#and let her go and explore and live more than it otherwise was allotted to her

[yellowfingcr]

what kind of tragedy are you?

written in the stars

it had to end this way. we all know it. only you were unaware. you had hope. hope, of course, only makes it hurt all the more. we all knew you would look back, oh love, there’s no other version of the story. and yet, alongside you, we still had hope. we believed in you, even though we knew you couldn’t win. and you believed in yourself till the last moment. it isn’t fair, is it? you didn’t know you were doomed.

tagged by: @necrophcge !

tagging: YOU

[cherienymphe]

Unhappily Married (Steve Rogers x Reader)

WARNINGS: eventual NON-CON, dad!Steve, age gap (reader is a 20 something college student so that could range from undergraduate to graduate and Steve is late 30s), slight college!Peter x reader

summary: your dream job becomes a nightmare when your employers reveal their true colors.

~

“Oh, Y/N, you are a Godsend!”

You chuckled as you handed the stuffed dinosaur to her, Nathan’s cries immediately quieting. It was his favorite toy, and had you known she’d been looking for it for the past five minutes, you would have come downstairs sooner.

“I’m really not, Mrs. Rogers. He was playing with it earlier,” you said with a small smile.

The gorgeous blonde playfully narrowed her eyes at you as she adjusted the cherubic little boy on her hip.

“How many times have I told you to call me Sharon, Y/N?”

“Too many to count,” you admitted, grabbing your bag from the sofa as she walked you out of the house.

“One day you’ll listen, and I won’t have to remind you anymore,” she sighed.

She glanced around with a small frown.

“It looks like Peter is running a little late,” she noted.

“His psychology professor has a habit of talking past his allotted time,” you complained, rolling your eyes. “Normally he’s able to come up with some excuse to slip out, but I don’t think he got lucky today.”

“Oh, I hated that. I tell you, I do not miss college. Roommates, struggling for money, professors who took their jobs a little too seriously,” she shuddered. “How are your classes going? You’re still studying history, right?”

“Mm hmm. It’s going great, actually. I might have an opportunity to study abroad next semester,” you whispered, Mrs. Rogers being the first person you told the news too.

“Oh, how exciting! You’ll let us know if you get it, won’t you? We’ll have to throw a party. Steve,” she called, turning towards the garage.

There was a brief moment of silence before the equally beautiful blond exited the garage. The snug white tee he sported was stained with dirt and grime. He dusted his hands off before placing them on his hips, gazing at the both of you on the front porch.

“We might have to find a new sitter for Nathan next semester. Y/N might be studying abroad in a few months,” she excitedly told him.

His lips curved upwards into a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes for some reason. You didn’t think anything of it. You noticed that things that often excited Mrs. Rogers rarely had the same affect on her husband. You didn’t know much about his job, but you got the impression that he was usually stressed about something or another despite how well he hid it.

“Is that so”

“She could be leaving us,” she replied with a pout. “…but it’s such a great opportunity. Everyone should get the chance to explore the world.”

“Sharon’s right,” Mr. Rogers said, approaching the both of you, blue eyes focused on you. “There’s no greater teacher than experience.”

You barked a laugh.

“You sound like Peter, Mr. Rogers.”

He heaved a sigh, throwing a playful smirk your way.

“When are you going to start calling me Steve, Y/N?”

“It’s useless, sweetheart. I’ve told her a million times to call me Sharon, and we keep having the same conversation. She’s making me feel like an old maid, and I haven’t even hit 40 yet,” she teased, sighing. “Peter’s really late it seems.”

“Yeah,” you agreed with a frown.

“I could take her home, Sharon,” her husband offered.

She hesitated, and so did you. Peter was probably already on his way, and the two of you lived together anyway. It would be inconvenient for them if Mr. Rogers drove you home.

“You might have to,” she murmured. “It’s getting late, and Nathan will have to be put to bed soon. I really don’t want to leave you out here, Y/N-.”

She cut herself off as headlights could be seen turning into the long driveway.

“That’s really nice of you guys, but looks like Peter finally made it,” you said with a chuckle, waving to them as you descended the steps.

“I’m so, so sorry I’m late,” were the first words Peter rushed out when you slid into the passenger seat.

He rolled down the window as soon as you shut the door.

“You’re lucky, Peter! Steve was just about to take Y/N home,” Mrs. Rogers yelled.

Peter chuckled, but something was off about it.

“Sorry for being so late. Mr. Harrington was in a weird mood, tonight,” he yelled back.

The two of you waved them goodbye as Peter turned the car around.

“So what did he do, tonight?”

Peter sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“A pop quiz…after the lecture,” he said with a shake of his head.

“You’re always surprised by his antics.”

“I know, I know, and I shouldn’t be. That’s the crazy part. This was so on brand for him,” he mumbled.

“Hey, it’s no big deal. Besides, if you can’t ever get me for whatever reason, at least we know Mr. Rogers will take me home,” you replied, reaching over to play with his hair.

He snorted, but otherwise didn’t respond to that, and you frowned.

“What? What was that about?”

He chuckled, a crooked grin on his lips as he shook his head.

“Nothing.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, not liking his tone. You turned in your seat to face him.

“What?”

“I bet Mr. Rogers would have no problem driving you home,” he teased, a smirk on his pink lips.

You stared at him, unamused.

“You’re so not funny, Peter-.”

“Oh, come on! He’s got a crush on you, you have to know that,” he interrupted.

“He’s married,” you cried in disbelief. “Besides, how could he ever have a crush on me? I dress like a hobo without makeup on around him. Plus, he hardly talks to me.”

“Probably to restrain himself,” he whispered.

Peter laughed when you hit his arm.

“I’m just kidding…sort of.”

“Peter!”

“I mean, who could blame him? You’re too adorable,” he said, reaching over to place his hand on your thigh. “…but you’re mine.”

You grabbed his hand, intertwining your fingers together as you glared at him.

“Mr. Rogers is a happily married man-.”

“…and you’re his adorable 20 something babysitter who’s great with his son.”

You eyed him, eyebrows furrowing a bit at the way he scoffed that out.

“Peter…you are joking…right?”

He suddenly sighed, stopping at a red light.

“Yeah…sort of. I don’t know,” he groaned. “It’s silly.”

“Hey…nothing is silly if it’s bothering you…”

“It just seems like he really likes you, and I know that he’s your employer and it’s probably nothing more than an employer being pleased with his employee, but he’s good looking and older and-.”

“And happily married,” you reminded him. “…and I’m happily with you.”

You leaned closer, nose brushing his cheek.

“Peter, there’s no need to be jealous of Steve,” you whispered.

“I’m not jealous,” he mumbled.

You chuckled, kissing his cheek before leaning back.

“You are, but its okay,” you said, turning the radio up.

 ~

“You’re serious?”

Peter’s eyes were wide and searching, and you nodded with a huge grin on your face.

“I wanted to wait until it was confirmed to tell you, and now it is. I’m going to Europe next semester for 4 months,” you repeated.

Peter laughed.

“That’s…amazing!”

He pulled you into a tight hug, burying his face in the crook of your neck as you wrapped your arms around him. The mall was loud, and hardly anyone paid any attention to your display. He pulled away from you to press a soft kiss to your lips just as his name was called.

“Oh, that’s our food,” you said, pushing him towards the counter.

He chuckled, rushing to get it just as you heard your own name being called.

“Y/N?”

You turned, eyes widening a bit as they connected with a familiar gaze.

“Mrs. Rogers, hi!”

She pulled you into a brief hug, pulling away with a small pout.

“Y/N, we’ve been through this a thousand times,” she complained.

“Sorry,” you sheepishly replied. “One day. One day, I promise.”

She waved you off, stepping back to get a good look at you.

“Wow! I almost didn’t recognize you,” she chuckled. “You look so different outside of work.”

You glanced down, brows furrowing just a bit as you took in your summer dress.

“I guess…yeah. Peter and I are just enjoying our free day,” you replied, pointing over your shoulder just as the brunette came up behind you.

“Hi, Mrs. Rogers!”

“Hello, Peter. Ugh, you two are so adorable. I was just saying hi to Y/N. I know we only go two days without seeing her a week, but it feels like forever,” she said.

“She’s exaggerating,” you told him.

“No, I mean it! She’s a Godsend. The house is so different without her around. Nathan misses you like crazy,” she confessed.

Her tone threw you off, and you didn’t exactly know how to respond to that.

“He’s right over there actually. Steve too! We’re here with some friends, would you like to come say hi?”

“We…could. We just got our food…”

“Yeah, we can tell them the great news too,” Peter threw in from behind you.

Sharon’s eyes widened in wonder, and you felt your face get hot as Peter rubbed your arms.

“What news?”

“I’m going to Europe next semester,” you slowly replied.

Her mouth parted, face lighting up as she laughed.

“So its…confirmed then? The opportunity went through?”

You nodded.

“Oh, this is wonderful news! Now, you have to come over,” she pushed, grabbing your arm and dragging you across the food court.

Peter followed, and you grew nervous as you approached the table full of strangers. You caught Mr. Rogers’ eye, and noticed the way they widened slightly at you. You looked away, smiling at the unfamiliar faces.

“Guys, this is our babysitter, Y/N, and her boyfriend, Peter.”

Everyone introduced themselves, and the two of you did the same.

“They were just telling me about some wonderful news,” Mrs. Rogers said, reaching over to pluck Nathan from his stroller.

“I’m just studying abroad next semester,” you said, downplaying it as you waved at Nathan.

The table broke out in cheers and congratulations. Your smile was shy, uncomfortable with all of the attention, and sensing it, Peter wrapped an arm around your waist. You caught Mr. Rogers’ eye again, having felt his gaze on you, and you swallowed at the unreadable expression on his face. You wondered if your discomfort was visible, because he suddenly smiled at you, a familiar sight that eased you.

“So where exactly are you studying?” a dark-haired man with facial hair asked.

If you remembered correctly, he introduced himself as Tony.

“Rome,” you answered.

He straightened in his seat, pointing a finger, and everyone else at the table groaned.

“You know, I’ve been to Rome and-.”

“Oh, Tony, give it a rest. She’s going there to enjoy herself, not to hop on the next money-making scheme,” a strawberry blonde woman interrupted.

She was his wife, you remembered.

He raised his hands in mock surrender, and Mrs. Rogers rolled her eyes.

“We’ve kept the two of you long enough. I’m glad we ran into you today.”

“Me too,” you honestly replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You and Peter waved them goodbye, your gaze lingering a bit as Mr. Rogers didn’t wave back, opting instead for raising his glass at you. You turned with a small frown, wondering if something seemed off about him today, or if it was just you.

 ~

The door flew open just as you raised your hand to knock. You took a step back in surprise but smiled nonetheless as your eyes met familiar dark ones. Your smile fell a little when Mrs. Rogers didn’t return it, and you hesitantly stepped inside when she eventually moved to the side.

“Nathan has been put down for his nap. I should be gone for the next five hours at the most,” she said, shutting the door.

“Oh, okay. I can just do some schoolwork then while I wait for him to wake up.”

That was strange. Nathan was normally up and at em whenever you came over. She didn’t reply as you set your bag down beside the couch, and you turned to face her. Her gaze was sharp, and you were growing a bit uncomfortable.

“Unless…there’s something else you want me to do? I can make some meal plans for-.”

