#kitchen VIP-master

[horoscope1078]

:)

Kenan stood in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up and a slightly smug grin on his face. His childhood friend, and secret crush you, stood across from him, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

“So… you’re telling me you’re a master chef now?” you teased, crossing arms.

“I’m not saying I’m a master chef.” Kenan replied, pulling out a bag of flour. “But let’s just say if football doesn’t work out, I could open a restaurant.”

You snorted. “You? A restaurant? Please, I’ve seen you burn toast.”

“That was one time.” Kenan shot back, feigning offense. “And the toaster was broken.”

“Uh..huh” you said, clearly unconvinced. “Alright, Mr. Michelin Star, what are we making today?”

Kenan’s grin widened. “We’re making mantı. Proper Turkish mantı. Not that frozen stuff you tried to feed me last time.”

You gasped, dramatically clutching your chest. “Excuse me, it was store-bought, and it wasn’t that bad.”

“It was an insult to mantı” Kenan declared, shaking his head. “And to my ancestors.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Fine, teach me, oh wise one. But if this turns out bad, I’m never letting you live it down.”

“Deal.” Kenan said, holding out a hand. You shook it, and he couldn’t ignore how warm your hand felt in his.

Clearing his throat, he stepped toward the counter. “Alright, first we make the dough. It’s simple, flour, water, salt, and eggs. You can handle that, right?”

“Of course” you said, grabbing the flour. “I’m not completely useless, y'know.”

Kenan smirked. “Debatable.”

You threw a small handful of flour at him, and he ducked, laughing.

“You’re going to regret that.” he warned, grabbing some flour of his own.

“Kenan, don’t you dare..”

Before you could finish your sentence, a cloud of flour exploded in the air, leaving both of you laughing and coughing. You glared at him through the floury haze. “You’re the worst.”

“And yet, you keep coming back.” he quipped, brushing flour off his shirt.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide your grin. “Let’s just make the dough before you turn this into a full-on food fight.”

With a truce established, you got to work. Kenan guided you through mixing the dough, occasionally teasing you for being too slow or too messy, but secretly enjoying every second of your focused expression.

“Okay, now we roll it out.” Kenan said, handing you a rolling pin.

You looked at the dough sceptically. “This is harder than it looks.”

Kenan stood behind you, leaning down slightly to guide your hands on the rolling pin. “You have to press evenly.” he said, his voice softer than usual.

Your breath hitched for a moment, but you quickly recovered. “I see. The key is to have a personal coach hovering over your shoulder huh?”

Kenan grinned but didn’t move away. “Exactly. Consider this a VIP cooking class.”

After rolling out the dough, you started cutting it into small squares. Kenan demonstrated how to fill them with the spiced meat mixture and fold them into perfect little dumplings.

“Like this.” he said, holding up a neatly folded mantı.

You frowned at your own attempt, which looked more like a squished envelope. “Why is yours so perfect? Are you sure you’re not secretly taking cooking lessons?”

Kenan shrugged. “Talent, I guess.”

“Or witchcraft.” you muttered, trying again.

“You’re getting better.” he said encouragingly.

You gave him a sideways glance. “Better at folding mantı or better at tolerating you?”

“Both, probably.” he replied with a wink.

By the time you had a tray full of mantı ready to cook, the kitchen was a mess. Flour dusted the counters, your nose, and even Kenan’s hair, and bits of dough clung to your hands.

“Alright, now we boil them and make the sauce.” Kenan said, turning to the stove.

You leaned against the counter, watching him with a fond smile. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”

“About mantı? Of course.” he said, stirring the pot. “It’s like the pride of Turkey.”

“I meant about cooking in general.” you said, tilting your head. “I didn’t think you’d be so good at this.”

Kenan glanced at you, his expression softening. “Well, I guess I just like sharing it with people who matter.”

Your cheeks flushed slightly, and you quickly looked away. “That’s… sweet.”

Kenan turned back to the stove, hiding his own blush. “Don’t get used to it. I’m still going to make fun of you for being terrible at folding mantı.”

Once the mantı was cooked and topped with yogurt and a drizzle of butter infused with paprika, they sat down to eat.

You took your first bite and immediately groaned. “Okay, this is amazing. You might actually be a genius.”

Kenan leaned back, looking smug. “Told you.”

“But don’t let it go to your head.” you added quickly. “You’re still annoying.”

“Annoyingly talented.” Kenan corrected.

You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re impossible.”

As you finished your meal, you leaned your elbows on the table and looked at him thoughtfully. “Y'know, this was actually fun. Maybe you should teach me more Turkish recipes.”

Kenan’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his tone casual. “I’d be happy to. But only if you promise to actually fold the mantı properly next time.”

“Deal.” you said smiling.

For a moment, the room felt warmer, and Kenan wondered if you could hear how loudly his heart was pounding.

“Hey” you said suddenly, breaking the silence.

“Yea?”

“You’re a pretty good teacher.” you admitted with a soft voice.

Kenan grinned. “And you’re a pretty good student.”

You rolled your eyes, but there was a glimmer of something more in your smile.

As you cleaned up the kitchen together, your laughter filled the air, and Kenan couldn’t help but think that sharing a meal with you, even in a flour-covered kitchen, was better than any football victory he’d ever had.

[snappedsky]

ROTTMNT: Retired Leo AU

The lair has a rat problem, and it's not just Splinter.

--

Rat Race

Splinter suddenly awakens in his bed and stares with annoyance at the ceiling in his dark room. He is not sure why he has woken up, and this is not the first time it’s happened either. Over the last week, he has inexplicably woke up almost every night.

