#He really seemed like a functional grownup these first three episodes

[ladyjotei]

@unhingedpirates -

#can't believe frenchie was coping with it better than jim#and here i thought he would be the most traumatized baby on that ship

Frenchie's guide to deal with trauma:

[mskathywriteswords]

Cupcakes at Midnight - Chapter 2

No warnings this chapter.

I look at myself in the mirror, wondering where all the years have gone. It feels like last week I was a blushing bride, and yesterday I was picking up the pieces from a failed marriage. But it's been over a decade.

My phone is in the kitchen, I left it there purposely so that I wouldn't obsess over looking at it every five seconds.

Instead, I go through my regular nighttime routine, taking my time with each step. The normalcy of it comforts me. I can pretend that I'm not freaking out on the inside. I scoop the cat litter and refill his water as he meows, begging like he's never been fed before.

I walk back and look at the cupcakes. The cinnamon crunch is gone, of course, but the other three still intrigue me. I've never even heard of some of the flavor combinations Ava's made for me. But I want to try them.

The thought of putting them in my mouth makes me blush, which is ridiculous because surely I'm a grownup who can think dirty things without a childish reaction. I close my eyes and slide my tongue across the silky frosting. The tang of raspberry rises up and makes my mouth water even more. I'm about to dive in to the cake part of the cupcake when I notice my phone lighting up and buzzing.

Ivy must be late night texting me, maybe she's fighting with Matt again. I swear, I don't know if those two will make it to their actual wedding.

But there is a tinge of hope that it's not Ivy.

After debating forcing myself to wait longer to check, I pick the phone up and click the button on the side so I can preview the message.

It's from her.

What if she texted back to ask me to stop texting?

That would be dumb, since she's the one that gave me her number, right?

What if she says it was all a mistake and that note was meant for Ivy? That would make sense; Ivy is gorgeous and statuesque, and ... not me.

But she didn't give Ivy the box of cupcakes, did she?

I drive myself crazy with what-ifs, so I just open the text.

I'm so happy to hear from you. What are you up to tonight? Hope it's not too late to text

I start to tap out a reply, then delete it. Maybe I should wait until tomorrow to reply? Then I realize her message was blue, meaning she'd see the three dots if she happened to be looking at her phone.

And either way, even if it was only going to be a friendship, did I really want to wait and play games? Wasn't I done with all of that?

Another exciting Friday night, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch watching Netflix, very much enjoying these cupcakes. Thank you again. And no, not too late to text - I use the quiet functions once I go to sleep, so you're good to text me anytime

I smile, hoping I'm coming across as genuinely as I feel. When I see the three dots pop up on her side of the screen, my smile grows.

What's on your current to-binge list? Glad you're enjoying the cupcakes. Thank you for inspiring them

Thank god she's a text-in-complete-words person.

Before I walk back to the couch, I pour myself another cup of tea and eye the last two cupcakes. How many cupcakes was too many in one night? I shrug and grab the orange-swirled one.

Well, right now I'm in the middle of Derry Girls. Still have to catch up on Handmaid's on Hulu, but that won't be until after I get through a few (probably boring) documentaries.

Instead of clicking the phone off, I set it on the arm of the couch, face up, so I can see if she replies again. Maybe my TV choices would make her realize how utterly snooze-y my life is.

OMG, which epi of HT are you on? Haven't seen DG, good?

We exchange texts for a few hours, discussing different movies and tv series, finding common likes and dislikes. By the time I yawn for the first time, finally acknowledging how tired I am, I realize it's past 3 am.

Holy shit, I have to get to bed soon. Will you be around tomorrow?

Jane from five years ago would have thought it was being very forward of me to ask, but right-now Jane is enjoying the conversation and ready for more from life.

I will. Any chance we could continue this conversation in person?

I tap out my reply before I even have time to think it through or be too self-conscious.

Absolutely

Awesome. Let's play it by ear, but I'll see you tomorrow, J

The temptation to leave it there gets over-ruled by my giddy, smooshy feelings.

Goodnight. Sweet dreams

That's the last reply in the series, and I set my phone on the nightstand, long ago having moved to bed to charge my phone. I roll to my side and think about what tomorrow will bring. Cat curls up at my feet and makes his displeasure that we're all still awake very well known. My eyes can barely stay open, but my brain is a freight train of excitement.

The next morning, I debate what "too early" to text would be. I don't want to seem overly eager, but I don't want to intentionally withhold a message just to play some weird unwritten rule game.

I get my laundry done, sweep the kitchen, and putter as much as I can, until finally around mid-day, my phone chirps. Cat looks up at me, ever-annoyed that his nap has been interrupted.

Beer, pizza, and extraordinarily dark dystopian future tv watching?

I shake my head and laugh.

What could make for a better Saturday night?

I can think of a few things. For now, it sounds pretty good, right? Wanna meet at your place? Is that too weird / too soon?

Was that a date? Meeting at my place to watch tv?

Sure, not too soon at all. What time?

We make plans for a few hours later, and I'm still unsure if it's a date, but I decide it doesn't matter. I want more fun in my life, so even if we just hang out and get to know each other better, wasn't that the point?

When the doorbell rings, I practically jump out of the chair. I open the door, and Ava looks like she's just come from some punk band concert that would be way too cool for me to even consider. I laugh to myself.

"Hey, come in."

Her hands are full, but she makes her way past me, finding the kitchen immediately.

"I wasn't sure what pizza toppings you like? I don't know how we didn't discuss that. But I went with half cheese, half pepperoni, just to be safe. Sound okay?"

She smiles and a part of me wants to melt at how genuine it is.

"Yeah, sounds great. I'll just grab plates. Do you need a fork and knife?"

The look on her face is absolutely fucking priceless.

"A fork and knife? For what?"

"Oh man, Ivy is so funny, she had me convinced for a while that everyone eats pizza with a fork and knife. Thank god it's just her. I was starting to question everything about my twenties."

"No way. Pizza is a single hand, no utensil kind of food. That's part of what makes it so perfect. I wasn't sure what kind of beer you drink, so I just got something generic."

We open our cans and take them, the pizza, and a roll of paper towels to the coffee table. Between bites, we talk about the season of the show and how we each think it's going; we make predictions on where it might end up. Then finally, when the pizza is gone and we're left with just awkward silence, we put the show on.

