#bridgeside

[laurelcounty]

A Bit of Realism

The park in Bridgeside was torn down to make a car dealership *Ba Dum Tsssss*

[yeoldespook]

Wizard introduction!! Aurora Dupont

A professional hater, she met April and Elsie at boarding school, and was the reluctant participant in their constant shenanigans. And she is ever and always ready with a sardonic comment or scathing quip about anything she deems unworthy of her approval.

As the sole heir of the Dupont estate, she is tasked with taking the mantle her father once held in the Order.

Her parents had her late, and her father is old and sick. Her mother passed a few years ago, but was a distant and neglectful parent in life. Although if you ask Aurora about it, she was just busy. Aurora takes her duty incredibly seriously, and swears up and down that she's 'as happy as one can expect.'

Her little free time is usually spent sleeping, and most days she has off are spent in bed. On a good day she takes up her embroidery.

[graycats-arcane-blog]

Ummm who wants to read about Sevika and Viktor getting drunk and ranting about their woes?

Zaun’s Worst Drinking Buddies

(Rated T, 1596 words, no romantic pairings, just platonic buddies)

0 drinks in.

Sevika: Sober.

Viktor: Sober.

These meetings weren’t something they did often. Viktor’s health was piss-poor enough without flooding his liver in booze, and Sevika’s responsibilities as Silco’s right-hand-woman made it near-impossible to plan ahead. However, even the sickest and busiest Zaunites needed to blow off steam every now and again.

That’s why they met at the Bridgeside Tavern to drink.

“Piltover still treating you like shit?” Sevika grunted as Viktor sunk heavily into a barstool, dropping his crutch to lean against the counter.

Viktor leveled her with a tired stare. Dark circles lined his eyes – they were more pronounced than the circles he’d had the last time they drank together. In a weary sigh, he replied, “When they care to notice me, yes. Is your employer still treating you like a one-woman clean-up crew?”

Sevika laughed bitterly. “No change there. Wait ‘till I tell you about the mess his kid made this time.”

The conversation paused long enough for Viktor to order a pint from the barkeep. While the scientist watched his drink get poured, Sevika swirled her own glass of frothy, amber fluid.

Viktor’s drink was served.

Glasses clinked in a toast.

The unlikely drinking buddies tipped their heads back and chugged their first round.

. . .

One drink in.

Sevika: Mostly sober.

Viktor: Beginning to feel tipsy.

“Politics?” Sevika echoed, raising an eyebrow as she waited for Viktor to announce that he’d been joking.

“I wish I were joking,” Viktor said, dolefully acknowledging the frivolity of his news. “But, yes – Jayce is doing politics now. He accepted an assignment to the Council, who’ve given him free reign over border security.”

Sevika’s eyes narrowed. “So when they shut down travel across the bridge –”

“That was Jayce,” Viktor confirmed.

Sevika swirled the dregs of liquid at the bottom of her glass. “Well, fuck,” she exclaimed. “What kind of political experience does he have?”

“None.”

“Then why –”

“Councilor Heimerdinger wanted a scientist to be in charge of Hextech’s security.”

“The Yordle councilor? Isn’t he a scientist too?”

“Yes.” As Sevika’s mouth dropped open with a follow-up question, Viktor interrupted, “Don’t ask me why Heimerdinger didn’t take charge himself.” Viktor slumped heavily against the counter, propped onto his elbows. “I have no idea.”

Sevika huffed. “Now that I think about it,” she said, “the problem I’m having with the boss right now is related to the issue with your partner. Don’t go telling anyone, but it was the boss’s kid whole stole that Hextech gemstone and got Piltover all keyed up over security.” Sevika raised a hand to catch the barkeep’s attention. “But I’m gonna need another drink before I tell you about that.”

. . .

Two drinks in.

Sevika: Beginning to feel tipsy.

Viktor: Very tipsy.

“… And what does Silco do when he finds out that Jinx killed all those enforcers for a magic rock?” Sevika paused for emphasis. “He drops the strategy we’ve been building on for years and decides we’re going to threaten Topside with the stolen tech!” Slamming a fist against the counter, Sevika fumed, “We had a plan! And now we could lose everything because he let his kid run wild!”

“He –” Viktor hiccupped, then had a brief coughing fit, raising an uncoordinated hand to half-cover his mouth. “He at least grounded her, surely?” he rasped.

“Huh. That’d be the day.” Sevika glared down at her fist. “He gave her a quick scolding for show, then let her off the hook. She’s probably building a new bomb as we speak.”

