#Cape york guided tours

[inspiringvacationstours]

Unleash Your Inner Explorer With Cape York Guided Tour

There's a lot to love about Cape York. It's home to the world’s oldest living rainforest, a range of iconic animals and plants that are found nowhere else, and a rich history dating back tens of thousands of years.

And with so much natural beauty to explore, it only makes sense that Cape York would inspire some pretty Amazing Cape York guided tours! 

The guided tours are a unique way to explore the wilderness of Cape York

Guided tours are the best way to explore the wilderness of Cape York. In fact, they're a unique way to do it.

Cape York Guided Tours offers an intimate experience with nature and culture in one of Australia's most remote regions. The guides have a deep knowledge of their home country, which they share with you through stories, songs, jokes, and laughter!

The company's tours include a range of activities from bushwalking to birdwatching. You can also combine your tour with an overnight stay at one of the campsites, which are near beautiful beaches and lagoons. The guides are passionate about sharing their country with visitors, so they'll make sure you have a great experience.

The tours are suitable for all ages, from families with children to groups of friends. They're also available on request for solo travelers. If you want to explore the wilderness of Cape York, then these tours are a great option!

Cape York Guided Tours offers a range of tours that are suitable for all ages, from families with children to groups of friends. They're also available on request for solo travelers. The company's tours include a range of activities from bushwalking to birdwatching. You can also combine your tour with an overnight stay at one of the campsites, which are near beautiful beaches and lagoons.

You can choose from four different guided tours

There are four different Cape York guided tours available, each with a different focus. The one-day tour is ideal for those who want to get out and explore as much of Cape York as they can in one day. The two-day tour gives you more time to immerse yourself in the unique landscapes of Cape York, while still allowing you enough time to relax at night or explore on your own. 

The three-day tour allows even more flexibility: it includes two nights camping under the stars so that you can truly experience this incredible natural wonderland at its best!

The guides are knowledgeable about local flora and fauna, as well as an Aboriginal culture--they'll be able to answer any questions you may have along the way!

The trekking is not particularly strenuous, but it does involve quite a bit of walking over varied terrain. You'll be camping under the stars for two nights, so you will need to bring everything you need with you (including food and bedding).

The tour includes transport from Cairns or Cooktown, accommodation in the Cape York Wilderness Lodge on Days 1 and 2, as well as all meals. The tours are operated by local Indigenous guides who will lead you through this incredible landscape and share their knowledge about its history and ecology along the way.

Conclusion

With the help of our experienced guides, you can explore the wilderness of Cape York in comfort and safety. The guided tours are a unique way to explore this beautiful destination and we hope they will inspire you to unleash your inner explorer!

Source Link: https://inspiringvacationsgrouptour.blogspot.com/2023/04/unleash-your-inner-explorer-with-cape.html

[wildvoyager12345]

Discover Africa through Wild Voyager: Unforgettable Africa Tour Packages from New York

Explore the Wonders of Africa with Wild Voyager

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Discover the enchanting beauty of Africa with our exclusive Africa Tour Packages, starting from New York. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a wildlife photographer, or simply seeking a unique travel experience, our meticulously crafted tours promise unforgettable memories and breathtaking encounters.

Why Choose Africa for Your Next Vacation?

Africa is a continent of diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and extraordinary wildlife. From the sprawling savannas of the Serengeti to the majestic Victoria Falls, Africa offers experiences that are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Here are a few reasons why our Africa Tour Packages should be on your travel radar:

Wildlife Safaris: Witness the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) in their natural habitats. Our tours take you to renowned national parks and game reserves where you can experience thrilling game drives and up-close encounters with wildlife.

Breathtaking Landscapes: Explore stunning landscapes, from the rolling dunes of the Namib Desert to the lush rainforests of Uganda. Each destination in Africa boasts unique natural beauty that will leave you in awe.

Cultural Immersion: Engage with local communities and learn about their traditions, music, and art. Our tours provide opportunities to visit tribal villages and participate in cultural ceremonies, offering a deeper understanding of Africa's rich heritage.

Adventure Activities: For the adrenaline junkies, Africa offers a plethora of adventure activities such as hot air balloon rides over the Maasai Mara, gorilla trekking in Rwanda, and hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Top Destinations Included in Our Africa Tour Packages

1. Kenya and Tanzania Safari

Embark on a journey through the iconic savannas of Kenya and Tanzania. Witness the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests and zebras traverse the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in search of greener pastures. Stay in luxury lodges and tented camps that bring you closer to nature while providing all the comforts you need.

2. South Africa Adventure

From the vibrant city of Cape Town to the rugged beauty of Kruger National Park, South Africa offers a mix of urban sophistication and wild adventures. Explore the scenic Garden Route, visit the historic Robben Island, and enjoy wine tastings in the renowned Cape Winelands.

3. Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Discover the pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Experience mokoro (traditional canoe) rides through the delta’s waterways, witness incredible birdlife, and enjoy game drives in one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations.

4. Namibia’s Desert Landscapes

Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Namibia, from the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei to the eerie Skeleton Coast. Namibia is a photographer’s paradise, offering dramatic vistas and unique wildlife such as the desert-adapted elephants and lions.

5. Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

For an intimate encounter with some of our closest relatives, embark on a gorilla trekking adventure in the misty mountains of Uganda or Rwanda. This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows you to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat, an experience that is both humbling and exhilarating.

Start Your African Adventure from New York

Our Africa Tour Packages are designed to provide a seamless and enriching travel experience from the moment you leave New York. With Wild Voyager, you can expect:

Expert Planning: Our team of travel experts will assist you in crafting the perfect itinerary that suits your interests and preferences.

Comfortable Travel: Enjoy convenient flights from New York to major African cities, with all logistics taken care of.

Local Expertise: Benefit from the knowledge of local guides who are passionate about their regions and eager to share their insights.

Safety and Comfort: Stay in carefully selected accommodations that offer both luxury and authenticity, ensuring a safe and comfortable stay.

Book Your Africa Tour Package Today

Embark on a journey that promises adventure, discovery, and unforgettable memories. Our Africa Tour Packages from New York are the perfect gateway to experiencing the magic of Africa. Visit Wild Voyager to explore our tour options and start planning your dream vacation today.

Discover Africa with Wild Voyager – where every journey tells a story!

[sitaworldtourss]

Best World Tour Package | Africa Tours | Luxury Private Tours Peru and more: SITA Tours

Introduction

Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. Whether you are seeking adventure, relaxation, cultural immersion, or culinary delights, the right tour package can make all the difference. In this blog, we explore some of the top vacation tours around the world, including Chile Vacation Tours, Africa Tours, Luxury Private Tours Peru, Colombia Coffee Triangle Tour, and Maldives Group Travel.

Chile Vacation Tours

Chile is a land of diverse landscapes, from the arid Atacama Desert to the lush vineyards of the Central Valley and the dramatic peaks of Patagonia. Chile Vacation Tours offer a range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers.

Highlights:

Atacama Desert: Explore the otherworldly landscapes of the driest desert in the world. Visit the Moon Valley, salt flats, and geysers.

Santiago and Valparaíso: Discover the vibrant capital city, with its mix of modern and colonial architecture. Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its colorful hillside homes and artistic vibe.

Patagonia: Experience the stunning beauty of Torres del Paine National Park, with its glaciers, lakes, and iconic granite towers. Perfect for hiking and adventure enthusiasts.

Africa Tours

Africa is a continent rich in natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Africa Tours offer an opportunity to experience the continent’s diverse ecosystems and vibrant cultures.

Highlights:

Safari Adventures: Witness the Big Five in their natural habitat in renowned parks like the Serengeti, Kruger National Park, and the Masai Mara.

Cultural Experiences: Explore the historic cities of Marrakech, Cairo, and Cape Town. Visit traditional villages and learn about the diverse cultures and traditions.

Natural Wonders: Marvel at Victoria Falls, the Namib Desert, and the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy the pristine beaches of Zanzibar and the Seychelles.

Best World Tour Package

For those looking to explore multiple destinations in one trip, the Best World Tour Package offers a curated experience that spans several continents.

Highlights:

European Delights: Wander through the romantic streets of Paris, the historic sites of Rome, and the scenic landscapes of Switzerland.

Asian Adventures: Experience the bustling cities of Tokyo and Bangkok, the tranquil beauty of Bali, and the rich history of India.

American Wonders: Explore the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon, the vibrant cities of New York and San Francisco, and the tropical paradise of Hawaii.

Luxury Private Tours Peru

Peru is a country of ancient civilizations, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Luxury Private Tours Peru offer a bespoke travel experience that caters to your personal preferences.

Highlights:

Machu Picchu: Discover the iconic Inca citadel with a private guide. Enjoy the breathtaking views and learn about the history of this ancient site.

Cusco and the Sacred Valley: Explore the historic city of Cusco and the beautiful Sacred Valley, with its charming villages and archaeological sites.

Amazon Rainforest: Experience the biodiversity of the Amazon with a luxury cruise or stay in a secluded eco-lodge.

Colombia Coffee Triangle Tour

Colombia is renowned for its coffee, and the Colombia Coffee Triangle Tour offers an immersive experience into the world of coffee production.

Highlights:

Coffee Farms: Visit traditional coffee farms and learn about the process of coffee cultivation and production. Enjoy tastings of some of the finest coffee in the world.

Scenic Landscapes: Explore the picturesque towns of Salento and Manizales, surrounded by lush coffee plantations and rolling hills.

Cultural Experiences: Discover the vibrant culture and traditions of the coffee-growing regions, including music, dance, and cuisine.

Maldives Group Travel

The Maldives is synonymous with luxury and paradise. Maldives Group Travel packages offer an idyllic getaway for groups looking to relax and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the islands.

Highlights:

Overwater Villas: Stay in luxurious overwater villas with direct access to the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Water Activities: Enjoy snorkeling, diving, and water sports in some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs and marine life.

Relaxation and Wellness: Indulge in spa treatments, yoga sessions, and fine dining experiences on private islands.

Conclusion

Whether you are seeking adventure, cultural immersion, or relaxation, these top vacation tours around the world offer something for everyone. From the stunning landscapes of Chile and the wildlife-rich safaris of Africa to the luxurious escapes in Peru and the Maldives, there is a perfect tour package waiting for you. Explore these destinations with Chile Vacation Tours, Africa Tours, the Best World Tour Package, Luxury Private Tours Peru, the Colombia Coffee Triangle Tour, and Maldives Group Travel for an unforgettable travel experience. Visit sitatours.com today to book your next adventure!

Visit now to book your seat and explore a paradise-like world with SITA Tours. Make your dream vacation come true. For more details, visit the website.

Read More: Spain Tour Packages From USA

Croatia Land and Sea Tours

Kenya Family Tours

[pulsdmedia]

The Week Ahead 4/23-4/29

Pizza, BBQ, fashion, unforgettable nights - this is New York City, the pulsd way! 

$59 Ticket To A Pizza & Limoncello Making Class, NoMad

Experience a taste of the Amalfi Coast right here in The Big Apple at Spritz New York, whose beloved, colorful hotspot will play host to a boozy Pizza & Limoncello Making Class, complete with eats, sips, and vacation vibes! Amidst shades of turquoise, sage, coral, and yellow, picture yourself by the seaside as you enter this dazzling NoMad gem, where you'll be presented with a selection of wood-fired pizzas to eat, as well as various styles of limoncello to wet your whistle. Once you've had your fill, you'll be guided through the pizza & limoncello process, learning about the history & using the freshest ingredients. Once you've assembled your edible & drinkable delights, you can take home your delicious, drool-worthy pie and a bottle of your limoncello. This divine, delectable adventure will give you major wanderlust...

ZYRTEC ‘Beat the Mondays’ Tour

When you’re experiencing allergy symptoms – every day – every second really – can feel like a bad case of the Mondays. That’s why ZYRTEC is hitting the road this spring. ZYRTEC will help slay your day with limited-edition swag, family-friendly activities, ZYRTEC coupons, complimentary coffee & juices, the chance to win a $500 gift card, and more surprises!

$49 Ticket To A 3 Hour Open Bar BBQ Food & Drink Festival

The sun's out, and BBQ season has officially started! There's no better way to celebrate by going big, and since 2012, top chefs & pitmasters from NYC and beyond have gone head to head, serving up some of the best beef brisket, whether using traditional or unique techniques, at The Brisket King extravaganza! This year's chef roster is fully-loaded with some of the city's best BBQ pros. All the brisket you can imagine will be ready to devour, so bring your hunger & your chow-time A-game, taking a break to try hot sauces & snacks from purveyors like Coney Island Saucery & Marie Sharps USA. Cocktails mixed by Kawama Tequila, Michter's Whiskey, Upstate Vodka and the like will flow, alongside refreshing ciders by Romilly Cidre & Aval Cidre. Lest we forget, no barbecue is complete without beer, so cool off with swigs of Montclair Brewing, Ramstein Brewing, and Harlem Brewing, among others. Your taste buds need this...

Reiss Sample Sale

Join 260 Sample Sale at their NoMad store to shop luxury men's and women's apparel and accessories at the Reiss Sample Sale! Stock your wardrobe with essentials and effortlessly chic pieces that you'll reach for again and again at this can't miss event!

$19 VIP 2 Hour Open Bar Tix: Open Bar Disco Fever Fridays Party

The legendary Copacabana is back and hotter than ever! Their Disco Fever Fridays harken back to their heyday of Studio 54 icons & celebration galore, so grab your $19 VIP 2 Hour Open Bar Ticket that includes admission to this fabulous fête, as well as a 2 Hour Open Bar featuring Delicious Disco-Themed Cocktails. Get lost in a fully immersive disco wonderland, following the Disco Ball to the dance floor and boogying down to all the best Disco hits by the funky sounds of legendary Disco DJs - think Abba, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and so much more to fuel your best moves on the dance floor.While you're at it, snap selfies with your friends, learn to Hustle, manifest your inner disco queen or king, and drink until you feel like you can rock your best moves all night long.Let go of your worries and shake it 'til the break of dawn...

