#grand circus park

[walkingdetroit]

New Hat

Went downtown and decided to take the Brush Park route home and walked right into a 50% off sale at the Tigers store.

The entire store is 50% off tomorrow, too!

[detroitlib]

Aerial view of Grand Circus Park surrounded by buildings. Printed on back: "Grand Circus Park is one of the many beauty spots to be found in the down-town section of the city. The park is surrounded by a number of magnificent buildings and reading left to right is the Michigan Conservatory of Music, Church of Our Father, Hotel Tuller, the Charlevoix Apartments and Fine Arts building. Handwritten on back: "Hello Sis, it seems a long time since I seen you past. Hope you are having a good time. Emma is getting better. She is over with the worst. I am getting along fine kind of busy getting everything in shape. It seems real nice to be boss in your own home, nothing like it, better try it. Let one know how Karl is getting along. I received your card yesterday. Love to all as ever, Mary. The town is full of Elks having a good time." Card is postmarked July 14, 1910.

Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

[goatderman]

*for the childcity i mean it has lots of little activites, building forts and team activities

alpine slide is a coaster with no engine, it uses the gravity of the hill its on, usually in a cute little cart on rails with brakes but no go.

uhh idk anything else if you were like 7 where would you go first?

also since youre here can you share or donate to This gofundme?

[dinodorks]

[ Visitors pass by some of the iconic sculptures of prehistoric life within Crystal Palace Park. Photo by Richard Baker. ]

"When the Crystal Palace and Park opened in south London in 1854, it was an instant sensation. Visitors came from far and wide to see the giant glass structure that had been rebuilt there, bigger and better, after the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park. Wide-eyed spectators wandered freely through Egyptian and Medieval Courts, delighted in high-wire circus acts, and were transported by a 4,000-piece orchestra. Tucked away in a corner of the vast gardens that fanned out from the palace, past sweeping terraces and more fountains than even at Versailles, was a smaller but no less ambitious attraction. Scattered across several islands in the middle of a lake stood three dozen life-size sculptures of prehistoric animals, including several dinosaurs up to 30 feet long—the world’s first attempt to model them at full scale. The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs were the work of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, a natural history artist who, aided by some of the leading scientists of the day, had dreamt up a grand experiment in visual education, bringing to life the “dry bones or oddly shaped stones” found in the British Museum and introducing the masses to the burgeoning science of paleontology. By reconstructing Britain’s long-extinct animals, he hoped to “render the appearance and names of the ancient inhabitants of our globe as familiar as household words.” The palace burned down in the 1930s, but, almost 170 years after they were crafted, most of Hawkins’ original sculptures still stand sentry in the park. Today, they’re mostly famous for being wildly inaccurate. With few complete fossils to work off, Hawkins had to use his imagination and the advice of comparative anatomists to breathe life into his models, which, in addition to four true dinosaurs, also depict prehistoric mammals, reptiles and amphibians. As a result, the sculptures look suspiciously like many modern-day creatures. “People kind of scoff and giggle, because they look so wrong today, but at the time they were really cutting-edge,” says Bob Nicholls, a paleoartist who, through careful study of archival images, recently reconstructed a lost sculpture that had disappeared from the park sometime in the 1960s. His tapir-like model of Palaeotherium magnum, an animal we now know looked a lot more like a horse, was unveiled in July and now stands among Hawkins’ own surviving creations."

Read more: "How a Victorian Dinosaur Park Became a Time Capsule of Early Paleontology" by Yannic Rack.

[era-the-witchy-birdkid]

DP X DC Prompt/Idea

Long time writer for the DC fandom (mostly Batman specifically Tim Drake joins the batfam early AUs and Titans Tower AU) on Archive, Danny Fenton also known as Astroboy2025, decides three days after his ‘Accident’ to create a Jason wakes up a Halfa in his coffin fic. He only does this to help himself process his emotions after well lets be honest his death and revival. And later once the ghost attacks pick up and he picks up the mantle of a hero as a way to covertly get advice/figure out on how to fight ghosts better by transplanting all his ghosts into Gotham for Fic!Jason to fight.

Danny wasn’t expecting much to come from this, he wasn’t expecting the fic to blow up in popularity for ‘creative storylines’ and ‘unique original villains with a ghostly flare to go against the ghostly Robin now named Phantom’ it was just a vent fic with a bit of wishful thinking on his part with Ghost!Jason and Bruce's relationship being so close (He ends up writing Jason getting hugs and affirmations that Bruce still loves despite all the ghost stuff that happening now whenever his Parents go on a tirade about how all ghosts are evil and need to be ripped apart molecule by molecule)

He definitely wasn't expecting his fans to find out about the real Phantom and figure out his identity from there. (Blame Penelope Spectra she had a history unlike the others in his rogues gallery with a bloody trail across America of sharply increase Suicide rates in more isolated smaller cites/large towns that was being tracked by Redditers that had hard stopped in Amity park just a few days before he dropped the chapter of Jason facing her himself)

While the Amity Park tourism to see a IRL Hero in action, and the Anti-Ecto acts Riots, as they would later be called, made by DC fans throwing a fit about the threat to the world’s first superhero were the lesser consequence in the grand scheme of things. Finding his fan Discord was a trip and a half especially since Tucker had to hack into it into the first place because his fans we're extremely protective of his secret ID and reinforced the server a crapton to be stronger then most banks.

While Sam was insisting on this being a horrible Idea and he should try to dissuade his thousands of fans from the truth of his Identy. Danny was just chill with it after the brief panic. And the Fan Discord was super helpful for getting Advce with! while the jokes that he was Batman Adoption bait was annoying the group was amazing for ideas on how to train his powers and advice on how to better fight ghosts. the Discord even make a Power list for him so he wouldn’t forget a power because he wasn’t training it. plus the comfort they gave after Circus Gothica was A+ even with the jokes about how the Batfam curse of clown trauma, despite matching the look as a human batman isn’t real so as much as his fans joke about him being the prefect Bat bait that will not happen.

To bad after a particularly nasty ghost hate rant in front of him in ghost form while being shot at by his parents that before the server would spawn 3 chapters of Family fluff in his fic, was whatched angrily by a fan who in a fit of annoyed rage said these words. “I really wish batman WAS real, then maybe you could be safe in your home for once”

unfortunately Desiree was out and about and heard the wish granted she had no idea who Batman was so went to read the DC comics after that. Good news the DC universe is so messed up as is that Desiree decided no twisting was necessary she’d just to bring everything to life. Bad news all the supervillains now exist along side the now existing superheros and Desiree is now Kaiju sized and now way to powerful for Danny to deal with alone... 

At least the now real Batfam are taking their sudden existence well? and are willing to help Danny stop the Mad Genie dispite the risk that they would pop into nonexistence (with the entire city of Gotham and the other cities, villains, and heroes made real by Desiree’s power) if she’s stopped

[roamingtigress]

A Night for Us by Roaming Tigress Hosea and Dutch break into New York's Luna Park one Christmas day in the 1920s -- and revisit memories of Christmas pasts.

A Night for Us by Roaming Tigress

Luna Park.

A vibrant slice of electric heaven in Brooklyn's Coney Island; a picture of modernity, adventure and wonder awaits you on every corner of its expanse.

Such a place isn't where most would expect to find a pair of old men seeking (mis)adventure in the Roaring Twenties, but, here we are.

"Dutch, I don't think you're quite as nimble these days."

