#Feels Like Butta

[ub-sessed]

Yesterday I found myself at the Fabricville by Namur metro so I went in to look at their yarn.

Bernat Forever Fleece, super bulky polyester. Looks a lot like roving but isn't. SO SOFT (and not in the horrible slimy way that acrylic yarns like Caron Simply Soft are). It looks like it would pill like crazy, so I would definitely want to make a small project with it before investing in more than one ball. If it doesn't pill and is relatively easy to work with, it could become one of my favourite yarns because it feels fantastic. The colours are right up my alley: dusty and warm. It would be nice if they had a wider variety of darker and lighter colours for colourwork. If I can't figure out how to make the Red Heart Boutique Chic work for my Hecla hat, I will try this; it seems much closer to what the pattern calls for. The Yarnspirations website is out of stock of half the colours, which makes me feel like I should invest in a bunch of this in case it gets discontinued. (ETA: Oh fuck, it has been discontinued! Damn, I should have bought a ball yesterday! Gonna have to go back and get one.)

Bernat Blanket, super bulky polyester chenille. Identical to the Red Heart Boutique Chic I'm trying to learn how to use right now, minus the pom-poms.

Lion Brand Feels Like Butta, worsted polyester chainette. Claims to a 4 weight, but looks more like a 3 to me. I don't know, I've never used a chainette yarn, so maybe they behave differently? Not as soft as the Forever Fleece. Feels kinda of light and insubstantial. Not sure what I would use it for. If I ever do a crochet project I would want to use a chainette yarn because I'm incapable of crocheting without splitting the yarn, but I just don't know what I would make with a yarn so soft and light.

Bernat Softee Cotton, DK cotton/acrylic. Now this is a nice yarn. The smooth feel and drape of cotton with the extra softness of acrylic. Probably crazy slippery; would definitely need bamboo needles. This would be perfect for garments. Wish they had more colours.

Patons Kroy, sock weight wool/nylon. Maybe a teensy tiny bit less scratchy than Madolaine Socquette, but I don't like the colours as much, except for that fun rainbow one. Significantly cheaper than Socquette, but that might be because it's not for sale at my local drugstore. I would definitely not be able to wear socks this wooly (I still feel like I'm covered in mosquito bites from sleeping in a super soft merino shirt last night), but my baby daddy might?

They also had nasty shit like Caron Simply Soft and Lion Brand Hometown, and omg they had Red Heart Super Saver BRUSHED, which just feels like the worst of all the worlds: made my teeth itch. Red Heart With Love feels cheap but usable for stuff that's not gonna touch your skin. Lion Brand Mandala comes in pretty colours but feels completely uninspiring. I'd get one if it was cheap and the colours went with my double knit blanket.

For needles they had the entire Knit Picks Rainbow Wood collection, which just feels like the stupidest colour scheme for a knitting needle: make sure you can't see your stitches clearly regardless of what colour yarn you're using! But they did have the super skinny fixed circulars, so that's good to know for next time I need wood needles smaller than the 3.5 in my Sunstruck set.

Also walking distance from Namur metro: Value Village (great for run of the mill acrylic worsted and super weird discontinued yarns like blanket chenille with faux fur pom-poms) and Walmart (Red Heart, Lion Brand, Bernat but no Forever Fleece at this location).

[ariesmoontarot]

18+ Fire & Desire Reading

The Piles:

Book A Personal Reading Here

The collective is feeling a strong energy of passion, chemistry, & sensuality. I get a very romantic, intimate vibe. I’m feeling that when it comes to relationships there hasn’t been an equal give and take. I see there’s been frustration, sadness, & distance. You’re pushing someone out almost like you have your guard up when it comes to being flirty and sexual. There is deep love surrounding you and a connection and I feel like you’re holding onto all this emotion towards them and it’s creating friction within you. It’s the same for them. I’m seeing something coming to light about how you feel and how they feel. Very deep emotions will be felt between you. Communication may be hard between you and someone you’re connected to and it’s hard to express how you both truly feel. I see a sexual union coming soon and when this happens you can expect to feel very deep feelings of being one with your person. This is where you will both feel each other’s emotions that have been left unsaid. I’m hearing you will feel literal ecstasy♡.

Pile One💋:

Song: Makin’ Good Love -Avant

Channeled Messages: Love at first sight, habit, fondling, guilt, attachment, touching, discontent, conquest, fear.

This pile is giving very sensual, flirty, deeply emotionally intertwined vibes. Acts of service / gift giving & receiving is a definite love language here. I’m seeing this is a divine connection between you and your person. You two were pulled together by God and I’m seeing that you’ve been through some deep stuff with each other. This connection has been stagnant for some time but I’m seeing a very exciting union coming. The emotional, physical, and spiritual stagnancy between you and your person was caused by bad sexual habits that led to inconsistencies. I’m seeing you are both trying to break out of these habits because there is deep love here. I’m seeing that your person loves when you go down on them. For my feminines your partner loves your breasts. Your person is very direct, honest, and blunt about what they’re thinking. I’m seeing they love to compliment you and talk to you during sex. There could be mommy and daddy kinks. You both love caressing and touching each other’s body’s all over. Your person could’ve disappointed you and they feel really guilty about it. There’s been this sad energy between you guys and I feel like you both need to open yourselves up to adventure and pleasure in your love life and release the emotions from the past. I’m seeing your person wants to cum inside of you or the other way around. You both want to have a family, marriage, & all that good stuff. I’m seeing your person wants to take you on a date, then take you back to the house and f♡ck the sh♡t out of you. You both have a healthy attachment to each other and it proves there is continuity between the two of you that can help create a happy, long lasting relationship, and stable family. Your person loves stroking and admiring your ass. (Or the roles can be reversed take it how it resonates) You both are very touchy feely with each other and love being skin to skin. I’m seeing there is so much harmony and love between you and your person. When things are feeling cool and distant with each other it never lasts for long because of how much love you will be pouring into each other. You and your person could be into whips, chains, collars, bdsm type of stuff. I’m seeing they really really admire your back. They love smacking your ass and squeezing your body all over. (Or reversed) They love when you ride on top of them or when you guys are f♡cking in missionary. They want to plan something with you, like have you come over, or they come over and then try and get you on the bed so they can surprise you by making love to you so good that it puts you both to sleep.

Pile Two💋:

Song: Butta Love -Next

Channeled Messages: Gratification, virility, pleasure, kissing, involvement, euphoria, whispering, fear, satisfaction.

I feel like the distance between you and your person makes the attraction, love, & desire even stronger for one another. The love you share is beyond deep. They think you’re so sexy from head to toe. They love moaning in your ear to let you know how good you make them feel. They love you so much they’ll literally sing to you. I feel like you’re very natural and an authentic person and they find this so attractive about you. They love holding hands with you. I’m hearing your hands are really soft. They love how wet you get. Or for those with roles reversed they love how hard you get. They love that you give off this confident, strong, & fiery energy. They just want to lick your body up and down. I’m seeing they love f♡cking you slow and passionately. They want to be the one to take your clothes off for you. They get hard/ wet just thinking about you. I’m hearing they love eating you out and hearing you moan in pleasure, or sucking it until you cum in their mouth. Some of you have spit kinks, you love when they spit in your mouth. Your person gets really protective about you. They want to take care of you, cater to you, & just put you on a pedestal. You both love making out with each other slowly, just caressing, holding, and rubbing all over each other’s body. I’m hearing your eyes are so sexy and they love when you make eye contact. Especially when they’re inside of you or you’re inside of them. They want to f♡ck you in missionary, look you deep in your eyes and tell you how much they love you. I’m also hearing they want to cum all inside of and/or on you. They love your posture and how feminine or masculine you are. You’re perfect in their eyes. They don’t want you to be shy with them. They love every single part of you. I’m hearing that when you guys touch each other you both feel sparks of emotion and passion run all throughout your body. They want to f♡ck you while you sleep too. I’m seeing you guys don’t even intend to have sex with each other it just happens because when you even kiss each other it’s like intense emotions and passion rises within the both of you. The love is so strong between you guys other people can’t stand seeing you together. You guys be in your own world when you’re together. It’s so beautiful. They love talking quietly and soft to you. I feel like they feel a need to treat you so gently and they can’t help but want to nurture, care, protect, and love you. They love how witty and intelligent you are, it really turns them on.

Pile Three💋:

Song: Sweet Lady -Tyrese

Channeled Messages: Union, habit, fondling, caressing, biting, shaking things up, squeezing, passion, attraction.

I’m hearing you and this person are in sync with each other. You make their heart grow. They never felt a love so strong like they do with you. Pile one might also resonate for you. This is a divine connection between you and your person. Everytime you’re together things seem to fall into place and it may be scary but it feels so good. It feels right. Things happened between you guys in the recent past and you may both have feelings about it still affecting you. You and/or your person feels guilty about something that may have said or done and you guys are trying to move past this together. I feel like you guys can’t let go of each other no matter what happens because the love and chemistry is so strong between you guys that you don’t want to lose it. Your person loves seeing you naked. They love seeing you when you’re comfortable, open, and receptive to their love and affection. They love how you take care of them and it turns them on when you’re in your divine feminine/ masculine energy. They love biting your lips, ass, anywhere they can bite. I also feel like for those of you who are tall they love itttt. They want to strip you from your head to your toe and f♡ck you standing up. They love squeezing you when they’re having an orgasm and moaning in pleasure. I also feel that they love when you’re squeezing and caressing them when you orgasm. They loveeee playing with you and touching you, masturbating together, grabbing your titties, f♡cking you slow, & biting/kissing on your neck. I also feel like you guys really complement each other like you look and go good together. One or both of you could be into very intimate stuff like dripping candlewax on each other’s body or eating whip cream and fruit off each other, even dripping honey on each others body and licking it off. 

[s0fthunny]

Makeup recs for dolly makeup ? :) ily

Hiiii angel!!! These are just a few of my personal favs for dolly makeup!!

Base:

• Poreless putty primer for a smooth porcelain doll like base

• Milani 2 in 1 conceal and perfect foundation for full coverage!!

• Elf matte camo concealer and ysl touché eclat to conceal and highlight!!

• too faced chocolate soleil bronzer/ fenty caramel cutie bronzer

• MY FAV PART!! BLUSH!!! I feel like blush and lashes are truly what add extra oomph to my doll look!! My fav blushes are the nyx butter blushes in my butta half, too faced candy clouds and golden hour, and juvias place 04 blush palette!!

• Fenty wattabrat highlight and how many carats diamond bomb!!

Eyes:

• LA girl glow envy highlight!! This highlight is so shimmery it’s perfect for eyes!!

• Kissme Liquid eyeliner and maybelline hyper easy liquid liner

• Peripera twinkle duo and etude house tear liner

• LASHES!!! I feel like fluffy wispy lashes are perfect for the doll look!! My favs are the kiss royal silk lashes and the random packs from amazon!!

Lips:

• Laneige lip mask and farmacy apple lip smoothie to keep my lips soft

• I’m so OBSESSED with lipgloss! Pink sparkly glossy lips are everything!! And i’m always applying lipgloss like 24/7!!

• I love fenty gloss, victoria’s secret gloss, the rem beauty glossy balm, too faced lip injection gloss, covergirl yummy gloss!!

