#also leila this is stunning

[delfiore]

—MY DEAREST FRIEND AND ENEMY. (2/5)

pairing: ona batlle x fem!reader

synopsis: you and ona become much closer, but in the wrong way; an offer on the horizon threatens to tear you apart.

word count: 3.7k

warnings: description of collision in football

PART I, PART III, PART IV, PART V

Sports Illustrated: USWNT International Y/N Y/L/N Scores in First Game Back From Injury “Y/N Y/L/N will not stop scoring. The Man City star returns to action with a stunning header in a home game against Everton since picking up an injury this summer in the CONCACAF final against Canada. Though the U.S. emerged victorious thanks to Alex Morgan’s penalty kick, Y/L/N was forced off in the 68th minute with a torn hamstring. She was expected to be sidelined for 3 months. […]”

You skimmed through the article, waiting for your coffee to brew. It has been an arduous few months as you focused on rehabilitation. You were supposed to be match-fit at the start of the season, but the physios determined you needed at least a few more weeks before you could play. Your thigh still felt a bit tight every time you stretched them. Nonetheless, you were back to playing, that was all that mattered.

It was early November, and the winds were picking up in Manchester, and yet you were warm.

“Morning,” you said, smiling at the figure waddling into the living room.

Bratwurst was wagging his tail by her side, no doubt looking for more food as if you hadn’t fed him half an hour ago.

“Good morning,” Ona said, rubbing her eyes.

“Coffee?” You nodded towards the machine.

“No, I have to get to training. Thanks, though.”

“In my shirt?” You smirked at looked down at her top. Sure enough, it was the old T-shirt you lent her after you were done last night.

“Hah hah.” She mocked you, but then took off the shirt, leaving her top half completely bare, and threw it at your face. “Obviously not.”

You let your eyes travel freely, as she went back into your room and returned wearing the clothes she came in last night.

“Looks like you’re back to being your insufferable self.” She walked to where you sat, putting on her necklace. “Can’t even go on social media without seeing people praising your goal.”

“All in a day’s work,” you said, grinning.

Ona rolled her eyes and put on her shoes. “I’m glad you’re back, but I won’t go easy on you.”

You stood up and pecked her lips.

“I never asked you to,” you leaned closer, ducking your face into her neck. “Maybe when we’re alone.”

She snickered quietly and patted your cheek. “Try not to miss me too much. Bye-bye, Bratwurst.”

The pup sat by the door as he watched her close it behind her. Ever since she started spending time at your apartment, it felt like he liked her more, always following her around and snuggling with her as she gave him pets.

Ona had been coming over since the kiss at the end of last season with the premise of meaningless sex. You both had an arrangement, and you were committed to keeping to it. You were surprised when she suggested it, thinking her not to be the type, but Ona continues to surprise you.

You had only meant to meet up over dinner to talk about what happened, but the night ended with her hands tangled in your hair and your legs tangled in her sheets. The ups and downs these past few months never deterred you from seeing each other. In fact, Spain losing out in the Euros prompted her to come over and forget about it for a night. In a way, you both had each other.

Your teammates at Man City were especially amused whenever you’d forget to cover up and come to practice with marks on your neck.

“Who’s the unlucky gal this time, Y/N?”

“Have you been busy while you were injured?”

Every time, you would just shake your head with a grin because you’d never kiss and tell. Also, because Leila and Laia would flip out if they knew you’d been screwing their teammate on the national team.

Your arrangement worked for a while, both of you still too young and too committed to football to think about anything else. While a lot of your colleagues would disagree, it was the excuse you told yourself to fully admit that what you felt for Ona was beyond just carnal desires.

You were treading on dangerous waters, your feelings bubbling to the surface every time you saw the girl. It was much more challenging to keep them under wraps, especially when you had to play against her every couple of months. From what people knew about you two, you were rivals, and that was your relationship. Rumors of a romance surfaced too, amongst younger fans, but it was the result of baseless shipping. If only they knew.

Ona wasn’t an incredibly affectionate person, not by a mile. The only times you would catch her lowering her guard by the tiniest of margins were when she was tired, maybe then she’d let you cuddle her after sex. But you remembered when Spain was knocked out of the Euros way too soon, and she was crying on the phone to you. You had just won the CONCACAF with the US across the Atlantic, and yet all you wanted was to hold her.

And so that was what you did. Two days later, after you were dismissed from your international duties, you flew back to Manchester and waited for her. Ona liked to be the little spoon whenever she was sad, and you were very happy to oblige. If she was feeling generous, she would even thank you for it. As much as you wanted to, you never teased her about it, because you knew what you had was fragile, and a slight mention of it could topple everything to the ground.

That was how it was with your Spanish beauty.

“Wooooooow . . . You’ve got a handful,” said your teammate, Chloe, as she stood in your kitchen, eating your chips.

“Yup,” you pressed your lips thinly, grabbing some seasoning from the cupboard. “That’s my life right now.”

You proceeded to tell Chloe everything one day, omitting a few saucy details, of course.

“Have you tried talking to her about it?”

“That’s the thing, though. There’s nothing to talk about. I can’t just walk up to her and demand something that wasn’t part of the arrangement to begin with.”

“I know, but it’s clearly affecting you. You like her, don’t you?”

“No.” A few seconds of silence followed, and Chloe was looking at you with a glare. “Okay, I think she’s cute, like, really cute.”

“I think you should talk to her, Y/N,” Chloe said. “Worst case scenario, you lot stop whatever you’re doing with each other behind all of our backs. Best case scenario, you date her.”

You smirked, but nothing no usual quippy or smug remark came out. “I should try,” you spoke quietly.

Chloe nodded expectantly and continued eating her chips, now. “I can’t believe it. You tricked all of us! It was Batlle all this time!”

“I didn’t think you’d come tonight,” you whispered quietly into the room, sitting by the edge of your bed.

Ona was under the covers, on her phone. “Why? ‘Cause we played against each other?”

You nodded bashfully.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” she set her phone down. “Or did you not want me to come?”

“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” You said, gesturing at the clothes strewn on the floor.

You let her study you for a moment, finding the ruffled sheets much more interesting instead.

“What’s wrong?” She said.

“Nothing.”

“You’re too quiet.” Her voice was low and calming. She reached out and caressed your hand. You wanted to bury your face in her neck and be done with the conversation instead.

“I was just wondering . . . would you like to come over a bit earlier from now on?”

Your question made her look at you with a puzzled expression. “Have I been staying too late?”

“No, no. I mean—you can stay as late as you want, but come a bit earlier. I can cook for us, and then we can just sit and . . . talk.”

You fumbled with your fingers, your eyes drifting up to her, seeing the realization dawn on her. She exhaled. “Okay, that sounds nice . . . but as friends, right?”

“Um . . . no?”

“Y/N,” Ona breathed. Her silence was killing you. Finally, she looked up. “That wasn’t our arrangement, and I’d like for it to stay as we’ve agreed. You’re okay with that, right?”

“Yeah,” you lied, caressing her arm and flashing a smile. “It’s for the best.”

She nodded but watched you closely. “Come here,” she whispered.

You obliged, letting her pull you into her embrace. A searing kiss followed, leaving you to straddle her bare waist.

A short gasp left your lips. “Fuck me, Ona.” You pleaded quietly, hoping she’d fuck you until you forget the conversation ever happened. But you also hoped she’d go slow and make love to you, proving that she’d finally reciprocated your feelings.

You’ve decided that you wanted both. Maybe then, you’d finally get what you wanted.

You didn’t know that Ona was scared to let you in too, so she settled for sleeping with you.

You had been an obsession of hers for three years, a game she played besides having to focus on the actual game she was paid to play. But now, here she was—sleeping with someone who could possibly be her mortal enemy. She didn’t know when, but suddenly, she couldn’t bring herself to see you harmed.

She wanted you, but that was the selfish part of her speaking.

In the morning, you had expected her to be there, but your bedside was empty.

Ona moved through her days like a ghost. She didn’t expect it to be this hard three years ago when she first set foot in Manchester. She didn’t expect a forward to make her life this hard, or that she would fall in love with you. Every minute she spent tangled up in bed with you were minutes where nothing else outside that bedroom mattered, and it scared her.

It scared her that only you could make her feel that way, that something she had spent so hard working towards for herself, you did so easily for her.

She thinks of the nights after the Euros when she practically stayed over all day, and how you took care of her. She thinks of the cheeky winks you would send her way whenever she played against you, and the not-so-innocent brushes that you sneak in whenever she defended you. She think of your face when she shut you down, and how quickly your walls came back up.

She thinks of you the entire time she was on the Zoom call with her agent.

“You need to decide soon, Ona,” her agent had told her. “Barcelona doesn’t wait for anyone.”

It was a no-brainer, but she thinks of you all the time.

The referee blew the whistle and the 90 minutes were over. You collapsed on your knees as the Etihad erupted into cheers. Man City had reached the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League for the first time ever in the history of the women’s club. You would be playing Wolfsburg next, but you couldn’t care less about that right then. You just wanted to celebrate with your teammates.

You wished that you could celebrate with Ona too.

You sent her a text much later in the night, but she didn’t respond. Thinking it to be too late for her to come over, you went to bed, soaking in your victory.

But then, she didn’t respond the next day, then the day after that. A week later, she still hadn’t responded. Then the first leg of the semifinal came, and City drew 2-2 to Wolfsburg. You had given her space to deal with whatever she didn’t want you to know and knew double-texting made you look desperate, but you have had enough of the silence.

A vote of confidence would have been nice Sent 4:29pm

Nothing.

You weren’t going to put your life on hold for her. You wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.

The week of the return leg, you had almost forgotten all about Ona from the amount of training you were doing.

“Okay, ladies. Gather around,” said Chris, the assistant coach. “This will be our last practice session before the Champions League game. We’re gonna do some passing to start with, then a set-piece practice, and we’ll close off with a 5v5 scrimmage. That sound good?”

You were starting to feel more confident than jittery. Your movements were sure and steady, so were your finishes. Big games never deterred you, but it was the added fact of Ona not responding to your text that caused you to check your phone every time you were able to.

“No phones, Y/N,” Chris said, and raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, Coach. Just checking news from family,” you lied. He extended his hand anyway, and you begrudgingly handed your phone over.

“I can’t have you distracted, Y/N. The match is tomorrow.”

“I know, I know. I’ve been good, though, haven’t I?” You grinned, taking a swig of water.

Practice ended later than scheduled, but you didn’t mind. You needed the extra preparation, and you were glad to have done that with your teammates. Chris finally gave you your phone back, like a naughty student, and you quickly checked your messages. Still nothing. It wasn’t like this was the biggest game of your life or anything.

Going to the news, flipping through articles upon articles on politics, your eyes landed on one about sports.

The Busby Babe: Ona Batlle Set For Barcelona Return “Manchester United and Spain star right back Ona Batlle is reportedly on the verge of completing a move back to Catalonia, rejoining Barcelona Femeni at the end of her contract with the Red Devils. […]”

The match of your life started. You were on the left wing as you always were, playing inverted so Laia would be running the flank. You scored one, but Wolfsburg got one back towards the end of the first half.

“Make those runs, ladies. If you see them coming at you, call out to your teammates. Use the third man to break free of the defense.” Gareth pointed at the board, showing hypothetical scenarios that the team could exploit for an opening.

“Hey,” Chloe sat next to you, her forehead glistening. “You alright?”

