#Putney perfect smile

[jrow]

May Prompt (17)

Day 16 here. Day 18 here.

Chaos

It is absolute chaos.

He closes his eyes for a just a moment. The constant screaming he can handle but the non-stop motion is difficult to handle. It pulls his attention in every direction and there is no order to speak of. His usual ability to predict the future is useless here and he has no idea what will happen next.

Not so different from the inner chaos he’s been experiencing these past few days. Entirely unpredictable. Often unbearable.

At least Rosie seems to be enjoying herself.

Thursday is park day. It’s a tradition for John and Rosie to come after nursery regardless of weather. John said Rosie had been inconsolable the one time there was lightning and they had to miss it. And today it’s unseasonably warm, so of course Sherlock insisted on taking her.

John had been … strange about the whole thing, though. Actually, John was strange anytime the subject of Rosie came up today. Fidgety. Uncomfortable. And he said some preposterous things. John seems to think that watching Rosie is some grand burden and that Sherlock must surely be eager for time alone at Baker street. It’s ridiculous—as if he’ll be spending one more second in that flat before John can be there with him.

He almost told John as much but that … well that would be revealing too much.

So instead he just rolled his eyes and left. Left to come to the park and enjoy the sunshine (along with every other family in Putney it seems).

He sighs and watches Rosie unsuccessfully try to climb up the slide. She makes it about halfway up before gravity takes over and she is back on the ground. A little boy quickly jumps over her to take his turn, only to meet the same fate.

He looks to the sky and thinks about the progress they made today on the case (in between John’s naps). It helped that their attention was no longer divided, now that they knew of the link between the thief and the hospital intruder. Although, infuriatingly, his brother is pointedly not telling them what that link is. The bastard.

Over the day, it became clear that the jewelry stores hit by the thief weren’t as randomly chosen as he previously thought. The appearance of disorder, chaos even, was a carefully constructed illusion—when he examined the full complement of evidence (including new video footage shared by Mycroft) he could see that every single element was intentionally done to look amateurish. Glass broken in inefficient ways. Cameras covered by crude methods. Alarms disabled almost by luck. But it was all planned. That changes the profile of who they are looking for quite dramatically.

He feels both guilt and anger about not seeing it earlier. Guilt because if he solved this sooner, John wouldn’t be in that awful hospital bed. Anger because the reason he didn’t is because he didn’t have all the facts. If he didn’t have Rosie to take care of, he might have gone to the yard to scream at a few people.

But, instead he is at the park.

He looks back at the slide but Rosie has moved to …. he scans the play structure and area around it, but doesn’t see her blond pigtail anywhere. His heart starts racing and he stands, eyes darting over the space. His eyes lock on the the stairs—she’s been known to enjoy playing in the cold sand under there, hidden from view. He quickly starts making his way over to peak in, but is stopped by that perfect little voice.

“Lock! I hiding!”

He turns and sees her, laying down beside the boy from the slide, behind the big plastic turtle. In his panic, he didn’t let look at the ground. And then he was so focused on the stairs that he walked right past her.

“Good work, Rosie,” he says, finding himself smiling.

John is an idiot. Rosie isn’t a burden at all.

@keirgreeneyes @raina-at @totallysilvergirl @meetinginsamarra @jolieblack @phoenix27884 @friday411 @calaisreno @quimerasyutopias @lisbeth-kk @safedistancefrombeingsmart @momma2boys @helloliriels @dapetty

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Not One of Many - Chapter Eleven.

So, here it is, the chapter you’ve been waiting for... ;) HUGE thank you to my wonderful audience for your dedicated readership, reblogging and commenting. Sending you all love!

Previous chapters - Prologue  One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven  Eight  Nine  Ten

Tag list - In the comments

Words - 3,121

Warnings - 18+ content, adult audience only. Minors DNI!

“I’m really, really going to miss you,” Amira began as they hugged tightly in the kitchen, Beth’s extended stay now come to an end. “Promise to call me? We’ll do lunch, or coffee, whatever you like. Thanks for being so lovely. People say journalists are arseholes, but you couldn’t be further from it.”

“I will, I’ll make a point of it,” Beth assured her, although she wasn’t sure whether it was a promise she’d keep. Turning to embrace Mimi, she let out a soft ‘aww!’ at seeing the young woman in tears, opening her arms. “Mims! You’re so cute.”

“Please don’t go! Just get over whatever it is and move in with us! Alfie wants you to, and we want you to! You’re so perfect, and I’ve gotten used to having you here!”

Rubbing her back, Beth then moved back a little, shaking her head with a thin smile. “It isn’t for me.”

Mimi nodded, her acceptance reluctant. “Just let me know any time you want to come riding, though, and Sunny is all yours.”  

“I’ve got your number, so yes, I will.” Again, she didn’t know if she would, but she wanted to. Mimi had been her favourite. Well, apart from one other, the other who was outside, loading her belongings into the boot of the waiting Uber.  

“Thank you for being both a fabulous host and fascinating subject matter. I had a good time, living in Alfie’s world,” she told him, Alfie opening his arms and giving her a hug. God, how he didn’t want to let her go. If only she’d agree to being one of three.  

“I’m glad you did, love. I look forward to reading your article an’ all, but make sure you let me know first, when you’ve finished it.” There was no doubt, over what his statement, coupled with a wink alluded to.  

“I will.” Her words to him were a promise she knew she was intent on keeping.

“Take care, darlin’. Until I see you again.”

“You too, Mr Weasel.” He laughed loudly, opening the door of the Uber for her, his chuckles still audible from inside as the car pulled away, whisking her out of the lap of luxury, back to reality, to Putney, to beans on toast if she failed to sell an article, and Waitrose if she did.  

As Alfie watched the car take her out of his life, he felt something vast and cavernous opening up within, turning to walk back into a house without her in it. Somehow, it didn’t quite feel the same. And neither did he.

Upon her arrival home, the first thing Beth did was carefully hang up the loaned dresses in her overstuffed wardrobe, immediately missing the space she’d enjoyed in her room at St Mark’s House. Then, she put on a wash, her clean things courtesy of Alfie’s housekeeper folded and put away, before giving the vacuum, cleaning spray and polish treatment to her flat.

Once everything was sparkling and she had her coffee brewed, she pulled up her desk chair and switched her laptop on, ready to plunge headfirst into her article. She sat for hours, writing, deleting, going for a walk to clear her mind, ending up at the bistro on the corner to pick up a box of cannoli’s, eating every single last one of them as she stared at her document, willing further words to come. She knew why they wouldn’t.

She missed him.  

Oh, how she missed the company of the man whose life she was writing about in finer detail, remembering the moments she’d had, the laughs they’d shared, the incredible world she’d dipped her big toe into. She felt a little shallow for it, but it was Saturday, and she knew at that time last week, she’d have been getting ready to be taken to one of the most premiere restaurants in the city, by the man who didn’t even flinch at a bill that came to over three grand, as she’d seen on the slip. He hadn’t even looked. His card was placed down, with a two-hundred-pound tip given in four crisp fifty-pound notes.  

Mostly, though, she thought back to the night where it was just him and her, how they’d connected, and fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Sighing, she got up, deciding to stretch and have a shower, putting in a small grocery order prior to stepping under the water. She needed wine. An hour later, after eating her Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference lasagne and tiramisu, she sat tapping away again, enjoying the huge glass of Merlot from the bottle she’d also purchased.

It wasn’t a patch on what she’d drunk while at Alfie’s.

“Oh, Beth! You made your choice! Stop agonising! Finish your article and you can go and fuck him, there! There’s your incentive!” she wailed at herself, continuing to write. She remained up until 02:37am, nowhere near finished, but over the halfway point, at least. After sleeping for nowhere long enough than she would have liked, she was out the door and round the corner to Romero’s bright and early, meeting her friend Kinga for breakfast.  

“Darling! You look bloody fab, I love this! Pucci?”

“Yes, an eBay bargain,” she revealed, Kinga kissing both her cheeks (as she always did) before stroking the patterned fabric of her dress.  

“Oooh, I do love an eBay barg! Sit down, I took the liberty of ordering a few mimosas. I was out with the West Indies cricket team last night, and let me tell you, those fellas can party!” Wherever the buzz was, the hive of action, you could bet your last pound that her dear Kinga Clarke would be at the epicentre of it.  

“To hair of the dog?”

Kinga grinned, lifting her glass and chinking it against Beth’s with a light tap. “Absolutely, cheers! Now, what did you get up to last night? Where you out schmoozing, or did you have a night off?”

“I would say a night off,” she began, sipping a little more at her drink. “But I was chained to my laptop, hashing out my article.”

Kinga looked riddled with curiosity at such a statement, her eyes widening. “Oh, yes, chronicling your time with Mr Solomons! Do tell all!”

“Okay, she wishes me to make with the details.”

Kinga positively beamed. “Immediately, if not sooner!”

“Right, well I shan’t lie, I did go into it with some preconceived ideas over what he was like, but I couldn’t have been more surprised. He’s extremely down to earth despite such rabid success, so many millions behind him, very funny, extremely charming. In fact, he’s the dirtiest flirt I’ve ever met!”

“So, he propositioned you, then, or was it just harmless dirty flirting?”

“Oh, he propositioned me,” Beth revealed, amused at Kinga’s ever brightening face. “I didn’t act upon it, though.” She then went on the share the same story of her time in his home as she had with Magda, Kinga having a very different take on it by the time she was finished.

“I think you should let him take you to bed and have his way, gosh, I would! The man is absolutely delish! I mean, why not? You’re not stupid, and Mags, god knows I love her, but she mothers you a little bit sometimes. You know your worth, you have no intentions of becoming a girlfriend, so why not enjoy him for all you can get, that thing being a night of hot, uncomplicated sex?”  

It was nice, to have someone see if from the same perspective. “This is what I was thinking.”

“I mean, it would only be damaging to you in the long run if you actually had feelings for him, and you don’t. Do you?” Her reply was stalled while they ordered, Beth choosing a spinach omelette and toast, Kinga poached eggs on English muffins and a fruit plate.  

“I think I easily could, if he was single and looking for only one woman. I do acknowledge that, and the fact that I miss being around him. We got on so well. I am firmly rooted in the reality of the fact that I shall not forsake my own comfort just to be with him, and I am not comfortable in a relationship that includes more than two people.”

Kinga beamed, nodding proudly. “Flippin’ good girl, darling. Most other women would be speedy in forgetting their principles in order to swiftly jump at the chance to be with a handsome, multimillionaire. The fact you haven’t and won’t shows conviction.”

Beth pondered for a moment, her lips pursing slightly as she ran her nail around the rim of her glass. “And you don’t think sleeping with him would compromise that?”

“No! Absolutely not. It’s only sex, darling.” Her naughty smile was all the green light Beth needed in feeling good about contacting him once her article was finished. She had been doubting the rendezvous a little, deep in the back of her mind, whether she should proceed with it. “And sweetheart, I want all the dirty details!”

Her smile widened, licking her top lip as she imagined what those details might entail. “And you shall thusly receive them, my love.”

“Another toast is in order!” Kinga announced, lifting her glass. “To my fabulous Beth, may she be dicked down within an inch of her life and her Louboutin’s!”

If there was anything she’d drink to, it was that.  

After breakfast, they took a taxi across to Soho, where Kinga had them booked in for a spa afternoon, enjoying the pampering luxury of full body massages, facials and pedicures, as well as a lovely lunch, Beth kissing her friend goodbye and returning home, arriving at just gone 5pm, where she sat at her laptop off and on for another seven hours, calling it a night at just before 1am.  

It was the following Wednesday by the time she had finished her article, proof reading it six times over before emailing it to Madeline. She received a phone call within the hour.  

“My fabulous girl has returned!” The sense of relief that flooded her at hearing this was incomparable. “Absolutely terrific, Beth. I loved every word. It had everything. Yes, I am accepting it, well done you!” With her confidence now fully intact again, and six hundred pounds shortly to arrive in her bank account, Beth beamed as she ended the phone call,  

With her phone right there in her hand, she pondered for a few seconds, before taking a breath and tapping out her message.  

‘I just submitted my article...’

She honestly had no idea what else to say to him, any witty opener she might have led with unattainable to her, pressing send and leaving her phone on the table while she went for a soak in the bath. An hour later, fresh and well rested, she found he’d replied.  

‘If you’re free this Friday, meet me at The Pendulum at 8pm. I hope you are.’

Friday. His free evening, and he wanted to spend it with her. She confirmed she was indeed free of engagements after a few minutes of pondering.

‘I’ll see you at eight then, duchess.’

She had no clue why, exactly, but in the time between then and Friday, her nerves did nothing but escalate. This was a man she’d spent a considerable number of hours getting to know, and she did know him, quite well, in fact. They had an easy-going rapport as well as a scandalously libidinous desire for one another to boot, yet her nerves left her feeling shaky. She was about to get something she’d coveted, so why on earth would this leave cause for jitters?  

After a morning of meetings and an afternoon that involved a lovely lunch and catch up with Oliver, she returned home to begin working on her next article, which discussed the pressures upon professional women to have it all. At least forty minutes were spent watching the cursor flash.  

“Nope, my mind just isn’t here.” Her announcement was followed by her shutting down of her laptop, going for a bath, her preparation beginning. With her hair freshly blow dried that morning after popping into her local salon, she had that covered, her wax two days prior leaving her in her preferred state, bald from the eyebrows down, so that was in order, too. She took her time relaxing in the hot water, exfoliating until she was silken all over, getting out and covering herself in her lotion before padding through to the bedroom and beginning her makeup.  

She painted to entice, her eyes smoky and dark, her lips slicked with a simple swipe of red tinted Vaseline, cheeks gently blushed and highlighted. Spritzing her perfume on, she was ready to dress. Pulling her underwear drawer open, she decided on a simple, black lace set, the wardrobe her next destination, where she knew she’d spend considerably longer a time, coming to a decision.  

She vetoed Jane Norman, Matthew Williamson and Gucci, in the end pulling out one by Agent Provocateur, fitting as it matched the designer of her underwear. Sliding on the black, duchess satin dress, she zipped up, moving to the full-length mirror. He would definitely approve, even more so when she slid her feet into the same Louboutin’s she’d been wearing when they’d first met.  

It seemed like much longer a time had passed than just a month.  

She packed a few other items, a change of clothes, fresh undies, some little toiletries in case her stay was overnight as well as some other necessary bits and pieces for sexual titillation purposes, heading out to her lounge. After a small glass of wine had been drank for fortification, she ordered her Uber, the app telling her the car would be with her in five minutes. It took twenty to get to The Pendulum, and for the entire duration, her stomach trembled from the flapping of a thousand butterfly wings.  

The Pendulum, once the offices of a prestigious law firm, had been built in 1789, and converted into a hotel during the 1920’s. The white, ornate structure stood between an office block and a very upmarket grocery store, bold alabaster distinguishing it from anything else around. It was tall and solid, yet beautiful. Much like the man who owned it.  

