#Kavala city

[onarangel]

Door in Kavala,Greece

[wraioskosmos]

Εγώ, εσύ και αυτή η θέα...

[aretis]

#kavala #city #greece

📸 @bart_ferdynus

#greeksummer #summer2023

[bizarrebazaar13]

yeah I wish the description was clearer about this. even just like “you’ve lived in London your whole life but this is a new city now” idk I’m not a game marketer. something to clarify that the game works on the assumption that the player is english.

i'm just. i know i should give mask another chance now that the pacing is fixed but im still kinda bitter over things.

Like i know I already made a post on it but the literal description of the game makes it seem like you can pick who you are!!! ‘who were you before the Fall? Who will you be now?’ sounds nice, but the reality is ‘who will you be’ can only be christian and english. This was an issue I had hoped wouldn’t be carried over as much from Fallen London, but the capability for the suspension of disbelief of being anything else is worse here due to the dialogue. I understand limiting the scope of writing if you feel you are unable to write anything else properly, but this needs to be specified at least in the backgrounds or the description.

 It is always disheartening to be presented with a game that aims to advertise its option of playing as ‘yourself’, which then turns with the expectation of only one type of person. It is a shame the game will not let you be of an  Irish, Jewish, Scottish, etc. background, with the added aspect of those types of characters being present in the game making it all more confounding. Having a diverse cast does not feel as meaningful when the game doesn’t let you, as the player, be a character of your own background.

[blueiscoool]

The Marble Head of Apollo Unearthed in Greece

The excavation, carried out by a group of students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the archaeological site of Philippi Kavala, brought to light important findings. Among other things, they discovered a rare head of Apollo dating back to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD.

The statue dates back to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD and it probably adorned an ancient fountain.

Natalia Poulos, Professor of Byzantine Archaeology, led the excavation, which included fifteen students from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (11 undergraduates, 2 master’s, and 2 PhD candidates), Assistant Docent Anastasios Tantsis, and Professor Emeritus of Byzantine Archaeology Aristotle Mendzo.

Archaeologists say, this year the excavation continued east of the southern main road (decumanus) at the point where it meets the northern axis of the city (the so-called “Egnatia”). The continuation of the marble-paved road was revealed, on the surface of which a coin (bronze phyllis) of the emperor Leo VI (886-912) was found, which helps to determine the duration of the road’s use. At the point where the two streets converge, a widening (square) seems to have been formed, dominated by a richly decorated building.

Archaeologists say evidence from last year’s excavations leads them to assume it was a fountain. The findings of this year’s research confirm this view and help them better understand its shape and function.

The research of 2022 brought to light part of the rich decoration of the fountain with the most impressive statue depicting Hercules as a boy with a young body.

The recent excavation (2023) revealed the head of another statue: it belongs to a figure of an ageneous man with a rich crown topped by a laurel leaf wreath. This beautiful head seems to belong to a statue of the god Apollo. Like the statue of Hercules, it dates from the 2nd or early 3rd century AD and probably adorned the fountain, which took its final form in the 8th to 9th centuries.

In classical Greek and Roman religion and mythology, Apollo is one of the Olympian gods. He is revered as a god of poetry, the Sun and light, healing and illness, music and dance, truth and prophecy, and archery, among other things.

Philip II, King of Macedon, founded the ancient city of Philippi in 356 BC on the site of the Thasian colony of Crenides near the Aegean Sea. The archaeological site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 for its outstanding Roman architecture, urban layout as a smaller reflection of Rome itself, and significance in early Christianity.

By Oguz Buyukyildirim.

[travelingare]

📍Kavala,Greece 🇬🇷

The city of Kavala is built on a hillside along the Aegean coast, a cultural crossroads between East and West that has everything you could want in a destination and more. mountains, beaches, perfect cityscapes, amazing views, important monuments and sites, delicious local cuisine and amazing places to discover within a short distance.

#kavala #kavalacity #greece

🎥:@johnnyxatz #travel #tourism #air #drone #dji #summer #sea#travelingare

[xplorasblog]

Meet and Greet

Hello!!! Nice to see you here!! Let us introduce ourselves. We are not just a sightseeing company. Xplora is a team of passionate and innovative individuals who are committed to delivering exceptional products and services tailored to meet your specific needs. With a dedicated focus on quality and customer satisfaction, we work tirelessly to create unforgettable experiences for you. Our team is driven by a deep passion for what we do, and we take great pride in our ability to innovate and exceed expectations. Whether you're looking for a simple city audio guided walk or an adventurous hiking and horse riding excursion, our brands are equipped to provide a wide range of activities and experiences. At the core of our mission is a commitment to excellence, and we believe that this commitment is reflected in everything we do. We understand that you expect nothing but the best, and we go above and beyond to ensure that every product and service we offer meets the highest standards. This dedication to quality is evident in the meticulous attention to detail that we apply to every aspect of our work. Customer satisfaction is also a top priority for us. Our range of offerings is designed to cater to a diverse set of interests and preferences. Whether you're seeking a leisurely cultural experience or an adrenaline-fueled adventure, our brands can deliver a wealth of options to suit your desires. With an extensive network of partners and resources, we are able to offer a multitude of sights and activities to choose from. That's why we are always asking... Where Do You Want To Go Today?

www.xplora.city

#Kavala #Xplora #WhereDoYouWantToGoToday #CityTours #OutdoorActivities #TourWithUs #XploreMore

[a-world-with0ut-dr34ms]

Betty et Zorg

From Control - Full Story in Progress on AO3!

