#10 BEST Places to Visit in Chicago

[automaticenemytimetravel]

Places To Visit In Chicago

10 Best Places To Visit In Chicago In This article you can know the Top 10 Best places to visit in Chicago. 

[bloodinesslooksgoodonyou]

Ficlet: How would you describe your ideal life in 10 years?

We interviewed Mikhailo “Mickey” Milkovich, who was 16 years old when the first interview took place, consecutively through 2011 to 2021, asking him to describe his ideal life in 10 years. Mickey grew up in the South Side of Chicago.

Here are the transcripts of the interviews.

2011

Mickey: “…shit, I don’t know. 100 bucks, you said? Just for doing this? (Inaudible) [I]f I’m being honest, not bein’ fuckin’ dead. Or a fiend, or whatever. Bein’ able to sell shit and afford shit like food or booze, probably.”

2012

Following his release from the juvenile detention center, we agreed to resume the interview series with Mickey despite the delay.

Mickey: “Not bein’ locked up. That’s for sure. Other than that, I don’t know. Run a business, I guess. Make somethin’ for myself. It’s bullshit anyways. Who the fuck knows what happens in 10 years’ time.”

2013

Mickey got married and was expecting a baby. He had declined the interview before showing up visibly intoxicated and demanded the reward.

2014

Mickey reached out to us, asking if he could still meet us for an interview, because he was trying to “make things right” as “life has taken a somewhat better turn.”

Mickey: “Wanna be able to take care of some shit that’s been happenin’. Be able to fix ‘em for good, I hope. And [take care of] some people, too, like my sister. Thanks for letting me do this, anyway. You didn’t have to.”

2015

Mickey: “Ian bein’ okay. Healthier, more stable, at least. Yev bein’ okay. That’s what I want. Best if we are still together.”

Interviewer: “And Ian is your…?”

Mickey: “Boyfriend. Yev is my son. And I hope they either lock up Terry—he’s my dad—for good or I manage to turn his dumbass head around on this.”

Interviewer: “This?”

Mickey: “The whole, bein’ gay thing.”

2016

Mickey was incarcerated for the entire year. We wrote to him about setting up an interview through phone call but did not hear back.

2017-2018

We were unable to make contact with Mickey.

2019

Mickey reached out again from prison to set up an in-person interview during visiting hours.

Mickey: “Gettin’ outta this shithole. Settlin’ down. Startin’ a family with him (Ian, who was Mickey’s boyfriend from the 2015 interview, and at that time, also his cellmate). And fuck Terry, I hope he’d be fuckin’ dead by then.”

2020

Mickey got released from prison and married to Ian both at the beginning of the year, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were able to set up a Zoom interview with him during lockdown.

Mickey: “Not bein’ stuck at home all the fuckin’ time. Get off parole and go back down south once in a while for vacation time.”

2021

Mickey: “This right here’s good enough for me. Maybe buy a house, get a dog or two.”

Interviewer: “What about Ian?”

Mickey: “What about him? [Are] you askin’ if I’d still be married to him? That ain’t never in doubt.”

[idiopathicsmile]

10 comebacks to a woman who once told my best friend, then a chicagoan (like i was), "i love coming to chicago because in new york i'm an 8 but in chicago i'm a 10"

"exactly, that's something i love about living here, you know? it's not as surface-oriented and shallow as some other cities. like, the culture's just a little deeper and a little smarter than in places where everyone's only concentrating on looking their best at all times, you know?"

"oh wow, you really said that with your out-loud voice, huh?"

(LAUGHTER) "yeah, you're a ten here. sure you are." (LAUGHTER)

"just wondering: in the moments before that comment left your mouth, did you take a second to imagine how we, a bunch of people who very obviously live in chicago, would react? if no, why not? if yes, what on earth did you see? please write in complete sentences in the booklet provided. you will have thirty minutes."

"my god, do you assign yourself a number comparing your appearance to the appearances of the people around you everywhere you go? you know we have a limited amount of time on this earth, right? you know that after that, we die and death is forever, right?"

"hurrah, i've done it! i've finally met the one human on the planet who is capable of objectively, correctly assessing the relative attractiveness of everyone everywhere on earth. please, oh please pray tell: what number am i? what number is he? what number is she? numbers all around, please!"

"what an exhausting way to live. what a tiring way of interacting with other people. what a dispiriting way to view the world around you, a world teeming with life and strangeness and possibility. serious question: are you alright?"

"i was going to make a crack about new yorkers being looks-obsessed, but in retrospect i have no idea why. i'm sorry. i genuinely have nothing against nyc, a location i have visited only a handful of times, including one trip to see the very person to whom you made your ill-advised remark, lo these years ago, and we had what i would call a magical time. i don't actually understand pitting one city against another. i don't understand the mentality that there must always be a ranking, must always be a competition, must always, always be a winner and a loser. also if you're a ten, everyone else here is a twelve, baby."

"on some level, i do understand that eventually this ceases to be a piece about the irritating thing a friend's work colleague once said, and instead becomes a chronicle of my own deranged inability to let a grudge go—even a petty grudge, even a second-hand grudge, even a grudge which i am again compelled to inform you saw its spark of creation multiple years and several moves ago. (neither the friend nor i live in chicago anymore.) on some level, i understand that this turning point, the moment where any sensible reader went "yikes, jess really hasn't let this go, huh?" might have happened in the very title of this post. i have never met you, woman who maybe five years ago told some chicagoans you worked with that you're an 8 in new york and a 10 in chicago. you could have changed since then. you could have grown and deepened and evolved your thinking. i do believe people are capable of learning. maybe you even remember saying it, and regret it now. maybe not. but to be honest, worse things have been said—to me, to my best friend, to everyone who has been on this planet longer than a few years. life is exhausting and scary and wonderful and we are all going to die some day. you are an adult and that means you have had hard days, hard weeks, hard years even. you have been heartbroken, and sick with worry, and you have known terror, real terror, that animal fear that crawls up the spine and screams in the brain, and yet you found it in yourself to get in a airplane and fly halfway across a large country to be here, for the sake of a job you might not even like. we are all doing the best we can. i have to believe we are all doing the best we can. i could have written this post about anything. there were near-infinite possibilities and i chose this, a mean little caricature, and in trying to paint you, only managed a quick and unflattering sketch of me, a person obsessed with being right and being clever, but who frequently is neither. again, i have never met you, and if i do meet you i will never know it, and i have spent more brain space imagining a tiny, bitter vengeance against this single-sentence quote, relayed to me at a remove, than i have spent trying to learn calculus or teaching myself to garden or volunteering at a soup kitchen. if there ever was a winner or a loser in this bizarre equation it is fully possible that i have lost, simply by trying so hard to win."

"...ok."

[lavendertales]

Sweet lies: Chapter 10**

pairing: Frankie Morales x f!reader

summary: Frankie is determined to come clean to Andrea, but her departure punts a dent in his plans. Meanwhile, you are offered a fantastic opportunity in Switzerland, and Frankie only grows more erratic.

word count: 5k

WARNINGS: morning sex (piv, vaginal fingering, praise kink, creampie)

AGELESS/EMPTY BLOGS & MINORS WILL BE BLOCKED!

Comments & reblogs are always appreciated 💕

gif: @javier-pena​ 

series masterlist | AO3

It takes you a bit to gain full consciousness. Right now you’re somewhere between a comatose state and reality, and you can’t decide which option is best. You weigh them carefully, barely remembering last night’s events and where you find yourself this morning.

Then you open your eyes, slowly coming to it, taking a quick scan around.

You’re in Frankie’s bedroom.

The most intimate place of his apartment, recently shared with Andrea, his fiancé, that’s where you are. It brings you a feeling of both comfort and panic, but it is difficult to discern between the two when you find yourself stretching in utter coziness, Frankie’s scent still lingering on the sheets.

Unlike him, who seems nowhere to be found.

“Hi, good morning,” you hear his husky voice say.

It takes you a bit to realize that he’s not talking to you. Besides the fact that his voice sounds even more attractive first thing in the morning, he sounds distressed. You stand up halfway, trying to visualize him; you finally catch a glimpse of his naked silhouette at the desk, slouching on the chair and with the phone at his ear.

“Listen, I really need to talk to you,” he says. “It’s urgent. Yes, it’s about us. Could we meet for lunch? Because it’s a face to face conversation. Because I—what do you mean you’re not here? Seriously? You decided to go visit your parents for a whole week on a Sunday? I know you can visit them whenever you want, I’m just saying—this is more important than a goddamn visit! Come on, please, can’t you let it go? We really need to talk. When are you coming back? Fine. Fine, we’ll talk then. Bye.”

He grunts, hanging up the phone and rubbing his face in frustration. Then, he sees you, and his face softens instantly. He crawls back in bed next to you, gently stroking your hair. It’s now that you come to realize you’re not certain when you moved from the couch to the bed last night. It’s all a blur, frankly, especially after Frankie slid right back inside you once you were concealed underneath the sheets.

“What’s the problem?” you ask.

