#hotel supplies online

[escarrahotelsuppliers]

Buy Customize Printed Luxury Bags From Escarra

Escarra is a Top Hotel Supplies that offers high-quality customized luxury bags that are perfect for anyone who wants to make a unique statement with their fashion choices. These custom-printed bags are made with superb-quality materials and crafted with care to ensure they are beautiful but also durable and reliable.

When you opt for Escarra, you can customize your bag to suit your style and needs. You can choose various colors, materials, and techniques to create a unique and awesome bag. So whether you’re looking for a Shopping, gift, shoe, laundry, hair dryer, or Luxury Cotton Storage Bags, they has you covered.

One of the essential features of Escarra’s luxury bags is their attention to detail. Each bag is carefully crafted with precision and care to ensure that every seam is perfect, every stitch is even, and every piece is flawless.

Escarra’s luxury bags are also designed to be versatile and adaptable. They can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and are perfect for formal and casual events. So whether you’re heading to work, out on the town for a night, or running errands, Escarra’s luxury bags are the perfect accessory. If you are looking to hire Hospitality Product Suppliers in USA, Must Connect with Escarra.

[northeasthotelsupply]

How to Wow Guests with Hospitality Supplies!!

The best product available from North East Hotel Supply is one that is ordered and delivered on time and without any issues. As one of today's most successful suppliers, we recognize the significance of providing a range of pricing, options, and styles.

As hotel suppliers, we are reliant on thriving hoteliers, so we make it a point to know our customers. The planning of services around ordinary residential properties is influenced by anticipated requirements.

Wholesale Hospitality Supplies for Hotels and Motels

The ability to order hospitality supplies in bulk encourages the host establishment to provide high-quality personal accessories.

Every day, items are sold in bulk, have a low price range, are delivered with high quality, and are also more cost-effective. Because hotels and their guests require both single-use and multi-use packets, we offer both. 

The management's efforts are greatly appreciated by guests when amenities such as facial tissue and in-room coffee brewers, as well as supplies, are provided at no additional cost for their use.

Small bottles of shampoo, lotion, and conditioner are common room amenities that guests expect to find. They even examine the fragrances and packaging to see if they are compatible. 

Join hands with one of the most reputable Hospitality Supplies in New England, because we always have appealing products for customers. Customers are more likely to be satisfied when they return.

Hotel supply companies can provide advice on brand design and color schemes. Visitors will remember your company if you include subtle logos on items such as cloth napkins and bed runners. Make use of supplies to impress management and guests.

Hotel Supplies that Make Your Guests Feel Comfortable 

Hotels can encourage customers to spread the word about the pleasures of staying at their resort or inn without saying anything.

Draperies that are easily drawn back can help to create a plush atmosphere. Highlight the extraordinary rather than the everyday. This is entirely feasible with the money you save by purchasing our hospitality supplies in bulk.

A positive relationship between hotels and their suppliers is advantageous. It meets the customer's needs, which usually results in a glowing review from the customer on one or more websites. This type of advertising informs others about the positive aspects of the shopping experience that customers have.

Our Commitment is to provide the best products and services at a lower cost to our customers. We will go out of our way to meet your specific needs for your hotel and motel.

Our warehouse is located in Dover, New Hampshire. You can reach us by mail at sales@northeasthotelsupply.com or by calling (603)973-3311 Or (603)866-3405.

[petlovedubaiuae]

The Benefits of Dog Daycare: Why It’s Essential for Your Dog’s Well-being

For many dog owners, balancing a busy schedule with the needs of a furry friend can be challenging. Dogs are social animals, and they need physical exercise, mental stimulation, and companionship to stay happy and healthy. At Pet Love, we offer a convenient solution: our professional dog daycare service, designed to provide a safe and engaging environment where dogs can thrive. Here’s why dog daycare might be the perfect fit for your dog and your lifestyle.

1. Socialization and Interaction

One of the greatest benefits of dog daycare is the opportunity for dogs to socialize. Dogs are pack animals, and spending time with other dogs can improve their social skills, reduce anxiety, and increase their overall happiness. At our daycare, dogs interact with others in a supervised, structured environment where they can build confidence and practice positive social behavior. For puppies and younger dogs especially, regular socialization helps them grow into well-adjusted, friendly adults.

2. Physical and Mental Stimulation

Active dogs need an outlet for their energy, and daycare provides plenty of opportunities for play and exercise. A day spent at daycare includes activities that engage dogs both physically and mentally, preventing boredom and destructive behavior at home. Our staff ensures that dogs receive a balanced mix of active playtime and rest, helping them return home relaxed and satisfied.

3. Relief from Separation Anxiety

Many dogs experience separation anxiety when left alone for long hours. Daycare provides an alternative, giving dogs companionship and activity to prevent loneliness. Being in a caring, interactive environment throughout the day helps reduce stress and provides a sense of routine, giving both dogs and their owners peace of mind.

4. Professional Supervision and Safety

At Pet Love, our experienced staff is dedicated to the safety and well-being of every dog in our care. We supervise all playgroups to ensure safe interactions, separate dogs by size and temperament, and monitor their behavior closely. Our trained team understands dog behavior and can spot signs of stress or fatigue, ensuring each dog’s experience is positive.

5. Convenient Solution for Busy Owners

Dog daycare provides a convenient option for pet owners with busy schedules. Instead of leaving your dog at home for long hours, daycare offers a way to ensure they’re getting the care and attention they need. Knowing your dog is in a safe, engaging environment allows you to focus on your day with less worry, knowing they’re having a fulfilling experience.

Why Choose Pet Love’s Dog Daycare?

At Pet Love, our dog daycare service goes beyond simple supervision. We offer a warm, engaging environment where dogs can socialize, play, and feel cared for by trained staff who love dogs as much as you do. Our facilities are designed with pets in mind, creating a secure space where dogs can have fun, stay active, and develop positive habits.

Choosing dog daycare is more than a solution for busy days; it’s a step toward a healthier, happier dog. If you’re ready to provide your dog with the benefits of social interaction, play, and professional care, contact Pet Love today to learn more about our dog daycare services and how they can make a difference in your dog’s life.

Petlove - Pet Grooming & Accessories Website: https://www.petlove.ae Phone: +971561236622 Address: Sheikh Zayed Rd, near Al Safa Metro Station, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE Open hours: Every Day 7 am - 10 pm

[gsmagazine-blog]

Common Questions Asked In Hotel And Restaurant Management Career

Becoming a successful hotel and restaurant management jobs involves being committed, confident and having an optimistic mindset. Practise these typical interview questions to give yourself the best chance for success in your search for reputable hotel and restaurant management jobs. So, keep your authenticity while answering these questions and leave a strong impression on prospective employers, and let your dream hospitality job start to head your way.

[mavensupplies]

Order Paper Hand Towels in Bulk: Convenient Solutions from Maven Supplies 

Looking to order paper hand towels in bulk for your business? Maven Supplies provides a seamless solution for your needs. Our extensive range of paper hand towels offers quality and affordability, ideal for commercial settings. Whether you require standard or eco-friendly options, we have a variety of choices to suit your preferences. With us you can streamline your supply chain and ensure a constant stock of essential hygiene products. Our bulk ordering process is straightforward and efficient, saving you time and money. Experience the convenience of ordering paper hand towels in bulk with us today and elevate the cleanliness standards of your establishment effortlessly. 

