#Heat Treated Glass Industry Opportunity

[tripncare]

Top Family-Friendly Activities in Dubai

Dubai is a haven for families, offering a mix of modern marvels, cultural experiences, and thrilling activities. With its sparkling skyline, golden beaches, and world-class attractions, Dubai ensures that travelers of all ages have a memorable time. Whether you're traveling with toddlers, teens, or multi-generational family members, this guide will take you through the best family-friendly activities in Dubai.

Why Dubai Is the Perfect Family Destination

Dubai's family-friendly nature lies in its ability to blend luxury and adventure with cultural and educational experiences. The city’s commitment to safety, impeccable infrastructure, and endless attractions make it an ideal vacation spot for families. From theme parks to desert safaris, Dubai has something for everyone.

Best Family-Friendly Activities in Dubai

1. Explore Dubai Parks and Resorts

Dubai Parks and Resorts is the ultimate entertainment destination for families. With three theme parks and one water park, it offers endless fun:

Motiongate Dubai: Inspired by Hollywood, this park brings animated movies to life with thrilling rides and character meet-and-greets.

Bollywood Parks: Experience India’s vibrant film industry with action-packed performances and rides.

Legoland Dubai: Perfect for kids aged 2-12, Legoland offers interactive rides and a Lego-themed water park.

2. Visit the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Located inside the Dubai Mall, this massive aquarium is home to thousands of marine animals, including sharks and rays. Families can:

Walk through the mesmerizing underwater tunnel.

Enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride.

Opt for interactive experiences like snorkeling or a shark encounter.

The aquarium also includes the Underwater Zoo, where kids can learn about marine ecosystems and see exotic creatures like penguins and crocodiles.

3. Desert Safari Adventures

A desert safari is a must-do activity in Dubai. Families can embark on a journey to the golden dunes and enjoy:

Dune Bashing: A thrilling ride over the sand dunes in a 4x4 vehicle.

Camel Rides: A traditional and kid-friendly experience.

Evening Entertainment: Enjoy cultural performances like Tanoura dancing and fire shows.

Most tours include a delicious BBQ dinner and stargazing opportunities for a magical night in the desert.

4. Discover Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden is a visual treat for all ages. This vast garden features:

Over 150 million flowers arranged in stunning patterns and shapes.

The world’s largest floral installation, including a life-sized Emirates A380 airplane.

Special zones like the Butterfly Garden, where children can interact with colorful butterflies.

The vibrant and enchanting setting makes it perfect for family photos and leisurely strolls.

5. Enjoy a Day at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Located at Atlantis, The Palm, this waterpark is a paradise for families. Highlights include:

Thrilling water slides like the Leap of Faith.

A dedicated kids' play area with splash zones.

Access to Dolphin Bay, where you can swim with dolphins.

A private beach to relax and unwind.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium, also part of the resort, offers an immersive underwater experience.

6. Ski Dubai: Snow in the Desert

At Ski Dubai in the Mall of the Emirates, families can experience snow-filled fun, even in the desert heat. Activities include:

Skiing and snowboarding on real snow slopes.

Tobogganing, snowball fights, and chairlift rides.

Meeting the adorable resident penguins during interactive sessions.

It’s an ideal escape from Dubai’s scorching weather.

7. Take a Cruise on Dubai Creek

A traditional dhow cruise on Dubai Creek offers a unique way to see the city. Families can enjoy:

Scenic views of old Dubai, including the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood.

A delicious buffet dinner with international cuisines.

Cultural performances, like traditional Arabic music and dance.

Daytime cruises often include stops at nearby souks, perfect for shopping and exploring.

8. Wander Through Global Village

Global Village is a seasonal attraction that combines culture, entertainment, and shopping. Families can:

Explore pavilions representing over 70 countries, each showcasing local crafts, cuisines, and performances.

Enjoy thrilling rides and games at the carnival section.

Watch spectacular live shows and fireworks displays.

The multicultural atmosphere makes it an enriching experience for kids and adults alike.

9. Experience KidZania at Dubai Mall

KidZania is an interactive edutainment center where children can role-play real-life professions. Kids can:

Become doctors, firefighters, chefs, or pilots in a realistic city setup.

Earn and spend “KidZos” currency to learn financial responsibility.

Participate in workshops and activities designed to develop skills and creativity.

Parents can relax at the lounge or shop while their children explore KidZania’s engaging world.

10. Soak Up the Sun at Jumeirah Beach

Dubai’s pristine beaches are perfect for families. Jumeirah Beach offers:

Calm, shallow waters for kids to splash around.

Plenty of nearby restaurants and cafes.

Watersports like paddleboarding and jet-skiing for adventurous families.

The beach also provides stunning views of the Burj Al Arab, making it a great spot for family photos.

Best Time to Visit Dubai for Families

Dubai’s climate can be extreme, so timing your visit is crucial for a comfortable experience.

November to March: These months offer pleasant weather, ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing.

April to October: While temperatures rise, Dubai’s indoor attractions, malls, and waterparks make it enjoyable.

Family-Friendly Dining in Dubai

Dubai boasts a diverse culinary scene catering to all tastes and budgets. For families:

The Cheesecake Factory: Offers a varied menu with kid-friendly options.

Reform Social & Grill: Features a garden play area and a relaxed vibe.

Al Iwan: Located in the Burj Al Arab, this luxurious spot offers a mix of Arabian and international cuisines.

Travel Tips for Families Visiting Dubai

Stay in Family-Friendly Hotels: Resorts like Atlantis, The Palm, and Jumeirah Beach Hotel offer kid-friendly amenities and activities.

Plan Ahead: Book tickets for popular attractions in advance to avoid long queues.

Keep Hydrated: Carry water bottles, especially during outdoor excursions.

Dress Modestly: While Dubai is modern, it’s respectful to dress modestly in certain areas.

Use Public Transport: Dubai’s metro and taxis are convenient for getting around the city.

Conclusion

Dubai offers an incredible blend of adventure, luxury, and cultural experiences for families. From thrilling theme parks to serene beaches, every moment spent here creates lasting memories. Whether it’s a camel ride in the desert or a snowball fight at Ski Dubai, the city ensures that family members of all ages have an unforgettable time.

[umichenginabroad]

Jingdezhen Trip!

We finally planned another trip, this time to Jingdezhen for the weekend! Located in southern China’s Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen is renowned for its historic ceramic production and has recently become a popular travel destination thanks to its burgeoning modern art scene, featuring galleries, art spaces, museums, and markets. Being about a five-hour train ride from Shanghai, a weekend trip felt like the perfect opportunity to visit—and a great way to escape Shanghai’s increasingly cooler temperatures, which I’m still adjusting to with the limited indoor heating.

Upon arrival, we checked into a guesthouse—a cozy homestay with distinctive decor that reflected the owner’s unique taste. While it lacked the strict standards of a hotel, it charmed us with its personality. We even received a ceramic bracelet as a welcome gift! After settling in, we officially began our adventure in the city.

We enjoyed various local dishes, including the signature 牛骨粉 (ox bone noodle).

Jiangxi cuisine leans on the spicier side, leaving our lips burning, but that didn’t stop us from indulging! We visited the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, which features an impressive arch-structure design and displays a variety of Imperial Kiln artifacts. The museum even had a yellow duck mascot to make the experience more interactive and enjoyable.

Inspired by the creative ceramic art, we decided to explore a night market, where we shopped for souvenirs like ceramic earrings, bracelets, and bookmarks. It was a rewarding end to the day! The next morning, we got hands-on with making our own creations. Since ceramics take a long time to fire, we opted to make glass products instead. Using glass sticks, we melted and shaped them into various items under the guidance of a teacher. The process was quick, interactive, and lots of fun! I ended up with a hair stick and two bracelets as keepsakes.

We wrapped up our trip with a train ride back to Shanghai. One thing worth mentioning is how affordable rideshare services are in Jingdezhen. For example, a 30-minute ride from the train station to the city center cost just over 20 yuan, which is especially budget-friendly when splitting the fare with friends.

To end this blog, I want to recommend Yulan Bakery, located behind Canteen One. The cakes are incredibly affordable—just 8 yuan for a small piece, which is slightly over 1 dollar! While it’s not gourmet quality, it definitely satisfies a sweet tooth. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly treat.

What a fantastic weekend escape!

Shanni Yu

Industrial and Operations Engineering

UM-Shanghai Jiaotong University Joint Institute, Shanghai, China

[gfs-tanks]

Biogas Tanks: Revolutionizing Renewable Energy Storage and Management

In the global shift toward sustainable energy solutions, biogas tanks are emerging as key components in renewable energy infrastructure. These storage systems play a vital role in capturing, processing, and storing biogas, a clean and renewable energy source derived from organic waste. Companies like Center Enamel, a leading provider of high-quality storage solutions, are at the forefront of advancing biogas technology with innovative and durable products.

Biogas tanks are specialized storage units designed to store and process biogas, which is typically composed of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). The gas is produced through anaerobic digestion—a process where microorganisms break down organic matter such as agricultural waste, food scraps, and sewage in the absence of oxygen.

These tanks must be airtight to maintain anaerobic conditions and are engineered to withstand the corrosive nature of biogas. High-quality biogas tanks, such as those manufactured by Center Enamel, are often made of glass-fused-to-steel (GFS) for enhanced durability and resistance to environmental wear and tear.

Key Benefits of Biogas Tanks

Waste Management: Biogas tanks provide an eco-friendly solution for managing organic waste. They prevent waste from being landfilled and instead convert it into valuable energy.

Renewable Energy Production: By capturing methane, biogas tanks help generate energy that can be used for electricity, heating, or as a fuel substitute.

Carbon Footprint Reduction: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Capturing it in biogas tanks prevents its release into the atmosphere, mitigating climate change.

Economic Advantages: Investing in biogas tanks can reduce energy costs for industries and communities while also creating opportunities for selling excess energy to the grid.

Applications of Biogas Tanks

Biogas tanks have widespread applications across various sectors:

Agriculture: Farms use biogas tanks to manage manure and crop residues, turning waste into energy for onsite operations.

Municipal Waste Management: Cities install biogas systems to process sewage and organic waste, reducing landfill dependency.

Food and Beverage Industry: Factories utilize these tanks to treat organic by-products from production processes.

Why Center Enamel Stands Out

Center Enamel has established itself as a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of biogas tanks. Their GFS tanks are renowned for their:

Corrosion Resistance: Glass-fused-to-steel technology ensures the tanks are long-lasting and low maintenance.

Scalability: Center Enamel’s tanks can be customized to meet the size requirements of any project, from small farms to industrial-scale facilities.

Ease of Installation: Modular design allows for quick assembly, reducing project timelines and costs.

Eco-Friendly Production: The company employs sustainable manufacturing practices, aligning its mission with global green energy goals.

Biogas Tanks in Sustainable Development

Biogas tanks are instrumental in achieving global energy and environmental targets, including the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They contribute directly to:

Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): By harnessing biogas, these tanks provide a renewable energy source that is accessible and reliable.

Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): The tanks promote the recycling of organic waste, encouraging sustainable waste management practices.

Climate Action (SDG 13): Biogas systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy, tackling climate change head-on.

The integration of biogas tanks into renewable energy projects represents a significant step toward a more sustainable future. Leaders like Center Enamel are proving that with cutting-edge design and technology, biogas storage can be both efficient and environmentally friendly. By investing in biogas tanks, industries and municipalities can transform waste into a valuable resource, contributing to cleaner energy systems and a greener planet.

Whether for agricultural, industrial, or municipal purposes, biogas tanks offer an indispensable solution to the challenges of waste management and renewable energy storage. With innovations by companies like Center Enamel, the future of biogas is not just promising—it’s already here.

[lovelypol]

"Tempered Glass Market Analysis: Key Drivers and Opportunities 2024-2033"

Tempered glass is revolutionizing industries with its superior strength and safety features, making it the material of choice for everything from smartphones to skyscrapers. This heat-treated glass is up to four times stronger than regular glass and, when broken, shatters into small, blunt pieces, reducing the risk of injury. Whether used in sleek smartphone screens, durable car windows, or modern architectural designs, tempered glass combines durability with aesthetic appeal, setting new standards in both safety and style across multiple sectors.