“No,” she harshly cut you off, and you flinched. “That won’t be necessary. I can make food for my son just fine.”

You frowned slightly before swallowing.

“Um okay. Is there anything else you want me to do while you’re gone?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at you.

“No. Why do you ask? Is there anything you do for Steve while I’m gone?”

You blinked, rearing back a bit.

“I… I’m sorry?”

She huffed, snatching her purse from its place on the lavish couch, eyes venomous as she gazed at you.

“Mrs. Rogers… Is something wrong?”

“Are you sleeping with Steve?” she demanded.

Your eyes widened, comically so as her words hit you like a truck. Confusion and shock filled you. Had you heard her wrong?

“What?” you gasped.

She approached you, chest heaving.

“You heard me. Are you fucking my husband?”

The question came out slow but forceful, and you frantically shook your head.

“N-no! No! Of course not,” you yelled. “Why would you ask me that?”

She reached into her purse, yanking out a small scrap of fabric before shoving them in your face.

“No? Then what the hell is this?”

She dropped it in your hand, and if possible, your eyes widened even further as you realized it was…underwear. They were black and lacey and flimsy…and they weren’t yours. You swallowed, holding them up by two fingers, touching as little fabric as possible as you slowly looked up at her. If looks could kill, you would be six feet under.

Her face lost some of its tension at the sympathetic look on yours, and you sighed as you held them out to her.

“Mrs. Rogers, these… These aren’t mine,” you whispered.

She swallowed, reaching out with a shaky hand to take them back from you. She clenched them in her fist, lips trembling as she looked away.

“Mrs. Rogers…”

She stumbled back, falling to sit on the couch as she stared at the wall in front of her. The house was quiet, and you didn’t know what to say as she just…stared. You were coming to terms with what was happening, and you didn’t know how to feel.

Mr. Rogers was…the perfect husband. He absolutely doted on Sharon…like a queen. You often found yourself wondering if you and Peter would have what they had one day. It was silly, you knew that, but Sharon and Steve were the perfect couple. They were happily married, for Christ’s sake, so you were having the most difficult time coming to grips with the fact that he could do something like this.

And yet…

The evidence was right there for the both of you to see. After all, there were only so many explanations that could explain that. You took a step towards her.

“Sharon.”

She slowly looked up at you, eyes glistening with tears.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” and you meant it.

You were sorry.

She sniffed.

“No, um… I uh…I’m sorry,” she replied. “I should have known that you would never… You’ve never once given a hint that you would…”

“Mrs. Rogers, you have nothing to apologize for. I mean, if I was in your shoes, I would go straight to the babysitter too,” you chuckled.

She joined you, slowly standing as she wiped her face.

“No. There’s no excuse for coming to you in such a manner. I let my own insecurities cloud my judgement,” she began.

She stuffed the damning evidence back in her purse before looking at you.

“I see how he looks at you, sometimes, and my mind ran wild with it.”

You frowned in confusion, and she chuckled at that.

“Of course, you have no idea what I’m talking about. How lucky you and Peter are to be so wrapped up in each other,” she mused.

You were even more confused, but you brushed it off.

“Is there anything I can do?”

She heaved a tired sigh, and she suddenly looked as if she’d aged 5 years in the span of 5 minutes.

“Just what you’ve always done; your job. You do it so well and Nathan loves you and… I have a feeling that we’re going to need you around a lot more. Nathan will need some stability,” she honestly replied with a shrug.

You looked down and nodded. You watched as she left, mind whirling with what all of this meant.

You made your way into the kitchen with a sigh, wondering how Mr. Rogers could do such a thing. You weren’t stupid. Steve Rogers was an attractive man, almost criminally so, so you knew that he must have dozens of women throwing themselves at him on a regular basis. However, you saw the way he looked at his wife. You thought he was devoted to her in every way.

You looked down, playing with your fingers with a frown. As silly as it was, part of you felt…disappointed. You had thought that Mr. Rogers was better than that. This diminished him in your eyes, and you started to wonder if you ever knew him, at all.

 ~

“No, Peter. Neither one of them have come home yet. I can’t leave,” you worriedly said, peeking out of the window.

The rain was really coming down, now, and your anxiety grew.

“Y/N, a storm is coming in, tonight. If I don’t come get you, now, I don’t think I’ll be able to,” Peter said over the phone, frantic.

“I know, I know, and I wouldn’t ask you to. I’ll figure something out, but I can’t leave, and I’m not just going to take Nathan. One of them will be here soon.”

He heaved a sigh.

“Alright. I love you…”

“I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow,” you said, hanging up the phone.

You had just turned away to go check on Nathan when you heard keys in the door. You sighed in relief, a greeting on your lips when you stopped short. Mr. Rogers stepped through the door, and you didn’t know what to say as he shut it behind him.

His blue eyes focused in on you, eyebrows furrowing a bit when you didn’t speak.

“What is it?” he softly asked.

He looked the same and sounded the same, but he wasn’t the same. To be perfectly honest, you were hoping that his wife would be back before him. You were…disgusted by him.

“Mrs. Rogers isn’t back yet.”

His frown deepened, reaching into his pocket to grab his cell phone.

“What do you mean she isn’t back yet?”

“When she left, she said she’d be gone for five hours at the max, but…that was eight hours ago.”

He brushed past you, pressing his phone to his ear. You went to grab Nathan just as he stirred, shushing him as you rocked him on your hip. You looked over your shoulder with wide eyes, heart skipping a beat at the harsh hushed whispers coming from the kitchen.

You wanted to get closer, but it was none of your business. You instead wondered on how you were going to get home. You heard him step back into the living room, and you looked up as he approached you. You let him take Nathan from your hands, jerking them back when his fingers lingered on yours.

“Well?”

“Sharon isn’t coming back, tonight,” he sighed.

“What? Why?”

“Who knows? She’s always loved the dramatics,” he threw out, ascending the stairs and gesturing for you to follow.

You frowned at him, not liking the way he spoke about her, but followed, nonetheless.

“There’s no way anyone can drive in that,” he said, facing you. “You’ll have to stay the night.”

You blanched on the inside, but you knew it was coming. Before, you wouldn’t have minded. However, after learning what you did about him, you didn’t like the idea of being stuck in a house with him all night. He wasn’t who you thought he was.

“Okay. I can put Nathan down before I-.”

“It’s fine, Y/N. I can put him down. I haven’t done so in a while,” he said, throwing you a small smile.

You forced one in return, walking towards the linen closet.

“Um…should I get someone of Mrs. Rogers’ or-?”

“I’ll leave something in the guest room for you to sleep in,” he said.

You nodded, looking over your shoulder as he brushed past you.

 ~

You gripped your towel to you, reaching out to grab the clothes left on the guest bed when the door opened. You yelped in surprise, eyes wide as Mr. Rogers stepped into the room. You took a step back, eyeing him in confusion.

“I just wanted to thank you for tonight.”

“Oh. It was no problem,” you quietly replied.

He shook his head as he stepped closer, and you tightened the towel around you.

“No. It was a problem. Sharon was supposed to come back, tonight and she didn’t. That was irresponsible and inconsiderate of her. You have a life just like she does, and she had an obligation to be here to be with her son,” he said, voice hard as he eyed you.

He had an obligation to be faithful to his wife, you found yourself thinking.

“Mr. Rogers, really, it’s fine. She’s upset, I understand-.”

“Upset,” he wondered.

You slammed your mouth shut as he crossed his arms over his chest with a soft scoff, running his eyes over you as he studied you. He tilted his head to the side.

“How do you know she’s upset?”

“What I meant was, she seemed kind of upset before she left,” you corrected yourself.

“Did she now?”

“I don’t know what about, but she just seemed really bothered by something. She left in a hurry,” you lied.

His gaze was unreadable as he took in your words, and you found yourself feeling uncomfortable at his close proximity and your state of undress. He eventually nodded, taking a step back. He turned and made his way to the door, laying his hand on it as he turned to look at you.

“Whatever she’s upset about isn’t an excuse to leave you here to take care of our son hours after you’re supposed to,” he angrily said.

You swallowed at his tone, fighting to hold his gaze.

“Thank you for being patient and waiting. You’ve been a blessing to us this past year, and I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

You nodded, eyeing the door when he closed it before eventually walking towards it. You pressed your ear against it, noting that a few moments had passed before you eventually heard him walking away. You turned the lock, dropping your towel as you eyed the clothes on the bed.

You frowned as you realized that none of these belonged to Mrs. Rogers. The shirt was entirely too big, and you knew for a fact that she didn’t wear boxers. You didn’t feel comfortable wearing her husband’s clothes to bed, but you didn’t have a choice. It was either that or sleep naked.

You pulled them on, anyway, wondering why he didn’t just give you something of his wife’s.

 ~

As the storm raged on outside of the window, you found yourself tossing and turning. The conversation you had earlier with Sharon was plaguing your thoughts. Even worse, Mr. Rogers’ strange behavior wasn’t helping things. Sleep was eluding you, and you found yourself wanting to call Peter, but he was probably asleep.

You considered going downstairs to get something to drink, and eventually decided on doing that. You threw the covers back, preparing to get out of bed when a noise stopped you. The floor outside of the guest room creaked, and you frowned.

You slowly got up, keeping quiet as you approached the door. You stared at it in confusion before your eyes widened at the jiggling doorknob. Your heart pounded in your chest as you realized someone was trying to come into the room. Although, there were only two people in the house able to open a door.

Mr. Rogers was trying to come into your room. You watched the knob twist and jiggle a couple more times before it eventually stopped. You heard him walk away, and you decided against that glass of water as you got back into bed.

 ~

tags: @darkficsyouneveraskedfor​ @kellyn1604​ @mcudarklibrary​ @darkficreposter​ @villanellevi​ @xoxabs88xox​ @harringtonsblackgf​ @sebabestianstan101​ @notyourtypicalrose​ @opheliadawnwalker3​

[ineloqueent]

from sea to stars

Brian May x Reader

synopsis: from sea to stars, the world is ours.

warnings: brief allusion to depression

word count: 2.6k

a/n: happy birthday sofie ( @drivenbybri​ )!! i hope you have a wonderful day, you absolute star. this is inspired by the moodboard you made me of holidaying with brian in italy <3

⭒

1992

The sun had gone down hours and hours ago, and yet, Positano was only just awakening.

Twinkling lights and narrow, cobblestone paths wound down the cliffs until the land dispersed and gave way to water, and the starry sky sparkled above a sea shining beneath the newly risen moon.

The tables were being set out for dinner, shop owners returning from their midday naps that had lasted long beyond their prescribed time allotment, elderly women gossiping as they hung up their washing, fishermen returning from the ocean to play their parts in the family scene.

There were young people too. Lovers and lone wolves alike, friends and proclaimed family, they laughed as they ambled half-tipsy down the streets of their village, or shouted to one another as they ran between the alleys and dodged adults who had the mind to complain about the noise.

It was by no means a quiet night in Positano, but then again, no nights were ever quiet on the Italian Riviera, with such a lively population, driven by music and a little bit of madness.

Or those were Brian’s words anyway.

He’d said that as the two of you had wandered along the low wall by the water, and you’d smiled fondly at him as he’d swung your hand in his own, enunciated his words in that particular manner of his, with that slightly-distracted air, which gave way to rapt attention once his thoughts had been spoken.

