#NYC itinerary

[blumoonfiction-blog]

#LitPhilly: (NYC Edition) Bookish Birthday Adventures

For my birthday weekend, I traded Philly’s charm for the hustle and bustle of NYC, the ultimate destination for bookish adventures and magical vibes. With Tam as my partner in crime, we embarked on a whirlwind trip packed with books, history, and quirky fun. Here’s the ultimate guide for a literary and magical NYC day trip. Stop 1: The Harry Potter Store 📍 935 Broadway, New York, NY💵 Admission:…

[thesingletraveller]

One Day in New York City - The Ultimate First-Timers Day Out

Let’s start this with a disclaimer — your tastes may vary. You might not like the schedule or you might find something else that appeals to your tastes much more than something I’ve listed here. The goal of the itinerary below is to make the day work for you! While this list will hit up many of the major tourist sites in NYC, it won’t feature all of them by any means (and having been multiple…

[vecationist]

24 Hours in New York: The Ultimate One-Day Tour for Exploring the City That Never Sleeps

Explore the vibrant city of New York in just one day with this action-packed itinerary! Start your day early with a visit to the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and learn about the history and significance of these landmarks. Then, head to the nearby 9/11 Memorial and Museum to pay your respects and gain a deeper understanding of the tragic events of September 11th.

Next, take a stroll through the charming neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo, known for their unique boutiques, cafes, and galleries. Grab lunch at one of the many local eateries before heading to the bustling Times Square, where you can snap some photos and experience the energy of the city that never sleeps.

In the afternoon, visit the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, home to a vast collection of art and artifacts from around the world. End your day with a visit to the stunning Central Park, where you can take a leisurely stroll, rent a bike, or simply relax and soak up the beauty of this urban oasis.

Please note that the exact timing of each activity may vary depending on traffic and crowds, so it's important to stay flexible and be prepared to adjust your schedule accordingly.

8:00 AM - Start your day with a visit to the iconic Central Park. Enjoy a stroll through the park and take in the beautiful scenery. You can also visit the Central Park Zoo or take a carriage ride through the park.

10:00 AM - Head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums in the world. Spend a few hours exploring the galleries and admiring the art.

1:00 PM - Stop for lunch at one of New York's famous delis, such as Katz's Delicatessen or Carnegie Deli.

2:00 PM - Take a walk down Fifth Avenue and do some shopping at some of the world's most famous stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co.

4:00 PM - Visit the Empire State Building and take in the breathtaking views of the city from the observation deck.

6:00 PM - Take a stroll through Times Square, one of the world's most famous tourist destinations. Enjoy the bright lights and hustle and bustle of the city.

7:00 PM - Stop for dinner at a top-rated New York restaurant, such as Le Bernardin or Per Se.

9:00 PM - Take in a Broadway show at one of the many theaters in the Theater District.

11:00 PM - End your day with a nightcap at a rooftop bar with a stunning view of the city, such as The Press Lounge or Westlight.

Note: Please keep in mind that this itinerary is just a suggestion and can be customized to fit your preferences and interests. Also, it's important to allow plenty of time for travel between locations, especially during rush hour.

[causenessus]

I hit 30 tags bc I started yapping again right after putting my "ness' favorites" tags BC THIS WAS SO GOOD AAAA!!!!!!!

☼༄ ch. 2 - the second screw up m.list

    rain pours onto the roof, pattering down in a sporadic pattern. wiping your face with your hand, you listen to the sound of yachi snoring beside you. it’s soft, matching that of her kinder side, however, it’s just loud enough that it lingers in your mind. buzzing like an incessant fan that just won’t turn off no matter how hard you push the pillow against your ear.

  standing up, the bed creaks, yachi stirring as she flips around. for a moment, the room is quiet besides the soothing rain. the moment ends quickly as she starts back up again, situated in a similar situation that her airways just barely let out the irritating noise. biting your lip, you slip on your slippers, heading for the door.

  the balcony, from what you could remember, was covered. perfect for gazing into the storm and relaxing before the next long day. twisting the handle, you slowly open the door to hopefully not wake yachi. the door inches open as you look out at the night sky covered with a blanket of clouds. the only thing ruining the situation is oikawa leaning against the railing. 

  his arms are crossed in front of them, elbows leaning against the wood. his foot is crossed over the other one, head turning to look at the foreign noise. oikawa’s eyes meet yours and you realize there’s no turning back now. “hey,” his voice is silent compared to how it normally sounds, not as grating.

  “hi,” you step out of the motel room, shutting the door behind you. 

  walking up to the railing, you stare out at the rain, feeling a light dusting of mist on your face. you can’t bear to look at him this close, the stress probably killing you. “didn’t expect anyone else to be out here,” you purse your lips, looking down at the pool. 

  the lights inside look beautiful under the moving water, splashering effortlessly. “yeah, hinata’s killing me.. he-”

  “kicks in his sleep? we’ve had enough sleepovers as kids for me to know that,” you finally look over at him, seeing a look of surprise across his face, a slight smile hiding beneath his opened mouth.

  oikawa nods, bringing one of his hands up to run through his hair. a cowlick forming from him laying down for the past few hours. you look back out at the sky and take in a deep breath, smelling a mix of his cologne and the fresh air of night. compared to earlier, it has a softer smell, more natural. “well at least someone understands,” he just barely nudges your shoulder.

༄ fun facts! - the tonics is a band created by @/causenessus for their upcoming smau!! - iwaizumi loves oikawa but hates how annoying he can be - about like anything - especially how much he talks about you - this trip is making y/n ever so slightly annoyed with her cousin - like hinata you planned it for a month later??? - but mmh at least oikawa and y/n are bonding a/n: what’s up… sorry it took more than a month… this is super awkward

tags: @sereniteav, @eggyrocks, @causenessus, @zumicho, @tojirin,

@walllflowerrrsss, @staygoldsquatchling02, @girlkissersco, @yuminako, @cryptictheseus

@chizunata, @iluvaquaphor, @romyoia, @empress-pug-pug, @cognitivelypartiallyfurnished

@lovenlucky, @guitarstringed-scars, @thechaosoflonging, @meeeepsworld, @pop-ghost

@juie13, @notverymarley, @iaminyourfloors, @aboutkiyoomi, @itsdragonius

@h3xi2g0n3, @nami11, @iheartpinky, @ghostlykey, @phoenix-eclipses

@miliondollagirl, @19calicos

[march10]

Find peace and inspiration in the hustle and bustle of New York City with Francia Jolibois' solo vlog, showcasing the city's unique charm and character.

[thatpunnyperson]

I love how I can reveal incredibly specific location data about my travels and its functionally useless. Like, I'm flying from New York City to Los Angeles today, which would usually be wildly inappropriate to reveal if the two destinations were smaller cities or towns. But since it's literally the biggest city on the east coast to the biggest city on the west coast, the information is functionally useless for anyone trying to find me lol

[ekimdesonbaharbaskadir]

Your Perfect Weekend Guide to NYC (BEST 3-day Itinerary) | PART 1 Things to do in New York

Your Perfect Weekend Guide to NYC (BEST 3-day Itinerary) | PART 1 #NewYork Things to do in New York #thingstodoinNewYork #travel #NewYork Watch the Your Perfect Weekend Guide to NYC (BEST 3-day Itinerary) | PART 1 video till the end. 55747 Views – 1492 Likes. You also like and comment. This video will give you an idea about the subject you are wondering about. Watch part 2 of the 3-day guide:…

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

These 2 always run away from everywhere when their real color gets exposed - MM ran from Canada to the UK, they both then ran away to Canada and then to the US and now probably planning another run away strategy to Portugal since they can't fool the Americans anymore.

