#in a hotel. the day before a wedding. on the other side of the country.

[nightfayre]

i’m sick

[ivy-loves-chocolate]

hi! i wanted to start this off by saying i love your writing, it's so wonderful!!! could i request the RE men on how they'd act on their wedding/eloping day w fem!reader please? fluff & nsfw are more than welcome :) thank you!!!

୨୧ Note: thank you so much anon for the kind words 🥺 and of course you can request that! You can request anything! This idea is very beautiful and thank you for it. I had a fun time writing it, and I hope you will have a fun time reading it as well 💖

୨୧ Warning: this post contains nsfw scenes.

Also, my commissions are open, so if you are interested visit my ko-fi page. Thank youuuu 🥰

He wants to keep things intimate. While the idea of a big, extravagant wedding appeals to him, he values the thought of spending this special day just with you, where he can truly be himself. In private, he can express his love and admiration without holding back, showing you his soft and gentle side, away from the prying eyes of others.

This means he’ll make your elopement day unforgettable. He'll hire a priest to officiate your union, will book the most luxurious hotel, and he'll also prepare the itinerary for your honeymoon. He wants to spend an entire month with you, where you will be travelling, experiencing new things, and deepening your bond.

He'd spend weeks working on his vows. Don't get me wrong, he makes sure you know how much he loves you. Every day, even if it's a gesture or a small action, by the time you go to sleep, you need to know that you are being worshipped and loved.

His heart will fill with joy, and his eyes will sparkle with pride as he sees you in that white dress. All he can think of is how lovely and elegant you look, and also how beautiful it will look on the floor when you get to your room.

He'd start off slowly, gentle, wanting to take his time with you. He will place kisses all over your body, starting with your lips and neck, going all the way down between your legs. His tongue will move relentlessly over and around your clit, his fingers curling and twisting inside you, pulling out some delicious moans out of you—those kinds that make his shaft twitch.

He will press his body over yours, looking for closure, as he pushes his cock inside of you. You wrap your arms and legs around him, keeping him tight in your embrace. As he keeps stretching you, he kisses your neck and whispers praises in your ear about how well you take him and how good your pussy feels.

He cums inside you multiple times that night, filling you up to the brim. He yearns that one day he can see your belly full with his kids. He doesn't care about the gender; all he wants are a lot of healthy little ones. You can imagine the excitement when you showed him the positive pregnancy test.

He wants an elopement day because he never knows when he'll have to hop on his next mission. So, after you said "yes," he bought two plane tickets to a country with the fastest departure date available.

Before leaving, he helped you out with the list of things that needed to be done, and luckily everything went incredibly smoothly, as if this holy union was meant to happen.

Even if the ceremony was quicker than expected, you managed to feel the magic of the moment, the suspense and emotions after saying "I do," the overwhelming joy while reciting and hearing each other's vows, and the tingling and burning love of the kiss that bound your souls. Even if his life is full of uncertainties, he is happy to know that you are one constant in his life.

After that, you spent the whole day walking around the city. An elderly couple saw your formal attire, and they were so confused after they heard you just got married, but they were so adorable in their uncertainty. "Why do you mean you got married? Just like that? Where are the guests? Where did you hold the ceremony?" They were very open-minded about it, and they began sharing their wedding day.

After that, you ate at a local restaurant. Again, nothing fancy, something you both liked that had a good view and good food.

The hotel was nice too, but none of you got a chance to admire it as you were too drunk and too over each other. Until you reach your room, both of you engaged in a hot make-out session.

Leon undresses you quickly. The cold air didn't have a chance to tickle your hot skin as Leon was fast to roll over you. Skin pressed on skin tightly, he kept whispering a lot of sweet praises that just trickled over your fevered heart, as they felt so much more intense than would normally say them. His lips felt like feathers on your skin, and they couldn't stop as your melodic moans kept fuelling the burning desire he had for you.

He helped you position yourself on top of him and gasped for air as your warm cunt began to engulf his cock. The warm walls kept contracting around him as you went up and down, and your hips didn't take a single break from moving as Leon felt so good inside of you. His curved shaft kept rubbing that spot inside you, and desperate moans kept escaping your mouth as you felt your orgasm coming, each more melodic and louder than the other. You rested your hand on his chest as your legs became tired, but Leon's powerful grip on your hips helped you keep the pace.

Your legs began shaking, and you collapsed on top of him, feeling that pressure fading from your belly. Your pussy contracted around him, beginning to milk him as soon as he came. You could hear his sobs, his sweet and pathetic ones, as he released a couple of hot, thick spurts inside you.

He kept watching his wife with an adoring gaze for the rest of the night and only fell asleep when the first rays of the sun pierced the sky.

He wants an elopement day with a few guests and a small reception. Even if the idea of a secret wedding day pierced his mind, he decided that it's best to spend this important day with those who are closest to you.

Luis often compliments you, his lips being nothing more than a music stave on which words flow, creating an anthem dedicated to your beauty. He is the type of man to cherish everything about you.

He chose a cabin in the woods because he wanted to give you the fairytale wedding you dreamt of. It's very intimate and very secluded from the outside world. The whole evening felt like you were in a bubble stuck in time. Neither of you felt how the time passed; you were too preoccupied to consume and cherish this special moment. His eyes followed you all day, admiration and desire growing with each passing minute.

Since he was very eager to be alone with you, he carried you with a smirk to your room.

"God, I wanted you all night," he'd whisper in a sweet tone as he'd lay you on the bed. "The way this dress fit on your body…" His hands did most of the talking for him, as they moved so gently yet firmly to take off your dress. He took his time with you, wanting to savour every inch of your body. When he pushed the dress past your boobs, he couldn't resist and stopped to give them some attention. Those beautiful hard nipples were just so beautiful that he had to suck them for a brief moment. You began to moan instantly as you felt his skilled tongue going in circles around the sensitive buds, and you grabbed his hair in a firm grip just how he liked it.

"I can't have enough of you…" he said between moans.

"Me neither…undress me, please." You sobbed as you pushed his head down, urging him to continue. Your mouth watered at the simple thought of his cock going inside you. You wanted him so, so bad that it hurt. You could see his chest rising and falling, showing how heavily he was breathing. He was burning up with desire and passion.

He slid the dress across your body with one smooth move and tossed it on the floor. After that, he quickly got rid of his own clothes, and when you noticed his swollen, red cock, your whole body shivered.

He quickly jumped on top of you, and soon he pushed the first inches in your pussy, stretching you nice and easy given how wet you were.

"It's like you were made for me…." he whined, his mind being clouded by euphoria.

Luis kept increasing his pace, being driven by his own arousal and by your delightful moans. Your cunt was so intoxicating for him, as it clouded his judgement, removing every ounce of self-control and making him act on pure instinct, and his instinct at that time was to bury himself inside you over and over and over until he had consumed everything, and then start again.

He kept rubbing that spot inside of you, increasing the pressure in your abdomen until you felt like bursting. Eventually, the orgasm hit you hard, and it hit him too. He filled you up to the brim, hot, thick spurts of his cum flowing inside you.

He watched you the whole night, not wanting to close his eyes because he wanted to remember your beautiful, sleeping face. Eventually, the fatigue was stronger, and he fell asleep, dreaming of your future.

Surprisingly, he wants a wedding day. After everything he'd been through, he wants something beautiful, something bright, something to remind him that this world is worth living in. Besides, he knew how much you wanted a big wedding, so he wants to comply and satisfy every wish that you have.

Krauser also has a bit of an ego that needs to be satisfied, and this wedding is perfect for that. Every detail will stand out, from the reception to your dress. He was fully involved in planning everything, completely committed to you every step of the way.

Everything was well organised and planned by the second, just as he likes. His heart was filled with joy and pride when heads turned to admire you as you walked down the aisle. He was very handsome too, but you took the spotlight, and he couldn't be more happy. Holding your hands, looking into your eyes, and saying "I do," these moments will be imprinted in his brain, and this feeling will live in his heart until the day he will die.

Having arrived in the room, his hands immediately glued themselves to your body. He barely contained himself all night. Slight touches here and there, under the table, on the dance floor, a small make-out session in the wardrobe—he was boiling up with desire and need.

"You are gorgeous, so, so gorgeous," he said amidst the kiss. A lot of tension was between you that needed to be released.

Krauser managed to take off your pompous dress in a skilled way, leaving you bare. Once he saw your naked body, his mind was clouded at once with an urging need to fuck you senseless, so he picked you up and threw you on the soft mattress.

He was insatiable. His tongue kept drawing circles around your swollen clit over and over, and his fingers would fuck you relentlessly until his whole hand was soaked. His cock was throbbing in his pants more frequently as your moans increased in volume.

"You taste delicious, honey," he said between his own moans.

"I know…now can you please fuck me?" You sobbed, being more and more desperate for his cock, and it's normal considering how much he teased you in the evening.

"How can I say no to you, my love?" he said as he stood up, one hand on your face and the other working to remove his pants. "God, you are so beautiful." His big thumb was running over your cheek; his gaze was full of admiration.

He gave you what you wanted, and he made sure that you'd cry out his name on each and every thrust. His cock massaged that spot inside you so well that it made you curl your toes immediately. You hugged him tight because your emotions were all over the place.

Eventually, your orgasm hit you hard, causing your body to tremble a bit. Krauser made sure to empty his load inside you, and that was so easy considering how your wear cunt kept milking him.

After that, he took care of you. He helped you get ready for bed; he ordered some food and put on a good movie. Of course that you went a couple more rounds after and eventually fell asleep exhausted.

[shinestarhwaa]

Waterfall / C.S

Genre: Fluff, Smut

Pairing: Husband!San x Fem reader

Word count: 1,8k

Warnings/tags: newlyweds, husband!san, honeymoon, pool sex, unprotected sex, teasing, fingering, dirty talk, hand job, mild breast/nipple play, semi-public sex, cumplay, squirting, talking about making a baby

After seeing this clip on Instagram I had to write a pool sex smut for Sannie, oop-

Tagging @a-soft-hornytiny to go down with me

ENJOY!

Your wedding had only been three days ago, yet you felt like you were husband and wife for years. It had always been that way, easy. When you met San, almost four years ago, he was still a twenty year old boy.

His voice still quite high, very playful and loving. It didn't take long for the two of you to fall in love. Your personality and energy matched his, and he cared for you.

When you were sick he'd take the train all across Seoul to your home to bring you soup. When it was Summer he'd plan all kinds of dates, often meaning you two would go swimming.

Growing up in Namhae, an island in the South of the country, he's always loved water. Even if it was just sitting beside the water, he'd feel peaceful and calm.

Now it's four years later, and you married the boy, who turned into a beautiful and sophisticated man. Some people disagreed with your marriage, saying you had married too quickly, and some people tended to misjudge his character. But you knew inside the handsome shell there was a warm heart.

While you thought about his kind nature, you felt a familiar hand on your shoulder. San sat down next to you on the edge of the pool, two glasses with champagne in his hands. He smiled sweetly, revealing his charming dimple.

''What are you thinking about, honey?'' he asked as he handed you a glass. ''Just how much I'm in love with you. I made the right decision marrying you,'' you smiled, sipping the champagne.

It was mid March and you were at a hotel in Thailand for your honeymoon. San had almost begged you to get a private pool on your stay, so he was pleased to know your room was at the highest floor of the hotel, with a pool on the large balcony where you could look over the entire city.

San was over the moon to be with you, unable to believe you're actually his wife now. He smiled at you, admiring the way your red bikini flattered your body shape.

After finishing his champagne, he took off the black tanktop he was wearing and let himself sink into the water.

''It's so nice, my love, it's like a big jacuzzi,'' he smiled. You grinned at him, still drinking your champagne. You watched him for a while, just swimming around, seeing him enjoy the water.

You shotted the last bit of your drink before letting yourself sink into the water as well, feeling the warm water hug your body. You swam towards him, but he smirked and you knew he'd just swim to the other side of the pool to tease you.

''San-ah~'' you whined, ''stay still!'' you laughed. He grinned and stopped swimming away. He stilled in the middle of the pool, where you met him, wrapping your arms around his neck, pressing a kiss on his temple.

''I love you, sweetheart,'' he whispered in your ear, ''and I want the whole world to know.''

''Then why did you whisper?'' you grinned, teasing him. San laughed and rolled his eyes.

''I love my Y/N!'' San yelled into the far distance. You quickly put your hand over his mouth, laughing. ''Shut up, San, you're loud.''

''As if you don't like that,'' he winked, causing you to smirk.

San had a very high libido, which resulted in you two having sex at least five days a week usually, and most days it wasn't just once. It was hard to keep up with him at first. You had never expected your sweet boy to be so horny.

As the two of you got older you kept exploring each other and found each other's turn on's. The way he turned from a more lean boy into the muscular man he is now made you weak. He now lifts you with ease, holds you still with ease and there's no way you could beat him strength-wise.

You snapped back in reality when you felt San's wet lips and tongue in your neck, causing you to moan his name. He brought the two of you closer to the edge, so you could hold onto the poolstairs. You wrapped your legs around his hips tightly, hoping to stay above water properly.

He slipped his fingers between your legs, rubbing your clothed core. You whined softly, being sensitive to his touch. He slid your bikini bottom to the side and slowly entered your pussy with 2 fingers.

Countless of times you two had been in the water together, feeling each other up. But tonight, as a married couple, with the light of the moon and the stars and the burning torches it felt special. You'd remember the feeling of his fingers in your cunt forever.

His pace was quick and he knew just how to hit your sweet spots. You tried to stay quiet, knowing there would be people who could hear you, but San was lapping at your clothed nipples and you felt yourself going insane. You couldn't help but let a moan slip from your lips.