Instead of trying to go back to sleep and knowing he’ll fail, he rolls out of his bed and shuffles out of his room.

The lair is dark and mostly quiet, except for Raph snoring away in his bedroom. But as Splinter goes up to the living room, he hears other things too: a hushed voice and gentle guitar notes.

When Splinter goes up the stairs, he sees Leo, Donnie, and Casey, in their pyjamas, sitting together on a beanbag chair in the dimly lit room. Donnie is playing a game on his phone; Leo is reading a comic book and describing what is happening; Casey is plucking random notes on his guitar.

“You boys are up late,” Splinter remarks as he walks by.

“So are you,” Casey retorts.

“We’re VIPs,” Donnie says.

“VIPs?” Splinter questions.

“Very Insomniac Persons,” Leo replies proudly.

“Ah, I see.”

“Why are you up, Master Splinter?” Casey asks.

“Well, I guess I am also a VIP,” he replies as he walks into the kitchen.

“Welcome to the club,” Donnie says.

Splinter makes a pot of tea, pours himself a mug, and walks back into the living room, where he plops down on his chair. He silently sips it as he listens to Leo’s hushed chatter and Casey’s mindless tunes.

Splinter’s ears twitch at the sound of gentle pattering and he looks up to see four small rats run into the room and stop at Casey’s feet.

“The rats are back,” Leo remarks.

“Back?” Splinter questions.

“Some showed up the other night too,” Donnie replies.

“They like Casey’s music,” Leo smiles.

“I’m not even playing anything,” he points out.

“You’re like the Pied Piper,” Donnie comments.

“The what?”

“An old story about a guy who attracted rats with his flute.”

“You’ve found your audience,” Leo laughs. “What about you, Dad? Are you attracted to Casey’s music?”

Splinter scoffs. “Unlike any old sewer rat, I actually have taste. If Casey can learn to play a real song, then maybe I’ll listen to it.”

Casey hums thoughtfully. “Okay. Deal.”

[paintedscales]

FFXIV Write 2024 :: Day Six

Prompt: Halcyon Characters: Nomin tal Kheeriin, Estinien Varlineau, Bayarmaa Sagahl Word Count: 788 Notes: Digimon AU

Master List

Visits from Estinien had become common enough at the hospital that when he passed it this time around, he had to take pause. As he stared at it, Gonetomon huffed in thought, his breath becoming steam in the winter air. Where Estinien would have taken the time to visit Nomin, he remembered the text he had received just a couple days ago.

‘I'm finally being released from the hospital!’

A small, gentle smile crept across Estinien’s lips as he shoved his hands into his pockets and continued on his way. His response at the time asked her if she had plans on celebrating at all.

‘I'd like to! But only if you celebrate with me!’

And so, Estinien received an address and a date. On the map on his phone, the address showed a grocery store front called ‘Buckthorn’ -- odd, but he doubted Nomin was leading him astray. He was thankful, however, that he only needed to use the bus as he normally would have coming to this part of town.

Passing the hustle and bustle of the daytime hours, Estinien eventually found his way to the unmistakable storefront. He had never been here before -- it looked like a humble grocery market. Pulling on the door, he and Gonetomon stepped inside as the electric bell signaled his entry.

“Welcome to Buckthorn!” one of the employees called out. Estinien only slightly brought up a hand out of habit in greeting. However, the employee caught sight of Gonetomon and gasped before hurrying her way over. “You're Nomin’s friend that visited her in the hospital! Oh, thank you for that! She was so elated to have a friend come by and keep her company as visiting hours allowed.”

For a moment, Estinien was a bit too flustered to speak, only casting a brief glance in Gonetomon's direction. When he looked at the woman again, he realized he had seen her before -- once. She had been leaving the oncology ward a while back. When he saw Nomin that day, she had some stuff from home brought to her by her…

“You're Nomin’s sister…?” Estinien asked.

“The one and only,” the woman replied with a grin. She then grabbed her name pin, emphasizing it for a moment. “The name's Bayarmaa. But, goodness me, I shouldn't keep you here. Nomin and Teiamon are upstairs with some of their other friends and Digimon.”

With that, Bayarmaa pointed in the direction of a door marked ‘No entry’. Estinien then put two and two together: this building was a joint business front and home.

Bayarmaa leaned in slightly, dropping her voice to a whisper, and bringing the back of her hand to shield a side of her mouth. “You can just walk right in and go. No key necessary or anything. VIP access,” Bayarmaa said, giving a playful wink before straightening up, her voice returning to a normal volume. “I have more things to organize and stock, but try not to have too much fun up there! I need to make sure I can also enjoy my baby sister's release from the hospital, too, y'know!”

“Don’t worry, you’ll have her all to yourself soon, I’m sure,” Estinien said, attempting to keep his tone lighthearted.

With discussion coming to a close, Estinien and Gonetomon both made their way for the door indicated, opening it and then heading up the stairwell. Chatter could already be heard from above, and as Estinien crested the top of the stairs, he saw a living area with a kitchen on the opposite side, a counter to separate the two areas. The sofa in the living area had three people on it, one he recognized, and the other two he did not. On the floor were two other people, as well as a number of other Digimon.

Nomin’s gaze immediately met Estinien’s as he appeared, and her already radiant smile became even more so, that elation making itself evident even within the crinkle of her eyes. At that moment, Estinien felt his heart skip a beat. He had often seen Nomin with a medical mask on, so her smile was not often one he got to see anywhere except reflected in her eyes.

