#i hope that rio was the one who made the cake. making sweet cakes to his bf (megu)’s preferences so true~~~~~~~ | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

insomniac-dot-ink · 5 years ago

Text

Books I’ve Read in 2020

AHello! I’m trying to read as many books as I can during the quarantine, here’s what I’ve finished so far:

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (literary fiction): a son writes a letter about his life to his illiterate mother. Breathtakingly beautiful with it’s way with words this book is lovely and real in the hardest and sweetest ways. The author’s combination of prose and poetry is dazzling and intricate, this book has stuck with me for days afterward. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (fantasy): a money-lender gets in trouble after bragging she can turn silver into gold and is kidnapped and ordered to do so by a fey creature. It may be that I am the perfect audience for this type of book, but it’s my favorite thing I’ve read all year. It’s a book that equally takes on the fantastical and real-world with compelling female characters at the center of the whole thing. A wonderful fantasy journey inspired by eastern-European Jewish folklore. 5 out of 5 stars.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (horror graphic novel): a series of short horror comics. Absolutely bone-chilling! This was a really fun type of scary story, especially the last one which made my skin absolutely crawl. Deliciously eerie, this was treat to read if not a little too short. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (magical realism): a young girl can taste other people’s emotions in their cooking and begins to understand her family in new ways. This was a weird book, but it has everything you’ve got to love about that combination of the surreal and mundane. It’s sense of character was electrifying and I had fun engaging with this type of off-kilter real world. I was a little frustrated in parts bc of some characters choices, but that too was true to life. 4 out of 5 stars.

Crier’s War by Nina Varela (steampunk fantasy wlw): about a Made automaton heir to a throne and her human hand-maiden that is trying to kill her. This was an easy read with a lot of tension between the two main characters that I liked, but the writing itself was very weak. There was waaay too much exposition in parts and the dialogue had some really hockey lines. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the middle of the book, but the beginning and end didn’t have much movement. 2.5 stars out of 5.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn (historical fiction): honestly, I’m a little disappointed. This book just did not hit my sweet spots, it wasn’t fast-paced enough for me to get immersed in the plot, and the characters weren’t real enough to be wholly invested in them. That said I adored Nina Markova and the Night Witches, so that did help. 3 starts out of 5.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White (horror sci-fi retelling): HAND IN UNLOVABLE HAND. A retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from the perspective of Victor Frankenstein’s wife and my God! The characters! The plot was well-enough, but the characters took the whole show for being complex and compelling. The main character was breathtakingly layered and I was wholly invested in Elizabeth and her story and the triumph at the end of this story was tangible. 4 out of 5 stars!

Uprooted by Naomi Novik (fantasy): A story of a young woman who lives in a valley where a girl must go live with a wizard for 10 years. She is certain she won’t be chosen, but ends up having to be “uprooted” herself. I enjoyed most of this book! However, I think I liked “Spinning Silver” a lot more just because the ending of this one somehow lost me. The characters were good and plot compelling, but (SPOILERS) the big battle at the end seemed to drag and didn’t interest me somehow. 3.8 out of 5 stars.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (fantasy): excellent read! A story of a young woman in Jazz Age Mexico who goes on an adventure with a Mayan death God who is trying to regain his throne. A romp across the country absolutely brimming with likable characters and fairy tale twists. My only complaint would be that most of it felt a little predictable due to the fact we knew where we were going throughout the whole story, However, it was still greatly enjoyable for the heroine herself, Casiopea. 4 out of 5 stars!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (literary): a story of two families in a progressive “planned” community, how their lives intertwine, their secrets, and a central question surrounding motherhood. Deeply empathetic to its characters and introspective, this is an every-day story of people in suburbia that reads like a thriller. I could barely put it down and felt deeply for its characters and situations, 5 out of 5 stars!

Wilder Girls by Rory Power (YA sci-fi suspense): a story of a group of girls at a boarding school on an island affected by the “tox” which alters their bodies in strange ways like giving them scales or an extra spine. This was an eerie, interesting read with a wlw romance! Watch out for the body horror in this one, but it was very gripping and held my interest. Some of the pacing was off in places (like the romance), but had a very creepy atmosphere that did it for me. 3.8 out of 5 stars!

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (thriller-mystery): A thriller about a group of Shakespeare actors in their last year of college and one of their classmates who turns up dead. I enjoyed the murder mystery part of this novel more than I expected despite the fact I had guessed who had “done it” pretty early on. I really enjoyed the James-Oliver dynamic with its growing homoeroticism, but I didn’t like how the character of Meredith was handled at all. She felt like a one-note aside. I might have given this book four stars, but the ending was EXTREMELY frustrating for me and I did not like the “open-ended” conclusion. 3 out of 5 stars.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (literary humor): a weird character-driven comedy about an old grumpy man and a new family that moves in next to him. Warning for themes of suicide. Anyway, I don’t normally indulge in cliches like “I laughed, I cried, I loved one Cat Annoyance.” However, that’s exactly what I did. I laughed out loud, I cried my eyes out (THE CAT’S HEAD WAS IN HIS PALM), I loved this book. It was sweet and compelling and thoroughly immersive. 5 out of 5 stars!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (historical fantasy): set in the early 1900s comes a story of a young girl and her experience with “Doors” that lead to different worlds. This book had a lot of great character development and really interesting descriptions, however, I didn’t like it as much as I wanted to. I found it hard to get myself to sit down a read it. There was just something missing with the push to “page-turn,” but it was still a really good book. 3.7 out of 5 stars!

Gideon the 9th by Tamsyn Muir (high fantasy, kinda gay): I AM FILLED WITH EMOTIONS. This was book was definitely a page-turner. I was very confused with it at the beginning, but the characters and their interactions were, forgive the expression, the life blood of the story and kept me wholly invested. The ending has CRUSHED my heart, but damn did I have a good time reading it. 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Harrow the 9th by Tamsyn Muir (sequel to Gideon the 9th): I really enjoyed this book. It was just as strange and twisting as the first book, though I think I enjoyed the first one a bit more since I love Gideon. It was fun ride overall, though the ending was kind of really confusing. So 4 out of 5 stars.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (historical fiction): Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The writing style was personable and grounded in reality. I found myself really liking the main characters and the exploration of the life of a bi main character was really well done I thought. A solid book with drama and glamor to boot. 4.6 out of 5 stars!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (historical fiction): A story of two sisters during WWII and their resistance to Nazi occupation. To be honest, this book wasn’t my cup of tea. It was compelling, but also wholly depressing and I felt like gloried in the pain of the two main characters too much. The history was wonderful and realistic, but it didn’t make me feel anything good afterward. It was just dark. 3 out of 5 stars.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (mlm romance): I finally finished this after the heaviness of The Nightingale. This is a story of the First Son of the USA falling for the prince of England. And it turned out to be a very fun and light hearted read! Some of it was kinda generic and too political, and it coulda been shorter, but I thought the romance itself made up for it. It just made me feel so sweet and lovely inside. 4 out of 5 stars!

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (literary humor): I’m searching out heartfelt books and this one ticked off all the marks on my “sweet” list. A lovely book that made me cry more times than I would like to admit. Compassionate beyond belief, funny and heartfelt. I think I enjoyed A Man Called Ove slightly more, but this book was also dear to me and something I hope to reread in the future. 4.2 out of 5 stars!

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (sci-fi): A post-apocalyptical story about a group of traveling Shakespeare actors and a symphony. Overall, an excellent read that somehow pictures a more realistic or even softer version of the apocalypse. At first, I wasn't happy with the jumping around of the story, but as I progressed I grew fonder and fonder of the interwoven characters and their journey. A very fascinating read about a world that hits a little too close to home. The appreciation of the arts and preserving humanity was somehow very hopeful and I was fully engaged with this story. 5 out of 5 Stars!

Up next: The Hidden Life of Trees by by Peter Wohlleben (nonfiction science), The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (urban fantasy), The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (fantasy)

#I'll keep this list updated!#am reading #bookblr #IA talks #I've mostly read books I've really liked this year!#then again I rarely finish books I don't like

2K notes · View notes

thewitchofbooks · 4 years ago

Note

Konnichiwa~ How about...family headcanons for ikepri suitors???? You can chose whoever you want~ thank you! 🤝🤝

Hello there~You didn't ask for someone specific, but I didn't want to come to conclusions, so I wrote for everyone, haha. I hope you like it! Also, thank you for the request!

Game: Ikemen Prince

Type: Headcanons

Characters : All the characters

Warnings : Kind of spoilery, I hope it is okay, lol,my English,the characters might be ooc.

~Chevalier Michel

🔹Chevalier becomes a bit more gentle when you two start your own family.

🔹Sometimes, you catch him smiling at your children and playing with their chubby cheeks. They always giggle and hug him.

🔹He tries to tell them how much he loves them, more with his actions and not so much with words. But they know he absolutely loves them.

🔹"I love you too." You heard him once say. You peeked inside the library and saw your handsome husband kneeling in front of the youngest, who was crying. The moment your kid heard that, he/she was grinning as he/she threw himself/herself at Chevalier.

🔹Then Cheva walked out (after a lot of awkward but comfortable cuddles on a small chair.

"Chevalier?" You said his name.

"What?" You smiled and asked.

"What did you say before?" Chevalier frowned.

"Nothing that concerns you, dummy." You laughed as he walked away.

🔹Once, you went to wake Chevalier in your shared bedroom, only to see a large lump and a lot of smaller ones, covered with the fluffy blankets.

🔹Now you have to wake them all up, but you gave up a few hours later and slept with them.

🔹Chevalier is very clever and very strong so, sometimes, he teaches his children.

🔹Every night, he reads them to sleep.

~Clavis Lelouch

🔹You were in for it when you agreed to start a family with Clavis.

🔹If your children didn't look like him, they surely took his character.

🔹Clavis will be coming back after work and instead of being greeted with deep bows from the maids, he gets greeted with buckets full of sparkly confetti and glitter.

🔹He is very proud of them but he doesn't want you to have a lot of headaches.

🔹Clavis always makes time to play with his children. He is being sweet and he helps them however he can.

🔹He teaches them to not be too open with suspicious people and if they get in trouble, he shows them how to get out of it.

🔹He let's them keep pets. And if you're allergic to furr, it's okay! None of these pets have furr at all! They can be from small, little snakes to big birds and fishes.

🔹He is trying his best.

🔹Your children love him and they show it all the time.

🔹Clavis is getting attacked with love, which he wasn't used to. He was completely shocked. In the end, he got used to it and he adores it.

🔹There will be days where you'll wake up with sketches on your face and your husband laughing with your children.

🔹They are very adorable when they're sleeping together, Clavis arm wrapped protectively around them (and you, of course).

~Leon Dompteur

🔹Leon is a very loving man. You and the family you both made are his oxygen. You're the most important reason to keep loving and enjoying life at the fullest.

🔹There are days where Leon has finished with training his army, so he takes you and your children for rides with his horse.

🔹You ride in the city and go straight to the food section.

🔹He spoils his children very much, you have to stop him. Do they like sweets? He'll walk through hell to buy cakes, chocolates and everything else. (or ask Yves to bake fresh cakes, lolol). Do they not like sweets? What are those? He never heard of them. (He still eats them.)

🔹Leon always tries to find new activities, just to make sure his children are having fun in the palace, or outside.

🔹Everytime they do something troublesome, like breaking glasses and plates with their father, they try to play innocent.

🔹If they have nightmares, Leon will help them through them.

🔹He always tells them that they don't have to 'stop seeing nightmares' to be brave. Braveness is when they search for someone they trust, because opening up is harder than keeping it inside.

"But dad, when I'm sad and I don't tell anyone... am I weak?" Leon wiped his kid's tears away.

"No. You are strong. But if it is something too hard to keep to yourself, you can share it with anyone you trust."

~Yves Kloss

🔹Yves is a big tsundere and he is shy. So, when you asked for a family, he blushed and tried to deny it. It wasn't working.

🔹His eyes light up everytime he looks at his children. They're the most adorable children in the world. And his world is made with you and them. You are all the matters.

🔹After his royal duties, he bakes cakes, the children are decorating and you have to watch the chaos.

🔹Before having a family of his own, he found it bothersome and annoying to have things all over the place, but he got used to it.

🔹He is sneaking kittens in the palace for them to feed and pet. Where did those stray kittens you show on the street when you were shopping? Yves doesn't have any idea what are you talking about, but you now have to sleep in your shared bed with foolur freshly bathed kittens.

"Are you sure you don't know them? They look comfortable around you." You said, your brow raised. The kittens were sleeping on him. He blushed and glared at you.

"Hmph, I don't know them! No, lay down Snowflake, we aren't fighting with your mom." He stroked the white furr and the small animal fell asleep again.

🔹He gives to the children gorgeous clothes and he brushed their hair, putting it in the best hairstyles.

🔹At night, he praises them for being kind.

~Luke Randolph

🔹Luke grew up in a bad environment, so he makes sure that his children won't ever have to grow up like that. He could give his life in a blink of the eye to do that.

🔹He doesn't spoil his children too much, because he wants them to be down to earth. For him, his role as a prince is not important, but his family is.

🔹The children are tripping on his long legs while they're playing outside and he sleeps.

🔹Luke is a Disney Prince. That means all the animals love him. He gently cradles small fragile butterflies, or cute little birds to show them.

🔹Luke is taking them for walks in the forest. As the time goes on, more and more animals are attached to their gentleness.

🔹If anyone dares mess with his children, they are in for a big surprise. Luke will take them down and fight them until he is sure that they won't bother them again. He won't kill someone though, only hurt them enough for his family's safety.

~Sariel Noir

🔹Sariel is a very busy man and you know that. So when he asked you if you wanted a family, you were super exited.

🔹By the time your children are born, their bedrooms and everything inside is already ready to use.

🔹Sariel seems pretty strict, but he has a soft spot for your family.

🔹He helps them study all their lessons. If they don't understand something, he'll go out of his way to search it up and give them all the information he gathered.

🔹After babysitting the Princes, he takes a few books filled with fairytales and reads to them in his soothing voice.

🔹Sariel loves his kids dearly and he protects them from harm, even if it means being in the shadows.

🔹The children love to hug him and cling on him, while he is giving lectures to the Princes. (translation = scolding Clavis.)

🔹Sariel was lonely before, so he won't let anyone hurt his family. He'll let his people "clean up the dirt".

🔹Sariel kind of spoils his children, and you, because he is weak for your eyes and pouts.

~Licht Klein

🔹Licht seems distant from afar, but his family gets to see his true colours.

🔹Whenever his children are playing or doing something else (that isn't harmful), he smiles softly, his red eyes fill with love and adoration.

🔹He is scared that someday, they'll have the same bad luck his brother and he had.

🔹That's why he always keeps an eye on them.

🔹Licht was never troubled if he died, until one of his children told him he/she loved him so much, that he/she will make him the proudest dad in the world.

🔹Licht's eyes are wide open and he thinks about his choices again. He'll have to live in order to help them grow up.

🔹He is very supportive with their choices, unless it's something bad for them.

🔹At nights, he sings to put them to sleep, his smooth voice calming the down completely.

🔹You can find the m all sleeping together on a chair.

🔹He won't admit it, but he loves sweet food and his children are no better.

~Nokto Klein

🔹Nokto became a whole new person when you had your children.

🔹He still stayed playful for them.

🔹Nokto is happy when they are happy, he is sad when they're sad...

🔹He despises it when they hurt themselves, physically or not.

🔹He is also scared like Licht. He doesn't want then away from each other. He wants for them to be happy.

🔹Before they were born, he was scared that he wouldn't turn out to be a good father. He was scared of rejection.

🔹He lived with the same fear, until his children run up to him and hugged his legs.

"Dad! Thank you for taking us with you! We love you so much!" They said happily.

🔹Nokto.exe has stopped working.

"I love you too." He quickly hugs them to his chest, trying to keep the tears in.

🔹He is teasing them (in a good way) till there's no tomorrow. (with uncle Clavis).

🔹The children, with your help are making presents for him. He gets so happy!

🔹His past self still haunts him, but he doesn't let himself fall. He is strong.

🔹Nokto doesn't take risky jobs anymore. He takes better care of himself for the sake of his family.

🔹When stormy nights fall, his strong arms are ready to close you and the kids to his heart. It's his promise of never letting go, even in the scariest times.

~Rio Ortiz

🔹Rion is as exited as a puppy!

🔹Right after they are born, they are in his arms, cuddled up to him.

🔹Rio travels with them in other places (for personal reasons). He shows them all around and does anything they ask.

🔹Are they hungry? A whole buffet is made for them.

🔹They have his heart and mind. Sometimes, he is scared they'll think he is annoying, but they always tell him how much they love him.

🔹He takes time off his work and plays with them in the garden or in their Rooms.

🔹He always hear their problems. If he can help it, he'll tskr care of them.

🔹Rio won't let others hurt his children. If someone tries and he is in front of the scene, his hand might slip and he the other guys might get hurt.

🔹At night, he cuddle with them and they all wait for you to read them to sleep.

~Jin Grandet

🔹Jin was feeling bashful. He really wanted a family with the most beautiful person in the world (you).

🔹Like almost everyone else, his character changed a bit. He spends more time with his family.

🔹His children like to climb on his back and go fit walks. His back hurts, but are they happy? They it's worth it. End of the conversation.

🔹There are days where he is too tired so he takes food and drinks (not alcohol) and sets them on the king sized bed with you and the kids.

🔹He is manipulating Yves to cook (lol), but Yves does it for his nephew(s) /niece(s).

🔹If the children are terrified from the nightmares or other scary things outside of the windows, they'll run to him, crushing him on your bed.

🔹When morning comes, they are all over the bed, sleeping soundly.

THE END~

AN: I'm writing from my phone now, but I'll fix it when I'll get my laptop!

NadiaSilver~

Also, fun fact: When I first started the game, I fell asleep while reading/listening the prologue, because Sariel and Chevalier were speaking! I love their voices and I want them to put me to sleep every night, lololol.