[slayfk]

posting here because this just doesn’t feel right to talk about in the horseimagebarn voice but this is extremely important to talk about.

my partner and i have returned to our hometown to stay with her family and my own has gotten a hotel here too (they moved to the town we currently live in after we did) so we are all safe and out of the thick of it

however there are tens of thousands of people who are not both in my own town and in the many surrounding it. appalachia will take an extremely long time to recover from this and there are more storms on the way. all i see on social media right now is people asking for shelter because their homes have been destroyed, or people asking for help searching for family members who are missing. hundreds of trees have fallen. hundreds of homes have flooded. roads are literally falling apart. preexisting sinkholes due to shitty pipes are opening up and consuming land. dams are on the verge of bursting and the only way to stop it is to release water so quickly it floods whole towns. all but one of our cell towers are down, so only people with at&t have service and the rest can’t contact anyone. over half the town still doesn’t have power. a major water supply issue occurred and the entire town is on a water boil order with no electricity to boil with. people are trapped in their homes and workplaces or out on the street because they have nowhere to go. law enforcement is blocking off roads but trapping people in the process. people have to be rescued by helicopter. our animal shelter has no water or power and boarding facilities have been flooded. entire villages like chimney rock nc are gone, and entire cities like asheville are cut off from the rest of the state and are completely inaccessible. ALL OF THE ROADS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ARE CLOSED. 400+ roads are closed because they are unsafe . that is INSANE!!!

when people say that climate change isn’t real, they don’t know what they’re talking about. climate change and its father capitalism are only going to continue to worsen lives in every way possible. i live in the mountains and our infrastructure is completely unprepared to handle hurricanes and it’s only going to get worse. it’s such a strange and eye-opening experience to live something like this when you think that it could never happen to you because that type of weather shouldn’t reach you in your environment. climate change doesn’t care where you live. it’s real.

western north carolina and the rest of the southeast that has been hit by helene need help. more people need to be talking about this so that the government DOES SOMETHING because the government historically fucking hates appalachia and it still does!!! the major state institution near me took DAYS to respond despite being the only place in town with power and wifi connection because they had to wait for the state to approve their response—they could have allowed thousands of people to evacuate days prior to the hurricane hitting us but they didn’t do anything before or after until it was too late!!! it’s bullshit!!! PLEASE get talking about this because something has to be done. climate change is going to continue happening and our mountains and the people in them are going to suffer immensely. hundreds if not thousands are now homeless. please talk about this look at the footage online of the wreckage and look how quickly our infrastructure crumbled. we need better. the people of appalachia deserve better.

i’ll get back to posting horses soon. but for now this is a lot. my friends are homeless and my family had to get off the mountain or be trapped there without power and water for days. we’re all safe but exhausted. i hope everyone who has been affected by this is staying safe. if you are in western nc, dm me. when i come back, if you’re in my area, im happy to bring supplies. stay safe everyone

[sigh-tofm]

if you’re their sugar baby… (18+)

… price

- absolutely spoils you. adores giving you anything you want. if your gaze lingers in a shop window, he’ll buy you whatever’s in it. you suspect he’s infiltrated your phone somehow, because anything you look at online will show up on your doorstep a few days later. he takes you to private jewellery fittings and sits back with a glass of whisky while the jewellers puts glimmering necklaces and earrings on you.

in return, he likes showing you off. regularly takes you out to restaurants so expensive they don’t even list their prices on the menu. spoon feeds you black caviar and picks out the correct wine, the bottles so old they still have wax seals on them. loves seeing you wearing the dresses he buys for you, revealing the fleshier parts of your body that the rest of society tells you to hide. always wants you to wear diamonds in your ears when you’re his date. nothing is ever too expensive if it’s for you.

takes you to a luxurious hotel after and fucks you good and well in the satin sheets. goes back to base before you wake up the morning after, and leaves a generous cash tip on the nightstand in addition to the monthly four digit payments transferred directly to your bank account.

… kyle

- takes care of you. a sergeant’s pay is low compared to a captain’s, but it’s still a substantial amount and much, much more than you make. enjoys having a pretty lady to spoil. any visit to the hairdresser or nail salon is on him. will occasionally request a specific colour for your nails, and you know it’s to match a dress he’s bought you, waiting for you at home.

takes you dancing, spends the whole night downtown and treats you to high-end street food at three in the morning. you get fancy cocktails and colourful shots and anything else you want to try. if another woman gets close to him on the dance floor, he makes a point out of feeling you up, splaying his hands over you wide hips and soft tummy.

takes you home to his and you both fall right to sleep, waking up past noon the day after. arranges a massage for you to help with your hangover. sits in on the appointment and flips your towel up to eat you out when the massage therapist leaves. reminds you to use the credit card he’s given you in between your orgasms.

… johnny

- whisks you away to scotland when he’s off duty. borrows the family cabin in the highlands and accommodates you both in the master bedroom, spending the cold nights in a grand bed with a heavy pelt covering the duvet. loves the fantasy of having a big, soft secret stowed away in the mountains.

spends the days hiking with you or takes you down to the coast, where you watch the wild waves and enjoy cottage pie in a local pub. asks for the finest whiskey, refusing anything but the best for you. tells you all about the history of the old stone kirk of the town over steaming mugs of spiked cider.

lays the pelt out on the floor before the great fireplace in the living room and grins when you mention the cliché of it all. remarks that clichés exist for a reason and pulls you close. your skin grows goosebumps in the cold air of the cabin, but the fireplace (and the rigorous activity on the pelt rug) warms you both up. lays with you after, smoothing his hand over your side and enjoying how your soft body gives way to the pressure of his fingers. pays for first class on your flight back home and gives you cash enough to cover both rent and supplies for the month. makes out with you messily at the airport before you part ways.

… simon

- takes you along to all his going ons outside of active duty. enjoys having a partner in crime, so to speak. in the military he’s a lone wolf, so when he’s off he just wants to have you for company. price thinks it’s a good idea for him too, to at least pretend he has some normalcy in his life. you oblige. he takes you to all his mundane errands; groceries, changing the tires of his car, walking the old bridle paths in his area.

has you tucked in under his arm when the footie’s on in the evening, trays of hot takeaway on the sofa table. if you can’t decide what you want to order, he has you list everything you’re interested in and orders it all. entertains your questions about football terminology and plays with your hair. pulls a blanket over you when you’re close to falling asleep and turns the volume down.

herds you to bed after a little while and so enjoys having a warm, soft body to put his arm around at night. to you, it’s all so casual and natural that you almost forget it’s an arrangement, but he never forgets to pay for your company according to your agreement and always tips generously.

doesn’t say it out loud, but likes it when you straddle him on the sofa and lets him feel you up and make out with you until he comes in his pants like a schoolboy.

[saelik]

Their first Christmas together Akira jokingly said he was the best gifter of the group so, of course, Goro took it as a personal challenge. For the next year, he writes down every little comment and detail to make sure every single one of his gifts that Christmas are perfect:

Futaba is easy, of course she wants the limited edition anyversary box with the first 5 Featherman seasons and rare merchandising.

For Ann he first thought about high quality cosmetics or clothes, but there was a high possibility someone would have the same idea, so he settles for a Wilton hotel spa and buffet voucher.

Makoto is harder since he knows Akira already has what she wants, but the rare buchimaru stationery set he finds on an online store looks promising.

He knows Yusuke will be happy with any art supply but he throws in there a conmemorative edition of a book about one of his favorite artists work too to make it more interesting.

Morgana gets a fancy tray of the sushi he always complains Akira and Goro eat without him and the privilege of not being called a cat for a whole week.

