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hazenllas · 14 days

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Unwanted Words

Regina George x fem! reader

contains: angst, fluff, comfort, Reader being a tad bit sensitive, slight mention of smut, i think thats it

A/N Message: back with my Regina fics!! this one is a little short only because im super tired and classes start in a little over an hour

Summary: You and Regina were complete opposites. Thats why you both worked so well together. Regina always had a soft spot for you, but what happens when she gets into a bad mood?

You and Regina were the top couple at NorthShore High. While Regina was the mean, rude and goddess-like Queen Bee who roamed the NorthShore halls as everyone (metaphorically) bowed before her feet when she passed, You were quite the opposite. Being an art freak who was bestfriends with Janis and Damien, you were the nicest person anyone could ever talk to. The second Regina laid her eyes on you the first time you walked into the school on your first day in sophmore year, she knew you both were made for eachother. And so did you. You werent exactly apart of the plastics but you were friends with Gretchen, Karen, and Cady. Regina and the Plastics made sure to have your back like Bodygaurds so everyone knows not to mess with you. Even in broad daylight Regina had the softest heart for you. She made sure to always care for you and protect you against everything. She was your safe place.

"Gina!" You shake your girlfriend up violently. It was 8:30 am. School started at 8. Because of the last night activities, you and Regina woke up late for school and you were panicking. "Shh.. a few more minutes baby..." Regina mumbled from her pillow she was snuggled in. You roll your eyes playfully and get out of the bed to get dressed. Regina pulled you back onto the bed and snuggled into you. She started kissing your neck and you felt yourself sigh. "G, come on..." You say, with a heavy exhale as Regina's hands Rome your body. She groans and let's out a "whatever". You giggle and go into Regina's closet where she has a section of only your cloths. It was Wednesday so you wore a pair of pink baggy Jeans and a white short sleeved oversized T- shirt and a few pink bracelets. Once you're ready, you look at your girlfriend, to see she is changing as well. You can't help but stare at her bare figure. "Like what you see, baby girl?" Regina looks over her shoulder smirking. "I-uh" You stutter out. "C'mere" Regina whispers and you follow her orders. She turns around and your eyes land on her perfect shaped breasts. "You can touch 'em baby." Reginq mumbles. You hold her breasts in your hands and softly massage them. She lifts your chin and pulls you in for a kiss. She moans in into the kiss and bites your bottom lip causing you to do the same. Your eyes glance at the clock and see it's 8:45. "Shit!" You say and pull away from Regina. "Gina we gotta hurry!" You shout and Regina rolls her eyes but continues getting ready.

Once you both get to school, she opens the door for you and you walk out with a soft thank you. She smiles and kisses your cheek. She takes your hand and you both walk into the school together. You shared a first period with Regina and Karen so while both of them chatted for a bit, you went to your seat and silently began reading as you wait for the teacher to get into the classroom. Regina goes to her desk bit stops infront of yours and pulls you into her lap. This was pretty normal for everyone so nobody said a thing.

After 1st period, you and Regina didn't have any classes together but you shared a few with Janis and Damien. Once lunch hit, you were so thrilled to see your girlfriend again. You walk into the lunchroom and see all 4 girls already at the table. You place your stuff down and give Regina a kiss on the cheek. She doesn't look at you which was weird but you shake it off. You go through the lunch line and walk back with a slice of pizza, a bowl of fruit, and a juice. You sit beside Regina and she doesn't pay attention to you at all. She was eating her food and would snap at Gretchen from time to time. What's gotten into her? "Ugh! You are so fucking stupid Karen! Why would you think that even if you fail the extra credit assignment you will still get your grade up?" Regina yells at Karen and Karen just stared at her food. "Hey, Gina. What's wrong baby?" You stroke Regina's arm to calm how down a bit. "What do you want Y/n." Regina says coldly. You feel a shiver down your spine but you don't give up. "What's wrong honey? Please tell me." You softy say and Regina's icey blue eyes glare at you. "Can you just shut the he'll up for one moment Y/n?" Regina shouts loudly and the whole lunchroom goes silent. You feel tears in your eyes and you look at your lap. You feel many shocked stares on you and you feel like you're in a giant hole. You pack up your things and rush out of the lunchroom. Janis and Damien follow after you but you wish Regina did too. "Woah woah Y/n what's wrong?" Janis asks you who is sitting on the hallway floor. "Janis, I don't know what's gotten into Regina!" You start to cry. Damien looks at you with sorrow and starts to rub your back. "Girl I think she's just having a bad day. Maybe talk to her later? There's gotta be a reason she lashed out on you like that." Damien reasons and you nod at his words. They stay with you until the bell rings for next period to start. You dodged the texts from Regina for the rest of the day which left Regina frustrated and worried. You even took the bus home instead of going to Regina's car for your every day sleepover.

It was 10:34 pm and you were laying In your bed. Your parents were away and you couldn't sleep. You still weren't answering Regina's texts. Regina was finally fed up and left to go to your house. She knocks on your window and you are startled by the sudden noise. "Who is it?" You ask alarmed. "baby its me, open the window please" Regina says in her soft tone again. You hesitated, but sighed and went to the window to let your girlfriend in. She immediately pulls you in for a hug almost suffocating you. "Im so so sorry for earlier sweet girl. I promise i didnt mean to yell at you. Will you forgive me, my love?" Regina kisses your head. you nod but then decide to ask her something. "Gina? did anything happen earlier that caused you to change your mood?" You lead Regina and you to your bed and she takes a deep breath. "Well first, i was walking to 2nd period and some dumbas spilled his juice on my boots! it made me so angry and i had to clean them up in the bathroom. then, i failed my math test! Then when i was trying to focus on the lecture, Karen would NOT stop talking to me! it made me in such a bad mood but that is no excuse for the way i took it out on you. Im sorry, honey." Regina rants and you giggle and kiss her cheek. "Its okay G. now can we go to sleep?" Regina nods and pulls you up onto her chest and snuggles into the bed. you both say good night and drift off to sleep.

#renee rapp #renee rapp x reader #regina george x reader #regina george x you #mean

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shaloved30 · 5 years

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😍 Rome and Regina. Period.😍

That’s it. That’s the post

#a million little things #amlt #rome x regina #rome howard #regina howard #these two and gary keep me here #even if it's late catch ups only at this point

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canwealwaysbe · 2 years

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I haaaaaaate the way the writers are introducing Rome’s second depression episode.

He didn’t cheat, obviously, but he crossed a line with Cassandra. They showed him being conflicted. They showed him feeling guilty.

Him using his depression as a scapegoat once Regina began to catch on is gross.

I hope they acknowledge that as they move forward.

#amlt spoilers #a million little things #Rome x Regina

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glenncoco4 · 3 years

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Okay, need a Densi scene like this, stat! 😂😂

#Densi #Regina x Rome #NCIS: LA #A Million Little Things

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terrainofheartfelt · 3 years

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"It's you, it Couldn't Be Awful.": a Playlist (Repost!)

another past playlist post that I have now made available unlistedly on the youtube. (link)

Track listings and color commentary under the cut

image sources (x) (x) (x)

Section 1: The Bops

Little of Your Love - HAIM A bop that embodies the energy of the 4b arc, and an energy of “Oh for crying out loud, Humphrey”

You’re just another recovering heart / I wasn’t even gonna try / you wouldn’t even give the time Stop runnin’ your mouth like that / ‘cause you know I’m gonna give it right back

Hate That You Know Me - Bleachers It’s “You owe me ten / You owe me twenty!” & “I was hoping it would go away / I was humiliated” & basically all of While You Weren’t Sleeping, tbh

Some days I, I wish that I wasn’t myself / No luck! / And I hate that you know me so well

I Like Me Better - Lauv Heavily featured in all y’all’s gifsets—and rightfully so!!! It’s also like the perfect counter to the previous song.

