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redgillan · 5 years ago

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Under Pastel Skies - 3

Sugar daddy!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Modern!AU Bucky doesn’t need anyone, especially not a sugar baby. He isn’t that desperate… but she smiles so sweetly and she’s endearingly awkward, and he’s so lonely. She’s an artist, a painter, the type of person who always puts others before herself. Throwing caution to the wind Bucky offers her a place to live, a place where she can finally paint whatever her heart desires. He doesn’t need much in return; a friend, a muse.

Word Count: 2,587

Warnings: none

A/N: I wanted to give Reader a family and this is the easiest way to do it. Btw Peggy’s husband isn’t Steve, I have other plans for him ;) Enjoy!

Wannabe sugar daddies don’t interact, idc if you have money, eat it and leave me be.

The rest of the week went by, and you kept hoping Bucky would come back. You hadn’t seen him since he’d left 300 dollars under his napkin after visiting you at work. You had tucked the bills into your bra, knowing they would be safe there, and walked home at the end of your shift.

Now it was Thursday afternoon and you were craving a day off.

Natasha’s apartment was spacious and the oversized glass window bathed the living room in natural sunlight. The apartment was a gift from Sam. Obviously.

You dropped your purse on the sofa –your bed- and laid out the bills on the coffee table. It was made of marble and brass, another gift from Sam.

You didn’t know what to do with the money, so you took it wherever you went, to keep it safe. You wanted to return it to Bucky. It was too much and you weren’t used to random acts of kindness.

You sunk into the cushion and blew out a sigh as you stared at the money. The persistent vibration of your phone against your thigh pulled you out of your thoughts. Half expecting it to be Natasha, you answered without looking at the caller ID.

The operator told you that Scott Lang was calling from Saint Quentin State Prison, and asked if you would accept the charges. You agreed. You always agreed.

“Splotchy, I need your help.”

Closing your eyes, you let your head fall back against the cushion. “I told you to stop calling me that, Scott.”

It was a silly nickname.

As a child, your mother dubbed you splotchy because of the colourful doodles you painted on the living room walls, and your siblings, who were roughly a few years older than you, had loved using that nickname. Especially since they knew you disliked it.

Their support and endless enthusiasm played a big part in your artistic journey, nurturing that spark into a flame. What started out as a childlike fascination with colours and shapes became your whole life. No one was surprised when you decided to pursue a degree in fine arts.

After the death of her husband, Peggy Carter adopted five children; a little boy from San Francisco, a little girl from Wakanda, twins from Sokovia and a little girl whose birth parents were still in high school. You were the last one, the only one she adopted as a baby.

“Is it offensive to call an artist splotchy?”

“It’s irrelevant. I haven’t painted in months,” you replied. “And we’re not kids anymore, you can use my name.”

“I’ve been calling you Splotchy for so long, I forgot your actual name.”

“You’re so funny,” you deadpanned. “What do you need, Scott?”

Scott’s tone changed suddenly, his voice grew agitated. “I need you to call Maggie. She isn’t picking up when I call her.”

“Scott,” you sighed.

“I haven’t talked to Cassie since her birthday,” he cut you off, pleading. “Please, I just want to talk to my little girl.”

Maggie was Scott’s ex-wife. Six months after his incarceration, she had filed for divorce. Natasha thought it was a real dick move but you didn’t blame Maggie. She was alone, her husband was in jail –for basically being a dumbass although the official charge was embezzlement and destruction of property- and she had a kid to raise.

Maggie wasn’t a saint but she was a good mother, and Cassie was a smart and healthy kid. Now you knew what to do with Bucky’s money.

“I’ll call her,” you said. “Listen, I’m going to put 50 bucks on your book. Buy yourself a bar of soap, I can smell you from here.” Scott interrupted you with a monotone ‘har har’. You chuckled. “I’ll buy Cassie a Christmas gift on your behalf, all right? I think she wanted a bike.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,” he chanted over the phone, his voice muffled as if he was holding the receiver too close to his mouth. “Are you sure you can afford it? I know it isn’t easy for you. Between living in New York and paying for mom’s nursing home, you don’t have to-”

“It’s fine,” you said, cutting off the conversation. “I’m not alone, Okoye helps.”

“And Wanda?”

“She sends postcards from time to time.”

The line went quiet for a moment. “I want to get out of here so bad,” Scott groaned. “Everything’s gone to shit since I went to jail.”

“Everything’s gone to shit since Pietro died, Scott.” You both remained silent, remembering your late brother. Just thinking about him made your eyes start to prickle with tears, so you cleared your throat and ended the call. “I’ll talk to Maggie. You’ll be out soon, just... stay out of trouble. Love you.”

You left your phone on the table and kicked off your shoes before you lay down on the sofa for a well-deserved nap. In your dreams your brothers weren’t either dead or in prison, your mother hadn’t been diagnosed with Alzheimer, and you weren’t a burden to your friend.

If you were lucky enough, you wouldn’t even dream at all.

The next day, Bucky arrived at the hotel at six thirty and you playfully glared at him from across the lounge. He wasn’t stupid, he knew why you were glaring at him. At least he had the decency to look a little sheepish.

“Just so you know, you bought yourself about 30 breakfasts,” you told him, referring to the far-too-generous tip he had left the other day.

“A man’s gotta eat,” he replied with a boyish cockiness that made him look stupidly attractive. You were too flustered to find a good comeback.

You brought him his cup of coffee and let him enjoy his breakfast while you attended to your other clients. It was an unusually busy day, the room was packed with families who were getting ready to explore Manhattan. You didn’t have time to chat with Bucky and he didn’t stay long. You saw him flinch a couple of times; the muscles in his shoulders pulled tight and his eyes darting left and right.

He left another ridiculously generous tip, along with a handwritten note. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day x.

Bucky came back the following week, and even though it was a quiet morning, you made sure to find him a table in a secluded spot. He didn’t notice when you slipped the 300 dollars into the pocket of his coat. You could be pretty sneaky, too.

“Mmmh,” he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, “I looked at your Instagram.”

“Oh,” you glanced at your shoes, embarrassed. “Wait, you’re on Instagram? I have a hard time imagining you scrolling through your feed.”

He laughed a little. “I’ll admit I’m not as tech savvy as you youngsters, but I’m not a fossil. I use it to look at the pictures my sister post of my niblings.”

“Cute,” you grinned.

“Anyway,” he said, pushing a hand through his hair. “I love your work. It’s very unique; a cross between Impressionism and Post-impressionism. It’s realistic, and yet there’s something different...” his face scrunched up as he tried to look for the right word. “There’s something in your paintings, something that isn’t here in real life but perhaps should be. It’s hard to explain. It’s a feeling, a color, a pattern; it’s indiscernible but it’s there.” He looked up at you, his cheeks red with embarrassment. “I’m not making much sense, am I?”

You blinked, suddenly stunned that someone had such strong opinions about your work. There was nothing but sincerity in his ocean-blue eyes, and for a moment, you were at a loss for words.

“I, um-” you cleared your throat, “Thank you, I didn’t know that. I look up to Monet, obviously. His work is phenomenal, and I also have a soft spot for Van Gogh.” You ran a hand across your face. “Sorry, I’m a little emotional. The people who compliment my art are usually my siblings, and Nat.”

“And now me,” he said with a warm smile. “And soon a lot more people.”

Flustered, you bit your bottom lip. “That would be nice.”

Bucky nodded. He gathered his silverware and set them on his plate, trying to buy time. You watched him hesitate before he turned to you. “I noticed that your last post was from almost a year ago.”

“Yeah,” you said with a casual shrug. “I don’t really paint anymore. I’m too tired when I get home and supplies are expensive.”

“Of course,” he pursed his lips in thought. “Are you free this afternoon? I was wondering if we could meet for coffee.”

You tried not to show your surprise but his words made the sleeping butterflies in your stomach crack an eye open, their interest piqued.

Was he asking you out? He’d come to your workplace every week since your brief ‘date’. He always gave you more-than-generous tips, and he listened to you with a combination of close attention and warmth that made you weak at the knees.

He’d made it clear he wasn’t looking for anyone but maybe he had changed his mind. Agh, down girl! He just wanted a friend.

You looked into his beautiful eyes, seeing a myriad of expressions cross his face before he smiled at you.

“I ain’t gonna hurt you, angel.”

It was an honest lie, just hearing him call you angel felt like a punch to the stomach. The butterflies were dancing around, reborn, and chanting the word ‘date’.

“If you don’t like coffee, we can have tea, or ice cream,” he said, “anything as long as you can sit down with me.”

You snorted. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he repeated, smiling. “This is my number. Pick a place and I’ll meet you there.”

After breakfast, you closed the restaurant and started cleaning the Lounge. You brought everything back to the kitchen, stacked the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on. Then you put away the unopened miniature jams, butter and whatnot, and gathered the remaining patisseries and fresh fruits in a basket that you would later bring to the reception.

You worked mechanically. It wasn’t exactly the most exciting job you’d ever had.

You couldn’t stop thinking about Bucky. It was easy to let your mind wander into the cosy and dangerous territory of this being a real date.

You decided to go to the Australian coffee shop near Natasha’s apartment. It was popular but not as crowded as Starbucks, which suited you fine.

After your shift, you removed your uniform and changed into the spare set of clothes you kept in your locker for emergencies. Emergencies being an impromptu date or a night out with Nat. You dug around in your purse for your lipstick; the nice one, the Carter Red as your mother called it.

You dabbed the lipstick on your lips, staining them. You only wore it on special occasions, and you weren’t sure Bucky deserved your full red pout.

You walked to the café with a little pep in your step and a confident smile on your face. The freezing temperature didn’t matter, you were too giddy to care. It was a date, it had to be, why else would he ask you to meet for coffee?

You smiled when you saw him through the coffee shop window. He was chatting with the waiter as the latter set two mugs on the table.

“Hi again!” You shrugged out of your jacket and took a seat.

“I hope you like hot chocolate. Carl, here, says it’s their best seller,” Bucky said, smiling kindly at the waiter.

“Enjoy, and if you need anything else don’t hesitate to call me.”

You carefully wrapped your cold hands around your mug while you watched Carl walk away. A moment of silence rose between you. Bucky watched you with an unreadable expression, making you fidget in your seat.

“I’m glad you came,” he finally said.

“Me too. I’m a little surprised you asked.”

He looked down at his mug and smiled; it didn’t reach his eyes. “I have something to ask you.” He paused. “The night we met, you said you agreed to see me because being in a... financial relationship felt like the only solution to your problems.”

Your smile faltered but he didn’t seem to notice. Oh. The butterflies in your stomach fell so suddenly that it felt like carrying a ball of lead. They went back into hibernation.

“If I had been a decent person and, I don’t know, bought you a drink, talked to you,” he paused, meeting your eyes. “Would you have been interested in this type of relationship? With me, I mean.”

You swallowed hard. “You want to be my sugar daddy.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement. You were slowly realizing that you had been wrong about his intentions. This wasn’t a date, it was a business afternoon tea.

He winced. “Do we really have to call it that? I was thinking mentorship. I can provide financial help, and in exchange you could be my friend.”

“I can be your friend for free,” you said, your throat tightening.

He shrugged, a small smile on his lips. “This way we’ll both get something out of it.”

You looked down at your hands, still wrapped around the mug, and pursed your lips in thought. You felt a sharp tingling sensation in your nose, a sign that you were about to cry. You closed your eyes and clenched your jaw, fighting against the flood that was coming.

You pushed all the emotion down and forced a smile to your face. “Do you mind if I use the restroom? I just took the subway, I’d like to wash my hands.”

Bucky watched you, momentarily stunned by your request. “Of course, take your time,” he quickly recovered.

“Thanks,” you croaked, pushing your chair back.

You picked up your bag and walked to the restroom, your legs feeling like cotton wool. You didn’t need to use the restroom, you had walked to the café, but you needed a moment alone to collect yourself.

A woman came out of the restroom, holding the door open for you. You picked up the pace and thanked her before closing the door behind you. You looked pretty sickly under the artificial light of the restroom. Your eyes were glassy with tears and your red lips were taunting you.

“Got your hopes up, uh?” You watched your lips move. A little humourless chuckle escaped you and you shook your head at your own idiocy.

You aggressively wiped the lipstick off your mouth with the back of your hand and sighed deeply as you looked at your reflection in the mirror. Now you felt like an idiot.

It wasn’t Bucky’s fault. He had been nothing but nice and kind, and perhaps you had mistaken his kindness for flirting. A naïve mistake. You had always been a little clueless when it came to men.

You ran your index fingers under your eyes to get rid of the makeup that had gathered there. It wasn’t the end of the world, you barely knew him anyway. It didn’t hurt any less, though.

Maybe it was time for you to do something out of character, to experience life no matter how crazy it seemed. You were dreading this conversation with Bucky, but you couldn’t hide in the restroom forever. With another sigh, you pushed yourself away from the sink and walked out of the restroom.

Part 4

#bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #marvel #marvel fanfiction #marvel imagines #bucky barnes imagines #bucky barnes fanfiction #marvel imagine #bucky barns imagine #redgillan #redgillanwrites

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cottoncandyjester · 4 years ago

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Which of your ocs would go to therapy for or with their darling? How much effort would they actually put into it?

This is like tricking your dog into going to the vet.. y'all are evil

This story contains: them talking about their dark past, incest(twins), talk of sex

Theodore

Absolutely not.

He's a doctor so he would argue that he would know his own body pretty well

"i don't need therapy sweetie, I'm mentally healthy"

This is the same man who flinches at the sight of a butcher knife and has so much mental trauma he still gets scared touching you

If you beg he'll do it though..of course he'll be passive aggressive but he'll go.

Tries to out logic the damn therapist

"so theodore, describe your childhood"

Theodore pushed his glasses up and clears his throat, this was definitely not going to be good. "I'm well aware that a person's childhood shapes their mental state but I assure you this is a waste of time."

"theo, let them help y-" you shuddered at the sharp glance theodore gave you. You've never seen him so aggressive before but it was clear he wasnt having fun. He hated the thought of someone analyzing his every movements and play with his head since it's something he does to you so having it done to him is less fun. "I assure you, I'm mentally sound..nothing is wrong with me"

"alright well, how about we talk about your childhood anyways just chatting nothing serious?"

Theodore scowled before glancing your way, you were doing this cause you loved him..so he should go along with this right?

Hikaru

You have to trick him

You brought it up once and he lashed out at you so badly he actually hurt you pretty bad

You told him you wanted to shopping but when he saw you two were infront of a building that definitely wasn't a mall he was PISSED

He was about two seconds away from hitting you but he saw how much you wanted to help him so he gave it a shock

Aggressive as all hell

He couldn't believe he was here, a group therapy session for victims of sexual abuse. The male sat there in his expensive clothes with his diamond encrusted shades on a scowl on his face.

"so, would you like to introduce yourself and tell us why you're here?" You flinched lightly at the single question the therapist asked before glancing at hikaru who in his legs and pushed his shades up his blue eyes flickering with rage.

"I'm here cause my bitch of a soulmate decided to drag me here instead of a shopping trip like they promised, I could be at home getting my dick sucked but no in here surrounded by idiots" hikaru was definitely in a fiery mood.

"well hikaru, y/n brought you here bec-"

Hikaru huffed in anger cutting the doctor off his anger being never ending. "they brought me here cause they think they are so smart. Their job is to please me in anyway I see fit, in return I spoil them once in a while and I am NOT pleased." With that Hikaru got up before shooting you a dirty look.

"you have ten minutes to meet me in the car or you're walking home" he snapped before walking out the room. You apologized for hikaru before going to join him.

Axis

The first one willing to go

He thinks it will make a great date

Tells his therapist EVERYTHING

Honestly he sounds so chipper about it they look so worried for him

Like sir are you okay?!

Clams up when it comes to insecurities

Like nope.

He only goes once though cause in his eyes therapy is a going once event

"- then my brother salem poured bleach in my eyes! I know it was bad but I of course forgive him cause all siblings fight right? He's really great though! Like one time we were playing hide and seek and he couldn't find me for six hours haha!"

you nervously glanced at the horror stricken expression the therapist had, they were so shocked they werent even taking notes. "Your brother sounds extremely toxic and incredibly dangerous" they stated and axis paused with a light pout clearly offended.

"salem wouldn't hurt a fly!" He huffs out and you weren't sure this was helping too much..though you were glad he decided to go.

Salem

So his therapist had to see a therapist

The first three minutes he had to wear a muzzle cause he tried to eat his therapist and not in the fun way

He is so feral he just speaks in slurring words and barks

You have to put a collar and leash on him

He did leave with a mouth full of blood though cause he bit a huge chunk off his therapist.

"s-s-so, salem w-what do you think c-caused you to be this way?" The doctor spoke while standing on their desk as you tried to pull the leash hard to pull salem away. "Bad boy! Stop it!" You snapped out at salem who got his muzzle off and was attempting to devour the poor therapist. "I-im sorry he's usually much calmer than this, strangers make him hungry" you explained before seeing salem bite the therapist on the leg.

"salem! No! You don't bite people!" You scolded as you tried to pull the male off and once you did you decided it was time to go home now. "W-well thanks doctor this has been fun, let's go salem!" You dragged him away while shaking your head.

"y/nnnnnnn~"

"...yes salem?"

"I love you!"

You glanced at him seeing he was docile once more and you sighed "I love you too babe" you mumbled out not sure what to do.

Rin

His therapist quit.

He trolled them so hard they gave up

Spoke in meme quotes the whole time.

"rin, would you say you were a happy child?"

"yeet."

You face palmed at your boyfriend who was hellbent on annoying the therapist to death. This session has already been thirty minutes and while rin was holding back his laughter the doctor looked like they wanted to snap their clipboard.

"please rin, work with me here..."

Rin beckoned the therapist to come closer and when they leaned in feeling excited thay they made progress rin's eyes sparkled widely. "Big...chungus"

You and rin walked out the office after being kicked out since the therapist had an absolute mental breakdown. "You're an asshole.." you mumbled and rin wrapped an arm around your shoulder with a wicked grin. "I'm your asshole, babynow how about we dress you up then have clown sex? I say that's equal payment for this"

Yuki

He hated it

He was quiet the entire time

Like the entire time

He wouldn't answer a question or nothing

He legit fell asleep with his head in your lap and now sees therapy as a place to nap

He doesn't like strangers so there was no way in hell he's speaking to a stranger.

You sighed at the tense silence in the room as yuki buried his face into your stomach his head in your lap. The moment he got here he took a nap not really caring about the doctor or his questions..it's been this way for a full hour. Slowly yuki opened his eyes and sat up with a low hum, he leaned in to kiss you feeling really clingy until he heard the shuffling of another person.

yuki tensed up suddenly wrapping his arms around you his chin rested on your shoulder. "Y/n, home?" He questions with a grumpy pout. You ran your fingers through his hair with a loud sigh.

"yeah yuki, we can go home.."

prince

He sees himself too cool for that stuff

"I'm not going, therapy isn't my vision of a fun date. Foreplay and sex is a good date"

He doesn't like the idea of sitting in a room and talking about his feelings.

If you promise to let him finger you during the car ride he is totally In though

He doesn't take it seriously at all

Avoids all the questions

Ends up just boasting about his sex life for an hour

"y/n moaned louder that night than ever before, it was so fucking awesome" prince cheered out his eyes lit up. You were covering your face with your hands feeling nothing but embarrassment as prince went all and on.

"t-the question was what makes you happy" the doctor stated and prince gave a confused look. "Yeah, and I said sex I mean wasn't that clear?"

"prince could you perhaps be a nymphomaniac?"

"shit, maybe? If I don't bang at least twice a day I get all grumpy...speaking of bang on the car ride here it was fucking great y/n let me-" you covered his mouth not being able to handle anymore of this. "We'll be going now!" You snapped out now dragging prince away.

"you're sexy when embarrassed"

"shut the hell up"

Rocket

He is literally the least dangerous yandere

He thinks he's fine

But he goes and actually speaks about his life

Everything about his life seems so cheerful and good...until..it isnt

Like axis he speaks as if it's okay

He's a dumbass so therapy doesn't really help him

He just uses it as a way to spend time with you

"so what was your childhood like?"

"well, I grew up in a small village we owned a pretty big farm. My mother and father kinda liked to spoil me.."

You've never heard about his childhood so you were very engaged in this story..it sounded pretty nice. Rocket paused to think when suddenly his eyes lit up

"I ended up being chosen to be the village pet! It was such an honor!" He cheers out with a happy hum. Instantly you knew this wasn't going to be good but you let him explain.

"the village pet is like...hmm a handyman, they do basically anything the villagers don't wanna do it's hard work but it's good work." He explained

"what were some of the things you had to do?"

"well...solves disputes, help out on there people's farms, help procreate, honestly anything! Only way to leave the village as a pet is to choose a new pet. It was hard to pick someone..but I'm glad I did"

The room got very very silent...very fast.

Rocket gazed at the time before getting up. "Hey y/n we should go yeah? You promised we could go get ice cream if I do this with you"

Yuuji& yuuta

Lord...these two got so much fucking baggage

They go, but they see it as entertainment

A fun little joke

Until it's not

The therapist manages to make them fight

And that NEVER happens

Like never.

It gets super damn intense

You're over there like "damn okay."

You watched the two boys argue clearly upset with each other. The question was that if yuuta found yuuji attractive..and yuuta hesitated.

"so you don't think I'm cute or anything?"

"I never said that! I just think, you're not my type."

"how the hell could I be not your type?! I know exactly what you like and don't like! I please you all the damn time!"

You cleared your throat awkwardly, not sure if going to couples therapy was a good idea anymore.

"I'm just saying! You sometimes..don't hit it quite right I mean..it's fine everyone has their ups and downs"

"OH so I'm bad at sex now?! You're such a liar cause on the drive here you were screaming like a little whore!"

"anyone can fucking scream yuuji! Doesn't take damn rocket science! Y'know I'm starting to see why ushio fucking hates you! You think you're so damn high and mighty! This is why we can't have normal relationships with our siblings!"

The room got silent as the two panted softly the screaming working them up and yuuji turned his head away eyes glimmering with tears. You honestly..felt like you were watching a drama show and was totally into it. "I-i didn't mean that- I'm sorry I just-"yuuta mumbled out and yuuji sniffled.

"do you..hate me?"

"wha-"

"ever since we came out when we were younger, you've been trying to be such a tough guy..you don't even say you love me as much. So, do you hate me?" Yuuji explained and you watched as the two hugged.

"of course not! I-i just didn't want anyone to still see me as that girl who was scared of her own shadow" yuuta whimpers out and yuuji smiled at him "you're not her, you're a strong guy.. our strong guy and we love you so much me and y/n" yuuji whispers out planting a kiss on the boy's cheek.

As the three of you left you suddenly felt an arm link with yours on either side. "Enjoy the show dollface?" Yuuta chimed before yuuji giggled "it was very fun!"

"you two were faking it?!" You huffed out seeing them both nod. They were totally lying but they didn't want you to know that, after all they were twins..fighting was basically illegal to them.

Scarlett

Another person who isn't happy with therapy

Straight out refuses

Like nope.

Never.

It takes A LOT of convincing til she agrees

Another member of the "has a bad childhood but sees it as normal" group

Hers is downright horrifying

But she giggles it off

"my childhood? Hmm..well my father was a doctor, I was his little nurse" she said softly in thought and you immediately didn't like this.

"he taught me all about plants, poisons and human biology. He was studying human mutations he wanted to know if it was possible to have humans evolve animal like traits, by replacing their body parts for animal ones of course" she cheers out and interlaced her fingers together.

"such an interesting study, some of them works in some ways..though it seems the human body can't handle some things..we are such fragile creatures are we not?"

Scarlett had this creepy dangerous vibe about her and the session was instantly cut short due to your therapist feeling unsafe. As you two walked out you couldn't help but gaze her way.

"who were his victims?" You asked out softly before feeling her hold your hand with a smile. "Well, children from my school. Then..me" she stated softly causing the haira on the back of your neck to stand.

"what animal part did he give you? Did it work?"

"it worked.."

That was all she stated and you didn't hear anything about it ever again so you were left to wonder about it.

#yandere imagines #yandere #yandere ocs

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rosierocks30 · 4 years ago

Text

Hidden: Ch. 20

Chapter 20: Dancing with the Devil

(Levi/Arne)

It was dark and smelly. He can hear drops of water from wherever he was placed. Arne woke up from being knocked out at the tarven. He realized this was a cell and his wrists were cuffed to the wall. The son of farmers felt anxious from wanting to know where his wife was. Is Ingrid safe? Are they harming her? Is their unborn child safe too? So much fear of what ifs ran through his mind.

Arne heard noises of the guards coming towards his cell. The sound of keys shuffled as the guard inserted the key into the lock and unlocked the cell’s bar. Once the guard opened, he shouted at Arne. “Prisoner, I see you’re awake. We’re moving you to the other dungeon.”

Arne barely noticed the guard had a dark mask on his head. Probably concealing his identity. As Arne was uncuffed from the chains, the guard dragged him away from the cell. His body was a bit weak from who knows what they use to knock him out.

The silence was killing him. All he saw the cold hallways leading to the other parts of the dungeon. The dark haired prisoner glanced at a room where a wooden like table was in the middle.

Two others went to grab Arne and placed him on the wooden table. They strapped him down tightly with thick leather belts.

“As a punishment for crimes, the king made you his labrat for risky experiments. The scientist will arrive soon.” The guard said.

Not too long, a man arrived and looked at Arne. “Aw this is my latest subject?”

Latest? So there were other unfortunate lads before him? He won’t be surprised if none had survived from whatever sick experiment the king had approved.

“Hello there! I’m Gabriel Hange, the king’s new scientist. You looked well fitted than my previous subjects. Good good. We’re gonna need a healthy one. Hopefully, you will be my breakthrough!” He giggled with excitement.

Arne was already irritated with this mad lad. The scientist Gabriel dismissed the guards when they left the room. Now it was him and this deranged man. “It;s just you and me. Before I start, what questions do you have?”

Arne does have many questions but most of them won’t get answered as this scientist might not know it. “What do you plan on doing to me?” He asked.

“You’re a man of getting to the straight answers? Well, let’s start at the beginning. The king had wanted a loyal knight to serve and obey him only. So I was granted an audience with him when he heard about my theory of it’s possible to create a titan in it’s human form without shifting into one of the nine titans or being pure mindless ones.” Gabriel explained to Arne.

“So basically I will become a weapon?” Arne said.

“Yeah, something like that if you survive.” The scientist said.

Arne doesn’t have a choice since he was tied to the table. He closed his eyes to pray to the gods and goddesses to protect his wife and their unborn babe. “Let’s just get this over with.” He mumbled.

“Yes, yes. I hope you make it through, sir.” The dark brown haired man said.

“I’m not a knight. Just a peasant farmer.” He glanced at Hange the scientist.

“Of course, then what shall I call you?” He said.

“Call me Ackerman.” Arne said.

Gabriel nodded in accepting the other’s request. “Alright Ackerman this will hurt.”

Arne took a deep breath to mentally be prepared for the pain he will endure. As he felt a burning pain inside his veins, Arne grunts from trying to not let this pain consume him. Gabriel had injected a small dose of blue liquid into the bloodstream of Arne’s veins. The scientist wanted to start off a small dose before giving the all the blue serum like fluid to his test subject. The dark brown haired man with glasses watched how this man endures the pain. Usually, the other test subjects begin to scream for mercy. Their bodies become purple as the serum slowly deteriorates their organs and melts them until blood comes out from their noses, eyes, ears, and mouth. It looked like a deadly poison killed them. Technically, this serum is like poison. This prisoner hasn’t shown signs of bleeding from nothing of the areas the scientist had seen with others.

“You are strong for enduring this small dose. Let’s see if you can handle half of the serum I have.” Hange said. He connected a bag with serum to the tube that’s connected to a needle on Arne's arm. He slowly squeezed the bag as the fluid went into Arne’s bloodstream. Arne felt sweats and heat from his body raising its temperature for trying to kill off the foreign fluid inside his body. Finally, the scientist finished the bag.

“Alright, all done. We’ll just have to wait until the next day if you make it or not to add another bag of fluid into you. For now, I will observe how your behavior and symptoms react to the serum.” He said.

Arne couldn’t answer him as he still felt his body on fire. He began to scream when the fluid began to boil in his blood. Oh gods, this is the worst torture ever. He was thinking death would be more pleasant.

