#highline park

[lostinether]

Sometimes Jeff and I wander around NYC like tourists. We go somewhere to eat we haven't tried before, walk around tourist attractions, take photos, and observe our surroundings like we are on vacation. i often feel overwhelmed by the fact i live here, it does not feel real most of the time. when i see the statue of liberty on my commute to work i am reminded of how hard me and so many others have worked to succeed in a place like this.

Highline Park and Little Island Park- NYC 2022

[nyandreasphotography]

On the Highline (glass) - Chelsea, New York City by Andreas Komodromos

[blondiehasthoughts]

New York @ Night

Check out more at www.blondiehasthoughts.com

If I had to explain my time in New York in one sentence, it would be: "New York at night."

Everything I loved and hated about the city, the worst and best memories I have of it, and the experiences that broke and made me can all be encapsulated in that one sentence. I came of age in the city; I moved there straight out of high school, my first time leaving home, being on my own. The first time I was free to be completely me or become the me I wanted to be. 

Since this coming of age story does not take place in my teenage years, it would make sense that it would mostly happen at night. Not in a creepy, "it's 12 a.m., do you know where your kids are" way, but in the "taking a train from Manhattan to Dumbo on a winters school night after you and your best friend both got dumped so you can look at the skyline" type of way. Or the "deep conversations on a random bench within the city streets at 3 a.m. because you and your roommate both can't sleep" type of way. The "walks to Washington Square Park to hit your nighttime joint and watch college students on a first date fall in love" type of way. Or even a "Friday night Met trip at 7 p.m. because the Met closes at 9 on the weekends and no one else will be in the galleries with you, especially the tourist" way. 

My nights with the city that never sleeps, a bedtime story.

I had never felt true relief until my first night in New York. From my dorm, I walked to Washington Square Park where I talked with my newly made friends all night. Besides this being the first time I had ever made friends so quickly, it was the first time I felt like I belonged somewhere; it was also the first time I found what I can only describe as a soulmate, someone I was destined to meet, who would change my life forever.

These nightly walks became a tradition. I'd walked the Highline or maybe to Washington Square Park, visiting the same places I went my first night. And if I wasn't heading to one of those places, I would most likely be at the Met or Fordham Lincoln Center for my and a friend's weekly Friday night trips to the Met via Central Park, a path I still remember by heart.

I began branching out with my nighttime walks, traveling to new places and finding new adventures, turning my original spots into safe havens I visited when I needed reminders that I was alive and that I was growing. It was on the same bench on the Highline where I had sat with my roommates that first night, that I experienced my most painful break-up. The first time I ever blacked out in an attempt to forget who I was, was at Washington Square Park. On my 22nd birthday, while walking around the Met, I realized I was miserable with my life.

I began to believe that New York had given all it had for me, that I had learned everything I needed to, and it was time for me to move on. The busy streets I once loved now gave me anxiety to step foot into, the freedom I found in the night left me paralyzed with fear, and addicted to partying, a drug dependency as a side effect. The public transportation I was so thankful for during my nightly excursion now left me feeling scared and vulnerable: alone. 

I had many conversations with people about the tug of war I felt with this city: do I stay or do I go? One of the most specific nights I remember was sitting in an old friend's apartment, looking out at the Empire State Building, talking about leaving, wishing to get out of the city. The thing she said still haunts me, because it was accurate, it was true; she was one hundred percent right. I hated her for it too because if she had been wrong, my life would have been much easier. In her words, I wasn't trying to escape the city, but rather myself. 

I argued with her, told her the city was too loud and there were too many people; I was afraid to leave my house and do basic things alone. I blamed New York for my nicotine addiction, my lack of ability to go to the grocery store or do laundry, my need to be high every hour of the day, and my non-stop panic attacks. Even during the night, which was once a time of solitude for me, now felt no different from the day.

Every corner of the city bore memories of joy and pain, as well as emotions that defy description. I didn't know nor understood how to stand in these places and allow both sides of my memories to sit together, how to recognize the hurt but see through to the light, somewhere between the happiness and fulfillment and the desire to escape. So, I left New York because the same thing that raised me had also managed to break me.

I sit here now, in my apartment somewhere out west, and can tell you that it wasn't the city's fault, not entirely. It was a combination of things: the freedom, the stimulation, and me. But I was the biggest problem. 

There's so much to say about a subject like this, about attempting to run away from oneself and the journey of discovery that you're trying too. The human brain is 80% unconscious, always giving us little clues as to what's happening behind the scenes. In highschool, one of my favorite movies was The Edge of Seventeen. I saw it in theaters three times, quite the accomplishment, considering it was only shown in select theaters. My favorite scene, the one that played in my head on repeat, even finding its way into my dreams, was a scene of the main character, Nadine, sitting in her teacher's classroom monologuing about wanting to leave her hometown to get away from everything, but when she was done daydreaming, she realized that even if she were to leave, she would still have to take herself with her. This obsession with this movie and this scene was my unconscious' clue to me.

Nadine's monologue soon became my new dialogue, a diagnosis I began giving to everyone, but didn't allow anyone to give to me. 

In an attempt to prove that I wasn't the issue, I did everything that everyone told me not to do. I left New York the night of February 15th. I moved out west and began pursuing a degree in psychology. And one lonely non-New York night, after going cliff diving and paddle boarding and being miserable, I realized I had been running away from myself this entire time. 

As I sat in my closet crying, I scrolled through my phone, looking at all the photos I had taken during my adventures in the city, I found a playlist I made during the time I was actively searching for a way to leave New York, a farewell love letter. That West Coast night, I found myself sitting in my closet, listening to that playlist. This is that playlist.

 I don't regret leaving the city; I would have never realized the things I did if I had stayed. One of the many hard truths I learned in those nights, and later once I left, was that nothing is linear and nothing is simply the "perfect match" nor is there such a thing as wrong timing. Just like the night I sat on the bench on the Highline after having been broken up with, or my black out night at Washington Square park, or even my birthday at the Met, leaving New York was what I needed at that time in my life, it had to happen. 

