#i love observatories... and museums... so much.....

[aceofvernons]

observatory dates 🤝 museum dates (both with vernon): concepts that make me sob inside if i think about them for too long

[carcarrot]

join me in my quest to shrink down los angeles

[jeanmoroses]

tsc social media au part three :)

tweets/messages between andrew, laila, and neil are inspired by @4phr0d17e’s banger post!

as a socal (and astronomy) girlie griffith observatory is one of my favorite la landmarks EVER i love it so much (getty museum and san clemente are contenders too)

also if it’s unclear in the first gc the upperclassmen and travis are getting lunch at a usc café it’s like a tradition for them

[daytaker]

Hi! I'd Like to request something for obey me. So MC is an Artist Like Semi realistic or so and then they draw the brothers and themself all together Like some Kind of Family Photo for maybe a sweet gesture to appriciat them, what would the reaction be?

First of all, that's adorable. Second of all, yes, absolutely.

Everyone

The immediate question on everyone's mind is where it should be put. The suggestions are fairly predictable. Beel wants it in the kitchen. Satan wants it in the library. Belphie wants it in the observatory. Asmo thinks it should go in his bathroom, and he acts amazed when his brothers disagree.

You'll probably be the one to suggest making some copies of it if they like it so much. That way they can all have one. The brothers all like this idea, so you head off to the Devildom equivalent of a FedEx store and make some quick copies for everybody.

Eventually, the original work will find pride of place above the fireplace, where everyone will get plenty of time to admire it, including guests. The brothers are all very proud to explain to them that they have a very close friend who's an artist, thank you, and they made that piece of artwork up there for them, for free, because they love them all so much. What do you mean it's too small for that big of a space? Clearly you don't understand art, they'll tell the guest. Satan smirks; Levi rolls his eyes; Asmo whispers something to Mammon and they both start snickering. Real mean girl energy.

Lucifer

It's proved to be more or less impossible to get a photograph with himself and all six of his brothers, so this is an immediate hit with him. Plus, you're in it, which makes it even more valuable. He wonders why he didn't commission a painted family portrait earlier. It just hadn't crossed his mind, he supposes.

He'll buy a very nice and expensive frame for the picture and have it professionally mounted on a backboard. Only a museum quality display will do.

He enjoys looking at the artwork now and then and mentally noting all the details he likes. You captured Mammon's smug smile perfectly, and somehow Levi looks happy, but still like himself. Of course, his favorite part of the picture (along with you, of course) is himself. He thinks he looks very dignified, and he appreciates that you placed him in the center; the true patriarch of the family. Besides that (though he wouldn't bring it up unprompted), he thinks you made him look very handsome, and he likes the idea that you see him that way.

Mammon

You put him next to you?! I mean, of course you did! He's your number one demon, right? Obviously he belongs right next to you! He'll point out his positioning in the picture to his brothers often enough that they've gotten past feeling annoyed about it and just tease him for simping so openly.

He thinks it looks a little bit like you're smiling at him in the picture. You're not. You're staring into the 'camera', just like everyone else. But he tells himself that. He has another copy of the picture made where he cropped out everyone besides the two of you. He keeps it in his sock drawer so he can pull it out when he's by himself and admire it. Lucifer has walked in on him lying on his back and holding it up, staring wistfully at the picture, often enough that he can tell by how quiet it is when Mammon is either sleeping or staring at that goddamn picture of his again.

Speaking of extra copies, he also made some more to try and sell at RAD, but, shockingly, cheap copies of a picture of someone else's family didn't sell well. Diavolo bought one though, as did Simeon. Yeah, maybe it wasn't exactly ethical to try and capitalize on your artwork, but, well, come on, he's in it, and you gave it to him, so that kind of makes him the owner of it, right...?

Leviathan

He's pretty sure he's not breathing right now. That's... That's how he looks? To you? He looks....amazing....!! Look at his smile! His jawline! His glossy hair! His cheeks, touched with color---!!! You must think he's... like....... Ugh, it's stupid, like, who even cares? Nobody, that's who. Nobody except him. He cares. And he wishes his stomach would settle down a little bit before lunch explodes onto the rug. So he'll just take his copy of the painting, clutch it to his chest, and giggle to himself as he slinks off to his room while everyone else stands admiring the painting on the mantlepiece.

Now, to really study this thing. He lies in his bathtub and squints at the painting. He realizes, to his dismay, that all his brothers look extra hot in this thing too. Hrmm... But, whatever! The important part is that he looks amazing! His eyes are shining, his skin looks healthy and smooth, and.... well.... he doesn't look like somebody it'd be weird for you to be into, maybe. Maybe? Possibly.

He's pretty shy around you for a few days after you give them all the picture. He's not really sure how he's supposed to react around someone who thinks he's... h....ha-ha....handsome...???? And not just that, but the look on his face! Does he make faces like that in real life? Does he make faces like that in front of you?

He spends a good chunk of time in front of the mirror trying to imitate the look from the painting, but he can't quite get it right. He always ends up crumbling into a pathetic, groaning, blushing little creep and fleeing the bathroom. He hates himself. But he can cheer himself up with the knowledge that you definitely don't hate him, right? How could you draw someone you hated looking like... like....?!?

Satan

Knowing Satan is someone who admires art in general, you were most nervous about him seeing it. He has a tendency to be fairly blunt and honest, and you really hoped he'd just appreciate the thought behind the picture without subjecting it to any kind of critical analysis.

But of course he did it anyway. He'd expressed his appreciation just like his brothers had when you first gave it to them, but you'd often see him standing in front of the fireplace staring up at the picture with a hand to his chin after that.

Satan's initial thought, after the excitement over the gift and how cute and nervous you looked giving it to them all, is that the composition of the piece, while not particularly original, has definite visual appeal. While he doesn't particularly enjoy Lucifer's position in the middle, he understands why you put him there, both artistically and psychologically. Lucifer dominates almost any group he's in with his annoyingly hefty self-confidence. His ego is smeared all over the picture, but that's not your fault. That's just Lucifer, being awful and ruining things, like he always does.

When he finally gives some attention to how he looks in the painting, he's pleasantly surprised. He looks refreshingly like himself, but also like he's meant to be there, with everybody else. He can also tell you spent some time on his eyes. They look lovely. If you ever want to paint them again, he'd be happy to model for you. What, shy all of a sudden?

Asmodeus

Well, obviously he's the real star of the artwork. It's as if he's glowing, washing out his brothers with his effervescent presence on the canvas! Clearly, you know your art. Never mind he's the only one who seems to quite see the picture in that way.

He has his copy of the painting framed and hung up in his bathroom, where he thought the original should have been put all along. Now he never feels like he's alone in the tub! Every once in a while, he'll talk to the artwork while he takes a bath. Just to amuse himself. But when you go back to the human world, 'every once in a while' becomes 'almost every day'.

He has a theory that if someone stares into the eyes of Painting Asmo too deeply for too long, they'll fall in love with him. The painting version of him, that is. He knows that's silly, so he keeps it to himself, but he can't stop himself from imagining you mesmerized by your own painting of him, bewitched by the very eyes you painted...

Beel

Honestly, Beel is just happy you made a picture including him, his brothers, and you. You put him right beside Belphie with an arm slung around his shoulders. He's smiling more in the picture than he normally does in real life, but that doesn't bother him at all. He wants to look happy in this kind of painting.

He taped his copy of the picture to the refrigerator door. Everyone appreciates this, not just Beel, though he definitely sees it the most often. After you go home, he says good morning to you every day when he first heads to the fridge. It's a nice way to feel like you're still around.

Belphie

Wow... He looks adorable here. And you didn't include him drooling like his brothers always do when they draw him. Though it really isn't fair to compare this to the "drawings" his brothers have made to make fun of each other. Idiots...

You put him right next to Beel. That makes him smile. And he looks...like he's happy to be there. Maybe not grinning like a doofus, but like this is his family, and he's pretty okay with it.

He keeps his copy of the picture taped to his bedpost so he can look at it whenever he feels lonely, especially after your year in the Devildom comes to an end.

[maaikeatthefullmoon]

This week I have mostly been reading...

May 13-19th, 2024

New idea I've had, and hopefully something I'll have time to do once a week on a Sunday. Over the past seven days, I have devoured the following Good Omens fanfics, and I recommend these most heartily to you:

Completed works I've read this week:

Boyfriend Debut by snae_b Rated E - A & C are both porn actors. It sounds seedy. It's not. Holy Hell, it's not. It's one of the hottest things I've ever read, but also so, so sweet and delightful.