Swinging her bag onto her shoulder, Beth exited the Uber and took a breath, pattering up the steps, the doorman nodding as he took the brass handled door and held it open for her, the opulence of the lobby mesmerising to her eyes. Dark wood, rich fabric and a white marble floor, it was simply exquisite. As was the man who waited for her at the front desk. The way he smiled at her, she knew there’d been no reason for nerves. God, he looked good. Black suit, white shirt, immaculately groomed as always.  

“Evenin’, darlin’.” He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, his stomach practically fizzing. She looked like a celestial dream sprinkled in sin, her eyes smoky black, making the blue shine out like a cloudless sky. “Come on. Let’s go up.” Taking her hand, he kissed it, the action making her skin tingle as she swallowed back a gulp, anticipation almost crippling her as she glided across the lobby towards the elevator, the scent of him making her head spin, the moment seeping into her, waiting with him for it to arrive, her heart going ten to the dozen.  

Even if it was only for one night, she knew she’d remember it forever.  

“You’re very quiet,” he commented, pressing the button for the penthouse.  

“I have the distinct feeling I shan’t be for much longer.” He arched an eyebrow, grinning smugly. No. She would not. He gestured for her to exit first, the elevator opening into a small area with just one door, Beth feeling almost like a gazelle in the sights of a lion as she sensed him behind her, sliding the card into the lock, his breath warm at her neck, his other hand resting to the curve of her waist.  

Once inside, she expected to be set upon, her body gripped, mauled in such big, capable hands, yet he didn’t. Standing behind her, his fingers wandered down her arms, her skin tingling, his lips kissing her bare shoulder. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look more beautiful, and believe me, sweetheart, that takes some doing for you.” He felt like every neuron in his being was striking with wild electricity as he unzipped her dress, the curve of her elegant back begging for his tongue to meet it.

She turned, sliding her dress down, stepping out of it, her hands smoothing his chest through his suit. Her eyes shone like two shards of ice through the dimly lit room, holding more desire than he’d ever thought possible. Their undressing was a gentle adagio, a soft symphony, savoured, relished, their fingers careful and delicate. What swirled beneath it all though, it was like watching a savage storm slowly rolling over a coastline, primed to decimate, shake the ground, electrify, rock their foundations to rubble.  

She was like a million neon lights blazing through him, her quivering hands stroking his chest as he rid himself of his shirt, his hands unfastening her bra, hers pushing the black lace of her underwear down, Alfie looking her dead in the eye as he unfastened his belt, Beth taking his trousers and boxers to pull them down as she crouched. When she saw what was lurking within, she almost fainted... and he wasn’t even hard yet.

Kicking himself from the rest of his clothes, his body trembled as she pressed her tongue against his navel, slowly sliding it up his body in a firm lick as she stood, his senses besieged by a swirling storm of ecstasy... and he hadn’t even kissed her. They gazed at one another unbreakably, there naked before each other at last, his one hand grasping her waist, the other moving her hair, his mouth kissing the delicate juncture of her neck. Her veins blazed, clutching his powerful arms, the storm rolling in faster, lightning flickering as he looked down on her again with near unhinged lust.

That was the moment the thunder broke.  

Their lips met, a kiss of wild, uncontained longing, finally let loose as he picked her up and threw her onto the bed, his body covering hers in a second, mouth descending to her, kissing her with feral longing. Oh, how he’d waited for this, dreamed of it, been driven to distraction by her, this beautiful enchantress.  

If another world existed outside of this, in that moment, he didn’t want it.  

[johnstoast19]

Guitar lessons with my dad

Hi guys! This is another drabble for #Deakys70Event2021 organised by @deakysgurl . Thank you so much for sharing! I hope you like it.

Prompt chosen: Who needs you?

Summary: Luke Deacon is playing a song written by his dad with the guitar and John joins him with a special lesson.

Word counts: 471.

Tag list: @painandpleasure86 @johndeaconstoothgap @deakys-chesthair

It’s a cold afternoon in London, the weather doesn't cooperate with stressful people but in Putney there exists another scenery. 

Luke plays his acoustic guitar with his eyes closed. The instrument is his best friend in those days when he feels tired because of his routine or just because he wants to take a minute to relax, for example… this day.

He moves his head with the melody and starts to sing a song that his mind lets him remember. His fingers are dancing on the guitar strings with dedicated moving. He recognizes the song, “Who needs you?” is one of his favourite Queen songs, especially for being written by his dad.

With a big smile he starts to play the acoustic guitar solo, but a few seconds later he doesn’t feel good with the result. There is something wrong… Does he remember all the notes of that song? 

Luke doesn’t feel comfortable, he wants to play correctly as his father did before. Why can't  he play it like him?

John found his frustrated son sitting in a corner of the room just playing a song that he recognized quickly. He’s listening with patience standing behind him in silence, waiting when Luke decides to open his eyes.

"You are still here…" He says at the moment when Luke notices that he wasn’t alone.

"Sorry dad, I was playing for fun. Is it late?"

"No, it’s almost 5…"

"Okay." 

His younger son decides to take a rest of his little practice even though his dad is curious to know about the music routine.

"That sounded good… don’t stop for me."

"Really? I don’t think the same."

John smiles at him and takes the guitar out of his son's hands. 

"Well… it’s an easy riff if you pay attention to the details." With slow movements of his fingers, John starts to play like he did years ago.

Luke is excited about that special moment and he can’t hide his smile when John finishes.

"Did you wrote it?"

"Yeah… I could say I had some help�� only at the beginning."

"Dad… can you help me with that riff? I wanna play it, please."

This is the first time in a while that John speaks about the band without pressure. Luke takes that like something special for him. A little moment between father and son.

John sees him with a surprise on his face but he can’t deny himself a moment like that with his son. After all, he has nothing important to do.

"All right… but first, do you want some coffee or tea?"

"Tea… I think is better."

That guitar lesson was perfect for both of them. The cold weather was not an impediment, they just needed two guitars and a couple of memories from those days. 

"Who needs you?" became their best lesson.

[imtryingmybeskar]

New chapter of the Marcus fic. This is not so much smut as angst and sadness. Sorry to bring down your Saturday. I would also like to add that the rose gardens referenced are where Pedro and Boyd hung out when they were in London recently.

18+, 4.7k words

The branches above you sighed softly in the breeze, their leaves whispering against each other and filtering the sunlight into dapples on to your face and body. The air was warm, even with the slight wind, and it smelled of summer to you - the fragrance of the roses around you permeating everything. Marcus stroked down your arm and held the back of your hand, interlacing your fingers with his. You turned your face to the left and looked up to see the radiance of his beautiful dimpled smile bestowed upon you.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"I was just thinking about how it smells like summer. Even though its not far from autumn." Your head was resting on his stomach and you were lying perpendicular to his body. He was also lying on his back, his head pillowed on one arm and watching the sky through the lattice of the tree branches and leaves above. You let go of his hand to flip on to your stomach and lean up on your elbows over his torso, your hands stroking softly over him and your feet kicking lazily behind you. "What about you?"

He brought his head up a little to look at you over the rim of his aviators, raising one eyebrow as he replied. "When you're in that position? With that dress on? Do you really have to ask?" Giggling a little, you looked down. There was indeed quite an expanse of cleavage on display for him and while you hadn't meant for there to be (on this occasion at least), you leant forward a little more, both to give him a show and to kiss his lips and the tip of his nose softly. Resting your cheek on his chest and breathing in the woody, spicy scent of him that you loved, you quietly and unthinkingly said, "I wish you could stay to see the autumn here." Then immediately followed that thought just as quickly with a "Sorry, sorry, I know. None of that." You had agreed several weeks ago that it was best not to mention Marcus's departure and just enjoy each other while you could. But the closer it got to him leaving, the more heavy your heart became. And his too. You had caught him looking at you sadly on more than one occasion, and when you would ask him what was wrong he would never answer with words, but would gather you into his arms and hold you tight, his lips brushing against your hair or ear or forehead as he did so.

In the weeks you had spent with him, you had explored London with new eyes, and your time together was marked by the seemingly endless halcyon days of the perfect summer that you had been blessed with. Everything seemed exciting and new again with him. Even the familiar sights of the view from Primrose Hill, or the river walk from Hammersmith to Putney, or exploring the Natural History Museum were all given new life and new laughter and new colour with Marcus by your side. He had an excellent sense of adventure and was happy to try almost anything that you had suggested to him (he had drawn the line when you jokingly suggested jellied eels for lunch one day). Today's excursion was a picnic in the rose gardens at Regents Park and you would shortly be taking the brief walk around the winding paths through the gardens to the Open Air Theatre to see a production of Much Ado About Nothing. You had taken more Saturdays off than ever before and owed a debt of gratitude to both Catherine and James for covering for you. Since it was his last few days in London, today you had pushed it even further and taken half of your Friday off too to spend it in the park with him. Catherine had given up trying to shield you from yourself and your surging emotions and was resigned to listening to you talk about Marcus every chance you got. "He's just so...good to me. I can't describe it. Its like everything he does, he's already included me in his thoughts to make me happy." She would smile sadly when you talked about him in this way, and you would have to turn away from her, not being able to bear the echo of your future in her eyes.

Most of your days were taken up with work, as were his, but Marcus had come by the bakery every evening after your shift to take you home - to his flat or yours. It would have been alarming how quickly you lived with each other, except it wasn't. It just felt right. After that first weekend together, within no time at all both of you had willingly given over space in your flats to accommodate the clothes and possessions of the other. You found yourself doing his laundry, and he yours. A jar of olives resided permanently in his fridge now, even though he couldn't stand the things. Bottles of the shower gel and shampoo he liked were on the window ledge of your bathroom.

When you got in from work, one of you would cook or call for food and after you had eaten he would usually prop himself up against the arm of the couch and you would sit between his legs and lie back against the broad expanse of his chest. His arms would surround you and he would rest his chin on your shoulder, with occasional kisses being pressed against your neck or cheek while you watched some film or other. Those nights would invariably end with hands and lips wandering over bare skin and the film forgotten, your passion taking over and your eyes and minds finding far more to interest you in the other than whatever was on the screen. If he had reignited your love of your home city, that was nothing compared to what he had done for your desire for sex. It was hard to think of a more apt word than insatiable. He had sparked a burning, driving, primal desire within you that was seemingly never doused. You had had your fair share of experience, but this was like nothing ever you had ever felt before. No matter how gently or passionately you touched each other, you both always wanted more. He could arouse you with a whispered word, a glance, and every time you satisfied each other, you could feel your love and desire for him grow. Being the sweet man that he was, Marcus had surprised you with some of his proclivities. Not only did he enjoy taking control and asserting his dominance, he had a slight penchant for touching you subtly in public, getting you hot and bothered over the course of hours, and sometimes you would barely make it through the front door before you were upon him, desperate and needy for his body. Not that it was all one sided. As much as he enjoyed touching you exactly how he wanted to, he also loved it on the occasions you took control and he had just about lost his mind the night you had blindfolded him and tied him to your bed frame. The sweet pleas that had fallen from his lips for you touch him, use him, fuck him were like music to your ears, and he also very much enjoyed the bruises your mouth sucked on him and the red trails your nails left down his back. Your indulgences were always balanced with the softness and gentleness between you and one of your favourite things was the sleepy, lazy, hazy morning sex that had so quickly become a staple. It was hard to think of a better way to begin your day than with Marcus between your thighs, holding him as close and as tight to you as you could while he slowly and steadily rocked into you, trying to get further, deeper within you, and whispering your name with soft groans as the hot pleasure flowed between your bodies.

Three nights ago it had rained - a proper storm with thunder and lightning and the white noise of the insistent and driving raindrops against your windows. You had turned off all of the lights and opened the curtains, the better to see the ferocity of the natural world outside - so often absent from the grey of the metropolis that you inhabited. There was a strange, discordant beauty to be found in the fat drops of water passing through the orange glow of the sodium streetlight outside of your window and the blurring of the black and orange picture of the outside world as the water ran down your window pane. It was a rare occasion when Marcus had sat with his back against you, and you had delighted in the solid feel of his body as you slid your hands under his arms and around his chest. He had held you there with his own hands and as you had nuzzled into the crook of his neck you could not remember a time when you had been happier. The two of you had sat like that for an hour or so, a sense of quiet elation at simply being with the other and listening to the storm, and you had thought at the time that you had never felt closer to another person. As ever, it had been a struggle for you to maintain the reticence you had promised yourself about your feelings. You wanted desperately to tell Marcus how you felt about him, but how could you? It would be the height of cruelty and selfishness. It was necessary for him to go back home. He wouldn't stay, he couldn't. He had his job, a house, friends, a life there. By telling him you loved him, it would only make him feel terrible about leaving you and ruin the last few precious days that you had together. So you did nothing except enjoy him, his company, his body, and try to ignore the impending bleakness that was coming to envelop you so imminently. After the brief mention of you being his girlfriend that first weekend, neither one of you had explicitly tried to pin down what exactly you were to the other. It felt unnecessary, partly because he would be saying goodbye so shortly, but mostly because you didn't need a label attached to what you had. You slotted into each others lives as if you were always supposed to be there. It was uncomplicated, liberating and it was easy. It was easy to make him smile, to show him affection, to talk with him and laugh with him. It was so easy to love him and you did, freely and fiercely.

The only acknowledgments between you of Marcus's departure was when he had told you when his flight was and when you had asked him what he wanted to do with your last day together. He had smiled and swept you into a hug while saying that it would just be plain rude not to spend the entire day together in bed. You had laughed at that and agreed with him and now...now the day had come. And as you awoke suddenly it didn't seem like a day of smiles and laughter. It seemed like a day of intensity and pressure and wanting to commit every tiny thing to memory. You could see the sky outside was becoming a paler shade of blue and the lights in your street had gone out. Marcus's arm was draped over you and his body was pressed against yours from behind. Moving very gently, you turned over on to your other side to look at him. At some point over the last couple of weeks he had decided to stop shaving. Even though you had thought you couldn't possibly be more attracted to him, you had to admit he looked gorgeous this way. Not to mention how good his facial hair felt when it was tickling your upper thighs. You stroked his hair softly and he frowned and sighed a little in his sleep, the crease between his eyes deepening momentarily.

How could you ever let him go when he made you feel this way? As if every single day was luminescent and burgeoning with promise, like you had endless capabilities and potential, just as long as you could see his face. Like the world was better purely for having him in it, beautiful, and so alive with kindness and joy. Like your heart couldn't feel any lighter and more free and yet simultaneously could not possibly hold any more love and desire for him. Unable to resist any longer you brought your lips to his face, breathing in the scent of his hair as you brushed against his forehead, and you startled slightly as a tear unexpectedly fell from your eye. You didn't want to cry, not today. Not when there was so little time left to be this happy. You had shed some tears over the past week, mostly in private, but Marcus had been witness to a few of them and he had always held you close and stroked your hair and whispered to you that it would all be okay. On a couple of occasions you were certain you had seen his own eyes become slightly glassy, and he had gulped deeply and blinked rapidly before he looked himself again.

