#More than a Vancouver sunset

[zuucc]

MORE THAN A VANVOUVER SUNSET: What if…

… Mat had given in?

Summary: What If Mat had given into Emma, that night in his car? What if he’d thrown his principles out the window and given into what they both wanted so badly? This story is a spin on what would’ve happened in Mat’s car that night after their trip to Sunset Beach - the trip that definitely was not a date - if Mat hadn’t been so stubborn, and so adamant about taking her on a date first.

Warnings: Smut, more cursing than actual sentences

Word Count: 3600 (including excerpt)

Author’s note: I wrote the first 50.000 words to More Than a Vancouver Sunset when I was supposed to be writing my bachelors thesis. That´s just about three years ago now, which is just mind blowing on its own. The fact that this story still spins through my head still, is maybe even worse? Anyways, I’ve got a week long exam and just like before, that makes me want to write everything but that. It´s not like MTAVS doesn’t have enough smut as it is, but banging my head against table has got me coming up with all kinds of shit. Needless to say - it’s spicy. I know I’m not really on here anymore, and for most people I’m just someone you’ll occasionally see on someone’s Mat Barzal, Tyson Jost or William Nylander fic rec list. I don’t even think half the people I used to talk to on here back then are still here, but I hope this finds someone who’s interested. And this could be read as a stand alone, you do not have to have read the 80k nightmare that is More Than a Vancouver Sunset to read this.

I hope you enjoy.

In cursive, you will find an extract from More Than a Vancouver Sunset, with what leads up to this story. If you haven’t read the full story - Mat has previously stated that Emma is not the kind of girl he’d just fuck, he would like to take her on a date first. He’s brought her to watch the sunset at the beach, but didn’t call it date out of fear. Though it really feels like a date to Emma and he did end up kissing her.

~

His hand started laced with hers, their fingers intertwined, resting in her lap as they began the drive back home. The conversation flowed freely, and it hit Mat square in the chest that though their lives had taken completely different paths after high school, they still shared many of the same experiences and they still had so much in common – hell they’d even ended up in the same city. Soon, his hand was gripping her thigh lightly and Emma’s own hand curled around his wrist, moving back and forth in a soothing manner. 

“I have to admit, my crush on you came back pretty quickly,” he hummed, looking over at her for a split second before he turned his attention back to the road ahead, causing Emma to laugh. 

“Yeah, a little faster than I’d like to admit,” she agreed, and Mat nodded along. He was pulling onto her street, but he didn’t want to let her go just yet. The digital clock on his dash had pushed past eleven and Emma’s parents’ house was dark when he pulled into the driveway. He turned the car off, already knowing that he wouldn’t just be saying goodbye and backing out again. He looked over at the beautiful girl sitting next to him, and she was already looking back at him. They both smiled, looking at each other for way too long before they both burst out in giggles. They’d talked non stop all the way back and now it seemed that they were both out of words. 

“Come here,” Mat chuckled, pulling her closer by her hand and meeting her halfway. They both smiled into the short kiss, their eyes meeting for a second before their lips did, though this time the kiss was loaded with all the sexual tension that had seemed to make the air thick all around them. Emma’s nose brushed against Mat’s before the kiss deepened, the open mouthed kiss sending warmth through both their bodies. While Emma slid her hands up his chest, Mat’s dropped to her thighs, his grip a bit tighter and moving a bit higher than where it had been on the way home. 

Mat hummed into the kiss when her hands slid back to his neck, her fingers instantly moving into his thick hair and curling into fists. Their tongues met in a slow slide against each other, sending a wave of want crashing between Emma’s thighs, as she moaned into the kiss – not even embarrassed at the sound, simply just wanting his lips on hers, or anywhere else on her body – that’d be fine too, and his hands roaming. Mat could feel his pants getting tighter with every kiss they shared and Emma seemed to get more impatient; little moans slipping past her lips, her fingers clenching in his hair, doing everything she could to press herself closer to him, only to be stopped by the center console. Mat reached for the little button on the side of his seat, taking his seat the last few inches back. 

“What are you doing?” Emma asked, not pulling far away, her lips still moving against his while she spoke. 

“Just come here,” he hummed, kissing her hard but quick as he placed one hand on the back of her thigh and the other sliding across her back to curl around her waist. He pulled her body closer to his before he simply lifted her over the center console with very little help and effort from Emma, letting her straddle his lap. That in itself had Emma grinding her hips down onto his immediately, making a groan escape his throat in unison with the moan she pressed against his mouth. 

“Fuck, Em,” Mat said, groaning into her kiss, his hands on her hips as she ground against him. The shortened version of her name falling from his lips along with his hardening member under her, hit her perfectly between her legs whenever she rolled her hips over his, and it was pushing her further along the road to desperation. His hands moved slowly up her sides as their lips slotted together, so slowly it nearly had Emma placing her hands on his to push them to where she wanted them most. He pulled away from her lips, his own glistening and swollen as he looked up at her with dark, lust-filled eyes. Emma looked back at him with the same look on her face, her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly and Mat’s attention was caught, his hands finally covering her breasts. He kissed her deeply, but only for a few seconds before he started a trail down the side of her neck as Emma pushed her hair back out of the way for him. 

“Let me take you out on a date,” he spoke, his lips moving against the sensitive skin right beneath the line of her jaw. One of his arms wrapped around her waist while the other stayed on her boob, massaging it in his hand. Emma’s neck craned back to let him have as much space as possible, her hand fisted in his dark curls. 

“I thought this was a date,” She breathed, her body pressing against his, desperate to be with him – desperate to have him naked against her, desperate for him to be inside her. 

“No,” he said, shaking his head against her as he kept leaving kisses down her neck. Emma moaned as he found a particularly sensitive spot. She rolled her hips into his and she could feel him fully hard beneath her. She was sure the particularly nice thong she’d decided to wear was soaked through. 

“You don’t have to take me out first – before you fuck me,” she moaned, clenching her fist in his hair. The words falling from her mouth along with the pull of his hair had Mat groaning and pulling back from where he’d been leaving kisses on her skin.

“I’ll take you out – tomorrow,” he said, making Emma swallow hard. He really wasn’t going to fuck her tonight, and she didn’t know how to deal with the fire burning in the pit of her stomach. She pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes. They were both breathing hard. 

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” she sighed, brushing her nose against his. Matt chuckled, kissing her lightly, but long enough to leave a tingle on her lips. 

“I’m sure you can feel what you’re doing to me,” he breathed, placing his hands on her hips and pushing her against him. A breathy moan fell from her lips, making a soft smile tug on his. 

“I’m so wet right now, I’ll probably leave a mark on your pants,” Emma told him, not even embarrassed about it. He was wearing a pair of dark green cargo pants that did wonders for both his ass and his thighs, so no, she wasn’t going to be embarrassed about leaving a mark on them. Not when he was making her feel like this. 

“You can’t just say that,” he groaned, letting his head fall back on the headrest. Emma smirked, trailing her fingers down his chest, towards his abs. Mat locked his gaze to her fingers, following them down his torso all the way until it slipped under his t-shirt. He looked up at her again as her hand flattened out over his abs. 

“And you can’t just look like this, and kiss me like that, and expect me to not be wet for you,” she dared, feeling brave and risky now. She was horny, and she’d practically begged for him to fuck her already, so she had nothing to lose. This time it was Mat who smirked.

“What made you decide to wear this dress tonight?” he asked, his smirk turning cocky as his hands moved from her hips to her thighs. Emma smiled, looking out the window for a second to compose herself. 

“I like the way it fits around my hips,” she grinned. He somehow managed to look even more smug than he already was with his fingers curling around the side of her thighs, pulling her just a little bit closer. 

“So, you did this on purpose?” he asked then, his hands moving back to her hips, but this time under her dress. His thumb rubbing back and forth on a spot right beneath one of the double bands on her thong, and then slipping under it just to tease. 

“I did – I even put on nice underwear for you,” she said. He could hear the hitch in her breath when he pulled his thumb away and let the band smack back on her skin. 

“You’re not even wearing a bra,” he smirked, having already figured that out when she climbed into the car hours ago now and he’d sure gotten it confirmed when he had his hands on her earlier, only feeling the thin material between his hands and her boobs. 