My idiot husband listens as well as he always has—barely at all.

"Just one more rung, Old Girl!"

He's climbing up a damn iron gate. It's part of a grand entrance with splendid art deco styling, its electric lighting visible for miles at night on Surfside Avenue. One slip could result in an embarrassing end to his storied life.

Now, I'm sure you're telling yourself: has Dutch truly lost it?

Well, possible. But I think to have "lost it", you'd have to have it in the first place.

But, let me tell you one little detail.

It's Christmas, and the park is closed on Christmas.

Did you think it would stop us?

No.

To my relief, Dutch came down from the gate on the opposite side without breaking his neck. That stupid, handsome grin of his could light up the whole park -- and the rest of Brooklyn.

"That was easy enough 'sea!"

I scoff. It wasn't easy for me to watch.

I love that fool.

Now it was my turn to come down the gate; after all, someone had to keep an eye on Dutch. It would be irresponsible for me to let him run rampant in such a place -- heaven knows what he'd do. There may be no park left to reopen in the new year!

And besides, why should he have all the fun?

I was a touch more cautious, mind; he was hovering right underneath me with his arms out as if he wanted me to let go and catch me. But as to not give him the satisfaction of wanting to play big brave rescuer, as if waiting to catch some fair maiden escaping a witch's castle, I managed to climb down the gate without as much as a scuffed nail.

"Not bad."

Now Dutch scoffed, giving me a poke to the ribs as I have done to him many times to keep him in line.

"You were worried."

I give Dutch a jab back; he lets out a most manly squeak; still ticklish!. "Funeral costs have gone up these days."

Dutch rolled with the punch. We hadn't lost a step in that area; in fact, we've gotten sharper, seemingly knowing what the other one would react, and would say next.

"Save yourself a little money and take me to the taxidermist instead!"

I threw my next punch. "As if I'd want to see your ugly old mug over the mantle!"

He dodged.

"Who said it had to be the mantle? I think I could look rather dashing over my spot on the bed!"

I sass back. Dutch is really pushing to get coal for Christmas.

"I don't think I want nightmares!"

Then I get it. I really get it.

Dutch tossed a snowball at me. I didn't even see him make it. I expertly dodge.

"Almost!" I brag, tossing one right back, getting him square in that wonderful big forehead of his and acting completely oblivious to it.

And then he hands me the old man's memories card as he whirls me under his arm, with much the same elegance and grace he had done when he was younger. "You used to say, 'almost' isn't good enough."

I was referring to aiming his gun; he wasn't terrible at shooting, but let's just say, I polished up his skills. And here he is, haunting me with those words some thirty-odd years later -- in the context of snowball fights.

He laughs that hearty laugh as he spins me around again, out into the grand entrance of Luna Park's electric circus.

Only the 'circus' has packed up the tent for the remainder of the week.

Gone are the bustling crowds that would pour through this spot where Dutch twirled me. Many would be rushing towards ticket booths for their rides -- perhaps the Parachute Jump, the Dragon Gorge -- while others visiting the concession kiosks to fuel up for the day; popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy. Those families who took in the stunning marvel that is the Electric Tower watched trained leopards perform and rode the latest state-of-the-art rides have settled in their homes for the holidays, maybe listening to holiday tunes on the radio.

There's still a faint smell of buttered popcorn in the air from yesterday's Christmas Eve, the last day the park was open for the year. And indeed, some was left behind in a popcorn cart. It was parked by a souvenir shop which sold pennants featuring the trademark grinning 'Tilly' face stamped on with 'Luna Park.'

I see a sparkle in Dutch's eye; I know what he's thinking. First popcorn, then a pennant.

I quirk an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sure that popcorn's stale now -- "

Dutch flashed me a cheeky grin, acting as if I hadn’t seen him snatch a pennant and shove it into some hidden pocket of his coat, which I’m convinced leads to an endless void. It's probably where he stashes all those plans.

"It'll only get more stale without someone eatin' it."

Before I could retort, he whipped out his trusted lock pick from an inside pocket of his black bear fur coat and flashed it to me with a grin. He knew damn well he could have got through the gates with it, but where was the fun in that?

"We could get popcorn theft to our list of crimes, 'sea!" He made a showing of picking the lock of the popcorn cart.

Yes, I'm excited about the prospect of that report getting around; Hosea Matthews and Dutch van der Linde are now wanted for the theft of stale popcorn and a Tilly pennant on Coney Island's Luna Park on Christmas. Rival gangs near and far would flee in terror.

Still, I take my bag from him -- costing me a nickel -- and let him lead the way.

I snort, leaning in as I munch on a few pieces, taking in the eclectic settings. I've secretly made a mental note to come back in season, a surprise for our wedding anniversary.

"I think the Pinkertons would be stretched to their resources with that one."

Dutch chuckles; more easily amused these days, even by his own little comments and jokes, and I cherish it.

"What would you say if I took you on a ride?" Dutch asks smoothly, pulling me close in his arm, making it impossible to resist. I could have retorted with a quip about him already taking me for a ride, but I chose to let him run the show. He's a little frailer these days on account of the rigours of old age, but, he still holds me close and his hold is snug, almost shoving me into his coat. I feel so warm, almost not needing my own.

An inner voice said no, this was luna-cy; what would he know about operating one of these things? He decided that if nobody was around to operate, he'd play the part himself.

Foolish, very foolish.

But I said, yes.

I've said 'yes' to a lot of risky things in my life; starting a gang, willingly getting myself into all sorts of schemes, situations and scenarios to varying degrees of success -- a few that resulted in me getting caught and put behind bars -- but getting married to Dutch van der Linde was the biggest risk I have ever taken. In our stories, I may come upon as being completely exasperated, and while there may be some truth behind that, I do not regret saying 'yes' to that man.

Damn it, I love Dutch.

A reminder of how much I love him was when he offered me some of his popcorn in his fingers. I have plenty of my own, but . . . I softly nibble it out of his fingers, gently brushing them with a kiss. The wondrous surroundings we're in almost seem to have melted away.

"You remember our first Christmas when I did that . . . ?" Dutch asked in a tone softer than his usual.

I smile, leaning my head against his shoulder as he leads me down past a kiosk that hawks linen textured coloured postcards during the park's opening hour, just behind the gates. He swiped one behind the desk and into his coat it went. Another crime on the Pinkerton watch.

"I do . . . " I smile; that was nearly forty years ago. We had scammed a gentleman into taking a horse with hung papers (falsified pedigree) and well, he wasn't too pleased about it. We chose to lay low versus taking on the gang he ran with, a rough bunch that once dominated Grizzlies East.

"I remember it being incredibly windy and cold and watching the snow blow around as we popped the popcorn over the fire. Nice little homestead out by Window Rock. You were still a little bit shy, but so charming. You heard my stomach rumbling and thought I needed a snack break. So you took some popcorn out of the bowl and offered it to me by hand."

Dutch gently twirled me again, past a ticket booth, and another kiosk that sold cotton candy. The sweet smell still lingered there, though not a trace was left, to our disappointment.

"You ended up having most of the bowl. I settled for dried venison and cranberries."

Mercifully he got a turkey later on in the day when the snow cleared.

I shake my head, letting out a feigned dramatic sigh. "Are we going to bring that up again?"

"Either that or the ugly gloves I made you." The crinkles around his eyes are more evident now as he smiles, particularly when he feels cheeky, and I love them all the more.

"Don't remind me!" I tease.

