Reblog with your responses to any and all questions! This can be an edit, OOTD, Moodboard, aesthetic, fic, etc.
I'd love it if you could reply/reblog with your MC and/or LI's outfits so people can see all in one quick place to be able to answer the last question, but you're more than welcome to post them as individual posts as well!
For more prompts and other event information, check here.
I like the idea of having the picnic event be an annual thing, but I feel like if it's only going to be 2-3 days there should maybe be less pop up prompts? There were a lot of them and it was kind of overwhelming and hard to keep up
Thank you for the feedback, I completely agree with you! That is definitely something I will work on!
Would knowing the prompts ahead of time help? Like if I posted a list of all the "pop up" prompts that would take place, say 2-3 weeks ahead, would that give you time to plan for them?
If we do have another picnic, I will definitely put up polls regarding how many prompts would be best and how early they should be released!
I truly appreciate your feedback! I know I got a bit carried away with the prompts🙈
July is National Picnic Month, so I thought it would be fun if we had a Choices Picnic. The event will take place July 12-14. The event will have two parts. The first will be a list of prompts to inspire creative works to be shared during the event. The second part will be posts that will pop up during the event for you to reply to to encourage discussion and community. Both the prompts and the "pop up" post topics are below so that you can prepare whatever you like!
Have fun and enjoy!
Event Prompts
Basket
Blanket
Gingham or Checkered
Sandwiches
Fruit
Lemonade
Sunshine
Park
Nature
Grill
Outdoor
Games
Picnic Table
Grass
Flowers
Friends
Family
Watermelon
Barbecue
Salad
Hiking
Trees
Butterflies
Kite
Sunhat
Sundress
Shorts
Squirrels
Ants
Clouds
Water Fun
Sea Side
Lake
Rainy Day
Wine
"Pop Up" Community Prompts
these will be shared as individual posts on the days of the event for you to reply with to have a "community" discussion/share. I'm just sharing them ahead of time so you can plan ahead what you might like, to share.
What will your MC(s) be wearing to our Choices Picnic? Will they be attending alone or will their LI(s) be there? What will they wear? [Looking at the other replies, what new friends will your MC be making?]
What food would your MC bring to our Choices Picnic to share? And/or If your MC had to plan the menu for the picnic what would it look like?
How would your MC document the picnic to share on their Pictagram (or any other social media accounts)?
What games or activities does your MC enjoy during a picnic?
What is your character’s favorite picnic dessert? Do they make it or buy it? Is there anything special about it?
3 things: what three things does your MC feel are a must for any successful picnic?
Rules/Guidelines
Submitted works will be featured on an event masterlist
Every form of creative work can be submitted: fanfiction, drabbles, moodboards, edits, drawings, poems, songs, sketches, and more—all are welcomed.
Work from any book and story from the Choices (and Pixelberry) universe are welcome (new and old alike)!
You can participate as many times as you want during the event
You can combine submissions for this event and others
Please add a cut to avoid long posts and exposing other fans to triggering content.
You can get creative with the prompts. It can be a variation of the word and/or concept. It doesn’t have to be exact or literal. If the word inspires a train of thought that led you to something different, put that in the notes and send it in! Have fun with it! Make them work for you! The ultimate goal is just to find joy in creating!
Please tag @choicescommunityevents and if you’d like to add me you can do so as well~ @lovealexhunt (feel free to DM me your work too since Tumblr tags are fickle)
You may also use #ChoicesPicnic24
Please do not submit work that has been created with AI. Works that contain AI will not be reblogged. If reblogged inadvertently and I find out they have AI, they will be deleted.
[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 1 + Beyond] [Mal’s Orphanage]
[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 2 AU]
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya (F!OC)
With: Rayden (M!OC), Lydo (M!OC)
Book: Blades of Light and Shadow
Word Count: ~ 1,400
Rating/Warnings: Mostly General with hints of Teen
Synopsis: Mal surprises Daenarya with a late night picnic, but it doesn't go as planned.