I can see Ava looking around my apartment as we watch, maybe trying to learn things about my life? Her eyes are on a particular frame over my fireplace.

"That's my niece, Hailey," I say, smiling.

We're sitting across the couch from each other; not too far, but not too close. Cat was always between us, annoyingly adorable as ever.

"Do you have any siblings?"

She smiles. "Nope. Only child."

"Does that get lonely? I bet it was glorious growing up. No one to fight with for the TV remote, or what kind of pizza to have."

Ava shrugs and smiles, then turns her attention back to the TV. Her body had been angled toward mine, but she shifts, and then scoots closer. Horrible things happen on the show in front of us, but right in the room? She laces her fingers through mine and my whole body warms.

Is this what it's supposed to feel like?

A few hours, laughs, and cupcakes later, the sun has set and we're several episodes into another series. I'm surprised when Ava gets up, yawning. Her arms go over her head as she stretches, and I swear I almost die when I see a sliver of her skin between her shirt and pants.

"I open the bakery in a few hours. I'm sorry, I'm terrible company right now. I probably haven't said ten words in the last hour."

"No need to apologize," I say, standing and touching her arm. "You've been great company. I feel bad I've been keeping you. You were up so late last night, too. All my fault." I laugh, trying to downplay my disappointment that the night is ending.

"Mutual blame," she says, smiling and tugging my arm. It could be a friendly gesture, the hug, but I can't help but hope it's the beginning of something more than a friendship.

[pug-bitch]

That’s not why I’m going (10)

Especially when it comes to your heart

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Drake Walker x Amara Suarez

Rating: some foul language, some extremely suggestive, some steamy flashbacks. This is NOT appropriate for people under 18.

Word count: 3,850 (let me know if the ‘keep reading’ cutoff isn’t working well!)

Notes: This relates the aftermath of Drake and Amara’s (Dramara? I’m taking a page out of @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria ‘s book for couples’ names :)) first time having sex. It starts with Drake’s POV, the next morning.

Also, I’ve been writing like a crazy person this weekend but, full disclosure, I’m about to have a pretty insane work week, so it might be a few days until I post Part 11. That being said, I have a very precise plan for it, so stay tuned! The next episode is also when shit gets real, so...there’s that :D

*****

‘Earth to Drake?’

He shakes it off, and realizes Liam is offering him another croissant. ‘Oh, yeah, thanks.’

Liam was right. Drake hadn’t touched Earth ever since last night. He couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing night he’d had with Amara, and flashbacks were populating his mind, preventing him from being a functional member of this group breakfast. He thought of the closeness they’d shared the night before, when they made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms, spent and satisfied. He thought of Amara’s alarm waking them up at 5.30, and how they’d made love again, lazily, all the while waking up together. He thought of the taste of her kiss, the touch of her hands, the feel of her body against his. He thought of her, persuading him to take a shower together, to prolong their togetherness. He thought of how they had made love again in the shower, Amara bent over against the wall, and Drake sliding inside her, again and again--

‘Walker, wake up. People are trying to talk to you.’

Olivia’s curt wake up call had shaken him back on track. He passes the jam to Hana, as she had been waiting for it for a good two minutes, while Drake was replaying his and Amara’s double morning sex in his mind. He blushes, acutely aware of the inappropriateness of the situation, but as soon as he makes eye contact with Amara, he realizes she is probably feeling the same way, as the embarrassed but cheeky look on her face betrays.

They all share breakfast, coffee, and stories in the grand salon, by the fireplace. This place is nice, he thinks. Luxurious, yes, but rustic. Everyone is in good spirits, except maybe Maxwell, who seems less enthusiastic than usual. Drake feels grateful for him today though, since his text telling Amara that he’d meet her directly downstairs this morning allowed them to have extra time together.

‘So,’ Olivia announces, ‘today I would like to take everyone on a tour of the grounds, and then I would be happy to invite Prince Liam to a private lunch with me, before we all reconvene to ski a bit more in the afternoon. Tonight, I have a special wine tasting and dinner planned for all of us. While Liam and I are at lunch, my staff will be at your complete disposal should you need anything.’

Everyone thanks her and agrees to the plans, except Liam, who interrupts: ‘Thank you, Lady Olivia, I gladly accept your lunch invitation. However, as far as the tour goes, I’m going to need a raincheck. I need to speak to Drake, maybe the two of us will go for a walk. But please, everyone enjoy the tour and I will see everybody on the slopes.’

Uh oh, Drake thinks. What is that all about? Maybe Liam just needs a breather, but somehow, he has trouble believing that things would be exactly like they used to be.

On their way out, Drake wonders if Liam can tell that he just spent the night with Amara. Does he smell like her? No, he showered. But, he showered with her, so… But how would Liam know Amara’s smell? After all, given his obsession with her, he had probably sent someone to steal one of her shirts to smell as he falls asleep at night.

Alright, he needs to play it cool. He already had growing feelings for Amara the last time he had a heart to heart with Liam, and it went ok. Well, he had called Liam out on his entitlement, but he had kept everything else together. But now, the stakes had skyrocketed since last night.

He realizes he was stuck in his head again, and Liam waves in his face for him to start listening.

‘Drake, is everything ok? I just wanted to make sure you and I were good. You’ve been acting weird.’

Oh, so that was that. ‘I’m fine, Li. I promise.’

‘Good. I’ve been doing some thinking. You were right about me being pushy towards Amara. She did seem distant last time, on our one-on-one, and I guarantee you that it’s because, well...you were right. I summoned her, and that was wrong of me. So, I’m gonna try and play it cool.’

‘Good. I’m glad to hear this.’

‘I mean, I said I’ll try. I’m crazy about her, Drake. She’s...something else, you know?’

Oh, he knew. ‘Yeah. She’s pretty cool.’ Understatement of the year. He tries not to think of her arched back, as she was riding him slowly, this morning.

Liam pauses for a long time, and seems to be looking for the right words. ‘I heard that you two are getting to know each other.’

Drake’s heart threatens to jump out of his chest. Holy shit. ‘Um,’ he hesitates, ‘what do you mean?’

‘Oh, just that Bastien saw you two at a bar a few days ago. I’m glad she is surrounded with people who are making her feel welcome.’