“Sorry for not getting up to greet you, but…it’s really nice to see you, Estinien!” Nomin chirped. All that time in the hospital meant that she still needed physical therapy to combat some of the atrophying that came with being bedridden.

“N-No, it’s fine. I get it. I, uh…” Estinien glanced from Nomin to the others in the room. The overall vibe was joy and relief for having Nomin back; it cast a palpably halcyon atmosphere. “Sorry that it looks like I’m late.”

“I’m just glad you made it!” Nomin replied.

[myloveforhergoeson]

junk (for one word prompts)

katie was missing her sunglasses - an essential accessory if she were interested in pulling off her latest scheme while her mother was off grocery shopping. what kind of club bouncer didn't wear sunglasses? at least, all the ones she saw on tv did.

if she wanted to section off most of the pool area to create and exclusive VIP lounge for the palm woods residents, and charge 20 dollars per lounge chair, the uniform was a necessity.

but, she couldn't remember where she had left them, which was her biggest issue at present.

turning the master bedroom she and her mother shared upside down had yielded no results, and she was too afraid of what monstrosities she might find in her teenage roommate's rooms to see if maybe her shades had gotten mixed in with some of their stuff on accident.

so, she turned to the last place she could think of. the blackest of all black holes: the kitchen junk drawer. anything in the knight household small enough to fit in the large drawer was often swept in there during jennifer's cleaning sprees. it contained treasures unknown for years, until someone was brave enough to search the endless amount of stuff packed into that little space.

upon sliding the wooden cabinet open, katie found all the typical small items she was expecting - rubber bands, paper clips, a lighter - mixed in with a handful of take out menus from the best places to eat in LA. a few receipts leapt out at her as she stuck her hand in, all the way to the bottom, and shoved everything to the right, mixing it up in some kind of messed up amalgamation to see if her sunglasses were hiding down below.

nope.

so she shoved everything to the left, then to the top of the drawer, then to the bottom.

nope.

while she wasn't having any luck finding what she was looking for, a small corner of something plastic poked her finger. with a small grunt, she pulled a polaroid picture out from one of the menus.

a photo of her and kendall from her first soccer tournament shone back at her. hair tied back in a pony tail, second place trophy in her hands, she beamed at the camera, smile nearly blinding.

katie was on her brother's shoulders, and he looked up at her, hands encircling her tiny ankles, with so much pride in his eyes.

how embarassing, she told herself, studying the image for a few more seconds, before her vision shifted back to the drawer, and she spotted her black shades by a pad of sticky notes.

-

when jennifer returned from the grocery store, she was anxious to get the frozen foods into the freezer as quickly as she could before they melted in the los angeles heat. her mission was interrupted as her hand reached for the freezer handle on the left side of the fridge, and she noticed a photo of her children she hadn't seen in ages taped up on the see-through door.

oh... that's where that went.

[reasoningdaily]

16 Black Innovators Who Changed Food Forever

Macaroni and cheese. Ice cream. French fries. Jack Daniel's whisky. Frozen foods in general.

We wouldn't have any of the above foods, plus many others, were it not for Black food innovators and figureheads that have made significant contributions and altered the way we eat and make food today.

Below are just some of the stories of these incredibly talented and inspiring individuals. Some of these names came from research via the New York Times and Food and Wine, but we've also included historical sourcing and context for each person as well. You can click on their names to view those original pieces.

Nathan "Nearest" Green

Known as "Uncle Nearest," Nathan Green was a skilled distiller who mastered the "Lincoln County" process. This method of distilling is thought by food historians and whiskey experts alike to have been brought in by slaves, and uses charcoal to filter and purify foods. The "Lincoln County" process, in particular, uses sugar maple charcoal to filter bourbon.

Green trained hired hand Jasper Newton Daniel (known to the world as "Jack Daniel") while working on a priest's distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Daniel eventually made him the first master distiller of Jack Daniel's, the famous Tennessee whisky many people drink today.

While Jack Daniel's shares the story of Green on their website, an all minority-led whisky brand named "Uncle Nearest" continues to build upon his legacy with spirits that use the same distilling technique, but feature Green's name on the bottle.

While Thomas Jefferson is sometimes credited with bringing foods like mac & cheese and ice cream to the United States, Hemings was the one who actually learned to make them. A slave in the ownership of Jefferson prior to his presidency, Hemings traveled with him to France in 1784 specifically to learn the art of French cuisine.

Hemings became the first American trained as a French chef in history as a result, bringing back several dishes to the United States. French fries, ice cream, macaroni and cheese, creme brulee, French meringues, and French whipped cream are just a few examples. These dishes and others would be incorporated in Hemings' signature half-French, half-Virginian style of cooking he became renowned for.

Hemings would later also cook one of the most famous dinners in American history: the one between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton that settled who would pay for the Revolutionary War and established Washington, D.C. as the United States' capital. He eventually was freed by Jefferson in 1796.

Zephyr Wright

Zephyr Wright was the personal chef for President Lyndon B. Johnson and his family for over twenty years. It was her cooking that made the Johnson household a popular one for D.C. dinner parties.

Wright would follow Johnson to the White House during his tenure, and was in charge of the home cooking in the White House kitchen. She would also temporarily cook all meals, including VIP ones, in between the tenures of two White House Executive Chefs.

