three princes walk into a bar
Books: Crimes of Passion, The Royal Romance, Rules of Engagement
Pairing: M!Trystan Thorne, Liam Rys, Leo Rys
Rating: Teen
Word count: 1200+
Summary: Liam has been roped into fixing Trystan's public image. Leo? Leo is just along for the ride.
A/N: This is the seventh chapter of the Round Robin 2024 saga, hosted by @choicesprompts.
Over the rim of his martini glass, Trystan examined the two men watching him.
"You two trying to get into comedy or something? Three princes walk into a bar?"
"I'm a king," Liam corrected.
"I've had to deal with a lot of bullshit this week, Drakovia," Leo shot back, hunched over his own glass. "Don't test me."
"I'm just trying to understand why the two of you sought me out here, Cordonia One and Two. Aren't you," he pointed at Leo, "one of us degenerates in need of a PR miracle? And you," turning to Liam, "a little busy ruling a country?"
Leo downed his whiskey like a shot of tequila. Appalled, Trystan shook his head. "It ought to be a crime to treat a fine blend like that."
"Believe me, if you'd had the week I had," he glared at Liam, "you'd want to gulp down a good whiskey too."
"Which brings us to why I'm here," Liam added. "I've been assigned as your partner."
"You're fucking with me. How the hell does a king get roped into playing PR consultant in a reality show?"
"Hypothetically, a king gets a desperate call from an old friend after your original partner quit."
"I see Bertrand is not above a guilt trip. Good for him. But what makes you think I want your help?"
Liam leaned closer. "Let's be honest here, Trystan. Your public image is a mess. At this point, short of solving a murder, I'm your only option."
"I'll take the murder. Got any dead bodies handy?"
"Afraid not. And no offense, but I really don't see you as a detective. You're too scatterbrained for that."
"Ouch." Trystan sipped from his martini. "Enlighten me, then, Coach. How do you plan to make an honest man out of me?"
Liam took Trystan's wrist and pushed it down. "First of all, you put that drink down. According to a cursory Google search, there are barely any pictures of you from the past three years, minimum, where you're not holding a drink."
"You're calling me an alcoholic?"
"Considering I haven't seen you in almost eight years, I have no idea. But you certainly look like one, and that’s what matters."
"Ohh, appearance makes reality. Is that a royal saying? I always thought it was a Queen Viktoria saying."
"It's a rational person saying. The next step is making you look like you have other thoughts besides who you're going to screw next." He made a face. "Maybe Leo could take some pointers there."
"Hey, you're not my partner, I'm just along for the ride. Besides, may I remind you, I'm happily married."
"I'm aware, and I also know you're faithful to Katie. But if you keep acting like you did before you were married, the public will think it's not a big leap from getting wasted and puking on bushes to cheating on your wife."
Trystan exchanged a commiserating look with Leo. "Was he always like this?"
"Unfortunately."
"Pity."
"Back to you," Liam continued unaffected. “You were exiled almost eight years ago, and it doesn't look like you'll be welcomed back into the fold any time soon. We both know you didn't have anything to do with Countess Juliana's death..."
Trystan drank again. "Do we?" He asked softly.
"Right. I know you didn't have anything to do with Countess Juliana's death." He jerked a thumb in Leo's direction. "So does he."
"You're a lot of things, Drakovia," Leo agreed. "But a murderer isn't one of them."
"Too bad everyone else disagrees."
"Indeed. But you're still a prince, your actions still reflect on your country, and it's only a matter of time before King Maksim and Queen Viktoria tighten the leash."
Trystan sighed and ran a hand over his jaw. His stubble contributed to the general air of dissipation that enveloped him like a mist.
"If you want to keep your comfortable life," Liam continued. "You'll make sure to go from 'drunken waste of space'..."
"Christ, Rys. Why don't you tell me how you really feel."
"... to 'proper gentleman.'"
"Proper gentleman? Seriously?"
"He can't help it," Leo put in. "Put a man on a throne long enough, he'll start to sound like an etiquette manual. Then again," he turned to his brother. "I'm not sure you weren't born this way."
"Carry on like this, brother dearest, and I'll make sure your partner swaps places with Olivia. She finished with Carrera early anyway, I'm sure she could fit you in."
Leo grimaced. "As I was saying, Liam makes excellent points."
"Coward." Trystan gestured to the waitress. "Bring me another one, will you, darling?"
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. "Did anything I said in the past twenty minutes get through?"
"Maybe? I vaguely recall something about proper." He laughed when Liam dropped his head into his hands. "Relax, Your Majesty. I'll be on my best behavior all week."
"By whose standards?"