Drake gulps. This is not the moment to fuck up. ‘Yeah, she was bummed out when I bumped into her that day, she missed New York and her family. She asked if I knew of any bars, so I took her to one.’ He’d made this sound as natural as possible.

‘I’m glad. She is not used to this setting, and you are probably the one person who can understand this the most. I’m glad you guys are friends. You’d say you’re friends, right?’

This felt like a trap. ‘Yeah. She’s nice and really funny. I could see us becoming friends.’ Friends who go down on each other, maybe.

Liam smiles. ‘That’s great. Just one thing, Drake.’

Uh oh. ‘Yeah?’

‘Next time you sneak her out, don’t keep it a secret. I’d rather hear it from you than from my bodyguard.’

Drake wanted to open his mouth and say a whole bunch of things. Like, what the hell, Liam. She doesn’t belong to you. She’s a grownup and she doesn’t need anyone tracking her movements. Or maybe, fuck you Liam, I’m falling in love with her and we’re gonna run away together. But he knew that House Beaumont was on the line, and that Amara felt guilty enough about deceiving Maxwell in particular. This was not the moment to blow up. If he stayed quiet for a little bit longer, they could find a way to be together, maybe. So, he kept his mouth shut, and once again, nodded at what his childhood friend wanted him to do.

*****

‘How do you like Lythikos, Suarez?’

Olivia and Amara had stuck around after the tour, sipping on another coffee on the patio, wrapped up in their winter coats and hats.

‘It’s gorgeous, Olivia, really.’

Olivia gives her a knowing smirk. ‘Did you guys bone?’

Amara nearly chokes on her coffee. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Oh please, cut the crap. I’m the one who arranged for the isolated rooms. I deserve some details.’

Amara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She looks around, making sure no one can hear, and whispers, ‘It was fucking amazing.’

Olivia smirks some more, and says ‘Glad to hear that. How many times?’

‘Oh, come on. You can’t be serious.’

‘Do you want me to take your lock away?’

‘Three.’

Olivia nods in sign of respect. ‘Good. Enjoy the privacy tonight, too. I suppose Drake told you about my reasons? I don’t want you to believe I’m just doing this out of the goodness of my heart.’ She uses air quotes around the words ‘goodness’ and ‘heart’, which Amara finds very much on brand.

‘Yeah, he did. So, you want Liam that bad, huh?’

Olivia remains silent, looking at a distant point in the sky.

‘Olivia? Do you have feelings for him?’

She snorts. ‘As if I’m going to tell you that.’

‘Come on. If you tell me, I’ll give you one more detail about last night.’

‘Oh please, I’m not that desperate. Plus, I don’t want any graphic details about Walker’s dick, thank you very much.’

Amara laughs, and is immediately transported in her daydreams again. Oh, she’s got graphic details for days.

Olivia gives in and continues: ‘Liam has always been there for me. I’ve always envisioned myself with him, that’s all. When my mind is set on something, I don’t let it get away from me. I don’t give up.’

Amara doesn’t know what to say. She understands what Olivia is saying, of course. Plus, she’d heard from Maxwell about her tragic childhood, with her parents dying when she was five. Of course she would value her relationships with the people who’d supported her. But it broke her heart to think that Liam was visibly taking Olivia for granted, when she was a complete badass and a stunning woman. ‘I get it. But, forgive me for saying this, have you thought of, you know, meeting other people, and seeing what your options are? Anyone would be lucky to have you, Olivia, so I don’t think you should limit yourself to waiting for one man.’

Olivia looks straight in her eyes, and Amara feels like an icicle is burning through her skull. Shit, she should have kept her mouth shut. ‘What do you think I am, a pathetic virgin waiting for her prince? I fuck my bodyguard every day,’ she says while gesturing to the hunk of a man who’s sitting in the next room, at a safe distance.

‘Oh. Um, good, he’s, um, very hot. But that’s not what I meant. You make yourself available for Liam, when he’s holding a competition for his hand. Men should be lining up for your hand, Liv.’

Olivia pauses, seemingly taking in what she’s hearing. ‘Touché. You’re right, they should.’

They drink their coffee in silence, until Olivia breaks the ice and asks: ‘Why do you dislike Liam so much?’

Amara, slightly taken aback, replies: ‘Oh. I don’t dislike him. I actually really liked him when we first met, I thought he was genuine, nice, and funny. I was not attracted to him, but--’

‘So, why are you here?’

Oh, the million dollar question. ‘Olivia, I--’

‘No, that’s ok, don’t answer. As I told you before, I know it’s complicated, I can tell.’

Amara takes a deep breath. ‘I liked him in a genuine, friendly way, and the night I met all of the guys, I felt really good, really alive for the first time in...two years. Max inviting me to Cordonia was the push I needed to leave my shitty life behind. I can’t even call it my old life, because the life I was living in NYC for the past two years wasn’t even my life, it was a fabricated, shell of a life I had imposed on myself. Meeting the guys shook me out of it a little. Showed me I was still fun, still spontaneous. Showed me I could turn my life around if I wanted.’

She realizes she had said all that in one single breath. She finally exhales.

Olivia gives her an honest smile, and Amara wonders if she’d ever seen her really smile before. ‘I get it, Amara. Now, the circumstances are different.’

‘Exactly. In New York, Liam was a nice, potential friend I had just met. He was fun, friendly, and pleasant to be around. But here, I don’t know. He’s very pushy with me, tricks me into meeting him in the gardens, and I feel very guilty every time I push him away. I also think he acts in a very shitty way with you and with Drake, taking both of you for granted. So, yeah, maybe I’m growing to dislike him, in his natural habitat.’

Olivia chuckles. ‘He’s not always like that, you know.’

‘Oh, I can imagine. I trust your judgment, and Drake’s. If you both see something in him, I don’t doubt that he’s a good guy. I’m sure he’s under a lot of pressure right now. I’m also aware that I’m not being honest with him, and if I could tell him the truth, maybe we could be actual friends and bond in an honest manner.’

Olivia nods and ponders. ‘That’s fair.’ She looks at her watch. ‘Oh, I have to meet him soon, I need to go reapply some lipstick, if you’ll excuse me.’

‘Of course. Thanks for the chat.’