You uttered a small ‘yeah’ and closed your hand over her sweat-clad one over your knee. You couldn’t be distracted. You owed it to Chloe and everyone else on this team.

You were slamming your fist on the door, but you didn’t care. Your jaw clenched as you swayed on your feet waiting for her to open up.

“What the fuck, Y/N?!”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” You stepped into her apartment.

Her face went pale. “How did you know?”

You let out a laugh. “You’re pathetic. You’re a coward for not even saying a single word.”

The ball was sent over long from deep aiming towards you. You called for Filippa for a one-two, but once you dribbled, you were tackled inside the box. You put your hand up at the referee but huffed in disbelief when she only shook her head and granted a corner.

Slapping your hand on the grass, you sprung up with a grunt. It must have looked like you were throwing a tantrum, but you couldn’t care less, you wanted to win.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“So you were just not gonna say anything at all?! You owe me that much to—”

“I don’t owe you anything, Y/N.” She snapped. She had never snapped at you before, not while off the pitch. “You know what we have is just sex. That’s all we ever had and that’s all we will ever have.”

Tears formed in your eyes. You felt like a kid again, being scolded and taken for granted. “Please, don’t do this.”

“I’m sorry, Y/N, but this isn’t some fantasyland,” Ona said firmly. “I told you what I wanted, and I thought you agreed.”

There was a period of struggle over the ball soon after, mostly in midfield. You were growing increasingly frustrated as passes continued being cut off just before they reached the attacking third.

“Come on, guys! Let’s finish this!” You called out to your teammates in an attempt to hype them up before a throw-in.

Your irritation mounted, but you told yourself to quickly snap out of it. I need to stay calm, my team needs me. It proved quite difficult when Lena Oberdorf slithered up from behind to mark you. She dug an elbow into your back to keep you at bay, and when you moved, she moved. So you pushed back, much harder than you anticipated. It set her off. Good, stay off me.

Soon, you heard the ref’s hurried whistle, as Lena shoved you back. “The fuck are you pushing for?!” Your opponent seethed, getting all up in your face to challenge you.

You were feeling bold, so you smirked at her. “Come closer, see what I’ll do. Or do you just want a piece of this, huh?”

It wasn’t your best quality, you admitted it, but you liked it when you set off an opponent. You didn’t care when Lena was hurling insults at you in German as she was being led away. What mattered was that you had gotten in her head, and it would be much easier to break her defense from now on. The referee blew her whistle again, and a few teammates of yours attempted to separate you from Lena.

“Sei ruhig, Mann. Bleib’ da drüben.” Be quiet, man. Stay over there. Waving at her dismissively, you saw the way her eyes looked like they would pop out of her sockets in fury, knowing she didn’t expect you to know German. You couldn’t help but feel a sick sense of satisfaction.

“Last warning, Y/L/N.” The referee warned before continuing the match.

There would always be one player that completely drove the opposition crazy, and you would gladly be that asshole, so your teammates wouldn’t have to. You wanted to win.

“You kissed me first. I thought . . .”

“Please, don’t make this any harder than it already is,” Ona said quietly.

“I thought we had something, Ona,” you tried to steady your voice. You knew you sounded pathetic, but you never believed Ona could betray you in such a way.

She only pressed her lips thin. “We don’t. The only thing we have is our arrangement and however you feel about me on the pitch.”

Bunny scored in the 75th minute, and that would be the last goal for City in this match. The game went to extra time, and you could feel your teammates getting tired and sloppy in possession. You were tired too, but you wanted to keep fighting, anything to keep the thought of Ona out of your head.

You were so focused on the ball that you didn’t see a defender coming up beside you, her body colliding with yours in an attempt to redirect the ball. You fell to the ground with a thud, the stinging impact beginning to spread across your back. You felt the wind getting knocked out of you, your vision beginning to fade until all you could see were the lights atop the stadium, until those faded too.

The next thing you knew, you were on your side. Then the uncomfortable pain in your gut started to become more apparent, and you felt like you couldn’t breathe anymore. You gasped for air, just as a couple of your teammates knelt beside you.

“Y/N, can you hear me? Medic!” You heard a voice almost like Demi’s call out.

You didn’t know who knocked into you, you didn’t care anymore, because you had the overwhelming urge to throw up whilst still struggling to breathe.

“Can’t . . . breathe,” you wheezed out, tears starting to fill your eyes. You wanted to go home.

One of the medics shone a flashlight in your eyes. “Pupils are PEARL,” she said. “Okay, I need you to try and take deep breaths for me, alright, darling?”

You drew a shaky breath. There was a wheezing noise, in and out. In and out. The more you did, the easier it got. Your head was dizzy when you stood up, just as you heard applause ringing throughout the stadium.

Chloe appeared in front of you and offered her arm while a medic took your other as you walked toward the sideline.

“You’re alright, love,” she flashed you a warm smile and wiped away the stray tear that lingered on your cheek.

It was much too unfortunate, because you still had a lot more to give, but you were done for the night. Gareth knew it too, so he sent Hempo in to take your place.

You finally let the tears fall freely when the final whistle came.

“When do you leave?”

“In two weeks.”

A scornful laugh escaped you that you didn’t even bother to hide. “You didn’t even have the decency to tell me, not as your booty call, but as your friend.”

But you were kidding yourself. You knew Ona and you were never friends, never quite lovers either. Only two people floating around in a sexual limbo who were too scared to admit to themselves what was right in front of them. Now she was leaving, and you would never get the chance.

It didn’t matter anymore, any of it. You had a Champions League semifinal to play.

ESPN: Wolfsburg Grabs Victory in Extra Time to Reach Women’s Champions League Final “[…]”

a/n: it was so heartwarming to see the support for jenni and the players :’) it’s abt fuckin time man let’s hope this continues until rubiales and vilda’s resignation

[linamromero]

𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐘 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋.

𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Marrying Ona was the most magical day of your life.

Ever since you met at under 17 national camp you instantly clicked, you went on to play at Levante together. Ona soon realised when she moved to Manchester United that she caught feelings for you which you soon reciprocated when she eventually confessed at your first senior camp.

You and Ona had both agreed for the wedding to be held at a large villa in Vilassar de Mar however yours and her mama insisted you spend the night apart as tradition.

You hadn’t been away from Ona since you went to your parents in Mollet de Vallès for Christmas one year so you felt a little lost although you had Mapi, Alexia, Jenni and Esther with you 24/7.

“Y/N why you so quiet.” Alexia asked sitting on the bed beside you.

“I miss her.” You stuck your bottom lip out.

“Oh Y/N/N!” The captain cooed pulling you into her side.

“Your so whipped.” Jenni cackled from the other side of the room.

“Shut up idiota.” Alexia scolded her.

…

The next day, the day of your wedding you were getting the most attention. Your hair and makeup was done, the four girls were helping you into your dress. Your mama had your flowers she sat watching you get all prepared for your big day.

Esther was zipping up your dress, “Y/N/N you look absolutely gorgeous.”

“Gracias, i just hope Ona likes it.” You felt the detailing of your dress.

“Vale, it’s time is she ready?” Mapi ran into the room with her phone in her hand.

“Sí she is, Y/N come out!” Jenni called.

Alexia opened the doors of the dressing room, your mama handed you your flowers so she could wipe away the tears under her eyes, “Oh my.” Mapi’s jaw dropped.

“Mapi you’re catching flies.” You giggled and her mouth snapped shut.

“You look stunning.” She complimented, “But let’s go Ona is outside!”

“Eeeek!” You clapped your hands together, excited that your finally get to marry the woman you love.

You took a deep breath standing at the top of the stone steps, Mapi, Alexia, Jenni and Esther by your side, your father linked your arm with his walking down the stairs.

Music began to play, all of your guests which consisted of yours and Ona’s national teammates and league teammates rose from their seats watching you, your bridesmaids and your father walk down the aisle.

You stood beside Ona clearing your throat, “Hi nene.”

“Hi querida.” You responded with a big smile on your face.

“I have no words, you look unreal.” Ona looked you up and down.

“So do you nene.”

Everyone sat down in their seats so the register could begin, "Bienvenida, we are gathered here today to join Ona Batlle Pascual and Y/N Rivera Sanchéz in holy matrimony." She started.

"I Ona Batlle Pascual take thee, Y/N Rivera Sanchéz to be my lawful wedded wife. I promise to care for you, to give you my love and friendship and to respect you and cherish you throughout the rest of our lives together." Ona spoke, squeezing your hands tight.

A tear slipped from your eyes, squeezing your hands tighter, "And i Y/N Rivera Sanchéz take thee, Ona Batlle Pascual to be my lawful wedded wife. I also promise to care for you, to give you my love and friendship and to respect you and cherish you throughout the rest of our lives together." You said wiping the tears from under your eyes.

“Puede basar a la novia!” The register announced.

You both walked down the aisle hand in hand, Mapi in her element throwing confetti at the newly weds. You headed inside for the reception, the main room all your guests were sat on tables whereas you, Ona, Alexia, Mapi, Leila, Laia and yours and Ona's parents sat on the main table, "Mi esposa."

“Mi esposa.” You smiled at Ona kissing her on the lips again, holding her hand.

After everyone had finished eating their meals, Ona stood up clinking a knife on her champagne glass, "I'd like to make a speech." Ona announced, “Para mi esposa, i'm excited for life now that we are married and i hope to extend our family soon, i would like to thank you for being there for me throughout our wins, our losses and our draws, i can't wait for what the future holds, when i first met you at the under 17 camp, I just knew we were going to be friends from the start, pranking our dear Mapi on the daily but as soon as we hit the senior team i knew you were the one for me and look where we are now, te amo mucho nene."

Everyone applauded Ona's speech before she passed the microphone over to you, a tear slipped from your eyes at her beautiful words, "Gracias mi amor, i'm so glad that i met you Ona you've changed my life and made the best i can be and i'm excited too, i know our relationship has been a rollercoaster, having its ups and downs, but mainly ups moving to Manchester meaning i have to wake up to your face every morning, our days are full of laughs, cries and love which i wish to carry on with you, te amo mucho guapa."

…

It was later on in the evening, drinks were flowing and Mapi was trying to get you and Ona to have your first dance. It got to the point where Mapi went up to the DJ and asked to play your song which was Hold My Girl by George Ezra.

Ona eventually dragged you to the dance floor, holding you close her hands snaked around your waist whilst you hung your arms around her neck placing your foreheads together creating a bubble just the two of you. You swayed to the music, a smile broke out on both of yours faces knowing this is the best day of your lives.

Your wife was chewing her lip so you brought your index finger up to her chin tilting her head upwards to look you in the eyes, leaning in you kissed her deeply you could taste the alcohol on her lips. The song faded out, you intertwined your hand with hers walking off the dance floor.

You promised each other that you wouldn't get too drunk as you wanted your wedding night to be as special as possible. You walked out onto the large balcony of the master bedroom leaning on the stone wall over looking the large garden where they got married earlier that day.

The air was still warm as it was summertime in Vilassar de Mar, you were stood in just your wedding underwear, barefoot your Jordans strewn in the bedroom.

Ona came out in just a robe looking at the beautiful view in front of her, “Hõla mi esposa.”

“Hõla nene.” You responded turning to face her.

“You look absolutely incredible." Ona commented looking you up and down.

“Gracias nene, what have you got on under there." You toyed with the belt of her white silk robe.