Wright is thought to have heavily influenced Johnson's support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964,. Wright was known to have spoken up to the President during his time in Congress about the injustices she faced road tripping between Texas and D.C. during congressional recesses, saying that she was not allowed to use the bathroom in areas she was driving through, and couldn't stop off and eat at restaurants. President Johnson reportedly used some of her stories to convince Congress to sign the bill. He would also give her a White House pen when the act was signed into law.

Leah Chase

The Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase was the heart and soul of Dooky Chase's restaurant in New Orleans across seven decades. Known for her fried chicken, red beans and rice, gumbo, and other classics, Chase started out in the 1940s when she got a job as a server at a restaurant. She eventually took over the helm and made it a safe haven for anyone to come and eat at.

Dooky Chase's was known as one of the few places that it was publicly okay for races to mix at, since the cops wouldn't bother activists inside the restaurant. Thus, leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including local leaders and national ones like Martin Luther King Jr., would often strategize while eating there.

Chase would go on to serve presidents like Barack Obama and George W. Bush, along with Associate Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and other influential figures. Disney has even made a movie with a character inspired by her: Princess Tiana of Princess and the Frog.

Abby Fisher

Around the early 1880s, Abby Fisher was known for her award-winning pickles and the Mrs. Abby Fisher Pickle Company in San Francisco. She had at least 35 years of cooking experience, some estimates had it, and the awards she won for her food reflected that.

However, Fisher is probably best known for publishing one of the first cookbooks ever authored by an African-American woman. The book, called What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking, contains over 160 recipes and uses the dictated words of Fisher herself.

The cookbook surged in popularity in the late 20th century when a publisher began reprinting it in 1995. Today, it offers a window into these early recipes that places like museums try to recreate for guests to sample.

Edna Lewis

Edna Lewis became a legend while she cooked at Cafe Nicholson in Midtown Manhattan starting in 1949. Her fame and Southern recipes led to guests like Marlon Brando, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Salvador Dali showing up for dinner. After stepping away from the chef's role (as an active partner) in 1952, she would lecture at the American Museum of Natural History while working as a chef and private caterer.

Lewis would later become inspired to write her first cookbook as demand for them grew in 1972. She was one of the first African-American women from the South that would publish a cookbook that did not hide her name, gender, or race. She would go on to publish more in the future, eventually becoming known as the Grand Dame and Grand Doyenne of Southern cooking.

Larry James and Jereline Bethune

The Bethune family, to this day, runs Brenda's Bar-Be-Que Pit in Montgomery, Alabama. Open since 1942, the restaurant would become an important hub for those in the Civil Rights Movement.

After Rosa Parks infamously refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, Larry James and Jereline Bethune were instrumental in using their restaurant to organize bus boycott efforts around the city. As the movement continued and literacy test laws (meant to curtail the Black vote) were introduced, Jereline would also quietly hold lessons teaching other African-Americans how to read. They were then able to pass these literacy tests and go out and vote.

Alfred L. Cralle

Ice cream today would not be the same without the work of Alfred Cralle. Born just after the Civil War, he had an affinity for mechanics as a young age, and would go study at Wayland Seminary, a school set up after the Civil War to educate newly freed African-Americans.

Cralle would go on to work as a porter at a drugstore and a hotel in Philadelphia, and developed the idea of the ice cream scoop while watching people struggle using two different spoons to get the ice cream into cones. Cralle's mechanical inventional, which is the basis of how ice cream scoops work to this day, was invented in 1897.

Cralle would also become a successful promoter of businesses in Philly, and was the assistant manager of the Afro-American Financial, Accumulating, Merchandise, and Business Association in Pittsburgh.

Ever heard the story of how potato chips were invented to spite a customer at a restaurant? George Crum was the chef at said restaurant, the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs. A customer came in around the summer of 1853 wanting extra-thin French Fries, frustrating Crum to the point he sliced them as thin as possible, fried them in grease, and sent them out.

The chips became a big hit, eventually becoming known as "Saratoga Chips." While Crum never patented the dish, he did open his own restaurant, "Crumbs House," that served a basket of them at every table.

Chips wouldn't become a grocery product until 1895, and the concept of bagged chips didn't show up until 1926.

Joseph Lee was one of the most influential people when it came to industrializing the way we make bread.

Having worked in a bakery from a young age, Lee eventually became the owner of two restaurants in Boston, as well as a hotel and a catering company. Looking to find a way to minimize bread waste, he eventually invented a machine that would convert day-old bread into breadcrumbs. Patented in 1895, he later sold the rights and the breadcrumb maker would spread across the world.

That wasn't Lee's only invention, however. He would later patent the idea for an automatic bread maker that mixed and kneaded the dough, the basis to the same devices (think, stand mixers) that we still use in our kitchens today.

Lloyd Hall is considered to be one of the pioneers in the world of food chemistry. A pharmaceutical chemist for Griffith Laboratories in Chicago who completed graduate school, Hall would be awarded over 100 patents and received multiple honorary doctorate degrees for his work.

Hall's main area of work came around the development of techniques to preserve food. Some of his most revolutionary patents included using  "flash-dried" salt crystals that revolutionized meatpacking. He also introduced the use of antioxidants to prevent the spoilage of fats and oils in baked goods, and developed a process known as "Ethylene Oxide Vacugas," which could control the growth of bacteria and molds in food.

John Standard was an inventor instrumental in modernizing two pieces of kitchen equipment that virtually every household has today: stoves and refrigerators.

Refrigeration was a concept that was being researched as early as the 1830s, but mainly focused on using some sort of power. Standard's improvement to the fridge, patented in 1891, was an unpowered design that used a manually filled ice chamber as the central cooling unit.