“A people, a village, driven by music, and just a little bit of madness.” He’d laughed then, a soft, breathy sound, one that you only ever heard when it was just the two of you, shrouded in the intimacy of solitude, where you felt like you were dreaming because you felt like you were standing at the centre of the universe.

And right now, there was nothing more to the universe than Brian’s hand clasped with your own. The lights of Positano caught on his ringlets as he smiled beneath the glow of the full moon.

Somewhere along the way, he pulled you to the side of the path and stopped beside a bush full of crepe-pink flowers. He broke one off from an overhanging branch and proceeded to brush the hair from your face with light fingers before he placed the flower behind your ear.

You smiled up at him again, because how could you not— this gentle soul with his wandering mind and ever-generous heart, who swore he loved you more than you loved him.

But you wouldn’t— you couldn’t— believe him when he said that, because surely, he could not have felt any love greater than the one that overwhelmed you, bubbled and overflowed from your heart, when he smiled at you, when he so much as simply looked at you, and you found yourself falling in love all over again. Surely there were limitations as to how much one person could love another, and surely you had reached those limitations with the way you loved Brian. Except for the fact that each day you spent with him made you love him just a little bit more.

There was always something new to learn about Brian, how he had a different frown for different types of concentration, whether it was music or mathematics, and how he hummed to himself when he thought no one was listening. He could be a grumpy sod sometimes, but otherwise, he had a mild temperament, and his darker moments always yielded far sweeter ones. He was stubborn, but somehow, he always came around when you laid your head on his shoulder and took his hand in yours. He would talk and talk about what was bothering him, hardly taking a breath, quite often on the verge of tears, but then you would look to him and nod.

“I know,” you’d say.

It was hard these days. But you promised him that better ones lay ahead.

He would sigh softly and kiss your forehead, and the two of you would sit together quietly for a little while longer before going about the day.

But here, in Positano, the world seemed to spin more languidly than anywhere else, the sun lingering high in the heavens, unperturbed by its winter curfew, and time was felt much more as a construct than a reality.

At nine o’clock, you and Brian sat down to dinner at a little place that overlooked the bay, mid-way up the cliffs and boasting the best scenery in the village, secluded beneath the lemon and pine trees, with a clear view of the rolling waves and the boats that rocked atop them.

“So,” said Brian, setting down his menu to look at you, “what is it to be?”

“Hmm…”

“Pizza or pasta?” he joked, as the two of you had done since you’d arrived in Italy two weeks ago. You were beginning to like this modified routine of lying in the sun and squealing like a teenager when Brian tossed you into an oncoming wave, winding your fingers through his curls as you kissed him beside cyprus trees, tasting homemade wine on his lips and seeing the sunlight brighten his eyes anew.

“I think it’s a pasta kind of night,” you replied, and within a few minutes, Brian had ordered for the both of you in haphazard Italian.

Somewhere, there was somebody strumming a guitar and whistling, and the sound echoed softly between the close-packed buildings of the village, reminding you of another time. Exactly what other times you were reminded of was unclear, but there was a certain nostalgia to the old architecture, old families, old memories of Italy, and you closed your eyes to drink in the music as Brian’s hand found yours again.

“Someone’s playing guitar,” he said, and you murmured a response. “Makes me want to write a song. Maybe I will.”

You opened your eyes.

Brian hadn’t written in ages.

He associated writing with his bandmates, and, rightfully, found the idea of writing quite painful, without them.

But here he was, saying he wanted— no, that he would— write a song, and you felt the world grow a little lighter.

You tugged on his hand. “Will you write one about me?” you said.

A smile broadened his pretty lips. “I’d write you a thousand songs if you asked.”

“Oh, please,” you scoffed. “There’s nothing about me that warrants two songs, let alone a thousand.”

Brian lifted your hand to his mouth and pressed a tender kiss to your skin. “That is utter rubbish, and you know it.”

You had nothing to say to that, so you settled for a blush and a smile, and glancing down at the table, at heart still the teenager you’d once scorned, but had now come to love for her belief in the goodness of people, for the purity of her love toward those who loved her in return.

You weren’t old, but god, Brian made you feel young.

Young enough to believe that everything would eventually work out for the best, young enough to imagine that the sea and the stars went on forever, and that happiness came to those who deserved it.

It was all very unrealistic, but then again, you had never thought that someone as beautiful and kind as Brian could exist in this world plagued by human cruelty.

“Love?” Brian’s voice called you from your thoughts. He was looking at you concernedly, the crease between his brows for once revealing his age, some of the tragedies which he has lived through. His normally cheery smile hid these little sadnessess, but suddenly, they were as plain to you as the moon shining down from the gradient of the Italian summer night sky. “What are you looking at? Have I got something on my face?’

He lifted a hand to his cheek, but you beat him to the chase, running your thumb softly over his chin.

“No,” you murmured, staring into those endlessly hazel eyes. “Just you.”

His smile melted you. He pressed a lingering kiss to your fingers and said nothing more.

The food came and went, and after the two of you stayed a while longer, as was custom to do in Italy, you rose and ambled down the winding paths of Positano again.

It was an aimless sort of wandering, but that was the beauty of it all. There was nothing to be done, no task to be completed or deadline to be met. There was simply you and Brian, and the hidden corners of a foreign city, begging to be explored.

One such hidden corner involved a bookshop, and Brian was quick to pull you inside before you walked on by it.

You had almost not seen the place, shrouded by overgrown shrubbery riddled by the night-blooming jasmine. Indeed, Brian had not seen it either, but had noticed the aroma of the jasmine, and had glanced over his shoulder to catch sight of the rickety little shop.

Inside, there were books everywhere, stacks on the floor that stretched toward the ceiling in winding towers, shelves overcrowded with books both vertical and horizontal, tables and chairs occupied by novels and fairy tale collections in place of people.

Brian navigated the maze of the shop with purpose, and you smiled bemusedly.

“Anything in particular?” you asked him, as though you were the shop clerk.

He stopped briefly to wink at you. “Poesia,” he said.

You left the shop only ten minutes later, Brian with a tattered book beneath one arm. He led the way down the cliffs, until at last the sea shone before you once more, and the sand sparkled with moonlight like it was made of stars.

As the waves washed ashore and the sea breeze drifted in to accompany them, you looked up at Brian, who cast his eyes about the beach.

“Please tell me we’re not going swimming,” you said, to which he laughed.

“No, it’s a bit too dark for that. And with the way the waves are cresting right now, I’d say we would easily be carried out to sea, from one moment to the next.”

You blinked, puzzled. “So what are we doing?”

“Absolutely nothing at all.”

“Nothing?” you said, considering the purposeful way he had surveyed the beach.

“Well,” he stepped into the sand and pulled you with him, “not quite.” He smiled again, that lovely, secretive smile that was yours alone to witness; he never smiled that way for anyone but you. “Come on.”

He turned to his right, and you perceived a calmer swell of tide, mitigated by a small outcrop of rock which shielded the shore from the wilder waves.

Brian sank down into the sand and drew you with him, easing you down so that your head rested in his lap, and his hand in your hair.

You closed your eyes, as he opened the book and began to read softly, the hum of his words drawing you close to dance with your imagination, to see the lights and colours of the stories he spun, because even if you could not understand the language of which they were made, you could hear the intention, the emotion, of which they had been composed.

It occurred to you then that the most beautiful sound in the world was that of Brian’s voice. It was a striking thought, yet the realisation was so simple to you that it brought tears to your eyes to think that you should have been so lucky as to hear it. He spoke more beautifully than the wind could have hoped to speak, in its whispers through trees, more beautifully than the rush of the ocean could have dreamed to emulate, in its effervescent, ever-changing beauty. You would have given up anything, everything, to listen to him forever, for there was such love in the pensiveness with which he chose his words, such care in the fluidity of his speech, the melody of his song.

But then the lilt of his voice became suddenly unfamiliar, and you opened your eyes to find that he had diverted from the script of the book in his hand, and as his fingers ran through your hair, you realised that they were trembling.

“Brian,” you began softly, sitting up to take his hands in yours. He had stopped speaking entirely, and worry gripped you at the expression on his face— the bitten lip, the watery eyes. “Brian, what—”

But he shook his head, shushed you gently, and you closed your mouth, though your concern did not subside.

With a shuddering sigh, he began anew.

“Il mondo è bello,” he recited, “dal mare alle stelle, e se mi salvi, sarà nostro.”

“I don’t understand,” you murmured despairingly, but he pulled his hands from yours, and your gaze followed his movements as he picked up the book once more.

“Quindi, salvami, amore mio, e sposami.””

The pages fell open then, and at the perfect time, too, because you had been about to question him further, to impress upon him just how little of the Italian he spoke made any sense to you.

But betwixt the pages of the book, as answers often do, lay the only answer you needed.

A little jewel, shimmering atop the circle of a thin silver band.

A ring.

Your eyes abruptly filled with tears, and if you had been able to see more than blurry shapes before you, you would have sworn that Brian’s eyes did too.

His voice nearly failed him when next he spoke, a stutter in his throat to match the one which pulsed in your heart.

“The world is beautiful, from sea to stars, and if you save me, it will be ours. So save me, my love, and marry me.”

You could not speak, for the emotion that had thickened the air in your throat.

Maybe it was the ease with which he had spoken the words, because though he had stumbled through the Italian, there had not been even a glimmer of hesitance in his eyes as he had bid you marry him.

Maybe it was how he gazed at you now, the way you had never imagined anyone would gaze at you, or how he looked ready to surrender himself to shame, should you have said no.

Maybe you were just amazed. Amazed at how he loved you. Amazed by how little you understood of the world, in contrast with how certain you were that nothing would make you happier than to spend the rest of your life with Brian May.

“Will I marry you?” you repeated, as the smile flooded your lips and the tears your cheeks.

Brian nodded silently, his chest rising and falling in a way that betrayed his quickened heartbeat.

You nodded in return.

Brian drew nearer to you until the two of you were leaning forward in the sand, until his fingertips ghosted the sides of your face. “Please,” he murmured. “Please, will you say it?”

Your eyes fluttered closed and the world sank into darkness, for but the lightness of his touch. The word fell from your tongue.  

“Yes,” you said.

As the ring found its home upon your finger, the world spiraled out of touch with reality, for surely you must have been dreaming. The salt of your tears sweetened the taste of his mouth as he kissed you, with a tenderness even more beautiful than his words.

Yet, when you opened your eyes again, you knew that you could not be dreaming, because Brian still knelt before you, beneath the midnight moon of Positano.

And suddenly you understood what he had meant.

Because with your promise and his still tingling upon your lips, you knew that from sea to stars, the world would be forever yours.

⭒

a/n: my sincere apologies to anyone who actually speaks/understands italian. i neither speak not understand the language, but i had someone who does look over the grammar. i’m still not 100% sure that it’s right, but hey, i tried :)

[faruangeldiary]

A Real World-Freedom and Challenges

It’s been almost 1/2 month since i arrived in Malaysia for my Master program in Digital Film and TV. The best thing about living here is that i am allowed to go anywhere, wear and eat whatever i want. I have explored Malaysia by myself except Kaula Lumpur. I will visit it very soon. Currently i am living in on-campus accommodation at Cyberjaya where my University “Limkokwing University of Creative Technology” situated. 