“I called Andrea to meet for lunch, talk about things. Apparently she’s gonna be out of town for a week, visiting her parents in Chicago.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess our talk yesterday affected her more than she let on.”

“I just think it’s weird.”

You frown, halfway amused. “You’re in bed with another woman. I think there are other concerns in the middle.”

Frankie chuckles. “She said she’ll text me when she gets back. So we’ll see.”

He nuzzles up to you, eyes locked on your radiant face. “I don’t wanna get up yet.”

“It’s Sunday. I don’t think we have to.”

“We probably should. Given… circumstances.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

You stare at each other, your bodies as hungry as last night, except lazier. It feels too good to retreat into the warmth of the sheets, your skin warm to the touch.

“It’s still early though,” you say, teasingly playing with a few locks of his hair.

His lips touch yours, the sensation sweet and sensual. Your body instantly catches fire as his hand traces the slopes and curves of your body. His fingers find refuge at last between your legs, barely touching through your folds, and yet you still crumble.

Suddenly there’s a broken moan that escapes past your lips, filling the otherwise silent air. Frankie grunts into your mouth, pleasantly remarking that you’re somewhat wet already.

“Francisco,” you whisper, cupping both his cheeks, mouth wide open at the sensation of his digits rubbing against your clit.

He doesn’t tell you, but whenever you coo his full name, it’s equal parts torturous and ecstatic. Whenever you plea for him in such a yearning manner, it breaks him, makes him forget everything else in this world. Even now, as he starts rubbing circles on your clit, all he can see is you. All he can hear and feel is you, and it is now that he acknowledges the fact that it’s always been this way.

Even during one of the first times he and Andrea slept together, and his lower lip bled as a result of him trying not to grunt your name.

These are things he keeps to himself, buried as deep as he’d like to bury himself inside you right about now.

Your hand traces his cock, now fully erect, giving it a few strokes, and Frankie moans alongside you.

“Frankie,” you moan again, barely conscious at this point. “Please. Please…”

He looks at you amazed, almost teasingly so, but he does not mock. “What do you need?”

“You. I need to feel you. Please.”

Frankie smiles in response, slipping his fingers inside you. It’s only two of them, but you are still so sensitive from last night and from being barely awake that it feels like it’s too much. You instinctively spread your legs further, making more room for Frankie, and you grab tightly onto his shoulder. There’s heat radiating from all over you, rooted deep in your veins, it seems, and Frankie can feel it, too.

“You’re so warm,” he tells you, pecking your lips as he thrusts his fingers in and out of you at a decent pace. “So tight and wet… hmm, so good, baby girl.”

Your sole response are pathetically needy moans, but right now, you forbid yourself to think about anything else except the way he’s building towards your orgasm with nothing but his fingers.

“F-Francisco…”

“Mhm, it’s okay. It’s okay, I got you.”

“Don’t stop, please, please…”

“Not going to stop, baby. You wanna cum on my fingers? Just like this, hm?”

“Yes, yes—“

“Good girl, come on. Let me feel you around my fingers, come for me.”

He picks up the pace, his fingers fucking into you with the fastest speed he can muster while he’s kissing your lips and cheeks. Your fingers dig into the flesh of his shoulder as you come, and you nearly cry with overstimulation. It’s probably the fastest you’ve came from such a form of stimulation, but it’s all too much to not let it explode in such a delicious manner.

You see him taking your arousal-coated fingers to his mouth and sucking them dry, his eyes piercing through you. Then, you watch him curl the same fingers around his cock, fisting it gently and releasing a series of unholy sounds before positioning himself at your entrance.

He doesn’t want to think how Andrea practically skipped town once she intuited something was going on between you and Frankie. He doesn’t want to think about the fact that he desperately wants to talk to her, end things while there’s still some dignity left, and she’s literally running away from him. He doesn’t want to think about any of that; all he wants is to bury himself into you, to feel you as deeply as humanly possible, and hear you moan for him on repeat.

And that’s what he does: he pushes past your soaked lips, burying himself to the hilt with one swift and languid motion. You throw your head back, the stretch of your walls around him absolutely magnetic. You feel every inch of him, every vein on his cock, every single thing as he steadily grinds his hips into yours. It’s like he’s touching every nerve in your body with each push into your pussy, each passing second building your orgasm faster and faster. He’s definitely bigger than what he previously gave to you, and he stretches you out so painfully good you could cry out in pleasure.

“I love being inside you,” he mutters, head buried in the crook of your neck.

“Frankie—fuck—“

“You feel so perfect around me. So… fucking perfect. So fucking good, so good for me…”

Truth be told, he’s not in control of his mental faculties at this point; he’s lost and long surrendered to your taste, your warmth, every inch of you. While you’re both tender and sore from yesterday, Frankie’s erratic movements grow needier and thus more desperate. He’s fucking into you faster, now staring down on you with a hunger you would’ve deemed as unknown or surreal till now. You stare right at him, mouth open as you moan, your body at his mercy.

He’s slamming his cock faster and harder with each second, and with each whimper that leaves your mouth. Your nails dig into his back once more, only this time they cut right through him, adding to the buildup in Frankie’s belly. You feel sweat coating his and your skin alike, and his hands start to move frantically all over you, as if he wants to contain all of you in his hands, all at once.

“I need to—“he tries to warn, but you run your fingers over his lips to shush him sweetly.

“It’s okay. Come, Francisco.”

“Wh-Where? Tell me, tell me where, fuck…”

You kiss him, and that’s all the answer he needs. It’s most likely risky and insane, ludicrous even, but you’re both past any reprimands or atonement for your sins. He grunts your name when he comes, spilling his release inside you. It’s so hot and so much of it, you kinda just seize up around him, triggering your own climax. You gush all around him, arousal dripping from your pussy from both of you.

You feel empty when he pulls out, even with the slow and warm dribble of arousal dripping from you. Frankie watches that in some sort of drunken haze; he hasn’t lost himself this way before, not even with Andrea. It only reminds him of the effect you have on him, how deep his affection for you runs, and to what lengths he’ll go just because you said you need him.

“You look so good like this,” he mumbles, eyes still on your swollen pussy.

You cannot deny the weight of his sentence, and you feel your cheeks flush with the auburn flame of flattery.

“Like what?” you pretend to not be in the know.

“Full with me.”

You smile, in spite of everything telling you the opposite, and cup his cheeks, bringing him down to meet with your lips as you kiss him again.

“I liked it better before, when I was actually full with you,” you tease.

“Don’t do this to me.”

“Don’t do what?”

Frankie bites on your lower lip, his index and middle finger removing the loose hair covering your forehead.

“Test me. I’ll take the whole day to fuck you.”

You don’t contradict him, nor do you battle with him. You simply kiss him, remembering that this—while beyond pleasurable—is not real. Not until Frankie and Andrea settle things once and for all.

Even as you get dressed, you think the unfairness of it all, the pain and pleasure in between you and Frankie. Most importantly, you think how much you would hate it if all of this would’ve been for nothing.

You don’t wish for the downfall for their relationship. Not at all. But Frankie agreed with you when you said that his means something. He told you he loves you, and that he’s loved you since you were teenagers. It doesn’t just mean something; it means everything.

Fear clawing at your chest, you leave his apartment sometime around 9:17 a.m. with the promise of cutting contact once more. What you fail to see as you rush to get back home, though, is Santiago’s frowned brows and puzzled look at the corner of the street where Frankie’s apartment is. You fail to see him waiting for you to disappear out of the frame, taking the subway, and then rush to the apartment building.

The knock on the door startles Frankie. Maybe you forgot something.

“Tell me I did not see what I just saw,” is Santiago’s opening line once he finds himself on Frankie’s doorstep.

“What are you talking about?”

Santiago groans your name, angrily stepping inside. “Tell me she did not just leave your apartment so early in the morning. Because if you don’t, I will just assume she’s doing the walk of shame right about now.”

Frankie gulps, frozen. He’s caught off guard, and he’s not sure how to be blunt with his best friend about the whole situation.

“It’s not—what you think.”

Rookie mistake. He falters, for one goddamn second, and Santiago picks up on it. Next thing Frankie knows, he’s being smacked across his head.

“What the fuck!” he exclaims.

“Tell me you’re not fucking her.”

“I thought you had a thing with Rose. Why do you care?”

Santiago repeats the gesture, much to Frankie’s annoyance, who grunts in pain.

“So you are an idiot,” he concludes.

“It’s not what you think, okay?”

“Oh, so she didn’t just leave the apartment that you share with your fiancé at nine o’clock in the morning. Okay, good, cause I was thinking you lost your fucking mind. I thought you slept with her. But if you say it’s not what I think, then—“

“It’s more than that! It’s—it’s everything, Pope. I’m in deep shit already so if you could spare me your usual lectures, I’d really appreciate it. I can’t handle any shit from you too.”

“What the hell’s  going on? What are you doing here?”

“Not that it matters or not that it’s any of your business, but… she just came over to talk. That’s all.”

