#Betty´s Bay

[kdo-three]

Bettie on Deck Bettie Page on Biscayne Bay by Bunny Yeager, 1954

[lionheartlr]

Exploring Antigua and Barbuda: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Antigua and Barbuda, a stunning twin-island nation in the Caribbean, offers a blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. Whether you’re planning a sun-soaked beach holiday or an adventurous exploration of its historical sites, this guide provides everything you need to know to make the most of your visit. Brief History Pre-Colonial and Colonial Period Originally inhabited by…

[greencproductions]

WWF Community project

[craiglotter]

Penguins and Dassies at Stony Point Colony in Betty's Bay (2021-09-18)

Penguins and Dassies at Stony Point Colony in Betty’s Bay (2021-09-18)

[shellshocklove]

conversation | peter parker

pairing: college!peter parker x college!female!reader

summary: peter parker is in the friendzone. and it sucks. especially when the girl he’s in love with is dating his best friend. smack dab in the middle of a bad situation peter struggles to keep his feelings at bay when the girl of his dreams comes to him for advice about her failing relationship.

warnings: i guess post!nwh, swearing, cheating, peter pining for reader, everyone being a bad guy, smut 18+ (minors dni!!!), unprotected sex, creampie

word count: 4.1k

a/n: um my first peter fic! it’s based on the song conversation by joni mitchell. listen to it, or don’t, i’m not your mother. i said i was going to stop posting writing, but i have “i must create or i’ll go crazy” disease so... (i’m still not a writer)

main masterlist / ao3

She comes to him for conversation, for comfort, for consultation. But Peter wished she came to him for something else.

He remembers the first time he saw you. How he’d thought his heart had stopped for a second, forgetting how to do its most basic function. How could someone look so effortlessly beautiful? How could a voice sound so sweet while asking such a mundane question?

“Is this seat taken?”.

“N-n-no!” he’d manage to stutter out, his cheeks flushed red and completely taken aback by the fact that you were talking to him. You’d given him a playful smile before seating yourself next to him.

Did he believe in love at first sight? Yes, after seeing you for the first time, Peter started to think he did.

Meeting you in a chemistry class, Peter thought, must be the universe’s take on a bad joke, because… you two had chemistry. Everything just felt so easy when he hung out with you. His smile always wide, cheeks hurting. Conversation flowing freely, or engulfed in a silence, that was always comfortable. The only thing though, even though you two had chemistry, you weren’t any good at it. Actually, you were barely passing.

And that’s how your time began. Sharing sodas after class, in a rundown diner, over chemistry homework. You’d seen how Peter had gotten straight A’s on all his tests, and one day you’d carefully asked if he would be so kind as to help you. Those were the actual words you’d used. If Peter would be so kind. As if he wouldn’t have done anything you’d ask without a second thought. Okay, maybe not anything. He doesn’t think he’d murder someone if you asked… or maybe… if you were in danger and it was the only way–

“Peter!” you laughed, waving your hand in front of his face, “Are you even listening to me?”.

“Huh!?” he hummed, a familiar warmth spreading through his cheeks as your laugh rang through his ears.

“You zoned out a little,” you said, scrunching up your nose. Oh god he loved when you did that– you looked so cute.

“Oh! S-sorry” he stuttered out, still embarrassed that you’d caught him daydreaming, “What were you saying?”.

“Ehm… just forget it” you looked away, waving your hand, “It was just something Harry did again”.

His name coming from your mouth felt like a bucket of ice-cold water over Peter’s head. Harry Osborn, your boyfriend, and Peter’s roommate.

As much as Peter loved Harry, he didn’t treat you well. This was usually how your conversations during your study dates would go, once it was clear that after a few hours of studying, you were done with chemistry for the day.

You’d usually bring up small things that Harry had done that hurt you or annoyed you. And Peter would be tasked with giving you advice, or comfort, or consolation. You always apologized after, for bringing Harry up in conversation, but Peter always brushed it off telling you it was fine. But it wasn’t. It always reminded him about his own failures. How if he hadn’t been such a pussy at Betty’s party, all those months ago, and told you how he felt, this wouldn’t just be a study date, but a real date. The problem was just that Harry had beat him to it that night. In Harry’s defense, he didn’t know about Peter’s feelings about you. No one did.

You’d disappeared at some point in the night, and Peter figured you’d gone home. Turns out you did go home, but not to your own apartment, but to Peter’s and Harry’s instead. A fact Peter didn’t know until the morning after when he’d bumped into you in the kitchen, his heart dropping to his stomach at the sight of you in nothing but Harry’s shirt.

Peter’s dreams weren’t completely crushed at that moment. He still harbored hope for you. Harry was quite the whore (Harry’s own words by the way, not Peter’s), and this wasn’t the first time Peter ran into one of his hook-ups in the kitchen after a night out. In Peter’s mind this was only a one-night stand. But he couldn’t have been more wrong. Not soon after, you started showing up at the penthouse, not to hang out with Peter, but with Harry instead.

Peter tried his best to not be disappointed when you came over. But the tiny spark of hope he had about one day calling you his, soon fizzled out and died. Every time he saw you and Harry kissing, holding hands; he knew nothing would ever happen between the two of you.

Trying to forget you, he started busying himself with classes and patrol, seeing you less and less. He’d run into you sometimes when you were visiting Harry. Only a short “Hello” leaving Peter’s lips as he’d retire to his room before Harry could see how much Peter wanted you.

Back in his room, Peter would convince himself that you and Harry being together was the best thing for you. If you were with Peter, he’d only end up hurting you. You deserve the very best, and Peter knew he would never be good enough. He was a fucking mess most of the time. He was always late to things, never on time, he couldn’t afford to treat you to nice things like Harry did, and his double life could make you a target, which was the last thing he wanted.

Peter kept his distance the best he could, but as time went on it got harder and harder to convince himself that Harry treated you the way Peter thought you deserved. Peter knew Harry wasn’t being honest with you, and it killed him to keep his mouth shut. The bubbling anger simmering under the surface every time he’d see a girl who wasn’t you, slip out of Harry’s bedroom. Then like a curse, a few moments later, his enhanced hearing enabled him to eavesdrop on yours’ and Harry’s conversations on the phone. Harry would always apologize for being too busy to come over and hang out. And with the softest voice, you’d let Harry off the hook every time. Leaving the penthouse, to go on patrol after nights like that, Peter admitted, his punches hit a little harder.

Your relationship tasted especially bitter in Peter’s mouth whenever Harry would throw parties at the penthouse. A hand over your shoulder or around your waist, never leaving your side, showing you off like you were a prized possession and not a human being. Was this the final straw for Peter? Seeing yet another way Harry didn’t treat you as well as he should; that had made him not want to make up an excuse, like he normally would, when you’d ask him if he wanted to study at the diner.

Peter had kept his distance from you for the last six months. Tried to stay in his lane. To turn the other eye. To fold his feelings for you in on itself like a piece of paper so many times he hoped they’d disappear. But one look at you again, sitting across from him at your regular booth at the diner, and his origami-ed feelings had sprung up again like a blooming flower in spring.

“I just really wanted to see him, you know? I’ve been so stressed about this chemistry exam– that I know I’m gonna fail by the way, and work’s been kicking my ass– and I just wanted to hang out with my boyfriend… but he canceled on me three times this week”.

Or maybe the final straw, for Peter, was the way your whole body deflated in front of him. Peter could feel his heart break in real time watching you turn your head away, hiding the wobble of your bottom lip. And the worst part of it all was that Peter knew why Harry had canceled on you. He’d been over at someone else’s place. But Peter knew he couldn’t tell you that.

Carefully he reached out his hand, brushing it over the back of yours as you rested it on the table. “I’m sure Harry’s just been busy! I know he’s got his exams in a few weeks, and he hasn’t been home as much lately” Peter said, trying his best to make you feel better.

You watched your hands for a moment, how Peter brushed his hand over yours trying to sooth you the best he could. Then you turned your hand, wrapping it around his in a gentle hold. The soft touch of your warm hand, making Peter stop breathing for a second.

