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suchalonelysunflower · 4 years ago

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Wedding Bells (l.h)

Pairing: Luke Hemmings x Fem!Reader

Summary: The happiest day of your life is the worst day on Luke’s life. Could there still be a happy ending if he’s not too late?

Warnings: angsty. Language and mentions of alcohol. Slander on the name Phillip (sorry to all the Phills but it’s true, look it up) Some grammar mistakes (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word count: 4.9 k

Author’s note: let me guide you through my thought process: I was writing You Said Forever and accidentally got caught up on the Olivia x Joshua x sabrina drama, that lead me to the Miley x Nick x Selena drama, which lead me to the song Wedding Bells by Nick Jonas. So this is loosely based on that. Remember that Reblogs, Comments, Feedback and Likes are very important and welcomed, you don’t know how much it helps and I love to hear from you guys ❤️ Hope you like it and Happy Reading ✨🦋🌻

My materialist // wanna be part of my tag list?

His head was pounding, loudly.

Every beat sounded like an echo that ran through his whole body. Speaking of his body, goddamn how it hurt, how everything hurts.

His eyelids were closed, eyelashes stuck and tangled with each other, heavy as the sun shined through the window, begging him to get up. His mouth was also dry, he couldn’t figure out if it was because he slept with his mouth open or because he doesn’t remember the last time he drank a drop of water.

He groaned as the pounding in his head continued. A never-ending pain that matched the loud banging on the door.

“Luke! C’mon, we’re going to be late!”

Ashton's voice sounded far away as his mind was not fully awake yet. He didn’t want to be awake yet, maybe not ever again after this day.

If his eyes were awake he would roll them. Couldn’t Ashton understand that he didn’t want to go? He made it fairly obvious for the past few months! He was not going.

Luke hid his head farther in his pillow, trying to avoid any kind of contact with the outside world. But that was almost impossible as soon as he heard Ashton pick on his lock.

That bastard.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to mess with a bloke from the outsides of town?” He said with a teasing tone. Luke knew he was bluffing, his doorknob was messed up since the moment they bought the house, so it was easy to get in if you knew the right tricks with a safety pin - oh the irony of it all.

Luke mumbled something close to a word his mum wouldn’t be proud to hear. But Ashton simply ignored it as he walked towards the windows to open the curtains, letting the sun illuminate the room at its full capacity.

Ashton sighed at the sight of the room. Clothes were thrown out everywhere, the same goes with the hundred liquor and beer bottles and cans that were scattered around the floor. He grabbed the half-empty bottle of vodka that rested on the nightstand and clicked his tongue.

“You bought this yesterday,” He said, totally unimpressed. Luke didn’t answer “C’mon, buddy, up to the shower you go”

Ashton patted Luke’s back, encouraging him to get a move on, but the blonde just brought his sheets over his head and stayed put.

“Luke…”

“Mmnphf” He mumbled.

“What?” Ashton walked to the foot of the bed and grabbed the tall Australian by his legs, pulling him out of his comforter in one swift move that made Luke fall out of the bed with a thud.

“Motherfuck-“ He complained, rubbing on his bumped head, which was still pounding by the way.

“You were saying?” Ashton said with a smirk as he crouched down to be face to face with Luke, the teasing smile quickly fading away because he didn’t like what he saw at all.

The baby blue eyes that once shined with gleam were dull, red, and empty, and probably angry about his interruption. His curly blond was sticking to his forehead and his body language seemed to have given up on keeping him with a straight figure, making him physically close himself up to others.

“I said I’m not going!” His voice was hoarse due to the heavy drinking he’s been doing these past few days. He tried to sound harsh, but Ashton could easily see through his bluff. He was hurting, every part of him.

“Of course you are,” Ashton scoffed.

Luke glared at him “I’m. Not. Going” He said through gritted teeth. The drummer rolled his eyes. He’s had this conversation before and it was always the same speech.

“You are because she wants you there, so you’ll be there” Ashton stated as if that was the only reasonable answer.

Luke closed his eyes, cause he was sure that if he opened them he would punch Ashton in the mouth. Why couldn’t he understand? “I can’t go, Ash”

His voice broke at the end of the pleading, breaking Ashton’s heart in the process. He hated to see him like that; to see him throw away his life so carelessly without asking for or accepting anyone’s help. It’s not like he ignored what was happening, but he was sure this would do good for him; close cycles, help him move on, and that shit. How else could you mend a broken heart?

“And besides,” Luke continued “She doesn’t want me there” The words felt like poison in his mouth, bitter and dry “She invited you guys, you are her friends and I’m just her stupid ex”

That was a lie and he knew that. When the invitations came he made sure to throw his away before he even got to open it. Making the others believe that he wasn’t invited at all. He didn’t even tell them that you were the one who dropped them, him being unlucky enough to answer the door.

“It’s in June,” You said, eyes avoiding him “Hope you can make it”

Whatever words Luke had stuck in his throat stayed there as he swallowed the pain of seeing you standing there, inviting him to see you love someone else. All he could say was “You’ll look beautiful in white”

You practically ran away after that, leaving him alone with the invitations. Just looking at those envelopes hurt more than he could imagine. He knew this day would come eventually, he hoped he would. He just hoped that his name was engraved on paper next to yours.

“Maybe,” Said Ashton with a grin “But if she didn’t want you there then why did she ask me to RSVP for you?” Luke’s eyes widened like plates, he knew Ashton had called his bluff once again “She said you never answer yours so I did it for you. Cause she wants you there, Luke. You were her best friend, too”

Luke groaned and covered his face with his hand “Why did you do that?!” He asked with an exasperated tone, wanting to hate on the drummer but knowing that that was impossible.

“Because you need to go, mate! You can’t leave her hanging like this!”

“And what am I supposed to say?!” He yelled, he was not used to yelling but he was at the ends of his wits ``‘Oh, hey Y/N! A beautiful day isn’t it? Perfect weather to break my heart into a million pieces while you marry another guy and I’m sitting there watching, wishing I was him! I’m happy for you, though I’m really not cause I know it’s been like what? 3 years 5 months and 24 days since we broke up? but I’m still in love with you. Okay have fun?!”’

He grabbed an empty can from the floor and threw it away, hitting the door of his closet. He was beyond furious and frustrated. You were getting married and he can’t do anything to stop it; to stop you.

Ashton sighed, heartbroken by this whole ordeal “You’ve been counting?”

“Ever since that day. It was my greatest mistake and now I’m suffering from it. Karma really is a bitch. Did you know our anniversary is supposed to be in 5 days? And now it’s impossible to ever get her back”

The drummer placed a hand on Luke's shoulder, he wished he could make his pain go away. He’s never seen his friend so heartbroken before and it pained him knowing that there was nothing he could do about it.

“Luke,” He said in a fatherly tone “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. But believe when I tell you she wants you there, she misses you” Luke turned his head towards Ashton, his eyes begging him not to lie “I’m serious, she’s always asking about you but she’s too scared to talk to you thinking that you don’t want to speak to her. She needs you there, man. Not as a bitter ex and to show you she’s moved on, but as a friend. And I know for a fact you can’t say not to her, even when you’re mad”

Luke sighed. Ashton was right. He could never deny you anything, even before you were together and you were just his best friend, you were always his weakness.

He misses you too, every day since you broke up he’s been missing you. And he would be lying if he said he didn’t want to see you at least one last time, given that your last interaction was awkward as hell.

“I can’t go, Ash”

Ashton nodded with a disappointing sigh as he got up from the floor, but before he could walk out the door he heard Luke say “I can’t go because I don’t have a suit!”

Ashton smiled “I got you covered, buddy” And left the room so Luke could take a shower.

Ashton’s suit was itchy, but Luke was grateful that he didn’t have to show up in jeans and an old BonJovi shirt.

He was surprised to find out that they were actually on time, although he wouldn’t be surprised if someone told him that Ashton woke him up much earlier than needed to get there on time.

They met with Michael and Calum in the parking lot, they greeted each other and started talking as if Luke’s heart wasn’t about to burst from the anxiety he was feeling.

To show up at a wedding is something; to show up at your ex’s aka the love of your life’s wedding is… unsettling. He understood why his friends didn’t want to make it awkward for him, yet the awkwardness settled at the moment he stepped foot out of the car.

“She’s getting married in a church?” He asked no one in particular.

“Yeah? That’s why we are here, mate” Calum chuckled.

Luke furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. You never wanted to get married in a church or even a chappel. No, if he remembers correctly, your dream wedding was somewhere outdoors; either a park or a forest or even someone’s backyard. You used to say that love was the most beautiful and natural thing in the universe, so it was logical to celebrate something as powerful as a wedding in the eyes of nature, so it all came to be one for love and love can be one for all.

He remembers he laughed at that, not to mock you in any way, but in awe of how beautiful you put it. Everything you said sounded like poetry to him, even if you were just reading a menu in a Chinese restaurant. But now your poetry would belong to someone else, and he only hoped that that someone deserves to hear it.

He doesn’t know the groom, he believes his name was Phill? Or something like that? Ashton always said he was kind of a jerk, but you loved him enough to marry him so maybe he wasn’t that bad. But for Luke he would always be the man that stole you from him.

All three of his friends started walking inside the rustic church and Luke followed, incapable to think about anything else that wasn’t you at that moment.

However, the minute he entered the cold building he knew something was wrong.

The church was filled with people he didn’t know, he assumed they must be from the groom’s side of the family, but he would bet the 35$ Ashton left in his pocket that you didn’t know half of these people either.

You never wanted a big wedding, hell, you didn’t even want a big birthday party, no matter how much Luke insisted on it.

“Those kinds of parties are not for the ones being celebrated!” You told him once “If it was truly important then all you need is your closest friends and your found family. What else is there to love?”

Your words kept repeating themselves inside Luke’s head. What else is there to love? Indeed.

That wasn’t the only thing catching his attention though. With every step he took towards his seat he found out more things out of place, out of you.

For example, the color scheme was terrible and he knows you didn’t pick it, your favorite colors were nowhere to be seen. Then it was the flowers, if there is one thing he never forgot about you were your favorite flowers. You used to fill the house with them saying that they were your little serotonin boosters, he remembers how happy they made you and how one time he nearly bought all the flowers in the shop to surprise you when you were having a bad day. Now he cannot even look at them without thinking of you.

The more steps he took the more flawed this wedding looked. And yes, he knows that sounds bad, especially coming from him. But it was the truth. Not even the music sounded like it would come from you.

The words ‘This is not right’ Kept screaming at the back of his head.

The Y/N he knew would never choose those flowers or those colors or that guest list or that venue, nor the song that was playing over the speakers. She preferred live music over all the rest and, if she would’ve asked, she’d known that all four of them would perform for free on the happiest day of her life, even if it was the crappiest day for him.

If someone were to tell him a year ago that this is how your wedding would look, he would’ve laughed cause this is not like you. This wedding, this… charade of glamour and show.. this wasn’t you. This wasn’t Y/N. And it's supposed to be your day!

He couldn’t understand why you’d choose this? This was so unlike you, unless… unless he never really knew you at all.

And just like that, the sinking feeling of dread came upon him as he tried to figure out who was the person he knew and who are you now? What changed so much to make you lose all that you once were?

What if?

What if he knew how to love you better? He wouldn’t have let you walk away from him. He would’ve fought for you, for the two of you, instead of just giving up like he did.

Luke knew he loved you. Fuck, he still loves you like the first day. And now you are loving somebody else cause he didn’t know how to keep the most beautiful thing he ever had; the most beautiful thing he let die. He messed up, but his biggest fuck up was realizing it and doing nothing about it.

And now it was too late.

“Dude, are you okay?” Michael whispered when he noticed his friend's frown.

Luke nodded, lips pressed together in a thin line “What were you saying?”

Michael smiled with mischief “We were just laughing at how ridiculous Phillip looks. That suit does not suit him at all”

For the first time since he came, he looked over at the altar. Standing there was the so-called Phill you were going to marry. He was talking to his groomsmen and laughing obnoxiously at what seemed like an inappropriate joke. What did you see on that guy?

“Did you know the name Phillip means horse lover?” Said Calum, trying to stiff a laugh with the other two friends.

They were doing their best to keep Luke distracted and he appreciated that. But seeing the groom so unpreoccupied, so chill and uninterested made his blood boil. How could he be so at ease? If it were him, if he had the wonderful chance to marry you, he’d be a ball of anxiety. He’d be wondering just how beautiful you’d look, if you were feeling as nervous as he was, if you were as happy as he was and how he couldn’t wait to marry you… He would do all that because he will know that he is the luckiest man on earth. But that’s not his truth at all.

“I’m going to take a walk”

Neither of them told him that the ceremony was about to start or offered to accompany him. They knew he needed time and they wouldn't pressure him at all. Luke silently thanked them for that.

He walked out of the ceremony hall and started pacing around the halls, quickly getting lost as he tried to ease his mind.

How could he go through this and pretend that he’s okay? He remembered Ashton’s words from this morning and knew that if you wanted him here then he would be here, but that still didn’t make it any easier.

He would go through the ends of the earth for you if you asked him to, but this? This might be the hardest thing he has ever done, second only to let you go.

His curls were getting messy because of all the ruffling he did with his hands. He needed to pull himself together before the ceremony, he needed to seem okay in front of you. He-

The soft cries coming from behind the door caught his attention. They were hushed but they seemed completely broken. Whoever was behind that door must feel just as hopeless as he did.

“Hello?” He said, knocking on the wooden door “Hello, are you okay in there?”

The sniffing sounds stopped “Luke?”

It was quiet, almost like a whisper. But Luke would recognize your voice anywhere, especially after not hearing you say his name for 3 years.

“Y/N?”

The door opened with a click and revealed a supply closet and, inside that supply closet, there was a bride. There you were.

Luke’s breath almost disappeared as you knocked the wind out of his lungs. You looked beautiful. Stunning in your white dress. Magical as your hair was perfectly styled. Breathtaking with your waterproof makeup still intact, although you would look breathtaking without it as well. Ethereal as you looked at him and he realized that all the times that he missed you seemed small at how much he missed you now and how he would miss you all his life.

If there were any other adjectives to describe how you looked, he would take them all out of the dictionary and give them to you in the form of a song. Cause in his eyes there was no other beauty that could compare, that even the sadness in your eyes seemed to compliment your magnificent. And that was something he couldn’t ignore.

Without thinking it twice he took a couple of steps in front of you and cupped your face in his hands, wiping your tears with his thumb as he murmured: “What’s wrong, love?”

Hearing his voice so worried and soft shook something in you, something that you didn’t know you still had but at the same time knew that it would never go away.

More tears started streaming down your eyes as your gaze met his, making you get lost in those baby blue marbles.

“I- I don’t know what I’m doing, Lukey” You confessed in a whisper.

At the sound of his nickname, Luke felt like he could float away in a cloud of happiness. He thought you’ve forgotten. But the look on your face denoted a fear he hoped he’d never got to see again.

Your eyes were puffy red and your cheeks were flushed, not only because of the blush. And your eyes, they were terrified and Luke didn’t know what to do, so he just said.

“You’re getting married today” You didn’t miss the hint of sadness that laced those words. You hoped that could mean something.

You placed your hands on his wrist, holding his hands that were cupping your face and making them stay there. Right now it was the only comfort you got.

“I don’t know if I should-“ You choke out a sob “Luke, I’m scared- I’m so scared”

“Do you love him?” The words pained him, cutting right through his heart. But you and him were here for a reason, and that reason was waiting at the altar.

He secretly prayed that you would say no, that you would beg him to take you away and run away together, maybe elope somewhere far away and not come back to this place ever again.

He saw the hesitation in your eyes and he knew his answer.

“Y/N, I love-“

“There you are!”

Luke closed his eyes in annoyance when he felt his words get stuck in his throat as the stranger’s voice came closer to them. You quickly pulled away from him and that only made his heart break more than it already was.

“We’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Said one of the bridesmaids Luke has never seen before, he assumed that it was from the side of the groom as well, just like everything else “The ceremony is about to start, we need to go now!”

She quickly grabbed you by the wrist and practically draged you to the ceremony hall.

You were desperate. Your pleading eyes searched for Luke, begging for him to do something. But what could he do now? His shocking state left him standing right there with his eyes glued to your figure being dragged away somewhere he didn’t know you wanted to be. It all happened so fast that the only thing he could think of was that this might be the last chance he’s got to see you and all he could do was stare into your pretty eyes cloud with fear and tears.

‘Here comes the bride’ started playing through the speakers of the church and Luke clenched his fists to his side. You hated this song.

He went back to his seat minutes after the ceremony started. His three best friends were looking at him with curiosity and a thousand questions in their minds. They knew the minute that they saw you come in that those tears were not of happiness and, judging by Luke’s hard, emotionless face, he had something to do with it.

Throughout the whole ceremony, Luke couldn’t stop staring at you. It was eating him inside the fact that he knew you didn’t want this and yet you were still going through it. He couldn’t understand why. He is losing you right before his eyes and he couldn’t take that.

He knew that the moment you say ‘I do’ would be the moment his soul would die forever.

“Luke?”

He knew something was wrong. He knew it the moment he parked the car in a freaking church and your eyes filled with tears just confirmed it to him.

“Luke, are you okay?” Michael whispered once again, concerned about the white knuckles on his best friend’s fists.

He loves you. He loves you so fucking much and he can’t let you do this.

He won’t let you do this.

