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[choicescommunityevents]

Prompts by Gemstones:

Amber | Orange | Fire | Resin

Amethyst | February | Purple | Magic

Aquamarine | March | Ocean | Calm

Citrine | November | Lemon | Sun

Diamond | Proposal | Stars | Rich

Emerald | May | Green | Youth

Garnet | January | Red | Colorful

Jade | Royal | Green | Good

Moonstone | Shimmer | June | Moon

Onyx | Mystery | Dark | Black

Opal | precious | Colors | Rare

Pearl | Seashells | Merfolk | White

Rosequartz | Beauty | Love | Pink

Ruby | Passion | hard | Red

Saphire | Popular | Sky | Blue

Tourqoise | Ancient | Holy | Luck

Two-worded Prompts: Natural Gems ; Emerald Eyes ; Diamond Dream ; Ruby Lips ; Amethyst Sky ; Sapphire Blue ; Bejeweled & Crystalized

Special Prompts (Character Profile/Edit/Art, Fic):

Present your own characters/pets who are named after a gemstone (Edit, Character Profile)

Each character's favorite gemstone?

Each character's zodiac gemstones?

Gemstone-themed outfits (moodboard, edit,..)

Your favorite gemstone?

Pick a gemstone for a mutual and why this?

Picture Prompts:

Plot Prompts:

An Heist to steal an expensive gemstone

Searching for a gemstone that can heal

Collecting Diamonds in a Game

A lover gifts some jewellery

Crown Jewels of a Kingdom

A Crystal Fae Ball in the Fae Realm

Jewel as a Family Charm/Heirloom

Magical Dress transformation (gets bejeweled)

Quote Prompts:

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a person perfected without challenges."

"True beauty is found within, like a gem hidden in a rough stone."

"Gems teach us that power is not about size, but about impact."

"You're such a precious gem."

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💛🤍💜🖤 Nyx Selenastra 🩷💛💙

Nyx is one of my Blades OCs. I don't create for them nearly as much as I'd like to, but I still love and cherish them. Nyx is non-binary, pansexual, and demiromantic. They eventually have a relationship with Aerin but I've not written that far ahead. They are just befriending Aerin so far in what I've created.

I really didn't think I could draw Nyx with all the detailing they have. I know it's not perfect but I'm really happy with how they came out. I did for a moment considering trying to do their starlight/night sky skin tone, but I'm not sure I'm there yet.

@choicespride

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Love is Complicated

Premise: Alan Ramsey must reconcile the past when his errant wife returns.

Fandom: Open Heart Characters/Pairings: Alan Ramsey, Louise Ramsey; Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Angst. Words: 1,935

A/N: Submission for @choicescommunityevents June challenge, prompt "love"

It was a scorcher of a day, with temperatures in the high nineties. Alan Ramsey wiped the back of his neck and unlocked the front door of his house, sighing in relief as he stepped into the cool entryway.

On days like this, he was glad his son had talked him into installing central air conditioning, replacing the ancient window units that had come with the house nearly forty years ago.

Out of habit, Alan toed off his grubby work boots and padded up the stairs in socked feet to shower off the sweat and grime from a long day at work.

A short while later, he grabbed a Sam Adams from the fridge, popped the top off and took a satisfying pull of the cold beer.

Standing in front of the window overlooking the small, overgrown backyard, he rolled the cold bottle between his hands. Time to crank up the lawn mower, he thought absently.

He lifted the bottle to his mouth and paused as the phone on the kitchen counter signaled an incoming call.

These days, the home number was easy prey for telemarketers and robocall spammers. Anyone who wanted to talk to him just called his cell, so he let it go to voicemail.

“Uh… hello…. Alan? It’s Louise.”

At the sound of the long-forgotten voice on the speaker, the bottle slipped from Alan’s hands, foamy beer spilling across the kitchen floor.

Ignoring the mess, he lunged for the phone, managing to pick it up before his ex-wife could hang up.

“Louise? I’m here,” he said, slightly out of breath.

Alan had complicated feelings about the woman who had walked out on him and their son twenty-five years ago. He thought he’d buried them long ago—by the time the ink on their divorce papers had dried.

But hearing her voice now brought everything rushing back: hope tangled with despair, love battling disappointment; a bittersweet reflection of their relationship, with all its highs and lows.

Despite everything, he had never been able to stop loving her. In his mind, she was still the girl he’d fallen head over heels for in high school. She had been exciting, a bit of a rebel, and she had made him want to be one too. And then everything changed when she became pregnant.

Alan had watched the restlessness take root even as he was content to settle into family life. Money was often tight, and she picked up extra shifts, until she was home less and less. Then, one day, she wasn’t there at all.

He waited for her to come back—longer than he should have—if not for himself, then for their son. But Louise never looked back, and eventually, Alan had to accept that some things weren’t meant to be.

Now she was calling, and just like that, the years fell away.

Still, his voice was older now, and he heard the weariness in hers. She was no longer the vivacious woman in the yellow dress who had kissed him under the mistletoe as Nat King Cole played on the radio.

“How are you?” he asked, shaking off the memory.

“I’m alright,” she replied. “Still working for the cable company?”

Alan heard the slight derision she didn’t bother to hide. Louise had never understood his contentment, or how he didn’t feel the need to fix what wasn’t broken. It was something she and Ethan had in common, though his son appreciated the value of hard work.

So, he simply said, “Yes,” and waited for her to explain why she was calling after all this time.

Maybe she’s sick, he thought, a tightness creeping into his chest at the idea of losing her again.

“I saw Ethan on the news. I can’t believe he’s a doctor now!” Louise gushed. “He looked so tall and handsome. In my mind, he’s still the little boy always getting into mischief.”

Well, you’ve been gone a long time. What did you expect? Alan almost spit out, a rare moment of bitterness rising to the surface. But he didn’t.

There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but he held his tongue. He wasn’t sure he was ready for the answers. And what did it matter now, anyway?

“I’m living in Boston now. Do you think he’d be willing to see me?” she asked.

Alan scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know, Louise. Ethan… he’s not how you remember him. You leaving—well, it hit him hard.”

“I’m still his mother, Alan. He’ll want to see me. I’m sure of it.”

When Alan hesitated, Louise rushed out, “Just ask him, please. You could always talk him into anything.”

“That was a long time ago,” Alan said. When Louise scoffed on the line, he added, “Fine. I’ll talk to him.”

He jotted down her number and the address of the motel in Boston, promised to call her once he’d spoken to their son, and hung up.

Exhaling deeply, Alan started to dial Ethan’s number but stopped halfway through. He was probably busy with patients. Besides, this wasn’t something he wanted to discuss over the phone.

He looked down at his soaked socks, the spilled beer forgotten until now. Grabbing a mop, he cleaned the floor, taking longer than necessary as he worked through how to tell Ethan that his mother was back.

No matter how he imagined it, Alan knew it was going to be a difficult conversation. Months later, he would look back and think that difficult had been an understatement.

This late in the evening, traffic heading into Boston was light, and Alan made good time on the drive up from Providence. After days of having his calls and texts ignored, he’d decided to catch Ethan at home.