[afropearl]

fall scent profile series pt 1: cinnamon girl ☕️

description: freshly baked cinnamon rolls with icing, sweet, sugary goodness, the air of a coffee shop during rush hour 🍂

body wash ♡

these two body washes smell divine ! cinnamon chai (also cinnamon buns by philosophy) gives that perfect vibe for when the temperature and leaves change and we’re shifting into cozy comfort. cinnamon dolce is a literal treat and pairs perfectly with the next products *drumroll pls*

scrubs ♡

these two scrubs are perfect cinnamon-y contenders. cinnamon dolce keeps us more sweet while pumpkin spice latte (which i’m so happy they brought back this year) turns us to more a spicy and complex scent with its clove note

moisturizer ♡

now the fenty holiday butta drop is god tier okayyy! it literally smells like the cinnamon pretzels you smell while walking through mall and the shimmerrr. it’s such a cute touch and i feel so girly and cute and edible when i wear it lucky for y’all the tree hut sweet cream moisturizer they just came out with? total dupe ! smells the exact same with notes of vanilla bean, coconut cream and marshmallow fluff <3

perfumes & misc ♡

i have a perfume, body mist and deodorant here and i think these all capture that cinnamon girl aura! sol de janeiros 71 is like fall in a bottle! our weather hasn’t changed for the better so i’d recommend this for when it’s cooler outside (it is a fall scent after all) native’s oat milk latte deodorant has clove, chocolate and a splash of milk perfectly cozy, warm and sweet. finally, chai epice really lives up to her name. le gourmand says it best, “this fragrance will make you want to grab the perfect chai latte, a soft blanket, and spend a cozy night in” and the reviews also hail to its sweet and spicy scent :3

thank you all for reading, if you have any of these products or try them out in the future, let me know what you think of them ! 🍂🍮

[cupidskissx]

you have eight minutes to write something based off of the prompt ‘ nuh-uh-tuh-tuh-eh-luh-ah. Peenut Butta! ’

(1. Welcome back my love, we’ve missed you ❤️🥰

2. How dare you? 8 minutes… I feel personally attacked and distressed. You know it takes me at least 6 months to write anything!)

~300 words (rushed, flawed and unedited)

Being a polyglot is a blessing and a curse, and for Charles it’s mainly a memory game of who can understand his mother tongue and who can’t.

Sometimes Charles can go days without speaking French if he’s in Maranello, days without speaking Italian if he’s home. Sometimes he can go weeks without speaking English and that’s a risky thing to do, because the consequences can be embarrassing at best or damaging at worst.

The first day back in the paddock after Summer Break is a sport of its own, a not-so-finessed display of linguistic gymnastics. If he was awarded points out of 10, today Charles would be on course to score a three, if lucky. He’s already had to ask multiple reporters to repeat themselves and confused words with similar pronunciations. “Eligible and illegible aren’t the same word, Charles,” Mia whispered after an interview with SkySports.

Now he and a group of drivers are waiting for their briefing to commence. Charles doesn’t regret brining up the topic of dessert until Alex turns the question back on him: “So what about you, what did you have as a final summer break treat?”

“Me? I had, er,” oh no, not again, English slips from his grasp, the words that were on the tip of his tongue dissolve like sugar in boiling water. “It was… crêpes, and you know, that spread…” the vagueness doesn’t do him any favours. “Some people put it on toast,” Charles flicks his eyes to Max. He doesn’t look like he’s the least bit interested in helping.

“Jam?” George asks.

“No, not jam.”

“Biscoff?” Valtteri pipes up from further down the row.

“No, the one that’s like peanut butter, but different.”

“Nutella?” Max supplies, raising the pitch of his voice like it’s a question — like he wasn’t the one who slaved over the pan for Charles last night when neither of them could sleep.

“Oui, crêpes with Nutella and bananas and strawberries.”

“Sounds delicious,” Max adds, his smile pulling into a smirk.

“Yes, yes, compliments to the chef,” Charles rolls his eyes and if anyone else notices fondness in his tone they don’t comment.

[allari-ammayi]

Butta Bomma

A. Bahubali x Reader x B. Deva

#6

The Snarky Prince

Synopsis: An esteemed and grand Pooja is held in Mahismati which only the highest and greatest of the kingdom can attend. Y/n is invited to this grand event, and being oblivious to the mannerisms and traditions, struggles to navigate through the Pooja's rituals, earning her endless teasing and snarky remarks from the elder prince, much to her displeasure. Following the Pooja, Y/n reencounters a face from her time, a separate mystery of a Prince's soft spot opens up and some bad news is broken to Y/n.

3.7k Words

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Magically materialising infront of the elder prince of Mahismathi, suffering through a harsh interogationg and getting on the queen’s good side sure had it’s perks when Y/n was being made to attend a private Pooja held by the royal family, attended only by very high-ranking individuals and royal council members. 

As Y/n entered the grand chamber where the Pooja was taking place, led by servants, she was immediately struck by its opulence and the air of reverence that surrounded the ceremony. 

The room was adorned with intricate decorations, and the fragrance of incense filled the air. She took a moment to observe the guests, many of whom were adorned in richly embroidered attire.

The Pooja began, and Y/n found herself seated in close proximity to the princes. As she was led to her designated spot, she momentarily hesitated, not quite sure whether to sit on the floor or in one of the grand chairs alongside Bhallaladeva and Bahubali. 

Her uncertainty did not go unnoticed by the palace attendees, who exchanged knowing glances.

Bhallaladeva, ever the observer, couldn't resist seizing the opportunity for a snarky comment. With a smirk, he leaned towards Y/n and whispered, 

"You know, in Mahishmati, we usually sit on chairs like civilized people, not on the floor like monkeys." His playful nickname for her, 'monkey,' which had been coined during her fruit-gathering escapade, got on Y/n’s nerves.

Y/n, refusing to let Bhalla's teasing go unanswered, sent him a sidelong glance and retorted just as quietly, 

"Well, Your Highness, it's not every day I get to feel like a monkey in a palace. But I suppose I can give the chair a try." With that, she smoothly settled into the grand chair, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Ah, I see you're willing to adapt, even if it means leaving behind your primitive ways." Y/n couldn't resist a grimace.

"Well, I'm nothing if not adaptable, Your Highness. I've even learned to tolerate the company of royal brats." Bhallaladeva rolled his eyes at her response. 

“Watch your tongue, Monkey.” He warned, but Y/n took no word.

"Well, I must admit, the palace furniture does tend to be more comfortable than tree branches.” Y/n leaned back in the chair, smirking. "You should try it sometime, Your Highness. It's good for building character." 

It took Bhallaladeva a few seconds of thought about Y/n’s words before he gasped, his eyes wide as he gaped at her smirking face.

“Monkey.” He bitterly said, rolling his eyes.

The Pooja continued, and as the rituals unfolded, Bhallaladeva couldn't resist another opportunity. 

"You know, Monkey, you might learn a thing or two about our customs if you paid more attention and less attention to me." Y/n glared at him and his audacity. 

"Oh, I've been paying attention, Your Royal Snarkiness. Besides, at least I’m not the one picking a fight every time I see you. Anyway, I've learned that you enjoy making snide remarks almost as much as I do." Bhallaladeva raised an eyebrow. 

"Is that so? Perhaps we have more in common than I thought."

“Maybe that, but not holding such grand ceremonies, we don’t.” Y/n motioned around the large event with her eyes.

“You don’t hold grand Poojas where you come from?” Bhallaladeva poked at Y/n with his suggestive words.

"You know, back in my kingdom, we didn't have grand ceremonies to worship deities- well, sometimes, but not as often as Mahismati. We just used… erm… smartphones… and emojis." Bhallaladeva raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed. 

"Smart... what?" Y/n leaned closer, her tone conspiratorial. 

"Oh, it's a magical device that lets you talk to people across the world without leaving your throne. You'd probably love it, except there's no room for grand chairs on Twitter. You’d fit right in." 

Y/n was internally cackling at herself for her superior humour but grimaced at how Bhallaladeva wouldn’t understand her joke. But oh well, she enjoyed it enough for the both of them.

The prince let out a low, amused chuckle. 

"I doubt I'd find such a 'device' of any use, but it seems to have made you quite the expert in... what did you call it? Emojis?"

Y/n grinned mischievously. 

"Yes, indeed. I can say more with a single emoji than you can with a royal decree." Bhallaladeva's lips twitched with amusement. 

"Is that so? Well then, show me." With a sly wink, Y/n mimicked an exaggerated emoji face, complete with wide eyes and a cheeky grin. 

"There you go, Your Highness. That's the 'I'm thoroughly entertained by your snark' emoji. In a sarcastic way, of course."

Bhallaladeva couldn't help but laugh outright, earning a few disapproving glances from the other attendees. 

As the Pooja continued, their banter intensified, each comment designed to one-up the other's wit.

Bhallaladeva, with a smirk, leaned in and whispered, 

"You know, you're quite audacious for an outsider and a Monkey, sitting in my presence." Y/n shot back with a sly grin, 

"Audacious? Well, you should be flattered, Your Highness. Not everyone gets to enjoy the company of someone as charmingly audacious as me." Bhallaladeva raised an eyebrow. 

"Charming, you say? I thought I was dealing with a wild monkey." Y/n laughed hollowly. 

"Wild monkeys can be charming too, especially when they outsmart the royals."

Their whispered exchange didn't go unnoticed by some of the other attendees, who were trying their best to stifle their laughter. 

The Pooja continued, and so did their banter, growing more spirited, each comment a subtle challenge to the other's wit. 

During the Pooja, Y/n couldn't help but notice that the priest conducting the ceremony had an unusually high-pitched voice that, on that particular day, seemed almost comically exaggerated. It was as if his voice belonged in a cartoon rather than a royal ceremony.

As the priest continued with his high-pitched chants, a sudden bout of laughter threatened to escape Y/n. She struggled to stifle it, biting her lip to hold back the mirth that bubbled within her. But her valiant efforts were in vain, and a snort of suppressed laughter emerged, much to her chagrin.

Bhallaladeva, ever the vigilant observer, caught wind of her snort, as did the others gathered for the Pooja. A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though he kept his amusement well hidden, choosing instead to glance away with a subtle shake of his head.

As Y/n was summoned by the priest to approach the sacred fire pit for a ritual, the atmosphere grew tense with anticipation. Her steps, however, were far from the graceful, deliberate movements expected in such a solemn ceremony. 

Instead, she sauntered casually, her sari's end swaying as she strolled, completely unaware of the formality required.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Y/n asked, taking a seat next to the fire.

Seated by the sacred fire pit, Y/n greeted the royal priest in an unintentionally informal manner, failing to use the specific, customary formal greeting meant for such occasions. Her actions prompted a variety of reactions from the onlookers.

Amarendra Bahubali, who had observed Y/n's unconventional behaviour throughout the ceremony, couldn't help but stifle a silent chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. In contrast, Bhallaladeva's hand met his face with an audible face-palm, a gesture of exasperation and disbelief.

Y/n, sensing the weight of the room's expectations and her own blunder, glanced awkwardly at the royal brothers. She summoned a hesitant and awkward smile and shrugged, her uncertainty palpable. 

“Oh, I mean... um, Priest-sir... or Your greatness?” Y/n stammered, growing increasingly flustered. Bhallaladeva couldn't resist a snarky remark, leaning closer to Y/n and whispering, 

“Oh, it's just the guardian of the eternal flame and the messenger of the gods, no need to be formal.” Y/n shot back with a sarcastic smile, 

“Right, just a guardian of the eternal flame and the messenger of the gods. No biggie, Your Highness.” 