#TemperedGlass #SafetyGlass #SmartphoneScreens #ArchitecturalDesign #DurableMaterials #Shatterproof #HeatTreatedGlass #BuildingInnovation #ModernArchitecture #AutomotiveGlass #StrongAndSafe #DesignInnovation #TechMaterials #ConstructionMaterials #SafetyFirst

[coherentmarketinsights]

Clear as Crystal: Exploring the Dynamics of the Heat-Treated Glass Market

Heat Treated Glass Market is Estimated to Witness High Growth Owing to High Demand from Construction Industry The heat treated glass market comprises of glass that has undergone a heat treatment process post manufacturing to induce surface compression and enhance the mechanical strength and durability of glass. Heat treated glass has gained prominence in the construction industry owing to its superior properties such as high impact resistance, scratch resistance and sound insulation. It is used in applications including residential and commercial construction for windows, doors, partitions and facades. The rising infrastructure development activities across the globe are propelling the demand for high performance glass, driving the heat treated glass market. The Global heat treated glass market is estimated to be valued at US$ 474.5Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030. Key Takeaways Key players operating in the heat treated glass market are Cincinnati Gasket & Industrial Glass Products and Solutions, Asahi Glass Co.,Ltd., Corning Incorporated, SCHOTT North America, Inc., SCHOTT AG, CoorsTek, Inc., Vesuvius PLC, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., CeramTec and others. The key opportunities in the heat treated glass market include increasing adoption in the solar energy sector owing to its good thermal shock resistance properties and suitability for high temperature applications. Moreover, growing infrastructure development activities in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to offer new growth prospects over the forecast period. Globally, the demand for heat treated glass is expected to be driven by Asian countries like China, India and South East Asian nations due to rising construction of residential buildings, commercial facilities and infrastructure projects in these countries. The companies are expanding their production facilities and distribution networks in the emerging economies to leverage the growth opportunities. Market Drivers The primary driver for the heat treated glass market is the high demand from the construction industry. Heat treated glass finds widespread usage in windows, doors, partitions, facades and other applications due its superior strength and durability properties as compared to ordinary glass. Its shatterproof and scratch resistant properties make it ideal for construction of commercial buildings, residential structures and infrastructure projects experiencing rapid growth globally. This rising infrastructure development is propelling the demand for heat treated glass, thereby driving market growth over the forecast period.

[pearlsmith25]

Exploring Niche Applications: Heat Treated Glass Market Beyond Conventional Uses

Market Overview:

Heat treated glass undergoes thermal or chemical treatments to introduce controlled and permanent changes in its mechanical and optical properties. It is used in various commercial glazing, facade applications, and for automotive and transport industry where strength and safety properties are important.

Market Dynamics:

The heat treated glass market is expected to grow at a significant rate owing to increasing demand from the construction industry, mainly for facade applications where aesthetics and safety from breakage is essential. The growth of the construction industry, especially in developing regions of Asia Pacific and Latin America is driving the facade segment. Additionally, growing automotive industry globally is also contributing to the growth of heat treated glass market as automotive manufacturers use heat strengthened and tempered glass for window, sunroof, and backlights applications where resistance to breakage is required to ensure safety. The end-use segments are expected to propel the heat treated glass market growth over the forecast period.

Major Driver 1: Increasing Demand from the Construction Industry

The construction industry is one of the major end-users of heat treated glass. Heat treated glass such as tempered glass and heat strengthened glass are widely used in construction of buildings for windows, curtain walls, doors, skylights, pedestrian barriers etc. due to their high strength and safety properties. The global construction industry has been growing steadily over the past few years and this growth is expected to continue in the coming years as well driven by increasing investments in infrastructure development, residential & commercial construction projects in developing countries. The rising construction activities will directly boost the demand for heat treated glass from this industry.

Major Driver 2: Growing Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is another key consumer of heat treated glass, especially for side windows, rear windows, sunroof panels etc. The global automotive industry has witnessed steady growth in recent times and vehicle production has increased substantially. Increasing consumer spending on vehicles, ease of auto financing, growing middle-class population are some of the factors spurring automotive sales. As the automotive sector expands, the need for heat treated glass from this industry will also rise proportionately. The trend towards larger window panels and advanced features like panoramic sunroofs in vehicles will further augment the market for heat treated glass in the foreseeable future.

Major Restrain: Volatility in Raw Material Prices

Glass production requires various raw materials like sand, soda ash, limestone, dolomite etc. The prices of these raw materials fluctuate frequently due to factors like shortage in supply, higher demand, geopolitical issues etc. Since glass manufacturing is a raw material intensive industry, volatility in raw material costs directly impacts the production cost and profit margins of glass producers. Unexpected price fluctuations force companies to increase the price of finished glass products as well. This volatility in raw material prices can negatively impact the overall demand and growth of the heat treated glass market.

Major Opportunity: Growing Solar Energy Sector

The increasing focus on renewable energy sources across the world presents promising prospects for the heat treated glass market. Heat treated glass finds extensive usage in the production of photovoltaic solar panels. Solar glass or photovoltaic glass used in solar panels needs to withstand high temperatures and other installation stresses. Here heat strengthened glass or tempered glass provides the ideal solution. With solar power expected to account for a significant share of global power generation in the coming decades, tremendous opportunities will arise for heat treated glass manufacturers in the solar photovoltaics value chain. The rapid expansion of the solar energy industry can drive new revenue streams for heat treated glass producers.

Major Trend: Rising demand for Specialty Glasses

Earlier heat treated glass was mainly used for standard automotive and construction applications. However, over the past few years specialty glasses customized for niche industrial sectors have gained momentum. Some examples include low-emissivity (Low-E) coated glass for energy efficient buildings, anti-reflective coated glass for electronics, reinforced and toughened glass for infrastructure projects, bulletproof and security glass etc. The unique performance characteristics of these specialty glasses have found widespread acceptance. Additionally, demand for advanced optics and specialtycover glasses from sectors like aviation & defense is surging. Going forward specialty and customized heat treated glasses are expected to open up new growth verticals in the overall market.

[chemicalsources]

Heat Treated Glass Market Unveiled Nurturing a Greener Economy

Heat treated glass is used as an architectural product and has wide-ranging applications in commercial and residential constructions. It is commonly used as spandrel glass panels, in insulated glazing units, and as tempered glass for safety and security purposes in residential and commercial buildings. The global heat treated glass market offers a variety of products such as tempered glass, heat strengthened glass, and insulated glass units. Tempered glass is widely used in facades and partition walls owing to its high strength and safety properties. Heat strengthened glass has good thermal and sound insulation capabilities and finds usage in curtain wall facades. The global heat treated glass Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 474.5 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Market Dynamics: One of the key drivers for the growth of the heat treated glass market is the rising demand from the construction industry. According to the United States Census Bureau, construction spending in the US increased by 1.3% in January 2023 from December 2022. Furthermore, the Chinese government has outlined plans to invest over $1.4 trillion in infrastructure projects over the next 5 years. Such initiatives to boost infrastructure development are expected to drive the demand for heat treated glass products for architectural applications such as doors, windows, facades, and interior design. Insulated glass units which promise thermal insulation and soundproofing are increasingly being adopted in commercial buildings to gain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification points. Moreover, tempered glass is finding widespread usage in residential constructions owing to its enhanced safety and security properties. The market is witnessing steady growth due to increasing adoption of heat treated glass variants in modern architectural designs and green building projects globally. SWOT Analysis

Strength: The heat treated glass market offers a variety of advantages over general glass such as high strength, durability and scratch resistance. This makes it suitable for applications requiring high performance glass. It is also lightweight and easy to fabricate which reduces costs. Extensive R&D has led to development of advanced heat treated glass varieties with improved properties.

Weakness: Heat treatment of glass is a complex manufacturing process requiring specialized equipment and skilled labor. This raises production costs making heat treated glass more expensive than regular glass. The energy intensive heating cycles also contribute to higher carbon footprint. Dependence on raw material price volatility is also a weakness.

Opportunity: Growing infrastructure development and construction spending in emerging economies raises demand for stronger, safer glass in buildings. Rise of electric vehicles and solar industry widens scope for heat treated glass use in automotive and renewable energy applications. Innovation in production technologies may help lower costs and widen the addressable market size.

Threats: Stiff competition from other high performance glass and alternative materials poses threat. Economic downturns and uncertainty impacts downstream construction and automotive sectors negatively affecting demand. Stringent environmental regulations regarding emissions can constrain production. Key Takeaways The global heat treated glass market is expected to witness high growth.

Regional analysis indicates Asia Pacific dominates with over 40% share currently owing to large construction sector and presence of major players. China leads consumption followed by India where growth remains fastest as urbanization proceeds apace.

[rachel01-zane]

Heat Treated Glass Market: How much will be the total production?

Report Hive Research adds Heat Treated Glass market report to its research database. This market study featured in this report is equipped with crucial information for guiding through the expansion of the industry. The statistical information provided serves as a backbone while facing business challenges in the highly dynamic market situations, where no one controls the uptrends and downfalls.

Ot…

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Victor’s Encounter Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Edit: This date has been released in EN!

The date begins with MC in her office at 11pm, preparing Victor’s “big surprise”

Over the past two weeks, she has been sending Victor small gifts to express her gratitude for his help in getting her a smooth interview with Mr Sheng, a real estate tycoon

While she’s in the office, Victor calls her regarding the puppy apron he received

Overall, he would give brief comments on these gifts. He would only say a word of thanks when he occasionally comes across a gift which suits his tastes. 

As for the puppy apron I sent today...

Before I can continue asking him about the apron, Victor has already changed the topic. 

Victor: If you’re willing to spend all your time on official business, you wouldn’t need to stay up every day... work is never-ending. It’s about time to go home and rest. 

MC: Eh? 

How does he know that I haven’t returned home to rest yet?

I hastily look out the window. A black car is stationary under the streetlamp. Even though I can’t see the car plate clearly, my instincts tell me that it’s Victor. 

MC: Why are you here? 

Victor: I was just passing by. 

Really...

Victor: Come down. I’ll send you home. 

MC: Okay! I’ll pack my things and head down.

Victor: There doesn’t seem to be a big proposal recently. Why do you have to stay till so late? 

My heart rattles, and I hurriedly find a reason to get by.

MC: Maybe my mood hasn’t been good recently, so I’m always not in the zone when doing work. 

I thought Victor would respond to my words with taunting remarks. Instead his tone slows down, revealing his certainty in me. 

Victor: The interview you did with Mr Sheng wasn’t bad. There’s no need to be too impatient, or give yourself too much stress. The accumulation of work always requires time.

Just before I turn the lights off, I toss another glance at the present on the table. Even though he can’t see my expression, I can’t help but smile and nod. 

MC: All right.

~

The next day, Mr Sheng sends her an invitation to a club to meet some of his friends in the industry, mentioning that MC’s interviews have had a positive effect on his company’s reputation

She agrees because it’s an opportunity to expand her network

When she arrives at the club, Victor happens to be there too

Mr Sheng receives a phone call and leaves Victor and MC alone 

Victor doesn’t let her drink alcohol, and orders her a glass of warm water instead:

Noticing me look longingly at the beautifully coloured tequila sunrise in his hand, he puts a small red paper umbrella into my cup. 

Later on, MC finds herself with nothing to do, so Victor stuffs a cue stick into her hand and suggests they have a game of billiards

MC suggests that if she wins, he has to pass her proposal

She had spent two months on the proposal, but Victor had put it down, saying that it's overly risky

MC: Don’t underestimate me! I’ve won second place in my school’s billiards competition.

While I was prepared for his taunting remarks, Victor grows silent instead.

His interest seems to be piqued, and he sits sideways on the billiard table. 

Victor: You’ve left the nest?

He chalks the tip of the cue stick slowly. Seeing that I didn’t say a word, he lifts his eyes towards me, as though genuinely wanting to know my answer to this question. 

Actually...

These types of situations happen from time to time. After all, no one wants the proposals they’ve worked hard on to be rejected. 

As long as Victor doesn’t completely reject the proposal, I’ll keep on striving.

Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time he has commented on my efforts to keep striving.

Victor: All right. We’ll have one round. 

Without waiting for my response, he has already made a decision. His low voice has a hint of joy in it. 

I hold my breath and find the most comfortable angle to strike the ball. The colourful balls crash and collide, and one of them rolls in a straight line to the lower right corner--

MC: Yes!

Victor looks at the colourful ball as it rolls into the bag. His brows are raised slightly, and he is clearly surprised. 

Victor: No wonder you dared to challenge me today.

MC: The stereotype you have of me is too deep. I’m not really a dummy!

