It was a beautiful day. - Challenge

Heya Everyone, sorry today's post is another small drabble. I was issued a challenge to use the same sentence at both the start and the end of a story, but they had to have two very different tones. I knew the second I read it that I wanted the sentence ‘It was a beautiful day.’

See ya next week.

It was a beautiful day. You had been awake to watch the sunrise, curled in your lover's arms as you sat on the black sand beach, an old, well loved picnic blanket wrapped around you both. An empty bottle leant against the picnic basket that held the remains of last nights date. The food from your favourite restaurant had been consumed, dirty plates and wine glasses safely tucked away in the basket, ready to be taken home and washed. Your stomach aching from both too much good food and the laughter you had both offered and received.

Neither of you had been ready to leave, not when the temperatures at the beach had dropped below the warm evening weather you’d both dressed for. Not when the chilling ocean wind knotted itself through your hair. Not even when the stars came out and twinkled down at you, offering their little light in place of the moon’s glow. Everything seemed so serene like you were blocked off from the world in your own little bubble. Safe, untouchable.

It had been perfect, alternating between allowing gentle whispers to fall from your lips to just sitting in comfortable silence, listening to the waves caress the sandy shore as tides came and went. Constellations being pointed out until no more were known, and instead, you switched to making shapes come to life amongst the stars, those that swam your eyes becoming more and more unrealistic as your imagination started to stretch itself to its limits. Fingers raised to the sky to trace them out to one another, before falling as laughter once more swarmed you.

It was perfect, everything you’d ever dreamed of and more. So much so, that you hated the moment you spotted the first hints of light blue creeping over the ocean towards you. You hadn’t moved, and neither had your partner. Eyes locked on the sky as it transformed between your very eyes, long brush streaks of orange, gold, purple, pink and grey making the horizon come to life, and once again, you found yourself transfixed by the beauty of it all.

It wasn’t often that you found a moment to simply sit and enjoy the little things. The slight tinge of hunger starting to grow. The curves of your lover's body pressing against your own as you shared both body heat and the scratchy blanket that still seemed to itch in all the wrong places.

But it was perfect, you wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Yes, on the last day you had with your partner. It was a beautiful day.

I was no one.

Heya Everyone!

Today's blog post is a mix of both the prompt below and the BBC's Writersroom Script Challenge #3 - A monologue. I did start this story a different way on my Tumblr, but I changed my mind slightly when I actually started writing. So I've changed that prologue to be the base idea instead. I am also in two minds on whether I should write more of this or not.

Prompt: Reincarnation has been scientifically proven, and scientists can track exactly what people were in their past lives, stretching back for thousands of years. You are the only one alive with no link to… Anything. (Credit: Writing-prompt-s)

“My mother was Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, Queen of Kings, and Queen of the Nile. My mother was once Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India. My mother was Rosa Parks, an international icon of the civil rights movement. She has always been a strong, powerful female voice, but you currently know her as Dr Isabella Stein, the lead scientist of the regeneration identification program. My father was Mark Antony, Prince Albert, Raymond Parks, my mother's soul mate, always at her side and supporting each other through each reincarnation, as he still does now.

“It was always expected that I would be just as great as they were in my past lives, achieving the same heights if not greater. How could I be anything else when I am the child of these powerful people. The product of soulmates that death itself could not keep apart. Bets were placed on the nature of my past the second that my parents announced they were expecting a child. Their coworkers unable to stop themselves from guessing who I could possibly be. Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene II, any one of Queen Victoria’s nine children. The possibilities had seemed endless, no great person in the history books was left unnamed.  People guessing how high I, an unborn fetus, would reach in my current life, based solely on whom they believed I had been in my past. No one could have guessed the truth.

“I was no one. No, I don’t mean no one as in someone that history considers unimportant. I was no one. I have no past lives, no history that can be traced back to the dawn of time. I am the first new soul on earth since the day humanity began. At first, it was deemed to be impossible, there had been no new life on earth since the first life began. We thought it was a glitch, that there was no way that I was no one. A bug in the software that reacted with me. I took that test thousands of times, underwent every test possible, tweaked every variable. My childhood was wasted because my mother and the combined scientific community didn’t believe the results in front of their eyes.

“I was no one. I have no past to compare myself to. No incarnation to strive to be better than, no past deeds to rectify, to make up for. No atrocities to scar against my name as I try to forge my way in this new world. I am the first person in centuries to be free, I can live my life as I want, not part of a worldwide study, my actions aren’t scrutinised and compared to the hundreds of lives I supposedly lived before this one. I am free to forge my own path, I don’t have an obligation to continue what my soul supposedly started in the past. There is no person that is assumed to be my soulmate because we were together in lives once lived.

