#Yale Street

[gulfcoastghost]

CUISINE CORNER

Our Highlight Today is a Historical Houston Heights Site

Yale Street Grill

2100 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008

Open 7am-4:30 pm most days

Step in to the past with the charming 50s diner feel of the Yale Street Grill it's casual American menu features common breakfast staples, Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads Malts/Shakes and, more!

Open Since 1923 starting as a pharmacy and grill! Running errands with the addition of convenient place to grab a bite to eat and a soda to sip quickly made Yale Street Grill a staple in the community despite the pharmacy side closing permanently in 2001 its still remains a highly recommended and recognizable Restaurant in the Houston Heights

Menu highlights

Monte Cristo Sandwich

$8.95

French toast, melted swiss cheese, ham & turkey. Served w/hashbrowns

Yale Patty Melt On Rye Bread

$8.95

Fried Egg Burger

$10.95

Bacon cheeseburger & a fried egg on top. Served w/ lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo & mustard.

Mega Yale Cheeseburger

$10.95

Two of our burger patties smothered in american & swiss cheeses, on a grilled bun w/ lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo & mustard.

Coconut Cake

$3.95

Blackberry Cobbler

$3.95

Lemon Merengue

$3.95

Malts & Shakes

$3.95

Strawberry, banana, oreo, mocha, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, pineapple, mango & peach.

French Cappuccino

$3.25

Topped w/ cinnamon or chocolate

Will you be trying the Yale Street Grill on your next trip to the Houston Heights?

[jacks-weird-world]

"Increased responsibility goes with increased ability, for 'of those to whom much is given, much is required'".

--"Remarks in Nashville at the 90th Anniversary Convocation of Vanderbilt University (192)," May 18, 1963, Public Papers of the Presidents: John F. Kennedy, 1963. (President Kennedy was quoting from the Bible, Gospel of Luke, Chapter 12, verse 48.)

[theedwardianwriter]

So are people writing contemporary fiction addressing the pandemic in every work? Specifically setting things in 2019? Setting things in an alternate reality universe like those alien invasion movies where there’s a different president but it’s still current year and technology is the same?

[mote-historie]

1911 Jacques Henri Lartigue, Anna la Pradvina with Chichi and Gogo, Afternoon walk in Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, Paris.

Yale University Art Gallery

[sskiyahxx]

I always end up in a reading slump during June, but this time I actually have to read…

Anyway, here’s a picture of my cat, Snuggle

[cheetomussolini]

[bringbackthepornbots]

the other day spouse & i went out to watch Alien (1979) in theatres for its rerelease, and in addition to such useful thoughts as "this is the only filmset i've ever seen that gives an impression of absolute grime while everything looks perfectly clean" and "Ripley Scott decided to simply not light his film and I have spent my life trying to catch the same effect in my writing. I am in Hell"

-- in the middle of all of this, i leaned over to whisper "this film is just Moby-Dick in space"

and I STAND BY THAT QUIP

[formeryelpers]

Ord & Yale Street Park, 524 Ord St, Los Angeles (Chinatown), CA 90012

The Ord & York pocket park opened in late 2021. It’s a gorgeous park on the edge of Chinatown, next to the Chinatown Public Library. Vagrants have always hung out in that area and they’re at the park now. Even worse, there’s graffiti all over the restrooms and picnic area. I’d be afraid to use the restroom. I heard someone yelling in there. A homeless person was sleeping in the playground and there wasn’t one child using the playground. In fact, the only people in the park were homeless. No one was using the picnic and game tables and someone left trash on the tables.

But the park is still very pretty and has a red entrance that looks Chinese. It’s half an acre and on a hillside. There are viewing platforms and exercise equipment, plus decorated stairs with inspiring messages. The landscaping, plants, trees, and waterfall still look nice. There’s a mix of trees from Asian and native plants.

I fear that in a few years, the park is going to be completely trashed.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[beatrixstonehill2]

Vicky came from a rich family, having all the best opportunities in education available to her. She always wanted to escape her family's wealthy bubble and study abroad, maybe even do charity work in foreign countries that were less fortunate. Soon into her tenure at Yale she found herself at the opportunity of her dreams, to pursue her Master's in social science as she traveled to other countries, putting the eight languages she spoke to the test along the way. She set her sights on South America, where she'd be deployed with resources, a small staff, and a general goal of providing mental health aid to people in smaller villages on the outskirts of majors cities in countries like Chile, Peru, and Brazil. All while documenting her journey, of course.

What started off as an eye-opening, wonderful journey where she met all sorts of wonderful people, giving them counseling to the best of her ability, even dispensing medication in some cases. Vicky felt confident in her background and education thus far, albeit a bit lost from time to time. Soon none of that mattered, as she became a source of fascination to the young, male locals, who increasingly went to see her just to ask her inappropriate questions and try to hit on her. Vicky's odyssey of mental health aid quickly spiraled into a continent-wide exploration of her sexuality.

She went from village to village, city to city, the red carpet rolled out by her staff to offer aid, but that aid went from counseling and occasionally dispensing medicine, to letting the stressed out or lonely local men line up to fuck her. Offering 'counseling' to the girls she met with to dress more slutty, glamorize their appearances, and let themselves indulge in mindless sex for fun. Soon the only medication she was dispensing was for STDs, not that she bothered to take any, citing collecting all of these 'bugs' as part of her educational journey, getting genuinely excited when new symptoms flared up, compounding other issues, soon turning her pussy into a hugely swollen, red mound of puffy, sore tissue that burnt simply to touch, and men just loved how tight it felt from becoming so extremely swollen. Vicky soon came to view having such an STD-riddled pussy as a sign of true womanhood and a trophy all girls should seek out.