Victor: A dummy’s luck just tends to be better.

My desire to win is ignited. No matter what, I’m going to fight back against his ridicule.

MC: Watch carefully - this is skill, not luck!

Victor leans at the corner of the billiard table, his arms folded. It’s as though he is intrigued, and has an expression which says that he’s going to continue appreciating my “performance”. 

My cue stick moves forward, and the white ball leaves my corner, colliding firmly against a bunch of colourful pool balls, and then gets hit into the diagonal bottom pocket...

At the very same moment, I can clearly hear Victor’s chuckle. 

Victor: Mm, your skills are not bad. 

MC: There’s no need to be too happy. It’s 1 against 0. I’m in the lead. 

Victor takes two steps forward. He retrieves the white ball from the bag, gets into position, and leans down slowly. 

He isn’t anxious to enter the game at all. He adjusts the angle several times before lifting his head to look at me. 

Victor: If you lose, you’re not allowed to cry.

MC: Are you treating me like a child?

Right after the words leave my mouth, the two balls that are hit roll outwards with a “ping”. One rolls into the middle bag, and one rolls into the bottom bag. 

At the same time, he stands in position without a hint of hesitation, and strikes. The “ping ping” sounds of impact reverberate continuously in the room--

I lean against the wall nervously, “appreciating” how Victor makes shot after shot, striking the balls into the hole.

His calm expression and skilful techniques completely strip the game of suspense. 

He stops his movements and looks at the watch on his wrist. He straightens up and arches an eyebrow towards me slightly.

Victor: Do you still want to continue? 

MC: Of course we’ll continue...

My words lack confidence, but I’m someone whose resolve will not die until I reach my goal...

Victor: Don’t waste time. Let’s set new rules. The one who gets the black ball in first wins. 

Victor lets MC go first, but she starts feeling nervous

Victor: Want to admit defeat? 

MC: Not at all...

After a pause, I say what’s in my heart.

MC: I can’t win against you.

Suddenly, a familiar scent surrounds me. 

Victor leans over, pressing himself against my back, holding my cue stick with both hands. 

The cue stick controlled by Victor strikes the white ball cleanly. After a crisp sound of impact, the black ball rolls straight into the middle bag. 

Victor: Congratulations, your proposal has passed. 

Victor’s low voice is at my ear, tinged with a smile. 

Not knowing if I should be happy or not, I mutter softly.

MC: This can hardly be called winning...

Victor: I didn’t say that you won. I already passed your proposal last night. You didn’t check your e-mail after work.

Victor’s breath descends on the side of my neck, bringing with it a ticklish residual heat and water vapour. His embrace limits my movements, and my line of sight is confined to the frizz on the billiard table. 

MC: ...

Victor: This round of creativity is indeed very risky. If you lose against the market-

MC: I will win!

Without waiting for him to finish, I cut him off. 

MC: If it fails, I’ll double this year’s revenue!

I express my attitude decisively. Victor suddenly lowers his head and leans even closer. 

The sudden closing of distance magnifies every small detail between us. I can smell his cool and clear scent, and hear every one of his steady breaths. 

Victor: I’ll wait and see. 

Victor’s body temperature seeps through his thin shirt, covering my slightly trembling back. 

Flustered, I try to turn around. Just as I turn my head, my cheek is pressed against his chin. 

At this moment, the doors are suddenly flung open. Mr Sheng and a group of others are chatting heartily and about to enter the room. Seeing Victor and I, they pause. 

Realising in shock that the position Victor and I are in appears too intimate, I hurriedly squirm out from under his arm, and stand at a corner silently. 

On the other hand, Victor calmly straightens up, looking straight at the audience.

Mr Sheng gives me a knowing smile. There’s even a bit of unexpected fondness in his eyes...

Mr Sheng: CEO Victor, I was going to introduce you to two friends who just returned from Wall Street.

Victor retrieves his business card from his pocket, and a small hairpin falls onto the ground. 

It’s a red hairpin with a small bowknot on it. There are even two coloured diamonds embedded on the bowknot...

Everyone’s attention is focused on the hairpin. 

At that moment, a sentence flashes across my mind: I’m doomed.

With a blank expression, he stoops down to pick up the hairpin, and looks at me without a trace of surprise. 

Victor: When did you put this into my pocket? 

Sensing the playful glances from the crowd of onlookers, my cheeks flush involuntarily. 

MC: I... don’t remember the specific moment, but I did it when you weren’t paying attention...

Victor knits his eyebrows, revealing a perplexed expression. 

Victor: Another gift for me? 

MC: Yes. 

After speaking, I have a “since I’m going to die, I might as well make it worth it” attitude, and continue.

MC: You can use this hairpin to clip up your bangs. I think it’s quite practical when used during work...

Even though I’m certain that I’m speaking in a volume only Victor and I can hear, everybody’s teasing smiles make me feel uneasy...

Victor has maintained the reputation of a thousand-year iceberg for so long. I’m afraid it has been ruined by my hands on this night. 

Victor: What nonsense are you thinking about the entire day...

While saying this, Victor puts the small hairpin back into his pocket. 

Victor’s reputation is still a formidable one. Even if Victor doesn’t explain himself, the gossip of the onlookers end as soon as he takes out his business card. 

All the way till the end of dinner, I obediently maintain a smile, not daring to mention the hairpin to Victor. 

On our way home, after much rumination, I decide to give Victor a solemn apology. Before the apology leaves my lips, Victor brings up the topic. 

Victor: I accept your goodwill entirely. Could you stop giving me gifts now? 

I nod reluctantly, but still struggle with my apology. 

MC: I’m sorry about what happened today...

Victor: What are you sorry for? 

MC: For making a fool out of you in front of so many people.

Victor: No one will think that way.

Victor adjusts the cuffs of his suit with a calm expression on his face. 

It’s as though what happened just now was really not enough to pose an issue to him.

~

After a few days, MC appears before Victor with a exquisitely wrapped present

👀

It’s a 32 page business report...

It contains data from the company’s monthly financial reports, business index data, word-of-mouth surveys from large-scale programs, market share, etc. ever since LFG started funding MC’s company

MC: All the data reflects that our company has had good business this year. We not only filled in the losses, but our profit margin was also 50% higher than expected. 

Victor: So? 

MC: It shows that you have a good eye, and have once again made a successful investment!

I expected him to simply cast a sweeping glance at it. Instead, he starts flipping through the report seriously after hearing my words. 

Every rustle of the paper flipping makes my heart rattle.

I start feeling nervous for no reason, worried that he would be as he usually is, picking out all sorts of mistakes from the report, and fiercely criticising me. 

After some time, he finally closes the report. 

Victor: Not bad. 

MC: ...

MC: !!!

Victor: What kind of an expression is that?

MC: I’m happy! Only a few gifts I gave you received praise...

Victor pulls open a drawer. While he places the report inside, he takes out a few items at the same time and puts them on the desk. 

A salon card, a red hairpin, essential oil for sleep...

Victor: You want me to compliment these things?

I huff, feeling a little guilty. 

MC: I... shall return to my office then? 

Victor looks as though he’s about to say something, but his phone rings. I stand up quietly, silently gesturing an “I’m leaving” with my hands.

Victor: Wait. 

Right after taking two steps, Victor stops me. 

Victor: I’ll pick you up at 6pm.

I turn around to see him covering the bottom half of the phone. I hurriedly nod, and suddenly think of something. 

MC: Have you started using the puppy apron? 

Victor tosses me a glance. After a few seconds of silence, he continues with his phone call. 

Fine...

I’ll record this as an addition to the “Victor Not Saying What He Truly Feels” series.

-

Phone Calls: First // Second

[dakotacrisis]

Transferred (15)

In this house we love and appreciate Marinette Dupain-Cheng!

This the end of the official story but there is a bonus spin-off chapter I’m gonna be posting later that is pure Kagaminette (or is it Marigami?)

---

“Kagami!” Marinette was shoved into the limo. “What do you mean? I can’t go! Look at what I’m wearing!” Marinette gestured to her overalls, Chat Noir t-shirt, and converse. “This is a fancy fashion fundraiser!”

“I know. We have something for you to wear at the venue which is why we’re getting there early. Calm down, we got an entire outfit and we’re gonna do you up with hair and make-up. You’re gonna be the belle of the ball.” Kagami was trying to calm down a frantic Marinette.

“You were supposed to be--”

“Shush.” Kagami chuckled, “It’s fine. It’s gonna be great.”

“You’re killing me.” They pulled up to the back of the hotel. The girls rushed inside and were met with Aurore waiting for them. She was wearing a lilac dress with ivory flower embellishments around the bust.

“Hello girls,” Aurore was beaming, “Kagami, you look great! Marinette, you are going to look fantastic. Come with me.”

“Treat her well!” Kagami called to them as Aurore dragged her away. “I’ll see you in there, Marinette!”

“Aurore, please tell me what is going on.” Marinette begged as she was pulled along and into the elevator. Aurore didn’t let anything go as they sailed up and up and up. They finally stopped and Aurore dragged her up to a door. She knocked on it and the door was opened by Sabrina. She was in a simple turquoise tea length dress and had her hair curled and pinned.

“She’s here!” Sabrina pulled Marinette and Aurore inside what Marinette realized was Chloe’s room.

“About time.” Chloe stood in the center of her room in a long high neck black and white dress with twin high slits. Her hair was loose from its usual ponytail but pinned back away from her face with a little golden hair comb.

“Chloe, what is--” Marinette was cut off as the trio pushed her into the bedroom part of the room. Hanging up was the outfit Kagami had mentioned.

“I don’t know how you got that but don’t you think it’s a little much?” Marinette said.

“Not for what you’re gonna be doing.” Aurore was hopping from one foot to the other.

“But what are we doing?”

“Stop wasting time, Dupain-Cheng. We got an event to get to.” Chloe and the other two were practically pulling her out of her clothes before Marinette kicked them out to get dressed herself. After she was dressed Aurore pulled her away to do her makeup while Chloe tackled her hair.

“And she is perfect,” Aurore held up a mirror, “What do you think?”

“I look nice but I would love to know why I’m here in the first place.” Marinette was getting impatient.

“Recognition, Dupain-Cheng.” Chloe smirked, “This is the most covered charity event of the year and you are a walking centerpiece in this dress. So go down there, head held high, and let everyone know who you are. Got it?”

“Got it.” Marinette wasn’t gonna argue with Chloe about this.

Together the girls rode back to the ground floor. Chloe explained what Marinette would be doing and left her in the hands of the butler while the three others went out to a limo to take them around to the front of the building. Marinette waited behind the little stage that was set up in the hotel ballroom, occasionally she would peek out to look at all the guests. She spotted the table where Kagami and Adrien were sitting. Chloe, Sabrina and Aurore were also at the table. The parents: Mrs. Tsurugi, Mr. Agreste, Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois, and even Marinette’s parents were sitting together at a table right next to the teenagers.

What were her parents doing here? They didn’t mention any of this! They were gonna get an earful when they get home.

After everyone was seated and comfortable, Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois got up and came onto the stage. Marinette stepped back into the shadows as they welcomed the guests and talked about their hopes for tonights fundraiser.

“Now, this program is not just to fund the arts but to bring prominent artists and designers of the next generation into the light. Around the venue you will find many pieces that our young creators have been meticulously working on and will be able to continue to create thanks to your generosity this evening.” Mayor Bourgeois said. “Every year we choose one of these young upstarts to highlight as our next big name in the industry. Many high profile names today I would say, owe their jumpstart to success to this award. Clara Nightingale being last years winner and even our own Gabriel Agreste having received this honor back in the day.”

“To announce this years next big name of the arts is Gabriel’s son, Adrien Agreste.” Mrs. Bourgeois said. Everyone applauded as Marinette assumed Adrien stepped onto the stage.

Was this…

“Thank you everyone for being here tonight.” Marinette recognized Adrien’s voice speaking over the microphone now. “As Mayor Bourgeois already explained, this honor is more than just a title. It is a starting point to a road paved with opportunities. One that with hard work, an open mind, and eyes full of creativity will lead to a successful career.”

“That is why it is my very great honor to introduce our choice for this year’s Next Big Thing, Paris’ own Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

“I--I--”

“Go, Marinette!” Tikki chided her.

Marinette regained her wits and walked onto the stage. The entire room was applauding her.

Adrien stood at the microphone with a proud smile and a hand extended out to her. Nervously she took it and he pulled her closer towards him. “Did we surprise you?”