“Doesn’t mean I’m not wearing a nice pair of undies, though,” she smirked back, finding his smug expression faltering just a little bit. With his attention fully on her, Emma moved her hand out from under his shirt, finding the hem of her dress instead and lifting it just enough for him to see the white lace covering her most intimate part, and the two bands sitting high on her hips. 

“Fuck,” he muttered to himself, letting his hands fall back down to her thighs, his thumb sliding underneath the lacy fabric. He looked up to meet her stare, keeping eye contact as the finger slipped further down to where the material was actually soaked. Pushing the thong to the side, he let his finger slide through her slit, watching her as her mouth fell open and her eyes closed. 

“I thought you had to take me on a date first,” she breathed, letting her head fall to rest her forehead against his, her fingers finding their place in his hair again. 

“That was just before fucking you,” he smirked, though through his tone it was clear that he was nearly as affected as she was. Emma moaned as he slipped closer to her hole, almost falling against him. Their noses brushed against each other and their lips met just as he slid one long finger into her. The desperate moan vibrating against his lips sent blood rushing towards his dick, even if he’d been hard for a long time already and he could feel himself twitching in his pants. The moan that followed when he pressed another finger into her had him wondering what sounds she was going to make when he’d get to push his length into her. He would’ve fucked her right there in the front seat of his car if he hadn’t been so fucking stubborn. But there was the fact that he didn’t want to have sex with her for the first time in his car in her parents’ driveway. He wasn’t really much of a romantic, but he’d like to take his time with her – in a bed. 

“Fuck, Mat,” she groaned, her lips capturing his before she pushed her tongue against his. Oh, what she’d do to have his tongue between her legs right now. Mat loved the way she said his name, and he looked forward to hearing her moan it again as he placed his thumb on her clit and started rubbing circles. He started pumping his fingers in and out of her, her juices running down his fingers and making him want nothing more than to lick it all up. Her mouth fell open as he curled his fingers inside of her, her head falling back as a string of moans left her lips. 

“Just want to taste you, baby,” he mumbled as she gasped at the loss of his fingers, her eyes heavy as she followed them into his mouth, his lips locking around the two long fingers dripping with her arousal. The pet name sent another wave crashing through her body, and that, along with the sight of Mat licking her juices off his fingers, had her falling forward, her lips and tongue against his as soon as his fingers were pushing back inside her. The taste of herself mixed with what she learned was the taste of Mat, was something she could definitely get used to. 

“Oh my god,” she moaned against his lips, the feeling of his fingers deep inside her too much, yet far from enough all at the same time. She pulled away from his kiss and immediately reached for the straps of her dress that were tied in little bows on her shoulder, tugging at their ends and letting the front fall down to expose her bare chest.

“It’s too fucking hot in here,” she whined, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Mat’s lips hung slightly open, lips burning red and and glistening from kissing her. His eyes were dark and lustful, alternating between her face and her naked chest, her pink nipples begging him to touch them.

“You are unbelievable,” he mutters, more so to himself than to Emma. She grins, unsure if it’s her body or her persistence he’s referring to, but happy with herself either way. She grips his t-shirt in her fist and pulls him closer, pushing up on her knees in order to let him fit his mouth around her nipples. The moans erupting from her throat were so desperate that she’d normally be embarrassed, but she was desperate and she couldn’t care less in that moment.

“Fuck, Emma,” he cursed again. She’d started meeting him halfway as she fucked herself onto his fingers, meeting his knuckles as he thrusted the length of his fingers into her.

“You’re really making me do this, huh?” He asked, more so rethorically. His words were barely audible as he dragged his lips from one of her boobs to leave a trail of wet kisses up to her collarbones.

“What?” Emma breathed, too focused on the feeling that was filling her body and gathering into a big ball of pleasure in her lower stomach, begging to explode.

“You’re making me break my promise, baby,” he whispered, his lips having made their way up her neck, stopping right beneath her ear. He couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to be inside her. Never before had he wanted something so badly. Sure, he could make her come with his fingers, and she would be somewhat satisfied, but the way she was begging for him? It did things for his ego that he couldn’t really explain and he needed to give her what she wanted - what they both wanted. He’d never felt so wanted by anyone. And truthfully, it was starting to hurt with how incredibly hard she was making him.

“Fuck, really?” She nearly cried, gasping as he pulled his fingers out of her. His fingers were wet with her arousal, but neither of them cared when he placed both hands on her hips and pushed back on his thighs. He nodded to answer her question.

Emma hurried to get her hands on the waistband of his pants, opening the button and pulling down the zipper as fast as she could. Simultaneously, Mat slipped his thumbs into both his pants and his boxers, ready to pull them down as soon as she’d gotten them open. Emma cursed again as his erection finally sprung free and slapped against his abs - his t-shirt having ridden up ages ago.

“Fuck, Emma, come here,” he begged, reaching out to grab her hip to pull her closer with the one hand and finding the button on the side of his seat, reclining it in order to make the ordeal easier. It would’ve been easier to move to the backseat, or just sneak into Emma’s bedroom, but right now this just needed to happen as fast as possible. He needed to be inside her as fast as possible.

“Oh god,” Emma breathed as she maneuvered her legs in the tight space, watching him spit into his hand before wrapping it around his dick and lathering it up.

“Come,” he demanded, and Emma felt herself fall towards him. Her hands found his sturdy shoulders and she lifted herself up from his lap for him to finally line himself up with her opening.

“Fuck, Mat,” she sighed as he pulled her underwear aside and let his tip run through her slit. They both moaned in relief as she finally sunk down onto him.

“I just need you to know- fuck,” Mat started, but interrupted himself as she lifted herself off of him before quickly sinking back down. Emma wanted nothing more than to cover his lips with hers and just get lost in it, but it seemed like he needed to get something off his chest.

“I want you, in every single way,” he went on, stopping to breathe and curse to himself. His hands had found their way back to her, one hand on her hip and the other was gripping her ass, helping her keep a steady rhythm as she rode him.

“Not just like this. But god do I want this, too,” he managed to tell her. Emma’s lips spread into a wide smile, feeling full in every single sense of the word.

“Me too, Mat, me too,” she agreed, leaning her forehead to his and very willingly complying when he pressed his lips to hers. Everything that had happened between them up until then had happened fast, and so had this. But Emma knew it was right, even if it was absolutely terrifying at the same time. Emma’s fingers fisted into the thick locks of hair on the back of his head, and their tongues finally met. They made out desperately as their hips met repeatedly, Mat planting his feet into the floor of the car to be able to meet her hips every single time she came sinking down on him.

“I’m so close, Mat,” Emma sighed, adjusting her feet on the side of the seat to be able to up her speed.

“Me too, baby,” Mat agreed, letting his head fall back to watch her as she sat spread out on top of him, her chest glistening with sweat and her arousal having spread out on her inner thighs and Mat, too. One of her legs were extended over the middle console and into the passenger seat and that way Mat could see the way he was buried inside her, how he was covered in her juices. His thumb found its way to her clit and he watched her close her eyes in pleasure, her teeth clamping down on her bottom lip.

“Oh, god, now,” she cried, pushing herself forward to fall against him again. They’d never done this before, but somehow Mat knew what she meant. His arms wound around her, holding her close to him, as he thrusted up into her with all the power he had as she moaned and clawed herself to him - leaving marks on his shoulder as she finally came. He didn’t let go himself until he could hear her moans slowing down and coming to an end.

“Fuck, Mat, that was just… Wow,” Emma managed to say, still breathing heavily. She lifted her head from where she’d collapsed into his shoulder, a wide smile spreading on her lips when she pulled back and saw the one already on his lips.

“I know, I’m… I’m glad we did that,” he admitted, even though he had been so adamant on waiting til after he’d taken her on a date.

“Me too,” Emma laughed, relaxing into his lap again. The feeling of his softening dick inside her was warm and comfortable.

“To be fair, I really thought that was a date,” she grinned and Mat shook his head with an embarrassed smile on his lips. A blush crept up his already pink neck - Emma might not be able to see it with how hot they both were, but he could feel the blush settle on his neck and cheeks.