They Drink Tea At The End by @knifeforkspooncup Rated T - After a year spent in Heaven, A returns to C in the bookshop completely and utterly overstimulated in every sensory capacity. A wonderful, sweet story of them truly knowing each other and an excellent example of how the fandom relates to GO in so many beautiful ways.

Pay Per View by IneffableToreshi Rated E - A lovely story set in Canada, full of our so frequently seen miscommunication between A & C. And, as the author says: "Also, why the fuck is Aziraphale watching porn in their hotel room?! And taking notes?!"

Cranking Up The Heat by @vavoom-sorted-art Rated E - Well, the title says it all, really. And the fic's description: "The equivalent of that hot wings challenge, but with porn." Don't really want to say much more, as you've gotta see it to enjoy it.

On The Same Page by Chekhov Rated E - A fake marriage fic with Only One Bed. A & C are both authors, but two very different ones. Excellently written with very vividly described mental struggles with internal homophobia & self loathing.

A Model Guardian by Fuuma_san Rated E - As a former model, I found this fic really interesting. I'd genuinely love to know what the author's tie/experience in the industry is. C is a model, A is their bodyguard. An interesting tale which involves some great discussion on gender.

In The Room Where You Sleep by @mrghostrat Rated E - Another banger by ghostrat, posted in its entirety this week. In a reversal to many other fics I've seen, A is a vampire and C is a vampire hunter. *Homer Simpson voice* With sexy results. ;)

WIPs which have updated this week (which I devour as soon as I get the update!)

There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out by @phoen1xr0se Rated M - A is a researcher (puffins!), C is a lighthouse keeper on the island where A has run away to to escape his problems and do his research. The author has recently spent a week studying puffins - which is the ultimate dedication, if you ask me. Ch 9/26 posted this week

Find The Light by @klikandtuna Rated E - Headmaster A and Rockstar C. The story teases out a fraught history between them whilst keeping a tension between them in the modern day. Ch 4/? posted this week.

Terminus by @emotional-support-demon-crowley Rated T - Astronaut A is guided back to Earth by controller C after 92 years in space. There are many difficulties both of them have to face and they develop an amazing rapport. Ch 15/17 posted this week.

Oddity by @tsyvia48 Rated E - Actor C is contracted by (useless) Gabriel to guest curate an exhibition at the museum where A works. After getting off on the wrong foot, can they work together to pull off this show? Ch 22/24 posted this week.

Under The Summer Stars by @pannotbread Rated E - This wonderful fic has taught me more about physics than school ever did (mostly because I never did any physics, but...well). A & C have to share their time at an observatory because there is Only One Telescope. Not only will you learn about astrophysics, astrobiology, and astroecology, you'll also read some of the most poetically, beautifully written masturbation scenes I've ever seen. *ahem* Ch 6/13 posted this week.

Free by well, me: imposterssyndrome Rated E - A & C meet (again?) in an acute mental health ward after both having had mental health crises. A runs a bookshop but is very much under his parents' control. C has been homeless since childhood and has struggled his entire life. They do not trust each other when they first meet, but feel strangely drawn to one another all the same. Where will this lead them? This is a passion piece for me. There is a lot of lived experience in it, and extensive research from both professionals and peers. It has been a real journey for me to write it, and as I'm coming closer to the end it's becoming very emotional for me. Ch 43/? posted this week

[densewentz]

I am. Quaking over Crowley and Hanna cause AUGH they're so adorable. Getting up into antics! What do you think some of their adventures would be? Chaos at the nursery garden stores? Lurking in woods to find creatures? Sorry I just really wanna know.

"Can we get a 'wahoo'?"

First off thank you for the perfect reason to post this sketch!

I cannot even begin to imagine the terrors they rain on the general public tbh. Between Crowley still feeling jilted and Hanna feeling free for the first time, the limit is really their imaginations (of which they both posses quite a fair bit).

In fairness since this little au I'm simmering takes place pretty soon after the end of s2, they probably don't do a lot of REALLY outlandish stuff for a while. They'll stay local, probably spend time with Nina and Maggie and probably end up meeting the Them at some point. Crowley would also probably want to try and keep inconspicuous (hah) with heaven and hell looming over their heads and now with a squishy thing to protect. I LOVE the garden center chaos idea btw, shoutout anon, and Crowley's little pseudo Eden is definitely going to rapidly expand into a vibrant and terrified indoor oasis (skylights included). Shops in general are going to have to watch their backs (Crowley has a reason to go into many of them quite frequently now, and without his celestial counterpart to keep him from goofing off too much). Hanna is a big fan of the classic "run down the aisles of a toy store and rapidly push every single button you find" method of spreading foment.

Since Hanna hasn't had an opportunity to see/experience most of the world, I imagine they spend a LOT of time popping through museums/zoos/aquariums/etc. Crowley pointing out things he caused, things an... old friend caused, things that actually happened way differently but got recorded wrong. Hanna dragging her dad around and both of them getting WAY too into reading the information plaques for all the animals. Then seeing which animals freak tf out if her dad flashes his eyes. (The giftshops get terrorized if there arent enough fungus-themed objects, although there is always miraculously at least one). They probably break into a lot/if not most of the exhibits after hours to take selfies for Crowley's rapidly growing photo album. Hanna sits at the shark touch tank and loudly proclaims how smooth they are. And since im a sucker for I-Want-To-Share-The-Stars Crowley, they probably pop over to an observatory or break into idk, where they keep the telescope on the Canary Islands or something. And he'll tell her what he remembers about the Creation and what it feels like to hold a new star in your hand. Hanna will curl up against Crowley's chest and get lost in his voice and the distant glitter of a world her dad designed. They probably also commit crimes. Not major crimes, mind you, although that's due more to Crowley's occasional sense of "as a parent i probably shouldn't let you" than any unwillingness on Hanna's part. But she'll definitely help him move signs or infiltrate office buildings and other assorted sabotages. She 100% gets her own little version of the Fuck Shit Up Jacket, and whether he likes it or not the Bentley has decided Hanna gets to pick the getaway music.

It doesn't really count as demonic but Crowley DOES keep a bag of spare change and googly eyes for Hanna to glue to things at will while they're out.

But tbh i imagine the most trouble she gets into is if she's left alone with Muriel. Evidently Hanna has her father's talent for tempting angels into misbehaving or at least into not noticing that they are, in fact, misbehaving in the human sense. Crowley usually feels almost bad for the baby angel but, needs must. and sometimes he needs a babysitter. The rule is SUPPOSED to be that if Hanna is with Muriel, they DO. NOT. LEAVE. the bookshop (they always leave the bookshop).

At one point she meets a boy named Kian at a pub called the New Inn. Crowley very desperately wants her to not want to spend time with Kian for reasons he refuses to explain 💕

At any rate if anyone ever wants to write or draw anything with Hanna they're more than welcome to and also I'll probably cry a lot so Cheers! Thank you for the ask (apologies for my signature long-winded answer)!

[squadmuse]

DATES ALPHABET

THE MATT CASEY EDITION

A/N: @deanstead 's genius mind and fantastic Matt fics plus her anons have got me deep in the Matt rabbit hole, much love & kudos to them all… so here is my first ever Matt fic!

A - Amusement Park / Arcade

An arcade date definitely happens when you’re dating Matt. The two of you walk along Navy Pier one evening, it’s a lovely summer night and both so in love - you play shooter games, racing simulators, throwing games and more, with Matt winning you so many cuddly bears & animals.

B - Biking / Brunch

Brunch usually happens as a date for you and Matt to catch up after a long shift. You’ll meet each other there and get a booth, cuddling up and chatting away over some nice coffee or fruit juice, pancakes and fruit. The two of usually playfully steal bites of the others order.

C - Candlelit dinner / Cabin getaway

Matt will ask Kelly for use of his cabin once in a while, usually for the day during a holiday. The two of you unplug (not entirely due to careers) and enjoy being around nature.

D - Dinner Cruise / Drive-in Movie

The dinner cruise date is usually reserved for anniversaries and it’s something that you and Matt always look forward to and enjoy the nice meal on the water.

E - Eiffel Tower / Escape Room

Matt loves spoiling you and one time took you to Paris, France for a vacation holiday and one of your dates there was up the Eiffel Tower. He is a big romantic gesture guy and where else than the City of Love?

F - Football Game / Fireworks

The 4th of July celebrations are a date where you and Matt cuddle on a picnic blanket if he’s luckily not working, and watch the Chicago sky light up but if Matt is on shift then he’ll have you come to 51 and watch them there with you.