“If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace"

“Fuck it,” Luke said before standing up.

In one second, all eyes were on him. He could feel the stares of strangers, the judgy whispers of the families, and even the shit-eating grins from his best friends sitting beside him. But all his attention was on you. On you and your relieved face.

“I object to this union,” He said in a firm voice that overshadowed the murmurs, leaving everyone completely quiet.

He could see your eyes clouding with tears and the way your lips seemed to be saying his name in one breath. That was all he needed to keep going.

Luke took a few steps to the side, walking until he ended up in the middle of the aisle, looking at you and only you.

“Y/N, I love you,” He said, earning a few gasps from the public “I love you since the day I met you, the day I first asked you to be mine, and even on the day I lost you. I was an idiot who didn’t know how to take care of the magic we created and decided that it was best to let it go before it went out of hand. But you, you always believed in magic; you always believed in me and, Y/N that’s why I’m here telling you that I am still in love with you. And that you are making a big mistake here, just like I did when I lost you. But we are still on time to make everything right.

This, however, is not right and you know it. Where are you in all of this? Do they know your favorite flowers or that your favorite song includes a swear word? Do they know the way you take your coffee or your favorite colors? Do they know how much you love to dance, especially when no one is watching?

I know you, baby. I know you enough to say with certainty that this is not what you wanted. I know how much you love rain and how you wish time would stop every time you take a shower so it could last longer. I know that you cry during every movie, even if they have a happy ending because you always believed in them. I know you never want to break someone’s heart so you are willing to take the hurt as long as the other person is okay. I know that my biggest regret is losing you, cause you are the only thing I got right in my life.

You are life, fire, spark, patience, and love. You are the kindest person on earth and you deserve so much more than this world could give. No one deserves you, darling but I would spend the rest of my days trying to.

I’m in love with you Y/N L/N. Please, don’t- don’t marry him”

Luke’s eyes were watery as he swallowed down a sob on the last part of his speech. His eyes never left yours for a second as his body visibly shook with anxiety and fear, waiting for your answer.

You, on the other hand, were smiling through the tears “I love you too, Luke” You said loud enough for all to hear, and Luke felt like he could breathe again, a smile growing wide as he let a few tears roll down his eyes.

You ran down the aisle to his arms, fully sinking into them as you wrapped your arms around his waist. Luke’s chuckle reverberated through his chest as he picked you up and spun you around in your wedding dress, finally putting you down and looking right into your eyes, now clouded with happy tears.

“I told you you were going to look beautiful in white”

He kissed you with all the love he had in his heart. It was honest, pure, and filled with happiness as the two lovers finally reunite, making the entire church erupted in cheers.

The groom, however, didn't share that excitement. He was fuming red as he started walking towards Luke with his groomsmen, calling you derogatory names as he was ready to start a fight.

“Oh, fuck no” Said Calum, walking down to the middle of the aisle along side Ashton and Michael, creating a safe distance between the two of you and the fight that was about to start. Phillip was not happy, but before he could give the first punch Calum’s fist was already on his face, making him tumble back with a bloody nose “Take that horse lover!”

All hell broke loose in the middle of church as punches were thrown carelessly. The three Australians seemed to be winning the fight with ease, beating the asses of your now ex-fiancé and his friends.

The public was too distracted by the fight to notice how you walked away from the aisle as you cheered on your friends to kick their kneecaps. Luke took your hand and pulled you towards him, still laughing as he began tugging on it for you to follow, and so you did.

You ran as fast as you could, leaving everyone behind without a second thought. The only thing in your mind being the love you had for each other and how you won’t take it for granted this time.

“I love you,” He said as you reached the car, placing his hands at the side of your waist and leaning in for a kiss filled with adrenaline “I fucking love you, Y/N”

You wrapped your hands around his neck and kissed him back with all the love you kept from him during all these years “I love you too, Luke. We are meant for forever”

“Forever and beyond”

It was a crazy sight from every point of view. The man with the messy hair and the girl in a wedding dress kissing in the middle of a church parking lot while the guests all peered from the entrance of the building, four of them bleeding through their nose with tears in their black eyes, and three of them with their clothes all messed up and sweaty, smiling triumphantly as they watched their friends live their love again.

With one last kiss, Luke helped you get inside the car and he quickly got to the other side, starting the engine just in time to hear the bells chime. Marking the start of your real happily ever after with the love of your life.

Tags: @iknowyouthinkimbulletproof @mystic-232 @talksoprettyjjx @theshyspy @sarcasticallywitty15 @hoodhoran @flaneurcth @notinthesameguey @myloverboyash

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jaestay · 4 years ago

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A study session with Mr. Bang and Mr. Lee!

Pairing: Bang Chan x Y/N and Felix x Y/N

Genre: Smut

Content/Warning: Teacher-student relation, female reader, age gap (not mentioned), threesome, oral (f, m), anal, double penetration, unprotected sex, semi public.

Requested: Anon- “Could you do an One shot of English teacher Chan x English teacher Felix x student Who doesn't speak very well English? Smut?”

Word count: 3,3k

You’ve always been a good student.

Acing in everything as usual, except English. Your parent and your teachers didn’t understand the sudden drop of grades, on no other subject other than English.

But you knew exactly what the sudden cause to the drop was. The reason being none other than getting extra private classes from your favorite teacher Mr. Bang Chris and sometime his co-worker Mr. Lee Felix.

Both teachers were good looking, young and single, so it isn’t a surprise that the whole school wanted to sleep with them. But you took the need to next level, as you were determined to sleep with one of them if not with both of them.

You constantly had this crazy fantasy of them both taking you in the library, where the usual tutoring sessions would be. You’d edge yourself almost every night imagining them reading out loud your mistakes and making sure you get every grammatical error you made, as both of their cock were dragging inside you.

You put these thoughts aside the as the final bell rang, shivers of excitement run through you, knowing that it’s time to go to the library and meet your hot English teacher Mr. Bang.

Truth to be told all throughout your school career, you lowest was always English, because it was not your native language and it was always difficult for you to speak because you have a heavy accent. So falling behind wasn’t a difficult task for you. And to everyone’s disappointment, you indeed took a big step back.

You quickly dropped by the toilets to check if everything was in place, you do not want to be out of place for your favorite teacher. You fixed your hair and applied an even coat of your lip balm, which smelled like strawberries, also spraying yourself with your favorite perfume.

Maybe it was the dirty thought you had at class or maybe it was the seducing scent of your perfume that you just sprayed, an idea that today you must have him dawned on you, your heat also getting wetter at the same time. Without missing a beat you started fixing your pleated skirt by pulling it up from the back a bit just to showcase your back thighs more than usual, you also leave two more buttons undone from your button down white shirt, reveling a good portion of cleavage out, for those willing to look.

Feeling contented with the sudden changes, you giddily packed your things up and skipped to the library. You showed your student ID to get in and quickly went into one of the rooms that you always have classes on.

He was already there, and surprisingly with Mr. Lee on his side, discussing some exam questions. They quickly concluded their conversation when they saw you.

“Good evening, Mr. Bang and Mr. Lee, did I interrupt you?” you asked with your heavy accent and smiling, owing to the fact that you were happy to see both of them and to be in the same room with them.

“No, y/n, don’t worry” Mr. Bang smiled back at you.

“Now, quickly get your things so we can start”. Mr. Lee said with urgency. His deep voice echoed through the room, it sent a tingle of sensation through your whole body.

You give them a perplexed look when they both moved to the side of the table leaving a big gap between them. It took some time for you to understand that both of them are going to teach you and they want you to sit in the middle of them.

While looking at them, you observed that the undone buttons didn’t go unnoticed from both of them as both of them kept staring at your chest and not in your eyes like they always do. Feeling confident enough, you turned around, and when you had your back facing them you let your bag fall to the ground. You slowly bent down, to pick up your book and pencil case from inside you bag. You could hear their breath hitch when your shorts inside your skirt came to light, which at the same time revealed the curves of your butt mesmerizingly to them.

Without hesitating, you took your designated seat, in between them. You couldn’t believe that you are really living this. Oh, how often you’d let your hand under your panties thinking about this scenario.

“May we start now?” you asked innocently looking into their eyes, just as you squished in between them, to sit.

“No baby, it’s -shall we start now” both them laughed, you blushed not only at the mistake but at the pet name too, making you more wet and clench around nothing, as you felt the wetness sliding inside your pussy.

“Yeah right, sorry”, you said rubbing the back of your neck from embarrassment, while squeezing you thighs to ease the movements down there.

They start the class like normal, bringing out your past exam paper to pin point your mistake, so you could work on them.

“Are you wearing perfume y/n?” Mr. Lee asked, abruptly, while he took a sniff of you.

“Mmm, lavender” Mr. Bang added from the side of your ear, as he was suddenly close to you.

Take aback from the unpredicted inquiry, not understanding what they are saying well and the closeness, you jerked a bit to the side, then out of nowhere, you felt Mr. Bang’s nose rub against your ear accidentally when he came to take your scent in again, you let out an audible moan at the sensation.

You suddenly opened your eyes and clapped your hand on your mouth as you blushed deep red. You quickly stood up and sat on the table as you stared back at them, who were looking at you with wide eyes. You took a second to look deep inside both of their eyes and you noticed that their pupils were fully blown out, because nothing other than blackness of desire started back at you.

Suddenly you were pushed back until you back hit on the table by Mr. Bang, and you saw Mr. Lee walking away to lock the door, because you heard the tiny click.

After the two men exchanged glances, Mr. Lee came from behind the table and Mr. Bang from the front trapped your small figure in-between them as you struggled to breathe. You took a deep breath as both of pressed their chest against your body.

You tried to push them away, with the little bit satiny left in you. Even though this is exactly what you wanted, you suddenly felt little uncertain.

But when you felt Mr. Bang’s lips on your and Mr. Lee’s lips on the back of your neck, you immediately gave in. You moaned as your hands went to grab their hair to push them in deep. His kiss is full of desire, it’s like he knew what he came for precise and taking the enough measurement to make you more turned on and make you needier.

When you ran out of breath you tired pull Mr. Bang away, just as you took a deep breath, Mr. Lee came in, with his open mouth over yours, you took his scent in, and bucking your hips as you felt his sloppy kiss leave a trail of saliva on your chin. You moaned into Mr. Lee’s mouth when you felt Mr. Bang’s mouth on your neck and going down.

“Please” you wailed as you had to push them away to take deep breath as you were getting lightheaded.

“What happened now, princess?” Mr. Bang asked mocking you the same time.

“Yeah come on, we know you want this, you think we didn’t notice the way you stare at us” Mr. Lee announced as they stared at you making you shiver just by looking at them. How did they know your best kept secret? Where you not that secretive? Did your gaze of desire give it away, as he said, and made them aware of your wet dreams? Your questions to your self was bought to en end when Mr. Bang made it more comprehensible for you.

“Or the way your thighs press together, when I speak to you” Mr. Bang declared, licking his lips. Your body really gave away the need of wanting them, because you were too horny whenever you saw them. You stare deep in to Mr. Bang’s eyes, to know if he really meant what he said and if he knew more of your secret.

“Little selfish of you to think that only Chris want to rail you” Mr. Lee broke you from the trance that trapped you in the eyes of Mr. Bang and you look at him apologetically as you were letting him know, he is also in your wet dreams, that were supposed to be secret.

“Nah, I think princess imagines both of us ruining her, don’t you?” His Australian accent heavy, as he nodded his head towards waiting for an answer. You stared at both of them, not knowing what to say, should you humiliate yourself and admit that they are reason you orgasm every night or keep denying them?

“By the way, you okay with this?” Mr. Lee uttered, concern filling his face. Thank god that he broke the tension building between you and Mr. Bang.

“You okay with both of us taking you?” flirty Mr. Bang asked you winking at you.

They left no space for you to think as they reattached themselves on top you. You quickly nodded at them as you push them on to you more. Mr. Bang quickly pulled your shorts down and Mr. Lee ripped your shirt apart and quickly pulling you’re your bra over your head.

You let out a deep moan as your wet pussy hit the air. You lie there legs apart and supporting yourself on the table, as they both look at your hard nipples and your shimmering pussy folds, in awe and mouth agape.

You got shy under their ogling eyes and try to close your legs but that ended nowhere as they immediately pulled it open to keep looking at it. They both got close to your pussy, then Mr. Bang blew at your wet clit and you squeezed your boobs at the sensitivity and letting out a whine.

“Dude, she’s dripping” Mr. Bang states as Mr. Lee comes to the front, so he could sniff your juicy cunt, he groaned at your scent, he cannot wait anymore. Both of their eyes shine back at your shining pussy.

“Damn, princess, all this for us?” Mr. Lee asks you. You have no idea what to say as you had no idea what he meant because you were too flustered from what was happening in front of you.

You mutter a quick “No” since you were confused.

“No?” Both men said in unison, as they let out a laugh. You were really confusing them.

“Tell us baby do you want it or not” Mr. Lee asked you, patience and care dripping his voice.

“Are we not getting our message of wanting to fuck you raw, across?” Mr. Bang urged you, as he couldn’t wait any longer than this.

Your twitch at his words. As they swiftly move and you feel Mr. Bang leave open mouth kisses on your nipple as he bite it down and swirled the sensitive top in with his tongue.

“Mr. Bang” you screamed, your hands were flying to catch him as your other nipple was being pinched and squeezed by his delicate fingers.

“It’s Chris” he corrected you, in the tone he always use to point out your mistakes. You clench around nothing at the use of that tone.

Mr. Lee on the other hand, stated kissing your inner thighs, you grab his hand, with your other hand to stabilize yourself, he quickly moved to kiss your pussy lips, and you moaned his name but he quickly corrected you to only call him “Felix” for the night.

His teeth nibbled your nub and started giving you long licks, inhaling your pussy fold to inside his mouth as he hums from satisfaction. You opened your mouth to let out a inaudible moan, taking advantage of your state Chris moved from sucking your nipples to, quickly unbuckling his belt pushing his pants down and freeing his hard on.

After getting on top of the table, he tapped his cock on your tongue that was hanging out from your open mouth. You opened your eyes and saw his pink tip begging to get inside your mouth, you quickly swallowed his tip and licked it, and suddenly from a confidence boost you decide to take it all of him inside, but you choked as you were inexperienced at this.

He pushed your head back and looked at you, and since you smiled back at him innocently, he pushed his cock back in you, making you take his whole cock inside your mouth. You closed your lips at the end of his dick and your tongue on the inside rubbed against the slit of his tip, making him let out deep, vibrating groans, which made you more wet while, your slick were being swallowed by Felix.

You took quick glances down when you felt Felix’s lips leave your already sore pussy, you watch him as he tapped his dick on to your wet pussy. After smirking at you, he tried to push inside, but because his girth was too much, your hit his chest to stop him, because you were still swallowing up Chris’s cock.

Felix made Chris pull away from your mouth, to make it easier for you, so he pulled you up and made you bend over the table. Your head hit the cold table and you arch your back to Felix. At this position Felix tried again, this time though, a bit by bit but he slipped in, making you see starts by each push but nonetheless, when he bottomed out you motioned that you need some time to get used to it the feeling of his cock stretching you out.

Even though you had experience before, you were completely new to this, imagining how it feels is completely different from having them in front of you, you noted to yourself.

While you were waiting, Chris, understanding that you’d need some time and to not waste any more time on his plans, pushed his fingers deep inside your ass hole, you cried out at the new feeling. Now you need time to get used both of these stretching you out to no end.

Just when he started pushing his second finger and started scissoring you, both you and Felix let out deep moans at the feeling. Because Felix could also feel the other males hand through the sheer walls separating them. The feeling of his fingers inside your one hole and Mr. Lee’s dick on your other made you shed tears from sensitivity. Mr. Bang noticing it kissed your tears away

“You okay honey, do you feel stuffed enough” he mocked you again, you cannot take any more of his teasing as his fingers were plunging inside you.

His words made you squirm without you knowing. You cried more when he pushed third finger inside you. Felix also started moving up and down. The intensity is making you see white as your eyes roll back from the pleasure that was filling you up. Felix moved swiftly inside you. You groaned and moaned as you feel his width filling you so deliciously.

“Fuck, you feel so good inside me” you shout out to Felix

“God, baby y-you too” he kissed your back as Chris pulled away.

“Pull her up” you hear Chris said tell Felix.

He was broken from the trance and while still inside you, he pulled up to his chest, you instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist and arched your back so it would be accessible for Chris to enter your anus. Felix felt you clenching around, from excitement and started moaning as he was having hard time not to push his dick in and out of you, but he had to wait for Chris to bottom out, so it wouldn’t be difficult for you.

Chris pushed his dick inside your gaping hole with ease, as his fingers stretched you enough. All of you wait another two minutes to get used to this feeling. The sudden movements from both of them stuffing both of their cock made you wail and scream from pleasure. You spasmed and twitched as both them started fucking you without mercy, from the start. Filling both of your hole not caring about your tears or the fact that you’re squirting.

You on the other hand, squirted and cummed as soon as they both started moving up and down inside of you, you couldn’t control it anymore, it felt too good. At the middle of your session as the vulnerability and sensitivity from both the cock filling you up sent you to overdrive. You scream both of their name and dug your nails deep in Chris’s arms which were holding you up from your hips.

“Did you come princess?” Felix asked you as you where bouncing on their cock, unstoppably.

