#Metro fruit and salad too good to go

[stenoodie]

What I got from Too Good to Go in April 2024

What I got from Too Good to Go in April 2024. #only4 #saladbags #stouffvillemetro #shawarmabeef #timmies

The surprise bags I got in April 2024 Pick up a blind surprise bag from Too Good To Go and save unsold surplus food from going to waste.  Enjoy discounted food from participating restaurants and stores! I didn’t reserve many bags this month because we were out of the country for a week.  I originally would have Continue reading What I got from Too Good to Go in April 2024

[the-ethereal-serpent]

Litha : Ways To Celebrate

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Host A Bonfire

Litha is all about the fiery aspect of the sun, so why not celebrate the fertility of the gods with a blazing, roaring fire in your back yard? It's the longest day of the year, so stay up late and host a bonfire for your friends and family. 

Get sparklers too, and light them after dark. Make an offering to the gods of your tradition. Be sure to follow basic Bonfire Safety Rules, so no one gets hurt at your celebration. You can even incorporate your bonfire into a Litha rite, with the Midsummer Night Fire Ritual.

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Leave An Offering Of Honey Cakes Outside

Preferably somewhere away from your house, as they will attract insects and even wildlife. Litha is said to be one of the two times of year when the “Veil Between Worlds” is the thinnest (the other being Samhain.) According to legend, the fairies and forest spirits are especially active on the night of the summer solstice, and honey is favorite treat.

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Get Back To Nature

Go for a hike in the woods with your family. Enjoy the sounds and sights of nature. Take lots of pictures, or plan a scavenger hunt—have each of the kids bring a "nature bag" to fill up. Remember, don't pick any live plants, unless you're deliberately wildcrafting.

Before you head out, grab a field guide to local plants, and turn it into a teaching exercise, learn to identify what you see out there in the woods. If you take your hike in a public park, bring along a plastic sack to help pick up garbage on your way. If you get the chance to do this alone, try a Nature Meditation in a quiet spot somewhere on your journey.

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Go Camping

If you’re feeling adventurous, but don’t want to leave luxury behind, try glamping and spend a night under the stars in style.

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Get Your Body Moving

Litha is a magical, mystical time of year. Why not host a drum circle or spiral dance? You'll need a large group for this, but it's a lot of fun once you get everyone moving. In addition to being entertaining (and a great stress reliever), a drum circle or a ritualized dance serves another purpose—that of raising energy.

The more you build, the more people will feed off of it. Invite a group of friends over, let them know there will be music and dance, and see what happens. Be sure to provide refreshments for afterwards—drumming and dancing can be draining for some people.

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Go Wildflower Picking

Identify and harvest some wildflowers to use in your summer spell work. Press them in your Book of Shadows if you have one.

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Do Something For Others

Do something for charity. Organize a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a local homeless shelter. Collect gently used summer clothing and give to a local children's hospital. Host a dog-wash for your favorite shelter, and ask customers to either donate cash or pet food. Plan a neighborhood cleanup, and trim and weed common areas in your community. If you don't have time to coordinate a big project—and not everyone does—do things on a smaller scale.

Visit an elderly neighbour and help with her housekeeping. Offer to do grocery shopping for an ill relative. If you know a mom with a brand-new baby, help out with childcare so she can get a few hours of rest. There are any number of things you can do to help others, and with the days being longer, there's plenty of time to get things done!

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Read A Good Book

Summer can be a hectic and chaotic time of year. Maybe you're someone who needs to slow down and take a break. Litha is a good time to rejuvenate, so why not sit out in the sunshine and immerse yourself in a good book. Keep reading material handy all the time, so when you need a little down time, you can work through few pages. If your local library has a summer reading program, sign up.

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Attend A Summer Festival

Litha is the week for pagan festivals. Find one. Attend it. You’ll have a blast, I promise.

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Celebrate Family

Turn off the phone, step away from the computer and television, and spend time just having fun with the people who love you most. Take the day off work if possible and spend it any way you like—go to the zoo, a museum, a ball game, etc. Make this a day that you can do anything you want, and put the schedules away just for one day.

If you're worried that money might hold you back, there's plenty of stuff you can do for free: check your local metro parks for activity schedules, go fishing at a nearby lake or river, and watch the local newspaper for free admission deals at nearby attractions. If getting away for a day isn't possible for you, spend the afternoon at home—play board games, do jigsaw puzzles, and cook a meal together.

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Make A Batch Of Sun Cakes

If you’re a kitchen witch, celebrate this Sabbat by baking! Sun cakes are perfect for the “cakes and ale” portion of a Litha ritual if you celebrate with a coven, or you can use them for offering.

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Clean Things Up

Clean your house. Take advantage of the warm weather to have a garage sale and get rid of all those things you don't want. You can also organize a swap with your friends, or donate all your stuff to charities like Goodwill or Salvation Army. You've got plenty of daylight at Litha, so you can accomplish a lot in just a short period of time.

If your house is a bit daunting, select one room to work on at a time—preferably the one that needs the most help! Wash windows, wipe down baseboards, get rid of stuff you know you'll never use. Organize as you clean, putting donatable items into one pile, and trash in another, so you don't have to sort it later. Turn the project into a ritual with a House Cleaning Rite.

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Make Herbal Candle Rings With Herbs

For the green witch : with your herb garden in full swing, it’s time to make some creative use of it.

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Host A Barbeque For Friends And Family

Have a barbecue, and invite all your family and friends over. Decorate with colors of the sun—yellows, reds, and oranges. Feast on lots of summery food, like watermelons, strawberries, and fresh green salads. Add outdoor games like horseshoes, ladder golf, and backyard volleyball.

While you're at it, set up some kind of water activities—water balloons, super soakers, a pool to splash in. All of these are great outside activities in the heat of summer, and help celebrate the balance between fire and water, as well as welcoming friends and family to celebrate the season.

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Try Cloud Scrying

Find a warm, grassy spot and look up to see what messages the sky might have for you.

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Learn & Grow

Spend some time on spiritual growth. Use this time of year to learn something new about your tradition, develop a new skill, or take a class in Tarot, Reiki, yoga, or whatever appeals to you. Create a daily plan of study to help you focus on what it is you want to do next. You've got plenty of extra hours of daylight this time of year, so there are no excuses.

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Visit A Honey Farm

If you’re not allergic to bees (or deathly afraid of them!) this is a nice activity. Be sure to stock up while you’re there.

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Honor The Season

Many ancient cultures marked the summer solstice with rites and rituals honoring the sun. Celebrate the significance of Midsummer with ritual and prayers that recognize the sun and its magnificent power. Set up your Litha altar with symbols of the season—solar symbols, candles, midsummer fruits and vegetables, and more.

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Article Sources :

https://moodymoons.com/2016/06/15/10-ways-to-celebrate-litha-2/ https://www.learnreligions.com/great-ways-to-celebrate-litha-2562249

[artificialqueens]

Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, 13 (Branjie) (and background everyone) - Ortega

a/n:guess who’s realised she never submitted this to AQ? it’s ya boi. if u haven’t been able to read this yet then here it is, and look out for the final chapter coming soon! thank u to everyone who’s ever sent this fic some love, it means the world to me!!

fic summary: Strictly Come Dancing enters its 18th series and its producers, after being goaded by a rival dance show on its inclusivity, commission it to be an all-female cast. Unlike Akeria who’s just here to bone her potential dance partner, dancer Vanessa is ready to act like a professional.

And then TV presenter Brooke Lynn walks into the rehearsal room.

***

6th December 2020

Vanessa’s in the wine aisle of Marks and Spencers when she sees her again.

Her hair’s been dyed- she already knew that, she’s seen pictures of it on her Insta feed- and the demure tones of the honey-brown balayage are a contrast to the blonde ombré she’d had when they’d been together, but it suits her. She’s in sweatpants and a cropped jumper, because of course she is, and Vanessa recognises the matching pink set emblazoned with the Playboy logo from Missguided adverts on bus shelters. She’s wearing some form of chunky white trainers and Vanessa isn’t proud of the fact that she feels a little flame of satisfaction light up in her gut when she sees that they’re splattered with mud, contrasting with her clean outfit and perfect makeup.

Vanessa turns back to the green bottles in front of her, staring at them for so long and with such intensity that she thinks she might rip the fabric of reality in two. She consciously blocks out her peripheral vision so that all she can see is the label of one bottle of white which she reads over and over again. A light, dry white with citrus notes and lively green fruit flavours. Grown in the spectacular setting of the sun ripened vineyards of central Spain. Goes with fish, chicken and salads.

She doesn’t, in any way, shape or form, know how to play this situation, because this is the first time she’s seen Kameron in person since they decided to call it quits. One one hand she could just keep staring at the wine bottle, attempt to blend into the shelves via osmosis and completely avoid her ex, but on the other hand…Vanessa doesn’t really know what the other hand is, because she doesn’t know what a conversation between the two of them would look like. There’s a part of her that wants to find out.

And suddenly, with a cry that Vanessa recognises as hers, the decision is made for her.

“Vanjie?”

Slowly, timidly, Vanessa turns around to meet her eyes. Soft, brown eyes that Vanessa had once looked into and seen her whole world and future.

God, it’s fucking crazy how she used to be so in love with her and now she feels completely apathetic.

“Kam! Hey,” Vanessa smiles tightly, waving awkwardly with the hand she’s not holding her shopping basket with. “How are you?”

“I’m fine! Well, actually, not amazing. I tried to make this really fancy, complex coq au vin for dinner last night but I don’t know what the hell I did wrong because it tasted like fucking ass. So I’m here getting ingredients again because Mama didn’t raise a quitter. It’ll probably still taste like garbage though, you know what I’m like,” Kameron reels off, which makes Vanessa smile in spite of herself. Kam was never the best at cooking and it was usually Vanessa who made the dinners when they were together, but there were still a couple of times when she’d tried at something and had failed spectacularly. Kameron seems to pick up on what she’d said as a little look of discomfort flashes in her eyes before she follows her sentence up with, “How’re you? God, it’s been ages.”

“It has,” Vanessa shrugged a little. So much has changed since they’ve last spoken that Vanessa isn’t really sure where to start. “I’m good. Things are pretty great, really. Obviously had a good run on the show for my first year competing, so hopefully I’ll get a partner next year too an’ win it next time.”

“I know, you did so well! I was really shocked you didn’t make the semis at least,” Kameron frowns, and the flattery does admittedly soften Vanessa up a little. Kameron’s face lights up as she adds, “God, your girl was so amazing though too! Brooke Lynn Hytes, right? She was super talented. Now I know how good a dancer she is I can’t help but feel like she’s sort of wasted as a presenter.”

“Yeah, she’s incredible,” Vanessa nods emphatically, unable to help the heat she feels spreading to her cheeks whenever she gets to talk about Brooke with somebody. Kameron’s expression changes a little as she clocks Vanessa’s blush, and a cheeky glint appears in her eye. Vanessa frowns. “Hey. Behave.”

“I didn’t say a word!” Kameron laughs, and as she trails off there’s a smile on her face that’s affectionate and helps Vanessa warm up to her ex even more. “Listen, what’re your plans? I’d honestly love to catch up. It’s been too long.”

Vanessa tilts her head in thought. The conversation isn’t going too badly, and her only plans are going round to Brooke’s later on to watch the semi-final results and have dinner (hence the reason she’s gone to M&S to get wine and not the Tesco Metro round the corner from her). So Vanessa surprises herself when she shrugs, giving Kameron a little nod. “Okay, yeah. Lemme get this wine and then we can get coffee.”

The way Kameron’s face lights up makes Vanessa think that her decision was the correct one.

They’re sat at a little table at the window of a nondescript coffee shop roughly ten minutes later, Kameron stirring the hell out of a vanilla latte that’s sat in front of her and creating a tiny whirlpool in the coffee that puts Vanessa in mind of a Pirates of the Carribean movie. Kameron’s talking about the flat she’s in just now- she bought it after she rented for a while when she moved out of Vanessa’s place- and how furniture is so expensive.

“I mean I could just go to IKEA and just furnish the entire thing for, like, two grand, but I actually want some really nice stuff, you know? Like it’s a big girl professional flat, not a uni rental,” she screws her face up as she finally takes a sip. Vanessa bristles a little opposite her- she knows Kam doesn’t mean it, but Vanessa wants to remind her that most of her furniture is from IKEA, because they’d gone and bought it all together when they first moved in. Kameron doesn’t seem affected, though, and keeps talking. “What about you? You still living out at Finsbury Park?”

Vanessa nods. “I’m still in the same flat, I never moved.”

A look of shock passes over Kameron’s face and Vanessa can read her like a book- the fact she’s still in that flat where they made so many memories together is obviously surprising. Vanessa can’t help but laugh. “Kameron, chill. You don’t roam the fuckin’ halls like a ghost, I don’t burst into tears whenever I go into a room. It’s a decent flat at a decent price, I wanted to keep it.”

“Right. Sorry. Ego check,” Kameron smiles sheepishly, and Vanessa feels bad for poking fun at her. Kameron perks up after a second, laughs a little. “I like how you said ‘halls’ plural. Like it’s a stately home and not a fucking matchbox with an intercom system.”

Vanessa’s taking a sip of her own hot chocolate and she almost chokes on it in a laugh, Kameron howling and slapping the table in response. Vanessa’s forgotten that Kam used to make her laugh, still can. She always used to see it like some sort of secret privilege she had access to, the quiet girl’s funny side rare and only popping out on special occasions. That hasn’t changed over the years.

“How’s work, anyway?” Vanessa asks her as she composes herself. Kameron shrugs easily.

“Pretty good. I did a Dua Lipa music video the other week, that should be coming out in a month or so.”

“Is she actually as bad a dancer as that video made her out to be?”

Kameron smirks. “She had a shit choreographer; she’s actually alright. Not pop girl standard, but you know. My agent’s trying to get me on the Blackpink tour next, so I should hear back from that soon.”

Vanessa’s glad that work hasn’t dried up for Kameron- the backing dancer industry is treating her well.

“Anyway,” Kameron bats her lashes, looking at Vanessa coyly from behind her glass. “Tell me more about this dance partner of yours, miss.”

Vanessa feels herself blush, a bashful laugh escaping her lips before she can stop it. It’s weird- after they first broke up Vanessa always used to think she’d love the chance to rub her ex’s face in a new relationship, but it feels ever so slightly odd now she’s actually about to talk about Brooke in front of her. “Honestly, we’re just seeing each other and keeping things casual. Y’know, while the series is still goin’. We’re not even official or public.”

“Yet,” Kameron smiles cheekily at her, and Vanessa can’t suppress the smile she returns to her.

“Okay, yet. But it’s going really well. I really like her. She’s sweet, an’ she’s caring, an’ she’s the best listener.”

“And she won’t be a fucking idiot and cheat on you.”

“No, I don’t think she will,” Vanessa shrugs, the fact that Kameron’s brought the situation up casting a small grey cloud over the conversation. It’s clunky and awkward, a puzzle piece jammed in a place it shouldn’t be. It’s been brought up now though, so Vanessa grimaces and adds, “But then I never thought you would, either.”

Kameron’s face screws up in regret, and before Vanessa knows it she’s rested a hand on top of hers and is giving her a tentative smile. “I know I said it about twenty million times when we were together but I’m honestly so sorry, Vanessa. You didn’t deserve that.”

“Kam, you gotta stop beatin’ yourself up about it,” Vanessa cuts in and says swiftly. Her own words shock her; they’ve come from virtually nowhere, and she’s amazed at the raw sympathy she’s just shown her. “You were drunk, it was a kiss. Strictly is…it’s a weird show. You saw him more hours in the day than you saw me. Kisses between partners happen all the time, it just…sucks that it happened between you two.”

Kameron nods quietly, and Vanessa puts her other hand on top of hers. “I forgive you. Give yourself a break.”

Kameron squeezes her hand, shoots her a soft smile. “Thanks, Vanjie.”

They let go of each other’s hands and each take a sip of their own drink, the silence between them somewhat symbolic like someone wiping words off a whiteboard. Vanessa watches as Kameron swallows a gulp of her coffee and grins. “Hey, do me a solid and put in a good word with Asia O’Hara for me, okay? I really want to slide into her DMs but I need some context first.”

“Your face can be the context, fuckin’ look in a mirror,” Vanessa snorts, and the two of them laugh together.

It’s nice. This huge, big, massive event she’s built up in her head for all these months is happening- she’s bumped into Kameron and she’s speaking to her. She doesn’t need to build it up anymore, or wonder about how it would play out because she’s living it, it’s playing out and she never has to see Kameron for the first time since they broke up ever again. A wall crumbles down in her mind without warning and once the dust settles she realises that she feels somewhat lighter.

Vanessa has been carrying this burden around with her for all this time without even having known it.

The pair of them eventually finish up- hug goodbye outside the coffee shop and tell each other how nice this all had been and then go their separate ways. They don’t promise to keep in touch, but Vanessa knows they’ll probably like each others’ Instagram posts or occasionally tweet each other support or that kind of thing now. Little things that remind them they’re still on good terms.

As Vanessa heads to the tube, her mind drifts to Brooke and how excited she is to see her. The week has been long and Brooke’s been busy, but true to her word she’s messaged Vanessa whenever she’s had a spare moment, updating her on her day and asking her about her own. On Tuesday she’d invited Vanessa round to her flat on Sunday night as she has a day off on Monday and they can spend the night together. She’s not just abandoned her or left her hanging, and if there’s about to be a gap between her messages she always pre-warns her. Brooke’s treating her well. Almost like a girlfriend. Exactly like a girlfriend.

Vanessa still doesn’t know what they really are. She’s so far told herself that that’s alright, but now they’re out of the competition that answer isn’t really satisfying her any more. She wants to call Brooke hers, she wants to be with her properly. As Brooke’s apartment building comes into view, Vanessa wonders if she’ll bring it up tonight.

As she buzzes Brooke’s intercom, though, Brooke’s tone throws everything into a tailspin.

“Hello?”

Vanessa frowns. Brooke sounds ever-so-slightly icy and fed up. She wonders if she’s imagined it. “Uh, hey! It’s Vanessa.”

“Hey. Come up.”

As the door buzzes open and Vanessa steps into the building, she waves away the thoughts in her head. She’s probably overthinking things, and as she steps into the elevator and lets herself be carried up to Brooke’s 12th floor apartment Vanessa tries to calm her nerves. It’s the first time she’s been to Brooke’s flat- in fact it’s the first time either of them have been at either of their flats- so she’s a little anxious. It’s another layer of the relationship they’re adding on, and the thought of things getting a little more serious makes Vanessa’s heart flutter.