Viktor’s brow furrowed. “That’s… concerning. With Hextech’s power, she could create some very destructive weapons.” He frowned at an empty glass, pursing his lips in thought. “At least we’ll be safe for a little while until she figures out how Hextech works.”

“She’ll crack it sooner than you think,” Sevika warned. “Jinx is a nuisance, but she’s clever.” A snort slipped from Sevika’s lips. “You’d think someone as smart as her could learn some sense.”

With a defeated sigh, Viktor replied, “I think we’d both have much fewer problems if the people in our lives applied their intelligence to being sensible.”

“Hear, hear.”

. . .

Three drinks in.

Sevika: Tipsy.

Viktor: Drunk.

“He’s always with the Council,” Viktor groused, his accent slurring as he took another drink. A few drops of stout plopped onto his vest. “He hardy visits the lab anymore – it’s like he’s forgotten our work entirely!”

Sevika huffed, swirling her own drink with a loathing grimace. “I know how that feels. Back in the early days, Silco used to help out with the dirty work around town. He’s not present anymore, not since he dedicated half his time to raising a teenage serial killer!”

“And while they’re busy,” Viktor groused, “We’re left to keep – cough, cough! – to keep their dreams on track!”

“The dream of Zaun,” Sevika said wistfully.

“The dream of Hec – hic – Hextech,” Viktor slurred.

Sevika’s face curled in an irate snarl. “I swear, Silco’s gonna let that kid blow his dreams to smithereens one of these days. And he’ll probably take her out for ice cream after.”

With an expression of misery not unlike that of a spurned lover, Viktor rested his head on one arm and mumbled, “It’d be nice if Jayce took me out for ice cream.”

“Huh?”

“He might sit down long enough for me to tell him about my new Hextech ideas…” Viktor squinted at his reflection in a beer glass. In a soft, self-reflective murmur, he mused, “should I invite Jayce out for ice cream?”

Sevika stared at Viktor uncomprehendingly for a long moment. “I think I’m gonna need another drink for whatever you’re saying to make sense.”

. . .

Four drinks in.

Sevika: Almost drunk.

Viktor: Plastered.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Maybe I can keep this shamble from falling apart if I just keep pulling all the weight,’ but you know what? I get tired!”

“So tired…” Viktor coughed weakly, his head cradled in the crook of his elbow.

“How can they expect us to keep doing all the work on our own?” Sevika announced, gesturing wildly with her mechanical arm. Consequentially, an empty glass was smacked off the counter and shattered against the floor.

“I can barely stand on my own,” Viktor groaned.

“How could anyone stand under the weight we’re carrying?” Sevika shook her head. “And for all the slack we pick up, do we get an ounce of recognition? No! Never!”

“Everyone recognizes Jayce.” Viktor tucked his face further into his elbow. “He’s on posters. I bet… hic… I bet people give him free ice cream…”

“We’re the ones who deserve free ice cream,” Sevika seethed coldly.

“Hmmm…” Viktor’s eyes drifted shut. “Could make a Hextech ice cream maker… Wouldn’t share it with Jacye. Not unless he helped me make it.”

Sevika’s fist tightened around another empty beer glass. “When Zaun is free from Piltover,” she declared, “I’ll fill these streets with ice cream shops. And I’ll tell them all to charge Silco double.” Turning to the barkeep, Sevika shouted, “Hey – do you guys make floats?”

. . .

Five drinks in.

Sevika: Drunk.

Viktor: Unconscious.

“Hrrng,” Viktor moaned unintelligibly as he drooled on the countertop. As his face shifted against the polished wood, the ice-cream moustache from his recently finished ice cream float smeared everywhere.

Sevika, who sported a matching ice cream moustache, couldn’t stop the unsteady laugh that bubbled up from her chest. “I’m done kidding myself!” She picked up her latest glass, not realizing it was empty, and began raising it to her mouth. Before it had crossed half the intended distance, the glass slipped from Sevika’s fingers and shattered on the floor. “We’re all doomed!” Sevika proclaimed, promptly forgetting her dropped glassware. “I’m doomed! You’re doomed! Zaun’s doomed! Piltover’s doomed!” Sevika spun on her barstool and began pointing to the few patrons who’d been brave enough to sit anywhere near her. “You’re doomed!” Sevika shouted at a random woman. “And you’re doomed! And you’re doomed! And you’re –”

It was at this point that a very brave (but exceedingly trembly) barback approached the ranting woman.

