#and one of them suggested to the group planning a trip to europe in the fall

[fiuorescentbeige]

hm

[shuenkio]

You never know || ☆

Paring: Jake x male!reader

Genre: Fluffy, crush.

Cw: Pet name - "Beautiful"

Summary: You thought he was straight .

Wc: 1.0k

What is love? That's what you've been wondering and low-key craving for. You always thought that love was just a phase during your school time; nevertheless, seeing your friend always bragging about their love life somehow made a small part of you eager to experience it too. 

As a boy yourself, it was one in a million that someone would suddenly appear in your life, ask you out for a date, and eventually enter a relationship. You give up for your own good, moving on from this heavy chest feeling. 

Not until you developed a crush on one of your boy classmates. The one whose friends shipped you with, as a joke, however, you did fall into your own trap. 

His face was Europe-like with his sharp jawline that could cut through paper, while his eyes are as clear as a beautiful brown color, tracing down to his kissable plumping lip. His body is built for spots only, since every day is football day. I'm not going to lie when he's sweating; he looks majestic and hot, and the veins that are pumping on his arms almost make you pass out from time to time. And he's also the physics teacher's favorite student. Perfect; definitely everyone's type. 

You know you wouldn't have any chance with him; he's a boy, and you're a boy, even though he's always making a lot of a lot of jokes  about femininity in a teasing way that you prefer to admire from afar. 

One day you told your group of friends about it when they're doing a silly challenge by asking if anyone had a crush or been taken. You expect that they'll all be in awe, but to your surprise, they've said it's nothing new; they knew it since the very beginning when you gazed back in time at him with your unhidden heart eyes. 

You are gritting your teeth in embarrassing, blinking hard, and trying to wash your failure moment away as you cover your face. Instead of bushing on you, your friends suggested you should give it a shot. What if he likes men? You don't know if you don't give it a try. 

You think otherwise. There's no way a guy like him is gay; he might have had a secret relationship with a girl already. Losing hope, your best friends come up with a plan without your knowledge; it'd be good if you're oblivious. 

During the school trip, technically you were supposed to be with your other classmates; however, your girl friend said she was uncomfortable with Jake on purpose and wanted to switch you with your partner, who's a girl, so you could have time with him, Sim Jaeyun. 

You zone out for a moment before realizing this lame plan coming from your group, and as you throw a dagger glance at them, you still switch with her for some reasons. 

Under one roof, once you helped him set up the tent, in return, you got a "thanks" from your handsome crush. Who wouldn't go crazy if you could have your times with your one-sided love? Not only that, maybe you could stare at him in his sleep. 

The night fell upon you later on, and you settled down on the soft, thin bed underneath your skin as you tucked in a blanket, covered up to your chest like a burrito. You wonder what he's up to as you steal a glance at the older man right next to you. Accidentally, your eyes met him, and you quickly turned your face away in a swift motion, feeling all your nerves tense up and shaking. You zipped your mouth into a straight line, pretending to sleep on the spot, back facing him, ashamed or—shy? 

"Hey mn!" He spoke up, in a lower raspy tone under his chin, and mumbled as quietly as possible since he was afraid he would wake the others up. 

Your breath stops midway, clenching tight together. Did you just hear him calling your name, oh Lord? You are unable to turn to face him as you respond to him with a simple "yes." 

"Can I ask you something crazy?" He uttered back, his voice remaining the same, as he looked above the tent ceiling, waiting for you. 

Once again, you thought you were about to explode in any second. If you could eat your fist right now, you would swallow without leaving any pieces. 

"Sure, go on, I'm all ears," you finally reply, pulling in together to sound as natural as possible, but luck is not by your side. Your voice comes out like you've been chasing by a bear. 

Jake takes a deep breath. He narrows his eyebrows in a mad expression, poking his tongue against his mouth, as you turn to face him. He looks like he's about to break things into pieces. 

"Did you like me?" He breaks the silence, and the atmosphere grows thicker instantly. Those sentences are both pleading and terrifying at the same time, as you feel a ping of reality hit you once you process his words. 

You swallow hard, finding good words to answer back. Not even the exam was hard, like confessing your true feelings to your crush. 

"I'm sorry if I do. I'll stop if you're uncomfortable; it was just a silly fee." Before you could finish your words, he burst in, even more upset. 

"Why did you hide such things from me? You supposed to tell me, Do you know how much I try to impress you with all the efforts I put in?" He announced, folding his arms on his chest, while laying down, still looking at the ceiling, frowning. 

Your heart is racing, beating in the wrong rhyme, taken aback by his unexpected statement. All along, is he doing all of those things just for you? You feel like a shrimp. 

"Yeah, you don't have anyone?" 

"Why would I when you're existing??" 

Catching your guard, you cover your mouth with your palm in a shocking experience. This is going to haunt all of your dreams. Jake looks unfazed; his face is slightly blushing, but he didn't care; all he cared about was you. 

"Don't be such an idiot; we're crushing on each other now; we're boyfriends; no more talking; come here!!" 

The last thing you realize is that you're already in his embrace as he tightens the hug, resting his chin on your head as he places a soft kiss on your head. 

"Stop leaving me hanging again; I hate it, okay, beautiful?" 

🗣️ please mind my English! ><

🗣️Reblog and like is much appreciated ♥

🗣️ English is not my language

🗣️ crd to the owner pic(cherish)&dividers(anitalenia)

Ps: I wrote this unconsciously, lmk if there's any wrong 👹

[hannahs-fieldnotes]

Vision Board

Notes:

Find a best friend. This goal is probably the most important to me but also the most difficult. I have a hard time with people. Hugging – even family – is really hard for me. I am super shy and there is no one I am really close to. I do have people I consider friends, but even with them, I am not at ease. This has always been the case. I don't know why. Not sure how, but I will try to force myself to form relationships with people I admire and maybe i will find someone i can trust, talk freely with and take on any adventure without worry.

I really want a group of friends I can hang out with, have fun and just feel like i belong. Right now when i am invited to group events i have a hard time talking, i feel clumsy, boring and like an outsider.

I want to eat healthier. This is probably one of the standard goals everyone has on their lists. Right now, I have no discipline or rules. I want to learn more about what I am consuming and its effects on my body and the environment. One of the main goals is to gain control over my sugar addiction. Another goal is to eat and drink more things i really love (like fresh orange :drool:) - even if they are more expensive and/or take more effort to prepare.

I definitely need to drink more. I've always had a hard time staying hydrated because I don't get thirsty often. I can go a day without drinking, only realizing I need to water when I have a headache the next day. I need to work on tracking my water intake and make it a habit to drink regularly, as it doesn't come naturally to me.

More city trips. I want to explore my country and Europe a bit more next year. I plan to do some short city trips, either alone or with a friend. On my list for this year are Paris, France, and Prague, Czech Republic. Additionally, I'd love to visit Mont Saint Michel, Barcelona, Chamonix, and many more. This category also includes attending events like concerts and festivals. Do you maybe have any beautiful city suggestions in Europe for me?

I want to go on a sailing adventure. My family already owns a very small boat, and I've been a few times with a university club, but I haven't learned much yet. My goal is to get the license and knowledge to steer a small dinghy and spend at least one summer traveling with it. While I might not be able to take lessons or sail this year, I can already work on the theoretical knowledge needed, mainly navigation and knots, to pass the exam.

Spend more time outside (in nature). Since I spend so much time on the computer and on my phone, I want to work on going outside more. I have a hammock I used to sleep in outside – maybe I can start doing that again. I also want to go camping more frequently, even just for a weekend to prepare for upcoming big hikes like e.g. E4.

Take more pictures. I used to take my camera everywhere and often visit locations because I heard they would be beautiful. At some point last year I stopped taking pictures. I think it was a good habit, since it also helped me remember all the cool stuff i did.

I will also go running again outside. Another activity i kinda stopped doing at some point but miss. Right now i am working on a training routine which will hopefully prepare me to run a half marathon again in a few months.

Adopt a dog. My dream is to one day adopt a dog. When I looked for puppies last year, I fell in love with a big white "ice bear". I wanted to call her Greta. Right now, a dog does not fit into my life, but maybe I can prepare. I will try to help out at the local animal shelter and work on passing the exam that will allow me to own a big dog.

Be more conscious about the environment. I see all the terrible things happening in the world and also how much trash I create. I know there is a lot more to do, but I will try to think about ways to make the world a better place starting with my own life.

Read more and stay up-to-date with what's going on in the world. I recently started reading books again and want to make it a habit. I will also try to stay informed by reading news articles now and then. If I can afford it, maybe I can subscribe to a daily news website.

Find a home. Right now i don't have a place i feel safe and at home at. My goal is to move into my own place with my boyfriend. I also need to organize and declutter my stuff which is all over the place and pure chaos atm. Let me know if you're interested in a post about this journey.

Get a job in the field I love and improve my skills. I finished my university degree this summer. I haven't found a job yet but hope I will soon.

Take notes and be more creative. I have a sketchbook and a list of creative things I want to learn/try out. Also, this blog is something I always wanted to start. I hope you like it, and I hope I will be able to keep posting! Feel free to dm me anything you think I could do better or let me know your thoughts in general ♡.

What are your goals this year and how does your vision board look? I am wayy too curious...

[gemsofgreece]

Hello,

Is it reasonable to visit Greece and plan to rely on public transportation and taxis? Would we still be able to reach hiking destinations easily? I have a free place to stay in Athens but would really love to be able to explore more of the country and would be very grateful to hear suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello! The short answer is that you can rely on them to some decent degree, however I would suggest that you remained a little cautious or alert for whatever situation could need preparation or adjustments. Obviously most places have a large public transportation system and taxis are available in most of them, however Greece culturally relies far less to public transportation compared to privately owned vehicles than states in western and northern Europe, so don't go entirely concern-free thinking it will all definitely run 100% smoothly even in remote places, because there is a chance it might not. Of course I don't want to scare you, I only want to ensure that you go about your plan well prepared for potential adjustments and not with the mentality "surely everything will be perfectly taken care off without a single hiccup" because then you could be caught off guard.

I can suggest a few plans based on the information you gave me:

Attica Love

You told me you will have a free base in Athens, so this can be a great and affordable way to explore a lot of of Attica. Attica is the prefecture / region of which Athens is the metropolis of. Even though Athens is huge, Attica is a quite big region and has more to offer. It has an extended coastline, two lakes (Marathon and Vouliagmeni) and other less known ones, three mountains over 1,000 m - 3,280ft (Parnitha, Penteli and Hymettus) and many more hills that are close to the city and offer nice views, such as Lycabettus and Philopappos hill. The mountains and the hills are great for hiking and have several trails. Needless to say, in this way you combine hiking, nature and city vibes at the lowest possible cost and with the exclusive use of public transportation or taxis or the subway, which is great. Within Athens, there's nothing to worry about. This screenshot gives some info about some basic trails in Attica.

These are just some examples. According to this page, greeka.com, Parnitha has more than 50 trails. Parnitha also is a national park and has wildlife, if you are fortunate enough to spot it. Again, Lycabettus is a hill, not a mountain, that's why the trail is shorter, but it's still great to accompany it with a city break within the same day.

Hiking view of Parnitha from the website xtremegreece. Check the link for more info and also remember you can get in touch with hiking / trekking / mountaineering clubs in Athens to go there in an organized group.

Travel & tour offices

Perhaps you want bigger mountains or the feel of exploring rural Greece far from Athens. I hear that. Based on your mail, I get the impression you don't have a fixed itinerary yet. In Greece this can be a problem because you can very easily get "lost" and don't know what to choose and what the smartest plan to make would be. That is because Greece has many things to see, its landscape is diverse and irregular, navigating it is harder and a little chaotic due to all this, so it has a real-life feel of being complicated and big in ways tourists never imagine by looking the map. Nothing tragic of course, but tourists definitely oversimplify and underprepare when it comes to Greece. So here's an idea. If indeed you have not a fixed plan and you are unsure where to go, you can make a search on the internet with all the travel offices or hiking clubs in Athens and pick up the ones that seem to go to places that interest you. So as soon as you land in Athens, you call or go to those offices and say this: "Hello, I am gonna be in Greece for the so and so amount of time, I want to see such & such landscapes, are you making any such trips during the time of my stay and if so are there available seats for me / my group?". And then you choose the best trip based on the info they give you. Of course the cost rises a bit, but if you get to go in farther places, you would have to pay a lot a taxi or spend more for overnight stays either way so basically sometimes these tour offices offer good packages, that might even end up being cheaper. And if not, they still curate your experience so you have nothing to worry about. They get you where you have to go, they schedule the stays, the drives, the hours, all that stuff, so... I think it's great if you want to go somewhere but don't know where, because they know better. Tip: if you find a trip you are interested in, always make sure to ask how many people are already in, because sometimes if not many people gather, the tour might get cancelled and you don't want to be left hanging. If they have more than 25 people, they make the trips. Of course this is about regular travel groups, we are not talking about super curated, exclusive services only for you or your group, because that's obviously a totally different cost.