Not wanting him to be woken by you crying all over him, you drew back from him and as you did so, saw his soft, dark eyes looking up at you. He stroked your cheek, catching the tear on his thumb and wiping it away before his lips were upon you, somehow soft and comforting, yet also hungry. There was no need for words between you any more. Not today of all days. His hands were all over you, gentle but firm and stroking over the parts of you he now knew so well. The need for him bloomed within your heart and stomach and its soft but persistent intensity caused you to clutch at his shoulder and manoeuvre him on top of you. You wanted him above you, the reassuring weight of him bearing down on you and his eyes raking over your face and body with gentleness and sweet desire. He caged your head with his forearms and kissed your face everywhere, your forehead, eyebrows, the tip of your nose, chin, cheeks, before settling on your lips again, his tongue pushing into you with a taste of what was to come. He rumbled a hum against your lips when you opened yourself to him and he felt how slick you were already, how needy for him, how ready. He looked into your eyes as he pushed himself into you, and the warm stretch of him filled your senses. He was everywhere in you and around you and you felt so complete with him there, a piece of you restored that you hadn't even realised was missing. You knew now, of course you knew how he felt about you. He was as bad as hiding it as you were. Your eyes betrayed you, as did his. But your lips did not. As long as it was still unspoken life could move on as planned, the machinations of it all already set in seemingly unstoppable motion before you had ever laid eyes on each other - moving across continents, houses, jobs - all the big, adult things in life that would still never add up to the enormity of what was in your heart.

********* ********* *********

You planned to stay with him that evening and accompany him to the airport for a final farewell. His flight was at lunchtime on Sunday, so you still had a little time together. You had barely got in the door when you connected harshly, fervently, bruisingly, as if you could fuck tomorrow away if you only did it hard and fast enough. But after you both came and he was collapsed, sweating on top of you, your torsos wrestling with each other from your panting breaths, he stayed where he was. And when he had recovered a little, he stroked his hands over your face and hair and looked at you with naked adoration, kissing every part of your skin that he could reach until he hardened inside you again and this time it was tenderness itself when he moved within you. That night was an exquisite and dream-like jumble of skin and heat and lips and eyes interspersed with snatches of sleep before one or the other of you would kiss or caress the other awake again, never wanting to stop, never wanting it to end - a ceaseless carousel of pleasure and love that dizzied and astounded you.

Of course, he made you pancakes for breakfast the next morning. The delicious wafting smell of them permeated his flat and you had a fleeting desire to trap the scent somehow, a tiny part of Marcus that wouldn't leave you. As you ate, he was jovial, but you could hear the forced edge to it. Not wanting to bring him down on your last morning together, you matched him in the light and breezy conversation, hoping that it your usual easy way with each other would kick in. It didn't work and a slightly uncomfortable silence fell between you, broken by him getting up to make more coffee. You sighed and turned in your chair to look at him pottering around the kitchen. You decided direct was best in this situation.

"We don't have to try to pretend its not happening," you said. His movements ground slowly to a halt and he turned to you, gripping the counter behind him as if he might fall over if he didn't.

"I know," he said softly. "I just...don't know how else to deal with it. These past months with you have been wonderful. Why does it suddenly feel awkward?"

"I think because maybe we're both trying to hard not to bring the other down?" you suggested. "And I don't know about you but I'm feeling a kind of pressure about today. To make it perfect." He let go of the counter, crossed the floor to you and hugged your head against his stomach, bending down briefly to kiss the top of your head as your arms came round to circle his lower back.

"You're probably right," he murmured. "I guess I'm feeling the same way. Which is silly, because all the time we spend together is perfect." You smiled against him and held him closer. He tilted your chin up to meet his eyes. "I guess its finally time to stop pretending." Your heart gave a little squeeze in your chest, but strangely you felt better. Like he was supporting you in your sadness because he was experiencing his own. You stood and stroked the scruff at his cheeks.

"I guess so," you murmured sadly and pulled him in for a hug. You stood there for a long time in his kitchen just holding each other, feeling the warmth of your bodies pass between you, feeling his heartbeat against your chest, feeling the material of your t shirt become slightly damp at your neck as he finally gave in to his tears. Eventually, you broke apart and you kissed the tears from his cheeks, feeling their cool salt against your lips. "It's okay," you whispered to him as your lips moved over his face. It wasn't. Perhaps it never would be again.

After breakfast was cleared away, he took you back to bed. You lay naked with each other, stroking skin, sharing kisses and smiles and in each other, the sadness of your separation still just far enough away that you could forget for a time that it was already happening all around you with every passing second.

"I've got a surprise for you. Give me a moment." You reached for your overnight bag, where a wrapped present lay nestled in among your clothes. As you came back to bed, you asked him to close his eyes. He covered them so you knew he wasn't peeking, and when you sat down next to him, you put the parcel into his lap.

"I thought we said no presents," he protested as he opened his eyes.

"I know. But I couldn't resist."

"Well, now I feel better about this," he said as he reached into the drawer of his bedside table and retrieved a small wrapped parcel. You laughed as you took it.

"Well, at least we're both as bad as each other!" you exclaimed, trying not to let too much of a wobble show in your voice.

"You first," he said softly. You tore the paper off to find a notebook within. The cover depicted The Soul of the Rose by Waterhouse and when you opened it, it contained handwritten recipes of various cakes and pastries. "I promised you recipes the first time we went out and I never gave them to you," he smiled. "If you have problems reading my handwriting, I guess you'll just have to call me," he added cheekily and you laughed through the tears that had welled up.

"Thank you," you said sincerely as you looked into his eyes. "This is perfect. I'll send you pictures of everything I make."

"You better," he smiled. He turned to your gift to him and opened it up, exclaiming softly when he saw what it was. You had put together a photo album of the places you had visited, having made sure to take pictures everywhere you went. Some were pictures of the two of you, some just of the view. On the first page was the very first picture he had taken of you both, in front of the Houses of Parliament. He laughed and chatted over the photos as he perused them, until he came to the last page. It was a picture you had taken only a few days before. You were lying on your back on your bed, Marcus half hidden from the camera with his face buried into your neck, his smile broad and his dimple deep. A casual observer would never be able to tell, but you had both been naked and giggling at a joke he had made about not physically being able to leave the bed because of how exhausted you both were and what a tragedy that was. Within minutes he had belied his own comments by easing himself back between your legs and kissing you like he had never felt your lips upon his before. He hadn't realised you had taken the picture until it was done and you had loved the natural and easy warmth that seemed to emanate from it, as well as the pleasant memories it inspired. "it's uh..." he began, his voice cracking a little, "I love it. Its beautiful. Thank you." You didn't think you could bear seeing him tearful again, so you closed your eyes and kissed him instead, the depth of your feeling flowing through your lips into his. He stroked your face and almost clung to you as he whispered breathily, "We still have some time. Can we-"

"Yes, Marcus. Anything you want. Everything you want," you found yourself saying as you pulled him close.

********* ********* *********

"You'll come back, won't you? There are still so many things I want to do with you here. And if we're both single we can have some fun too." Your words were light, your spirit was not. The injustice that you could only accompany him so far through the airport and that he would still be in the vicinity but that you wouldn't be able to see him rankled deeply. That he would spend his last hour in London alone, when all you wanted was to be together.

"Of course. Hey, you can always come out to D.C. There's a world of things to see and do out there too." His tone matched yours, light but heavy with the effort of making it so.

"Can I have your address? I can send you over English treats that you miss. Like Marmite. I know you love it really."

He laughed heartily at that and pulled you close, your head resting on his shoulder. "I swear to God, if you send me that stuff I will tell the FBI that there have been threats made against me and I'll get them to do a controlled detonation on the package!" You laughed as well, and even through the very real threat of tears that wanted to make an appearance, it was genuine mirth. He broke the hug and held your hands in his. "I already put all my details in the notebook. If there's anything else you need, call me. Any time. Please." His eyes were shining a little too much and his voice cracked on the last word. He was so vulnerable, so beautiful. Your resolve broke at the last minute.

"Marcus, I..." you said shakily. "I have to tell you..." He was shaking his head and your words trailed away.

"I know," he said thickly. "I can't. Please. I can't say goodbye like that. It's too much. It was perfect. We were perfect." His use of the past tense tipped you over and the tears fell hotly and uncontrollably down your face. He brought your hands to his lips to kiss them and you could feel his mouth tremble as he did. "I told you once that I didn't think a relationship existed where people are happy all the time. I was wrong. But I guess...this is our unhappiness." You couldn't respond. By this point the more you tried to stop the tears, the faster they fell and your throat felt bruised and sore from stopping yourself from sobbing out loud. You were pretty sure you were bright red and God only knew what faces you were pulling trying to get yourself under control, but he drew you to him again and held you close, his breath warm over your cheek and neck. "You're beautiful, you know." he whispered to you as his lips came to meet yours one last time.

********* ********* *********

It was ridiculous. You were ridiculous. And pathetic. But still here you were, an hour after you had watched his plane take to the sky and carry everything you ever wanted thousands of miles away, sitting in the sickly glow of the airport lighting and still fighting back your tears. Hoping against hope that he would emerge, smiling, laughing, to take you into his arms and reassure you that he could never leave, not you, not us. He had called as soon as he was through security, and you had talked about everything and nothing while he waited to depart. When you heard the announcement for the 13.45 flight to Washington D.C. it may as well have been the toll of a death knell in your heart. You had insisted that he call as soon as he could once he had landed, and he had agreed despite some weak protestations from him about time differences and you needing your sleep. But for now, it was time to go. Back to your empty flat, your shell of a life. As if she had heard your thoughts, Catherine's name flashed up on your phone. When you answered, she correctly guessed that you were still at the airport and her words were kind and soft to you.

"Stay there, I'll come pick you up." You agreed and ended the call, settling back against the uncomfortable airport chair once again. Opening your bag, you took out Marcus's gift to you, debating the wisdom of doing so in public when you were already an emotional wreck but needing something, anything of his to be close to. As you flicked through the pages, you discovered a loose leaf of paper at the back and when you pulled it out it nearly broke you anew. Marcus had told you that he had been to art classes in his youth, but he had never followed up on it and you hadn't pressed him, assuming that he wasn't terribly good, or had lost interest in pursuing it. Apparently you had been wrong on both counts. In your hands was a beautifully crafted pencil sketch of a familiar couple, the man with his back to a tree looking down at the woman resting her head on his lap, and even on paper the love shone like a beacon from their eyes and their smiles.

Next Chapter

[gothicwidowsworld]

Jack Whitehall #2

** I couldn’t find a gif for S4 of TWMF as it only just came on Netflix today anyway**

“Honestly Hilary Molly’s wedding is going to be beautiful.” Y/N gushed over the pages of colour schemes and fabric samples ignoring her grown boyfriends complaints of embarrassment. “Well it’s only a few weeks away now but there’s still so much to do.” Hilary muttered ignoring both males at the table who clearly just wanted to get started on their meals. “For example the cake table needs a ribbon and i just can't seem to choose between this byzantium or punch.” 

“Pink!” Jack announced hoping that his call would make the two women shut up about weddings. Turning to face the bearded man Y/N frowned rolling her eyes “It’s not pink Jack it's punch!” before returning to her conversation. “Well Molly has gone for quite a vintage theme so maybe punch would be better the colour just screams silk and lace.” Agreeing the older lady noticed the waiter had returned. Ah another person she could slowly bore to death with wedding talk thought Jack. Placing the book away Hilary ignored her husband’s jabs her eyes narrowing on her eldest son who was still sat pulling faces. “Honestly Jack I hope you don’t behave like this when you and Y/N are planning your wedding!” Spitting out his drink the comedian blushed his voice high pitched and wavering “Right, changing the conversation!” 

“You could do a lot worse.” Michael grumbled, the heat starting to irritate him, honestly who’s idea was it to visit the land of criminal descendants. He’d been quite happy in Putney with Hilary and Winston of course without joining his son gallivanting. “I’ll take that as a complement.” Y/N joked. The y/h/c girl had been dating Jack for the past 5 years and became quite used to the perceived harsh dynamic. Even though the camera’s were still rolling Michael broke a smile knowing the girl had not taken it in a bad jest. “Your father’s right Jack you won't do much better than Y/N. She’s perfect.” Blushing the girl in question took a sip of her rosé. “I know she is Mother but I haven’t even proposed yet.” Jack sighed wanting the ground to just swallow him whole. It was bad enough that season 4 of his Netflix show had only just started being filmed and that he was currently sat in the Sydney Opera House with his longtime girlfriend and parents. Why Y/N stayed around he never did know but that’s probably what he loved most about her. He could act like a complete knob and she’d still be there for him at the end of the day. Maybe growing up just a little wouldn’t hurt.

[footballfanfictions]

Think that I like her - Christian Pulisic - Phase One

‘It’a been two weeks since I first saw her, and you still haven’t introduced us’ he sighed, running a hand through his hair. It had grown too long for his liking and he was debating getting a buzz cut. When his hair grew out it became curly and he hated trying to tame that every day. 

Mason sat staring at the TV, play station controller in his hand, rapidly pressing buttons and seemingly ignoring Christian.

‘Hello… earth to Mason’ Christian swiped his hand in front of Mason’s face, breaking him out of the trance-like state he was in.

‘Sorry mate, Fik is kicking my ass here. What did you say?’ he asked.

‘Never mind. It was never going to change anything any way. Pretty sure a girl like that already has a boyfriend’ Christian sighed. He wasn’t an unconfident guy in normal situations, but when it came to girls he didn’t count himself as experienced, and this wasn’t a girl from back home. This was a British girl with British girl banter that he just didn’t get. 

‘Wait are you talking about Kara?’ Mason sat up, suddenly interested in what Christian had to say, and put the controller down at the end of his game. ‘As in my best friend?’

‘Is that weird?’ Christian asked, rubbing the back of his neck, an awkward habit he had.

‘Err… no not exactly…’

‘You promise me you don’t have some sort of lifelong crush on her or anything. I would never get in the way of something like that..’ Christian shook his head as he spoke. ‘I don’t think I have a chance any way.’

‘Funny you should mention lifelong crushes like that. It’s er, actually our other best friend that I’m interested in. You met Molly right? She’s Kara’s flat mate. They live in Putney.” Mason was the one looking nervous now. ‘Kara doesn’t have a boyfriend, but Molly does. A great big muscled semi-pro boxer boyfriend.’

‘That sounds complicated’ Christian took a sip of his bottle of water and crunched the plastic between his hands. ‘I feel like my stomach does this every time I see her’ he said, demonstrating the crunching with the bottle.

‘Yeah that’s exactly how I feel about Molly, until I see her with Mike and then I think about this..’ Mason swiped the bottle out of Christian’s hands and crushed it completely. ‘This will be my head if Mike eve finds out that I want to make a move on his girl’.

‘So how do we go about this then? I like Kara and you like her..what was the word?’