“Um… Excuse me, ma’am…”

Sevika’s raving cut off. She looked the barback up and down, a grimace curling over her face as she took in his pathetic shaking. “Oh, you’re definitely doomed,” she said. “The Jinx-pocalypse is gonna eat you alive.”

The barback swallowed. “Uh – if you say so. But, um, I just wanted to let you know  - well – we’ve got to cut you and your friend off for the night. Um… Would you like a glass of water before you leave? And…” He glanced at Viktor, who’d begun to snore. “Is… is he alright?”

Sevika snarled. “We don’t need your damn water.” Standing abruptly from her chair, Sevika picked up Viktor by the collar of his shirt and threw him over her shoulder. “C’mon, Vik – let’s go find a better bar. One that isn’t run by buzzkills.”

Viktor replied with a pained groan as Sevika carried him out of the tavern, leaving his crutch forgotten against the counter.

. . .

Meanwhile, on the bridge…

“I think I’m getting the hang of this whole ‘politics’ thing!” Jayce announced proudly.

Silco shot him a baleful glare before rifling through his coat pocket. “No. Your political instinct is abysmal and Piltover is doomed. However, I’ve taken some new photographs of my daughter, and no one at The Last Drop wants to see them. You’re my last resort.”

“Hmmm…” Jace pouted, tapping his chin. “I’ll look at pictures of your kid if you look at this drawing of me with a magic hammer!”

Silco whipped a thick stack of photos from his pocket. “Deal.”

[equestrianempire]

Jagger and Amy Millar HX Jump to Stardom at the CSI 4 World Equestrian Center

The$ 31,500 Speed Challenge CSI4* stole the show this afternoon for the first Fédération Equestre International ( FEI ) &nbsp, CSI4*/CSI2* week of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series. Amy Millar ( CAN ) rode Team Eye Candy’s Jagger HX ( Ustinov x Bustique ), and top athletes from nine different countries competed against Gregory Bodo ( FRA ) and Pieter Vitse ( BEL ) on the speed track. &nbsp,

Millar was particularly interested in jumping his tracks this week because Gregory Bodo ( FRA ) has been appointed as the co-curriculum designer for the 2024 Paris Olympics.” Part of the reason I came here is to jump]Gregory Bodo‘s ] courses. He has a lot of talent and skill. You walk the program and it appears good, but as the training progresses you learn that there are minor issues all over. That’s what happened to a lot of folks today, according to Millar. &nbsp,

Amy Millar ( CAN ) and Jagger HX

Millar had a positive start to her first week at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala. The pair piloted the 10-year-old Royal Dutch Sport Horse – Dutch Warmblood ( KWPN) gelding through a lightning-fast record and clocked in at an amazing 71.25 hours, nearly four hours ahead of second place to take home the winning name.

For Jagger HX, this was his first appearance in a four-star contest. I’ve owned him for two years with Eye Candy Jumpers ‘ Erica Hatfield. He has been trained and placed where he needs to be by us. He merely turned 10 this month, and he is truly unique. He’s so much fun to journey, it’s really simple for him. After now, I am even more enthusiastic about his upcoming because this is his first ever four-star competition.

A fresh place for Millar, the World Equestrian Center– Ocala, left a lasting effect. It’s amazing, they say. This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I am amazed at how good everyone is. The attention to detail is outstanding, the hotel has stunning hauling, there is a lot of room, and the rubber flooring is ideal for horses. It’s like a special area.

Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z is a collaboration between Sharn Wordley ( NZL ) and Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z.

In 74.94 seconds, Sharn Wordley ( NZL ) completed the second-fastest time aboard Della Wordley’s 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z ( Bamako De Muze x Baloubet De Rouet ). &nbsp,

Big Boy Z, Conor O’Regan ( IRL), and

In a time of 76.73 seconds, Conor O’Regan ( IRL ) rode Delshore Horses LLC’s 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Big Boy Z ( Big Star Jr J J Z x Caridor Z ), in third place.

Last Results:$ 31,500 Speed Challenge CSI 4* – 1.45m

1 ) Amy Millar ( CAN ) &amp, Jagger HX: 2014 KWPN gelding by Ustinov x Bustique, Team Eye Candy: 0 / 71.25

2 ) Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z: 2014 Zangersheide horse by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet, Della Wordley: 0 / 74.94.

3 ) Conor O’Regan ( IRL ) &amp, Big Boy Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Big Star Jr. K. Z. x Carido Z, Delshore Horses LLC: 0 / 76.

