#maychallenge

[okieapache70]

Day 31: Something Beautiful… Her smile can light up the world #MayPhotoChallenge #PhotoOfTheDay #photochallenge #MayChallenge #Spring2022 #Spring #photoaday #photoadaymay #May2022 #happylife #fmspad @fatmumslim #mayflowersbringjunebugs #cincodemayo #nationaldayofprayer #memorialday #memorialday2022 #grannysheart #granddaughter #somethingbeautiful #hersmilemeltsmyheart https://www.instagram.com/p/CeP0aHgNBQB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[khun-supakrit]

🏋️🏃🏻‍♂️ Perfect Month in May 2022! 😀 #closeyourrings #perfectmonth #MayChallenge #applewatch #AppleWatchChallenge (at Bangkok, Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeOh2QWJNNs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[keys2thefalcon]

[shootingstarbea]

Wanted to draw some cute Sanrio characters for the #springwithsanrio23 challenge over on insta.

Week one was flowers. I hope I can finish Clouds and post tomorrow!

Anyway, CharmmyKitty is one of my favorite

Sanrio characters!

[tessa-liam]

Smoke and Mirrors

We're Ready For Anything

Chapter 7

Smoke and Mirrors

-7- We're Ready for Anything

Book: The Royal Romance Finale +, Alternate Universe

Series Premise: Hidden in the shadows, poised to challenge the status quo are enemies of the state. The loyalties and honesty of family and friends will be tested. ‘Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.’

Catch Up: Smoke and Mirrors Masterlist

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks-Rys, OTP ‘Liri’

2nd Pairings: Leo Rys x Amalas, Drake Walker x F!OC Delaney Leigh, Olivia Nevrakis x M!OC Alex Cossoy

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except Delaney Leigh, Officer Alex Cossoy, Geoffrey Bessler (Amalas’ head guard.)

Rating: M🔞*Series Warnings: NSFW material, sexual innuendo, adult innuendo, adult language/swearing/drinking, gun violence.

Not Beta'd, please excuse all errors.

Category: Alternate Universe/on-going series/angst/fluff

Words: 2274, Read: 10 minutes

Chapter 7: We’re Ready for Anything

Chapter Summary: Liam and Riley find out more about their twins and Lena is captured by Interpol.

Music and Title Inspiration: Ready for Anything, Landon Austin

A/N1: My submission for @choicesflashfics Week #32, Prompt #2 - “Sometimes memories can be the worst form of torture.”

A/N2: My submission for May Choices Monthly Challenge @choiceschallenge-may2023 @jerzwriter @maychallenge prompts - Mother’s Day, holding hands/ crying /caress

King’s Study, Cordonian Palace

It was late into the evening as Liam opened the financial report for Portavira on his computer. Taking note that Duke Ebrim was requesting a sizeable amount of emergency funds for the coastal region in the form of stipends.

Opening his e-mail to respond, a knock on his study door got his attention.

“Come.” Liam called out and continued typing, not taking his focus off the screen.

“Hey, Li. Am I interrupting?” Drake asked hesitantly.

Without looking up, Liam answered, “Drake, hey...what brings you here tonight?”

“Well, I need your advice on something.”

Closing his laptop, Liam stood up and walked to his bar cart, picking up two glasses and a bottle of Macallan.

Liam chuckled, “Why do I think this has something to do with a certain blond in your life?”

“Yeah, well...”

Pouring two glasses of scotch, Liam slid one to Drake and sat back down, taking a sip.

“Delaney wants to visit her parents in Austin....and she wants me to go with her.”

Drake exhaled a breath and Liam grinned.

“So, what’s the problem, Drake? Nervous about meeting your future in-laws?”

Drake shot his friend a look, and Liam roared in laughter.

“Seriously, Drake? This is not a problem, buddy!”

“Yeah, well...the thing is, her parents are pressuring her to move back home to the States. Laney is seriously considering it.”

Shaking his head, “Laney wants me to move back with her.”