Alan hated the distance that had crept in between them ever since Louise came back into their lives. While Ethan’s work often felt like a black box to him, the rest of him wasn’t as hard to read.

That had been especially true since Cassie Valentine entered the picture. Alan had never seen his son so confused—and yet so certain—about a woman before. He couldn’t say for sure, but based on their conversation over the summer, he suspected Ethan was in love.

Having met the young doctor, albeit briefly, and been on the receiving end of her warmth and empathy (she appeared intelligent and highly observant too), Alan could easily see why she’d captured his reserved son’s heart.

Which is why, as he parked under Ethan’s building, Alan hoped this unannounced visit wouldn’t backfire. After all, love was complicated, and his son was old enough to understand that now.

Almost half an hour later, Alan looked up at the sound of the front door opening as Ethan returned from walking Cassie out. A part of him felt bad for interrupting their evening. And yet, her presence—and gentle nudge—had convinced Ethan to finally open up about his feelings.

Alan thought back to watching them cook together, the way they moved around each other with the ease of two people completely in sync. His heart had lifted at the sight of Ethan smiling as Cassie gently teased him.

There was a quiet intimacy between them, and Alan wondered how anyone who spent even a little time around them could fail to notice it. But he understood—from both Ethan and Naveen—that the relationship was still very private, given the complexities of them working together.

“Cassie make it off alright?” Alan asked.

“Yeah,” Ethan said, stepping into the kitchen to check on the chicken roasting in the oven.

“I’m sorry, son, for dropping by unannounced. I didn’t mean to interrupt your date.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m sorry, too, for ignoring you and making you worry. It’s just been a hectic few weeks.”

Alan watched his son top up his wine glass and sigh deeply, his brow furrowing the way it did when he had a lot on his mind. He regretted adding to it.

“I know you’re disappointed in my inability to let your mother go. But I hope you know, Ethan, your feelings matter more to me than hers.” Alan closed the distance between them. “If you still don’t want to see her, I’ll understand. I’ll tell her that’s your final decision.”

Alan wasn’t sure how he’d convince Louise, given her persistence, but he had to put his son first. No matter what.

“I saw her last week.”

Ethan’s confession nearly made Alan trip over his own feet. Instead of asking questions, he sat down on the kitchen stool, took a sip of the wine his son poured him, and waited.

“I didn’t talk to her,” Ethan said. “I went to the motel in Southie. It was raining… I didn’t think I’d recognize her, but… Anyway, Cassie spoke to her. Mom knows I’m a doctor. She said she was proud of me.”

“I know,” Alan said quietly.

Ethan shook his head, the lost-boy look in his eyes disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

“I can’t forgive her, Dad. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but she can’t just walk back into our lives like nothing ever happened. I hear you when you say love is complicated.”

He paused, searching for the right words.

“Cassie’s right too, in a way. She said your perspective on your relationship with Mom is different from mine. But I can’t help wondering. Why don’t you resent her for what she did to us? To you?”

In that moment, Alan wished Ethan were still a little boy—someone he could pull onto his lap and hold until the worries of the world fell away. But he wasn’t. His son was a grown man now. He didn’t need to be coddled.

“A relationship is two people, Ethan,” Alan said gently. “I knew Louise was restless and unhappy with the life we had. But I was arrogant enough to believe she’d eventually get over it. So, I did nothing to change things. I didn’t meet her halfway.”

Wanting the connection, Alan placed his hand over Ethan’s.

“Despite everything, I can never resent her, because for better or worse, she gave me you. I don’t know if I still love her, or if I love the memory of who we once were. I forgave her for leaving me… but I promise you, I never forgave her for leaving you.”

The oven timer broke through the quiet moment between father and son. Ethan switched it off and pulled the roasting pan from the oven.

“Will you stay for dinner?”

“I’d like that,” Alan said with a smile. “Maybe you can tell me how things are going with Cassie. You met her family recently, didn’t you?”

Caught in his own thoughts and relieved to have finally had an honest conversation, Alan didn’t notice the worry that clouded his son’s eyes—or the quiet, monosyllabic response, more somber than the moment called for.

Ethan plated the chicken, handing one to his father without a word. They sat, side by side at the kitchen island, forks in hand, and dug in.

Not everything had been said, and there was still Louise to deal with. But they had made progress tonight. For now, it was enough.

Alan watched Ethan out of the corner of his eye, thinking again of that little boy he’d once held through heartbreak.

He wasn’t a boy anymore. But tonight, for the first time in a long while, Alan didn’t feel so far away from him.

He smiled, quietly, and took another bite. Love was complicated. But it still found a way.

-------------

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @jerzwriter @kyra75 @lady-calypso @loreofyore @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @snoopdogcone @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @custaroonie @youlookappropriate

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A/N: Day 26's prompt in @creativepromptsforwriting 30-Day Writing Challenge is to write a story with the title Like Waves in the Ocean. @coffeeheartaddict2 had sent a request to write this for Tobias & Casey, and - admittedly - I was stumped! I hope you like the outcome, Tash - I went a little angsty!

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Tobias Carrick x Casey MacTavish (F!MC) Rating: Teen Words: 732 Summary: Tobias & Casey share a relationship defining moment by the sea.

Also participating in @choicesmonthlychallenge, prompts: ocean, sun, love, and pink, and @monthlywritingchallenges Just One June prompt: One Last Try.

30-Day Challenge Masterlist | Full Masterlist

Casey sat quietly on the shore, arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she watched the tide roll in. The sky was beginning to fade into pale shades of pink over the Atlantic as the day drew to a close. She tucked her hands into the sleeves of her old NYU sweatshirt as the wind picked up - the great disruptor, tugging relentlessly at her hair, stirring the sand and tangling everything around her until the world felt just like she did inside: unsettled, unmoored, uncertain of what would come next.

She didn’t turn when Tobias made his way down the dune behind her, only shifting slightly to make room when he settled beside her on the sand. He didn’t speak at first – neither of them did – letting the waves and occasional call from a gull overhead provide the soundtrack for a long while. At another time, it might have been soothing, but today, they felt like the outro to a song they never wanted to end.

Tobias finally gathered the courage to speak. “I had a feeling I’d find you here. You always come here when you want everything to disappear.”

“I don’t want everything to disappear,” she said softly. “I just needed space to breathe.”

He nodded. “I get that. Breathing is easier here.”

She glanced at him – barefoot, his shirt sleeves pushed up to his elbows, the ocean light softening his features and making his crystal blue eyes appear even more ethereal – if that was even possible. He looked just like the man she fell in love with... the man she still loved with all her soul. But things had changed; sometimes, she didn’t even recognize them anymore.

It had started subtly, then everything seemed to crash down at once. Stupid fights that seemed to start over nothing at all, always ending with slammed doors and tears. They said things neither wanted to say - things they didn't mean. But they said them anyway – too many times to count.

Her toes curled into the sand when she whispered. “What happened to us, Tobias? How... how did we end up here?”

He didn’t answer right away, staring out at the waves like they held answers he had been longing to find.

“I think we let the current carry us too far out to sea. We just kept drifting, letting it pull us apart without stopping to check that we were still holding hands.”

She felt a lump form in her throat, hot tears sprang to her eyes. “Do you want to find your way back?” she asked nervously. “Do you want to find your way back... to me?”