This takes place in my Blades 1 timeline with my original (pre-canon) Orphanage
"Sweet dreams." Daenarya leaned over, pressing a kiss on Lydo's forehead as she pulled his blanket a little higher. She turned to Rayden, brushing back a strand of his dark hair. "Sleep well, sweet boy," she whispered, kissing his forehead as well. So much had changed, and so much would still change, but she couldn't imagine life without her sons.
Her muscles tensed slightly at the sound of the door creaking as she closed it behind her. She frowned at the hinges. Mal was supposed to fix that. She didn't have time to let her thoughts linger long before she was pulled forward.
"What the—"
"Shhh—" Mal winked as he guided her up the stairs. Hand in hand, the pair moved swiftly toward the roof.
The rooftop door swung open with a bang, a harsh contrast to the care with which Daeanrya took, shutting the boys' door.
"Mal," she hissed, her gaze narrowing on him.
"No one heard that." He shrugged off her concern.
Her brow arched as she listened carefully from where they had come. Maybe he was right... this time.
"You still have to fix the squeaky hinge on the boys' door."
"Tomorrow."
"You said that yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, and..."
"Fine, fine," Mal relented, his hands settling on her waist. "It will be fixed tomorrow. Now, can we enjoy my little surprise?"
As her attention shifted to where he gestured, she was greeted by a cozy space. A soft, red blanket adorned with plush pillows was spread out on the rooftop. Lanterns and candles were carefully scattered around, casting a gentle, intimate glow over the scene. A wooden tray lay on the edge, filled with sliced cheeses, meets, and fruits. A bottle of wine and a set of glasses sat beside it. "Mal! This is beautiful!"
His arms wrapped around her from behind as he kissed her shoulder, guiding her toward the blanket.
Her step was hesitant at first. "What if Iliana needs us? We can't hear her cry from here?"
His voice was a warm breath against her cool skin. "Loola is watching her and knows where we are."
"How'd you manage that," Daenarya laughed softly.
A smirk pulled on his lips. "She said anything to get away from a nursing Threep."
"I can see that. Iliana will be no trouble at all comparatively. Good for her, Loola deserves a night off."
"Not quite—" A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Threep and his Kindle of bat-kittens followed her here. But I told him the nursery was not for him, so he's in the spare room."
"Oh, boy! Wait until Rayden finds out in the morning!"
"That can wait until tomorrow." Mal ushered her on the blanket, wrapping her in his arms. "Now, can we just enjoy our moment?"
Daenarya leaned back into his embrace, her eyes fluttering closed, relaxing into him. "What are we celebrating?" She hummed softly.
"You—" His lips brushed over the skin on the crook of her neck. "Me—" He kissed the tender spot on her neck behind her ear, savoring the soft moan that slipped through her lips. He continued, peppering her neck with increasingly long kisses between each reason: "Us. Our daughter. Our sons. All of this."
She turned to face him, her hand caressing his jaw as her lips teased his. "I love us." Her kiss was soft at first but quickly grew with passion. It wasn't often they had moments alone, especially now with the baby, and she was ready to take advantage of it.
"Can I entice you to some wine?" Mal breathed when they parted to catch their breath. "or some snacks?"
Her eyes darkened with lust as her gaze raked over him. Her head shook to the sides, and her fingers tangled in his long, dark hair. "You are the only thing I want to taste right now."
"Thank the gods because I wasn't really offering."
Her lips crashed against his as she pushed him back against the blanket, straddling his hips.
A shadow flickered in the corner of her eye, capturing her attention.
"Hello?" Called a little voice.
"Who's there?" The second voice held a little more confident.
Daenarya sighed, sliding quickly off of Mal. It was hard to be disappointed when she saw them come into the light. Those two boys brought so much joy to their world.
"It's just us," she called.
"Mama?" Rayden's little voice rose with excitement, running toward her with a little wooden sword dangling in his hand.