''You're so pretty, my love, so perfect for me,'' he whispered in your ear, causing goosebumps to show up on your skin.

He undid the clasp of your top, letting it fall into the water. He licked and sucked at your bare breasts. San seemed to be so eager to have them in his mouth. You thought you'd faint at the sight of him groaning with his mouth full of your boob.

''I need your cock, San,'' you begged, not being able to hold back anymore. Your nails clawed in his back as he fucked three fingers into you.

''Yeah? You need my cock?''

''Yes, San, I need your cock.''

''You need my cock to fill your fucking pussy?''

You thought your lungs would give out, the way he'd speak to you every time you had sex. He was pure filth and you loved it.

He yanked both your bottoms off, nearly ripping them causing you to curse under your breath. ''Those aren't cheap, San,'' you warned him.

''Shut up,'' he said before sinking you down on his hard cock. ''Just take my cock, hm? Like a good girl, my good wife, hm?''

''Yes, yes, I'll take your cock,'' you moaned as he pushed himself deeper inside your hole. ''You better.''

San pushed you against the wall of the pool and you swore you scratched your back against the tiles, but with his length inside you, you couldn't care less at the moment.

You wrapped your legs around his waist so tight, causing him to smirk. He held your hips as he moved you on his dick. The water made it a heavy job, but San loved a challenge.

Your moans grew louder with every thrust, and you felt as if your bodies were colliding in the most passionate and sinful way in the silver moonlight.

Your breasts bounced lightly, splashing the warm water on his chest. He took your right nipple in his mouth, giving it a harsh suck.

''San! O-oh god, I'm close,'' you moaned. San picked up his pace, feeling you clench around him.

''Ah! A-ah, ah, San, yes, San, San!''

Groans and whines fell off your lips while you moaned his name like a mantra, feeling posessed by his love spell.

''Oh San, I'm coming, I'm coming!''

''That's it, baby, cum on my cock, tell the world who's fucking you so good,'' he groaned.

''Yes, San! Y-you, San!'' you moaned.

It took a few more thrusts for you to unravel in his arms, coming on his pulsating cock. He pulled out of you before he could cum, stopping his own orgasm.

You whined at the familiar sensation, still sensitive from your high just a minute ago.

He smirked and rubbed your clit with his thumb, causing you to whine. San kissed your head and laid you on the edge of the pool.

He climbed out of the water and hovered above you, pushing his cock inside you again.

San moved fast and quick, panting heavily now himself. He fucked you deep and hard, your eyes rolling back out of pleasure.

''You're taking my cock so well, baby, do you think you can cum on my fucking cock again? Coat it with your cum so fucking beautifully? Show me how good you are? Hm? Fuck baby,'' he cursed.

''Yes, I'm gonna cum!''

He nearly made you scream with how hard he fucked you, his knee scraping on the tile. It was worth it. Anything to see you come undone on him.

Only a minute later you felt yourself climax on his dick, sending yourself in a heavenly headspace. Your body shook around him, your nails digging in his shoulders as you squirted all over his lower body.

San smirked, his tongue darting out his mouth to lick his lips. He slowly rode out your orgasm and pulled out of your sopping cunt.

''Such a good girl, squirting all over me like a fucking waterfall,'' he groaned.

He brought himself closer to your chest, dick standing proud against his muscular stomach.

''Gonna take care of me now hm? Look at that... My hard cock with all your arousal and squirt still on it... You like that?''

''Fucking love it, San, I fucking love it!''

You spat in your hand and pumped it over his dick, making sure he was well covered before you started to jerk him off.

He groaned loudly, throwing his head back. By the way he was panting and the way his chest moved you knew he was close, and you opened your mouth.

''Cum for me, Sannie, give me all your cum,'' you begged.

Before he could say anything, San spurted his cum all over your chest and your mouth. You licked your lips as you milked him dry, getting all of his sperm out.

You panted heavily when he started licking the cum off your body, gathering it all with his tongue, which he then slid into your mouth.

You felt the cum coat your tongues while they swirled against each other.

''Swallow,'' San ordered when he pulled back from you. You gulped down the mixture of his cum and your combined saliva and closed your eyes.

After a while of laying on the cold tiles in your afterglow, he gently lifted you up and walked back into the hotel room. He put you down in the bathroom and wrapped a large sauna towel around the two of you and smiled.

''My perfect wife,'' he smiled, ''next time we'll make a baby,'' he teased.

You giggled at the thought and you wrapped your arms around his waist. ''That sounds nice, I'd like that.''

''It'll be perfect, sweetheart.''

[hannahssimblr]

At the tail end of the day as the crowds thin out and the shops begin to close their shutters I suggest that it’s time to get back on the road. The girls grumble about it. There is still heat in the sun and while we were all having a nice conversation on the grass, I think it'd be best to get home before I’m worn out and too tired to drive. It’s been a long day already, as fun as it's been.

“Well, fine,” Jen struggles to her feet, “but I need to find a toilet before I go anywhere.”

“You should have a posh wee then,” I say, “We should all go.”

Years ago I learned the power of strolling into an establishment with the confidence of someone who deserves to be there, and because the toilets in five star hotels are better than the ones you have to pay fifty cent to use in the shopping centre across the road, those are the ones we prefer to use.

The strategy is so simple. With enough blind confidence once can stride right into the Shelbourne Hotel, past the doorman with his little top hat on him, use their toilets and their thick paper hand towels and then leave like a bandit. It turns the act of doing a piss into something with all the dangerous excitement of a bank heist. 

Evie doesn’t know what a posh wee is yet, so we decide it's best to show her. So with her hand clasped in Jen’s we hurry down the road, and slow to a casual stroll as we ascend the steps of the hotel.

I know the Shelbourne, I’ve been here enough times especially for the toilets, and other times to have awkward lunch with my maternal grandmother who would always make sure to tell me I was scruffy and make comments about how my sister was badly behaved for asking for crayons at the table. There was a family wedding here once too, of some cousin or something, at which I stuck my arm into the chocolate fountain and got it all over my sleeve. My dad had to strip me off in the men's bathroom so we could wash my shirt in the sink in front of the old guys using the urinals. 

Evie evidently has no history with this place. For a few stunned seconds she stands in the centre of the foyer, her body reflected in the gleaming marble floor and stares, and stares and stares at the chandeliers, the gilded mirrors, the extravagant bouquets of flowers with her mouth open in a little o, frozen with the shock of the luxury. 

“Evie,” Jen says gently, “The toilets are this way.”

“Oh, okay,” she lands back on earth, “I’m coming.”

“Wait until you feel their paper towels,” Jen holds the door open for Evie as they slip inside the ladies room, “I've a feeling they’ll change your life.”

They’re a while in there, so while I wait I wander around the hotel a bit. I peek into the dining room where what seems like hundreds of the country's most elderly are seated for dinner, then the lounge, where a jazz band is setting up, and finally I wander up the stairs and start opening and closing various doors just to see what’s behind them. It’s mainly empty conference rooms containing nothing remotely exciting whatsoever.

Until, on the opposite side of the landing, I spot a woman in a red dress coming through a set of double doors. Behind her the ballroom is alive with lights, music, clinking glassware and then it's all gone again behind the sweep of a door.

The girls are finishing up their posh wee as I'm coming back down the stairs, then, pausing at the bottom I blurt out “I found something.”

Jen scrunches up her face, “Oh God.” She follows me anyway, Evie in tow and trailing behind me as I dash back to the landing, following that muffled sound of music all the way to the ballroom doors. 

I ease one door open with my shoulder and let a shaft of light leak out onto the carpet. 

Evie’s eyes widen, “Wha-”

I shush her sharply, “Don’t ask, just come in,” I step aside and usher them in ahead of me, then we are standing inside witnessing the full spectrum of the extravagance, disco lights thrown over their faces, Evie's, stunned, Jen's miffed. She grabs my arm and hisses at me, “Jude! This is someone’s wedding party.” As if I somehow didn't know it already.

“Don’t worry about it,” I stroll over to a table of champagne and snatch two glasses for them, contemplating, only as a man in a crisp tailored suit eyes me disdainfully, that I might be pushing the whole ‘you can get away with anything if you’re confident enough’ thing a step too far. Oh well, I’ll just see how long it takes to get kicked out. 

I pass the glasses to the girls, and when a smartly dressed, penguin of a waiter with a plate of vol au vents comes close enough for me to take one in each hand. I might as well enjoy something free. I stuff them into my mouth one after the other like a starving dog, not sure if I even really taste them.  

“Are you supposed to be here?” Some middle aged woman says to me, getting way too close. 

“Yeah,” I reply, and stare back at her until she goes away. 

After wiping pastry crumbs off my face, I approach Evie, who has both hands on the stem of her champagne flute, gazing around the room with big inquisitive eyes. 

“What do you think?”

“A bit fancy, the whole thing, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

A smile, “The champagne is really nice though.”

“Is it?” I catch myself hoping that she offers me a sip from her glass, even after the long, intensive and graphic discussion I had with my dad about what would happen to me and my car if I ever got behind the wheel after drinking. Still, the bubbles in the glass rise so enticingly to the surface.

“Do you feel weird being here?” I ask her.

“Like, in the wrong outfit?”

“I suppose.”

She raises one shoulder in a shrug, “Maybe, it’s mostly funny though, isn’t it?”

“I would agree.”

“I'm surprised we've not been chucked out.”

“We will be, soon.”

The band kicks off into a cover of an Elvis song that aunt Maureen used to blast in the kitchen when she was doing a deep clean. With all of the fancy people in their finest outfits swaying unrhythmically on the dance floor, I decide that what would make the situation much funnier is if we were there among them, shorts and t-shirts and dirty white runners. 

“Where’s Jen? Jen!” I pull her away from a conversation she’s having with an old woman who seems confused about her appearance, “You’re dancing with me now.”

“Are you drunk? You’re hardly drunk.”

“I’m not drunk. Hey! You too,” and with a hand on Evie’s shoulder I march her onto the dancefloor. She’s giggling the whole way. 

“Wait, wait,” she leaves her glass onto a table and I pick it up for one sip, that’s all. She was right, it’s really nice champagne.

“Are you making me dance?”

“Shh, yes, wouldn’t you like to say that you danced in the ballroom of the Shelbourne?”

“Yeah I’ll call my mother straight away and tell her the good news. She'll be so proud of me.”

“Do you like Elvis?” holding both of her hands in mine I spin her in a wild circle, accidentally bumping her into someone else, and she gasps, “sorry! Sorry! That was an accident!” Then to me, “I don’t know, I haven’t decided.”

“If you like Elvis?” I didn’t really intend to dance with her, but here we are. I don't let go.

“I don’t think about him in terms of like or dislike, or whatever. He’s just… himself, like.”

“Suppose he is, yeah.”

We are dancing with so little grace that it ought to be humiliating, yet she’s smiling with delight at the silliness of this moment, and the coloured lights bounce over her face in a way that would be so nice to paint. I crash her into someone else, then immediately leap backwards onto some man’s foot.

“Sorry, man.”

“Excuse me, are you even supposed to be here?”

“I'm a cousin.”

The chorus kicks in and I sing it at Evie with tone deaf enthusiasm in my best Elvis voice, “Your kisses lift me higher, like the sweet song of a choir, uh huh! You light my morning sky burnin’ luh-uh-uve.”

I catch her eye the moment that her laugh fades and her face takes on a different look, one I've recognised in other people, and for one fraction of a second as I look back my brain tries to formulate a thought, or at least the beginning of one.

If I wanted to, I could-

Nope. Not interested.

I release her immediately and whirl around to dance with Jen instead.

“What's wrong with you?” She says the moment she sees my face.

“Me? Nothing. What's wrong with you?”

“I'm fine. Why do you look liked you've stopped having fun all of a sudden?”

“I haven't at all.”

“Then why are you looking all intense?”

“Hm? Who's intense?”

“You!”

“Dunno, Jen, too many questions,” I attempt to dip her but she resists with a squeal, and thankfully, it's just about enough to distract her.

From nothing, that is. Because nothing is happening. Nobody is intense except the guy on stage, singing Elvis like his life depends on it, and I am being completely normal.

Beginning // Prev // Next

Corresponding LG Chapter

[phoenixrising0308]

The day I watched you marry someone else.

Books: The Royal Romance Book 3

Rating: M (Mature content and implied sexual activities)

Pairing: Liam & Jessica (MC)

The Arrangement -  This is the story of how Liam Rys and Jessica Garcia enter a Cordonian arrangement. This is a 4 chapter story arc and fits into a story in between called the Promise, which is in the Agent Phoenix A/U. 

Detailed disclaimer

Triggers: none identified by the author

Chapter Summary: Jessica's POV of the wedding

A/N: This is reposting an original chapter released in 2019/2020 under a previous blog name with new added content sprinkled in.  Im sorry it took so long to get back into the writing space life has been heavy.

Song Inspiration: The Arrangement Playlist

Word Count: 2,500 *As always, forgive my typos and grammatical errors*

New York, One week prior...

Liam walked Jessica back to her hotel room and wiped away her tears.

“He just slipped away; we just missed him.” Jessica cried out on Liam’s shoulder.

“We will find him; this isn’t over for us. It will never be over for us.”

“I don’t know what I want to do, Liam. I can’t walk away from you.”

The tears he held back, trying to be strong, started streaming down his face. They rested their heads against each other. 

“I am expected at the wedding. I don’t know if I can sit there and watch you marry someone else. Maxwell and Bertrand did so much for me and I can’t have them look even worse by not showing my face. I need to think. But I’m not getting on that plane with the rest of the court. I don’t know what happens after that, I don’t know if I can enter into a Cordonian arrangement.”