The Montecito community welcomed them quite wholeheartedly and yet H&M managed to make even the richest of the rich loathe them so I won't be surprised if the same happens in Portugal as well.

Meghan was essentially fired from Suits in 2016 because Patrick wanted off the show and her character had no storyline without him. So she lined up her next gig (celebrity superstar wife) and quit before they could fire her so she could claim they needed her more than she needed them.

The Sussexes were getting sidelined in the BRF because Harry was no longer in the main line of succession, and the further from the main line you are, the less spotlight and the less glamorous your events. So they lined up their next gig (celebrity superstar couple) and moved out before the BRF could relegate them further to the sidelines with itineraries of bread-and-butter royal work so they could claim the BRF needed the Sussexes more than the Sussexes needed the BRF.

(I don’t count the ‘Canada to LA’ move because I suspect they were always here in the US and Canada was just where they spent New Year’s.)

If the Portugal move is real, I’d suspect it’s because of immigration and visa concerns - maybe it’s political, maybe it’s about proximity to the UK in Charles’s older age, an attempt to serve as checks and balances to William’s ascendancy, or maybe it’s about access to Europe and Africa for the continued grift. After all, Eden pointed out Portugal’s visa process in his stories for a reason - rather than Montecito being fed up with their BS. Because if it was about Montecito or Hollywood rejecting them, I think we’d see them trying to move to Miami, since that’s where “their” people are now.

Also, for the record and to be clear, the property Charles bought in NYC isn’t a personal property. It’s for the Canadian embassy. The clue is right there in the paperwork: “His Majesty the King in Right of Canada.” If it was a personal property purchased by Charles for himself or a wayward son, it’d have been bought by a trust or something that would obscure his name from casual public interest.

[garbinge]

Soft Spot

Carmy Berzatto & Platonic!Reader Richie Jerimovich x Reader (Platonic here but pining) Mikey Berzatto & Platonic!Reader

Day 13 from these April Prompts: “I have a soft spot for plants.” 

Summary: Reader gets back home from visiting Carmy in NYC after fleeing her abusive ex. After feeling trauma and just empty and lost, she goes back to The Original Beef. A place that has some of her favorite people, the place she least expected to bring her comfort in the middle of darkness. 

Continuation from this fic. You don’t have to read to understand this but it helps build the character dynamics out!

A/N: This is one of my favorite little universe’s I’ve created in a while.   

Word Count: 3.0k words

Warnings: All my fics are 18+ regardless of content. Angst. Mentions of abuse and bruises. Angst. Threats. Trauma. Death. Guns. 

The Bear Taglist: @drabbles-mc​ @justreblogginfics​ 

Other fics from this universe

Standing outside The Beef in the middle of a Chicago winter brought back a similar memory to you standing outside The French Laundry. Cold. In more ways than one. Physically, sure. Winter months in both states were brutally freezing. But after everything you had just been through, it felt emotionally cold. You had wondered how you could get back to how things used to be when everything was different now. You thought it would be easy, that’s why you went to New York. But Carmy was different. It could’ve been the day he was having, or days, but coming straight off a flight from fleeing your ex’s house in a less than ideal state was making it foggy for you to see that. 

Carmy offered you a smile and a wave, his hug was half assed, one armed and less than a couple seconds. He did seem somewhat excited to see you, though, that healed you a bit. Overall, he was out of it, for someone who was so attentive to detail he was missing every cry for help you were letting out. Now, to be fair, you didn’t exactly come out and say it. You were struggling, but you weren’t stupid. Carmy flipped a switch. As you sat across from each other at 3AM in some shitty cafe after his kitchen shift at Noma sipping the shitty coffee you saw it in his eyes before he said anything. You asked about home, he mentioned something along the lines of not knowing much and not caring much. 

He noticed the bruise on your arm when you took your coat off. There was concern there, but you lied. It wasn’t your initial plan. Originally, you had planned to go out with him, hit the big apple together like you used to terrorize Chicago. If you had written down an itinerary it would have been something like 1. get drunk 2. Find some place that served alcohol into the early morning 3. Get more drunk 4. Have Carmy show you the best cheap food near his place. 5. Drink shitty coffee to attempt to sober up before the sun rose 6. Tell him about what happened. 

Only one of those things happened. And it was half assed. There was no alcohol in your system, so the shitty coffee was extra shitty. It made Carmy asking about the bruise even more painful. You don’t even remember the lie you told him, but you remember he believed it with no questions. That might’ve hurt the most. Not because you wanted him to care or because you needed him to handle it for you but because you saw how disconnected from it all he was. 

That leads you to feel frozen in front of The Beef, 3 days and two flights later. There was a worry that you would be met with the same distance that Carmy met you with earlier this week. If that was the case, you’d push ahead but you couldn’t help but think it’d change something in you permanently. 

You walked in, the intensity of the kitchen hit you immediately, it brought some sort of life to you, chippering you up a bit. 

“What d’ya got?” Richie’s voice was like music to your ears. His head was down as he wrote on the guest check. 

“One beef, hot and sweet, extra sauce. And a cup of your shitty cappuccino, please. 4 extra shots of espresso.” You waited with your hands in your coat pocket, a smile on your face knowing Richie would recognize that.

His head lifted up, his eyes meeting yours. It was that moment that you felt the most nervous. This was the moment that was gonna define how you handled everything moving forward. The pit in your stomach disappeared as the smile grew on his face. 

“One shitty cappuccino, 4 extra shots!” Richie yelled out, still not taking his eyes off you. 

The announcement of your order brought someone through the kitchen door quicker than you could imagine. 

“Tell me that’s not our girl!” Mikey’s voice was loud and exhilarated. If his smile wasn’t bringing out the best parts of your personality, the eagerness in his walk to embrace you was. He was in front of you, arms wide in seconds. His navy blue beef t-shirt smelled like giardiniera, meat, garlic, and week old cologne but it might have been the best thing you’ve ever smelled. It smelt like home. Your body collapsed into his hug, his arms wrapping around you like they were pulling you out from drowning in rapid waters. 

He picked up on it immediately, he tightened his grip on you a little more and placed a light kiss to the top of your head to offer you some sort of comfort. “What’s up, kid?” 

“It’s just really good to be home.” Your head moved in a nod as he cradled it. Mikey was like your own big brother, you had known him since you were 7, you spent a majority of your life at the Berzatto house. He teased you, he yelled at you, he stood up for you, he took you and Carmy to school, he got you both a shared graduation gift, he was a big part of your life. 

After a few seconds, you let go of him, careful to wipe your couple stray tears in a way that was inconspicuous to everyone around. 

“What the fuck are you doin’ back home?” Richie’s voice cut through as he moved to greet you. His cheek moved against yours as he kissed the air, the italian kiss was his go-to welcome, the irony in the fact that he had no drop of italian blood in him. 

“Things just–” you paused thinking of what it is you wanted to say. Even with all the nerves you had built up to just enter the restaurant there wasn’t a single second you spent thinking about what you planned to say. “They, uh–” Your head shook in protest of the sentence you were going to say. “I think I’m gonna be home for a while.” You nodded, finally agreeing with yourself on what to say. “Things just didn’t work out in Minneapolis.” 

“Well, yea, it’s fuckin’ Minneapolis.” Mikey quickly jumped in to save you from whatever the fuck was going on in your head. He wasn’t going to ask you, or pry it out of you. He knew you were an open book and when or if you were ready you’d talk about whatever you wanted. 