Mal grumbled slightly, readjusting himself as he sat up. "What are you boys doing out here so late at night?"
"I heard a noise before," Lydo answered. His eyes surveyed the scene before him. "I thought there was trouble."
"So you went toward the sound you thought might be danger?" Daenarya questioned with alarm.
"We had to," Lydo started, sheathing his not wooden, very real dagger.
The glint of the knife caught Daenarya's eye; she frowned at Mal. It wasn't that she didn't think he could handle it; she just didn't want him to have to.
"We have to protect her," Rayden offered, his eyes sparkling with the flickers of the candles. "That's what big brothers do. I want to show Iliana I can be a good big brother like Lydo is to me."
"Oh, my sweet boy," a tender smile drew across Daenarya's face as she held him. "You already are—" her attention flickered to Lydo, "—you both are. You watch over her. You tell her stories. You make her smile and laugh! You have nothing to prove." She rubbed her nose against his before kissing his forehead. "Why don't you let Mal and I be the ones to protect the three of you for a while. You focus on being kids. How does that sound?"
Rayden nodded readily. Lydo was more hesitant to agree. He knew too well the dangers of the world they lived in from his time in the Thieves Guild.
"For me," Daenarya pleaded, offering him her hand. "Just for a little while."
He accepted her hand, relishing the warmth of her touch. There were nights he woke up, afraid it was all a dream, but it never was. "Okay."
"That's my boy," Mal clapped him on his shoulder. "We're very proud of you both and I'm sure Iliana would agree if she could."
"Thank you." A smile pulled on Lydo's features as he wrapped his arms around Mal. As he relaxed, letting the notion of any danger disappear, he looked around at the setting, noticing it all for the first time. His eyes widened. "Rayden, uh, we should go... get back to bed."
"I'm not sleepy anymore," Rayden offered through a soft yawn. "Besides they have grapes. I love grapes!"
"I know you do, why don't we share some?" Daenarya suggested.
"I'll go pick out a good bunch."
"Rayden!" Lydo scolded lightly, but his younger brother just popped a grape in his mouth, continuing with his mission to find the best bunch.
"It's okay. You can stay. A picnic of four would be even better," Mal suggested.
"Are you sure? We don't mean to interrupt," Lydo worried.
Mal surveyed the scene. His romantic moonlit picnic had been taken over by their sons. Instead of feeding Daenarya grapes, she and Rayden were feeding each other, making faces and laughing beside him. His gaze shifted to Lydo, the older of the two boys, yet not even ten and he'd seen the weight of the world. His lip pulled in the corner. "I'm sure. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, show me that dagger, again. I'll show you a new trick."
Lydo smiled freely as he held out his dagger, twirling it with a flourish as he handed it proudly to Mal.
Daenarya watched in awe. Lydo might not be biologically theirs, but he was undoubtedly Mal's son in every way.
As the night drifted on, the laughter and joyful sounds of their voices quieted, as Rayden and Lydo fell asleep despite their best efforts. Their parents lifted them into their arms, readying to return them to the safety of their beds.
"Thanks for the romantic picnic," Daenarya brushed a kiss on Mal's cheek.
His brow arched, "so much for the romantic part."
"I don't know—" Her lips pressed together into a playful smirk, turning toward the door. "The night's still young."
Mal's eyes widened as a mischievous grin filled his face. He followed Daenarya closely behind, with Lydo in his arms, hoping to pick up where they left off sooner than later.
I HC that although they truly planned to get back to what they were doing, they end up falling asleep together first. Even though they're them, they're still new parents to a baby and so they're more tired than they realize.
I just love these four and I hope you enjoyed this little story too!
I was going to make a masterlist, but since most entries were just reblogs to the community posts it seemed silly... especially since all the extra entries were mine 🙈. Felt weird making a masterlist for just me! If more individual works are added, I'll make a separate masterlist.
