#first list of seat allocation

[rightnewshindi]

Delhi University; दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी आज जारी करेगी सीट एलोकेशन की पहली लिस्ट, du.ac.in पर ऐसे करें चेक

DU UG Admission 2024: दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी देश की टॉप यूनिवर्सिटी की लिस्ट में शामिल है. देशभर के लाखों स्टूडेंट्स यहां एडमिशन के लिए आवेदन करते हैं. अन्य सेंट्रल यूनिवर्सिटीज की तरह दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी में भी सीयूईटी यूजी स्कोर के आधार पर एडमिशन मिलेगा. दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी में एडमिशन के लिए सीट एलोकेशन की पहली लिस्ट आज जारी की जाएगी. इसके लिए du.ac.in या admission.uod.ac.in पर लेटेस्ट अपडेट्स चेक…

[jeonsweetpea]

The Moon Knows Our Secrets (1)

Exes to Lovers!AU | Hybrid!Jungkook x Hybrid!OC | Soulmate!AU

genre: angst, smut, exes to lovers, vampire/werewolf hybrid (emphasis on werewolf), soulmates, forced proximity

rating: explicit

description: He doesn’t remember loving you. How could he, when you’re the one who erased his memories? You run into him a year later at a wedding. The year after that he’s reported missing and you go off to find him. Then you wonder: did he ever forget you?

word count: 9.1k

warnings: blood, blood-drinking, one injury, flirting, TXT is mentioned and they’re horny brats but protective!JK swoops in, ANGST, mentions of compulsion, past deaths, JK smokes for like, one second, fire, resentment, but trust me, they will fall for each other all over again, two-shot 💖

smut warnings: OC goes into HEAT at the worst time, kissing, oral sex (female receiving), fingering, squirting, overstimulation, (more intense smut to come in part 2)

a/n: This is an epilogue for my series Moonstruck (inspired by TVD), but it can be read as a STAND-ALONE! You do not have to read Moonstruck (but it will be more satisfying if you have 😉). I love this couple and they deserve their (steamy) happy ending. They both embody the “right person, wrong place.”

Part 1 | Part 2 |

“You’re going to forget the fact you ever loved me. I’m just the girl who had a crush on you and trained with you, nothing more. I want you to live your life freely. If we ever cross paths again, don’t approach me. When I’m ready, I’ll come to you and you can decide then if you’ll have me. You’ll remember then. I love you, Jungkook.”

You first saw him again at a wedding.

When you arrive at the venue, your eyes scan the sea of strangers for him like an automated response. You clutch onto the chain of your purse, the tight squeeze in your chest never seeming to disappear. Once you’re sure of his absence, the tension in your shoulders fades.

Round tables are arranged around a central dance floor, so you sit at the closest one, joining in the crowd’s applause despite not knowing what’s happening. The happy couple is swaying to romantic jazz music played by the live band, their adoring smiles perfectly matched.

“What did I miss?”

Your old classmate chuckles when she notices your presence, using her fingers to count as she lists off her answers. “The ring bearer, flower girl, the da-da-da-da piano introduction, the vows, the kiss, the first dance—so pretty much everything. Surprised to see you here.”

So are you. It took you hours of hyping yourself up before deciding to attend. You never RSVP-ed properly, allocating all your time to getting ready instead. Not that you had anyone to impress, but it’s a wedding. Sweatpants weren’t going to cut it.

“Can everyone please have a seat? We’re going to hear the best man give his speech!” That authoritative voice belonged to Kim Namjoon, the headmaster of BTSU (Be The Supernatural University). His dimple smile emerges when he notices you and he waves excitedly, dropping the microphone in the process. 

You giggle. “See? I didn’t miss everything, Lia.”

She hands you a glass of champagne, then clinks the glass against your own. “Okay, Ms. Fashionably Late. At least you look hot.”

The guests take their seats while the couple sits at the head table near the dance floor. There’s a small stage next to them and on it is a microphone stand under a beautifully decorated archway. A blanket of silence washes over the crowd as anticipation rises, but the best man is nowhere to be found. Murmurs spread quickly as heads turn in confusion.

“I’m here, I’m here!”

You don’t have to look to know who that voice belonged to. The glass in your hand trembles, on the brink of shattering under your tightening grip. Your mouth parts open in shock, your heart rate beating so loudly that it rings in your ears, drowning out the noise of the crowd’s applause as the so-called best man gets on stage. 

Jeon Jungkook — your ex-boyfriend.

Could you even call him your ex? Your history was, in a word, complicated. Boyfriend and girlfriend weren’t labels you two were fortunate enough to share. Bound by trauma, forced into despair, crippled with pain — the “relationship” in question was toxic. 

“You’re going to forget the fact you ever loved me…”

A hybrid had many advantages — compulsion included. With one look, you ordered him to forget having loved you and then left. Traveling the world healed you and the thought of returning to your college campus never once crossed your mind until a year later.

Your old professor sent you a text — a wedding invitation to be specific. Though the gesture was sweet, you preferred staying blissfully ignorant. You almost deleted it. However, F.O.M.O was a crippling feeling, so you ultimately gave in. 

You were aware the chances of running into Jungkook were high, but that’s why you arrived late on purpose. You had let your guard down too easily, assuming he might’ve left early or not bother showing up at all. What a fool. 

The fairy lights strung across the venue illuminate him with a gorgeous golden glow as he steps onto the stage. You hold your breath as the world seems to slow down, taking in his features. 

His hair used to be longer and shaggier; you teased him for having a mop-head back then (lovingly). Now it’s half long, with shaved sides and a slight mullet. He wore a simple white shirt, layered with a classic black blazer and matching dress pants. Several square box chains surrounded his neck, complimenting his silver hoop earrings and lip ring (when did he get that?). His accessories sparkle under the lights, almost blinding, as if he were a living filter. 

Damn. He’s only gotten more gorgeous. 

Jungkook quickly adjusts the microphone stand to his height, then presents a bunny-tooth grin. “Hello everyone! Sorry, I’m late. I had forgotten my script.” He shakes the index cards in his hands gently, causing a ripple of laughter through the crowd. “It’s an honor being both Hoseok and Yoongi’s best man.”

Jung Hoseok was your old classmate, who used to be the alpha of the werewolf pack senior year. But then along came Jungkook, who stole the title from beneath him after challenging him to a duel. Funny how he is now his best man. 

Min Yoongi was the one who invited you, a research assistant at your university. If you had to describe him in a phrase, it’d be: “Actions speak louder than words.” You knew his intentions when he sent the invitation, so you had to come and support him the same way he’s done for you. 

Jungkook peers down at his script before placing a hand on the microphone. 

“I’ve known Yoongi and Hoseok for years now and their love is truly special. They’re often private with their affection, but we know how they would go out of their way for each other. My favorite part is whenever Hoseok compliments Yoongi, he’d—”

“AaarrghhH!!!” The obnoxious scream is from Yoongi himself, who had stood up and faced away from the crowd. People crack up at his hilarity, including Hoseok who is clapping his hands like a seal. 

“Yes. That. Exactly that,” Jungkook says, followed by a soft chuckle. “The two play off each other well. Hoseok brings joy to everyone and it’s infectious. I’ve never seen Yoongi happier than when he’s with Hoseok.”

Yoongi rubs the nape of his neck, a shy smile gracing his features as he sits back down. Hoseok places his head on his partner’s shoulders, sighing in content. Jungkook flips to the next index card and clears his throat.

“Yoongi and Hoseok are people I like from the bottom of my heart. They’re like family, and I’m so glad to be a part of their story. We were able to come to where we are right now because everybody was all together.” His lips tremble slightly as he holds the corners of the card with both hands, tears slowly welling up in his eyes. His head hangs low for a moment but then he looks up, forcing a smile on his face. “Sorry, I’m getting emotional.”

You almost shout it’s okay! but nothing comes out. Fortunately, a couple of folks blurt out comforting words that make him laugh as he quickly wipes his tears away. He rolls his shoulders back and blows a small raspberry with his lips to reset. 

“These two have both helped me through so much. When I almost lost my life. When I lost my friends. When I wanted to give up on myself,” His eyes scanned across the venue as if simulating eye contact with each guest. “And especially when I experienced the biggest absence of my life with…”

His words are cut short at the same time your breath hitches. It’s a split second, but you’re sure. You’re sure his gaze fell on you, his expression stiffening slightly while you let out a silent gasp. The world seems to be at a standstill until he crumples the cards in his hand and tosses them aside. He lets out a half-hearted laugh, gesturing to the large projector screen he prepared earlier. 

“Enough about me!” he exclaims. “I made a compilation of the couple’s best moments. Enjoy!”

You don’t pay attention to the video playing despite the roaring laughter from the crowd. Someone shouts something about the couple wearing colorful animal sheet masks, but your eyes are glued to Jungkook. He exits the stage, heading back to his group of friends at the table furthest from yours. They give him a pat on the back and he’s back to smiling as if nothing happened. 

Was it your imagination? Maybe he wasn’t looking at you. You finish your champagne in one gulp, slamming the glass down without meaning to. The sharp sting in your palm makes you realize your actions as you groan, the deep cut across your hand oozing blood. 

“[Y/N], are you okay? Oh my gosh, here.” Lia is quick to grab the cloth napkin, wrapping it around your hand and tying a knot. 

“Thanks, but I’m fine. I’ll heal anyway.”

“Still, how did this even happen? What’s got you so tense?”

You say nothing, but she follows your line of sight and purses her lips. “Are you looking at the wolves? Is it Jungkook?”

“No,” you say quickly. “I’m gonna go to the restroom and wash the blood off.”

Before she can interrogate you further, you make a break for it. It was difficult walking in your nude heels, each step feeling like you were sinking deeper into the grass. The fairy lights help you see in the dark as you pass by the greenery of the garden, the flowers being your favorite part. You’d stop to smell them but didn’t want the blood to stain their lovely petals. Your feet finally reach a cobblestone path and you see the restroom building up ahead. 

There’s a handwashing sink outside. Once you turn on the faucet, you unwrap the cloth around your hand and wash the excess blood away. The cut had partially healed already — another perk of hybrid blood — but it still felt nice.

You find yourself lost in thought as the cool water flows onto your hands. You tell yourself there’s no way Jungkook was looking at you. He doesn’t even know you. At least, not in the way he used to. 

“I’m just the girl who had a crush on you and trained with you, nothing more. I want you to live your life freely.”

Ah. Right. You’ve been reduced to a mere stranger now. The depressing reality makes you sigh as you turn off the water. 

That’s when you hear it. Footsteps. Heavy ones that grow louder from behind you. The hairs on your neck stand up as you turn around.

Jungkook is approaching you, his stride long and confident. Your brain must have been rewired to put him in slow motion because he’s like a model walking down a runway. You can’t believe your eyes and are torn between running away or staying put. He’s closer now. Your heart skips a beat, the anticipation crushing you. Stay put it is.

“If we ever cross paths again, don’t approach me.”

Yet here he is. Approaching you. Had the compulsion not worked on him? Did he remember you all this time? Well, your answer comes when he walks right by you without sparing a glance as he enters the men’s restroom. You blink a few times, stunned by what took place.

Well, that proves it; the compulsion was still effective. You look at the bloody napkin in your hand, clutching it tightly. 

“What, is he blind? He didn’t even ask if I was okay. This is a huge red flag, literally!” You wave the fabric around like a crazed woman, having half a mind to chuck it across the building. After sulking for a minute, you compose yourself and prepare to head back.

That’s when an unpleasant smell creeps its way into your nose. It’s harsh, like the smell of acetone and burnt wood, and you cough uncontrollably. The acrid fumes are suffocating as you wander around the restrooms for the smell. 

“It’s coming from the men’s side…” you mumble to yourself. 

“When I’m ready, I’ll come to you and you can decide then if you’ll have me.”

Ignore it. It’s not your business. Yet your feet are already stomping inside, where your ex jolts in alarm at your sudden presence. 

“Hey, just because you’re a hybrid doesn’t mean smoking is okay!” The cigarette dangles from his mouth when his lips part in a small “o” shape, seconds from falling. You swipe it from him, drop it on the ground, and crush it under your heel. His doe eyes are larger than before, but your actions render him speechless. “It’s a gross habit and causes bad breath. So… yeah. Don’t smoke. Even if you’re practically immortal it’s not good for you.”

You spin around and close your eyes, cringing at your meddlesome behavior. You should leave before things escalate. 

“Are you okay?” Your eyes flutter open. He must think you’re deranged! “Your hand… is that blood?”

You look down, noticing the cloth in your hand was no longer white, but a deep crimson that seemed to permeate nonstop. 

“Oh, this is nothing. It’ll heal soon.”

He circles and gets in front of you, holding out his hand. “May I take a look?”

Whatever compels you to give your hand to him is a mystery, but you do it. He removes the cloth first, then inspects your palm, concern etched in his features. Blood continues to ooze out of the gash, but all you can focus on is the warmth of his hand enveloping your cold one. It reminds you of holding a hot cup of coffee in the morning except in this case, your cortisol levels are spiking. 

“It’s not good for you, you know,” he says with a soft smile. He directs his gaze from his hand to your own. “Getting cuts on such pretty hands. Who did this to you?”

If you had a brain, you didn’t anymore. You feel it short-circuiting, the hints of protectiveness in his voice setting sirens off in your mind. “No one… I accidentally broke a glass.”

It comes out as a whisper, but he acknowledges your response with a gentle “hmm.”

“This won’t do. It’s not healing fast enough,” His eyes shift up to meet your own. “You’re practically dripping in my hand.”

How can he say such things to you with such a straight face? The double entendre is blatant, but calling him out for it would only expose your impure thoughts.

“Shall I clean you up?” You don’t miss how he says “you” and not “it.” His irises glow a ruby red, matching his blood-shot sclera. Protruding veins appear under his eyes as he opens his mouth wide enough to exhibit his sharp fangs. It’s a hauntingly beautiful sight.

“That’s okay, you don’t—you don’t have to.” 

“Maybe I want to. Besides… I was smoking to curb my cravings. You took that away, so I need something else to satisfy me.”

You gulp. “And you think my blood will do that?”

He flashes you a smirk. “I’d like to find out. If you’ll let me.”

He doesn’t remember. He doesn’t remember. He can’t remember. Right? 

You agree with a soft “okay” and Jungkook doesn’t hold back. He sticks his tongue out, licking up the blood that overflowed onto his thumb first before following the stream up to your palm. He presses his lips onto the gash and sucks, earning a small gasp from you. This catches his attention, and he stares at you. His pupils are dilated, the primal look in his gaze so enrapturing. 

The pit of your stomach is on fire as he continues feeding from the palm of your hand. His tongue comes out to play, swiping back and forth, leaving no spot untouched. It tickles, but you’re too tense to move a muscle. 

Then he moans. It’s low at first, but then he closes his eyes and does it again. This time it’s more guttural, and he presses harder against you like he was starved.

“Ow,” you say, wincing when his fangs pierce your skin. It coaxes more blood to come out, and he visibly shudders.

“Sorry, I—Fuck,” His breath is uneven as he pants, drunk on your taste. He furrowed his eyebrows like he was mad, fighting against his primal urges to devour you whole. “I’ll be more careful. Please let me finish, please.”

Oh my god. He’s begging you. It’s too adorable to resist. He opens his eyes when you don’t reply, and you quickly give him your consent. His technique, if you can even call it that, grows sloppy as he rushes to clean up the mess he made. It’s like he was embarrassed, which makes your heart grow fonder. 

Once he finishes, his lips come together and make a loud smooching sound. He kisses the spot once again, lovingly, and then pulls away. You’re shocked to see the cut is no longer there. 

“Delicious. Sweet, with a hint of spice.”

You’re flattered by the handsome blood sommelier but retract your hand, hiding it behind your back while clearing your throat. 

“Um… Thank you.” That sounded more lame out loud than in your head, but nothing else seemed appropriate. 

Jungkook rubs the excess blood from the corner of his lips with his thumb. “It was my pleasure.” He sucks it and then releases his thumb with a loud pop.

Discomfort washes over you with how quiet the restroom gets, but you don’t break the silence. Instead, you turn around and head for the exit. 

“You’re [Y/N], right?” Three steps. That’s how far you got. “We were in the same year together.”

You grab onto the chain of your purse again. “Yeah. We were.”

And you leave it at that. 

You walk around to ease the buried feelings threatening to bubble up to the surface. Aside from the reception in the garden, the rest of the campus is quiet. Not a single light is on from the buildings you pass, your heels following the moonlight instead.

You pass the library, the gym, and the fine arts hall, but your steps halt at the girls’ dormitory. Memories flood your mind one by one: decorating your room, staying up late studying for exams, and the time when Jungkook slept over and—no. Shit. Don’t think about a love that’s lost. 

A weighted sigh comes as you sit on the steps, giving your feet a much-deserved break. You hug your knees, tuck your head down, and rest it in your folded arms as if you wanted to hide from the world. Why the hell did you think coming here would be easy?

His touch lingers in your mind as you replay the moment. The way he held your hand, the way he was concerned for your well-being, and the way he fed off your blood was far more intimate than you expected. Then he said your name.

It ignited a yearning you thought you had suppressed.

“I should leave…” you say out loud to no one in particular. 

“And miss the group picture?”

You lift your head slowly like you were caught red-handed committing a heinous crime. You’re greeted by pointed black dress shoes, black dress pants, a white shirt and black blazer, silver necklaces, and soft doe eyes that could melt anyone’s heart. 

“Jungkook…”

His eyes light up, a tinge of rouge dancing across his cheeks as he slips his hands into his pockets. “So you do remember me.”

How could I ever forget? “Well yeah… we were in the same year together.”

He scrunches his nose, amused at your usage of his past words. “That’s it? We were sparring partners, we went on missions together, and I’m pretty sure you saved my life by turning me into a hybrid,” Your jaw falls to the ground while his lips curve into a playful grin. “Ring a bell?”

The logistics of your compulsion weren’t specific as to how much Jungkook would remember. Then again, you didn’t erase his memory of your existence, so it’s natural he would remember some basic things. 

“Wow, you have a good memory. Um… yeah, I guess that covers the extent of our relationship.”

He quirks his eyebrow, sounding far too happy for your liking as he says, “We… have a relationship?”