So her head is thrown into a tailspin when the elevator doors open onto a landing and she’s met with three doors- two closed, and the other (Brooke’s, a little gold 111 set into the smooth grey exterior) is ever so slightly ajar. Vanessa narrows her eyes, tentatively stepping out of the lift, crossing the hall, and pushing the door open a little.

“Brooke Lynn?”

Brooke’s voice replies, still something to it that Vanessa can’t quite work out. “I’m in here.”

Frowning, Vanessa steps through the doorway and into Brooke’s flat. The whole situation is so strange that she can barely take in everything she sees; a long, narrow hallway lined with high heels that leads down to what looks like a sunken living room with a cream sofa and a floor-to-ceiling view of London. There’s a room to the right halfway down the hall, though, and it seems to be where Brooke’s voice came from, so Vanessa closes the front door and hears the click of the lock behind her as she follows it. Maybe she’s in the middle of something. Maybe she’s just busy and she wants Vanessa’s company while she finishes whatever it is she’s doing.

And then, as Vanessa turns into the room, the situation becomes immediately apparent.

Brooke’s bedroom is dark- the blinds are drawn and the only light comes from a few candles that are sitting on the tidy grey dressing-table under the window and the soft pink salt lamp that sits on the bedside table. The large bed pushed up against the wall takes up most of the room, and its sheets are white and perfectly ironed and crease-free.

They serve as a perfect backdrop to the sight that’s currently greeting Vanessa- Brooke, in a matching set of black Calvin Klein underwear, curled up against the pillows and scrolling her phone. The dark material makes Brooke’s pale skin pop, and the sight of her toned thighs and stomach forces Vanessa to squeeze her thighs together in spite of herself. Brooke looks up as she enters the room and smiles smugly, clearly happy to get the reaction Vanessa’s given her.

“Hey, sweetie,” she says, her voice light and sing-song and making the entire situation worse because the fact she’s so perfectly put-together while Vanessa is slowly becoming a melting, gooey mess in front of her is, for some reason, only making her want to rip Brooke’s clothes off even more than she already does. “Come sit.”

She gently pats the space on the bed next to her and Vanessa almost knocks herself out kicking her trainers off and letting her jacket fall to the floor as she scrambles up onto the bed. She feels herself blush as Brooke gives a soft laugh (presumably in response to just how eager she is) then decides she doesn’t really care how she’s coming across as Brooke leans in and closes the gap between them, kisses her with soft Chapstick lips that Vanessa feels as if she’s addicted to. Vanessa expects the kiss to be more than it is- flames of seductive fire that make one thing lead to another all too quickly- but instead it feels as if Brooke is deliberately holding back, teasing her a little. It’s not helping Vanessa’s desperation at all, and just as she brings a hand up to rest on Brooke’s hip, Brooke breaks the kiss.

“So,” Brooke begins cryptically, as she reaches for her phone where she’d discarded it against the sheets. “I was just scrolling Instagram, you know, as you do. And, uh, I felt a little bit confused.”

Vanessa frowns in tandem with Brooke, who finally appears to reach the post she’s been looking for. Brooke’s voice keeps its light tone as she continues. “Because apparently, according to these photos…it looks like you had a cute little reunion date with your ex today?”

Vanessa’s heart drops as Brooke turns her phone to show her the long-lens photograph posted by The Sun’s Instagram account. It’s her and Kameron at the coffee shop window, taken at the exact moment that Kameron had reached out and taken her hand and Vanessa had shot her a forgiving smile and taken hers in return, probably the most affection they’ve shown each other in a whole year.

But Jesus Christ, has it been taken out of context and then some.

She’s panicking, and she can feel her mouth opening and closing rapidly as she attempts to explain herself. The one saving grace about the whole situation is that Brooke appears to be…calm? Relaxed? She’s not flown off the handle, anyway, which Vanessa wouldn’t exactly have expected, and there’s also the fact she’s in a matching underwear set so clearly can’t be that mad at her. So Vanessa finally finds her voice, tells Brooke everything- how she’d only bumped into Kameron in the shop, and how it was just a coffee and nothing more, and how she’d actually finally received closure for everything that had happened between the two of them.

As she speaks, part of Vanessa wants to bring up the fact that she and Brooke aren’t even together together, so why Brooke’s so pressed about all of this Vanessa doesn’t know.

Unless Brooke wants them to be more than what they already are. And Vanessa has fucked it.

Shit.

“It’s just all a massive misunderstandin’, honestly,” Vanessa finishes, and she’s relaxing a little more now that Brooke’s body language is warmer. “I maybe should’ve texted you but I was gonna tell you tonight anyway, I promise. I wouldn’t…I just wouldn’t mess you about like that, Brooke.”

Brooke slowly lets a bashful smile creep across her face as she nods softly. “Okay.”

And, just because she can, Vanessa pulls her in for another kiss. This time there’s a little more heat to it which makes Vanessa’s stomach flutter in anticipation, but she still feels as if Brooke’s holding back. It’s only then that Vanessa remembers how Brooke had told her she liked being in control, how much Brooke got off on hearing her beg for what she wanted the first time they’d slept together, and it all falls into place.

Oh.

Before Vanessa can say anything, Brooke’s trailing her hand from its position cupping Vanessa’s jaw down her body to rest on her waist, and Vanessa’s mouth goes ever-so-slightly dry. Brooke’s face is still close as she speaks again. “See I thought that would be the case, because I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”

Vanessa responds by mirroring Brooke’s touches, resting her own hand against her exposed thigh and delighting as she watches something darken behind Brooke’s eyes. Her tone changes a little as she continues. “But it did get me thinking…what if you did forget how good you had it one day?”

“Won’t happen,” Vanessa shakes her head, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth as Brooke pushes up the hem of her oversized white t-shirt, rests the palm of her hand against the bare skin at her waist. Vanessa squeezes her legs together again and she watches as Brooke flicks her gaze down, suppresses a smirk badly.

“It won’t?” Brooke pouts mockingly, and Vanessa loves it. “Well, just in case…I thought I’d show you what you’d miss if you ever did think you could do better than me.”

“Fuck,” Vanessa verbalises what she’s thinking in a hiss, as Brooke tugs at the bottom of her top and removes it quickly without Vanessa having to do anything other than raise her hands above her head.

Brooke dips her down so that her head’s resting against the pillows and presses kisses to Vanessa’s jaw, neck, collarbone, right down to the lace of her bra. Vanessa’s pulse is racing and she finds herself already spreading her legs, unable to help the way she needs Brooke to touch her.

“God, you’re so needy,” Brooke tuts disapprovingly into her skin, briefly reaching her hands under Vanessa’s back in an attempt to unhook her bra. Vanessa’s stomach tenses as she lifts herself off the mattress to help her, and soon the bra that she spent entirely too long picking out this morning is thrown halfway across the room onto the dark wood of Brooke’s bedroom floor.

“Says the girl that’s trying to get my boobs out in the first two minutes of foreplay- ah!” Vanessa cuts herself off as Brooke sucks a hickey into her collarbone. If she wanted to get Vanessa to shut up she’s succeeded, and so Vanessa instead focuses her attention on trailing her nails up and down Brooke’s back, delighting in the way the other girl shivers gently at the contact.

Brooke brings her lips up to meet Vanessa’s and she licks gently into her mouth as she strokes her thumb over one of her nipples, the contact making Vanessa flinch against the bed in the best kind of way. Vanessa trails a hand up Brooke’s back and pushes her fingers into her hair, and when Brooke breaks away her stomach flips at the way it’s all messed up and imperfect. Paired with Brooke’s blown pupils and plush lips, it’s a sight that makes Vanessa buck gently into the air almost without realising.

“Jesus. It really doesn’t take much, does it?” Brooke laughs gently as she loops a finger under the waistband of her leggings, and Vanessa shakes her head and pouts self-indulgently.

“Brooke…” she begins, then trails off when she doesn’t actually realise what she wants to say. She’s very happy to let her be in charge if this is what happens as a result, and when Brooke moves to straddle her it renders her twice as speechless as she was before.

“If this is you now, I’m almost scared for how you’re going to react when you see what I’m planning on doing to you,” Brooke says softly, the fake concern to her voice sending shockwaves rippling through Vanessa’s body. Before she can respond Vanessa gasps as Brooke pulls off her leggings, leaving her in the red thong she’d agonised over and the white ankle socks she’d put entirely less thought into. Brooke is left kneeling between Vanessa’s spread legs; dark heavy-lidded eyes, mouth hanging ever-so-slightly open. When she speaks, her voice is ragged.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” she says, and maybe it’s the simplicity of it but Brooke’s words make Vanessa feel completely naked despite what she’s still wearing.

“You’re beautiful,” Vanessa breathes out in an instant reply.

Brooke pouts and trails one of her short acrylics up Vanessa’s inner thigh, ripping a whine from her. “You sure Kameron isn’t more beautiful?”

“Jesus,” Vanessa throws her head back against the pillow and lets out a breathy laugh. “I didn’t have you down as the jealous type at all.”

When she tilts her head up Brooke’s got an unimpressed eyebrow raised at her. “You’re already in trouble, this isn’t helping your case.”

Vanessa can’t resist the urge to tease her and so she sticks her tongue out in response. “Oh what, you gonna punish me? You gonna tie me to the bed an’ spank me?”

Brooke’s gaze darkens. There’s a pause as she crawls up the bed, hovers over Vanessa with her face close. Vanessa keeps her own eyes sparkling as she stays still, challenging her to see if she’ll crack even though she wants to grab her jaw and kiss her with the same intensity they’d shown each other earlier.

“Brooke Lynn’s jeal-ous,” she sing-songs right in her face, and when Brooke pulls back she’s wearing a dark expression. Vanessa brings her hands up to rest on Brooke’s waist, traces the outline of her waistband.

And when Brooke leans over to the top drawer of her bedside table, Vanessa’s eyes widen as she instantly realises what she means.

She produces a wireless pink wand vibrator, and Vanessa’s body hotwires.

“Fuck.”

“Mm-hm,” Brooke murmurs, lips quirking in a smile. “You’re going to get punished for the stunt you decided to pull today.”

“Oh no, I hate orgasms! What a terrible punishment,” Vanessa smiles back at her, sarcastic and indulgent.

“Who says you’re going to be allowed to have any?” Brooke frowns.

Vanessa instantly realises her mistake.

“Wait…but-”

“Yeah. I’d suggest you better start being extra nice to me,” Brooke interrupts her, resting the wand down on the bed beside one of Vanessa’s thighs and hooking her fingers around the waistband of her underwear to tug it off. While this is happening Vanessa shuffles against the sheets in anticipation, something curling tightly in the pit of her stomach and the throbbing between her legs becoming impossible to ignore. She wants so badly to be touched, wants Brooke to feel how wet she is and for her eyes to go all wide when she realises she’s the one that’s got her this worked up, but instead of her fingers or her tongue she’s using that stupid fucking vibrator and she’s not even going to be allowed to come.

Fuck.

“Please, Brooke Lynn,” Vanessa pouts, letting a hand trail up Brooke’s thigh from where she’s positioned herself between her legs.

Brooke gives a short laugh. “You think you’re begging me now, wait until I get started.”

“Promise I’ll be good for you,” Vanessa insists, the end of her sentence almost getting cut off with a gasp as Brooke presses the wand against her. It’s not even switched on yet but it’s something that Vanessa can grind against, and she bucks her hips gently against the head.  

“If you want me to turn it on you better keep those hips still,” Brooke says quickly, and Vanessa groans in resignation, lies still like she’s been asked.

She’s rewarded with a soft hum and a gentle buzz against her slit, and she can’t help the moan of satisfaction she gives in response as Brooke holds the wand there for a few moments, letting Vanessa get used to it. After so much build-up it feels like heaven, and the feeling leaves Vanessa wondering how long she’s going to last.

Brooke starts to swipe the wand up and down against her; lazy, slow motions that leave Vanessa squirming against the mattress every time she feels the vibrations brush against her clit. It’s not helping that Vanessa can see Brooke’s own chest rising and falling increasingly quickly, her pink, flushed cheeks, her hair all unkempt from Vanessa running her fingers through it.

“This good, babe?” Brooke asks, her tone ragged and her voice hoarse. When she snaps her gaze up to meet Vanessa’s eyes her pupils are blown and black and it sends an arrow through Vanessa’s heart that instantly shatters it as if it’s a piñata full of confetti.

“Mm,” is all Vanessa can manage, along with a rapid nod against the pillow.

“Not quite hearing a yes or a no there,” Brooke raises an eyebrow. “Maybe I should just turn it off-”

“No, no, no, no! It’s good, it’s good, fuck, yes, please don’t stop,” Vanessa instantly reels off as if it’s a frantic prayer. Brooke’s probably the closest thing to religion she’s experienced in months.

“You sure? You sure Kameron wouldn’t do it better?” Brooke says teasingly, wiggling the vibrator against her clit as if to make a point and sending Vanessa into the stratosphere.

“No, I promise, I promise, babe, please, please, please,” she whines. She can hear herself pleading and she hopes it’ll help Brooke come round to the idea of letting her orgasm because if Brooke ups the setting on her wand then there’s no way she’s going to be able to exercise any form of restraint.

Brooke switches back to slowly sliding the vibrator against her, and Vanessa can feel Brooke’s grip on her thigh tighten.

“Fuck, I can see how wet you are from here.”

Vanessa feels herself throb, her body responding to Brooke’s words before she can. She fists both her her hands into the sheets, can’t see her knuckles but knows they’ve gone white. “You wanna taste me so bad.”

“So much,” Brooke pouts, nodding slowly. “But…you need to lie there and take your punishment.”

“Fuck. I miss when you were too shy to talk during sex,” Vanessa huffs, grumpy, and she’s immediately stopped from saying any more as the wand buzzes that little bit more intensely against her. Brooke brings it back up to her clit, rubs it in slow, small circles that drive Vanessa wild and render her almost incapable of thought.

“Sounds like you’re the one who can’t talk during sex,” Brooke deadpans, squeezing Vanessa’s thigh to punctuate her point.

She can feel how slick the wand is against her, only illustrating how wet she is. The hum of the vibrator and the gasps Vanessa can hear herself making are heightening her senses; it’s too much and not enough all at once. Both Brooke’s teasing and the sensation of the wand vibrating against her is making Vanessa’s inevitable orgasm build inside her, and it’s only a matter of time before she hits boiling point.

“Brooke- ah!- please…don’t know how much longer I’m gonna last…”

“Oh, no way,” Brooke says darkly, and in an instant the vibrator is off and Vanessa’s back is arching off the bed in frustration as she cries out in disappointment. “You don’t get to come yet, babe, not after the sass you just gave me.”

Vanessa instantly regrets opening her stupid mouth and teasing Brooke more than anything she’s ever regretted before in her life. She whines, reaches her hips up into the air as if she’s going to generate friction from nowhere, and Brooke’s pouting in mock-sympathy. Vanessa knows she could just spring up from her position against the bed, grab Brooke’s face and kiss her and pin her down and take the control back, but there’s part of her that knows how unbelievably satisfying it’s going to be when she does get to come if she’s this worked up already.

Brooke’s watching her with heavy-lidded eyes as she traces up her leg then fans her fingers out over her inner thigh and rubs her thumb against her clit. The contact makes Vanessa’s eyes almost roll into the back of her head; the wand has heightened her sensitivity and she’s by now so slick and wet from all of Brooke’s teasing that with every little rub of her thumb Vanessa can feel the fire between her thighs become completely out of control.

“God, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do this to you every fucking day since Blackpool,” Brooke bites her lip, and Vanessa bucks against her thumb helplessly. “We’d be having to rehearse but all I wanted to do was just to make you beg for it again and again, fuck.”

“Should’ve told me.”

“Mm. I almost texted you about it. One of the nights I was lying in bed fucking myself with my fingers and remembering how good yours felt…remembering how you felt like fucking heaven underneath me…I could’ve sent you so many pictures that night…”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ you need to stop talking or I’m gonna come,” Vanessa squeezes her eyes shut. Brooke’s still teasing her clit and Vanessa knows she’s deliberately applying just not quite enough pressure. She’s so on edge and it feels like the most incredible form of torture.

“You want the wand back, sweetie?”

“Please, fuck, yes,” Vanessa begs, almost wanting to sob. When Brooke’s thumb gets replaced by the vibrating head of the wand she feels lightheaded, lets out a cry that she instantly knows Brooke’s neighbours will hear but she doesn’t care. Brooke’s teasing her badly, holding the wand against her, taking it away for a second, then replacing it, and Vanessa feels so sorry for herself that she starts pleading with her.

“Keep it on me, please,” she gasps out, and when she looks up at Brooke she’s smiling at her wickedly.

“Like this?”

Brooke ups the intensity the moment she makes contact and Vanessa can practically feel herself give a little gush against the wand. Her breath is coming in shallow gasps now, and she’s only just registering the fact that Brooke’s got her hand that isn’t holding the wand down under the waistband of her own underwear, playing with herself. There’s a light sheen of sweat against her chest that’s making her glow like an angel and the way her chest is rising and falling is mirroring Vanessa’s.

Vanessa now realises why people yell out declarations of love right in the middle of their orgasm.

“Why don’t you tell me how much you like it?” Brooke murmurs. Vanessa can see her bucking against her fingers and the sight makes her press herself down against the wand, the way the vibrations roll over her clit in waves making her want to scream.

“So much…so fucking much…”

“Anyone else gonna fuck you like me?”

“No, baby, no-one else, just you, fuck, only you,” Vanessa whimpers. She looks up at Brooke and the sight of her eyes closed in ecstasy, grinding against her fingers and her nipples hard through the fabric of her bra is enough to tip Vanessa on a very gradual decline over the edge. “Fuck, can I come, please?”

“Yes, babe, you can come.”

When Vanessa feels her clit sieze up then pulse frantically against the vibrations of the wand, she shouts out into the bedroom, the pace of her fuck, fuck, fuck in sync with the waves of her orgasm flooding through her body. Brooke holds the wand against her until she’s sure she’s finished and Vanessa can only lie against the mattress, completely worn out and exhausted, as she watches Brooke take the wand and hold it between her own legs, the thin material of her underwear dark between her legs as Vanessa realises just how wet Brooke must be as well.