G - Gala / Glamping

A gala date happens more when Matt is an alderman but it happens once in a while for a charity or the firehouse. He looks extremely dashing in his dress uniform and you look lovely in your gown.

H - Hockey Match / Harvest Festival

Matt surprises you one autumnal Saturday with a date to a harvest festival. The two of you just enjoy the day, drinking cider, eating pumpkin pie and kissing in corn mazes together.

I - Interior Design Expo / Italian Restaurant

Somehow you and Matt ended up an interior design expo one weekend through his construction job and make it a date. Matt is in his element and thinks of ideas for his renovations etc. while you love the art and design side of things but the two love the merging of your interests.

J - Jacuzzi / Jogging

Matt Casey in jacuzzi is something we all need and it’s something you set up one date night staycation, bringing him to the warm jacuzzi to relax and enjoy which he does and does some more with you in your bikini.

K - Kayaking/Kickboxing

With you and Matt working shifts, one way you have dates is at the gym and you get him into trying out a kickboxing class with you and you both enjoy it.

L - Lakeside getaway / Live Music

A grateful survivor gifted Matt some tickets to a rock concert and of course he took you. Much like the Rush concert, the two of you got front row seats, met the band and got a backstage tour too.

M - Museum / Masquerade

You and Matt like to just spend quiet time with each other and Chicago is a wealth of museums that the two of you wander around hand in hand just enjoying the history around you both.

N - Nightclub / Nine Pin Bowling

Matt and you are very competitive and whenever there is a bowling tournament or game held in the firehouse then the two of you are revving each other up and riling up each other too.

O - Observatory / Orchestra Concert

The orchestra date happens when Matt is an alderman and the two of you are attending a benefit concert for the children’s hospital. It ends up being a soothing experience and the two of you enjoy the new date.

P - Picnic / Photoshoot

Matt and you will have picnic dates during the summer or spring, stretched out on the blanket enjoying each other’s company and laughing as you feed each other grapes or cuddling against a tree in the public park.

Q - Quiz Night / Quiet Time

One night Mollys holds a quiz night and of course you and Matt team up together to compete. He’s a smart guy - intellectually, emotionally & street, and so are you - so it’s no wonder that the two of you walk away with the top prize.

R -Resort Weekend / Road Trip

The road trip date happens when you and Matt go away for a long weekend or public holiday. You’ll pack the car up to go camping and roll the windows down, laughing and singing along to the radio.

S - Spa Day / Swimming

You’re big on keeping up your swimming abilities and the healing power of the water, so once or twice you have dragged Matt to your favourite pool or beach and just swim around. You do end up making out a few times but Matt tries to keep it PG-13 in public.

T - Tiki Bar / Tango Lessons

The tiki bar dates that you and Matt have, usually result in massive hangovers the next day but you both have a ton of fun and Matt is cute in his Hawaiian shirt and you’re cute with your luau on.

U - Upscale Dining / Unplugged Date

Matt enjoys just switching off and getting away from electronics. Sometimes the two of you will read together, just snuggle or sometimes cook

V - Valentines Day / Volunteer

Matt always makes sure he is the one organising your Valentines Day dates together and he always goes all out. Dinner cruises, fancy restaurants etc. these dates are very special to you and Matt.

W - Woodworking / Weekend

As Matt has his construction job, one way you end up sort of helping or doing something linked to his hobbies and skills is via woodworking, and he loves seeing how excited you get after creating something out of the wood.

X - eXcursions / eXpensive

Now an excursion date between Matt and you varies from date to date. It can be sailing and fishing, food tours, aquariums etc. they’re never the same and never boring.

Y - Yacht Cruise / Yoga

You love yoga and whenever you see that Matt is getting stressed out or worked up with his duties, you drag him to the yoga studio and get him into the different positions and he jokes that you want him more flexible for more mature reasons.

Z - Zoo / Zip Lining

You love animals and so does Matt, so the Lincoln Park Zoo is sometimes a date idea. Sometimes it’s a date shared between you both as you take the younger Herrmann kids out for the day or Boden’s son but either way, you and Matt just enjoy any time spent together.

[poisonhemloc]

Esker, as much as I love them, has one major character trait

...okay everyone has one major character trait, it's that kinda game

Esker’s main thing being ‘lonely’ is, well, because they’re on the Attlerock. Someone had to be- the other astral bodies all have a representative- but there’s not much there. You can explore the whole Attlerock in under ten minutes- faster than exploring Timber Hearth itself- and there’s no deeper layer to any of the puzzles present; everything on the Attlerock is an early puzzle piece, to the Eye, to Dark Bramble, to Feldspar. It’s unlikely most players will go there more than once or twice. And Esker doesn’t get any new dialogue the other travelers get- you don’t have a reason to go back to them. But it didn’t need to be like this- there could have been a lot of things, later puzzle pieces, hidden areas, the same kind of stuff you’ll find on the other planets. So, why not?

Esker, and the Attlerock, are extensions of the tutorial that is walking from your sleeping bag to the observatory. You woke up, you talked to people, you messed with the model ship and your signalscope and the zero g cave, now launch- and you can go wherever you want, but Hornfels tells you, if you’re not sure or you want to start small, to go say hi to Esker on the Attlerock. It’s an easy place to find, to land on, it introduces you to the idea that you’ll get different gravity on different planets, reinforces using your signalscope (and points you towards Feldspar again) and introduces the Nomai’s vision based tech and the Eye of the universe by name (and has some of Chert’s notes but). It’s a very useful extension of the tutorial, if you need it or not. 

And you don’t go back to a tutorial area, usually. Most people playing aren’t going to go running through the village multiple times just to get the same dialogue from the npcs; they won’t go redo the zero g cave or mess with the model ship beyond what they need to for the achievements. And they won’t go back to the Attlerock, because they know everything they needed to learn, and there’s not going to be anything new.

All that together, well, no wonder Esker’s main trait ended up being ‘lonely.’ And trying to swap them with another traveler- Chert instead, Riebeck, maybe, if they never moved on, or Gabbro being lazy- but you’d have to swap purposes with them; Esker who keep eyes on things and fixes ships as needed can’t be burning up with Ember Twin' close solar orbit or in Giant’s Deep's 2x gravity or under the crust on Brittle Hollow. 

They are also, essentially, Timber Hearth’s representative in the very end- you’re the conscious observer, but everyone else is representing the celestial body they were on, and the Attlerock and Esker have to stand in for Timber Hearth as a whole. Despite waking up there, most players aren’t going to be running through the village a lot- they might talk to Slate occasionally, but, most people aren’t going to go run into the rest of the village except maybe once to see if anyone gets new dialogue. 

Of course, the npcs there all have each other, but, you’re off exploring the other craters on the planet- you’re not going back to talk to anyone on Timber Hearth for the most part. And that includes Esker, whistling away on the Attlerock, waiting to see if one of the three astronauts left- of those three, only Chert is stated to fly more than as needed- is going to ask them to fix a ship so they can do something and see someone. Or if Hornfels- who's now downstairs in the museum- or Gossan out in the zero g cave are going to radio them. But no one is, because Esker is alone up on the moon, with no new dialogue, with no new reason for you or anyone to go talk to them.

Because they're an extension of the tutorial, and you don't go back to that once you know how to play.

[ask-molly-hh]

Dearest Molly, what was your favorite thing to do when you were alive, I heard your from New York. So what place do you recommend to visit for a traveler like myself?

But yeah, the pier by the factories in the Brooklyn. Expecially the stone one. I'd sit there for hours.

Now mod time ⬇️

Hi so, I visit new york a lot cause of family and I know a lot you can do.

If you like history 100% go to the museum of natural history, and bring your student ID for cheaper entry. Its in manhattan. There's a lot to see, it's not interactive but there's litterally so many rooms to see.

Another museum that I liked is the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. Ellis Island is right next to the statue of liberty, you take a ferry there, and it's where everyone went to get into the country and was entered through there. It has a lot of history and is kinda depressing but if you visit the statue of liberty, visit ellis.

Bronx zoo, donations on Wednesday for cheep entry, if you like animals, and are okay with the sun it's nice, pretty big

Coney island - take the train there, and walk the board walk. There's the beach, luna park (amusement park), go on the ferris wheel, and eat at the Nathan's hot dogs. It's fun. It's hot as hell in the summer. Avoid the bathrooms like the plauge.

One world observatory - this is on the world trade center, highest point in new york, it's indoors, I was scared out if my mind but it's one hell of a view

Empire state biulding- this one you can go outdoors- go inside, buy a ticket, and go up. There's something amazing about seeing the city so high in an old biulding. Pinicale of modernist architecture. I almost flew off when I was nine cause of how windy it was.