I don’t know what to say. But if you come back and want to stay, we can solve this together.  Will you wait for me?

—

Ramsford - Jessica’s room

Liam’s Wedding day

 Everyone was in a frenzy trying to get ready. Jessica sat in a daze as the letter she read, hand-delivered to her by a footman in familiar cursive writing. When she finished she let it fall to the floor.

Lady Jessica, you should know that I have invoked on behalf of the Crown prince ‘Sex primis noctibus’ or the first six nights. As Cordonian tradition dictates, the King is to be in close quarters with the Queen with no outside interruptions to get familiar with each other and bed each other for six consecutive nights in hopes that they can produce an heir. In fact, the wedding date is chosen based on the future Queen's fertile window. Liam might love you but he loves his country more. I encourage you to move on and have your sponsor find you a respectable match and marry or return to the states before you waste any more time chasing a dream that simply can not be. There has never been a divorce or annulment in the history of the Rys line of succession, and we have held the throne for a century.

-Constantine Rys 

It would be the first royal wedding in Cordonia since Constantine married Regina. But this was a larger affair. It would be a first marriage, and that hasn’t happened in decades. The last time it did was Constantine’s marriage to Leo’s mother.

Maxwell picked up the letter and briefly read it; he crumpled it up in disgust and threw it in the trash before returning to her side and lovingly combing her hair. “I’m so sorry, blossom. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

Jessica held Maxwell’s hand stopping him and putting the brush down. “Me too.” He took her in his arms and they cried. 

Bertrand walked into the room with a large box and said, “Maxwell, I would like to have a word with Lady Jessica.”

Bertrand took Maxwell’s place in front of Jessica and said, “This will be a very difficult day. I thank you for doing this for us. You could have easily stayed in New York, but you came. Should you want to make a life for yourself, allow me to offer you my assistance. You are to stay here as long as you want. You are our sister, this home is yours as well to make use of. But it is my duty to inform you that a suitor has approached me and asked if you would consider a proposal.”

Jessica blinked her tears away in surprise at that before speaking again. “Thank you, Bertrand. But I don’t think I’m ready for anything. I know that it is your custom to arrange a match for a lady of your house, but would it be out of the ordinary if I don’t want to be married?”

“Jessica, it is your choice. I just don’t know how to mend a broken heart. I just thought since you came here to be wed that perhaps that could help.”

Jessica gave Bertrand a half-smile. “I came here for Liam.”

“Jessica, as you know, we have no lady of the house, and surely when I marry Savannah, I would like to commission something for her, but what I am giving you is a gift. You helped me find her, and connect with her and our son, and I could never thank you enough, but I hope this is a start.”

Bertrand placed the box on Jessica’s lap. “It would mean the world to me and Maxwell if you wore this and perhaps you can channel the strength of its owner.”

Jessica opened up the box and gasped, “Bertrand, do you mean it? I can surely wear it and give it back.”

“Maxwell and I insist. This is yours to have. We can offer you our name and our protection and we have given you our mother's ring but one thing remains that should be yours. As you know, a hat is customary at court functions when not at a gala. I was not always kind to you, yet you stood by us. Your loyalty was unwavering even after I doubted your ability to be a suitor. Please accept this as a gift as a sign of our gratitude and a welcoming gift to joining our house.”

Jessica pulled out the light blue fascinator hat with a birdcage veil; made of sinamay material that glimmered in the sun-like diamond dust. 

"Maxwell tells me you favor hats, and well, this was my mother's pride and joy. It serves no purpose locked away in a closet when it should go to an owner that wears it when called upon."

Jessica was awestruck as she softly asked, “This belonged to Duchess Annabelle?”

“Yes, it belonged to our mother. The world will be looking at you today, the press will look for you to crumble. They think you are alone, that you have lost, but in this, you have gained family and friends. We are better people because you walked into our lives. Jessica, you surprised me time and time again. Liam told me you were his choice. Had it not been for his father’s interference and the loyalist on the royal council, this would be your day.”

Jessica placed the fascinator on her head and said, “It certainly is beautiful. I will wear it with pride. Thank you.”

Bertrand’s lips trembled as he fought back his tears and said, “You honor this house regardless of title or status. Lady Jessica Garcia Beaumont”

Jessica looked at herself in the mirror as she placed the fascinator on her head and sighed deeply, trying not to cry again.

Bertrand gave her a soft smile and said, “Tungsten… impact strength determines how much energy a metal can absorb. Tungsten can hold the highest temperature even in a forge; its melting point is the highest of any element; it will not shatter or be broken. That's why all the items in our armory are made of it. This house is your shield. When you look at yourself, remind yourself of your resilience and strength. That will get you through this painful ordeal.”

—

Royal Cordonian Abbey

Jessica stepped into the Abbey dressed in the house colors of the Beaumonts. She wore an off-the-shoulder knee-length dress that coordinated perfectly with the late Duchess Annabelle’s hat. She held her head high as people snickered at her, but she walked with grace and class paying no mind to the hurtful remarks people whispered as she passed by. Reporters attempted to get her to comment and she declined to give a statement. She took her place in the pew next to Hana. 

Hana said, “My mother wanted me to sit next to the other ladies of the court, but my friend needs me more.” Hana took Jessica’s hand and squeezed it.

Olivia entered and was directed to a pew. “I will choose my own seat. I wish to sit next to Lady Hana and Lady Jessica, should the Queen take issue with it then so be it.” Olivia took her seat next to Jessica.

Jessica said, “Thank you, Olivia.”  

Olivia quirked a brow and said, “Why are you thanking me?”

Jessica lowered her gaze. “People hate me and you have enough problems. You could have sat anywhere and yet you sat next to me.” 

Olivia smirked. “I hate the word friend you know, but there is something that can be said about sitting next to someone with the courage you have shown throughout this. You have my respect.” 

Jessica smiled, “And you have mine.”

Olivia said, “Please know Liam opted for the Abbey as he said the Cathedral before God is reserved for his marriage to you. He won’t give up until that crown is on your head.” 

Jessica whispered, “I just want to marry him. Sure, being a Queen would be amazing, but being his wife... That’s all I’m concerned about. I would marry him anywhere and not care how fancy it is.”

20 minutes later…

Madeleine’s assistant walked over to the pew and said, “Lady Jessica, the future Queen has summoned you.”

“Do you know why?” Jessica frowned as she asked.

“I’m sorry, she wouldn’t disclose, but she told me if you refused to remind you that it is a direct order.”

Jessica sighed. She stood up and smoothed her dress. “Excuse me, Hana and Olivia.” Olivia stood up so Jessica could exit with a skeptical glare on her face at the summons.

Abbey vestibule

Jessica entered and saw Madeleine admiring herself in the mirror. A few ladies of the court including Kiara and Penelope fussed over Madeleine’s dress.

Madeleine waved her hand and dismissed them. Then, she turned her attention to Jessica and coldly said, “Exactly who I wanted to see. Liam refused the use of the cathedral, and I won’t even have a reception. I will just have a small dinner... How embarrassing. For a Queen not to have all the fanfare owed to her. I have been robbed of an opportunity to be admired on my wedding day. Not to mention this lackluster necklace. It seems I was an afterthought. I should be a priority but I'm not since your insignificant little feelings matter to him.”

Jessica rolled her eyes, “Geezus Madeleine, you sound so pretentious and entitled. Let’s not forget this is a forced marriage so Liam could ascend the throne.”

“Liam isn’t playing the part, and so I must remind him that I can still get to him. Despite him not giving me control of things, there are things that I can control, and he is powerless to stop me from doing so.”

Jessica lost her temper and finally snapped at the woman who ruined everything. “Madeleine, what do you fucken’ want!?”

Madeleine smirked, “I think you want to stay here, Jessica. Your visa can be revoked for crimes against the crown, and that means not following orders. There is a lifetime ban, and there is no appeal process. Liam cannot do anything for the next six days to help you thanks to our um... the bridal bed, which surely he will enjoy. So, for the next six days, if you so much as jaywalk, I will ensure you are in a position to be deported.”

Jessica frowned deeply at the mention of their honeymoon. “Fine. I will stay locked up at Ramsford. Happy?”

Madeleine hummed as she fussed with herself in the mirror. “Some people favor you, and if they favor you, that means they don’t favor me. I want people to love me, to know that I was the best choice for this Kingdom, and not sympathize with you. I want the security of being a Queen, and you are endangering that. You have Liam’s protection, but that won’t stop me from driving you out of the country.”

“Madeleine, why do you insist on making his life difficult?”

Madeleine turned to her with a smirk and said, “By my order, a senior member of the court, you are directed to carry my train to the Abbey. You will stand there and watch me and Liam marry. You will be allowed back to your pew when the coronation ceremony begins.”

The clicking sound of heels entered the Abbey vestibule from the end of the hall. Olivia’s voice echoed.  

Olivia growled out with  murder in her eyes. “God Madeleine, how low can you stoop? In the end, you are nothing. This day will be forgotten. I don’t know what you have done to get all this favor. First, it was Leo, now it’s Liam. Who are you in bed with truly?”

“Petty words from petty people. I have it, and I will use it.” Madeleine waved her hand in the air and said, “Love? Is that his little pet name for you? Well, LOVE, pick up my train.” Madeleine commanded with sadistic glee.

Jessica stood in defeat. Olivia stepped forward. “I outrank your little entourage.” Olivia walked over and picked up the train and said, “Surely a Duchess carrying the train of a future Queen is an honor. Especially the Duchess of an established house. Liam created a duchy for you reserving Valtoria for Jessica. That must sting. You seem to just want to wound her, to take for yourself, the things he is holding for her when he can rid himself of you." She huffed and continued. "How sad. How sad to be a Queen and have nothing. If you insist on this pathetic game with Jessica, just know she is not alone and never will be. The house of Nevrakis and the house Beaumont are loyal to each other. Jessica is under Beaumont's protection, and she is also under mine as well. My protection is worth an army.”

Madeleine sneered slightly at Olivia. “Fine. Have it your way, but she is still ordered and must comply.”

Jessica sighed and took the other end of the train. Forcing the lump in her throat to die down and to get it over with. 

15 minutes later…

The entrance song to the wedding began. Liam stood at the altar, never turning to look at  Madeleine. He just wanted the ordeal over so he can lock himself in the palace for the next six days as tradition dictated. Leo reminded him, although tradition stated he must be in closed quarters, it did not state he needed to cohabitate in the same room; just in the same wing. In fact, other than that tradition, he was under no obligation to live at the palace at all. Liam would remain in his room in the wing alone while Madeleine would remain in her room. That was his final verdict. 

Olivia and Jessica trailed behind Madeleine into the Abbey holding her train. The tears welled in Jessica’s eyes. She laid Madeleine’s train down and stood next to Olivia with their heads held high, even though she couldn't look Liam in the eyes without sobbing. 

Madeleine smiled coldly and said, “I received your message. I hope you received mine. If you listen closely, you could hear her poor heart shatter into little pieces.” Madeleine turned to Jessica and handed her her bridal bouquet, and hissed out low enough for only them to hear, “Hold this, LOVE. You will never get an opportunity to hold a bridal bouquet otherwise.” 

Liam made eye contact with Jessica as she stood by Olivia. She looked down at the flowers and averted eye contact, trying not to cry in front of the entire court, knowing that this was Madeleine’s intent all along. Liam, on the other hand, became emotional at the sight of what Madeleine forced her to do in public, humiliating her, and he was completely powerless to comfort her. 

Constantine presided over the ceremony and said, “I welcome you all here today as I am fortunate to marry my son to his Queen. It brings me great joy to unify them not only by law, but by love. Looking at Liam so emotionally over this day tells me he is completely in love.” Constantine smirked as he looked at Jessica. Then he returned his attention to the crowd. 

Constantine said, “Liam, Crown Prince of Cordonia, repeat after me:

 I, Liam Nathaniel Rys, Crown Prince of Cordonia, take you, Madeleine Elizabeth Amaranth of Fydelia, as my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and bad times, through sickness and health. I vow to love you, honor you, and be faithful to you for all the remaining days of my life.”

Liam looked at Jessica as both of their hearts broke for each other. Tears in their eyes, and hope dwindling.

[liampaynemysteriousdeath]

Idk if this allowed here and I mean this out of respect but his gf (Kate) is weird to me. As someone who has had to deal with an addict for a bf , I get it being a lot . I get it being intense and sometimes there antics they be doing way to much but there is no way in hell I would’ve left him at the hotel. I would at least make sure we are back home where he safe any maybe break things off or whatever after I know he’s getting help. His death is very weird and I’ll stand 10 toes down on this

Anythinh 1d/liam related is welcome :)

yeah I agree. I saw a comment yesterday that mentioned if she was so in love with him, then why didn't she call or FaceTime him. (Technically we dknt know if she did for sure or not). Also what crossed my mind, if she needed to take care of dogs, she couldn't have arranged for long term dog sitting? Just at least for a couple more days til his visa was approved.

Well to myknowledge he was clean. And he had just gotten a medical and drug check that he was clean. Doesn't mean people can't relapse though. Tha being said, I'm surprised everyone just writes him off as an addict. No one remembers demi lovato's situation of her drug dealer lacing her drugs so he could r@pe her. She was an addict yes, but also a victim too. She talks about it in her documentary. Shows camera footage even.

Also ive posted on here before about how carte(l)s run the resorts in Mexico. I assume its the same way in Argentina. There was a couple murdered in mexico and the next day or so, the caartel tuened in the murderers. Why? Because it looks bad for business. They want people to see thay the resorts are safe, or else its bad for their bottom line $$$.