“It was supposed to be, but when I saw you this morning I just didn’t have the balls to call it that,” he admitted, his hands were running up and down the outside of her thighs as they spoke.

“You didn’t have to call it that, Mat. You didn’t have to say the word date for me to understand that the guy who’s been flirting with me for weeks and even told me that he wants to take me on a date and then fuck me, is asking me on a date when he’s asking me to come watch the fucking sunset at the beach. Like, I thought we’d established that I am quite smart a long time ago,” Emma laughed, and Mat had to cover his face with his hands as he laughed along. She was right, it definitely sounded like a date.

“So, if it makes you feel better, we can just say that it was a date,” she shrugged, smiling that gorgeous smile that Mat had been falling for every single time he’d seen her since he was assigned seats next to her in high school.

“Okay, fine. But I’m still taking you out tomorrow,” he grinned.

“I’m not gonna stop you,” Emma mirrored his smile, leaning forward to press her lips to his again.

“I meant it though, what I said about wanting everything, not just sex,” he reminded her, struggling to keep eye contact as he said it. It was important to him that she knew how he felt. She was more than just a one time thing.

“I know, Mat. Me too,” she said, kissing him once more.

“But I really do want the sex, too,” he smiled cheekily, making Emma throw her head back laughing.

“Me too,” she agreed, leaning in again for a deep kiss.

[bordysbae]

hey!!! it's me again :) i was just wondering if you could do a fic where the reader is trevor's sister, and she's with luke, but the fic is based on a combination on mine, stay stay stay, and that's the way i loved you by ms. taylor herself

ps. i actually love your writing sm 🫶

“my michigan boy”

luke hughes x zegras!sister

do you remember we were sitting there by the water, you put your arm around me for the first time.

as you and luke watch the sunset lower by the second, he wraps an arm around you as both of your guys’ toes dangle off of the dock. you rest your head on luke’s shoulder, embracing the final days of summer. the final days until you both head off to college, and before your guys’ brothers head back to california, new jersey, and vancouver.

“i’m gonna miss this, i mean i miss every summer spent at the lake house, but especially this one,” you state softly.

“and whys that?” luke mumbles, nearly lost in the orange and pink sky.

“because of us. it’s been too long of us just being awkward around each other, i’m glad we finally made it to where we are now. but it sucks, you’re staying in michigan for college and i’m going all the way to wisconsin”

“i know, but we’ll keep in touch, i promise. plus we’re both gonna see each other on winter break, and spring break too.”

“luke, it’s just that-“ you begin to say, but you’re cut off by trevor calling you both over to the fire pit to make s’mores with everyone. luke stands up and hurries over to make sure he gets a s’more, but you walk slow behind him. your older brother walks over closer, and grabs your attention by standing directly in front of you. “you okay?” he asks.

“yeah, just thinkin’”

“what about?”

“me and luke. we aren’t dating, but we’re definitely more than friends. anyone can see that, but we’re going away to college next week. there’s no point in dating, but i don’t want us to be left as nothing, y’know?”

“don’t date him, that’s a dumb idea. you’re going away to college, and you don’t want to be held back by a long distance relationship. plus luke is gonna be focusing on hockey. if you guys are really meant to be it’ll happen when it needs to,” trevor tells you.

“since when are you such a romantic,” you playfully elbow him, earning yourself a smack on the back of the head, “yeah yeah, shut up.”

and he says, “you look beautiful tonight.” but i miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain.

you and luke left things quiet in michigan. you never addressed the elephant in the room—the elephant being that you were both going away to college— so now you’re on a date with a guy you met at a bar last month.

“you look beautiful tonight,” he smiles, making you blush.

“oh thank you, aaron! you don’t look too bad yourself,” you smile, as you both head into the restaurant. aaron is sweet, but he’s just not luke. this is the second date, and he’s just careless in a way. he loves to talk about himself, and sure, he listens to what you have to say, but he doesn’t listen to the way luke did.

“what are your plans for winter break next week? you staying here?” aaron asks you, catching you off gaurd. he never really asks much about you, so you’re happy to be able to get some words in about yourself.

“oh! i’m going to michigan, my parents live there! i’m staying with my family friends at their lake house, which technically doesn’t serve the same purpose it does during the summer, but it’s always fun to go ice skating on the lake!”

“oh cool! i was hoping maybe we could hang out, but i guess i’ll just have to text you!” aaron chuckles, making you blush slightly.

it’s not that you don’t like aaron, you very much do, it’s just that he isn’t the same as luke. you and luke could talk about any and everything for hours, but with aaron it’s all just a little too unfamiliar for you. you even missed the fights you and luke would have. i mean sure, they sucked in the moment, but as soon as they were over, they were immediately forgotten. and then luke was your world’s axis again. he made your world spin.

you took the time to memorize me, my fears my hope and dreams. i just like hanging out with you, all the time

back in michigan, all is going well. you and luke are slightly awkward, since the tension from summer was never resolved, but you guys are still close as always. but what you didn’t expect to happen was for your brother to accidentally spill the beans about aaron, in front of everyone.

“ew, you still talk to aaron?” trevor exclaims, as he tosses your vibrating phone at you from from across the living room.

“who’s aaron?” quinn asks, pestering like the annoying boy he is.

“yeah y/n, who’s aaron?” luke questions, turning his head towards you. your heart begins to race.

“we went on a couple dates, that’s all,” you begin to explain, but before you can finish your explanation luke leaves the room. everyone’s eyes follow him as he exits, then they all turn back towards you with sheepish smiles. you sigh, and chase after luke. you hear him close the back door, so you go outside onto the deck. he’s sat under the awning, with his head resting upon his hands.

“luke, let me explain,” you sigh, as you sit next him.

“no don’t, it’s not like we were dating anyways. i mean we’ve both hooked up with other people while away at college, i don’t know why i’m upset. you don’t have to explain yourself, you did nothing wrong,”

“oh luke, yes i did. i knew all along that all i wanted was you, but i saw you going to these parties and shit, so i felt like i needed to move on too. i toyed with aaron’s feelings, just for it not to work,” you say, making luke look up from his lap at you.

“what are you saying?”

“that i love you, luke hughes,” you smile, making him blush.

“i love you too, y/n zegras,” he says, leaning in to kiss you. he cuffs your cheeks, as your hands make their way through his curly hair. suddenly luke pulls away and gasps, startling you.

“remember when you said you’ve always wanted to kiss someone in the rain? cmon!” he exclaims, immediately pulling you up from the small step, and into the pouring rain. your guys’ laughter could be heard from a mile away, until it’s silenced by luke’s lips crashing against yours.

“i like hanging out with you luke, we should do this more,” you giggle, making luke smile.

“do what, kiss more? or hang out more?”

“both. you’re my michigan boy.”

[smileysvech]

What are some of your favorite hockey boy fics? 🥰

this is not an exhaustive list by any means, so you can check my fic rec tags here and here, but these are some of my favorites (most of these include smut so please respect authors’ warnings if you’re not 18+)

andrei svechnikov

fake numbers and date numbers by @matsbarzal

glittery by @comphy-and-cozy

the love countdown series by @behoright

meet me at midnight by @senditcolton

the mystery of love by @comphy-and-cozy

playing pretend by @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69

sundress season (and the sequel) by @comphy-and-cozy

when it gets crisp in the fall (and these follow up fics in the same universe: x x) by @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69

andrei svechnikov/brady skjei

the after party and the after party II by @comphy-and-cozy

andrei svechnikov/dylan coghlan

919 temptations by @hoesforthecanes

brady skjei

adore you by @comphy-and-cozy

do I really have to tell you? by @senditcolton

midnight rain by @comphy-and-cozy

mat barzal

more than a vancouver sunset by @zuucc

praising you by @eberles

we've come so far baby by @mendeshoney

mat barzal/tyson jost

summer nights by @hookingminor

jt compher

our love was made for the movies by @jostystyles

slow mornings by @comphy-and-cozy

something to dream about by @comphy-and-cozy

mikko rantanen

bad for business by @comphy-and-cozy

you’re the reason I come home by @senditcolton

tyson jost

baby, you make me crazy series by @hookingminor

how I look on you by @hookingminor

like this series by @matbaerzal

longshot by @flashyfucker

open your eyes by @matbaerzal

matt martin

matt martin x sugar baby!reader blurb by @comphy-and-cozy

we're a bad idea by @senditcolton

[toasttt11]

questions

October 12, 2023

Connie had accepted Kevin’s invitation to hang out with Alex, Lukas and him.