Oh, they were ugly gloves, made of cowhide poached from Emerald Ranch, but oh, they were loved. And despite the crudeness of their design, they lasted damn near nine years.

"Were they really that much uglier than that satchel you made me?" He laughed, leading me past a series of shuttered kiosks; they held little interest to him as there was nothing visible for him to grab.

"You told me it was from bobcat, but I ain't never seen a bobcat grey with black stripes!"

It was one of my earlier attempts to con Dutch. No need to judge; I learned from that experience.

He led me down further into the park, past more shuttered vendors and snow-dusted children's rides, before we came up to an elegant carousel, the Ocean Wave. It was a beauty brought in for the 1907 season and was due for replacement. The horses were still elegant in design but paint was well worn on their saddles and the horse hair tails were sparser now, evidenced by much use. But like us, there was still some life left in the old gal.

"I think a carousel would be more of your style?" Dutch suggested, gently easing me in front of him for me to take a better look. I caught him earlier eyeballing the tall wooden structures of roller coasters further into the park. I tugged at his sleeve in a polite 'no.' He had pretended to not have noticed, in his eagerness to take me on a tour of the grounds.

My eyes bright up even more than they already were. Yes, I love carousels; I always have, ever since I was a boy (and I was one at one point). This man knows me a bit!

"Might as well take a spin on her before she goes for firewood," I muse with a twinge of sadness, taking in the intricate craftwork, and step back as he hits the switch of the power. My adoration of them was infectious; it was yet another opportunity for Dutch to get sappy with me.

"I suppose I could trust you with a carousel." I chuckle, choosing a grey horse that looks much like my dear old Silver Dollar, and Dutch hops on, right behind me, a bit of a surprise given I thought he was going to choose the white horse in front.

But I can't complain.

Dutch secured me with a gentle embrace as the horse, in a frozen mid-gallop, moved up and down in a gentle rhythm with the music. The natural light was dimming now, and a big "pop" of the light would surely draw attention from any security guard if there were any in the area. Admittedly, it added a little excitement.

"Just in case you fall off," Dutch teased, leaning that wonderful cleft chin on my shoulder. "Saving you the embarrassment of going out on a stolen away ride on a carousel."

I scoff. "Getting me back from earlier?"

"Maybe." I didn't even need to turn around to see that he had that grin on his face again.

I had to grin as he kissed me on the cheek. Now I know the real reason for him joining me on the ride; just to nuzzle as many kisses on me as he could until the end of the ride. He was being terribly distracting, but I couldn't get mad; he was being awfully sweet.

"You really haven't forgotten much, have you?" I asked in a gentle tone, reaching a hand around to touch his; he had been forgetting the odd thing, such as locking the doors, and then worrying if he hadn't locked them, sometimes waking up from a deep sleep to do so, but he's held onto nostalgia like a steel trap.

Dutch answered me with a distinct hint of vulnerability, that had been absent since his arrival in the park. "You don't let me forget."

I unexpectedly feel a catch to my throat as he leans in to give another soft kiss on the cheek.

"You're right, I don't."

I give that hand, slightly more bonier than it once was, a gentle squeeze.

"Do you remember that state fair we went to?" I could hear the smile in his voice. "Went on the night it officially started. I wanted to kiss you on the carousel."

Dutch's nostalgia pool is still deep.

And that was what brought us to New York; Dutch had wanted to keep those memories alive by reliving them again. While the gang remained outside the city limits, he stole me away for Christmas, not giving me a hint as to where we were going.

I carefully turn around in his arms, careful not to slip and give a reason for Dutch to play hero by readying to catch me again, and slowly, tenderly, we kiss. This time, I'm holding him, as if subtly telling him to not worry about his memories; I'll always have a hold onto them for him.

At that moment, the rest of the world seemed to melt away, and it was only us. In our minds, the infirmities of old age had melted away and were replaced with our youth again; only I pictured Dutch wearing his mustache. Now your preference may differ (facial hair is a subjective matter) but when I look back, I think he looked a bit silly without it.

Our kiss broke when the music slowed to a stop. We hadn't even noticed the sky had faded from its pinkish-blueish hue of a winter's sky to near black. We were lost within each other, something that has been happening with comforting frequency as of late.

"Even better than that time, 'sea."

I've always loved how he had shortened my name, short already. It's endearing.

"I think we could check out the Electric Tower and . . . " His eyes light up, and his features are handsomely reflected by the carousel lights that had yet to shut off.

"I think I have a surprise."

He had been studying some sort of map for weeks leading up to the move to New York; now I know what he was planning.

Off we went again, but not before Dutch hit the switch on a pole for electric power, and it was then that the park truly became electrifying; one by one, brilliant displays of lights switched on, and some rides even came to life.

One of those rides was the famed Dragon Gorge.

Against my better judgement, I decide to let Dutch drag me along onto it. To those not familiar, think of an ornately decorated indoor rollercoaster, featuring mock scenes of varying dioramic scenes of our nation, from the Arctic and Rocky Mountains to historical events, such as the Battle of Port Arthur, the explosion of the U S.S Maine which got us into the Spanish-American War. Guarding us on our journey were a set of magnificent 45-foot-tall plaster dragons poised outside, with a fantastical wing span. Like the horses we rose on, they were intricately designed, with green, glowing eyes.

The ride -- an idea borne out of sheer spontaneity out of Dutch -- was more fun than I had anticipated it to be, and when it came to its stop, off we went to that majestic Electric Tower.

This was a structure made for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, and a sign boasts of having no less than 44, 000 lightbulbs, eight watts apparently. This amazing display of modern design was featured in Dutch's stolen postcard. And speaking of the devil, Dutch had wanted to climb up it for a better view -- and drag me along. For amazing as it must be, I stood my ground firm; we had enough climbing for one day, let's not further risk the wrath of the trespassing gods, I didn't think I could catch Dutch if he lost his footing and fell.

And so off to the next destination, our surprise destination; something, to my delight, as something I was a bit of an old master in.

Ice skating.

The venue is converted for swimming in the summer, but for now, it was a skating rink for two.

A few stolen pairs of rental skates later, and we were out on the ice. My beloved husband, bless him, has long lacked coordination in this department. For several years I have patiently tried to help him skate somewhat more gracefully than a skittish moose on a frozen lake. After six years, we finally concluded that we can't all be good at everything, even Dutch.

But oh, how delighted he was to find out there was a skating rink in the park, for me!

"That's it, Dutch, I think . . .I think we're finally getting it!" I spoke proudly when his long legs had at once stopped acting like they were made of rubber; he was slightly cheating, as he carefully held onto me, but he was trying, for me.

"It only took eight years," Dutch scoffed.

I gently corrected. "Fifteen."

Another snort from my husband. Stubborn as always!

"Nonsense."

I stood my ground.

Again.

"Fifteen years."

As Dutch crossed his arms like a petulant child, he realized he wasn't holding onto me. Slowly but surely, he came to the realization that, by George, he's finally got it.

I gently took the lead when I felt we were steady and ready, and slowly, we kissed, under this night for us.