"There goes my loophole." Trystan sighed. "Look, I couldn't care less about my public image, but I'm not in any rush to face my mother's wrath. Besides, you're quite frankly pitiful right now. Saying no would make me feel like I was kicking a puppy. A sweet, annoying puppy."
Leo slapped a hand on the table. “Thank you! That's what he reminds me of! A thirty plus year old mystery, solved in a single night. Maybe you really should be a detective.”
Liam looked heavenward when Trystan and Leo laughed and clinked glasses. Praying for patience, no doubt. "Not quite what I was going for, but I'll take it."
"So what's the plan, oh wise one? We've already covered my drinking.”
“We’re going over the basics.”
“How to Be a Productive Member of Society 101?”
“Exactly. And as your partner…”
Trystan sighed. “Can we come up with a different word? I don't really do partners.��
“As your mentor…”
“Partner it is.”
“... It's my responsibility to make you look squeaky clean for the cameras.”
Leo groaned. “Liam, no. I'll grant you that he needs to improve his reputation, but squeaky clean won't do. People will start theorizing that he died and was replaced with a clone. Or a very elaborate AI video.”
“You might be right. What do you propose instead?”
“He leans into the role of loveable rogue. He works hard, he plays hard. He's aware of his privilege and doesn't take it for granted.”
Liam turned to face his brother. “That's rather good. Why the hell haven’t you been doing that?”
A shadow passed over Leo’s face, but he grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know? But you’re not my partner, thank God. So let’s focus on our exiled prince here.”
Trystan blew out a breath. “Look, I’d like to get out of this island sooner rather than later. Can we get this over with?”
“Surprisingly, Leo makes a good point. Too big a change wouldn’t feel authentic. You still need to come across as you, just…”
“An upgraded version?”
“Exactly. So.” He pulled out a leather-bound notebook and a fountain pen. “We begin.”
Three hours later, Trystan had a headache, Liam was inching ever closer to a migraine, and Leo… Well, Leo had his face buried in another drink. But the sense of satisfaction permeated the air.
“There’s hope for you yet, Thorne,” Liam said delightedly. “Two more days or so and you’ll be ready for the cameras.”
“Oh joy.”
“But.” He planted his hands on the table and leaned forward. “If you screw this up, I’ll personally make sure that your next partner isn’t as nice as me.”
Trystan laughed. “Fear not, young Jedi. No offense, but I’m done with partners. Never again.”
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🛑 "No kissing!" 🛑
After the events of Drakovia, Lilah has a new rule. No kissing while on a case.
I can't thank the wonderful @callmebeem for this gorgeous art of Trystan and my detective.
[Trystan Thorne x Lilah Rose Masterlist]
drabble under the cut
No Kissing
Pairing: M!Trystan Thorne x Lilah Rose (F!MC)
Book: Crimes of Passion (post book 2)
Word Count: ~300
Rating/Warning: General (no warnings)
A/N: This is not edited, so please forgive any mistakes and errors
Synopsis: After the events of Drakovia, Lilah has a new rule. No kissing while on a case.
His warm lips were met by her cool hand, halting his pursuits.
"No!" Lilah stated firmly, shaking her head.
"What do you mean?" His words were mumbled against her palm.
"No kissing!"
"What do you mean, 'no kissing'—" He sighed as she pulled her hand away. "I thought—"
Lilah pressed her hands to her hips. "You thought, just because we are open with our relationship, now you can just kiss me anytime you want?"
A sly smirk drew across his lips as he leaned closer, "I had hoped—"
"Well, my handsome former king—" Her finger trailed teasingly down the angles of his jaw. She pulled back as quickly as her tender touch started. "—you hoped wrong." She turned away, enjoying the look of disillusionment spreading on his face.
"But why?" He trailed quickly behind.
"We're professionals. We have a case."
"We're off the clock."
"The clock is never off—" Lilah began. Thoughts of all the times they snuck off in Drakovia, which, with some distance and perspective, she realized greatly hindered their investigation. She shook them away. Drakovia was their past. This was their now, and what would come next. "We need to focus."
"I am focused—" He leaned against the bar, watching her as she turned her attention back to the case files before her.
"On the case," she scolded him without looking up. She tapped the bar stool beside her. "Now tell me what you can glean from this?"
"You want to know what I can glean?" Trystan leaned in, drawing the file closer and flipping through the photos. He started with a quick glance but then slowed down as he delved into a closer examination. As they worked together, their bodies drew closer. Whispered theories and observations filled the space between them. As long as they were together, there was no case too difficult to crack.
But seriously, no way my Lilah actually would have been so distracted in Drakovia while on such a serious case. I totally blame them for Sebastian's death. Had they never let him out of their sight, he could (and would) still be alive. I am holding them accountable for that, so no more kisses! lol
Anyway, thanks for reading! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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