Knights and essentially King to her Queen. David promised that Emma would take up the full mantle as Sheriff of Storybrooke as well and that James would have an integral role in training new Knights and deputies. Xander would join them as well and they would be hiring many more deputies, with the dwarves returning to their roles as Royal Guard.

For the most part, most seemed to accept this new undertaking, though it was not without scrutiny or even fear of the unknown. But that was to be expected. And now that they had rested for a few days and declared their intentions to their people, Snow and David prepared to begin their journey around the realms with their idea. They would be starting with Agrabah and then traveling to the other Kingdoms in the Enchanted Forest. They had enlisted Hyde to travel back to the Land of Untold Stories to inform any left behind that had not arrived with him aboard the dirigible years ago.

After they had visited the necessary Kingdoms in the Enchanted Forest, they would journey to Oz to speak to Glinda and the other witches, then Neverland to visit the Immortal Tribe. They decided they would enlist Whale to travel to the Land Without Color since so little was known about it to them and magic was a bit of a hard sell there.

Then Olympus would be the final visit and they would journey there with Aphrodite to speak to Zeus. They were a tad worried about that one, but Aphrodite assured them that even if Zeus was against it that they could count on her, Hermes, and Poseidon's support for sure. And she was certain Zeus could be convinced.

This was quite possibly the largest undertaking they had ever attempted, but they did not fear it, for they were going to do it as they did everything. Together.

She mewled and bit her bottom lip, as she felt her husband's lips skim her neck and his hands roam with passionate intent.

"We need to get up, my love. We have quite the journey ahead," she reminded. He sighed and pecked her on the lips.

"I suppose you're right...but how about you join me in the shower? We can save time that way," he prompted.

"How is that going to save time?" she asked skeptically.

"Uh...it's not. I just want shower sex with you," he admitted and she laughed, as he pulled her against him.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing we want the same thing," she responded. He grinned and pulled her out of bed and into the bathroom.

~*~

Seattle

2018

Major Donovan sat down across from Cecily Clayton and placed a tape recorder on the table.

"As you can imagine, I have many questions. But let's start first with your father," she said, as she put the file down in front of her. It was all the information the FBI had on him, complete with his mugshot from when Detective Rogers arrested him for what he did to the Nolans. But this was only the tip of the iceberg.

"And I haven't heard what I get in return for answering your questions," Cecily responded.

"You were caught on camera stealing highly valuable and priceless artifacts from an ancient civilization. There is no scenario in which you don't serve jail time for that. But if you tell me what you know...then I can make sure it's a nice prison," the Major offered.

"Nice try...but you want the information I know about what just happened in this city and you'll do anything to get it. I want to walk," she demanded.

"That's not going to happen," the Major argued.

"Then my lips are sealed and I want a lawyer," Cecily responded. The Major was silent for a moment.

"House arrest and an ankle bracelet. How long depends on what you have and you'd be required to work for us at every stage," Major Donovan offered.

"It better be a penthouse with all the amenities," Cecily bargained.

"Depends on the information. If it's good...you get a decent apartment without rats. If it's great...then maybe we'll upgrade from there," the Major stated, as she pointed to the file.

"Start talking...because if you think we don't have ways of getting information out of you, off the books, so to speak, then you're sadly mistaken, Ms. Clayton," the Major argued. Cecily smirked.

"Well...that didn't take long. Five minutes and you're already threatening torture," she quipped, as she looked at her father's picture.

"In this land, my father was an eccentric museum owner with a flare for rare and priceless artifacts. But to all the other realms, he was known as the Collector," she revealed. The Major raised an eyebrow.

"Other realms?" she questioned.

"You don't really think that this Earth is the be all end all of the Universe, do you?" Cecily questioned.

"Are you saying this is about extraterrestrials?" Donovan questions. Cecily laughed.

"No...nothing so pedestrian. I'm talking about humans for other lands and earths that are very different from this one. But that's just the tip of the iceberg," Cecily replied.

"And what did your father collect?" Major Donovan questioned.

"The same thing he collected here. Rare artifacts, priceless items...even magical people," she revealed.

"And how do you expect me to believe such things?" the Major asked.

"You saw magic right before your eyes and you're still denying it?" Cecily questioned in returned and snorted.

"Typical muggle," she goaded, as she glowered at the other woman.

"Fine...so tell us all about this magic and where the Nolans took all those people," she responded.

"Oh, that's a really long story and I don't like this room. It's cold and this chair is hard. I also need a good bottle of wine and maybe a lobster dinner. I miss the east coast fare," she replied. The Major picked up another file that had just been delivered.

"In 1983, thirty-five years ago, David Nolan was found on the side of the road in rural Maine with a stab wound to his side and his infant daughter in his arm," she said, as she showed her the file.

"Thirty-five years later, the same man is serving as a detective for the Hyperion Heights Police Department and has barely aged a day. Can you tell me that story?" she questioned. Cecily smirked.

"I can tell you everything if my demands are met," Cecily retorted.

"Fine...you'll get your cushy penthouse apartment in downtown Seattle, whatever food and wine you want, and you'll serve your time there for the next five years. I don't think I have to tell you how easy you're getting off considering the federal crimes you've committed," the Major offered.

"Does the ankle bracelet come in just basic black or can I get it diamond encrusted?" Cecily asked sarcastically, as the Major slammed her hand down on the desk.

"This is your last warning, Ms. Clayton. Talk or I'll get it beaten out of you," she growled. Cecily smirked.

"Deal accepted, but you might want to make that apartment in Boston, because you're on the wrong coast if you want to find the Nolans...or should I say, the Charmings?" she replied. The Major's eyes narrowed at her and she regained her composure, as she put her phone to her ear.

"Fuel the jet. We're relocating to Boston. Make the arrangements for our stay...and our co-berating witness," she said, before hanging up.

"Then Boston it is, Ms. Clayton. Then while you're gorging yourself on fine wine and lobster, I expect to hear everything," Major Donovan replied. Cecily smirked.

"Then you better order for yourself and your staff, because this is a very long, complicated, and sordid story that will change the way you think about your world. This story will blur the lines between reality and fiction and you'll learn that everything you thought you knew is wrong," Cecily said ominously in a way that actually made the Major believe her.

~*~

Rose and Fandral arrived at Hermes' temple on Mt. Olympus and the bubble around them disappeared. They followed the Goddess hand in hand to her viewing pool and she waved her hands over it.

"Are there any survivors at all? Of Asgard, I mean?" Fandral questioned. She turned to him and nodded.

"Yes...and it appears that will settle in a small country on Midgard...Earth. But I'm afraid that no one was spared the cataclysm of what just occurred. The disruption was so devastating that we even felt it here on Olympus," she responded.

"Does this have anything to do with that...that bastard that slaughtered Thor and my people?" Fandral questioned.

"Yes...but you must know that Thor managed to survive his battle with the Titan," she revealed.

"Thor is alive?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes...but half of all life in that nine realms has been wiped out," she responded.

"Half of all life? How is something like that possible? Even a war or natural disaster could not do damage like that," Rose surmised.

"No...but a person possessing the right power can," Hermes replied.

"I've known him to decimate planets and systems alike, but even for him, it takes time. Yet you make it sound like half of life was just wiped out in an instant," Fandral remarked.

"Because it was," she responded.

"That's not possible!" he refuted, but then Rose saw a haunted look enter her husband's eyes.

"Unless…" Fandral uttered, as he searched Goddess' eyes and she nodded.

"By the look on your face...I take it that you are familiar with the Infinity stones," Hermes surmised.

"All too well," he responded.

"The Infinity Stones? I remember those being mentioned when I was reading Asgardian history," Rose said, as he took her hands.

"Yes...the Infinity stones are elemental crystals of great power. Describing the scope of their power is...difficult or at least it was. After seeing what we saw in Seattle, they're not completely dissimilar to star gems, except greater in raw power and obviously are not tied to people like star gems are," he explained. Hermes nodded.

"Each stone controls an element of reality, but not meteorological elements like star gems. But rather things like reality, power, time, soul, space, and mind. And this being...this monster managed to acquire all six," Hermes explained.

"And that allowed him to cause this devastation?" Rose asked.

"With a literal snap of his fingers," she revealed.

"And that's why the story stopped?" she asked. Hermes opened the book, revealing that since then the story had resumed.

"A new author has picked up where the last one left off, but these realms have experienced such devastation that I fear their stories will have difficulty moving forward. Life cannot just resume after something like this. People will not just move on. Healing from this will take...generations, if at all," she said.

"What of him? What of the monster that did this?" Fandral questioned.

"He has done what he meant to do and has disappeared. I have no doubt that your friend and others like him will seek justice against him. But I fear that even making him pay for his crimes will be an empty victory and can never fill the void he created," Hermes said.

"We should go to him...to that Earth. Thor doesn't know you live and perhaps finding that he has one close friend that is not dead will help him," Rose suggested.

"There is nothing I can do to help Thor," he replied dejectedly.

"I disagree, but I understand that you don't wish to take Rose and the children into an unstable universe," Hermes stated.

"As long as that monster draws breath...it is a risk I cannot and will not take with my family," he said, as he took her hands in his own. She sighed, but did not argue further. However, this was one story she would be closely monitoring, for if the time came where this threat was gone, she was going to see to it that her husband connected to his roots again.

~*~

Breakfast at the Charming residence was lively, as usual, with David in the kitchen making a mountain of pancakes for his hungry family. Snow was still packing for their trip, while he took care of feeding them all. While the kids and everyone else were eating at the table, Xander moved into the kitchen and sat at the island. He sipped at his juice and was glad that his detox period was behind him. He didn't worry about slipping now that he had his memories back, but he was relieved that he had gone through proper treatment.

"David…" he started to say, as his son turned from the griddle, having finished the last of the food.

"Dad...you don't have to do that," he protested.

"I know...but I still think we need to talk," Xander insisted. David sighed and delivered the rest of the food to the table, before returning.

"It's not your fault...I don't blame you," David assured.

"And I'm grateful for that, but it doesn't change the fact that you spent two years pulling my drunk ass out of bars. It doesn't change the fact that I could see, even through my stupor, at how angry and disappointed you were," he replied, as his son sighed again. He and Emma were a lot alike in this way. Both of them liked to put up walls when it came to their emotions. They were more than ready to help others deal with their problems, but neither of them liked dealing with their own, as Snow had pointed out to him more than once over the years.

"It doesn't change the fact that you needed me...that Summer needed me for those two years when you thought your wife and the love of your life was dead. When Summer thought her mother was dead. When you thought your son was dead," he continued.

"Dad…" David protested.

"I broke my promise," Xander added.

"Not on purpose...I know that now," David insisted.

"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened," Xander insisted in return.

"Clayton did that to you. If there was one thing that man knew...it was revenge," David replied, as he put a hand on his father's shoulder.

"But he's gone and this time, he's not coming back," he added. Xander nodded.

"Not gonna lie...I wish I could have seen him finally go down," he mentioned.

"Well, it was satisfying, especially since his arrogance caused his own demise," David said.

"Hung himself on accident...yeah I don't think I could have come up with anything more fitting than that," he agreed.

"So...we're okay?" Xander asked. David smiled.

"Better than okay," he agreed.

"But we won't be if we don't get over to the table for breakfast. Between Leo and Bobby, the food isn't going to last long," he joked. Xander chuckled.

"I get Bobby...he's going through another growing spurt. But what's Leo's excuse?" he joked back.

"Charming metabolism...your fault Gramps, not mine," Leo retorted.

"Suppose you have a point...now pass the pancakes," he agreed, just as Snow came down the stairs. David joined her and kissed her tenderly.

"We're all packed," she informed.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked. She nodded.