Liam looked at his friend, noting the conflict in his expression.

“I don’t want to lose her, Li. I also don’t want to leave Cordonia.”

Queen’s Study, Monterissian Palace

“Geoffrey, do you have the video footage of the arrest from last night taken outside the palace?”

Amalas spoke to her guard through the speakerphone on her desk.

“Not at this time, your majesty. Interpol has not uploaded the file yet to our systems.”

“Wait a second. Pause and rewind...what did you just say?” Leo asked incredulously.

“Your majesty?” Geoffrey asked questionably.

“Leo, its protocol that the Interpol inspectors have access to all palace systems ahead of my Royal guard.” Amalas answered.

“Access, yes, but to commandeer all viewing?” Leo challenged.

“Thank you, Geoffrey, that will be all at this time.” Amalas tapped the app closed and spun around her chair, glaring at Leo.

“What the hell, Ams? You are taking orders from some ‘suit’ in Lyon, France? ….Why?”

“First of all, I don’t care for your tone. Do. Not. Speak. To. Me. Like I don’t run this country! Especially in front of my people.” Amalas countered angrily.

Leo sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. It was a challenge for the former Crown Prince to remember not to interject his personal opinions into conversations with the Monterissian Royal guard.

Amalas is the Queen, and he was overstepping.

“Secondly, I appreciate the expertise and assistance of Interpol.”

Leo sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I am surprised, to say the least. The ‘Spy Queen’ needing help in her own country.”

“And thirdly,” Amalas stood and frowned at Leo. “I am respecting the King of Cordonia’s request for a united front to uncover the truth behind the duplicity of the Royal guard in our countries.”

“Leo, we need to ‘cut the head off’ of this faction. There is someone or something controlling and directing operatives, like Bastien in Cordonia, that has infiltrated our highest security levels in the Royal guard of our countries.”

“Case in point: how a known fugitive can gain access to my private chambers, can pass through my security protocols. Allowed access to the Crown Princess of visiting monarchs, no less.”

“I get it Ams, I really do. ….and I am truly sorry.” Leo sighed and shook his head.

Amalas stood and walked over to Leo. Taking his face in her hands, she kissed his lips sweetly and touched her forehead to his.

Clearing his throat, Geoffrey stood outside the open door and waited to make his presence known.

“Your majesty.”

Amalas turned to look at her head guard. “Yes, Geoffrey?”

“Interpol has successfully captured and detained the security breach.”

Cordonian Palace

It was shortly after 1 am when Liam returned to the south wing of the palace. Loosening his tie, he nodded at Mara as she stood guard outside of Eleanor’s chambers and continued to walk to his personal chamber he shared with Riley.

After preparing for bed, he opened the veranda door and stepped out into the cool night air. Looking out over the gardens, he took a deep breath and smiled. Tomorrow, he and Riley would find out the sex of their twin babies. He grinned thinking about all the possibilities, but if he was being truly honest with himself, he favored having a son. Or...he chuckled, maybe another Ellie.

Shaking his head, he decided to turn in for the night to get some sleep considering the day would bring much excitement for him and his family.

Approaching his side of the king-sized bed, he noticed that Riley’s side of the bed was slept in, but Riley was not in bed.

Liam went to his closet and slid on a pair of sweatpants. After stepping into the hallway, he returned down the hall towards Ellie’s chambers. He quietly opened her bedroom door and entered the darkened room. Beside her canopy bed, the single night light glowed, and he saw his daughter's outline. Wrapped snugly and securely in her mother’s arms, she was fast asleep along with Riley.

As he placed a soft kiss on Ellie’s forehead, Riley awoke and smiled. “Hi”, Riley whispered and touched his hand. After carefully detaching her arms from her daughter, she rose from bed to join her husband in their bedroom.

Liam closed the door behind him, after following Riley.

Joining his wife under the silk sheets, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

“That’s better,” nuzzling her neck.