Soap x Reader, hints of Ghost x Reader x Graves

Soap seems adamant to make sure you have a goodnight, regardless of how much you try and turn him away. Meanwhile, Ghost's thoughts on you start to take a sudden shift, as he grows more suspicious of your transfer to the team...

Tags: Fluff, Angst, Slow Burn, Flirting, Banter, Trying to write like a corny romance a little, gets a bit steamy by the end, no smut though, ends with a steamy make-out session, Graves is your ex, Soap is a gentleman, Ghost is longing, reader is sad

A/N: This is basically the reader had a little emotional event happen to them and Soap's there to cheer them up. Just some fluff that gets a little steamy by the end. I almost made it smut but I had to restrain myself (for the slow burn). (｀∀´)Ψ

Word Count: 6.5k

Masterlist

The cold night air wisps over you, as you stand a ways off from the café. Your phone's clasped in your hands so tightly that you couldn't tell if they were shaking from that or the cool breeze itself. Though your mind races too much for you to care about it.

Your breathing has settled down more since your sudden departure from inside; it's the only thing you've felt able to control anymore. With that calmed, it provides you a moment to yourself to ease your racing mind, which was still processing what had happened.

Now that you were away, frankly, you couldn't even believe it.

For a moment there, you thought you were back in Kavala, inside that apartment again. You could still hear the shouts from Onyx, along with the cries from his wife, and your own team shouting orders out over the chaos. Every negative emotion that coursed through you in that moment came flooding back like a busted dam, its crashing waves constraining you, leaving you frozen.

You've been having nightmares about it lately, sure. Shitty sleep was always something you've been prone to, though you'd hoped for these dreams to just be some sort of phase, like everything else. Instead they've only manifested into what happened tonight -- something worse, something new to you completely.

And you hardly recognize yourself anymore.

Unsure of what to do, you open up your contact list and begin to scroll, until your eyes settle on a name that kept popping back into your mind all night -- Phillip.

You haven't heard from Graves since you transferred over. Not that you blame him; you haven't exactly made any attempts to reach out to him either. The way you two left things off certainly left a lot to be desired.

Yet despite everything, you weren't sure who else to talk to anymore; you'd gotten used to having him around to bend his ear about things. And you may not be sleeping together anymore, but you liked to believe some modicum of care between you two still existed. It did for you, at least.

You dial your commander's number in almost instinctively. And as you expected, you listened to the other end ring, and ring, and ring.

And ring.

Until you're finally greeted by the answering machine.

"Please leave a message after the tone."

Your phone lets out a resounding beep, and you hesitate to speak, letting the seconds you had to leave a message dwindle by. Debating whether or not this was even a good idea from the start.

Who's to say Graves even wanted to talk to you anymore? And who's to say you would have even been honest with him about tonight at all, had he gone around and actually answered your call.

"Hey uh..." You hug your arms together, keeping your phone pressed between your cheek and shoulder, as your back leaned against the café wall. Light gray clouds were beginning to break in the night sky above, the moonlight casting over the city streets, as the passing cars fly by. With the sky opening up, you see an array of stars not yet drowned out by the city's pollution. Your eyes bounce between them, thinking of your words in their glow.

"It's Y/N," you finally start. "I know it's been a little while... and it's pretty late, but I was just calling to see if you were up and maybe wanted to talk for a bit. I'm sure you're all doing fine without me there now, but... I was just hoping... well, I... I miss-"

Beep!

The message ends before you can finish that thought. A small part of you wishes you hadn't started it at all.

You slip your phone back in your pocket, before wrapping your arms around yourself again. The café doors open next to you, having been doing so on occasion since you'd stepped out. You paid no mind to it now, much like you had been doing already. However...

"Canary?"

...You hadn't expected Soap to be the one to emerge from the café next. You didn't look forward to having to explain yourself to your new teammate about your little episode. You were really hoping they wouldn't follow you out to begin with.

However, you should have known Soap never would have let someone in his team storm out like that without saying something. That's just not the kind of guy he is.

Soap approaches you, though he halts when he sees his sudden appearance cause you to recoil. So instead, the Sergeant settles with standing some feet away, wearing a patient smile.

"Are you OK?" he asked. His voice was much softer than you've heard it before. Almost worried. Like a child afraid to offend you. Soap showed you genuine concern, and hearing it in his voice only made you feel all the more embarrassed.

