Hi guys! This story just popped in my head today and I just had to write, If you like the plot it will be a series, so tell me what you think! Each chapter will be named after an Adele song (because that girl knows how to angst) and will eventually have NSFW chapters.
Summary: Five years after being forced to abandon her her dying lover in Cordonia, her duchy and all of her friends, Riley is once again thrown in the path of her almost fairytale.
Skyfall
This is the end. Hold your breath and count to ten
.
The air was knocked out of her lungs as she was thrown to the ground. It was impossible to move her legs
Gunsohts. There were gunshots.
Her ears were muffled, people screamed in the back of her head as the metallic smell of blood filled her nostrils. With her head still spinning her eyes fell on her torso, her golden dress damped in crimson.
She touched the viscous liquid with her fingertips, but something moved to her side with a grunt, something heavy on her legs… someone.
Drake rolled to his back and she could see the growing stain on his dress shirt, she focused on his grimace as he repeated over and over again “Run, York”. She clung to his body while the world fell apart around them.
After a few minutes or hours someone pulled her arm back as she fought them, she wouldn’t let go of him, not now that they just found each other, the grip got stronger and her body was yanked from his. The palace guards moved Drake’s unresponsive body from the ground as a piercing sound almost made Riley’s ears blow.
It was her screams.
“Riley!” She was so immersed in that nightmare from her past that she had to take a look at her hands to see if they were clean, if she was at the present. “It’s sold! 50K!!!”
Hector was beaming. Oh right, the art auction. Since one of her paintings was featured on a criminal TV show a few months ago, her name was a trend in the art world.
“Come” he offered his hand to her “You are need on the stage with the buyer”
“Oh shit!” She was dizzy, the last time she was in front of so many people at a gala it was in…
“The buyer also offered a trip through Europe to paint landscapes for his collection” Hector kept typing on his phone “I said you’re in, you can’t lose the opportunity to make it in Europe”
A shiver ran through her whole body as she stepped from the back to the stage, her heart racing more than normal, stopping at the sight of bright blue eyes.
Her breath caugh in her throat as she scanned the room, on the far side, whiskey in hand, Drake stormed off the room.
Notes: what do you think guys??
I’m tagging some people to help me decide if this is a good idea: @silviasutton1989 @drakewalkerrosenberg @mymandrake @thewalkerway @agent-zephyrkah @thequeenchoices @mfackenthal @drakewalkerwhipped
@axwalker thanks for never leaving! @nestledonthaveone I just can’t believe this keeps reaching new people after all this time. Thank you so much for reminding me of a time I was so happy writing! ♥️
1. Do you remember what was the first fanfic you’ve read in this fandom?
The History of Us by @camillemontespan
4. Have you ever seen a character in a different light because of fanfic or fanart I’ve seen?
@ritachacha pairing of Maxwell and Madeleine BLEW MY MIND!! (Link here: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/ritachacha/182311873498 )
It was angsty and steamy! It made me see these two from a very different perspective. I really recommend it.
5. Recommend five fanfics from different writers that you’ve read lately.
Remember Two Things by @burnsoslow
All Mixed Up by @burnsoslow
The Duchess by @ao719
Once Upon a Disaster (I’m reading again) by @andy-loves-corgis
First Noel by @argylemnwrites
9. Do you create fanart/fanfics/edits/etc. yourself? Which one of your works is your favorite?
I try to write 🤣🤣🤣 . My favorite work is Tears in Heaven
But I’m having a lot of fun writing Undeniable Miracle They’re the closest to canon Drake and Alexis that I’ve ever written.
10. Fluff or angst?
ANGST. With capital letters. I’m always planning the most angsty fics.
12. Have you ever enjoyed fanfic or fanart with a pairing that you’re not a fan of?
To my surprise, I really enjoy Dralivia fics. It wasn’t a pair I liked at first and it’s definitely not my canon Drake but I can really enjoy a well-written Drake and Olivia. It might be the fact that they’re my absolute favorite Choices characters or that they’re both so passionate.