‘Flat mate’ Mason interjected.

‘Right right, that’s where they live together, in a flat…’ Christian laughed, turning a very slight shade of pink just on the top of his ears like he did every time he felt foolish ‘ Where’s Putney?’

*

Mason: 

Hey K, I really need your help with something. Can you meet me at Frankie’s?

Mason had brought Christian into London, to Stamford Bridge to be precise, to carry out the first step in his 100 step plan to get Molly to fall in love with him. He knew that Kara was such a good friend to him that she would drop anything to come to his aid, which would be the perfect opportunity for him to get information about Molly and Mike whilst introducing Christian in a way that was less intimidating than them being alone together. He happened to think that stage one was faultless and that he would have his girl by the end of the season. he thought that maybe he could count on Kara and Christian to do some serious wing-manning for him.

Kara:

What’s up Mase? You ok? I can be there in 10 depending how busy Fulham Broadway is. I’m just third wheeling M&M anyway.

Mason felt a lump in his throat as he read her message. Molly and Mike were together at the flat, making permanently single Kara uncomfortable enough that she wanted to leave and spend time with him, which was something that her job had made her too busy to do recently.

‘So what’s going on?’ Christian asked, giving Mason a smile. ‘Are the wings any good here?’

Mason rolled his eyes. ‘I swear all you think about is food.’

‘Are they coming?’ Christian looked hopeful as he asked the second question.

‘I er, didn’t ask both but Kara is coming. I said that I needed her help with something.  Which to be fair isn’t a complete lie. I’m going to ask her to help me with the Molly situation. I mean, who better to talk to her about it than the person she lives with…’ he trailed off, remembering the part of Kara’s message that had hurt.

‘Is there something else?’

‘Yeah she said she was third-wheeling Molly and Mike tonight so she would be right over’ Mason sighed, tucking his phone back into the pocket of his jeans.

‘I’m sorry mate, you don’t have to get her over here just for me. If you needed to just have a night out without thinking about, or talking about girls. We could have done that’ Christian smiled, patting Mason on the back. He took a long sip of his diet pepsi which he nearly spat across the room when Kara walked into the bar.

*

Christian felt like, and knew that he looked like an idiot. He had practically choked on a mouthful of Pepsi when she walked in but he just couldn’t help having that reaction. She just looked so damn good. She wasn’t even dressed up, but she didn’t need to be. Just the way that she carried herself, with such confidence that it didn’t matter what she was wearing. It did however help that she was wearing a cropped white sweater with a pair of high-waisted jeans that accentuated her hour glass figure. Her ash blonde hair was tied back in a loose ponytail and she was wearing just the smallest hint of make up. She was effortlessly hot and it made Christian more nervous than he was the first time he played for the national team. He could feel his mouth going dry and felt that need to fidget in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

‘Hey Mase, I got your SOS. What’s up?’ Kara was at their table now. Christian had missed her walking over and sitting down because he had been so busy replaying the first second he caught a look at her walking in over and over in his head, and it was a damn shame that he didn’t get to check out her butt as she went around the table to sit beside Mason. She put her arm around his shoulder and gave him a quick sideways squeeze.

Mason looked up at Christian and Christian felt his stomach do a jealous backflip. Damn it, why do I have to like her so much?

‘You know I trust you with my life, right?’ Mason asked Kara, his gaze flitting between his friend and the floor beneath the table.

‘Yes.” Kara nodded, concern crossing her face.

Christian had only met her a handful of times but he could tell that Kara was a very empathetic person. He wanted as she reacted to Mason pouring his heart out to her, telling her how much he loved Molly. He fell for her when they were just teenagers, they all attended their prom together and he had been too shy to ask her out but had instead slipped his jacket around her shoulders, hoping that small gesture might get Molly thinking that he was relationship material. 

Kara nodded, ooh’ed and aah’ed in all the right places and then sat upright in her seat.

‘Right Mason Mount, we are getting you that girl.’ She declared, a big grin spreading across her face. Christian thought she looked really cute when she smiled and then she spoke to him, and he felt him stomach drop to his feet. ‘I’m really sorry that I breezed in here and didn’t even speak to you Christian. I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Kara, Mason’s best friend.’

‘Well I might have to fight you for that title because we have grown pretty close’ Christian retorted, trying to sound funny and playful. It sounded that way in his head but he wasn’t sure if that was how she would take it until she grinned mischievously and said ‘You’re on’.

‘Do you want a drink Kara? You’ve been here like 20 minutes and neither of us have offered to buy you one.’

Christian hoped that, just like teenage Mason had hoped offering a jacket would, buying her a drink would help secure him the girl.

‘Yes please. I’m taking the tube so I can probably be naughty and have one drink. Only one though, I have work tomorrow. Could I have an Archers and Lemonade please.’ She started to reach into her bag for her purse but Christian was on her side of the table by then and put his hand on hers to stop her pulling the purse out.

‘Don’t you dare, I offered.’ 

*

Once Christian was over by the bar, Kara felt that he was a comfortable enough distance away that she would speak to Mason about him without him overhearing.

‘He is really hot’ she blurted.

Mason nearly did a spit take and grinned mischievously, ‘Oh really?’

‘I uh- I didn’t mean… Oh don’t look at me like that! I’ve been single for years, I was just…looking.’

‘If you are interested in him I think you should say something’ Mason said.

‘Oh really, says you who has sat on the secret of liking someone for the last 6 years!’ She laughed, playfully smacking him on the arm. ‘You are quite possibly the last person i should be taking dating tips from. Your last ex was a psycho. She still messages me on Insta from time to time, just to make sure we’re not fucking.’

Mason spat his drink for real that time.

‘Who’s fucking?’ Christian asked, laughing at Mason and handing him a paper napkin so that he could wipe his drink off his face.

‘We were just talking about Mason’s crazy ex girlfriend checking that he isn’t seeing anyone else.’ Kara felt the need to explain herself, hoping that Christian hadn’t got the wrong idea from whatever he had heard. She hadn’t noticed him come back to the table so she wasn’t sure how much had been overheard.

‘Ah, not one of those.’ 

‘You know the type?’ She asked curiously, a tiny pang of jealousy prickling in her stomach. She didn’t want to think about this hot American boy being with another girl.

‘There was this one girl I was seeing in Germany, nothing serious… well she used to turn up to the training ground and to the stadium and just hang around after I broke up with her.’ 

‘And you were so scared that you fled to England? Good plan.’ Kara nudged Christian’s arm playfully, and just that slight touch felt like there was maybe a spark between them. Kara couldn’t really tell whether he was flirting or not because she thought the difference between American and British humour could be misinterpreted and he was a playful kind of guy in general. 

Kara sipped her drink and tried to relax back into her seat now that Christian had moved back to his, but she felt on edge, like every move she made mattered. She twirled a small amount of her hair around her finger nervously as the boys chatted casually across her about their team mates and the games they had coming up, getting lost in their own little world.

Kara hadn’t felt this nervous around a guy since her ex. He was a musician in an up and coming London indie band and had made her feel like some kind of fan girl rather than a girlfriend, and he didn’t even have any real fangirls. To any outside observer, she knew that she came across as confident, but she definitely didn’t feel it now. 

She looked across the table and caught Christian’s eye.

Those eyes, so brown…like a Hershey bar.

She had googled him after the second time that they met, wanting to get to know more about him but not wanting to ask for herself. What was the internet invented for if not for looking up where people come from?

Neither one of them broke their gaze for a second before Kara looked away first, looking down at her drink and taking her straw between her lips so that she could take a sip. She then realised how suggestive that might look after their semi-flirtatious look at each other and cringed internally. 

This is why I am single. So smooth.

She got to the bottom of her drink and yawned involuntarily.

‘I think it’s someone’s bedtime.’ Mason laughed. ‘Are we boring you with all this football talk?’

‘Sorry, no not at all. I just had a long day and I have court first thing in the morning.’ She picked her bag up from the floor and slung it over her shoulder.

‘Are you in trouble?’ Christian asked.

I could be, if you like a bad girl. She thought. CRINGE CRINGE

‘Oh no it’s for my job. I’m a Social Worker and I have to see a judge tomorrow about taking a child into foster care.’ she spoke softly, almost embarrassed about her profession. It wasn’t glamorous and neither was getting ‘child snatcher’ shouted at you from across the street, but she did love what she did, protecting kids and advocating for their rights, knowing that she was making a difference in someone else’s life got her through the hard parts.

‘Wow that’s amazing, well good luck. Maybe we can hang out again soon?’ Christian asked, looking hopeful.

‘Kara nodded. ‘I’d like that’. 

*

‘Well I think that went well’ Mason laughed, relaxing back into his seat once he had seen his best friend retreat out of the bar. 

‘You think?’ asked a now very hopeful Christian.

‘Mate, I definitely see a spark there… now we move on to Phase 2’.

[bumbershots]

A CERTAIN ROMANCE

CHAPTER FOUR: SILENCE COMES AND GOES

Author’s note: Hello! We continue with this, I would like to thank everyone once again for all the likes and reblogs the story has gotten so far, couldn’t be happier! Enjoy (:

Story masterlist ** Word count: 2.9K **

It is possible that Harry is ignoring the big elephant in the room, as he spreads some jam in his crumpet, well aware of Fernando and Jack exchanging knowing looks. He takes a bite of the savoury treat and hopes none of them dare to confront him, at the same time he wants to be questioned about why he hasn't called Alma yet.

Harry spent the last two weeks grumpy and frustrated.

He's called his therapist way too many times. He has no idea where he went wrong in his healing process. They were back to square one, whispered his tired heart.

Jack is surprised too, his friend got on so well with Alma at the party and apparently even went the extra mile asking for her number then he spent the following fourteen days acting as if she didn’t exist. Didn't even text her like Gemma suggested. He sips his coffee and sighs for the millionth time that day.

The musician is infuriated at himself and desperate that he wants to have Fernando demand an explanation for his behaviour towards his sister. Harry's not a confrontational guy, but he's going mad. Might be losing it. He wanted to scream at the two men before him that he did plan on calling Alma, but then he got so sad. Now he's afraid it's too late.

"Do you want another one?" Fernando holds the plate with crumpets in front of Harry who takes one more and thanks him before grabbing the jam. "Do you reckon you'll be man enough to call my sister within the next couple of days?" Harry chokes on his food while Jack's laughter booms through their home.

Nobody has ever called him out like that. Harry's still unsure whether to be grateful or scared. Maybe a bit of both he thinks after composing himself again from the fit of coughs, he knows Fernando is still waiting for an answer.

"Is she upset about it?" A hint of relief and pride linger on Harry's voice. Jack shakes his head, knowing that he's avoiding the question. Something he's very good at.

"That's not what I asked." Fernando's clipped tone leaves no room for the musician to beat around the bush anymore.

"I was really nervous about calling her, kept putting it off until days turned into weeks... I'm not sure how to go about it," he plays with his rings and looks away from the inquisitive gaze of his companions.

"How did you get Taylor to go out with you?"

"What?" Harry and Jack ask at the same time.

"You must've asked her I guess," Fernando shrugs. "What is so scary about Alma that puts you off? Are you interested in just a shag and you're worried she'll decline or tell the media about it?" Harry is shaking his head vigorously and the dark haired architect leans a bit closer towards him, "you're so full of sh-”

"Alright let's take a break," Jack's soothing tone brings his house mate back from the rage path he was following. But Harry knew that he was right.

It had been a year already, he moved to a new house, one where his ex never set foot into and still her ghost was everywhere. He has this crazy need to destroy everything that can relate to her. Her favourite cardigan is kept away in a box full of Polaroids and books that are all her.

The real reason why he didn't dare to call Alma is because whatever he felt at the beginning of his previous relationship, or any other one, was at least ten times less intense, than what he was feeling now. Seeing the menace before them, his heart and mind decided to leave him courage-less towards the situation. It's less painful to think what could've been than to know it and see it being taken away from you. Again.

But he deserves to be happy, that's what Gemma reminded him the other day.

"I gotta go," Fernando announces before rising from his seat, walking inside the house and upstairs to his room. Jack tries to tidy up the table a bit, not daring to look at his apparently mute friend. When Fernando comes back down he steps outside to the patio where they had brunch, one last glance to a very ashamed Harry and he sighs. "Brigit's Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus. Alma’s been dying to get tickets but never has the time to actually book it," he explains adjusting his jacket's collar. "It's not too late." With that he turns on his heel and leaves the house.

Harry takes their mugs and places them in the sink, he notices Jack is going around the kitchen putting away the butter and milk in the fridge.

"What are you waiting for Romeo?" The blue eyed man asks, stopping in front of a blushing Harry.

They're both quiet for a minute. Harry's heart is racing and can feel his hands get clammy. He hasn't felt someone's faith in a long time, and he's not sure if he's happy or pressured that Fernando and Jack are pushing him to call Alma, he doesn’t even know if she will give him a chance. Harry's wishing to be the kind of guy to take out his mobile and make the call, maybe even crack a witty joke that will have Alma laughing in that loud way he remembers and not be awkward with asking her out on a date. As if he wasn't completely mortified by being rejected.

Harry was sure he would ruin it, not just the call but the date and everything else that was actually going to happen between them without even trying first.

"Hello?" She answers after the third ring, confused at the unknown number calling her.

"Yeah it's me," Harry nods to Jack who urges him to finish whatever sentence he's trying to form, "I believe I owe you some coffee."

"Harry?" Alma tries to fight back a laugh. A wide smile splitting her face after recognising who is the mystery caller.

"Yes! Sorry I forgot you didn't have my number." Jack is red with second hand embarrassment for his friend and decides to start the dishwasher just to keep his eyes from the train wreck happening in his kitchen. "I'm sorry for not calling sooner."

"You're calling now, 's all that matters... I'd love to get that coffee. Next Thursday works for you?" He nods feverishly and remembers he's on the phone.

"Of course, I'll pick you up at five if that's alright."

"Make it half past five please, that's when my shift ends. I'll text you the address." She throws the latter smoothly as an excuse to initiate conversation until they meet again and Harry is oblivious about it.

"Sure great, perfect I'm... really looking forward to seeing you," he plays with the tea towel on the counter, his back turned to Jack, a million butterflies fluttering in his stomach when he hears the coy chuckle his confession got out of her. "Have a good day, see you later."

"See you later, Harry" Alma's goodbye is full of hope and endearment, just like the one he got before she walked away from him that morning after Freddie’s birthday party.

After ending the call, he mentally scolds himself for dreading it so much. It went so much better than expected, even got a laugh out of her. Perhaps Harry needed to stop making decisions based upon his fears and more taking in consideration the other person. He always thought he knew best, it's what he's been told for so many years and although he needs to be making big choices most of the time, perhaps now he could share that responsibility. Felt dead nice for a change.

"That wasn't so bad." He admits to Jack before drying the now clean dishes with a towel.

"I'm proud of you, now tell me, where are you guys going for that coffee?" Jack's eyes are full of curiosity and excitement, it's impossible for Harry not to feel a chill go down his spine at the prospect of planning the date. He thinks about what Fernando suggested, but it would be too obvious that it wasn't his idea entirely.