"Yeah, I'm just peachy, Soap. I-..." you shuffle about a bit in your stance, trying to straighten yourself out and keep things short. "I'm probably just going to walk back home actually..."

Bringing yourself to actually look over at the man felt a tireless battle to win. The passing cars feel far easier to gaze at, though it mattered not where you looked, the lump in your throat just wouldn't rid itself.

Two nights. Two nights in a row now that someone in the Task Force has seen you so unprofessional and out of sorts. And twice has it happened now where one of them has felt obligated to check in on you after. Concerned for you even. Pitying you.

Humiliated didn't even begin to describe what you felt right now.

"I'm sorry..." you voice is damn near a raspy whisper. You let out a defeated chuckle. "This is all just really stupid, honestly. I'm just... being stupid."

Soap chuckles. "No you're not."

You almost say something mean to him, more of a guarded reflex than anything with meaning. However, you bite your tongue, knowing he didn't deserve to be the conduit to your flurry of emotions. Soap wasn't trying to overstep by any means, it wouldn't make sense to be upset that he's concerned for your wellbeing.

So you say nothing instead. That's always been easy enough to do.

You're quiet for a notable while, not sure as to how to reply to him. It's not every day you feel this way; For all the Task Force knows though, this is just who you are. Great...

Only this wasn't you. Not at all. You've never been this sad all the time before. Never been someone to dissociate into a bad memory and relive the negative moments. And you would never enjoy having the others take pity on you, nor see you struggle not to cry. This was never you, until now, and the same fears start to circle in your mind. Fears you've recently developed.

Was this the slow decline of yourself that you were too late to stop?

Soap's voice came unexpectedly over the background noise and your own screaming thoughts.

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to," he said. "I just wanted to make sure you were OK. Or if you needed anything, or..."

His words begin to trail when he notices the sudden sorrow strike your face. It breaks your heart to hear him say that for some reason, as guilt suddenly consumes you. Guilt for all your inabilities beside your comrades. Guilt for feeling this way. It tugs tears from you, which you quickly wipe away, before turning your face from Soap altogether.

This in turn only made the Scotsman begin to panic, who was now raising his hands up defensively and bumbling over his words. "Ah!" Soap gasps. "I didn't mean-"

"I'm sorry," you clear your throat and aggressively wipe your tears away now. "Just ignore me, I'm being a drama queen... I'm sorry..."

Soap laughs to himself suddenly, respectfully so. "You don't have to say sorry, ya dafty."

You suck your nose in. "But I am..." 

"You're daft?" Soap teases now.

"No," You turn your head to him, wide-eyed with tears still brimming at the corners, your lips pouting childishly. You pick up on the Sergeant's quizzical nature the moment your eyes meet again. "I was sorry..."

"Well..." Soap thinks for a second, though it's not a long one. "I forgive you."

You smack your lips together, almost as though you had expected him to say something like that. Which you did. Of course he would. And of course it only made you feel more emotional. Though this time you've figured out how to bottle it in, keeping quiet.

"Well hey," Soap announces, an idea having come to the man, guessing by the way his stormy eyes and cheeky smile suddenly lit up. "How 'bout we walk back home together, then."

He's persistent, you'll give him that. The more he pushes, the more you feel yourself closer to succumbing to him. As much as you'd like to believe you'd rather be alone right now, you both knew that wasn't true. In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth.

Soap seems to have a better read on you than you'd thought.

"What about Ghost?" you ask. Lord knows what he must be thinking right now, sitting by himself inside, waiting. It was Ghost who saw the whole thing in the first place too. You doubted he wanted to be anywhere near you, honestly.

Soap chuckles however. "He'll come too, of course," he says. "Not to disappoint you. I know you'd rather me all to yourself, but alas, we'll just have to save the one-on-one for another night."

And then he winks at you.

You let out a little laugh beneath your breath, covering your mouth with your hand daintily. It warms Soap to see it; seeing your smile had been his goal the minute he stepped outside and saw you still here. And he always was a natural at lifting up moods.

"You don't have to do that," you say, still allowing the man to step back if he wished.

"I want to," he says. The certainty behind his words makes your heart unknowingly skip a beat.

"Are you sure?" you ask him one more time. "If you two want to enjoy the night still, please do. I'm a responsible adult, I think I can make it back safely."

"Eh, don't worry about it," his smile softens. "The night wouldn't feel the same without you anyway."

Eventually, you allow yourself to really look at Soap. He's kept his distance this entire time, not wanting to approach where he had not yet been invited. His hands sit casually in his pockets, and he waits obediently.

You two stand in a neutral silence, gazes matched with one another. His eyes are hearty and magnetic, compared to your tired and guarded stare.

"Well, then," you sigh. "OK."

Soap's smile grows. "OK?"

"OK," you reaffirm, laughing this time. Yes, you thought. This is OK.