"You'll have to come in and find out." She winked at you swaggering back into the room with you chasing after her.

…

[delusional-dinosaurr]

Nice Sleepover? (Alessia Russo x Reader)

After what felt like years you finally get off the plane in Manchester. You got loaned to City from Barcelona, being from Manchester it's a perfect loan for you, as you've been at Barca for just over a year and needed a little change of scenery.

Lauren was of course there to greet you at the airport with a sign which said "Queen of Nutmegs". You giggled and jogged over to her and gave her the biggest hug. "I'm so happy you're playing for us Y/N, I can't believe it still!" she says giddily whilst clinging onto you. "You'll be ready to play in the Manchester Derby as well!" "I can't wait to beat them with you, It'll take me back to the U19 days" you smile. Years ago you used to be an unbeatable force for the England younger squads, you with the assists and her with the goals. Being reunited was fantastic but also terrifying for those who faced you. After a long week of getting to know the team and staff at City alongside some training days, you crash on Lauren's spare bed at her shared house the night before the Derby. She slumps on it next to you whilst you both aimlessly scroll through your phones. You can't help but get stuck on an Instagram post by Alessia Russo, there is an audible gulp when you looked at the photos of her and Lauren spotted it instantly. "Now why is my best friend dribbling over Lessi?" Lauren said whilst looking at you with a big smirk on her face. "I'm not dribbling, it's just been a long time since we've seen eachother" You sighed and drop your phone on the bed. You used to have quite the crush on Alessia back in the day which hasn't really gone away, and haven't been interested in anyone since. You still talk every so often with national camps but nothing like you used to. "Now now young Y/N, don't go acting like this on the pitch, we need to win, yeah?" She slapped your hand gently "I'm off to bed, sleep well and don't dream about Miss Russo, you need to stay focused!" she giggled as she leaves the room, leaving you to sigh and get cuddled up in bed. ---- You're getting ready in the locker room after the warmups for the away game at Old Trafford. Feeling confident for your first game you pulled over your sky blue shirt whilst hearing a wolf whistle from Leila, you saluted her and gave her a wink in response. When you start to approach the tunnel the nerves hit, Lauren notices it and instantly puts her hands on your shoulders, gripping them tightly. "We will win, and I swear we will get a classic Y/LN-Hemp assist and goal for our first match together!" Lauren cheers whilst patting your shoulders firmly. You look over to your side to see the one and only Ella Toone grinning at you, you give her a nod and a smile. "Y/LN! Shame you aren't in red! Would look better on you" She cackles at you, you've missed her dumb laugh. "Never in your wildest dreams Tooney, red isn't my colour. Think you'd look pretty stunning in blue though" You wink. You and Ella used to play together for Astley & Tyldesley when you were younger. Your parents and her parents are close friends so you've always been fairly close. You still talk every now and then but since moving to Barca not so much. Not like it's in a bad way, more so that you're both very busy but will always be there for each other. She gave you a brief hug in the tunnel before you head out. "Good luck on your first game for City, shame you'll be losing" she chuckles whilst giving you a gentle smack on the ass which you instantly laugh at. You all start walking out onto the pitch and the game starts. As a midfielder you're already seeing loads of action in both attacking and defending. Around 20 minutes in you see a Alessia making a run to receive a ball in from Ella. Before Alessia can receive the ball, you cut in with a fantastic slide to clear the ball from her. This sends Alessia tumbling over you and she lands on top of you. You couldn't help but get a little flustered as she lifted herself off you whilst looking into your eyes. You shake it off and return to the game. You look to your side and see Lauren looking at you, very amused at what she had just witnessed. The game continues with a fair amount of back and forth between the two of you, she even fouls you when you're trying to connect a longer pass to Hemp, which you brush off as she gives you a hand up. As half-time comes around the score is 1-1, one goal from Toone and the City goal from Chloe. You get told that you'll be likely to stay on for the full 90 with Lauren, to try and secure another goal. You run back onto the pitch and into position feeling energised and ready to win. 74 minutes in you receive a pass and run it up the wing ready for Lauren when you feel a pair of boots collide with you. You instantly tumble to the ground and clutch your ankle in pain. One amused looking Alessia Russo stands over you whilst the ref is waving a yellow at her whilst she's protesting. She wipes the sweat off her face using the bottom of her shirt, you can't help but glance and melt at the sight "Oi, she's getting in your head, we've got this" Lauren gives you a quick hug from behind before jogging off ready for a free kick. The free kick is taken by Leila which you receive and effortlessly cross it to Lauren, who of course scored an excellent goal. She points at you and runs full sprint to jump in your arms. "I TOLD YOU WE WOULD DO IT! Y/LN-HEMP BACK IN ACTION!" Lauren screamed whilst the rest of your teammates are yelling and hugging you both. The game restarts and the goal has lit a fire in the United girls. They're playing more forcefully and riskier. You notice a Toone-Russo connection again which you pull off a bit of a dodgy tackle which earns some colourful language from Alessia in frustration. This earns your first yellow card for the team which you accepted as you knew it was a dodgy tackle. 2 minutes of added time and you're making a run up from the midfield, the United girls are playing ultra defensive to prevent a last minute goal from City. You receive a beautiful pass from Chloe and as you’re running closer to the box you see a flash of blonde hair. Knowing who is about to attempt to tackle you, you manage to nutmeg Alessia and run through the defenders, the city fans break out in loud cheers as your nutmeg was clearly well received by your club. You get to a 1v1 with Earps and chip the ball over her effortlessly. 3-1. Your teammates are going absolutely nuts over your goal.

The final whistle is blown after your goal. You couldn't be more pleased with your performance, especially after receiving the player of the match award. You walked around the stadium chatting with the United girls and swapping shirts with Ella for some photos, she takes a photo herself of you in a United shirt and makes a joke about it looking hot on you. You continue walking around the stadium and take photos with fans and chat with some of them for a bit before going and cleaning up. After getting clean and changed Leila pulls you aside "Hey Chica! We are all going clubbing tonight, coming? I heard your favourite player will be there" she gently shakes you with excitement. You knew you had to go as it would be your first outing with the girls, even though you'd rather go sleep at Lauren's. That and a chance to reconnect with Alessia is all you want to do right now. You sigh and nod at Leila resulting in her squealing. --- You enter the club which both teams and staff have hired out for the night and spot some of the team already here, who are waving frantically to get you to go over. You decided to just wear casual blue skinny jeans and a white shirt to keep it casual and comfy. Some of the girls dressed up but some went with the same theme as you. As the night goes on you spot Alessia and Ella at the bar, you quickly make your way over and pay for their drinks before they can tap the machine. They both turn to put a face to the mystery arm with a card and smile when they realise. "Thank you Y/N, you really didn't have to though!" Ella says whilst giving you a strong side hug. "Ah it's the least I can do after breaking your winning streak" You wink as you take a sip of your drink, to which Ella gives you a shove for. Alessia wraps her arms around you and gives you a squeeze. "I've missed you Y/N, we need a catch up later" She says and you agree to meet up with her later on in the evening. The night goes on, the drinks are flowing and everyone is fairly drunk, which has resulted in the majority of you dancing and chatting between the clubs. You and Lauren are throwing some wild moves which has both teams laughing. Leila has joined in but isn't dancing as enthusiastically as you and Lauren, but still enjoying herself. "God you're still awful at dancing" Alessia shouts in your ear with you laughing in response. "Speak for yourself, Leila thinks I'm a great dancer right?" You shove Leila who just throws her arms around you whilst still dancing, which results in you shaking your head laughing.

“Clearly I need to tell the Barca girls to teach you to dance like us Spanish do!” Leila sasses back whilst dancing away from you to go to the bar. She runs back to yank Lauren away from you and Alessia, very obviously trying to get the two of you alone at last.  

"It's been so long since we've seen each other right?" She yells to you. You can barely hear her over the music and you give her a puzzled look in return. She drags you over to a quieter corner before you can answer her. "Well, it's not every day I get dragged around by a pretty woman" You say whilst Alessia shakes her head at you. "Always been a flirt haven't you?" She smacks your arm in response. You both talk for what feels like hours, you discuss the fouls on each other during the match and apologise, you buy her a couple drinks and seem to be gravitating closer to each other. Your hand is resting on her thigh instinctively which she blushes at. "Just fuck already!" Tooney yells in your ear, you cough at how forward she was about your not so little crush on Alessia back in the day. Back when you were in the youth teams you had a massive crush on her, Ella used to tease you for it but eased when Alessia had a boyfriend for a while. "Who says we haven't already" Alessia smirks at Ella whilst she's staring at you with her jaw dropped. Alessia also takes the opportunity to move closer to you and hold your waist. "She's joking, we haven't. She would've told everyone how great I was if we did" You joke with Alessia now blushing again. "I have a strict rule of no footballers actually. Especially if I have to play with or against them, too distracting for me. Conflict of interest or something like that" Alessia says to Ella who scoffs, not believing a word of it. "Yeah yeah yeah, whatever Less. You'll change your mind soon enough" Ella winks as she grabs her drink and dances away. --- All you feel is your pounding headache as you groggily open your eyes in the morning, or at least it feels like the morning. What really wakes you up is the one and only Ella Toone swinging open the door. "Morning Alessia!" She draws out the A's in her name until she gasps, noticing another person in bed with her best friend. "Well clearly you had a good night, and on that note I'll leave you both to it!" she shuts the door quickly. You realise you are pretty much naked under the sheets cuddling Alessia, who is also in the same predicament as you. "So... " She drew out the O. "Well, it was gonna happen sooner or later wasn't it" You mumble to her. "We don't have to tell anyone and can forget about it if you want" she says quickly. "No, no. I honestly just wish it wasn't a one night thing Lessi. Not like that but like a more official thing where I can take you out and spoil you and...yeah" You sigh. She kisses you gently, breaking you out of your rambling state. "Tooney was right" Alessia sighs back with you giving her a questioning look "My dumb rule for no footballers was my way to try and throw you off. I've had a bit of a crush on you since we were younger. I only dated others because I thought you weren't interested" "Well same goes for me! Ella used to harass me for when I used to crush on you" You laugh as you both chuck some clothes on so you can face chatting with your friends downstairs. You borrow Alessia's United jumper and some joggers, you bundle up your clothes from last night which Alessia brings you a carrier bag to put them in.

“So um, where does this leave us?” You ask her quietly.

“Well I’m looking forward to you spoiling me on some dates Y/NN. If you want a label we can always just say ‘dating’?” She smiles and gives your hand a reassuring squeeze, you smile and nod in response. You both head downstairs to see Alessia’s teammates and face Tooney after her walking in on the two of you.