Alma deserves something exclusively planned by him.

"Don't know yet, perhaps somewhere nice and quiet" he ponders and his friend agrees.

Last time Harry had a proper first date was about two years ago or so. He cooked aubergine parmigiana following Jamie Oliver's recipe and baked some biscuits for dessert that he enjoyed with his companion overlooking the Pacific Ocean from his home's balcony. Back then it seemed to be the right choice to keep it low-key, a simple dinner at his, no risk at all to be bothered or watched. But Harry knew that at some point it got old, being overly discreet was easily mistaken for being ashamed of the relationship. That kind of thing can do a lot to someone's confidence, little by little until it's all too much to bear.

If he could only learn not to care about the world's prying eyes.

Harry doesn't want to drag anyone into the scrutiny of the media until he knows it's an incorruptible bond. The inevitable thought of forever, something he believes might not exist for him, at times. He did think Taylor was it, even Kendall for a while, which is why he dated more publicly back then, until she came along and the love Harry felt was so grand it made him overly protective of them. Countless times he tried to explain that this was the first time something was working in spite of all the circumstances that came with his life and he was trying to cherish it, keep it to himself. Nurture it until it was as tough as old boots.

That night was spent writing down ideas for that first date. Number one was The river café, near Putney Bridge, a place free of paparazzi. Number two, Rail house café, lovely spot to share dinner. Number three The sanctuary café, located in a beautiful building with a quirky environment. Number four and his personal favourite Lola's bakery, their service was so warm and intimate, he remembers the cinnamon Chelsea bun and his mouth waters instantly. So, drawing a big circle around the fourth option he smiles before going to bed that night.

Saturday morning finds Harry at his grandparents’ old home, carrying a bag full of ingredients for a vegetarian lasagna he is planning to cook for his grandfather and his mum. He immediately banishes Anne from helping in the kitchen. She observed him follow the recipe, cooking for no longer than ten minutes the garlic, thyme and aubergine, and then crumble over the chilli carefully. He lets her grate the Parmesan when the sauce isn’t thickening and reducing like it was supposed to. With a bump of her hip, she nodded towards a couple of tomatoes, Harry smiled before tipping them in, breaking them with a spoon and five minutes later, the sauce was ready.

His mother is a marvellous woman, like the good son he is, Harry doesn't want to make her sad, ever. The last time he visited her, recently broken hearted, they spent it baking, cooking, eating sweets and drinking hot chocolate at the rear terrace. Once he had enough of moping around, he decided to make it up to her and create good memories from that visit. They explored the local parklands as if it was the first time, shared ice cream, got tipsy on cheap red wine and chatted from dusk till dawn.

A few hours later, after eating the delicious meal and tidying up the kitchen afterwards, Harry watches his mum talking to his grandad, holding his shaky hand in hers and caressing it in a soothing way. The elder man’s Parkinson is getting worse with time, he feels so useless, specially because it affects his favourite people. He wants to know what his mother is thinking when she joins him back in the kitchen. There is some anguish dancing in her kind eyes, but Harry knows better than to push her to share something she is not ready to.

"I have a date next Thursday," he chokes out, in hopes of distracting her, and it works. Anne's head whips towards her youngest child, evidently shocked and yet proud. It's been years since Harry shared that kind of information with her.

"A proper date?"

"Yes," he wants to add how nervous it makes him. "I dunno how serious it'll get... just met her once, properly I mean, we saw each other on the tube's carriage three times prior to it. Coincidentally of course, Gem said it is something straight out of a film."

"Who is she?" His mother is giving him that look, the one that says how giddy she is to know absolutely everything about the person that got her son so skittish, that he started to rearrange the containing of the cupboards entirely.

"Her name is Alma," he doesn't know where to start, if he spills all the ways in which he thinks she is wonderful, they'll end up pulling an all-nighter.

"And she's a...?"

"Cashier during the week, Spanish teacher on the weekends and occasional interviewer for her Youtube channel." Anne raises her eyebrows, impressed and wondering why such a busy girl agreed to go on a date. Must like him a lot of course, she thinks watching her son pour hot water on a mug, and dunking a tea bag in it afterwards.

"Where did you meet her if not on the tube?'' She is curious and weary. This wouldn't be the first time her youngest spawn overlooked certain things from strangers. Very little things in Harry's life were coincidences nowadays.

"Remember Jack Robinson?" his mum nodded, how could she forget the cheeky chap that helped Harry escape almost every night from his dad's house in the summer, just to go skate in Southbank's center until midnight. Anne admitted to not liking the bloke for a while, but gave him another chance after watching him grow into a responsible adult. "He's in charge of my home renovation, extension whatever it is called. Invited me to Freddie's birthday party and she was there." The dreamy look on his eyes when reminiscing the moment brought out a wide smile on his mum's face followed by her loud laughter.

"Oh Harry, you've got that look." it was the truth. He looked completely gobsmacked by his mother's reaction, but he couldn’t deny the peace he felt when knowing that she was already fond of the girl that he couldn’t get out of his mind.

"It’s too soon to tell!” He doesn’t want to dive into it, not yet. 

"How did you really meet? I want all the details." Anne asked, taking a seat at the coffee table and Harry told her everything.

From the first glance he stole her way to the last phone call he had yesterday at Jack and Fernando's house, his hands flew several times to tussle his hair and the dimple on his left cheek was exquisite, when telling his mother, how she asked him to dance with her. He spared no detail, from her intoxicating Moschino perfume to her raspy accented voice. By the time he finished, his mum's mug was empty but her heart was full. For so long she wondered if she would ever witness the beauty of Harry in love again and enjoy first-hand the way he spoke about that person in the sweetest manner, the high-pitched tone of his voice when finally admitting how nervous he actually was about this first date.

"Right, well in that case, stop thinking about how everything is going to go wrong." Easier said than done, Harry thinks but nods. "I'm sure whatever you planned will sweep her off her feet." Anne knew how much of a romantic her boy was, he went all out in that department. His best quality and Achilles heel.

"If the cupcakes from that place don't... I could literally do it." Harry plucks a banana from the fruit bowl before them and narrows his eyes when his mum rolls her eyes at him playfully.

His mother's reassurance made him feel less hopeless, the next day when they went to Sheffield's city center, she even picked out a couple of new mugs. 'Just in case we have new visitors at home.' Harry groaned but failed to hide the dreamy look in his eyes, he even crossed his fingers behind his back as he watched her pay for the cups. The thought of Alma meeting his mother in the near future —and the rest of his loved ones— excited him to an unfamiliar degree, like the first time he saw the seaside with his own eyes at a very young age, like that time he sang in front of a considerable amount of people, like a warm hug of his late grandmother. The idea that she may like him enough to agree to a second date is stuck on his brain, despite that they haven't even survived the first one.

Anne saw him enjoy himself the rest of that afternoon and the next morning before he had to go back to London. She sighed and watched him drive away, standing in her front door for a few more minutes, rejoicing on the memory of Harry's toothy grin. Usually she was careful and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but not this time. There was a bit of certainty in the unfamiliar situation, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, she decided to patiently wait and see. She hummed a familiar tune while putting away the new additions to her crockery. The same song her son decided to play on his journey back home.

Qué será, será. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Qué será, será.

///

Let me know if you like the story! *** Join the taglist!

///

TAG LIST: @laurxn-robinson @mellamolayla

Next chapter

[painandpleasure86]

Life-changing decisions (& a lot of suspects)- Deazzello week 2020

A/N: Hi ppl! Third fic for a row for this ship week, hosted by @roger-taylors-🚗 !! Now taking the prompt “friends with benefits” & “movie night”. This turned in a little novel in an own AU...

First “chapter” (fluff, humor): https://painandpleasure86.tumblr.com/post/190777536948/my-new-neighbor-its-my-crush-deazzello-week

Second “chapter” (fluff, drama, humor, smut): https://painandpleasure86.tumblr.com/post/190796228203/gimme-your-comfort-i-suffer-of-love-deazello

Summary: The lives of both families changed in a short time, and they just noticed that... Everyone analyzing the successes, suspecting things... 

Word count: 2000

Warning: almost all normal, just a little spicy moment. But, anyways, don’t interact if youre a minor. Don’t throw hate if you don’t like this kind of writing pls.

Permanent taglist: @warriorteam1924 @toomuchlove-willkillyou (sorry if you’re uncomfortable with this kind of writing) @deakysgurl ❤️

If you liked it, please reblog! That will help me to reach to more ppl :3

*********************************************************************************

"Well it's time to get out of here" said the elder. "I enjoy to be here with you, alone, but I don't want to raise suspect." Both started to dress again.

When they were already in the living, Laura smiled.

"You were all this time here and not helping to your mum?" said her father.

"Yeah… well not right here. I was next to the basement's door."

Ouch. Both men started to worry.

The girl continued.

"In some moment I listened to you screaming" pointing to Joe. "I was worried. That's why I called to mum to ask."

"Why you don't asked for yourself?" asked John, trying to avoid an explanation about the screaming.

"Why Joey screamed?". Laura also avoided a response, raising her voice. "I hope that Joey it's good and not covering his real feeling! A lot of times I listened scream to mum and you and she were in the same room with you!!!" Watching at Joe, added "If you're covering it, I don't understand why you haven't that role… and tell me what my dad made you that you screamed."

Their thing just started and looks like already haves suspects. At the same time, Laura was disrespectful with her dad and taking this, John could evade the response about Joe's screaming with a valid justification.

"Laura Christine Deacon, don't be that disrespectful with me! Your mum let pass a lot of your reactions, but not me! Go to your room and stay there until Joe come back to his home! We will talk a lot”, replied the man, quite upset.

Joe was in the middle of a familiar argue and he couldn't be more uncomfortable.

With a mix between anger and tears, Laura gone to her room. 

"What happened here John? I listened to Laura shouting" suddenly appeared Ronnie with Cam in her arms.

"Your daughter was disrespectful with me." replied John.

Joe never wanted more to be in his home. 

"I think that I should go to my home… family problems. I have already enough with the ones from my family"

"Sorry Joe for that… Laura lately it's being so rebel" said John accompanying him to outside.

"Oh." Joe stepped back. "Bye Ronnie, thank you for the tea and bass idea… now I see why you're his wife. You're the best".

Ronnie blushed a lot.

"Oh Joey you're the sweetest neighbor ever", she replied smiling.

He gave her a little kiss in the cheek and also caressed a bit Cam's head.

"Bye little bud!" 

The baby giggled a bit.

"He looks so cute!" Joe exclaimed watching at Ronnie, giving another smile to her. After that, he returned to his path to the outside.

Now outside and away of Ronnie, John exclaimed "Joe, you're a great actor. How you talked to Ronnie, haha!"

Watching to John, the redhead added "It was sincere. But she will not suspect that her idea left to us be happy for a while" and winked an eye. Almost out of the house, Joe watched to everywhere and gave to his neighbor a quick kiss in his lips. "Bye Sir." The old man bites his lower lip. "Tomorrow will be a long day in the dance studio. I need to rest". 

"Bye Joey".

Now again in his house, Ronnie told something to him.

"Laura asked to me that I check you. I know that wasn't nothing, but I wanted that she can be in peace."

More relaxed, John replied "oh okay. Anyways I'll go to talk with her. Lately she's so disrespectful with us". A deep sigh. 

"That's true John. Thank you for help."

"It's also my duty Ron, not only yours" and winked an eye, smiling.

John started to have an affair, but that didn't made him forget his duty as a father.

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

Joe was now in his room, trying to process all the things that happened that day. Was a rollercoaster. Sadness, kindness, passion, happiness…

And he started to ask to himself "which would be our label?"

He just knew that he had sex with his biggest crush ever. He just knew that the man's body now also belongs to him. His head was full of thoughts. "Perhaps we're just lovers… or friends with benefits? Because John it's also a good person. He's so kind… No. I just know him since last Saturday. He's my lover. Perhaps we will be also friends one day. And… I also hope to be his official partner, his HUSBAND. Am I dreaming a lot? No. I dreamed to have that body, to kiss his lips and today that dream came truth. Everything will be possible. Prepare world, Joe will be a big success! And will be happy with his lover without hiding!" And closed his eyes, trying to sleep.

John, before go to sleep, he smoked a cigarette outside. Thinking in all the things that lately happened. "Boy you already changed my life. I just know that I want you in it" he said watching to the dark sky.

Ronnie, alone in the bed, trying to not make any noise to wake up to Cameron. That night was hard lull him. "John, lately you're acting more extroverted and that's great. But also you're weirder with me. I don't know if to be happy for your good change or worried for the bad thing…" thought the woman, trying to sleep.

Laura, upset for the talk with her father. She suspect something. "I listened to Joe scream "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" so deeply. I just hope that has been a clumsy moment that he had and not another thing. Or… perhaps was just a demostration of that script. Yeah, was that… what could it have been?"

They just know that their life changed. For good or bad…

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

Two weeks of that. Having bass lessons. Living in Putney. Being kind with Ronnie. Watching Laura having her cheeks red as tomatoes. Having an affair with his neighbor. 

"Still not also friends…" thought Joe. "But I'm going to that… I have the feeling that we will be best friend and also will fuck… that's perfect".

Was a cold Thursday night. His parents aren't in home, they were having a meal in a restaurant and Joe didn't wanted to join. His only motivation to share house with them was his neighbor…

Joe listened a knock in his door meanwhile he was watching a movie. Paused it and was to the door.

"Who's there?" Joe asked behind the door.

"Me"

That soothing voice. He opened immediately.

"John, come in!"

"Inside your house or inside you?".

Both laughed.

Joe closed the door, meanwhile John was entering with some lullage.

"Oh, before you ask, I'll go to Montreux to continue recording the last album for a few weeks. I'll not come back until mid February. Sorry the abrupt interruption of your lessons and our 'private sessions' " said, winking an eye.

"I'll miss you so bad"

"Me too."

"Before to take a taxi, I wanted to say to you… erm… I want a proper date. Not hiding in my home."

"Can you watch a movie with me, then? I have enough snacks".

"But if your parents catch us?" said worried the bassist.

"John… you though that the movie was an excuse to have sex? You think that I'm capable of that?" asked, pretending to be upset.

John laughed.

"Sorry, sorry Joey." and he grabbed Joe's face with both hands and give a little kiss in the redhead's lips.

He wanted smoke a cigarette.

"Oh that… outside. Sorry Johnny".

"Open a window a bit and it will be okay… outside its cold"

"And inside, warm", added Joe, hugging to his neighbor.

"Inside of you, too" whispered the man, in Joe's right ear.

"Are you funny or horny?" asked the young man, leaving the embrace.

"Why not both?" Opening a bit the main door, said "Rewind the movie Joey. I'll smoke a bit first."

Joe rewound the movie and left it ready to restart when John ended to smoke his cigarette.

Minutes later, John locked the main door and was to the couch, sitting next to Joe.