And just like my Friday nights with my old friend from Fordham, whom I no longer talk to, New York was perfect for me when I was eighteen but not when I was twenty-one or twenty-two. These little moments there and here have led me to where I am today, allowed me enough space to start figuring out who I am, and pointed out the things I had been ignoring my whole life, keeping me from becoming the person I wanted to be. 

I look back now on these memories, and I still cry, but it's no longer just sadness that I see and feel; it is a blurred line of all the different sensations I had the opportunity to experience in all the places I made my home in the New York Nights. Just one of the skills I would have never been able to develop if I hadn't decided to leave New York that night.

The funny thing about life is that once you figure out something, it implodes the way life is intended to, especially when you figure out how much you don't actually know about yourself and how much you've been keeping yourself from knowing.

People change, and people grow; they become new people, a mixture of the old and the new. You learn how to navigate shit that stressed you out, and you learn hard truths, like how moving to a new place on the complete opposite end of the country, that is vastly different from the place you just left, will not fix your problems, especially if the problem is you. If anything, it will make you much lonelier, like you're cosplaying a life that was never intended for you. So you take the old and mix it with the new and move back to New York, because you now know how to navigate the shit you didn't know how to before.

New York Nights taught me how to be an adult, while West Coast Nights reinforced those lessons. 

Here's to growing up and no longer making excuses, and here's to my New York Nights.

[prettylittlegfx]

Rooftop Deck Small minimalist rooftop deck container garden photo

[eyes-like-a-pisces]

Highline trail in Glacier National Park

[emilybeemartin]

Inktober Days 19-21

Day 19: "Plump"

Fat! Bear! Week! It’s perhaps the most beloved modern tradition to come out of a national park, when enthusiasts around the globe tune in to the Katmai webcams to see the results of a summer of brown bears gorging on salmon. We root them on, following their progress as they go from springtime skin and bones to mega-autumn chonk in just a few months. Watching these immense bears prowling Brooks Falls for leaping fish is so captivating that at some parks, during slow moments in the visitor centers, we would switch on the webcam feeds at the information desk. Rangers come from all different backgrounds, with all different affiliations and alma maters, but few things bring us all together like cheering on a wild bear eating wild salmon.

Day 20: "Frost"

One of the privileges of working in northern mountain parks is the early coming of cool weather. Born and raised in South Carolina, few things make me feel more alive than a brush of autumn in August. I remember that first welcome moment in Glacier, when I climbed out of the government truck at Logan Pass for my shift in the high country. There was frost on the mountain slopes and a snap in the air. My breath fogged in front of my face, and the wind whipped through my park green sweater and jacket. Back at home, it was ninety-five degrees and humid, but on that morning, I swapped my flat hat for my fleece cap and spent the day bundled up on the Highline Trail, noting the huckleberries taking on their first tinge of crimson. I remember coming back to the tiny ranger station to find the woodburning stove crackling away, and I thought this must be what paradise was like.

Day 21: "Chains"

My first thought for this prompt was a chain of islands, but as I brushed up on Channel Islands, I realized it fits even better thanks to the chain of life that stretches from sea to land to air. Underwater terrain creates huge upwellings of nutrients that form the base of a food chain in the kelp forests, where vivid orange garibaldi and massive seabass swim among the waving fronds. Seals and sea lions spin and dive before hauling out onto beaches in noisy rookeries. Above them on the headlands, rare island foxes—only found on six of these islands and nowhere else in the world—scamper after mice and insects, occasionally coming to the shoreline for crabs. And in the skies, bald eagles, storm-petrels, and cormorants swoop down to pluck fish and other meals from the sea. And so life goes around and around on this scrappy cluster of islands.

Like these? Want extra illustrations and national park travel tips straight from the ranger's mouth? You can preorder Thirty-One Days of Inktober: The Artbook! It's a limited run--- snag yours now before they're gone!

Incidentally, I'm trying to keep international shipping down by eating a bit of the cost myself, so I hope folks outside the US don't feel left out!

[luimagines]

That Dragon au Part 9

Hallo hallo! It’s that time of the month again! :D

We catch a little more about what’s been happening on the sidelines.... Kinda

@cafecourage

Masterlist

First Chapter/ Previous Chapter/ Next Chapter

Chapter 9: Catching up?

When Wind sat up Enno was quick to help Warriors. 

"Here, let me take something." They said, grabbing the pitcher and walking with him back to the spot. "I still don't see why you said this place was nothing much. I think it's very pretty here."

Warrior smiles. "We'll come back at some point then. I just meant that it was small. Hyrule field used to a beautiful place for a picnic-"

"But it's all destroyed here." Wind takes a sausage and bread for himself, sneaking over to steal the cheese and cut it up for all of Enno. "So this tiny park is the only thing they have until it grows back."

Enno shift awkwardly. They take a little bit of the food and drink for themselves to ignore it. That took a bit of a dark turn. "It reminds me of a park back home. I lived near a city that basically had a man made forest in the center of it. It was made to create jobs back after a war years ago." 

"A man made forest?" Warrior takes his share, putting the extras in the middle for anyone to reach. "How does that even happen?"

Wind takes a big bite of his food. "When can we go visit your home, Enno?

"I- Hold on." Enno digs through their pouches to find their phone. Enno leans over to show him some photos as they explain. Warrior leans over while Wind practically throws himself onto their lap. "I don't think I have photos of that but I have pictures of something else. There was a place we called the 'highline'. It used to be a small train shipping rail between factories back when the area was still the meatpacking district. Because the city doesn't have that much nature they decided to make it into a park. I used to hang out there while waiting for my dad to get out of work when his office was there and I was still in school." 

Only the trees and benches look familiar but they can tell that their world is very different to their own. 

"Enno, which one's you?" Wind asks. "Who are these people?"

Warrior smiles and leans against them. "Looks nice."

"Uh… Some are tourists, some are just people going to work." Enno shrugged. "I was always doing homework, eating lunch, or writing while sitting here. It's a good people watching spot." Enno said, putting their phone down and turning it off. "I don't know if you guys will ever come around to my world but I would like to show you both around. The city is loud though."