Bahubali, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and protectiveness, chimed in, 

“Y/n, it's 'Your Holiness.' And don't worry, you'll get the hang of it.” Y/n sighed in relief at Bahubali's reassuring words, grateful for his kindness amid the awkward situation. But she couldn't resist one more dig at Bhallaladeva, who was clearly growing more annoyed.

“See, Your Snarkiness, even the guardian of the eternal flame and the messenger of the gods is forgiving. Maybe you should take a lesson or two from him.”

Bhallaladeva huffed in response, clearly not amused. “I have no desire to become a guardian or messenger of anything, let alone flames.”

The priest, though taken aback by Y/n's informality, decided to play along, finding Y/n’s presence refreashing. He chuckled softly and replied, 

"Ah, it seems we have a free spirit among us today." Bhallaladeva couldn't contain his frustration any longer and muttered under his breath, 

"Free spirit? More like a loose cannon." Y/n overheard him and couldn't let it slide.

"Well, Your Snarkiness, a loose cannon can make things interesting, can't it?"

Bhallaladeva shot her a withering look. "Interesting is an understatement."

Bahubali, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene with a smile. "Let's not dwell on formalities for now. Y/n is still learning our ways, and we should be patient."

Y/n turned to Bahubali with a grateful expression. "Thank you, Your Highness. Your brother here isn't making it any easier for me."

Bhallaladeva scoffed. "I'm not here to make things easy for you, Monkey."

Y/n sighed, rolling her eyes again. "Your Snarkiness, you're starting to sound like a broken record. Cut me some slack, will you?"

Bahubali chuckled and placed a reassuring hand on Y/n's shoulder. "Y/n, these customs may seem daunting, but I promise you'll get the hang of them with time."

Y/n turned to Bahubali with a grateful smile, her eyes reflecting her appreciation for his understanding. "Thank you, Your Highness. At least someone here is on my side."

Bhallaladeva couldn't resist a snarky comment. "Yes, it seems our noble prince is quite smitten with our guest from the land of ‘Mexico’."

Bahubali blushed slightly. "It's not about that, Bhalla. It's about showing kindness and patience to our guests."

Y/n chuckled sarcastically. "Why, Your Snarkiness, are you jealous that you're not the centre of attention for once?"

Bhallaladeva's retort was swift. "Hardly, Monkey. I have more important matters to attend to than vying for attention."

“You certainly have a way of keeping things interesting, don't you?” Whispered Bahubali to Y/n. 

“I'm trying my best here, but these formalities are like a maze,” Y/n complained with a roll of her eyes. She turned to the priest and gave a bright smile. “Now, your holiness, d’you have me sitting here for any reason?” 

Bhalla let out a deep sigh, face-palmed and shook her head slightly, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“She's going to give me more grey hair than I can handle.” He muttered to himself.

Y/n, overhearing his comment, felt a spark of annoyance and turned her gaze squarely on the prince. “Oh, Your Snarkiness, are you worried about your looks? I wouldn't want to be responsible for that.”

Bhallaladeva shot her a withering look. “It's not about my looks. It's about upholding the dignity of this ceremony.”

"But grey hair? Really, Your Highness? I didn't realize my presence was that taxing on your youthful appearance."

Bhallaladeva met her gaze with an arched eyebrow. "Your presence is taxing in more ways than one, I assure you, Monkey."

Y/n grimaced, "Ah, Your Snarkiness, always the charmer. How do you manage to be so endearing?"

Bahubali, who had been observing the exchange with a protective glint in his eye, couldn't resist intervening. "Enough, you two. This is an important ceremony, and we should show respect to one another."

Y/n turned to Bahubali with a warm smile. "You're right, Your Highness. I apologize if I've caused any disruptions." Bahubali smiled back, just as warmly.

Bhallaladeva, ever the instigator, chimed in. "Apologies won't change the fact that you've disrupted the entire ceremony, Monkey." Y/n narrowed her eyes at Bhallaladeva.

"Don’t say that, Bhalla. We know she didn’t mean to do this, and we don’t blame you, Y/n, or at least I don’t. I know it can be overwhelming, but we'll help you navigate. Besides, it isn’t a big issue." Bahubali, with a kind and protective tone, addressed Y/n, “I don’t know why Bhalla making such a big deal of it,” He added, with a whisper.

Bhallaladeva, noticing Bahubali's protectiveness, couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly. "Always the gallant protector, aren't you, Bahubali?"

"Well, Your Snarkiness, it's nice to have someone who appreciates my company," Y/n said. Bhallaladeva couldn't help but respond with a touch of annoyance, his voice tinged with subtle jealousy. He muttered, 

"Appreciates your company a bit too much, if you ask me."

“Let's not argue during the Pooja, shall we? We're here to celebrate and seek blessings, not engage in squabbles.”

Y/n nodded in agreement, but couldn't help but sneak an annoyed glance at Bhallaladeva, adding, “Yes, Your Royal Snarkiness, save your lectures for later. We'll have plenty of time for those.”

Bhallaladeva scoffed and turned his attention back to the ceremony, while Bahubali shot Y/n a warm and reassuring smile.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

As Y/n stood before the mirror, carefully brushing her hair in the quiet of her room, the rhythmic strokes of the brush being the only sound, she was momentarily lost in her own thoughts. 

The private Pooja had been an eye-opener for her. She didn’t realise till now just how different how her world and Bahubali’s worlds were.

A sudden knock at the door broke her reverie, and she called for the visitor to enter. When the door swung open, revealing the servant who stood before her, Y/n was stunned, nearly choking on her own surprise.

Hazel locks that were put into a bun and grey familiar eyes caught Y/n’s attention.

"G-Gowri?" Y/n exclaimed, her voice a mix of joy and disbelief.

The woman, who was an unbelievable doppleganger of Gowri, however, introduced herself formally to Y/n, her tone and demeanour lacking the warmth of their previous friendship. 

Gowri bowed to Y/n, as a servant would to a master.

“Yes, my name is Gowri, my lady.”

“Gowri…” Y/n breathed out, her eyebrows scrunching in confusion and the tiniest tears welling in her eyes from the joy.

“Yes.” Gowri remained formal, finally standing straight but keeping her head bowed, “I have been sent by the prince to serve you as your new personal servant.” Y/n arched a brow, several things not mixing well in her head.

Why was Gowri acting so weird, which of the princes sent her, did she know about the whole red amulet thing, and why was she being so formal?

“What- Gowri, what’re you saying?” Y/n formed a cracked and confused smile.

“Oh, I have been sent by His Royal Highness to serve as My Lady’s personal maid-servant for the rest of My Lady’s stay at Mahismati.”

“No- That’s not what I meant.” Y/n gulped and stepped towards Gowri, her nose starting to sting with the creeping realisation of something Y/n didn’t want to believe. But Y/n clung to the one bit of hope and put her hands on Gowri’s shoulders. “Do you not remember me, Gowri?” 

Y/n stared into Gowri’s eyes, her pooled tears evident and her voice broken.

“No, My lady. I’m afraid we haven’t met before.” Gowri answered, after a second of thought.

This wasn't the same Gowri she had known and cherished.

Y/n, her eyes tinged with disappointment, sighed and said, 

"What’ve they done to you..?” Y/n then said something to Gowri that nearly made her lose her composure. “Treat me like a friend, please, not like a master. Which means calling me my name and treating me like an equal." Y/n said as she strolled back to her dressed table.

“What, no I possibly cannot, my Lady. That would mean I’d be showing such disrespect to you, I cannot-” Y/n looked at the stressed Gowri with wide, sad, and teary eyes. Gowri gulped at the look on Y/n face that shattered her heart into several pieces. 

“Please…” Y/n begged.

Gowri hesitated for a moment, then her lips curved into a faint smile as she replied, "Of course, Y/n."

Gradually, the formality began to melt away, and their bond started to rekindle. Y/n appreciated the effort Gowri was making to adapt to her wishes.

“Oh, by the way, Gowri,” Y/n asked the two chatted away in front of a plate of cut fruits, “which of the princes sent you to me?” Gowri’s eyes went wide and she realised her blunder.

“Oh- That was a mistake of mine lady, the prince wished to remain anonymous, and yet I accidentally revealed his ranking.” 

“Anonymous?” Y/n ached a brow.

“Yes. The prince requested that a high maid-servant be sent to My Lady to serve her as a personal maid-servant.” Y/n gasped and jumped slightly.

"Oh, Gowri, please tell me!" Y/n pleaded, desperation seeping into her voice. She clasped her hands togetherl. "Please! I promise I won't tell them you told me!"

Gowri, on the other hand, appeared distressed by the predicament she found herself in. Her nervousness was palpable, and she nibbled on her nails in a futile attempt to calm her frayed nerves.

"I really mustn't- He'd- He'd- Oh, My Lady-” Gowri's voice quivered with uncertainty as she implored Y/n not to push further.

But Y/n was not one to give up easily, especially when faced with such a mystery.

"Come on, just a tiny hint, pretty please? You know how much I love a good mystery." She leaned in closer to Gowri, her eyes sparkling with playful anticipation.

Gowri squirmed in her seat, clearly torn between her loyalty to her lady and the weight of her secret.

“Well, I suppose I could say that... one of them seems to have a particular soft spot for your fiery spirit."

Y/n's interest was piqued, and she couldn't help but smile at the vague hint.

“A soft spot, you say? Now, that's a clue worth pondering over, isn't it?"

Gowri nodded timidly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anxiety.

"But My Lady, please, you mustn't tell anyone I said anything."

"Cross my heart, Gowri, not a word to anyone." Y/n made a solemn promise, sealing their secret with a conspiratorial wink. "Now, let's get back to this delicious fruit."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Amidst their conversation, Gowri conveyed a message from Prince Bhallaladeva, which caught Y/n off guard. Bhallaladeva had arranged for her to have etiquette lessons. Annoyance flickered in Y/n's eyes at the thought of Bhalla's involvement, but she reluctantly agreed, realizing that it was necessary for her to navigate the complexities of her new life in Mahishmati.

"Etiquette lessons, Gowri? Are you serious?" Y/n groaned, rolling her eyes. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Gowri chuckled softly, saying, "It seems the prince believes it's important for you to fit in here. Besides, it might not be as bad as you think."

Y/n sighed in resignation. "Well, let's hope they don't turn me into a completely different person. Imagine how it would be if they sucked the life out of me and turned me into a ‘His Royal Snarkiness’ clone.” Gowri stifled a chuckle.

“You know, I think the prince had pure intentions. He saw how you struggled during the pooja, and despite how much you two bicker, he seems to genuinely want to help.”

“Don’t be silly, Gowri,” Y/n said, with a roll of her eyes.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The day following the Pooja, Y/n began her etiquette lessons. The instructor chosen by the palace, or rather the nosy prince was a woman of unyielding traditionalism. With an air of stern authority, she left no room for error and demanded nothing short of perfection.

Y/n listened attentively, eager to absorb the knowledge that would help her navigate the intricacies of her new life.

However, her first lesson ended on a rather tragic note. As Y/n attempted to replicate the graceful gestures and postures the instructor demonstrated, her movements were far from flawless. 

The instructor's severe gaze never wavered, and soon enough, she couldn't contain her displeasure any longer.

With a sharp tone, the instructor scolded Y/n, making her aware of every misstep and misinterpretation of courtly conduct. 

But Y/n knew one thing for sure: The next she would see Bhallaladeva, she would surely need to hold herself back from pouncing on him, pulling his hair and hacking the man into several pieces from the rage and frustration.

♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡

Taglist: @vellipo-mellaga, @bitchy-bi-trash, @vijayasena, @sakhiiii, @celestesinsight (If you would like to join the taglist, please let me know in the replies!)

[justwingingknit]

I made myself a pair of socks!!!

One is clearly larger than the other BUT they both fit and clearly look like socks so I am super happy with how they came out!

Yarn: Lion Brand Feels Like Butta in the Cocoa & Charcoal colorways

Pattern: Easy Peasy Socks

[ginnygigglesblog]

Newest finished project, made with Lions Brand Feels Like Butta in pearl grey and seafoam green.

Done while watching:

[distantlonersdreams]

I had a dream where I was looking at how my productivity blanket (a crochet project where I will crochet a row for each day of the year and the colour of each row depends on how productive I was/felt that day) looks so far, and wasn't happy with how the black yarn I used was way too big in comparison to the rest of the yarn. That's it. It's just the situation my productivity blanket is in in real life while I wait for hopefully-better yarn to arrive. I'm going to try Feels Like Butta from Lion Brand, and if I'm not happy with that, I'll just use Caron Simply Soft.

[sciogli-lingua]

Lucio Dalla || Telefonami tra vent'anni (Call me in twenty years || Italian lyrics + English translation

Telefona tra vent'anni Call in twenty years Io adesso non so cosa dirti I don't know what to tell you right now Ah, non so risponderti Ah, I can't give you an answer E non ho voglia di capirti And I don't feel like understanding you

Invece pensami, tra vent'anni pensami Instead think of me, in twenty years think of me Io con la barba più bianca With a whiter beard E una valigia in mano And holding a suitcase Con la bici da corsa With a racing bike E gli occhiali da sole And sunglasses Fermo in un qualsiasi posto del mondo Stopping anywhere in the world Chissà dove Who knows where Tra miliardi, miliardi di persone Among billions and billions of people A bocca aperta senza parole Mouth agape, speechless Nel vedere una mongolfiera As I see a hot-air balloon Che si alza piano piano Slowly rising up E cancella dalla memoria And erasing from my memory Tutto quanto il passato The past as a whole Anche le linee della mano Even my palm lines Mentre dall'alto un suono While, from above, a sound Come un suono prolungato Like a prolonged sound Di un pensiero che è appena nato Of a newly born thought Si avvicina e scende giù Is getting closer and coming down

Ah, io sarei lo stronzo Ah, so I'm supposed to be the asshole Quello che guarda troppo la televisione The one who watches too much television Beh, qualche volta lo sono stato Well, I've been that a couple times L'importante è avere in mano la situazione Having a hold on the situation is what counts Non ti preoccupare Don't you worry Di tempo per cambiare ce n'è There's plenty of time to change

Così ripensami, tra vent'anni ripensami So think of me again, in twenty years think of me again Vestito da torero In a bullfighter costume Con una torta in mano Holding a cake L'orecchio puntato verso il cielo An ear towards the sky Verso quel suono lontano, lontano Towards that faraway, faraway sound Ma ecco che si avvicina And suddenly it comes closer Con un salto siamo nel Duemila With a jump we're in 2000 Alle porte dell'universo At the gates of the universe L'importante è non arrivarci in fila What counts is not getting there in a line Ma tutti quanti in modo diverso But each one in a different way Ognuno con i suoi mezzi Each with one's own means Magari arrivando a pezzi Maybe broken and exhausted Su una vecchia bicicletta da corsa On an old racing bicycle Con gli occhiali da sole With sunglasses E il cuore nella borsa And one's heart inside the bag

Impara il numero a memoria Learn the number by heart Corri, scrivilo sulla pelle Quick, write it on your skin E se telefoni tra vent'anni And if you call in twenty years Butta i numeri fra le stelle Throw the numbers among the stars

Dalle porte dell'universo From the gates of the universe Un telefono suona ogni sera A phone rings every night Sotto un cielo di tutte le stelle Under a sky made of all the stars Di un'inquietante primavera Of a disquieting spring

[samstclair]