There was a video I posted I believe yesterday about how liams hotel photos have been staged. I agree as well because supposedly wasn't he due to check out that day(which idk why he would check out if his visa still wasn't approved) because the wedding girls were supposedly gonna check into his room, but he doesn't look like he's trying to pack up. Room checkout is 12pm I believe and check-in from 3pm to 1159.

The YT video girl who believed the pics were staged, talks about how within 5 miles of liams hotel there have been a lot of drug related deaths and hospitalizations. (Also side note, someone in the comments mentioned she was called and threatened by a British man telking her to stop, so I think her theory is closest to the truth or else why would they tell her to stop.) Plus I found comments yesterday of a ladyfrom, buenos aires claiming they knew the truth when it happened, but it got covered up once th3 media started arriving.

as far as liam being addicted, there were a couple of videos of liam saying he was sober and making better choice. He was at a party and chose coke zero soda. And then on an ET video there was a clip of him saying "I'm sober now" that I posted on my blog

His GF seemed to like the lifestyle. There was a video clip of liam, kate, and a bunch of other people sitting at dinner celebrating and they all had champage glasses. A fan caught that liam was slightly ticked off. Because to my knowledge he wasn't drinking and it was basically a temptation for him. So kate could have been more supportive and not out him in temptingsituations. Not saying she had to give up alcohol, but when youlove someone, sometimes you sacrifice for their well-being.

Yeah I agree, there is no way I would've left someone i love in a foreign country.

Also things that been on my mind lately is there are no fan pics of him outside palermo. Only fan pics at hyatt. And judging from the leaked photo of his friend jo, liam looks miserable sitting on the bed of the hotel. The fact that liam kept putting double question marks over and over again is kinda strange... almost like he was desperate to talk to someone, and the manager from 911 call mentioned he had been there for 2-3 days. It almost seemed like he was being isolated on ourpose... *cough* roger controlling him supposedly and his social media.

So many people failed liam in his life . But are we the fans gonna let th happen in his death? He desevees justice. Sorry for rant, i just get passionate abbout finding the truth.

Here are a bunch of pics I've already posted, but it's just to get the newbies started so they can be caught up. There's a lot more ive discovered but it's too much to list in one post. Thanks!

[virgo-mess]

The Birds and the Bees

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Chapter List

1.Alexithymia- The Inability to Express your Feelings Parts 1 and 2

2.The Woes of Adolescence/ What the heck Happened that Summer Parts 1 and 2

3.Caught in a Summer Storm/ What the heck Happened that Christmas.

4.Summer Bluffs? Part 1

5.Disco, Strippers, and Margaritassss Part 2

6.Sleepless in a Hotel Suite Part 3

7.Shades of Pink

8.The Things I’ve Dreamed Part 1

9.Renewal Part 2

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TW: Mostly just fluff and repressed feelings, I ended up splitting this chapter into two parts for my own sanity, ENJOY!

The Woes of Adolescence/ What the Heck Happened That Summer Part 1

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“Yet the summer which was to change everything was coming nearer every day. When boys and girls are growing up, life can’t stand still, not even in the quietest of country towns; and they have to grow up, whether they will or no. That is what their elders are always forgetting.”- Willa Cather

Shay's Pov

 The days leading up to the wedding ticked by like the hands track the minutes and hours on a clock, some days flew by, and others were agonizingly slow. Shay wasn’t sure which she preferred, the fast days were the ones where she and Cash had the most fun. They seemed to get along better on those days when the planning felt less like planning and more like hanging out, but not the way you hang out with a friend. It felt more like dating than anything and Shay found it comparable to those carefree, albeit fleeting beginnings of her relationship with Tyler and those early buddings of her crush on Cash. When the butterflies in her stomach were endless and the bashful giggles were a dime a dozen, the sweet days. The ones before Shay’s anxiety induced depressive spirals surfaced as a result of her parents’ contentious divorce and threw a wrench in her and Cash’s friendship. The quote on quote, sweet days, in her and Tyler’s relationship, however, were the ones before his narcissistic and abusive tendencies surfaced. Shay was about as happy as she could be in those days, having settled for being in a relationship with someone she only kind of liked because the person she really wanted felt just out of reach.

   The slow, tedious days Shay and Cash spent planning, however, were a lot less fun. They were the days she and Cash seemed to do nothing except bicker, they couldn’t agree on anything on those days. That was the primary reason they still hadn’t managed to come to a consensus on the bachelor parties. Shay knew she was just being difficult but how could she not be? She had come to a point in her life where nothing made sense anymore and being with Cash, the man she could admit she wholeheartedly still loved, was only making her more confused. There were moments they’d shared over the past week or so, intimate ones, where Shay got the feeling, he wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted to kiss him. That talk at brunch about their dreams was one of a few. Shay couldn’t stop thinking about the way his fingers ran down her arm, the way his thumb caressed her cheek, and the way his ocean blue eyes gazed into her in a way that felt like he was seeing into her soul. Shay had evidently mistaken the emotions swirling in his blue orbs, but it wasn’t like it was the first time Cash had brought her hopes up to an embarrassing all-time high.

 “Shaylee, where are you?” Shay’s mother, Maggie Harris’ chipper voice floated out at Shay from somewhere down the hallway near her bedroom. Shay craned her neck to peer down the hallway from her current sprawled out position on the living room couch and saw her mom standing in the hall with a suitcase by her side for the trip she was taking this week with Cash’s mom Jo. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and her blue eyes were scanning Shay’s empty bedroom slowly, people often mistook Shay and her mom for sisters more so than mother and daughter. Shay never really thought they looked all that much alike aside from the blonde hair. Shay had her father, Beau Harris’ eyes, whom she only really saw on holidays because their close relationship suffered significantly when she came home from school early one day to find him cheating. Not that Beau Harris hadn’t tried to adamantly repair the rift that his infidelity had caused between them, in fact he still called her once a week to catch up and ask her how she was doing. The answer was always the same of course, fine just fine. Shay supposed she should forgive him by now but for whatever reason, she couldn’t help but still feel so betrayed.

 “I’m in the living room” Shay said, turning back around to put a bookmark in the book she’d been reading before fully sitting up. She filled most of the time she wasn’t wedding planning or hanging out with Cash reading, she hadn’t really had a chance to read for pleasure with all the long and often times sleepless nights she spent going through client files and crunching numbers back in New York.

  “There you are, what are you reading? You know you’ve got boxes full of books in the attic still, I thought you were going to ask Cash to come over and help you with all that stuff up there?” her mom said, walking into their open concept kitchen and living room with her suitcase rolling behind her. Shay didn’t miss the almost impish grin on her face as she stared at her from the kitchen island and eyed her mother suspiciously from her spot on the couch with an arched eyebrow. Maggie Harris had been nosier than usual these few weeks that Shay had been home and that was saying a lot, to say the least. After that summer between eighth grade and high school, Maggie Harris, had become a bit of a hover parent. Not that Shay could blame her, that meltdown she had on the last day of school that year, the day she locked Cash out, refused to open the window, and screamed at him for the first time ever was a rollercoaster for them all.

“Between wedding planning and trying to talk him into a western themed bachelor party I forgot, I guess… Why are you looking at me like that?” Shay asked her wearily, the impish grin on her mom’s face only seemed to grow as she shuffled towards the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

  “I’m not looking at you like anything, pumpkin but I figured you forgot so I asked him myself. Jo put a lot of his stuff from the basement up there when she was having it renovated and with both of you lovebirds gone for the past two years, we haven’t gotten around to getting everything back over there. Cash said he’s more than happy to help you with the attic and to keep you company while I’m gone” She replied taking a seat on one of the bar stools near the island with the same grin on her face. Shay felt her cheeks flush at her mom insinuating that she and Cash were anything more than friends.

  “Mom, Cash is only hanging out with me because Pete and Daisy gave him no choice... we’re just friends. I can go through the stuff in the attic by myself and make sure he gets his stuff back; I don’t need a babysitter. I’m fine, really.” Shay sighed; she knew what her mom meant by Cash keeping her company. She knew it as soon as Miss DeDe Green stopped her at the farmers market last weekend and asked, “But how are you really cupcake?”. 

 “I know you don’t need a babysitter Shaylee Rose; Cash isn’t coming to babysit you at all. Have you ever considered he just likes spending time with you, I only asked him to help you with the attic he’s the one that wanted to keep you company.” Maggie said there was a sincere note in her tone, but Shay still found herself highly doubting her words given her mother’s meddlesome history.

  “Uh huh, and what excuse was that mom” Shay huffed, rising from her spot on the couch she felt a bit, exasperated as she walked over to join her at the island. Maggie chuckled under her breath as she reached out to stroke Shay’s cheek affectionately.

  “His exact words were ‘She’s got to stop leaving unlocked lower-level windows around your house Mrs. Harris, it’s not safe. I’ll help her with the attic and crash on the couch for a few nights, so she doesn’t get kidnapped.’” she said with amusement swirling in her blue eyes.

“That’s what I said but he insisted I leave it unlocked for him like I used to, or he’d wake me up before 9:30” Shay huffed rolling her eyes to herself at Cash’s silly antics, he had reined in a good portion of his usually, incessant teasing over the days they’d spent together, much to Shay’s surprise. At least when they weren’t having a bicker fest that is, an action which had Shay feeling as confused and besotted as she was when she was fourteen. Which only meant all those anxious and insecure tendencies she had during those bewildering days of her early teens were starting to resurface the more time she spent with him. She could tell Cash was really putting forth the effort not to escalate their bickering into full on arguments, but part of Shay found herself wanting him to. There was so much to be said and they both knew it…

  “That sounds like another excuse to spend time with you to me. He sure had a lot of them when you were kids too.” Her mom said with a fond smile on her face. Like she was recalling memories of the summers their families spent down in Cape Cod before happy homes became less happy. Doomed in the gloom of a tumultuous melodrama, fit for a some scandalous tell-all, at least that’s what everyone in town said.

“What do you mean.” Shay said, propping an elbow up on the granite counter, she rested her chin in the palm of her hand and looked at her mother in expectation and mild suspicion. She could feel one of her mother’s deep, heart to heart chats quickly approaching and Shay wasn’t sure if she could handle another one, it would be about the fourth heart to heart chat since Shay had come home. Cash of course had been the subject of every single one of them.

“Well, he didn’t have to spend the night every day after Huck was gone did he?” Maggie said with a knowing smile though her blue eyes were still incredibly impish as they held Shay’s gaze. Shay pondered her statement for a brief moment, she hadn’t really considered the fact Cash didn’t have to spend as much time with her as he did back then after Huck Ewing went to prison and basically dropped off the face of the earth after his release. Shay always just assumed it was because Jo needed someone to keep an eye on Cash while she was busy putting in extra hours at work so she and Cash wouldn’t have to move to a more affordable section of Plymouth.

“I don’t know, I guess I never really thought much about it because he stopped doing it by the time I got home that summer. He kind of just left me alone” Shay said, she caught a glimpse of a memory in her mother’s eyes like she was recalling something Shay knew nothing about. She wished her mom, Daisy, and Pete would just get over wanting her and Cash to talk everything out and just spill whatever it was they were all holding back. It was very obvious they all knew something she didn’t…

“Did he or maybe you were just having a hard time seeing too far outside of yourself, Shaylee?” Maggie asked in a soft but pointed tone, Shay let out another sigh partly in exasperation and partly in relief that the awaited heart to heart was finally being laid out on the table.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shay asked mostly just to humor her mother but also because she was genuinely curious what wise, parent psychology mumbo jumbo she was preparing to throw at her today. Shay watched the last remnants of the impish proclivities leave her mom’s blue eyes, they became a soft mix of maternal seriousness and sincerity as they gazed into Shay’s green ones.

“You were very much going through the woes of adolescence that summer, pumpkin, that whole year really. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s normal and scientifically proven teens are a little self-centered during those years. Adolescent egocentrism is what they call it, it makes it hard for you to accept other points of views, makes you feel like the world’s out to get you, and everyone is judging you. Even if they’re not and I know the divorce only made this worse for you.” Her mom admitted in a soft tone. Shay wordlessly nodded her head in acknowledgement, feeling a little exposed among other things.

“Oh, so you think because I was suffering from Adolescent egocentrism among other things, I may be misremembering things about Cash and our friendship. Okay mom…” Shay muttered more to herself than anything else, her mother wasn’t wrong, and she found it mildly irritating. That age when you realized your parents were right, that they did get it, and they weren’t just saying it because they’re your parents, was actually no less aggravating than the age when you shouted the opposite at them constantly. Shay wasn’t quite ready to give her a “you were right mom” just yet…

“You could be… take going through your old things as an opportunity to look at stuff with a pair of fresh eyes, maybe there was something you missed the first time around, maybe you might even find yourself up there…hmm. Fourteen is a rough year for everybody, things that seemed easy to say suddenly aren’t. The woes...” Maggie trailed with a faint smile on her face because she of course knew what Shay was actually thinking. Shay rolled her eyes to herself and wondered why her mom’s motherly intuition radar was always on the up and up.

“The woes of adolescence got it mom no need to get so philosophical on me…” Shay said just as a soft thud came from her bedroom. Shay rolled her eyes, peering down the hall she saw Cash clamber in through her bedroom window with a large black duffle on one arm and a few bags of groceries on the other. He set his duffle near her bed before his tall, muscled frame stalked down the hall and into the kitchen with the groceries and a big grin on his face.