To not know who I am but still know that I’m good long as you’re here with me

Sweet Talk - Saint Motel It’s about Blair roasting Dan for filth and him being completely charmed by it.

when you laugh / I forget that it’s about me / But it’s alright / Yeah, cause being your punchline / Still is something

Shadow - Bleachers “You’ll still have me.”

And I know the lights have all gone dark on you / Still I will love your shadow / When the love you gave feels cheap and used

No Reason to Run - Cold War Kids In the perfect version of the show that lives in my head, this is the end credits song that plays as the two of them frolic in Rome.

I have evolved like a fish growing legs / Woke like a lightbulb clicked in my brain

So Nice - Carly Rae Jepsen He's the kind of superstar that would only steal your heart

You Make Lovin’ Fun - Fleetwood Mac The song for the couple that fucked in an elevator. Bless the work.

Sweet wonderful you / You make me happy with the things you do

No Matter What You Do - covered by Jakob Dylan and Regina Spektor The energy is “I have a lot of affection for you but you are so annoying.” And this is the obligatory post-breakup s6 song.

No matter what in the world you do / Hey, I’ll always be in love with you

Love You Like I Love You - Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill It’s 5.21 the song!!!!

Maybe you can’t look in the way you look out / Love come hand in hand with doubt / Light come tethered to the dark / And death itself doth beat your heart

Don’t Take the Money - Bleachers I see so much love for tswift on this website (valid) but I feel like the world as a whole sleeps on her collaborator Jack Antonoff bc he is brilliant and his act Bleachers has some of my favorite songs ever. Like this one. Antonoff has said before that the title phrase is more metaphorical than literal, like an idiom that means don’t take the easy way and give this up, because it’s genuine. Real “I want to have a sleepover with you” vibes.

Somebody broke me once / Love was a currency / A shimmering balance act / I think that I laughed at that

In the Morning - Nina Simone It’s about the domesticity! And the “Our relationship is our world”! And the “we’re young and still have so much life to live so everything’s gonna be okay.” did i title a smut fic with lyrics from this song maybeso.gif

Please be patient with your life / It’s only morning and you’re still to live your day

This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads This is a canon dair song bc .@mysteriesofloves titled a fic after this song, them’s the rules. But for real, this is such a good one. The lyrics are intentionally scattered, a little bewildered, like “how did we get here? how did this happen? who found whom?” and finally “who cares? we found a home in each other.”

The less we say about it, the better / We’ll make it up as we go along

Cleopatra in Brooklyn - Frank Turner Chosen for the title obviously, but the lyrics capture the royal/5b arc pretty well, I think. The narrator carries this tongue-in-cheek comparison of the woman he’s singing to to Cleopatra through the whole song, comparing himself to Marc Antony, and ending with this really earnest kind of declaration. I’m obsessed with this songwriter he’s a genius please give him a listen.

These people are adjectives to your proper noun I’ll come find you when your fortunes fail you / I’ll die with you when the gods desert you

Morphing into Section 2: Pure Vibes

Walking on a Dream - covered by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness The original is by Empire of the Sun (and omigod I just realized the coincidence), but I first heard it covered by McMahon, and he’s one of my favorite musicians of ever so I just love his rendition. And this song is sort of like…about finally deciding that the reality of love with someone is so much better than the idea of it.

Thought I’d never see / The love you found in me / Now it’s changing all the time

Wake Me - Bleachers Jack coming for my life yet again. This song is so romantic but also so melancholy? Which is such a Daniel Humphrey Vibe.

And I’d rather be sad with you / Than anywhere away from you

All I Want - Joni Mitchell I’m a white girl with a mother who grew up in the 60s, so I love Joni. And this song is so bubbly and joyful, but it’s also about a relationship between two imperfect people and wanting it to work anyway. Big “Despicable B” vibes!

All I really want our love to do / Is to bring out the best in me / And in you, too.

Dust to Dust - The Civil Wars A friend in undergrad got me into the Civil Wars by showing me their live videos, and they have such incredible musical chemistry - like, the synchronicity of their ensemble is so good that it even comes through on their studio recordings and it makes these simple lyrics hit SO HARD.

You’re just lonely / You’ve been lonely too long

NFWMB - Hozier Ok, this had to be like the first ask I ever sent @bisexualdanhumphrey bc they wrote this fantastic meta post about Hozier and Derena but I said: “consider: NFWMB is a Dair song.” And they said, “You right.” I stand by it, and that’s why this song is on this list.

If I was born as a blackthorn tree / I’d wanna be felled by you / Held by you / Fuel the pyre of your enemies

Friday I’m in Love - covered by Phoebe Bridgers This song - especially this cover - gives such Secret Friendship Arc vibes a la the end of 4x16…the inherent romance of eating pizza and falling asleep on the couch together

Always take a big bite / It’s such a gorgeous sight / To see you eat in the middle of the night

A Case of You - Joni Mitchell Queen Joni again. Like! I am a lonely painter / I live in a box of paints. & The “You’re the star of Dan’s book” of it all in these lyrics!

I remember that time you told me / You said “Love is touching souls” / Surely you touched mine / ‘cause part of you pours out of me / In these lines from time to time.

Longing to Belong - Eddie Vedder This is my thinly veiled attempt to tell more people about this: a song written and performed by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder on ukulele, that is actually the softest love song in the history of western music.

All my time is spent here / Longing to belong to you

Apple Pie - Lizzy McAlpine added after I saw this gifset. I couldn't stop myself.

And I'll be fine with that goodbye / As long as I don't say goodbye to you as well

Bones - Josh Record Okay, so, that Moment on the Couch at the end of 5x02? That’s this song.

And darling, when your feet are cold / Wait up, I’m coming home / And all of you I will hold / My love will clothe your bones

Duet (feat. Stephanie Briggs) - Penny and Sparrow I’ve seen you carry family / And all my insecurities

Cinnamon Girl - Lana Del Rey The song for when you reach the end of plausible deniability - One all consuming paralyzing thought & You need to go back to Brooklyn - and it scares the heck out of you.

There’s things I wanna say to you, but I’ll just let you live / Like if you hold me without hurting me / You’ll be the first who ever did

You and Me - You + Me an addition to the original, because it came on my shuffle the other day and I was like: Yes.

You can be flawed enough but perfect for a person

Section 3: Songs for Dancing in the Kitchen with Your Lover at 1 am

I’d Be Waiting - Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats It’s “I just want to spend the day with you” but in like, slow-dance, sexy harmonies format.

If you ever get lonely / If you never did

Cigarettes and Coffee - Otis Redding The “Dan and I have a real connection song.” It’s about the romance of commonplace things when they’re with the right person.

But it seemed so natural, darling / That you and I are here

Never My Love - covered by Jakob Dylan and Norah Jones The “Words of Affirmation” love song they deserve, and an underrated love song from Laurel Canyon, imho

What makes you think love will end? / When you know that my whole life depends / On you

Dancing in the Dark - covered by Morgan James Okay so these lyrics are such Dan lyrics to me, it’s charmingly self-aware and self-deprecating. And this cover by Morgan James turns this staple rock song into something ~sexy~

I’m dying for some action / I’m sick of sittin’ round here trying to write this book / I need a love reaction / Come on, gimme just one look

Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You) - Aretha Franklin They’re literally always making each other laugh! It’s about feeling safe enough to be uninhibited and unselfconscious in your joy.

To make you laugh / I would be a fool for you

I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl - Nina Simone I want a little sweetness down in my soul

I Fall in Love Too Easily - as done by Chet Baker

No one, but no one sounds as sweet or as smooth as Chet. I know it, you know it, Hozier knows it. And this song and it’s titular thesis is so Them, it’s such a central part of their respective characters, and one of the things that makes them compatible.

My heart should be well schooled / ‘Cause I’ve been fooled in the past

Someone Who Loves Me - Sara Bareilles the uhhhh the hug at the end of 5x21? yeah.

Your gift to me is just to be / Bracing for the winds I always summon

For Me Formidable - Charles Aznavour Due entirely to this fic (Part II of a god tier s4 au) This is the end credits song for their full feature length Nora Ephron romcom.