Santiago stares incredulously at him. He feels sorrow and pity for his friend, and yet he can’t help but be offended on your behalf, too.

“You just talked?” he asks.

“Yes,” Frankie insists.

“Fish, look at me. Listen to me.”

“Don’t give me a fucking lecture, man. I don’t fucking need it.”

“All I’m gonna say is, if you’re messing around, cut it out, right the fuck now. You don’t know how much this woman loves you.”

Frankie huffs mockingly, which determines Santiago to grab the collar of his t-shirt and angrily pull him in.

“I fucking mean it,” he says, teeth clenched. “You’re my best friend, but so is she. And you cut her out of your life, so you have no clue how she was after you left. You don’t know how she sounded over the phone, unable to stop crying. You don’t know how we all took turns calling and consoling her, making sure she wasn’t going to hurt herself.”

When he’s free from Santiago’s grip, Frankie frowns, staring at his friend.

“Why would she hurt herself?” he repeats, stunned at the revelation.

“I told you. You don’t know half of it. She lost one of her dearest friends. It wasn’t about being in love with you. She was mourning you. She was blaming herself because you walked out on her. So if you’re fooling around with her, I am telling you to put an end to it right now. Or else I will kill you myself.”

“I’m not.”

Frankie’s response is succinct and determined, and that eases Santiago’s mind in the slightest.

“I’m not fooling around,” he continues. “I’m going to make things right for all of us.”

“Good. I’m guessing this is the part where I say I didn’t see anything?”

Frankie nods shyly, feeling the weight of Santiago’s grip over his shoulder.

“Thank you,” he tells Santiago, who puckers his brows in confusion.

“For what?”

“For being a great friend to her when I wasn’t. Especially when I wasn’t.”

Santiago nods in understanding, leaving Frankie alone in the apartment with his thoughts. His mind inevitably wanders off to Andrea, her rushed decision to simply flee Boston for a week and thus denying him the opportunity to redeem himself.

But he will do it. When the week is over, face to face, he will do it.

Two hours later, you still stare at the laptop’s screen, fear and excitement coursing through you alike. You still can’t believe it. An opportunity like this comes up once every few years, if ever. And given your job to basically write, this is the best thing you can agree on.

You haven’t given your acceptance yet. While you know you have to do this and you want to, you remember the last time you had to make such a big, impactful decision, and its aftermath. Needless to say, you are concerned about the impending departure, even if this one has an expiration date right from the beginning.

It’s only one month. Surely you’ll survive.

But there is something that still eats at your heart, and you cannot vent to any of your friends about it. Not until this is all sorted out and you can admit to yourself and to everyone else just how you’ve been feeling for the past decade.

When you join the group for bowling that evening, you’re a little nervous to tell them about your impending departure. But you know that they will be more than supportive and understanding.

The one you’re worried about is Frankie.

You don’t let it show, though. As usual, it’s in your best interest to mind your business and not let any of your friends know that something is amiss, even if you do long for an honest and open conversation.

What you do get, though, is a highly indisposed Frankie checking his phone every two or three minutes. It’s bizarre, you think, but you don’t want to make much of it.

“He’s been doing that for the past few days,” Will comments in your vicinity.

You look up at him only to find him staring at his friend in a similarly concerned manner. Brows furrowed, feeling truly puzzled, you stare at Will instead, hoping for an explanation.

“Apparently Andrea’s been calling and texting like crazy, wanting to sort things out right now,” he clarifies, seemingly reading your mind.

“So he keeps rejecting her calls?”

Will nods. “You’d think he’d want to talk to her like, yesterday.”

“Maybe he wants to talk to her face to face instead.”

Will eyes you curiously, but you only shrug. It’s your turn to play ball anyway, so you stand up and make your way to the designated aisle. You don’t notice Will’s shadow lurking about you.

Only after you return victorious to your seat, having knocked down eight pins, only then do you remark him on standby.

“Are you okay?” he asks you out of the blue.

You make a face. “Why wouldn’t I be?” you retort.

“I don’t know. It just seems like something’s bothering you.”

You could almost laugh at the fact that out of everyone present, Will is the only one to notice fragments of your inner turmoil. Not about the job opportunity, of course, but he doesn’t know that.

Does he?

“I’m okay,” you say flatly. “Really.”

“Pope’s right. You do spent a lot of time locked inside your own mind.”

To that you chuckle, recognizing the truth behind the statement.

“Guilty as charged,” you smile.

“What’s really going on?”

Will sits next to you, his eyes revealing candor and warmth, and you almost break down at how much you’ve missed these kind of conversations with him. Yes, you and Santiago have grown closer over the past few years, but there was just something about talking to Will that is soothing and eye-opening in and by itself. Perhaps it’s that “eldest of the group” vibe that he has going on, you’re not sure.

“To tell you the truth, I got this incredible job opportunity,” you confess with a knot in your throat, “but… I don’t know.”

“What’s it about?”

“I’d have to spend a month in Switzerland over the summer. They allow a limited number of journalists and such to get insight at the CERN lab, exclusive footage and news, and I’m one of them.”

Will’s face lights up. “That sounds incredible! You’re going for it, aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah, it’s Switzerland. CERN is a huge deal, and this could be a turning point in my career.”

“So what’s the holdup?”

You gulp, eyes flying over to Frankie. Unbeknownst to you, Benny and Emily are also close enough to hear the two of you talk.

“I’m just a bit cautious about leaving,” you say.

“It’s temporary, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not like you to miss such a thing. Like you said, it’s a big opportunity. Don’t let anything hold you back.”

If only it were that simple.

“What’s going on?” Emily interrupts.

You take a deep breath, looking at her, then at Benny. “I’m going to Switzerland this summer.”

Emily’s face lights up with excitement just as Will’s did, but Benny doesn’t seem to share the sentiment; quite the contrary: his face drops, his forehead creases under the weight of a frown, and he steps in, looking like he’s ready to scold you.

“What do you mean you’re leaving to Switzerland?” he asks rather loudly, catching the attention of the rest of the group.

“Benny—“

“I for one think that coming back into town just to leave again is downright cruel. What about us?”

You know he’s being half serious and half joking, but you still feel for him.

“Listen to me, this is a temporary job,” you try to calm him down. “It’s only a month. I get exclusive insight into the CERN lab, and I get to write about the new stuff they’re doing. Then I’ll be right back home.”

“Oh.”

Hands on his hips, Benny locks eyes with Will, who nods at him. On the opposite side of your seat, Emily hugs and congratulates you, followed by a semi-confused Mia, and then Santiago and Rose. You explain to them all how you got the email after you sent a request a month ago, what the trip will entail and everything else.

Meanwhile, Frankie approaches the group, looking rather disheveled and like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

“You’re leaving?”

His question is posed flatly, coldly, and yet somehow, his voice still breaks by the time he gets out the second word. Everyone stares at him, and you immediately stand up, eyes locked solely on him.

“It’s only for a month,” you tell him. “It’s just research. Then I’ll be right back.”

Frankie nods mechanically, and you wonder if he’s even heard you properly. For a sole moment, he stares at you unashamedly, hungrily, triggering plenty of memories and emotions out of you.

“Would you look at that, it’s my turn again,” Will announces loudly, turning away from the two of you.

Not long after, everyone follows his lead and redirects their attention to the aisles and the scoreboard. You smile at Will’s smooth way to give you and Frankie some privacy without a single cue from either of you that you need it.

When your eyes lock again, you grab him by his arm and guide him to a more secluded area. The only thing that you can find is the supply room, which isn’t very fitting, but you’ll have to make due.

“I hear Andrea’s been calling you a lot,” you open.

Frankie licks his lips and puts his hands on his hips, staring at the floor. That makes your blood boil for whatever reason.

“Why are you ignoring your own fiancé?”

“Don’t start, please.”

He sounds broken as he gets that out, but you won’t succumb to the oddly irresistible charm of that.

“All along you’ve been dead set on marrying Andrea and making things right, despite every single moment between us that proved otherwise, might I add, and now your plan is to—what? Cast her aside? Why?”

Frankie chews on his bottom lip, biting it till he nearly tastes blood in his mouth. His mind is in shambles, going through every single event from the past two, three months, unable to stop. He has countless questions and theories crammed in there, scenarios which give him no peace.

“And don’t talk to me about loyalty and all that crap,” you warn. “We both know we’ve broken far more moral ground than we originally stood on. So tell me, what has she done to you that you decided ignoring her is the way to go?”

“She’s done nothing,” Frankie grunts, eyes wide in some sort of panic. “It’s you. You have made this whole fucking thing impossible.”

Breathless, you stare at him, taken aback by his bluntness.

“But I’m leaving to Switzerland to—“

“And it’s not far enough!”

He whispers his shout, filling the constricted air around you with more confusion. You’re too dumbfounded to even interrupt him.

“Do you think that there is a corner on this earth that you could travel to far away enough to free me from this fucking torment?” he asks, his breath on your face now. “Do you think that when you were abroad, at Cambridge, it was far enough, that I was happy and content? Because I was in a whole other purgatory.”