“Yes, I think it’s safe to say you did.” Marinette didn’t know whether to blush or cry. “Why though?”

“Cause you deserve it. More than anyone I know.” His smile softened into something sweeter that made Marinette’s insides melt.

Adrien turned back to the microphone. “Marinette is wearing a ballgown that she designed and constructed herself. Just one of many creations that she’s made. But her talents don’t end there. I could go on and on about how she is Jagged Stone’s preferred designer for accessories, posters, and album covers. How she created the stage outfits for the up and coming band, Kitty Section. Heck, it would take me all night to list how kind and creative this girl next to me is.”

Marinette was definitely gonna start crying.

“Marinette, things between us may have gotten off to a rocky start but I am glad that we are such great friends today. You are always putting yourself out there for your friends, your family, for justice, for creativity, even for strangers. Life can be tough but you push forward and soldier on with a smile on your face and a can-do attitude. In this day and age, when evils like Hawkmoth and corrupt politicians and everyday jerks have dragged the morale of the population down, having someone like you that chooses to see the beauty in the world is something we need now more than ever. There are many kind and creative people in the world but there is only one Marinette Dupain-Cheng and she will never be able to be recreated.”

And the tears were falling. No stopping it now.

The crowd erupted once more into applause while Adrien handed her a tissue. “Kagami told me to bring this up with me. Good thing she thought ahead.”

“Yeah,” Marinette let out a bark of laughter between her happy sobs. “This is--that was--I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng, ladies and gentlemen.” Adrien gave her one final moment to soak in the undivided adoration before escorting her back to his table. She stopped by to hug her parents and thank the adults for choosing her before settling in with her peers.

“Surprise,” Kagami smirked.

“I can’t believe you guys,” Marinette was still trying to calm down, “How did you even do this?”

“Lots of careful planning.”

“And my dress?” Marinette gestured to her ballgown, the one Lila had gotten her miscredited from in the newspaper, “I put it in storage after the Lila incident.”

“We explained the situation to your parents and they gave it to us with the promise that we would treat it with the utmost respect.”

That would explain why she seemed to have more space in her closet.

A small dinner was served and then a couple more people came up to speak about the night. More young artists were highlighted before everyone was encouraged to go and take a look at the pieces around the room. There seemed to be art of all kinds there. Paintings, sketches, sculptures, clothing, short movies, music samplings. There was a table lined with story excerpts people could read from young authors. Journalism articles hung on the walls like pieces in a museum. There was even a part of the room dedicated to carpenters and the amazing furniture, instruments, and wooden toys they made.

Several people during the night came up to Marinette inquiring about her dress and possible other designs she had created. Kagami was quick to show off her own dress and brag about Marinette’s skill in making it.

Many of the people at the event were critics and renowned fashion designers that handed Marinette business cards with promises to make her their protege. Things got a bit heated when two designers started trying to outdo the other with their offers forcing Adrien to swoop in and politely extract Marinette.

Eventually the party started to wind down and people were making there way home. Mostly the older adults that couldn’t quite keep up with the number of young people in the room.

“Hey, Marinette,.” Adrien approached her. At some point in the night he had ditched the jacket and tie and was walking around with his vest open and top button of his shirt undone. “I saw your parents head out. You didn’t join them?”

“Not yet. I wanted to enjoy the party a little longer.” Marinette looked around the room, “What about you? I don’t think I’ve seen your father around.”

“He had one wine glass too many and headed home. I figured he wouldn’t notice if I showed up a little later than when I was supposed to.” he grinned in a not so innocently Adrien way. “That being said, are you doing anything after this?”

“Seeing as how my original plans for tonight was to veg out in my room binging old romantic comedies I’m gonna say no. Why?”

“Well, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go to that bowling alley we went to before. It’s open till two AM all week so I thought that you and I could go for some late night, over-dressed, bowling catastrophe fun.”

“That sounds great--”

“Sorry Adrikins, but we already have plans tonight.” Chloe cut between Adrien and Marinette.

“We do?” Marinette stared at her.

“The sleepover.”

“Sleepover?”

“What are you, a parrot?” Chloe scoffed, “We’re having a girls night in my suite. No boys allowed.”

“But--what--when was this?” Marinette sputtered as she was pulled away from Adrien by Chloe.

“Oh. Bye, Marinette!” Adrien waved to her, “Have fun! I’ll text you later!”

“Bye!” Marinette squeaked out as she was whisked out of the ballroom.

They went back to the elevator and up to Chloe’s room. “Are there any more surprises that you have in store for me tonight or is this the last one?” She asked.

“You love it.” Chloe smirked. Kagami, Sabrina, and Aurore were also in the elevator. Sabrina and Aurore weren’t a surprise but Marinette hadn’t expected Kagami to be with them.

They entered the suite and the girls started to dress down removing their heels and accessories. “Makeup wipes in the bathroom and pajamas on the bed.” Chloe said, “I got foot massagers by the couch and room service on speed dial.”

Marinette went to the bed and saw that there were matching silk pajamas for each girl in their favorite color and monogrammed with their initials. Red for Kagami, teal for Sabrina, sky blue for Aurore and honeycomb yellow for Chloe. Marinette’s was a nice powder pink with the initials MDC stitched across the pocket in cream threading.

Marinette waited her turn to change into her new cozy pajamas and joined the rest of the girls around the couch. Kagami and Aurore were deciding what movie to watch while Chloe had Sabrina make a list of what they wanted room service to bring up.

“Hey,” Marinette approached Chloe. “Can we talk?”

“Sabrina, you know what I like. Finish ordering. Also, make sure those two pick a decent movie.” Chloe told Sabrina before standing to talk to Marinette. “Yes?”

“I know we’ve rarely seen eye to eye and I would be one of the furthest things from a friend in your opinion but I wanted to take a moment and say thank you. Not just for the fundraiser and this deluxe sleepover but for going above and beyond with your takedown of Lila. It was incredible and to think you did that for me--”

“And an amazing grade.”

“And an amazing grade.” Marinette agreed, “It means so much. I don’t know what all of this makes us, not friends exactly, but maybe not enemies? Playful adversaries?”

Chloe’s holier-than-thou smile softened. Her walls dropping just for a moment. “We’re allies. Not always but I wasn’t just going to let one of the few people I respected be disgraced by a knockoff mean girl with dead anime mom hair.”

“What hair?”

“Nothing. Something Adrien told me. It doesn’t matter.” Chloe huffed. Her walls going up again. “I may not have my miraculous but that doesn’t make me any less the superheroine I am.”

“I know it doesn’t.” 

Chloe smiled.

Marinette wished she could give Chloe her miraculous more often. With her identity being outed it was just too dangerous. But maybe she deserved a new miraculous. Nothing would fit her as perfectly as Queen Bee but Marinette had hope that she would do well with a new power. So long as she didn’t advertise her identity to all of Paris again.

A knock at the door drew their attention. “Room service!” A voice called from outside.

“I’ll get that. You go make sure Tsurugi and Weather-Girl chose a good movie.” Chloe flipped her hair and sashayed over to the door.

Marinette hopped the couch and sat down. The buffett of luxury junk food was laid out before them. They all got comfy in their seats and pressed play on the movie. Kagami leaned against Marinette as the movie played and ended up falling asleep halfway through. Marinette didn’t have the heart to move her so stayed put. Not that Hawkmoth himself could get her to move from that spot. Who knew Kagami was a cuddler?

As excited as everyone had been earlier once the movie started playing everyone started dropping like flies. Marinette had nodded off as well at some point and only woke up again when she felt something being draped over her. She squinted her eyes open and saw Chloe walking around putting blankets over the other girls.

She could pretend all she wanted but there was a good person inside Chloe. She rarely came out and even then most of the time it was to help make herself look better. But there were times, behind closed doors, with no witnesses around, that Chloe was kind just because she wanted to be. Maybe it was those moments that Adrien always got to see that helped the friendship he held with her. Maybe Chloe would become even nicer. Maybe she would continue on her little tirade of pompous superiority. It was anyone’s guess.

Marinette was glad that the chance for Chloe to become someone even better than she is was still an option. A year ago she would have thought it impossible. Of course a year ago there wasn’t a butterfly terrorist and people getting turned into monsters every other day. So it seems a lot can change.

Chloe was nice, Lila was gone, Marinette had loving friends, and Kagami was softly snoring on Marinette’s sternum. It was about as perfect as she could hope.

Tomorrow may be uncertain but it wasn’t for her to worry about. Not when she had people she loved to stand beside her…or sleep on her. Marinette readjusted the blanket and stretched herself into a more comfortable position without waking Kagami and went back to sleep.

---

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)

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@northernbluetongue @ladylb @immatureidiot101 @lady-flora-of-slytherin @zazzlejazzle @shamefullove @heredemaquam @kristycocopops @schrodingers25 @sublimemagazinestarlight @crazylittlemunchkin @daydream-wannabewriter @trainflavor @never-neverland @mochinek0 @persephonebutkore

[semiramis-audron]

There’s British things in British Columbia

It was half past six when the medics finally packed up their equipment and the police had finished their report, made all the photos for the property damage charges and the insurance and allowed him to finally close up the place. 

It hadn't been that big of a deal. He wouldn't press charges for the door or the glass. But there had been humans involved and hurt, so there was no way around calling an ambulance and the police. Doing things the human way was so… involved.

So he had to wait for them to arrive, while the bouncers held the demon who had been the reason for the fight. Really the human started it but…  ah well, no use crying over spilled glass and blood. The human got fixed up and was on his save way home. As was the lady, who thankfully suffered no harm and as far as he knew also the demon. A friend picked him up and made sure of it... as he was assured…

Trevor locked the door to the pub and began putting up the chairs while the dust and wood and glass on the floor moved itself into a heap and then hovered towards the bin. He mopped the blood off the floor and sighed at his shirt, and his watch. They were cleaned a finger snap later, but the glass of the watch had cracked, the mechanism had stopped. He could fix that later, or get a new one. Maybe Richard would like to help him pick one.

He reached for the bandage tape at his ear. The area was throbbing with pain. Even more so when he realised too late that hair was stuck to the tape.  A sharp breath of air through his teeth and he pulled it off all the way. The gauze pad came off dark red, the bleeding had stopped by now. He removed the hair gel before his fingertips felt for the stitched gash. The wound closed swiftly, there would be no traces left in a day or two. The pain subsided a little, nothing to bother a healer about.

He looked around the pub. All done.

Fixing the door would need to wait a bit to not seem suspicious. Then again, no one was going to even attempt a break in to begin with, so he wouldn’t lose sleep over that detail.

How late was it anyway? He checked his phone. Almost 7… And there were several messages. Huh. 

All of them from Richard. Did he get wind of what had happened?  No, the messages were from earlier in the night… day… Right he was in… Vancouver…  they were 8 hours behind London.

Apparently he could see all the skyscrapers of the city from the meeting room. 

Trevor imagined it was a great view, if one wasn't afraid of heights. There was supposed to be a meeting and the other party was late? So Richard was busying himself. 

They had a bowl of maple candy with the city flag of Vancouver pressed on at the reception desk, but it was for kids visiting the tower for the lookout platform. So he wasn’t supposed to get one, sadly.  But he had charmed the lady and got a sealed bag full.

He did have a childlike wonder to him sometimes, Trevor admitted.

Earlier in the day he had also been to the Capilano Suspension Bridge in the nearby forest, in also terrifying heights.

✉ You can walk through the treetops! It's all safe and up to code ;) They are very strict about their regulations. And so many trees! You would love it! ✉

Trevor couldn't help a sensible chuckle escaping. He did imply that he enjoyed it whenever Richard sent him updates and fascinating things that he encountered on his travels. The photo on the bridge was breathtaking. It was kind of Richard to take his time to make it. And yes, he would probably love it there. If he had been aware of the messages earlier, he would have asked him for more pictures. Accursed timezones…

The other party of the meeting had been a no show according to a later message, so he got a selfie of Richard in front of the McDonald's on Main Street with it's architecturally intriguing angular glass roof. He was holding a box of nuggets. The message implied he was craving nuggets, and an evil  >;P smiley. Outrageous! 

He was staying in Canada for another day since the meeting was now planned for the next afternoon and Jeff had made it clear that the partner had in their previous, very lucrative deals, always been reliable. So should be given some leniency especially in this important case. 