“Yeah,” you nodded, “you’re probably right, Peter”. You tried your best to smile, but Peter could see your sorrow written all over your face, breaking Peter’s heart even more.

“You’re a good friend Peter!” you started, “I’m so sorry for always talking about Harry, but it’s just that you know him so well, so it’s easier to talk about him with you– and you always manage to say the right thing to make me feel better” you looked down at your intertwining hands.

“It’s almost scary how easily you can make me feel better Peter– it’s like you have superpowers or something” you said, a chuckle escaping your lips.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you about my superpowers?” Peter quipped, trying his best to cheer you up even more. A smile spread across your face as you shook your head.

“My powers are actually being very good at chemistry– AND knowing how to make my friend who’s failing her chemistry class feel better”.

A giggle left your lips at Peter’s joke as you let out a sarcastic “haha, very funny”, playing along.

If only you knew though. How he wished that this mess could be fixed with his actual superpowers. How he wished he could just put on the suit and save you from Harry. How he wished he could free you.

Landing safely on the rooftop of Harry’s penthouse, Peter looked around for his backpack he’d hid with his clothes. He’d managed to hide his double life from Harry so far, and he planned on it staying that way, which meant changing in and out of his suit crouched behind a rooftop vent, every day.

He was back earlier than usual, cutting tonight’s patrol short as it had turned out to be a quiet night. He’d stopped a man stealing a lady’s purse, and after he’d helped a man, who he was 90% sure had dementia, find his way back to his apartment. After that he’d just swung around the city for a few hours. At sunset he’d found a good spot at the top of this new skyscraper they were building downtown. His feet dangled off the scaffolding as he watched the sky turn every shade of pink and orange, before the sun dipped below the horizon.

Back home, on the roof, Peter felt the soft touch of the spring night against his naked skin. He quickly changed out of his suit before stuffing it back into his backpack, swinging it over his shoulder before he headed towards the rooftop door. With a light bounce in his step, Peter made his way down the stairs, his head filled with thoughts about all the studying he needed to do before his exam next week. Slipping through the front door he’s so distracted by his own thoughts he almost doesn’t hear it. The sounds of muffled moans accompanied by Harry’s bedpost hitting the wall.

But he does hear it, and images of how sad you’d looked earlier at the diner start flickering through Peter’s head. Before any rational thoughts can stop him, he’s fished his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. He’s had enough. His fingers work on their own accord, pulling up your contact.

Peter hi, um are you at the penthouse right now?

He knew you weren’t, but he figured this was the best way to bring it up. Taking long strides across the floor, he made his way towards his bedroom door. Why did he suddenly feel like he needed to hide?

He passed through his bedroom door while he slipped his backpack off his shoulder. Not even ten seconds later his phone buzzed in his hands with your reply. He sat down quickly on his bed, one leg bouncing in an anxious rhythm, as he read your reply.

You no? i’m at home why?

Peter i think you should come over there’s a girl with harry in his room

Did this make him a bad person Peter asked himself as he watched the three dotted bubble appear and then disappear. Was this just him acting out of his own selfishness? Letting the devil on his shoulder whisper in his ear and guide his hand? Or did it make him a hero? Saving you from a toxic relationship?

You i’m coming over.

The sound of your footsteps echoed down the streets, mixing with Peter’s calls of your name as he practically jogged behind you trying to catch up to you.

“Peter” you sighed, “just please go back home”.

“No!” he finally caught up to you, grabbing a hold of your wrist, pulling it a little, making you slow down.

“I don’t think you should be alone right now”.

Your face was blank, the only sign of any emotion coming from your restless eyes dancing across his face. He couldn’t decipher what you were thinking. You were angry of course. You were furious only minutes ago when you stormed out the door with both Harry and Peter at your heel.

Harry had spoken his sorry sentences. Telling you it wasn’t what it looked like. Begging for your forgiveness. But he was only kidding himself trying to convince you it wasn’t what it looked like, that he hadn’t cheated on you, when you’d literally caught him with his dick inside another woman.

Harry stayed behind in the lobby, probably thinking it wasn’t worth it to go after you into the spring night, in only his robe. Just as Peter were about to rush after you Harry spoke up,

“If you go after her you’re dead to me!”.

The venomous bite to Harry’s tone stopped Peter dead in his tracks.

“I know you fucking told her” Harry accused, “If you go after her I’m kicking you out– I NEVER want to see you again”.

But standing here, out on the streets of New York at midnight, holding your hand Peter knew he’d made the right decision.

“Ok” you said it so softly Peter didn't think he’d even hear it if his hearing wasn’t enhanced.

“Ok” he repeated.

You pulled your hand away, a knife twisting in Peter’s heart, and started walking. You didn’t say a single word on the way back to your apartment. Peter imagined you were hurt, but you weren’t crying, and Peter didn’t know if that scared him or comforted him.

Safely back inside your apartment you didn’t even acknowledge his presence as you threw your jacket off by the door. Then you walked down the hallway, taking a right at the end, to where he assumed your living room must be. Peter had never actually been in your apartment before.

He followed you down the hallway, after neatly hanging both his and your jacket on your coat rack. He found you on the floor by your couch, your back resting against the front, holding your knees to your chest, your arms wrapped tightly around yourself, as soft sobs escaped you.

“I’m sorry you had to find out like that” Peter apologized, sitting down next to you on your carpet. A feeling like his only purpose in life was to comfort you, overcame him. So, he wrapped a hand around your shoulders, pulling you against his chest. You leaned in closer to his body, your hands shifting from hugging yourself, to hugging Peter tightly.

“No, this was exactly how I needed to find out” you sobbed, “I needed to see it with my own eyes, or I wouldn’t have believed it”.

Peter let you cry until there weren't any tears left to cry, cooing you and whispering all the most reassuring words he could muster up past midnight.

“I don’t know why it hurts so bad… I think deep down I always knew he wasn’t being honest with me– he always kept me guessing” you said. No, Peter thought, he kept you down.

Before Peter could say anything, you lifted your head from his chest, a big wet spot on his t-shirt left in your wake. You looked him right in the eye, and Peter could feel a budding warmth of red covering the apples of his cheeks.

“Please Peter” you pleaded, moving your face closer, the closest it’s ever been to his. Your right hand traveled to cup his hot cheeks, pulling him even closer to your face. So close he felt your breath tickle his skin while you spoke,

“You always make me feel better– it’s your superpower, remember? Please make me feel better”.

Closing his eyes, Peter knew he couldn’t deny you, his heart screamed out for you. This was everything he wanted, was it not? With a shuddering breath and a heart beating out of his chest, he closed the space between you, brushing his lips over yours.

Your other hand cupped his other cheek, pulling him even closer to your body, letting out a small whimper as you kissed him back. Peter felt like his head was spinning. He didn’t know where he ended, and you began.

Then it all became a bit of a blur. His hands found your waist as you climbed onto his lap, brushing your tongue over his bottom lip, deepening the kiss. Your hand left his cheek to toy with his hair, and Peter just about moaned into your mouth. He needed more of you, and with the way you were grinding down on his growing bulge, he knew you did too.

Warmth flooded his body wherever you touched him, and he didn’t think he could ever get enough of you. When your hand left his hair, he just about sighed with disappointment, until he realized how you toyed with the hem of his t-shirt. Raising his hands, he helped you pull it off him. Absentmindedly, you threw it away, before your eyes fell to his chest, quickly scanning over his muscles before they traveled up to his face, where they looked into his soul. Half a second later you pulled him in for another heated kiss.

His hands fell to your ass, helping you grind down on him. Fuck, he was properly hard now, his cock straining against his jeans. With every brush of your core against his cock you whimpered into his mouth, making Peter almost feel lightheaded. You were so pretty. Your lips tasted like raspberries, and under his hands your skin was softer than velvet.

“Take off your pants please” you pleaded against his skin as you started pressing soft kisses down along his jaw and neck.