When you find the ability to speak again, even your voice is shaky. “You’re in captivity because of your own doing, Francisco.”

“I like to think I’m a decent guy. I was raised by good people who taught me to act with honor, loyalty and integrity. But all those qualities have been hanging by a thread from the moment you set foot back here, and they are strangling me more and more with each passing second that I spend in your presence.”

You can only stare at him, mouth ajar and heart racing inside your chest, threatening to burst out at any given moment.

“You’re the bane of my existence,” he says sharply, yet awfully tender, like he’s about to give up. “And the object of all my desires. Night and day, I dream of you. Night and fucking day. For years, I—I dreamt, I cried… and when I—“

He gulps, struggling to draw in a sharp breath to compose himself, but it’s a high effort to be made. As it turns out, so it is for you; his forehead touches yours, his tongue wetting his lips as he stares at you, breaths erratic.

“Do you even know all the ways I could make you happy?” he murmurs, and your knees almost buckle under the weight of his words. “The things I could show you, things I could do to you…”

You close your eyes, fighting with every ounce of strength, every muscle in your body to not do something regrettable right there in that stupid closet.

“I didn’t ask… for any of this,” you tell him, shaking as his hand grazes your cheek. “I didn’t want any of this. I wanted you to be my friend, I didn’t… I didn’t ask to live with these thoughts, plagued by these feelings. Hiding from Andrea and out friends… it’s so wrong.”

“I know.”

“Why aren’t you calling her back?”

“Because I don’t want to. Not until she gets back. I only ever want to see you.”

Maybe saying such things makes him a cruel man. Maybe it’s not the right thing to say at all. But wouldn’t it be crueler to spend a lifetime next to someone he’s merely learned to love? Someone for whom love did not come naturally, as it did with you?

Frankie breaks the touch, thus bringing you both with your feet back on the ground, even if blood is still boiling in your veins and your body aches to be touched by him.

“She texted me saying she wants to make this work, that we have to make it work,” he says, looking as if he’s on the verge of tears. “If this wedding takes place next month, because Andrea thinks there’s still a chance of that happening, I will spend every day of my marriage, the rest of my goddamn life, wanting you. Dreaming of you. Dreading the day when whatever shred of honor or self-control I have snaps, and Andrea will see us both for what we are.”

You swallow harshly, feeling drunk and high at the same time.

“And I don’t want that to happen,” Frankie adds. “I don’t want to feed her any illusions. She wants us to work, for whatever desperate reason, but I want to end this. It’s just not fair otherwise.”

Though you don’t say it aloud, his statement makes your heart tremble with joy. Perhaps there is something inherently selfish about the way you are feeling, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and being honest now would spare you all of further pain, and would provide clearance at long last.

“We still have a chance to make things right,” you encourage him. “This has to end, like you said, and it’s up to you now. Make a choice.”

“There’s no choice.”

He moves closer to you once more, and the way you look at him, it makes you feel safe, like you are finally at home after years spent in abandonment and loneliness.

“It’s always been you,” he coos to you, reaching for your hand.

It’s virtually impossible to not feel for Andrea too; thinking too much about her breaks your heart, so, in a premiere in your life, you think about yourself. You think about all the happy memories you have of Frankie and your friendship. You think of the way he loved you at your lowest and unknowingly brought you to the top, and how your feelings for him inevitably blossomed.

“When is Andrea supposed to fly back in?” you ask him.

“Tomorrow evening. That’s when I’ll tell her.”

“Tomorrow.”

He nods, and then he leans in to peck your lips. Only you capture his mouth completely, cupping his cheeks as you pull him in. Your bodies move together as one, from the way your mouths devour one another, to the way Frankie’s hand holds your waist, clearly eager for something more. You’re not sure which one of you draws back the moral line and decides that you cannot and should not get hot and heavy in a fucking storage room, but you do. You walk back outside, cheeks flushed and lips swollen, once again playing pretend in front of all your friends. 

Hopefully for the last time ever.

previous | next

[eric-the-bmo]

Blood and Silicon ep19: A Few Stops Before We Go

[Summary: The boys prepare for the road trip to Chicago. Blake has a Moment, while Percy and Leo talk about religion and later fail with impulsivity.] @kentuckycaverats @sanguineasylum @zwoelffarben

CW: Self-harm, brief discussion of suicide (in terms of faking one's death) [yes ik this is a horror game, but im still putting those warnings here] ----

It's around 10:30pm; Blake asks Harrison for an extension of the trip, since Leo might need a while to process and grieve. He bargains for the extension to be a week, since he's had a wild month, and Harrison calls Leo over- Leo, who was busy writing in his notebook for planning what to bring on the trip, walks over, and they ask for his opinion. He agrees it's for the best (though in all honesty, he wouldn't have thought to ask for it by himself). Harrison says Leo's been trying hard; Just get it over with, then have a week to recuperate on the city outskirts. It's not good to linger in Chicago- don't come back there or deal with your mortal family once this is over.

They then discuss the way to fake his death via car crash. ["Well," Leo says. "Considering I have no experience faking my own death, I might need some assistance."] Both Blake and Percy aren't the most experienced with that though (Blake had simply gone missing), and they talk about getting a body double. Leo reveals he's got an eye tattoo on the back of his neck, and it turns out Blake knows some tattoo artists in Chicago (he might also be able to get into contact with someone who can help. Harrison asks if Leo had any issues in life others might know about- Leo admits he had gotten out of a bad relationship and can be kind of impulsive, so they settle on faking a suicide where he drives his car off into the water.

Circling back to the previous topic, Harrison says if they can't figure out how to get a body double in time... he gives them a number to call as a last resort, but if they call it the Camarilla might figure out they're there. Leo's expression changes as he realizes The Camarilla?? Runs his home city???? He takes out a cigarette.

Harrison drives off and Blake and Leo head over to Pauline to update her; she's not going with us, so we exchange goodbyes and "please be safe"s. She tells Leo that faking his death will be for the best, and that she and Blake will be there for him. They part ways; Leo makes a "see you next year" joke.

Blake calls a tired Wes and asks him to get a new phone for him, in the guise of him pretending to need to get a phone for a friend's Christmas gift. Wes agrees. Then Blake breaks his phone due to the whole "Hunters can track us" thing, and calls Nelida on Percy's phone. He tells her, in code, that there's Hunters around and to lay low for a while, stay out of downtown/their territory; she's incredibly confused at first and asks if he can visit later tonight to explain.

["Probably not. I got family to visit up in the warmer area for the holidays; You know how it is." "...What the hell are you talking about."] Blake says they can talk after New Years, and she says he better have a story for him when he gets back. They hang up.

Leo texts his sister that something came up with his plane ticket, so don't worry about picking up from O'Hare, but he'll make it to Christmas dinner. He waits a bit for a response (there isn't one, she's probably asleep), then follows suit in breaking his phone- but it takes him a few tries and he doesn't look cool at all while doing it.

Blake gets his bowie knife back from Leo, and the coterie gets taken back to their places to pack and prepare. Percy pays his rent for January early, packs some things, and thinks about getting another weapon. ["I've got a collapsible hatchet or acollapsible spear you can use," Blake offers. "Oh! That's rather funny, an ancestor of mine used to use spears." Percy says. "I'd be happy to take yours off your hands for a moment."] Leo packs some things as well, notably the presents and his vampire hunting kit- Upon a comment Leo makes about it, Blake is all "stakes don't have to be high-quality, you can also just use a chair-leg" (and Leo is offered by Percy to be taught how to do so). Percy asks if Leo knows how to use a gun- he doesn't, but reasons it'd be useful to learn, so it's agreed to teach him at some point during the roadtrip.

With everyone else taken care of, the coterie is driven to Buck's garage (a touchstone of Blake's) so our resident Gangrel can pack his things. Blake tells the others to not touch anything.

["You can look, you can maybe touch- But you don't take, and you don't leave." "I am not a petty thief, Blake," Percy states, "but of course." Blake looks at Leo- The Malkavian puts his hands in his pockets.]

Blake leaves the garage, puts his bike into a side garage, and heads off into a tunnel system to go back to his haven. -----

With the two other men by themself, Leo asks Percival about the Antediluvians. He learns they're the "apex of each clan," described by an anxious Percy, such as how Caine is the apex of all of them- and Leo, being an atheist, is thrown for a loop & is a bit incredulous over the statement that Cain from The Bible is the first vampire. Percy, in his own way, is all "well hey, we're vampires. Werewolves and warlocks exist. Why not stuff from the bible?" The prayer he did earlier is tied to his belief in Caine; upon Leo asking, he learns Percy was raised Protestant. He also learns Noddism is the study of this origin belief. [Percy: "Some people believe the wildest things [about Noddist lore]." Leo, deadpan: "Yeah, they sure do."]

Leo asks for tips on how to deal with the Camarilla. Percival advises to avoid interaction, and to not buy into any promises they'll try to make. Then Percy asks that if Leo's from Chicago, why didn't he know the Camarilla were there, or even what they are- didn't his sire tell him? Leo doesn't look at him, as always, and says there just wasn't time; He had to leave quickly.