"Nice sleepover?" Millie laughs as she spots you both entering the room. "Mmm was nice, didn't get much sleep though" You say whilst looking at Alessia, which earns you a smack on the chest. "I knew you'd fuck!" Ella sings whilst dancing around the kitchen like a lunatic. "I better head off, we've got some defensive training today. I'm also due a telling off for my yellow for fouling Alessia" You chuckle as you put your shoes on in the doorway. Millie grabs her car keys as she didn't drink the night before and she offers you a lift to Lauren's house. "Wait!" Alessia scurries over to you and gives you a gentle peck on the cheek "Dinner tonight or something? Like a date? I've missed you" she nervously rubs the back of her neck saying the last part quietly. "I'd love nothing more, I'll text you when I'm free beautiful. For the record, I've missed you too" You kiss her gently on the lips, a feeling you never want to forget. --- You arrive home and thank Millie for the lift. You open the door to see Lauren sat on the sofa, ready to interrogate you. You plop down on the sofa with a satisfied sigh. '"Now where were you last night?" She scoots up closer to you and notices your shirt "TAKE IT OFF" she yells whilst tapping the United logo, she starts yanking your shirt off for you in rage with you protesting. Leila had stayed over for the night so she walks into the living room with Lauren and you playfighting with your jumper half off. "Guys! Stop! What's going on?" Leila breaks up your playfight "Y/N do not wear that filth around us!" she then also starts tugging your jumper off successfully. You chuckle as you quickly go get changed for training so that you don't have to worry about it later. You sneak back into the living room hoping they didn't hear you walk back in. "Right go on then, spill. You better have a good reason to have been wearing a united jumper" Lauren says patting the sofa which you slump next to her on. Leila is watching the conversation intently, clearly wanting to know all the gossip. "So I spent the night with Alessia, and we are hanging out later" You say nervously, not knowing how your best friend would react. Luckily for you she's over the moon, slapping her legs in excitement. "I knew you guys would eventually do something! I'm so happy for you!" she squeezes you into a tight hug. "We have to plan a romantic night for you two, I've got so many ideas". Do we want a part 2 or should I try something else? It's my first fic so I'm still get used to how this all works! I'll happily take requests too:)

[nani-nonny]

Dialogue 8 for WDS as he and the mad dogs are in a mission but heavily injured so they need a plan to escape danger.

Oh, this is fun! I like where we’re heading :D

WDS F!Leo referred to Leonardo and the teens referred to as their respective colors :D

8. “Okay. Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do—fuck.”

Leonardo slams his foot into a bot, sending the tin can flying into a swarm of more bots. He groans aloud, “I’m getting real sick of these fucking doodads. Purple! Any updates?”

The teen softshell pouts as he closes the panel to the large machine they have been trying to shut down. “You know, the more times you ask doesn’t suddenly give me the power to stop this.”

Blue’s blade matches with the incoming sickle-like arm of a bot and pushes it back. He cuts clean through its arms and kicks it to Red, who smashes it flat into the ground on another. Blue smirks as he teases, “Sounds like our genius is struggling with StockBoy tech.”

Purple swings his TechBo at Blue’s legs, but the slider opens a portal that redirects the hit into a pair of bots. “I’m not struggling—and this isn’t StockBoy. It’s someone else.”

Leonardo grabs a bot and rips off an arm in his frustration. “I don’t give a shit who it is, I want this over and done with. I’m missing my marathon—Leila is about to reveal her secret affair with the judge’s daughter. Do you know how long I waited for this?”

Orange flicks his chains and they coil around several bots, engulfing them in flames that begin to melt the metal. He swings the coil into an incoming swarm from the left, knocking them out like bowling pins. He rolls his shoulder as he whines, “I’m starting to get sore, Raph!”

Blue yawns and opens a series of portals around them to create a long, circling wall that separates them from the army of bots that march toward them. “Yeah, I’m getting kind of bored of this charade, ya know? When’s it gonna get good? Where’s the big baddy that we have to defeat and get it over with?”

Annoyed by their complaining that hadn’t stopped since the first wave of bots, Leonardo holds his hands out to get their attention. “Okay. Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do—fuck.”

The elder’s eyes widen when he catches sight of an incoming object aimed directly for one of the gaps in Blue’s wall of portals. It’s coming in fast and with little time to react, Leonardo steps in front of the teens and turns to shield them with his body.

The impact was heavy. It was hard. And it was fast. But the kids were safe.

The portals glitched out of existence as the impact shook the entire area. They all fell backwards with Leonardo limp on top of them, eyes closed and tympanum ringing. They don’t know what hit them, but all they know is Leonardo couldn’t be okay after that.

Blue is quick to squeeze out from under Leonardo, shaking the elder by the arm. “Leo! Are you okay?” He looks at his brothers who remain stunned under Leonardo. “Is everyone okay?”

Red shakes his head, holding the back of his neck, “What happened?”

Purple is quick to realize that with the portals gone, they weren’t safe behind a wall and didn’t have the luxury to question what had happened. He can’t move from under Leonardo, squirming under the elder’s weight. “I’m stuck!”

Orange’s eyes are wide as he watches the swarm of bots close in on them. “Guys! What do we do?”

Blue stabs his portal into the ground and tilts it like a lever, opening a portal underneath that was big enough to transport everyone. But it also included a few bots that were too close for comfort.

They all land roughly in an open space, away from the bindings and off the rooftop. Blue doesn’t get the chance to question where he had transported them as he lunges at the stowaway bots. He cuts into one then through the other, he winces when one’s sickle arm nicks his calf.

Red manages to raise enough of Leonardo’s weight that allows Purple to slip out and help Blue.

The softshell extends his TechBo into a bot and drills into another. He presses a button that releases a small taser that tases a bot, but the attack does close to nothing. Disappointed and annoyed, Purple slams the bot straight into Blue’s swing, cutting the metal tin can in half.

Red finally sits up, hooking his arms under the unconscious elder’s armpits. His brows are furrows with worry and he asks, “Is he gonna be okay? Why isn’t he up yet?”

Orange scrambles to Red’s back for a better look at the elder’s face. “Big Blue? Leo? What’s wrong with him?”

Purple tucks away his TechBo and responds hurriedly, “I don’t know but we can’t stay here long either. These things have trackers and they could be here any second. I say we retreat back home.”

Orange frowns, “But we can’t just leave these things roaming around. What if someone else gets hurt?”

“I say we drop off the old guy and get back on the road,” Blue responds while checking the elder.

“Leo. We can’t go against all those bots without Big Blue,” Red snaps.

“Then we retire for the night. Whiplash got us all like a crazy deal at the market, four for the price of one. And I’m pretty sure I saw you hit your head, Raphy,” Blue mentions as he points at his own head.

Red suddenly feels Leonardo’s weight shift in his arms and the elder manages to rise from his arms. “Leo!”

Blue and Orange are quick to help Leonardo stand as Blue asks, “Are you okay? What happened?”

Leonardo raises his hand to his head with a groan, trying to make sense of what happened. “We got hit?”

Purple points out, “Delirium, not good, Leo.”

Blue nods and asks, “Can you stand without us?”

Leonardo hooks his arm around Blue’s shoulders and says, “We need to retreat. Open a portal. Purple, Red, make sure no one follows.”

Blue frowns at the order but follows immediately, opening a blue portal in front of Leonardo.

Leonardo walks forward, seemingly without the teens’ help, but they still offer their shoulders. Purple and Red linger behind, keeping a close eye on their surroundings as the three limp through the portal before following after.

[whatwouldvalerydo]

Rebel year - ch 2/6 - Rumour mill

Gareth has a new mission, or a few, as he waits for the gears to be set in motion, discovering who the mysterious Ruby Taurus is. As he dives deep in the rumor mill, he is stunned about the number of things people know, or don't.

Characters mentioned in passing belong to: @kc-and-co @lifeofkaze @the-al-chemist @usernoneexistent

Characters Ominis, Poppy and Sebastian belong to the HPHL fandom.

As soon as he received the message from Jin, Gareth meet him one early morning in the Great Hall right before breakfast started. Suppressing a yawn, the young royal stretched as he made his way towards the Ravenclaw table “You look fresh as daisies. At what hour did you wake up?”

Checking the page number, Jin closed the book, placing it on his lap “I did not sleep.” Lifting his hand, he stopped the question before it was even addressed, instead focusing his attention on the letter he produced from his pocket “As requested my young friend.”

“Brilliant.” He said snatching it as he sat next to him “As least this will ensure Quidditch will be back.”

Cackling lightly, Jin shook his head “I do hope you have more than a false letter planed. Headmaster Black will call it off before the first broom lifts off the pitch.”

Leaning in, Gareth smirked “And here is where you are wrong. My dear, darling papa is an avid fan on the sport and a rather generous donator to the school. One word and he will force the hand in favor of my wishes. I am after all the last heir.”

“A tragic loss…” Jin spoke softy, however was abruptly interrupted by Gareth.

“Do not even say it, I do not require pity.”

Wiggling his nose lightly, Jin inhaled slowly through his nose “Death is a tragedy, a great loss. There is no shame in sadness, believe me, I know a thing or two about grief, I am after all older than you.”

Lilting his head, Gareth cocked a brow “We are in the same year. I do not recall you failing one. Did you join later?”

“Never mind. So now what?”

Slapping his hand against the table, Gareth looked around as some students started making their way to breakfast, two girls passing them, giggling as they waved, Gareth rolling his eyes, while Jin immediately looked at the floor “I hears some rumors about this new fifth year, Ruby Taurus. Who is she?”

Turning around to prepare some tea, Gareth poured himself a cup of coffee, Jin shaking his head at the habit “You are far too young to be drinking coffee.” Sniffing the air, he frowned “Or smoking for that matter, honestly, you only get a good set of lungs.” Seeing how his advice was ignored, he indulged him “The rumor mill is deep that is certain and quite abundant. You never know what is true or false, however I hear she dabbles in dark arts and this ancient magic that is a secret and somehow not. That is all I know.” Glancing at a table, he shuddered “Perhaps I am not the right person to actually be of help in this particular situation. Far better would be miss Fraser and Hexley. Might also get them off my back for a while.”

“You need to learn to speak to girls.” Gareth snickered as he searched for the girls with this eyes.

“All in due time.” opening the book back up, he sipped his tea “All in due time.”

Catching the aforementioned ladies after breakfast, Gareth greeted them both, not dogging any corners as he asked about Ruby.

Ethel looked at Selene, searching her mind “Isn’t the new transfer student a guy?”

Selene frowned slightly as she lifted her brows also trying to remember “No, no. Ruby is the one with the outlandish hair color, you know.”

“Oh right, I remember, her. The one that flies on a broomstick backwards but still managed to beat Imelda.” The girls laughing while Gareth watched them confused.

“No, not that one, Ruby is the one that doesn’t sleep in the common room, but in the forest. Rumor has it she’s a fairy.” Selene informed, only for Ethel to step in again.

“Was that not Leila?”

“Right, apologies my friend, it is far too early. Ruby is the one that the Sorting hat put in Gryffindor but she requested to be transferred to Slytherin because she has a crush on Sebastian Sallow.”

“Exactly. What she sees in him I cannot fathom.”

Clicking his tongue after looking left and right between the girls chatting, Gareth politely excused himself. None of what they said made sense, but then again rumors were hardly a solid ground.

So he continued his search asking students left and right, taking notes all that varied from. Winona was adamant about this one “Ruby? No that’s not hear real name.”, another swore “I hear she sneaks into the kitchens late at night in order to juggle house elves.” to a girl batting her eye lashes at him, swearing Ruby had a wooden eye and that she had personally seen in.

He went as far as to ask Sebastian on a break about her, however he knew nothing of the girl mentioned. His friend Ominis Gaunt was not so civil “Do I look like a know every student inside of this school? Find her yourself Farr and let me finish my homework.”

Poppy swore that Ruby was a nice girl on the outside, but she had heard that she can talk to Puffskeins and that she had a plan to call upon them to infiltrate the Prefect Bathroom for some reason after asking Gareth is he wanted to help her feed the animals.