Central Park - it was snowing last time I went to the park and it was so pretty. But yeah, no matter when, it's a nice park.

Winter time, Rockefeller center, there's a giant Christmas tree and it's so worth the view, and go ice skating, it's a blast.

42 street - manhattan. You've heard the song, you know.

34th street - manhattan. Winter only. to see the Macy's Santa windows

Dumbo - mom told me to add, I don't know what she's talking about???

5th Avenue - Brooklyn. Bunch of shops to go down and see.

Industry city - Brooklyn- this used to be a bunch of factories but one they shut down they all got abandoned. Recently they've been turned into stores and plaza and stuff and it's a blast, expecially at night.

Greenwood cemetery- my mom said to add this. Be respectful to the dead please if you visit. It's very peaceful there.

walk the bridges. There's a few. You know about the Brooklyn bridge and yeah. It's a walk but the bridge is pretty if your into exercise.

And general advice. Keep track of you phone and wallet at all times. And always be aware of your surroundings. Expecially the people. Don't go walking alone, look over your shoulder, make sure your not being followed. As much as I love new york it's a city. And citys, expecially new york with how it is right now, is dangerous. Stay safe - al

[darklightsworld]

Hiroshima 2024/09/09-13

Day 1-2

Long time no see... again... This was the worst summer ever. As in, officially the hottest ever with three times as many days over 35°C than usual. Somewhere around 55 days... orz Kyoto does know how to welcome me back ^^; So, I was laying low and dying every time I needed to step out of my flat. It turned out that this ground floor (and not wood) apartment does not heat as fast as my previous ones, so I could get through the day without air-con, but barely, so not much productivity until the evening from me, when I turned it on. You might ask why not the other way round? I cannot sleep in the heat (even in winter I turn the heating off for the night), and without sleeping I'm useless, so I use the air-con from evening to morning. This also meant that I was hardly doing anything for sightseeing, some exhibitions here and there, but it was just too hot.

Still, I thought it can't be that I'm not traveling during the holiday (especially since I'm having a holiday the first time in six years...), so I went to Hiroshima for the first time. It was a mistake. I expected lower temperatures in September, but no, around 35°C every day, and it was hellish. No trips in summer ever again. (I'm starting to feel like schools should just power through summer with air-conditioning and save the longer holiday for fall, September-October, when you can actually enjoy it too. Anyway, I took five days for Hiroshima to make it a slow trip, one that I could survive despite the heat - it was difficult anyway.

Day 1

Not living in the countryside is heavenly for transportation. Hiroshima is very close by Shinkansen, so I ticked off some basic sightseeing on the first day already. Like the Atomic Bomb Dome and the park (skipped the museum, I just didn't have the energy in the heat); Shukkeien Garden, a small but gorgeous park; Hiroshima Castle, which is more of an observatory with historical exhibition - like Osaka Castle, but much smaller. It doesn't have air-conditioning though (or too weak), so I had to spend five minutes in front of a high power fan, because I was about to pass out (not exaggerating...). Quite telling that all the people who came out of the castle flocked to the tiny shop selling ice cream - me included ^^; I closed the day in the shopping district afterward.

Day 2

I tried to take it easy, but the morning was hard. I wanted to visit some shrines and the Peace Monument just north of the station on a hill. It turned out to be a hill with tons of shrines, hiking routes, and I only saw a portion of everything there. It was 433 steps uphill in 35°C in a long skirt (pants stick to you too much). The steps were a bit steep in the second half too (not pictured). Every now and then they had some wise things to say (see above) while mentioning how much was left XD At the top there was this monument with a statue - concrete with metal and no shade at the benches anywhere!!! The view was great, but difficult to rest before going back down... I could refresh at the Hiroshima Museum of Art, fortunately. They had a nihonga exhibition, and since I have a new course to teach starting this semester that deals with mostly premodern Japanese visual arts, it was a useful exhibition for me. I closed the day walking around Ujina island, one of the islands near the coast. I love the sea, I love islands, so it was a nice preparation for the main dish of this trip: Miyajima. There were beaches, but it's the wrong side of the tide with every seashell and debris washing out there. It is also sandy, and I don't like sandy beaches. Anyway, the view was nice.

tbc...

[rowanhoney]

travelling 2 london for a bit this summer, do you have any recommendations about neighborhoods to stay in/ things to go see etc? xx

unfortunately I didn’t see this and I’m several months too late BUT for anyone else planning a london trip or just needing to explore

Definitely worth hitting the design museum! There’s usually some interesting exhibits and you can continue your day by walking through Holland Park after! The Dutch garden and especially the Kyoto garden are so so beautiful

Classic Londoner day out is a walk along soutbank too. There’s enough tourists that there are things to do but not a major tourist trap. Along there you have the royal festival halls, BFI, London eye, OXO tower, Tate Modern, Globe theatre. The river waves are relaxing as well. By the time you reach the end cross over tower bridge and go to the Tower of London for some grim history. Then have dinner 5 mins away along st. Katherine’s docks - lovely peaceful spot with great restaurants and sparkling lights over the canals. Bit if a hidden gem for sure

Neighbourhoods to hit:

In the west there’s Richmond! Definitely cute but a bit snobby. Richmond park is huge and you can see wild deer! On the side of town closer to the Thames you have Kew Gardens which is an absolute must and needs a dedicated day.

In the East the typical spot to hit is Shoreditch. Great for record stores, vintage shops, underground gigs, 24hr Beigels, quirky fun bars, and not too much further in Bethnal Green there’s the Last Tuesdays Society; a very macabre little collection and some strange cocktails. They even have an absinthe range.

In the North everyone wants to go to Camden which is fine, lots to see and do but the alternative side to the town has become so commercialised in the past few decades. Still worth hitting but imo Bloomsbury is nicer with lots of niche little museums hidden away and one big one ! The Wellcome Collection! They always have some really great free exhibition on. There’s some controversy about the collection but there always will be in this country. Also 2 great bookshops - Gay’s the Word and Houseman’s <3

South London, my beloved forever. I say it all the time but I love Crystal Palace. It’s just a nice little neighbourhood with a lot of history. The triangle is great for little boutiques of all kinds, really good food around, there’s a 4 floor antique store where you can find all sorts of trinkets even affordable ones. The park is huge and wonderful! There’s a boating lake, a petting zoo, an athletics centre, dinosaurs! A maze! And at various times of the year there are fireworks shows, lights shows, a series of concerts in summer, frequent funfairs and other events. Don’t forget the south london Eiffel Tower (it’s just a radio tower but most kids who grew up here thought the same). Not far on in Sydenham is the Horniman Museum and Gardens which is well worth a visit but is too often disregarded for being a little out the way. Special mention to SE London. Greenwich has a few museums, a great little theatre, the cutty sark ship and the observatory! Also within a big beautiful park.

My love to everyone who comes here 🫶 please just remember to stand on the right of the escalators

[nuri148]

So... I've been a bit MIA bc this past weekend I was in my dear London for the 7th time and omg, it never gets old! There is SO much to see, and do, and discover, and revisit! And this has been the 2nd most eventful London trip ever (after the first one when we were still student-poor and the pound was super high and we crammed so much stuff in it no one believed us it'd been just 3 days.)

The excuse for this trip was concerts- We saw Billy Joel at Hyde Park on Friday and Blur at Wembley on Saturday. Both were great, my only gripe being that BJ didn't play my favourite song of his (The Downeaster Alexa), but he did play Piano Man and we had the surprise of the night when he sang Uptown girl with guest... Joe Jonas. Blur did play all their songs I like and it was endearing to see Damon Albarn being actually moved by being upstage in a full Wembley stadium.

An aside to say that, just like when we went to see U2 at the O2 arena a few years ago, I can only applaud the flawless organization of London transport around moving so many people in and out of venues. You'd think you'd have to wait forever for the tube afterwards, and that you'd travel like a canned sardine, but no, though we moved along throngs of people, we only had a bit of a queue for tapping in into the tube, but the train came right away (past 10:30pm!) and it wasn't particularly crowded. All hail TFL!

From the "typical tourist spots" in the city, my favourite is the Picadilly/Chinatown/Leicester sq./Covent Garden area, and the only that's been a constant on every trip. We returned to Greenwich (we'd gone to the Observatory in 2013) for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Maritime Museum, walked around bit the neigbourhood before it opened and, after it, we visited the Queen's House, which we didn't know existed but it was free and I never get tired of visiting palaces, because EveryGirlIsAPrincess and shit. Even me.