Joe pressed play.

Hugging to Joe with one arm, whispered in the right ear of Joe "please suck my dick, will be a lot of days just wanking"

"John… my parents will be here anytime."

"Do it faster then. I'm horny enough" said watching at redhead's eyes and grabbing Joe's left hand to put it over his crotch.

The movie was on, the volume not so high.

"Okay Sir" replied Joe, grabbing that crotch.

Joe incremented the volume of the movie.

"You will can moan sir" he whispered again, now unzipping the pants.

He puts on his knees and lowered John's pants to the ankles.

Same with the boxers. Haven't enough time to foreplay.

"Spread your legs…" asked the young man.

The old man did it.

Joe can see a hard dick waiting to be sucked. He sighed excited.

He introduced it in his mouth, letting go a lot of saliva. With his right hand, catched that saliva and down to the man's balls squeezing.

Up. Down. Up. Down. Always pressing the dick against his palate with his tongue. Squeezing and massaging the balls.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH Joey, my gosh, aaaaaaaah… a bit faster and I'll cum."

Faster. And pressing more.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH… aaaaaaaaaaaaah…. aaaaaaaaaah… aaaaaah. Thank you..." suspired him.

Swallowing the cumming, replied, watching to john's eyes "you're welcome sir". And was almost running to the bathroom. 

"Gosh, I still haven't the habit to swallow. Ugh" Joe thought, washing his mouth and hands.

John dressed him again and tried to act normal watching a movie that he didn't understand. 

Joe comeback and sat next to John.

"Now we can really see the movie?" he asked.

John watched at the clock.

"Damn… I should to take a taxi."

"For God's sak-"

A car parked. His parents.

"DAAAAAAAAAAAMN"

"I ended just in time Joey, hahaha!" laughed John.

Joseph entered to the house with his wife.

"Joe, what the f- MISTER! What a nice surprise! Why you're at this hours here?"

"Joe invited me to see a movie before going to Montreux. I'll be out until mid February."

Watching at Joe, Joseph said "Now I understand why you didn't wanted to came with us, haha! For a moment I thought that you invited to Lillian, that girl really likes you!" and winked an eye.

Watching to John again, asked "we can do it anything for you?"

"Oh, yeah… please I need to go to the airport now". 

"Sure John. Will be an honor". 

Giving a little kiss in the cheek, said "goodbye Joe! See ya soon!" and stood up of the couch.

"Bye John!"

Grabbing John's lullage that was next to the main door, Joseph said to his wife "I'll be here soon. Bye honey" and kissing her in her lips.

"Bye dear… and bye mister".

She closed the door and locked it.

"Joey… low the volume please."

"Yeah".

He did it.

"Have something that you wanted to tell me? I don't be stupid. That visit was strange."

Joe stopped the movie and watched to his mom.

"No."

"Really?"

"No"

"Joseph, don't use your acting skills with me. With your father can work, but not with me."

The woman was suspecting something.

Sighing, Joe said "mister Deacon it's my platonic love mom."

She was staring at silence.

"I'm gay mom. You never noticed that?"

She suspected, but she never wanted to accept it. 

Sighing, the mistress sat next to Joe in the couch and hugged him.

"Always suspected that Joey. Despite it's so hard to me accept that, thank you for get out of the closet to me, I'll not say it to anyone".

Mistress Mazzello was more supportive that he suspected.

Leaving the embrace, he asked to his mom "Do you want to see this movie with me?"

"Sorry honey. Tomorrow. I'm tired. I love you, good night" and she stood up of the couch, going to her room.

Joe came back to see the movie, finally. Like he was planned. But already missing him.

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Again, if you liked it, please reblog! That will help me to reach to more ppl :3

Cheers, Lily.

[gentledentalputneyuk-blog]

3 Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures For The Perfect Smile

A natural beautiful smile is an asset, but very few people are blessed with it. If you are self-conscious about having misaligned teeth, stained teeth or just want to improve your appearance, you can consider cosmetic dentistry services. With the help of cosmetic dentistry, you will be able to achieve that perfect smile in Putney that you have always wanted.

The popular cosmetic dentistry procedures for a flawless smile.

  Teeth whitening: The number one requirement for a charming smile is a set of pearly white teeth. Professional cosmetic dentists make use of a medical-grade bleaching agent to achieve whiter and brighter results. They make sure that your gums or teeth are not harmed in any way. This process is a pain-free way to improve your smile dramatically.

Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are one of the best ways to get a Putney perfect smile without surgery. Veneers can effectively transform the appearance of your teeth and also protect the surface of your tooth from damage.

Invisalign: Buck teeth is a more common problem than you would imagine. If your upper front teeth are too far forward, it can affect the way you smile. A surgery-free way of fixing this problem is invisalign aligners or clear braces. These aligners are custom made and are practically invisible.

  So, irrespective of whether you have yellow or crooked teeth, you can smile brightly and confidently with the help of a cosmetic dentist. Schedule your appointment today to learn which procedure would suit you the best.

[cityoflondon-rp-blog]

BASIC INFORMATION:

NAME: Louisa Brooks. AGE: 30. PLACE OF BIRTH: Bideford, Devon, The United Kingdom. RESIDENCE: Richmond upon Thames. OCCUPATION: Strategic Communications and Reputation Management Specialist at The PHA Group. FACE CLAIM: Eleanor Tomlinson.

BIOGRAPHY:

Born and raised in the small market town of Barnstaple in Devon, Louisa Brooks was keenly aware from a young age that she was somehow ‘better’ than the small-town life that her parents had been so keen to expose her to. Never one to be openly dismissive of the towns Pannier Market, or the tiny but over the top celebrations celebrating the saints of the town, Louisa learned early on that it was always best to simply smile and say nothing at all. Perhaps she was ungrateful; time and time again when she walked across the bridge into the tiny town centre, she heard tourists speak of how quaint and beautiful the place was, how much they’d love to live there, whilst she had to restrain the urge to scream in their faces to get out whilst they still could. It wasn’t so much that she hated living in the west country, it was just that she longed for a place where people at least one person didn’t immediately recognise her when she walked into her parent’s tea room.

She kept her mouth shut though, there was no point, as far as she was concerned, arguing over something that was so set in stone. She would never have been so rebellious to run away at sixteen, and at any rate, even if she was more than a little irritated by the town itself, there was nothing she loved more than her family. Family was the centre of Louisa’s world; not so interested in popularity at school, she devoted her weekends to spending time working at the tea room, quietly baking up a storm or taking orders from waiting customers, and when she finished school at sixteen she decided immediately to throw herself into the business, working full time under her parents, and working at a local restaurant in the evening. Her plan was double-edged; working two jobs would help her build up savings, and working for her parents would get them in her good graces. Her plan, as it formed in her head, was to wait to eighteen and leave Bideford for somewhere bigger: Bristol.

Eighteen came and went though, and she still didn’t have the funds to make the separation. That was when that funny thing called fate stepped in: whilst working in the restaurant, pitching the specials to table 22, the woman at the head of the table grabbed her arm – she’d seen how Louisa had worked, and how over the course of the evening she’d upsold most of the specials and half of the drinks. She had a gift for the gab, the woman declared, and would be a sure-fire in a sales environment. And then the woman left her business card underneath the sizeable tip with the words “call me” scribbled underneath her name. She waited a week before she called, and a week after that she was booking a train ticket to London, an interview secured under her belt to work for a corporate events company. Admittedly the role was in sales and she had zero desire to sell her soul to corporate events, but when the pay packet was proposed to her, and the idea of living in London had planted itself in her head, there was no way she could return to Bideford, to the tea room, to her family. Her name on the dotted line, and a small room in a run-down corner of Elephant and Castle secured, Louisa could finally breathe easy: she’d escaped, and better things were on the horizon.

He worked opposite her in sales; a man so cocky and confident that immediately she loathed him. It was a night after one of the events, with a bottle of champagne shared between them at 3am that something changed. She swore blind she would never mix business with pleasure, but perhaps it was the low lighting of the hotel, or perhaps it was the sweet taste of the Veuve Clicquot, but whatever it was when he suggested they retire to his hotel room, she found herself saying yes. At twenty-years-old, he swept her off her feet, and after their one night together began to wine her and dine her constantly, dragging her off into the post room for a stolen kiss, weaving his hand in hers under the table when they went out for work drinks – the relationship was clandestine, a secret kept between them away from the HR policies that would demand they declare their relationship. It kept things exciting, fresh, sexy. And yet they still got caught out by a nosy colleague who noticed they’d disappeared for twenty minutes. Louisa fully prepared herself for the inevitable breakup, she was convinced that he would get bored, that the relationship would be done to save face, and yet a month later, hand in hand they declared their relationship to HR, then to their friends.

A year later he proposed. Six months after that, they realised she was pregnant. The wedding was delayed until finally a year after giving birth to their daughter when they tied the knot in a quiet, intimate ceremony in front of their family and forty guests. Two months after the wedding the discovered she was pregnant once again. By now, she had been promoted, out of the role of Sales Executive and into Operations Manager for the events, but as time went on she found herself falling out of love with the work she was doing. Her husband loved it, he too had been promoted into Project Management, their home, whilst small was quaint and perfect for two young children, but her work was unsatisfying, and they had grown increasingly tired of her having to duck out for child care arrangements. The job offer in Reputation Crisis Management fell into her hand quite unexpectedly, after a networking session for young professional women and a couple of large glasses of rose wine. She was always good in a crisis, the sort of person people turned to when things needed fixing, she was used to dealing with demanding individuals…and quite like that, after working in corporate events for seven years, she handed in her notice.

The workload was far more demanding – clients called her at all hours of the day, weekends were spent rushing into the office to fix problems, and her relationship grew increasingly neglected. When they returned home from the end of a day’s work, there was no desire or spark with either of them, just exhaustion and an unspoken agreement that they would just go to sleep that evening. Between young children and demanding workloads, both of them grew distant, and whilst there were no hard feelings between them, they knew that the relationship was on borrowed time. They tried to fix it, couples therapy, dirty weekends away, date nights but whenever things seemed to be fixing themselves, work came back into the picture, or the kids became the priority. Eventually, they came to the same conclusion: they simply weren’t in love anymore. Louisa had always had a calm head, and her priority was always her children, and so together they sat down, and made some tough decisions. Eventually, they came out with an agreement; he would see the kids every weekend, he would only ever be half an hour away, both of them agreed to babysit or move around their schedules if they needed to, and they would still have a family day once a month. It wasn’t necessarily traditional, but it worked. He moved out, renting a flat out in Putney, and she remained in Mortlake, balancing work and family, and snapping at anyone who dared to suggest that her relationship was dysfunctional

And so, she lives out the daily grind, working hard at her job, always on the phone, rescuing people and companies from themselves. It’s not uncommon to see her standing behind a hotelier or a tech company at a press-event, jumping in whenever they go off script, and yet every night she goes home to her children. Her world revolves around her kids and everything she does is for them. Sometimes, when she spends evenings fixing other people’s lives she regrets the choices she made, the voice in the back of her head says she’s a bad mother, but most of the time she can ignore it. For now, she simply has to move on with her life, and wait for the chips to fall as they may.

POSITIVE TRAITS: Driven. Calm. Generous. Witty.      NEGATIVE TRAITS: Short tempered. Blunt. Proud.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Married but separated.  FAMILY: Jean and Stewart Foster – parents (NPC), Jack Foster - younger brother (name UTP - playable), James Brooks husband (name UTP - playable), Samantha Brooks, Jack Brooks – children (NPC) IDEAL CONNECTIONS:

#1 The baby brother. Her other half. The one who always knows what to say. Who knows her inside and out. When times are tough, he is the one she turns to without a moment’s hesitation, the one who she foists the kids off to whenever problems arise at work, the one who has been with her every step of the way throughout the separation. In other words, the one person who can always make the world right, even when hell seems all around

#2 The almost ex-husband. Sometimes relationships don’t work out. There is no rhyme or reason, the spark merely goes out and can’t be resurrected. He and Louisa parted on good terms, an amicable separation where both simply accepted that they’d just run out of steam. They continue to co-parent their children, and live a train ride away so they still see each other frequently. They still love each other of course, they’re just not in love anymore – not that it makes it any easier to watch him move on.

#3 Clients. The people who she’s employed to protect from themselves. Her phone buzzes most evenings with mini-crises that can be handled with a short phone call, but she prefers to take a hands-on approach. Regular client lunches, freebies to gallery openings, philanthropic events, anything that will help boost the client’s reputation – even if they’re a dirtbag away from the cameras. Hey, who is she to judge? She’s just doing what she’s paid for.

[alisondentaldesign]

Ethicare Dental – Cosmetic Dentist in Wandsworth

Ethicare have been providing dental excellence to the residents of Putney and Wandsworth since 2007, boasting a family-run state-of-the-art dental promising only the highest quality and ethical oral treatment. The dentist in Wandsworth believe the patient journey is just as important as the treatment outcome, which is why they explain treatment and reasoning for intervention to patients in detail, whilst showing x-ray results.

 Teeth Whitening

The team are proud to specialise in teeth whitening for the residents of Wandsworth and Putney, however, their reputation is such that residents from all over London visit for teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth whitening is an easy, affordable and painless technique to getting brighter, whiter teeth. Teeth whitening in Wandsworth offer at-home and in-surgery teeth whitening methods suitable for everyone.

The at-home whitening method allows the team to take moulds of your teeth to produce whitening trays, which you can use in the privacy of your own home. Ethicare employ the use of supersealed trays which keep saliva out and the gel enclosed, producing a more even teeth whitening outcome. This ensures you can lengthen the productivity of the gel, making it more affordable for you in the long run. Home whitening is usually more successful than in-surgery whitening as it allows you to carry out top-ups as and when you desire. It is usually done over the course of a two-week period, however, some discolouration may benefit from an extended home whitening period.

Ethicare are proud to announce that for all Invisalign or orthodontic treatment, patients will receive one week of free home whitening gel.

 Composite Bonding

For people who want to improve the cosmetic structure of their teeth, Ethicare offer composite bonding in Wandsworth. This is the addition of white filling material to improve the structure of your teeth. This can be an alternative for porcelain veneers and are added in layers to replicate the individual elements of your tooth structure. This means it is very easy to mimic neighbouring or broken teeth. Composite bonding does not require removal of the tooth structure and can easily be repaired or added to.

Composite bonding is perfect for people who clench or grind their tooth or want to elongate shortened teeth. Composite bonding is more practical as it doesn’t pose the same crack risk as porcelain veneers do. They can also be easily repaired as opposed to veneers that would need to be removed and replaced entirely, which can become costly.

If you are interested in improving the quality, colour or structure of your teeth, contact a member of the team today and get booked in for an initial appointment!

Website: https://www.ethicaredental.co.uk/

Phone: 020 8870 5059

Address: Ethicare Dental Practice, 68 West Hill, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1RU

Email: smile@ethicaredental.co.uk

[khunvegas]

Malec Fanfic Rec!