Alex has spent the day showing them all around some parts of Chicago and they eventually ended up going to one of the beaches in Chicago that has a pier and they decided to start walking around for a little while before they all head back to their separate homes.

Kevin and Lukas both gasped excitedly in unison seeing a corn dog cart and they both immediately went off running towards the corn dog cart just leaving Connie and Alex alone.

Connie awkwardly played with her fingers having not spent any time alone with Alex yet and he makes her very nervous but a different type of the normal nervous but she was not sure what type.

“Those two.” Alex shook his head chuckling fondly watching as Lukas and Kevin were running and pushing each other.

Alex spared multiple glances towards Connie as they walked at a calmer pace than Lukas and Kevin. Alex is still in awe of her eyes every time he sees them. Alex does not want to admit how much he thinks of Connie with barely even knowing her yet and it does not help at all that her eyes are just unforgettable.

“What’s your favorite color?” Alex randomly blurted out and bit his lip for just blurting out random question.

“My favorite color?” Connor repeated looking very puzzled and Alex did not blame her as it is a very random question and very random to just ask that.

“I want to get to know you more.” Alex shrugged smiling slightly bashful at her making her nod.

“Blue.” Connie said before softly adding, “But not bright blue but light blue soft like the sky in the early morning.” Connie slightly rambled and blushed when she realized she had been rambling, something she does not do often.

“Light blue.” Alex smiled softly enjoying her reasoning and glad he got to hear her reasoning, “I like Orange but not neon orange, soft orange like the sunset.” Alex gave her a lopsided smile making her smile softly back at him appreciating how he responded.

“Favorite season?” Connie softly asked as they stopped walking sitting and decided to sit down on a bench as they watched Kevin and Lukas waited in line for corn dogs and waited for them to come back.

“Summer. I love being out on the water and the warm weather is my favorite.” Alex easily responded, summer was when he got to spend the most time with his family.

“Hmm, i don’t like warm weather.” Connie scrunched up nose slightly having always hated the heat, she grew up in Vancouver warm weather is not something she likes and the warmest in Vancouver is still very comfortable, “I like winter because it snows.”

“I do not like the snow.” Alex scrunched his nose shaking his head, he has always hated the snow and it was something he never looked forward to every winter.

Connie blinked looking shocked for a moment, she couldn’t understand how anyone doesn’t like the snow. “You don’t like the snow.” Connie deadpanned looking at Alex oddly making him laugh shaking his head no.

“I like being warm.” Alex smiled making Connie reluctantly nod understanding not everyone likes cold weather.

“What’s your favorite food.” Alex questioned, he is really glad their friends got distracted so he could get the chance to learn more about Connie but also spend time with her alone.

“Sushi.” Connie quickly answered no hesitation in her answer, Sushi has always been her favorite food since she could remember.

“Really?” Alex hummed surprised that was her favorite food.

“I’m from Vancouver.” Connie’s reply had more sass to it that she rarely let out and Alex couldn’t help but smile wider glad he gets to hear it.

“True.” Alex agreed as Vancouver is near the bay so seafood is very good there, “So you got lucky getting drafted to Chicago then?” Alex asked rhetorically, Chicago has some of the better seafood as well.

“Mhm.” Connie nodded in agreement so far everything seafood she has had here is very good.

“What’s yours?” Connie asked looking around the pier and let out a sigh not seeing any cameras pointed at them yet and felt some tension leave her shoulders.

“Burgers.” Alex reasoned chuckling at her disbelieving face, “I know it’s basic.”

“It’s what you like.” Connie just shrugged smiling sweetly.

Alex smiled back enjoying Connie’s natural sweetness and her genuine kindness she seems to always have.

Kevin and Lukas both sat down on either sides of Connie and Alex happily munching on their corn dogs that were definitely not on their meal plans making Alex and Connie share an exasperated look and smile.

The four all decided to head home after Kevin’s and Lukas finished their corn dogs having been out the whole day already exploring and already walked most of the pier.

Kevin had drove them all and Lukas was sitting in the front seat with Connie and Alex sitting in the back seats.

Kevin drove to Connie’s apartment first and pulled into the front entrance of her apartment building.

“Thanks Kev.” Connie softly mumbled to her friend as she got out of the car.

“Always Beds.” Kevin smiled at her watching as she got out of the car closing the door and waving at them.

“Hold on i’ll be right back.” Alex blurted out to Lukas and Kevin and hopped out of the car quickly catching up with Connie.

Lukas and Kevin shared a very suspicious look of Alex’s behavior towards Connie, they have noticed how he seemed to stare at her a lot and was always glancing at her but haven’t thought anything of it, but maybe they should have.

“Connie!” Alex soflty called out jogging slighty as he caught up with Connie right as she stepped inside the front lobby.

“Alex?” Connie looked confused as Alex was now standing next to her.

“Let me walk you up?” Alex soflty asked looking nervous as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

Connie narrowed her eyes not sure why he wants to walk her up, “Sure.” Connie nodded and continued walking towards the elevator.

Alex could see the hidden question Connie had for why he is walking her up, “Just wanted to see you get home.” Alex sheepishly explained, he just didn’t feel right letting her walk to her apartment alone and it felt wrong to not make sure she got home safe.

Connie soflty nodded seeing he was being kind and she could appreciate that, “Thank you.” Connie softly thanked him giving him a small smile as the elevator dinged opening up on her floor and she walked out with Alex following her.

“This is me.” Connie gestured to the door she stopped in front of and she unlocked the front door and opened it.

Alex got a glimpse of her apartment and noticed it was pretty bare and didn’t have much in it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Alex said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. They had a morning practice tomorrow.

“Yeah.” Connie nodded and stepped inside her apartment waving bye as she closed her front door.

[pyotrkochetkov]

Do you have any fic recommendations for when you need a pick me up? I’d appreciate some.

this comes at the perfect time because i could use a pick me up right now and these always make me feel warm inside:

warm honey - mat barzal

praising you - mat barzal

more than a vancouver sunset - mat barzal

mini fan - andrei svechnikov

adore you - brady skjei

fake numbers and date numbers - andrei svechnikov

all i've tried to hide - andrei svechnikov

baby svech - andrei svechnikov (part of the when it gets crisp in the fall universe but every svech girlie has probably already read that)

love countdown series - andrei svechnikov (my allllll time favorite characterization of drei like he is written perfectly it makes me feel so smiley and insane i cannot @behoright bitch come back pleaseeee 💔)

eye on you - andrei svechnikov

love me tender love me sweet - andrei svechnikov (and all of her svech fics basically she has a lot)

(and because i'm a whore a good threesome will pick me up)

919 temptations - dylan coghlan/andrei svechnikov

how the gold glisten - pyotr kochetkov/andrei svechnikov

open invitation - anthony beauvillier/mat barzal

the after party - brady skjei/andrei svechnikov

i also have a fic rec tag with a lot of amazing content that you should also check out :)

[elpiniceontheside]

Dried Flowers and Strawberry tartes

There was a melody stuck in his head.

It was a slow thing made for dancing closely, for falling asleep. Robin had hummed it yesterday, Neil thought, maybe he would asked her about it tomorrow. It sounded like a contender for the mixtape he was trying to compilate, a present Andrew would no doubt roll his eyes over come November.  

Neil loosely crossed legs in front of him and turned his head to the right, where Andrew sat a couple of inches away, a cigarette dangling between his lips.

Neil watched him inhale deep and smooth, smoke curling around his head when he breathed out, face and smoke lit up in sunset colors, red and pink and orange.

“Staring,” Andrew murmured without looking away from the horizon.

Neil hummed noncommittedly, following the curve of Andrew’s biceps down to his elbow and forearms were he was leaning back onto his left hand, the muscle flexing when he shifted his weight.