“Which is why I stand before you today Ladies and Gentlemen. My life, my freedom, has given me a different view of life and the way things are done. I have come before you as not only the head of the board but also as the first new soul to walk this earth, to achieve my lifetime dream. Ladies and Gentlemen, today we usher in a new age or a return to an old one.

“It is my genuine pleasure to announce the immediate shut down of the Regeneration Identification Program.”

Valentine's Day Special

Happy Valentine’s day everyone.

A part of me loves the idea that there is a day to show your love for someone, to spoil them rotten. The logical part of me realises that it’s just a way for companies to commercialise love. The hopeless romantic in me thinks that love should be celebrated every day, that you should spoil the one you love on any day, not just the day that society has deemed that love should be celebrated on... my characters? Well, let’s see what they think.

Captain Roza Salazar: The Hellborn Princess: (yes I know I use ‘Rose’, ‘Sofia’, and ‘Alex’, or some variation of it a lot. It’s a bad habit backed by seven years of writing. I’m slowly working to break it, and changing the names as I go).

Life on the sea, travelling through all the different time zones as Captain of the Hellborn Princess meant that to Roza, Valentine's day was just another day. Another day to do the rounds, check on the students and the crew. She cared little for the dates as they flew past, as long as they weren’t deadlines of when she had to be in port or changing her collection of students. It was the way of the sea.

Hellborn Princess’ First mate, and Captain Roza’s secret lover, however, was the exact opposite. Eagerly counting down the days, keeping track of the timelines they passed through. In a way, it was part of his job. Roza cared little for conventional dates and times, so making sure they were on track was his role entirely.

He knew that she would get him nothing for Valentine's day, that to her it was just another day on the open waters. So when the fourteenth of February hit and Roza woke up with a box of chocolates on her desk she felt like an idiot. A beautiful bouquet of flowers looming over the top of them.

“Joyeuse Saint Valentin ma Cherie,” Alex whispered, stepping through the secret entrance to her room, two cups of coffee balanced carefully in one hand.

“Is that today?” Roza swore under her breath, hand running through her hair as she slumped back down in her hammock. “Why didn’t you remind me?” Alex chuckled, passing her a coffee as she sat up and swung her legs down to stabilise herself.

“Because I know you Spanish celebrate it on a different day...” He bent down to kiss the top of her head with a smile as he teased her.

“And in turn, I know how much this day means to you French. Feliz dia de San Valentin Amante.” Roza stood, pressing a kiss to his lips as one of her free hand slipped around his neck. His palm pressing against the small of her back as he returned her kiss.

Lady Violetta Tatsuya: Ouran High Host Club. Another note, I generally try to keep fanfiction off of my blog, and should it ever come up I am very careful to make sure no one can tell that it’s fanfiction. Today is a special case.

Violetta was growing more nervous as each day past, valentine's day was barely a week away, and she had no idea what kind of chocolates to make for her secret boyfriend. She didn’t even know if she could call him her boyfriend. They’d never labelled whatever it was that they entertained themselves with, it wasn’t a conversation either of them had felt the need to have, until now, and instead of doing the logical thing and simply asking him, she was instead over analysing everything.

Cases and studies alike were abandoned on her desk in favour of the battle repeating itself in her mind. The last thing she wanted was to give him the wrong idea of what she thought their relationship was. That in itself could be disastrous. She needed a solution, quickly.

~~~~~♥~~~~~♡~~~~~♥~~~~~

A smile pulled up at his lips as he saw the simple box awaiting him on the desk he claimed as his own in music room three. It was in stark contrast to the hundreds of boxes that filled up the room from adoring fans around the school. He put his notebook down to pick up the box, opening the lid to see half a dozen chocolates and a handwritten note across the lid. ‘Dinner tonight. My place at eight.’ The smile still firmly in place, he opened his notebook to add one more name to the long list of girls he would need to make sure had flowers come white day, her name written in ink at the very top of his list, Lady Violetta Tatsuya.

Eriana (formerly Sofia) Salvatore/Mikaelson (married/maiden), Vampire Diaries:

Then:

A smile pulled at his lips as he watched the carriage pull up to her house. A large bouquet of flowers taking up the seat beside him and a note nestled within the arrangement. He had meant to send them with a servant, but as the time drew closer he found himself unable to deny the urge to deliver the gift himself. He wanted to see her joy first hand, rather than a tale spun through the mouths of others.

His excitement grew as the carriage came to a stop, the front door of her house wide open and Josaphine awaiting him on the steps.

“Sir, we were not expecting you.” She scolded, watching him step out of the carriage, his gift cradled in his arms.

“Is Miss Mikaelson home?” He asked, walking up the front steps and into the house that he thought of as his home.

“For you my love, always.” He turned at the sound of her voice behind him, looking to see her exiting a carriage stopped right behind his own. A footman helping her step out of the carriage before moving back so she could walk up the steps towards him. “Although only just apparently.” She teased, leaning closer to press her lips to his cheek.

“I am sorry, I could not bare to wait another moment. For you.” He presented her with the flowers, a smile on his lips as he bowed, never taking her eyes off of him. “Happy Valentines day Eriana.”