Smiling, Riley ran her fingers through his soft hair. “Working late tonight?”

“Yes, and no... Drake came to see me tonight.”

“Oh really, and here I thought you were avoiding me,” Riley smirked.

“Never!” Liam playfully teased.

“So, what was so important for Drake to pay such a late visit?"

“AHHHH, well...he wanted my advice. Drake is debating whether he should a, stay in Cordonia; or b, move to Delaney's home in Texas. And c, where he should go with his relationship with Delaney.”

Riley looked at her husband, “I know what you said.”

“I know you do, love,” kissing Riley’s nose.

“Home is where your love of your life is. I asked him what his true feelings were for Delaney. Once he can honestly answer that question, he will have his answer.”

Monterrisian Palace

The temperature in the Monterrisian palace holding cell area was at least 10 degrees cooler in the lower-level security offices. Amalas and Leo followed the Interpol officers and were shown to the viewing privacy window. Amalas was accustomed to the temperature change, but Leo had shivers go down his spine; from the temperature change, or nerves, or both.

On the other side of that window, Lena Rys was sitting in a chair alongside a female Royal guard. On the other side of the table sat Alex Cossoy and Olivia Nevrakis.

Amalas listened intently to the questioning, while Leo stared at the blond woman. Shock, mixed with disbelief left him speechless.

“What is your end game?” Olivia asked impatiently

“My end game is to take my place in the Rys family,” Lena coolly answered.

Olivia eyed Lena in disdain.

“My mother told me that my father wanted to hide me from my half-brother. That the ‘Cordonian royal family can’t find out who I really am... for my sake’.”

“’That’s horrible’,” Olivia sighed.

“’I didn’t want to believe those things about my family, but my mother had never lied to me’.”

"Your mother?"

"Yes, Sigrid took care of me in place of my true mother."

“You were brainwashed, she was obviously lying to you!” Olivia seethed.

“’I saw what Cordonia’s royal family really thinks of me when King Constantine came to Vallenheim for a diplomatic visit’.”

“’King Constantine told my mother that he wanted no part in foreign influences on Cordonia. He said that Queen Eleanor is gone. Which is why he wanted nothing to do with me. That Eleanor was her friend, but that association ended when Eleanor died. He does not owe us anything’.”

“My mother wanted me to meet my brothers, but Constantine said ‘he won’t be guilted with a child.’

I remember that my mother begged Constantine to meet me, and Constantine said no. 'My sons and I want nothing to do with me, my mother, Vallenheim, or any of our people!’”

My mother told me, 'This is exactly why Queen Eleanor wanted me kept away from Cordonia.’"

Lena’s eyes 'welled with tears that are equal parts anger and sadness.'

“In that moment, I knew everything my mother had said about my father and brothers was true.”

“Sometimes memories can be the worst form of torture.”

Olivia stood up and paced the floor. Stopping directly in front of Lena,

“’Liam didn’t even know about you. Your brother is a better man than your father was.’”

“’I always resented Leo and Liam for having the life I could’ve had in Cordonia. I’ll even admit to envying Liam’s throne.’”

“’He’s a lot more than you were told. You might even like him if you gave him half a chance.’”

Lena’s features hardened, “’I think that ship sailed a while ago.’”

Dr Rameriz’s office, Cordonia

Looking at her reflection in the changing room, Riley placed her hands on her tummy. Her belly had grown so quickly this time around. Her morning sickness was now gone, and she felt more energized.

Slipping on the hospital gowni and robe, she opened the door to be greeted by the nurse.

“Your majesty”, the nurse curtsied and opened the door to the examination room.

Liam quickly stood offering his wife his hand.

“Are you ready for this, my love?”

“Oh Yes, Liam! Let’s do this!

Chuckling, he helped Riley get comfortable on the exam table, as the nurse placed a heated thermal blanket over top. Grasping his hand, she laid back and relaxed against the pillow.

Dr. Ramirez greeted the monarchs with a warm smile.