#Ikemen prince #ikemen prince x reader #fanfiction #chevalier Michel #Clavis Lelouch #Sariel noir #Leon dompteur #Rio Ortiz #Yves kloss #Nokto Klein #licht Klein #Jin grandet #Luke Randolph #ikepri

392 notes · View notes

hibiscuswrites · 5 years ago

Note

So, i was re watching good girls and that scene where Beth makes Rio think she's pregnant got me thinking: what if, after Rio and his queen got back together, she finds out about the "pregnancy" and what would happen? your choose the ending, either way we win, because your writing is to die for!

Oh he’d be big mad 👀 Thank you so much querida

Things may have gotten rocky there for a minute

Both of you having trouble seeing eye to eye

Conflicting beliefs on how things needed to be done and why, especially concerning the good girls

And ultimately, separating was deemed the best course of action for the two of you

It wasn’t ideal

It hurt like hell and left a hole in each of you

But it seemed like that was what was needed

It wasn’t easy after

You missed him like crazy and he missed you

You missed his sarcastic and petty but wholesome nature

At least with you

And he missed your love

Your warmth

Your attention and affection

That was why he had gone searching for it in the arms of another woman

He knew it wasn’t smart

Beth was a liability

And in the back of his mind, he knew you would be pissed and in disbelief if you ever found out

A random hookup was one thing

But sleeping with the woman who worked for you out of fear for her life?

Rio had made a lot of dumb decisions, but that one took the cake

He knew you would expect more from him.

But after the breakup, thinking about you was the last thing he wanted

So he went with it anyway, sleeping with the employee

That in itself proved to be a mistake on its own and eventually, Rio couldn’t deny that he missed you like nothing else

Not before Beth put three slugs in him though

You’d come by, of course, taking care of and nursing back to health that man that you love

He realized then who he was really supposed to be with

He would listen and he would compromise and make things work, however he needed to do that because he needed you

So after a few cups of coffee and a long discussion, you were both a couple again

A unit, a partnership, a force to be reckoned with

The King and Queen were back at the top of the kingdom and Rio left that nothing and no one could separate you or drive the two of you away again

That was until he had tracked Beth down to hand out her retribution, only to be hit with a bomb in the shape of a baby

He was furious and nervous now

Broken up or not, no way were you going to entertain the fact that he was now going to be close and co-parenting with the woman who shot him and drove a wedge between the two of you

He could tell you and risk you leaving him for good but hope that his honesty and being upfront stood for something

Or he could keep it to himself and wait until Beth could prove she was actually pregnant so he didn’t work you up for nothing

But then he risked you thinking he was hiding it from you

He found himself in a shittier place than he had been in before and decided he needed to take some time to figure it out

The last thing he had thought was that you would accidentally run into Beth while out running errands

As soon as he got home that night, he knew that you knew

You were sitting in the dark, a glass of red wine in your grasp as you stared at the wall

Rio didn’t know how to take it

He felt like if he touched you, you would ever but into tears or punch him in the throat

And he didn’t know which one he would prefer

He didn’t have to pick though, as you turned to him, your eyes heated

“So what are you going to do?”

He hesitated, not really knowing what you were referring to and you clarified

“Are you gonna sit there and play house with the bitch that shot you? Are you going to expect me to stick around as a third wheel?”

He was explaining then, telling you how he’d bet his kidney she wasn’t actually pregnant and that it was all a ploy

But that no matter what, he was done dealing with her, that he would only deal with his kid if it did actually turn out to be true, but Beth was done

And the only one that was going to be the apple of his eye was still, you

Rio taglist @belle82devart @existentialvacuum @hermionetriskatniss @thickemadame @aria725 @glimmerglittergirl @juul4jesus @tashawar @issa-lici-kuwonu @tcailin-00 @gemini0410 @sweet-babyangel @feelingsandemotionsnotexplored @uhlxis @redcup90 @smoooore @asapkyndall @icyyy-diorr

General @a-dorky-book-keeper @jigsawlover10 @titty-teetee @crushed-pink-petals-writes @felicity-x0 @vibranium-soul @ateliefloresdaprimavera @preciousbarakat

#rio x reader #rio good girls #nbc good girls #manny montana #headcannons

290 notes · View notes

pynkhues · 4 years ago

Note

Thank you so much for pointing out that ridiculous meal Beth made when her kids came back home. Could you analyze it a little more? I mean, it was quite the show. Also, who's gonna carve that big old piece of meat up at the table? Dean? Giving me mad 1950s vibes? Can you picture all of them having a formal dinner like that? Those kids talk about feeding bunnies to snacks and masterbating.

Anon, I’d love to analyse that scene for you, because I actually love it a lot, haha. It more or less confirms for me the show has a continually active thematic throughline of positioning food and the cooking of food as a performative act. This has really been around since the very first episode and has continued all the way through to season 3, but is really, really prominent through 2.09 and 2.10. Interestingly too, while the throughline is felt the most with Beth, I think it goes well beyond her too, most notably with Ruby.

SO! Let’s explore that!

A Domestic Goddess

Domestic duties like cooking have been pivotal to Beth’s identity since the start of the show, and her internal battle to simultaneously disentangle from that identity while desperately reaffirming it has been a real cornerstone of her arc overall. She’s over it when she’s doing it, but feels real guilt when she’s not doing it – something we felt the most in 2.07 with Jane, 2.09 with Dean taking the kids, and in 3.02 where Beth struggled with Judith’s larger presence in the house.

The two domestic duties we see Beth really take up the most are cooking and cleaning, and while cleaning is ultimately a means to an end, cooking erupts out of Beth at different times and in different ways. It’s frequently a means to an end (she’s gotta feed the family!), frequently part of a performance (and I’ll come back to that!), but it’s also something she does when she’s stressed or anxious (most notably at the very end of 2.11 when she realises Jeff is not Jeff), when she’s bored (most notably in the early days of s1, but I’d argue also 2.10), and when she’s trying to make others feel loved.

Interestingly, this is one of the ways Beth and Ruby are shown to be the most similar, because while she doesn’t do it as much as Beth, Ruby does it a lot too. Significantly with Ruby, there’s a strong sense of it being a demonstration of love, which it is for Beth too! Just the context around both characters really colours the way cooking-as-an-act-of-love is depicted.

The Way to a Man’s Heart is Through His Stomach

The old saying is one the show’s certainly taken to heart, haha.

Food is immediately introduced as a pivotal part of how the show represents Beth and Dean’s relationship – literally from the first scene they’re in. We all know the textual pretty well at this point, I think (“I love you” / “Tuna fish, keep it in the fridge”), but it’s there in the visual dialogue too.

Beth’s making lunch for the kids and for Dean, but they’re presented as five, identical brown paper bags, ergo Dean’s basically represented through visual cues as one of Beth’s kids, not as her husband or partner (something contrasted later with Ruby and Stan, who frequently share in the cooking in a way that depicts intimacy, but I’ll come back to that).

From that moment on, food becomes a touchstone motif in the narrative for Beth and Dean – Dean asks to take lunchmeat back to the motel in 1.04 because he’s sick of vending machine dinners (aka he’s lost without Beth), Beth hides the money in cereal boxes in 1.07, heavily implying Dean doesn’t prepare food for himself or the kids, and Dean tries to woo Beth back by making one (1) meal in 1.07.

This is pivoted in s2 as Beth and Dean’s dynamic changes. Beth guilt cooks Dean his favourite meals after getting him shot in 2.01, Dean eats dessert while Beth gets drunk and ready to bone Rio in 2.04, Dean forgets the kids’ lunches in 2.06.

In this sense, I think the show’s pretty careful with how it utilises food and cooking in the Boland house, and that it frequently becomes a bit of a chess piece between the characters, and an indication of shifting power dynamics. Yes, food’s tied to love, but in the Boland house, that love is – as Christina articulated in her Build Interview – a broken love. As a result, it becomes frequently a pointed gesture and a performance in a way that really underlines the power dynamics in Beth and Dean’s relationship.

When Beth has power, Dean often at least tries to cook something and fend for himself (getting the lunchmeat to make himself a sandwich, attempting to make meals for the kids in 2.07, etc).

When Dean has the power, well:

Ruby & Stan

As I mentioned above, Ruby and Stan make for a pretty interesting comparison point and I think a deliberate contrast. There’s no powerplay in how Ruby and Stan cook for one another, rather it’s frequently depicted as a shared act of love within their home. Cooking is intimacy and bonding and connection.

Ruby might cook when she’s stressed or scared, but Stan finds her and holds her through it. When Sara has to have soup before her surgery, the whole family does. Food is something that’s shared in the Hill house, for better and for worse, which is why moments where that meal making becomes loaded is all the more painful.

In particular, Ruby cooking for Stan to distract him during the Sweet P’s job in 3.11, and Sara’s staunch betrayal over Stan’s arrest and Ruby serving food in 2.09. These are two very different moments of course – Ruby cooking for Stan to distract him is a deliberate act to move him to where Ruby needs him to be – something we’re much more used to seeing from Beth than Ruby, while the scene with Ruby, Stan and Sara in 2.09 isn’t a performance in itself, but is, in my interpretation, perceived as a performance by Sara.

Which hey! Brings us straight to my next point!

Acts of Service / Acts of Performance

As a narrative device, food and the cooking of food are really two very different things.

Food on it’s own can really be a lot of things – it can mean sensuality or gluttony, poverty or sacrifice or sustenance or hope. Without the cooking, without bearing witness to the effort behind it, food becomes whatever you want it to be.

The Hill’s eating soup at their dinner table is a great example of that! The food wasn’t important, what was important was Sara’s surgery, and the narrative stakes for Ruby. In that scene, the soup was love and equity and what Ruby had to lose.

Likewise in Judith’s stroganoff in 3.02, that meal was an indication of Judith’s usurpation of Beth’s place in her own household.

Cooking though is different, because particularly on a show like Good Girls which is heavily steeped in the idea of what women do to survive, you can’t really divorce cooking from being an act of service.

In that sense, cooking is frequently depicted on Good Girls – particularly with the Boland women – to be something women do for men and their children.

This is probably most noticeable in the scene of Beth’s sad pre-packaged turkey dinner in 2.09, but I think it’s also depicted pretty strongly in the fact that Beth, Ruby and Annie very, very rarely cook for one another on the show. And they eat together a lot! Just it’s always a diner, Chinese takeout, a bar. It’s an interesting equaliser in their relationship with each other, but I’ll talk about that another time, haha. Because what matters here is that when you match up the ideas of domestic duties, women’s roles and identities, and servitude, along with the pointed gestures, cooking becomes frequently a part of a performance on this show which all three of the girls – but particularly Beth – use to play a part and position whoever they’re trying to move where they want them.

Sometimes this looks like appeasement – which is what most of 2.09 looks like, but again, I’ll come back to that – but other times it’s deliberately manipulative.

Again, think of Ruby cooking for Stan in 3.11, or Ruby trapping Sara with the cookies in 3.03:

Think of Beth deliberately coaxing Turner with food!

Again

And again

Even think of Annie trying to make Ben forgive her in 2.08! A clear attempt to emulate her sister if ever I saw one!

And hell, it’s not even always as transparently performative!

Food becomes key to the girls manipulating their secret shoppers way back in 1.05!

And even outside of the girls, think about how important the gender reveal cake was to Nancy! I don’t think she even entirely realised she was performing until the cake was purple.

In fact, I think a lot of the characters don’t realise that they’re doing it. In some ways, it’s more realistic that they don’t. I think the show’s interest in the thematic throughline is ultimately in the ways domestic spaces have long been understood as feminine, and how even now, those domestic spaces are frequently the only ones where women wield power. Cooking has become a chess piece in the Boland house because for twenty years, Beth – like so many other women – likely had no power outside of the kitchen, bedroom, nursery, and so it became one of the few things she had to wield, for both good and bad.

2.09 + 2.10

Cooking features extraordinarily heavily across both Beth and Ruby’s arcs in 2.09 and 2.10 in a way that that hilariously inappropriate meal at the end of 2.09 lands smack bang in the middle of. The way it features too I’d argue is a real effort to explore these sorts of ideas around domestic performance and identity, and in that way, I think it’s felt a lot.

It’s felt in Beth cooking for herself, a moment of expectation vs reality with the box of her frozen meal:

It’s felt in Judith and Beth’s conversation about Dean cheating being over cutting the cake for Emma – an extremely loaded talk about servitude in motherhood while they slice dessert for Beth’s children.

It’s felt in Ruby preparing the meal for the family after she gets Stan out of jail, and Sara’s judgement at their display of love:

A scene that immediately precursor’s Beth’s totally bonkers meal for the kids and Dean – a real turkey dinner. A pretty perfect juxtaposition to what Beth would prepare for herself, while also complimenting the Ruby scene.

Both those meals are made out of love and relief, but Beth’s comes with the added layer of appeasement to Dean. Something that’s only built on in the next episode, where Beth cooks:

And cooks:

And cooks.

Before destroying it all when it goes unserved.

And god, I could talk for hours about that – because here you have the one ounce of power Beth had in this part of her life. Her deep-rooted sense that acts of service (i.e. cooking) was what she contributed, how she held power, and to have it packed up and sent home with her by other women and not even Dean is so, so diminishing, it causes me physical pain.

And that’s the thing, isn’t it? The performance in her effort which started with that dinner at the end of 2.09 isn’t even shattered – it’s entertained, and then it’s ignored.

Similarly, it’s really interesting to me that the show chose to have the drugs from the Canada pick-up packed underneath food Ruby and Annie had prepared. Especially to be held in contrast with Ruby at the dining room table with Stan and Sara at the end of 2.09, to have a meal seemingly blanket Stan’s crime to Sara, and then have Ruby remove the later crime from beneath food for her daughter feels pretty deliberate to me too.

So yes! I think this show’s in constant conversation with itself when it comes to food, and I think that conversation is at it’s clearest during 2.09 and 2.10. I think it’s really significant to this show narratively, and that they utilise it frequently used to depict performance, power and yeah, love too.

Not Really a Sandwich Guy

Just for a fun note to end it on, haha, but I think it’s extremely loaded that Beth offers to make a sandwich for Rio and he turns it down. A pivotal part of their arc together is that past the end of 1.02, Rio’s never seen Beth the way Dean has. She’s never just been a mother or a wife, and that’s manifested in a lot of ways throughout the series, but is perhaps perfectly articulated in this scene.

Fucking on breakfast dishes might’ve been a part of a fantasy she had way back in 1.05 – again, an interesting note when you loop it back into domestic spaces and where Beth felt powerful – but Beth cooking not just for him, but around him, has always been off the table (pun intended!!!)

It makes not just for an interesting shipper note, but a pretty notable indication of the shift Beth feels in her identity when she’s around him, and I’m curious to see how that might change in future, particularly as Beth’s getting better at weaponizing her own womanhood – from playing up her physical assets around Rio, to blackmailing Gil by going full Karen at his legitimate place of work, to the Paper Porcupine job, to playing hysterical wife to distract the money guy at Sweet P’s.

I think it’s ripe territory, and I’m curious to see where the show goes with it!

#omg this got long haha #turns out i had a lot of thoughts on this one #anyway i hope this makes sense anon!#beth boland #dean boland #beth x dean #beth x rio #ruby x stan #ruby hill #sara hill #rio #stan hill #annie marks #jimmy turner #character backgrounds #femininity #long post #welcome to my ama #Anonymous

21 notes · View notes

snakeboistan · 4 years ago

Text

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIOTA NAGISA

Thank you, Nagisa, for showing me that being kind and gentle doesn’t mean that you’re weak and also that the parts about you that you hate can be turned into your greatest weapon. You have been a role model for me for the past four years and I strive to be as wise and caring as you. Keep doing what you’re doing, you adorable little assassin, we’re all so very proud of you. 😍😊

Yes, I know that Nagisa’s birthday is during Summer break but shhhhh

(25 unread messages)

Akabane Karma: Hey there Nagi :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEBERRY! I can’t believe you are officially older than me. But don’t get your hopes up, just because you’re my elder, doesn’t mean that I will start listening to you. Just to show you how awesome I am, I decided to stay up late so that I can text you exactly at 00:00. But for real, I hope you have an awesome day and I promise to beat up anyone that ruins it for you ;) Nagisa, you are honestly the most amazing person I’ve ever met and you’re seriously like such a sweet and kind and honest and good person and I have no idea how someone as nice and forgiving as you ended up befriending someone as crazy and violent as me. You’re the only person who's never been scared of me and even though you hate violence you still stood by me and never tried to change me and you liked me for me. No one’s ever liked me without expecting me to change and I’ve never felt as comfortable being myself with someone as I have with you. Can’t wait to see you at school today - I got you a present. No I won’t tell you what it is and yes, you’ll definitely love it. See you soon.

Sugino Tomohito: Happy Birthday Nagisa! Hope that you have fun today! I just want to tell you that you are the best best friend that I could ever ask for and I am truly grateful for everything that you have done for me. When I first got kicked down to 3-E and was forced to leave the baseball club, I thought that it was all over but you came along and was the first person to actually sit down and listen to me and you offered to practice baseball with me and honestly, that really made my day. Dude, you are like this amazing blue ball of kindness and like seriously you are brilliant but you don’t nearly give yourself enough credit. I don’t know where you get your low self esteem from or what it is that makes you think that you are worth so little but I promise to remind you that you are cared for every single day until your next birthday and for the rest of your life. Okay, that probably sounded super weird but it’s early and my brain is like 60% baseball memes at this point. At first I hated losing my baseball friends and getting sent to this abandoned building on top of a death mountain but meeting you has made me realise that our crazy assassination classroom™ is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. From the day I’ve met you, you’ve been nothing but loyal and caring. You are the person I can talk and rant to and you’ll never judge me and you always know how to make you smile. And honestly, you are worth 1000 baseball teams. Don’t let your mother get you down. See you in class! Oh, BTW, my little brother says Hi.