And even though Vanessa’s too worn out to help her out in the way she wants to, it doesn’t stop her from sliding a lazy hand up her thigh. She takes a couple of shallow breaths before pouting up at Brooke.

“Aww. Did watching me get you too worked up, baby?”

“Mm-hm,” Brooke hums in reply, running her tongue over her bottom lip as she squeezes her eyes shut. It gives her an idea.

“Not used my mouth on you yet. Bet you wish I was doin’ it now.”

“Fuck, Vanessa, keep talking.”

“You don’t get to boss me around any more, princess. Keep talking what?”

Brooke’s face contorts into a frown as she ruts against the wand, eyes still closed. “Keep talking please.”

“Good girl,” Vanessa purrs, and she almost feels as if she could go for round two as she hears the way Brooke gasps in delight at the praise. “You want me to tell you how much I want to put my tongue between your legs and taste you and watch you come apart under me?”

“Ah…”

“Maybe you don’t want that, though. Maybe you want to sit on my face instead. Ride my tongue and shut me up so I can’t talk back to you and drip all over my face all dirty while I just lie there and take it like a good girl.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Brooke hisses out. Vanessa’s surprising herself with what’s coming out of her mouth and how absolutely filthy it all is but she’s going with it because she knows Brooke’s close.

“Tell me how much you want it.”

“Fuck, want it so much.”

“You’re so close, aren’t you?”

“Vanessa…fuck, please…”

Vanessa regains enough strength to sit up and cup Brooke’s face with her hands, meeting her lips with her own and teasing her with a slow, deep kiss. Vanessa flicks her tongue inside her mouth and when she rubs it over Brooke’s she cries out against her lips, her moans almost-but-not-quite swallowed by Vanessa’s kiss as she comes.

Brooke breaks away as she falls against the mattress and Vanessa follows her, lying down beside her and gently switching the wand off. They lay there in silence, Brooke’s gasps and the buzzing in Vanessa’s ears the only things she can still focus on until Brooke reaches out a hand to curl around one of Vanessa’s. Vanessa throws a leg over Brooke, pulls her closer so that Vanessa can rest her head against her chest and feel her frantic heartbeat.

“Fuck me,” Brooke whispers breathlessly, and Vanessa lets out a chuckle.

“What, again? Thought you’d at least want a break first.”

“Shut up,” Brooke giggles. There’s a pause as she presses her lips to Vanessa’s head, mouths something Vanessa can’t hear or see. Then she mutters again, a little louder. “You’re so amazing.”

“You’re amazing,” Vanessa replies childishly, though the way Brooke’s chest judders against her in a laugh Vanessa assumes she doesn’t mind. She flinches a little as Brooke’s stomach gives a loud rumble. “Oh yeah. Forgot you were meant to be making dinner.”

“Hey, I have made dinner thank you very much! It’s in the slow cooker. Cuban beef and rice if that’s okay?” Brooke asks, and Vanessa doesn’t miss the little nervous tone in her voice. It’s adorable.

“Sure it is.”

Brooke lends Vanessa some pyjamas to shove on in lieu of the outfit she’d arrived in, and Vanessa’s heart swells a little at the implication that she’s going to be staying over. She’s not sure if she’ll try and breach the subject of what they are tonight- the evening is already so perfect and Vanessa doesn’t want to ruin anything, especially not when they’re curled up on the sofa with bowls of warm food in their laps and laughing guiltily at the way Jan is sobbing because she and Jackie have become the latest ones to leave the competition after a tense dance-off with Crystal and Gigi.  

“It’ll be a close final, though. Like that’s everyone been in the bottom now,” Vanessa contemplates, tilting her head in thought from her position at the other side of the sofa. Brooke nods, then snorts again.

“God. I feel for Jan, but she just has such a memeable crying face. Like Kim K,” Brooke snorts again, as some ridiculous BBC One gameshow that seems to be based around celebrities strapped into a wheel starts in the background.

“Jan’ll be fine. She’ll recover, she’s a big girl. She’s got Jackie anyway,” Vanessa shrugs. Brooke hums in response, and then there’s a palpable silence that fills the room, almost like Brooke is about to say something. Vanessa waits.

“So today got me thinking,” Brooke finally says, reaching out and curling her fingers around Vanessa’s. Her eyes are in her lap and she’s not meeting her gaze. Vanessa is, in every sense, on the edge of her seat.

“Uh-huh?”

“When I saw those pictures of you and Kameron,” Brooke continues, the reminder making Vanessa’s heart drop. “I got so envious…and then I thought, well…what’s the only way I can make sure Vanessa’s just mine?”

Brooke finally looks at her, and every fibre of Vanessa’s being lifts in hope. “So, uh, I was wondering…if you would want to be my girlfriend.”

And when Vanessa blinks, she can see fireworks explode behind her eyes. She’s unable to help the huge, dumb smile that breaks out on her face as she blushes shyly, gives a nod.

“‘Course I would, baby.”

The smile that bursts onto Brooke’s face mirrors her own, and Vanessa can’t help but lean in and pepper Brooke’s face with kisses, wrap her arms around her in a cuddle.

“Officially yours, now,” Vanessa smiles excitedly, as she rests her head against Brooke’s chest. She can’t see Brooke’s face, but she knows she’s smiling too.

And suddenly, a little sentence appears in Vanessa’s head, three very small and simple words that she’s not thought about in a long time but just make sense in that moment. She looks up at Brooke, meets her gaze and feels her heart thump.

Maybe she can save that for another day.

[yasxgamal]

Basic Information

Full name: Yasin Gamal Pronunciation: ee-ah-ceen gah-mah-l Nickname(s): Yas, E. Birthdate: November 20th, 1986 Age: 34 Zodiac: Scorpio Gender: Male Pronouns: He/him/his Romantic orientation: Panromantic Sexual orientation: Pansexual Nationality: English Ethnicity: Egyptian Current location: London, UK Living conditions: Yas' place is a one-bedroom mess. It's a good flat, spacious and in a good location, all things considered, but he's not the best at decorating. Apart from the very odd artwork or two hanging crookedly on the walls, there isn't much more to it. He keeps his space clean and tidy when he has the time to do that, but it's not a very personal place. Also probably smells like smoke most of the time -- or, air freshener if he's trying to impress you.

Background

Birthplace: London, UK Hometown: London, UK Social Class: Wealthy if you count the parents' money, Middle if you consider his own money and lifestyle currently, and his tendencies to waste it all on cigarettes. Educational achievements: A really fancy degree in Computer Sciences and Computer Engineering at the most expensive college in the UK Father: Omar Gamal Mother: Safiya Gamal Sibling(s): Samir Gamal and Aisha Gamal. Birth order: Samir, Yas, Aisha is the youngest. Pets: Ramen, the stray cat that crawls in through his window and occasionally spends weeks sleeping inside, and then disappears for months on end. Previous relationships: One big relationship in college for 3 years, a miserable breakup. Then mostly only casual things after that, none he would consider true relationships. Arrests: N/A Prison time: N/A

Occupation & Income

Current occupation: Programmer for the Time Machine project Dream occupation: Programmer for the first working Time Machine Past job(s): College Era: various internships, waiter, freelance photographer for kids' parties, freelance I.T., tech teacher for the elderly, tech teacher for children, coder and manager for a pornographic film company's website. Post-College Era: has helped coding and programming several apps and softwares independently, then a stable job at GoodCore Software Ltd. as SQA Lead. Spending habits: Yas spends a lot on cigarettes and technology, but everything else he doesn't care enough for. In debt?: No Most valuable possession: Emotionally, his own laptop or phone, and all the photos and memories stored in them, as well as his work. Legally and monetarily, though, it's the BAFTA statuette from his sister, which he now gets to keep for a year because he won a bet (it's fine, she has more than one).

Skills & Abilities

Physical strength: Average Speed: Average Intelligence: Above Average when it comes to all things technology, Average on some other subjects. Accuracy: Average Agility: Above Average Stamina: Above Average Teamwork: Great in environments where everyone is delegated a certain job and he gets to do his thing in his corner to add to the mix. When it comes to people wanting to mess with his codes, he gets a bit stubborn and difficult to deal with. Shortcomings: often lets his pride ruin things, a bit of an inflated ego when it comes to his work, bad at communicating. Languages spoken: English, Arabic Drive?: Yes Jump-start a car?: No Change a flat tyre?: Yes Ride a bicycle?: Poorly Swim?: Yes Play an instrument?: If you count the guitar lessons in his childhood (he does) Play chess?: Yes Braid hair?: No Tie a tie?: Yes Pick a lock?: No Cook?: Yes, the very bare minimum, and he hardly does it.

Physical Appearance & Characteristics

Faceclaim: Rami Malek Eye colour: Greyish green Hair colour: Black Hair type/style/length: Shaved on the sides, originally short on top but it grows out too fast and he can't be bothered to get a haircut, so it grows out curly. When it starts to become a mop and look like he has a helmet of hair on, he cuts it short again, and repeats that cycle. Glasses/contacts?: No, but they're needed. He has shit eyesight and no one ever forced him to get glasses so he never did. Don't ask him to read any signs that are far away. Dominant hand: Right Height: 5'9 / 175cm Weight: 154 lb / 70kg Build: Slim Exercise habits: Nonexistent, but he does a lot of walking Skin tone: Olive (Type IV) Tattoos: The initials of his siblings, A.S. in a simple font, on the bottom of his ribs on his right side. They all have matching ones. He continuously tells them the joke that they should get a fourth sibling with an S name, so he can get A.S.S. tattooed instead. Piercings: None Marks/scars: Several small scars around his legs and arms, from climbing around and getting into trouble as a middle child desperate for attention. A more notorious scar runs up behind his left elbow from a night in college when he got wasted with his friends and had an accident with a knife (don't ask). Clothing style: Black, a lot of black. The most colourful thing in his closet might be a dark grey jumper. Very minimalistic in the sense that he never wears patterns or colours or graphic tees, it's always just very dry and kind of bland. He probably could get into fashion if he wanted to, but he feels bad spending so much of his hard-earned money on the high-fashion stuff. Also he can frequently be spotted wearing those compression gloves/braces on his hands, for carpal tunnel syndrome Jewellery: A couple necklaces that have no emotional attachment besides "I thought they were cool so I bought them", but he's never without them, even when they mostly just hang inside his shirts. Dabbles in rings if he's feeling fancy. Allergies: None Diet: Consists of mostly snacks. He occasionally buys the healthy kind, like a couple granola bars or some fruit, but if he's going through a big project, he'll only snack. Anything easy to eat with one hand goes. He does, however, understand the value of nutrition and that he needs to fuel his body properly every once in a while; when that happens, he resorts to ordering food from some healthy restaurant nearby. It's basically a couple salads a month and then nothing but Doritos for days straight. Physical ailments: Carpal tunnel syndrome happens often enough that it's almost chronic, because he doesn't usually take breaks or stretch his wrists out like he's supposed to. Back pain from sitting all day (and bad posture) is also so present that he barely notices it anymore.

Psychology

MBTI type: INTJ Enneagram type: Type Five Moral Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Temperament: Somewhere between Phlegmatic and Melancholic? Element: Water Emotional stability: Who is she! Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert Obsession(s): Outdoing his siblings, no matter how much he loves them Compulsion(s): Working to the point of forgetting to take care of himself Phobia(s): Acrophobia and atychiphobia Addiction(s): Cigarettes/Vaping Drug use: Sometimes wrongly and terribly pops an Adderall when pulling all-nighters. Has smoked weed before, but he doesn't love the slowness of when he gets high. Alcohol use: Not very often nowadays, but the occasional blackout still happens. He's known to become a completely different person when he drinks, much more loose and fun and happy, so he does it sparingly Prone to violence?: No Prone to crying?: No Believe in love at first sight?: Yes, but doesn't think he's the type to ever experience that, since it takes a while for him to get close to people, so he believes in it as an abstract concept

Mannerisms

Accent: RP English Speech quirks: A lot of pauses between words and sentences, since he often thinks a lot before he speaks. The occasional ums and uhs and some stuttering if his mind is working faster than he can speak, too. Hobbies: Photography, playing video games, reading novels (graphic or otherwise), finding passive-aggressive memes to send into the Gamal siblings groupchat Habits: Stealing wifi, smoking and vaping, ordering delivery of everything instead of getting it himself Nervous ticks: lip chewing, tapping fingers, bouncing one knee, scratching his neck/jaw or touching his nose Drives/motivations: It's all for the glory, babey Fears: Never achieving anything grand Sense of humour?: It goes as far as memes and roasting his loved ones, but not much further than that. He's usually not comfortable enough to crack jokes, but you might get a sarcastic comment or two if you're lucky. Deep down, he can be sharp and quick-witted, but it doesn't come out often, unless he's having drinks. Do they curse often?: Hecc yes, probably as a form of rebellion against his posh parents

Favourites

Animal: Tarsier Beverage: Strong black coffee with two spoons of sugar Book: Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes Colour: Green Food: Zalabya Flower: Jasmine Gem: Peridot Mode of transportation: Walking, and if not, the metro Scent: Oranges Sport: Tennis Weather: Rainy enough that he doesn't feel anyone's judgement for staying inside all day Vacation destination: Japan

Attitudes

Greatest dream: Finally being famous for his work Greatest fear: Never achieving anything big enough to make him happy, and being forever miserable because of it Most at ease when: Left by himself or enjoying someone else's company that he's truly comfortable with, probably in silence, doing his own thing Least as ease when: Forced into environments where he has to put on fancy clothes and pretend to be enjoying himself when he's not. Alternatively: when he's going on hour 32 without any sleep and he's denied more coffee Worst possible thing that could happen: Achieving greatness but realising he needs something else in order to feel fulfilled and be happy Biggest achievement: His degree and hopefully the first working Time Machine Biggest regret: He doesn't like to say he regrets things, so there's nothing he'd call a huge regret. But if he had to say something, he'd probably say it was not telling that one high school crush that he liked them.

[randomoranges]

Perfect Cities

Dream a Little Dream

 Mid 1990’s.

 Edward stepped out of the elevator of the Belgo Gallery and walked down the corridor of the seventh floor. The tall building, located in the downtown area of Montréal, served as an art gallery for modern and contemporary art, each floor, and each room managed by different people. He passed through various open doors, making his way to the far end, where Étienne’s small gallery was. When he got there, he paused for a moment, looking through the glass door at Étienne bustle about; making sure the artwork was in place.

 The gallery wasn’t very big, built more in depth than width. Wooden floors creaked under patrons’ feet and the few pillars that supported the building made the space feel like a small maze, which Étienne used to his advantage to create fabulous tales with his exhibits.

 “Knockity, knock, knock, anyone in here?” Edward called from the other side of the glass door. He watched, amused, as Étienne emerged from behind the pillar and looked in his direction, smiling brightly. He gave an enthusiastic wave and walked towards the door, careful not to tip over the various stands along the way.

 “Eddy! I wasn’t expecting you. What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?” Étienne flung his arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the lips.

 Edward pulled away with a smile, resting his forehead on Étienne’s for a while. His heart beat wildly in his ribcage, still unused to these blatant displays of affection, but never minding them. Once he had control of his emotions, he thrust the brown paper bag he had brought along with him to the other man. “You forgot your lunch on the counter, dummy.” He said, soft and fond. If he had a tally for every time this happened... well, it would be a large tally.

 Étienne gave him a sheepish smile and took the bag, peeping inside. “And after you carefully packed it for me... sorry.”

 “It’s fine, but I didn’t want you to eat out again, so I brought it to you.” Sometimes, he honestly wondered if Étienne didn’t do it on purpose. At first, Edward had thought Étienne did it because he didn’t like his food, so he hadn’t bothered bringing the packed lunches to the gallery. However, after Étienne had complained one day about the subpar sandwich he had had to purchase, Edward had made it his mission to deliver the forgotten lunches to him. By now, he honestly suspected that Étienne used it as an excuse to spend his lunch break with him.

 Edward didn’t really mind.

 “My knight in shining armour.” Étienne said, kissing his cheek. “Did you brave the city streets all by yourself?”

 “Of course; I’ve been here enough times now to know how to navigate the metro. So are you going to show me around or are we gonna spend all day in the doorway?” He teased.

 “You’re right! You’ve never seen the gallery – well, not this way. Come on, I’ll give you a private tour.” Étienne took his hand and led him further into the narrow space, dodging the stands that held intricate pieces expertly.

 Edward followed close behind, a fond look on his face as Étienne chatted animatedly about the new set up, and how it would benefit the space he had. They stopped at Étienne’s desk to drop off the packed lunch and from there, without letting go of his hand, Étienne walked him through the current exhibition, through the careful path he had designed. He explained each piece briefly, weaving a connecting story between the first and the next, slowly revealing the larger picture the pieces were part of.

 There were the brightly coloured orbs in varying shades of warm colours, made of glass, which Étienne told him were a representation of the sun throughout the year – the darker, warmer ones for summer, the lighter ones for winter. Then, the next piece, not even done by the same artist, was a series of metal flowers, dipped in different colours. The theme, Étienne told him, as they carefully wove their way to the back of the space, was Rebirth and Edward could see how it fit with the pieces and the layout.

 There was only Étienne who could bring abstract art to life the way he did. Edward could listen to him talk for hours. He loved how Étienne became animated, talking about the artwork he had carefully chosen for his little art gallery. Edward could tell how much the other man enjoyed doing this and for that, he was glad. Seeing Étienne so happy and enthused quickened his heartbeat and he made it a point to visit whenever there was a new exhibition, letting Étienne guide him through the artwork, immersing himself in his lover’s world.

 “So, how long do I have you for?” Étienne asked him, at the end of the tour.

 Edward blinked and looked at him, frowning slightly, trying to figure out what he meant by that. “I am not having sex with you in your gallery; once was enough.” He bristled. Had it not been for the security guard that had walked in on them, perhaps Edward would have agreed to a repeat performance, but he could still vividly recall the man’s mortified face and just thinking about it sent him down the road of embarrassment.

 Étienne laughed, swatting at his chest playfully, but shook his head. “I wasn’t suggesting that, silly. Sheesh, now who’s the one with his head in the gutter?” He joked.

 “Okay, well, what were you suggesting?” He recovered, putting those thoughts aside.

 “Well, since it’s nearly lunch time, I thought maybe you could stay and we could have a picnic? I know you always pack too much for me.”

