#otp: shes going to kick my ass

[aragaki]

Darlin/Pack Members

Because my self-control is zero and I just think Darlin' is the most interesting listener character who also deserves the entire world and William Solaire's wallet.

Milo

Already wrote some about them here but they're my non-canon otp so ofc I wanna talk about them more

The pack's most photogenic couple. Milo puts in the effort to look good and dress well but Darlin' is just the most effortlessly good-looking. They can roll out of bed in yesterday's clothes and unbrushed hair and any candid shot looks like it belongs on an influencer's curated social media. It drives poor Milo crazy.

Before they moved in together, Milo would send messages to Darlin' throughout the day to let them know what he was up to and where he was going. They never asked but he knows it makes them more comfortable and he's always happy to do it.

Christian can't make his jokes about Milo's wolf size for nearly as long when he's mates with Darlin'. Darlin' isn't a brute, they're a protector, so of course they notice the way Milo's smile tightens when Christian piggybacks onto Ash's jokes. They give him three chances to knock it off and after he doesn't listen to them on strike three, they start swinging. Darlin' doesn't ask Milo to talk to David about how he's feeling but he has to anyway when David interrogates him about what caused Darlin' to break Christian's nose.

Darlin' has always been Marie's favorite and she has no problem saying as much. She's wanted them as her kid for as long as she's known them, little spitfire that they are, and is beyond happy when Milo finally makes it official.

This also means that Marie is Darlin's primary healer and gives them twice the ration of shit that she gives anyone else - including Milo! She loves them so much but will not hesitate to kick their ass for being reckless.

Milo is without a doubt Darlin's lifeline during pack meetings. It's a lot, being home and surrounded by people you thought would be fine without you - who are upset with you for thinking so - and Milo knows all the best places to escape with them. They never admit to needing a breather but he always knows.

Milo and Darlin train together!! They absolutely do!! Darlin' knows they can rock Milo's shit and he does too, and he loves it. When they spar or box together it's always going to end in a makeout session. He can't help it, they look so damn fine all fired up and sweaty. They've absolutely gotten caught but no amount of teasing will get them to stop.

Darlin' doesn't mind dressing up for Milo. It's not their thing usually, simple and maneuverable works best for them but every now and again they can be persuaded with plenty of kisses. Fancy restaurants make them feel out of place but Milo always seems so happy to see them under the light of glittery chandeliers and that makes them happy too.

One time he did manage to piss off Darlin' during a fancy dinner so they pretended to propose to him in front of the entire restaurant and it nearly gave him a heart attack. The cake and champagne they were given more than made up for it though.

When Darlin' sits down, Milo has the habit of coming up behind them and massaging their shoulders and neck. He has a hard time keeping his hands off of them at the best of times but he wants to help get rid of some of their stress so small random massages are his way of helping with that.

Darlin' likes things that are simple and physical, they're a tactile person so they've absolutely got a photo album of them and Milo. Marie even gave them some old pictures of them together from their teens for it. Milo finds it one day by accident and if it had him crying on their bedroom floor for 15 minutes that's between him and Aggro.

Speaking of Aggro, he has a love-hate relationship with Darlin'. They're convinced the cat hates them, the way he swats at them and hisses. They say Milo is Aggro's person and he's jealous that Darlin' takes up so much of his attention. But every night, he tries to climb up and sleep on Darlin's chest, head resting under their chin. And if Milo tries to move him to cuddle with Darlin' he gets a full-force bapping to the face until he gives up and lets Aggro do what he wants.

Darlin' has absolutely shifted and laid down so Aggro could climb up onto their back and nap there. They'll never tell a soul.

I talked about it in my other Milo post but Milo kissing Darlin's scars!! They've been through so much and it's affected their self-image so much. Milo can't stand that. So he kisses each and every one, even the ones that make Darlin' lip curl in disgust at themselves, and say something about them that he loves. Physical, emotional, about their personality. Anything. This praise king could go on forever. And he means it and that's what makes Darlin's heart ache the most.

And when they start to believe it, Milo couldn't be more proud. The crease between their brows when they see themselves smoothes out. They don't sneer at the bite marks that are dotted around their skin nearly as much. They get confidence in how they look, and in how desirable Milo finds them. He can't wait until it turns into true self-love.

Milo has no problem being the in-between for Darlin' and David. Both have strong personalities. Both can word things that, while meant to be loving, can be harsh and wound the one who hears them. Milo doesn't have a lot of patience, but he is fluent in Grumpy Wolf at this point. His interventions have honestly brought the unintentional hostility between them down and made it easier for them to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their own.

When they're shifted, they're almost always stuck together. Doesn't matter if it's a hunt, a run during the Solstice, anything. They will not be separated. They're both ready to throw themselves headfirst into whatever danger might happen to protect the other, much to the exhaustion of the rest of the pack who really wish they would just stop throwing themselves into danger.

Asher

"Well mark me down as scared AND horny!" Has been Ash's response to basically everything Darlin' has done since they were teens.

Seriously, there would be no denying that Darlin' intimidated Asher when they joined the pack. A new wolf from outside of Dahlia joins the pack with a chip on their shoulder a mile wide and so fearless they'll jump in first into any problem??? They're intimidating but also!! They aren't mean to him!!

He was without a doubt one of the members of the pack who tried to help Darlin' integrate the most. He'd include them in anything he could, even if it made his other friends side-eye him. He was shameless about it too!! If they wouldn't spend time with him, he'd be following them around like a lost puppy. It was like they had a second shadow.

Some members of the pack scoff and roll their eyes at Asher but not Darlin'. Even if they don't seem interested in his rambling they're always paying attention. They've always listened. And he didn't realize how important that was to him until it was gone.

Becoming pack beta and David's second in command was a huge shift and he's well aware that plenty of people don't think he's up for it. But Darlin' was never one of them. They had their own quiet belief in Ash and what he could do, never questioned his fit for the role. Even as they withdrew from the pack they knew that David could handle it if he had Asher's support.

After Darlin' fell into the wrong crowd, Ash was the most vocal about getting them back and bringing them home. No argument mattered to him, Darlin' was a member of the pack and they needed to be there. He wasn't above saying it was just because he missed them. That didn't change when they stopped being teenagers. He still feels like a dumb kid with a huge crush who missed his chance.

Then, all at once, it all falls apart. Darlin's unempowered friend is almost killed, by Darln's own mate, and the Shaw pack is rallying behind them to try and push the department to act. Then it goes quiet. They leave, saying they're heading up to be with their family and Ash feels like someone hollowed out his chest. It's how he imagined it feels like when someone's mate dies - a constant ache in his chest. Which he knows he shouldn't feel because regardless of his feelings Darlin' isn't his mate. Hell, they just had to leave theirs because he was a shitty person!!

He's confused and it only gets worse when he finds out Darlin' had been lying to them. That Quinn was still at large, that they put the pack at risk, that they were putting themselves at risk trying to handle it alone. They didn't rely on the pack. On their friends. On him. And his impostor syndrome kicks him off on a spiral. But it doesn't take much to pull him out of it, not when Darlin' is finally back in his life.

As mates, Ash is the Will Smith red carpet meme. He wants everyone to look at his mate, to know that he's their mate and they're soooo in love!! It drives poor Darlin' insane.

And he can get away with it!! And damn near anything because Darlin' is so weak to Ash's puppy dog eyes. They have been since they were teens. If Asher wants a grilled cheese at 3 AM all he has to do is flash those eyes and Darlin' is hauling themselves out of bed, but grumbling about it the entire way.

Asher and Darlin' spend a lot of downtime gaming together. They trade recommendations back and forth, play each other's favorites, and terrorize everyone else who ends up in their lobbies. Darlin' can get a little heated and toxic during PVP but it's always defused by Asher doing an uwu voice and making Darlin' choke on their laughter.

David and Milo are happier than Asher when they finally get together, they've been listening to his lovesick pining for years and they're TIRED.

David

aka the character that got me into shipping Darlin' with their pack members

David and Darlin have such an interesting dynamic!! The devoted pack alpha and the wayward lone wolf. They both have strong personalities and we've seen them come into conflict with each other

But there's love there. There always has been.

I fully believe that in a David/Darlin' relationship, it'd be a case of he fell first and fell harder. It wasn't love at first sight, David's a bit too cynical for that even before his dad died. But there was a pull to the newcomer that drew him in and helping them settle in wasn't just because of his role as beta.

They were always there, in the background of David, Milo, and Asher's teenage years but never front and center. Always on the fringes, like they never found their footing. Something he wouldn't notice until it was too late.

Then Gabriel dies and Darlin' got together with Quinn. Instead of being distant, they're absent entirely. David knows that Quinn is their mate but something about that burns at his core, makes him feel queasy and unsettled. Like it's wrong. But htere's nothing he can do, he has a pack to run and protect.

The anger and hurt he feels when he finds out that they've been lying to him for so long. That they're trying to hunt down Quinn on their own, so stubborn and self-destructive. The fact that they consider themselves expendable and would risk breaking themselves to avenge their friend and protect the pack. He wants to shake them by the shoulders and tell them they're loved but he knows it'll be better to show them instead.

The pack meeting goes better than he hoped, with members both scolding and reassuring Darlin' of their place and their value. He watches them the whole time out of the corner of his eye and he says it's because he wants to make sure they don't bolt but he knows deep down he's just happy to see them back where they belong

The road to becoming mates is even more bumpy with Darlin' than it would be with Angel. He has to balance being their alpha and their partner and he already feels like he's failed them as a leader, they couldn't even trust him about Quinn.

The shift to being mates came with no small amount of arguing. Darlin' likes to fight with David on just about everything and it drives him crazy. It doesn't matter what it is, big or small it's always some kind of fight or contest and it makes his blood boil but at the same time he loves that little sparkle they get in their eye whenever they challenge him.

When there's a pack run and they're all shifted there's a 100% chance that Darlin' is gonna slam into David's flank and snap at him. Doesn't matter how many times he tells them to stop over the link, they're always going to start shit in a way even Asher wouldn't try.

Honestly, it's like David has two betas the way Darlin' and Asher flank him. And Darlin' isn't above mean-mugging clients if they think they aren't being taken seriously. (again, David tells them to stop. They don't.)

Scary movie nights are even more fun when David and Darlin' are sat next to each other, the contrast makes Darlin's abject terror even more hilarious.

[aingeal98]

Steph for the ask game?

three facts about them from my personal headcanons

-The first woman Steph was ever attracted to was Zatanna. She didn't realise this until later on when she was dating Cass and it clicked that it hadn't just been platonic girl crush appreciation

-She did actually die. The body they put in the ground was actually Steph. Due to reality warping from various villains she ended up in Africa with Leslie who admitted that she hadn't actually let Steph die but tried everything and saw her bleed out regardless. They were both highly confused how she was alive again and they never did fully confirm why.

-She has all the autopsy scars and long lasting damage from Black Mask's torture. She used to play the piano but when she came back her fingers didn't stretch the way they used to and the first time she tried it gave her a panic attack.

a reason they suck

They were created and written by Chuck Dixon, which often meant being a part of his shitty conservative propaganda. She was more of a victim than a perpetrator most of the time, but I'd love to have modern Steph reflect on that and be like "Damn that internalized misogyny was kicking my ass sometimes huh."

a reason they are great

What if the entire narrative was stacked against you, what if your writers and editors looked down on you for being a teenage girl and treated you as nothing more than a pawn in their shitty sexist manpain stories. And what if you survived and triumphed and became loved enough to carve your own narrative. What if people have come and gone from the "family" that once excluded you maliciously but you're still here and kicking, a core part of it now. They put you in the Robin uniform as a consolation prize before killing you but you're still here and you're clawing your part in that history with everything you've got. For everyone that'll say Damian is the fourth Robin there's someone who'll reply "Actually that was Stephanie Brown."

a reason I relate to them

Being an isolated teenage girl who feels a deep anger at the injustice of the world and doesn't quite have anywhere to fit in or fully vent that anger? I was literally two bad days away from going out on the street to fight crime when I was a teen. I tend to relate to Cass more because the specific mentality and issues she have resonate strongly, but Steph also has plenty of material for me to dig into.

