#draper’s hall

[7pleiades7]

The Gates of Dawn (1900) by Herbert James Draper (English, 1863-1920), oil on canvas, 198 x 101 cm, Draper's Hall, London

[thekenobee]

If anyone knows where I can watch this masterpiece let me know I beg thee 🙏🏻😭

[aneverydaything]

Day 1762, 20 April 2023

[eurekavalley]

I love the Betty moments in S6. Going into the city alone to look for the runaway violinist at the squatters' house in St. Mark's Place. Her concern that the kids living there are going to get sick from drinking melted snow from the roof. Keeping the television off after the MLK assassination because "who knows what they'll show" - after Lee Harvey Oswald, she's not going to have a repeat of seeing someone killed on live television. Of course it's twisted and insecure, of course she's protecting the part of herself she sees in these kids. But after she has been tied up for years in the anger over her marriage and the rigidity of the family roles she cast herself in, the genuineness of this emerging maternal energy is so sweet, too.

[wardenparker]

At the Ballet

Joel Miller x female reader A PedroStories Secret Santa Gift!

Rating: General audience, but please remember that this blog is always 18+ Word Count: 1.4k Warnings: Cursing, one that got away, slight angst from yearning. Summary: When Tommy's girlfriend gets tickets to the ballet, Sarah is excited to attend. But Joel never could have expected who he would find there, or that he would find himself grateful for a night at at the ballet. Notes: Happy PedroStories Secret Santa 2024 to @pascalispretty! I hope your holiday season is lovely and bright, and that you enjoy your story! Swan Lake was one of the first ballets I ever saw, so that really stuck in my mind, and I loved the idea of Joel finding his way to the arts because Sarah loves them.

“I don’t understand why the hell we’re doing this.” Joel grumbled, inspecting himself in the mirror as Tommy tossed his well-loved plaid flannel back onto the bed and put a sports jacket into his hands instead.

“Because she’s my girlfriend.” Tommy reminded him for the fourteen time.

“Okay, fine.” Joel huffed. He rolled his eyes at the jacket and hung it on the nearest piece of furniture, wondering if he even had a clean button-down shirt in his closet. “I don’t understand why I’m doing this.”

“Because you’re my fucking brother.” Tommy shot back. He’s actually got a real tie on, not a clip on or a bolo, and he’s trying so damn hard for this girl. “And because Sarah is excited to go. So finish getting dressed, you grumpy ass, and I’ll buy you a drink at the theater.”

“You should have led with that.” He’s busting his brother’s chops, but it’s worth doing. Tommy’s girlfriend has been around long enough that she’s been introduced to Sarah and started coming over for dinner semi-regularly, and she had somehow gotten ahold of four tickets to the ballet. Sarah had been thrilled at the news and immediately started planning what she was going to wear and begging her Dad and uncle to take them all out to dinner as well.

And, well, Joel Miller has never been able to deny his daughter anything in the world.

It’s with that in mind that Joel is begrudgingly cleaning himself up tonight. Because his little girl is down the hall putting on a dressed and doing her hair, and she looked so damn much like her mother when he had passed her room earlier that it had made his heart ache. Anything for Sarah. Anything at all.

Ballet Austin is a little bit of a drive away since they live on the edge of the city, but he doesn’t mind. Of anything, Joel actually does like driving. It gives him a sense of peace. Or at least it usually does – right now Sarah, Tommy, and Tommy’s girlfriend Sonja are chatting animatedly about the show that they are all going to see. Swan Lake apparently has a hard plot to follow, if he’s overhearing this right. Or maybe it’s just that ballets have no dialogue. Either way, he doesn’t really care. He’s going for all of them to enjoy themselves, not to understand what the hell is going on onstage.

At least, that was what he thought.

He had never expected to open the program in his seat and see you there. Clear as day, though, your photograph and name with the character name Odile were listed right there on the page listing principal dancers.

Suddenly, Joel is the biggest ballet convert in the world.

There is plenty of good reason for it, though. More than just being you, the dancing is gorgeous. Not that he doesn’t remember what a good dancer you were when you were younger. Teaching him how not to embarrass himself at the homecoming dance. Doing the choreography from Footloose and goofing off instead of playing whatever sport was supposed to be the assignment in gym class.

He knew you had taken dance classes, but he had never really bothered to find out more. To ask what kind. To pay some damn attention and get to know you better. He should have been so much better. He knew it even then, which is why he could do nothing but kick himself in the pants when Alex Draper asked you out at the beginning of junior year of high school before he could summon up the courage.

That was the year Sarah’s mother had moved to town, and he had started dating the new girl instead. The whole thing stank of what might have been.

******

Sarah begs Joel to take her to the stage door after the show, hoping to meet some of the dancers and tell them how amazing their performance was. She’s always liked theater and this wouldn’t be the first time that he took her to a stage door, but the chance that he might run into you has him smoothing his shirt and straightening his tie and practically thanking Tommy for forcing him to dress nicely.

“What’s got Joel so self-conscious?” Sonja whispered from the top of the alley where she and Tommy waited and cuddled in the dim streetlight.

“You accidentally managed to lead him right to the first girl he ever loved.” Tommy whispers back, chuckling quietly into her shoulder as he leaves a kiss on her neck. “One of the dancers that Sarah wants to meet so desperately.”

“And we’re back here?” Sonja huffs. She smirks and nudges Tommy, obviously trying to point him down the alley. “Joel Miller as a boy in love? I gotta see this.”

Sarah is, in point of fact, the only fan at this stage door tonight. And while Joel hates that on principle because it means that she doesn’t really have anyone to share her unbridled enthusiasm with, he’s also glad. Her presence there is delighting the dancers and every single one of them is stopping to sign her program and take a photo with her, all of them giving her a big hug in the process.

The young woman who danced Odette is lingering, seemingly waiting for something or someone, or maybe just enjoying the attention, when the stage door opens again, and you walk through.

“Sweetie, come over here!” Odette calls, waving you over. This is what she was waiting for, apparently, and her smile beams as she introduces young Sarah Miller to the dancer she became so enamored with during the show.

It really isn’t too often that you’re asked to sign programs, and you are beyond flattered to have Sarah ask for an autograph and a photo. You stand and chat with the young teen for a few minutes before even registering that she is young enough that she should have chaperones nearby, and that is when you look up to find him staring at you.

“Joel?” It has been almost fifteen years since you saw him last. Since your high school graduation day. But you would still recognize him anywhere.

“Hey.” His hands are in his pockets, but he still has that lopsided grin and perfect single dimple that made all the girls swoon. He still aims it like a weapon, always able to make the whoever he was talking to feel like the only person in the room.

“Hey yourself.” The warmth in your cheeks is unmistakable, and for good reason. Joel Miller didn’t just grow up good, he grew up damn sexy.

“Dad, you know her?” Sarah wheels around with a bright, excited look on her face.

“Dad?” Your eyebrow is raised, but you do remember hearing about Joel getting married shortly after high school, and something vague about him having a kid. Your mother had given you the news she heard while out grocery shopping one day. Just the same way that she had given you the news a year or two later when that same habit of grocery store eavesdropping yielded the news that Joel was now single again after a nasty divorce.

“This is my daughter, Sarah.” He introduces her proudly, both hands on her shoulders and a puffed up chest saying more than simple words ever could about how much he adores his little girl. He introduces you to Sarah next, explaining you used to be friends in school. “She—we— really loved the show tonight.”

“Well, thank you. Everyone in the cast is just incredible.”

“Yeah, you are!” Sarah chirps, her eyes wide as she looks between you and her father. “Dad! You should invite your friend to come have ice cream with us!”

Joel’s smile grows, tucking into the corner of his mouth like a secret, but he lobs that fastball of an offer back to you politely. “I’m sure she has other things to do tonight, honey. Maybe another time, sweetie.” He doesn’t want to say no. He can feel his heart hammering out of his chest and he wonders how you managed to get even more beautiful when you were already the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his whole life.

Looking back to your friends, you lend them a quick smile before facing Joel again and shaking your head. “Not at all,” you tell him – both of them, technically. “Free as a bird.”

Your smile grows, and Sarah matches it. “Free as a swan,” she insists.

“Right.” Joel joins in that laugh, air rushing out of his chest as he gets nervous all over again. “Free as a swan.”