For Sumire, instead of going for what she wants, Goro chooses what she needs, a day on the same spa as Ann to relax and forget about the anxiety that comes with her first big international competition.

Haru's gift is simple, more sentimental as she basically buys most of the material things she wants, an album with all the photos of the group he's been able to find, which are surprisingly enough to fill the full album.

Ryuji's been whining about the price of the new games he wants to buy so Goro just needs to make sure no one else gets them and, in case someone does, a good pair of running shoes would be a good option too, he'll need one sooner than later.

And then, there's Akira. Goro thought he'd be the easiest as he knows him best, but he was wrong. How are you supposed to find the perfect gift for someone who would like absolutely everything you gave him? Nothing seems good enough, until he realizes. The fond smile his boyfriend gives him when he opens the box with an Arsène custom-made keychain makes his heart jump, but that expression is nothing compared to how he beams when he notices the key that comes with it. Akira doesn't need to read the note at the bottom of the box to know that's Goro's way of asking him to move together.

[thewritingofspencerrose]

A Future With You

Luke Hughes x oc

"Okay, but do we really need a second bedroom?" Luke asks, his arms wrapped around my body as I lean against his chest, the laptop rested on my thighs as we search for apartments, thinking a lot lately about when I graduate from Michigan and get to finally move to Jersey.

"Where will your brother's stay if we don't have a second room?"

"On the couch?" Lu supplies as if it should have been clear. "Or Jack can stay at his own apartment and Quinn can stay with him."

"And your parents?"

"We'll book them a hotel room."

"Lu, we can't just make your family stay in a hotel, they'll be here to visit us, that's rude," He clearly doesn't understand, because he gets his cute little confused face, mouth pouty and eyebrows furrowed.

"Plus, if we have a guest room now, we may not have to move into a new place for a while, we'll be able to just redecorate if the time comes," I can't help but mention, glancing up hesitantly, and the confused look hasn't changed.

I'm going to actually have to say this out loud. And while Lu and I have discussed living together a lot, down to now looking at apartments online, and we've discussed getting married one day, we've never discussed this.

Kids.

"What do you mean, baby?" He asks when I've paused for too long.

"Uh." What am I supposed to say? For when we have babies one day? "You know, for the future."

And it's now that his confusion is morphed into joy, him moving my laptop to the floor and flipping me over so that my front is facing his, his arms around me tightening as he kisses me.

"Are you talking about having kids with me?" And the absolute look of hope on his face makes me want to cry tears of joy.

"I didn't mean to assume that you'd want to have kids with me, I just- it breaks my heart to even consider a future without you but -"

"Never think like that," He interrupts, smile smaller than before as he cups my face. "Never think of a future without me in it, cause if I'm not in it I'm dead."

"Lu-"

"No," He interrupts again. "You need to know that I plan to marry you. Hell-" Is the next thing to come out of his mouth, moving from under me and earning a groan of disapproval, but he's back a second later, a small box in his hand and his heart rate skyrocketing as he retakes his place behind me.

"Luke, what is that?" I can't help but ask, even though I'm almost positive in the answer.

"It's the ring I bought for you right after our first anniversary," He begins to explain, bringing tears to my eyes. "Hey now, please don't cry baby."

And I shove him, not hard, but enough against his chest for him to get the memo. "You just told me you bought a ring for me after our first anniversary, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO and you expect me not to cry?"

"I need you to know, I was not planning on showing this to you, or giving this to you, for a while. I just knew I was going to marry you and bought it with my sign-on check for the Devils."

"Do you want an answer? Need an answer? Are you actively proposing or just showing me that you've thought about it?"

Lu chuckles, running him hand that's not holding the closed box through my hair and letting it rest on my shoulder.

"You need to know that I was going to do it this summer. Take you to the lake house, take you to that little bookstore-cafe type place I let you talk me into for our first date and propose," he explains, tears pouring down my face. And he looks at me with such a soft expression that I just know I'll forever feel at home with this boy.

"Would you be okay with me just asking you n-"

"Yes," I interrupt, not caring about what comes next.

Chuckling, he shakes his head, the curls moving this way and that. "Yes you're okay with me asking now or yes to the question?"

"Both," I answer without a second thought. "God Lu just ask me to marry you already!"

"Mackenzie-"

"Yes."

"- will you -"

"Yes."

"Marry me? Not now, but at some point?" And although he knows my answer, he looks nervous.

"Luke Hughes there is no universe where I say no to spending forever with you," I assure, kissing him softly before he slips the ring, a gorgeous one that could have come straight from my dreams, onto my finger, pulling me as close to his chest as humanly possible. We stay like this, just resting together in excitement and love before I can feel his head shift back to looking at me.

"So, kids?" Are the words he chooses the re-start our conversation from earlier, making me giggle.

"One day."

[am-i-interrupting]

Hihiii I have a Hasbin Hotel request!!! Was wondering if you could do some headcanons for Vox and Lucifer with an S/O who loves gifting them their drawings but gets really nervous when they watch them do their work? If this isn't exactly your "Cup of Tea" or you just dunno how to write this, feel free to ignore, no hard feelings!:]

Lucifer

He is always so excited when you gift him drawing.

He will sing your praises (sometimes literally)

This man is the first to compliment you.

He will ask you about your technique, your mediums, your inspirations.

He will also point out little things that he noticed that maybe you didn’t even notice where there.

He is 100% that friend who looks at your work and goes “Oh! That’s how these two are connected, right?” and you either are like “That’s such a brilliant idea” or “Yeah, absolutely, that was soooo intentional.” He will not notice if you’re lying through your teeth. He is too busy appreciating the art.

He will ask you if he can watch you just so he can understand your process and therefore understand you better.

He is so respectful when you say no. He is a creative. He understands.

If you’re inclined to though, he will make space for you in his workshop with your backs facing each other so neither of you have to be watched.

Vox

This man pretends like he doesn’t care but really, he does. He cares so much.

He will point out where you fucked up but in the same breath offer a way for you to fix it.

He is the one who gives you an unfiltered opinion on everything that’s wrong with what you made if you ask (otherwise he mostly talks trivial, like you forgot to blend this thing). If you bring in Velvette and Valentino as well, prepare to be read to filth.

If he finds you stressing over past things that you can no longer fix without ruining your drawing entirely, he’s going to turn on the Edna Mode energy and basically say, “Don’t look at the past, it distracts from the now.” (He says while being obsessed with the past. Not so easy, is it, Vox?)

Your supplies just magically refills whenever your almost out.

Where’d it come from? Who knows! It’s not like he has access to your online shopping history so there’s no way he would know what to get you. He’s not an artist.

He is the most subtly unsubtle show off when it comes to your art.

He’s going to a meeting? Well, how did these colorful pages end up amongst his files? A true mystery.

His office walls? Filled with your best drawings framed. The artist? Oh, his lovely partner. It’s a hobby they have, no big deal.

He would watch you draw even if you told him you felt uncomfortable with the idea.

Subtle stepping over boundaries. Your art room is bugged so he can watch you at every angle. No harm, you’ll never know.

He does find watching you work relaxing though. If he’s particularly stressed, he’ll find himself pulling up your feed and just watching you for what he thought was minutes but turned out to be hours and oh shit! Now he’s even more behind in his work schedule! Fuck!