"I am," she replied, as he took her hand. They joined their children and ate breakfast with them. After their stomachs were filled and they cleaned up, David carried their backpacks full of clothes and other essentials. Since they did not foresee any danger in what essentially was a diplomatic visit, they gave Summer and Bobby the choice to either go with them or stay behind with Regina. The two had opted to go with their parents, while their three grown children would stay behind, as they had jobs they were eager to resume.

They journeyed out into the backyard, as their older children and Xander prepared to see them off. Hugs were exchanged, while Snow and David assured that they would be back in no time. With that, David tossed one of their many beans in their possession and a vertical portal opened. The four of them held hands and journeyed through the portal.

~*~

The Queen observed the stone palace, as they approached it and the guards at the entrance that wore masks in the likeness of jackals. She also heard an inhuman roaring, which was a bit startling.

"Don't worry...those are just the Horned King's army of undead soldiers," Mephisto assured.

"Zombies?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. He chuckled.

"We prefer undead. They only eat mortal flesh when we tell them to and they don't create more undead with their bite," he corrected. She wrinkled her nose.

"Thanks for the distinction," she replied sarcastically.

"So...what exactly is a Horned King? And how does he make these undead soldiers?" she inquired.

"With some of the darkest magic in existence. It got him banished and would have got him executed, if they had the power to do it. He's possibly been here longer than any of us...roughly almost ten thousand years if the Pharaoh is to be believed," Mephisto explained.

"Pharaoh?" she questioned. He smirked.

"Essentially the supreme ruler of this place, not that there is much to rule. He too was banished here, by the Olympians. If the stories are true...he was worse than the all the titans put together," he stated.

"Now that is someone I'd be interested in meeting," Regina replied, as they went inside and she soon found herself in a circular room with a table that was likely some kind of war room.

"Who the hell is this?" a female voice asked. The Queen turned to find a willowy blonde woman dressed in a very tight green leather bodysuit, which accentuated her already pronounced curves.

"Easy Amora...she is a new arrival. Another cast out by those that call themselves heroes. The woman scoffed.

"Heroes...such an oxymoron. I've tempted many a supposed hero into my bed. They are not as virtuous as they claim," she responded.

"Normally, I'd agree with you, but the pair that constantly ousted me are sickeningly good and true love always wins the day for them," she spat distastefully.

"You're right...that's nauseating," Amora quipped.

"So...what do we call you?" she questioned. The Queen smirked.

"The Evil Queen is my well earned moniker...so you may refer to me as Your Majesty," she responded. Amora snorted derisively.

"Yeah...that's not happening here, Queenie," she retorted. The Queen regarded her for a beat and then nodded curtly.

"Regina will do then," she responded, as she noticed a huge figure in the corner. The man had to be over seven-feet tall and wore heavy armor, except for his arms. They were not covered, but one could not see the true skin, for his arms were stained in crimson. He had a red cape as part of his armor and his face was hidden behind a mask in the likeness of an antlered skull mask. He was probably the most terrifying thing she had ever seen and that was saying quite a lot.

"And I'm assuming this must be the Horned King?" she inquired.

"So I've been told," Amora responded.

"Does it speak?" Regina asked. The blonde woman shrugged.

"I've been told he can, but I've never heard it. He mostly just grunts and breathes heavily," she replied.

"Unnerving and a bit creepy," the Queen commented.

"Especially when one has no idea what's beneath that mask," Amora agreed.

"So...when do I get to meet this supposed Pharaoh?" the Queen questioned.

"You don't get to meet him. He'll decide if you can have an audience with him," another female voice interjected. Regina looked up to find a dark-haired, seemingly middle aged woman, as she swept into the room in a long, dark cloak.

"And who the hell are you?" the Queen inquired.

"Many things...including far more powerful than you, newcomer. But you can call me...Mim," she replied mysteriously…

~*~

When they returned from Olympus, only a mere hour later, Rose and Fandral retired for the night. But sleep didn't seem to be in the cards for Fandral on that night, so instead of keeping Rose awake with his tossing and turning, he elected to get up. He padded onto the veranda outside the royal chambers, shirtless and relished the gentle evening breeze on his bare skin. He knew what this was mostly. Survivor's guilt. While most of his people had not been so lucky, Hela nearly slaying him and his falling through that breach as Asgard collapsed had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

He had found true love; something he didn't think was possible for a warrior like him. He had three beautiful children with the love of his life. He had gained everything, while his oldest friends had lost everything. It made him wonder what superior being had decided to smile on him, but not his friends. To him, he was no more deserving of happiness than they were.

He wasn't surprised when his brooding was interrupted by a pair of arms encircling his waist. He smiled, despite his mood, and pulled her into his arms, as he dropped a kiss on her ebony hair.

"I was hoping I wouldn't wake you," he said.

"I don't sleep well without the man I love by my side, holding me in his arms," she replied, as she kissed him tenderly.

"And I'm glad I did wake up, because I would never wish for more sleep when my husband needs me," she replied. He sighed.

"I know you are having a bout of survivor's guilt and after all that we learned, that's not surprising. In fact, it's very understandable," she reasoned.

"But I would never regret where my life has led...I just wish things had turned out so well for my friends," he replied.

"Of course you do. But do you really think your friends would begrudge you happiness?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No...I know they wouldn't," he agreed.

"Then honor their memory by being happy," she said.

"For my friends that have passed...I think I can do that. But Thor…" he replied.

"That's why I believe we should go. I think he deserves to know that he has not lost everyone. He has one friend that he doesn't even know is alive," she reasoned.

"I'm just not sure that it is a good idea," he answered.

"Because of this...mad titan?" she asked.

"That's part of it...I mean he did just commit genocide on half a universe," he answered.

"But it's more than that. What if seeing me makes Thor feel worse?" he questioned. Her brow furrowed.

"You do not think he will be happy to see that you are alive?" she asked in confusion.

"No...I think he will and I would love for you and the children to meet him finally. But...what if he looks at what I have gained and it only serves as a reminder to him of everything he has lost?" he asked. She put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think you are focusing on the negative, my love. I think finding that you are alive and well could only bring happiness to one of your oldest friends," she told him. He looked at her, as she lifted her head and he gently caressed her beautiful face with his hand.

"You are as beautiful as you are persuasive, my Rose," he finally agreed. She smiled at him and took his hand.

"Then can I persuade you to come back to bed?" she tempted. He smirked.

"I'm not sure sleep will be easy, my angel," he replied, to which she gave him a sly smirk.

"Good...because sleep is not what I had in mind," she said. He smirked and she yelped, as he swept her into his arms.

"Well, in that case...our bed awaits," he replied, as he carried her back into their chambers.

~*~

A portal opened in the desert of Agrabah and deposited the four of them. Summer and Bobby looked around in wonder, as they had arrived on a cliff side overlooking an incredible, expansive city.

"Wow...so this is Agrabah?" Bobby asked. Snow and David smiled, as they joined hands.

"It is...and that's the palace," David replied, as he and Snow shared a smile at the wide eyes of their children, for they were seeing their beloved book that they had been raised with come to life before their eyes. Now, they would begin the journey of consulting all the Kingdoms and then bringing everyone in their nine realms of story together...

1 note · View note

alexandralyman · 6 years

Note

Could you make a one shot/short story that’s sort of a prequel to Gloriana? Like how killian and Emma became close and what happened that night at Hatfield house?

Gloriana - my Tudor Court AU with Emma as Elizabeth I and Killian as a mix of Robert Dudley and Francis Drake - was one of those fics that I did intend to continue but time just got away from me, and it did work as a one shot so I left it as it was. But I had started writing a second part forever ago and when I got this message I pulled up the file, reread it and my inner history nerd came out again and….

….7,000 words later, here is Part 2. I always envisioned this as a non-linear story anyway, so there’s two flashback scenes plus a scene that takes place after the events of part 1 and I’ve included the night at Hatfield referenced in this line, “She hadn’t been a virgin since that night at Hatfield House lo those many years ago, when Killian had taken her to his bed and made her a woman in his arms, ruining her for any other man from that day forward.”

(so yeah, it’s rated M - hope you like it, Nonnie!)Part 1 is here on Tumblr and the fic is posted on ff.net hereGloriana - Part 2Hampton Court PalaceSome Time Ago

“I do not believe we have been properly introduced, my lord.”

“We have not, but I’m afraid I must correct you, Your Highness, as I am not a lord.”

“And I must correct you, good sir, as I am simply Lady Emma and in my sister’s court it is a foolish mistake to call me Highness.”

The tall man with bright blue eyes that reminded Emma of the sea leaned down slightly in a graceful hint of a bow and lowered his voice so that it carried only to her ears, “I assure you I am no fool, Your Highness. My name is Killian Jones, and I have come to court to swear my service solely to the Princess Emma, lawful daughter of the great King David and true heiress to the throne of England.”

Across the room Philip of Spain bowed somewhat stiffly to Emma’s half sister Mary, daughter of her late father David and his first wife, the repudiated Kathryn. The whole of the court was there to celebrate their marriage, including Emma, the rather inconvenient heiress presumptive who Mary could hardly bear the sight of at times but couldn’t quite ignore completely. The courtiers tended to follow their queen’s lead and few were brave enough to be seen conversing openly with Mary Blanchard’s daughter. Queen Mary’s memory was long and her hatred of the dark haired siren of a woman who had drawn her father away from Kathryn had never abated over the years, frequently spilling over to the only child of the passionate union between king and commoner.

“Watch your tongue, Master Jones. You very nearly speak of treason,” Emma warned in a hiss, back straight and gaze darting from side to side to reassure herself that no one had overheard. She might have been standing alone amid the wedding revels before the stranger approached her, but she was not so foolish as to believe that she was unseen. Spies were rife at the English court, as Spain, France and Scotland all vied for European supremacy and England was the board on which the pieces moved. Bishops, knights, kings, and a little white pawn with faint hope of being queened.

The man smiled, clearly unconcerned. “I merely speak the truth. Spain might be England’s bedfellow for a time, but planting seeds in a fallow field is no guarantee of a fruitful harvest.”

Emma was faintly shocked by his daring, both for speaking to her at all and for the rather crude reference to her sister’s marriage bed. But there was no denying that Mary was of an age where the prospect of children was far from assured, even with a virile younger husband like Philip and every restored Catholic priest in England praying desperately for their very devout queen to get with child. The petty, spiteful part of Emma had chosen to dress in a manner that flattered her own youth and bore the unmistakable hallmarks of her split bloodline for the festivities, golden hair inherited from her father just peeking out from under the curved velvet band of her French hood, whilst Mary’s graying locks were concealed completely in an attempt to camouflage the age difference between her and Philip. The queen’s gown was splendid, sewn all over with gems, slashed and puffed as a peacock, and in contrast Emma’s unfashionably plain dress was as spare and demure as a nun’s habit save for the wide Blanchard sleeves that unfolded so prettily and touched the floor when she’d curtsied to her frowning sister and new, speculative-eyed brother before retiring to her place in the shadows to watch and wait by herself for the tides to turn.

Only now she no longer waited alone.

She glanced at the man who stood boldly at her side while the rest of the court spurned her, a handsome figure in his black doublet, dark-haired, sharp jawed and an even sharper wit that was not unwelcome as he made several more cutting remarks towards the Spanish delegation. Emma was used to her solitude, it was as familiar as a lover to her, and she’d survived this long on her own, but she wondered with a sudden burst of wistfulness if she would ever be allowed to wed. Not so long as the queen remained childless, Emma knew, her claim on her sister’s throne was dangerous enough as it was, let alone if she bore a son before Mary did. Besides, marriage was a shackle that would bind her to the whims of a man as England was now bound to serve Spanish interests and her mother had been bound to her father until his professed True Love turned to something so dark and ugly in the end.