4 ) Conthargran and Juan Pablo Gnecco ( COL ): 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Conthargos: 0 / 77.24

5 ) Bliss Heers ( USA ) &amp, Quality Star Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Quality Time Tn x Cash, Bridgeside Farms L. L. C: 0 / 77.89

6 ) Bliss Heers ( USA ) &amp, Farinjo des Mec: 2015 Selle Francias stallion by Carinjo x Kannan, Bridgeside Farms L. L. C: 0 / 79.49

7 ) Richie Moloney ( IRL ) & Rocksy Music: 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent, Equinimity LLC: 4 / 70.83

8 ) Nicole Walker ( CAN ) & Excellent B: 2009 KWPN gelding by Berlin x Heartbreaker, Nicole Walker: 4 / 72.73

9 ) Rodrigo Pessoa ( BRA ) & Quick Step: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Quintender 2 x Calido I, Paseo Farms, LLC: 4 / 73.25

MANCHESTER: 2012 French Warmblood mare by Quidam De Revel x Codex&nbsp, Delshore Horses LLC: 4 / 73.83

World Equestrian Center Press Release

WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

Related

Categories: CSI 3*, English, Jumper News Canada

Identified with: Amy Millar, Big Boy Z, Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z, Canada Équestre, Conor O’Regan, CSI 3*, Dutch Warmblood, Horses, Jagger X, Jumper News, Jumper News Canada, KWPN, Effects, Royal Dutch Sport Horse, Sharn Wordley, Showjumping, WEC, WEC– Ocala, World Equestrian Center, World Equestrian Center- Ocala, World

[soweirdondisney]

Henry Winkler Memoir + Autograph

"Being Henry", a memoir by Henry Winkler, is scheduled for release later this month on October 31.

He will be going on tour to promote the book in select cities.

For everyone else, his publisher is offering ✨ ✍️ SIGNED✍️✨ copies through independent bookstores in the United States.

The official list includes over 100 stores in alphabetical order and the links should take you directly to the book's listing on the seller's site.

To be sure you're getting a signed copy, look for the detail in the listing that says so.

(This and similar ones can be found at The Poisoned Pen in Arizona, City Lit Books in Illinois, Swamp Fox Bookstore in Iowa, Itinerant Literature Books in South Carolina, Bridgeside Books in Vermont, Fountain Bookstore in Virginia, and Blue House Books in Wisconsin.)

If it's not specified in the listing's title, check for a note or banner nearby like this one from A Likely Story in Sykesville, Maryland:

Or this one from Book People in Virginia:

You can also use the phone numbers on the Celadon Books reference page or look for the "contact" section usually found at the top or bottom of a store's website to make sure your copy will be signed.

These are independent retailers so if calls aren't your thing, a human should still answer any customer service emails and submission forms. 🙂

Shipping costs will vary but the book is priced between $27 to $30 per copy. Being Henry will also be available in large print, audio book (read by Henry!), and digital at higher prices.

(This is from Village Books in Washington.)

If you're outside the U.S. ask a local retailer or contact a U.S. store with your questions. They might be willing to ship internationally.

It's unclear if So Weird will be mentioned in the book, but here's hoping since High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips did so in about the same page length.

[foodies-channel]

🍥 Bridgeside Triple Cheeseburger

🍔YouTube || 🍟Reddit

[dedaly]

As someone who has always loved stories with maps... look!:

A real map in a real book of a place I made up!!

[abhirupalaha]

Yellow Taxi 🌻 . . #yellowtaxi #yellowtaxiofkolkata #bridges #bridgeside #yellowlab #yellowtaxicab #kolkata_chitrography #chitrography #bong_chitrography #kolkata_lanes #in_kolkata #in_calcutta #calcuttadiaries #calcuttainstagrammers #aesthetic #kolkataaesthetics #kolkatasutra #kolkata_ig #instagram #instadaily #blogger #kolkatablogger #kolkatavlogger #kolkatabloggerstyle #calcutta_ports #lensculture #kolkatalenses #kolkatalens #storiesofkolkata (at Vidyasagar Setu) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iAbucHttS/?igshid=7aqc0jsfi150

[akacia-janae]