His hands raced to unbutton his jeans. You pulled away from his neck, staggering to your feet on wobbly legs, making a whine leaving Peter’s lips. Over him you started pulling on your pants, dragging them down your legs along with your panties in one go. Mesmerized by your silhouette, Peter almost forgot what he was doing. You quickly sat down beside him, fingers coming up to hook around the waistband of Peter’s jeans. Then you started pulling them down to his mid-thigh along with his boxers. Peter almost forgot to breathe as you freed his aching cock.

When you climbed onto his lap, Peter’s brain started working again. His hands fell to your ass, steadying you as you got comfortable on his lap.

“D-did you want me to…” Peter trailed off, not knowing how to say what he wanted to say. Instead, he showed you. His right hand rubber over your ass and hip before his fingers brushed over your clit. You mewled at the contact, your eyes closing before you shook your head.

“No, no I just want you– I need you, Peter”.

Fuck, Peter thought. He’d dreamt of hearing you tell him you wanted him, for months. And now it wasn’t a dream anymore.

“O-okay” he stuttered, reaching a hand between your bodies, grabbing at his shaft in a rough hold. With his other hand he helped guide your hips to hover over his tip, sliding it back and forth over your slit, and lining it up with your opening. He could feel how wet and desperate you were, coating his cock in your arousal.

With a hand resting on his shoulder, you slowly sat down on his cock. First slipping the tip in, before your walls swallowed the rest of him, taking him fully inside. A choked moan fell from Peter’s lips as he savored the feeling of your velvet pulsing walls around him. Rocking your hips back and forth, your puffy clit rubbing up against his pelvis, as your mouth fell open in a silent gasp, gaping around words you couldn’t get out.

“Shit” you panted, “You’re so deep”.

“Yeah” Peter breathed out, head falling back against the couch, “You feel me in your tummy?”.

“Fuck,” you lifted your hips, slowly starting to move, “y-yes, I d-do”.

Looking up at you, as you moved over him, Peter thought you looked like an angel. The way your ceiling light lit up the back of your head, Peter was sure you were wearing a halo.

Your rhythm increased and soon you were bouncing in his lap. Your breathy moans falling from your lips, the wet noises coming from where you were connected, and the way you were starting to clench around him, were making the tension in Peter’s stomach grow. Knitting his eyebrows together, Peter didn’t know how much longer he was going to last.

Scared he’d finish before you, his fingers found your clit, pressing down in tight circles. Under the touch of his fingers you almost jumped, while a shuddering breath left your lips. Then Peter felt himself start to get desperate, meeting your bounces with a thrusting of his hip, pushing his throbbing cock even further inside you.

Every brush of his fingers over your clit, coincided with a thrust of his hips, and soon he felt your wall flutter around him. He could feel how your wetness ran down his shaft and down his balls, and he knew you were as close to the edge of ecstasy as he was. His fingers never let up on your clit, and soon you clenched around him so hard he couldn’t hold it back anymore.

“Fuck,” Peter spat, “I’m gonna cum”.

“I–Inside” you moaned, “You can come inside– it’s okay”.

Your words pushed him over the edge, making him come hard inside you with a grunt. He didn’t slow down his fingers on your clit, and the feeling of him filling you up and the brush of his fingers, must’ve pushed you over the edge. Half a second later your hips stilled as Peter felt the frantic pulses of your orgasm milking his cock.

The feeling of you riding out your orgasm on his sensitive cock, clenching down on him as your body shook with aftershocks, it was almost too much, too intense for Peter. His breath came out in hard pants, and his body felt hot to the touch.

Peter didn’t know how much time passed as you both came down from your highs. It could have been three seconds or three hours. All Peter knew was that with you, he lost all sense of time. But this moment of bliss must come to an end. Everything is temporary, and someone must be the first to pull away.

On wobbling legs, you slid off his lap, sitting down next to him on the floor. You leaned back, grabbing your panties off the couch. Peter averted his eyes. The act was somehow too intimate to watch, even after what you two had just done. Instead, he busied himself with pulling his pants back over his ass, and tucking himself away, as a silence fell over the both of you. It felt heavy, loaded with questions he didn’t know if he wanted an answer too. After a few minutes a whisper left Peter’s lips, breaking the silence,

“I think I might be homeless”.

You didn’t answer right away, but Peter could hear your breathing change multiple times, like you were going to say something,

“I’m sorry”.

tagging some mutuals (this is so embarrassing): @hollandweather​, @luciwritesstuff​, @userholland​, @t-lostinworlds​, @silkscream​, @sparklingsin​, @logangarfield​, @justapurrcat​, @tomdutch​, @devotion​, @lnmp89​, @mayal0pez​, @melodicheauxxo-writes​,

...

© shellshocklove, 2023

[snitchcrimsonwrites]

Maybe pt. 6

Pairing: Norm MacLean X Female Reader or OC if you squint

Former friends to a relationship?

Life is pretty easy in Vault 33 until you're trying to rekindle a former friendship and Raiders attack. Now, our main characters are trying to navigate newfound feelings, all while undercovering the mysteries of Vault 33. Stay tuned. Follows the main storyline of season 1; some events may be reordered for plot.

I've rewritten this section so many times, and I'm still not thrilled with it, but I'm happy enough with how it's progressed. You and Norm are dealing with the aftermath of the raid on Vault 33 and how the MacLeans want to proceed following the kidnapping of their Dad.

Part 1 Here. Part 7 Here Part 12 Here

Part 2 Here Part 8 Here

Part 3 Here Part 9 Here

Part 4 Here Part 10 Here

Part 5 Here Part 11 Here

Norm stayed held up in the makeshift bunker, as quiet as possible, until Lucy returned to set him free. They embraced, holding each other close; he’d never been happier to see his sister’s face, but Norm could tell something was amiss when she clung tighter to him as he moved to break away. 

“Dad?” he asked cautiously, unsure if he entirely wanted her to disclose that information. He expected the worst. 

“They took him,” she croaked in reply, blinking back some tears. This was...unexpected. She took her time to explain how the raiders used her and some other dwellers as leverage to get the Overseer to hand himself over as their hostage and disappear to the Surface. Her story raised many questions, but honestly Norm was too exhausted to engage in those thoughts. 

“Everything will be alright,” she promised as she helped him to his feet. Norm wanted to believe his sister with every fiber of his being. Lucy usually could make good on this type of promise, but how on Earth was she going to navigate this one? 

His family mostly accounted for, Norm turned his attention to locating you. He hadn’t seen you since he fled the Vault 32 corridor. A wave of shame hit him as he recalled that memory, wishing he could have done something, anything, in an attempt to protect you. Instead, he turned tail and ran. But your absence the rest of the evening could be good, right? You didn’t get mixed up in the chaos in the main chamber of Vault 33. For once, Norm allowed himself some wishful thinking.

_________________________

The last hour or so was mostly a blur of events you were trying to piece together as you sat in the atrium receiving stitches from the only vault doctor standing. 

“And one more stitch ought to do it,” the doctor said as she wrapped up closing your wounds on your arms. Thank god, you didn’t know how long you could continue to avoid paying attention to the needle pricks across your arms. You were barely holding it together as is. 

 “You were pretty lucky you managed to quickly treat and bandage these wounds. I think it will help the healing in the long run,” she said as she disinfected and re-dressed the bandages over your stitches. “That gash on your left is pretty deep, though, so you might experience some numbness and lack of mobility if there’s nerve damage. When we see you back down in the med bay to change those bandages, we’ll talk about running a few more tests and rehabbing if needed,” placing her hand on your back as she moved to the next patient. 

After your encounter with your raider attacker, you managed to stumble down the remainder of the corridor into one of the outer supply rooms, connecting Vault 32 and Vault 33. Thankfully, it was equipped with some basic medical supplies, allowing you to hastily tend to your wounds before fading out of consciousness. When you awoke and finally arrived in Vault 33’s atrium, you weren’t sure how much time had passed, but much of the commotion had died down. 