Percy asks if Jeremiah has any affiliations with the Camarilla; Leo doesn't know, & says J might not talk to Percy even if he does manage to find him. The Ventrue says it's fine if Leo is hesitant to speak about his sire- it's fine to be suspicious of others, but don't be too closed off.

["You're never going to get far in this life by yourself." "...Well," Leo shifts his weight. "I'm sure I'll have company somehow."]

With the conversation dying out, Leo digs through his pockets for cigarettes and offers one to Percy. ----

Blake finally gets to his haven, activating one of those wall-mounted singing fish that's up near the entrance- Wes is startled awake from the couch and asks when the fuck Blake got that; about a week ago, Blake responds. He receives a new phone like he requested and fills Wes in on what's going on and what happened tonight as he packs some things- Wes is concerned about the hunters, and Blake implies it's been a while since he's dealt with them and trails off for a moment. Wes also has a fun reaction to finding out the fledgling Blake works with is from Chicago (and Wes says it's nice Blake is helping Leo out with the trip). They both tell each other to stay safe. Wes asks if he needs anything else, so Blake feeds on him a little bit before leaving. He pulls up his hat and hoodie as he leaves.

As Blake heads back through the tunnels, he can't help but think too much about everything going on; things are too similar. He feels almost sick, and leans against the wall with a mind swirling with repetitive memories and thoughts ("He's not here/It doesn't matter"). He activates his fangs and bites into his right arm, hard enough to get a point of aggravated damage. There's a moment of relief; not from the act or sensation of it, but because he did what needed to be done: punishment. He patches it up with a medkit, and makes his way back to the coterie.

---

Meanwhile, Percy is telling Leo that he personally doesn't view Caine as a God like the Church of Caine does. He recounts the story of Zillah to the Malkavian, citing that if Caine was a god, he would have known to not get tricked by the Crone. He belives Caine had this story written to have his childer remember the warnings against embracing for love- which are, as Percy states, that 1) Love withers upon the Embrace, and 2) There is an intrinsic horror in the bond. Leo briefly wonders if there were other loves Caine had, omitted from texts, or if she was the only one. The conversation circles back to Antedilvians as Percy briefly tells Leo a small handful of their supposed names; Saulot and Malkav, for instance. Leo goes back to the Zillah story and asks how Percy chooses to interpret the love withering; Percy states there's an imbalance between humans and Kindred.

["You have to find your own love afterwards." He's fiddling with his ring.]

Blake returns at this point, putting a fake license plate on his car, and leaves a note for Buck. He states he's heading out of town for a bit, so he borrowed some stuff, and he puts the note where he'd be able to see it.

The coterie packs their things into the jeep; Percy gets Kyra's spear as promised, and Leo is surprisingly gifted Kyra's pocket knife. Leo thanks him, but mentions he has no knife experience; he's a bit better with his fists, though, and Percy reveals he was a fairly popular boxer back when he was alive. Leo's a tad impressed. Blake presents Leo with three carved stakes for his hunting kit, and we all get into the car.

We head to a fitness center upon Percy's request, since he's at 3 Hunger, and he asks if anyone would like to come with- he's used to feeding with a pack. Leo offers to keep watch so Blake can stay with the car; he reassures the Gangrel that they can handle it (Percy adds it's a learning experience), and exits the car. Blake pulls Percy to the side before he heads off: ["Now as far as I know, just a heads up: I don't think your types usually hunts in packs."] Percy doesn't say anything about that. ----

Leo goes invisible to follow Percy as the two men eventually get past the front desk and into the gym's locker room; Percy's brought a gym bag as part of his cover. He waits until he finds a guy that matches his preferences (and Leo is impatiently wondering why he hasn't fed yet??)- and he finally finds one. He tells Leo to keep watch, and Leo confirms he heard this by tapping his shoulder. With a bad-ish roll, Percy's future victim sees him head towards his direction. Percy, who gained an extra Hunger along the way, acts as if he's going to open a locker nearby before grabbing him and starting to feed.

Leo soon realizes Percy isn't going to stop, though, and after a few fruitless efforts to get him to stop by tapping his shoulder, he decides the next best course of action is to punch him. Percy whirls around to look at him with frenzied eyes, absolutely more Beast than himself in this moment, and a part of Leo's brain absolutely panics; with a suddenly-awful headache he decks the Ventrue across the head. He does this again and Percy finally pulls away, regains himself, and apologizes for the slight frenzy. He sets his victim down on a bench, calls 911 with the guy's phone, and halfheartedly tosses it next to him. Leo has a million thoughts a minute running through his head over this whole thing, but stays relatively quiet. ["Don't linger on your feelings." Percy's trying to make his hair less disheveled. "You don't have to talk about it to me. Talk about it to Blake if it's going to bother you." Leo makes eye contact, staring daggers at him before looking away. "Let's just get out of here, yeah? We've been in here long enough." He turns invisible to sneak back out again.] ---

Blake is hanging up a call and sees them return: Percy is disheveled, and Leo looks shaken and kinda upset. He's tapping his fingers a lot. Blake asks what happened as the two of them get in the car, and Percy says they can talk while he drives. Blake is Concerned and turns on the car, muttering how he knew he had a bad feeling about letting those two head off, but nooo, no one listens to him.

[Percy finally speaks up. "If Mr Leo isn't going to tell you," He says, "I will for the sake of transparency. My Beast took the better of me; I took a little more tha-" "Ahbupbup- I thought we were gonna talk about it on the road!!" Blake peels out of the parking lot as Don't Fear the Reaper plays from the radio. "Let's make some headway!"]

Notes/Commentary:

WAgh ty Harrison for the extra week for Leo to grieve aaaugh

Leo canonically will Only use emojis if the person he's texting also uses them. His text to his sister had a little christmas tree emoji <3

We packed so much stuff....

LEO WITH GUN LEO WITH GUN HAPPENING SOON! Surely nothing bad will happen because of this. We're gonna get a Leo training montage probably /silly

BLAKE LORE??? CRUMBS OF BLAKE LORE???

I Cannot stress enough how good the tunnel/arm moment was. His player did an AMAZING job describing it all im Obsessed

Percy mispronounces Saulot since he's only ever read it btw, that's such a nice detail

Props to Percy for quoting the Book of Nod?? hello??

Love how Leo had a knife but decided to hit Percy instead. Ultimate Panic Mode said "taking out the knife is too many steps. Punch him" /lh

The locker room scene is also making me Insane btw, yall have no idea. There was also a huge vibe dissonance bc Life is a Highway was playing in the background.

Props to Leo for actively making eye contact, lets go king

This road trip is gonna be TENSE at first lmao, leo continues to go through The Horrors <3

[abbeyspringrentals]

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[squidsandthings]

Your anon said italian beef so I have been summoned. What about Chicago dogs and pierogis?

Chicago Dogs: 6/10

So many toppings....Look i love a hot dog as much as the next average American but like Im unsure how to eat a Chicago dog because I cannot bite it without toppings falling off. Its good i like it but its not my favorite. Its too much. A nice thing to try when you visit Chicago but not the best food Chicago has to offer.

Pierogis: 9/10

HELL YES. fun fact about me is I soent a week living with my polish half-uncle (jes a cool guy i had a great time!) and he introduced me to peirogis and I have been obsessed ever since. I could eat dozens of peirogis if i was allowed. Versitle. Delicious. Amazing. I think they're slept on tbh more places should have peirogis pls.

[jaymzeecat]

I'm Gonna Ride This Plane Out of Your Life Again, I Wish That I Could Stay, But You Argue...

I woke up on Wednesday morning fairly early (as I usually do) and cleaned up the AirBnB apathetically. Sad and tired I just wanted to crawl back in bed but we had an early check out time (10:00 AM) so there was no chance of that. Le sigh.

It was a sad morning knowing that this was the last few hours but on the plus side we did find a nearby place to get some breakfast which was pretty good (we both had the Vegan Chorizo Hash). The staff at the restaurant seemed so nice and friendly I felt bad that there were no other customers (save for a Door Dasher who was complaining about the wait for the food). If you're ever looking for breakfast in the Montrose neighborhood of Chicago maybe hit up Breakfast House.

On the way to the train we saw a heart under the overpass which appeared to be made of smeared human feces and if that doesn't make you feel loved by a city I just don't know what does!

The long train ride to O'Hare was spent with me mostly weeping "I'd cry too if I had to go back to Portland." The Funny Bunny said. I was at least looking forward to getting back to Alzee and the cats (a life with no cats?? Who needs it?)... but I started ugly crying as soon as we parted ways at the airport. It was so bad that the security lady was like "ARE YOU OKAY???" I would've thought crying at the airport was a common occurrence but maybe I just cry like a crazy person, haha.