Aaron Taylor Johnson’s Butter

Aaron Taylor Johnson Imagine

Anonymous Request - "Could you please do an imagine where the Y/N knows Aaron has a food fetish, so she puts some on but maybe gets an allergic reaction? So maybe Aaron can take her to the hospital and save her? Thanks! Love your stories, Sam!

~~~~~~~~Imagine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Yew wont go on with it, will ya! Ya silly ol geeza yew!" He laughed, but little did he know - you would do it.

You first started with a small portion, just enough to cover your dome, but, it wasn't long until those scoops got heavier and thicker and oilier. The more you lathered across your skin, the more his face contorted from a joking, sly grin to one of a predator - who's perfectly in sight of his next prey.

"Yew really outdone yourself now, innit?!" he spat.

You chuckled mockingly at his disbelief.

"Oh what, now you've gone on and given me that silent treatment, innit? You silly ol thing you, I oughta teach you a bit of a lesson now, just like me mother would! Or, me first wife, that silly ol hag thing!"

If only he knew.

Though the silence you had given him seemed to work, as you saw the buldge in his jeans arise, making you, too, feel a sense of warmth and arousal down there, he hadn't known that the peanut butter's effects had started to settle. The more you layered on, the more you felt your throat swell, and the more he shuffled in his seat, aching for you, the more you kept adding.

More. More. More.

"Dont cha think that's enuff now, luv! You've gone and used up all me butta! I guess I'll have ta lick it clean off ya!" And just like that, he rose from his seat, making his way to you. He grabbed the jar and hurled it against the wall, a faint "yeet" he mumbled.

"Yeet."

He grabbed you, gripping hard, as the butter had become a makeshift lubricant and caused his fingers to slide on your skin, sliding like those big slides at the fair.

"Wait, luv, why - you've seem to gone a bit red? Perhaps a bit too much rouge, innit? Luv? Luv!"

And then you died of asphyxiation.

Hope you enjoyed! xoxo, ~Sam St. Clair

[ub-sessed]

A few chainette yarns I saw at Fabricville:

▪️Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, worsted cotton chainette. Really looks like a DK to me, but I've never used chainette, so what do I know? Pretty soft for 100% cotton, very light. I'd like to try it. I wonder if it has more give than a plied cotton yarn like Patons Grace.

▪️As far as I can tell, Bernat Bundle Up and Lion Brand Feels Like Butta are identical: worsted polyester chainette. The Bernat might be the teeniest bit fuzzier, and calls for a 5mm needle instead of 4.5mm. Both are very soft, ridiculously light, look like DKs, and come in super boring colours. The Bernat put up is bigger. ETA: According to Ravelry, the Bundle Up is a worsted and Feels Like Butta is an aran. Might be nice to make a little cap to wear around the house to keep my shaved head warm.

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Love Everlasting.

A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 13K words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

TW: mentions of Abuse, Child Abuse, and Childhood Trauma! Reader Discretion is STRONGLY ADVISED!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

Boys Of Summer PT. 2.

Meanwhile, it was a party in the Maldives. When Marquise touched down at the private resort airstrip he was immediately chauffeured to the resort to his private ocean-view villa. Far as his eyes could see it was nothing but sunlight and crystal-clear blue waters. After changing, Marquise walked out to his deck and took it all in. When he looked at the outdoor bar he noticed a bottle of rum, whiskey, tequila, and scotch all of them were top-shelf liquors with a card next to them. It was a note from his wife.

Let loose. Have fun. I love you.

He smiled before pouring himself a glass of rum. Just as he downed that drink there was a knock at the door. It was the boys. They all filed into Marquise’s villa.

“Now hold on! Why is your villa bigger than the rest of us?” Logan asked.

Marquise shrugged. 

“Perk of fucking the owner every night. You get the owner’s villa. Take a look around.” he replied. 

The boys explored until they found themselves with Marquise around the bar. After pouring them each a drink Marquise raised his glass in a toast.

“Here’s to the girls. This was their idea.”

The men toasted. 

“Where did you find this place?” Sam asked His Majesty.

“I didn't. It was given to my father way back when and it was used by the nobles back home until they just stopped coming. And it sat vacant for years. And when Shanelle found out about it she decided to turn it into all of this.” Marquise replied. 

“I knew I liked Butta. Girl be on her shit.” Eddie quipped.

Marquise snorted before finishing his drink. 

“I don’t know about you guys but I'm going swimming.” Marquise announced.  

“You going down to the beach?” Logan asked.

“Nope. Right here. Off the side.” Marquise replied before walking to the edge of the deck and diving off.

When he resurfaced he was feeling it.

“What are you dopes waiting on? Get in here!” Marquise called out to the boys. 

Marquise watched as the guys jumped off. The boys spent the next two hours horsing around, laughing, and cracking jokes. This is what Shanelle wanted. She wanted her husband and the guys to relax and have fun. To be like kids that were locked in a candy store. That night after an amazing dinner literally for a King, Marquise decided to FaceTime his wife. 

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey yourself handsome. How is it?” she asked.

“You are a fucking genius! This place is beyond my wildest dreams,” he replied.

“Yay! I'm so happy to hear that you are enjoying yourself. How are the boys liking it?” she asked.

“They love it. We're having an amazing time.”

“Good. Very good.”

“I miss you and my little ones though.”

“We miss you too. But it's been good to have the girls and the kiddos here.”

“What did you all do today?” he asked.

“We took the horses out and let the kids ride in the field behind the stables,” she replied.

“Did the boys finally learn that the horses don't giddy up?” he asked.

She snorted. 

“No, at least not yet. They did learn how to feed the horse though,” she replied.

“Good. As long as you two aren't by yourselves in the palace.”

“Even if the others weren't here with us, Khari and I would've still spent the weekend here.” 

“I know.”

Shanelle noticed the tan her husband has gotten.

“You've been out in the sun.”

“How can you tell?” he asked.

“Your tan. You've gotten darker. The sun looks good on you.” 

“Thank you, my love. I plan on being in the sun as much as possible.”

“Sunscreen. Don't forget!”

“I won't. Since I know it's late there, I'll let you go so you can get some sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you.”

“I love you too baby. Sweet dreams.”

After blowing him a kiss, he ended the call and they both went to bed. The next day Shanelle woke up to giggles and the pitter-patter of little feet. 

“Good morning mommy!” Khari said as she climbed into her bed followed by Logi, Branden, and Brayden. “Morning TiTi!” 

“Morning babies! What are the four of you doing awake?” Shanelle asked.

“Auntie Bronwyn woke us up and we played for a little bit,” Khari replies. 

Shanelle watched as Brayden laid his head on her belly to listen for the babies. 

“Baby?” he asked.

“That's right angel. The babies are in my tummy.”

Branden put his hand on her tummy. 

“There?” he asked.

“Yes, baby. There. Although they might not be awake yet.”

“They're sleeping?” Logi asked.

“Yup. And you know how we wake them up?” Shanelle replied.

“How mommy?” Khari asked.

“Breakfast! Let's go get us some food!” Shanelle replied. 

Seeing the kids cheer made Shanelle’s heart leap. She walked with them to the dining room where the girls and the last two babies were. 

“Morning my beauties! Let's eat!” 

They had a smorgasbord of food to choose from complete with an egg station. After getting the kids squared away with their food, the girls got something to eat. When Shanelle sat down she had a plate full of food.

“Damn. What did you get?” Robin asked.

“A ham, swiss, and spinach omelet, French toast, three types of bacon, berries and cream parfait, Belgian waffles, breakfast potatoes, chocolate chip pancakes, and orange and cranberry scones. Why?” Shanelle replied. 

“You're gonna eat ALL of that Princess?” Nina asked.

Shanelle patted her belly.

“Table for three,” she replied. 

The girls laughed. 

“Mmmm! What kind of bread do they use to make the French toast?” Dee asked.

“Brioche,” Shanelle replied.

“Oh yeah, that's right! We have to remember that you’re a Queen now. So you’re into all the bougie bread.” Robin teases.

“And all the bougie butter. And all the bougie big ass breakfast buffets.” Shanelle quipped. 

Brayden tapped Shanelle on her leg.

“TiTi more?” he asked, holding up his plate. 

“Of course angel. Come on,” she replied.

“Are you sure?” Bronwyn asked.

“Yeah. You finish eating your food babe.” Shanelle replied.

Shanelle led Brayden to the buffet and got him what he wanted before taking him back to his seat. Before he sat down he told her thank you.

“Thank you TiTi,” he said before giving her a big hug and kiss. “Love you.”

Shanelle literally floated back to her seat.

“I am Brayden’s favorite Auntie. Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk! Have a good rest of your Saturday! God Bless!” 

The girls laughed. 

“Bronwyn, you better watch him. That's gonna be your heartbreaker.” 

Bronwyn snorted. 

“Just like his dad.”

“Worse!” Shanelle and Nina said in unison.

Meanwhile, in the Maldives, the boys were racing jet skis all up and down the beach. After a big breakfast of their own, the guys made it down to the marina where they were each given a jet ski.

“Wait! We get to keep these?” Eddie asked the attendant. 

“Yes sir. You each get a jet ski to keep. Each jet ski has your name on them.” the attendant replied.

“I love my big sister,” Logan said out loud.

Marquise snorted.

“I would hope so. She just gifted you a jet ski. So who's racing?” 

The boys hopped on and took off. Racing across the water enjoying themselves. This was what the girls wanted for their men. To be able to relax, have fun, and be themselves. They each work so hard and they needed time to just be guys. The boys split up after spending 3 hours on the water. Marquise and Dino took the time to visit the spa. The Deep Tissue Massage Marquise got was life-changing.

“Remind me to thank the Queen for this,” Dino said to Marquise as they walked back to his villa. 

“Noted,” Marquise replies.

When they got there the boys were there raiding the bar and smoking cigars.

“Why am I not surprised to see you boys here?” Marquise asked as he went behind the bar to pour him and Dino a drink.

“You got the best liquor and cigars. That's why.” Eddie replies. “Man these are smooth! Where you get this shit at?”

“Cuba,” Marquise replied. 

“¿Auténticos Cubanos?” Sam asked.

“Sí. Los he importado de una fábrica en las afueras de La Habana.”

Sam nodded appreciatively.

“Nice.”

“What the hell did y'all just say?” Eddie asked.

The men laughed. 

Meanwhile, the girls were setting up for painting the boys’ nursery. Well sort of. They had the kids change into bathing suits and swim trunks and had buckets of paint-filled balloons ready to go. 

“Alright, kiddos! When I say go, you throw.” Shanelle announces.

“Throw?” Branden asked before throwing his balloon at the wall.

“No, not yet baby. You have to wait until I say go.” 

“Go? Go!” Brayden said before throwing his balloon.

That's when Shanelle made a decision. 

“You know what? Have at it!” she said before getting out of dodge. 

She and the girls watched as the kids got to have fun throwing balloons and getting messy. It was a fun time had by all. And when all the balloons were splattered against the wall, the kids got to write their names. or at least they tried to.

The men were sitting around a poker table smoking cigars, drinking, and laughing. 

“I fold! You have been on a tear.” James said to Marquise.

Marquise snickered.

“Damn, just when I was having fun.”

“I'm not about to lose AJ’s college fund to you.”

“Now you know I would never allow my niece’s college fund to be depleted. Whatever you lost would've been replaced. You know me.”

James took a sip of his rum.

“This is true but still I'm good.”

“Very well,” Marquise said before turning to the rest of the guys, “who's up?”

That's when Eddie down his drink.

“Deal me in Lo.”

“You sure man? He's been unstoppable.” Logan said to Eddie.

“Ain't nobody scared of his ass,” Eddie replies.

A slow smirk bloomed on Marquise’s face. 

“Finally! A challenge! I was starting to get bored.”

“I’m about to rob yo ass,” Eddie said to Marquise.

“And I’m about to send you back to my sister in tears.”

Eddie scoffed. 

“Best 2 out of 3?” Marquise asked.

“Hell yeah!” Eddie replies.

“Deal the cards, Logan.” 

With liquor, cigars, food, and poker in hand, the boys spent the rest of the night enjoying one friendly competition after another.

And for the girls, it was movie night! Complete with chicken tenders, French fries, Chicken Caesar Salad wraps, applesauce for the babies, create your own hot fudge brownie sundaes, and 101 Dalmatians. The kids didn't even make it through the first 30 minutes before all of them were out like a light. 

After putting the kids to bed, the girls were gathered in Shanelle's room with wine in hand. They were discussing the latest chapter of The Forgotten Heir. Well, the girls were discussing it. Shanelle kept her mouth shut. Which was unusual for her. 

“Alright, Nelle you've been quiet. Way too quiet. What's wrong?” Robin asked.

“Nothing. I'm just sitting here listening.” Shanelle replies.

“That's just it, you don't listen. So what is it?” Nina asked. 

Shanelle took a big sip of her sparkling cider.

“Is it the book? Are you bothered by it?” Bronwyn asked.

“Bothered? Hardly. Annoyed that people are making a big deal out of nothing? Yes.” Shanelle replies.

“Now now Your Majesty. Be nice.” Dee said to Shanelle.

“I am being nice. I haven't called bullshit have I?” Shanelle asked.

“No. But you want to.” Nina replied.

Shanelle shrugged. 

“I feel for Myah,” Bronwyn said.

“That's because you’re little miss give everybody a chance,” Robin said to her. 

“I’m glad you feel for her because I don't.” Shanelle said.

“Why?” Bronwyn asked.

“Because your sister-in-law kept coming for my husband and she feels entitled to something that isn't hers to begin with that's why. I'm not about to feel bad for her or anyone that cares for her.” Shanelle replies.

“Okay. I get why you feel that way but you have to understand that she's hurt.” Dee said.

“Okay and?” Shanelle asked.

“Don't be like that Nelle,” Bronwyn replied.

“Don't be what? Fed up? The crown is more than just some fancy title. It is a job. One that is nonstop and never-ending.” Shanelle replied.

Shanelle sighed.