He’s not going to fuck it up this time. He’s not. He’s not going to let you slip through his fingers a second time…

[charlotte-of-wales]

theroyalfamily: "It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers' Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation. When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed. I do my best to capture the life experiences and humanity etched into any individual sitter's face, and I hope that is what I have achieved in this portrait. To try and capture that for His Majesty The King, who occupies such a unique role, was both a tremendous professional challenge, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and am immensely grateful for."

Today The King unveiled the portrait at Buckingham Palace. The new work depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975. The painting will ultimately hang in Drapers' Hall in London.

[suzukiblu]

Day twenty-seven of fic NaNoWriMo, obligatory sugar daddy Tim/sugar baby Kon AU.

They walk to their first planned destination, Kon being unfairly adorable and also an asshole at the same time, because it’s Kon so of course he can multitask that kind of shit. Tim gets teased about his taste in kids’ toys and his date budget and his theoretical Smash skills, which he’s clearly going to need to educate the bastard on the hard way. Alternately, Tim also gets Hawaiian gummy candy shared with him, never mind that Kon apparently both really likes it and hasn’t had it in months. 

Tim continues to be in way too deep and finds it sweet of him, possibly because of the excited and pleased way Kon grins at him when he tells him likes the candy. 

Tim is definitely in way too deep. 

They get where they’re going, and Kon . . . pauses, and then tilts his head and raises an eyebrow at him. 

“Seriously?” he asks. 

“Trust me,” Tim says with admittedly unwarranted confidence as he squeezes his hand, then leads him into the modern art museum looming in front of them. Kon isn’t the type to really be that into museums, he knows, but they did “meet” in one and also this specific exhibit seemed, well . . . 

Promising, he guesses. 

“Sure, pretty boy,” Kon says with a laugh, squeezing his hand in return. Tim is idly mystified as to why Kon keeps calling him that, but in no way intends to dissuade him from it. If Kon wants to call him completely illogical things, that’s up to him.

He takes Kon to the ticket counter and buys them both a ticket. The clerk asks for their ID and Kon hesitates, because he’s obviously never had or needed an actual ID in his life, but Tim’s already pulling out the fake ones he made for “Alvin Draper” and “Connell Hill”. They won’t stand up to Bat-level scrutiny, obviously–he didn’t have the time or see the point in going that far–but they’ll get them into an adults-only museum night. He’ll do up something more reliable to buy the cul-de-sac with. He has a few identities that could buy property established, but Bruce knows all of those identities, so he’d rather avoid using any of them. Easier to just build a new cover ID from scratch than hide an active one setting up a new residence that isn’t an obvious safehouse, he figures. 

He pays the clerk, pockets his receipt, and they head down the hall together. The museum is one of the nicer ones in Gotham, and decorated a little bit more nicely than usual for the event, but not outright extravagantly. It’s due to be open a little later than usual too, though Tim doesn’t know how late Kon will want to stay. He can probably push back their dinner reservations if it comes to it, though he’s not expecting that to be necessary. 

“It’s an 18+ thing?” Kon asks as soon as they’re out of the clerk’s earshot, raising an eyebrow curiously. “The frick kind of museum is this?” 

“Not that kind,” Tim says, trying not to blush. “They just do adults-only events sometimes. It’s just so there won’t always be a bunch of bratty kids and annoying teenagers running around distracting the older museum-goers. And there's hors d'oeuvres and drinks.” 

“Babe, I don’t know about you, but you are aware I am technically both a bratty kid and an annoying teenager, right?” Kon asks him with a smirk. 

“That would be why I got you a fake ID too,” Tim says reasonably. 

“So we just snuck into a museum with fake IDs,” Kon says with a laugh. “I mean, I’ve done weirder, probably, but what the fuck, Tim? Where’d you even get that?” 

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Tim says only a little bit sheepishly, carefully avoiding the latter question. Also every other version of this kind of exhibit he found was way more kid-oriented and definitely not going to count as the kind of “nice” date to have convinced Kon to dress up for or actually look like Tim had put effort into any of the night. 

“What, did the goat idol end up here?” Kon asks in amusement. “We checking up on the little guy?” 

“No, he’s still living his best life in Metropolis under increased security, last I heard,” Tim says, though that’d be kind of funny, so depending on how long they’re seeing each other maybe he should keep that idea in mind. 

“You actually checked?” Kon asks with a laugh. 

. . . right, that’s not something a normal teenager would do, is it. Well–too late now, so Tim’s just gonna have to lean into it. 

“I was just wondering what they were going to do with it, after a whole gallery wall got blown in and everything,” he says. “Apparently the answer was ‘close for a weekend and then back to business’. Don’t ask me where they found contractors that fast.” 

“It’s Metropolis,” Kon says. “If you can’t find a contractor to fix superhero damage, you’re not trying.” 

“It wasn’t actually superhero damage,” Tim points out. “You didn’t break anything.” 

“A real fucking important vase, apparently,” Kon snorts, but he’s smiling a little as he shrugs. “Alright, fine, but ‘mediocre museum robber damage’ probably doesn’t sound as good on the insurance, now does it? And I look much prettier in the paper than a bunch of mug shots of idiots who didn’t even know how to work their cute lil’ magic goat buddy.” 

“Definitely, yeah,” Tim agrees wryly, steering him down a side hall towards the sounds of other people. Frankly he’s counting them lucky the goat didn’t try to start a magical apocalypse or something, given how their lives usually go. And also it was Metropolis, which sucks enough as it is. So like, of course the apocalypse would come from Metropolis, given the option and opportunity to. 

“I don't know much about art or whatever, you know,” Kon says a little bit awkwardly, peering down the hall towards the dimly-lit gallery ahead. “Like–that was not prioritized in the ‘how to be Superman’ educational package. Especially because it was written by committee by a bunch of people who I'm still pretty sure had never even met the guy. Like ever.” 

“You don't have to know anything about art to like it,” Tim says reasonably, resisting a vague urge to frown over the way Kon phrased that. Note to self, maybe. Just–for later, obviously. “But this isn't really that kind of exhibit.” 

“Isn't this an art museum?” Kon says with a puzzled frown. “What else is there?”

“It's a ‘multimedia experience primed to dazzle and delight all of the observer's senses’,” Tim recites wryly off the website copy he was reading earlier this week. “Also known as a sensory exhibit.” 

“A–what?” Kon wrinkles his nose in confusion.

[castingspellsanddaisies]

Upcoming Readings:

Sir Lewis Hamilton: what's your type? How do you act during ''sexy time'' and how are you as a boyfriend, Sir?

What's Juan Soto's real personality? How's he as a partner, how he acts during ''sexy time''? And how's his dynamic with his family?

Hey Jude: how you used to behave,concerning women, back in your Dortmund time? And around 2022? What was your reputation back then?

Jack Draper: his type in women and how he's in relationships

When could Jude meet his next love interest? (someone said ''could meet someone late autumn early winter and will fall head over hills in love with her. She also said that she sees a sudden marriage with them) - how likely is that to happen? Let's find out!

How Jude Bellingham handles/deals with jealousy and possessiveness in his relationship? (from both sides)

How'd Kylian Mbappé act in a marriage, as a husband? Does he want to be a father? If yes, how would he act?

What's Timothée Chalamet's general personality?

What's FT Island (kpop group)'s future after everything that happened?

Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey: what's their bond's future for 2025? They worked together in ''Fellow Travelers'', will they share another on screen partnership again? Matt Bomer is married to Simon Halls, how's their relationship in the present? And future predictions for the couple in 2025?

Do the members of BTS (kpop group) have anything to do with pro*titution, se*ual c*imes? Os something might have had happened in the past? We'll see

How will Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey feel when they meet each other again? Will Matt Bomer and Simon Halls get a divorce? How do Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey currently feel about each other? Is Matt Bomer ready to follow his heart? What's Matt Bomer decision about his marriage, and about Jonathan Bailey?

What's the general energy among the members of SKZ (kpop group)?

How's sexy time with Jake (Enhypen kpop group)? Is he any different when it's someone he has feelings for and when it's an one-night stand? What about aftercare? We'll see!

What's the current love life state of each member of SKZ (Stray Kids kpop group)? Which one's in love, in a relationship, just hooking up, single-single? We'll see them all!!

Joe Locke's career: What will be his next projects? Will we hear casting news about him soon?

Future predictions for the band SKZ's career!

Vinicius Jr + Eduardo Camavinga: what are their general personality and their type in women? Mmm

How's sexy time with... Jihyo (TWICE kpop group)? How's her with her boyfriend?

How's Lamine Yamal as a boyfriend in a romantic relationship?