‘Anytime.’ Olivia pauses, walks away, and turns back around. She grabs her cup of coffee, and puts her hand on Amara’s arm. ‘I enjoyed our talk, Detective.’

*****

Amara was still shaking. How much did Olivia know? Had she just googled her quickly and found her NYU Alumni page, or had she been digging deeper? Knowing Olivia, it was probably the latter. Amara wasn’t ready for everything to come out; she had considered talking to Drake about it, especially since he had seen her cry and knew more or less about Michael, but talking to other people, no, that was not an option.

She was walking aimlessly through the hallway when she saw Maxwell heading to the dining room.

‘Hey Maxwell!’ she says, trying to forget about the end of her conversation with Olivia.

‘Hi, Amara’, he said flatly with a weak smile.

Huh, she thinks. This doesn’t look like Maxwell at all. ‘Are you ok, Max?’

He opens his mouth, but then closes it.

‘Max, you’re scaring me. Are you feeling ok? Did you have another fight with Bertrand?’

He looks around, seems to ponder a response, and asks ‘Is it just a fling?’

Boom. Second hit of the day. And to think she had been actually excited to get up this morning, after the amazing night she’d had. She didn’t feel like playing coy with Maxwell, who had been such a strong support, on all fronts. ‘No. How about we get some food and go talk in my room?’

Maxwell nods, and they head to the kitchen.

Once safely in Amara’s room, they plop down on the bed and on the loveseat respectively, and as Maxwell pecks timidly at his food, Amara goes for it. ‘How do you know?’

He sighs. ‘I came to talk to Drake last night and um...I heard you guys.’

Amara’s eyes fill with tears. She feels bad for her friend, who had trusted her. ‘I’m so sorry you had to find out like that, Maxwell. Truly.’

‘How long has it been going on?’

‘Um...I’m not sure, but about a week, I’d say.’

He nods, and offers a faint smile. ‘Do you like him?’

Amara’s face instantly lights up. ‘Yes. I really, really do.’

‘So, I suppose the competition is over for you?’

‘Maxwell, that’s not what I said. I don’t want to let you down--’

‘I’m gonna stop you right there.’ He comes to sit right by her on the bed and takes her hand. ‘You have zero obligation towards me, especially when it comes to your heart. I have no intention of pimping you out to Liam against your will, Amara. It actually hurts that you’ve been thinking that I would.’

‘I didn’t think that exactly, but I have to admit, what prevented me from being honest is that, well, you and Bertrand especially have been telling me that I’m House Beaumont’s last chance, so--’

Max interrupts, his head in his hands. ‘Oh my God, I had no idea we were getting into your head like that. Of course you have no obligation, Amara. If you want to withdraw, you can, and we’ll find a solution for House Beaumont.’

‘Actually, I think withdrawing would be a mistake. Hear me out.’

Amara explains everything to Maxwell: how she doesn’t want to ruin Liam and Drake’s friendship, and how she believes that everyone will benefit from Liam choosing someone else. If she just keeps a low profile, maybe Olivia, or even Madeleine, can be Queen, but House Beaumont’s sponsored suitor remains respectable and she can help Maxwell and Bertrand raise funds when the competition is over. She lays out her plan, explaining to him that Drake has a business degree and could take a look at their finances even, but Maxwell refuses point blank.

‘Ok to a low profile. I’ll stop pushing one-on-one dates with Liam. If he chooses you, you turn him down. That way, maybe we can play on a loophole, and the Crown can still sponsor the House. If he chooses someone else, then you’re free.’

‘Deal. And I promise I’ll help you guys out. What matters now is that we keep playing along. Now that I’ve gotten to know Olivia better, I can even help her have alone time with Liam, kind of like sabotaging myself by allowing her to tag along. What do you say?’

Maxwell regains his composure, or rather, his usual excitedness. ‘That would work. OMG Amara, I’m loving the scheming! I have to say, I was really hurt that this all happened behind my back, but I understand your reasons. One more thing though, um�� I don’t know how to ask you this…’

Amara laughs heartily, and hugs her friend. ‘Don’t worry Max, I won’t say a word to Bertrand.’

He hugs her back, sighing with relief. ‘Oh thank God.’

*****

Drake had always enjoyed the outdoors, especially on a gorgeous day like this one. Hard to believe there was a blizzard just yesterday; now the snowy clouds had given way to a beautiful blue sky. He was trying to relax on a quick hike and get all of the day’s stressful interactions out of his head. Amara had texted him earlier to say that Maxwell knew and was supportive, thankfully. But now, he had no idea how to handle the rest of them.

He almost turns around when he sees Liam and Madeleine talking together, walking in the opposite direction. But it’s too late, Liam has seen him. ‘Drake! Where are you headed?’

‘Oh, just stretching my legs before the wine tasting. Is it time to head back already?’

‘No, you’ve got time.’ Liam flashes a smile. ‘Where’s everyone else, do you know?’

‘Yeah, I was just with Max and Amara, they’re skating with Hana I think, she’s teaching them some moves.’

‘Good, let’s go see what they’re up to, shall we, Lady Madeleine?’

Madeleine plasters on a fake smile and replies ‘Of course, I’d be delighted to.’

Ugh. He waves goodbye and continues walking away. He truly cannot stand Madeleine. He’d always known that she was a fake friend to Savannah, who looked at her like she was a fucking work of art and a fabulous mentor. Of course she would never listen to him when he told her to watch her back. Although it was obvious that he hadn’t told her in the most diplomatic way... Drake was convinced that Madeleine had been the worst to Savannah, among the fake people at court. Plus, the very fact that she was here, competing for Liam’s hand when, just last year, she was engaged to be married to his brother, showed that all she cares about is the crown. And yet, Liam had to entertain her and act as if he were into her. Well, ‘had to’... Liam liked pleasing people, which Drake had never understood, but of course it came with the job description; you can’t be a prince and tell people to fuck off.

His phone buzzes in his pocket. He removes his gloves to retrieve it, and sure enough, a text from Amara.

Oh no, Madeleine is coming my way. Send help.

He chuckles. He imagines her sneaking away to send an illicit text, and this little forbidden gossip session feels incredibly warm and intimate.

He replies promptly.