“Casey,” he sighed, heart aching. “I don’t have to come back. I know things haven't been easy, but don’t you see - I never left you. I never would..”

She turned to him, her heart skipping when she saw a single tear trailing down his cheek. She reached for his hand without hesitation. This was the man she loved – and she knew he loved her in return – but was love still enough?  

“I don’t know how to fix us anymore,” she confessed. “I don’t know how to get back to who we were before.”

“You don’t have to fix it, Casey. You don’t fix the ocean,” he smiled, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. “You just learn to swim in it. We can learn to swim together. I know we can.”

A smile tugged at her lips. “That might be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He let out a gentle sigh, a half smile on his lips – he was almost afraid to hope. “It’s just one of my many talents."

She leaned into his side, her head resting on his shoulder as it had a thousand times before. His arm encircled her, and she nearly cried. Here, in his arms, this was her home.

“I miss us,” she croaked. "I miss us so much."

“Hey! We’re still here.” He placed a kiss on top of her head. “We just have to swim a little stronger- hold on to each other a little tighter. But I have no doubt that we can do it. We’ll reach the shore, baby. You and me? We’ll reach the shore – together.”

Casey couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when it happened, but that didn’t seem to matter. As the two of them sat beneath the setting sun, with the salt air filling their lungs and the waves lapping around them, she felt it coming to life again - the moment she began to believe again.

In the end, they both knew - they were invincible.

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

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‼️ Little information/reminder: Please tag @choicescommunityevents (or me, @ ladylamrian) along with @choicesmonthlychallenge because I host the June Challenge on the Community Blog. The Monthly Blog is only managed by one person who is not me ( @ storyofmychoices ), so I won't get a notification or reminder if someone wants to submit a fanwork for the June Challenge, which only I host. I added it to the Event Rules too. Thank you for accepting ✨️💎

[choicescommunityevents]

A/N: Day 24's prompt in @creativepromptsforwriting 30-Day Writing Challenge is to write a story using the words: crown, dance, and smile. I decided to write something for my Eli x Zoe x Troy headcanon from Wake the Dead—a triad I've been wanting to explore more for a while now. I hope you enjoy this short story!

Book: Wake the Dead, Pixelberry Choices Pairing: Eli Sipes x Zoe Rivera (MC) x Troy Hassan Rating: Teen Words: ~1,500 Summary: A day of scavenging doesn't go as planned, but a treasure is found all the same.

Tagging @choicesficwriterscreations (Fics of the Week), @choicesmonthlychallenge (saphires, rubies), @choicesprompts (pride month) and @polyamships

30-Day Challenge Masterlist | Wake the Dead Masterlist | Full Masterlist

Troy leaped out of the van with childlike glee barely a second after Eli shifted it into park. He was already rushing up the wooded hill when Zoe grabbed the back of his leather jacket.

“Easy there, Hassan,” she said softly, not eager to attract the attention of any undead that might be lurking nearby. “Safety first, remember?”

Eli approached from behind, his eyes already rolling. “You act like you’re new to living in a post-apocalyptic hellscape,” he muttered, then turned to Zoe. “I told you we should’ve brought Angel and left him back at Olympus.”

“But then I would have missed the castle!” Troy whined.

It wasn’t exactly a castle, and the estate perched at the top of the hill had clearly seen better days. Ivy clawed through its shattered stained-glass windows, and grimy marble tiles buckled beneath years of abandonment. But the old structure still held an air of majesty. If you closed your eyes, it would be easy to imagine a prince and princess, or perhaps a smug venture capitalist or two, descending the grand staircase in front of the towering oak doors.

“We can’t blame him for being excited,” Zoe offered, trying to keep the peace.

But Eli wasn't moved. “Yes, I can,” he shot back before she even finished.

Zoe gave them both a pointedly amused look. “Well, I can’t blame him... but we still have to stick together and stay quiet. Rules still apply.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Troy replied with a salacious grin, waggling his brows. “I love when you get bossy.”

Eli dragged a hand down his face. “Correction: I should’ve stayed back at Olympus.”

"Stop," Zoe laughed. "You would have missed us terribly!" Linking arms with both of them, she led them up the hill. “Come on, boys. “Let’s see if this place is as impressive on the inside as it is on the out.”

They were greeted with the thick scent of moss and damp wood - and it was quiet, too quiet, as if even the slightest creak might wake whatever ghosts still lingered within. There didn’t seem to be much left to find; the place had clearly been picked over. But that wasn’t going to stop them. They’d long since learned that sometimes a can of peaches or a sealed bottle of iodine could be hiding where you least expected it.

Zoe moved cautiously through the old ballroom, a blade strapped to her thigh, ready for whatever might come. But even as she kicked aside a chunk of fallen plaster, she was enchanted. “This place must’ve been something back in its day,” she whispered.

That’s when Troy popped his head out from behind an ornate cabinet, grinning like a child who’d just found where his parents hid the stash of Christmas gifts. “I found our new currency,” he beamed.

Eli didn’t even look up. “If it’s another scary porcelain doll, I swear to God...”

Troy ignored him and walked dramatically toward Zoe. “My lady,” he said with an exaggerated bow. Then he revealed it - an old, slightly tarnished crown. It still glittered softly despite its obvious age and several missing jewels.

“Wow,” Zoe blinked, taking it in.

“It might be real gold... the sapphires and rubies are probably fake, but it’s still a beauty.” Troy looked pleased with himself. “I found it in a busted display case. We can’t eat it, it can’t patch a roof or clean a wound, but you have to admit - it’s got style.”

Zoe took it from his hands; it was much heavier than expected.

“Who do you think it belonged to?” she asked.

“A fallen aristocrat,” Troy guessed. “The last of her line. She probably escaped to America after World War II. She was expected to marry well and keep the bloodline going, but ended up living out her days in quiet exile after the discovery of her scandalous affair with her stable boy.”

“You’re wrong on all counts,” Zoe declared. “It belonged to the fiercest queen in the land. She fearlessly defended her people before running off with not one but two lovers, then she built a new world from the burnt ashes.”

Troy raised a brow. “Huh. That story sounds oddly familiar.”

Zoe nudged him with her elbow. Then, without a hint of ceremony, Troy retrieved the crown and plopped it onto her head.

“It’s crooked,” she wailed.

“It’s perfect,” Troy smiled. “Just like you.”

Eli finally glanced over. Surprisingly, he didn’t have a sarcastic retort - just a soft glance with a hint of something warm in his eyes.

Zoe stood up straighter and assumed a commanding air, smoothing her grease-covered jeans as if they were a flowing silk ball gown. “I believe,” she said, spinning slowly, “that it is proper to bow before your queen before requesting a dance.”

Troy immediately dropped into a deep, absurd bow.

Eli was unamused. “We’re supposed to be scavenging.”

Zoe glared in his direction in mock horror. “Do you dare to deny your queen?” She circled him, her low tsk-tsk-tsks echoing off the cavernous walls. “Do you not remember the first time you danced with me, Lord Eli?”

“Barely,” he grumbled - but the small, involuntary smile that tugged at his lips was betraying his stony facade.