(what I consider to be) the top tier otp/ot3 for that character

Stephcass. It's gotta be stephcass. I could give a million reasons but I've yelled about this so much on my blog already. They bounce off each other so well, they've got the backstory and angst and complex dynamic while also being funny and cute together. The accidental romantic narrative they created is so damn good it barely needs anything to canonize it at this point.

five things that never happened to that character that I believe should have happened

A proper go at being Robin. An apology from Bruce. A discussion with Tim about what they did wrong and an apology too. A long talk with Cass after she came back from the dead with (you guessed it) an apology from Cass. Getting to talk to preboot Jason about what it means to be a sacrificial lamb to give Batman manpain and hype Tim up as the perfect Robin.

five people that character never fell in love with and why

-Dean. Even if she hadn't gotten pregnant it would have never worked out. He was simply too old and for all Steph hates herself she would have realized it eventually

-Detective Gage, for exactly the same reasons as Dean.

-Jason. He died before she came along and by the time he came back it would never cross either of their minds to be anything but purely platonic. They can bond but neither of them appeal to the other romantically.

-Kyle Mizoguchi. He's sweet and they could be something but unfortunately she's in love with Cass at this point. Like the entirety of Batgirls is just Steph and Cass being in love and not realizing it. Kyle had the wrong timing.

-Dick Grayson. The hypothetical age difference isn't a problem for Steph. But obviously, it's an issue for Dick. If she were ever to fall in love with him in an alternate universe and confess he'd be highly alarmed to find out why she thought things were possible between them. It might actually be nice for Steph to get an understanding ear and a shoulder to cry on, someone to tell her that it's not her fault and those men were wrong, but that's all. For one thing Dick is not a scumbag who creeps on young girls and for another thing that's his little brother's ex. In no universe could this ever be more than a one sided crush.

[diabolikpersonals]

kanato cl endings!! this is my new favorite kanato route!! and for once, I think the good ending is more satisfying than the bad one lol

euphoria end:

in the church, kanato concludes that he just can’t ignore the sakamaki brothers. he has all kinds of feelings for them, including jealousy and contempt, and because of that, he won’t be able to part with them easily. (thats the most backwards way to say you love them I’ve ever heard, but I’ll take it!! good job, kanato!!) but outside, the scarlet and violet families are arguing over who gets to go inside and steal eve. ayato and laito are standing guard, and even though they’re SO outnumbered, ayato declares that they’ve got no choice but to stop em. and laito says it’s for his oniichan’s sake ^^

kanato… [wiping tears] …wants to go save ayato and laito. he can’t leave them, because they’re brothers who have been together since before they were born.

before he goes, he and yui stand at the altar and yui comments that it feels like a wedding, but kanato refutes that they can’t possibly have a wedding without wedding cake. they have a ring, though! because kanato bit yui’s ring finger earlier and it left a scar. so, because it might be their last time, they exchange vows and kiss.

…which is, of course, the key to leaving this place. everything goes white and they’re back in the real world. yui thinks ayato and laito are dead for a sec, but theyre just snoozin. karl heinz shows up, explains the whole thing, and gives kanato a pat on the back and tells him it’s time to inherit his powers.

kanato says, no way!! I won’t be king. I once thought that I didn’t care about those other guys, but I’ve just realized I have all these complicated feelings about them, and I don’t know what I’ll do if those guys are gone. so I won’t be all alone like you, father.

karl heinz is like “lmao…I’ll give u a little more time” and he disappears. time to go home. kanato jokes that they can leave ayato and the others behind, but he’s not serious >_> so they get to work waking em up. kanato says that he never thought such a day would come, but he misses how noisy the sakamaki house is. (awwww…!!)

back at the sakamaki house, the triplets + yui are studying together for a makeup exam. ayato and laito start goofing off after ten minutes, but kanato is SERIOUS because reiji hid all his sweets so he NEEDS to pass. he kicks his brothers out so he can focus, then grumbles that he should’ve left them at the miniature garden (LMAO) but yui’s like “aww, you’re totally having fun.” they make out and kanato says he loves her no matter where they are, and all’s well that ends well!! good for them!

labyrinth end:

yui confidently tells kanato she’ll trust whatever his decision is, and he’s like “okay. I want to murder everyone.” yui is all UMMM anything but that, please??? but he’s not listening. he sucks her blood till she loses consciousness

it suddenly cuts to carla whipping ruki and shin till they pass out, which is awesome but very unexpected. it’s the first we’ve seen them since they got captured lol. subaru arrives to tell carla that eve is at the church, so off we go!!

at the church, ayato and laito have gotten their asses severely kicked by scarlet fam. yuma also collapses and shu’s like “yuma….!” which is enough otp crumbs to keep me fed all week, thank you very much. carla arrives on the scene and starts shittalking with reiji, but then…!!

………..when yui wakes up, she sees kanato is covered in blood and she’s like “oh god we have to treat ur injuries!” and of course kanato’s like “dont worry, it’s not my blood ^^” he happily tells her that he’s almost finished taking care of things here, and he continues his unspeakable violence. he’s killed everyone and they’re the only ones left. he hugs her, and the blood he’s covered with is still warm.

well it doesn’t work; they don’t go home. (not that this would work anyway, but aren’t ruki and shin still alive in the violet dungeon? am I wrong…? did carla kill them? whatever.) yui faints and can’t speak, so kanato moves her around like a doll. they’ll live forever in this world, then, just the two of them. it’ll be awfully quiet.

back in the real world, karl heinz is like “my friend. did u get my sons killed” and socrates is like “sowwy :( I just didnt think it was worth it to lose my best friend to some immature adam.” karl heinz says it’s ok, and socrates suggests reversing time. karl heinz is like sure, yeah, let’s reverse time and have them try again. (EXCUSE ME???? EXCUSE ME????????????? COULD U DO THAT THIS WHOLE TIME. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING) so I guess they, uh, reverse time and try again????.?.??

[microchive]

either cam or gideon for the character thing!!!

GAH!!!! picking gideon because you already did cam also i want to talk about gideon nav my best friend gideon nav

favorite thing about them: how do i even begin.... i love that she isn't a hero and doesn't become one through the narrative, i love that she is so blatantly posturing all of the time and she builds herself up to be this big confident sexy funnyman because she needs that to keep herself afloat but what she is in reality isn't any lesser! she is funny and she's shy and nervous and she's so powerfully butch to the bone in a way that avoids all negative stereotypes but still manages to highlight the pitfalls butches find themselves in. she has so many layers and people reduce her to some kind of himbo when in reality she's objectively both too mean and too intelligent to be a himbo. i love that you can sense from the very beginning that she is sitting on a massive broiling lake of sadness and for all of her posturing she is both incredibly delicate and one of the strongest characters in the story. i love that she sucks so bad and died a virgin like christ jesus and even missing half her soul she remains consistent not in her outward personality but in her ability to shield her soft underbelly through some sort of performative attitude but EVERYONE can see right through her except gideon herself because everything she does is loud and annoying. she's impulsive and passionate and. incredibly annoying. i hate her and she's my favorite person ever

least favorite thing about them: probably the war crimes but it's not like she's passionate about war crimes she just doesn't gaf. this is just what a lesbian situationship will do to a guy

favorite line: literally all of them man everything she says makes me laugh.... here are some standouts though: - "If my heart had a dick you would kick it" - "I have lots of fealty in me. I fealt the Emperor with every bone in my body. I fealt hard" - "You've got two short minutes left before I punch you right in the butthole" - everything she says when talking to ianthe

brOTP: her and camilla ooooohhhh..... also her and pal. gideon works so well with the sixth house because they're just as annoying and generally peculiar as her they're just more lowkey about it

OTP: i'd have to say griddlehark because i have never stopped thinking about them ever but i do enjoy gideon x camilla (i forgot their ship name) because the cav4cav shit is so good godddd they're just two sides of the same coin, the same story with different upbringings they would help each other out

nOTP: not a huge fan of gideon and corona just because i think corona needs to chase someone who doesn't like her for enrichment purposes and gideon's schoolgirl crush on corona probably doesn't translate well into an actual relationship (let's be real though none of these relationships are going "well") but it is an interesting dynamic

random headcanon: i think she is really gross. genuinely. she picks her nose and doesn't wash her face and harrow gets on her ass about it which i guess is reasonable. also more intense but i definitely think both gideon and harrow have food issues but while harrow copes by being intensely picky gideon has some textual evidence of binge eating which makes sense to me character wise and also would explain why she developed muscle on planet malnutrition

unpopular opinion: i don't really have any once again?? i guess i like to imagine she isn't as attractive as she thinks she is but a lot of people write and draw her as a lesbian adonis which i understand because thats how she describes herself lmao. i think she's kind of cute in a weird way and tamsyn describes her as boyishly pretty so in my mind she's the kind of hot a straight man would never agree with. she is still the hottest person in the world to me

song i associate with them: I HAVE SO MANY. main ones are: father by the front bottoms, dance in room song by sipper, bodysnatchers by radiohead, suffering jukebox by silver jews, knife in the coffee by car seat headrest

favorite picture of them: this fanart: (this artist does such a delicious gideon ohhh i need her.) https://www.tumblr.com/bastardnoodle/741903153830723584/im-in-the-middle-of-reading-harrow-and-i-miss-her?source=share

[prototypelq]

vergil for the ask game?

Vergy!

thank you and @river-muse for asking about the series #1 Motivated Loser!)))

favourite thing about them

First place - his inner softness. Vergil is very much his momma's boy, he is emotional, touchy, and he loves with his whole heart, he loves so much that he is scared of the feeling consuming him whole. I thrive on seeing him simply be the older brother, father (and adopted uncle) figure that he wishes to be.

Honourable mention: just how Iconic he is. Vergil is THE anime katana wielder, he is THE Storm That Is Approaching, he is THE Rival Videogame Boss, he will kick your ass into Easy mode without breaking a sweat. Dante is an iconic protagonist for sure, but Vergil is one of THE Videogame Bosses Of All Time and that position is absolutely deserved. And, y'know. He is super fun to fight.

least favourite thing about them

V(ergil). I appreciate all the character development we got out of that time, but I also firmly believe it could have been achieved in other ways, plus V(ergil) just makes the story completely unrelatable. Dante faces human trauma and human struggles. Vergil faces those same problems, however, his path through them is an emotional mess human (and fans') experience cannot account for. For me, that dampens the emotional investment in the story, especially considering how much simpler, but no less impactful in Dante's in comparison to Vergil.

DisHonourable mention: 'Dreams of a black throne I keep on repeat' and 'Call me your majesty' lines from BTL and Fire Inside respectfully. None of those lines fit Vergil at all, and they only further the ginormous amount of misconceptions about him.

(I do adore the demonic pet therapy tho, it was adorable)

favourite line

'We've got plenty of time' (watch me bawl till final stage of dehydration to this)

brOTP

I mean, it's in the name. Sparda Loser Twins, my beloved. I also completely support every opinion that Vergil will get along with Trish, Lady, Nico and Patty just fine.

OTP

I admit, I am intrigued by Vergil/Lady, I think they can have something good together. They both seek challenge, and could provide it for each other (by challenge I also mean just generally new experiences, I don't mean they have to fistfight each arguement). I can see them together in some post-dmc3 AU scenario, but also. Surprisingly. Post-dmc5. Cause Lady very much needs to retire if she wants to live any longer than she has, and Vergil has known nothing but violence for his entire adult life (which is also not much). Post-dmc5 both need to learn how to handle peace times, and this parallel is what I can see driving them together in this setup. Again, I think they can have something nice, also probably much sweeter than in post-dmc3 version.

nOTP fucking incest

random headcanon

Vergil is a freakin romantic to the core. He likes reading, he would enjoy himself in an art gallery, I think he would also like visiting theater and/or musicals. This man forced himself to weaponise his nerdiness and I'd love to see him slowly, badly, but surely, letting go and just enjoying himself and different hobbies. Also, just a totally random thing - I think he'd enjoy pottery (after he breaks a few dozen mishapen figures first, of course)

unpopular opinion

I doubt I can come up with something more unpopular than my previous rant about V(ergil)

song i associate with them

I have a few actually! Vergil would love Bring Me To Life and I Am Right About This. I can also see him enjoying Break The Silence.

This track is an absolute BLAST, and I have a concrete vision that Vergil would like to learn and play it. This vision was extended by the brainrot into Dante hearing the track, loving it, then bringing himself and Nero along to play the song (just don't ask me how, I have counted at least four different instruments, and it either means Dante and Nero have to switch drums and base guitar mid-song, or that Vergil and Dante have to switch on the guitars). This song is just so beautiful, and I think the losers will have an amazing time playing it together.