Close to dinner time, he circled the word “who” on his parchment multiple times since many had not even heard of her. His favorite one that almost made him laugh was that she was actually a long distant relative of professor Binns, or his daughter somehow, he even forgot the logic behind it, Gareth thinking she must have been very boring if that was the case. But he was on a mission and he knew Sallow infiltrated the library with someone and since he had to wait on other things, this was his latest favorite past time.

Seeing Angela walking down the hall with a package in her hand, he offered to help carry it, just to try his luck “Ruby? I heard about her but I don’t know much. I hear she can’t walk in a straight line and is very clumsy, always bumping into people.”

“Perhaps she is short sighted.” He offered his thoughts casually.

Shrugging her shoulders, she smiled “I don’t know, perhaps. Though I heard some mean girls saying she does it for attention and that she dates guys only to break their hearts. Currently the bets are on Weasley.”

Making a face, Gareth almost gagged “I am certain professor Weasley is not interested in a student.”

Gasping, she slapped his shoulder “Garreth Weasley, not our professor.”

“Who?”

Sighing, she took the package from him “Thank you for the help but I’m not able to help you more. If I hear anything else I’ll let you know alright?”

Nodding, Gareth headed to the pitch to hand back the broom to Oliver, who was surprised to actually find it back in one piece and polished even “Care to tell me what you did now?”

“No, I prefer to keep up the suspense. Do not fret, you will know soon enough. I will even wink at you from across the table when it happens.” Deciding to try his luck since he had nothing to lose and also some time to lose as they were making their way to the Great Hall, he also asked him about Ruby.

“Can’t say I know about her, why? Do you fancy her?”

Scoffing, Gareth smirked “Please, I am not like you.” Looking at him offended, Gareth only rolled his eyes “You are trying too hard. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“A bet then. I bet you that by the end of the year, I can get more ladies than you. You do not have to answer now, just make sure you do not choke on your food this evening. Enjoy your meal Oliver.” He said taking a seat next to a girl at the Slytherin table, leaning in to whisper something in her ear, the girl laughing as she blushed.

Once back in the common room, Gareth checked his notes. Fairies? Vampires even? What was or who was Ruby? However there was a name that continued to be mouthed alongside hers. Someone just as deep in the rumor mill, someone standing close to the windows, pale hair covering her features.

Approaching, he spoke “Good evening miss Hellebore, might I have a word?”

[janatours]

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 Hurghada Safari and Quad Bike Tour  is a unique experience that allows you to explore the area with a quad bike. The tour will take you to a Bedouin village, where you can enjoy traditional Bedouin hospitality. You will also be able to explore the surrounding area, including the Egyptian desert and the Red Sea.

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Jana Tours Delegate will pick you up from your Hotel In Hurghada, then transfer you to the marina, Pick up your snorkeling equipment, and take a boat trip to Utopia Island. Utopia Island is a great spot for snorkeling due to its location close to the Red Sea. Its clear waters and abundance of coral reefs provide the perfect opportunity to explore the underwater world and observe the vibrant sea life. Additionally. lunch will be served during your tour to then Return To Your Hotel In Hurghada.

The suggested half-day tour will include the following: 

Pick-up services from your Hotel in Hurghada.

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Entrance fees to all the mentioned sites.

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The half-day tour will not include the following: 

Visa entry to Egypt.

Optional tours.

Any other items not mentioned.

Tipping kitty.

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[joyffree]

In the stunning sequel to the fantasy romance Blood Weaver, Leila—revealed to be Princess Lyanna of Valoria—faces new trials and deceptions. After escaping the harsh realities of the Central Plains, she returns to her homeland with Prince Caelan of Eldwain and Ronan, a hostage from the fearsome Crimson Clan of the Grasslands. But peace is fragile; the king of Valoria, seeking to avoid a war, commands the release of Ronan.

Now free, Ronan confronts Lyanna, begging forgiveness for deceiving her and unraveling truths that shake the very foundations of her beliefs. As they navigate their complicated feelings, a grand banquet hosted by Lyanna’s father draws not only dignitaries from across Asteria but also uninvited dangers. Shadows from within their own ranks threaten to turn the festive occasion into a nightmare.

Amidst these swirling conspiracies, Ronan and Leila must discover whether they can trust each other enough to confront what lies ahead. As the prophecy looms over them, their choices could save their lands—or lead them to ruin. Will the truths they uncover allow them to stand together, or is their fate already sealed?

Lost Heir (Blood Weaver Trilogy, Book 2) Fantasy Romance by Karina Espinosa is Live!

[whileiamdying]

Jalilvand’s “Beyond the Wall” wins big at Iranian Film Festival New York

February 3, 2024 - 17:59

TEHRAN-The winners of the 2nd Iranian Film Festival New York (IrFFNY) were announced on the last day of the festival, which was held from January 25 to February 2.

This year’s edition of the festival presented a selection of acclaimed and award-winning films from one of the world’s most vital and distinguished national cinemas. From the total of 20 feature and short films presented at the event, five titles won the festival awards, ILNA reported.

“Beyond the Wall” written and directed by Vahid Jalilvand was the big winner of the festival as it won the Special Jury Award and also shared the Audience Award with “Subtraction” by Mani Haghighi.

The third and latest film by Jalilvand, “Beyond the Wall” is about a blind man named Ali who attempts suicide, but is interrupted by his building concierge; he then tells Ali about an escaped woman, named Leila, who is hidden in the building. Ali becomes determined to help Leila.

The film stars Navid Mohammadzadeh and Amir Aghaei, who both worked with Jalilvand in his previous film “No Date, No Signature,” which won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor and Director at the 74th Venice Film Festival. The other members of the cast include Diana Habibi, Saeed Dakh, Danial Kheirikhah, and Alireza Kamali.

“Beyond the Wall” had earlier received several nominations at the 79th Venice International Festival and Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

The other movie that won the Audience Award, “Subtraction,” happens in downtown Tehran where Farzaneh, a young driving instructor, spots her husband, Jalal, walking into a woman’s apartment. When she confronts him, Jalal claims he was out of town for work. He decides to check out the building for himself. There, he meets a woman who is the spitting image of Farzaneh. Her name is Bita. Stunned, the two compare family photos: Bita’s husband also looks identical to Jalal.

Navid Mohammadzadeh, Taraneh Alidoosti, Ali Bagheri, Saeed Changizian, and Gilda Vishki are in the cast among others.

The Best Film Award went to “Empty Nets” by Behrooz Karamizade. An Iran-Germany co-production, it tells the story of Amir and Narges, who have found genuine love in their coastal hometown near the Caspian Sea. However, to gain the approval of Narges' wealthy family, Amir requires a significant amount of money urgently. Faced with limited options, he secures a job at a nearby fishery, embarking on a perilous yet profitable venture involving the illicit smuggling of black-market caviar.

Hamidreza Abbasi and Sadaf Asgari play the main roles in the film that won the special jury award at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Czech last July.

“A Childless Village” by Reza Jamali received the Artistic or Technical Achievement Award. As suggested by the title, the funny film-in-film comedy is about a small rural village, where no children have been born for a while and all the men assume that it is the fault of the women. 

Two decades ago, old filmmaker Kazem came to this remote rural village to make a documentary about the barrenness of the village women. But the village women wanted to protect their dignity, so they stole and burnt the footage.

By today, the villagers have found out that the men are sterile and there is nothing wrong with the women. With the help of his assistant, Kazem tries to record some interviews with the infertile men to unfold the truth in a new movie, but this turns out in many ways to be a Mission: Impossible.

The Best Short Film Award was given to “Nietzschean Suicide” written and directed by Payam Kurdistani. 

A suicide pharmacy owner tries to delay the suicide of the only midwife in his city until after his pregnant wife gives birth. Out of his efforts comes a novel suicide method that can revive his customers’ will to live.

Sal Galofaro, Tabassom Ostad, and Rory O’Brien play in the 15-minute flick

The Iranian Film Festival New York aims to unite two strands of Iranian moviemaking – the classic art-house Iranian cinema beloved by cinephiles around the world and new cutting-edge works that showcase the adventurousness and daring nature of younger Iranian directors.

SS/SAB

[byneddiedingo]

Leila Hatami and Peyman Moaadi in A Separation (Asghar Farhadi, 2011)

Cast: Peyman Moaadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi, Ali-Asghar Shahbadi, Shirin Yazdanbakhsh. Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi. Cinematography: Mahmoud Kalari. Production design: Keyvan Moghaddam. Film editing: Hayedeh Safiyari. Music: Sattar Oraki.

The original title in Persian of A Separation translates as The Separation of Nader and Simin, but the film is about more separations than just that of the husband and wife played by Peyman Moaadi and Leila Hatami. It's about the separations between parents and children, between the middle class and the laboring class, between the devout and the worldly, and between the judicial system and those it supposedly serves. And for American audiences it also serves as a reminder of the separation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The movie was the first Iranian film to win the best foreign language film Oscar, and Farhadi's stunning script was also nominated for the best original screenplay Oscar. (It lost to Woody Allen's screenplay for Midnight in Paris.)  Whatever we may think of the regime in Iran, the universality of the human problems presented in the film stands in sharp contrast to the usual American attitude toward Iranians as alien and hostile. It struck me especially because I watched another film about citizens caught in the inscrutable workings of their judicial system. Like the Russians in Leviathan (Andrey Zvyagintsev, 2014), the two Iranian families locked in conflict in Farhadi's film must cope with the seeming indifference of the judges to their complicated problems. I was feeling complacent about the American justice system until I watched a news segment on the horrific abuses of the public defender system which, especially if you happen to be poor and Black, is every bit as cruelly broken as the corrupt Russian courts and the hidebound Iranian ones.

[dakoty1]

tours in hurghada Egypt

hurghada is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt, known for its stunning beaches, clear waters, and vibrant marine life. The city offers a range of exciting tours, from beach trips to desert safaris, quad biking adventures, and diving expeditions. If you are planning a trip to Hurghada, it can be overwhelming to choose the best tours and operators for your needs. This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide to tours in Hurghada, covering popular attractions, types of tours, top-rated tour operators, the best time to visit, planning tips, and advice for a successful tour experience.

https://anfalz.com/

Introduction to Hurghada Tours

If you're looking for a vacation that is equal parts adventure and relaxation, then you need to consider a trip to Hurghada. This beautiful coastal city in Egypt offers a range of tours and activities that are perfect for all kinds of travelers. What Is Hurghada?Hurghada is a city located on the Red Sea coast of Egypt. It used to be a small fishing village, but in recent years it has transformed into a popular tourist destination. The city is surrounded by beautiful beaches, clear waters, and scenic desert landscapes.Why Visit Hurghada?Apart from being home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Egypt, Hurghada is also a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Whether you're into diving, snorkeling, or parasailing, you'll find plenty of opportunities to indulge yourself here. Additionally, the city is rich in history and culture, so you'll have plenty of chances to immerse yourself in Egyptian traditions and customs.

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Popular Tourist Attractions in Hurghada

In Hurghada, you'll find a range of attractions that will keep you busy throughout your trip. Here are three of the most popular:Giftun IslandGiftun Island is a beautiful uninhabited island located just off the coast of Hurghada. It's home to some of the most stunning coral reefs in the area, and as such, it's a popular spot for snorkeling and diving.Makadi Water WorldIf you're traveling with kids, then you definitely need to check out Makadi Water World. This water park offers a range of water slides and pools that are sure to keep the little ones entertained.El DaharEl Dahar is the oldest part of Hurghada, and it's home to a range of traditional bazaars and markets. Here, you can shop for souvenirs, sample local foods, and get a taste of Egyptian culture.

