#O'Connell Street

[federer7]

Lunch Hour. O'Connell Street. Dublin, Ireland. 1969

Photo: Robert Brecko Walker

[vyorei]

CALLING THE IRISH 📣

MARCH AND RALLY THIS SATURDAY THE 28TH OF OCTOBER AT 1PM

MEETING AT THE SPIRE ON O'CONNELL STREET AT 1PM

BÍGÍ LINN, DLÚTHPHÁIRTÍOCHT LEIS AN PHALAISTÍN 🇵🇸✊🇮🇪

[greenbagjosh]

Days 5 - 7: Belfast - Dublin, the start of a tram system, Grafton Street and an excellent bacon sandwich to go with my Guinness pint.

Hi everyone, Welcome to Day 5 of my visit to Europe in Summer 2004. It is now Thursday 29th July 2004, and I had stayed two nights in Belfast, and had gone up and down that part of the UK. It is time now to go to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. I have breakfast at the rail station, called "Ulster fry", take the international train to Dublin, stopping only at Portadown, and arriving about 10:30 AM in Dublin Connolly. I went on a walking tour from the central post office on to Grafton Street, also viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity College. I took a ride on the LUAS from St. Stephen's Green down to Sandyford and back. The next day I went on a clockwise bus tour of Dublin, walked to Drumcondra, rode the train to Dublin Connolly, took the train to Howth and back, ate supper in Howth, then took a bus back to the hostel to sleep for my next journey on 31st July. Hope you will join me.

Dia daoibh, Fáilte go Lá 5 de mo chuairt ar an Eoraip i Samhradh 2004. Is é Déardaoin an 29 Iúil 2004 anois, agus d'fhan mé dhá oíche i mBéal Feirste, agus chuaigh mé suas agus síos an chuid sin den RA. T�� sé in am anois dul go Baile Átha Cliath, i bPoblacht na hÉireann. Tá bricfeasta agam ag an stáisiún traenach, ar a dtugtar “Ulster fry”, tóg an traein idirnáisiúnta go Baile Átha Cliath, ag stopadh ag Port an Dúnáin amháin, agus ag teacht timpeall 10:30 AM go Baile Átha Cliath Uí Chonghaile. Chuaigh mé ar thuras siúlóide ón oifig phoist lárnach go Sráid Grafton, ag féachaint ar Leabhar Cheanannais i gColáiste na Tríonóide freisin. Thug mé turas ar an LUAS ó Fhaiche Stiabhna síos go Áth an Ghainimh agus ar ais. An lá dár gcionn chuaigh mé ar thuras bus deiseal go Baile Átha Cliath, shiúil mé go Droim Conrach, mharcaigh mé ar an traein go Baile Átha Cliath Connolly, thóg mé an traein go Binn Éadair agus ar ais, d'ith mé suipéar i mBinn Éadair, ansin thóg mé bus ar ais go dtí an brú chun codladh do mo chéad lá eile. turas ar 31 Iúil. Tá súil agam go mbeidh tú páirteach liom.

Ciao a tutti, Benvenuti al 5o. giorno della mia visita in Europa nell'estate del 2004. È giovedì 29 luglio 2004, e sono rimasto due notti a Belfast, e ho viaggiato su e giù per quella parte del Regno Unito. Ora è il momento di andare a Dublino, nella Repubblica d'Irlanda. Faccio colazione alla stazione ferroviaria, chiamata "Ulster fry", prendo il treno internazionale per Dublino, fermandomi solo a Portadown, e arrivo verso le 10:30 a Dublino Connolly. Ho fatto un giro a piedi dall'ufficio postale centrale a Grafton Street, visitando anche il Book of Kells al Trinity College. Ho fatto un giro sulla LUAS da St. Stephen's Green fino a Sandyford e ritorno. Il giorno dopo ho fatto un giro in autobus in senso orario di Dublino, ho camminato fino a Drumcondra, ho preso il treno per Dublino Connolly, ho preso il treno per Howth e ritorno, ho cenato a Howth, poi ho preso un autobus per tornare all'ostello per dormire per il mio prossimo viaggio il 31 luglio. Spero che vi unirete a me.