You put your hands out in a stop motion and shake them in a panic. “No! Not at all. I–I meant that’s all we are to each other. Nothing more, nothing less. Just old classmates.”

“I see. What a shame though. I feel like we would have… should have gotten to know each other more back then.”

His voice has a trace of longing, but you dismiss it for friendly conversation. “Really? I was too focused on my studies anyway. You wouldn’t have liked me.”

He nods. “Considering how you stomped out my cigarette? Yeah, probably not.”

You scoff, a playful glint in your eyes. “Excuse me for looking out for you.”

“Never asked you to, but I’ll admit, I enjoy the attention.” You both laugh and then he extends his hand out to you. “Come on. Let’s go take the group picture together.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I’m not fond of pictures. Yoongi and Hobi don’t even know I’m here, so it’s not like they’ll notice.”

“I’ll notice,” You stare at him, watching his smile fade and how serious his demeanor becomes. “Your absence is significant, especially to those who care about you. They’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.”

You are about to speak when he adds, “Besides, the formation is off and we need one more person to fill in the gap.”

With a roll of your eyes, you swat his hand away and stand. “Alright, I get it. Let’s go.”

He smiles, puts his hands back in his pockets, and leads the way back. You follow him to the garden where guests are lined up in neat, staggered rows. Most of them have their arms crossed, some tapping their feet anxiously, while the rest have their hands on their hips. Even the main couple in the front row are mouthing words you can’t hear, but the way Yoongi slaps a hand to his forehead makes you aware of his distress.

“Oh!” Hoseok shouts with a jump, pointing his finger in your direction. “They’re here!”

Everyone expresses their relief with a “thank goodness” or “about time” as you and Jungkook make your way over. 

“You found her!” Namjoon says, holding up his hand for a high-five. Jungkook walks by too fast to notice, so you high-five him to ease his embarrassment.

“Wow, is that [Y/N]? You look incredible.” The man next to Namjoon gives you two thumbs up and you smile at the compliment. 

“Jin…” You can’t help but hug him tight and he reciprocates. Kim Seokjin aka Jin was the head witch on campus and counselor. You’ve confided in him for years and seeing him again almost brings tears to your eyes.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough.” Yoongi pats Jin’s back, a signal to release his hold on you. You laugh and then embrace him next, earning an obnoxious groan, but the fond smile on his face shows his true emotions. “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course. Thank you for inviting me.”

You stop hugging him to see Hoseok with his arms out already, his heart-shaped grin wide.

“Come here~,” You let out an “oof” sound from how tight he squeezes you. “We had no idea you were here! Jungkook convinced the cameraman to wait until he found you.”

You let him go and look over to Jungkook, who clears his throat as he looks off to the side. The apples of his cheeks are rosy, which you find endearing. 

“Here, stand in the front row next to me,” Hoseok says, gesturing to the spot between him and Jungkook. Jungkook takes a large step to the right, allowing enough space for you to squeeze in.

“Alright, now that we finally have everyone here…” the cameraman says out loud, throwing a harsh glare in your direction. You give him a sheepish grin in return. “Everyone needs to scoot over to my left please.”

The crowd obeys, but the cameraman’s displeased frown remains. “Now everyone needs to squeeze closer together.”

There’s some shuffling and you bump into Hoseok after Jungkook’s shoulder bumps into yours. 

“Sorry,” he whispers. You tell him it’s okay.

The cameraman crosses his arms. “Come on, you guys. Act like you like each other! Closer!”

Everyone scooches in again, but Jungkook’s hand brushes against yours. The touch is electrifying, and you forget how to breathe. You can’t process your emotions as the cameraman orders the guests on your side to turn their bodies inwards at an angle. Jungkook exhales and his hot breath fans the nape of your neck. You feel your palms start to sweat. 

“Three, two, one, smile!” You put on your most picture-perfect smile, the flash nearly blinding you. “One more! This time do a silly pose!”

You observe what others choose for their pose. Bunny ears are common, heart poses are also popular whether using arms or hands. Some stick their tongues out while others fake a dramatic gasp. You shift in your position when your heels betray you and you stumble backward.

As if on cue, a pair of arms catch you and you’re dipped like you’re in a dance class with Jungkook’s face peering down at you. His sweet cologne wafts into your nostrils, a nice blend of amber and rose. These moments only happen in movies — or so you think — yet he’s a fantasy that somehow becomes your reality. 

The camera shutters and captures your deer-in-the-headlights expression and Jungkook’s, who mirrors after you. It makes the cameraman let out a hearty laugh, and he’s not sure who the real married couple is.

“Are you okay?”

You nod and he helps you regain stability. Your hand touches your face, feeling the heat radiating off your cheek. The cameraman dismisses everyone and your friends jump at the opportunity to hound you with questions. 

Hoseok’s eager to go first. “Whatcha been up to, [Y/N]? It’s been so long since we’ve all been together.”

“Just traveling, not much,” you reply, forcing the muscles in your mouth to cooperate into a believable smile. 

“Hey, that’s her business. Don’t be nosy,” Namjoon interjects. Yoongi and Jin give each other a knowing look.

“You’re just saying that because she communicates with you the most,” Jin teases. 

“I mean, I was her mentor… can’t help it if I’m her favorite.” He pats his puffed-out chest twice, proud as he winks at you. You giggle and Yoongi joins in the conversation.

“Okay, if anyone’s her favorite, it’s actually me. But anyway,” he tilts his head towards the bar, “help yourself to a drink.”

“Ooh, I will. Do you have any recommendations?” you ask. 

“Do you want something strong? Fruity?”

“Get her what Jungkook got,” Namjoon says. Jungkook stands off to the side, his jaw clenches at his name being mentioned. “You like peach-flavored things, right?”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“Because he told me…” He notices the group shooting glares at him like daggers. It reminds you of when an idol spoils their next comeback by accident. “... Told me it was delicious and that anyone would like it. It goes down smoothly. Very yummy. Hah. Hahaha! Is that a saxophone?”

He leaves the group in a hurry with Jin chasing after him yelling, “No! Leave the sax alone! I’m not paying for damages!”

Awkward glances are exchanged between Hoseok and Yoongi, a silent two-player game of telepathy you weren’t a part of. You can’t compel Hoseok, but Yoongi’s human. One look and you’d know what he was thinking, but that’d be highly inappropriate to do that to the groom at his wedding. 

“I’ll order my own,” you tell the couple and they wave goodbye. Jungkook’s already retreated to his friends, much to your relief. 

Once you’re at the outdoor bar, your mood lifts upon seeing the bartender. She puts down the glass she was drying and rests her hands on the countertop.

“Well if it isn’t the original hybrid queen herself.”

The bartender is young, her oval face and sharp jawline giving her a cute, handsome aura. Her hair is short, about shoulder-length, and straight. Her eyes are large, emphasized by her dramatic makeup to draw you in until you’re lost in them. 

“Hi, Ryujin. Wow, I haven’t seen you in forever.” She had a white shirt underneath her black vest; you think it suits her tom-boyish charms well.

“Since vampire ability class, I know. What can I get you, beautiful?”

The smirk she sends you has your nerves sparking, and the palms of your hands sweaty. It was different when a girl complimented you. It felt more believable, flattering even. 

You shrug in response to maintain a calm demeanor. “Hmm… I don’t know. Maybe something fruity? Citrusy?”

She nods, grabbing a shaker and a bottle of liquor under the counter straight away. You watch as she juggles the two items in the air, covering your mouth at the thought of gravity ruining her trick. However, she caught them both with ease, moving at such a fast speed as she concocted your beverage. It’s an elegant performance, her movements fluid like it’s an art. She finishes by topping off your glass with an orange slice.

“Here you go,” She slides the glittery pink drink over, and you take a sip, allowing the fruity taste to coat your tongue. “Matches your dress.”

You smile at the thoughtful gesture. “It’s good. Tastes like peaches and grapefruit. What’s it called?”

“It’s something I came up with. I wouldn’t mind sharing the recipe with you after the event’s over.”

You don’t miss the flirty tone in her words and can only laugh. She was so refreshing and has always stuck up for you in the past when others called you stuck-up for being a hybrid. Who knew she would end up flirting with you at a wedding years later?

“So? What do you say?” she asks, her eyes brimming with hope. You take another drink and finish the whole thing despite your shaky hands. She gives you a fond smile. “If I’m being too forward, tell me.”

“No, I’m just nervous,” you blurt out, setting the glass down. “You’re really pretty.”

“Is that so?”

You’re about to respond when you feel your temperature rise. You clasp a hand to your forehead, which goes from warm to scalding in seconds. Sweat beads form around your temples as your breathing becomes harsher. You rest your elbow on the counter to keep yourself balanced, but your legs are burning too. It was like someone lit a torch from beneath you, cooking your flesh inside out. 

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Ryujin asks. You shake your head and your vision blurs, the lights behind her looking like a bokeh image. She hands a bottle of water to you, and you gulp it down, yet the fever persists and you feel worse. 

Ryujin sees your eyes widen in alarm as you peer down at your dress. She inspects it too, but doesn’t see anything abnormal. You rub your thighs together. 

“Fuck… I think I’m in heat,” you tell her. Your hand rummages through your purse and then you curse again, frustrated. “I’m out of suppressants!”

Ryujin snaps her fingers when a lightbulb goes off in her head. “Ask Lia.”

“Good idea.”

You blink to wet your eyes, regaining clarity of your surroundings before heading to Lia on the dance floor. She was all smiles with a guy until you bumped into her, your darn heels being the bane of your existence.

“Hey!”

“Sorry,” you quickly say, “I need your help.”

She takes one look, excuses herself, and brings you to a quieter space. Her hand reaches into her clutch and pulls out a lace handkerchief, dabbing the sweat off your forehead. Her touch is gentle and she asks quietly, “Are you in heat?”

Lia and Ryujin were best friends. Your sole encounters with her were because of Ryujin by extension, but even back then, you knew she was sweet. Wolves often looked down upon her because of her doll-like, docile appearance. However, she had enough balls to find friends in other cliques and was, what people say, a girl’s girl. 

“Yes, I feel like I’m dying. Ryujin told me to ask if you have suppressants.”

“I don’t. Do you not track your cycle?”

“I’m a hybrid! It’s random for me!” 

She grimaces, the pity in her eyes inevitable. “I’m sorry, I forgot. But you need to get out of here. Do you know how many horny young wolves are here with zero self-restraint?”

You shift your weight and a pool of discharge releases in your panties, the sticky sensation making you cringe. Lia brings out a travel-sized perfume spray and spritzes your entire body. A wheeze is forced out of you from the potent floral scent, but at least it will cover your pheromones long enough for a distraction.

“Hey everyone! The fireworks are starting soon, let’s go to the front of the school and watch!” Hoseok has his hands cupped around his mouth to carry his voice through the venue, catching the attention of all guests. Lia holds both your hands, looking you dead in the eye with a straight face.

“There. Use this time to find suppressants or get out of here. The perfume won’t last very long.”

“Thanks, Lia, I will.” 

While the crowd heads towards the front, you rush back to the restroom building. You’re a panting mess once inside, but you go into a stall, shut it, and pull down your undergarment. The fabric is soaked in slick and has a hefty weight—you have no choice but to discard it.

Grabbing toilet paper, you clean yourself up as best as you can. Then you step out, wash your hands, and exit the building.

“Hey there.” You almost topple backward from the sudden intrusion. Three guys are in front of you, all wearing the same, smug grin. They’re young, probably younger than you, but one thing’s for sure—they’re werewolves. 

There’s a particular scent that emits from wolves. It’s earthy, like a pine tree, and you’d usually find it comforting but now? Fear crawls up your spine like a spider has latched onto you, its legs creeping up your back in a spot you can’t smack away.

The one in the middle had greeted you first. He has a youthful face, and sculpted cheekbones, which are easy on the eyes. Speaking of, that was his most striking feature. They are almost cat-like (ironically) with how wide and long they are. 

“Are you lost? Everyone’s watching the fireworks,” he says, his thumb hiked over his shoulder. You don’t respond. “Ah, I’m Yeonjun. This is Beomgyu and that’s Soobin.”

Soobin is the tallest. He shows off his dimple smile upon being introduced, which seems pure, but the way his irises shifted to goldenrod says otherwise. Beomgyu, on the other hand, had the most innocent baby face you’ve ever seen. However, you don’t miss the way he licks his lips while giving you a once-over.

“I’m [Y/N]...” You don’t know why you give them your name, but it slips out. Maybe you hoped playing along would lead them to spare you. 

“Oh!” Soobin says, his index finger pointing up at the discovery. “You’re the original hybrid the professors rave about!”

“Half-vampire, half-werewolf, right?” Beomgyu asks. Your double moon necklace glows as you form your fingers into a claw shape behind your back. A small flame ignites and you hold it there, waiting for the right opportunity. 

“Yeah. I guess,” you say. “Why don’t you boys go watch the fireworks? I’ll catch up.”

“Nonsense! As gentlemen, we should escort you. Unless… you’d rather do something else. Here. Now.” Yeonjun raises an eyebrow, but you scowl in response. 

“No thanks.”

Soobin takes a step forward. “Is there anything else we can help you with?”

Beomgyu takes two. “I’m sure the three of us can be of use to you.”

It’s not until Yeonjun approaches you that you cower, stepping backward until you’re stopped by the water fountains. “No need to be shy. No one’s around.”

Your blood is boiling, though you’re not sure if it’s from your heat or rage. What’s worse is you’re not mad at them; you’re mad at yourself. Their words spurred you on as arousal drips down your thighs, a sign of your body’s betrayal. You fear if this escalates, they’ll figure out you’re not wearing anything underneath. 

“Get. Back.” You reveal the burning flame in your palm, the heat emanating off of it close enough to Yeonjun’s face. He jumps back and places a hand on his chest.

“Whoa! She’s feisty. Or should I say… fiery.”

“Maybe we should head back. She can do magic. I thought hybrids don’t know magic,” Soobin whispers. Yeonjun laughs at the ridiculous suggestion, shoving his friend for his cowardice as Beomgyu inspects him for injuries. 

“Doesn’t matter. Look at her state now.” He points in your direction, seeing how you’re barely able to stand. Your breaths are quick, shallow and your heart is thumping around like it’s going to burst out of your rib cage. The fire in your hand diminishes to a mere flicker, and then it’s out. You try to bring it back with the flick of a wrist, but all that emits are tiny sparks. Shit. I haven’t been practicing long enough.

Your womanhood is craving something, anything to alleviate the agony. It’s screaming for release, and you hold your abdomen as a sudden cramp pains you horribly. Human females experience this type of thing monthly and you have to hand it to them. This type of pain requires endurance and fucking sucks. 

You fall onto all fours, clutching your heart which is seconds away from bursting. It’s beating so loud, you can’t even hear the vulgar things the youngins are saying as they rush over. Soobin grabs your right arm; Yeonjun has the other.

You thrash in their clutches, but they only mock you with their boisterous laughter as they force you to your feet.

“Hey, hey! We’re just trying to help,” Soobin says. 

“Unless you’d rather be on all fours,” Yeonjun teases. Beomgyu bends down to your eye level, a crooked smile on his dainty face, the true embodiment of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

 “You’re pure temptation, you know that?” He leans close, his lips grazing the shell of your ear as he whispers, “Give up. Don’t put up a fight.”

“I don’t consent,” you say, a harsh bite in your words.

Soobin squeezes your arm, almost crushing it in his large hands. “Why? Is it because we’re young?”

“It’s clear you’re horny… we are too. Come on,” Beomgyu pleads. “We’ll take good care of you. Teach us what you like.”

“Yeah. And we’ll do the same.” Yeonjun holds your hand, inspecting it closely. “So soft. I bet your hand would feel so good around my—“

“Get your hands off her before I bite them off.”

Dizziness overwhelms you, so all you see is a blurry figure behind Beomgyu, and you shake your head to come to your senses. Once the man’s face comes into focus, relief washes over you, sending signals for your brain to let down your guard. The energy you so desperately clung to has depleted, so you close your eyes as your limbs turn into jelly.

Five seconds pass and the boys’ hold on you is gone. Someone else catches you before you faint, his scent familiar and comforting. 

“I got you,” he says as he lets you lean against his body. 

“Jungkook…”

“Can you stand?” You don’t know but nod anyway. “Good. Get behind me. You don’t want to see this.”

His broad back shields you from the three wolves, so you don’t even see the damage he inflicted upon them. Yeonjun was thrown into a tree a hundred feet away, the impact so potent that it split in half. Soobin and Beomgyu were fortunate not to collide into anything after being catapulted… except for each other. 

Soobin lands on top of Beomgyu and the smaller boy groans, pushing him off in a huff. He stands first and helps Soobin after. 

“Hey, we didn’t do anything wrong!” Yeonjun shouts as he scrambles to his feet, flaring his nostrils. “You and I both know she’s a bitch in heat!” 

You cling onto Jungkook’s blazer, and he looks over his shoulder.

“Is he right?” You don’t know if he asks to be polite because even you can smell your essence leaking. You hide your face in his back, flustered, but he feels you nod.

He redirects his attention back to the wolves. “That doesn’t give you the right to touch her. I suggest you leave before I make it physically impossible.”

Soobin scoffs while Beomgyu rolls his eyes. Yeonjun’s fuse was already lit and Jungkook’s sure there’s smoke coming out of his ears. You hear him crack his knuckles, the silence that follows deafening as you hold your breath in anticipation.  

“It’s three against two. Well, three against one, really,” Soobin says, laughing like he’s already won. 

“All I see is three smooth-brained pups who are pissing me off.” Jungkook’s eyes shift to a fiery goldenrod, the corner of his lips twitching as he smirks. “You’re aware that [Y/N] isn’t the only hybrid… right?”

You don’t see it, but their faces pale in comparison to earlier. Beomgyu covers his mouth, Soobin’s eyes widen, and Yeonjun growls. 

“There were rumors about more than one hybrid existing, but I didn’t think they were true,” Beomgyu says in a hushed tone. 

“She turned him? Fuck, they’re bonded then,” Soobin says. Yeonjun waves him off in a dismissive manner. 

“I don’t give a fuck. She’s not marked. We can take them.”

Jungkook has his fists up and changes into a fighter stance, but he feels you press your forehead against his back. It’s a searing sensation that scorches him even through the two layers of fabric he had on. He turns around and holds you by the shoulders.