Your eyes closed as you laughed, finally letting yourself relax and just be back. 

“You’re tellin’ me, the town population was so fuckin’ small they had no town drunk so I made it my goal to fill that position.” 

The both of them laughed at your joke, “no, but seriously my bowling score is fucking immaculate.” 

Mikey threw his arm over you and brought you over to the counter and tapped on the stool for you to sit. “Ibra! One beef, hot and sweet, drench that shit!” His voice carried through the entire restaurant and kitchen. 

“On it, Mikey!” Ibra walked by the service hatch and yelled your name at the same octave. That’s when you heard Tina’s voice and then soon after her face popped up in the service hatch, followed by Gary, and the entire kitchen, everyone of them thrilled to see you after months away. 

“Bowling score?” Richie frowned as he placed a cup of black coffee in front of you. “I’m not making you that fancy Starbucks shit.” 

A scoff left your mouth as you sipped the black coffee. A face of approval came across your face as you sipped it. “Not bad.” Your eyebrows raised. “And yea, bowling score, it was the only thing to do out there. I’m surprised the population isn’t stupid high because besides bowling the only other option for entertainment is fuckin’.” 

Richie looked like he was waiting for you to finish your sentence, like you were using fuckin’ as a descriptor verse a verb. 

“No Richie, she means intercourse.” Mikey teased as he hopped up on the counter. 

“Sexual relations.” You added another equivalent of the word. 

“Mating!” Mikey pointed at you with the pen he normally kept behind his ear, hype that he had thought of another one. 

Your mouth moved from side to side as you thought quickly to respond back, like it was a new game between the two of you to play. “Oh! Oh!” The stool rattled as you jumped up and down eager to share your word. “Looooovemaaaaakingggg” You enunciated each syllable in the word, rolling your body to mock it even more. 

“Fornication.” Mikey smirked like a teenage boy as his head nodded in approval of the word. 

“Alright, I get it, fuck you.” Richie grabbed your coffee mug and finished off the black liquid in a way to get back at you. 

“Fuck you or like fuuuucccckkkkk you?” Your body rolled again to mock the man. It was hard to hold your laugh in, and the minute Mikey let out a hyena howl at your mockery you burst into the same giggles. 

“You two are children.” He was retreating back to the kitchen, an excuse to stop getting teased but also to grab your food. 

“Hey, I gotta go.” Mikey looked at the clock and jumped down from the counter. He grabbed his jacket that was hanging on the coat rack in the seated part of the restaurant. “You think you could do me a favor?” He stopped for a minute in front of you, jacket half on, like he had just remembered something. “Sugar brought this stupid fuckin’ plant over here for good luck or some shit a while ago, I don’t know. I barely water it, and I was thinkin’” He moved to the window and grabbed the plant with one hand, placing it on the counter before his hands grabbed the corners as he leaned on it. “I was thinkin’ maybe you could take it home.” 

You stared at the plant and then back at Mikey. He knew you were about to argue it. 

“Hey” His hands lifted up. “Just passin’ the fuckin’ luck around.” He placed a kiss on top of your head, similar to the one he greeted you with. “Alright, I’m outtie, but relax, stay here as long as you want, eat whatever you want, hang in the back, hang in the front,” Mikey waved his hand around before bringing it down to grip yours as they rested on the countertop. “I’m serious. You’re home here.” 

“Thanks Mikey.” You nodded, he offered your hand one more squeeze before yelling out his goodbyes and leaving. 

“Here.” Richie slide the foiled wrapped sandwich in front of you. “I had Ibra put french fries on the sandwich cause I know that’s how you like to eat that shit.” Richie was making himself busy with the soda machine, his way of trying to be nonchalant with you. 

Your lips curled slightly in gratitude. “Thanks Richie.” Standing up, you grabbed the plant in one hand, and sandwich in the other and turned to leave. Just 15 minutes here had brought you the comfort you needed. 

And in seconds it was completely gone. 

Frozen. Your feet were stuck, unable to move. The cold air from the open door hit your face and instead of knocking you out of whatever was happening, it just solidified it more. 

“Hey.” His voice was cold but his breath was hot and the fact you could feel it meant he was too close in proximity to you. “Figured you’d come home. Thought I’d drop by to see how you were since you left so suddenly.” 

Your ex being inside The Beef was the last thing you’d expected, but then you felt your reaction to it and that was actually more surprising. Back in Minneanapolis, where you had moved in with him 6 months ago, your responses were the opposite. Never holding out, you yelled, fought back, and then left.

No response. The feeling was comparable to feeling like a kid again, wishing you could just shut your eyes and disappear into a fantasy world. But when you reopened your eyes he was still there. 

“Man, whatever.” He rolled his eyes and as he did so they landed on the two items in your hand. He slammed them both out of your grip, the sound of the foil splattering on the ground happened first, shortly followed by the sound of the planter shattering. You looked down at the mess that unfolded at your feet. The dirt from the greenery buried them but they might as well have been planted into the cement. You caught a look at your hands which were shaking, this wasn’t you. You weren’t scared. You didn’t feel like this. You grew up alone, in Chicago. That should have been scary. Not this. 

“You’re gonna get the fuck outta my restaurant.” Richie was suddenly to your right and slightly in front of you. “I’m not gonna count to 5 like we’re in fuckin elementary school.” This was when you realized he had a gun in his hand. “You’re either gonna get the fuck out or I’m gonna shoot you in your nuts.” He turned his head and his gun when he said that. “It’s your choice, motherfucker. I’m the one with 6 witnesses to testify that you came in here and threatened one of my customers.” 

With a quick glance over your shoulder, you saw the entire kitchen staring through the serving hatch, your stare moved back to Richie, it was a shock that your eyes hadn’t fallen out of your head with how wide they were, but you were grateful because your hands were still shaking and the practicality of all of that was not ideal. The insanity that in this moment, that was the thought in your head currently. The practicality of your eyes falling out of your head. It was a good distraction, thinking about how you’d have to clean them from the dirt, letting your mind take you on this wild ride for what was likely less than a second before you were back in the real time moment in front of you. 

Your ex was moving backwards with his hands up, his steps too nonchalant for your liking but at least he was listening to Richie. He puckered up his lips as he reached the door, throwing you a smooch and a nod. Besides that it was so silent in the restaurant which is why it became immediately known that Richie had pulled the hammer back on the gun, loading the chamber with the bullet. 

In the next second, he was gone. The feeling in your feet came back almost right away and the feeling of being cold was whisked away by feeling intensely hot. You ripped your jacket off and threw it on the stool and bent down in a frantic attempt to clean up the mess. 

“Go back to your shit! We’re all good!” Richie called back to the kitchen before squatting down to help you clean. 

“Ay, ay, it’s okay.” Richie tried his best to calm you down. His towel was now in your hands as you gathered the dirt into a more concise pile ignoring his comments. His hand gripping yours felt like a jolt of lightning to your head. 

“Don’t fuckin’ touch me!” The grip he had on you was so light which made you yanking your arm back easy and super over exaggerated. 

“Woah,” Richie showed surrender as his eyebrows moved up in shock rather than in a frown. You fell into a sitting position on the floor, having your arms catch the tiny fall which is when Richie saw it. 

The bruise was a little less than a week old and it was a large dark purple splotch with yellow edges as it began to heal. The discolored mark on your skin was burning as Richie stared at it, his thoughts going through the process of understanding pretty much everything. Why you left Minneapolis, who that guy was, what he was doing.