No...he can’t think like that. He must get this through to escape and find Ingrid. Ingrid and the babe need him. He must survive. He’ll live and protect his family.

The sequence turned white and Levi Ackerman woke up with sweats and fever. The raven haired man grunts from the fever and the pain he felt from his body. Davos and his assistants rush to get him stable. Levi’s vitals were going off the chart. The captain felt hallucination of seeing a familiar blonde beauty that he loves and cherishes.

“Historia….” His wife’s name whispered breathlessly from his dry chapped lips then darkness greeted him.

Levi’s eyes opened slowly as the view was not the white room nor the dungeon cells. Where the fuck is he? Where did they move him this time? He slowly sit up and heard heavy chains move. He glanced down to see his wrists were cuffed and chained to the bed. He could smell sterile and medicine. Did they put him in a hospital? A figure appeared before him. The figure was an old man with few hairs on his head. He has a genuine smile on his face which Levi senses this man must be the doctor from the uniform white robe they wear. Right next to him was a familiar brat he used to kick the shit out of him to save his life.

“Had a nice nap, Captain? The doctor had to make sure you won’t die on us, but you are Humanity’s Strongest. You’re too hard to die anyways.” Eren smirked.

Eren is lucky Levi was chained and weak at the moment from kicking his ass again. Levi glared at the Titan Shifter.

“How unpleasant to see you, Jaeger.” He mumbled.

“You might find it hard to believe but I’m not the enemy, captain.” Eren said.

Levi scoffed as he does find it hard to believe. “Tch.”

“We have a lot of catching up to do because Historia has begged me to help you out to escape the palace and sent you back to the Assassins and the soldiers.” Erren whispered.

Levi glanced at him in confusion. Is this a joke? Eren had decided to play the good guy? Levi doesn’t want to fall for this brat’s tricks. Did Historia contact Eren to help out?

“Look Levi, Historia and I made a pact to help you get out of here. Most of the soldiers are planning to strike soon. I am spying for the military and the assassins. I had to convince Davos to let the doctor check up on you. As to him and the templars, you’re valuable to them.” Eren said.

“Didn’t you want the whole world to end to save Eldia or some fucked up shit?” Levi finally spoke.

“I did, but my perspective had changed.” Eren’s thoughts were on Natasha when he said that.

“You have done fucked up shit. So give me a reason why I should this time believe you have changed?” The assassin may be weak from recovering from a high fever but his tone was dark.

Eren frowned; he remembered the atrocious he had committed for the sake of freedom to the Eldians. In his mind, he had to become a great villain for the world to be untied and defeat him while freeing the curse. Now, his selfish desire had altered his destiny. He wants to do whatever it takes to protect his girl and their unborn. He wanted to give them peace and freedom without causing the majority of the world into chaos.

“We both have something in common.” Eren said.

“Like what?” Levi said.

“Being a father. My kid will be born in nine months and I want this mess that I create be dealt with before he or she comes into this world. I want to keep my family safe. I know you want that too for Historia and your son. So, this is what’s going to happen. While most of the people are busy attending the ball, me and two others, Rick and Reggie will help you out to sneak away from the city. But I won’t go out of the city since I need to be here to play the “good brother”.” Eren explained to Levi.

“What about Historia? I am not going to leave without her.” Levi hissed.

“I understand you want to take her away from this hell, but she needs to be here in order to work. Her alibi will be the ball as queen she will be too busy attending guests at the ball. I promise to you that she will not be harmed. The Brotherhood and Paradis needs you as much this nation needs the soldiers. Marley finally regains their country from the Templars’ soldiers. Reiner is one hella Commander in Chief.” He chuckled.

“The Armor Titan was made into a Commander? Didn’t know Marley had sympathy to allow an Eldian to rise from the ranks.” Levi said.

“Yeah, I guess it was the templars who made this side of the world more united than I did.” Eren chuckled darkly.

“Promise you will keep her safe if I go?” Levi finally gave in.

“Yeah, I’ll make sure she will be safe.” Eren confirmed.

Levi nodded. “Alright, but I’m holding on to your promise, Jaeger.” The shorter man said.

Both men begin to plan out to sneak Levi away from the Templars’ grasp. It’s a good thing the King was still out of the country to deal with some templar business.

(Gilbert)

Ever since he accepted Alexander de Lorenzo’s offer, Gilbert had been receiving expensive gifts from many places around the world. Whenever he meet up the Grandmaster, they had an amazing sex. It felt exhilarating and forbidden. Gilly still received love letters from Nathaniel as the king was on a business trip along the Grandmaster. But Alexander somehow convinced Nathaniel to let Gilbert be in charge of the templars and the people of Paradis even by law it should be the queen. As if he’ll let that man stealing harlot gain more power than him. He had worked his ass off to get where he is. Right now, he had to attend the ball along with her. Ugh they have to work together to make this charity ball successful. This will show both of his lovers that he is capable of taking on a big role. He will not fail. The tailor was adjusting Gilbert’s outfit for the ball. It came from Italy where Alexander was from.

“My Lord, this suit is at it’s finest. Such a luxurious material can’t be found on this side of the world.” The tailor praised him.

“Yes, this is one of a kind.” Gilly gloated.

“It’s all set to be used at the ball. I hope you have a wonderful time. You will be the center of it tonight!” The tailor said.

“Yes, of course.” he smirked.

The ball had started and Gilbert was wearing a viper mask made of gold and crushed diamonds which it’s one of the gifts Alexander gave him. The guests had arrived with their masked on and the outfits were filled with so many colors. The tables of food from all over the world were displayed. The music plays with joy to dance and mingle. So far the ball was looking perfect. It would be magical if this bitch next to him was locked in her room and not greeting the guests. This was supposed to be his night instead the guests praised the queen how beautiful and breathtaking she looks. She was wearing a silver ball gown with the top silk material and the hem was puffy with flower patterns. The chest of the gown was shaped into a heart as her breasts were pushed up a bit. It would be inappropriate but since the Templars took control, Alexander had encouraged Nathaniel to bring in modern fashion and lifestyle even though Nathan wanted the old ways when King Karl had reigned in this island.

Historia’s mask looked like a delicate swan with white and silver. The eye shape had dark shade. She was a Swan Queen as the nobles and Higher class praised. After greeting, he took a glass of champagne to drink and tried to not let her ruin the rest of the night. He will be praised and admired by the end of the night.

(Hange)

Today half of the people are heading out of the walls to prepare to meet their allies across the sea. It’s clear Mikasa had made Hizuru their allies again. Marley had become their allies as well. This was a historical moment. For centuries these two sides were enemies until now.

The Commander of the Survey corps had been alone writing her journal since who knows if her journal could end up in some museum or used as a school research paper.

She and William had been strategizing to give a surprise attack to the templars. But first they are waiting for Eren helping Rick and Reggie to sneak Levi out of the palace. Once it is done, they will give their second base which it’s at the coastline of this island. To let their allies in and heading towards here to take back their home. If Marley was capable of winning their nation so the Paradisian can.

(Sasha)

The female Eldian soldier was having the time of her life residing in the city that never sleeps. New York City was so pretty with light during nights. She had tried many cuisines of different cultures. She was in heaven. The baby had been so far easy to take care of. Atticus had been a good boy. He rarely cries unless it’s necessary. He was a curious baby when toys were given to him to play. Only soft ones as he is just a month old. For a month old, he was a big boy. Sasha thought this kid will be tiny like his parents. Maybe the prince inherited a tall gene from somewhere. That would be funny if the baby grew up to be taller than both of them.

Sasha was strolling with the baby stroller to enjoy nature in Central Park. It’s not like the nature she grew up with back home in her village, but this will do. She spotted a nice big tree where she can place a big blanket and have Atticus lay down to enjoy the fresh air. He had been cooped up in the house for weeks. A child should start embracing nature at this age. Sasha's parents had taken her outdoors when she was days old. As it was tradition back at her village.

She may not be a pro at raising babies but she will from now raise the boy as the way she was raised. Once the blanket was spread Sasha placed the big bag on the blanket then gently picked up Atticus who giggled with joy from being picked up. He loves being carried. This kid was definitely a prince.

“What a cute boy you are?” She coos at the infant.

Atticus squeals in delight. He was laid on the blanket. Then Sasha places his toy jungle gym over him so he can kick and play. Today was a clear warm day with a breeze. Is this what it feels like to be free from discrimation, oppression, war, titans and corruption? This was a true paradise. Sasha didn’t have to worry for her life, but she felt guilty because back home her comrades and family are there where danger lurks.

Sasha smiled at Atticus who was too entertained with his toys dangling over him. She didn’t notice someone’s presence when her mind was drifted away from thinking nostalgia memories with her friends from Levi’s squad.

“What a cute baby you have?” The man looked at Atticus which the infant stopped playing to glanced at the stranger.

Sasha quickly sits up to be on alert if this man gives any bad intentions. “Yes, he is cute. Isn’t he?” Her brown eyes stared at his brown eyes.

“I mean it makes sense since he got his cuteness from his mother.” The man gave a flirty smile at her which Sasha responded with a blush from his bold comment.

“Thanks but I’m not his mother. I’m just his auntie well sorta. It’s really complicated.” She chuckled.

“Oh I’m sorry, I thought he was yours, but that’s a good sign because you’re not with anyone, right?” He grinned.

“I- right. I don’t have a boyfriend if that’s what interests you.” She said while her brow raised up.

“That definitely interests me. By the way, the name is Niccolo Browns. What’s your name?” The man with blonde short wavy hair smiled.

“My name is Sasha Braus and this cutie is Atticus Ackerman.” She glanced at the baby who was again busy playing with his toys.

“Oh what a beautiful name you have, Sasha. The kiddo got a cool name. His parents must have out a lot of thought into his name.” Niccolo said.

“Thank you. Your name sounds fun to say.” Sasha repeated his name especially because she likes the way his name sounds.

“Thanks, I’m glad my name sounds fun to you.�� He laughs from hearing her saying his name in different ways.

“So, I notice you’re not from here? Your accent is hard to figure out where you’re from.” Niccolo had been thinking where her accent came from. It’s definitely not any European country. Is she from a Marleyan colony region?

Sasha paused to think if it’s safe to tell this man where she’s from? There’s a chance he may not have heard the Eldian people and the conflict the Eldians dealt with most of the nations from the other side of the world. She took a glimpse at Atticus. The female soldier made a promise to protect the prince at all cost. She can’t let her selfish desires jeopardize the child’s life.

“I’m from an unknown country that not many people knew about.” Sasha said.

“Ah I see...trying to be mysterious?” He grinned. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me yet.”

“Sorry, I’m a refugee so this place is still a culture shock, but the food here feels like heaven.” Sasha felt a drool escaping from her mouth at the thought of food.

“Oh a refugee? I’m sorry to hear that. I bet it’s hard to adjust to a new life here? Hold on, you’re a foodie? This makes it easier to woo you.” Niccolo crossed his legs to sit on the grass to be comfortable.

“It’s ok. One day, I will be able to go back home.” Sasha was curious what he meant about wooing her with food? “You know good places to eat?”

Niccolo’s eyes sparkled as she asked him where are the best places to eat in NYC. “I have a restaurant in the Upper East Side.”

“Wait, you’re a chief? That’s so cool. I will happily be your food taster.” Sasha grinned with joy. Food was her passion. She loves to eat that sometimes her friends have to drag her out from a tavern before they get kicked out.

Niccolo was happy to hear she will taste his food whenever he creates a new dish for his customers.

“I would be honored for you tasting my food. Maybe this weekend, I'll show you my restaurant and I’ll make a spectacular dinner. You’ll be the first to try a dish I have created recently. What do you say? A date?” Niccolo glanced at Sasha in hoping she accepted to have a dinner date with him.

Sasha contemplates whether to go on a date with him or not. If she asked her new friend to babysit Atticus maybe she’ll agree to go on a date.

“Yes, it’s a date.” She smiled. Niccolo was pleased she said yes.

(Eren)

It was now the perfect hours to get Levi out of the clushes from the enemies. He had a little meeting with Reggie and that Rick guy. They plan on meeting him and Levi with a carriage full of metals.

The green eyed Titan shifter had Levi dressed up as one of the Jeagerists. Both former comrades could hear the sound of the music and the people chatting. Eren thought of Natasha being there probably bored. He remembered her telling him how she hated going to social events. She dealt with her boredom by drinking and probably flirting with some random guy to where she takes him home for the night. Of course, this is different. She’s with his child. He hopes this escape plan with Levi will go smoothly. Eren wanted to be with his lover to hold her and give sneaking kisses.

The quad holder titan shifter stared at the entrance where the ball was held. Right where Queen Historia was greeting, Eren spotted the woman he loved was also greeting and talking to the arriving guests. He was struck by what Natasha was wearing. Her dress was hugging her body. It looked like it’s her skin, only there were sprinkling diamonds on the top of the dress. Down where the hem of the dress was split on both sides to let her legs exposed including a bit of her thighs. Her mask was a gold and emerald venetian butterfly shape. It covered the upper part of her face. To Eren, she looks mystifying and beautiful.

Levi interrupted him from gazing at Natasha so far away. “So is that your woman huh?” He whispered.

Eren glanced at the captain then nodded to confirm. He could tell that Levi was also staring at Historia so far away. He understood how painful it was to not be with their lover without putting them in danger.

“We’ll get through this, kid. One day, we’ll be with them, but right now we need to be focused.” Levi’s tone was compassionate towards Eren. Long ago, Levi was like a mentor and older brother towards Eren during the time when he was a soldier with one purpose to destroy all titans to free humanity. Now that purpose has changed overtime from learning the truth.

“Right…” Eren takes in this rare moment of Levi being understanding.

Both men resume to walk away the entrance of the ball before they get caught. By the time they exited the palace. Rick and Reggie were already on the carriage with leftover materials covered by a heavy cloak. Quickly, Eren led Levi to hide under the cloak where the materials are.

“Alright guys, be safe and careful. There are many guards tonight because of the ball in this city, but once you get out of the city, you’ll be fine. Send me a letter when you guys make it so the queen can know this escape plan has worked.” Eren said.

Rick and Reggie nodded. “Understood.” Reggie the assassin said. However Rick had one thing on his mind.

“Eren, please let Eve and Maggie know that I couldn’t make it to the ball.” Rick said with a guilt on his expression.

“Alright. I’ll let them know.” Eren said.

“Oi, we should go now before we get caught.” Levi said from under the cloak. All four nodding then the carriage begins to stroll away. Eren watched them leaving the palace. As he can’t see them anymore, the former leader of Jeagerist goes back to the palace.

While Eren was walking to go to his room, Floch stopped him. “Hey Eren, your brother was looking for you.” The green eyed man glanced at the red haired man. He noticed how Floch’s face was covered with bruises and a swollen eye. His cheeks were puffy due to being kicked repeatedly. This looks like how he had looked when Captain Levi beat the living shit out of him to save him from being executed during the first trials of the discovery of being a titan shifter.

“What the hell happened to you?” Eren looked at the red haired Jeagerist.

“Eh, it was some bitch that was playing hard to get.” Floch mumbled annoyingly.

“Playing hard to get or you can’t take a no?” Eren’s sly comment made Floch glared at him. Once upon a time, Floch was one of his loyal followers. This guy admired and praised him like he was some god. When he came back to be a spy for the Assassins, Floch’s behavior became estranged and mad. He assumed power got over his head. As Floch now became the second powerful man in the Jaegerist group, Eren can see him being too entitled, especially having women coming to him. Of course, he had heard rumors Floch won't’ hesitate to cross the line if a woman doesn’t respond to his advances. It disgusts Eren to the core. Floch reminded Eren the First Fritz King when he took Ymir the Founder as his concubine/consort.

“Shut up, Eren. You can’t say shit when you use Belia to warm your cock.” Floch scowled at him.

Eren’s facial expression became dark. He didn’t hesitate to pinned Floch to the wall to remind him who is still in high rank.

“Whatever me and Belia had was an agreement we used each other to fulfill our needs behind closed doors.” His hand gripped tightly on to Floch’s neck. Between him and Floch, Eren is stronger than him. The power of being a titan holder gave him abnormal strength. The only who can compete with a titan shifter’s strength are the Ackermans. They were created to defeat a titan shifter or a pure titan.

He watched how Floch’s eyes widen with fear. The coward forgot not to pissed off a titan shifter like Eren Jaeger.

“T-that’s not what she told me. She thought you and her were together.” The other growled.”

“And you believe her? You know what, don't answer that. Like I said, there was no us between me and Belia so you can tell her to stop with her lies and tell everyone we’re together. She’s too delusional.” Eren scoffed and dropped Floch as he wouldn't waste his time on Floch nor whatever Belia had been telling the Jaegerists. He should have not pursued sleeping with Belia in the first place. It’s one of the main reasons he distanced himself from her. She’s just batshit crazy.

“Of course, she is my cousin, you fucker.” Floch coughed while being on the ground.

Eren didn’t bother to give him attention. He kept walking to find Zeke. Finally, he entered Zeke’s study room which Nathaniel provided him when their alliance was formed. He knocked on the door to hear his brother to tell him enter. His hand turned the knob to open the door and saw Yelena there. It’s rare to see Zeke without Yelena being with him. Even when Eren needed to have a private discussion, she was always there. It irritated him.

“Ah little brother. I’m glad you’re finally here. Make yourself comfortable.” Zeke glanced to see Eren entering.

Eren goes to lean against the wall instead of sitting on a chair. He waits for Zeke to say whatever it was.

“Eren, had you visited Ymir through the Path lately?” Zeke said.

“No, I haven’t. She has been quiet lately, but I will try tomorrow night.” The younger Jaeger brother said.

“That’s strange. She usually keeps in contact with you. Yes, try again when you can. You should wear something formal for the ball, little brother.” Zeke was already dressed in his suit for the ball. His mask was laying on the desk.

Yelena was for once wearing a dress and not a suit like she usually does whenever she attended a social event. Her dress was surprisingly shiny where the flowers pattern spread from the top to the bottom of the gown. Probably, Zeke convinced her to wear something nice for this ball. She was already wearing her mask.

“I’ll think about going to the ball or not.” He said.

“Ah come on Eren. Live a little. You need to have fun once in your lifetime. You dance or flirt with some pretty girl at the ball. Maybe take Belia with you. I heard you two have been very familiar with each other alone.” Zeke grinned.

The dark hair titan holder scoffed when he mentioned Belia. He will have a talk to her. This was all a misunderstanding. If Natasha hears any of these rumors, his chance with her will be over. That’s something he can’t allow. He won’t let anyone come between him and her and their unborn child.

He pushed himself off from the wall. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

Zeke noticed how his brother got irritated when he mentioned Belia. What Eren doesn’t know? He had spied on him and the handmaiden girl, Eveline Potts. It makes all sense how Eren behaves around her. His eyes were full of love and compassion. Something he had never seen his little brother act. This had worried him since there’s a chance his brother might not go with their plan. There’s two alternative plans both Zeke and Yelena could do. Either offer Eren to let his child born if he continues the plan or cause an accidental death of Eveline Potts. Something Levi's words had sunk in his mind. His little brother is a hot blooded man and he did spend so much time with Eveline, but he also spent time with Belia. Maybe he should ask Yelena to check if Belia is not with a child too. Zeke will only let one child from his brother exist.

“Yes, we are done here. You can go now. Oh, if you do have fun tonight make sure you are extremely careful. You don’t want to end up having some poor bastard child born into this hateful world.” He said.

This made Eren’s hand shaken on the doorknob. He was now suspicious what his older brother meant by that? Maybe it was nothing since he had once slept with Belia many times. Yeah, that’s what Zeke meant.

“Don’t worry about that. I am careful.” Eren opened the door then walked out. He shut the door. He was panicking inside. Does Zeke find out about Natasha and the baby? Damn it. He should have made Natasha leave with Rick, Levi, and Reggie. Fuck what Rico and the others will say. His growing family’s safety is his main priority. Guess he’ll be going to the ball to talk to her about leaving the palace.

When Eren reached his room, he saw a suit already laid out for him to wear. Next to it was a mask for the ball. He sighed then began to get ready for the ball.

(Eve/Natasha)

Earlier that night as the ball had just begun, Eve finished getting ready as she put on the emerald earring studs her grandmother let her borrow for the night. For the final touch she slipped the ring that Eren proposed to her. His mother’s ring was perfect for the dress she was wearing. It’s too controversial, but the Templars wanted to bring a modern lifestyle to this island. Let’s see if the crowds are ready for her entrance. Natasha is a Stark and the Starks are the center of the attention. Tonight, she is the late Tony Stark’s granddaughter.

After being ready, she went to Historia’s chamber, who gasped seeing how beautiful Eve looked. Eve blushed from receiving praises from her own grandmother. Of course, Eve complimented Historia’s gown. She looked like a queen in her own rights.

“Are you ready, your majesty?” Eve said. Historia gave a smile and nodded.

“I am. Let’s leave. The guests should arrive by now.” The blonde woman came out of her bedroom and saw a few of her ladies chatting excitedly about the ball. One of them was Belia who happened to be a Jaegerist. What Natasha researched on Belia? She is the daughter of some lord and a mistress who’s related to Floch. Basically, both Olivia and Floch are cousins. That woman had given Eve hateful glares. It doesn’t bother the female Ackerman, but it all makes sense how they resemble each other.

At the moment, Eve ignores her and focuses on the queen. The queen was in lead. Eve was almost next to her but a few inches behind her the rest of the ladies were behind Eve. She won’t be surprised if they all were offended in why the queen allowed a handmaiden in front of them who are noble blood. Eve may have royal blood but this time era no one knows beside Eren. By the time, they all entered the ballroom. People made eye contact with them, especially when the queen had arrived at the scene. The guests praised the queen on how beautiful and elegant she looks tonight. The brunette could hear the noble ladies were giggling and enjoying the attention they are also getting. Natasha was walking like the ballroom floor was the runaway. She may not have been a model but she was a fast learner whenever she had attended a Fashion show with her nana long ago.

The queen began to greet the guests along with this guy Gilbert. Eve was quiet waiting patiently for the queen to be finished greeting. Meanwhile, she observed the crowd. She spotted Eren all the way at the hallways before entering the ballroom. He’s probably busy dealing with whatever a Jaegerist does. Finally, the greeting was over and Historia gave her ladies including her a dismissal for them to enjoy the event.

Now, Eve goes to find her friend and his girlfriend. They were supposed to be here by now. As she was browsing through the crowds, some men had their eye on her. She can see the way they look at her like she’s some prize to possess. Eve noticed she was not the only one wearing a controversial outfit. Oh god, she hopes they don’t come towards her to ask for a dance. Just when luck was not on her side, a man approached her with confidence while sipping a glass of champagne. Wonderful. She is craving for a glass or more of champagne.

“Hello you, majestic beauty. I haven’t seen you before. Shall I be your first to dance?” He smirked. The pregnant woman was about to reject the man but a certain obnoxious woman decided to step in for her.

“Yes, she would love to dance with you, my lord.” Belia pushed her towards the nobleman which he caught her from falling. Eve can feel his hands on her waist. The heiress glared at the other woman who had a smirk.

The man dragged her to the dance floor. Eve observed how the people are dancing. It looks like waltz so she positioned herself to dance. His hand gripped on her hip which he was supposed to place it on her back. She glared at the man.

“Hey you’re supposed to have your hand here.” She removed his hand from her hip to place it on her back.

“I do apologies, my lady. It seems my hand has a mind of its own.” He grinned.

“Huh right.” She rolled her eyes but started to waltz around the dance floor. The music was playing as she danced with this stranger.

While she was dancing, partners were switched to the nearest pair. Eve was dancing to another stranger then once again she was switched.

“Ms. Potts, what a delight to see you here?!” Zeke smiled as he led the dance.

“Oh hello Mr. Jaeger. Yes, I finally decided to come to the ball.” She said.

“I’m glad you decided to come. You look beautiful like a butterfly. I’m sure you have already got some suitors wanting to dance with you.” He smirked. Zeke noticed her gown was revealed on both her legs and shoulders. Even he can’t help how irresistible she looks tonight. His brother has a good taste. It’s a shame. She’s taken by his little brother. The way her dress was tight around her body, it seems she isn’t showing yet of her pregnancy.

“Thank you and you look handsome as a bird?” Eve couldn’t tell what kind of mask Zeke was wearing.

“It’s a peacock.” Zeke said.

“Ohhh I see now because of the feathers.” She said.

“Miss Potts, I’ve always been curious about where you're from?” Zeke wanted to fish for as much information from her.

“Where I’m from?” This caught her off guard. “I’m from Trost District. I’m curious why this interests you?” She felt a bit suspicious on why Zeke wanted to know where she’s from.

“It’s the way you behave towards people. It’s not how a native of this island acts. I know you’re not from Marley or other nations where Eldians are being segregated.” Zeke said.

“And where do you assume where I’m from, Mr. Jaeger?” Her brow raised up as she suspected where this would lead.

Just when he was about to answer, Floch interrupted their conversation. “Zeke, you don’t mind if I steal this gorgeous creature?”

“No, you can dance with her.” Zeke said, feeling disappointment their conversation was interrupted. He let go of Eve and bow to end their dance. “It was a pleasure to dance with you. Miss Potts.” Zeke left her with Floch which she was not pleased being alone with this creep.

Floch already grabbed her hand and placed his on her lower back close to her bottom. He led the dance as a different song was playing. It was a bit faster to waltz.

“What do you want now, pig?” She hiss at him.

“I suggest you don’t make a scene. You’ll embarrass yourself in front of this stuck up rich and noble people.” Floch glared.

“Apparently kicking your ass once wasn;t enough for you to leave me alone.” She cynically responded.

“Listen bitch. It wouldn’t get to that point that night if you give in. I would have made you crave my touch.” He leaned in to whisper seductively.

This guy doesn’t have any self respect or to anyone if he thinks she’ll just let him do whatever he pleases. “You’re full of yourself if you believe I’ll beg for you to fuck me? Why are you so stubborn to want me? There are other ladies who gossip in wanting to get fucked by you.” She scowled.

“Because you’re the mysterious woman every man in this palace wants to have. I will be the first to have that taste before any other man. Beside, that dress; you’re making it difficult not to ignore you.” Floch’s eyes stared up and down slowly. She felt he was undressing her with his eyes. How repulsive he was to her?

“I’m not some sex object for you to keep being persistent like a child who doesn;t get what he wants.” She was about to free herself when a familiar voice cut in.

“Floch, you heard the woman. She has no interest in you.” Eren placed his hand on Floch’s shoulder which the red haired man flinched cowardly.

“Fuck off, Eren. She just hasn't been with a real man.” Floch tries to be brave and not let Eren take this woman too.

Eren ignored Floch’s hostility as he preferred to give his attention to Natasha. “Eveline, may I have this dance?”

She gave a warm smile to her lover. Yes, she may be mad at his actions from a week ago but seeing him here may her heart beat fast. He always has a way to make her melt and he doesn’t try to do anything.

“Yes, you may have a dance with me, Eren.” To free herself from Floch’s grip, she stomped his foot a bit hard to cause him hiss from pain. He let her go and Eren grabbed her hand to pull her away from him.

Both couples left Floch alone as they headed away. Eve sighed in relief. “Thank you for saving me from not kicking his ass again.” She said.

“Again? He- oh it was you who gave him those bruises? What did he do to you?” Eren realized she was the woman who caused Floch pain for a week.

“Let’s not talk about it. We’re at a ball. Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight, my love?” She doesn’t want a fight to break out if Eren finds out what Floch had tried to do with her that week ago.

Of course, Eren sensed she was deflecting his question and became insistent. “Babe, tell me what did he do to you? Did he try to hit on you?” Eren’s tone was getting a bit aggressive yet it was low enough for only them to have a private conversation.

“Eren, please can we talk about it after tonight? I promise I will tell you, tomorrow. I know you will cause a scene and fight him which the ball will be ruined.” Eve pleaded with him.

Eren scoffed annoyingly but accepted her plea. “Fine, but tomorrow promise you will tell me then I will happily kick his ass.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh my hero.” Her tone was sarcastic.

He smirked and leaned into her ear. “I can be more than just your hero. “ His tone was husky. Eve felt her body getting warm from how it reacted from his tone.