It had been a good day, a good week. Summer was not completely gone, warm enough for Neil to run in shorts and a tank top if he felt like it, even at night. Spending time on the roof was unbearable without cigarette smoke to fend of the insects swarming all over.

Andrew was here, at Palmetto, for another week, a reprieve before the professional season would pick up for real after the initial sniffing phase. Come Sunday, there would be months filled with training camps and meal plans and team bonding exercises. (The Bruins had signed several fresh faces next to Andrew, basically a whole new line of offense and a defensive dealer from Vancouver that matched Andrew in height, hair color and word count per day. In a twist of coincidence that had Neil bite back a grin even now, weeks after he first looked her up, her name was Erin. (Nicky had pissed himself laughing when the lineup had been officially announced, making Andrew roll his eyes and block his number for a week.)) Soon, Neil would have to babysit a bunch of assholes, organize trainings, sweat through scoutings and another championship, maybe get through finals if he had the time.

Right now, though, this was all in a future rendered irrelevant in the light of the dying sun and Andrew’s ankle hooked around Neil’s calf.

Neil breathed and tried to let his mind wander to something else, to nothing and everything; the new precision exercise Kevin had sent yesterday, his voice sharp and tinny in the voicemail, Robin’s current obsession with strawberry tarte, how Andrew would look in the black and gold of the Boston Bruins. Soon, it would be two hours by flight between them, fifteen by car.

“Stop it,” Andrew said, stubbing out his cigarette on the concrete next to him. He lowered himself back onto his elbows and then laid down completely, hair a messy halo around his head. Without thought, Neil reached out and hovered a couple inches over his forehead until Andrew clicked his tongue impatiently and pushed his hand into his hair. “I can hear you overthinking from here, rabbit.”

Neil smiled down at him, with an indulgence allowed by the grace of Andrew’s closed eyes. Gently, he combed through Andrew’s hair, trying to commit the barely guarded content expression on his face to memory.

Andrew peaked a look up at him and squinted suspiciously. Neil shrugged, unrepentant.

“Just trying to savor the moment,” he said.

Andrew huffed, closing his eyes again. “Stupid.”

They had talked about it at length – an actually surprising length for their penchant for wordless understanding -, about how Andrew would be away and the changes it would bring. They made plans for visits, for Christmas, for two weeks in February in Columbia to pack up the house. Next summer, they would fly over to Germany and attend Nicky’s wedding, an event nearly a decade in the making. Neil had a brand-new phone in the pocket of his sweatpants, capable of video calls and taking pictures “with more than four pixels, idiot”, which Neil planned to take as the invitation it was to send daily updates on the flock of ducks living in the lake near campus Andrew liked to feed.

Point was, there would be numerous moments like this, days and nights full of them, enough to fill diaries and memoirs with. Like the dried flowers Renee carefully glued into journals, Neil and Andrew would have plenty of opportunity and time to breathe next to each other, just like they had through the last years.

It was a heady thought, the last couple years behind him, the years still to come.

Neil couldn’t stop smiling, helplessly, his fingers still idly playing with Andrew’s hair. “Yeah,” he said.

Andrew opened his eyes. With a look Neil wouldn’t dare to call soft to his face, he tugged two fingers into the collar of Neil’s shirt. “Come here,” he said irritated.

Neil grinned and bend down until he could feel Andrew’s breath against his lips, waited there a beat or two, imagined flowers blooming in the space between their faces, red and pink and orange, and then a hand slid to his neck and pulled him down the last inch.

The kiss tasted like cigarettes and summer nights, like strawberry tarte.

[piousperjuror]

I still think I should have asked her.

Would it have been rude? Could I have taken her aside?

I ask these questions when I recall the nights before she gave birth. She had an uneasy smile about her. It was winter, and night fell quickly. She was sitting on the couch, centred against the backdrop of the upstairs front windows. She glowed without daylight, as she always does… did. She did.

She mocked herself for her swollen, golem feet. I remember the hens gathered around her on the floor, trying to keep everything light and airy. We were suspended in that moment above a terrifying reality that had not been actualised, but one which was inevitable.

My cousin N was murdered last summer. It is genuinely difficult to say that. I have said things are difficult to say before without knowing what that saying meant. The words do not form easily. I cannot dwell for long periods of time on the subject. It hurts me to try and feel what that means.

The last time I saw her was in my parent’s backyard, two summers prior. She had a knack for making everyone feel blanketed by the warmth of her compliments. She seemed better. We knew she had stayed in Vancouver for a while. We spoke about men: our shitty exes, stalkers, and horrifying experiences as women. We sat on the wooden bench next to the out-dated glass table. We rested our feet on cool concrete, surrounded by the afterglow of a sunset and the sound of intermittent traffic.

Admittedly, the attention was focused on my first cousin, M. She was stunning, but her ostensibly cold exterior hides the anxious heart of someone who has known how to be one of the ugliest versions of herself. M was now someone who knew they could not go back.

I knew during my year abroad she had been in a terrifyingly abusive relationship with that guy. That guy who thinks of nothing but his next high and his own feelings - because his family taught him nothing else is important. His mother, betrayer of her own sex, belittled M’s claims. Her neighbours, strangers to her pleas and witness to the precursor of a potential fate, did not. I am grateful to these strangers, and it made me feel guilty I did not do more. How I despised those Italian-Canadian wives who spoilt their sons and ignored their daughters.

Growing up in a traditional Italian diaspora of Toronto has challenges. Family image is paramount. We are all told without telling how we must be at home, contrary to what is taught by our Anglo, mangiacake schools.

I was lucky to be born into a family without that ‘sacred’ family structure. I was raised in the more diverse areas of the city. I was exposed to many cultures and freedoms: some of which my suburban high school colleagues were not afforded.

However, instilled in me was a virus that was planted in my early adolescence: the belief that silence is of better measure than truth.

And silent I was, thinking about the phone call I received early morning in Manchester from Costa Rica while M took her first trip with that scumbag, low life, slug. My texts were frantic, and I panicked thinking my cousin was stuck in a foreign country. She never mentioned him. I had no knowledge of this relationship starting. You can imagine the surprise when he texted me from her phone to admit defeat. Foreign numbers, unsaved, sending her “I love you” apparently warrants a test call from a paranoid abuser. One who is currently not where he should be: behind bars and removed from any society or greater opportunity.

My rage. How could she let this happen? Didn’t I tell her? Did I tell her… ?

I texted her. I gave her my cursory opinion. Never direct. We must never be direct - lest it is your fault. They have to realise it on their own, K.

Silly me. Remember what others do.

Sitting in the dark and being ‘eaten alive’ by pests, we continued hearing her stories. I couldn’t help but feel if I had called her incessantly she might have saved herself.

N was usually quiet when she was high. Always giggling. She felt, off? After M was finished her story, holding her leg close to her chest, we all froze. It was as if our shared experiences closed around us, and we collectively understood. It was eerie - as if a cloud of heavy armour had been shed. That is when N started to speak.

It was surface level speak. The speak women speak like to other women in our culture when they cannot or will not divulge too much directly. Who else runs away to the other side of one of the largest countries in the world to get away from their son’s father? And why else?

I told her how she should find herself someone like my husband out there. Was this to break the tension? Did I feel awkward and not want to press her? I remember feeling I wanted to know more. I can see myself now screaming at the shadowy memory of who I was before for not asking.

Would she have told me? I don’t think she would. She told the cops, or so she said. She had “no faith in them. They’re useless.”

And they were. The courts were less than useless.

Looking back, we should have seen the signs. I struggle with that guilt. I am asked, “did she not tell you because she didn’t know if anyone would want to listen?”

The day it happened, I found the news articles from that year prior to the pandemic. He had been charged with uttering death threats, and breaking into her home where she had continued to rent. He had been charged with possessing a weapon, and potentially assault.

Why weren’t we told, Mom?

Everything has a habit of coming out after it is too late. When the time for proper actions has passed.

Global News took hours and several reposts to get the story right, but they were the only ones that cared. She shared a headline with another woman who was killed by her ex-partner. I manically flicked through all the coverage I could find.