Warrior shrugs. "A city is still a city. It can't be much louder than here on a festival day."

Wind frowns and pouts. "I'm not good in loud places.... Is there any way that it quiets down at all?"

"Probably, I can also help you muffle the noise. We have some things." Enno pats his head. They took a bite of their food, wondering what they could do to help Wind. "We could start around my home, then see if we can go into the city."

"Earmuffs, Kiddo." Warrior ruffles his hair right after. "Remember when you were here and saw snow for the first time? Those could work too."

"Maybe.." Wind hums, looking at the pictures some more. "It looks pretty warm there."

“It was taken in the summer. I might live on an island like you, but the difference is that for me it’s not a tropical one.” They lean on Warrior. “We get a lot of snow in the winter. But I really prefer summer and spring.”

Warrior grins, wrapping his arm around Enno’s shoulders, biting into his food. "Let's hope we get good weather when we visit then."

Wind appears to be thoughtful as he chews his food. "I like snow... but I don't like the cold."

“I agree. But it gets fairly cold there. If we were to visit I hope it would be spring or fall. Mostly because we have different things to offer, but also because the weather is just right.” Enno starts purring. They closed their eyes and rested again now that they ate. “It would be another family day out.” 

Warrior slowly rubs his hand up and down their arm, resting there contently, watching the sun go down over the horizon. "Sounds perfect."

"I'd like that." Wind's head is placed on Enno’s lap, beginning to purr as well. Warrior runs his hands through the boy's hair, purring as well, feeling content and whole that this little family is within his arms.

"Just don't fall asleep yet." He warns you both. "We still have to go back to the castle."

“What are you gonna do about it?” Enno looked up at him with the most lazy smile. They still sat up. “Just kidding. We should head back soon.”

Warrior pouts from behind their back, wiping it from his face before they could see it. "Well I didn't mean now."

Wind snickers, having seen it all. 

"Hush you."

“Well yeah,” Enno pinches Warrior’s cheek like he was a kid. “I don’t want to get too comfortable that I fall asleep.”

Warrior pulls away from the pinch, snapping his head to try and bite their fingers playfully. "I could carry you no problem if you did."

Wind rolls his eyes, pretending to gag. "Go be cute somewhere else."

“First you couldn’t, we bought a lot of stuff today.” Enno pulled their hand back and stuck out their fingers. 

“Secondly-” Enno pulls Wind to hug him and just snuggle, fully teasing him at this point.. “We can’t compare to how cute our son is.” 

"Hey!" Wind struggles in their grip, turning around to face Enno. He sticks his tongue out.

Warrior snorts. "He gets it from his father, clearly."

Warrior then nudges Enno’s shoulder. "And you underestimate my determination."

But he sighs and moves to stand. "But you're right. It's a bit of a walk back and we should be there before dark? We should go."

“If we must.” Enno follows him and gathers their stuff, making sure to dust off their stuffed animal. “Come on,Sailor.”

Wind hops up and joins them, picking up his stuff on the way. Warrior is left sitting on the ground.

Wind doesn't hesitate to grab Enno’s hand and begin to lead the way back. 

Warrior smiles to himself, picking up what was left behind. He trails behind them both as Wind entertains Enno with stories of the three Links' time together. He feels whole.

Enno listens intently and lets Wind talk their ear off all the way back to the castle. Swinging their hands together. 

"Are you going to sleep with us tonight? Or are you going to sleep in your room with Four?" They asked Wind.

"A..ha...." Wind’s grip on you tightens. "I shared a room with Time. ...Can... Can I stay one more night with you guys?"

"Oh- my bad," They bring Wind closer "I'm ok with it." 

they turn back to Warriors. "Is it ok with you?"

Warrior nods. "I don't mind. My bed is big enough as it is."

Wind grins and sways his hands back and forth, still holding onto Enno. "I’d like that."

"I'm probably going to sort out my stuff before we sleep though." Enno says. They had only just remembered that they moved all of their stuff into Warrior's room. "We kinda just left it on the bed." 

 They entered the castle's walls and things weirdly felt calm... Enno didn't know why but that was enough to set them on edge.

"Well you look like you all had fun." Cia says, waiting for the three of them at the entrance. "I was wondering when you'd come back."

Warrior shifts into half dragon immediately and steps in front of both Enno and Wind. "I'm going to ask you to move now, Cia. Don't make this worse."

Wind frowns and grabs a few bags from Warrior, lessening his load. Wind's grip turns fierce in Enno’s hand as he stares down the threat.

Cia's face gives nothing away. "I just wanted to chat."

Enno’s face doesn’t really change. They just blink. “Ok. What’s up? I’ll cut back my slang just because I realize that maybe won’t be ok for me to say to you. You… might be offended. My bad.” They say casually, actually meaning it. “I’m not going to be alone with you though. That’s asking a bit too much for what’s been going on.”

"Not you." She waves her hand, opening her mouth to speak again.

Warrior lets out a deep and threatening growl. 

Cia shuts up with a click of her teeth.

Warrior does that over the shoulder look. "Enno, Wind, go inside. Don't wait for me."

“Ok, but please both of you. Don’t burn down the place.” Enno takes some of the stuff Warrior was holding and walks past Cia, keeping up this is the ‘everyday’ kind of behavior. Heading to their room, Enno managed to remain fairly calm. 

"Mm, yes, whatever, go now." Cia waves them away nonchalantly.

Warrior growls his claws sharpening subconsciously. "I won't be long."

“Soooo there goes my plan.” Enno said once the two of them were far away.

Wind pulls them along, happy to be away from the magic practicing woman. "Your plan?"

“Well I was hoping to have you give him the pocket watch.” Enno sighs a bit, worried about Cia and him being together. “I should probably find Impa, Zelda or Lana….” They said out loud, knowing that those two are going to be at each other’s throat.

Wind hums. "I'll figure it out. It's not like we're leaving him behind. There will be other chances."

Wind leads them through the castle with practiced ease. They find themselves in front of Warrior's bedroom soon enough and Wind opens the door.