Musical Spardas, one of my most critical of weaknesses.

also I wish there was a way to mod Kitsune Dance to be the M19 bossfight music. beautiful song, it has very distinct musical phases which would easily match the fight escalation, and it just sound much more fitting for Vergil than the in-game track.

favourite picture of them

this is one of those pics where the context of the original shot was painful, but the resulting image looks wholesome as hell and I love it. (pls share source if you know it)

[thuganomxcs]

SHIPPING INFO // ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR MUSES SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW SHIPPING WORKS ON YOUR BLOG.

WHAT IS YOUR OTP FOR YOUR CHARACTER(S)?

If we're speaking in the canon sense like in his universe I really do like the idea of yusuke x botan because I like the aspects of him with death...not to mention he's a devil now too soo. I still love Yusuke x Keiko tho just so the peeps know there's no hatred for our girl.

HOW LARGE DOES THE AGE GAP HAVE TO BE TO MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE?

Anything like a muse being a fucking minor and the other almost hitting their 40's. There's ONE particular verse that does this shit but this ain't about them. As long as you don't ship your literal grown man/woman with a literal definition of a child then I wouldn't have to be disturbed.

HOW FAR DO STEAMY MOMENTS HAVE TO GO BEFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED NSFT?

The minute a hand touches a boob or the clothes begin to fly off I'm guessing it's considered NSFW.

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WHEN SHIPPING?

LOL I'd say I am..but people have known to just show up, write with me and in a day of our muses vibing we're already shipping them. I MEAN if I have to be selective I'd say..as long as she's a woman XD

WHO ARE OTHER CHARACTERS YOU SHIP YOUR CHARACTER WITH?

Where do I even begin?? First of all I gotta go with the one that started this and that's @belovedblossoms Hiyori. She was the first person I've ever shipped Yusuke with and that relationship has started from not so disney friendly beginnings but entertaining as shit. Then there's @lady-llewellyn El who just ruins the guy, I swear in this ship Yusuke is the innocent one in the relationship no cap. We got @itmeanspeace Shiloh, this one started off just plain physical until she became attached, lol look at me talk as if Yusuke didn't catch feelings too..probably first since he's still kinda technically a human. Give it up for @swordsxandxsakuras Nezuko, the first one to actually go the full nine yards with him to dating all the way down to married with kids. Then there's my homie @fatexbound Chie I wouldn't CALL it a relationship yet but they're definitely in that phase in getting to know one another. You know I gotta put my home girl @adversitybloomed Mulan, who's probably seen everything there is to who Yusuke is as a character, she's been with him as a pervert all the way to him being nice and doing stuff for people. She's also helped him with his family life might have bribed him to go to college but in the end Yusuke proposed to her and it's actually the first REAL proposal I've written as him. I also can't use the term ship without mentioning @bravesung old OC Alyssa, she was definitely a special one who refused to buy into what people said about him, and after discovering he was supernatural (to a degree) just like her it got them to bonding. She's probably believed in him more than he did in himself when it came down to school because she NEVER let him quit HELL she brought his ass TO school whilst he was still sleeping in bed, picture that in your minds if you will. I got good ships and there's even this unhealthy one right here with my girl @acoldsovereign Maiz, tons of ships starts with curiosity, cute moments and even love at first sight and this one is just violence, one devil often tries to get the other devil to dig into those natural urges and forsake his human heart (that literally isn't even working anymore) and just behave like a demon, there's also acts of public terrorism but he'd punch her right..and she'd kick him wrong, it's a tug and pull with 'em. Bruh this segment is getting long since belovedblossom also has other muses that are shipped with Yusuke too and i have a feelin we'd be here ALL day and I've still got a few to talk about. Just know I love all y'alls muses.

DOES ONE HAVE TO ASK TO SHIP WITH YOU?

Nah, I mean if we write and there's a connection then I'd say let 'em go for it. EVEN IF you came to me writing Keiko and you're worried about shipping with me cause you'd think it's forced and i'm obligated to because of the canon then don't. It'd still be cool in my book.

ARE YOU SHIP-OBSESSED OR SHIP MORE-OR-LESS?

I'm not ship obsessed but I would say it's a fun thing to have cause when you're talkin' to your homies and the muses come u you can talk about the ship, or how a song reminds you of them. Shipping whether it's romantically, platonically or familial, they bring us together as writers and we because better pals cause of it. Cause there's always something to talk about when we wanna forget about that bill we can't pay.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SHIP IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM?

Let me tell you something about my fandom on tumblr: It hardly exists XDD there's really only a handful of us.

FINALLY, HOW DOES ONE SHIP WITH YOU?

Simple, we write. If there's chemistry between the muses well then your muse has got themselves a partner. He's by no means an easy person to love but once you've got him you've got someone that'll be there for your muse indefinitely. And if ya wanna discuss the possibility then my DMs are always open..even if i'm terribly slow with 'em.

tagged: @vartouhix

tagging: Y'all gonna have to steal this one homies. Tag me when ya do cause imma read it.

[levi4mikasa]

Season 1 of James Cameron's "Dark Angel" was fantastic. I was fascinated by the concept of genetically engineered people, as Alec would often say. However, season two is my all-time favorite because of the numerous scenes featuring Max and Alec.

What I particularly enjoyed was how Alec seemed to understand Max on a deeper level, always seeking her out to help or just be there for her. In contrast, Max had to go to Logan's place to be with him, not only because of the virus they could not meet but also due to their lack of natural chemistry. It was clear how Alec and Max's relationship could have evolved positively over time.

I loved how Alec's voice would soften when he flirted with Max or expressed concern for her—it was absolutely melting. He was consistently there when she needed help, showcasing their potential as a couple.

Max and Alec relation was like One More Night by Maroon 5 😍😭Like, Alec could not stay away from her and always annoying her cuase he love to see all riled up and her reactions was fun for him.

I melted when he kissed her on the head to comfort her.

Interestingly, on the DVD commentaries and special features, the writers and producers have stated that Alec was brought in as a potential love interest for Max, and Asha as a potential love interest for Logan. This revelation makes it even more perplexing that they didn't pursue these storylines. Also, there is a season two interview of Dark Angel where they are inroducing new cgaratcer anf they literally said Alec was brought in as love interest for ma, rival for logan 😂😆More the reason to make Max and Alec canon. I understand she was engaged to Micheal at that time and according to a rumour he was not comfortable with the kiss scenes between Max and Alec and Micheal and Jessica off-screen relations was a bit rocky as well but still would have loved a good romacne between two X5's.

Also, Max's character changed significantly from season 1 to season 2. In the first season, she was a perfect blend of kick-ass and fun, but in season two, she became more one-dimensional—just kick-ass and somewhat dull. Her interactions with Alec remained entertaining, but her scenes with Logan lacked the spark they had in season 1.

They should have continued developing Max and Alec's relationship until the end of the season, perhaps evolving from fake dating to a real relationship in season 3. I wish we could get a third season to explore these dynamics further, but definitely not with Max and Logan as a couple.

Mr.James, please make Alec and Max otp as love couple in season 3 😍😭😭

[apho-sappho]

Linkles? (ignore the s, I wanted to make it sound like a nickname :3 ) (for the character thing-ey)

favorite thing about them

HER RESOLVE!!

least favorite thing about them

I have nothing I don't like about her <3 She's perfect <3

Actually she can be a lil hard to write

favorite line

These 2 quotes, both to Darunia

“Are you sure you’re okay? There’s a high chance you have a concussion!”

“Brother? More like SISTER, Haha!”

brOTP

HER AND MIDNA ARE SO FUN AS FRIENDS!! Also her and Link would be so funny if they had to go on a roadtrip

OTP

Zelda x Linkle, Linkle x Marin, Zelda x Linkle x Marin!!!!

nOTP

Linkle x Link :(

random headcanon

I hc she likes fairies a LOT not as much as Warriors but she really likes them

unpopular opinion

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE MAKE HER JUST LINK BUT GIRL. Or when for some reason they make her girl Wild???? Or connect her too much with traditionally feminine/sexist things!!!! She's not some prissy girl who hates bugs and dead things and just likes looking at herself in a mirror, she's a whole ass character who's complex and has motivations. She's also extremely badass, you can't just ignore the fact she's a literal warrior, she may not have been a soldier but she's extremely powerful

song i associate with them

Her after she meets Link 😭

favorite picture of them

One of these two... In the first one she looks just so peaceful and cute and in the second one she's about to bash my head in with one kick

[thegreymoon]

The Story of Minglan

Oh, it's the granddaughter you're interested in, is it 😂

We finally got rid of Qi Heng but I suppose we still have her twerp of a grandson to get through before we can move on to the OTP 🙄

***

LMAO, the maids are the ultimate NOTP shippers 🤣🤣

***

Second potential mother-in-law 🤣🤣

***

LMAO, Madam Wang isn't very smart, is she? 🤣🤣

***

Oh, my god, Rulan, leave your bickering with Molan at home! 😵

She's airing so much dirty laundry in public and embarrassing them all.

***

Oh, my god 😑

Molan, what are you doiiiiiiiiiing 😭 The countess looks so awkward and Minglan is so embarrassed.

***

LMAO, she has the maturity level of tadpole 🤣🤣

Oh, yes, please go tattle to daddy, and also explain why she threw mud on you in the first place!

***

LMAO, who is Chunke?

What is he doing going after Molan, then? 🤣🤣

God, Molan is really stepping into a gigantic pile of shit here just because it has the title of a count attached to it, isn't she? 😬 And he isn't even the count (or likely to be the count) himself!

***

Also, I don't like Countess Wu much anymore. She knows her son is Like That™ but wants Minglan to mary his skanky ass 🤢🤮 Because, yes, why not ruin a young girl's life! After all, women are disposable when it comes to their precious sons 🙄

***

LMAO, blind as well as stupid.

He and Molan honestly deserve each other.

***

Gross. Beyond gross.

The next time she comes sniffing around Minglan, I hope Old Madam Sheng kicks her out on her ass!

***

LOL, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE?

***

LMAO, Nanny Liu hoarding all the brain cells, as usual 😂

***

Yes, all that, and also a bunch of women he's already fucking and will continue to fuck throughout the marriage 🙄

And he's also shallow and stupid. Poor Rulan, born to a ridiculous mother. Even though she has all the advantages of birth, she is disadvantaged by this idiocy.

***

LMAO, bitch.

When has Minglan ever had it easy?

Really, Lin Qinshuang is murderous and evil, but Wang Ruofu is also evil in her way. She doesn't mind Minglan as long as she is in a corner somewhere, unloved and unnoticed. But god forbid she ever gets nice things! Because she wants it all for herself and her daughters. Thank goodness for Granny Sheng.

***

LMAOOO, she was hoping for sex and he's here to discuss Molan's marriage prospects 🤣🤣

[valandhirwriter]

For the character game: Ciri (because I'm me 😆) and Boromir 😊

thank you @andordean for the tag. I'd love your version for Ciri, Regis and Geralt. (If you have opinions on boromir, I'd be curious about them too)

Ciri

How I feel about this character: Ciri is complicated character for me. I didn't really care for her in the books and the books came first for me, prior to games or TV. I never really came to like book Ciri. Game Ciri was a definite improvement, and oddly TV Series Ciri grew on me. I also appreciate her story - the direct escape from Cintra - much more than the book version of the events. I think I will always end up writing a slightly AU version of Ciri, but I have come to appreciate her character and have fun with certain stories about her.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Morvran, several Witchers, Eskel and Letho among them. Coën

Morvran - the main pairing in my mind. Empress or Witcheress ending both. In the Witcheress ending Ciri would be free to chose, and when she falls for General Voorhis, she'd not even know he is the man, her father wanted her to marry. And Morvran is simply fascinated with this kick-ass Lady, no matter who she might be. In the Empress ending their start would be a bit more rocky, until Ciri realises that Morvran is willing to accept her the way she is, and to wait for her until she is ready.

Letho/Eskel/other Witchers: Witcheress Ending only. Ciri living the life of a Witcher and ultimately falling in love with one of her brothers in arms. Or maybe with two.