It is hard to accept that I will not see her again.

I found a video of N recently from D’s baby shower where she won a prize. The last shower she had been to involved her hiding a pregnancy.

She nearly chokes on all the water during the game. She walks back to our table, struggling through laughter and correcting her breathing. You can hear my trademark, inherited laugh:

“Don’t die.”

[rockislandadultreads]

New Title Tuesday: Mysteries

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

1914, Fiji: Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong.

When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.

Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one conclusion: there is far more to this case than meets the eye.

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to returning to Hertfordshire to spend time with the family of her late husband. She is also excited that Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, will be visiting his own family after a long voyage at sea. With winter quickly approaching, Lily is most excited at the prospect of a relaxing and enjoyable Christmastide season away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London.

At a neighborhood ball, she soon becomes reacquainted with a friend of her late husband, Peter Coleridge, a wealthy man who not only manages Irish investments, but also a fund that most of the locals of Hertfordshire take part in. There, she also learns Jack’s sister, Amelia, is the subject of much of the neighborhood gossip—although Amelia refuses to explain if there is any truth to it. For a brief moment, Lily wonders if she ever really left London.

When a snowstorm forces several guests, including both the Adlers and the Hartleys, to stay the night, Lily quickly deduces that all is not well this holiday season. In the morning, a maid discovers the body of a guest in the poultry yard, shot to death—and he is the same man that is scandalously linked to Amelia.

Lily accepts the offer to assist in the investigation, but will she find more than what she bargained for the more she digs? Or will she herself be buried deep within the snow?

This is the fourth volume of the "Lily Adler Mystery" series.

The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann

It has been an eventful morning for Agnes Sharp and the other inhabitants of Sunset Hall, a house share for the old and unruly in the sleepy English countryside. Although they have had some issues (misplaced reading glasses, conflicting culinary tastes, decreasing mobility, and unruly grandsons), nothing prepares them for an unexpected visit from a police officer with some shocking news. A body has been discovered next door. Everyone puts on a long face for show, but they are secretly relieved the body in question is not the one they’re currently hiding in the shed (sorry, Lillith).

It seems the answer to their little problem with Lillith may have fallen right into their lap. All they have to do is find out who murdered their neighbor, so they can pin Lillith’s death on them, thus killing two (old) birds with one stone (cold killer).

With their plan sorted, Agnes and her geriatric gang spring into action. After all, everybody likes a good mystery. Besides, the more suspicion they can cast about, surely the less will land on them. To investigate, they will step out of their comfort zone, into the not-so-idyllic village of Duck End and tangle with sinister bakers, broken stairlifts, inept criminals, the local authorities, and their own dark secrets.

This is the first volume of the "Agnes Sharp Mysteries" series.

[liosmithsworld]

Trending Now: The Top Travel Destinations for 2025

By 2025, people in the world are eager to travel around the globe to visit unusual attractions and to come back to the famous places. Thanks to recently emerging global tourism and many cheap flights being offered by airlines, there has never been a better time to travel. Here is a list of the ten best travel destinations for 2025 where tourists will get only the most exquisite experiences, while spending much less than expected.

1. Seoul, South Korea: A Modern Cultural Hub

Seoul is a progressive city with palaces that show traditional customs combined with the modern age newest technologies. According to others, on the bustle of the Myeongdong street and the silence of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul is the only city of the kind. There is now a plethora of cheap flight offers for tourists who would like to visit South Korea.

Top Places to Visit:

Gyeongbokgung Palace

N Seoul Tower

Myeongdong Shopping Street

2. Medellin, Colombia: The City of Eternal Spring

Well known now for its climatically temperate weather and dramatic geographical terrains, Medellin has evolved into a youthful and hospitable city. Take cable rides to get great city sceneries, visit Comuna 13, and learn to hang out at night. Colombia on this South American gem that can be visited in the year 2025 once you purchase the cheap airline tickets available.

Top Places to Visit:

Comuna 13

Plaza Botero

Arvin Park

3. Santorini, Greece: A Romantic Escape

Santorini is famous for its immaculate white houses, azure blue-domed chapels and spectacular sun sets; it is paradise for the individual traveler and honeymooners. With low cost flights to Greece this is the time to get to know this mesmerizing island. Akrotiri Archaeological Site. Tic Escape Santorini’s iconic white-washed buildings and stunning sunsets make it a dream destination for couples and solo travelers alike. Cheap flights deals to Greece make this enchanting island more accessible than ever.

Top Places to Visit:

Oia Village for sunsets

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

Red Beach

4. Sydney, Australia: The Harbor City

Today it steals the heart with its symbols that include the Sydney Opera house and the Harbour Bridge. Ride a ferry towards Manly Beach, walk through the Royal Botanic Garden, and taste the Sydney’s newest food offerings.

Top Places to Visit:

Sydney Opera House

Bondi Beach

Royal Botanic Garden

5. Prague, Czech Republic: The City of a Hundred Spires

Prague enchants visitors with its Gothic and Baroque façade which facilitates its position as a unique tourist destination in the New Europe. Visit the famous Charles Bridge and got to its legendary beer gardens, observe the Astronomical Clock work.

Top Places to Visit:

Charles Bridge

Prague Castle

Old Town Square

6. Kigali, Rwanda: A Gateway to Natural Wonders

Kigali is a clean and safe city through which is easier to access Rwanda’s amazing wildlife. Volcanoes National park is where you can go gorilla trekking or take a boat ride on Lake Kivu here the waters are calm.

Top Places to Visit:

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Volcanoes National Park

Kimironko Market

7. Vancouver, Canada: Urban Living Meets Wildlife

Vancouver is that dual city, where you can hike nearby mountains and swim in the sea, and together with it – be surrounded by big city’s character. See the sights of Stanley Park, dine all around the world, or go for a drive up to Whistler.

Top Places to Visit:

Stanley Park

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Granville Island

8. Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Paris of South America

Buenos Aires does particularly well to enchant tourists through the richness of its heritage, impressive architecture and sensual dances. Explore the Art Nouveau neighborhood of La Boca, walk pass the Colon Theater, and taste Argentine steak.

Top Places to Visit:

La Boca Neighborhood

Recoleta Cemetery

Teatro Colón

9. Auckland, New Zealand: Adventure Awaits

New Zealand has a unique feature that will attract tourists and that is; Auckland will be the best place to start discovering New Zealand natural beauty. The Auckland skyline is best viewed from Mount Eden, world–famous Waitomo Glowworm caves are relatively close by, and the city boasts a pleasant, maritime atmosphere.

Top Places to Visit:

Sky Tower

Waiheke Island

Mount Eden

10. Marrakech, Morocco: The Red City

Marrakech makes startling sensorial impressions, stretching from its souks, which are as animated as they are visually intense, the extramural gardens, and the palaces, many of which are mesmerizing. Walk through the markets of the Medina, go to the Majorelle Garden, and relax in a Moroccan hammam.

Top Places to Visit:

Jardin Majorelle

Bahia Palace

Medina Souks

Notes on How to Get a Cheap Flight

1. Book Early: Get the cheapest fares when you book your flights a few months in advance.

2. Be Flexible: It’s important to note that when traveling few travelers go during off peak seasons or mid-week and thus air fare will be cheaper.

3. Set Alerts: Consult flight comparison sites to constantly check for fares and to sign up to for notification of cheap flight deals.

4. Consider Budget Airlines: Most of the time you will find that the budget airlines provide these airline tickets at a cheap rate to various tourist attractions.

5. Bundle Deals: There are usually always listings of low cost flights and hotels that are affordably priced as part of the package.

Final Thoughts

The world is large enough to offer wonderful places to visit. With nowadays wide variety of cheap flights, there is no better year than 2025 to start planning your travel and go on an adventure. To and from cultural attractions, stunning landscapes, or tranquil retreats – all these great choices attract tourists of any type. Now is the time to start planning, and book your seats with cheap flights and bring your travel dreams into reality.