Kayano Kaede: HIIIIII NAGISA! HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! I got you a gift and I hope you like it and no it’s not pudding but you will be getting some cake from that cafe we visited over the weekend. It’s not easy being the new girl and ever since I’ve joined the class, you’ve been nothing but an awesome best friend and you have always been by my side since the day we decided to have matching hairstyles (which might I say looks so much better on you than it does on me - UNFAIR!) I hope the rest of the year is filled with pudding and happiness and sweets and smiles and everything else you love

Nakamura Rio: Happy birthday to our resident blueberry cinnamon roll! Have a wonderful day ‘Gisa. I’m sure you will when you see what I have in store for you ;). You are seriously the most mature, innocent, pure little bean I have ever met - and definitely the most fun person to play pranks on! Dont worry, as the birthday boy, you shall spend 24 hours completely prank free. Yes, yes I know, I’m the best classmate ever. Dont need to tell me something I already know, sweetie. See you later, my fellow English lover!

Maehara Hiroto: Yo, dude, Happy Birthday! Hope you have fun and enjoy what we’ve got in store for you (no hints!). Like seriously you are legit the most awesome person ever cause you’re so sweet and innocent and can turn into this super awesome secret badass whenever you want to. Youre like the class therapist/medic/person we can always rely on and you never complain when we drive you crazy (cause I know that we do). I’m super proud of you man. Never change Nagisa. See you at school. (BTW - We still up for karaoke next week?)

Isogai Yuuma: Happy birthday Nagisa! Hope you have a wonderful day! I can’t wait to see you in class later. When my siblings found out that it was your birthday, they insisted that they make you a card.You are an irreplaceable member of our class and I’m so happy that you are part of it. Seriously, if it wasn’t for you and your ability to calm people down and talk people out of doing whatever crazy idea they came up with, I’m pretty sure I would’ve lost my mind. You’re always smiling and always participate in class without complaining and you always see the best in everyone. Keep on doing what you do Nagisa, the world could use more people like you. ( Oh and come to the cafe later, I got an iced bun on the house for you)

Fuwa Yuzuki: AAAAAHHHHH HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAGISA! CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCCESSFULLY SURVIVING THIS LONG ON EARTH! OOHH IM SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT I’VE GOT YOU! Thank you for always going along with and listening to my crazy anime/manga rants even when you have no idea whats going on. It’s so much fun hanging out with you cause youre chill and youre always up for anything and apart from Takabayshi you’re the person in the class that get my references the most. Youre an amazing main protagonist and you deserve all of the screentime and lines you get - heck even your own spin-off show. For someone who loves heroes so much, youre doing an amazing job of being one yourself. Youre the best Watson a Sherlock like me could ever ask for and a really good friend for this manga obsessed Otaku! Love you and see you later!

Kataoka Megu: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the day. As someone whose job is to watch over our … interesting class, having you around makes everyone else bearable. I’m sure that if you aren’t here to keep the peace I would’ve murdered Okajima months ago. You have always been really respectful and kind and I appreciate having someone as hard-working and loyal as you in my class. I always enjoy having our talks about equal rights and you have always been like a little brother to me (honestly, I prefer you over my actual older brother). See you later and please continue to stay the way you are.

Okano Hinata: Hey there Nagisa. Happy Birthday! How’s it going, little dude! Hope you enjoy yourself and have lots of fun today. Thank you for being one of the only boys that I can actually stand. You are such an amazing person to have in the class and you’re amazing at being someone that we can all come to when we’re upset. Plus you let us brush your amazing godly hair (seriously I’m jealous at how nice it is). If any main campus kids try to ruin this special day - come to me and I’ll sort them right out :)

Kurahashi Hinano: HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAGISA! I HOPE YOU HAVE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN TODAY AND EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE! CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU YOUR PRESENT IN PERSON AND THE BIGGEST BIRTHDAY HUG EVER! YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON AND I (AND EVERYONE ELSE) LOVE YOU SOO MUCH OKAY I HAVE TO GO NOW BUT BYEEEE

Kimura Masayoshi: Hey Nagisa! Happy Birthday! Can’t wait to see you at school!

Mimura Kouki: Happy Birthday Nagisa :) wish you the best :)

Yada Touka: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I hope you have a fun-filled day! You are a really sweet and nice person and I enjoy hanging around with you - especially when you join us girls on our girl trips to the mall. You’re like a little brother to me and I always feel comfortable when I’m with you. Love you and hope you have a nice day <3

Takabayashi Koutarou: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope that you enjoy yourself.

Hayami Rinka: Happy Birthday Nagisa

Okajima Taiga: Happy Birthday Nagisa. You are such an incredible person to have in the class. And thank you for always saving me from the girls when they get mad at me. Hope you have fun. I was going to give you some really cool magazines but when the girls figured it out they slapped me and said that they’d tie me up in the middle of the mountain and leave me there if I did so I’m just gonna give you something else that I made (with Sugaya’s help). I’ll show you it at school - I hope you like it.

Kanzaki Yukiko: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope you have a nice day and thank you for being such a good and reliable friend. See you at school.

Yoshida Taisei: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I’m so sorry for the grenade incident earlier and I am so happy Koro-Sensei saved you. Also like you are one tough guy, you know that right? Cause what happened with Takaoka, man you couldve beaten any of us up with your eyes closed any time. Stay awesome dude. See you at the mountain

Hara Sumire: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I’ve made some sushi just for you. I hope you like it. As your official unofficial mother, I hope you have fun today and I can’t wait to see you later.

Sugaya Sosuke: Happy Birthday Nagisa. Thank you for being around and seeing the good in all of us even when we don’t see it ourselves. You always know how to inspire us and you are going to be an awesome grown up when you’re older. You always appreciate everyone and you know exactly how to pick us up when we’re down. I hope you like your present (you’ll get it later)

Okuda Manami: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I hope you have a wonderful day today. I just want to say thank you for being my friend and always encouraging me and helping me. You always know how to cheer me up and include me. See you at school.

Chiba Ryuunosuke: Happy Birthday Nagisa

Hazama Kirara: Happy Birthday fellow literature lover. I really enjoy talking about gothic literature with you - your analysis of themes and context is always very insightful and interesting and I enjoy spending time with you. If you ever need to escape, you can always come to me. PS - my offer to curse your mother is still up.

Muramatsu Takuya: Happy Birthday Nagisa. Hope you have fun. I made you some ramen (don’t worry its not my dad’s recipe so you’ll be good)

Terasaka Ryouma: Sup Shiota, Happy Birthday. I just want to say that I’m really sorry for being an a**hole and treating you like a jerk - especially forcing you to wear that grenade at the beginning of the year. You’re really good at assassination and you’ve got some serious moves. I dont really know what to say but you can always hang out with my gang whenever you want.

49 notes · View notes

danetobelieve · 4 years ago

Text

All In How You Look At It || Orion, Tiaret and Winston

Things had really taken a twist, Winston wasn’t completely sure when everything had become a part of a horror movie, but everything was very dark right now. Not literally. They’d already done that. But in other ways for sure. They hadn’t been able to get Darwin on the phone, on the internet, and so they’d taken Rio, taken the ridiculous amount of research that they had done and put it in their back and then shot out to Darwin’s place. Pulling up outside of their house, Winston stepped out of the car and scratched the bandage that covered their eyelid and closed the door. “Hey, you got everything?” Winston asked with a frown, “I can take a look round the back but it might just be worth … you know literally knocking on the door.”

The eye, the demons, the visions had consumed his days. Orion could barely sleep and hadn’t really wanted to. All he wanted was to read and research and figure out what was going on. He had been surviving on energy drinks and snack cakes and whatever few hours of sleep he got through power naps. Just knowing that the eye was still on their hands and that it could come back to Orion at any moment was enough to give him insomnia. When they got to Darwin’s, Rio crawled from the passenger seat, slinging the book bag over his shoulder that held all of his books and notes. The thing must have been half the weight of Rio himself and hung along his back, forcing Rio’s posture straighter as he walked. Darwin had told him that he could grab some more texts on demons and that was exactly what Rio planned on doing. “Knocking is fine.” Rio agreed with Winston, heading up to the front door and hitting his knuckles against it a few times. “Someone’s inside.” Rio mentioned absent-mindedly, his heightened hearing picking up on footsteps within the home. “Just can’t tell if it’s Darwin or not.”

Tia had spent the better part of her day sleeping. Darwin's apartment was hardly a palace, but it was warm, and clean, and for the moment that was all she needed. Her eyes peeled open at the sound of someone speaking below her window. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up in her bed and groaned at the tightness in her muscles. Were humans ever not in pain? Ignoring it for the moment, she rose to her feet and crossed to the window, peering down at the two people who had interrupted her beauty sleep. She tilted her head and observed them as they knocked on the door of Darwin's shop and waited for him to answer. She wondered, for a moment, if she should stay silent and let them leave on their own accord. No, you have a deal. She rolled her eyes and left the window and took the short trip to the store, taking her sweet time as she strolled to the door. Opening it, she smiled at her new guests. "Has anyone ever told you how rude it is to disturb a lady's beauty sleep?" Tiaret greeted, leaning against the frame of the door. "Darwin isn't here at the moment, I'm afraid. You'll have to visit him some other time. Preferably when I'm awake."

The woman who answered the door was very clearly not Darwin. She really didn’t look to be that much older than Orion or Winston. But she certainly carried herself as if she was much more mature or regal. “Oh uh- Sorry.” Rio answered, scratching at his neck nervously, “I wasn’t aware that anybody lived here with Darwin.” He didn’t know what to do here. Clearly, the woman had no intention of letting them in. If her figure blocking the doorframe hadn’t been evidence enough, her next sentence instructing them to come back later cemented that. But Rio and Winston really needed those books. Rio felt like they could figure this out. Stop whatever was going on. He felt like they were getting so close. Like the picture of a puzzle finally coming together. All they needed were a few more pieces. Just a couple more clues and suddenly everything would click. “Uh actually-” Rio began, surprising himself that he hadn’t just shied away and crept back towards the car in defeat, “Darwin told me I could come by anytime. He has a few books that I am supposed to grab.” Rio tried explaining that to her, hoping she would accept it and leave them be. “I can pull it up on my phone if you need any proof. My name’s Orion. Or Rio. This is my friend Winston. Darwin has been helping us with some research.”

"Don't worry your head, it's a recent development." Tia was a selfish being. It wasn't a fact she disparaged against herself, she thought selfishness to be necessary for survival. When she had made her deal with Darwin to assist him and his friends in their dilemma, it was strictly because he was giving her a place to stay. "So you're Darwin's little friends," The ex-demoness smiled, looking up and down at the two. Darwin hadn't told her their names, only that they were looking for answers to put down… well, something ancient and powerful. That just happened to be her expertise. "The ones who need the help of… darker forces." She stepped out of the doorway and nudged for them to enter. "By all means, come right in. I've been expecting you."

Honestly, Winston’s first reaction was whether this was Darwin’s girlfriend, but considering that they were 100% sure that Darwin was gay, they decided that probably wasn’t the case. Honestly, Winston wasn’t sure if they had the energy for this. Once they’d grabbed the books there were still a million other pressing and urgent things to do. Their personal life had become such a mess. “Nice to meet you, sorry that we woke you, but Darwin did say we could grab this stuff and we need it,” after all this was as much for Darwin’s benefit as it was for Winston’s they knew that Darwin was enjoying this less then they were to say the least. Not to mention the blinking eye hanging above them, the eyes that were everywhere and the terrifying cultists that they were also now dealing with. “Rio do you know which books we needed?” Winston honestly wasn’t doing the best with the research at the moment, all the deaths and now everything with the eye had left with them with less time then they’d have liked to look into these things. Fortunately Rio had picked up the slack.

She was expecting them? That wasn’t creepy at all. Orion tried for a smile, hoping that the scepticism and apprehension didn’t leak into his facial expression. Whether or not he trusted her or not, Darwin apparently did. Or at least he did enough to ask her to help them with their research. Did they need the help of darker forces? Rio supposed the time for desperation had long since passed, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there were still other ways. “Uh- Yeah. Generally, I mean. There’s a group of books that he told me about. I know what I’m looking for.” He shrugged. He was convinced that a quick scan of the books would help at least. If he could just match up some of the demonic language he had with one of the books, then that would be a start. “So uh-” Rio realized after stepping into the entryway that she had shared her name with them yet. “You mentioned that you can help us? How exactly is that? You do ritual magic stuff like Darwin does?” He questioned. The blood ritual had given Rio more questions than answers, but it at least proved that there was something more sinister behind a cult and a squid. “Honestly, Winston and I will take whatever help we can get right now.” He wasted no time finding the books that Darwin had packed for him, scrounging through them and rushing through the pages as he waited for the woman’s response.

Tia watched them wander Darwin's store from her place near the door, making sure to lock the useless piece of glass and wood behind them. "By all means, your welcome to whatever you like." She said dully, walking until she came to sit at a nearby armchair. It dwarfed her small, human body, she realized as she got comfortable. That was the worst part of humanity, she believed, how stagnant they remained for years and years. Had she wanted, she would have appeared strong, terrifying. Instead she was left to give off the appearance of vulnerability, and that meant she was forced to compensate. If she could not be a demoness, she could certainly act like one. "Something like that," She lied, checking her nails as she spoke. "I'm an expert in demon languages, demon spellwork, etcetera, etcetera…" Tia forgot how much she enjoyed lying to mortals. Even if it was small, it reminded her of her life before it was destroyed. "You might say I'm a voyeur of sorts."

Winston didn’t miss the door locking behind them. “Thanks, I appreciate the help, we’re trying to fix whatever the hell is wrong with the sun and the only way to do that is to find out what we actually need to do.” The ocean had turned to ink, the sky was home to a giant blinking eye instead of the sun and there were cultists and literal eyeballs everywhere. “Wait?” Winston turned and looked at her interested suddenly, “If you’re an expert on demons and demon spell work and all that fun shit then you could probably help us,” Winston looked around and glanced at the bandage on their hand that was covering the eyelid on their palm. “The whole eye in the sky shit, I’m - I mean - we are pretty sure that it is because this cult is trying to summon a demon army or something into the real world and we might all die because of it at any moment. The cultists that are even more active then before are kind of proof of that and do you think maybe you could look at some stuff and see if it I don’t know - means anything to you?”

Orion lost the conversation pretty quickly after getting consumed by the books. He wasn’t being as thorough as he would have liked to be, but time was running out for him to be picking the texts apart word by word. Maybe after all this was ever, he could. Instead, he grabbed out any books that he thought may be old enough to help them, quite literally judging the books by their covers. He flipped through them, skipping paragraphs and then pages and then simply flipping through entire sections, looking for anything that stood out. “Did you say expert on demon languages?” Rio fell back into the conversation at the sound of that. It was funny how quickly his feelings for the woman changed when he realized that she was an expert in something Rio was passionate about. “Woah.” He definitely had questions for her. An entire notebook of notes to ask her about. “Right here!” Rio yelled out finally, pointing at a page and jumping up, “This word. It’s the same one from the knife. Water. Just like what the cultists were saying.” Rio brought the book over closer to the two and held it out, “All we have going for us right now are fragments of a story or spell or something. Water. A beacon. Joining bodies.” He sighed. They needed to find the thread that tied them all together. “Please.”

Tia blinked at them in surprise, shrinking back into the chair unconsciously for a moment. Usually she reveled in attention, but for some reason, a bout twisted in her stomach that she couldn't describe. Wordlessly, she took the book that the man- Rio she thought his name was- handed to her as he yelled about water and bodies and whatever else the humans had gotten themselves tangled in. When she arrived in town to find all the oddities, she had almost thought it hilarious, at first. Surely it was the work of a demon with a sense of humor. But they were right in their assertion, there was something malevolent about it all. Scouring the page, she read her native language with ease. Oh poor dears, they had been way off. "Not water and bodies- the joining of bodies of water." She said turning the book around to point it out to them. "A lake and the sea, more specifically." The longer she read, the deeper the crease between her brows became. Her gaze shot up to them, curious and what the humans may have called worry. "Where did you learn of this? This is… very ancient and dangerous magics. More ancient than I am, in fact."

“We’ve both kind of been working on this for a long time, there have been weird things going in town since the new year and we’ve been doing as much research as we can,” Winston replied hesitantly, they weren’t sure if they should just be telling everyone they met about this. But if there was someone that could help then they would need their help. There had been so much, so many deaths, so much loss, so much horror and so much terror that Winston was beyond enthusiastic about fixing this. “Wait, wait, you said combining the lake and the sea, that sounds a lot like something else that I’ve found,” Winston looked at the bandage on their hand again. They had been researching for months now and finally this was something that they thought was useful. “Do you happen to know if Darwin has a copy of a Theory of Demonology?” Winston asked curiously, “I’ve been looking for it everywhere, it is referenced everywhere but it seems rare.”

What had she meant... more ancient than herself? Orion knew what it implied and it had certainly piqued his curiosity, but he needed to stay focused. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to circle back around to that later. She made him uncomfortable, but maybe it was just because the two didn’t know each other. Maybe Rio could make friends, or allies. “Holy crap.” Rio proclaimed. The woman had fit the pieces together. “The lake and the ocean. I bet it has something to do with the beach, where the chest originally washed up.” But why now? What had started this? And what were the cultists planning to do at the lake and the ocean? What did joining the bodies of water mean? Most importantly, how did they stop it?There were still so many questions. “He has to have a copy right? This weird creepy stuff is like Darwin’s thing. Do you know anything about it?” He directed at the woman.

Tiaret watched the two babble to each other about their discoveries, her fingers dancing over the book. She itched to turn the page and find what else might have been hidden in methe thick, obviously extensive text. Perhaps there was something about curses powerful enough to mortalize a demon and how to break them. That was the point of them, wasn't it? All curses had a loophole to extort, even her own, she was sure. "Yes, beaches are crossroads, are they not? Between one world and another. It would make sense for a ritual to draw power from binding two bodies of water." Tia frowned at the them. "Do I look like Darwin's personal librarian? Look at this place, the book could be anywhere." But, of course, she didn't mention that she has spent a good amount of time snooping through Darwin's things. She turned her gaze back to the book in her lap, finding that reading the demonic language was somewhat comforting. Tiaret sighed and raised a black tipped finger to a bookshelf behind the counter. "He had a few books that sounded interesting over there, though I didn't look at them all."