Coën - is my AU ship at the end of Song of the Dragon. Only hinted at, but it is there. He followed Ciri on that long journey to discover her true heritage, and he chooses to stick with her, giving up on returning home in the end. They'll grow closer and ultimately fall in love. Ciri deserves a knight in shining armour and our Griffin is just that.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Regis

The way they encountered in Stygga should have left some impression and I see Ciri and Regis becoming close friends after B&W. I also see Regis as someone who might see Ciri's scars, and slowly help her to deal with the nightmares of her past. Regis will understand the things that Geralt, as a Witcher, cannot.

My unpopular opinion about this character: She never even considered returning to Cintra, or negotiating as the Princess for some type of vassal state for her homeland. She never thinks of what her people go through under Nilfgaard, she just runs away. Even as she gets older and realises that Nilfgaard wants some kind of legitimacy for their claim, she never even tries to make use of that. In that way she is a spoiled Princess brat, not seeing her responsibilities towards her people.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon. That instead of becoming a murderer among the rats, she'd have considered the slower and unglorious way of finding honest work. As a farmhand, in the stables, as scullery maid, whatever - she goes down the way of the thief, plunderer and murderer too easily, and I wish she had a crossroads there, where she went a different path.

And ABOVE ALL: I wish canon, especially the books, would not objectify Ciri the way they do.

Boromir

How I feel about this character: This was the character that fascinated me from my first reading of Lord of the Rings on. I was 13 at the time, and to me Boromir had clear Hagen of Tronege vibes. And I was a fan of Hagen. What fascinated me was that Boromir came from the direct border of the dark lands, so he must have experience with the enemy they are faced with, but somehow no one thought to ask him. I also wondered what drove him to turn on his companions and my earliest conclusion was, that he did not see how they could succeed. Gimli and Legolas were bickering about whether Axe or Bow were the better weapon, Aragon was focused on becoming King, so he could marry Arwen and the hobbits had no clue about anything - so i thought he felt his companions did not really take the whole danger serious. Later, as I grew up, that view evolved on a more psychological question, and also considered the burdens Boromir already carries, as a commander and the son of a deeply unhappy family.

To this day Boromir is my hero, he always will be. Even as the picture of him that I had in my mind, got deeply changed thanks to Sean Bean's wonderful portraying him.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: None actually. I got told my story had vibes for Boromir/Kili and also for Boromir/Shakurán. (Shakurán being an OC Easterling soldier, invented by me so Boromir would have a named opponent to scheme and fight against). Both pairings are absolutely imaginable, only I was maybe never able to write them.

I always wondered why Boromir in the books wasn't married. He was 42 when he died, and coming from a noble house with only two children, I'd have expected him to be married at a young age. But he wasn't. One can wonder about the reasons, which would allow even more speculation on potential pairings.

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

My AU: Kili

This only makes sense if you read my story, but their story is one of a friendship that transcends destiny and death itself.

In canon: Faramir I'd say. The two brothers against the rest of the world.

My unpopular opinion about this character: he was a better leader than Aragorn ever was.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon. There are two. One is of course that he survived Amon Hen and made his way home, to fight in the war of the ring.

And the second: that he had a family. As i said before: according to Tolkien Boromir is 42 when he dies, and there is no logical reason why he wasn't long married, and be it to secure the Stweard's line. It would have been fascinating, and hopefully deeply shaking and uncomfortable, if Aragorn reached Gondor, became King, only to be faced with Boromir's widow and sons. It would have been such great drama and emotional hurt potential. (I had even started writing a story in that vein, but never got far)

[sapphosdickandballs]

Villainelle and Eve Polastri :]

Yay I get to go insane for however long it takes me to answer this. Yayyy

Villanelle-

Favorite thing about her - Growls like a dog. Literally everything. She’s the most important thing ever in the world. Literally took like 4 minutes typing things out but there are too many. Her passion, how capable she is, how despite being “unfeeling” she’s hopelessly in love with Eve. Hello??? Going insane

Least Favorite thing - her character got fucked up in season 4. That was my least favorite thing, how they just kind of completely changed her. They sent her to a church community. Free my baby.

Favorite Line - ohhhh this is hard. “I feel things when I’m with you.” Or “you should never tell a psychopath they’re a psychopath, it upsets them” or “Admit it Eve, you wish I was here.” That last line has me giggling and kicking my feet bro

brOTP - Big fan of her and Konstantins relationship tbh. Less of a friendship more of a fucked up father figure type thing yk?

OTP - Eve. No other answer

nOTP - Her and Konstantin being shipped :|

Random headcanon - She’d put on music while making out with people I think. Teenage her at least. She’d play weird ass music tho I think. German Pop or something like that.

Unpopular opinion - That she feels more than a lot of the characters in that show, I’d say. For a sociopath she’s actually really emotional, which doesn’t feel unpopular, but I’ve seen some Opinions so. And she’s not a monster.

Song I associate with her - Argh ourgh arghh arugh. The red means I love you is so her coded. Uogh. The edit in my head rn goes crazy.

Picture. Look at my wife bro.

Eve -

Favorite thing about her - How genuinely the worst she is. She doesn’t even kill people for most of the show and she’s kind of the worst. God I love her. She is fucking over her husband and throwing caution to the wind and people under the bus for villanelle, and then she keeps walking away from her. She both obsessively searches for her and avoids her. She’s so illogical I’d kill and die for her. You know?

Least Favorite thing - I mean. Read above. Occasionally she does get on my nerves (you left a guy bleeding on the ground to go help an assassin who had the situation under control. Hmm.) most of the time I love her tho.

Favorite line - I literally don’t know. I must need to rewatch it but. I literally don’t know tbh

brOTP - I thought her and Carolyn was an interesting dynamic before that all went to shit

OTP - Villanelle. Meant for each other in the worst ways :]

NOTP - her and her husband lmao. He’s too normal for her

Random Headcanon - She bit people as a kid

Unpopular opinion- that her shittiness makes her a compelling character. Let women suck as characters. Men do it all the time

Song - Serial Killer by Moncreiff and Judge. It’s about being in love with a serial killer lmao

Look okay I’m not as obsessed with eve as I am with Villanelle she looks good here tho

[girllbossmalewifeduos]

Propaganda submission for Milo/Kida (Atlantis)

Milo/Kida isn't my OTP for this fandom, and there's not much to go on anyway (what little we see of them as an official couple is in the "sequel" and they're both so OOC (especially Milo) in that, so I don't count it) But what we do see of them in the original, Kida kicks ASS. She singlehandedly takes out three big dudes with guns using only her hands and feet, and even nails one in the groin.

Milo....isn't much in the fight we see, but he's also up against a guy four times his size with years of combat training and experience. But Milo's not really the brawling type anyway. He's adorable and sweet and doesn't want to hurt anyone. He'd rather read a book or infodump about whatever dead language or ancient culture he's currently into.

.

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance. 

Forevermore. 



A/N: this is the next chapter in the journey of my OTP. Follow along for the fun. 

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: 16.4K 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!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

Chapter 7.) Ripple Effect. Part Two.

The next few days were a blur for the couple. From meetings to openings to speaking engagements on top of chasing after their little ones. The couple had enough on their plates to keep them both plenty busy. And before they knew it, it was time to celebrate their anniversary. 

Being married was a task in itself. But to be married for 8 years with three children under 7? Damn near impossible. But they had somehow managed to make it all work. 

The morning they were to leave for California, Marquise found himself waiting while his wife tried to find an outfit to wear.

“Nope! Nope! Nope!” Shanelle muttered as she looked at herself in the mirror. 

“Why are you making me go through this?” he asked.

“Because it's your job as my husband to help me decide that's why,” she replied before turning back to the mirror in front of her. 

“You've literally tried ten different outfits. Just pick one already!”

Shanelle responded by picking up a pillow and throwing it at her husband. 

“Did you throw a pillow at me?” he asked. 

“And did. So what?” she replied. 

Marquise looked at her. 

“Why must you always choose violence?”

“Because kicking your ass is always fun.”

Marquise arched an eyebrow before picking a pillow up and throwing it at her that she just barely dodged. 

“So that's what we’re doing?” she asks. 

“You started it,” he replied with a shrug. 

And the pillow fight was on. With both trying to outdo the other. Just when Shanelle thought she had the upper hand, Marquiss caught her by the arm and hoisted her up on his shoulders. 

“Put me down!” 

“In a minute. First, you need to learn a lesson in proper manners!” 

That's when he spun her around. 

“Put me down you big ape!” she yelled at him. 

“No, not yet.”

As he continued to spin her around, her yelling got louder and caught the attention of their daughter. 

“What is going on?” Khari asked her parents. 

“Tell your daddy to put me down!” Shanelle told her daughter. 

“Daddy! Put Mommy down!” Khari demanded. 

“You want me to put her down?” he asked his daughter. 

“Put! Me! Down!” Shanelle replied. 

“You heard her Daddy! Put her down!”

Marquise shrugged before launching Shanelle onto the bed.

“Daddy!” Khari fussed.

“What? You said to put your mother down, you didn't say I had to do it gently.”

“I didn't mean for you to yeet Mommy across your bed.”

“You didn't mean for me to do what?!” he asked.

“Yeet Daddy,” Khari replied. 

“What is that?”

“It's a word, Daddy. You don't know it because you’re old.”

“Did you just call—” he started to say before Shanelle tackled him to the ground.

Khari knew then it was no use trying to reason with either of them. 

“Grammy! Mommy and Daddy are being weird again.” Khari said while running out of the room. 

The two wrestled around until both were out of breath and laughing. 

“Do you feel better now?” Shanelle asks. 

“Much. Now let's find you that outfit so we can go,” he replied. 

After finally finding an outfit, and saying goodbye to everyone, The Royal Couple was off. While they were on their way to Lowyn Winery for Shanelle called their California Anniversary, their children were on their way to her father’s duchy. Even though Kylo had questions. A lot of questions. 

“Where doing (going) Bop Bop (Pop Pop)?” Kylo asked his grandfather. 

“We’re going to my duchy, my boy,” Damien replied. 

“What’s dat (that)?” Kylo asks. 

“My house here,” Damien replied. 

Kylo looked back at the residence entrance and shook his head no. 

“I stay! No yike (like) Bop Bop house!” Kylo proclaimed.

“But my boy you can’t stay here by yourself,” Damien said to him. 

“No doe Bop Bop! No doe!” 

“But I’ll be there. And so will Grammy Shantel, and your sister, and also your brother.”

Kylo looked at them before looking back at his grandfather. 

“And look who else is coming,” Damien said to his grandson as Margo and her family joined them at the entrance. 

“Hello everyone. Thank you for inviting us to come with you, Your Highness.”

“The pleasure is mine Margo.” Damien replied before addressing Kylo, “See my boy? Everybody is going.”

“Gammy doe?” Kylo asked. 

“Yes, my love. The whole family is going.” Margo answered as she picked him up. 

“Whole famy (family)?” Kylo asked.

“Yes, my boy. The whole family is coming. So are you ready to go?” He asked his grandson. 

“Let’s doe Bop Bop!”

“That’s the spirit! Let’s be off, everyone!” Damien announced. 

Soon, the grandchildren, their grandparents, and the rest of their family were off to Duchy Toussaint. During the two-hour car ride the children fell asleep. 

“And now, a little peace and quiet,” Damien said with a sigh of relief. 

Shantel chuckled. 

“They’re just like their mom used to be whenever we went to see Mama and Baci.”

“Yes, they are.” Damien said before taking a look at their sleeping grandbabies, “They’re adorable when they’re asleep.”

“Indeed they are. Now are you sure your cousin has everything prepared?” Shantel asks. 

“Yes, dear. I called Stella yesterday and told her to be sure and prepare rooms in the estate for Margo and her family.” Damien replied. 

“Alright. It will be good to be at the estate for a few days.”

“Indeed. Especially now that the renovations are done.”

“What needed to be renovated?” 

“The roof mainly. And I had the kitchen upgraded as well. Also just some basic sprucing and patching up. And while the staff were in the attic they found my mother’s coronation portrait so after having it restored, it’ll be hung up in the foyer.”

“I have never seen your mother’s coronation portrait.”

Damien smiled softly. 

“It’s been years since I’ve seen it. I want the children to see it.”

“I think they’ll get a kick out of it.”

“That’s the point.” 

As they rode along, Shantel became nostalgic.

“I remember when we first came here after your parents died. And we spent a few days there.”

“That was one of the best times I’ve ever had at the estate. We had the whole place to ourselves, excluding the staff of course.”

Shantel smiled. 