 There was fondness in his tone and Edward knew he shouldn’t be embarrassed by this anymore, not after the many years he had spent with Étienne, but his cheeks pinked nonetheless.

 “Don’t want you to get hungry, that’s all.” He mumbled.

 Étienne caressed his cheek, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his lips and Edward knew he was gone for this man. Étienne had discovered with time that Edward conveyed his feelings through the food he made him and that there was careful thought put into everything he packed. He was immensely touched by the gesture and truly treasured every meal Edward made for him, even the sandwiches.

 “I know and I think it’s sweet. But since you’re here, care to join me?”

 “Yeah, okay, why not?”

 Étienne looked delighted and Edward hoped he could be the reason for that look for a very long time. They walked back to the far left side of the gallery, where Étienne kept his desk behind more glass doors. Étienne had explained to him, once, on Edward’s first visit to the gallery that he liked the idea of the glass doors for he could always see what was going on in the space. At the same time, the doors helped define the area between gallery and desk and it gave him room to work, while not being cut off from the place he loved.

 Étienne picked up the scattered books, pictures, pencils, pens, brochures and magazines that littered his workspace and dumped them into a drawer for the time being. He cleared the table of the various application forms Edward had seen laying on Étienne’s kitchen table and then he rummaged through a cupboard to pull out a tablecloth.

 “Do you often have picnics with your patrons, Mr. Maisonneuve?” Edward asked, eyeing the many different tablecloths that were in the cupboard.

 Edward’s tone was light and Étienne rolled his eyes at him in fond exasperation. “Absolutely not, but if you recall, I had a show last year that required many tablecloths. I kept them for such occasions. Now, be a dear and get me the dishes and cutlery from the cabinet next to you.”

 Edward did as he was told and the two of them set up their impromptu picnic table in companionable silence. There was a thermos of still steaming soup, a small container of mixed cut up fruit, some cheese and crackers, a small variety of three different types of sandwiches and a bowl of salad with the dressing it its own, smaller, container. Edward filled up the two crystal water glasses Étienne liked to keep around and when everything was set, they sat down across from each other to dig into the meal.

 “You’ve spoiled me once more, Mr. Murphy. I’m truly a lucky man.” Étienne told him around a spoonful of soup.

 “You know I don’t mind.” He murmured, sincere. The truth of the matter was that he liked spoiling Étienne with his food and his attention. Étienne had been there for him when no one else had and being with him had helped so much. Edward felt at ease with him and he hoped, through each carefully packed lunch, that Étienne could understand that.

 “I know, but you didn’t have to get up so early to make fresh soup. Not that I don’t appreciate it.” Étienne reached for his hand across the table and twined their fingers together.

 Edward held on, butterflies dancing in his stomach, enjoying the warmth that Étienne’s fingers gave. Moments like these, when it was just the two of them sharing a quiet lunch were his favourite. He felt close to Étienne in a way he never imagined he could and Étienne’s solid presence, even with just their hands touching, was grounding. “I tried to be discreet.” He admitted.

 “And it would have worked, had it not been for the fact that I couldn’t find you in bed when I turned around to snuggle you. That and the apartment smelt really good.”

 Edward laughed at that and squeezed Étienne’s hand. “Then I promise to let you snuggle me next time.”

 From across the table, Étienne beamed.

 The rest of lunch was spent in quiet conversation, catching up and enjoying the other’s company. They talked about trivial little things; Edward’s ride into the city, a new jazz band Étienne was slowly falling in love with, the encounter Edward had at the Jean-Talon market with an elderly Italian woman, and so on. It was nice, ideal really. Lunches like these were both their favourites and it allowed them to pause their hectic lives and enjoy the quietude and comfort of the moment. Edward helped Étienne clear the dishes afterwards and then he had to head out to run some errands.

 “I guess I’ll see you tonight?”

 “I sure hope so. You’ll be okay navigating the city?” Étienne asked, draping his arms around Edward’s neck. His lover held him close and rubbed his back gently.

 “Of course; your noble knight shall tame the metro system.”

 Étienne laughed and kissed him again. “Be good, have fun.”

 “I will, promise.”

 They walked back to the main door of the gallery and they both lingered a little, not wanting the moment to really end.

 “See you later.”

 “Be careful.” Étienne cautioned one last time.

 “’Love you.” Edward murmured in his ear after one more quick hug. He stepped back in time to notice the pink in Étienne’s cheeks. The look of surprise on his face was endearing to him and Edward couldn’t help himself, stepping close to steal one last kiss from Étienne’s partially open mouth.

 “Me too.” Étienne whispered back, slightly dazed.

 Then, with a final wave, Edward headed out, whistling to himself.

 --

 He noticed the tears before he realised he was awake. Thick and fat they spilled from his eyes as the bedroom’s ceiling slowly came into focus.

 Edward felt his heart sink as a wave of sadness crashed over him. He knew that he could never have what he really longed for, but having seen it in his dream – having thought for one glorious moment that it had been real, Edward felt as though he had been punched in the stomach, breath ripped out of him.

 But he knew.

 He knew after so many years with Étienne that this could never be. He knew and had known that Étienne, the man he had slowly fallen in love with, did not do relationships. He knew, because Étienne had told him, once, almost two decades ago. The problem was that Edward had slowly but surely fallen for Étienne – his easy smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the brightness of his eyes, his soft, plush lips, his loud laugh and his gentle hands. Edward had fallen faster than he had realised for the well-hidden side of Étienne and deep down, he knew he could never have more.

 His dream was a reflection of everything he yearned for with a man who simply didn’t do any of those things.

 And then there were those times – little moments – when Étienne would look at him a certain way or say a certain thing that would send Edward’s heart racing. Times when Étienne would hold him just a little longer, kiss him just a little slower, and Edward would dare to hope that it meant as much to Étienne as it did to him. But those moments never lasted long, something else always coming up – meetings, encounters, distance, words...

 He wiped at his eyes, trying to stop the increasing feeling of emptiness and sorrow that had crept up on him, before he turned to his side.

 Beside him, Étienne slept on soundly, oblivious to his turmoil and to his feelings. Edward bit back the sob that threatened to escape and instead made himself small in Étienne’s arms, letting the weight of his slumbering warmth still his heavy heart.

 He knew, on some logical level that he could call it quits. He could leave anytime he wanted. He didn’t need to suffer through this, but the problem was he didn’t want to leave. Most of the time, really, almost the majority of the time, Étienne made happy. However, there were times like today, when Étienne would let his eyes linger on some passing man, or woman, that made Edward question himself and what he had with Étienne all over again.

 Dreams like the one he just had weren’t new to him, but each one was another blow – another reminder of the thing he really wanted and the one he could never have. Not here, not with Étienne.

 He could leave. He knew he could. He could always search elsewhere, but he was a stupid man in love with Étienne, and he still dared to dream that Étienne felt the same.

 If he willed his mind around it, he could almost fool himself into believing that the feelings were mutual for just a little longer, long enough for the dream not to end.

 FIN 37

 Started writing: April 17th 2017, 3:53pm

Finished writing: April 17th 2017, 6:08pm

Started typing: April 24th 2017, 3:42pm

Finished typing: April 24th 2017, 4:43pm

[astoryworthoftelling]

The Strings of the Universe

PROMPT:

The reader has been living with Tony Stark for the past couple of years. She attends school with her best friend Peter Parker, and while he does not need much help balancing his Spidey duties and school, she needs serious help with their History class and being “just another regular teenager” and keep her secret safe.

A/N: WOW. This took me A LOT of time to write. So I’ve been working in this imagine for a while. Mostly I wanted to be sure that it made sense and that it did not had discrepancy's and that I could capture as much as I could the characters, as well to have good grammar. 

Any-who I hope you enjoy it! Not sure how many parts it will take. Feel free to comment and request!

Word count: 4,639.

Word keys:

Y/n: Your name

Y/L/N: Your last name

Status quo’s:

A.I:  Artificial Intelligene 

P.E. : Physical Education

At the wheel: Person driving; In control of the vehicle.

It started as another regular day, you finally woke up after snoozing your alarm five times, you always put your alarm before 6:00am so instead of snoozing your alarm and being late,  you would actually wake up on time and had the “5 more minutes” of sleep. You quickly went to the bathroom, washed your face, put some makeup so you didn’t look like a zombie, put on some clothes and went downstairs where you found Tony and Pepper already eating some breakfast.

“Morning y/n” Said Pepper with a warm smile “There are more waffles in the kitchen” 

“Morning” You replied “Ah, thank you”

“And there’s plenty of coffee” Tony added 

You picked up a plate and put some waffles, fruit, and of course bacon, served some coffee and went back to the table.

“So any big plans for today?” Tony said 

“Well, I’ll go to school, then Peter and I will go to get something to eat after, then we’ll come back to the tower, he’ll do whatever he needs to and I’ll be in the lab as always” You said 

“Alright” He smiled “Just don’t forget to do homework” 

“Yeah, yeah” You finished breakfast, put the dished in the sink, grab two flasks and filled them with coffee, ran to your room to brush your teeth, pick up your backpack and go to school. 

“See you later!” You yelled as you ran out of the department and head to the elevator.

Once you were down, you saw Happy already waiting for you, you smiled.

“Morning Happy” You said as you gave him one of the flasks “Here you go”

“Thanks, y/n” He said as he took a sip “Ready?”

“Yup” You said as you head to the car, it wasn’t a long drive, you could easily take the metro but you weren’t used to of being surrounded by a lot of people and you felt uneasy in really closed and cramped spaces. So you’re glad that Tony insisted on Happy taking you to school.

Once you arrived you waved your goodbye and thanked Happy, “See you tomorrow” 

“Are you sure you don’t need me after school?” He said

“Yes, I’m trying harder to “push my limits and fit in more”” You said imitating Tony Stark “Plus, I’ll be with Peter, and that helps” You smiled 

“Alright, if you need anything...” He said

“Yes, I’ll call you” You reassured as you waved and went into the school.

For your surprise Peter wasn’t there yet, so that meant to things, one he overslept for being out at night or two he was out right now doing more spidey things. Either way, he was late, you went to your locker and put in the books you didn't need for the first period and took some things out.  

“Don’t you even think about it...” You said putting in the last book as you turned 

“Ah” Peter complained “How do you always do that?” He says surprised 

“Well...” The bell rang “I just know you Parker” You giggled and smile “Now, ready for some really important class of history?” You said sarcastically and walked to your history classroom.

The class was a total nightmare, you could understand math, chemistry, physics, but history, oh boy, it was your living nightmare, so many horrible things that had happened not only in the past century but recently, from World Wars to Wars with aliens and artificial intelligence robots. “Thank you Tony” you thought. So many dates, different Revolutions, more Wars between countries and that was only in the past century, how did the teachers and Tony expect you to learn more from the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, you name it, it was too much. 

“Class, I will hand you the result of your past test, if you happen to fail, then you’ll have a make up test next Wednesday, so you’ll have this week to study” He finished and handled the tests, once you got yours you saw the beautiful red “F” on top of the page.

“Great” You muttered 

Once the class was over, you walked out with Peter.

“So how did you do on the test?” You asked

“I passed, and you?” He replied

“Well, I failed, and now I will have to torture myself studying for the next test” You complained 

“Well, I can tutor you” He said smiling 

“Would you do that?” You said happily

“Yes, of course, that's what friends are, right?” He smiled “But you will have to pay...”

“Well... does pizza and snacks sound good?” You offer

“Perfect” He replied as the next bell rang “Ready for math?

“Yes, please” You said as you walked to your next class.

“You know, not all teenagers will say that with so much enthusiasm” He laughed 

The day went by really fast after history, once school was over you went to your favorite café and had something to eat, then walked around a little and took a bus to the Avengers towers. Taking the bus was easier because you could watch outside the window as you just lost yourself in your thoughts. You arrived at your destination, you walked in as you took your badge out of your backpack and walked in with Peter.

“Alright” you smiled “I’ll see you later” You said as you started walking the opposite way 

“Wait!” He said “So, do you want to start today?” He softly smiled

“Does tomorrow sounds good? I want to clear my head and I will be a little busy the whole afternoon and I still have to finish my English paper” You added

“Ok, so tomorrow around six thirty?” He asked looking while he was looking a little calendar in his phone 

“Yeah, that sounds good” You smiled 

“Miss. Y/n” Said a male voice “Ready?” It was a man wearing a black uniform and was holding a tablet in his hand.

“Yes” You turned to Peter “See you tomorrow” You smiled as you walked towards the man.

After spending nearly six hours in the lab you were exhausted, you felt as if your body was falling apart, you could barely keep your eyes open. You knew that what you were doing was important, not only for you but also for Tony. You wanted to do your best, but how could you keep up trying to live what he called a “Normal teenage life” when you weren't even that close on “Normal” and still do all the tests at school and in the lab. It was madness. 

You walked towards the designated elevator that would bring you up to the apartment in exactly 45 seconds.

“Good afternoon Miss. Y/n” F.R.I.D.A.Y said  

“Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y, is Tony and Pepper home?” You asked

“Yes, and they are waiting for you” She replied

“Great” You muttered as the bell announcing your arrival to the top floor rang, once the door opened the nice smell of dinner came in. You walked hoping you could sneak into your room, but of course, as F.R.I.D.A.Y said, they were in the living room in front of the elevator.

“Hey kiddo” Tony said “Dinner is ready” 

“Hey, I’ll just drop off this in my room and come back” You smiled. Once you finished you came back and sat for dinner, this night the chef made a stake, sweet potatoes fries, and some salad. “So how was your day?” You asked as always.

“Well, you know keeping track of all hero movement, making sure we don't break most of the laws by saving the world, working on new stuff that won’t destroy also the world” He took another bite of his meal “How about you Potts? He smiled

“The usual, making sure YOU don't get in trouble” She giggled and looked at you “How was school y/n” She softly smiled

“Uhm, well..”You gave a bite to the meat just to make some time “I failed a history test, but Peter is coming tomorrow to tutor me and the make up test is next Wednesday” You said quickly as you quickly ate another bite.

“Y/n” Said Tony in a lecturing voice “You didn’t study for the last test?” He asked

“I did, it’s just history is hard, I can't keep up with all the events, dates and names” You said a little ashamed “I can understand complicated equations in math or physics, and understand the components in chemistry, but history-”

“It’s ok” Pepper said “Don't worry, you’re a good kid, and I know-” She stops and looked at Tony in the eyes and then back at you “WE know that you're doing your best” She smiled as she reached to hold your hand.

“Thanks” you softly smiled you started talking about upcoming events, like Tony was going to travel for business proposes, Pepper had several conferences and you were left with school and the lab. Once you finished you helped pick up the table.

“Y/n, I need to talk to you for a moment” Tony said 

“Can it wait? I need to finish some homework” You looked at him and saw he was worried “Is it urgent?” You made a little frown 

“No, no, it can wait” He said “Don’t overwork yourself, ok?”

“Yeah” You smiled and went back to your room.

You took out the notebooks and your laptop and start doing what was left for homework, it didn't took you a lot of time until you finished it. It was a little late, but you were ready to go to sleep. Quickly you cleaned your face, and decided to take a shower to relax before going to bed. 

The hot water from the shower made your sore body feel better, at the beginning you felt a little sting in your arms and in your back, but after a little it was like it was healing slowly. Once you felt ready, you put on your pajamas, dried a little your hair and braid it so it wouldn’t get tangled and went directly to bed.

The next day as any other week, was pretty much the same routine, you would wake up after snoozing your alarm, eat, grab your stuff, grab coffee for happy and Peter, go to school, meet with Peter at the entrance, go to your first class, eat lunch with Peter, sometimes cover for him if he needed to do Spidey stuff, meet him outside school to have something to eat, go back to the Avengers tower, go to the lab, and at last return home once you were done. But the good thing about this Tuesday was that you would get to spend more time with Peter and luckily for you had the perfect chance to get out of the lab earlier than usual.

After living with Tony for almost four years, you already knew the routine and you were surprised every now and then when something changed, at the beginning it was hard, you had to keep up with learning certain status quo’s, social behavior and interaction with other people, as well for the physical tests, every week they would check your blood and studied it, see if something changed, test physical endurance and see how far you could push yourself.  One of the most difficult things was to open up with Tony the first couple of months, but Pepper was the one who helped you the most in trying to feel welcome and not threatened. 

Now it was different, you looked up to Tony and Peper as a father and mother figure, even though you weren’t related at all. Happy for you was your cool uncle, and you loved how caring he was with you but really indifferent with Peter. The people from the lab used to either fear you or see you as a special project, but now they were used to you and you had a somewhat relationship with them. 

Today’s test went by you felt a little different, you weren’t sure if it was because you were tired or your mind was in another place, but something was wrong, and you weren't the only one who noticed.

“Alright, we’re going to stop today,” Marc said through the speaker at the lab. 

“What?” You said confused “I’m ok, I can finish today’s practice” You said, taking some air in.

“Y/n, as the Senior Researcher, I am telling you that that's it for today” He said once again.

“Marc-” You started complaining and you saw him coming out of the screening room.

“Y/n, no that's it for today, no more “buts” or “Marc I can do it”, you’re going back upstairs and have some rest, besides don’t you have to meet someone?” He said as he started removing the patches that checked your pulse and register your activity during the test.

“How do you-?” You said. 

“Know?” He finished “Mr. Stark, made sure you were on time for your tutoring class” 

“Of course he did...” You said in a low voice 

“Alright, all done” He softly smiled “Tomorrow we’ll resume what we left off, so I recommend you to have a good rest and be ready.”

“Yeah, yeah” You leaned forward and picked up your backpack and took some water “See you tomorrow Marc” You waved goodbye as you walked out of the lab.

You walked in the apartment and went directly to your room, you decided to take a quick shower so you looked fresh. Once you were done you decided to leave your hair wet, and put on some comfy sweatpants and a shirt that said “Accio pizza”. You walked out of your room and put all the books you needed for history, your laptop, you served some popcorn.

“Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y, can you please order a pizza from Joe’s?” You said 

“I already ordered something” Tony said, he was wearing a nice suit and Pepper was wearing a beautiful blue dress

“Oh, thanks, and you both look amazing!” You smiled “Is something happening tonight?”