[gffa]

I read the first volume of Nightwing 2011 and it violently flung me back in time to when the Nu52 stuff was first coming out and how mad I was about all of it, that I'm not wrong that I was bored by all this new stuff--I read that entire volume and only the Alfred cameo had me even consider making a post about it, despite that it was prime content, Dick inheriting the Circus! William Cobb mention! Court of Owls! Kyle Higgins writing it! and yet I had nothing to say about any of it--but the bigger lesson I took away was: I remember that mindset of constantly being mad at comics and it's exhausting just thinking about it. "Nobody hates comics like comics fans" was funny to me back in the day, but now I'm too tired to want to go down that road again, I've done my time in the salt mines, I'm parking my butt out in the sunshine now. There's a lot of things I'd love to see done better about current day comics, but there's a lot that's genuinely just fun, I enjoyed Gotham War, I enjoyed the hell out of Beast World, it was so silly and fun, I'm enjoying Tom Taylor's Nightwing series, I'm enjoying viewing Babs as Batgirl through my own lens of what invisible disabilities are like to go through and how much you have to claw back even when it's not "obvious" that you're not fully able-bodied, all things that sure could be better, but I have personally chosen to stay in the sun and find the joy. Reading Nightwing 2011 I was catapulted back into that mindset of Being Mad At Comics and it was just the opposite of fun, I don't want to spend my time being mad about the costume color's change from blue to red, I want to read a comic and find a moment of joy and come yell at the internet about it. So, like. If you see me be doggedly positive and think my taste is shit, fair enough, but also just know that I have decided I am letting go of my anger at the funnybooks as much as I can because, at the end of the day, they're comic books and I have a choice: Be mad or have fun. I'm choosing fun because I, on a personal level, need that. (And also I think there's a lot to have fun with!) (This post also brought to you by Star Wars. Oh my goooood there's so much I could complain about in Star Wars, some of it is So Bad, but like. Where is that going to get me, on a grand scale? Nowhere fun! This is my hobby, I'm skimming over the bad and finding the stuff that I think is cute or funny, because I nearly left the SW fandom a bunch of times because constant negativity was absolutely killing any energy I had to be here.)

[sealedintime]

Woodward Avenue Grand Circus Park, Detroit, 1910

[shwoomgloom]

One Piece arcs but I poorly summarize them🎉

Note: I’ve only watched up to Fishman Island. Arcs are also split up based on the website One Pace dividing of them (that is how I watch the show). This post is a joke & also might delete later.

❗️Spoilers ❗️

The East Blue 🌊

Romance Dawn— A rubber kid sets out to be King of Pirates, and frees a swordsman who was crucified for our sins.

Orange Town— Luffy ruins the circus with his group of friends.

Syrup Village— The boy who cried wolf but the wolf is a pirate pretending to be a butler and the boy is Pinocchio.

Gaimon— Filler, Pokemon island.

Baratie— Gordan Ramsey joins the Straw Hats. Zoro fights Dracula. (Sanji season 🗣️🔥🗣️🔥🗣️🔥)

Arlong Park— Luffy and his friends beat up fish and Nami needs therapy (my poor girl).

The Adventures of Buggy’s Crew— The clown from the circus arc is back. He does silly things!

Lougetown— Luffy almost dies, this will become a recurring thing. The hottest marine is introduced.

Reverse Mountain— Luffy beats up a whale.

Welcome to the Grand Line🗺️

Whisky Peak— The locals try to kill the Straw Hats.

The Trials of Koby-Meppo— The two worst marines become the two best marines.

Little Garden— Dinosaurs are real. A bromance is interrupted by the local evil organization.

Drum Island— Nami is dying this time. Tony Tony Chopper joins the Straw Hats.

Arabasta (I’ve been calling this Alabasta)— The Straw Hats stop the local evil organization from destroying a country. Luffy once again almost dies. (Nico-Robin and Ace show up 🗣️🔥🗣️🔥🗣️🔥)

Jaya— The sea monkeys and some dude tell the Straw Hats about a sky island.

Skypiea— Luffy fights Eminem.

Long Ring Long Land— 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 22 seconds of the worst character in One Piece plays games with the Straw Hats.

Water 7 and Enies Lobby— The haters (the World Government) hates to see a girl boss winning (Nico-Robin). Luffy blows up a government island. Franky flashes a whole city.

Thriller Bark— A wanna be vampire, two incels, and an alt girl get beat up by the Straw Hats. Nothing happened.

Sabaody Island— Holy shit, the world government sucks. “Today’s topic: Slavery.” Luffy looses all his friends.

Amazon Lily— Women.

Impel Down— Roblox prison breakout. Luffy once again, almost dies and destroys a government building for the second time.

Marineford- Ace fucking dies (What the hell). Luffy destroys a third government building.

Post-War— Ace’s sad backstory. Meet Luffy’s other brother, oh wait never mind they blow him up. Luffy still doesn’t have his friends.

Return to Sabaody— Luffy finally gets to see his friends again. Sabaody still sucks.

Fishman Island— Racism is bad. Don’t do drugs.

⭐️My thoughts on the remaining arcs based off the random clips I’ve seen ⭐️

Punk Hazard— I’ve seen literally nothing about this one.

Dressrosa— I keep reading it as “Desperados” so all can think about is cowboys.

Zou— The Straw Hats go to FurCon.

Whole Cake Island— Sanji gets married or something???

Reverie— Again, I haven’t seen anything about this one.

Wano— YAMATO SHOWS UP IN THIS SEASON 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

Egghead— Everyone gets silly outfits. There’s a bunch of angel children for some reason. The haters who don’t like Robin are back.

[detroitlib]

David Whitney building viewed at night from a height across the street, with views along Woodward and Grand Circus Park. Bunting in lower-story windows; crowd near entrance. Street blocked off, with people around marked section. Signs include: David Whitney building; English Woolen Co., tailors; T Garden; King Blair, clothes; Annis Furs; Tuttle & Clark, leather goods; Washington Arcade Bldg.; Browning & Co.; Cadillac Burlesque; Gateley's Clothing; Cass Theatre; Weil & Co., furniture; Cadillac motor cars. Written on photograph front: "Photo by J.W. Hughes, Detroit."

Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

[imbluedabadeedabadye]

Jack Kelly is light blue.

The color of bluebirds and Manhattan and the sky out in Santa Fe. The color of freedom and dreamers and dreams pushed down for a day instead spent at work. The blue of artists and bluebells and the spring. But he's also the blue which, although pretty on the outside, is crying out for help underneath it all. Underneath all the freedom is longing, longing to leave and never stay in one place for too long before jumping up and moving again. Underneath the beautiful sky of his personality is a raging storm, one screaming that he's not meant to be here, shouldn't be here, at the moments his newsies treat him kindest. He's the blue sky, but also the blue of lost things.

Crutchie Morris is bright yellow.

The yellow of the ever burning sun, of Apollo's chariot brightening the sky as long as it possibly can. The color of sunflowers and dandelions and golden retrievers, the color of lightning and trophies and victory and dawn. But with the dandelions comes wishes blown away and lost, with the sunshine brightening up the sky comes the yellow of caution tape and anxiety. The yellow of please be careful with me, I'm hurting right now and can't bring you up the way I used to. The yellow of I'm hurting but still trying my best, just please go easy on me- I can't handle everything by myself and hide it all behind a smile anymore. Sometimes his electricity zaps people, and sometimes Crutchie lets people too close to the sun and so they melt and plunge into the sea below.

Racetrack Higgins is neon green.