Vicky's six years came and went, and by the time she was supposed to return to the states, to Yale, and present her thesis, she declined to go back, becoming such a beloved pseudo-celebrity throughout various regions of South America that she no longer required resources or a staff from her college. Cities and towns provided her everything she needed, namely an inviting building for men to line up around as Vicky was fucked senseless in front of an audience of women, lecturing them like a professor in Portuguese, Spanish, or Guarani, depending on the region, about how to be a proper woman. To denounce formal education, give up reading and learning at any sort of school, to hit the streets, walk around naked, become free-use, and revel in every catcall or grope from a stranger. To lean into every man's slightest advance and encourage as much casual sex as possible. Her 'thesis', if anything, became the revelation that her only purpose was to stay as pregnant as possible all the time, and never say no to sex, even in the middle of giving birth. And that all girls should probably do the same.

[wandasreallover]

Tthsi request^

Sweetest devotion|college!lizzie x fem!reader

College!au

Warnings: fufffff, fluffiest shit iv ever written, rage bait(woken up by a guitar)

The campus of yale University radiated with the vibrant energy of college life—a cacophony of laughter, conversations, and the rustling of leaves in the autumn breeze. Elizabeth olsen more than just another student; she was a presence, a force, with an aura that drew people in like moths to a flame. And in that immense world, she seemed even larger when she was with you, her roommate.

Every morning began the same. You woke to the gentle sound of lizzie's music wafting through the shared dorm room. The soft strumming of her guitar intertwined with her lilting voice, creating an atmosphere that was impossibly cozy and inviting. Even though you wished for just a few more minutes of sleep, you couldn't help but smile at the warmth and creativity of your best friend.

Today was no different. You blinked awake to find her perched cross-legged on the edge of your bed, her bright eyes sparkling beneath the strands of her dark hair, a hint of mischief dancing in them.

“Come on, sleepyhead! We’ve got a whole day ahead of us,” she teased, flashing that signature grin of hers that could light up even the gloomiest of mornings.

You stretched, momentarily groggy, but lizzie's joyful energy was infectious. “Okay, okay. Just give me a minute to brush my teeth," you replied, pulling the quilt off and swinging your legs over the side of the bed.

After a quick wash-up, you donned your favorite hoodie and jeans. As you stepped out of the small bathroom, you were met with lizzie’s approving nod. The simple act of her presence made you instantly feel like the softest, most cherished version of yourself.

“Ready to go?” she asked, a sparkle in her eye that made your heart flutter. You had gotten used to this routine—

Lizzie would hop on her bike and insist on giving you rides around campus, her laughter spilling into the air as you clutched onto her waist.

The campus was sprawling and filled with the chatter of students, but all Lizzie could focus on was the soft rhythm of her heart as she waited by her bike, having gotten boredof waiting for you to get read. The sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, and the breeze carried the scent of autumn leaves.

When you finally appeared, a bright smile lighting up your face, Lizzie’s heart soared. “Hey, ready for another adventure?” she called out, her voice smooth and inviting. You nodded eagerly, the thrill of the ride always infectious.

With a practiced grace, Lizzie helped you onto the bike, ensuring your safety while still maintaining a casual dominance that came naturally to her. You settled behind her and wrapped your arms tightly around her waist, the heat of her body warming you against the cool of the evening. She always enjoyed this part, the closeness, the connection, knowing you felt secure with her.

“Hold on tight,” she teased as she revved the engine. The roar startled a flock of birds into the sky, but you felt safe nestled against Lizzie’s back, every bump and curve of the ride sending adrenaline racing through your veins.

The world blurred past as Lizzie expertly weaved through the streets, the wind whipping through your hair and laughter spilling from both of you. She loved the feeling of you clinging on, the way you turned each ride into a moment of pure joy.

You could feel the rush of wind against your skin and the rhythmic cadence of her pedals, mingled with lizzies's joyous squeals as she weaved through the crowd. At that moment, with her laughter reverberating in your ears and the world whizzing by, everything felt right. You were home.

“lizard, slow down!” you laughed, the thrill of speed becoming electric.

“No way! I love having you close like this!” she teased, glancing over her shoulder with a playful smirk. You could see the self-assurance in her face, how she treated every twist and turn as an opportunity to show just how much she enjoyed your company.

When you finally reached the library, your hearts were racing, not just from the bike ride, but from the easy rhythm that tethered you two together. As you walked through the dimly lit library, you could see various students huddled over books and laptops, lost in their own worlds. Yet you and elizabeth created a little bubble of your own, filled with whispers, giggles, and the closeness that both warmed and grounded you.

Settling down in one of the cozy study nooks, you pulled out your textbooks while Wanda flopped down next to you, pulling you closer with a nonchalant maneuver that found you nestled against her side.

“Okay, let’s get studying!” you said, flipping open your notebook, but Wanda had other ideas.

Mid-sentence, as you explained a concept that made sense in your mind but perhaps not in words, you felt a soft brush of her lips against yours. Her kiss was sweet, soft, and entirely unexpected, leaving your thoughts jumbled. It was moments like these that took your breath away.

“You just looked so pretty and kissable,” she murmured, her cheeks slightly flushed.

You couldn't help but smile, feeling a giddiness spread through you. “You’re going to distract me,” you said, feigning seriousness, but there was no hiding the grin on your lips.

“Good,” she replied, pulling you into her lap. The warmth of her body enveloped you like a cozy blanket, making it hard to focus on anything but her. The little study session became a series of shared giggles and whispered secrets, her fingers gently tracing patterns on your arm while your book lay abandoned.

Minutes turned into hours—elizabeth, soothingly protective, would lightly scold you whenever she caught you staring at her instead of your notes. “Concentrate! We’re supposed to be studying,” she teased, lacing her fingers through your hair, as if to keep you tethered to the material.