They both hear a roar from outside the castle.

Enno flinched and ushered Wind inside, not really paying attention to Warrior’s room putting the stuff down. 

“Stay and lock the door.” Enno closed the door and ran back, not trusting that those two should be alone anymore.

Wind runs after them and grabs their arm before they can go too far. "Don't Enno. If you get hurt, it'll crush him."

He looks up with pleading eyes. "Please...let's just go inside."

They stopped and looked down at him. “I am just going to go to get Zelda.”

They bent down and kissed Wind’s forehead. “Just give me five minutes, I will be back before you know it.” They said, taking Wind’s hand off. They smiled and slowly backed away. “Don’t worry. Five minutes.”

"I don't like this." Wind stays put. "I'm counting five minutes!"

Enno takes off running and finds Warrior. It's not hard to miss him.

He's turned full dragon and he's larger than they thought he would be. He already has a gash on his shoulder.

Enno bounces back to hide behind the corner. Seeing the gash made them angry to the point that they didn’t realize they had transformed half way. They wanted to catch Cia off guard but knew it would be difficult since they didn’t know how to control their magic. BUT THERE WAS A NEED TO SMITE HER.

Warrior shifts down halfway, holding his shoulder. He curses and turns to run into the castle. "I can't let her get to them."

He turns the corner and takes a deep breath and suddenly freezes.  Warrior turns to look at Enno, shock all over his face. "Enno... what... why.... I thought you were with Wind."

“I was. You're hurt. Who is she after and I swear if you said Pinky I am going to start swinging.” They growled. “Either way you need to go to the medical center.” They take the arm that wasn’t hurt. “Come on.”

Warrior shakes his head, letting them lead him anyway.  "I need to find Cia first. She was going after you. Pinky might be on the list but she's convinced that if she can either send you away or disfigure you, then we'll leave you both alone."

Warrior growls and whips his arm around to unleash a fairy. "I said I'd save this but I'm about to tear into her. I don't care what Lana or Zelda say anymore."

“Oh good. Fun even.” Enno was angry, running down the stairs two steps at a time. They didn’t know what they were going to do when they saw her but they had some choice words for her, not really caring anymore. They try to gather themselves though since it felt like they were getting close.

Warrior was able to keep up better once the fairy healed his wound. "Enno."

They keep running.

He called out to them again. "Enno?"

Still nothing.

A third time. "Enno. Enno!" He pulls them to a stop. "Where's Wind?"

“He is in your room. The door is locked.” They pull their wrist away “He is fine, Link.” They turn back and  continue to stomp down the hallway. “I know I’ve known her for less time but I want to do something.”

They wanted to just shock some sense into her. Literally or mentally, hopefully both.

Warrior nods and follows them once more. "If she can't get to Wind, she'd probably go after Pinky as an easier target. She might still be in the medical bay."

He looks Enno up and down appreciatively as he sees their half form once more but he doesn't comment on it. "What are you planning?"

“Sadly it seems like we share something. Which is being able to know and slightly witness things that we really shouldn’t. I have a sinking feeling that, while I can’t talk to her out of it. I gotta somehow wear her down. Her behavior is almost like Ganon took control over her again.” Enno said, wanting to get there quickly as possible. “Well first I want to just spice up something.”

The door was slightly opened. There was shouting already from the inside. Enno peaked through to see what was going on in there. Cia’s back was to them, they felt sparks inside of their hands. 

“Change of plan. Don’t kill me” They whisper, shooting through the door and tackling Cia down, acting like a human taser, hoping to just knock her out. They didn’t realize that their magic was a lot wilder than they thought.

Pinky opened her mouth to speak but she recoiled in fear from the sudden lighting in the room. It appears she was already crying. It's too bright and she was too busy covering her head, ears and eyes from the onslaught of information, sound and light.

Time, seemingly in Fierce Deity form, had thrown himself over Pinky to block the sudden barrage of magic, forming a barrier over the bed she was in.

Warrior dives in after Enno but is forced to take a step back from the sudden burst of magic. He's knocked off his feet, hitting his head on the door frame before he tries to get up again.

Cia screams and her staff goes flying through the room. She doesn't scream for very long before she falls unconscious.

Time shrinks back down to his hylian form and tries to calm Pinky by purring and shielding her from seeing the outcome of what’s happened. He wasn’t expecting Enno to just explode like that. He turns to see them rolled onto their back next to Cia. “Are you ok?”

They shakily gave a single one thumb up, magic disappearing quickly. They feel low and semi-nauseous again, both tired and awake. “She did this to me so it's just her actions catching up to her.” They pant, dropping my arm down. “Wat ‘bout you two?”

Pink stayed curled up for a moment, letting the silence drape over her. Slowly, she unfurls, the pain pulsing through her body. Her previous injuries have been irritated. It’s hard for her to move. "Is she gone?"

Pinky looked up and around. She opened her mouth to ask Time a question before she caught sight of Enno for the first time since the party. "Oh my god, what happened to you?"

Warrior shakes his head, rubbing the spot where he was hit, focusing on one person only.

"Enno!" He runs to them and drops to his knees beside them. "That... was frankly very impressive but stupid. Are you hurt? Are you ok?"

“I think we need to call a nurse to check on Pinky but for now we are both ok.” Time says holding her. “We should probably get her out.”

Enno sighed and turned to Warrior, “m low again.” They couldn’t even keep up the dragon form as they shrink back to their hylian body. Pinky’s comment then registers, “’m dragon now Cia’s fault idk why.” 

They rolled over to their side, groaning.

Pinky whimpers as she moves, holding onto Time as she tries to get over her pain. "Is she dead?"

Time shakes his head. “Only knocked out. That's why I want her out of this room.” He honestly doesn’t know how more people aren’t alerted and it's this calm within the medical bay. “You fell on your back. How are you feeling?”

"It hurts." Pinky whispers, trying to sit up. It feels like electricity is blooming over her back while it's pulled taut against itself. She lies back down and curls up. "A lot. It hurts Link."