How's sexy time with... Jay (ENHYPEN kpop group)?

How's sexy time with... Kylian Mbappé?

What's Jisoo (BLACKPINK kpop group)'s type?? (we're gonna do this in 2 parts: the type of partner that Jisoo wants + the type of partner that would match her perfectly).

Members of SKZ (kpop group): which one of them already fell in love? (you know, at least once?) Which one of them already dated someone? (you know, at least once?) Let's find out for each one of them!

Will Aespa release the second season of SMCU?

Why is Ningning (aespa) being mistreated by SM Entertainment? She doesn't have any solo schedules or even tiktok challenges? What happened?

Is there an idol (female or male) who is in love with Ningning? Is she dating anyone? If anyone finds out, will it become another Karina Jaewook dating scandal?

Will Ningning be forced to interact with male idol until the end of 2024?

How's sexy time with... Sunghoon (ENHYPEN kpop group)? What about his kinks?

Sunghoon from ENHYPEN (two in a row): what's his type and how's he as a boyfriend?

What really happened between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg? What led to their irreparable broken friendship?

How's sexy time with... Heeseung (ENHYPEN kpop group)?

Sunghoon from ENHYPEN kpop group (I heard he's in high demand lately): what makes him feel attracted towards someone? How to get him hooked? (hehe)

Who's likely to be Charles Leclerc's future spouse? Let's find out

How's sexy time with... Drew Starkey? (here we go again) + How's aftercare with him? And how does he like to get ''in the mood''?

How's Sexy time with... Charles Leclerc?

Let's look into Lewis Hamilton and Juliana Nalú's relationship: Were they serious about each other? How they felt about each other while they were still together? Why did they break up? Was she after the media's attention, wanted to become a ''wag'' or what? (fun fact: originally this reading'd be about their current status, but they were faster than us and broke up first - oh well).

Let's deep dive into Kylian Mbappé and some girls he had been linked with in the past: bertr@m, lexi river@ (he used to like all of her pictures), georgi@ may heath, l@ra lourenco, emm@ smet.

Carlos Sainz and Rebecca Donaldson: will he end his relationship with her or not? What's going on?

Kylian Mbappé, would you drag a woman out for a 7 years relationship with no ring?

How's sexy times with... Nicholas (&TEAM kpop group)? What about aftercare?

What's Timothée Chalamet's type? How's he as a boyfriend? And how's sexy time with him???

The IT COUPLE of the moment Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: where do their relationship stand at the present moment?

Who will likely be Jung Jaehyun's future spouse?

Lana Del Rey and her crocodile husband on their wedding day: how were they feeling about it?

How's Jude Bellingham's relationship with his mother, his father and his brother? How Jude feels about his friendship with Trent AA? How Judes truly feels about Kylian Mbappé? Do they like each other? Are they truly friends or not?

How's Lee Felix (SKZ kpop group) as a boyfriend? How'd he act dating a late bloomer?

What are Lee Felix (SKZ kpop group) green flags and red flags?

Could Sir Lewis Hamilton be bisexual?

How does Timothée Chalamet feel about his fan club, ''Club Chalamet'' and the owner of it?

What are Chris and Matt Sturniolos' type?

How's sexy time with... Arthur Fils?

Will Jude Bellingham stay in Real Madrid for a long time still or he may change clubs soon??? What's his future in England's National Team??

This question is for both Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé: will they have many serious relationships before getting married?

How's sexy time with... Jack Draper? Also, what's his personality? Is he a romantic man?

Ben Shelton and Anna Hall's relationship: why did they break up? Do they still talk with each other? Do they still have emotions left and things unsaid for each other? How used to be thei relationships's dynamic? Ben follows a lot of bikini models and stuff on his IG, it’s a running joke that he’s probably a player, is that done out of spite? How does he feel about her current boyfriend? Ben also said in an interview he ghosts and “shoots his shot” a lot, is that actually true to him, or is that a front too? - LET'S FIND OUT!

Who'll likely be Charles Leclerc's future spouse? Who is she? Her character, job, look etc. How they going to meet and their first impressions about each other? What charles' friends (especially close ones) and his family (especially his brothers and mother) will think about her? How they will confess their feelings to each other? What are fans and society going to think about their relationship? Will the relationship be successful?

Neymar Jr: will he return to play in Europe? Is he planning on retiring soon? Will he retire soon? How's his current energy?

What's Lando Norris' general personality?

How's sexy time with... Sion (NCT WISH kpop group)?

How's sexy time with... Minho (STRAY KIDS kpop group)?

How's Aurelien Tchouameni as a partner? Current energy for his career? His current general energy?

Aurelien Tchouameni (hello again): did he cheat on his girlfriend? Will he be sold by Real Madrid to another team?

What's Jannik Sinner general personality? What's his relationship dynamic with girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya? Is she a gold digger?

How's carlos alcaraz as a boyfriend and his ideal partner?

Neymar Jr (here we're again): what's his relationship dynamic with Bruna? How does he feel about his daughter, Helena? Will he cheat on Bruna again? (if he isn't already doing that right now, I mean)

How's sexy time with... Jadon Sancho? What's his type?

How's sexy time with... Momo (TWICE kpop group)?

What's Jamal Musiala's type in girls? Who'll likely be his future spouse? Possibly how will they both meet? Timestamp of the meeting? How'll thei relationship be like?

How's sexy time with... Lee Felix (SKZ kpop group)? What about aftercare?

How's sexy time with... Jungkook? (BTS kpop group)

How's Kenan Yildiz as a boyfriend and what's his type?

How's the friendship among Jude, Camavinga, and Tchouaméni?

Max Verstappen: how's his relationship dynamic with his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet? How do they feel for each other? What's the future for their relationship? Do they want to get married and have kids? Did she cheat on him? + How's his relationship with his family? Does he prefer to spend time with his girlfriend's family? Why? Is his family just ''tolerating'' Kelly Piquet because Max is dating her?

Deep Dive into Kylian Mbappé and Emma Smet's relationship (or whatever it was that theu had): was it PR? How did they truly feel about each other? Did Kylian's mother like her? Why did they break up?

How's sexy time with... Intak (P1HARMONY kpop group)?

How's sexy time with...Sunwoo ( THE BOYZ kpop group)? Any specific kink that he has? What about aftercare?

Bad Bunny and Gabriela Berlingeri's relationship: Was it all PR or they started off genuine and had true feelings for each other? What was their relationship dynamic? How they feel about each other at the present? Will they ever come back together?

Does Jude Bellingham have a Madonna-Whore complex?

Toby Bishay: His friendship dynamic with Jude, is he genuinely friends with Jude Bellingham? Is it true Toby and Jude have threesomes, foursomes together?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez: how do they feel about each other? How does Cristiano feel about Georgina posting videos twerking (to what people complian about it) and about her wearing really revealing clothes?

David and Victoria Beckham: Are they still together because they love and genuinely want to be with each other or for othe reasons? How do they feel about Cruz Beckham's girlfriend?

Jude Bellingham and his future wife: how will be their dating phase? (let's see what I can grasp from it)

SKZ (kpop group members): what's their type?, their general personality? (each one of them)

Chateau de Amerois: are the theories all true? Is this place truly evil? What's behind it?

SKZ (kpop group): what's their opinion on long-distance relationships? Would they do it? Have any on them done that already?

Michael Olise (FC Bayern Munich): his general personality + his energy

How's sexy time with... Son Heung-min? And what's his type?

How's sexy time with... J Cole?

How will Jude Bellingham's career evolve in football? Will he shine more in the future?

How's aftercare with the members of ENHYPEN (kpop group)? If they’re the type to talk and cuddle or bring their partner food and stuff

How's sexy time with... Soobin? (TXT kpop group)?

What's Alejandro balde’s type?

Azra Mian and Jude Bellingham: what happened between them? Why and how it ended?

Let's take a look at Jude Bellingham's future wife but at the present moment: Her current energy, who's she right now? How's she doing in her life? Does she know who ''Jude Bellingham'' is?

Does Jack Draper sleep around? Does he hook up with anyone or is he just super focusing on his career? Did he have something with kt lordahl?

Radu Dragusin: he rejected Bayern hoping to get more playing time at Tottenham, but BARELY getting any, was that his real motives? How's he feeling about that now? will he go on loan to Juventus like the media is saying?

Carlos Alcaraz's general personality + his red flags (does he have any? Let's find out!)