One of my favorite fics about them:
https://axwalker.tumblr.com/post/617200672982646784/you-belong-to-me-nsfw-drake-x-olivia. by @boneandfur
Hi again, I just wrote you a note and I’m sorry I voiced my confusion. It’s not fair of me to do that, especially since I didn’t finish the entire story! Thanks for writing a different scenario than what actually happened. And keep writing...just because I’m confused, it doesn’t mean anyone else is! Thanks again, and sorry 😬
Oh hi! I just saw the message you sent me and you have every right to voice your confusion that’s why we post this stuff anyway! I guess your thinking is more practical than any of my characters, they were hurt, they were afraid, they felt betrayed and so on... About the deal and the paintings, it was all a plot from Olivia to get her to Cordonia, they care little to nothing if she’s painting a portrait a week, I honestly don’t remember writing that, but if I did It’s basically a plot hole, she’s only painting the royal family portrait. And yeah, Drake is gonna call her a lot of things, because right now he can’t understand what she did through all his pain. Thank you for your thoughts they are more than welcome!
Notes: I’m a bitch and I have no right to ask for forgiveness, only thank those who are still putting up with my bullshit!
WARNING: Read the Prologue! Every chapter has TWO timelines, Before (about a year before the Prologue) and After (two years after the prologue), if you don’t pay attention to that you might get confused!
Iris
And I would give up forever to touch you
BEFORE
There were voices muffled by the clatter of pans and cutlery at the kitchens, but somehow Savannah’s voice seemed to rise above all the noise pointing at the TV.
“Just look at her.”
Drake did, it was a sequence of pictures from the past couple of weeks, all the royal functions Riley attended alongside Liam, Leo, and Madeleine; the three women on the morning show were analyzing if Riley was there with Liam or just as a maid of honor for Madeleine. In each photo Riley sported her noble grin, he knew it was the fake one because when she smiled fully you could spot the smallest of dimples on her cheeks.
“She looks miserable.” Savannah continued looking for his reaction.
“No, she doesn’t” Drake brushed her off and finished his orange juice in one big gulp before getting up. “Riley is a big girl; she can make her own decisions.”
“Are you going already? I thought you didn’t have classes at all today”
“Well, first…” he kissed the top of her head “… I still work, and Liam texted me to meet him this morning.”
“Oh, because you’re soooooo important!” Savannah laughed rolling her eyes.
Drake pushed another croissant in his mouth and left the kitchens, feeling in the air that the cold was preparing to go away. The competition season would start soon, and he would hate to wake up in the early hours of the morning – as he used to during this events-, to cold weather. He spotted Liam with his black zip-up jacket waiting for him, with a couple of men from the Royal Guard; Drake took his time to pull up the sleeves of his hoodie.
“Hey. Thought you wanted to talk” Drake said greeting his friend.
“I need to blow off some steam, thought it would be good to go for a run. Are you out of shape?” Liam teased.
“As I remember, we did the Army training together, I was the fastest on our squad.”
“Nah, I let you win,” Liam said, and Drake laughed.
“Start running, then. Your highness.” Drake challenged him with a smirk.
After 20 laps, Drake notices signs of fatigue in Liam.
“Come on!” Drake teased, turning on his back but still running ahead of Liam.
“Jesus, what are you made of, Walker?” Liam laughed, throwing his head back almost in exhaustion.
“Whiskey and one-night-stands.” Drake laughed and stopped as soon as they reached their starting point, both leaning on the wall to even their breaths.
“Yeah, about that…” the prince took a big gulp of water from his bottle and turned to his best friend. “What happened at Leo’s bachelor party?”
Drake looked puzzled.
“Did you blackout?”
“No, not at all, actually” Drake knew Liam was trying to keep it cool, but he could see right through him. “You were alone with Riley for some time… did she say anything?”