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The Different Types of Tours Available

Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or just looking for a relaxed day in the sun, Hurghada has a tour that will suit your needs. Here are three of the most popular types of tours:Diving ToursIf you're a certified diver, then you need to take advantage of the clear waters surrounding Hurghada. There are several diving tours that will take you to the best dive spots in the area.Beach ToursHurghada is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Egypt. If you're looking for a laid-back day in the sun, then you can book a beach tour that will take you to the best spots.Quad Biking ToursIf you're looking for a bit of adventure, then you need to try a quad biking tour. These tours will take you into the desert surrounding Hurghada, giving you a chance to explore the stunning landscapes.

Top-Rated Tour Operators in Hurghada

To make the most of your trip to Hurghada, you need to book your tours with a reputable operator. Here are three of the top-rated tour operators in the area:Scuba Hurghada Diving CenterIf you're a diver, then you need to book your tours with Scuba Hurghada. This operator offers a range of diving tours that cater to all skill levels.Alf Leila Wa LeilaAlf Leila Wa Leila is an entertainment complex that offers a range of shows and performances that showcase Egyptian culture. This operator offers tours that include dinner and a show.Desert Safari HurghadaIf you're looking for an adventure, then you need to book a desert safari with this operator. They offer quad biking and jeep tours that will take you into the heart of the desert.

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Best Time to Go on a Tour in Hurghada

When planning a tour in Hurghada, it's important to consider the weather and tourist season. The best time to visit Hurghada is during the winter months, from December to February, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. However, if you're looking for a beach vacation, the summer months from June to August are the peak season.Weather in HurghadaHurghada has a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. From May to September, the temperatures can reach up to 40°C (104°F), making it very hot and humid. From December to February, the temperatures are cooler, ranging from 13°C to 24°C (55°F to 75°F), making it a great time to explore the city.Crowds and Tourist SeasonThe tourist season in Hurghada is from June to August when the crowds are at their peak. This is also when prices for tours and accommodations are at their highest. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, consider visiting Hurghada during the winter months when the tourist season is slower.

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Planning Your Hurghada Tour

When planning your Hurghada tour, there are a few things to consider. These include choosing your tour, booking your tour, and preparing for your tour.Choosing Your TourWhen choosing your tour, consider your interests and preferences. Whether you're interested in historical sites, snorkeling, or desert safaris, there's a tour that's perfect for you. Do your research and read reviews to find the best tour for your needs.Booking Your TourOnce you've chosen your tour, it's time to book. You can book tours online or through a local tour operator. Be sure to read the tour details carefully and check the cancellation policy before booking.Preparing for Your TourBefore embarking on your tour, it's important to prepare. This includes packing appropriate clothing, footwear, and sun protection. Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and respect the local culture by dressing modestly and following local customs.

Tips for a Successful Tour in Hurghada

To make the most of your tour in Hurghada, follow these tips for a successful experience.Bring Sun ProtectionThe sun in Hurghada can be intense, so be sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.Stay HydratedIt's important to stay hydrated when exploring Hurghada, especially during the summer months. Bring plenty of water and consider taking breaks in the shade to cool off.Respect the Local CultureWhile exploring Hurghada, it's important to respect the local culture. Dress modestly and be aware of local customs and traditions. When visiting mosques or other religious sites, remove your shoes and cover your shoulders and legs. By respecting the local culture, you'll have a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.In conclusion, Hurghada is a diverse and exciting destination that offers an abundance of tours and activities to suit any traveler's taste. By following the tips and advice provided in this article, you can make the most of your Hurghada tour experience and create unforgettable memories. Whether you are looking to relax on the beach, explore the desert, or discover the underwater world, Hurghada has something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of tours are best for families with children?Some of the best family-friendly tours in Hurghada include the Makadi Water World, dolphin watching tours, and glass-bottom boat trips. These tours offer a safe and entertaining experience for children of all ages.Is it safe to go on a desert safari tour in Hurghada?Yes, it is generally safe to go on a desert safari tour in Hurghada, provided that you choose a reputable tour operator and follow the safety instructions. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing and bring sun protection and plenty of water.What is the best time of year to go on a diving tour in Hurghada?The best time for diving in Hurghada is from June to September when the water temperature is warm, and the visibility is excellent. However, diving tours are available year-round, and the marine life is always abundant and diverse.Can I book a tour in Hurghada online?Yes, many tour operators in Hurghada offer online booking services. You can do your research, compare prices, and book your tour in advance to ensure availability and avoid disappointment

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[ajentmm]

Guardians of Peace Refine Theorycraft

I am in the mood to talk possible new tier 4 skills. Seeing as Dou! Ephraim's got his refine this month and I just did his OG banner at the same time as the announcement, I better get way ahead if I want to keep the banner themed blogs.

Uh, Guardians of Peace is the second Binding Blade banner in the year 2019. It has some decent units with good fodder. It also has another dagger dance in Larum. Being a dancer, we will be skipping her and talking the instant demote that came out that week.

Chad: Lycian Wildcat

Base lvl 40 5 ☆ 45 30 37 26 23 Max Invest 54 39 46 34 29

Rogue Dagger+: (When upgraded) After combat, if unit attacked, inflicts Def/Res-6 on target and foes within 2 spaces of target through their next actions, and grants Def/Res+6 to unit and allies within 2 spaces for 1 turn.

Draw Back - Escape Route 3 - Spd Smoke 3

What a Chad. This little dude suffered the same fate as Valbar (and Kronya apparently), by having lower BST than what the current Gen should be. He's BST is 161 versus Leila with 166. This is both too low, but not low enough to where a resplendent status would just jump him past new top. The way to fix this is give him more in combat stats in his weapon than usual.

Hermit Pick: After combat, if unit attacked, inflicts Def/Res-6 on target and foes within 2 spaces of target throughp their next actions, and grants Def/Res+6 to unit and allies within 2 spaces for 1 turn. If an ally within 2 tile radius has [Bonuses] active or foe has [Penalties] active, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat.

So this is just the Rouge Dagger. It also grant more stats essentially if he debuffed the foe or buffed his allies, two ways incase one gets canceled or another ally does the buffing/debuffing. Now, I can't just give him Matthew's Atk = foe's total penalties or Saizo's All stat bonus = foe's penalties. I think he could get something more defensive. He is a street urchin, he would rather not fight anyone, maybe just stop them from fighting him.

After combat, if unit attacked, grants unit and allies within 2 spaces Spd +6 for 1 turn, and inflict [Numbing] on target and foes within 2 spaces of target through their next actions. [Numbing] If foe's Spd > unit's Spd, reduces unit's damage during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 4 (max 40%).

So in my hypothetical world, everyone had the idea to give Chad Spd Smoke 4, which grants him more Spd and [Dodge]. Since this is the only way ranged units can get [Dodge] I could let him spread the bonuses to everyone. But then I thought, "What if his Dagger was the smoke bomb that stuns foes? What if the foe became blind and couldn't hit anything?" Well, that would be like a reverse Dodge, the foe needs to make a spd check, and if they don't, their damage is reduced. Instead of blinding, I imagine this being a paralysis dart that slows the muscles of the foe, making them easier to dodge. This can stack with [Dodge] and any other DR your allies have. Sure, Chad would be able to kill anyone, but neither would the enemy.

Echidna: Unyielding Idealist

Base lvl 40 5 ☆ 45 34 36 30 27 Max Invest 54 43 45 38 33

Rearguard+: If foe initiates combat, grants Def+7 during combat.

Sol - Brazen Spd/Res 3 - Drive Atk 2

Enchilada is Fe6's pre-promoted hero and a solid one at that. Her whole shtick is the phrase, "It takes a village." She fights for a village. She wants to build a village. She eats and breaths 'village'. So, what better way to make a perf of her own than by giving it AR-D Spectrum?

Just kidding.

Heroine Axe: Grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+X to allies within 2 tile radius of unit during combat. If unit is within 2 spaces of an ally or structurers that a foe can destroy, grant Atk/Spd/Def/Res+X to unit during combat. (X = number of allies or structurers that a foe can destroy with 2 tile radius x 2; Max 8) If X ≥ 3, foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Alright so, this is . . . Joint Drive “Spectrum Form” but also, it counts structures as an ally to add to the form count. This is similar to Gatekeeper, except he has a much bigger ranged buffs and debuffs, and 1 structure maxes out the score. This makes an amazing buff bot for Aether Raid Defense, but it can also be used in Arena and story maps where there’s structures that both teams can destroy. The extra follow-up denial is there to make her more defensive against faster foes and the guaranteed follow-up users and it’s most usefully when none of your allies or structures are destroyed. One way to stop foes from doing that is with the premium skill Bulwark, and would you look at that special effect.

If unit's HP > 25%, foes with Range = 1 cannot move through spaces adjacent to unit, and foes with Range = 2 cannot move through spaces within 2 spaces of unit. (Does not affect foes with Pass skills.) At the start of combat, if unit's HP > 25%, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-4 on foe during combat and restores 7 HP to unit after combat.

Oh yeah, Atk/Spd/Def Bulwark. Now I did put a 25% HP condition, just to make her not as effective someone with actual Bulwark (And so you have an excuse to inherit it anyway).

Perceval: Knightly Ideal

Base lvl 40 5 ☆ 38 32 37 28 27 Max Invest 47 41 46 36 33

Prized Lance: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, if foe’s HP = 100%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat and inflicts Special cooldown charge -1 on foe per attack. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Luna - Atk/Def Solo 3 - Lull Spd/Def 3 - Rouse Def/Res 3

Percy is a pre-promote paladin, and unlike Echidna the Knucklehead, he is top tier, alongside Rutger and Melady. In heroes, he’s a Speedy Cav with mixed bulk, and has an AS perf. His perf also has a easy condition, triggering on full health foes. With the introduction of Winter! Bernie, we need to change that.

Prized Lance: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, if it is unit's first combat in player phase or if foe’s HP > 75%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat and inflicts Special cooldown charge -1 on foe per attack. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

I changed the condition to 75% but also added this for Percy’s first player phase encounter. On the first turn, if the foes are full health, it’s fine to attack all the foe’s when you have a dancer giving an extra turn. If it’s a later turn and all the remaining foes are low health, Percy get’s one encounter to finish one foe off, but then he loses the guard and stat bonuses. It’s not much benefit to the base effect, but it’s a bit more forgiving.

Enable [Canto (Rem.+1)] If unit initiates combat or unit is not adjacent to an ally, grant Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat, neutralizes effects that prevent unit from making a follow-up attack, and grant Special cooldown charge +1 to unit per attack.

And the rest is just cavalry stuff. Canto was incredibly helpful in FE6, and he already had a great skill in Lull Spd/Def. He also gets offensive Null Follow-up like the Flow skills but you get it now when he is solo, and wow, he has Solo and Rouse. Then there is SpCharge, to make him a full Special Fighter cav like Eliwood Brave Roy for Galeforce use. Just remember that Guard is locked to the first ability. This is a prized weapon for a premium unit.

Igrene: Nabata Protector

Base lvl 40 5 ☆ 42 37 37 26 24 Max Invest 51 46 46 34 30

Guardian's Bow: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Effective against flying foes. If unit's Spd > foe's Spd at start of combat or during combat, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-5 on foe during combat. (If unit and foe both have this weapon equipped, effect is calculated first for whoever initiates combat.)