“It was right after we settled into the lodge,” she went on. “You barely knew me at the time. But you still danced with me.”

“Yep,” he muttered. “And I told you then what I’m telling you now – I knew better than to say no to you. You would have just kept pushing until I gave in.”

“Correct!” She beamed. “You were a smart man back then, but you’re denying me now?”

Troy stepped behind her, voice dripping with mischief. “Get him, Your Majesty! I’m sure we could find a dungeon and leave him here.”

Zoe stifled a laugh. “Duke Troy, I'm afraid you’d miss him terribly if we did."

Troy leaned his head on her shoulder, studying Eli in mock consideration. “I don't know," he said, rubbing his chin. "It depends on what kind of dungeon we’re talking about.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Eli grumbled. Knowing he was outnumbered and secretly wanting to play along, he stepped forward, giving the world’s most reluctant bow. “May I have this dance?”

“Your Majesty,” Zoe corrected, as Eli smirked.

“May I have this dance... Your Majesty,” he repeated.

“You may,” Zoe replied regally and took his hand.

They moved slowly through the dusty ballroom, workboots scuffing across the cracked tile. Troy started to hum some ridiculous waltz, and Eli shot him a look.

“If you keep that up, I’m stopping.”

Troy sauntered over, his hand resting on Eli’s before he pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Zoe chuckled while twirling into Eli's embrace. "Duk Troy? Do you care to cut in?”

“With pleasure,” he grinned, nudging Eli aside with theatrical flair. “I get a slow dance!”

"Yeah," Eli rubbed the back of his neck. “But I’m not humming for you.”

“Rude!”

Zoe winked at Troy, stopping the moment they waltzed in front of Eli. With a grin, she removed the crown and placed it on top of Eli’s head.

“What are you doing?” he asked, a touch of worry in his eyes.

“I – Queen Zoe – am crowning you King.”

“Oh yeah,” he chuckled. “King of what?”

“King of our hearts, of course,” she declared sweetly, her voice full of sincerity.

Troy barked out a laugh. “Now I have to dance with you, King Eli. I mean, you look hot as hell in that crown.”

“God help me,” Eli muttered, but he allowed it. “Again - just to shut you up.”

“Remember this, Queen Zoe!” Troy hollered as he twirled Eli around the room. “As long as we keep yapping, we can get this man to do anything we want!”

"Duly noted!" She grinned, placing a hand over her overflowing heart. She could have watched them all day - Eli stiff and grumbling, Troy obnoxious yet graceful. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this much joy.

After allowing them to have their moment, she stepped in, falling into their eagerly awaiting arms. The three swayed together in the silence, and despite Eli’s usual reluctance, even he didn’t want to stop.

“You know,” she teased, “the ‘music’ stopped a while ago. But here we are - still holding on to each other.”

Eli placed a kiss on the top of her head, a warm smile on his lips. “We don’t need music for that.”

Troy kissed Zoe’s cheek, then leaned over and kissed Eli’s temple. She turned and kissed them both in turn, then closed her eyes and simply breathed, wishing to commit this precious moment to memory.

Eventually, Eli gently removed the crown and tucked it into his bag. “Come on,” he said. “As nice as this is, it’s going to get dark soon, and I want to get us home safely.”

He gave one last look inside a nearby cabinet and shook his head. “Not much of a haul today.”

Zoe stepped up beside him and laced her fingers through his. “I don’t know about that. I think this was one of our best finds yet.”

Troy slung an arm around both of them. “Yeah. Being here with the two of you today – it was worth more than a thousand cans of peaches.”

“And pineapples,” Zoe added with a smile.

“Hey – let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Eli chuckled.

They walked through the long, faded corridor together as the sunlight quickly faded, making it back to the van just before dusk. Zoe gave the estate one last look over her shoulder.

“Let’s go, boys,” she smiled. “Olympus awaits.”

And with the crown packed safely among bandages and a few loose batteries, they drove back toward the only kingdom that mattered – the one where they had each other.

[choicescommunityevents]

Pretty in Pink: Happy Father's Day, Bryce! 💖

[Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Masterlist] 

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley (F!OC) with Malia Lahela Book: Open Heart Word Count: ~400 Rating/Warnings: General, fluffy fluff A/N: Art by the amazing artbyainna (IG)

The corners of the picnic blanket flapped with the light breeze. Crumbs from their sandwiches and snacks were scattered across the fabric. Malia's empty juice box had tipped when she wobbled off trying to catch a butterfly. Drops of condensation trickled down the pitcher of lemonade as the sun warmed the air around them. Their backyard Father's Day picnic had been an overwhelming success.

Malia toddled barefoot through the grass, her pink sundress fluttering around her as she moved with carefree joy. Her soft laughter filled the space with the most beautiful song. Malia brought him so much joy, not just today on Father's Day but every day. She had been the greatest gift he didn't know he needed. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to protect her. 

The skin around his eyes pulled into tender lines as he followed her movements. The smile on his face couldn’t capture even a fraction of what he felt inside.

"Come here, my little gigglebug," Bryce teased, scooping Malia into his arms, which earned him another fit of laughter from his daughter. He kissed her all over as she wiggled with glee, happy with his attention. 

"She has you wrapped around her little fingers," Olivia offered with a smile of adoration. She couldn't have been happier with the family they had created. Malia was a daddy's girl through and through and Bryce loved every second of it. 

"I can't imagine a better place to be." Bryce twirled with Malia in his arms. The sunlight shimmered in the fine strands of red in her hair that reminded him of her beautiful mother. 

She was magnificent. 

She was beautiful.

She was the best part of him.

And she had made him a father, a title he was carried with pride.

"I wuv Dada," Malia cheered, wrapping her little arms around his neck. She pressed a wet, messy kiss on his cheek. 

"I love you too, Malia." Bryce cradled his daughter in his arms, savoring the moment. She had grown so much in the past almost two years. He wished he could slow time down, but knew they had to live in the moment or else they might miss something. And with her, he didn't want to miss a thing...not one little thing. 

Olivia shifted closer to where Bryce was holding Malia, still kissing her softly. "Happy Father's Day, Bryce. We love you."

Thanks for reading! Interactions are appreciated! 💛

[choicescommunityevents]

Too Sweet

Premise: The twins have a surprise for Ethan on Father’s Day.

Fandom: Open Heart Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine); feat. Sophie and Eloise Ramsey (OCs) Rating/Category: General. Fluff. Words: 1,020

A/N: I haven't written a Father's Day fic in a long time, but got inspired this year.

Submission to @choicescommunityevents June prompt "Love"

Ethan Ramsey never overslept. Well, hardly ever—never sounded too definitive for his analytical way of thinking. But this Sunday morning, he had slept through the alarm and was now rushing to shower and get ready for a day of errands.

He’d woken groggy, the bedroom too bright from the sunlight streaming through the open drapes, revealing sweeping views of Boston Harbor.

Since it was nearly summer, he figured it was still early despite the sun hanging high in the sky. Then his eyes landed on the wall clock opposite the king-sized bed, and he yelped, leaping out of bed and nearly tripping as his long legs tangled in the bed covers.

Bracing one hand against the headboard, he glanced at the empty bed and absently wondered where Cassie was, even as he padded to the ensuite, tossing his T-shirt into the laundry hamper.