“Liam, I spend a lot of time alone with Riley, I really can’t see your point…”
“Did something happen?” Liam wasn’t bothering to hide anymore.
Blinking a few times, Drake finally understood where the conversation was heading.
“I won’t bother to answer you, Liam.” Drake stopped leaning on the wall “Riley and I were friends since we were kids.”
“You know she’s completely off-limits, right? Even if we wore broken up, it’s Bro Code.” Liam tried to sound casual.
“Like when you slept with Erika?” the color was drained from Liam’s face when Drake finished his remark.
“You already know what happened” his answer was strained. “She was playing you and took advantage of the fact that I had too much to drink that night after a fight with Riley.”
Drake preferred to believe his longest friend.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I caught both of you naked in bed and never told Riley, that alone could remind you the WE are friends too.” Liam stayed silent after this. “I don’t know if my answer was enough for you, but I have work to do.”
“I… forget what I said, Riley has been weirdly good-behaved, she just makes me unsure…”
“That’s… your problem, Liam.
Drake shrugged and shook his head. He knew he shouldn’t give the literal back to the prince, but it wasn’t like he could handle another minute of awkwardness.
Concentrating was hard in the first hour, he kept reliving the moment where he opened the door of the room Erika was staying, how she was curled up on Liam’s chest. The surprised look on her face, from her to Liam; how she begged for forgiveness.
After three hours he figured he wouldn’t get any work done, so he decided to find Riley and see if she wanted a ride to Valtoria, he was scheduled to select the horses there for the next competition; he wasn’t surprised to find her along with Savannah at the dancing studio.
“I thought I smelled Tiger Balm,” he said as soon as he opened the door. “Should you be doing that already?”
Savannah was sitting on the ground with 3 pairs of ballet shoes and a sewing kit; Riley was right across her in a perfect split.
“You always liked the smell” Riley smiled dodging his question. “See… if you sew an elastic instead of silk, it will allow you more movements.”
“What are all these shoes?” Drake asked.
“Riley gave them to me so I could practice for the presentation” Savannah gave him a toothy grin.
Drake side-eyed Riley, the girl just clenched her jaw, sat back, and got up.
“Oh my, I just forgot I had to meet Maxwell… See you soon, bye!” Savannah exclaimed sensing the change in the atmosphere.
Drake waited until he heard the door closing behind his sister
“We had an agreement on gifts,” he said to her back as she pretended to look for something on her gym bag; he heard the clinking sound of her painkillers shaking in their bottle, she shouldn’t have been training so soon.
A long exhale followed.
“I bought them to myself, but it doesn’t seem like I’m going to wear them anytime soon, does it?” she was in a sour mood grabbing the orange bottle more forcefully than she should.
“I’ll count them as birthday gifts.”
“They are just fucking ballet shoes, Drake!” she turned with her jaw clenched, her blue eyes glimmering. “Helping Savannah is literally the only thing I’m holding onto right now.”
Her fists were balled on the side of her body and her whole frame was slightly shaking.
“Riley” Drake changed to a much softer tone. “Is everything alright?”
She closed her eyes for a second too long.
“Define ‘alright’.”
Drake didn’t say anything else, his hands just circled both of her upper arms and pulled her to his embrace, he felt in his chest as she inhaled and exhaled deeply, containing her tears. Even as a child, Riley hated crying in front of anyone.
“Hey, New York is just around the corner, ok?” Drake said and a sob escaped her mouth. “Soon you’ll be oceans away.”
Her sobbing was uncontrollable now.
“I’m not going.” Her voice was muffled by his chest.
“Wait… what happened?” he took a step back and his heart clenched at the sight of her watery eyes.
“I burned my acceptance letter two weeks ago, it was just bullshit, Drake. Everyone knows I can’t escape this place.” She forcefully wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek.
A small part of him, a part he would hardly acknowledge, was relieved to hear she wasn’t leaving; although, there was another part of him that was dying to see her like that. He always imagined Riley as an exotic bird inside a golden cage.