“Hey Mrs. Harris, Cherry Blossom” he greeted in a cheery tone and dumped the bags on the kitchen island. Shay peered down at all the bags to find a plethora of her favorite snacks, candy, and a few decks of playing cards.

“Not babysitting me, huh, he brought games and snacks…” Shay said raising an eyebrow at her mom pointedly, Maggie flashed her an almost sheepish smile. Cash looked down at her amused as he rounded the island and wrapped his strong arms around Shay’s waist in the form of a tender embrace. Shay jumped slightly in surprise at the action because she still wasn’t used to Cash being this touchy with her. The hugs after that lonely summer were so far and few between but each one still had nervous, smitten butterflies swirling in her stomach every time.

“Hadn’t planned on babysitting although I am the oldest and the most mature out of the two of us blondie. We’re just best friends having a sleepover like old times.” Cash said teasingly into her ear, Shay felt his chest rumble against her back as he let out a soft chuckle and placed a long kiss into her hair, gingerly. Shay felt her stomach do about a dozen nervous flips and let out an almost nervous giggle despite herself at the display of affection.

“I think that’s the best joke you’ve made in a long time, Cash, Cash parties always a smash” Shay said nonchalantly, ignoring the way her cheeks flushed a bright, rosy shade of pink at the feel of his lips brushing against her ear as she craned her neck to give him a teasing smile.

“I resent that title, Cherry Blossom; Pete was the one throwing the parties I was just providing the space. Cute jammies by the way” Cash crooned, toying with the thin strap of her floral top as he stared down at her with a coquettish smile on his face. Shay rolled her eyes at him almost playfully though she was sure her face was the brightest shade of pink imaginable by now. She hadn’t missed the way his eyes would linger on certain areas of her body the last few days and she’d be lying if she said it didn’t give her a bit of an ego boost though Shay wasn’t sure what to do with that information.

“Yeah, a space for underage drinking. How’d you become a cop again, were all your teachers at the academy divorcees that caressed your muscles during target practice or something?” Shay said teasingly, though the thought of Cash being in such a predicament had her heart twinging with jealousy. Cash let out another soft chuckle, his blue eyes were swirling with amusement and his smile was still tormentingly coquettish as his arms tightened their hold around Shay’s waist ever so slightly.

“No but if you’re looking for an excuse to caress my muscles darling, you don’t need one. You can touch ‘em all you want while I’m moving boxes in the attic, can’t believe you forgot to ask me to give you a hand for a whole week Shaylee.” Cash said teasingly, Shay rolled her eyes again though her heart was racing a mile a minute at the mere thought of running her hands down the length of his arms and chest. She’d had a number of heated dreams about doing just that since she was a hormonal teenager and even more so now that she was a lost, single woman approaching her thirties. This past week alone Shay had endless dreams about the amorous entanglements that would follow her running her hands along his chiseled form in both a passionate want and need. Fantasizing really, and no amount of time, distance, or the mental cage that came with a traumatic sham of a relationship could prevent her mind from getting lost in a maze of steamy yet romantic trysts with the man that really had her heart. Shay held onto those deeply personal entanglements and yearnings in her perfectly crafted, sheltered fantasy world of unbridled passion and romance. A world void of the fears and loud thoughts that talked her out of crossing that pesky imaginary line Shay had convinced herself lay between her and Cash Ewing. Shay gazed up at Cash absentmindedly for what felt like forever, he held her gaze with an unreadable emotion now swirling in his ocean blue eyes though his smile was still mildly coquettish even as beaming as it was at the present moment. Maggie Harris cleared her throat, breaking the brief stretch of silence that had lulled in the air. Shay felt her cheeks heat up again under her mother’s amused gaze.

“Skipped my mind, he’s been very distracting you know mom, with his Casanova ways.” Shay said, she felt Cash tighten his hold on her waist yet again and his chest rumble against her back tantalizingly. She gazed back at him still rosy cheeked as she tried to stifle an amused, slightly smitten, giggle under her breath.

“I think you’re starting to like my Casanova ways, Sweetheart.” Cash crooned in a flirty tone and rested his chin on her shoulder with an almost sheepish grin on his face as he stared deeply into her eyes. Shay stared back at him, completely breathless with the familiar fluttering of butterflies in her stomach. She found herself resisting the strong urge to kiss him again, she’d been resisting the urge to throw herself at him for days now and she wondered just how long she’d be able to keep it up. That imaginary line between them grew blurrier with each of the clocks tedious ticking hands. Shay’s mom cleared her throat again, pulling Shay and Cash out of their intimate staring contest with an almost smug smirk on her lips.

“You two are going to have a lot of fun this week, I can already tell so it’s best I get out of your flirty way. Please keep her busy Cashton, when you’re not here all she does is lay around all day and watch TV.” Her mom said pointedly as she slipped off the bar stool and made her way towards the pair, wheeling her suitcase behind her. Shay let out a breathless sigh and narrowed her eyes at her mom’s subtle attempt at bringing the long-buried events of that lonely summer to the surface again. If there was one thing Maggie Harris would go down in history for, it would be stirring the pot.

“That’s not true… today I laid around and read a book.” Shay said giving her mom a weary look in warning. Shay didn’t think she could handle trudging up the past yet, though she wasn’t sure why such a thing scared her so deeply. It’s not like Cash could gossip about her past predicament to the whole school now or anything, so what was standing in her way?

“Make sure she eats something too.” Maggie said, ignoring             Shay’s statement as she focused her blue eyes on Cash. Shay’s eyes only narrowed further as she looked quickly between her mother and Cash with a scowl-like pout on her face. She couldn’t believe the two of them were actually trying to have a silent conversation in front of her right now, all while Cash still had her wrapped up in his arms.

“Alright Mrs. Harris” Cash said, lifting his chin off Shay’s shoulder he flashed her what she could only assume was an attempt at a reassuring smile. Shay looked up at him suspiciously and wondered just what he and her mother had discussed when she wasn’t around and when they even had managed to make time to talk about her.

“This sounds an awful lot like babysitting to me…” Shay muttered under her breath, Cash flashed her another smile and began dragging his hands in soothing motions along her exposed waist and navel. The action was almost titillating enough to make Shay forget how annoyed she was getting with her mom’s meddlesome scheming. Shay felt a small wave of arousal wash over her at the feel of Cash’s large, warm hands caressing her now goosebump ridden skin. She found herself stifling a surely erotic sounding sigh of contentment as she gazed up at him doe eyed, nibbling on the inner side of her cheek while her stomach did excitedly nervous flips. Cash seemed to only pick up on her nerves though, he bowed down to place another tender kiss in her hair with a trace of a blush on his cheeks. Shay’s eyes fluttered closed, trying to rein in the now ragged breaths of want and need, escaping her lips. The clock’s tedious ticking seemed to slow to a pause for the briefest of moments and that invisible line was quite nearly erased from Shay’s mind when Cash’s lips left her hair and dared to ghost her flushed cheek. Shay’s eyes snapped open in a bashful surprise and met Cash’s deep blue orbs and sheepish grin once more. But the moment was over as quickly as it began, and the imaginary clocks tedious ticking resumed in Shay’s head with an almost spiteful vengeance as Maggie Harris’ next words hit Shay’s ears.

“She’s been a little depressed, you know.” Her mom said in a soft matter of fact type of tone that made Shay’s jaw clench in frustration. She so wished her mother would stop telling people her problems and diagnosing her whenever she saw fit. Sure, Shay was down in the dumps the past few months… or years, but that didn’t mean she was beyond repair…

“Mom! Stop telling people I’m depressed!” Shay scolded her with a now prominent scowl on her face though her stomach still made excited flips with each soothing pass Cash’s large, calloused hands made over her exposed skin. It wasn’t enough to subside Shay’s annoyance as she glared at her mother with a flushed face.

“Relax pumpkin, it’s just Cash.” Maggie said softly, but her tone was dismissive. Shay let out an exasperated, low groan and ignored the way Cash immediately pulled her small frame closer to his chest when she tried to take an attempt at an intimidating step towards her smug looking mother.

“It’s not just Cash, I know you told DeDe Green the same thing!” Shay said pointedly, Maggie let out an exasperated sigh of her own and gave Shay one of her scolding, maternal stares. Shay let out another groan, though it sounded more like a growl with her increasing annoyance, Cash increased the pace of the soothing patterns his slightly rough finger pads made against Shay’s skin.

“Okay! Mrs. Harris, I think my mom is waiting for you in the car. Pretty sure I heard her honk the horn. You guys go have a good time at the festival this week, Shay and I will get that attic all cleaned out for you, don’t worry.” Cash said reassuringly, he made a few more soothing caresses before finally letting go of Shay’s waist to grab her mom’s suitcase. The loss of Cash’s warm body against hers left Shay feeling cold and almost empty as his sudden shift away from her brought her back to reality. The invisible line was becoming less blurry, but Shay still found herself reaching back out to him with a shaky hand instinctively because all she ever wanted was to feel his warm touch all over her skin forever. Cash glanced back at her with a soft expression on his face and laced her small shaky fingers with his large steady ones. Shay flushed again, this time in embarrassment that she’d reached out for Cash without even thinking about it though part of her wished she could do things without thinking about it all the time. Especially when it came to Cashton Ewing.

“Okay, bye you two have fun but beha…” Maggie Harris didn’t get to finish her sentence because Cash began insistently ushering her towards the front door, rolling the suitcase with one hand while his other held Shay’s so tenderly she thought her heart might burst as his thumb caressed the back of her hand. Shay couldn’t help but stare at their interlocked fingers with a bashfully smitten blush and smile on her face, she could hear her mother babbling about something, but it sounded a lot like when the adults on Charlie Brown talk, utter nonsense.

“Yeah, okay, bye mom, have fun.” Shay said in a dismissive tone that definitely sounded snarky, but Shay was still too focused on Cash and her interlocked fingers to care. It still caught her by surprise when he’d hold her hand even though he held it the whole way into the restaurant mere days ago. In the moment, their tender touches and instant chemistry always made sense to Shay, but the aftermath always left her feeling so confused. She often found herself rethinking every detail of the time they spent together when she sat awake in the wee hours of the morning staring out her window. Something she’d be doing tonight without a doubt, to talk herself out of her brain mistaking Cash’s… friendliness for anything more than it was, for anything more than it meant to him even if it meant the world to her…

“Bye Mrs. Harris, tell my mom bye again for me” Cash said sharply, Shay looked up from their hands for a moment to watch Cash usher her mom out the door hastily before all but slamming it shut. Shay gazed up at him sheepishly through her thick lashes, her mind was still reeling a mile a minute and she found she was unsure of what to do with herself. There were voices in her head screaming at her to let go of his large hand, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In fact, Shay found herself inching closer to him mindlessly.

“She’s getting to be too much in her old divorcee age, we have to get her a boyfriend or something…” Shay said jokingly though her expression was incredibly sheepish as she gazed up at Cash with doe like green eyes. Cash bit down on his lip and let out another soft chuckle as he gazed back down at her with a coquettish glint in his blue eyes once more. The action had Shay getting swept up in another brief current of arousal and she found herself biting down on her own lip with a dusty pink blush spreading across her cheeks. Her eyes lingered on his lips for longer than necessary…

“Her and my mom both, they’re a little too invested in our lives… They’re going to spend the whole festival gabbing about us you know.” Cash crooned causing Shay to pull her eyes off his lips to meet his gaze with a sheepish smile on her face. Cash returned her gaze of course but she could’ve sworn Cash’s blue orbs had been lingering on her lips the same way her green ones had been on his. Shay awkwardly cleared her throat and realized their fingers were still perfectly intertwined like two pieces of a puzzle. Sometimes Shay thought she and Cash were made for each other because she never really felt complete unless he was somewhere near. In fact, she felt mostly empty without him she swore he was the only one who could make her feel anything and everything….

“Yeah, I’m sure they are…I’m uh, not depressed you know.” Shay trailed softly, finally making an attempt to move towards the attic staircase. She half expected Cash to just let go of her hand at that point, but he didn’t. His grip only tightened on Shay’s small hand as they ventured down the hall towards the attic, almost like he was trying to keep her from slipping away from him somehow though she was sure it was just her mind running away from her again. Shay wondered how he hadn’t figured out she never wanted to slip away from him to begin with. If he’d asked her not to go to NYU all those years ago, she would’ve stayed in a heartbeat, without a second thought but he never did. So, she went off to live something resembling a life though it felt more like existing than living.

“I know you’re not depressed Cherry Blossom…nothing wrong with saying you’re having a hard time though. You wouldn’t be the only one, you know so, no judgement on my part beautiful.” Cash said in a gentle tone of reassurance, Shay felt her cheeks heat up again at the word beautiful rolling off his tongue effortlessly though she couldn’t help the wave of suspicion that washed over her. He hardly ever commented on her appearance after that bittersweet Valentines Day at the movies. Which she took as confirmation of his guilt for inviting her to fifth wheel on his double date at the time. Sure, Cash tried to make it up to her by taking her ice skating and buying her heaps of her favorite candy before retreating back to her house for one of their traditional movie nights.

“Right, Casanova. Are things not going so well for you over in New Jersey?” Shay said lightheartedly though her tone was sincere as she met his gaze for the first time since they wandered out of the kitchen. Cash looked down at her with an unreadable emotion swirling in his eyes just as they stopped their stroll at the bottom of the attic stairs. Shay could feel the sudden emotional shift between them almost instantly and she found herself regretting asking such a prying. She knew a serious conversation between them was inevitable, but she so wished it could wait until she was done holding his hand…

“Jersey is… alright I guess I don’t really know many people outside of the department so, it gets a little lonely. I spend most of my free time staring out my apartment window, watching the waves on the Hudson River.” Cash said softly, Shay caught the faintest hint of a blush sweep across his cheeks at the admittance and found herself wondering why he found such a detail embarrassing.