Bonjour à tous, Bienvenue au cinquième jour de ma visite en Europe cet été 2004. Nous sommes le jeudi 29 juillet 2004 et j'ai passé deux nuits à Belfast et j'ai parcouru cette partie du Royaume-Uni de long en large. Il est temps maintenant d'aller à Dublin, en République d'Irlande. Je prends mon petit-déjeuner à la gare ferroviaire, appelée "Ulster fry", je prends le train international pour Dublin, je m'arrête seulement à Portadown et j'arrive vers 10h30 à Dublin Connolly. J'ai fait une visite à pied depuis la poste centrale jusqu'à Grafton Street, et j'ai également visité le Livre de Kells au Trinity College. J'ai fait un tour en LUAS de St. Stephen's Green jusqu'à Sandyford et retour. Le lendemain, j'ai fait un tour en bus dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre à travers Dublin, j'ai marché jusqu'à Drumcondra, j'ai pris le train jusqu'à Dublin Connolly, j'ai pris le train jusqu'à Howth et retour, j'ai dîné à Howth, puis j'ai pris un bus pour retourner à l'auberge pour dormir avant mon prochain voyage le 31 juillet. J'espère que vous vous joindrez à moi.

Hallo zusammen, Willkommen zu Tag 5 meiner Europareise im Sommer 2004. Es ist jetzt Donnerstag, der 29. Juli 2004, und ich habe zwei Nächte in Belfast verbracht und bin durch diesen Teil des Vereinigten Königreichs gereist. Jetzt ist es Zeit, nach Dublin in der Republik Irland zu fahren. Ich frühstücke am Bahnhof, das „Ulster Fry“ heißt, nehme den internationalen Zug nach Dublin, halte nur in Portadown und komme gegen 10:30 Uhr in Dublin Connolly an. Ich habe einen Spaziergang vom Hauptpostamt zur Grafton Street gemacht und mir dabei auch das Book of Kells im Trinity College angesehen. Ich bin mit der LUAS von St. Stephen’s Green nach Sandyford und zurück gefahren. Am nächsten Tag machte ich eine Bustour im Uhrzeigersinn durch Dublin, ging zu Fuß nach Drumcondra, fuhr mit dem Zug nach Dublin Connolly, nahm den Zug nach Howth und zurück, aß in Howth zu Abend und nahm dann einen Bus zurück zum Hostel, um dort für meine nächste Reise am 31. Juli zu schlafen. Ich hoffe, Sie begleiten mich.

On Thursday 29 July 2004, I had been staying at the Belfast YHA hostel. It was time to check out, and go south to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. I would take the international train from Belfast Lanyon Place, then called Belfast Central, and ride in first class to Dublin Connolly. The train would stop only in Portadown, just north of the border. I checked out, with my luggage, walked to the Botanic rail station, took a 80 class train to Lanyon Place station, and went upstairs to the cafe for "Ulster Fry". Ulster Fry is not much different from Full English breakfast, except that it has a few more fried items. I had egg, bacon, sausage, a "potato farl", kind of like a hash brown patty, and a fried mushroom. I had one cup of tea, and another of coffee. About 7:50 AM, I went downstairs to the platform where the train to Dublin would depart from. I found my seat in First Class. Somehow I ended up in the dining car, but did not order anything.

The train left about 8 AM. I had my radio with me, on one of the local FM stations, they played "Ninety Miles from Dublin" by Christy Moore. The train made a prerecorded announcement of the train arrival in Dublin Connolly in the middle of the song. Later on, I heard "Lola's Theme" by the Shapeshifters as well as "Inner Smile" by Texas (a Scottish band that started in the late 1980s but did not achieve fame until at least their "White on Blonde" LP in 1997 / 1998). It seemed, from Belfast to Dublin, that it would be impossible to notice the difference between Northern Ireland and the Republic. It was only after the train passed through Drogheda (pronounced "Draw-dah"), that I would notice that I was in the Republic of Ireland. The train did not make any stops between Portadown and Dublin Connolly. The weather was a bit on-and-off rainy.

Most of the Irish railway system is unelectrified. Only from Howth to Bray was there any electrification on the main line, when I last read an article about the Irish railway system. I was surprised, already at Malahide there was electrification. The train was not very far from Connolly station. The train arrived about 10:30 AM on its own track. The exit was gated, so I had to go through the gates to exit the station for the bus to the hostel. I did not see any left luggage area in that station, though I have been told that there is one at the Heuston station due west of Connolly.

Leaving Connolly station, the statin building itself looks like something I might have seen in Northern Italy, kind of like from the Sforza family of Milan. Across the street from Connolly Station is the Busaras, or the central bus station. I asked about how to get to the hostel, but I was told to go to O'Connell Street by Abbey Street Lower and get a city bus from there. Although the LUAS red line tracks were being tested, that line would not go into operation until at least September or October that same year (2004). I had to walk along the sidewalk following the tracks to O'Connell Street. I saw a few light rail vehicles pass by. I knew of the green line, but it would not go farther north than St. Stephen's Green for many years (in 2024 it goes as far as Broombridge).