Blazing Wind - Life and Death 4 - Special Spiral 3 - Pulse Smoke 3

Finally, it’s Igrene. Big booba blonde and pure offensive sniper. With Life and Death 4 and her weapon, her stat line is 58 Atk, 44 Spd, 21 Def and 19 Res. A really glass cannon. Her bow with AS also gives two checks of Spd, one using that 44 Spd and field bonuses, and the other using in-combat stats. A very convenient when you are using Life and Death and everyone else is using Atk/Spd Push or whatever.

Guardian's Bow: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Effective against flying foes. If unit's Spd > foe's Spd at start of combat or during combat, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-5 on foe during combat, and neutralizes effects that guarantee foe's follow-up attacks and prevent unit from making a follow-up attack. *

What would be more convenient is if she got NFU. Not much to say here, move on to the unique refine.

If unit is within 3 spaces of an ally, inflict Atk/Spd/Def-5 on foe during combat, grant Special Cooldown+1 to unit per attacks and deal damage equal to 20% of unit's Spd on unit's follow-up attack.

So, it’s a Finish skill that grants another bunch of lowered stats on the foe, SpC, and True Damage equal to 20% of her Spd, but only on the follow-up attack. My logic being, if the foe has a pre-charged Aegis and Hardy Fighter, her damage wouldn’t get lowered, and with SpC, her Special will activate. Now since she isn’t getting any more Spd from her weapon, Life and Death is doing all the work. Thankfully, 44 Spd gets her 8 TD, and with max stats of 53, it’s 10. At 55, it’s 11. Now, the unfortunate thing is that you need to survive a counterattack, which she can avoid by inheriting Windsweep, or Desperation. Overall, her very glass cannon approach is still there and you will need to play around with it to make it work.

[havg02]

Villains Are Destined To Die agent au

-The Eckarts, the royal empire family, Verdandi and Iklie's family are a family of secret agents, assasins and spies. Derrick is an agent, Reynold is a gunman, Callisto is an agent with a useless dad as his boss, Vinter is a guy who researches and gives information, Iklies is just a rookie agent. The Duke is the boss.

-The Eckarts had Ivonne who was just a normal child and everyone loved her, until she gets lost during a festival she and her brothers snuck out then the Duke found Penelope in the streets and took in her in as usual. Due to neglect, Penelope grows into a fickle, rebelious, selfish and prissy but grows to be an spy and sniper.

-She would wear lots of luxurious jewelry and stunning dresses, while able to play the piano and act as a talent. Her uniform is a mix of black widow and scarlet witch--a tight black and teal suit with heels, gloves, a utility belt. She's a sniper with sharp cat eyes so she works with a sniper gun but can use guns and knives.

-In skills she's also good at melee hand to hand combats too, very skillful in flirting and getting things that all she wants. Derrick gets jealous and sullen bc of this while Reynold thinks she's shameless.

-Penny is feisty, fickle and cold, always complaining but she's the type of girl who would still give you something you have never felt before so you keep going to her no matter how much she gives you hell, and everyone still finds her alluring and hot, wanting to be more closer to her.

-Get this, there's a secret file documentary that's going on about some demonic creature about to destroy the world that everyone is aware of. And later some random couple that couldn't have children of their own suddenly shows up at the Eckarts saying they found Ivonne who turned out to have been raised lovingly and lived a normal teen girl.

-Ivonne looks all meek, awkward, good and unsure like those protagonist girls who suddenly have a change of life after meeting their real family for the first time or something. She's all wowed and curious about her family's secret agent life when moving into the mansion for the first time. Derrick turns to Ivonne to make Penelope jealous bc he's all sullen and petty.

-Penelope is annoyed by Ivonne with her all goody prescence and stays away, not wanting to deal with how happy everyone is and stubbornly thinks that she wasn't part of the family anyway. Meanwhile Ivonne is now a rookie agent in training wearing a dark blue cap, white tshirt, bullet proof vest, military pants and boots--and tries to keep asking Penelope to teach her, much to her annoyance.

-Like in the novel, Penelope sees her without her reflection on a water fountain and contemplates whether to do anything about it or what to do since she's known to be the manipulating girl. So she tells Callisto who trusts her and they make Ivonne reveal herself to be the demonic monster that they were all looking out for.

-Ivonne shows into her true form as a monster with tentacles out of her mouth, turning out to have brainwashed the parents into raising her and sending her to the mansion. Derrick who turned out to have been brainwashed the whole time and is shocked ofc and everyone all goes after her.

-Later there's this sort of lair inside Callisto's mansion where the dragon fangs are and Ivonne opens it to get it while using Derrick as hostage. Everyone manages to get her but bc Derrick had been around her for a long time, he can't push away the brainwashing and Ivonne makes him open the safe.

-Cue to the destruction and chaos of the golden dragon showing up, and Penelope being the badass shoots and kicks down Ivonne, stepping on the mirror to break it and saving the world. Then Ivonne has a final form and right before Penny is about to kill her, Derrick kills Ivonne while terribly injured by Ivonne.

-Afterwards everything is fine again. Penelope is sick of everyone's crap. Ivonne also wakes up as her normal self with the Leila demon casted out of her but she faces lots of trouble thanks to Leila making her a bad person and no one trusts her. Especially Derrick who is going through a lot of therapy and healing, though Reynold would know that she's the real Ivonne and be happy to see her.

-She can't use her body anymore she's crippled and wheelchair bound as well, but Ivonne and Penelope become good sisterly friends since Penny isn't going to be part of the Eckarts anymore after Callisto's family is killed by Leila and Penelope decides to move in with him to take over the family household even though the Duke and Reynold still want Penny to stay.

-Derrick tries to get Penelope to forgive him but she doesn't take it bc she's the 'selfish girl who only thought of herself and expects everyone to look at her as the Queen' that everyone knows her as, and she knows better so she leaves him anyway. In his face.

-Penny and Callisto spend years trying to rebuild his home and help him become the master of the Regulus family, with Penny not thinking about wanting to become one with him until she finally accepts his proposal. Derrick doesn't look at Penny anymore since he has learnt to move on and get close to Ivonne again, but he still misses her alot without everyone else.

-Ivonne is the only one who Penelope is close to in the Eckarts as BFFs.

[marleneoftheopera]

1500 Followers! Vintage Phantom Audio Gift

As a huge thank you for 1500 followers, I bring you 10 vintage Phantom audios! 

These are 10 of my favorite audios from 2000 or before. I feel like a lot of the vintage recordings are so lovely, but often overlooked for the newer audios. Which is understandable, as many of the casts from 1990-2000 are relatively unknown. So let’s show them a little love!

The link to all of the audios is here: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/edh34vyegj0jd/Gifts(2)

The cast, dates, and my little thoughts on why they’re great are below!

Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton, Nicholas Wyman, Cris Groenendaal, Judy Kaye, Leila Martin, David Romano, Elisa Heinsohn February 28, 1988; Broadway I think we can all figure out why this one is here. Anything of the original cast is a treasure to me. Besides that though, I think Sarah sounds really nice here and gives a bit more emotion than you get on the cast recording. Most of the time people who don't care for Sarah judge her more on the OLCR and some YouTube clips. I think she sounded even better as time went on. And of course the rest of the cast is wonderful. I think a must-listen!

Dave Willetts, Jan Hartley-Morris, Michael Ball, Maria Moll, Michael N Harbour, David Firth, Mary Millar, John Aron July 15, 1988; London I have been told this is a soundboard, which sounds very possible. But due to age and probably wear and tear/downloads it isn't the best quality. Still, has a wonderful cast. Jan is the standout for me and yet she is definitely the least known out of the trio. Her voice is absolutely divine. Dave was wonderful in reminding you of Michael but also making his Phantom unique. And Michael seems like he was a wonderful Raoul.

Colm Wilkinson, Susan Cuthbert, Byron Nease, Paul Massel, Gregory Cross, Lyse Guerin, Kristine Marie Guiguet, Peter Cormican, Donna Rubin March 17, 1991; Toronto, Canada Never been a huge fan of Colm, but especially now since Rebecca Caine's story. However, this is the only audio of Susan Cuthbert, who I think sounds lovely and is so overlooked. Rest of the company is great as well.

Mark Jacoby, Karen Culliver, Hugh Panaro, Paul Laureano, Jeff Keller, Patrice Pickering, Marilyn Caskey, Gary Rideout, Catherine Ulyssies August 1992; Broadway Act 1 is a soundboard, Act 2 is a very good audience recording. I think the entire trio is absolutely lovely. Also, baby Hugh!

Thomas James O'Leary, Sandra Joseph, Gary Mauer, Teressa Eldh, Frederick Herenges, George Lee Andrews, Patrice Pickering, Jeff Keller, Gerdalyn Del Carso February 3, 1998; Broadway Posting especially for Thomas. Pretty unknown Phantom nowadays, but I have always liked him. Sandra vocally is a bit of a hit or miss sometimes for me, but I tend to like her more in her early days. And Gary as Raoul! Such a lovely voice.

Glyn Kerslake, Jill Washington, Chris Harley, Anthony Raffell, Leo Andrews, Jasna Ivir, Heather Jackson, David Hillman, Amanda Light March 6, 1999; London I loved Glyn's voice the first time I heard it. Another relatively unknown Phantom. Jill has a wonderful and lush voice.

Ted Keegan, Rebecca Pitcher, Richard Todd Adams April 17, 1999; Norfolk Great clear sounding audio. Ted Keegan is one of my favorite Phantom's and he is still understudying the role on Broadway today! I saw him in 2019 and he very much gives me Hugh Panaro vibes vocally and is a great mix of old school Phantom in the modern day. Vocally, Rebecca doesn't always impress me but her earlier years I like much more. So she sounds pretty good here.

Hugh Panaro, Adrienne McEwan, Gary Mauer June 11, 1999; Broadway Adrienne is honestly one of my favorites because she has a very unique voice. Having been in the show for so long and part of 2 anniversaries, I am always surprised she isn't better known. Also, Hugh in his first Phantom run! And another Gary as Raoul audio.

Mike Sterling, Charlotte Page, Gartor Thor Cortez July 31, 1999; London If I could time travel, this would be one of the casts I would see. Mike vocally seems like he was ahead of his time in a sense. He reminds me a bit of Tim Howar. Charlotte has a stunning operatic voice. Also features Gardar Thor Cortes as Raoul! Not sure why, but he spelled his name different back then. Love his voice as well.

Ian Jon Bourg, Colby Thomas, Christopher Morandi (u/s), Vera Borisova, David Hunerjaeger, Linda Bruske, Marcello Ronchietto July 5, 2000; Hamburg, Germany Super clear audio of the original German production featuring 2 long running Phantom cast members? Yes please.

[whatwouldvalerydo]

Happy Birthday Al

Here’s to you @the-al-chemist

Meeting you had been a treat, a real pleasure and walking on this journey, seeing your awesome ideas and creations always brings me so much happiness. I wish you all the best. Hope you enjoy this little craziness I came up with.

“Jin wait up!” glancing over his shoulder, he winced, picking up the pace as he walked faster down the corridor “I know you heard me, you even looked at me.” Feeling Ethel drawing closer and closer, he took a step back, the girl almost walking face first into a wall.