When they arrived at the duchy estate, the family was greeted by Lady Stella Quinault. Damien’s first cousin and lead staff member of the estate. 

“Hello! Hello everyone! Welcome to the Duchy Toussaint estate! It is good to have you all here!” She said in greeting as everyone entered the foyer. 

“Thank you, Stella. It’s always great to be here.” Damien replied. 

“Hello again cousin. You look better than the last time I saw you. Looks like you lost a little weight.”

Shantel snorted. 

“I take it that he hasn’t Your Grace?” Louisa asked Shantel. 

“You would be correct,” Shantel replied. 

“And these three precious little ones must be the heirs! Oh, look at them! They’re absolutely adorable!” Louisa gushed over the grandchildren.

“You’re Pop Pop’s cousin?” Khari asked. 

“Yes, Your Highness. Your Great-Grandmother was my aunt. And she named my mother Marlena, as the head of the staff here and I took over for my mother when she got older.” Louisa replied. 

“Is that her?” Khari asked, pointing to Queen Angelique’s portrait. 

“Very good eye, Your Highness. Yes, that's her. That is her coronation portrait. She was much younger then.” Stella replied. 

Khari gazed up at the portrait. 

“I’ve seen that crown before.”

“I’m sure you have sunshine.” Damien replied, “That’s the Imperial Crown Of South Cordonia. Your mother has worn it before.”

“The Imperial Crown?” Khari asks. 

“Yes. It dates back generations in our family. And one day it will be yours.” 

After getting everyone settled in their rooms. Damien took everyone on a tour of the gardens and nearby ponds. That night the children were camped out in front of the main fireplace. 

“Look at them. They're adorable.” Shantel said to her husband. 

“Indeed. Tomorrow we’ll go ice skating and sledding so they can run off some of that energy.”

“I don’t know about you, ice skating cousin. You weren't very good the last time you tried.” Stella teased. 

“Who asked you?” Damien fussed. 

Shantel and Stella snickered. 

“I wonder how our children are doing,” Shantel said. 

“From what Marquise had texted me, they just landed and will be at the winery soon.”

“I do hope they have a great time.”

“As do I, my dear.” 

After Their Majesties landed in San Francisco, they headed straight for Lowyn Winery. Once they were checked in, Shanelle was practically dragging her husband outside. 

“Will you come on?” she asked impatiently. 

“Slow down! The vines aren't going anywhere.”

Shanelle huffed. 

“What's the rush anyway?” he asked, “We’ll be here all weekend.”

“That,” she replied gesturing to the sunset, “you know I love walking while the sun goes down .”

Marquise chuckled softly. 

“Fine. Let's go.” 

The couple spent their first night at the winery walking barefoot amongst the vines. The couple spent the next day touring San Francisco. Including going to one of Shanelle’s favorite spots for Cioppino and walking along the banks of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

That night they had dinner under the stars on the patio. In honor of her grandparents, the couple wore the House colors of Emerald Green. 

“You look stunning, my love,” Marquise said to his wife as they danced slowly on the patio.

“Anybody ever told you that you're a kiss ass?” she asked him.

Marquise snorted. 

“Maybe once or twice. Feels nice when you say it,” he replied. 

“But thank you for the compliment, babe. Even if you always think I look stunning or beautiful or radiant or gorgeous or ravishing or a vision or whatever other verb you have in your vast vocabulary.”

“And every last word I say about you is true.”

“Like I said, kiss ass.”

“Guilty.”  

Shanelle shook her head with a smile. 

“This night has been wonderful. Thank you for this.”

Marquise kissed the knuckles of her right hand. 

“I’m just getting started, my love.” 

“So what are we doing tomorrow?” she asks. 

“How about we spend the day with the little ones?”

“Works for me.”

They spent the next day with their niece and nephews. No trip to California would be complete for Shanelle without seeing her babies. After running around the vineyard with the children, it was time for their favorite game, Cyborg.

“You okay over there?” Shanelle asked her husband. 

“Peachy!” he replied before getting jumped on. 

“Come on boys! We gotta beat Cyborg!” Logi told her brothers. 

The twins pounced on Marquise.

“Yow! I think one of the boys just kneed me in my kidneys.” Marquise said with a groan. 

Shanelle stifled her laugh. 

“Do you give up uncle?” Logi asked. 

“Never!” he replied, “as a matter of fact, gotcha!”

He trapped Logi.

“Ahhh! Boys get him!”

He got the boys too.

“Ha! Got all of you!”

The kids tried to fight out but their uncle was too strong.

“Now do you three give up?” he asked them.

“No!” they replied. 

“Very well. I shall employ my greatest tactic, the tickle monster!” 

“Run boys! Run!” Logi told her brothers. 

But it was to no avail. After several minutes of fits of giggles, everyone was out of breath. 

“Okay, you three. Time to stop beating up your uncle.”

Marquise sat up with a groan clutching his left side. 

“Oof. Definitely got kneed in my kidneys.” 

“You okay?” Shanelle asked him. 

“Yeah. I'll be alright,” he replied. 

After making it to a vertical base, he and Shanelle watched the kids as they started searching for something. 

“What are your three looking for?” Shanelle asked the kids. 

“Our gifts,” Logi replied. 

The couple looked at each other confused. 

“What gifts are they talking about?” 

“I don’t know, this is the first time I’m hearing about any gifts.”

Shanelle turned back to the children. 

“What gifts are you talking about Tinkerbell?” Shanelle asked. 

“The gifts uncle brought us. We have to find them.” Logi replied. 

Shanelle pulled her husband aside. 

“You brought them gifts?” she whispered. 

“No. Again this is the first I'm hearing of any of this,” he replied. 

Logi and the twins looked everywhere. 

“Where’d you hide our gifts uncle?” Logi asked a very confused Marquise. 

“Honey, who told you that your uncle you all gifts?” Shanelle asked. 

“Khari. She said uncle would have a big surprise for us when you came here.” Logi replied. 

The couple stared at the children before whispering to each other. 

“Your Majesty, I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think your daughter just set you up,” Shanelle said to her husband. 

“I know she did.”

Marquise sighed. 

“Come here you three,” he said to them. 

“Yes, uncle?” Logi said as she and her brothers went to him. 

“Unfortunately I don't have any gifts for you because I didn't know that I was supposed to bring any gifts,” Marquise replied. 

“Awww!” the children pouted. 

“Now hold on. How about a compromise?” he asks. 

“What's that?” Brayden asked. 

“Close your eyes and hold out your hands,” Marquise replied. 

The kids closed their eyes tightly and held out their hands. 

He placed $100 each in their hands. 

“Okay. You three can open your eyes now,” he said to them. 

“Whoa! You're giving us money uncle?” Logi asked Marquise. 

“Is that better?” he replied. 

“Yeah!”

“Good.”

“Come on boys we gotta go show Mommy and Daddy.” 

“Hold it,” Shanelle said to them, “come here you three.” 

The kids went to Shanelle. 

“Look TiTi! We got $100.”

“I see that.” 

“That's a lot of money,” Logi said. 

“Toys!” Branden piped up. 

“Candy!” Brayden added. 

“That is a lot of money. And it's money that you three will be putting in your piggy banks for a rainy day. Okay?”

“Okay TiTi,” Logi replied. The boys nodded their heads yes. 

“Good. But first don't you think you owe your uncle a thank you?” 

The kids nodded their heads before tackling Marquise with a hug. 

“Thank you, uncle!” Logi said to him.

“You're welcome, Duchess.”

“TiTi can we show mommy and daddy?” Logi asked. 

“Sure. Your daddy will get a kick out of it.” Shanelle replied. 

They watched the children run to their parents to tell them. 

“He did what?” Logan asked his kids, “He gave you WHAT?!”

Logan looked at them then looked at Marquise.

“Excuse me for a moment.” 

Logan made a beeline for Marquise. 

“What are you trying to do to me?” Logan asked Marquise. 

“What do you mean?” he replied. 

“You gave them $100 each?”

“Was that not enough?”

“Thanks for upping the expectations of allowance.” Logan muttered. 

Shanelle snickered. 

“Don't be too mad at him, it's not his fault.”

“What do you mean?” Logan asked. 

“Khari set him up,” Shanelle replied. 

“How did she do that?” Logan asked. 

“It goes like this,” Marquise replied. 

Marquise told Logan what had happened.

“Sheesh. She got you good.” Logan said to Marquise while shaking his head. 

“Hook, line, and sucker.” 

“You're no better than he is Lo.” Shanelle pipes up. 

Logan stared at Shanelle incredulously. 

“Excuse me? Unlike His Highness over here, I know when to put my foot down when it comes to my daughter,” he said to her. 

“No, you don't,” Bronwyn added.

“Whose side are you on?” Logan asked his wife. 

“Please you two are a couple of saps when it comes to those girls. All they have to do is bat those pretty eyes and you two are putty in their little hands.” Shanelle said to them. 

“They'll do anything they say. Without fail.” Bron added. 

“Mmmhmm. A couple of punks.” Shanelle agreed. 

Logan and Marquise looked at each other. 

“Are we gonna stand here and take this?” Logan asked him. 

“No. This is an outrage!” Marquise replied. 

“And no less true.” the wives said to them. 

That evening the couple had dinner at their penthouse in downtown LA. They enjoyed the view from the rooftop terrace while Shanelle teased her husband. 

“I can't believe you gave the kids $100 each.”

“You know I don't carry anything less than that.”

“They would've been fine without the money.”

“I know but unfortunately for me, it's like you said, I’m a sap for those kids.”

“Khari has taught them well.”

Marquise snorted into his wine glass.

“Speaking of which, she and I will be having a long conversation about this when we get home.”

“You're not even mad at her.”

“No, I’m not but still, a little heads-up would've been nice.” 

“Fair enough. So what's on the itinerary for tomorrow?” she asked. 

“My favorite animal, horses,” he replied. 

“Works for me.” 

The next day the couple spent the day visiting the Among The Vines Horse Farm. After touring the facilities, seeing some of the horses that were sent from Cordonia to be trained, and meeting a few of the staff, the pair saddled up and rode through the pastures. 

Meanwhile, in Cordonia, their children were enjoying spending time in the library of their grandfather's estate, even learning about the secret passage behind a bookshelf. 

“What's this passage, Miss Stella?” Khari asked. 

“Well, it's said that the Alexandre family, the family who owned this estate before your Great-Grandmother, used this passage during the War of Elderod. It was where they hid when troops came looking for them.” Stella replied. 

“Like the palace?” Khari asked. 

“Yes. Did you know your palace was built on top of the old one?” Stella asked. 

“Yes. Daddy told me. There was a…revolt? I think that's what he said.” Khari replied. 

“Yes. The people became so angry with King Gideon that they overthrew the government and forced him out. Then placed his sister Queen Amarys on the throne after a very heated election.” 

“Daddy said that he…” Khari struggled to finish her sentence. 

“It's alright Your Highness. Take your time.” Stella said in encouragement. 

“Daddy said that he had people slaughtered?” 

Stella nodded. 

“He did. King Gideon Rys was one of the more infamously ruthless Kings in the history of our kingdom.”

“Like my Grandfather?” Khari asked. 

“Yes, like King Constantine. Although between you and me, I think King Gideon would have scared even your grandfather, and my cousin King Edward as well.”

Khari nodded. 

“Shall we take a tour?” Stella asked the children.

Each of the children raised their hands.  

“Very good. And cousin? Do try not to get lost. You know what happened the last time.” 

Damien rolled his eyes. 

“I wouldn't have gotten lost if it wasn't for you.” 

“Whatever you say, dear cousin,” Stella said before opening the passage door, “now let's go see where this leads everyone.”

The tour of the passage started at the library and ended at a root cellar in the main garden. Later that day, the family was having lunch when a guard pulled Damien aside. 

“Your Highness, you have a guest waiting in the foyer.” the guard informed him. 

“I do?” Damien asked. 

“Yes sir.” the guard replied. 

“I wasn't expecting anyone but alright, I’ll be there in a second.” 

The guard nodded before walking off. 

“What was that about?” Shantel asked. 

“I have a guest in the foyer,” he replied. 

“Are you expecting anyone?”

“No. But it's alright. I'll deal with the matter, you all continue with lunch. Okay?”

“Okay. Hurry back.”

Damien nodded before excusing himself. When he got to the foyer, he was greeted by two people he didn't want to see. Edward and Genevieve.