“I’ve vexed you.”

Killian Jones’s handsome smile turned to a frown as his eyes searched her face and his obvious concern pierced her disquiet. Her unringed hand found his sleeve, uncaring who saw the Lady Emma conversing so closely with a man of unknown loyalties, a Scottish spy sent to court by Cora de Guise perhaps, or a Protestant rebel looking to roust the Spanish delegation from English soil. She had the sense that he was neither, seeking not her secrets to sell nor a figurehead for his cause, and his offer to join her service was intriguing. If….when…the time came that the crown should need a new brow upon which to rest, she would need able men to help hold it steady, as a woman without a husband to wear it for her.

“No, milord, you have not.”

“Not a lord,” he reminded her with a saucy wink that made her colour as no nobleman ever had, “As you are not a queen, my Lady Emma.”

His lips just brushed the shell of her ear, whiskered cheek touching hers for the briefest of moments and Emma felt a flutter low in her belly under the stomacher of her gown at both the heat from his body and the promise in the single word he spoke.

“Yet.”

Several Years Later

“Your Majesty?”

Queen Emma didn’t turn around, standing at the window of the small audience chamber and looking down into the courtyard below. Ladies walked arm-in-arm in their bright gowns, followed by more soberly clad servants who carried shawls and baskets of necessities. Courtiers stood in small groups, their swords at their hips and their heads bent close in discussion. There was a clear divide, between the old guard of Catholic families who still retained a few drops of royal Plantagenet blood despite her father and her grandfather’s best efforts to stamp it out, and those risen to new estates and titles as rewards for supporting the young Nolan dynasty and its even younger Church.

She had such a reward to grant now to one who had always supported her since the day they met.

“Your Majesty we really must discuss this further.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” she replied in a crisp voice, tapping a long oval nail against one of the diamond-shaped window panes, “I shall make the formal announcement tonight.”

“But….Lord High Admiral? You are really going to appoint Captain Jones to such an exalted position?”

“After the success of his voyage he has more than proved himself able to hold the post.”

“No commoner has ever been named-“

“Which is why,” she interrupted, “I will also be conferring upon him the title of Earl of Misthaven.”

Silence reigned for a long moment before Sir Archibald Hopper, Secretary of State and longtime advisor to the queen, let out a heavy sigh at the news and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “The Spanish Ambassador will not be pleased by that.”

Emma smiled, idly tracing patterns on the glass that bore more than a passing resemblance to the letters K and E. “Nothing pleases the Spanish Ambassador, and nothing ever will so long as I remain so inconveniently alive and in his master’s way. Ever since I refused Philip’s generous marriage proposal when my sister had scarcely grown cold in her tomb and denied him a second chance at England’s throne I have suffered much Spanish displeasure. You’d think the presence of his new French bride at his court would console him more, they do say Aurora de Valois is quite the beauty.”

“It won’t only be Spain, there are members of the council who will also object to this appointment. The Duke of Norfolk has been angling for his own candidate for several months now.”

She turned at that and arched a scornful brow, “While he corresponds behind my back with the Queen of Scots. His Grace is angling for much more than another royal appointment for his household, he is seeking a crown. But when he finally proposes marriage to Regina Stuart without my permission then he will either cool his heels in the Tower or join her in Edinburgh as an outlaw while I take his lands and title as forfeit. He can marry her as plain Robert Locksley and try to rule the Scottish chieftains if he is so inclined, but he will keep his greedy hands off my scepter.”

Her voice rose in anger and a lesser man would have backed down in the face of her obvious displeasure, but Hopper, her Conscience, as she called him, was made of sterner stuff and looked his queen right in the eye. “They say that Captain Jones also has his eyes on a crown, Your Majesty. You can name him Lord High Admiral and raise him to the peerage if you wish, but you must know that you can not marry a man of common birth.”

“Why is everyone in England so obsessed with the notion of marriage?” she snapped, two spots of colour appearing high in her pale cheeks, “I have no intention of marrying Captain Jones, Lord Hopper, nor any man, be he prince or peasant.”

“You can’t continue to hold all of Europe at bay without a husband and an heir to succeed you,” Hopper explained patiently, and not for the first time, “You have your choice of any unmarried noble from your court or the younger sons of all the royal houses, France, Sweden, Savoy, but eventually you must choose.”

The queen swept from the window, worrying at the gold coronation ring on her finger. “Have the letters patent drawn up. Killian Jones will be named Earl of Misthaven and Lord High Admiral of the English fleet. I trust you can handle any objections from the Council, and perhaps lay aside some smelling salts for when the news reaches the Spanish Ambassador.”

“Who is Killian Jones to you, Your Majesty?”

Hopper’s voice stopped her before she reached the door. The royal back went straight and silence reigned again for so long that he was sure she wasn’t going to answer. But at last she looked over her shoulder and regarded him where he sat on a low stool. Few were afforded the great privilege of sitting while the queen stood, only Hopper, Mistress Ruby Lucas, and one other who only ever exercised that right in private, never in public.

“He was a friend at a time when I had precious few and each was more valuable to me than any jewel. For his continued loyalty he has earned his reward, as I reward all who serve me and only me, yourself included, Sir Archibald. My family name is Nolan, for once we had had no land of our own and only the slimmest of claims to the throne. But now I am queen and I am England, and England has many enemies, some of whom dwell in this very court like snakes hiding in the grass. I need men like Captain Jones at my side to help flush them out and keep them from striking.”

The queen left Sir Archibald Hopper alone in the empty room, where he shook his head sadly and murmured to himself, “Killian Jones may walk behind you and sun himself in your glory, Emma Nolan, but he can never truly stand at your side.”

In a court where gossip was a currency more valued than coin the news surprisingly did not leak in the hours between the meeting of the Privy Council and the start of the banquet, another celebration thrown by the queen in honour of Captain Jones and the success of his voyage. The privateer was dressed all in black as was his custom and the queen had opted to don a new gown of white silk embroidered with thousands of pearls. Ropes of them also hung about her slender neck and fell from her ears, and it did not escape notice among the assembly that she had chosen to adorn herself so lavishly with gems from the sea. They all watched as she made her entry into the hall, framed between the carved oak doors that stood fifteen feet high on either side of her. Skirts rustled as the ladies curtsied to their queen, dipping down low when she passed with eyes demurely lowered to the floor. Emma walked straight to Killian, seeing nothing but him, the rest of the court was nothing but a smudge on the glass, unimportant and beneath her notice. Sir Archibald was her Conscience, her guide through the tricky and treacherous world of ambitious men and duplicitous women that she ruled, Mistress Ruby Lucas was Chief Lady of the Bedchamber, keeper of her deepest, darkest secrets and immune to any form of bribery or threats, while Killian Jones was bestowed with a secret title, one spoken only in stolen moments and known to only the two of them.

He was Emma’s Heart.

Not the queen’s.

Emma’s.

The sword at his hip was ornamental, a blunted blade beneath a silver guard and a pommel shaped like the neck of a swan, curved to fit his hand and adorned with emerald eyes that matched the gems in the necklace he had gifted her (and had, in fact, been chipped from one of the stones). A gasp went through the crowd when the queen unsheathed it with her own hand, reaching around his waist to do so in a gesture of breathtaking intimacy between Sovereign and subject. The Duke of Norfolk let out a strangled noise in the back of his throat while the Spanish Ambassador swore violently in his head, both realizing what was about to happen a minute too late.

“Captain Killian Jones, I confer upon thou as our most able subject for the post, the office of Lord High Admiral of the English fleet, to protect and defend the realm from those who would seek to do us and our kingdom such grievous harm.”

Killian had knelt obediently at Emma’s feet when she drew his sword, face betraying none of the smug satisfaction he felt. He’d known she would grant him this after the great success of his voyage, making the bitter years of separation sweet at last with his victory over all who’d sneered at his common name and scorned his prowess on the sea. No one would protect England as he would, for Emma was England personified, and he would protect her and defend her, until his dying breath. But her next proclamation caught even him off guard.

“I also name thee Earl of Misthaven.”

The flat of the blade lifted from his shoulder and caught the candlelight, flashing bright and seeming to ripple along the metal like a stone dropped in a still pool. So too did a ripple run through the crowd, as the implications of their queen’s decree sank in just as quickly. Emma Nolan had raised a commoner to the peerage, a dark-haired, French-educated commoner who groped for her free hand and kissed the back of it, head bent reverently over her slim wrist. David Nolan had done the same for Mary Blanchard once upon a time, the dark-haired, French-educated commoner he had loved so ardently.

And everyone knew how that story had ended.

“My Queen.”

The new earl looked up at his queen, seeing a smile playing at the edge of her vermillion lips. The memory tugged at the back of his mind, of another night, in another court, where he’d first paid his homage to a bastard daughter with barely a farthing to his name as a marriage was celebrated around them. Now she was the Sovereign, her inheritance firmly secured by nothing but her own skill and cunning, and he was a nobleman, one of the wealthiest in the entire country thanks to her royal patronage.

“My Lord.”

Emma swept back a lock of black hair from his forehead with a lingering touch, her expression tender and unguarded as she looked down at him and the court watched with bated breath. The Spanish Ambassador would write in his next dispatch that the English Queen “is clearly following in the footsteps of her father with the commoner Jones, now Earl of Misthaven, her close companion since his return from sea, and allows him to take unprecedented liberties with her person while he makes love openly to the queen with his increasingly lavish gifts and insincere flattery and is even said to be planning a marriage proposal” while Regina of Scotland sent a coded letter to the Duke of Norfolk upon hearing the news in Edinburgh and asked “Dearest Robin” if it was really true that “the illegitimate Blanchard bitch traded yearning looks and doey eyes with Captain Whoreson, a perfectly matched pair in their pretentions, as the self-styled Saviour of England has exalted a man of no name or family out from under her skirts” but no one openly challenged the queen’s decree and they all gave way to the couple when the earl rose to his feet and led the queen to the raised dais at the end of the hall where she gave the order to begin the feast.

“Will you come to me again tonight?”

His blue eyes were dark and imploring, the sea upon which she’d gladly drown. Emma rubbed a finger over one of the pearls sewn onto her skirt and gave an imperceptible shake of her head, speaking behind her goblet of wine.

“It’s too risky. The eyes of the entire court turn to you tonight, Lord Misthaven, and there is not shadow enough at Whitehall now to shield us from their scrutiny. Though you would not lack for feminine companionship in your chambers if you so wish it.”

“I wish only for you.”

The ladies of the court held no allure, and though he was a man of healthy appetites and knew he could easily charm his way into almost any bed he wished with his dashing countenance and new title, the Earl of Misthaven had his sights set on one only.

“Spain is watching us, as is Scotland through Norfolk’s eyes,” the queen cautioned, her own gaze finding the sour-faced ambassador and her scowling cousin Robert Locksley across the room. No one was close enough to overhear, but both men had other ears planted in the queen’s household, listening intently for any hint of scandal, and the most scandalous thing about the unmarried queen was her close relationship with her new, equally unmarried Lord High Admiral.

“If there is not shadow enough at Whitehall, my ship is docked at Portsmouth, and we could be there by the morrow on a fast steed. Say the word, Emma.”

A look passed between them that did not go unnoticed, a memory shared not by queen and earl, but by the woman under the silk gown and the man behind the moniker.

“It’s too late for that now, Killian.”