Time gives Warrior a questioning look before returning to Pinky once more. “Do you want me to put the cream on?” He whispers to her, trying to ease her to lay on her side instead. 

Pinky bites her lip, the tears slipping out despite her efforts. "Yes please."

Pinky takes a shaky breath, trying to roll over. "God, I feel like I've been ripped open."

Warrior takes a deep breath, he checks Enno’s pulse and their temperature. He fishes in his belt for a magic potion and uncorks it for them. "Here Sweetheart. You scared me."

Enno drinks a bit of the potion, “I promised Wind I would be back in 5 minutes.” It’s probably been more than five minutes.They were slow in drinking the potion as they stared at Cia. “So what now?”

Warrior sighs and looks over. His hand comes up to where his injured shoulder once was. "I'll take her out, check her in. Enno, stay with Pinky until you drink it all, ok? Wind can wait a bit. Or he can come find us. He's a smart boy."

Enno didn’t like Warrior’s idea but they sigh once more. “Yeah yeah. I’ll head to your room soon though. We have to put things away.” They stumble up and walk over to Pinky and Time, sitting on the floor.

Warrior soothes Enno over first, completely sidestepping Cia.

He runs his hands through their hair and over their shoulder before kissing their forehead. "We'll head back together when she's taken care of ok? If you're feeling better after the potion that is. Don't drink it too fast. Don't move too much. If it doesn't get better we might have to check you in as well, ok?"

He stands and looks at Time. "Watch them, please."

Warrior then turns and picks Cia up effortlessly, tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

He leaves.

Time nods, watching Warriors leave, he sees that Enno was already looking away and grabs the cream. “Afterwards, I can get someone to look at you. While it doesn’t look like it's too bad, we will still need to double check.” Time states, he hears Enno growl softly. “She will get punished for this. This is too far.”

“You don’t- she” Enno sighs, bonking the back of their head against the bed lightly, “Pinky would probably know what I mean, but Cia sounds like those fans that claim ownership of a character and attack people for even mentioning their names.”

Pinky hisses when Time applies the cream on her back. The area is the most sensitive as it has been the entire time. "Link please ...calmer."

Pinky tries to steady her breath and looks at Enno through her peripheral vision. "I vaguely know the people you're talking about. I avoided their circles on principle. I never met one of them. Until today, I guess... I thought she was gonna kill me."

“Sorry.” Time lightens up and does it more slowly “She wouldn’t have… not with me around.” 

Time massages her back lightly, frowning at the amount of pain she must be in after that attack. It’s clear that her nerves were shot. Enno snickers in the background, taking a swig of the potion.

“Did you guys plan the wedding yet?” They asked. “You guys sound like an old married couple. Or at least Time sounds like a true husband.”

Pinky grips the sheets around her and tries to relax. "No plans, just engaged."

Time tries to help ease her out of it. He doesn’t turn to Enno but he answers what they’re no doubt wondering. “You probably can't tell since you're so young and not used to everything still. But I’ve marked her.”

"To dragon standards, I guess we’re married?" Pinky sighs, trying to get the last of the tension out of her shoulders. She gulps and slowly forces herself out of the fetal position. "What about you and Warrior? You both suddenly seem very close."

“Ahhhhhhhh, that's why. There was a vibe, now I know.” Enno turned to face the two of them, crossing their arms on the edge of the bed. “I’m still unsure? Like how it was explained we are dating, yet we have Wind who is our son, and calls us by mom and dad. So it's just a thing? Right now?”

"From what I've gathered, you two would technically be dating." Pinky snickers. "But between you and Wind, I think you both just leaned into it. You've been calling Wind your son for years. That carries over."

"Besides... Wind also knows Warrior for longer. He might just feel more comfortable with it now that you're here. Like a missing puzzle piece." She finally relaxes fully, trying to ignore the pulsing on her back. "What does Warrior think about it?"

“About Wind? Warrior is loving it- being called Dad all the time. About me? I don’t think Wind has ever acknowledged me as a parent in front of him. So like that's going to be a thing.” Enno downs the rest of the bottle and rests their head on the bed. “So like are you guys going to have two weddings?”

"...Why?" Pinky hums. She closes her eyes, trying to keep her emotions clear from her face. "It's not like we had a dragon one. It just happened."

“We will get there when we get there. All I want is for you to get better, my love.” Time stops putting on the cream and puts it back. “Two sounds equally fun but stressful. Even though it would even be easiest to have two in each world.”

“Sounds like you're a man with a mission.” Enno teased. “As long as I’m invited.”

"You're mandatory at both." Pinky huffs. "You better show up."

The door creaks open. Warrior raises an eyebrow and puts his hands up in mock surrender. "And what am I walking into?"

He laughs a bit to himself and reaches down to help Enno to their feet. "Can you stand?"

“I can. We were talking about marriage and weddings.” Enno lets him help them. “I’ll probably be back down here tomorrow. So I’ll see you then?”

“If the nurses don’t move her to a different room, yes.” Time sighs, rubbing circles on Pinky’s arm.

“Yeaaaah….” Enno looks around. “Well… good night, have fun with that.”

Pinky waves slowly. "Goodnight. Expect an interrogation when I'm better."

Warrior grimaces. "I'll get some supplies in the morning for her. I'm sorry I couldn't stop Cia in time."

Warrior wraps his arm around Enno’s waist, holding them close as he leads them through the castle. He takes a breath, a deep one and pauses in the middle of the empty hallway.

What a mess.

[liaromancewriter]

New York Moment

Premise: Max and Sienna get cast as extras on a movie set, and funny antics soon follow.

Book: Open Heart (post series) Pairing: Sienna Trinh x Max Valentine (M!OC) Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff. Words: 1,425

A/N: This fic was requested by @trappedinfanfiction from @creativepromptsforwriting Meet Cute list (prompt 15). Tagging for reblog to @creativepromptfills. I'm using @choicesflashfics week 29, prompt 3 (in bold). Submission for @aprilchallenge prompt "dance"

The streets of Manhattan were teeming under the steaming summer sunshine. Native New Yorkers walked determinedly about their business, and tourists ambled on sidewalks, smartphones in hand, ready to capture their New York moment.