“I think most adults do that Cashy that’s nothing to be embarrassed about, making friends in adulthood is hard I only talk to people from work too. At least you have a good view of the water, my loft is big and all, but all that space makes it feel quite lonesome and on top of that it only has views of the Manhattan skyline. I’d prefer the Hudson River; you know for homesick sake.” Shay said sheepishly, she wasn’t sure why she’d openly complained about her sequestered loft in such a way. She’d complained about such a thing once to a coworker and was met with the poor little rich girl spiel about how she should be grateful she had a nice expensive loft in the heart of Manhattan. And Shay could understand why she should be grateful to some extent, but a spacious loft didn’t take away the fact she now had no one to share it with. Cash tugged on Shay’s arm slightly, pulling her out of her inner ramblings with a serious look in his ocean blue eyes.

“Well, my apartment is on the smaller side, but I’ve got a view of the river and Manhattan Cherry Blossom. I wouldn’t even charge you rent considering you’re on the fence about making a career shift and all…” Cash trailed nonchalantly, Shay raised her brows at him in dumfounded surprised as she processed what he was proposing to her right now. They’d had several conversations like this when they were kids, she remembered a particular conversation when they were about ten. When Cash declared they’d run away from Plymouth and be together forever, promises only a child untainted by the morose weight of adulthood or the woes of adolescence could make.

“Are you…asking me to move in with you Cashton?” Shay asked with her eyebrows still raised in surprise even as her green eyes took in the fact that his expression was undoubtedly sincere. Cash nodded his head almost instantly.

“Well yeah, I think it would solve both of our lonesome problems and you’ll save a ton of money moving out of the city. Just letting you know it’s an option, I don’t need an answer right away or anything just think about it Cherry Blossom.” Cash shrugged nonchalantly, in a way that made it seem he was talking about something as casual as the weather. Shay nodded her head in acknowledgement even though she had no intention of actually considering such a proposition. Her feelings for Cash Ewing were way too deep for Shay to needlessly torture herself by being his roommate no matter how much she wanted to.

“I don’t think I want a roommate Cash but thanks anyway…um, let’s get started on cleaning huh” Shay said shifting the conversation to something seemingly less daunting and awkward for the time being. Cash nodded his head wordlessly, but Shay thought she saw a hint of dejection in his eyes even as he tightened his grip on her hand yet again as she began to walk up the stairs. An obvious thick layer of uncomfortable silence had fallen between them now and Shay couldn’t help the guilt now swirling in her stomach at the look on Cash’s face no matter how brief it was.

“I haven’t been up here in ages… I see your mom’s been busy with renovation too. It’s very cozy up here now” Cash said trying to ease some of the tension in the air when they halted at the top of the stairs. Shay nodded her head in agreement, taking in the new plush sectional, freshly painted walls and sleek entertainment center her mom had put in the attic sometime over the last few years.

“That makes two of us, no clue why she wanted a second living room, but it looks nice. The last time I was up here I was redoing my bedroom, that’s what most of this stuff is. Some of it’s yours too though I guess, from when your mom redid the basement. You want to bring some boxes over and I’ll plug in a movie?” Shay asked softly, Cash nodded his head once again, but Shay was happy to see a smile make its way onto his face for the first time since they left the kitchen.

“Sure thing gorgeous, but I’m going to need my hand back” Cash said in a soft teasing tone that had Shay’s face flushing a vibrant shade of pink. She reluctantly unlatched her now clammy hand from Cash’s larger one just as a sheepishly nervous string of laughter escaped her lips. She could hear Cash chuckling under his breath before placing a ginger kiss into her hair for the third time today.

“We’ll be holding hands again before the days over, trust me, Cherry Blossom. Why’d you redo your room anyway if you don’t mind me asking” Cash said lightheartedly, Shay watched him pile large cardboard boxes into his strong arms for an embarrassing amount of time. She couldn’t help but be transfixed by the way his rippling biceps flexed with every move he made She had to all but force her feet to walk over to the entertainment center so she could focus her eyes and rein in the implosion of impure thoughts and inklings that stomped through her head at the sight.

“Just wanted something new it was all a bit juvenile, and I know you thought the pink and orange were nauseatingly obnoxious. I thought you’d like the muted blues and grays better, but you didn’t really come over that much after that summer a…” Shay shrugged to herself as her hands rummaged through the entertainment center’s cabinets full of old DVDs and VHS cassette tapes.

“No Shay, I loved your bedroom that way what gave you the idea that I didn’t?” Cash asked seriously. Shay could tell he was near the couch now even with her back turned towards the TV, she let out a soft sigh as she finally settled on When Harry Met Sally for the time being.

“Cash, you don’t have to lie alright I heard you telling Pete and Opal May that you hated it, it’s really okay. I don’t care about it anymore believe me.” Shay said dismissively, placing the disc in the player and hitting the close button. She made sure to wipe the trace of a scowl off her face before she turned around to meet Cash’s gaze, his eyes looked a mix of confusion, anger, and offended all at the same time when they met hers from his spot on the couch. He looked surprisingly small surrounded by heaps of brown boxes full of long forgotten repressed memories and feelings….

“I don’t know what you overheard Shaylee but it’s just not true. I really liked your room I spent more time in yours than I did my own because everything in it was warm and comforting. Especially when my dad was around, I couldn’t really sleep well anywhere else because I felt safest there with you.” Cash said in a way that was so soft and vulnerable Shay swore she felt her heart melt and shatter simultaneously. Shay’s brain didn’t quite register exactly when her feet had carried her over to the couch or Cash’s side but before she knew it, they were face to face. Close enough to kiss him if she wanted to but she couldn't go there…

“If I knew it was that level of comforting for you Cashy, I never would have changed it, I’m so sorry…” Shay’s voice was barely a whisper by the time her arms had flung themselves around his neck in the form of a tender embrace. She could feel Cash snake, his strong arms around her waist and the warm tantalizing caress of his hot breath hitting her cheek and hair as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“It’s okay Cherry Blossom, really” Cash cooed out in a reassuring tone just as his hands started to run along her spine in soothing circles. Shay let out a content sounding sigh at the action and felt small waves of whatever emotion was bubbling inside her leave her small form with every pass Cash’s hands gently made over her exposed skin.

🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝

[bobbinacrossafricatake2]

Guardian Angel

June 1 & 2, 2024

We love our itinerary, but the reality is that with the three countries we chose, there’s non-trivial travel between them. We packed up and had our last, relaxing breakfast at Anjajavy. Rather than tipping guides as we went, we singled out the guides who led most of our activities and gave them individual tips the night before. It was so nice that as we hung out for a bit in the lodge waiting for our transport the the airstrip, each guide came over, thanked us, chatted a bit and urged us to come back and/or tell our friends to come visit. There’s a bit of an air of concern for the travel industry here, on which the locals depend so much!

The flight was one of the bigger little planes with the honeymooners sharing the space with us; same pilot who got us to Anjajavy in the tiny plane. On arrival, we were met by an airport escort who drove us the five minutes to the international terminal. We passed by men bringing their zebus to market and a group of dressed up folks at a church for a wedding. It’s quite limited on who can enter the terminal, so he dropped us off in front, assuring us there’s a restaurant inside. Alas, we were unable to check in yet, so were relegated to siting on a concrete block. At one point we tried to go to check in and the guard said they’re not checking in our flight yet. Jill pointed out that this board shows that indeed checking in has started and he annoyedly said no, not checking in yet. Needless to say, we went back to our concrete block. In need of water, Seb went to the little sundry shop where they wouldn’t take USD or a credit card for such a small amount. So she stood in line for currency exchange which would not change less than $5.00. That came out to 22,200 Malagasy Ariary, which got us water, crackers and chocolate. What else would we get with money we would not be able to use after leaving Madagascar?

After we could finally check in (not particularly streamlined), we arrived in a new, quite modern terminal. We had a bite at the restaurant and hung out until we boarded. While waiting, a young woman who works for the company that designed the airport asked us to complete a survey. It was a good way to pass time, although we probably were not the best targets. This flight was less comfortable and more crowded than the others we’ve had, but on arrival it seemed that most folks were connecting, so getting through immigration and customs was easy and quick.

Then, we hit our first big snag of the trip. We kept looking for our normal “Bobbin X2” sign and none was to be seen. We emerged street-side where 10-15 folks were waiting with signs. Still nothing for us. Did we miss him/her? What to do? After a few minutes, we started looking up POCs on our spiffy TravelKey app from Mike. We’ve not needed such numbers, but knew they were there. Jill tried calling Nomad Tanzania on WhatsApp (trickier than one would think) and finally raised them. We tried calling the Emakoko (our hotel for the night) and it was all a bit confusing. Jill tried to re-enter the airport to see if we’d missed our contact but she couldn’t get back in. At that point, Ruth, our guardian angel and a Raddison Blu rep, approached and took charge. She made calls, while we tried, as well. Turns out Bush & Beyond was in charge of us, whose number we didn’t have, but Ruth did. Yay. Her friend, Purity, is the airport B&B rep. Hurrah. Not only did we not have B&B’s contact info, but they hod incorrect info for our arrival. They expected us on a KLM flight (we think the flight we’re leaving on in 7 days) at almost midnight. Yikes! Thank goodness for Ruth! Purity reportedly ran across the parking lot, arranged a vehicle on the spot to take us to the entrance of Nairobi National Park, where the Emakoko driver/guide, Jackson, picked us up. It all took a few hours. If we had to have a mess up, this was the place to have it, but given Sarah has a wicked cold, it was exhausting.

Jackson drove us across the park with views to the lights of Nairobi in the distance and planes coming in overhead. The park at night seemed quite flat, but as we approached the Emakoko, the road went bumpily down into a valley, across a little bridge and to the other side.. The Emakoko is lovely! We both wished we weren’t so tuckered, but passed on a late dinner and the hotel sent soup and bread up to the room. Seb ate and colllapsed. Jill FT’ed her mom and putzed on the pad for a while before going to sleep. It was a good night’s sleep, even if short and briefly disturbed (for Jill) by creatures having a party on the roof.

In the morning, we could better appreciate the beautiful room, balcony overlooking the valley, and when coffee was delivered at 6:00 AM before our 6:30 game drive, it was pure heaven. Tempted to roll over, Seb rallied. Just as we were finalizing our packs for the morning, the power went off. No problem! There was just enough light to see the last few things we needed to pack up or stash in a locked duffel (our security SOP). We headed out to the lobby… then problem! We were in one of the upper five rooms, up a huge cliff and accessible by a funicular. With the power off, the funicular did not work. So, we took the steep steps next to the track. Jackson was ready for us when we got to the lounge. When told him about taking the steps, he seemed a little surprised and admitted to an alternate path, much longer with a shallower incline. Off we went to look for wildlife, hoping the power to be restored in the meantime.

There’s nothing like being out on a game drive early in the morning. Solitude, except for animals starting their days. Fresh air and a clear view as far as the eye can see. The Nairobi National Park was just as exhilarating, but different. It was cold… not what we have had in Namibia and Madagascar (but similar to our 2018 experience). As it is a public park, we began have lot’s of companions on the road. Sometimes it helps with more eyes to spot animals, but sometimes the groups of other cars just create a less than ideal environment for optimal viewing.

We did have a successful drive, seeing rhinos (both white and black), giraffes (even two young males necking), Thompson’s gazelles, impalas, a hartebeast, a big buffalo blocking the road, and a secretary bird. At one point, we came across several other vehicles surrounding someone’s dinner (a kill), with that someone nowhere in sight. Jackson thought it belonged to a cheetah, but the poor hungry cat was waiting for vehicles to leave before returning to his/her meal. Not ever wanting to get in the way of nature, we proceeded on the drive.

After a couple hours, we decided it was time to get back to the lodge. Our stomachs were rumbling and a little time to rest before heading back to the airport was appealing. We were so happy to see lights shining from the lodge as we drove up. Yay… hot coffee and a working funicular. We had few more wildlife sightings before the end of our stay at Emakoko. We found rock hyraxes on the funicular track and the path to the room, then baboons and vervet monkeys on our balcony roused Jill from a catnap, who then woke Seb to see the commotion.

The trip to the airport was easy on a Sunday morning, mostly highway, but then through some local streets with shanties and shops constructed of corrugated metal. Jackson helped us check-in, then a young man with Safarilink took us through emigration and security, delivering us to a small waiting area, with instructions that he would be back to get us when it was time to board. The waiting area got quite busy and we, unfortunately witnessed our first, and hopefully only, example of the ugly American. Three couples, clearly traveling together, were in the waiting room with us. Each time someone from an air service came to collect passengers, they accosted the person about when they would be able to board. When Safarilink came to get us, this group stood in the doorway blocking our way as the air service rep was beckoning us to follow. There was such a sense of entitlement and “me first.”

This first flight of the day, on which we were two of four passengers, landed in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, which required the whole immigration process to enter the country. We were expecting to handle this ourselves, but found a “Bobbin X2” waiting for us plane-side as we disembarked. It was a lucky break, since he told us how to fill in the immigration form, then led us to the line for on-line visas, which we both had, specifically for seniors, children and special needs (do we look old? Well, maybe since make-up did not make the cut for this trip.) Somehow with all of our diligence in getting details in order before the trip, Sarah’s visa had an incorrect date (note to Seb: work on your proof-reading skills). While Jill and airport helper waited in Tanzania, Sarah bounced amongst a few more lines to get a new visa. All in all it was pretty quick, just a $100 mistake for a new visa. Our airport helper ushered us out of the international airport and through the national airport (including numerous security screenings) to check in for our flight to the Lake Manyara airstrip. Since we were the only ones on the flight, we boarded as soon as we were all reassembled from the last security check, and took off 20 minutes early for the short 30 minute flight.