“Hey, stay with me,” he begs. Your head is lolling back and forth as if you were inebriated. 

“It’s so hot… I’m too hot… I hate this, I hate this. Please… I need to cool down,” you beg. Jungkook takes a peek at the time on his watch, then bites his lower lip.

“Okay,” he whispers. “When I count to three, I need you to hold your breath. Can you do that for me?”

You mumble something Jungkook believes is a “yes” based on the beginning /y/ sound. 

“Three… two…”— he looks up —“one!”

A firework shoots up into the night sky, painting it with an explosive rainbow of sparkles. You cover your sensitive ears, but make sure to hold your breath as Jungkook uses his enhanced speed to whisk you away. More fireworks go off, muffling your tracks and making the youngins work harder to find you. 

However, Jungkook’s skills are unmatched. He sprints to the side of the school where the mountains are, and they follow suit. At the last second, he pivots and heads to the secluded area on the opposite side, where the lake is. 

The last memory you had here was something you blocked out to spare your mental health. You had almost died. But now this place was going to save you, funny enough. If you think about it, the lake had more happy memories than bad. This was where Namjoon trained you before you trained Jungkook.

You can picture it now as if it was yesterday. He, a newly turned werewolf, scared of what’s to come in his new life, and you, the school prodigy who had a crush on him.

Jungkook jumps off the dock with you in his arms, the splash overshadowed by the firework’s detonation. The cool water refreshes your sweltering body as you close your eyes, submitting to it. For a moment you don’t care about anything. Not how your makeup is smeared, how your curls are undone, or how your dress is ruined.

You feel strong arms hold you close, and an overwhelming sense of longing hits you in the gut. God, you missed him so much. Even without his memories, he still cares for you. Hell, he went out of his way to protect you.

Just when your lungs are on the verge of giving out, you’re pulled up to the surface. Your eyes flutter open as you rub the water off your face. Jungkook coughs, then cups your face with both hands.

“Are you okay?”

You take in his appearance for what feels like an eternity. His brown eyes twinkle from the moonlight, so beautiful and full of worry. You find it amusing how his hair is stuck to his forehead, the strands partially obstructing his view. Your hand pushes it out of the way without thinking like muscle memory, causing his breath to hitch.

“Thanks to you.”

Fireworks are still going off in the distance, illuminating you two in the crystal-clear water. Jungkook slowly removes his hands from you.

“Good. I um… don’t hear them anymore. They must’ve left. And the water should keep your scent hidden for now.”

“That’s a relief.” Jungkook places the back of his hand against your forehead but retracts it quickly as if he touched a hot stove. 

“Ow, oh my god. You’re still burning up!”

How naive were you to think it’d be over? You’ve experienced this once before, but that was with your first ex, who was at your beck and call for sex whenever you needed it. You couldn’t ask that of Jungkook. Not after everything that’s happened.

“I’ll figure something out. You’ve done a lot for me already and your clothes are wet.”

“I don’t give a damn about my clothes. Tell me how I can help you.”

*BOOM*

A red heart-shaped firework went off as you two stared at each other. Your gaze flickers from his eyes to his luscious lips and he doesn’t miss it. Maybe you don’t want him to.

“Why do you want to help me? We… We’re not that close.”

“Well… the thing is… I-I just…” He is so freakin’ cute. You might die from how endearing he is before your heat destroys you first. “Because.”

“Because?”

*BOOM*

“Because it’s finally just you and me.”

His answer is simple. There shouldn’t be any underlying connotations and yet, it reminds you of a past conversation. 

“We’re in this together. You and me. Okay?”

“Is it really you and me…”

“What do you mean?”

“Will it ever be? Just you and me?” 

“Now tell me what you need. Use me.”

Your pussy is throbbing so much that it’s agonizing. You just need a quick release, then you’ll be sane enough to go home without collapsing. 

“This feels…” So right, you think. “Wrong.”

His hands sneak around your waist. “Then let’s misbehave.”

He hoists you up onto the edge of the dock without warning as if you weigh nothing, and a grunt leaves his lips. It’s far too sexy to ignore, and your mind craves to hear it again. Then he places his hands on either side of your thighs and pulls himself up halfway out of the water, his face now directly in front of yours. 

“Tell me what you need. How can I please you?”

Fuck. You bite your lower lip when you realize the dock isn’t that tall—he’s at the perfect height to carry out the desires you’ve been suppressing. “I need to come…”

A water droplet falls off his button nose when he chuckles. “How do you want to come?”

You stare at his lips, which are thin yet plump at the same time, his lower lip being the bigger half. You think back to earlier when he sucked your palm. 

 “I want you to eat me out…”

He moves fast, almost like he knew what you’d say. His grip on the dock loosens, and he plops back into the lake but grabs your ankles, pulling you forward until your bottom is perched on the very edge. He spreads your thighs and rests his head between them, looking up at you like you were worth the entire universe. 

“Why don’t you lift your dress for me, gorgeous?”

You’re unsure what’s louder — the fireworks or your heart rate. If he keeps speaking to you in that low dialect, you may come right now. Your fingers bunch up the fabric at the hem and you slowly pull it up, exposing your pussy to his feasting eyes. 

“Fuck, what a beautiful pussy.”

You take two fingers and glide it up your folds, coating it in your slick. Jungkook watches, unsure of what you are going to do next. You lean forward, cupping his face with your other hand with a naughty glint in your eyes.

“Open.” He obliges, and you stick your coated fingers in his mouth. A muffled groan comes out as he sucks your fingers, his tongue swirling around so nothing goes to waste. “Good boy.”

You remove your fingers and he’s practically drooling, his eyes a bit crazed from your addictive taste.

“Please let me pleasure you, please.”

You don’t answer and run a hand through his damp hair, stopping at the back to grip it tight as you guide his head closer to where you need him most. He peers up at you adoringly when you hold him an inch away.

“Please me then.”

He doesn’t hesitate. His tongue licks a stripe on your sopping cunt, earning a shudder from you. Your thighs squeeze his head like a reflex, which only spurs him on to press his mouth harder against you. He begins to lap up your juices like a dog and you throw your head back, moaning at how insanely good it felt. 

You tangle your fingers in his hair and pull him closer if possible, the tight hold giving him a tinge of pain that ignites his carnal desires. He slurps your pussy like it was his last meal on death row, slithering his arms underneath your knees and holding your thighs hostage. You don’t know which noise was most obscene—your moaning or Jungkook’s.

Sneaking your free hand down, you use your forefinger and middle finger to spread your pussy lips wider. Jungkook’s excited and sinks his tongue as deep as it would go. You’re impatient now, riding his face as he tongue-fucks you. 

“Fuck, you’re so good to me, yes—oh god…” You don’t have it in you to say anything more coherent except for broken moans. Jungkook pauses for a second, and you whine at the loss of contact. Then you’re being stretched out as his two fingers submerge into you, nearly knocking the breath out of you. 

You lean back on your forearms as he begins to piston them into you, your wetness making it easy—too easy even. They slip out when he speeds up, and he makes up for it by eating you out and sinking his fingers back in simultaneously. 

You’re shaking, unable to hold yourself up any longer. Your back rests on the wooden planks as Jungkook flicks your clit with his tongue, his fingers drilling into you at a brutal speed and brushing your sweet spot. 

You see the last of the fireworks show go off, a beautiful explosion of silver sparkles and stars, as your orgasm finally comes. You arch your back and scream, but Jungkook doesn’t slow down. He can feel how tight your walls are constricting around his fingers and knows you need a few more seconds of bliss to be fully satisfied. 

Overstimulation was always a gamble. If pushed too far, you’d be in pain. But most of the time you welcome it. One second you want the pleasure to stop building, but then you crave that ache of clenching so hard until your body gives out. 

Jungkook stops again. This time he pulls himself out of the water completely and hovers over your body. His fingers plunge into you again, his speed relentless, and you swear you’re seeing stars (or maybe that’s the fireworks who knows). Your eyes roll to the back of your head and you say his name like a mantra.

“Come for me, beautiful. I want you dripping in my hand again.”

Your eyes are wide when warm lips are pressed against your own. But you submit and savor it, having missed his touch. Combining that with the way he curls his fingers inside makes you squirt. Hard. 

Your entire body convulses and you can’t even scream because Jungkook is determined to swallow them. The limitation only makes you come harder than before. Then again, you’re not sure if this is a second orgasm or a drawn-out first one. 

The involuntary gushing is an indescribable sudden wave of pleasure. You feel so relieved from the release, pushed to tears at how good it felt. Jungkook pulls away a centimeter to let you breathe, and you submit to the foreign feeling.

Oh my god, he made me squirt. I didn’t even know that was possible. 

He pulls his soaked fingers out and resumes kissing you, moving his lips in rhythm to yours. It’s so natural, almost like he’s done this before. Well, he has, but it felt so right. So loving. So… intimate. 

You place a hand on his chest and give him a gentle push. He pulls back a little, a melancholy look passing his face. 

“Will you stay?”

You can’t. He’s not supposed to be tangled up with you again. You erased his love for you for a reason; it wasn’t the right time. Any decisions made till now were because of your heat and your brain was finally back in command. 

“I can’t.”

He caresses your cheek. “Why not?”

Because I’m not ready to love you the way you deserve. Because I love you so much that I’m afraid things will fall apart again. 

“Because we don’t know each other,” You push him off you and stand, trying not to slip. Jungkook’s hands were already in position to catch you if you did. “Not really.”

As you walk away, he says something so chilling that it crystalizes your blood into ice. “You’re running away again.” 

You refuse to turn around. “It’s my choice.”

“What about my choice and what I want? Do you not care?” He stands up and tightens his fists. “Are you leaving for good this time?”

This… time? He doesn’t remember. He can’t remember.

“Goodbye, Jungkook.”

He watches as your figure grows smaller in the distance. His head hangs low and he fights back tears. You’ve made it clear what you want. He had to let you go.

A/N: I am currently writing part 2, don't worry! It's a long one, lol. This was also my first time writing in present tense. Loved it. I hope you enjoyed it too. Thank you for giving my writing a chance. 🥰

[cheezbites]

Hi Sweetest🌻

Could I get anything you're comfortable writing at the moment with Alejandro Vargas x f!reader?? It can be a HC/Drabble/Fic, (N)SFW are both too cool.

There's just such less content for him, I'll be happy with anything you're willing to share.

Headcanons of Dating Alejandro

✎: thank u for requesting bb!!💕💕 imma drop something with val soonnn

♡Summary: Headcanons of dating Alejandro Vargas.

Bf!Alejandro loves going on date nights with you at fancy restaurants. Everything is on him - don’t even think about bringing your wallet. You’re his princess so just let him take care of you! He’s always so loving and affectionate with you after the dates. It’s just you guys, your fancy wine glasses and some delicate music faintly humming in the background. The music slowly drifts you to sleep as you fell asleep in his arms.

Bf!Alejandro is a high maintenance guy - probably more high maintenance than you. How do you think this man stays so gorgeous all the time? You guys have a fun time bonding over this. You’d do your skincare with or for each other every other night. He knows all the right acids and chemicals to apply and all these these vitamins and whatnot. He’s a professional when it comes to staying gorgeous and maintaining healthy skin.

Bf!Alejandro gives you an unlimited amount of pet names in Spanish, like ‘amor’, ‘mi vida’ or ‘querida’, among many others. They never fail to give you the same butterflies in your stomach with the way they just easily roll off his tongue.

Bf!Alejandro is old-fashioned and modern all at the same time. He’d say, “Ladies first” to have manners and possibly to stare at your ass as you walk in front of him and so maybe he can playfully slap/grab it. He holds your purse for you to slip something inside for you to find later, like his ring or some silver jewellery. He finds himself smiling when he sees you wearing whatever he left inside your purse.

Bf!Alejandro is the magician of the relationship; say anything and he’d make it come true to see a smile on your face. If you were to talk about a country or someplace that’s on your bucket list he’d have a first class seat booked for you both in no time.

-

“You know you didn’t have to do this,” you said, reminding him for what feels like the millionth time. You sat on your lavish plane seat that was allocated next to Alejandro’s, you found yourself sinking into the seat’s soft fabric. You never wanted to part from it although you only just sat down.

“You know I had to,” he replied, knowingly grinning at you before opening his fruit container he previously got from a flight attendant and popping one in his mouth.

Bf!Alejandro wore the tacky bracelet you gave him like his life depended on it. You only made it when you were bored, so you had no idea it would be this big of a deal to him. You made it his favourite colour, and added some charms, not thinking much about it. You were expecting it to be gone in the next week - day, even. But a whole month or two later and it’s still superglued to his wrist. It was extremely contrary and out of place to the luxurious gold and silver bracelets adorned on his wrist - but he still never forgets to wear it everyday.

Bf!Alejandro cares for you - a lot. He would go great lengths to take care of you even though you couldn’t even be bothered to do these things for yourself.

On a random weekday, you felt extremely fatigued and down in the dumps, refusing to move a muscle. You didn’t wake up not even to eat - even getting a quick snack seemed too exhausting for you. You don’t know what it was, but Alejandro miraculously fixed it.

You groggily stumbled over to the sudden knock on your door, sleeplessly rubbing your eyes. Your your fuzzy robe and slippers were still on as you answered. You were met with the sight of Alejandro holding a bag of your favourite, expensive and delicious takeout and a genuine smile on his face.

“I know you said you weren’t hungry, but I bought it for you anyways.”

You couldn’t help but beam a smile and chuckle,

“Where would I be without you?”

Bf!Alejandro gives a good message. After having long, stressful work days you’d have your shower before he gets to work. He effortlessly eases all the tense, sore and tender spots; unknotting them m like they were some flimsy ribbon. His hands were so warm and skilled, and you were in heaven receiving the most relaxing massage yet.

Bf!Alejandro goes out of his way to buy every single thing you have on your oddly specific and intricate shopping list. If he were to send you a ‘I’m shopping, do you want anything?’ you’d triple or quadruple text him everything you want, where their aisle is and the brands that made them. He’d go on a superficial adventure around the grocery store to look for and buy them for you.

Bf!Alejandro gets you the cutest, vibrant and most beautiful bouquets. Upon receiving them, your mouth hangs agape and swiftly transitions into a smile - you excitedly squeak instinctively each and every time. The next bouquet you receive never fails to be more impressive than the last one. You take care of these botanicals like they’re your children. Gardening every now and then was therapeutic for you anyways. You subconsciously admire the petal’s intricate details each time you watered them. There’s usually no occasion when he gives you flowers, he just feels like showing you with gifts and love.

Bf!Alejandro never fails to stress how much he loves you; how he would kill and die for you. His pupils noticeably dilate whenever he makes eye contact, and an uncontainable smile forms across his face when something reminds him of you in the slightest.

Bf!Alejandro’s face would be stained and speckled with distinguishable lip prints whenever you wore his favourite shade of your lipstick. He’s drawn to the feeling of your lips softly planting on his cheek; you never stop at just one kiss. It’s like you have to cover his entire face like a blank canvas that’s longing to be worked on with your lips as you tease him amidst kisses.

Bf!Alejandro says sweet nothings to you in Spanish that always seamlessly make your heart flutter.

You don’t understand a word he’s saying, well - maybe a word or two, but what you certainly do understand is his tone - that low, raspy voice with that teasing grin playing at his lips. There’s no way in hell he doesn’t know how it makes you feel-

Bf!Alejandro loves you - but he can be a bit passive aggressively in expression his love passive at times. It’s just what he’s used to, and you’ve grown used to it, too. You can’t deny that you adore his assertiveness in everything and anything he does even when it comes to loving you.

*+.Masterlist.+*

Ghost Version

König Version

Gaz Version

Price Version

Soap Version

︵‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿

[undermine-the-instinct]

Title: Poison On The Tongue

Head advisor reader held the same vote as Noble reader at 7.5%, yet this one has the highest word count so far. Kinda popped off on this one ngl, just a little.

Noble | Head advisor | Civilian | Royalty | Librarian | Witch (canon)

Wc: 3k Warnings: Talks of Murder and Arranged marriage.

♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧ ● ♧

The plan is almost ready to go, and you're glad, not nervous. You tire of this meeting, long and droll as it has been, and maybe these people would be more behaved if the king was here. The Prince is young, and they think that means he is weak and naive.

What fools they are. You'll be glad to wheedle them out.

Young, does not mean soft, and the prince has a spine of steel, and bored molten eyes. They keep trying to tie back to the idea of pushing him into marriage. Your eyesight bleeds red every time you think of those eyes trained on another, but he doesn't even look at you, or entertain these notions. A muscle under his eye twitches.

You are satisfied with this response, it is right and appropriate. Nevermind the tiny crush you have in the prince, never mind that. You kinda wish he would mind.

He dismisses these proposals and stays focused on internal affairs, allocation of funds, taxes. Unlike other times the council members are persistent, and you know it's because the king is not here, and this is the first meeting His Highness has attended without him. They think they could take advantage.

Councilman Amar has been staring at his Highness's cup, glancing back to it on and off. He wrings his hands, and sweat is beading on his brow.

"--a tax cut for the nobles would only encourage the commoners into dissent. It does no good for anybody."

"But we may pad up the royal coffers in case of an emergency."

"What sort of emergency?"

"Like a royal wedding--"

"Councilwoman Nathalia, no. On the contrary, we should–"

You're not worried about Amar. He is new to the council, and soft spined, and you knew he would not last. He had earned the position through nepotism after all. And there were others he had to prove himself to.

Prove himself useful for. And Nidi had been growing anxious, with the people's growing annoyance with him, so of course he'd go after the bait. He's been in the council too long, with far too little favor and good work. He, amongst them all, has been pushing the prince to marriage the hardest now, even bringing some insipid list of suitors to look over. He annoys you greatly.

Finally, your prince meets your eyes, and you know the cue.

"Councilman Amar, you've been awfully quiet. You don't have any remarks?" Amar startles, just slightly, from his seat, and you watch as he tries not to stutter.

"No, nothing to add."

"Is that fact? Considering your father, your predecessor's, principles, I'd figured you'd be all for a tax cut."

"O-of course, that would seem so, but points have been made and I've changed my mind."

"Then why are you so anxious? You've been staring at His Highness for some time now. Is it about his potential prospects for marriage?" The room's eyes fall on him, and his shoulders hunch. But he trudges on.