“Shit, you are clenching so hard” Chris scorned at you, “you squirted so hard too”

“Chris, Felix, o-oh my god, stop, please” you sobbed from hypersensitivity.

Seeing you in these state and the constant clenching around both of their cocks made Felix also edge.

“I’m gonna cum, baby” he moaned and sped up to a speed you didn’t know he could go, as he was thrusting with like there is no tomorrow in to you.

“Inside me, please” you wailed when he squirted his liquid deep inside your walls. Meanwhile the over-stimulation has turned in to pleasure again as you feel his sloppy thrusts. When the sloppy thrusts changed angles and started hitting against the wall which was being filled by Chris. You cry out Felix’s name as you feel the Chris groan against your neck, you knew he was close, so were you.

“I’m gonna finish too, baby girl” he moaned out.

“You too, inside me Chris” you screamed, not caring if you are in library or anywhere, because your climax was dangerously close. You clenched immensely around both of their dick, filling you up as you cum again for the second time, which also sent Chris to end it inside you.

You both pant loudly, as Felix stared at both of you coming down from your high. To thank both of them, you started kissing Felix as he was in front of you. Your lips move delicately, as both of your lips fit like a puzzle piece, like you were made for each other. After the romantic kiss, you turned around and give the same attention Chris who had sweat running down from his forehead. Funny to you, he also fit you just like a puzzle piece. You brush off the feeling of spark you felt when you kissed both of them.

They pulled out, while you whine from over-sensitivity and let you lay down on the ground to clean you up. Before cleaning you up, they took a look at you. You had both their releases coming out and running on your to your thighs, you were sweating and you had dried tear marks all over your red cheeks, but overall you looked so pretty in their eyes as they stared sweetly at you. All of you smile smugly as you knew that this won’t be a one-time thing!

After they started cleaning you up, all of your head snapped to the door as you hear a knock, bringing you back to reality.

“Oh fuck!” Mr. Bang said in surprised,

“Shit, no!” Mr. Lee uttered while looking at both of you, waiting for what’s to come.

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lightninginabottle0613 · 4 years ago

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50 questions ⚖️

a scale for libra season - you knew i would!!

thank you to all of these angels for tagging me & giving me a chance to learn more about your precious selves - @yanak324 @watersandwolves @kelleesioverhere @livhatesolives @thelandofnothing

what is the color of your hairbrush? black! with some silver on the handle.

name a food you never eat? sushi. i don’t dislike it, but it’s just far enough down on my favorites list that i never choose it over something else.

are you typically too warm or too cold? almost always too cold, but that’s exactly how i like it.

what were you doing 45 minutes ago? talking to my brother. he is at sea and bought internet for the day :’)

what’s your favorite candy bar? i don’t think i have a favorite tbh. i like most candy well enough. not really a candy person, though!

have you ever been to a professional sports game? i have been to many major league baseball games, & two minor league soccer games.

what is the last thing you said out loud? “love you, too” 💘

what is your favourite ice cream? ben & jerry’s mint chocolate cookie

what was the last thing you had to drink? lemon la croix in a stemless wine glass, bc nothingggg matterrrssss

do you like your wallet? i actually don’t, lol. it’s a little dark green designer thing that i splurged on last year, bc i thought adults needed fancy wallets. & it’s very off brand for me. i also broke the inside zipper one hour after purchasing it, when i ripped the tag off bc i was too lazy to get scissors. so that makes me hate it even more.

what is the last thing you ate? omg. loaded sweet potato fries. with cheese & fake bacon & ranch.

did you buy any new clothes last weekend? i did! just one shirt at target. a lil striped guy. as if i needed any more of those.

what’s the last sporting event you watched? the eagles/bengals game last sunday. i didn’t put it on, like ... on purpose. i was hanging out with two straight men who insisted, bc i’m from philadelphia. it was sweet of them i guess

what is your favorite flavor of popcorn? anything cheeeeesy. or just regular. but fuck a caramel corn (sorry)

who is the last person you sent a text message to? one of the aforementioned straight men

ever go camping? yes!!!!!!! camping is so cute. very into it

do you take vitamins? i am actually all out of my multivitamin, so this question has reminded me to add it to my shopping list for tomorrow.

do you regularly attend a place of worship? (don’t make a target joke, don’t make a target joke)

do you have a tan? haha

do you prefer chinese or pizza? my east coast roots all but require me to say pizza. i do love a good sesame NOODLE though

do you drink your soda through a straw? no ma’am

what color socks do you usually wear? i’ve got all sorts of colors!! right now they are white with black polka dots. team fun socks

do you ever drive above the speed limit? i mean yeah, of course. i am a self- and others-proclaimed Great Driver, though. so i will drive above the speed limit a responsible and excusable amount.

what terrifies you? birds. everyone thinks it’s a joke until they see me encounter a bird. (no, not sparrows/robins/little tiny birds that fly away when you approach them. obviously not those. they’re doing amazing.)

look to your left, what do you see? couch cushion! i have been on the couch for five hours.

what chore do you hate most? oh like, probably cleaning the litter box lol. that shit sucks

what do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? steve irwin (and the fact that my mom cried when he died)

what’s your favorite soda pop? diet coke, because i am ✨garbage✨

do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? drive thru!! the drive thru experience is one of my favorite things. i love cradling my lil head in my hand while i talk to the person over the intercom. pretty much flirt with every drive thru attendant i ever come across. they’re so cute. shout out to grace at my local starbucks

what’s your favorite number? another day passes where i don’t have a favorite number

who’s the last person you talked to? out loud, my brother. over text, i am talking to three (3) very cute people! one of them is yana, hey bb

favorite cut of beef? the fake kind!

last song you listened to? whistle while you work. i’m watching snow white

last book you read? lol guys, i’m a disgrace. i haven’t read a book in so long. i just don’t have the energy. all i do anymore is attend zoom meetings, cry about the news, and journal about the moon

favorite day of the week? what is a “day” of the “week”

can you say the alphabet backwards? i just attempted it. i can, but very slowly.

how do you like your coffee? iced 😇 with a splash of oat milk. but i just bought a french vanilla coconut milk creamer today. so i’m really branching out.

favorite pair of shoes? i love my white birkenstocks more than anything, but i hate exposing my feet. so probably my dad sneakers.

time you normally get up? arounnnnnd 5:00 a.m.

what do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? sunrises these days! usually far too dissociated to enjoy a sunset anymore lolllll i’m fine

how many blankets on your bed? just my main comforter, and my lil pink baby blanket that i still sleep with (balled up under my head)

describe your kitchen plates? they are pink & they are the same as yana’s

describe your kitchen at the moment? clean! except one dish in the sink. but clean, always

do you have a favorite alcoholic drink? i love a light beer! and learning to appreciate a red wine. nothing fancy.

do you play cards? almost never. i cannot stand games

what color is your car? my last three cars have accidentally been blue. the one i got in march (the first one i bought myself!!) is “cosmic blue” :’)

can you change a tire? no!! someone teach me though, i want to learn

your favorite state? pennsylvania, for better or for worse.

favorite job you’ve had? 2018 me would be dying at current me even thinking of admitting this, but the one i have right now! it has taught me more than any job i’ve ever had, and introduced me to some of my favorite people, and treated me incredibly well during a time when so many have lost everything. cannot complain even slightly (although i most definitely do, and will continue to)

tagging: everyone that i would’ve tagged has already done this lol damn it guys!! @beautifulinsanesanity have you done this? idk. if you’ve made it this far & haven’t done it yet, then please consider yourself tagged.

🛑 IF YOU LIVE IN AMERICA - HI! ONE MONTH UNTIL ELECTION DAY! are you registered to vote (if you’re of age)? are you aware of how fucked we are if we don’t mobilize to get this ogre out of office? vote early if you can. vote in person if you can. volunteer to be a poll worker if you can. just ... literally please lol. i’m so tired.

love u.

#get to know me #tags #this took me so so so long #and i have since switched over to the lion king #and have already teared up twice #so things are not looking great for me mentally #but when are they ever ya know

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sasspiria · 6 years ago

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(The Odds Of This Are) Astronomical - Chapter Eight

Fandom: Far Cry 3

Pairing: Jason Brody/Vaas Montenegro (Vaason)

Tags/warnings:Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence,Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics,True Mates,Alpha Vaas,Omega Jason,Biting,Grant Lives,Accidental Bonding,Angst and Porn,Porn With Plot,Scenting,Rough Body Play,Don't Examine This Too Closely,Canon-Typical Violence,Intercrural Sex,Claiming Bites,Snowballing,Deepthroating,Excessive Drinking,Buck Being Creepy,Knotting

Summary: SummaryOmegas were uncommon but they weren't rare by any means. True mates, however, were an entirely different story. The odds of any person having one were astronomical at best. When Jason finds that he does have a true mate, he should feel amazing about being so lucky. A part of him wants to feel excited, damn all the consequences, but at the same time it just feels like the universe is giving him a hard smack to the face when his true alpha comes in the form in a psychopathic, murdering, drug addled pirate that kidnapped him and his friends. All Jason can hope is that he can use Vaas' manic affections towards him to his advantage and save the rest of them.

((read below the cut or on ao3 here))

By the time that Vaas came back to their cabin, Jason was huddled beneath whatever blankets that they had. He was shaking like a leaf, sweating profusely as he whimpered out Vaas’ name. The alpha cursed to himself underneath his breath, feeling like he had already devastatingly fucked up with Jason. He hadn’t expected Jason to go through a heat – at least not so soon. Didn’t American omegas load themselves up with drugs, blockers and suppressants, so that they didn’t need to deal with this shit every month or so?

Vaas didn’t really have the time to mull any of this over though, as Jason’s situation was dire enough that it took up all of his attention. The omega in front of him was weak and exhausted looking, tossing and turning on the mattress in a quiet fit. He pulled the blankets off of Jason, sitting the other up before he moved to less than gently peel his clothes off of him. Once Jason was completely naked, he stripped himself down and carried the omega off to a private, rudimentary shower.

He turned the water on and lay Jason down on his chest, hoping that the chill of the water would be enough to bring the omegas’ temperature down to something normal. It only took a few minutes of sitting there with him until Jason was jostled out of the feverish state that he had been put in. He looked around the room and blinked a few times in confusion as he registered what was happening around him, “Vaas?” He exclaimed in a lost tone of voice. “What’s going on, what are you- what are we doing here?” He gestured around the room with a sweeping gesture of his arm.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were gonna be going through your heat, huh?” He playfully smacked Jason’s cheek, “What if I didn’t get back here for you? Huh, Jason, what would you have done then?” He snapped at the omega, true concern seeping out of him, even as he gripped Jasons’ hip in a less than gentle manner and repeatedly asked him what the fuck was wrong with him.

“It wasn’t supposed to!” He argued back, tone full of indignant anger. “I got an implant right before I left for Taiwan.” He pushed his forearm in Vaas’ face, pointing towards where the small dermal implant was still embedded in his skin. “I don’t know why this happened. Maybe it’s defective. With my luck, it probably is.” He answered honestly. “I thought that… well, I don’t really know what I thought was happening but this was the last thing to come to mind for me.”

He might have expected Vaas to be angry with him, or at the very least annoyed that he couldn’t keep up with his own body and even though he wasn’t entirely surprised by the bout of cackling that Vaas broke into, it didn’t stop him from glaring daggers at his partner. “What?” He snapped at the alpha, sliding away from him so that he could get a little bit more space to breathe and think about where he was, both physically and emotionally. The cold water helped him center himself, made him feel less like he had water on the brain.

It took a few minutes for his laughter to tone down until he could actually speak, “Hermano, Jason, Mi Amante… you can be so fucking stupid I swear.” He responded quickly before he dove into kiss him in a rough, possessive manner. “But it’s okay, I got you now, I’ll help you through this.” He hummed into Jason’s ear, before kissing him again.

“Whatever asshole.” He grumbled to himself after he pulled away from the contact. Vaas gently tugged at his arm to pull him in closer. He put forth effort not to laugh as Vaas kept trying to pull him backwards where he was still sitting under the water. “You know what? Actually I blame you for this. Somehow this is all your fault.” He stated, more out of spite then anything else. It wasn’t totally unrealistic that bonding with Vaas might have messed with his hormones and suddenly triggered a heat in him. It wasn’t a common occurrence but it wasn’t unheard of.

He was pulled back one more time and toppled over until he was precariously perched against Vaas’ hip, this time he decided not to pull away. Vaas kept giving him attention and his icy, overstimulated mood melted away into something softer. He rested his head against the alpha’s chest tiredly and listened to the rambunctious sound of his heartbeat He could hear distantly through the fog that was reassembling within his mind and clouding his thoughts, Vaas asking him if he was feeling better now.

“I’m…” He trailed off, not really knowing how he should answer. He didn’t think that he was ‘okay’, but going through this never felt ‘okay’ for him at the start. Heats, for him, were always a jarring experience. Even when he had someone to share them with, he didn’t like how out of control and weak that they had him feeling. In the end he ended up settling on,“I need you.” Because that was something the two of them could easily understand.

Hoyt’s fingers drummed in agitation against the glass of brandy in his hand. Things hadn’t been going as well for him in the past few weeks – one of the hostages had escaped and kept trying to disrupt his operations. He had lost hostages, radio towers and outposts on a near constant basis since he had arrived on the island. He might have been impressed, if it hadn’t already started affecting his bottom line.

When Hoyt had first arrived on the Rook islands and set up his business, smuggling and trafficking out tourists and natives, he had implemented a system to keep generating product and workers for him. He had men scope out potential hostages at clubs and bars in Bangkok – stupid, privileged children that were too naive to notice the red flags when they agreed on tours, or skydiving lessons or work opportunities.

Then the pirates under Vaas’ control would terrorize them into submission – or kill them if they made too much trouble – until Hoyt had the opportunity to send some of his privateers to take them to whoever was going to buy them from him. And if one of the hostages got away, they never got far. For the longest time, this system that he had had worked out with no failure and very little problems – he had an iron grip on the islands and the natives were forced to either keep their heads down or join ranks with him.

He was not too happy having his system disrupted and that was why he had called Buck up. Buck was a friend to him – had been for a long time – as well as one of his highest ranking privateers, and he knew well what a psychopath that the man was. But that was just what he needed right now, someone willing to get everything done without any second thought. Vaas was incredibly useful to him, but he was erratic and emotional, not very good at luring someone into a trap. And besides, he was usually busy keeping the northern islands more or less stable.

Buck’s maniacal grin doubled, stretching across his face in a glib sort of way as Hoyt downed his third or fourth drink since they had sat down together. The man was on edge, the kind of edge that only came when you had not experienced failure on a large scale before. If Buck was a different person, he might have worried about setting Hoyt off even further, but he had no fear and spoke to Hoyt evenly and without fear of retribution. He asked Hoyt what he knew of the man, “Snow White,” the natives and certain pirates had started calling him.

Rumors circulated around the Rook islands about the man, about this Snow White – how he was liberating the island piece by piece, allowing the natives to recover their homeland and live free from fear for the first time in twenty years. No wonder Hoyt was worried, he thought, if any of those rumors held any water, he’d be coming to the southern islands soon, coming for him personally.

Hoyt shook his head, “The only thing I know is that, whoever this little piece of filth is, they want their little friends back. That’s their weakness.” He explained, leaning in a bit with a conspiratorial edge to his voice. “He’ll be coming to you soon, for the boy you bought off from me.” He added, “And when that happens, I’ll need you to take care of him.”

“If he looks anything like that pretty omega that Vaas bought from that group, then I’ll be happy to take care of him.” The Australian responded with a harsh laugh, thinking fondly on his meeting with the omega. What was his name again? Jensen? No. Jason, that was right.

Jason had peaked his interest in a way that no other omega had before – when omegas usually bored them with their sweetness and gentility, Jason’s mean spirited and erratic nature had drawn him in. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he had already been claimed by Vaas, he might have lured the omega down into his home and had him keep his other boy company. He hadn’t had that opportunity though, so maybe he should just try his luck with Snow White. *** Back on the other side of the islands, Vaas and Jason were just getting into the swing of things with Jason’s heat. The two of them had quarantined themselves off in their room so as to avoid any unnecessary interruptions from pirates or natives or who the fuck ever thought that they had the right to run in and interrupt them. The only one of the pirates with any access to them was Carlos, as he was the only one that Vaas trusted enough not to try and jump his omega on sight – and he was only allowed to enter every few hours and bring them food, water and other things that they might have needed.

Jason had stripped down naked hours ago and kept himself that way – his skin was still heated in an ever present sort of way, so he did as much as he could to keep himself cool – and Vaas had done much the same. The two of them were settled down on a mattress, Vaas gripping Jason’s hip in a vice like grip as the two of them slept together.

Of the two of them, Jason was the first of them to wake up. He shimmied his way out of the other’s arms with no small amount of effort on his part and bounded over to the shower to cool his skin down. He stood under the freezing cold water for a few minutes, until he felt more or less normal again. Once he was out of the space and somewhat dried off, Jason sighed and crawled back over to Vaas and straddled the alpha’s hips before leaning down and kissing down the side of his face to wake him up.

In moments, Jason found himself pushed back onto the ground with Vaas climbing on top of him and peppering his face with kisses until Jason was left a giggling mess. He batted away at the alpha with his hands for a few minutes before he gave into the affectionate contact and settled for antagonistically kissing him back in earnest. He felt himself being pulled back onto the mattress while Vaas continued groping and kissing him everywhere and anywhere that he could get his hands and mouth on.