“You shouldn’t have done that!” he pulled her back to his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Things are going to be fine; I can’t tell you how, but they will, even if I have to make them be, ok?”
She sniffed on his chest.
“´k”
“Hey, let me take you back to Valtoria tonight, I’m headed there anyway” he moved back just a little to see her quickly drying her eyes.
“Yeah, that would be good, thanks.” She gave him a small smile.
“Be ready at 6 pm”
Drake left the room with a strange feeling at the pit of his stomach. Getting back to his office, he tried to concentrate on the paperwork for the next competition; stopping a little early than 6, he scrolled through his Instagram and something caught his attention, a smile spread on his face as he realized how he could lift Riley’s mood.
For some unknown reason, his legs were shaking while he waited for her outside his truck, it got worse once he saw her leaving the castle, wearing just jeans and no makeup on.
“Ready?” she asked, she sounded a little more cheerful than in the afternoon.
“Yeah” he opened the door and helped her hop in his Silverado.
As he drove far from the palace she seemed to relax, even more, concentrated on the changing blue sky as the night fell.
“We’ll need to stop somewhere first…” Drake started uncertain, regretting his words as soon as he said them.
“Where are we going?” she looked at him puzzled. “Are you gonna kill me and dispose of my body in the woods?”
Drake rolled his eyes and threw his cellphone on her lap.
“Sometimes I think I should…” he joked but stopped to study her face as a crease appeared between her brows.
“Are you serious?” she looked at him suspiciously. “Is this a prank? You would NEVER do this…”
“I can head right to Valt…”
“NO NO, we’re going” she reached for the steering wheel.
“You’re a danger even in the passenger seat, York” Drake pretended to slap her hand; he couldn’t help but smile at her excitement.
He parked his truck in front of the Wood Wheel and Riley hopped off the car like a child anxious to get into the park.
“Am I allowed to record?” she asked grinning.
“No” he stated, pulling his guitar from behind his seat. “I’m only doing this because I hate owing you.”
“Whatever you say, Walker…”
Getting inside, they were welcomed by the smell of Al’s greasy fries, loud chatter, and someone finishing a song on the makeshift stage at the right corner.
“Look if it isn’t my favorite costumer and again, he brought his girl that knows how to drink.” Al greeted them from the counter.
“Al doesn’t understand the term ‘friends’” he threw Riley an unapologetic look and she shrugged, making a beeline to the bar and grabbing a glass of wine for her and whisky for him.
“Drake’s gonna sing today!” Riley stated excited sitting on the stool.
“Oh, is he?” Al looked at him puzzled as Drake rested his guitar on the floor.
“I lost a bet” he mumbled grabbing his glass.
Al snorted, cleaning another glass.
“I have a free slot in half an hour, I’ll be waiting” Al mocked him.
After his second glass, he felt more at ease, especially after watching Riley chat cheerfully with Al, the remnants of her sadness not showing anymore.
“Ohhhh, it’s your turn, I’m so excited! I’ll get to check another one of the items on my bucket list for this year!” Riley clapped unable to contain her excitement.
Drake exhaled loudly and turned to grab his guitar when he felt Riley’s small hands on his biceps.
“Hey” her voice was hoarse, maybe for all the wine, she was drinking. “It’s going to be great.”
“It’s pretty packed, isn’t it?” Drake averted his eyes to all the occupied tables in front of the stage.
“It doesn’t matter, pretend it’s just us. Like we’ve done a hundred times”
He nodded and gulped despite all the encouragement from Riley.
Trying not to look at anyone on the tables, he silently sat on the stool with his guitar and adjusted his microphone.
“Hum, hello everyone. My name is Drake and I lost a bet.” The crowd laughed and brown eyes met ocean blue.
With a sigh, his fingers hit the strings.
I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
He tried to focus solely on his fingers hitting the strings, the hot light above him, muffling any sound of the crowd singing along, or the way his heart skipped a beat by his unconscious choice of song.