Winston had stopped listening to Tia and Rio at that point. They were hastily looking through the stack of books and looking for anything that might give them more information. They had to find more information on the joining of these bodies of water. “This all does seem to revolve around the lake and the ocean, it all has been somewhat nautically themed in terms of all of the weird things that have been happening so I guess that would make sense.” Pausing for a moment, Winston bit their finger nail and spotted the title that they were looking for. What a rare stroke of luck. “It doesn’t matter if you’re his personal librarian or not, but I think I’ve found it,” Winston pulled down a large tome and placed it gently on a desk. Flipping it open, they began to do their best to struggle through the demon language that they were well aware that they did not fluently speak. “I think that this should have instructions on a very similar ritual, there was an account of it, something that they did in Eastern Europe in the 12th century,” but unfortunately they only knew that because of a note in a Scribes journal referencing it, they had yet to be fortunate enough to actually discover the book.

Orion’s mind was running a mile a minute. He stood, arms crossed and staring at the ceiling. He had his eyes clamped shut and he tried to think. To pull any information from his mind that may be relevant. That may help make sense of it all. The chest at the beach. The cult at the lake. The eyes. So many eyes. The eyes were the big thing here. The eye in the sun, the lake, washing up on the beach. And of course the creepiest ones of all, the eyes within Winston, Darwin and Rio’s hand that gave them visions of other eye shaped creatures. It made Rio shudder, goosebumps snaking across his skin. He rubbed his hands up his arms over the sleeves of his hoodie to try to get the goosebumps to go away, but it wouldn’t stop his skin from crawling. He glanced over at Winston, they were pulling a large tome free and flipping through it. “There was something about a beacon too. My best guess was some kind of lighthouse. Considering the connection with water.” He ran his hands over the closed scar where the eye had been last week. Would the woman know anything about the eye if he had it right now? Could she do anything to shed some more light on it? “I’m sorry. We didn’t want to disrupt your sleep, but we need answers. I really appreciate your help with this. Can you uh- Take a look at that book maybe? See if you can help Winston find what they’re looking for?”

“Eastern European magic? How fun.” Tiaret said in a dull tone, checking her black-clawed nails with deliberate interest. How worried they both seemed. For as long as she could remember, humans had always been selfish little creatures. Coming to her with their wishes and whims and expecting to give nothing in return. Could they truly blame her for having twisted their desires? When they were so adamant on obtaining them by any means necessary? But the two standing before her didn’t seem like those other humans. Neither did Darwin, now that she thought of it. Their concern didn’t seem mired within themselves. If they were unhappy with White Crest, they could simply leave, instead they were making the decision to stay and fight… whatever it is that plagued the odd town. She eyed them, an eyebrow raised and a curious glint in her dark eyes. “Well, since you asked so politely,” She took the book into her hands and set it across her lap, scanning over it idly. “Yes, it speaks of a ritual. Ancient, of course, but very powerful and very complicated.” A chuckle slipped past her lips. “I think there’s mention of a sacrifice. How lovely, sacrificial magic was always a favorite of mine.” She raised her gaze to look at the both of them. “There’s power in blood, did you know that?” Her eyes floated back to the book, her nail tapping against the spine rhythmically. “There are more instructions needed. An order to things. If that order is not followed, then…,” She frowned. “What is that term you humans use? Oh, right, how could I forget? You’re fucked.”

Pursing their lips, Winston gazed at Tuareg intently as she began explain what she had read. Winston’s demonic languages obviously needed some work because they were pretty sure they had red the symbol for blood as crimson milk which whilst sensical was inaccurate. “So there is a ritual involving blood, which of course makes sense because blood was what started all of this at least to some extent, blood is clearly a powerful tool that can be used to generate more power.” Winston wondered if they could combine it with their current project but they didn’t exactly have the time to be considering these sorts of trivialities. It was clear however that the order to things was not in the passage that she had just read from and Winston was convinced that they would need to do more research here. “Okay, the overall ritual itself requires two rituals to take place, the joining of bodies makes it pretty clear that one will have to happen at the lake and one by the ocean and then at least symbolically they will be joining the bodies, but that’s not anything on the actual ritual.” Winston was sure that they were going to hate this. “Rio, dude, I think we need to use the eye again to work this out. We don’t have enough information on the ritual and I can cast the spell Darwin did, he explained the theory enough, but it means taking another vision. Can you handle it?”

If Orion had any doubts before, the woman had now made it incredibly clear that she was not human. But what did that mean exactly? A vampire maybe? Some type of Fae? He knew stories about other, more ancient supernatural species though Rio didn’t know a lot about them. Sometimes he wished there was some spell to make him absorb all the information at the Scribe headquarters at once. At least then he wouldn’t feel so clueless all the time. “We are way too familiar with blood rituals.” Rio sighed, weighing whether or not he should ask her about her comments. About how she knew all of this information. But now didn’t seem like the right time. “Thank you- Uh, for your help. We need to figure out exactly how to do the ritual or we’re… what she said. Screwed.” Rio knew what was coming next. He hated it. He definitely didn’t think it was a good idea considering the last time. And yet it was Winston asking. And Rio couldn’t say no to them. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t complain about it. “I knew you were going to suggest that.” Rio groaned, crossing his arms as if to feign pouting over it. “Fine. Just know I detest this.” As if there were ever any doubts that Rio wouldn’t do it for Winston. “Do you want to help? You know a lot about this stuff, clearly. You would know what to look for. Or pick up things that we may miss.” He asked the woman, uncertain if she would want to involve herself in the blood ritual of two humans that were practically children still.

“You say it with such disdain. Blood magic is still magic, no?” In her long life, she had witnessed and participated in a myriad of rituals of all kinds. If there was one conclusion to be drawn, it was that humans were willing to go to barbaric and incredible lengths to attain whatever they needed. Often, those who came before her had walked a path of hell and high water to kneel and beg for her help. She thought on that for a moment, seeing flashes of people on their knees in front of her, begging for… Why did that make her heart clench? Her hand splayed over her chest where her heart lay, a small frown marring her features. Tiaret’s eyes narrowed in confusion as she listened to their conversation. What on Earth were they talking about? “...Am I going to regret this?” She asked as she rose from her seat and crossed over to them. “I will warn you, I have a vicious temper for people who attempt to harm me. So if even one of my immaculate blonde hairs are out of place, there will be hell to pay.” She smiled twisting her hands in front of her, palm up, as if to offer them to her. “I’d love to help. Do go on, whatever it is you both are trying to do.”

Shaking their head gently, Winston sighed. “It’s not disdain, we’ve just not exactly had the best experience with it, besides technically this is like fairly simple mental magic, we just use the blood as a spell component of sorts.” Winston didn’t really get the concept that there was magic that was forbidden. All magic was an exchange. Sometimes it took a lot. Necromancy for example, Winston had seen first hand how much that cost. It didn’t mean the magic was evil. Perhaps the motive. That was another matter though. “Well, I don’t think you’ll get any physical pain, but this is kind of disturbing, at least, we found it disturbing. Maybe it won’t be the same for you?” They didn’t wait for the answer, the eye had returned to their hand that morning and Winston hadn’t exactly relished it’s return. They had suffered a vision already and it was as bad as Winston had remembered it, leaving them shaking and sweating. Swallowing away their fear, Winston took a seat on the floor and held the eye out, taking Tia’s hand without pausing they quickly chanted the incantation and watched as the eyelid opened and the hazel eye gazed out of their palm up at them. It blinked once before Winston finished their spell. Immediately they were back there, in that place. Except, it was different this time. Rather then a horde of terrible monsters, Winston spotted something. They didn’t know how they knew, but a figure took the horizon and Winston knew that they were a Hunter, or a Slayer or a Warden. They didn’t know how they knew. They just knew.

“We aren’t dangerous.” Orion assured her, offering a smile as evidence and holding his free hand out towards her, “We are just trying to help the people in this town. I swear.” Too similar to a promise, his sister would say. Orion hadn’t promised, but was a swear close enough if the woman with them had been Fae? Did it matter? Rio hadn’t been lying. He did want to help the people and he wasn’t dangerous. Even if it had been binding, it wasn’t a promise that Rio would break either way. Winston took control of the spell this time, taking Darwin’s place. Rio wasn’t concerned about Winston leading, he had full trust in them. The only fear he had was for their safety, as well as Rio and the woman helping. But soon it didn’t matter, because the spell was done and the visions were there. There was a lot of information to take in. Rio could see the ritual, the parts taking place, step by step. And although nobody spoke, the words hummed inside of Rio’s head, explaining any portions missed. A group of people together. A hunter. A shapeshifter. A human. A demon. And someone to lead the spell. Rio cringed, feeling the pain as a shapeshifter was forced to harm the human, to spill their blood for this spell. All at the hands of a hunter. And then the demon’s blood was mixed in. Rio felt outside of his body, an astral projection floating above the gruesome scene he was forced into watching. All he wanted was for it to stop. But he couldn’t let go. Couldn’t break the spell. They needed to see everything or else it couldn’t be stopped.

Well, she supposed that was noble. To a certain sort. Still, Tiaret didn’t trust humans and she probably never would. She had seen the absolute worst of them and all throughout history they had proven themselves unworthy of her time. But now, she was… reliant on them. And in exchange for that reliance, she would have to offer all that she knew. Had she had her magic, she would have reveled in such a deal. Cautiously, and with all the willpower she could summon, she touched her hand to his. The feeling that coursed through her was in fact, quite disturbing. The images flashed through her mind so fast that she could barely comprehend them. Her very human, very non-magical mind was almost overwhelmed by it. Her fingers clenched around their hands, her muscles clenching so tight she felt as if she couldn’t breathe for a moment. And then, all at once, it was over. She wretched her hands from them, quickly reaching up to wipe away the blood that trickled from her nose. As she did, she noted the uncontrollable shaking of her hands. Still, she wiped it away with the back of her sleeve and looked at them both, her eyes pricking with tears. “The hunter turns its prey into a beast and the beast harms an innocent.” She said in a slightly wavering tone, clenching her arms around herself to stop the shaking. “A master of demons must then take the innocent blood and mix it with that of a dark creature… And then that creature must die.” For some reason, that fact made her… sad. The sinking in her stomach was more powerful than she thought it would be. But she tried her hardest not to let it show on her face, keeping her expression neutral. “Drown. The demon must drown, I mean. Before that, an exorcist must summon the power of both rituals into it so that when it dies, the rest of whatever ridiculously powerful creature you’re trying to eliminate will die as well.” She frowned at them judgmentally. “Do you make it a habit of fighting things above your caliber? This ritual is meant to rid this world of a terribly powerful being.”

As the visions and the spell ended and Winston was once more wrenched back to reality a terror truly set into their bones at that ritual. This was something that they might be a little under equipped for, but fortunately they had friends that they would be able to get to help them. The entire vision seemed to be a ritual and they were clearly instructions about what they could do to fix everything that was going wrong and Winston needed to write them down, they quickly set about typing what Tiaret was saying into their phone, making a digital copy in case something happened. It was too important to lose now. They had their answer and they knew how they were going to make things better. “God, fuck fuck okay,” Winston took several deep breaths and pulled their glasses straight. Running a hand through their hair they tried their best to think. “I didn’t pick a fight with this thing, squirdward just HAD to come and play in White Crest. This is probably why so much terrible shit has been going on but no one ever listens to any of us when we say that something weird is going on.” Swallowing Winston pulled out their inhaler and took a quick puff of it, the ventolin soothing their harried breathing. “Obviously Rio and I aren’t going to do this on our own, by the sound so fit we’re going to have to have multiple rituals, so we’re going to need to get help. Which is fine. We can do that.” Slowly standing, Winston grabbed an energy drink from their bag and swallowed several gulps in an attempt to replace the energy they had lost with caffeine, which was always an empty replacement. “We need to go, but thank you for your help.”

#wickedswriting #para #chatzy para #chatzy #p: tia #p: orion #all in how you look at it

24 notes · View notes

discotreque · 5 years ago

Text

Picard 1.07: Nepenthe

I can only think of one non-spoilery way to introduce this post, and that's to talk about how long this episode is. Including credits and the "Next Time on Picard" segment at the end, “Nepenthe” clocks in at 59 minutes. That's five minutes longer than last week, 13½ minutes longer than the week before, and almost 15 full minutes longer than the shortest episode so far, Episode 3.

And you could feel the difference. We had time to linger on some extremely powerful performances this week, and nearly every actor involved—old faces and new—knocked it out of the park. There wasn't a tonne of progression in terms of plot, but we got plenty of character development instead—and the previews for next week show quite a bit of plot on the way.

Let's get into it, shall we?

Spoilers:

The shot of Oh's hands on Jurati's face was in one of the trailers. Someone pointed it out to me a couple of weeks ago. This episode finally paid off the sense of dread that's been cooking in my stomach ever since.

How fucking good is Tamlyn Tomita as Commodore Oh, though? She's barely been in this and I'm a million times more interested in her than Narek or Narissa. "It must be chewed."

And once again, the stakes are The Fate of the Entire Galaxy. I'm sorry: half the galaxy. Can Star Trek calm the fuck down for just one (1) season?

When La Sirena is in the tractor beam and Raffi is trying to hack them free, she turns to a side display and starts flicking through photos of the drawings made by the disturbed Romulan xBs. What the fuck?

I hadn't really picked a favourite character—it was probably Picard by default—but that's just because she hadn't arrived yet. Kestra Troi-Riker (played with phenomenal skill by Lulu Wilson) is everything I hoped and expected a child of Will and Deanna's would be, and I would both kill and die for her.

So this is another moment we knew was coming from the trailers, seeing the Troi-Riker family. (With Marina Sirtis in the wig she kept after filming Nemesis! Iconic.) I was not emotionally prepared for it to actually happen. I sobbed, friends. I sobbed.

I hope the people who made TNG watch this episode and realize how comprehensively they failed to use Marina Sirtis to her full abilities. She broke my heart.

Kestra and Soji talking about Data made me cry again. I love that Kestra's parents told her so much about him. I love that extremely kid-like confidence she has when she talks about him. I love how sweet and curious she is with Soji. I LOVE HER SO FUCKING MUCH, OKAY.

We see Narek with the third(?) distinct Romulan fidget toy we've seen so far: he had that puzzle box last episode, and one of the Romulan xBs had something like a Rubiks Cube a few weeks ago. I want them ALL.

Loved that moment between Raffi and Agnes. "Let me hook you up with drugs." "Is cake a drug?" "Yes."

The pizza oven opens like a Jefferies tube ahahahahaha

Also loved seeing Deanna tell Picard off for being a dickhead to Soji. She did it with so much love, but she gave him both barrels and he deserved it.

Jonathan del Arco is extremely fucking good in this episode, and I'm very, very upset about what happened to Hugh. Like, yell-things-out-loud upset. I hope Elnor (and next week, maybe Seven?) make his sacrifice worth it.

I like Rios more than I was expecting to, but he's not... he's not very bright, is he.

Captions indicate the EMH's name is "Emil."

KESTRA AND SOJI BFFs FOREVER

What an emotional rollercoaster. Only three episodes left!

#star trek picard #star trek picard spoilers #picard spoilers #amy's episode notes

30 notes · View notes

fromwinnipeg2everywhere · 5 years ago

Text

Winnipeg is Good: Support Local Businesses!

My husband and I love to dine out and all of our favourite places are small, locally owned restaurants. I also enjoy posting pictures of food on Instagram, and though it may seem a tacky habit in the eyes of some people, for me it is my way of showing appreciation and support for the restaurant. Whenever I post something, I am hoping that it encourages other people to try that place or make them aware that it even exists in the first place!

The local restaurant industry is one of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Restaurants, with their razor-thin margins, depend on customers to stay afloat, and with everyone stuck at home, the sad reality is that there is a lot of laid-off restaurant staff, and local restaurant owners are having to find creative ways to keep their doors open. Instead of closing their doors, some restaurants have pivoted to delivery/pickup only services, some are selling pre-prepared meals to heat at home, and some like King’s Head Pub and Bodegoes have re-opened as a grocery-delivery service. My husband and I are making an effort to support the local restaurants by still ordering delivery/pickup with the hope that whatever little support we can give help them make it to other side of these crazy times. How else can you support restaurants during the pandemic? Follow them on Instagram, buy gift cards, order directly from them and do pickup if you can (food delivery services such as Skip and Doordash pretty much eats what little profit restaurants make in commissions), and tip generously!

Even before the pandemic, we made a conscious effort to support locally owned businesses and restaurants. Of course, not everything (or everyone) local is good (ahem, Nygard and Fun Mountain) so do your research, but I can say with certainty that everything good is local! There are many reasons to support local businesses. Many of our local businesses pay living wages. What does that mean? It means, yes, you will have to pay a little bit more for your coffee or your donut or your book, but that also means you are supporting a business that ensure their staff are paid fairly. Many of our local businesses and restaurants focus on sustainability – for example, they use environmentally friendly containers and they support local growers, farmers and suppliers (which means the ingredients and raw materials don’t have to travel far!). Supporting local means more of your dollars stay within the community – to the owners, the suppliers, the staff – local people who are very passionate about their craft and their business, and their profits are then reinvested to our community. Aside from the economic reasons, our local businesses are also very active in giving back to the community, for example, the first week when all the restaurants were forced to close their dining rooms to customers, many of them came together to donate their extra inventory to Chef Ben Kramer who then cooked all the food donations for local soup kitchens. Last, but not the least, these local businesses are what makes Winnipeg unique. Think of the last time you travelled somewhere? Where did you go to eat? Somewhere local, that you can only find in that place, I hope! Well, why wouldn’t you do the same at home?

So how do you know which businesses and restaurants to support? A lot of them have social media presence, so follow them on Instagram. They usually have stories that gives you a glimpse on how they run their business, for example, I saw a story where the owners visited a farm and showed us how it practiced ethical farming practices. I mean, I wish we could all be vegan or vegetarian, but the reality is the majority will not be, but that does not mean we have to support inhumane, factory farming methods. Instagram stories and posts will also have specials that you won’t normally find on the menu, so it’s a great way to try new things! I know that it is sometimes hard not to let the prices dictate where we decide to buy something, but if you can, think of the reasons why something is a little bit more expensive (fair wages, economies of scale – small businesses can’t compete with Bezos! -- quality of ingredients, keeping local dollars local) and make your decisions on value, not cost.