In those simple study sessions, you discovered a deeper side of her. Beneath the playful banter and laughter, Lizzie was fiercely protective, her desire to see you succeed matched only by her softness. When you struggled with a difficult concept, her encouragement would wash over you like a balm.

“Hey, you’re brilliant,” she would encourage, her voice low and steady. “You just need to approach it from a different angle. Let me help you.”

And so, you’d find yourself curling closer, losing track of time as she patiently guided you through the material. But more often than not, a lingering kiss or a playful comment would pull you right back into her orbit. She had a way of making you feel like the most cherished secret in the world.

As evening rolled around, the golden hues of sunset streamed into your dorm room. Wandering outside, you both settled on the grass, a blanket laid out beneath you. The sky transformed above, responding to the soft whispers and laughter you both shared while you lay against her.

“Do you ever think about what’s next?” she asked softly, idly twirling a strand of your hair between her fingers.

“Sometimes. But right now, I’m just glad to be here with you,” you replied, tilting your head to look into her warm eyes. “You make everything better, Lizzie .”

She smiled, leaning forward to press her forehead against yours. In that moment, the noise of the world faded, and it was just the two of you wrapped in the comfort of each other’s presence.

You knew your college journey was far from over, but with your lizard by your side, you felt invincible. No matter what challenges lay ahead, you had found a home in her heart, and you weren't planning on letting go any time soon.

[jayflrt]

𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟕𝟖𝟔 04. the world of the elite

THERE WERE ABOUT THREE THINGS GOING ON IN JAY PARK'S HEAD WHEN KIM SUNOO CAME TO PICK HIM UP.

The first was the chilling realization that he was actually going to a Yale party. He hadn't been to a party in over a year (save for Jungwon's birthday party where they had to call the fire department when Jake almost burned the kitchen down), so Jay wasn't expecting to end up at this scene again in his new, fake school. (Could he even call this fake if he was actually earning a degree while his tuition was paid for? He could hardly tell what was real and what was fabricated anymore.)

Secondly, was it really wise for him to get close to his target like this? He hadn't dealt with assignments where he had to follow people around, so this was all rather new to him. He realized, however, that he managed to befriend you, his mission could get a lot more complicated.

Third—he had no idea how to talk to rich people.

There were times when Jay had to entertain particularly wealthy guests when his parents brought coworkers home. But it was so excruciating even then because wow, how shallow could someone get? The depths of his conversations with all the rich people he had met were not promising at all, so he didn't have much hope for his social battery tonight.

But Jay was probably on par with some of them now, so he had to adjust to this new lifestyle. There was no way he could lie about his upbringing, though, so he framed a story of him having a rich aunt that was over-the-moon when he got into Yale.

Moreover, he was so confused as to why Shin Yuna approached him. It wasn't like he looked well-off with his clothes that he thrifted years ago. Jay couldn't tell if Yuna was just being nice, or if she had other intentions that he was supposed to be concerned about.

"Whoa, nice jacket," Sunoo complimented once he let his eyes sweep Jay's outfit. "You'll be lucky if Yuna lets you out of her sight."

His eyes grew wide. "Is she expecting me to be by her side the whole time?"

"Probably. You still have time to back out, if you want."

He was conflicted. This was the perfect opportunity for him to get close to the people around you and get some information out of whoever was the most drunk there; at the same time, if Yuna was going to keep her perfectly-manicured claws on his shoulders the whole time, this whole night would be counterproductive.

In the end, Jay decided to go. He figured that if worst came to worst, he would just find the right time to ask Yuna some questions about you.

"Is Heeseung's place close?" Jay asked. The truth was that he already looked up all possible routes to the location when Sunoo sent him the address earlier; he just needed to ask as a formality.

"Down the block here," Sunoo replied. "His dad bought him an entire penthouse. Isn't that sick?"

He fought down a bitter remark and said, "Man, that must be nice. What do his parents do? You said Sunghoon's dad owns Park Pharmaceuticals, right?"

"Yeah, and his older brother, Sungjin, is taking over the company. And Heeseung's dad is a hedge fund owner," Sunoo answered. "They only made it big recently, like four or five years ago. I remember Heeseung used to be way different back in freshman year. Now he's more... subdued. I guess he didn't know how to handle being rich back then."

Jay could see the flashing of blue and purple lights from the windows of the penthouse down the street. He carefully watched the two figures on the terrace talking by the railing. At first, it seemed as if they were just talking normally. As he got closer, though, Jay realized from the faint sounds he picked up that they were, in fact, arguing.

It was you.

Jay had been looking at pictures of you all week, but seeing you up on the terrace was different. It seemed to just sink in that what he was doing was real, and seeing you in the flesh was all he needed for cold reality to seep into his veins like poison.

The man next to you must have been Park Sunghoon. Even from how high up the two were, Jay could tell that the man next to you exuded an overwhelming presence.

But he wondered what they were arguing over.

"C'mon," Sunoo said grimly, clearly having taken notice of the commotion above, "it's just up these stairs."

Jay felt his stomach sink deeper and deeper with each step he took. When they reached Heeseung's door, there was a bouncer guarding the entrance—probably some freshman Heeseung paid to keep watch. Jay stopped in his tracks, wondering if he was even allowed in since he had never met Heeseung, but his friend simply opened the door and walked right in, as if his arrival was expected, and the bouncer paid no mind. (Perhaps it was expected? Jay was starting to believe all these people had history that he didn't even understand the extent of.)

"Jay!" came a shrill cry from across the room. Jay turned to see Shin Yuna all but tackle him, draping her arms across his shoulders. He could smell the alcohol on her breath already. "I'm glad you made it."

"Thanks for the invite," Jay replied, gently prying Yuna's hands off of him, which she allowed him to do but grabbed his hand again right after.

Jay sent Sunoo a help me sort of look, but his friend seemed to greatly misunderstand the message he was sending across. Sunoo gave him a sideways grin and a thumbs-up before signaling that he was going to catch up with some friends in the kitchen.