Cars honked, buses wheezed, and people yelled. It was noisy and exciting, annoying and fascinating. It was New York.

Sienna Valentine watched the drama unfold from the relative peace of a shaded sidewalk patio in Greenwich Village, and thought, “I’ve missed this.”

She’d attended medical school at Columbia, and this city had been home for four years. She had so many memories here. Studying in Central Park on a warm spring day. Taking the A Train downtown for a night out with her friends. Ice skating at Rockefeller Center.   

Sienna had enjoyed her life in Boston and loved living in DC now. But whenever her husband Max needed to visit New York for work or family, she tagged along if her work schedule allowed.

Luckily for Sienna, Max had no issues making non-work trips either. An overnight trip to watch a Broadway show, a quick day trip to go shopping in Midtown or a romantic weekend getaway.

Life with Max was never dull, Sienna thought dreamily, looking away from the view outside to watch him walking toward her.

“Sorry about that. The guy just wouldn’t stop talking,” Max said, sliding into the chair across from her. He started to reach for his wine glass but suddenly stopped. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to drag me to the nearest restroom and have your wicked way with me,” he grinned lasciviously.

“I’d rather wait until we get back to our hotel,” she countered with a wink and a smile. “And then I’ll have my wicked way with you. So you might want to load up on carbs.”

“Good plan,” he chuckled. “Check, please!”

Sienna burst into laughter. Definitely not boring, she thought again.

They finished their lunch, talking and just enjoying each other’s company, lingering over their wine. While Max settled the bill, Sienna quickly called their nanny.

“Noah okay?” Max asked, clasping her hand in his as they left the restaurant.

“Yes. Mrs. Banks said he was still asleep and to take our time.”

They started walking east toward Washington Square Park for an open-air concert, passing leafy residential streets lined with brownstones and avoiding the crowds on Bleeker Street by cutting through Cornelia Street.

They were two blocks from the park when they saw steel barricades and a clump of trailers and trucks lined up along one street. Security guards held back crowds as a film crew set up for a shoot outside the park; light stands, cameras and film equipment were everywhere.

“Now what?” Sienna said, disappointed at having their afternoon plans disrupted. It would take time to go around the barricades and crowds.

She turned toward Max, but he was standing a few feet away, reading an information notice taped to the side of a tree trunk.

“Hey, Si? Wanna be an extra in a Hollywood movie?”

When Sienna glanced at him in confusion, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to his side, pointing at the sign.

Intrigued, Sienna read the words block printed on bright yellow paper. “Extras wanted. Couples only. Report to Production Office.”

“Well?” Max smiled, a hint of adventure in his eyes. “It can be our New York Moment.”

“I thought our New York Moment was that extravagant proposal on The Highline?”

“Who says you can only have one?” he challenged, arching his eyebrow.

Intrigued by the idea, Sienna found herself nodding, her apprehension about being on camera carried away by Max’s enthusiasm.

They were outside the production office a short while later, standing in a queue with other couples. A production assistant collected their details and directed them to a trailer for a wardrobe check. That done, they joined the others in a closed-off waiting area near a fountain.

“What kind of movie do you think this is?” Sienna said, craning to see if she could spot any stars.

“Definitely not a porno, given the location,” Max teased, his lips quirked in a half-smile. “I was really looking forward to seeing you in a leather catsuit.”

Sienna snorted. “I don’t have time for your prurient fantasies, Valentine.”

“You say fantasy, I say, meet me at midnight.”

Max took her hand and twirled her into an impromptu dance, their hips swaying to the jaunty tune drifting from a street musician behind the barricade. He tightened his grip on her hand; his other hand splayed across her lower back.

Well used to their rhythm, Sienna readied herself for the backward dip, confident he wouldn’t let her fall. Suddenly, Max tugged at her, and she tripped over her feet, falling against him.

Sienna giggled at her clumsiness, but his smug look and hands cupping her ass made her think it was on purpose.

She locked her hands behind his neck and leaned in, kissing the open space at the base of his throat where he'd left the buttons of his shirt collar undone. She felt his breath hitch before he pulled back slightly. But she wasn’t done.

Sienna stretched on her toes and drew his head down to place her lips against his ear.

“Are you trying to seduce me in public?” she whispered.

He chuckled. “What a thing to say? I’m just rehearsing. For all you know, my character is a suave international spy trying to throw the assassins off his scent by dancing with a beautiful stranger in the park.”

She scoffed. “We’ve both seen that movie, and it usually ends with the spy seducing the woman before jumping out the window.”

“Maybe in this movie, the beautiful woman is the seductress,” he said, amused. “And hopefully she has handcuffs so the spy can’t escape her bed.”

He said the last in such a deadpan manner that Sienna burst into laughter. She laughed so hard she had to wrap her arms around her stomach and gasp for air.

The production assistant walked over, still talking into a headset, clipboard in hand.

“All right, folks. Thanks for your patience,” he said hurriedly. “The AD’s just finishing setting up the shot, and then we’ll escort you to the set. Just some house rules….”

Sienna tried to school her face to pretend interest and attention. It didn’t help that Max moved behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and leaned down to speak in her ear, cracking jokes.

“Don’t feed the pigeons? Why would we do that?” Max murmured, deliberately twisting the production assistant’s words about not disturbing the actors.

Sienna covered her mouth with one hand so people couldn’t see her laughing, but there was no hiding the tears spiking her eyelashes.

“Wait? I thought this was a family feature. Why would we be dancing naked in the square with a clown?”

Sienna guffawed, and the production assistant stopped to stare at her. Embarrassed, she pretended to cough and waved a hand in apology. The man continued his instructions, squinting suspiciously at her.

She could feel Max’s body shaking in mirth behind her. As soon as the coast was clear, Sienna slapped the arm around her waist and hissed in annoyance.

“Are you trying to get us kicked off the movie? And you know he didn’t say anything about naked dancing. The extras are supposed to be couples dancing in the park to a summer concert.”

She shivered as Max kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear.