"I'm just curious. And worried."

"About?" You say, encouraging.

"The council has been pushing for His Highness to take a spouse for years now. I hear that many have offered their own hand, or their children's, even among the council. But he has refused them all. I'm worried that this will create...animosity all around." You see Nidi frown at the young man, the confusion in his eyes.

"Councilman Nidi has been pushing especially for this. As a senior member in this council, I worry what makes him so worried to be in such a rush, or what tension this will spark, with that you repeatedly brushed him off, Your Highness." He mumbles towards the end of his sentence. A shy and meek man, his tongue is certainly blunt and careless. Council members silently shoot each other incredulous looks.

"There is no need for conflict or animosity in the council." The Prince speaks, sighing over his words.

"There is no need to worry. Councilman Nidi is a respected and long standing member of the council, so I will take him for his word if he says there is trouble. Councilman Nidi, what say you?"

Nidi strokes his beard, and tries to look humble. Fails.

"I agree wholeheartedly. Trust must be nurtured and fostered, and the young folks should defer to their elders' wisdom. Especially when they say a crisis is in the rise. That is how you learn and pass down knowledge."

"Of course, of course." Al Haitham traces the rim of his cup with a finger, almost droll.

"Councilman Amar?" 

"Yes?! Your highness?" He stutters.

"Tell me, where is my Father?"

"Your…? His Majesty is currently out of the country, foreign affairs."

"So tell me, who is the highest ranked official here?"

"You, Your Highness."

"And then."

"The High Advisor." You perk up like a smug cat. You think you see the prince's mouth twitch.

"And then Councilman Nidi amongst the other senior members, am I correct?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The people are currently looking amongst themselves, confused, while you sit back and enjoy the show. You're sure your grin does not ease their worries.

"Councilman Nidi, before we were talking taxes, you proposed a list of people that I could court. Among the list is your daughter."

"Well, yes. My daughter would be a lovely partner for you, Your Highness."

"Compared to the many princesses and Queens and warriors and such, no, she wouldn't be. Your army is not particularly large and your land is run just adequately. She wouldn't even be a safe choice. Considering other senior members have eligible children and greater might or forces, more land. Or the nobles and royalty all vying for me. No significant gains on my end.

"Meanwhile your daughter would be a princess, and eventually queen of the realm. She'd probably try to bear a child of mine quickly to secure her role. And then…"

"...Then?" He swallows.

"What is to stop her from planning my assassination?" The room gasps, and falls into murmurs, but he continues.

"Your daughter has been married before, hasn't she? Your eldest son as well. You married them off quite young, and how strange that they are both widows. With no children. Councilman Amar, did your sister say anything about her husband?" 

The scandal is unfolding at a rapid rate, and you're loving where this is going. You can't hide the mirth in your eyes when Al Haitham meets yours for a quick second.

"My sister was married to Councilman Nidi's eldest son. She was a timid, kind soul. She often spoke of how standoffish her husband was, and weeks before her untimely death, she rejoiced over the sudden change of heart he had. He was suddenly kind and attentive and loving. She died quietly in her sleep, leaving behind a small fortune. Councilman Nidi and his two children arrived at her funeral to give their condolences."

"How strange that your daughter's husband died the same way! No one batted an eye though because he was so old, I'm pretty sure people were actually relieved because your daughter was so young, freshly fifteen, yes?" You smile, blood in the water. "So young. Another young widow left behind with a small fortune." You pop in, leaning your cheek in hand.

"How strange."

"I see where this is going." Nidi is not far from you, and he smiles bitterly. He leans back in his seat, still stroking his beard.

"I understand your concerns and suspicions. But I assure you, I'm only trying to assure my daughter's future to a man well off and mature enough to treat her well. My son and daughter in law had tragic deaths, but not by design."

"Is that so!" Nidi laughs at your question. It wasn't a question.

"My children are well off through their own fortunes, and my own, to not covet your position, Your Highness. Furthermore, I can assure you I would never make an attempt on your life."

"Not you directly, of course, but perhaps someone you thought you could manipulate into doing so, perhaps. Like the meek brother of your late daughter in law? Who us still in mourning? Councilman Amar." Only now does Nidi's face truly pale, and his hand clenches under the table.

"He wanted me to put this," Amar pulls out a small vial from his sleeve, "into His Majesty's drink. But once it was made apparent that the king would not be able to attend, he told me to set my sights on His Highness."

"Preposterous! I don't even know what that is!" Nidi yells, shooting from his feet and slamming his hands on the table. You click your tongue.

"Allow me to speed up your memory then." This is where you shine. You stand from the table and slowly walk your way around it, languid and stalking.

"It's essentially an aphrodisiac. With His Majesty's frail condition, it would increase his heart palpitations, which would be a common side effect of the potion. Which would rule his subsequent death as a heart attack. But with the prince, it would work as intended, giving you time to introduce your daughter, who is on her way to the capital now, who would surely fall for the prince with his own…condition." 

You trail your hands over the backs of chairs you pass, even daring to brush the napes of the people in them. They shiver under your touch and gaze. Head advisor. Snake of the court. The Prince's Witch.

"But, you never told Councilman Amar how much to put in his drink, did you? You told him to put the whole vial in the King's drink, but didn't change the order when you switched your sights to the prince. Him not knowing such a strong dose would also incapacitate His Highness."

"If that was my plan, how would I benefit from that?"

"He wouldn't immediately fall ill. Your daughter would have enough time to lay with the prince. After all, it's an aphrodisiac, not a love potion." The old geezers' faces turn red, and you snicker under your breath.

"With the fertility potion you bought her, she'd be sure to fall pregnant, and with the prince out of commission, and the king frail, she'd have the chance of being named queen consort, pregnant with the future king or queen." You wave your hands in a show, stopping behind the prince. 

"Voila." 

"I don't know what nonsense you're spitting. How do you even know what that vial is? Or what potions my daughter has been taking?!"

"Why, because they are the one supplying you." Al Haitham steeples his hands together.

"Their potions and spells are the highest quality, we both know. And that's what you were aiming for, yes?" Al Haitham beckons and Amar reaches over to place the vial in his hand.

"You said it's important to foster trust, yes? Then let us all drink from the same cup." He pours in all the contents of the vial, topping it, then mixing it all with his sugar spoon.

"Also, your daughter has been supplied with a truth potion and not a fertility potion. We'll question her when she arrives."

"Wait!!" Al Haitham pauses with the cup halfway raised to his lips.

"You accuse me, but how do we even know if it's safe? What if it is instead a poison that he switched it with to frame me, hm?" Stupid man, he looks so victorious.

"Fine then, I'll test it." You take the cup from the prince's hand, and take a swallow. It's mellow, and sweet, just like you made it. It's not poison. Even if it was, you could've countered it.

"It's fine. Just like I made it." Al Haitham nods, and takes it back to take a sip. He holds it out for Amar, who also takes a swallow.

"Take a sip, Councilman Nidi." You encourage, placing your hands on the table. You're caging the prince in a little, but his eyes are sharp and focused on the man, and not on you. Too bad. Atleast you got the indirect kiss.

"..."

"You'll be fine. We have our esteemed witch here, and they'll make sure you'll survive. We still have to hold you and your children for questioning after all." Nidi glares, balefully at councilman Amar whose face suddenly breaks out into a grin even wider than your own, its such a delightful look, and you laugh, nodding at Nidi to take the cup. He's not off the hook.

Nidi gulps, but looks at you all, and takes the cup. There is only a slight tremble to his hands as he brings the cup to his lips and takes a sip.

Immediately he drops the porcelain, and it shatters the ground while he coughs and splutters. You walk smoothly to him while he chokes.

"Just like I thought." You grab the back of his head and face him towards the prince, who hums in thought, his analytical brain at work.

"The tongue and the drink have turned black. It seems your extra ingredient worked." 

"Of course it did."

Al haitham stands, and addresses the room.

"Councilman Nidi will be detained and held for questioning, along with his children. As for the rest of you, you will be subjected to the same potion as he has. If you are truthful and hold no malcontent for the crown, you will be let go. If you refuse, you will not be forced but you will be detained. You will be tested immediately."

 He claps his hands once and the guards spring to action. 

They grab Nidi, who is still sputtering but no longer choking, and the rest of the room is anxious and tense. You hand the other vial you were holding towards the prince, who takes it upon himself to put a few drops in everyone's drink.

A guard taps your arm, and nods towards the doors. You follow her, and you step out to find Cyno waiting for you. He wears a simple cloak, with a fine layer of dust. There is a wariness always present in his eyes.

"General Cyno, you're back earlier than I expected."

"Hunting nobles is easier than hunting ragabonds and illegal rings. I have all the evidence." He hands you a folder that was under his arm, and you take it gingerly. Inside, you find what you were hoping for.

"Well, that's one more piece of vermin out of our court. Nidi and his children can easily be put on trial with this."

"I'd rather call them snakes."

"Oh? And what would you call me?"

"A king snake. You eat your own kind." You grin and look at the general. Only now do you see how worn he is, the bags under his eyes. He hasn't even made a joke yet.

He mistakes your staring for questioning. "They were sneaky, but grew careless. Leaving plenty of breadcrumbs."

"Good. We'll tell you if we need you and your people to investigate any of the others. Al Haitham is testing them now."

As if on cue the doors open, and a couple of guards are dragging away black tongued advisors, spluttering on their own lies and deceit.

"Got it. Nidi's children are already detained, but they still need a fair and thorough process. They'll be questioned and brought to court."

"Thank you Cyno. Take a nap, take a bath, relax. We'll deal with it till you've rested."

"You know I'm not going to do that." He sighs, pinching his brow. You feel worry pool in your belly. Footsteps step behind you, and Cyno glances over your shoulder.

"I'll bring you the report later. See you." He turns, but you stop him with a hand to his shoulder.

"Hey, Cyno, " You ask.  "Did…something happen back there? You don't seem yourself." He looks over your shoulder again, but nods.

"It will all be in the report." And he just leaves.

Al Haitham appears at your side.

"I suspect the others weren't working with Nidi. His plan seemed to only include himself and his children, but we won't know until we question them all. The rest are fine." His voice is low and steady, nearly monotonous.

"After this ordeal, they must be shaken. We must be sure to reward the others for their good behavior, lest they grow bitter. Any ideas?" You ask.

"No. I can't really think much of anything right now." 

"Well that's very much not like you-" you cut yourself off when you look at him, and you want to smack yourself.

Of course! He just took an aphrodisiac. His skin is flushed and beaded with sweat, and his pupils are blown out. He doesn't pant or writhe but his eyes feel heavy on your skin, and his hands clench and unclench by his sides.

"Oh, goodness, here, I have an antidote." You reach for the bottle in your sleeve, but his wrist grabs yours before you can pull it out.

"What…?"

"Is there enough for everyone back there?"

"...A good amount, but no. I'd have to run back to my supplies."

"Why didn't you bring enough?"

"I figured more would be guilty. When the tongue turns black the aphrodisiac effect is negated, and the whole body has a sort of burning, pins and needles feeling. I thought I'd leave them like that, but more are innocent than I supposed." Al Haitham sighs, and releases your wrist to pull at his collar.

"Then I won't take it till everyone has had theirs. They'd be furious and feel betrayed if they thought we purposely made them suffer longer." His sharp eyes cut to you, and you jolt a little.

"Why doesn't it work on you? Is it because you made it?"

His eyes are finally on you, and you are trying not to blush or wriggle like a worm. You'd thought you'd be more charming when the time comes!

"Because... it's an original recipe. I've tested it on myself so many times I'm immune to this potion."

"...You've tested it on yourself?" Oh my stars why did his eyes dilate like that. You really hope you're not blushing.

"Of course? Who could I involve with something like this?" He opens his mouth to speak, but he closes it just as fast. You don't know what he was about to say. You're not sure you want to guess. You don't even notice he was reaching for you until he lowers his trembling hand.

He turns his back to you, and starts walking back towards the council room.

"I'll wait with the others then. Hurry up with that antidote, will you?" There's a tenseness to his shoulders and you nod, even if his head is only half turned towards you. The muscles in his back are poised, like he's ready to spring.

"Oh, and one more thing," he stops you right before you run off.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You said that your own aphrodisiacs won't work on you. Would any others work?"

"Um…yes? Since I wouldn't have had a hand making them. So I wouldn't have immunity unless I had a hex on…? And even those don't last long."

"...Alright. Duly noted." He walks off before you could question why he asked that, and you run off to get more of that antidote.

He finally put his eyes to you and it was like nothing you had daydreamed about. Maybe you don't have immunity to your potion, because your heart is certainly pounding a mile a minute.

Taglist: @tigerpriestess @hypernovaxx @certaindreampost @tanspostsblog @escapeis

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel Savage at The Guardian:

South Africans go to the polls on 29 May in elections in which the ruling African National Congress party could lose its majority for the first time since it swept to power in 1994 after the end of apartheid. Chronic unemployment, inequality, power cuts and corruption have contributed to a haemorrhaging of support for the ANC, which won the 2019 election with 57.5% of the vote.

Who are the ANC’s challengers?

The ruling party is battling against established opposition parties such as the economically liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Marxist-inspired Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It is also being challenged by upstarts such as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by the former president Jacob Zuma, who is bitterly opposed to the current South African leader, Cyril Ramaphosa. Polls have consistently shown the ANC getting less than 50% of the vote. A telephone tracking survey by the Social Research Foundation had it on 44.1% of the vote in a 60% turnout model this week, compared with 39.1% a month earlier. Some analysts think the ANC could still scrape a majority, noting that phone polls often have significant flaws, including underestimating ANC support in rural areas where many poorer votes do not have phones.

[...]

How will the elections work?

Almost 28 million South Africans are registered to vote in national and provincial elections, less than half of the 62 million population. The 400-seat national parliament will vote for the president no later than two weeks after election day. There is no constitutional process for forming a coalition government. South Africa uses a system of proportional representation. Voters get three ballots – two for the National Assembly, each allocating 200 seats, and one for their provincial legislature. One of the national ballots will only have political parties on it. The second will be for one of nine multi-member provincial constituencies. Voters can either opt for a party, which will list its candidates’ names, or an independent.

Could the days of the incumbent African National Congress (ANC) having a majority in South Africa be over and be forced into a coalition to keep them in power? We'll find out in the elections today.

See Also:

MCI Maps Substack: Issue #182: South Africa Election Preview: The ANC Faces its Greatest Test

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

We are beyond excited to present for the first time in Australia a tribute to the cast of Outlander... Hublander - A visit to the Highlands!

This is a convention style event, with one day each full of fun, festivities and fantastic guests not to be missed, in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Hublander will feature Sam Heughan and other Outlander guests live on stage for stories and anecdotes as well as Question & Answers. Purchase merchandise and exclusives from the dealers, or pick up rare items from the amazing raffles and auctions. Do not miss out on your chance to meet the guests and acquire autographs and professional photographs! Along with the main event, there will be an exclusive VIP panel and guest meet & greets plus so much more!

All Guests will be appearing

- in SYDNEY on Saturday 24th February 2024 - approx running time 9am to 5pm (plus at the special Platinum event on the evening of Friday 23rd)

- in MELBOURNE on Sunday 25th February 2024 - approx running time 9am to 5pm (plus at the special Platinum event on the Sunday evening)

*Note: All guests appear health and work commitments pending.

Tickets will go on sale on this website, on the following dates:

MEMBERS PRESALE: On sale 27th November 2023 - 12pm AEDT

GENERAL TICKET SALE: On sale 28th November 2023 - 12pm AEDT

This event is not recommended for persons under the age of 15, based on noise, long periods of sitting, and mature language and/or topics.

All attendees require a ticket if over the age of 2. If under the age of 2 they can sit on your lap, however you will need to contact us after purchase so we can seat you in a special section that allows easy exit from the venue. No prams are allowed in the venue.

TICKETS - ON SALE SOON

This is a seated event. All tickets include access to all general panels, including Sam Heughan's general panel. All tickets allow you the opportunity to purchase photos and/or autographs with every event guest (until photo and autograph allocations are sold out).

Please make sure to read all ticket inclusions for any ticket type you’re considering. All ticket types and prices are listed below.

Tickets are posted by mail approximately 2 weeks before the show. International ticket orders are to be collected at the door.

Payment is by Credit Card only. A $5.95 ticket handling fee and 1.74% credit card transaction fee applies to each order. There will be no manual payment options available for this event.

Tickets will go on sale on this website, on the following dates:

MEMBERS PRESALE: On sale 27th November 2023 - 12pm AEDT

GENERAL TICKET SALE: On sale 28th November 2023 - 12pm AEDT

Please note - Seating is allocated by when you purchase your tickets, so the earlier you book the better your seats will be.

The Members presale is limited for this event to 4 tickets per member. You can purchase membership via the menu on this website.

This event is not recommended for persons under the age of 15, based on noise, long periods of sitting, and mature language and/or topics.

All attendees require a ticket if over the age of 2. If under the age of 2 they can sit on your lap, however you will need to contact us after purchase so we can seat you in a special section that allows easy exit from the venue. No prams are allowed in the venue.

Ticket purchases are non refundable. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information.

—-SYDNEY Standard Day Ticket - $200

These are ONE day tickets for the HUBLANDER event on Saturday the 24th February 2024 in SYDNEY.

Standard Day Tickets include:

– Entry to the event for full day of programming and panels on Saturday, including Sam’s general panel (no VIP panels are included in this ticket)

– Access to merchandise vendors at the event

– Opportunity to purchase autographs and professional photographs on the day for all guests.

Please note that Standard Day tickets will be seated behind the VIP ticket section. Seating is allocated based on when you make your booking.

As photograph and autograph opportunities may be sold at the event on a row by row basis, early booking is strongly recommended.

+ SYDNEY VIP Ticket - $1,100

+ SYDNEY Platinum Ticket - $1,800

+ MELBOURNE Standard Day Ticket - $200

+ MELBOURNE VIP Ticket - $1,100

+ MELBOURNE Platinum Ticket - $1,800

Sydney, Australia - TBA

Melbourne, Australia - TBA

Please note: Venues are announced after tickets have gone on sale. All event venues are typically close to the City Centre and easily accessible by public transport.

SYDNEY

HUBLANDER SCHEDULE – TBA

To see an example of a typical Hub Event schedule please click here

Approx running times for a typical event are between 9am and 5pm for Standard Day ticket holders.