Standard also made significant upgrades to the oil-powered stove, patenting one with a space-saving design in 1889 that could be used in applications like buffet-style meals on trains.

If you've worked in the food industry or any commercial transportation that required keeping stuff cold, you've likely seen the Thermo King brand somewhere in your lifetime. Frederick McKinley Jones was the founder of that company, and inventor of the first automated refrigerated system for trucks.

A skilled and gifted electrician and mechanic, Jones had patents for sixty different inventions across a wide variety of fields, including the portable X-ray machine, motion picture devices, and even medical storage units.

He's most known for the Thermo King, the refrigerated system he invented, because it allowed for fresh goods from around the world to be transported and sold in stores. Jones is essentially responsible for not just all refrigerated transport globally, but also the entire frozen food industry.

Known as the "Oyster King of New York," Downing was most known for his 19th-century restaurant, Thomas Downing's Oyster House. His oyster hall was legendary, with prominent figures like Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens having dined there.

Downing was born a free man, as his parents were freed by plantation owner John Downing. He grew up and was educated on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, and eventually made his way up to New York following the war of 1812. Like many other African-Americans in New York, Downing eventually went into the oyster business, opening his own oyster cellar in the 1820s.

Oyster cellars were the universal food of New York at the time (similar to hot dogs today), but many establishments weren't as trusted as Downing's. That's because he specifically catering it towards the fine dining clientele, with a large dining area, carpet, and chandeliers gracing the hall. Elaborate dishes like oyster-stuffed turkeys and a pan roast made with wine and chili graced the menu.

This, at the time, meant that African-Americans couldn't eat Downing's restaurant, but few were aware of the double life he led. Downing's basement was a key stop in the Underground Railroad, and as an abolitionist, he helped many that were escaping the South in search of freedom. He also led political efforts, funding schools for African-American children and leading the fight in desegregating New York's trolley system.

Downing was so regarded in New York that when he passed away in 1866, the New York City Chamber of Commerce closed so that its members could attend his funeral.

The sugar industry in the United States has Norbert Rillieux to thank for allowing them to become so powerful. Were it not for his inventions, making sugar would still be a time-consuming and dangerous process.

Originally, the sugar refinement process, known as "The Jamaica Train," was dangerous and expensive. Laborers (usually slaves) would transfer ladles of scalding hot sugar case juice between open boiling kettles, often resulting in scalding and terrible burns (anyone who's worked with sugar knows how painful it can be). The result was a dark syrup that was molded into cones and dried before being sold.

From  1834-1843, Rillieux developed a system for refining and crystallizing sugar using a much safer and controlled method, allowing the United States to eventually dominate the sugar market. His process is still used today for freeze-drying food, pigments, and other food products.

Many people know George Washington Carver for the myriad of products he invented that utilized peanuts or sweet potatoes. As an agricultural scientist working in the South, he was also a man responsible for helping revitalize much of the economy in that region.

Working out of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Carver was a teacher and a researcher from the late 1890s until his passing in 1943. An early pioneer of crop rotation, he encouraged farmers to plant peanuts in the soil after harvest to replenish lost nutrients, helping farmers improve not just their livelihoods, but their diets as well.

Carver's research and work focused on revitalizing soil and maximizing plant production while keeping costs to a minimum. Outside of agriculture, he was a massive promoter of racial equality, and massive advocate of peanut oil as a potential treatment for polio. While never proven, the claim was widely circulated in media, and eventually turned into a "Peanuts for Polio" fundraising effort that helped raise money for medical care and benefits for children affected with the disease.

Following Carver's passing, then-Senator Harry S. Truman sponsored legislation that would lead to the construction of the George Washington Carver National Monument. It was the first-ever national memorial to an African-American.

[villasrental]

Villa FLNT 4 is one of our most preferred villa options located in Kirme Village, Faralya. Villa, with its 2 bedrooms, private pool and private garden, and a location close to the sea and the beach, will be the ideal villa rental alternative for families of 4 peoples and honeymooners. Designed with extremely modern and luxury furniture, Villa Villa FLNT 4 has all the comforts you may need in a holiday villa.

1. Bedroom 1 Double Bed + Air Conditioning + Nightstand + Wardrobe + Master Bathroom

2nd Bedroom 2 Single Beds + Air Conditioning + Nightstand + Wardrobe + Master Bathroom

Private Pool & Sunbeds & Garden Seating & BBQ

Kitchen: Refrigerator, dining table, built-in cooker set, microwave oven, kettle, toaster and all kitchen inventory for your comfort.

In line with the demands of our guests staying at villa, where you can rent annually, seasonally, monthly, weekly or daily, we offer the most affordable price for daily tours of Faralya, which are frequently mentioned in Faralya promotional videos and travel pages, as well as daily villa cleaning. You can get detailed information about our Villa FLNT 4's prices and the availability of the villa, which change during the peak periods of the season, from our call center, and you can take advantage of the best price advantages we will offer you.

*** As Dreamofholiday, one of the most reliable companies in the villa rental and villa holidays industry in Turkey, we can guarantee that you will not have any problems in our Fethiye holiday villas and vacation rentals that you have chosen for your Mugla villa rental options and that you will definitely be comfortable.

Note 1: Since our villas are located in nature, regular disinfection and spraying measures are carried out due to Covid-19. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that there are butterflies, insects, flies, etc. in the environment, which will not bother you.