His mind was getting fuzzy again, he thought, and he needed Vaas to stop kissing him and start fucking him within the minute. Jason pushed at Vaas’ chest to get some distance between the two of them before he broke off the kiss before he pushed himself up so that he was sitting on his knees.

He lost sense of himself just then and made a few small, helpless noises as he tried to figure out how to ask for what he wanted without embarrassing himself in front of the alpha or falling flat on his face before he could say anything at all, literally. He felt Vaas squeezing his hip in a tender and comforting sort of way and that drew him back to reality. He let out a shaky breath and explained what he needed, that he needed Vaas fucking him and he needed that right then. He pulled Vaas’ face towards his own and kissed him hard on the mouth as he moved to sit on the alphas’ lap. He kept kissing him as the two of them ground their cocks together until they were both hard and aroused.

He felt Vaas’ fingers dip inside of Jason’s entrance, gently thrusting into them as they kept on kissing. When they pulled apart from the kiss, Jason was leaking slick and mewling quietly. The alpha steadied him gently and asked if he was alright. “’S just overwhelming.” He explained in a small and timid voice. Vaas grabbed a hold of his dick and held it steady as Jason moved to ease it inside of himself.

Almost immediately, Jason felt a sense of relief at having his alpha inside him, fucking him slowly and purposefully. It didn’t take him long to cum, his heat had him already in an almost near constant state of being on the edge of an orgasm. He slumped over after he came and Vaas moved them so that Jason was on his stomach with his legs pressed together as the alpha took over and fucked him hard.

The omega sighed and allowed himself to go along with the motions of it, allow himself the pleasure of being fucked until the alpha came, his cock swelling inside of him and locking the two of them together. He finally felt good, like he was a whole person again and not like some brain-rotted omega that couldn’t stand to think of anything more than being knotted. Vaas was laying on top him and they were locked together by his knot when he fell asleep, utterly content with himself.

He slept for a few hours at least, when he woke up again, the room was distinctly chillier – Jason guessed that it must have been dusk already – and Vaas was across the room putting his pants on. “You going somewhere?” He asked as he pulled himself up into a sitting position, cocking his head curiously at the man.

“Some of my boys took down a fucking cruise ship,” He explained, “I’m gonna go see what those rich fucks had on board. Don’t worry, I’m not dealing with slaves right now, they can handle a few pussy ass trust fund kids themselves. I won’t be gone long.”

“Okay, bring back something nice.” He hummed, not really thinking of anything else to say. So Jason was alone again and he didn’t like being alone when he was like this so he immediately looked around to find something to occupy himself with. Luckily, Vaas had an old, beaten up TV and a collection of movies of all genres recorded on VHS tapes.

He seemed to have everything from Cinderella to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre tucked away in a few cardboard boxes. He wondered if Vaas had a lot of moments where these came in handy. When he was strung out on something and could barely get himself off of the floor, he’s sure they came in handy for him then, just like they came in handy for him now. Jason crawled forward and dug through the boxes, pulling out a heavy, emotional looking drama from the bottom of the box.

He put the movie in and settled down on his stomach, lazily watching every half-baked plot line that the film haphazardly threw at him. When Vaas returned to the room, he settled down next to Jason and took to less than gently pressing kisses at his neck and shoulders. “What’d you put on?” He asked, in between kisses and light nips of teeth.

Jason laughed, “Fuck if I know. I just grabbed something.” He replied lazily, allowing himself to be coaxed into a state of relaxation by a man that usually had solely the opposite effect on everybody else that he came into contact with.

Despite the fact that the culture of the islands had changed a bit since he had been working on liberating them, Bad Town was still a filthy cesspool filled with murderers, trafficked prostitutes, gambling dens and just generally all sorts of violence going on.

Maybe that was just what it was always going to be like, Grant couldn’t be sure, but it was probably a good thing that it stayed just the way it was. At least for now. He didn’t want Buck being scared away from the town before Grant could get a hold of him and find out where Keith was.

He walked through the bar, curiously gazing around for someone that seemed out of place – he doubted that one of Hoyt’s privateers was a local, after all. He was interrupted from his (hopefully) low key sleuthing about the place that he heard a low whistle, followed by a chuckle. He turned around for the source of the voice and came into contact with a sparsely – and almost inappropriately so at that – dressed man.

He eyed Grant in a predatory sort of way – like he was cruising for him or something. Grant made it a point not to roll his eyes or walk away from the man outright when he started speaking in smarmy Australian accent but it struck him just then that this might be the very man that he was looking for. So he stuck it through, waited to hear whatever the man had to say, before he started in on interrogating him.“Well, it isn’t my birthday, then you must be Christmas.” He said.

“Uh-huh,” He said, utterly unimpressed with the man. “You must be Buck.” He inferred, watching Buck’s eyebrows raise in a questioning tone of voice. “I’m here for my friend. Keith.”

Buck stood up, like he was going to leave, “No, I’m sorry, doesn’t ring a bell.” He replied in a dismissive sort of way.

“You bought him from Hoyt.” Grant struggled to keep his composure, but he was getting frustrated with the Australian’s defiant peacocking. Jason would have been better at this, he thought, he always had a good poker face.

The Australian chuckled, “Ah, him?” He murmured as he did a half-turn to face Grant. “He said his name was-” and he covered his mouth and pantomimed a gagging scream.

Grant stifled a disgusted scoff, “You’re hilarious.” He deadpanned as Buck thought to walk off, probably back to his home – probably to where Keith was sitting in terror, probably to cause more of that terror to him. “You’re gonna give him back to me.” He said, speaking in an authoritative sort of way.

That stopped Buck dead in his tracks and he did a half-turn to look back at Grant. He muttered something to himself before he stretched his arms out grandiosely over the back of the chair he was sitting on. “Alright, let’s get down to Brass Tax. You must be Grant Brody.”

“I just want Keith!” He snapped in exasperation.

“Grant, Grant, Grant. Patience!” He chided the American, who was grinding his teeth down to nubs in his frustration. “We’re not all savages here! We’re just businessmen. Responsible capitalists! I’ve got something that you want? Right? That’s granted, and you’ve got something that I want.”

“And what is that?” He asked, already seething that he didn’t already have Keith’s location so he couldn’t just take this pervert down. He stepped towards Buck, ready to strike when the Australian let out a low whistle.

“Temper, temper, Grant.” He chided, “If you do me in, you’ll never get him back.” he pulled out an intricate design of an ancient looking knife. “I want you to find this for me, you score that and we’ll be Even Steven.”

“Huh,” He exclaimed, upon closer examination of it. “I’ve seen this knife before…” He said, more to himself than to the man in front of him. He had all but forgotten Buck in that moment and was jarred out of his thoughts when he heard the man snap back at him.

“Knife?” He asked in an incredulous sort of way, “It’s not just a fucking knife!” He snapped, grabbing the drawing out of Grant’s hand. “There’s more history in this than you and Keith’s four ass cheeks squished together, that’s my fucking fee. Alright?”

“Where is it?” He asked and Buck went into another tirade, telling him of a man with a boat that had the location of the knife. That was the best he was going to get, most likely. And with that, Grant exited the bar with a feeling of dirtiness and disgust at the man that he had just been forced into some kind of a deal into. There wasn’t much he could do about it now, though, he’d find the knife, he’d get Keith and hopefully never have to deal with the man again.

About halfway through the second film that he had been watching, the need that he had been holding back came over him once again. “Fuck.” He murmured to himself and bumped his head against the wall in a self-defeating manner, cursing his own biology for this inconvenient bullshit that it put him through every month or so. ‘Oh god,’ he thought, mortified. ‘If I stay here, I’m probably gonna have to start going through this again. Constant full on omega mode. What a fucking nightmare.’

Jason sighed and knee walked over to where Vaas was sitting, snapping angrily in Spanish to one of his men that was sheepishly trying to defend himself. He looked over noticing Jason’s presence and decided to end the call, “I can’t come up and clean up your mess like tu puta madre*. you fucking fix it!” He snapped and ended the call, throwing the cell to the ground so harshly that it gave Jason a start.

Jason frowned, “Is everything alright?” He asked, feeling an uncharacteristic sort of cautiousness around the alpha. Vaas turned to look at him and let out a short laugh. “No, I’m guessing not.” He murmured to himself.

“You know, your fucking gringo brother’s causing me a lot of fucking problems.” Vaas started, looking at Jason in an indiscernible sort of way. “Running around the fucking island like he owns the fucking place. Taking outposts, hijacking radio towers. Hoyt’s getting fucking mad about it and I can’t blame him for it, either.” He complained, “You know if shit keeps going down like this, he’s gonna have me going after him.”

It was just the truth, Jason knew that, but he didn’t want to think of the reality of it just yet. He knew that it was a very real possibility that Vaas might end up on the other side of Grant’s gun and he couldn’t really blame him for defending himself if that happened, and just the same if it was Grant that needed to defend himself against the alpha. But still, he didn’t want to think about the hypotheticals of it, preferring to worry about it if and when it came to that. “Don’t say that!” Jason snapped.

Vaas shrugged in reply, “That’s just the truth.” He said honestly, “I can’t say no if Hoyt wants me to kill him. I can put it off, maybe, and I’ve left him alone ‘cause of you but…” He trailed off, and Jason got the point of it, as depressing as it was.

“Well…you could put your dick in me.” Jason offered, slowly sliding his hips apart in a suggestive manner. “That would make everything better. Just fix all of our problems in one go.” He motioned in between them jokingly, if for no other reason than to distract himself from the existential dread that he was feeling at the thought of having to pick between his mate and his family, between his old life and the life that was being built for him on these islands.

Vaas laughed and pulled him closer until Jason was half sitting on his lap. “Well, maybe not all of our problems, but at least half of mi-” And Vaas pulled him in for a forceful, open mouth kiss. Jason had a dopey grin on his face as the two of them broke apart from the kiss. Vaas gently pushed Jason down on his back, forcing him to lie back as he laid a path of flighty kisses down his stomach. He had a lot of reservations about staying on the islands, he thought, but this was definitely something that he could see himself getting used to.

Jason was sprawled out on the beach, nude and covered from head to toe in blood. He felt filthy and he felt wrong. But he also felt right, like this was where he needed to be and how he needed to look – even if it disgusted him thoroughly. He scrambled to his feet, the feeling of the machete in his hand imposing upon him as he did so.

He walked forward, speeding up into a run until he found what he had no idea that he was looking for. Grant and a woman that he had never met before were standing together. The woman in front of him, she was beautiful – tall and statuesque, painted with tribal symbols that he instinctively felt held some weighty significance. Other than the ritualistic body paint, she was completely nude from head to toe, with only her long and intricately braided hair to provide her some sort of modesty. Jason was literally stunned, paralyzed by his awe at the sight of her.

But she wasn’t paying any attention to him, no, all of her attentions were on his brother. She walked a circle around him, each step slow and purposeful. “You are a great warrior, Grant Brody.” She stated in a tone of voice that suggested she was speaking more to the heavens then she was to him, “You will bring the Rakyat back, to our former glory.”

Thunder and lightning hit and cracked as she spoke, storms brewing around the three of them, thunder crackling dangerously close to where they stood – ready to shoot them down every moment. The woman braced her fingers around Grant’s shoulder, “I need you to do something for me. One more thing for me and then your path will be complete and you will truly be a Warrior.”

And then she kissed Grant and that was when Jason’s alarm bells were really raised. Grant wasn’t the type of person that would step out on his girlfriend with some woman…but he was, and Jason couldn’t bring himself to look, he closed his eyes – willing the scene away from him. He only opened them when an earth-shattering feeling came over him, like an earthquake or some other kind of natural disaster.

He opened his eyes and watched with horror as the earth literally separated underneath them, a fault line appearing right in front of where Jason stood and pushing them further away. Jason scrambled for purchase as he was knocked to the ground again. In front of him the woman began to chant in a foreign language and Jason got the sinking suspicion that she was summoning forth the disaster, willing death and destruction upon them.

The world around them got smaller and smaller as shadow-like creatures swarmed around the three of them. Neither Grant, nor the beautiful woman noticed them and every time that Jason tried to warn them to say something – anything – to get them to notice the impending chaos around them, smoke swarmed inside of his mouth and literally smothered his voice. So he was helpless to do anything. He just watched in horror as she finished the ritual with a knife in her brothers chest.

Jason woke with a start and looked around at his surroundings with panic and nervousness. He only calmed down, marginally, when he realized that nothing had changed from the reality of yesterday. Vaas was laying next to him, with his arm curled around Jason’s side. It was just so bizarre, so vivid and so damn real.

He sat up on his knees and experimentally checked to see that Vaas was still okay, he was still breathing, The world around them wasn’t collapsing. Grant wasn’t dead. And that striking woman, with the braids and the paint all over her naked body? She was nowhere to be seen. That was good, he was fine. Everything was fine, for now at least.

Jason sighed, deciding that he needed some fresh air before this all went to his head in a very bad way. He got himself dressed, wrapped a thin blanket around himself and headed out the door – he decidedly didn’t go very far, he didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. He sat down on the dirt ground, cross-legged and curled up in on himself as he let himself experience the quietness and the peace around him. It was nice, meditative. He hadn’t been able to experience peace and quiet in a while.

That lasted for a few minutes before his phone started ringing out the custom ringtone that he had set for his brother. Jason scrambled to answer the call, fully knowing that it could have very well been some kind of a trap or a trick to figure out… Vaas’ location or his own. “Grant?” He asked, “Jesus Christ…Is that really you?” He asked in a soft spoken, almost frightened tone of voice.

“Of course it’s me, Jay.” The Elder Brody replied back in a gently mocking manner. “Who else would it have been?”

“I don’t know… I’ve been having these-” he sighed, “It’s gonna sound so fucking stupid, but I’ve been having these nightmares about this island. And about you, and the people here and its just- I thought something might have happened to you.” He groaned, feeling entirely ashamed of his out of character superstition. “Just don’t laugh. Please.”

Grant chuckled and then apologized, “I won’t laugh again, promise.” Jason scoffed incredulously at that, “So have you been? None of those fucking pirates have hurt you, right?”

“I’ve been… surviving.” He responded as vaguely as he possibly could, this wasn’t really something that he wanted to let his brother in on the details of. “Me and Vaas, we’ve been holed up back at camp. Not really doing much, you know, keeping a low profile for the next couple of days or so.” Before Grant could say anything else he added in a snappy tone, “And no. none of them have been hurting me, they’re all pretty respectful for the most part. Almost fearful, and I don’t blame them for that.”

“That’s good.” Grant replied, “I didn’t just call to see how you were doing.”

“Yeah, I figured.” Jason answered in a nonplussed sort of way. They didn’t really have the time for such niceties these days. Unconsciously, he tensed up in excitement, hoping that whatever Grant told him meant he got to help. “What’s going on? Did you find something out? Something you need me for?”

“Yeah, well maybe, I’m not sure if it’s a good idea yet.” Grant started, “But I think I know where Keith might be, he’s holed up with this weird Australian pervert.” Jason stiffened almost immediately, thinking that he knew exactly who the elder was talking about. “He goes by Buck-”

“Was he conspicuously under-dressed, a bit handsy? Kind of dirty looking, even for the standards of this fucking place?” Jason interrupted with a litany of questions about the man, hoping to confirm his suspicions about the man’s identity.

Grant was stunned into silence for a few minutes, “So you met him already?” He guessed, laughing a bit at how quick Jason still was to jump the gun and get it right to boot. “Yeah, that’s… a scarily accurate way to describe him. I thought you might have been able to trail him, and find out where he's storing Keith while he makes me run around looking for some fucking knife he wants.” And Jason was quick to agree to that, he told Grant that as soon as he was able, he’d meet up with the elder Brody and the two of them would take the privateer down, and get Keith back to safety.

((Spanish Notes: tu puta madre = your fucking mother))

#vaason #jason brody #vaas montenegro #abo au #lemons #heat chapter lmao

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sweet-satisfactionn · 7 years ago

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CLEXACON 2018

Hello everyone! As I am not (yet) a YouTuber, this post will serve as my recap. Last year I made a post on the con itself and how it made me feel being there as a first time attendee (x). But this year I am going to focus on the people I met or I was lucky enough to see again this year, because that is what ClexaCon was and still is to me, it’s all about the community. #WeAreClexaCon.

ClexaCon has grown exponentially since last year and, therefore, the kru has grown with it. I love and appreciate everyone I met up with during my short stay, so I wanna give everyone their own thank you. Sorry if I forget anyone, I’m trying really hard not to and sorry for typos, this is a stream of consciousness thank you letter.

Elke: Obviously I have to begin with my sister and frequent con buddy @damnlexa. My platonic soulmate. There’s nothing I could say here that I haven’t already said to her 100 (triggered) times over, but I’ll give it a shot. Any con, any event, any experience can only be improved by having Elke by your side. Not only is she incredibly smart, talented, funny and weird as fuck, but she has the most niche and hilarious kind of humour I have ever seen in a person. Honestly she’s so weird you guys. Sometimes being in a room full of strangers (potential friends) can be terrifying, especially to a nervous asshole like me. Just having her in the same room as you even if she’s not close by can be incredibly comforting, because I know that if I’m ever in trouble in a conversation, all I need to do is look at her and she’ll be right there with me. Knowing that she’s there really opened me up to talk to more people this year than I felt comfortable with last year. Without her I wouldn’t have made half of the friends I made at ClexaCon and I bet she doesn’t even realise that, so thank you Elke. Now I have to move on because people will get jealous!