Great.

"Come on," Yuna slurred, dragging Jay over to a sectional couch in the corner. "I'll introduce you to my friends."

He recognized some of the faces while he was looking into you—Karina Yoo, whose mother owned a private jet company; Choi Yeonjun, who landed a few minor movie roles with the help of his Golden Globe award-winning mother; Giselle Uchinaga, whose father was an investment banker and mother owned a nightclub; Kim Chaewon, whose mother revolutionized stem cell research; and then there was Lee Heeseung in the corner, who had his arms folded across his chest as he sized Jay up.

From what he gathered, this was most (or all) of the people in your inner circle. Heeseung and Sunghoon appeared to be more than that to you, though; childhood friends had a bond more special than the rest, he supposed.

Jay then wondered how Heeseung felt about his two childhood friends dating and now arguing on the balcony.

"Guys," Yuna started with a grin, motioning to Jay with a dramatic flair of her hands, "this is Jay, the new transfer student."

"Hey." Jay waved to the group, his mouth suddenly feeling extremely dry.

His greeting was returned by a few tight smiles from the rest and a chorus of unenthusiastic words of acknowledgment that he didn't feel too great about. Maybe he had to give up on his chance of entering your circle.

"Don't mind them," Yuna whispered to him as she pulled him over to sit on the couch with her. They were seated exactly across from Heeseung, whose stare made Jay feel even more uncomfortable. "They're all in a bad mood 'cause Y/N and Sunghoon got in a fight before you came. God, why do they always kill the vibe?" She was talking awfully loud, causing Karina and Giselle to shoot her warning glares. Jay had a sinking feeling that she was making the situation worse if she kept opening her mouth. "Seriously, I mean, we're here to party!"

Not that Jay was particularly avoidant with physical touch, but being touched and fawned about in front of everyone was slightly unnerving, especially when he didn't know Yuna all that well. Nearly half her body weight was on top of him, and Jay was pretty sure she would end up sitting fully on his lap if she took another shot.

"Are you... drunk?" he asked her warily.

She gave him a strange look before giggling. "Uh, yeah? Did you want a drink, too?"

"No, just—"

"Hey, so you've really never seen me online before?" she asked, tilting her head in a way that Jay had to admit would've been rather cute if he wasn't so overwhelmed and put-off by everything else. "I'm, like, TikTok famous."

"Oh, that's nice," he replied, sort of distracted as he tried to catch a glimpse of you out on the terrace. He saw a flash of your glittering silver romper, but then your boyfriend stepped in front of you again.

"Transfer student," Heeseung called out. He had his elbows on his knees, but once Jay looked at him, he started to stand up. "Let's get you a drink since the rest of them are being miserable."

Jay assumed it was a joke, but only he (and probably Heeseung) seemed to think so. Karina let out a sound that sounded partly like a laugh and partly like a scoff.

"Way to make it awkward, Heeseung," she sneered.

"He's the one who probably feels so awkward with you all being so quiet," Heeseung said, patting Jay firmly on the shoulder to get him to stand up. Jay had to gently peel Yuna off of him before he got up to follow Heeseung. "We'll be back."

While Heeseung and him were making their way past groups of students packed together, Jay couldn't figure out what the hell to say to him. When he first walked in, the look in Heeseung's eyes made him think he was a piece of trash stuck to the bottom of his shoe, but now he was just lost.

"I haven't heard of you before," Heeseung said once they reached a long table with bottles of alcohol strewn about.

"I didn't expect you to. Today's my first day, anyway."

There was a bartender on the other side of the room, but Jay figured that Heeseung brought him here for a private conversation. Without even asking Jay about his preference, he let his hand glide over the handles before he picked out a bottle of tequila. Jay wasn't much of a drinker but he let Heeseung pour him a shot.

"What do your parents do?"

Jay couldn't stop himself from barking out a laugh, shaking his head fervently. "Oh, no, they're"—he shook his head again—"they're no one."

"They can't be 'no one' if they managed to get their son into Yale."

"They didn't get me into Yale."

"They still raised you, didn't they?" Heeseung raised a brow. "My mom's a preschool teacher, and my dad was unemployed up until my sophomore year of high school. Not the professions you expected, huh?"

Jay's brows raised in pleasant surprise. Here he thought that Heeseung was judging him, but maybe it was the exact opposite. He really didn't expect a sincere response from someone like him, but perhaps he just misjudged the junior.

"My mom's an office worker, and my dad used to be a firefighter before he got into an accident," Jay answered. "Now he has a corporate job."

"And you're..."

"I'm what?"

"What're you trying to be in the world?"

Jay took the plastic shot glass that Heeseung handed out to him. Before downing it in one go, he answered, "Someone."

Heeseung laughed. "At least you have more of a story than most of the people in this room." He shot one of the cluster of students a sideways glance and said, "Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if most of the people here bought their way into Yale."

Jay swallowed hard. He couldn't say anything when he was technically one of those people, too. All his life, he slogged harder than anyone else for a place in the world. He worked at restaurants illegally since he was thirteen, studied tirelessly to get free rides to universities, and gave up a social life just to balance multiple jobs to get bills paid. It felt strange to be one of the people who didn't have to lift a finger for extraordinary opportunities.

For a moment, he wondered if he would get in if he tried applying on his own. There was no use in pondering, though; this was all simply for the assignment—nothing more, nothing less.

"You made it here on your own, didn't you?" Jay asked with a flickering, newfound respect for Lee Heeseung.

"I didn't even think I'd be able to pay for college when I was in high school," he answered. "Of course I needed to work hard. Getting a full ride into an Ivy League isn't something you get by fucking around. Even though Hoon and Y/N were set their whole lives... I couldn't just be the only one who didn't make it in."