Did you know there is a 121 year old pedestrian tunnel under the River Thames? I found out only a few days before the trip, and of course we crossed it. The tunnel south entrance is right next to the Cutty Sark - and we emerged on the north side on a normal neighbourhood on the Isle of Dogs (no, not the Wes Anderson film. It's really called like that). Headed for Canary Wharf, and to shield from the strong midday sun, we cut through Mudchute Park and... found the farm there. THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS OMG!!! I spent a good while petting and feeding the sheep and goats, god, I love goats! I could have stayed for hours if it wasn't for my poor Husband and his please-can-we-go face. It was the highlight of the trip.

We also went to Battersea Power Station, recently reconverted into a shopping centre. I knew, of course, that the former power station was an iconic building in the London skyline; it's huge and for many years provided a good chunk of the electricity to the city, not to mention its appearance in Pink Floyd's Animals album and films like Children of Men. What I didn't know was that it was also a fucking masterpiece of Industrial Art Deco. And I fucking love Art Deco. Not only that, they have made an incredible, amazing, absolutely stunning job at restoring the building to its original Art Deco glory. The butchers that turned Barcelona's former Arenas bullring into the current pastiche could learn a thing or two from them. The respect for the original building is such that one of the control rooms has been turned into a glamorous cafe, keeping all the control panels at the back; and the bar is like stepping into the 1940s, from the decor to the old furniture, to the design of the coffee cups and the delightful menus mimicking a power plant instruction boocklet. We could've stayed for ages but we had tickets for Lift 109 - a different tour that takes you to the top of one of the chimneys. The tour starts with a gallery about he plant's history and a somewhat silly videomapping with more of the same (cool lights, bad audio, couldn't understand the guy much). Then you take a lift, climb a set of stairs and take the second lift to the top of the chimney, at 109 metres high. The twist is: you don't exit the lift. The glass lift becomes the observation deck. Even with the rain, the views were spectacular, and the wow factor of emerging from inside the chimney is really something new. Price? Ridiculously expensive, but I indulged husband because he indulged me in...

My personal highlight of the trip: we went for Afternoon Tea. But not just anywhere, no. If I was going to do Afternoon Tea I was going to do it with all the glamour that I deserve, so I booked us a table at Fortnum & Mason, no less. Do I need to say I felt like a princess? Everything was just so nice and fancy! The salon is just beautiful, so luxurious but without feeling heavy. The bathrooms had individual fabric towels to dry your hands.

We could each choose which tea we wanted; Husband went for the Afternoon Blend (that's my fic's #8!) and I had the Wedding Breakfast blend, because I hadn't tried it before. It was nice, mild and balanced. They came in this nice china that you can buy on the store first floor for a lot of money.

The food was great as well. The sandwiches were excellent; my favourite was the egg one; Husband preferred the salmon one. There was also chicken, ham, and cucumber. For the scones, I was a bit weary because I'm not a cream lover and the scones I'd had so far tended to fall on the dry side. But, oh my goodness, these scones were absolutely delish, and the cream + jam (or lemon curd) passed so well to them!

The sweets were, surprisingly, the least fabulous of the lot. Maybe it's a matter of local taste vs. my own; the quality and presentation was of course top notch. It could also be that I was already pretty full. I once read an iterview where a chef said something like, dessert is a thing people order when they're not hungry anymore. So it has to be totally scrumptious and tempting and delish to fully please the guest. For me, only one of the five samples filled that criteria, the cream tartlet with a freaking pansy encased in jelly on top. Both the mousses (Earl Grey + bergamot jelly, black cherry) were delicious, but not so much as to wow me. The chocolate cup could've been number one save for the raspberry filling - I love raspberries, but fruit in chocolate is a pet peeve of mine. Finally, the rose eclair definitely ticks the decadent checkbox (anything with rose does, IMO), but it's not a flavour I'm wild about. Much like truffle, to name another fancy eat, I feel it's easy to go overboard with it.

On top pof all that, we visited the Tate Britain and the Design museum, had breakfast(s) at Pret, bought rare-colour M&M's at the Leicester Square shop, walked down Portobello Street Market, visited Holland Park and Japan House and had lots and lots of fun!

[dp-marvel94]

(Not) Alone - Chapter 5

Summary: Consumed with worry and scared after watching Dani almost die, Danny begs her to come home with him and meet Jazz. He wants to see her safe and happy and taken care of more than anything. An important reveal also weighs heavy on him – Dani isn’t the only living clone… and the other is him. He needs to tell her the truth; maybe that will convince her to agree to the idea of telling his parents. And she'll stay in Amity Park with him, where he'll never have to worry if she's safe ever again.

Meanwhile, Dani has mixed feelings. Still reeling from the loss of her clone siblings, Danny’s unexpected worry and care make her uncomfortable. And her own guilt… she hurt him and helped get him kidnapped twice. How can he care about a mistake like her? But having clean clothes and a bed is wonderful. And things aren’t as simple as she thinks.

Will Dani accept the help she needs and let herself be loved? Or will she push Danny and Jazz away and run again?

Word Count: 3,641

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Also on AO3 and Fanfiction.net

As soon as she heard the question, a dozen different answers crowded Dani’s mind. Well, really, first there had been surprise; they were really going to let her choose. (Vlad never let her choose anything…. The thought was a stab to her core. And after running away… was it really a choice if she was pushed to act because of necessity, if she never got to enjoy those choices?) But after that….

She could choose! Granted it needed to be in Amity Park… but there was still so much to do. They could stay in and watch tv, play a game, talk, relax. That might be nice but… she could go out with her brother and…. Jazz. (But Dami called her his big sister. And if Jazz was her brother’s big sister, then wasn’t she also….) Dani pushed away the thought.

They could get out of the house; that’s what Dani had been thinking about. And the possibilities! There was the park. Amity had so many restaurants and stores. She’d flown over a huge mall complex…. And there were docks; she’d seen the shore of a large lake while flying overhead. Did that mean there was a beach? Were there museums? A zoo? An aquarium? A space observatory? She didn’t even know what the options were. What all did Amity Park have to offer?

That mall complex…. A memory tickled her brain. 

It was so hot, it felt like she was melting (even faster than she already was.) The huge square building loamed above with so many people inside, cool air blasting through the doors. Dani wandered through the opening. She followed the smell of food to…. a large area with tables. People crowded around them, eating so many different kinds of food. 

“Jamie, look!” An excited voice caught her attention. Dani’s eyes flickered… to a girl about her age. “Can we get ice cream?” The girl asked, tugging on a teenage boy’s hand.

His eyes sparkled with humor. “I bet we can convince Mom.”

Said adult walked up to the pair, pushing a stroller with a wiggly three-year-old boy.

“Mom, can we get ice cream?” The girl immediately asked.

Big eyes and pleading from the three kids, including the toddler who quickly joined the begging, swayed the woman soon enough.

Dani watched from a distant table, feeling her heart ache as the siblings enjoyed their treat. After, toys were pulled out of a colorful shopping bag. With the teen’s help, the toddler got into a bag of plastic dinosaurs. The two boys played.

“Oh! You got me!” The older laughed, his brother’s T Rex taking out his Triceratops. “Mercy! Mercy!”

The girl hugged a stuffed bear. “Mr. Cuddles loves you very much.”

The oldest complained. “Nellie!”

At the same time, the youngest giggled, taken by the attack of plushie kisses. 

Dani wished that that was her and her brothers.

She had watched the family leave after that. She’d accepted as many free food samples as she could until the old lady in front of the Japanese food stall demanded she either buy a meal or leave. She had left, planning to sneak some food later, after the mall closed, even as her core clinched with guilt at the thought. She’d wandered around stores for a while… until a concerned employee asked where her parents were and called security to ‘help her find them’.

Back in the present, Dani asked. “Can we go to the mall?”

That previously unattainable dream of going to the mall with her brother…. That was within her reach. She could wander around stores without the concerned looks wondering where her parents were, without the disgusted sneers at her dirty clothes and unkempt hair. She could buy food, instead of guiltily sneaking what was left over after closing.

Jazz smiled kindly. “Of course we can.”

Dani helped the older two teens with the dishes. Food put away and kitchen clean, the three left the house. They piled into the red-head’s car and drove off. 

The drive was short and yet paradoxically so long. Dani wasn’t used to being in a car. She’d sneaked onto trains and buses while on the run. But her only experience with a car? (A dash of guilt… she had still been with Vlad. He’d taken her in his limo to the airport before they’d flown to Amity Park to kidnap her original.) It was weird, being buckled in like this. The vehicle seemed to sway gently… or not so gently, as Jazz made turns sharply and quickly.