[zuucc]

Vet jeg er noen år for sein lol men jeg har lest boken din sånn tre ganger nå, den er sååå bra omg

(Også alltid morsomt å finne fellow nordmenn in the wild;))

Jeg er nesten aldri på Tumblr lenger, bare innom av og til, men herregud så hyggelig dette var å se i innboksen❤️❤️ Tusen takk

[eranjayne]

Andrea's Sunset Session | Tsawwassen Photographer

Perfect weather, perfect attitudes and perfect photos!

Man oh man, do I love the people that I get to see every year (and sometimes more than once a year)! Andrea’s extended family of 6 makes the trek from Vancouver every summer to come wander the fields and beaches of Centennial Beach with me. The two grandmothers are best buddies and usually they travel together in one of their sporty little Mazda Miatas, and it puts a smile on my face every time I…

[gautammander]

Best Places to Visit during a Winter Vacation in Canada

Canada is a winter wonderland that offers many experiences and stunning vistas. It is known for its wide and diverse terrain. This jewel of North America is the second largest country in the globe in terms of total area, spanning the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Canada is a magical place to visit in the winter with its vast plains, stunning coastline areas and impressive mountain ranges. There are countless experiences to be had, from vibrant cities to peaceful towns blanketed in snow.

Canada has something for any winter fan whether your dreams involve skiing in the Rockies, touring colourful cityscapes or relaxing in warm winter resorts. Major cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver as well as the nation's capital, Ottawa, provide distinctive seasonal attractions that highlight the rich cultural and environmental legacy of the nation. Get your Canada visa now to avoid missing out on these amazing locations and start planning an amazing winter getaway!

Here are the Best Places to Visit during a Winter Vacation in Canada

1. Turkey’s Bolu:

Bolu a hidden gem in northern Turkey situated between Istanbul and Ankara, is well-known for its amazing winter sports and cold-weather activities. The region's varied terrain which consists of rough mountains and lush forests, makes for the ideal setting for outdoor activities. A great place to start your exploration of Kartalkaya a top ski resort known for its immaculate slopes and beautiful views is Kaya Palazzo Ski & Mountain Resort. Bolu provides a distinctive combination of winter sports and cultural experiences, whether you're hitting the slopes or touring neighbouring historic sites and national parks.

Bolu offers more than just skiing; in addition, travellers may explore its museums and old mosques to get a true sense of the local way of life. The town's colourful past and historic architecture create a rich cultural tapestry that goes well with its wintertime activities. Bolu offers a wonderful winter escape, complete with local cuisine to enjoy and a tranquil mountain setting. Bolu is a great option for people looking for adventure and culture in a breath taking winter environment.

2. The Rideau Canal:

Skating on Ottawa's famous Rideau Canal makes any winter visit to Canada incomplete. Almost eight kilometres long, this ancient skate way is the largest in the world, comparable to nine interconnected Olympic-sized rinks. More than a million people visit the canal in January to take in the essence of winter in Canada. Skating along the canal provides a distinctive viewpoint of Ottawa's wintertime appeal, complete with breath taking views of the city's monuments and a joyous ambiance.

3. The gentle Tofino sunsets: 

Tofino is a quaint hamlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island, known for its untamed natural beauty and breath taking sunsets. Tofino is known for its mild environment, but wintertime there provides a special chance to see the striking contrast between calm sunsets and wild waters. The town's historic woods and sandy beaches are especially more charming in the winter offering a peaceful diversion from the busier summer months.

4. The Arctic in Canada: 

Located in Canada's Arctic archipelago, Nunavut is a large and sparsely populated region that offers a genuinely unique winter experience. This isolated area, renowned for its bitter cold and bleak surroundings, provides travellers with an opportunity to see some of the world's most breath taking winter vistas. There is nowhere else on Earth like this strange, extraterrestrial setting with its bitter cold temps and vast, snowy landscapes.

In addition, wintertime in Nunavut offers a unique chance to witness the captivating aurora borealis which is frequently visible in all of its splendour under clear night sky. Those who face the bitter cold are rewarded with breath taking natural beauty and cultural insights into the indigenous Inuit way of life even though the extreme conditions are hard for the weak of heart. For those looking for a genuinely spectacular winter experience, the Arctic winter in Nunavut offers a remarkable encounter.

5. Concrete Block: 

The World Pond Hockey Championship is held in Plaster Rock, which is a prominent location in the center of Canadian ice hockey tradition. Encircled by wintry woodlands this sleepy village becomes the focal point of an exciting ice hockey competition that draws teams from the US, Canada and Great Britain. The tournament is a unique winter event that highlights the community's intense love for the sport because of its beautiful environment and competitive attitude.

6. Vancouver: 

Renowned for its breath taking scenery Vancouver is a top winter destination with a wide variety of activities. The city's moderate winter temperatures let visitors enjoy outdoor activities without the bitter cold, making it a nice change from snowier locations. World-class restaurants, shopping, and museums are just a few of Vancouver's many cultural attractions, which make it a desirable winter retreat for anybody looking for a mix of sophisticated urban living and rustic charm.

Conclusion:

Travellers of all stripes can find a wide range of destinations in Canada's winter paradise. Every place offers a different way to experience the season, from the arctic adventures in Nunavut and the serene sunsets in Tofino to the snow-capped peaks of Bolu and the ice charm of the Rideau Canal. Whatever your winter holiday needs exciting winter sports, cultural excursions, or tranquil natural beauty Canada has it all. The first step in realizing your wintertime ambitions for individuals who intend to visit these amazing locations is to apply for a Canada visa.

Anywhere in Canada you decide to travel, you will have an amazing trip thanks to the wide variety of winter activities available there. The vibrant urban life of Vancouver and the thrilling ice hockey action in Plaster Rock are just two of Canada's winter travel spots that offer lifelong experiences. Get a Canada visa, embrace the season, and experience the wonders of a Canadian winter by setting off on a journey that highlights everything this breath taking nation has to offer.

[newsbites]

News from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, 14 July

It is the start of a major summer event—more than 100,000 people are expected to view sand sculpture creations featured during the annual Parksville Beachfest, which starts today.

President of the Beach Festival Society Cheryl Dill says this year's theme should lead to some outstanding works of art.

Wonders of the World is the theme of this year's creations.

Sculptors spent yesterday beginning their masterpieces. 22 sculptures are expected. The gates open today at 2:00 o'clock.

2. The BC Maritime Employers Association says work has officially resumed at ports after a 13 day strike.

The news comes after about 7400 longshore workers and their employers at more than 30 ports along the BC coast reached a tentative deal yesterday.

The union has not commented on the agreement, but the employers association says workers returned to work late yesterday afternoon.

The four year pact is subject to ratification by both sides.

3. A student has every reason to smile after landing a $100,000 scholarship.

18 year old Paul Wu is a recent Schulich Leadership Scholarship recipient, one of 100 students to secure the honour across the country and among 1500 nominees. Wu is headed to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, for the next four years to study computer sciences.

4. The weather is poised to be perfect for a movie under the stars.

Coastal community are hosting Sunset Cinema once more across the mid-island. Tonight, in Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park, Minions, The Rise of Gru will be shown on a three-storey inflatable big screen. On Sunday, there will be a showing of the Super Mario Brothers movie in Parksville Community Park. Shows begin when it's dark enough with proceeds from the event going to the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

5. The classification of aspartame—a sugar-substitute—as "possibly carcinogenic" by WHO is being reviewed in Canada.

The Canadian Cancer Society and Health Canada are reviewing the World Health Organization's classification of aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" due to limited evidence linking it to liver cancer.

Despite the classification, aspartame is still considered safe to consume at the current recommended daily limit of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Both Health Canada and the WHO recommend the same daily limit for aspartame consumption.

[charlesandmartine]

Monday 19th June 2023

A day all at sea is a commodity needing serious planning. We slept in but were in time to join happy campers in the main dining room. As a feeding forum this is by far the most gentile option on board compared to Windjammer where the object of the exercise is see how tall and diverse a pile of food could be collected from a selection of counters onto one average sized bit of porcelain and conveyed without loss back to a table. A feat perhaps more difficult than you might think especially considering the waddle required for an oversized person to negotiate a straight line against the sway of the boat. Not a pretty picture and not one repeated in our dining room where eager young waiters flit around the white table cloths taking orders and dispensing more modest meals to a far more discerning clientele. So it was that around 10.15 we removed ourselves from the hallowed confines of our breakfast experience.