Jay wondered why Heeseung was telling him, a total stranger, all of this. He didn't bring it up, though, in case the question sobered him up to the point of not revealing any further information.

But he had to ask, "So why'd you drag me out here for a drink?"

It was a fair question. There were bottles of alcohol on the table next to the sectional couch. If Heeseung really wanted to just pour him a drink, he could've done so then and there.

"Thought I'd save you from Yuna," he said. "She gets a little messy when she's drunk."

"Oh." Jay almost shuddered at the thought of what could've happened if he was still sitting on the couch.

"Sorry. Are you interested in her?"

Jay's eyes grew as wide as saucers as he shook his head firmly. "N-not at all. I just met her today."

The alcohol started coursing through his blood, making his limbs feel less like muscle and more like jelly. Yet, he strangely felt more comfortable in his body.

"Good." Heeseung leaned against the table and crossed his arms again. "I would've felt bad for you if you were actually into her. She definitely thinks this'll make me jealous somehow." He suddenly stiffened up. "Don't mention this to the others, though. I don't think Y/N would be happy if she found out."

He arched a brow at Heeseung. So you didn't know about your own friend's feelings toward your childhood friend? Even though you were in a relationship yourself? Interesting.

But even more interesting because Jay swore he saw pictures of Heeseung and Chaewon together on his Instagram. Pictures that seemed to imply that they were a couple. Their little inner circle seemed to be more convoluted than Jay initially thought.

"Haven't even met her," he told Heeseung. "I'm not the kind of person to spread people's secrets like that."

Unless I'm paid to do so, he thought bitterly.

Heeseung smiled slyly, and Jay wasn't sure if it was one of friendship or as if he had just heard an enticing business proposal. "I hope my feeling about you is right." After grabbing the handle of Clase Azul on the table, he added, "Let's go back before they accuse me of scaring you off."

Jay followed after him, wondering if he had just accidentally gotten himself in Heeseung's good graces, or if he just made a grave mistake.

Jay decided to ask, "Hey, by the way, do you know about the Order of Kryptos?"

Heeseung stopped in his tracks immediately, spinning around so fast that Jay nearly stumbled over his feet.

"What about it?"

"Well, I just—I don't know—I was thinking of, uh, joining."

"You can't just join. You have to be invited." Despite the shame that burned under Jay's skin for sounding like an idiot in front of the junior, Heeseung's eyes twinkled. "But... I know someone you could talk to if you wanna get your foot in the door."

"You do?"

"This isn't like a frat where you have to rush. See, all these people here just target members of the current class and suck up to them until they get tapped. For example, Hoon's practically guaranteed a tap since his brother's in the Order right now."

"Then do you think I even have a chance?"

Heeseung shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. There's only fifteen seats, so it all depends on how much you impress them." He grabbed Jay by the shoulder and pointed out one of the seniors laughing with a couple other boys in the kitchen. "That's Jeong Jaehyun. He's probably the chillest in the Order—doesn't really give a fuck about prestige and background, or whatever. I'd talk to him when you get the chance."

Jay, wildly amazed with how big of a help Heeseung was being, returned the gesture by patting him on the back firmly. "Thanks, man."

"No worries. You should work fast, though. They start giving up their seats next semester."

Next semester. Jay was certain he could get on someone's good side by then.

This whole thing was rather frustrating for him, though. All Jay wanted to do was lay low and carry out his assignment properly, but to do so he needed to get close to you and your friends somehow. Impressing you meant impressing a senior to get into the Order. There seemed to be far too many hurdles he needed to cross just to uncover some dirt on you.

When he and Heeseung returned to the sectional couch, everyone seemed a smidge more lively. Yeonjun waved Jay over to introduce himself properly, claiming that he couldn't say anything earlier because Yuna was hogging all the attention. Yuna, on the other hand, seemed to have already blacked out on the couch, but none of her friends were exactly paying much attention to her. Jay wondered if this was a frequent occurence with her.

While Jay was in the middle of telling Yeonjun and Giselle about the school he transferred from, you came out from the terrace with Sunghoon, but there was an icy distance between you two.

Jay had spent the past week looking at pictures of you every single night. Almost every picture you had on your Instagram was burned into his brain.

But seeing you up close in the flesh was almost earth-shattering. All the details your camera couldn't capture were like the missing pieces that made you glow even brighter. Jay was almost amazed that Park Sunghoon could even fight with you when you looked like this.

"Y/N?" Karina called, but you were crossing the room in the direction of the bathroom. She threw a nasty glare at Sunghoon, who sat down on the couch with a heavy sigh.

Giselle raised a brow. "You're gonna let your girlfriend walk away?"

"She needs space," Sunghoon answered curtly.

"Oh, I bet she gets plenty of that from you."

"Watch your mouth, Giselle."

Jay wasn't sure if Heeseung was making the right decision when he stood up and offered, "Hoon, chill. I'll go check on her."

Chaewon was quick to grab her boyfriend's hand, frowning as she said, "I think one of the girls should."

Heeseung pulled his hand away, and Jay noticed the crumbling look in Chaewon's eyes before he pretended to be more interested in a loose thread in the couch. He felt bad for her; she was practically being humiliated in front of everyone else.

"I'm the host," Heeseung replied. "I should check on her."

Karina shot Yeonjun and Giselle a withering look. "Our Uber's almost here. I don't think she wants to go home with"—she motioned to Sunghoon with a jut of her chin—"you know."

"I'll ask Ryujin to take her home, but we should probably tell her before we leave," Yeonjun said. He lowered his voice to add, "Yuna's wasted. You know Heeseung's gonna get pissed if she crashes here."

Giselle snorted. "That's probably what she wants."

Jay looked down at his lap. So everyone was aware of Yuna's semi-hidden feelings toward Heeseung except you? Why was it a secret from you, anyway? This friend group—if Jay could even call them that—was messier than he had anticipated.