Uh oh, that one might be on me, Suarez. I bumped into her and Liam and told them you guys were skating. I owe you big time…

The dots appear. She’s typing. God, this feels nice. Drake finds a small boulder to sit on while he’s waiting for her message. He takes in the gorgeous view. Things could be a lot worse.

OMG Walker, you DO owe me big time. I’ll think of a way you can repay me…

Heh, he thinks. It took only two texts for their exchange to become suggestive. They truly were still enmeshed in one another, even in the middle of all these people, with all these responsibilities… He had thought of her all day. He had loved every interaction with her, even pulled off some sneaky hand holding at times. Easy to do when you’re skating.

I’m sure you’ll find a way. I’m at your entire disposal, Detective.

The dots appear, then disappear. Then appear again, and vanish one more time. Oh no, had she gotten caught by Madeleine? That one was always on the prowl for some scandal to reveal, they would have to tread lightly. Finally, a message appears.

Speaking of Detective...I forgot to tell you with all that Maxwell drama, but Olivia knows about my old job. I don’t know how that might affect me, but it freaks me out.

Shit. Liv might have been super understanding about the two of them, but he knew how private Amara is with her past. This can’t be good, right?

Damn, I’m sorry. Are you ok? Any idea how she found out?

More dots.

No clue. I’m assuming she googled me, Madeleine asked me what I studied in college and where, so maybe she found me on the NYU Alumni network?

Shit. If Olivia was digging dirt, then maybe Madeleine was doing the same? There was nothing wrong with Amara having been a part of the NYPD, but she didn’t want to talk about it. And it was stressing her out. So, he types one last message.

On my way back, Suarez. I’ll be here soon, don’t go anywhere.

*****

Amara was grateful for Drake rejoining the group. She felt bad about cutting their sexting short, but when he called her Detective, she suddenly remembered Olivia’s revelation that she knew about her past. She had to remain calm about it, though. No need to freak out. It was Olivia, who had never done anything against her. She didn’t call her ‘Detective’ in a threatening way, just a playful throwaway at the end of a conversation. Did she aim to throw Amara off? Absolutely. But did she mean her any harm? Amara highly doubted it; she had come to trust Olivia’s judgment, so she would have to continue trusting it for now. Nothing she could do. She also didn’t want to ruin her last night in Lythikos with Drake.

Speaking of, here he was, walking back quickly towards the frozen lake. Amara gestures for him to join her on the side, where she was watching the others from.

‘Hey,’ he says, slightly out of breath from power walking in the snow. ‘Are you ok?’

‘Yeah, don’t worry. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. I’ll figure it out.’

He smiles at her, almost leans in to kiss her, visibly forgetting their surroundings. He catches himself and awkwardly runs his hand through his hair, removing his hat. ‘I wish I could kiss you,’ he whispers.

‘Me too. Later, though. I’m excited about the wine tasting.’ She inches closer and whispers ‘I’m very uninhibited when I have wine.’

He looks at her hungrily and smiles. ‘Good. Me too.’

*****

Taglist:

@andy-loves-corgis , @drakewalkerwhipped , @drakxwalker , @drakewalkerrosenberg , @drakeswalkers , @drakelover78 , @silviasutton1989 , @jovialyouthmusic , @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria , @mariahschoices , @drakesensworld , @thequeenofcronuts , @notoriouscs , @drakewalkerisreal , @nikkis1983​ , @simsvetements , @alesana45

Thank you for your encouragements, everyone! Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist :)

[aion-rsa]

WandaVision Episode 3 Theories Explained

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This article contains spoilers for WandaVision episodes 1-3, and the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The internet is full of places to go and thrash it out with likeminded overthinkers if you become obsessed with a particular TV show. Lost, Breaking Bad, Twin Peaks and Game of Thrones all boasted thriving fan communities who had a blast dreaming up theories about where their series’ story was heading. Now, Marvel’s WandaVision has tapped into the natural curiosity of viewers with its wall-to-wall Easter eggs and mysterious MCU nods, and people have gone full ‘It’s Always Sunny red string meme’ over them.

You don’t need to dig too far to find comment sections, YouTube videos and Reddit threads jam-packed with theories about WandaVision, so we’ve been mulling over what might be going on beneath the surface.

Here are some of the most intriguing fan theories about WandaVision, three episodes in…

Online Catch

Just as Ultron’s consciousness could escape into the internet during Avengers: Age of Ultron, a developing WandaVision theory posits that Vision didn’t exactly ‘die’ by Thanos (and Wanda’s) hand in Avengers: Infinity War, but found a safe space to hide online instead, much like JARVIS did after Ultron destroyed him in the lab.

By creating a new reality stitched together from old TV sitcoms and potentially using the late Tony Stark’s burgeoning BARF tech, Wanda may have found a way to slowly bring Vision back to his body without the Mind Stone as an essential component – hey, Shuri thought was an option – but if these efforts to retrieve Vision from the internet are all above board, why is SWORD so desperate to get information on what’s happening inside Wanda’s Westview nook?

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 10

Camp Lehigh

Camp Lehigh has popped up in the MCU a fair few times so far. The New Jersey military base was where Captain America trained in the 1940s, has been a SHIELD facility, a HYDRA hub, and a storage home for the Tesseract. Lehigh even housed Arnim Zola’s brain after his body died. Since Westview is supposedly in New Jersey, is it really Camp Lehigh?

There’s a theory that after the Avengers compound was destroyed during Avengers: Endgame, Wanda may have been taken to a hastily-rebuilt Camp Lehigh in the midst of her grief, eventually constructing a forcefield around an altered version of it at some point and shutting out SWORD, hence SWORD’s continuing efforts to penetrate it.

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 8

Power Swap

Some viewers were puzzled by Vision’s accelerated speed when he flipped through the playing cards during his magic act in episode 2 and when he ran to get the doctor in episode 3, which we haven’t really seen before as part of his powers. Vision can phase through matter, and can also fly at an accelerated speed, but these moments felt more Quicksilver-ish in their nature. Has Wanda or whoever is behind the creation of Westview pieced this new version of Vision together with shattered memories of others that she’s loved and lost?