2-day tour group in Meteora from Meteora.com

Tips if you are going on your own

The truth is that most travellers navigating Greece on their own prefer to do it with a rented vehicle. It is the optimal way. If that's not an option, I am gonna give you some tips in order to avoid problems. Within cities and towns, you will not have a problem with either taxis or buses (you might get suffocated in a crowded bus in Thessaloniki but other than that you'll go where you want). The city buses also get you to the immediate suburbs. Outside that, you will be needing the intercity buses where you have to figure out their routes well. You start from Athens, you get an intercity bus to the largest city closest to your destination. And then you get a regional bus towards the closest town or village to your destination. Times must be figured out. After that you're on your own. If your destination is a trail or a national park or some other remote landscape or an uninhabited mountain and all that, you will have to either go on foot or fix an arrangement with a local driver and also agree very clearly on the terms of the time and location for the meeting for the return. Find a taxi driver who can communicate well in English and listen to them. If they say "no you shouldn't go from this side, you won't make it till sunset, that trail is too hard for your equipment / outfit, I can't bring the car from that road etc" listen to them. They know the place. Greek rescuing teams have to save annually at least like a dozen tourists being lost or injured in gorges and mountains so keep that in mind, if you are going alone. Listen to the locals. Now such a taxi driver can be found if your last stop is a town but it is not at all certain you'll find one if your last stop is a remote or small village. In such cases, the plan must be changed unless it's safe and doable to go on on foot. Several trails start from the villages, such as the ones in Zagorohoria which are stunning, so there's that. Furthermore, you have to always keep in mind that a taxi driver can't be stand-by for whenever you need to go to the hike place or whatever, so there's always the chance that you'll need to wait a few hours or something.

You can try and find taxi drivers from Athens to get you wherever you want. However, you might need two drivers for going and returning but in any case the cost is going to be A LOT and the communication and arrangement between you must be perfect and crystal clear.

Now, knock wood, something goes wrong and you find yourself in a place you don't know and even the maps can't help you navigate it. Here are some tips for safety:

Stay calm. Greece is a generally safe place. Even if you are inside a national woodland or something, big animals avoid the contact with humans. Poisonous animals are too few and you will 99% not stumble onto one. In the province you are also very safe regarding people. You're gonna be good.

As soon as you are convinced you can't find your way, call 112. It's the free EU emergency number. It will bring you to contact with police, hospitals, firefighters, rescuers etc

If the region seems pretty safe, the ground is steady, you are well equipped, the sun is still up, you are calm but just have trouble finding your way, and you know you are close to the sea, here's the trick: always head to the sea. It will certainly lead you to coastal towns or villages that are usually more cosmopolitan.

About the steady ground thing: if you can't find your way and you are on rocky ground, do not take risks. Stay put and call 112. Greek mountains may not be the Himalayas but they are usually very rocky, with sudden drops and steep paths that cause landslides all the time. Be very careful, don't make experiments. Call 112 and wait calmly.

Obviously have water, hat, glasses, sunscreen, healthy snacks and full battery on the phone. Also a warm jacket and an umbrella if you intend to be on a high altitude.

Avoid hitch-hiking. We do not have a hitch-hiking culture, people will likely not pick you up. A lonely truck driver might XD

ALWAYS have cash on you. Provincial areas still operate largely on cash. If you are gonna be out of town for more than a night, have a minimum of 100 euros cash for whatever may occur.

If you want your excursion to be one day and not stay overnight, I think that's the range you can travel to, starting early in the morning:

Anything beyond that range would be too exhausting or impossible within one day or you would't have the time to get a decent experience of what is available there before you'd have to go back to Athens.

Anyway that's all I guess. I am sure if you get an organized tour or do it on your own and take some basic precautions and are prepared, everything is gonna run smoothly and you're gonna have a great time! I had to scare you a little so that you won't underprepare, because A LOT of tourists do that and it is often what causes mishaps in their experience. They kinda have in mind that Greece is one city with a couple of islands next door and everything is connected with a wide clear super comprehensible straight highway and none of this applies in truth lol.

Hope that helped! Cheers!

Vikos-Aoos gorge. This one needs good planning and at least two days out of Athens.

[kovopedia]

Magical Vacation trivia - Magic Summer Vacation

Before the game's final name was decided, it was given the placeholder name 魔法の夏休み Mahō no Natsuyasumi. It literally translates to "Magic Summer Vacation", but early screenshots refer to it as "the magical vacation". To scenario writer Inoue, this title represented one's soul crying for a vacation.

Based on what can be found on the old Brownie Brown site, the plot was as follows.

~~~

When a class's teacher suddenly goes missing, her students must venture through planes of existence beneath their own, the Plane of Material, to find her. There are four groups who play a part in the story, those being...

-The protagonist, who guides the main party.

-グレイバウ Greybough and his subordinate アーバイン Irvine.

-エリクソン Erikson, seeker of Moria's Ankh.

-アランシアク Aranciak, bearer of Ushu's Ankh.

There were also plans to mix high fantasy with modern technology, giving the students items such as kick scooters and cell phones.

Like in the final game, the player could choose between a male or female protagonist. The hero, a 15-year-old named Tackle, is a kind-hearted boy who struggles to express his emotions, causing him to frequently clash with his classmates. As of now, there is no information on the prototype heroine. However, concept art of Tackle suggests she would have been his love interest, and vice versa if she was selected as the protagonist.

~~~

Kameoka and Inoue envisioned a sequel to this game titled "the magical vacation 2: Fifteen-Day Trip to Southern Europe's Provence in First Class" (魔法の夏休み２　ファーストクラスで行く南欧プロバンス１５日間の旅)

Inoue did not imagine any hypothetical sequels as having luxurious settings, and instead wanted them to have more real-world influence while incorporating bits of fantasy. According to him, potential locations would have included France's Provence region, the Jouban train line, and the island of Saipan.

株式会社ブラウニーブラウン　マジバケギャラリー第２回 (archive.org)

[vishwaaparyatan]

Planning a Global Adventure? The Best International Travel Agencies in Jaipur

Planning a global adventure can be both exciting and overwhelming. With countless destinations to choose from, varying travel requirements, and the logistics of planning an itinerary, it’s easy to feel lost. Fortunately, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is home to a number of reputable international travel agency in Jaipur that can help streamline the process and make your travel dreams a reality. This article will explore the benefits of working with travel agencies in Jaipur and highlight how they can enhance your global adventure.

1. Understanding the Role of Travel Agencies

Expert Guidance

Destination Knowledge: Travel agencies have extensive knowledge of popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations. They can provide insights on the best times to visit, local customs, and must-see attractions.

Travel Restrictions and Requirements: With ever-changing travel restrictions, agencies can help you navigate visa requirements, health regulations, and safety protocols.

Customized Itineraries

Tailored Experiences: Agencies can create personalized itineraries based on your interests, whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion.

Flexibility: They can adjust plans based on your preferences, allowing for spontaneity during your trip.

2. Benefits of Choosing Jaipur-Based Travel Agencies

Local Expertise

Cultural Insights: Travel agencies in Jaipur often have deep roots in the local culture, enabling them to offer unique experiences and recommendations that you might not find in guidebooks.

Language Support: Many agencies provide services in multiple languages, making it easier for international travelers to communicate and understand local customs.

Comprehensive Services

All-Inclusive Packages: Many agencies offer comprehensive packages that cover flights, accommodation, transportation, and activities, providing a hassle-free experience.

24/7 Support: Reputable agencies offer around-the-clock support, ensuring you have assistance whenever needed during your travels.

3. Top International Destinations Offered by Jaipur Agencies

Europe

Cultural Richness: From the art of Paris to the historical landmarks of Rome, travel agencies can craft itineraries that encompass the best of Europe’s diverse cultures.

Multi-Country Tours: Agencies often provide options for multi-country tours, allowing you to explore several destinations in one trip.

Southeast Asia

Affordable Destinations: Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are popular for their affordability and stunning landscapes. Agencies can help you find the best deals on flights and accommodations.

Adventure Activities: From trekking in the Himalayas to diving in the Andaman Sea, travel agencies can organize thrilling activities tailored to your adventure level.

North America

Diverse Experiences: Whether you’re interested in the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon or the urban excitement of New York City, agencies can help you plan comprehensive itineraries that cover major attractions.

Road Trips: For those looking to explore, agencies can suggest scenic road trip routes, complete with accommodations and activities along the way.

Australia and New Zealand

Unique Wildlife: Experience the Great Barrier Reef or the scenic landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. Agencies can arrange guided tours and experiences that highlight the natural beauty of these regions.

Cultural Experiences: Engage with local cultures through tours that include indigenous experiences and culinary adventures.

4. Adventure Travel Options

Tailored Adventure Packages

Customized Itineraries: If you’re an adventure seeker, agencies can craft itineraries that include activities like hiking, biking, and water sports in breathtaking locations.

Safety and Logistics: Experienced travel agencies ensure that all activities prioritize safety and are conducted by qualified professionals.

Group Tours

Social Experience: Joining a group tour can be a great way to meet fellow travelers while exploring new destinations. Agencies often organize tours that cater to specific interests.

Cost-Effective: Group tours can be more economical, as costs are shared among participants, making it easier to explore expensive destinations.

5. Sustainable Travel Practices

Eco-Friendly Options

Responsible Travel: Many travel agencies in Jaipur promote eco-friendly travel practices, such as supporting local communities and minimizing environmental impact.

Cultural Respect: Agencies often encourage travelers to engage respectfully with local cultures, ensuring a positive impact on the communities they visit.

Community Engagement

Local Experiences: Agencies can arrange for travelers to participate in community projects or local workshops, providing a richer understanding of the region and its people.

Support Local Economies: By choosing local accommodations and activities, travelers contribute to the economic sustainability of the regions they visit.

6. Planning Your Trip Efficiently

Research and Comparison

Multiple Options: Work with several travel agencies to compare itineraries, pricing, and additional services. This can help you find the best fit for your travel style.

Read Reviews: Look for reviews from previous travelers to gauge the agency’s reliability and quality of service.

Budgeting

Transparent Pricing: Reputable agencies provide clear pricing structures, allowing you to understand what is included in your package.

Hidden Costs: Ensure that you are aware of any additional fees or costs that may arise during your trip, such as entrance fees or optional activities.

7. Conclusion

Planning a global adventure from Jaipur is an enriching experience, especially when you partner with a reputable travel agency. With their expert guidance, local knowledge, and access to tailored itineraries, these agencies can help you navigate the complexities of international travel while ensuring a memorable journey. From cultural experiences in Europe to adventure activities in Southeast Asia, the possibilities are endless. By choosing a travel agency, you not only simplify the planning process but also enhance your overall travel experience, allowing you to focus on the excitement of exploring new destinations. So, embark on your next adventure with confidence, and let the experts guide you to unforgettable experiences around the globe.

[thesinglesjukebox]

MCR-T & HORSEGIIRL - "MY BARN MY RULES"

Jonathan takes us down to the farm...