“Did he fuckin’ do that to you?” He asked in a whisper. It was probably the quietest she had ever heard Richie speak. There was also a little grumble in his tone, maybe it was instinctual, maybe it was pure anger just boiling up inside of him. 

“Richie.” You said his name like it was a full sentence. There was so much being said with one word. If he didn’t get the point then, he did after the next word out of your mouth. “Please.” 

He nodded, taking a second before he stood up and was out of your eyesight. You assumed he went to blow off steam, maybe he didn’t listen to you at all and went after the guy, but within seconds, he was back in front of you, holding you a hand broom and more towels. 

He tossed you the towels as he swept up the dirt. Both of you cleaned in silence, throwing out the pieces of broken ceramic. At one point, Richie had thrown the ‘lucky’ plant into a to-go container, letting it sit next to you both as you cleaned. 

“Thanks.” You offered up another one word delivery. Richie paused his movements of mopping the floor with the cloth to look at you. “You know, for pointing the gun and everything.” His stare at you was like he had no idea what you were talking about. “For scaring the dickhead away with the gun, Richie. Thank you.” You repeated in a more obvious manner. 

“Oh yea, well,” There was a brief delay in his words, he was trying to think of what to say, his eyes were no longer on you and he was looking around the floor like he was going to find the answer there. Which ironically, he did. The lucky plant sat straight up in the tall clear to go container as Richie’s eyes fixated on it. 

“What can I say? I have a soft spot for plants.” 

[gamingbeats]

everything has changed [fic]

Summary: Dan and Phil go on holiday to NYC and everything changes when Dan books only the couple's options.

WC: 3k

a/n: this was written for @urbanmattarsen as a raffle prize for phandomgives!

ao3

“It will be fun!” Dan insisted, standing a foot away from him. Next to him was a horse and carriage, and he was trying to convince Phil to get on it with him. The two of them had decided to go on holiday and found themselves in New York City for two weeks. They only had a day or so left, and Phil was sad to see that the trip was almost over. It had been much needed for both of them. 

Phil didn’t know yet that when Dan booked their trip, he booked the couple’s options for a lot of things, restaurants, outings, and sightseeing. Dan booked it. From the day they arrived, Phil has been choking down past thoughts. Dan was sleeping next to him at night since there was only one bed. Something that wasn’t taken into consideration. Nothing was strange about it. Their bond was strong, and past feelings had lingered between them. Sleeping beside each other - especially when there was no ulterior motive - was completely fine. 

Until the end of the first week, when Phil woke up drenched in a cold sweat at 5 am. Dan was asleep beside him as he had jumped up that night in a fit. He didn’t have a nightmare, but he wished that he had. Instead, he dreamed that night of him and Dan. Holding hands constantly, embracing one another in a hug, a stolen kiss. Them and what could have been if they had kept pushing through the hard times. He felt sick. But also that Dan was lifting him off the ground and spinning them in a circle. Was it the Dan beside him or the one he dreamed about? Were they the same person? He couldn’t tell. 

Throughout this trip, they took photos with their arms wrapped around each other. A smile was on both their faces. In one photo that Phil has, he’s staring at Dan. By now he knows that he can’t stop thinking about the possibility. Waking up to Dan has become a joy. He doesn’t know if he wants it to stop. Or what will happen once they return home. Will they talk about this?

“Phil?” Dan waved his hand in front of Phil. “Come on, please?” Dan asked him and pouted. He stuck his bottom lip out slightly and gave Phil big, sad eyes. Phil rolled his, laughed, and agreed. Dan suddenly was like a giddy little kid again. He spoke with the driver for a brief moment, paid, and held his hand out to Phil. 

Phil walked towards him and reached out to grab Dan’s hand. Phil knew that he had to notice how sweaty his hands were. He could feel a blush coming down his cheeks, and his pale skin grew with color. If Dan had noticed, he said nothing. Which Phil appreciated, he was already embarrassed. People were walking all around them, and Phil felt as if eyes were on him. Though he was only focused on Dan. It was a strange feeling that he couldn’t quite figure out. 

Dan helped him up into the carriage and climbed in beside him. The driver gently took off, and Dan and Phil sat silently for a moment in the back. Phil was looking around, and they listened to the sounds of the horses trotting along and chatter from others walking near. While he wasn’t looking, he felt Dan scoot slightly closer to him, grab his hand, and make a joke about it being the couple's option. Phil couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or relief that flooded throughout his body. But whatever it was, it made him nervous. 

Phil couldn’t lie. He thought about playing up the couples thing. He had been tempted to reach and put his arm around him, and to pull him closer. If Dan could do things, he could too. Dan had been parading them around in a way that suggested they were together, married even. A couple of marriage jokes had come out, but those weren’t the ones that Phil worried about.  

On their third or fourth day in the States, they went to the zoo. Per Dan’s itinerary. Phil wanted to wing the entire thing and just do whatever they felt like doing. Dan insisted they have some sort of schedule to make the most of their trip. Dan was four days into planning and Phil couldn’t stop him at that point. 

When they were walking around, Dan grabbed his hand and held it. Phil was confused. They weren’t doing anything remotely couples-related. It was a hot day and they were walking around a zoo. He didn’t understand it. We could go out again like this sometime when we get home, Dan said to him and swung their hands. He also didn’t realize a burning flame ignited in the pit of his stomach with those words. One that led him to almost wanting Dan to sleep in his room once they got back. One that wanted more of these days of holding hands and acting this way. Except it wouldn’t be acting. 

“You’re awfully quiet,” Dan pointed out and squeezed his hand. Phil just apologized and blamed being tired.

“Are you excited to go home?” Phil asked him. They did have one full day left before they flew back home. 

“A bit,” he laughed, “It’s been fun, but I’m starting to miss my bed.” Phil couldn’t argue with him. He missed his bed too. The rest of the ride went silently. Dan inched closer at one point and practically had his head on Phil’s shoulder. His heart was beating out of his chest the entire time. He swore the world could also hear it. 

The following few days were a blur. They spent their final day packing up and relaxing before traveling. They took a short walk around to look at a few more spots. That evening they had dinner at a random restaurant that Dan found. Phil learned that Dan had booked a couple's option. Apparently, with the reservation, there had to be a reason. Dan had chosen, for some reason unknown to Phil, an anniversary. 

A waiter brought out a small dish that had the words “Happy Anniversary!” written in either chocolate or icing. The waiter sat two glasses of champagne, which turned out to be complementary, and walked off. Phil had a look of uncertainty on his face. Dan didn’t notice. 

“We should do this more often,” Dan said, picking up the glass and drinking it. 

Do this more often…

-

It had been four days since they had returned home and Phil found himself avoiding Dan. What did he even say? Hey, I loved it when you and I acted like a couple; can we try that again? It was silly. He wasn’t confident if it was what he wanted. It had been years since anything had happened between them. 

Phil was sitting in his room, on his laptop. It was four in the morning, but he hadn’t fully adjusted to the time shift. He knew Dan also hadn’t, he could hear him at all hours walking to the kitchen. He went back to scrolling on a random website when there was a knock at his door, and then Dan opened it and walked in. Phil had to rip his eyes from Dan and look back to his computer, his face definitely red. Dan had on a pair of black sweatpants and must have lost his shirt along the way, as he wasn’t wearing one. 

Has he always looked this good? Phil thought to himself. He must have. He handed Phil a mug filled with tea and sat down next to him. 

“Are you okay,” Dan asked. Phil sensed a smidge of worry in his voice. “You’ve not said much to me since we got back?” 