Jay, who was seated in the middle of the trio, started to feel rather awkward. Surely, they must have known he could hear everything they were saying.

"Uh," he started because he was starting to feel like he was obligated to chime in, "I can call an Uber for your friend, if she needs one."

"Aw, Jay, you're too sweet," Giselle cooed, but then her face of adoration turned completely serious. "But you're a man. We don't trust you."

"That... that's fair."

"Oh, but he's Sunoo's friend," Yeonjun added. "Sunoo would get her home safely."

"Just ask Sunoo or Ryujin—whoever's still here," Giselle said.

Karina, who was on her phone for a majority of the conversation, spoke up to confirm, "Yeah, their locations are still here. I'll text them to make sure Y/N's taken care of." She stood up. "Let's just get going and check up on her later in the group chat."

"God, how are we gonna drag Yuna out of here?" Giselle whined. She gently maneuvered the unconscious girl to make it easier for them to lift her up. "Yeonjun, you get her other arm."

After much effort, they were finally able to get Yuna barely stumbling forward as her arms were around their shoudlers. They said their goodbyes to Jay and Chaewon, but Sunghoon only got one from Yeonjun.

Sunghoon rolled his eyes and moved to sit next to Jay. Chaewon was completely sidelined at this point as she picked at her nails and waited for Heeseung to come back.

"Sorry for that mess," Sunghoon said. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Park Sunghoon."

"Jay," he greeted. "Nice to meet you. Heeseung told me a bit about you."

"Oh, really?" He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I hope it wasn't too awkward."

Jay grinned. "All good things. Don't worry."

"Great, uh..." He fumbled for a moment, reaching into his pockets and then handing Jay a pink iPhone. "Do you think you could hand this to my girlfriend? She should be somewhere in the house."

Although Jay took the phone from him, he grimaced. He didn't even know you, and he felt bad already. Your own boyfriend was sending a stranger to give you something when he could very well do it by himself?

And why did he have your phone in the first place? Jay wondered if Sunghoon had taken it from you during the argument, and the very idea made him feel cold.

"I really think you should give it to her."

His small smile stretched into an awkward grin. "I don't think she wants to see my face right now."

"Oh... sure—will do."

This time when Jay crossed the room and pushed through the packs of students, it felt slightly more intimidating. He felt like a lone fish amongst schools of them, and the few shots he took had definitely worn off by now. Not to mention the recent turn of events were incredibly sobering.

Heeseung's penthouse was nice. Nothing he could ever dream of affording before his anonymous client sent him more money than he would've ever made in his life.

When Jay stepped into the narrow hallway that led to the bathroom, he could hear Heeseung's gentle voice echoing.

"—talk to me, please," he pleaded. "I don't know what Sunghoon said to you, but—"

"Heeseung, just leave me alone." Your own faltering voice was treading on desperation. "You don't have to be here to comfort me. You're not my boyfriend."

And then it grew quiet. Jay was afraid that he was about to walk in on an uncomfortable situation.

Seconds later, the door opened and Heeseung was stony-faced, walking past Jay without even noticing he was there. You didn't even close the door after he left, so Jay inched closer to make sure nothing bad happened to you.

There you were, sitting on the edge of the bathtub and crying into your hands. There was an odd, disconnected feeling in Jay's chest. He had seen so many pictures and posts of you looking like you were having the time of your life, but the sight before him caused all of that to come crashing down, catching on fire.

Back outside, looking up at the terrace, you were so high above him, as if he would never reach you. Now, you were shattering to pieces before him, leaving broken shards scattered around you that Jay was hesitant to tread on.

Once you took notice of his presence, your head lifted up slowly, and Jay really felt bad for you now. Streaks of mascara were under your eyes and your red lipstick was smudged.

"Can I help you?" you asked flatly, sniffling every now and then even as you tried to act like you hadn't been caught crying.

Jay simply held your phone out, and you grabbed it from him once you recognized it was yours.

"How'd you—"

"Your boyfriend told me to bring it to you," he answered, and your eyes welled up with tears again. Jay sighed as you started breaking down in front of him, but he really wasn't all that annoyed as he sounded. He grabbed a tissue from the box on top of the toilet and ran it under water for a brief second. "Here."

Jay leaned down in front of you and blotted the tissue gently under your eyes, wiping off the residue of your mascara that stained your skin. You tried to resist his gesture at first, but when you realized what he was doing, you relaxed. If his eyes weren't tricking him, maybe you were even slightly embarrassed?

Then, he moved to your lips, using the other side of the tissue to carefully dab at where your lipstick was smudged. Jay tried especially hard not to stare at the curve of your lips, wondering what dark secret you could possibly be hiding behind the corners of your mouth. After he was done, he tossed the tissue aside and stood up.

"Thanks," you murmured.

"No problem," he said, backing up to the doorway. "You should probably keep the door closed if you need some alone time, by the way."

But one look at your expression, and he could tell that you were hoping that someone else would come looking for you.

"Y-yeah," you stammered out, standing up to close it yourself.

"Also," he continued, pressing his lips together in a thin line. Just walk away, Jay. This is none of your business. Just turn around and keep walking. "Your friends are worried about you, so..."

There's people out there who wouldn't make you cry like this.

He couldn't get the rest of the words out. Who was he to speak on a relationship he had only seen for a brief moment, anyway?

Before Jay could turn on his heel, you called out, "Wait! What was your name again?"

His eyebrows raised in surprise. "Jay Park. I just transferred here."

"Jay... oh, the transfer student." You said his name so gently that it was almost like you were handling glass. Then, he saw the first smile on your face tonight, and oh, he had never seen someone smile so bright. "I'm Y/N. See you around."