[youngcigarsmokingguys]

Tanner had waited for this day for years. He had worked so many crappy after school jobs to save up money to buy the (used) car of his dreams. He and his Dad had searched online to find the right model at the right price. When they finally did, his Dad helped him broker the deal. That weekend they went to pick up the car (it was in the city a few hours away) he and his Dad went the night prior and grabbed a hotel room. It was great being able to have alone time with his Dad. Being the oldest of 4 kids Tanner felt like he never got any of his Dads attention. He had loved the drive down with it just being the two of them. They talked more like friends rather than Father and Son. When they got to the hotel the place was packed because of some football game. They got to their room and found it only had one king sized bed and a smoking room as well. His Dad went down to the front desk to see about a different room. Dad came back and said they’d have to bunk together because the hotel and all hotels in town were sold out . Dad told Tanner to jump in the shower and wash some of the grime off of him and that he was going to the store to grab dinner and “supplies for the night.” Tanner came out with only a towel wrapped around his waist just as his Dad came in with a few bags and a bucket of chicken. He thought he noticed his Dads eyes roaming up and down his body and that gave Tanners cock a jolt even though he had just rubbed one out. His Dad brushed by him and said “My turn” as he headed to take a shower. Tanner dried himself off, threw on a pair of gym shorts, turned on the TV and was on his third piece of chicken when his Father excited the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Tanner looked at his father’s fur covered chest and belly with such admiration that he didn’t realize he was staring until his Dad asked him how the chicken was as he reached for a piece. Tanner was about to answer when his dad’s towel came loose from around his waist. Tanner got an eyeful of his Dads fat cock and ass as his Dad turned and bent to pick up the towel. Tanner was more than a bit shocked when his Dad just threw it over his shoulder rather than putting it back on. Tanners cock started to react to the situation. His Dad remained super casual as if nothing was unusual about this at all. He reached into one of the bags on the floor and pulled out a twelve pack of Coors and asked Tanner if he wanted one. Tanner was shocked as shit that his Father was offering him a beer but tried to downplay his surprise and gladly accepted His nude father just handed him the beer and went back to grab another. Tanner could help but look at his father ass as he bent over to get himself a cold beer. Tanner drank his beer as his Dad threw on the same dirty pair of tighty whities that he had worn all day. Tanner was surprised when his Dad didn’t put anything else on. His Dad noticed this and said “no need to be formal it’s just us guys” to which he held up his beer and did a cheers with Tanner. Tanner finished up he beer, let out a large belch. His Dad laughed and downed his beer. He took Tanners plate and went to throw it away. He asked Tanner if he wanted another beer and dessert. Tanner said sure and got himself situated on the bed and grabbed the remote. When his Dad rounded the corner carrying two beers and two rather large cigars Tanner was shocked. His Dad smiled and said lI thought we’d take advantage of the smoking room. “Your Mom hates cigars so I never smoke around her but thought this might be a good way to celebrate you buying your first car.” Tanner couldn’t explain why his cock got harder. Maybe it was because his Dad was treating him like a man for the first time. He knew his Dad noticed as his Dads cock started to pitch a tent in his underwear. Tyler knew that this was the start of a different phase of their relationship. Two men with hardons ready to fire up cigars. Just then his Dad asked if there was any porn on this TV and winked at his stud cigar smoking Son. It was going to be a great night

[escarrahotelsuppliers]

ESCARRA is a provider of premium guest room amenities for the hospitality industry. We offer a wide range of high-quality, comfortable items like customized bags, umbrellas, robes, and slippers, all of which can be personalized with your brand logo. Elevate your guests' experience with the ESCARRA signature collection, which is perfect for hotels, restaurants, resorts, and spas. Connect with us today.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for lying to my friends due to a psychological disorder?

Ever since I (21F, american) was quite young (I would say around my 9 or 10 years) my mother noticed I had a tendency for lying, sometimes even for no reason at all. Some years after that I started going through therapy and psychiatric sessions and was diagnosed as bipolar and, more specifically, mythomania (compulsive/pathological lying, the diagnostic changed depending on which psychiatrist I went through). My manic episodes usually last longer than the depressive ones and, when those happen, I usually just lock myself from everyone in my bedroom (I rarely leave home even during manic episodes due to my own fear of anything bad that could happen outside)

And I'd say it's during those manic episodes that the bad things start to happen. Ever since my early 17s I started fabricating my own life to online friends since I have extreme difficulty making friends on real life. This ranged from stuff such as me saying that I'm disabled and that's why I don't leave my house (not true, I can do it when necessary but otherwise I am able bodied) and other simple, white lies to stuff like my relationship with my family and living condition.

It was in 2021 I think it started to go downhill. I still don't think I was in the wrong for it since, again, it is a mental disorder but I decided to come ask others too since the one friend I have that knows about it thinks I might be an asshole about this in specific.

Around 2021 I started playing a specific game with gacha mechanics. To this point, the image I had painted to most online friends (with the exception of that one friend) was of a girl on her 20s with a good relationship with her mother but a bad one with both her dad and brother (a lie, as our dad left us when we were children and I have a pretty good relationship with my brother), disabled and in bad living conditions. Because of that, it had been some time (since the beginning of the lockdown) since some of these friends started sending me money whenever I said I needed it for one reason or another (usually to buy food or necessities like hygiene products) and, since I didn't need it at all, I would just end up using it on stuff I enjoy like art supplies or makeup.

The moment I started playing that game though (which none of my friends knew about since they still thought I didn't have my own computer), I started spending all of that money on the game to pull for characters. It wasn't a constant thing but it got specifically bad on 2022, when a character I really enjoy was released.

I still think it's not that bad since none of them gave me a lot of money anyways, but after what I already had was spent on the game and I didn't have any money to buy the currency, I went to the discord servers venting channel and started writing by impulse stuff like how my dad had evicted me and me alone from the house after I stood up to him and now I was living in my cramped old car on the streets with no food, clothes etc. Some of those friends got extremely worried or something like that and ended up sending me more money than usual so I could 'pay for a hotel' until I had time to get government support etc (I don't really know how that works anyways, but I said I'd try and thanked them a lot for it and said that as soon as I was safe I'd draw something for them as payback but I never did because it wasn't really like it was a commission anyways) and I spent it on the game to get the character and I did!

I had to keep the lie about being homeless and then getting government support ever since and last month me and my "real life partner" (not real but i made it up a few months before this so i just used it as a excuse that he was working to get us both a place to stay) were finally in a safe apartment. However, one of those online friends knew about my condition and started to suspect about it all and got angry at me for no reason, saying that I was stealing from my friends and being unfair on even denying that to her. After that she blocked me but I was able to lie to the server that she had threatened me and implied I was lying about it all which wasn't true because that was my real living situation.

I still don't think I am in the wrong, they all did offer it to me on their own after all and I already spent it so there's nothing I can do. Am I the asshole for lying due to a mental health condition?

What are these acronyms?

[petlovedubaiuae]

[gsmagazine-blog]

The Warming Hospitality Management Jobs You Can Seek

Introduction:

Did you recently finish your hospitality management course and are seeking a good job? Haven’t you looked at some of the best Hospitality Management Jobs that have a good reputation and are highly paid as well? Here is a blog that shares details on some hospitality management career opportunities.

The Most Picked Hospitality Jobs:

Guest Relations.

Food and Beverage.

Tourism.

Event Planning.

Entertainment & Leisure.

Noteworthy is these jobs are further categorized as follows;

Jobs In Guest Relations:

Typically, guest relations jobs in hospitality are related to customer-service-oriented jobs that help guests interact conveniently with management. It is followed by a variety of jobs, such as;

Front office manager.

Directors of housekeeping.

Sommelier. 