You scanned the faces of the remaining Vault 33 dwellers as they moved around the atrium: Betty, Woody, Reg, Davy, Steph, and Chet, all accounted for. You did not dare identify those slain across the floor, afraid you might see a particular brown-haired dweller among them.  

______________________

Norm’s wish was granted when he spotted you in the crowd receiving medical attention from the Vault doctor. You were alive; however, his immediate relief turned sour when he saw your state. Blood spattered across your face and hair, and lines of stitches were woven up the sides of your arms being tended to. 

He could feel a plethora of different emotions bubbling up into his chest: guilt for abandoning you in a time of trouble, anger at himself and the individuals who caused you harm, and fear that you would never want to talk with him again. That last thought paralyzed him, stopping him in his tracks. What if you never wanted to see him again? He had just gotten his friend back, and was he destined to lose her? 

“Norman?” The sound of your voice clarified his brain, driving away all the negative thoughts and emotions. Instantly, he wanted nothing more than to be at your side. Moving one foot in front of the other, he hurried to close the distance. Once there, he wrapped his arms around you, and you fell emotionally into his arms. This time, he wasn’t letting go. 

_____________________________

The following morning came way too quick, and the dwellers of Vault 33 rallied just as fast, much to your dismay. An assembly meeting was called, and dwellers were assigned their post-raid clean-up duties. The goal? Get everything back to normal as fast as possible. How were we supposed to go “back to normal” after last night? A fresh coat of paint and routines of normalcy wouldn't cut it. But people were more interested in getting back to their day-to-day rather than lingering on the death and destruction of their community. Part of you didn’t blame them, but pushing past without a second thought also felt wrong. 

You arrived later than most of the crowd, but there was still an abundance of open seating. You took the open seat next to the MacLeans, interested to hear what the assembly had to say, even though you already had a good idea. Life in the vault is nothing but predictability.

“Settle, settle.” You heard as Reg took control, attempting to silence the crowd for the meeting. 

Lucy immediately stood, determined to have to the floor. You knew what she wanted to say before she opened her mouth to speak, seeking any chance of putting her broken family back together.

 “I have a proposal for the assembly. We send a search party to the surface to find my dad.” Unsurprisingly, her proposal was met with the shocked gasps of the dwellers present; nonetheless, she continued as resilient as ever to win them over. “Even with our dwindled numbers, we can spare four people from farm duty for up to two weeks.”

“Sorry, Lucy, but you’re talking about opening the vault door?” Reg interjected, asking for clarification on what was so “obviously” a ridiculous request. 

“For just under a minute. It’s just enough time… “ Lucy attempted, trying to rationalize with the crowd she was losing. You admired her courage but doubted the council or anyone in the Vault could be swayed to do something so whole-heartedly against their nature. 

“Okay, I know we’re just brainstorming here, and there are no bad ideas in a brainstorm… but.” 

Ah, there it is. The acknowledgment that this was never up for serious consideration. 

“But, that’s something that we ever do or have ever done, never, never ever.” 

“I know, I know that,” Lucy conceded, her voice increasingly desperate.

Betty, clearly having had enough of this conversation, interjects. “I know we’re all hurting right now, but our first priority has to be to maintain the security of this Vault. That means not opening any of our doors.” 

“Well said, Betty.”  “Yes, thank you, Betty. Okay, let’s move on.” That’s it; in a swift dismissal motion, the council decided. 

Lucy shakes her head in disbelief, shocked by the group's unwillingness. Not sharing his sister’s optimism, Norm speaks up about the situation's reality. “ They don’t want to find Dad. If they did, they wouldn’t get to be in charge,” he utters solemnly. His tone tells you that he wishes that wasn’t the case. Reassuringly, you place your hand lightly on his knee, being there for him as best you can. He moves his hand to yours, the gesture not going unnoticed as he maintains eye contact with his sister. He hated to be the one to break it to her that the MacLeans would be alone in this endeavor. 

Crestfallen, Lucy moves to leave the meeting; however, you had a feeling this wasn’t the last you’d hear from her about rescuing Overseer MacLean. 

_______________________

Norm fiddled with the Nuka Cola machine, trying not to make it abundantly evident he was up to something. He was so bad at this. He barely acted typically under normal circumstances, let alone stressful situations. He just had to keep a low enough profile to ensure he, Lucy, and Chet could reach the main vault entrance unseen. Easier said than done when the elevator access was smack in the middle of the most central location in Vault 33. 

He leaned against the machine as he heard someone approach, trying to act as casually as possible. Just act like everyone else, he told himself.“ Hey, Davey,” he called out to the older man as he wheeled another raider corpse down to the composting room, “How’s your day going?” 

“It's as bad as everyone else’s,” he replied, taken aback but somewhat used to how Norm engaged in social interactions. Shaking his head, Davey hurried down the hallway, brushing off the encounter, eager to finish this dreadful task. 

Norm breathed a sigh of relief as Davey walked away, now to get on with Lucy’s plan, but his relief was short-lived when he heard another pair of footsteps rounding the corner. He reassumed his original position.

“What are you up to, Norman MacLean?” he heard your voice ring out from around the corner moments before you appeared, arms crossed in front of him. Your tone and body language told him you were already suspicious of his behavior if you hadn't already figured out what he was up to. But he opted to double down, hoping you’d drop it quickly and let them be on their way. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, (Y/N). Everything is perfectly normal,” he says, leaning back against the Nuka Cola machine. 

“A huh,” you replied unconvinced. “And, I’m sure this has nothing to do with your friends waiting by the elevator?” you inquire as you peek your head around Norm to wave to Lucy and Chet waiting by the elevator. You smirk as Chet returns your wave. “I can help,” you lean in and whisper. 

Damnmit. “I know that, but I’d rather not get you into trouble if I can avoid it. Please,” he’s begging now. 

“Fine,” you allow with a dismissive eye roll. “Your secrets are safe with me.” 

“I never had any doubt… though if you didn’t mind discouraging anyone from calling the elevator, it would be a tremendous help,” Norm offered as he walked over to join his sister and cousin in the elevator. 

“Aye, Aye,” you saluted, taking up your new post as you watched the doors close behind them. 

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

tw: manipulation; dark; angst

(If you only want Simon happy and comfy, this is NOT the ficlet for you)

(Inspired by Twitter, which is a warning in and of itself)

Simon holds the papers - the evidence - the proberbial smoking gun - in his shaking, sweaty hands. Despite the thick walls of ice on all sides, even with his fingers numb and blue, heat radiates off his skin as if he spent a whole day baking under a midwestern sun. Rage boils his blood, pushing his pulse to fill every artery and capillary with his fury. His intellect could find a thousand cutting words - formulate a piercing and accurate accusation - but he knows if he opens his mouth, only a howling, senseless screech would pour out.

So he clamps his jaw shut, bites his tongue till he tastes blood, and he stares at the Winter King.

"As if you could do any better," his so-called counterpart - alternate self - fellow Petrikov says blithely with a shrug. With a shrug!

"So you admit it!" Fionna gasps. "Winter King, how could you?"

"Very easily," Winter King replies, crossing his arms. There isn't a hint of guilt. "Fionna, darling -"

"Don't call me that!" Fionna breathes heavy and thick, trembling with the effort to keep her tears at bay. "You - You - You lied to us! I h-hurt all those - all those -" Her voice breaks as a sob squirms loose.

Seeing her sister's tears, Cake lunges for the Winter King, claws out. "You've crossed the line, blue boy! You've crossed all the lines!"

Winter King scoffs and with a casual wave of his hand, freezes Cake mid-air. "Cool it, kitty. I'm still King around here."

"CAKE!" Fionna cries out. "You monster!"

"Fionna, don't!" Simon yells a second too late.

Fionna is already charging at the Winter King, one fist cocked back, ready to flatten him. And to her surprise - Simon's horror, the punch lands against the Winter King's cheek. The force tilts the Crown on Winter King's head but he remains standing, completely unmoved.

"Oh fuck you," Fionna snarls.

"Manners, young lady!" Winter King gasps before snapping his fingers.