Note 2: Additionally, since our system includes Villa FLNT, Villa FLNT 2, Villa FLNT 3 and Villa FLNT 4 in close proximity, large families and groups of friends will have the opportunity to rent multiple villas.

Villa FLNT 4 - Transfers

Dalaman Airport to Kirme Village Transfers: 90 km

Fethiye Bus Station to Villa FLNT 4 Transfers: 30 km

Things to Do in Faralya

* Paragliding,

* Water sports,

* Trekking,

* Cultural tours,

* Fethiye nightlife,

* Faralya yacht charter,

* Helicopter tours in Faralya,

* Our subsidiary Arsis Vip Transfer offers you an additional 10% discount on airport transfers and daily travel tours in Faralya.

Happy Holidays..!

[financieur]

V.01 ━━ M/Y Étoile. Commissioned in 2017 from an Italian Shipyard and delivered during the Summer 2019 in Monaco, the M/Y Étoile is a 6 levels yacht, and the replacement to the 'Nëperke' Yacht, his 2005 Sunseeker Predator 108. It was a much needed [ and desired ] upgrade to make justice to the position Le Chiffre now occupied within Quantum. It remained useful even past the takeover that Spectre went through by his hands in late 2019.

The boat's furniture was bespoke to his necessities, design to reflect little to nothing of his own personality and much of what he was perceived by others, and then crafted by an Italian atelier. As for the ship's internal structure, all finishes, such as the hardwood floors and ceilings, and details, such as the illumination coloring, were carefully chosen by Le Chiffre himself. The decor is nearly monochromatic, with the wood, soft lines and warm indirect lightening being a way to break the coldness of the palette and feign a sense of comfort to make it livable. The hull is painted in a mirror-like coating that uses a special coverage to avoid overheating the surfaces.

Another heavily customized feature of Étoile is the security infrastructure. The decks are all equipped with deck sensory arrays, which give an alert whenever people walk over it, as well as infrared beam sensors , lock-down vessel system, live CCTV and real time tracking by his team of choice. The ship is also equipped with an infirmary and an extremely well stocked armory. The Crew counts with a minimum of 4 security guards and an emergency surgeon in every trip it does.

The main deck is where all guest accommodations can be found, as well as the main lounging and guest entertainment areas. The vessel can comfortably fit 60 guests for events and 10 guests for travels in 5 rooms, divided between a VIP Stateroom, almost as well equipped as the Master Suite, two double cabins and two twin cabins. The upper deck holds the dining rooms and a private kitchen, as well as a sunbathing area and a bar. The fly deck, also known as owner's deck, is where the master suite can be found, equipped with a master bathroom and a walk-in closet, a small office space and a security control room can also be found at this deck. The sun deck holds only a small lounging area with a bar and another sunbathing area.

The lower deck is where the crew is accommodated, as well as most of the functional rooms, such as the laundry room, storage and pantries, can be found. The engine deck is where the technical rooms are found, such as the boat engine room, the infirmary and the armory.

Despite being considered his primary residence for many years, now the yacht spend most of the year docked either at Port Cala del Forte in Italy or the Falmouth Harbour Marina in Antigua, being only used by Le Chiffre when he want to travel in a more secure manner, or to entertain certain guests.

[turquoisenintendo64]

the blonde

introducing !

apartment 2A

Katsuki Bakugo

master chef & clean freak. would rather kill himself than say he’s wrong or apologize (or admit he loves his friends with his whole heart). only listens to classical music, his spotify wrapped it’s like if thomas jefferson had spotify. his favourite movies are Die Hard and Rocky, he liked Whiplash but has only watched it once. he secretly enjoys romantic comedies but will take that secret to the grave. was a harry potter kid, and when denki took quizzes and he got gryffindor he went on a 10 minute rant about why he was a slytherin.

Eijiro Kirishima

loves shopping and goes with mina. has a 5 step skincare routine but has the clearest skin ever. loves The A-Team and forced the guys to watch it (they ended up liking it too). listens to everything, and i mean everything, from reggaeton to russian phonk (😭). his favourite movies are Braveheart and the Samurai trilogy, he also adores Big Hero 6.

Denki Kaminari

tries his best to be organised but his room is super messy, really clean though (katsuki will NOT let their rooms be dirty). genuinely thinks he’s so funny but he’s just saying things that don’t make sense atp. listens to rap, and secretly enjoys jazz. likes musicals, jiro made him watch Heathers with him and he loved it. his favourite movie is Tron: Legacy, he absolutely loves Deadpool, The Hangover, Superbad and all those shitty movies only people with broken humor can enjoy.

Hanta Sero

THE chill guy. he also loves cooking and takes turns with katsuki in the kitchen. has a pet turtle called Sonic. he listens to Bad Bunny religiously, and his second favourite is Romeo Santos. his favourite movie is Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, obviously loves Spider-Man and also genuinely enjoys watching movies with dumb humor with denki.

(occasional) special guests . . .

Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki !

izuku lives on the third floor and todoroki is dating?? seeing?? talking to?? something?? sero, so they spend a lot of time in their apartment. they’re in the apartment’s group chat for some reason, they are the VIP guests.

[madiomens]

Just Pretend [n.s.]

Chapter Nineteen

We had a 6 AM flight to the next country, landing in Germany around 8:30. We rolled into the Airbnb at 9:15 all shells of ourselves from the insanity that last night was. We all made our way to the bedrooms to try and get some rest before the show tonight. There wasn't VIP for this show, so the guys didn't have to get to the venue until around 2:30 to help finish setting up and do a quick soundcheck. Noah and I claimed the master bedroom and closed the door behind us, collapsing on the large bed in the center. I rolled onto my side and he scooted closer, chest flush against my back. He slid his arms around me to hold me tightly. I laced my fingers through his that were around my midsection and hugged his hand to my chest, sighing contentedly. 