NSFW Honorable Mention: Dinner & Diatribes - Hozier it’s the definitive “men get pegged” representation, iykyk

SFW Honorable Mention: Jack Antonoff's live acoustic performance of "Wake Me"

#ngl i'm very proud of this and have no qualms about sharing it again!#snuck in a bonus track from the original because a playlist IS a living document #dair #gossip girl #playlist #on today's episode of liz has a music degree and is gonna make everyone else's problem <3 #blair waldorf #dan humphrey #source: dairnecessities #source: ggcaps

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gardenofkore · 3 years

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“But it happened that some merchants from Gaeta, who had gone to Sicily to buy grain, spoke in front of the Queen about the riches of Manfredi Chiaramonte, and about the beauty of a daughter of his. Whence the Queen's wandering mind stopped to think to ask for the girl's hand on behalf of her son, the King Ladislao, who was already fourteen [sic] years old.”

in Angelo Di Costanzo, Historia del Regno di Napoli dell'Ill. Signor Angelo di Costanzo, Gentil’huomo e Cavaliere Napolitano, p. 237 [my translation]

Costanza was born around 1377 (probably in Palermo) from the noble and ancient family of Chiaramonte. She was the daughter of Manfredi III Chiramonte, IX Earl of Modica and Duke of Malta, and his wife, Eufemia Ventimiglia. Costanza's father was a powerful man, who, during his lifetime, would hold high profile roles, such as Admiral, Grand Seneschal, Master Justiciar and Regent of the Kingdom for young Queen Maria of Sicily. From her mother side, she was the granddaughter of another former Regent, Francesco II Ventimiglia, Earl of Geraci.

In 1389 Margherita of Durazzo, Regent of the Kingdom of Naples, asked fellow Regent Manfredi Chiaramonte for Costanza's hand on behalf of her son, the twelve years old Ladislao of Anjou-Durazzo. Three years prior, after his father Carlo III had been murdered, Ladislao failed to be recognized by Urban VI as legitimate King of Naples. The Pope had assigned the throne to Louis II of Anjou, whose father had previously (in 1380) been adopted as son and heir by the childless Queen Giovanna I of Anjou-Naples in an attempt to block the rival Anjou-Durazzo's claims to the Neapolitan throne. In 1387 Louis II's troops invaded the Kingdom of Naples, so young Ladislao, alongside his mother, the rest of the family and court, was forced to seek refuge in Gaeta.

If the Chiaramontes' social status benefited from the newly acquired (although wobbly) royal connections, the Anjou-Durazzo made good use of the bride's rich dowry to replenish their worn-out coffers. Their economic situation was so dire, the University of Gaeta had to act as a guarantor and advance the sum of 15 thousand gold florins on behalf of the royal family, which would have been handed to the bride's family in case of non-consummation of the marriage and consequent dissolution of the union. In summer 1389 Costanza then arrived in Gaeta by sea escorted by galleys. These same vessels managed successfully to break the chains which locked Naples' harbour and bring relief to the Durazzo forces besieged in Castelnuovo.

In October of the same year, one of Ladislao' enemies, Urban VI died. Unlike his predecessor, Boniface IX favoured the Durazzos since the Anjou supported the Antipope Clement VII. As also the Chiaramonte backed the newly elected Pontiff, the union between Ladislao and Costanza received Clement's blessing. The marriage between the now recognized King of Naples and the Sicilian noblewoman (they were both 13 years old) finally took place on August 15th 1390 (the marriage settlement probably dated back to September of the previous year). The religious ceremony was immediately followed by a joint crowning ceremony.

This union would prove to be short-lived as Chiaramontes' fortunes were about to change. Costanza's father, Manfredi died in 1391 and was succeeded by his kinsman, Andrea Chiaramonte, X Earl of Modica. That same year, Queen Maria married her second cousin Martino the Younger of Aragon. In the eyes of the majority of the Sicilian nobles, Martino was a stranger (despite being, like his wife, a descendant of Pietro II of Sicily) and his marriage to the Queen could (and would) have led to Sicily fall under a more direct control of the House of Aragon, with the consequent loss of influence of the Sicilian nobility. In the end, Andrea Chiaramonte was abandoned by his allies and found himself alone in trying to contrast the new King consort and his father, the powerful Infante Martino, Duke of Montblanc (and later King of Aragon and Sicily). The Earl of Modica was arrested, charged with treason and beheaded in Palermo, June 1st 1392.

With the decline of her family, the young Queen of Naples' fortunes too deteriorated. The King had now no reason to be still married with the representative of a disgraced household. In May of the same year, Ladislao had travelled to Rome to obtain from the Pope the annulment of the marriage. The official motivation was the minority of the bride and groom. To make things worse, the Queen's mother, Eufemia Ventimiglia, was accused of debauchery and to have become Infante Martino's mistress.

In July 1392, the Pope conceded Ladislao the desired annulment, and the bill of divorce was read publically by the Bishop of Gaeta while the King and Queen were attending mass. The Bishop pulled the wedding ring from Costanza's hand and handed it back to Ladislao.

Three years later, the King married his former wife to one of his vassals, Andrea di Capua, IV Earl of Altavilla (1374-1399). Costanza's modest dowry amounted to 3 thousand ducats. According to tradition, she publically and disdainfully addressed her new husband telling him he could now brag he could call as his concubine his King's wife. Costanza bore Andrea di Capua at least one son, Luigi (1400-1443), who will inherit his father's titles and possessions. Costanza died in 1423 and is currently buried in the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, in Riccia (n the region of Molise), together with her husband, son and the rest of the di Capua's members.

As for Ladislao, in 1403 he would marry Maria of Lusignan, Princess of Cyprus and Jerusalem, but the new Queen would die the following year. In 1406 he would marry a third and last time, with Maria of Enghien, widow of Raimondo Orsini del Balzo, Prince of Taranto. The King of Naples would die 8 years later without legitimate children and the crown would be inherited by his sister Giovanna II.

Sources

- Salvatore Fodale, COSTANZA Chiaramonte, regina di Napoli in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani

- Angelo Di Costanzo, Historia del Regno di Napoli dell'Ill. Signor Angelo di Costanzo, Gentil’huomo e Cavaliere Napolitano

- Famiglia di Capua

#history #women #history of women #women in history #historical women #costanza chiaramonte #ladislao i #manfredi iii chiaramonte #chiaramonte #aragonese-spanish sicily #people of sicily #women of sicily #myedit #historyedit

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a-lil-bi-furious · 3 years

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Top 10 ships involving poc in 10 different fandoms edition:

Thanks so much for tagging me @welldressedllama ! I’m really excited about this one. Loving a tag game focused on giving attention and appreciation to ships with POC.

1) Scott McCall x Kira Yukimura and Scott McCall x Isaac Lahey - “Teen Wolf”

Listen, I know two is cheating, but I really can’t choose between them. It’s a recurring dilemma. Only Scira gets a gif, though (thanks a lot tumblr image limit).

2) Willie x Alex - “Julie and the Phantoms”

3) Isabelle Lightwood x Clary Fray - “Shadowhunters”

This was difficult because Clizzy, Saia, and Malec are all right there and they’re all phenomenal.

4) Stef Adams Foster x Lena Adams Foster - “The Fosters”

5) Malika Williams x Isaac Hall - “Good Trouble”

6) Tamia (Coop) Cooper x Patience - “All American”

7) Bonnie Bennett x Lorenzo (Enzo) St. John - “The Vampire Diaries”

8) Milton Greasley (MG) x Kym Hawkins - “Legacies”

9) Macy Vaughn x Harry Greenwood - “Charmed”

10) Rome Howard x Regina (Gina) Howard - “A Million Little Things”

I’m tagging: @aconfusedidentity @momentofmemory @capricornsicle and @celestialyukimura to participate if you’d like! Anyone else who sees this and wants to, consider this me tagging you (and please tag me so I can see yours)!