“Okay, today we are going to find out which sexes these little ones are.”

“Most definitely,” Liam smiled, squeezing Riley’s hand as she also smiled.

The doctor placed the doppler wand and the sound of heartbeats immediately could be heard.

“I will never tire from hearing those sounds.” Liam watched the monitor as the babies appeared.

Riley let out a breath and started to tear, squeezing Liam’s hand even more.

“So, what do you think, love?” Liam asked.

Riley grinned, “It’s a boy.”

The doctor nodded, “incredibly good instincts. Your majesties, you have a son.”

Liam beamed with joy and kissed his wife.

“...and baby number two?”

“A boy,” Riley answered.

The doctor shook her head smiling.

‘Your wife’s instincts are quite correct. Your children are both boys.”

Liam let out a breath.

Riley, now crying, was overcome with emotion.

“Riley, love,” Liam whispered, raising her hand, and softly kissed her palm.

“Yeah?”

“You did it again.”

Riley looked up at Liam with a question in her eyes.

Caressing her swollen tummy, “You made another dream come true for me. I love you so, so much.”

Riley, full of emotion, answered back, “as do I.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her lips and said, “let’s go home.”

Liam and Riley walked slowly out of the hospital, holding hands, both smiling as they approached the waiting SUV.

“We should spend the weekend in Valtoria.’ Liam smiled.

“I would love that, and I know that Ellie will be ecstatic to go to the festival in town.”

Liam grinned as he followed Riley into the SUV.

Not mentioning that he and Ellie have a special Mother’s Day celebration planned at the estate already for her.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸🤎🤎🤎🤎

Thank you for reading!

⚜️Please DM me if you would like to be added or removed from the tags⚜️

@ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @sfb123 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @jared2612 @thesvnsins @irisk12 @walkerdrakewalker

[picasoart]

Flashback Friday with a pen sketch of a character I came up with a few years back but never really did much with.

#friday #fridayvibes #fridays #fridaystyle #fridayart #art #characterdesign #character #portrait #fridaze #artchallenge #characterart #characterillustration #characterconcept #blazeofglory #westernstyle #western #may #maychallenge #mayart #cowgirl #cowgirls #cowgirlstyle #cowgirlup #cowgirlhat #cowgirltuff #cowgirlart #cowgirlstrong #sketch #sketchart

[katok-box]

Hey all, here’s another one for #monstermay #maychallenge day10 a #speedpainting of a Dragon. I used a few references I wasn’t used to drawing creatures that much so it was a bit of a challenge for me. I should do ore practice I think. #digitalpainting using @procreate (at Leeds) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdnmXt2MTEY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thereaderbee]

📚 Bookworms & Bookstagrammers!! @loriimagination and I are thrilled to bring you #AlltheBooksMay20, our May Book Challenge?? Would you like to join us?? - May has finally arrived, and with it comes a brand new book challenge! If you need help passing the time and filling your feed while we #StayAtHome, book challenges are an excellent way to do so!! And not only are they a great way to pass the time, but they are also great for discovering new books, and new book friends as well! AND you get to talk about the best things ever... BOOKS! Sound like fun? It will be! - To join along, just share a photo for each daily photo prompt and use the hashtag #AlltheBooksMay20. Check the hashtag often to see all the photos that have been shared for the challenge. And, feel free to interact and/or post as little or as often as you’d like. You can also follow both @loriimagination and myself as well to see our daily photo shares and more! (*Tagging us in your photo or stories is not necessary!) - 📚 Helpful Bookstagram Tips: • Take a few days worth of photos at one time! It helps to plan a few days ahead in case you get busy. • Natural light is your friend! Grab your book and head to the nearest window or door. It's amazing what natural lighting can do for your photos. • Interact! Bookstagramming is a great way to meet new friends who love books just as much as you do, so get out there and interact with others in the challenge. - 📚 If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!! We hope you'll join us, and we can't wait to share all the bookish things in May!! - Also, many thanks to @loriimagination for always making us amazing challenge graphics every month!! . . . #bookphotochallenge #bookchallenge #photochallenge #photoaday #maychallenge #maybookchallenge #bookstagramchallenge #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #yabooks #bookphotography #AlltheBooksApril20 https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fCI0PJddJ/?igshid=746x5950qxuo

[pixcereus]

Welp, this is the first piece for the OC-tober challenge! Ironic, isn’t it? TTuTT For whatever reason, I forgot that the month of April doesn’t have a 31st day. So now, every post for this challenge will be one day behind. 