I have put together a list of our favourite local businesses and restaurants with the hope that it encourages you to support them. Not sure which ones are open now, but check out their Instagram pages for latest info.

Restaurants and their specialities (in no particular order)

1. Merchant Kitchen – Asian Fusion. This is our go-to. You can’t go wrong with the Thai Fried Rice and Korean Fried Chicken.

2. Yujiro/Saburo – ramen, premium sushi, donburi bowls

3. Gaijin Izakayya - reasonably priced, good sushi

4. Blufish – premium sushi

5. Sushi Cushi – reasonably priced, good sushi

6. Cho Ichi Ramen – I like their noodles, closest to Ichiran (Japanese ramen place) that I’ve tried

7. Dwarf No Cachette – Japanese food that is not sushi – okonomiyaki, takoyaki, donburi bowls, Japanese curry

8. Sabai Thai – Thai food

9. Pho Hoang – Vietnamese food

10. Kum Koon – lunch dimsum service is the best!

11. Maque – Asian fusion, for a super fancy anniversary dinner (or for a regular Tuesday night dinner, whatever!)

12. Myrna’s – Filipino breakfast, cash only!

13. Kyu – ramen, rice bowls, heroshima sandwiches

14. Mitzi’s – chicken fingers

15. Passero – Italian. Another fancy anniversary dinner place. Make sure you make a reservation!

16. Harth – Italian. The prosciutto di parma plate!

17. Kevin’s Bistro – If you are a fancy mac & cheese fan

18. Red Ember – Our favourite pizza place in Winnipeg

19. Pizzeria Gusto/Gusto North – A close second

20. Burrito del Rio – Hands down THE best burritos/tacos in town

21. Hermano’s – South American Food

22. La Fiesta – Salvadoran food.

23. The Good Fight Taco – Good taco

24. King and Bann – Fancy sandwiches. Best BLT.

25. Clementine – Brunch. They don’t accept reservations so go early and/or prepare to line up

26. Miss Browns – Brunch. The menu on William is more extensive compared to Hargrave Street Market.

27. Pineridge Hollow – come for brunch, stay for the petting zoo!

28. Forth Cafe – cocktails, coffee, light lunch – avocado toast is delish!

29. Langside Grocery – breakeven scotch bottles every Sunday! Check insta for more details!

30. Amsterdam Tea Room – cocktails, snacks

31. Thom Bargen – coffee and pastries

32. Fools and Horses – coffee, breakfast sandwiches, banana brulee french toast (Broadway location only), the Forks and Hargrave Street Market locations only sells coffee and pastries

33. Deer & Almond – small plates, fancy dinner place

34. Little Goat – mussel specials!

35. One Great City – beer and yummy food

36. Yellow Dog Tavern – beer and cheap eats!

37. Nonsuch – beer and THE best burger in town

38. Yard Burger – second best burger in town

39. Punjab Sweet House – best samosas in town, and they’re like $8 for a dozen giant size samosas – best value in town!

40. Famena’s ��- best roti and stand up routine by the owners

41. Tehran Cafe – Iranian food

42. Jenna Rae Cakes – macarons and cupcakes

43. Chaeban Ice Cream – best ice cream (also available at Sobey’s)

44. Oh Doughnuts – go early, they sell out! Or order online the night before for a discount.

45. Camille Bakery – closest to Dominique Ansel cronuts I’ve tasted

46. The Common – Food hall

47. Hargrave Street Market – Food hall

Other non-restaurant businesses

1. Morden’s Chocolates – Russian mints!!!

2. Fromagerie Bothwell – award winning cheese made in Manitoba!

3. Banville and Jones – for all your wine needs

4. DeLuca’s Wine – more wine!

5. Torque Brewing – beer!

6. Stone Angel Brewing – more beer!

7. Little Brown Jug – and more beer!

8. Kite and Kaboodle – Toys

9. Toad Hall – Toys

10. McNally Robinsons – books!

11. Browluxe – eye brow pencil and cruelty free

12. Coal and Canary – candles

13. DeLuca’s – Grocery

14. Piazza di Nardi – Grocery and bakery

15. Hilary Druxman – jewelry

16. EMK Clothing – clothing

17. U.n.luggage – luggage store

18. D’arcy’s ARC – pet shelter and pet supplies store

19. Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter – pet shelter and pet supplies store

20. Lavilash – eyelashes

21. Brows by G – eyebrows

22. We Heart Winnipeg - hoodies!!

#winnipeg #manitoba #canada #supportlocal #smallbiz

10 notes · View notes

swedishroyallove · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter 42

February 4, 2017: Royal Mews:

Lucy sits at her computer debating whether or not to post the photo to Facebook. She knows the tradition is to keep the gender a secret until the birth, but Madeleine did break with that with Leonore. After about 10 minutes of debating back and forth, Lucy makes the post.

“Isak and I couldn’t wait to share this news until the birth. We are having a girl!” she says with the photo of all the future princess’s cousins in pink shirts that say “I’m going to be a big cousin.”

Within minutes it had thousands of likes and the Swedish media had picked up on it. Madeleine had shared it and made a post of her own within two minutes of it going live. Madeleine was actually the one who encouraged Lucy to share the news since it was really bothering her to hide it.

Isak came in a few hours later looking a bit stressed. “What’s wrong?” Lucy asks.

“I was with Papa when you made the Facebook post. He went ballistic in the car. He hated it when Madeleine announced it, and he wasn’t happy this time either,” Isak responds.

“Uh oh,” Lucy says before tears start pouring. He thought Madeleine was a basket of emotions during her pregnancy, but nothing prepared him for Lucy.

He goes to call Victoria who rushes over. Soon as she walks in the door alongside Estelle, Carl Philip follows closely behind. Victoria goes straight to Lucy with Estelle not far behind. Carl Philip grabs his brother’s ear and drags him to the kitchen, “DAMN IT ISAK. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING TELLING HER THAT?! WE DIDN’T EVEN TELL MADELEINE UNTIL AFTER LEONORE WAS BORN. YOU ARE A FUCKING MORON!”

“But,” Isak tries to say before Carl Philip interrupts, “DON’T! Mama is going to have your head when she sees you for this.”

A nervous Isak then says, “Does Madeleine know yet?”

“You better hope not. She will rip you a new one. Vic and I won’t be able to keep her from killing you this time.”

Meanwhile, Estelle has crawled in Lucy’s lap with tissues while Victoria tries to console Lucy, “Don’t cry. Papa is just a control freak. It’s your life, and your decision. Madeleine did it, too. She’s still alive and kicking. He will forget it soon, and when he sees her after she’s born, he won’t care that you revealed it.”

A sobbing Lucy says, “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Then Estelle gives Lucy a big hug and kiss and says, “Don’t cry Auntie Lucy. I still love you bunches. Plus, I had already told all my friends so Morfar should be mad at me!”

“Oh, Estelle...ever the little grown up. You are so sweet. I love you, too,” Lucy says as she hugs Estelle tight.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have a talk with Morfar,” Estelle says as she goes looking for Carl Philip.

The next day, the whole family was due to have dinner at Drottningholm. Lucy was nervous after hearing of Carl Gustaf’s reaction. When they sat down at the table, little Estelle got everyone’s attention.

“I have a very important announcement, Morfar!”

“Well, Estelle dear, what is it?” Carl Gustaf says smiling.

“I was the one who told first about my baby princess cousin! Everyone at school knew before Lucy so you can’t be mad at her. It’s all my fault! Take my inheritance, I don’t care! I give up the throne!”

Everyone, including the King, goes into a fit of laughter. Carl Gustaf says, “Well then, dear Estelle, I can’t be mad at Lucy then. But you can’t give up the throne, my dear. We all forgive you. You’ll be the greatest queen Sweden has ever had!”

Estelle jumps down and hugs her grandfather and then runs to hug Lucy. After dinner, Carl Gustaf apologizes to Lucy with Silvia at his side. Silvia gives her a big hug and tells her not to worry anymore. “He just turns into the Hulk occasionally when things don’t go how he plans. It was the icing on the cake that day after issues with the press.”

The family enjoys the rest of the evening together, and Lucy and Isak return home fairly early.

February 10, 2017: Royal Mews:

Lucy and Isak are headed out for an event at Stockholm City Hall where they will be attending a seminar on the sustainable development goals. The day went well with the couple posing for photos when arriving and Isak speaking during the closing segment. They did not know a storm was waiting for them with the press outside.

As they walk out to their car, the camera start flashing and reporters start shouting questions in Swedish. Lucy still is not fluent in the language and struggles to understand. One word she did catch was Zika and Brazil. Isak tenses up and goes over to the press. Lucy follows closely behind.

One reporter asks, “Is it true you conceived the princess while in Rio for the Olympics?”

Lucy quickly responds back, in Swedish, “That’s a very personal question that we don’t wish to share.”

“What do you have to say about all the risks associated with pregnant women in Brazil?”

They ignore the question and head back to the car, but not before Isak hears one that infuriates him.

“Don’t you think it was irresponsible and potentially deadly to do that to your child? What if it is born with defects? Won’t you regret it?”

He storms back, “Let me tell you something. That baby is a miracle. We will not regret having her. That question is uncalled for and unethical. How dare you ask us that!”

He storms back to the car and the couple heads to the Royal Mews. By the time they get home, the conversation is all over the news. They ignored it, but there was one story, in particular, that set them off.

This story did not come out until after midnight online. Its title stated, “Royal couple sets bad example and conceives new princess in Rio, child may be born with serious defects.”

Isak saw this story while Lucy was in the shower. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw in Isak’s face the fury.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Isak...tell me.”

“No really, it’s fine, honey. Let’s go to bed.”

He goes over to kiss her goodnight knowing that would melt her. They crawl into bed, and Lucy grabs her phone. She sees the story immediately on Twitter. She shoots up out of bed in a rage. “WHAT THE HELL? HOW DARE HE!”

Isak tries to calm her, but Lucy starts pacing. She then begins to cry. She heads to the kitchen to get some water as Isak’s phone rings. He sees that it is Madeleine and answers.

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ISAK? YOU TOLD HER WHAT PAPA SAID? ARE YOU AN IDIOT?”

“Leni, not right now, it’s not a goo...” Isak hears glass drop in the kitchen. He takes off and sees Lucy doubled over in pain. Lucy then screams out in pain as Madeleine is asking what is going on over the phone. Isak tells her he has to go and hangs up quickly.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Did you step on glass when you dropped the glass of water? I’ll get it cleaned up.”

“No...Isak...not water...from glass....water broke.... in labor.... ahhhhhhhhhhh”

“Oh my gosh, Lucy, she’s not due until May! We are getting you to the hospital now!”

He carries Lucy to the car himself and speeds away with the royal protection officers struggling to keep up. He arrives at Karolinska University Hospital in record time and rushes in as he orders the guards to call the Palace.

They rush Lucy to a room and examine her. The doctor informs him that she and the baby are in a lot of stress. They would do all they could to keep the baby from coming so early, but the new princess would be born months before her due date.

#swedishroyallove #royal fanfic #royalfanficcollection #royalfanficcentral

24 notes · View notes

mego42 · 3 years ago

Note

Hello! Do you have any recent fic recommendations to tide me over until Good Girls comes back on Thursday? 😊

Hi!!!!! I do!!!!! I've actually been reading a bunch lately and it's been gr9!

Campanula by @riosnecktattoo

v easy to assume i am reccing this bc it is a gift for me and like, yes, but also i am reccing it bc i think it might be the actual cutest thing I've ever read??????

the prompt was annie x greg in high school bc i think they're cute leave me alone but tay took it to a whole other level and worked in not only brio but annie + rio that had me actually crying into my cheerios

actually it was a bowl of raspberries but that doesn't have the same ring to it

100000000000000/10 high key recommend

my heart it burns by @wakeupflawless

short, sweet, super cute with just the right amount of looming angst

they're pretending they're not nightmare people for 5 min, you see, but as that is not their natural state there's a fragile kind of temporary cocoon calm before the storm feeling to it that really amps the poignancy of the good stuff

i love

waves of you by @daydreamstew

apparently I've been in a sweet and fluffy mood bc here's another one

extremely hungover established relationship/au brio struggling to cope with the aftermath of annie's 21st birthday

two sex scenes for the price of one as the author made the inspired choice to intercut the present one with flashbacks to the night before

and then it goes sAPPY at the end and i am aMUSH

Clean Like Him by @pynkhues

hey remember how drive you mad is like, The Best? well the follow up is giving it a run for its money

have you ever thought to yourself what heights of nonsense would beth and rio get up to at a fancy open bar event they're both attending with dates who aren't each other? well wonder no longer

genuinely at a loss for what to say about this fic without spoiling it

okay one tiny spoiler: cake is eaten off of someone's ass and it's the best

actually dessert is kind of a theme throughout the whole thing and the author's food descriptions are basically porn so def recommending reading with snacks

More Fun with Friends by @00gangfriend00

more fun drunk fluff now with more dive bar!!!!!

DANCING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also like, the kind of normal human conversation you would expect two grown adults who maybe want to know more about each other would be capable of

wild, i know

Two Shoes by @pynkhues

reread, idk what to tell you, I've been in my brio dancing feelings

we'll get to why in a minute

anyway if you missed this one, high key recommend checking it out

they do a job, it involves dancing and making out to avoid suspicion and a storage closet

the storage closet maybe seems like a weird thing to feature but trust me it's worth it

Both Sides of the Law by @joeyjoeylee

look i know everyone and their mama is already reading this fic and for good reason and I've recced it like, a billion times

but the latest chapter is a jOURNEY

and also entirely responsible for why i'm so deep in my brio dancing feelings

there is literally nothing i can say about this without a) spoilers and b) more or less immediately devolving into a snotty, incoherent mess

i heard a rumor there's a support group but idk when the meetings are so i suffer ALONE

the drop by @querenaxx

outsider pov!!!!!!!! i love outsider pov so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

brio are their absolutely abnormal selves in front of witnesses

i know the gift exchange wasn't like, entirely just gifts for me but sometimes it kind of feels like it was

also while you're here, DEF check out watermelon sugar

🔥🔥🔥

hope this helps!!

#there's been so! much! good! fic!#i mean i know there always is #but usually i'm hyper focused on writing and v behind on reading #so hey! i may have burnt myself out but there are silver linings!!#2 weeks until vacation and i am limping up to the finish line #hahahahaha #it's fine i'm fine #ANYWAY #brio fic #fic recs #rec lists #idk if i had that tag already but i should've #nbc good girls #shut up meg

76 notes · View notes

mollyshaj · 8 years ago

Text

31.

Ebony

“Alright Kaylin damn!” I shouted as I walked out the bedroom. “Steady repeating yourself like I’m dumb or some shit.”

“If you did it the first time I said it I wouldn’t need to repeat myself now would I?” He asked while following me. I turned around and looked at him like he was stupid; he clearly had life fucked up.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think I am but I’m not your child so don’t talk to me like you fucked my mama and created me nigga.”

“I’m just saying, they’re hungry Ebony they need breakfast.”

“So why wouldn’t you do it? I was asleep and you felt the need to come wake me up to something you could’ve done yourself. You’re really pissing me the fuck off you might want to leave me alone my nigga.” I went downstairs to the kitchen so I could cook breakfast for Jayden and Angelic.

The whole time I was making breakfast I was trying to calm myself down because I was beyond pissed off. First I barely got any sleep last night because Angelic was up talking about her tummy hurting and who do you think was getting up every time she came in our bedroom crying and whining? It damn sure wasn’t her father, it was me. Now when I finally get to sleep he wants to wake me up to make breakfast like his hands are broken.

Once I was done cooking the back, eggs and grits I made for breakfast I called Jayden downstairs and told him to bring Angelic with him. When they came in the kitchen I put their plates on the table and they sat down.

“You want juice LiLi?” Jayden asked her. Instead of answering she just nodded with her mouth full of grits. “Mommy can we have juice?”

“Yeah,” I poured both of them a cup of juice before sitting down and eating my own food.

“Ma, do we have to stay in the house today? Can we go somewhere?” Jayden asked while looking at me.

“I don’t know, where do you want to go?”

“How about we take a trip to six flags?” Kaylin said as he came in the kitchen.

“Yes! Can we go please?” Jayden looked between the both of us. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled a little bit.

“I guess we can do that, but hurry up and eat so we can get dressed and go alright.”

“Okay,” Jayden started eating his phone and Kaylin came over grabbing my hand.

“Let me speak to you for a minute. Jayden watch your sister; make sure she eats all of her food and not just grits.” Kaylin pulled me from my chair and out of the kitchen. “What’s wrong with you Ebony?”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s wrong with you? Last night was the first night you slept in our bedroom with me but you still got an attitude?”

“Kaylin I’m just…I’m sick of arguing with you. We’ve been arguing constantly for the past few months.”

“I know that and I’m sorry for anything I did to make you upset but you can’t keep avoiding me and getting an attitude to with me Hersh.”

“It’s just a lot on my mind and I’m trying to balance everything I’m doing as far as business and trying to take care of the kids and you. Then you’re on me about this baby thing.”

“I want to have a child with the woman I love, that’s wrong?

“No it’s not wrong but I’m not ready for another baby to be added in the equation yet. You’re always working, I’m always working and you have a problem with what I do.”

“No I don’t, i just don’t think it needs to be as much.”

“I could say the same thing about you. Kay I barely have anytime to worry about me. Even when I’m working that’s not really about me it’s about whoever I’m working for at the time.”

“You need a break baby so take one.”

“How?”

“You pick a weekend to do whatever you want to do; I’ll handle Jayden and Angelic. All you have to do is relax and worry about yourself.”

“You would do that?”

“Yeah, next weekend will be all about you alright?”

“Thank you,”

“No problem, and as far as the baby thing goes. I’ll stop being on you about it. You’re not leaving me so we have time.”

“Exactly, i mean if I end up pregnant it is what it is but i don’t want to purposely try right now.”

“I got you, I understand. Go get dressed I’ll get the kids ready.”

“Okay,” He kissed me on the lips before walking back to the kitchen. I went upstairs to the bedroom and was about to go to the closet so I could get dressed when I heard my phone ringing so I went to go answer it.