The Central Post office is at 47 O'Connell Street Lower. In at least one of the six Ionian columns, bulletts were shot into them in the 1920's struggle for independence from Great Britain. Nearby is an obelisque and on the opposite side of the road, towards Connolly Rail Station, is a statue of the writer James Joyce, who wrote "Ulysses". Incidentally, James Joyce was buried in Zurich, Switzerland, which I would visit on 7th August that same year. Only in the early 2020's, did the LUAS green line start operating along O'Connell Street Lower.

When I arrived at the post office bus stop, I found the bus route that went right to the hostel. It was about the corner of Dorset and Wellington Streets. Some time in the 2010s the actual building had been torn down, and has been replaced by university housing. I bought a day pass for the bus, which I think was 4 Euro back then. The bus went past Parnell Square before it made its stop on Dorset Street. I checked into a room with six beds. At the time, I did not see that an actual bed assignment would make any difference. Most of the time, no one minds if the wrong one might be accidentally taken. I would find out very early Saturday morning, that people would make a fuss. But for now, I would charge up my phone and my video camera, and in about an hour's time, walk to the bus stop at Blessington and Dorset, to go into downtown.

After I alighted from the bus at the post office, I walked along O'Connell Street. I made sure I had a good photo of the James Joyce statue. Then I walked past Middle Abbey Street, then along the Liffey to The Famine Memorial, at the Talbot Memorial Bridge. Many of the statues of the Famine Memorial looked lifelike. Then I went back to the O'Connell bridge, crossed the Liffey and stopped by the Mr. Screen cinema. There was nothing playing that I wanted to particularly see, so I walked farther south to College Street and on to Grafton Street. I entered the university at Nassau Street and went north to the library past Fellow's Square. The Book of Kells did not allow any photography. I was able to notice the pages of the bible, written on calfskin using various pigmentations.

Leaving the library, I went along Grafton Street to the St. Stephen's Green rail station. In general, Grafton Street is a pedestrian only passage. I passed by the Bewley's Cafe. They make good toffee sweets. At the time, the LUAS green line did not operate anywhere north of St. Stephen's Green. I walked to FitzWilliam Street Lower, along to Merrion Square. At the northwest end of the park, there was the Oscar Wilde statue. He was sitting, more like lying, on a rock, as if it were a bean bag. I walked by the Leinster House, the current seat of government for the Republic of Ireland, and also one of the ministries, probably for health and human services or similar.

At St. Stephen's Green, I bought a two ride ticket for LUAS. LUAS at the time, did not accept the bus pass, so I had to pay about 5 Euro for a day pass. I validated it, and boarded the next green line LUAS to Sandyford. The train went straight down Harcourt Street, before turning left on Adelaide Road, and turning right onto its own right of way. The LUAS went past Beechwood but somehow I had drifted off to sleep. I think it was still the jet lag. I was inspected by a fare inspector, and they said my ticket was fine. I alighted at Sandyford, the current southern terminus of the LUAS green line, and waited for the next one back to St. Stephen's Green. Once the LUAS arrived at St Stephens Green, I walked up Grafton Street, past the O'Connell Bridge to the post office, took the bus to Dorset Street, then went to the hostel. I think I went to sleep after that. I don't remember doing much else, other than listen to the radio and record local station broadcasts, some in English, some in Irish Gaelic.

On Friday 30th July 2004, it was a much nicer day than Thursday the 29th. I woke up, took a shower, and went downstairs to eat breakfast. The "Full Irish Breakfast" was at an extra charge, where the continental one was included in my stay. I went for the Full Irish breakfast, but it did not contain any black and white pudding, which is like a blood sausage, or a morcillo for those who know about Spanish sausages. I would hope to go into town and maybe have some black and white pudding, but I eventually waited for the next day.

I took the bus to the post office on O'Connell Street Upper, buying a day pass. There was a hop on hop off bus stop, where I could buy a ticket, good for all day transit on the hop on hop off bus. I had to wait until 10:20 AM until the bus departed. The bus went along the route past Parnell Square, the Obelisque, and back again south of the Liffey. The bus went past Trinity College, the house that Bram Stoker of "Dracula" fame once lived, the Molly Malone statue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. James Hospital, the Guinness Brewery, Magazine Fort, Heuston Station, and Ha'Penny Bridge. I alighted at Ha'Penny Bridge, and looked for some place to eat. On Anglesea Street just off Fleet Street, I found the Oliver St. John Gogarty pub. It also operated a hostel next door. I ordered a pint of Guinness and a bacon sandwich with fries. It was very good.