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fuckyeahisawthat · 3 years

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First line game

Tagged by the brilliant @ferrame ages ok like a week ago.

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors.

Twenty seemed like so many but only takes me back to the beginning of 2019. I write a lot of one-shots. Also somehow we pass through every fandom I have written for.

1. No Use Pretending, Trust (2018), E, 4k, Paul/Primo

He hadn’t meant to see Paul again.

2. Three Times Is a Habit, Trust (2018), E, 10k, Paul/Primo

It becomes clear, very soon after Paul comes home, that no one wants to hear what happened to him.

3. Roadside, South of Rome, Trust (2018), T, 2k, Paul & Primo

I’ll kill him.

4. The Deal, Trust (2018), M, 6k, Leonardo/Regina, Leonardo/Primo

As long as they’ve been married, there have been things Regina has been perfectly content not to ask about.

5. Twenty Questions, Trust (2018), E, 4k, Leonardo/Primo

“First time you did anything with a guy.”

6. Promises and Threats, Trust (2018), E, 12k, Leonardo/Primo, Leonardo/Regina

Primo is thirteen and Leonardo is twenty-four, picking glass out of Primo’s hair at the kitchen table late at night.

7. Two Battles Fifty Years Apart, The Old Guard, M, 12k (WIP), Joe/Nicky

(I kNOW I left them in the middle of a heckin battle but I swear I will come back and finish this some day, this is exactly why I don’t write longfics gdi)

They are lying tangled together in Yusuf’s bed, in his rented lodgings in al-Quds, sweat still cooling between their bodies, when his lover says, “This is the last time we can meet like this.”

8. For the Long Haul, The Old Guard, M, 4k, Joe/Nicky but really an ensemble fic

By the time they reach the unassuming block of flats in Tower Hamlets, the momentary swoop of relief at having escaped the lab is gone, and Joe is practically vibrating with unspent adrenaline.

9. A Messy Situation, Good Omens, M, 2k, Aziraphale/Crowley

Look, the details of how Aziraphale wound up at the orgy in the wee hours of the morning are not important.

10. Wing Thing, Good Omens, G, 4k, Aziraphale/Crowley

The first thunderstorm in the history of Earth is furious but brief.

11. Free Agents, Good Omens, G, 1k, Aziraphale/Crowley

“Crowley?”

12. Closer, Mad Max Fury Road, E, 9k (WIP), Furiosa/Max

(I swear I will finish this one too some day, yes I kNOW it’s been one chapter away from completion for a year)

When Max first comes back, he sleeps in his car.

13. Dessert, Good Omens, E, 3k, Aziraphale/Crowley

In the length of the short walk from the park to the Ritz, Aziraphale becomes acutely aware of just how desperately he wants Crowley.

14. In a City Under Aerial Bombardment, Good Omens, G, 3k, Aziraphale/Crowley

He’s in the car.

15. Hell to Pay, Good Omens, T, 3k, Aziraphale/Crowley

Crowley has tested out, over his millennia on Earth, just what exactly he can get away with doing without Hell noticing.

16. The Human Way, Good Omens, E, 3k, Aziraphale/Crowley

Demons weren’t supposed to have wants.

17. Drunk Theology, Good Omens, G, 3k, Aziraphale/Crowley

They had been day drinking, four days after the world didn’t end.

18. Smite Response, Good Omens, G, 1k, Aziraphale/Crowley

They are taking a walk in the park, at twilight, because it’s something to do and they both stubbornly, silently keep finding reasons to be in the same space in the days after Armageddidn’t.

19. Last Night on Earth, Good Omens, G, 1k, Aziraphale/Crowley

He had not intended to get off the bus when it stopped directly in front of Crowley’s building.

20. Fireworks, Venom, G, 1k, Eddie/Venom

He used to love fireworks.

Once I line them all up like this there is one pattern that is hilariously obvious, if not really surprising, about my first lines. A lot of them answer the “why now?” question, as in, why are we watching these characters right now? It’s that story-starting principle of “Every day, X. One day, Y.” So I have lots of first lines like “He hadn’t meant to see Paul again.” (Spoiler alert: he does.) And “Demons weren’t supposed to have wants.” (Spoiler alert: he does.) And “He used to love fireworks.” (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t anymore, and the fic is about why.) Because I like to tell you what the fic is about in the very first line, apparently.

There is also one principle that I really internalized from my screenwriting background, which is “enter late, leave early.” Which sounds like some archaic birth control advice but just means, start the scene at the latest possible point where we can understand what’s happening, and end it as soon as the substantive point of the scene has happened. Now this is something I do so automatically I often don’t even really think about it. This also means my first lines often end up being fairly straightforward scene-setting, since I am dropping you into the action once it’s already started and I want to orient you quickly.

My first lines tend toward the pragmatic more often than the poetic, but of all of these I think I am most fond of the opening of Promises and Threats. It’s not always that I can manage a first line that’s a microcosm of the whole fic, but here we’ve got intimacy in the midst of violence, Primo trusting Leo, and we set up the pattern of the first half of the fic, where we drop in on them at different ages as we watch Primo change in Leo’s eyes from a child who needs his care to an adult man he realizes he’s attracted to (but who still needs his care).

Tagging @fadagaski, @primarybufferpanel, @sacrificethemtothesquid, @bethagain, @lurkinghistoric, @v8roadworrier and @thebyrchentwigges and anyone else who wants to do this!

#fanfic #writing #first lines meme #trust fx #the old guard #good omens #venom #mad max fury road

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cogentranting · 2 years

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I think part of what’s so frustrating to me about A Million Little Things right now is that it’s supposed to be a show about friendship but right now none of them feel like friends. I mean in this last episode, NONE of the main group were in a room together. And the only time they shared a scene together was when Gary and Eddie talked on the phone and when Regina and Rome did.

Maggie’s storylines for the past season and a half have felt divorced from the rest of the main cast. Eddie had basically his entire life upended in the past year and yet his friends are nowhere to be found except when they’re throwing a party to celebrate his wife leaving him. Regina and Rome are great together but only occasionally intersect with the rest of the main characters. Gary is falling apart and has been for a while but none of his friends are there for him to the point that he was better off talking to a random college student this episode instead of an actual character on the show.

And that’s not even a specific dig at any character for not being there for another character when X thing happened really (apart from the divorce party. That was awful.) because there’s typically good reason that the characters aren’t doing those things, either because their plot line is keeping them away so they don’t see it, or because their own devastating life is taking up all their focus. It’s not so much a character issue as a writing issue.

It’s always been a show that’s high on angst and bad things being thrown at the characters. I don’t mind that. But there hasn’t been much in the way of building characters back up after each new thing hits them. And the premise of the show is that the friendship between these characters is what builds them back up and we just haven’t been seeing that. I don’t know if it’s because of Covid restrictions and trying to minimize contact or what, but the story is drowning because of it.

#amlt

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heauxplesslydevoted · 5 years

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Aftermath (Liam x MC)

Summary: Aftermath of the car crash

Honestly...Liam just deserves a space to be emotional, and angry, and vulnerable, and I decided to be the one to give him that. It’s been a rough few chapters for him, dealing with all of this stuff with his mom, and now his wife. I wrote this for purely selfish reasons.

Word Count: 6.6K. Sorry. I couldn’t stop myself.