Phil took what felt like the longest drink in his life. He wasn’t expecting to come into his room, most importantly he didn’t expect him to be shirtless. It’s all he could think about and he didn’t want to answer what the issue was. His plan was to ignore it. But Dan knew something was going on and wanted an answer. 

Dan watched Phil play with his cup for a moment before setting it on his bedside table, closing his laptop to move to the side and crossing his legs. Phil was fidgeting with his fingers, and Dan noticed his cheeks getting more red. 

“Did the couples' thing make you feel weird? I’m sorry. I didn’t think much of it.”

Phil sighed and rubbed his eyes. “No, that’s not -” he groaned and focused on his hands while talking. “I didn’t have an issue with it, which is the issue.” 

Dan looked confused, “Huh?” How did he word this? Was there a right way? There had to be. 

Phil picked at the skin around his fingernails. He felt Dan’s eyes watching him the entire time. It was a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn’t muster up any words. Dan looked away after a few minutes, and Phil relaxed a little. 

“I realized I missed what we had.” Phil found himself admitting. The silence in the room was tense. Dan hadn’t said anything and looked at Phil. Phil had nothing else to say and resumed picking at his fingers again. He watched Dan nod silently, stand up, and leave the room.

Phil felt the frustration rise inside him. He wanted to shed a tear, but refused and just turned his light off. Laying down in bed, he curled up and pulled the blanket over himself. He stayed there and stared at the wall until the sun came up. 

At some point, he must have fallen asleep. He opened his eyes and when he checked the time, it was now 10 o’clock. He heard no noise from the rest of the apartment. Groaning, Phil sat up and rubbed his eyes. He didn’t want to get out of bed right now. His bladder said otherwise. 

After his morning routine, he went into the kitchen and made himself a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. Even though he doubted that Dan would come out anytime soon - especially if he knew that Phil was out and about, he made extra coffee. Taking his food to the lounge, he sat on the couch. They had an L-shaped one that was right beside a window. So he ate his toast and watched some birds on the bird feeders they had put out a few weeks before they went on holiday. The same one that made Phil question why he now felt his stomach knot when Dan was too close to him. The one that made him dream over and over of a redo of their first, and terrible, date. 

Their first date was years ago. Phil wanted to do something simple like go out to dinner or a movie. Dan told him it didn’t feel like a date idea as they already do those things. It was December at the time and Dan suggested that they go ice skating. Come on, it’ll be fun! Dan had told him, and the same words he told him on their holiday. Phil had agreed and the next day they went ice skating. It was only supposed to last a few hours. Afterwards, they were going to go back to the house and cook a meal together and watch a movie. Phil wanted to do that, even though it had been things they’d done before together, the intentions were now different. 

The date was terrible for a reason. A half-hour after holding the rail and gently pulling himself along, Dan convinced him to let go. Phil didn’t make it far and ended up breaking his wrist that night. The two joked about it after it happened, but once they agreed to be friends, it was like Phil never broke his wrist. 

Dan had been playing it up while on holiday, Phil kept telling himself. He knew, though, after he looked through some photos on the flight back, that Dan looked at him differently. It was like there was a glimmer of hope behind his eyes that something could come back between them. 

Phil turned his head when he heard Dan enter the kitchen. He listened and heard Dan pour himself a cup of coffee, and waited for him to either go back to his room or come out to where he was. He heard Dan yawn loudly and quickly shoved the rest of his toast into his mouth. Couldn’t talk if he was chewing. 

Dan walked in moments later, still wearing the same black sweatpants. This time, though, he had on a shirt. Phil mentally thanked him and neither said a word. Phil thought about saying sorry, but he wasn’t sorry. There was nothing to be sorry for. He had a feeling he missed. But they needed to talk about it now that it was out in the open. 

“Wanna watch something?” Dan asked him. Phil nodded, and Dan turned on the TV and put a random show on for them. Once more, silence fell between them, even with the noise from the television. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Dan occasionally glance his way for a moment. His chest felt slightly heavy, and he turned his head to look out the window again, and took a long sip from his coffee. 

Phil felt like he was trapped in this room with Dan and needed out for a moment. He wanted to ask about hours prior, but couldn’t. It would make things possibly worse. Phil sat his coffee on the table, stood up, and speed-walked to his room. He heard Dan pause the show and call his name, but Phil didn’t answer. He simply closed his door and went and fell face first onto the bed and sighed. His heart was pounding and the feeling of something uneasy came over him again. It made him uncomfortable and he wanted to crawl out of his skin. 

Dan left him alone for a while before he came and knocked at Phil’s door. Phil just made a noise and Dan came in, not bothering to close the door behind him. “What is this all about?” Dan asked him. “You just barged out.” 

Phil sat up beside Dan so he didn’t have to face him. Every strange feeling that he felt started to mix with butterflies that he was getting from sitting next to him. He glanced down at Dan’s hand and his own, wishing to grab it and lock them together. His palms had started to sweat, and he wiped them roughly on his pants. 

“I miss him before too," Dan told him, and Phil felt the world stop. What did he hear? It had to have been a mistake. For a moment, time stopped. Phil felt like he had no time to think or breathe. A heaviness kept coming in waves on his chest. He listened to Dan tell him that there wasn’t a motive behind the couple’s options, but once there he realized they could play it up. Natural, he told Phil. How it felt natural to hold his hand again and right. He continued with it to see what happened. 

Phil couldn’t help but laugh and scratch at the back of his head. “A few times it felt like how our first date should have gone.” Dan smiled, and Phil was quiet. He still didn’t know why things ended between them. If there was ever a time to ask. “Why did we stop?” He asked in a hushed tone. 

Dan sighed and held his hands together in his lap. “I was scared.” He admitted. “It was moving fast, I was worried about what would happen if it didn’t work.” Guilt riddled his voice, and Phil leaned over and laid his head on Dan’s shoulder. “So, I figured that ending everything before it had become too serious would save our friendship.” 

Phil wasn’t sure what to say again. He felt that yet again he was left speechless, and Dan eased his posture slightly. “I never could figure out if it was something I had done or not.” 

“No, I don’t think you could have.” 

“Our entire trip left me confused," Phil told him. It wasn’t wrong. “You acted one way with me in public and acted like it never happened once we were alone.”

“I didn’t know what to say.” 

Phil took a deep breath and sat up and rubbed his eyes. Everything felt like it was a bit too much. His chest was heavy, and he felt his eyes tear up; he rubbed them again. He thought for a while it was him that caused it, and Dan confirmed that it wasn’t. It was an overwhelming sensation. Dan wasn’t sure what to do, and sat there. 

“Sorry,” Phil mumbled. Dan told him not to apologize, and Phil stepped out of his room to calm himself. So many unanswered thoughts were running through his mind. More that they would have to talk about. Dan didn’t follow him, which he appreciated. He went and got himself a drink of water before coming back to sit beside Dan. 

“I mean it, though, I really do miss what we had," Dan said. 

Phil looked at him. “I don’t know what I’m thinking or where we go.” 

Dan sighed and hesitantly touched Phil’s hand. Phil didn’t move his hand away, which was a good sign, but he didn’t grab his hand either. He was absolutely clueless. Obviously, they couldn’t pretend this hadn’t happened. And they couldn’t move on potentially, without talking about it. 

“The important thing, I think, is can.. Can you see yourself with me again?” 

Phil never saw himself with anyone else. From the day he met Dan until now, he thought it would be him or no one. Phil told him that he couldn’t imagine himself with anyone else, he thinks. Dan laughed and made a smart-ass comment about being that great, and Phil groaned. “I’m serious.” 