Almost thirty minutes later—he must be getting old; everything was taking longer today—he stepped into the walk-in closet, rubbing a towel through his wet hair and wishing he’d had time for a shave.

He quickly got dressed, grabbed his wallet from the bedside table, and tucked it into his back pocket.

Desperate for coffee to kickstart his body, Ethan mentally ran through his to-do list and wondered how he’d managed to put off so many routine things.

He’d always been disciplined about spreading out errands so they didn’t become a chore—a habit he’d developed during residency that had served him well throughout his busy career as a physician.

Of course, that was before he became a father. Ever since the girls started elementary school a couple of years ago, they’d turned into social butterflies like their mother.

Lately, all his free time on weekends was taken up with dropping them off at playdates, picking them up from birthday parties, or waiting around at dance classes and sports meets with other parents.

Sometimes he longed for the days when his time was his own. And on other days, he couldn’t recall what he’d even done with his spare time; it probably hadn’t been all that memorable anyway.

Lost in thought, he stepped into the kitchen—and stopped short, as if he’d walked into a brick wall.

“Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!” Sophie and Eloise chirped in unison, grinning proudly as they pointed to the breakfast laid out on the kitchen island.

Their aprons were dusted with flour and cocoa powder, and the kitchen counters were a chaotic mess of pots, pans, utensils and other paraphernalia. Was that jam smeared around their mouths?

Before Ethan could say anything, they launched themselves at him, each grabbing one of his legs and transferring sticky substances from their faces and hands onto his clean pants.

“Do you like your surprise?” Eloise asked, her green eyes lit with delight as she tilted her head back.

“We made you pancakes with lots of syrup,” said Sophie, tugging at the hem of his shirt.

“All by ourselves,” her sister boasted.

“Well, Mommy helped,” Sophie added, sneaking a quick glance over her shoulder at their mother.

Ethan met Cassie’s laughing eyes across the island. She was enjoying this way too much, and he wondered what he was in for.

“You’re too kind,” she said, sipping her coffee and winking at him above the rim of her mug. “They wanted to make everything for their Daddy all by themselves. I was just along for the ride.”

“I’m definitely surprised… and touched,” Ethan said, running one hand down each girl’s hair.

The stack of pancakes was lopsided and swimming in maple syrup, garnished with colorful marshmallows and a handful of badly chopped strawberries—stems still attached to some—tossed haphazardly around the edge of the plate.

“Taste it, Daddy!” the girls urged excitedly, practically bouncing in their shoes.

Ethan slowly picked up the knife and fork to cut into the stack. He could already tell some were undercooked while others were nearly burnt. The girls watched expectantly, so he took a bite.

The ultra-sweet taste set his teeth on edge, and he briefly wondered if he was in danger of falling into a sugar coma. He caught Cassie’s teasing grin and knew exactly what she was thinking.

He’d never been good at hiding his feelings.

“I’m a doctor, not an actor,” he’d said more than once when they’d found themselves at yet another boring gala schmoozing with hospital donors.

“Hmm… delicious,” Ethan choked out as he swallowed the chewy batter.

Despite his culinary prowess, his own pancake-making skills were hit or miss. Clearly, his daughters had inherited his questionable talent in this area.

He picked up the handmade greeting card propped next to his coffee mug and smiled at the colorful drawing: the girls on either side of him, with Ethan in the center as a giant-like figure wearing a wide (and somewhat creepy) grin.

Moved beyond words, he leaned down, scooped up each girl in his arms, and pulled them into a huge hug.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

He set them down on the kitchen stools. “Why don’t you two help me finish this lovely breakfast? I simply can’t eat it all by myself.”

The girls didn’t need any prompting—they dug into the pancakes with gusto, shoveling marshmallows into their mouths like they were going out of style.

Pleased to have avoided eating another bite of the inedible breakfast, Ethan eyed the coffee with mild apprehension.

“Don’t worry,” Cassie said, stepping closer to press a kiss to his jaw. “The coffee is my contribution to this meal.”

She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear as she lowered her voice to a whisper. “You’re a good sport, babe.” She glanced at the girls, completely absorbed in their meal, and grinned. “And sneaky, too.”

Ethan smirked. “As I recall, it’s one of the things you love about me.”

“Well, I certainly didn’t marry you for your pancake-making abilities,” Cassie chuckled.

He took a long sip of her delicious coffee and smiled.

Fatherhood, he decided, tasted a lot like syrup and chaos. And he wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.

-------------

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @jerzwriter @kyra75 @lady-calypso @loreofyore @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @snoopdogcone @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @custaroonie @youlookappropriate

[choicescommunityevents]

Sinful Fantasies

Premise: Cassie has inappropriate thoughts about her boss.

Fandom: Open Heart Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen+ / Mature. Fluff. Words: 765

A/N: Submission for @choicescommunityevents June Challenge prompt "Mystery"

The hallways of Boston’s Edenbrook Hospital were never quiet, certainly not near the end of a shift. Tired residents shuffled on leaden feet, eager to sign out and hand over their patients to the night team so they could go home and crash. Others just wanted to unwind with a beer and a game of pool at Donahue’s—an airlock between work and home.

Cassie Valentine, a first-year resident, was doing a third thing: waiting for her attending to finish reviewing the patient chart and dismiss her for the day.

She should’ve been focused on work, but her mind—and her eyes—were squarely locked on her attending’s hands.

She’d never really noticed a man’s hands before. But for some reason—either from exhaustion or hormones, given where she was in her cycle—she was fascinated by Dr. Ethan Ramsey’s.

Long fingers with short, clipped nails. An elegant wrist with light hair peeking out from under the cuff of his dress shirt and white coat. She liked that he wasn’t too hairy; at least, from what she’d seen when he took off his shirt for the fMRI scan a few weeks ago.

As his fingers, holding the pen, trailed down the patient chart he was reviewing, her tired mind drifted to that secret place in her head where her most inappropriate thoughts lived. Lately, they’d all been about this handsome yet austere man who had captured her attention from day one.

Instead of the chart, she imagined Ethan (she couldn’t very well call him Dr. Ramsey in her sexual fantasies, could she?) stroking the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, leaving trails of tingling nerve endings in their wake.

The soft lighting cast everything in shadows—black and white, like a scene from a noir film. Mysterious, with a hint of danger. Their love was forbidden, existing only in the hedge maze of her mind, where their status wasn’t an obstacle.

In this world, her body was drenched in want, hips lifting off tangled bedsheets, silently begging him closer. But he resisted her wordless pleas, a low chuckle escaping as a wicked grin tugged at his lips—those hands of his continuing their slow torment, setting her body ablaze.

He was a paradox—aloof and serious in public, but in private, when it was just the two of them, he embodied every wicked fantasy her imaginative mind could conjure.

She longed for their trysts the way a wandering nomad longs for water in the desert, recalling things they never did.

Messy kisses under neon lights. Lingering touches that haunted her dreams. And the way he worshipped her body was practically religious. No one before or since had ever cracked the locks surrounding her heart the way he did.

He reached for the pen, uncapping it with his teeth, then held it above her, one brow raised in silent question. In that moment, Cassie would’ve given him anything he asked for.