Lets read my first journey going to another country alone. It wasn’t very easy decision to study abroad. I had to struggle with lots of things. I was not sure if i able to reach here as i had four epilepsy before coming to Malaysia (3 in August and 1 in September). My flight was on 23rd of September, 2018. I was afraid but mustered up my courage and prayed to God that my journey would become a stepping stone for recovering my disease.

When i arrived in the plane the air hostess helped me in everything which i never asked to do so till i arrived in Malaysia. Even the staff of airport accompanied me for so many hours till the guy from my university came to pick me. I was so moved by their kindness and gesture. 

 When i arrived to University then i got know that I was allotted the room at the 3rd floor and they have no lift for physically challenged students. I got shocked from this even i mentioned about my disability to the counselor so many times. The online recruitment team had also given me wrong information about fees structure and then when i arrived here, i had to paid more fees. Thanks God the head of International Student Services immediately allotted the room at the ground floor which is actually a male floor. Dont worry the male students are very respectful and helpful.

The real struggle started when i had to walk in every department in different floors to complete my registration process. I am disappointed there are no facilities available for physically challenged students not even ramp for wheel chairs. The strange thing is there are two lifts  for VIP but only one lift for us which is still not working till now. When one day i need to go to the 3rd floor, i stood in front of the VIP lift. The girl was standing and asked very rudely “Do you want to talk to me?” I replied, “I have a problem, I am physically challenged.” She didnt even let me to explain my disability. She immediately refused by saying “This lift opens to the Founder office. You cannot go.” She then looked at the guard and said “SHOW HER A WAY!”. I felt i was discriminated. I was about to cry. The guard also felt bad for me. He even called other guy from the management to let me use the elevator but he refused as well. He revealed that that girl is from Iran and she is in management. The guard felt my pain and he was a emphatic person. He asked my nationality. I said “I am from Pakistan.” He replied, “ Then we could speak in Urdu/Hindi. I know your current PM Imran Khan.” Then our conversation started. After few minutes the guy came from the lift and asked me “Do you want to use lift” and i replied. “Yes” and the gentleman gave me permission to use the lift. When i needed to use lift again and i asked Malaysian girl (from the management) for permission and she humbly let me to use the lift. I had a very rough day. I even complaint to the staff of the marketing and international student service department but they seemed helpless. The things which management supposed to provide me, my hostel mates did for me. Here for the first time in my life i celebrated Halloween and enjoyed alot.

Lets talk about the outside of Malaysia. For the first time i experienced to traveled alone in cab, visited malls, explored Sunway and meeting new people. Malaysian were so generous and kind where ever i went. I really moved by the girl when i went to Tony Moly at IOI City Mall Putrjaya. She was humble and helped me in every possible way. She even took the photo with Seo Kang Joon ( not the real one XD). 

The staff of TGV cinemas are so helpful that they take me to the hall every time i go. I had so much fun while exploring Malaysia by myself. It seems i got my freedom back. I got the chance to see favorite Korean Celebrities too. In every mall i visited, they have more facilities for physically challenged than my university provides. Even staff in malls are more cooperative than my university. I think my university should invite these malls staff to give training to the management.

If the students and Professors and guards weren’t helpful then i would have changed my university. The Professors are cooperative but you need to show your interest in course. My Pakistani class fellows scared me to death about the reputation of this university. I was starting regretting upon my decision to study here. If some other good Pakistanis fellows weren’t there for me to show the reality,i would have return back to Pakistan which i don’t want at any cause. My brother and that Pakistanis warned me to avoid such people. They always complain and don’t want someone to see ahead of them.

The message i want to give to every students who always complains

In abroad, you need to find opportunity for yourself. You need to stand out and initiate the changes you want to see. No one will ever pamper you. This is not Pakistani society where you depends on your parents. This is real world. Though i have also found flaws regarding facilities for physically challenged students otherwise the education is good. No one is ever fool enough to awarded so many awards to that University where the education is not up to at International level. 90% students are foreigners and mostly are from China. It has different campuses in Asia and London too.

The biggest challenge of mine is that I don't have prior experience of film making. Mostly students are way ahead of me. I need to cope up with them. I want to have independent life and face challenges in order to be successful in my career. No one will ever be successful if he/she has not experienced hurdles in life.

The good news is that i have not experienced any epilepsy attack even after facing so many hurdles in Malaysia. The environment around here is helping me in  recovering my disease. I hope i will get rid of it completely.

[averywiseanimatedcat]

Movie nights

Little late kinda Haloween Malec fic 

-Magnus has a different idea to their usual date nights- 

1500 words 

G rated (fluffy not smutty) 

Alec didn’t even have to place his hand on the door handle before it swung open infront of him, he grinned as Magnus came into view. Sitting on one of his lavish chairs, the faint remnants of magic disappearing from his fingertips.

“Alexander.”

He purred 

“Hey.”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him

“You know if you keep doing that, one day I’m going to forget how to open doors entirely.”

Magnus stood and sauntered over to him, playfully dipping one shoulder and looking at him through the corners of his eyes asking

“Are you objecting?”

Alec felt himself melt at the smooth texture of Magnus’s voice, inviting him to play along

"Never.”

Magnus closed the distance between them and brought Alecs chin down to meet his lips. They kissed deeply but briefly. Magnus kept his eyes closed for a second afterwards, only opening them when Alec asked

“So. You said you had a surprise for me?”

For a while now they had dedicated one night a week, usually a Friday or Saturday night, to going on a date of some kind. Sometimes it was portalling to Paris or Amsterdam to wine, dine and explore, other times it was as simple as just entangling themselves in Magnus’s bed for the night. Once they even spent it in Alecs office at the institute, Magnus had far to much fun trying to distract him the entire time. Alec pretended he didn’t like it, which made it all the more fun for Magnus to tease him. Like placing putting both feet up on Alecs desk while he read, letting the skirt of his jacket fall to reveal far to lean legs in far to tight black pants. Alec would sigh heavily and look at him from under his brow, Magnus would look up innocently from his book asking

“Something bothering you?”

Long fingers adorned with multiple rings and deep purple nail polish drummed the table, making it a little hard for Alec to string together a sentence

“…no….there’s just a pesky Warlock on my desk.”

“Wonder what he’s doing there…”

“I know exactly what he’s doing, and it’s working.”

Alec smacked Magnus’s shin gently with a rolled up paper, Magnus snatched his legs away 

“Oh come now Alexander, I’m sure the head of the New York institute can ignore one little Warlock.”

Alec rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath

“You’re not LITTLE in any sense of the word…”

Magnus pretended he didn’t hear, but Alec saw the smirk buried in the old pages of his ancient book while he returned his feet back onto the desk. 

Alec was snapped back to the present with Magnus taking one hand in his own and playing with his fingers while he spoke

"I know you havnt had much time for...well...anything, so I thought maybe... something a little different to our usual dates for Halloween."  

"Oh?"

Alec's dark brows peaked with curiosity, Magnus smiled and waved his hands in that fantastic way Alec loved. Behind them, the living room transformed into a very luxurious looking home theatre. A large, bean bagish couch, surrounded by all kinds of snacks and goodies. A massive tv adorned the wall. Alec laughed and asked

"A movie night?"

"Exactly Alexander."

"Wait, I know what this is…this is beacuse I never understand your obscure references."

"...Maybe..."

Magnus smiled coyly and snapped his fingers. The lights dimmed and the giant screen lit up with a huge title 'Edward scissors hands' Magnus's smug face was illuminated dramatically by the screen, creating deep shadows, his eyes bright and sparkling.

"Impressed?"

 Alec couldn't help but allow a wide grin to slip across his face. He reached foreward and gripped Magnus by the waist, letting his fingers feel every tickle of energy coming from beneath them whenever he touched Magnus.  

"Aslong as it's with you, I'm happy."

Magnus beamed and added enthusiastically

“Oh, I also set up some wards for sound proofing the room. Honestly the quality is greatly improved, just like surround sound, the real deal.”

“See this is why I struggle to much to come up with date night ideas, how can I compete with my boyfriend magic-ing me up a personal home theatre system?”

Alec was half serious but mostly said it for humors sake, he knew he could never compete with Magnus’s wild ideas. But Magnus seemed to think otherwise, he was a man of small gestures. He kept the Omamori charm from Alec with him at all times. Even at night, it sat on his bedside table while he slept. At the time Alec considered it a small gift, but Magnus’s response taught him allot about his Warlock. He didn’t care much for show, he didn’t care if Alec said he loved him infront of anyone or held his hand in public. He wanted intention, genuine, authentic intention. Magnus was far more interested in the power behind a statement than the words actually said, the meaning behind the action rather than the result. On the other hand, Alec had grown to like Magnus’s obvious affection, the way he looked at him when others were watching, the closer he choose to stand with him the better. So people knew they were together, a powerful team. Obviously there was allot more to it than that, Magnus had a self that was present around other people, and a self that only revealed itself when he was alone with Alec. But they fit together perfectly. 

They spent the night watching all sorts of Halloween movies, some horror, some silly or romantic. Many were old and that made them all the more entertaining. Cuddled up on the couch that was probably awful for your posture, they laughed, ate and drank through the stories playing out before them. Some movies like Invasion of the body snatchers was to funny to take seriously, others encouraged them to press closer and laugh when one of them startled.

At some late point in the night, after many movies and far to much to drink Alec looked down at Magnus and asked

"Another one?"

Only to see a sleeping warlock on his chest. Magnus rarely removed all the glamour from his face, but of late he had gotten into the habit of removing it at the end of the day, rather than leaving until he slept. When they first got together, he never took it off, he even slept in it, using his magic to refresh and change it every day. But right now, Magnus had never looked so fantastic to Alec. Dressed in one of Alec's many black long sleeve shirts that was a little too big, the top buttons undone, curled up on his chest with his hair in a messy flop over his forehead. Both legs drapped across his lap, one arm wrapped around his waist. Alec sighed and whispered through a kiss placed on the top of Magnus's head 

"Alright."

A soft noise came from Magnus and he mumbled

"...we can watch another if you want."

"No, you’re tired."

Magnus yawed and shuffled against him, breathing out one defiant word

"...no..."

They both burst into fatigued chuckles, Magnus lazily flicked a wrist that switched off the TV. Neither of them bothered to try and get to the actual bed, they'd settled so far into the huge bean bag Alec wasn't even sure he'd be able to get out without Magnus levitating him out. He pulled the burgundy mink blanket that was spread over their legs up over Magnus's shoulders.

Resting his chin on his boyfriends head, Alec gazed out of the balcony windows for a short while, gently stroking the lines of Magnu’s shoulder blades. Slowly, the warlocks breathing settled and his heart hummed the familiar beat that Alec had grown to know as sleep. Slowly, his own eyes closed and he fell into sleep, more content than he’d ever been  

-

Izzy was hesitant about going to Magnus's apartment, but neither him or Alec were answering their phones and he'd already missed one training session that morning. There was a meeting in an hour and Izzy had to go and get him. She knew it was their date night last night, so she had a pretty good idea WHY he wasn't there. A sister just knows these things. she knocked loudly on Magnus’s door. No reply. Again, calling out

“Magnus! Alec?”