But soon enough, the car arrived in front of the rectangular building. Jazz parked and the three got out of the vehicle, walking to the door. They passed a fountain with bronze statues, metal children playing in the water. And the actual entrance…

Dani stared up, eyes wide. It was huge! The entire side was glass, windows stretching up to the ceiling, to an overhang supported by massive square pillars. 

Sensing their approach, the automatic doors opened. Jazz and Danny walked through. Dani followed, smiling at the blast of cool air hitting her. Eager eyes flitted around the area, hungrily taking in everything. One step, two, three deeper into the mall. Slowly, Dani’s steps trickled to a stop.

This was incredible. If the outside looked huge, somehow inside was even bigger. Compared to this mall, the one she’d visited before was tiny. A circular area stretched in front of them, bustling with people walking to and fro. A square stage at one side hosted a singular musician with a guitar. Plants in pots lined the stage, more sitting against the pillars supporting the upper floor’s walkway.  

And on that second floor… a red and yellow neon sign drew her eyes to a uniform rusty brick covered area. A stark contrast from the white and tan facades of various stores, interspersed with their unique logoed splashes of color. What was up there?

“Dani. Dani?” A voice calling her name drew the girl out of her thoughts.

She blinked. “Huh? What?”

Her eyes fixed on her brother, grinning back at her. “Pretty cool, isn’t it?”

She nodded, hurrying up to him. “It’s so big! And open. Those windows,” She waved back at them. “Make everything look so sunny. And there’s music and so many people. And the fountain outside was so cool!” She looked up, pointing at the bricked second floor. “What’s that?”

The boy chuckled. “That’s the food court.”

“Food court?!” Somehow, Dani became even more excited at the words. “Can we get something to eat?”

“We just had breakfast.” Jazz said, more than a hint of humor in her voice. The older girl half-turned, back to the colorful display she’d been looking at.

“What’s this?” The clone girl asked. 

“The mall’s directory.” The red-head smiled down at her. “Where do you want to go first?”

With wide eyes, Dani searched the map. So many fun options….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first stop (because it was the closest) was the pet store. Inside, birds tweeted and dogs barked. Dani buzzed with excitement. 

“Puppies!” She peered through the glass. “They’re so cute.”

The store had bunnies. “She’s so soft.” One of the employees let Dani hold one.

And fish! Hamsters! Lizards! 

“I think we should get a snake.” Dami teased his older sister, eyeing the orange and white creature. (A corn snake, that’s what the display said. But it didn’t look anything like corn?)

 The red-head shook her head, wrinkling her nose. “Ew. No.”

“But look at him.” The boy brought out the puppy dog eyes. “He looks like he wants to come home with us.”

And the kittens! 

With big round eyes, Dani stared at the little black cat. She wanted to pet it so badly, to scratch under its tiny chin. The animal batted at a toy stuffed mouse.

“Oh, you like your mousie, don’t you?” She cooed. “Don’t you?”

It was so cute, she felt like her heart would melt. And at the same time… it squeezed. (There had been a black cat that she’d sometimes see stalking through Vlad’s garden. Muscles helped her sneak out water and food to it. The other clone’s soft, deep voice… We shouldn’t leave her milk, Dani. She can’t digest that.)

“Okay, even I’ll admit that’s cute.” Another (though not as familiar?) clone brother’s voice. 

Dani looked up at the boy (And that, looking up, was still blowing her mind.) “Cute!? This is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.”

The boy raised a brow. “I take it you’re a cat person then.” 

The girl nodded. Then… she blinked, her own brow furrowing. She was a cat person, yes. But her brother… “Are you a cat or a dog person?”

It was weird to ask. She didn’t know the answer but… she felt like she should have. Tiny had liked the cat who roamed the garden, right? But the way he’d just called her a cat person. Even I’ll admit that’s cute ? What did that mean?

Her brother blinked, for a moment considering. “A dog person. I think? I always wanted a puppy as a kid. I asked Mom and Dad every birthday and Christmas for years. And I have a ghost dog now, Cujo. You need to meet him too.” He smiled. Then, shrugging. “But there’s this stray cat Jazz has been feeding. We named her Muffin. She’s pretty sweet. And I loved that feral cat that kept showing up at Vlads’.” His eyes sparkled with mirth. “Remember that time it caught a baby rabbit for you. Dropped it right at your feet.”

For a moment, her heart twisted, confused and overwhelmed by those two responses. So much of that she didn’t recognize….

But in the end, Dani laughed. “Yeah. She dropped it, looking up at me like ‘look at me, I’m such a good little hunter’… and the poor little guy was still alive! It ran away. She went after it, caught it again, and dropped it back at my feet. But the bunny ran again. She caught it, dropped it… And scowled up at me, like ‘why aren’t you going after it?’”

“She thought you were a big dumb kitten.” Her brother laughed, ruffling her hair. “She was trying to teach you how to hunt.”

“I’m not a big dumb kitten.” She poked at his side. “You are!”

“Hey, we already established I’m a dog person. I can’t be a kitten.”

“But you like cats!”

“Okay. So maybe I’m a bit of both.” He shrugged. “The cursed cat-dog if you will. Like from that old cartoon.”

Dani blinked. “What?”

“Okay so…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The inane conversation continued as the three left the pet store.

“Let’s go there!” Danielle pulled the older two teens towards a colorful store. Large yellow letters boasted ‘Toys and Co.’

Big bright eyes took in the crowded scene. The tiled floor was bright yellow, whimsical music flowing through the air.  There were so many stuffed animals, action figures, baby dolls, and Barbie dolls. A giant Lego castle!

Dani practically ran to the circular table hosting a bin of colorful blocks. Huddled on the other side were a few other kids, all younger than her, but she couldn’t care less about the age difference. The girl grabbed a handful of blocks, starting to build. What should she make? A space-ship? A race car? Her own little castle? 

The other two teens joined, making their own little creations while chatting. The clone girl focused on her masterpiece, tongue stuck out in concentration.

“And…. done!” The girl exclaimed. 

“What is it?” Damian asked.

“A rocket-castle.” She boasted proudly.

“That’s great.” Jazz congratulated, pulling out her phone. “Let me get some pictures.” She snapped a few, asking Dani and Dami to pose.

“Done?” The younger girl asked impatiently. 

Jazz barely finished nodding and Dani was off again. So many things to see!

Racing toy cars on the model of Amity Park. Setting up a tea party in the dollhouse display. Banging out a tune on the floor piano mat. It was all so much fun! (It had been so long since she’d just gotten to play.) And even more fun as the older two teens played with her.

“Woah! Jazz, go!” The boy cheered. “Faster!”

The red-head obliged, feet shuffling faster on the mat. A dissonant clash. “Shoot. Wrong Note.”

“Faster!” Dani put up her hands.

“I’m going as fast as I can!” Jazz argued. But somehow the older girl went faster. Another clashing note hit. “I saw that, you gremlin!” Playfully narrowed eyes flashed to the boy, who withdrew his hand from the highest note with a mischievous grin.

Still, the red-head finished with a flourish. “Ta-da.”

“That was awesome!” Dani clapped. So did her brother, and even some other children and adults who had been watching. 

Jazz blushed. “It was okay.” 

“No.” The clone girl jumped up and down. “It was so cool!”

The older’s face softened, seeming to believe the words. “Thanks Dani.” A moment of hesitance… Then Jazz reached out to ruffle her hair. “Do you want to buy something? Like I said, I’ve got money.”

“I can buy something?” The girl blinked up, eyes wide.

“Of course.” A kind smile. “Pick out something you want.”

Dani searched for several minutes, hesitant herself. Her heart twisted in her chest. Jazz actually wanted to buy her something. She could hardly believe it. (She understood Damian being nice to her. But why was the red-head being so generous too?) But…

“This is perfect.” The girl smiled softly, her mind going back to that scene of the three siblings at the food court. She took the bag off the display.

“Why plastic dinosaurs?” Damian asked, brow furrowed.

Dani shrugged, face impassive.

“Let the girl get what she wants.” Jazz took the item. “Great choice, Dani.” 

At the register, the older girl pulled out a plastic card and bought the toys. She gave the youngest the bag. And Dani held it close to her heart, like it was precious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next, they visited a huge bookstore. Two stories tall, with escalators in the middle. Dani had never seen so many books!

“I loved this book when I was your age.” Her brother picked up a thin paper back with a smile.