“What’s good Jas,” I said when I answered the phone for her.

“What are you doing miss thang?”

“Nothing about to get dressed so we could take the kids to Six Flags. What are you and my nephew doing?”

“He went with his father to get their hair cut. Why didn’t you tell me y’all were going to Six Flags? I would’ve brought TJ with me.”

“Y’all can go, get your ass up and dressed and meet us there dummy.”

“I’m already dressed, but that’s a good idea. Let me call Trey right now.”

“Alright I’ll see you later.” I hung up the phone and a bigger smile came on my face. It’s been a minute since I’ve had the chance to chill with my sister. We talk all the time but between the kids driving me crazy over here and the two year old running around her and her husband’s house we never find the time but today it was finally about to happen.

I got dressed and did my hair and makeup for the day then went to make sure Kaylin didn’t dress Angelic like a little boy while he got himself dressed. Once we were all dressed we got in the car and took that damn near two hour drive all the way to Great Adventures.

…

“I like doing stuff like this; it tires his little ass out. He’s going to be gone by the time we get back home.” Jasmine told me while we sat at a table eating funnel cakes. Kaylin and Trey took the kids off somewhere not too long ago which was fine with me because I was sick of walking anyway.

“I know what you mean, both of them will be knocked out by the time we get back home. I’m just glad we’re having a good time I was ready to kill that nigga this morning.”

“Why?” I told her about the problems Kaylin and I were having and it was good getting out to somebody I know would keep it straight. Not saying my friends don’t but Jasmine knows me differently than they do so her view won’t be exactly the same.

“Jas I honestly don’t know what’s wrong. We used to be able to talk some shit out and dead it right then and there and move on. Now it’s like the shit is so constant it’s almost impossible to do that. If we’re not arguing about him working too much, he’s mad at me for partying too much like I don’t get paid to do club appearances. I could see if I was in the club shaking my ass and dancing on niggas but I keep a low profile for the most part until it’s time for me to speak to the crowd.”

“Your career has changed Ebony; you’re out there way more. You’re always gone doing some type of photo shoot or doing some type of walk through and it’s not like you’re just doing shit in New York or on the East Coast you go all over the country.”

“I know that but its work for me it’s not like I’m sitting there like yeah I love leaving my kids and my man to go smile in the faces that I don’t even know.”

“Yes, but then you have the swim suit line and you got niggas damn near drooling over you all the time. If I hear your name in one more rap song I swear to God.”

“It’s not my fault.” I laughed. “I’m just…I don’t know what to do about this shit. I love him, I know he loves me. It’s just difficult right now.”

“That’s how relationships work Eb, you think me and Trey are always on good terms? Hell no, this shit is hard as hell but we just gotta work through it. You’ll get it straight.”

“I hope so.”

“You will, don’t even worry about it.” She hugged me then kissed me on the cheek. “Off that though, guess what I heard.”

“What?”

“Rio’s ass is out of jail.” As soon as I heard that name I got sick to my stomach.

“Ugh, do not bring him up. I saw his ass.”

“You saw him? When?”

“I took Jayden to get a haircut and ran into that nigga. We didn’t speak I just left.”

“Oh hell nah, did you tell Kay?”

“No I didn’t tell Kay. I don’t want him going after that psychotic ass nigga.”

“So you rather have that nigga come after you and not let your man know he needs to protect you? Ebony you can’t be that dumb. You’re the reason he got locked up.”

“No I’m not, he’s the reason he’s in jail. I didn’t do anything he beat the shit out of me for no reason.”

“True his actions got him there but your testimony kept his ass there. You need to tell Kaylin.”

“I’m not telling him, just leave it alone alright and don’t open your mouth and say a damn thing Jasmine I’m not playing with you.”

“Fine I won’t say anything but if the nigga comes anywhere near you I swear to God you better open your mouth or I’m whoopin’ yo ass myself.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, fuck Rio. Look what I posted. I gave her my phone showing her the instagram post I put up of Kaylin with the kids earlier.

beautyis_ebony

beautyis_ebony: zaddy duties

“That’s cute,” She smiled but raised an eyebrow. “You do realize I know you showed me this picture to change the subject. I’ll leave it alone…for now.”

“Jas,”

“What? You better hope I don’t tell your damn mother and brother that nigga is out and actually saw you.”

“Jasmine just leave it alone please damn. Do not get Darryl involved.” The last thing I wanted was Darryl getting involved. He’s worse than Kaylin. Kaylin would hire somebody to take that nigga out while my brother would try to do it with his bare hands and I didn’t want my brother fuckin’ up his life over that bitch ass nigga.

“I’m not but I got them niggas on speed dial in case.” I shook my head regretting I even told Jasmine I saw him now she’s about to be on my back about it.

Rio was the part of my past I was doing my best to forget about it and he wants to pop his black ass up. I met Mario when I was 19. We were together for two years before he went to prison. He was really sweet at first, he always took me out, bought me stuff, he was treating me like a queen but then it all switched. He started getting way too controlling. It got to the point where he would buy my clothes; he was dropping me off and picking me up where ever I went. I couldn’t even go anywhere without his permission.

The physical abuse didn’t happen as often as the verbal abuse. I can count on one hand how many times he put his hands on me. He didn’t do it much but when he did, he made sure I would remember it. The last time he put his hands on me, my neighbor called the cops because she heard me screaming and I ended up in the hospital.

Waking up seeing my mother holding my son while she cried was the wake up call I needed, I got his ass locked up. I testified and everything and he was sentenced to ten punk ass years but obviously something changed with that. I guess he got out on probation, I don’t know. I really don’t care I just want him to leave me the hell alone. I just hope I don’t have to deal with or see him anymore.

Brandi

Just as I was putting my books up my cell phone started to ring. I was about to ignore it until I saw it was Kaylin calling and since he had Angelic that means he wanted to tell me some shit about her, he was probably on his way back over here with her.

“What’s up Kay?”

“Nothing much, I was just calling you to tell you I’ll drop Angelic off to you in the morning. We took them to Six Flags and she’s knocked the fuck out.”

“Oh, well that’s fine. What time are you dropping her off?”

“Probably like around eleven or so, if I don’t drop her off it’ll be Ebony.”

“Alright well just call me when you’re on your way with her.”

“I got you, I just wanted to let you know what the deal was.”

“Well thank you, I’ll talk to you tomorrow or whatever.”

“Cool, good night.” When he ended the call I smiled a little bit. I was finally about to have a night to myself without studying or Angelic being involved. My face has been buried in my school books all damn weekend so it’s not like I got to enjoy my time alone.

For the past three years my life has revolved around school and my daughter. I barely had a social life and my love life was non-existent. I really didn’t care too much because those were the two most important things right now.

Angelic is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I never thought I would be someone’s mother or let alone be good at it but I’m doing the damn thing. My daughter is in pre-school and she’s doing great there, besides the fact that she’s hyper as hell and can’t sit still she’s perfect. Plus she’s the reason why Ebony and I get along the way that we do now.

I thought I was going to hate that bitch forever in all honesty but I can’t because she treats my daughter like a princess and I respect her for that. It is weird when she refers to my daughter as hers, but at this point I’m used to it. She’s with Angelic’s father, they live together, hell he’s helping her raise her son so it’s only right that she does the same thing. I actually love her son, his mouth a little on the flip side but he’s a good kid. He loves Angelic and she loves him. I even had both of them with me for an entire weekend and he was helping me with her the entire time. I was nervous about it because I thought something was going to go wrong but it was actually fun.

Just the thought of them put a smile on my face so I decided to post an old pic I took of them.

baeitsbrandi

baeitsbrandi: big bro and lil sis love

After posting it I went through Instagram for a little bit but smiled when I saw that Ebony liked the picture. Yes she was following me just like I was following her. See what happens when you grow up and let go of bullshit.

I put my books and stuff away then took a nice long shower so I could go to sleep. Before I could even get in my damn bed comfortable enough my doorbell was being rang. “Come the fuck on man, damn.” I got up and went downstairs then opened the door.

When I saw Sade standing there with a smile on her face I got super confused. I literally haven’t seen or heard from Sade since the day I kicked her out my house, the bitch just dropped off the face of the earth out of nowhere.

“Sade? What are you doing here?”

“I just came back from Miami. That’s where I went after I left. Can I come in?” She asked. I wanted to say hell no and send the bitch on her way but for whatever reason I wanted to be nice.

“Yeah come on,” She came in and I closed the door then had her follow me to the living room.

“That’s Angelic? Wow, she’s so pretty.” She smiled at the huge picture I had of Angelic hanging over the fire place.

“Yeah that’s my baby. So what’s going on? Why are you here? Last time we talked you were screaming fuck me.”

“I know, I was on some other shit. After you kicked me out I stayed with Treesey for a little bit but that bitch was too nasty for me. I’ve never met a bitch who didn’t wash her ass on the daily, she never cleaned, barely had food and her house was just a hot ass mess.”

“You should’ve known that bitch was coming like that. All you had to do was look at her.”

“Yeah well after getting sick of being there I went down to Miami. Some girls I knew from around the way hooked me up with a job at KOD’s so I was down there stacking bread like crazy.”

“That’s good, I’m just glad you got that nigga out of your system.”

“Yes I’m over him, can’t stay the same for his baby mama though.”

“What do you mean?”

“She reached out to me a few months back on Instagram, bitch slid right up in my DM’s.”

“For what? You were fucking him while he was with her.”

“I know that, you know that, she knows that but she still reached out to me. We’ve been cool for a minute now and she hates Mariah.”

“Why though?” I wasn’t the closest to Ebony or her friends despite the progress we’ve made but I don’t have any problems with them either. I can’t understand why Carmen would have an issue with Mariah, it’s not her fault Tristan don’t want her ass.

“She’s salty they have custody of Damien now. She told me they took him for no reason and Tristan and his money was the only reason he was going to win but I heard she had some nigga beating his and her ass and that’s why Tristan took him.”

“Damn, that’s wild. I’m still confused as to why she’s cool with you. No offense.”

“Man your guess is as good as mine, I guess she feels like we would have a common enemy but I’m over all that shit. She’s going to make their lives hell though I already know it. Fuck that though, how have you been?”

“I’ve been alright, just school and dealing with my baby.”

“You went back to school for real?”

“Yeah, I’m in my third year. Trying to get this damn degree in marketing, the shit is annoying.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I don’t know yet, I was going to talk to Kaylin about that.”

“Ebony won’t mind?”

“No why would she? We’re good now.”

“For real?” She looked at me shocked.

“Yeah, we aint friends or nothing but she’s cool. I can’t be mad at anybody who treats my daughter so well. That would just be childish.”

“Wow, you really grew up. So Kaylin is your financial support?”

“For now, I’m in school full time so between that and Angelic I don’t have time to work. He understands that and handles things for me. She has no problem with it or me so we’re all good.”

“Damn things have changed huh?”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “We all have to be adults at some point.”

“I definitely feel you on that. I’m not even going to bother Tristan or that girl, I heard they were engaged anyway.”

“Yeah, and they have a baby together. Just leave it alone, you have money saved up from Miami?”

“I do, I wanna open up my own strip club in the city but I don’t even know where to start.”

“You have to get a business plan together, then you have to figure out what kind of property you’re going to get. Are you going to rent a space or are you going to buy, it’s a lot of work.”

“I know that, how about you go into business with me?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, we know how clubs work we’ve both been through it and besides you just said Kaylin would help you.”

“Yes help me, now helping you is something way different. They don’t fuck with you like that.”

“Alright but this is business, just think about it and let me know.” She said then looked at the watch on her wrist. “I gotta go,”

“Where are you staying?”

“I found an apartment in Hoboken. Nice little place, one bedroom but it’s just me so oh well.”

“Well I’m glad you’re doing well Sade.”

“Me too, I’m happy that you and Kaylin are doing great. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” I smiled then stood up with her.

“Do me a favor Brandi.”

“What?”

“Don’t tell anybody I’m back, and don’t tell anybody about me and that bitch Carmen being cool.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t need Tristan hunting me down threatening my ass for no reason.”

“I’m pretty sure he won’t do that if you leave his woman alone but alright fine.”

“Good, I guess I’ll see you around.” I walked her to the front door and watched her walk out to a black Audi R8. I don’t know whose car she was driving, maybe it’s hers I’m not going to assume. She beeped the horn then pulled off down the street.

I closed my front door and locked it thinking about how random that whole little visit. I would love to believe she’s up here really ready to go on about her business and wasn’t here for the drama but something was telling me that was far from the truth. Plus the fact that she’s friends with Tristan’s baby mama is even weirder, I don’t care what she says those bitches are up to something.

…

“Thank you,” I smiled at the Starbucks employee when she handed me my iced coffee. I walked out the door and was about to go to my car when I bumped into a hard chest dropping my cup in the process. “Shit! I just bought that!” I stomped my foot and whined like a little ass kid.

“Damn my bad shorty, I didn’t even see you.” A deep voice said. I looked up ready to snap but I stopped when I saw a fine ass man standing there. Technically he was a light skin nigga, but he wasn’t as bright as Kaylin or Tristan. He had a nice build, not too big or stocky and he looked to be almost six feet, plus he was cute in the face. Perfect package.

“It’s alright I should’ve been watching where I was going.”

“Let me buy you another one,” He offered.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know but I want to, it’s the least I could do.” He opened the door for me and we walked back inside. After he got me a whole new drink he walked out to my car. “So Ms. Brandi?” He looked at my cup making me laugh.

“Yes it’s Brandi,”

“Well Brandi, I’m Darryl.” He held his hand out and I shook it.

“Nice to meet you Darryl. Thank you for buying me a new coffee.”

“It’s not a problem, I made you drop yours. Hell I’m glad I did; now we got a reason to talk.” He chuckled. “This is forward but can I take you out?”

“On a date?”

“Yeah, you date right?”

“Yeah I mean…Not really between school and my daughter I don’t really have time.”

“Well do you have time tonight?”

“I wish I could but I can’t, she gets dropped back from her dad’s house today.”

“What about next weekend?”

“Yeah that’ll work.” I smiled. “Let me give you my number.” He pulled his phone out and I stored my number in before giving it back to him.

“I’ll definitely be hitting you up Brandi.”

“You do that Darryl.” I gave him another smile before getting in my car and pulling off. Did I really just get asked out by a fine ass man? Hot damn, ya girl still got it.

#chris brown #chris brown fanfic #chris brown fan fiction #chris brown fan fic #chris brown ff #alexysj #alexys.jay #alexys.j

32 notes · View notes

spyzguyz · 5 years ago

Text

Day 1-2

Melissa and I touched down in Costa Rica around 10 PM, took a shuttle to the rental car facility to get our car (a Nissan Versa), paid for rental liability insurance ($300, and required by law), and we were on our way…to downtown San Jose.

The drive from San Jose airport to San Jose is a bit like the drive from Newark airport to Newark. There’s some trucking facilities, a chemical plant—that kind of thing.

Our hotel was located in “central” San Jose, but you wouldn’t know it from looking around. For a Friday night, the area was bereft of pedestrians, and most businesses looked closed.

We dropped our bags at the hotel and walked the empty streets (Melissa said she wouldn’t have walked them alone) looking for something to eat. We came upon a casino with a boisterous crowd outside. We go inside, find a bar and an open kitchen, and order a “typical” plates—rice, beans, salad, plantains, and chicken.

It was delicious.

We chased our meals with silly cocktails, plus a papaya juice to share. The meal comes out to $30 with tip.

The next morning we wake up around 9 AM, have a complimentary breakfast in the hotel, and go for a jaunt around town. We stop off at Movistar—a Costa Rican phone store—and get new SIM cards that allow us to use our phones as we usually would in the states for the duration of our visit (9 days).

The cost is $10.

Walking around San Jose is a bit underwhelming. It feels like a city that randomly sprung up because they needed a central location for things. The concierge at our hotel explained that very few people actually live in San Jose—they just commute there for work and to party on the weekends (although we didn’t see too much of that).

There were a few pretty buildings and tiny parks that fit into a square block. The church in the center of town is also quite impressive, as is the Central Market, where fresh meat and fish abound. But by noon we were ready to hit the road to La Fortuna in the northwestern part of the country.

The drive to La Fortuna takes about 3.5 hours on one-lane roads. The first leg of the trip requires going up a mountain and down the other side. The elevation is so high that the road becomes shrouded in mist from the clouds. And because we’re so high up, rain falls suddenly and lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

But because of this, the mountain was filled with lush vegetation and waterfalls cascading down onto the road (Costa Rican roads have little gulches on either side to capture all the runoff). The lack of visibility combined with the scenery makes for an engaging ride—especially since few roads in Costa Rica have shoulders to pull off onto or guardrails to prevent your vehicle from shooting off the edge of a cliff.

Basically you just need to keep your hands at 10 and 2, move your head as close to the windshield as possible, and hope the car in front of you knows what they’re doing.

Once we got off the mountain and began driving through farmlands, things felt more familiar. It personally reminded me of the Dominican Republic, which I visited last year, or some more isolated parts of Florida.

Basically your driving on one-land roads through farms, fields of grazing cattle, and small towns. Most of these towns consist of brightly painted houses lining the sides of the road, followed by a school, a soccer field, and a church (always the nicest looking building in town). A couple of random dirt roads also shoot off from the main road towards other houses.

Save for that, it was pretty trees, sodas (mom-and-pop restaurants with delicious local cuisine), and places where fresh produce and coffee was sold from little cars by the side of the road (Costa Rican coffee is delicious).

We reached La Fortuna around 3 PM. The town lies in the shadow of Mount Arenal—an intimidating structure. From the ground you cannot see the top for it’s hidden in the clouds. The volcano isn’t active, but it isn’t inactive either. It’s considered “dormant.” It last erupted in 2010, and shouldn’t be a liability to erupt anytime soon.

It’s most famous eruption occurred in 1968, which wound up killing 87 people (and led to the formation of the man-made Lake Arenal, which now helps supply a majority of the country’s electricity).

Our hotel was located about 20 minutes outside La Fortuna at the top of a long, windy, and treacherous road that is definitely not made for a Nissan Versa (as you’ll see, a lot of roads in Costa Rica aren’t made for a Nissan Versa).