“Just a dinner date, we’ll be out late” Pepper said 

“Yes, but don’t think you will be unsupervised, F.R.I.D.A.Y is babysitting you” Tony said

“What?” You asked surprised “The A.I is babysitting me?” You frowned “You know you can trust me, right?” You said “Plus, we’re studying for history, nothing more exciting than some other country fighting a war for who knows what reason”

“Yeah, you do need those classes” Tony said “Still-”

“Honey, how about you make sure the car is ready downstairs, I don't want to be late” Pepper interrupted as she pushed him to the elevator. Once the door was closed she returned to you “F.R.I.D.A.Y, just call us if there is an emergency, nothing else.”

“Yes, Miss Potts” said F.R.I.D.A.Y

“Ok, honey have fun, and I’ll make sure Tony doesn't spy on you” She giggled 

“Ok...we’re just going to study, so...no worries? I guess?” You awkwardly smiled. 

Pepper went down and met Tony and he was already talking with Peter, “Poor boy” she thought, Peter was holding his backpack and fidgeting one of the laces of his sweater with the other one. “Hello there Peter” She smiled “How is school?” She said making sure to change the subject Tony was talking with him

“Good Miss. Potts, working hard” He said as he smiled 

“That’s always good, now we won’t keep you busy” She smiled as she softly padded Peter’s arm “Honey, shall we go?” She smiled as she discreetly pulled him to the entrance so they could leave.

“Yes, yes.” He cleared his throat 

Once they were gone, he texted you, 

Peter P: “Already here, got stopped by Mr.Stark”

Y/n: No problem ;) 

He smiled as he went up to the apartment, and the ding announced his arrival.

“Hey Peter” You said “Come in” You smiled and hugged him “Alright I got some popcorn, pizza should arrive any time soon” You smiled proudly

“Always on point, hey can you remind me where the bathroom is?” He said with an innocent smile

“Yeah, down the hall to the right and it’s the second door on the right” You instructed

“Thanks, be right back” He smiled 

“Miss Y/n, pizza has arrived and coming up on the food elevator” F.R.I.D.A.Y announced 

“Thank you” You smiled and you went to the kitchen where an elevator with a microwave size,

“I heard the pizza is here” Peter said 

“Yup its coming up” You smiled as you waiting 

“You know, this is one of the inventions that you never know that you need until you have one” 

“What? Pizza?”You said confused 

“No, the food elevator” He laughed 

“Oh, right” You said as the ding announcing the food was up “Alright, let’s eat!” 

Peter grabbed some plates and salsa. you both sat down on the couch. 

“So how was your afternoon?” You asked as you grabbed a piece 

“Good, you know I patrol a little on the east side, nothing big today” He ate a bite of his piece “How about yours?” 

“Good, I guess” You shrugged “You know, helping the scientists doing their research and just being helpful” You smiled as you went for your second piece.

“Nice, so I know you don’t like talking about it, but what do you do?” 

“It’s classified” You joked 

“Oh, come on y/n” He laughed 

“Peter, you know I can’t talk about that” You insisted

“Not even to your best friend?” He raised his eyebrows

“Peter, you know I would love to tell, you…” you paused for a second as you took a deep breath “Hopefully soon I can, ok?” You smiled 

“Alright, I won't insist more” He smiled and finished his second piece of pizza 

After finishing the pizza and cleaning up you started your lesson, Peter made some notes on the things that were on the past test and things you will be seeing in class. But mostly focused on the Greeks and their influence in other cultures, every now and then he would pop a question to test you. He covered the most important things and as you made more and more notes, things slowly started to fit.

“Alright” you smiled proudly “I think I got it!”

“You think?” He giggled 

“No, no, I got it” You assured as you smiled 

“Good, so tomorrow Romans?” He smiled 

“Yup” You smiled as you stood up and walked out Peter “Thank you Pete, really, you’re really a hero” 

“Yeah, just your friendly neighborhood Peter Parker” He joked and you both laughed 

“Oh boy, go to sleep Parker” You giggled and hugged him 

“See you tomorrow”  He said “Have a good rest!” 

“You too Pete” You smiled and saw the elevator door close. After he left you cleaned up the living room and went to sleep. 

On Wednesday after school, as usual you head to the lab, put your hair in a ponytail and started the usual drill, one hour and a half later every muscle started to ache, you ignore it and continued.

“Y/n, everything ok? Your heartbeat is raising” Marc announced through the speaker 

“Yeah, all good” You lied and continued but around 15 minutes later Marc decided to end the day. You did not argue or insisted to continue this time, you wanted just to go up and rest before Peter came showed up in the apartment. After an hour of the tutoring, Peter had to leave because an emergency in downtown Manhattan and that's when Tony approached you.

“Y/n, can I have a moment with you?” He said

“Yeah” You softly smiled and walked to his studio 

“Is everything ok?” You asked as you sat down on the chair in front of his desk.

“We need to talk, not only me but also Marc has noticed a change in your performance in the lab” He tapped his watch and a couple of screens popped out on the wall “You see, in the past couple months everything has been stable, yes every now and then some things will change, with your blood pressure, or your physical tests will be higher or lower, overall good for what we know” He paused as he looked a new chart dating that day “But this past two weeks things have been going down, I noticed that it wasn’t as the past times, it started going gradually and now its more noticeable, you used endure more as for today your scans were all over the place and that’s why Marc opted to end the session”

“So…what does all of this means?”

“That's the thing, I-“ He stopped and sighed “We don’t know, it can be that you need some rest or it could be something more complicated” He looked at you and noticed the concern in your face “Kid, I know you’re doing your best in every possible way you can, but I can not risk your health and well being, which is why you're having a little break from the lab, but you will have to wear this” He walked to a cabinet and brought out a bracelet “It will monitor how you doing throughout the next couple of days, we’ll recover data and then we’ll know how to proceed” He smiled trying to help you feel more comfortable. “Y/n?”

“Yeah, that sounds reasonable” You let tony adjust the bracelet and set up the system.

“Everything will be ok” He was concerned, of course he wouldn’t admit it, he is the adult here, he has to be strong for you, but you knew he was worried. 

“Thank you” You hugged him tightly 

“It’s ok kid, it’s ok” He repeated and softly padded your back.

Friday finally arrived, you didn’t remember the last time you felt this exhausted, you got ready for school, you picked some books from the locker went to your classes after lunch you had P.E. You would usually enjoy but today wasn’t a good day, the teacher decided that the class was going to have a little rally against each other, it was like an obstacle course, they divided the group in three, you and Michelle ended up in the same group, Peter and Ned in the other two. 

The coach indicated the rules, the race would begin with running half of the running track, then jump over some car wheels, next you will proceed to the monkey bars, do ten burpees, climb up a climbing frame in a triangle shape, and then run the other half of the running track to get to the safe point with the rest of your team, after this the game started. 

Your group was pretty good, so far your team was in first place, there were two people in front of you and then it was your turn and you hoped to be fast enough just to be done with this part of the day. You saw Peter was next and you knew that he could beat the person on your team easily, but in order to keep his abilities in secret, he went slower in the obstacles and arrive at his safe point in second place. Now the person in front of you went, you felt your heartbeat beating like a drum, you saw your teammate arrive at the safe point and you ran as fast as you could, you passed the first two obstacles without a problem, after the burpees you felt your legs quiver and you ran to the climbing frame, once you were down you started to run to the safe point, you were almost sure you were going to be able to make it, until you felt it. Your breathing was getting harder by the second and you had to slow down; your teammates were yelling you to continue, you pushed yourself harder, but you saw the other teams were getting ahead of you. The track started to look further and further away, and without noticing everything went dark as you hit the ground.

“Y/N!!” Peter yelled as he ran off to get you, the coach approached him and told him to get you to the nurse office. As he took you he saw your watch which was flashing different numbers and a message saying “Tony Stark arrival in: 10 minutes”. Once Peter was at the nurse office his phone started to ring, he laid you down in the bed, and answered the phone.

“Mr.Stark?” He said trying to sound calm 

“Peter, are you with Y/n?” He said with urgency 

“Yes Sir, I brought her to the nurse office-” He started 

“Peter, do not let her out of your sight I am almost at the school.” He said and quickly hung up.

It did not pass more than five minutes when Peter realized how much noise was coming out of the hallway and that's when Tony Stark entered the room with the same scientist he has seen before from the Avengers tower. They both moved quickly towards you, they were both saying different statistics and things Peter couldn't fully understand. Time seemed to pass slowly and you were in the same state.

“Marc put the injection and get ready to transfer her” Tony order the scientist as he turned to Peter “Thank you kid, I will take it from here”

“Mr. Stark-” He started

“Peter, go back to class and I will update you once she's better” He assured

“Are you sure you don't need me? I can- “ His hands were shaking and didn’t know what to do, 

“Peter...” Tony took a deep breath “Alright, come with us, I will talk with the principal so you can be excused from school this time and I’ll call your Aunt, but you have to let us work, ok?” He talked in a more calm way as more poeple with black uniform came in and out you on a stretcher and took you to the specialized van they had arrived. 

“Thank you, and yes Sir.” He took a deep breath as he followed Tony Stark and all the students looked around and whisper or took video of the whole situation. He saw you leave in the van with the man who now Peter knew his name was Marc. Peter went in the car with with Tony Stark and Happy at the wheel. 

He realized that they weren’t taking you to a hospital but to the Avengers towers. Tony quickly went out of the car and went to a separate part of the building that Peter never saw before, there was a small waiting room where Tony instructed Peter to wait.

“Now Peter, I have to go in and make sure that everything is going well” He paused “Miss Potts is on her way and she will meet you here, she is going to be ok” He assured one more time before going in to the other room as he left Peter in the waiting room.  

The sound of heels took Peter out of the heartbreaking silence as he saw Pepper walking in. 

“Hey kid” She said and embraced him in a hug 

“I- I- don’t know what happened” He said trying really hard for his voice not to break “She was ok and it happened so fast-”

“It’s ok” Pepper reassured as she comforted Peter “She is in the best hands” They took a step back “In the meantime, how about we get something for all of us to eat? Tony will update me and we will see her soon” She smiled 

“Yeah...” Peter took one more look back to the doors hoping for you to be ok.  

[driftwork]

Hotel Sheriton, Room 453, in Tokyo 4 - fragments of a novel

Magrid, is walking past the cafe towards the building when he sees her, sitting beside the man at table and looking looking looking at him. She waves, beckoning him to join them. He wonders how they have traveled so far across the city. She explains that she needs to meet with Kenzo to agree a truce and negotiate a solution. He looks at the car keys, for a Golf R type on the table. Where did they get that he wonders. Then at him as he speaks to her. Should I call or just come to the building ? He hands her a card - take this and call me tomorrow at 10AM. There is a council meeting today at 6pm and at 2pm. I will  go and speak to Kenzo and discuss the options. Call me tomorrow and I'll tell you if its safe. I'll arrange a safe zone it will take ten minutes after I leave you..  Can you do that? He smiles at her Yes. Nobody wants you to kill them. He stands up and calls Ghilli over. He tells him to buy them more coffee and tea, I'm going to arrange a safe space, a truce within 500 metres of here, keep them them safe for 15 minutes. Ghilli watches him leave - Magrid is probably mad. I think Kenzo really likes him.

A tiny war machine entered the Sheriton Hotel. A warrior discarded by her family, by the institutions she had lived with all her life and her bag carrier,  her becoming mate. A becoming couple. The transference is not unconscious any longer and they are beginning to seek to resolve the transference. They are not the war machine of the still weakening Mars, but the war machine of Penthiselia - having cut a path across the city. A trail of bodies in her wake. There is no Achilles as in the fall of Troy. Neither of them look tired, rather they look happy. Their line of flight across the city had collected things, new allegiances, new weapons, new constraints and responsibilities. A becoming nomad as she has has has left her aristocratic home and passed through the murderous war of the aristocrats struggling to reestablish a state of peace between the old and new aristocracy. Magrid's informant has become imperceptible, obeying his instructions to not report them until tomorrow afternoon, he leaves and smiles as he messages his wife. The  Hotel is 400 metres from the centre of the safe zone. They felt a little drugged, or perhaps they drank a little too much in the mezzanine restaurant.  (Amadou and Maraim - I follow you plays) . They they they stretched out on the bed as if on a sea of clouds in the Sheriton hotel.  She was astonished at how much she was enjoying having her head on his shoulder,  and he was desperate not to move in case she stopped. The noises reaching  their ears were entering through the open window and the walls, the rumbling of buses, their shifting gear, the metro schreeeeeaaaaming round the bend onto the bridge across the river Edo, vehicle horns honking, police and ambulance sirens, the traffic noises, the lifts humming behind the wall, the temple bell sounding nine, planes taking off or landing over the city, the engines are schizophrenic. Later in the middle of the night the sound of drunken tourists and workers in the corridor of the hotel, doors slamming violently. The paranoid psychotic noises of a Tokyo hotel. Underlying this are the more discreet ones of their bodies carefully moving, her silk blouse cloth rustling, her head moving on his shoulder, his heart beating, breathing, always breathing. The two I's gradually falling into a deep sleep, sleeping, when they wake they will imperceptibly have become a 'we'. At some point in the middle of the night after turning off the remaining light they will have sex. She will think, as she curls herself around his body and watches the shadows of the moving outside on the light beige wallpapered wall, that it was better than the previous night. They are, they will both think, that they are getting used to one another. She listens, he is asleep,  to a low intensity humming that is coming from the air conditioner or some other vent, the sound of water running in the next door room's bathroom. A TV clicks on, and then off. The sounds of owls screeching. Sometime later she puts on a loose teeshirt, one of his and sleeps until the sun has risen. Whilst it never goes quiet,  cities never do after all, there is a progressive lowering of the volume, like a piece of Reich's music fading away. Some of the machines go silent and vanish until the only sounds that can be heard are the doors shutting in the hotel. Until sunrise that is when the cacophony begins to build up again. He wakes first with the sunlight warming his face. His left side is being warmed by her body. The 7AM morning temple bell sounds. Her muscles tense and she's awake, upright. Hand reaching and stops. Laughs. They have become solid together. Almost what passes for normal. They are evolving as the sun rises. They reach and touch one another to make sure they are both there. She gets out of bed in a movement that seems preparatory for violence,  she can't help herself he knows. How do I know that after three days,  he thinks. He gets up clumsily, he has a tee shirt on as well. He doesn't remember putting it on. He goes to window with nothing of her grace,  its rained overnight, the trees outside are shiny because of the rain. The wind is blowing down the street towards  the station. Good mornings are exchanged. She takes off the tee shirt, dropping it onto the bed and walks across the paisley carpet the bathroom to have a shower. Only as the water flows does she think about how extraordinary it is for her to be so casually naked with him.  The noise of doors opening, water flowing in adjacent rooms and suites, hotel guests can be heard leaving the rooms.

Eventually they go downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, he carries the bag, she is wearing her leather jacket with the beretta in  one of the inside pockets. In the morning the restaurant is cool and light, the morning sun entering through the south-east facing windows. The tables have been rearranged  so that they catch the morning sunlight. They sit in one of the corner booths. Order tea, coffee and fruit smoothies. they go to the buffet to select some food, he turns off the TV set closest to their seats. She has a pair dark jeans on with a white teeshirt. When she takes off her jacket her dragon tattoos emerge from the sleeves. I don't know what I'm doing you know. She says to him. Watching the spoon of fruit salad going into his mouth. Do you mean about the phone call or about us?   She sips tea and begins to eat. Both really. I think you should stay here where its safer.  He smiles at her. Enjoying the both more than he should. Safe. He laughs. The absurdity of what she has just said makes her laugh as well. As they stop laughing, aware of the people looking at them. Safe?  I only feel safe when I am with you. He said looking serious.  I am hoping when this is over and people stop trying to kill us we will be able to see what happens.  She is eating fruit salad and yogurt, waves the spoon at him and tries not to smirk/smile. Do you mean both as well?  She says munching pineapple with a trace of muesli. Yes both.  I am your bag carrier, so I am coming with you.  She offers some pomegranate on a spoon to him. He drinks the last of the cappuccino.  Looks around for the MC and gestures to them.  Ï don't want you to be on your own.  It's after 9.30 she is thinking of what they'll say, what they'll offer. I'll call soon and we'll know if we/i/us have to run or not... During the phone call they arrange to go to the building for 1pm for the 2pm council meeting. She sighs looking at the phone.  Goto the meeting or run? He asks. Lets go shopping, I need a suit... What is the purpose of this object ? [...]

A war machine leaves the hotel, and thinks of the destiny of warriors.

[butaneasia09-blog]

Guide Lines To Wedding Gift Giving

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So, the buyers, if they move backwards on this supply chain for buying the things they want then they have found that get these at cheaper rates. wine importers uk , the physical conditions of minimum order quantities, wine delivery logistics and other conditions need to be factored in. So, if purchase order good quantities, then why not purchase from online wines importer or wholesalers rather when compared to retailers. Sports enthusiasts will love this! A gift basket like this is a great idea for a "thank you" gift. If the recipient likes baseball for example, it's totally give him a sports team memorabilia, a glove, a baseball or a baseball baseball bat. You can also put toys that depict the game baseball. Join a wine share - similar to a farm fresh vegetable box, you can now enroll in the wine share program while using Wine Bottega (341 Hanover Street Boston MA 02133) called Farm-to-Glass. This program allows you sign up for wines picked by local wine experts and send towards door by Metro Power Pedal of Sommerville. Absolutely sign up for Wine Delivery UK -4 months or several weeks at $100 - $200 based on 6 or 12-bottle shipments. This may not seem very budget-friendly, with no you share the give away to friends or family, anyone can enjoy the wine, at your fraction with the cost. Really seriously . essentially a wine delivery program which works inside your often stifling restrictions within the State of Massachusetts.yay!

[theteflacademic]

Let me tell you why Sundays are game-changers

Like weekly game-changers.  You get a new one every week.  WHAT?

Ok so I know that Sundays, esp. Sunday nights, have a reputation of being a bummer because the realization that it’s back to work/school tomorrow starts setting in.  I used to feel this way too and then I changed my perspective on Sundays, and made an easy routine that sets me up and gets me excited for the week ahead.   

Sundays are still Fundays, though.  I wake up when I want (aka when my cat wants) and then do breakfast or brunch with my partner.  Then we usually go do something (errands, museum exhibits, work in a cafe) and have lunch later.  By the time 4 or 5 pm rolls around, I’m already settling into my flat and getting ready for the week.  Why so early?

Because I see Sundays as a chance to get ahead.  Sunday night is a legit headstart if you make it that way, and so many people don’t.  Here’s what I do: 

I have a shower.  Sometimes I do morning showers but Monday are not those times for me, so I shower early at night on Sundays and let my hair air dry.  Since I don’t go to bed with my hair wet, I know I’m not going to have George Washington hair when I wake up in the morning.  