The pearl came free from the silver thread and was pressed into his palm in lieu of what she could not grant him tonight, her fingers closing his around it and lingering for a brief moment before the queen abruptly stood and everyone around who was seated scrambled madly to their feet. Mistress Ruby Lucas remained where she was in her chair, exercising the privilege granted to her by her royal charge until the queen passed the gaping courtiers and she finally rose to fall in step behind her, her scarlet gown like a trail of blood following the pristine white. In public Captain Jones always stood when the queen did, and he shifted his weight to one foot and rested a hand on the hilt of his sword with the pearl clutched tight in the other as he watched her walk away from him and his offer for the second time in his life.

“Congratulations, my lord Misthaven.”

He accepted Sir Archibald Hopper’s loud acknowledgement of his new status with a stiff nod, while several nobleman traded black looks and low conversations arose up and down the hall as alliances shifted like the sands to accommodate this latest development. He expected several to darken his door over the next few days with their proposals, to place younger sons in his service and even perhaps to attempt to arrange a marriage and see a daughter or a niece made a new countess at his side.

“Her Majesty was adamant that there was no one else who could fulfill the role and that any dissenting opinion would not be tolerated.”

That mollified Killian slightly and he flashed a smile that sent several of the young and not so young ladies standing nearby into a blushing tizzy. “I’m a hell of a captain.”

Hopper’s face was placid and his tone was light, but there was no mistaking the warning when he spoke to the man his queen had chosen if not as consort, then as something as unprecedented as her own unlikeliest of ascensions.

“Good. Because the storm is brewing on the horizon, and when it hits, all of England will feel the consequences of these decisions. Especially the queen.”

Emma had made her choice long ago, on a night when her path forked and a vow was sworn in blood. It had stained the sheets between them, the spilled drops a dark crimson circle on the pale linens like the red petals that ringed the white of the Nolan rose. The emblem of the royal house to which she would always truly belong to more than any man was inescapable, even during those few, secret hours when she was oh so fleetingly his.

He answered the Secretary of State not in the manner of a courtier, elegant and refined and as flexible as the wind, ready to twist and turn and follow whichever way it was blowing. Earl of Misthaven and Lord High Admiral of the English fleet he might be, Killian Jones was, at heart, a cunning pirate who’d sailed through his share of storms even before he was the queen’s privateer and it was that man who replied as he would on the docks, with a dip of his chin and a single, clipped, “Aye.”

HertfordshireLast Months of Queen Mary’s Reign

The lone rider urged his large black horse to a gallop along the winding roads and lush green fields of the countryside far from the capital, cloak flying out behind him and hat pulled down low on his head, raising a great cloud of dust beneath the sharp hooves that pounded unrelentlessly mile after mile as his own heart pounded madly against his ribs.

Not from the exertion of the strenuous ride.

From fear.

His gloved hands were cramped tight around the reins and only loosened a fraction when the squat rise of Hatfield House finally came into view, the low sloping roof stark against the rapidly setting sun that plucked fire from the red brick and leaded windows of the large country estate. In London the heretics burned at Smithfield and the sky above the city was black with the smoke for days on end, it drifted as far south as the docks at Portsmouth and carried the ash of the condemned souls away on the wind while the ships in the harbour still limply flew both English and Spanish flags in honour of the disastrous marriage pact between their half-Spanish queen and Spain’s king.

Captain Killian Jones served neither queen nor king, having sworn himself to another whose swan badge he wore in secret, close to his heart. He alighted from the saddle and left his lathered horse in the care of a white-faced groom before entering the house, scarcely stopping to knock the dust from his boots in his haste. Mistress Ruby Lucas met him inside the Great Hall as if she’d been expecting him, answering his half-entreaty, half-command of, “I need to speak with Her Highness. Now.” with a thin-lipped nod, not questioning the reason for such urgency.

“This way, Captain.”

There was hardly a servant to be seen about in the corridors or in the rooms glimpsed through open doors as Killian followed Mistress Lucas deeper into the house where Princess Emma had spent much of her uncertain childhood and remained her principal and favoured residence after the deaths of both her father and brother, an inheritance that went unchallenged by her sister to keep her away from London. Normally bustling with activity as the quasi-royal household of the heiress to the throne and shadow court to Mary’s, Hatfield House was strangely shuttered and still now, quiet as a tomb with only the faint retort of his own footfalls echoing along the long gallery. There were no squires cooling their heels and waiting for an audience, no messengers taking a mouthful of wine after delivering a letter, and Killian thought scornfully of rats deserting a sinking ship, as news must have spread that the Lady Emma had lost what little remained of her sister’s favour and the hangers-on had all fled lest they go down with her as well.

But not Killian Jones. He had made straight for Hatfield when his own man had sent the word.

It was at Hatfield where Emma had personally supplied Killian with the funds that went straight to his small ship, allowing him to purchase the foodstuffs needed for longer, more profitable journeys than he was currently able to undertake and speculate on cargos with no ready buyers to front the cost. It was at Hatfield where he’d brought her back the fruits of his voyages, spools of Brussels lace and costly Venetian glass, watching her face light up at both the gifts and at his safe return from sea and telling her tales by the fire of the lands he had visited as the wine flowed and the hours slipped by without notice or care.

It was at Hatfield where he had fallen hopelessly, utterly, wholeheartedly, in love with the girl who should be queen.

Mistress Lucas ushered him into a chamber and she was seated in a chair by the window, sitting straight-backed and staring at nothing. He hair was loose, a spill of gold down her back with no modest hood to conceal it, while she was garbed in a robe that was hardly suitable for receiving an unrelated man, though it was heavy and fur-trimmed against the chill it was low-necked and revealed the white swell of her bosom and the slim column of her throat, slender and delicate, as her mother’s was said to have been. Her former governess withdrew with a curtsey and closed the door behind her when she left, soft click of the latch loud in the silent room and leaving them alone without so much as the pretense of a chaperone to guard against wagging tongues and whispered allegations. Killian supposed it no longer mattered, not now, not when the worst accusation of them all was about to be levied against the Lady Emma’s Grace.

He spoke without preamble, “My spies have informed me that the queen signed a secret warrant for your arrest, on charges of high treason. They will be here no later than tomorrow afternoon to escort you back to London.”

There wasn’t so much as a flicker of emotion in response to his announcement, no gasp of alarm or draining of colour from her cheeks. There was only the barest arch of a brow as her gemstone-green gaze finally flicked to his.

“You have spies in my sister’s household, Killian?”

“Aye,” he answered, bothering to speak like a courtier as he moved to kneel in front of her and took her unresisting hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the rapidly fluttering pulse on the inside of his wrist. His informants had been well paid and it had been worth every penny to be kept apprised of the state of affairs at court, where Emma’s sister had failed to conceive a child and Philip had left his wife behind to wallow in her failure while he returned to his father’s empire and refused to come back to England. There would be no heir of Mary’s body born to succeed her, but she was loathe to let the daughter of her greatest enemy take her crown.

“My ship is docked at Portsmouth, we could be there by the morrow on a fast steed. My own is too spent from the journey, I’ll have the groom saddle a fresh mount from your stable whilst you don your plainest riding habit. The Dutch will surely offer you sanctuary inside their borders, or we could make for the Low Countries or-”

“I’m not leaving England.”

He reeled back as if she had slapped him, “What? Your Highness, please, if you don’t come with me tonight then they’ll take you to the Tower, and there will be no chance of rescuing you once you are secured behind those walls.”

She trembled and gave a heavy swallow at the mere thought of the ancient stronghold, but Emma did not waver in her conviction. “If I flee with you now, the moment I set foot off English soil my guilt will be confirmed in the eyes of the entire country. I will be convicted without fair trial, be branded traitor to the crown, and so will you.”

His face was a twisted mass of thunderclouds and storm, raging with the force of his emotions and the hand on hers tightened almost painfully. “Damn me for a traitor then, for I’ll not serve any crown or any prince save you and would rather sail lawlessly under the crimson flag for the rest of my days so long as you were kept safe from your enemies. For God’s sake, Emma, fair trial or not, you could still be executed for this, as your mother was before you.”

No one spoke the name Mary Blanchard at Hatfield, though her presence was the unseen ghost behind every fluttering curtain when there was no breeze and the shadow from every candle that flickered and danced so merrily before snuffing out. Once upon a time a king had loved a commoner he could not have, loved her beyond all reason and sense, a love so deep that it had nearly rent England right in two. Emma Nolan was her father’s daughter with her golden hair, but ambitious Blanchard blood ran through her veins, blood that had been spilled to see a daughter set upon a throne where no woman had ever sat before.

Killian begged and pled, “Don’t do this, Emma, please!” but she would not be moved. It was her destiny, set in motion long before she had even been born. It was a curse, inescapable, that had swept across the land and only she could break it.

There were tears on his face in the amber light from the fire, wet rivulets that carved tracks down his cheeks and she tasted the salt when she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was a brand, a promise, a whisper of words she could not speak. Emma rose from her chair and let the robe fall from her shoulders to reveal the white silk chemise that she wore underneath, pure and unblemished, a thin, unsubstantial thing without corset or farthingale to shape and sculpt her form into that of a king’s daughter. Killian Jones sat dazed on the floor while she stood, too stunned by the sight of her to even try to arise to his feet when a lady did as a gentleman should.

“I will be queen and I will make you a lord, and all of England will one day be mine. But if I am truly fated to die on the scaffold like my mother before me, then I do not wish to die a virgin.”

She too loved a man she could not have, common born but with a noble heart hidden underneath that would best any prince. In a flash Emma was in his arms, pressed boldly against him from shoulder to shin while his mouth crashed down on hers and his large hands spanned the narrow turn of her waist to pull her even closer. Her fingers fumbled with his belt, sending it clattering to the floor in a heavy thump of leather and cloak and codpiece both quickly followed. In nothing but flowing shirt and close-fitting hose Killian lifted her up, striding into the adjoining bedchamber and kicking the door closed impatiently with his heel. The curtains were already pulled back and tied to the post, letting them fall straight to the mattress with his mouth never leaving hers.

Killian went onto his knees on either side of her and took the neck of the chemise in his hands, tearing it open down the front with no care for the cost of the silk in his ardour. Nude, she was much smaller than when fully gowned in sweeping skirts and padded bodices, delicate as gossamer with fine white skin that would bear the marks of his loving to be hidden away afterwards, his rough, sailor’s hands not meant to touch the likes of her. But touch her he did, thumbing over the apples of her cheeks as gently as he could and tipping her chin up to receive his kiss again. The long golden curls coyly veiled her breasts like a siren of the deep, he pushed the strands aside to reveal the rosy tips that went pebbled and tight from the exposure and even more so when he bent to take one in his mouth, a tiny gasp of surprise escaping her at the sensation and hands fisting tight in his hair with a burst of pleasure-pain that prickled all along his scalp. Killian slid a palm down over her hip and felt the brush of the downy hair that feathered over her mound against his stomach, making him twitch with need and fighting his baser instincts, laying his head on her breast and closing his eyes to take a breath and quell the boiling urge rising within lest he lose all control and just take her without care.

“Killian.”

The weight of his body on hers was not the burden she expected to have to bear, it was a comfort, warm and reassuring even as she trembled under him with the nerves she fought so hard to conceal from everyone but her most intimate of companions. There was nothing to conceal her now from his avid gaze, dark and wanting, and oh did she want, wanted nothing more to be the only woman he looked at like that. She laid her hands on his bare chest once he tossed his shirt aside, eager to touch and explore and marveled at the fine mat of hair that covered it all the way down to his navel, feeling the flex of his ribs and the scars normally hidden by linen and wool, lash marks laid on his broad back from uncaring masters who she swore would feel her own wrath one day. His maleness stood out proudly from the wiry thatch between his legs and was hot and velvet-smooth against her palm, while her heart raced and her pulse throbbed between her own, suddenly slippery thighs, an ache that only grew more demanding with every brush of skin to skin, every sigh that escaped kiss-swollen lips.