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
Although it wasn’t a matter of someone, more of a matter of somewhere, some other reality, because, in this one, this was just a song, it had to be just a song.
Drake finished the last notes with everyone in the bar singing along and clapping after he finished, completely flushed, and not from his whiskey.
“You were AMAZING!” Riley almost shrieked in excitement. “this was the best night EVER! God, I want to pee… wait a minute and we can go.”
Riley didn’t let him say anything before rushing to the bathroom.
“Your girlfriend is something else!” Al laughed pouring him some whisky.
“I’ve already told you, she’s not my girlfriend.” He drank half of his shot in a big gulp.
“Ok, but have you told her?” Al looked at him mischievously. “Because she was sitting right there where you are, looking at you like a lost puppy crazy to follow you home.”
“She’s not remotely interest… Hey York! Should we go?”
Riley was back with a half-drunk smile.
“Sure!”
The ride to Valtoria was peaceful, a recomforting silence with the radio buzzing old songs while Riley closed her eyes feeling the chilly night air on her face.
Drake parked his car on the west wing of her estate, where she could get inside by the kitchen door and he would be just a short walk from the staff’s rooms. He made sure to help her out of the car, not prepared to be that close to her.
“Thank you for this night” her voice was above a whisper.
“That’s what best friends are for” he winked and for a split of a second, he thought he saw her smile falter.
“Yeah you’re a great friend” she kissed his cheek for a second too long. “Good night, Drake.”
“Good night, Riley.”
He watched as she moved towards the entrance, turning to glance at him before entering, a pang in his chest hit him heard. He hoped he was having a heart attack.
AFTER
“No! You’re not putting any animal down without me saying so!” Drake almost shouted on the phone, Yanis, one of his assistants pretended he wasn’t witnessing the awkward moment. “You’re going to wait for me to get there then we talk. Bye!”
Drake almost threw his phone on the table and exhaled loudly.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, what happened?”
Yanis fidgeted on his seat.
“Hum, Lady Riley was here a while ago, she said she needed some files”
Shit, he forgot to hand them to her.
“Damn, if you see her, tell her I’ll have them delivered to her quarters today.
“She actually asked you to meet her at 3 pm, somewhere called South Wing.”
“Yeah, ok, anything else?” the boy just shook his head and got up as fast as he could.
Drake exhaled again; he didn’t want to scare the boy. He was one of the good ones sent from the company that now took care of the Royal horses.
He remembered how was to enter his office again after everything happened. Drake actually couldn’t remember how one thing led to another; how coming back from the hospital turned to join the taskforce against The Sons of Earth, then sharing a whiskey with Liam when they finally caught the bastards. Applying again for his job as an official Royal Veterinarian, now to a company, not Liam.
Everything got back to normal. Then she came back.
He gave up on his report and decided to do some handwork to pass the time.
Riley’s back came into view as soon as his feet reached the grass; she seemed too absorbed by the view in front of her to notice Drake getting closer.
“Hey,” he said, and she was startled by his voice.
“Ohmygod… sorry, my mind was elsewhere.” She shook her head.
He followed her eyes to the window, they were facing the south wing of the castle, right beside the grand ballroom, the wing housed the conservatory and a dance studio, where right now a bunch of noble preteens were having a ballet class.
“Do you still dance?” Drake caught himself asking.
Riley chuckled and shook her head.
“I don’t dance at all.”
“At all? I pretty much saw you waltzing a couple of times since you came back.” She turned her head to face him and gave him half a smile.
“Waltzing is like shaking hands, you do it because you have to.”
“So, you’re telling me that you haven’t gone out clubbing in NY?” Drake questioned almost amused.
“Well, it was considered risky behavior for a person like me” she let the sentence hang in the air. “But yeah, I barely danced two songs in the past two years.” She shrugged like it was no big deal.
Drake stayed silent for long seconds, thinking through the sentence he wanted to say.