[6.05]

Jonathan Bradley: Adrift in life, you've been invited on a university research trip to a secluded and secretive community. The purpose of this visit is anthropological, but you're just along for the ride; it's a solstice celebration, and you're happy to participate in whatever curious festivity these people have planned. These people adore horses, which seems kind of odd, but harmless, right? "Welcome to the farm," chirrups the woman who seems to know what's going on, or perhaps is in charge. She's dressed like a horse, too, and she trots and gallops like a horse -- or so she tells you. So do the other horses -- I mean people -- and these people have gathered for something like a rave. Their beats are heavy and simple and the effect is numbing -- or is that the hay they insisted you eat? It should be just any old club night, but horsegiirL is leading the dance -- her saddle is on, and that doesn't seem right for a human girl, but she wants to run she says -- and the horses are dancing now. Not like dressage, but also not like humans. You sweat and your vision blurs; the synths canter and the kicks pound like hooves. You should leave. You should leave. The horses are weaving flowers into your hair -- your mane -- and your friends have vanished. You smell burning; horsegiirL whinnies like a diva; no horse would dance to this. But you beam. Good mood. Good mood. Good mood. [9]

Tara Hillegeist: One hundred per cent the most normal-sounding music I've ever heard made by a furry. [6]

Micha Cavaseno: Subcultures are fascinating in that, like, it's extremely easy for them to never perceive of anything that doesn't insert itself into their culture. Take for example how hard I cackled when JoJo's Bizarre Adventure used Jodeci and how I knew there were tons of weebs who'd never heard a single K-Ci & Jojo song and maybe 10 of them would end up digging into '90s R&B the way they get really into classical after listening to enough Final Fantasy soundtracks or whatever. So similarly, I always wonder about furries because I've never had any clue what their interests are in besides songs that cater to their interests (various werewolf themed pop songs, "The Animal In Me" by Three Days Grace). "Why is Micha talking about furries?" you might ask? Well, as a dance track I've got nothing to say about "My Barn My Rules." Like, it'd make a good filler track I'd listen to once and skim over on Discogs if it'd been released in '91 and engineered by a guy who was previously in a '80s industrial group like Hula or whatever? But I did have to look at this single art featuring photomanipulation of a horse girl, so now I'm just wondering about that audience's relationship to rave music and whether this is going to be like "Can You Feel It?" for them or not down the line since, let's be real, the horse thing is the No. 1 quality to remark upon. [4]

Frank Kogan: Kinda want more from a talking horse, something more horsey -- though I don't suppose that's fair, since I don't make equivalent demands on talking humans, for instance. But I'm not really feeling the galloping fun that's intended. The beats push okay when horsegiirL starts chanting, "Saddle on, I'm ready now," but the rest is just a signified cuteness. [4]

Katherine St Asaph: The flak-driven fursona kayfabe of Horsegiirl's whole existence should bother me, and on some level I guess it does. Unfortunately, this bangs. My hypothetical Sunshine Rabbits-led fauna club anthem playlist treads one hoof closer to completion. [7]

Crystal Leww: I saw horsegiirL DJ in September, and she played "My Barn My Rules" like three minutes into her set rather than saving it for the closer, suggesting that even she knows that the stuff with MCR-T is the least banging stuff she has. The rest of the set was good -- more of the happy hardcore, Eurodance, and hard trance stuff that's been huge in Europe. It's hard to say why "My Barn My Rules" took off the way it did other than that people like boring, repetitive beats or maybe because it's one of the tracks that is on theme, but yeah, sorry I hate the horse head. [4]

Taylor Alatorre: Would rate this higher if it were an actual furry thing instead of a "Keep Rave Culture Weird" T-shirt. [3]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: A friend once told me that if you ever date a horse girl that you'll always be third in her life -- she and her horse come first and second, though not necessarily in that order. I guess that means the music comes fourth? [4]

John S. Quinn-Puerta: My wife: "I give it five bottles of Mane 'n Tail." [5]

Rachel Saywitz: I used to watch My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic when I was a teen because I needed happiness in the form of quick 15-minute brightly-colored animated episodes with magical ponies who loved each other, but I dropped off of it when I realized that most of the people who were obsessed with My Little Pony were men who didn't actually like women who liked horses, so I just want to say I fully support the literal horse girl renaissance! [7]

Kat Stevens: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I played with My Little Ponies and listened to rave music as a child: but when I became an adult, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. [9]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: When he died they took Old Billy's skull and put it into a museum; they also, separately, taxidermied his skin and put into a different museum. Now, two centuries later, the third part of his self has found a true and honorable resting place -- not in flesh nor bone but in the magic of song. [8]

Aaron Bergstrom: Don't you dare drag Old Billy into this. [3]

Ian Mathers: The amount of shitposting I consume has left me curiously immune to whatever dark magics are being invoked here. I respect it, but I am unmoved. [5]

Michelle Myers: The intro was funny the first time, but the mediocre hip-house failed to impress. [4]

Brad Shoup: You don't have to pick a lane. You can drop into many points on the horse-ownership spectrum: reading the Wikipedia page for "horse" to your partner as you entertain the fantasy of, one day, purchasing a horse; going classic Horse Girl mode; actually inhabiting the body of a horse. But you probably shouldn't release a track that sounds like a working session of you writing through all of these scenarios. Only in the last minute do they even find a decent hip-house melody. Lots of great lines and chants here, but at a track length of nearly 4:30 they're stretched thin; this feels like the dub. Give me some galloping gabber! [6]

Will Adams: The original track is 4:26 long. The video version is 2:03. This feels important. [5]

Scott Mildenhall: If you keep your ear close enough to the ground at this time of year in the UK, you may hear Mr Blobby's seminal Christmas number one, "Mr Blobby." If your ear is particularly well tuned, you will also notice that it is a fine piece of music. It could almost be on Very. Conceptually, it's watertight, and builds on Blobbyland instead of just visiting it. While you can elevate a generic track with simple novelty, you can do a lot more to make it stick. This is all to say that the funniest thing about this song is the way it caused Arielle Free to be wheeled unceremoniously out of the Radio 1 studio. [6]

Nortey Dowuona: horsegiirL is a very distinct vocalist. As a rapper, her voice is thin fluffy and light, being overpowered by the fast, steady pass of the kicks and the higher but just as brisk pace of the bassline. As a singer, her voice is just as fluffy, but also clammy, and once certain runs happen over the first thin synth note at the first chorus break, it fails to display much range and awkwardly riffs as her rapped bars come back in, both immediately clashing with each other. Once she is looped and dropped back in, as the song has switched basslines to compete with the sawtooth topline, her rapped voice fits more comfortably and sounds more pronounced. But her singing clashes, bouncing off it until it finally is taken off with a whinny, which has more presence than her voice. [8]

Dorian Sinclair: As mentioned in my Amaarae blurb, I'm a Sagittarius. I was also born in the Year of the Horse, making me doubly equine and causing me to feel a strange sense of kinship with the enigmatic horsegiirL. And while I'm not a huge novelty-song person, "My Barn My Rules" at least is decently funny and has a pretty solid beat. These modest accomplishments are enough to set it apart from the pack herd. [6]

Will Rivitz: As a longstanding member of the Singles Jukebox consortium, I can understand on an intellectual level why it's worthwhile we, as pop music writers, level our collective critical eye with an artist as perfectly lathed to elicit strong responses of all kinds as horsegiirL, and I am genuinely delighted to see what others from around these parts, both those who loved and who hated this song, have to say about it. At the same time, I think it's worth voicing a counterargument to the forking paths this song lays out: fuck that, it slaaaaaps. Anything that could be said about "My Barn My Rules" is violently wrested away from me as I'm pulled without regard to my current state to the dancefloor, to 3 a.m., to screaming every single word with my friends, sobriety only vaguely remembered as somewhere we perhaps once were and will perhaps have to contend with once again sometime in the distant future. For others, there are plenty of ways to vivisect and examine these four and a half minutes in a way that will resonate with those interested in engaging honestly and openly with this art. For me? No matter how much I turn over this totem in my head, I always come away with the same mantra: good mood. good mood! good moooooooooood! [10]

Claire Biddles: The kind of cultural product that demands either a [0] or a [10]. [10]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[nstvanshika]

Travelling is not just about reaching a destination; it's about embarking on a journey of discovery, exploration, and adventure. Suppose you're a wanderlust-driven traveller seeking to uncover the marvels of multiple destinations. In that case, American Airlines Multi-City Flights offered by Travelodaddy provide the perfect opportunity to create a bespoke travel experience like never before. Let's dive into the convenience and possibilities that await you with Travelodaddy's American Airlines Multi-City Flights.

Unravelling the Concept of Multi-City Flights:

Gone are the days when travelling meant a straightforward journey from point A to point B. With the advent of multi-city flights, travellers now have the liberty to plan itineraries that encompass multiple stops, allowing them to explore diverse cities and cultures within a single trip. The flexibility and convenience of multi-city flights have made them a popular choice for globe-trotting adventurers, business travellers, and those with wanderlust in their hearts.

Why Choose American Airlines Multi-City Flights with Travelodaddy?

Tailored Itineraries: Travelodaddy understands that every traveller's journey is unique. With American Airlines Multi-City Flights, you can design your itinerary, choosing multiple destinations that align with your interests, schedule, and budget. Craft a journey that suits your preferences, whether a grand tour of Europe's capitals or exploring America's vibrant cities.

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Travelodaddy's American Airlines Multi-City Flights offer a gateway to a world of unparalleled exploration and discovery. With the freedom to craft your itinerary, seamless connections, and expert assistance, your multi-city adventure promises an extraordinary experience. Embrace the spirit of travel, and let Travelodaddy and American Airlines take you on an unforgettable journey where every stop is a new chapter in your travel story. So, start planning your multi-city escapade today, and get ready to create memories that last a lifetime. Bon voyage!

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[europeincomingei]

Europe Tour- From student travel to Destination weddings

We are the greatest choice in the market for student travel packages to Europe. The demands of students and their comfort are taken into consideration when designing our student trip package. We offer reasonably valued accommodations, accessible transportation, a variety of food choices, picturesque trips, as well as customized plans. Our team is committed to giving you with the best travel experience feasible, allowing you to have a taste of the rich European society, language, lifestyle, and also awesome views. We offer hostel lodging or a stick with a regional family members, depending upon the needs of the pupils, to help them better recognize the regional way of life. We're committed to sharing our love of travel and our understanding with others, giving suggestions and real value for cash, as well as designing plans that allow youths discover European languages, take in a variety of societies, and further their academic efforts. We supply short- and also lasting packages with options for lodging with regional households, hostels, and low-priced resorts. As a result, trainees are better able to fit in with the regional population, practise their language capacities, and also develop genuine bonds with homeowners. Every European country you check out has its own one-of-a-kind tale to inform: what took place in the past, the gods that people venerated, the amazing art that people created, as well as more. On a  student travel Europe, you can widen your viewpoint as an international citizen while additionally producing invaluable memories with your peers. We provide individualized European instructional scenic tours to countless well-known locations, which can give your students with instructional opportunities that last a lifetime. Our group of well-informed tourists to Europe is outstanding at organizing trips for trainee educational travel teams that are both reasonably priced as well as truly rewarding. Our long-lasting collaborations with local suppliers-- a few of which go back regarding 40 years-- enable us to supply pupils budget-friendly choices. In order to guarantee that instructors completely understand the level of our services and help with travel, we additionally aid with instructor orientation trips.

In the expanding pattern of destination weddings , couples are exchanging promises in hot air balloons and under the sea. Without the flash and beauty of lush wedding propositions or various other events, you may have a tiny wedding celebration in a place of your selection. It is feasible to do a little ceremony with a couple of close friends and also family in an attractive place. This valuable occasion will not cost a fortune, but it will certainly allow you appreciate your wedding event to the max without having to worry about the costs. Because of our more than 40 years of managing logistics throughout Europe, we have the understanding as well as a great network of companions to generate the ideal wedding event for your customers. We are devoted to producing the perfect fairy tale wedding by sharing our interest and also understanding of Europe, offering guidance, assistance, as well as genuine value for cash. We collaborate with wedding organizers to see to it their customers have an extraordinary experience. When it concerns event coordination as well as logistics management, we are the experts.

[cm-shorts]

(14) Refusing to play the standard game

Last Wednesday, like every Christmas season, four physics postdocs - including me - were invited for lunch by the long-retired professor who hosted our diploma and PhD projects many decades ago. Traditionally we meet in a Greek restaurant close to our former university institute in Erlangen, and while this location is within biking distance for the professor and myself, the others are coming by car from their more remote home towns.

I arrived first, as usual, but immediately after I had locked my bike in front of the restaurant I saw a black Tesla gliding noiselessly into the car parking lot, with somebody waving hands behind the wind shields. This data point, combined with the Munich license plate of the vehicle, strongly and correctly suggested that it had to be S.D., one of the mentioned postdocs who made his career within a large German semiconductor manufacturer by reverse-engineering other company's high-tech products, such as the camera of the latest iPhone. The black Tesla, as it later turned out, was only one of two similar models that he owns.