I went down the Grafton Street walkway before turning back and taking a bus to the post office. I bought some stamps for postcards at the office. Somehow there after I ended up walking east on Cathal Brugha Street past the Five Lamps to Clonliffe Road. I walked past the GAA Museum at Croke Park. Eventually I would end up at Drumcondra rail station. I could use my Eurail pass to gain access to the train platform for Connolly Station. The section between Drumcondra and Connolly was not electrified in 2004. I was feeling tired after walking so much. I think it was about 4 PM when I caught the train from Drumcondra to Connolly. Instead of the 80 class NIR DMU unit, I was riding on a nice commuter rail train. About where the train crossed Newcomen Bridge, the train came onto the electrified section to Bray/Greystones. At Connolly I transferred to the DART, which also recognized the Eurail Pass. It would be about 4:30 PM when I would board the train for Howth, called Binn Eadair in Irish.

The train to Howth arrived about 4:30 PM. It made about 9 stops before arriving at Howth. Howth is on a peninsula, and on the north side there is a harbor. There is also a shopping area and park close by. I had supper at the Fish Market. I think I had cod and chips along with a salad, and a pint of Guinness. It was really good, cost maybe 15 Euro. About 7 PM I went back to the Howth station to wait for the train back to downtown Dublin. Entering the station, I asked the guard if they would like to see my Eurail Pass, but he said "not particularly" instead of "No". He let me on to the platform. The train did not arrive until 7:30 PM. It departed about 7:40 PM. I stayed on the train until I arrived at Pearse Street. Pearse Street is an elevated commuter rail station. If you look eastward on Westland Row, you might think that you would be seeing a scene of "Glengarry Glenn Ross", where they say "Coffee is for closers". I took the bus back to the post office, and another one of the hostel. Then I went to sleep, at least for a while. Then I was woken up about 5 AM or so. But that's a story for another day.

I hope you will join me in my next journey, from Dublin to Milan. Question: at what airport do I get my passport checked? If you know Ireland's customs union with the UK, it may likely not be at Heathrow, but please stay tuned anyway. See you then!

[thunderstruck9]

John Little (Canadian, 1928-2024), Rue O'Connell Angle St-Simon, in Disappearing Quebec, 1968. Oil on canvas, 12 x 16 in.

[wtwn-is-more-oceans]

Already know I’m gonna be obsessed w this blog. How abt 2nd st preforming arts ocean ^_^

ohhh I love her and her little camera… and her bow omg

[low-budget-korra]

Please, stay // I cant 

Did we make it? // Yes, we did

You came // You called

Why are you still here? // I love you, silly

We cant be together  // I know

Are you here for the treasure? // Im here for you

I wish we had more time // Me too

May we meet again // I really hope we do

[septfair]

[nkp1981]

Brendan Fraser and Grover

[hardcore-solangelo-19]

yk that one scene in gortimer gibbons when mel put on those tap dancing shoes which couldnt come off, so gortimer carried her for the whole day ( i think)? It gives noel n ocean vibes.

[ya-gurl-emily]

Back from Dublin comic con

It was super fun! I got tons of cool shit I wanna post later (especially compared to last year where I got 2 transformers, neither of which I still display)

But the most important part by far was adding to the genre of cosplayers in regular places

[musical-hunger-games]

[urbanboytribe]

[un1k1tty-m0rn1ngstar]

IM EATING THEM

snow day doodles (mostly)

[theeyeballwoman]

Eilis O'Connell at Solomon Fine Art

Last night, I attended the opening of Eilis O'Connell's new exhibition 'Hardware/ Software' at Solomon Fine Art, Balfe Street, Dublin 2 D02 T802 beside the Westbury Hotel. The Venue was packed and had a lively atmosphere. It was worth the time and effort to go. Loved the sense of form and line in Eilis' work. Her exhibition will continue on Sat 18th Nov 2023.

[cera-writes]

Balcony Tryst

A/N: I've had this idea for a while. Wrote this while listening to House of the Rising Sun by Lauren O'Connell. Summary: Remy LeBeau and you share a private suite overlooking Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Things get heated quickly ;) Tags: voyeurism, nsfw, public sex, handjob

The night air was thick with the heady scent of Bourbon Street and the distant hum of New Orleans' nightlife. The balcony of the private suite wrapped around them like a secret cocoon, shielding their passionate encounter from prying eyes below. Remy LeBeau, his lean body pressed against yours, his hands gripping the balustrade as he steadied himself, his breath hot against your neck.