Richard informed Trevor, that he was reminded of him, when he learned about the British Properties a good 700m air line from the bridge, where only people with an actual British passport used to be allowed to live. They excluded non-white and Jewish people in olden times, but were less racist now. At least something?

After that Trevor was treated to some facts about Richard’s hotel. 

His balcony had wooden covered flooring that smelled like freshly cut pine trees. They must use a special varnish. He was going to try and find out about that tomorrow.

And the Lookout of the Vancouver Harbour Center was clearly visible. Not as high up as the meeting room, but equally beautiful.

According to the bartender at that Hotel bar, it was regularly used as a set for movie shoots, because Vancouver was considered the “North Hollywood” with how important it is to the film industry. 

To Richard’s delight, they also served sushi. It was from the same bartender, that Richard apparently learned that the so-called California Roll wasn’t invented in California! It was invented in Vancouver, by a Japanese Chef, owning a restaurant nearby. 

Trevor yawned slightly in the dark, wondering whether he should be concerned about Richard finding a more interesting bartender than him. He took off his shoes and made it to the kitchen, pointing a finger and a snap at the stove, heating some water for tea to settle down while scrolling through the messages.

He was further informed him that Richard could see the hills of Stanley Park from his Hotel room, and that all of the grey squirrels found in Stanley Park, which is by the way 10% bigger than Central Park, are descendants of eight pairs of grey squirrels that Vancouver received as a gift from New York City in 1909. 

And that the Beaver Lake in the park, was ironically beaverless until just 2008.

Also, that he was again reminded of London and Trevor, because right next to the Hotel was an apartment building called London Place and because Vancouver, due to its geographical and vegetational zone, had one of the mildest climates in Canada, but more rain. So kinda like London. But more trees.

✉ So if you want me to check out any trails or trees for you tomorrow, drop me a message. <3 ✉

Right, Vancouver was basically in a rain forest. 

The latest message was only a few minutes old. The light of the phone was casting eerie shadows on Trevor’s face, reflecting the message in his eyes. The dim coloured glow of the Streets of SOHO, shining through the window like moonlight through the stained glass of a church. 

He hadn’t bothered about the brightness, but slowly the glare of the screen was beginning to irritate his tired eyes. He put the phone in his pocket and leaned against the counter, waiting for the water to boil, stifling another yawn, closing his eyes.

After this long night in the bustling pub, the quiet of his empty flat was a stark contrast.  At first there was just the background hum of silence in his ears, then slowly the natural noises in it grew louder. The muffled sounds of the awakening streets outside became more clear and the soft pearly bubbling of the water. Finally he could hear himself breathe in the quiet of the morning, opening his eyes again, now more used to the dark. 

He was looking at his clean and neat kitchen table, the polished counters and precisely closing drawers. Everything had its place in the greyish darkness. There was pristine and almost sterile order, even more so in the monochrome colours of the night. 

And towards his living room, a bit more homely, that lay also vacant in the dull grey. The fireplace was empty, wood neatly stacked, the tv pitch black. Books and magazines shelved proper and no spine out of line. Unless SOMEONE took one out to leaf through it and didn't put them back properly. Or put them on the coffee table instead. Or just dropped his stuff there, even though he had a nightstand just for his stuff...

The coffee table was unburdened though. The flat was quiet, his solitude undisturbed, his privacy uninvaded and isolated from the life of human beings. He checked his watch, sighed at the shattered glass, then took out his phone again. The little circle next to Richard’s name was still green. 