Damn it her pregnancy hormones are acting up. She had read it’s possible that pregnancies can cause sex drive but randomly. She took a better look at what he was wearing. He wasn’t wearing a suit like other men were wearing tonight.

“Why aren’t you wearing a suit?” She asked.

“Oh, Zeke or Yelena had chosen an outfit for me but I used a black dress shirt that I bought earlier and a black dress pants. I picked the devil mask cause it represented me.” He said.

She does see the horns from his mask. He does look like the devil which it made more difficult for Natasha not to make it obvious she desires him right now. They danced the fun happy music until it’s over.

The group on the dancefloor clapped. Eren noticed the ring Eve was wearing on her finger. He gently grabbed her hand and smiled. “I’m happy that you’re wearing my mother’s ring. You make it look beautiful. And your dress. You love making people eye on you huh?” He teased her.

“It goes with the earrings. That’s why I’m wearing it tonight.” Eve said. She was trying not to give him ideas of him being forgiven. Her fingers playing with the ring on her other finger. This jewel had gone through so much and yet it still looks good as new.

Eren couldn’t help himself to brush a strand of hair from her elegant loose lower bun hairstyle. He carefully observes every detail of her.

“What are you thinking, my love?” he whispered to her.

“I am thinking of wanting a glass of champagne.” Her lips pouted when her steel eyes glanced at a waiter carrying a tray of glasses of champagne. Eren chuckled how adorable she looks.

“You know you’re not allowed to. It’s bad for the baby.” He still whispered. She groaned and rested her head on his chest.

“It would be simple if I feel repulsive like most of the foods I eat. Seriously, your kid doesn’t let me enjoy meals without throwing up.” Eve peeked up at Eren.

“You should tell the kitchen staff to serve you mashed potatoes with lemon water. It will help the food go down to your stomach and the water will stop the nausea whenever you eat.” Eren said.

Eve was amazed how Eren knew this vile information. “Where do you learn from?”

“Remember my dad was a doctor? Sometimes as a kid I used to go with him to see his patients including Mikasa’s mother when she was pregnant.” He explained.

“Oh right. Hmm, would you be a doctor if you didn’t choose to be a soldier to fight the titans?” In the background, a new song was playing to dance slowly which both pairs danced together. Eren held her hand to spun her gracefully. Once she spun, Eren pulled her against his body.

“Probably or I might be a military doctor instead.” He admired the way her dress flowed when she spun around.

“But instead you chose to fight alongside.” Natasha said. Eren nodded. Both remained quiet as they danced.

“Wait for me here. I have a request to make to the musicians.” Eren whispered to her ear. She nodded but was curious what kind of request he would ask of them.

Eren let go of her then walked away from the dance floor. Eve was alone as others around her danced to the soft music. At first it felt awkward standing around alone until the music had changed to a melody that it sounds familiar but doesn’t remember where she had heard this song. It felt time had stopped and only saw Eren walking towards the dance floor. She noticed the dance floor was empty. Her thoughts wonder how she is going to dance this song which sounds medieval only a touch modern.

“What song did you tell them to play?” Eve asked him.

“Volta.” He said.

Natasha didn’t know how she knew the dance moves to Volta but her legs began to carry her away. She danced around him in a way seducing her partner to dance with her. His emerald eyes focus on her. Once she made a few dance steps around him, he bowed mockingly. Natasha smirk then curtsy to him. Her arm reached out for Eren to grab on. Natasha moved towards him but stopped as she held his arm. She slid her hand down to his hand. The heiress let go of his hand to dance around him but much closer.

Eren could feel her warm alluring presence as his eyes watched her like a predator. Her dress flows from the twirls. Her legs exposed as she showed her dancing skill. In his eyes, he was looking at the temptress that seduced him from his once destiny to cause chaos to save humanity and his people. Eve was charismatic and mysterious which had intrigue some of the men in the palace. That irritated Eren by listening to them talking about his woman. Then his train of thoughts were interrupted as he felt Eve’s hand clap on to his front throat. She squeezed it but stroked up to his chin and held on to his jaw while her silver eyes gave off her seductive stare. Oh he knew what she wanted from him. Both could feel their lips hover teasingly.

They can feel the desire and passion for each other as their dance turned into a battlefield of sexual tension. If it was possible, Eren would take her right here on the dance floor. He took a few steps forward making her take a few steps back. Their sights on each other haven’t broken once. The music begins to pick up the beat a bit fast. They may not hear the crowd excitedly watching them dancing, but they were aware of how their dance will give them something to talk about after the ball.

Eren held her hand to spin her around then stopped her while her back was facing him. In the crowd, few faces watched with different expressions. Historia smirked with joy as she knew who was the person behind the devil mask dancing with her handmaiden. Zeke and Yelena had neutral expressions. On the other hand, Floch was making a distasteful expression. It didn’t take rocket science to know both Eren and Eve have a strong chemistry for each other. The red haired man glanced at his cousin who had a dark look. Belia understood why Eren had not given her divine attention. All this time he had someone and it was this lowly handmaiden. How dare this lowly harlot took what belongs to her. Just when Belia was thinking about the truth of these two, she noticed Eve made eye contact with her and gave a victory smirk.

Belia’s mood became sour as she quickly snatched a glass of champagne from a waitress and gulped down furiously. It looks like war had been declared between her and Eve. The noble woman didn’t bother to stay until the dance ended.

Natasha was pulled to have her back pressed onto Eren’s body as his hands moved to grope her breasts then slide down to her hips. She turned around to face him and took a few steps back to walk fast towards him and hop. Eren lifted her to have her legs wrapped around his waist while he spun both of them around. He places her down but holds on to her arm when both spin together again. He made her spin towards her to latch his hands onto her waist. Natasha could feel his warm breath on her ear which makes it hard to stay composed. She heard him whisper something huskily but her trance of euphoria prevented her from understanding what he said. Whatever he said, she instantly nodded. Once again he lifts her up but a bit higher and spins around. Eve was lifted up in a lying position until he let her down. Her hand movement was elegant and graceful and she was placed down. Both intertwined their arms to have their hand pressed together while spinning slow. Carefully, his arm snaked around her waist as she leaned back to arch her body. He let his fingers to caresses from her neck down to her breasts. Finally, one last turn to Eve facing away from him but their bodies pressed each other. Her face was tilted away while regaining her breath from their intense dance. As the music stopped, the crowd applauded and cheered for them for the entertainment they provided. Their trance was broken when reality abrupted their own world. Both pulled away from each other and smiled at the crowd.

Eve leaned to him to whisper. “Meet me outside by the hall that’s connected to the royal garden.” Just like that the Eldian-American left Eren alone. He gave her a smirk and waited until she disappeared from his view. Once a few minutes passed, the titan holder make way to meet his lady.

(Eren)

The night sky was clear with stars twinkling. The weather was cool. Eren walked through the open hallway outside of the palace. He saw her leaning against the big pillar by the edge of the garden. The emerald eyes man walked towards his lover. She was still wearing her mask. Eren lifted up her mask to see her face completely.

“You took a little long.” Eve said while she pulled him to her. Her lips crashed against his to passionately kiss him. In response to her aggressiveness, he pinned her to the hard surface pillar. His hand groped her thigh to lift up and place on his hip. Both lovers breathe heavy from the fiery intensity for each other. His fingers brushes on her exposing thigh then down to her leg and up back to the thigh. Eve let out an erotic moan. Eren smirks from her reaction.

He breaks away from their kiss to sloppy kiss down on her neck to the valley of her breasts. He noticed her breasts looked bigger than what he remembered. His hand pulled down the top of her dress to have her breasts free. Eren cupped one of them to greedily latch on to her nipple and suckling. Eve’s eyes widen while whimpering from how sensitive her nipples are from the changes of her pregnant body. It may hurt but the adrenaline and lust she felt turned into pleasure. Her hand stroked his dark brown hair then gripped harshly the move he sucked and pulled her nipples.

“E-eren, which room is the closest?” She tried to form a sentence as her moans were increasing.

“Mmmm my room is not that far from here.” His voice became raspy.

“Take me there.” She mewls when his finger makes way where her wet core is.

Eren chuckled how demanding she was being when she was at his mercy. “What’s wrong here? The night sky looks perfect for a passionate love making.” Just like the devil, he encouraged her to give in right here. His finger circles her clitoris teasingly. He could feel the amount of slick she produced. She was probably wet when they were dancing the Volta. He let his thumb attend to her clit while his two fingers entered into her hole to finger in a slow teasing pace. Natasha closed her eyes as she took in the pleasure he was giving. Her hips buck to rock against his fingers.

“Dollface, if you can contain yourself while I taste you, we’ll go to my room to resume our fortification.” He said then Eren pulled his fingers out to suck on them. She never disappoints him with how delicious she tastes.

He kneel down to the ground and place her leg on his shoulder. Her back leaned comfortably as her eyes gazed down to watch him lifting the hem of the dress. She bit down her lips when his tongue stroked her core. Subconsciously, her hand gripped and pulled his hair while he feast between her legs. This will be harder than she expected for her not making any noises. He continues to ravish her until a wave of orgasm rush into her. A small whimper escaped from her lips which Eren pulled away from her core then got up to take a look at his work. Her face was flushed while her chest rose up and down from regaining her breath. Her hair came undone. He felt satisfied in leaving her like this. His hands help pull down her dress. He helped tucked her breasts back into the top of her dress.

“Can you walk to my room?” He gave her a grin.

She glared playfully then smirked. “Of course I can.”

With that, both of them quickly walked to Eren’s room to finish off what they had started.

(Alexander)

He picked up his phone while it rang. Once the phone was answered, a breathless man began to speak.

“Sir, Subject 18 had escaped.” The Grandmaster frowned at this news.

“How did you let that happen? Your job was to make sure Subject 18 was locked with tight security. You have failed me. I will immediately take a leave back to Paradis. Once I arrive, you better find the culprit who let him escape.” His tone was dark as this news had ruined a perfect day in his villa home in Italy. Alexander hung up and sipped his wine trying to calm down. He will need another descendant to complete data if they can’t find Levi to bring him back. If his theory was true, the Eve had led the revolution to free humanity. With her memories, he could find a particular item to dominate the world.

A/N: If you guys needed an idea how the Volta dance looks like, I use the one in The Tudors where Anne and Henry danced together in a small gathering. You can find it on YouTube. Other than that, enjoy this chapter.

#eren jeager #jaegerists #oc female #OC: Natasha #sahsa braus #niccolo #sasha x niccolo #historia reiss #levi ackerman #crossver #Asassin's Creed #and others

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willkillforgoodmemories · 5 years ago

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Schools Re-imagined

Okay fellow guys, gays and ladies (all beings are invited), TODAY on quaran-talks (get it, quarantine but replace the tine with talks, never mind), we will be

“RE-IMAGINING SCHOOLS” (Mostly High school and it’s equivalents around the world)

so that they actually do their job and prepare us for the real world, which they haven’t. They have, however given me sleep-deprived days, traumatic memories and snakes for friends.

ASPECT NUMBER ONE

Changing when school starts. I mean, whose lovely idea was to start school at 8.00. Many schools also start schools at 8.30 but lord, imagine how happy we all will be if schools opened a little later.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the sleep requirement for teenagers is between 8-10 hours per night. That indicates that the earliest healthy wake-up time for teens should not be before 7 a.m.

I propose that schools start not earlier than 9.00 am. That way one does not have to bear with the absolute feeling of grogginess of completing tasks on auto-pilot (when you complete tasks by doing the bare minimum because your brain is not awake), not rushing through morning routines (rushing can cause stress and anxiety) and can start the day on a good note. All those you thrive on 3-4 hour naps, it is in no way healthy and in some ways, not even your mistake. Moving on,

ASPECT NUMBER TWO

The marvellous blame-game. The student is usually the pawn. Don’t get the concept while in class, the teacher will probably say that you weren’t listening.

Ma’am or Sir, it’s your job to make sure the students understand what you teach. Be patient and stop telling them it’s wrong if they don’t understand the concept.It won’t hurt if you take out some time and teach them the concept again.

If you don’t get the concept during homework and use the reference guide, the parents will usually say that they weren’t paying attention in class and should know it. The reference material was made for a reason, and that was so that the student could use it. If the student wasn’t able to understand in class, there is a high chance they would be able to understand it on their own with their own research. Don’t doubt a student’s ability, even a little pat on the back can go a long way. More on this later.

ASPECT NUMBER THREE

A very popular opinion is that schools kill creativity. They don’t out right kill it, they just suppress it until it never come backs. In other words, it’s there but not quite. (confusing, just like the world’s education system). If the student says a wrong answer, don’t outright say no or prompt the class to laugh at them. Question their understanding in a polite way. Promote creative thinking and finding different ways of solving problems. Creativity can be found in all subjects, you just need to find a will. Don’t suppress interests such as liking of a particular aesthetic, genre of music or style.

ASPECT NUMBER FOUR

There is no space for individuality. Uniforms are okay because you don’t have to go through the hassle of picking out clothes but limiting other choices such as style of hair, use of accessories and nail polish and colour of hair should not dictate what kind of a student they are. Teachers and Administration should not care about these things because every student needs their own way of showing creativity. These things do not dictate what kind of student they are. There is a common misconception that students who do the above mentioned things will distract students and disrupt the class. The students usually compliment or comment on it and move on with their day. The teachers, however will call them out, fine them, give them detention or some other kind of punishment. The only people that are getting distracted here is the staff who takes the time out of their day to call a student out on their mode of expression. All those teachers who support their students’ choices are pure gems and deserve all the love in the world.

ASPECT NUMBER FIVE

The ungodly amount of homework. This is an extension of ‘aspect number two.’ I along with many other teenagers believe that the homework should be limited to two hours a day. No, I don’t mean two hours per subject. I mean two hours total. It can be extended to 3.5 hours but not more than that. Take the example of a GCSE student. A normal student takes about 9-12 subjects. Depending on the intensity of the subjects,the student should spend about 15-20 minutes per subject. During tests and exam weeks, this can be bumped up to 5 hours but still, testing a student’s skills of memorization does not prepare them for the real world. After spending six hours in school, this time should be taken to go over material and identify weak points in their understanding, not increasing stress.

ASPECT NUMBER SIX

The unhealthy expectations which really effect a teenager’s mind, and not in a good way. Many people are out here judging a student who excels in art on it’s ability to do STEM subjects, and vice versa. That’s like judging a fish's ability to climb a tree. Let the student pursue what they like without a thought in their head, “what will everyone think of me.” As a human being, they’d support and not belittle your choices. Let them pursue what they like. If they get bad grades, ask them about it. Don’t start shouting. Teachers, do not announce grades in class, you are literally creating students who build up low self-esteem. How hard is it to understand that teenagers are human beings. They’ll learn. If a previously-gifted student gets a bad grade, don’t make them feel bad about it.

ASPECT NUMBER SEVEN

Actually take a stand on matters that make sense. Stop bullies, racists, homophobes and sexists. Don’t go around nit-picking students who have long nails and unkempt hair or uniform if you have these problems roaming around. That just says that you are only caring about your outer appearance at the expense that most of your students will grow up to be ignorant citizens. A teenager mirrors their surroundings and if you can create a positive surrounding, it’s your part towards a more understanding society.

ASPECT NUMBER EIGHT

WHO thought that giving extra homework on weekends would be a good idea. Like, WHY? Weekends should be for relaxation and for revising topics. Wouldn’t it make sense if students took time to, I don’t know, go over the work from the week. That way, the information can be retained for a longer time. I also present to you the idea of making open book tests the norm. What many schools don’t understand that not everyone can memorize entire books. A student who does well on assignments but not on exams clearly shows that they understand but can’t remember it. The real world clearly shows that you don’t need to remember things because resources will always be at your disposal. A student should know how to apply concepts because 85% of the stuff they learn in school is utterly useless in real life. The remaining 15% are basics of subjects which should be learned.

ASPECT NUMBER NINE

The schools either need counselors that actually do their job or teachers that are willing to go the extra mile. Counselors need to understand the students’ situation and help them. Don’t blame everything on the phone. (Phones are least of our problems). Normalize opposite-gender friendships. Lastly, with classes algebra and all that, wouldn’t also having classes like etiquette's, how to file taxes and other worldly classes actually help.

REVISED TIMETABLE

As per the guidelines above.

Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence -- meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm.

Sleep between 11:00-11.30 pm. Wake up at 7:45 am (Assuming you slept at 23.15 which is the halfway point, you got a sleep of 8.5 hours, which is healthy)Getting ready and having breakfast at a peaceful pace takes an average of 15 minutes. You will be done by 8:15 am. An average school commute takes about 30 minutes so you should have 15 minutes to spare before 8:30 am strikes and you leave for school.School starts at 9.00 am and ends at 3.00 pm. (Schools here last for 6 hours).Go for extra-curricular activities. On average, extra-curricular activities last for 1.5 hours so you should be free by 4.30-5.00 pm. That leaves you with 6 hours. Even if you take an hour long nap and take exactly 2 hours,no more or less for your homework, you will still be left with 3 hours of leisure. These 6 hours can be scheduled how ever you like.

Now compare it to my timetable that was in place before the lock down. I woke up 6.00 am (Usually woke up early to complete homework which was impossible to complete yesterday) Left home for school at 7.15 am, usually made up for sleep in the car.

Reached school by 7.45. School started at 7.50 am and went on till 2.00 pm. All extra curricular activities were suspended due to tests and exam prep. Reached home at 2.40 pm. (Was picked up from school at 2.10 pm because group assignments roles cannot be assigned in class for some stupid reason so a lot of work has to be done outside class).

Refresh and have lunch, start homework at 3.00 pm. Went on till 5.00 pm, took a 15-minute break and again continued till 9.00 pm (This is just homework). Picked up the assigned reading and assignments, that went on till 10.00 pm. Time with family till 10.45 pm.

These were the good days. The days I was assigned art homework were torture. I have gone to school with only 3 hours of sleep many weeks.

For a system that is suppose to help the students, the education system sure does hate students.

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forestwater87 · 5 years ago

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201X in Review: A journey of cringe and regrets

Realizing 2020 is really close and wanted to look back at the second (full) decade I’ve actually been alive for. I feel like either a huge amount of stuff has happened, or basically nothing’s happened, but there’s no middle ground.

2010:

Cringy 2010 photo: High school prom (in middle, dark green dress and...a face)

Junior in high school.

Had my first-ever Real Boyfriend(TM). (Pictured in above cringy photo.)

Had just ended an extremely toxic 12-year relationship and was still figuring out how to have friends.

Chemistry fucking SUUUUUCKED and I don’t miss it.

Had a super intense love for Megamind. I saw it minimum of 4 times in theaters and had a major crush on that blue lil nerd. (Began a personal grudge against both Tangled and Despicable Me for taking away its deserved spotlight, a resentment I have not yet gotten past 10 years later.)

Most regrettable 2010 memory: Getting way too intense about a new boyfriend and lowkey abandoning my friends. Not cool.

Most awesome 2010 memory: I have friends from back then I still love and keep in touch with (despite my abandoning them for a bit there). That’s pretty dang awesome.

2011:

Cringy 2011 photo: High school graduation with one of the most beautiful women in existence. (We’re still friends, and she’s still gorgeous.)

Graduated high school! (Gym fucking SUUUUUCKED and I don’t miss it.)

Fell in love with the college that was supposed to be a “safety school” and didn’t apply anywhere else, which means I can brag about having been accepted into 100% of the colleges I applied to.

Started at Ithaca College -- don’t say “it’s gorges,” it gets so old so fast -- and had a miserable first semester and an incredible second.

Started getting . . . uncomfortably involved in religious groups. (I mean, I’d been doing that since I was a kid, but it got kicked up to 11 in college.)

Most regrettable 2011 memory: Dressed as a “g***y” for Halloween. Fucking yikes.

Most awesome 2011 memory: Figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.

2012:

Cringy 2012 photo: Modeling first successfully completed knitting project. With bamboo needles because Ithaca is a hippie paradise.

Learned how to knit, entirely out of boredom in long lectures.

Technically started my tumblr experience, though it was only for a few months while I worked through some Shit by being in love with Loki from the Avengers (and THiddleston in general). Stayed on here just long enough to discover Achievement Hunter and Rooster Teeth, and never went back.

Broke up with first-ever Real Boyfriend(TM) and handled it so well I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder.

Got very deep in a religious group at IC, which was . . . not very healthy and could perhaps not inaccurately be described as “cultlike.” (I owe a major apology to everyone who knew me back then; I was very much a major bitch.)

Despite the previous two bullet points, this was the best year of my life up until that point. I lived next door to my two best friends in college, loved my major, and pretty much was confident that I had everything figured out.

Most regrettable 2012 memory: Writing a fan letter to Tom Hiddleston, which included a photo of me and my phone number. I was convinced my charm and wit would totally make him fall in love with me.

Most awesome 2012 memory: Pretty sure this is the year my love affair with RiffTrax began, too. I had a posse and we’d go see live shows together.

2013-2014:

Cringy 2013 photo: A blanket that I made and sent to Jennamarlbes for her dogs, because it was too small for people. Pretty sure it showed up in a video at one point.

Cringy 2014 photo: My awesome college roommates and I dressed up to give out candy to people’s dorms on Halloween. Reverse trick-or-treating: very fun, always recommended.

HA. So much for having anything figured out.

I don’t actually remember much of this period in my life, because I was navel-deep in a major religious crisis that would continue until . . . a couple months ago, basically? There was a lot of freaking out and trying to reconcile culty fundamentalism with the freewheeling pinko that lived deep inside and was trying to break free.

Lots of therapy, though. And med adjustments. Eventually figured out something that worked. Free campus counseling was the bomb though.

I do remember living in an apartment and cooking for myself for the first time, and also playing a lot of tabletop games with my roommates. (Also drinking. Lots of drinking.)

Oh shit, was this when I started that Drunk Librarian blog? I was trying really hard to be The Nostalgia Critic for books (ew), but I remember having a lot of fun with that. That was when my lifelong vendetta against John Green began.

Most regrettable 2013-2014 memory: Did I mention that the blanket I sent to Jenna included a letter? Did I mention that letter included some bible verses I thought she would appreciate????

Most awesome 2013-14 memory: Started a knitting club. It was just like 4 people hanging out and not knitting.

2015:

Cringy 2015 photo: Me being emaciated, makeup-smeared, and proudly showing off a collarbone piercing. That piercing has since rejected, but was in fact cute af.

Graduated college! Summa cum laude, bitches. (And an unfinished minor because I didn’t feel like taking the one (1) class I needed to graduate.)

Started library school and moved back home with parents. That was . . . an adjustment.

Changed library school “majors” halfway through my first year, after a lot of soul searching and panic attacks.

Had a short but catastrophic relationship with a man 9 years older than me (who was my pastor. Awkward). Religious crisis continued.

Got really skinny and hot because I was too miserable to eat. Dyed my hair red for the first time and looked basically like Ariel.

Discovered Party Hard and got really good at killing people.

Remembered how much I fucking love my parents’ dog:

Most regrettable 2015 memory: Being that person who “thought I could change him.”

Most awesome 2015 memory: Did you see how cute that dog is? His name is Oscar, after Oscar the Grouch.

2016:

Cringy 2016 photo: I had this huge thing for 1950s dresses for a while, complete with petticoats.

Grad school continued.

Religious crisis continued.

Therapy happens to deal with Things, is quickly dropped due to money and lack of shrink-chemistry.

Discovered a dumb little web cartoon with a teensy fanbase and no love for my favorite ship. Began work on a fanfic to correct this.

Finished a long-form fanfic for the first time in my entire life.

Virtually abandoned every other fandom to hyperfixate on this for the rest of my life.

Got super political, then super depressed. Quit Facebook because I realized I hate everyone I’m FB friends with.

Discovered Stardew Valley and never got anything done ever again.

Found Tumblr again (needed it to keep in touch with my first-ever beta reader, @raenbowsofficial) and turned into fandom and politics trash.

Most regrettable 2016 memory: Man, was I cocky about that Hillary Clinton winning the election. Oops.

Most awesome 2016 memory: I mean, CAMP CAMP. Obviously.

2017:

Cringy 2017 photo: My first day of work as a very bisexual-in-denial librarian.

Finished grad school and became a certified librarian (in NYS anyway)!

Got a job at a local college, including my own office!

Shaved half my head!

Moved into my own apartment and adopted a cat, fulfilling a goal over 7 years in the making!

Became friends with two of the most important people I’ve ever met. Visited one of them on a semi-impromptu 9-hour drive to Virginia and met IRL for the first time. First ever all-night solo trip, one of the best days of my life.

This might’ve been the year I got the VFD eye tattooed on my ankle, though I can’t swear to that.

Was part of my first long-form tabletop RPG with friends from college (and friends-of-friends). Was very emotional and also quite gay.

Rediscovered Megamind thanks to excellent fanfiction. That shit is still great.

Currently the best year I’ve ever had.

Most regrettable 2017 memory: I should’ve attended my graduation from library school instead of deciding it didn’t matter. It mattered a lot.

Most awesome 2017 memory: Seeing the-artist-formerly-known-as-ciphernetics in person.

2018:

Cringy 2018 photo: Um, apparently we don’t get one, because there’s an image limit to these posts. Lame.

Was laid off and took 6 months to find another full-time job. Spent most of that time depression-napping.

Said full-time job lasted 4 months before I ran like my shoes were on fire, because it was morally . . . suspicious and left me borderline suicidal.

Got very fat because I was too miserable to stop eating.

Had to cut my hair so I would look “professional.” Looked like my ex-boyfriend. My mom said I “looked like a Trump supporter.” To-date the meanest thing anyone’s ever said to me.

Moved back in with my parents due to not-having-job-ness (got to bring the cat, though).

Lost parents’ health insurance and had to pay for my own. Discovered health insurance is ridiculously expensive.

Became super left-leaning thanks to the power of Tumblr and Youtube (and possibly that super expensive health insurance thing).

Writing came to a virtual standstill, though I managed to organize and actually finish participating in all of Gwenvid Week (for the first time).

Two weeks after quitting the job from hell and three weeks after moving back in with the parents, I was offered my old position back. Accepted. Was once again a college librarian.

Most regrettable 2018 memory: Knowing I didn’t want the nightmare job and accepting it anyway. Might’ve been the only choice, but it caused a lot of unhappiness.

Most awesome 2018 memory: The day I was laid off, I hopped on a plane and went to fucking Disney World. Because why not?

2019:

Started work again. Finally (mostly) stopped having panic attacks about being fired/laid off out of the middle of nowhere around 8 months into new job.

Fewer paper cuts than expected.

Accidentally became associated with dinosaurs at work, despite not having any sort of special affinity for dinosaurs.

Did develop a deep and abiding affinity for octopus. Also elephants.

Took cat to doctor. Cat didn’t enjoy doctor. Cat is now 8 lbs. and 14 oz. She is big girl.

Rediscovered the joy of reading again. Newly discovered that mysteries actually can be pretty awesome, and read barely anything else all year. (Personal recommendations: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers.)

So. Many. Youtube. Video. Essays.

Discovered Stardew Valley mods and eventually broke 3k hours of playtime.

Napped frequently. Panicked less frequently. It’s a step in the right direction.

Most regrettable 2019 memory: This post sure is long and over-share-y, isn’t it? Didn’t even include a cut so you could more easily scroll past my face. Inconsiderate, is what that is.

Most awesome 2019 memory: This one is pretty good. Right now.

2020:

???

Profit.

#all right the 2010s were weird #random forest ramblings about my life i guess #here you go

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the-silly-hippy · 5 years ago

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Can you afford being healthy?

So let’s say my goal is to have optimal health, both physical and mental, what should I do? Off the top of my head I’m thinking gym, organic food, green smoothies, psychotherapy, social life, maybe supplements. All of which sound very expensive compared to staying at home watching TV and eating corndogs. So for a long time, I thought I couldn’t afford taking care of my health. But then I had to, so I got creative.

Health is an investment

The first thing to keep in mind is that taking care of your health now will save you money (and trouble) in the future. Being sick is expensive: medication, hospital bills, missing work, etc. I try to remember that every time time I want to go for McDonalds instead of.. anything else really.. to save a buck.

Time to hang out with friends

Taking care of your mental health also means having a social life and leisure. What do you need for that? Time. Why don’t you have enough time? Mostly because of work. Why do you have to work so much? Because life is so fucking expensive. So my logic is: if I need less things, and if I spend less on things I have to buy, that means more time for me. I’ll summarize this in two words: thrift stores and simplicity.