The green of Monster Energy cans and fresh cut grass, of the plants in Central Park and the lizards and frogs hanging around the ponds he sometimes visits to get his mind off things. The color of science and experiments, of limes and unripened lemons. The color of bounciness and unrest, the color at first screaming "I'm okay" on the outside but once you delve into it you notice it's forcing itself to be okay too hard, the color too bright and artificial to be real. The perfect mix of sky blue and bright yellow, the color the sun and the sky make when you zone out too long and your vision starts to blur. With the neon green comes the color of chameleons, the ability to shift your personality to what the others around you need you to be. Because who is Race if he's not pretending to be the ever-joking, never unhappy prankster?

David Jacobs is the color the sky makes on a rainy day.

The blue of the raging storm of his mind, the thunderclouds hiding behind his polite smile and manners. The blue of stormy seas, of rage and unhappiness and unfairness. The blue of math class and the color the trapped bird sees of the sky when he's locked behind a cage. He's the color of being lost at sea, of the wild rapids down in the Grand Canyon he visited one year with his family when they could still afford to go anywhere. He's the color of raging unhappiness and overthinking every move, but he's also the color of waves gently lapping against boats, of the water down in the harbor he so often visits in Brooklyn when the Manhattan guys get too overwhelming. He's the color of peace and tranquility, but he's also quick to storms of rage and despair.

Spot Conlon is blood red.

The color of Brooklyn and the crabs that snap and pinch if you get too close. The red he so often sees clouding his vision, the blinding red rage of the anger issues he can't control no matter how hard he tries. The red of the blood he often comes home to seeing his newsies covered in, the red of cuts and scrapes and bloody broken noses. He's the red of toughness and of control, the regal red of kings and queens long since past. The red of the circus, of unpredictability and flightiness, of hearts too broken that even diamonds can't ever fix them. He's the red of dusk, of lava and the burning infernos Jack always uses to sell headlines. He's the red of stop signs, of urgently telling people to back down and back away before they get hurt by him. Of hidden pasts and secrets and of urging people to go away before he inevitably snaps and hurts just like the crabs his boys pick through at the docks. But he's also the red of roses, the red of love if you stay long enough to cut past his thorns.

Katherine Pulitzer is bright purple.

The purple close to being magenta but not quite pink enough, of regality and kings and queens and riches. The purple that's just pink enough to be counted as a "woman's color", but also has so much blue to where she never fits in with the women around her. The bright purple of urgency and dawn, of plums and grapes. The purple of the royal she was born to be, the purple of the stronghold her father holds over all of the city. She's the purple of grape soda and pansies, the purple torn between the love of men and women, of a woman torn between the world her father could've given her or the world she could make for herself. But she's just a woman struggling to find her way in a man's ever-judging world, and so she's stuck hoping the dawn of the new decade will be what it takes for her to finally find her place in life.

[jerichogallery]

Grand Circus Park: The March

[melanieph321]

Enea Bastianini x Reader - First Date Part 2/3

+18

Part 1

Summary - Enea takes Reader, a tourist, on a first date at a carnival. And later tells her that he is a MotoGP rider.

Enjoy!

Arriving before a big grass field in the middle of the night, made you wonder where Enea had taken you.

"Over here." He whispered and led you towards a hurdle of trucks that stood parked alongside each other.

"Erm, Enea.... what exactly did you say that you do for a living?"

"Just hold on," He chuckled. "I'll show you."

He grabbed your hand and continued to lead you between a row of trucks. Although dark, you could see the rising of a tent somewhere in the distance. If you didn't know better, Enea might be working in the circus. He certainly had the voluminous hair of a clown. If this was the case, it was totally a red flag.

"We're here." Enea paused before a billboard of some sort.

"Why are you whispering?" You were obviously trespassing on private property. There were a few signs back there that stated that one needed a paddock pass to be allowed in the area. However, Enea just walked past those signs, ignoring them completely.

"I wouldn't want to wake up the others." He said.

"Wake up who?"

"My teammate and our crew."

Fuck. He really was from the circus.

"Now, are you ready?"

You were ready alright. Ready to call your parents to come and pick you up from this awful date.

You watch Enea press the buttons on the side of the wall that you stood before. One by one a lamp lit up and shed a light on the giant poster that covered the magnitude of the wall. Your mouth fell open as a giant murual of Enea revealed itself. He was dressed in all leather, posing beside a red motorcycle with the number 23 on it.

"Ducati....Racing." You read of the poster. "You race motorcycles?"

Enea grinned. "Have you ever heard of MotoGP?"

You had. But only because your brothers couldn't stop going on about it ahead of your trip to Italy. They were trying to convince your parents to buy tickets to some Grand Prix that was happening nearby the town you were sight-seeing tomorrow. Little did you know that you had just been taken to that exact town, or near it at least.

"Enea, you never told me that you were...."

"Oh shit, paddock security!"

He pulled you behind a truck as a scooter was heard approching in the distance.

"Come on. They're over here!" A voice said.

"Fuck." Enea sighed. Security had spotted you, or perhaps the lit up poster had given you away.

"What should we do?" You said, quite unsure om how much trouble you would be in if security caught you. Wasn't this Enea's workplace? Wouldn't he be allowed to walk around the paddock freely, or was that only during daytime?

"Do you trust me?"

"Huh?" You turned to find Enea staring at you. He had a dent between his brows, as if he really needed you to answer his question.

"I trust you." You nodded.

"Good. Follow me."

Enea's fingers intertwined with yours as he once again led you through a town of trucks. However, this time he led you around the back of them, avoiding security and at the sametime taking you deeper into the paddock and further away from his motorcycle. The same motorcycle that was suppose to give you a ride home.

"We can wait here until they leave."

"Where?"

You had come to a stop in front of one of the trucks. This one had a door attached to it. Enea inserted a key that opened the door, reveling the large room that hid inside of it.

"Do you live here?" You step through the door, regarding the room. It was like a caravan of some sort, with a bed in the corner and other homely decorations, like a TV and small kitchen.

"Yes, it's my motorhome." Enea explained. "Sometimes I stay here during a race weekend. But I mostly stay at hotels along with the rest of my team."

"And do you bring a lot of girls here to stay with you?"

"What, no?" He frowned.

"I'm just saying, you seemed really eager to bring me here."

"Yes, to show you what I do for a living. You told me that you had no idea."

"I didn't." Would it have changed things if you did? You already found Enea attractive upon meeting him, but if you had known who he was beforehand, would you still gone on a date with him?

"Y/N." Enea approched you, but left an arms length between you. "If you want me to take you back to Rimini, I will. I just have to do it when no one sees, otherwise there'll be consequences that I can't afford to deal with right now."

"Consequences? Like what?"

"Well, if the media caught us there might be some rumors about me sneaking a girl into my motorhome in the middle of the night."

"As if you haven't done that before." You snorted.

"I haven't, I swear. "

"Right."

"Y/N, trust me. You're the first girl I've ever brought with me to a paddock, other than my mother of course. But she's.....well she's my mother."

Your laugh caught you off guard. However, Enea seemed genuinely distressed that the two of you would get caught. Perhaps he wasn't lying.

"I have to be back in Rimini before breakfast. My parents can't know that I was gone all night."

Enea nodded. "I'm not racing until Friday, I'll take you back to Rimini first thing in the morning. "

"Okay."

"Great." Enea looked around his motorhome, searching for something. "Here, have this."

"A t-shirt?" You held it out before you. It was black and pink with the words Bestia written on it. "Wait, are you giving me your merchandise?"

"Yes, to sleep in."

"Oh."

"But if you prefer to sleep in your dress..."

"No, it's.....fine." You hugged the shirt in your arms. "Do you have somewhere I can change?"