“Well, it's about time you showed up.” Edward sneered at his brother from his wheelchair. 

“Why are you here Edward?” Damien asked. 

“I heard you were here. Without my permission.” Edward replied. 

“I don't need your permission to be here!” Damien said firmly. 

“That is no way to talk to him!” Genevieve snapped at him. 

Damien took a deep breath. 

“As long as you breathe, you simpleton, you will always need my permission to be here!” 

“This is my duchy. I can come and go as I please! Now you’re interrupting my lunch, so what is it you want?” Damien asked. 

“Correction, this is our mother’s duchy!” Edward replied. 

“It was our mother's duchy. It is now mine and you know this! It was awarded to me when she died. You were awarded our father's kingdom, I was awarded our mother's duchy.”

“How dare you speak to me in that manner! I am your superior! You owe me your fealty!” 

“I owe you nothing! Because you are no longer the King! I owe my loyalty to the current Monarchs. You know? The ones you helped to handpick?” 

Edward set his jaw. 

“That's what I thought. Now if you’re finished, you both can leave and have yourselves a good day. I have a family lunch to get back to.” 

Damien turned around to make his exit.

“Don't you ever turn your back on me!” Edward growled as he stood up.

“You mean like you always turned your back on me?” Damien asked. 

“You will respect your brother, Damien,” Genevieve said to him.

“No, I won't. Because he's not worthy of my respect.” 

“Not worthy?! You absolute imbecile! Without me, you would have nothing! Your offspring would just be some random idiotic god-awful American because we both know she'll never be smart enough to be anything else in life! She can't even be a decent Queen!” 

That statement set Damien off. 

“DON’T YOU EVER SPEAK OF YOUR QUEEN IN THAT MANNER! THIS IS NO LONGER YOUR KINGDOM! IT ALL BELONGS TO MY DAUGHTER!” Damien yelled. 

Damien’s booming voice could be heard down the hall, where everyone was having lunch. 

“What was that Grammy?” Khari asked.

“I don’t know sweetie. But I'll go find out. You stay here with Margo. Understood.” Shantel replied. 

“Yes ma'am,” Khari said with a small salute. 

Shantel went to see where the noise came from, and when she got to the foyer she found out what all the noise was. 

“Damien? Are you alright?” Shantel asked. 

“I'm fine my dear. I just lost my temper for a second,” he replied. 

Shantel looked over to Edward and Genevieve and rolled her eyes. 

“I can understand why. Why are they here?” she asked. 

“To pester me. Why else would they be here?” he replied. 

“Why my husband and I are here is none of your business!” Genevieve hissed at Shantel. 

“Last time I checked, this was my husband’s duchy, and by marriage, it's my duchy, so why you're both here is my business.” 

“If you ever speak to my wife like that again, I will have your tongue you harlot!” Edward hissed. 

“Shouldn't you be dying from another stroke, Edward?” Shantel asked. 

“How dare you—” Genevieve sneered as she went to get in Shantel’s face but was stopped by Damien. 

“Get out of my way peasant!” she seethed at him. 

“Genevieve, you’re as successful of a fighter as your sister and husband are. Which is to say not at all. You will not lay a hand on her.” he replied calmly.

“We’ll see about that.” Edward sneered, “Guards! Detain that trollop!” 

The guards didn't move from their spots. 

“I said detain her!” Edward yelled at them. None of the guards responded. 

“Edward,” Damien said calmly, “these are the King’s Guards, and as the oldest active member of the Royal Family, they answer to me not you.” 

All of the commotion caught the attention of everyone in the dining room. 

“Pop Pop? Grammy? What’s going on?” Khari asked as she and her brother entered the foyer with Margo in tow. “Why are you yelling?”

“Too youd (loud) Bop Bop! Too youd!” Kylo said to him with his hands over his ears.

“I scared Bop Bop. I scared.” Zyon told him. 

“I'm sorry children. I didn't mean to scare you by raising my voice.” Damien said to them. 

“What are those?” Edward asked, pointing to Khari and her brothers.

“You mean my grandchildren? Specifically your future Queen?” Damien replied. 

“Although I imagine that you two will hopefully already be dead by the time she takes the throne.” Shantel piped up. 

Khari studied them for a second before she recognized them. 

 “I know them. They're the old King and Queen. Right Pop Pop?” Khari asked. 

“Yes, sunshine. This is my brother and his wife.” Damien replied. 

Genevieve was slightly impressed. 

“My! What a bright little child you are! Your mother must be missing you terribly. If you wish to see her again I suggest you behave.”

Khari crossed her arms in a challenge to Genevieve. 

“Lady, I don't behave for my parents. What makes you think I’d behave for you?” 

“Because if you don't I can make very bad things happen to you,” Genevieve replied, taking a menacing step towards Khari.

That's when Shantel got in between them and into Genevieve’s face. 

“Genevieve you take one more step towards my granddaughter and I will knock your head into the fucking stratosphere!” Shantel growled at her. 

“Ooh! The Duchess has a bite! I knew I liked her.” Stella quipped. 

“Enough!” Damien said as he cleared his throat. “My love, take the children into the living room to watch a movie.”

“Mobie (movie)?” Kylo asks. 

“Yes, my boy. You can even pick your favorite one.”

Shantel eyed her husband before setting her jaw. 

“Fine. And oh one more thing Genevieve, this ain't over!” Shantel hissed. 

“For the first time, you and I actually agree on something. This isn't over. And it won't be over until I make you pay for what you did to my sister.”

Shantel scoffed. 

“You expect me to pay for the sins of a whore? Fat chance!”

“Shantel!” Damien warned her. 

Shantel sized Genevieve up before taking Kylo by the hand and leading him and his siblings out of the foyer. When Genevieve saw Margo and Stella, her face soured. 

“It's a shame that Connie didn't kill you when he had the chance,” Genevieve sneered at Margo. 

Margo raised a challenging eyebrow at Genevieve.

“Stella, how is Lady Delilah doing?” Margo asked. 

“Oh, she's doing wonderful! She was here last weekend having tea with me.” Stella replied. 

“Do give her my regards the next you speak to her.”

“Of course, I will do just that.” 

Hearing that name got under Genevieve’s skin.

“Oh, Your former Majesty, you look quite distressed, is something wrong?” Margo asked Genevieve.

“Don't you two ever mention that name in my presence again!” Genevieve replied. 

“You know. ‘Tis truly a shame that Edward married you and not Lady Delilah, the woman he truly wanted.”

“‘Tis a shame indeed,” Margo added. 

“Tell me, Genevieve, what's it like to be the one someone was forced to settle for and not be the actual love of their life?” Stella asked Genevieve. 

“Ladies…” Damien calmly warned them. 

“Very well Your Highness. I shall go help Her Grace with the grandchildren.” Margo said to him before taking her leave. 

Damien straightened his shoulders before addressing his brother and sister-in-law.

“As for the two of you,” he said with a snap of his fingers, “you've wasted enough of my time. So now you can follow the guards and take your leave. And oh! One more thing, unless I have written correspondence announcing your pending arrival, you are to NEVER step foot on my duchy estate grounds ever again.” 

“Enjoy it while it lasts little brother. Because soon it'll all come crashing down. I will make sure of it! Your son-in-law won't be the first of the Rys clan to be forced off of the throne!” Edward sneered at his brother.

“It was good to see you, cousin! May the next time we meet be at your well-deserved funeral!” Stella said as Edward and Genevieve were led out by the guards. 

Damien gave her a lopsided look. 

“What? It's not my fault that your brother has always had a tree trunk stuck up his ass,” she said before walking off. Damien shook his head and went back to his family. However, something about what Edward said started to nag him. 

After spending all day at the horse farm in California, Shanelle and Marquise had dinner at a restored speakeasy in Big Bear. 

“How’d you find this place?” Shanelle asked. 

“I mean I am a Doctor who does research for a living,” he replied.

Shanelle snorted.

“Smart ass.”

He chuckled

“Believe it or not Randall Sr. told me about it. He and his wife celebrated their anniversary there. So I looked into it and thought it would be a perfect backdrop for dinner.” 

After dinner, the pair walked the quiet dark street, occasionally gazing up at the star-filled night sky. 

“It's beautiful isn't it?” she asked him. 

“Yes, you are. And the view is nice too,” he replied. 

“You're not even subtle!”

“Subtlety is a luxury that I don't have.” 

Shanelle shook her head as they continued their walk.

“I love these moments, you know.”

“What moments?” he asked. 

“The moments where it's just us. Don't get me wrong, I love being with our kids and family but sometimes I just want it to be just us,” she replied. 

“I understand that. Because we're always surrounded. Either by family or kingdom business and protocol. So when we get these quiet moments together they feel rare but so meaningful.”

“You will never see fault in anything I say or do will you?” 

“Nope. I never have and I never will.”

Marquise looked at his phone that buzzed in his pocket. 

“We should head back. Besides, it's almost time.”

“Time for what?” she asked. 

“You'll see soon enough.” 

When they got back to the winery, Marquise had Shanelle blindfolded as he led her back to their room. 

“Okay what's with all the subterfuge?” she asked. 

“All will be revealed shortly,” he replied. 

“I don’t like it when you say that.”

“You're right. You love it when I say that.”

He led her into their room then slowly closed and locked the door. 

“Are you ready?” he whispered.

“Yes. Now show me,” she replied. 

He took off her blindfold to reveal their transformed guest room. In the middle of the room were blankets, pillows, several boxes of different sizes, and a picnic basket that was surrounded by rose petals and bathed in a soft light from lit candles.

“Wow. You did all this?” Shanelle asked. 

“The staff did this at my request. That's why our dinner was so long. I wanted to make sure they had enough time to get everything set up.” he replied as he led her to the middle of the room. 

“Now let's see what's in the picnic basket,” Marquise said as he opened the basket. “We have champagne flutes, Lowyn Moscato, chocolate-covered strawberries, eclairs, and truffles from your favorite chocolate shop in Paris. Y’know since the children  all but demolished the ones I got you for Valentine's Day.” 

“So this is dessert?” she asked. 

“Yes. How’d I do?” he replied. 

“Hopelessly and romantically perfect,” she replied as she plucked a truffle from the box, “mmm! Mocha!”

“And white chocolate hazelnut,” he added before popping one in his mouth. 

Shanelle poured them each a glass of Moscato.  

“How about a toast sire?” she asked. 

Marquise chuckled before clearing his throat. 

“Here’s to you. My gorgeous, amazing, accomplished, loving, angelic, wife. To your tenacity as a wife, mother, and a Queen. To you, the dynamic woman who stole my heart and has captivated me. You walked into my life at a time when God knew I needed calm in the chaos of it. You are a beautiful storm, powerful and present. Your natural instinct to be devoted, nurturing, and loving should be studied. I love everything that you are and all that you represent. I love your brilliance and conviction. I love your passion, magnetism, and eternal fire. I love you, Shanelle Dominique Miller-Rys. I always have and I always will. Because all I am is because of you.” 

Shanelle was stumped. 

“Why do you always do that?” 

“Do what?”

“Always make your speeches hard to follow!”

“Because I've been giving speeches since I was three?”

Shanelle rolled her eyes with a smirk.

“I have no idea how to follow that. Because you've made it impossible to do so.” she paused, “We have been together for 9 years, but as of tomorrow, we've only been married for 8 of those 9 years. And every year you remind me why choosing you and continuing to choose you is the greatest thing I have ever done. You said that my natural instinct to be devoted should be studied but so should yours. You have literally kissed the ground I walk on. The way you care for me, the way you constantly and consistently love me, the way you will fiercely defend and protect me. The way you hold me when I’m scared. The way you soothe me. The way you will constantly fall all over yourself for our children. All of it is you are a man and especially as my husband. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m not dreaming or having a delusion of grandeur. You are my husband. My one true love. I love you, Marquise. I will never love another. Only you.”

They clinked their glasses together. After finishing their drinks, Marquise stood up and brought her to her feet. He connected his phone to the wireless speaker and played their Spotify playlist. 

“Dance with me,” he whispered. 

“Happily,” she replied. 

Teddy Swims “Lose Control” played while they danced slowly. 

“Something's got a hold on me lately. No, I don't know myself anymore. Feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door.” 

Marquise sang the hook to her. 

“I lose control when you're not next to me (when you’re not here with me) I'm falling apart right in front of you, can't you see?” 