The tea kettle whistled and the water stopped boiling as the soft magical aura disappeared around it.

~~~~~~~~~~  🍁  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Richard was leaning on his balcony, shirt half unbuttoned. Zooming in on some of the more extravagant buildings to get a better look. There had been some changes made in recent years by starchitects, or those that were paid as much at least. And there were still suggestions in the air, as far as he was keeping track of the business. Maybe an opportunity or two might arise from this prolonged stay yet.

“Mind if I join you?” the voice was husky and a bit tired, but very familiar and unexpected. He whirled around.  “Trevor!? Of course! Sure! Hi! I mean, yes, I’d be happy.” He welcomed him with open arms, then realising the gesture might be a bit much, dropped the arms a bit and smiled. The barkeeper was still standing in the door to the balcony, one hand clutching the frame. Also barefoot, as Richard noted.

“The view is even more impressive than you described…” Trevor pointed out, not making eye contact, with either Richard, or the view. “Ah, you noticed the high quality wooden panelling of the balcony too.” this was bad. Trevor was clearly stuck and apparently too proud to admit it.  “I- didn’t send you any pictures of the bathroom, would you like to see it? The tub is huge and it’s spotless. Great for relaxing.”  Richard watched as one naked foot touched the wooden boards and the knuckles on the already pale hand at the frame stood out white. The helplessness would be adorable if it wasn't born out of stubbornness. 

Their eyes met. “It’s fine…” Trevor said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll look at it later…” And the brown eyes motioned towards their left hand. Which was reaching out for him. For Richard, to take it, silently pleading for help.

He put his fingers around Trevor’s wrist and felt him return the gesture. It was a safe grip, reliable.  He slowly led the acrophobic man onto the balcony and offered him a chair. Into which Trevor slumped with an apologetic smile. “It’s really… high up… But it IS beautiful.”  Richard sat down on the other chair, the little wrought iron table between them. Staring at the man who was now staring at the view with the colour returning to his face.  "Thank you for dropping by, that's a welcome change." also a bit of an awkward one. Just sitting there, all settled into the chair now. Hard to make physical contact like that. Why did he show up all of a sudden. Why was he there in the first place? He never teleported to him before. Should he ask? Should he offer him a drink? A snack? A tour of the hotel? Of the city? He was going to ask!  “Canada is bloody cold! Do you want tea?” Trevor huffed, rubbing his arms and looked at Richard who had been a bit lost in thought staring at the more calmly breathing man. He nodded with a soft “Uh… uh huh.” and a snap later there were steaming cups on the table. They smelled warm, and a bit of spices that made Richard think of winter. The milk still spreading in amber clouds through the liquid. The brew was sweet, and with a dash of something foreign, that didn’t taste like a bitter British cuppa. Trevor shuddered, rubbing his now socked feet together. “And you said Vancouver was mild! That’s better, do you need more sugar?”  Richard shook his head, watching the goosebumps on Trevor’s forearms go down.

“Well, it’s not exactly Summer. You never teleported to me before?” He really wanted to say something and Trevor took his sweet time to answer, this was a bit nerve wracking. The night air hummed with the murmur of the city beneath them and the wind rushing around the skyscrapers like a serpentine river. Trevor kept sipping his tea. His breath afterwards was visible in the air.  “You made it sound like an interesting city to visit.” was the blasé response after a minute or two. "But it's a bit late for sightseeing now, isn't it?" Richard leaned partially over the table, trying to make sense of this sudden behaviour change.  “The sights I’m seeing are good for now.” Trevor looked away and back out over the balcony, clearly uncomfortable. He took another sip of the tea. 

Richard slumped back in his chair, picking his own tea up. They fell silent again. Watching the change of colours in the street and the clouds above. Richard was sure the tea was different than what Trevor was usually drinking. He enjoyed the thought of sharing in something special. Bitter at first, then sweet and with a hint of something exciting. Trevor tea.  He watched the angel’s eyes observe the sky and the blinking lights below them. One might even say, he looked relaxed now. How peculiar. What was going on?

The deep voice sent a shiver down Richard’s spine as Trevor cleared his throat. “It’s unusual for you to be so quiet. Are you okay, Richard?” The verbal equivalent of having his chair pulled out from under him.  "It's unusual for YOU to come to me! I didn't think Vancouver of all places would do that." he searched the man's face for a real reason.  "Well, …" Trevor sighed. "...my watch broke and I thought you could help."  A smile popped on Richard's face.  "Oh it's probably the battery, I'll charge it. For you, free of charge." a small wink as he took Trevor's wrist again. "The… glass is broken." his smile faltered a little when he saw the raised eyebrow. "And it's an automated watch, yes, no battery." that explained why he couldn't find one! His own always remained charged through himself. "No problem! I get tons of fancy watches from business deals, there's bound to be an automatic one among those."  He flinched when Trevor pulled his hand back, rubbing the wrist around the strap a little. He hadn't actually held him that tight? Maybe a small shock when he had tried to charge a non existent battery? 

"I was actually thinking about getting a new one from a watchmaker… or jeweller." Trevor didn't make eye contact, his face a strange expression that Richard couldn't decipher. "I was hoping, with your impeccable style, you knew a good one and… would help me pick one you think will suit me…" still no eye contact, but his face had become more rosey and, yep, the goosebumps were back. 

"I just wear them as I get them? But sure we can have a look tomorrow?"  Trevor sighed, and emptied his cup. Wrong answer apparently.  "It's a bit out of nowhere, I'm sorry."  Richard waved his hands. "No, I understand, keeping your schedule is important to you and you need your watch for that. There's actually a Vienna watchmaker with 30 years in the business, right here in Vancouver, we can go there. I walked past his shop today, I didn't know ‘cause he has no website. His name is Fritz Irrgang which is funny cause his watches are all going right. Very interesting old guy---"  He had gotten up in excitement and now hesitated and looked Trevor in the eyes again. He didn't look annoyed as expected, he was listening, with an amused, soft smile, and half lidded eyes.  "--- but it's almost 2 in the morning so we… can't go now…” Richard continued slowly. “-- it would be rude to get him out of bed---" thoughts trailing off into nonsense as he made sense of what he was seeing. Trevor's eyes weren't just half lidded. They looked tired and unusually reflective, shimmering. Then the angel sniffed.  "I'm fine with tomorrow, if you have time." he smiled, then rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb and sniffed again.

Oh.  Oh no. 

"Trevor, it's almost 10 in London. - You should be asleep."  The Brit laughed quietly at what sounded like honest worry in Richard's voice, though not sneering, really. "You're absolutely right.” he replied with a more firm voice. “- we should both go to bed." he got up and vanished the cups, ignoring the view from the balcony.  He squeezed Richard’s shoulder, then waved at him as he went through the sliding door and into the hotel room. 

Stopping there in the dark, with his back to the air demon, toeing off his socks. Unbuttoning his Barkeeper vest, taking it off. Folding it and placing it neatly on a chair, before beginning to unbutton his dress shirt. 

He tilted his head a little back to the balcony. "Are you coming or do you plan to stay there all night?" 

A speaking, nightly Fata Morgana in the middle of his hotel room.  Unbelievable.  Richard slowly made his way into the room. 

"Please close the door and turn up the thermo, it's as cold in here as out there." 

Richard closed the door and stared at what amounted to an optical illusion. Watched the white shirt slide down over the other man's lightly freckled shoulders, like the casual routine it probably was. Watched him slip out of it, the light from outside enhancing the soft shadows of his spine’s curvature and shoulder blades on the fabric of his close-fitting undershirt. 

This mirage however seemed, though unbelievable, to be physically there. Trevor had not left and he was doing what Richard thought he saw him doing. Unless it was a cruel trick of the light. He could maybe try to reach out for it, touch it even, if he dared.

Trevor was in the process of folding his shirt when he felt two arms wrap around his waist, a chin coming to rest on his shoulder and a chest pressing lightly against his back. The comfort that hit him when he smelled Richard's aftershave almost rolled over him like a wave.  "I'll keep you warm, okay?" The angel nodded into the embrace with a shaky breath. Fingers clutching into the fabric of the shirt, while the arms lowered in defeat.  "This isn't about the watch, is it?"  He felt Richard’s breath at his ear, on his temple, where a few hours earlier glass had cut deep. All pain that had still been there, now suddenly gone. He shook his head slowly, quietly, leaning into the embrace, closing his eyes. Like a hot, sweet tea going down his throat and spreading warmth and courage in his stomach on a cold Canadian night.

Then he felt Richard’s nose tousling his hairline as he kissed the nape of his neck. Gentle lips. A shiver going down his spine, goosebumps flaring up, heart beating faster, but also calmer... somehow. Richard’s hands moved to his belt buckle, until Trevor’s fingers interlocked with his. The angel shook his head almost imperceptibly, one hand still clutching the shirt. “I’d like to…” Trevor whispered hesitantly “... replace some old broken things… with new ones… but gradually...” 

Richard nodded, warm face against the angel’s cold shoulder, taking the shirt out of his hand.  “Gradually…” he replied, folding the shirt against Trevor’s belly, one hand guided by the angel’s.

The shirt appeared neatly onto the chair, as the two men-shaped beings sank into the soft covers of the bed. 

“...I’d like that…” Trevor mumbled curling his back up against Richard’s chest, pulling the demon’s arms tighter around himself. Richard buried his face in the angel’s surprisingly soft hair, breathing calmly, deeply. No gel tonight? He smelt incense and styrax but also salt and a hint of iron. “Sleep well, Trevor.” The tension in the other’s muscles broke away as he relaxed and he felt the skin noticeably heat up. The demon chuckled and kissed the angel behind the ear, before closing his eyes as well. “... thank you, Richard…”

[arcadian-asgardian]

All’s Well That Begins

Written for @theineffablecon Zine!

Read on Ao3

Rating: T (for swearing)

Good Omens TV series, Aziraphale/Crowley, post-not-apocalypse, fluff, holding hands

Summary:

The Apocalypse happened - or rather didn’t - on a Saturday. But there were many Saturdays still after the world had failed to end. On one particular one of them, Crowley decides to take two things into his hands: his courage, and Aziraphale’s hand.

_______________________

Crowley was thinking about ducks.

Specifically, he was wondering whether they could learn to recognise human faces, or human-shaped faces at least. He and Aziraphale were in St James’ Park, where they’d just finished feeding the flock at the pond, and were now enjoying a pleasant stroll along the shore underneath a pastel blue sky.

It was this one black drake. He would try to chuck some crumbs in its direction and every time the bastard thing came flapping and squawking for him like it had a personal vendetta against anything and everything in snakeskin shoes. Damned bird. Presumably it was angry that his bread wasn’t of the exacting quality it was used to from the Iranian ambassador★. It reminded him of a particularly belligerent swan that wouldn’t seem to leave him alone during the Industrial Revolution. Be a shame if something happened to it-

And then the back of Aziraphale’s hand brushed up against his, and suddenly Crowley wasn’t thinking about ducks anymore. Suddenly he wasn’t thinking about anything except that one small patch of his skin that seemed to be hotly tingling, and about the six thousand years and two inches separating it from the angel’s. He didn’t know if he’d be capable of thinking about anything else, ever again.

[[ ★ Or perhaps it had a good memory, and wasn’t fond of being drowned, however briefly.  ]]

He shook his head and tried to remember how to walk. One foot in front of the other, that was it. Like a normal human. His amber eyes stared dead ahead and the offending arm, the movement of which he was now all too aware of, he held stiffly by his side. His other hand was jammed into the tiny pocket of his trousers, where it couldn’t get any ideas of its own. Overall, this had the effect of making him look something like a statue that had been granted movement, though from only the waist down; all legs on the bottom half and stiff as a plank up top. Less discrete passers-by might have compared him to a flamingo.

Aziraphale seemed to float along in comparison, treading lightly with a spring in his step that Crowley didn’t think had been there in the past. The sunlight was lighting up his champagne-coloured curls so brightly they almost hurt to look at, though Crowley was trying valiantly not to make eye contact at this point anyway. He could feel the uncomfortable heat of blood flushing to his face. He just hoped it wasn’t too visible. Rosy cheeks looked cherub-like and endearing on Aziraphale, but just tended to make him look like he’d had a few too many glasses of wine.

By Satan, how he wanted to take the angel’s soft hand in his, and entwine their fingers together and squeeze in a way that said I’m so glad you’re here, with me and stay? be mine?. And then Aziraphale would turn to him and he could flash one of his wicked grins that seemed to please the angel so, and say something suave to make him beam with delight and squeeze his hand back, and they’d walk together hand in hand through the park like they should be doing and the whole world would be so… perfect. He wanted it more than he could believe.

But he was too much of a coward. He’d always been too much of a coward. 6000 years of opportunities to say something, and all he managed was my treat and lift home? Oh sure, he told himself excuses about Hell and Heaven and the dangers of ‘fraternising’, but the blessed truth of it was that he was too afraid. Afraid that Aziraphale didn’t feel that way, that he would go ‘too fast’ and fuck the whole thing up completely. Better to stick to friendship - glorious in its own right - than risk losing one of the few things that made existence worth living.

But… with Hell and Heaven off their backs for good, and a future of possibilities stretching out in front of them… why not? Why couldn’t a demon succumb to a little temptation, seize a chance just for himself instead of Team Evil for once? They didn’t have sides anymore. Aziraphale had already chosen him in every way that really mattered. He could do this. Fuck it. He was going to do it. How much of a mess could he make, really?

Crowley took a deep breath, then reached across the space between them, and looped a slightly-trembling hand around Aziraphale’s.

He immediately regretted his decision.

You idiot, he thought. Why would you do that? That was beyond stupid. He doesn’t feel that way about you. You’re friends. Nothing more. Maybe not even that now, you’ve gone and made it weird and ruined it all-

He felt Aziraphale’s hand shifting within his, and froze. Then, very gently, as one would move not to startle a wary animal, the angel squeezed back. The pressure was hesitant at first, but quickly became firm, insistent even. It felt amazing. Like a final puzzle piece he hadn’t even realised was missing, but now that it had been placed suddenly it turned out the puzzle was actually a masterpiece of art.

Neither of them spoke. A few geese hissed at Crowley as they passed. Slowly, Crowley began to relax. After a few minutes he even remembered to pretend to breathe. Half of his mind seemed to have gone completely blank. The other half was having the expected reaction, which involved a great deal of mental fist-pumping and confetti. He couldn’t really believe he’d finally done it.

His risked a glance over at Aziraphale.

The angel was smiling. Not the simple contented smile that had been inhabiting his face since the War had been averted and they had settled back into some semblance of normalcy. No, this was a wide, delighted and ever-so-slightly smug grin, one Crowley was surprisingly used to seeing, normally after Aziraphale had just twisted his arm for a miracle of some kind, or got him to admit that the dish he’d persuaded him to try was actually quite delicious. He loved that smile.

The angel turned and his blue eyes grazed Crowley’s briefly. Crowley immediately looked away, heat rising to his cheeks again. He thought he heard Aziraphale chuckle quietly in response. So much for acting suave.

Aziraphale shuffled closer to him and their steps locked into the same rhythm. “About time, dear boy,” he muttered.

“You-” Crowley stuttered, dumbfounded. He…? The bastard. The actual bastard. All this time…? And he’s here tearing himself apart and agonising over every little thing and what happened to ‘you go to fast for me, Crowley’ and really how was he supposed to know?

Crowley snorted exasperatedly. Then he sighed. Then, slowly, an eager grin appeared on his face. It didn’t matter really. They could argue about that one later. There would be all the time in the world to argue later. They could walk together like this, two halves joined into a whole, with the sun shining and the Apocalypse averted and a bottle of something-or-other waiting for them back at Aziraphale’s bookshop, and nothing in the world was going to stop them.