"Change?" It took him a minute to comprehend. His eyes widened when he did. "Shit, of course." He pointed somewhere down the hall. "There's a bathroom to your right.

"Thanks."

You locked yourself in the small bathroom and paused in front of the mirror. What in the world was happening? Was this really your life? At first you thought you were going out with a man-child who loved riding ferris wheels. Turns out that he was some local hot shot motorcycle rider, with the hair of a clown, but no affiliations to the circus. Or perhaps he had? You could imagine that racing motorcycles meant a life on the road, much like people in the circus. After all, Enea did mention that he took his time to visit is family in Rimini, which you assumed only happened when he was racing here. Nevertheless, you didn't know that much about the sport or Enea, to make an accurate guess. Perhaps getting to know him was something you should try to do now that you knew who he really was.

"How do I look?"

Enea stood by the kitchen sink when you stepped out of the motorhome bathroom. He stood with his phone in hand, checking his screen. However, his head lifted as you reenterd the room, wearing his Bestia t-shirt.

"It's a bit big, but I guess it works as a pyjamas."

Enea regarded you curiously, his gaze traveling up and down, stopping somewhere below your chin. "It's yours if you like to keep it."

You looked to the shirt and then back at him. "What if I'm not a fan?"

"Of me?"

You shook your head, which made him grin.

"Perhaps I can make you my fan?"

"Oh yeah, and how exactly would you do that?"

Enea stepped forward, daring to close the gap between you this time. His hands then fell on each side of your waist, railing you in until your foreheads knocked together.

"I'm sorry that this date didn't go as planned?" He said, his dark curls a veil between your eyes.

"Who said that?" You smiled.

"Well, you didn't look to have that much fun at the carnival."

"I'm having fun now."

He chuckled. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Do you know what would be even more fun?"

"What?"

"If you fucked me on that bed right there."

"What bed? That bed?" Enea was quick to shift his head. He looked back at you with a newfound thrill in his eyes.

"Jupp, that bed right--"

You let out a shriek as you were tossed over Enea's shoulder. He carried you across the motorhome, plotting you down on his bed.

"Enea." You giggled.

"Are you sure about this. You have to be sure?" He said, voice low but not demanding. The way he was looking at you though, your body and your legs, made your answer easier than it should have been.

"I'm sure. Fuck me."

Part 1

[goatderman]

wild life entertainment parks au update due to spoilers

Gem has a tarot/clairvoyance tent in the back of the go-kart park

they lost their whole herd of cows due to bandits (except joels prized cow Nebbie. they will rebuild)

gem gets contacted to help investigate the suspicious deaths of spanners bridge park employees.

tango stole a modded kart and keeps attempting to run people over. the whole town comes together to pop the tires/stop him

the 4gs circus has dogs, cats, chickens and a camel for the animal shows and pearl takes care of the animals. cleo is the cat wrangler however.

gems cows are gone so she stole pearls camel. pearl has yet to notice/ thinks gem is boarding him (Murdoch Camel is his name btw)

pearl tries gettting fired from a cannon as a grand finale and she doesnt die but it was a very bad idea.

theses are going to be some major plotpoints but idk its definitely going to be part of it. i have the first part written out

[elisysd]

60. But I promise you this I'll always look out for you

Masterlist - Previously - Epilogue

Chapter soundtrack: Sparks - Coldplay

Melbourne. The last race of the season. The last dance. The last chance. The last opportunity to try something crazy. In her hotel room, shared with Louis who had traveled with his mom for the occasion, Julia was anxiously pacing back and forth. She had voluntarily disappeared from Ethan’s life after Vegas, barely answering his texts to tell him she was busy. It was true, she had been. Busy working on Somnis, busy spending time with Louis and her mom, busy stressing out about what she was going to do. For someone who loved being in control, the last part of her plan was a jump into the unknown without any parachute and in the dark. That’s how it felt for her and when she had exposed it to her therapist, his only response had been to laugh. If giving Ethan the scrapbook had been hard as she was basically offering him all that she was without asking for anything in return, the next step was even wilder for her and was ticking every single box of what she hated in life. She hadn’t said a word to anyone about what she had planned, not wanting for the words to be involuntarily spread. She was feeling like those giant and cheesy romantic heroes, about to pour their heart out to the person they loved in a grand gesture. She had hers. She wasn’t totally sure she had the guts to do it.

The streets of Melbourne were crowded on their way to the Albert Park and she didn’t count the number of times her dad and mom were stopped for pictures by fans as they were going to the paddock. She linked her arm to Louis’ and when she didn’t feel him stiffened, she stopped.

“Since when are crowds not wanting to make you run away?” she asked.

“Ethan is brave when he is racing so I want to show him that I’m brave too.” he shrugged, pulling his sister with him as he started to walk faster.

“Eager to see Ethan?”

When she saw Louis blushing, she instantly knew Ethan was not a priority on his list, which made her even more curious. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw Louis walking straight to the Ferrari’s hospitality to greet Martin. His third place in championship would be definitely won today, after the race unless Elijah was winning which Julia strongly doubted. The polish driver wasn’t alone, an elegant woman with the exact same black hair and green eyes was standing next to him, both of her hands on the cheeks of her son and a soft smile on her lips as Martin was talking. His dad was standing a little further away, looking at the scene with cold eyes, a hand put firmly on a young teenage girl who Julia recognised immediately to have seen countless pictures of her in the past. Martin stopped talking when he noticed Louis and gave him a little handshake before looking at Julia and signaling her to come.

“Mom, this is Julia and her brother Louis. They are the children of my team principal.” he introduced them.

“Nice to meet you. Martin doesn’t talk much about his racing life. But if I’m being honest, I prefer it that way, the less I know the less I worry.” said his mom. “I’m Zofia and right there is my husband and Martin’s dad, Aleksander. And our daughter, Georgia.”

Julia saw Martin tensing and Zofia slightly flinching when the man stopped next to them, as Georgia circles her brother’s waist to hug him. A strong aura of dominance and power was radiating from Aleksander and Julia couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. He didn’t say a word, only looked around before finally talking.

“I can’t wait for this circus to be over. I have an important meeting to take care of tomorrow. As soon as we’re done here, we are leaving.”

“You’re not staying for celebrations? Your son is third, it’s amazing for a rookie season in a top team.” sad Julia.

“I don’t see why you should celebrate. He is third. Not first. I didn’t finance his career for him to finish third. I didn’t raise a loser.”

“Aleksander… it’s still an achievement and…” Zofia started but quickly stopped when she felt her husband's hard gaze on her.

“I’m proud of you.” whispered Georgia as Martin pulled her more against him.

“That’s what matters the most to me.”

“Will you be here for Christmas?” asked the young girl.

“Martin has business to do and attend. I don’t think he’ll be able to join us, right son?” answered Aleksander.

“Yeah… but I promise I’ll find time for you. One way or another.”

“You always say that…”

Julia intercepted Martin’s sad look as he clenched his jaw. She knew he had a few family issues but he had always been very secretive about them. The main problem was apparently his dad but she didn’t dare to say anything. It wasn’t her place. Fortunately, Louis came forward completely unaware of the coldness of the situation and looked at Georgia.

“I’m not a big fan of racing but I have a ton of books in my bag. If you want, I can give you one.”

The girl looked at him and smiled shyly.

“I have a book with me, too. But thank you.”