Sofia Rojas: The only negative thing I can say about Sofia @shes-special is that I didn’t spend see her more. One of the only people that can make me burst into laughter just by looking at her. Has a smirk that drives the ladies crazy. It’s a good one you guys. A very honest and kind hearted Canadian, which means that (I think) it’s quite easy to see what she’s thinking. This led to many moments during the convention where you couldn’t keep your face to yourself Sofia, which I have forgiven you for because it caused the bursting into laugher moments that were stated above. Master of the accidental deadpan humour “is that what you’re wearing?” which still cracks me up. Also only ally I had in the d*ke jokes, which is very appreciated! You didn’t leave me out in the cold (like a certain small, cardigan losing, Australian). I now have a shot glass collection because of you and I’ll think about you every time I use them (such a kind gift, ty shrimp! <3). Again, wish I could have seen her more, but CLEXACON 2019!?

Rin: My mother hen who I have said way too many nice things about these past few days, so what more can I say? You can never be sad when you’re in a room with Rin, you can try but it doesn’t work. Even the most emo of lesbians will smile when talking to her, she’s a ray of sunshine and no one can ever tell me otherwise. She’s remarkably talented in everything I’ve seen her do and she’s fiercely passionate about all the things she loves *cough* Faberry. It’s easy to feel ashamed when talking about the things you love, especially if it’s fandom related but that insecurity disappears when talking to her. Her resolve is strong, even when I ramble on about my questionable fandom choices (still love you Marley). There’s no one I’d have rather travelled the world with. Ed Sheeran, The Greatest Showman and now even Camila will always be associated with her. Sometimes it’s a good idea to not limit your friendship groups based on age and distance because you’ll find gems like matchbox_sized along the way.

Ylva: Oh Wolverine, the new one of the group. A tall string bean I didn’t meet last year who has now stormed into my life. What would suite parties be without you to sing Eurovision songs with and belittle the Americans and Australians (boring; they’d be boring). Your blunt unwillingness to follow the rules of Kings/Ring of Fire is a memory to cherish. It’s rare to click so quickly with someone and so I am grateful for the times when things got hectic and I got separated from people and then miraculously found you. Sarcastic comments and deadpan humour always sound surprising coming from you which makes it even funnier. Best ClexaCon banter buddy. The con had it’s ups and downs but all of our chill sessions were definitely highlights, so thank you, SKAL. Swedish representation is important everyone. (ps. gonna start the Vikings just for you) (p.p.s. let’s put money on Israel to win Eurovision)

Emily-Anne: A YouTuber that, for me, was exactly the same online as she was in real life. The wit, compassion and well articulated thoughts are not a YouTube gimmick friends, it’s real. Again, only downside was that I didn’t get to see her more. In 2018 you need all the DCOM fans you can get, even if she didn’t know that Year 3000 isn’t a Jonas Brothers song, that can be forgiven! It’s important to have people in your life that will pity laugh at your jokes and for that Emily-Anne is a champ. Easy to forget this was her first year attending because she merged into the kru effortlessly. See you next year? We need all the bisexuals we can get, it ups our diversity quota.

Mollie: Oh Mollie, @molliemashstash MY AUSTRALIAN CARE FREE D*KE QUEEN. Can we say that word? EH, I just did. What would ClexaCon be without you annoying everyone and sticking a camera in people’s faces <3 Absolutely nothing. Your artistic abilities blow me away, it’s weird that so much talent can come from such a noob (jkjk). When everything gets too serious, it’s good to know that you're there to yell GOV and force things back to normal. I’m also very glad to see you sobbing into noodles, that memory will never leave me and I am very grateful for that. AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP CIRCA 2018? We’re bonded for life now so that’s definitely happening. #Machel #Rollie

Bri: BRIBRIBRIBRI!!!! An unexpected favourite of mine, unexpected in that I didn’t know you very well going into ClexaCon and now you’re one of favourite people. As soon as I got in your car (don’t get into cars with strangers everyone lol) I knew that we were going to get on and the fact that I immediately felt comfortable with you was v nice and v rare! It may have been due to how tired and delusional I was at this point but meh, I still <3 you. I am glad we got that last day together because we kept on missing each other at the con, everything was so hectic :’( I could easily spend an eternity arguing over culture differences with you and staring at you confused when you explain what mugging is and the horrors of America. Hopefully you <3 me back, because if not this is awkward. BYE.

Toni: I am constantly in awe of Toni’s passion and talent. Her writing ability is incredible, her podcasts blow me away. She is so articulate, which is a very hard to come by trait these days, and thinks carefully over her words. This makes her podcasts extremely interesting, which is further proven through her moderation of the Youtube 2.0 panel. Questions were carefully chosen, everyone had a chance to speak, a respectful tone was kept throughout with some well added, kind hearted banter, and I think a lot of that efficiency is thanks to Toni! Honestly check out her podcast, you’ll love her (x). (it’s on soundcloud and itunes) I can’t wait to spend more time with you at the Ultimates and when Uni is over we can make more plans okay friend! <3

Adrienne: Oh Adrienne. What a joy she is. Our humour clashes 8 times out of 10 but that’s what’s so great about ClexaCon, getting to get to know a wide range of people who are all different but all share the same one interest (QUEER LADIES). Your excitement is palpable and talking to you gets me to loosen up and be more carefree and spontaneous. You took this little introvert under your wing and even though your vet stories gross me out sometimes (okay all the time I’m sorry) I still love you and ClexaCon would never be the same without you. Also you hiccuping when... intoxicated, cracks me up every time I remember it. & your song was fckin incredible dude, no joke, record that shit!

Courtney: I’m so glad I got to talk to you more this year because omg you are a delight Courtney. The human personification of Hawaii. Chill, laid back, the calm amongst the storm. You made that last day fun instead of sad so thank you! Sense of humour on point and you didn’t take anyone’s shit, not even mine so good on you but also hey, pls love me. Also gives great food and sweet recommendations, even though I didn’t understand most of what was being given to me, I still bought it and trusted you. We have trust now Court, don’t ruin it. Also, is from Hawaii in case I haven’t mentioned that enough, don’t worry she’ll mention it for you. Hawaii is where she’s from btw. Did I talk about Hawaii yet?

Marcie: Wish I could have seen her more as well! After the ClexaCon weekend she earned 1 more subscriber, so, you’re welcome. Marcie has a very calming presence and I loved every conversation and experience I had with her; people often tell me that I’m judgemental (I’m working on it ok!) so that’s actually a big compliment. I was blown away by her intelligence and perspective. Very glad you got to be on the panel and I hope we meet again (*cry*) so we can talk more.

Hannah: Volunteer Hannah! The lovely volunteer who went above and beyond for Elke and I last year and who we owe a great debt to. I only got to spend a few minutes at a time with you because you were off doing important volunteer things, but I am grateful for all the brief encounters I was graced with. Come to ClexaCon UK and we can spend all day, every day together! (bet you’re regretting ever coming up and saying hi to me now) <3 The world needs more people like Hannah and conventions need more volunteers like her who are going in for all the right reasons and not just to take selfies with Rachel Skarsten ;)

Lisa: MY FAVOURITE COMIC STRIP WRITER. Has one of my all time favourite twitter accounts that everyone needs in their life (hint: it involves lesbians and ants!) (x). We had some great moments didn’t we Lisa, like that time you tweeted a picture of your location and I realised it was exactly where I was standing; such a good meet-cute. I loved that we could have a really intense conversation 30 seconds before Chyler Leigh was about to come on stage and like, bit rude, Chyler can’t you see we’re trying to get to know each other here. I’m glad to have met you and I feel smarter for knowing you.

Ella: Another person I literally hardly saw! Which is extremely frustrating but ahh why are cons so hectic?! An extremely lovely and compassionate person who I am lucky to have met and will continue to go on adventures with. See you in Liverpool/Manchester! I can’t wait. Drinks on me <3

Amelia & Kenzi: You guys are a package deal so you have to share a bullet point I’m sorry. Thank you for putting up with me trying to explain the rules of netball for a solid 3 hours (& thank you Amelia for understanding me). You 2 are adorable and were the best dinner table company a girl could ask for. You’re also really great at maths! & then trying to explain your working out to confused Europeans like me and Ylva who just wanted to pay for our meal using our weird fake dollars. You made that dinner very carefree and fun. CLEXACON 2019????

Also s/o to Pipes (x), Alex (x), Maddie (x) who I loved getting to meet and want to see more so I can give them the shoutout they deserve! I will continue to admire their respective works from afar.

#ClexaCon #ClexaCon 2018 #ClexaCon2018 #Friends #Family

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andrewilnyckyjhateblog · 7 years ago

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marsanne

pairing: standrew word count: 4k status: one-shot content warnings: a little pg-13

summary: andrew has nice thighs, and steven finds out about gay people.

→ READ ON AO3.

It started when Steven was drunk on thousand-dollar wine.

That’s just where his life was, he supposed.

It was all a little surreal, everything about it — driving through the Australian countryside as the dusk settled in, the road slipping away the further they rolled down it. The warmth in his stomach was radiating in waves, his fingertips tingling, heartbeat thrumming in his throat and at his wrists. His face was warm and he knew, from pawing the footage from the night, a little red. They were in a van; it was a spacious van, a roomy one, but not quite roomy enough for three grown men. And his leg was pressed against Andrew’s.

No, not quite.

His thigh was pressed against Andrew’s thigh. And, buzzed like this, his limbs were long and loose and he was having a hard time assembling them in his personal space and — his hand had accidentally landed on Andrew’s thigh. He might have squeezed.

It was an accident. That’s what he said, when he pulled his hand back with a yelp. Andrew wasn’t ever as loud as Steven, subdued smirks and even, dry quips and this was no different. Steven came uncomfortably close to a shriek, and Andrew just snorted.

“Sorry, sorry! — Gosh, uh, shoot. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, you absolute lightweight.”

“Hey, I’m not —”

“You are, or you just groped me. Your pick.”

Steven settled back into his seat, eyes darting from Andrew to the window to Andrew to Andrew’s thighs to the window again. His eyes couldn’t settle, and the tingles in his limbs seemed to turn to fire. Andrew wasn’t having the same issue. His limbs felt like sauna rocks next to him, heavy and hot. His gaze held steady on Steven, and he could hear him thinking, though he couldn’t tell what was running through his mind. He barely knew what he himself was thinking — if he did at all, which was becoming more and more doubtful as each minute passed.

It didn’t mean anything. It was an accident. Andrew just had… a nice thigh. And it was weird to even think that, in ways Steven couldn’t begin to articulate — it was just true, and he didn’t want to think any more about it, though the monkey part of his brain was disagreeing vocally. It was just… soft. But it was also firm, and strong. Andrew rock climbed, and Steven could tell. Andrew could probably crush his head like a tea-egg, based on one brief grope.

He wished his brain would stop.

Adam was asleep. Steven could hear him snoring quietly, from the other side of the car. There was only fifteen minutes left of the car-ride, maybe. Steven wanted the ride to end immediately. At the same time, he absolutely reviled the idea of moving. Sliding away from Andrew’s warm thigh, pressed against his, sounded impossible. Making him do it would be almost criminal. More buzzed that he was willing to admit he was but less buzzed than he needed to be to be thinking like this, a part of Steven didn’t want to ever peel himself from Andrew’s side. It was a scary thought.

He didn’t like how quiet the car had gotten — the energy was a little to tense for his tastes, a little too fraught, and maybe that was his fault. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth, though, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“Hey,” Andrew said, turning to him. Steven started, but cocked his head — he couldn’t get his tongue unstuck, so he hoped Andrew would understand that meant ‘yeah?’. He figured he’d be able to. They’d spent so much time together, over the past few seasons of Worth It, that sometimes, he felt like they could read each other’s minds. And Andrew was kind of proving him right. “I missed a great pun opportunity.”

“Tonight?”

“No, when we were in New York. For the cheesecake episode.”

“God. Ugh. What was it?”

“When we cheers’d… I could’ve said cheers-cake. And I didn’t. And that’s going to haunt me.”

“If you had said it, I’d probably have had to kick you off the show.”

“You would’ve loved it.”

Steven snorted instead of responding — Andrew was right; he would’ve. Though, at times, he was loathe to admit, he’d grown to love a lot of the stupid, little things Andrew did.

After that, they settled back into silence, but it didn’t feel nearly as tense. As much as Steven accused Andrew of being broody sometimes, he did know how to lighten a mood — cut the tension in the room, and he knew how to do it right when Steven needed it. It didn’t change the fact that his thigh was pressed against Steven’s, or that he couldn’t stop thinking about their legs pressed together, hips knocking with every turn the van took, arms bumping into each other, ribbing each other and tangling — but he was breathing a little easier, and that was a relief.

They arrived at the hotel without incident, shouldering Adam awake and helping him stumble up to his room, equipment slung over his shoulders, shoulders slumped against Andrew. Steven felt his stomach roll with something that came closest to jealousy, but had to be something else. He felt cold, standing in the hallway, swaying slightly, waiting for Andrew to slip out of Adam’s room, shutting the door behind him.

They didn’t have to share a room; the budget allowed for separate ones. They had connecting ones, though, and since Andrew’s door was beside Adam’s, they piled in the same one.

“Want to stay for a drink?” Andrew asked, and Steven swallowed. Part of him wanted to say no. A bigger part of him wanted to say yes. The biggest part of his rational mind screamed at the top of his lungs to head to bed.

His monkey brain was bigger than that. So he stayed.

Andrew had bought a bottle of the Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch — and two of the Marsanne. He uncorked a bottle of the Marsanne.

“You just drank thousand-dollar wine, are you sure you’re okay slumming it for a while?”

“Hey — you were drinking the same wine too!”

“You were the fancyboy, Steven.”

“I have very specifically said I’m not a fancyboy. I remember being very specific. And I’d love a glass. Thank you for offering. Please don’t let me get too drunk.”

“I’ll do my best, but that’s running on the assumption that I’m not blasted.”

“Are you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Steven knew that meant he was at least a little tipsy; Andrew had a higher tolerance than he did, being more of a regular drinker than he was, but he was loose-limbed and grinning so easily that he had to be. Steven liked him like this.

If he thought about it, though, Andrew had warmed up to him quite a bit — he was much more easy-going than he had been at the start of their friendship, less unenthused, less tightly-wound, readier to crack jokes and make a fool of himself and have fun with Steven than he ever had before. It was a nice change.

And then Andrew bent to get the plastic water glasses from the mini-bar, and Steven’s mouth went dry. The room was dimly lit, and cast shadows over Andrew’s figure, but he could still see the curve of his thighs under the denim, tightening as he moved. He palmed at his own legs, thin even in the tightest jeans he could find, lanky and awkward. There was a beauty to Andrew’s body that Steven had never let himself consider before. Something so strong and stable. Real, and tangible. He remembered the warmth under his palm when he squeezed his thigh, and licked his lips.

Andrew uncorked the bottle, and turned his gaze back towards Steven. “You good?”

He nodded, silently, not trusting himself to speak.

“Quiet tonight, huh?”

“I guess.”

“You’re usually a chatty drunk.”

“Guess I need to get drunker then, huh?”

Andrew raised his eyebrow. “I guess.”

He poured Steven a glass, slowly, carefully. He was steady, strong as he held the wine bottle, veins raised on his hands. Downy, blond hair covered his arms, muscles moving under the skin. Steven couldn’t remember ever watching Andrew this closely before, considering ever curve and edge that made up his friend.

He took the cup and drained it immediately, holding it out for Andrew to pour more. He hadn’t let himself think about it before, had he? This — fascination, this (attraction, his mind supplied, unbidden and unwanted) thing, whatever it was, had always existed in an undercurrent. Every time he squeezed Andrew’s broad shoulders, pulled him into a hug, every graze of his fingers over Andrew or shoulder bump, it had this undercurrent of something Steven couldn’t begin to articulate, much less address.

His stomach sunk, and he stared into his cup, watching it fill once more. Had he been making Andrew… uncomfortable, this whole time? As uncomfortable as he was, even just thinking about the way he’d acted towards him? Even thinking about it seemed to change things, in a way he didn’t know how to take back. He felt… predatory, almost.

But Andrew was sinking onto his bed, legs hanging over the edge, (thighs spreading in his jeans), taking slow sips of his wine, and Steven sunk into the armchair opposite.

“Steven.”

“Huh?” He tore his head up, looking directly at Andrew. “What’s up, buddy?” His voice wavered, just a little, just husky and small enough that it had to give away to Andrew that something was wrong.

His eyes were focused onto Andrew’s face, but he wasn’t quite listening. No, his eyes were flitting from Andrew’s long eyelashes to his lips, still reddened from the wine earlier in the day, grin from minutes before dropped into a more solemn, quiet expression. Andrew was beautiful. He knew that he was handsome, objectively — the kind of guy that girls liked, maybe not the kind that would end up on magazines, but that a mother would be happy to see her daughter bringing home.

If he was thinking about it, it had been a while since Andrew had mentioned a girl. He knew that he had broken up with his girlfriend a while ago, though he didn’t pry. Andrew was a person who needed his privacy. Steven wasn’t great at respecting that, but he did try.

“Steven, hey. Are you listening to me? Are you good?”

He startled, blinking at Andrew. “I’m good. Sorry. Long day, you know?”