Reppin Da V·A·L·L·E·J·O!!! I Love My City!!! Da Itty Bitty City By Da Water!!! I'm About To Enter An Art Contest, Creating A Collage Of Scenic Views From My City, Stay Tuned!!! #SevenOSev #Vallejo #Lit #Summer19 #Art #Music #Trap #Love #MacDre #Thizz #CrestSide #CollegePark #NorthPoint #Lofas #SuSide #HillSide #HillCrest #DaWest #TheVille #BridgeSide #TheCove #Rancho #Cimmerons #MareIsland #707 (at Vallejo, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxLJERegEM3/?igshid=2xx99k4c26q6

[timeplustragedy]

Live your life, worthy of remembering. #endoftheday #endoftheweekend #bridge #bridgeside #nature #instanature #instasunset #sunsets #sunset_photography #views #colors #nature #clouds #cloudporn #waterside #sunrays #beauty #simplicity (bij Emblem, Antwerpen, Belgium)

[merry-moody-missy]

Maneskin angst fanfic

“I’m right here my love, everything will be alright “

Content Warnings: Serious Angst, Hospital, car crash , injury, will your new husband survive the horror tour bus crash?

Maneskin -serious angst going on here! Will your new rockstar husband survive the horror tour bus crash?

“I’m here my love, everything will be alright ……

For the fourth morning in a row you’d woken up stiff and aching and wondering if the sofas in hospital rooms were actually specifically designed to be as uncomfortable as possible. Everyone had suggested you go to the hotel for the night but other than an afternoon nap after going for a shower, leaving his parents to keep vigil , you’d been at the hospital every minute possible. His parents had arrived in the country the day after the accident, so at least you could take turns. The rest of the band and staff team were in other rooms around the hospital, you hadn’t the mental energy to think too much about their conditions right now…

You stretched, folded up the thin blanket and went over to his bed. Damiano was still, quiet and pale , the only movement his chest slowly rising and falling. That was a huge improvement at least, he’d been breathing by himself for over 24 hours now, the relief when the ventilator had been removed was immense. His punctured lung had been patched up and now aside from the oxygen mask he was breathing normally. The blanket was pulled up to his chest, concealing the worst of the bandages and dressings, but the angry red gash on his head reminded you of just how broken his beautiful body was.

“Morning my brave rockstar“ you murmured , kissing his forehead, hating how cold he felt and how still his face was. What you would give for his eyes to flicker open right now. “I’m right here my love.”

The accident had made headlines around the world, setting all social media ablaze in a matter of minutes as the band had been doing a live interview from the bus. ‘ Rock Band Maneskin in horror smash’. You were already in Germany, waiting for them as your own filming schedule had allowed for a week with Damiano; he had two shows in Germany then a whole five days off just the two of you. You were so excited, it was the longest you’d had together since your honeymoon which was three months ago now.

You’d stepped out of the shower and blow dried your hair before checking your phone, startled to see so many missed calls and message alerts. In going to listen to a voice Mail your phone rang again from an unknown number so you just answered it…. It was from the head office of the record company back in Rome… “hi oh thank god I got you y/n, right don’t go online, the band has been in an accident , the tour bus has crashed, there are all kinds of awful reports flying around but just listen to me, get to the city hospital as soon as you can. The only thing I know for sure right now is that no one has died, despite internet speculation, but it’s really serious.” …..

You didn’t really recall the mercifully short taxi ride to the hospital, other than you of course went online to get more information and were horrified to see photos on Twitter of the mangled tour bus, crumpled at the base of a steep bridgeside- How could anyone survive that? The chaos of arrival, at the hospital, the press, the fans, the lack of news, the cold corridor , more waiting waiting waiting… until finally a nurse ushered you into a room. “Mrs David, your husband is in here, he’s in a very bad way , he’s in a coma, he has many broken bones, he’s just come out of surgery to repair his lung that was punctured in the crash… I’m sorry but he’s on a ventilator which I know will seem frightening…..” Information overloaded your mind as you stepped into the room, the cold horror of seeing your beloved Damiano on the bed, wires, beeping machines making him look so small and lost, his perfect face almost hidden with the ventilator and bandages. You gently took his left hand, seeing his silver wedding band covered with a plaster and wondering vaguely where his other rings were. “Hey my love, I’m here, I’m right here”

As the days went by, spent mostly sitting by D’s bed, stroking his hand , you tried to avoid looking at the wires, the drips, the injuries, the mechanical beeps…. You tried to not Google every medical term and spiral into panic…. you tried to push away the darker thoughts but they kept coming until they slid out as tears , streaming silently down your face; what if, what if, what if…. You knew torturing yourself was pointless but the fear you felt was a physical crush against your heart. You scrolled through photos of the two of you together; your wedding day, Damiano so handsome in his tailored suit, his face alight with love and happiness, his eye make up smudged from happy tears while saying your vows, the two of you surrounded by your loved ones, full of optimism for the future. It hurt to see him so alive compared to the silent, still reality of your love in the hospital bed in front of you.