Louis was about to say something when Aleksander asked his daughter and his wife to come with him to find their seats. They didn’t bother to even say good luck to their son who still looked hurt. Still, Georgia turned her head one last time to her brother, mouthing something that Julai didn’t catch but made Martin smile, at least a little bit.

“I’m sorry you had to meet them.”

“Your dad is quite something.” she said.

“A piece of shit. That’s what he is. But I won't let him ruin my day. How are you?”

“I’ve never felt so anxious in my entire life, to be honest.”

“Why?”

She didn’t know if she should talk about Ethan with him. It was weird and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings more than she already had. But one look at him, confirmed that he knew.

“You’re watching the Grand Prix with Maserati?”

“No.. I’m staying here.”

“Ethan must be happy.”

“I haven’t seen him since Vegas… I’m planning something for him. That’s why I’m a little over the edge.” she forced a smile.

“Whatever you have planned, he is a lucky guy and I’m convinced he will love it. I would have loved to chat with you more but I have to go. Preparation and all.” he apologized, heading out of the hospitality.

Julia wasn’t the only stressed out one. Ethan was fidgeting in his driver room, playing with the red bracelet around his wrist. He knew he had to take it off, he couldn’t race with it but Julia had almost been in full radio silence with him and he didn’t know why exactly. She had planned something that he was sure of. But not knowing what would happen and when was even more stressful than having to intend a press conference, something he hated more than anything.

To try to clear his mind, he decided to go out, walk around the paddock. He still had time before the start of the race. A race he was starting twelve which wasn’t very enthusiastic for him. But he had faith in his capacities to know he could aim for the top five. He had too if he wanted to end the championship in fifth place, right before Elijah.

Walking around he was quickly stopped by Christian who was on his way to the Lamborghini’s garage, certainly to check a last minute detail.

“Ethan? The man I was searching for. How are you doing, kiddo?”

Ethan arched an eyebrow.

“Good. Focused. How are you? How does it feel to know it’s Kyle’s last race under your colors?”

“Weird. I saw him grow up and become the man and the driver he is now. I’ll miss him. The team will miss him. But it’s part of life. Do you have a minute? There is something I want to talk about with you but I can”t do it here.”

Ethan didn’t think much of it and nodded before following Christian. He probably wanted to plan a farewell surprise party for Kyle and wanted Ethan’s help. Christian led him to his office before inviting him to sit on a chair.

“So… Now that Kyle’s not part of the team, do you already know who will take his place?”

“I have an idea, yes.”

“Is that Derrick? Your third driver? I mean, he was very good at the last free practice he drove and I’m sure he would make a great teammate to Ludwig. Because now, he is going to be your number one driver, I presume.”

“Actually… Derrick is not the one on my list.”

“Really?” Ethan asked with surprise.

“Well… Listen. When Kyle came to me to tell me about why he didn’t want to renew his contract, he also asked me something. He wants you to take his place, Ethan.”

He was speechless. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to speak but no words seemed to come out.

“He wants me to take his place?” he repeated.

“Yes. But before, I need to make sure that you have what it takes. You’re starting P12, right?”

Ethan nodded.

“Well, if you manage to make it to the podium, the seat is yours.” Christian simply said.

“That’s a big challenge.”

“ I know. But I’m sure you’ll find a way. Lamborghini is your dream. You fight for your dreams.”

Coming out of the office, he met Kyle who was leaning against the wall, earphones on and eyes closed, fully focusing. As if feeling his best friend he turned his head towards Ethan and smiled before removing his earplugs.

“Christian told you, I guess.”

“You’re stupid. You’re forcing his hands.” Ethan complained for the sake of it more than anything else.

“I don’t. You still have to show him that you want it and you deserve it.”

“I’m going to do the race of my life, brother.”

“See you on the podium, then.” Kyle winked before joining his physiotherapist.

And Ethan didn’t know if it was because he wanted to honor Kyle on his last race for Lamborghini, or because he had his fate right between his hands, quite literally, but he couldn’t wait to jump in his car. His eyes caught one of the giant screens where interviews were broadcasted and it took him a few seconds to recognise Julia. She was smiling, wearing one of his shirts and he wondered for a moment what the heck was she being interviewed and even more why was she smiling so much and felt so confident. He ran to his hospitality as fast as he could but when he finally was able to hear something it was over. He swore, attracting the attention of his mechanics before feeling someone behind him.

“I recorded it. I think you’re going to find what she says very interesting.” Chloe winked, leaving her with her phone.

He thanked her and went in a corner, away from everyone to isolate himself. When he was sure he wouldn’t get bothered he pressed play and pushed the volume to the maximum, to make sure he would hear everything.

“And we are here with Julia Leclerc. So, as you probably know, today we are wandering the paddock alleyways to ask people who their driver of the year is. The one that made their heart beat faster after each overtakes. We had your dad a few minutes ago who told us that to him it was Romy, but who is it for you?”

“I have to say that Romy would have also been my first choice for the incredible season she had and her wins. I’m happy that she keeps on showing people that a woman can do it as well as men. I know that so many young girls are watching her thriving and aspire to be like her. Same goes for Chloe who arrived in the middle of the season and is doing amazing. I’m sure she will keep on improving and we have seen nothing yet. Boys, you better watch out. But if I had to choose one driver, it would be Ethan. It would always be him. It’s not a revelation, I think a lot of people here know about our relationships, about the ups and downs, but not once have I ever believed he wasn’t an exceptional driver. He deserves everything that comes to him and more. And I know the best is yet to come. If I can say one thing, just one…” she took the microphone and looked straight at the camera. “ Ethan, I love you, I’ve always loved you. Loved to hate you and loved to love you. If you feel like it, meet me in two days where it all started.”

He stopped the recording and it was with a newly found passion that he headed to his car, after giving Chloe her phone back.

“So… Where it all started, what does it mean?”

“She means Singapore. I’m sure of it.” he smiled, proud of him.

Putting his visor down, he saw everything he had been fighting for his whole life. A place, a sense of belonging, his dreams, his friends, people who supported him his whole life, the kids from Little Smiles, Louis, and finally Julia. And when the lights out, the grid better watch out, he was a man on a mission.

Julia didn’t dare to move her eyes from the screen, scared to see his car out in the gravel. But it didn’t happen, instead she saw him gaining positions after positions, laps after laps  until he met Martin’s Ferrari for the fight for third place. The fight lasted for a while until Ethan finally managed to get rid of him. The whole garage but Julia was disappointed. She almost screamed of joy when she saw the overtake but contained herself. But still, when her mom looked at her, she knew it was no use to try to fool her. Ethan was going to be on the podium, for the last race of the season. And with his two best friends. She knew how much they meant for him and she was so happy to see that he would be able to live this moment.

And when Kyle crossed the checkered flag, for the last time under the white of Lamborghini, Julia let out a tear. Next year would be weird without him in white but she was sure Audi’s colors would look good on him too and she was excited to see how he would perform. She watched the podium's celebrations from afar before leaving the paddock, she had a plane to catch.

Frantically, Ethan was searching in the crowds for hazel eyes. He was searching for her. For her smile,for her arms, for her words. He wanted to tell her the news, he wanted her to be the first one to know. But she was nowhere to be found. He ran to the Ferrari’s hospitality in hopes to find her there but for the first time, he was disappointed to find Louis.

“Louis! Have you seen your sister? Where is she?”

“She left. She couldn’t stay.”

“Do you know where she is?”

“I do. But I can’t tell you, she made me promise to not say a word. She knew you would come.”