Actually, our meeting had to be postponed a bit this year, not least because S.D. had caught a cold during a recent trip to Rome. Myself, even without traveling around, also managed to get infected by some nasty biological thingy which initially revealed itself by a mild caughing and headache, but quickly ignited in my body a strange fever that kept fluctuating wildly between 36 and over 40 degrees within minutes. On top of that, the professor, after having himself MRT scanned for some reason (always a bad idea!) had to undergo an emergency surgery. Luckily, all these little disturbances faded away already a few days after Christmas, and so finally we all could meet before the new year broke.

Although social events, in general, are not really something I'm looking forward to, these alumni meetings often turn into quite interesting private history lessons: While I can hardly remember what happened last week, my colleagues seem to have amazingly detailed memories of their entire life. Using this super-power, they keep telling funny stories from our shared time at the semiconductor research institute, stories that occasionally involve myself but which I have long forgotten.

But alumni meetings can also be quite brutal in revealing how people's life styles diverge over time.

None of the postdocs on the table made it to a professor, but one of them, S.M., could early on secure a permanent position in our university. I know him particularly well, because we used to play in the same Jazz band for a while. In contrast to the other two postdocs, we also share the distinctive property of having no children. Without much traveling around, S.M. is living with his partner on a kind of farm with several horses and many other animals. These animals, just like family members, are producing never-ending story lines by - well - getting sick at some point, dying, and being replaced with new animals. It became clear to me now that the amount of events worth reporting in an alumni meeting increases in proportion with one's 'family' size. Singles, like myself, can have rich social bonds with other people, but it would be unnatural to talk about these acquaintances if they are neither family members nor somehow related to the alumni group.

S.D., the one with the two Teslas, does have a family and really likes to travel. Following a multi-year plan, he is ticking off all the major capitals of Europe one by one, the most recent having been Rome just a few days ago. On top of being a technology nerd, he is well versed in the art of saving taxes and really knows how to get out the maximum financial benefit from all his actions. It turned out that these kinds of topics are extremely useful for keeping a conversation going. But seen from the other side, those topics are also very effective in marginalizing people like me, who have zero interest in finance.

The other postdoc, P.K., is living in California, Palo Alto, and is working there for a well-known tech company. He has a huge 4-generation family and is living with his wife in a rental house that costs him about 5000 dollars every month, which is almost 10 times more than I pay for my rental apartment.

At some point during the meeting, the professor asked the unavoidable question: 'And, Claus, how is your life going ?'

I did not want to raise the others eyebrows by talking about my actual current interests, like metaphysical idealism and the nature of consciousness - these are not topics that can be talked about casually. And so I answered truthfully that I am sitting every day in front of my PC and try to extract some interesting abstract patterns out of measured or simulated data, so that I can write as much papers as possible about these patterns, in order to eventually get my next grant from the German Research Foundation, so that I can continue sitting in front of my PC ...

The professor replied something along those lines: 'I see. Can you imagine how different your life would have unfolded if you had been offered the professorship in the Technical University of Berlin, back then when you were on position 2 of 68 applicants ? When I remember correctly, the top applicant had been offered also another attractive position and could have easily cleared the way for you …'

I had to agree that my life would have taken a very different course, had I become a professor for semiconductor nanostructures in Berlin. Yet, being a professor entails many administrative tasks that I would despise, and so maybe it was a good thing that I remained a postdoc.

This basically ended my contribution to the conversation, but back home I pondered how very simple my life is, compared to other people with a similar educational background. Except my mother, I have no family members or animals to worry about, no houses and cars to maintain, no finances to optimize, no subordinates to manage, no travels to plan, no career to advance.

It seems I have refused to play the standard game.

(Erlangen, December 31, 2022)

[lizseyi]

Deciding Between Single-Trip, Multi-Trip, And Group Travel Insurance As An Expat In Spain This Winter - Ibex

The festive season is exciting for great numbers of people for many reasons. However, one of those reasons – the opportunity for travel – is likely to be especially enticing for some of us in 2022, given that Europe has finally said goodbye to the widespread COVID-19 restrictions that so hobbled travel since 2020.

With that in mind, it’s understandable that you might be excitedly planning your Christmas-season travel right now, while also having overlooked a little something: travel insurance. So, allow this blog post to serve as your reminder of its importance.

Or maybe you’re well aware of the crucial protection the most suitable travel cover can provide, but you aren’t so sure which ‘type’ of policy to choose?

In that case, let’s take you through the three broad types of travel insurance that brokers like Ibex Insurance are making available this winter, and in which circumstances you might be particularly likely to consider them.

Single-trip travel insurance

This is what some might consider the ‘classic’ type of travel insurance; if you have one big trip in mind for this winter, such as to visit your friends or family in another country, taking out this type of travel cover may be the sensible move.

As the name suggests, this policy will protect you for such risks as delays to your outward or return journey, or an accident during your trip, covering just one trip. And with the maximum trip duration for this type of travel insurance as obtained through Ibex being 180 days, it might be more than enough for your needs.

Annual multi-trip travel insurance

Although – as mentioned above – the single-trip policies we make available have a permitted trip duration far exceeding the winter period, the fact remains that these plans are for single trips. If, then, you are set to embark on several trips, even if only over the winter period, you might be drawn to our annual multi-trip insurance options.

This type of cover may make particular sense if, as well as your planned winter trips, it is possible that you will be doing further extensive travel over the coming year, whether those will be holidays, business trips, or simply visits to relatives or friends in other parts of the world.

As always when you’re seeking out a travel insurance quote in Spain, it is crucial with annual multi-trip travel cover to scrutinize the specific terms of the policy, so that you know exactly what is and isn’t covered.

We draw your attention, for example, to the fact that the maximum trip duration with our Standard cover is 31 days, although it can be somewhat longer than this if you opt for Super cover.

Group travel insurance

Group travel cover is designed to address a very specific need: protection for travelling groups of five or more people. The idea is that if you will be part of a large travelling party, you will only need to purchase a single policy to cover all of you.

This, then, can be a very convenient option if you will be travelling as a family, company, school, sports club, or association, to cite just a few of the possibilities. With this cover also able to be extended to cover winter sports and other hazardous activities, as well as to include organizer’s liability, it is a type of travel insurance that can be tailored to various circumstances.

To learn more about these policy options, please don’t hesitate to browse the relevant pages of the Ibex website. As for if you wish to reach out to us for a competitive travel insurance quote in Spain, there are various ways in which you can do that, too – including visiting us at one of our brick-and-mortar offices, or requesting a quote online now.

[therenlover]

In Fleeting Touches & Airy Sighs Chapter One (A Three Chapter Helmut Zemo/Reader Fanfic)

(Thank you to the wonderful anon who requested angst and smut between Zemo and the reader because Zemo had to be away from her on the run!)

Synopsis: A year after working together with Zemo in the events of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam and Bucky seek him out once again in need of shelter from John Walker. Meanwhile, Zemo’s wife resents his absence and prepares for guests.

Tags: Flashbacks, Depression, Alcoholism, Separation Anxiety, Arguing, Struggling Marriage, Reunions

Rating: T (E in future chapters)

Warnings: Guns, Swearings, Reader shows signs of alcoholism/alcohol abuse, Reader uses a hot shower as a mild form of self harm

Word Count: 5000~

This fic has been crossposted under the same title to my AO3!

----------

Helmut Zemo was not often a man backed into a corner.

He was smart, resourceful, and had nothing left to lose. If it came down to the line, he would do whatever had to be done within his morals to achieve his goals, even if that goal was simply staying alive. The Baron bowed to no man, and made his enemies, no matter their size, fall to their knees with sheer wit instead of brute strength. That’s why, when he stood backed into an alley with the barrel of James Barnes’ gun to his forehead as the Falcon watched on, it was strange that he didn’t try to weasel his way out.

“We need answers,” Sam said, hands in the pockets of his dark hoodie. Bucky wore a similar one, only he wore a baseball cap instead of keeping his hood up. “How the hell did you break out of prison for a second time?”

Usually, Zemo would have replied with a clever quip. He had never been one to back down from a fight. This time, though, he looked almost frightened as he raised his arms in defeat. “I got in contact with friends on the outside during our short adventure together. They decided to help me out once I was re-incarcerated, willingly I might add. I had no part in the plan, but who would look a gift horse in the mouth?”

“And I guess I’m just supposed to assume you had no part in getting my pardon revoked?” Bucky spat.

“If you hadn’t noticed, James, I’ve left you alone,” A hint of his usual mockery slipped into Helmut’s tone, but he quickly pulled it back, “Believe what you want about me, but I’ve had some time since last year to… re-evaluate my feelings on the world. You had no choice but to do the things you did as the Winter Soldier, and as long as you pose no threat to society now I have no qualms with you,”

Despite the strangeness of Zemo’s response Bucky remained unphased. Sam, on the other hand, was less stoic.

“Man, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the government is looking for Bucky and I harder than they’re looking for you, and it’s kind of all your fault, so excuse me for not giving a shit about your supposed sudden change of heart!”

“Can we get to the point? I’m afraid my flight leaves in an hour and I would hate to be late,”

“Cut the bullshit!” There Bucky went, pushing the cold metal closer to Zemo’s furrowed forehead.

“Bucky...” Sam warned.

“No, Sam, I can do this. Did you or did you not actively attempt to get my pardon revoked when you took us to Madripoor? Because thanks to you, a worse symbol than Sam is now standing unchecked with the title of Captain America AND he has access to the last of the new super soldier serum AND he’s trying to get us killed so we can’t tell the world about the awful shit he does,”

“I-” Zemo went to speak and, for the first time since he had met him, Sam believed he was being genuine. There was a tremble that made its way through him, all the way to his raised hands and even his voice. It was enough that Bucky even lowered the gun minutely. “I understood that by following my lead, the both of you were risking a lot. I didn’t intend any specific malice with my actions though, no. If I may… the two of you have attracted a lot of attention here in the past few days. I assume Walker is very close to finding you?”

Sam and Bucky shared a look before Sam responded. “Maybe, why?”

“I have a safe house,” he continued, “I don’t stay there often so the location isn’t compromised, but it’s my next stop. Might I suggest we take this conversation on the road? I would hate to host your reunion with Mr. Walker in an alley over my corpse,”

There was a moment of complete stillness. Zemo remained, face dark with that strange deer-in-headlights look, a perfect statue, as the barrel of Bucky’s gun remained pointed firmly in his direction and Sam shared what seemed to be a completely silent conversation with Bucky. It was true that they had been burned before. Zemo was a man with his own agenda who did what it took to fulfill it. That being said, he had returned willingly with them back to prison before he was broken out, and without his help, the band of freshly minted super soldiers would still be running around Europe causing chaos. In the end, Bucky lowered his gun slowly before tucking it away into his boot holster.

Zemo grinned.

“Don’t think this means we trust you,” Sam groaned, pointing a finger at the man.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now, gentlemen, I believe we have a plane to catch,”

As the trio began to make their way out of the alley Bucky and Sam fell to the flank of the group. “Do you really think this is a good idea?” Bucky asked, eyes darting between his two companions. Sam shrugged.

“At this point, I’m doing whatever it takes to get home to my family in one piece. If that means I have to ride in Zemo’s stupid private jet again and lay low for a while, then that’s what I’m gonna do, because Sarah and those kids don’t deserve to lose me all over again,”

“But don’t you think he’s acting a little… weird?”

“Don’t worry, I have my eye on him. If he tries anything we can just throw him out front when Walker tries to shoot us,”

“You’re doing a very poor job of concealing your conversation,” Zemo shouted.

Bucky stormed ahead as Sam laughed.

“Oh, shut up!”

Surprisingly, the drive to the airstrip was mostly uneventful, as was the relatively short flight from Zurich to Avignon. There was, of course, the usual cutthroat banter and tension so thick you could feel it like a fog hanging over the group, but in an unusual twist of fate, the baron did very little to initiate. Of course, he wasn’t fully innocent though. He never was. That being said, even as his chauffeur carefully navigated the stone roads to the dropoff point he was strangely quiet. He had texted someone earlier to have the house prepared for their arrival but he kept looking down at the phone as if a response would come. It didn’t.

Sam appreciated the break from the noise. To him, it was a moment of peace after a few months of constant opposition. For the duration of the trip, he had chosen to shoot a few choice quips Bucky’s way before taking a long nap. Bucky, on the other hand, was only growing more suspicious of Zemo by the minute.