“Tomayto, tomahto,” he said, voice smug. “Want to go back to our hotel for naked dancing?”

Before Sienna could tell him to behave himself, the production assistant announced it was time to head out.

They took their places on discretely placed x-marked spots on the floor. After listening attentively to the director’s instructions, they turned to face each other.

The more it dragged on, the technicians adjusting lighting and whatnot around her, the more nervous Sienna became.

Max placed her hand on his shoulder and put his arm at her waist, ready to swing her into an impromptu dance on a beautiful sunny day. The setup was so similar to what they’d been doing in the waiting area earlier that Sienna’s nerves vanished.

“It’s a good thing we rehearsed earlier,” Max said, a winsome smile hovering on his lips, reading her thoughts perfectly.

Sienna kissed his jaw. “Don’t worry. If you mess up, we can keep practicing back in our hotel. Clothing optional. One more New York Moment.”

“And cut!”

Bonus

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

All Fics & Edits: @annfg8 @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @genevievemd @headoverheelsforramsey @lucy-268 @jamespotterthefirst @jerzwriter @lady-calypso @mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @socalwriterbee @takemyopenheart @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Max & Sienna only: @aallotarenunelma @storyofmychoices @kyra75

[mywisdomexchange]

Exploring America's National Parks: A Journey Through Nature's Masterpieces

There's something truly magical about stepping into a national park. These vast, unspoiled landscapes are like windows into our planet's history, offering breathtaking scenery, diverse wildlife, and opportunities for adventure. Over the years, I've had the privilege of exploring several of the United States' most iconic national parks. Here's a glimpse into my experiences:

1. Yellowstone National Park: A Geothermal Wonderland

Yellowstone is a must-visit for any nature enthusiast. Its geothermal features, such as the Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful Geyser, are simply awe-inspiring. I spent countless hours hiking through the park's forests, marveling at the towering geysers and colorful hot springs. Wildlife sightings were abundant, including bison, elk, and even a few black bears.

One of my favorite memories was watching a bison herd graze peacefully in a meadow. It was a humbling experience to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. If I were to return to Yellowstone, I'd love to explore the park's backcountry and hike to some of the lesser-known trails.

2. Yosemite National Park: A Granite Wonderland

Yosemite's towering granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls are a sight to behold. I spent several days hiking to the base of Yosemite Falls and exploring the park's ancient sequoia groves. The iconic Half Dome is a must-see, but be prepared for a challenging hike.

I was fortunate enough to witness a black bear foraging for berries in a meadow. It was a thrilling encounter that reminded me of the importance of respecting wildlife. If I were to return to Yosemite, I'd love to try rock climbing or whitewater rafting in the Merced River.

3. Grand Canyon National Park: A Canyon of Wonders

The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that defies description. Standing at the rim and gazing into the vast chasm is a truly humbling experience. I spent several days hiking along the rim trail and descending into the canyon on a mule ride. The views from the bottom were breathtaking.

I encountered a variety of wildlife, including deer, wild turkeys, and even a bald eagle soaring high above the canyon. If I were to return to the Grand Canyon, I'd love to hike to the bottom of the canyon and explore the Colorado River.

4. Glacier National Park: A Crown Jewel of the Rockies

Glacier National Park is a hiker's paradise, with hundreds of miles of trails winding through alpine meadows, forests, and glaciers. I spent several days backpacking in the park, camping under the stars and exploring the stunning alpine lakes.

Wildlife sightings were plentiful, including mountain goats, grizzly bears, and even a moose. If I were to return to Glacier National Park, I'd love to hike the Highline Trail, one of the most scenic trails in the park.

5. Acadia National Park: A Coastal Gem

Acadia National Park offers a unique blend of rugged coastline, lush forests, and historic landmarks. I spent several days hiking along the park's scenic carriage roads, exploring the rocky coastline, and visiting the historic town of Bar Harbor.

I encountered a variety of marine life, including seals, seagulls, and even a whale. If I were to return to Acadia National Park, I'd love to go kayaking or paddleboarding in Frenchman Bay.

Exploring America's national parks is a truly unforgettable experience. Each park offers something unique, from towering mountains and ancient forests to geothermal wonders and rugged coastlines. If you're looking for adventure, inspiration, and a deeper connection with nature, I highly recommend visiting one of these incredible places.

[visit-new-york]

The High Line

The High Line is another wonderful Hudson Yards attraction that is absolutely free for visitors. Spanning from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District all the way up to 34th Street at Hudson Yards, this Hudson Yards attraction offers a pedestrian-only elevated experience of the lower west side through exclusively native greenery and expertly designed pathways.

The park opened in 2009 after a long battle to save it from demolition when it was only an abandoned elevated train rail—a remnant of the old subway system. Along the way you can find outdoor art installations, food and beverage cart options, lounge and bench seating, and more.

Keep an eye out for parts the park designers deliberately kept to remind visitors of what the Highline once was, like train tracks, stop lights, and a large archway meant to accommodate train passage!

[dorkydiaz]

okay i said i would give you all a report from my time away from here :P

but basically the gist of it is that, uhh, i think i'll be moving in like within the next two years, if not a year because tearing myself away from new york was like leaving a part of my heart, i quite literally felt an ache in my chest as the NEC to Trenton Transit Center lurched forward out of penn station, as the plane pulled out of the gate and i watched the city get smaller and smaller below me. and my brother and i talked about it basically the entire trip, even looked for apartments in Brooklyn. and if the three of us do it together it's doable. it's kinda been a joke our entire lives that was a little too true for it not to manifest itself. all my life i have thought to myself "i want to go home" in the throes of the worst moments of my life. and i think it's the place that fulfills that. it made me realize how much where i am now is holding me a little bit hostage in a way and how much i do not belong here. yeah so, that's something that is on the table. i have loved all my visits there but the other two times i have been it was not a time i could think about moving there, so this is the first time that i have been able to really feel that pull. it was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders the moment i saw the city from the plane, and i dreaded leaving in the same breath.

other than that, uhh, i saw funny girl (not my show choice, but i still really enjoyed the show!) wish i had seen miss julie, but lea was okay i guess (fr she brought the house down and honestly killed it taking a moment to separate from controversy etc). i wandered around the garment district which was lovely even though most stores were closed since it was sunday, got a yard of some lovely gorgeous fabric. i had coffee in bryant park, walked the highline again. ate bagels and pizza.

there were lots of tears, but good ones, ones that let me feel all my emotions about the moment.

and my family reunion was, well, meh.