First, go for simplicity

Try to buy less stuff and when you want to buy, ask yourself if you really need it, that’s basic. To avoid feeling in a place of scarcity and lack, think of something you really do want, and make it your goal, your reward. So instead of thinking “I shouldn’t buy this, I don’t absolutely need it. That sucks, I can’t have anything nice

” You could shift that to: “If I don’t buy this dress that I probably wouldn’t wear much, it means I’m $45 closer my trip to Bali :D”. Consistently doing this keep you exited about your goal because, how often do we want to buy things we don’t really need? That’s right, you’ll have your reward in mind very often.

Simplicity in your products

I think that a good first step to take towards health is eliminate toxicity. To do that, what often makes sense is to simplify: go for foods that have the less ingredients, or that are totally unprocessed. Same goes for cosmetics. Look for products that only contain a few ingredients that you can recognize, or if you’re so inclined, you can even make them yourself, thus, saving more money. So, weather it goes on your body or in your body, a healthy and cost effective solution is to buy ingredients in bulk and start cooking.

Save on food and reduce food waste with apps

Get this: you install an app on your phone (Flashfood is one but I’m sure there are a couple others), and it shows you products that are close to expiration date that groceries near you are selling at a discounted price. I can’t stand seeing food go to waste, and my cheap ass just loves save 50%, so this concept really is pure gold for me. These apps allow me to have access to meat that I couldn’t normally afford, which allows me to pursue my quest for the best diet for my body (I used to be a vegan, I’m now on an API diet, what’s next?!). You can find vegetables, bakery, seafood, anything. I’d say I buy 80% of my groceries through these apps now. Buying in bulk and cooking? Well that is possible with the apps. Having a truck load of bell peppers will sure spark your creativity, as you have to use them before they go bad.

Freeze food

That brings us to the freezer. If you can get a second-hand freezer (I suppose some models consume less electricity, you might want to look for these), that might be the best investment you make this year. Because if you’re half as obsessed as I am about health and simplicity, there’s just not enough room in your standard freezer for all that healthy food you’ll buy at a 50% discount. See where this is going? Buy basic ingredients in bulk, cook huge batches, freeze portions. You saved time and money and you get to eat as healthy as you want to.

DIY your skin and hair products

You’re lucky there is a big trend on DIY products right now, so recipes are easy to find for pretty much everything you want to make. There are some ingredients that have multiple uses, like castille soap or baking soda for instance, so these are a good choice for a starter kit. I tried making solid shampoo and I must say it’s very satisfying to successfully wash your hair with a shampoo you made with your own two hands! And to know you’re not sending chemicals in the water, and in your scalp. And not buying another plastic bottle. And throwing it away when empty. The shampoo bar cost approximately $7 and will last for.. I dunno like ten million showers. I also make my own face serum with two ingredients: jojoba oil and tea tree. Speaking of oil (sweet almond in this case), it’s the best and cheapest makeup remover, period. I used to buy very expensive natural face care products but I was frustrated that there was no visible improvement of my skin. I wanted to test them on half my face for a couple months to demonstrate how ineffective they actually were but I never had the required discipline. If you don’t see noticeable improvement in your face after using a product for a while, stop buying that shit and just rub your face with oil. Because the one you’re buying probably contains mostly oil anyway and the rest of the fancy ingredients are probably in traces amount and completely useless. And don’t even get me started on the non-natural products. Ew.

Get rid of plastic

They say (the same “they” I always talk about when I don’t have sources) that if you store food in plastic containers of drink out of plastic bottles, plastic gets in your body and can cause health problems, hormone imbalance and whatnot. A good alternative are glass containers. The tupperware style with lids can be pricey if you buy them new, so the strategy here is: no stress, buy just a couple at a time when you find them at the salvation army and gradually eliminate the plastic ones. When I say eliminate I mean re-purpose or give to good will. As good hippies, let’s try to produce less waste! There’s also the very trendy mason jar, so practical to store food and – Pinterest shows us every day – anything you can think of.

Drink the best possible water

I’ve heard that tap water contains traces of birth control pills, antidepressants, antibiotics, etc. I don’t have the expertise to know if it’s true but it did scare me. I’m the kind of hippie that will avoid taking a small innocent ibuprofen if I can. I don’t want drugs in my body, unless it’s going to be fun and psychedelic. I certainly have a lack of scientific evidence about traces of drugs in the city’s water supply but my nose and taste buds tell me that chlorine isn’t something I should drink. There’s also fluoride in the water, that is arguably bad for you. These are the reasons I decided to stop drinking tap water. What are the alternatives? I had a Brita but it doesn’t eliminate much of the bad stuff. Plus, it’s made of plastic. The high quality water filters are just ridiculously expensive so my only option was to buy bottled water. Not small bottles, the big ones that are reused when you bring them back to the store. It felt weird to buy water when there’s plenty in the tap but, my god, does it taste better. And I’ve read it hydrates you better too. Hydration is a key component of health, that’s for sure, so if you can’t afford to buy water, still, drink a liter a day, you’ll be healthier than if you let yourself dry like a raisin. I hesitated to make that water bottle move for a bit because I thought I needed to buy a water dispenser, but it turns out I don’t need it at all. I just leave the bottle on the counter and I got used really quickly to flip that giant heavy thing. Now I can pour myself a shot glass of water without spilling a drop. No need to buy a machine. Also, it’s best to drink it at room temperature, and it’s empty within a week of two so I figure it doesn’t have time to grow bacteria, or algae or whatever happens to water when you let it sit.

Sleeping is free

We underestimate the role that sleep has to play in our health so we often neglect it, but a good sleep hygiene can make a huge difference in your energy level, I’ve experienced it. I was always tired, couldn’t get through the day without a nap, couldn’t concentrate, I was unable to get up in the morning. Then a doctor prescribed that I take melatonin every night at 6 pm for two weeks, go to bed at 10, wake up at 7 and blast a light therapy lamp in my face for half an hour every morning. I did that and guess what? It. Worked. I didn’t follow the exact hours he prescribed and I’m not sure the melatonin had a good effect on me so I only took it for a couple days. So I think what does the trick is consistently waking up at the same time each morning, regardless of what time you go to bed. Occasionally I get only four hours of sleep and usually the next day I’d be unable to function. Now that I wake up at regular hours, I can go through the day and have so much energy that I even forget I got only 4 hours of sleep. A phrase he said about staying in bed later to catch up on you sleep stuck with me: it’s too hard for the system. It had not occurred to me that it could be difficult for the body to change its sleep schedule. I thought “as long as I get 8 hours I’m fine” or even “the more sleep the better, I’ll sleep 12 hours today”. So if you happen to have sleep problems, irregular sleep pattern or fatigue, set an alarm and get some light in the morning, see what happens. Hopefully your body will adjust to the schedule and you won’t need the alarm after a week, and your mornings will be less painful. Another thing I didn’t take seriously was avoiding blue light in the evening. But it turns out it’s serious, it really does mess with your natural sleep hormones. So I installed f.lux on all my screens. It’s an app that will cut the blue light out of your screen according to the time of day. My screen is yellow right now because I’m too silly to go to bed at a normal time, I prefer to write a blog post. I used to binge watch TV on my computer very late in the night and not feel tired. I realized after installing the app that it was the blue light that was keeping me up. Now I watch an episode and start to yawn, so that’s a good thing, less TV.

Meditation is free

According to every damn article I read or podcast I listen to, meditation is one of the healthiest thing you can do. Good news: all you have to do is sit there and breathe. Now that, you can afford. No time? A minute a day is still better than nothing. If you need a little help to begin, there are tons of free apps you can install. I use Breathe and Calm, which also has some nice sleep stories.

Functional training

Exercising at home requires more discipline, at least in my experience, but if you can pull it off, it means more money in your pocket. You don’t necessarily need those machines to have an effective workout. The weight of your body will do. Remember those good old push ups? Yep. YouTube will help you find some exercises ideas for what part of your body you want to work out. Weights can be found easily at thrift stores. Elastic bands offer multiple possibilities and are not too expensive. Cardio is important too so if running outside isn’t an option, because breathing smog will annihilate any benefits of working out, for instance, maybe look for a stationary bike in the ads.

You can still party

Even if you’ve decided that for health reasons, alcohol, sugar and carbs are to avoid, you can still allow yourself to have them every once in a while. Just don’t binge, and limit the damage. For example, I drink on rare but meaningful occasions and I choose low sugar and gluten free drinks like vodka-soda or gin-soda. That’s the protecting my health part, now for the protecting my wallet. Go to the liquor store and find the best value alcohol. Not the will-make-you-go-blind kind of alcohol, because that’s not healthy. Usually a big-ass bottle of average quality vodka will be a good price to quantity ratio, and will give you an occasion to let go of what the cashier thinks of you as a person. Vodka is pretty much tasteless so that leaves you more drinks possibilities. (plus, you can DIY perfume using vodka: avoiding chemicals on your skin and saving $200, yay)! Sugar in food now. It’s always best to choose natural sugars like honey, instead or refined sugar, or use stevia. Man, stevia is the best: it tastes like sugar, but it’s not. It’ll make your food taste sweet and do zero damage. Buy in a giant bottle to save money. Hell, you could even grow your own stevia plant! Let’s go crazy! You can also pour a drop in your vodka. Now that’s starting to look like a party to me! The use of the word honey and saving money just made me think of a fine browser extension you can use for online shopping. It’s called Honey and it can notify you when a product you watch goes on sale. It can also find and apply coupon codes for you. Here’s the only referral link in this article: my link to Honey. So, where were we. Sugar. When I stopped eating sugar, I bought dark unsweetened chocolat in bulk, thinking it would taste like dark 70% chocolate. Oh, was I wrong. It tastes bitter. That’s the only thing you’ll taste in sugar free dark chocolate. But it’s cheap to buy in bulk and I can control what goes into it, so from time to time I like to melt some in a pan, add stevia and eat that with bananas.

Let’s talk! What are your secrets to stay healthy and how do you afford it?

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story-the-world · 5 years ago

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Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is an amazing city. One of my favorites. The architecture of Paris, the nightlife of Barcelona, the culture of Latin America and the food.. the food of the best steak houses in New York City. I spent 20 days in BA, and loved every minute of it. Below are my 3 must do’s and 1 skip for the city of Buenos Aires. See my other posts on Patagonia, Mendoza and the Iguazu falls for more on Argentina!

Must do’s:

1. Tango show & steak dinner (but not together!).

I think all the popular shows listed on other websites (https://www.solsalute.com/blog/best-tango-shows-in-buenos-aires or https://www.buenosairestogo.com/things-to-do/which-is-the-best-tango-show-in-buenos-aires) are generally good… they vary by production value, size and skill level - similar to ranking Broadway shows. We went to 2 shows (Madero Tango and Tango La Ventana). Madero Tango had really impressive dancing and was a bigger venue. The views of the water are great. After the show they do a little tango lesson for anyone that wants to stick around. They also push the Casino on you – which we went to after our lesson. Overall good experience. Tango La Ventana was in a smaller setting and had the band right on stage. The production value wasn’t as good, but watching the band interact with the performers made the show more enjoyable for me. Either way – do not get the dinner. There are so many good places to eat in BA that you should not settle for the ‘wedding style’ food at the performances. Get dinner and drinks before, then enjoy the show and a bottle of wine.

As far as steak dinners go, there are too many good places to name. I went to Don Julio (twice). They do a really good steak. Don’t worry about reservations, go a bit early (around 8pm) put your name in, and enjoy the free Champaign on the sidewalk while you wait. There is also a cool wine bar Vinosfera Wine Gallery down the street if your wait is longer than an hour. El Nuevo Castel's is a more local spot where the steak is good and cheap. You won’t get many tourists here – which is refreshing. Parrilla Cero5 is a good spot – in the center of town – and more of a traditional steak house. Finally, Café San Juan is a ‘contemporary’ steak house, with a cool open kitchen and good atmosphere. Again, these are the places I went, but in Argentina, you can’t go wrong with steak and red wine.

2. Afternoon in San Telmo/La Boca (especially on a Sunday)

Something that I really enjoyed doing – and you don’t need an agenda. San Telmo market is a great spot to grab some lunch and look at the shops. It is open every day – however – on Sunday the streets around the market turn into a sort of ‘sidewalk sale.’ The Market Burger, La Fabrica del Taco and Hoboken Beer Point are all good spots in the market for food. Plaza Dorrego is cool to check out – and will also have the ‘sidewalk sale’ going on.

After San Telmo, you can continue to walk down towards Parque Lezama – we made a stop at Napoles for a drink which has a pretty unique inside. Eventually, if you keep walking you will get down to the La Boca neighborhood. Cool graffiti, and local atmosphere. We were able to get dinner from a few people grilling on the street. There are also some good bars in the area to grab a beer. Area is safe and fun. While we were there a parade was going on (which seemed pretty typical for the area).

3. Night out bar hopping in Palarmo

Palarmo is the ‘hipster’ area of BA. The ‘Brooklyn’ if you will. This is where most of the new bars/restaurants are, and where a lot of the younger crowd hangs out. Here you will find no shortage of ‘craft beer and burger’ bars and ‘speakeasy’ style cocktail lounges. That said, it is worth checking out a few places and spending a night hopping between bars and restaurants. Some of my favorites were: Post Street Bar - Graffiti Bar - I liked this place a lot - cool art and an upstairs. Rey de Copas/ Boticario/ Parque Bar Botanico – cocktail lounges. I like Rey de Copas because of its upstairs rooftop. Temple Palarmo / DIGGS Armenia – expat bars with a good vibe (and more outdoor seating). Uptown – New York inspired bar with a real NYC subway car.

Can skip:

1. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Café Tortoni, and the Plaza de Mayo and La Casa Rosada

I am not a big museum guy, and the thought of walking through the ‘national museum’ – especially on a beautiful day does not appeal to me. There are plenty of other parts of the city that have much cooler exhibits and are a bit off the grid. Instead of going to these ‘tourist’ destinations, I would skip and plan activities at some of the other – lesser known – but still super fun attractions: Palarmo race track/polo grounds; Ricoletta cemetery; Ricoletta cultural center - this was actually one of my favorite places - it has art exhibits, a terrace, a bar, classes and movies - really cool space and good place to hang out for an afternoon; Microteatro – mini theater/bar; Bars in the old railway tunnels (Avant Garten); Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur - for a relaxing walk and views of the water (pro tip - bring a picnic!); Cooking class - cookly is a good website, you can also try AirBnB experiences.

Other places that are worth checking out:

Coffee: Viva Cafe/La Noire Cafe/Full City Coffee house - good spots to sit, get breakfast, have a cold brew and catch up on admin

Healthy Lunch: Cafe Registrado - get the Limonada here (or anywhere). It is like a fresh mojito without alcohol

Bars: Doppelganger Bar - best martini in BA - hands down

Other notes:

-No one in our group spoke good Spanish and we were able to get by. It helps to know the basics - some verbs/vocab words ('where is' 'do you have'...), but nothing beyond that. A lot of people will have a very basic knowledge of English - and if all else fails, use google translate.

- I was there in the fall (spring in the US) and it was 75 and sunny most days in BA. Highly recommend this time of year. Based on what people said there (and the Bourdain episode) things are a bit calmer in the city in January (think less things open, less nightlife) - as lots of locals take holiday. It is also VERY HOT in January.

- Uber stinks there. It works, but for some reason drivers do not like picking people up (especially foreigners). From the airport always use Taxi as your Uber will cancel on you. I would use Taxi as much as possible - only downside is you need cash.

- Cash is a nightmare. Most ATM's will only allow you to take out the equivalent of $100 USD and they charge either a $5 (Link ATMs) or $10 (Banco ATMs) fee. Also, lots of ATMs will have long lines and run out of money. We brought USD to exchange, but the line at the bank was so long we all just used our Schwab cards and took out money each day. Most newer establishments take credit (and things that are expensive like fancy restaurants definitely do) but lots of local spots and taxis are only cash. If you read about a black market - those sites are out of date - Argentina is now on a global exchange rate and the banks are just as good as 'black market' rates.

- SUBE is the subway and its super easy to use. Only thing is you need to first buy a card outside the station (at the equivalent of a 7-11 store) - look for the SUBE sign. Once you have the card, you can top up in any station, and the rides are around 30 cents. Traffic is really bad - especially around 5-8pm so highly recommend taking the subway during that time vs. cabs.

- One last thing, BA is a LATE city. Embrace the siesta culture. Get up and do some activities in the morning - take a nap - grab dinner around 10 and head to the bars around midnight. It sounds late but after a few days there, you get used to it. And its not just 20 somethings out to party, its whole families that get dinner at 1am, have wine, and dance well into the night.

#buenosaires #ba #travel #storytheworld #travelblogger

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relenafanel · 7 years ago

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Fic: The Day-Drinking, Sugar-Baby Detective Agency

This unrepentant piece of crack is for @ellebeesknees for her birthday. Based on a convo about these assholes:

And how they’d fuck their way to the top and then get bored without mental stimulation.

[note: I changed Will Franklyn to Bucky just because. Contains Stucky, and Thorki, and murder]

x.x.x.x.

"Can I be offended if I think she's cheating on me?" Bucky asked, balancing his phone between his ear and his shoulder as he poured a splash more rum into his mojito.

"Rum makes you maudlin," Loki reminded him, his voice tinny over speakerphone. There was the sound of water sloshing in the background, so either he was taking a bath, already by the pool, or his drink was larger than Bucky's was.

"And vodka makes me paranoid."

"So drink a beer."

"I haven't had vodka today," Bucky pointed out. "What I've had is no sex in 13 days and one obligatory phone call. If she's not cheating on me -- and her husband -- then she's rapidly losing interest."

There was a shhhhlct sound over the phone.

"Are you shaving?" Bucky asked in disbelief.

"Maybe some of us have let ourselves go," Loki pointed out in a dispassionately catty tone. "But not all of us have the luxury of not putting in the effort daily."

"Ok, whatever," Bucky rolled his eyes. "You know half of it you do for your own exacting preferences." It was an odd friendship between them borne from a game of 'younger relative or paid entertainment' played during a tediously monotonous party.

"Not all of us can get away with just trimming our pubes so our dicks look bigger and more uniform."

"Yeah, but not all of us get to just lie there and take it."

Loki was silent for a moment and then changed the subject, more of a sign that he was acknowledging the accuracy of that statement than verbally agreeing would be. "Do you have a back up plan if this goes south?"

"I have three. Lady Platten thinks I'm sweet."

Loki snorted. "All her wealth is tied into her late husband's estate."

Well. Not everyone could have a back up plan that included moving back into their childhood bedroom and still maintain their lifestyle. If Bucky was on his own he'd have to rely on his one published book to support him. He'd be living in a studio apartment and eating ramen in no time.

"Maybe I'll see if your mom wants company,” he told Loki.

"It'd be good for her," Loki agreed. "I will pay you to seduce my mother from my own trust fund."

Bucky made a face. That backfired.

x.x.x.

Loki called Bucky often, but he rarely called Bucky and demanded that he come over immediately for an emergency. Loki might be dramatic but he also liked his space, and he definitely wasn’t the type who needed suggestions on what to wear, so Bucky found himself responding by driving over to the large house in the richer part of town. Where they lived, parts of town were rich.

"What is it?" Bucky hissed after Loki gestured for him to be quiet the moment he opened the ornate door.

"Shut up," Loki said in a normal voice and then pulled Bucky through the door. He hadn't been to Loki's lover's house often. It was a huge monstrosity that made Bucky think of dick comparisons. His girlfriend's dick was smaller than Loki's boyfriend's. Loki's family had the biggest dick of all. It wasn’t really a secret that most of society figured Loki was slumming. "He's dead," Loki said, slamming the door behind him.

"Who?" Bucky asked in concern, his tone softening. Loki didn't get along with his family, but Bucky thought it was because he cared too much in an odd way. If someone was dead then Loki would be distraught, and it definitely explained why he’d call Bucky over. “Your father.”

"No," Loki corrected him impatiently. "He's dead."

Then he gestured across the open marble entryway into the living room, where there was a dead body very visible even from this distance. It took Bucky eighteen steps to cross over and look into the room. Then he stared at the body lying face down on the ground, completely naked. Blood had soaked through into the lush carpet, and it was dark as though it had time to dry. "Oh." Bucky said, and thought about how he could use this for his next book. "Gross."

“Gross?” Loki echoed, incredulously. “You’re the one who wrote about someone being impaled. I figured you’d be better with blood.”

“I didn’t realize you read my book,” he responded, walking around the body, careful not to touch the blood. “Did you check for a pulse?”

“Be more helpful,” Loki snapped.

“I didn’t even realize he could die,” Bucky pointed out, skirting the blood splatter. “He always seemed like the kind of asshole who could live forever.”

“I was here,” Loki said, his wringing his hands in that subconscious way he did when he actually was upset. “We fucked this morning, and when I finished showering he was gone, so I took a nap.”

“For 8 hours?”

“I know what it looks like,” Loki answered. “I didn’t do it.” He grabbed Bucky’s arm. “I’m not lying. You need to help me hide the body.”

Bucky considered that, rationally. He looked down at the body. He looked at the stained white carpet. He thought of the amount of staff wandering around the building. “We need to call the police.”

“No,” Loki said.

x.x.x.

Lieutenant Steve Rogers had a soft, sympathetic face. He didn’t blink when Loki bluntly said that the dead man was his sugar daddy, a term neither of them particularly used often because they weren’t into the kink of the term. He also didn’t treat either of them differently afterwards as he took their statements. His partner was a lot less respectful.

“I’ll be honest,” he told Loki after closing his notebook. The body had been removed from the room by the ME’s office. Bucky had heard someone mention that it looked like a poker from the ornate fireplace was missing. “It doesn’t look good for you. It would be wise if you started looking for a lawyer. A good one.”

Loki started laughing. He stood and paced over to the wetbar and poured himself a healthy sized drink, downing it in a few smooth gulps. “A good lawyer,” he repeated, and poured himself another glass.

Officer Rogers raised an eyebrow towards Bucky.

“His brother is Thor Odinson,” Bucky inserted.

It was the first time Lieutenant Rogers reacted to anything outwardly. “I know Thor,” he said.

“I imagine all of you know Thor,” Loki answered, saluting both of them with his half-full tumbler before drinking that glass down as well.

x.x.x.

Loki showed up at Bucky’s condo holding four shopping bags and wearing a scowl. “I just came from Odinson’s office,” he said, pushing his way through the door. He continued walking across the living room and down the hallway, dumping his bags in the spare room he sometimes slept in while drunk.

“It looks like you just came from Macy’s,” Bucky said.

Loki sneered like Bucky had said ‘Walmart’. “Yes, well, half my credit cards are currently frozen, and I’m not allowed back in the house. I’ll need clothes, and excuse me but I’m not wearing your spare pyjamas.”

Bucky had thought Loki would go home, not squat in his spare bedroom. “What did your lawyer say?” he ventured, sure Loki’s black mood couldn’t get any worse.

“After he finished laughing?” Loki snapped. “He told me I was screwed in a cheerful tone and then told me he’d save me in trial.”

Thor Odinson was one of the best defense lawyers in the country. Every time they were in the same room as each other, Loki verbally decimated him.

“Which means,” Loki continued in his sly, but stubborn tone. It was the same voice he used when he was plotting out which rich person he was going to seduce next. Bucky had a bad feeling about this. “I’ll have to make sure this never goes to trial. The police are useless, so I’ll have to solve it myself.”

Yep. There it was.

x.x.x.

Being Loki’s roommate in a one-bathroom condo was an arduous experience. He had a nightly routine and a morning routine, and in between both Bucky had been sleeping. Bucky felt like he was going to spend his life in a perpetual state of needing to piss and getting beat to the bathroom. He may as well be living with Becca.

“Ok,” Bucky said, uncapping the top of a whiteboard marker. He wrote “poker?” on the glass door leading out to his balcony. He’d been using the surface to plot out his second book, but it had been 6 months since he’d looked at it. “Did you notice it was missing?” he asked. Loki was just finishing making a batch of mimosas for their breakfast.

“Of course I did,” Loki said. “Someone gets stabbed and the first thing people do is look around for a weapon. There weren’t many other things in the room that could break skin.”

Bucky wrote the word Weapon on top of poker. He then stepped a foot over and wrote Motive? on the glass. Then below that he put Money? and then Enemies?

“Rich people always have enemies. I didn’t pay that much attention.”

“Ok,” Bucky said, and circled the word poker. “How are we going to find this, then?”

“I have some ideas.”

x.x.x.

Bucky had to call Lieutenant Rogers after the two of them found the missing poker in a dumpster two miles away from the house. Bucky couldn’t smell anything but garbage, his pants were covered in something noxious, and his white sneakers were stained with muddy water and grosser things. He’d probably need to take 8 showers and bathe in tomato juice just to smell normal again.

Loki looked just as awful as he did, but he also looked unbearably pleased with himself. Bucky had no idea how Loki lived the kind of charmed life that meant stubborn perseverance and a half-witted idea actually payed off.

“I’d ask how you knew,” Rogers said, observing the two of them as someone wrapped the poker in plastic behind him and started processing the scene. “But the two of you look like you’ve spent the day poking your heads in dumpsters.”

“Fascinating,” Loki replied in a deadpan. “You have basic observational skills.” Then his eyes narrowed at the alley entrance where an attractive man in an expensive suit was loitering. “Excuse me.”

“Don’t mind Loki,” Bucky told Lieutenant Rogers. “That’s just his personality. It grows on you.”

“I’m glad you called me,” Lieutenant Rogers said, and his handsome face looked so earnest that Bucky couldn’t take the words as anything other than genuine. “I didn’t expect you to keep the card.”

That had been one fight Loki lost, and Bucky figured the only reason he’d capitulated to calling the cops was how bad it would look if he took the poker himself. The cops had access to fingerprint databases and the like. “A handsome man like you?” Bucky asked and grinned.

Lieutenant Rogers blushed. “If I warned the two of you off of investigating this on your own, would you listen?”

Bucky didn’t bother denying it. He looked at Loki, who was leaning close to his brother and had his ‘mean and baiting’ expression on his face. Bucky had seen Loki in action when he’d been trying to secure himself a boyfriend higher in society the year before. He’d seen a lot of expressions. “No, sorry.”

x.x.x.

Bucky returned from visiting his girlfriend to find Loki sitting on the couch looking at printouts from something that was clearly pictures he’d taken from his phone. Mentally, Bucky sighed, and wondered if he wanted to ask.

“What are those?” he asked.

“The Grandmaster’s ledger,” Loki said, sipping at his drink and crossing his legs casually. “He wasn’t very good at keeping records. I’ve already picked out four discrepancies, and I’m only on page 13. I think his accountant was stealing 0.5% a month. Not enough to really raise red flags, but enough to afford a nicer apartment. Good for him.”

Sometimes Bucky forgot that the reason they got along was that they were both more intelligent than the people around them, but then Loki never really let anyone forget that he was singular. “Did you break into the house?”

“I have a key,” Loki pointed out in a clear ‘these incompetent idiots didn’t change the locks’ tone. “It’s hardly breaking in.”

God, they were both going to go to jail. Bucky sighed out loud. “We should tell the police.”

“You can tell Lieutenant Sexy if you want.” Loki gave him a knowing look and took another sip from his drink. “I haven’t found anything that points to a reason for murder. If anything, I’ve just found a lot of reasons to keep the man alive for as long as possible.”

Bucky pulled out his phone so he could give Lieutenant Sexy a call. That name was definitely going to stick. “It hardly points to murder,” Rogers said once he heard Bucky out. Loki’s face did his insufferably smug expression that made Bucky grit his teeth. “But there might be something there. Can Loki provide me with the combination for the safe?”

Bucky looked at Loki. “Numerical representations on a keypad of the words Purple Rain,” Loki said in a bored tone.

“I’m on speaker?” Rogers inquired, and Bucky could almost hear the raised eyebrow. “Stay out of the house, Loki.”

“Absolutely, Lieutenant Sexy,” Loki said. “Best behaviour, cross my heart.”

“Goodbye, Bucky,” Rogers said, and it sounded like he was trying not to laugh. Bucky liked him a bit more for that.