Tags: @canknot @lapisreviewsstuff @akacalliope @a-i-n-a-a-s-h @aworldoffandoms @badchoicesposts @doroshi-desu @senseofduties

~~~~

Liam tries to ignore the ringing in his head as he sits anxiously in the waiting room of the hospital. Out of the corner of his eye he can see Maxwell on the phone, probably talking to Bertrand. And he can hear his friends talking — maybe Olivia or Hana, he doesn’t know — but it sounds like white noise. He has a singular thing on his mind: his wife and child.

Kendall was transported via helicopter to a hospital in the Capital, Liam riding along with her while the rest of their group followed behind. Now the entire gang, minus Kendall and Bastien, is sitting in a luxurious private sitting area, waiting on updates. The room is thankfully secluded from most of the hospital, and large, with comfortable couches, magazines, and a flat screen tv mounted on the wall. But no one cares. They’re all waiting on updates.

The image of the car crash is still fresh in Liam’s mind. The sickening crunch of metal as the car rammed into the road, the blinding lights of the paparazzi cameras, the sound of Kendall calling his name as they crashed.

Hit his stomach flips at the memory of his wife losing consciousness upon the arrival of the ambulance. She held out as long as she could, mostly due to adrenaline, but she eventually passed out.

It’s been three hours and he still hasn’t heard anything. Everyone else was treated for their injuries — mostly some cuts and bruises, save for Bastien who was getting treated for his shoulder — except for Kendall. And himself, because he refuses to leave the waiting area until he gets some answers.

“Liam,” Drake says softly, shaking his friend’s shoulder, “Liam, you should really get your head checked out.”

“I’m fine,” Liam says, his eyes never leaving the tiled floors.

“Dude, you can have a concussion or something. We can at least have a nurse come out here,” Drake suggests. He’s trying his hardest to be useful in this situation. The helplessness is driving him insane.

“I’m fine,” Liam repeats, much more aggressive this.

“Just leave it alone, Drake,” Olivia says softly, cutting in. “Leave him alone.”

“But–”

“Leave it alone.” Olivia knows all too well the feeling of being trapped and helpless, but until they get an update on Kendall, there isn’t much anyone can do for Liam. He’s not going to budge. “Please.”

Drake sighs but ultimately backs down. He glances around the room, spotting a fancy coffee maker on the counter. “How about I make some coffee. Does anyone want a cup?”

“Sure,” Maxwell says. It’s obvious that Drake is going to find a way to do something, so someone has to humor him. “Give me the strongest cup you got.”

“Coming right up.”

There’s a knock on the door, and in walks Bastien. His arm is in a sling, there’s a small cut on his upper lip from a shard of glass slicing him, and he walks with a slight limp. He’s also holding a plastic bag in his hand, holding some personal belongings.

He walks over to Liam who promptly stands up. Bastien greets him with a slight bow. “Your Majesty.”

“Bastien. How are you feeling?”

“I’m a little banged up, but I’ve been worse. My shoulder should heal within a few weeks.”

“You’re limping,” Liam points out.

“I just sprained my ankle. I can handle it, sir.”

“Once this is all settled, I want you on paid vacation for the next three weeks,” Liam says.

“Sir, that’s not necessary.”

“It is, and you’ll take it, I insist. Go out, enjoy some time off, rest up and properly heal your injury. The rest of our security team can handle it, and trust me, after tonight, we’ll be doubling, even tripling our security measures.”

Bastien’s head drops at the mention of what happened just a few short hours ago. “Your Majesty, I am so sorry about what happened tonight.”

“Bastien it’s not your fault.”

“But–”

“Someone recklessly ran into us and you made a snap decision in an attempt to keep us safe. It was a high stress situation. I don’t blame you, I blame Sam-” Liam can’t even say his name without his skin feeling like it’s going to burst into flames. “You made the right call in a snap decision.”

“I should’ve had more security measures in place at the bookstore,” Bastien continues. He can’t help but feel guilty.

“Bastien, I won’t have you blaming yourself. That’s a direct order from your King.”

Bastien nods after a few seconds of silence. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Now, as for the person who did this, are there any updates on his condition?”

In all honesty, a part of Liam hoped that the man was dead. It would be the swift justice he deserved after what he did.

“Nothing more than a few cuts and scrapes when I last saw him,” Bastien answers regretfully. “He fled the scene.”

Liam clenches his fist together tightly. So his Queen is in the hospital fighting for her life, while the perpetrator gets away minor injuries?

He closes his eyes and silently counts to 3 in his head, calming himself down. Unbridled rage in a situation like this will do him no good.

So he pivots. He points to the large bag in Bastien’s hand. “What’s in there?”

Bastien opens the bag and lifts out a large camera. “This...is Samir’s camera. I managed to confiscate it from him at the scene of the accident before he ran off.”

Liam takes the camera out of Bastien’s hands and observes it thoughtfully. He carefully touches it, noting that it’s not too banged up. “It’s in surprisingly good condition,” he muses. “Did you go through it?”

“...Yes. And I’ll dispose of it right away.”

“I want to see the photos.”

“Sir,” Bastien starts, “with all due respect, I don’t advise you to do that. The images are...quite disturbing.”

Liam ignores his guard and powers the camera to life. He scrolls through the photos, skipping through ones of celebrities and socialites around Cordonia. He then stumbles on the pictures of them tonight. Ones of them exiting the book store. There’s a few progression shots of Kendall holding up her hand, trying to shield her face from the flashing lights, another hand wrapped tightly around her stomach.

There’s more of them, photos of their friends ushering Kendall in the car and driving off. And then there are lots of them that he took while he was driving alongside them on the road. Liam’s chest clenches tightly at the panicked and wide-eyed look on his wife’s face.

He’s not prepared for the next set of pictures. They’re right after the car crash, and Liam can see everything so vividly. The shattered glass, the smoke from the engine, skid marks on the snow, everything. Liam’s breath catches in his throat as he sees a photo of Kendall, trapped in her seat. He can practically feel the fear and anxiousness rolling off of her in these photos, and it feels like he can’t breathe.

Samir has the audacity to still take photos of them after he caused the accident? While Kendall was lying there, injured and scared out of her mind?

At this point, Liam can feel his hands trembling uncontrollably and the sound of his pulse pounds fiercely in his head. Having seen more than enough, Liam takes the memory card out of the camera and puts it in his pocket. Without warning and an incredible bout of strength, he hurls the camera forward with an incredible speed. It narrowly misses Maxwell’s head and he has to duck out of the way as the camera hits the wall, shattering into tiny little pieces as it drops to the floor.

The room gets so silent, you can hear a pin drop across the street. No one says anything about Liam’s outburst. They silently wait for him to make his next move.

All Liam can feel in his blood is white hot rage over the situation. It’s stifling and it threatens to swallow him whole. Involuntarily, he clenches and unclenches his hand and the next thing he sees is his fist connecting with the wall. He doesn’t register the pain though, too worked up to actually feel anything at this point.

“Lady Hana, can you please find a nurse?” Bastien asks, his eyes never leaving Liam. He’s seen his King mad before, hell, he’s even seen him downright pissed. But this...this is something he’s never experienced before, and he doesn’t know how to subdue Liam in this moment.

“Of course.” Hana rises from her seat and quickly scrambles out of the room.

After a few moments of silence, Liam removes his fist from the wall. He looks down at it in a daze. He can already see it swelling up, and his knuckles turning an ugly shade of purple.

He ignores his hand and turns back to Bastien. “I want him found, immediately. I want law enforcement, airports, and train stations to all be aware that he’s on the loose and he is not to leave the station. Check all the ports too, and make sure he doesn’t try to sneak out of here via boat. I want him brought directly to me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And give me information on what tabloids he was going to sell those pictures too. And if you can get the names of the paps who caused that scene in the Lythikos and if there were any other paparazzi chasing us, that’d be great as well.”

Bastien nods. “I’ll get in touch with the other royal guards and we’ll get started right away.”

“Thank you.”

Bastien exits the room and a few minutes later, Hana returns with a nurse, who’s carrying a ton of supplies in her hands.

As the nurse makes her way over to Liam to tend to his hand, Hana sinks back into her seat next to Olivia. “Were there any updates while I was gone?”