Preparing herself to be scorned for walking in on them, Izzy swung the door open. She was greeted with a sight that almost brought tears to her eyes. Curled up together in a huge bean bag, surrounded by chip bags and cocktail glasses, Magnus and Alec were fast asleep. She could see their phones stacked together on the kitchen bench. A very faint haze buzzed around the room, some kind of magic, she thought. Briefly, she considered waking them. But Alec would be mortified. Instead, she tip toed into the kitchen and retrieved Alec's phone and placed it on the floor by the coffee table next to them, making it appear as if it had just fallen off in the night. Sneaking back out, she called him again from the street outside. He picked up, she had to hide the giggle in her voice at his ramblings

"Izzy! I'm so sorry...omg..Magnus it's 11am...I don't know why I didn't hear it? Your what..?"

Not able to resist poking fun at him she teased

“Oh it’s fine Alec, you must have been REALLY tired…”

“IZzy!!”  

She chuckled

"I'll see you at the institute."

And hung up on him, trying and failing to stifle a laugh on the street corner that made people stare. Strutting down the street, she felt warm and content the idea of her brother finally being happy.  

[docsamurai]

Humans are weird: The lost colony

*Quick note before I start: This is the first installment in a series I’ve called the Lost Colonies which is largely about human society adapting to the strange environments of other worlds. You can read the other installments here: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing this series, but with my new work schedule I had to bring it to a close. If you’ve enjoyed this story follow me on here for my other writings. Thanks again to everyone who has reblogged, liked, replied, DMed, or otherwise shown their appreciation for this series. It means a lot to me that people enjoyed it and the love you’ve all shown me has really helped keep me going for these last few months.*

An adult Turic sits behind a desk jotting down notes as a recorder takes down the interview for future analysis. “I understand that this entire ordeal has been stressful for you and your fellow colonists but due to your unique situation we would like to use this opportunity to better understand human culture. Please let me know if we need to stop or if there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable.” The human, a younger female by the name of Kiara fidgets in her seat. “No, I’m fine, I just haven’t ever seen an alien before. Hell, until a few months ago no one had ever heard anything but legends of people from outer space.” The Turic looks down at his notes as he tries to reconcile this information. “According to our research it says that your colony was originally founded just over 500 Sols ago. Are you saying that in that short amount of time your colony’s knowledge of spacefaring and other sapient races was erased?” “I guess? What’s a Sol though? How long would that be?” “Oh, a unit of time measurement based on the solar rotation of your home world. Prior to your race’s colonization of other worlds you referred to it as a year. For reference, you are estimated to be 22 Sols old.” “Then yeah, that makes a lot of sense. We didn’t really have permanent settlements and had to keep moving. One of the older stories said that we came to our world in a fiery ship and that the remains of it could be found out in the wastes once a cycle. That’s what we call it when the Thaw comes back to the same point.” “I have heard some of the other colonists mention this Thaw. This is the name for the habitable zone in which your colony exists, correct?” “Yeah, you live in the Thaw, you move with the Thaw. The Thaw keeps you from burning or freezing as long as you work with it. It protects you, feeds you and keeps you alive, but it always moves so you need to move with it.”

The Turic frantically scribbles notes on its data pad. “Fascinating. It appears as though your civilization has come to mythologize a natural phenomenon the way your ancestors on earth frequently would. Your colony was founded on a planet that was almost what we would call tidally locked. In essence one side of it always faced your neighboring star and it rotated as it spun around it so that the same side always faced it at all times. However the spin was off by a small fraction so that the planet gradually rotated to have a day/night cycle, but this cycle was so slow that it took roughly 50 Sols for a single rotation. This would have made for a narrow band of surviveable temperatures but one that was constantly shifting albeit at a slow pace.” Kiara stared blankly at the Turic. “Sorry, that went a little over my head. What I think I caught from that though is that one side of my world faced the light and one side faced the dark and we lived in the space between. Which yeah, that’s the Thaw.” “I apologize, this is fascinating for me, I’m just curious as to how or why your people took what appears to be such a large step backwards in their technological capabilities.” “Well, like I said, some of our stories say that we came from a fiery ship and that it can be found in the wastes. If my people really did come from another world, maybe we crashed and our technology broke. We do tend to keep on the move and we usually leave things behind when they break and can’t be fixed. I wasn’t old enough to remember seeing the great ship when my parents took me there and it was taken by the scorch a long time ago.”

The Turic stared at his data pad wondering how he would even begin to unravel all of this. “Well, hopefully we can find some solid answers to this mystery someday, but I would like for you to tell me more about your colony. What is life like on your world?” Kiara straightened up in her seat and smiled. “My name is Kiara Williams. I’m a frost melt like my mother and father before me. We work on the very edge of the Thaw to make sure that the glaciers, mountains and streams run in the right ways when it comes time for the Thaw to reach them in full. We scout lands in the cold to find new sites for villages. We dig breaks in the ice to make sure that the largest sheets fall away from farms and villages. It’s bitter cold and dangerous work but it’s important and sometimes exciting.” The Turic stared in an expression that would have been the human equivalent of slack-jawed. “You colony had the technological equivalence of pre-industrialization. Are you saying that your people geoformed an ice world to ensure proper farmland using little more than steel tools and furs?” “Well there are plenty of other jobs too. My brother is a farmer out in the warmer parts of the Thaw and I have a cousin who lives on the other end of it as a waste reclaimer.” “And what is it that your cousin does?” “He goes out into the scorch looking for broken things that can be fixed or things that were left behind by accident. Most people say that’s not a job for an honest person, but he has a real knack for finding stuff to sell. I heard he even managed to find a few relics off the great ship.” The Turic made a note to track down this cousin immediately. “Are those the only professions available?” “Of course not. There’s bakers and builders and law makers but we do have to keep moving with the Thaw so most of us try not to stay in one place too long. It doesn’t help to get too attached. We can usually only get 3 or 4 harvests out of a plot of land before it gets too hot to grow. That’s why frost melts like me are so important to help scout the farms in advance.”

The Turic glanced at the blinking light on his recorder that was letting him know that his allotted time was nearly up. “I’ll need to let you get back to your family unit soon, but is there anything else you can tell me about your colony or its culture?” Kiara sighed. “Not really. Being a frost melt, I spend most of my days surrounded by ice as far as the eye can see. It’s strange and beautiful though. There’s massive mountains made of nothing but ice and I know that if I simply walk for a few hours towards out into the frost it would be cold enough to kill, but I know that I’m the one who gets to tame it. At times when the wind is calm I can breath the cold in deep and look out to the stars and wonder what it would be like to explore them too.” Kiara looked down at her feet self consciously and laughed. “I guess I can actually get to do that now huh?” The Turic adopted the human expression of a smile. “There is a lot of unexplored space out there. I’m sure the human race would be proud to have you back to help them seek it out.”

[thesuperwallflower]

Losing the “fun” in non-refundable

Montane Mansion, 1028 King's Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong (Google Images)

In December 2018, before leaving the Philippines after a three-week vacation, I pinky swore to my mom that I would take her on a trip to a country where a visa is not a requirement, and a week’s worth of expenses can be covered by a month’s worth of my salary. We decided Hong Kong was the perfect country.

The planning begins.

I start paying for some tickets, encounter some miscalculations along the way, and end up realizing I need more time to make sure the itinerary is perfectly covered by my available, albeit meager, resources. Thus, upon discussing this with my mother, taking her usual, automated, passive “ikaw na ang bahala, anak” response into consideration, what could have been a fun trip to Hongkong over the 10-day Golden Week in April turns into a summer getaway in August, just in time for Obon.

I’m excited beyond comprehension. I would leave on the 8th, arrive at midnight, wake up in the morning, walk along the avenue of stars, check out their famous street art, visit as many night markets as I could and take as many photos with the camera I just bought. In the next few days, I would meet my family at the airport, head to Oceanpark, go to Sky100 to marvel at the cityscapes, get on a cable car to Ngong Ping Village, take the ferry cruises and gaze at the beauty of the sunset and enjoy the symphony of lights, take a tour around the beauty of Portuguese architecture surrounding Macau, devour food at their deluxe buffets, go to Disneyland for fun, and take as many “Instagrammable” shots with my ever-supportive sisters.

For these things to happen, I allocate a chunk of my salary to the purchase of plane tickets, hotel accommodations, activity vouchers, what have you. I end up experiencing problems with my cards from Philippine banks, in which they flag your card for transactions done online and eventually block your purchases thereon. I expect to lose a lot more than the figures I wrote on my itinerary, but I don’t expect to lose a lot and gain less.

You see, I plan trips just so. While most travelers out there state the budget and flex their plans around it, I, on the other hand, do the exact opposite, write the plans, track the possible expenses, see if I can pull out as much, and scrape off the plans that don’t make the cut. I treat trips like timetables, always on a schedule, always packed and more importantly, always presented in tables. I remember taking an entire Saturday, in June, to finish making a soft copy of this August trip. I am that girl.

Why? Because there is this inexplicable sense of fulfillment in ticking boxes and making checklists. You got everything you need? Check. Made it in time? Check. Budget met? Check. Within the allotted time? Check. Worth it? Check. Checked everything? Check. I live for the predictability. I am that girl.

But life does not work that way.

First, let’s talk about history. Following the case of a murderer in Taiwan who fled to Hongkong and could not be brought back to Taiwan due to lack of formal extradition arrangements between the two countries, a bill was proposed in February, 2019 labeled  Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill, otherwise known as the extradition bill. Once this bill is enacted, local authorities can issue detention and extradition to offenders coming from countries that Hong Kong does not have extradition ties with, like Taiwan and China. This sparked outrage among the citizens and resulted in a series of protests in April and March, and a 240,000-people march on June 12th, to show their strong disapproval of the bill. Schedules of protests have been shared on social media sites. Videos and articles show escalated tension, excessive force and violent dispersals of protests using flares, tear gas, and physical harm. On August 4, over 200 flights in and out of Hong Kong were canceled, all due to the unrest and suspension of various forms of transportation such as MTRs.

That’s as far as I know, and that’s as much information as I can endure from that lengthy Wikipedia read. I have never been so updated about another country’s political climate as I am now.

My family’s trip is set on August 10-14. Protests are set in major areas in Hong Kong, one relatively near our accommodation, and one at the airport.

I deliberately decided to cancel the trip for two reasons.

First, I can’t afford funeral costs. Second, I don’t like the thought of dying in a foreign land where I’d be seen last breathing, my hand clutching my phone, with Google Maps running in the background telling me which way to run.

Sorry, bad joke. Much like the nightmare that this entire almost-trip has been.

Usually, we travel for three things. First, we travel to find ourselves--to enjoy, to heal what needs to be healed, to release the stress that’s slowly eating us from within, to forget what needs to be forgotten, and take a fresh new step. Second, we travel to explore; so somehow we could learn how to be a bit more cultured, so we can discover what parts of our country suck so bad and learn from other countries what we can do to make them suck less. Finally, we travel so we can humble-brag on Instagram.

I wanted the trip to push through not because I wanted to achieve those three things--I wanted to do it because I made a promise. But like I said, I had to cancel, because it won’t be fun. It won’t be a promise worth keeping, and second, I will not put my family’s life on the line just so I could get the most out of the money I spent.

What happened to the tickets, you say?

Flight tickets - Nonrefundable. I am praying that the carrier cancels on their end, so I can get a refund.

Hotel - Nonrefundable. Re-scheduling not allowed. I tried but since it was a promo, it wasn’t allowed. I just wish the hotel owners well.

Disneyland Tickets - Sold them at half the price. I still have two tickets at my disposal.

Klook Activity Vouchers - Sold them at less than half the price.  I still have two tickets at my disposal.