“So that’s your type,” Loki mused once Bucky hung up the phone. “Rich women and men who know how to use their guns.”

x.x.x.

Bucky made the unfortunate discovery the next day that Loki’s type was Thor Odinson. The sight of them making out on Bucky’s couch would forever be seared into his eyelids.

x.x.x.

Bucky didn’t think it was a good idea to go to the funeral, but Loki lived for drama, and Bucky secretly enjoyed drama, and so the two of them put on their nicest suits and went to the party.

The night was kind of a blur of the two of them being side-eyed, alcohol, and Loki elbowing someone so hard in the solar plexus it sounded like a rib cracked. After that, he had no idea how he ended up pressed against his best friend’s side in the back of Lieutenant Sexy’s police car. Bucky feared he might have called the man. His crush was becoming detrimental to his lifestyle.

“It’s natural to be upset,” Lieutenant Rogers said to Loki. “Just stop maiming people who call you a murderer, and everything might be ok.”

“I’m not upset,” Loki corrected. “I’m inconvenienced. The old bastard had to go get murdered before I could move on.”

“We’re considering money as a motive.”

Loki visibly rolled his eyes. Bucky could feel it.

“Which means,” Lieutenant Rogers continued with a sharper tone. “You’ve moved down the suspect list. Your personal net worth is only about ten million less than your boyfriend’s had been.”

Only? Christ. How rich was Loki?

Lieutenant Rogers and Bucky’s eyes met in the rear-view mirror and they shared a ‘can you believe that ridiculous sentence?’ moment.

x.x.x.

On day seven of staring at the whiteboard, Bucky had an epiphany. Loki had just emerged from the bathroom, and the living room smelled of steam, his shampoo, and enough body lotion to drown a small child.

Bucky had ended up pissing in the kitchen sink, and he was pretty furious about it. Not that he ever washed dishes, but that wasn’t the point.

“Maybe we’re thinking about this wrong?” Bucky suggested as he stared the murder board with a scowl. The word Weapon and Motive were blurring together. “What if Jeff Goldblum wasn’t the target?”

“Who do you suggest, then?” Loki asked, pursing his lips. The drink in his hand went mostly untouched. “Me?”

Bucky raised his eyebrows. “To ruin you and get you sent to jail? Yeah, that could be a motive.”

“Ah.” Loki considered it. It looked like he was doing complex math in his head, like the meme. “Call Lieutenant Sexy. I know who did it, then.”

x.x.x.

“I’m single,” Bucky blurted out over the phone when Lieutenant Rogers personally called him to let him know Loki’s suggestions had panned out. “I mean, I have a girlfriend who bought me my condo and who expects me to service her once a week, but for the rest of the time I’m single.”

“Oh,” Rogers answered, sounding surprised. “I didn’t realize you were interested in men.”

“I’m more nuanced than that,” Bucky said. Mostly he just liked people who could protect him. It wasn’t that nuanced at all. “Do you want to go out sometime?”

“Sure,” Rogers answered, which also surprised Bucky, because he’d basically outright outlined the fact that he wouldn’t be giving up his lifestyle in order to date and Lieutenant Sexy was ok with that. “Do you like mini golf?”

“I’m crap at it,” Bucky said.

“Me too, but the place here has the best ice cream and a nice view of the ocean.”

“I love ice cream,” Bucky replied with a grin he could feel in his cheeks.

“I’m off on Tuesday,” Rogers replied.

“Tuesday it is, then.”

x.x.x.

“I’m moving in with my brother,” Loki told him, throwing all his new clothing into a plastic bag. “Give these to charity,” he said, then looked Bucky up and down. “Or keep them.”

Bucky rolled his eyes and wondered: Was Thor the love of Loki’s life or another sugar daddy to piss his family off?

He also wondered if Loki even knew.

“Don’t think about it too hard,” Loki replied. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 4pm—” which was practically mid-morning for them. “We’ll go see who else your girlfriend is up to.”

“I’ve never been on a stakeout before,” Bucky mused. “And we are good at this.”

“If we can solve a murder, an adulteress should be simple.” Then Loki grinned, sly and like he was enjoying himself. “Bring drinks.”

#the day drinking sugar baby detective agency #stucky #thorki #bucky barnes #loki laufeyson #fanfiction: drabble

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idontlikesummer · 6 years ago

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Japan Trip 2018 (Kansai)

Back from Japan again!

This time I went with my family went to Kansai!!

There were so many things we did in the span of 10 days that everything had passed by in almost a blur. The entire vacation was quite thrilling because we landed in Japan right when the flooding was taking place in Osaka. We stayed at my hometown in Nagano for about three days, and by the time we reached Kansai, most of the flooding had disappeared!

As with the previous travel post, I took pictures of almost EVERYTHING I saw. Some of my brother’s and dad’s photos will be in this log, and I will highlight them accordingly!

Please enjoy!! :’D

(Warnings: Lots of photos of pretty things, my sparse commentary and my occasional photobombing totoro)

Day 1: Travel to Nagano

ACK. I ate salted salmon with rice on the plane but everything was shaking and I forgot to take a picture.

We arrived in Japan but I could only take a photo from the middle seat! The ride was crazy – the pilot said there would be clear skies but the rain was near torrential so the landing had a lot of drops. The woman behind me screamed, so naturally I, being terrible with turbulence, screamed as well.

The floor was wet so the plane skidded a little when we landed!

NARITA EXPRESS to Tokyo station. Unlike the previous two trips, we managed to be on time for the train, so we didn’t have time to stop by the Starbucks ;w;

I napped throughout the flight since I didn’t manage to sleep a wink during the plane ride, therefore missing most of the awesome view. Totoro’s enjoying it in my stead but he’s separated from his natural habitat by a glass panel.

We reached Tokyo Station and went past GranSta!

There was an AI robot called Pepper greeting us there! This is my first time seeing an AI, but I didn’t have much time to find out what he was used for

Eventually, we stopped by Beer Hall to eat (this restaurant was located right next to Character Street!) I tried their mentaiko spaghetti and I was blown away by how light and delicious it was! This is something I can eat two helpings of before I become full!

Time to go to Daimaru, the place I can’t afford unless I’m with my parents. We bought Tops cake from there before heading off to my grandparents’ house!

I’M LEAVING TOKYO STATION AND I DIDN’T EVEN EXPLORE HALF OF IT. (Spoiler alert: I’ll be back here a few days later)

My brother ate some Shumais we bought from Tokyo station along the ride! I dozed off because the seats in the bullet train are better than my bed

Dropped off at Sakudaira! Since we were surrounded by mountains the weather was freezing despite it being mid-summer. Even though it’s only been a year I missed this place so much

COUNTRY ROAAAD TAKE ME HOOOME to the PLAACE I BELOOONG

(the car ride back to my grandparents’ home was super enjoyable since my brother kept blasting 70s music that my parents love)

On the way we stopped by a Seven Eleven! I got carried away with buying the cup noodles (Santouka and Ippudou) since they only cost 4USD while they would have caused 18 USD if you ate them in a restaurant in Singapore!

[First photo by my brother] Home away from home I missed you so. Most of what we had to do for the next few days were family stuff that I won’t go into detail about. But basically we had a whole lot of relatives to greet and a ceremony to prepare for! So there was a lot to do

View from my grandmother’s garden!! I love the mountains and I wish I could plant one where I live. I hope the tectonic plates in Singapore converge in five years

[Last photo by my brother] Like a good girl, I slacked off from cleaning duty to walk around the neighbourhood. This place always calms me somehow. If I lived here permanently I would probably want to walk at least twice a week! Here are some of the stuff that I photographed. I’ve always associated this place with good things and I feel like I go through some sort of emotional and spiritual cleansing each time I come here.

Here’s what we ate for dinner [photo by my brother]! Loads of protein and no carbohydrates. The chicken in particular was really nice and it was from this restaurant called Big Ben!

[First photo by my brother] Since my grandparents’ house was pretty much completely occupied, we stayed at our uncles’ place instead! It was so huge, almost like a Ryokan, and could afford at least 3 guest rooms. I can’t believe they live in something so grand it’s like a hotel

Day 2: Nagano

Honestly I live in an apartment so for this entire section to be the guest room just blows me away. IT’S HUGE.

We went back to my grandparents’ house for breakfast and ate matsutake gohan with fish! I’ve always loved eating cheap and healthy food. The fried eggplant was probably the best eggplant dish I ever ate! Countryside food is so different from Tokyo food

Ate this for lunch during the ceremony! It was really filling!!

We had more time in the afternoon so I went to scale one of the mountains to a satisfying height!

Our grandmother came to join us in the afternoon, and before we knew it, it was dinner time and many of our relatives joined us with their food! [photo by my brother] It felt a lot like the Summer Wars sort of dinner gatherings, where everyone just sat along a long table and drank alcohol while chatting

We went back to my uncle’s place and our aunt made us mango pudding! She’s a really good cook.

Day 3: Nagano

The next morning she gave us cherries and grapefruit! Today we would have to leave her house for good, and it makes me a little sad. But I hope to return one day!

The next day was a day of loafing around at my grandparents’ place, but we did find some goodies! Namely my dad’s baby photos and we teased him relentlessly about it. We also tried the Ippudou and Santouka noodles and it was really good! The soup tasted just like the way it did in the restaurant!

Later in the afternoon, we went to a friend’s house! I haven’t been here for five years so it was really nostalgic to come back here! It always had a really western-decorated interior which I was fond of.

We had really delicious cake! The cream was super fresh and sweet *p*

It was blueberry season so we went to pick some blueberries from the garden! The one I picked was pretty but sour lmao. I have no green thumb

Mini eggplant! Too young to eat!

These were leeks!

Some of the flowers I really liked in the garden!

Good old chimney I always know where I stand with you

After that, we came by this area to buy our train tickets for Ise! [First photo by my brother]. I used to eat at a ramen shop here nearly ten years ago. I’m amazed how it’s been so long and everything still looks the same!

EON MALL I MISSED YOU SO [Photo by my brother]

Even the stores are the same as five years ago!! I’m on a nostalgia trip

They ACTUALLY sell uniform sweaters here! I really wanted to buy the red one but they were so expensive!! I will reserve my gakuen dreams for another day

Each time I step foot into a supermarket I realize how fortunate I am that I don’t live here, because I’d probably be bankrupt within the first week or so from attempting to buy half the stuff in the market. I mean, LOOK AT THAT BEEF.

Obon festival lanterns!

I’ve been eating at this Yakiniku house all the time since I was a kid. Until recently, I haven’t been able to return to the village, so I did miss this place a lot. Up until today it has the best yakiniku I’ve ever eaten ;w; For the curious it’s called Chikumaya (千曲屋)!

I’d probably make it a point to come by here every now and then! My favourite beef was the Karubi beef!

Cozy Corner cake for supper!! I was so full that when I lay down on my back, I felt like a turtle

That night I saw a starry sky for the first time in my life!!

[photo taken by my brother]. The phone camera quality does the scene no justice. But it was REALLY amazing, since all around, the silhouettes of the houses and mountains were actually blacker than the night sky. There were so many stars that the sky seemed more GREY than anything. The clouds also parted in a way that almost made it seem like there was a galaxy in the sky.

We counted loads of constellations, including Virgo, the Summer triangle, and we also probably saw Mars, Jupiter and Mercury or Venus. My brother studied astrology as a module in university, so he was telling me which constellations were which. And we sat there for hours by the roadside, just talking about how to read stars, which constellations were which etc. It was a really refreshing experience!

[Photo by my brother] This gave me a lot of Totoro vibes (the part where the Catbus appeared for the first time while Satsuki and Mei were waiting for their dad)

Day 4: Travel to Ise

The next day, we had to leave early, but my dad brought us to a place we frequented in our childhood since we had a bit of time. There was this mega-large slide which took approximately one minute for us to slide all the way down. We had to climb a large hill just to hitch one ride on it!

We left for Sakudaira station after this to go to Tokyo for a transit to Kansai soon after, but I’m sure I’ll be back here before long!

There was a really long queue for this ramen shop in Tokyo station, so we decided to try it! Apparently, it’s quite famous! It’s called 六厘舎 (Rokurinsha), to those interested! The broth was really good! The egg tasted like it had alcohol in it, but my absolute favourite was the CHASHU.

HARRY POTTER POP-UP STORE (anime style). I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES. I wanted to take the entire stand home!!!! They had many of the popular characters, like Draco, the Marauders, and I think even Regulus Black! I was hoping to get Luna, but they didn’t sell her, so I settled for Hermione and Ron! I think the store owner was amused because I kept running back to the shop to buy new things

CHARACTER STREET! I have come back for you. Since we only had about two hours before the next train ride, we couldn’t really explore anything in detail. So I decided to loiter in the Ghibli shop!

This medal reacts to “Barus!” (words of destruction). The product makers have an interesting sense of humor

The match boxes were AESTHETIC

I WANT EVERYTHING

There were some OSomatsu-san stuff in one of the shops, but I didn’t have time to stay and look! ;w;

Self control….. self control…..

[First photo by my brother]. I ate at Italian Tomato Cafe Jr. a really long time ago at EON Mall (but that outlet has since disappeared), so I was happy to see it in Tokyo Station! Their shortcake was just as good as I remembered!

Hoho. Komeda Coffee. I’ll be back for you one day…

Some of the things that fascinated me in Tokyo Station. Yes. That is a chandelier made up of kitkats, and that is PORK JERKY

TIME TO GO TO KANSAI! We hitched a ride on the Hikari bullet train! This one was slightly bumpier than the one we took to Sakudaira because of the terrain. It was interesting because our ride took place along the Toukaidou, which connected Kyoto to old-time Edo (Tokyo). Apparently, Tokugawa created this system that made the feudal lords move from Kyoto (the emperor’s place) to Edo (Tokugawa’s residence), so the economy of Japan boomed along this area. Stuff like Woodblock art and Kabuki became famous along the road.

We passed by Shizuoka, and we suspect the mountain blocked by clouds is Mt Fuji!

Well, if I can’t see Mt Fuji today I’ll just have to settle for the picture on this bottle

We’ve hit Nagoya!

We took another train to Ise! It seems like we’ll be travelling the entire day today! So I got a Café Latte to stay awake!

On the way we passed by Tsu: a station with only one syllable

The sky has become a lot prettier!

By the time we’ve reached Ise it was evening! This place feels really mystical—all the street lamps had windchimes in them, so each time there was a breeze you get this really lovely chime in the air. To the curious, Ise is where the shrine of Amaterasu (The God of the Sun) is located.

My brother took a really nice photo of the lamps and the sunset, so I’m showing it off

[last photo by my brother]. This is the first time I’ve ever eaten in an Izayakaya and I ordered…. ORANGE JUICE. But the food was super good! My personal favourite was the omelette! Everything tasted home-cooked and the bill was really cheap! For those interested, the restaurant is called とばっこ (Tobakko).

We stayed at a really neat AirBnB! The furniture was sparse (if you ignore our laundry), and it was at a very good location. Our hostess was really helpful in helping us to find places to visit as well!

Found this in the nearby Family Mart! I would buy you if I lived here, Hijikata… At this moment I’m eating five meals almost every day..

Day 5: Ise Jingu

We set off at 5am the next day I was near Death. From hereon we would repeat the cycle of waking up at 5-6am and arriving home at 11pm for the rest of the vacation. The good thing about it is that the streets are completely empty

It was a nice walk to the shrine! One nice elderly man on a bicycle said “Good morning!” to us and that brightened my mood for the rest of the day!

[last photo by my brother] Here we are at 外宮Geku shrine! This one is dedicated to Toyoukeno Oomikami, who takes charge of Amaterasu Ookami’s food, clothing and shelter! The place was really quiet and serene. It felt a lot different from Meiji Jingu, which was always filled with people. There were multiple offering spots in the shrine, and the main gate bans us from taking photos. The vibe here is really mystical and it feels powerful

We waited for a taxi to get to naiku! That’s Amaterasu Ookami’s shrine. The taxi on the sign looked like it was smiling. Our driver spoke in Kansai dialect – I was a little surprised to know that it’s not just the words, but the intonation had also changed!

This was a lot bigger than Geku! Like Geku, we were forbidden from taking photos of the interior shrine. One of the offering places was to the Wind God, Fujin, who apparently helped to expel the Mongols from the Japan seas in the 13th century! There were more people here than at Geku, but it still had that really mystical aura. I might come here again when the weather is cooler!

Well, since we left the house at 5.30am we were finished with Naiku by 11am HAH. We had lots of time to explore Oharai Machi, which is located right outside Naiku. But because of the hot weather, the fact that we didn’t eat breakfast, and the little rest we had, I was about to drop dead at this point

So Oharai Machi used to be a purification and dance/singing centre dedicated to the Gods of Ise Shrine, but today you can find loads of food shops and goodies. The vibe of the place feels super retro and I love it! I caught one or two Halal shops that sell Japanese oden and kushi sticks!

[last photo by my brother] We ate some sweetened ice to cool down after the Naiku trip! They were really generous with the portions and their red bean snacks were DELICIOUS. I don’t usually like this sort of traditional sweets but I couldn’t stop myself from wolfing this down. The restaurant is called Akafuku (赤福) - at least, that’s what the signboard seems to say!

Yeah, I really like the aesthetic of this place. I live for street Udon tbh

We chose to eat at Ise Udon Soba Okadaya (岡田屋)! A sparrow flew into the shop the moment it opened so I guess we were the second customers for the day lmao. THE UDON WAS REALLY REALLY GOOD. It had a really chewy and soft texture and it became more and more delicious the more you ate it; it was surreal. It didn’t taste like all the types of Udon I’ve eaten before. I’m so sad that I can only eat it in Ise and not where I live. I will definitely be back for more argh. 110% WILL RECOMMEND. It’s pretty cheap too and in my opinion, it’s best to eat it without too many toppings. Maybe just an egg with garnishes will do

(The store had a retro telephone booth)

[Photo by my brother] We ate Matsusaka beef and ONE STICK COST 9USD. INSANE. But it was really good and chewy and I’ve never had better beef in my LIFE

Okage Yokocho is an area in Oharai Machi! It looked a little bit like a festival! They had a rifling booth which I wanted to try, but I was trying to save money so I decided against it. Lots of fancy buildings here!

We went to Kaminogo Station because our host recommended another shrine! The weather made me feel like I was swimming in a volcano, but the clear skies make it worth it! I could take photos with my eyes closed and it’d still turn out pretty

Here’s a bit of what was inside of the shrine! It was significantly cooler in temperature than Naiku and Geku. There were bees buzzing around here and there. The walk was less intense than Naiku and Geku but I was starting to get tired around this time

So we returned back to the apartment to pig out.

Only for us to leave about two hours later so we can eat… AGAIN. The sky was really pretty. I guess one good thing about summer is that you get really pretty skies

Guess what we’re having: Matsusaka BEEF! Apparently it’s one of the THREE BIG BEEF along with Oumi Beef and Kobe beef. Which means it’s expensive as hell but you only live once I guess. The restaurant was called Ishikawa 石かわ and it’s famous for Matsusaka Beef!

The restaurant had a really quaint feeling you would get from a sleepy little town. The chef pan fried the beef on a sizzling stove. I WISH I HAD A BIGGER PIECE. The beef was so chewy and the sauce was so good I made it a point to keep the meat in my mouth longer than necessary. The vegetables were also really fresh so it added to the taste! EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. This was probably one of my favourite things I ate along the entire trip. Top 3 for sure

Ise is just as mystical at night time!

Aaaaaand we went to eat ramen for supper. This is the same restaurant as Tobakko, except it was a Ramen booth instead of an Izakaya. It had the roadside street stall feeling to it, and the ramen tasted really nostalgic! There was only one man running the shop so he must have been very busy

Day 6: Nara and travel to Osaka

The next day we woke up early to go to our host’s café! It was located deeper in the alley where the apartment was situated. I REALLY liked her decorations!

She cooked for us Ise Udon and many other side dishes like salad, omelette, and tofu pudding! It was REALLY cool because we were the only people in the café at that hour, so we could spend a lot of time chatting with her. I’ll miss this place and our hostess when we’re gone! ;w;

We traveled to Nara on a one carriage train called Yamashiro Reccha! [photo by my brother] All the blinds were drawn so the carriage was dark and my dad kept making murder mystery jokes

WELCOME TO NARA. You can almost tell from the staircase what this place is famous for; I’ve never seen wild deers before in my life so I’m really excited!! Unlike Ise, Nara seems to be a town instead of a countryside, so the vibes are pretty different

Here sells nothing but melon bread. I want to live in this stall

[Last photo by my brother] The tourist center recommended that we try 天丼まきの (Tendon Makino) for Tendon since it was a popular tourist destination. I swear to God, this is the BEST TENDON I’ve EVER eaten in MY LIFE. I’m not fond of octopus but I ate everything up in one go. There was a fried egg in the bowl you could crack open and spill all the yolk everywhere. Literally this is something I’d never get sick of. I could probably eat it everyday for the rest of my life.

MISTER DONUT. I will have you one day….

One of the stalls had a sparrow’s nest near its opening gate! While the sparrow chicks were cute as sin, I sort of pity the poor sparrow for making its nest in the middle of a tourist district

We stopped by Kofuku-Ji Nan-en-dou 興福寺 on the way to Nara deer park! The architecture of the tower seemed really old! It seems there are lots of old buildings (dating to before 16th century) in Kansai

A really nice looking hotel called 菊水楼Kiku-sui-rou. It seems they have a very high rating for their hospitality and their food!

We arrived at the gates of 春日大社(Kasuga Taishi)! And I SAW MY FIRST DEERS. I didn’t dare to approach them since I thought they would run off, but silly me, they were probably already accustomed to having people around.

More deer and shrine stuff! The deers are literally everywhere. And there are lots of tourists too! The awkward part was that there were tonnes of deer droppings everywhere, so you could step on them if you’re not careful.

There was a rest stop at the shrine, so we sat here to cool off a bit. Then this deer appeared out of nowhere and started sniffing my dad’s bag. He was sniffing every single human he came into contact with. Then he came up to me and began to sniff my plastic bag.

THEN HE RIPPED IT APART AND ATE OUR MAP.

I hope it was at least a little bit nutritious but now we hae no directions

We had ice-coffee and ice-cream at the rest stop after that!

So we walked down from the hill after that and played with some deers! This one kept following me. I’m sorry, I don’t have a biscuit for you but I can give you attention if you’d like!

Deers crossing the road! And the bus gave way to them

On the way to 東大寺Toudaiji!

Toudaiji houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. The statue was at least ten times taller than me without exaggeration!! I also really liked how old the building seemed to look! It seemed really ancient

We headed out of the temple and this deer stuck his tongue out. What message are you trying to relay, friend?

We returned to Nara station soon after that and took the train to Osaka! We’ve been taking so many trains that the JR Pass is adequately used!

HELLOOOOO OSAKA

We arrived at our new AirBnB destination and I slept so soundly here!! Maybe it’s because I had my own room, but I love that we had the entire floor to ourselves! I also really liked the decorations she put all over the place! It’s really close to the station and Namba City so it was pretty convenient! Here’s the link if anyone is interested!

By the time we reached Namba it was already rather late! So we scoured the place in a rush. There was a Takashimaya somewhere in there which sold nice cakes!

The store Rope Picnic sold lots of cute clothes at 70% off because of summer sale! I felt like I held myself back from spending money just for this moment!! I would be coming here repeatedly over the course of the next few days!

Meanwhile my brother ate some Milk Ice-cream that’s so smooth it looks almost like a toy [photo by my brother]

We decided to eat at 百十Momojuu since it’s a crime to go to Osaka and not eat Okonomiyaki! That is, we ordered Monjayaki instead because we didn’t know there was a difference. THE BEST DISH WAS THE TONPEI (Omelette with meat inside)! The Okonomiyaki (second last picture) was not ours, but the cook accidentally placed it on our grill. Overall the meal was pretty affordable! If I were to go back to Osaka, I’d definitely come by here again.

(The air ventilators seemed to suck smoke up in the air, so people could smoke in the restaurant without bothering the other customers!)

Day 7: Kyoto

Some things I noticed and liked on my way to the station. Today we would be going to Kyoto. I haven’t been there since I was five but I remember bits and pieces of it!

THE ESCALATOR AT OSAKA STATION IS SO TRIPPY. Apparently people in Osaka seem to stand on the right hand side of the escalators rather than the left? That’s really interesting!

The escalators in Kyoto station have handles which are actually decorated!

We’ve reached the gates of the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine(伏見稲荷大社)! This one’s well known because of all the red gates and the impressive climb you need to take to the summit of the shrine. Inari is the God of rice, and you see lots of fox statues throughout the climb. Each of the gates have been donated by a Japanese businessman apparently.

It seems that at each of the gates, the fox on the left has a scroll in its mouth, while the fox on the right has a ball.

[Photos taken by my brother]. At the base, there were tons of people, but the numbers dwindled as we hit the summit. I had to stop at every rest stop because I was just that unfit! But the climb was good and hitting the summit made me feel healthy! One thing I was surprised about was how un-summit- like the summit seemed. We didn’t realize it was the summit until we had to climb down the stairs on the opposite end of the hill!

Down we go!! My legs hurt. I probably won’t be able to stand tomorrow agh

We reached the base and ate some oden and shaved ice to cool down! The lady in charge of the shop told us that tourists only came by Fushimi Inari about four to five years ago. It appears that the shrine was a pretty recent tourist destination!

Eventually we headed back to Kyoto station and checked out the restaurants in Isetan! There was a restaurant which specialized ENTIRELY in omurice! Naturally, I was very excited!!

...Though we ended up eating at永寿案 “Washoku” Restaurant Eijuan since we were at Kyoto!

They serve really fresh and delicious grilled fish dishes with tons of mini side dishes on the tray. The restaurant is also located on the top floor of the shopping center so you’re treated to a killer view of Kyoto! For Washoku, this restaurant is pretty affordable and the quality of the food is really good! It’s something to look for if you like light meals :’) The service staff were also really helpful in helping us to find places we can visit in Kyoto.

We took a bus from the station and headed to Kiyomizudera Temple! We have to walk up a hill again but thankfully it wasn’t as insane as Fushimi Inari. We did a lot of walking today and my legs are tired

SCENIC

We paid about 400 yen to see the rest of the temples, but I thought it was really worth it! Most of the trees in the mountain change colours really quickly when it hits autumn, but for now all the trees are green since it’s summer. The view is really breathtaking and worth the climb!

It was a long way down from the temple, but there was a shopping district with aesthetic houses nearby!!

I’m marrying this Ice cream melon soda shake you’re invited to our wedding

TOTORO SHOP KYOTO STYLE. I LIVE

This No-Face Piggy Bank will EAT YOUR MONEY so WATCH OUT

Some other things that caught my eye!

We took the bus to Gion-Shinbashi next! Gion’s the Geiko district with lots of Geiko and Maiko (geiko apprentice) running about!

The street is really pretty! I think you can’t enter any of these shophouses since they usually cost a bomb to go into. Lots of the second-storeys of the houses are covered with some sort of curtain. I wonder why

I MANAGED TO CATCH SOME MAIKOS

Before they boarded a taxi

I wonder if they’re used to tourists gawking at them each time we pass them by..

There’s a Lipton café at Kyoto station I don’t believe my eyes

I wanted to eat here but our train is departing soon!

We’ve arrived back at Namba!

Don Quijote is going to be my best friend for the rest of my days

There’s literally an alcohol called “Do your best, Daddy!” I can’t stop laughing

In the end, we decided to eat at a Yakiniku store since Osaka seems to specialized in grilled and pan-fried foods! We ate at牛角 Gyuu-Kaku, which is apparently expensive where I live, but pretty cheap here.

[second last photo by my brother]. The meat was really good! I swear everything we’ve eaten on this trip is good. The dish in the last picture was especially good—they put some sort of cotton candy and boiled the meat in sauce, and the cotton candy just melted into the sauce after that. I have no idea how it works. All I know is that it was GREAT

THEY HAVE GRILLED MELON BREAD WITH ICE CREAM. I went to town on this one. You grill the melon bread, cut it open and shove ice-cream into it. It’s SO GOOD I can die. This is the highlight of my trip

Then we ate takoyaki after that! We eventually headed back to Don Quijote for grocery shopping

ATTACK ON NOSE HAIR

We had dessert when we went home again! This one came from CRAMERCY New York!