Andrew snorted. “I’m aware. I was there too.”

“What’s up?”

“You know I’m bisexual, right?”

“...what?” There had been about a minute of silence between Andrew’s admission and Steven’s response — Andrew had been chewing on his lip, staring at him, and Steven had just been silent.

He was surprised; that much he knew. His stomach was swirling in a way he couldn’t begin to understand. Steven knew gay people — he knew lots of gay people; he worked at Buzzfeed, for God’s sake. He had gay and lesbian and bisexual friends. He just hadn’t suspected Andrew would be one of them.

He didn’t know what to do with that.

“I’m bisexual. I’m attracted to men and women.” Andrew said it again, in an even, steady, careful tone. Measured — as though Steven was a frightened rabbit that would startle and run away at any moment. He sort of was, to be entirely fair.

It wasn’t that he was… rejecting the idea of Andrew being bi. It just didn’t fit into the framework of his idea of who Andrew was — masculine man, stiff, sometimes impersonal. Not like — not like any of the LGBT people he knew. And he knew it was all stereotypes he was leaning on, he knew anyone could be gay or whatever, it just didn’t seem to fit.

“You aren’t the first person I’m coming out to, if you’re wondering. I’ve been out since college, I guess. At least… dating men openly.” And then Steven was struck by a thought; one that made his stomach twist in an entirely different way: was Andrew telling him this because he had a boyfriend?

The feeling in the pit of his stomach wasn’t disgust, or anger. It was jealousy.

He was jealous.

He swallowed the thought as best he could, though it was threatening to come up, like bile in his throat. More than anything, Steven didn’t want to hurt Andrew. He’d had other people come out to him before, and he knew how important it was that others took it well, regardless of what they were dealing with themselves.

“I — uh. Thanks for — thanks for telling me, Andrew. Can I ask…” Why hung on his lips, but he was completely unable to push it out. It was stuck. He was stuck.

“Why?” Andrew sighed, leaning back into the armchair. He took a deep drink of the wine, staring into the cup. “Today, in the van. You, uh. You grabbed my leg. My thigh.”

Steven swallowed, but didn’t speak. He didn’t know exactly where Andrew was going, but he could tell, already, that he probably wasn’t going to like it.

“And… I don’t know. Sometimes, in the way you act, it’s like. I don’t even know how to describe it other than flirting. But then you pull back, with a stupid ‘no homo’ or whatever, and it’s like I can’t gauge where you are or what you’re thinking at all. Which is insane, because you’re like the most open, readable book in the world. Seriously, sometimes it’s like you might as well tattoo what you’re thinking on your face, except that would be somehow less obvious than just reading your expression and listening to you. So I was thinking about it, and I don’t really know how to phrase this, but I was wondering…”

Steven parted his lips, and breathed out a “Yes?” so quiet he could barely hear it himself.

“Steven, do you, like, know? About gay people?”

He blanched. “I… What? Of course I know about gay people. What? Andrew, what does that even mean?” He couldn’t even begin to consider the idea that, on some level, he’d been unintentionally flirting with Andrew.

Andrew sighed again, and Steven frowned. He was getting tired of all this sighing — like Steven was some kind of idiot. “No, like. That came out wrong. I’m… sorry. I mean, more… like… do you know that you can be gay? Like, have you ever considered that you might not be straight? And I want to be clear that I’m not trying to, like, coerce you into a gay relationship with me or something — that’s not what I’m going for at all.”

Steven nodded, slowly. Processing this whole absurd situation was making his mind melt, especially as drunk as he was — he’d never had a conversation this spectacularly bizarre before, and he’d had a lot of strange conversations with people.

“I just… I don’t know.” Andrew paused, looking away. He cleared his throat, and shifted in his seat. “You’re my best friend, Steven. I want you to be happy.”

In the entire series of events leading up to this moment — from the wine to now, yes, but also every moment in his life leading up to this… he’d never realized it was a question of happiness.

In other ways, though, he did — he knew that happiness should be pursued at all costs when he left his original field for Buzzfeed, and it had turned out.

And when he thought about it, it made a lot of sense.

Intimacy with other men had always been a complicated question — always leaning in closer, closer, closer until it was too close, and he had to pull back ferociously. In many ways, his ability to be close with other men, to hug them and be tactile and to love them openly, as long as it had a joking tone, was only made possible by the fundamental rejection of the idea of him being gay. But if that door was opened, too much would come flooding out.

And he’d always — looked at other guys. He had figured it was normal appreciation, or envy, even. When he stared at hot guys in the locker rooms in high school, he was jealous, right? Because they were handsome and fit and white and nobody called them chink in the halls and girls wanted to date them and he was short and chubby and awkward and nerdy and everything girls didn’t want. And when he watched K-pop, it was out of appreciation, of course. The way their bodies moved, lithe and fluid, that was envy, because he’d never be able to be like that. It wasn’t — it was.

Huh.

“Hey, buddy. How are you doing?” Andrew asked, voice soft — distant yet intimate, all at once. Overwhelmingly so. “I know this is a lot to take in.” He breathed out, sipping his wine slowly. “I had a hard enough time, you know, coming to terms in high school.”

“I’m… I’m okay.” Steven said, slowly. And he was. He was okay. If he wasn’t, he would be, eventually. If he was gay, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. His friends would support him, undoubtedly — Jen would have an absolute ball with New Gay Steven. And his parents, and his church — they were accepting, they would love him through anything. This wasn’t the first time he’d hurled a major curveball at them, and they handled it with grace. He was their darling son. He would be okay.

“Okay. Good.” Andrew sighed again. He was doing a lot of that. “You don’t need to, like, tell me anything you don’t want to. Now, or ever. But… I’m here if you need me, alright?”

Steven knew he was telling the absolute truth. Andrew was always there for him.

Andrew.

God.

This meant something for him and Andrew — he knew that much already. Something about their dynamic had shifted during the conversation. Something had changed, and he knew they couldn’t go back, but he didn’t think it was a bad thing. This was a good change.

Andrew, with his stupid puns and his level voice, low and soothing. Andrew, with his stupid hair that always stuck up when they were shooting and wouldn’t flatten until the cameras were off; with his warm sweaters and coarse hands and sweet, unexpected smiles. Andrew, who would never stop surprising him, be it with a ditty about salmon or an unexpected but always needed tender word. Andrew, who radiated strength and stability, who he could lean on on subways in cities two thousand miles away from home and know he was safe. Andrew, who wouldn’t even cheers food with him when they had started this thing together and initiated it every time, like he needed it.

Andrew.

Andrew, who he loved. Andrew, who he’d loved this whole time, without even realizing that love was what it could be. It was always him, wasn’t it?

“I know. I know you’re here.” Andrew, his foil. Andrew, his co-star. Andrew, his.

A part of him couldn’t believe that this had all started with an accidental, drunken grope. But, knowing them, it couldn’t have started in any other way.

Steven had this issue where, when his mind was made, he didn’t look before he leapt. It was an issue, but at the same time, it wasn’t. He made his best choices, just going for it. Buzzfeed, he had just gone for it. Worth It, he had just gone for it. And this…

He would have to see, wouldn’t he?

He stood, slowly, steading himself on the chair’s arm. The wine was left abandoned on the table beside him as he moved towards Andrew. “I’m going to try something, okay?” Andrew sat in the chair, staring up at him, eyes wide. He licked his lips, slowly.

“Okay,” Andrew whispered back.

He leaned down, hovering over Andrew sitting on the bed. His hand slid down Andrew’s cheek, slender fingers grazing the curve of his jaw, nails scraping against his beard with a feather-touch. It was different. It was different than being around girls, than touching girls — soft skin, smooth and fuzzy, not like this. Not this coarse, not this rough, not these hard lines and sharp edges. Somehow, it felt more right than anything he’d ever done.

He leaned in, slowly, slowly enough for Andrew to turn away if he wanted to, to wrench himself out of Steven’s grasp and tell him to fuck off if he needed to, but he didn’t. He stayed there, still, staring up at Steven as his eyes fluttered shut and his lips pressed against his. They moved against each other, in a slow, easy tandem — Steven, explorational and new; Andrew, hesitant but familiar.

After a minute or so — a minute that felt like ten minutes but also no time at all — Andrew pulled back, and Steven straightened.

“Was that… alright?” Steven asked, voice lower than a whisper.

Andrew looked almost pained, staring up at him. There was something in his eyes — wide, moony, fond in a way Steven had never noticed before, but also something… scared. “I don’t want this to be something you regret.”

Steven’s whole body tensed. His first reaction to the implication that this was some kind of game to Steven was anger — if Andrew thought that little of him, what kind of person was he? But after a beat, he realized: Andrew didn’t understand what kind of internal journey he’d been on, processing everything. He didn’t know how Steven felt. Steven hadn’t even said anything to him, not really. He’d just kissed him. And, from what little he knew, he knew that many friendships had been ruined before by this kind of — experimentation, non-committal, a cruel kind of dalliance that would become someone’s biggest missed mark and someone else’s biggest regret. Of course Andrew wouldn’t want that. Of course he’d be wary of being toyed with.

And, on top of that — there was the show. It was so important to both of them, and it wouldn’t be the same if they couldn’t work together — and if this went wrong, if this went downhill, if Steven kissed Andrew again (or went further, his brain offered) and regretted it, would they even be able to be in the same room together?

But it didn’t feel like that. It didn’t feel like a mistake. It felt like it did when he had resigned from his engineering job to work at Buzzfeed. It felt like it did when he pitched the show. It felt like it did, the first time Andrew sat in the passenger seat of his car on the way to a restaurant — it felt right. It felt like things were as they should be, with his lips against Andrew’s.

He spoke, finally. “You aren’t a mistake. You couldn’t be.” He dipped down to kiss Andrew again, slowly, softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so sure about anything in my life.” He pulled back as Andrew snaked an arm around his waist, looking up at him. “Too much? Too fast?”

Andrew gripped him tighter, pulling him closer. His arms were just as strong, just as steadying as they looked. He wrapped one of his hands around Andrew’s, the one resting on his hip, and ran his thumb across the back of it. “God, this is so crazy. No. Not too fast. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this. As long as you’re sure.”

Steven kissed him again — or, rather, he tried, but he couldn’t bear to close his eyes, and he smiled so wide against Andrew’s lips it was barely a kiss at all. “Crazy is what we do, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

Steven’s hands moved to Andrew’s shoulders, steadying himself as he moved to kneel on the bed, straddling Andrew. Andrew’s free hand tangled itself in Steven’s hair, and he pulled him close for another kiss.

“You taste like grapes and ethanol.”

“You taste like the essence of a rubber band.”

“Steven Lim, I fucking hate you.”

“You don’t.”

“I don’t. Not even a little.”

#buzzfeed worth it #steven lim #andrew ilnyckyj #standrew #fic*#im FINALLY posting this on tumblr #i wanted to wait until i had a proper buzzfeed blog and Now I Do I Guess

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iviaggidianica · 6 years ago

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giorno uno: metropolitan panic & luxury fashion stores

My flights were not pleasant, but not abhorrently intolerable. On the 5 hour stint I watched Vox Lux (weird & unnerving) and then some of The Princess Diaries (familiar and comforting). A chicken curry & pot of ice cream later, I managed to get myself on a skybus to the right terminal, and after asking for help at an info centre (yep I did actually ask), I went to the next gate. I passed Amy Ross on the way, who was going to the USA - an unlikely coincidence!

On the 12 hour flight I was determined to sleep the entire time but drifted in & out due to meals, coldness, discomfort and turbulence. I would wake up every time thinking ‘surely it’s time to get off now’, but alas. There was some passive aggressive gentle elbowing of the large old man sitting beside me encroaching on my personal space, and at one point some orange juice went flying as I knocked it in its holder in my attempt to get comfortable. That’s about as descriptive as a 12 hour flight can get.

Arriving in Milan was the part I was most anxious about. I stood in the passport line for about 30 minutes, awfully dehydrated. Eventually got in, stood at the wrong baggage collection for an embarrassing amount of time, traipsed through the airport to find the Malpensa Express and kissed goodbye to £13 to buy tickets. On the train we passed lots of green shrubbery, crumbling graffitied walls, yellow painted houses, and then all of a sudden we hit the city.

I walked around for almost an hour trying to find the hotel which was purportedly 10 minutes away from the station (it was, just not when you factor in the incompetence of Google Maps). I asked a man at a fresh drinks vendor & a lady in a chemist for some vague Italian-inflected directions, clinging onto every ‘sinistra’ and ‘destra’ I picked out, and eventually pulled my case up the stairs to reception. Proceeded to have a major panic as I couldn’t find my passport hidden in my bag lining - an Australian Consulate building flashed before my eyes in those few moments - and then entered my...room. A sink, bed, table, window, fan - a single toilet and shower located down the hall. Not going to lie - after my disheartening rigmarole throughout the city trying to find the place, running on few hours sleep and little food/water, the room was the yucky little cherry on top. I called Mum, which of course made me feel better, and pulled myself together.

(Already a MESS!)

(The holy fan)

(View from my room)

I contacted a girl, Aaliyah, who I met at UWA at the leaving meeting. I suggested we have dinner together, and so we planned to meet at 3PM at central station to go to Duomo. I was very nervous considering I’d only talked to her for all of 20 minutes in the past.

Whilst waiting for 3 to roll around, (it being around 12 at this point) I decided to walk to the station to have lunch before meeting her. The following sentence will not please Tonya: after wandering around and mainly just being unable to understand the cuisines/prices/formality of the restaurants & cafes, I stumbled into Maccas. And I felt a strange sense of peace, as even the interiors are exactly the same as at home. I ordered a burger, proud of myself for understanding Italian, and then walked to find somewhere else to sit as Maccas was packed with hungry travellers with suitcases. (Quality report: both the chicken and the bread bun in Italian McDonalds, it seems, are actually real).

I had really over-estimated the amount of time I would need to eat one burger. So I walked back to my hotel as a practice run, so that I wouldn’t endure that horrific goose chase from the beginning of the day again. Ended up resting in my hotel for a bit more and then went out to properly meet Aaliyah.

Was still early. And Aaliyah a little late. And my phone charge dying. Went and read some non fiction books about space and time in a shop at the station, called Mum again to express my nervousness, and then went to sit firstly near the steps that go down to the metro, before a cigarette-smoking bogan family drove me to another more isolated bench (more first impressions of Milan as a city in a moment).

Finally went down into the bowels of the metro, pretending to know what I was doing by walking fast and swerving at the appropriate signs. It was surprisingly easy. I bought tickets from a tobacco shop, where the Italian man was more than willing to help and graciously wished me a wonderful day. “Grazie” is beginning to roll off the tongue like second nature now, ah yers.

Aaliyah’s train would stop at my station, and then would go straight on to Duomo. I waited for Aaliyah at the tracks, but due to bad coordination I got ON the train and she got OFF to meet me. It was quite funny. Then when we arranged to just meet at Duomo, meaning she had to follow me a few minutes after on a separate train, she accidentally got off on the stop after. Truly a comedic sequence of events. Once she took a train back in the opposite direction we met beside a massive regal horse statue directly in front of the Duomo which probably has great significance which I’m overlooking. Stepping out to see the cathedral, in fact, wasn’t so much of a “wow, there’s the cathedral!” moment, but just a blind frenzy of trying to find a “girl who looks like a cow”, as Aaliyah self-described her animal-print outfit.

We met and were immediately barraged by street sellers, coming up to us and tying rainbow strings - yes, strings - around our wrists in the name of ‘peace and love’, and then asking for money. As Aaliyah is originally from Sudan, many African sellers sucked up to her, giving her discount offers. But we declined the £20 carriage ride and professional photography in front of the cathedral.

We took some pictures ourselves (better ones of me fully standing there, plus us together, are with Aaliyah and will come through at some point. These don’t do justice and I’m making weird faces, I know).

(You asked for pics with my face in them, this is what you get)

Then we went to the Duomo shopping place, which was art in itself. Looked a lot like the Melbourne arcades, but...far more impressive. We went inside the luxury stores including Prada, Chanel, Georgio Armani, Michael Kors, etc...and I suppressed my shock as Aaliyah seriously contemplated buying her parents £300+ gifts. And she probably will end up going back and doing so.

(Aaliyah + me looking like I’m grimacing, because that’s what happens when your phone is on the lowest possible brightness setting and you can’t see yourself.)

The shop assistants are SO friendly. They obviously want to sell you things, but they take a legitimate interest in you. The man in Georgio Armani talked to us about Australia & growing up in Italy & our respective interests in fashion & his fear of flying - it feels like you can just make friends with anyone and everyone in Italy. Nobody really keeps to themselves. This is great, but also a bad thing when you’re running on maybe 5 hours of sleep over 2 days and being friendly seems like the biggest chore on earth.

Aaliyah went and got prescriptions for Ray Bans, as you do, whilst I thankfully sat on a couch and pretended to go on my phone - pretended, because it was now on 5% and I was desperately trying to preserve power for my journey home. Here is an unnecessary pictorial documentation of this incident.

We went to a pizza place someone had recommended Aaliyah, got some large slices, then went and sat inside McDonalds (don’t worry, it was just a place to sit). Then Aaliyah accompanied me to the station so I could go home, around 7:30PM; but then the most bizarre thing occurred.