Neena Zeve Designs Launch

Neena Zeve specializes in unique fashions for women. All products are made in Brooklyn, and use locally sourced materials like silk, cotton and wool. The collections by Neena Zeve consist of handmade garments such as capes, jackets, hats, scarves and handbags. Join founder and designer, Nina Ziv at The Canvas Seaport for an afternoon of shopping, community and light refreshments.

[johannesburgtours]

Your complete Johannesburg Tours & Soweto Sightseeing adventure awaits!

For many years we have been able to show you the very best of Johannesburg & Soweto safely and enjoyably on our double-decker Hop on - Hop off tours. Learn about the world's biggest man-made forest, visit the Apartheid Museum and fall in love with the economic powerhouse of Africa.

Some of our best Johannesburg tours include;

Explore Johannesburg's top 20 attractions with our hop-on, hop-off, open-top Red Bus Hop on our Johannesburg Green Tour at our main departure point in Rosebank and explore the leafy suburbs stopping at all top attractions, including Mandela Foundation, the Johannesburg Zoo and the Military Museum, before reaching Constitution Hill.

1-Day Bus + Burger: Change here to the Red City Tour and continue your journey around the inner city Gold Reef City Theme Park and the Apartheid Museum. Return to Constitution Hill via Newtown and ultimately back to Rosebank where you are invited to enjoy a delicious American Sunset Cheeseburger with Fries from RocoMamas @ the Zone Mall.

Combine your red bus experience with a Soweto tour guided by a local resident: See the sights of Johannesburg at your own pace with this 1-day valid ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour. Also included is a 2-hour extension tour of the township of Soweto, described as the “New York of Africa.”

1-Day Bus + Spur Burger: Explore the Beauty of Johannesburg all while enjoying a delicious burger from Spur. One of South Africa’s most famous restaurants.

Soweto guided by a local resident + 2 days on the bus: Hear about 2 of the 20th century’s most famous liberation heroes in the city where they started their legal and political careers. Follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and his Passive Resistance (Satyagraha) Movement, and Nelson Mandela with his Defiance Campaign.

The City Sightseeing open-top bus is undoubtedly the best way to go sightseeing in Johannesburg or Cape Town

Guided day tours and packages

We also offer an array of day tours and packages, from full-day guided tours visiting Cape Point or the Cape Winelands, to harbour cruises and multicultural township experiences.

Browse our live-guided day tours to book tickets online and save.

Officially the best in the world

We take great pride in providing sightseers with a consistently high-quality and unique travel experience on world-class, state-of-the-art buses.

Our fleet is continually upgraded to ensure super-low carbon emissions and compliance with Euro Emission Standards for environmental impact. Our buses are equipped with onboard commentary in 15 different languages including among them Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, and Zulu, with an additional fun channel for kids.

City Sightseeing Worldwide

City Sightseeing South Africa is a proud member of the City Sightseeing Worldwide hop-on, hop-off network, the world’s leading open-top bus tour operator, operating in more than 90 destinations globally.

Book One of these Amazing Johannesburg Tours with City Sightseeing

Whether you want to Explore the Beauty of Johannesburg, Tour the Rich history of Soweto or Explore all of it at once. Then City Sightseeing is the place for you. We offer a whole range of Amazing Tours that have you exploring and enjoying the beauty of Johannesburg To find out more about our top attractions or schedule your next City Tour. Visit City Sightseeing today.

Dear visitors if you want to more information about Johannesburg Tours and our all services please visit our website. We have a website. We welcome you. CLICK HERE

[capeyorktours]

Cape York Guided Tours | Popular Holiday Destinations for Adventure!

Why do a Cape York Tour? There is a Cape York Tour to sit all travelers. It depends on what you want. Camping or accommodated (Cape style). Some people like to drive up and back. Others choose to fly one way. The drive/cargo boat trip is something special for CapeYork travellers. The best part is someone else does all the hard work - planning the itinerary, booking it all, planning and making the food. Please visit: https://capeyorkguidedtours.com.au/

[dreadlockholiday]

Stucky Fic Rec List #1

by @dreadlockholiday

Hello! I've been reading a lot of wonderful fics lately so I thought I'd make a rec list they all very much deserve to be in! <3 If some of these creators I didn't tag have a tumblr, please let me know.

Note: these are all COMPLETED FICS.

Rec List #2 coming next Monday!

🍄 Dreaming of Him by Loneliness_of_Evening - [Mature; 36,5k words]

[Modern AU; Nanny!Steve x Mobster!Bucky; Bottom!Bucky; Major Character Injury; Car Accidents; Recreational Drug Use]

New York City hosts millions of different people living vastly different lives. Some people are nannies who dream of being artists, and some are mobsters who dream of being more than the big guys’ drivers. A chance meeting—rather a chance game of nose goes—brings these two people together, and a simple knock at the door becomes fate. But can fate avoid disaster? Or will they both be left alone with only dreams?

💐 Cape Jasmine (I Love You In Secret) by @donbeavers - [Mature; 19k words]

[Modern AU; Office Romance; Secret Admirer; Misunderstandings; Implied Bottom!Bucky]

Cape Jasmine: I love you in secret; I am too happy; you are lovely; a transfer of joy

*

The last thing Bucky Barnes expected at 26 whilst living his gay and very single life was to find a bouquet of flowers on his desk on Valentine’s Day.

But it seemed like he had unknowingly caught the eye of somebody. Someone who loved to send him many flowers and beautifully written letters.

If only now he could figure out the mystery of who was behind it all.

💸 a fistfull of dollars by Ginny_Potter - [Explicit; 5,7k words]

[Pre-War; Explicit Language; Internalised Ableism; Explicit Sexual Content; Mentions of Prostitution]

Bucky cocks his head to one side, questioningly. “Would you?” he asks.

“What?” It’s almost a squeak now.

“Pay me that much.”

Or, in a fake it till you make it scenario, Steve and Bucky keep paying each other for a sweet, sweet time.

🐚 Part of Your World by @greyhavensking - [Teen; 7,4k words]

[Fantasy AU; Mer!Bucky x Prince!Steve; Drowning; Suicidal Thoughts; Happy Ending]

Crown Prince Steve Rogers has known all his life to avoid the perilous sea, lest he fall victim to the dangerous Mer who occupy the wild waters. But in the aftermath of his mother's death he finds the only thing that can soothe his aching heart is the siren song of the sea, and in his grief he's heedless of his mother's warnings, walking the beach every night in order to feel something other than dark and lonely and lost.

He is not the only one escaping his tumultuous thoughts these nights, though, and nothing -- not even his mother's well-meant wisdom -- could have prepared him for how this meeting will change his entire life.

🚕 Taxi by @oh-i-swear-writes - [Teen; 5k words]

[Shrunkyclunks; Taxi Driver!Bucky; Meet-Cute]

Bucky Barnes was, he hoped, a good taxi driver.

He's so good, he actually tries to return lost property that ends up left in his car and... well. It has some unexpected consequences involving a National Icon.

Enough said.

🍩 Ollie Meets Bagel by thedishandthespoon - [Teen; 5,5k words]

[Shrunkyclunks; Skater!Bucky; Meet-Cute; Mentions of Mental Health Issues; Blushing Steve Rogers]

He was a skater boy, Steve said let's get bagels, boy.

Steve wants to start doing this twenty-first century thing properly. He gets help in the form of skateboarding, skateboarders, bagels, and Sam Wilson.

🍸 That Girl's A Genius by jehans, art by @capdeady - [Explicit; 18,9k words]

[Canon Divergence; Oblivious!Steve; Sub!Bucky; Bottom!Bucky; Brief Bucky/Nat; Pegging; Feminization; Lingerie; Jealousy; Happy Ending]

Natasha looks up at Bucky with an evil look on her face, and before Bucky has a chance to say hello or ask her what she’s doing here, she smiles like a shark and says, “I have a plan.”

Bucky lets her in.

“A plan for what?” he asks, gesturing toward his sofa to invite Natasha to sit.

“To get Steve to pull his head out of his ass,” Natasha answers, “and finally act on how he feels about you.”

Bucky stares at her, blinking. “How he what?” he squeaks. Very dignified.

-

Steve waffles, Bucky pines, and Natasha schemes.

🍽️ You Make My Heart Skip A Beet by @musette22 - [Teen; 3,8k words]

[Shrunkyclunks; Chef!Bucky; Meet-Cute; Awkwardness; Fluff and Humor]

“I made soda bread.”

Steve lets out the 6’2” supersoldier equivalent of a squeak. “Oh, I love soda bread,” he says eagerly, rolling forward on the balls of his feet like he does when he gets excited. “My mom used to make it all the time when I was growing up.”

The tips of Barnes’s ears turn red, and he mutters something that sounds suspiciously like, “I know.”

🌍 summer slipped us underneath her tongue by cydonic - [Mature; 10,7k words]

[Modern AU; Tour Guide!Bucky x Himbo!Steve; Meet-Cute; First Dates]

Bucky is a tour guide who enjoys sharing the rich history and culture of each city they pass through with a bunch of early-20's college students who just want to know the cheapest place to get drunk.

Except for Steve, who asks Bucky for a personal tour around his hometown.

The rest is, as they say, history.

+ Bonus Series

🌠Top Down Dynamics by SucculentHyena - [Explicit; 2 works; 6,2k words]

[Canon Divergence; Dom!Bucky x Sub!Steve; Bottom!Bucky; Top!Steve]

-> Sweetheart, Ease Down - [1,7k words. Cock Warming; Restraints; Crying; Praise Kink]

-> Acquired Uses - [4,5k words. Service Top!Steve; Pet Play; Edging; Overstimulation]

[toujoursmiraculous]

Thoughts & Reactions to Sole Crusher & Queen Banana!

Here's my 2 in 1! Starting with Sole Crusher. Loved the tourist feel in the beginning, gives it a very different feel and interesting to see it from Zoe's perspective. Aww Zoe's so nice to Marinette right away. And it's awfully sad that she only ever had one friend. :c I wonder who that friend is? Zoe's right about her family not appreciating the baked goods from the Dupain-Cheng bakery. I don't know if she's fully aware of the history there, or if she just knows how picky her mother and sister are. But it was awfully sweet of her to give them to the tour guide to give to her family instead. So Zoe learned: in order to survive, she had to put on an act and be somebody she's not, because her family wouldn't accept her being a decent person that cares about others. When asked about her middle school, her response, "I found a cockroach in my locker!" Might not be true, doesn't sound like it's the only thing at all if so, but sadly it was enough for her mom to not question anything.

Chloe's definitely a lot worse now after Miracle Queen. In my opinion, this is us beginning to see how low she's gotten and will continue to get. As Avatar Aang once said, "When we reach our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change." I'll write more on this in a separate post later. Zoe's sure scared to object to anything and be herself. Not even hesitating to act like a brat when around Chloe. If she didn't end up growing up around Chloe, how horrible are her parents??? We know Audrey is pretty bad, but even then if she had a decent dad she'd likely not end up like this. I suppose we'll have to see, but this poor girl. :/ Rose: Can we adopt her? Lol awww. Wonderful of Marinette to know that after only one brief encounter with Zoe, she knows that the Zoe at school isn't really her, and wants to genuinely help. How can anybody hate that about her? I don't get it. If it's because she doesn't do things how you'd like them...Most things in life won't go as you want them, or be taken by others as you may intend them, so you have to appreciate what's there and the intent of others actions. "But my family made me think that to deserve my place, I had to give up on some of my dreams." If Andre's talking about his parents here, as he said "When I was young", then oof this poor man, no wonder he's so timid and such a pushover. If he's referring to Audrey and Chloe... then that's a huge oof because Audrey knew exactly who she was marrying and should've never ended up with him in the first place if she didn't want to be with a director. So Zoe left because she couldn't stand it in New York anymore around her dad and the kids at her school. She hoped that she wouldn't have to act anymore and could just be herself. It really sounds like she needed to act a certain way in order to survive getting bullied, or worse. Dang, she really must not have met Chloe before then, or heard anything about her if she thought living with her mom and sister would be better. But in a way, it is better for her, because she has Marinette and the kids at school now. And she has Andre who's probably a better parent to her than her actual parents. Which is surprising and also not at the same time. "We end up hiding our feelings deep down in here." Okay so he says that with a booklet that has Emilie's face on it held up to his chest. Now, it may just be nothing but him thinking about his director dream. But. It could've also been any other object he held to his heart, it could've been something without a face on it or at least not her face. And Andre did work with Emilie. So I would not be surprised at all if there was something there that this is hinting at. Hmmmm. Also, I guess that's not Tomoe Tsurugi? Even though it's Kagami's model they used. And she's really pretty, too! Maybe something will come from this, or the animators didn't think it through when they added that image. Who knows. Even Chloe's first thought when she's in trouble is to go to Marinette what the heck 😂 When Kaalki teleported into Adrien's room...had Adrien turned around as it