Jobs In the Food and Beverage Industry:

This hospitality category is classified into two major segments: producing and distributing edible products or goods. It may include jobs such as;

Restaurant manager.

Catering assistant.

Sous chefs and kitchen operation heads.

Tourism Management Jobs: 

Next comes the tourism management jobs in the hospitality sector that give diversified opportunities. Here are some of the most picked tourism management career options;

A travel agent or travel consultant.

Tour guide.

Marketing and public relations.

Event Planning Jobs:

Today, event planning is one of the craziest work in hospitality. Being an event planner adds flexibility and a propensity for multitasking. It may include types such as;

In-house event planner.

Conference organizer.

Wedding consultant.

Corporate event management.

The Final Verdict:

If you are seeking Hospitality Management Jobs, the list above is very few. Apart from that, you have many options to build a career in the hospitality sector. It’s a reputable industry with the highest-paying jobs and professional

[phykios]

If I Were A Blackbird, part 15 [co-written with @darkmagyk] [read on ao3]

Maybe she shouldn’t have insisted that her hair and makeup team take the rest of the night off. 

Lacey, angel that she was, had left some of her supply with Annabeth for emergencies before she headed out for a night on the town, taking full advantage of her boss’ kindness. At the time, Annabeth had thought nothing of it. Lacey was a makeup genius who had come straight from Piper’s recommendation, and never left her looking anything but pristine and natural, a massive, massive improvement over Annabeth’s last makeup artist, who had insisted on a highlighter so blinding it could cause a ten car pileup. It was a literal and metaphorical weight, lifted off her shoulders, and she no longer cringed looking at herself in a mirror, unable to recognize the person who stared back. 

Of course, the Athens evening was so hot and humid, she was sure all of Lacey’s hard work was on the brink of melting off her face, running down her neck and staining her nice, new dress. She couldn’t help but check her reflection every minute, squinting at herself in her phone camera, afraid she’d spot a stray streak of eyeliner, and that she’d have to fix it herself. And gods forbid any makeup get on the fabric. She would not be able to fix that herself.

Maybe, too, she shouldn’t have gone with white. 

Well, white and blue. It fit the location. She had been idly (or not-so-idly) browsing some online storefronts for local Greek designers on Piper’s suggestion after she had subjected her dear friend to a multi-hour phone call agonizing over her wardrobe, all while trying not to directly quote Legally Blonde. Because she wasn’t sure if this would be The Date, capital letters implied. A romantic, full-service dinner on the rooftop of the King George Hotel would be a great place for a proposal, yes, but Annabeth didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. 

Elle Woods had it right: Annabeth did want to look special tonight. Bridal, even. But not in a way that indicated she was expecting anything. 

And even if she was–which she wasn’t–she couldn’t accept it. Not yet, not before laying out her whole truth. Which she needed to do. Soon. She glanced over at her mother’s ancient temple, glowing in the pre-sunset light. 

Maybe she could do it tonight. Here and now. 

And then maybe so much bridal inspiration wouldn’t be so out of place. 

The dress honestly wasn’t too obvious. The blue helped to take some of the edge off. And it was a beautiful dress–light and silky, it fell to her ankles, a slight weight to the bottom hem a bulwark against any wrinkles that might mar the beautiful pattern. Floral designs that could have been taken directly from a Minoan fresco curled up and down the fabric in beautiful hues of blue, crisp against the white background. A matching belt lent Annabeth the impression of a waist, and the halter top had been artfully concealed under a light scarf which had been promptly removed as soon as she was seated at the restaurant. 

Annabeth tipped her head back, closing her eyes as a cool breeze ruffled her curls, which hung in a loose ponytail. She gently twisted her head from side to side, feeling the soft caress of her delicate gold hoops against her neck, and twirled the bracelet around her wrist. 

The waiting was always the worst. 

He was late. Not by a lot, but enough for her to be nervous. She had sent a car to pick Percy up, but there was no accounting for city traffic. Flexing her toes in her not-too-high heels against the leg of the table, Annabeth resisted the urge to check the time, focusing instead on the stunning view from the terrace.

Athens stretched out before her. Ringed with mountains, the city rippled with the weight of its history, the ancient structures looming over the urban sprawl. If she were being uncharitable, she might call it a combative kind of architecture. Ancient columns fought for dominance with ‘60s modernism, while domed churches dotted the landscape as though they were surfacing a stormy, concrete sea, gasping for air. Unplanned and slapdash, scrubbed of undesirable elements, Athens could be a bit of a mess, a discordant combination of ancient and modern. 

She could relate. Annabeth, too, often felt like a mess, a discordant combination of ancient and modern. 

In many ways, Athens was her legacy and her birthright, as a daughter of Athena. An ancient promise, handed down over thousands of years. 

If she could find the prize, that is. 

Movement from the corner of her eye brought her attention back to the present–and to a different, much more pleasant kind of prize. 

The waiter was leading Percy over to her table, though it was entirely unnecessary, given that Helen had booked out the entire rooftop for their privacy. It also meant that no one was around to watch as Annabeth gave her boyfriend a significant look up and down. He wore a smart, dark gray suit, a sea green shirt with an open collar and no tie, and that crooked grin that always set her heart racing. “Hey.” 

She stood up to meet him, coming in for a quick, chaste kiss. “Hi.” 

“Am I super late?” 

Annabeth shrugged. “It’s Athens. No one is ever on time.” 

“You’re telling me–I think traffic here might be worse than New York.” 

“I can believe it.” But she didn’t care. She rested her hand on his arm, just basking in his presence. Marveling at the physicality, at the fact that, finally, he was here. That they were together. 

“I missed you,” he said, his smile melting into something softer. 

Reaching up for another kiss, she tucked her face into his neck, breathing in the sea-salt smell of him. “I missed you, too.” 

Siding his arms around her, he held her close to him, and she could hear his heartbeat in her ear. Missed you. Missed you. Love you.

He pulled back, eyes suspiciously misty. “Gods,” he choked out, taking her hands. “You…” 

“Yes?” 

But he could only shake his head, bringing her hands to his mouth. “Gods,” he said again, kissing them. “You are so beautiful.” 

Many people had kissed her hands before. Many people had called her beautiful. Percy had done both, on several occasions. She still felt herself go red, a suspicious blur forming at the corners of her eyes.

Percy cleared his throat. “Shall we?”

They sat, hand in hand over the table, not even breaking apart when the waiter made his way over to them.

It was a set menu for dinner tonight, but they at least had the option of choosing between wines. Greek wine was not exactly something that she would call herself an expert in, so she kept it simple: something white, crisp, light, and on the waiter's recommendation. He would know better than she would, anyway.

“Of course,” the waiter said, ducking his head politely.

“Oh, and also some champagne, if you have it?” Percy cut in. Annabeth's heart leapt in her chest. Champagne, for a special birthday dinner? Perhaps. Or maybe...

When the bottle arrived, Percy poured them out two glasses, and they gently clinked them together. “Happy birthday.”

“You're a day late,��� she teased, knowing full well that he was not.

“Well, excuse me for having to work,” he teased right back. “We can't all just be a pretty face and a government-guaranteed salary.”

“You could have taken your laser and sailed right to me, and gotten back to Athens in time for your race.”

“Okay, even my times aren't that good.”

She took another sip. “Pity. Maybe Holmgren would be able to make it in time. Or who's that British sailor I hear so much about? Wilson?”

He rolled his eyes, but there was no real force behind. She knew that he knew very well what she thought of the British sailor. “At least pick someone actually good-looking.”