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 8

Welcome to Skrullville

Wanda’s Westview neighbors may not be willing or able to reveal their true nature yet, but some people are wondering whether they will turn out to be a gang of shapeshifting Skrulls, just like Ben Mendelsohn’s Captain Marvel character, Talos. How the Skrulls could have possibly become roped into the scenario is currently anyone’s guess, but we do know the alien race will play a pivotal role in Marvel’s upcoming Nick Fury-centric Disney+ series, Secret Invasion.

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 7

Young Avengers

Now that Wanda’s twins could conceivably grow up to become their Wiccan and Speed comics counterparts, it may be a chance for Marvel to pave the way for Young Avengers, a team whose line-up has previously included Kate Bishop (soon to be introduced in Disney+ series Hawkeye), Cassie Lang (Ant-Man’s now-grownup daughter) and America Chavez (already reportedly cast in Doctor Strange in the Multitude of Madness). We wrote more about Billy and Tommy, and what they could mean for the MCU, right here.

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 5

The Butterfly Effect

We’ve been told that WandaVision will set up the events of Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so fans have been keeping their eyes peeled for ties to Strange’s comics history and his MCU story so far. Episode 3 seemed to make a couple of nods to the good Doctor – after Westview’s OB-GYN Dr. Nielson checks on Wanda’s pregnancy progress, Vision assures him he has nerves of steel, and calls him “Mr. Doctor”, a callback to Strange’s banter with villain Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen).

There are also the butterflies that materialize as Wanda is preparing to give birth to her twins, one of which lands on Vision and looks very similar to the first ‘out of place’ thing Strange sees after he’s taken on a mind-melting tour of the multiverse by The Ancient One in Doctor Strange. As he heads up into the Earth’s atmosphere, Strange notices a single butterfly remarkably like those that flutter into Wanda’s nursery, and when The Ancient One begins to talk Strange through opening his mind’s eye, she asks “What is real? What mysteries lie beyond the reach of your senses? At the root of existence, mind and matter meet. Thoughts shape reality.” Hmm…

Rewatched Doctor Strange and noticed something…..interesting from WANDAVISION

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 5

Westview Is Mephisto’s Womb

There’s a theory flying around online that Westview is acting as a kind of mystical womb that will eventually give birth to a fully-realised Mephisto in our world. The Marvel Comics villain and all-around pain in the ass has already been teased in a trailer for Disney+’s Loki series, but may first come to fruition inside Wanda’s powerful-but-twisted reality.

A specific creature has featured in each episode of WandaVision so far. Some fans think these are Mephisto’s evolving “animal stages” – first appearing as a lobster to represent “mating for life” (they don’t, but sitcom Friends played a large part in the myth), a rabbit representing reproduction, and a stork manifesting during the “birth” stage of episode 3. Will Wanda and Vision get a young puppy in the next episode? Probably!

An trailer image from a future episode of WandaVision, where you can see a doghouse marked “Sparky”

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 5

Hawkeye Will Save the Day

Apart from Vision, Clint Barton is the Avenger with the closest relationship to Wanda. He inspired her to take action and fight her way through her fear during the final battle with Ultron and his hoards in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and it was Clint who came to her aid when Tony Stark put her under house arrest in Captain America: Civil War.

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At the time, Tony took his frustrations out on Steve for helping to concoct the plan to pull Wanda out, saying Steve rescued Wanda “from a place she doesn’t even want to leave, a safe place.” Scarlet Witch didn’t take much convincing to leave the Avengers’ compound during Civil War, so Tony’s assertions felt off, but in WandaVision she genuinely doesn’t seem to want to leave her safe bubble.

Though many online rumors point to Doctor Strange facing off against Wanda at the end of the series, will Hawkeye actually be the one who breaks through to her?

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 5

No It’s Becky

It’s long been rumored that Evan Peters has a role in WandaVision. The actor continued to play the X-Men’s Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, long after the MCU had killed off its own version of the speedster at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Could WandaVision’s upcoming Roseanne homage be key to how Peters briefly enters the MCU?

If you recall, Roseanne Barr’s successful sitcom replaced her daughter Becky with another actress – Scrubs star Sarah Chalke – when original star Lecy Goranson left, and the audience was expected to accept it. With Wanda’s mind now lingering on the loss of her twin brother Pietro, this could be the kind of classic TV trope we could expect to see, and it would also be a fun-but-bittersweet appearance for Marvel fans who have probably seen the last of Peters as Quicksilver in the X-Men film franchise.

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 4

Ad Infinity

HYDRA has clearly been a factor in WandaVision’s commercial breaks, with the organization’s logo appearing during two of them so far, but what if the theme of the ads goes beyond its callback to Wanda’s pre-Age of Ultron experiments under HYDRA boss Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, and represents the unique capabilities of the Infinity Stones, too?

A growing swathe of MCU fans think the Stark toaster represents the Power Stone, the Strucker watch represents the Time Stone, and that the team behind WandaVision weren’t really hiding Hydra Soak’s likeness to the Space Stone/Tesseract during episode 3.

Post-Endgame, the stones were reduced to the atomic level by Thanos, but the Space Stone may still be out there in its Tesseract form thanks to Loki’s thieving hands. It can’t be a coincidence that Hydra Soak is the more fully-formed MacGuffin here, can it?

Is it just me or those the “Hydra Soak” look a lot like the tesseract… from WANDAVISION

Pinches of Paprika Out of Ten: 3

Have you heard any compelling new theories about WandaVision since episode 3 arrived? Let us know in the comments.

The post WandaVision Episode 3 Theories Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[authorkatwatson-blog]

Cupcakes at Midnight - Chapter 2

I look at myself in the mirror, wondering where all the years have gone. It feels like last week I was a blushing bride, and yesterday I was picking up the pieces from a failed marriage. But it’s been over a decade.

My phone is in the kitchen, I left it there purposely so that I wouldn’t obsess over looking at it every five seconds.

Instead, I go through my regular nighttime routine, taking my time with each step. The normalcy of it comforts me. I can pretend that I’m not freaking out on the inside. I scoop the cat litter and refill his water as he meows, begging like he’s never been fed before.

I walk back and look at the cupcakes. The cinnamon crunch is gone, of course, but the other three still intrigue me. I’ve never even heard of some of the flavor combinations Ava’s made for me. But I want to try them.