Day 8: Osaka

My dad went to 高野山Koya-san while we rested at home for the day. Apparently, it was first built by monk 空海Kukai, who founded the Japanese calligraphic system! Here are some of the pictures he took!

Apparently, you would sit on a monorail that wasn’t shaped horizontally to get to the top of the mountain like you see in the last picture! It seemed really cool!

Guess what we had for breakfast the next day!!

1. Cake

2. Cake

3. Cake

I can’t believe they made Takoyaki cream puffs and sold it in Takashimaya

We headed to Namba City and ate a buffet meal at GOOD SPOON! I really enjoyed the décor of this place. Apparently it specialized in Italian food, especially their cheeses! The huge bag on the bolognaise in the fourth picture is in fact a huge chunk of cheese! Honestly, everything we’ve eaten on the trip has been really worth it and delicious!

On our way to Osaka Tower!

There seems to be tons of Billiken motifs in the tower. He was dreamt up by an American artist, and is said to bring good luck!

A scene from Osaka tower! Apparently you can see Universal Studios here somewhere!

The history of this place seems a little interesting. Apparently it was built and opened in 1912 along with the amusement park, Luna Park, which included arcades and rides. Unfortunately the original Tsutenkaku and Luna Park burned down in the 1940s, but they rebuilt it under Hitachi in 1956, so the tower is still around today!

The Tower also hosts the Glico museum! Glico was the company which made Pocky!

I’m honestly scared of how much weight I’m going to put on

Eventually we headed back to Namba Area as a cut through to Dotonbori!

[last photo by my brother] Doutonbori has so many lighted billboards I LOVE IT. The giant crab in the first picture actually MOVES. It reminds me of Tokyo a little, but has more of a night life feeling to it! Lots of shops that I love here, but I only had four hours to run through the place before everything closed!

There was a festival taking place along the river while we were there

We eventually went to eat Kushiyaki at だるまDaruma because that’s another thing Osaka is famous for! It was really good! My favourite dish was the Dotemiso and the quail eggs! So far, it seems like Tokyo has a larger variety of food, but Kansai’s food is more flavorful!

Gintama sale at Marui. I’ll patronize your store another time, Elizabeth….

Day 9: Kobe

We’ve arrived at Kobe! The weather was CRAZY HOT today! I really like the port towns in Japan since they seem to have a lot of delicious Western food, history and architecture! It reminds me a lot of Yokohama in a way! Plus it’s located on a hillside facing the ocean, just the sort of thing I like!

We went ahead and took the Kobe City Bus! It looked really fancy and there was an announcer giving us a rundown of the historical importance of the routes we were taking.

Our first stop was Ijinkan! AKA the street with all the old Western houses that rich foreigners used to live in or use for their recreational activities! The street here was REALLY pretty! Since Kobe was a hill, we would have to climb around to get to just anywhere. The England House apparently had a Sherlock Holmes exhibition on the second floor, and I could see Watson’s silhouette through the curtains!

We bought the tickets to go to the Trick House! Albert Einstein greeted us from the window it was surreal

Many art pieces would look REALLY TRIPPY if you took a photo with a person in it, but I’m camera shy. Here are just some of the exhibits which don’t require you a person to be in the picture. The third one was probably my favourite since it looks like a mirror but actually isn’t! They arranged two rooms to look perfectly symmetrical and you could only tell if a person is walking on the other side. It’s a lot like that one room in the Witch’s House…

You have paintings like these too.

It was fun to walk on air :^)

Next we had to climb a steep hill to Uroko House!! It was a struggle in the hot weather but at this point I’m so used to sweating. I wonder how the staff come here to work everyday…

Kobe tiles!!

Uroko House! …..’s café

There’s a wild boar in front of it called Porcellino which brings good luck if you touch its nose! I kept getting distracted by its name because of Porco Rosso’s nickname…

The REAL Uroko house! Apparently they named the house as such because the tiles used to decorate the mansion look like scales (uroko). This house used to be luxury rental houses for wealthy foreigners. The exhibits include not only the rooms, but also antique utensils, tableware, and a small art museum!

If I were a doll and these houses are completely furnished I’d live in them.

Some of the stuff we ate in the café! I really liked the ice-cream. We accidentally spilled our drink and the waitress was nice to refill it for us for free

Here are some of my favourite rooms!! I’m glad I came here. It looks a lot like the dollhouse in The Secret World of Arrietty

The view and some of the nice artworks in the museum!

Now we’re off to Yamate 8Ban Kan

Yamate 8Ban Kan! It’s oriented to the sea with trapezoidal bay windows in a row. Inside the building, the “Saturn’s chair” which is believed to grant your wishes if women sit on the right and men on the left. I was having a stomachache so I might have wasted my wish by wishing it to be gone

FUJIKO MINE CLORETS! I love her she’s such a role model

Now we’re going to try Kobe Beef at Steak Land! While we were taking a lift to the restaurant, a man stumbled into the elevator with us. We suspected that it might have been someone important since the restaurant continued to serve him after its closing hours

I’M SO EXCITED!

THE BEEF WAS REALLY GOOD! They cooked the vegetables first and saved the beef and beansprouts for last!! I can’t help but think that everything that we’ve eaten on this trip was really delicious! As far as Kobe beef goes, this was one of the more affordable options!

SCORCHING SUMMER SUN. You can see how hot it is. I could write a song about how much the weather makes one suffer

We continued to take a bus trip around and passed by the maritime museum! I didn’t manage to go in this time, but there will always be future trips that I can plan for :P

Kobe is so scenic!!

Nishimura’s Coffee looks really fancy and I really like the exterior décor despite not eating inside.

We headed to Mosaic Mall! Which seemed to be an outdoor shopping centre!

We meet again, Donguri Garden.

SMILING TOTORO BAG. How can something so perfect exist

My brother tried some chocolate ice-cream from Frantz! Though I didn’t manage to try it to tell if it was good or not

We took the bus back to Kobe station and headed to Namba again!

MY FIRST CREPE ON THE TRIP. I have found you at last

I seem to come across a lot more kittens than full grown cats while I’m in Namba, but this brave warrior didn’t seem afraid in the midst of all the people walking around.

Lmao R18 gacha-gachas

We headed back to Namba City for dinner! There’s this shop called C3 Baked Tiramisu which is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I’m not sure if you can find it in Tokyo but this is hands down the best Tiramisu I have ever eaten in my entire life. We bought a dozen back home to finish

MIX FRUIT JUICE SHAKE IS GREAT! I should make this on my own next time! It probably had mango and orange inside, maybe even pineapple, but I’m not too sure

Eventually we headed to Shabu Nabe Udon Noraya のらや, which specialized in Udon and Shabu-Shabu. I had the Udon and tempura set while my brother and mother shared the Pork Shabu Shabu. HOW CAN SUCH A PINK PORK EXIST. I guess the reason why the food here’s so great is because of the quality of the ingredients as well. I really like non-greasy food so this has to be one of my top 3 meals in the entire trip! Definitely would recommend this! And it’s pretty affordable as well. They are really generous with the portions!

We had more cakes for supper

Day 10: Leaving Japan

Tiramisu for breakfast! It’s over so soon and I don’t want to leave Osaka so soon ;w;

We stopped by Tully’s Coffee at Osaka station and my mother tried a pancake! It would take a few hours before we reach Tokyo…

We had lunch at 矢場とんYabaton at Tokyo Station!! The Pork cutlet was really good since they cooked it with their own miso! The staff were really nice too! They helped to warm up my food since I took such a long time to eat because of my stomachache ;w;

We took a Monorail to Haneda Airport! I didn’t know that monorails would tilt to the side when they turned!

Might that be rainbow bridge?

Amuro Tooru seems to be really popular in Japan now! It’s probably because of the new Detective Conan movie in Japan but he’s always been intriguing! I hope they release more on his backstory soon.

Agghh I don’t want to leave but I will definitely be back

The sky was really pretty! Overall the ride was way better than the initial one, since much of the rainy season has cleared up. I actually managed to sleep so that was impressive!

It’s good to be back!!

I guess on the whole Kansai has a pretty different vibe from central Tokyo. Both had their fair share of cultural landmarks and city areas, but Kansai used to house the really old capital of Japan, so they had much older monuments compared to Tokyo. Osaka’s city also seems to be a lot more night life-ish compared to my experience with Tokyo! In terms of food, I’d say that Tokyo has more variety, but I really think Osaka’s food has more flavour. Literally everything I’ve eaten on this trip is delicious and worthy of a recommendation!

On the other hand, I’m really proud of myself since I managed to control myself from overspending this trip :^)

If you make it a point to visit the cultural landmarks instead of going to shop, you really can save a lot of money when travelling in Japan! There are also many more Halal food options compared to what I’ve seen last year, so it should be possible to find good Japanese food for those who have to adhere to a religious diet!

#japan #kyoto #osaka #food #ghibli #photography #travel #scenery #other stuffs #ise #kobe

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hopeunderstars-blog · 6 years ago

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Keto, just a fad?

So since everyone in the world is obsessed with the ketogenic diet, I figured I should join the herd and give it a whirl. Wow. What a journey. I have discovered that adding a tablespoon of butter to eggs already cooked in butter with bacon cooked in butter is a very good idea. I also learned to eat coconut oil straight from a spoon. Wow. But guys, my stomach looks amazing. Like. It is completely straight. I’m actually mind-blown.

Although you probably have heard this a bazillion times, let me repeat for the bazillion plus one time; the ketogenic diet is based of the idea that your body functions at a higher level when you’re burning fat instead of carbs. Following this premise, eating 5% of carbs, 20% protein, and 75% fat allows your body to get rid of all the carbohydrate stores and start burning fat as fuel. A few benefits- 1. You lose a lot of water weight in the first few days, which doesn’t really mean anything but it makes you look awesome 2. You feel super awake and happy literally all day without the post-lunch depressive hours where you hate everyone and just want a nap 3. Your desire to eat disappears (although this wasn’t completely true for me because I started to crave bacon and cheese 24/7), but for me it was at least true that I could go for many hours without feeling hungry.

My motivation for embarking on this journey was basically so I could look like a model by spring break, so I wanted to lose 10 pounds in a month. Totally unrealistic, but losing water weight is a miracle worker that can provide a bikini-ready bod in like 2 days. Totally worth it.

Days 1-4: Okay, it wasn’t necessarily hard to stick with the diet in this phase because I was still in the stage of: OMG I love experimentations. Yes this is so fun. Wow, look at all the cool things I can make. However, I also felt like crap. I slept ten hours one night, woke up exhausted, lived three miserable hours, before crawling back into bed for a lonnnnggg nap. The next day wasn’t much better and I definitely had to give up work-outs or at least limit it to yoga. Like three minutes into a typical workout and my legs would feel like rubber; I actually felt like I was going to die just seven minutes in, so I gave up and took another nap. HOWEVER, it does get better my friends.

Days 5-7: YUS. THE BENEFITS HAVE ARRIVED. Have I already mentioned how great my belly looks? I am in awe. I barely believe I am looking at my actual self in the mirror. Miracles do happen. Dreams do come true. Dreams come true in the form of bacon, butter, and eggs. I never thought those words could ever go together packaged with one hell of a body. I even co-hosted a party making four kinds of desserts on day six, watched everyone eat these said desserts, and had no desire to even take one bite. I just kept patting my stomach and probably grinning too self-consciously. I’m sure everyone hated me. But my belly still looks great.

Helpful Hints: If you have a sweet-tooth, or you can’t imagine giving up crunchy snacks for a week, then definitely please prepare some keto substitutes that can help you out without ruining your results. I am one of the fatal few (actually mournful many) who can’t go three hours without sweets. This definitely changed with keto after I adjusted, but there were moments when I needed something sweet. Introducing coconut oil + chocolate powder + stevia. I mixed equal parts of the first to ingredients, sprinkled on some stevia, stuck the whole thing in the microwave, poured it out on a tray, stuck it in the freezer, and was set for the full two weeks. Plus, it’s actually delicious. Really good tasting chocolate, plus being healthy. Also, moon cheese. It’s ridiculously expensive, so I only splurged once when I was really craving chips. It is a powerhouse of flavor. Explosive on another level. Moon cheese because it actually isn’t of this earth. Last tip, drink butter coffee (or bullet-proof) or whatever the cool kids call it these days. It freaked me out at first because it tastes rich and creamy but it still looks like straight black coffee. Weird mental-block happened the first time, but if I closed my eyes and imagined it looked nice and creamy, it was incredible.

#keto #beach body

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bgmxbbj · 6 years ago

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7 Ways to Spend First Year with Your Baby

A week or so after I had my first baby, my friend Susan stopped by -- just in the nick of time: Will had been crying for what felt like hours and nothing I did helped. Susan, who'd just had her second daughter, calmly scooped up my inconsolable newborn and did a sort of combo side-to-side swaying and up-and-down jostling that magically lulled him out of Waa-Waa Land.

I've had three kids since then, and Susan's "mommy jig" has been a lifesaver with every one of them. But I never would have known it if I hadn't let her help me out -- and that's exactly why she, and I, and other moms who've been there want you to remember these seven rules:

1. Asking for help does not make you incompetent.

Precisely the opposite, in fact. Sometimes, there's no other way to get from point A to point B. Even if there is, getting there alone can take twice as long and make you crazy.

Kim Ganier of Huntington Beach, California, was always a self-sufficient person -- until her first baby, Laci (now 3), was a week old and Ganier found herself doing laundry while "someone else was sitting in my glider and cuddling my baby. The lightbulb went on," she says. After that, visitors were put to work so Ganier could enjoy Laci. Her advice now: Speak up, be specific about what you need, and say yes when offered help of any kind. "You'll feel guilty at first, but you'll get over it," she says.

It'll be easier if you remember that someday you will reciprocate -- if not to the particular mom who helped you out, then to another. Several months ago, I was having dinner out with my kids when the mom at the next table asked if I had an extra diaper. I happily handed one over. Sure enough, not long after that, I discovered I'd forgotten to bring a clean swim diaper to the pool and had to go begging from lounge chair to lounge chair for a spare. A better-prepared mom than I saved the day.

So never let guilt or embarrassment or even your ego get in the way of accepting help. Improvising a diaper is a lot harder than returning a favor.

2. Babies don't need as much new stuff as you think.

They seem to outgrow everything from stretchies to bassinets overnight, so why stock up? "I wish someone had told me not to buy cutesy, expensive clothes for my newborn," says Kristine Shuler, mom of 3-year-old Kaylee in Baroda, Michigan. "Little did I know she would spend most of the time in T-shirts from Target. She didn't wear half the clothes I bought!"

There are two lessons here: First, take your time when deciding what you'll really need. Do a little research, make a list, and stick with it. book is a great resource for teasing out what to buy and what to skip, by the way.) Second, as tempting as it is to buy everything fresh and new and adorable for your first baby -- resist. Some items, like swings and bouncy seats, are used for such short periods of time that they never see much wear and tear. Can you borrow from a friend? If not, check out

Marilyn Sklar swears by a children's resale store in her town. "When my daughter, Raquel, was born, I started buying gently used clothes from there. Later, I brought in some of Raquel's clothing and took an in-store credit to purchase more," says the mom of two in Phoenix. "Now I recycle that way whenever possible. We're saving money and being green!"

3. Getting a baby to sleep is worth the trouble.

This is a matter of basic maternal math: baby zzz's = mommy zzz's. Veteran moms will tell you that figuring out, early on, how to get your baby to go to sleep, stay asleep, and take regular naps is key to getting through that entire first year. "Being sleep-deprived is a fact of life, but the sooner you get sleep figured out, the better," says Michelle Wilkins, a mom of three in Blacksburg, Virginia.

For Theresa Cole, mom of Ethan, 5, and Jordan, 1, in Kansas City, Missouri, the trick is to get your newborn used to falling asleep on his own: "Think twice about feeding your baby to put him to sleep. He's a clean slate, waiting to learn how to do things. If you teach him he can only drift off with a boob or bottle in his mouth, that's the only way he will -- even at two in the morning. And, seriously, who wants to deal with that every night for the next couple of years?"Follow more to check african congo mask

I'm a firm believer in consistency. When my third baby was 9 months old and not taking decent naps during the day, I came up with some new routines. I stopped letting him catnap in the car while I ran errands, and planned outings around his naptime, to make sure he could go down in his crib. I also turned his room into a sleep haven (blackout shades, white-noise machine). Pretty soon he was napping twice a day, and snoozing better at night, too. To keep daytime noise to a minimum, Jamie Pearson, mom of Avery, 7, and Max, 5, in Palo Alto, California, adds this tip: "Make a diplomatic front-door sign that says, 'Baby napping. Please visit us another time.' "

4. Competitive parenting: not cool.

Of course you already know that babies develop at their own pace. And of course you know there's more to your baby than when he hits milestones. But when it seems like every kid in the playgroup except yours is sitting up or saying "Mama," it can take all your willpower to act like you just don't care.

It's totally understandable to compare. But for the sake of your sanity, it's worth trying to stop. "I made the conscious decision to believe the experts who said that the spectrum of normalcy was wide," says Susie Sonneborn Blim, a mom of three in Montclair, New Jersey. "I also stopped hanging out with moms who were constantly boasting about or obsessing over their babies' milestones, because that played a huge part in how caught up I got with comparing my baby to other babies."

Pearson had a similar tactic: "When Avery wasn't the first -- or second, or third -- baby in my mothers' group to crawl, I told myself that the impatient, intense, irritable babies were always the early crawlers and walkers," she says. "I kept these theories to myself, of course!" If you're truly worried that your baby is falling behind, bring it up with your pediatrician. She should be your go-to expert when it comes to your child's health and development -- not the bragging, pitying other moms.

5. You and your baby don't have to be joined at the hip.

Experts say: Being touched, held, carried, and cuddled is vital to a baby's development. Moms answer back: There's nothing more delicious than touching, holding, carrying, and cuddling a baby -- to a point. When it's clear that you and/or your baby need a break from each other, take it. This is especially true when your infant's wailing or your pre-toddler's whining is about to push you over the edge. Hand her to Daddy or send out an SOS to a friend or relative.

If there's no one you can call on for help, take a tip from Christine Klepacz, a mom of two in Bethesda, Maryland. "When your baby is crying and you could burst into tears yourself, or when you're just overwhelmed, it's okay to put her in her crib for a while and sit by yourself. She's safe, and sometimes she needs time away from you, too. It's okay. We all do it!"

It's equally important to carve out time for yourself regularly -- not just when you're about to go off the deep end. If there's one thing Jennifer Geddes, a Parenting staffer and mom of two girls, learned during the first year, it's that "you have to take a few minutes for yourself here and there. It's essential to being a happy and healthy mom. I was so concerned with attending to my daughter's needs that I neglected my own. I barely ate, slept, or left the house," she says.

If you're thinking, "Yeah, right -- I can barely get a shower," wait: It's doable. You just have to plan ahead, be creative, and adjust your definition of what constitutes a relaxing break. Where, prebaby, you were used to spur-of-the-moment shopping sprees or on- a-whim workouts, you might find, like Marilyn Sklar, that your idea of a good time now is "a glass of wine and a good book after the children are in bed." Or a brisk walk in the morning before they get up. Me, I swear by weekend matinees. I can get a lot of regenerative mileage out of two hours by myself in a cozy, dark theater with a bag of popcorn, lost in a great story onscreen.

6. The best baby stage is the one you're in.

"They grow up so fast." The reason you'll hear this from everyone and her grandmother: It's true. Kim Lavergne of Nashville, mom of 2-year-old Justin, remembers feeling like time was crawling after he was born. "In reality, the days go by so fast that the next thing you know, your child is no longer a baby," she says. "I've learned to cherish and enjoy the time I spend with Justin."

Charlene Kochensparger of Centerville, Ohio, who has a daughter and a son, seconds that. "First-time parents tend to wish the time away -- 'I can't wait for her to crawl, walk, talk' -- and not enjoy the moment," she says.

The time slipped away from Loretta Sehlmeyer of Dix Hills, New York, because she was so focused on being a perfect parent to her son, Christian, now 4. "I fretted so much over caring for him that I missed the entire experience. I honestly didn't notice that my baby was growing and changing a little bit each day. I spent a lot of time looking at him, but I was way too distracted to actually see him," she says.

"So take some time each day, real time, to hold your baby and do nothing else but use your senses to connect with him. Smell his sweetness, and look at those tiny fingers and toes and amazing little nose."

7. There's no one else like you.

Only a handful of babycare rules are written in stone (specifically, those having to do with health and safety -- like, you really should always put a baby to sleep on his back). Most everything else is up for interpretation. "It's great to read up, solicit opinions, and listen respectfully to advice you haven't asked for," says Michelle Wilkins. "But you know your baby and yourself best. You'll know when an idea resonates."

Adds Chantel Fry, mom of Dylan, 3, and Madalyn, 7 months, in Pittsburgh: "You're going to be different than the next mom. Not better, not worse -- because you do the best you can, and if at the end of the day your child has laughed, and is clean and fed, you can go to sleep knowing that you did what is expected of you." No matter how you did those things, exactly, you can be proud that you're inventing your own special way of being a mom.

#baby products #best baby products

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cryptoevent · 4 years ago

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The crypto whale who wants to give billions away – Cointelegraph Magazine

Like many people in the cryptocurrency industry, Sam Bankman-Fried is in it for the money. As founder of the quantum trading company Alameda Research, the FTX exchange and the DeFi serum protocol, the 28-year-old man with curly hair has amassed a $10 billion fortune in the sector in just three years.

Unlike most people in the cryptocurrency industry, he’s building a fortune to give half of it away. He is an effective altruist who essentially steals from the rich to give to the poor through his supernatural, coded trading strategies.

Maybe without the robbery, he says. Ultimately, my goal is to have as much impact as possible, whatever that may be. And right now, I think, it’s through donations, so I’m wondering how I can do as much as I can and give as much as I can.

The SBF, as it is sometimes called, has been around for some time. He was director of development for the Center for Effective Altruism for a few months in 2017, and before that he spent half his income working on Wall Street. He plans to donate about 50% of his crypto billions, but only after he reinvests in his ever-growing empire.

Nevertheless, he donates to charities as they arise. He was the second-largest contributor to President Joe Biden’s campaign, behind former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $5.2 million.

I was excited about the impact this could have. I thought what happened in the election was important.

In addition, the FTX Foundation has recently been established. It donates 1% of the cost of the platform and will double user donations, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 per day. In its first weeks of operation, the foundation has raised more than $2 million, mostly in the form of donations from users, who can choose from a carefully curated list of charitable organizations.

Old pouffe

SBF’s growing notoriety was further enhanced when the company was included in this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 financial list. I’m honored, he says. I usually look forward more than backward, so it was a little cool, but it went pretty fast.

It also ranked third in a recent Top 100 ranking.

He has been known to sleep on an ottoman chair in his Hong Kong office so as not to miss a deal. It seems that the main reason SBF earns more than anyone else is that it is almost never off-schedule.

I’m in the office, mostly 24 hours a day. Sometimes I just take a nap on the ottoman here and of course I talk to colleagues and sometimes people on the internet, but it’s mostly his job.

He has no girlfriend and doesn’t have many contacts outside of work, although he does find time to talk to his family in the United States on the phone several times a week. It’s safe to say that FBS’ers aren’t the kind of people who are desperate for a perfect work-life balance, or even accept that their productivity declines after the first 11 hours of work.

I think these kinds of stories are vastly overrated, and the cruel or inspiring truth, depending on how you think about it, is that the more you put in, the more you get out, he says. That motivates me, and that’s satisfying, but you know, another part of it is how I think I can have the biggest impact.

How did I get here?

The child of two law professors at Stanford University, SBF discovered the Effective Altruism movement while studying physics at MIT.

Made popular by philosophers and ethicists including Toby Ord and Peter Singer, the movement focuses on pragmatic ways of helping others, using science and reason to maximize benefits rather than the well-intentioned and mediocre results typical of some charities. This practical approach also extends to how best to help a person.

Imagine how much good you can do by working directly for a cause, compared to what you can do by working and donating to Wall Street. In many cases, you could probably help them even more with donations. So, basically, I checked out Wall Street.

Fellow interns at quant trading firm Jane Street Capital pointed him in the direction of Wall Street, and he began working there just after graduating from college in 2014. Why did they hire a physicist with little experience in finance straight out of school, you ask?

It turns out that strategies for quantum trading are valuable trade secrets, which means that effective strategies are not taught in university courses. Instead, companies hire people with raw talent: Mathematicians or people with extensive experience in physics or computer science.

What you need to know about the markets, they will teach you, he says. He has traded various ETFs, futures, currencies and stocks and has developed an automated OTC trading system. There, he became interested in the incredibly profitable arbitrage opportunities in inefficient crypto markets and founded the crypto-quantum trading company Alameda Research in late 2017 to take advantage of them.

Rules applicable to all whales

Alameda Research has grown into one of the largest crypto firms with about $2.5 billion in assets under management, although as with its own assets, SBF puts this into perspective with some caveats about liquid and illiquid assets.

Alameda is the Moby Dick of cryptocurrences, representing up to 10% of cryptocurrences circulating in the markets at any given time. I think sometimes he can get to that part of the volume, he says. I think the average is a little lower. It belongs to the group of five to ten large commercial companies in this sector.

This means that every Alameda transaction has the potential to move the markets and generate liquidity. Last October, Alameda was widely accused of having caused the IFJ’s share price collapse by short selling, although SBF minimized the impact of this practice. He believes that with great power comes great responsibility.

It’s an absolute responsibility, he says, adding that he tries to follow the approach of TradFi Quant’s companies. Their job is to find profitable companies, but also to provide liquidity and promote healthy markets, he says. The greatest responsibility is to do no harm. And to ensure that what you do generally promotes, rather than disrupts, the liquidity of healthy markets and the efficiency of transactions.

He added that arbitrage operations, for example, can have a positive effect because they make markets more efficient and reduce prices where there are premiums. Identifying and developing opportunities to profit from arbitrage transactions was the main reason for founding Alameda. One of the first big gains we made was Litecoin, he recalls.

There was a week in late 2017 when Litecoin was trading at a steady 20% price on the GDAX Coinbase [now Coinbase Pro]. That’s cool, you make 10% every half hour, I guess you make dollars forever? And that, of course, is not the solution.

It proved terribly difficult and necessary to use this facility to circumvent the trade size and withdrawal limits of one million per day. A few years ago in crypto-economics, a big part of the problem was finding the logistics, he says.

In another arbitrage transaction, SBF and its friends moved up to $25 million a day through a series of intermediaries and land banks in Japan to take advantage of Kimchee’s infamous bonus, which allowed Bitcoin to be traded up to a third more in South Korea’s hard-to-reach financial system than in the United States.

But it is the management of the outdated financial system that has caused the biggest problems. The slowest and most difficult, most expensive and frustrating part of arbitration is the fiat, he says, referring to the difficulty of getting accounts that can then be closed at any time, archaic procedures and bureaucracy, and incredibly slow bank transfers.

We worked in physical bank branches for five hours a day for over five months because it took a long time to transfer money, he says, adding:

It’s like arriving at 10am and staying there with a few people until 1pm to make all the appointments we had to have every damn day of the week to send the same recommendation we sent yesterday.

This is one of the reasons SBF is so passionate about the DeFi – its vision is to one day replace the existing financial system, which is already too cumbersome. The current payment rails are not efficient at all, he says. There are billions of companies that just abstract it, and you end up with this incredibly complicated web of shit to make it usable for most people. They work on older systems that were not even designed for the Internet.

Effects of cryptography

For many, the SBF did not become an important figure in cryptography and DeFi until the mid-1920s, when it began to have an impact on Twitter crypto. It was an intentional gesture: He would have liked to have stayed under the radar in 2018 as Alameda focuses on quota trading: Very little advertising is required, which is usually a disadvantage. But when he launched FTX, an innovative cryptocurrency exchange system, in 2019, he had to create a community around it, and he took the lead in becoming its public face on social media.

As regards FTX as a retailer, the following rules apply: The more customers, the better. You can develop the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, it’s worthless, he says.

One of the most challenging and interesting tasks was finding ways to engage users, and a large part of this task was awareness raising.

He seems to have understood this, as the FTX is now the fifth largest derivatives exchange by volume, with a valuation of $3.5 billion. The company has launched a number of innovative markets, including offering token shares to companies like Tesla, Apple and Amazon, as well as trading on Coinbase prior to its IPO.