Olivia shakes her head. “No. The waiting game continues.”

~V~

An hour later, they’re still in the waiting room, anxiously waiting on an update about Kendall. The entire gang is there, except they’re now joined by Bertrand, Savannah, Regina and Leo, who was in Rome when Bastien called and said he was needed in Cordonia.

“I called a few of my personal security connections and they’re doing a very thorough sweep of Lythikos to ensure that all of the press that was there are brought to the capital,” Olivia tells Liam. It’s really the least she can do. They were visiting her duchy, she should’ve been able to keep them safe.

Liam nods, acknowledging that he did hear the Duchess, but doesn’t say anything. The more time that goes by without any update on his wife and child, the more reclusive he becomes.

Leo smiles. “Thank you Olivia, it’s really appreciated.”

“Of course. If there’s anything else I can do to help, I’ll do it.”

“Can you heal Kendall?” Liam asks.

The question catches Olivia off guard, and she doesn’t know if Liam is being serious or using sarcasm. “W-What?”

“You want to be useful, right? You want to help? Can you magically become a doctor within the next 5 seconds and actually work on her treatment? Perhaps you can make sure she hasn’t gone into preterm labor, or I don’t know, swap our bodies, so she’s the one out here and I’m the patient. Maybe you have the ability to turn back time so this horrible night never happened.” His eyes sweep around the room. “Can any of you do those things? Because that’s all I want in this moment. I don’t want any fucking cheap hospital coffee, I don’t want to eat something, I don’t want take a nap, I don’t want any more of your bullshit platitudes about how strong and brave Kendall is in an attempt to placate me. I know how strong my wife is, but our car wrapped around a fucking pole, and she’s not invincible. So until anyone can give me any of those, how about everyone stop trying to pacify me.”

“Okay,” Olivia says. She’s not going to press the issue and potentially agitate Liam further. He just needs silent support in this moment, nothing else. And she can do that. She just sits down in the chair next to him and looks straight ahead.

Time ticks by slowly, and when Liam checks the clock on that wall, it’s almost 2 in the morning. He’s exhausted, but he refuses to fall asleep, though most of his friends have dozed.

There’s a knock on the waiting room door and Liam jumps to his feet, hoping to see Kendall’s doctor. Instead he’s greeted by Madeleine. She’s dressed impeccably, in a signature green dress, and clipped back hair. She’s carrying a large garment bag in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other.

Liam falters once he realizes who it is. “Oh, hello Madeleine.”

“Liam,” Madeleine greets back. “Any updates on Kendall’s condition?”

“No.”

“Have you talked to law enforcement?” Madeleine asks.

“No.”

“Maddy, I think this conversation should be tabled for a later time,” Olivia hisses.

Madeline dismisses Olivia’s suggestion with a flick of the wrist. “I think you should talk to them while everything is still fresh in your mind.”

“I’m not talking to anyone or going anywhere until I talk to Kendall’s doctors.”

“There’s a herd of people outside of the hospital,” Madeleine says. She drops the garment bag onto an empty chair. “I almost wasn’t let in, until they realized I worked for the palace. Everyone is waiting on their king to make an official statement about what happened.”

“I’m not crafting a speech right now, Madeleine.”

“It’s a good thing you have me on your team because I’ve already prepared some talking points for you,” Madeleine announces proudly. “I don’t know if you want to convey a somber tone or a fiery, passionate one, but I have tweaks in the event of either one. I personally think we should go with a somber note. Let them feel all of your emotions, your hurt, your anguish. Obviously you condemn the people who did this, but don’t go full on angry. You should still be the pinnacle of calm and dignified that the Cordonian people have come to love. And I brought you a suit to change into, because no offense, you’re still wearing the one you crashed in and it’s–”

Liam reaches out and forcefully grabs Madeleine’s arm, yanking her towards him and making her drop the cup of coffee she’s holding. It happens so fast, Olivia barely has time to react, but she stands up beside Liam nonetheless. “Madeleine, I put up with a lot of your unnecessary, invasive bullshit on a daily basis. Kendall and I take your shitty attitude, your disapproving looks and your passive aggressive comments in stride because you’re somewhat decent at your job and you have absolute tunnel vision when it comes to the Crown and Cordonia as a whole. But what I am not about to do is dress up and be your puppet and give a ridiculous speech in front of the very vultures who caused this situation.”

“I don’t know whether my wife and child are going to make it through the night, and you think I give even the tiniest fuck about a statement? You think I want to put on a brave face right now and go settle someone else’s nerves right now, I don’t give a damn about how people view me?” His grip on her arm tightens and his voice drops to an incredibly low octave. “Now I know you aren’t able to feel empathy towards people because you’re a cold hearted, advantageous viper and you probably have a shriveled up lump of coal in the cavity where your heart is supposed to reside, but can you at least pretend to have some sort of human decency? I am not doing a goddamn thing until I have a doctor tell me to my face that Kendall is alive and well. Am. I. Clear?”

Madeleine has never seen Liam like this before. His usually warm and inviting eyes are darker than the midnight sky and even though he hadn’t raised his voice once, she can practically feel the venom dripping from his tongue. She swallows the lump forming in her throat and nods. “Crystal.”

“Good.” Liam drops her arm and Madeleine releases a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. “And when this is all over, we are going to have a very serious conversation about your position on our team”

Having had enough of being cooped up in a room with so many people, Liam decides to exit. Thankfully, the halls are empty due to how late it is and he can roam around in peace.

“Liam!” Liam stops dead in his tracks and turns around. Leo is jogging towards him trying to catch up.

“Leo, what do you want?”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve scared Madeleine shitless. I’ve never seen her rendered speechless before.”

“Good. She talks too much.”

“Amen, brother.”

“Look Leo, I really don’t want to be bothered right now.”

“I know.”

“So...you can leave.”

“I can’t do that. You aren’t going to scare me off like you’re able to do with everyone else, and I am not going to let you bottle everything up inside. So, can you please talk to me?”

“And say what?”

“Anything! I know you’re pissed–”

“I’m not pissed, I’m downright furious,” Liam says.

“Good. You have every right to be,” Leo goads. He wants Liam to talk. He’s an expert at holding his feelings close and burying things down deep.

“I don’t think I’ve been this mad since I found out that dad was the one behind the scandal with Kendall and Tariq. These vultures just prey on her. They don’t even see her as human anymore, let alone as their Queen. Kendall is just a commodity to them, to be exploited and sold to the highest bidder. From the moment we got married up to now, it has been invasion after invasion.”

“Why didn’t you tell me things had gotten so bad?” Leo asks.

Liam shrugs. He’s accepted the press as a part of his life early on, and didn’t think much of it. And until recently he was relatively good terms with a lot of reporters and paparazzi. “I don’t know. Dealing with the press is just par for the course.”

“Yes, you’re a king and yes your life is public, but that doesn’t mean it’s open season on your family. Sometimes I don’t think you realize that you don’t have to always be so...nice. So benevolent and forgiving. You’re the fucking King, and you have the right flex whatever muscle you have in order to let people know that there are certain things that they can and cannot do.”

Liam sighs. He’s never wanted to rule with an iron fist and be seen as evil tyrant, squashing anyone who dares look at him the wrong way. He’s always wanted his people to feel comfortable around him.

“You can still be yourself,” Leo continues as if he’s reading Liam’s mind. “But they need to know that this will never happen again.”

“You’re right.”

“And if you need some support, I’ll be around to help,” Leo adds.

“Thank you.”

The men continue their trek up and down the hall, falling into a comfortable silence. Leo knows Liam isn’t in the mood for idle small talk, as he has much bigger things in his mind.

The brothers are startled out of their simple walk by a doctor walking towards them. He bows upon reaching Liam. “Your Majesty, hello.”

“Hi.”

“I’m Doctor Saunders, I’m one of the attending general surgeons here at the hospital.” The doctor extends his hand, and Liam eagerly shakes it. “I am one of the surgeons assigned to your wife’s case.”

“Of course. What’s going on? We haven’t heard anything and we’ve been here for hours and no one has told us anything.”

“Good news first, Her Majesty and the baby are okay and they made it through surgery beautifully,” Dr. Saunders says.