Jamal Musiala: his general personality, how's he as a friend (is his group friend lovely or toxic?), how's his love life at the moment, how's sexy time with him? How's he as a boyfriend? (his oficial biography is coming hahaha)

Jobe Bellingham (I heard people saying he's the best looking sibling, I don't know...): Who'll be his next girlfriend? Who'll be his next wife? Does he want to have kids?

Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappé (help): Did they use to party hard together in Paris with e*corts and everything? Was Kylian's staff leaking news about Neymar's lifestyle to spare Kylian? Was neymar jealous of Kylian for him becoming ''the golden boy''? (the star of the team and not him). Kylian never unfollows his former team mates, why did he unfollow Neymar then? Why's Neymar constantly liking posts who shade Kylian? Was Kylian responsible for Neymar leaving PSG? Did Kylian want to be ''the owner'' of PSG (as a lot of people claim)? How are they feeling about each other at the present?

Jannik Sinner: What's his general personality and his type?

How's sexy time with... Ja Morant? What's his general personality? How's he as a boyfriend? How does he act with his partner in his relationship? What's his type?

How's Jadon Sancho as a boyfriend?

Austin Butler: his general personality, how's he as a boyfriends and how he acts in his relationships? How's sexy time with him? (hm?)

Son Heung-min: why is he hot and cold in his relationships? Has he has his heart broken and that's why he's more closed-off for relationships? Is he emotionally immature? Why he has this ''I will get married until I retire'' mentality?

Skz (kpop group): How each member see public dating, showing off their partners, posting pictures? How each of them feel about that?

Son Heung-min and Minah (from Girl's Day kpop group): How was their relationship dynamic? How did they view each other? Is Son waiting for ''the one'' to appear magically in front of him?

Is San (from Ateez kpop group) closed-off about having a serious relationship right now? Is he waiting for ''the one'' to appear out of nowhere to him? (you know, similar to Son Heung-min?)

How's Bangchan (Skz kpop group) as a husband?

How's sexy time with... Park Gunwook (Zerobaseone kpop group)?

How's sexy time with... Seongmin (One pact kpop group)?

How's after care with Ben Shelton? How his partners feel/felt after having s3x with him? Hm?

Jude Bellingham, Trent AA and Ben Shelton: how are they spending their money? On what they're spending their money on? How they view money/being rich?

Katseye (Pop group): what's their dynamic? How they feel about each other?

Trent AA: his biggest fantasy and bigges turn-on

Jobe Bellingham (hey baby): how's after care with him? Is he an independant person? His red flags, his green flags.

Do the members of SKZ (kpop group) have anything to do with pro*titution, se*ual c*imes? Os something might have had happened in the past?

How's sexy time with... Each member of SKZ (kpop group) and aftercare? - except Lee Felix, 'cause he already has a request about this :)

How's the dynamic between Bangchan and Lee Felix? How they view each other? Do they truly like each other? What they usually do when they're together?

Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey: did they hook up? Did they have s*x? How they feel about each other now? How did they feel about each other in the past? Why did they fall out?

What happened between Jude Bellingham and asantewachitty back in 2022? IF something ever happened (I swear any woman this man looks at people already think they're dating wtf)

Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles: how was their relationship? Were they secretly a couple or not?

Song Jae-rim (RIP): what was his cause of death? Was it accidental or not? | NOW ABOUT MOONBIN (rip): Did someone make black magic on him? What truly happened to him?

Will Jude Bellingham be sexually attracted to his future wife upon first meeting her or they will initially be indeed ''just good friends''? Will he be her friend just to keep her around until he gathers courage to ask her out or something like that? Or will he graduallu cath genuine feelings for her? During their friendship, will he be the flirty friends who's obviously into her or really just a friend?

Stay tuned, folks!!! And keep these requests coming!!!

Thanks <3

[aimeedaisies]

Court Circular | 26th November 2024

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal this morning opened the Hospice UK National Conference at the Scottish Event Campus, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow (Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost).

Court Circular | 27th November 2024

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, Chancellor, Health Sciences University, this afternoon attended a Graduation Ceremony at the Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1, and was received by Colonel Simon Duckworth (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Transaid, afterwards attended the Annual Showcase at the Africa Centre, 66-68 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1, and was received by Mrs Lynn Cooper (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

The Princess Royal, Royal Fellow, the Royal Academy of Engineering, this evening attended a New Fellows’ Dinner at Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2.

[lady-alabaster]

Herbert James Draper (1863-1920), The Gates of Dawn, 1900, oil on canvas, London, Draper's Hall.

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s3 episode 7 thoughts

today was another awful day at work. trying to hope that it’s just the getting started part that makes this job awful and not that the job itself is awful, but i need my scully and mulder time again tonight. fetch me them. this instant.

let us begin. a man is in a hospital. someone won’t let this man- who we learn is a lieutenant colonel- hurt himself. he glances at a mirror.

oh, and he’s out of his hospital bed and breaking loose. into some boiling water? with weights in his pockets. oh nooooo. someone catches him and he says again that “he won’t let me die” HUH? what is going on???

man, i feel bad for this poor gentleman. idk who is tormenting him so. but i hope the “he” the lieutenant colonel spoke of leaves him alone. 

oh shoot, the agents are there three weeks later and he is in this sort of�� facial gear stuff because of the burns. and his hands are wrapped up, too. i realize now i have almost no familiarity with the process of treating burns. i guess i’d never thought on it before.

scully’s taking notes while mulder asks about whoever this poor man sees when these awful things happen… he sees a solider standing at attention. a ghost? a real guy? a secret third thing?

oh! scully is not taking notes. she is passing them. she says it’s classic ptsd. her handwriting… it’s nice <3

the man says that whoever is tormenting him burned his wife and children alive???!?!? hello??!?!

someone pulls them out and asks them to suspend their investigation and scully is NOT having it. at all. putting her foot down. as she should. oh the general can’t talk “ask him to make himself available” okayyyy!!!! mulder looks pleased by this. but some guy delivering mail overheard what was going on and seems deeply troubled.

guy carrying mail goes down the hall and he seems to be crashing a group therapy session, where a man who has lost a leg is describing his recurring dream, which he calls “the walk”, running with his family, and it seems so real. he’s opening up! talking about his feelings! all good things to be doing in therapy!!

and some guy named leonard is being mean??? tearing down his happy dreams? saying they’re not “normal people”. and the walk dreamer says they ARE normal people, but leonard is like nope. no you are not.

leonard points out that he has no arms and no legs and that he prays god will come down and take away the dude leading the group’s arms and legs. oh. this seems unhealthy. then he gets wheeled out by the mail guy. who is named. roach.

roach is freaking out because the fbi agents are here, asking about the lieutenant commander. and he says “to hell with the feds”. so is this leonard the guy that burned his family alive??? is he torturing him?? or something??

now scully and mulder are being called into the general’s office. and the general, named callahan, is yelling at them for misconduct. i’m a little confused tbh but i guess they were supposed to go through him? um. okay. sounds like they’re trying to keep secrets and NOT the fun kind! 

scully is NOT letting this man go. and she shouldn’t! um why doesn’t his file mention his whole family died… yeah i’d be asking the same thing!! the general is like yeah it’s sad. but why are you here.

OH TEA??? ANOTHER person had their family die in a fire and had tried to hurt themselves but kept saying someone was stopping them… oh scully is PISSED today!!! she demands a stop to this nonsense and some answers.

she says she thinks it’s very clear what is going on here: she thinks the men killed their families, and the general is hiding that fact. OH! my brain didn’t go there. but i can see why she would think that. anyway they are sleuthing about. 

general looks stressed as hell. he tells the woman- captain draper- to go home. pulls some alcohol from under the desk. but then HE STARTS SEEING A SOLDIER saying “your time has come”!!! and there are spooky noises coming from a cassette tape!!!! 

draper is swimming. i knew something was about to go down, because we rarely see people swimming just for the fun of it, except that one time in season 2 where mulder was swimming about at the beginning of the episode. anyway, it’s very quiet and spooky. she seems to think she sees something. OH. and something does in fact grab her. and pulls her under?!!!! NOOOOOO 

scully at the scene as they pull the body out. general callahan is there too, and he seems surprised. there are bruises around her neck so it is not looking accidental. 

mulder says that if the pattern is consistent, the general’s family might be in danger. he seems offended by this but a pattern is a pattern. and mulder’s hair is messed up a lil aww. AND NEXT CUT ITS FIXED HAHA they must have spruced him up!!!! that is so funny

general seems to have taken the message to heart. talks about seeing a guy and the phone going wild. 

okay back at the general’s house… someone magically got through the door??? like the mail guy. oh it’s ROACH!! 