She is also using her wealth and influence to try to overcome what she sees as the biggest obstacle to widespread WiFi adoption. He believes that Ethereum, including Eth2, is not sufficiently sized for cryptography and DeFi to replace the existing financial system. Currently, DeFi can process about 10 transactions per second, and Layer 2 solutions offer several thousand TPS.

It’s an absolutely solid and immutable barrier to growth, he says. The Fay literally cannot develop as an ecosystem until this problem is resolved. That’s why there is no long-term plan that doesn’t address this problem. …it’s just deadly. Even the Eth2 target of 100,000 GST is not enough for what the SBF has in mind.

If your goal is to reach 100 million or a billion users, […] the application should be able to process about a million transactions per second to become one of the biggest applications in the world. So you can endlessly tick off the list without having to consider other factors, with a scaling solution that will not lead you to your goal.

This has led him to become one of the strongest proponents of Solana, a retail chain that currently handles 65,000 TPS and which the team claims could eventually reach amazing levels : 710,000 TPS on a 1 gigabit connection or 28.4 million TPS on a 40 gigabit connection.

In August 2020, he founded Serum DEX on Solana and launched SRM Cryptocurrency. Bankman-Fried says you can see the benefits of Solana in whey by the order book. The matching engine takes only a hundredth of a cent to place an order, and auctions take only a few seconds.

So get lots of juice from the higher flow. And that has really helped to broaden the product base. So much so that I think our best estimate is that Whey DEX probably consumed more transactions in six months of operation than the entire Ethereum store chain ever did.

Network effects have given Ethereum a hard time, forcing deFi projects and users to migrate to Solana. Even after Chief Nomi handed over control of SushiSwap to him, he was unable to convince the community to hand him over. In the end, it was much more complicated than we thought to migrate existing projects and much easier to create new ones, he explains, adding :

We would be very happy if they had an outpost on Solana. I think they still will at some point. But I also think Seren will go both ways. Ultimately, I want better products and better users, you know, no matter what.

(After our interview, there was a new proposal to build a version of SushiSwap on Solan and Whey, perhaps under the name Bonsai).

While the SBF argues that the network effects of many interconnected applications built on Ethereum are significant, it notes that each project will eventually need to migrate and dismantle assemblies and toolsets with existing options to move to Layer Two, Eth2 or another scalable solution. As for the number of users, he claims that the effects of the ETH network are overestimated.

The other part is that while DeFi’s current user base is very loyal, very large and powerful, it is not very large. The daily active users, I think it’s tens of thousands. I think FTX probably has more active daily users than all the DeFi’s combined.

It appears that SBF is considering implementing the Solana blockchain as infrastructure in applications where it is invisible to most users, to allow millions of users to access the DeFi. In early 2021, Alameda did a $50 million funding round to implement DeFi type tools on Maps.me, an offline European mapping application with 140 million users. Solana will build a multi-currency portfolio with exchange rates and locations. FTX’s purchase of Blockfolio could follow a similar strategy.

I think it will be a very cool product and a powerful suite of products for the application, he says of Maps.me. I’m very excited. I think this could be the start of adoption.

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raybansandcoffee · 7 years ago

Text

A New Life in New York: Adventure of a Lifetime (Coldplay)

If you missed the very first installment of this series you can find all three parts HERE. I hope you enjoy this!! It’s a BIT longer than I expect this to turn out. Oops.

This is still set during the first week that Janie and Harry know each other. Their origin stories are fun for me.

January 10th, 2020

“Finn, it’s time to go!” I yelled. I was cutting it close. I needed to get out the door and get Finn to preschool. We were still stuck in winter break mode. “FINN!”

“I’m coming Mom,” he replied as he came bounding down the stairs. Not to far behind him came his two sisters. Elizabeth had been staying with us the last two nights. She had Grey bundled up in her jacket and stocking cap.

“Are you two girls coming with us to take Finny to school?”

“We thought it might be fun. We could stop and grab some breakfast on the way back,” Elizabeth suggested.

“Sounds perfect,” I said. I took Grey from her arms and started to get her put in her stroller. Elizabeth’s suggestion that we get breakfast made me happy that I’d decided to get up and put makeup on this morning. After Elizabeth and Finn had their coats on we were in the elevator and headed to take Finn to school. He was good and held his big sister’s hand the entire walk there. After checking him in, getting his coat hung up and giving goodbye kisses we were headed to breakfast. “Thank you for helping get her ready this morning.”

“It’s been fun. I like helping out with the kids.” I opened the door to the coffee shop and we were headed in. I got the girls settled in at a table before going up to the counter to order breakfast and coffee. Noelle told me not to wait at the counter today that she’d bring the food over to me.

“So I assume that you have a motive to asking me to breakfast that isn’t just free food,” I said.

“I do,” she answered.

“Spill it.” I got the milk ready for Grey to drink as I watched her older sister take a deep breath. I could tell she was nervous about what she was going to tell me. “I mean as long as you aren’t pregnant don’t be nervous. And really I wouldn’t yell at you for being pregnant I’d just tell you I’m too young to be a grandma so we need a cooler name for me.” She started to laugh and I watched her nerves start to melt away.

“I’ve been thinking about your offer. I had a long talk with Mom yesterday afternoon when the kids were napping and you were working.” I had noticed that she’s snuck out of the apartment for a little while, she came back with a coffee for me so I assumed she’d just decided that I made shit coffee and went to get some. “She knows I hate my apartment because my roommates and I don’t get along. I struggled last semester to get all of my work done in my apartment and was basically living in study rooms and the library. She is supportive of me moving in with you and the kids.”

“If it’s what you want to do we will start to convert that room into really being yours. If I have to buy you out of your lease or cover your rent until we can find someone to sublease I will. Last semester was hard on you and I want to do whatever I can to help. Your brother, sister, and I would love to have you live with us if it is what you want. I don’t want you to feel like you’re doing this for me.”

“I’m not. This is for me. You have done so much for me, Becks and Jamie since Dad died. The fact that you’re opening up your doors and letting me move in is just another example of how amazing you are.”

“Your Dad would want me to, but beyond that, I want to. You may not be my kid, but you’re my kid. You could’ve decided you hated me when your Dad brought me to dinner the first time. Instead you decided to welcome me into your family.”

“Dad loved you so much, seeing him as happy as he was with you made it easy to welcome you. And I know you say that I’m not allowed to be a live in babysitter, but I hope you know that I don’t feel like a babysitter, I just feel like a big sister who gets the chance to hang out with her little brother and sister.”

“I still won’t allow you to babysit them constantly. I can afford a nanny to help and I know I need to do that if I intend on teaching more classes when Finny starts kindergarten in fall.”

“You will need to. But for now, if you want to go out with friends or Aunt Nellie or maybe on a date that I can watch them.”

“Ha. Funny. Nel is clearly wearing off on you with the ‘dating’ thing. I’m fine.”

“I know you are. But you don’t have to be alone forever. Dad would want you to be happy.”

“I am happy. I have my two babies and the three best bonus kids the world could provide. I don’t need a boyfriend.”

“I know you don’t.” It wasn’t long before Noelle brought our breakfast over and I tried to manage eating mine and helping Grey.

“Hey you.” There it was again. The British accent. There standing behind Elizabeth was Harry with Harper in his arms.

“Hi there. Hi, Harper.” She tucked her head into her Dad’s chest shyly.

“Can you say hi to Janie, Harper?”

“Hi Janie,” she said quietly. The table next to us was empty, it was a small coffee shop with only a couple feet between each table. Harry rested the bag he had for Harper in the chair that was beside Elizabeth and came to sit next to me in the long booth with Harper in between us.

“Harry, this is Elizabeth, my oldest stepdaughter. Elizabeth, this is my stalker, Harry Styles and his daughter Harper.”

“I am not stalking her and it’s nice to meet you,” he said sticking his hand out to shake hers.

“Four times since Monday? Sounds like you’re stalking her,” Elizabeth answered. God I loved her sass. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“And this gorgeous girl must be Grey.” Harry smiled at Grey who perked up the second her name was said. She smiled a giant syrupy smile thanks to the pancakes she was eating.

“Hi,” Grey said. Noelle came over with Harry’s coffee, milk for Harper, a green smoothie and yogurt and granola.

“Thank you, Noelle.” He must be a regular around here. He started to try and feed Harper the yogurt and granola but she was eyeing Grey’s pancakes and wanted nothing to do with the yogurt. After her refusing to eat the yogurt he tried the smoothie. “Come on Harper. You need to try it.”

“She absolutely does not,” I interjected laughing. “She’s not even 2. I’m 29 and wouldn’t want you to feed me the smoothie. Harper, do you want to share Grey’s pancakes?” She nodded excitedly. Harry glared at me as his daughter climbed up into my lap and started to share the pancakes with my daughter.

“Do you do this with every random child you meet on the streets of New York?” he asked.

“Nope, only the kids of the people who stalk me.”

“That’s gotta be full of sugar. She’s never going to take her nap and my Mom just left to catch a flight to London to see my sister for a week. You hate me, don’t you?”

“Don’t hate you. Not full of sugar. It’s sugar-free syrup or something and it’s their protein pancakes or some healthy thing that I can trick Grey with.” Harry started to laugh.

“You’re lying to your child?”

“At least I’m not feeding her a what, kale and spinach smoothie?”

“There’s banana, pineapple and peanut butter in it.” I made a gagging face and heard Elizabeth start to laugh.

“She’s lying again. She normally drinks that but she’s already on her third coffee today and I told her she needed real food.”

“And to think I thought I could trust you,” Harry exclaimed in an overly dramatic way. I rolled my eyes.

“Harper, your Dad is silly isn’t he?”

“He’s really silly.”

“So what are you three girls up to this morning?” he asked, clearly trying to change the conversation from his daughter and I mocking him.

“We took Finn to school and I’m treating my girls to breakfast.”

“I was laying the news on her that I’m moving home,” Elizabeth said. “And if she’ll let me I’m going to pack up my apartment and get out of there this weekend.”

“I’m not helping you move. Use your credit card and pay for movers.”

“Movers are expensive. She’s a college student. If you need help I’d be happy to pitch in,” Harry said as he rolled his eyes at me.

“She pays my credit card bill.” I smiled evilly at him.

“See. Not mean, just not interested in moving her shit. Though you don’t have furniture do you?” I asked Elizabeth.

“Nope, it’s a furnished apartment. It’s furnished with junk but it’s furnished. It’s just clothes and books.”

“Pay a mover.” Harry started to laugh. “She’s a nerd who loves to shop.” I glanced back at Elizabeth. “Convince your brother to come help you Saturday and tell him I’ll bribe him. I know he wants some new gadget or something. You can use the car. If he wants to stay I’ll let Finny sleep in my room and he can have that room.”

“You know Finn will convince him to stay in there with him. He’s still mad at you that you didn’t put bunk beds in his room so Jamie could have slumber parties with him.” I had to laugh. Finn worshipped his big brother, Jamie was good to him and often times it was this 18 year old kid and his 4 year old brother asleep in a Finn’s full-sized bed, which I’d only gotten that big because of the occasional times that Jamie stayed with us.

“Come on, Mom. You didn’t get the boys bunk beds? You’re no fun.”

“Just wait until you get to know my kid.” I laughed as I looked at Harry. “He thinks he can fly by jumping off his bed. I can picture it now. ‘Mommy I can fly really high now’, jumps from top bunk, breaks neck and is paralyzed. No bunk beds.” Harry started to laugh harder.

“She’s a bit dramatic sometimes,” Elizabeth said. “You’ll figure that out soon enough, I’m sure.” I glared at her. She winked at me as she smiled and I knew she as going to be hell to deal with after we parted ways with Harry. The rest of breakfast was actually fun. The girls were enjoying having another tiny human their size around and Harper took to me pretty quickly as she stayed sitting in my lap until we went to leave and wasn’t quite sure she wanted to go back to her Dad when we stood up.

“Are you headed home?” I asked Harry as we walked out onto the street and got the girls settled into their strollers.

“Yeah, I need to figure out how to get a workout in today without Mom home. I probably should’ve thought this stuff out before hand.”

“I can watch the girls,” Elizabeth chimed in. “They are clearly having fun and this one has been whining about how she hasn’t been able to get away from the apartment to work out in a week. Take her to the gym.”

“Are you sure?” Harry asked.

“Positive. I was going to try and kick her out to go work out so she’d stop annoying me. I’ll entertain the girls. You two can go have some gym time and hang out.”

“You in?” He looked at me and I started nodding without even realizing what I was doing. It was like I’d gotten hypnotized by his damn eyes. He was excitedly talking about having some time in the gym for the majority of the walk and filling in Elizabeth on things for Harper. “I’ll go get changed, get a couple things for Harp and then we’ll be up.”

“Okay,” I said softly as we walked into the building. Once the door to the elevator that went to our unit closed I turned to look at Elizabeth. “You are lucky I love you or I’d kill you right now.”

“You’ve got a gym date. You’ll have to tell me if he looks hotter all sweaty.”

“If there weren’t two year old ears in this elevator you’d get to hear the string of expletives going through my mind right now.” The doors opened and we were in the apartment. Elizabeth immediately started getting Grey out of her stroller and I sprinted upstairs to change clothes. I changed between different pants, shorts, and tops what felt like 10,000 times before I heard Harry and Elizabeth talking downstairs. I finally threw on my shoes and practically sprinted down the stairs.

“You ready?” he asked as I opened the refrigerator to grab a water.

“Yup. Lilibet, text if you need anything.” I gave Grey a kiss on the top of her head before Harry and I were out the door. It was just us in the elevator. We’d not been alone until this moment. It was Friday and we’d seen each other four times this week, all completely on accident, but each time we had other people with us. Sure, he’d texted me a bit Wednesday night and then again yesterday to tell me he’d had fun the night before, but this was different. This was just us alone in an elevator for what felt like way too much time because I was focusing on the way his cologne mixed with the scent of the soap he must’ve used in the shower.

“So what sort of workouts do you do?” he asked.

“Run, bike, swim, I’ll do weight training occasionally but I hate it. My sister has had to write about nearly every sort of work out trend and she usually drags me along with her so I can take a picture of her doing whatever it is for her articles. Oh, and I’ve tried yoga but I don’t think I’m meant to be good at it.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m not very well disciplined and I constantly get kicked out of classes for talking. And my talking is usually mocking other people in the room.” He laughed a little. “I’m a bitch, I know.”

“I don’t think you’re a bitch. But I think you could learn to enjoy yoga. I’ve practiced for a number of years. Maybe I can teach you. That way if you need to be a bit snarky you can be. I won’t be offended by you talking if it’s just us.”

“I mean okay, but can I just run and like beat the shit out of a heavy bag today?”

“Sure. You box too?” I nodded as the elevator door opened.

“It was the first sort of workout I did post-pregnancy. The bitter widow found a boxing club in Brooklyn and beat the shit out of some stuff for a while. It’s good stress relief.”

“Yes, it is. I spent a lot of time with my boxing gloves right before Harper was born.” It made me want to ask about the situation with Harper and her Mom but it wasn’t my place. He’d been decent enough to not ask about the whole widow thing so I didn’t want to force him to answer questions.

“Yeah, I would’ve done it when I was pregnant but that was frowned upon.” He laughed a bit as he threw put his towel and water bottle on a treadmill before he started to stretch. I did the same figuring that I’d just start with a run and then maybe not act like I was following him around the gym. “So, your Mom is going back to London for a week?” I asked as we both started out on the treadmill slowly, he nodded. “Why didn’t you go with?”

“Harper isn’t really the best flyer so considering she’s still on her antibiotics from last weekend I didn’t want to make her fly. It’s probably good for my Mom and sister to have some girl time too. I don’t always need to go home when she does and it gives her a bit of time away from Harper and I, which I’m sure she appreciates.”

“I get what you mean about that. When I was still living in Brooklyn I lived about two blocks from my parents and with my sister. They all wanted rid of me and I equally wanted rid of them. I actually wonder sometimes why Nellie still lives with me.”

“Well she’s your sister, she loves you and the kids. She probably enjoys it more than you realize.”

“She might, she might also just like living rent free in a huge penthouse in Tribeca. I mean I wouldn’t blame her for that. It hasn’t always been easy living with me, and she has to put up with two kids too.“

“Your kids both seem pretty great.”

“Thanks. I think Harper and I became best friends during breakfast.”

“You fed her pancakes, so of course she loves you.”

"A kid should be able to eat pancakes sometimes.”

“I know. I think I worry too much about stuff like that because I truly have no idea what I’m doing most days.”

“She’s lived this long, you’re doing great. And honestly, I raised Finn for two years with his father and when I had Grey I still had no idea what I was doing. So as long as you don’t break her, you’re good.”

“It’s fucking tough.”

“It is but occasionally you just have to go with your gut and hope it works out.” Having someone to work out with was actually nice for a change. Most of the time I snuck down here in the middle of the night when the kids were asleep and Nellie was home. I did end up sort of mindlessly following him around the gym and doing whatever he did for workouts, trading off who was spotting for each other.

“You’re doing great,” he said as he was spotting me while I was on the weight bench. As I went to finish and put the bar back his hands brushed mine. The bar slipped out of my hands and fell, loudly, onto it’s rest. “You okay?”

“Uh, yeah fine. My hands were sweaty.” They weren’t. But I couldn’t tell him that simply being touched by a man was shocking, but him touching me was almost too much. I couldn’t tell him that because I had NO IDEA why it effected me enough that I nearly dropped a barbell on my head. When we were done we basically fell into the elevator and headed to my apartment. The door opened to the sound of the TV in the great room. I saw Elizabeth laying down on the couch and the kids nowhere in site. “Where are the girls?” I asked.

“They are both passed out in Grey’s room. They played really hard for a while and then got tired. I’ve honestly never seen Grey pass out like that.”

“We will go check on them,” I said. I gestured for Harry to follow me up the stairs, which he did. When we got to Grey’s room I slowly opened the door and there they were surrounded by 10 billion stuffed animals asleep in her bed.

“She looks so tiny on that giant bed,” he said quietly. “She still sleeps in a crib. My little girl looks grown up in that bed.”

“Grey has only been out of hers for a few weeks. It was her Christmas present. Tucking my baby into that bed the first night was so heart breaking. She’s my last little baby.”

“I hate waking her up when she’s passed out like that.”

“Don’t. Go home, shower and then come back up here. They will be fine sleeping for a while. You said your Mom was out of town right?”

“Yeah, she left early this morning for London.”

“Well, we were planning on ordering in pizza for dinner. I know it’s not a kale smoothie or anything but kids love pizza.”

“I hate you.”

“Nah, you’d stop stalking me if you hated me. Go shower, let her sleep for a while and then we can all do dinner up here. The kids can hang out for the rest of the afternoon if you want.”

“When do you have to get Finn?”

“I’m gonna jump in the shower and then go get him.”

“Well, if Elizabeth is okay watching the girls I’ll walk with you to get him.”

“That would be nice. Meet back here in 30 minutes?”

“Sounds great.” He placed a soft kiss on Harper’s forehead and we walked out of the room. He got back into the elevator and headed down to his apartment while I jumped in the shower. I really wasn’t completely interested in getting dressed in cute clothes for school pick up, it was cold out, I just got done with a killer workout thanks to my stalker and knew that I’d have a rambunctious four year old on my hands. I pulled on a pair of black leggings, an oversized white sweater and an olive green jacket after drying my hair and putting on a little bit of makeup. I threw on a pair of black tennis shoes and a scarf as I heard the elevator ding.

I walked towards the doorway of the master and leaned against the doorframe as I watched the door open to Harry standing there, glancing down at his phone with his hair hanging in his face. He looked up from the phone as the door stopped moving and smiled at me. He has such a great smile. I can see why Nellie and Elizabeth spent time obsessing over the fact that I knew him, he is extremely attractive.

“Hi, there,” he said.

“Hey,” I replied. “The girls are still asleep.”

“That’s great. Harper hasn’t napped all that well this week.”

“Well they played hard this morning.”

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” I grabbed my purse off of the table that was inside the master bedroom where it usually sat and stepped into the elevator with Harry. “Thanks for kicking my ass today.”

“You did great. It’s not like you needed me to kick your ass in the gym. I think you know your way around it pretty well. We should do it again though. Sometimes it’s nice to have a buddy in the gym. I got pretty used to it back in the day when I was on the road. There was always someone around to go to the gym with.”

“I bet. Thanks for going with me to get Finn.”

“The walk will be nice and it also means I won’t sit in your apartment waiting for Harper to wake up. It’s also nice to know that Harper is making a friend.”

“Yeah, Grey is used to her brother and cousins. Most of my friends don’t have kids yet. Which I know seems surprising considering my age.”

“You’re not old,” he said laughing.

“I know. But a lot of the people I was casual friends with in college have kids. My close friends are all still engulfed in journalism and life on the road isn’t conducive to children.”

“Is that why you changed up what you were writing?”

“Yeah, sort of. I got the opportunity shortly after I met my husband to take a new position in my writing. One that allowed me to have a position.” I started to laugh. “So often in journalism, unless you’re a columnist, you have to be Switzerland and be neutral. Just report the facts, no opinion on the facts. I wasn’t really interested in doing the investigative journalism that my older sister does. I mean she’s taking on stories that require her to go undercover to get information. The threats she receives and the threats I received are different.”

“You get threats about what you write?” he asked as we reached the lobby.

“I don’t know many journalists who don’t. I’m critical of a lot of people in power. Their base hates me. I get threats all of the time but most of them aren’t spelled correctly so I don’t worry. My sister has actually had to go into hiding or have a security guard for a while. It’s crazy. My threats are mainly that they are going to block me or tell everyone not to read me because I’m fake news.” Harry started to laugh. He had a good laugh.

“I mean I get that. I get threats because there are people who think I’m preventing my old band from getting back together. There’s a lot of conspiracy theories about me out there so I just avoid social media for the most part.”

“I’m sure. You basically use it now just to stalk me.”

“I hate you,” he replied.

“No, you don’t.” I shoved him a bit with my shoulder because we were walking close enough.

“You’re right. I don’t hate you.” He put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a side hug as we were stopped at a crosswalk. The light changed and allowed for us to walk causing his arm to drop from my shoulders. We went back to talking about the gym as we walked, it was an easy conversation topic for us. I knew that I could be a little socially awkward when it came to men, especially attractive ones. I wasn’t sure if he was sort of awkward too. It was weird to try and think about the opposite sex and how to handle them when you were constantly trying to think about if you had enough diapers at home and if the spot on your shirt was from the coffee you spilled or something produced from a baby. My go to subjects with people that weren’t kid related were food, music, fitness, and politics. During our walk he decided he was taking me to the gym he goes to that isn’t in the building to box and that we need to catch a spin class at Soul Cycle this week.

We finally made it to Finn’s school and I directed us through the building to Finn’s classroom. When I opened the door and walked in he jumped up out of his chair and ran towards me. He gave me a hug before glancing next to me at Harry.

“Did you have a good day, Finny?”

“I did.”

“Do you remember Harry from the doctor’s office on Monday?” I asked as I grabbed Finn’s coat from the hook and started to put it on him.

“Yup,” Finn replied. “Hi Harry.”

“Hi Finn,” Harry said. “How was school today, buddy?”

“Good. We got to paint today.” The teacher came over to us with what I assumed was Finn’s painting.

“Hi Janie,” Ms. Rockwell said. “Here is Finn’s painting from today. He did great! I love his imagination.” I glanced down at the painting to see it was of a dog. He wanted a dog really badly and was constantly asking if we could get one. My parents and my older sister had dogs. In addition to that a few weeks ago, while she was babysitting Elizabeth had taken him with to stop at her Mom’s house and they have several dogs.

“Finny, are you imaging puppy dogs again.”

“Puppy dogs aren’t imaginary, Mom.” All three of the adults in this conversation started to laugh.

“Puppy dogs aren’t imaginary at all,” Harry said. “They are pretty awesome actually.”

“I know. We are going to get one,” Finn added.

“Finn, don’t start with me.”

“I’m not starting with you. I want a dog.” I couldn’t help but laugh. He was determined to get a puppy.

“Maybe someday.”

“Remember Monday is a full day for him,” Ms. Rockwell said. “We are going to take them to the fire station for a tour. You signed him up for that.”

“I did. I signed up to chaperone too didn’t I?”

“You did. Remember that it’s okay to bring Grey with you that day.”

“The fire station? That sounds awesome. I’m jealous you get to go, Finn,” Harry chimed in. He was clearly trying to win my son over as payback for feeding his daughter pancakes, I could feel it.

“You can come too.” Finn was cute, inviting strangers on his school field trip. I needed to talk to him about how inviting strangers places was not a good idea.

“I’m sure that Harry has something else going on and that Ms. Rockwell doesn’t need any other chaperones.”

“Actually,” she said. “Rowan’s Dad was supposed to go but got called away to China for work last minute. I was going to send an email this afternoon out to parents to see if they could fill in. If you don’t mind you’re welcome to join us.” I could tell the look on her face. She was hypnotized by his eyes too.

“I could do that. Do you mind if I bring my daughter?” he asked. “She and Grey are friends.”

“Absolutely,” Ms. Rockwell replied, almost too quickly. “The more the merrier.”

“We will all see you Monday morning then,” Harry said. I grabbed Finn’s bag and was out the door.

“You really don’t have to come with on Monday.” I had Finn’s hand in mine and he was walking in between Harry and I. “I can ask Elizabeth to help chaperone, she’s not back in classes yet.

“No, it’s okay. Taking Harper to a fire station might be fun. Plus I said I’d help. I’m a man of my word. We will have fun together. It’ll be a chance to get to know each other better with the kids.”

“Stalker.”

“You are the worst.”

“I know.” Once back at the apartment Finn started in with his toys that were okay to play with and let his sister play with. Watching Finn play with Grey and Harper was cute. He loved being a big brother so having two little girls follow him around was like a dream.

“You should give me a tour,” Harry said. “I’ve not been in any of the penthouses in this place.”

“What you and Justin Timberlake don’t hang out together? There’s not a Boy Band Survivors Club in this building?” He laughed and flipped me off after checking that the kids weren’t watching. “Fine, I’ll give you a tour.” We stood up off of the couch as I watched Elizabeth giggle a bit. I led him through the house showing him my office that was in the library on the first floor, the area of the house that was occupied by my sister, the kids’ rooms and playroom, Elizabeth’s room, the master and then the rooftop terrace and entertainment center. We stood in the indoor living area upstairs looking out at the city.

“Your place is gorgeous.”

“Thanks.”

“The terrace has to be nice with the kids.”

“It’s a lifesaver. They love the pool and it’s nice to let them run around up here and burn energy. We’ll have to do some playdates this summer.”

“That would be nice.”

“Our kids all appear to be getting along well.”

“Yeah, it’s nice. Harper doesn’t spend a lot of time with other kids, I’ve got friends with kids but not a ton of them in New York. So thank you for inviting us to hang out tonight, I appreciate it a lot. It’s nice to give her some kids to hang out with and it’s nice to have grown up conversations with someone that isn’t just my Mum or completely centered around music.”

“Fridays are always pizza night around here. You’re welcome anytime.”

“I might take you up on that.”

“Most people have date night on Fridays. I have family date night.”

“Date night? What’s that?” He had to be lying. He was too cute to not know what dates were anymore. “It’s been a while since I went on a decent date.”

“Same.”

“Dating as a single parent is tough. Yours has to be harder,” he said.

“Yeah and I’m maybe not equipped to always be nice. Like I feel a little bad about what I said to Ed at the bar when he asked about Elizabeth but it’s also something I get asked a lot and judged about.”

“You get judged about your husband dying?”

“Yeah, you’d be shocked. I’ve had a lot of men look at me from the other side of the table during appetizers and drinks with sad puppy eyes. I usually then say that I got a text from a nanny and I have to go home.”

“A lot of women think the single dad thing is hot.”

“It is,” I said before even realizing what I’d said. “I mean, men with babies is an attractive thing. Umm…I…fuck. I don’t know.”

“Single Moms are…” “Crazy?”

“That’s not what I was going to say. I was going to say are often times intense but also refreshing.”

“How so?”

“It’s been nice to spend time with you today. I meet a lot of women who only pretend to be interested in what goes on with Harper because they want to get into bed with me. You appear to be interested in Harper and not my bed.”