Relief flows through Liam’s body and his knees buckle at the news. Leo hooks an arm under his brother’s arm, keeping him upright. “T-They’re okay?”

Dr. Saunders nods, happy to give the King such good news. “Yes. The Queen is not in any distress, there’s no sign of preterm labor, the baby has a stable heart beat and the placenta is still in tact, which are all great.”

“What happened to her?”

“The impact of the crash caused abdominal trauma. There was some internal bleeding that we had to get under control, and her spleen ruptured so we had to remove it. Thankfully, you can live a long and productive life without a spleen, but going forward, Her Majesty will be more susceptible to infection and may have a weaker immune system. Since she’s pregnant and we had to perform an open surgery, her recovery time will be about 4 to 6 weeks, but we expect her to be back to herself in no time. And she did break one rib and bruise two others. Now there’s no way to fix a broken rib, except with rest and time, so she’ll be a bit sore for a while and she’s going to have to take it easy.”

“Of course.” Kendall isn’t going to have to lift a finger, not on his watch. “Where is she now? Can I see her?”

“She’s being settled into her room right now, but yes I can take you.”

Liam starts to follow the doctor, but stops in his tracks to turn to his brother. Leo waves him off. “I’ll tell everyone the news. Go see your wife.”

~V~

The sun is finally starting to rise when Kendall is lulled out of her sleep. It takes her a minute to understand her surroundings. The noise, the itchy blankets, the overwhelming smell of disinfectant. She’s definitely not in her own bed, at Valtoria or the Palace.

She looks around the room as her eyes slowly adjust to the light and she finally spots her husband. He’s on a pull out couch, curled into the fetal position.

“Liam?” She says, her voice nothing more than a hoarse whisper. She clears her throat and attempts to speak again. “Liam?”

He stirs in his sleep and mumbles, “Mhmmm.”

“Liam!” Kendall repeats, a bit more forcefully.

The third time manages to get his attention and he wakes up from his sleep. He sees Kendall and he springs off of the couch. “Kendall? Oh Kendall, my love, you have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

“Why are we at the hospital?”

“Do you remember anything? The last thing that happened?”

“We were in Lythikos for Maxwell’s book signing,” Kendall recalls.

“Anything else?”

“And as we were leaving, there was a mob of reporters outside of the bookstore. And we tried to get them to back off, but they were relentless. And once we got into the car, they still chased us and…” her voice trails off and she closes her eyes, trying to think. Everything is still slightly foggy. But then she remembers. The crash. “Oh my God, Liam! Someone hit us! Is everyone okay? Is the baby okay?”

Kendall tries to sit up as the panic sets in, but an overwhelming amount of pain shoots through her stomach, rendering her motionless.

Liam puts his hands on her arms, keeping her in place. “Easy, love. No sudden movements, you’ve just had surgery.”

“Surgery? Surgery for what?”

“First things first, the baby is fine,” Liam assures her. He points to one of the monitors surround her bedside. “See that? That’s our baby’s heart rate, nice and steady.” Hearing that their baby is okay instantly calms her down. “And you had surgery because your spleen ruptured, so the doctors had to remove it. And you broke a rib.”

“But the baby is fine?”

“As perfect as ever.”

Kendall settles back into the bed, relief coursing through her body. As long as her child was okay, she could handle everything else. “Good.”

Liam calls for Kendall’s doctors to come to her room, letting them know that she’s awake and alert. After checking all of her vitals, giving her a very thorough examination, and explaining the extent of her injuries, they let her know that she’ll be in the hospital for a few more days and leave once again.

Soon, all of their friends and family come to visit her, elated that she’s okay. The once spacious room is packed wall-to-wall with people. Flowers, cards, and balloons fill up all the remaining space.

“You gave us quite a scare, Little Blossom,” Maxwell chides. “You don’t get to scare us like that ever again.”

Olivia scoffs. “Oh please, speak for yourself. I knew she’d be fine. Kendall is much tougher than she looks.”

“Aww, Olivia,” Kendall coos. “I knew you loved me.”

“Must you always push things too far?” Olivia asks. She rolls her eyes, Kendall notices the small smile tugging on the corner of her lip.

“Yes.”

“Is there anything we can get for you, Mason?” Drake asks. “Is it warm enough in here? Do you need more blankets? Because I can flag down a nurse and get you more blankets.”

“Nonsense,” Bertrand says. “I’ll go to the store and get some cashmere blankets and silk pajamas for her. If our pregnant Queen is going to be staying in the hospital for a few days, it might as well be in comfort and luxury.”

“You guys spoil me too much. But Bertrand, I will absolutely accept a cashmere blanket.”

“Of course.”

Hana steps up, holding a large box. “We don’t know if you can eat, but just in case you can, I went to your favorite bakery and got you a dozen cronuts.”

Kendall’s mouth waters at the mention of her favorite pastry and the baby kicks excitedly. “Hana, you win.”

“Yay.”

“I can’t eat cronuts yet, but I’ll definitely save them–,” Kendall yawns mid sentence, “for later.”

“While it’s been great to see everyone, and I’m thankful you all came back, I think my wife needs her rest,” Liam says. “It’s been a long 24 hours.”

Regina nods, “We understand. Call us if you need anything, okay?”

“I will.”

Everyone says their goodbyes to Kendall and Liam, showering her with hugs and affectionate hand squeezes before filing out of her suite.

Liam sits down in a leather chair at her bedside and sighs. He’s absolutely exhausted, and Kendall knows it.

“You should get some sleep too.”

He shakes his head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I slept for a few hours earlier.” He just doesn’t want to take his eyes off of her, not even for a moment.

Kendall gently places a palm onto her stomach, careful of the stitches from her surgery. “Your daddy is stubborn.” The baby kicks and Kendall giggles. “They agree with me.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes.” She takes Liam’s hand and presses it against her stomach. “Tell daddy he’s being stubborn, little one.” The baby kicks again. “See? I told you.”

“You two are already ganging up on me?”

“Yup. And you love it.”

He nods slightly. “I love everything you do.”

“Smart answer.” She notices his hand, tightly bandaged up and covered in a brace. She didn’t notice it before, with everyone focusing all of the attention on her. “What happened to your hand?”

Liam almost forgot he bruised his hand the night before, so worried about Kendall he barely registered the pain and discomfort. “It’s nothing. Just...fallout from the accident.”

“Is it broken?”

“No. Just a sprain.”

“Does it hurt?”

“It’s wrapped so tightly, I barely feel a thing. Don’t worry about me, my love, it’ll be fine.”

Kendall wants to fret over Liam a bit more, but she’s knows he won’t let her. So she drops it. “Can you come close to me?”

“As if you even have to ask such a thing.” Liam scoots his chair much closer, and he places his head in Kendall’s lap. He can feel a pair of tiny little feet pushing against him, but he doesn’t mind. Kendall takes a hand and softly runs it along his head, massaging his scalp.

For the first time since yesterday, Liam feels at peace. Everything he needs is with him in this moment.

Now that everything is sort of settling down, the weight of the situation dawns on Liam. Kendall could’ve died, leaving their child without a mother. Or perhaps the baby could have, the baby they wanted for so long. Or worse, both of them could have been taken from him in an instant, over something as trivial as tabloid pictures.

It’s an overwhelming epiphany, one that threatens to snatch the air straight from his lungs.

“I could’ve lost you,” Liam says quietly, so quietly Kendall barely hears him.

“Hmm?”

“I could’ve lost you yesterday. You could’ve died, and our baby could’ve died, both of you.” Liam’s eyes sting with tears. “And it would’ve been all my fault.”

“Don’t say that.”

“But it’s the truth. You gave up everything to come here, and you’ve dealt with more than your fair share of grief because of it. I was born into this, I accepted this life a long time ago when I stepped up to become the Crown Prince, you didn’t. You didn’t ask for any of this, and yet, you’ve received the brunt of the obstacles. Those vultures came after you because you’re the Queen, you’re my wife, and you’re carrying the heir.”

“They almost took you away from me last night.” The tears are falling freely at this point, but Liam doesn’t care. “I am so sorry. It’s my job to keep you and our baby safe, and I couldn’t protect you yesterday. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for it.”

Kendall cradles Liam head between her hands, forcing him to look at her. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen him so distraught. “Liam, I don’t want you to blame yourself. I certainly don’t blame you. None of this is your fault, the only people responsible are the ones who forced Bastien off of the road.”

“But–”