I stirred around 12 and rolled over in Noah's arms, eyes landing on his sleeping face. I smiled and brushed the hair off his forehead, the strands shorter from him cutting his hair again.

"Mmm." He mumbled, rolling onto his back and taking me with him.

I chuckled as I stretched the length of my body down his, my feet right above his knees. "Noah." I said, poking his cheek.

"Mmm mmm." He protested, shaking his head. 

I chuckled again and placed a kiss on his lips, pulling back to see him peeking at me through his eyelashes. "We need to eat before going to the venue." I said softly, propping myself up on his chest.

"But I just wanna stay here." He whined, pulling me closer so my head dropped onto his chest.

I laughed and wrapped my arms around him, placing a kiss over his hoodie. "Me too but we have jobs to attend. You have some very dedicated fans to please."

"That I do." He said, tightening his arms around me.

I sighed and pushed myself up to get out of his grasp, causing him to protest with a groan. I laughed and shook my head at him before crawling out of bed and holding a hand out for him. He sighed and grabbed my hand to let me help him out of bed. We made our way to the bathroom to brush our teeth quickly before opening the bedroom door to leave. He smacked my ass when I walked past him and I turned to smack his chest, causing him to laugh. He bent down to kiss my cheek before making his way down the hall.

I watched his back with a smile, shaking my head at him. My eyes landed on Nicholas standing in his doorway watching us, grin on his face. "What?" I questioned confusedly.

He shook his head. "You two are so in love."

I furrowed my brows as a weird pang hit my chest. "No we aren't."

He chuckled and turned to follow Noah down the hallway. "Whatever you say, Maddie."

I chewed on my lip with my brows still furrowed before following them to the kitchen area. The guys put together 'family noodles' which we quickly scarfed down so we could get our stuff together for the show.  We arrived to the venue right on time and started setting up the rest of the stage, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept mulling over Nicholas' comment from earlier, the inside of my lip raw from me chewing on it so much. 

There's no way Noah and I were in love. Definitely not this fast. I've only been on the road with the band for a little over a month, and even if it does feel like it's been a lifetime, it hasn't. There's no way I could be stupid enough to let myself get attached to a man this fast again. Not when I promised myself I'd never let it happen again since the last time.

"Hey." Noah said, rubbing my back and jerking me out of my thoughts. "You ok?" He questioned, concern on his face.

I nodded, forcing a small grin. "I'm fine."

He furrowed his brows as his eyes roamed my face, as if picking apart the lie I was forcing.  "You can tell me what it is when you're ready." He said, placing a chaste kiss on my cheek before joining the other guys to help finish up the stage.

A pain shot through my heart at the gesture. He is so unbelievably thoughtful and caring, which makes my heart soar and break all at the same time. I don't know how it happened, but the 6'3 brunette has somehow weaseled his way into my heart without giving me time to stop it.

And that scares the fuck out of me.

I know Noah is nothing like my ex. I know he would never in a million years put his hands on me, or speak to me anywhere close to the way my ex did. I know all of this. But somewhere deep down, my brain is telling me to pause. It's screaming at me that I'm stupid and that I'm letting my guard down way too fast. That I'm only going to be hurt again. 

I took a deep, shaky breath and slowly let it out before making my way backstage to start getting ready. I had no motivation to go all out tonight, so I just applied some mascara and put on my brow gel, leaving my face bare. I pulled on an oversized black sweater with leggings and my Doc's before pulling my hair into a high ponytail, pulling out some pieces to frame my face. I pulled my lip down to look at the damage my anxiety has given me, and sighed when I saw the bloody teeth marks on it. I looked at myself in the mirror, mentally willing myself to shove my thoughts to the back of my brain so I could efficiently do my job tonight. Noah walked up to me when I walked out of the bathroom and I gave him a close lipped smile before walking past him to make my way to the crowd.

"Maddie?" He questioned, grabbing my arm. "What's going on?"

My eyes met his concerned ones and another pain shot through my heart. He doesn't deserve this, but my brain won't let me stop. "Nothing, I gotta get to the fans for the opener."

I walked out of the backstage area before he could say anything else, knowing that if one more word escaped his mouth I'd be a blubbering puddle of emotions and anxiety. I pushed the negative thoughts aside once I started greeting everyone, offering fake smiles to them. 

"Maddie! How are you and Noah?" A fan questioned at the front, causing others to turn their attention towards us.

I forced a smile and laugh before answering. "Good, thank you for asking." I bent down to open a package of waters to blink back the tears that threatened to surface. I handed out bottles to people along the barricade, tossing a few further back. "I hope you guys enjoy the show!" I yelled, smile plastered back onto my face.

It took everything in me not to zone out while I sat on my box during the opener. I swung my feet back and forth to give my body some sort of way to relieve the anxiety clouding my mind. Before I knew it, it was almost time for the guys to go on. I decided not to go backstage to see them before, knowing everyone would be asking me what was wrong and probably wind up being late going on stage. My phone buzzed with a message and I pulled it out to see Noah's name on my screen.

'Where are you?'

I stared at the message, chewing on my lip as I tried to come up with an excuse to type back before he sent another text.

'What's going on? Did I do something?'