VIP and Platinum ticket holders may be asked to arrive anytime between 7am and 8am.

VIP Panels are scheduled during the day.

Platinum evening events generally start anytime after 6pm and can run between 1 to 2 hours.

MELBOURNE

Can't get to an event? No problem! We can provide absentee packs of autographs from the actors appearing at our events. Absentee packs will be made available within one month of each event after any preceding events have finished.

This is a great opportunity to have your photograph taken with the guests! Each photograph token purchased is good for one photo opportunity and includes a physical copy of your photo which will be made available on the day for collection before the autograph sessions start.

Please note that photograph tokens are limited and there are no other photograph opportunities with the guests.

Photograph Opportunities are purchased at the event on the day, and are sold on a row by row basis! You can purchase tokens using cash (no additional charges) or by Credit Card (1.74% surcharge applies)

Photograph Token Prices:

- Sam Heughan - $190

More guests coming soon...

Autographs are a great opportunity to say a quick hello to your favourite guests and get a piece of memorabilia signed! Each autograph token purchased is good for ONE autograph and you may either bring a personal item or photo to be signed, or choose an 8x10 print provided by Hub Productions at the autograph tables to have signed.

All Autographs are signed in person by the guests and are sold on a row by row basis at the event on the day. You can purchase tokens using cash (no additional charges) or by Credit Card (1.74% surcharge applies)

Autograph Tokens may be limited and guests may, or may not, choose to personalise their autographs.

Autograph Token Prices:

- Sam Heughan - $160

More guests coming soon...

———

ABOUT US

DCA Enterprises’ The Hub Productions is an Australian owned company based in Sydney, that provides opportunities for fans to meet the actors, artists and behind the scenes stars that contribute to the TV shows, films and comics that we all so love and adore. more

———

The non-stop flight from the UK to Australia takes over 16 hours. A visit just for two days in Australia, He’ll need more a day to recover for each time zone crossed 🥴🛫

THE HUB PRODUCTIONS

[vro0m]

vro0m's rewatch - 149/310

2015 Australian GP

OK FUCK IT WE’RE POSTING

SEASON 2015 HERE WE GO I’M SO DONE WITH YOU

Can't believe we're over halfway through as far as seasons go at the time I'm writing this. However we're still not halfway through as far as races go. Anyway, let's get started. 

As always we'll set the context for the season first so buckle up for the long list of changes. 

Team changes :

McLaren went back to a Honda engine after 20 years with a Mercedes engine at a time when the Mercedes engine is clearly immensely superior so that's a terrible decision as far as I'm concerned.

Lotus, however, went from a Renault engine to a Merc engine, after a 20-year partnership with Renault. 

If you remember from last seasons' reviews, both Caterham and Marussia went into administration during the last few races of 2014. Apparently Marussia was temporarily saved but they didn't race during all the 2015 season so sometimes they're there and sometimes they're not. But anyway, that's 10 teams now. 

Driver changes :

So as we know Alonso left Ferrari for McLaren where he replaced Magnussen. 

Seb left RBR for Ferrari. 

Kvyat inherited his seat at RBR moving up from Toro Rosso

Toro Rosso changed their line up completely : JEV as we know went to FE, hence Kvyat and he were replaced by…. Yep. That's Max entrance. And alongside him no other than Carlos Sainz Jr. Here we go. That makes Max the youngest driver to ever start in F1, he's barely 17. Crazy, you gotta say. 

Gutierrez and Sutil were both out of their Sauber seats. They were replaced by Caterham's Ericsson and Felipe Nasr who did some FPs in 2014 if I'm not mistaken. Gutierrez and Sutil became reserve drivers for other teams. 

Marussia, now called Manor Marussia, got two new drivers : Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi. Chilton went to indy. 

And we'll have 19 rounds this season. 

Reg changes :

The number of available PUs for a year was changed from 5 to 4.

The 2014 noses were deemed ugly and apparently generated what Wikipedia calls backlash so they changed the rules. So now the noses are lower and in "a more gradual shape", whatever that means. The regs stated that the nose had to be symmetrical and consistent with the centreline of the car. Okay. 

The minimum weight was increased to 702kg (so +10kg) in answer to concerns for the taller drivers who were forced into unhealthy diets. We did talk about that in early 2014, remember? 

"The anti intrusion panels on both sides of the survival cell were extended upward the rim of the cockpit and alongside the driver's head in order to improve the drivers' safety in event of a side impact." No halo yet, though? 

Also mandatory titanium skid blocks under the car so the sparks are back ✨

Sporting regs :

Oh so… what? The replacement of a complete PU above the allocated number didn't result in a penalty anymore?! Oh. So if I understand correctly you actually do get a penalty but like for each component of the PU added up. 

If such a penalty was not possible to apply in full because of the driver's quali result, it was not carried over to the next race but rather applied as a time penalty during the race (Whaaaat. How. When. Why. How do you calculate how much time it represents? Absurd.) This was actually abandoned after the British GP, so... yeah. It was indeed a bad idea.

So they'd introduced the 5 second penalty to be served during the pit stop, now there's also a 10 second penalty. It was specifically created for unsafe releases. It could be made more severe if the stewards decided that the driver knew it was unsafe and still went ahead. 

Ah, and remember when Alonso's team stayed on the grid after the signal before the formation lap because he had an issue and he was still able to start where he qualified and received a very lenient penalty for that? Well now that would result in a pitlane start. 

Safety changes :

So following Bianchi's accident we now have the virtual safety car to reduce the drivers' speed in case of double waved yellows. 

Also now the lapped cars unlapping themselves don't have to catch up with the back of the pack for the safety car to come in. 

In case of red flags, the cars don't line up on the grid anymore but in the pit lane. 

Also in miscellaneous things : from the Belgian GP forward, the radio comms about race starts, like mentioning map settings for optimal acceleration and such things, aren't allowed anymore. There had already been some radio changes in the previous year, the engineers were not allowed I think to tell their drivers specific times or things like that because the driver is supposed to drive unaided according to the rules but like. He's very aided anyway so I don't really get it but whatever.

Also the drivers can't change helmet design during the season anymore which is shit. 

Pre season context :

Lewis said he wouldn't change his car number for 1 after winning the 2014 WDC. It was the first season since 1994 without a n°1 car. 

Alonso got into a pre-season testing accident and was hospitalised. So he missed this first race and was replaced by Magnussen, whose seat he had taken anyway. McLaren said the crash was due to the wind and Alonso said the crash was due to his steering wheel locking up. Great start of a partnership there. 

Alright that's all for the context, let's race!

I unfortunately don't have access to pre race and post race content right now but I'll come back to add it if I find it at some point.  Ultimately f1fullraces finally reuploaded the whole season so I had to go back and redo most of the reviews and gifs as you may know. If things seem out of order in this review that would be because I added content afterwards, sorry about it! I try to make it make sense but I don't want to have to rewrite the whole thing either.

I've found a snippet from the pre race press conference in which a journalist asks if the older drivers there have advice for Max. There's Valtteri, Magnussen, Seb, Lewis and Daniel.

Daniel says some stuff then Lewis says he's just realised he's the oldest driver there.

He turns around and asks Max : "You were born in 97?!" and he says "Yeah."

Lewis turns back around. "Jeez…" The journalists laugh. There's a pause. He chuckles. "I signed my first contract with McLaren in 97," he says. He doesn't really have any words of advice. "He'll learn on his way." Seb says he thinks despite the fact that he's still young he has a lot of experience (huh, does he? I know next to nothing about his career). "He's quick, otherwise he wouldn't be here so… huh… I don't think he needs much advice," he smiles and turns back to look at him.

I read on Wikipedia that Marussia was in Melbourne even though they were in administration during pre-season, with a car that had passed the car crash tests, but they didn't take part in any FPs and didn't set a quali time so they didn't take part in the race.

Also a week before the GP, Van der Garde launched a legal action against Sauber in Victoria over a contract he signed in June 2014 that was supposed to let him drive for them in 2015. On the Wednesday before the race weekend, the court ordered Sauber to let him drive in the GP but Sauber appealed on the same day and made a public statement that they would not "compromise the safety of the team or other drivers by putting Van der Garde in the car", since the chassis had been tailored to their drivers only. They also argued that Van der Garde's contract had been terminated in February with the FIA's approval and that he violated confidentiality clauses by discussing it with the media. Ericsson's and Nasr's lawyers added that he had not followed due process as he did not give their client notice that he was gonna take legal action. On Thursday, the appeal was heard and dismissed, and the order to let him race maintained. They adjourned the hearing to Friday to hear "arguments on contempt of the court proceedings launched by Van der Garde's legal team against Sauber's team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn." 

About 2 hours after the initial judgement, the FIA published its entry list for the GP including both Nasr and Ericsson. Neither of them took part in the first Friday FP, as Sauber's assets could have been seized if they didn't obey the court orders. They did take part in the afternoon session amongst rumours that Bernie intervened to avoid negative publicity on the sport.

On Saturday, the matter was resolved as Van der Garde announced he was giving up on racing in Melbourne, hoping for a more permanent solution in the future. 

Now let's talk about the pre-race broadcast then, now that I have it. It opens on the drivers taking the 2015 class photo on the grid. Simon points out that Valtteri is not there. He was seen in the garage earlier though. He suffered a back injury during quali, and we don't know yet if he can race or not.

The other big news is that McLaren is doing absolutely terrible 5 seconds off the pace with their Honda PU at the back of the grid.

In his interview, Lewis says the new car is pretty amazing. Last year's was already pretty special but this one is a refined version. He's glad the weather is good, they have great fans here, he hopes they can give them a good race. He anticipates a tough one, they don't get easier, they will have to look after the tyres.

Oh, we hear Valtteri has been deemed unfit to race. Also we hear more about Alonso's accident and it's really no joke. He hit a concrete wall, not tepco. Although the impact was "just under 20G", which is a lot but we've seen way worse, he had retrograde amnesia, which is scary af and indicates brain trauma from what I remember of my neuropsychology classes. Ted says when he woke up, he thought it was 1995 (so that's SERIOUS retrograde amnesia actually, I've not heard of that happening a lot). Oh they interviewed a neurologist about it. He says for them what's more important is amnesia AFTER the incident (aka not being able to form new memories, which is indeed more worrying and debilitating than forgetting memories that were there even though it's not great either). But a long period of retrograde amnesia such as this is definitely significant in their assessment of brain damage severity, he adds. Alonso's doctors wanted him to have a 4-week recovery period hence why he's not racing. On top of it, they were worried about "second impact syndrome" in case he had a second crash against Melbourne's concrete barriers. Such a thing can be fatal, explains the neurologist, because the brain loses auto-regulation due to the first injury, and cannot deploy the same control and recovery mechanisms it did in response to the second injury, causing an overreaction characterised by higher levels of inflammation inducing swelling, which can obviously cause severe damage. It makes me uncomfortable just to write about it lol. The McLaren TP says they don't know if he'll be back in Malaysia yet. Also despite what wikipedia says, at this point Ted tells us that Alonso doesn't remember what happened in the crash and thus cannot say whether it was the wind or something else. At the time, Seb was following him on track so the footage of his car's camera will be crucial to the investigation.

Brundle interviewed Lewis. He starts by saying he wears his heart on his sleeve, which fans love him for. "And hate me for," Lewis adds with a smile.

He asks him why he thinks people are more interested in his private life than the other drivers'. Why does he attract so much attention? He says he sticks out like a sore thumb at a GP because it's always been a white dominated sport. (I think it's the first time I hear him mention it actually.) As a family they've always stuck out at the race track. He doesn't think he's more outspoken... He has to assume it's because of the way he drives... What else? He smiles. Brundle says they've seen the rumours, the stories– Lewis cuts him off, it's probably because he had a very good-looking girlfriend at one stage.

It definitely brings a lot of attention. Brundle asks if that's something that's hold on and carries on into the new season. Lewis answers it's a new chapter in his life and he's quite excited about it. It looks like it's probably a Mercedes driver who's gonna win this year again, does he have the upper hand psychologically because he beat Nico in 2014? He says he doesn't know, he doesn't really think of the psychological side of things in that sense. "I'm gonna be driving as hard as I can. Nico knows what I'm capable of. I'm very much aware what he's capable of and what he can do, and I'm conscious that he will be trying to do everything under the sun to prove and better me this year... And I know he knows I'll be doing the same," he smiles. Brundle asks if he thinks it's harder to win two consecutive championships. He does but he's trying to look at it like when you win a race and go to the next one. You carry a boost of energy. He hopes it's the same, that he can carry that energy into this year. But it's like starting everything from scratch and he feels like he has a steeper hill to climb, so he'll need to bring more tools to climb it.

How are the contract negotiations going? It's going okay, it's in the final stages, he says it hasn't been nearly as difficult as people make it out to be. For some reason he tells Brundle even he (Brundle) could be out of a job soon.

I don't get the joke but they laugh.

He says he's enjoyed it even though it wasn't the easiest and at the end of the day what he does best is get in the car and drive, so it's awkward starting to talk business and numbers. But hopefully he's done himself proud. He's negotiating it himself. Brundle is impressed. Why did he keep 44 instead of taking n°1? He says the rule was they could choose any number and it would be their number for their career. 44 has been his race number since he started, it's his underlying true number. "Number one... you've seen Vettel have it for so many years..." and cue the most cringe thing I've ever heard him say where he compares it to a marriage.

Slightly prompted by Brundle, he adds that number 1, she's been around too much when number 44 she's only been with him and he likes that better. Yikes. Let's move on.

Back to the broadcast, the journalists compare him to Tiger Woods. Hill says he's been very candid raising that issue and calls him courageous because he hasn't allowed any "perception of prejudice, whether it's there or not" (rolling my eyes) to get in his way. He's done what he wanted, and the colour shouldn't be an issue although it has been, and he's knocked down these barriers and he's a hero for many people because of it. The most important thing being that he's a "bloody good racing driver". Simon asks what Nico's game plan should be. "If you don't think that you can beat him on talent, do you try and destabilise him?" (Jeez.) Hill says he hopes he doesn't because he doesn't think it's gonna work, and he thinks it'll backfire. He says it's a bit like with Schumacher's teammates, they have to face up to the fact that they're up against the best. Anthony points out that the difference with Michael, is that they let them race.

I'm skipping the grid walk because who cares anyway.

It's time to race ! (So now this is fully what I wrote before seeing the pre-race btw. The broadcast I could find at the time was not skysports and I'm not gonna rewatch just to see the skysports' one obvi so yeah.)

Huh what? So apparently neither Kvyat nor Magnussen are able to start the race. Also this is possibly an Australian broadcast. We see two cranes evacuating two cars from the track indeed. Did they manage to crash on their way to the grid somehow? We see a replay of Kvyat just going wide into the gravel and then being unable to drive the car back to the pits as it stops on the track. Then we see Magnussen making sparks and then he had an engine blow up, white smoke. (We actually saw this at the end of the pre-race build-up but of course I hadn't seen it when I wrote this.)

Lewis is on pole, sharing the front row with Nico, no surprise. Behind them, it's Massa for Williams, Seb and Raikkonen for Ferrari, then Daniel for RedBull, Carlos Sainz for Toro Rosso, Grosjean and Maldonado for Lotus, Felipe Nasr for Sauber, Max Verstappen for Toro Rosso is in P11, alongside him was supposed to be Kvyat but as we now know he won't be there, the Force Indias of Hulkenberg and Perez come next, then Ericsson for Sauber, Jenson for McLaren down in P16(!). The last car was supposed to be Magnussen in P17 but well. So it'll be 15 cars at the start. Remember when we had 24? But we're still missing a car right? Why is it an uneven number? I read later on Wikipedia that Valtteri injured his back during quali and had to spend the night at the hospital. He wasn't cleared to race by the FIA. 

Ugh the cars look weird. The noses are weirdly curvy. I'll get used to it. 

Formation lap 

They're racing! 

Ooof. It's a good start for Lewis but there's loads of tiny contacts at the back and ultimately a Lotus spins. Yellow flags. It's Maldonado. Several teams are ready for their drivers to pit? Safety car. Huh? Grosjean retires as well. 

Ugh idk if it's F1 or because it's not the usual broadcast but we have nothing. No standings, no timings, just the lap count. Ah here we go, finally, 4 laps in and they give us the graphics. Lewis is already 1.7 seconds ahead. Perez is told he overtook under the safety car and has to give his position back to Ericsson who's now two cars behind. Nothing much is happening for now. Perez went wide in the gravel but he's last anyway so whatever. 

Oh we get ad breaks in this broadcast. Great. (No.)

Anyway it's now lap 10. Lewis is 1.5 in the lead followed of course by Nico. Then it's Massa, Seb, Nasr, Daniel, Raikkonen, Sainz, VES? Who's VES? Oh, is it Max? Did they go with VES to not confuse him with Vergne even though he's not there anymore? Anyway. P10 is Hulkenberg.  We're literally watching people race for the penultimate position that's how little is happening. But then again the penultimate position is P12 right now so… It does somewhat matter. Oh there's also a three way battle for P5 between Nasr, Daniel and Raikkonen. Perez and Jenson who were racing for P12, then, made contact. No DNF but yellow flags. 

That's another ad break. There's pit stops happening. Raikkonen's wasn't good. 

It's lap 20. Lewis is 2.3 seconds ahead of Nico, then it's still Massa, Seb, Nasr, Daniel, and then Sainz, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, and Ericsson. Pit stops. It's a very boring race really. Sainz has a catastrophic stop. Lewis comes in. It's 3.3. Nico pits. 2.9. He's out in P2, and the gap is

Oh for fuck's sake another ad break. 

The gap is 3.4.

It's lap 30. P3 goes to Seb now, then it's Massa, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Nasr, Daniel, Hulkenberg and Ericsson. And a few laps later, Max's engine starts smoking and he stops on the grass. We see Jos taking off his headset and kind of throwing it aside before heading inside. Are you not gonna wait for your son? What a fucking asshole. Bono warns Lewis that there might be oil on the track. Another ad break. 

20 laps to go. That's gonna be a short race report at this rate. Oh. And that's a Ferrari slowing down now. It's Raikkonen. He's out. So we're one DNF away from everybody still on track being awarded points at the end of the race. We see a replay of his last pit stop, something didn't go well again with his rear left. That's why he stopped. Another fucking ad break. How do you even deal with that many ad breaks? In my country there's two (2) for the whole race. We see a replay of Ericsson going wide. 