Slowly they swayed together, suspended in time. It was as if they were in their own little world. As they danced through the many different love songs they added to their playlist, they stopped when the song changed to Cascade (Lovers Quarrel

Mix) by Stokely. 

“Now it's time for presents,” he said to her. 

Shanelle raised an eyebrow at him. He gestured for her to have a seat on the chaise lounge in their room. He knelt before her with two black boxes in his hands. He set the boxes down next to her before placing both of her calves on his shoulders. 

He gently took her right calf in his hands and began to place soft kisses all over it. When he reached her ankle, he kissed along it, he then began to focus on her right foot. After slowly slipping her heel off, he left featherlight kisses all over it. Making her shiver. He took one of the boxes and opened it, revealing a diamond anklet. He gently placed the anklet on her right ankle before turning his attention to her left calf and repeating the same process. 

He slid his hands up her dress to her thighs. Slowly massaging them in circles. He stopped long enough to grab another black box.

“What's in that box?” she asked. 

“A couple of custom jewelry pieces,” he replied. 

He opened it to reveal two diamond garter belts. After kissing the inside of her right thigh he placed the garter belt around and secured it then did the same to her left thigh. He stood up and brought her to her feet as well. 

“So is there a theme here?” she asked. 

“Yes. You are the most precious gem in the world. So it's only fitting that you be draped in diamonds. Now this dress you have on is beautiful but it's in my way.” he replied. 

He twirled her around until her back was flush with his chest. He nuzzled her neck as he slowly pulled the zipper of her dress down and let it pool at her feet. 

“The most beautiful woman in this world is you,” he whispered as he slipped off her bra and panties. 

He wanted and needed her to be naked before he continued. Feeling his hands slowly roam her body made Shanelle dizzy. Every curve was accentuated by the candlelight. He reached for another black box and it piqued her interest. 

“What's in that one?” she asked. 

Rather than answer, he opened the box and revealed an intricately designed body chain. He connected it to the garter belts on her thighs and then wrapped it around the curves of her hips. He followed the plains of her stomach and diaphragm. Wrapping the chain around both. He let the chain caress her breasts and sternum before connecting it around her neck. 

He stepped back and marveled at the sight of her draped in diamonds. But he wasn’t done. He opened one last box, inside it were a pair of diamond earrings, bracelets, as well as a layered necklace. 

When he was done, she was covered in diamonds. He held her close, kissing just below her right ear continuing down her neck. The juxtaposition of his warm kisses and the chili from platinum setting the diamonds were in on her skin, sent chills down her spine. 

With the pads of the fingers on his right hand, he traced the body chain down her stomach. 

“Absolutely exquisite.” He whispered in her ear.

“Are you gonna spend all night complimenting me or is this going somewhere?” She asked. 

“You need to learn patience, my beautiful one.” He replied with a boop to her nose. 

“I don’t wanna.” She pouted. 

“When have I ever not given you what you want?” He asks. 

“Fair.” She replied. 

He kissed the knuckles of her right hand  softly before continuing to the inside her wrist. Kissing just above where the bracelet was resting. He continued to kiss up her arm, leaving goosebumps in his wake. When he reached her neck, he placed a suckling bite at the base. She felt him tangle his left hand in her hair and pull her head back slightly. To give him an unobstructed path to her ear. She braced herself by holding onto his arms. 

“Damn…” she breathed out. 

“There's more where that came from but first.” 

“You need to be out of that suit. Abhi will have a stroke if I ruin it by ripping it off of you.” she said as she slipped his jacket off. 

“Don't let me stop you,” he said as she continued to strip his clothes off of him. 

When she had his shirt off she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. She finished taking off his clothes before leading him to lie down with her on the blanket below. 

He hooked his left hand behind her neck and brought her mouth to his. At that moment, the world didn’t matter to either of them. All that mattered was the two of them and the love they shared. The kiss was intense, raw, passionate, and powerful. 

He broke the kiss so he could slowly kiss along her jaw and down her neck. Knowing how sensitive the spot between her ear and her neck was to her, he grazed it with his teeth, making her shiver. He continued down her neck to her collarbone. Switching between gentle kisses and grazing the skin with his teeth. 

The sensation felt like heaven and torture at the same time. She loved how he would be gentle and yet forceful with her. 

She moaned softly as he pleased her breasts. Her back arched as he switched between dragging his tongue across her nipples and nipping and sucking on them. 

With his mouth solely focused on her breasts, he slipped his right hand between her legs. She gasped when she felt his fingers rub against her slick folds, running them from her throbbing clit to her warm entrance. She gasped softly as he dipped his fingers inside her and slowly began working them in and out of her. 

“Shit!” She moaned. He was driving her crazy. His mouth and left hand were focused on her breasts and his right hand was pleasing her very wet center. Her breathing was erratic and her hands were white knuckling the blankets underneath her. 

Her moans, gasps, and whimpers were music to his ears. He wanted her to completely come undone, so he upped the speed of his fingers. Working them in and out of her while pulling on the body chain. 

“Yes! Don’t stop! Please don’t stop!” She begged. 

He was enjoying being able to make her squirm but he wanted more. He wanted to taste her in the worst way possible. So he went from pleasing her breasts to sliding between her legs. 

“I am about to thoroughly enjoy this!” He whispered before wrapping his arms around her legs and diving face-first into her now hot center. 

She nearly jumped out of her skin when he made contact with her sensitive skin. His mouth felt amazing against her. He sent heat blazing and electricity surging throughout her whole body. 

This man, this gorgeous man was doing exactly what he wanted to her and she didn’t even care. She just wanted him to eat her out with every ounce of reckless abandon that he had in him. Her hips involuntarily rolled, her toes curled and her legs started to spasm as he continued feasting on her. She loved every minute of it and so was he. He was causing her internal heat to burn hotter and her orgasm to continue to rise higher and higher. 

“Yes! Don’t stop! Do! Not! Stop!” She begged. 

She was steadily unraveling. Falling further and further into her orgasm. He caused her orgasm to flood and take her with it when his tongue surged inside her.

“FUCK!” She gasped out loud as she gave into the pleasure. Her body shook as her orgasm consumed her. He let her go even though he wasn’t quite finished with her. 

“Well, that was fun and just know I’m not done with you, my Queen.” He told her. 

“Do you have to be so damn good?!” She asked as she tried to catch her breath. 

“Yes, I do. I have to make sure that you are always satisfied.” He replied. 

She shook her head and said, “Get up here!”

“As you wish.”

He slid back up to her waiting lips. When they kissed he felt as alive as she did. Their connection has always been strong, but he wanted to solidify that connection between them. Holding her in his arms was a high and when he looked in her eyes, his heart skipped a beat. 

“Je t'adore mon amour.” He whispered. 

“I adore you too, my King”

He smiled at her before kissing her again. They were madly in love with each other. He rolled onto his back and had her straddling his lap. To him, there was nothing and no one in the world more beautiful than her. Especially when she was naked in front of him. He trailed a finger down the middle of her chest, causing her to shiver and goosebumps to rise on her skin. 

“Tu es magnifique mon amour.”

“You’d better fucking believe it.”

“Taking control are we? I love it when a woman takes control.”

“No, you love it when I take control.” She whispered in his ear. 

“Yes, I do. I am yours, my love. Do as you wish with me.”

She grinned at him before capturing his lips in hers. She guided his hands to her ass and left them there. He took that cue from her and began to massage her ass. The feeling of his hands kneading, caressing, squeezing, and palming her ass made her dizzy. 

“You know I always love to make you feel good.”

“I want you to do something for me.”

“Name it, my queen.”

“I want you to fuck me!” She whispered in his ear. 

He flipped her onto her stomach and then whispered in her ear, “All I want you to do is arch your back and let me do the rest.”

She did as he told her to do. With his left hand on the small of her back, he lined himself up with her wet entrance with his right. Biting his bottom lip he entered her. She gasped softly and he groaned in pleasure. She felt like heaven to him. He started slow allowing her to get used to him being inside her. 

“You feel so fucking good!” He moaned in her ear. 

She loved this side of him. She loved his dominance as much as she loved his strength and his wisdom. He was gentle most of the time, but it’s when he wasn’t that she loved the most. 

Once he knew that she had gotten used to him, it was time to get down to business. He started to increase the speed and force of his thrusts and it was on from there. Soon, he was giving her exactly what she wanted, by fucking her into the sweetest oblivion.

He felt her muscles tighten around every time he surged inside her. When he began to use his hips to piston in and out of her, she nearly lost it. 

“Yesssssssssss! Don’t! Stop! Just…just like…that!” She strained out. 

“God you feel so fucking good! You’re so wet! That’s it, baby! Take it! Take me! Take it all!” He growled in her ear. 

She didn’t want him to stop. Not when she was dangerously close to her climax. But that’s exactly what he did. He stopped. She cried out in agony and desperation but it didn’t make him move. He just held her in place, not moving. It sent her into a downward spiral. 

“You are mine, Shanelle.” He growled in her ear as his finger circled her clit. 

The heat inside her coiled tightly. She wanted him to finish her. But instead, he took his time. She wanted to scream because he was taking his time. He was taunting her. She was becoming weak from it. But she knew that he was the only one who could finish this and her. Yet, he stopped moving altogether. He left only the tip of his dick was inside of her. She cried out in frustration. She didn’t want him to stop and that’s exactly what he did. 

“Is this what you want?” He asked as he teased her by moving his hips, sinking deeper into her. 

“Yes! I want that!” She shouted, desperate for him to finish her. 

“I’m not so convinced, my queen. I don’t think you want it. So tell me how bad you want it.”

He was feeling playful but she wasn’t in the mood to play. 

“Marquise! Please don’t do this! I’m so close!”

“Then say it, Shanelle. Tell me that you want it.”

She didn’t have time for this. She was right there. Right at her cusp and ready to go over it. But he would not move. He wanted to hear her beg for it. 

“Say it, my queen! Say that you want it!” 

At that point, he could’ve asked her to twerk on Pope Francis. As long as he gave her the release she was craving. To illustrate his point, he gave her a taste of what she wanted so desperately. He fucked her good and hard, bringing her closer and closer to falling over her edge before stopping completely. She bit down on the pillow underneath her in both desperation and protest. But eventually after him not doing what she wanted she gave in. 

That’s when he knew he truly had her. 

Marquise wanted her submission and now that he had it, he could give her what she wanted.

“Say it, Shanelle!” He growled in her ear. 

“I want it! I want you! Fuck me! Please! Make me cum!” She cried out.

“That’s my girl!”

Marquise finally gave Shanelle what she wanted by resuming his pounding of her, and she was going crazy. Not only was he giving her the best fuck she’d ever had in her life, but he was continuously hitting her G-spot with precision. She wasn’t going to last much longer.

“There! Right there! God! Don’t stop! Don’t stop! Don’t stop!”

“Yeah! That’s it! Keep saying that you want it!”

The sound of their bodies coming together gave way to the richest form of pleasure that either one of them had ever had. Her moans started to get louder once he started rotating his hips with each thrust. 

“Do it again! Do it again! Yes! Yes! Yes!” She moaned. 

She was getting dangerously closer and closer to her edge again but couldn’t seem to go over it. 

“That’s it, my love! Cum for me! Let it all out! Cum just for me!” He growled in her ear.

Those words were all she wrote. 

“Oh God…I…I…Yes! I’m about to—“ was all she could say before her body and especially her orgasm took over. Stars burst in her eyes and she gave in to the orgasm.

That was it. That’s what did it for him. He plunged deep inside her and buried his face into her neck and growled into his release. 

He shivered while holding her in place as both started to come down from the high. All they could hear was their combined ragged breathing. They were both sweaty, exhausted, and completely satisfied.

He collapsed beside her, grabbed a blanket and covered them both then wrapped his arms around her. 

“I…love…you…” he said as he showered her in rose petals and small kisses on the back of her right shoulder. 

“I have something for you, my queen.” 

“There’s more?” She asks. 

“There’s always more, my love.” He replied. 

He reached behind him and pulled out a small black box.

“What’s this?” She asks. 

“Open it and find out.” He replied. She gave him a side-eye. 

“I don’t know about all this.” She told him. 

“Just open the damn box!” He said to her. 

She took the smaller box, opened it, and nearly dropped it. 

“Oh my God! You didn’t!” She exclaimed. 

“What did I do?” He asked in a not-so-innocent voice. 