The thought of putting them in my mouth makes me blush, which is ridiculous because surely I’m a grownup who can think dirty things without a childish reaction. I close my eyes and slide my tongue across the silky frosting. The tang of raspberry rises up and makes my mouth water even more. I’m about to dive in to the cake part of the cupcake when I notice my phone lighting up and buzzing.

Ivy must be late night texting me, maybe she’s fighting with Matt again. I swear, I don’t know if those two will make it to their actual wedding.

But there is a tinge of hope that it’s not Ivy.

After debating forcing myself to wait longer to check, I pick the phone up and click the button on the side so I can preview the message.

It’s from her.

What if she texted back to ask me to stop texting?

That would be dumb, since she’s the one that gave me her number, right?

What if she says it was all a mistake and that note was meant for Ivy? That would make sense; Ivy is gorgeous and statuesque, and … not me.

But she didn’t give Ivy the box of cupcakes, did she?

I drive myself crazy with what-ifs, so I just open the text.

I’m so happy to hear from you. What are you up to tonight? Hope it’s not too late to text

I start to tap out a reply, then delete it. Maybe I should wait until tomorrow to reply? Then I realize her message was blue, meaning she’d see the three dots if she happened to be looking at her phone.

And either way, even if it was only going to be a friendship, did I really want to wait and play games? Wasn’t I done with all of that?

Another exciting Friday night, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch watching Netflix, very much enjoying these cupcakes. Thank you again. And no, not too late to text - I use the quiet functions once I go to sleep, so you’re good to text me anytime

I smile, hoping I’m coming across as genuinely as I feel.  When I see the three dots pop up on her side of the screen, my smile grows.

What’s on your current to-binge list? Glad you’re enjoying the cupcakes. Thank you for inspiring them

Thank god she’s a text-in-complete-words person.

Before I walk back to the couch, I pour myself another cup of tea and eye the last two cupcakes. How many cupcakes was too many in one night? I shrug and grab the orange-swirled one.

Well, right now I’m in the middle of Derry Girls. Still have to catch up on Handmaid’s on Hulu, but that won’t be until after I get through a few (probably boring) documentaries.

Instead of clicking the phone off, I set it on the arm of the couch, face up, so I can see if she replies again. Maybe my TV choices would make her realize how utterly snooze-y my life is.

OMG, which epi of HT are you on? Haven’t seen DG, good?

We exchange texts for a few hours, discussing different movies and tv series, finding common likes and dislikes. By the time I yawn for the first time, finally acknowledging how tired I am, I realize it’s past 3 am.

Holy shit, I have to get to bed soon. Will you be around tomorrow?

Jane from five years ago would have thought it was being very forward of me to ask, but right-now Jane is enjoying the conversation and ready for more from life.

I will. Any chance we could continue this conversation in person?

I tap out my reply before I even have time to think it through or be too self-conscious.

Absolutely

Awesome. Let’s play it by ear, but I’ll see you tomorrow, J

The temptation to leave it there gets over-ruled by my giddy, smooshy feelings.

Goodnight. Sweet dreams

That’s the last reply in the series, and I set my phone on the nightstand, long ago having moved to bed to charge my phone. I roll to my side and think about what tomorrow will bring. Cat curls up at my feet and makes his displeasure that we’re all still awake very well known. My eyes can barely stay open, but my brain is a freight train of excitement.

The next morning, I debate what “too early” to text would be. I don’t want to seem overly eager, but I don’t want to intentionally withhold a message just to play some weird unwritten rule game.

I get my laundry done, sweep the kitchen, and putter as much as I can, until finally around mid-day, my phone chirps. Cat looks up at me, ever-annoyed that his nap has been interrupted.

Beer, pizza, and extraordinarily dark dystopian future tv watching?

I shake my head and laugh.

What could make for a better Saturday night?

I can think of a few things. For now, it sounds pretty good, right? Wanna meet at your place? Is that too weird / too soon?

Was that a date? Meeting at my place to watch tv?

Sure, not too soon at all. What time?

We make plans for a few hours later, and I’m still unsure if it’s a date, but I decide it doesn’t matter. I want more fun in my life, so even if we just hang out and get to know each other better, wasn’t that the point?

When the doorbell rings, I practically jump out of the chair. I open the door, and Ava looks like she’s just come from some punk band concert that would be way too cool for me to even consider. I laugh to myself.

“Hey, come in.”

Her hands are full, but she makes her way past me, finding the kitchen immediately.

“I wasn’t sure what pizza toppings you like? I don’t know how we didn’t discuss that. But I went with half cheese, half pepperoni, just to be safe. Sound okay?”

She smiles and a part of me wants to melt at how genuine it is.

“Yeah, sounds great. I’ll just grab plates. Do you need a fork and knife?”

The look on her face is absolutely fucking priceless.

“A fork and knife? For what?”

“Oh man, Ivy is so funny, she had me convinced for a while that everyone eats pizza with a fork and knife. Thank god it’s just her. I was starting to question everything about my twenties.”

“No way. Pizza is a single hand, no utensil kind of food. That’s part of what makes it so perfect. I wasn’t sure what kind of beer you drink, so I just got something generic.”

We open our cans and take them, the pizza, and a roll of paper towels to the coffee table. Between bites, we talk about the season of the show and how we each think it’s going; we make predictions on where it might end up. Then finally, when the pizza is gone and we’re left with just awkward silence, we put the show on.

I can see Ava looking around my apartment as we watch, maybe trying to learn things about my life? Her eyes are on a particular frame over my fireplace.

“That’s my niece, Hailey,” I say, smiling.

We’re sitting across the couch from each other; not too far, but not too close. Cat was always between us, annoyingly adorable as ever.

“Do you have any siblings?”

She smiles. “Nope. Only child.”

“Does that get lonely? I bet it was glorious growing up. No one to fight with for the TV remote, or what kind of pizza to have.”

Ava shrugs and smiles, then turns her attention back to the TV. Her body had been angled toward mine, but she shifts, and then scoots closer. Horrible things happen on the show in front of us, but right in the room? She laces her fingers through mine and my whole body warms.

Is this what it’s supposed to feel like?

A few hours, laughs, and cupcakes later, the sun has set and we’re several episodes into another series. I’m surprised when Ava gets up, yawning. Her arms go over her head as she stretches, and I swear I almost die when I see a sliver of her skin between her shirt and pants.