(i thought that later in the episode we would get an explanation as to how he sort of just clipped into the house but. it was never revealed)

fbi at the house. playing the spooky audio from the phone message. mulder is pondering. scully is looking around. she is always looking around and i love that about her. SHE SAW SOMEONE IN THE YARD!!! queen of spotting things.

ohhh leonard is at the doctor’s. and roach is approaching. he is bringing something from the callahan’s house TO leonard. and he says he doesn’t want to do it anymore but leonard says he wouldn’t be in the wheelchair if it wasn’t for him, so he owes him. oh that’s not how that works i don’t think…

he says “the enemy must be defeated” um is the enemy your boss? i have had some bosses that are enemies. but he’s speaking as someone who was sent to war and their erroneous decisions put him in peril. so very different context.

the earlier burn victim lieutenant colonel is being wheeled down to the doctors/nurses and he seems really freaked out to see leonard. i wonder if he can sense who it was…

(scully walks in to find mulder replaying the same cassette again and again) “find anything?” “no, but i’m really beginning to like the tape :)” AUGH i paused here to type down that line and he has the BIGGEST nerdiest smile it’s priceless :) need to find this screenshot so i can just look at it when i’m down

but scully says we found some fingerprints!!! and they go to roach’s place and arrest him. mulder is looking about a very nasty kitchen. and in a cupboard he finds mail stolen from all the targeted people!!!!

the general’s son sees a soldier but he’s not worried about it so maybe it’s a guy they know?? or someone guarding them since they might be in danger. but then he gets BURIED IN A SANDBOX??? and the soldier tries to dig him up. 

NO!!! THE BOY DIED!!!! 

this is really sad.

roach, in custody, identifies himself as “rappo’s mailmail” so it turns out rappo is leonard. same guy. and now he’s a suspect. scully thinks roach lied but we can’t rule anything out i know this tv program.

so leonard is dreaming. and roach is saying he knows this place, that he isn’t safe here, that he’s going to be killed. so is it in his dreams that leonard can go about and murder people?

for some reason mulder has been carrying around dental x-ray plates and she’s like “i know, you’ve had them the whole time” so i’m glad they’re at a point in their relationship where they don’t feel the need to ask, “hey, why are you carrying around stuff from the dentist” there is just that implicit trust 

oh, mulder is saying it is a case of astral projection, and that this leaves behind radiation. and maybe he needed a piece of their mail to form a connection. and then he plays the cassette backwards and it says “your time has come, killer” ohhh!!

so they go to question him and mulder jumps straight in with the “why did you kill him and also why can you leave your body” 

OH LEONARD SAYS SOMETHING NASTY TO SCULLY this is a good way to make mulder very angry. but leonard screams in his face about him not knowing war, or what it’s like, and he is INSISTANT that he is astral projecting

the callahans are putting away the boy’s toys nooo it’s so sad :( they’re both crying and he’s pouring a drink when he sees leonard in full gear and then his wife dead on the ground!!! and the phone rings while he pulls out a gun. 

the general has his gun and brings it to the lieutenant colonel. and he says the same guy won’t let them die. and the lieutenant colonel knows who it is!!!

callahan is confronting leonard, who says he killed his wife and his son. he fired like a million bullets. but none of them hit, just went right in the wall. agents roll up just as leonard enters some kind of trance. and callahan gets in the elevator, having refused to kill leonard like he’d hoped for!!!!

the general goes to a bottom floor, where pipes are exploding and the voice is talking about how his time has come.

enter mulder, who finds him on the floor, but also the astral projecting leonard is decking him.

and the colonel goes in there and smothers leonard!!!

scully is mad because she was trying to save leonard from what she thought was a seizure but she was interrupted and instead watched a murder go down. not a great feeling, i’m sure.

episode wrap up. no physical evidence that leonard committed the murders. but he meant to keep his victims alive and suffering. and as mulder talks about the case, the lieutenant colonel walks in and hands the general some stuff. and he walks away pushing a cart, while mulder ponders what can destroy the human nature.

well. that sure was a dark one. 

it turns out i’m not big into episodes where children die. just ruins the whole tone.

i think there were some interesting concepts being explored here, on who suffers the most in war, the ordinary men being sent out to fight and be fought while others give the orders from relative safety. and the resentment that dichotomy causes. as well as the weaponization of survivor’s guilt in the form of roach just going along with the evil schemes. that is interesting. 

but all things considered, it was a bit too dark for me. it was lacking in whimsy or jokes, which i like to keep going at an even pace. i liked to see a very determined scully, and a mulder who was smiling happily on his cassette tape streaming endeavors, but other than that, this was a real bummer.

i will say, it did mostly successfully distract from my garbage day, though, so i do not take this for granted. it just would have distracted me a whole lot MORE had there been a higher number of stolen glances and grasping hands and brushing fingers through each other’s hair or cradling of injured bodies. these are really balm to the wounded soul.

[xenophorusrachid]

- Wandering the Labyrinth -

Aethon, ex-Prince of Albian, and Drapere, prisoner with a possible death sentence hung over his head, are cast underground, not necessarily by choice, and the rift between the two is widened ever farther.

comic framing test with not-so-savvy formatting. transcript & elaborations under the cut.

AETHON: I’ve never seen such old paintings…

DRAPERE: We aren’t here to look at all the pretty pictures.

AETHON: Sorry, I—

DRAPERE: So don’t.

AETHON: Oh…Okay.

- - -

I do not do too much talking about the ‘underneath’ part of Albian Underneath, but it is an increasingly important set piece. The entire city of Albian is built upon natural and man-carved caves and elaborate tunnel systems, functioning as a ritual space, a cemetery, a mineral mine, and a place of refuge, among other things. Beyond entries/exits and specific marked areas, the place is largely unmapped, and without a guide, many are doomed to walk the halls for eternity. Artwork on many of the tunnel walls spans multiple eras, and it is common to see early Albian artistic motifs placed next to their modern counterparts.

The status quo is essentially flipped in the underneath, too. If you aren’t careful, you can quickly be overtaken by an adept brigand who lives in the caverns, or be led astray by a mad priest who can see in the dark. Or, at least that’s what common children’s tales say.

In another similar folktale, Juris, banished goddess of the moon, (or, in this case, She-Who-Binds-The-Soul; Juris as “Soul-Binder”) is said to lurk in the deepest depths, whispering into the ears of those who dare delve downward. Once a person reaches her chamber, she pounces upon them, ripping their skin from their flesh and feeding upon what’s left of them. With her newly collected human skin, she gives life to terrible beasts with bodies that stretch and contort, feeding only rock and bone.

[aautiemiller-rockcenter]

24/7 Rochester Senior Solo Results '25

1st: Lilly Hall (Draper Center for Dance) STC

1st: Musa Fofana (Capital City Dance) STC

1st: Beth Anne McGowan (Next Step Dance) STC

1st: Ella Zhao (NXT Generation Dance) STC

2nd: Odin Baldwin (Vlad's Dance Company) STC

2nd: Jackson Conley (Hoffmans School of Dance) STC

3rd: Svea Larsson (Forward Dance Academy) STC

4th: Noah Vidal (Forward Dance Academy) STC

4th: Daniel Tamburro (Evolution Dance Studio) STC

5th: Keira Cheng (Vlad's Dance Company) STC

6th: Jonathan St-Onge (Ecole de Danse Louise) STC

7th: Lily Kravetz (NINE Dance Academy) STC

7th: Alina Khan (Revolve Dance Alliance) STC

8th: Olivia Maclaughlin (David De Marie) STC

8th: Shaunaughsey Meagher (Canadian Dance Company) STC

9th: Gabrielle Hoofatt (Evolution Dance Studio)

10th: Selah Wright (Art & Soul Dance)

[mollydollyuk]

Not sure about this one!

Today, The King unveiled a new portrait by Jonathan Yeo at Buckingham Palace. The painting - commissioned by The Draper’s Company - is the first official portrait to be completed since His Majesty’s Coronation. It will hang in Draper’s Hall in London.