~~~~~♥~~~~~♡~~~~~♥~~~~~

Now:

Eriana Salvatore wasn’t expecting anything as Valentine’s day rolled around, her husband was still upset with how things had played out, and she honestly couldn’t blame him. So the giant bouquet of flowers on her desk took her off guard. It couldn’t have been anyone other than him, she had only allowed two people access to her office, and the young witch would have no reason to spend such large amounts of money on a gift for her mentor. No, it could only have been the work of her husband to replicate a gift from one hundred years earlier.

She couldn’t stop the slight tremble of her hands as she plucked the note from the centre, reading the words that hadn’t changed from when he first wrote them to her all those years before.

‘Eriana Salvatore,

Light of my life, Love of my dreams.

You know I wouldn’t normally say such things.

But I would be a fool,

If today should pass, and I should be so cruel

For my love for you remain unknown

An act my dearest mother surely would condone

So, to the most marvellous woman, I have ever seen

Whose beauty rivals that of a queen

Happy Valentines day

My love

D.S.’

Spy Affairs, Continued

Heya Everyone,

I'll be honest, when I sat down to write today's blog post I was uninspired and had no motivation. All I wanted to do was find something old, fix it a touch, and return to my game. (I finally caved and got Minecraft, and it is so addictive).

BUT! I didn't, in my hunt for something old I discovered that I had written some more of Spy Affairs, which we've previously seen twice, as a glimpse into James, and as the start of Chapter One. So I finished chapter one, and that's what you see before you today.

Now I'm both motivated and inspired... funny how that worked.

Until Next Week, Enjoy!

My entire body tensed as the wedding music started, bridesmaids chosen by my father curtsying to me before lining up outside the doorway that would lead me to Prince James, the man my father chose for me to marry. The man that I was expected to spend the rest of my life serving.

“He is a good man.” My mother assured me, leaning forward to kiss my cheek before walking into the church ahead of me. They didn’t know I’d snuck away to see him, in fact, my father had expressly forbidden such an act.

My grip tightened on father’s arm, watching as the bridesmaids started a walk they had no doubt been practising for weeks, his hand sliding over mine and loosening my hold slightly as he manoeuvred us into position. People flocking closer to fix up my dress before I could be seen, camera’s flashing all around us, a fake smile tugging at father’s lips as a video camera zoomed in closer.

I forced myself to relax, schooling my features as the music changed and father started walking, only tugging me forward once before I fell into step beside him.

Crowds of nobles from both countries stood either side, heads craned around to try be the first to catch sight of me, but I noticed a few people staring forward. There was no doubt in my mind that it was those that had disapproved of the union, not only between us but between our countries. Those that had no desire to call me their Queen nor James their King once the marriage was done, but had shown up because it was what was expected of them.

“Smile.” Father hissed at me under his breath, my eyes raising to rest on Prince James’ back, knowing he wasn’t allowed to turn and look at me until I was by his side. Instead, my eyes skipped from him and instead into the audience, searching for Maylene. If any of the wedding had been up to me, she would have been at my side, my maid of honour and the woman who I had planned the entire thing with, but I had no say in any of it. Instead, I could only hope that she had found a way to be at my big day.

But my eyes never saw her, a nudge from father reminding me to look forward, watch the back of the man I was to pledge my life to grow closer with each well-timed step. The fake smile turning real as father placed my hands into those of Prince James, saying the words that would have me rid of him forever.

Prince James smiled as he turned to face me, his sweaty hands clenched in my own cool ones. I knew he was worried, scared, I could see it in the way his eyes failed to sparkle as they looked down at me. Neither of us wanted this, but we both knew we had no choice. It was our duty and burden to bare as heirs and rulers.

My smile, in turn, was much more realistic, my time at the academy had taught me exactly how to fake it, and as long as I thought of this as just another mission I would get through the day just fine. My mark the man in front of me, suited in navy black with a white shirt beneath his blazer. The colour making his blue eyes seem all the more vibrant as they scanned me the way mine were him.

“Lady Maylene wanted me to tell you that ‘she wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world’.” James’ voice was barely a whisper as he bent his head closer to my ear, making sure to take the one closest to the priest so that the cameras wouldn’t pick up on it.

“She’s here.” Even I couldn’t hide the relief in my voice as my eyes flicked to the crowd once more, searching for her familiar face amongst a sea of nobles.