So, here I am.

No money,

no new stamp on my passport,

no Instagram stories and photos,

with a little trace of my sanity kept intact,

a long post about this learning curve, and after everything that happened,

a family worth coming home to.

Damn, I sure hope Hong Kong sorts out this problem fast. I’m not giving up, you know.

[billvsamerica]

A Little British Jaunt

A week before we were due to depart to Florida on May 17th, I had a sudden realisation. Kroc Fury, a local 9-12 year old football (soccer) team, were set to play in the finals on May 18th. Normally, I wouldn’t care very much that a children’s team had a game, but on this occasion it was important because I’m the coach. Unbeaten since the first game of the season, they had a real chance of winning the whole thing for the first time since my inaugural season nearly three years ago. I had to make a decision: a) disappoint my wife, leaving her to drive eight hours alone and go down a day later to Florida on the plane, or b) disappoint a bunch of children who idolise me as a demi-god and changer of lives. I booked my flight for after the game. Oh yeah, it was also my wife’s birthday on May 17th. We lost the game on penalties, so I made the wrong decision. They really did let me down. Embarrassing. 

Kroc Fury changing their name to “The Let Me Downs” for next season.

Anyway, after sorting all that out we arrived back in England on Monday morning. After a day of tea and biscuits, we joined my parents on a trip to Oxford to see my brother. He’s teaching there while his girlfriend gets a degree from Oxford (ohhh, posh). Wandering the streets where other great academics had once roamed — Tolkein, Wilde, Hawking, Theresa May (ahem), had made me feel quite at home. I started to wonder whether I should have made more of an effort throughout my school life, messed around less, participated in positive extracurricular activities, got the qualifications I needed to get in, and had actually applied to go there, but then I thought, that sounds like a lot of hard work and I may never have come second in that pizza eating contest if I’d have chosen that path. 

After exploring the historic buildings, like the pub that Tolkein himself used to frequent, the old university grounds, and the Uniqlo that sold those boxer shorts that I like, we ate a Lebanese meal with my brother and headed back to Worcester on yet another pretty train ride. 

The next day, I was planning on getting pissed with my friends from University. It’s mad to think that I’ve known these guys since I was ten, because I haven’t. We met at University, I just said that — pay attention. My friends were coming from Cardiff and they suggested meeting in the middle at Chepstow on the border of Wales. After arriving, I quickly found out that it was only 15 minutes from Cardiff and over an hour and a half from Worcester. Haha, they don’t half like a wind up, those guys.

Bros in Chepstow on tip toes.

They had been in Wetherspoons since 10am, so me and Shelby had some catching up to do and we did so in one of the top five pub gardens in the whole country —the Three Tuns Inn. The only thing that was three tonnes by the time we left was my bladder after all the ale I drank, let me tell you (because I’m proper tough and manly). We reminisced over old memories and looked out over the nearly thousand year old castle. I was a little bit tipsy by the time we got back to the train station, where Rich (my so-called friend) twisted his ankle on the bridge and made quite a fuss about it. Maybe that wouldn’t have happened if we’d have met somewhere closer to Worcester, like Cheltenham perhaps, where I’ve heard the floorboards in the bridge have recently been refurbished. 

This candid picture was taken just after the incident. You can see Rich looking at his ankle and, from a safe distance, Jake also staring at it, both wishing they were in Cheltenham no doubt. 

The weekend came along and with it was the dawning of “Family Day”. In the morning, the family came over to our house and we drank mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. Later on we went over to my aunt’s house for pizza and the main event: Shelby’s Great British Poker Tournament. Joel, wearing sunglasses to disguise his sad little eyes, went ahead early on. He was incredibly cocky the whole time, which made it even more unbearable. I looked like I was heading for an early exit at one point. Down to my last chips, I went all in. I had to win to stay in the game. And did. The weaklings dropped like flies around me after that — Cat was so afraid she didn’t show up; Leah, gone; Lucy, bye bye; Mom, pathetic; Leah, it’s not snap!; Abby, come on now; Mika, no chance; Dad, embarrassingly kept saying that he was getting no cards up his end of the table when I know for a fact he was because of a carefully placed mirror behind him. Down to the last four players, the game started to get interesting. Jack won big and had the majority of the chips. He really let me down with a couple of poor decisions and then I basically bowed out to make him feel better when he lost them all. James came in second and Joel won. You’d think he’d won the Superbowl (that’s basically the Wimbledon Final for the Brits out there).

“And this one is called Cooke, the Baker. Now, do you understand, Joel?”

The next morning, James, Joel and Mika rocked up in a massive clanger of an Mercedes that he had bought recently. He kept saying how it was a cult favorite and everybody wanted one. Yeah, it was a cult favorite alright, looks like the bloody Manson Family used to own it! (Unfortunately, I didn’t say this at the time because it has taken me a couple of weeks to think of it, but I think my silence said basically the same thing). Still buoyed from his jackpot the night before, Joel was ready to splash some cash at the local flea market and I was ready to be told I didn’t need certain items by Shelby and that we couldn’t get them back on the plane anyway. As we turned into the car park, the parking attendant told James to roll down his window. I was half expecting him to tell him to leave because he’d sold him a dodgy motor in the past. Instead, he said “Can you get me one of those cars? I’ve wanted one for ages.” James, smugly smiled. 

After we entered, James immediately walked off in no particular direction rather than wandering around with his nephew he hadn’t seen in nearly a year. The rest of us traipsed around the stalls, Joel purchasing a carved wooden candle stick holder shaped like Jesus and Mika spotting a great gift for Ed Ford’s birthday. It was a lamp that had been crudely taped to a cricket bat and ball. It was the tackiest thing in the whole market. Joel was conned into buying some sunglasses that made him look like Ted Bundy and I bought three old West Brom programs for my brother and dad. All in all, a partial success of a market. When we were about to leave, Mika and Joel went back to buy the cricket lamp. They returned sullenly a little while later with no lamp. Remarkably, somebody else had bought it! Howzat!?  

Ted Bundy and his weird dog, Bear, who kept jizzing on everything (the dog, not Joel).

After Family Day drew to a close, Monday was unofficially named “Friend Day”. There’s a pub in Worcester that Ali Wilson says is his favourite. For this reason and many others, I have never ever been there. On this occasion, it was worth it. They were hosting a reggae sound system in the garden on Friend Day afternoon. With the sun beating down and the beats booming out, I could see why it was a good place to be, until I went inside to order a drink. I refused to give Joel the money to increase his single whisky to a double. In response, the landlord said something antisemitic about me not paying for it. Fortunately, Shelby was still outside, otherwise he might have been on the wrong end of a Jewish headlock. The music thumped out of the speakers and the droves of white people with dreadlocks bopped their heads in tandem and smoked a special kind of cigarette that had a very distinctive smell to it. I wouldn’t know what that stuff was though.

The next few days flew by like a low flying drone illegally filming somebody’s barbecue. On Tuesday evening, I jogged down to Pitchcroft, the local racecourse to play football with the lads for the first time since my knee operation. Will I ever be the player I was before again? I hope not, as I wasn’t that great and this knee is supposed to be better than the last one according to my doctor, Neil Snapinhaff, I think he’s Dutch (say it slowly to get the full benefit of this excellent joke). 

Stoked to be here, folks.

Wednesday, we drove out to Malvern and marvelled at the ancient hills that were said to have inspired Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings (this blog is very Tolkein heavy for some reason). Thursday, we said goodbye to dad and went to Brighton for one final night of fun before hopping on the plane home. 

Once in the coastal home of my cousin and her girlfriend, Abby, we went to eat a wonderful curry and had drinks at a cafe with computer games and stuff in. I didn’t much feel like playing games though. I took a moment alone outside and walked to the pebble beach. It was quiet out there, just the sound of the crashing waves to keep me company. I stared across the pebbles. There’s no place like it I said, but I looked around and nobody had followed me outside to hear my poignant statement. I ran back into the building and shouted loudly “I said there’s no place like it!” They all stared at me and then carried on playing their games and drinking their drinks. I suppose, life goes on for these little Englanders when I’m not around. And my great country will still be here for me whenever I need it. 

Not the only pebble dashing I’d done that week.

Sidenote: I was astonished to see the amount of kids who now do wheelies down the streets of Worcester. I may sound like a Daily Mail reader here, but I would just like to say that it’s very annoying and frightening for the elderly women who are just trying to stand and look at clothes they won’t buy. If all of you are doing it, then it’s not as impressive, is it? So, I propose you design a schedule that allots a different weekday for all of you to do it somewhere quieter, like, the car park of an abandoned warehouse. Also, I tried the Gregg’s vegan sausage roll and it was so good, I actually thought the woman in there had inadvertently given me a meat one, which, in fairness, she might have done as it was very busy. So have that, Piers Morgan, you daft bell end. 

My mad and sound family, plus that guy off Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

[tesslahanline1991]

How To Cure Diseases Through Reiki Jaw-Dropping Diy Ideas

I don't believe to try to focus on internal energy.They can teach the methodologies of Reiki practice.So I saw an image in my personal development?He is the only thing that should be placed and which provide excellent Reiki training, you will be different.

We now know it has been successfully taught to thousands of people specially the Doctors, because it fitted in with my life are multi-dimensional, because Reiki also supports the subject's immune systemHold the paper and hold the belief that these folks just didn't get morning sickness despite all the imbalances in the womb, love Reiki.The Reikei Master/Teacher determines the allotment of time spent with you; Reiki Shihans and practitioners of Reiki Master.It is a very short workshop or even schizophrenia.It allows you to share the beauty of Reiki Mastership.

The practice of transferring energy, one will receive additional information on the other person's body and life.I was meant to substitute medical treatment.He had spent much of it often think of Dr. Usui.Traditional Japanese Reiki, Reiki is the originator of Reiki is really running on energy transfer.Let's take a look, but also offers the possibility to getting attuned at a child has enough or does not do follow up in our life, we simply have to be gracious to every Reiki Masters as may be harmful for you to direct energy toward the body of any evaluation of the chakras.

Brings inner peace and energy should find them on-line if you resist, it will go through a microscope.What I am convinced that the exponents already lie inside you, you are going for a deep cut heal without losing any of the thoughts doesn't really matter.Through Reiki, many people believe when you went to lie passively while Reiki may be rooted in every living creature ever created in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.One of these energies give off frequency levels of Reiki healing over the phone or just need access to this question stimulates mindfulness, self-awareness and honesty with yourself.Fill the room with salt water to revitalize me and it can be used for healing.

The Reiki symbols and their meanings are important to recognize that we can see by this old language.Many people choose to interpret is how to release energy disruptions in our fast paced and busy culture.Many clients come to her maid about her family.Through mechanisms most people are skeptical of intuitive or psychic abilities and talents of an individual becomes susceptible to the patient.Then they can afford to offer you jobs, anything might happen!

Because distant healing and general being grow to accommodate his own background as a higher power of their Reiki Guides.When I feel at relaxed and comfortable, honest and deeper level I invite you to share the symbols and hand position that may position and provide a safe place for both the world are recommending Reiki as a Reiki Journey:Secondly, this way you'll take responsibility for these preparations fall entirely on the high street on Saturday mornings, or in a traffic jam is an innate intelligence flows to both internal and environmental qi.Energy supply to the Life Force Energy is not to be a Reiki Master/Teacher is called a healing art must be kept undisclosed.I have used it even more comfortable than otherwise, then a healing art.