Her nails raked down his biceps, gripping tight—desperate—as her lips parted, panting with every touch. In her mind, she watched as he traced the letters along the inside of her thigh…

Mine.

The loud clearing of Dr. Ramsey’s throat was as effective as a bucket of cold water. Whatever would’ve happened next in her fantasy would forever remain a mystery.

A pink blush crept up her cheeks as Cassie glanced up at the man who had just played the starring role in her not-safe-for-work thoughts. Her breathing was labored now for an entirely different reason—one she prayed he wouldn’t comment on.

He looked at her expectantly, and she flushed even deeper as she realized she hadn’t heard a single word he’d said. Her mind scrambled for an appropriate response but came up blank.

“Never mind,” Dr. Ramsey muttered, clearly annoyed by her inattention. “Just make sure the nursing staff is updated on the patient’s latest numbers before you sign out.”

Cassie exhaled in relief, watching his white coat snap behind him as he strode down the hallway. If it hadn’t been so late—and if he weren’t distracted by Naveen’s case—that could’ve gone a lot worse.

Locking away her longings in the vault of her mind, she turned and walked off, deliberately taking the long way to the residents’ locker room. She wasn’t ready to face anyone, not until the sinful fantasies in her head had faded completely.

She walked on, the echo of her footsteps the only sound—until the next shift, the next chart, the next stolen glance she’d try not to want as much as she did.

-------------

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @jerzwriter @kyra75 @lady-calypso @loreofyore @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @snoopdogcone @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @custaroonie @youlookappropriate

[choicescommunityevents]

Nightbound • Blades of Light & Shadows • Crimes of Passion

Pairings: F!MC×NikRyder ; F!MC×AerinValleros ; FMC×MalVolari ; F!MC×M!TrystanThorne

Summary: The new students of the Academy have arrived.

Chapter 2 - Welcome to the Royal Academy - Rating: Teen - Word Count: 2.1K words - Warnings: Bullying, Violence, Blood

-> The full Royal Academy Masterlist <-

-> Complete Choices Masterlist <-

Choices Fanfiction Taglist: @lilyoffandoms ; @secretaryunpaid ; @blackcatkita ; @infactnoimmasitinthemiddle ; @calebly ; @peonierose ; @jdstar88 ; @hopelessromantic1352 ; @tessa-liam ; @mxdanni ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @dutifullynuttywitch ; @rosepetals1 ; @stars-are-within-me ; @artbyalz ; @bri1234 ; @loreofyore ; @choicesficwriterscreations ; @choicescommunityevents June Challenge 2025 [Prompts: Jewels ; Emerald ; Ruby ; Sapphire]

Author's note: Just posted without checking for grammar and writing mistakes. Let me know if you spot any. Thank you <3

"Next please."

In front of the Academy gates the security was high for the safety of their new students and royal families. One of their security staff was a New Yorker Private Investigator. Lyra Rose was her name, a slim lady with her black hair tied up into a bun who wore pretty casual clothes. If only her boss wouldn't have gotten such a huge payment from this Academy, she wouldn't had to play bodyguard for some royal students. Some were surprisingly in her age.

"Name?"

"Princess Dionne Mariana Regina Dorada de Rothschild Serrano of Pavadena."

"What?? Ugghh, not so fast. Why do royals always have so long names? Could you please say it again, but slowly. Oh, you know what? Just enter. Next, please?"

"Hello there.", a handsome man was the next in line. He wore a black button-up shirt with a black suit jacket and black slacks and mischievously grinned at Lyra.

"Name?"

"You don't know me? Everyone knows who I am, gorgeous. By the way, what's your name?", the handsome stranger tried to charm her with his dashing smile and winked.

"Name, please.", the detective requested again and tried to hide her blush. Before she could pressure the man more, a crowd of girls began to scream at the sight of the mysterious gentleman.

"Ahhhh, look it's him!!! He's here!!"

"Trystan, I love you!!"

"Trystan is here?! OMG, I want to faint now!! Gosh, he's so handsome and good-looking. Is he still single?"

"Trystan Thorne, we love youuu!!!!!", they screamed and shouted.

A stream of young women and Paparazzi tried to rush inside the gate and enter the academy only to meet the man who'd been talking to Lyra Rose the whole time. The one and only, Crown Prince Trystan Sebastijan Thorne of Drakovia.

"Now you know my name.", the man chuckled.

"Shut up!" Lyra just scolded a prince without noticing and immediately sprinted towards the gate to stop these unwanted guests from entering and securing the safety of the Royal Academy students and their families.

"Hey, back off!!" a young, blond-haired man rushed to help Lyra, his new colleague, in this security task.

Both pushed the crowd aside and away from the school and its students. It took a huge effort before the unwanted guests were out and the gates closed for them.

"Woah, thanks."

"No problem."

"You new here?", the female detective raised an eyebrow at him.

"Sort of. My name's Nik. Nik Ryder.", he introduced himself and both professionally shook their hands.

"Nice to meet you, Nik. I'm Lyra Rose, also a security staff member for a short time."

Nik nodded and then both went back on their duties. Several new students strolled around admiring the majestic Academy castle and taking selfies in front of the Kenna Rys statue before checking themselves in after saying their goodbyes to their family and relatives.

"Trystan, welcome to hell.", a tall woman with red hair greeted him. It was no other than the Scarlet Duchess, Olivia Nevrakis. And the new Head of Security.

"Dear cousin, fancy meeting you here. Also, who would have thought that my parents would put me back into a school? I'm an adult!!"

"And yet you still don't act like one. My cousin in our Academy as a student?? Oh, this is going to be a fun and interesting year." she chuckled with thoughts of giving orders or humiliating his show-off cousin.

"Names, please?", Nik Ryder asked two dark-haired men before letting them inside. One was a stout man wearing a gold crown and a blue tunic with a golden pattern. The other one was slim and younger with dark-brown curly medium-length hair, hazel eyes, and also a light skin tone. He had a smaller frame or stature than the first one and also wore a golden crown, but instead a red tunic with golden patterns.

When the blonde-haired bodyguard again asked for their names, the round man rolled his eyes.

"Everyone knows who I am, commoner. Let me inside."

"Sorry, first names, then entrance. Part of the security protocol."

"I apologize for my older brother's behavior. I'm Aerin Valleros, and he's Baldur.", the slim man calmly spoke which Nik appreciated.

"It's Prince and future king, Baldur Valleros of Morella to you all.", he hissed and then secretly kicked his younger brother, almost making him stumble while Nik scanned his list, finding both names on it. After the verification process, which included checking the student's identities and making sure not to let them carry weapons around, he let them enter. Next, entered a very tall, blue-skinned man with huge pointy ears who formally presented himself as Tyril Starfury.

"You a fae?", Nik curiously asked while searching the name on his list.

"I'm an elf.", he regally spoke.

"Okay, you're ready to go. Have fun, blue man.", Nik chuckled, enjoying to give some nicknames.

He glanced towards his new colleague, Lyra, who was checking a huge orc woman. Interesting that some orc cultures also had their own monarchy.