A man with spiked up hair walking hurriedly suddenly stopped as and said something in Italian, to which we responded ‘parlo inglese’ and continued on our way, but then he started asking for directions for somewhere, or asking us if we knew something, and then suddenly said he worked for a modelling company and we were both really great candidates and there was going to be a party at a well known club in Milan (Aaliyah knows of it) and wants us to come, and because Aaliyah had been receiving compliments all day from shopkeepers etc for her appearance I wasn’t so much doubtful of that compliment, but it was dodgy how he stopped us randomly and didn’t even seem to know what he was talking about at first. He continued for about 20 minutes and Aaliyah showed genuine interest whilst I was thinking nononono ALERT, and in the end it ended up sounding actually real but no way my spiky haired friend. He’s going to send Aaliyah an invite for it, so she can go along and have fun - not I sir!

We parted ways and I felt very snazzy remembering how to do the whole ride back, and then walking back to my hotel without any Google prompts at all.

Now, first impressions of Milan: an ultra-busy Fremantle. Humid and hot, you can’t walk far without putting on a sweat. Metro lines, trams etc are very efficient, if a little ill-labelled. The people are all very extroverted, happy to talk, and happy to translate. Friendships could be made from a 5 minute ride on the metro - something impossible in Perth. There is an eclectic cultural mix, with many Indians, Africans, Muslims. All the business men always look like they’re off the cover of GQ with blue suits and slick cosmopolitan haircuts. There are many gracious, slender looking women, but mainly the girls all have that curly hair black rimmed glasses sportswear look. Everyone always looks like they have somewhere to go, and are going in confidence.

I wrote the following summation of the day about halfway it:

Throughout the entire journey thus far, I’ve found myself constantly asking the question: “why am I doing this?”. I don’t know if this is a normal thing to think. I just hope I can start to feel a bit less overwhelmed.

Yet at the same time, I haven’t really registered that I’m in Italy; anywhere of particular note. In that sense, I’m both numb and also overwhelmed at the same time. I’m looking forwards to Uni, where there’ll be plenty of English-speaking people to feel comfortable with.

A good sleep & food should restore me.

...and whilst today was by no means perfect and there were a lot of bad moments, I feel somewhat more hopeful tonight.

Now, let’s see if these posts will continue at this length, or at all!

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ciathyzareposts · 6 years ago

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Rome: Pathway of Power – The Woad Warrior

Written by TBD

Hector’s Journal #2: “You’ve heard the story before. The slave who became a general… or was it the other way around? Either way, I keep improving my station through means having nothing to do with my skills. Let’s see if I can keep this going – if I do, I could even be Emperor one day!”

When last we looked in on Hector the slave owner, he’d failed multiple times at having his slave win a gladiatorial battle. So without having any better ideas, I kept trying…

Reloading after not having played the game for a few days, I’d forgotten I’d saved the game after already owning a slave so accidentally bought a different slave.

Let’s take a look at my inventory…

Slaves are like Pringles – you can’t stop at one.

Well, I’ve now got two slaves and 25 sesterces. I still owe the moneylender 60 sesterces and need some amount more than 40 to bribe my way into the Palace. So let’s see if we can win a fight at the arena now. Maybe Billius and Barbarus can be the first ever tag-team.

On my first attempt, both Billius and Barbarus died to Ignominius’ sword.

But I kept trying. After another loss, my fight was against Lurkio instead of Ignominius. I remember Lurkio being bad at fighting before, so felt my chances were good.

Nice work, Billius!

Well, it was much easier against Lurkio. I’m glad I’ll never have to fight the unbeatable Ignominius. Let’s see who wants to challenge the new champion, Billius…

Oh, bugger.

Billius died, then I entered Barbarus, who also died. 65 sesterces still wasn’t enough to bribe the palace guard, so it was back to the drawing board.

I’d saved after Billius won the first fight, so just kept quitting the game and reloading (the game won’t let me load within the game so I have to quit without saving, then restart the game in order to do the equivalent of a LOAD command.)

Eventually Billius beat Ignominius.

The fact that the guy who risked his life gets nothing may seem inequitable, but just be glad I have the ability to LOAD an infinite number of times, Billius, or you’d be dead.

Well, I didn’t know how to withdraw Billius from the competition so a new challenger, Lecherus, killed him in the next fight. I still had 105 sesterces, and Billius had only cost me 5 so I leave as the soldiers take Billius’ body away. I’ll be sure to say something good about him for my eulogy – he did make me a profit of 75 sesterces, after all.

ECONOMIC ADVICE: If you reload and save-scum enough, slaves have a very good ROI.

Anyway, now that I’m richer, the palace guard will let me in for 80 sesterces.

Hmm. Perhaps the conspirators should have just bribed the guard to get an audience with the unguarded Emperor?

While talking to the Emperor, I now have a WARN option in my DO menu, so I use it.

After I warn him about Fellonius’ murder plot, I get a little cutscene.

And if he hadn’t confessed, I’d have been the one put to death. What a fair and balanced legal system!

I’m immediately given a commission as a Centurion. I’m sent to the rain-soaked land of Britannia, which, while currently part of the Roman Empire, has been somewhat retaken by a rebellious tribe of Celts.

So who exactly IS the Boss? Hogg? Nass? Tony Danza?

BRITTANNIA

Wait, so not only did the Emperor make a guy with no military experience a soldier, he put me in charge of an entire invading army? This Emperor is an idiot – maybe I should have let Fellonius depose him.

Oh dear. I’m now in a Real Time Strategy game. Now, it’s time to admit that RTS games are not one of my favourite genres. I like city building games like Pharaoh and Emperor, but get bored with the fighting parts. I hate controlling armies and having to carefully use the best strategies in order to succeed. And there aren’t any difficulty settings in this game so it looks like I’m stuck. Sigh.

As the only part of RTS games I like is building things, I choose to build a fort on the beach we start at.

Maybe we can conquer this land by challenging the Celts to a sandcastle building contest.

The way this section of the game works is we need to conquer this land by taking the enemy standard. Basically, it’s a ‘Capture the Flag’ game. Exactly how taking a flag determines which government controls your country isn’t made clear, but it’s no more ridiculous than watery tarts distributing swords, so I’ll let it pass.

First, let’s look at some of the features of this new interface by detailing the buttons on the left of the screen.

UNIT These buttons let us control each of our IV legions separately, or just use them all together with the ALL button. I did some things early on by getting different units to do things, but quickly got everyone killed by splitting my army so only used the ALL button for most of the game.

FORM The form command simply lets you line up your soldiers in the direction you choose. I can have my units form up in orderly rows to the north, south east or west. I found this useful when entering a choke-point, such as a bridge that I suspected Celts to be amassing behind. But I mostly didn’t use this, not knowing where the bad guys were until they were already running at us.

ORDER I can give lots of orders. While I tested out all those possible commands, I basically used a total of four of them.

WHO? This gives me details on whichever soldier I click on.

Sometimes they are various levels of tired so I let them rest. This guy is ENERGETIC so he can keep working for now.

Oh no, Centurion Benny Hill has died!

RUN This works the same way as in the cities. Run only works for me though, so if I have soldiers following me they lag behind very quickly. A useless command in this section.

MAP

The map starts in a fog of war. The red dots in the bottom right are my soldiers. I can move the red cross wherever I want and Hector will pathfind there. You can see the southern wall of one of the villages at the middle left.

STD This just lets me drop or pick up my standard (flag.) I can put it somewhere and at any point have the soldiers rally or retreat to it, but in reality I just kept it with me at all times except when I accidentally dropped it somewhere.

SYSTEM This also works the same as the city levels, which lets me quit (with or without saving) or restart the level or game.

Anyway, I start off by just having all soldiers follow me as I walk around looking for some Celts to kill.

Ooh. I think I found Pointy Stonehenge?

When I meet some British soldiers, I try the complicated battle tactics of screaming at everyone to do the bleeding obvious.

These are the kind of military tactics you get when you promote a guy who has never led anyone in his life.

Little known fact: Ancient Celts used Australian slang.

After a short fight, we lose. I lose a lot in this game. The dodgy pathfinding I’ve found so far in this game doesn’t belong solely to Hector. When I order my troops to attack, a number of them run off in random directions rather than where the obvious enemies are. Perhaps they want to take the long way around? Partly due to this, but mostly due to my general lack of skill and tactics, I die a lot. Whenever I die, I get an end screen and am told how I am to be killed.

You aren’t the first people to burn me in a wicker cage. I faced the same death in King’s Quest VI! I know how to get out of this – does anybody have any tears from a baby tear plant???

There are a few villages on the map that I can attack.

And sometimes the game’s stupid pathfinding makes me restart the entire chapter because it sucks.

For some reason, my partly built fort stopped me from leaving through the extremely large gap to the west and I had to restart the section. I hate you, game’s pathfinding!

It does kind of look like I know what I’m doing sometimes, but trust me, I don’t. All these men died within a few minutes.

And sometimes weird things happen, and all the Celts seem to be sitting down nursing a grazed knee or something.

I’m not trying my luck so I order the army to walk past them hoping they don’t notice us.

Now, as I mentioned, I died a lot in this part. I’ll admit that after many deaths I looked up a walkthrough for this stupid strategy section – I hope you don’t mind. I was really getting frustrated and had no desire to fully learn a system I wasn’t having fun playing. By cheating in this manner, I read that if I enter the huts I can actually make some cash which will apparently be useful in the future.

Pillaging: To rob a place using violence. I get that you’re waging war here, Hector, but do you have to sound so gleeful about it?

The walkthrough also gave me lots of tactics, and the advice to take all the villages before going for the standard, as I might need the money later.

But I couldn’t be bothered with all that, so after resorting to a walkthrough, I largely ignored it, and just kept restarting, ordering my entire army to follow me, and aiming straight for the main village in the north, almost always getting myself and my army killed before reaching the village.

Eventually, after many tries, I win the battle and me and my remaining 4 soldiers take the British Standard.

That’s what you get for trying to be independent, Britain! And I suggest you do the same in future if any of your rebellious colonies tries to rebel!

I return to Rome as a victorious General.

And as such a victor, the Emperor gives me another promotion.

It’s good that no jobs in the Roman Empire require any skills or experience. A few months ago my only experience was in mail delivery!

The crowd gives me a round of applause, and I get ready to start my new job. I notice that Barbarus is still following me around. I’m glad he found me after I arrived back from Britain.

And after that ordeal in Britain (I mean MY ordeal, not Hector’s) I think it’s time to take a break for now. At the start of this section I thought I was travelling a similar career path as Maximus from the movie, Gladiator. Now that I’m a Senator I’m wondering if I’m following the path of a different movie character.

I AM the senate!

Session time: 2 hours 30 minutes (I swear it felt like I was playing that RTS section for much longer) Total time: 5 hours 35 minutes Inventory: 85 sesterces, Barbarus

source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/rome-pathway-of-power-the-woad-warrior/

#retro games #dos games #retro #crpg #adventure #amiga #oldcomputers #8bit #16bit #blog #repost

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rachelisnotatwork · 7 years ago

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Week 2: somewhere at the end of a million rainbows

Monday morning we had a lazy start to the day, because our converted chapel was pretty nice, so we couldn’t be bothered to hurry out of it. We did eventually set out on a walk that was much recommended by our Airbnb owner as it visited several waterfalls in the Breacon Beacons. Apparently the walk is incredibly crowded in summer. It is significantly less crowded in September, in the pouring rain, when the paths are a mixture of muddy and flooded. My new walking boots were thoroughly broken in by the end of it… On the plus side though, the lack of walkers meant lots of blackberries to snack on in the rain.

Naturally as soon as our walk came to an end, the weather cheered right up and we were treated to beautiful views as we drove through the Beacons to the town of Brecon, where naturally we got cake. Then we headed home for another evening of lazing in front of the fire.

The next day we said a sad goodbye to our airbnb and headed to Tintern Abbey. Plus side our entry was half-price, downside was because they were blatantly setting up for a film (although they didn’t say what) so the entrance to the abbey was inaccessible. The rest is pretty dramatic though and the weather held, so we didn’t get rained on.

Our next stop was Cardiff castle. Normally I’m not a fan of castles (although I sometimes forget this fact, but am swiftly reminded when anyone starts talking about ramparts) but this one has some seriously bonkers gaudy interiors so I was keen. We paid up, went in and then a friend who I’d told we were going pointed out it was free with an art pass. So the first part of the visit was Marcel going back in to request a refund (which we got). We did a bit of wandering around seeing stuff with our audio tour (Marcel accidentally got one in German, which meant I “finished” each bit way before him due to the endless compound nouns he was hearing) and then we got a tour of the interior. Which might be a decent example of the phrase “more money than sense” but it made for entertaining viewing.

On our way back to the car we decided to take a shortcut through an arcade and found a liquid nitrogen ice cream place, which I was thrilled by because there if there is one thing I love more than ice cream, it is ice cream made with liquid nitrogen steaming the place out. After that we drove onto Swansea in ever worsening weather (thank you Storm Aileen or whatever you name was), so our only site of Swansea was racing into an Indian for dinner and back.

Bizarrely after the weather of the previous night, the next day was suspiciously fine. We headed for a spot called Three Cliffs Beach, which is beautiful and...incredibly treachorous to get down to after a heavy rain. After slithering down to it, we then had to take our socks and shoes off to wade across a river to it. Not going to lie, it was pretty bloody cold. Beach was beautiful enough to make it worth it.

We also stopped at Rhossili beach, which is also stunning and was very empty. Marcel wanted to take a walk, but the wind was sandblasting our legs and filling our shoes with the deposits so I wasn’t keen. So we hit the road again.

We decided on the “city” of St David’s for lunch (which we had in the visitors centre and was REALLY good) and to visit their cathedral. St David’s is tiny, village-size, with a HUGE cathedral. It’s actually a very nice cathedral (even for grumpy atheists like myself) although it is rather alarmingly wonky inside. They replaced the stone ceiling with a wooden one in the 1600s to see if that would stop the walls and floor sagging. It didn’t, but it looks rather nice. They make you pay £2 for a permit to take photographs inside so I decided to get my money’s worth and take about a million.

Our stop for the night was Aberysthwyth, which was selected on the basis that it was about as far as we wanted to drive in one day. This turned out to be an excellent choice, because it is actually a really nice university town. We had a great dinner at a place called Medina (bit like Ottolenghi but half the price) and then did some late night shopping at Tesco, where we randomly ended up chatting to the shop assistant about how people that come to Tesco’s shoplift cheese more than anything else. I like the idea that we are a nation of cheese thieves...

On Thursday morning we went somewhere equally great for breakfast called Sophie’s, where were were served delicious vegetarian hash by an Australian (given that there was driving rain outside again, I felt I really should apologise). We headed off into Snowdownia, hoping for a scenic drive. It rained. Heavily. Throughout. Did see a couple of rainbows though.

Our end destination was the town of Porthmadog, which has a lot of tiny expensive steam railways running from it. We picked the Ffestiniog railway. Our train up was SUPER crowded, which was annoying as we got some last minute passengers next to us who were talkers and if there is one thing tiny slow scenic steam trains are for, it is pleasant, contemplative silence.

The train was supposed to stop for 20 minutes at the top, but due to running late on the way up, it left early. I’m pretty sure that stranded about half the occupants at the top (including our chatty neighbours) but it made for a much more pleasant ride down for those of us that made it (Marcel and I) and the weather cleared right up and it was a pleasure.

After checking in at our hotel for the next night and grabbing a quick slice of cake for a late lunch, we decided to explore the area. Marcel wanted to visit this weird, mock-Italian village near by. We headed up there. We then found out it was an ex-film set that they wanted a hefty entrance fee to go into and from a distance it looked like cut-price Disney land. We decided there was better free entertainment to be had so found a local park in a converted explosive works called Gwaith Powdwr, where we went for a really nice sundown walk.

For dinner, we picked an Asian fusion place in the tiny village we were in, which served Marcel frog legs. He was ecstatic about that (apparently they taste just like tiny chicken), and whilst intellectually I tried to rationalise it, pratically I just tried hard not to vom into my napkin.

Our B&B was lovely but was one of those places that serve their included breakfast super early, so I ate that in a glowering, sleep-deprived silence before we headed out. You can drive pretty far up Snowdonia and we decided to do that but by the time we reached it, it was solid rain and clouds. After watching a few miserable mac-clad people head up there from the comfort of our car, we turned around and moved onto our next stop.

This was a walk up to a lake. The rain stopped and a rainbow came out just before we set off.

This bodes well we thought. That was just a sneak trick on the part of the weather to get us to climb up somewhere distant from our car before raining on us. It had clearly been raining like this for a little while as the path was mostly a river, the river had mostly burst it’s banks and what was clearly a tiny waterfall was now a raging torrent. We battled on, cold rain trickling down the back of our necks and into our boots. I was wearing my winter coat as it was a balmy 9c outside. Just before we got to the lake the rain stopped.

We stood there, admiring the view and noticed some brightly coloured flashes in one corner of the lake. Closer inspection revealed a group of 10 or so swimmers getting in. This would have been fairly unbelievable at any point where its 9c outside, but especially when you have to walk 25 minutes from the car park (and therefore have to go for 25 minutes back after getting out of the freezing water). Made our complaints about the rain seem a bit puny.

Our next stop was a place called Swallow Falls, for a quick stop off. Marcel wanted to get lunch in Bets-y-Coed, but unfond memories of a miserable rainy school trip there in the midst of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis, surrounded by mountains of burning farm animals, meant I put my foot down.