After the shower, I check my nail situation and if I want to paint nails or anything, I do it then.  The same goes for just taking nail polish off that’s been on for too long and looks bad.  Nothing gets under my skin quite as quickly as looking down at work and seeing my badly chipped nail polish.  Makes ya girl feel like she’s 12 again.  

Then, I do the following: 

Check the forecast for the week and decide (more or less) what I’m going to wear Monday to Friday. I also check my google calendar so I can take any important meetings into consideration for outfit planning.  I group the outfits as much as possible onto hangers so I know I’m just pulling one thing out of the closet in the morning.  

Check out my fridge situation.  I take my lunch to work every day and I also need meals for dinner that don’t take long to heat up because after work and/or class, I have to get back to studying.  I usually have a few meals that can be made out of leftovers, and then I’ll prep 2-3 containers with salad.  I’ll still have to prep some food at different points during the week but I’m not into hardcore meal prep, so this is a good balance for me.  I also put a half dozen eggs on to boil because I take those with me to the office, along with a piece of fruit, for a quick breakfast at my desk.  

Go through notes I’ve taken during my study sessions over the weekend and make a list of questions I need to ask, terms I need to search for, and any additional works I need to read based on citations I found in my previous reading.  This makes it really easy to define a starting place on Monday without feeling overwhelmed. 

Pack my bag for the next morning (I actually do this every night). I make sure I have literally everything in there-- necessary chargers, keys, bobby pins, tissues, metro card, notebooks, pencil case, etc.  It’s too easy to forget things in the morning, and some days I leave at 7am and come home at 10pm, so if I leave something important behind, that’s it :(

Have a glass of wine and think about the week ahead.  For real.  I imagine the things that will be challenging.  I imagine the things that will be fun.  I think about which days will be the most and least demanding.  I think about what I want to achieve during the upcoming week. It might not be for everyone, but I am a “expect the best, prepare for the worst” type of person, and this helps me feel calm about the week I’m headed into, even if I know it’s going to be a tough one. 

Do a once-over of my tiny flat.  I make sure there’s no dishes in the sink.  I put away any clean laundry that I have folded or hung up to dry.  I arrange my products in the bathroom to look decently organized.  I water my little plants. I scoop the cat box and then I take the trash out.  The whole process literally takes me less than 20 minutes, despite each of those being tasks that I hate doing.  BUT it makes Monday that much smoother and that tiny bit of cleaning usually tides me over until Wednesday before I have to do any of those things again.  

Finally, I take my contacts out, slap my glasses straight onto my face, and get in bed to read for pleasure.  It’s SO easy to neglect your own reading interests when you’re doing research.  This might be the only time of the week that I actually crack a book open for fun, but even so, it feels like a treat to get the week started with, and it helps put me in the zone to fall asleep quickly. 

So that’s it.  I feel like Sundays are the ONE day of the week where I’m actually on top of all of my shit.  The other days I’m just crashing into one thing and then the next as I make it through appointments, assignments, etc., but each day is slightly easier now that I’ve taken the time to develop a Sunday routine.  Some days I still have to cook.  One week night per week I still do laundry while I study.  And Thursday nights I tidy up so that when I come home on Friday it’s straight weekend mode.  BUT all of that is possible and relatively low-stress because of how I’ve organized my post-5pm Sundays.  

I hope this routine helps you find your own perfect Sunday night routine so you can stop dreading Monday morning and start prepping for the asskicking you’re about to hand it <3 

[umichenginabroad]

Au Revoir, Paris

Whelp, I’m on my train out of Paris right now, to Marseille :( I’m super excited to make it to Marseille, especially because it’s to visit a good friend of mine from there, but leaving Paris was very hard. So here’s a little run-down of these not-so-exciting last few days in Paris (as a local, that is). I’m coming back to Paris with my family at the end of our trip—they come in on Sunday to Marseille!—but I’ll be on the tour bus or using single-use metro tickets, not my Navigo monthly pass…

Soon after thermo on Wednesday, we had our CEA goodbye dinner. It was at a restaurant rather on the northwest side of the city. The restaurant was way nicer than we were expecting (especially after the last slimy horse-intestine dinner), and the food was very delicious. My table was all kids in thermo, as we had to go straight to the dinner from class.  

Salad and Dessert at CEA Farewell Dinner. Unfortunately I didn't think to capture the main course :(

Thursday morning was spent mostly packing and studying for my sports class’s final exam. I then went to go buy a sweatshirt from the Jewish Quarter, Pletzl. See, there are two major rival restaurants right next to each other in Pletzl—the always-busy, well-known L’As du Fallafel, and the less visited but in my opinion better Mi-Va-Mi, which I frequent and where the owner recognizes me. Think National versus Lafayette Coney Islands in Detriot. But L’As du Fallafel has sweatshirts, which I find very sweet. I’d wanted one since my first trip to the quarter. I was anxious, though, about making sure that the guy at Mi-Va-Mi didn’t see my treasonous habits. I was so anxious, in fact, that I woke up in the middle of the night worrying about how I’d approach the restaurant as to not get recognized. As I was walking over there, they were actually getting deliveries. So I slipped between the restaurant and the delivery truck and made it into the restaurant without even seeing Mi-Va-Mi. I guess I overthought it too much…

Taken at my friend's house in Marseille

After class, though, I was finally able to make it to a restaurant that I’d always wanted to, a Senegalese place called Le Petit Dakar. We all got Senagalese fruit juices, and a dish that was beef, peppers, and onion in a peanut butter sauce. It may sound not that good, but it was super delicious! Would certainly recommend it, but it’s definitely a dinner place, not a lunch place. 

Thursday night was really fun. After thermo, about half our our class, professor Youcef included, went out to a little student restaurant/bar on a boat! Our professor is a really great guy, and we’ve know that all along. When the idea came up for this a few days ago, he said just to the entire class, “Ian, you like boats, yes? We can go to a boat. I know a great boat.” But that night, I got to know him a lot better, and I think all of us have an even better opinion of him now than before (which I didn’t think was possible!) We knew he was Algerian, but it turns out that he’s actually of mixed French and Berber descent. He grew up speaking both French and Berber at home, and learned Arabic in school. He told us a little about the cool Berber alphabet and described his city to us.

Group sunset photo on the boat!

It turned out that some of his friends also just happened to be at the boat that night, so they sat with us, shared the fries we had for the table, and talked. We heard the gossip about PhD programs, and the troubles of academia. Though Youcef’s friend is one of only a hundred or so experts on quantum gravity in the world, he’s been unemployed for the last several months. So as I mentioned, Youcef grew up speaking Berber, Arabic, and French, and has been teaching us in English. But his PhD program is in Germany, and he’s picked up German in the last three years as well. The two of us had an, albeit short, conversation in German which I, and the others who couldn’t understand, thought was kinda funny. The night was a really great time for everyone, but I wish we had done it earlier in the semester.

I raced with two friends from the boat, on the very east side of the city, to the Eiffel Tower, on the very west, to try and make it to the midnight light show, as one last hurrah before I left. We did make it, sitting down on the Champ de Mars at 11:52 PM. We went home soon after, and I said goodbye to the people still awake in my dorm, as most of them took a trip to Giverny today. 

Last time under the Eiffel Tower for now...

Instead of going to Giverny, Monet’s Garden, I opted to go to the Musée de L’Orangerie—the French Impressionist art museum housing many of Monet’s works, including many Waterlilies. I enjoyed the museum, and I found it always amazing that we’re able to recognize distinct shapes and objects from just singular strokes of paint. The museum is in the Jardin des Tuileries, which has plenty of sculptures and benches. Walking through the gardens to the museum, I had two funny encounters with people in the garden. The first was when I saw two German ladies giggling about imitating a sculpture in the gardens. I told them „Das tun ich auch gern! “ (I like to do that too!) and they helped me get in the right pose and take a photo of me. Just a few minutes later, I was walking down and saw three people on a bench, being filmed by a phone camera. They looked to be in a goofy mood, and as I passed, I heard « …afin de massacrer des bébés phoques » (in order to massacre baby seals). I looked back, chuckled, and gave a funny face. They thought it was quite funny and laughed too.

Imitating the sculpure "Cain coming from killing his brother Abel" in Tuileries, and Monet's Waterlily Room in the Orangerie.

From there, I took the other “bis” line of the metro (see last blog for context), 3 bis. It was a bit of a pain getting out there (as the line runs far out of the center of the city), but the trip was so worth it! The line only has four stations it serves, and I got on as one of three in my car. By the time we were moving between the third and fourth stops, I was the only one on the train! Please enjoy my short little vlog from that train car…

From there, I met up with friends for one last falafel in Pletzl, before heading to our thermo exam. I’d wanted to stop at my go-to crêpe place on the way back from the exam, and one by one, the whole class decided they wanted to come along. Youcef included! So we all walked to Bastille, only for them to be doing construction today. I was very disappointed, but we ended up getting crêpes across the street. Those were way worse. I’ll certainly be back to Crêperie Elo on Rue Saint Antoine when I’m back in Paris in a few weeks from now with my family. 

I went back to the dorm, zipped up my suitcase, and headed to Gare de Lyon for my train to Marseille. 

Gare de Lyon voie (platform) 21, to Marseille, and the rainbow we saw on the way!

I’m very sad to be leaving Paris, but excited for the next two weeks! What a time it has been, but that’ll be the subject of next blog, I suppose. 

A Plus Tard, for one more post!

Ian Rosenberg

Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

IPE Paris

[iekikariv]

Survive a week with $50 ( if you live with your parents)

Not that its my ideal situation, but, it is at the moment.

If you chose to live with your parents until you finished school and got a full time career job, this is for you. You're a trooper. Because not only are you confined within four walls with them, you are confined with their clashing personalities, "rules"or i like to call they're "preferences", their mess ( where's my purse? Where are my house keys?), and noise ( The t.v...). I get along with my parents, sometimes, and i have a lot of patience for them. Why? Because they're my parents ( I love them, they made me, they love me, they take my shit, etc.) Simple.

I live in a new york city brownstone two bedroom. Very tiny. Its three of us, cat/dog, and my grandpa. And he sleeps in the living room. Very tight. 

I make $50 a week. I make this little because I chose to finish my bachelors degree this year versus continuing my full time job which was non career related but I loved the people there, I was comfortable- four years of it. It was not where I wanted to spend my life doing ( real estate property management). I also went to school full time the last two years there. I balanced it out pretty well, it just took a lot of energy, tight scheduling, prioritizing, and not hanging out with friends and focusing on myself as much as I wanted to. So with a wonderful talk with my awesome employer, they graciously offered I worked their weekend shift, which is once a week. And I happily accepted. Better then nothing! 

Im well aware, not everyone's situation is the same, this was just my story. This is for anyone who needs help surviving with a very slim budget. This is how I do it!

How To make the week:

Be ultra cautious, and question where your money goes. If you have to pay your phone bill ( mine is $94), with a $200/month budget. Half the month is going to your phone. The rest to metro cards, and maybe a dinner or brunch here and there. Forget the clothing. If you don't NEED it, do not buy it.  Remember this is just a sacrifice. 

Pick a week for what you want to do. It could be brunch, dinner, a movie night, a girls night, buying lunch at work, etc. 

Bring your own breakfast/lunch to work and school. I like to bring salads with homemade dressings with me. I cook some chicken and saved them chopped in the fridge to add onto my salads. Sometimes a PB and J. And loads of fruits. 

Take public transportation. If you really need that cab ride, then take it. ( remember your 'per week' drill)  But if it is not a life or death situation, skip it and just take public transportation.

Time is Money. It truly is. Getting up extra early to walk your speed to the bus or the train, it pays off. You may even have a little extra to splurge on something else that week. 

Do your Mani and Pedi at home. Learn how if you really don't know how. Its simple, its fun if you want it to be, and Amazon has some pretty good cheap sets. I'm pretty much an expert at force. I wanted to have nice nails but didn't have enough within my budget to get them done all the time, so I learned how. ( Youtube it! Ah the marvelous youtube!)

Do your own hair. Mostly all normal people do that, but, it doesn't surprise me when i hear some people say they go to the salon every week for a blow out. Honey, remember..its a sacrifice, but if you must, remember the each-week-for-something drill. And youtube it too. I swear Youtube has every how-to video you need!

What about my workout? Look for the closest recreational center in your neighborhood. It's only an annual fee of what a gym fee is per month! Its pretty awesome.  Also, download workout apps, those are a great deal of money saving gems. ( Try my fav. Nike Training- great for men too!)  And, start running if you like. You will burn those calories in no time.  (Get to 5k with Get Running App. It helped me tons!)

Remember it's only temporary. Staying positive with yourself is the most important thing. It balances out your spirits. It makes you happier. There is nothing more important then making yourself happy.

[stenoodie]

Too Good To Go Hauls - June 2023

Too Good To Go Hauls - June 2023. #bingzcrispyburgers #saintgermaincakes #cupcakes #chinesesoup #persianflatbreads #lotsofsaladbags

Too Good To Go hauls in July 2023 Here are my Too Good to Go hauls (31 surprise bags) from stores and restaurants in the Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, and Toronto surrounding areas in June 2023. (Where there is a clear price tag of the goods, surprise bags that meet or are above the minimum value are marked with a green checkmark and surprise bags that do not meet the minimum value are…

[thehungrykat1]

Safe and Fun Oktoberfest and Holidays at Brotzeit Philippines

With Metro Manila being downgraded to Alert Level 3, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief as we enter the holiday season. But that doesn’t mean we should let our guards down. We should still follow all the health protocols and minimum safety requirements to ensure we don’t go back to stricter restrictions. That’s why it is important to choose a restaurant where you can safely dine in while still adhering to all necessary safety standards.

Brotzeit Philippines is one of the safest and most fun places to celebrate Oktoberfest and the holidays with friends and family. With the lower quarantine levels and shorter curfew hours, Brotzeit’s two outlets in Shangri-La Plaza and Bonifacio Global City are now open daily from 11:00am to 12:00mn. More importantly, all their staff are 100% fully vaccinated so guests can enjoy their authentic German beers and dishes with the highest protection they can get.

Brotzeit has always been known as a festive location so vibrant conversations can still be done safely as all tables come with sturdy glass panels. Maximum dining capacities and social distancing measures are also enforced to ensure proper spacing for guests. They use Aeris Active which provides hospital-grade disinfection on hard surfaces, kills COVID-19, and provides antibacterial protection for up to 7 days or 200 touches.

They also have a spacious al fresco area for those who prefer an even safer dining environment. Although the official Oktoberfest festival in Germany has already finished last October 3 (Trivia: Oktoberfest actually starts towards the end of September), it’s not too late to celebrate this annual event and have a safe and fun dining experience here in Brotzeit.

Brotzeit’s fresh draught German beers are always the best way to start any gathering. My favorites are their beer mixes like the Affensaft (P300) which comes with banana syrup or mango juice.

There’s also the colorful Blaues Bier (P300) with its vibrant combination of beer, vodka, blue curacao and mixed fruit juice. You can also enjoy their Buy 1 Take 1 promotion on all cocktails daily from 11am-6pm.

Let’s start this Oktoberfest celebration with some Bavarian Pretzel (P300). These are the iconic German breads which are freshly baked into their signature shapes. You can also enjoy them per piece for P90 each.

The Dried Pork Sausage (P260) is also a great appetizer to whet those taste buds. These dried pork sausages are cut and served with pickles and mustard.

One of Brotzeit’s newest items is the Doner Kebab (P290). I remember when our group was given a little taste test last year featuring these kebabs. It seems that they have really perfected the recipe because these are so good to munch on. The spiced beef strips are mixed with cabbage, onions, chili sauce and garlic cream sauce then stuffed inside a thin pita bread.

You can’t visit Brotzeit without having one of their juicy sausages. The Pork Cheese Sausage (P520) are sausages stuffed with cheese with a seductive hint of smokiness. It is served with potato salad and sauerkraut.

The Currywurst (P485) comes with even more bolder flavors as this very long pork sausage is topped with chili-curry sauce and then served with a generous portion of potato wedges.

But the highlight of our Oktoberfest celebration was the signature Brotzeit centerpiece that we always come back for whatever the occasion.

The Crispy Oven Roasted Pork Knuckle (P1350) is an all-time Brotzeit favorite and is the quintessential German dish. The pork knuckle is cooked until the meat is tender then oven roasted for the perfect crackling skin. The meat is actually infused with beer to give it that special taste.

Bite into a piece of the skin and hear the beautiful crackling sound that will really make you go for more. Its very crunchy skin and tender pork is always a meat lover’s dream. Have it with gravy or just enjoy it with sauerkraut, fried onion strings, and mashed potatoes.

For dessert, the Emperor’s Cake (P240) is a great option to share with the table. The shredded rum and raisin pancakes are served with cranberry sauce for a sweet and delightful ending.

Brotzeit is open daily all the way until 12:00 midnight to give us a festive holiday season. For those who are still hesitant to dine in, Brotzeit’s German-inspired menu is also available for pick-up and delivery through www.brotzeitdelivers.com. Here’s to celebrating Oktoberfest the whole year round. PROST!