“Your highnesses, are we ready to begin?” Prince James drew back, his hands squeezing mine as he nodded to the priest. It was time. Time to become both man and wife and a single country united under our reign.

~~~~~♥~~~~~♡~~~~~♥~~~~~

“May I present, for the first time, as husband and wife. Their royal majesties, King James and Queen Sofia Ormond-Fontaine of Askia. You may kiss the bride.” King James raised an eyebrow at me in silent question at the Priest’s nods, silently asking me if it was okay. I smiled softly in response, no matter how I felt, it was what was required to finalise the deal our parents had made. With the brush of his lips against mine, the weight of a new country settled firmly on our shoulders, and our fates were sealed in the same gold bands that wrapped around our fingers.

King James took his hands from mine to instead offer me his arm, ready to walk down the aisle and to his palace where we had a short amount of time before the reception. I slipped my arm through his, barely paying any attention to the bridesmaids that rushed forward to rearrange my gown as I turned back down the aisle with my new husband.

We paused outside the doors as photographers rushed forward to take more photo’s of us, King James waving and smiling to the crowd as I did the same.

“Your Majesties, we have a short time frame, please.” A man I recognised from my secret visit to meet King James moved forward, guards at his heels to move the cameramen out of the way and clear a path towards the awaiting horse drawn carriage.

“Of course Hamish, if you are ready my Queen?” My arm was still looped through his, but he didn’t move, instead waiting patiently for my answer.

“Of course,” I replied, grasping at my dress so that I wouldn’t step on it as I walked down the stairs. My father would kill me if he noticed that I was looking at the ground, so I could only estimate where the next step was and hope that King James wouldn’t allow me to fall down the stairs on our wedding day.

“Here.” He let go of my arm to wrap his own around my waist, the other resting gently beneath my arm as I gathered my dress up properly, able to step freely now that nothing was in my way.

“Lady Maylene asked me to inform you that she has another gown more suited to your style at the palace your majesty.” Hamish stood at the other side of me, hands loosely at his side, but I knew just from the way he held himself that he was prepared to step in and help should it look like I was about to fall.

“Thank you Lord Hamish.” I replied with a smile, glancing at him before returning my attention to the awaiting carriage, able to release my dress once we reached the end of the steps. King James quickly let go of my arm but left his arm around my waist as he lead me the last few steps towards the carriage.

Like the car, the carriage had no roof, gold decorations and colourful streamers made it stand out from the motorbikes that would escort us on our trip. Four brilliant white stallions waited patiently, unfazed by the crowds that lined the streets and screamed at us. Still waving the new flag of our unified country and chanting it’s name ‘Askia’.

Habit had my eyes scanning both the crowds and surrounding buildings, looking for any sign that the brotherhood was waiting to take me out now that I was wed and my country was also that of King James. I knew the sisterhood wouldn’t harm my new husband, they had promised me that much when the news of my engagement reached us. All I wanted was an end to the war that had cost so many of my sisters there lives.

“Your Majesty.” My head snapped back to Lord Hamish, realising his eyes were watching my every action, King James doing much the same. They must have been waiting for me to enter the carriage first.  

“Sorry, of course.” I stepped forward, lifting my skirts and using the small wooden staircase to enter the carriage and sit down, aware that King James was right behind me.

“I asked if you were alright.” He whispered to me, before waving at the crowds as the carriage started to move once more.

“Just surprised that the brotherhood hasn’t made a move on my life.” I answered honestly, raising one hand to wave at the crowds on my side of the carriage.

“As I am the sisterhood, but surely they have to have realised that our wedding may not be the best time for that. Surely they will do nothing until our coronation, I am certain that my parents had it included that should anything happen to one of us, or should we decide that our marriage is not what is best for Askia then we can change the agreement, nothing is truly binding until that crown is placed upon our heads and the oath has been sworn.” King James answered, his eyes drifting over to me. “I didn’t get a chance to say it earlier, but you look gorgeous.”

The smile that lit up my face must have surprised him, because he leant in closer, the thoughts of the crowd abandoned in favour of kissing my cheek, his free hand entwining through mine as his eyes dropped to my lips before lifting back up again.

“I was worried, this dress is not my style. My father picked it out, it makes me feel out of place.” I explained, dropping my hand and turning run my free hand through the raven hair that I had been longing to play with since we had met before settling it on his cheek.

“Well my Queen, you made it seem like you have lived in those dresses your whole life, no one would have been able to tell any differently.” King James answered, leaning into my touch and squeezing our entwined fingers gently. With a glance to his lips, I leant forward, stealing a kiss that he returned. Only pulling away when the cheers of our people turned into screams and calls of joy. King James smirked at me, pressing a feather light kiss to my lips before returning to the task of waving to those gathered as I did the same.