happened he would've seen enough of her room to recognize it. Instead the portal changed and was outdoors. But lol poor Kaalki slamming against the window! All his things getting sucked in and Plagg's cheese was hilarious. XD Chloe's second thought of where to go: Luka's. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. 🤔 "This winner and loser thing doesn't exist!" Sad that Chloe thinks this way at all, who even taught her this? x.x Chat Noir: Did somebody start off on the wrong foot today? Marinette: I'm not finished! Chat Noir: Huh? LOL I laughed so hard at this moment. Did she forget who she is at the moment because even Chat's like what "I will always support you!" AWWWWWW what a good friend! And I think by helping Zoe become stronger, she'll in turn help Chloe be a better person too. But I'll talk about this again later. Poor Sabrina in this episode, my goodness. She works in a tiny closet and has to run along the limo. Chloe's seriously getting awful. Zoe's charm is the cutest one so far! So pretty. Ivan giving Zoe a hug was the cutest thing ever. Like, I don't ship them, but this shouldn't have anything to do with it. He and the rest of the kids care about her and respect her for being open and honest with her struggles, and want to be there for her. It's so wholesome. 😭 I find it interesting that even Audrey in this episode doesn't always know how to react to Chloe. xD But thank you Andre for caring enough about her to keep her in Paris and trying to keep some peace between the two. "For the first time in my life, I feel at home." 😭😭😭😭😭 Just imagine for a minute if Marinette didn't bother to help Zoe, believed how she acted at school rather than when she met her, and didn't tell the other kids about what was going on. Everything for her would be so drastically different. All because Marinette showed some kindness. Now onto Queen Banana. Well poor Marinette can't help but faceplant on the news. xD I can just tell what Alya leaned into say "You okay, girl?" and Marinette mumbling under the cape, "that's what the news is going to see of me, aren't they?" "Afraid so." "groan" Ah okay, Thomas was an alumni of the school. Cool. Poor Andre, he's just doing what Zoe suggested of him and not give up his dream of directing! I wonder if being around Luka and Juleka made Zoe want to put that pink streak in her hair. xD I want Luka and Zoe to be really good friends, that'd be so cool. Chloe being really awful some more. To everybody. I've noticed a pattern and I think I have her figured out pretty well. I'll be writing a in-depth post about her soon! She's making them change the entire movie just for her. xPP I said to my sister, "as soon as she leaves they should just film their original ideas." They do, thank goodness. xD I got so happy that we get an Adrienette scene in this ep! And then I saw he's locked in a cage, willingly, smiling at Marinette while the door shuts and I just burst out laughing. He's not even nervous he's locked in a cage, suspended in the air! Booooooy must like Marinette a lot! "Now let's take care of Adrien and get him out of that cage." OMG thank you, Marinette. While the image of him is comical, it's making me so uncomfortable that someone's up there like that and that someone also being terrified of being locked up in such a small space. Also, how long do you think Adrien would've stayed up there had Marinette not said something? Oh? What a change of pace, when Adrien goes to try to make things better for everyone, he screws it up pretty badly to be what really drives Chloe to get akumatized. She may have cooled off enough on her own as she tells Adrien "I'm fine." ...until he suggests apologizing to everyone. "You promised to stop being rude to everyone. And I told you that we couldn't be friends otherwise." OOF. Okay so her reaction to this really goes into the territory I want to talk about in my upcoming post about Chloe. "Banana BOOM BOOM!" lololol it sounds so funny in German dub xDD Marinette instantly pulling Zoe away from the attack x33 Ladybug's spin move with Chat Noir XD

it's like what's happening we're fighting an akuma not dancing This entire akuma feels like a Donkey Kong game and I love it. Those games are my childhood. Ooof Ladybug needs to be more careful with her Lucky Charms, they can sometimes be massive! Like that giant doughnut in Weredad. I seriously legit thought that the Gorilla was Gorilla, Adrien's bodyguard before the episode aired. XD The best heroes in this show tend to be the ones that have the most self-doubt, have you noticed? Ladybug, Carapace, and Vesperia all expressed serious doubt in themselves being a superhero, but when they suit up they're fierce! Like they were born to be a hero. Don't worry about Chat kissing Vesperia's hand. That's just the way he is, it's not in a flirting way. c: I remember when people freaked out about Rena Rouge and Chat Noir. It's the same as that, nothing more. "Or I'll turn her into baby mush!" LOL Chloe threatening to turn Ladybug into baby food hahaha that sounds so outrageous and weird that it's funny. And yet in this situation, would be actually possible so it's quite disturbing....hm. Dang, Hawk Moth trying to reakumatize her immediately. You go Zoe, speak up for yourself! And good on Andre for putting his foot down about Zoe too. "You may hate me, but I love you. And I'll always love you even if the whole world hates you." OKAY, THAT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. Including the way she convinced Chloe to take the charm. Marinette's literally in hearing range of Adrien as she's talking to Tikki LOL she's like 5-6 feet away maybe? But that's okay, he probably would think nothing of it if he heard Marinette talking lol. I really like Zoe's character, I think she makes a wonderful addition to the show and that her character is extremely important. ;) Again I'll talk about it in my upcoming post! I've really noticed a lot of things when it comes to Chloe that I look forward to sharing my thoughts on sometime early this week. I really don't think things are as clear cut as a lot of people seem to think about her.

[katahnisharma]

the press tour [5] | t.h.

Word Count: 2.5 K

Warnings: none, i don’t think??

Summary: You’re a new, inexperienced actress plucked from the obscurity of everyday life to play the lead in the reboot of a famous British Jane Austen novel, and Tom Holland just so happens to be playing your love interest.

A/N: This one is a mini chapter so it’s shorter, but next week’s will be longer. Also Tumblr apparently won’t let me link things so if you’re looking for my masterlist, playlist, taglist, or writing challenge it’s in my bio <3 

Tom Holland and Zendaya Officially Together! Is Marriage on the Cards?

“Ugh! It’s on BBC too?! I thought they had journalistic integrity!!”

For the past two days, every news channel had been carrying Tom and Zendaya’s whirlwind romance. Everywhere you looked, there were pictures of the two of them being cute somewhere. Out to lunch, taking a stroll in New York City holding hands, kissing in Paris, even posing for photos with fans at Central Park. It hurt every time you turned on the TV, it was like you were intentionally trying to see the new reports. You were shocked Tom had moved on so quickly, and with the girl he had always said he felt nothing for.

Guess that was a lie.

There were so many thoughts running through your mind about Tomdaya that you didn’t hear Bailey come down the stairs and stand next to you with her hands on her hips.

“That’s it, you need to leave the house. You haven’t moved from this couch in two days. You need to get out and date.” She said, pulling the blanket off you. You winced and glared at her, snatching the blanket back. You were also clutching a near empty tub of Haagen-Daz cookie dough ice cream, but you had mixed reactions about it because the brand was apparently Zendaya’s favorite.

Wow, you were petty.

“Really? What, just like that?” You muttered, poking around the tub with your spoon. You’d been picking out the cookie dough bits, and Bailey used to tease you for it. She thought it was stupid that you bought ice cream just to pick at it, but now it just made her sad. You looked so tired and upset, it was killing her.

“What, like it’s hard? You’re Y/N Y/L/N! All you have to do is bat your eyelashes. flash a smile and you’re set!” Bailey cried, sitting next to you and throwing the tub over your shoulder. You let out a yell, but she pulled you back before you could go find it. She looked at you and you felt yourself shrink from her eyes. You knew she was right, but you weren’t over Tom yet. Your heart needed time to heal.

“Fine, give me some time to get over him and I’ll do it. But I’ll only date on one condition.” You said, and Bailey let out a sigh of relief. If it meant you would finally leave the house and get out a bit, she would do whatever it took. She leaned forward and motioned for you to continue.

“You have to date too.” You smiled, and Bailey immediately recoiled. She jumped up from the sofa and began to pace around the TV. You watched her, rolling your eyes at how dramatic she was being.

“Yeah, no. No, absolutely not!” Bailey said, standing in front of you shaking her head emphatically. You got up and threw the tub in the trash. Surprisingly, you felt a little lighter having done it, and you turned back to see Bailey staring out the window.

“Too bad then. Bumble would have been perfect for you. The women get to pick the men, which is perfect for a powerful, independent woman like you. No more creeps and losers. Plus, I mean Priyanka Chopra created it so....” You said, and you swore Bailey perked up a little. She turned to look at you and she pursed her lips.

“Shut up, you’re just trying to flatter me. And you know I love Priyanka.” She whispered, and you laughed for the first time in a while. You had almost forgotten what that sounded like.

“Well, duh. Is it working?” You giggled, and Bailey threw a pillow at you which just narrowly missed. You threw it back and it hit the vase that held Tom’s lilies. They were dying anyways, and the vase hit the floor and shattered. You weren’t one to believe in signs, but it seemed like one.

“Yes. Alright, I’ll think about it. Now get up, the Met Gala is in three days and you need to meet with designers.” Bailey said, giving you a dress to change into. You took it and realized it was the same one you had worn on the date with Tom. Bailey saw the look and gave you a “come on, just wear it” look, and you weren’t about to argue with her while she was considering dating for the first time in five years.

“On it, boss. I’ll be back in a bit.”

✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦✦✧✦

Three days later and you were standing in front of the mirror, completely taken aback at your appearance. There you were, looking ethereal in a custom Maison Valentino gown and your makeup done to perfection. The theme for the Met Gala was Ethereal Fairytales, and Pier Paolo Piccioli had outdone himself. Your inspiration was Rapunzel, and you couldn’t be happier with it. The dress was a light purple satin that draped to the floor in a long train. The sleeves were a light chiffon that extended into a lacey, embroidered cape in the back. The rest of the dress was done in brocade, with jewels and flowers sewn into the fabric. With the lace and embroidery, the gown looked much heavier than it was. In reality, it was so light that you felt you were wearing feathers.

“You look so beautiful!” Bailey squealed, clapping her hands behind you. You turned and smiled, thanking Pier for his handiwork. Bailey looked gorgeous herself. She was wearing a strapless pale pink Stella McCartney dress with clear sequins. When you had asked her to come with you to the gala, she’d nearly had a heart attack. And then she had pulled out the only formal dress she had, and your heart nearly broke. Bailey hadn’t bought a new dress in years, though you knew you paid her enough for designer clothes. All the money she made went back to her family, keeping only what she needed to survive.

So you bought the dress for her, whatever she liked. At first, Bailey protested and refused to wear it. She thought it was far too extravagant and she felt embarrassed that you were spending all this money on her. But you assured her that she deserved it, she was the world’s best personal assistant. Plus, Priyanka Chopra was going to be there and she had to look stunning in case they bumped into each other.

They weren’t actually going to “bump into each other,'' you'd asked Priyanka if she would mind meeting Bailey at some point in the night. But Bailey didn’t have to know that. As far as she knew, the meeting would be purely kismet.

“You think so? I feel like a goddess.” You whispered, and Pier nodded in agreement. Bailey took your hand and twirled you around. The dress moved with you, and it made the most beautiful sweeping motion. Your hair was curled slightly and left half up and half down, and somehow Christian Louboutin had gifted you a pair of Degrastrass. Bailey had done her own makeup, she insisted upon it, but you bought her a pair of nude Sandale du Deserts which you wouldn’t let her refuse.

“Well, you look like one. And thank you for letting me come, and spending all this money on me. You shouldn’t have.” She whispered and you slung and arm over her shoulder.

“You don’t have to thank me, we’re best friends first and foremost. I wanted you here, and as for the money it was no big deal at all. I’m just glad you actually agreed to wear everything.” You laughed, and she nudged you slightly. You asked Pier to take a picture of the two of you, and he agreed graciously. You’d post it to your instagram later. After Pier had taken a picture of you and you’d grabbed your clutch, the three of you were planning to leave.

That is, until something on the TV caught your attention.

Pier had turned on the live red carpet updates for the Met Gala, because you loved seeing what everyone was wearing. There were some big names at the event, and Bailey had screamed when Nick and Priyanka arrived. The couples of course looked amazing, and you found yourself wishing that you had a date too. You wished you were here with Tom.

And that’s when you saw them.

Tom and Zendaya had stepped out of a limo, and your heart stopped. You almost weren’t breathing as you realized they were wearing coordinated outfits. Law Roach guided them up the steps and Bailey rested a hand on your shoulder to console you. They looked so beautiful together, you almost cried. Then you remembered Nina Park had done your makeup, so you couldn’t cry. Zendaya was wearing a gorgeous blue gown in the style of Princess Tiana’s from the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog. Except it had been elevated, so that the dress was a modern take. The left sleeve was satin and hung from her shoulder and the bodice was lace to match the lace trimmed hem. Tom was so handsome it hurt. He wore a cream colored suit that was trimmed with gold around the edges. A blue sash went across his chest and it accentuated his body. Tears pricked your eyes and you physically willed them away.

You cried for days over Tom, but you refused to do that today.

“You okay?” Bailey asked, and you nodded, straightening up again. Pier stood by the door, giving you a sympathetic look. You knew he meant well, but it rubbed you the wrong way. You didn’t want people to pity you, you wanted them to just see you.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go, we’re holding everyone up.” You said, and Pier took your arm to lead you out. Bailey walked behind, making sure your train wouldn’t catch and keeping photographers at a distance. There were lights everywhere, and you could barely focus as the cameras flashed. People shouting your name, telling you to turn, asking you about Tom, it was almost too much. Thank God for Pier, or you would have fainted on the spot. A particularly bold photographer moved forward, jostling to get your attention.

“Y/N! Y/N! How do you feel about Tom and Zendaya?” He yelled, and for a brief moment Bailey looked as though she was about to physically throw him out. But you held up your hand, and tried your best to plaster a smile on your face. Pier steadied you and you gave the photographer a defiant look.

“Why, am I supposed to say something scandalous?” You laughed, and the photographers laughed with you. For the first time in a while, you felt as though you had the upper hand. The photographer went red, but he persisted.

“I mean, how do you feel after Tom dumped you for Zendaya?” He shouted over the noise and your face went slack. You felt sick to your stomach, hearing someone say it for the first time. Sure, you had never officially dated each other, but the man was right. Tom had dumped you for one of the most beautiful women in the world.

Ouch.