After his time with Hydra, Bucky had become intimately acquainted with the type of man that Zemo was. He was ruthless, driven by ideals that couldn’t be changed by any amount of debate or theory read inside a prison cell, and willing to do whatever it took to fulfill those ideals no matter the cost. There was remorse but no regret. A man like that doesn’t just stop believing in the thing that led him to kill dozens if not hundreds of people, because once the impetus is gone so is the only thing upholding their sense of self.

In basic terms, he was hiding something. Bucky was intent on finding out what that thing was, a thing important enough to make Zemo of all people shut the hell up and tell his enemies exactly where his safe house was, and he wasn’t going to rest until he did. The answer came easily enough in the end, but not before Sam and Bucky were forced face to face with the strangest thing they had ever seen, even when including aliens and wizards. That thing was Zemo buying flowers.

The trio had gotten out of the car somewhere around the center of the city and continued towards the safe house on foot. A few minutes after they started, though, Zemo had spoken.

“I apologize, but I’ll have to stop for a moment,” He said, holding up a hand to alert the two men trailing him to the fact that he was about to stop. Sam quirked up an eyebrow.

“At a flower shop?”

There, to the right of them, was a small fleuriste. The window was a burst of bright color. Pinks, reds, whites, purples; a certain bunch of spring blooms had caught Zemo’s eye. He shrugged. “It’s rude to arrive at someone’s house asking for a favor without a gift, Mr. Wilson. Excuse me,”

With a comfort that said he had been into the shop many times, Zemo walked through the door and began conversing with the shop owner in perfect French, even referring to her as tu instead of vous as he made his purchase.

“Did he just say someone’s house ?” Sam asked Bucky, eyes widening.

Bucky gritted his teeth. “Yeah, I think he did,”

“So, we’re just showing up at someone’s door,”

“Yup. Not to mention they’re someone who aligns themself with him,”

A groan escaped from Sam as he ran his hand down his face in disbelief. “I didn’t expect much from Zemo, but damn,”

“It’s your fault for expecting anything from Zemo in the first place,”

“For once, you’re right,”

They dawdled for a moment. As their conversation stilled, Zemo returned, now burdened by a sizable bouquet from the window. Around them, the city was starting to get off of work. Families walked together as businesses had their 5 o’clock shift change. Somehow as the world around them came to life it didn’t look at Sam and Bucky with anything more than a passing glance. They were tourists, nothing more. For a moment Sam understood why Zemo would go to a place like this for safety and anonymity.

Without ceremony, the trio began walking towards their destination once again.

“I apologize for the delay,” Zemo said, keeping his pace brisk and remaining about a foot ahead of his companions, “I suppose it’s become a bit of a habit that I buy Y/N flowers whenever I come back. We shouldn’t be long now, though, the house is just a few more blocks away, maybe 3 minutes by foot,”

“Y/N?” Bucky asked. The name felt heavy on his tongue, familiar. That had to be a coincidence though. Zemo would never align himself with anyone who had worked for Hydra, and there was no other place he could have heard that name and had it hold any significance. Right?

Zemo chuckled. “Y/N is our host. I’d appreciate it if you tried to maintain some semblance of respect when we arrive, she tends to have quite the temper and it would reflect badly on me if she believed I was asking her to indefinitely house two people who would happily send her to prison,”

“About that,” Sam chimed in, “Who the hell are we about to be staying with? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t, and by extension, I also don’t tend to trust people who trust you,”

“I assure you, Sam, Y/N is more trustworthy to you than I will ever be,”

“That doesn’t answer my question, nor does it make me feel any better,”

“She’s American, and like you, she is seeking shelter from the government. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“Man, at this point I feel like you’re not telling us because she’s actually some sort of crazy Sokovian sleeper agent who’s gonna stab us in the back while we sleep. Am I crazy, Buck, or am I right?”

Bucky, who had been trying his best to stay out of the conversation, replied. “You are being unnecessarily evasive, Zemo, though that’s nothing new…”

“Right? Like, I’m really grateful that you’re lending us a hand, but I’ve gotta be honest, if I think for a second things are going south-”

Sam never got to finish his sentence.

Suddenly, Zemo stopped short, turning around and looking Bucky in the eye with a madness neither he nor Sam had ever seen before. His whole body was stiff, rigid. The hand that wasn’t cradling the flowers delicately was gripped in a fist at his side. He looked angry, but underneath the anger, he really just looked scared. “You will not touch her. Do you hear me? Do what you’d like with me, I have made choices worthy of punishment, but you will not touch Y/N. If you so much as think of it, all bets are off. Do you understand me?”

Bucky nodded, sharp. This was certainly interesting. Sam just smirked.

“Is there something else you want to tell us?”

Zemo walked up a small set of stairs towards a home to their right. “No, Mr. Wilson, I don’t believe so,”

The building was a nice one, all tan stone with dark wrought-iron fixtures on its many windows. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like a normal midtown manor-house for some upper-class member of the community. The normalcy of it all hid its true purpose in plain sight. It was genius, really. Over a dividing wall made of the same yellowing stone, Sam could see a small sliver of vibrant green garden space and a pool at the side of the building.

With a steadying breath, Zemo knocked on the door.

“You have to knock on the door of your own safe house?” There was a hint of incredulity in Bucky’s voice as he crossed his arms. This was going to be a disaster. Why had they agreed to this again?

“A little etiquette goes a long way, James, especially when you’re already in the doghouse,” Then, the door opened.

Bucky froze. There, standing in the doorway with a pistol in her hand and a fire in her eyes, was a woman he thought long dead: you. This couldn’t be right! He had killed you back in ‘02 with the rest of the AAHR...

You quirked up an eyebrow at Zemo.

“Give me one reason I should let you in and not shoot you on the spot,”

They were so fucked.

________________

The day, on your end of the world, had gone by much slower.

It started off like any other, with the alarm on your bedside table blaring as you opened your eyes and your arms reached out into the emptiness in the sheets beside you. Sometimes, when Helmut’s flight got in late enough, you would wake up and reach to the side only to find that he had appeared beside you in the night. Those were the best kind of reunions. They were free of pretense, no bitterness or resentment clouded your sleep-heavy brain when you opened your eyes to his peaceful resting face, and you could simply fall into the comforting rhythm of husband and wife. If you reunited with a clear head things tended not to go as well.

You groaned. It wasn’t as if there was even a guarantee he would come back, especially not after the way you’d left things last time. The philosophy of attendre et espérer, waiting and hoping like an Edmond Dantés type, wouldn’t do you any good, at least not anymore.

Maybe it was time to start moving on…

Tomorrow. You could start thinking about the next steps tomorrow. For today you’d enjoy what you had.

Getting out of bed was difficult but you managed. The sun streamed through the curtains that billowed gently in the breeze near your balconette, brilliant gold beams illuminating the dust that danced in the air. The first thing you did was shuffle along to the corner and pour yourself two fingers of brandy from Helmut’s private collection. It was like a morning ritual these days, a numbing agent against the loneliness. Once the drink was downed you moved on to the closet to get dressed.

Dressing yourself wasn’t of much importance these days. You couldn’t exactly leave the house, and nobody was visiting, so more often than not, it was easier to just wear the same pajamas for a few days until you knew Oeznik would be around to drop off groceries. Today, though, you felt… filthy. Not dirty in a physical way, just sticky and filthy and unclean under your skin and in your very heart. Maybe a shower would help.

You looked around the closet with a clinical eye. It was difficult to be in there, surrounded by lavish dresses and expensive suits that you and your husband had worn arm in arm while plotting the downfall of the Avengers before your unsteady alliance had turned into so much more. Everything still smelled like his cologne. In the small, often-closed, walk-in closet, the scent had only intensified, covering every article of clothing with a fog of cedarwood and sage. It made you sick, choked the air from your lungs and left you gasping for even a single breath that didn’t sit heavy on your tongue with the bitter taste of that familiar musk.

The alcohol had helped. It always did. The remnants of its burn in your mouth formed a sort of guard against the scent of the closet as you searched through a pile of shirts for something soft and easy to wear. Your hands suddenly stilled.

“Zemo, I’m gonna be honest, this is the ugliest sweater I’ve ever seen in my entire life,”

“I’m hurt! That’s one of my favorites,”

“Where did you even get it, a 90-year-old grandpa’s closet? Jesus Christ, it looks like something out of a shitty 70’s flick about family values,”

“I’ll have you know that I thrifted that sweater. It’s very eco-conscious you know,”

Your heart hurt. Well, no, your whole body hurt, but your heart ached a little more prominently as you carefully picked up the sweater and held it to your chest. It was terribly ugly, 4 sizes too big even on Helmut and covered in an olive and forest green argyle. Somehow he was always able to pull off the oversized thing no matter how ridiculous you had always insisted you found it. When was the last time he’d worn it again?

The memory evaded you.

Still, it was a happy relic, happier than most of the monuments to a failing marriage that lined the shelves of your beautiful personal prison. It wouldn’t hurt to hope that by wearing it, you might rub just a little bit of that lost happiness off onto your present-day, right? With one last forlorn glance around the closet, you gathered up the sweater and a pair of jeans before getting out as fast as you could. With the scent of cologne clinging to you, the shower wasn’t just a good idea now, it was necessary.

So, you showered. You took the stupid foot-long exfoliating brush Helmut loved so much and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed yourself under the near-boiling stream of water until your skin was pink and raw. Disappointingly, even the new skin felt filthy. It was better, though, less intense. With some lotion and a little bit of Neosporin on the fresh patches of blotchy red, you were able to feel okay. Not good. Not clean. Just… okay. At least you didn’t smell like him anymore. The clock read 12:14 when you finally made it out of the bathroom in search of some real food.

Lunch, if you could call it that, was a silent affair. The fridge was almost empty and the pantry was only a little less bare, so you threw together a cheese sandwich, not even bothering to waste butter and grill it. You ate it plain with another glass of brandy out on the pool deck. It was gone sooner than you hoped it would be.

Oh well.

You finished your brandy with a sigh. Only seven or eight more hours until you could finish your day with a few more drinks and pass out in bed until nine or ten once again. Ah, dreamless sleep. That sounded divine. Now if only you could fathom any non-depressing way to spend the time between sleeping and waking. Swimming was out, the chemicals would burn your freshly eviscerated skin. Playing solitaire for the fourth day in a row sounded like absolute hell on earth. Even watercolors, a usual calming respite from the torturous and neverending monotony of life trapped alone in a house you had no help in stocking, were off the table ever since you’d run out of paper.

Somewhere inside the house, your phone dinged.

The second the sound hit your ears you jumped, dropping your glass and letting it shatter into a thousand tiny shards on the stone of the patio.

Phones were a difficult thing to own for someone who was trying to stay out of the eyes of the government. They were too easy to track and could tip off enemies to your location with very little error needed on your part. Even searching the internet for innocent things was too risky. If your search history was too similar to that of the alias you had used before Helmut went to prison, it would have been easy for them to find a connection and send someone to track you down. Still, you kept a cell phone charged and ready on the kitchen counter despite the risk for one reason and one reason only: Emergency contact with your husband.

He never texted from the same number on more than one occasion, always switching from burner phone to burner phone as he flew across the country doing god knows what, but if he was ever in a situation where emergency contact with you was needed, he was able to reach you at your number immediately. It had only happened a couple of times, and each time he had been in a considerable amount of danger. So, when you suddenly heard the sound you dreaded more than anything else in the world, you were quick to rush inside, even ignoring the shattered glass at your feet as you shoved through the doors and found the phone.

The small, LED display was lit up with the notification. It made your heart both soar and sink.

Flying home with two guests. Prepare the two rooms for their stay. We will be there by 5 at the latest - B

You read over the message several times before letting the phone fall from your hand and back onto the counter with a dull thud.

That absolute asshole.

Three months. Three months you had spent sitting alone. Three months without a call, or a text, or a letter, or even a word of when he was coming back by way of Oeznik. Three months! And after three months of loneliness and sleepless nights and empty bottles on the drink cart he reaches out through an emergency line of contact that almost certainly means he might be dying only to tell you he’s bringing two strangers into your safe house, the place even he refuses to stay in too long in order to not give its location away. The scar on your spine was starting to burn as you leaned up against the counter and cried.

It was ridiculous to think you had ever believed him capable of more tact than that.