Frost bursts over Fionna's knuckles right at the point of contact with Winter King's face. It explodes over Fionna's hand, up her arm, and despite her desperate attempts to pull away, the frost slides over her shoulder, down her torso, and up her neck. Before her face is fully covered, Fionna hacks a mouthful of spit at Winter King. Fortunately, she freezes completely before she could watch her glob of spit turn into a sphere of ice, falling to the floor with a quiet tink.

Winter King, supremely unbothered, carefully straightens his Crown.

Simon swallows what feels like a mouthful of dust, as he cracks open his lips. "How... How could you? There's no way... You can't be me... I -"

Winter King turns to him like a bird of prey finding a mouse. "You would never? Is that so? Are you sure? Think carefully."

Simon squares his shoulders. "Even as Ice King, I never went so far -"

"Not as Ice King, no." Winter King adopts a sneer, stepping closer and closer. "But I have your memories. And with the clarity afforded by my lack of madness, I can say for certain, that you have done as I have done when we were Simon Petrikov."

Simon forcefully shakes his head. "You're wrong! You haven't lost your madness at all!"

"And you can't even see your madness, excusing yourself by calling it love. A rose by another name would still prick the careless finger. You hurt her the same way I hurt precious Princess Bonnibel. But at least, I am aware of it, and you are not."

"What are you talking about? I could never hurt Betty!"

"You also couldn't spare two thoughts for her. She gave up everything for you."

"I didn't ask for her to sacrifice herself! If I could stay as Ice King and spare her the pain, I would!"

Winter King stands before Simon, the distance between them barely the length of a finger. Simon holds his ground even as the Winter King towers over him.

"Fool. She was long gone before then, tormented by her madness that you never noticed. Always, she followed your choice, always she stayed by your side! So obsessed, so enraptured. And you, utterly blind to all the ways you groomed her to stay."

"She wanted to stay with me! She loved me!"

Winter King laughs, sharp and mean, as he traces the curve of Simon's chin with a bent finger. Simon slaps away his touch. Winter King rolls his eyes, and snaps his hand forward, grabbing hold of Simon's throat. His nails now tipped with icicle claws that gently pierce Simon's soft skin.

"Yes, I admit. Therein lies the difference. Bonnie hates me. Betty loves you. Yet they both ended up cursed. I intended to, you did not, but what does intent matter when they both suffer? And continue to suffer!"

Simon desperately tries to pull away but Winter King holds on tight. He pushes forward until that long nose presses flat against Simon's, until Simon has no choice but to share his breath with the Winter King.

"How could I do this to Bonnie?" Winter King coos. "How could you do that to Betty? How could you be so selfish? So self centered? How could you be so different from me?"

"That's... That's not true... It can't be..."

"You drove her insane! That's what we do, Simon! That's who we are!"

"Shut up!" Simon lashes out, his fist swinging wide. His knuckles graze against the Crown's gems, knocking it clean off the Winter King's head.

"Hey!" Winter King shouts, tearing away from Simon to chase after his Crown.

Simon finds his feet and scrambles away, running out of the room - running down the hall - running, running, running.

"Flee all you want, Simon!" Winter King's voice echoes off the ice walls, dogging Simon's every step. "The truth always catches up!"

Simon grits his teeth, pushing himself to run faster - further - faster. Winter King was wrong. He was crazy. He had no idea how Betty and him were really like. Right? Right?!

[alexzalben]

🚨Riverdale & Nancy Drew Premiere and Series Finale Dates🚨

Riverdale’s 7th and final season will premiere Wednesday, March 29 at 9pm ET.

Nancy Drew’s 4th and final season will premiere Wednesday, May 31 at 8pm ET.

Both shows will air their series finales on Wednesday, August 23.

RIVERDALE SEASON 7 SYNOPSIS:

The seventh season of RIVERDALE goes where no season of RIVERDALE has dared to go before—the 1950s! Picking up where last season ended, Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) finds himself trapped in the 1950s. He has no idea how he got there, nor how to get back to the present. His friends are no help, as they are living seemingly authentic lives, similar to their classic Archie Comics counterparts, unaware that they’ve ever been anywhere but the 1950’s. Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is the classic all-American teen, coming of age, getting into trouble, and learning life-lessons; Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is the girl next door, starting to question everything about her perfect life—including her controlling mother Alice (Madchen Amick); Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) is a Hollywood starlet who moved to Riverdale under mysterious circumstances; Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) is the Queen Bee with a withering wit and a secret longing; Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan) is an activist fighting for the Black students of recently integrated Riverdale High; Kevin Keller (Casey Cott) is a “square” crooner wrestling with his sexual identity; Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton) is a basketball star from farm country; and Fangs Fogarty (Drew Ray Tanner) is a greaser who’s destined to be an Elvis-type star. It isn’t until Jughead is visited by Tabitha Tate (Erinn Westbrook)—Riverdale’s Guardian Angel—that he learns the cosmic truth about their predicament. Will Jughead and the gang be able to return to the present? Or will our characters be trapped in the 1950’s forever? And, if so…is that such a bad thing?

NANCY DREW SEASON 4 SYNOPSIS:

Season four of NANCY DREW begins as Nancy launches a new investigation to find a group of missing bodies from Horseshoe Bay’s cemetery that have been dug up and stolen—or have possibly risen. As Nancy is drawn into this ghostly case, a string of unexplained paranormal crimes leads the Drew Crew to believe that the literal sins of the town’s past have returned to haunt the living. Meanwhile, Nancy struggles with yearning for Ace, the man she loves. But when a slow-burning attraction begins between Nancy and the son of Ryan Hudson’s newest enemy, Nancy must decide whether this love interest is worth the ire of both her father and Ace—whose own heart may also be tempted by a new relationship. Nancy’s exploits this season will bring the Drew Crew numerous standalone cases, stunning twists, humor, and unexpected romances as they are drawn into a season-long mystery unlike any they have had to solve before. When Nancy’s efforts to protect her seaside hometown from the sins of its past backfire, she must do the unthinkable to save her friends from both the supernatural and earthbound threats coming for them—and it could cost her everything, and everyone, she’s ever loved.

[authorbettyadams]

Humans are Weird – Contextual – Short, Absurd, Science Fiction Story

#SciFi #reading #Books #Aliens #Humans

Betty Adams Books

Amazon

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Betty%20Adams

Powell’s

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https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=betty+adams&fclanguages=en

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Signed

[bzedan]

April! Continuing my little bonus challenge of meaningful numbers, this playlist is 4 hours and 0 minutes long (my 40th birthday was this month).

Being my birthday month, this playlist was all about indulging myself with some oft-played faves mixed with ancient nostalgia, while also threading through a little bit of self-discovery vibes? Existing at this age wasn't something I could really conceptualize when listening to 'Barracuda' for the first time, I was just getting by day-to-day.

Anyway! A lot of songs from my most beloved records and tapes growing up, but with all the things I've fallen in love with since (did you know I was finally able to learn who Dio was thanks to hearing it on a radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

That's not to say there are a bunch of new favourites in here; 'Damocles' by Medusa is sparkling new and absolutely slaps in a way that I wish I could send to young me who hadn't even heard rock as hard as 'Time of the Season' yet, but who would play harpsichord records loudly, paving the mental pathways for listening to Wendy Carlos' The Well-Tempered Synthesizer (deeply unavailable online). I will note that I'd heard rock before The Zombies, but I don't think the piano music to 'White Rabbit' is quite the same thing, really.

Related media to some of the songs:

If you like Stromae's 'Alors On Danse' then there's a Tiny Desk Concert for you with another mix of the song (it's at 8:03).  

'ボクにインビテーション' (Boku ni Inbitēshon, "Invitation to Me") by JP is from Shirokuma Cafe, an anime worth hunting up (it's animals who work and visit a cafe! there are puns that can't be localised but they translate them well!).

'Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 8, No. 2: I. Allegro' is from Chevalier, which is in theatres now and I look forward to seeing when I can watch it at home, here's a trailer. And here's the Tumblr post that hipped me to the movie coming out.