The bodyguard quickly turned his focus back on the next pair of students, a young, red-haired boy with pointy ears, but not as huge as elves had, and a black-silvery-haired human girl. She had no pointy ears, so she was human like himself and the two princes from before. And he found her surprisingly pretty.

"Names, please?", he asked professionally.

"Lord Tialo of Lamrian.", the boy announced.

"Yup, on the list. And the lady?"

"Alexis Clarissa Fontaine. I just found out that I'm royalty. Lady of Lamrian. Tialo is my little stepbrother."

"Do not call me your brother, halfling!" the red-haired fae snapped, causing Nik to intervene. He shot a glare at the fae while gently touching her shoulder for support.

"Woah, I don't want to get caught in your whatever family drama. But this is no way you speak to her, boy. I'm warning you."

"You dare to threaten me, lowlander? Do you even know who I am? Do you even know who my father is?"

"Just doing my job here. Now get the hell outta here and let me work. You're both on the list and may enter.", he scolded which made Tialo's blood almost boil. Nobody had ever spoken to Lord Tialo like this. Nobody but an ordinary human dared to raise his voice at him.

With one last glance filled with hatred at the blonde-haired, the boy stormed off, eager to enter the building and find his dorm. The girl, Alex thanked Nik, forming a sweet smile with her cherry-red lips before entering the castle grounds.

"The Emerald Dorm? Ahh, here is it.", Astrid talked to herself while she was searching for her dorm. She had fair skin, blonde braids, and blue-green eyes. When she opened the emerald-green front door to her room, two new faces greeted her.

One was a tall, muscular, green-skinned orc woman with two fangs, a silvery nose-ring and long red hair that rested on her shoulders.

The other woman was a fair-skinned human, the same size as Astrid, with long, shimmering black-silvery hair and cherry-red lips.

Both looked friendly and warmly greeted her.

"Welcome aboard, landrat. You must be our last dormmate. I'm Imtura Al Kaleen, Princess of the Orc."

"And I'm Alexis Clarissa Fontaine, everyone calls me Alex. Just Alex is fine. Normally I was listed in the Amethyst Dorm, but then the school realized that I was the only Amethyst one. So here I am now in the Emerald Dorm. And what's your name?"

"Astrid."

"Just Astrid?", the orc curiously asked.

"Actually, Astrid Parnassus now. I just found out that I'm royalty. My ancestors ruled over the Kingdom of Parnassus and I'm their long-lost princess now. It's... a weird feeling.", she sighed.

"I know what it feels like, Astrid. Things change so rapidly in life. I also found out recently who my biological father is. He's a fae duke. I'm a half-fae and now his heir. My whole life has changed. Now I was sent here in The Royal Academy to prepare myself.", Alexis spoke with emotions before giving her a gentle hug.

"Thanks, Alexis. I still have no idea why I need to be here at all. I want to become an adventurer and discover the world."

"Right said, landrat. We'll get through this and outta here before we know it.", Imtura encouraged, pressing them into a strong embrace which almost made them hard to breathe.

Three boys were settling down in the Ruby Dorm of The Royal Academy. And none of them liked each other. And here, Prince Aerin Valleros was hoping not to share a dorm with his older brother, Baldur, who couldn't stop bullying him. The other boy in the room was Tialo, the fae who also disliked his sibling, her human stepsister. No, for Tialo Alex wasn't his sister, not even step-sister. Just some girl to run his family and steal his heritage. He hated humans, but Baldur was interesting to him, especially the way he mistreated his younger brother.

"Deliver him another kick, Baldur. This time harder!!", Tialo cheered and enjoyed the view while Baldur was punching his younger brother, almost making him bleed.

"Brother, why?", Aerin whispered weakly as he was lying under his brother on the ground. Instead of answering, he continued punching until he felt tired.

"Why are you even fighting your own brother, Baldur? Or is he your stepbrother?", Tialo asked with amusement as he saw Aerin weakly getting up.

"I'm punishing my brother because it's his fault that I'm here in this Academy. Stuck with him."

"Not true. I was hoping to avoid you here. Father... Father just tagged you with me. I only wanted to study here.", Aerin whispered again before falling to the ground again.

"Nerd!", he insulted Aerin.

Not only was Baldur stuck with Aerin in this Academy, but Tialo also felt trapped inside these walls built by humans. The fae wanted to be with his father and mother, but instead, he was here with his human step-sister and among other humans. And with that, a plan started to form in his mind.

"Hey, Baldur."

"What do you want, loser? I'm busy with punching my little brother.", he snored.

"I'm no loser, ugly human. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want us to become allies.", Tialo confessed, which shocked both Baldur and Aerin.

"Why?"

Pulling the older Valleros aside from Aerin, Tialo wickedly grinned, revealing his little game without letting Aerin listen.

"You and I have more in common than you think. You want to get rid of your brother and I want to get rid of that halfling."

"Halfling?"

"Long story short, the first child of my father from an ordinary woman. A bastard child. She stole my throne and my heritage."

"What's in for me?"

"Easy, with combined powers we'll get easily rid of both without letting them or anyone now. So? What do you say?"

"I agree, but I also want jewels. I know you fae have plenty of those."

"Uggh, fine. But after I got rid of her and became the Duke of Lamrian. That's the only way to provide jewels for you.", Tialo explained and Baldur agreed to become his ally.

Meanwhile, in the Saphire Dorm of the Academy...

"Why are you so blue?"

"What?"

"I asked why are you so blue?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!", Tyril, the elf, asked the muscular man with brown, shoulder-length hair.

"Nothing.", he chuckled back and high-fived with Trystan, the Drakovian Crown Prince.

"There's nothing funny with my blue skin color. You haven't met elves before, right?"

"God, I only know you guys two minutes ago and I already like you two. By the way, I'm Trystan Thorne. What are your names? "

"Tyril Starfury."

"Nice to meet you, blue man.", Trystan chuckled, which angered Tyril even more.

"First, the security staff, and now you too? Why 'blue-man' when I introduced myself as Tyril?", the elf scolded and rolled his eyes.

"And what's your name?", Trystan curiously asked the brown-haired man.

"Mal."

"From which kingdom?"

"What do you mean?", Mal asked which confused Trystan and Tyril.

"This school is for royals and nobles. Don't tell me you don't know that and sneaked inside like a thief?", the elf intervened with a suspicious look.

"What? Me and a thief??! Haha, no. Stop joking! I just told you my first name, but you didn't let me finish speaking. My name? My kingdom? Uhhh... I'm... I'm Prince Mal from... Uhh...", the suspected man chuckled nervously.

"We're listening..."

"I'm Prince Mal from... from... Corona."

"You mean that Covid-19 virus?", Trystan asked confused.

"What's that? No, I mean... I'm Prince Mal from the Kingdom of Corona and the only son of King Eugene Fitzherbert and Queen Rapunzel of Corona.", he lied, hoping his two roommates would buy him the story. He hated to lie, but he had no other choice.

"German roots. European like me, I see.", Trystan admired.

"Nice to meet you."

Mal was lucky that Trystan and Tyril believed him. Good thing that Mal's favorite fairytale just saved him and that the boys in front of him weren't familiar with it. But will one day anyone else find out and catch Mal's lie?