[warningsine]

In its flawed first season, “Halt and Catch Fire” tried too hard to be the next “Mad Men.” Following four visionaries through the first decade of the personal computing revolution, the AMC series opened by introducing its Don Draper: Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace), a slick, manipulative hotshot with an IBM pedigree. It’s 1983, and he’s speeding through Texas in a black sports car when he hits an armadillo. The carnage is nauseating, but it doesn’t stop him from making it to his destination: a college lecture hall where he’s come to interrogate a roomful of male comp-sci majors about the future of their industry. The sole woman in the class arrives late. She wears military fatigues, her hair is bleached, and bratty punk music blasts through her headphones. She is the most brilliant coder in the room.

Her name is Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis), and she turns out to be the show’s true protagonist. Her story comes to the fore in subsequent seasons that evolve radically enough to make “Halt and Catch Fire,” which ends its run on Saturday (Oct. 14), one of the greatest TV dramas of the decade. But there’s lots of tiresome male anti-hero stuff to get through first, as Joe commandeers a local electric company and talks its best employee, timid family man Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy), into helping him reverse-engineer an IBM. As this classic alpha-beta duo schemes and innovates, their new hire (and Joe’s fuck buddy) Cameron remains a quasi-peripheral figure. It’s the songs music supervisor Thomas Golubić (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” “Six Feet Under”) surrounds Cam with that offer the first hint that the show is really her story.

Cam’s punk tapes are a window into the initially taciturn character’s rebellious nature, just as her headphones are the first clue that she’s a loner. In the premiere, she’s listening to the Vandals when she gets kicked out of a video arcade for using the old coin-on-a-string trick. A few episodes later, there’s a gorgeous scene where she pirouettes through a dark, empty office with X-Ray Spex’s “Germfree Adolescents” on her Walkman. (The moment is echoed near the end of season three, where she dances—first with Joe, then alone—to Pixies’ “Velouria.”) Whether it’s an iconic band like Bad Brains or a lesser-known act like Big Boys, Cam’s always got loud, angry music in her ears while she’s coding.

Cam is a punk, but not just in the banal, myopic way the tech industry has always appropriated the aesthetic—with dropout programming prodigies, “rockstar” developers, and startups bent on “disrupting” existing business models, all of whom share the ultimate goal of making money. She is impractical to a fault, trusting her own unruly instincts over the dictates of the market. Over four seasons, we watch her dream up everything from a friendly user interface that’s years ahead of its time and would take far too long to build, to a computer game so abstract, no one can understand how to play it. When she founds her own company, at the end of the first season, it’s called Mutiny. All of the employees live together in a house and make decisions democratically. Eventually, Cam exerts her power as Mutiny’s leader, but only to save her vision from getting absorbed into a big corporation.

From the very start, Cam’s music bleeds from her headphones into the show’s non-diegetic soundtrack. When she shows up for her first day at Cardiff Electric, the company Joe hijacks, “The Magnificent Seven” by the Clash follows her, its lyrics about the futility of the capitalist grind underscoring her ambivalence about the job. Over time, punk comes to symbolize Cam’s growing influence in the industry. It’s the official sound of Mutiny HQ, her chaotic geek haven adorned in red spray paint. Near the end of season two, the Raveonettes’ cover of Joy Division’s “She’s Lost Control” plays as she exacts public revenge on the billionaire who rips off the early online community she’s created. After Mutiny moves to California, in season three, hardcore riffs constantly reverberate through the cavernous office.

“Halt and Catch Fire” doesn’t usually hit you over the head with feminist themes, but it does subtly build an argument that women are gaining ground in a world men still control. Gordon’s wife, Donna (Kerry Bishé), initially seems like a nagging mom type, keeping her genius husband from his destiny. But she’s a genius, too; her engineering expertise becomes invaluable to Cardiff’s portable computer project, then she joins Cam at Mutiny. By the finale, Donna’s combination of technical prowess and business savvy have made her a powerful Silicon Valley venture capitalist, as well as a sort of Sheryl Sandberg figure.

Donna and Gordon Clark’s daughters, Joanie (played by Morgan Hinkleman as a kid and Kathryn Newton as a teenager) and Haley (Alana Cavanaugh and then Susanna Skaggs), are the next generation of liberated women. Cam lives with the Clarks after Mutiny moves to California, and her influence on the girls is palpable. A few quick time jumps land us in the mid-’90s by the fourth season, when the sisters are in high school. Teenage Joanie is a classic rebel, smoking cigarettes and getting into trouble and, yes, listening to punk. (The band name Shonen Knife, she explains to her father, basically means “dick” because “shonen” is the Japanese word for “boy.”) Haley is a budding web development star whose taste for PJ Harvey and riot grrrl helps her come to terms with her queer sexuality. A giddy scene midway through the season finds her bonding with her crush, a waitress, over Bratmobile and Heavens to Betsy.

Music becomes more essential to the show than ever in its fourth and final season. There are moving syncs that have nothing to do with Cam, like when an unmoored Donna gets pulled over for speeding while singing along to Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” and when she plays Dire Straits’ “So Far Away” after Gordon’s sudden death. But the alternative, indie, and riot grrrl music Haley and Joanie listen to—Gen X’s version of the punk bands whose fierce spirit Cam helped instill in them—is the core soundtrack of these episodes. Golubić cements the connection by pairing Cam’s scenes with some of the 1990s’ most iconic female-led anthems: the Breeders’ “Cannonball,” Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl,” Hole’s “Doll Parts.” Just as X-Ray Spex and their peers helped pave the way for women in punk, Cam sets a precedent for girl programmers like Haley. At one point, she’s surfing the internet and stumbles upon a Cameron Howe fan page.

Perhaps the greatest thing about “Halt and Catch Fire” is that it ultimately has no real heroes or villains—only four talented, flawed people who all end up playing both of those roles at one point or another. The music is what puts us inside Cam’s mind more than any other character’s, though, and illustrates how her ideas electrify everyone who can wrap their mind around them, even when her projects fail. Her work endures like an out-of-print cassette passed from hand to grubby hand, a guidepost for like-minded young punks who walk the difficult path she cleared.

[lifeofpriya]

from rom com cliches ✨ rescuing their partner from unwanted advances

you got it, anon!!! 🤭🫡

A Jack in Distress

wc: 4.27k

You're standing in the bustling heart of London, the air thick with the scent of rain-soaked cobblestones and the distant murmur of the city's endless conversations. It's a place where the past whispers to the present, and the future seems to beckon from every shadowy alleyway. You're not alone; your heart beats in sync with the pulse of the city, and beside you is Jack Draper, your boyfriend, the 23-year-old professional tennis player whose eyes light up like the gleaming neon signs above when he looks at you. You've been together for a few months now, and every moment feels like a grand slam victory, a perfectly executed serve that no one saw coming but you both knew was destined to happen.

Jack, with his chiseled jawline and dark brown hair, is the kind of person who can make the world stop spinning when he enters a room. You've seen it happen. Heads turn, whispers start, and suddenly, you're not just the person by his side, but the star of a thousand secret fantasies. It's both thrilling and overwhelming, but you've learned to navigate the spotlight with a grace that belies your own internal jitters. After all, you're just as enamored with him as they are.

The two of you are leaving a charity gala, the kind of event where the air is so thick with money and ambition it's almost tangible. The rain outside is a welcome relief, a gentle reminder that the world outside the grand hall is still very much alive and kicking. You've had a wonderful evening, sharing laughs and raising funds for a good cause, but now you're both ready to escape the glitz and return to the quiet sanctuary of your apartment.

Jack, ever the gentleman, holds an umbrella over both of your heads as you navigate the slick cobblestone streets. His hand is warm in yours, a reassuring presence as you weave through the throngs of people, dodging puddles that shimmer like tiny lakes under the streetlights. The sound of raindrops tapping against the fabric is a soothing lullaby, and the cool mist kisses your cheeks like a soft whisper.

As you approach the tube station, the atmosphere changes. The air grows denser with the scent of damp clothes and anticipation. You can feel the hum of the city's energy through the soles of your shoes, a rhythm that matches the steady drumming of the rain. The station is a whirlwind of color and movement, a stark contrast to the serene evening you've just left behind.

Jack's grip on your hand tightens slightly as you descend the stairs, his thumb brushing reassuringly over your knuckles. You know he's aware of the stares, the murmurs that follow him like a shadow. His fame is a double-edged sword, bringing joy and connection but also a sense of being hunted. You've grown protective of him, a silent sentinel in the sea of flashing cameras and eager fans.

As you reach the platform, the rush of wind from an approaching train sends a shiver down your spine. The screech of brakes fills the air, and the doors slide open with a hiss, revealing a car filled with the weary faces of late-night travelers. You both step inside, finding a relatively private spot near the back. The train jolts into motion, sending a wave of vibrations through the car, and Jack leans in, his breath warm against your ear. "Thank you for being here," he whispers. "It means more than you know."