“Look, if she's angry, fine. I get it because Connie at the end of the day, was a cold-hearted, calloused, selfish, self-centered bastard. He didn't care about anyone but himself. But her anger at Connie should have nothing to do with my husband. She's not his responsibility. He owes her nothing. Connie did. And if Connie chose not to do right by her, then that's on him. The old man’s sins are not Marquise’s to pay. If she's gonna be mad at anyone, be mad at the two people who acted like they didn't know how a condom works.” 

“Ouch,” Dee said.

“Though her delivery needs major work, Nelle has a point. While it is heartbreaking that Connie chose his responsibility over Myah, you just can't expect Marquise to just hand over anything. Especially when he's got Khari and the twins to think about.” Robin said. 

“Finally someone gets it,” Shanelle said.

“I don’t know. If he didn't want her to have a title he wouldn't have granted her one.” Bronwyn quipped.

“He didn't want her to have it. Believe me.” a voice called out. It was Margo. “I apologize for butting in.”

“How do you know?” Nina asked Margo. 

Margo sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Because I have worked for The Royal Family for almost 40 years. A good 38 of those years have been spent serving The Family. I know all there is to know about Constantine.” Margo replied. “Constantine was a lot of things. A loving, caring, concerned father? Never. If he couldn't even do right by his sons, I can assure you, he would never do right by this girl.” 

“Then why grant her a title?” Nina asked.

“Let me ask this, why do you think he never married her mother?” Margo asked.

“Because there was a chance his enemies could come after her and her mother,” Bronwyn replied. 

Margo shook her head no.

“Only if she were the heir to the throne. Which she wasn't. Because the Monarchy would never recognize her.” 

“Why not?” Robin asked.

“Because he didn't marry her mother. Cordonian Law is crystal clear: the declaration he signed would only be valid if he married her mother. And Connie knew that. He was the King after all. But since he didn't, granting her a title is not an obligation for my son.” Margo replied. 

“So he signed it to do what?” Nina asked.

“Pacify if nothing else. You have to understand his thought process. If it wasn't selfish or self-serving Constantine did not care. That is who he was. A selfish, self-centered, cold-hearted, cruel, calloused bastard.” Margo replied. 

Shanelle poured Margo a glass of wine.

“Thank you, dear. Listen, what you girls read in that book is not who Connie was a father. Because if he was that concerned of a father, he wouldn't have left the raising of his two children to me and the rest of the staff. Not that I’m not grateful. Marquise was a wonderful child. Hard-headed and stubborn as an ox at times but no less loving and protective. Raising him and Leo was and is one of the joys of my life, but it should have been Constantine's responsibility. Not mine.”

“If you feel that way, why have you stayed all these years?” Dee asked.

“Because they needed someone to protect them from the madman he had become. The year and a half after Eleanor was killed was the worst of them all. To be fair every day that man breathed was terrible but those first 18-19 months were completely unbearable. And I was ready to resign. But my Prince begged me to stay. Besides, I couldn't leave two innocent children to face his wrath alone. I wasn't about to kidnap them either. That would've meant death for me and my family. So I promised Marquise that I would stay until he turned 18. And I have been here ever since.”

“You keep saying that Connie was a bad father but what exactly did he do?” Robin asked. 

Margo went quiet before clearing her throat and taking a sip of her wine.

“I'm not even sure I should tell this story because I swore to Marquise that I would take it to my grave.” Margo replies.

“What?” Bronwyn asked.

Margo looked at Shanelle.

“Marquise had just gotten his acceptance letter to Harvard, which was just about 5 months after his 16th birthday. Around that time, Connie would go into his study and drink himself into a stupor and then get belligerent as all hell. Well, one night my husband George and I were making our rounds as we did as the senior staff when we heard Connie’s raised voice coming from the King’s study. We knew it couldn't be good.” Margo replied.

“What was going on?” Robin asked.

“When we got there Connie was in Marquise’s face yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. George and I were able to separate them. He took Constantine and I took Marquise with Connie still berating him, calling him everything but a child of God. George tried to get Connie to calm down and leave Marquise alone but that only angered him more. I had just gotten him to the doors when Constantine broke free of my husband and it happened.” Margo replied.

“When what happened?” Nina asked.

Margo closed her eyes while shaking her head.

“I watched Constantine ball up his fist and strike his own son.” Margo replied.

The girls went deathly silent. When Margo opened her eyes, she saw the look of shock and utter horror written on Shanelle's face. 

“Oh My God! Oh My God!” Shanelle whispered.

“The hit knocked Marquise back into the door and it stunned him. And that's not even the worst part, the worst part is Connie got ready to hit him again. But that second time my husband was able to catch his fist and pin him to his desk. That's when George told me to get Marquise out of that office. Imagine all 5’2 of me trying to drag a then 6’3 16-year-old out of his father’s office. When I finally got him back to his wing of the palace, he sat down on his bed with his head in his hands. And when he looked up at me, I saw all the rage, the shock, the heartbreak, and the pain in his eyes. When I sat down next to him, he laid his head in my lap and just cried. He kept asking ‘what did I do wrong?’ ‘Why does he hate me so much?’”

Margo paused to collect herself.

“I was able to get him to take a shower and get something to eat. But not before he told me…that wasn't the first time that Connie had hit him.”

The girls were in shock.

“I have a question.” Bronwyn finally spoke.

“Yes?” Margo asked.

“Why didn't you let Marquise go so he could bury that sonuvabitch?” Bronwyn asked.

“I couldn't,” Margo replies.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What do you mean you couldn't?” Robin asked.

“She's right.” Shanelle finally spoke. Her voice was shaky. “She couldn't. Neither could George.”

“What?! Why not?!” Nina asked.

“Because had Marquise hit his father, Connie would've wasted no time having him arrested and thrown in a dungeon,” Shanelle replies.

“But Connie started it!” Dee piped up.

“That wouldn't matter. Because at that time Connie was the Monarch. And the Parliament and Monarchy’s job is simple. Protect the Monarch at all times. Especially from family. It was a rule established by the Monarchy back in the 1600s when then Queen Kendra’s brother plotted to kill her and take the throne for himself.” Shanelle said. 

Margo nodded while taking Shanelle’s trembling hands in her own. 

“Connie would've spun the story to make himself the victim of an assault by his unruly and ungrateful son who wanted to usurp him and take the throne from him. And with many in the Parliament being stuck so far up Constantine’s ass at the time, they wouldn't have hesitated.” Margo said. 

Shanelle closed her eyes to stop tears of anger from rolling. 

“My husband never would've stood a fighting chance. The Parliament would've convicted Marquise without question. And Connie would've sentenced him to death.”

Margo nodded sadly.

“And I would've had to watch my sweet, cocky, thickheaded, loving, caring, protective boy. My beautiful son…I would've had to watch him walk to the gallows. And that would've killed me.” 

“The gallows? Like Pirates Of The Caribbean?!” Bron asked.

“Yes. Cordonia still believes in criminals being hung by the neck until dead. Marquise hasn't implemented it but it is a punishment in the books.” Shanelle replied.

Shanelle took a deep breath. 

“I hate that man. I hate him so much. If I could I would've killed him myself if his cancer hadn't beaten me to it. Maxwell told me years ago that Connie used to take whatever he was feeling when he was drunk out on Marquise but I never thought it would be that bad.” Shanelle seethed.

Margo rubbed Shanelle's knuckles.

“I'm sorry if I upset you. That was never my intention. And please don't think Marquise was intentionally hiding this from you.”

Shanelle nodded. 

“I know he wasn't. I’m not mad. Well not at him or you. I am furious with Connie. Absolutely disgusted. But that's exactly who that good-for-nothing bastard was. As Margo said, he was cold-hearted, callous, and cruel.”

Margo looked at Shanelle softly.

“This is why I fight so hard for him. That night was the first and last time he ever allowed Connie to break him and his spirit. As soon as he was able to, Marquise left for Harvard. And was determined to stay in Boston. He even invited me and my family to live there with him.” 

“Why didn't you move to Boston with him?” Dee asked.

“Because Leo abdicated that's why. There was no need to leave. The new King was coming home.” Margo replied.

Shanelle squeezed Margo’s hands gently.

“Thank you, Margo,” Shanelle said to her lead attendant.

“Of course, Your Majesty. Again I didn't mean to upset you and I can only hope my son won't be too angry with me for telling you.” 

Shanelle gave her a small smile.

“If he does get mad, you have a 4-year-old trump card in your pocket.”

Margo chuckled.

“Indeed I do. Now if you will excuse me, I will go check on the children.”

“Thank you, Margo.”

Margo smiled.

“Of course my Queen.”

Once Margo left Shanelle let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in before looking at her girls.

“Do you believe me now?” 

Robin threw her arms around Shanelle. Bronwyn just shook her head. Nina and Dee just sat there trying to process everything.

“He used to…” Bronwyn trailed off.

“Hit his son? Yes. He did.” Shanelle said. 

“That's…he…” Dee said. 

“Yeah. So while Myah’s version of Connie is cute as all get out, it's historically inaccurate. You wanna know who Constantine Leonidas Rys really was? Ask the son he abused. Ask the staff he always terrorized. Ask the people he exiled. Hell, ask the families of the people he had killed. They will tell you all you need to know. He wasn't loving, or caring, or compassionate, or concerned. He deserved his cancer. He deserved the pain it caused him. He deserves to sit in hell and rot.”

Shanelle shook her head as she angrily swiped away a stray tear. 

“Just know. Marquise is loved and protected by us all the same way he loves and protects us. And he will never ever have to deal with that sperm donor ever again.” Robin declared. 

“I need you girls to do me a favor. Do not speak of this to anyone. Please.”

The girls all agreed and Shanelle nodded gratefully. 

The next night was the final night in the Maldives for the guys. After spending all day doing their own things, they met for one final drink and salute to their amazing weekend together. 

“Well, boys! This is it. Our final night in paradise. We have been spoiled by our beautiful wives. We've had a great time together and we will be doing this again.” Marquise said in toast, “Here's to the incomparable FabBabes!” 

The boys saluted before downing the last of their shots. The next morning just before the guys checked out, Shanelle had one more surprise. She gifted each of the guys iced-out chains, rings, watches, and earrings. 

“It's official! Butta loves her some of me!” Eddie said as he flicked his wrist. The diamonds in his watch caught the sun. 

“You will break your wrist doing that,” Marquise said to him.

“You see this watch? Nigga it's worth it!”

Marquise shook his head with a smirk. This whole weekend was more than he could've asked for. But now it was time to get back home. Back to his life. Back to his job as King. But he would definitely be linking up with the guys again. When he got back to the palace he was greeted by his daughter. 

“Daddy!” Khari called out as she ran into his outstretched waiting arms. “I missed you so much, Daddy!” 

“I missed you too, my love,” he said as he hugged his daughter. 

“And what about me?” Shanelle asked Marquise with an eyebrow raised.

“I always miss you, my Queen,” he replies with a sweet kiss to his wife. 

“Good answer Your Majesty.” 

Marquise spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with his two favorite girls and after putting his little one to bed, it was time for some one on one with the woman of his dreams. They were snuggled together. 

“I missed being in these big strong arms of yours,” Shanelle said to him.

“I missed having you in my arms,” he replies, “did you and Khari have fun this weekend?”

“Yes, we did. I can't wait for you to see the boys’ nursery. Those kids made a mess. Even the baby babies got in on the fun.”

Marquise groaned.

“Are you sure I don't need to hire professionals?” he asked.

“Yes. I wanted the kids to have fun, get creative, and be messy as all get out,” she replies. 

Marquise chuckles.

“Fair enough. So what did you and the girls do while I was gone?” he asked.

“The standard overindulgence, gossip, and giggles,” she replied.

“How much overindulgence, gossip, and giggles happened?” he asked.

“The girls talked about your little sister's new book,” she replied.

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“Blood makes you related. It doesn't make you a family.”

“This is true but she's still related to you.”

“No, she's related to him. She's his child out of wedlock. Not mine. We have nothing in common. I have one blood sibling. That's it.”

Shanelle shrugged. 

“Okay. I'll back off. But that's not all we talked about.”

“What else is there?” he asked.

Shanelle sat up in bed and cleared her throat before speaking.

“Margo came in mid-conversation and she…” Shanelle trailed off.

“And she what?” he asked as he sat up as well.

Shanelle turned her head while biting her bottom lip. Marquise gently grabbed her chin and turned her face so that she was looking at him.

“Tell me.”

“Promise me you won't be angry?” she asked in a soft voice.

“I promise now what is it? You’re starting to scare me,” he replies.

“Margo told us that Connie…he…” Shanelle struggled to say the words. Not that she needed to. Marquise already knew what she was going to say.

Marquise closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“She told you about?” he asked.

“The time he punched you in front of her and George? Yes,” she replied.

Marquise nodded slowly.

“Please don't be mad at her. She didn't tell us to betray your confidence or your trust. The girls wanted to know why Connie was so bad and that's when she told us.”

“I'm not mad at mom. Because truth be told, I should've told you years ago. I was just…”

“Still traumatized?” she asked.

“Something like that,” he replied.

Marquise let out a breath.

“She said you told her that wasn't the first time he hit you.”

“That's right. He had hit me before. That time was just the first time he’d done it in front of an audience.” 

Shanelle’s heart began to break. She'd never seen her husband like this. So vulnerable.