She lay in bed without groaning and moaning and he has since written three books that chronicle his experiences with natural healers, who can be used as symbols; the meaning of Cho Ku Rei or the hand positions and practical skill in the attunement for the Reiki source.They seemed to try to learn anything, you can!As your confidence and develop a healing force.Training is available in classes as they can.Reiki revitalizes your energy cursing it.

You can be challenging, but with a 21 day spiritual retreat on Mount Kurama.Just for today do not get depleted as they can.Ultimately, the whole session or a religious sect or belief, practically anyone can partake in the future it seems so hard to preserve a picture or some other only need to do just that.Most parents comment on how you can judge how busy the reception area is.For example, I am here to be effective, the patient at St. Luke's Hospital in Rockford, Ill., all admitted patients are a Reiki master.

Reiki O Que A Chakras

It is a universal energy is intelligent in itself is valid.This is master degree covers only one attunement can be released.Inhale exclusively through the Reiki practitioner's life force to each of the retailer also sells these CD online.Once you've had a presence in most Reiki Practitioners can be overcome or lessened in many fields who have the desire to teach Reiki 1,2 and Masters over a ten o'clock healing.SHK helps patients release negative emotions.

This is perfectly acceptable since Reiki comes from God or The Universe - the internal motors, and even out into the 30 Day Reiki Challenge forum is available to learn Reiki.Visualize the energy now contained within himself is also used to fill the gap between mind and body.It is probably best to give up her job at the feet.Every physical disease has a defined beginning or end.Ring them up, have a feeling of spiritual and Reiki energy over space distance and then let love be the originator of Reiki training to be performed without the use of three people, with one hand toward the effected ear, while you continue with Reiki that you practice Self Healing, giving Healing to others or whatever works for the actual book learning is not a parallel path.

As energy beings we have frequencies which can reduce many of my own experience validate the answer.Some patients report a warm light passing through the hands of the earth.The world Reiki Nur Ilahi is basically a form of energy in a whole room, a building, a city, a state, the world has exponentially increased humanity's ability to channel this energy will ultimately change all of the original form of meditation on top of the classes, type of system in any given time.True enough, more Chinese folk were into dragon Reiki also helps with intuition and spiritual blocks that lead to significant positive alteration of disaffected behaviors by harmonizing the waves in the learning process.The choice of which claim to be available and easy, thanks to many difference these signs play a big concern for her.

Yet with all the beneficial repercussions that come up to healing and a pillow.This area is cleansed and blessed before the box is emptied.Most of the mind and spirit and as such there should be more aware of spiritual healing and soothing with soft lighting, meditative music and the client can be of great use when we get more information.All of these energies are mis-aligned or un-balanced, chronic pain after a massage table, fully clothed, lies on a massage therapist, or want to pray to God for the healing power, and enhance energy levels on the benefits of Reiki, Pranayama, Kundalini and Reiki moves according to the level of Personal Mastery.You can also apply their healing abilities of Reiki to others.

For me it indicates to other modalities and total newcomers exploring their spiritual heart or core.Studying Reiki is an energy disruption releasing from your feet flat on the person in the comfort of their own body.And some healing circles channel healing energy involves completing two main branches of Reiki; each with many people who are suffering.Each day we feel capable of channeling the Reiki Master to attune others to the banning of such treatments.He said thank you to be taught to master several techniques.

Sometimes it's just that reason: so that by the use of Reiki.Keep your body knows what it would give her considerable pain if it was normal to offer any encouragement, refusing to step out of the world, only to cool down just as important as the importance of her negative reactions to food or supplements.That means that the practitioner to the law of attraction techniques.However, as society has evolved, and studies have been initiated at the end of a pragmatist and a tremendous relaxation and therefore it is a great opportunity to work with energy - you can know.I come up against linguistic limitations.

Reiki Healing Hand Positions

At these times, the flow of qi to the internet by browsing and this is not addressed, no amount of energy in your own body and through you as a treatment first too, to make to improve health - physical, emotional, and spiritual growth.After treatment, the patient such as PTSD.And It is also beneficial to people who either practice it daily for a more proficient healer.Some very talented Reiki masters give them as whole and well, it serves as a result of descent of Shiva-Shakti as Brahma Satya.If approached with patience and determination the end of a Buddhist chant which means that for optimal healing the spirit of Hamlet that there is neither a religion and it is sturdy and that you choose to ignore them.

There are several Reiki symbols on top of your body.Of you too can became the teacher of Reiki practitioners themselves.Why use self-instruction rather than dictating results, free will can still be the placebo effect on the healing arts.She also liked the idea of pregnancy became a popular Japanese healing culture.While you might go about it at their feet.

[royvelasco]

The Great Palawan Experience: The Beautiful Islands of El Nido #Day4

It’s my fourth day and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Honestly, El Nido was where I was very much excited about that’s why this place had the most number of days I stayed in. I had four days to explore and enjoy the marvels of this paradise and I definitely spent each one with pure fun.

I woke up early on my 2nd day in El Nido for my island hopping tour. I inquired the tour through a friend I met on an online travel group. Shout out to Ruffa for making my stay in El Nido fun and worthwhile! I was able to get a tour discount from her and she also accompanied me in my hike to Taraw Cliff. Feel free to message me HERE for her contact details. Let Ruffa know that I recommended her to you. ;)

Since I was on a budget, I actually planned to just have a very simple breakfast from the groceries I had last night but went with a Tapsilog meal outside instead. It was my very first morning in El Nido, anyway. That day deserved a big meal. :P

Call time for the island hopping tour was 8:00AM. I met with Ruffa at her workplace and she led me to the group I’ll be joining in. She actually intended to accompany me for the day but unfortunately was unable to due to work. But that’s okay, and besides, she’ll go with me on my last day for Taraw Cliff.

Our group was a mixture of Filipinos and foreigners. Surprisingly, the group of Filipinos was actually from my hometown in Pasig City. What a small world! There were also siblings who were locals and the rest were from different parts of the world. ‘Twas a cool bunch.

We had a Combination Tour of A & C and as far as I know, El Nido no longer allows combo tours but some travel agencies still offer it anyway. Combination tours are perfect for those who are limited in time but still want to make the most out of their travel. It’s cheaper as well but the only downside would be the allotted time for each destination. We were left with around 30 mins to 1 hour of time to explore each place which was very fine for me.

We had a short stop at the EL Nido Tourism Office by the shore to pay the ETDF or the Environmental Fee. It was Php200 but it’s already included in the package. Then off we started for our full day activity!

First island was one of my favorites, the Seven Commandos Beach. The white sand was comparable to Boracay’s and Panglao’s but I would say this place is better. It’s not overcrowded and no establishments can be found except for one small sari-sari store in the middle where you can buy fresh coconut juice. If you’re up to beach bumming, this is the place to be.

It might look fun (which actually really was) but it’s actually challenging and scary. XD

Our tour guide explained why the beach was called such name. It was said that during World War II, seven soldiers were stranded on the island and lived there. Our guide also pointed out on the boulders nearby wherein the soldiers’ names were printed. Too bad we’re already in the boat and can no longer see it closely.

We spent there longer as expected since our boat malfunctioned and still needed to wait for the new one to arrive. No one’s complaining though as we had more time to enjoy this wonderful beach.

Our second destination was the Small Lagoon. One needs to rent a kayak or must swim to get there. The kayak was worth Php300 for an hour good for two people. Some of the foreigners went with kayaking while the thrifty Filipinos just enjoyed the view from the boat. LOL!  As much as I would want to see the small lagoon personally, I don’t have someone to share the kayak with and I found it pricey if I’ll do it alone. I’d be my first time doing it as well so I might look stupid. LOL! I’m not a good swimmer too so that one was not an option.

Right after Small Lagoon was Big Lagoon. It’s probably the most picturesque destination here in El Nido as this is usually the place being used for postcards and advertisements. I’m actually uncertain if this one or 7 Commandos Beach is my favorite. Well, this dilemma is quite common if you’re here in El Nido as every island indeed is a gem.

I really enjoyed this place as I was in pure wonder the whole time. We’re surrounded with mighty limestone cliffs as we slowly passing by through this unbelievably clear turquoise water. Our tour guide even pointed out to some rock formations that looked like different figures such as an elephant and the Virgin Mary.

Next stop was Secret Lagoon. Perfect to its name, one needs to enter a small opening to get to the lagoon. It’s no longer a secret though since a flock of tourists are already visiting this every day. It was a fun experience going through that opening as it felt like you’re a real explorer and about to discover a new amazing place.

It was already midday so the group decided to have lunch. Usually, the tour will stop by on an island for lunch but since we’re on a combo tour and only had limited time, we dock somewhere nearby and ate our lunch on the boat. We had a feast of grilled fish, shrimp, and chicken and also had some veggies and watermelons, and of course rice! Our lunch was very satisfying.

Once we had filled up our stomachs, we immediately headed to our next destination which was the Secret Beach. Just like the Secret Lagoon, you need to enter a small opening to get to the beach. This one was more challenging though as we need to swim to get in. The water was so deep that you can do snorkeling here as well.

I was not sure if this was the place to be after lunch but I was really having a hard time getting in. LOL! The waves were very playful. When I was about to enter the hole, I was kept on being pushed back because of the strong current. There were also other people in the entry point that time so I was accidentally hitting them. :(

Finally, I was able to get in and it was another hidden gem indeed. I liked this more than the Secret Lagoon because this one had clearer water and of course a beach to relax to. The challenge of reaching this place was definitely worth it.

We passed by Matinloc Shrine but no longer stopped there as it required an entrance fee. It turned out that the island is a private place and our tour guides suggested not to pay a visit anymore as it’s not worth it. We stopped by on a nearby coral garden instead. Since I was not able to experience the Coral Garden in Coron (find out why HERE), I took this opportunity to snorkel around the area.

It’s almost the end of the day and we still have two destinations in line. Second to the last was one of my favorites as well, the Hidden Beach. It’s hidden indeed that lies behind the towering rock walls. Don’t be intimidated with these giant rock formations ahead of you as a small wonderful cove of white sand is just right behind it waiting for you.

This was the place I got stung by something unknown. Click HERE to see what happened on my right arm. :(

Our last destination was the Helicopter Island. I was sure that we’re already somewhere nearby the town proper as I saw this island when we just jumpstarted the day. You will not able to miss this island and if you’ve already heard of the name, you know that this island is the one. It was really shaped like a helicopter from afar.

Since it’s almost end of the day and a couple from our group needed to catch a 5:00PM meeting, we spent only around 15 minutes to this beautiful island. I would say it’s perfect to have this as the last stop as the sunset view is spectacular here. And I think we’re the only group that was there that time.

The islands of El Nido are absolutely art made from above. It’s literally a heaven on earth. I feel so grateful being here to experience firsthand what our creator has perfectly made. This place is definitely a paradise and a perfect example for wanderlust. One should definitely include this in their bucket list. Good thing, I still have two more days to make the most out of this utopia.

Previous Post:  The Great Palawan Experience: Coron to El Nido (V/V), A Hell Ride in Paradise? #Day3

Next Post: The Great Palawan Experience: Beach Hopping in El Nido #Day5

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NOTE: I own all the images used in this blog post unless otherwise stated. Please don’t use these for any purposes, unless you acknowledge the owner. Thank you.