You smile, squeezing his hand in return. "I've got your back, always," you reply, your voice steady despite the flutter in your chest.

The train's rhythm lulls you both into a comfortable silence, the kind that comes from knowing someone so well that words aren't always necessary. The neon lights of the tunnels streak past the windows, painting the interior in a kaleidoscope of colors that dance across your faces. The city's heartbeat thumps in time with the wheels, a bass line to your quiet conversation.

Suddenly, the car jolts as the train pulls into the next station, and the doors slide open with a screech. A group of rowdy young adults, their laughter echoing off the metal walls, stumble in. One of them, a young woman with hair like spun gold and eyes like shattered emeralds, stumbles into Jack, spilling a bit of her drink on his suit. She giggles and leans in close, her breath hot with the scent of alcohol. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she says, her voice dripping with a flirty lilt. "Let me make it up to you."

Her friends, a motley crew of eager faces and flashy clothes, watch with bated breath, their eyes flicking between you and Jack. You can see the calculation in their gazes, the unspoken challenge.

But you're not just anyone. You're the one who can match Jack's fiery serve with an equally fierce love. You're the one who knows the quiet moments that hide behind his public persona, the tenderness in his touch, and the stories that live in the lines of his palm.

The young woman's eyes dart to you, and she pouts, a silent question in her gaze. You stand firm, your eyes meeting hers, your grip on Jack's hand unyielding. "It's okay," Jack says, smiling politely, "accidents happen."

Her friends laugh, their eyes still on you, the unspoken challenge now a tangible force. You can feel the tension in the air, a cocktail of curiosity and aggression. But you're not intimidated. You've faced challenges before, on the court and off, and you're not about to let anyone make Jack uncomfortable.

The young woman's hand lingers on Jack's arm, her fingers tracing the fabric of his sleeve. You can see the beginnings of a blush creep up his neck, a sign of his discomfort.

"Come on, loosen up," she coos, her eyes never leaving Jack's.

Jack's smile is tight, his grip on your hand a silent plea for rescue. You understand his discomfort; the situation is as unwelcome as a double fault on match point. You clear your throat gently, and when the woman doesn't retreat, you step in, your voice as smooth as a well-hit backhand. "Jack's had a long night," you say, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're just heading home, right, babe?"

The word "babe" rolls off your tongue like a well-aimed lob, an explicit declaration of your relationship. The woman's eyes widen for a fraction of a second before narrowing into a glare that's as cold as the London rain. You return her look with a calm smile, your eyes as unyielding as the cobblestones beneath the city's streets.

Her hand drops from Jack's arm, and she takes a step back, the train's movement exaggerating the distance she puts between you. Her friends exchange glances, the laughter dying in their throats. You can almost see the gears turning in their heads as they realize you're not just an accessory to Jack's celebrity, but a person with your own power.

Jack visibly relaxes, his shoulders dropping a fraction of an inch. He mouths a silent "thank you," and you squeeze his hand in reply. The woman's eyes narrow further, but she says nothing. Instead, she turns to her friends, who shrug and follow her lead, retreating into their own bubble of hushed conversation.

The train pulls away from the station, and the cocoon of the car seems to shrink around the two of you, the noise of their laughter fading into the background. The tension lingers like the scent of wet wool on a crowded London bus, but you refuse to let it ruin the rest of your night.

You turn to Jack, who's still watching the retreating figures in the reflection of the train's window, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. You lean in, your breath warm against his cheek. "Let's forget about them," you murmur, your voice a soothing melody in the cacophony of the city's lullaby.

Jack nods, his eyes meeting yours in the glass. "You always know what to do." His smile is grateful, and you feel your heart swell with affection.

The rest of the ride is quiet, the only sounds the steady rhythm of the train and the occasional muffled announcement over the intercom. The lights flicker, casting shadows that dance on the walls, and you find yourself lost in thought.

You think about the first time you met Jack, at a charity tennis clinic for underprivileged kids. He had been so focused on his game, so dedicated to each swing and volley, that you couldn't help but be drawn to him. You had been there to donate some of your old equipment, and he had noticed you, not because of your own modest skills on the court, but because of the way you made the children laugh, the way you encouraged them to dream.

Jack had approached you with a smile that could melt the stoniest of hearts, and asked if you'd like to join him for coffee after the event. It had been an unexpected invitation, but one that had set your own heart racing. You had said yes, of course, and that one coffee had turned into a series of dates, each one more magical than the last.

Now, as you stand on the crowded platform, the coolness of the night air mingling with the warmth of Jack's hand in yours, you know that you've found something special. You've seen the way he moves, the way he speaks, the way he laughs—it's like he's playing his own symphony, and you're the only one who knows all the notes.

The train arrives with a screech, and the doors slide open like the arms of an old friend. You both step inside, finding a small nook near the back of the car, where you can watch the city's lights play tag with the darkness outside the windows. The seats are a bit sticky with the residue of a thousand previous passengers, but you don't mind. You're with Jack, and that's all that matters.

As the tube pulls away from the station, the rush of the night air sends a shiver down your spine. The rain outside is a soothing symphony, a reminder of the quiet moments you share together in the chaos of your lives. You look over at Jack, his profile sharp and focused as he stares out the window, lost in thought. You can't help but admire the way his jaw clenches, the way his brow furrows slightly when he's deep in thought. It's a look of determination that you've seen on the tennis court, and it makes your heart race knowing that he's just as invested in your relationship as he is in his career.

You lean closer, pressing your cheek against his bicep, feeling the muscles shift beneath your skin. "You okay?" you murmur, your breath ghosting over the fabric of his sleeve.

Jack looks down at you, his eyes a greenish hazel in the flickering light, and nods. "Yeah," he says, his voice low and rumbling like distant thunder. "Thanks for that." He squeezes your hand, and you can feel the strength in his fingers, the power that sends tennis balls soaring over nets and into the arms of his opponents. But right now, that strength is a comfort, a reassurance that no matter what the world throws at you, you're a team.

The train jolts again as it stops at the next station, and the doors slide open with a hiss. You both step out into the cool embrace of the night, the rain a gentle patter on the pavement. The streets of London are mostly deserted at this hour, the city's pulse slowing to a murmur. The only sounds are the distant wail of a siren and the rhythmic drip of water from the leaves of the trees that line the streets.

Jack looks at you, his eyes searching yours. "Walk with me?" he asks, his voice a gentle rumble.

You nod, and together you navigate the slick streets of London, the sound of your footsteps a soothing metronome against the cobblestones. The rain has slowed to a gentle whisper, painting the city in a soft glow. The lights from the shop windows cast a warm embrace around you, a stark contrast to the coolness of the night.

Jack points to a small, dimly lit café, a beacon in the quiet urban sprawl. "Let's grab a hot chocolate," he suggests, his voice hopeful.

You nod eagerly, the thought of the warm sweetness on your tongue a comforting balm to the chill in the air. The café is a cozy retreat, all wooden panels and warm lights that cast a honeyed glow over the few patrons scattered at the tables. The smell of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee fills the air like a comforting embrace.

Jack opens the door, the little bell chiming a welcome. You follow him in, and the heat from the inside envelops you like a warm blanket. The café owner, a woman with a kind smile, nods in recognition at Jack and waves you to a table in the corner. You both settle in, the plush seats a stark contrast to the cold metal of the tube seats.

You order hot chocolates, and Jack adds a plate of chocolate chip cookies to the order with a boyish grin. "It's the little things, right?" he says, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

The café is a haven from the damp chill outside, the air warm and scented with the sweetness of baked goods. The rain has turned into a soothing serenade, a backdrop to the intimate whispers and clinking of cups that fill the space. You sit close, your legs brushing against each other under the table, sharing smiles that feel as warm as the drinks that soon arrive.

Jack takes a sip of his hot chocolate, the steam curling around his face like a halo. "Mm, perfect," he says, his eyes closing in pleasure. You can't help but mirror his expression as you take a sip of your own, the rich, creamy taste coating your tongue like a warm embrace. The chocolate chips in the cookies are still a bit gooey, and you laugh as you both attempt to avoid burning your mouths.

The conversation drifts to the gala, the moments of shared joy and the people you met. You talk about the kids from the tennis clinic and the way their eyes lit up when Jack offered them advice, his words a beacon in their stormy seas of doubt. His dedication to giving back is just one of the countless reasons you fell for him.