“You should do it; I know there’s a part of you dying to.”
He didn’t mean it to sound so personal, he just couldn’t help it; Riley blushed and looked at her feet before clearing her throat.
“Did you get her last address?” she changed the subject.
“Oh yeah, here it is” he offered her a folder with the little information he had gathered on Savannah’s whereabouts. “you’re not paying anything for it, right?”
“No, I beat up a PI at poker in New York and he owed me a favor for letting him go in his car.” She laughed to herself.
“Why does this story sound so much like bullshit?”
“His name is Damien Nazario, he was there with his girlfriend and another weird couple, you can look up for him online.” She smirked, “And for the record, I’m really good at poker.”
“So… poker wasn’t risky behavior?”
“We need to beat our vices one at a time, Walker” she laughed a little more truthfully. “So… that was another thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
Drake tensed.
“I went to the Wood Wheel yesterday and ended up bumping on Cassidy” Drake’s stomach clenched and Riley blushed from the awkwardness of the situation “Sorry, I didn’t know she was your girlfriend, she seems really nice though… hum, I obviously didn’t say anything and…”
She started twisting her fingers.
“And…?”
Riley sighed and leaned on the window,
“Look, I know it’s too much to ask, but no one never knew we were together…” it was almost painful to have the words together thrown at him. “well, aside from some people in the court… but, we could pretend it never happened so I wouldn’t lose my favorite bar.”
“You want me to lie to my girlfriend?” Drake rose a brow to her.
“No, I’m just asking for you not to blatantly tell her” he held his gaze on her shameful eyes. “Look, Wood Wheel is the only place I can drink without being bothered by people knowing me or paparazzi showing up. If she asks you, you do what you want to do, but think for a moment that we can bury whatever happened to us and just move on. This is the perfect chance.”
Whatever happened to us. Ouch.
“Okay… It’s not like I would want her to find out.”
Riley nodded not looking directly at him.
“Well… I got to go and email this stuff to Damien; I’ll tell you as soon as he gives me a lead.” Riley tried to brush off the awkwardness with a half-smile.
“Okay” Drake silently answered.
Returning to his office he got his phone back, noticing there were a couple of calls from Cassidy.
“Hey, Cass,” he said as soon as she picked up.
“Hey, Drake! How’s your day going?”
“Pretty normal, how about you?”
“Well…” she started and he heard the sound of the pans behind her. “the Chef is a little moody today, but the movement is low, not many tourists, so I’m now consuming Cordonian gossip.
“Oh… why?”
“I mean, in Greece we don’t have an ‘active’ Royal Family, sometimes I even forgot they existed, but here they are like celebrities.”
“Hum” Drake huffed not wanting to get to this conversation so soon. “Most of them are just assholes with money.”
“About that… Is ‘Lady Bitch’ related to Riley York?”
There it was.
“Yes, she’s her mother. Why?”
“Oh, I met Lady Riley yesterday… at Wood Wheel.” She finished like it was a surprise to find the noble there. “It seems like Al knows her, he even let her go out for a smoke with a glass on her hands.”
“I saw her there a couple of times in the past, before…. The whole thing”
Before I pulled her half-dead body from the ocean.
“Do you know her? She dated Prince Liam, you’re friends with him, right?”
“Yeah, I know her, everyone kind of know each other, is a small circle.”
That was safe.
“Hope she comes back to the bar when is our night, she looks like she tips well.” She laughed and he tried to follow. “Oh, I gotta go, Matt is calling me. Bye!”
“Bye…”
The rest of his shift was spent reliving the conversation.
He exhaled loudly. Drake didn’t like lying, and it felt like he was lying all the time, even if Cassidy would never think about Riley and him being anything but acquaintances; if he was being true to himself, he had been feeling close to suffocating ever since Riley came back, things were simpler then, now everything was gray, except for one of those exotic blue-ish flowers that always caught his eyes on the way back to his room.