Soap laughs victoriously, only then to spread his arms out and finally start closing the distance between you too, happily. "Now come here."

Before you've any time to protest, Soap's wrapped you in a large hug, holding you tightly in his arms. It's so strong it makes you take a step back and grunt dorkishly, but you reciprocate it, laughing into his shoulder. He rubs his hand over your back comfortingly, his joyous chuckle vibrating against you. "Cheer up now," he says. "You'll be alright."

You place your head against his chest, letting your ear sink into him, as you follow along to the steady rhythm of his heart beat. It races within him. Had he been nervous?

"OK."

...

The barracks were maybe a short ways away now, another five or ten minutes to this nightly stroll before it was officially over. Ghost had been counting every minute of it too.

The sidewalk begins to narrow again, Ghost taking his natural space in the back of the trio, as you and Soap stand beside one another, lost in the little world you two had created in the past hour.

Now that he was away from the city and walking down less populated roads, the night around them began to still. The sound of vehicles grew more distant and outside chatter was replaced with their own boots and shoes against the pavement. With it so late, many of the house's lights were off, the neighborhoods having left your group alone for the remainder of the night.

It left Ghost with nothing else to listen to besides you two.

The first thing Soap did when he re-emerged from the café with Ghost, was hand you a new drink. Exactly what you'd ordered before. "Since the last one spilled," he'd said.

Your eyes lit up like diamonds as you took the drink from his hand, taking a sip and letting out a jokingly pleasurable moan. You almost looked like you were going to cry too. But you smile, and thank him profusely.

Johnny had you pretty much reeled in after that.

For how prepared the Sergeant had been for the sudden detour, Ghost would think Soap almost planned the night out for this to happen. Though he knew that wasn't true. Soap wasn't that methodical. Everything he's done tonight -- coming to check on you, buying you a drink, walking you home -- That had all been Johnny's own doing.

Watching you two was like watching two puzzle pieces come together. All night you've been gabbing on with each other, going back and forth and every which way with your conversations. If Soap were to turn to Ghost and reveal that you were in fact some woman from his past who knew him personally, he may have actually believed it.

And while you two had made attempts to include Ghost in the conversation, the lieutenant eventually fell silent after a short while. It wasn't out of a sudden shyness or defeat however, but rather he felt best with just not talking. Eventually, your conversation drifted your minds away from him, and he was given a moment to himself.

He would make no complaints of this of course. There was a lot he had on his mind in the meantime. Specifically about you.

After you stormed out of the café, Ghost hadn't expected to see you again for the rest of the night. He wouldn't have blamed you either, though he couldn't stop thinking about what that could have been about. He's seen fear in many people's eyes before, but never in yours. While the fear itself looked familiar enough to him, it looked foreign on you.

And it had unsettled him, mostly due to his own inaction. It was very unlike him to just stand to the side like that, he thought. Yet at that moment, he hadn't been sure of quite what to say or do. He felt that way a lot around you.

Which was his problem exactly.

With your eyes away from him, Ghost felt more ready to study you, finally pinning down all these thoughts he had surrounding you. He began thinking he was onto something too.

As a silent observer, Ghost watched the way you interacted with Soap, and how easily you found a way to make him so comfortable with you in a matter of hours. You smile and you laugh, your eyes linger when given the opportunity, you talk, and then you listen. Observing. Adapting.

You let your kind nature lull those around you into a state of comfort, and use that to get close. Ghost knew this performance well enough now, because it's exactly how you had been with him. He didn't need to see it a third time to have it down. 

Your performance was truly something too, because Ghost was seeing sides of Johnny he had been too afraid to delve deeper into himself.

Granted, Ghost learns something new about Soap every day, mostly involuntarily. They've been on a team a few months shy of a whole year now, and while the lieutenant feels that realistically he's spent an equal amount of time with everyone in the Task Force, somehow or another, Ghost found himself assigned with Soap more often than not.

And what he learned about Johnny every day was that the man was truly unafraid of himself, both in perception and within. Soap didn't struggle with deep inner turmoil, there were no demons he need bury deep. None that Ghost could see in him.

Johnny was just human in every way that Ghost struggled to be.

So the minute you had managed to pull Soap in with that natural allure of yours, it's no surprise the man let that be known as well. Soap wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Ghost hadn't even asked him how the conversation went with you once he'd come back into the café. He only need see the way he barged through the doors, his smile gleaming and his step skipped, for Ghost to know the conversation went well. What had got to the lieutenant about that however, was how he knew exactly what it was Johnny was feeling too.

Desire.

Exactly as he had felt before.

Only unlike Ghost, who had been unable to allow himself a moment to enjoy that feeling you provide so carelessly, Soap seemed more than willing the dive in head first. He hadn't a fear in the world about it.

Thus Simon has watched Soap do everything Ghost couldn't do the night before -- actually allow himself the chance to be vulnerable. And as if to punish him for it, now he gets to see for himself where that road would have taken him, had he actually stayed with you that night, instead of leaving like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs.