“No buts. You don’t need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders all the time, Liam. You’ve done your best, and that’s all I need from you.”

Liam takes a shuddering breath, trying to calm down. Kendall grabs one of his hands and places it on her chest, letting him feel her steady heartbeat. “You feel that? I’m okay, we are okay. You don’t have to worry about losing me.”

Feeling the steady beat of her heart calms him almost instantly. He leans forward and kisses Kendall urgently, careful not to lean over her too much. Kendall kisses him back, tasting the saltiness of her husband’s tears.

“I love you,” Liam says, once he pulls away from the kiss. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“And I swear to you, nothing like this will ever happen again,” Liam assures. He’ll die before he gets this close to losing her ever again. He’ll kill, even. “And I promise there will be consequences for the people who put you in here.”

~V~

The next morning, Liam decides it’s finally time to do a press conference. Kendall seems to be in good spirits , and it’s clear that the press is not going to leave the front of the hospital without some sort of statement. So, Liam showers and changes into the fresh suit Madeleine brought for him the day before, and with two royal guards in tow, he makes his way out of the hospital.

To say there is a crowd will be an understatement. Liam doesn’t think he’s seen this many reporters and photographers at once ever before in his life. It’s slightly overwhelming, the murmurs, the flash of the cameras, the civilians lingering around hoping to catch a glimpse of the royalty, but he isn’t going to turn around now.

The crowd only buzzes with more excitement upon seeing Liam advance towards them. But silence falls when they notice his usually pleasant demeanor is nonexistent.

Liam inhales deeply and tries to settle his nerves before talking. It’s taking every ounce of willpower he has to not launch into a tirade.

“A few nights ago, my wife, myself, and a few members of the royal council were at a book signing to support a friend, Lord Maxwell Beaumont. When the event was over, we were leaving, but as soon as we stepped outside, we were greeted by a crowd, not much smaller than the one I’m looking at right now. This crowd was intrusive, pushy, and completely lacked boundaries or any sense of decorum.”

“We managed to escape the mob of reporters, shouting at us, shoving us, taking our photos, and we retreated to the safety of our vehicle. That should have been the end of the melee, but unfortunately that was not the case. We were chased through the dark and snowy streets of Lythikos, paparazzi still taking our pictures, dangerously swerving and driving. And I’m sure you all know how this story ends. One of your colleagues, a photographer named Samir ran into our van, my guard Bastien swerved off of the road and ran into the pole. And you would think that the story ends there. Surely. But no. The photographer continued to take our pictures as we laid there, trapped and injured in our wreckage, before he fled the scene in cowardice.”

Liam’s eyes sweep the crowd. Everyone is watching and listening with rapt attention, hanging onto his every word. Good.

“Most of us faced only minor injuries, able to walk about with a few bumps and bruises. My guard Bastien sustained a dislocated shoulder and sprained ankle, but he’s going to be fine. My wife, Her Majesty, Queen Kendall of Cordonia, Duchess of Valtoria, sustained major injuries, to which I will not share the extent, but know that she and the baby will be okay as well. And while I will never be able to express the true depths of my eternal gratitude towards the amazing staff at this hospital, as well as the first responders in Lythikos, she should have never been put in this situation.”

“While Queen Kendall is expected to recover from her injuries, I want you all to hear me well and grasp the full severity of the situation. You chased and harassed her. You caused the car she was riding in to crash. Take away the titles for a moment and let it sink in that a pregnant woman and her child could have died. The baby that you were all so eager for me to have, that you’re all anxiously awaiting, you all put them in harm’s way and they haven't even had the chance to take their first breath. And for what? Pictures? A couple hundred dollars? A few thousand? Is that the going rate for a human life these days? This is a travesty that I will absolutely not stand for.”

“The royal family and the Cordonian press have always had an amicable relationship in the past, but somewhere along the way, the respect has been lost. My wife and I were harassed on our honeymoon—which took place on a private island, upon our arrival back home to Valtoria, in my wife’s native city of New York, as well as in Texas. Someone even followed us to the hospital, going as far as to impersonate hospital staff in order to get personal details about her pregnancy. We’ve dealt with the press harassing us, asking invasive and inappropriate questions about her pregnancy, which she has dealt with with an undeserved and unprecedented amount of grace and class. I think you’ve all forgotten that you’re dealing with your Queen. These are situations that Kendall should have never been in, but that’s a mistake and oversight on my part, a mistake that will never happen again. I let all of you get too comfortable. I let you become entitled, greedy, and spoiled. I apologize for making such an error, but I assure you that it ends today.”

“Let me make myself perfectly clear in saying that my wife will never be your Princess Diana, may she continue to rest in peace,” Liam continues. He knows that he’s going to cause some level of controversy invoking the late British Princess’s name, but the point has to be made. “Until my dying breath, I will protect Kendall, our child, and any future children we may have.”

“And to do that, boundaries will be put in place. Effective immediately, the press is no longer allowed at Applewood Manor or the Valtoria Estate, save for Apple Blossom festival and the lantern lighting festival,” Liam announces. The crowd gasps at the announcement. “They are private residencies, which we graciously opened up to the public in the past, but for the time being they will be private. I have filed permits to also ensure no drones, planes, jets, or helicopters fly over as well, in case anyone tries to get any bright ideas. For the time being, all news regarding my family will be released via the palace’s website and social media platforms. As for press at the palace, if I or anyone else in the royal family needs to address anything directly to the media, it will be done so right outside of the palace gates. There will be no press conferences near the fountain, in the throne room, or in the gardens. Members of the press will be welcome to attend any official engagements or royal tours we do in the future, but they are to be at least 30 meters away from members of the royal family at all times. If I see or hear of anyone belonging to the press violating any of these perimeters, there will be consequences, including severe fines and possible jail time.”

“As for the consequences to what happened the other night, the reporters who were in Lythikos that night will be charged with inciting a riot.” Gasps and rumblings of protest being to ripple through the crowd. “SILENCE!” Everyone goes quiet, shocked at the outburst from their normally stoic king. “Note that this is a very serious matter. It wasn’t just my safety that was at risk, or my Queen’s, my child’s, or my friends’. When you caused that dangerous scene, you had absolutely no regard for the private citizens of Lythikos. There were children in attendance, elderly people, people with disabilities, and so on. You exercised absolutely no restraint and showed no care for anyone. So as I was saying before I was interrupted, you will be charged with inciting a riot, and your employers, the magazines, papers, and tabloids that pay you to stalk my wife and spread gossip about her, they will also be facing severe fines as well. And to the man that ran into us, Samir, you have 24 hours to turn yourself in for the hit and run charges. Failure to do so will result in additional charges.”

“This is my first and final warning on this matter, and it is not up for debate or discussion. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me speak, but I think I’ve been out here long enough, and it’s time I get back to my beautiful wife. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day.”

And with that, Liam turns on his heel and walks back into the hospital, ignoring the chants and calls of the crowd behind him.

#choices: stories you play #playchoices #pixelberry #the royal heir #king liam #king liam x mc #liam x mc

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balladofsallyrose · 4 years

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Rules: We’re snooping on your playlist. Put your entire music library on shuffle and list the first twenty songs. Then tag some victims. Spread some song recs!

I was tagged by the lovely @whitedeadflower - thanks darling!! ✨

the riverboat song - ocean colour scene

shake it out - florence + the machine

roses in the hospital - manic street preachers

need you now - lady antebellum

control - halsey

everything must go - manic street preachers

the living daylights - a-ha

solita - prettymuch

us - regina spektor

lovely day - alt-j

turbulent - waterparks