On arrival, we met Anaeli, our guide driver for at least the first two legs in Tanzania. If first impressions are anything, we knew we’d be in for a great five days. The drive to Entamanu Ngorongoro Lodge was two hours. The first hour we spent getting to know Anaeli and passing through various sized towns and villages. Nearing arrival to the Ngorongoro Crater National Park, Anaeli asked Jill to roll up her window a bit on account of the baboon activity at the park entrance. Sure enough, while Anaeli paid our entrance fees, bands of baboons entertained us through the car window.

The remaining hour was on rocky dirt roads, passing Maasai villages, brightly adorned folks returning to their villages on foot, Maasai farmers returning their livestock to safe quarters and glimpses of the crater. At one point we stopped at an overlook for our first official view. From there we continued to climb and Anaeli pointed out the flat-topped acacia trees at a distance as the location of our lodge. We knew we were finally close when we entered the acacia forest. Of course, arrival was marked by 8-10 staff standing in front waving, then helping us with bags.

Standard camp arrival took place, covering safety and any other lodge-specific topics. After a quick orientation to our bungalow, we headed back to the living room/lounge for a glass of wine, where we chatted with Peter, an Africa travel specialist from London. After dinner, we retreated back to our bungalow and both promptly crashed, getting woefully behind in blogging.

[sequinsmile-x]

You wanted prompts so here we go

piggy back hugs - ideally with drunk Emily because she'd cling to him like a koala haha

Hi bestie!!

I hope you enjoy this <3

-x-

Words: 1.1k

Warnings: Mentions of drinking/alcohol consumption

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

If she were asked about it later, Emily would deny that she giggles as she leaves the bar, Aaron just behind her, but that is precisely what she does. 

It was an impromptu night out. They had finished the case too late to head home, none of them particularly keen on the flight back all of the way across the country. Penelope had joined them in California, her skills required on-site for once, so she immediately convinces the rest of them that they should go out for drinks. It’s only when Emily and Aaron arrive, their fingers linked together as she tugs her slightly reluctant fiancee through the doors of the bar, that they realise it’s turned into a joint bachelor and bachelorette party for them. 

The wedding was only three weeks away. The stress of organising it, even though they had opted for a relatively small event, was slowly driving Emily insane. The combination of her mother and Penelope, who both had their own ideas about the wedding, made her wish Aaron had let her talk him into eloping. She had left most of it up to them, only putting her foot down with her dress and the flowers she would have in her bouquet, knowing that what was most important to her was becoming Aaron’s wife. 

So, despite the fact they’d both made it clear they didn’t want bachelor and bachelorette parties, they simply smile at their friends and accept the drinks they are handed. Emily draws the line at wearing the sash Penelope had inexplicably packed and brought with her but enjoys her evening with her friends, her fiancee standing by her side the whole time. 

Aaron keeps his arm around her waist, holding her close as he laughs with Dave, accepting more glasses of scotch than he usually would. He doesn’t miss how the local cops they’d been working with the last few days filter into the bar, their eyes fixed curiously on him and Emily. The men elbow each other as they clearly talk about them, looking Emily up and down in a way that makes him pull her even closer. 

When they leave the bar it’s gone 2 am, already much later than Aaron agreed to stay out initially. Emily doesn’t need convincing. Her hand deep in the back pocket of his pants, her well-known trait of being a little handsy when she was drunk making itself apparent. His hand is linked through hers as he pulls her outside, the cool air against his skin making him realise just how drunk he is himself. She stops walking just a couple of paces past the door, her arm pulling at his before he turns to look at her. 

Emily smiles at him, her eyes sparkling with affection and unfiltered love for him, the tequila thrumming through her veins enough to dull her usual ability to hold it back. She tugs him towards her and he gladly follows. She encourages him to crowd her against the wall, the hand not linked with his reaching up to hook around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss he enthusiastically returns. 

She sighs, letting herself get lost in him. He overwhelms her senses. The taste of the scotch he’d been drinking all evening against her tongue. The smell of his cologne, of him, enough to make her dizzy with want. He presses her further into the wall, his body pressed up against hers as his hand sneaks around her back, pulling her closer to him. He pulls back from her, smiling as she chases his lips, stamping his against hers once more before he puts a little more space between them.

“We should get back to the room,” he murmurs, reaching out and tucking her hair behind her ear, “The hotel is only two blocks away.” 

“I want to make out,” She pouts at him, another thing she’d deny in the morning, and it only makes his smile wider. 

“If we go back to the hotel room we can do more than make out, sweetheart,” He leans down and kisses the tip of her nose before he reaches out for her hand again, pulling her away from the wall to continue their journey again. She shivers slightly, feeling the cold now he was no longer wrapped around her and stumbles into him, the combination of the alcohol in her system and her heels diminishing her usual coordination. 

Aaron sighs lovingly as he brings them to a stop, still barely past the bar, and he shrugs off his jacket, helping her into it to protect her from the cold night. She pulls it tighter around herself, grateful for the warmth it provided, the scent of him lingering on the material. She buries her face briefly in the collar before she looks up at him, frowning as he turns, his back to her as he crouches slightly. 

“What are you doing?” She asks, tilting her head at him curiously, a wry smile on her face. 

“I’m giving you a piggyback,” he says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “Otherwise at this rate we’ll still be here by morning.” He looks at her expectantly and she doesn’t move, still looking at him like he’d lost his mind. 

“You’ll hurt your back,” she replies, raising her eyebrow at him and he laughs. 

“Sure, now you’re worried about my back, but in the shower last week-”

“Ok,” she says, rolling her eyes as he turns again, “But I hope you know this means I’m going to whisper filth in your ear the entire way.” 

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Aaron laughs as she jumps just enough for him to grab her, securing her onto his back. She wraps her arms tightly around his shoulders, her legs doing the same around his waist, and he secures her in place. “You ok back there?” 

She hums in response, pressing her lips to his cheek, “Aaron?” She asks, her breath skipping across his skin. 

“Yes, sweetheart?” 

“I can’t wait to marry you.” 

Aaron squeezes her a little tighter, his love for her threatening to overwhelm him, “I can’t wait to marry you either.” 

He starts the short walk to the hotel, ignoring the slight ache in his lower back. It only takes a few steps before she does as she promised, her lips against his ear as she describes, exactly, what she plans on doing the moment they get back to their room.

Aaron doesn’t think he’s ever walked two blocks faster in his life. 

-x-

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[codename-mom]

Aaron's family

I wanted to make this post for quite some times now, and finally took the time to finish it.

When I love a character, I love to deep dive into his story and if there is a room for it, I love to imagine all his relatives. And as in a sequel of Code Name: Mom a certain character have to meet all Aaron’s family, I immediately tried to figure out how does it look like.

I always have in mind that he has a huge family spreading all over the country and I have quite some fun to introduce them here and there in my fanfic (hope, you’ll meet them some day). As so, I had to figure out what their job is, if they have a partner, their name, their eventual children, and the name of them. Love that! :D

Let’s start. For a better comprehension, all the name you see means that the character appears or is mentioned in one of my fanfics. “Fille” = daugther and “fils” = son.

Well, the things you’ve got to know about Aaron’s family is that it’s a totally matriarchal one. It all comes from a great-great mother who gave birth to two kids: a girl and a boy. The first one had three girls and the second one, three boys and one girl; but it’s the three first girls that lead the way.

Let’s take a look to the mother side of his family. Ada is the oldest of the three girls, followed by Martha and then, Sarah. They had a very strong connection and there’s no week where they didn’t stay in touch with each other. As being the first one, she’s the first to give birth too with Aaron. Martha was the second one, twice before Sarah became a mother too. The numbers in parenthesis are the age of each characters (knowing that this family tree is constructed on the basis that Jack is sixteen).

On the other side, there are way less children for some reasons and they are younger. The great-father was older than Ada, Martha and Sarah’s mother, but he wasn’t eager to have kids. As so, the youngest daughter has almost the same age as Aaron when he’s supposed to be part of the generation after.

Then here come the great and great-great children! XD

From his great-mother side:

From his great-uncle side:

Actually, they don’t really make any difference between the ones from the great-great mother side and from the great-great uncle side. They are all uncles, aunts and cousins no matter what and they are pretty closed from each other, as they spent holidays altogether and enjoy every occasion to be reunited again.

And here is how they are deployed all over the country:

The green states are the ones with family members from his mother side. The orange one is a state where there are members of his family from his father side, people he barely knows because Stanley has cut the ropes with his family after his wedding with Ada and never talked about them then. To make it short, they’re strangers for Aaron.

The question marks are there because I want some of his cousins to live in Vermont, but don’t figure out which ones. And there is someone in New Mexico, but I can’t tell you who they are. :D

And about their jobs, all I can say is that, for now, we’ve got:

a geneticist

a dentist

a forensic pathologist

a ranch-hotel owner

a teacher

two workmen

And that’s all folks! ^^

[pronititravelagency]

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The underwater world off the archipelago, which is home to hundreds of coral varieties and vibrant fish, will wow you. You can also take a boat ride via variously sized and sculpted rock formations to remote coves and nearby isles. Anywhere there are calm waters, you can relax on the beach or go swimming.

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It's a verdant paradise for honeymooners, with lots of chances to enjoy the white sand beach, vibrant nightlife, water sports, and cruises. Enjoy a royal welcome when staying at a posh hotel or a large haveli; folk performances, hot air balloon rides, and spicy food offer a stimulating cultural experience.

[all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth]

All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Synchrony (4x19)

Jason couldn’t stand to look at her frozen body for another second. He didn’t want to kill her, he’d tried not to do it, but he hadn’t expected her to find him. He should have, though. She was always the smartest person he’d ever known. 

But time, or fate, or whatever they were trapped in had other plans for them. There was an invisible string that bound them together, through time and space, ruining his best laid plans. 

Jason grabbed his things and looked down at Lisa’s cold and ice-covered face. She was beautiful, even like this. She didn’t deserve to die, none of them did. None of this should have happened, but the wheel had been set in motion long ago and none of them had made any attempt to stop it. 

They were so young when it started. They were going to be famous, rich, win the Nobel Prize. Their discovery would change the course of human existence. Naïveté and a complete lack of understanding of the consequences of their work had been their downfall. But how could they have known?

Jason took one more look over his shoulder, wishing things could have been different, and left the hotel room and Lisa behind. He walked down the hall, remembering the parties and banquets, the awards and the journalists clamoring over them to feature their newest discovery. They were on the cover of Newsweek and Time. Their faces were on every television network, on the lips of every American and soon, practically every human on the planet. 

The fame had only driven Lisa further into her work, pushing her deeper into her obsession of making theoretical physics a reality. She drifted away from him, stopped coming home in favor of spending her nights on a couch in the corner of the lab. There was no longer any space in her life for love and human connection, but when Jason saw her today, her eyes locked on his in recognition, he remembered what she’d been like before. 

If only she’d stayed that way. 

Jason left the hotel and headed toward the lab, but as he walked the streets, familiar from his past and nothing like his present, his mind's eye was locked on Lisa. At this point in her life, she had loved him as much as he loved her. When she’d looked at him, he’d imagined a future together, a wedding, maybe a few kids. They’d both been so focused on their work, but in 1997, there was still room for them. 

He scoffed and shook his head, turning down a side street and passing a mother holding her small child’s hand. Thank god they hadn’t started a family. In 2037, war and crime ravaged countries that had once been super powers. Nothing was assured. What was known as truth one day could be erased the next, and no one would even be aware it had happened. 

History was rewritten every moment of every day. One moment you had a wife, and the next you didn’t, but you wouldn’t remember her or the children she’d bore anyway. 

Escapism was everywhere— drugs, virtual reality, sensory deprivation chambers… When he’d imagined the children he and Lisa could have had, their smiling faces and dark curly hair in stark contrast to their light eyes, he couldn't stand the thought of seeing them lose their light and fall into the world of nothingness that would become their future. No child should grow up in a world where time had no permanence. 

Jason could see the lab in the distance. He knew what needed to be done. It was too late to save Lisa and their friends, but he could right their wrongs. He could put the train back in its tracks by destroying their work. 

He stood in front of the building, looking up at the clean and unbroken glass and cement that hadn’t existed in his world in decades. He thought of Lisa’s eyes, the love he could see in them, even as she looked at a damaged old man who was barely holding on to his sanity. 

He was doing this for her. Together they had succeeded in engineering the greatest scientific achievement of all time, but now, he had to destroy it all. To save them all, and to clear her name as the creator of the darkest time in human history. 

Read the rest of All Eyes Lead to the Truth on Archive of Our Own!

@fridaysat9

[webbedphantom]

8/24 - In Memoriam

Today was always a tough day for him. Today was a date that was permanently engraved in his memory. He usually spent today alone, or with his Aunt, having a nice quiet breakfast before paying their respects at the shrine outside his bedroom.

But he wasn't at his aunt's place. He wasn't even in Kyoto. He was in Tokyo, the city he was born in. But he'd only returned because he was forced to, as part of his parole.

Still... there were perks to this.

For one thing, he'd met a lot of his good friends during this year, which was a huge shock to him, as he wasn't sure he'd ever trust anyone again after how all his old friends abandoned him.