Really, it was your fault. From the beginning, you’d had too much faith in a man incapable of being trustworthy, even to those closest to him. You knew that, and yet you had married him. Maybe the soft touches and sweet lies he had spoon-fed you had made you weak. Maybe you always had been.

“I’m not a child, Helmut, I know what I’m doing!”

“I don’t think you do,” he shouted. He was a few drinks in now, you both were. The nights before his departures never tended to end well when you both drank. “Because no matter what I do to protect you, you have the need to disobey me! Have you considered that I do the things I do for your own good!”

“Oh! Oh yes, the things YOU do!” You slammed your glass down on the table as you stormed over to Helmut, “I sit here all day like a fucking dog in a cage while you fly to fucking Ibiza and flirt with supermodels, but YOUR story is just so fucking tragic! I’m your wife, Helmut! I’m not an animal or your property, I’m your goddamn wife! You can’t just order me to sit and stay like a dog,”

He glared down at you, eyes hawkish and glinting in the low lamplight. For the first time in years, he looked threatening, “You may not be a dog, or a child, or my property, but you are a weapon! It’s my job to keep you here, away from the-”

“Excuse me?” You interrupted. The two of you stood, inches away and yet miles apart. Slowly, the drive in Helmut’s eyes faltered. “Say that again. I dare you,”

“Schatz, I-”

“No, Helmut, you meant it so say it again. Call me that again. I fucking dare you,” Tears were streaming down your face now. He took a step towards you, hand extended to wipe them away, but you were quick to take a step back out of his reach.

“You misunderstood me,”

“I don’t think there was anything to misunderstand,”

You swept the shards of your glass tumbler into a dustpan, hands still shaking even ten minutes after you’d read Helmut’s message to you. As you worked, your last conversation before he’d left echoed in your mind.

How had it all devolved into that? It wasn’t hard to remember Helmut before prison, jaded and broken and lonely. He had been so much like you and yet so different. Each of you seemed to be the perfect balm for the others' wounds. In the end, despite all of his flaws, you had found yourself in love. Now that he was a different man, was that love gone? You couldn’t say. All you knew for sure was that you weren’t nearly drunk enough to be facing the confusing feelings in your brain. With the last of your energy, you emptied the dustpan of glass into the trash can and returned to the house, sweater itchy against your irritated skin, to ready the guest rooms.

The job wasn’t a long one. You had never used the guest rooms in all the time you’d spent at the Avignon property, so the sheets were already clean. There was just a thin layer of dust on the furniture that needed to be swept away as you checked to make sure the dressers were bare and the bathrooms were stocked with amenities. Then, when that was done, you were left to your thoughts as the hours ticked by.

Most of the time you spent sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing. It sounded terrible, and in all honesty it was, but what else could you do? The house was already spotless so cleaning wasn’t an option, and you didn’t quite feel like doing much of anything as you stared at the clock and tried to remember a time when your life was less of a disaster. As it got closer to five, though, you started to get antsy.

You had tried your best to not think about the obvious issue of the guests. Zemo was not the type to threaten his home, even if he wasn’t happy with you, so usually having anyone who wasn’t Oeznik or another paid lackey aware of the location of your safe house would be a big no in his book, but then you started thinking of the implications of him bringing people into your home. Your home, not his. Was he on his way to kill you? It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Or maybe he was bringing your replacement.

Now that thought made anger bubble up in your throat. You were no stranger to the idea that when your husband was away, he could be doing anything. There was no guarantee when he slept in lavish hotels or drank the night away in elite lounges that he kept his wedding ring on. The fact that there were two guests meant it was unlikely he was bringing two mistresses, but never impossible. Nothing was impossible when it came to Helmut.

No, it was more likely he had finally decided it was time to end your suffering. The shouts and boisterous laughter that started to sound directly outside of the front room window only confirmed the for you. Slowly, you crept towards the door and grabbed a small pistol from its place in the umbrella stand. If he wanted you dead you weren’t going to go without a fight.

Through the curtains on the front door, you could just barely make out the trio. When you saw them your blood ran cold. It was one thing if he needed help to take you down, but getting the Winter Soldier on board? Your rage only grew by the minute.

Helmut said something, probably planning the best course of action to catch you off guard, and you sneered. Two could play at that game. When he knocked on the door you opened it calmly and held the gun with your finger just barely ghosting over the trigger.

Everyone froze.

“Give me one reason I should let you in and not shoot you on the spot,” you said, rage coursing through every nerve in your body. You may have been in retirement for quite a few years, but you still knew how to handle a gun. Everyone there, except maybe the Falcon, knew that. As Zemo went to open his mouth, you prepared for a firefight.

“Because I brought you flowers,”

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

a/n: Sorry that only one chapter is out! The fic is just getting very long and complicated and I wanted to make sure you got as much as possible before the next episode drops lol. I’ll be working pretty much nonstop from now until then, though, so the next parts should be out soon!

TAGLIST: @tatestripedsweater​ , @elaineygrace​, @multiyfandomgirl40​ ,  @lovelymischief​ , @rami-malek-trash​ , @dazzlingseb​, @avgravy​ , @sarahsilver , @wh0re-4-techno​ , @forcebros​ , @sugarsweetkiss​ , @grandmuffinsharkbailiff​ , @killsandthrills​ , @novasstudy​ , @thnksfr-ptrkstmp​ , @inmate-marmalade​, @alanathedeer​ , @mossybank​ , @simsiddy​ , @xxspqcebunsxx​ 

Please do not post my work on other sites, thank you!

[beautiful-songbird]

The Joys of Parenting

Last updated: August 22nd, 2023

Key: fluff-♡ | angst-♤ | tw-♢ | suggestive-♧

Timeline

Series Navi

Themed Lists

OT7

Entries: 1

Water Park Adventures [♡] 1k - The girls take their kids to the newly opened water park.

Seven Roads to Home [♡,♤] 372 - Esme, Nubia, Zelda, Rosaelia, Jasmine, Yuna, and Astrid take a trip around Europe for a month, not just for the sights, but to get to know each other better as a group.

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Entries: 8

Testing the Waters [♡] 1.2k - Jasmine’s best friend, Olivia, needs someone to go with her to Sydney for the BTS concert. Jasmine agrees to go, not knowing who any of the guys are. That is, until she realizes something.

White Christmas [♡] 1.5k - Jin and Jasmine spend their first Christmas together since high school, and Jasmine is excited to see snow on Christmas for the first time ever.

A Distant Proposal [♡,♤] 1.6k - A surprise visit from a man Jasmine thought was long gone from her life sends her emotions spiraling, and Jin makes an announcement a little too soon.

The Dream Wedding [♡] 3.1k - The day that Jin and Jasmine have dreamed of for years is finally here, and it's just as magical as they expected it to be.

A Simple Man [♡] 1.3k - Jasmine is thrilled to finally have the life of her dreams, and she and Jin reminisce on the past

Taking the Stage [♡] 0.9k - Jin and Jasmine bring Namu to one of the concerts, and Namu decides it's his time to shine.

Detangled and Steaky [♡] 0.8k - Jasmine wakes up on Valentine’s Day to realize she forgot to fix her son’s hair the night before.

Saturday Shopping [♡] 0.8k - Jin’s two youngest have gotten into an argument over the TV, and Jin decides the way to remedy it is a shopping trip and some time in the kitchen together.

Meet the characters

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Entries: 12

Headed to Floor Nine [♡,♤] 1k- Yoongi’s had a long week in New York with the UN, but what happens when he gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger?

Dresses Go Best With Sneakers [♡] 1.3k - Yoongi and Rosaelia are finally getting a chance to spend time together, but they have to get crafty with disguises so they won't be recognized.

The Ambience of Rain [♡,♧] 1.4k - Yoongi and Rosaelia finally get a night alone in her apartment after making their relationship official.

I Miss You [♡,♤] 0.7k - Yoongi gets a call from his drunk girlfriend who has to tell him she misses him.

Who Are You Attracted To? [♡,♤] 1k - Mutually drunk, Yoongi and Rosaelia finally talk about their sexualities.

Not a Replacement [♤/♡/♢] 3.5k - After the death of their first baby, Yoongi and Rosaelia don't plan to try again. That is, until one of their friends offers to carry their baby for them. This doesn't stop Rosaelia from worrying about the outcome, though.

The Benefits of Co-Sleeping [♡] 0.4k - Yoongi is tired of waking up in the middle of the night to his daughter crying, so he decides to keep her in his bed at night.

A Day Out with Appa [♡] 1k - Yoongi takes on his daddy duties to keep Isabella occupied in New York City. There’s nothing like a day with his little girl.

A Rainy Movie Day [♡] 0.8k - Yoongi and Isabella have a fun day together while Rosaelia is at work.

Valentine Baby [♡] 0.6k - Yoongi and Rosaelia welcome their newborn the night before Valentine’s Day.

Friday Fears [♡] 1k - Yoongi’s hyper daughter, Isabella, wants nothing more than to model for her mother’s clothing line.

The Trials of a Jealous Heart [♡,♤] 1.6k - Yoongi’s daughter, Isabella, is feeling jealous of her best friend, Hyeon. When she doesn’t deal with it in the right way, will her friendship be lost forever?

Meet the characters

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Entries: 7

Operation: Get Hobi a Girlfriend / Pt. 2 [♡,♤] 2.3k - Hobi had a run-in with a girl in the hallway before their performance. He makes it his goal to find her again.

Moonboat [♡] 1.2k - Hobi takes Yuna to Lotte World for a date.

Trust the News [♡] 1.3k - Hybe is in shambles after Hobi and Yuna’s relationship gets leaked, but Yuna isn’t as worried as she should be.

A Kiss Under the Moon [♡] 1.8k - Yuna plans a special early birthday celebration for Hobi, and perhaps she has more than one surprise in store for him.

The Valentine Scrapbook [♡] 1.3k - Yuna and the girls join Hobi for Valentine’s Day lunch, and they present him with a gift that will keep giving for years to come.

Thursday Training [♡] 1k - Hobi’s second daughter, Haeju, is very interested in becoming a trainee, so he takes her to the studio to show her the real life of a trainee.

A Charitable Christmas Eve [♡] 1.1k - Hobi throws a charity event for Christmas with the help of his four older kids.

Meet the characters

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Entries: 7

The Diner Down the Street [♡,♤] 1k - Esme is intrigued by the man who frequents the diner she works at. Maybe dating him wouldn't be so bad.

Valentine - The King of Heartbreak [♤,♡] 0.9k - Esme and Namjoon get to spend Valentine’s Day together, but it doesn’t go entirely as planned.

One More Chance [♡,♤] 1k - Namjoon is dreading their trip to England, as it reminds him of his ex-girlfriend. But the last thing he expected was to run into her.

Wedding Kisses [♡] 1.6k - Namjoon and Esme are finally tying the knot, but Esme has no maid of honor. It seems her sister got the memo.

Wednesday Whining [♡] 1k - Namjoon’s two oldest daughters are fighting again, so he decides an afternoon with his girls is needed.

Skateboarding Mishaps [♡] 0.7k - Beatrix wants to go skateboarding, and Esme insists Elise escort her sister. The trip doesn’t go entirely as planned.

January Sky [♡] 1k - The Kim girls spend the day together as they wait to meet their little brother.

Meet the characters

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Entries: 8

Something’s Fishy / Pt. 2 [♡,♤] 3.5k - Nubia’s best friend, Eva, sets her up on a date. When her date stands her up, a catastrophe happens and a stranger pays for her meal. Turns out, insisting on paying him back would have more consequences than she thought.

A Karaoke Kiss [♡] 1.5k - Jimin invites Nubia out for a day on the town, but the last thing Nubia expected was to realize she was in love with him.

The Taste of Home [♡] 1.6k - Nubia finds herself distraught as she realizes the people she once considered friends were not really her friends, but thankfully, a group of real friends is there to help lift her up.

Snowy Cat Café [♡] 1k - Jimin and Nubia go on a date to the cat café.

Red-Stained Hands [♡] 4k - Nubia, despite once dreading her wedding day, finds much joy in the days leading up to her wedding and even the entire day itself.

A Tiny Bundle [♡] 0.5k - Baby Eunseo is born, and her older brother, Donam, is curious about the new baby.

Chocolate and Roses [♡] 0.5k - Nubia takes Donam and Eunseo Valentine’s Day shopping.

Tuesday Tears [♡] 1.1k - Nubia is exhausted taking care of a newborn by herself, so Jimin stays home for a day to take care of their baby.