Anyway here's a link to April's playlist on Spotify, with the track list below.

Also embedded, if you like that sort of thing:

'Meet Me In The Middle (Ky Vöss Mix)' - Boy Jr.  

'Sometimes I Think I Hate Myself' - Dead On A Sunday

'Damocles' - Medusa

'Sister Christian' - Night Ranger

'It Can't Come Quickly Enough' - Scissor Sisters  

Alors On Danse - 90's Remix' - Stromae  

'Talkin' Bout' - Thumpasaurus  

'Barracuda' - Heart  

'Crimson and Clover' - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts  

'Time of the Season' - The Zombies  

'From The Morning' - Let's Eat Grandma  

'Magic Carpet Ride' - Steppenwolf  

'The Pusher' - Steppenwolf  

'Holy Diver' - Dio  

'(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone - 2006 Remaster' - The Monkees  

'Magic Man' - Heart  

'The Last in Line' - Dio  

'I Am a Rock' - Simon & Garfunkel  

'The Weight' - Smith  

'This Diamond Ring' - Gary Lewis & The Playboys  

'Grease - From “Grease”' - Frankie Valli  

'To Love Somebody' - Bee Gees  

'It's My Party' - Lesley Gore  

'My Kink is Karma' - Chappell Roan  

'Good Tonight' - Izzy Perri  

'Blue Monday' - Orgy  

'Five O'clock World' - The Vogues  

'Leader Of The Pack' - The Shangri-Las  

'Earth Angel' - The Penguins  

'Son of a Preacher Man' - Dusty Springfield  

'Devil Came Down the Dance Floor (feat. Amber Martin)' - Jake Shears  

'If U Seek Amy' - Britney Spears  

'Central City Freestyle' - Big Freedia  

'Dark Night' - The Blasters  

'I Think We're Alone Now - Single Version' - Tommy James & The Shondells  

'Chaeri' - Magdalena Bay  

'On A Roll' - Ashley O  

'Career Boy' - Dorian Electra  

'Better To Find Out For Yourself' - Buffy Sainte-Marie  

'Mamma Mia' - String Tribute Players  

'Chemical' - Post Malone  

'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)' - Betty Everett  

'ボクにインビテーション' (Boku ni Inbitēshon, "Invitation to Me") - SUPER OMOTENASHI BEATS vol.1 ver' - JP  

'Tell Him - Single Version' - The Exciters  

'Visions' - Guilhem Desq  

'I Love You Always Forever' - Donna Lewis  

'I Think You've Got Your Fools Mixed Up' - Brenton Wood  

'Identity Crisis' - Jarina De Marco  

'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore' - Lucy Dacus  

'Psychos' - Jenny Lewis  

'Underwater' - Sun's Signature  

'Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 8, No. 2: I. Allegro - From "Chevalier"' - Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges  

'So Good Right Now' - Fall Out Boy  

'Chan Chan' - Buena Vista Social Club  

'White Rabbit' - Jefferson Airplane  

'Mr Blue' - Yazoo  

'Synthesizer' - Electric Six  

'Crazy On You' - Heart  

'Sonido Amazonico' - Los Mirlos  

'Coconut' - Harry Nilsson  

'Oranges and Lemons' - Book Of Love  

'Season of the Witch' - Donovan  

'If I'm Dancing' - Britney Spears  

'All Night Long (All Night) - Single Version' - Lionel Richie  

'Year Of Living Dangerously' - Scissor Sisters

[masterandapprentice]

Hello! Wanted to say I really enjoy your blog! :D I’m new to the NFL, but it seems some people only support a single team and others maybe have a main team but also like other teams/players. So, I was curious how you came to be a fan of the NFL teams you support? And the players that you like? (And, if you want to share, how you started shipping some of the pairings that you like?)

Thank you! Hope to see you post more works soon, I really enjoy them 😊

Hi there, dear anonymous! :D

So sorry for the late replay! (I didn't forget your questions, just took me a lot more than I wanted to answer you ;) so, this is gonna be long ;)

First of all, thank you for your comments! So glad You like this kinda weird blog here haha, I appreciate it!

Sooo, let's go for the answers!

Yes, I do know there are people who only "support" one team, but I think, maybe, they are fan of a more than one, they just don't say that loud because of certain fandoms haha :P. In my case, I don't care to say it openly, I do support more than one, but, they are like ranked xD

I have been an NFL fan since I was like 10 or something, my older brothers usted to watch sports all day, and well, being the only girl (besides my mom) between a family of 6 it kinda guided me through all this wonderful NFL world :D

Specifically, I've been a Steelers fan for more or less 26 years. It all started when I saw Jerome Bettis running and scoring a touchdown and that's when I saw a curious largue banner holding on that side that said "The bus stops here" so, for me was like "what does that mean?" Ahahaha XD Then I knew Bettis was called "The bus", so, everything made sense in a funny way, and I liked that, and watching him running and people cheering and screaming for him for just going to the end zone with a ball was a great sensation xD (didn't understand still what was all of that football thing was ahahaha), I don't know, my brothers did the same when watching the Raiders play (yes, unfortunately, they were Raiders fans and now they are Cowboys ahaha xD), and I feel the same in that moment and continued to watch Steelers games and becoming a fan. Ups and Downs, wins and losses, superbowls, retirements, change of coaches, a lot to say in all of those years but pretty satisfying :).

At that time I didn't have a favorite player, but all changed when Roethlisberger debuted and he became my fav instantly :).

I didn't root for any other team at that time, until I watched Aaron Rodgers debut with Green Bay (It was love at first sight honestly hahaha, he was sooo cute!) so I also wanted Packers to win everytime and they got the place of my "second favorite team" :3, it was always so nice when they played. And of course he was also one of my fav players.

I must day I also cheered for a couple of other teams, but nothing too serious :P (Ravens and Titans, but just when they are not facing the Steelers or Packers lol)

After that, came the Chiefs. To be honest I never cheered for them until Mahomes. At first I kinda hated them lol and was because after they won the Super Bowl against 49's, everyone was talking about the Chiefs and Mahomes being like the new Patriots, and I just thought "Oh God, not another Brady please" xD

And I was sooooo wrong.

The next season, I fell in love with them. Completely. Not just Mahomes (which I loved once I saw him playing and smiling. Sorrynotsorry) but also Kelce, they were my 2 favorite players but I must say I liked them as a team, as a whole, so they became my new -tied with Packers- favorites :D.

Of course, Steelers are -and always be- number 1, but for now, as they are on a reconstruction period, Chiefs are getting higher and higher ahaha, but I loved them anyway :)

And finally! Jets! Just because is Aaron's new team, so, no discussion here :P

About pairings, well, that's funny because I liked yaoi and MalexMale relationships since I was in high school (so many years ago xD) and I have always found pairings I like, even if the anime/movie/series is not properly yaoi/gay (that's the beauty of imagination ;) )

I have been into sports for a long time (specially male sports, of course that's the extra plus visual I enjoy a lot lol) but almost never thought of them being involved in that way, too much testosterone never let me imagine 2 alpha guys in a relationship like that xD

But.... there's always an exception for everything haha ;D

One time (and it was no long ago) that I was looking on the internet for some players statistics for my fantasy, as I was having Rodgers as my QB and wanted to make a detailed plan for winning the fantasy that year :3, and I found a short, erotic"fic" about him and Alex Smith and I was like "OMG! What the hello I'm reading here!" XD it was funny, because never imagined that kind of guys like that, but, it surely woke up something in my mind that now allows me to imagine them :3

Of Course, Rodgers was one of my favs, and I started looking for more stories with him and.... guess who? Mahomes! Yes! I thought they would fit perfectly, and most of all, I love age-difference pairings, so they were like made for each other ❤️.

Mahomes x Kelce, not so much to say... best friends, same team, great connection, both hot sexy guys, why not? Ahahaha, yeah!

And, there are also other pairings I like but mostly is Rodgers/Mahomes my fav so far :D

OMG! That was too long!! I mean, who writes so much answering a question? xD sorry for the book.