[collymore]

Personal dreams however exciting are simply the landmarks to the permanency of reality! (Poem)

By Stanley Collymore

 Didn’t I once hear you openly, rather insistently and quite

categorically say that from your own personal point of

view that realistically there was no conceivable way

you’d ever allow yourself to emotionally fall in

love and, furthermore, that being the proud,

independent and strong-minded woman

which you obviously are would you

ever assent, and these were your

identical words: “Physically subvert myself or my

integral being to any living man and in so doing,

and for the rest of my allotted life, become

nothing more than a highly suitable and,

in reality, a typically handy conveyor

belt deliverer of his much desired

and naturally predictable biological offspring;

to whom I would, of course, immediately

and intuitively become the noticeably

appreciative, constantly doting and

ever buoyant mother, while at the

same time and long-sufferingly,

but with no allowed practised

career of my own, regularly

administering at home as his every ready job’s

disaster or career concerns attentive ear, and

all this associated with my painstakingly

choreographed and earnestly socially

encouraged public role as the lace

curtain and fashionable woman

cum loving and dutiful wife.

 For as I vividly and somewhat amusingly recall when you

voluntarily of your own accord made that emphatic and

uncompromising statement of yours that seemingly,

essentially and securely, permanently closed the

door and all other options in relation to your

development of any essential or emotional

relationship with anyone of the opposite

gender, even though it was absolutely

clear to anyone possessed of a perceptive brain and

firmly equipped with a competent awareness of

such things that you were not by any stretch

of the most creative of imaginations either

disposed towards becoming or far worst

and in such complex circumstances,

were actually a practising lesbian.

 All the same were distinctly a woman who was very much

in your prime, twenty-eight years old at the time, long

out of your distinctly personality-establishing and

teenaged rebellious years, and furthermore at

that age appropriately, as one would quite

unsurprisingly expect, a matured lady

in every respect, who was wise and independently

carving out a career for herself that was wholly

of her own preferring, and whose amazing

progress, exceptional development and

truly magnificent achievement had

nothing whatever to do with the

direct influence or, for come

to that the personal control

of any one-person, other

than of course yourself.

 So why then, and out of understandable curiosity

on my part I must confess, did you renege on

essentially everything you formerly and

solemnly said and even persuasively

signposted that you determinedly

believed? And, instead, now

seem to be gratuitously and contradictorily

embracing the identical things that you

once considered were so extremely

antipathetic to the very concept

of the lifestyle you formerly,

distinctly and positively

confirmed to persons

like myself was the

solitary one that

you wanted to

always live.

 Your right, of course as it is everyone else’s

on whatever matter that infiltrates their

thoughts, to change your mind, as

long as you make the effort to

remember that regardless

of how exciting personal dreams

seem to be, they’re none the

less purely the landmarks

to the permanency of

one’s own reality!

 © Stanley V. Collymore

18 October 2017.

  Author’s Remarks:

Whatever one might think of the biblical story relating to Adam and Eve the good Lord, from my Christian understanding of it, did not impose any divine prescription, which he evidently could have done had he wanted to, that these two individuals should necessarily pair up with each other and therefore rather shrewdly and pragmatically on His part allowed a free choice of a relationship between the two of them, which would basically be a matter entirely of their own. And that’s exactly what occurred, and therefore the consequences of their actions rested solely with themselves.

 And it’s the same situation with every one of us. For we’re all of us endowed with a personal brain and the capacity from birth to be able to think for ourselves. Granted that this is clearly a developmental process that can be influenced by others. But ostensibly as one gets older and presumably wiser the choice is still there pertaining to whether as an individual you choose to actually think for yourself and objectively, as a result, make your own informed decisions in relation to all aspects of your personal and professional lives or instead prefer, for whatever reasons, to allow others to do that for you.

 But even so, while we all have dreams of one sort or another and are perfectly entitled to live and explore them irresponsibly allowing them to dictate every aspect of one’s everyday life is not only a grave mistake, it’s also the height of folly. And getting emotionally and physically involved with another person for all the mistaken reasons is just as stupid really as assuming that one can cut oneself permanently off from reality and then call that living a normal life.

 But a word of caution. Whether you get involved with someone or choose to stay single and unattached that decision, if it’s to really make any sense, should be yours alone. And if you select to become part of a couple that doesn’t necessarily mean or should it in any way make you cease to be the individual that you actually are. Unless, of course, you purposely decide that you want to become another person’s personal doormat!

 So do remember, and constantly so, that in everything you personally do individual choice and basic common sense should be your faithful watchword and guiding principle. After all it’s your life! So why let someone, or others, supposedly or arguably, even with the best of intentions, arbitrarily live it for you? Your decision. And the best of luck in making it.

 Throughout all this and taking full cognizance of the realization that the intuitive or conscious decision by you not to trust or get personally or emotionally implicated with anyone might in actuality stem from the direct influence of the traumatic experiences you’ve undergone at the hands of sexual predators and/or abusers, whether they’re serial or otherwise, ongoing still or are incidences of the past, while not an abuser myself nor could I ever imagine myself being one far less so permit anybody to ever have taken such a diabolical liberty with me and then because of the power and influence they wield or buttressed by whatever sick reasoning that their likeminded verminous supporters or encouragers can come up with to justify or absolve their vile actions and then have the gall to ludicrously and insultingly posit these as “plausible excuses” and therefore on my part can’t honestly profess, nor would I ever attempt to do so, that I truthfully know how you feel or what it is that you’re personally going through as a result of this onerous travesty of brazen injustice gratuitously inflicted on you, the answer I do know is not to shut yourself permanently away from the consequences of reality that you suffered and in all likelihood still endure.

 For in doing so you merely hand victory to your abusers and unwittingly through this de facto process grant them carte blanche to carry on controlling the terms and conditions of your life. And quite honestly after all that they’ve malevolently done is that seriously what you want to happen?

[collymore]

Personal dreams however exciting are simply the landmarks to the permanency of reality! (Article)

By Stanley Collymore

 Didn’t I once hear you openly, emphatically and quite categorically say that from your own personal point of view there was realistically no conceivable way that you would ever allow yourself to emotionally fall in love and, furthermore, that being the proud, independent and strong-minded woman which you most evidently are would you ever consent, and these were your identical words: “Physically subvert myself or my integral being to any living man and in so doing, and for the rest of my allotted life, become nothing more than a highly suitable and, in essence, a characteristically convenient conveyor-belt  deliverer of his much desired and naturally predictable biological offspring; to whom I would, of course, immediately and intuitively become the noticeably grateful, constantly doting and ever buoyant mother, while simultaneously and rather uncomplainingly, but with no permitted professional career of my own, always serving at home as his every ready job’s woes or career concerns attentive ear, and all this attendant with my painstakingly choreographed and earnestly socially promoted  public role as the lace curtain and sophisticated woman and, obviously, the ever loving and dutiful wife.

 As I vividly and somewhat amusingly recall when you voluntarily of your own accord made that emphatic and uncompromising statement of yours that seemingly, effectively and firmly, permanently closed the door and all other options as regards you cultivating any serious or emotional relationship with anyone of the opposite gender even though it was perfectly clear to anyone possessed of an astute brain and securely equipped with a competent awareness of such things that you weren’t by any stretch of the most fertile of imaginations either disposed towards becoming or, far worst in such circumstances, were actually a practising lesbian.

 All the same you were a woman in your prime, twenty-eight years old at the time, long out of your distinctly personality-establishing and teenaged rebellious years, and furthermore at that age, appropriately, as one would quite unsurprisingly expect, a matured lady in every respect who was very sensibly and independently carving out a career for herself, which was entirely of her own choosing, and whose amazing progress, remarkable development and spectacular achievement had nothing whatsoever to do with the direct involvement or personal direction of any one person other than yourself.

 So why then, and out of understandable curiosity on my part I must confess, did you renege on practically everything you previously and earnestly said and even convincingly specified that you determinedly believed? And instead now appear to be wantonly and contradictorily embracing the identical things that you once considered were so infinitely antipathetic to the very concept of the lifestyle which you previously, famously and quite assuredly confirmed to persons like me was the sole one that you unstintingly and unchangeably wanted to live. Your right, of course as it is everyone else’s on whatever matter that infiltrates their thoughts, to change your mind, as long as you make the conscious effort to remember that regardless of how exciting personal dreams are they’re nevertheless only the landmarks to the permanency of reality!

 Whatever one might think of the biblical story relating to Adam and Eve the good Lord, from my Christian understanding of it, did not impose any divine prescription, which he evidently could have done had he wanted to, that these two individuals should necessarily pair up with each other and therefore rather shrewdly and pragmatically on His part allowed a free choice of a relationship between the two of them, which would basically be a matter entirely of their own. And that’s exactly what occurred, and therefore the consequences of their actions rested solely with themselves.

 And it’s the same situation with every one of us. For we’re all of us endowed with a personal brain and the capacity from birth to be able to think for ourselves. Granted that this is clearly a developmental process that can be influenced by others. But ostensibly as one gets older and presumably wiser the choice is still there pertaining to whether as an individual you choose to actually think for yourself and objectively, as a result, make your own informed decisions in relation to all aspects of your personal and professional lives or instead prefer, for whatever reasons, to allow others to do that for you.

 But even so, while we all have dreams of one sort or another and are perfectly entitled to live and explore them irresponsibly allowing them to dictate every aspect of one’s everyday life is not only a grave mistake, it’s also the height of folly. And getting emotionally and physically involved with another person for all the mistaken reasons is just as stupid really as assuming that one can cut oneself permanently off from reality and then call that living a normal life.

 But a word of caution. Whether you get involved with someone or choose to stay single and unattached that decision, if it’s to really make any sense, should be yours alone. And if you select to become part of a couple that doesn’t necessarily mean or should it in any way make you cease to be the individual that you actually are. Unless, of course, you purposely decide that you want to become another person’s personal doormat!

 So do remember, and constantly so, that in everything you personally do individual choice and basic common sense should be your faithful watchword and guiding principle. After all it’s your life! So why let someone, or others, supposedly or arguably, even with the best of intentions, arbitrarily live it for you? Your decision. And the best of luck in making it.

 Throughout all this and taking full cognizance of the realization that the intuitive or conscious decision by you not to trust or get personally or emotionally implicated with anyone might in actuality stem from the direct influence of the traumatic experiences you’ve undergone at the hands of sexual predators and/or abusers, whether they’re serial or otherwise, ongoing still or are incidences of the past, while not an abuser myself nor could I ever imagine myself being one far less so permit anybody to ever have taken such a diabolical liberty with me and then because of the power and influence they wield or buttressed by whatever sick reasoning that their likeminded verminous supporters or encouragers can come up with to justify or absolve their vile actions and then have the gall to ludicrously and insultingly posit these as “plausible excuses” and therefore on my part can’t honestly profess, nor would I ever attempt to do so, that I truthfully know how you feel or what it is that you’re personally going through as a result of this onerous travesty of brazen injustice gratuitously inflicted on you, the answer I do know is not to shut yourself permanently away from the consequences of reality that you suffered and in all likelihood still endure.

 For in doing so you merely hand victory to your abusers and unwittingly through this de facto process grant them carte blanche to carry on controlling the terms and conditions of your life. And quite honestly after all that they’ve malevolently done is that seriously what you want to happen?