The clone girl looked over his shoulder. A majestic lion stared from the cover, two young girl’s faces buried in his mane. “The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe?”

“Oh. That’s a really good series.” Jazz offered. Then her brow furrowed. “That’s a different cover than I remember reading.”

The boy turned the book over, perusing the back. “Mom’s copy is older. From the 90s or something.”

“I like the older cover better.” The red-head huffed.

“You would.” The boy rolled his eyes.

Again, Dani’s heart clenched with an odd feeling. So much history and familiarity here, between the two older teens… she felt left out, like last night when they were making dinner. But…..

Her brother looked up, holding out the book to her. “Do you want to give it a read?” A hint of sadness in his smile. “I know you, reading everything you can get your hands on.”

That was true enough; before she’d read every book she could find in that cabin. But less for the love of reading and more for voracious curiosity, the desperate need to connect to the world outside those four walls. And from the sad look in his eyes…. Damian knew that as well.

Dani took the book, eyes skimming over the back. (Her heart squeezed. She could imagine reading this to Daniel, sitting on the floor in front of his pod. But he wasn’t…)

She shook her head, smiling. “Yeah. It looks cool.”

The clone girl ended up leaving with the novel and a book on dinosaurs.

“Oh! This looks interesting.” Jazz had offered the book eagerly.

Danielle’s heart warmed at the attention, accepting with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next was another toy store. Build-a-bear! Jazz and Danny helped her make a stuffed animal, a black dragon with large green eyes and tiny wings. She picked out a tiny saddle for him and a bear-sized Spiderman shirt. After much deliberation, she named him Inky. The nice employee put her new friend in a white box that looked like a little house as Jazz paid.

Then the candle store! It smelled so good. So many of the candles had weird and funny names. She wanted to smell every one. In the end, her brother and Jazz almost had to drag her out. 

“You can’t smell every candle, Dani.” Dami quietly whined, an arm over her shoulder. “People are starting to look at us weird.”

“Fine.” The clone girl huffed. She squirmed out from under the arm, hurrying out of the store.

Then her eyes flickered to the red-and-yellow neon sign she’d seen earlier. ‘A Fork in the Road’…. The food court!

She turned, pointing. “I’m hungry. Can we get food?”

“That sounds good to me.” Dami turned to the red-head who nodded.

“Yes!” Excited, Dani ran ahead of the other two.

“You’re not supposed to run.” Jazz called after her.

“Just let her go.” The muttered reply.

Turning the corner, Dani was greeted by a surprisingly rustic scene. As viewed from the entrance, the outer wall was brick. Rows and rows of tables sat in the middle, interspersed with pillars supporting the wood-beam criss-crossed ceiling. And on the inner side and back wall…. The food stalls!

Colorful neon signs offered so many different types of food. It all smelled delicious.

“What looks good?” Her brother said, coming up behind her.

In the end, Dani went with Chinese food. 

“So good.” The clone girl gushed through her noodles. Jazz and Dami knew good food! She’d said that about every single meal she’d had with them. (It was kinda sad; maybe it tasted better when she didn’t have to steal it.)

There in the food court, Dani took a rest to play with her new spoils, coaxing her brother into a dinosaur fight and attacking the other two teens with kisses from the newly named Inky. All the while the three discussed where else to visit on their mall trip. 

The arcade and electronics store were fun. There was the Amity Park Gift shop, selling just about any object Dani could think of, with the city name in big letters and little cartoon ghosts. And even more items marked with a familiar insignia.

“Aww. They have Danny Phantom plushies.” Jazz jutted her lip out, waving the doll in the boy’s face. “Isn’t he adorable?”

Dami raised a brow skeptically. “Uh huh….” 

The red-head turned sharply, marching towards the checkout. “I’m going to buy him.”

The boy’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?” Then, crossing his arms as the older teen ignored him… “I didn’t authorize this.” He muttered.

Dani giggled at the exchange, begging Jazz for her own Phantom plushie. (Even as staring at the miniature likeness of Danny Phantom gave her an odd feeling.)

The three left the tourist shop, passing in front of one of the numerous clothing stores. For just a moment, Dani’s eyes lingered on one of the outfits in the window. It wasn’t her typical style at all, a sleeveless dress with a flared skirt and a pattern of little flowers. But… an odd squirming in her gut. It was pretty. (Would she- messy, dirty, not good enough, imperfect, a mistake- look cute in it….)

“We can take a look if you want.” Dami offered. 

“Yes. We should get you your own clothes anyway.” Jazz nodded. “Not just our hand-me-downs.”

The words shook Dani out of her thoughts. “No. It’s fine.” The girl frowned down at her feet, crossing her arms.  “I don’t need new clothes.”

Her insides squeezed guilty. Letting Jazz and Dami buy her little fun gifts was one thing but her own clothes… that was… that was too much. 

“Dani-” Dami started, reaching towards her with big compassionate eyes. 

The girl side-stepped, stomping away towards a big neon sign. Even still, complex feelings swirled in her core. She didn’t need help. She didn’t need someone to take care of her. (She didn’t deserve it.)

No, she couldn’t think like that, not when Dami was being so nice to her (after she yelled at him this morning). Her gaze flickered around for a distraction, keenly aware of the footsteps quickly following after her. The clone girl’s eyes fixed on-

“What’s that?” Dani pointed at the poster. A smiling man and woman sat on a giant pink letter B, in front of a blue background.

Her brother took the bait. “Oh. It’s the Barbie movie.”

Barbie… like those dolls she saw at the toy store? 

Dani’s brow furrowed. “Can we see it?”

The older two teens exchanged looks. There was a moment of hesitation, as if the two exchanged silent conversation about whether or not to push the clothing shopping. 

Eventually though, Jazz sighed. “Yes, we can.” She marched up to a glass window with a teenager sitting behind it. “Three tickets for Barbie at four, please.”

The three watched the movie, Dani squirming in excitement in her seat. She munched on the popcorn.  Her head tilted, not understanding some of the jokes, but still she grinned and laughed. The girl almost busted a gut during the Ken’s song and dance number. She even teared up at the end, as Barbie made her choice. (The question rang in her core…. What was I made for?)

“That was amazing!” Dami gushed star-eyed. “I’m just Ken…” As the trio exited the closing mall, she skipped down the almost empty halls and sang loudly, her previous angst long forgotten.

Another short drive and they arrived back at Fenton Works. The older two prepared a quick meal, after entertaining Dani with some board games. The clone girl went to bed with a smile on her face.

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

If time and money were no object. Where would you travel to and what activities would you do?

Hello anon

I have never really gotten to go many places in my life so that's a pretty big list of possibilities 🥰

When I was a child I went through an Astronomy 🌟 phase (My middle name means Star), I'd love to go see a bunch of things; watch a meteor shower, witness a full solar eclipse, go watch a rocket launch live, try to photograph the Northern lights, wander through a big observatory and get to look through a telescope, can you actually tour something like NASA?, go do one of those Zero G flights

I REALLY adore old architecture and old buildings so wandering through the Museums and Castles in Great Britain and Europe would DEFINITELY have to be on the list as well, it would immensely satisfy my inner history fan

I'd love to spend the night in a haunted one and go ghost hunting even if it would freak me out a bit

I'm a BIG Paranormal 👻 investigation show fan, Big fan of the Ghouligans, Shane and Ryan are awesome and funny human beings (BuzzFeed Unsolved Paranormal/We are Watcher) they have an awesome time, are UTTERLY hilarious, and are highly worth watching if you haven't, and are just in general amazing examples of the human species

I would definitely have to include the ancient wonders of the world on that list too, as many of them as I could manage, there was also an Archeologist/Historian phase at some point that spawned from the fascination Ancient cultures had with Astronomy, you can't study the night sky without studying history if you take into consideration when you are looking up at night you are literally seeing into the past..

The Pyramids, Karnak Temple, Machu Picchu, Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Petra, Stonehenge, the Parthenon (and as much of the Old World as I could, I'm a fan of the stoics) Angkor Wat, Hagia Sophia........this list could go on for a while ☺️ but I probably couldn't name them all, some of them out there I probably haven't even heard of, would have to take a trip through all the museums where all of the artifacts from those cultures have ended up

I guess I'm into old and maybe spooky things?

Maybe I could just wander along with the wayward wind and see where I ended up

💜🪽🌟

[maaikeatthefullmoon]

This week I have mostly been reading...

Jun 3rd – 9th, 2024

Whoops, apologies everyone, I’m a bit late with what is now last week’s round up. Better late than never, right? Right.