But I really appreciate your lovely comments ❤️, i'll do my best for writing more and post them soon :D

Thank you so much!!!!! And again sorry for the delay!!! :) anything else I'm still here ;)

[estilosviajespickycova]

Sudáfrica salvaje

Cuando uno viaja a Sudáfrica no es llamativo que entre las primeras líneas de los imprescindibles por realizar se encuentre el tomar contacto con animales exóticos y únicos. Y es que es un país que cuenta con una gran variedad de estos animales en libertad en sus impresionantes parques nacionales. 

Y sumado a unos paisajes naturales que te quitarán el aliento Sudáfrica se presenta como un excelente plan para el turismo.

Parque Nacional Kruger

Empezamos nombrándolo primero como uno de los destinos infaltables a la hora de recorrer Sudáfrica, aunque muchos prefieren dejarlo para el final de la visita como la guinda del postre. Es que el Parque Nacional Kruger es, sin lugar a dudas, el lugar perfecto para quienes viajan al país buscando vivir la experiencia de un safari.

Esta reserva de animales salvajes tiene una extensión similar al Estado de Israel y es el sitio ideal para contemplar a los Big Five, el grupo de animales compuesto por el leopardo, el león, el elefante, el búfalo y el rinoceronte, además de otros magníficos animales como jirafas, hipopótamos y guepardos.

En este parque es posible hacer el recorrido en tu propio auto durante el día, aunque para conocer los lugares escondidos y poder ver a los animales más de cerca es aconsejable contratar a los guías expertos que te conducirán en una 4×4 por toda la reserva. Y para los más aventureros existe la opción de sobrevolar el parque con un globo aerostático, una experiencia única e inolvidable.

Cabo de Buena Esperanza

Es uno de los rincones de Sudáfrica que encierran una gran historia, además de contar con paisajes de singular belleza.

Si bien es conocido como el extremo final del continente africano la realidad es que esa denominación es verdadera en el caso del Cabo de las Agujas, donde se encuentran el océano Atlántico y el Indico. Pero, de cualquier manera, fotografiarse con el cartel que describe la mítica ubicación es casi obligatorio. El Cabo de Buena Esperanza es igualmente un referente de la historia ya que al llegar a él los navegantes portugueses confirmaron que era posible navegar hacia las Indias.

Para poder deleitarse con sus increíbles paisajes es una buena idea tomar la ruta panorámica Chapman´s Peak Drive que bordea el océano Atlántico, y que está considerada una de las carreteras más espectaculares del mundo.

Table Mountain en Ciudad del Cabo

Esta ciudad cosmopolita y multicultural es una de las más bonitas del país, principalmente por el entorno que la rodea, por el océano Atlántico con playas paradisíacas de arena blanca y la Table Mountain que puede verse prácticamente desde cualquier rincón de la ciudad.

La Table Mountain es una montaña de cima plana que fue declarada como una de las siete maravillas naturales del mundo. Realmente vale la pena subir a lo más alto, en funicular o caminando, para poder apreciar las mejores vistas de la ciudad y de sus playas.

Además, Ciudad del Cabo cuenta con otros atractivos como subir a cimas de menor tamaño como Lion´s Head, conocer el pintoresco barrio malayo de Bo-Kaap, tomar el ferry para llegar a Robben Island, donde Nelson Mandela estuvo preso durante 18 años, caminar por la calle Long Street, la más conocida de Ciudad del Cabo, o disfrutar del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Kirstenbosch.

Hermanus

El avistamiento de ballenas franca austral es posible desde las costas de la pequeña y pintoresca ciudad de Hermanus. Este espectáculo natural solo se produce entre los meses de junio y noviembre de cada año cuando las ballenas migran desde el frío Ártico a los climas más cálidos de la costa sudafricana para aparearse.

Lo singular de esta experiencia es que las ballenas se pueden apreciar desde los distintos miradores que hay en los acantilados ya que se encuentran cercanas a la orilla. Pero si se quisieran contemplar aún más de cerca se sugiere subir a bordo de uno de los tantos barcos que navegan la bahía para avistarlas. 

Pinguinos de Betty´s Bay

De camino a Hermanus desde Ciudad del Cabo, un sitio donde ver una colonia de cientos de pingüinos africanos en libertad es Stony Point, en Betty´s Bay. Si bien no es el lugar más famoso, ya que el conocido es Boulder´s Beach, aquí se pueden apreciar estas simpáticas aves evitando las grandes multitudes.

Además, se encuentran en un marco ideal, con paisajes absolutamente imponentes, por lo que verlos dándose un baño en las aguas turquesas del océano Índico o tomando sol en la arena o en las rocas será todo un placer.

Parque del Humedal de Isimangaliso

En Isimangaliso se encuentra el estuario más grande de África, con una de las mayores poblaciones de hipopótamos de todo el continente. Dentro del parque se puede distinguir una gran variedad de flora y fauna y fascinarse con los distintos paisajes como dunas, sabanas, pantanos y playas.

Para poder estar a una corta distancia de los hipopótamos y cocodrilos se recomienda tomar una excursión en barco que se debe reservar con anticipación en el pueblo de Santa Lucía que está junto al parque, sobre todo si se elige salir al atardecer.

Originally published at on https://estilosviajes.com/April 07, 2023.

[oldmke]

Betty O'Sullivan, who sent in this picture, tells us all about it in her letter: "This picture of my aunt, uncle and cousin - Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Danielson and daughter Rayline (now Mrs. Carl Oesstreich - was taken in 1906 in front of their home at 874 22nd Ave. (now 2138 S. Layton Blvd.). At that time this was the Milwaukee city limits, and there were farms and fields across the street. It was unpaved and quite a contrast to the present volume of traffic carried by S. 27th St. today. The car was a four cylinder Knox and had a bronze frame and acetylene lights, a running board and no doors, in fact, Rayline sat on the floor with her feet on the running board and Aunt Lalla braced her foot against the front to keep her from falling out. There were cutter races on 27th between National and Lincoln, a one-mile course, on winter weekends. So when Dan built the house in 1903, he built a bay window upstairs so he could get a good view of them." Photo and information provided by Mrs. E. O’Sullivan and the Milwaukee Public Library local history collection.

[logi1974]

Auf dem Weg von Kapstadt nach Hermanus oder umgekehrt lohnt sich ein Stopp in Betty´s Bay und der dort ansässigen Pinguinkolonie. Die gemütliche Kleinstadt liegt unterhalb der Hottentots Berge und war früher für den Walfang bekannt. Überreste aus dieser Zeit sind auch heute noch am "Stony Point" zu sehen. Außerdem ist hier ein kleines Naturschutzreservat, wo man eine Kolonie der Brillenpinguine findet. Ihren Namen haben sie von dem rosa Hautfleck, der vom Schnabel um die Augen geht und aussieht als hätten sie eine Brille auf. Ein schmaler Holzsteg, ca. 300 m lang, führt Besucher durch das Gebiet in dem mehrere interessante Infotafeln aufgestellt sind.

On the way from Cape Town to Hermanus or vice versa, a stop in Betty's Bay and the penguin colony located there is worthwhile. The cozy small town is situated below the Hottentots mountains and was formerly known for whale hunting. Remains from this period can still be seen today at "Stony Point". There is also a small nature reserve here, where you can find a colony of Cape penguins (African penguin). A narrow wooden walkway, approx. 300 m long, leads visitors through the area in which several interesting information boards are placed.

[craiglotter]

Pizza and Baboons at Something Els in Rooi Els (2020-11-08)

Pizza and Baboons at Something Els in Rooi Els (2020-11-08)

Last month Chantelle and her The Helderberg Cake Company venture had as her last bake for the weekend a Sunday delivery out in Betty’s Bay, and so to combine wanting to get out of the house and grabbing a spot of brunch at the same time, we all piled into the car and drove off over the beautiful Clarence Drive coastal road, picking our way along the mountain slopes and the sea in what can only be…

[ynparker]

It's a Date - Peter Parker x (Y/N)

Peter Parker x fem!reader

Warning: slight mention of blood, use of the word pen!s

Summary: Peter never really noticed you until he couldn't help it.