“I’m happy for them, Tom and I are just friends. Nothing more. That salacious enough for you?” You asked, and the photographer went silent. Bailey came to your aid and told the photographers to stop asking questions. This wasn’t an interview, she said, and they needed to respect your privacy. Pier took your hand and lead you farther up the carpet. You were still shaking from the encounter, but you forced yourself to smile. Your father had always told you to never let your detractors know they hurt you.

It was a sign of weakness, and you weren’t weak.

“Alright, this stretch is just cameras, Pier will be answering the questions.” Bailey said, and you breathed a sigh of relief. You didn’t think you’d be able to endure any more questions about Tom and Zendaya. Pier stood with you as you posed and looked on as Pier talked about the process involved in creating your dress. From the corner of your eye, you could see Beyonce and Saoirse Ronan climb the stairs behind you. Bailey was watching, completely starstruck.

“See Priyanka anywhere?” You asked and Bailey shook her head.

“No, she’s probably inside with Nick already. It’s fine, it was cool just getting to see her on TV.” Bailey gushed, and Pier helped you up the steps to the top to take your final picture. Bailey stood next to you, because you made her, and you both looked down onto the street below.

“I would never have imagined I’d be here.” You said, and Bailey looked at you. She had more faith in you than you had in yourself, and though she wouldn’t say it aloud, she was extremely proud of you.

“Well, I would have. I know I don’t say this often enough, I’m really proud of you Y/N.” She said, and your mouth dropped a little. Bailey wasn’t one to talk about her feelings, so this was a big deal.

“I love you, you know that right?” You said, and Bailey rolled her eyes. You could see her eyes start to well up, and she dabbed at them lightly.

Awww, what a softie.

“Yeah, yeah. Stop making me cry, my makeup actually looks good today.” Bailey whispered, and she helped you up the stairs as Pier followed. The carpet began to get thinner, until you reached the doors of the Metropolitan. One more step, and you’d be inside one of the biggest events of the year.

“Ready?” Bailey asked, and you smiled at her and Pier.

“As I’ll ever be.” You replied, and with that you walked out of the frying pan and into the fire.

[inspiringvacationstours]

Cape York Camping: Tips for an Unforgettable Outdoor Experience

When it comes to epic outdoor adventures in Australia, few places can compare to the rugged beauty and untamed wilderness of Cape York. Located at the northern tip of Queensland, Cape York Peninsula is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Whether you're an experienced camper or a newbie to the world of outdoor exploration, a Cape York camping trip is an experience you won't want to miss. 

In this guide, we'll share some valuable tips to ensure your Cape York camping adventure is nothing short of unforgettable, including the best ways to explore the area with Cape York tours.

Plan Your Cape York Adventure

Before you hit the road and embark on your Cape York camping journey, it's essential to have a well-thought-out plan. Cape York is vast and remote, so knowing your route, the places you want to visit, and the duration of your trip is crucial. Consider joining one of the many reputable heritage tours cape york if you're unfamiliar with the area. They can help you plan your itinerary, provide valuable local knowledge, and ensure you don't miss any must-see attractions.

Choose the Right Time to Visit

Cape York's climate is unique, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit for camping and outdoor activities is during the dry season, which typically runs from May to October. During this time, the weather is more predictable, and you'll have a better chance of exploring the region without heavy rainfall impeding your plans. However, if you prefer lush green landscapes and don't mind some rain, the wet season can be a beautiful and less crowded time to visit.

Pack Wisely

When it comes to camping in remote areas like Cape York, packing wisely can make or break your trip. Start with the essentials: a sturdy tent, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, and sufficient food and water. Additionally, don't forget insect repellent, sunscreen, and a first-aid kit. Given Cape York's remote location, it's vital to be self-sufficient and prepared for unexpected situations. If you're not confident in your packing skills, Cape York Tours often offers packing lists and guidance.

Respect the Environment and Indigenous Culture

Cape York is not just a breathtaking natural wonder; it's also home to rich Indigenous culture and history. When camping in this area, it's crucial to respect the land and the people who call it home. Follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all your trash, staying on designated tracks, and avoiding damage to fragile ecosystems. If you have the opportunity, engage with local Indigenous communities respectfully and learn about their traditions and heritage. Many Cape York tours offer cultural experiences as part of their packages.

Be Prepared for Challenging Roads

One of the most iconic aspects of a Cape York camping trip is tackling the infamous Old Telegraph Track and other rough dirt roads. These roads can be challenging, with creek crossings, mud pits, and steep ascents and descents. Ensure your vehicle is up to the task, and consider investing in recovery equipment like a winch and recovery tracks. If you're not confident in your off-roading skills, Cape York Tours often provides experienced guides and support to navigate these challenging terrains safely.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, a Cape York camping adventure is a bucket-list experience for outdoor enthusiasts, offering stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and a chance to immerse yourself in Indigenous culture. To make the most of your trip, plan carefully, choose the right time to visit, pack wisely, respect the environment and Indigenous culture, and be prepared for challenging roads. 

Whether you're a seasoned camper or a first-timer, there's no shortage of ways to explore Cape York, and joining one of the fantastic Cape York tours can be your ticket to an unforgettable outdoor experience. 

So, grab your gear, hit the road, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

Source: Cape York Camping: Tips for an Unforgettable Outdoor Experience

[xmxisxforxmaybe]

Have you watched Mummy and Return of the Mummy? I am watching it right now and I thought about a crossover: If you had watched it could you please write something where fem!reader is daughter of O'Connel and is dating Ahkmenrah but she is hiding it from them and somehow they discovers and kind of freak out? Thank you for your attention, love your writing.

Ooo, what fun! So, we’re gonna add in an Alex as in Alexandria ;) And don’t bother with making sense of the timeline—just roll with a setting that allows this crossover.

Warnings: sex, but not super descriptive; also Rick carries his trademark shotgun and does threaten to use it

* * * * *

Alexandria O’Connell’s moans echoed off the walls of King Ahkmenrah’s exhibit. Currently, the handsome pharaoh had Alex’s hands pinned above her head as her legs were wrapped around his waist. Alex’s back bumped into the hard granite of the hieroglyph covered walls each time Ahk slammed into her. Never had she imagined she could want another human, well, mostly human, so very much.

And if anyone had told Alexandria, who was usually a bit more proper like her mother, that she would be moaning like an animal in heat for a reanimated mummy, she would have averted her eyes, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment, as she said, “Absolutely not.”

Except that six months ago, Alex had attended her first After-Dark event at the American Museum of Natural History. Her friends thought she would love it, considering she was the most studious out of all the history majors at NYU.

At first, Alex wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and attend Oxford, but by the time she was 18, she was ready to get out of her parents’ house and out from under the shadow of being an O’Connell.

Alexandria’s parents only wanted their daughter to be happy, and while Rick and Evelyn weren’t particularly thrilled by the distance, they both knew that New York City was an exciting place filled with opportunity.

Now, Alex was a senior and she had been a dutiful undergrad; at the completion of her junior year, she still had straight-As and was at the top of her class. However, her dedication to her studies did come at an expense. While Alex had dated a few guys over the years, nothing serious ever really developed. Alex never felt that thing, that undeniable attraction that sparks between two people and draws them into one another.

Until a fateful night at the museum when Alexandria and her friends were placed in a very attractive docent’s tour group. Alexandria couldn’t believe just how Egyptian their guide really was. While Alex didn’t share the same singular passion for Egypt as her mother, she had been around enough books and had heard enough of her parents’ stories to know when she was looking the real thing in the face—and there was something about this “Ahkmenrah” that was far from ordinary.

So, claiming her phone full out of her pocket, Alex dashed back into the museum as it was closing, shouting to her friends not to wait because she’d see herself home.

Of all people, Alexandria O’Connell certainly knew how museums worked, so she discreetly made her way back to the Egyptian wing, and hid herself in between the walls of Ahkmenrah’s exhibit, waiting and watching.

Alexandria watched from the shadows as the handsome docent walked toward the sarcophagus of the famed King Ahkmenrah. He took off part of his costume, laying the crown and the cape inside the golden coffin like it belonged to him. Alex’s brows furrowed as she tried to puzzle out how this was possible. And when the docent spoke in ancient Egyptian and the giant, obsidian Anubis statues bent to listen, she gasped.

All three of them turned their heads to look in her direction, the statues immediately moving to point their spears in her face.

On the docent’s command, the statues backed away.

“You are not supposed to be here,” the docent said with a smile, seemingly not at all bothered she was there.

“I—uh, I knew something was … different about you.”

The docent was quiet for a moment before straightening his shoulders and pronouncing, “I am Ahkmenrah, Fourth King of the Fourth King, and the museum’s exhibits are brought to life at night by the magic of my golden tablet.”

“I knew it!” exclaimed Alexandria, pumping her fist into the air.

Ahkmenrah looked taken aback. Clearly, he had never gotten thatreaction upon revealing his identity and his source of power before.

For the rest of the night, and when Alexandria returned the following night, Ahk explained who he was and how he came to be at the museum in New York City. Over the next few weeks, Alex returned, a palpable attraction growing between the two of them. Often, Alex thought about what her parents would say, but Ahkmenrah was nothing like the mummies her parents had discovered, and honestly, she thought her mother’s books and her father’s stories were a bit exaggerated.

And what harm was she really doing? Her parents were in England. She was in America. As a grown woman, she could carry on with Ahkmenrah in whatever manner she liked.

And carry on she would.

Alexandria looked into the blue-green of Ahkmenrah’s eyes, overwhelmed by the intensity of attraction she saw within them.

“Alexandria,” Ahk breathed, slowing his pace so he could kiss her.

“Ahkmen—”

“WHERE IS SHE?”

Alex’s legs tightened around Ahkmenrah’s waist as both of them froze. She knew that yell, oh god did she know that yell.

“Oh my god! Oh my god, that’s my dad! Put me down,” Alexandria panicked as she wriggled from Ahkmenrah’s grasp.

Ahk, looking completely horrified, followed Alex’s lead and tucked himself back into his shendyt as Alex pulled her skirt down. Just as they were smoothing their hair and making final adjustments to their clothing, Rick and Evelyn O’Connell comically skidded into Ahkmenrah’s exhibit followed by Larry, Teddy, Atilla and a few of the other exhibits.

However, what was not so comic was the fact that Rick O’Connell, mummy hunter extraordinaire, was clearly angry and wielding a shotgun and a sword. Evelyn O’Connell, although still looking concerned, was more composed than her husband, her arm on Rick’s forearm to keep him from taking aim with the gun.

“Alex!” he said loudly, although her name was followed by a sigh of relief.

“Mom, Dad—what, and I mean it when I say, what the hellare you doing here?”

“Now, Alexandria, there’s no need to—”

“Yeah, there is, Mom!”

“Don’t take that tone with your—YOU!” Rick scolded before he caught sight of Ahkmenrah who had certainly figured out who Rick and Evelyn were and was standing a bit behind Alexandria as she dealt with her angry parents.

“Get your undead monster hands off my daughter,” Rick said as he shook off Evie’s hand and replaced his sword in its scabbard in order to take aim with his gun.

“DAD!” Alexandria yelled as she ran between Ahkmenrah and her father, although there was no need because at that moment, Ahk’s guards were already moving from their place in the exhibit to protect their king.

Rick took a step back, his mouth falling open at the size of the statues. Evie took that moment of hesitation as the time to run forward and join her daughter.

“Darling,” she said to Rick as she eyed the statues nervously. “Perhaps we ought to try another approach?”

Rick frowned, but he listened to his wife, lowering his shotgun.

Ahkmenrah spoke from behind his guards and they retreated to either side of him, kneeling. Ahkmenrah certainly wasn’t dumb enough to dismiss them just yet.

“Jesus, Dad,” Alexandria said, fixing him a scowl before turning to run into Ahk’s arms to ask him if he was alright.

Rick’s mouth once again dropped open as Evelyn took a few steps backward to rejoin her husband.

Alexandria took Ahk by the hand and pulled him forward.

“Mom, Dad,” she began. “There’s someone I’d like to meet.”

“Oh no, no, no, no,” Rick pleaded, his face crestfallen.

Evie nudged him in the ribs and smiled, tensely, but a smile nonetheless, as she waited for her daughter to continue.

“This is Ahkmenrah, Fourth King of the Fourth King of the 11thDynasty, Egyptian Middle Kingdom and … my boyfriend.”

Tiny, strangled sobs could be heard emitting from Rick as he sank to the floor. Evelyn, however, moved forward and extended her hand. Ahkmenrah gave her a shy smile and shook her hand, stating that it was pleasure to meet the famed Egyptologist Alexandria had told him so much about.

“Oh? So, my daughter really is proud of me. It’s always lovely to hear that from a thirdparty,” Evie said.

“Mooom,” Alexandria groaned.

“And this,” Evie said, pointing to her mess of a husband, “is Alexandria’s father, Rick O’Connell. Normally, he’s not so, well, like that, but this circumstance has taken us both by a bit of surprise.”

“Nightmare, Evelyn. This is a nightmare, not a circumstance,” Rick mumbled from the floor.

Evie continued to smile, her curiosity having already won her over.

“You’ll have to excuse my forwardness, Ahkmenrah, but I am dying to know just how all of this has come about? Something about a tablet the nightguard explained?”

Ahkmenrah’s face lit up as he ushered Evelyn through his exhibit and to his tablet. Alexandria hung back and watched as her mother and her boyfriend walked away, heads bent in conversation.

She sighed as she walked over to her dad, who was now slumped on the floor, his head in his hands.

“I’ve got this, guys,” Alex said to the others and Larry as they turned and headed back downstairs.

Alexandria settled on the floor next to her dad and took his hand, pulling it into her lap and patting it reassuringly.

“Why, Alex? Why? Didn’t we do a good job? Didn’t we teach you not to fraternize with the evil undead?”