“Cmon, buddy. I’ll buy you all the comic books you want.” Ethan begged him.

“That’s also what she told me you would say. I promised her.”

“She is going to Singapore, right? Where it all began… it has to be there.”

And when Louis shrugged, he was sure he had the confirmation. He went back to his hotel, packed his bags and booked a flight there as soon as possible before going to the club where everyone would be celebrating the end of the season. Kyle was obviously swarmed by people from every team, thanking everyone and trying to have a word with each of them. He was looking at the scene from afar as a blonde girl joined him.

“Congrats on the fifth?” Romy told him, giving him a glass of champagne.

“Congrats on the fourth.”

“What a season it has been. For all of us. What a ride.”

“Yeah… a lot of unexpected things happened.”

“We fell in love. We won our first race… we made new friends.” she listed, eyes glued to her boyfriend. “Speaking of love… Did you solve Julia’s riddle?”  she asked.

“It was not a riddle. It was quite obvious. I’m leaving for Singapore tomorrow. And when I come back it will be with my girlfriend.”

“Singapore? Are you sure of yourself?”

“Of course. Where else could it be?” he shrugged but suddenly doubted himself when he heard Romy laughing.

She was trying to play him, to tease him. If he could trust something for sure in his life, that was his gut. He came back from the club very late, ready to catch on some sleep before his flight in the afternoon. Sleep that was highly disturbed by poundings on his door barely a few hours later.

“You’re not going to Singapore.” exclaimed Ludwig, barging in the room, followed by Kyle.

“I… am going to Singapore…” Ethan replied, looking at his best friends suspiciously.

“You don’t. You’re making a mistake.”

“I’m going to meet Julia, how can it be a mistake? Listen, guys, I appreciate you caring for me and wanting to protect me but that’s okay! You have nothing to worry about!”

“I think we do have reasons, yes….”

“What Ludwig is trying to tell you is that Julia is not in Singapore. She is waiting for you in Paris.” Kyle explained and Ethan paled.

“Fuck! I… I’m supposed to leave later… I have a plane ticket for Singapore… not for Paris…”

“We got you covered. We bought you one and managed to cancel Singapore. You can thank Romy… she told us right on time before you make a stupid mistake. Now, you should prepare yourself, your plan is to take off in four hours.”

Never had he rushed this fast to an airport and when the plane finally took off, he hoped he wouldn’t regret listening to his friends. After hours of anxiety and anticipation, he finally landed, late at night, after almost a day in the air. He was tired, he was a bit disoriented but he was excited. Now, Paris was a huge city and he wasn’t sure where she would be. Until the obvious struck him. The Eiffel Tower, of course. His first podium, their first kiss, where their relationship had truly started for better and for worse. How stupid he had been.

Alone in the cold air of winter, a brutal change from Australia she had to admit, Julia was starting to regret every life decision that had let her freeze to death in the middle of the tourists. She should have given him a precise hour, not just a day. For all she knew he could be there tonight. If he was coming, she didn’t even know. She only hoped he had the right destination in mind. Just in case she had informed Romy about the answer but a part of her hoped he had guessed it right the first time around. People were looking at her weirdly, wondering what a lonely girl like her was doing standing there on her own. She couldn’t help but jump at every sight of a blond young man, each time her heart beating a little faster. She was cold, she was tired and she was angry but never would she dare to make a move. She didn’t want to miss him. She didn’t want to risk it.

Hours went by without a sign of his presence and when the sun made place to the night, she almost wondered if it wouldn’t be best to give up. Tourists had left, leaving her alone. She sat on the cold floor and looked at the picture of Ethan and her, taken there by photographs. His hands on her waist, his lips on hers. She sighed. He wouldn’t come. She was about to go back to her hotel when she saw a shadow running, dragging a huge suitcase.

“Julia! Julia!”

“Ethan! Over here!” she screamed, waving at him.

She didn’t know if he started to run even faster or if she had started to walk to him but soon, his hands were grabbing her waist, his head buried in her neck as he crushed her body with his.

“You’re freezing. How long have you been there?”

“Too long.”

“I thought you would be in Singapore… I was ready to go there. Thank god Kyle and Ludwig stopped me. I took the latest plane from Melbourne, if I hadn’t been this stupid I would have been there sooner.” he explained, breathless.

“You’re here. That’s all that matters.” she whispered, mixing her breath with his in curls of air.

“What you did in Melbourne… your speech… Gosh, Julia.”

“You deserve someone who shows up for you, someone who stands by you, someone who won’t run away. I want to be that person. I want to show you that I can be that to you. And I don’t want to hide. I don’t want to hide that I love you, or hide myself. I want to show the world that you’re mine just like I’m yours and I’ve always been.”

“I’m going to kiss you. So hard. You have no idea. And I won’t let go of you. Never again. But first, I have something for you.”

He kneeled in front of her and when he heard her gasp he quickly went back on his feet.

“No! No, no,no! I’m not proposing! I’m not Kyle. It’s just… it’s in my suitcase. I just have to retrieve it, give me a minute.”

He opened his suitcase wide on the ground, not caring about what anyone could think, before taking out a little package.

“This is for you.” he handed it to her and watched carefully unwrapping it. She looked at him curious when she saw her red bracelet.

“Has your mom never told you it was rude to give back a present?”

“Give it a closer look.”

That’s when she noticed three new additions to the bracelet. The eiffel tower, an ace of spades and a kangaroo. She let out a tear escaping her eye, quickly caught by Ethan’s cold fingers.

“But… It's a gift. It’s…” she stuttered.

And that’s when Ethan revealed his left wrist where a red bracelet was also hanging around it. It was an exact replica, with the same little trinkets.

“As soon as you gave it to me, I went to a jewelry store and asked them to make another one. So I give you back the original and I keep the copy. And I can’t wait to add new things to it. I can’t wait to explore our story further, Julia.” he said to her, pressing his forehead against hers as she closed her eyes.

“You said you were going to kiss me, right?”

“That I did.”

“Well… what if I’m the one to kiss you first.”

She didn’t let him react as she glued her lips to his, her hands in his hair in an attempt to draw him closer. It was just like she had imagined it and more. She felt him smile against her, as his hands circled her waist and when they finally let go of each other, she had never seen him look so happy. And she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She snuggled deeper against his chest as he let his lips fall on top of her head.

“Paris, hum? I mean… I understand why you chose it but Singapore has more meaning, in my opinion.” he told her, playfully.

“Are you seriously going to argue with me on the place where our story really began?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Well… it’s where the lines were blurred.”

“And we got rid of the lines in Paris.”

“You should have said your little game in another way, then. For example, where our story began for real.”

“You’re impossible.”

“It’s fine. It wouldn’t be us without a little bit of miscommunication.” he laughed, kissing her lips once again.

“You’re right. We still have to work on that. But, one thing is for sure, I’m going to over communicate that I love you so much that you’re going to wish I’ve never gone to therapy because I learned about how important it was to tell people that we love them.”

“I think I can deal with that.”

He bent once again, capturing her lips with his has he linked his fingers to hers and hand in hand, they wandered the street, not sure of where their feet would lead them but they knew that as long as they were together, all would be okay.

Author's note: And with that very last chapter, that's a wrap for Gold Rush. I'll make a more detailled note, later with the epilogue, for now I'll let you say, not a goodbye but, a see you soon to Julia and Ethan. The epilogue will come out on Sunday with a little announcement =)

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