He looked over at the angel’s shining face again, and his demonic heart flipped in his chest.

Everything was going to be just perfect.

[gfs-tanks]

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[beeblackburn]

Pretender Reads A Little Hatred, Part I, Chapter Four

For those keeping score, I’m clipping through a chapter-a-day! Goes without saying spoilers ahead for the entirety of The First Law works beyond the keep reading. Read at your own risk.

Chapter Title: Keeping Score Point-of-View: Savine dan Glokta

Glokta once thought this of Valint and Balk:

So this is what true wealth looks like. This is how true power appears. The austere temple of the golden goddess. He watched the clerks working at their neat stacks of documents, at their neat desks arranged in neat rows. There the acolytes, inducted into the lowest mysteries of the church. His eyes flickered to those waiting. Merchants and moneylenders, shopkeepers and shysters, traders and tricksters in long queues, or waiting nervously on hard chairs around the hard walls. Fine clothes, perhaps, but anxious manners. The fearful congregation, ready to cower should the deity of commerce show her vengeful streak. 

—Last Argument of Kings, Too Many Masters

I don’t think he ever anticipated said golden goddess to be walking in the flesh.

But she is no goddess, no. Not of the benevolent kind.

She is the Devil, kin to the devil-blood themselves.

Sparks showered into the night, the heat a constant pressure on Savine’s smiling face. Beyond the yawning doorway, straining bodies and straining machinery were rendered devilish by the glow of molten metal. Hammers clattered, chains rattled, steam hissed, labourers cursed. The music of money being made.

She is Kanedias, overseeing the workers, hot at the forges, seething with production and things that worked, just like him.

One-sixth of the Hill Street Foundry, after all, belonged to her.

Caring naught for humanity, this is another workshop set in Hell, full of Shanka, workers made to do the Master Maker’s bidding.

One of the six great sheds was her property. Two of the twelve looming chimneys. One in every six of the new machines spinning inside, of the coals in the great heaps shovelled in the yard, of the hundreds of twinkling panes of glass that faced the street. Not to mention one-sixth part of the ever-increasing profits. A flood of silver to put His Majesty’s mint to shame.

But, unlike Kanedias, this devil-blood cares more for money than weapons, the work leveraged to profit instead of done for the work itself. And, as the times go, smaller, meaner people walk beyond the shadows of greater people. 

And whose shadow better than the first to commit to the power of coin?

“It was money that bought victory in King Guslav’s half-baked Gurkish war,” said Bayaz. “It was money that united the Open Council behind their bastard king. It was money that brought Duke Orso rushing to the defence of his daughter and tipped the balance in our favour. All my money.”

—Last Argument of Kings, Answers

This devil-blood walks in the shadows of the First of the Magi himself, only further committed to the High Art of making money.

And, on a voice standpoint, just read how much Savine’s POV is precise in the details of her workshop, how much numbers and calculations factors into it. How many longer, lingering sentences and more complex vocabulary there is, compared to Rikke or Leo’s chapters. This is a thinking woman, full of ambition and comfortable in the Other Side.

But, what is a Kanedias without his Jaremias? Or, better yet...

“Best not to loiter, my lady,” murmured Zuri, fires gleaming in her eyes as she glanced about the darkened street.

A Bayaz without his Yoru Sulfur?

She was right, as always. Most young ladies of Savine’s acquaintance would have come over faint at the suggestion of visiting this part of Adua without a company of soldiers in attendance. But those who wish to occupy the heights of society must be willing to dredge the depths from time to time, when they see opportunities glitter in the filth.

“On we go,” said Savine, boot heels squelching as she followed their link-boy’s bobbing light into the maze of buildings. Narrow houses with whole families wedged into every room leaned together, a spider’s web of flapping washing strung between, laden carts rumbling beneath and showering filth to the rooftops. Where whole blocks had not been cleared to make way for the new mills and manufactories, the crooked lanes reeked of coal smoke and woodsmoke, blocked drains and no drains at all. It was a borough heaving with humanity. Seething with industry. And, most importantly, boiling over with money to be made.

Quite the ambitious woman, Savine is, and with the prerequisite lack of scruples that a child of Glokta would have. Yet, Glokta never had this sort of ambition to him, even before the Gurkhul Empire got to him. After, he was just trying to keep his head above water and do his best to win. If I had to put my finger on where Savine gets her ambitions from, first trilogy-wise? I’d say it’s West more than Glokta. Savine shares quite a few characteristics with Glokta, but it’s that need to rise that I feel she shares with her uncle Collem West.

And look at this dense microcosm of the peasantry! Full of squalor, wretched stenches, spaces full of cramped families, it’s a tapestry stitched full of misery, and all Savine sees is that very humanity being put to use for making money.

Savine was by no means the only one who saw it. It was payday, and impromptu merchants swarmed about the warehouses and forges, hoping to lighten the labourers’ purses as they spilled out after work, selling small pleasures and meagre necessities. Selling themselves, if they could only find a buyer.

There were others hoping to lighten purses by more direct means. Grubby little cutpurses weaving through the crowds. Footpads lurking in the darkness of the alleys. Thugs slouching on the corners, keen to collect on behalf of the district’s many moneylenders.

I once read about how the only differences between the great and small thieves is a matter of legality and scale. And it really shows here, how we’ll take advantage of the poor conditions that the working class must endure, only to fill our own pockets. It hardly matters whether we steal with a small pleasure given or a sharp knife at the back, it’s taking advantage of those without much to line our own bottom lines.

Risks, perhaps, and dangers, but Savine had always loved the thrill of a gamble, especially when the game was rigged in her favour. She had long ago learned that at least half of everything is presentation. Seem a victim, soon become one. Seem in charge, people fall over themselves to obey.

So she walked with a swagger, dressed in the dizzy height of fashion, lowering her eyes for no one. She walked painfully erect, although Zuri’s earlier heaving on the laces of her corset gave her little choice. She walked as if it was her street—and indeed she did own five decaying houses further down, packed to their rotten rafters with Gurkish refugees paying twice the going rent.

Then it’s not really a gamble, is it, Savine. That’s stacking the deck, reaping the rewards of it, and patting yourself on the back for being a daring risk-taker, you fool. If that’s the root of your arrogance, then, boy, is this world going to topple you sooner than later because it doesn’t treat the arrogant much better than the merciful. And, boy, is Savine not lacking in arrogance. She reminds me of a pre-bridge Glokta, in terms of how much she buys into her own hype.

An intriguing nugget, though, is her predisposition with presentation. That need to perform and look a certain part. It’s definitely something Glokta, back then, never felt like he had to. I get more shades of West here and his need to perform to a certain standard, but I also think the question of gender has to be considered with how Savine feels she has to perform. It’s an interesting wrinkle in how Savine zigs where Glokta zagged in terms of their respective youths.

Also, Gurkish refugees? (arches a brow) What the hell happened to the Gurkish Empire? Or, are these just people who got tired of the cannibalistic slavery? I can’t really blame them, but is the Union really that much better, guys? Hmmm. Either way, way to take advantage of marginalized people in a racist society, Savine. You’re a class act, m’am, truly.

Zuri was a great reassurance on one side, Savine’s beautifully wrought short steel a great reassurance on the other. Many young ladies had been affecting swords since Finree dan Brock caused a sensation by wearing one to court. Savine found that nothing lent one confidence like a length of sharpened metal close to hand.

Whoa, whoa. Finree wears a sword nowadays? ... Actually, given how Hal’s dead, I can definitely see this as a way to establish authority and put herself on the same level of respect as a man in the Union. And, given how much there’s institutional sexism in that society, I can’t really blame her. Though, given the round of PTSD she got last handling a blade... I’m sure she doesn’t want to actually kill anyone with it now. 

Honestly, though, good for Savine and those women of the Union. Better weigh your hopes of safety on a sword than the mercies of your men or enemies.

Savine gathered her skirts so she could squat beside him and look in his dirt-smeared face. She wondered if he sponged the muck on as artfully as her maids did her powder, to arouse just the right amount of sympathy. Clean children need no charity, after all.

Wow, Savine, has it ever occurred to you that the conditions you benefit off of aren’t as pristine as you make it out to be? Have you considered that maybe the world isn’t a projection of your own inclinations to performance? 

Just no empathy here, none at all.

She was not at all above sentimental displays of generosity. The whole point of squeezing one’s partners in private was so they could do the squeezing in public. Savine, meanwhile, could smile ever so sweetly, and toss coins to an urchin or two, and appear virtuous without the slightest damage to her bottom line. When it comes to virtue, after all, appearances are everything.

The boy stared at the silver as though it was some legendary beast he had heard of but never hoped to see. “For me?”

She knew that in her button and buckle manufactory in Holsthorm, smaller and probably dirtier children were paid a fraction as much for a long day’s hard labour. The manager insisted little fingers were best suited to little tasks, and cost only little wages, too. But Holsthorm was far away, and things in the distance seem very small. Even the sufferings of children.

“For you.” She did not go as far as ruffling his hair, of course. Who knew what might be living in it?

I’m very reminded of capitalists donating to particular charities while turning a blind eye to the very real exploitation and labor abuse they perpetuate and are supported by. They can afford to look virtuous and get ass-pats for giving what’s effectively their pocket change, but god forbid they do things like get taxed heavier or give enough to put a good dent in most cases of institutional poverty. It’s all about appearances, and so long as you close your mind to the golden pillars, stained with blood, your entire enterprise is supported on, you can justify any means for profit.

And what frightens me about this is... this isn’t some relic from the past. Child labor is still a thing world-wide! And plenty of capitalists rely on them, plenty of our industries rely on them, just to squeeze out extra money to gild their bottom line. And we turn a blind eye on them and ignore the moral horrors of them out of convenience, because to look those children in the eye would make us monsters. And Savine prefers not to feel like a monster, but is more than willing to keep up the hellish circumstances that churn out her money.

“None more blessed, my scripture-teacher once declared, than those who light the way for others.”

“Was that the one who fathered a child on one of his other pupils?”

“That’s him.” Zuri’s black brows thoughtfully rose. “So much for spiritual instruction.”

Zuri’s certainly got a character, being a more cynical follower of religion, huh. I wonder if she’s been disillusioned by her faith, just like Temple was. And why she went to the atheist arms of the Union. I also wonder if this isn’t a commentary on how our religious leaders end up falling short of the actual beliefs and commit to the obscene and awful while papering it over with their high position.

Zuri whipped out a cloth and wiped down a vacant section of the counter, then, as Savine sat, she slipped out the pin and whisked away her hat without disturbing a hair. She kept it close to her chest, which was prudent. Savine’s hat was probably worth more than this entire building, including the clientele. At a brief assay, they only reduced its value.

And who’s partly responsible for that discrepancy of worth, huh, Savine?

She planted one elbow on the stretch of counter Zuri had wiped so she could lean closer and draw out both syllables. “Savine.”

“That’s a lovely name.”

“Oh, if you enjoy the tip, you’ll go mad for the whole thing.”

“That so?” he purred at her. “How does it go?”

“Savine… dan…” And she leaned even closer to deliver the punchline. “Glokta.”

If a name had been a knife and she had cut his throat with hers, the blood could not have drained more quickly from his face. He gave a strangled cough, took a step back and nearly fell over one of his own barrels.

Well, well, well! Glokta’s gotten quite the name for himself, it seems! Can’t exactly be surprised, given he’s the effective ruler of the Union and the Arch Lector of the Inquisition, but it’s a far cry from the simple Inquisitor he started off as, way back at the first trilogy’s start. He’s riding high at the top and Savine gets to use his name to put the screws on random dumbfucks.

Quite theatrical with her words, Savine is! She knows when to let her opponent in, so she can skewer him. Her fencing is such that she knows how to leverage her father’s name to a fine emotional stab to the throat once her opponent dips in and she lunges for the kill. Say one thing about Savine dan Glokta, say she knows how to fence, just like her father.

“If I spent all my time shut up with Mother, we would kill each other,” said Savine. “And I feel that business should be conducted, whenever possible, in person. Otherwise one’s partners can convince themselves that one’s eyes are not on the details. My eyes are always on the details, Majir.”

Oh, dang. Is that exaggeration or do Savine and Ardee not have a good relationship? Also, dang, is Ardee still alone in her home? That’s... actually really sad, given how lonely she was at the first trilogy’s start. She deserves better. 

Also, Savine’s not wrong, but at the same time, I can’t read this as anything other than Savine not wanting her partners to fuck her over somewhere. Which, I can’t quite blame her for, but when she’s as rich as she’s implied to be...

My understanding runs thinner. Though, I suppose she wouldn’t have gotten the wealth she did by being a passive business partner that way.

“A promissory note from the banking house of Valint and Balk.”

“Really?” Valint and Balk had a dark reputation, even for a bank. Savine’s father had often warned her never to deal with them, because once you owe Valint and Balk, the debt is never done. But a promissory note was just money, and money can never be a bad thing. She tossed the pouch to Zuri, who peered inside and gave the smallest nod. “It’s coming to something when even the bandits are using the bank.”

Majir mildly raised one brow. “Honest women have the law to protect them. Bandits must take more care with their earnings.”

!!!!! WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. Is that a smart call, Majir? Glokta’s not wrong there!!! There’s half a trilogy detailing how awful that bank is! 

Savine, what are you doing. For such a ruthless and to-the-point woman, that’s pretty naive to assume money is money when your father himself warned you against it! Banks have ruined better people than you, and it’s indebted your father! How can you say something like that and think it smart?

(Bangs head against desk)

“True.” Majir watched her turn away, big fists pressed into the counter. “Do pass my regards to your father.”

Savine laughed. “Let’s not demean ourselves by pretending my father gives a dry fuck for your regards.” And she blew a kiss at the terrified barman on her way out.

This, along with her pinching Majir’s cheek earlier, makes me think Savine just gets off on punching down and patronizing people lower than her. Makes for a killer ending line, but it doesn’t suggest any good things about Savine as a person at all.

Dietam dan Kort, famed architect, was a man who gave every appearance of being in control. His desk, scattered with maps, surveys and draughtsman’s drawings, was certainly a wonder of engineering. Savine had moved among the most powerful men in the realm and still doubted she had ever seen a larger. It filled his office so completely, there was only the narrowest of passages around the edges to reach his chair. He must have needed help to squeeze himself through every morning. She wondered if she should recommend her corset-maker.

“Lady Savine,” he intoned. “What an honour.”

“Isn’t it, though?” She made him lean dangerously far across the desk in order to kiss her hand. Savine studied his, meanwhile, big and broad with fingers scarred from hard work. A self-made man. His greying hair was painstakingly scraped across a pate quite obviously bald. A proud and a vain man. She noticed a slight fraying of the cuffs on his once-splendid coat. A man in straitened circumstances, intent on appearing otherwise.

In short, a man Savine will take pleasure in wringing. And I must take note of the passages here, how much Savine’s POV attends to the details of her surroundings, of the appearance and small notes that others would miss. In a lot of ways, she’s the opposite of Leo, someone who takes pains to note the presentation of another because she’s very driven to it herself and thinks to leverage that knowledge to squeeze those who can be.