Further exploration of the ship produced the location of the gym where we intended to go later in the day. Others commenced line dancing in the auditorium; an ancient art of foot shuffling to music with a woman in a black leotard yelling instructions.

Overnight we had lost sight of Celebrity Eclipse, but in our wake Holland America was still close by. No doubt a novice navigator on board nervous of being alone in this vast ocean. Before sunset yesterday we had been following the inner passage between Vancouver Island and the Mainland but now we are out into the vastness of the North Pacific Ocean heading towards the Gulf of Alaska. Then by midday all signs of Holland and Barrett had gone.

Since days at sea time management can appear to be dictated by mealtimes, we decided a hurricane swept turn around the decks would be advantageous; more accurately 12 turns around the deck 12, equalling one hour, then lunch in case too many calories had been indudiciously burned, then back to reading our books. An American woman chirruped that she thought she had seen at distance the blow spout of a whale, but I think she'd made that up.

Ovation of the Seas was large brash and noisy. Brilliance is far smaller and sedate and whilst it does not necessarily conduct itself across the ocean in complete silence, it was possible to relax in the main auditorium in comfortable armchairs and read whilst a musician scratched a living playing melodic classical guitar several floors below. Girl from Ipanema, Cavertina, Moon River; generally lulling rifts designed for rest and relaxation. Then an American girl with loud gob got up on stage and announced it was time to get the party started. We left.

The gym became a quieter refuge to repair to and vital calories were worked off before dinner. Tonight was the first formal night of the cruise although not many DJs as far as I could see. Just as well I didn't make the effort. Then to the show where there was a shy retiring little thing called Michelle Murlin who screeched a load of songs at us until we could take no more and left the theatre.

Tomorrow we dock at Sitka for a grand day out bear watching, not forgetting of course to put the clocks back one hour tonight.

[college-girl199328]

When you name your YouTube seawall video How Vancouver’s Waterfront Became So Boring, subtlety is not your aim.

Even so, Uytae Lee‘s 11-minute mini-doc on one of the city’s world-famous gems got under a lot more people’s skin than the urban-planning filmmaker anticipated.

“It generated a lot of controversy in some circles,” Lee said. “I’m friends with quite a few urban planners in the city and I think there were some feathers ruffled.”

The short film, posted in mid-February, has garnered more than 120,000 views and more than 750 comments.

Lee, who graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax with a bachelor's degree in community design and urban/regional planning, was inspired to make it after watching a debate last April sponsored by Urbanarium, a non-profit platform for community planning and design discussions that partnered with Lee to make the video and UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

A poll before the four speakers took the podium — two of them yay, two of them nay — showed 73 percent were against the idea of more commercialization along the seawall, which runs uninterrupted from the convention centre downtown to Spanish Banks in Point Grey.

After the four speakers were done, another poll was done of the 50 or so people in attendance at Robson Square and another 400 or so viewing online, and the results had inched more toward commercialization: 61 percent con, 39 percent pro.

“There’s so much potential there for people to come down other than just walking or riding a bike,” Lee said. “That’s what struck a chord with me.”

Lee’s video contrasts the seawall, which he admits is perhaps one of the “most celebrated waterfronts in the world,” with attractions in other waterfront cities: Harbourfront in Halifax; Porto’s restaurants in Portugal; Hat Yai’s floating markets in Thailand; Oslo’s Harbour Promenade in Norway; Coney Island’s amusement park, New York.

“I see all these unused spaces in some of the most prime real estate in Vancouver. I can’t help but think there’s a missed opportunity here,” Lee said. “Other cities’ waterfronts make Vancouver’s look like a snoozefest.”

The seawall, at 28 kilometres, is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path, according to the City of Vancouver. It passes through more than 20 parks and a dozen or so restaurants.

Case in point, he said, is Cultural Harmony Grove at the south end of the Burrard Bridge.

“A patch of grass with trees and a few benches. I guess one way to create harmony is to make a park so boring everyone agrees not to use it.”

Then there’s the unlikely Existential Alley, next to the David Lam dock at Homer Mews.

These are just two of numerous examples of boring public spaces, he said, and that includes the seawall.

And to see the difference between the Halifax waterfront, say, and Vancouver’s seawall, wait until the sun comes down, Lee said. After dark, Halifax’s boardwalk still bustles while the seawall after dark is “basically shut down,” he noted.

“It’s like the city doesn’t want anybody to be out here after sunset. There’s no lighting, very few people, it’s no man’s land.”

A popular restaurant at Kits Beach next to the tennis courts had to deal with local outrage. A proposed beach volleyball court at Sunset Beach was rejected in part because West End neighbours complained it would create dust.

In 2001, when Coal Harbour was being developed, the B.C. Restaurant Foodservice Association proposed turning it into a “mecca for fun and food,” but the city council of the day kiboshed the idea because neighbours protested.

The next year the park board proposed developing what became the Boathouse. “The result? Raucous public meetings,” Lee said. “There’s a long history of people opposing all sorts of activity on the seawall.”

Even bikes were not always welcome. In the 1970s, cycling was illegal and the Vancouver Sun noted that police would “perch at various key locations along the seawall, nab cyclists and write $100 tickets, about 3,000 in total by 1976.”

Not to be outdone, Vancouver Sun columnist Allan Fotheringham wrote that widening the seawall was a “genuinely idiotic” plan “to accommodate goofy cyclists to bash into all the peaceful pensioners and sane pedestrians who enjoy a quiet stroll.”

Even today it’s a challenge to get a daycare installed in Coal Harbour without neighbours complaining about the potentially ear-splitting noise coming from pre-schoolers.

But it’s more than NIMBYs at work, Lee said. There is a pervasive ideology at play, as well.

“It turns out there are a lot of park planners and policy-makers who want public spaces without much else to do other than walk,” he said.

Across Burrard Inlet, Vancouver’s seawall falls under two jurisdictions, the city and the park board, and earlier this year the board lifted a moratorium on new commercial initiatives in the city’s parks, directing staff to prioritize a “Think Big” revenue-generating strategy.

“This strategy may lead to recommendations to the board to explore opportunities along the seawall for increased commercial operations, attractions or other installations, but at this stage, it’s too early to speculate on what this might look like,” David Harrison, a park board spokesman, said by email.

Recognizing that, she said she thinks of the seawall like a bracelet, not just strung with pearls or diamonds.

“With a bunch of different kinds of jewels on it,” Long said. “Each one is uniquely different.

[dontpetcreations]

Vancouver, BC - The annual 4/20 Marijuana protest and celebration is just around the corner and this year, there will be a new addition to the list of vendors. Don't Pet Creations, a unique store specializing in upcycled plush artwork (abominations), custom action figures, stickers, crochet creeps and MORE will be joining the event this year. Don't Pet Creations, known for their one-of-a-kind creations and their commitment to sustainability, will be setting up their booth in front of the stage, providing an excellent opportunity for visitors to get their hands on some of their most popular creations. From creepy crochet creatures to custom action figures, visitors will have the opportunity to see and purchase some of the most unique and eye-catching products available on the market. The 4/20 Marijuana protest and celebration will take place on April 20th at Sunset Beach in Vancouver. Visitors can expect to see live performances from a number of artists and take part in a variety of activities throughout the day. "We are thrilled to be a part of this year's 4/20 celebration," said DJ Skeleton of Don't Pet Creations. "We believe that our unique products will add to the already vibrant atmosphere of the event and provide visitors with an exciting new shopping experience." This year's 4/20 celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever, and visitors can look forward to a variety of vendors, live performances and a chance to celebrate the marijuana culture in a fun and vibrant atmosphere. Be sure to come down to Sunset Beach and check out Don't Pet Creations' booth in front of the stage. #420celebration #marijuanaprotest #dontpetcreations #sunsetbeach #upcycledplushartwork #customactionfigures #stickers #crochetcreeps #sustainability #vancouver #liveperformances #artists #crochet #bethere (at Sunset Beach Vancouver) https://www.instagram.com/p/CodWqZ6PNi_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=