“Hmm.” She drew it out, smiling. “How’s Jason?”

He shook his head. “Replaced by a blond man? Really? Really?”

“I mean, he can do a backflip,” Annabeth pointed out. 

“I can also do a backflip!” he insisted. “Just not on a table without falling off.” He paused, thoughtful. “And I’ll always be happy about that.”

“About falling off a table?”

“Yeah. Cause whenI looked up from my sprawling heap on the floor, there was my dream girl.” 

She felt herself go red, even though she probably should have been used to such statements. Especially from him. “Well, that’s something.” 

“So just remember that, on the day you abandon me for Henry Wilson.”

From the corner of her eye, Annabeth saw their waiter walking up with their first course. “Well, hopefully that day is still a ways away. And hopefully, this helps put it off even further.”

Their waiter gracefully set down the basket, swiftly followed by a sliced, still piping-hot loaf of bread. “Kalathaki Limnou, as you requested,” he declared, “one of our famous, world heritage cheeses, hailing from the island of Lemnos.”

Percy peered at the item, brow furrowed. Then it clicked, and he smiled. “Cheese in a basket... Pausanias?”

She grinned. It was a passage from Pausanias’ Description of Greece, a text dating back to the second century AD. In one section, he had written extensively on the diet of professional athletes–including the famous, fortifying cheese in a basket.

Was it the same food as the kalathaki from Lemnos? Annabeth had no clue. Her cursory research had been inconclusive, and she wasn’t particularly interested in doing anymore. But of course he'd understood the reference, and that had been the primary goal anyway. “The only diet fit for an Olympic athlete.”

The rest of the dinner was delicious, of course–between the sea bream ceviche with ouzo jelly, the mushroom ragout with potato cream, or the slow roasted baby lamb, there was no way it wouldn't be. But, privately, she thought the kalathaki, paired with Percy's bright, happy laughter, might have been the best thing that she had ever tasted.

She was looking forward to dessert, though. Then again, was she more looking forward to the food, or Percy's reaction?

The sun had long since dipped behind the hill, casting the rock and the temple in bright hues of orange and pink, while behind the stone, the skies and the mountains melted into each other in a smear of deep, dark purple. Between the two of them, they had polished off the champagne, and were about to reach the bottom of a bottle of white. At some point in the evening, their hands had once again found their way to each other, fingers intertwining. “Gods,” Percy was saying, squeezing her hand. “I don't know if I could eat another bite. Coach is going to murder me.”

“Just tell him you were given a royal command to eat until you couldn’t fit into your wetsuit. What's he going to do, argue with a princess?” Percy laughed at that, and her heart felt as bubbly as the champagne. “Besides, we still have dessert left.”

“Better be good,” he said, taking a drink of water. “I’d hate to think I ruined my diet for a subpar dessert.”

“Oh, I think you'll be impressed.” She nodded to the waiter, who had been hovering unobtrusively nearby all night long. Had they been in America, he would have gotten one hell of a tip. Shit, she might give him a hell of a tip, anyway.

Percy narrowed his eyes at her, immediately suspicious. “What did you do?”

“Me?” she smirked, feeling a distinct sense of deja vu. “Nothing.”

“Don't get cute with me, wise girl.”

“So you think I'm cute?”

“I think you're–”

But she would never know what he thought (though she could guess), because their waiter once again stepped up to their table, bearing their final course. He was saying something, probably describing the flavor and texture or whatever. He could have been reciting his entire family tree, for all she was paying attention, so fixed on Percy's bemused, befuddled, unbelieving face as the waiter laid in front of him a plate of blue baklava, and a bowl of bright blue ice cream.

He stared at her. “How?”

She fought down a very un-princess-like cackle, but ultimately chose to concede with her honor intact. If laughing at her stupefied boyfriend was considered honorable. 

“Seriously, how?”

“By asking nicely, seaweed brain,” she laughed.

“But how did they get the phyllo to be blue? My mom’s tried for years!”

“Now that, I think, is a little above my paygrade,” she said, taking up her spoon. “But it sure looks good.”

He seemed to agree, the pastry already shoved halfway into his mouth. “Do you think if I asked, the chef would tell me how he got the color?”

Annabeth licked off her spoonful of ice cream, not at all unaware of the way Percy’s eyes were tracking her tongue. “I bet it’s a state secret,” she said. “Classified.” 

“I’m great with classified,” he said, a troublemaking grin climbing up his face.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ve never told anyone anything about you. Like the noise you make when I stick my finger–” 

She threw a pistachio at him, and he ducked, laughing, not at all like the bright, tinkling champagne of yesterday’s brunch, but deep, full-bodied, as rich and sweet as the wine on their table. 

Gods, she loved this. 

“Well, fine,” he chuckled, dusting imaginary nuts off his suit. “If you’re going to be like that, maybe you won’t get your birthday present.” But his hand was already halfway into his pocket, undercutting the threat, pulling out a small, velvet box. 

Her breath caught in her throat. Was this…? 

But no, it was decidedly not a ring box. It was longer, thinner; probably a necklace. She felt her sigh of relief as deeply as her disappointment. 

The feelings fell away as he presented it to her, and she opened it with slow care. Percy had a knack for finding really beautiful and unique jewelry, and she knew she was in for a nice surprise. 

Predictably, she gasped. “Oh, Percy!” 

Percy had a habit of getting for her jewelry with the most perfect saltwater pearls, treasures that he always found at little markets he frequented all over the world when he traveled. This was not different, except how it was. It was a piece of raw coral, perfectly pink, about the size of her ring finger (or maybe ring fingers were just on the brain), but with little jagged pieces branching off of it. At the bottom was a perfect white pearl, the whole piece hung from a silver chain, as statement-making and beautiful as it was elegant.

“Happy birthday,” he said, soft as the evening breeze. 

“It’s beautiful.” She reached out to touch it, running her finger along the ragged edge of the coral. “Where did it come from?” 

“I picked up the pearl the last time I was in Stockholm.” He grinned, thoroughly pleased with her reaction. “And the coral is actually from Santorini.” 

“Sweden and Greece, huh?” The subtext was unmistakably clear: You and me. 

He flushed lightly. “I thought it fit.” 

“It’s perfect.” And it was. It would look beautiful with her dress, she knew, with the large amount of blue she had taken to wearing over the last four years. She had adopted the color because she knew Percy loved it, and that it showed her off to her advantage. 

“May I?” He asked, and she stood up with him, while he walked up behind her, pulling the necklace on, and leaning down to kiss her neck. It rested perfectly on her chest, just above where her cleavage would be, if she was the kind of woman blessed with cleavage. 

Percy kissed up her clavicle, then her neck to her ear, but then he stopped, resting his chin on her shoulder, arms wrapped around her waist, staring out, like her, she was sure, at the Parthenon. Except the sun had gone down while they ate, so they couldn’t see it up on the hill. Her mother, shrouded from her in darkness. 

From the dark corner of her thoughts, her mother’s words floated up to the surface: Be careful with that one. 

Annabeth frowned. Why would she say that? How could Percy be anything but perfect for her?

Did Percy feel the same foreboding?

“Is everything okay?” Percy, without even looking at her, seemed to pick up on her mood, taking her hands. They fit perfectly, like they were made for each other, his thumb rubbing soothing circles into her skin. “Helen giving you a hard time about taking the night off? Or your stepmother–” 

“Nothing like that.” She could tell he wasn’t very reassured, lips pursing. “Just… a lot on my mind.” 

He squeezed her hands. “Tell me?” 