Not even the chilly air of the garden was calming his nerves, then he noticed a light that wasn’t supposed to be there, the south wing was usually dark by that time at night, the only other times he recalled someone using it at was way back…
When Riley still danced.
He stopped dead in tracks near the window, watching as she executed a triple spin, only to stumble on her feet; he could see her frustration, her brows joined as some strands of hair fell from her bun to her face. Giving up, she sat on the floor and started to untie her shoes, she gave a long sigh when the music coming from the speakers changed drastically.
The sweet strings from Dramarama’s cover filled the room; she looked as surprised as him, they used to hear that song at full volume in his car right when he started driving. Now barefoot on the wooden floor, she got up and started to shake her shoulders timidly, then her hips followed… her legs and her arms.
Do you wanna eat? Do you wanna sleep? Do you wanna drown?
Just settle down, settle down, settle down.
I’ll give you candy, give you diamonds, give you pills
I’ll give you anything you want. Hundred-dollar bills.
The song related morbidly to her, but it seemed to give her strength, totally lost on the beat; jumping around and biting her lips she untied her hair and let it fall loose shaking her head.
It was when a full-blown smile took over her face, with dimples and all.
Seeing those little dimples on the corner of her mouth as she smiled to the roof with her head thrown back, swaying hips and arms, he remembered why storms were named after people.
Five years ago, Riley York had to leave her lover between life and death in Cordonia, but once again she was thrown into the path of her almost fairy tale. Will everyone be able to move on from everything that happened during those years? Find out in Once Upon a Disater.
I finished binge reading this series today and I’m absolutely in love with this story❤️ it’s beautifully written and your Drake is perfect !!! @axwalker thank you for recommendation 💕
Hey @mskaneko! Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to comment, this story was my baby for so long the first long story I wrote after 4 years without writing! It means the world to me that you liked it. ♥️
3 ships: (I’m going to mention my currently fave Choices ships ‘cause this is still a Choices blog lol & I’m too boring to be much of a shipper aside of it anyway) Drake x MC, James x MC, Mal x MC !
Last Song: Little Red Corvette by Prince
Last Movie: pretty sure it was Grease on Saturday lol
Currently Reading: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara & Rilke’s Sonnets for Orpheus (ocassionally fanfics too…less than I used to though)
Currently Watching: I’m currently currently watching some old episodes of The Simpsons 🙈 (aside of that – nothing tbh, I’ll be catching up on everything during academic year bc I’m impossible - and honesty somehow even more busy - when I’m at home)
Currently Consuming: I ate some Russian Ice-cream cca 20 minutes ago
Currently Craving: oof….I’d really love a Spanish Tortilla right now 😶
Tagging - if you feel like it - @andy-loves-corgis @argylemnwrites @kinda-iconic @justapenguinfanatic @maccuswielle @beaumontypython @marshmallowsandfire 💕
ships: I’ll say those I’m currently writing about - Drake Walker x Riley York, Reylo and Harry Potter x Myra Black (OC).
Last Song: my tears ricochet - Taylor Swift
Last Movie: Hamilton (It was the 3rd time #hamilfilm)
Currently Reading: Lean In: Women Work and the will to Lead
Currently Watching: at this current moment I’m watching a lot of people from Mexico talking in one of our events (it was the first event for MX region so I’m very proud!
Currently Consuming: Brigadeiro, which is one of the most Brazilian thing ever, it’s kind of a chocolate fudge (picture below)
Thanks again to the sweetest, best mutual of mine @zaffrenotes who’s always so kind and remembers me when she’s tagging me among (otherwise) some great people in her posts 💙
Also, this is really a cute idea! So. The rules:
Get to know your fandom friends challenge:
go to picrew & pick 2 or 3 or 4 art styles you like & create yourself
share the photos & tag your fandom bffs!!
Here’s some picrew portraits of me 🙈 I guess but they’re still cuter lol:
Here are the links to the picrews above: 1, 2, 3, 4.