“I know, I know.” Dan fiddled with Phil’s hand, and the two of them sat quietly for a moment. “Do we take it day by day?” 

Phil nodded. “I think so.” . 

[practically-an-x-man]

Talk Shop Tuesday!!!

How do your characters feel about travelling abroad? Do any of them have places they want to see?

Also, how do you handle writing places you've never been? How much research do you do? How much do you focus on being realistic about a setting you don't know?

Thank you!

Talk Shop Tuesday

First things first, it really depends on the character. Rae and Kestrel love traveling and would visit just about any place they have the opportunity for. Quinn likes seeing new places, but her interest in traveling also depends on the itinerary and how her health is doing at the time. Other characters, like Jasper, Jimmy, and Ophelia, are very comfortable staying home.

Second, how much research I do definitely depends on what I'm using the location for. If it's written in passing, like a reference to Rae having living in France for a time, I don't really worry with too many deep details. I might look up a few anecdotes, just to make things seem a little more realistic and interesting, but by and large I don't do too much deep research.

However, if it's important to the story, I go pretty deep into the research! It works out that a surprising number of my fics end up taking place in New York (Katherine's, Ophelia's and Gia's, Jimmy's, even Spider's), just because it's a really popular setting for movies and such, but I've never actually been to New York myself! A lot of what I pull from is either cross-referenced from other movies set in New York, pulled from friends' stories from times they visited, or done by looking at a lot of articles and maps for information.

You already know I'm a pretty heavy researcher, and location is no exception! I actually had a street view of Google Maps for Amsterdam pulled up when I wrote the most recent Desert Song chapter - not only were all the facts about the canals accurate, all of the street names and buildings she encounters do (or at least did, when the pictures were taken) exist in real life! That's actually where that "a pickup truck? in Amsterdam?" line came from, there was a big-ass American pickup truck in one of the Google Maps pictures and I found it so ludicrously out-of-place on the street that I had to include it!

There are some liberties I take, particularly when it comes to day-to-day life - for example, Katherine's favorite Italian bakery in WWFA? isn't modeled after anything in particular, it's just one of those "NYC is a huge city and it's well within believability to have a bakery here" things. I'd say my main structure is that factual or historical things are researched, while circumstantial or variable things (like the restaurants they go to) tend to be things I've just place in the story myself for convenience. I want the fics to feel like they take place in that location, but I'm not strict on lining every single tiny detail up when it comes to moments that don't require those specifics.

I do find another thing interesting - I'm a pretty observant person, especially when it comes to taking in new places or experiences. I feel like my grasp on writing London is pretty decent even though I've only been there once for a week-long college band trip (yes, I do still supplement with research and I won't say it's a perfect depiction, but I feel like it's good). I went to NOLA once for a few days with the same band, and I feel like it's given me a good feel for writing my various fics that take place there (again, not flawless and I acknowledge that, but I feel like I've picked up enough of the layout, history, and general Vibe to write it convincingly).

Or even with more specific locations: on that trip to London, I made it a point to visit the British Museum and dragged my travel buddy through the whole place (I say dragged, but like... he enjoyed it too. We spent ten minutes finding the Ea-Nasir tablet together), mostly because I just love museums but also so that I could get a sense for the layout and any notable exhibits for the London section of WWFA?. I found that there were a few discrepancies, either that the exhibits have changed since 2014 or that they just made some things up for the third NATM movie, but even just having the general layout and certain sensory details like how big the rooms really are and how they feel when you're in them (especially the Ancient Egypt exhibit. we spent ages in the Ancient Egypt exhibit bc you better believe I read every single placard) helped me capture that vibe when I wrote the fic.

Anyway. I'm exhausted and stressed and I know I'm rambling but the short answer is: it depends. If it's important to the plot or helps to sell the atmosphere, I research. If it's a throwaway detail or something that could easily exist without needing to be researched, like a restaurant the characters go to, I just let it be my artistic liberty. And I think I'm pretty good about capturing the vibe of a place I've been to before, even if I've only been there once!

[phthalology]

me making an itinerary for nyc 🤝 Lord Huron (getting alarmingly lost in a beautiful place)

[thestarkerisobvious]

Goncharov (Has A Happy Ending)

a

production

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Chapter 1 - Time And Her Cruel Games

“There’s no happy ending for people like us, Andrey. Only the misfortune of time and her cruel games of fancy.”

Tony’s mouth on his was warm and gentle and amazing, and was quickly driving all thoughts out of his head.

At least, that’s what Peter thought.  Up until Tony’s hands began working his ass again.

They had promised themselves they were going to sleep now.   At least, 

that’s what they had said in the shower.  Peter, certainly, was up for a little shut-eye.  Even Tony, the notorious insomniac, had admitted he was ready to try.  

“And you can’t blame jetlag anymore,” Peter reminded him, and not for the first time.  They had been in Naples for two days now.  Peter was actually eager to get out and see Naples, but so far they were still holed up at the top of the hotel.  No one knew they were in Italy, not yet.  Technically they were waiting for Tony to get the word that things were ready in New York.  While Spider-Man was getting photographed webbing up bad guys in NYC, THAT was when Tony and Peter would make their appearance.  

Ever since word got out that the face of Stark Industries was dating a hot youthful intern, the press had started to make noise about Ironman and Spider-Man.  Tony had taken the opportunity to whisk Peter away into hiding, claiming it was all about protecting “Underoos” secret identity.  Peter didn’t argue - he wasn’t in the habit of arguing with his older lover - even though he thought his secret identity’s days were numbered.  And that was okay with him.  Now that he was an official Avenger, and officially Tony’s boyfriend, the whole ‘secret identity’ thing seemed a little childish.  

But he said nothing as Tony made his plans.  There was a Spider-Man double who was geering up to take the stage - a friendly Avenger had volunteered for the role - now they were just waiting for the go-ahead.  Until then, it was their job to hide in the hotel.

At least, that's what they were telling themselves.

Of course… all  this laying around naked in each other’s arms all day and catnapping between sex was turning out to be very pleasant… and neither were very eager to give it up.

And it didn’t help that everything they needed was right there on hand.  In breaks between love-making Peter lazed about, googling all the landmarks that he wanted to see, and Tony was having all the information on the most famous tourist attractions sent up to the hotel room.  He himself had spent many summers there with his “Nonna” and knew a great deal of the country intimately, and was happy to serve as Peter’s tour guide.  When the time came.

Of course, that would require putting their clothes on.  Which so far they hadn’t really managed to do.

“But mostly I want to see the clocktower, the real one.  And the place where you say they actually filmed the scene,” Peter had explained as they worked out their Itinerary with FRIDAY - all a plan for The Day that they wanted to be seen and serendipitously photographed as a couple.  “It HAS to be RIGHT by the wall where they shot that scene - the one that everybody recognizes.  We’ll have to get pics of us by the actual clocktower, obviously…”

Tony was more than a little surprised that Peter was familiar with the movie at all… let alone such an expert on its shooting history, or the authenticity of the locale.  Let alone the accompanied history of Naples, Italy.

“It was an important movie for me… in my formative years…” Peter had said with a shy shrug and a ducked head.  That gesture alone told Tony that this was one secret he was going to learn.

It had been last night (or was it the morning before?  Time was losing all meaning for them in the hotel suite, and Tony loved it that way) that Peter had finally made his confession.  