“I open the bakery in a few hours. I’m sorry, I’m terrible company right now. I probably haven’t said ten words in the last hour.”

“No need to apologize,” I say, standing and touching her arm. “You’ve been great company. I feel bad I’ve been keeping you. You were up so late last night, too. All my fault.” I laugh, trying to downplay my disappointment that the night is ending.

“Mutual blame,” she says, smiling and tugging my arm. It could be a friendly gesture, the hug, but I can’t help but hope it’s the beginning of something more than a friendship.

[lupus11-blog1]

The Ultimate Purchasing Guide for the Perfect Foosball Table

Whenever I think about foosball tables, I recollect regarding episodes of Pals in Joey as well as Chandler's apartment or condo. "Good game" would be offered by Chandler upon the end of a played against his flatmate. The stars make playing the game seem so simple and I have desired a foosball table since their very first video game. Nonetheless, have you ever attempted to play a game of foosball? I was in a close friend's rec room one time, and also he had an excellent foosball table. My one pal and I acted to be Joey as well as Chandler playing foosball. Having actually never played previously, I had no idea exactly how challenging it was. Seeing the small round, moving the players passed away sideways and also having them kick forward as well as working as a goalkeeper. There are multiple consider acquiring a table, consisting of: Spending plan: If you typically aren't mosting likely to be playing that a lot, you should not be spending close to $1,000 or even more. Personally, I would not invest more than a few hundred. Casual gamers like myself could get away with a more affordable top quality table, which was among the figuring out elements for me. As a laid-back foosballer at parties, a $100-$ 500 table could be adequate. That's It For?: When I got my foosball table, I acquired it for my college buddies and also I. Recognizing the people I was mosting likely to be playing with, I didn't wish to purchase something too costly. If you're likewise a college youngster, I would not advise forking over $1,000 unless you're going to be developing an affordable as well as expert group. Constantly make certain to buy for individuals who will certainly be utilizing it most as well as keep in mind if they're harsh, or gentle. Table Material: My friends and I are a little bit rougher, which is why I went with the long lasting plastic. I was afraid that a wood table would be also easily scraped and something constructed from bit board would quickly damage. There are products on this checklist that have a particle board as their primary product. Gamers: The overall of males on the foosball table installation must be 11. While there may just be a few poles, we've been able to have a 2 versus 2 game of foosball. It's not always about 1v1 having fun. Size: There are many different dimensions available for foosball tables, as not every person is the same elevation. If you resemble me, a standard foosball table will be the only one that's best in elevation for you. A standard, complete foosball tables have to do with 2 1/2 feet in width with a length of 5 feet. For a regulation table, measurements are around 30" in width x 56" in length x 36" in elevation. Keep this in mind throughout your search. Goalies: For goalkeeper arrangement, there are 2 options. The initial being a solitary man goalkeeper system and also a 3-man goalie system. Anytime I would certainly play, I would certainly notice that the sphere would certainly jump and also strike the two outside guys, yet won't be anywhere near the objective. I after that recognized that these two men serve as players to keep the round moving as opposed to goalies. Prior to I made the large choice, I asked myself these concerns: 1. Exactly how little is my room? Because I really did not have a lot of room to spare, a large table had not been in my sights. This is why I bought a table top version. 2. Do I require a 1-man goalie arrangement or 3? Depending on your laid-back versus serious requirements, you might prefer one over the other. Constantly make sure to check the options for goalkeeper setup. I selected a three goalkeeper setup so it would certainly be a lot more enjoyable to maintain the round in play, rather than extremely competitive as well as not fun. Quality features that I searched for in my search was the dimension of the foosball table, the overall layout of this table, the assembly, as well as of course the evaluations. Thanks to confirmed evaluations, I was able to figure out which foosball table is best for my way of living. Pictures were likewise a fantastic deciding factor for me to locate if I enjoyed the looks of the foosball table. Private testimonials of each foosball table likewise helped me figure out the top quality of playing. Usually, clients remain in the market for a brand-new foosball table because theirs have actually either broken or have not stood up with the moments. While I was purchasing a foosball table for the first time, I understood the stress of being bewildered by the options. In evaluating the highest quality foosball tables on the contemporary market, I hope to assist you make a decision that will last you years to come. After looking for the various sorts of foosball tables, I stumbled upon both types of grades for foosball tables. These qualities are known as house models and also specialist versions, although several of the "house models" are constructed to specialist grade criteria. Tables like this are offered at a customer degree however are a bit pricier, something I had not been incredibly interested in, but wanted to experiment with. Higher quality, professional tables will include more functions like the levelers and also score systems that I pointed out previously. Precision is an essential factor in playing foosball efficiently. Any floor covering that isn't really flat will certainly have an extreme impact on tables without levelers. If you're someone who does not take shedding quickly similar to myself, you want the playing field to be as fair as feasible. Because I reside in a home near my university school, it's an older home. Considering that it is older, I most absolutely had to search for a table with some sort of levelling system. Levelers play a significant function in the success of an at-home table. By paying the additional to obtain more, I was able to guarantee that every person would certainly obtain a fair chance at winning. A primary distinction between all tables close to the measurements is the quantity of men they have on the area. As I mentioned, there's a tossup between a single-goalie system as well as a 3-man goalie system. This is just what made the difference in between "sold" as well as "no, thank you" for myself. For those who will not be making use of the foosball table a lot, yet want to have one for family events or university events like we've stated, I suggest that you acquire one that's more portable and much less about the expert quality. If you're buying it for the younger children at your household celebrations, a portable foosball table will certainly be enough. If your parties are anything like mine and mostly consist of fun as well as adventurous grownups that like foosball, I recommend acquiring a bigger table. In this scenario, the table could be put in the basement, garage or yard so it's not in your means, but easily obtainable. Selecting the most effective for Your Way of living For those with a reduced budget plan that doesn't have a height preference, the most effective foosball table for you might be the small, Sport Squad FX40. For a restricted time, it's on the less costly end. This remains in comparison with the greatest I've stated as well as enables you convenience in elevation. If you're planning to use a specialist grade table and also you do not have much of a budget plan, the very best foosball table for your demands is the Tornado Sport Foosball table. This table could be on the higher end of the rate range, yet the abundant mahogany will certainly last you for many years ahead and also allows you to choose the elevation.