The doctor had said tomorrow, tomorrow they will try to wake him up, his poor body had been through so much, he’d needed the chance to rest but tomorrow they will try to wake him …. And desperate as you were to see his eyes open, see him smile again, hear his voice, just to be reassured in some way that he was ok, you desperately feared him being aware of the pain he was in, the challenges he’d be facing, and what memories he’d have of the crash. You’d be by him every step of the way of course, the ‘ in sickness and in health’ vow was a serious one, but you just didn’t expect to have it tested by anything more dramatic than man flu so soon. “Sleep tonight my darling man, sleep peacefully now, and know that I’m here, always, no matter what the morning brings.”

The drugs to wake him up would kick in strongly, the doctor advised, Damiano could wake up quite quickly but he’ll likely be confused, even frightened and we are unsure of how much he’d be aware of what has happened so you must be prepared for him to struggle with the situation at first. Damiano’s parents were there, you’d insisted his mother be the first face he saw when he came round, “it’s simple, we all want our mums when we’re frightened, if Damiano is scared and confused you’ll be who he’s looking for first” you’d said, and his mother had hugged you in silent agreement.

Seeing his eyes open felt like magic. He was shaking, moaning, clearly distressed and starting to notice his physical pain mixed with his confusion , staring at his mothers face as she spoke to him, calming him, assuring him he was safe.

She soon ushered you closer “ y/n is here, she’s been here the whole time.” You stepped up to the bedside and took his other hand , D looked up at you, confusion and fear still shadowing his face, until he focussed, saw you and his eyes softened, brimmed with tears. “It’s going to be alright my love,” you said clearly, and certainly more calmly than you felt, but knowing your precious husband needed everyone’s strength right now, “I’m here, I promise everything will be alright.”

The days had blurred together. Good news, bad news, set backs, tears, it was like living in an alternative dimension, your brief visits back to the hotel and time spent idly scrolling on your phone while Damiano slept were the only signs that there was a world outside the hospital room. It was simply survival mode you were both in, there seemed no room for joy or even the energy for a dark humour. Damiano seemed too tired and overwhelmed to speak much most days, you desperately missed his easy chatter, his teasing, his singing, but in its place you had only muttered conversations about treatment and updates about the rest of the band and those on the tour bus-all thankfully recovering. Miraculously no one had died despite all their injuries, and it soon became apparent that Damiano had suffered the worst. “Goodnight, I love you y/n” he said every night as his sedative took effect, but he seemed so very far away from you….

It was late, so late it was actually early but you stirred on the hated sofa as something had woken you from your fitful sleep. Listening carefully, you tuned in past the now familiar beeps and muffled sounds from outside the room until you heard it, and the sound shattered your already aching heart. Damiano was sobbing, quietly, but you could hear his gasps of pain in between sobs as his broken ribs crushed his healing lung. You laid there there for a few moments, frozen, unable to decide what to do; Damiano had been so brave, strangely stoic even. Yes he’d shed some tears since the crash-; mainly tears of pain, some of grief, and you knew as well as anyone who’d seen his tattoo ( which was everyone come to think of it) that he wasn’t usually shy in sharing his true feelings, certainly not afraid of crying. But he’d barely talked about how he was feeling, always brushing it aside, saying he was just tired. But this noise sounded so personal, so gut wrenching that it seemed almost intrusive to listen to another human in such distress, even when it was the human you loved more than any other.