They were laying skin-to-skin in a tangle of white sheets on the mammoth bed when he began to whisper the story.  “Imagine me, at thirteen, recovering from a tonsillectomy, with nothing to watch on tv… we only had cable then and I was too sick to get up and find a DVD… just flipping through channels.  It came on.  I had no idea what I was looking at… but the remote’s batteries were wearing out and I was too miserable to get up to do anything about it.  That’s why I watched it all the way through.  I thought it was really boring at first… but then…”

Sometimes he giggled and blushed, sometimes he hid his face in Tony’s neck and begged for a reprieve.  He didn’t want to tell this story, which was all the more reason that Tony needed to hear it.

“I thought it was really hot,” Peter finally whispered.  ”These men… they were supposed to hate each other but… but that’s not what it looked like to me…

“And I guess…”  He faltered again and covered his face with one hand.  Even here, laying lip to lip, toe to toe with his lover, he tried to hide.  

“I guess that was the day I first started to imagine…” he said, leaning up another two inches to whisper the secret into Tony’s ear.  “What those two, handsome men really wanted to do with each other.  I didn’t think they really wanted all that violence.  I think they just wanted to do this…”  He molded his long, lean body against Tony’s, entwining their legs and tightening his arms, trailing kisses down Tony’s bare shoulder.  

Tony wanted to know more, of course.  Discovering the movie, the moment that had triggered Peter’s sexual awakening felt like a perfect, surprise clue and all he wanted was more.  But Peter was too tight-lipped about those earliest fantasies.  No amount of teasing, bribing or begging would get Tony any more information.  Finally, he gave up.  

“And of course we’re in love… that’s why I tried to shoot you…” Tony finally joked. 

“If we were really in love you wouldn’t have missed,” Peter quoted back with a grin.

He was rewarded with a kiss.  A warm, gentle, amazing kiss that made Peter wonder if he should remind Tony about his promise to  try to get some sleep… hard to do when Tony’s free hand working its way around and back into interesting places…

“Again?” Peter thought about saying (although he was certainly up for one more go.  They had never done it three times in one night, but there was a first time for everything, wasn’t there?)  But instead, when he opened his mouth, he heard the word “Amazing.”

“Hmmm?” Tony asked, pulling up from the kiss just a little.  Peter looked up at him in the morning sunlight, a little embarrassed.  HE hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

But now Tony was looking down at him with those incredible dark eyes, and he had to speak.  “I said… amazing.  You’re amazing,” he whispered. 

“You’re amazing….”Tony replied, and Peter found himself look up into Tony’s face and seeing something that hadn’t been there before.  Something that almost looked like… fear?  Doubt?”

 “You’re amazing – everything about you is amazing…” the older man was saying now, his voice falling into a whisper.  “... and your mind is incredible and your body is… and the things you let me do to you in bed…”

Peter had to look away, blushing a little and hiding in Tony’s chest.  “The things you ‘let’ me do to you in bed” was a strange way to put it  – as if Peter hadn’t asked for it, as if he wasn’t constantly begging for more…

“But…”

A silence filled the room.  Peter blinked up in alarm. 

“...but?”

He looked up into Tony’s face just in time to see him reaching  up to adjust glasses that weren’t there.

Peter had seen the gesture a million times - Tony’s glasses were the armor he wore when he wasn’t wearing armor.  Peter had seen Tony make that move so many times before… but never around him.  This was the first, and his eyes widened when he realized Tony was trying to protect himself.

“...but… sometimes… well sometimes you reach down and find the watch in the same place the gun was hidden.  Sometimes… dammit kid.”  He shrugged, his eyes fell.  

He had seen the movie too.

“Sometimes… winter just comes to Naples.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This is chapter 1 of 3.  The whole story will be posted here this month.

story by @thestarkerisobvious​

incredible art by @mrstarksbaby​

Follow the tag #MrStarksBabyIsObvious Series to see what ELSE we’ve got up our sleeve...

[dapperbasil]

Fangfest Day 14

Well, I didn't intend to do anything for the vtm tarot because of burnout but since @anarchswild did the lovely Thomas Slater for the Death arcana, it's only fitting to post a snippet from his final nights. Yes a few of you might be familiar with this.

Presenting, the inner thoughts of a Malkavian proxy Prince, to whom the world is a show and he is the star. Sparkle on, you funky little Malk.

My eyes open as day turns to dusk and finally to night, and there’s no time to waste. The next episode of “The Thomas Slater Show” is due to air in two hours, as much as I would like to get back in bed and sleep. The cameras aren’t rolling yet, a blessing in disguise. I love the attention, the applause, the ratings. But I’m so tired of it, all of it. My eyes take extra long to adjust, take in the room around me. That was one of the things the producers couldn’t fix, that and the damnable leg injury I took as a stupid teenager. I was dumb then, thinking I could be an athlete, a star. I guess I got that wish in a different sense, but you can only take stardom for so long.

This new haven is cold and foreboding, unlike my home in NYC. The city is quiet and calm, and it would be a relief if I wasn't in charge of the whole damn thing. This season's ratings have been low overall, and it does wear down on me. My heart's not in it and I think the producers are starting to notice. They sent down a rep, my sheriff. He says he's just here to keep an eye on me, to make sure the producers see what they want to see. Am I supposed to feel safe with that?

What am I even the prince of anyway? They said they're doing a trial run, and didn't want to send too many actors to the new stage, but there's so few of us. I don't think we stand a chance so close to the border. These thoughts begin to fade from my mind as I pull on a purple and red tie-dye blazer and head downstairs to start a pot of coffee. I can't drink the stuff anymore but Alex… it's the only way he'll feed.

For now, he's all that I live for. I messed up and I keep messing up. I messed up with Apollo and now I've messed up with Alex. I shouldn't have embraced even one, but now I've got two childer. Apollo hates me, that much is clear to me, given how our last few chats went. Maybe I won't make the same mistakes with Alex. Call me an empty nester if you must, when I was a kine I wanted to have a family and I guess I never grew out of it.

Alex knocks on the door frame when he comes into the kitchen, his way of getting my attention. I haven't heard him speak once since his embrace, I can only assume it must be part of his derangement. From what I can tell of his derangement, he takes after me in the worst of ways. Well, maybe not the worst. He's still bright and cheerful, smiling as wide as the day I offered a bright young film student an internship. He doesn't even seem to mind not understanding a word I say. We do talk of course, in different ways. Sign language wasn't too difficult for me to pick up, and the critics loved it. He can read lips well enough, and even though I can't, we still communicate fine.

I pour him a cup of coffee as he goes over what's scheduled for tonight. We look over the itinerary together as he sips the coffee deliberately spiked with blood. He still doesn't quite get it, even after all these months. He doesn't understand why he gets so angry once in a while, doesn't understand that he's not keeping food down because his body can't anymore. Blood is all that nourishes him, and I have to slip it into him where I can. Even when the lights overtake me and I have to put on a show, during commercials I make sure he's taken care of.

I'm careful with how much I tell him. I don't want him to grow like Apollo, to hate me yet. Not until he can stand on his own, or has friends to help him like I do. Maybe I'll get him a ghoul, someone who can help him when I'm not there any longer to do so. I don't have much longer.

Those golden eyes haunt me, the eyes of my own childe. Was embracing him a mistake? Perhaps but I was foolish thinking I could change things, I’m not even sure why I did it anymore. If anything I brought my doom closer at hand. I don't really even mind anymore, as I've grown tired from my years of performing. The nightmares have become more frequent as of late, being forced to my knees as an ominous voice speaks over me and Apollo looks down at me with hatred dripping from his eyes. The golden sparkle in his eyes is gone, dimmed and tired. I don't know what he's been through, but I know this is the face of the man who's going to be my death one day.