Anyway, this is AU Keiichi. He’s another favorite of mine. He’s 22, loud, mischievous, and a bit off his rocker. 

While he may seem to be running late, it most definitely isn’t for school and he likely doesn’t even care that he’s late. 

[supercodi]

⠀ Motivation has been pretty hit and miss for me during this time. Especially when I found out it could be months before gyms in CA can open again. It has been quite a test of discipline but one thing I always find motivating are challenges. ⠀ Thanks to @mollyddunham I do have access to a barbell and heavy weights so I’ve decided to designate two days a week to work on my squat, deadlift, and bench press. I can tell I have lost some strength in my legs for sure but we will see what I can do by the end of the month. ⠀ ⠀ My numbers so far: ⠀ ⠀ ✅ Back squat: 235lbs 5x5 ⠀ ⠀ ✅ Deadlift: 235lbs 5X8 ( I am going to bring these reps down to 5 next time I dunno why I did 8 LOL ) ⠀ ⠀ ✅ Bench: 185lbs 5x5 ( I feel like I could have done more but spotting isn’t exactly social distance friendly so I will not exactly be going dangerously close to failure. 😂 )⠀ ⠀ Let’s see what I can do strength wise during this month! ⠀ ⠀ Have you made any goals/challenges for yourself this month?! ⠀ ⠀ #fitness #compoundlift #squat #benchpress #deadlifts #strength #workout #barbell #fit #health #maychallenge #challenge #ftm #ftmfitness #flexfriday #bodybuilding #motivation ⠀ https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qbey_gOLs/?igshid=qpmlkeg2kfve

[okieapache70]

Day 30: My personality… I love how her weirdness matches my personality #MayPhotoChallenge #PhotoOfTheDay #photochallenge #MayChallenge #Spring2022 #Spring #photoaday #photoadaymay #May2022 #happylife #fmspad @fatmumslim #mayflowersbringjunebugs #cincodemayo #nationaldayofprayer #memorialday #memorialday2022 #granddaughter #grannysworld #weird #mypersonality #wearetheweirdos https://www.instagram.com/p/CeNCH6ooyBi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[khun-supakrit]

🌸 May Challenge 🌸 🏃🏻‍♂️YAY!!! I MADE IT!!! 15,801 Calories burned this month to win this award. 😀 #AppleWatch #CloseYourRings #MayChallenge #Calories #AppleFitness #AppleWatchChallenge (at Bangkok, Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeH_tsPpjRJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[keys2thefalcon]

[thereifling]

@thereifling Hey guys!!! Spur of the moment I made a challenge of BATMAY!!!

You guys can cosplay, draw, write fanfics, or anything you want! You can interpret the prompts however you want. I'm going to put this under the hashtag #batmay2020 so I can see everyone's posts!

Tbh I may not be good about finishing these XD anyway, happy Bat May!!!

[sibaxaitis]

[picasoart]

Throw back Thursday with an earlier color pencil sketch from around December 2022.

#thursday #thursdayvibes #thursdays #thursdaystyle #thursdayart #art #challenge #collaboration #portrait #thursdaze #artchallenge #colorpencil #colorpencils #colorpencilart #colorart #colorartist #colorartwork #may #maychallenge #mayart #prismacolor #prismacolors #prismacoloredpencils #prismacolorart #prismacolorartist #prismacolordrawing #prismacolorartwork #prismacolorsketch #sketch #sketchart