Lowering his gaze, he did not look her in the eye, muttering under his breath “How may I assist you miss Hexley?” Ethel peered closer trying to get a good glimpse of the face he liked to hide under all that hair, Jin taking a step back.

“We’re having a party, well there is a party on the Quidditch pitch to celebrate the Quidditch victory from today. Care to join us this time?”

“As stated previously in all the 96 attempts, I do not participate in such affairs.” Ethel made a face, smirking at the end, but not before rolling her eyes.

“Come on, it is our last year together, you cannot possibly be alone all the time.”

“I much prefer my solitude. Plus Quidditch is not something I enjoy.” Taking another step back, he flinched when Ethel pushed his hair back, Jin’s mind going blank.

“You have a rather good face, too bad you hide it. Now join us, it’s not polite to refuse a lady’s’ invitation. We have drinks as well, heard you like to drink. You can just sit and enjoy yourself, tell me about Japan.” Staring at her feet, Ethel’s hands undid his hair tie, wrapping up all his hair, revealing his face “Yes?” Jin only nodding just to get her away from him.

However when the time of the party came and Jin tried his best to make himself unknown, he found himself face to face not only with Ethel, but with Selene as well. Taking hold of his arms, one on the left, one on the right, they started talking and walking, both laughing, asking questions by the dozen, Jin now knowing on who to concentrate “Is it true you actually had a hand to hand combat with Leila?” “Is it true you are actually older than us?” “Are you a mix between a vampire and a werewolf?” “Is it true you fancy Cled?” “No, I heard he likes, what’s that Slytherin’s blokes name?” “Who?” “You know who, that one.” “Oh that one.”

He did not know when he reached the pitch, however when he saw the crowd, he stopped in his tracks, both girls not being able to make him budge a muscle no matter how hard they tried to pull “I…” he stuttered, wanting to retreat, the girls still insisting. Closing his eyes, Jin exhaled and breathed in, a voice from behind him calling out his name.

Turning, he was met with Leila and Reuben, the half demoness addressing him “Calm down, they mean no harm. Go drink, relax.” Reuben leaned in whispering something in her ear, Leila placing a hand against his chest shaking her head. Looking at the chaotic duo, she added “He does not appreciate what you’re doing and I suggest you do not push him to a certain point. He is not…” she titled her head, squinting her eyes at him “that bad.” And with that, her and Reuben proceeded to join the rest of their friends.

“A demon, you’re a demon right?” Ethel asked letting go of his arm, Selene doing the same, Jin not answering “How about some fire whiskey? I can see some…” she barely managed to point it out, Jin making a beeline through the crowd, grabbing a bottle, downing it entirely before taking another, everyone looking at him stunned.

Joining him, Ethel whistled when he gulped down the second one without even taking a break “Are you certain you can hold your liquor?” pursing her lips, she thought hard “Or maybe not a demon, but like a sea creature, only you do not require water, but alcohol to function.”

Turning a pair of wide eyes to look at her, he took the bottle away from his lips “Yes, you are correct.” Ethel looked at him confused, brows drawing together “Also, I can change my eyes, but I do not use that power often.”

“What does it do?” she leaned in, Jin tensing, taking another swing from a random cup.

“I can see through every fabric.” Using his power, darkness spread over the whites of his eyes, Ethel letting out a yelp as she covered herself up with the help of her hands. Turning his eyes back to normal, he held onto the table, trying to not give himself away, eventually bursting into laughter, Ethel catching on that he was not being serious.

“The only reason why I will let this go for now is because this is the first time you actually managed to talk normally and enjoy yourself. But I am watching you Jin.”

“Of that I am certain miss Hexley. No doubt in my mind. Now can I interest you in a story of distant lands with vast temples and out of the ordinary creatures?”

Clapping her hands together, she asked “Does it have demons?”

“Not this time.”

[omg-im-such-a-masochist]

💫LIKE ALTAIR AND VEGA💫

Prompt: July 7th is an especial day to Y/N and Jon. Their four years old daughter Leila is more than eager to find out why and the story she will hear, will be forever remarkable in her mind.

Word count: Long-Ish

Pairings: Jon Moxley x Reader

Warnings: Just so much fluff you’ll get sick!

Tag: @marlananicole , @bellalutionn , @theworldofotps

Notes: I’m addicted to mythology and legends. And even though I’m an emotional gangster ( I cry like once every six months or something lol) I love with all my heart love stories! So when you combine my two favorite things, this is the result! Y’all know the drill loves,sorry for misspellings,english isn’t my first language (bla bla bla),check out my other stories if you’d like to(it would make your girl here very happy 😊) You can check out my other stories on my Masterlist. Okay,now let’s get to the fun part, shall we? Hope you’ll enjoy 😉

“Mommy, when did you and daddy got married?” Leila asked as I help her to get ready for bed

“July 7th, baby”

“Why did you chose that day?” Her baby blue eyes sparkle with curiosity

I smile widely as the old tale comes back to my memory

“Because of the myth of Vega and Altair, Lils”

I securely tuck her into bed, carefully covering her with the fluffy blankets

“Could you tell me that story, please?” She excitedly asked

I can’t help the smile on my lips as I started to tell her one of the most beautiful love stories who also happened to be a faithful copy of Jon and I love story.

“There are many myths about Vega and Altair all around the world. But the most known and beloved worldwide comes from Asia. Once there was a man named Altair. He lost his parents at a young age. After their death, his brothers decided to split their father’s property. Altair, being the youngest, got left with nothing except an old bull. Once he was older, Altair separated himself from his brothers, bought a small field and a few cows, and with the aid of his bull, set himself to work. One Sunday evening, Altair sat down under an oak tree and practiced an old love melody on his flute. All of a sudden, a white dove gracefully swooped down from the sunset painted sky. When the dove landed, it turned into a beautiful young woman.”

“The beautiful woman was Vega, mommy?” Leila eagerly asked

“Yes, baby” I smiled to her “When Altair saw this, he jumped. ‘Who are you?’ exclaimed Altair! ‘I am sorry to have startled you. My name is Vega, princess of the heavenly skies. I heard you playing and had to come down to learn more. Who are you?’

Altair replied, ‘Princess Vega, my name is Altair, a lowly cow herder’.

“The princess then said ‘Altair, the cow herder, you are a beautiful musician! Please play the melody again.’ So Altair did, and every day for two months, Vega would descend from the Heavens at sunrise and ascend right before nightfall since Vega, being a heavenly being, was not allowed to interact with mortals. So one day, Vega’s mother, the Lady of the Sky, got suspicious of Vega’s whereabouts.

“Oh no!” Leila whispered

I chuckled and continued “So she sent a messenger to follow her who discovered that Vega was interacting with a mortal. He quickly reported back to the Lady of the Sky. She was so furious that she descended to Altair’s field, found Vega, and dragged her back home. Altair was stunned by what he had seen. He started running to find Vega when he heard a voice calling his name. He turned around to see his bull.”

Leila is now fully sitting on the bed, her sleep already forgotten.

“Altair’s bull is magical, mommy!” She clapped her tiny hands in excitement

“Yes, Lils. He became magical because the princess gave to the bull some of her magic. ‘Old bull, you speak? How? Did Vega give you some of her magic?’ Altair asked. ‘Yes. And I know you love her. Get on my back, and we will go to the Heavens,’ replied the bull.

Altair climbed on the bull’s back and they took off to the Heavens.”

“Did he meet her?” Leila murmured

“He almost did but then, the Lady of the Sky noticed, so to stop them, she used her magic to turn the pathway into a river! The Celestial River.”

“No! What a mean lady, mommy!” Leila pouted

I cackled and finished the story “Altair came to the edge of the river and shared a final look with Vega. They both started weeping, wishing there was a way they could be together. That’s when Vega’s father, the Emperor of the Sky, saw their love and became sympathetic. Hoping one day to fulfill this love, he created a wide bridge of magpies across the river.

“That’s so smart, isn’t it mommy?”

“Yes, it is sweetheart” I caressed her cheek

Suddenly a deep voice came from Leila’s bedroom door, finishing the story for me.

“The other sky gods are kind and allow Vega and Altair to reunite once a year, on the 7th night of the 7th moon each year they cross the magpies bridge and get together once more.”

“Daddy!” Leila screamed and ran off to hug Jon

“Hey princess. I missed you so much!” He said while covering her whole face in kisses before giving a raspberry on her neck, making her wiggle and laugh.

“I missed you too. Mommy was telling me the story of Altair and Vega”

“That’s so cool! It’s a great story isn’t?” He asked and she nodded

“It’s a little bit sad, though”

“Why do you think it’s sad, Lils?” Jon asked

“It’s not fair that they only get to meet once a year! They should be together forever!” She pouted

“But they are, buttercup. They just can’t be together all the time, but they still love each other deeply enough to wait a long time to see each other and be together to share their love. I guarantee to you that it’s totally worth it!” Jon said

“How do you know that, daddy?”

“Because I’m Altair” He whispers in her ear

Leila gasped in shock “Really?”

“Yeah, and I can tell you that no matter how long I stay out I’ll always find the magpie bridge so I can come back to be with you” Jon poked her belly and looked at me

“And my sweet beloved, Vega” He winks

And just like that I fell in love with him all over again....

Please let me know your thoughts on this? Feedbacks are always appreciated 🥰😘 P.S. I’m not crying, shut up! 🥺😭

[whileiamdying]

Capturing the Stunning Faces of Morocco

MAY 21, 2014 ⦿ 11:05 AM BY JORDAN G. TEICHER

French-Moroccan artist Leila Alaoui has always been fascinated by the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of her native country. Inspired by the aesthetic and approach of Robert Frank’s The Americans and Richard Avedon’s In the American West, she started traveling through Morocco with her portable portrait studio, documenting the people she met along the way. Her ongoing project, “The Moroccans,” is a celebration of her countrymen and heritage. Alaoui’s project is complicated by the fact that Moroccans are particularly apprehensive about being photographed. “Most Moroccans grow up hearing stories of witchcraft and are often afraid of the ‘evil eye.’ It is commonly believed that one can throw a spell at someone by using his or her photograph,” Alaoui said via email. “Moroccans are also tired of being photographed by Westerners as ‘exotic’ subjects and have grown to react aggressively towards anyone who wants to photograph them without permission.”

Undeterred, Alaoui has embarked on about 20 road trips across the country in the last few years, traveling through the Atlas Mountains, the Rif Mountains, the Sahara, and a variety of coastal and inland regions of Morocco including Essaouira, Tangier, and Marrakech. In each location, Alaoui sets up her portable studio in public places, markets, and other private gatherings after spending a few days getting to know the locals. “I believe that being a Moroccan photographer makes people feel a bit more comfortable once they feel they knew me a bit more,” she said.

Alaoui photographs anyone who passes by her studio or asks about her project. She prints a small photo on site with a portable printer and then distributes the photos to all the people she photographs. “Sometimes if I see interesting faces walking by, I run after them and try to convince them to do a photo. But they usually don’t accept,” she said.

Morocco’s geographical diversity gives each region distinct traditions and lifestyles. Part of Alaoui’s intention is to capture some of those characteristics, some of which are disappearing as the country continues to develop. “In most Berber villages, for example, baby girls were given face tattoos so people could recognize to which tribe they belonged. Today, there are very few women with these tattoos,” Alaoui said.

Alaoui’s photographs are on display in the Photomed Festival in Sanary-sur-Mer, France, until June 15.