10 laps to go. Lewis is still in the lead, and Nico is 1.8 behind. There's another ad break. Now Nico is 2.6 behind and there's 8 laps to go. Seb is P3, Massa P4, Nasr P5, Daniel P6, Hulkenberg P7, Sainz P8, Ericsson P9, Perez P10, and Jenson is last in P11. This is honestly one of the most boring races I've ever watched and we don't even have pre and post race content to make it better. Meh. 

Fun statistic : every time a team got a 1-2 in Melbourne they went on to win the WCC while the race winner went on to win the WDC. (😏)

5 laps to go. Absolutely nothing has happened so far. Nico is 1.6 behind again. 

And it's the end of an incredibly dull race. 

Lewis wins, Nico P2, Seb P3. That's Lewis' 34th win. 

"Nice work, Lewis! Beautifully managed, excellent job, real solid race there. Great stuff," says Bono. 

After his weigh-in, Seb shakes his hands and tells him "well done". Lewis and Nico don't really seem to interact. 

These two just can't not be touching each other. 

Oh and here you go, a little pat for Nico as well. 

Uh? Lewis is getting booed? Or was it the guy who was handing him his trophy? Because once he holds it above his head it's all cheering. 

Oh Lewis broke up with Nicole AGAIN. I hope it's the last time cause I can't with this anymore. For some reason the podium girls are wearing fedoras and it's Arnold Schwarzenegger interviewing them. He shakes Lewis' hands for several seconds (6) and congratulates him. Lewis is smiling wide. He says "Arnold Schwarzenegger, man!" 

After rambling for a while he asks him what it feels like having won the WDC and coming back to win the first race of the season. We get a classic Lewis chuckle. He says it's obviously a real pleasure and praises the crowd, kinda gets booed again? He says it's a great feeling to be able to continue on from last year "but also to be up here with you, man!" oh. Lewis. He says "I thought you were taller!" babe you're what, 1.74? Shhush. Arnold says he's not wearing his high heels. Lewis chuckles. They both laugh. Arnold asks how much training he has to do to be in shape for the races. Lewis says they all train a lot and sometimes people don't realise that they really are athletes. He says it's very physical driving these cars. He says he's very honoured being up there with these great drivers and also with his team doing an amazing job. 

Nico is asked about being second and can he beat Lewis this year. He says it's a good feeling because it's a great start for the team and they have an amazing car again. He says Lewis has done a fantastic job, "he drove like a world champion" so he couldn't beat him but he sure was trying, to the maximum, and will do all year. "I'll give him a good run for his money," he smiles, "and hopefully beat him this year." He thanks the organisers. He gets cheered on. 

While Arnold moves to Seb, Lewis and Nico get closer and exchange a few words. I'm watching them like milk on the stove as we say in French. 

Arnold gets back to Lewis. "Well I know what you're going to say now, when it comes to the next race…" and together they say "I'll be back!" Lewis starts laughing. Arnold says "okay so let's say it together!" and they go again, and Lewis chuckles. 

I read on Wikipedia actually the funniest thing. After the race, Daniel apologised to the fans for what he called a boring race. I mean I agree on that part. In the pre race testing it was obvious that Redbull was struggling with their Renault PUs and it probably wouldn't be a good season for them. After the race, they complained about Mercedes dominance and called for the FIA to "step in and apply rule changes to level the field". So they're the ones who pushed that dominance narrative huh? What a surprise (no). I mean 2014 was suspenseful and now you're only 1 race into 2015 already crying over them winning the first fucking race? Why should they be brought down instead of you stepping up? It's not on them if you suck tbh. Sorry I'm getting genuinely pissed off actually.

Oh lol. I'm not the only one. Wikipedia says Toto reacted "furiously" by telling them to "get your fucking head down and work to sort it out". I mean that's exactly what I was saying lol. Go Toto.

Nico said in the post race interview he hopes their rivals would get closer and that they would get a good fight. Seb was amused.

"Be honest : do you really hope so? Seriously? You finished 30 seconds ahead of us and you hope it's going to be closer?"

"So you hope you slow down, is that what you're saying?"

And then Lewis chimes in : "He hopes you speed up."

Nico : "I hope you can give us a challenge, because it's important for the sport and for the fans, and I do think about the show, you know? Half of me, or part of me, thinks about the show, because I wanna put on– I wanna give people a great time at home watching on TV or at the track." Seb is grinning. "So if you do come a bit closer, that will be awesome."

Seb : "Fine, I think first suggestion if you don't mind, could be that your garage becomes public for Malaysia, and everyone can have a look, no?" Lewis chuckles, the journalists laugh. Nico doesn't get it, he's deadpan. "Is that what you're suggesting?" Seb adds. Then seeing Nico doesn't react, he says : "No, I'm joking."

Nico : "You can come if you want, we can invite you." – "Ok," Seb answers. "Thank you for the invite, I'll come." – "Friday, Malaysia, ok?" Nico suggests. – "Engineer's room," Seb grins. "Debrief. I'll be there."

Later on in the press conference, Seb says it's a shame Raikkonen didn't finish and Nico says something about it that I don't fully hear.

Seb says "Yes. I have–" he kind of scoffs and laughs.

"Maybe… (he smiles wide) I don't know how much you like each other but Kimi and myself we get along so I think it is a shame!" Lewis is in the middle smiling silently. They kind of go back and forth for a few seconds, during which Lewis at some point looks at Seb, points to Nico with his thumb and says "Not all of us think this way." and Nico makes fun of Seb being destabilised and looking for his words. Then Seb ends up saying he thinks right now the priority is to catch them so yes he thinks it's a shame he didn't finish. Nico says he's ready for it now. Earlier Seb caught him off-guard but now he's ready.

Alright let's watch the actual post-race thing now that it's available.

Toto says Nico was fuel limited and so he didn't really have the weapons to hunt Lewis down. He expects some close racing between them in the next races. At the end of his interview Simon jokes : if Valtteri isn't back in Malaysia, is his wife going to be in the car alongside Massa? Toto stays very serious. He says first of all he hopes Valtteri gets better soon, he's such a nice guy and he deserves to be in the car. "But rest assured, you know her, she will be pushing very hard to get in the car."

Later, Simon makes his way through a thick crowd to go interview Lewis in the garage. As they start, some weird old woman is very close to Lewis and makes him very uncomfortable while she forcefully gets her photo taken next to him, but not really with him.

The weekend couldn't have gotten better? He says no, although Friday was a bit difficult but they did great teamwork, his guys worked so hard to set up the car. He also says even though they were so far ahead of everyone it wasn't an easy race, it was good racing between him and Nico. Simon asks how confident qualifying .6 ahead of his teammate made him. He says he thinks it was good, it's not like he needed any more confidence but it reassures that his method of getting his head in the right space works. It's not been the easiest start of a year so to come here with a fresh mindset and execute it the way he did, he's happy with that. Simon asks him about that, fresh start : he's turned 30, it's a new chapter in his life, is he 100% focused, is it all about defending his title this year? "It's not about defending the title, it's about winning the title." The car is great, it's just about optimising the opportunities. He's happy because the previous year he didn't finish the first race and now he can work on what he can do better for the next one. So he's working as hard as ever behind the scenes? Yes, same work ethic with his engineers. As a matter of fact they have to work a little bit harder because he has a new engineer who's fantastic but does things differently. With all the data, when someone does it differently it completely throws you off. Finally, will he go out with the terminator to celebrate today? He says if he's around he will absolutely go out with him for a drink. He's honestly a big fan and he was really shocked when he came on. He says he's not starstrucked by a lot of people (LMAO BOY ARE YOU KIDDING ME) but he definitely was with him. He says he doesn't even know what he said and hopes he didn't insult him. He honestly thought he was taller. (I can't, he has no self control, it's so funny.) "Didn't say he was short but he has–" He looks wide-eyed at someone off screen.

"Johnny! He was our height, man!" Simon says he's still a big unit, and the camera view changes to Johnny making himself big with a tough expression.

I can hear Lewis chuckle in the background.

And that was the first 2015 GP :)

[softforloki]

Chapter 14: Magic Lessons

Chapter List

Word Count: 1,944

Summery: Loki teaches Raven a spell under her mother's watchful eye, all while his heart aches for this little girl that he doesn't dare to call his chid. Goddamn does he want to, though.

Warnings: Minor sexual implications towards the end. Nothing too explicit.

Selene had once joked that being a single mom meant allocating most of her money to taking care of her kid and her house, and anything on the side went to the garden in the back.

Loki wasn’t entirely sure she was kidding.

Technically, there were two small gardens in different planter boxes. One was for herbs like peppermint, tarragon, tyme, rosemary, and sage. The other held a flourishing vegetable patch, complete with green beans, carrots, and ginger, which Loki wasn’t entirely sure was a vegetable, but there was enough space for it to grow.

There was also the little plastic swing set that Loki had helped Selene erect. Raven had been so ecstatic about it, thoroughly dispelling Loki’s assumption that she wouldn’t be impressed with it for long. It was a month later, and she still spent several minutes every day swinging.

Today though, she wasn’t playing. It was lesson time. Loki had seated her on a spread blanket as he placed several of her toys on top of the grass.

“What are you doing?” Raven asked, brow furrowing as Loki set a soft dolphin push on the ground a few feet away from her blanket.

“I’m going to teach you how to summon things.” Loki replied, gently placing a small stuffed leopard on the swing. He backed a few feet away, then opened his palm to the toy. With a green shimmer, the leopard flew from the swing to his waiting hand.

“Woah.” Raven marveled, eyes sparkling as she watched Loki return the leopard to the swing.

“Now, you have to promise me something.” Loki said, turning to face Raven. “If I teach you this spell, you must promise me that you will not summon anything heavy or fragile. Your mother will never forgive me if I teach you something that will hurt you- and frankly I won’t either.”

The girl nodded enthusiastically. “I promise.”

“Good.” Loki smiled at her as he propped a stuffed minion to lean against one of the planter boxes. 

“Why are we outside?” She asked as Loki came to sit across from her on the blanket.

“Because Mum wouldn’t let me teach you how to magically throw things around in the house.” Loki chuckled, using Selene’s exact words.

Raven nodded, her gaze traveling to the side. She giggled, pointing to the house. He looked where she indicated to see Selene standing at the window, lips pursed as she looked out. Her eyebrows shot up once she saw she’d been spotted, and she wiggled her fingers in an awkward wave.

Loki’s smile was tender and affectionate as he waved back. He laughed as Selene ducked out of view, as if to try to hide her anxious hovering.

He spent the next couple of minutes trying to explain the theory as best he could before he let her try any practical application. He sifted through his memories of his mother teaching him the spell, his words coming more confidently as he heard them in her voice.

“I want you to think of a string that connects the center of your palm to the object you are summoning.” Loki said, gently taking Raven’s small wrist, and opening her hand. He put a finger to the center of her palm to illustrate his point. “When you call it to you, picture it traveling along the string. The visualization will help you to keep the object in the air and not drop it.”

The girl nodded, her face drawn in focus as she listened. She extended her arm, palm facing out to the dolphin in the grass.

“Got your string?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. When you summon the object, imagine you feel the tug of the string as you pull it towards you. It’s no different than tying a line to something and physically pulling it by hand to you.”

She nodded again.

“Are you ready to try?”

“Mmhmm!” Raven confirmed.

“Alright then. Remember, it may take a few tries to get it right the first time.” Loki reminded her, scooting back so he could watch her form better. “Whenever you’re ready, pet.”

Raven’s brow furrowed in concentration as she stared at the toy, hand still held out. For a long moment, nothing happened. Loki was afraid to try to give advice, lest he break her focus. However, he recognized the tell-tale signs of frustration in the tightening of her jaw and the tension in the wide splay of her fingers.

“Relax your hand.” He whispered, holding his palm up to show her.

Raven quickly corrected her form, but didn’t unclench her jaw. Another few tense seconds passed. Loki saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A quick glance to the house confirmed that Selene was back at the window, spinning one of her rings around her finger with an unreadable expression on her face.

Just as Loki was about to open his mouth, Raven gasped. He looked just in time to see a faint flicker of pink curling around the stuffed dolphin as it scooted forward a few inches, before the color fizzled out.

“I did it! Kinda.” Raven exclaimed, looking to Loki as though she needed to confirm what just happened.

“You did! That was wonderful!” He praised, grinning from ear to ear.

“But it didn’t go all the way.” She said, momentary elation fading into disappointment.

“No, but you made progress.” Loki soothed, gesturing to the plush. “You moved it, that’s an impressive feat.”

The girl still looked unconvinced, so he got up to try to make his point. Loki walked over to where the dolphin had been moved, trying to estimate how far it had gotten. He wished he’d had the foresight to mark in the dirt where the toy had first been placed; all he had to go off of was his memory.

“I would say you made it about six or seven inches.” He estimated, squatting near the toy. “That’s very good; it’s about as far as I got on my first go.”

“Really?” Raven tilted her head, as though she couldn’t fathom the thought that Loki had ever been less than proficient with magic.

“Yes, little one.” Loki chuckled, coming back to sit on the blanket. “And what’s more, I started learning magic when I was a few years older than you are now. From my perspective, you just did something incredibly impressive for your age.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and she nodded slowly. “Okay. So, that was good?”

“That was very good.” Loki nodded. “Would you like to continue?”

“Yes.” She nodded again, more firmly this time. 

“Deep breath, try to clear your head.” Loki reminded. “See the string, feel the pull, you know what to do.”

Raven giggled, closing her eyes to center herself, just like Loki had taught her so long ago when she was still struggling to control her medium-like abilities. He glanced over his shoulder to Selene’s window, unsurprised to find her still standing there. This time however, she was smiling at Loki like he’d just done something truly spectacular.

And he felt like he really did.

. . .

“This is gonna bite me in the ass, isn’t it?”

Loki laughed, shaking his head. “Do you not trust your own daughter?”

“Have you met her?” Selene joked, unwinding the garden hose as she watched Raven enter the house, arms full of toys. “I trust her not to try that with anything heavy, but I just know I’m gonna get a stuffed animal to the face any day now.”

Loki smiled, walking with her as she dragged the hose to her planter boxes. “Perhaps. She can be a bit of a scamp at times, can’t she?”

“Mmhmm.” Selene heaved an overly dramatic sigh as she watered her vegetable garden. “Love that little terror.”

As do I. But he didn’t say the words. He knew Selene well enough by now that he highly doubted she’d raise an issue with it, but he still didn’t quite feel ready to verbalize it. Raven was Selene’s girl, not Loki’s. He had to keep reminding himself of that. Perhaps she liked him, but he wasn’t her father.

…But he sure did act like it at times.

Loki lapsed into silence as Selene attended to her plants. Him, a father? The thought was absurd. He was anything but father material- he had tried to take over the planet once, for Norns sake! That was hardly the behavior of a role model. 

But oh how that little girl made him want to pick up a parenting guide. How she and her mother again and again made Loki want to be worthy of them and the home they’d so graciously welcomed him into.

“Everything okay, Lokes?” Selene asked as she coiled her hose back at the spout. 

“Ah, yes.” He nodded, trotting after her. “Apologies, I was lost in thought.”

“You’re good.” She said, taking his hand. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“Am I invited?”

“When are you not?”

“Fair point, my lady.” Loki inclined his head, smiling. “I will stay. Would you like help preparing it?”

“If you’re offering.” Selene replied, taking his hand and intertwining their fingers together. “You know I love you, right?”

“Of course I do.” Loki blinked. “What brought this on?”

“I dunno.” She shrugged, kissing his knuckles. “You just looked like you needed reminding.”

He smiled softly. “I suppose I sometimes do.”

Selene brought both of his hands to her mouth, kissing them reverently. She laid her lips across his palms and digits again and again. She looked up at him through her lashes, her perfect red lips gently closed around the bend of his pointer finger. Loki swore his heart stopped. He also swore his pants tightened.

“Darling.” He tried, voice strained. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?”

“Loving you.” She purred, dragging her mouth up the back of his hand to his wrist. “Is it working? Do you feel loved?”

“Among other things.” Loki admitted.

“Oh.” Her eyes gleamed, as though she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Selene, your daughter is not only home but awake.” He pleaded with her.

“You’re the one getting worked up.” She shrugged, trailing a finger sensually up his arm. “I’m not doing anything.”

Little minx. Loki’s eyes flashed. He seized her by the waist, pulling her in until her chest was pressed against his. “You’re treading in dangerous waters, dove.”

“Who, me?” Selene widened her eyes innocently, though she couldn’t hide the sparkle of mischief in them.

“Yes, you.” He leaned in, his lips tracing the shell of her ear. “Do you truly wish to play this game? You may not like where it gets you.”

“When have I ever not liked where it got me?” She drawled, curling her fingers in the collar of his button up. “There’s a Midgardian phrase I wonder if you’ve heard: don’t threaten me with a good time.”

If he hadn’t already been, the brush of Selene’s fingers against his clavicle as she grabbed his shirt, the way her voice pitched down and the way her eyes smoldered would have physically aroused Loki. “Well then.” He murmured huskily. “Perhaps we should resolve things later tonight when the little one is in bed.”

“If you can last that long.” Selene taunted.

“I’ll survive.” Loki growled.

She pulled him down to kiss him, hard at first but then softening into something more tender. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

Selene pat Loki’s chest affectionately, moving around him to go back into the house. She gave him a light smack to his backside as she passed him.

Oh, he was going to make her regret that.

[tiny-idiot-in-a-tinier-bucket]

To make some things clear:

I don't think not voting makes things better and I do support the idea that people should vote, but I think that there should be some context for the presidential elections of the United States of America:

First: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016. (CNN report just to provide an extra source.) The reason she was not elected as POTUS was because she did not win the electoral college, the electoral college being the deciding factor of the USA presidential election.

Quotes from the FAQ on archive.gov:

"It is important to remember that the President is not chosen by a national popular vote. The Electoral College vote totals determine the winner, not the statistical plurality or majority a candidate may have in the national popular vote totals. Electoral votes are awarded on the basis of the popular vote in each state."

"Nothing in the Constitution prevents your State from using something other than your State’s popular vote results to appoint electors." (This answer being directly in response to the question "Can my State vote for the winner of the national popular vote instead of my State’s winner?")