You never really kept your head down, but you never stuck out either. Midtown High School was the sort of place where it was easy to do that. You had just a few friends, no particular love life (unless you counted the failed "relationship" in seventh grade. Which you did not.) and grades that were good enough to keep the school counselors at bay.

You sighed as you reached your locker and pulled your earphones out of your ears, interrupting the Everybody Talks song by Neon Trees. You liked listening to music as you walked to school. Turning up your volume to drown out the street noises of Queens and just walking.... It might not seem much to others, but to you, it was bliss. Then again, it made getting to school and having to stop the music all the more undesirable.

Someone knocked you into the wall as they ran by. You gave a sarcastic smile. Flash Thompson, the most repulsive specimen of Midtown. He had tried to mess with you on your first day, but shame on him for trying. You might prefer to be quiet but you certainly didn't pull your punches. Flash learned that the hard way.

"What's up, Pen!s Parker!" the boy shouted as he ran by. Your eyes slid to his unfortunate target, a boy you knew by sight, but not by name. Well. Now you had learned at least one of them. Pulling your gaze away from the scene, you grabbed your books and hurried to science class.

"Hey!"

A bright voice next to you yanked you into reality, startling you. "Oh jeez, Betty! You scared me!" you cried, clutching your chest. "Yeah, yeah," your friend dismissed this and hooked her arm around yours. "So?" she asked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Who are you going with?" You rolled your eyes as you realizes Betty was referring to the homecoming dance, which was a few weeks away.

"Oh, I don't even know if I'm going to go," you said quickly. Betty's eyes widened. "You're kidding, right?" she cried. "(Y/N), this is the opportunity of a lifetime! Are you really going to throw that away to spend an evening alone in your room reading and listening to Taylor Swift?" You clutched at your heart, pretending to stagger. "Rude," you laughed. But your friend had hit very close to the truth.

"Seriously, though, (Y/N)," your friend said after she finished laughing. "You need to put yourself out there more. You have so, much potential," she giggled, poking your shoulder after each word. "You could become part of Midtown's next it couple?"

"You're sure you didn't fall off your bed and hit your head last night right?" I asked sarcastically. "Me? The next it girl of this place?" Betty groaned and rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you can't imagine it, (Y/N) (Y/L/N)," she said, "because I sure can. See you at lunch!" And with that, Betty had sped off in the direction of the gym.

You rolled your eyes at your retreating figure. It girl.... How was that even going to be possible, nobody even liked you.

But nobody even knew you, you realized as soon as you thought this. Betty was right, you never really put yourself out anywhere. People had to approach you to know you weren't the type to cross, or that you would give them the answers to a test if they were nice enough, or which teachers you really hated. You never really let yourself show. Only Betty knew you, as well as a couple of other friends, only some of which went to Midtown.

These thoughts occupying your mind, you didn't really notice where you were going until somebody tapped you on the shoulder. You turned and saw Ned, a boy with whom you only had maths. "Hey, (Y/N)!" he said brightly. "Oh, um, hi, Ned," you greeted him breathlessly. A slight frown appeared on his face as he gestured behind him. "Aren't you supposed to be in science?" You slapped a hand to your forehead as you realized you were about a dozen paces past the lab. "Oh crap, thank you so much, Ned," I said gratefully. "Yeah," he replied amiably. "Oh, and besides saving you, I wanted to ask you a question." You laughed and asked, "What is it?" Ned smiled. "Do you maybe want to sit with me and Peter? Peter Parker, I mean, he's my best friend, and I think you're really cool, so-"

"Yes," you interrupted, laughing. "I'll come sit with you, Ned." Ned gave a small smile and nodded. "Ok, cool! See you at lunch, alright?"

"Yeah," you said, waving at him before hurrying into the lab. You couldn't resist giggling to yourself as you slid into your seat. Ned was a nice guy, you had gathered that much from your limited time with him, and Peter hadn't seemed too bad from what you had seen . You doubted Betty would be over the moon when you told her, but at least it was guys, which should be enough to please her.

"Good morning, class!" the bright voice of your teacher rang in your ears as the bell rang and the day began. You pulled out your textbook wearily.

At lunch....

You completely underestimated Betty's reaction. She positively squealed when you told her about Ned's invitation, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she learned Peter would be there.

"I mean, they're cute in that, like, nerdy way," she said. "And Parker could be a catch, I guess. It's a start, though! I'm so proud of you. Before you know it, you'll be dating a disgustingly cute jock. Go (Y/N)!" She said the last words so loudly that people looked around to see who it was, while you shushed her, scandalized.

"I don't want to date a disgustingly cute jock," you told her as you entered the cafeteria. "I'll be fine if he's just a good guy." Betty rolled her eyes. "You read way too many YA romance novels." You grabbed a tray and went to stand in line to get lunch. "I'll have you know I only read enemies to lovers YA romance," you told her. She laughed and took a tray, too, but before she could speak, there was a violent crash which shook through the large room.

You looked up, startled, just in time to see Flash stepping over his fallen tray and yanking Peter Parker within inches of his face by his collar. "What did you say to me, Pen!s Parker?" he roared, spraying the boy with spittle.

Peter tried to speak, but he was interrupted by a seemingly livid Flash. "You think I'm a joke, huh, Parker? You want to tell all your little friends I'm a joke? Oh, that's right!" he said, laughing cruelly. "You only have one." He looked up at the terrified looking Ned.

"Alright, that's it," you muttered as you dropped your tray to the ground and started towards them. You were so angry at Flash that you didn't hear Betty's hiss of warning, just his smug stupid face as he looked up at the clatter of your tray.

"Get off him, Thompson!" you called as you walked towards them. You could see Flash freeze for a second, then rearrange his face into a self assuring smile. "So what's it to you, (Y/N) F-"

"Ah, ah, ah," you interrupted him just as he was about to voice the cruel nickname he had come up with for you in your first week here. "I think you well remember what happened the last time you called me that." Flash reddened as he remembered, and his nose twitched a little as though remembering being broken.

"You wouldn't dare," he said. "Not in front of everyone."

"Get off him, Flash, and you won't have to find out."

Flash scoffed. "Really? That's what you're going for? I'm supposed to believe that you would risk detention to defend this clown-"

You didn't want to give him the satisfaction of laughing. Before he could even finish his sentence properly, you balled up your hand into a fist and swung it at the bully.

There was a crack as your knuckles made contact, and a groan from Flash mixed with a gasp from the rest of the room. "You'll pay for that one, (Y/L/N)," he grunted and hurried off to the bathroom, clutching his bleeding nose.

"Are you ok?" you asked Peter as he struggled to get to his feet. "Um, yeah," he said. "Thank you for standing up to him. But I don't want him to be a jerk to you because of what you did."

"Oh I think he knows better than to mess with me," you said, smirking after Flash. There was a pause, before Peter said, "Hey, it's (Y/N), right? Ned invited you to sit with us?"

"Yeah," you said. "And you're obviously Peter Parker." He laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I am. So.... Do you want to sit down?"

Ned came forward. "(Y/N)! Dude, that was amazing! You were so good!" You laughed as we all sat down. "Seriously though," Ned continued. "You totally kicked his a-"

"Will (Y/N) (Y/L/N) please report to the principal's office," a mechanical voice carried through the school. You giggled. "Looks like that's my cue," you said and stood. "See you later, boys."

"Wait!" Peter exclaimed. You turned. "Yes?"

"Would you...." The boy rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Would you maybe want to go grab lunch with me tomorrow?" You smiled, trying not to overdo it. I felt like jumping a foot into the air. Peter Parker had just asked you on a date. No, it can't be a date. He just said "grab lunch". That isn't a date. He probably means just a casual hangout. You must NOT call it a date.

"Sure!" you said as casually as you could. "It's a date."

Dang it!