The Casa Torre Eco Lodge, as our hotel was called, is perched on a hill looking out towards Mount Arenal and offering beautiful views of the valley below. The facility features tiny cabins with beds and electric outlets. There’s one communal bathroom (much to Melissa’s chagrin), an outdoor sink for the brushing of teeth, and an outdoor patio with a kitchen and tables for dining.

After getting settled, we headed back into town to book some activities at Jacamar Naturalist Tours, which we read online was one of the more reputable tour operators in the country.

We ended up booking a river boat safari and hiking expedition of Mount Arenal for the next day, and then a canyoning expedition for the day after that. For two people, the combined cost of all three was $440. We then booked a trip to a hot springs for the evening. This is a must for anyone visiting La Fortuna, as hot springs are what the region is most known for (pretty much every resort in the are has their own hot spring).

The hot springs we visited was called Baldi Hot Springs, which is the largest one in La Fortuna. Baldi is something of a cross between a hot spring and a waterpark. There are 31 different springs of varying temperatures, some of which are connected via a series of hidden waterways. There’s also a natural sauna, swim-up bars, ice baths, four different waterslides, and lots of children running around.

For $40 we stayed at the hot springs from 5 PM to 10 PM with dinner included. We did our best to explore every pool, but spent the majority of our stay getting drunk at a swim-up bar with a couple visiting from Alaska.

We left happy.

Day 3

Today we were up at 6:30 AM for the river boat cruise. They picked us up in a bus in the center of town, and it promptly started raining. We hopped off the bus at the Rio Penas Blancas, threw on some ponchos, and jump into an inflatable raft with our tour guide Miguel.

It rained for most of the two hour tour, which prevented a lot of animals from coming out. However, eagle-eyed Miguel was still able to show us some Howler Monkeys, sleeping bats, toucans, a few iguanas, and a dead piraña (but no sloths!).

After the tour he took us to a little soda where we were served fried plantains, coffee, some homemade cheese and banana cake, and tamarin juice.

Once we arrived back in La Fortuna, on Miguel’s recommendation, we head north out of the area to a place called Tobacon—home of the Chollin hot springs. Unlike the Baldi Hot Springs, which is a manmade facility, Chollin is a naturally occurring hot spring. In other words, heated water from Mount Arenal flows several miles down into this area to make the river water comfortable enough to sit in all day—which is exactly what hundreds of people do.

I’d compare it to a warm water version of Barton Springs in Austin, Texas.

Melissa and I wandered up and down the river a few times, then settled in and talked to this nice American family who had decided to move down to Costa Rica full-time five years ago (the three kids now speak fluent Spanish, but the parents still don’t know a word). They live in a town on the Pacific coast called Tamarindo, which they say is full of expats and fairly Americanized. The father provided us with some interesting tidbits about Costa Rica. For instance, he claimed that the Costa Rican government doesn’t truly care about the environment. But because eco-tourism is a big part of the Costa Rican economy, they pay lip service to it for travelers.

As we chatted, we passed around a large plastic bottle of Costa Rican jungle juice—a mixture of wine, rum, some sweet tasting syrup, and (if the father is to be believed) hallucinogens.

I didn’t hallucinate, but the juice was really good.

That afternoon we took a bus to Mount Arenal for the hike. The hike isn’t up the mountain per se, but rather a large lava flow created after the 1968 eruption that has now dried and hardened (Mount Arenal itself is too dangerous to hike, due to volcanic gases). The top of the lava flow offers stunning panoramic views of both Mount Arenal and Arenal Lake.

The most interesting aspect of the hike for me was all the vegetation that had grown out from between the brittle, black rock. Our tour guide explained this occurs because the rains erode the lava and allows soil to grow underneath.

When we got back to the base of the mountain we were greeted with watermelon and pineapple (the fruit in Costa Rica is on-point) then driven back to La Fortuna—where Melissa and I got dinner at an upscale restaurant called Don Rufino. Melissa ate a yummy cauliflower steak, and I enjoyed some of the best risotto of my life. We also split a hummus dish, and some cocktails.

The total cost with tip? $59.

Day 4

These are the kinds of mornings I love most on vacation: Sleep in, have a late breakfast (fresh eggs and fruit), then hang out and read. Even better if you have a spectacular view of a volcano from your hotel patio.

Around 11 AM we made our way into town for the day’s activity: Canyoning (a.k.a. repelling down waterfalls). We were picked up by a bus in the center of town, then taken to a resort out of town to pick up our fellow cayoneers. Lunch consisted of tender BBQ chicken with rice and beans. With our nervous bellies full, another van took us to an area south of La Fortuna, where we were transferred to yet another vehicle (a flatbed pickup truck), which drove us down a rocky road into the canyon.

Once there, we were outfitted with harnesses, helmets, and gloves (to grip the ropes), and led down into the canyon.

If you’ve never repelled before, the worst part is waiting. After a (very) brief safety presentation, we lined up in groups of two. Our guides strapped each of us to a rope (meaning we couldn’t escape) and walked us to the edge of a cliff. They snapped our harness to another rope, had us grip the rope with two hands (one hand at the top and the other hand down near our waist), and told us to jump.

Against every survivalist instinct in my body I obliged…and I fell approximately two feet. That’s because you need to loosen your grip on the rope to actually drop. This takes some getting used to, since you feel that if you loosen your grip you’ll tumble to your death. Experienced canyoneers can bound down the side of a rock face in two jumps. But for me, that first rappel took about 12 baby jumps.

The expedition led with the largest drop (160 meters), so that subsequent drops wouldn’t feel as intimidating. By our fourth and final rappel, I actually got down the side of the 95 meter drop in two leaps.

Overall it was well worth the $101 dollar price tag, even if our Costa Rican tour guide kept making fun of us for how scared we were (it was all in good fun). We actually met several nice American couples on the tour whom we bonded with over our shared fear of dying (there were a lot of “well, it I don’t make it…” jokes).

By the time the bus took us back to La Fortuna, we decided we had earned another hot springs. So we purchased a second voucher to Baldi, snuck in some of our own alcohol, and lazed around in the pools all evening.

Day 5

Melissa woke up at 6 AM to use the bathroom today and saw a sight we hadn’t seen since we arrived in La Fortuna—the top of Mount Arenal. In the early morning stillness, the clouds had briefly dissipated from the top of the volcano.

However, that view was soon to be beat when we left La Fortuna about three hours later and headed southwest towards Monteverde (translation: green mountain).

Monteverde is about 25 miles from La Fortuna in terms of distance. However, there are no direct routes there (you can take the ferry across Lake Arenal, but cars cannot go on these ferries). So the drive takes about three hours, and leads you on a long, winding, one-lane road around the lake.

It was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever been on. The roads are covered with lush, green, vegetation, and the views of Mount Arenal behind the lake are even better than what you see in La Fortuna (of course, by this time the top of the volcano was again poking into the clouds). Along the route, there are lots of sodas to pull over at, drink a juice, and look out across the landscape. There are also dozens of wind turbines dotting the landscape, helping produce clean energy for the region.

If I had to compare it to another landscape I’ve seen, I’d say the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, sans the volcano.

Once you get about 40 miles outside Monteverde, the lake views give way to green rolling hills and tiny rural villages. The road also turns from asphalt to dirt and gravel. This is fun in an SUV, but anxiety inducing in a little Nissan. We drove very slowly and were able to make it without issue.

Monteverde is high up—approximately 4,662 feet above sea level (for contrast, La Fortuna is 883 feet above sea level). For this reason, Monteverde is surrounded by cloud rain forests.

After we dropped our bags at our hotel (a charming place called the Jaguarandi Lodge), we headed into this unique landscape for an afternoon hike.

Needless to say, the landscape is breathtaking (and extremely vulnerable to climate change). In a cloud rain forest, everything grows on top of everything. There were trees growing out of trees, flowers sprouting from other flowers, and shrubs cannibalizing other shrubs. It’s like a giant nature orgy.

The most interesting flora we came upon is the fig tree. These are trees with hollow trunks. People make sport out of climbing into the trunk and scaling the tree from the inside!

The cloud forest is also home to the Quetzal, a very beautiful bird with bright green and red feathers that only lives in high elevations like the Monteverde Cloud Forest. We were lucky enough to see one with the help of a tour guide.

Our hotel room was a little cabin surrounded by trees (with it’s own bathroom!). We showered and sat out on our porch reading and listening to chirping birds.

We ate dinner at a place called Sabor Tico (kind of like a TGI Friday’s restaurant in Costa Rica, don’t really recommend). Then we found a much more interesting restaurant in downtown Monteverde called Tree House (the restaurant is three floors with a giant tree growing in the middle) where we played cards and drank Pina Coladas.

One thing about the town of Monteverde: It’s got a fairly modern feel. It’s small but has a cute little town center with lots of modern looking restaurants and a few bars. There’s a shopping mall, paved roads, sidewalks, and lots of traffic. It’s almost like a suburb you’d find in the US, but surrounded by jungles.

After leaving Tree House, we found a Discotheque next door called Rio Amigos that had a room downstairs with four pool tables. So Melissa and I shot some pool with the locals, then called it around 10 PM. We begged a closing restaurant to serve us some ice cream (most of Monteverde closes around 10 PM), then went to bed.

Day 6

Today we slept in and spent the morning on our porch reading. Then we headed to a place called Sky Trek adventures for zip lining in the cloud forest. This wasn’t quite as nerve wracking as canyoning because, unlike canyoning, you have no control over whether you live or die.

But you get over the anxiety of flying through the sky with no control whatsoever, it’s actually pretty awesome. The clouds make it so you can’t see three feet in front of you, but far down below you can see the canopy of the trees.

By the end of the zip lining course your face is soaked with mud (I don’t know why, maybe there’s mud in the clouds?). But before your guides let you leave, you have to bungie jump down from a suspended platform. This was a lot scarier than canyoning or zip lining, but somehow I did it—and I’ll never do it again.

In the afternoon we relaxed at the hotel, then headed to another cloud forest for a night hike. Of all the hikes we did, this was undoubtedly the coolest because you see so many more animals at night. Our tour guide pointed his flashlight at tarantulas in there tiny caves, a scorpion, multiple colorful sleeping birds, and deadly snakes napping on branches. But the highlight was a giant furry sloth scaling down a tree with its baby to poop (sloths only come down from their trees to poop every 10-15 days, so this was very lucky).

We finished the night at Tree House, and passed out early.

Day 7

This morning we woke up bright and early and headed to the beach. The drive down the mountains was as beautiful as the drive up the mountains. At some points, you can even see the Pacific Ocean. Once we made it down, we drove along the coast through little beach towns, then made a right turn west out to the peninsula of Quepos and the beach town of Manuel Antonio.

Our hotel was called the Selina Manuel Antonio, and it was lovely. It’s comprised of dozens of little villas spread across an acre of land, three different pools, three bars, a yoga studio, and a restaurant. At night, the main bar turns into a club, and folks from all over town come to dance.

After all the adventures, Melissa and I agreed that in Manuel Antonio we would relax on the beach as much as possible. This way, we could return to New York tanned and refreshed. So after checking in, we promptly drove to the ocean.

More so than any other place we’d been to in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is full of folks trying to separate you from your money. When you arrive at the beach, there are dozens of men telling you to park in certain locations along the road, then demanding you pay them for the public parking spot.

The parking isn’t private, so there’s no reason to pay these men. They’re just hoping uninformed tourists will do so anyway in order to get the men to stop heckling them (we also heard the men may vandalize your vehicle if you refuse to pay, although this didn’t happen to us). Once you reach the beach, there are other men trying to sell you beach chair rentals. The going rate is about $10 for the day—which is a bargain. However, we bartered anyway and got a few dollars knocked off.

Once you’re set up in your spot, other men come around trying to sell you surf lessons, parasailing (which looks really cool, but costs over $100), jet skiing, and various little trinkets and souvenirs. It’s pretty annoying, and different from anything we experienced in La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio.

However, it can’t take away from the beauty of the beach. The waters are warm and blue, the sun is always shining (as opposed to inland, where it was mostly cloudy), and the sand is soft.

We spent three hours on the beach, then spent the late afternoon lazing around the hotel pool. For dinner, we went to a place within walking distance of the hotel, and met a European couple recently engaged. Vad hailed from Russia, and his fiancee Flora was from Italy. They both lived in London now, and Vad had recently quit his job so that they could travel around South America for the next four months (they had already been to six countries in three weeks when we met them).

We chatted with them over dinner, then went back to the Selina and played cards with them at the bar. Around 11 PM we parted ways and went to bed.

Day 8

Today we were on the beach from 10 AM to sunset—and what a sunset it was. The sky turned a brilliant shade of crimson and purple, and the clouds appeared as if they were suspended just above sea level and extended far off onto the horizon. Easily a top 10 sunset of my life.

For dinner we went to a nearby restaurant called Jolly Roger, which was essentially an American sports bar in Costa Rica. We ate cauliflower wings and burgers, watched the Lakers game on the YTV, and listened to the live band. After dinner we crowded around a pool table in the corner of the bar and made friends with a bunch of fellow travelers.

There was Jay and Cole, cousins we were in Costa Rica with 23 other relatives on a family reunion of sorts. There was also a pilot from Canada, a mother and her 18-year-old daughter (who was getting hit on by much older Costa Rican men) visiting from Canada, and two girls our age getting away from the cold weather in Seattle.

We all made fast friends, and ended up closing down the bar after numerous games of pool and beer pong.

We then headed to the Selina and did a little dancing, finally retiring around 2 AM.

Day 9-10

On our last full day in Costa Rica, we stayed on the beach until 3 PM. By the time we left we were burnt to a crisp—three full days under the Costa Rican sun will do that to you.

We did the 3.5 hour drive from Manuel Antonio to Costa Rica, and checked into the same hotel we had stayed at the first night. To be perfectly honest, ending the trip in San Jose is a bit of a downer, as it’s not a particularly charming city.

But we were in for one last treat, as we found a well-reviewed Argentinian steakhouse near our hotel, and had a phenomenal meal (after a delicious tenderloin in goat cheese sauce, I resolved to go on a diet when I return to New York). Then we passed out early, woke up early, dropped off the rental (tip of the cap to Nissan—we put that car through a lot and it never wavered), and grabbed our flight home.

Some Thoughts/Travel Tips on Costa Rica

The People

Aside from the annoying vendors in Manuel Antonio, the Costa Rican people we encountered were by in large extremely friendly and accommodating. It does help to know a little Spanish, as not every Costa Rican is fluent in English, even in the major tourist areas (Melissa spent a lot of time practicing the Spanish she picked up in high school).

You’ll also obviously meet many travelers if you head to the major tourist areas. We personally met Americans, Italians, Russians, Canadians, Brits, Mexicans, and French people. All were very lovely—save for the French couple in the room next to us in Monteverde, who complained to reception that we were too loud (then pretended they didn’t speak English when I confronted them about it).

The Food

There’s no real delicacy in Costa Rica, but all the food we had tasted fresh—probably because most areas are surrounded by farms. I had delicious chicken, tender steak, and lots of rice and beans (plus that amazing Risotto in La Fortuna).

You’ll also find a lot of restaurants in Costa Rica that serve traditional fare—burgers, hotdogs, pasta, pizza etc. It’s all very good, but try and seek out the more unique places if you can (especially the roadside sodas).

In terms of drinks, there’s no shortage of sweet cocktails. The beer variety is a bit limited, though. I mostly drank Imperials, which I think is there version of Budweiser. The best drink is the coconut water they sell on the beach in Manuel Antonio (it’s a cold coconut sliced open with a machete full of sweet water).

The prices you pay for meals can’t be beat—an appetizer, two drinks, and two mains will only run you somewhere between $30 and $50.

Driving

This was personally one of my favorite parts of the trip. The countryside is beautiful, and getting to see it by car is a real treat. If I was to do it again, however, I’d get an SUV. There are quite a few dirt and gravel roads (especially in Monteverde), which was anxiety-inducing in our four-door sedan. More treacherous is the fact that pretty much every road has large gulches on either side to capture rainwater.

This means if you veer off the road even a little, you’ll find yourself wrecked in a ditch. Fortunately this didn’t happen to us, but I did wind up high-sided several times, and had to have some locals help push me out.

Money

It’s SUPER cheap. An 8-day trip with hotels and car rental ran us about $2500 combined. I booked my flight using points, but the typical cost is around $300 – $500.

You should carry around a little bit of cash for tolls and tipping (although many places have tip built into the bill). Also make sure to ask for your bill at restaurants, as many places won’t bring it to you unless you ask them to (because of this, Melissa and I actually walked out of two different restaurants without paying. Each time a waiter had to call to us to remind us that we didn’t yet pay).

Clothes

Inland it can get cold at night and there is intermittent rain, even once the rainy season (May – December) has passed. We got by mostly with shorts, t-shirts, and bathing suits. However, it’s a good call to bring a pair of pants and a raincoat, plus a pair of hiking boots or closed toed shoes if you plan on doing any excursions.

Sunglasses, flip flops, and a hat are a must.

How to Travel

I’m a planner, so I booked all our hotels beforehand. However, I got the impression that you could probably show up at most hotels and get a room that night, and I don’t think it would be much more expensive than booking ahead of time. Any excursions you want to do can be booked day of, usually for the same price that you would have paid if you booked online.

In other words, if you’re not a planner, that shouldn’t be an issue. You can wake up each morning without a plan, and still find a good time.

Final Thoughts

Overall it was a wonderful vacation—especially considering the amount of things that could have gone wrong (the rental car breaking down, having our stuff stolen, losing our passports or credit cards, getting into a big fight with Melissa, and all the other stuff I like to freak out about).

Costa Rica is both beautiful and affordable. It can work for those seeking adventure, to laze around on the beach, or both.

That combination, plus the wonderful company (hey Melissa!) makes this a trip I will remember very fondly.

Costa Rica Day 1-2 Melissa and I touched down in Costa Rica around 10 PM, took a shuttle to the rental car facility to get our car (a Nissan Versa), paid for rental liability insurance ($300, and required by law), and we were on our way…to downtown San Jose.