“Lay back, darling.”

The order was breathed into her ear and she reclined back against the pillow while his knees spread hers apart and his hips rolled forward until there was nothing that remained but the final join of his body to hers and it would be done. Her maidenhead belonged to England, not her, but Emma was already a traitor in the eyes of the Crown just by virtue of her birth anyway. High treason was committed at Hatfield not in any secret plot or plan to seize the throne, but in a pirate’s bed when he claimed her virtue for his own in a sharp thrust that stole the breath from her lungs and she let out only the barest cry as he pierced through the barrier inside with his forehead pressed to hers. Dark satisfaction filled her even as Killian did, firm buttocks cupped under her heels and hips positioned just so between her open thighs. She belonged to England, but she loved a man as her father had loved her mother and like the late King David she would have both, her land and her lover and let nothing and no one stand in her way.

Killian started to move, a heavy slide of flesh against flesh that made her shiver despite the fact that she was far from cold, clutching at his shoulders and giving in to the urge that had her legs hitch up higher on his waist, revelling in the low groan he let out in response.

“Bloody hell.”

The pleasure of their coupling rolled down Killian’s spine and pooled low at the base, making his hips jerk hard against Emma even as he tried to be as careful as he could, taking most of his weight on his arms when all he wanted was to pin her to the bed and take his pleasure hard and fast until he was fully spent. But they had all night and he had to make it last as long as he could, both because he didn’t know if he’d ever have this again and to make sure Emma did not go to the Tower carrying his bastard child. He railed against her going there at all, anger lacing his love for this stubborn woman and tempting him to spirit her away anyway by force. Killian swore to himself that if it came to that, the scaffold or sanctuary abroad, he’d find a way to smuggle her out of England on his ship come hell or high water and raise the crimson flag once more.

He was too close to completion, balls and belly both tight and poised on the very knife’s edge of satisfaction, buried as he was in her silky quim. He had to stop before it was too late and it was a whore’s trick to prevent conception that he employed, pulling out and finishing with his hand instead in a few quick pumps. The sticky mess soiled the formerly bedclothes, along with the small bloodstain smeared on the sheets that marked the moment of consummation. Royal blood spilled by his own sword, and Killian felt a surge of masculine pride that had his cock faintly stirring again against his groin before it softened again and curled limp. There was a basin and ewer on the stand and he’d clean them both up after regaining his breath, but for now he lay on his back with a princess in his arms and thanked every lucky star he could name, for fate had smiled upon Killian Jones and his own lips curled with satisfaction while a small hand settled over his heart.

A sailor always rose before the dawn, but the sun was streaming in through the window and he could feel it even behind his closed lids while he groped across the bed and quickly realized the pillow next to his was empty. Killian sat up, coverlet falling to his waist and blinking his eyes open to start at the sight of Mistress Ruby Lucas seated on the edge of the bed, gazing at him as placidly as a wolf would a rabbit. Still a striking woman, he sensed she’d have no scruples against striking him if she felt the need arise.

“I loved Emma’s mother, Captain Jones, and I love her as if she were my own.”

He was uncomfortably aware of his nudity under the bedclothes but he kept his face carefully blank, even when she threw a pointed glance towards where the coverlet dipped a hair too low.

“You must be gone before the queen’s men arrive. Dress now, and leave through the window, your horse is saddled and waiting. I’ll see that the bedding is taken out and burned afterwards. You were never here, and nothing happened last night. The Lady Emma spent the evening secluded in the chapel at prayer, if asked, I will testify to it under oath. Do you understand?”

Killian scrubbed a hand over his face, feeling the weight of something settle on his shoulders. He understood perfectly and he nodded, knowing that like a fearsome she-wolf would protect her pup, Mistress Lucas would protect Emma from any hint of impropriety being discovered. A bundle of clothing was thrust unceremoniously at him along with a flask and a bit of bread and cheese tied up in a square of muslin for the journey back to the coast.

“Mistress Lucas?”

She paused in the doorway with one hand resting lightly on the wood and glanced back over her shoulder, “Captain?”

He spoke four words and then he stood, caring not for protecting his modesty as he shook the wrinkles from his shirt and began to dress. She understood his true meaning, he could tell by the knowing smile that flitted across her face before it was schooled back into a stern look.

“Long live the queen.”

#cs ff #cs fic #cs au #my fic #gloriana

71 notes · View notes

everlastingcaptainswan · 6 years

Text

Seven Encounters (8/8)

Epilogue

Summary: It took seven times for Emma Nolan to realize she loved His Royal Highness Prince Killian, but it only took him two times to realize he would chase her to the ends of this earth.

AO3 FF

Months later…

In this large house one would think there would be good heating, but certain rooms are more drafty than others, which leaves Emma’s feet freezing cold. She shuffles up to their room and roots around in Killian’s sock drawer. His socks are much warmer and thicker than hers, he won’t mind too much if she steals a pair of his. Well he might mind a little bit, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Her hand brushes against something that is most definitely not a sock. Her fingers wrap around a small velvet box. She pulls it out and examines the box.

She knows exactly what this is. Just as she’s about to open it the door swings open and she turns to face Killian, who stops dead in his tracks once he sees what she’s holding.

“Is this…” she asks keeping the box closed for now.

“Aye, why don’t you open it?” He says as he nervously scratches behind his ear. She smiles at his little nervous tick, it’s just another thing she loves about him. She opens the box and inside is beautiful elegant diamond on silver band with a ruby on either side of the diamond. She looks back up at him and finds he’s down on one knee.

“You know I had a big proposal planned. A nice dinner and flowers, the works, but I suppose I should’ve known you’d find it with how much you steal my socks,” he teases and she laughs, “I think I loved you the moment we met and I want to keep loving you for the rest of our days. I’ll even let you steal my socks whenever you want. Will you marry me?”

“Of course, but only for the socks,” she teases, tears pooling in her eyes. He growls and pulls her into his arms for a deep, passionate kiss. When they pull apart their foreheads rest against one another.

“Well not just the socks, it just so happens that I love you too,” she smiles and he kisses her once more. He slips the ring on her finger and it fits perfectly.

Almost a year later…

The warm sun beats down and it feels wonderful on Emma’s back. She opens one of her eyes looking at her husband’s empty lounge chair. Emma sits up looking for him, she sees him swimming in the ocean and she leans back in the chair.

Her husband is His Royal Highness Prince Killian and it still surprises her. Of course their wedding was quite the affair, Emma didn’t really care though. She just wanted to marry him, she wore whatever she was told and let the wedding planner go crazy with the flowers and whatever else she wanted. There was so much Royal Protocol to follow, so she did as she was told. All that mattered to her was her white dress and the fact that Killian was waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

Aside from saying I do and kissing the love of her life one of the most memorable moments was her mother’s speech at the reception.

“When these two first met I told my husband that our daughter was going to be a princess, which he was doubtful of and I can’t say I blame him, but as usual I was right. Her title is different, but essentially I was right. With some couples it’s evident to see that their meant to be, Killian and Emma are one of those couples. I wish both of you all the happiness in the world,” The President says with tears in her eyes as she raises her glass.

They wait to get married until Emma finished her masters program, so they had a long engagement. Her graduation was two months ago and now on they’re on their honeymoon on a private island in Fiji, something Killian insisted on, something about being away from the eyes of the press. She just wanted somewhere with a beach, but she was happy the press wasn’t here to document their every move. They needed alone time and that’s what they got.

She spies him out swimming in the ocean she leaves her hat on her lounge chair and heads out to meet him. He spots her on her track down from the chair and swims out to meet her.

“Hmm, darling did you have a good nap?” he smirks pulling her into his arms, kissing her cheek.

“I did, the water feels good though,” she hums.

“I know something else that feels good,” he tells her before kissing her neck.

“Hmm do you now? And what would that be?” she teases him, feigning innocence.

“You know how to wound a man’s ego, love,” he says playfully, knowing she knows exactly what he’s referring to.

“I think my husband can handle it,” she winks. Under the water his hand grasps her ass. She gives him a curious look when she feels him harden.

“Here?” she asks, looking around. He trails kisses down her neck and on hand slipping beneath her bikini top, making her gasp.

“Why do you think I requested a private island?” he asks, his eyes full of lust.

“I think you should show me why you did such a thing,” her hand grazing over the bulge in his swim trunks.

“With pleasure,” he growls.

--&---

Emma loves him and Killian loves her and she never thought she could be this happy. Well that’s what she thought until a few months after her honeymoon. She has to run to the bathroom several mornings at the museum before Belle, her new co-worker and friend, says something.

“Emma, I know you’re a smart women, so please tell me you at least know what this is,” Belle says with an eyebrow raised when Emma comes out of the bathroom for the third time this week.

“I’m sorry what? The smell of the paint was just getting to me, it’s nothing,” Emma shakes her head, they head back to their stations. Belle gives her an incredulous glare.

“Emma, when was your last period?” Belle whispers. That definitely throws Emma for a loop. Why on earth would she ask such a thing? Then she counts backwards and when she realizes what Belle is getting at, her eyes widen.

“I-um well, I’m not sure. Oh fuck,” she says realizing just how late she is.

“Breathe, look let’s just get you to a doctor. I’m sure there’s someone you call right?” Belle asks her and Emma nods. She knows there’s some doctor the royal family trusts. Emma grabs her phone and tells the receptionist on the other end that she just isn’t feeling well and was wondering if the doctor could come by that night. The chirpy girl tells her that is definitely possible and to expect him. She hangs up and looks at Belle.

“I mean have you two talked about…” Belle trails off.

“We want them and we’ve talked about them in a vague sense, but we weren’t trying or anything,” she says releasing a breathe she wasn’t sure she was holding.

“It’s a good thing then,” her friend smiles and so does Emma, “Are you going to call him?”

“Not until I see the doctor, he’s off with the King on some diplomatic trip or another. I don’t want to worry him if it turns out to be nothing,” she says shaking her head. They return to their work. She doesn’t want to go to him on some half cocked theory and get his hopes up. She’s seen him with Liam and Elsa’s little girl and he’s so good with her. He’d be crushed if he thought she was pregnant and it turns out she’s not. Pregnant. There’s a very definite possibly she is pregnant. It’s scary if she’s being honest.

The rest of the day she throws herself into her work, hoping that it will keep her distracted. It doesn’t, but she couldn’t be more glad when the day ends. Belle gives her a smile as they walk out.

“Promise to let me know how it goes?” she asks and Emma smiles.

“Of course, thank you for everything,” she chuckles before they part ways. August and Graham not far behind her. She may be married to a Prince, but her father insisted on her still having Secret Service protection, who he trusted more than any Royal protection. Killian and his family didn’t make a single objection, knowing better than to mess with a father’s wishes when it came to his daughter.

The whole ride home she fidgeting and nervous. None of that is made any better when Elsa and her daughter, Lizzie (full name Elizabeth) are waiting for her. Emma forgot she was having a quiet dinner with the two tonight.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” Elsa smirks and Emma sighs.

“Yes, I did. I’m sorry, just been a little distracted. Stay though,” she pleads and her sister in law just smiles, shifting Lizzie from one arm to another. Emma’s lady in waiting knocks and comes in unsure.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” she curtseys, “The doctor is here for you, Your Highness,” she says. This night could not go any worse for Emma truly.

“Are you not feeling well?” Elsa asks, concerned.

“Tell the doctor I’ll be there in a moment,” Emma tells the girl, who leaves them be, “I feel fine, I- well. I mean I’m not sure.” Emma panics a little bit.