"They looked up to you so much," you say, nibbling on a cookie.

Jack nods, his eyes faraway. "It's incredible what a little encouragement can do."

You take another sip of your hot chocolate, the warmth spreading through your chest. "You have a gift," you murmur. "They can see it, and it's beautiful."

Jack's eyes crinkle at the corners, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks to you, I've learned to appreciate it more."

You nod, taking another bite of your cookie. "You deserve to be happy, Jack."

Jack's smile falters for a moment, his gaze drifting to the rain outside the café window. "I am," he says finally, his eyes returning to yours. "With you."

The warmth in his voice sends a shiver down your spine, a reminder of the electricity that arcs between you every time you're close. You reach across the table and cover his hand with yours, the simple gesture speaking volumes. "And I with you," you murmur, your thumb tracing circles on his skin.

Jack's smile reaches his eyes, the kind that makes you feel like the only person in the world. You know the weight of his words, the sincerity behind them. He's a man who's used to the spotlight, but with you, he's found a place to simply be himself, flaws and all.

As you both sit there, the rain outside seems to be telling a story of its own, a tale of a million tiny moments colliding into a soothing symphony. The café is a bubble in the city's chaos, a secret garden where time slows down. You sip your hot chocolate, feeling the warmth spread through you, chasing away the last remnants of the evening's unpleasantness.

Jack's hand in yours is a grounding force, a reminder that you're not just two people in a crowded city, but a team, a partnership that has grown stronger with each shared experience. You look into his eyes, and you can see the reflection of the café's lights, flickering like stars caught in a greenish haze. You lean in closer, the scent of his cologne mingling with the sweet aroma of the chocolate, creating a bouquet that's uniquely him.

"You know," he says, his voice a low rumble that seems to resonate in the quiet café, "I never thought I'd find someone like you."

You cock your head, curiosity piquing like the scent of the freshly baked goods wafting from the kitchen. "What do you mean?"

Jack's gaze holds yours, his expression earnest. "Someone who sees me for who I really am, not just the tennis player. Someone who doesn't want anything from me except…me."

You swallow the lump in your throat, your heart skipping a beat. "I see you, Jack." You lean in closer, feeling the heat of his body mingle with the warmth of your own. "Every part of you."

Jack's eyes search yours, the café fading into the background. His hand squeezes yours, and you can see the unspoken words written in the tension of his jaw. "I know," he whispers, his voice as soft as the patter of the rain outside. "And it's terrifying and amazing all at once."

You nod, understanding the weight of his words. You've seen the darker side of fame, the way it can isolate and consume. But with you, Jack has found a sanctuary, a place where he can simply be the person he is underneath the flashing lights and the endless applause.

"I'm here for you," you murmur, your voice a gentle caress against the cacophony of the rain outside. "Always."

Jack's eyes searched yours, the warmth in his gaze like a beacon in the storm. "You're my north star," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "Whenever I feel lost, you're the one who guides me home."

You blush at the sincerity of his words, feeling a rush of affection that makes your heart flutter. "And you're my safe haven," you reply, your voice just as soft. "Whenever the world gets too much, I know I can find refuge in your arms."

Jack's smile widens, and he brings your hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. The gesture is so tender; it feels like a promise written in invisible ink across the canvas of the night. The café owner, noticing the intimacy of your exchange, smiles warmly and leaves you to your conversation, the clatter of dishes and murmur of other patrons fading into the background.

"Do you remember our first date?" Jack asks, his voice a whisper in the quiet corner of the café.

You nod, a smile playing on your lips. "How could I forget?"

Jack's grin widens. "It was raining that night too, wasn't it?"

You laugh. "How could I forget?" The memory of your first date was like a favorite book, the pages dog-eared from rereading, the corners curled from the warmth of your shared moments. You had met at a small, quirky café, not unlike this one, nestled between a vintage record shop and a bookstore that smelled of aged paper and forgotten dreams. It was a place where time had stopped to listen to your whispers.

Jack's eyes light up with the same warmth as the café's lights. "Remember the way we talked about our favorite tennis matches, and you didn't even know who I was?"

You laugh, the sound a sweet symphony in the quiet café. "How could I forget that look of shock when you told me you were Jack Draper?"

Jack chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah, that was priceless."

You both sit there, the warmth of the café and the comfort of each other's company wrapping around you like a warm blanket. The rain outside seems to serenade you, a gentle reminder of how much has changed since that first fateful meeting. You look down at your hand, still nestled in his, and feel a thrill run through you. You had no idea that a simple conversation about tennis would lead to this, to a love that felt like it could conquer the world.

Jack's thumb traces a pattern on the back of your hand, his gaze never leaving yours. "You know," he says, his voice low and thoughtful, "I've never told anyone this, but that night, when I walked away from the café, I felt…I don't know, like I'd found a piece of myself I didn't know was missing."

Your heart swells, the words resonating deep within you. "I felt the same way," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. The rain outside seems to echo the intensity of your feelings, a soft crescendo of droplets that underscore the gravity of your confession.

Jack's hand tightens around yours, his thumb continuing its gentle dance. "Really?" The hope in his voice is palpable, a soft inquiry that hangs in the air like a lob, waiting for your return.

You nod, feeling the weight of his gaze. "You're more than your serve, Jack. You're the quiet moments before the match, the sweat and the nerves, the victory dances and the post-game beers." You lean in, your voice dropping to a whisper. "You're the laughter in the locker room and the tears when you think no one's watching."

Jack's eyes widen, and he swallows hard. "How do you know me so well?"

You shrug, a small smile playing on your lips. "It's all in the details," you say, your voice as smooth as the chocolate sauce that coats the cookies. "The way your eyes light up when you talk about the game, the way your voice cracks when you're nervous, the little huff you make when you miss a shot in practice."

Jack leans in closer, his eyes searching yours. "And what do you see when you look at me now?"

You take a moment to consider his question, the warmth of his hand a gentle reminder of your shared history. "I see a man," you begin, "A man who's learned to balance the fierce competitor inside with the gentle soul that loves to read poetry and cuddle with his family dog, Ozzy."

Jack's eyes crinkle at the mention of his beloved pet, a miniature Australian labradoodle that had been his constant companion through the whirlwind of his career. "You remember Ozzy?"

You nod, smiling. "How could I not? The way he wags his tail when you come home, like he's just won Wimbledon."

Jack laughs, the sound rich and warm, filling the space between you. "You get me, don't you?" His gaze holds yours, the unspoken question hanging in the air like the mist of your breaths.

You nod, feeling the weight of his stare. "More than I've ever gotten anyone."

Jack's smile widens, and he leans in closer, his eyes never leaving yours. "You know, when we first met, I didn't think I had a chance with you," he admits, his voice a soft rumble.

You laugh, the sound as warm as the chocolate in your mug. "Why not?"

Jack's gaze holds yours for a heartbeat longer before he leans back, his expression contemplative. "Because you're…you're not like anyone I've ever met before. You're like a breath of fresh air in a stale locker room."

You chuckle, the sound mingling with the clink of spoons and the murmur of other conversations. "Is that a compliment?"

Jack nods, his smile turning a bit shy. "It is."

The moment stretches out like a long, luxurious backhand, filled with the unspoken confessions of two souls who've found their match. You both sit in the warm cocoon of the café, the rain outside now a gentle serenade to the symphony of your shared secrets.

Jack's hand tightens around yours, and you feel his heartbeat, steady and strong like the rhythm of a grand slam final. "I've never felt this way before," he admits, his voice as raw as the emotion etched on his face. "With you, it's…it's like I've found the perfect double partner."

You laugh softly, the sound mingling with the rain outside. "Is that a good thing?"

Jack's eyes crinkle with mirth. "The best thing." He leans closer, his breath warm against your cheek. "You keep me on my toes, like a volley at break point."

You laugh, the sound a melody that resonates through the quiet café. "And you keep me guessing," you reply, your eyes sparkling with affection. "Like a surprise serve."

Jack's smile broadens, revealing the dimples in his cheek. "Exactly," he says, his voice a soft rumble. "But you always seem to return it with style."

You both laugh, the sound echoing off the café walls, a gentle reminder of the joy you share. The rain outside has turned into a gentle patter, a rhythm that seems to keep time with your conversation. You sip your hot chocolate, feeling the warmth spread through your chest, mingling with the warmth of Jack's hand in yours.