After you closed the door and Jay had headed back to where everyone else was, the loud, booming music grounding him back into reality, his heart sank with the realization that he had already been thrown into a world that he wasn't sure he liked very much.

prev | masterlist | next

SUMMARY ▸ private investigator jay park just wants to complete his mission quietly and move on with his life. you, his new assignment who keeps consuming his thoughts, don't make that very easy for him.

TAG LIST ▸ @zdgx1 @smouches @heesdazed @teawithbucky @leep0ems @peachpie4you @niniissus @kgneptun @jaeyunluvr @hooniesuniverse @zerasari @enhalov @sophiko22 @iselltulips @hoondiors @baekhyunstruly @jays-property @woninluv @heerinnie @fakeuwus @yizhoutv @en-happiness @theothernads @y4wnjunz @dammit-jjk @en-happiness @mari-oclock @enhypens-baby @soonyoungblr @jakeslvt @taetaenic @jebetwo @fairysungx @hsgwrld @shmooooo @ineedsomezzz @mrowwww @enha-stars @isawritesss @seongclb @lockburn-castle @alyssajavenss @enczen @calumsfringe @w3bqrl @luvyev @uhsakusa @luvnicho @wildflowermooon

[wh0reforcoriolanussnow]

tom wearing a yale law crewneck🫶🏻

Yale crewneck || Tom Blyth x reader

Summary: Tom wears your Yale crewneck 🫢

Warnings: none

Wc: 376

A/n: short n sweet, I haven’t had any motivation to write lately 😭 I was supposed to post this yesterday but I got busy so hereee

divider by @pommecita

You’re seated in the hushed atmosphere of the School library, surrounded by towering shelves of legal tomes and the faint rustle of pages. The dim light casts a warm glow on your determined face as you sift through case notes, fully immersed in your studies.

A message pops up on your phone as your face immediately lights up at the text, you quickly pack up your belongings to meet up with Tom who had just arrived at Campus.

From a distance, you spot your boyfriend, casually leaning against the a tree, focused in his phone. A contented smile graces your lips. The two of you have barely been able to see each other in person due to busy schedule. Yet, there he was, merely a few meters away.

Tom!” you exclaim, a broad grin adorning your face, quickening your steps toward him. He glances up from his phone, swiftly tucking it in his pocket, and the familiar, affectionate smile that warms your heart appears on his lips.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he warmly greets, arms open for an embrace. You melt into his hug, feeling the reassuring circles his hand traces on your back. A contented sigh escapes you, and you share a moment. “I’ve missed your hugs,” you sight, meeting his gaze. He grins, leaning down to seal the sentiment with a tender kiss.

Strolling through the streets of New Haven, your hands entwined, tlaking about anything and everything, you made several stops on your way back to the apartment. When you arrived back home, you changed out of your clothes and into pyjamas—which was just Tom’s shirt— and headed straight to the kitchen to cook dinner for the both of you.

Meanwhile, Tom was in your bedroom, fresh out the shower and looking through your closet for some clothes that he had left behind.

Finding one of your oversized Yale crewnecks, Tom effortlessly slipped it on. The fabric enveloped him, carrying the familiar scent of the shared obsession with a particular laundry detergent.

As he stepped out of the room, your eyes fixated on him. “You look good in it,” you giggled, appreciating the way he effortlessly showcased the oversized Yale crewneck with a playful spin.

“It’s incredibly comfy,” he comments, wrapping his arms around your waist as you skillfully cut up carrots. “Here, let me help,” Tom says, washing his hands before helping you cut the rest of the veggies. “Take it with you when you start filming,” you suggest, and he hums in agreement.

“I should, so I can be reminded that my girlfriend is a genius who goes to Yale,” Tom playfully nudges you eliciting a delightful giggle from you.

tomblyth

Liked by y/n_y/l/n, rachelzegler, joshandresrivera, thehungergames and 5,047,209 others

Berlin dump

view all comments

y/n_y/l/n: my crewneck suits u better babe

↘️ tomblyth: I’m stealing it from you

↘️ rachelzegler: you guys are adorable 🥹

↘️ y/n_y/l/n: I love you 😚

user1: THE YALE CREWNECK OMG

↘️ user2: SO CUTE

↘️ user3: still can’t wrap my head around how he’s dating a Yale student 😂

↘️ y/n_y/l/n: best believe it!

user4: everyone’s talking about him wearing a Yale crewneck but hello? The last picture?

↘️ user5: RIGHTT

user6: Is that y/n in the third pic too??

↘️ user7: I think so yeah!

user8: that last picture is so freakin cute. how does it feel to live MY dream y/n?

user9: whose Yale crewneck is that 🫢

↘️ tomblyth: it’s actually mine cause i go to Yale!!

↘️ y/n_y/l/n: uhuh….

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Rent Parties in Harlem

In a recent post, I showed a photo of a rent party in Greenwich Village in the 1950s. The bohemians of that era got the idea from the parties held in Harlem from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Guests paid a fee to enter the host's apartment and dance to the music provided (live bands before the war, records after). Food was extra. The host(s) used the proceeds to pay the rent.

The tickets issued for rent parties, which the hosts handed out to friends and even strangers, interested Langston Hughes. “When I first came to Harlem," he wrote in 1957, "as a poet I was intrigued by the little rhymes at the top of most House Rent Party cards, so I saved them. Now I have quite a collection.”

The collection now lives in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Yale University, along with Hughes's other papers.

In the 1920s, competition for guests was fierce, because as many as a dozen parties might be held on the same block, and as many as five per building. One ticket from 1927 said:

Save your tears for a rainy day, We are giving a party where you can play With red-hot mammas and too bad She-bas Who wear their dresses above their knees And mess around with whom they please.

During Prohibition, of course, bootleg liquor flowed freely. Some parties had back rooms for gambling and drug use, and couples could sometimes rent one for themselves—for a price.