Suddenly, it had twisted his insides to think about. Had it been that easy all along? To let someone in...

Never has a woman haunted his mind like this before.

It hadn't taken much longer for these thoughts of his to grow into suspicion and distrust, however. There was no way you could be real. That these feelings you draw from them so easily are real.

Laswell gets a lead on a possible new hit, and suddenly they place you on the team. Someone who's only worked one other mission with them before. And someone interested in getting close to them personally. Seemingly for no reason. Someone who's good at it too.

It couldn't be a coincidence someone like you has come along. It never is.

You come across a small park on your walk back, passing by a large water fountain, which draws both you and Soap's attention suddenly. The lights from inside the fountain make the clear water look a pretty teal color, revealing all the loose change dropped into the water by other who'd passed by before.

It's around this point that you finished your drink. The minute your eyes went to look for a garbage can, Soap was already on it, having confiscated the empty cup for you and wandering off with it to the nearest available garbage can, that was a short walk deeper into the park.

"Want us to follow you?" you asked.

"Nah, just wait here," Soap said. "I won't be long."

And like that, he had walked off, leaving you and Ghost alone by the fountain.

You lean over the fountain ledge, staring down into the water, as its glow shimmers off your skin in the night. You hadn't turned to look at Ghost yet, not since Soap has left. You hadn't really looked at him much at all since you left the café.

Your back was still turned to him when you spoke suddenly. "Care to make a wish?"

Ghost stayed a few feet behind you, his arms crossed in front of him as he stared into the water from a distance. "I've no need," he said plainly.

"Really?" he can hear your smile in your voice. "There's nothing you wish for?"

Ghost toys with that question in his mind for a moment. He's never been one to make wishes, never wanting to bank good fortune and material gain on something so unguaranteed. Wishes often were just empty words meant to disappoint you later. He learned that at a young age. "Do you have many wishes?" he asks instead.

"Some," you say. "Mostly small things."

"Like what?"

You turn to Ghost for the first time all night, and you smile playfully. "If I told you, then it wouldn't come true."

Ghost watches you dig in your pocket, before retrieving a quarter. You stare at the coin for a short while, thumbing it between your fingers as you thought to yourself innocently. You look back to the fountain once a wish has finally come to you.

The coin flicks from your thumb, and you both watch the quarter twirl into the water, before sinking all the way to the bottom. You watch it the whole way down. For some reason, Ghost sees your expression fall again. Sadly.

It's something he's picked up about you, how sad you are. And he knows it's not an act, because you cover it up any chance you can get. Your sorrow is the one part of you that conflicts him the most. If everything's an act -- your kindness, your words, your smile, your eyes -- then your tears have been the one true thing Ghost has consistently seen of you, and the reason for his hesitancy to trust you. Because Goddamn you, your sorrow beckons him too.

"You made your wish then?" Ghost asked.

"I did," you nod, though had Ghost not been looking your way he may have missed it.

"Think it'll come true?" he asked.

"No," you admit. You then laugh to yourself, a memory having popped into your mind suddenly. "It's funny though. When I was a kid, I used to make wishes all the time. I'd stay up until the clock hit 11:11 to make a wish, and every night I'd look out my window hoping to finally see a shooting star, like in the movies. When that didn't happen, I just used the airplanes instead."

Ghost imagined the kind of childhood you must have had, which had you making wishes all the time. What life you lived before now. You had told him once that this line of work hadn't been your first choice. If that truly is the case, he can't imagine how you even manage to keep your sanity in this field.

Is that why you cry so much? He wondered.

"I used to get so upset when my wishes wouldn't come true," you continue. "I wanted them to be real so bad. But they never were."

"Yet you still make wishes now," Ghost says.

"I can't help myself," you sigh. "I mean, there's always a chance, right?"

"Blind hope can be dangerous."

"Hope is never a bad thing, not to me," you say. "If I couldn't hope then... what would be the point?"

Your head turns when you hear Soap making his way back over. The fact that he was out of breath with his hands on his hips meant he'd tried to reach that trash can as fast as he could. It makes you giggle and tease the man when you see him, and Soap only plays into your giddy nature, acting as nonchalantly as he'd been all night.

And Ghost watched from the sidelines, this time trying to picture a world where he could be more like you two. A world where he wasn't so taciturn. Where when you touched him he did not flinch, and when you called to him he did not push back. Maybe watching could be enough, but he knows the minute you both go, it wouldn't suffice.

So he'll take what he can now.

Ghost digs in his pocket, finding an old penny that wasn't going to be of use to anyone. He waits to see you two not looking his way before flicking the penny into the fountain himself, watching it fall in.

He guesses he had one wish after all.

Maybe he could be wrong about you. He only wishes...

...