Also, I kind of wonder if noble titles can be bought in this world, given this assumption of Dietam dan Kort as a self-made man. Either that or Kort’s just a son from a smaller family who managed to get a good opportunity through this new age. Either way, given the way Savine’s accumulated her wealth, despite her noble title of Glokta, I imagine he’s similar to her, if only not as successful.

Zuri placed Majir’s pouch on the desk as delicately as if it had been deposited by a summer breeze. It looked very small on that immense expanse of green leather. But that was the magic of banks. They could render the priceless tiny, the immense worthless.

I’m reminded of Daniel Abraham’s The Dagger and the Coin and how the big twist was this dawn of paper money about to circulate throughout the world. And how it’s a sort of magic in its own right... but it’s always a blessing and curse, just like magic in the Circle of the World. 

“Of course!” He was unable to disguise a note of eager greed as he reached across the desk. “I believe we agreed a twentieth share—”

Savine placed one fingertip on the corner of the pouch. “You mentioned a twentieth. I remained silent.”

His hand froze. “Then…?”

“A fifth.”

There was a pause. While he decided how outraged he could afford to be, and Savine decided how little to appear to care.

Eager greed, huh? Me thinks, the raven call the crow black here. And there’s another note of projection in Savine’s POV, it’s a consistent note of Savine seeing intent where there might not be. She does it with the link-boy about how dirty he was, and now, she does it with Kort’s outrage. She just can’t seem to think that these reactions and people are genuine. Her head’s full of presentation and performance, and she just seems to internalize that there’s always a double-meaning to everything and everyone.

It’s honestly a really fascinating note about how unreliable Savine might be, how much her predilection with appearances bleeds into how much she reads into the world.

“When I confide, in strictest confidence, that you are short of investment, lacking the necessary permissions and troubled by restless workmen, it will be all over town before sunup.”

“Sure as printing it in a pamphlet,” said Zuri, sadly.

“Good luck finding an investor then, reasonable or otherwise.”

It had only taken a moment for Kort to go from bright red to deathly pale, and Savine burst out laughing. “Don’t be silly, I won’t do that!” She stopped laughing. “Because you are going to sign one-fifth of your enterprise over to me. Now. Then I can confide in Tilde that I just made the investment of a lifetime, and she won’t be able to resist investing herself. She’s not only loose-lipped, you see, but tight-fisted, too.”

Oh, very hard power here, Savine. Corporate blackmail and underhanded threats, I very well see. It must do your black heart a bundle of joy to punch down on fellow nobles. There’s barely any carrot here, mostly the stick.

“Greed is a quality the priests abhor.” Zuri sighed. “Especially the rich ones.”

“But so widespread these days,” lamented Savine. “If Lady Rucksted sees some gain in it, I daresay she can persuade her husband to make a breach in Casamir’s Wall so you can extend your canal into the Three Farms.” And Savine could sell the worthless slum buildings she had bought on the canal’s likely route back to herself at an immense profit. “The marshal’s notoriously stubborn for most of us but to his wife he’s a pussycat. You know how it is with old men and their young brides.”

In a lot of ways, this feels like a statement of the new generation, the new wave of greed that Sult disdained way back at the trilogy’s start is in full swing now. Now, Sult was a classist bigot who wanted the peasantry to knuckle down to nobility like old times, but at the same time, we see how much this attitude of greed has bled into the nobility themselves now, far beyond the realms of the merchants Sult once held in contempt. And Savine plays to get ahead of the others, already thinking reaches ahead of her competition here. Profit’s the name of the game, and she’s a natural hand at it...

“The first to do so.” Where it could service Savine’s three textile mills and the Hill Street Foundry, incidentally, and sharply raise their productivity. “I daresay—for a friend—I could even arrange a visit of His Majesty’s Inquisitors to a labour meeting. I imagine your troublesome workers will be far more pliable after a few stern examples are made.”

“Stern examples,” threw in Zuri, “are something the priests are always in favour of.”

... Though it doesn’t hurt to have father’s institutions as muscle to sweeten the pot, huh. Really, Savine, this is embarrassing if you think this is a fair game between you and Kort. You stacked the deck and have the dealer on your side and I imagine this wasn’t the first time you’ve leveraged the Inquisition in your business deals. (snorts)

Kort sagged, his chin settling into the roll of fat beneath it, his eyes fixed resentfully upon her. Clearly, he was not a man who liked to lose. But where would be the fun in beating men who did?

Savine really gets her kicks off punching down people lower than her. That’s like, an inherent part of her psychology, huh.

“A notary from the firm of Temple and Kahdia is already drawing up the papers. He will be in touch.” She turned towards the door.

Hey! Temple’s business! Sounds like he’s done well for himself since Red Country, I hope he’s doing well with Shy, Pit, and Ro! Though, dang, Temple, could your business not help out a woman like Savine?

“They warned me,” Kort grunted as he slid Valint and Balk’s note from the pouch. “That you care about nothing but money.”

“Why, what a pompous crowd they are. Beyond a point I passed long ago, I don’t even care about money.” Savine flicked the brim of her hat in farewell. “But how else is one to keep score?”

Oh, oh my. I know I’ve mentioned Kanedias, Bayaz, and West, but this part? This part? All Sand dan Glokta, down on a bone-deep level. This is the part of Glokta that just loved to lord his dominance over those who couldn’t punch back. The part that just loved to feel superior to everyone else, way back back at that bridge when he thrashed those fencers and wanted to wound West when his own blood was drawn. The part of him that can’t stand to lose, the need to win at all cost.

It’s all about the conquest with her and her father. There’s no higher-minded purpose behind it, it’s just the winning.

As a chapter, Keeping Score, is a microcosm of Savine’s character. There’s an arc in it, but not as strong as one as Where the Fight’s Hottest, nor is it quite as impactful as Blessings and Curses. But it has plenty of Abercrombie snark and some great starting fencing, though, with opponents that Savine can easily take down without much effort. But it sets up a great industrial age sweeping over Adua and how much that change’s going to affect the world going forward... and how Savine’s going to take that change by the tails. 

As a character... Savine’s 100% more interesting than Leo in a lot of ways, but at the same time, wow, is she just a spectacularly scummy person in most ways Leo just isn’t (aside from him being a oblivious musclehead). A capitalist who leverages her father in power plays and corporate blackmail, just to gain even more wealth that she doesn’t need out of a need to win. There are definitely interesting aspects to how Savine differs from her father and her historical DNAs, but in a lot of ways? She feels very reminiscent of pre-bridge Glokta in a way that makes me realize that man would’ve been downright insufferable as a POV. 

I can take Savine, because I definitely think she’s got a ton of potential and, you know, there’s no way Abercrombie would let her stay the same the entire book. Though, a curious thought is that Savine strikes me less a fantasy archetype than a modern archetype in a fantasy world. Hm. That’s an interesting thought, especially considering how much Temple was a modern character dropped in a fantasy western world.

PART I

Chapter One: Blessings and Curses Chapter Two: Where the Fight’s Hottest Chapter Three: Guilt Is a Luxury Chapter Four: Keeping Score Chapter Five:  A Little Public Hanging Chapter Six: The Breakers Chapter Seven: The Answer to Your Tears Chapter Eight: Young Heroes Chapter Nine: The Moment

[egan19680416-blog]

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[khiphop-stories]

Getting Off On The Wrong Foot

[Christian Yu | Chapter II]

“This is your last,” your friend told you in a stern tone, as he placed the glass filled with amber liquid down onto the table. With a sigh you stared at the swirling liquor. Maybe it wasn’t the best decision to go to your friend’s bar to get drunk. 

“I haven’t even had that many,” you protested, while raising the glass to your lips to take a sip. A sour taste slipped into your mouth, making you contort your face. Ju Kyung shook his head at you with a soft chuckle. “Your tolerance is about as high as my bank account.”

“You already spent all your money, huh?” “Dating really is not cheap at all,” he complained, followed by light laughter. He might whine a lot about his relationship, but the truth was you had never seen him this happy. His girlfriend brought the perfect balance to his otherwise chaotic lifestyle. He used to spend most of his time at clubs and bars getting wasted like there was no tomorrow. But nowadays he only went to clubs for work purposes, either when he had a gig or to check on the bar that he owned.

“It’s my set now. You’re gonna be ok?” He asked as a worried expression spread across his face. He inspected your face closely to check if you were still in a condition to look after yourself. 

“Sure, go ahead,” you assured him with a wide smile. You weren’t actually that drunk, at least not as drunk as you wanted to be. You still had a clear mind and your thoughts keep circling around the very thing you wanted to forget the most, but no matter how hard you tried it just kept haunting you.

~*~

You raised your eyes at the man taking the stool next to yours. A surprised look appearing on your face. You didn’t expect to see him again so soon, or even at all.

“Kwon Minhee,” you said your name out loud as though introducing yourself which gained you a raised brow from him.

“In case you forgot again,” you gave him a teasing smirk, before turning your eyes back to the half-filled glass in front of you.

Christian chuckled at you, nodding his head in defeat. He still hadn’t get used to your quick-wittedness and bluntness. 

“I did not.“

“Oh so you didn’t come here, because you thought I was an easy target?” You gave him a taunting look, your voice filled with mockery. 

“No, I came here because I recognized you. Ironic, isn’t it?“ You lifted one of your brows, giving him a skeptical look. You would be a fool to believe anything that was coming out of his mouth. 

“I thought you could use some company since you’re here by yourself,“ he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Oh thank you for your graciousness saving my from my loneliness.” You rolled your eyes at him, the sarcasm clearly evident in your voice. “You’re still mad that I didn’t recognize you, aren’t you?” “We had back to back meetings. Filmed for three straight days. Yet you still had no idea who I was. I’m not mad. I feel disrespected,“ you told him honestly. Working and earning success in a predominantly male industry was more difficult that you would ever have imagined. In the years you had tried to make a name for yourself you had been disrespected, ridiculed, not taken seriously and sexualized. It was the roughest time in your life which made you doubt yourself and want to give up countless times. You thought you were past this, since you had risen to an important figure in this industry. Yet here was this newbie who didn’t have a name for himself nor a big company backing him up, acting so arrogant and with that he disrespected all of your achievements. “I really am sorry. It’s just…The girl I used to date was very controlling and jealous. She’d always feel intimidated by girls whom she thought were prettier than her. She would flip tables whenever I talked to a girl that wasn’t her. I respect you. I really do. Working on the project together with you opened doors for me. I just closed my eyes and purposely didn’t look at you to save myself from getting into trouble.”

You eyed him up and down, inspecting him closely, but you couldn’t read him. You weren’t sure what his motives were. Was he really being genuine or was he just trying to get on your good side? Because having a friend in this industry was always better than having an enemy; or maybe he was just trying to get into your pants. 

“You don’t believe a word I’m saying, do you?“ 

“Can you blame me?“ You retorted with a short chuckle. 

“I know I don’t have the best reputation out there, but this is not personal, it’s purely about work. I’m apologizing because I owe you one as a fellow colleague. I learned a lot when I was working with you. You were one of the few who trusted me and my vision, even though I didn’t have anything to my name.“

You examined his face with furrowed brows, before letting out a brief sigh. “Apology accepted,“ you nodded your head approvingly and then you released a little smile. It was weird. As he was looking at you now, he could feel his heart jump a little, because the smile on your lips now was different to the others he had received. it was genuine.

“I’m actually surprised that you remembered me,” he then said out of the blue when he caught his composure again. He said it without thinking. It was the first thing that came to his mind. He just wanted to capture your attention so he could keep talking to you.

“Unlike you I don’t have a short-term memory,” you chuckled at him.

“No, I mean…prior to that project, I wasn’t really well known in the industry. I was just a newbie who lucked out to be working on such a huge project. Was I that memorable?” He asked you, the mischievous tone evident in his voice.

Yes, he was, but your ego wouldn’t allow you to ever admit it to him. 

He was right, you had worked with all kinds of big names in the industry and although he had no representative work, he still left a deep impression on you. He was easy-going and incredibly professional. He treated all the staff members, no matter the age or gender, with utmost respect. On the day of the shoot, the air conditioning was broken. While everyone was whining about the unbearable heat, yourself included, you didn’t hear one word of complaint leaving his lips. Instead he worked even harder, cracking jokes and making a fool out of himself to lift up the mood in the studio. You admired his work ethic and professionalism, but that wasn’t the only reason he stayed in your mind. It was his vision and imagination that made you admire him. It was so easy to work with him, because he understood what you wanted in an instant.

“It’s called professionalism,” you stuck your tongue out at him.

“You’re forgiven. You can leave now,” you added wondering why he was still here. The misunderstanding was sorted out, he had no reason any more to keep you company. “I don’t want to.”

“What?” “I enjoy talking to you…and looking at you. You’re pleasing to the eye.” “So, that’s Christian Yu in action. Do you always get your way speaking like that?” You rolled your eyes. 

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

“You’re a smooth talker,” you acknowledged. 

And then suddenly he noticed a change in your expression. There was a look on your face which he hadn’t seen before. The confidence you were oozing vanished all at once, instead you looked vulnerable, agony reflected in your beautiful brown eyes.

You weren’t looking at him anymore. You looked straight past him. He turned his head to the side, trying to follow your gaze. But he couldn’t find what had caught your attention. It was too dark and crowded in the bar.

“Are you okay?“ There was concern in his voice.

“I’m good,“ you released a smile. Then you leaned forward, the loose t-shirt you were wearing slipped down your arm, revealing you bare shoulders.

You noticed how Christian’s eyes slowly flickered from your lips down to your exposed shoulder as he unconsciously let his tongue trail along his bottom lip. His intentions were too obvious. You knew exactly what was going through his mind right now. Maybe he was easy to read after all. 

Christian gulped down hard. He stared at you silently, not being able to tear his eyes away from you. 

Your head was angled slightly to the side, as you slowly leaned in closer, your lips only inches apart from his own. He could feel your warm breath against his lips, making his heart beat faster, excited about what would happen next. Christian sat frozen, his senses flooded by your smell that he couldn’t think straight. Soon enough, your lips touched. Not wasting even a second, he deepened the kiss, unable to resist. He clutched his hands unto your hips, pulling you off of the chair, leaning you against his muscular body. He trapped you in between his legs, his hands smoothly finding the way beneath your t-shirt. Your hands worked their way around his body. You ran your fingers down his spine, pulling him even closer if that was possible. Now, you could feel the beating of his heart against your chest.

You pulled apart and took shaky, shallow breaths. He looked into your eyes.

“Are you sure?“ “You started this, might as well end it,“ you challenged him.

Unable to contain himself anymore, Christian held your head in his hands and pulled you into a fiery kiss. Yes, it was weird that you had suddenly changed your mind out of nowhere. But the way you took control, turned him on even more and he didn’t care anymore. He had you were he wanted, willing to give yourself to him. He wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away because of overthinking.

~*~

When he woke up the next morning, he found himself in an empty bed much to his disappointment. His apartment looked exactly the way he had left it, almost as though last night didn’t happen. If it wasn’t for the hickeys on his body, he wouldn’t even be too sure if you were really here with him just a few hours ago. Christian turned his head to the side, staring at the empty spot on his bed. He recalled how you had him squirming under your touch at the very same spot. Never before had he begged for his release, like you made him. He could still smell your perfume on his bed sheets and it made him crave all the more for you.