“Emma, breathe. What’s going on?” Elsa asks her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I think I’m pregnant, but I don’t know for sure. That’s why the doctor’s here,” Emma spits out. Elsa doesn’t hide her shock.

“Oh I didn’t know you two were trying,” she says quietly.

“We weren’t,” Emma tells her, feeling a little guilty.

“No judgement at all. I mean you know that Lizzie wasn’t exactly planned. Come on, you need to see a doctor,” she encourages Emma.

“You can go home. I’ve ruined our plans for the night,” Emma says as they walk out of the room.

“Nonsense, you’re family. Besides Killian isn’t here, you’ll want someone with you,” she smiles. The doctor is nice enough, Emma’s never met him before.

“So my receptionist said you haven’t been feeling well, what seems to be the problem?” he asks Emma.

“I think I’m pregnant,” she tells him. He barely blinks an eye before asking his next question.

“When was your last menstrual cycle?”

“A little over two months ago,” she says thinking back. He nods.

“Alright I’m going to draw some blood and then we’re taking an ultrasound,” he tells her.

“What? Here? Now? Isn’t it a little early” Emma asks shocked and Elsa chuckles at her reaction.

“Yes, I have a portable one here with me. No, it’s not too early. It will give us a quick confirmation,” the doctor explains calmly. Emma takes a deep breathe, nodding. He draws the blood quickly. The ultrasound doesn’t take long and sure enough she’s pregnant. A tiny little blob (he assures her that is indeed her baby) showing on the screen.

“Congratulations, now from just a primary glance everything seems just fine. From what you told me and this I would guess that you’re about nine weeks along. So you need your prenatal vitamins and I’ll have you come in next week for another round of tests, alright?” the doctor ask and she nods. He hands her a tissue to clean up her belly and leaves a couple minutes later. Emma just looks at Elsa with a sleeping Lizzie in her arms.

“Congratulations,” she gives Emma a one armed hug, “have you told Killian?” she asks.

“No, I figured this out today, at work,” she tells Elsa, whose eyes go wide.

“Alright, call him now,” Elsa instructs her. She then notices that Emma hasn’t moved and might be in shock.

“You know what let’s eat something first, then call okay?” Elsa says and Emma nods. Elsa sets Lizzie in her car seat to sleep soundly. They have the kitchen make something quickly. At the end of dinner Emma finally comes to her senses.

“Okay I need to call him,” she says reaching for her phone.

“Oh good I was worried about you there,” Elsa sighs, setting her fork down.

“I just needed to wrap my head around this. You know you suspect it, but hearing it confirmed is something else altogether,” she explains and Elsa nods with a smile.

“We’ll leave you to call him. If you need anything call me,” Elsa smiles hugging her before leaving.

“Of course,” Emma smiles, seeing Elsa and her niece out. The door shut and she sighs. She unlocks her phone and calls Killian. It rings a couple times before he answers.

“My love, you have to come with me next time because these things are dreadfully boring,” he tells her without missing a beat.

“You want me to be bored with you, how romantic,” she teases him, making her way to their bed.

“If you were here then they wouldn’t be so boring,” he tells her, “how was your day?” She pauses, how does one exactly tell their husband that they’re having a baby. She sits down on the bed. Is it something you can just spit out or is there a way to lean into it? She should’ve thought of that before she called him.

“Emma?”

“Sorry, I had a very interesting day, one I wish you were here for,” she says fiddling with her wedding band. Easing in might be better,

“Is everything alright?” he asks, worry creeping into his voice.

“Yeah more than alright,” she laughs, “I found out that I’m pregnant.”

“What?” he says shocked.

“I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby,” she tells him, smiling.

“You’re pregnant… we’re having a baby,” he says and Emma can hear Liam talking in the background. There’s some muffled sounds then Liam is on the line.

“Not to alarm you, but I think you might have broken Killian. He’s staring off into the distance with his mouth open,” he chuckles.

“Don’t be too hard on him I didn’t fully process it until about twenty minutes ago,” she laughs.

“Congratulations, how are you feeling?” Liam asks.

“Thank you and oh fine, been a little nauseous,” she says before hearing a commotion in the background.

“Love,” Killian says back on the line, sounding like he is breathing heavily.

“Did you just wrestle the phone from Liam?” she asks, concerned.

“That might have happened. You’re really pregnant?” he asks and she rolls her eyes.

“Yes, dear.”

“Oh Emma, I wish I was there,” he says and she smiles, he finally understands what’s going on.

“Me too, but you’ll be home tomorrow right?” she asks him.

“That’s correct,” he tells her.

“I’ll see you then. We’ll talk about everything when you’re home. It all happened so fast and I needed to tell you,” she sighs.

“I’m so glad you did,” his voice light and happy. They exchange goodbyes and hang up. Emma turns in early that night exhausted from the days events. Something wakes her in the the middle of the night though.

“Emma,” Killian says, waking her. She squints in the darkness, she fumbles around and turns on the lamp at her bedside. Killian is sitting on their bed.

“Killian? You’re home,” she says confused, still trying to wake up.

“I am, Liam insisted I come home, I think I was annoying him too much,” he chuckles. He pulls her in and kisses the top of her head. She looks up at him and kisses him. He holds her so gently, like she might break. She pulls away.

“We’re having a baby,” she smiles. His hand rests on her stomach.

“It’s like everything stopped when you told me. We weren’t trying so I was just so surprised when you said that. I feel like such an idiot for how I reacted because Emma I couldn’t be happier,” he tells her. She places a hand on his cheek.

“I know that, I’ve seen you with Lizzie. I knew you’d be happy. I felt the same way I was in shock for about an hour. I think I scared Elsa,” she tells him. He lifts an eyebrow at this.

“She was here?” he asks and she nods. Emma proceeds to tell him everything that happened that day. He smiles for most of it.

“I wish was here for all of this,” he sighs, looking down. She lifts his chin to meet her gaze.

“Me too, but you’re here now. There will be many doctors appointments and other things that I am sure you will be present for, so there is nothing to be sad about,” she essentially scolds him. He smiles.

“No there really isn’t,” he says. He changes out of his clothes then climbs into bed with her before turning off the light. He pulls her close kissing her once more before they both drift off to sleep. Emma didn’t think she could be happier than when she married Killian, but on this day and in this moment she is.

a/n: I know this epilogue has taken what feels like forever, but thank you so much to all of you have have hung in until the very end. Love you all.

#CS modern AU #cs ff #cs #CS fanfics #cs ff au #captian swan #Prince!Killian #firstdaughter!emma #CS modern royalty #epilogue #marriage #and babies #emma swan #killian jones

45 notes · View notes

hillbillyhippiemusicreview · 4 years

Text

Post #62--Cody Howard, A Long Way From Home

Reviewed by Lyssa Culbertson

After a few days of being home off the road, I had begun to get antsy. So, much like a bandit on the run, I made my way to my getaway car and headed for my favorite spot to think: a waterfall tucked away in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. While there, I was immersed by soaking in nature’s music akin with the sounds of Cody Howard’s melodic voice in harmony. If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times again—there is such talent hidden in the hollers in Kentucky and it’s time it is uncovered! Harlan, Kentucky born and bred, Cody is a recently discovered jewel of the mountain—in other words, he’s a young diamond in the rough and it’s his time to shine.

Cody’s sound is what I describe as mood music—it’s those kind of relaxing tunes you just blast to chill out and muse over life. When I first heard him sing on a YouTube video, I knew I had to hear more so when I realized he had an upcoming EP to release, I booked him for a livestream show on HHMR, and instantaneously, I was hooked on his sound. His voice is perhaps unsuspecting to the untrained ear, as it is soft and quite mellow with shades of old-timey mountain folklore scattered throughout; however, it is powerful not only in the way it sounds but the way it phrases the deep, thought-provoking lyrics Cody pairs with it. Lyrically, he possesses a poetic prowess far beyond his years that will surely continue to deepen as he continues to forge his path in the Appalachian music scene and beyond. Sonically, the quality of his EP is quite impressive to be recorded and produced solely by him and a few friends, including Dakota Saylor and Josh Nolan. Cody Howard is certainly an artist to keep your eye on, and I say that with full confidence in his artistry and budding career.

The EP, A Long Way From Home, begins with a thoughtful monologue as hilarious as it is true. It’s full of that kind of good country wisdom we all heard growing up and Robert Gipe gives the perfect introduction to preface the tunes that follow. In it he says, “That’s what I like about these young cats making music here in Harlan or wherever things is kind of rough, because they know if it don’t come with a little bite to it, then the tasty ain’t as tasty.” If you can decipher the meaningful message in those words, then you’ll surely soak in every note Cody sings, beginning with “Thriftshop Suitcase.” It’s a tune about the pain of leaving things behind and moving on from what or who we love, figuratively packing days gone by in the old dusty luggage of our minds. “Bandits,” the second song on the release, sounds almost melancholic, yet it’s an ethereally heartwarming tune focused on the notion of running away from the pitfalls of life and letting love lead the way, all the while placing your trust in another person: “take my hand . . . we’re gonna make it wherever we are.” It was in this tune that I truly fell in love with the mechanics of Cody’s voice, as the chorus highlights the quiet power it holds—it draws you in and makes you believe the promises he’s crooning.

“Mine Town,” co-written with fellow Kentuckian Lance Rogers, is by far the best evidence of Cody’s songwriting abilities on the EP, as it is rooted in both history and truth. The tune commences with an almost haunting spoken word portion detailing the destiny many men in rural Appalachia used to face where coal was king—their life’s trajectory tended to be predetermined from birth, because as Cody sings, “generations come and go.” In this song, Cody details the story of town ruled by the mine and some of the detrimental effects involved, such as runoff killing all aquatic life in the streams. When he sings, “the funeral home’s the nicest place, at least they’ve got some honest work,” it chilled me to the bone imagining what life was, and still is like, in many of these places, as “all we have left here to show is hollow hills we call a home, the blackened field full of bones.” He paints an extremely stark and desolate, yet vivid portrait of a “Mine Town” that is evocatively beautiful in the way he delivers the tune.

Rounding out the EP, “When I Finally Get Around to Livin’,” also co-written with Lance, is a lyrical daydream, noting all the things he would do when he starts truly manifesting his existence whilst urging both himself and listeners to “start living now before you’re dead and gone” because “one day life will be too late for living.” The song shares a poignant message about not waiting to be who you want to be, as every day is a gift we are not promised. I would like to believe it is a lesson the late wordsmith Justin Townes Earle, who Cody’s lyricism at times reminds me of, would support—and I mention Justin for good reason. I will attempt to give a little spoiler alert while not spoiling all of the magic: at the end of “When I Finally Get Around to Livin’,” there are 38 seconds of silence to honor JTE prior to a secret track playing, and much like all of the other fine pieces of music preceding it, it is one you must hear.

As I listened to A Long Way From Home, it was evident that Cody Howard puts his heart and soul into everything he touches, as well possessing a love and hunger to make music and share his stories with the world that is sometimes difficult to find. I positively cannot wait to hear more from this young troubadour, and I hope you enjoy his craft as much as I do. Be sure to procure and stream the EP on whatever platform you prefer, and check him out on social media at Cody Howard on Facebook and @codyhowardmusic on Instagram.

Peace, love, & music,

Lyssa

————————

*This is an independent review. The Hillbilly Hippie Music Review was not compensated for this review.

*The opinions expressed are solely that of the author(s).

*These images are not ours, nor do we claim them in any way. They are copyrighted by Cody Howard..