“I mean…” We both awkwardly laughed. We’d been standing up here mindlessly looking out the window for a while.

“What?” he asked.

“You have a cute kid.”

“Thanks.”

“She has your eyes.”

“Finn has yours,” I said as I turned to look up at him as he spoke. “They are beautiful. A beautiful, soft green.” I watched as he licked his lips and pulled the lower one through his thumb and index finger after he spoke. “They are the prettiest green I’ve ever seen.” His hand came to my cheek, brushing a bit of hair out of my face before cupping my cheek and his thumb rubbing back and forth gently.

My mind started going a million miles a minute. He was literally touching my face. I didn’t know why. And the worst part. I couldn’t really focus on anything except the incredible way his eyes looked as he stared into mine and the feeling of his hands. They were soft despite being slightly callused from playing guitar. He slowly bent down towards me and placed his lips against mine as his hand slipped to the back of my neck to cup the base of my head. His lips were soft and full, like two pillows against mine. I felt my stomach do a backflip, the hair on my arms stand up and my heart rate increase all at once. I sensed that he wanted to deepen the kiss and was hesitating.

“MOM!” came the scream of my son as I heard his feet come bounding up the stairs. Harry and I backed away from each other so quickly we banged our foreheads against each other. I started to laugh a little nervously.

“Yes Finny?” I yelled back.

“Come downstairs and play with us. Lilibet is getting out markers and crayons. I want you to color with us.”

“Okay Finny. We will be down in a second,” I replied.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Harry said quietly.

“You’re okay.”

“No, it was wrong of me to do that without asking.”

“No, it wasn’t. You’re fine. We are fine. Fine, yeah…fine.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah, let’s go downstairs and color.” We went downstairs and the kids forced us onto the bench on onside of the dining room table. We were sitting close enough that every time he moved I felt his skin brush against mine. I was like a robot sitting there and coloring. I had no idea what had just happened.

It had been two years since a man kissed me and I felt anything. Sure, there’d been some awkward and terrible kisses from maybe two or three of the men my sisters forced me to go on dates with, but none of them made me feel anything. That kiss made me feel like an electric current was running through my body, even still despite the kiss having ended 10 pages of a coloring book ago.

“I colored this for you,” Harper said as she handed me the picture she’d been coloring. It was full of scribbles that my Mom senses told me were hearts and flowers.

“Thank you, Harper. It’s absolutely beautiful. I am gonna go put this on the fridge with Grey and Finny’s pictures. Is that okay?”

“Yeah!” she excitedly answered. I stood from the bench and went into the kitchen. I sensed that Harry was following me.

“You promise you’re okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It was a kiss. It was nothing.” Except it wasn’t. But I didn’t know what it was.

“Okay.” It wasn’t much longer when we finally ordered pizza. Harry and I both had a few beers with dinner. It was a nice way to relax from the whole confusing kiss thing.

We put on movies and I grabbed the sleeping bags that the kids used when we declared it movie night. Harry sat next to me on the sofa. It was close enough we could quietly talk during the cartoon the kids had picked but far enough away that Elizabeth wasn’t going to suddenly figure out that we knew what the other person’s lips felt like. His hand was close to mine on the cushion, I felt his pinky rub against mine and I glanced over at him to see him smirking at me. I just shook my head and turned back to the movie.

When the movie ended and we turned the lights up I realized that all three kids had fallen asleep in the sleeping bags. It was becoming difficult for me to carry Finn up to bed. I sighed deeply knowing I’d need to do that tonight.

“Let me get him,” Harry said.

“You sure?” I asked.

“Yeah. Elizabeth can you stay with Harper while we take the kids up to bed?”

“Of course.” Harry bent down to lift Finn as I lifted up Grey. He followed up the stairs parting in the play room to put Finn into his room while I went and tucked Grey into bed. I shut her door just as he did.

“Thank you. I would’ve died doing that after the workout you put me through.”

“I could put you through another workout, this one might be more…fun?” Well fuck.

“I bet you could.” Hey beer I drank earlier, shut up!

“Maybe sometime.” He raised an eyebrow at me and it took everything not to roll my eyes at him. Instead I laughed as we headed back downstairs. He picked Harper up off of the ground and in her sleep she snuggled into her Dad, her head rested in the bend of his neck. I walked with them to the elevator as Elizabeth picked up the sleeping bags. “Thanks again for tonight,” he said as we waited for the elevator.

“I had fun. We will have to do it again.”

“We will. Elizabeth said she’d watch the kids in the morning. We are going to the gym again.”

“I hate you.”

“Nah, you’d want me to stop stalking you if you hated me.” The door opened and he stepped in with Harper and I stood in front of the door to keep it open. “I’ll pick you up at 8:00.”

“Fine.”

“Goodnight,” he said as I stepped away from the door and it closed.

“Thank you for watching all of the kids today.”

“It was fun. Harper is a sweet kid.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Her Dad is pretty great too.”

“Yeah, he is.” “He asked me to watch the kids tomorrow so he could drag you back to the gym.”

“I hear that.”

“I thought he might ask if he could take you out to dinner.”

“Nah, we are just friends.”

“Uh huh, sure.”

“What?” I asked. “Friends don’t sit as close on the couch as you two were tonight. Your couch could fit 15 people. He was close enough I’m pretty sure you could tell me what cologne he was wearing.”

“Actually I’ve been struggling to figure out what cologne he wears. Whatever it is it’s fucking amazing. Fuck. Why did I say that outloud?” My phone vibrated on the island of the kitchen. I saw Elizabeth glance down at it and a smile spread across her face as she grabbed it. “Give me my phone.”

“Nope,” she said.

“Give me my phone or you have to stay at your apartment.”

“You don’t scare me.”

“What does it say?”

“Thanks for tonight. The dinner, movie and kiss were all pretty great.”

“Dammit.”

“You kissed?”

“You know what? This is really an awkward conversation to have with your stepdaughter.” Just at that moment I heard the elevator open in the foyer.

“GET IN HERE, NELLIE!” Elizabeth yelled.

“What?” Nellie asked. I could tell she’d been out having drinks with her co-workers and she seemed a bit tipsy.

“Janie and Harry kissed today.”

“You’re fucking kidding me,” she replied.

“I am so not talking about this. This is not something appropriate to talk to my stepdaughter about.”

“Then talk to me about it.”

“Not happening.”

“You realize that I don’t care if you talk about this,” Elizabeth said. “I told you today. I want you to be happy. Dad would want you to be happy. Dating is ok.”

“This wasn’t dating.”

“No it was better than dating. It was a kiss.” My sister was such a smartass. “I mean if it was a good kiss.” I could feel the blush creeping into my cheeks. “Okay NOW you’re telling us what happened.”

“I gave him a tour of the apartment. We were upstairs looking at the view of the city from the rooftop terrace. We started talking about how great the kids were. Then there was conversation about how Harper has his eyes and Finn has mine. Our eyes locked he kissed me. Then Finn yelled for us to come down and color.”

“Was it a good kiss?” Nellie pushed.

“I mean it wasn’t much of a kiss. It was just soft and sweet.”

“Soft and sweet can be good,” Elizabeth added. I sighed deeply.

“It was like in the same instant my heart jumped into my chest, my skin covered in goosebumps and my heart started racing.”

“YES!” both of the girls yelled.

“Shut up there’s two sleeping kids in this house.”

“They have a gym date in the morning,” Elizabeth said.

“Why not a real date?” Nellie inquired.

“He only asked me to watch the kids so they could go to the gym, not on a date.”

“Because we are only friends.” The phone buzzed again.

“Not just friends.” Elizabeth’s face lit up. “This one reads: That workout could’ve been a fun end to tonight. Still could be.”

“What kind of workout?” Nellie was not going to let me not answer this.

“He carried Finny up to bed. I thanked him for that because after the workout he had me do in the gym today I wouldn’t have been able to carry him up the stairs. He told me he could put me through another workout and it might be more fun.”

“He’s trying to sext you!” Nellie was yelling again and this time both Elizabeth and I shushed her. “If you want to go get that workout we will watch the kids.”

“Give me my phone I’m going to bed.” Elizabeth finally handed the phone over and I went upstairs to go to bed. I was laying in bed staring at the ceiling when the phone went off for a third time.

That was out of line, right? Well, considering Elizabeth had my phone in her hands when you sent it… Fuck. Yup. I’m sorry. Is she upset? Umm…in a way. How so? She’s upset (and so is Nellie) that I crawled into my own bed instead of replying to you. HAHA! That’s great. She’s a great girl. Yes she is. Well was, until tonight. I want to kill them both. They almost woke the kids up. How so? They were excitedly screaming about you evidently sexting me. It was a failed attempt at sexting because I’m alone in bed. You are the worst. Nah, I’m the best. You just don’t know it yet. DAMN. Someone has an ego. Yup. So are you ready to get your butt kicked again in the morning? Yes. Nice segue in the conversation by the way. I’m good. And I wasn’t completely changing the subject. Think you can get a sitter for all three of the kids tomorrow night? Maybe why? Ed wants to go out. His missus just landed today which was why we weren’t recording today. Since his lady is coming and I don’t want to be the third wheel I thought you could join me. Could be fun. Oh, I can make sure its…fun. Bold statement, Styles. Bold statement. I think that I can find a sitter for all three kids. Elizabeth and one of her girlfriends had been talking about having a girls night. I’ll convince them to do it at home instead of out. I’m good at bribing them to do things. I’m intrigued now. Well get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight. Dream of me. Oh shut up.

Well, well, well. A first kiss interrupted by a tiny human. Nothing seems more appropriate for these two. The flirting that went from subtle to blatant. And Harry with the “failed” attempt at sexting.

I mean Harry is being bold with Janie and frankly I love it. Writing them is fun. Their banter. Her sarcastic, smartassed nature. The world has sort of left Janie without a fully functioning filter. I mean she fed his kid pancakes! I love the idea of Janie sitting with both of their girls feeding them pancakes. And the mental image of Harry and Janie coloring with their three kids sort of melts my heart. They are both incredible parents who have done nothing but put their kids first.

They have the building blocks of a great friendship in place. Shared interest. Kids that get along. Proximity, haha. I am excited for them to get to know each other and wonder just how long each of them can go without talking about the two GIANT elephants in the room: Harper’s Mom and Greyson’s death. Eventually they will have to have those conversations and they both appear to be avoiding them because they don’t want it to feel like they are prying. As their friendship grows that will be something they have no choice but to talk about. Any speculations on either situation?

I love writing the three women in this story. Janie, Nellie and Elizabeth are great characters and I can’t wait to provide more information about Nellie and Elizabeth. Janie has quite the tribe of people ready, willing and able to help her raise these two kids alone. Elizabeth being a daily fixture in Janie and the kids’ lives is going to be fun. And I am pretty sure she will always keep Janie on her toes.

I can’t wait to hear what you think!! This was really only supposed to be like 3,500 words and ended up at 7,644. What do you want to hear next? I am excited to tell different parts of their growing relationship and jump around a bit. So please, please, PLEASE tell me what you’d like to hear. I’d love to have a spark of an idea come from someone else.

Also thank you to my fellow Coldplay addict, @death–by–dimples for the title. I’ve been staring at my iTunes for a half hour and she in an instant had a title without even reading the chapter!

xx AM.

PS I apologize about the grammar and spelling. It’s almost 1:30. I’m tired and don’t want to spell check. #lazywriter

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tamboradventure · 4 years ago

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My Favorite Gear for Travelers

Posted: 9/10/20 | September 10th, 2020

What do you take on your trip? What do you need? As long time readers know, I’m a fan of packing light. I don’t think you really need much when you travel. As a backpacker, I want to make sure everything I own fits into one bag. I often think people bring too much stuff when they travel.

I went to Costa Rica on my first trip overseas and I took with me the entire suggested packing list my tour company gave customers. I carried around so much stuff I never used. Years later, when I did my first backpacking trip around the world, I still carried so much, I ended up leaving stuff in hostels as I went.

But I also recognize everyone has different travel styles and needs. No two travelers are alike.

As you prepare for future trips and are wondering “what do I really need to bring?”, I wanted to give you a list of what I view as practical and must-have items. These items won’t take up too much space, are incredibly useful, and will make your trip better.

Here’s my favorite travel gear:

Table of Contents

Items Under $25

Items Under $100

Items Over $100

Items Under $25

1. Travel Padlock

Safety first! If you’re a budget traveler and plan on staying in hostels during your next trip then you’ll need one of these. Since most hostels use lockers, budget travelers need to provide their own travel lock if they want to keep their stuff secured. While you can usually rent or buy them at hostels, it’s much cheaper just to buy one before you go.

Buy now on Amazon!

2. Travel Adapter

As many travelers have learned, it’s incredibly frustrating (not to mention inconvenient) to arrive at a new destination only to realize you can’t charge your phone or computer because the electrical outlets are different. That’s why you’ll want a travel adapter. They’re a simple accessory but a necessary one if you’re visiting different regions of the world. This is one I personally use as it covers every region of the world (and comes with USB ports too). It’s affordable, easy to use, and lightweight.

Buy now on Amazon!

3. Packing Cubes

If you’re going to be living our of a backpack for a few weeks (or months) or you just want to keep your suitcase better organized, buy packing cubes. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. They’re great for making it easy to find everything in your backpack or suitcase. (If you want better-quality packing cubes, check these ones out!)

Buy now on Amazon!

4. Earplugs

Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that earplugs are a necessity. From snorers to late-night drinkers to copulating couples — I’ve heard it all. Even if you’re not going to be in a hostel, they’re still helpful for sleeping in buses, overnight trains, and other types of transportation. A good night’s sleep is priceless — travel prepared!

Buy now on Amazon!

5. DryFox Quick Dry Travel Towel

Unless you’re only staying at hotels and using Airbnb, you’re going to need to bring a towel. Having a lightweight, quick-drying towel makes a huge difference when you’re on the road since regular towels are too bulky and heavy (and they take a long time to dry). Instead, get a travel towel. They’re a compact, quick-drying solution that every backpacker needs. (Use code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase!)

Buy now at DryFoxCo!

6. Passport Holder

A passport holder is a must-have for any avid traveler. It protects your passport from wear and tear — which is important because a damaged passport might get you sent home early or denied entry to a destination (plus, replacing a passport is an expensive hassle). While there are tons of pricey, fancy options out there, a simple one will get the job done.

Buy now on Amazon!

7. Toothpaste Bites

Having to travel with liquids is a pain. They’re always a hassle at airport security. And when it comes to toothpaste, there is a lot of waste (you never get all the toothpaste out and the plastic package is bad for the environment). Enter toothpaste bites. These dry tabs of toothpaste that come in a recyclable jar (no plastic!). They take some getting used to but they’re an eco-friendly option for the environmentally-conscious traveler. (If Bite doesn’t ship to your area of the world, Lush also sells toothpaste and mouthwash tabs).

Buy now at Bite!

8. Moleskine Notebook

I never leave home without one of these. Not only to I use them for work (I’m constantly taking notes and writing down ideas) but I also use them to keep track of my travels so I have something to look back on. They are the perfect notebook for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down travel notes such as directions, contact information, and language tips. Even in this hyper-technological age, I think everyone needs to write more during their travels so they have something to look back on.

Buy now on Amazon!

9. Celiac Travel Cards

My friend Jodi from Legal Nomads created these helpful travel cards for anyone traveling with Celiac disease. They are in-depth resources that communicate your concerns to restaurant staff in a way that allows anyone traveling with the disease to have a worry-free meal. If you or someone you love has Celiac disease, these travel cards are a useful resource! (Use the code NOMADICMATT for 10% off!)

Buy now at Legal Nomads!

10. First Aid Kit

If you’re going to be doing any hiking, biking, or other activities during your trip I suggest bringing a small first aid kit. It just needs to include the basics (band-aids, antibiotic cream (Polysporin), paracetamol (Tylenol), gauze, etc.) so that if you get a small cut, blister, or burn you won’t need to worry about infections. Of course, you should always buy travel insurance before you leave home but this will help you take care of any minor cuts or scrapes you get during your travels.

(Also, as I think we’ve all learned over the past few months, bring some hand sanitizer too!). Here’s more information on how to pack a basic first aid kit.

Buy now on Amazon!

Items Under $100

11. LifeStraw

Single-use plastics are common in a lot of countries around the world. They’re also polluting our oceans and destroying the environment. But when you’re traveling, they can be hard to avoid if you want to stay safe. Fortuantely, you can do your part to help the planet by traveling with a reusable filter. LifeStraw is an awesome brand that sells bottles with built in water filters. The filters last 5 years so you save money on changing them too. You’ll be able to stay healthy and lower your reliance on single-use plastics. Double win!

Buy now at LifeStraw!

12. Travel Headlamp

This is a handy tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, having a headlamp is helpful when you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers by turning on the lights. They’re also helpful in emergencies.

Buy now on Amazon!

13. Trtl Travel Pillow

Travel pillows are perfect for those long-haul flights, delayed buses, and airport naps. Every avid traveler should have a travel pillow. They just make being in transit all the more comfortable. They help prevent jetlag and make even the longest, most uncomfortable trip a little more bearable.

Buy now on Amazon!

14. Suavs shoes

Suavs shoes are versatile and durable. They’re perfect for traveling because they work for exploring a new city while also looking a little fancier so you can dress them up if you have to. They are flexible, light, washable, and breathable. I love them!

Buy now on Suavs!

Items Over $100

15. Travel Backpack

If you’re a long-term traveler, your backpack is your home away from home. A reliable, durable travel backpack is a must for budget travelers, minimalists, and backpackers. A well-made bag will last for years and through dozens of adventures. Having a reliable travel backpack is one of the most important items for a traveler and is worth investing in.

My favorite bag is the Flash 45 from REI but other companies worth checking out for high-quality bags are Osprey, Nomatic, and MEC (for Canadians).

For a different backpack suggestions, check out my guide to finding the right backpack!

16. Travel Clothing from Unbound Merino

These travel clothes are some of the most versatile on the market. Made from merino wool, Unbound Merino offers clothing that can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. They are super light (great for carry-on only travelers) and they look sylish too. I really love the material, they’re comfortable, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever!

Buy now on Unbound!

17. Eco-friendly Luggage from Samsonite

If you’re looking for a suitcase instead of a travel backpack, Samsonite has been a go-to brand for durable, quality luggage for ages. Personally, I’m a backpack guy but even I am a fan of this luggage set because it’s made from 100% recycled plastic. Not only that, it also comes with a limited 10 year warranty in case something goes wrong.

Buy now on Amazon!

18. Kindle

Personally, I prefer physical books when I travel. However, I can’t argue against the convenience and simplicity of the Kindle. I’ll admit, hauling around physical books is a pain. It’s old-fashioned and inconvenient. With a Kindle, you can pack thousands of books into a single device, ensuring you always have something good to read when you’re in transit.

Buy now on Amazon!

19. GoPro Hero 8 Black

I’m not much of a photographer myself, but even I’ll admit that every traveler needs a camera. If you want something better than your phone but still easy to use, get a GoPro. They’re durable and take incredible photos and video without a steep learning curve. They’re waterproof too and work well for both everyday exploring as well as adventurous activities. It’s the most versatile camera there is.

Buy now on Amazon!

***

Whether you’re heading out for a two-week vacation or a full round-the-world adventure, this list of travel gear will help you get started. You need a lot of stuff when you travel but the right stuff can make a world of difference.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years.

My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

The post My Favorite Gear for Travelers appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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livingmybestfictionallife · 8 years ago

Text

You Trust Me, Right? pt. 2

Prompt: You’re a friend of Jacob’s–you’re basically his PA, like Harrison is with Tom. You’ve been able to hang out with them a lot and after a while, Tom started to develop feelings for you.

Should we go for a part three and four?? Let me know. (I have something planned for two more, but I’d like to know if you’re interested.)

Warnings: fluff, some language

A/N: Requests are open! I will basically write anything (good luck finding something I won’t) and I can write for any of Seb’s characters (except Jack and Carter–I haven’t seen those yet) I can write Tom fanfic, Harrison fanfic, any marvel character, etc.

FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE/ASK/ANON

Part One Part Three Part Four

It took a total of five minutes upon walking into the hotel room for (Y/N) to collapse onto the bed. After having to land, a two hour layover, and then another anxiety ridden process of forcing herself back onto a plane and endure the whole thing over again, she was ready for food and a nap, unfortunately, they arrived in Singapore in the middle of the day. Sleep wouldn’t come for another eight hours and then who knows when she’d be able to wake up.

Everyone was tired and hungry but, for the most part, they were determined to make the best of their exhaustion and find anything relaxing to do around the hotel. It goes without saying that Tom, Harrison, and Jacob were much more devoted to this idea than she was. For some reason, when they booked the rooms, a block of three rooms on one end of the hall were chosen and then one single suite at the opposite end of the floor were given to them. She conveniently had the suite by herself at the opposite end of the building, meaning if any of the three boys needed anything, they had to seriously debate if it were worth getting up, walking all the way down the hall, and then having to go all the way back. This however was not to case when it came to their mission to stay awake.

“(Y/N)!” Jacob yelled. “(Y/N)! Open up!” She groaned loudly and dragged herself off the bed, trudging her feet across the room and opening the door.

“Hey, Harrison, Tom,” she smiled before turning toward Jacob. “What?” she grumbled as they locked eyes.

“There’s a pool,” he cooed while pushing past her and looking around her room. “Wow! You’re place looks way better than ours!”

“Yeah,” Harrison agreed. “We’re partying at your place tonight,” he teased as (Y/N) started to yawn. Tom was the last to enter and he pulled the door closed behind him then hurried toward Jacob who had already thrown open the balcony doors. (Y/N) caught her eyes drifting from the soft curl that hung along the base of Tom’s neck, down to his shoulders as they peeked around the tight tank top he had on, along his back, and finally landing on his small but cute ass.

“So you guys already changed into your swimsuits?” she asked, as she quickly tore her eyes from Tom and joined the boys at the balcony railing.

“We had to,” Jacob stated.

“Tom fell asleep as soon as he walked through the door,” Harrison added.

“I was almost there myself,” she grumbled before pushing herself away from the balcony and opening her suitcase. Tucked inside of a mesh pocket was a black two-piece swimsuit. She grabbed it and hurried into the bathroom where she stripped herself of her baggy clothes and slipped into the mid-rise bottoms and tied the swimsuit top around her neck, for some unconscious reason making it slightly too tight in order for her boobs to look bigger. When she finished, she pulled the oversized shirt back over her head and grabbed one of the bath towels draped over the rack on the wall.

“Ugh, you’re not swimming in that?” Jacob teased, remembering back to a time where she only swam in t-shirts because of continued jokes made at the expense of her body. It wasn’t her fault that her hips and breasts came in before anyone else in her class and yet she was ridiculed for it and ended up hiding her body for years because of it.

“I’m not going to walk through the hotel wearing less clothing than a hooker,” she snapped back earning a snort from Harrison and Tom.

“That would be entertaining,” Tom laughed as they walked out of her suite and toward the elevators. She tried to hide the light shade of red she could feel her face turning. Knowing that at some point Tom had liked her more romantically than as a friend has lead her to overanalyzing pretty much anything Tom said. This tidbit of information definitely wasn’t helping her psyche as she prepared herself to be practically naked in front of him as soon as they get to the pool.

As much as (Y/N) liked Zendaya, she was consistently jealous of the actress’s appearance. She was tall, slender, thin, all of the qualities that symbolize what a model should look like. (Y/N) on the other hand had struggled with the way she saw herself for the majority of her life. Whether it be from her parents joking about how she’d be ‘big as a house someday,’ the torment from being made fun of by the popular girls, as well as her consistent struggle to be healthy and look healthy while still seeming attractive, (Y/N) had suffered through it all. It was just recently that she started to accept herself and she didn’t want to be embarrassed in front of Tom.

Once they reached the floor that the pool was on, their jaws dropped.

“This is incredible!” Harrison gasped as the four gathered around some lounge chairs. The boys tore off their shirts an either eased their way in or threw themselves off the ledge and into the water.

“Hurry up (Y/N)!” Tom called as he waded through the water with Harrison and Jacob.

“No, wait!” Jacob yelled back. “Get my phone and take our picture!” (Y/N) turned around, grabbed Jacob’s iPhone, and slipped out of her shirt. She stood on the edge of the pool as the three guys gazed out over the Singapore skyline. She smiled as she took the photo and called back out to the guys.

“Got it!” At the sound of her voice the three turned around and Tom’s breath hitched in his throat. As soon as his eyes landed on her skin, his heart jumped and he was hooked. She was enticing; the curve of her hips slipped into the warm water, the way she pulled her arms up, keeping them from getting wet when she wadded in and the pool playfully lapped water against her breasts.

“Shit,” Tom huffed as she wadded toward her friends.

“Thanks for joining us,” Jacob joked.

“We needed another person for chicken,” Harrison called out as soon as she reached them.

“Dibs on Haz!” Jacob called again.

“I guess that means you’re on me,” Tom snickered before disappearing under the water, slipping his head between her legs, and resurfacing. She balanced delicately on his strong shoulders and Tom quickly grabbed her thighs, steadying her on top of him. Her hands slipped across his head as she pushed his hair back. He couldn’t help the feeling within him as she played with his hair while they waited for their opponents.

“Hurry up,” (Y/N) shouted. “It’s getting chilly up here!” Harrison awkwardly put his leg up over Jacob’s shoulder and then Jacob sank further into the water so Haz could more simply sit on his shoulders. Almost immediately Jacob and Tom started to rush toward one another. As he moved, Tom’s grip on (Y/N)’s thighs became tighter and tighter as his hands moved further up her legs. She managed to wrap her legs under his arms and hook her feet on his back and his hands were getting dangerously close to the hem of her swimsuit, his thumbs starting to caress her upper thighs, just below her ass.

In that moment she hated that she had learned of some Schrodinger’s Cat like scenario regarding Tom’s feelings toward her, but the more she thought about the what being with Tom would be like, the more she wanted to entertain the thought of him still having these feelings for her. She wanted to be called darling and love, she wanted to have early morning walks with Tessa and wouldn’t mind being tested by Harry, Sam, and Paddy. The idea of dating Tom was starting to grow on her and she couldn’t help but think that everything that’s happened in the last few hours has been deliberately and meticulously planned to push them closer.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it was that Harrison didn’t absolutely have to show Jacob a video on his phone the second they got on the plane. Also, she knew better than to gullibly believe Jacob would want to be on Harrison’s team since she and Jacob had been the reigning champions since Harrison’s twentieth birthday party. Apparently, defending the tile of Chicken Fight Champions wasn’t as important to him as setting up Spider-Man and Bagel Bitch.

Usually, Harrison was on bottom and Tom was on top so (Y/N) was always used to Tom’s weaknesses like the fact that, if she could get close enough, his sides were incredibly ticklish, or that if she leaned back far enough, he’d fall right over Harrison’s head. She didn’t know Harrison that well and Tom wasn’t used to having to be on bottom. Jacob easily swept Tom’s feet from out from under him and the pair went down.

Seeming to understand the reason they lost, Tom resurfaced and pulled (Y/N) close to him and whispered in her ear, “Harrison can’t bend his fingers back very far.” The sly smirk on Tom’s face caused her lips to curl toward the sky.

“Jacob has terrible balance in standing water–he’s used to the ocean and fighting waves,” she said in reply. Tom smiled again as his dark, cheerful eyes connected with hers until his head disappeared underwater as he swam beneath her, strangely overexcited to have her thighs on either side of his face. He started to lift her onto his shoulders once more, this time making sure to playfully grab her butt, hoping it would be a subtly hint at wanting to take their friendship to a different level.“Even if you go under, don’t let go of me,” she quickly added.

“Are you sure about this?” Tom asked.

“You trust me, right?” she questioned while tossing a playful smirk in his direction. Tom smiled so brightly hearing the words he said to her flow out of her mouth in her enchanting voice and charged toward Jacob and Harrison, confident in (Y/N)’s ability to get them a win as well as his own ability to win her over.

#tom holland #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland x reader #tom x reader #tom holland fanfic #spiderman #spider man homecoming #spider man homecoming press tour #harrison osterfield #jacob batalon #fanfic #fanfiction #marvel #sebastian stan fanfiction #fluff #tom holland fluff #thomas stanley holland #you trust me right

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