“He’s not like the mummies you and mom fought all those years ago. He’s good, Dad. Really, really good.”

“He’s not human, Alexandria!” Rick said, looking over at his daughter, his eyes filled with concern.

“Of course he is! Didn’t you and mom also teach me to never, ever judge a book by its cover? To look inside to find someone’s true worth?”

“That does sound like something your mother would say,” Rick acquiesced.

Alex smiled, knowing full well her father was a wonderful man who just, on occasion, acted impulsively because he was so protective of those he loved. But given what Rick and Evelyn O’Connell had been through in their life, it wasn’t a surprise they wanted something more on the normal side for their children.

“Ahkmenrah makes me happy, Dad. I would’ve liked for you and mom to have met him under a more relaxed circumstance, but I should’ve seen this coming. Your spider-sense must have been tingling.”

Rick smiled and squeezed his daughter’s hand.

“You sure this is what you want, Allie? Really, really sure?”

“I love him.”

Rick sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

“Alright. Let’s go before your mother gets her hands on that tablet and awakens some centuries’ old curse,” Rick said as he stood and pulled his daughter up along with him.

“Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“Leave the gun and the sword, please.”

Rick hesitated for a moment before relenting under his daughter’s strong gaze.

As he set his weapons down, he looked longingly at them before following Alexandria into Ahkmenrah’s exhibit.

And as Rick O’Connell met yet another mummy, he thought with exasperation, Daughters. Almost as bad as mummies.

[newstfionline]

Headlines

U.S. economy deteriorating faster than anticipated as 80 million Americans are forced to stay at home (Washington Post) The U.S. economy is deteriorating more quickly than was expected just days ago as extraordinary measures designed to curb the coronavirus keep 84 million Americans penned in their homes and cause the near-total shutdown of most businesses. The resulting economic meltdown, which is sending several million workers streaming into the unemployment line, is outpacing the federal government’s efforts to respond. With each day, an unprecedented stoppage gathers force as restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas and offices close to shield themselves from the disease.

Dramatic slowdown in growth predicted (Wall Street Journal) Analysts now project U.S. growth could shrink at rates far worse than the 2008 global recession, ending weeks of cautious optimism about the economy’s ability to withstand the fallout from the coronavirus. Analysts at Goldman Sachs yesterday said they expect U.S. growth to contract 24% in the second quarter, a rate nearly five times as large as the bank’s previous forecast of a 5% decline. Goldman said a decrease of that magnitude would far outpace the largest quarterly drop in gross domestic product on record--during the first quarter of the 1958 recession, when the U.S. economy contracted 10%. “The sudden stop in U.S. economic activity in response to the virus is unprecedented, and the early data points over the last week strengthen our confidence that a dramatic slowdown is indeed already underway,” the bank said in its report.​

Italy virus cases soar again; NY eyes temporary hospitals (AP) The coronavirus pandemic took an increasingly bleak toll Saturday in the U.S. and Europe, producing staggering caseloads in New York and Italy and setting off a desperate scramble to set up thousands of additional hospital beds at convention centers and college campuses. Italy, at the heart of western Europe’s rampaging outbreak, announced 793 new deaths and 6,557 new cases. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said state officials were scouring the globe for desperately needed medical supplies as confirmed coronavirus cases soared above 10,000 statewide. The state is reviewing four possible locations for temporary hospitals, which would be operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.

As virus grips nation, advocates move to halt evictions (AP) On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a proposed $1.5 trillion package that he said includes “immediate relief to renters and homeowners” by suspending evictions and foreclosures for 60 days. But, it turns out, the vast majority of renters will not be covered by the protections. That’s because the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s plan only covers single-family homes with loans through the Federal Housing Administration--roughly 8 million homeowners, most of whom are not under foreclosure, according to HUD. That compares to the roughly 43 million households who rented in 2019, according to the U.S. Census. Roughly half rent their home from an individual investor, while the other half rent from a business or multi-unit property owner. The ones renting from a business will not receive any protections, according to HUD’s proposal. While housing advocates praised the Trump administration package as an “important first step,” they said that by excluding renters, an often economically vulnerable population, it does not go nearly far enough.

The drive-in, relic of yesterday, finds itself suited to now (AP) The drive-in theater, long a dwindling nostalgia act in a multiplex world, is experiencing a momentary return to prominence. With nearly all of the nation’s movie theaters shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, some drive-in owners think they’re in a unique position to give moviegoers a chance to do something out of the house while keeping distance from others. This weekend, some drive-ins aren’t the only show in town. They’re the only show in the country.

Guatemala orders eight-day curfew to fight coronavirus (Reuters) Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei on Saturday ordered an eight-day curfew starting Sunday as part of measures aimed at containing the coronavirus, which has infected 17 people in the Central American nation.

Brazil’s densely packed favelas brace for coronavirus (Washington Post) In Liberia, the 2014 outbreak of Ebola was fueled by conditions in the slums of Monrovia. In India, influenza propagates more rapidly in the poorest neighborhoods, which then feed back into the city at large. And in Brazil, even the mosquito-borne disease of Zika was far more concentrated in the favelas of the north, around the city of Recife. Now in the global war against the coronavirus, analysts believe some of the most important battles will be fought in the poorest parts of the developing world, with far fewer tools and far less capacity for isolation than higher-income countries. “The strategy being pushed in the United States and China and Korea, there is no strategy for that there,” said Madhav Marathe, a division director of the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute. “Once a disease enters a slum, it’s very hard to do social distancing. Once it’s in slum, it’s very hard to protect them.”

Much of Europe is now on lockdown. But can authorities actually enforce those rules? (Washington Post) In a time when Europeans and Americans have been told to practice “social distancing” and to remain at home, people were still out and about in France and across Europe. They were shopping in proximity at bustling market stalls, running in large numbers down public promenades and, in some cases, scoffing at various government restrictions designed to keep them safe. Over the past week, a number of European governments have urged their citizens to take coronavirus seriously by imposing strict limits on movement outside the home. The question now is how governments can actually enforce those rules, with so many people seemingly willing to break them.

China, on virus PR offensive, sends masks and experts abroad (AP) As the fight against a new virus shifts to Europe and beyond, China is supplying millions of masks and other desperately needed items to struggling governments, hoping to build political ties and defuse criticism that it allowed the disease to spread early on. Serbia’s president plans to be at the airport this weekend to welcome a shipment of medical supplies from his “brother and friend,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Xi’s government has flown gloves and protective clothing to Liberia. It is sending 100,000 test kits to the Philippines. More than 10 flights carrying millions of masks and other supplies are bound for the Czech Republic this week. It’s part of an effort by the Communist Party to reshape the narrative, from one of early missteps to a nation that acted decisively to bring the outbreak under control. China is touting its deliveries of ventilators and masks overseas and dispatching its medical experts to share the lessons of its success.

Australia’s Bondi Beach closed after crowds defy coronavirus rules (Reuters) Australian officials closed Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Saturday after thousands of people flocked there in recent days, defying social distancing orders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, amid an unusually warm autumn spell.

Israeli leader offers to step down next year in unity deal (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is ready to step down next year as part of a proposed power-sharing agreement with his chief rival meant to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and end a year-long political deadlock.

Thousands of Americans stranded abroad as money, patience run out (Washington Post) Daniel Rico was relaxing in his pajamas in a hotel room after a day biking through Peru’s Sacred Valley when his phone rang. The Peruvian president was about to make an announcement related to the coronavirus pandemic, his tour guide said. Rico went online and saw that Peru’s borders would close in roughly 24 hours.

Minutes later, the 33-year-old financial analyst from New Jersey and a handful of other foreigners were being driven hastily in the dark along winding Incan roads. But when Rico arrived at the Cusco airport at 2 a.m. Monday morning, he found thousands of other travelers clamoring to leave and no available tickets. Skirmishes broke out as people pushed to the front of the line, he said.

Rico and nine other Americans are now stuck in a hotel in downtown Cusco, where a 15-day quarantine is enforced by soldiers with face masks and rifles. A police officer recently shoved Rico against a wall, he said, and threatened to arrest him for going out to buy groceries.

“Things are getting bad here,” said Rico, whose wife is worriedly waiting for him at home. “Fly me to Texas or Louisiana. Drop me in Wyoming, and I’ll rent a car. But we need to get out of this country.”

From Cusco to Casablanca to Cape Town, thousands of Americans like Rico are currently stuck overseas as the rapidly expanding pandemic has caused a cascade of countries to close their borders.

As their money, medications and patience runs out, Americans have watched in mounting frustration as other countries have quickly evacuated their citizens. Feeling abandoned by their government, thousands have turned to social media for help and solace, joining online groups with names like “Americans Stuck in Peru,” “American Citizens Stranded In Guatemala” and “Stay Strong, Quarantine On.”

Their sense of panic deepened on Thursday when the State Department announced American citizens overseas should return to the United States immediately “unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.”

The announcement, coupled with the initial lack of a plan to help Americans come home, has drawn criticism from lawmakers whose inboxes are filling with emails from furious constituents trapped overseas.

“This is a source of great frustration,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told The Washington Post. “This administration has made a mess of this by failing to take the necessary actions. We’ve been working for weeks to try to get these Americans who are stranded abroad a way to get home. We’ve watched as other countries have chartered airlines to get their citizens out.”

[mariocki]

RIP Shane Rimmer (28.5.1929 - 29.3.2019)

Like several of his fellow countrymen (Neil McCallum, Paul Maxwell, and Cec Linder among them) Shane Rimmer - who has died at the age of 89 - was a Canadian who made his home in Britain, playing Americans. In a career that lasted sixty years he provided stalwart support on television and in films, whilst becoming one of the go-to voice artists of his generation.

Born in 1929, Rimmer's background was international from the very beginning; his father, Thomas Rimmer, was an Irishman who moved to New York and married an English expat, Vera Franklin. The two relocated to Toronto and had two children, Shane and his sister Noreen. The young Rimmer was known for his voice from an early age, quickly establishing himself as a singer and DJ on Canadian radio. His first brush with television came in 1958, as he became the host of musical programme Come Fly With Me.

In 1959 he took his first trip to the UK, travelling the country as part of a singing trio. By 1962 he was touring the world, entertaining US troops stationed abroad. It was on one such trip that he met Sheila Logan, a dancer: the two were married in 1963, and were to remain together for the rest of his life. The couple settled in London, where Sheila gave up dancing to become Shane's agent. After a slow start, his acting career was beginning to take off.

His most notable early roles were in Stanley Kubrick's Dr Strangelove (1964), as Slim Pickens' co-pilot Captain 'Ace' Owens, and a recurring role in BBC soap opera Compact (1962 - 1965). This TV exposure led to a slew of guest spots: there was The Saint and Ghost Squad in 1964, the following year Danger Man, and a memorable turn in Doctor Who (3.7, The Gunfighters, 1966). In most of these appearances Rimmer played Americans; there was a limited number of American actors working in the UK at this time, but several Canadians had made their home here and found a niche playing their neighbours to the South on British TV. Some, like Donald Sutherland, would eventually move to the States, and bigger and better things; Shane was in London for the long haul, and so had a ready income of parts available.

In 1964, Gerry Anderson began production on what was to be his most successful and enduring series: Thunderbirds (ITC, 1965 - 1966). Like his financial backer, ITC's Lew Grade, Anderson always had an eye towards transatlantic sales - as such, he decided to make his heroes American and to cast actors who could convincingly perform American accents. As was typical at the time, the majority of the cast were in fact Australian and Canadian; Rimmer, who had been noticed by producers for his work on Compact, was given the role of eldest brother and pilot of Thunderbird 1 Scott Tracy. He may not have been seen on screen, but the role brought Shane genre immortality, as well as an enduring working relationship with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. He went on to voice numerous minor characters, uncredited, in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967 - 1968), Joe 90 (1968 - 1969) and The Secret Service (1969), and contributed scripts to all three series. In front of the cameras, he continued to put in guest appearances in the likes of The Persuaders! (1971), The Protectors (1973), Hadleigh (1976) and, working for the Andersons again, episodes of UFO (1970 - 1971) and Space 1999 (1975 - 1976).

Having settled into the role of character actor, Shane spent the next few decades plugging away in both film and television. There were some big hitters; uncredited roles in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Superman (1978) and Gandhi (1983), as well as some meatier roles in Warlords Of The Deep (1978), The Hunger (1983) and a supporting role in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), assisting Roger Moore's Bond in taking down the bad guys. On television there were notable roles in Oppenheimer (1980), A Very British Coup (1988) and Coronation Street (1988); an earlier appearance on the series had gained him notoriety, when he gunned down beloved character Stan Ogden.

Shane continued acting for the rest of his life, keeping especially busy in voice work; in recent years he worked on the Thunderbirds revival (2015) and had a recurring guest role on The Amazing World Of Gumball (2014 - 2017). He also found the time to write a novel, an autobiography and to record narration for the official Nasa guided tour at Cape Canaveral. A life-long friend of American expat Ed Bishop - himself a regular contributor to Gerry Anderson's shows - the two good humouredly dubbed themselves the 'Rent-a-Yanks' of British television. A popular guest at conventions and a tireless worker, Rimmer leaves an enviable filmography. He is survived by wife Sheila and their three sons.

[elareine]

In the shallows

Chapters: 1/6 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, some swearing Relationships: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd Characters: Tim Drake, Donna Troy Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Celebrity, NO CAPES, Identity Porn, Romantic Comedy, Drama & Romance, Texting, Online Dating AO3: /18803473

Summary: Jason Todd is a rock star... and an asshole. Dick Grayson has to do a movie with him. Luckily, there's this cute guy he's started texting recently.

Jason Todd was a rock star.

Yeah, exactly. Now, Dick had worked with some… less than talented people on set before. He’d made his debut in dance movies, for God’s sake, of course not everyone had been ready to play Hamlet.