[oceanmoss]

goddamn you look holy hit from behind with light you're a painting of a saint and i'm nervous stumbling over my lines when i tell you i love you when we stare at catalina city lost to the sea carrid out by the tide you were the one thing i got right god damn you look hollyyyyy bathed in the january light on the floor of our new bedroom on the carpet with the window open wide when you tell me you love me i can actually see it your breath frozen in the air newborn droplets of light you were the one thing i got right i'm measuring heartbeats and miles away you held me together i used to burst and decay we got off the airplane a couple of runaways i was hoping you'd stay can you stay you were the obvioussss oneeeee from a taxi can in chelsea out past salvation mountain ypu were the holiestttt one from a walk along the highline out to wicker park in august you were the obvious onee from the upper east side dorm room to the south west marin headlands you smile into the sand goddamn i hate leaving another early flight i ran the dishwasher this morning i wanted there to be clean plates for you tonight i've grown used to your perfume it hangs in the morning light wake me up before you leave to work kiss me goodbye you were the one thing i got right

[nyandreasphotography]

Women & Children - High Line, New York City by Andreas Komodromos

Women & children by Nina Beier. For the High Line, Beier realizes Women & Children, a fountain composed of found bronze sculptures of women and children. The statues range in style from classical to contemporary, and all depict women and children in the nude, as has been Western art-historical convention. Water streams from the eyes of the sculptures, creating cartoonish tears that point to the fragility projected onto women and children as subjects. www.thehighline.org

[skeilig]

I solo hiked Highline to Swiftcurrent yesterday (16 miles, was an amazing hike) and when I was eating a granola bar at the Grinnell Glacier overlook these obnoxious vlogger bros roll up and the one with the camera is narrating like "whoaaa thats a real glacier, have you ever seen a glacier like that before buddy?" I'm just ignoring them eating my snack but then I feel what feels like a hand on my bare thigh (wearing shorts) and I look down and a chipmunk is sitting on my thigh eyeing my snack. So I go "WHOA!" and the vlogger bro turns his camera on me and I go... "that chipmunk was fully ON my leg" and he pans the camera to the chipmunk and goes "whooaaa chippy" so I am 100% gonna end up in some obnoxious youtube video.

Better human interactions on that hike include the family of 5 i talked to on the shuttle bus and the couple from Tennessee I met on Swiftcurrent Pass who asked me for a dinner recommendation in Many and I said "i'm just gonna get pizza and beer at the motor inn" and they said "see ya there" which they did, and they were staying the night at the hotel which was another mile and a half down the road but my car was parked right at the trailhead. Soooo they bought me a drink in exchange for giving them a ride to the hotel and when they got out the wife said "I know you're not an uber but.." and slipped me $40... all tourists should do that.

[stumbleimg]

The Highline Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana [OC][6000x4000]

[unofficial-sean]

Monterey Bay Aquarium Has A Classism Problem

I was planning on visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium for my birthday in a couple weeks, but when I finally got around to checking out the website to see admission prices, I was heartbroken to discover that adult admission is a full capital S $60. If you investigate the admission FAQ, they put heir foot down that they do not offer discounts of any kind; not for special occasions or for EBT recipients, such as myself. Their defense for this absurd pricing is that they are a non-profit organization. Here’s why that’s a load of shit:

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is a one-of-a-kind facility in the PNW, in that it is a combined zoo and aquarium. The park is run by Metro Parks Tacoma, which is part of Pierce County’s government. Among other things, they support conservation effort and community programs. The red wolf population went extinct in the wild, but intervention by the PDZA’s captive breeding program helped to restore the red wolf to the wild. Not a small undertaking. PDZA features two aquariums, but one--the south pacific aquarium--is down for renovations. Two separate aquarium facilities, not including the aquatic avian and mammal habitats.

For all of this, an adult can expect to pay $20 per visit. Memberships, which allow for free admission for a year and gift shop discounts, are $90 for one adult. But if you are an EBT recipient, that very same membership is only $40. For $40, you could visit the PDZA 365 times.

At the MaST Center Aquarium, where I volunteer at, we teach college-level marine biology classes in association with Highline Community College, and are open to the public on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. We participate in the marine mammal stranding program, as well as leading beach exploration for K-12 students. We also participate in co-science projects, such as the Dungeness crab larval study. How much is admission? It’s free. Highline College is part of CTC; an association of non-profit community and technical colleges in the PNW.

The Seattle Aquarium features exclusively local marine life. It’s about the size of the pacific seas aquarium at PDZA, if not larger. Like the others, they contribute to science; most notably, their investigations into the local bluntnose sixgill shark population. How much is admission? $30. Discounts are offered for CityPass holders, people with disabilities ($2 off, which is flimsy, but it’s something), veterans, and more.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport charges $26 for general admission. Foster children can visit six times for free, anyone can visit for free on their birthday, and veterans get 10% off, among others. The aquarium is large, and features a massive tank with several broadnose sevegill sharks, dozens of leopard sharks, and dozens of spiny dogfish.They also have a sizeable aviary, touch tanks; you name it. It’s not a small operation.

That is our benchmark.

So when we pan south to Monterey Bay, we can see how atrocious the pricing is. This high price tag for admission keeps low-income people out, and ensures only those of greater means get to see the sea life. Frankly, I am extremely disappointed with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s high paywall. I expected them to be more charitable, but there it no charity to be found here. The only thing i can commend them for is their excellent social media outreach.

So, @montereybayaquarium, I hope you read this. And I hope you do better. much better. I will not be visiting; not until you all learn to stop being so greedy. Not until visiting becomes affordable.

$60?! Really?!