"Y'feel s'good, chere," he murmured, his voice a low, seductive growl that sent shivers down your spine. His Cajun accent was more pronounced in the quiet of your balcony, each word dripping with desire.

You could feel his hardness against your palm, the rhythm of your stroking matching the pounding of your heart. You moved your hand faster, relishing the way his body responded, the soft moans escaping him, the way he bit down gently on your shoulder, a mix of pain and pleasure sparking through you.

"Remy," you gasped, turning your head slightly to meet his gaze, "you're so... intense."

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich, as he nuzzled your ear. "It's jus' you, ma chérie. Y'bring out dis side of me."

The city lights twinkled below, casting a soft glow over the balcony, highlighting the curves of his muscles as he moved with you. His free hand traveled up your back, pulling you closer, his fingers tracing patterns on your skin that made you shiver.

"Tell me what you want," you whispered, your voice catching in your throat as you felt his body tense with anticipation.

"Remy wan'chu," he breathed, his lips brushing against your cheek, "all of you, right here, right now."

You leaned into him, your body flush against his, feeling the heat between you rise. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you and the intoxicating thrill of the moment.

"Show me," you challenged, your voice barely above a whisper, your hand still moving confidently up and down his length.

Remy's response was immediate. He turned you around, pressing you against the cool cast iron of the balcony, his body sheltering yours from the slight breeze. His hands found your hips, gripping them tightly as he positioned himself behind you.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice firm yet tender. You obeyed, meeting his fiery gaze over your shoulder. The intensity in his eyes was palpable, a mix of passion and possession that made your breath hitch.

"You're mine tonight," he declared, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "And Remy gon show you how good it be."

With that, he entered you slowly, deliberately, watching your face for any sign of discomfort. You bit your lip, holding back a moan as he filled you, the sensation overwhelming in the best possible way.

"Dat's it, ma chérie," he encouraged, his voice thick with emotion as he began to move, his thrusts steady and deep. "Take all of me."

You closed your eyes, letting the sensations wash over you. Each stroke of his body against yours was a promise, each touch a testament to the connection you shared. The world outside the balcony faded into insignificance, the noise of the bustling streets below nothing but a distant echo.

"Remy," you whimpered, the word torn from your lips as he hit a particularly sensitive spot, "please..."

"What'cha need, chere?" he panted, his movements growing more urgent, his hands roaming over your body, exploring every curve, every dip.

You didn't have the words, not then, not when all you could focus on was the delicious friction, the way he made you feel alive, wanted, cherished.

"Just you," you managed, your voice cracking with emotion. "Always you."

Remy kissed your shoulder, his teeth grazing your skin gently as he quickened his pace, his body slick with sweat, his breaths coming in sharp gasps.

"Lookit dem," he suddenly said, his voice husky as he nodded towards the street below. Your eyes followed his gesture, spotting a couple paused under a streetlight, their shadows entwined. "D'ey can't see us, but d'ey know we're here."

The idea of being watched, even indirectly, sent a thrill through you. It was taboo, dangerous, yet incredibly erotic. You could feel Remy's excitement grow, his grip on your hips tightening as he pounded into you with renewed vigor.

"F-fuck yes," you gasped, your voice mingling with his in a symphony of desire. "Let them know."

Remy's laughter was wild, unrestrained, as he claimed you fully, his body a blur of motion, his emotions laid bare. "D'ey envy us, chere," he growled, his voice raw with passion. "D'ey wish d'ey were us."

The thought was heady, empowering. You arched your back, offering yourself to him completely, your fingers digging into the iron railing as you rode out the wave of pleasure building within you.

"Remy," you cried out, your voice carrying on the night air, "I'm close."

"D'en come for Remy. Unravel for me," he demanded, his own release imminent. "Let me feel it, cher."

With a final surge of energy, you let go, your body convulsing around him as waves of ecstasy crashed over you. Remy followed soon after, his groan of completion mingling with yours, his body shuddering with the force of his climax.

For a moment, there was silence, save for your ragged breathing and the distant sounds of the city. Remy remained inside you, his forehead resting against your shoulder, his body still humming with the aftermath of passion.

"Chere," he murmured, his voice soft, almost reverent, "dat was..."