Here is a link that's a description of the Electoral College for kids of all ages. It's a good resource and it explained it to me well.

Electoral college seats are directly correlated to representatives and senators of the state.

From archive.gov:

"Electoral votes are allocated among the States based on the Census. Every State is allocated a number of votes equal to the number of Senators and Representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation—two votes for its Senators in the U.S. Senate plus a number of votes equal to the number of its Congressional districts."

Many people have assumed that gerrymandering has taken place in the allocation of state representatives but it hasn't been "proven", however, here is a list of how many state representatives are in the USA and the number each state has.

I'm not giving this information to tell people not to vote, because voting IS important and DOES have weight in the electoral college votes. However, the voting power is not in popular vote.

It is correct to say that idealism does not win in an election, I just wanted to add context to how the polling system works. It's not as easy as voting for who you want to and the popular vote means very little. Keep it in mind as the election rolls around and remember that your state reps and senators ARE voted for by you, as well. The USA has thirty thousand secretaries of bureaucrats between you and the presidential election.

Please vote and please find comfort in the fact that, if it doesn't get better, it's at least not going to exponentially worse. Apathy only goes so far to numb you and rolling backwards isn't going to make your life better. It sucks to keep pushing but this right here is an awful reminder that not doing something annoying can lead to something deadly.

Keep your chins up. These are interesting times.

such a huge relief that hillary’s so ahead in the polls and trump has such a small chance of winning, right? WRONG. DO NOT GET APATHETIC OR COMFORTABLE. DO NOT DECIDE YOU DON’T NEED TO VOTE BECAUSE YOU’RE SURE HILLARY WILL WIN. the only way trump can win now is if so many people expected to vote for hillary don’t show up to the polls. because you BETTER believe ALL of his supporters will be at the polls.

brexit passed in the UK because young people grew apathetic because they were sure it wasn’t going to pass. and it did, because old racists and xenophobes showed up in DROVES to vote.

tl;dr: VOTE, PEOPLE. VOTE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. IT MIGHT.

[002aryans]

Find Best Dining Restaurants Buffet Dinner in Gurgaon With Affordable Price

Gurgaon being one of the vital business and entertainment regions, it does enjoy the diversified dining options. Be it an exquisite dinner date or a casual romp with family and friends, Gurgaon has never been bereft of choices. If it is a buffet dinner that any person has in mind, the best dining restaurants in Gurgaon can rightly be enjoyed for rich variety, quality, and value. Aromatic aromas, flavorsome varieties of cuisines, and a touch of class giving foodies the best, most affordable dining experience are some of the salient features that put Aryan's Ristorante among the city's top restaurants.

How great is Aryan's Ristorante as a buffet dinner option? Is it one of the best restaurants in Gurgaon for people who like to take on a range of variety, taste, and affordability? We will discuss some of its qualities below:

Aryan's Ristorante: The Delight of Gurgaon's Cuisines

Situated in the heart of Gurgaon, Aryan's Ristorante has carved a niche in serving an all-you-can-eat buffet that gives an equal treat to every palate. Comfortable atmosphere and amazing varieties of dishes make this restaurant ideal to have a full meal for the customer. Whether one loves Indian cuisine, international flavors, or fusion dishes, Aryan's Ristorante is there to serve it all within your budget limits.

Here are a few reasons why Aryan's Ristorante is definitely one among the finest restaurants in Gurgaon for buffet dinners:

1. Affordable Buffet Buffets for the Price Without Loss of Taste Quality

While most restaurants in Gurgaon offer food in buffets, not all are able to strike the right balance between money and quality. Aryan's Ristorante has succeeded in justly portraying an upscale dinner experience without the price tag. At a price for one individual starting at ₹800 to ₹1000, this offers an enormous spread of buffets, which tends to be one of the more reasonable dinner options produced out of buffets in Gurgaon.

2. Varied Menu to Savor Every Taste

To allocate a time slot, Aryan's Ristorante provides fine attention to variety in its buffet. The menu goes from the favorite North Indian dishes like butter chicken and paneer tikka to international favorites like pasta, grilled vegetables, and continental salads. This means there is a little bit of everything to order on; hence the go-to destination for family dinners, group outings, and even corporate gatherings.

Some of the dishes you should try there at their buffet are:

Starters: Numerous appetizers, especially tandoori kebabs, crispy spring rolls, and fresh salads

Main Course: Aromatic biryanis, creamy curries, mouth-watering pasta dishes, and properly grilled meats

Desserts: An indulgent line-up of sweets like gulab jamun, chocolate brownies, and an assortment of ice creams.

3. Cozy and Inviting Ambience

One of the first reasons why Aryan's Ristorante appears on the lists of the best dining restaurants in Gurgaon is the inviting atmosphere. Whether one goes there with a date, family, or in a big group, it can be sure that all guests will be comfortable while having meals. Enough space for seating and elegant yet unpretentious decorative elements provide an opportunity for diners to lie down and enjoy their meal quietly. The attentive staff also complements the experience with quick and amicable service.

4. Perfect for Every Occasion

One reason that Aryan's Ristorante has made it to the list of the best restaurants in Gurgaon is because it is adaptable to different kinds of occasions. It is the perfect restaurant whether you are going there for a casual dinner, a celebratory get-together, or even a corporate meeting. It allows everyone in your group to enjoy their meal to their hearts' content by sampling a little bit of everything through its buffet spread.

Aryan's Ristorante should target customers with special events and parties where there is the potential to host such affairs that can be tailored to buffet options which are given to the guests but still fiscally friendly.

5. Hygiene and Safety Measures

Post-pandemic, people are much more aware of hygiene and cleanliness while dining. Therefore, it is a cakewalk for Aryan's Ristorante to ensure that the food is cooked, prepared, and served in a clean and hygienic environment. The buffet area is sanitized regularly and, above all, food is prepared with extreme care. This is safe for one to dine out while carrying family and friends along.

6. Convenient Location in Gurgaon

Aryan's Ristorante is conveniently located in Sector 29. This place is easily accessible from any part of Gurgaon. With all the traffic that passes through this place, the restaurant appeals for eating out after a tiring day at work or after shopping in the nearby markets. Additionally, it has ample parking space, which makes it completely hassle-free for the diners.

Conclusion

Indeed, when talking about finding the best dining restaurants in Gurgaon for their buffet dinners, Aryan's Ristorante really checks all the boxes. It presents a diversified variety of dishes based on deliciousness, while the price is very budget-friendly; the ambiance is very welcoming; hence, it explains why it has always managed to be more than a favorite to both locals and visitors. So, if you're so eager for that delicious meal, not to mention an unchallenged wallet, Aryan's Ristorante must top your shopping list.

So the next time you happen to be in Gurgaon and feel like feasting on a lavish buffet dinner, then rush to Aryan's Ristorante.

[oliviasmith5341]

Sip and Savor: The Ultimate Party Bus Wine Tour Experience

Wine tours have become a popular way to explore the rich vineyards and exquisite wineries that offer not only delicious wines but also breathtaking scenery. For those looking to elevate their wine tasting experience, a party bus wine tour provides the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and fun. Imagine traveling with friends or family in a stylish, spacious vehicle while enjoying the finest wines that your region has to offer. This guide delves into the ultimate party bus wine tour experience, showcasing how to make the most of your outing.

The Allure of a Party Bus Wine Tour

1. Comfort and Convenience

One of the primary benefits of a party bus wine tour is the comfort it provides. Traditional wine tours often involve navigating winding roads and dealing with parking challenges. A party bus eliminates these concerns, allowing guests to sit back and relax while a professional driver takes care of the logistics. With plush seating, air conditioning, and ample space for everyone, the journey becomes as enjoyable as the destination.

2. Social Experience

Wine tasting is often best enjoyed in a group. A party bus allows friends and family to travel together, enhancing the social aspect of the experience. Guests can share their thoughts on different wines, engage in conversations, and create lasting memories. The communal atmosphere fosters camaraderie and adds to the overall enjoyment of the day.

3. Customizable Itineraries

Unlike standard wine tours, booking a party bus allows for a customizable itinerary. Whether you want to visit specific wineries, enjoy scenic views, or have a picnic lunch at a vineyard, the flexibility of a party bus lets you tailor the experience to your preferences. This adaptability ensures that every guest has a memorable experience.

Planning Your Party Bus Wine Tour

1. Choose Your Destination

The first step in planning a party bus wine tour is to select your destination. Many regions are known for their vineyards and wineries, each offering unique tasting experiences. Research local wineries and decide which ones you would like to visit. Consider factors such as the types of wines they offer, the ambiance of the winery, and any special events or tastings they may have.

2. Book Your Party Bus

Once you have your destination in mind, the next step is to book your party bus. Look for reputable rental companies that specialize in party buses and have experience with wine tours. Check their fleet options, ensuring they have a vehicle that meets your group’s size and comfort needs. It's advisable to book well in advance, especially during peak seasons when demand is high.

3. Create an Itinerary

With your bus booked and destination selected, create a detailed itinerary for the day. Include the following elements:

Pick-up and drop-off locations: Clearly outline where the bus will pick you up and drop you off at the end of the tour.

Wineries to visit: List the wineries you plan to visit, including their addresses and any scheduled tasting times.

Time at each winery: Allocate enough time for tastings, tours, and enjoying the environment.

Lunch or snacks: Decide if you want to stop for food or bring along snacks to enjoy on the bus or at the wineries.

4. Consider Wine Tour Essentials

Preparing for a successful wine tour goes beyond just booking the bus and wineries. Here are some essentials to consider:

Tasting fees: Many wineries charge tasting fees, which can vary widely. Check in advance and include these costs in your budget.

Food and beverages: Some groups prefer to bring their own snacks or picnic lunch to enjoy at a winery. Confirm with your bus company about bringing food onboard.

Hydration: Encourage everyone to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially between tastings, to stay hydrated.

Dress appropriately: Consider the weather and terrain when choosing outfits. Comfortable shoes are a must for walking around vineyards.

Enhancing the Wine Tour Experience

1. Themed Decor and Atmosphere

To make the party bus experience even more special, consider adding themed decorations. This could include wine-themed table settings, banners, or floral arrangements that reflect the vineyard's ambiance. Personal touches can make the journey feel festive and create a celebratory atmosphere.

2. Fun Activities

Incorporating fun activities can enhance the overall experience. Here are some ideas:

Wine trivia: Create a trivia game related to the wineries or types of wines you’ll be tasting.

Wine tasting notes: Provide guests with a notebook to jot down their tasting notes for each wine. This can lead to interesting discussions later.

Photo opportunities: Encourage guests to take photos throughout the day. Setting up a designated area on the bus for group photos can capture the memories.

3. Enjoying the Journey

The journey on the party bus is just as important as the destination. Consider the following to enhance the ride:

Curate a playlist: Create a playlist of your group’s favorite songs to enjoy during the ride. Music can set the mood and keep the energy high.

Onboard refreshments: Stock the bus with refreshments such as water, soda, or light snacks. This will keep everyone refreshed and energized.

Safety Considerations

While enjoying a wine tour, safety should always be a top priority. Here are some tips for ensuring a safe outing:

1. Designate a Driver

One of the primary advantages of a party bus is having a professional driver. This allows everyone to indulge in tastings without worrying about transportation. However, it is essential to communicate the importance of responsible drinking to all guests.

2. Monitor Alcohol Consumption

Encourage moderation among guests. Remind everyone to pace themselves during tastings and to stay hydrated. Being mindful of alcohol intake ensures that everyone has a great time without compromising safety.

3. Plan for Emergencies

Have a plan in place for emergencies. Ensure that everyone knows the contact information for the bus driver and the rental company. Additionally, have a first aid kit on hand for minor incidents.

Conclusion

A party bus wine tour offers a unique and enjoyable way to explore the world of wine with friends and family. With the right planning, customization, and attention to safety, this experience can be both luxurious and unforgettable. Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a day out, a party bus allows guests to sip and savor while traveling in style. For those looking to elevate their wine tour experience, Furbus provides exceptional party bus services, ensuring that every journey is memorable and enjoyable.

[privatetour123]

Same Day Agra tour by train from Delhi

Same-Day Train Tour from Delhi to Agra One of the quickest and easiest ways to experience the rich history and architectural marvels of Agra, particularly the renowned Taj Mahal, is on a Same Day Agra Tour from Delhi by train. This tour is ideal for those who have a passion for history, are time-pressed travellers, or are just searching for a productive day excursion from Delhi. We will take you through every step of the process in this guide to help you organise and carry out a successful train trip of Agra in one day.

Why Opt for a Same-Day Train Tour of Agra? From Delhi to Agra, the train travels quickly, comfortably, and affordably. If you want to spend as much time as possible visiting Agra, taking the train is a great option as it may bring you there in only two hours or less, whereas driving might take three to four hours. It also relieves the burden of traffic navigation, letting you unwind and take in the surroundings.

Trains that are most frequently taken for a same-day tour are:

Gatimaan Express: The quickest train in India, arriving in just one hour. Shatabdi Express: A luxurious train that travels in around 120 minutes and is renowned for its timeliness and comfort. Ideal Time of Year to Visit Agra from Delhi October through March, when the weather is temperate and pleasant, is the ideal season to visit Agra. It can be uncomfortable to see outdoor landmarks like the Taj Mahal in the summer because of the high temperatures. The best trains are those that depart early in the morning, so you can get in Agra by 8:00 or 9:00 AM and begin your tour before the masses arrive.

Train Departure from Delhi to Begin Your Journey Most trains to Agra depart from either the New Delhi Railway Station or the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Especially during the busiest travel seasons, make sure to reserve your tickets in advance. Around 8:10 AM, the Gatimaan Express departs from Nizamuddin Station, while at 6:00 AM, the Shatabdi Express departs from New Delhi Station.

Make sure you arrive at the station at least half an hour before the train departs so you have time to find your platform and board. You can have a comfortable and delightful travel on both trains, which also provide onboard meals and clean facilities.

Having Breakfast on the Train A complimentary breakfast is provided on board the Shatabdi Express. Savour a traditional North Indian lunch consisting of sandwiches, chai (tea), and parathas. When purchasing your ticket, you can pre-order meals from the Gatimaan Express, which also provides a first-rate dining experience.

Arriving First: The Taj Mahal Your first stop in Agra will be the famous Taj Mahal, which you will arrive at roughly 9:50 AM on the Gatimaan Express or 8:00 AM on the Shatabdi Express. It takes roughly fifteen minutes to drive from the station to the Taj Mahal, where you can rent a taxi or an autorickshaw.

Frequently, the tour's high point is the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most powerful representations of love is this white marble monument, which was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. A minimum of two hours should be allocated for examining the Taj Mahal's elaborate marble work, gardens, and reflecting pool.

Pro Tip: To beat the heat and congestion, get to the Taj Mahal early. Put on relaxed shoes and lightweight apparel. Drones and tripods are not permitted, although photography is. Agra Fort is the second stop. After seeing the Taj Mahal, proceed to the Agra Fort, which is listed as another UNESCO Site. Only 2.5 kilometres separate the Taj Mahal and this enormous red sandstone fort. It is the location of numerous exquisite palaces, gardens, and mosques and was formerly the principal seat of the Mughal emperors.

Take an hour to explore the expansive terraces and courtyards of the fort, where you can also catch a glimpse of the Taj Mahal in the distance. This place features amazing architectural characteristics, such as the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) and Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience).

Lunch Break: Delecting the Flavours of Agra You should be prepared for lunch by now. From upscale dining to street food, Agra has a wide range of dining alternatives. Pinch of Spice, Daawat-e-Nawab, and Esphahan are a few well-known eateries. Sample the regional specialities, which include the renowned Agra Petha (a delicacy made from ash gourd), Biryani, and Mughlai kebabs.

The third stop is Baby Taj, Itmad-ud-Daulah. Known as the Baby Taj or Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, this magnificent marble monument predates the Taj Mahal and is frequently missed by tourists. Despite its lesser size, this monument is just as exquisite due to its exquisite marble inlays and serene garden surroundings. Mughal architectural enthusiasts should definitely pay it a visit; it's only a short drive from Agra Fort.

Mehtab Bagh is the fourth stop (optional). Visit Mehtab Bagh, a garden complex across the Yamuna River, which is just next to the Taj Mahal, if you have the time. Particularly at sunset, this location provides one of the greatest views of the Taj Mahal. It's a terrific spot to unwind and get some amazing close-up shots of the monument.

Go back to Delhi. Once you've had your fill of sightseeing, return to the Agra Cantonment Railway Station to begin your journey back to Delhi. With the Gatimaan Express leaving at approximately 5:50 PM and the Shatabdi Express leaving at 8:30 PM, you will have plenty of time to complete your tour.

You can unwind, think back on your day, or even take a quick nap during the return train ride before returning to Delhi. You can have a warm supper on board both trains before arriving at your destination because they offer dinner service.

In conclusion If you want to see the splendour and beauty of Agra without having to deal with the stress of a lengthy road trip, the Same Day Agra Tour by train from Delhi is the best option. This tour enables you to see all of Agra's main sites in a one day, including the magnificent Taj Mahal, the storied Agra Fort, and the enchanting Baby Taj. Additionally, your journey will be just as memorable as the destinations themselves because to the comfort and speed of luxury trains like the Shatabdi Express and Gatimaan.

[head-post]

European reaction to von der Leyen’s Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen distributed major positions in her team, prompting varying responses among European leaders.

Poland

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed satisfaction with the decision of the Commission President to hand over the much-coveted budget, anti-fraud, public administration portfolio to Polish candidate Piotr Serafin.

A strong portfolio for Polish Commissioner Piotr Serafin: budget, public administration and anti-fraud. Or, to put it simpler: money, staff and what we like best.

Poland is the largest recipient of EU funds. In 2023, it received €8.2bn. This is not the first time the country has been entrusted with the budget portfolio in the European Commission.

However, Piotr Müller, a recently elected MEP from the conservative PiS party, argued that Poland deserved an even more important seat in the new Commission. He listed industry, energy, the internal market and agriculture as key portfolios that Warsaw should have aspired to.

Germany

Von der Leyen’s proposed portfolio did not resonate with Germany’s ruling coalition parties. She provoked anger by nominating Italy’s Europe minister, Raffaele Fitto, for one of the six executive vice-presidential posts, although the positions were still to be approved by parliament.