0 notes

pistachioguardiansau · 7 years

Text

Long List of Anacardian HCs

Please note that some contain spoilers to stuff/characters that take place/appear after the Anacardia fic. I'm really that excited to share some stuff with you all xD • Now matter how old they become, Anacardian faces never age - In this case, gain grey hair or wrinkles. Balthazar merely cast a spell to make himself look older than the rest, a vanity thing that runs within many of the Eldest Guardians • Vinnie loves animals so much that he sneaks them in the palace grounds much to Balthazar's annoyance (don't worry, big animals like llamas and ponies go straight to the stables) • All Anacardian delicacies are vegan/vegetarian based • The Guardians' part of the palace contained more than enough rooms for the current five - In fact, the area itself could house about six more families • Milo and Melissa have their own rooms and beds in the main Guardians' Bedroom; The room where that all of them share and sleep in. Even Zack has a bed and room specially made for him • Zack is given the position of being Anacardia's Ambassador to the Mortal World • Vinnie's friday duty is mainly seeing to conflicted and troubled people of various races who come to seek his help or advice; Most of them usually being children and adolescents who are non-Anacardian • Melissa loves apricots and Milo pistachios • Balthazar conducts a class subject exclusive for Anacardian children who are born with magic extremely strong and powerful for their age - Milo, Phineas, Ferb and Baljeet being notable students • Savannah works as a performer and singer at The Lucky Clover during special nights •The male Guardians go for 'Manly Nights' at a bar in The Lucky Clover every Friday evening. Balthazar and Orton have ceased going for these however, ever since Milo and Melissa arrived •Vinnie was once forced to go with Brick for some manning up at the bar- The poor guy had to squirt cleanser fluid in his eyes after seeing Savannah show off on stage xD • The Greenleaf County Middle School where Milo and Melissa are enrolled as students, is a multi-race academy where even students outside the Anacardian tribe attend classes with them •Bradley and Amanda are the only Gethens in Milo and Melissa's class so far • The Greenleaf County staff consist of the Anacardians Principal Milder and Mrs Murawsaki, Mrs White and Mrs Baxter from the Icarus flock and Coach Nolan the Centaur. Mr Drako and Heinz consecutively join the teaching duty and Elliot takes up the Crossing Guard position • Mort and Chad are a Centaur and Satyr respectively • Aside from Vinnie, Brick ultimately doesn't mind being smothered with affection from the Minty Woods Dryads - In fact, he loves to show off to the girls and even flirt, much to Savannah's annoyance • Mr Drako sleeps either in a coffin-shaped box or hanging upside down from a branch - Sometimes he also sleeps with Bradley and Amanda in a hollow they share together (they live inside a huge tree) • The Cave of Guardians Past located behind Emerald Falls is home to the many jewel markings made by the Guardian ancestors who have lived throughout the past • The Jade Caverns is home to a variety of creatures ranging from elemental salamanders to giant bats. The cavern's waters are also rumored to contain a huge sea monster that no one is yet to encounter… • Orton pays his little Mortal World cult a visit twice every week • Because of their strong connection with the people of the Mortal World, Melissa and Milo are crowned Guardians of The Mortal World by the Queen • Swamp Hamlet is free from the tax-collecting system and now stands as a city under Anacardia's name. The village is now located at the foot of Mt Laurel where all the Guardians and their children have finally been reunited • Zack becomes the Guardians' protege and is enrolled with Milo and Melissa as Greenleaf County's first Mortal student • The Verity Palace has a ballroom where balls are held during special nights • Anacardia and Gethen marriage has officially been legalized again following the reconciliation between the two races • During Block's roaming the Mortal World in his sheer remorse, Orton became the Gethens' king and is ultimately responsible for turning the once violent race into the kind-hearted souls they used to be • Melissa is afraid to fly in her falcon form • Milo's animal form is a Griffin cub with the qualities of a cat, dog, wolf and falcon - Basically all the animal forms of his elders • When in his Corrupted form as Te Bā (name not confirmed) Balthazar is a giant Titan made of molten, dark magma and his hands are covered with acidic sand that immediately destroys any form of life it touches • Vinnie always holds a special guitar given to him by his mother figure and caretaker Lordess Florina. He dubs it the 'Strings of Forgiveness' and likes to play lovely tunes on it. Elliot once used this to openly express and apologize to the Gethens • Gretchen started living her redemptive life in Anacardia with a teenage male named Carl and a middle-aged Anacardian named Francis Monogram - Heinz's boss in Anacardian work • Mortals are very welcome in Anacardia and can visit with the power of Zack's pendant; A gold crystal that acts as the Mortals and Zack's teleportation device • The Swamp Hamlet Healers are provided weekly with medicinal herbs that are powerful enough to heal just about any injury or illness • Balthazar and Orton have close connections with the families that raised their kids and visit them constantly. The Murphys and Richard too are given the opportunities to visit their children in Anacardia • Max and Lyle hold a strong envy for Zack who is practically now Swamp Hamlet's idol. Melvin and Sean became Zack's closest Mortal friends and were very intent on protecting Zack from the jealous duo • The former First Guardian, Lord Mendel, almost resembles Balthazar completely - Only difference being the purely white hair, cerulean eyes and signature emerald clothing. His moustache is also longer than Balthazar's • Bradley is supposedly the chosen successor to Block's throne and Amanda is a could-have-been member of the Stygian Palace Court • Savannah is a singer and a performer at The Lucky Clover. Brick joins in too as her duet partner at certain nights and sometimes, Melissa and Milo do guest songs - Even against Balthazar and Orton's will • Balthazar's team in replenishing the land's trees consist of the Brulee couple, Linda and Lawrence. Occasionally, the Johnsons, Tjinders and a few Dryads arrive as back-up for the current team • Sir Francis Monogram leads a specially trained group of animals that ensure things are stable in the land. Multiple divisions of these animals are scattered throughout and outside Anacardia • Vinnie is a huge fan of Diogee and is the first one to dog-sit him when Milo is busy • After being transformed from a stuffed animal into a real dog, Diogee has gained immortality and senses much sharper than the average Mortal dog • It is believed that Queen Tenebri, the deceased ruler of the Gethens, now possesses the moon and lives among the Guardians of The Past (the constellations) • Orton had a special music box made for Melissa during her early days. This music box is only activated with his or Melissa's touch and it gives out a soothing tone to lull her to sleep. Orton refused to touch or even look at it following Melissa's loss... • Luminescent Llamas are twice the size of the Mortal Llamas • Every tribe of race has about five to eight leaders to govern their respective areas on behalf of their various Queens/Kings • The Pistachions are a hasty but friendly race living in good terms with the Anacardians who take great care of them. Some Pistachions work as the Verity Palace Guards and others, as Brick's trainees in fighting classes •The King Pistachion is a close companion of Queen Pistachia and they always enjoys good talk together. The Queen adores him and loves all the jokes the King would exchange with her (Pistachia Vera isn't all serious, she also has her quirkiness ;) ) • Chad likes to play the bamboo pipes and is quite good at it. His music is known to impress the Icen Lydia and she often goes to him to hear him play • The Guardians drink alcohol only for very special occasions. The men tend to act strange as a result of drinking the liquid. Savannah however has a high tolerance so she's able to get ahold of herself. Vinnie, Balthazar and Orton grow extremely defensive when Milo and Melissa try to ask for a glass (mostly Melissa does that xD) • Kris is very interested in Gethen culture after finding out alone existence of such race. She adores the young Gethen Bradley to the core • The Time Guardian race are not truly Anacardians. In fact, they're a different type that comes in the smallest number - greatest being 2 until one passes away. A second Time Guardian is only born a considerable amount of time before the first one dies or haves his life sacrificed for good • Block and Orton used to be best friends in their childhood. It all went down after Block bitterly blames Orton and the others for Tenebri's death. Now the two are hostile and refuse to have even a second's peace • Mr Drako and Mrs Murasaki live together in a Black Forest Oak Tree with Bradley and Amanda. The two have developed a thing for each other and the kids are equally shippy for them ^^ • Amanda's parents are yet to return to their daughter • Bradley has long disowned his careless parents who simply saw him as a 'tool to fame' in their giving him off to Block. Now he's officially adopted by Mr Drako and gained Amanda as a surrogate little sister • Elliot is often hostile towards Milo, particularly for the things going wrong around him (damage can easily be fixed, but using magic can be tiring) • Vinnie sometimes does the cooking for the Guardians. Milo helps too when it is a cheesy delicacy that's going to be served • Orton knows how to make clocks and carve trinkets out of wood • Gems and diamonds are much more common in Anacardia. Zack is given these to distribute to the Mortals on earth so they can make business out of them

#milo murphy's law #pistachio guardians au #balthazar cavendish #vinnie dakota #brick and savannah #orton mahlson #milo murphy #melissa chase

11 notes · View notes

lumierebros · 7 years

Text

Movie Buff Questions

1. Favorite action film?

Imogen: Die Hard, Terminator 2

Shakya: The Dark Knight, Terminator, Alien, Ip Man +any Tarantino

2. What movie(s) could you watch over and over and not get tired of?

I: Grease, Inception, Gone Girl, Superbad, Hot Fuzz

S: There Will Be Blood, Deathproof, Grease, Django Unchained, Birdman, Whiplash, plus again, any tarantino let’s put it at that)

3. Any old school favorites (pre-70s)?

I: Rear Window, North By Northwest, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

S: On the Waterfront, Citizen Kane, Rebel Without A Cause, Psycho, A Streetcar Named Desire, Casablanca, Singin In The Rain, Dr Strangelove, 2001, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Apartment, The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 12 Angry Men, Ben Hur are allllllllll amazing

4. Top 5 directors?

I: David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, Denis Villeneuve

S: Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, Coen Brothers, Damien Chazelle/Alejandro G. Iñárritu

5. Favorite dead actor/actress?

I: Grace Kelly, Heath Ledger, Audrey Hepburn, Anton Yelchin

S: Heath Ledger had a lotttt of potential and Brando was great too

6. Favorite movie from the 90’s?

I: Clueless, Fight Club, Seven, Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty

S: Goodfellas, American Beauty, The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, The Usual Suspects, Good Will Hunting, Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, Dances With Wolves, Scream, Sister Act, Trainspotting. American History X, Forrest Gump, Casino, Leon, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park I could go on and on

7. Ever been/are you such a hardcore fan of an actor actress you watched/will watch any movie they were/will be in?

I: James McAvoy

S: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Leonardo DiCaprio

8. What movie are you looking forward to coming out the most?

I: Star Wars the Last Jedi, Blade Runner 2049

S: Alien: Covenant, Dunkirk

9. Pixar or Dreamworks?

I: Pixar

S: Pixar, but Dreamworks for Sinbad, Prince of Egypt and Spirit

10. Favorite animated movie?

I: Fantastic Mr Fox

S: Spirit, Fantasia, Ferngully

11. Favorite musical?

I: La La Land, Grease, The Lion King

S: Singin’ In The Rain, Grease, Moulin Rouge, La La Land, Oliver!, The Sound of Music, (does High School Musical count )

12. Are you against book-to-movie adaptations?

I: Nope

S: Noooo

13. Your guilty pleasure movie(s)?

I: The Narnia movies, X-Men Apocalypse, The Proposal

S: Burn After Reading, Snatch, In Bruges + Independence Day, Ace Ventura hahahaha

14. Robin Williams or Eddie Murphy?

I: Robin Williams

S: Robin Williams easily

15. Favorite chick flick?

I: Clueless, Ever After

S: When Harry Met Sally (is that a chick flick or)

16. Ever watched a movie just because you heard the effects were awesome?

I: Star Trek (ending up loving it), Avatar

S: Avatar, Gravity, District 9

17. Favorite indie film?

I: Memento, Lost in Translation, Drive

S: Reservoir Dogs, Drive, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, American History X

18. Favorite movie heroin?

I: Sarah Connor, Princess Leia, Liz Bennet, Lisbeth Salander

S: Ellen Ripley

19. Favorite movie action hero?

I: John McClane, Indiana Jones

S: Jason Bourne, The Terminator (arnie)

20. Ever read a book so you could understand the movie?

I: Gone Girl, The Life of Pi

S: A Clockwork Orange: Watched the movie to understand the book, but never got past the first 20 pages or past the rape scene in the film

21. Favorite kids movie?

I: How To Train Your Dragon, The Parent Trap

S: Space Jammmmmmmmmm

22. Favorite Disney movie?

I: The Beauty and the Beast

S: Snow White (childhood fav)

23. Favorite movie soundtrack?

I: Anything by Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore (LOTR)

S: Anything by Hans Zimmer, Justin Hurwitz and Howard Shore. PLUS Proven Lands - Jonny Greenwood, Dirty Walk and Doors and Distance - Antonio Sanchez, Revenant theme- Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nightcall- Kavinsky, The Child Pt. 1 & 2- Jed Kurzel, any classical pieces in Kubrick films.