You turned in his arms, your fingers tracing the lines of his face, his chest, still heaving with exertion. "Perfect," you finished for him, your smile gentle, loving.

Remy kissed you then, a slow, deep kiss that spoke of promises and possibilities, of nights like this and many more to come. When he pulled away, his eyes held a glimmer of mischief.

"Ready for another round, ma chérie?" he teased, his hand trailing down your spine, reigniting the fire within you.

You laughed, the sound light and carefree, as you pulled him closer, ready to explore the depths of your desires once more.

[greenwitchfromthewoods]

you in my eyes [3] l Javier Peña

Summary:  you weren't friends and you certainly weren't planning anything more together

Warnings:  angst, smut (+18), enemies (?) to lovers, misogyny and sexism at work, some bad language, sexual innuendo, Murphy shows up, alcohol, a guy says nasty things about a woman, mentioning marital infidelity

A/N: I've been quite productive lately.

your feedback is very important to me and I want to thank you for all the reblogs, comments and likes. I secretly hope you like this story.🖤 sorry for all the mistakes

[previous chapter]

[masterlist]

Over the course of two weeks, Peter O'Connell had settled into the office so much that he soon found himself hanging out at local bars with his coworkers. Although Javier still didn't have a firm opinion on him, he definitely noticed the strange relationship between you and him.

And you, putting on a mask of professionalism and cold indifference, tried to pretend that his presence didn't make you uncomfortable.

One of those situations was definitely on the first meeting when O'Connell amusedly asked you, as one of the few women, to make coffee for the entire male team.

Your voice got stuck in your throat in surprise and only Murphy's quick reaction, who said that he had forgotten something on his desk and would ask O'Connell's secretary to make coffee, ended the whole awkward situation.

Peña didn't have many opportunities to talk to you, because you clearly avoided contacts other than work, and in the office with your new superior you became strangely silent. 

He also didn't want to listen to gossip, which was getting more and more disgusting.

But he saw you again in one of the bars. Your shirt had a few buttons undone, revealing your cleavage, and your hair was a bit disheveled, as if you had been ruffling it with your hand too often.

"You seem stressed." he mumbled, sitting down next to you at the tables.

"Oh, really?" a suspicious smile appeared on your lips, "I guess you're wrong."

"So what O'Connell is doing is just friendly teasing?"

Despite the fact that you had already downed two glasses of whiskey, your gaze was really sober. Javier's dark eyes pierced you to the bone.

"It's really none of your business, Peña." you replied.

You saw the tip of his tongue as he licked his lips and moved closer to you.

"Listen. I know we started off badly, but if you needed someone to talk to..." he said, but you just shook your head.

"You can be charming, but that doesn't work on me." you mumbled "Better focus on your work."

He wanted to say something, but a tall, dark-haired man approached your table and put his hand on your shoulder. You smiled and quickly grabbed your bag.

"Good night, Agent Peña." you said, giving him one last look.

"Night, Agent." he replied and followed you with his gaze.

"Fuck! You take me so good, baby, so good."

Strong hands gripped your hips as Carlos or Diego pounded into you from behind. The slaps of skin on skin floated around the stuffy room. You clenched your fingers on the pillow, feeling his cock railing into you in strong and chaotic movements. His panting mixed with the noise of the fan in the corner of the room and the voices on the street.

"Are you close? I can feel you squeezing me, hermosa. Ugh!"

"Yes, I am. So close..." you sighed.

That was a lie. 

Despite what your body was doing, despite the alcohol you had consumed earlier, your mind was clear and sharp. You stared at the clock on your nightstand, the second hand moving strangely slowly, and you wondered when he would finally finish. Once again, sex brought you no relief. It was annoying, but you kept trying.

Carlos or Diego, you finally came to the conclusion that it was Diego after all, finally let out a loud groan and leaned in, his head falling between your shoulder blades as he panted heavily.

"Fuck! You're so good, so good..." he sighed.

"You too." you replied automatically.

You waited a moment longer, and then moved, signaling for the man to move too. He pulled out of you, then took off the condom, tying it. You turned around, reaching for the cigarettes on the nightstand, watching Diego's naked form as he went to the bathroom to throw away the evidence of intimacy. You lit one.

"We should do this again." he called to you.

"Mhm..." you mumbled, blowing out a thin stream of smoke.

The sound of the toilet flushing and soon Diego appeared again. His eyes were taking in your naked body lying in the freshly wrinkled sheets. You could feel what he wanted to say, they always said that.

"You should go now." you got ahead of him. "I have to wake up really early tomorrow."