The wait to board wasn't too long thankfully and the plane was a little nicer than the one I flew in on. I got the impression my seat mate (a white haired older fella) was confused by what I was doing in First Class (don't let the colorful hair fool you, I'm a bougie bitch) but the flight attendant remembered me "Oh, Jaymz! Didn't I just have a flight with you?" "About a week ago, yeah." "Wonderful!" See, man? I'm famous.

I had a lot of thinking to do on the long ride home and I was a little overwhelmed. I don't know yet how to break the news to my mom that I don't think I can handle a flight over 4 hours (she wants me to come to Florida, I just don't see how). But at least I got some warm nuts and ginger ale.

The vegan meal was pretty good too. White Bean Chili and Polenta. I erred on the side of caution again and skipped the cookie since everyone got one and I assume it's not vegan. So just be aware of that if you're vegan and you fly Alaska.

I got a nice view of the mountains to welcome me home. I wish I was better at taking pictures out of plane windows, haha.

As we de-boarded my new best friend flight attendant said "Goodbye, Jaymz will we be seeing again soon?" I laughed and she turned to the other attendant and said "She's the quietest passenger I've ever had." She has not heard my cackle...

Alzee picked me up at the airport, it's really nice to live only like ten minutes away from it, haha.

All in all it was a good trip, I'm glad I finally got to see Chicago so I can cross that off my bucket list, haha. Ashley and Shelly were proud of me for stepping outside my comfort zone and going on an adventure. I'm also really thankful that the Funny Bunny was willing to show me all around because I know I wouldn't have been able to figure out the trains on my own. I also came away with a few mementos...

From left to right, Gifts from the Funny Bunny: Sue the T-Rex from the Mold-O-Rama mold machine at the Field Museum and Klondike Kat & Ricochet Rabbit figures (thanks!). Pine cone from the Botanical Garden and flat penny (DNA strand design) from the Science Museum. Mug with "The Loop" train map design I got at a souvenir shop. Precious memories.

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my own personal Adventures in Babysitting, I will try to document more adventures in the future. I have been meaning to make it up to Seattle again sometime soon and visit Arizona and California again so I should really get to planning... If you're vegan and want to show me around your city (and not murder me!) feel free to hit me up sometime. As long as it's not more than 4 hours by plane, haha.

[famouspeopleeatingpizza]

Discovering America's Best: The Top 10 Pizza Places in the USA

Pizza, a dish beloved across the globe, holds a special place in the hearts of Americans. From New York's thin crust to Chicago's deep dish, pizza in the United States is not just food; it's a cultural icon. After extensive research, sampling, and considering feedback from pizza aficionados, I present to you the definitive list of the top 10 pizza places in the United States.

1. Lombardi's Pizza - New York City, New York

Established in 1905, Lombardi's is recognized as the first pizzeria in the United States. Their coal-fired oven imparts a unique, smoky flavor to their pizzas, making it a must-visit for any pizza lover.

2. Pizzeria Bianco - Phoenix, Arizona

Chef Chris Bianco brings his culinary expertise to Pizzeria Bianco, where the wood-fired pizzas have gained a nationwide following. The Rosa, with red onion, rosemary, and Arizona pistachios, is a standout.

3. Pequod's Pizza - Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is synonymous with deep-dish pizza, and Pequod's caramelized crust sets their pizza apart. This local favorite is an essential stop for deep-dish enthusiasts.

4. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven, Connecticut

Frank Pepe's, a New Haven institution since 1925, is famous for its coal-fired, thin-crust pizzas. The White Clam Pizza is an iconic choice.

5. Una Pizza Napoletana - San Francisco, California

Anthony Mangieri's Una Pizza Napoletana serves up Neapolitan pizzas with a Californian twist, cooked in a wood-fired oven for a perfect char.

6. Di Fara Pizza - Brooklyn, New York

Di Fara, a Brooklyn staple since 1964, is renowned for its handcrafted pies topped with imported ingredients, crafted by the legendary Dom DeMarco.

7. Pizzana - Los Angeles, California

Pizzana blends traditional Italian techniques with local Californian flavors. Their slow-fermented dough and high-quality toppings make each pizza a gourmet experience.

8. Antico Pizza Napoletana - Atlanta, Georgia

Antico brings a taste of Naples to Atlanta. Their authentic Neapolitan pizzas, baked in wood-burning ovens, are known for their flavorful and airy crust.

9. Sally's Apizza - New Haven, Connecticut

Another New Haven gem, Sally's Apizza has been serving up coal-fired, thin-crust pizzas since 1938. Their tomato sauce and perfectly charred crust are legendary.

10. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria - Chicago, Illinois

Lou Malnati's is synonymous with Chicago-style deep dish. Their buttery crust, Wisconsin cheese, and sweet tomato sauce make for an unforgettable pizza.

[irish-dress-history]

Laurent Vital on Irish clothing in 1518

Burgundian courtier Laurent Vital visited Kinsale, Co. Cork in 1518. He wrote an account of the visit titled "Speaking a little of the country of Ireland" which included descriptions of Irish people and culture. Vital was less bigoted toward the Irish than many of the 16th c. English writers. His writing was still somewhat biased though, because his information came from a French-speaking (probably Anglo-Irish) Irishman who was prejudiced against the rural Gaelic Irish.

Vital's account was only translated into English in 2012, so it is not included in Irish dress history books, because all of them (Dress in Ireland by Mairead Dunlevy, Before the Kilt by Gerald Kelly, Bríd Mahon's books, H. F. McClintock's books) were published before 2012. This is unfortunate, because Vital's descriptions include a lot of details of Irish dress.

The 2012 translation has some flaws. I think the translator, Dorothy Convery, was not knowledgeable about 16th c. Irish dress and possibly not the most familiar with 16th c. French, because she completely misinterpreted some of the clothing descriptions. I have done my best to correct these, but I don't actually know French, so my revised version is not perfect either. If anyone has suggestions for improving it, let me know. I used Randle Cotgrave's 1611 A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2020 (DMF 2020), the University of Chicago's compilation of historical French dictionaries, Wiktionary, and honestly, google translate for this. (Google translate actually does a really good job with French, like 60% of the time.)

The original French text of Vital's account is available here. Convery's complete translation is here. Content Warning if you decide to read the Vital's complete account: It contains a description of assault with a possible forced marriage. Also, Vital was kind of obsessed with breasts. I am only including the parts describing Irish dress and hairstyles in this post. Translation footnotes are at the end of each page. I couldn't figure out a nicer way to format them on tumblr.

Excerpts from "Speaking a little of the country of Ireland" translated by Dorothy Convery and revised by Deidre

p. 285

The inhabitants [of Ireland] are very strangely and singularly costumed and would that it is so well described that you might picture how they dress just as I saw them, both the men and the women. For to see them is enough to make you laugh. Firstly married women wear their finery, and linen head coverings (1); some yellow and others white. When they are women of status, they have chemises with wide sleeves, worked around the collar and in the seams with silk needlework of different colours. Many of them had their hair cropped in front and back, except for two tresses of hair at either side, which are an ell long. They plait these like children here making hats from rushes and then secure them so they do not come undone. And with the tops of their heads so adorned, these loops of hair braided accordingly hang down in front more or less to their waists, in such a way that these women can put the ends into their kerchiefs (1), which they secure with wool tape (2). These women have their kirtles or petticoats (3) punched (4) there as they were worn alone in the past, with rings placed over (5) the bustline to support their breasts. And above their dresses they wear wide fillets (6) and big belts decorated with beautiful buckles, some of gilded silver, also of copper, metal or brass, according to their rank. Their dresses have loose sleeves, open the length of the arms, unfastened to hang (7) very nicely. Generally, the men, women and young girls wear their chemises (8) open to the waist, without any difference between them except that the women's chemises are, as they are over here, wide at the bottom, made with gores (9) with 4 seams, (10) if needed. So that most young women and girls have their chests naked to the waist; it is as common there to see or touch the breast of a girl or woman, as it is to touch her hand. And so, there are as many different fashions and customs as there are countries.

Translation notes:

coevrechief: kerchief or headcovering

patelette: Bande d'étoffe (DMF 2020) cloth tape, wool or possibly linen

cottes ou cotelettes: kirtle, or possibly coat, or frock/gown (see Cotte in Cotgrave 1611)

ponchonnées: pierced or punched, meaning eyelets made with an awl, or possibly decorative stamping

rondz eslevez: possibly metal lacing rings which were in use by the late 15th c. This whole sentence is confusing to me.

tissu: a bawdricke, ribbon, fillet, or head-band of woven stuffe (Cotgrave 1611)

lachiés à traillette: laschier: let go, release (DMF 2020) trailler: to trayle a Deere (Cotgrave 1611) to trail or to hang. I think this sentence is describing hanging sleeves like those on the Shinrone gown, but it could also be interpreted as "Their dresses have wide sleeves, open the length of the arms, loose to hang very nicely."