And here are some wonderful people I got to know here who could use some fun distraction, I’m sure: @the-everlasting-dream @andy-loves-corgis @brightpinkpeppercorn @princessstellaris @axwalker @noahmrshall @maccuswielle @bobbymckenzies @griselda1121 💖 (no pressure, though).
That feeling tho when you find that fic writer that just absolutely fucking
understands the characters to their core
writes so well they–just so–they just—their writing is—-THEY WRITE GOOD
shatters your bad mood with a new update
writes a fic that you can read over again and still clutch at your heart like HOLY SHIT I FUCKING LOVE–I LOVE THIS FIC
writes a scene that has you all giddy in public and that one random stranger asks you like “ooo you are smiling :) :) is that a boy :) you are talking to :)” and you’re like “no I’m reading a Everybody Lives/Nobody Dies AU, please leave”
understands and portrays the characters better than the people who make MOVIES with those characters
Pairing: Well… It’s Riley and her pain in this one.
Rating: M (I can’t make them not curse I guess…).
Word count: ~ 6,800 (longest chapter I ever wrote)
Notes: There will be one big note at the end. But just thank you for still being here!
WARNING: Read the Prologue! Every chapter has TWO timelines, Before (about a year before the Prologue) and After (two years after the prologue), if you don’t pay attention to that you might get confused!
Hardest to Love
And what we had is dead inside, yeah
You’re actin’ like it’s still alive
And you still wanna make it right, yeah
I know
But I’ve been the hardest to love
I really love Riley and I feel sad for her. In the Before, her heart is all over the place. She’s obviously having feelings for her best friend, problems with Madeleine and her relationship with Liam is a complete disaster. He’s so controlling and manipulative. I understand that he only knows the noble life so it’s difficult for him to accept that she wants to leave it. For him, if she leaves court she won’t come back to him. And frankly, I think he’s right. She doesn’t love him anymore, she is obviously crazy about Drake. And Liam cheating with Olivia didn’t help.
I loved Riley’s interaction with her dad, she loves him so much. It’s clearer why she had a breakdown when he died.
The scene in the studio was so amazing! Drake playing guitar ???? Gaaaahhh!!! And his aloofness only makes him more desirable! When he calls her:’little one’ I died!! He’s so sexy! And I’m sure he has feelings for her too. He already admitted to be attracted to her (I’m a man and you look like that!) so I’m holding my breath, Andy! I need part 9 !!
The after it’s so full of angst!!
Liam is still in love with her!! But he practically threatened her with revealing her past to the press , so I don’t trust him much. However, something he said stayed with me: “Drake left you, I’m the one that has been here waiting for you”
I know your Drake and he wouldn’t just leave her for no reason!! what happened??
And Cassidy! I know she didn’t do anything wrong but I want her out of Drake’s life! Like yesterday.
The voice messages have me so intrigued!! And they were so cute! (You’ve reached Drake Walker’s girlfriend. If you’re Drake, leave a message (laughing) They we’re obviously so happy and in love!! ARGH!
So, the Before was really hard on Riley, dealing with Liam and Madeleine’s toxicity os going to be hard, because Riley doesn’t see through it. I love the parallel of Madeleine saying she looks fat in the tracksuit, while Drake practically admits she looks hot in anything.
I argued with Liam over and over in my head, but I also don’t think he knows he’s being toxic, he thinks this is love, this is caring and any refusal of that is ungratefulness.
Now, after... isn’t it crazy when your ex’s current girlfriend is really nice? 🤣🤣
About Liam and what he said, he meant two things: back on ch 6, Riley admits to Drake she started popping pills again the night he left, we already know from the beginning that he moved to Texas, but Liam is also talking about Drake moving on, while he “says” he’s been waiting for her (bullshit).
Well... next ch is Drake’s POV, let’s see how he’s REALLY feeling about Riley 😉
Thank you so much for reading, it means the world to me ♥️