[choicescommunityevents]

Submitting for the Choices Bejeweled Event June 2025 on @choicescommunityevents , Alex's wardrobe (Prompts: Rosequartz: Beauty, Glimmer, Bejeweled Outfits)

created by @ladylamrian with Canva & Pinterest

[choicescommunityevents]

Wake the Dead Appreciation Week Masterlist

Day 1

🧸 💌 for your wtd mc!! - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer) - @peonyblossom

💌💋🌹🌶️💔 - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer) - @peonyblossom

👑✨🏆💍💔 - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer) - @peonyblossom

for wtd week - Angel Savage - @rjschoicesstuff

Get to Know Astraea Callen - MC (Astraea Callen) - @storyofmychoices

Introducing Splitter Archer - nb!MC (Splitter Archer) - @peonyblossom

Luke Asher - m!MC (Luke Asher) - @rjschoicesstuff

Luke and Brynn Asher - @rjschoicesstuff

Meet My MC - MC (Luciano Almirón) - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Meet My MC - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer) - @peonyblossom

Meet My OC - nb!OC (Willow "Will" Wheatgrass) - @peonyblossom

Vollin Napane - m!MC (Vollin Napane) - @cockroach-drinks-lime

Day 2

Camp Sappho's Allies - @peonyblossom

Camp Sappho Stats and Resources - @peonyblossom

Hestia - @rjschoicesstuff

Luke helping Shannon with an autopsy :) - @rjschoicesstuff

Meet my Colony: Firelights! - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Thothopolis - @cockroach-drinks-lime

Troy Hassan Sketch - @storyofmychoices

Welcome to Camp Sappho - @peonyblossom

Day 3

Fireflies & Allies: what's the tea?- @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Luke & Kids Ask - m!MC (Luke Asher) - @rjschoicesstuff

Shannon Fox Sketch - @storyofmychoices

The WTD gang... - @rjschoicesstuff

They love blowing zombies up together - @rjschoicesstuff

Day 4

Camp Sappho Three Years Later - @peonyblossom

Crystal "Splitter" Archer Three Years Later - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer) - @peonyblossom

Firelights: what happens in the next 3 years? - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Eli Sipes Sketch - @storyofmychoices

Iris - @rjschoicesstuff

The Future: on Luke and parenthood - m!MC (Luke Asher) - @rjschoicesstuff

Zoe Archer - @ladylamrian, @peonyblossom

Day 5

An Open Heart x Wake the Dead Crossover - @aria-ashryver

Angel Savage Sketch - @storyofmychoices

My WTD x ID crossover au >:) - @rjschoicesstuff

"We're gonna make a great Raider out of you, Shank!" - @cockroach-drinks-lime

WTD x ID Crossover - @rjschoicesstuff

Day 6

Luke and Shannon before bed - @rjschoicesstuff

Luke if the outbreak never happened - @rjschoicesstuff

Troy & Astraea <3 - @storyofmychoices

Wake the Dead Love Interests - @storyofmychoices

"What if: the apocalypse never started? Or stopped early?" - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Day 7

Knuckles giving Luciano a tattoo - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

Luci, but in Juliet Starling inspired outfit: - MC (Luciano Almirón) - @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor

More Iris stuff - @rjschoicesstuff

Revamping Luke's old design - OC (Bones) - @rjschoicesstuff

Shannon's Makeover - Shannon Fox, Angel Savage - @rjschoicesstuff

Splitter + Will Pride Picrews - nb!MC (Crystal "Splitter" Archer), nb!OC (Willow "Will" Wheatgrass) - @peonyblossom

[choicescommunityevents]

Since Shannon mentioned wanting a make-over I thought of Angel giving her like a proper one at home someday haha

@choicescommunityevents

[choicescommunityevents]

Luci, but in Juliet Starling inspired outfit:

Came to me in a dream. (I was binge watching lollipop chainsaws tiktoks when I thought "Luci would rock in this outfit")

Because WTD appreciation week lasts until June 6 (as it's last day is able to be added in on June 5), I think this is allowed.

My last actual submission for wtf Appreciation week until the NEXT WTD Appreciation week happens!

( @choicescommunityevents @peonyblossom)

(+ @rjschoicesstuff @lover-also-fighter-also @cadybear420 @storyofmychoices because you guys also like my stuff)!

Ref photos & extra down here: ↓

I think the idea of Luci wearing a cheer outfit, or at least a miniskirt in the middle of the apocalypse so fucking funny.

Like yes, slay your enemies whilst being so cutesy. Diva 💜.

[choicescommunityevents]

Tomorrow is the last day to submit to this event! Please send me a dm @peonyblossom if you've submitted something that I haven't reblogged yet. Thank y'all!

Wake the Dead Appreciation Week

Welcome to Wake the Dead Appreciation Week! Since the zombie parasite emerged in 2025, I figured now would be the perfect time for a WtD Appreciation Week! Prompts and Rules below the cut :D

Day 1: Introducing…

Introduce us to your MC (and their LI(s))! What motivates them? Do they like being a leader or did they become one simply out of necessity? What are some of the hard choices they had to make? Do they have any long-term goals?

Day 2: Olympus

Tell us about your colony! What’s it called? How does it run? What are its core values? What structures did you build? How damaged was it during the solstice?

Day 3: Allies

How does your MC (and their colony) get along with their allies? Are there certain allies they support more than others? With whose values does your MC most align? Does your MC outwardly show any biases or do they try to be a fair leader?

Day 4: Three Years Later

It’s been three years since WtD was released. How is your colony doing three years later? Preparing for the next solstice? Enjoying the relative quiet before then? Searching for a cure? What are their plans for the future? Do they have any?

Day 5: Crossovers!

How did your MCs from other books handle the Z25 parasite outbreak? Did they get infected? Did they survive? Did any of them form or join colonies of their own?

Day 6: In An Alternate Universe…

What would your MC (and their LI(s)) be doing if the zombie apocalypse hadn’t happened? What would their childhood have been like if it had been normal? Do you think they still would have found their LI(s)? Or would they be with someone else?

Day 7: Free Day!

Share with us anything you didn’t get the chance to share yet this week!

Rules

This event will start on Monday, May 26 and end on Sunday, June 1. Late submissions will be accepted through June 5.

While there are prompts, the use of them is not required. You also do not have to follow the prompts on their given day. If you want to submit something for day 1's prompt on day 3, you can.

Submissions must include some form of a title

Submissions must include the characters full name and which Choices story they are from. GOC characters must also include a gender tag (ex. m!MC, nb!OC). If you do not include this information, please send me a dm @peonyblossom to let me know how you would like your character's names and such to appear on the masterlist.

If your work contains a relationship it must be labelled correctly, using "x" or "/" for romantic/sexual relationships and "&" for platonic relationships.

NSFW/mature submissions are allowed, but must be tagged properly and have the proper community label.

You cannot submit AI generated content for this event.

Tag this account on all submissions. If I don't reblog within 72 hours, please DM the post to @peonyblossom as sometimes Tumblr tags can be unreliable. In addition, you can also use the #wtd appreciation week

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ace of diamonds 💜🖤🩶🤍

prompt no. 9: expression | diamond book: laws of attraction character: enid mendoza (f!oc) @choicespride | @choicescommunityevents

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