Completed works I've read this week:

Oddity by @tsyvia48 Rated E - Actor C is contracted by (useless) Gabriel to guest curate an exhibition at the museum where A works. After getting off on the wrong foot, can they work together to pull off this show? This was in my WIP list and has now been completed *cries in a corner*

Garden of Delights series by @zehwulf Rated E – Rough Enough last week sent me on a little BDSM flavoured journey this week. This 10-part human AU series is *significantly* harder than Rough Enough, although A continues to have his soft Dom personality. I thoroughly enjoyed Crowley’s gender fluidity, as I identify as genderfluid myself. There are some very particular kinks in this series, and a SERIOUS CW for consensual non-consent (CNC) in multiple stories within this series. There is an underlying psychological growth within the series, though, which is interesting to unpick. Which, when I read this back, looks like me giving weird reasons for reading kinky smut. I give no excuses for reading kinky smut. I enjoy smut and certain types of kink. I also enjoy teasing out angst and psychological growth. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. But, erm, no chicken dinners in my smut, thanks. Not into that. But if you are, by all means…

A Tempting Night of Wine and Kisses by LemonTart Rated E – in-universe, but not canon-compliant, this is interestingly part 2 of a series, but the first kiss between A & C doesn’t happen until this second part – despite the first part also being very much E rated. This leads to this one-shot being much more tender and loving. Which was particularly soothing after 10 BDSM stories 😂 It was a bit like my own aftercare

love not given lightly by @hakunahistata Rated E – Hmmm, I’m starting to sense a pattern in last week’s reading…it all seems to be raaaather smutty. So apologies if that’s not your thing. *coughs* Anyway, blame Rough Enough, this is another Gentle/Soft Dom A fic. The story starts off with C snapping at A upon their very first meeting that he’s ��fine”…coz, you know, that’s what all completely fine people say…

Ngk Ngk Ngk by ForFucksSakeJim Rated E – There is only one thing I can say about this one: Ngk.

The Beginning of the End (Again) by @addledmongoose Rated M – A Post GO2 fic with a brilliant plot idea. I really enjoyed it AND it’s written in the first person (alternating) POV. I’ve never read a fic in this POV and I can genuinely say I enjoyed it and I congratulate the author on making it work so well. There is a lot of humour in this story as well, which I enjoyed and, hey, look, it's not a smutty-smut one. Although it’s definitely not innocent. I loved the character of Duke Asmodeus as well. Highly recommend. 

WIPs which have updated this week (which I devour as soon as I get the update!)

There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out by @phoen1xr0se Rated M - A is a researcher (puffins!), C is a lighthouse keeper on the island where A has run away to to escape his problems and do his research. The author has recently spent a week studying puffins - which is the ultimate dedication, if you ask me. Ch 10/26 posted so far

Find The Light by @klikandtuna Rated E - Headmaster A and Rockstar C. The story teases out a fraught history between them whilst keeping a tension between them in the modern day. Ch 11/15 posted so far

Under The Summer Stars by @pannotbread Rated E - This wonderful fic has taught me more about physics than school ever did (mostly because I never did any physics, but...well). A & C have to share their time at an observatory because there is Only One Telescope. Not only will you learn about astrophysics, astrobiology, and astroecology, you'll also read some of the most poetically, beautifully written masturbation scenes I've ever seen. *ahem* Ch 8/13 posted so far

Poetry Carved In Flesh by @fellandcrow Rated E – Tattoo enthusiast A becomes a fan of tattooist C’s work, but doesn’t have any tattoos himself. C convinces him to get tattoos…but due to distance, A can’t get any work done by C. Until C comes to see him. This fic has GORGEOUS artwork, and speaks to my tattoo-obsessed soul. It’s an A-falls-first-C-falls-harder story, which is always fun. It also features ghostrat’s Nice and Accurate fandom. Ch 7/16 posted so far

Exodus_2 by @tismrot Rated E – Human AU set in a dystopian future. The summary says it best, really: Ezra studies programming at the University of ha-Gan. He’s as determined as he is damaged, as fastidious as he is precise, and likes to believe he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. His beliefs are challenged when a new student appears late to the first Ethics module lecture - and his life is changed forever. It's the future, it's dystopian, it's cyber and it's punk. It's political, grimy and slick with tears, lube and chemical snot. TW: Sex, drugs, trauma. Ch 30/35 posted so far

Free by well, me: imposterssyndrome Rated E - A & C meet (again?) in an acute mental health ward after both having had mental health crises. A runs a bookshop but is very much under his parents' control. C has been homeless since childhood and has struggled his entire life. They do not trust each other when they first meet, but feel strangely drawn to one another all the same. Where will this lead them? This is a passion piece for me. There is a lot of lived experience in it, and extensive research from both professionals and peers. It has been a real journey for me to write it, and as I'm coming closer to the end it's becoming very emotional for me. Ch 53/57 so far - on the home stretch now everyone!

Want to see more recs? This is last week's list.

[charlesandmartine]

Saturday 11th March 2023

The Brisbane City Hall was built in 1930 and was the largest clock tower in Australia at 92 metres in height, the tallest building in Brisbane until the 1960s. Cannily this beats the clock tower at the GPO building in Sydney which tops out at a mere 73 metres. No competition there then. The tour of the tower needs to be quick to get 4 people at a time up the top in a very old clanking lift, wave a hoof at the view and the bells and back down again before the clock does its Westminster chimes all over again. There's always going to be casualties in a tour program with limited time available. In this case having been able to view the views from the top it was thereafter basically: there's the bells made in the Loughborough foundry and there's a clock down there somewhere now all back in the lift, we're off. Um, is it weight driven and is it still wound by hand? Don't really know much about the clock as such. I expect you could look that up he said. For the horologists, the tower has 4 x 3 ton bells for the chimes and 1 X 4.3 ton bell for the hour strike. Lovely tones I must say. The clock itself is electric driven and operates from a master pendulum on the same basis as the Greenwich Observatory.

We then crossed the river to have a flat white in the Art Gallery Café. It would appear that the streets on the North Bank of the Brisbane River are named after English monarchy and across the river after British Prime Ministers. One person said, and I thought this was quite witty, they don't have a Truss street because there aren't any streets short enough! Anyway we had our coffee, popped into the Queensland Museum and popped back out again rather quickly because it was crawling with kids, then went to check on the theatre situation at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to see if there were by any chance any tickets that had become available for tonight's play. No luck so we crossed the river again to do a bit of shopping. We really like the South Bank complex of theatre, art galleries and museums. It has a lovely relaxed feel about it and you can just meander around soaking up the atmosphere and today also the rain.

Being Saturday the shopping area has a bit of a carnival touch and with St Patrick's day not too far away now there was an Irish Band, possibly called Silken Thomas, playing sentimental tunes from the Emerald Isle. It's a universal ting that all nationalities seem to unite with a tear in the eye to the playing of an Irish ballad, as though we all have a longing for the old country. We've seen it in New York, Australia, Scotland, Birmingham and most weirdly in Amsterdam! How do these Celts do it? Just hope for Ireland's sake they don't all feel the pull and decide to return home. Martine who is half Irish had a lump in her throat. Even I did and I'm Anglo Saxon. (I think). So to the strains of Danny Boy, Whiskey in the Jar, Leaving of Liverpool and feeling all didley didley we ambled off to take a look at the next celebration, that of the Pakistan Australian Cultural Association that is setting up in George Square. We were hoping they might have food. No genetic ties there. (I don't think).

Our last evening here we began with a one venue pub crawl involving some Aussie beer. It wasn't one of those pub restaurants that Martine was hoping for as they are in the outback where everyone goes quiet when you walk in. Quite the opposite, it was very noisy but very atmospheric. Then we moved on to Betty's Burgers for, well a burger actually. It's our first time with Betty's and we wondered if we would be safe with her but I have to say, a burger with king prawns on board was rather nice. Then back to the hotel to pack again ready for a really early Virgin Australia flight to Sydney tomorrow morning. Yawn.

Brisbane is a very pleasant modern city which I can see would really appeal to a younger generation with the opportunities it offers. She appears to strive to present herself as a contemporary place to live, work and play although there have been times in the past when the town elders have been accused of sacrificing some of the old in order to facilitate the new. Bold new schemes are underway to add three new river crossings including a CrossRiverRail connection. This is indeed a city of investment in its future. We have had a brief but good time here. It's a shame that we view Brisbane at the moment of our trip as we prepare, with great regret, to returning home on Wednesday.

ps on the eve before our little flight to Sydney, we were watching Sully on the telly.

pps look how small and insignificant the Albert Street Congregational Church looks against the skyscrapers