Brotzeit Philippines

112 G/F Streetscape, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong

8631-1489 / (0920) 9735782

www.brotzeitdelivers.com

www.facebook.com/brotzeitph

[chrysaliseuro2018]

Sagrada Familiar

Friday 18th started slowly as usual. We are not early birds in our family. Leisurely breakfast at the apartment muesli, toast , tea, some imported coffees for the younger set. Our little tube of Vegemite is proving popular (at least with me) and an essential for overseas trips if you want to have spreads containing something other than sugar. Our plan for the day was to start at Park Guell. Commissioned by Count Guell between 1900 and 1914 and landscaped by Gaudi it was intended to be a residential area for the wealthy. It never took off so the park remains as a tourist and no doubt local attraction. The park overlooks the city so it was an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the view. We eventually headed out around 11.30 on a very fine sunny day around the 20 degree mark. A quick metro ride then a walk of about 20 mins got us to the park. The walk should be mentioned in that the final chunk was up one of those 1 in 10 hills culminating in steps to get you to the park entrance. There were escalators by the steps but unfortunately two of the three weren't working so the knees, calves, hips, heart and various other complaining anatomical parts got a work out. Anyway we arrived. Park entrance is free though for 5 euros or so you can get closer to some of the Gaudi creations. Unfortunately the waiting time was 2.5 hours and we were more keen on just enjoying the park so we kept trekking up to the upper most point which is a stone viewing platform with 360 degree views across the city. Great views - Barcelona is pretty low rise so easy to pick up landmarks particularly La Sagrada. After 20 mins or so we started to slowly wend our way back down through the gardens, listening to the odd busker, looking at the views and the odd quirky Gaudi creation and finally finding ourselves by the main entrance gates where some unusual Gaudi offerings are on display (see photos). We slowly re-traced our steps to the metro which was much easier on the way down. This afternoon one of our holiday highlights is planned. A trip to La Sagrada Familia which on second visit is becoming a bit more familiar. Prior to that, lunch is on the cards and we headed to Sagrada territory which is closeish to where we stayed in Barca 4 years ago. We particularly had in mind a strip of outdoor restaurants in a treed and fairly sheltered (only bikes) boulevard. We quite easily found the place where we had enjoyed a few meals and libations 4 years before. At that time we were on holiday with my sister Jenny in Barcelona. We settled in for a beer and some tapas. Liz had a vodka and tonic and it was of the free pour of vodka variety. She had to tell the waiter to stop - big afternoon ahead. Liz, Penny and George went for the seafood paella (pie-ai-yer) as the locals say, ok but not great. Jeremy and I went for the baby squid, anchovies, tomato salad, local bread coated with fresh tomato juice and patatas bravas - Yum. Washed down with a cleanser. It was very convivial with a very genial waiter and as ever when you are sitting outside some sights to watch. This is where my sister, who loves to chat to strangers, famously 4 years ago (I think after a couple of the waiter's special vodkas) decided to speak to a few of the ancient locals sitting on a nearby park bench. Only prob was that she didn't speak Spanish and they didn't speak English. The ensuing chaotic interchanges needed to be seen to be believed but were fairly hilarious and left all parties bemused. Good on you for trying though Jen. We reckon the same aged duet may have been there this day and we took a photo. The usual ménage of dogs strolling by with the highlight the tiny little runt dog that looked like a scruffy mongrel but which trotted around the table importantly until it needed to go to the loo. It's party piece was to raise itself on its front two legs lifting both back ones in the air to enable adequate clearance for its business to be completed. It then continue is self important strutting. After a pleasant hour and a bit we headed back the few hundred metres to La Sagrada. Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece has been under construction for 100+ years (with pauses) and now is planned to be finished in 2026 which is the centenary of his death. It is perhaps one of the most stunning buildings I have ever visited so absolutely no prob re-visiting. Liz also loves it. We had booked tickets ahead (well done Liz) to avoid the queues which are significant so pretty immediately went via lift to the top of the nativity facade. There a very narrow stone walkway takes you around that area with views both over the city and of the various unusual bits of Gaudi workmanship. Bundles of fruit being one of them. It's intriguing and difficult to do justice to though the photos will. It would also be phenomenal to see the completion of the building (2026 Hmmmm!) with additional towers being built including the main one which will be 170 metres high. This tower, planned by Gaudi but being built now, was deliberately designed to be lower than the top of the neighbouring mountain as Gaudi believed that a construction should not be built higher than something created by God. If the exterior is to be thrilled about then the interior is something else. It seems so many people come to Barcelona, look at the exterior and then for whatever reason do not go inside the Sagrada. The queues to get in, for one, can be offputting. It really is worth the effort. It is just so different. Gaudi had a vision. The building is so light (natural light). Spacious. Grand - with the supporting pillars built to look like the boughs and branches of massive trees. The stained glass windows so magnificent and lots more. It's the sort of place where it is great to just sit and take it all in. I always think I'd like to visit it every couple of years. Of course if I was a local I think that would be every couple of weeks. Reluctantly we headed out. Next stop for Jeremy George and me was the local food market. Tonight is home picnic night. This is a hangover from family holidays where on one night at least we would sit in the hotel room and have things like baby bel cheese and salami with toms plus other bits and pieces. We had a lot of fun buying various varieties of cheese, Jamon, marinated sardines, tomatoes, breadsticks, anchovies, fruit, olive oil. Beer and wine to wash it down - George brought a very nice Bordeaux with her so that was consumed. Food was delicious, eaten with fingers, wine great, very boisterous. A fun night, we played cards, laughed, carried on and generally had a good time. What a day it tested our stamina. My phone indicated just over 20000 steps and 35 flights of stairs. We all trooped off to bed pretty tired, happy and ready for a good nights sleep. Today will take some matching. Sub Editors comment: re the Camp Nou visit yesterday. Jeremy and I really enjoyed it. The stadium is starting to show its age with facilities and seating looking a little tired. There is no roof on three sides of the ground and stands are very high so it must get pretty cool in winter. So no surprise that they intend to build a new state of the art stadium for completion by 2021. 2021 looks very close given the scale model we saw and the work required. The other thing which needs mentioning is that currently the stadium visit seems almost like a homage to Messi. The great Argentinian looks like he is coming towards the end of his career going on age though still has all his wizardry. There are endless replays of his goals to watch in the Barca FC museum. He is just a phenomenal player I hope we see his like again soon given Ronaldo at Real is surely getting towards the end of his superb career too.

[goodlawdmaude]

Colombia and Peru 2019

3/7 SAN FRANCISCO --> BOGOTA

3/7-3/8

J and I ubered from ASF to airport, got through security, grabbed a drink at the terminal, then waited at our gate to board. Alarmingly, we heard our names over the intercom, but we just had to show our passports at the desk - no problem. A flight attendant on our flight got sick, so the flight needed 9 volunteers to get off the plane. This delayed us, but we eventually got off the ground. Slept some on the flight, had to go through customs in Mexico City, then through security to our gate. It was around 6am and light outside. Jarod resolved to start the day, but I wanted to sleep more. I slept for 30 great minutes on the flight, then watched Bohemian Rhapsody. The third person in our aisle was sketchy: late, on the phone (free WhatsApp), and importing a lot (per his customs form). We got through customs pretty quickly, then grabbed a taxi and made it to our hostel around 3pm. We rested briefly, then went out for lunch—arepas, chaufa arroz con pollo, and a special combo with seafood and rice in a divine yellow sauce. Jarod was starting to feel the full effect of his cold, but we went for a brief walk anyway through the center of town and the Museo de Botero. Lots of street vendors with various crafts and snacks, some alpacas, police with dogs with muzzles, cobblestone roads, sanitation workers in blue jumpsuits, green mountains in the background. While driving, we saw stark constrasts between shoddy roadside structures and the grand skyscrapers just behind them. Roads were paved and nice. We walked back, buying water at a nearby market, then took naps, showered, and went to sleep very early (8pm). On two instances, we were awoken by rowdiness in the hostel. Overall, slept 11(!!) hours.

3/9 BOGOTA-->MEDELLIN

3/9 Bogota-->Medellin

After our long sleep, we ate breakfast (eggs, fruit, bread, homemade jam, pancakes, lots of fruit) at the hostel, then asked reception to call a taxi for us. We made it to the airport and ultimately made it to the gate smoothly (despite one snafu: struggling to follow arrows to find el bano). Flight was super quick, it was hot when we landed, and we grabbed a taxi from a line outside. The ride to El Poblado was pretty green and undeveloped. It reminded me of driving in Costa Rica (narrow, windy roads), but the roads were paved and in better shape. We tried to drop our bags at the airbnb but couldn’t. We grabbed lunch at El Florez a couple doors down—very yummy healthy food. We tried the airbnb again to no avail. We walked around to take in the town. It was very green, hot and trendy - peppered with new-looking bars, restaurants, and shops. Dying of heat, we stopped for lemonades at a restaurant by the airbnb then went to get our key. We got in and hung for a bit--the airbnb was plenty spacious but nothing super fancy. We grabbed a drink at El Jenun(??)--J built his own gin and tonic while i had a fancy cocktail. We walked for a while--through some slightly seedier roads--to a gypsy/fox-themed pizza place for dinner. Grabbed a beer at Medellin beer company and J accidentally ordered a pitcher. Waitresses were scantily clad and hot; there was an old weird white dude who knew them all far too well. We came home, showered, and went to bed around 11pm.

3/10

After sleeping in until 9am, I straightened my hair (big deal) and then we went to El Pergamino for coffee and breakfast. I had a milky delicious chai latte and eggs with tomato and pesto roasted in a little crepe brûlée pan. The coffee shop was super trendy and cute. From there we walked to the Poblado Metro station and found our way onto the metro. It was very hot and pretty crowded but a really nice system. We got off to transfer to a gondola which took us over a poorer area--tin roofs, lots of graffiti, kids and dogs running everywhere. Then we got on a second gondola which took us over a final stretch of town and over a few miles of forest. The view was unbelievable. We were squished in with a Spanish family of 6 who were talking about how hot it was here and elsewhere. We got off and started exploring El Parque Arvi. It took us a while to realize we couldn’t hike the trails without a guide, and we couldn’t get a guide without booking online. We walked around and down the road where there were lots of street vendors and a couple restaurants. We got overpriced mangos. We headed back and went to grab lunch before seeing the botanical garden. There was mostly fast food. We got two empanadas to go and sat by the main area of vendors and performers in front of the garden. We went in, admires the flora, saw some iguanas, then headed out. We intended to walk to Cerro el Volador, but then the area we were walking through got a little sketchy and we turned around. We went to Explora Park--walked through the aquarium, reptile exhibits, and a room dedicated to the mind. By the time we were ready to leave, it was pouring. We ran to a taxi, had some confusion with the address, but made it back. We rebounded out for dinner (kebab house - mediocre) nearby, then got dessert across the street and wine and waters at exxito 

3/11

Woke up *early* 720 to get ready for our free walking tour through Real City Tours. Jarod made breakfast (scrambled eggs and an arepa) while I got dressed. We left a few minutes later than hoped, but hustled down Calle 10 to the poblado metro station and made it with time to spare to meet our guide. He wore a hat and a red shirt and directed our flock of 23 gringo ducklings onto the metro (which Jarod and I had already mastered the previous day), and we took it three stops north to Alpujarra. We got off, regrouped, and headed off to start the tour. It began with a roughly 20min history of Medellin. Julio told us how a big alcohol tax led the entrepreneurial locals to find smuggling routes to bring it into Colombia and how coffee grew well in its fertile soil and was a major export that bolstered the economy. He talked about the rise of cocaine and Pablo Escobar--how he and those over 30 remembered the terror and the violence and danger, but that younger people thought he was good because he “gave houses to poor people.” He talked about how the metro system showed the people that things could be better, and Medellin started its resurrection. We saw the old train station, the main government offices, the plaza of light (which used to be a crime hotspot but is now beautiful, adjacent to a library and the center of education). We walked through El Hueco, taking in the vendors and street scene to a church, empanada (with orange juice), and the Botero museum and plaza. We learned of the Belgian architect who had left his project because of all the shit-talking of the local people; the Paisas said they would finish it themselves... and did so very abruptly without following his complex blueprints. At this point, 4 members of our tour got lost. We walked to the metro stop from whose stairway a grenade had been tossed into a crowd; Julio explained Colombians’ short term memory as a necessity of resilience--and that one grenade wasn’t so bad compared to the volcano that killed 20k the next day. We walked down Junin street (a popular date night spot) and to a plaza where Botero has two bird statues- one that was partially destroyed by dynamite detonated during a concert; the other new to represent triumphing over that evil. There were cool murals of African American faces--allegedly the first freed slave in Colombia who ran away and beat up everyone that came to catch him. This plaza--especially the birds--was really powerful. A strong symbol of all that Medellin went through and rose above. After the tour, we grabbed lunch in the palace in El Hueco (creamed corn soup, salad, pork, rice and juice for roughly $5). We took the metro home and did a Nike workout and I thought I would die. We showered, hung out, then went to El Chagra for a 6-course tasting menu (we actually went for a drink, but were surprised by and obligated to do the tasting). All the dishes were focused on Amazon themes and resources- specifically the giant fish, Arapaima. The first course was a smoking drink that tasted spicy and cinnamony--a bit like fireball. The second was a delicious soup that was creamy and cheesy with yucca crumbs. The third was a potato/fish ball eaten with our hands and dipped in a spicy fruit sauce. The fourth was fish and chaufa rice. The fifth was sausage with fruit preserves and cherry tomato. The sixth was dessert--a brownie-like thing and a fruity ice cream. The whole meal ran 300COP (with cocktails which had a dazzling presentation of liquid smoke and a sandbox.. and tip). Before the final course, a man dressed as an indigenous Amazonian came to our table chanting and we didn’t know what to do. He spoke some dialect and then Spanish and offered us to use his pastes to paint on ourselves. We respectfully declined and he moved on. We went to a restaurant down the street for a drink. Jarod got a shot of gin *sin huelo* loll. The restaurant was upscale with several birthdays happening. They gave us hand towels which they made expand amazingly by pouring hot water on them. We went home to bed.

3/12 MEDELLIN-->LIMA

3/12

We woke up around 730 and did a Nike work out at home. Jarod made breakfast of eggs and arepas, then our taxi came and took us to the airport. When we got there, we couldn’t check in at the kiosk--it said we were on standby. We waited in line and the woman seemed to have some issues, but eventually gave us our boarding passes. We got through security, grabbed El Pergamino coffee/chai, and waited at the gate. Jarod got us sandwiches, fruit, and a chocolate donut thing to eat. We were sitting apart during the 3h flight :(. I read the whole time. We were fed on the airplane and I ate the meal despite being full. We got through customs easily and got a taxi to our airbnb in Miraflores (45min away... And during rush hr). We got keys from our concierge and went out for dinner. We had to wait a bit, but the food was delicious. Jarod are a risotto in squids ink with seafood. I had a pumpkin soup with shrimp, corn, and yucca. I was so full afterward and felt kinda sick but not too bad. Being in Miraflores felt like being in Santa Monica--it was an upscale beachside community with a nice mall. We went to bed HOT and I woke up once with an upset stomach, though it wasn’t too bad.

3/13

7 YEARS!! We set alarms around 730am but didn’t get out of bed until 830 or so. We headed out for a work out- running through several beautiful green parks on the coastline, then plopping in the shade for a circuit. After the workout, we went to a beachside cafe and ordered a coffee and a nutella/banana crepe to share. We stopped at home, rinsed my sunscreeny body, then headed to the mall, Larcomar. We popped into a cafe for parfaits and quiche, then went to the bike rental stand upstairs and got two bikes for one hour. After we paid but before we left, the bike attendant crashed/fell off his bike nearby. The irony was overwhelming. We biked along the beautiful coast, to the Bridge of Sighs, then back up a city street of Barranco. The Barranco main square was beautiful, with statues and beautiful plants peppered throughout the plaza. We rode back, returned our bikes to the attendant who was squirting Purell on his scraped knee, and went home. We did laundry, showered, and got ready for our walking food tour. (Snacked on plaintain chips and beers from the market downstairs while we waited.) A driver with an unexplained passenger picked us up around 520pm. He was very kind and gave us two (hot) bottles of water. We drove through traffic into the historical center, where we met our guide Ximena. We walked to a churro place that had a long line, Ximena scurried to the front, then returned with two churros--one with caramel (apparently an ancient sweet in Lima) or a sweet cream. They were scalding hot. We took them to a nearby monastery, with a gated plaza full of pigeons. Ximena told us that the plaza used to be a common place to sell goods that the pigeons and vultures were brought by the Spanish, and that it was still an important place of worship although only 20ish ppl were a part of the monastery (friars?). We went inside and saw into catacombs full of skulls and big bones. There were no cemeteries, so if one had the money, one would pay to be buried in that sacred space. From there, we went to the center of literature (which used to be a big train station, but now only one train goes and it runs maybe 2x/month). Across the street was the oldest bar in Lima. We went in and ate ham sandwiches with onion (pan con chicharron con sarza) and purple juice (chicha morrada - corn juice with cloves and cinnamon). From there we walked to the main plaza. Xime told us about the history of the buildings--the bell towers of the old church had been destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt... the (some politician’s) mansion had been burned down (by ppl who wanted to scare him, but accidentally destroyed it) and rebuilt. It was a beautiful square full of light and life. From there, we walked to a nearby coffee shop where we talked with the brewer of Peru Uno, Oliver. He let us taste two of his beers--a Belgian trippel and an homage to Peru with chamomile and other local herbs/spices. With the beer we had fried bites called tequenos. Oliver was half Peruvian and have Belgian and very focused on sustainable business practices. He was super friendly and cool. From there, we walked a way to find a stop full of people--vendors with their carts as well as big mats on the ground for gambling and big circles around storytellers or dancers. We are mazamorra morada with rice pudding and another sweet rice that was brown from the sweetener. We then had the healing herbal drink emoliente and anticuchos. At each vendor, xime explained the prep in depth, asking the vendor details in Spanish then relaying the answers to us in English. From there we walked to an old bar for “supte artists” where we had papas a la huancaina, yucca rellena (my fave), and chilcano de pisco. People around us were getting TURNT--an old asian man could barely walk, a guy and girl had 8 beers (large) between them, 3 men had 14, and a table of three had a whole fifth of pisco (45% alcohol). Quite full, we struggled through our food. I finished my share, but J did not finish his! We then met our ride (after Xima first approached the wrong car), dropped Xime off, and made it home. During the tour, Xime said the most protested issue in Peru was gender ideology. We went to bed around 11.

3/14

We woke up around 730. I was feeling sicker than I had, but we set off for a workout anyway. We ran for 20min and did a 30min Nike training. We were dripping with sweat. We then headed down our street for breakfast. Jarod’s came with papaya juice and coffee and he got a water--so much liquid to go with his double decker grilled cheese (basically lol). We walked to Kennedy Park which was beautiful with lots of flowers and cats. We went to a supermarket nearby and bought waters, nuts, plaintain chips, and yogurt. We walked back to our place and chilled for a while. We snacked on yogurt and plantain chips during the afternoon, showered, took a nap, and enjoyed the beautiful patio of our airbnb. We watched a little bit of Coach Carter hehe. Then around 6 we set off for dinner at the ancient ruins Huelca Pucllana. It was a long walk during rush hour, but we made it (slightly sweaty) and were seated immediately (in the room not immediately adjacent to the ruins). We got Topeka? Appetizer—4 from the menu for two people--some delicious bread, and our meals (salmon and risotto for me; tuna and veggies and rice for J). We had pisco sours which were strong and delicious. We admired the ruins for a few minutes before walking back down a central strip of park-like walkway. We made it to park Kennedy and stopped for picarones-fried pumpkin and sweet potato dough. I thought we would get one donut, but we got 6, drizzled in syrup. We carried these home, smacked on a few, and packed up. We went to bed by 10pm in prep for our early travel day the next morning.