Annabeth turned her head to look into his eyes, as green as the waters of Piraeus in the sunlight, and she had what she could only call a moment of delusion. 

What if she did tell him? What if she told him everything? Her mother, her quest, her worlds, all nine of them, which were somehow more dangerous than ancient crowns and social media combined. She could tell him right now. The Athenian night safely wrapped them in a blanket of silence, shielding them from PAs and reporters and races and parents. It was a moment all their own, one which they had both been craving for so long. 

She could do it. Right here. She could unburden herself, and share her deepest secret. 

“Percy,” she began. “I…”

Then, from the corner of her eyes, she saw light. 

“Oh!” Percy gasped. “Look!” 

The Acropolis, which had been dark, was suddenly lit up, golden against the night sky. 

And Annabeth, too, had a moment of clarity. 

She couldn’t tell him. There was no way he’d believe her. Not yet, at least. 

She needed to go to the heart of her mother’s magic. There, she could show him. And that meant they had to go to the Parthenon. 

That’s where she would tell him. 

***

That night, his girlfriend in his arms while they stood on a romantic hotel rooftop, gazing at one of the most iconic, ancient monuments in the world, Percy did something he never thought he’d ever do. Not in a million years. 

He thanked Athena for ruining his moment. 

He had been so damn close, looking out over the Acropolis, to saying something stupid. About gods and goddesses, Athena and Poseidon, the ancient and the modern and the monsters that plagued them. About how they lived on far past their expiration dates, and how Percy was one of them. 

“It’s beautiful,” he sighed, grateful for the cool breeze which covered his shudder. 

And, unexpected bonus, the cold made it so she snuggled into him further. 

His heart hammered against his chest, strong enough that he knew she could feel it. But that wasn’t so unusual. His heart was always racing when he was close to her. 

“Are you okay?” she asked, turning her face up to his. “Your heart is going crazy.” 

Or maybe it was unusual. “Yeah,” he assured. “It’s just…”

She turned in his arms, looping hers around his neck. “Just what?” The frizzy ends of her golden curls fluttered in the breeze, her storm-gray eyes searching his for the source of all his problems, like she alone could solve them. 

And she would try, he knew, to solve them. She had innumerable resources at her disposal–money, networks, influence–and she was willing to waste them all on him. All for his sake. “…You just make me so happy.” His sight blurred for a moment, throat suddenly thick. “So damn happy.” 

Her eyes shone, her lips trembling as she kissed him, and Percy had a revelation. 

He should have brought the ring with him tonight! 

“I love you,” he murmured, following her mouth as she pulled away. “Gods, Annabeth, I love you so much.” 

“I love you, too.” Her voice shook, fingers tapping warm patterns on his skin. 

“Annabeth…” 

“Yes?” She gazed up at him, and he could count every freckle on her sun-kissed skin, glowing in the low light of the rooftop and the moon which hung above them. 

Why had he waited so long? Why hadn’t he given her the ring earlier?  

He glanced back at the Parthenon. 

That was why. 

Because it wasn’t fair to ask her to tie herself to him without giving her all the facts. Without sharing all of who he was, and all of what that meant, with her. That, and that alone, had prevented him from proposing for the last year. 

But there was no reason he couldn’t tell her tonight, and then ask her to marry him. 

Fuck it. He could give her the damn ring later. 

He leaned in and kissed her again, basking in the perfect feeling of her soft lips against his, running his hand down her back of her silk dress. They had a lot of privacy here, but there were things you just couldn’t do with a princess in public. 

But it didn’t have to be public. He wasn’t heading back to the Village tonight, after all. The plan had been for him to stay the night. With her. “We should go downstairs,” he said, and she grinned in response, her face full of trouble. 

“Sounds good to me.”

Was he excited to spend the night in a five star hotel? Of course. It probably had some sort of amazingly fancy soaking tub. Maybe they could cuddle up there together, and he’d show her just what a son of Poseidon was made of. At the very least, it was probably an upgrade from the Village. 

Maybe he could even find a moment to text Luke, and get him to bring the ring over. If there was one thing Luke could always do, it was get in and out of locked and restricted areas with no one the wiser.

But… on the other hand, maybe not. Percy would be the wiser, and knowing that Luke was there while he and Annabeth were having sex was maybe a step too far. Even if Luke was the one who had introduced them. 

Percy laced their fingers, a practiced motion that nonetheless still made his heart skip a few beats, and he pulled her close to him, keeping her as flush to his body as he could while they walked out of the restaurant, nodding his head at their waiter in thanks, who dipped his head in return, clearly fighting off a knowing grin. 

There was a camera inside the elevator, which, again, limited what things they could and could not do. But he felt no shame in pulling her close and kissing her. If another elevator video got leaked, well, they were about to be engaged, so what did it matter?

Annabeth’s suite was the only one on her floor, and you needed the keycard to get in, so he had expected them to make it to her room without running into anyone. But instead of the grand, empty hallway, the elevator door opened on Hans Gunderson, perpetual frown on his face, looking expectant and… possibly a little worried. 

“Your highness. Mr. Jackson,” he nodded at Percy. 

“Hans,” she said. “What is it?” 

With a sideways look at Percy, Hans leaned in. “We have a situation that requires your attention,” he said to Annabeth, in a low voice.

She huffed. “What is it?”

“Berserkir.” 

Her eyes went wide. “Here? Now?”

“Yes, your highness.” 

Percy frowned. He was pretty sure he’d heard that word before. But he wasn’t sure what that code meant. Hans and the other members of the security team had a million and one code words: Annabeth was Septentrion, paparazzi was mygga. Even Percy got a codename. He was officially designated Sjöman–sailor. 

He’d heard berserkir before. He knew it was a Viking thing. But he’d never been told its meaning, not as one of Hans’ code words. 

“I’m so sorry, babe,” Annabeth said, turning to him.

“It's fine,” he said, because it was, she had to go into emergency meetings all the time. He was used to it. “I can be super quiet while you talk to Helen.” 

Annabeth’s shoulder’s fell, and she bit her lip, stopping herself from saying something. “No,” she said, after a moment, “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t be here for this.” 

He blinked at her, taken aback. He’d been cut out of important meetings before, early on. Been banished to the bedroom or whatever. But at least for more than the last year he’d been around, even if his exact presence hadn’t been explicitly acknowledged. And in the last few months he’s explicitly been asked to join.

“I can hide in the bedroom…” Her face told him that wasn’t far enough away. “Or the bar or lounge?” 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. “I'm not sure how long this will take.”

“...Oh.” That was… fine. That probably just meant it was really important. And like he had said, all those years ago, she was entitled to her secrets, just as he was to his. Even if they had been together for four years, and even if he had nearly told her his secret not five minutes ago.  

“I’m so sorry,” Annabeth said, with an apologetic kiss. She cupped his face, her thumb stroking over his cheekbone. He fought the urge to pull away. “Your name is with the concierge’s desk,” Hans informed him, sympathetically. “They can get you a car to take you back to the Village.” 

“It’s okay,” he waved him off. “I’ll get a taxi.” If they didn’t want him to be part of this… well, he could take care of himself.

“Please don’t,” Annabeth said, “you know you can use my car whenever you need.” 

He took a deep breath. He was being dumb. He knew he was being dumb. He was being whiny. It was fine. He was just pouting. It was okay. They were okay. They were in love. 

Soon, he would be a real part of the royal family. And soon he would be able to cuddle in bed with Annabeth every single night.