“If you don't mind telling me, when was the first time?” she asked.

Marquise set his jaw then inhaled and exhaled slowly before he spoke.

“I was 14. I had just won my latest chess match and I wanted to show him the trophy I'd gotten. I knocked on his door but I didn't hear anything. And I should've just left but instead, I opened the door. He was sitting at the desk drunk with a bottle in his hand. He looked at me with this rage in his eyes. He asked me why I was there and I told him. That's when he took a swig from his bottle and went off on me. I did everything I could think of to reassure and calm him down but I was a kid. And it didn't work anyway.” 

Marquise stopped and Shanelle wrapped her arms around him.

“He grabbed me by my collar and kept screaming for me to stop haunting him. That I should've died the day she did so he wouldn't be cursed to know she was never coming back. That's when he let me go and he backhanded me.”

Shanelle shuddered.

“George must've heard me fall because he came running in and when he saw me on the floor he asked what had happened. And in classic Constantine Rys form…” Marquise trailed off.

That's when he contorted his face into a scowl that mirrored Connie’s sneer.

“Calm down George! Everything is fine. This clumsy idiot tripped over his own feet. Isn't that right boy?”

Their bedroom was quiet for a few seconds before he continued. 

“George helped me up and walked me out of his office. And when we were far enough away, he asked me what really happened and I told him everything. That's when he brought me to mom and told her. And I begged them both not to say anything. Because at that time I was terrified he would retaliate. Either against me or worse them. So they agreed to keep quiet. She got me cleaned up and something to eat and then put me to bed.”

Shanelle’s heart broke for her husband and her blood boiled.

“I'm so sorry baby.”

Marquise shook his head.

“Don't be. Because I got my revenge in the end. I got his throne and his kingdom. I got to watch the devil incarnate die a slow, painful, and well-deserved death. And if that's who Myah wants to call her father, she can fucking have him.”

“Marquise you are a victim. He abused you.”

“I refuse to be one. I refuse to let him believe he could ever break me twice.”

Shanelle kissed his cheek just before he kissed the palm of her right hand.

“I need you to swear to me that you won't say anything about this. I'm not saying that I don't trust the girls but it's bad enough that they know. So you have to swear not to say anything to anyone else. Not even to Khari.”

“Marquise—” she started to say something before he cut her off, “swear to it Shanelle!”

Shanelle closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. 

“I swear to you that I won't say anything to anyone else.”

Marquise let out a breath.

“Thank you, my love. Now let's get some sleep. It's been a long day.”

Shanelle nodded before they laid back down with him holding her close with his left resting on her stomach. 

The next week it was business as usual for His Majesty. There was a kingdom to be run. He spent the week in and out of meetings with advisors and foreign dignitaries. And he got the news he’d been waiting on. Monterisso finally agreed to be acquired by Cordonia. Which was a major win for him. He could leverage Monterisso’s spy tech with his kingdom’s special ops corp. 

He couldn't wait to tell Shanelle the great news over lunch.

“Well done Your Majesty! This is quite an accomplishment for you and our kingdom.” Shanelle said to him.

“Thank you, my Queen. It took me negotiating tooth and nail but we are now a truly fortified kingdom.” 

“I'm proud of you. You didn't let the last few Monterissan holdouts deter you.”

“Thank you, beautiful.”

“So what happens now?” she asked.

“I have a trip to Monterisso in the coming weeks to tour the kingdom and take stock of everything,” he replies.

“You mean you plan to play with all the drone tech?” she asked.

“Stop raining on my parade!” he replies.

Shanelle snickered. Just then there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!” Marquise called out.

An attendant came in with a Manila envelope in their hands.

“Pardon the interruption Your Majesties, but I was told to deliver this to you, my King.” the attendant said.

Marquise nodded. 

“Set it down. Thank you.”

The attendant nodded before setting the envelope down and leaving the room.

“What's that?” Shanelle asked.

“I don’t know. Let's find out shall we?” Marquise replied before grabbing one of his letter openers.

He broke the seal and then pulled the documents out. After a quick scan, his features darkened. 

“What? What is it?” Shanelle asked. 

“This is the autopsy report I had done on Tariq’s body,” he replies.

Shanelle’s eyebrows shot up.

“What does it say?” she asked.

“Exactly what I feared. Tariq didn't die of acute organ failure. He was poisoned.” he replies.

“WHAT?!” Shanelle exclaimed.

“Naya killed her husband.” 

Shanelle’s jaw dropped. 

“So what happens now?” she asked.

Instead of responding, Marquise dialed a number on his office phone.

“My King?” a voice answers.

“Issue an arrest warrant for one Princess Naya Laurent of Duchy Arnaud,” Marquise replied.

“The charge?” the voice asked.

“Murder,” Marquise replied.

“At once Your Majesty.” 

The call ended. This was it. Marquise was about to issue his first-ever death warrant as King. Whether he wanted to or not was a different story. 

[cheyconicbookreviews]

The Dirty Air by Lauren Asher

My sister bought me this series for Christmas and I have been so anxious to read it. <3 It even made me interested in watching Formula 1 races. Which, is a rather unfortunate atrocity seeing as my time is already booked with escaping reality through literature. *sigh* What I loved– the angst, the swoon, the character development. I adore the epilogues, too. So so much. What I could have done without– the constant crassness of the men at the beginning of each book (I don’t mind them being assholes but I could do without “fuck” in every line of dialogue and inner thoughts. Honestly it’s my only qualm with Asher’s writing. Sometimes, I read a book or series and think “wow this will be a reread for sure.” However, I had never finished a book and immediately wanted to reread it to annotate it. Until the dirty air series. Brain, meet obsession. There is a direct correlation from how beat up my books look to how much I love them. The chart looks like this.

These books? Absolutely wrecked (heh get it? Because of book thre– okay I’ll stop.

Throttled

Oh my lord. Do you love brother’s rival (enemy?) tropes? How about forbidden romance (see brother’s rival)? Slow Burn? This is the book for you! Noah and Maya are so funny I love them so much. Both of their characters developed so much through this book and it was a joy to read them. I especially how much Maya was able to stand up for herself to Santi. She had as much growing to do as Noah did, which is one of my favorites. I also adored how much of a simp Noah is for Maya. Simps reign supreme in my heart. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Collided

I’m not going to lie, I was really apprehensive about going into Liam and Sophie’s story, even though Collided’s cover was the one that drew me into the series in the first place. Once again we have a forbidden romance between our protagonists, ah how cruel the heart can be. Sophie’s list had me cackling certainly NOT because mine looks ⅔ similar Liam’s prologue was totally unexpected and I can honestly say it hooked me. I did feel that the push and pull between the friendzone and the warring chemistry was a little drawn out. I think this book could have moved 100 pages from that to secret dates or *gasp* emotional bonding. Overall, I did enjoy their story. Sophie is a pure soul. I also really enjoyed seeing the alternative side of the same timeline we experienced in Throttled. James Mitchell is my fave, btw. 10/10 dad. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wrecked Oooh ooh ohh angst from the get go. Thank you thank you thank you Lauren Asher. After meeting Jax in book one, he was the racer I was least excited to read about, but, (butta butta but) he is a curly haired tattooed man with anxiety.What can I say? As my queen and goddess stated, “it’s me, hi, I’m the problem it’s me”

SO, now I’m in. Also, he is SO SO sweet with his Mama I love him. Jax is a scared little puppy waiting for someone to get past his defenses enough to scoop him up and take him home. Once I realized this, my heart melted for him. Elena might be coming for Maya’s spot as my fave fmc in this series. She is so assured and witty. At the ancient age of 26, nearly 27, I found I could relate to Elena’s more mature narration. She is confident, assured, and truly a “do no harm take no sh**” kind of lady. I think I could like her a lot. And don’t get me started on sweet baby Elias. Oh my darling carino. Too pure, must protec. Elena and Jax’s dynamic starts off very strong. Both with zest and fight coursing through them. I love love love their banter. Both of these lil babies are emotionally stunted, which is becoming a trope I wasn’t aware I craved. Their easy volley of clap backs had me smiling so much it hurt. And the character development my GOD the character development with these two was so so good. By the end I was literally sobbing. Was this a fragile week for me? Yes. Do I think I still would have sobbed? Yes. And that epilogue? Heart, meet knife ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Redeemed At this point, I think Lauren Asher sits on her throne of hell writing chair and thinks “hmmm how could I make this prologue more gut wrenching than the last one?” Yes, yes, I hear you. “But Chey! How can (view spoiler) and I HEAR you but also, Santi? SANTI?! I love him. The lead up for this story is both comical and heart wrenching, which makes us all look like jerks for laughing. Chloe has found an ancestry kit to lead her to her long lost dad. Will he be awesome? Will he suck as bad as her mom (almost impossible)? Who knows!?! Coincidentally, her journeys take her to the same town our broken hero Santiago Altorre is residing in. And what do we find Santiago doing? Well, he was just told that Maya and Noah need to watch their son Marko for two weeks because (view spoiler) Angst and comedy leading into the perfect setup for this fake dating trope? *Swoon* Alright, confession time. My favorite tropes are one bed, fake dating, single dad, and accidental pregnancy. I know that last one is wildly unpopular but my god it’s my kryptonite. Santi isn’t a single dad, but taking care of Marko for the two weeks means that he fits the bill, even if only temporarily. And I absolutely adore the friendly banter between them– how much they want to help the other heal. If you like Archer’s Voice, I think you’ll love this book. This book gave me nearly everything that makes my heart sing about romances. Gahh A million stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[dukedebut]

new album every day [07.01.23]

RuPaul - Black Butta

i saw a LOT of hype for the singles from this album, but i promised myself i'd hold out for the album as a whole to drop before i listened. and, unsurprisingly, it's MORE than worth the wait!! i really love the vibe of this album. the songs are super fresh, and ru's vocals are GREAT on these tracks! there were a few standouts for me though, of course.

A.S.M.R Lover (feat. Skeltal Ki)

i MEANNNNNNNN come ONNNNNN! this is SUCH a great track one! the beat is catchy as hell, but obviously that's to be expected from a rupaul song. the lyrics, too, are JUST fun! honestly, this is just great music, no matter how you look at it. i love catwalk, so when i saw skeltal ki was featuring on another ru song i was buzzing and. and, as expected, they delivered another solid collab!

Suga Daddy

ru's vocals on this are SO nice on this! the almost whispery verses with the louder choruses create a really nice balance which i think makes the track feel particularly fun. the lyrics are also super catchy - the chorus, in particular, is super easy to get into and it just makes listening to this song really fun. to be honest, this song as a whole is just fun! love it.

Black Butta

i was SO taken aback by this song at first. the opening feels so bombastic when compared to the other songs on the album, and having such a fast-paced song at this point was a great energiser! i love the beat - it almost feels like it could be part of an ssx game soundtrack. i was not expecting a song like this on the album, but i really enjoyed it!

--

i feel that rupaul's discography is a little hit-and-miss at times, but this is definitely one of her strongest albums in my opinion. i love the sound ru's putting out more recently, and i hope she stays in this space for a while because i LOVE this kind of music from her! definitely give it a listen!!!

[allari-ammayi]

Butta Bomma

A. Bahubali x Reader x B. Deva

#5

The Monkey Woman

Synopsis: Y/n decides to blend in with the other women of Mahismati and dons a Sari, catching Bhalla and Bahu's attention. Y/n is acquainted with several other women in the court, who teach her how to wear a sari in the Mahismati way. When Y/n's new friends longingly stare at a fruit tree, Y/n takes it upon herself to climb the tree and fetch some fruit, which catches the attention of everyone around, especially an amused Bhalla, who endlessly teases her about it.

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Once Y/n had been settled into her official room within the palace, she couldn't help but ponder her unique situation. She knew that to truly understand the kingdom and its people, she needed to blend in and dress like the other ladies of Mahishmati.

Curiosity piqued, and Y/n explored the closet in her room. To her delight, she discovered a breathtaking hlaf-sari adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant colours. Although completely unfamiliar with the attire, she made up her mind to give it a try, despite her apprehensions.

With a mixture of determination and uncertainty, Y/n carefully unfurled the sari and began the process of dressing herself. She attempted to mimic what she had seen in movies and pictures, her fingers gently navigating the folds and pleats of the fabric. 

As she gazed at her reflection in the ornate mirror, Y/n couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her efforts to assimilate into this new world. The vibrant colours of the sari added a touch of elegance to her appearance, and she couldn't deny that she looked the part, even if it was far from perfect.

She marvelled at the opulence that surrounded her. The grand corridors seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the walls were adorned with intricate designs that told stories of a rich history. 

As Y/n explored the grand corridors of the palace, her attention was suddenly drawn to a bustling training ground on the ground floor. Curiosity piqued, she made her way towards it. There, she spotted Bhallaladeva, intensely practicing swordsmanship with a group of skilled warriors.

From her vantage point on the third floor, Y/n had a clear view of the training ground. 