3/15 LIMA-->CUSCO

3/15

We woke up around 430 and started getting ready. We snacked on leftover picarone and banana, then went to head downstairs at 515. We were stopped by the man next door (Gerard?) who said he owned the building and worked at Cheesecake Factory in gheridelli square in SF and owned a house in Oakland. We talked for a few minutes and gave him the key (a relief to me; I was worried the doorman might not be there for a hand off). The doorman was there and called a taxi for us--though it took a while, our driver spoke some English and warned us (in spanish) about being robbed at gunpoint in Cusco. I slept during some of the ride and was very groggy when we arrived. We got through security and onto our plane smoothly. I slept against the window the entire flight, but felt super weird--and anxious about altitude sickness--when we arrived. We got off and found our way to a crowd of desperate taxi drivers, all in our face asking if we wanted to ride with them. We said no gracias to them all, then realized we did need one. Jarod was haggling with one guy for a 15s ride but he wouldn’t budge; another driver jumped in and said he would take us for 15s. We rode through more modern Cusco into the more ancient part where we were staying. We arrived at our hostel around 10 and sipped coca tea in the lobby while they prepared our room for us. (Very early but convenient!) our room was beautiful and spacious Jarod lay on the alpaca blanket at the foot of our king bed so as not to get it dirty. We hung for a bit, then went down the street for lunch, back home for the bathroom, then out again to the main plaza. A very friendly man outside a different restaurant said “ah hello guys, we have been waiting for you come on in.” We told him we had already eaten and pressed onward, making our way through people pushing massages, trinkets, and art prints at us. The main plaza was beautiful. Green and surrounded by old churches and hills. We went around the shops at the edge--with lots of aggressive vendors and high end alpaca clothing shops. We stopped to buy sunglasses, then went to the Inka museum. We learned about the pre-inkan people who used basic tools and made basic ceramics and relied heavily on llamas and alpacas. The Incas themselves didn’t develop until ~1100 AD (news to me). They too made lots of ceramics and basic tools as well as little sculptures of animals and foods to sacrifice to the gods. The section on Spanish conquest was unclear because all the signs were in Spanish. It seems they put into power lots of Incan leaders who were pro-Spain and then screwed them over. When we were finishing up, it started pouring rain. We waited briefly for it to let up, then hurried home in the rain. We were struggling to breathe pretty often (>11k feet). At home, we got snuggly and took a nap. We found a dinner spot and went there around 5pm lol. Jarod ate alpaca for the first time. The place was empty and the chef was very sweet and cute and fed us aguaymanto which were delicious. The food was really excellent. We did have some comedy with the light above us--she turned it off to set the mood, then a young girl Came in later and turned it on above us without saying anything... we turned it back off, then the chef asked if we wanted it or not. On the way out, she asked for a tripadvisor review which i will happily write. We went to scope out prices of (fake) alpaca products and desserts. We went to a few stores and saw small “alpaca” blankets ranging from 40s--35s. We will go back to buy one or two before we leave. We bought a brownie and slice of chocolate cake nearby, then took it back to our room to feast on in our king bed. We watched some Simpsons in spanish, then read for a while. We went to go to sleep around 10, but I couldn’t sleep. Felt like I didn’t sleep all night--was up thinking. Maybe too much coca tea (inulin is stimulatory).

3/16

We woke to our alarms around 630, but didn’t get out of bed cuz I felt like I hadn’t slept. Finally got up around 9 and got breakfast at our hotel, which was delicious-especially the cornbread. We chilled in our room and prepped for the day, then ventured out. First, we went to San Pedro market. The streets outside were overflowing with vendors selling hard boiled quail eggs and slices of various fruits. Inside the main market place was literally everything. There was a hot food area, a line of juice vendors, butchers bakers, herb-sellers, woven goods vendors, and more. On the far side, we walked down a street lined with shops selling whole chickens (their naked bodies and weird feet displayed prominently). We then found a second, less touristy market place with more hot food, some dye stands, and even a haircut shop. We walked back and stopped for tamales, but didn’t have small enough bills so the woman sent us away. We found our way back to the plaza des armes and sat down for lunch--Jarod got pizza and I got chicken. From there, we started walking (steeply up) to Sacsayhuaman. We found a nice church with a fabulous viewpoint, then continued along the road to the main gate. There was a guard who said the ticket office was closed and we had to buy tickets in the plaza des armes. We were not motivated enough to walk there and back (still constantly out of breath from the altitude), and it was starting to sprinkle, so we headed home. We hung around home until we had to go to our pre-trek meeting. There were two people missing at the start--who came in 20minutes late absolutely breathless. The guide went over the plan for the next couple days. Everyone was young and seemed outdoorsy and ready. This trio of Australians had bought a lot of the recommended items on the packing list. I felt anxious and a little intimidated. We went to inkazuela for dinner, where we are delicious stews and fresh baked bread. A group of maybe 20 annoying Americans came and sat down and were so loud as we were paying. Embarrassing. We went home and packed and tried to go to bed early because we were waking up at 330 for a 4am pick up to start the drive to start the hike for Salkantay!!

3/17 BEGIN SALKANTAY 

3/17 - Day 1 Salkantay 

We woke up at 330, finalized our packing, and waited in the lobby briefly before our guide, Erick, arrived to pick us up on foot. He lived nearby our hotel in San Blas. We waited with him for the van, which didn’t seem to be where it was supposed to be. We got everyone picked up (including 3 bonus ppl who were doing a separate one-day trip. They were Thai but our guide Erick had told us they were Chinese lol.) We drove for about 2h on a windy bumpy road, I tried to sleep, but it was fitfull. When we stopped for breakfast I felt like actual shit and was worried I was getting altitude sickness. Jarod didn’t feel well either. I looked at the trekking route and realized we wouldn’t be much higher than Cusco, and this relieved me. We had a big breakfast (eggs, bread, fruit and yogurt, juice, coca tea), and sat by ourselves while the rest of the group bonded. We both started to feel better with the food and fresh air. We got back in the vans and drove another hour before getting off, sunscreening up, officially doing intros with our hiking group, and hitting the trail. Jarod and I were at the front with the other Americans, Chris and Alex from Buffalo, New York. The Australians, Emma, Ben, and Nick, were in the middle, with the Austrians, Anna and Patrick at the end. The start of the hike required some elevation climb, but then it evened out and we walked along an aqueduct in the mountainside for the majority of the trek. I accidentally called Emma Anna when asking her to take a photo. We made it to camp around 12? We were assigned Sky camps, which were tiny but beautiful glass comes with little twin beds in them after a 3-4ft doorway. I read and fell asleep for 7min before it was time for lunch). Lunch was a huge feast--the food was good but a bit cold. We then rested for half an hour and then hiked up to the lake. It was a relatively short hike, but quite steep. I was very out of breath, but led the charge alongside Chris. Anna and Patrick were lagging so far behind, Erick told us to go ahead and then wait at the half way point. Chris and Jarod and I led, waited for the group, then went on some more. The field we were walking through was full of cows and horses grazing, flanked by giant hills on either side. We walked up and over the top and found ourselves at a stunning blue lake. It was breathtaking, with streams from a snowy mountain running into an aquamarine reservoir. We took some photos, then climbed up a ridge along the side, from which we could see the lake as well as the grassy valley we came up through. It started to rain and we saw a beautiful rainbow in the valley but also needed to hurry back down. Everyone put on our ponchos and took a picture. I got my walking sticks for the way down, and they helped on the muddy parts but made me very slow. Jarod and I lagged behind the group as we all charged down the hill. We made it back, met as a team for tea time at 530, then dinner at 630. They had given us snacks, but we didn’t really need them because we were fed so often and so well. (I still ate my cookies earlier.. because they were delicious hehe). We got ready for bed after dinner around 8. I had a swig if Nick’s pisco before bed, then crawled into my sleeping bag and tried (but struggled) to sleep. I got up at 1am because Jarod was getting up. I hissed after him that I wanted to come to the bathroom, but he didn’t hear me. When I stepped outside, he was standing there. (He has walked toward the bathroom and been startled by a cow and come back loll). After that, I had a very hard time sleeping.

3/18 - Day 2 Salkantay

Started to climb, through some grassy fields, up the “Gringo killer” and to Salkantay summit, where it started raining. Emma had to breathe from an oxygen tank at the top (she had had severe altitude sickness in previous visits), and the Austrian couple took horses to the top to save their legs. On the far side of the summit, our trek got truly miserable. Steep decline. Soaked head to toe. I remember thinking, “Wow, we paid to do this.” We got to our midway lunch spot, where I tried to dry my socks, and we commiserated with our group. Thankfully, the rain let up, and the rest of the hike descended into warmer, more tropical forests. For tea time, they made us a freaking cake. We paid to use a shower and went into our little thatched-roof huts, a tiny space with one large bed. I had a dream that I had no feet (likely brought on by the extreme pain I felt in all of my joints!).

3/19 -  Day 3 Salkantay

Started the trek with Erick painting our faces with berries. By this time, felt VERY bonded with the group. The hiking this day was much tamer, flatter roads, less extreme climbs/drops, and a fun little cart that we rode across a river. We stopped by a coffee plantation and had lunch there. We took a van some stretch of the drive to end up at the trailhead to Machu Picchu. We went out with our group for dinner, and I felt excited but also sad to be so close to the end of our time with them. 

3/20 - Day 4 Salkantay (Machu Picchu!!)

Got up to start the trek to Machu Picchu around 5am(?). It was pitch black, and we CHARGED up the mountain, often annoyed that the people in front of us were not immediately letting us pass them. By the time we arrived at the gate, there were maybe 20 people in line, and we were drenched in sweat but also STOKED to be there. It was pretty chilly and very misty, so we had a few minutes of great visibility, but lots of fog other than that. Erick gave us a tour and some history, then (VERY SADLY) left us. Our group was a little devastated. We explored on our own a little, then headed back down as droves and droves of tourists poured in. We took a bus back and ate lunch (and many beers/pisco sours) at a small cafe while waiting for our train back. We eventually got on a train, which took us to a bus, which took us back to Cusco. We had booked a nicer room so that we could soak up the luxury after some very tough days on the trail. We met the Australians and the Austrians for drinks, and ended up staying up pretty late playing games and chatting with them in a Cusco bar.

3/21 CUSCO-->BOGOTA

3/21

We were awoken at 8 by a mysterious knock. I had some stomach trouble, then came back to bed. We got up at 845 to get breakfast. We ate the hotel breakfast, then went to our room to pack. I was feeling very sad to be leaving, nostalgic for our time on the trail. We packed, left our bags at the front, and went to go buy some “alpaca” blankets. We got two bracelets for J, three small paintings, and two alpaca blankets. The lady told us they were 50s even though we had been to the store before and been told 40, and had seen them elsewhere for 35. Jarod got her down to 40 and we left with them. By now I was hungry and emotional and tired, so I started to tear up over indecision with where to eat. We sat at a cafe and had 11s sandwiches. We went back to the hotel and had them call a cab. We arrived at the airport and checked in, then strangely waited in a room before being allowed through security (not many intl flights out of cusco... seems to require its own protocol). We made it to our gate and onto the plane. I was happy to be sitting next to Jarod (he was K and I was E... but for whatever reason those two are adjacent...) we had steak and vino tinto on the flight ;). We took a taxi home - a man lifted our bags into the trunk then asked for a tip. When we got there, our hosts were nowhere to be found and it was pouring rain. A property manager came out and started talking at us in Spanish very quickly--I think saying that our hosts hadn’t told her anything. She somewhat angrily escorted us outside, and I thought we were going to have to wait there. She then showed us how to work all the locks on the door, then let us inside. We got wine and cheese at the grocery store and snacked on those for dinner

3/22

We woke up around 8 with plans to eat breakfast at home then head to la candelaria for a bike tour at 1030. All appliances rebelled against us. The eggs stuck to the bottom of the pan, and the eggs that didn’t stick barely cooked. I tried to put laundry in but the timer never went down; it just perpetually washed. The toaster oven was a mystery of its own. Regardless, we eventually dined on eggs and arepas, and Jarod got the washer to switch to rinse then dry. We called an uber and got dropped off by the bike shop. We waited in a plaza and chatted with some other travelers. We embarked as a large group and found our way to a plaza with a statue of Simon Bolivar... talked about journalism... then split into two groups and departed. We biked to “the time square of Bogota” and talked about Germans convincing Colombians to drink beer instead of chicha... saw street art and discussed the battle between more/less formal forms... we biked through a neighborhood of mixed architecture and talked about the identity crisis in bogota... we rode to a park and snacked on fruits, then admired a giant map of bogota before riding past more street art (Jarod got a flat as usual), and to a big memorial for those killed in the civil war- tears streaming down the side of a building into a pool of water. We went to a coffee shop and talked some with our guide, Mateo. He talked about working in social services in London and suggested those services weren’t helpful. He showed impatience with others’ inability to learn english. We talked about the education system a bit then started our coffee tour. We biked down a more colorful street--with gov-commissioned art on all the walls. We rode through the red light district to a market for fruit tasting. We then ran across the street and learned how to play Tejo. It was really absurd and fun even though I was bad at it. Then we went back to the bike shop and paid. We got what was supposed to be a light lunch of ajiaco and a tamale to share - it was heavy. We walked to the main plaza and Gabriel Garcia Marques cultural center. We tried to stand outside our lunch spot to get WiFi to order an uber. Instead we went to a cafe and bought banana bread to get  their code. We went home, hung out, then headed to el chato for dinner. The host asked if we had a reservation, which we had a hard time understanding. Eventually we were sat at the bar. We got cocktails, the best order of chips and guacamole ever, lamb (Jarod), and fish with mushrooms (me). When we finished dinner, we went to the grocery store to buy more coconut cookies and then we headed home. We went to bed around 11.

3/23

We were slow to start in the morning. We made breakfast and did some research on Monserrate before calling an uber to go there. The uber got lost in a nearby national park and asked several ppl for directions but apparently few of them were helpful. We finally made it to the trail head and hiked the (very tough) ascent of 2000m. It took us about 50min; we arrived around 12. The view was beautiful but there were lots of ppl- even a mass going on. There were lots of stands for foods and trinkets. On the way down we got queso fresco con fruta. We then walked all the way home, zagging through la candelaria, stopping for bunuelos and empanadas, and then by the park for fruit and carrot cake. There were countless street vendors with hot dogs, coconuts, fruits, cell phone minutes, dried food, etc. We got home, napped and snacked, then showered. We went to Bogota Brewing Company around the corner. The waitress talked to us a lot very quickly and we were totally lost. She then brought us four drinks to try -- we were worried we needed to say something about them but didn’t even really know what they were. We ordered beers and a pizza and reflected on the trip and plans for going home. We went to the store for more coconut cookies, then home. We sat and ate for a little, then packed up and went to bed around 10.

3/24 BOGOTA-->SAN FRANCISCO

3/24

345am wake up - was awoken a little early by drunks in the street. Got ready and Jarod called an uber. Rode to the airport, got through immigration and security, wanted crepes and waffles but couldn’t find them. Had to go to the desk to check in (after hearing our names over the speaker). Alarms were going off while we waited... no one seemed to care.

[justtraveleh]

Travel day(s) with Sydney layover

We were gonna give it try again. After we weren’t so lucky with our last Sydney layover, we chose to fly with Qantas this time to get another chance. On Wednesday, Feb 5th, British Airways took us from Berlin to London, which was about a 1.5 hour flight. With 3 hours to kill at Heathrow airport we were wandering around and then I just so happened to find a little Union Jack wallet on the ground. No one claimed it (after I asked one person) so it was mine now. We boarded the first Qantas flight at 19:25 pm, our first ride with a A380, which was gonna take us to Singapore for a quick layover. I really wasn’t feeling so well at the beginning of that flight. I was so hungry that I started getting a headache and when the food finally arrived it was too little too late. The food wasn’t that great either; it was some type of noodle salad with chicken. I was feeling so sick after a few bites. Didn’t finish the meal, popped some pills and tried to sleep it off. That first flight was around 12 hours and I slept a good portion of it. Just before landing they served breakfast, which was better than dinner had been; we chose the fruit platter and muesli. Oh also, they had a snack bar where you could get soda and muesli bars, and also Tim Tams throughout the flight. In Singapore we freshened up a little before getting back on that same plane for the next 7 hours it would take us to get to Sydney, Australia. They served dinner again; this time I got the linguine with mushrooms and broccoli, which was cold but better than the salad on the last flight had been. Watched some movies, slept some more and before landing we got breakfast again; fruit salad and a lemon muffin.

Friday, Feb 7th at 6:30 am local time we arrived in Sydney. We didn’t have any issues getting through immigration this time, thankfully. After freshening up, putting Gitte’s carry-on in storage and getting our Opal cards (metro tickets) we got on the subway, which would take us to the Opera house in just 20 minutes. So it was only around 8 am by the time we got our first glimpse of the famous landmark. 

It also only took about 5-10 minutes for my shoes to be completely soaked through, as it was raining heavily. 

We didn’t let that stop us though and walked from Opera house to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and back and then on towards the neighbourhood The Rocks, where we had breakfast at Pancakes on the Rocks.

By the time we arrived more than just our shoes were soaked, my hoodies and pants were as well. But with only a few hours left in Sydney we kept on going and walked to Darling harbour.

It was around 2.30 pm when we got on the subway back to the airport. There, we changed into some dry clothes and that was also the time I realized how fucked my feet were; blisters and scraped off skin all from walking in those wet shoes for so long. I was in pain!

 Anyway, we got on our final flight at 9:25 pm and were en route to Christchurch. We got dinner again; I got some type of salad with chicken, then they brought ice cream and chocolate. Gitte was ecstatic!

We landed on time in Christchurch at 0:30 am and everything went just smoothly. Since we had this late arrival and there was no more public transport we booked a shuttle through booking.com beforehand. This was absolutely awesome! The driver was waiting for us in the arrival hall with a sign with my name on it, took us to his car and off we went. He even had some complimentary water for us. This was such a convenient and quick way to get to our hotel and it wasn’t all that expensive either. Can totally recommend doing that!