You stop at your doorway, punching in the number keys to your door code slowly. The whole time you do so, Soap's presence can be felt a few feet behind you, waiting innocently, as though to make sure you make it inside safely. Him being here did bring you comfort. It also made this hallway feel incredibly small.

The walk back had been only about thirty minutes, though the time blew by rather fast with how much of it you spent talking. You could tell Ghost had probably been exhausted by it, because he couldn't have made a faster beeline to his room the second you all finally reached the barracks. Which for once, was OK with you.

The lock on your door beeps, the latch whining unlocked. You turn to face Soap, finding the man standing off rather shyly. It's when your eyes finally meet his again that his smile raises.

In the hallway lighting, all his little details appeared more clearly. You like the way the Sergeant wears his joy on his face, letting it lift him upright and perk his ears with them, bringing a twinkle to his cloudy blue eyes. His emotions easy to read. It's what made talking to him feel so easy, without even having known him for long. It makes you think to yourself what a breath of fresh air John is.

It also gnawed at your mind what other sides of him there were you've yet to see. What bits you could pull out next, and what old bits he could pull out of you as well. The thought was as intriguing as it also put your head through a twister you've yet to be familiar with.

A man who has no guessing games to play. A man who is who he is, which happens to be everything you needed tonight.

"Thank you," you say casually, giving the man a welcoming smile. Though Soap's own does more to pull you in this time. "For walking back with me."

Soap blows raspberries and shrugs, trying to act more nonchalant than his eyes could match with. "I'd never pass up the chance to have a midnight stroll with such a lovely woman."

Maybe it was late at night, or maybe you felt comfortable enough to do so; you don't hide your blushing, nor the delicate giggle bubbling from your throat soon after.

"You flatter me," you say.

Soap looks to you charmingly. "I'm trying."

"You're so good at it too; it makes me feel bad," you say. "I haven't paid you much flattery tonight myself."

"The night's not over yet," Soap says.

Your eyes grow wolfish, his words taking a double meaning to you. "Indeed, it isn't."

"Go on then," he says, his voice a lot lower than before. Seductive even. It comes to you in a wave, rushing through your body and sending a chill down your spine. You have to keep yourself from swallowing. Soap only intensifies the chills running through you by licking his lips and smirking to himself. "Say something nice about me."

"Now," you cross your arms, taking a step forward so you were standing right in front of the Sergeant. "A lady shouldn't reveal her secrets so freely."

Soap only seems to straighten up, giving himself more height over you as his smile becomes something more sly. "Even if I ask nicely?"

"I already said before, it takes a lot more than asking me nicely to get to know me."

"What does it take then?" he asks you.

"Something more… wicked. Filthy."

"That’s not very ladylike of you, Canary."

"I'm only ladylike when the need arises," you tease. "What about you John? Are you always a gentleman?"

"Usually," he admits. "I can be anything you ask me."

Soap's eyes take a small shift, turning more from its innocent appearance to something a bit more cocky. There wasn't a doubt in his tone, nor a lie spoken in his words. He'd rather his bravado be known. And damn did you like the introduction to it.

You unknowingly drop your eyes to his lips, observing how his mouth sits, as your tongue glides over your own provocatively. "Anything?"

His lips sit slightly pursed, as though more thoughts sat at the tip of his tongue. The flow of his steady breathing brushes the tip of your nose, blue eyes glazed with a growing lust you have yet to see in the Sergeant. "Anything."

“Well the night’s not over yet now, is it?”

“Aye, it isn’t.”

Now his eyes have dropped to your lips, watching how your tongue lightly glides over yours. It's got the man heating up, his cheeks beginning to blush unabashedly. You're not even sure that he notices himself leaning closer. You didn't notice yourself until you could feel his breath feather over your recently dampened lips.

Suddenly you’re damn near on your toes, his nose a few inches from yours, and his mouth the closest it’s ever been to your own. You were already guessing what they might feel like against yours. You imagined they'd be soft, warm, experienced.

"Johnny, Johnny, Johnny," you hum. "What a flirt you are."

"I imagine I'm in good company."

"You be careful," you lift a hand to pluck a stray piece of hair peeking from his shoulder. An excuse to touch him, however faintly. "Games like that might get you in trouble."

This time Soap takes the chance to touch you, lifting his hand up to capture yours before it can retreat back to your side. "I like trouble," he says. "That's what makes the job fun, no?"

His hand is warm, and not nearly as coarse as you would have guessed. His hold is both tender and secure, lingering for a few seconds, all the while you two breathe in each other’s air, your eyes never having strayed from one another’s.

All there was left to do now was take one step closer; take your other hand and wrap it over his neck, pull him in for a change. Seems all night that Soap’s been the one bringing you in slowly, sneakily. Unlike Graves, who had pursued you like the wolf he was, Soap’s pursuit had been like that of a fox -- clever and playful. It crept up on you without even noticing, and done so innocently. It begged a sweeter side of you that you’ve forgotten had been capable.