"It's fucking Sunday." Diego laughed.

But you didn't seem to be joking. Whether he wanted to or not, he gathered his clothes and left, slamming the door. Without knowing why, your thoughts drifted to the brown-eyed man you had left at the table in the bar. It didn't bode well.

"That boy's already said everything. We can press charges against him, he'll go to jail. A few more with him. Good job, Peña. Murphy." O'Connell nodded to the men. "It's a pleasure working with you."

"It's not just our doing." Javier muttered, and Peter looked up from the documents with interest. Your name appeared on Peña's lips. "She showed us where to look. She was the first to find the evidence."

"Good for her." Peter replied. "Sometimes a woman can be useful too."

Murphy shifted nervously, but his friend didn't let on. O'Connell had a strange sense of humor, if you could call it that. Finally, the man closed the file and looked at them.

"Maybe we should have a drink tonight? You deserve a reward. The drinks are on me!"

"Naah, I can't tonight." Steve shook his head, clearly wanting to avoid that.

"Javier? I know you don't need to be invited twice."

And so they both found themselves in one of the decent pubs. A bottle of amber whiskey sat between them, cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Peter had already had a few drinks, his cheeks were pink, and he had long since loosened his tie.

"I don't believe in this fucking equality thing." He muttered, looking at Javier, who had settled into the chair opposite. "It's guys like us who do the dirty work, and we deserve the credit for it. I appreciate you mentioning her name, but it's unnecessary." Peter waved his hand absently. "I know her all too well. Do you know what I mean?"

Javier raised an eyebrow without saying anything. His companion laughed.

"I've heard the rumors about her in this office. Does she really sleep with anyone she can? The office whore?" he chuckled and took a sip from his glass. "You're a regular at these kinds of places. Have you seen her?"

"That's none of my business, Peter." Javier replied. "As long as she does her job..."

"Bullshit!" O'Connell interrupted. "I know her well. She worked for me a few years ago." He smiled as if remembering the good old days. "Fresh and pretty. You have to understand me, Peña. I had a wife and three kids... I was at work all day. I needed to...relieve the stress."

Peña tilted his head, he didn't want to listen to him. Whatever you had in common was none of his business, but Peter clearly wanted to brag. It couldn't be worse than the most disgusting rumor he'd heard. Or could it?

"She's a pretty girl. And her body... Damn! Have you had a taste of her yet, Peña? I had a really good time with her. Then came what I could have expected. She thought I would leave everything for her. I may have said that a few times, but don't we say certain things just to get into their panties?" Peter laughed, and Javier felt as if someone was squeezing his insides. "They transferred her to another department, I had to get rid of her. And now, here she is again, in my way. I'm sure if I wanted her again, she would gladly spread her thighs for me."

"You think so?" Javier finally mumbled.

"We're the same, Peña. That's why I like you." He pointed a finger at him and poured himself some alcohol. "We do the dirty work, the one no one else wants to do. We have our needs and we're not afraid to reach for them. Some people, like her, are just little pleasures. We shouldn't bother with them."

He got out of the car and after a moment he heard the passenger door close.

"I don't understand why you brought me here." You mumbled, putting on your sunglasses and looking around the quiet area. "You can handle things like this by yourself, or with Steve."

"This guy has a family, kids." Javier put his hands on his hips and looked at you hopefully. "You can help me convince him to testify."

"And we'll provide them with protection?"

Peña nodded. He couldn't see your eyes, but he was sure you had rolled them. You knew that showing up there with a woman would give him more credibility.

"Alright then. Lead the way."

After a moment you stood in front of a small house, from the depths of which came the cheerful cries of children. 

At times like these you really didn't like your job. If children or innocent people were involved in all this, it was shit. And you had to provide them with protection, promise that nothing bad would happen to them, and convince them to give you the information you needed.

Watching Peña work was a pleasure. He was able to find common ground with people, talking to them and gathering everything he needed. You listened as he talked to a middle-aged man who seemed quite stressed when someone unexpectedly tugged on the hem of your shirt. You looked down and saw a girl, no older than five. Her dark eyes were staring at you, and she was holding a doll in her chubby hands.

"Oh, hi." you greeted quietly.

Your Spanish wasn't the best, but despite everything you crouched down next to her. In order not to disturb Javier and her father you quietly gave her your name. The girl smiled and handed you the doll. Only then did you understand what the problem was.

"I think we can handle this." you said, adjusting the doll's dress. "I used to have a similar one, you know. Wait, I think I have a hairpin." you reached into your pocket and pulled it out, then deftly used it to adjust her dress. "Here it is, now it should stay on."