Hurry Apollo, but don't come too quickly. Not until Alex can stand on his own. For now we exit the haven as the stage lights begin to shine. The curtain will soon rise and all that will matter is the audience. Another night I hope to not see a golden sparkle staring back at me and I face it not with anticipation, but with a tired sigh. The producers will have their show, and soon, maybe not soon enough, their series finale.

[reveluving]

you're shining (more than any star)

summary: what the wedding & having a kid with Trystan would be like.

pairing: m!trystan thorne x f!mc (written as ‘you’, no name usage)

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, major spoilers from book 2!

a/n: oh you thought it was over?? HAH. this isn't even my final form! but no, thank you @kyra75 for this ask!! I had so much fun making this, and I hope you enjoy it just as I did! and don’t forget to leave some sugar! ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ

» fancy reading another choices fic? check out my m.list!

Marriage? Yes!

Two weddings shall take place; as expected, having one in Drakovia is a must. Royal rules and all but I’ll be focusing on the one taking place in what you and now, Trystan call home; NYC. 

Believe it or not, Trystan is all up for your small wedding idea! But he has given you a fair warning that the wedding may be recorded and then televised. But he’s definitely up for a more intimate affair. Consider the one that took place in Drakovia a more ‘scheduled’ event, having to keep up with the itinerary. But as for in The States, the only royalties involved will be his family and a handful of their relatives or closest friends. And we can’t forget our girl, Olivia! She, Maksim, Viktoria, Lydea, and Marguerite are the most grateful for the smaller affair since they’ll be able to truly enjoy the moment without the fear of the press scrutinizing their every move.

That’s not to say they will completely sit back and forget their places. Lydea, especially, since she offered you her Royal Guards to keep watch of the venue. 

Unbeknownst to you, Trystan may have overheard when you quickly shot Captain Thompson’s so-called ‘offer’ down for the same services. So, like the attentive fiance he is, he may or may not have told Lydea about it, plus a quick backstory of what had happened when you were in the NYPD. Though your friendship with Lydea isn’t the strongest, you best believe when she replies with an ‘okay’.

Consider it the family’s long-overdue token of appreciation.

Glasshouse or outdoors-y venues. Just a hint of fairycore especially with the twinkling lights and chandeliers, plus tall glass candle holders plus pastel flower stand combo because I'd imagine young Rose yearning for a magical wedding before repressing her more 'domestic' wants shortly after Jimmy's murder. Plus, the view is absolutely breathtaking as dusk rolls around.

Just a little side note, but ‘Mr & Mrs Rose-Thorne’ written on the boards? It may be a hit or miss but I personally find it cute!

And fret not, for a ceremony that is still attended by royalty, not all of the food will be served as small as hors d'oeuvres or sourced from questionable ingredients. Fancy and filling, your buffet would offer an array of delicacies, ensuring to cater for those with allergies or any certain diets they have to follow. 

A simple cake! Single or double-tiered, the cake flavour is of your choice, perfectly layered with Swiss Meringue buttercream by the best baker in town. Nobody likes a grainy frosting or a dry cake!

A moment of silence for Jimmy, Juliana and Sebastyan with their framed photos at the very front of the altar. Though no one outwardly says it, you and Trystan can see the gratefulness in the family’s eyes. You’ve even caught some of them curtly bowing to Jimmy’s picture after the cake-cutting ceremony.

Alice (or however you've named your Boxer pupper!) as the ring bearer! An absolute sweetheart when Matty directed her to the alter, only to rush over to you and Trystan excitedly upon recognition, demanding pets from the both of you before commencing the ring exchange. It’s a wholesome sight, as you can imagine; earning a share of laughter with the guests, even a small smile from the queen herself as your right-hand lady drops her ‘professionalism’. Then, she'd instinctively sit beside Trystan during it all, barking in excitement with the guests clapping as you and Trystan sealed it with a kiss.

Photos! One of your favourites is a candid picture of Trystan spoon-feeding you crème brulee just after you shared with him some of your mini caramel trifle just after exchanging vows.

Another favourite comes in a set at the floral photo booth with the crew. You, Trystan, Uncle T, Mafalda, Ruby, Luke and Alice! Trystan points out that he likes the last one the most; Tommy and Ruby are clearly cooing as Trystan kisses the back of your hand whereas Luke and Mafalda are (affectionally) judgy. 

Now, children? Depends!

We know Trystan isn't into the whole reproduction idea, but I do imagine him thinking about adoption deeply even months before the proposal. Be it an actual child or even a sibling for Alice. But say he does grow fonder of the idea of having his own kids, the most important thing is that he can’t think of anyone better to be the mother of his kid other than you. 

Adoption or not, I can already see him with a daughter, affectionately calling her ‘Bug’.

Come, as we venture into a few HCs of Bug!

Being the very best of friends with Alice!

Bug being spoilt all the time, especially by her grandparents; both the NYC and Drakovia's side, Aunt Mags and Aunt Ruby (and maybe Uncle Luke, if she’s lucky) but is also still the most respectful cutie pie!

Bug excitedly running towards Lydea with an ‘Aunt Dee!’ before hugging her legs upon reaching Drakovia. Imagine the sheer terror on the faces of anyone new, including her guards who have known the queen as strict and a lady of no-nonsense. And yet, here she was, the corners of her lips quirking upwards as she bent down to carry Bug in her arms before greeting you and her brother. 

Any of the members, namely Maksim or Trystan calling the Drakkos Zoo a day before your arrival to ensure Bug gets the full, more satisfying experience. You may have been very wary of introducing her to the old and wise Orlenna, but you’ve grown weak to her puppy-dog eyes. It started off as saying hello and babbling to the majestic viper, then after a certain number of visits, possibly your fifth or sixth (or at an older age), you slowly but surely give in. 

And just like your first visit, Orlenna nuzzles into the young girl’s hand, eliciting giggles as her tongue tickles her skin. You don't even bother shutting Trystan up as he chuckles at how you sighed in relief. Heavily.

Can't forget about your family's favourite part; the otters!

You may or may not have a whole photo gallery of her with the chirping critters.

You trying to make sure Bug isn’t alone with Astrid, Patryk, Kaspar or Emika, though soon, you’re a little more open to the twins. But Trystan and Lydea are a step further than you, warning them (and especially Patryk, who they most definitely don't want Bug to be around) with God knows what as the craziest thing you’ve ever seen the twins do to bond with your daughter is introducing the oddest couture outfits they’ve ever worn.  

Visiting the graveyard to commemorate those who have passed on, just as you do so she would also remember her Grandpa Jimmy. The story where you and Trystan duelled in Kovmorti never fails to bring sparkles into Bug’s eyes, but you can tell she imagines the whole scenario as a fantasy thing; Uncle Seb’s spirit form watching her parents honour him with actual swords and in royal garbs and all.

Just to personally indulge on this request, I wish to share with you a faceclaim of (my) Rose in a wedding dress (if you're curious, this is Joy filming for the drama 'The One and Only'!).

But by all means, you are free to choose—to be creative! You (or your OCs) are Detective Rose, too!

And as Trystan would believe, no matter how your dresses may be, no matter how grand the party is, or whatever the future holds for the two of you, nothing beats you. 

After all, you’re always shining, more than any star.

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» tagging @choicesficwriterscreations for fic of the week ;; & the gorgeous dividers by @firefly-graphics ♡

[loislane-ana]

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