The term "rent party" never appeared on these tickets, which used euphemisms such as "social party" or "social whist party."

Hughes enjoyed going to these parties more than those thrown by artists and intellectuals. He wrote:

The Saturday night rent parties that I attended were often more amusing than any night club, in small apartments where God knows who lived—because the guests seldom did—but where the piano would often be augmented by a guitar, or an odd cornet, or somebody with a pair of drums walking in off the street. And where awful bootleg whiskey and good fried fish or steaming chitterling were sold at very low prices. And the dancing and singing and impromptu entertaining went on until dawn came in at the windows.

Photos: Slate magazine and Open Culture

[pastlivesandpurplepuppets]

Nixon met Winters at the station. The first thing he noticed was that his friend was in full uniform. “Thought you were eager to be a civilian?” he asked. “I’m working on it,” Winters replied. “Just give me time.” Nixon flagged a cab that took them to the posh, twenty-story Yale Club at Vanderbilt Avenue and Forty-Fourth Street, and began showing his former commander off to his alumni friends. The next stop was the hospital where Nixon’s mother was a patient. “She was very, very nice and pleasant,” he recalled. “I can remember her very definitely trying to say nice things, the right things, like ‘I’ve heard a lot of good stories about you’ and so forth.” When the sun went down the two wartime comrades went out on the town, or rather, Nixon took Winters out on the town. Not surprisingly, Nixon dragged his friend to nightclubs and bars, where the young man from Lancaster would sit, fidgeting in his chair, while Nixon downed drink after drink. “I was not used to that kind of thing at all, it was all new to me and I was very uncomfortable,” Winters recalled. “But there I sat all prim and proper.” Ironically, although it was Nixon who was getting drunk, it was Winters who nearly got into a barroom brawl. While the two were sitting at a table at one of Nixon’s nightspots, a man who had had almost as much to drink as Nixon staggered up to the pair. He spotted Winters’ uniform, the brass buttons and golden oak leaves gleaming in the light. “Well, well,” he said in an alcohol-laced voice. “Lookee here. We got a soldier. And an officer to boot. What are you doin’ here, General?” Winters ignored him. “Hey, General, are you deaf?” he prodded. “Blow,” Nixon told the man. “I ain’t talking to you, fella, I’m talkin’ to this nice, neat-looking soldier boy.” Winters saw anger flash in Nixon’s eyes, and his own slow fuse was starting to burn. “Look at that fruit salad,” the man said, noting Winters’ array of ribbons. “You must be a hero, General. Are you a hero?” Winters did not respond. “Are you too good to talk to me? You’re not a hero. You’re a sucker.” Winters had just about enough of this drunken fool when a waiter, knowing trouble when he saw it, hustled over and snatched the man by his upper arm. “Why don’t you find a nice corner somewhere else to drink?” he said and shouldered the man to another part of the room. “I could barely hold myself in,” Winters said later. “I was getting ready to kill that son of a bitch.”

~ Larry Alexander

[icedsodapop]

There's something so annoying when reading reviews of Pachinko by American critics calling Solomon "unlikeable" and saying that he has "led a privileged life". Yes, when compared to his elders, Solomon has led a life of relative comfort but he's also a Zainichi Korean who has experienced anti-Korean discrimination in Japan and has also spent his adult life being an Asian man in majority White institutions (Yale and Wall Street) in America during the Reaganite era. Solomon wants that American dream. His frustration and anger and hunger for power are all informed by these experiences. It's annoying to see critics miss out important historical context. It's annoying to see audiences (esp White ones) not want characters of colour who are written to be flawed. It's annoying to see audiences dislike/unable to sympathize with flawed characters of colour even when they have tragic backstories, while defending White characters who have done worse.

[taylorswiftstyle]

Chiefs vs Bills | Orchard Park, NY | January 21, 2024

Gant ‘Blank Canvas Project x Kilo Kish Bouclé Varsity Jacket’ - $1,800.00 (sold out)

Rather than opt for actual Chiefs merchandise, Taylor opted for one of her go-to outerwear brands in Chiefs-approved colours that also included some stars (do u like dem?). I’ve found that on a number of occasions opting for Chiefs colours in otherwise normal street style garments has been her strategy for away games.

This particular jacket was part of a trio of designs Gant executed in collaboration with artistic talents as part of their “Blank Canvas Project” campaign. The concept being to “[transform] the quintessential symbol of American Sportswear into wearable works of art.” The artist in question, Kilo Kish, said the “inspiration behind [her] design was Ivy League culture” - an extension on the themes she explored on her album American Gurl. As with much of Gant’s ethos, the brand’s objective to create modern pieces that are not only heirloom quality but that riff on Americana athletics is such a natural integration into Taylor’s game day style. The added bonus is that each of the Blank Canvas designs had 100% of its sale proceeds go towards a charity of the artist's choosing - something I'm sure Taylor could get behind having done her own share of philanthropic donations on each of the stops on the Eras Tour.

Kilo added when designing the jacket, “When people see the jacket, I want them to feel the playfulness and I want them to feel like it’s personalized and almost homemade looking.” That homemade feeling has been a personal touch also present through Taylor’s game day fashion. Where, in a world of seemingly endless options, Taylor has shown a level of care and intention to opt for small businesses (local to KC or women-owned) or items that are handmade (Kristin Juszczyk’s jacket and Kut the Knit’s crocheted beanie as just two examples).

As for the ‘CTFL’ on the jacket - my best guess (as confirmed by the artist themselves) is the FL is a reference to Kilo’s home state of Florida and the CT to Gant's headquarters in Connecticut. Which is also paid homage to in Gant’s FW 2023 collection with varsity jackets honouring New Haven, Connecticut and its Ivy League school Yale that Kilo also wore in campaign imagery for Gant.