Ummi and the Babies [♡] 0.9k - Nubia spends a day with her two youngest children.

Meet the characters

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Entries: 30

I Think I Could Love You [♡,♤] 1.6k - Tae goes on a search after a girl catches his eye at an award show. Little does he know, finding her will be a bit easier than he thought.

A Long, Long Dream [♡,♤] 3.2k - Zelda's life has been flipped upside down all because of one man at an award show, but maybe this is some sort of elaborate dream, because there's no way the pieces could fall into place this easily.

First Time Tears [♡] 1k - Tae is excited to finally get an afternoon with his girlfriend, but when he finds her in tears, he's unsure what to do.

Your Touch [♡] 1.1k - Hugs are usually unenjoyable for Zelda, but this one isn’t.

A Birthday Wish [♤,♡] 3.1k - Tae takes Zelda to her hometown for her birthday, but angst ensues when an old friend of Zelda's stirs the water.

Chicago Dreams [♡,♤] 0.7k - When Tae gets a call at 4 am, the last thing he expects it to be is his girlfriend calling to tell him that their relationship has been discovered by the press.

A Boyfriend for Christmas [♡] 1.3k - Zelda goes home for the holidays with the anticipation of Tae being there too. But when his schedule gets rearranged, their plans take a turn for the worse.

A Room for Two [♡] 1.5k - Tae and Zelda spend a night in Las Vegas together, and maybe having separate hotel rooms is overrated.

Shades of Pink and Purple [♡,♧] 1.2k - Zelda wakes up in Tae’s hotel room after accidentally falling asleep there; fluff ensues.

A Modeling Break [♡] 1.3k - Tae and Zelda spend a few nights in Paris together for Paris Fashion Week; flirting ensues.

Stupid, Crazy in Love with You [♤,♡] 4.1k - When Zelda realizes just how much fame marrying Tae will come with, she decides they need to take a break.

Wedding Day Worries [♡] 0.9k - Early mornings aren’t Zelda’s thing, but that won’t stop her from having the best wedding day ever.

Where's My Razor? [♡] 0.7k - Tae and Zelda spend an afternoon in their hotel, teasing each other on what they'll do for the rest of their honeymoon.

Smoke and Mirrors [♤,♡,♧] 2.3k - Tae and Zelda have a long overdue conversation after she finds him smoking.

Losing the Nerve [♡] 1.2k - Zelda is reflecting on insults she got during her time practicing to be a model. Tae notices.

Pretty Girl [♡,♤,♧] 2.8k - Zelda's stuggling with liking herself again, and Tae makes it his personal mission to make her feel better. Cue twenty minutes of him just loving on her.

Pampered and Jet Lagged [♡] 0.7k - Tae gets home from work after a long day to find that his wife has prepared a night of pampering for him.

Hello There, Little One [♡] 0.6k - Tae enjoys a few moments with his infant son.

Sweet Sleep [♡] 0.8k - Tae comes home from work to find his wife in tears and his two-month-old wailing. Can he help them both get the rest they need?

Sleep, Love [♡] 0.5k - Tae and Zelda settle into bed after a long day and coo over their sleeping four-month-old.

Don't You Love the Rain? [♡] 1.7k - The Kims take a trip to California to see Zelda's family, and Zelda and Zoro enjoy some time together in the rain.

Patsa and Bed [♡] 1k - Zelda must take a stealth mission to the convenience store. Will she make it without getting caught by paparazzi?

Ice It [♡] 1.2k - Zoro is teething, and his parents can’t figure out what to do to make him feel better.

Big Brother [♡] 1k - As Tae and Zelda greet their new arrival, there's a little boy who's even more excited than they are to meet the new baby.

Crunchy Dumplings [♡] 0.7k - With a new baby in the house, Tae and Zelda's parents both come for a visit. However, troubles occur when Hyeon's dumplings are cooked differently than she's used to.

Little Memories [♡] 1.6k - Zoro is the sun in Hyeon's sky. But when his smile disappears, she'll do anything to bring it back.

Happy Vaeetilnn Days [♡] 0.7k - Tae leaves a Valentine’s Day message for Zelda and the kids.

Bedtime Blues [♡] 1.9k - Tae and Zelda have quite the night taking care of their three youngest kids.

Monday Madness [♡] 1.4k - It’s Monday morning, and as always, it’s a bit crazy in the Kim household.

Welcome Home [♡/♤/♢] 2.7k - Zelda and Tae have wanted to adopt for years, but the timing never seemed right. That is until one day, Zelda’s niece, Luna, calls her with a request.

Meet the characters

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Entries: 8

Spill the Coffee [♡] 1k - Astrid spills her coffee all over a guy while rushing out of the cafe. Little does she know, he’s not any ordinary guy.

An Unlikely Date [♡] 1.1k - Astrid is greeted by a mysterious guy in her bakery one morning, but he's not as mysterious as she thought he was.

Can You Keep a Secret? [♡] 3k - Astrid hasn't had time to work on any music lately because of her busy life, but when she returns, she finds a message from one of her biggest fans, and their conversation sparks a collaboration between the two of them.

Gelato and Long Bread [♡] 0.5k - The Jeons take a Valentine’s Day trip to the Eiffel Tower.

Double Trouble [♡] 1k - Jungkook comes home early from work to find his two nine-month-olds cranky from teething and his wife beyond exhausted.

Sunday Swimmers [♡] 1.2k - Sunday is relaxation day for the Jeons, but Jiwoo would rather go swimming than watch a game of soccer with his dad and sisters.

Mud Pies [♡] 0.6k - Jungkook spends an evening with his two daughters.

A Special Layer Cake [♡] 0.7k - Jungkook and Astrid throw their third gender reveal party, but their announcement has more than one surprise.

Meet the characters

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The Kids’ Stories

The Strings of My Heart [♡,♤] 91.8k - Zoro’s moved to sunny California for college to escape from the life of fame for a little while. But when he loses his violin case in the second week of school, he’s sure his college experience has just gone up in flames. What will he do when, despite all odds, his case is returned to him?

All the Colors of my Heart [♡,♤] 1.6k - Bora and Bada take on middle school with the help of their closest friends, Jinsu and Dal. But middle school turns out to be more dramatic than their older brother had once told them.

[golbrocklovely]

Thats is something i started noticing about Stas the more people talked about it. Firstly i think all the girls Tara, Devyn etc are way too comfortable with the fans in that they are a open books and overshare (i.e Devyn with SnCs podcast). But the other girls talk about themselves and Stas doesnt she talks about the boys. She can post whatever she wants, her interests, her dislikes, her routines. But the second she starts talking about them and promising content without consent i think thats shady af. She started her subscription service on snap before she did on ig and she would promise people stuff like group stuff and anything they’d ask her response was “i can do that”. Obviously i think Katrina has more leverage as Sams actual girlfriend but even she doesnt tell people everything, she teases and clickbaits but wont say. Both her and Kat have another website where they post daily, the name doesn’t come to me right now but Kat liked a comment about it not long ago.

And i know people have taken a fancy towards Stas because of the way she is presented in the boys videos but prior to their Oregon trip, people already were sus on her since then because of how she spoke about them, as soon as they forgot and they started accepting her she went full in and took all this whatever thing with Colby is thought to be and ran with it. Its beautiful to have a platonic friendly friendship with him but dont make it into something its not when he keeps claiming singledom and apparently deleting content of them. Yes hes touchy feely but using that and liking things after people assume stuff is not the way to do it, maybe he hasnt caught on, maybe he doesnt know how to approach it, but given how little actual photos shes posted of Europe i believe she had a talking to.

stas talks about herself a lot, which i think has caused her to feel like oversharing about snc and kat (when she's with them and all that) is something normal. i had another anon on here complain about how everyone knows everything about stas bc she tells her fans anything they want to know about her. and while i agree that if she wants to overshare, that's a choice she can make. but when it comes to snc and kat, she really shouldn't be telling fans anything.

so far, from what i've been told, she's just telling fans where they are when they go to some of these places. my thing is, if that really is the case, why is no one talking about it? why is no one sharing the proof of her doing this or at the very least telling her to maybe not tell everyone where they're at? it's not a safe or smart thing to do bc whether or not the ppl wanting to meet you are just fans, they could easily be dangerous or turn that way once they don't get their way.

and personally, i didn't even remember she existed until snc and kat started hanging out with her frequently. like, i forgot she was kat's friend from back in 2019 that was around like twice until she started appearing in snc's videos. so… if ppl felt sus about her then... idk how you could tbh.

and as i've basically stated before, while she probably knows posting pics or vids with colby gets her attention or views or whatever, she's not doing anything in the pics that would suggest something more is happening between them. and if she wants to like comments and weird shit related to him and her, whatever. she can say all she wants or make fans think whatever (if that's even her plan or motive in the first place) but clearly colby doesn't feel the same as her and anyone that pays attention to him would know they ain't together.

the least of my concerns is what she does with colby. my concerns are with her posting or telling fans where she's at, if that's what she's doing. and if she did get told to chill out, good. she needs to.

[actuallybarb]

The Aftermath ~ Part 1

Summary: y/n grudgingly goes on the school science trip to europe and starts making friends in expected and unexpected places

Pairing: peter parker x reader

Warnings: swearing, angst, fluff, mysterio is a dick, trauma, it’s marvel what do you expect

Word Count: 2356 give or take

A/N: happy new year!! i can’t change the past (*endgame*) but i can at least make the future less bleak. i got too excited, so have an early release!

                                                         ///////////

“I think you should go on this trip, sweetheart, I think it’ll be good for you to make connections with the rest of your classmates.”

I rolled my eyes at that statement. “Mom, they don’t see me as their classmate, they see me as the twelve year old who grew up in the blink of an eye.” I flicked my hair out of my eyes and sighed. “They don’t see me as an equal, they see me as a kid. And I don’t really want to be subjected to direct ridicule for a whole week.”

My mom gripped the railing to the stairs and breathed deeply. “We already signed you up for the trip, sweetheart.” She forced the words to come out nicely, or, she at least tried to. “You’re going on that trip whether you want to or not.” She turned away from where I was standing on the fifth step and almost stomped to the kitchen, trying to keep her composure. I knew she really wanted to throw and kick and scream until the cows came home.

I flopped on the bed and dialed the number of the one person who I actually made a connection with during the five years my parents took a “leave of absence.”

“Y/N, it’s been almost three days, I was starting to get worried.” Jessica, my foster mom of five years. The only person I smiled at when I talked to them these days.

“She’s so infuriating, Jess.”

“Tell me all about it.” Jessica was thirty when “the snap” happened. Thirty, and suddenly without a husband and a two year old. She found it within herself to open her heart to others that were grieving, and was connected with me. And I thank my lucky stars every night that she was.

“It’s the same thing, she expects me to be okay with how things used to be, and I haven’t lived with ‘how things used to be’ for five years, it’s not like I can just flip a switch. I don’t even really remember how she and Dad ran the house, and now they just kind of look at me and wait for me to catch up, but it’s not happening. Like just now, she tries to encourage me to go on this science trip for school. And, yeah, it would be fun, except all of my classmates still look at me like I’m twelve. So, I tell her this, and then she just bursts out, ‘Well, we already signed you up so you’re going,’ and just storms off. Like, god, if you had already signed me up, just say that, don’t listen to why I don’t want to go and just shove it down my throat as an after thought.”

“I think you should go.”

I deadpanned. “Did you not just hear my argument as to why I don’t want to go?”

“I did, and those are very valid points, your classmates should be looking at you as one of their own, not the little sister. But, I don’t think not going is going to help your case, either. You’ll just be separating yourself even more. And, plus, it’ll give you a week away from your mom, and I think both of you need some time apart.”

I huffed our the breath I was holding. “Do you always have to be so smart?”

“It’s a gift.” She was smiling into the phone, I could tell, and it immediately pulled a smile onto my own face. “Call me while you’re gone, I want to know about everything.”

“I will. Love you, Jess.”

“Love you too.”

///////////

The car ride to the airport the next day was relatively silent. Dad was driving, Mom was passenger, and I was in the back, my suitcase in the trunk. Mom insisted on helping me with my carry-on sized luggage, and I knew she was going to try to smooth things over with a few words of peace and love, but I wasn’t having it. I wasn’t twelve.