Suddenly, it didn’t feel so hard being vulnerable. At least for right now. For tonight.

He only needed to come a little closer now. Take his hand and cup it against your face, bring you forth to him and take you.

“Ooooooo~”

A few soldiers down the hall start to whistle and cheer at you, walking by and clapping. You and Soap take a step back and awkwardly, waving the other soldiers away as they start throwing comments your way, clearly having pre-gamed before heading to whatever outing they were walking to.

“Get it, girl!” one of the female soldiers in the group cheered.

“Get a room!” another laughed.

“This is my room!” you say.

The group cheers for you on their way out; you and Soap can’t help but laugh with one another, the atmosphere having shifted into this awkward in-between now. Damn. Way to kill the mood. Despite the interruption, your heart still thumped in your chest with excitement. You still kind of wanted to kiss him.

Your phone starts to buzz in your pocket suddenly. A phone call. Graves maybe?

You bring your eyes back up to Soap, prepared to give your final farewells for the night, as much as you had been ready for it to possibly be something else.

“So-”

Soap’s hands clasped both sides of your face, his lips crashing down onto yours. The sheer power of it sends you both back pressed flush against your bedroom door. It takes you a second to catch up.

You feel his body press against you, his heart racing next to yours. You gasp into his mouth, the air feeling as though it had completely left you, before you've let your hands instinctively go up to wrap around his neck.

He kisses you like he’d spent a lot of time thinking about all the ways he could go about it. Making sure that his lips part from you just right, before coming back in velvety-like, gradually escalating. He follows your pace, feels for your moves, and adapts to your whims. He truly respected the craft of liplocking; you surely took advantage of that fact too.

Kissing him made you feel drunk. The way he moved made your knees weak, your hands almost unable to concentrate on doing anything beyond holding onto him. That was less of a problem for Soap it seems, who’s hands had gracelessly slid their way down your body to your ass, each cheek cupped perfectly in his palms. He squeezes greedily, pressing you against him roughly. Immediately, you feel the man through his gym shorts, and may God be your witness, you had to keep from gasping again. The man was surely a showoff by nature as well.

Even with his suave motions, Soap still felt as innocently enraptured by you as he had been before. It excited you to toy with it, see how much that innocence could be corrupted. Your tongue dips into his mouth, wrestling with his, as you feel him groan. That hand on your ass grips tighter in response, sending a shockwave straight through your core.

His taste is sweet on your lips, intoxicating to lick. Before long your lips and tongue dance together, your chests rising with adrenaline. The sloppier your tongue clashes against his, the sloppier he mirrors the energy. It was messy and it was voracious. And it was a wonder you two hadn’t swallowed each other yet.

Soap’s hands grow more adventurous, one traveling to the front of you. It snakes up your shirt and manages to slide beneath your bra, his entire hand palming your breast. The coolness of his hand against your skin causes you to shiver, which only sends a throbbing sensation down himself, one you feel against your leg. His fingers glide over your nipple, beginning to pinch and tug at them gently. You moan in his mouth and the cheeky bastard laughs against your lips. In turn, you bite his lip, giving it a little nip.

“Ow,” he laughs, and it makes you giggle. Soap responds to this by diving in towards your neck, nipping at the groove of your skin and catching your breath. It sends a tidal wave through you, as you feel his teeth sink deeper in, biting down just hard enough to leave a faint mark in your skin.

You gasp out passionately, and laugh. “Ow.”

Soap pull’s back, keeping his hands over your shoulders, only a breath or so away from you. His smile somehow looks even brighter than you’ve ever seen it before. It made butterflies flutter in you shyly. You felt like a girl again, back when crushes and small moments like this could feel like the whole world to you.

He seems as starry-eyed as you, from how his eyes detail you endlessly, pupils dilating at every new discovery. Soap may have worked some sort of magic on you, but you’ve put a spell on him too, as you did so often. Only now… maybe it didn’t feel as pretend this time.

“Earth to Canary.”

You blink and see Soap still looking down at you, waiting obediently. You smile. “I read you.”

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Just…” You think to yourself, somewhat pondering a response, and somewhat getting hung on his eyes again. It baffled you the way it caught you, every time. In a way, it’s the reason for the words that teeter on your tongue. “You scare me.”

Soap raises an eyebrow and chuckles. “I do?”

You nod. “Mhm.”

“Why?”

Because you really liked this. You really liked him and you barely know him. You knew the real reason why the entire time. And yet… “You just do.”

Your phone begins to buzz in your pocket again, finally taking your eyes away from Soap. You pull your cell out, only to see it was a text message. From Graves. A cold chill ran through you, almost turning you nauseous.

You must have been making a face, because Soap's expression was beginning to turn more perplexed.

You sigh, sliding the phone back into your pocket, but keeping your gaze away from Soap as well. You felt almost too guilty to now.

“I hope we don’t regret this John,” you say.

“I’d’ve only regretted not taking this chance with you.”