0 notes

pynkhues · 5 years ago

Note

Ok, so. First of all, I freaking love your writig, its *chefs kiss* delicious. Second of all I have this theory. Its that the only way they will say anything seriously nice about the other is if they are not saying it to each other. Could you write something about Beth defending Rio to someone (maybe a PTA mom or Ruby) or Rio defending Beth to someone (maybe Dean) and the other one overhears? Kinda the opposite of 'eavesdroppers never hear nice things' kinda thing. Sorry for the ramble!

Thank you so much! You’re so sweet!

So, I’ve had so many requests for fic in The Center and Circumference / domestic fic universe, I didn’t realise that that wasn’t in your request until I’d already finished this prompt, haha. I hope that’s okay! Anyway, it’s pretty long, so I hope you like it :-)

He’s halfway through a meeting with one of their newer clients – some watery-eyed, broad-faced fuck with a propensity already for overstepping – when Rio’s cell buzzes in the back pocket of his jeans, and shit, he thinks, gaze flicking to his right on the table where his work cell sits uninterrupted. It’s ain’t that.

“I can manage the extra cars,” the client says across from him, unperturbed, shifting forwards slightly in his seat, and Rio arches an eyebrow, feeling his cell quiet down, then the tell-tale buzz of a voicemail left after it. There are only a few people it could be on this line – Elizabeth, probably about dinner tonight or somethin’ (she’s careful about calling his work cell for work-related things after all), his mom, probably about dinner on Sunday night, or - - his jaw already twitching in annoyance - - Glenvale Elementary School.

“That’s a lotta product,” he tells the client, while telling himself it could be Danny’s teacher – Elizabeth had kept him home sick yesterday with what she was sure were the early signs of an ear infection, and she is usually right about those sorts of things; or Emma’s teacher, maybe – giving her another prize for highest raised hand or cleanest desk or some shit, but damn, who’s he kidding?

If it’s the school, he knows who it’s about.

“I can move it,” the client insists. “It’s only three more than my guys are already doing, and I’ve got a few new territories I’m exploring for distribution.”

It’s the way the guy says it more than anything that makes Rio train a lazy eye back on him – the tone just the wrong side of desperate. Rio knows that tone – the tone of somebody who’s promised someone more than he can offer.

Rocking forwards a little in his own seat, Rio knits his fingers together, drops them as one to the table in front of him, his brow furrowing in faux confusion as he does it, and he’s about to ask exactly why this dumbass needs three extra cars worth of pills when his cell starts buzzing again in the back pocket of his jeans.

And just - -

If it is the school - -

If one of them is sick or hurt or something, just - -

Fuck.

He lurches to his feet.

“We’ll start with one,” he tells the guy, already reaching for his cell, and when the client opens his mouth to try and haggle, Rio silences him quickly with a look. Once he’s sure the guy isn’t going to make trouble, he drags his gaze away just long enough to make eye contact with Demon, who’s standing, folded-armed, by the door.

“Demon’ll take you through the, ah –” he rolls his free hand out at the wrist, making a show out of considering this, his other hand still occupied with his buzzing cell. “Paperwork, dot the I’s, cross them t’s. You do okay with the one, we can talk about two next time, yeah?”

And at least even the mention of Demon is enough to shut the guy up for real.

What can he say? Demon’s got a rep, and what sort of boss would Rio be if he didn’t know how to use it? He smirks a little, watches as Demon moves to sit down on the edge of the table, inches away from the client, looking down at him, and when he’s sure Demon’s got it, Rio slips easily out of the room.

He’s still walking down the short hallway of the warehouse to his current office when he finally actually looks at his buzzing cell, feeling equally pissed off and vindicated at the Glenvale Elementary number blearing back up at him. And sure, maybe he’s pinching his nose as he answers the call, elbowing his way into his office – expecting what exactly, he has no fucking clue. He’s given up on guessing when it comes to Marcus and Jane. If they’ve started another fire though, he swears to god - -

“Mr Vela,” the administrator says, a little breathless, her voice cutting through his thoughts. “Thanks for taking our call. We understand you’re a very busy man.”

Rio just hums, folding down into his desk chair.

“The kids aight?”

“Um, yes, yes, the kids are all fine, we were just - - we were wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming in? Now? Or whenever soonest you could get here?”

He checks his watch, rocking his jaw in irritation. He’s not sure he can sit through another meeting with Marcus and Jane’s teacher, watch him make cow eyes at Elizabeth, blush like he’s fourteen when she laughs at some joke so lame it may as well be leavin’ his mouth with scuffed loafers and a sweater vest.

And - -

Wait - -

He purses his lips a little.

“Yeah, ain’t you got some PTA mom bake off on right now?” he asks. “My partner should be there already. In your cafeteria and whatnot.”

Despite his best efforts to get her not to be. There were better uses of her time after all, but she kept insisting it was good for the kids to see her there, for the school to see her there too, and they’d fought enough about it, because yeah, sure – Rio was down for the recitals and the games and even the family mixers (which - - ugh), but it wasn’t like the kids were even around for the PTA shit, and besides, Rio (and Elizabeth, in name at least) had donated half a library to the damn place. Enough that the school would turn a blind eye to any of the shit Rio did if he needed to (namely taking the kids out at no notice if shit went down. Or if it didn’t. Whatever. Sometimes he just wanted to take ‘em to LegoLand).

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling,” the administrator says a little nervously. “There’s been an incident with some of the parents. In fact, with your partner. If you could come in as soon as you could, we’d be grateful.”

***

And really, this shit is just hilarious.

He’d gotten a few of the details over the phone from the administrator, but honestly he doesn’t think anything will really beat walking into a first grade classroom and seeing Elizabeth on one of those tiny little plastic seats, a handful of scratches at her temple like someone’s tried to gauge out her eye and missed, some more at her chest, the neck of her pink blouse torn open and her neck and chest smeared with frosting.

Rio arches an eyebrow at her as he steps in, and Elizabeth puts her nose up and everything, a blush dusting her cheeks, all prim like they ain’t gonna be finding blood and frosting when she pulls her bra off later, but then - - he bites back a grin. That sounds kinda fun.

She’s doing better than the woman beside her anyway – some Bargain Bin Barbie, who has two cotton balls shoved up her bloody nose, the start of a killer black eye (and damn, when had Elizabeth’s right hook gotten that good?) and cake in her peroxide blonde hair. Some Ryan Seacrest-type who’s gotta be her husband sits beside her, arms folded over his chest, looking for all the world like it’s the last place he wants to be.

No imagination, Rio thinks, his jaw rocking in amusement, eyes shifting back to Elizabeth.

He can’t think of a place he’d rather be.

“Ah, wonderful, we’re all here.”

The voice sounds from behind the desk, and Rio jerks his head around to see some guy who must be a part of the faculty – tall and lanky wearing the ugliest fucking tie Rio’s ever seen. The guy gestures him out vaguely towards the back of the classroom. “Would you mind taking a seat.”

Striding forwards, Rio grabs one of the little plastic chairs from where they’re stacked in the corner, dropping it beside Elizabeth and sitting heavily down in it. As soon as he’s seated, the guy looks between them, ringing his hands a little nervously, shuffling in his own seat.

“I’ve called you in today because your wives –”

“They’re not even married,” Bargain Barbie snips, and Elizabeth’s head rotates around so quickly she’s like that little girl in The Exorcist.

“It’s 2019, Tania, marriage hasn’t been a measure of a relationship’s worth in at least twenty years. Something you’d know if you read something other than the back of your box-mix cupcakes.”

And, well, damn, Rio thinks, sucking in his lips to swallow a laugh as he looks back at Ugly Tie. Vaguely he can see Bargain Barbie (or Tania, he supposes, but whatever, he doesn’t care) make a noise of abject outrage – whether at being called out for her apparently dated ideas or the insinuation that her cupcakes aren’t made from scratch, Rio has no idea. Maybe it’s both, with the way she turns about nine different shades of red. Beside her, her husband suddenly grabs her hand, dragging it into his lap to stop her from hitting Elizabeth again.

Or, well, trying to. No matter how funny this whole thing is, Rio’s not exactly inclined to let anyone touch her.

“Your partners,” Ugly Tie corrects nervously. “Were involved in an incident in the school cafeteria ahead of this afternoon’s PTA Bake Off.”

“We weren’t involved in an incident,” the blonde hisses, flailing her free hand out in Beth’s direction. “She attacked me.”

“I did not attack you,” Elizabeth replies, and Bargain Barbie snorts while the colour drains from Ugly Tie’s face, like he thinks fists are about to fly again. He teeters nervously at the edge of his seat.

“Witnesses did say you pushed her face first into the cake display, Ms. Marks.”

Witnesses, Rio thinks with a grin. Like this is an episode of CSI. These people really are a trip.

Elizabeth looks at Ugly Tie at that and then quickly paints on that Stepford look – the one that’s all Bambi Eyes and Molly Manners – the one that, despite himself, still makes his dick twitch.

“Maybe I moved a little suddenly,” Beth allows. “But honestly, it was an accident, Ed - - can I call you Ed?”

Ed pinks a little, stuttering out a yes, and Rio has to resist the urge to snort.

“I guess I was just a little swept up in the moment of it – you really do just run the best PTA fundraising bake off – and I mean, I’d know, because I’ve participated in more than my share, being an active member of the school community - - ”

“You’re so full of shit,” Bargain Barbie snaps, arm flailing out of Seacrest’s grip, and honestly, Rio thinks, amused, she’s kind of got her there. Still, Ugly Tie holds up a hand to both of them, as if finding his train of thought again.

“The reason we’ve called your partners in, is it seems like the fight stemmed from broader tensions between your families.”

And that shuts them both up.

Rio glances curiously over at the other couple, racking his head to think of any time Elizabeth’s so much as mentioned a Tania, but he comes up blank. He knows there’s a Margot who’s trying to get the school on a raw food diet, and a Penny who always fights it when Elizabeth tries to move the school away from celebrating religious holidays (“It should be all or nothing,” Beth insists. “If the school is going to keep celebrating Christmas and Easter, why can’t they celebrate Eid and Diwali too? It’s 2019!” – apparently that’s her buzz phrase at the moment), but - - no Tania.

“Anyone?” Ugly Tie asks them all now, and Elizabeth and Bargain Barbie both sit up a little taller, pointedly maintaining their silence, and damn, they’re more tight-lipped than half Rio’s boys. He eyes them both with a vague interest as Ugly Tie sighs.

“Fine. A two week ban on all PTA activities,” he says, and Rio could almost laugh at the look of abject horror on both Elizabeth and Tania’s faces. “And you need to apologise to each other and to the other members of the PTA.”

“Mr. Hollander, the Spring Fling Dance planning committee nominations are next week,” Bargain Barbie cries, and Elizabeth opens her mouth probably to say something equally embarrassing, and Rio figures that’s probably their cue. He grabs Elizabeth by the elbow, lurching to his feet and dragging her up with him, and before she can dig her heels in in that way she does, he’s nodding at Ugly Tie in acknowledgement, saying a quick “Sounds fair,” and dragging them both out of the room.

***

Turns out her sister’s shitty car had croaked again that morning, so Elizabeth had lent her the mama van on the condition she drop her for the bake off and pick up the brood after school, which is fine, he figures, pulling out of the school carpark, Elizabeth all tightly wound beside him in the passenger seat, her cheeks red and her posture stiff.

“You gonna tell me what that was about?” he asks as he gets onto the main road. He really should go back to work, but fuck it, he thinks. There’s nothing on Demon can’t handle, and if there is, he knows how to reach him anyway.

“No,” she snips, and Rio casts a look at her out of the corner of his eye, and it takes him a minute to realise that the red of her cheeks isn’t embarrassment like he’d figured, but rather that it’s still anger. It’s enough to make him shift in his seat – it ain’t like she doesn’t get mad, just she doesn’t usually get mad about PTA stuff, at least not like this – more just tense and exasperated and sometimes frustrated in a way he can usually diffuse if he looks at her or touches her right. But this - -

He ain’t seen her like this recently.

The car slows at the traffic lights, and he uses the opportunity to reach over, push her hair out of her face, run a thumb over one of the scratches at her temple.

“Want me to call my sister? Get her to bring over a rabies shot?”

It works like he’d wanted it to. Beth exhales a laugh, her gaze drifting over to him, watching as he takes his hand back to the steering wheel of the car. They get another couple of blocks when he feels it, the slow boil of her anger again, simmering beside him in the car, and they’re not even that far from home, but fuck it, he thinks, he doesn’t like the idea of her going straight into one of her furious cleaning or cooking frenzies, so he pulls over.

If she’s surprised, she doesn’t react, not even when he turns in his seat to look at her, taking in the tight lock of her shoulders, the tighter one of her jaw.

“Elizabeth,” he starts, and she looks out the window, away from him. “Come on, ma.”

She rolls her eyes at him, like he’s the one being ridiculous, and he pointedly pulls the keys out of the ignition, watching as she turns enough to scowl at him, folding her arms across her chest. Whatever. No skin off his nose, he thinks, leaning back against the driver’s side door, his eyes not leaving her, he’s got all day, and it’s only another minute, maybe two, before she’s flailing her arms in the air, her cheeks reddening all over again.

“She called you a drug dealer,” Beth whisper-yells at him, like anyone can hear them in his car, and shit, is that all? Rio just laughs.

“And you upset about that?”

He knows she is – can see it in the heave of her (still frosting-covered) chest, in the way her lower lip quivers, her eyelashes clump. Can hear it in the tightness of her voice, and maybe he should’ve gotten her home first, gotten her on her back in their bed, breathless, legs trembling, made her forget about it the best way he knew how, but - -

“She meant it as an insult,” she says hotly, interrupting his train of thought, and Rio pops an eyebrow at her, because no shit. “And it’s not like she knows you are one. She thinks you work flipping cars with me.”

“So what?” he asks, shrugging, and Elizabeth frowns over at him, finally turning around in her seat to face him. She’s still all flushed, flustered, and she seems pissed at him now when she flails her arms out at him, and voice shrill, says:

“So what? So - - so what if she says that sort of thing in front of her sons, who go to school with your son. What if they tell all their friends about what Marcus’ daddy does for a living?”

Shaking his head, Rio can’t quite take her eyes off her, because seriously – sometimes he thinks she figures he popped out of the ground the day he showed up in her kitchen, like Marcus did that day in the park.

“Trust me, it won’t be nothin’ Marcus ain’t heard before.”

And at least that shuts her up, her mouth closing, her posture sagging a little back against the passenger side door. He just watches her, briefly considering putting the keys back in the ignition and driving them home, but then - - he knows her enough to know that that ain’t all it is bothering her. He frowns at her, drums his fingers on his leg, and then looks away, something sharp spiking in his gut.

“You worried about your kids?” he asks, voice a little tighter than he wants it to be, and when Beth shrugs, his frown deepens.

“It’s a part of the deal,” he says. “Shit, you know what I look like, ma.”

And she doesn’t reply to that either, and that sharpness in his gut peaks into something uncomfortable. He rocks forwards a little in his seat, using the momentum of it to sit back harder, to bump his back back against the door.

“This a problem?” he asks her. “You want me to talk to the kids about how their new stepdad’s gonna make ‘em whispered about on the playground?”

“I don’t care about the kids!” she yelps, and he blinks, unable to contain his surprise when she suddenly backpedals. “I mean, of course I do, that’s not - -”

She exhales, the sound harsh in the hollow of his car, and she won’t look at him when she says:

“She can’t talk about you like that. She doesn’t know anything about you.”

And that’s - - not what he was expecting. He blinks at her, that sharpness in him dulling, squinting a little at her as he takes her in.

“She can do whatever she wants, ma."

Because shit, she can. Rio wouldn’t have wasted his time talking to her anyway, but hell, if she ain’t gonna pretend to make nice with other parents, he sure as hell ain’t either.

“Fine,” Beth says finally, sniffing a little. “But actions have consequences, isn’t that what you’re always telling me?”

He could almost laugh at that, because she’s right, he is always telling her that, but he means it more in the context of handling a slippin’ employee, or her own tendency to steamroll into situations like she’s - - hell, like she’s one of their seven-year-olds.

“And what? Talkin’ shit gonna get her hit?”

“Yes,” Beth tells him firmly, nodding, sitting up a little straighter in her seat, her chin up, all defiant, and Rio snorts.

“You all about defendin’ my honour now?” he says it patronisingly, expecting her to get embarrassed in that way she does when she thinks he’s making fun of her, but that’s not what happens at all.

“Yes,” she says emphatically instead, and Rio blinks, surprised, and then before he can say anything else, she keeps talking.

“I told you. She can’t talk about you like that, and I’m not going to let her. And just for the record, I like the way you look, so.”

She stops then, looking over at him briefly, then quickly turning around in the seat, facing forwards again, all prim again like there ain’t cake in her hair, and Rio can’t quite stop his grin.

“Yeah, I knew that last one, ma,” he says, and Beth pinks, but she smiles, gaze finding him again. She bites her lip a little, looks up at him through her lashes, and Rio just - - shit. He can feel how goofy his smile is, quickly tapering it into a smirk as best he can.

“You really push her into that display?” he asks her after a minute of quiet, and Beth wrinkles her nose, blushing for real this time, but still. Something in her face, it’s a little proud.

“Punched her too.”

He arches an eyebrow, looking dutifully impressed, and she preens before she can help herself, holding up a hand at that so he can see the start of the bruises on her knuckles. He laughs, shaking his head, grabbing her hand to inspect it, and shit, if he doesn’t find them cute too – all dainty like her, little blooms of purple, like flower buds, and ugh. Even thinkin’ that, he shakes his head at himself, but presses his lips to them all the same, and he doesn’t hear it, or even see it, but some part of him feels her breath hitch, and it’s a relief really – that he can feel just how sprung she is too.

“Okay, bruiser,” he tells her, twisting back in his seat, pushing the keys back into the ignition, and he goes to drop her hand, but she threads their fingers instead, and he holds it there, against his thigh, the whole ride home.

#beth x rio #nbc good girls #the center and circumference #my fic #prompt fills #welcome to my ama

65 notes · View notes