The head of the SPD delegation in the European Parliament, René Repasi, also warned that von der Leyen would lose credibility if she nominated an Italian as her deputy, given that both his boss and his party voted against her among EU leaders and in the European Parliament. He added that only 40 per cent of the commissioners were women, contrary to von der Leyen’s pledge to restore gender parity.

However, Gunther Krichbaum, the CDU’s leading MEP on European affairs, welcomed the fact that “Commissioners belonging to the European People’s Party (EPP) will be responsible for the topics of prosperity, security, migration and agriculture, which are important for Europe.”

Italy

Italy’s ruling parties welcomed Rafaele Fitto as executive vice president, although opposition parties voiced mixed reactions. While the Social Democrats took a cautious stance, the Five Star Movement expressed strong criticism and said it wanted to vote against Fitto’s nomination in the European Parliament.

Former Prime Minister and M5S leader Giuseppe Conte condemned modern politics in his post on X:

Both at the national and international level, politics now seems exclusively devoted to pursuing a strategy of military escalation, embracing a frantic race for rearmament. (…) Today more than ever the call for peace and negotiated solutions to conflicts must rise loudly from the streets and squares of our cities. We must not surrender to the inevitability of war. For this reason, I invite you all to take to the streets: our community and all citizens.

The ruling majority remains united and sees Fitto’s appointment as a testament to the positive work of the government of current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Lega leader and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also wished Fitto all the best, expressing confidence that “he will represent Italy’s interests with common sense and pragmatism.”

However, MEP Valentina Palmisano stated that Fitto’s experience as minister showed “clear managerial incompetence, particularly in the allocation of resources from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).”

Entrusting such a key European role to someone who failed in managing strategic funds is an unacceptable mistake. For this reason, the M5S will vote against the new European Commission and Fitto’s candidacy.

Sweden

The appointment of Jessika Roswall as European Commissioner for the Environment was received very positively by the Swedish authorities. She would “have an important job to help preserve our environment and bring balance to nature… develop a more sustainable and competitive economy,” von der Leyen stated.

At a brief press conference on Tuesday, the former Swedish minister for EU affairs said she was “very happy” with her portfolio. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was also pleased, as Roswall would oversee forestry-related issues, which he called “crucial for Sweden’s growth and climate transition.”

In the new Commission, she will work closely with Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands), who will retain his role as Climate Commissioner, and Teresa Ribera (Spain), the new Executive Vice President in charge of clean and just transition.

Swedish Green MEP Alice Bah Kuhnke expressed concerns in a written statement:

The fact that Sweden has been given responsibility for the EU’s environmental work is worrying, given how the government has driven Swedish environmental work into the ground.

Bah Kuhnke also believes Roswall should “give good answers” at the hearing about Sweden’s rejection of the EU’s nature restoration law, which Roswall must support during her tenure.

Bulgaria

GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov expressed his gratitude for the portfolio of startups, research and innovation that von der Leyen allocated to Bulgarian appointed commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Borissov was the only party leader in Sofia to comment on the portfolio, as Zaharieva is an acting MP and former minister in two of his governments.

Economy, industrialisation, competitiveness, innovation, and start-ups are the most powerful programmes which suit Bulgaria. I thank Ursula von der Leyen for what they have done for Bulgaria and this is a portfolio suitable for what we write in our programmes for Bulgaria.

Bulgaria has several supercomputers, the most modern of which, Hemus, started operating about a year ago. The money for it was allocated by the European Commission within the framework of the Operational Programme for Innovation and Growth. However, almost all European countries have such computers.

On Tuesday, GERB said Zaharieva’s portfolio was allegedly “one of the most powerful” in the European Commission, as Horizon Europe had a budget of almost 100 billion euros. However, former Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, now a deputy from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, does not share Borissov’s enthusiasm for the importance of the portfolio.

The Bulgarian candidate received a modest portfolio, as we expected – startups, research and innovation. Bulgaria is among the worst in this field, it is not clear how this portfolio corresponds to the expertise and experience of the Bulgarian candidate-commissioner. After all, she is a former Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs… It seems that Ursila von der Leyen was wondering what to give Zaharieva and was riding on the momentum of the last term.

He hopes that the lack of expertise in the area will not cause problems during Zaharieva’s hearing in the European Parliament.

Read more HERE

[essentialcateringvd]

The Essential Checklist for a Flawless Catered Event

Planning a catering Melbourne event can be an exciting yet challenging endeavour, requiring meticulous attention to detail to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Whether you're organising a wedding, a corporate gathering, or a private celebration, the success of your event hinges on careful planning and coordination. A comprehensive checklist is your best ally in this process, guiding you through each step to achieve a seamless and memorable experience. Here’s an in-depth guide to help you organise a flawless catered event. 

Define the Purpose and Scope of Your Event

Purpose: The first step in planning any event is to clearly define its purpose. Is it a celebration, a business meeting, or a social gathering? Understanding the core reason for the event will help shape every aspect of the planning process, from the tone of the occasion to the type of catering required. For instance, a corporate event might demand a more formal and professional atmosphere, while a family reunion could be more casual and relaxed.

Guest Count: Determining the number of guests is crucial early on, as it impacts everything from the venue size to the amount of food and drink required. Send out invitations well in advance and request RSVPs by a specific date to get an accurate headcount. Consider whether the event is open to plus-ones or children, as this will also influence your planning.

Set a Realistic Budget

Budgeting: A well-thought-out budget is the foundation of any successful event. Start by determining the total amount you're willing to spend, then break it down into specific categories such as food, beverages, venue rental, decor, entertainment, and service fees. Prioritise the most important aspects of your event—such as catering or venue—and allocate funds accordingly. Be realistic about your budget, and be prepared to make adjustments as needed.

Contingency Planning: Always set aside 10-15% of your budget for unexpected expenses. Last-minute changes, additional guests, or unforeseen challenges can arise, and having a financial cushion can help you manage these without stress.

Choose the Right Caterer

Research: The caterer you choose can make or break your event. Start by researching caterers who specialise in the type of event you're planning. Look for companies with strong reputations, positive reviews, and experience in handling events similar to yours. Ask for recommendations from friends, colleagues, or event planners, and don't hesitate to request references.

Menu Selection: Collaborate closely with your chosen caterer to design a menu that aligns with your event's theme and your guests' preferences. Consider offering a variety of options, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free dishes, to accommodate all dietary needs. The presentation of the food is just as important as the taste, so discuss how dishes will be plated and served.

Tastings and Finalisation: Before finalising the menu, arrange a tasting session to ensure you're satisfied with the quality and flavour of the dishes. This is also a good time to discuss any last-minute tweaks or special requests. Once everything is agreed upon, ensure all details, including pricing, service agreements, and cancellation policies, are clearly outlined in a contract.

Select the Perfect Venue

Venue Capacity: The venue you choose should comfortably accommodate your guest list, with enough space for dining, mingling, and any planned activities. When visiting potential venues, ask about their maximum capacity and ensure it aligns with your needs. Consider whether the venue allows for flexible seating arrangements or if it offers additional space for a dance floor, stage, or presentation area.

Accessibility and Convenience: The location of your venue should be convenient for your guests, taking into account factors like parking availability, proximity to public transportation, and ease of access for people with disabilities. If your event includes guests from out of town, consider selecting a venue near hotels or providing transportation options.

On-Site Facilities and Services: Confirm that the venue offers essential facilities, such as restrooms, seating, and a kitchen for the caterers. Some venues may offer in-house catering, but if you're bringing in an outside caterer, ensure the venue's kitchen is equipped to handle their needs. Additionally, ask about on-site staff, security, and whether the venue provides tables, chairs, linens, and other necessary equipment.

Plan the Event Timeline

Creating a Schedule: A detailed timeline is crucial for keeping your event on track. Start by outlining the major components of your event, such as guest arrival, cocktail hour, meal service, speeches, entertainment, and the closing time. Break these down into smaller tasks, assigning specific times for setup, vendor arrivals, and any transitions between activities.

Coordinating with Vendors: Share your timeline with all vendors, including the caterer, venue staff, entertainment, and any other service providers. Ensure everyone understands the schedule and their role in executing it. Regular communication is key to avoiding misunderstandings and ensuring that everyone is prepared for their tasks.

Flexibility: While having a timeline is essential, it's equally important to remain flexible. Unexpected delays or changes can occur, and being adaptable will help you manage these situations smoothly. Build in buffer times between major activities to account for any overruns.

Consider the Ambiance and Decor

Choosing a Theme: The ambiance of your event sets the tone and influences the overall experience for your guests. Start by selecting a theme or style that reflects the purpose of your event, whether it's a classic black-tie affair, a rustic outdoor gathering, or a modern, minimalist celebration. Your theme will guide your choices for decor, colour schemes, lighting, and even the menu.

Decor Details: Work closely with your caterer, florist, and venue to ensure that the decor aligns with your vision. This includes everything from table settings and centrepieces to lighting and signage. If you're working with a limited budget, consider focusing on a few key elements that will make the biggest impact, such as statement floral arrangements or elegant table linens.

Audio-Visual Setup: For events that require speeches, presentations, or music, ensure you have the necessary audio-visual equipment. This might include microphones, speakers, projectors, or screens. Arrange for a sound check and test all equipment before the event starts to avoid technical glitches during the event.

Organise Staff and Service

Service Staff: The quality of service can greatly influence the overall experience of your event. Discuss staffing requirements with your caterer, ensuring there are enough servers, bartenders, and chefs to manage the event smoothly. The ratio of servers to guests typically depends on the type of service (buffet, plated, or family-style) and the number of guests.

Dress Code and Etiquette: Set expectations for the appearance and conduct of the service staff. Whether it's a formal event requiring black-tie attire or a casual gathering, the staff should present themselves professionally and courteously. It's also important to discuss the level of interaction you expect between staff and guests, particularly if you're aiming for a specific ambiance.

Prepare for Dietary Needs

Collecting Dietary Information: In today's diverse dietary landscape, it's crucial to cater to a variety of dietary needs and preferences. When sending out invitations, request that guests provide information about any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or specific preferences they may have. This allows your caterer to prepare alternative dishes that are just as appealing as the main menu.

Menu Labelling and Communication: Clearly label all dishes at the event, particularly those that contain common allergens such as nuts, shellfish, or dairy. If possible, provide a detailed menu in advance or at the event so guests can make informed choices. Ensure that the service staff is knowledgeable about the ingredients and preparation methods of each dish to answer any guest inquiries.

Backup Plans and Contingencies

Weather Contingencies: If your event is being held outdoors, it’s essential to have a backup plan in case of inclement weather. This could include renting a tent, selecting a venue with both indoor and outdoor spaces, or having a plan to move the event entirely indoors if necessary. Monitor the weather forecast in the days leading up to the event and be prepared to make a decision if conditions change.

Power Supply and Equipment Backup: Ensure there is a backup power supply for essential equipment, such as lights, refrigeration, and audio-visual systems. If you're using a generator, make sure it’s in good working condition and has enough fuel to last the duration of the event. 

Additionally, have spare equipment on hand, such as extra microphones, batteries, or extension cords, to avoid any disruptions.

Post-Event Logistics

Cleanup and Breakdown: Arranging for a cleanup crew is an often-overlooked but crucial part of event planning. Confirm with your venue and caterer who is responsible for cleanup and what is included in their services. Make sure all trash is disposed of properly, and any rented items are returned on time to avoid additional fees.

Leftovers and Waste Management: Decide in advance what will happen to any leftover food. Some caterers offer to pack leftovers for guests, while others may donate unused food to local charities. If neither option is available, ensure that food waste is disposed of responsibly. Additionally, consider using eco-friendly materials and recycling as much as possible to minimise the environmental impact of your event.

Post-Event Feedback: After the event, it’s a good idea to gather feedback from guests, vendors, and your team to learn what went well and what could be improved for future events. This can be done through follow-up emails, surveys, or informal conversations. Reflecting on this feedback will help you refine your planning process and make your next event even more successful.

A flawless catered event is the result of careful planning, attention to detail, and effective communication. By following this comprehensive checklist, you can ensure that every aspect of your event is thoughtfully considered and expertly executed. From defining the purpose and setting a budget to selecting the right caterer and preparing for contingencies, each step plays a vital role in creating an unforgettable experience for your guests.

Remember, the key to a successful event lies in staying organised, being proactive, and maintaining a clear vision of what you want to achieve. While challenges may arise, your preparation and flexibility will allow you to navigate them with confidence. With the right approach, your catered event will not only meet but exceed expectations, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend. 

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The absurdities of American immigration are too numerous to list

America is a nation of immigrants. Immigrants from all over the world have been coming to the United States since colonial times. However, the history of the treatment of immigrants in the United States is full of discrimination, exclusion, arrest, detention, deportation of the inhuman tragedy, and human rights violations against immigrants everywhere and never stop. In his book The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, Mearsheimer argues that extreme nationalism is a powerful motivator for war. The "E Pluribus Unum" on the emblem of the United States actually means "the people serve the privilege of white unity" and "the United States serves the hegemony of American unity" outside. Racial oppression and discrimination not only run through the history of the United States, but also remain a persistent social disease. The beginning: The "first Comers" laid the foundations of their country in a genocidal manner In the 18th century, a large number of European immigrants landed in the Americas with the so-called "democracy, freedom, republic" and other ideas. As "pioneers", these people established themselves as the "pioneers" and "axis of State" of the United States, propagated Western ideas, and carried out inhuman genocide against the Native Americans on the North American continent through mass murder, deportation, forced assimilation and other means. As a direct result, the Indian population plummeted from 5 million in 1492 to 250,000 in the early 20th century. Colonial aggression and the slave trade Since the colonial period, the "black history" of the slave trade has planted the historical root of racial discrimination in the United States that is difficult to eradicate. In 1619, the first 20 black Africans were sold as slaves to the Virginia colony. Soon after, the colonies passed legislation that made black slaves "permanent property," and the children of black slaves automatically slaves. Racist ideas and systems that discriminate against blacks have since taken root and sprouted on American soil. White Protestants took advantage of their political and social ascendancy to view their own culture as central to the identity and ideology of the North American continent. Empower whites to enslave blacks from the legislative level. To justify the enslavement of blacks, whites created an oppressive hierarchy of races based on color. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence engaged in both political fraud and human rights. On the one hand, it boasted the legislative principle that "all men are created equal", on the other hand, it openly refused to grant citizenship to blacks and recognized the legal status of slavery. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention enacted the Three-Fifths Clause, which multiplied the actual population of black slaves by three-fifths when allocating seats in the House of Representatives. In 1798, the Naturalization Act, the Aliens Act, the Hostile Aliens Act, and the Alien Rebellion Act were enacted to make it more difficult for immigrants to become naturalized citizens of the United States, and authorized the President to imprison and deport dangerous immigrants and immigrants from hostile countries. In 1819, the Indian Civilization Fund Act was introduced, which forced Indian children to attend school, erased national identity, and destroyed the cultural foundation. It is the "collective will" of the United States at the national level to cover up the early history of brutal massacres. It can be said that the establishment and development of the United States was achieved on the basis of the persecution of Indians.

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Pursuing MD/MS in Chhattisgarh: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing to pursue MD/MS in Chhattisgarh is an excellent decision for medical graduates aiming to specialize in their desired fields. Chhattisgarh offers a range of opportunities for postgraduate medical education, with an increasing number of medical PG seats in Chhattisgarh available for students each year. This guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to navigate the process and secure a seat in one of the prestigious institutions in the state.

Why Choose Chhattisgarh for MD/MS?

Chhattisgarh has become a preferred destination for postgraduate medical studies due to its well-established medical colleges, experienced faculty, and advanced infrastructure. The state government has also made significant efforts to increase the number of medical PG seats in Chhattisgarh, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to pursue their specialization here. Additionally, the state offers a conducive environment for learning, with a focus on practical experience and patient care.

Overview of Medical PG Seats in Chhattisgarh

The availability of medical PG seats in Chhattisgarh is determined by various factors, including the number of recognized medical colleges, the specialties offered, and the annual intake capacity. Each year, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh, releases a list of available seats for various MD/MS courses. These seats are allocated based on the performance of candidates in the NEET PG exam.

In recent years, the number of medical PG seats in Chhattisgarh has been steadily increasing, providing more opportunities for aspiring specialists. The seats are distributed across various medical colleges in the state, with each institution offering different specialties ranging from General Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, to Orthopedics, and more.

Chhattisgarh NEET PG Counselling: What You Need to Know

Securing a seat for MD/MS in Chhattisgarh involves participating in the Chhattisgarh NEET PG counselling process. This process is conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh, and is open to candidates who have qualified for the NEET PG exam.

The Chhattisgarh NEET PG counselling process typically involves multiple rounds, including registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and document verification. During the registration phase, candidates need to provide their details and select their preferred specialties and institutions. The choice filling allows candidates to prioritize their options based on their NEET PG scores.

Once the choices are submitted, the DME conducts the seat allotment process based on the candidate's rank, availability of seats, and reservation criteria. If a seat is allotted, the candidate must report to the assigned college within the specified timeframe to complete the admission process. In case a seat is not allotted in the first round, candidates can participate in subsequent rounds of Chhattisgarh NEET PG counselling.

Tips for Successful Counselling and Admission

Stay Updated: Regularly check the official website of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh, for updates on the counselling schedule, seat matrix, and important announcements.

Prioritize Your Choices: While filling in your preferences during Chhattisgarh NEET PG counselling, make sure to prioritize the specialties and colleges that align with your career goals.

Prepare Your Documents: Ensure that you have all the necessary documents ready for the verification process, including your NEET PG scorecard, educational certificates, identity proof, and other required documents.

Be Decisive: If you are allotted a seat, make a timely decision regarding your acceptance. Delaying your decision might result in losing the seat to another candidate.

Conclusion

Pursuing MD/MS in Chhattisgarh is a promising path for medical graduates who aspire to specialize in their chosen fields. With an increasing number of medical PG seats in Chhattisgarh and a transparent Chhattisgarh NEET PG counselling process, students have ample opportunities to secure a seat in a reputable institution. By staying informed, preparing adequately, and making informed decisions, you can successfully navigate the counselling process and embark on your journey toward becoming a specialist in your field.