I am keeping the original French usage of chemise to mean both the man's and woman's garment, because Irish uses the same word, léine, for both.

ghéron: I think this word is derived from the Old French giron meaning gusset or triangular shape.

genoulx: knee, also join (ie seam in this context) (cf. genouille: full of joins (Cotgrave 1611))

p. 286

The women and girls there wear coloured stockings (1) of red and green and others that they like, better narrowed and tightened with garters than those of Castile. They wear little shoes (2) with single soles, very pretty and cute, worked over other colors of leather and sometimes gilded with tinned leather, as if it were gilded (2), like the shoes which were bought for children at fairs in past times. The place was full of beautiful young women and also girls of marriageable age who were very charming and pleasant. Unmarried young women went bareheaded in summer time with their hair tied back in the same way as maidens over here; and they wear on their heads garlands of flowers or greenery.

Translation notes:

chausses: stockings or hose in Middle French (wiktionary.org)

solier: alternate spelling of soulier: shoe (Cotgrave 1611)

ie like with gold

p. 287-288

Having heard about the rig-out of the women and girls, listen how the men are kitted out. For sure, even more strangely than the women, and particularly the rural people and the savages; for they were shorn and shaved one palm above the ears, so that only the tops of their heads were covered with hair. But on the forehead they leave about a palm of hair to grow down to their eyebrows like a tuft of hair which one leaves hanging on horses between the two eyes. They are strangely bearded, some shave their beards just to just above the mouth and others to below the mouth. Others shave some places and let their beards grow in tufts. These men have their chemises open there, down to the belt, without having sleeves, so their arms are naked. They are belted (1) in heavy linen which goes one and a half times around them, and goes nearly from their neck to their feet, and they go with naked feet and bare legs. [. . .skipping the part on weapons because I don't know enough about weapons. . .] These men dress and enshroud (2) themselves in large hairy mantles, worn over their heads as the women in Brabant wear their huiks. (3) This mantle only goes halfway past the belt; and over that a long shortening (4) of linen. Thus shorn, bearded, armed and barefoot — as I said — imagine how strange this costume is to look at. I must say, I have never seen anything like this before even in a painting.

Translation notes:

chaindent: from chainture the Middle French spelling of ceinture

affubler: to cloath, clad, put on; to attire, or cover with, muffle, or enwrap in, hide, or shrowd, under clothes. (Cotgrave 1611)

huik: a type of cloak worn by women in the Low Countries. It typically had a bill-like brim to shade the wearer's face. more info

escourcoeul: probably the same origin as écourter: to shorten. I think Vital is describing the Irishmen's practice of shortening their léinte by pulling them up over their belts, but I'm not confident about the translation of this sentence.

[thematicparallel]

hiii !! beloved mutual aileen @1997eitheror tagged me for the Interview Music Tag Game thank u 💖🌸

RULES: Put your playlist on shuffle. For each of the 10 interview questions, select a lyric from the random song that comes up. (Skip if there aren't any lyrics and make sure to drop the name of the song in your interview answer!)

First off, how would you describe yourself in one sentence? i am a forest fire and i am the fire and i am the forest and i am a witness watching it // a burning hill by mitski

What kind of [Leo] are you? i fell in love again // chicago by sufjan stevens

You're visiting your favorite spot, what are you thinking about? i wanna cut through the clouds break the ceiling i wanna dance on the roof you and me alone // cut to the feeling by carly rae jepsen

If your life was a movie, what do you think the first review would say about it? i've been thinking about our storyline and how your past becomes your present if it's always on your mind // dionne by the japanese house ft. justin vernon

Say you get a book deal, what are you titling your memoir? your teeth are gnashing louder than your monologue // cut your bangs by radiator hospital

What would you say about your best friends? hold me in this wild wild world 'cause in your warmth i forget how cold it can be // warmth by bastille

Think back to when you had everything all figured out in high school, what was your life motto as a teenager? mom am i still young? can i dream for a few months more? // class of 2013 by mitski

Describe your aesthetic now: luxury and opulence // xs by rina sawayama (lmaoo)

What's a lyric that they'll quote in your eulogy? it's like you're carrying the weight of your past // i know a place by muna

And for our final question, say we believe in soulmates, what do you think their first impression of meeting you will be? love you that much anyhow can't do much about it now // can't do much by waxahatchee

tagging @olivegardenmenu @knifeeater @gorseflowers @umambon @urcadelima @girljeremystrong @loveology2022 + everyone else who wants to do it! no pressure loves i hope ur all doing well 🍊🌼

[maddieladner1999]

Bad Idea Right? Chapter 10

EJ was free from his father but that meant he had no money. And all his jobs during the school year being at school he needed one this summer. Ricky kept assuring him he didn’t need to work all summer but EJ didn’t wanna just live off his aunt and uncle forever. So he decided to get a job. 

He headed into town to see that big red’s family pizza shop was hiring so he went in to apply. He ran into big red immediately. 

Big red: EJ? You’re home for the summer?

EJ: yep! I promised Ricky I’d be here all summer. We’re visiting his mom in Chicago later this summer. 

Big red: that’s good to hear. So what are you doing here?

EJ: well as you may know, my dad cut me off and all my jobs are back at school so I am actually here to apply for a job 

Big Red: well color me surprised. 

EJ: why are you surprised? I’m not just gonna let everyone else pay for me all summer

Big red: that’s not why although I’m impressed you’re at this stage in your life. I meant I’m surprised you wanna work here

EJ: why wouldn’t I? I need a job in town, you’re hiring, what’s the problem?

Big Red: nothing I guess just knowing I work here isn’t gonna be weird 

EJ: my boyfriend’s best friend? Maybe we can get on good terms being so close by. I don’t hate you red. Never did. 

Big red: I didn’t think you did it’s just idk. You went from the rich kid to applying to work at my family’s shop. It’s weird. 

EJ: I guess I’m already adjusted then. I can try somewhere else if you don’t want me to work here

Big red: no it’s fine. I’ll get you an application. 

Big red brings EJ an application from the back and EJ starts filling it out. He planned on applying for a job so he had his resume handy. He finished up and brought it to red with a resume. 

Big red: wow that was fast you even have your resume

EJ: it’s not my first rodeo. Plus I planned on filling out applications anyway. 

Big red: well we will get back with you by the end of the week then

EJ: thanks. I’ll see you around maybe?

Big red: yeah with Ricky maybe. 

EJ left and decided not to apply to any other jobs until he heard back. He didn’t need 3 just 1. He decided to see if Ricky was up yet so he gave him a call

Ricky answers and is still sleepy so he has sleepy voice. “Hey”

EJ: good morning sunshine. Did I wake you?

Ricky: no I just hadn’t gotten out of bed yet. 

EJ: I guess as long as I didn’t wake you. 

Ricky: why you calling so early anyway? It’s summer sleep a little

EJ: look I know you told me I don’t need a job this summer but I’ve decided to get one anyway. I’m used to taking care of myself I’d like to keep it that way. Besides anything I don’t spend can go toward film school. 

Ricky: ah so you’re out looking for summer jobs 

EJ: yes. And I already applied at big reds family pizza place. 

Ricky: you applied at slices? How’d that go?

EJ: I ran into big red and we chatted. He was surprised I wanted to work there. I was like I don’t hate you and you’re hiring so why not 

Ricky: so he let you apply?

EJ: yeah said they’d get back to me by end of the week. 

Ricky: good for you. So is that all? 

EJ: yeah why you gonna go back to sleep?

Ricky: no I got up and made some cereal while we talked. I was gonna ask you to come over. 

EJ: I can do that. Be there in 5. 

Ricky: ok I love you babe. 

EJ drives over to Ricky’s and gets out and knocks on the door. He’s immediately greeted by Ricky who is shirtless in sweat pants eating cereal. EJ can’t help but admire his handsome boyfriend 

Ricky: you gonna come in or just stand there checking me out?

EJ: I can’t help it you are handsome

Ricky: not as handsome as you. 

EJ: oh yeah? You think I’m prettier than you?

Ricky: of course I do. Everyone does. You’re the prettiest boy in Salt Lake City

EJ: you say the sweetest things to me

Ricky: anyway how about we finish glee. We are on season 5 now. 

EJ: good idea. Then we can find another show to watch. 

EJ and Ricky start watching glee again and cuddle throughout on the couch until Ricky’s dad gets home. Mike walks in to see them there and clears his throat. They immediately jump apart and pause the show. They watched a few episodes. 

Mike: At least you were on the couch. Would hate to have seen something else 

Ricky: dad I wouldn’t do that with you here. I don’t even think I’d do that here anyway 

Mike: if you do it anyway you better stay safe. Protection you know

Ricky: yes dad I know now please stop embarrassing me

Mike: I’m sorry son I have a fatherly duty. And I thought EJ might need that advice too you know given his history 

EJ: thanks Mr. Bowen. 

Mike: please call me Mike. You staying for dinner EJ?

Ricky looks at EJ with puppy eyes telling him to please stay 

EJ: yeah I’ll stay. What are we having?

Mike: I honestly was just gonna order takeout. Chinese ok?

Ricky and EJ say yeah at the same time and resume their show. They don’t go back to cuddling but they are sitting close. Ricky eventually puts his head on EJ’s shoulder. Mike leaves the room. 