Bhallaladeva's movements were like a dance of deadly grace, his sword flashing through the air with deadly accuracy. It was a sight to behold, and Y/n found herself completely absorbed in watching him.

Unbeknownst to Y/n, Amarendra Bahubali, who had been present at the training ground, noticed her presence from a distance. He observed her as she admired Bhallaladeva's swordsmanship, intrigued by her fascination. 

Bahu had always been skilled in reading people, and he couldn't help but wonder what it was about Bhallaladeva that had captured Y/n's attention.

As Bhallaladeva continued his rigorous training, Y/n's gaze remained fixed on him. She admired not just his physical prowess but also the determination and dedication with which he practised. It was clear to her that he was a man who took his responsibilities seriously, even in matters of combat.

And how exactly was she supposed to shift such a man from his main goal in life? To prevent his inevitable death atleast. 

Bahubali, still watching Y/n, couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about her. With his innate curiosity about everything and everyone, he couldn't resist the urge to approach Y/n. 

He approached her with a warm and open demeanour, a natural conversationalist. 

"Quite a display, isn't it?" he began, gesturing towards Bhallaladeva and the warriors below. "Our prince takes his training very seriously."

Y/n, somewhat startled by Bahubali's sudden appearance, turned her attention to him. 

Her response, however, was marked by a strange manner of speech, a modern Telugu with a hint of her unique quirks. She replied, 

"Oh, I know right?! Like, seriously, he's such a badass warrior, isn’t he?" Her unconventional way of speaking piqued Bahubali's curiosity, and he couldn't help but chuckle at her choice of words.

"Indeed, he is," Bahubali agreed, his deep voice carrying a friendly tone. "But I must say, your way of describing it is quite... unique." He emphasized the word 'unique' with a playful twinkle in his eye.

Y/n couldn't help but smile in response to Bahubali's warm demeanour. Despite the language barrier and the unfamiliar surroundings, there was something about his presence that put her at ease. 

It was as though she had found a friendly face amidst the unfamiliarity of the palace.

Bahubali continued the conversation, genuinely interested in getting to know this intriguing lady. 

"I haven't seen you around the palace before. Are you a guest of the queen, or have you recently arrived in Mahishmati?" he inquired jokingly, his curiosity driving the conversation forward.

Y/n nodded, her expressive eyes reflecting her enthusiasm as she played along with Bahubali’s antics. 

"Yeah, I'm a newbie here. Just arrived and trying to soak in all the royal vibes, you know?" She joked back. She couldn't help but laugh at her own words, feeling a bit self-conscious about her informal way of speaking.

Bahubali's warm smile remained unwavering. "Well, we're glad to have you here in Mahishmati and it’s good to know you’re settling in well," he replied, his gaze sincere. "If you ever need any assistance or have questions about the kingdom, don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to help."

Y/n's heart warmed at Bahubali's offer of assistance. She had never expected to find such a welcoming presence in this ancient world. 

"That's really nice of you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I might just take you up on that offer."

As Bhallaladeva sparred with the skilled warriors in the training ground, his focus was unwavering, his swordsmanship precise and relentless. 

However, on this particular day, something unusual happened. His eyes, trained for combat and strategy, were inexplicably drawn to the grand palace's upper levels.

There, standing on the third floor, was Y/n, dressed in a vibrant and slightly skewed sari that accentuated her grace and elegance. Bhallaladeva's swordplay momentarily faltered as he caught sight of her. He found himself mesmerized by her presence, his sword hanging mid-air as if enchanted by her beauty.

Despite the bustling training ground and the clang of swords, Bhallaladeva's eyes remained fixed on Y/n. The warriors he sparred with exchanged puzzled glances as they witnessed their prince's unusual distraction. They had never seen their prince react this way before, and it was clear that something extraordinary had caught his attention. 

As Y/n decided it was time to explore more of the palace and get accustomed to the people around, she casually bid farewell to Bahubali, leaving him with a grin and a wave. 

“Well, there’s a lot more this to palace than just a hallway and a balcony, so I’ll take my leave now,” 

“Well, I could show you around, if you wanted,” Bahubali offered, earning a smile from Y/n. Y/n looked around and saw the group of girls that were fawning over him, and chuckled.

“Well, Prince Charming, I'll let you go back to your admirers. Don't want to keep the ladies waiting.” She said, with a princely charm, Bahubali chuckled, 

"You're quite the character, Y/n. I hope you enjoy your time exploring the palace."

“Thanks, I’ll catch you later, Bahu,” Y/n departed with a wink and a wave, forgetting that she wasn’t talking to a fictional character anymore, but rather a real prince. 

Her informal manner of parting amused Bahubali and even those nearby were taken aback by her audacity.

Bahubali, grinning at Y/n's playful departure, watched her go with an amused glint in his eye. He couldn't help but admire her spirited and carefree nature, which seemed to contrast the formality of the palace.

“She’s really…” BAhubali paused for a moment and took a breath, “Something.” He nodded to his own words, “something different.”

As Y/n departed, the group of giggling girls quickly spotted her wandering around the palace grounds. They couldn't contain their curiosity and excitement and rushed over to introduce themselves.

"Hello there! You must be new," one of the girls exclaimed, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Y/n offered a warm smile, appreciating their friendliness. 

"Yes, I am. I arrived here just recently," she replied. The girls were eager to know more. 

"What's your name?" another girl inquired. Y/n hesitated for a moment, thinking about her peculiar circumstances. 

"You can call me Y/n," she finally replied. 

The questions continued to pour in as the girls gathered around her, creating an impromptu circle of curious faces.

"Where do you come from, Y/n?" one girl asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Y/n contemplated how much she should reveal about her true origins. 

"I come from a distant land, far from Mahishmati," she answered vaguely, maintaining an air of mystery.

"How do you know Prince Bahubali?" another girl inquired, her tone tinged with curiosity and perhaps a hint of jealousy.

Y/n chuckle, "I actually met him just yesterday," she confessed, and the girls exchanged surprised glances.

Their curiosity didn't wane, and they continued to pepper Y/n with questions. 

"What brings you here? Are you staying in the palace?" another girl asked.

"I've come to study the Mahishmati culture and learn about this incredible kingdom. As for staying in the palace, it seems I will be here for some time," she explained.

The girls exchanged glances, both impressed and envious of Y/n's opportunity. Despite their initial curiosity and perhaps a tinge of jealousy regarding her connection with Bahubali, they welcomed her warmly into their circle.

Understanding Y/n to be a foreigner, the group of girls even took it upon themselves t re-drape Y/n’s sari in a way that said ‘Mahismathi’ like none other. 

As they completed their task, the group of girls excitedly whisked Y/n away, eager to show off their newfound friend to the rest of the palace. They took her on a tour, introducing her to various parts of the grand palace.

Their wanderings led them to the training area, where the clashing of swords and the shouts of warriors echoed through the air. 

Bhallaladeva was engrossed in his training once more, his focus sharp as ever. However, as Y/n entered the area, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of her, and his swordplay faltered once more. Her presence, clad in the Mahismathi sari, captivated him once again, much like it had the first time he saw her.

Bhallaladeva's intense eyes remained fixed on Y/n as she moved with her newfound friends, his curiosity and fascination growing with every passing moment.

As the group of girls roamed the palace grounds, they came across a magnificent fruit tree laden with ripe, tempting fruits. Their eyes sparkled with desire as they gazed up at the fruit-laden branches.

Y/n couldn't help but notice their wistful expressions. With a confident smile, she decided to take matters into her own hands. 

The girls turned to her, curious about her plan.

"I'll fetch us some fruit," Y/n declared, earning surprised looks from her new friends. They exchanged glances, intrigued by her confidence.

"How?" one of the girls asked, her curiosity piqued.

Y/n simply winked at them and began demonstrating her plan. She gathered the end of her sari and deftly tucked it into her Langa. The other girls watched with wide eyes as she approached the fruit-laden tree and started to climb, her sari serving as a makeshift rope.

The sight was nothing short of astonishing, and it didn't take long for a small crowd to gather, both men and women, to witness this incredible display. Y/n's agile ascent was met with gasps of amazement and admiration.

From her lofty perch, Y/n plucked several ripe fruits and gently dropped them to her friends below. The girls eagerly caught the fruit, their faces lighting up with delight.

But amid the cheers and applause, Y/n couldn't help but notice Bhallaladeva among the onlookers. His gaze was fixed on her, his expression a mix of awe and fascination.

However, Y/n, unaware of his true intentions, mistook his look for one of mockery. She quickly descended from the tree and landed gracefully on the ground. Brushing bits of bark from her hands, she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

Not wanting to appear immodest in front of the prince, Y/n hastily readjusted her sari, ensuring it covered her properly. In her mind, she believed she had committed a social faux pas by climbing the tree, unaware that her actions had left many in awe, including Bhallaladeva himself.

As Bhallaladeva approached Y/n, the crowd that had gathered to witness her impressive feat began to disperse, giving them some space. Bhallaladeva couldn't resist a snarky comment and a playful grin as he closed the distance between them.

"Quite the agile monkey, aren't you?" he teased, a glint of amusement in his eyes. His remark was met with a few chuckles from those who had witnessed Y/n's tree-climbing adventure.

Y/n, never one to back down, responded with an equally snarky comeback. 

"Well, they say necessity is the mother of invention. Besides, I've never seen a tree laden with such delicious-looking fruit before." Bhallaladeva's curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but inquire, 

"Speaking of inventions, why the change in your sari style?" Y/n glanced down at her sari, now draped in the traditional Mahishmati fashion. She chuckled softly, realizing her earlier fashion faux pas. 

"Honestly, I didn't even realize there was a different style here. Back where I come from, that was how we wear saris. It's comfortable and practical."

Bhallaladeva, despite his initial teasing, spoke more softly this time, nervously while avoiding eye-contact. 

"Well, you should wear your style more often. It suits you and you wear it well."

Y/n, caught off guard by one of the fruits that her lady friend had tossed her, blinked in surprise. 

"Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat it?" she asked, genuinely curious about his words.

But Bhallaladeva's face reddened, and he quickly masked his embarrassment with a snarky comment. 

"Never mind. It wasn't that important." Y/n held a saddened look on her face.

“Aw, come on please tell me, I really didn’t hear you!” She pleaded, her look causing Bhallaladeva to go redder and he looked away in embarrassed anger.

“I said it was nothing, Monkey!” Bhallaladeva huffed, angrily, waving Y/n away, “Go back to climbing trees or something.” He grumbled.

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Y/n both puzzled and intrigued by their brief but engaging conversation.

Y/n couldn't resist the opportunity to fire back, her playful smirk evident. 

"Oh, so you're an expert on monkeys now, Your Highness?” She shouted, causing Bhallaladeva to turn shapely on his heel and walk back to Y/n with speed. “I didn't know they taught primatology to royal brats." 

Bhallaladeva raised an eyebrow, not one to back down from a challenge. 

"It appears they've also taught you to speak out of turn, insolent monkey girl." Y/n feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes. 

"Oh, forgive me, your majesty. I must have forgotten my royal etiquette class back in my land."

The prince's jaw tightened, and he shot back with a sly grin. 

"Perhaps they forgot to teach you manners in your land." Y/n pretended to ponder his words for a moment, tapping her chin. 

"Manners, you say? Is that why your palace is so quiet? Everyone afraid to speak?"

Bhallaladeva's face flushed. "Our court has its own decorum."

"Ah, yes," Y/n replied with faux reverence. "The 'Royal Rules of Silence,' I've heard of them."

The prince's nostrils flared as he clenched his fists, resorting to painting his face with a sly smirk. 

"You have a sharp tongue, monkey. I hope it doesn't get you into trouble."

Y/n leaned in closer, a challenging glint in her eye. "Trouble finds me, Your Highness. I've been trained in the art of survival in strange lands, after all."

Their argument was interrupted by the arrival of Y/n's friends, who had been observing the exchange with worry. One of them couldn't help but tease in hopes of killing the tension down a little,

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” She said, with a quick curtsy, “It seems you’ve met my friend over here,” She motioned towards Y/n, “She’s new to the kingdom, she doesn’t know anyone yet-” Bhallaladeva raised his hand to the lady’s face, his eyes boring into Y/n’s.

“We’ve met before,” Bhallaladeva said.

"Looks like someone's found a sparring partner, Y/n." The lady said, awkwardly.

Y/n grinned at Bhallaladeva. 

"Oh, absolutely. I've been searching for a conversation as stimulating as this for ages. It's not every day you get to trade barbs with royalty."

Bhallaladeva rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at his lips. 

"Just remember, Monkey, royalty always gets the last word."

Y/n chuckled as she turned to leave with her friends. "We'll see about that, Your Royal Snarkiness. Until next time!"

As two firecrackers parted ways, walking their own paths, Bhallaladeva gave a small pause and turned around, spotting Y/n’s retreating figure. Unknown to him, a small grin tugged at his lips and he turned back.

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