But a total newbie? Never been on stage or on a movie set before? Dick really wished the producers had consulted him about that before making the decision. They hadn’t even done a chemistry test.  

Okay, sure, it was a blockbuster movie about an interracial gay couple. Funding wouldn’t come easy. If the names ‘Richard Grayson’ and ‘Jason Todd’ had to be attached to make the money happen, they would be. And Dick knew Tim Drake, the executive producer, well enough to trust him with this. Tim wouldn’t have cast Jason if he thought it’d be a total shit show.

The thing was - the script was beautiful. The writers had really poured their hearts into it, and it showed. Dick had almost forgotten to read it from an actor’s perspective, he’d been so engrossed. By the end, blinking away tears, he had texted his agent that he would do it before going on a run to shake some of the heaviness away.

It wasn’t like there was a sad ending, exactly. Dick wouldn’t have taken anything with a ‘bury your gays’ feel to it. It was just… it made him feel a lot, this script.

He wanted to do it justice. Hopefully, Jason Todd wouldn’t be the one to drag them all down.

Dick sighed and looked at the script in front of him again. Specifically, at the part marked: ‘Vano: [singing]…’

The other worry he had was quite the opposite from his first. At least Jason Todd didn’t have to worry about singing. Dick had heard his songs as much as anyone could without actively seeking them out, which was to say all the time and everywhere. Jason had been around for years at this point; it didn’t seem likely that his popularity would be abating any time soon.

(When he wasn’t busy critiquing Jason’s casting, Dick could freely admit that his songs were pretty great. They always gave him that on-the-road-looking-for-freedom feeling that he loved. He might be following Jason on Spotify, even, but shush.)

Dick, however… well. He’d been taking singing lessons ever since he’d moved into closer consideration for this role. His vocal coach attested him with enough skills for the songs he’d seen so far. He’d gotten the accent of his character down to pat, too, even when singing and screaming. Still, compared to Jason Todd…

And they would be singing duets.

Giving up on his concentration for the evening, Dick decided to just go for a run. He was already pretty sure he wouldn’t sleep tonight, but exhaustion might help.

It didn’t really. Dick slept like shit and then had to deal with the worst traffic he’d ever seen (and he’d lived in New York for years). He barely made it in time. Tim was already waiting for him outside the lot. That was a sure sign he was getting ready to herd Dick exactly where he needed to be as quickly as possible.

Tim greeted him with a friendly wave. “Hi, Dick, welcome on set! Kate is over at the sound studio, but she’ll be here any minute to start the read-through.”

“Thanks, Tim. Good to see you.” Dick refrained from hugging him only because he knew the younger man preferred it that way on set. “Sorry, I wanted to be here early. I seriously underestimated LA traffic.”

“Yes, I expected that. Just plan in enough time from now on, okay?”

“Of course, Tim.”

Tim sighed. “We’ll see, I guess.”

They entered the building together. Tim guided him towards a smaller meeting room. Jason Todd was already there, sitting in the small circle of chairs. There would be a full cast reading tomorrow; today it was pretty much only Kate, Jason and Dick with the producers.

Dick’s first thought was that he hadn’t expected Jason to look so… soft. He was used to the torn jeans and t-shirt look he rocked in his videos. The knitted sweater he was wearing didn’t exactly fit that image.

The smirk on his face, however, did.

Dick mentally steeled himself. Here we go. He held out his hand. “Hi, Jason. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Hi, Dick.” Jason’s handshake was firm without being too crushing. “Sorry we couldn’t meet up before. I’m pretty literally just coming back from a World Tour.”

Oh, great. Bragging.

“No worries. It’s good to get this started now.” He looked pointedly at the script in Jason’s hand. If Jason had just been on a world tour… “Did you get any time to prepare?”

“I’ll know my lines if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s kind of about more than that.” Okay, that came out catty. “Like, the music, for example.”

Jason seemed to perk up at that. “Oh, yeah, that’s done. I did send the tapes of some suggestions to Kate. But we’ll workshop together, see what you think first.”

Dick would’ve preferred it if Jason had just presented him with finished sheet music and a tape he could imitate, honestly. He had no idea if he had any musical input to offer. And how did you workshop music, anyway? He’d done that with scenes before (though Kate wasn’t the type to welcome a lot of input from her actors beforehand), even settings, but music?

“Sure. Yeah. Let’s do that.” He tried to smile. “I’m looking forward to hearing what you came up with.”  

It was probably a good thing Kate entered the room at that moment, introducing herself again and bidding them to start the read-through.

Dick usually lost himself in a performance pretty easily. Even in a read-through, it only meant that he focused even more on letting every emotion shine through his voice.

Vano was pretty unlike Dick himself. Sensitive, shy, in desperate need of approval (okay, that one Dick could relate to) and unsure. Dick found it interesting how his character was juxtaposed with his actions. Vano was so, so afraid; yet he let himself be swept up in a whirlwind romance and even ended up the one pursuing Jason’s character when everything seemed to fall apart. His courage, in the end, was as quiet as it was present. Dick was determined to do him right.

So he concentrated on developing his voice further. He wanted it to be recognisably different from Jason’s character, but also harmonious.

Still, he couldn’t help but judge Jason’s performance.

He wasn’t bad. Honestly, this wasn’t a great script for a read-through - a lot of stuff went unsaid between the two main characters. So a little wooden-ness was expected. Dick was a bit annoyed at the way he stumbled over lines sometimes as if he was reading them for the first time, though. Unprepared partners were the worst.

Afterwards, Kate didn’t look happy. Her first critique was voluminous, including more background notes on their characters and a very detailed rundown of what had sucked about their dialogue. Ah, well. Dick didn’t mind. She wasn’t known to be a coddler.

She complimented Dick on his excellent accent, though. He thought Jason (who spoke in his own accent, or at least the one he always used in interviews and stuff) looked a bit sour at that, which pissed Dick off. He’d worked hard for this, okay. He was actually a trained and studied actor, despite what some people might think.

It also made him wary of the months ahead. Jealousy on set wasn’t cool, even if it was purely professional.

“Tomorrow we’ll go through the script scene by scene and talk through your suggestions. Is there anything fundamental you’d like to say now?” Kate asked.

Dick shook his head. This was honestly one of the best scripts he’d ever read, and he trusted her direction fully. Jason seemed to hesitate, but then he followed suit.  

Dick spent some time after talking with some of the crew members that were setting up the sets. He knew some of them from previous movie sets - Tim liked to reward good work with more, better-paid work - and was glad to chit-chat about their careers and families.

Still, Jason seemed to take his time, too. They arrived at the parking lot at about the same time.

“Can I give you a ride?” Dick offered when he noted that Jason was looking a bit lost.

“I’m actually here on my bike,” Jason said, pointing at a frankly gorgeous machine, black, sleek and utterly pretentious.

Dick mentally snorted. Of course he was. Rock star and all that

His own family sized van didn’t match up to that, but honestly, who cared.

“Okay. See you tomorrow, then.”

Jason didn’t even say goodbye, just waved. Dick was tired of him already.

When he entered the house he’d rented for the year, Dick headed straight for his studio and dropped down onto the mat. He needed a proper stretching after today and couldn’t quite face this house yet.

Mostly he was happy with it. It was spacious, including his own dance studio and a pool, and not too far away from the Wayne Brothers lot, but he was able to keep it up without no personnel beyond a cleaner and the occasional garden hand.

Days like these, it was a bit… lonely.

He would have been better off staying with his friend Donna Troy. She’d offered, after all. Dick had thought he would need some quiet to focus on this part, not to mention a room where he could practice his singing parts without annoying the shit out of everyone.

It was just that he wasn’t made for the quiet. His head got too loud when he wasn’t exercising. Usually, he filled that space by concentrating on his current role; he wasn’t precisely method but slipping into someone else’s headspace had always come easy to him. Today, though, that was exactly what he wanted to get away from.

He briefly toyed with the idea of going out and picking someone up. Getting laid worked better than pretty much anything else for him.

Except that wasn’t exactly what he wanted, either.  

Look. It wasn’t as if Dick had problems meeting people. The opposite, really. Dick knew he had a good body, okay, and he was charming enough.

He wanted something else, though. He wanted to get to know someone without them already knowing (or thinking they knew) everything about him. He wanted to be sure someone actually liked him for himself. He wanted someone to call in the evenings when he came home from set. Someone to come home to.

Dick sighed and re-arranged his limbs into a backstretch.

People wished for this kind of things all the time. He was just being silly. His mother would’ve straight up laughed at him if he went to her complaining about the drawbacks of fame, a profession he loved and obscene amounts of money.

Dropping his hips open and leaning into that delicious burn, he took out his phone and texted Donna: Going out and getting laid, yes or no? Any bar tips?

The answer was immediate.

Donna: Honey just use tinder like the rest of us

 …Why not.

 Donna: That was a joke.

 Donna: But go ahead I guess.

Thinking about it, Dick finished his routine and headed upstairs to change into some comfy sweats, then back down to the kitchen. A bowl of cereal wasn’t exactly a glamorous meal for a movie star - but neither were Dick’s cooking skills.

Grabbing a beer, he plopped down on his couch and gave in. At least the tinder app was free on the app store. Going through the set-up motions, he hit the next snag, though.

What do I use as a profile picture??? I can’t show my face on this, can I?

Donna: Use your abs

Donna: no wait

Donna: Your butt

Donna: Or maybe that’s too recognisable. Abs it is.

Dick chuckled.

  …Thanks I think.

For a second he considered just cutting something out of a promo pic or one of his dozens of semi-nude photoshoots, but who the fuck knew how well Google would be able to match these up. Dick wasn’t going to risk the headline ‘Actor famous for starring in romances is looking for hook-up on tinder’ (though of course TMZ would be far pithier than that) just for his vanity.

Though he did find some shots that hadn’t ever been released and cropped his face out of one of these. That would do. As for his username… he went with the hero of the first movie he’d ever starred in and combined that with his year of birth once the system informed him the name was taken.

After a brief hesitation, he set his sexual preferences to ‘all genders’.

Finally, everything was set up. Dick settled down to check out some hot singles in his area.

Sadly, the selection wasn’t that great. Especially with the dudes. Dick was sure that about half of them were either a decade older or younger than they pretended to be. The women were clearly better at taking selfies, too.  

It was possibly the wrong time to be picky. Dick wasn’t usually - a good smile was pretty much all it took on a good day. But hey, he had just spent the day in the company of the hottest rock star the 21st century had produced so far. Every mortal would have difficulty competing with that.

(Not with Jason’s personality though. Easily bottom 20% material there. Urgh. Dick was trying to forget about that.)

After that thought, he swiped right a few times. So far, no one had matched with him, but that was fine. He had just signed up, after all.

Then, finally, came a pic that stood out.

Funnily enough, this profile pic was as profile-less as Dick’s. All it showed was a bare back. It was mirror shot, probably, but with none of the glariness of the other pictures. The guy’s skin was almost as tanned as Dick’s, but what caught his eyes was the sheer endless mass of muscles it stretched across.

Dick swiped right.

A message appeared on the screen. ‘You matched with Rock_n_Rumble, 29’.

He switched apps and texted Donna again: There’s a cute guy! We matched! But I can’t just go meet up with him, can I? Wally would kill me

Donna: you genuinely just thought of that???

Yes^^’

Donna: Stop trying to make manga emojis happen again, Dick

Donna: Just… talk to him, flirt a bit; maybe it’ll be ok

Donna: This is    LA after all

Donna: Or he’ll just send you a dick pic

Donna: I do not want to know if either of these possibilities occurs.

I will describe everything that happens in explicit, excruciating detail.  

Dick switched back to tinder and pressed ‘OK’. A chatroom opened. He stared at the entry field for a long second, pondering how to start the conversation. He’d never felt the need for chat up lines before. Honesty and friendliness had always worked best for him. Hopefully, that would translate over into the Internet.

Nightwing86: Hi

Rock_n_Rumble: Hi.

This was where Dick would usually make a comment about the venue they were at or the way the other person looked, but… how did you compliment someone’s bare back without sounding like a total creep?

As he watched the seconds tick by without either of them writing anything, he realised that oh. Rock_n_Rumble wasn’t exactly in a better situation. Oh well, there was nothing for it then.

Nightwing86:  With a body like that - what on Earth are you doing on this site?

Rock_n_Rumble: Shouldn’t I ask you the same thing?

Rock_n_Rumble: Musician, ex-addict, grew up in New York - and also shit at flirting, in case you didn’t notice. Should I continue with that list? 

Nightwing86: Eh, you’re doing fine.

He was. Dick kinda dug the self-deprecating sarcasm. And at least he had something to work with now.

Nightwing86: Musician?

Rock_n_Rumble: I’m a guitarist

Nightwing86: Oh, you’re in a band?

Rock_n_Rumble: Kind of

Rock_n_Rumble: Nothing fixed, but I go on tour a lot. Weird staying in one place for work right now

He must be recording an album then. Considering that good guitarists in LA were like sand at a beach, Dick mentally re-evaluated the fame level of his conversation partner.

Nightwing86: I get that; I travel for work a lot too  

Rock_n_Rumble: What do you do?

Dick considered lying, but honestly, what was the point? And anyway, they were in LA. There were thousands of people calling themselves actors here.

Nightwing86: I’m an actor.

Rock_n_Rumble: oh cool. Film or theatre?  

Nightwing86: Mostly film these days. Was up on stage in NY for a bit, kinda miss it.  

Rock_n_Rumble: Oh really? When? Might’ve seen you, I went to Broadway a lot once I could afford it.

Nightwing86: its been a while, 2004-2006

That information wouldn’t give him away. Again, tons of people tried to make it on Broadway. Still, maybe he should address the fact that he wasn’t ready to talk about who he was.