For another, he had superpowers. He could go anywhere, at anytime he wanted. And there was one particular place he planned to go today.

He landed up on the roof of an old hotel. In its prime, it was a rather luxurious place, but these days, it was practically abandoned, being severely damaged in an earthquake a few years back. Some people had tried to repair it, others tried to have it torn down, but for one reason or another, those plans fell through. So here it sat, alone and forgotten.

He'd lived here once, what seemed like a lifetime ago. He often spent most of his days alone in their penthouse suite, as his parents were usually busy with work. But on the rare occasion they had a bit of free time, they would sit up here together, just looking out at the city while they talked about... whatever, really.

Which is why he was here. Today was the anniversary of their deaths.

He couldn't visit their graves, as much as he would like to. They weren't even in the country, they were somewhere in Brittan, near his mom's hometown. Not like it would matter anyway, because their bodies were never recovered. All they buried were empty coffins.

But... he didn't mind as much this year. Because now, he had this place. The place where they'd once lived. The last place he ever saw them.

He took a photo out of his coat, webbing it to the neon sign that sat on the roof's edge. A sign that hadn't been turned on in years. It was a photo of his parents, a rather old one taken at their wedding, one of the last he had left for... reasons he'd rather not remember right now.

"Hey Mom... Dad."

Instead, he took a seat in front of the photo, pulling a bento box out of his bag, before taking off his mask.

"I'm sorry I'm late. There was a mugger on my way here robbing some poor old lady, and that held me up a bit."

It was such a simple thing, but being here made him feel... connected with them. Which, he supposed made sense. This was where he got to see them most often. Rarely did they have time for trips or anything, something he remembered annoyed him a bit at the time... but he kind of understood now.

They were out trying to make the world a better place. His father through his cognitive studies, and his mother through caring for those in need a nearby hospital.

Now... he was doing the same thing. Just using a different method.

He started digging into his meal, having worked up an appetite in the trip over here. Though he did his best to keep up the conversation... one sided though it may be.

"I've been... I've been trying to do right by you guys. Use these gifts in the way you would want. I don't... know if I've been succeeding, especially lately."

This wasn't the first time he'd been up here since his arrival in Tokyo. He'd made a bit of a habit to come here every so often, especially when he had a tough choice ahead of him. But the events of the past month, despite having many a tough choice within, had caused him to avoid this place. He felt they'd be... disappointed with how he'd handled things.

"I was trying to protect my friends... I didn't want them to get hurt because of me... and I ended up hurting them anyway."

"But I'm trying to make up for it. I'm going to give this team thing a shot, for real this time. I know now that I can't do this on my own... no matter how much I wish I could."

That was another reason he'd avoided coming here. He wasn't sure he was meeting their expectations. Not to say they'd held him to such a high standard when they were alive. It was more so... living up to their legacy. Something he wasn't sure he was doing.

"I thought about bringing them here. I really want you to meet them. I think you'd like them. They're good people... better than I deserve honestly. But..."

He was their leader, a position he never wanted, but one they felt he suited. And the last thing you want from a leader is vulnerability, to see them at their worst. And no matter how much he could put on a brave face, he was at his worst here... especially today.

"... Anyways, I promise I'll bring them here sometime. Just... not right now."

He ate in silence for a while, mulling the idea over in his head. It's not like he didn't want them to see this. He hated keeping things from them. But this was... far too personal to reveal carelessly. Things were better now, sure. But... it just wasn't the right time.

"... I really miss you guys."

He wondered what they'd say to him. His mother was always the one to console him, to give him advice when he didn't know what to do. His father was a bit more... distant, as was traditionally the case in Japanese culture. He supported his passion for engineering, and would occasionally play games with him on his Dreamcast, but he wasn't particularly close with him. Still, he admired his father for his mission if nothing else. He always talked about how important his work was, how many lives he and Isshiki were working to improve.

Yet as hard as he tried, he couldn't really remember what they were like. It had been 11 years since they died, 11 years since he'd heard their voices, or seen their smiles. 11 years since he'd gotten to spend any time with them at all. They were even more busy than usual towards the end of their lives.

Over two-thirds of his life had gone by without them.

He felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"I-I'm sorry, I... I don't-"

It would be the first of many. That single stray thought hit him like a truck, and all of a sudden, the tears just wouldn't stop.

"I'm s-sorry, I know I shouldn't- just-"

He tried his best to wipe them away, as if that would somehow get it to stop... but it didn't.

He felt a sudden surge of energy leave his body, before a clawed hand gently pat him on the pat.

"It's okay, Aaron." Arsène said softly, attempting to console him however he could. "There's no one else here. Just let it out."

"They're here."

"... I know. But I do not believe they would judge you for it."

Would they? He really couldn't say for sure. He was so young when they passed, his memories of them were so faint now.

"They wouldn't." His Persona repeated. "It's okay to grieve, Aaron... Especially today."

He didn't feel like it was okay. He was supposed to be a hero. Steadfast and strong. Never showing weakness.

Still, he had to relent... It's not like he could stop the tears anyway.

He just buried his face in his hands, letting his tears fall... though still trying to keep himself from sobbing.

"Shouldn't... Shouldn't I be over this? It's been 11 years... Why doesn't it hurt any less?"

"Some wounds take longer to heal. Especially ones dealt at a young age. And... it's been a rough year for you."

It really had... sure, some good things had happened. But he was still arrested for something he didn't do, he still lost all of his old friends, he was taken away from the home he spent most of his life in, from the only family he really has left, he was still hated or feared by almost everyone in Tokyo, he was still wanted for murder (which he also didn't do), and he still spent day after day staring death in the face to save people who would still hate him regardless. So much pain, so much stress... it's a wonder he didn't reach this breaking point sooner.

He was glad he hadn't brought anyone else here today. He didn't want them to see him like this. To see him break beneath the weight of it all.

Instead it was just him and his other self, alone on the ruins of his old home.

Just him... and his ghosts.

[kalembasinpoland]

Day 9: Rzeszów to Zakopane

A day of driving. But first, I did manage to take a walk around Rzeszów last night. I walked through the Rynek, past some churches and fancy looking buildings, through a park with a lighted fountain. People were sitting on benches watching the light show. Then I walked past the old palace walls before turning around and stopping in a Zabka convenience store to get some snacks. Went back to the room and went to sleep.

This morning after breakfast at the hotel we hit the ‘open’ road. I put open in quotes because the more back country are much slower than the autostrada and loaded with more traffic. You drive through town after town, crosswalk after crosswalk, speed bump after…you get the idea.

First stop about an hour in was the town of Brzozów. Say that three times real fast. This town is the birthplace of my maternal great-great grandmother Matilda Wnęk Sikora. I stopped in the old cemetery and didn’t find any Wnęk graves, but I did find several Bielawski graves. That was Matylda’s grandmother’s family. Perhaps the Wnęk family came from another town in the vicinity.

Next was the town of Haczów and its famous wooden church. I visited here with Dad ten years ago. This church is a UNESCO landmark. It is one of the biggest wooden churches in Poland.

Then it was a short-ish drive to Kroscienko Wyzne where Matylda’s future husband Jan Sikora was born. Jan’s father was a servant in the manor house here. The house has been resorted and available for rent for parties, weddings, etc. However the gates were locked and I couldn’t find a way to get in to see the building.

From there was another hour or so to just past Jasło and the town of Osobnica. This is an ancestral town of fellow church musician and friend, Steven Janco I took pictures of the church. A few kilometers down the road is the ancestral home of the Budziak family in the town of Cieklin. Allen Budziak’s great grandfather was from here. He was born about a kilometer away in the next village, but there was no church there. They worshipped in Cieklin. I went to the cemetery and took pictures of the more recent Budziak graves.

Then it was the 2 and half hour ride to Zakopane. A long winding ride through the low mountains and lots of hairpins before coming to a vista that overlooks the Dunajec valley and the lake that is on the other side of the Pieniny mountains-where Trzy Korony is located.

From there 20 minutes to Zakopane and our room at the Villa Nosal on the edge of the forest. After checking in we walked 20 minutes to dinner-fondue.

Then a walk down the touristy pedestrian street. Our villa is at the top of the hill and everything was down. So for the way black we grabbed another one of those electric scooters that we used in Kraków. However, only one of the two that were on that corner had battery. So Rose and I both hopped on one and rode it back towards the villa.

Tomorrow we take the cable car up to the mountains for some hopefully clear sightseeing and short hike.

Do zo.

[bakutogeorgia]

Day 11, Zugdidi, 19th May

I’m writing this through a bit of an alcoholic blur. We spent the afternoon at a couple’s property that has been in their family for over 100 years and they showed us the old buildings/ house, told us the history of their family, some of it very sad then cooked us a wonderful Georgian lunch. They also plied us with home made wine with an alcohol content of over 55%. I feel like I divulged a number of personal facts I don’t usually talk about. Oh well, probably no one else will remember either. I don’t know how many toasts we made that Davit had to translate from Georgian. There was one to Georgia, ancestors, family and friends, men, women and anyone else we could think of. It was such a good afternoon. Now I’m in the hotel room, back in the town, I can hear the beeping cars of the graduating students and the sirens of the police cars protecting them still driving around town. It’s been a great day mostly out in the country starting the day at the waterfalls and river. The countryside is very green in West Georgia and there are a lot of huge, lovely rows of trees lining the roads plus the odd cow, pig, horse that just wander loose on every road. We aren’t that far from the other Russian Occupied Territory and not the far from the sea.

This was a beautiful limestone gorge. The water was so clear.. we paddled along in boats.

Further down the river were waterfalls which we walked to.

It was a really beautiful place.

Georgian cemetery along the wayside.

You often see groups of men hanging out along the road socialising. Most of the houses we past were two storey with the stairs always on the out side. Davit was explaining that the oldest son is expected to live with the parents after marriage to look after them. The houses are built so the parents and the sons family have some privacy. Each has a floor. If the oldest son can’t live there then the rest of the family negotiates who it will be.

So many animals wander along the roads.

Some typical houses.

The above ground gas pipes all along the way.

Today was Graduation Day for the final school students. Their tradition is to get white tee shirts which they write on then drive through their towns beeping horns and waving the shirts out of the windows. There were plenty of police cars around escorting them. It was all a bit chaotic but fun.

Lots of noise and kids having fun. There was a graduating function in our hotel last night. I’m glad I was on a high floor.

This was the owner of the property we went to. Her food was wonderful but so much. She apparently is a contestant on an equivalent to a MasterChef in Georgia.. She is doing very well.

Old house and buildings from 1800’s.

We had a tour and an explanation of how the buildings were built. All the outhouses could be easily replaced if they were burnt during different fighting that has gone on over the years.

The houses were built upon stilts due to the humidity and some of the furniture like the baby’s cradle could be easily transported and hung off a horse if they had to flee invaders.

Tapestry of the parents who used to live here.

This was a wedding coat and it had slots to carry bullets. All the outfits had that feature as no one used to go out without their gun.

Lovely meal they prepared for us.

Our group plus Davit and our driver. This was before the toasts started.

We had a short drive back to our hotel which was in the middle o& town and very nice.

[12nb34]

Atafu/Tokelau

📆 13 Jan 2023 📰 Tokelau dodges Covid-19 in community after scare at the border 🗞️ RNZ

Covid was discovered at the border between December 13 and 18.

"They travelled from Fakaofo (atoll) on the MV Mataliki with passengers from Apia to attend a wedding," the general manager of the Office of Tokelau Aukusitino Vitale said.

"They are three children, a young adult and a 24-year-old female."

All five cases who were in quarantine on Atafu atoll have since been released.

The Tokelau Government has not established exactly how the virus got to the border.

"We ruled out bringing it from Fakaofo because Fakaofo had a mass RAT testing of their whole population just to see if it was in the community. Atafu did the same," said Vitale.

Fortunately, none of the passengers who travelled on the same overnight boat from Apia tested positive.

"Atafu has a very good layout of the quarantine and isolation. The passengers from Apia quarantined in a hotel on Atafu," Vitale said.

He said the whole wedding party, including the bride, were quarantined.

"The wedding did not go ahead until everybody had been cleared," Vitale said.

The five Covid cases completed 21 days in isolation.

There are just under 500 people each on Fakaofo and Atafu, and everyone tested negative. All Covid-19 cases have since recovered meaning Tokelau is the last country in the world alongside Turkmenistan not to experience the virus in the community.

Tokelau is unique and "errs on the extreme side" of caution, Vitale said.

Border restrictions remain in place since they were implemented in April 2020.

After managing to do what other countries have failed at - stamping the virus out - Vitale says a lot has been learnt.

"The issue for us, actually, is the number of people who are getting positive in Samoa on their 48-hour PCR screening before they come to Tokelau, and there's quite a few, including crew members," he said.

New health advice is being prepared to present to council members. It will include a suggestion on a CT value (cycle threshold) to be issued which will determine how much virus is present and if a person is contagious or fit to travel.

"You know, there are historical cases and sometimes the virus is in you, but it's not contagious. So health is now looking at providing a CT level that would be approved. I understand it's 40," Vitale said.

With a crew shortage in Samoa, having a handful of people including crew members test positive before a trip has been frustrating for Tokelau officials.

"We were very grateful to the health staff, particularly Dr Moetagi, who is actually a Tokelau daughter who married a Tongan.

"Her husband is also a medical officer. They've decided to come to Tokelau and we've benefited with the knowledge," Vitale said.

Vitale applauds the community for its response which means Tokelau remains one of only two countries in the world to not have experienced community transmission.

📆 13 Jan 2023 📰 Tokelau dodges Covid-19 in community after scare at the border 🗞️ RNZ