You took a deep breath and came to a decision. Getting up from the couch you crossed the short distance to his bed, Damiano’s bed was raised up so he was almost in a sitting position. You said nothing, just climbed up onto the bed, straddled him carefully, being sure to not put too much weight on his healing broken leg , faced his tear streaked face and put your arms around his shoulders, in a frustratingly awkward embrace. You’d not been this close to him in over a fortnight. Your mind flickered to other times you’d been on top of him like this; in the moonlight on your honeymoon, it felt like another life. Damiano opened his eyes, puffy and full of tears, “I’m here my love” you whispered “ I’m right here “ Damiano leant his head towards you and simply howled. You hugged him as tightly as you dared, letting him heave in misery against you, your tears flowing fast too, uncontrollable in the face of such suffering of your love. You stayed together like this for nearly twenty minutes, until Damiano’s sobs started to calm. He was exhausted. You reached over to the bedside table for tissues, helped him wipe his eyes and blow his nose loudly, making you both giggle , “wow that’s some really glamorous snot filled ugly-crying there mr sexy rock star” you teased, “ I’m putting these tissues on e-bay the minute you’re asleep.” Damiano chuckled, making your heart flutter; you’d not heard that sound in so long, it reminded you so sharply of being at home in bed, wrapped up in each other’s arms, giggling together. You put your hands on his chest, “ breathe with me Dami, just breathe with me my love, I’ve got you.” You over-dramatically inhaled, making him laugh again, then wince as his ribs pained him. “ I mean it Mr David, breathe with me!” You kept your hands on his chest, breathing in and out slowly; he copied you breath for breath , keeping his eyes locked with yours, slowly relaxing back on the bed, his shoulders coming down, his heart monitor beeps slowing too. “That’s it my love, just breathe, that’s all we can do right now, one next breath, and the next, we can do this. I’m here “

“Oh amore I am so lost” Damiano whispered, his eyes never leaving yours for a second. “ I just don’t know how to deal with all this, I don’t know what comes next and I hate it. Everything’s in pieces and I’m frightened that I’m just lost.” Damiano’s eyes were starting to tear up again…

“Well how very dare you” you smiled, teasingly. “You can never be lost with me, your amazing incredible lady by your side” Damiano smiled “ Now listen Mr David, this is your wife speaking and I’m not letting you go, not letting you out of my sight, the back ache from sleeping on that the awful couch is proof of that. I know you’re feeling alone and scared now my darling man, and I agree the future seems almost as far away as normal life does right now but you listen to me. I CAN see the future, and it’s shining , I promise”

Damiano continued to stare into your eyes , he brought his hand up to your face, stroking it, you turned to kiss his palm making him smile more broadly . “ I know this is all so bloody awful, but it will pass.” You continued, “You know Vic and Thomas were discharged from hospital last week, they’re in the hotel with their parents and girlfriends and I visited Ethan at the hotel last night and he’s flying home to Rome on Friday, but he’ll come see you again before he goes, they all will”

Damiano sighed, “I miss them so much, and I hate that I’m so jealous of them going home soon”

“My love you’ll be next, soon, honestly in a fortnight or so, you’ve been doing so well with your walking, just building your strength back up takes time that’s all. You managed to sing doing a pole dancing routine for gods sake” Damiano slowly brought his other hand up, cupping your face and smiled, the light in his eyes sparking for the first time in ages.. “Oh amore you make everything seem possible. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to feel positive. I was so afraid that I’d no longer be worth being your man, I’ve felt so very broken. So lost. But I do believe you. YOU are my future, of course my beautiful wife. I love you, I’ve missed you. I love you.” You moved towards him, kissing him full on the lips lightly at first , then he returned the kiss, deeper , a real kiss, a hungry kiss, full of love and desperate hope, the kiss of your husband, god you’d missed his kisses so much. “I’m here, I’ve got you my love, I promise it’ll all be alright.”

[zet-sway]

Irikah Week - The Smell of Cut Grass

Hi hello I am here on the very last day of Irikah week to present my humble and small contribution. Sorry to take so long. Life is doing things. I think I did okay with this. Please enjoy some shameless fluff.

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

“You're going to wear that?" Irikah shook her head and sighed.

Thane looked down at himself, suddenly self conscious. He'd worn his most professional gear, armored leather, sleek and black and… Irikah stood in her doorway, wrapped in a colorful sundress that just barely brushed her knees. She looked radiant. He looked like a shadow.

"Come inside," she motioned with a quick whisk of her hand. "Your entire wardrobe is black, isn't it?"

Thane opened his mouth to respond but she sauntered off down the hall, up a short flight of stairs, leaving him alone with his thoughts in her living room. A wicker picnic basket and a blanket sat by the door beside a bottle of wine - a budget variety, but a good one. Practical, as Irikah always was.

She emerged suddenly with an earthy tan shirt, short sleeved, with a moderate square cut neckline. He must have looked as inadequate as he felt because her expression softened, and she held the garment out to him.

"You look very elegant, Sere Krios," she said with sincerity, leaning a bit to meet his downcast eyes. "But you don't have to live your life dressed to 'kill.'"

The shirt, as it turned out, was a perfect fit, and she smiled as he exited her restroom.

"Keep it, Thane. It was always too big for me anyway."