Rock_n_Rumble: So I notice neither of us is forthcoming about names and identifying information.  

Rock_n_Rumble: Proposal: We stay anonymous for now, see how we get along, decide if we want to actually meet up later.

Nightwing86: oh thank god

Nightwing86: yeah, that would be great. I don’t like lying, but coming out to a stranger isn’t…

Rock_n_Rumble: same. Like, I’m technically out, but with the industry being what it is, the gossip isn’t fun.

Nightwing86: How does being ‘technically out’ work? All I ever get is ‘if you so much as breathe into the direction of someone who isn’t a cis woman we’ll kill you’

Rock_n_Rumble: It’s called ‘being a shit liar’.

Rock_n_Rumble: Also contrary enough that management knows that my reaction to being told that would probably result in me sucking a dick on stage.

Dick laughed.  

Nightwing86: Now that is a mental image to take to bed with.

Rock_n_Rumble: I like that we’ve been chatting for ten minutes and I’ve already got a kink noted down.  

Nightwing86: You remember you’re talking to an actor, right? Pretty sure we’re 85% exhibitionists.

Rock_n_Rumble: …okay, that’s a fair point.

Rock_n_Rumble: Still noting it down, though.

Nightwing86: Please tell me you’re not literally doing that.

Rock_n_Rumble: Maybe.

Rock_n_Rumble: Look, you want to exchange numbers? I’m not going to stay on this platform, I think.

Nightwing86: Aww, am I enough for you?

Nightwing86: 344-394-2222. Do me a favour and don’t pass that on.

Rock_n_Rumble: Promise. I’ll text you, just one sec.

Barely a few seconds later, a WhatsApp message popped up: Hi it’s Rock_n_Rumble. Thought this might work out better than text if you’re travelling a lot, too.

After some consideration, Dick saved the contact as ‘R_n_R’. The consideration was mostly about adding a butt or shoulder emoji to it, but he decided to be classy instead.

Out of curiosity, he checked out the WhatsApp profile of the other guy. Sadly, the pic was of a bright red guitar. His own was of the bird plushie that had accompanied him through his childhood and ever since, though, so he probably shouldn’t complain.

Hi again. Good thinking.

R_n_R: Oh good, it’s you and not someone completely unsuspecting.

R_n_R: So what are you up to? Apart from tindering, obviously.

Trying to decide if I want to watch something. Any Netflix recs?

Dick later mentally congratulated himself, because that question started a conversation that lasted for at least half an hour. Their taste didn’t seem too different, though Dick kinda had to snort when R_n_R recommended some of his own movies to him. In the end, they settled on ‘Luther’, because Idris Elba and murder. How exactly ‘recommend me a movie’ had turned into ‘let’s watch this series at the same time and shoot the shit over text’, Dick wasn’t sure, but it was pretty fun.

So fun, actually, that it took a text from Donna to remind him how much time had passed.

Donna: So how was it? Don’t leave me hanging, bird-boy.

I’m getting rid of tinder. All I got were three dick pics and two girls accusing me of catfishing them using Dick Grayson’s photos. Another girl explained to me that headless pics usually mean someone is married or in a relationship and doesn’t want their significant other to see. She called me an asshole for that, that’s why she even swiped right. Then she blocked me.

And if Dick was honest… he kinda liked the thought of trying this with Rock_n_Rumble, and Rock_n_Rumble only. The first person he’d talked to on there. The only one he connected to, even if only on a superficial level so far.

(Yes, he had screenshotted and saved that picture. Whatever.)

Donna: One gender clearly came out ahead in this.

And the cute guy is still chatting with me. We’re keeping it anon for now though. It’s been an hour and no sex talk, so I guess he’s legit.

Donna: facepalm Dick, do you ever consider your life might’ve turned into a romantic comedy?

We’re just talking.

Donna: Right. Well, I’ll leave you to do that. Good night, Dick. Have fun.

[wellesleyunderground]

Wellesley Underground’s Holiday Guide to Wellesley-Owned Businesses: November 2019

The Good Supply / Image Credit: The Good Supply

Looking for your holiday gifts? Check out Wellesley Underground’s crowd-sourced list of Wellesley-owned businesses (updated for 2019)! Compiled by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10, WU Managing Editor.

Pinterest Board of the Shops (incomplete)

Jewelry

Alumnati Jewelry by Stephanie Christie ‘00: Handmade Wellesley lamppost earrings

Ecru Collection by Kara Templeton '12: Jewelry, home decor, and stationery

Kindred Spirit Studios by Michelle Davis Petelinz '78: Jewelry, home decor

Lauren Wimmer Jewelry by Lauren Wimmer ‘98: Jewelry

Mala Shah Design by Mala Shah ‘98: Metalworks and Reiki-infused jewelry

Ready-Made by Jenn Meng ‘13: Materials-focused jewelry brand offering minimal, everyday pieces that are affordable, hypoallergenic, super strong, and tarnish-free.

Porcelain and Stone by Kimberly Huestis '05: Nautically inspired jewelry

Space Mermaid by Stephanie Carbone '93: Sky and sea inspired jewelry

Urban Witchcraft by Elena Gauvin ‘13: hand fabricated sterling silver gemstone jewelry with a gothic feel 

Wellesley Voices For Disability: Wellesley earring and necklace set, scarf and hat set, fountain pen, bookmark, keyboard covers and more. 

Art & Crafts

A Riot of Color by Susan Eiseman Levitin '85: Hand-dyed yarns

Achiaa Paper and Pen by Rebecca Amponsah ‘08: Handmade paper goods and lettering

Alyssa Sketch’d by Alyssa Torres ‘09: Original illustrations/art and jewelry

Art Without A Frame by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10: Original illustrations/art from the Dragon Fruit Project, an oral history project of queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders

Cardiology Cards by Tamar Zmora ‘11: Break up Cards

ChemKnits Creations by Rebecca Brown ‘06: Hand dyed yarns

Connie-Chen.com by Connie Chen ‘17: Calligraphy commissions, prints, bookish apparel, oblique holders, penmanship lessons 

DisaporicArts by Jenny Jean ‘13: Modern digital art prints

Fran Decker by Fran Decker '80: Original paintings, prints, tiles and notecards

Genevieve Calligraphy by Genevieve Goldleaf ‘12: Botanical illustrations and custom calligraphy

The Grey Fox Studio by Katherine Grey '08: Printmaking, drawing & painting

KT Obermanns by KT Obermanns '07: Illustrations, portraits, pinups, and caricature

Leslie Ordal Fibre Arts by Leslie Ordal ‘04: Handspun yarns, handwoven scarves, and other fibre arts. Lessons and workshops in the Toronto, Ontario, area.

Map Attic by Alex Azzi ‘15: Block-printed holiday cards, resin jewelry, vintage map crafts, ceramics, and abstract fluid paintings.

Misc Midwest by Marie Clymer Sarnacki '13: Wooden coasters and fridge magnets with a Wellesley design

Miyun Makes by Gena Hong ‘12: handmade pottery inspired by Korean traditions.

Monica Starr Creations by Monica Starr Feldman ‘14: Leather luggage tags, metal flower bouquets, embossed stationary, scarves, mason jar cozies, metal & wood working

My Big Pink Crafty Box by Sophia Giordano '09: Feminist crafts

Pick Two Pottery by Dana Lamb ‘99: Pottery

Singing Whale Stained Glass by Amy Putnam ‘90: Handmade stained glass art and shattered glass pins, plus chainmaille bracelets and earrings, including Wellesley inspired pieces.

Stephanie Hessler by Stephanie Hessler ‘84: Wellesley inspired prints, apparel, homewares

Tiny Small Joys by Alyssa Kayser-Hirsh '14: handmade books, calendars, notebooks, and planners

Wear I’ve Been by Samaa Ahmed ‘13: Art designs on throw pillows, prints, mugs, tote bags and more.

Kacie Lyn Martinez by Kacie Lyn Martinez ‘09: fiber artist who weaves tapestries and other fiber art 

Photography

Az Bulutlu by Eylul Dogruel ‘07: Skyscapes, travel and abstract photography, prints and merchandise.

JezRebelle by Jess Planos '10: Wellesley photos on prints, apparel, homewares

Meera Graham Photography by Meera Mohan ‘09: Nature Prints for Sale, Headshots & Candid Portraiture

Vero Kherian Photography by Veronique (Chau) Kherian ‘05: Professional Portraits and Headshot Photography in the SF Bay area  

Health & Skincare

Beautycounter by Jen Askin Pollock ‘99: Safer, high-performing products for the whole family

Box Naturals by Irene Kim ‘99: Luxe towelettes with organic essential oils

Cocofloss by Chrystle Cu '05: Flavored dental floss

EmmGerri by Karen and Kristi Jordan: Skincare lotion

Eu’Genia Shea by Naa-Sakle Akuete ‘08: Shea butter 

Just Botanicals by Sonya Funaro ‘00: Handcraft organic, ethically-sourced skincare  

Hubba Hubba by Megan (MJ) Pullins `94: The oldest alternative adult store in New England, stocking everything from corsets, club clothes, lingerie, and all sorts of sex toys.

Lioness by Liz Klinger: Smart vibrator

Maum Goods Co. by Helen (Tak) Kingery ‘01: Handmade essential oil products for wellness and balance

TATCHA Beauty by Victoria Tsai ‘00: Japanese based skincare products

Fashion and Apparel 

A Gifted Baby by Amelia Gray ‘03: Online boutique for babies and little people focussing on small and emerging designers, ethical production practices and women-owned labels. Alums are friends and family, use code “weloveyou20much” for the 20% f&f discount:).

Baby Blast Off by Emily Bennett: Baby clothes

Catie’s Natives by Jennifer Roesch ‘92: Shirts, hoodies, and accessories that show city pride. Developed and designed by Jennifer’s 10 year old daughter. Featured in Time Out NY. 10% of profits support Hartley House which provides social services to residents of Hell’s Kitchen, NY.

Charlotte and Asher by Laura Hahn ‘06: Fashionable diaper bags

Cliobags by Alejandra Zambrano: Handmade bags

Emma Finney by Kristin Bunce ‘00: Bags and clutches

Orange Soda Baby by Dorothy Hsiung '05: Whimsical children's clothing

The Outrage by Claire Schlemme ‘06: Feminist clothing and accessories with a portion of profits to women’s empowerment orgs.

Satya Twena by Satya Twena ‘05: Hats and millinery 

Stoptiques by Olga Vidisheva '07: Apparel and accessories

Wellesley Class of 1990: Purple W capes!  Made of durable material - great for wearing as a cape, using a picnic blanket, keeping your car seat clean, etc.

Wellesley Class of 2003: Wellesley lamp post shirts, baby apparel, and accessories

Wellesley Class of 2007: Wellesley apron (“We can stand the heat!”), baby and kids apparel

Wellesley Club of Columbus, OH: Wellesley insignia whistle

Swells Swag by Sarie Hale-Alper ‘04: Wellesley-themed designs on a variety of apparel and accessories.

Food & Care Packages

ChocolatesU by Amy Camargo ‘94: Chocolates

Ice Cream Jubilee by Victoria Lai ‘01: 6 ice cream pints, shipped nationwide

Montecarlos Estate by Carlota Batres ‘09: Coffee

Off The Beaten Path Food Tours by Lizzie Bell '03: Food tours in MA

Sky Vineyards by Skyla Olds ‘99: Wines

Sunny Exchange by Connie Su ‘09 and Jennifer Lim ‘06: Care packages

Takeout Kit by Rachael Blanchard Lake '07: Shelf-stable meal kit

Tranquil Tuesdays by Charlene Wang '03: Tea and teaware

Toys

My Muse Dolls by Torlisa Jeffery ‘06: Customizable dolls

Animal Care

Newbury Paws by Andrea Fowler '07: Harnesses for large dogs

Wellesley DC Club: Wellesley pet bowls

Domesticat: Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: modern-design cat furniture and accessories

Books & Zines

DefinitiveLeigh by Leigh Morrison '15: Feminist zines

Children’s photo books by Cristi Carlstead ‘01: Colors, alphabet and numbers from various countries around the world Romance Novels by Kate Broad ‘06, writing as Rebecca Brooks: sexy contemporary feminist romance

Jambo Book Club by Mijha Butcher Godfrey ‘98: Receive two-three age-appropriate children’s books each month that feature a child of color as the star. Jambo books show children of color in situations where children’s literature rarely places them - making friends, raising pets, loving grandparents and fighting dragons. The books arrive with a personalized letter in boxes beautifully decorated with art that celebrates the joy of childhood. We serve children aged 0-13.

General Home:

Domesticat by Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: posters, more products in development

TAIT Design Co. by Audrey Elkus ‘18: Toys + Homewares designed and assembled in Detroit and 100% made in USA. Minimalist, mid-century modern, built to last and make great gifts. Thanks for checking us out : )!

Professional Services

Abilities Dance: Boston-based physically-integrated dance company. Able to perform at holiday parties, fundraisers, and all types of events. Always willing to negotiate rates for W alums. 

Grace Astrology by Elisabeth Grace ‘83: Professionally certified astrologer; life strategist. Astrology is a powerful tool for understanding why you are the way you are; what you need in order to feel fulfilled and why things happen when they do. Improve your timing and your relationships. Based in New York -- available for parties, fundraisers, speaking/teaching engagements.  

Leslie Ordal: Writing and editing, with a specialty in medicine and science but other fields also welcome. Ad copy, journal manuscripts, etc.--my clients have ranged from Big Pharma to artisans to graduate students. Discount on my usual rate for W alums! Makefast Workshop (Maura Atwater ‘08): Prototyping consultancy; hardware, software, and musical instrument design.