Inside the box was a huge Canary Diamond Wedding Ring. She couldn’t believe it. She was just staring at it. 

“You bought me this?” She asks. 

“Yes. Here, let me put it on.” He replied. 

He took the ring out of the box and gently placed it on her ring finger. She was speechless as she looked at it. 

“Why did you?…where did you?…when did you?…how did you?” She struggled to ask. 

“Let me explain. You know that I always get you a new wedding ring every year. This year is no different. I made an appointment with our favorite jewelry shop, and told Silvio to craft the most perfect anniversary ring.” He explained. 

“I don’t know what to say to you. I can’t believe you…I mean you didn’t…” she struggled to say. 

“My love, there is nothing I won't do for you. Always know that.”

She smiled at him as tears started to fall down her face. 

“I love you so much, Marquise. Happy Anniversary.”

“I love you too Shanelle. Happy Anniversary mon amour.”

“Here's to another year of us.”

He kissed her slowly. 

“We are Forever and More.” 

When they got back to the palace the next day, His Majesty had a bone to pick with his daughter. 

Khari looked at her dad who had a serious look on his face. 

“Uh oh!” she said before she tried to run but he caught her by her collar and hoisted her up.

“Yipe!”

“Not so fast!”

Khari looked at him. 

“What did you tell your cousins?” he asks her. 

“Umm that I love them very much?” she replies. 

“About me bringing them a gift when we went to California.”

“Huh? Oh yeah! I told them that you'd be bringing them a big surprise.”

Marquise blinked at her as her mother died laughing. 

“Okay. Well, why didn't you tell me?” he asks. 

“Would that have helped?” Khari replied.

He let go of her collar and she dropped to the floor. 

“Whoa!” 

That night while having a quiet drink to himself, Damien knocked on Marquise’s office door. 

“Am I interrupting?” Damien asks. 

“Not at all. Come in, have a seat.” Marquise replied. 

“Thank you, son.”

“How was your trip to Duchy Toussaint? Did the children behave themselves?” Marquise asked as he poured his father-in-law a drink. 

“Yes, they did. We had an amazing time. Except for one thing.” Damien replied as he accepted the drink. 

“What's that?” Marquise asked. 

Damien thumbed his glass before downing his drink. 

“Edward and Genevieve showed up.”

“While my children were there?” Marquise asked. 

“Yes. I had no idea they would show up.” Damien replied. 

“I believe you. So what happened?” 

“We were having lunch when the guards informed me that I had a guest waiting in the foyer, and when I got there…”

“There they stood?” 

“Yes.” 

Marquise nodded. 

“We got into an argument and I raised my voice a little too loudly and it caught the children's attention.”

Marquise poured him and Damien another drink. 

“I see.”

“I assure you, Your Majesty, I did everything I could to shield the children.”

“I’m not mad at you Damien. I've always known that eventually he and his wife would meet them. I just wish I was here when it happened.”

“I understand that. But that's not all.”

“What else happened?” Marquise asked. 

“Edward made an offhand comment about you and your ancestor King Gideon. So I did some digging and found out something big.” Damien replied. 

“What did you find out?” 

“I think…I think…he and Genevieve are trying to stage a coup against you and my daughter. From what I found out they've been quietly amassing support from several noble houses across the kingdom and especially from the Heads Of State of Comery Isle. I think they want to force you and Shanelle out and then install Lord and Lady Gallagher.”

Marquise nodded before downing his drink. 

“Interesting.”

“You don't sound surprised son.” 

“Because I’m not. I've known for years your brother and his wife never got over losing their kingdom. And when Edwin was forced to resign from his position, that took away their only other access to power. So this is nothing more than them trying to undermine me and pull a power grab.”

“So what will you do?” Damien asks. 

“Although this rumored coup won't get very far, I will sit back and watch. I want to see how this will all play out. Especially when they start to lose the support they've garnered so far.”Marquise replied. 

“What do you mean son?”

“You have to remember Damien, I know where bodies are buried. Literally. I also know which family closet has the most skeletons in it.“

“Very well Your Majesty,” Damien said before standing up with a stretch, “I’m going to head to bed now. Thank you for the drink.”

“My pleasure. I'll see you in the morning Damien.”

Damien nodded before taking his leave. Marquise downed his drink before walking over to his desk and pressing a panel on the bookcase. 

A voice answered. 

“My King.” 

“Start digging up bodies and turning over stones. Report back with everything you find. Spare no detail.”

“By your command my Liege.” 

The voice disappeared. 

“So the peasants want to challenge me? Very well, let them come.” Marquise said to himself, “Besides, it's been a while since something exciting happened in this kingdom.” 

[sukehiroselei]

YAMICHAR in the final arc

At the end of the day, this blog is still dedicated to Yami and Charlotte. So of course everything that's happening in the story, I'm gonna relate it somehow to my OTP of OTPs. Some possibilities that I think could happen during the final arc, in order of best-case to worst-case scenarios:

1. Yami and Charlotte are totally fine, indestructible, and kick paladin ass together.

The best I can hope for as a shipper is that they somehow avoid the raging death flags and manage to win, together, then finally have that adult conversation over tea about what it is they've got going on.

They fight together like they did during the Elf arc, except this time it's much better since Charlotte will be in full-control of her body. We get proper development of their relationship during battle, either Yami surpassing his limits because her life is in danger, or Charlotte overcoming her insecurities about not being strong enough to stand by him, because goddamn it, they're knocking paladins left and right, showing these knights how it's done (or both, honestly?).

I want Charlotte to unlock the full extent of her powers, realizing that loving someone isn't a sign of weakness, but is a source of strength. Watching Yami fight his hardest because he loves his squad finally gets her to see what it is that makes him so strong, and it's because of his heart. That in spite of the pain he's faced in his life, Yami chooses to love the people who matter to him—it just so happens that his love language is kicking the asses of those who hurt the people he cares about.

Best-best case scenario??? A kiss. But that's just never gonna happen now ahaha.

2. Yami turns into a monster

There's something about that devil heart... Tabata wouldn't have put it there if it isn't important, right? And Yami being a punching bag key character of the series, there has to be a breaking point.

This man's entire life has been a tragedy. He had an abusive father, a sister who was coerced into killing his family and then choosing to shoulder the blame on her behalf, washing ashore on a strange country then being treated with racism, looked down on by members of society in spite of his achievements; now slowly losing the people he loves....

No wonder this man has so many vices. I'd be super stressed too, if this was my life. It's honestly a wonder how Yami's worst habit is just smoking??

So yeah, this seems most likely to me rn. I feel like this development would absolutely destroy Asta. That this world is so broken that even the seemingly infallible Captain Yami has fallen victim to it. Also, the role reversal in the Elf arc would be interesting; Charlotte trying to get Yami to snap out of it along with the Black Bulls? What a scrumptious idea.

3. They both die

Now listen, this isn't my favourite outcome, but it's still not as bad as the next one. If both of them die, I'd of course be devastated, but at least neither one has to live the rest of their life alone & wondering what could have been.

To me, it would be better to face death with hands adjoined than to be left pining for a ghost, especially if it was Charlotte who survives and not Yami. That would just be beyond cruel, I think. But this is of course, my personal opinion.

4. One of them dies

I love a good angsty fic, but I would absolutely be crushed if only one of them dies. Sorry if people think that this is childish. I think if BC had established itself as a manga with high stakes from the get-go, then I would kind of understand, but one of the things I liked about the series is the minimal-amount of deaths so far?? Idk.... I'm just fiercely protective of my fav characters (and I honestly love a lot of them). So yeah, either Yami or Char dying would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I would also like to add that Charlotte dying to spur Yami's devil heart transformation would absolutely be a worst-case scenario for me. We've built her character up for so long and then at the end she becomes fodder for one of the male protags??? I'd be livid lol

Bonus Super Duper Crack Theory That Has A 0.00001% Chance Of Happening:

When Charlotte and Yami had dinner to discuss her curse, she said that 'The curse had altered the shape of her soul'. And her being cursed has hindered her from fully mastering her magic.

Additionally, it was explained that all curses are born from Megicula. In her fight, she had combined the knowledge of magic runes from the Heart Kingdom to modify her curse, allowing her to wield both blue and red roses.

We also know that Lucius's power involves the transformation of souls. He explains that 'The soul is the source of human life, spirit, and magic.' He can manipulate someone's soul and implant directives that they cannot disobey. BUT we did see that Sister Lily's resolve falters as she fights against Asta, so Lucius's magic isn't as infallible as he believes it to be. Therefore, his magic can be negated by anti-magic OR by strong emotion.

So what the hell am I rambling on about? Well, what if Charlotte becomes a devil along with Yami? Would Lucius's magic work on her, as her soul has already been affected by another devil (Megicula)? Being cursed changed the quality of her magic, yet in the Spade arc, Charlotte was able to work around a spell that altered her damn SOUL. I think it would be pretty sick for Charlotte to fully embrace the darkness of the devil's curse on her metaphorical heart. Plus, you know, Devil!Yami and Devil!Charlotte kicking "angel" ass is sexy to think about.

[sungbeam]

assign your moots with a romantic trope! (enemies to lovers, soulmate au, etc.)

oh!! hmm interesting endeavor 🤔

a/n: i apologize for how half-assed this feels 😭 my brain isn't braining tbh

@justalildumpling — i want j to have one of those e2l on the surface, absolutely down in the trenches for each other type of aus 😁🤸‍♀️ it's the sneaking around and the banter potential for me!!!

@winterchimez — ally should have one of those vacation romance/fling aus where she meets some guy (AHEM COUGH) on her vacay and they have a whirlwind romance that makes u twirl ur hair and kick ur feet

@zzoguri — i thought of soulmate au for moni tbh :')) like low-key one of those really pretty reincarnation soulmate aus with like falling flower petals in the wind where otp finds each other in each lifetime <//3

@loveliestfelix — there is absolutely no question, it should be the most PAINFUL, THE MOST SAD AND ANGSTY, PULL-OUT-MY-HAIR, BFFS2L EVER. and we all know who it's with 💔💔💔

@jaehunnyy — okay low-key ,,, it should be like a sunshine x grump kind of pairing?? i mean, obviously chip's the literal embodiment of the sun, and so she could def win the heart of anyone 🤔 i think it'd be interesting tbh

@tranquilpetrichor — HELP WAIT ... like an another cinderella au ? like the selena gomez ver ofc. idk i always associate u w dance all the time sorry skfndkfn but i think it would so cute im a SUCKER for that movie TT

@mosviqu — omg wait what about like one of those like 60s aus or something w like the drive-in movies and roller skate drive-thrus where cute people flirt w u from the hoods and trunks of cars .... sighs

@haet-sal — OH WAIT the ggbb trope (゜-゜) but like... good BOY and bad GIRL...? like ur like the cool popular girl w a reputation and the other guy (AHEM COUGH) is like happy go lucky but easily flustered and skdnksnfjd

[shslskaterboy]

Ok how about loid for the character ask thing i want to know what y think about this tormented father

OH my god wow okay this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. To put my new blorbo thoughts to the test.

Favourite thing about him? He’s such a loser. He’s really good at his job- the best even- but other than that everything he does is a mess. He’s always teetering on the edge of an anxious breakdown, but despite all that he’s still a great father and husband to his pretend family

Least favourite? Hard to pick because he’s such A Guy, but maybe that every episode I look at him and Yor and I go 👁👁 yall really not gonna kiss her yet? You’re just letting her sit there on her own and not kiss her? Coward.

I don’t remember any lines word for word but every time he’s like “our plan is doomed. This is it I’m ruined” is so funny to me because it’s always over like a minor inconvenience

Brotp I mean. It’s Franky obviously. Alternatively Anya because I think whenever they hang out it’s hilarious but I don’t think that counts as bros

Otp. Barely even a question. It is clearly Yor. That man needs to be stepped on POST HASTE and she can easily kick his ass so it’s no contest

Notp. Get out of here Fiona. You and your emo bangs could never compare to Yor so don’t even try

Random headcanon is that man is autistic. If you don’t see it idk what to tell you, but that man is not neurotypical

A song I associate with him is Beneath the Mask from the Persona5 OST. Because I mean come on it’s perfect

I had to look into it a bit but I found what has to be one of my fave moments encapsulated in image form which is

Mans was about to THROW HANDS with this guy who was tormenting Anya, he was one second away from completely blowing his mission and only stopped himself short at the last moment. And if that’s not the best idk what is