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

As promised, there was no rain that day. And when they arrived at her chosen locale, he understood why she had asked him to change. It felt nearly sinful to tarnish the sunlit hillside with his own shadow. There was not a cloud in the sky. The perch overlooked a cargo holding dock by the bridgeside, but when they settled on the blanket to enjoy their lunch, their line of sight was broken and it became just the two of them, the sky above, and the grass below. He hadn't stepped outdoors on such a beautiful day in years.

He thought he should feel vulnerable in such a place, but the blessed land seemed wholly unconcerned with his intrusion. Wildflowers dotted the grass and he plucked one by its stem, inhaling the light floral scent that so reminded him of her.

"Compact assassin Thane Krios sniffing a buttercup," she teased. "What would your handlers think?"

"The Hanar appreciate beauty, do they not?" He turned the stem in his hands, watching the light bounce off the vibrant yellow petals, and then lifted his eyes to her. "They would hold me in high esteem to find that I do, as well." He extended his arm with the bloom in his open palm, offering it to her. Irikah's throat darkened in a blush as she accepted it.

"You have a way of disarming people," she mused quietly, leaning with one palm on the blanket as she etched his little gift into her memory.

"And yet you are the only one who has ever disarmed me."

She looked up, then. Thane's dark eyes, always so guarded, were lit from within by Kahje's reticent sun, as open and vulnerable as she'd ever seen. And for once she felt she could see him clearly. Deep inside him, behind all of his vigilance and careful poise, was a man absolutely yearning to be loved.

As if he read her mind, he placed his hand over hers. The touch of his hand was electrifying in its intimacy. Whatever he was sculpted to be seemed insignificant in that moment, with a smile on his lips and his brows drawn in focus.

They'd only known each other for a few short months, but he wandered the halls of her memory as though he belonged there. Disarmed as she was by his gleaning eyes and the warmth of affection, she couldn't find the resolve to lie to herself any longer.

She leaned in close and kissed him.

The world around them melted rapidly from there. Their bodies pulled together under that blessed sun, lips locked, hands fisting in clothing. Irikah leaned into him with determination and he yielded, letting her push him back onto the blanket. The touch of her tongue to his ignited desires he hadn't dared to hope would become reality. She tasted like wine and sunlight.

Time disintegrated as they drank of each other. When she finally pulled back, Thane couldn't help but caress her face, radiant azure like the sky and framed by sunshine. It was now or never.

"There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” he murmured.

She hummed a response, the sound resonating from her throat with affection. Her fingers traced the neckline of the shirt that had been hers just an hour before as she waited for him to find his words.

Thane smiled. "I'm in love with you," he said simply.

Irikah's erupting laughter was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. "And here I thought you'd never admit it."

She clasped his hand at her cheek and pulled him toward her, encouraging him to sit up so she could curl her arms around him before pouring them both another drink. Their lips met again as they drew closer under the rare sun, as though blessed by Arashu herself.

“I think I’m in love with you too, Thane Krios,” Irikah whispered against his mouth.

Like it was written in the stars, their lives would remain forever intertwined from that moment forward.

[yeoldespook]

clip from my Hugo ref sheet i made for artfight- He works as a codebreaker for the government. good for him i suppose! He also sees the future sometimes, which is partly why they keep him around...

[dcpnomadictraveler]

It's a Bridgeside thing...

@dfraps on the mic.

Star Light Square Open Mic

An @bridgecyph production in collaboration with @centralsqbid .

Cambridge, MA

#rap #rapper #mic #performance #musicalperformance #music #cypher #bridgecyph #canon #canonglobal #canonphotos #dcp #dcphotographyus #bnw #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #bnwphotography #portrait #mansportrait #man #cambridgema #starlightsquare

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[barrygaudy]

Bold. Fierce. Unapologetic. #BTS put that #reddot on my sonic paintings #HARLEMRIVERYACHTCLUB 📹: @kitapmusic with @soundfrontiermusic @quecee115 @gobridgeside #OheneCornelius #bridgeside #gobridgeside #kitap #Brooklyn #liveperformance (at New York, New York)

[chasenews]

Two arrested as investigation into man’s death continues

Detectives are continuing to appeal for any information or witnesses that will help in the investigation of a man’s death in Stretton in the early hours of Saturday morning (11 December). Police were called to a house on Bridgeside, Stretton at around 1:35am following a report of a stabbing. A man, believed to be 19 years of age, was treated at the scene with serious injuries but died a short…