You didn't notice that the conversations behind you had changed course and it wasn't until a few minutes later that Javier put his hand on your shoulder and mumbled quietly, "It's time for us to go." The sun had already set and the cicadas were ringing in the tall grass.

"Did you get what you needed?"

Javier nodded. "Thanks to you. I think people like you."

"I make a good first impression, then it gets worse." you replied, opening the car door.

"Every impression I make is bad, so I guess we're in the same boat."

You smiled. He didn't know what was in your smile, but he liked seeing it. It was like he saw another side of you, the more intimate one, not for everyone.

You got in the car and headed back. The silence between you wasn't uncomfortable at all, but Peña was sure that your thoughts were swirling in your head. He felt bad about everything he had heard about you, from O'Connell and the others, especially since he already knew you were completely different.

"I'll get off here." You said out of the blue as you entered the city.

Javier looked around uncertainly. "Here? You live a few blocks from here."

"I have something to take care of."

"I get it."

There was something in his tone of voice that caught your attention. "I'm not looking for a dick." You sneered. "One girl asked me for a favor, if you must know."

Javier stopped the car and looked at you uncertainly. "Do you need help?"

"Nope. I can handle it." You got out and quickly closed the door. "Thanks for taking me with you."

"I should be the one thanking you." he saw that smile again, your name slipped from his lips and you moved closer "You're wrong. Every impression you make is good. People are just assholes, they only see what they want to see."

"Oh, Peña." you laughed "A little more and I'll fall in love with you, and you wouldn't want that, would you?" you winked at him and he rolled his eyes "See you at the office."

And you disappeared between the buildings.

The sound of your shoes echoed through the corridors of the empty office.

"Fuck!" you hissed, running into the main room and seeing Javier's empty desk.

Everyone should be in the conference room or garage. You had to choose.  Maybe you still had time? You didn't even catch your breath properly as you headed towards the staircase to get to the parking lot as quickly as possible.

The door you pushed open was heavy, but you knew immediately that you were in the right place. People from the strike team, agents in bulletproof vests, all listening to the last orders and commands. You pushed through the crowd looking for a familiar face.

"Javier!"

At the command, he turned to you, frowned. "What are you doing here?" he asked sharply "You're not taking part in this!"

"This is an ambush!" you gasped, grabbing his arm, Murphy quickly moved closer to you.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"This is an ambush." you repeated with difficulty catching your breath "They know you're going there. You won't find anything. They only left people waiting for you."

Someone said your name loudly and silence fell around. You noticed O'Connell standing in the middle by the board on which the map of the area was hanging. He looked at you sternly, clearly irritated by your presence.

"From what I remember, we didn't invite cheerleaders to this party." he growled, a quiet murmur passed among the people "The girls stay home."

"It's a trap." you spoke loudly "I talked to informants. The cartel knows you're going to them. They got a tip from someone and..."

"Bullshit!" O'Connell interrupted you abruptly "The reconnaissance group has already headed in their direction."

"So turn them back!"

"You're talking nonsense! I won't stop the whole mission at your wail. How the hell would they know about us, huh?!"

"Maybe you have a mole?!"

Another murmur went through the crowd. O'Connell was clearly furious. All of this had been planned for days, the fiasco was connected with a long explanation and reports to the headquarters.

"Peña!" he growled at the man next to you "Take this desperate woman out. Boys! We're going back to work."

Javier grabbed you by the elbow and pulled you gently towards the door. You didn't resist. When you were already at a certain distance, he finally spoke quietly.

"How do you know about it? Is it certain?"

"Can we be sure of anything?" you whispered and noticed Murphy approaching you quickly "The girl I met last week..." Javier nodded to show that he remembered "Her boyfriend is involved in this. She was afraid for him, but she only told me everything today. They're waiting for you."

"The first group must be in place by now." Murphy murmured "Now we're delayed. It's only ten minutes away."

Javier's dark eyes were fixed on you, his jaw clenched tightly and his shoulders tense. You could see that there was a battle going on in his head.

"Javier..." he flinched at the sound of his name. "I wouldn't have come here if I didn't believe it."

Before he could answer, several things happened. Phones rang and people began to exchange information. Someone ran to the garage door and opened it, letting in fresh air. 

You followed everyone and soon saw something in the blue sky that took your breath away. Black, thick clouds coming from somewhere outside the city.

"They were waiting." Murphy muttered somewhere above your ear "The bastards were waiting."

☆☆☆☆

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