I closed the trunk and looked her square in the face, a move she was not expecting. “I would’ve been fine with you signing me up to go on this trip if you had just told me. You’re right, this is a good way to make connections, especially before senior year. But you made it sound like a suggestion, like I had a choice in the matter. And when I gave you some very solid reasons as to why I didn’t want to go, you telling me you had already signed me up was a slap to the face, because it made me think you didn’t actually care about my reasonings. I’m fine with you taking action, but just tell me, instead of making me think you actually give a damn about what I think.” I gave her a hug, said “I love you,” then walked into the airport without so much as a second glance.

Flash was the first to acknowledge my presence. “You okay, Y/L/N? You look like you got punched in the gut.”

“You’d know a lot about what that looks like, wouldn’t you, Eugene?” Despite my quip, I stopped beside him and set my bag down, keeping my place in the back of the group.

“Seriously, you good? I don’t want you vomiting all over my Louboutin shoes.”

“I’m fine, Flash, though I’m considering puking just because that sentence came out of your mouth.” He held his hands up in surrender and turned away, letting me fiddle with my phone in peace.

“Hey, Y/N.” Brad Davis, one of the few kids in my grade who didn’t get snapped and made it all the way to Midtown. Also one of the people I couldn’t stand. “Ready for the trip?”

“Your perfect teeth don’t fool me, Davis, so go ahead and take about five steps back and just let me stand here in peace.” He turned away in slight disbelief and annoyance, but Flash whistled in approval.

“Damn, Y/N, you turned him down quick. Why the dislike of one of your few un-blipped classmates?”

“Because I don’t trust anyone named Brad,” I replied simply.

“What about Brad Pitt?”

“He’s at the top of the list.” I looked up from the game I was playing and saw the faintest of smiles on Flash’s lips. I responded with my own, then returned to Candy Crush until Mr. Harrington paraded us through security and to our gate. Which we had to wait at for another two hours.

I somehow got squished on an uncomfortable bench/chair combination with Peter Parker and Ned Leeds, which wasn’t too bad until Peter couldn’t stop fidgeting. His constant tapping on his leg, or the armrest, or the ground, prevented me from getting a quick nap in before the flight. And that was bothersome.

“I’m gonna grab a snack, wanna come with me?”

His eyes flicked up to mine almost instantly. “Uh, yeah, sure.” Even standing, he couldn’t stop moving, and it was starting to get on my nerves. We made our way to a vending machine before I asked the burning question.

“What are you so nervous about?” I tried not to sound like I was accusing him; I even asked while I was punching in the number I wanted for my snack.

“Wha-What are you talking about?”

“You haven’t stopped moving for the last half hour, what gives?”

“Oh, I, uh, I’m just a little nervous, I guess.”

One of my eyebrows rose in skepticism. “About flying?”

“You don’t think I’m a nervous flyer?”

“I don’t know, you never struck me as the kind of guy who gets nervous about stuff like that. I’d heard you had the Stark Internship before, I just figured you’d have flown with him or something.” I grabbed the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup that took minimum coercion to fall, but I still saw the flinch Peter gave when I mentioned Stark’s name. “Sorry, that was insensitive.”

“No, uh,” he cleared his throat, “it’s fine.”

“It’s not, but,” I slid out one of the peanut butter cups and offered it to him, “it’s okay for it not to be.” He smiled tensely and took the offered candy, then pulled a bag of skittles out of the machine. “So, what are you nervous about?”

“You’re really persistent, you know that?” I just smirked. He sighed and leaned against a wall, still a fair distance away from the group. “There’s this girl I really like—“

“MJ.” He balked. “I caught you staring, it’s not a big deal. Keep going.”

He shook his head like he was straightening out his thoughts. “Anyway, I have this whole plan to tell her how I feel, and it starts with us sitting together on the plane, but I don’t know if it’ll work out, and I really want it to work out.”

I smiled. A crush. Peter was nervous about a crush. “First of all, I think all of this is adorable. And, second of all, I’ll help you.” I pushed off the wall and started walking back to the group, but Peter blocked my path.

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll help you. If there’s a way I can get people moved around to get you next to MJ, I’ll do it.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“I kind of just bullied you into telling me why you were so nervous, I kind of owe it to you. And, plus,” I shrugged, “this is cute.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Our boarding group was called an hour later, and everyone shuffled onto the plane. Peter was sitting next to Ned, I was next to Brad, and MJ was next to Betty. Less than ideal for at least two of the parties. Ned came to MJ’s row and asked Betty to switch seats with Peter because his “allergies were acting up,” but then Mr. Harrington overheard and decided to intervene.

“Peter, Ned, up, alright, Ned, you’ll take MJ’s seat, Y/N, you’ll be sitting in Peter’s old seat, MJ—“

“Mr. Harrington,” I cut in, “all you have to do is have Betty and Peter switch seats. You can’t even smell the perfume from their row.”

He deflated considerably. “Betty, Peter, go ahead and switch.” He sunk back in his seat dejectedly.

I turned in my own with a smug smile on my face, but it was wiped off quickly when Brad opened his mouth. “What’s got you all excited?”

“I have ten hours of uninterrupted NASA conspiracies to get through.” Then I plugged in my headphones and hunkered down in my seat. I wasn’t actually watching NASA conspiracies, but Brad thinking I was weird would hopefully get him to stop talking to me.

After two hours of sitting next to a snoring Brad, I couldn’t stand being beside him. I stood up and stretched, but my muscles ached to be used.

“Is there something I can help you with, miss?” A flight attendant had seemingly come out of nowhere and almost scared me back into my seat.

“Um, I don’t think so. Just stretching.” She smiled and continued walking, while I stood there, like an idiot.

I went to the bathroom just to get my body moving, but there was turbulence while I walked back, almost throwing me into Betty’s lap. “Sorry, Bets.”

“No worries, Y/N.”

Despite the shaking, I couldn’t help but smile. Turbulence was something I could work with. I sat back in my seat and closed my eyes and focused on the weight and size of the plane, then I focused on the gusts of wind outside. There was a clenching in my gut, and my head nearly split from the concentration, but the winds ceased quickly, and I could relax again. Now I had a migraine, but MJ didn’t look like she was going to throw up.

//////////

We landed in Venice early in the morning, which was good for most, but not so good for the few of us who didn’t sleep on the plane.

“You okay?” Peter walked beside me once we got off the plane. “Did you sleep at all?”

“Nah, I got a migraine about two hours in, after the turbulence, so I was up the whole time. How was it with MJ?”

His smile reminded me of Bashful from Snow White. “It was good. She slept on my shoulder a lot of the way, so we didn’t talk much, but it was nice.”

“Good. What’s the next part of the plan?”

“I’m getting a—“ A dog sniffed his bag and he got stopped and was forced to have his bag searched. “Wha—“

“I’ll make sure Harrington waits for you.”

“Thanks.”

I flicked my hair out of my face and kept with the crowd, then stopped with the rest of the school group just outside of the airport.

“Where’s Penis Parker?”

“God, Eugene, that joke is so five years ago.”

“So are you, Y/L/N.”

I honestly wasn’t planning on my fist connecting with his jaw, but one second I had clean knuckles, and the next they were close to splitting.

Flash almost fell to the floor from the impact. “Ow! What the hell?”

“Y/N! What’s going on?” Harrington was upon us. He wasn’t very good at consequences, but he was trying to be better. No one else could give him a more opportune moment to improve than myself.

“There was a wasp on his face, sir. I had to hit it off.”

“By punching me?” Flash’s hand was clutching his jaw.

“Have you ever met a wasp? They’re evil sons-of-bitches.”

“I won’t tolerate physical violence, Y/N. Consider this your warning.” The crowd slightly dispersed, but I still stood beside my victim, much to his dismay.

“I think you broke my jaw.”

“If I broke your jaw, you wouldn’t be speaking.” I picked up my backpack and handed Flash his. “I deserve to be here as much as you do, Eugene. Just because you didn’t live the last five years doesn’t make mine any less valid.” I knew I promised Peter I would make Harrington wait, but all I wanted to do was get out of that airport.

[gemsofgreece]

@cathyhearty replied:

I'm planning on a trip to Greece as soon as it's safe... Do you have any reccomendations of good and budget friendly places to try Greek food in Athens? Thanks!

I personally know too little about Athens, I am afraid. I could recommend some based on critics and articles etc but I don’t even know when the borders will open and how much things will have changed since then so... I’ll just give you some general tips to make safely good and budget friendly choices all over Greece because I’d hate to leave this completely unanswered.

How to find Cheap and tasty food in Greece

First things first, odds are in your favor. You might not be lucky enough to find the best place ever in the first try but finding truly bad food in Greece is not common.

Greek restaurants are cheaper than Western Europe’s and maybe a little more expensive than Eastern Europe’s. Depends on where you go too, obviously, but overall prices are very reasonable and portions tend to be large.

If you come with a tourist group, avoid the restaurants where tour guides take you and tourist traps. They offer mediocre stereotypical dishes accompanied with stereotypical music and the slightly cringey obligatory plate breaking. I mean, we don’t do that in normal everyday dining, so it’s cringey to me. Run away and make your own choice. Important: choose places that target Greeks, not tourists! Found a place that doesn’t even have menus in English? Honestly, even better!!! This means the restaurant targets Greeks who know well what to expect. Go there and ask for their specialties. But if the English menu is first or more showy than the Greek menu, run away.

Don’t buy Greek salad in hopes of getting something cheap. Greek salad is expensive because of its reputation and the huge chunk of the trademarked feta cheese. You can buy a tasty main dish with as much. Also, I think if you order an “Agourodomata” salad and a feta cheese seperately you basically get the same stuff for a little cheaper. But also, try other salads too. Or appetizers (orektika) instead of salad. Trust me. 

Tripadvisor is a good friend and also ask random locals for recommendations.

These are the most common / basic kinds of shops that offer Greek food :

tyropitadiko - snack / Greek pie shop

souvlatzidiko - Greek fast food restaurant

psistaria - grill restaurant

taverna - traditional tavern

ouzeri / tsipouradiko / mezedopolio - sea food & fish restaurants and appetizer restaurants

estiatorio - restaurants / fine dining

In a tyropitadiko you can eat and get completely full for 2 euros. A Snack / pie shop offers traditional Greek pies, many cheese pies, the spanakopita (spinach pie), other vegetable pies, mushroom pies, chicken pies, ground beef pies, sweet pies like milk pie and bougatsa, other snacks like koulouri and drinks etc. *Greek pies are different from pies in the west

Souvlatzidiko is a souvlaki / gyros / pita place. They also offer burgers and stuff like sausages, patties, chicken nuggets, kebab, fillets. The key here is pita. As long as you order everything in a pita (or a bread), you can get more than full and happy under 3 euros.

If you eat meat, in a psistaria you can have the best food experience ever or a disappointing one. It’s a bit of a hit or miss. But if you find a place with good reviews, definitely give it a try. Prices there are mostly cheap and most dishes cost under 9 - 10 euros. Also, you can share a dish with somebody else and if you get too full, you can ask for a package to take the rest of your food with you. This is perfectly acceptable in Greece (except in very fine / prestigious dining places) because it means you loved the food so much that you don’t want to leave any of it behind.

A taverna has similar prices and offers a bigger variety of Greek dishes, ideally resembling home cooking, for all tastes, especially meat / fish / vegetable based. Some of them can be tourist traps but the good Greek-targeting ones are a dream. You can also ask for a package for the rest of your food (I’m repeating this because you can save money this way).

From the appetizer shops, Ouzeri and tsipouradika focus on seafood and fish, while mezedopolia on meat based appetizers. The portions there are smaller but IMO these often offer the most tasty things. Depending on what you order, prices might be lower than in the psistaries and tavernes but of course they can also go much higher if you order fresh fish and big seafood dishes. However, if  you like fish and seafood, you should experience it at least once in Greece. We are a nation of the sea, after all. A package is acceptable but more rare here because portions are smaller by default.

In estiatoria, prices can easily go over 12 euros for a dish but that’s not always the case. They all offer a few more budget friendly choices.

So, if you want to exclude estiatoria, my suggestion is this: based on your personal taste, find the best reviewed places for these types of shops or ask locals for all types you are interested in and then make a mix of all of them where in the most pricey ones you can share with your co-travellers and take packages with you for the evening if you like the food but left some.

This is my recommendation because while all these are very tasty, I see most of the time tourists only eat a Greek salad throughout their trip or spend all days and nights with a souvlaki and... I mean, that’s not enough to experience Greek food, you know?