Besides Annabeth was so cute when she was worried. She got this little scrunch between her eyebrows, and he could practically see her thoughts turning in her head, her brain working overtime. He squeezed her hand in reassurance, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “It’s still early, I want to walk around for a bit.” 

She still looked skeptical. “Call the car service when you’re done.” But she let him go without much more of a fuss. “And let me know when you get back to the Village.” 

“I will. Good luck with your uh… situation.” 

With a grimace that was doing its absolute best to be a smile, she turned and entered her suite, her hands quickly taking out her ponytail, before throwing it back up into a tight bun. Percy tried not to stare too obviously as she rounded the corner. Hans lingered in the doorway, hand on the doorknob. “Are you sure you don’t need transportation?” 

Aw. He didn’t realize Hans cared so much. “It’s fine,” he shook his head. “I need some air anyway.” 

He nodded, his stony countenance never breaking once, then shut the door behind him. 

The hotel opened up right into the middle of Syntagma Square. Like the New Yorker he was deep inside, Percy jaywalked across to the square, dodging an embassy vehicle, weaving his way through a pack of drunk English coeds, their high-heeled steps wobbly and their overly shiny golden laurel crowns askew. 

The square was packed, with tourists and locals of all stripes milling up and down the marble walkways. People poured from the entrance to the metro like a fountain, flooding the streets, mingling with the opposite current as it surged upwards from Ermou Street, Athens’ own modern day agora. 

It was strange to be reminded of the subway. Percy’s conception of old was American old: the old building on Yale’s campus or remnant remains of colonial structures during a weekend trip to Salem. And New York was all sharp and modern and subways, the colonial structures scrubbed clean. But Athens had its train system weaving in and out of ancient monuments and Byzantine churches. People had walked in and out of this place for millennia. Athens had been a great city for nearly his father’s lifetime. Even the other great cities–Paris, Istanbul, Rome–Athens was already ancient when they had been just a collection of mud huts.  

Percy picked a direction, shoved his hands in his pockets, and began to walk. 

He passed the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building, only sparing a glance to the strange, exaggerated walk of the evzones as they solemnly circled around each other. He walked by a statue of some guy on a horse–not Alexander, as that statue was in a different part of the city, but a man he didn’t recognize in a plumed helmet and more modern armor. Past the former National Library, resplendent in all its neoclassical glory even at night, he took a right, and then a left, and then a right, until he was well and truly lost. 

Sort of. He could still feel the Acropolis at his back, a magical compass which pointed him to his father’s temple. 

It made him itch. 

The sounds of English had long since faded away, a chorus of Greek (heh) mingling in the air with clouds of cigarette smoke and the ever-present scent of coffee. He slowed to a stop at a triangular park, lingering on the sidewalk with a small crowd that couldn’t fit into the even smaller coffeehouse. Inside, he could see an older man on a raised dais, his hair gray and eyes drooping, cigarette in his mouth and strumming at a small, guitar-like instrument, while his partner, a much younger woman with space buns and evil eye tattoos running up and down her arms, sang something in Greek, her eyes shut tight and her hands shaking with nerves. 

Modern Greek was not his strong suit, not by a long shot, but some words were familiar, even if it sounded different. He could pick out words of love, joy, and sorrow. 

The song ended, and the people in the coffeehouse cheered. Hands reached up in applause, beer bottles were passed around, and the girl hopped off the platform, falling into the arms of her girlfriend, a wispy, waifish thing who kissed her, full on the mouth. 

Percy smiled, and moved on. 

The rest of the neighborhood was just as lively as Syntagma, but where the square had been white and gray, the streets here were colorful. Balconies overflowed with hanging gardens and climbing vines, the sidewalks broken up by orange trees, and every single building was covered in some of the most gorgeous graffiti art he had ever seen. Every. Single. One. 

Syntagma had plenty of graffiti, too. Every inch of Athens was covered in spray paint, save for the archeological sites and churches. But this neighborhood was something else. 

He passed a lush jungle, rendered so realistically on a concrete wall, an elephant’s trunk curling around a white door. Up above a balcony, he spotted a bust of Herodotus, the harsh, artificial shadow cutting his face in two. Percy walked by photorealist portraits, a man in a techno-futurist pair of glasses, two Picasso-style women in a passionate embrace, and more anarchist, antifascist graffiti than he could shake a stick at. 

The New Yorker deep down inside of him was proud. 

And then he came across the owl. 

Percy stopped in the middle of the street, so suddenly that a drunk guy bumped into him, mumbling an apology in Greek as he stumbled past with his friends. 

Like a lot of the street art here, it was a very realistic-looking owl. Enormous, it stretched across the corner of two walls, almost like a 3D image. If he hadn’t been paying attention, he might have thought that the owl was flying straight towards him, the way it looked like it was about to leap off the very wall it was drawn on, bursting free from its stone prison. The artist had spared no expense–each feather was given its own definition, the curve of the beak coming down to a nasty-looking point, and its large, menacing eyes had been painted with the reflection of the city, the entirety of Athens held in its all-knowing gaze. 

Percy shivered. 

Athens, owls, Athena–he tried not to think about it too hard. 

Though it wasn’t like he could avoid her. 

He had never met the goddess before, and hopefully he would keep it that way. The feud between her and his father ran deep, he knew, and when he had been younger, Poseidon had warned him, in no uncertain terms, to stay away from any of Athena’s children. 

Which was weird. Athena was a virgin goddess. Why would she have any children? How would she have any children? 

Anyway. 

In lieu of avoiding her children, Percy dutifully did his best to stay away from any trace of her. No trips to Nashville and the Parthenon. No souvlaki from that place in Astoria with her statue outside, even though that souvlaki was really freaking good. Of course, in Athens, Greece, it was a little more difficult. Her presence was imbued in every stone of the city that bore her name, from the temple on the hill to the watchful eyes on the walls. He couldn’t not avoid her here. 

And he especially couldn’t avoid her when he finally emerged onto a main thoroughfare, and was greeted by a statue of her, rising above the park across the street. 

Maybe it was time to contact Annabeth’s car service, and get back to the Village. It was getting late, and he was getting tired, and he had practice tomorrow. What he definitely shouldn’t do was cross the street, go into the park, and go up to the statue. 

Wishful thinking. He trotted across the street, safely this time, and made a beeline directly for the statue.

The stone Athena stood on a tall, tall pedestal, spear and shield in hand, lording over all it could see–which was presumably a lot. At the base was a lioness, mid roar, perched on a set of marble steps, and lit from beneath by a ring of small floodlights. Athena was too far up for him to see her face, but he could imagine it, her stony, vaguely disapproving frown, like every single one of his math teachers every time he failed a test. 

That was when, for the second time that week, he spotted some odd carvings. 

Like the delta on the cistern, they were barely more than scratches, carved a very long time ago. In the dim light of the pedestal, he could barely see them, and he doubted that sunlight would have made it easier. It was a fair bit more elaborate than the delta, though, a collection of overlapping triangles of different sizes which came together in the shape of… something. Maybe the central triangle was a body of some kind. The thinner shapes which bracketed it could be arms, or wings. 

Wings. 

It was a bird. 

More than that, it was the bird from the bronze disk he had found. 

Percy gasped, taking a step back. 

And more than that, it wasn’t just any bird. 

The carving on the bronze disk had been an owl. 

Somehow, Percy had stumbled across an artifact that belonged to the goddess herself. 

His mind was swirling with questions, but one thing was abundantly clear: Athena had wanted him to have the disk. She had led him straight to it.

And he could not, for the life of him, imagine a reason why.