Malec writing goodies from amazing writers.These are some golden works

4 times Alec almost said I love you, and the one time that he actually did by sufferingbisexual

Alec realized he was in love with Magnus. However when will he be able to actually tell him.

Across the Hall by clato27

“'She looks just like your wife,' Magnus said, offhandedly. His gaze tore back to Alec when he heard the other man choke on the coffee he was drinking. 'Oh, I’m sorry, are you two not married.' 'Uh, no,' Alec said after recovering from his coughing fit. 'Izzy is my sister.'”

Aka, the “I fell in love with the pregnant girl across the hall’s brother” AU.

Addicted To You by @imawriteriwrite

Magnus Bane's the head of his own company. Alec Lightwood is in his last year of law school. They’ve never met but have one thing in common: neither does relationships. Just one night stands. That is until they find themselves matched on a hookup app and suddenly one night is not enough.

Also known as the one where Magnus and Alec meet and think they can have no strings attached sex and not develop feelings.

Alecs Husband by NotEvenThat

Max misses Alec and finally demands that he go with Alec and his friend.. Even if Mom says no.

Amor Aeternus by @lolguess

In a world where the Clave encourages soulbonding you would think Magnus and Alec have it easy.

And Then I Met You by @everydayfandom

Sometimes someone comes along and throws you of your life path. And sometimes that's not such a bad thing.

Bibliophile by @dorkberto

Despite what his sister thinks about his non-existent love life, Alec is not in danger of an oncoming descent into recluse crazy cat owner. For one; Church would eat his competitors for Alec’s undivided attention and two; Alec’s a little hung up over Magnus Bane.

Blue storm by @dorkberto

Ragnor was gone.

 Ragnor was gone

Bright Lights, Small Town by @lecrit

When Magnus gets to Nashville, Indiana to handle his late mother's will, he doesn't expect to be forced to stay there for six months. Six months away from New York and lost in the wildness of the countryside.

It quickly appears that he is going to go through six months of living hell.

The fact that he hates the local veterinarian on sight isn't helping.

Broken Arrows by @gibberish10

Over his parabatai's missing, Alec lashes out at everyone, including Magnus Bane, his warlock lover.

Come Undone by @gibberish10

No one has asked him how he felt, but Alec did.

Complete Me by Maleciseverything

"What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever." -Mary Jo Putney

Drop It Like It's Hot by @janoda

Alec tries to deal with people behaving differently since the wedding. He hadn't counted on Dylan from Accounting.

Fusion by prfctdaze

Magnus gets the surprise of his life when he walks in to Jade Wolf.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful by @themagnusbane

The thing about having lived for centuries is that birthdays are no longer such a big deal. A pity no one told that to Magnus Bane's party extraordinaire boyfriend: Alec Lightwood.

Hold me tightly by Tchell1

“I thought you had died, Alexander” Magnus finally said as a way of explaining himself “I saw you die”

Hypnotise by highlytrainedfangirl

Alec had a problem. One that was wrapped up in exquisite clothing and dusted in glitter. Alec was quickly realising that being around Magnus was terrible for his composure. Ignoring the fact that he could barely string a sentence together without tripping over his words, he'd discovered a new distraction: magic.

I found God but it wasn't supposed to be by @intangibel

After closing a particularly spectacular legal case Magnus sends Ragnor a celebratory text only to find himself the victim of autocorrect and having to explain to a very handsome angel (Alec) that he isn’t God, no matter how much he wishes he was right now.

In The Cards by Obssesivecompulsivereadr

Magnus wore cardigans and baggy slacks. He owned two cats, and he lived in a home more suitable for an elderly mundane woman for a reason. He was to remain boring and unsuitable for most associations with people. He did not like attention, no matter how positive it might be. He was to seem eccentric and weird. Living a life focused on magic that was supposed to not exist.

Into You by @darrenchristsupastar

Alec has more layers than we may have previously thought

It's Time To Lose Your Virginity, Brother Dearest by @themagnusbane

Magnus Bane is a famous stripper, used to pretty boys falling in love with him after one dance. The feeling is hardly ever mutual. But when he meets the freshly turned twenty-one year old Alec lightwood, he can’t take his eyes off him, and they find themselves in love quicker than they expected.

Looking at him by @jainsel-and-the-ships

Alec Lightwood is in love with his best friend and colleague Jace. Jace is straight and at the moment he's dating this Clary girl. Alec is certain it won't last, as all his friend's previous relationships. Then there's Magnus Bane, another co-worker and a man who sure knows how to make Alec feel embarrassed. Something's going on between Alec and Magnus. Something's going on between Jace and Clary too...

Magic and Rum by NotEvenThat

Shortly after the party, Magnus finds Max in the kitchen.

Make a home out of you by @thealmostrhetoricalquestion

“There is a delicate system in place and you are destroying it, Alexander Lightwood. Unhand my pants.”

“Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear you say. You’re usually encouraging me to put my hands on your pants.”

Morning hair by @lollylokoala

While Magnus was completely aware of the effect Alec had on him, he didn't know that a tiny little detail in Alec's morning look could make his heart skipped a beat.

My Heart Smiles by pseudofoucault333 

Magnus is an interior designer who is dreading going to his yearly Christmas party and Alec a waiter who has dealt with more than enough Christmas cheer to last a lifetime. But when the two set eyes on the other across a crowded restaurant are they going to be destined for more when the festive season is over?

My True Love Gave To Me by @imawriteriwrite

Magnus Bane had a plan, a perfect Christmas Eve just like always. Hang out with his friends, bask in the Christmas Spirit. Then everything went wrong.

Now he's stuck reliving the same day again and again and again. The bright side? Maybe Alec Lightwood isn't as terrible as Magnus always thought.

Never Stand Between Two Mirrors by @oncethrown

Alec has enough on his plate right now. His parents are furious at him, Magnus Bane is making him feel things he's trying so hard not to feel, his wedding is coming up, and his world is breaking apart.What he doesn't need is a fussy mundane version on himself showing up in the Institute basement. What he doesn't need is Magnus telling him that they'll just have to wait for Seelie Magic to suck that version of himself back to his own dimension.But since when does Alec get what he needs?

Alternate Dimension Alec gets trapped in the Shadowhunter reality at some point after the "I know you feel what I feel" scene. The gang desperately tries to stop chaos from ensuing. 

Nothing But A Distraction by @actuallyredorchid

Clary doesn't sneak away when Alec's on the phone, so Alec accepts Magnus' invitation to "go out for a drink".

Off to a bad start by @fangtasticsaphael

"How did you manage to never run into him? He's always helping with stuff and he's even been at the institute about three weeks ago to strengthen the wards against further attacks from Valentine," she replied and looked at her brother incredulously. Alexander scrunched up his nose and shrugged.

"Well, maybe I have better things to do than waiting around to watch some overrated warlock do magic tricks," he commented a little defensively but it was the truth. He always had something to do and even when they were not out demon hunting, he had either paperwork to do or train.

"Pardon me, but I'm not just some overrated warlock. I'm the High Warlock of Brooklyn and that title is well deserved, if I may say so. And I'm appalled that you refer to my magic as petty tricks. You Nephilim always act to high and mighty, yet you're constantly in need of some tricks from overrated warlocks to help you out of some unnecessary dilemma," a foreign voice interjected and Alec whirled around, fingers instinctively curling around his bow to be ready to attack if need be. The owner of the voice was not what Alexander had expected, to be honest.

Oh lover, hold on by @fireblazie

The mask and goggles clatter to the ground. Isabelle makes a choked noise, and Jace whispers, paper-thin, “Alec?”

Magnus stops breathing as Alec’s gaze—cold, dead, and empty—comes to rest impassively on them.

“Who the hell is Alec?”

(Loosely based on Captain America: The Winter Soldier.)

One Show Only by KouriArashi

It's hard to stay in the closet when the guy you had a one-night stand with two nights ago turns out to be your new partner ... but Alec will be damned if he isn't going to give it a try.

People say crazy things by @ohlafraise

“But what I don’t get is why Magnus cares so much about a random shadowhunter,” Jocelyn said.

Simon winced. “Oh, boy.”

Pick up lines by Gracefanfics

Admittly maybe using pick up lines in the middle of your brother's rune party was a bad idea.

Or  A short fic about Alec not having great timing in using pick up lines on Magnus.

Shooting Pool by @malec-is-pretty

Magnus and Alec go on their date and a simple game of pool gets them a little wound up.

Somewhere safe to finally break by onefootintheboilinghotlava

With the war finally over, Magnus had time to be alone and his mind decided to bring up all the things and people he had lost in the war at once. At his own loft, with his two beloved cats sleeping soundly, Magnus broke down......

Tampons and Concealer? By onefootintheboilinghotlava

So Izzy sent Alec to get tampons and concealer...Alec was standing in the drugstore, not even sure where to begin, when a handsome stranger offered to help.

That's your cue by @theleftboobgrabber

“Keep your hands to yourself,” Alec tells Magnus apropos of nothing.

Magnus frowns. “I’m on the other side of the table!” he protests… not that he wasn’t thinking about some light groping per say, but they’re in public, Alec might not be into it and, while he’s good at concealing it, Magnus does have manners. Sometimes.

My take on Magnus and Alec's date.

The Choices of the Chosen by KouriArashi

The day after his 21st birthday, Alec is sent to the demonic court as a gladiator, where he makes both friends and enemies ... along with meeting Magnus Bane, who doesn't seem to fit in either category.

The Only Magic I Believe In (Is The Magic I Receive From Loving You) by @delilahbelle

Or, four gifts Alec gives Magnus. --

“No one’s ever done anything like that for me before.”

Alec’s face softens. “Well, I’m going to do it for as long as I’m alive. So get used to it.”

The Second Kiss by @simonseroticfriendfiction

"So here we are." Magnus said, taking a step closer to Alec.

Alec gulped and took a deep breath in through his nose. "Yeah, here we are." He squeezed his fingers nervously in his fists as he caught Magnus glancing towards his lips. "I-I suppose you want me to kiss you?" He stuttered, voice faltering.

This Christmas (You're Someone Special) by vulturemonem 

Last Christmas, Magnus Bane had his heart broken.

Again, and again, and again.

And he didn't think it would be mended anytime soon. He certainly didn't think he'd be ready to let anybody in. Until a beautiful boy walks into his shop, and steals his breath with shy glances, kind words, and a fantastic coffee machine.

Maybe this Christmas will be better.

Or: In which Camille is awful, Ragnor and Raphael are an old married couple, and Magnus can't help but be enamoured by Alec Lightwood.

This Night Is Not Forever by @isabellebiwoods

Alec Lightwood is a happily settled down man in a loving, caring relationship. But things weren't always that way... and once upon a time, Alec used his Valentine's Day to celebrate the spirit of the night as much as possible.

aka. world inverted legendary lothario alec lightwood

Too Much is Never Enough by Obsessivecompulsivereadr

They are on opposite edges of the same ideal. Alec so young, and Magnus so much older. Alec a blessed acolyte of the Angel, Raziel. Magnus the abandoned son of the Greater Demon, Asmodeus. Magnus with so much more unimportant and irrelevant experience, and Alec with none. They could not be more different if they tried, and yet, they are also the same. A matched set of uncertainty and inability to accept that someone might want them for exactly who they are.

Top Three by @nebulein

So.” Alec flops back onto the bed, sprawled in a lazy heap on his back, sated and boneless. Magnus is already lying on his belly, basking in the afterglow, and he surreptitiously steals closer, burrowing against Alec's side. “Best sex of my life.”

Magnus hums, resting his head on his arms, revelling in the thrill those words send through him.

“Or, well,” Alec hazardously waves an arm around, “easily in the top three.”

Magnus giggles. He has no idea where that came from. It's uncharacteristic for him. Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn is usually much too dignified to giggle. But then Alec turns his head and grins at Magnus, lopsided and loopy but brilliant, oh so brilliant, warming Magnus from the inside out and maybe this is exactly the kind of situation which calls for a giggle, so Magnus will allow it. Just this once.

“How about you?”

Twenty-One-Year-Old Alec Lightwood by Obsessivecompulsivereadr

Alec tries not to want Magnus, but it goes about as well as all those other things Alec’s tried not to want throughout the years. Which is... badly

Warm In Your Light by @actuallyredorchid

It’s far too easy, letting himself be swept away.

(S02E07 missing scene)

We must choose to reach out and touch by Ambros

Magnus holds out his hand, a silver chain running around his middle finger and wrist, and Alec doesn't have the time to process it – to think, doesn't have the time to realise what's going to happen because he has to take it and he does, electricity dancing through their fingers and down his back and he tries not to think about it, holds out his own hand for Jace and feels unbalanced; he knows Jace's touch, remembers it from roughing each other up when they were kids even though he tried to forget it, to turn it into a ghost when he understood, but Magnus' is new and smooth and unassuming and he feels uncomfortable, doesn't know what to do with it.

Who Ya Gonna Call? By @menckenschrestomethy

“You have to—“

“Help you?” Magnus filled in dryly.

 Or: The Six Times Magnus helped someone, and the one time they try to help him

Will you be my best friend? Will you be my last? by @lightwoodlesbians

or the 'you pretended to be my partner bc my ex wouldn't stop talking to me' au

You Are Certainly My Poison of Choice by iktwabrokenbone

So there he was. Midnight, at a party. Preparing himself to do something with a guy. To spend one night getting all of this- this unspeakable desire out of his system. He needed to forget it before he made a mistake and ruined his career, his chances of becoming Head of the New York Institute.  

(Alec's panic attacks were getting worse and worse and maybe if he spent one night with a guy he could get it out of his system, and he could forget being gay and loving Jace. But nothing went that smoothly, so of course Alec's one night stand had to be Magnus Bane, and they had to keep bumping into each other. It wasn't like Alec wanted to understand his emotions, anyway.)