[crownedbyluke]

Long Road Ahead (Chapter Seven)

Estelle Finley has been friends with Ashton Irwin and Luke Hemmings for three years. When the boys bring her along on a jam-packed road trip to Cape Cod with the rest of the band, their adventures are just beginning. Through long hours driving, exploring cities, and hidden secrets, something more is bound to happen on this journey. How will this road trip change Estelle’s friendship with the friends she’s come to love so dearly?

Word Count: 2,900 (a bit short but oh boy I think you’ll enjoy this one)

{Chapter One} {Chapter Two} {Chapter Three} {Chapter Four} {Chapter Five} {Chapter Six}

Estelle was asleep on my shoulder, the states flying by as Calum drove. We had both been up late, playing different songs and trying different harmonies. It was fun and it made my feelings for her that much stronger. She was my everything at this point. Her grip on my arm tightened for a moment before she sat up.

“Where are we?” she asked, her voice a little raspy from just waking up.

“Honestly, no idea. I know that Cal has an hour and a half left,” I said, unable to stop the smile that came over my face.

I thought about what it would be like to wake up to her every morning. Her hair was slightly falling out of the bun it was in and her eyes were slipping between being completely open and half closed. It was adorable.

“Who’s after him?” she asked, moving so we weren’t as close to each other.

“Crystal,” I said, confused about her behavior.

Why was she moving away from me? Had she changed her mind about me?

“Hey Crys, who is your co-pilot?” she asked, turning to look at her.

“Mikey was gonna be, but I know that he wanted to co-pilot with Luke,” she replied, sitting up in her seat.

“Wanna team up again?” Estelle asked, making Crystal laugh.

“Let’s do it,” Crystal said, reaching up to high five her.

It reminded me of how perfectly Estelle fit into my life. She got along with everyone I introduced her to whether it was my friends, my family or people that I was working with at the time. She understood the life I lived because of my career and never made me feel bad about having to leave for tour or promo. She was always there for me when I needed her and she never pushed me to talk when I didn’t want to.

“Luke?” she asked, making me look over at her.

“Sorry, what?” I asked, shaking my head to bring me back to the present.

“Do you wanna go out once we get to New York?” she asked, watching me closely.

Her eyes were focused on me, taking in my every reaction and movement.

“Just us?” I asked calmly.

“Yeah,” she said smiling at me.

My heartbeat sped up, the idea alone making me excited. Estelle and I hadn’t gone out in months, my schedule being too hectic before vacation. Besides the arch, it would be the only real alone time we had in weeks. Would we finally talk about what our relationship would be now?

“I’ll look up somewhere to go. Do you just want to go out to dinner or?” I asked, pulling out my phone to scroll through my contacts.

“Let’s go to a club,” she said, taking me by surprise.

“A club?” I asked, looking at her with wide eyes.

“What? When was the last time we got to dance without a care in the world?” she asked, arching an eyebrow in my direction.

“It’s been a hot minute. I’ll make a call when we get in the city,” I said, smiling at her.

It made me happy that she wanted to go out with me. Estelle had a thing about going to clubs. It was very rare for her to agree, let alone suggest it herself.

“Sounds good,” she said quietly.

I felt her reach over to my hand, lacing our fingers together. It was something so small, so minor, but meant so much to me. We were moving forward in our relationship and I had hope that it meant we could end up together.

                                                   ➢➢➢

“Hello, yes this is Luke Hemmings. I’d like to reserve a table for tonight,” I said while Michael drove.

He had decided that he wanted to drive to just release some tension.

“If you’re reserving a table at 1 Oak, you better be inviting me to go with,” Ashton said, eyes wide while he listened to me.

“Me too!” Calum called from the backseat.

I sighed, realizing that I had really no way of telling them they couldn’t come with. They would fight back and ask why and I wasn’t ready to say out loud that I just wanted to spend time with Estelle, alone. I needed to talk to her first so I knew where we stood.

“Yes for four please. At eleven sounds great. Thank you,” I said, hanging up and tilting my head back into the headrest.

“We’re ten minutes away,” Michael said, a small rush of excitement thrumming through the car.

We pulled up to the townhouse building someone waiting outside for us.

“Here are your codes and your guide to the city. I hope you enjoy your stay,” the host said, giving all of us a smile.

“Thank you so much,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand.

“And you can park your car in the driveway next to the building,” he said before walking over to his car.

Michael waited to park the car until he was gone. I punched the code into the keypad by the door. I held it open for everyone, taking Estelle’s duffle bag for her. She smiled, pausing for a moment as our eyes met. She winked before walking into the building.

“Holy shit,” Ashton said, taking in the spacious townhouse we were staying in.

“I’ll take the bedroom down here so I don’t wake you guys up for breakfast,” Ashton said, walking towards the open door.

The rest of us went up the stairs, taking in the beauty of the space.

“Luke and I will take the bedrooms on the second floor,” Estelle said, making me stop before I could continue climbing the stairs.

“Dude, there’s an arcade up here!” Calum yelled, making both of us laugh.

“Do you want the green one or the golden one?” she asked, bringing my attention back to her.

“I’ll take the green one because the gold one is more you,” I said, setting her bag by the door.

“Sounds good. What time do you wanna leave?” she asked, pausing in the doorway.

“Let’s head out at ten-thirty,” I said, opening my suitcase on the floor of my room.

“Okay. I’ll be ready by then,” she said, winking at me.

I watched her head up the stairs before I started looking through my clothes. None of it seemed like it was good enough for going out with Estelle. I wanted to impress her and if I was going to do that I needed help. I pulled out my phone to text Ashton.

L: Help. Need to look good for E’s night out.

A: Coming.

I waited a minute before Ashton came into my room. He had three shirts in his hands and two jackets.

“Alright. What are we working with?” he asked, laying what he brought on the bed.

“Everything I have in my suitcase,” I said, giving him full control of whatever I had.

“Let’s see here. Estelle loves it when you wear black jeans so you’re definitely wearing these,” he said, tossing me a pair without rips.

“Okay. What else?” I asked, pulling the jeans on quickly.

“Well she also likes it when you wear white and blue,” he said, rummaging through my clothes.

He threw a white button down and his blue bomber jacket at me. I looked at him with confusion.

“Just trust me on this. Oh and don’t put anything in your hair,” he said, patting my back while walking towards the door.

“Ash, how do you know all of this?” I asked, staring at him.

“Estelle’s my best friend, she talks about boys and by boys, I mean you. Just put the clothes on and get ready,” he said, winking at me.

I waited until he left before changing. Did that mean that Estelle talked about me often? How much did Ashton know about her feelings for me? I finished the buttons on my shirt. The nerves were causing butterflies in my stomach. It was never like this when we went out to dinner or even on the rare occasions that she went out clubbing. I checked my watch, seeing that it was nine-thirty. I wasn’t sure what would happen tonight, but I knew that I wanted it to mean that at the end of the night, Estelle and I would be in a relationship. I left my room, opting to just wait in the living room with Ashton and Calum. Cal had his usual black on black with a hint of red, while Ash had opted to go for a more dressed down look. He had his typical black pants on, but instead of a normal button down, he had the red polka dot one on along with his leather jacket.

“Why do you look constipated?” Calum asked, laughing a little when I grimaced.

“Because I’m nervous so fuck off,” I said, pushing him.

“Why? It’s just 1 Oak,” Calum continued, clearly not getting it.

“Dude, don’t be stupid. It’s because of Estelle,” Ashton said, hitting Calum in the arm.

“Oh! Wait, was this supposed to be a date and we just jumped in?” Calum asked, suddenly looking very guilty and apologetic.

“Well kinda,” I said shyly, looking away from both of them.

“Luke, you could have said no,” Ashton said, walking over to me.

“I realize that, but we haven’t talked about what this all means and I didn’t want to just call it out in front of everyone,” I said, running my hand through my hair.

“Well, we’ll try to stay out of your way,” Ashton said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, the butterflies really starting to hit. I felt almost nauseous by them, the feeling being completely new to me. No matter how many different girls I had fallen for or dated over the years, none of them made me feel the way Estelle did. We heard the sound of heels clicking on the stairs, making all of us immediately stop talking. My breath hitched as I watched Estelle walk down the stairs. Her hair was perfectly curled, the red dress she was wearing making her look more tan. She was stunning and confident and extremely sexy. She had black heels on that made her just a little taller, but I could tell that I still towered over her.

“Damn Elle,” Calum said, the nickname taking me by surprise.

He had his own nickname for her? Since when?

“Es! You forgot your jacket!” Crystal called, running down the stairs.

“Thanks!” Estelle said, taking the leather jacket from her.

The minute she pulled it on, I was done for. I had never seen her look better and maybe it was just the confession of feelings that was heightening my senses, but she looked stunning. There weren’t enough words in my vocabulary to describe how beautiful she looked. It was like I lost my voice while she was occupying the same space as me. Our eyes met, my heart speeding up yet again as I looked into her hazel eyes.

“Hi,” she said quietly, smiling at me.

“Hi,” I said, my voice sounding like I was out of breath.

We both laughed, neither of us quite sure about why. It was awkward like a first date normally would be.

“Are we ready?” Ashton asked, diffusing the situation a little.

“Yeah we are,” she said, still looking at me.

I took a deep breath before putting a hand on her lower back, leading her out into the city.

                                                   ➢➢➢

I kept Estelle close as we walked into the club, making sure she kept her head down so the cameras didn’t catch her face. It was fairly packed tonight, unsurprising to me. We were lead to our table.

“What can I get you all to drink?” our waitress asked, giving us a giant smile.

I didn’t miss her check all of us out, a sly smile coming over her face.

“I’ll take a gin and tonic,” Ashton said, smiling back at her.

Was he seriously going to hit on her?

“Brandy old fashioned,” Calum added, barely paying attention to her.

“I’ll have a seven and seven,” I said, deciding to at least have some fun tonight.

“I’ll have a frozen strawberry daiquiri,” Estelle said, taking me by surprise again.

She rarely drank. Tonight was turning out to be full of surprises from her and I was highly intrigued to see where the rest of it would take us. The waitress left, bringing our drinks back shortly after. Estelle clinked our glasses before taking a drink. I watched her take a sip, noticing the slight wince as the alcohol hit her tongue. I attempted to suppress the laugh from her reaction.

“Shut up,” she said, nudging me a little.

It was adorable that she tried to intimidate me. It made me want to kiss her so much.

“I’m going to dance!” she called over the music, leaving our table before any of us could follow her.

She had never needed any of us to protect her, but as I watched her walk to the middle of the dance floor, I couldn’t help the want to protect from those that wanted to hurt her. The realization that it was my jealousy and slight possessiveness overcame me. She wasn’t mine, nor had she ever been mine, but so much of me considered her to be mine.

“Luke, go after her,” Ashton said, taking me out of my thoughts.

“She’s having fun,” I said with a shrug.

“You’re staring at her, just go,” Calum urged, giving me a look.

I knew it well. It was the if you don’t go, I will one. I sighed, turning back to look over at her again. She was moving effortlessly, her hips swaying to the beat of the song playing. I took another swig of my drink, letting the alcohol burn my throat. The path towards her wasn’t exactly clear, but I could see her over everyone anyways. The song changed, Estelle’s hips moving slower with it. I reached her, the smile on her face when she saw me making my heart lurch again. The chorus hit as Estelle wrapped her hands around my neck, mouthing the words to me.

“I need more heat from ya baby, make me feel weak for ya babe,” she sang along, making my breath hitch.

I moved my hands to her hips, letting whatever was going to happen just happen. We moved together, our bodies in perfect sync. I wasn’t expecting it to be as sexually charged as it was, but here I was, having Estelle sing the lyrics to me while basically grinding herself into me. I was hit by how badly I wanted her.

“I love you,” I blurted, her giggle ringing in my ears.

“I love you too,” she said, pulling me down a little.

“Estelle-”

“No more talking. We keep going around in circles with words and nothing ever happens because we get stuck with them in our heads. Use your mouth for better things,” she said, connecting our lips.

Fireworks exploded behind my eyelids, the feeling unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It was addicting and if I became addicted to her kisses, it would be the best thing to have an obsession with. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging gently on the strands. My grip on her hips tightened, needing to be closer to her. She bit my lower lip gently before pulling away. I rested my forehead against hers, a smile coming over my face.

“I want to be with you,” I said, my lips brushing hers.

“I want to be with you too,” she replied, returning my smile.

She leaned back in, once again being the one to initiate the kiss. I pulled her into me, wishing I could pick her up and take her somewhere that we could be alone. Not to have sex or be intimidate, but to just be with her while we were in this moment. I pulled away from her, looking into her eyes.

“Let’s go home,” I said, bringing my hand to her cheek.

“What about the guys?” she asked, following me out of the crowd.

I looked over to the table, finding Ashton and Calum with their own girls. I laughed and continued leading her towards the back exit.

“I think they’ll be okay,” I said, opening the door.

I went through the alley, leading her to the other street so the paparazzi wouldn’t see us. We waited patiently for the car to show up, our hands intertwined while we did. I felt the electricity thrumming through my body with every passing moment. I opened the door to the townhouse, leading her into her own room. We stopped just taking in the moment and looking at each other.

“So are we doing this? Like being together?” I asked suddenly nervous now that we were alone.

“I want to,” she said, taking my hands in hers.

“Yeah?” I asked, moving just a little closer to her.

“Yes. I wanna be with you,” she said, leaning on me to take off her heels.

“I’m already yours,” I said, bringing my hand to her cheek.

She smiled making my heart pick up speed again. I leant down, connecting our lips and feeling those fireworks yet again. It was everything I needed in that moment and as long as I could keep this feeling around, I could get through anything.

GUYS THEY ACTUALLY KISSED! AREN’T YOU HAPPY THAT I MADE THEM KISS? BECAUSE I AM.

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