So instead we went on to the aqueduct. I was a bit sceptical about walking across it and thought I might be happier taking a boat, but actually it’s far nicer to be walking along it with a nice high fence to one side and the canal to the other, rather than be on a boat with about 3 inches between you and a very long drop. We then had a great lunch at a canal boat cafe, so it was a win all around.

We finished just in time for a quick stop off in Wrexham, as when we’d been by the canal they’d been advertising something called The Wonder Quilt of Wrexham so naturally I had to see it. It turned out to be a quilt I’d seen at the V&A a few years ago, which featured some hilariously malformed animals, so it was well worth a second visit.

Our stop for the night turned out to be a surprisingly nice flat above a chippie in Macclesfield (we got free chips!) We did some laundry without checking the facilities for drying it so the rest of the evening was spent finding creative places to hang laundry and working out a rotation rota for the one radiator. Oh and we saw even more rainbows.

We’d gone to Macclesfield as it was the nearest affordable place to the Peak District, so the next morning we headed out to explore. We started out with a fairly boring river walk. Then we went to Chatsworth. We used our art passes to get a discount and the guy on the door told us since we were art pass holders, we’d be especially interested in their current outdoor sculpture exhibition. We were, because it allowed me to indulge in my statue posing habit.

We had planned only to visit the gardens, but the half-price art pass deal only worked if you bought house and gardens tickets. This turned out to be well worth it as the interior of Chatsworth is bonkers.

I’m not sure what it is normally like (I imagine fairly crazy) but they were having a 500 years of fashion exhibition and so had lots of weird outfits on very strange mannequins everywhere. It was certainly...different.

We had a late tea in their farm shop, which has calves grazing outside. Seems a touch uncharitable since they serve beef. Wonder if it’s a bit like picking lobsters in a fancy fish restaurant? The calves were probably used to relieving toddlers of their sandwiches so were very friendly.

We really struggled to get accommodation on the Saturday night and ended up at a very lonely pub, staying in a room that overlooked the car park and had walls presumably made of tissue paper and a guest upstairs wearing bricks for shoes or so I can only guess from the noise. We went out for Indian on the basis you can’t really get bad indian food. We were oh so wrong.

The next morning was for once sunny! We headed for the Yorkshire Dales and had a gorgeous walk going to Janet’s Foss (seeing weird tree trunks studded with money, no idea what that’s about), Gordale Scar and Malvern Cavern. We even got concerned we might get sunburnt, although that didn’t stop us sitting out and eating a really bad lunch by the riverside at the bottom.

Afterwards we decided to rest our legs and do some scenic driving through the dales. All good. Except for when we crested a particularly large hill on a one-car track in the middle of nowhere and the car started to make an almighty beeping noise and flash up the weirdest warning light in the world and the message “Engine Workshop!” This did not clear things up much. Marcel was for stopping and investigating there and then. I was not, because if there is one thing you don’t want to do it is stop a car that is still driving in the middle of nowhere in case it won’t start again.

So we drove to the next village whilst Marcel consulted the manual (which told us our error was “glow plugs” which neither of us had ever heard of as apparently they are a diesel car thing). We found a piece of gravel to stop on and a bit of reception so googled the problem. The internet suggested it might be the brake lights. We tested them and they weren’t working. So we stopped the car and changed the bulbs. I went to switch it back on. Still no brake lights. Nevermind I said, we can drive using hand signals to our stop for the night and then find a garage.

I had however not accounted for the fact that automatic cars are shits. So whilst the engine would turn over the car would not exit from park, I assume as a safety measure. This was less than ideal. So was the man who then came out and said the bit of gravel we were on was his private property and he needed it for people who might want to park there (there were about 6 car spaces worth of gravel and we were on one bit of it). I told him if he could get the car to move, we would be thrilled. He scurried back inside. I muttered that I thought Yorkshire people were supposed to be friendly.

We phoned the RAC who said they didn’t have anyone “in an area that rural” and they’d try and find some subsidary to come out to us. We pottered around the local graveyard. We came back and realised curiousity over us had caused somewhat of a traffic jam, with people keen to offer help and tell us that the man whose house we had broken down opposite was a “right prat” and to ignore his claims about private parking. Faith in Yorkshire people restored.

A mechanic came out amazingly swiftly and he managed to fix the fault temporarily which was with a sensor under the brake pedal...but he told us it could go again at any time and we needed to find a garage with proper Skoda diagnostics. This was less than ideal given our location.

We drove on to our next stop, Ribblehead Viaduct, but we were too anxious to stop the car so didn’t wait to see a train cross.

Instead we drove on to our final stop, which was a lovely B&B in Windmere (where our hosts were very friendly and kept talking about our “traumatic day” as if we’d been through war not a minor breakdown) and we walked out for dinner and made plans for the next day.

What we agreed on in the end was that we’d explore the Lake District as planned, then drive onto Glasglow for a proper check out. If the fault recurred again at any point, we’d just drive straight to Glasgow without making the mistake of turning off the engine and hope we had enough fuel to make it.

And so there ended the week, with us nervous and the car complaining.

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emutravels · 8 years ago

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My most valued items from Japan

I hadn’t been to Japan before so prior to my departure so many people were giving me suggestions on packing. But what did I actually need? These people were giving me suggestions based on Tokyo life but actually rural Japan is quite different sometimes. Also personal choice and little things which are overlooked often turned out to be the most helpful.

Here is my list of items that were important to me in Japan!

1. A coin purse OR a coin-friendly wallet Japan has A LOT of coins, specifically one yens that always seem to end up in my possession. I brought two wallets with me to Japan and neither were great for holding coins. There was one day where I couldn’t deal with the fact that my bag had just become a void where I threw all my change. How does it feel to have 50,000 yen worth of coins in your bag? Pretty much how you’d assume; annoying and heavy. I also ended up having a small origami box of coins that sat on my shelf and I tried to use up for things like laundry and vending machines. Somehow at the airport I thought I’d gotten rid of all my coins when I changed currency...but they still appear from time to time.

2. Duct tape Beautiful invention that is now very close to my heart. I can’t explain why I first impulsively bought that bright yellow tape from Daiso the first time. I guess when you walk into a 100yen store sometimes you go into a trance and buy whatever you look at twice. It came in handy for sooo many things. I used it for photography, for craft, to pack parcels to send home, hanging things on my wall, etc

3. A coat. Actually several. Japan is COLD in the winter. Northern Japan is freeze-ya-face-off-cold-unless-youre-Canadian kind of weather. Some of the best clothing purchases I made were second-hand coats and jumpers.

4. Speaking of clothes. SNOW BOOTS. Don’t be afraid to shop in the childrens section if it fits you because thats how I ended up with kitsch snow boots at a decent price. They were warm and had little grips on the bottom so falling over wasn’t a problem for me! Though the worst feeling was when I stupidly didnt do them up properly and when trekking through the snow accidentally flicked a big chunk into them and got wet socks T^T

5. A ceramic bowl. I only had one bowl and I used it for everything but that was all that I needed. When you’re living in a dorm sometimes you just gotta get that instant food or go to someone else’s house who has a kitchen and is cooking a communal meal. Specially ceramic because its the most versatile. I could microwave it, make tea with it, soup, cereal, AND its easy to wash. Otherwise a nice tip is disposable cups for when you are a lazy arsehole like I am sometimes. *makes porridge, eats it, throws away the cup*

6. Food from your home country. Everyone from Australia and England went through a weird stage when we all wanted Cadbury chocolate. It’s EXPENSIVE in Japan and difficult to find in rural Japan anyway. I ended up paying my best friend to send over a package of Australian lollies and oats. I promise I didn’t eat them all myself! It was a good way to share culture as well. Like introducing people to WIZZ FIZZ and sometimes it was good to combat homesickness.

7. Deodorant. Again, rural Japan, we had limited shopping choices and I know people were constantly on the hunt to find deodorant they liked. It’s quite a new thing in that country so if you’re particular about types that you prefer like “I only like roll on and a brand which isn’t going to make me broke“.....maybe bring some with you if you go to Japan

8. An iPhone. Yesss I bought my phone in Japan. My other shitty phone died almost instantly after leaving Australia. So until AU (a phone company) graciously saved me with their student discounted bundle with lots of data, I was phoneless and it was not good. Having data was so handy that I could explore more and it pretty much saved me when I got lost in the forest. The picture quality meant that I didn’t have to worry about also getting a digital camera. It was one of those things that made me think “I love technology“. The best part is that I got an SE so its a stylish rose gold and its bulkier so *touch wood* its never cracked and I’ve already had it for almost 6 months.

9. Bento. I’m not saying that you should bring a small box to a buffet if youre a starving student and I’m deffo not saying that I did either. But a bento is a great way to save food for later and sometimes I’d just fill it with rice. Finding places to get food on the weekend was hard and sometimes I didn’t eat because I couldn’t actually get any food. All the shops around were closed and it was still maybe another 2-3 hours until the bus to the mall so I just went to sleep and tried to forget I was hungry. ITS TERRIBLE I KNOW, but if I was prepared enough I’d have a bento stashed and I could eat that instead of being a sad excuse of a person.

10. Muji pens. STOCK UP because for some reason muji brand pens became a staple. Everyone just used them for everything without question and there was a store nearby so I also got sucked into the trend. I still use them now and always have the urge to buy more even though I’m so far way from the closest shop now

Also a bonus suggestion is if you’re going to Japan during summer its advised that you get a small towel to carry with you. Many people do this, I was not one of them but maybe next time I will be.

#japan #travel #rural japan #life in japan

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tgotp · 8 years ago

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Byron the Drink Tipper Walking down the radiant streets of Byron Bay, it’s nearly impossible not to be handed tickets for local night life activities, therefore it is no surprise when Meg and I run into two of our hostel roommates (two pretty blonde Swedish girls who have mostly kept to themselves throughout their stay) outside the same pub. Having made friends with most of the roommates that have come through our hostel, these Swedish girls haven’t come across all too friendly. In fact, I find them rather standoffish and rude. Chatting politely while waiting to be seated, the girls tell us they too are going to Woody’s later tonight - the “go to” bar in Byron Bay. After checking our ID’s, a waitress leads us out of the daylight and shows us in to the dimly lit pub. Finding a table to sit at proves to be difficult since the pub is completely overflowing, full of people loading up on food, preparing themselves for a night of drinking at Woody’s.

Unsure whether or not we are eating with these girls, Meg and I keep our eyes open for a table big enough to sit four. As it turns out, there is only one spot open anyway; a long bar style table with four stools side by side. Figuring this means we are sitting together, we each take a seat and examine the menus that have been set between the salt and pepper shakers. Strategizing which item on the menu will be the best to devour before a night out, our roommates leave the table to order their food first. After some serious thinking, Meg and I decide to order hamburgers and fries tonight. Leaving our water glasses on the table, along with our roommates’ sweaters to ensure nobody steals our seats, we walk up to the ordering station behind the Swedish girls and order our meals and, thanks to one of those street coupons, free drinks. Sipping on our drinks as we wander back to our table, Meg and I are taken aback when we see two boys already sitting in our seats next to our roommates. Apparently we are not dining together. Slightly irritated that the girls didn’t say something to the table thieves, Meg and I roam around the restaurant once again and find a new table to sit down and eat dinner on our own.

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Unfamiliar music is blaring out of the speakers as Meg and I abandon the dance floor for another round of drinks. Walking through Woody’s with our glasses sloshing around full of cider, we find ourselves zig zagging through dozens of what the Australian’s call “schoolies” - a group of high school graduates who are ready for a summer of nonstop partying. Squirming our way though bunches of kids, Meg leads us to a free booth for a dancing break. Resting our feet, we watch the sea of drunk, dancing schoolies celebrating their new found freedom. There are so many of them in this little beach town that when Meg and I stopped by Woolworths this afternoon, we basically ran out, gasping for air. Seventeen and eighteen year olds filled the aisles with 4-6 kids hanging off each shopping cart (and there were three to four carts per aisle), all the while bolting up and down the aisles, completely ignorant to any other human doing their shopping. While normally Meg and I are horrible with making snap decisions, we were in and out of that grocery store within minutes with everything we needed.

Taking my first sip of cider, I wrinkle my nose a little because the taste is quite bitter. Setting my full glass on the wooden table in front of me, a sudden a tiny yellow blur hops over the booth next to us and into ours. The yellow blur comes to a halt at my side. Turning to my left I find a considerably small, scrawny boy with bleach blonde shoulder length hair, brashly looking back at me through young innocent eyes. Sprawling his tiny arms behind his head, he eyeballs my drink resting on the table; perhaps he’s not old enough to order one himself and would like me to boot for him? Drowning in his oversized t-shirt and baggy surfer shorts, he leans back, making himself at home in our booth. I get the impression that he’s trying to send out a laid back vibe, as if he is attempting to appear older than he is. Regardless, he still looks about 12 years old and I wonder how he got in here.

“My name is Byron” declares the child. Completely amused, I make a remark about Byron in Byron Bay. This lame joke is brushed off right away so Meg and I introduce ourselves as well. In a rather nonchalant manner, Byron jumps right into mentioning that he and his friends are staying in the area for a weekend of non stop partying and “getting crazy”. He has such a baby face that I am struggling not to ask him for his ID. Instead, I ask him what the occasion is. Byron proudly informs us that he recently finished high school and this is a celebration trip. Ahh, so we have a schoolie among us. Meg and I enthusiastically congratulate him as he continues glancing over at my lone drink. Not realizing the two girls sitting in from of him are a good five to six years older than he is, Byron asks us if we are here to celebrate finishing high school as well. This isn’t the first time somebody has made this mistake, in fact, when we arrived in Australia at the Brisbane airport, one of the security officers asked me if Meg was over the age of 11. We do have relatively young faces and small figures. I tell him that we are actually here on a girl’s trip for a whopping 8 days. Seeing the puzzled look on his prepubescent face (a look Meg and I have gotten used to upon mentioning our short stay in Australia), I explain that I am a flight attendant, therefore I get very cheap airfare, while Meg owns her own business and can create her own schedule. As conversation begins to flow, Byron watches me as he casually inches his way closer towards the table that’s holding my beverage. Keeping eye contact, he leans across the table, raising his hand towards my full glass of cider. Pausing mid sentence, I look at him questioningly as I think he’s making a grab for my drink. His hand is slowly getting closer and closer to my drink and I don’t want his baby germs all over my cup so I ask him what he’s doing when all of a sudden, he flicks my full glass of cider knocking it over and spilling its contents all over the table, all the while keeping his eyes locked on mine.

Completely taken off guard, the only words that come to mind are profanities. Smirking and leaning back into a rather confident pose for a child who just purposely knocked over my virtually untouched drink, Byron says complacently, “I guess this means I have to buy you a drink”. So this is his move. This is how he thinks he’s going to pick up girls at the bar. Incredulously, I tell him he is damn right at guessing he needs to buy me a drink! He asks me what I want, so I coolly reply he needs to replace the cider I had JUST purchased. Rolling his eyes and shifting his posture into an even more obnoxiously overconfident fashion, he refuses to buy me a cider, as it is not a “real” drink, and begins to argue with me on what I should be sipping on. Clearly, this boy child has no idea who he is dealing with, as I can be quite the monster when it comes to ignorant, rude individuals. Of course, I am not upset over the drink tipping itself, frankly the cider was disgusting anyway, and the $10 spent is well worth this story to share back at home, however, this kid’s attitude is annoying. Who is he to flick over my barely touched glass of overpriced alcohol and then arrogantly inform me what I can or cannot drink? Reclining in his section of the booth, arms behind his head once again, Byron continues to smirk at me. Evidently amused by my reaction, I can tell he is enjoying himself and perhaps thinks our small dispute is all part of the game, so I decide to have my own fun and rip this toddler a new asshole. Almost right away, Byron sits up as the smirk on his little face slowly fades away while pure embarrassment and a hint of fear reaches his eyes. Demanding him to get his ass to the bar and order my replacement drink, while Meg is throwing in her two cents, Byron’s cool-guy demeanour completely vanishes as he realizes his pickup attempt is not going at all as planned. Avoiding eye contact, he hops from his seat, leaps out of our booth, promises me he’s going to replace my drink, and runs far, far away from me.

Meg and I glance at each other and explicitly burst out laughing, knowing full well Byron will be avoiding our booth like the plague. As we’re laughing, we apologize and explain to the girls who are sitting across from us (whose shoes are now wearing my spilled drink) and we all have a good laugh. Finally, a song Meg and I recognize comes blasting on the dance floor, causing us to excitedly jump up from our seats. As we do so, Meg swings her hand, which accidentally knocks over her own full glass of disgusting, overpriced cider. Absolutely dying of laughter, we decide it’s time to pack it in for the night.

Sure enough, as we’re making our way through a sea of schoolies towards the exit, we spot Drink Tipper Byron chatting up two blondes. As we casually stroll towards the trio, we discover the two blondes are actually our standoffish, Swedish roommates! Meg warns the girls that this gentleman is a drink tipper and is not to be trusted, while I ask the boy if he got distracted on his way to replace the drink he promised me. Byron looks positively terrified as I politely tell him that the way to a girl’s heart is not by purposely tipping over her full, newly bought drink.

Skipping away from the perfect trio, Meg and I cackle all the way out of the bar. I have to hand it to the kid, he has some serious balls doing what he did; it’s too bad he wasted such a move on a girl six years older than him with a honey back at home.

Kids these days.

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