For more Malec Fanfics

[podmusical]

A Swiftly Titling Pangla

Credits and Lyrics for Episode 6 of Our Dumb Universe

starring:

Announcer - James B Kennedy Sondra - Lauren Lim Jackson John Quincy Carver - Heath Saunders Dankent - Nathaniel Kent Bloor - Carl Howell Fuzzo - Jared Loftin Valborg - Emily Gardner Xu Hall Feltina - Christina Pumariega Pangla - Melissa Lusk Conta - Nathaniel Kent Huphalumpagus - Rachel Flynn Agent Squatch - Jenni Putney Combolady 2 - Hannah Fairchild Sleepy One - Haley Bowery written by Jonathan A. Goldberg music by Matt roi Berger

recorded, mixed and edited by Martin Fowler Additional backing vocal on The Dark Inside by Megan Bagala

__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/

WAKE UP, SONDRA (AND FIRE THAT LASER)                        JOHN QUINCY CARTER Hey girl, I know you’re battered and broke But they need you in the cockpit and it ain’t no joke Test those ankles and breath through the pain Trust me, a cheerful figment of your damaged brain You gotta pull yourself together kid The survival of your friends means getting to the bridge Can’t be late, hurry, you’re doing great! Now: enter the reactor room in this fugue state And then you flip The switch Uh-oh and what is this? Fix, the glitch Returning power to the ship Now, Wake up! Wake up Sondra And fire that laser! Yeah you’re seeing double vision - just focus on the mission, kid. Yeah! Trust this hallucination, get to your battle station, quick! Yeah! Just down the corridor, you’re almost there Don’t focus on the blood that’s matted in your hair You took a hit, we’ll fix that when we can But now for this cockpit door - it seems a little bit jammed! And so you flip The switch Patch on into the ship Fix, the glitch You’re my queen of fixing it! Now, Wake up! Wake up Sondra And fire that laser! Oooooo! Now, I know you’re new to space, but with all tech you’re just an ace, so adapt!  Yeah! The ships on auto pilot, Bloor’s lying on his side, he’s been zapped!  Zapped! So flip The switch Girl, you’re in your element Fix, the glitch Charge those blasters, take a breath And Wake up x8 Wake up Sondra x2 And fire that laser!! Calm your hands from their shaking No time to start fading Your charging the lasers And you’re doing great kid Ooo-oo-oo-oo Your friends all need saving So remember your training It’s as easy as aiming Set those Null suckers blazing! OOOOOOOOO! Wake up, wake up Sondra! x5 And fire that laser!!! __/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/ THE RHYTHM OF OUR LIVES                          AGENT SQUATCH The clock strikes one and the wind is in my hair The rebels attack and I just cannot care Out in the jungle, I know that you’re there Your body lit by the moonlight                             FELTINA We take the village, secure the highway I’m bruised and I’m tired from another long day I see you standing there, my body starts to sway Feeling the beat of the night                            BOTH We feel the pulsing of the rhythm of our lives We chase and run for it — the whole world over We are the dancers in the rhythm of our lives We can find a way                          AGENT SQUATCH I chase you through the heat and the dark Drawn on by the rhythm and your haunting spark And by my mission to infiltrate FARC I know that you’re waiting for me                             FELTINA The moon is up and I’m under your spell Haven’t felt such a charge  since I worked for Fidel Crouching in the bushes, behind you I smell The sweet scent of dancing, so free                               BOTH We dance for freedom to the rhythm of our lives We chase and run for it, the wide world over We feel it pounding it’s the the rhythm of our lives We can find a way And we run! Oh oh oh! How we run oh oh oh! Yeah we run oh oh oh! We feel the pulsing of the rhythm of our lives We chase and run for it — the whole world over We are the dancers in the rhythm of our lives We can find a way We dance for freedom to the rhythm of our lives We chase and run for it, the wide world over We feel it pounding it’s the the rhythm of our lives We can find a way __/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/ RO BATTLE GO BATTLE GO!                              ETHEREAL BAND BEING Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Well she rips through the doors in the Cargo Bay She sees three dozen null defenders and she’s into the fray Her targets raise their lasers but she rips through their hulls In a rocket boost menu ever, sending shrapnel through skulls She’s murdering these pilots just to buy her mama time to run But she knows she’d be a liar if she said she wasn’t having fun Oh! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Well the Null regroup and they praise the void They scan the scatter shattered shards of the ships she’s destroyed They find her on some space dust, all their lasers lock But she turbo blasts faster; all they hit is rock Before they notice that they’ve missed her, like a missile she dives into the swarm Carving armor, making martyrs, and she does it all with perfect form Oh! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Ripping through flesh with such efficiency! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Aw... she’s so metal! Literally! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! They fire in dismay as she weaves through their formation Every blast they land on her, two more send null to cremation She pulls their squadron leader out his ship by his face To watch his lungs exploding in the vacuum of space, goddamn! Well the last ships charge, catch our lady off guard She takes the impact and she flips back, hits some wreckage hard In the moment that she’s dazed, the lasers blaze and carve; But with the will of all first ladies she maintains and rearms She wipes some oil from her nose, adjusts her freon hose and proudly she stands Her reserve tanks are near empty, redirects it all to her laser hands - blam blam blam blam! Oh!  Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah! Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! The strength of Ab’gail Adams with the grace of Jackie O Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! With Martha Washington’s passion and the aim of Liz Monroe Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Blasting nulls to atoms, laughing as they go Ro-Battle, Go-Battle, Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Aiiiiii! Aiiiiii! Go Go Go Go Go! With the last of her strength She fell from the sky Onto an asteroid nearby Oh but she did not die She looks up to the stars Diagnostics are run Without massive repairs, and without parts to spare Her flying days are done But she smiles, looks around This is her home now There’s no battle, no battle, no She braved battle, saved what matters most Oh-oh-oh-oh...!

[tripstations]

The best travel documentaries on Netflix

By James Jayasundera on Jul 12, 2019 in Asia, Food and Drink, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Photography, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Miscellany, Videos

Escape into the real world with some of our favourite travel documentaries showing on Netflix. Our globe has more adventure and magic than any fictional show. We have delved into the world of wanderlust to discover astonishing sights waiting to be explored. From the islands of Japan to treasure hunting in South India’s Golconda diamonds mines, ignite your imagination and let the tales below be a catalyst for planning an adventure of a lifetime.

Children of the Snow Lands

Telling the moving story of children in the High Himalayas of Nepal, this documentary follows the footsteps of young students returning to their mountain homes after over a decade spent away at schools in Kathmandu. Filmmakers Zara Balfour and Marcus Stephenson tread lightly alongside this emotional pilgrimage home, never moving from sensitivity and a deep bond forged with the subjects.

We meet one girl who was carried on her aunt’s back to Kathmandu aged four and her emotional reunion, now aged 16, with her mother, alongside 17-year old Nima whose journey home is fraught with danger, travelling through high avalanche-risk valleys to his village in the highest inhabited region on Earth. This is an unforgettable story, called “incredibly inspiring” by Bear Grylls, of hope, endurance, family and sacrifice played out against the starkly breathtaking scenery of the Land of the Gods.

Parts Unknown: Myanmar

The late, great Anthony Bourdain set off on a journey with CNN to sample some of the best dishes to be found in lesser-known regions of the world. His unique style, infused with wit and a deep passion for food, takes us on a magic carpet ride of ingredients and personalities.

Travelling through the still relatively undiscovered landscape of Myanmar, Bourdain has a series of breakfast and lunch dates with an intriguing cast of characters as a backdrop to the highlighted dishes. From a breakfast of mohinga (fish-based soup with rice noodles) with a veteran Burmese journalist, to savouring chicken necks and cold beer with New York restauranter Philippe Lajaunie, and tea leaf salad in Yangon with renowned astrologer and ex-prisoner San Zarni Bo, this smorgasboard of stories brings Myanmar alive in a most memorable way.

Chef’s Table: Asma Khan

Asma Khan is nothing if not a one woman phenomenon. From first ventures into the world of food, hosting successful supper clubs at her Kensington home to opening a string of critically acclaimed Indian fusion restaurants across London, the lawyer-turned-entrepreneur is passionate about both sharing her culinary heritage and empowering women. Her kitchens are all-female and Khan travels the globe supporting and sharing the cause of women’s rights.

As the first British chef to be featured on Netflix’s famed series Chef’s Table, Khan takes us to her native city of Lucknow, India. We sit in the arching drawing room of her family palace and travel through time to worlds of purdah, dignity, family pride and a deep-rooted sense of belonging. “When you share food, it builds a bridge between you and the other person, who may be from a different cultural background from you,” says Khan. We delve deep into the nuanced layers of Muslim Indian society led hand in hand by the gracious and warm chef who brings an effortless magnetism to the screen.

David Attenborough’s Our Planet

Opening with a line from one of the most famous voices on earth, David Attenborough, “For the first time in our history, the stability of nature can no longer be taken for granted. All across our planet, crucial connections are being disrupted, the stability that we and all life relies upon is being lost. What we do in the next 20 years will determine the future for all life on Earth”.

Newly released and a heart cry for the urgency of conservation, David Attenborough’s Our Planet is an 8-episode explosion of some of the most awesome photography ever seen. At its core is a message we all need to hear – every species on earth, including humans, are interconnected and the destruction of any poses a grave risk for all. Weaving the issues of today’s planet, including global warming and environmental degradation is deeply impacting and a bold move away from the familiar cosy Attenborough narrative into darker territory. Lines such as “we have destroyed half the forests on earth” cannot fail to shock. This series has a clear purpose to shake all of us out of passivity and engage with the struggle to help our planet rebalance itself for future generations. A must-see!

Wild Japan – BBC Earth

Michelle Dockery, of Downton Abbey fame, takes the viewer on a memorable trek through some of approximately 6,800 islands of the sometimes mysterious Japan. Beginning at the largest island Honshu, home to Tokyo, where 100 million people live in an area one-sixth the size of France, we discover the central Japanese Alps, balmy summers and sub-zero winters alongside Black Bears and unique species.

Further afield lie a jewel box of scattered islands, each with a unique quality and identity, Kyushu has an active volcano, Yakushima sports millenia-old cedar tree forests, utterly magical and given UNESCO world heritage status while Okinawa has the world’s smallest wild boars, green turtles and hauntingly beautiful Iriomote mangrove forests. Hokkaido, once part of Siberia, is another intriguing subject explored, formerly ruled by the indigenous Ainu tribes until 19th century Japanese settlers created an agricultural paradise. These far eastern islands are a scenic and dramatic destination with many stories uncovered.

Street Food – Netflix Original

There is surely no better way to get under the skin of another land and people than through the scents, tastes and zing of street food. Called “a chaotic paradise of food”, this fast-paced and emotive Netflix Original series, from the creators of Chef’s Table, traverses the lanes and alleyways of Hanoi, Mumbai, Manila, Bangkok and other pulsating cities.

Real stories are shared through the lick of flames, the cracking of beer bottles and the joyful smiles of nocturnal street diners. This is humanity stripped of pretense and barriers, coming together to share the olfactory and taste pleasures of some of the most authentic and best food on the planet. Voices and eyes narrate tales of hardship, perseverance and success against all odds. This is inspiration and the purest form of travel – that of sharing a plate with a stranger and joining in his journey. A star!

Tales By Light

“Behind every powerful image is a powerful story”. This is the premise behind this extraordinary documentary by Sydney cinematographer Abraham Joffe who spent 12 months travelling the world with five prominent photographers as they journeyed in search of the perfect image.

From Buddhist monks and fire ceremonies in Bhutan to tribal life on Papua New Guinea’s remote Sepik River, Humpback Whales in Tonga and lions in the African deserts, this is an enthralling and sometimes heartstopping reveal into what it takes to be a travel photographer. Following the likes of National Geographic’s Art Wolfe, Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography author Richard I’Anson, Tales By Light is a true showing of masters in action.

The Lost Treasure Hunters: Golconda

Imagine embarking on an Indiana Jones-style escapade in search of diamonds at the world’s former greatest mine. This is exactly what Sam Speerstra does in the Discovery Channel show “Lost Treasure Hunters” as he ventures into the heart of India to the famed Golconda Mines, a place of legend, curses and untold wealth.

Along with Rob Towner, an expert gold miner and diamond hunter, Speerstra takes on deadly vipers, cobras, local superstition and an impending monsoon to search for the precious stones at a source that has produced more diamonds than anywhere on earth. From vacuuming diamonds off the bottom of the Krishna River, one of the longest rivers in India, to dredging waters with an elephant barge, translating Sanskrit maps and overseeing an animal sacrifice to appease river gods, this is an action-packed, compelling and occasionally close to the bone glimpse into the world of extreme prospecting and India’s real life lost jewels.

Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

Comedian Jack Whitehall kidnaps his conservative father, theatrical agent Michael Whitehall, for a true “odd couple” escape across the glorious landscape of Southeast Asia in this six-part travelogue. A joyful, madcap whirlwind where Whitehall senior packs his Garrick Club tie “in case I meet an ambassador” and confesses that his idea of an odyssey is crossing Putney Bridge.

The episodes reveal as much about the father and son dynamic, revelling in their contrasting characters and shared sense of the ridiculous, as the pair navigate the landscapes. From elephant polo to ladyboy entertainers, the Orient Express and the mystical Angkor Wat, Jack and Michael are game for anything and the cultural differences are made even more hilarious by the soundtrack of dry British humour.

James Jayasundera is Founder and Managing Director of Ampersand Travel. Ampersand Travel create bespoke and luxurious travel experiences to Asia, the British Isles and Southern Africa.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post The best travel documentaries on Netflix appeared first on Tripstations.

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[gentledentalputneyuk-blog]

Common Dental Issues and the Best Way to Cure Them

People, who often develop dental problems, usually pay no attention to cure them. And this is the biggest mistake they ever do in their life. Well, the great news is - most of the dental problems get recovered within a short timeframe. The basic things you must repeat to keep your teeth healthy are – brush twice a day, do daily flossing and rinse your mouth every time you consume sweets. Also, you can consult the professional dentist in Putney to get your perfect smile back again.

However, let’s check some dental problems and their causes as listed below –

Teeth decay: Most of the individuals suffer from cavities or tooth decay. This disease occurs mainly when sticky substances combine with sugar inside your mouth. This combination produces acid and affects tooth enamels. Flossing, brushing your teeth daily and regular dental check-up may help you to get rid of this dental problem.

Bad breath: Almost 85% of people suffer from this particular issue. Bad breath or halitosis is downright embarrassing for everyone. Gum disease, dry mouth, or bacteria on your tongue – these are the primary reasons behind halitosis. Use a mouthwash to avoid this thing to occur again and again.

Sores: Mouth cores or canker sores appear inside the mouth not in your lips. Though they are not contagious, this problem may occur for many reasons. However, to cure this yeast infection and get your charming smile back, visit an experienced dentist in Putney.

[gentledentalputneyuk-blog]

3 vital signs that shows you require dental veneers

Dental veneers are relatively new procedures in cosmetic dentistry with the aim of helping patients achieve a beautiful smile. Traditionally dental crowns were used for a better-looking set of teeth. The advent of veneers, however, has bought several benefits to patients with cosmetic dental problems. As compared to dental crowns, veneers are easy, affordable and durable at the same time.

The NHS certified dentist in Putney is specialised in performing dental veneers in an effortless way.  If you are suffering from damaged tooth veneers can help you get your confidence back in no time.  Here are a few signs that you may need dental veneers:

Stained Teeth Local tooth whitening products may help you temporarily but they are never a permanent solution. In case you have stained teeth or suffering from discolouration, then you need to visit your dentist at once for dental veneers. They are more effective as compared to other local products.

Chipped tooth Veneers are the perfect solution for those dealing with chipped teeth.  Your dentist can fill in the gap by filling the crack by placing veneers on them. Putney dental clinic has been helping their patients for years with the damaged or chipped tooth.

A Confident Smile Every person wishes for a beautiful set of teeth to smile confidently however this isn’t always possible. But veneers help you gain your original smile back by eliminating all your dental problems and providing you with a healthy mouth.