EJ: you sleepy? Or just like cuddling up to me?

Ricky: both. You have the perfect shoulders for being a pillow

EJ: thanks I think

A knock on the door interrupts them and Mike comes in with the money. He answers the door, pays for the food, gets the food and brings it to the table. 

Mike: hey boys foods here

EJ: we’re coming 

EJ pauses the show and they get up and join Mike at the table. They eat and chat about EJ’s film school plans. Mr. Bowen is proud of him. After dinner, EJ goes to his aunt and uncles house after texting Ricky good night. Ricky replies of course. 

[popperfur]

Ranking us cities I've been to

10. Roanoke, VA (the verticality of the mountains is really the only good thing about it, run down empty night in the woods-esque place)

9. Indianapolis, IN (In truth I've never set foot in this city but everytime we drive through it we deal with some of the worst drivers in the world, and all the cheesecake factory looking protestant churches you can see along the highway don't paint a pretty picture, it's also the Shelbyville to my Springfield so there's a natural hatred)

8. Silver Spring, MD (got as far as here while trying to visit DC, went to my first Ikea and had some delicious pizza, was shocked how the suburbs just never stopped between there and Baltimore, the dark energy of Rebecca Sugar's birth permeated the atmosphere)

7. Lexington, KY (my husband is from here so the one point I'll give it is that multiple wonderfully strange gay men come from here, otherwise it's a bumfuck ghost town, I don't believe for a second that 300k people live there)

6. Galesburg, IL (reminds me of a sims 2 neighbourhood, not much else to say, stayed with our dear lesbian friends here and had a wonderful time)

5. New York City, NY (would probably be ranked higher if I spent more than two days there, so vibrant and fun to just walk around in, love the subway, kind of overhyped)

4. Louisville, KY (where I live, only habitable place in Kentucky, all the gay people from the state have to live here so it's fun, it's also at the perfect point in the country to have like every regional fast food chain, the generic interior city of all time but it's my home and I love it)

3. Baltimore, MD (the people here are so mean it's funny, looks just like an Irish city, standing in the alley where divine ate dog shit was a spiritual moment for me)

2. Pittsburgh, PA (perhaps the most beautiful city in the US, barely being able to see the sky above the tall skyscrapers and mountains, it also helps that it was thronged with furries since I was there for anthrocon)

1. Chicago, IL (the best city in the US and maybe the world, the people are so nice and fun and the food is incredible, I love the l train so much it's unreal)

[imjustwritingg]

Hi! I hope you’re having a nice week ☺️ sorry to be a bother but I feel like I can trust you and your taste, so I’m hoping you’ll be able to give me some advice! I’m planning my first trip to Chicago over the summer and am trying to figure out the best area to stay in terms of safety and activities. I’m a little overwhelmed with all the options, lol. Do you have any recs?

Hello! You’re not being a bother. What a fun question to answer! I’m flattered you came to me to ask it.

I’ll give you some recs based off my own experience and some friends who live there. Where you wanna stay depends on a few things…your age, your budget, and what you wanna do.

I personally love the West Loop. It’s a younger crowd neighborhood, (20’s-30’s) lots of great food and bar options, and fun shopping and markets. It seemed pretty safe to me too. A friend of mine (another girl) and I walked around at night by ourselves and ended up at a bar and felt completely fine while we were out. The whole neighborhood is walkable too so you can just park your car if you’ve got one and go. All my friends there have said parking would be a bitch if I didn’t have a garage to use, but I’ve never had issues finding street parking. West Loop can be pretty pricey though, as can most places depending on the time of year you visit. A decent AirBnB for a week for 2+ people can cost you anywhere from $1500-$3k or more. My trips have been/will be just near or at the off-season mark and have been about $2k for 9-10 days. Hotels in the area can be just as or even more expensive. I think the only con about the West Loop is all the construction they seem to have going on, but that didn’t bother me too much.

If you’re looking for something that’ll give you a little more bang for your buck, especially if you’re going in the summer, I would suggest Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, or Streeterville neighborhoods.

If price isn’t an issue at all, there’s also the Loop, (basically just downtown Chicago) or Mag Mile that are great options too. There are lots of hotel options, easy transportation, food and shopping, and you’re close to all the tourist spots. The whole city is walkable really, just bring comfy shoes.

For food and activity recs, check out this post I made a few months ago.

Completely unrelated, but Chicago is also a very dog friendly city so I hope you love puppers! Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll answer as best I can for you. Good luck with trip planning and I hope you have a great time! 🫶🏼

[whatsonmedia]

Festival Frenzy: 5 Must-Attend Events Around the World

August is a festival smorgasbord, with a world tour of vibrant and diverse events spanning nations and traditions. Whether you’re a sound connoisseur, culinary adventurer, or heritage aficionado, there’s an August festival to ignite your passions. BOOMTOWN Hampshire, UK 9-13 August Boomtown is a renowned music festival held in Hampshire, England, known for its changing themes each year. The 2023 theme is "The Twin Trail”. Boomtown offers diverse music genres like ska, reggae, techno, and more. While the 2023 lineup isn't out, past lineups have been impressive. With immersive theming, workshops, and activities, Boomtown offers something for everyone. The festival's friendly atmosphere and strong sense of community make it a standout experience. Overall, Boomtown is a must-visit for a unique and unforgettable festival adventure. We Out Here Festival 2023 in Houghton, UK 10-12 August This is an electronic music festival held in Houghton, UK. It is a celebration of soul, hip hop, house, afro, electronica, jazz and beyond. The festival features a lineup of top DJs and producers, including DJ Koze, Omar-S, Eris Drew, Hunee, and Alexander Nut. The festival is held in a beautiful setting in the English countryside, and it's a great opportunity to see some of the best electronic music artists in the world. Houghton 2023 in Houghton, UK 10-12 August This is an underground electronic music festival held in Houghton, UK. It is a great place to discover new music and dance the night away. The festival features a lineup of up-and-coming DJs and producers, including 5ive, Adam Shelton, Alex Downey, and Sean Johnston. Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI 9-13 August This 11-day festival is the world's largest music festival, held in Milwaukee, WI. It features a variety of music genres, including rock, pop, country, and hip hop. Headliners this year include Justin Bieber, Guns N' Roses, and Halsey. Summerfest is a great place to see some of your favorite artists perform live, and it's also a great way to experience the vibrant music scene in Milwaukee. Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL 11-14 August This 4-day festival features a lineup of top music acts from all over the world, including Metallica, Dua Lipa, and Green Day. Lollapalooza is one of the most popular music festivals in the United States, and it's a great place to see some of the biggest names in music perform live.0 Read the full article

[blondiest]

staunchly avoiding a Task (TM) so one more anecdote— this one is actually from almost exactly 10 years ago, when i was nearly 18. in my senior year, having taken summer classes to get US govt and econ out of the way, i had room for art classes in my schedule, which i loved. for one of the projects we did, we wrapped our bodies in garbage bags & packing tape to create the shapes of torsos and limbs (for the heads we had those wig holder things, since. yknow. we didn't want to suffocate people) and put these various parts together to create a monster of some sort. my group decided to do a human spider. we worked quite hard on it and i was proud of how it came out. here's a visual aid (unfortunately instagram filtered because it was that era):

(we ran out of clear garbage bags partway through and had to change colors)

anyway. this beautiful creation hung in this like... central area of our school for a while. might have actually been a whole year. i came back to visit at some point after graduating (my girlfriend at the time was still a senior, so i might've been hanging out with one of the clubs she was in) and ran into my art teacher, who offered to GIVE ME the sculpture since they recently had taken it down. obviously i accepted w/ great enthusiasm. however, i quickly realized my mom was super not going to want me to keep it at her place, bc we didn't really have the space. but i didn't want to just throw it away. thinking on my feet, i called my dad and asked if he wanted an art project i did.

i want to say i probably explained roughly what this thing looked like, but honestly i can't be sure how forthright i was. anyways, he said yes, he would take it, so i headed to his house to drop it off there. he was not home yet, because it was only about 4PM, but i had his garage code so it wasn't an issue. after some consideration on how to best display this piece, i decided to set it up in one of his chairs. it was pretty dark in his house so it looked... kinda fucked-up tbh. i would not have wanted to walk into my living room to see that thing sitting in one of my chairs. i considered the possibility that he was not going to be thrilled about it.

unfortunately for him, i was mad at him about something— he completely sucks, so i have no idea what exactly it was in this particular instance— and ultimately decided that he deserved to suffer the small fright/indignity of encountering a mysterious and unexpected horror in his home. so i left it where it was and drove off to do whatever it was i did at that age, quietly waiting to hear of his reaction to my art. lo and behold, at about 6PM, i get a phone call from him. "this is very nice, honey," he said, "but i don't want it in my house."

to his credit, he did bend over backwards to ensure it wasn't simply thrown out/destroyed— we literally drove it an hour into downtown chicago to gift it to my friend who was in art school there. i have no idea what became of it after that.