Soap lowers his head to capture your lips in another kiss. A gentle one that took its time to enjoy itself, as his hands cupped around your face again, his thumb caressing your cheek. You raise your hand and rest it over his, your frail fingers entangling between his. Holding him still.

If you let this go on, you knew this would escalate. A part of you is already craving it, but that text message notification hovers in the back of your mind.

You take your hand and press it against Soap's chest, feeling his heartbeat against your fingers. It thuds almost rapidly, as though he were anxious kissing you. He didn't let it translate in his actions, but his heart was clearly spinning.

You take your other hand and open your bedroom door, before finally pushing Soap away, giving him a doe-eyed look. Meanwhile he looks down at you hungrily, your hand on his chest being the only thing keeping him away from you.

"Can I come in?" he asks rather boyishly.

You smirk. "It wouldn't be very ladylike of me," you tease. "Plus, I have to give you some reason to come back."

"I don't need a reason," he says.

"Well good," you smile. "Then I'll be seeing you, John."

"And you, Canary."

You thought about telling him your name. You almost did. But him not knowing felt innocent enough of a game you both could play together. One that brought no harm, and one with no ulterior motive. It's the kind of game you could only play with a man like John.

You shut the door slowly, looking to Soap until you could look no longer. The minute the door clicked shut and the lock re-buzzed, you took a few tired steps over to your bed and plopped down face first into your pillows.

And after a few more seconds went by, you pulled your phone out and began reading the text Graves had sent you. You held your breath as you read the message to yourself. Conflicted.

...Chapter Seventeen Here!

[summertravelsbg]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[travelessbg]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[holidaysinn]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[bulgariasya]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[travelcamp]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[bookforgroup]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[triptraveltour]

Traveling to Kavala

To the south of Drama is the old town of Kavala, located on the coast. It takes about four hours to ride there. The journey passes through the flat Drama plain, miles of tobacco fields, and the remains of the ancient city of Philippi.

The Ruins of Philippi

The only building left in Philippi is a rundown coffee house with a muddy floor. It is a place where travelers can rest their horses and have a break. The people in the coffee house, who were Turks, didn’t know much about the city’s history. There was a step made of marble with a Roman inscription, and marble blocks were scattered around. One side of the coffee house was part of a large block of marble. This marble was likely built to honor the Romans after their victory in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The marble had holes for tying horses. When I asked the Turks what the marble pillar meant, they looked confused and said it was built in honor of a great Turkish general!

The History of Philippi

Not much is left of Philippi. The few ruins that remain tell the story of a town that lived and thrived for about 30 centuries. The first people in the area were probably Thracians who mined gold in the nearby mountains. They built a town to protect themselves from invading tribes who wanted to steal the gold. The town, called Datus or Datum, existed as early as 11 centuries before Christ. It was a prosperous town until the 4th century BC Who we are.

The fame of the gold mines was so great that the ancient Athenians tried to take control of the town. They attempted this many times, and in 360 BC, the Thasians, encouraged by an Athenian leader named Callistrates, captured Datus and renamed it Krenides. However, the Thasians only held the town for two years before the original inhabitants fought back. They forced the Thasians to seek help from Philip of Macedon, who had long wanted to take the town. Philip used this chance to capture the town, expand it, and build beautiful structures. He renamed the city Philippi after himself. The gold mines he developed made him a lot of money, with a revenue of a thousand talents.

[blueiscoool]

Statue Discovered at Greece’s Ancient Site of Philippi

A large public building with a statue depicting a young male built onto its wall, workshops, residences and thermal baths are only some of the new and glorious discoveries that have been recently unearthed at the archaeological site of ancient Philippi in northern Greece.

The ancient structures were discovered by archaeologists during ongoing works to install a fire safety and water distribution network at the sprawling site. The finds will shed even more light on the secrets and the past glory of the ancient city of Philippi, established in 356 BC by the King of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, Philip II.

Archaeologists have long believed that Philippi was adorned by magnificent buildings and that the city had gained extraordinary fame after its establishment. During the current works at the Philippi site a geophysical method capable of detecting buried walls while guiding the pipelines without disturbing any of the antiquities was employed.

The ancient city of Philippi

Philippi was established in 356 BC by the King of Macedon, Philip II, on the site of the Thasian colony of Crenides near the head of the Aegean Sea. It developed as a “small Rome” with the establishment of the Roman Empire in the decades following the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Centuries later, it was abandoned after the Ottoman conquest of the 14th century. The present municipality of Filippoi is located near the ancient city’s ruins and is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Kavala, Greece.

The ancient city is currently the most vital archeological site in the region. However, the first excavations did not begin until the summer of 1914 and were soon interrupted by World War I. Between 1920 and 1937, archeologists unearthed the Greek theater, forum, baths and city walls. Following World War II, Greek archeologists returned to the site, uncovering multiple public buildings.

By Filio Kontrafouri.