24. Movie that makes you cry every time?

I: Atonement, Schindler’s List

S: Schindler’s List, Titanic hehe

25. VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray?

I: I watch my stuff online srry

S: VHS was amazing, we had a massive collection when I was younger. Nowadays I would say Blu-ray purely because of quality. Quality of sound is more important to me though (BOSE!!!).

26. Best experience going to the movies

I: Seeing Star Wars The Force Awakens in Gold Class

S: When my boyfriend randomly picked me up at 10pm to go see Arrival as a surprise because I’d mentioned I wanted to see it once.

27. Top 5 actors?

I: Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Ethan Hawke, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis, Ewan McGregor plus all the ones Shakya mentions that I don’t mention-- I LOVE EVERYONE

S: Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Spacey, Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Ed Norton, Benicio Del Toro, Christoph Waltz, Javier Bardem

28. Top 5 actresses?

I: Amy Adams, Lupita Nyong’o, Viola Davis, Naomie Harris, Felicity Jones, Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet, Brie Larson

S: Natalie Portman, Frances McDormand, Emma Stone, Ellen Page, Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, Kirsten Dunst

29. Movie you completely regret seeing?

I: X- Men The Last Stand

S: 2012, The Accountant, Pacific Rim, Nymphomaniac P1 & 2

30. Movie you wish was never made?

I: X-Men The Last Stand HAHAHA

S: Eragon

31. Movie your parent showed you?

I: The Wizard of Oz, Grease

S: Legit everything, we still have Movie Night every Friday (and we’re not allowed rewatches)

32. Last movie you watched?

I: The English Patient

S: The Apartment

33. An overrated movie?

I: Batman (1989), also agree about The Notebook

S: The Notebook, Super 8, 500 Days of Summer, Brokeback Mountain, Zoolander, Rain Man

34. An underrated movie?

I: Before Sunrise, In Bruges, The Nice Guys

S: Nocturnal Animals, Drive, Snatch, Blood Diamond, Dogma, Biutiful, Tree of Life

35. Favorite comedy movie?

I: Hot Fuzz, Superbad, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Blazing Saddles

S: Burn After Reading, Tropic Thunder, Annie Hall, The Big Lebowski, Wayne’s World, Snatch, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, Borat

36. Movie quote you live by?

I: “I’m so much happier now that I’m dead. Technically, missing.” You know, bc fuck Nick Dunne.

S: There’s not any quote I LIVE by but I do love this scene:

‘Michelangelo? You know a lot about him. Life's work, political aspirations. Him and the pope. Sexual orientation. The whole works, right? I bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seeing that. If I ask you about women, you'll probably give me a syllabus of your personal favorites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You're a tough kid. I ask you about war, you'd probably throw Shakespeare at me, right? "Once more into the breach, dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap and watch him gasp his last breath lookin' to you for help. If I asked you about love, you'd probably quote me a sonnet, but you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes. Feelin' like God put an angel on Earth just for you, who could rescue you from the depths of hell.’

37. Movie quote that will always make you laugh?

I: “Where the white women at?”

S: ‘I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast!’ ‘You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?’ -long pause- ‘No!’

‘Shut the fuck up fat man this ain’t none of your goddamn business’

‘I have uh..uh.. lactose reflux’ ‘You’re lactose intolerant or you have acid reflux? They’re different things’

‘A shootout is a fucking shootout!!....Like a Western’

‘You think that’s a Schwiiiiiin’

‘I eat the Canadian? I don’t know what you’re talking about’

‘I don’t read the script, the script reads me’ ‘What the hell does that even mean??’

‘oh nothing Tommy, it’s….tip-top, it’s just i’m not sure about the colour’

All the other quotes I find funny are completely random movie quotes that my family has just turned into a joke and that we can easily incorporate into conversation e.g. ‘whadaya gonna do ranger rick, shoot me?’ ‘I could do that’, ‘you sir, too sir’, ‘I don’t want Nenat’, ‘I drive’, ‘you want uhhh money or something’, ‘yeah i like dags’, ‘there is no spoon’ ETC you get the point

38. Film(s) you’ve watched on a date?

I: Any action/superhero movie that has come out recently.

S: The Conjuring 2, La La Land, Arrival, Sausage Party, The Accountant (bf loves accounting but it was shit), Fantastic Beasts, Captain America: Civil War, Shine (anniversary reshow with Geoffrey Rush doing a q&a after teehee), Nocturnal Animals, Suicide Squad, Moonlight, Sully, War Dogs, Jason Bourne, heaps more that I can’t remember

39. Favorite cult film?

I: Pulp Fiction, Fight Club

S: The Big Lebowski, Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction

40. Directors you’d like to see work together?

I: David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve could be interesting

S: Coen brothers and Guy Ritchie would be fkn awesome OR Coens and Tarantino would be screenplay heaven

41. Actors you’d like to see work together?

I: Felicity Jones and Oscar Isaac (can you imagine the chemistry)

S: Miles Teller and Emma Watson ;---)

42. Films you wanted to watch, but never got around to watching?

I: American History X, 28 Days Later

S: Amadeus, The Deer Hunter

43. Favorite teen movie?

I: Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Fast Times at Ridgemont High

S: Juno, Grease, The Breakfast Club, Rebel Without A Cause

44. Top 5 favorite films?

I: American Psycho, Her, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Seven, Inception, There Will Be Blood, Inglourious Basterds, LOTR, No Country For Old Men ARGH SO MANY

S: There Will Be Blood (no. 1 fav), Good Will Hunting, No Country For Old Men, Raging Bull, Fargo, The Dark Knight, Goodfellas, LOTR, American Psycho, Deathproof, Tree of Life, The Usual Suspects, So many so many.

45. Favorite superhero film?

I: Logan, X-Men Days of Future Past, The Dark Knight

S: The Dark Knight, The Incredibles

46. Favorite cop film?

I: 21 Jump Street, Hot Fuzz, The Departed

S: Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, Seven, Mystic River, The Departed, Silence Of The Lambs

47. Favorite road trip film?

I: Fear and Loathing Las Vegas

S: Borat HHAHAHAH

48. A disappointing film from your favorite actor?

I: Pick any rom-com of Matthew McConaughey’s

S: Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List and Anger Management. So fucking bad. Good actor, shit movies.

49. A disappointing film from your favorite director?

I: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

S: The Lovely Bones, Only God Forgives

50. The first movie you ever remember watching in theaters?

I: I don’t remember any, but the first film I saw was A Bug’s Life

S: I genuinely have no idea

51. A movie that was better than the book?

I: The Shining (lmao bc Stephen King hates the movie)

S: Yeah The Shining and There Will Be Blood (based on Oil! which was beautifully written but nothing beats PTA’s adaption)

52. Vin Diesel or Bruce Willis?

I: Vin Diesel is so cute but I like Bruce better

S: it’s not a motorcycle baby it’s a chopper

53. A movie that not many have heard of that you’ve seen?

I: Hunt For the Wilderpeople

S: Vampire’s Kiss, Children of Men, Ip Man (VERY good foreign film), Dr Strangelove, Inherent Vice, Shame, Biutiful, Macbeth, Cool Hand Luke, Room In Rome, To Sir With Love

54. A movie that changed the way you view the world?

I: To Kill a Mockingbird

S: American History X

55. Favorite sci-fi movie?

I: Star Wars, Star Trek, Interstellar, Arrival, Gattaca

S: Alien, Predator, The Thing, Interstellar, Arrival, Terminator, 2001, Matrix, The Fifth Element, E.T

56. Movie you completely nerd-out over every time it’s mentioned?

I: X-Men, Star Wars, LOTR

S: LOTR obviously

57. Movie that you’ve seen all the behind-the-scenes action for?

I: Inception

S: LOTR again, hours on end of it omf

58. Movie where your favorite actor was the only good part?

I: Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor in the Star Wars prequels

S: Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries

59. Movie from an actor you hate that was better than you expected?

I: Kristen Stewart (Adventureland), but I don’t hate her at all, I was just surprised at her performance.

S: Mo’Nique in Precious, never hated her, she’s brilliant, it was the first performance I’ve seen of hers and it made me despise her character so much. SO GOOD but so awful.

60. Most visually stunning movie you’ve seen?

I: The Revenant

S: Tree of Life, 2001, The Revenant, Apocalypse Now, The Master, Interstellar, LOTR, Jurassic Park

61. A movie your parents introduced you to?

I: The Wizard of Oz, Life is Beautiful, Grease

S: Hahahaha basically every movie no joke, but my dad showed me lots of Chaplin

62. Favorite genre?

I: Thriller/crime/mystery/suspense

S: Drama, gangster movies, thrillers/horror/psychological thriller/horror you get the jist

63. Least favorite genre?

I: Romantic comedies

S: Romcoms or superhero movies (not including tdk)

64. Comedy movie that you didn’t find funny?

I: Sausage Party

S: How to be single, Anchorman, Sausage Party

65. Horror movie that didn’t scare you?

I: The Conjuring, Paranormal Activity

S: Insidious just so bad, The Exorcist, The Shining, Rosemary’s Baby, Let The Right One In (Swedish version NOT American Let Me In). None are terrifying, just extremely unsettling and disturbing

66. Favorite remake of an old movie?

I: The Departed, True Grit

S: True Grit, The Thing, Scarface, The Departed

67. A movie that started a passion for you?

I: Her. The first “good” movie I watched that got me into film culture.

S: Well I was brought up with hundreds of great movies from my childhood which made me love film as a child, but standout ones from my childhood I can remember especially well are LOTR, Spirit, Fantasia, all very music based films too

68. A movie that sparked an interesting conversation?

I: Interstellar (about time, paradoxes, and space)

S: Donnie Darko, No Country For Old Men, Psycho, The Usual Suspects, 2001, Whiplash -- all have brilliant final scenes, Split: my bro and I spent an hour talking about what makes a good movie and why it was so bad

69. The main movie you remember from your childhood?

I: Grease… slightly inappropriate for a kid but most of the adult stuff went over my head anyway

S: Lord Of The Rings of course, first full length film I was shown and Neverending Story is another one I remember well.

70. The first movie you saw on it’s opening night?

I: Star Wars The Force Awakens

S: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows P1 and P2, La La Land

71. A move that made you ache for love.

I: Before Sunrise

S: Blue Valentine

72. Favourite foreign film/s?

S: Let The Right One In, Life Is Beautiful, Cinema Paradiso, Ip Man, City of God, Pan’s Labyrinth, REC, Biutiful

73. Favourite horror film/s?

S: The Shining, The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, Carrie, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw, Psycho, REC.

#q #lumierebros #questions #sorry for long post

2 notes · View notes