My brows furrowed as emotions bubbled up over how I was making him feel. How am I supposed to tell him that he is all of a sudden the most important person in the world to me but I can't let him be? I sighed and typed back a message.

'I'm fine, the fans are a little overheated. Gonna stay with them. Good luck <3'

I locked my phone and put it back into the pocket of my leggings with a sigh. Using the fans as a cop out is pretty low, but I can't muster up the courage to go backstage and make eye contact with his big brown eyes. I would crumble underneath his stare immediately. The lights went out, interrupting my thoughts as the screams rang throughout my ears. I took a deep breath as a smile slid onto my face watching everyone's excited faces. Something that can instantly put me in a better mood is witnessing pure joy from people.

The entire show Noah kept sending me concerned looks, slowly cracking away the front I had up. As soon as Just Pretend started, I felt myself tearing up at the lyrics and melody as Noah's voice glided through the air. I made the mistake of looking up at him, instantly making eye contact with his big eyes. My breath caught in my throat while we kept eye contact, the words piercing me like a knife.

'I know the pain that you hide behind the smile on your face

And not a day goes by where I don't think I. feel the same

So will you wait me out

Or will you drown me out?'

My eyes welled up with tears as he sang, my vision becoming blurry while I desperately tried to will them away. Everything inside me screamed to break the eye contact, but every part of me was also unable to. As if this song didn't already have enough meaning to me.

The song ended and the lights went out, causing me to blink and turn my face away from the stage. I wiped the tears inconspicuously that escaped my eyes, rubbing my fingers off on my sweater. I forced myself not to look at the stage the rest of the show and all but ran backstage once the guys finished, hurrying so I could pack my stuff and avoid the worried stares. 

"Maddie?" Noah's voice came out, causing me to pause as I was packing my makeup bag. "Baby, what's wrong?" He said, gently resting a hand on my back.

I chewed on my lip as I teared up again. I stood up as I zipped my bag, avoiding eye contact. "I'll talk at the house."

"Hey," He said, halting my movements and placing his hands on my cheeks to force me to look at him. "did someone say something?" He said, eyes searching mine. Concern was etched into every feature of his face, chocolate brown eyes boring into my hazel ones. 

I chewed on my lip more before he brought a thumb up to pull it from between my teeth. "Sort of. It's ok." I said, voice coming out barely above a whisper. "I'll talk to you at the house." I said before grabbing my bag and leaving the bathroom before the flood gates opened.

I rushed outside to the car, sighing when the door closed behind me and I was left in the silence. I laid my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes, trying to calm my brain down. It felt like only a few minutes before the guys were climbing in with me, the smell of sweat confirming Noah probably rushed them to leave. I saw Noah look down at me from my peripheral before he brought his hand to mine and laced our fingers together, thumb rubbing the back of my hand. I let myself give in to the contact from him and laid my head on his shoulder, causing him to lay his on top of mine. At this moment I didn't care that he was sweaty from the show, I just needed to let myself give into his warmth one last time for awhile.

We got to the house and climbed out, all of us making our ways to our separate rooms. I paused outside of Noah's as he walked in, heart pounding so hard it could leap from my chest. He turned to look at me, furrowing his brows.

He nodded his head towards the room. "Come on."

I sighed and walked in, closing the door softly behind me. I leaned my back against it and closed my eyes, dropping my head backwards so that it hit the door with a soft thud. "Noah." I whispered.

"Hey, what's going on?" He questioned, hand landing on my arm and causing me to open my eyes.

I chewed on my lip more as my eyes searched his. "I have let myself get too attached too fast." I said, voice even more of a whisper than before.

He furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

"I promised myself." I said, pausing to take a deep breath. "I can't let myself fall for a guy just for him to pull the rug out from under me and break my heart."

His brows furrowed deeper, frown on his face. "Maddie, you know I would never."

I clenched my jaw and broke our eye contact, unable to speak my thoughts if I looked at him any longer. "I think I need to slow down."

"Wait, what?" He questioned, softly placing his hand on my face. "Maddie, where is this coming from?"

I sighed as tears filled my eyes. "Nicholas made a comment about us being in love earlier and it reminded me of how stupid I was being. It's barely been past a month of tour and I'm this far deep into you."

"You're not being stupid, I'm in deep too." He said gently, trying to pull my face to look at him. "Come on, baby, look at me." My brows pinched together as I let him turn my face, tears falling down my face the second I made eye contact with him. "I am all in. I only want you." He said, brushing my tears away with his thumb. 

I shook my head as the tears kept flowing, a sob threatening to bubble up. "I only want you, but I need time to be ok with that."

"What do you mean?" He questioned, placing his other hand on my face. "What do you need to happen?"

My chest heaved as I struggled to even out my breath, the sadness on his face breaking my heart. "I just need some time. I'll sleep in the extra room."

His eyes searched mine, brown orbs filling with tears and breaking my heart even more. He nodded, leaning down to place a kiss on my forehead. "Whatever you need, baby." He whispered, voice shaky and cracking.

I chewed harshly on my lip as the sob choked me, holding my breath to push it down. "Thank you." I said before slipping out from under him to leave the room and make my way to the spare.

"Maddie." He called at my back from his room, causing me to turn and face him. He had tears on his face that matched mine, cheeks red from emotions. "Come back to me."

A half of the sob escaped me and I nodded before slipping into the room and quickly shutting the door behind me. I covered my mouth with my hands and slid down the door, body shaking as I fully let the tears out. I sobbed into my hands, tears sliding down my sleeves and head pounding through the pain I was feeling. A soft knock came on a door across the room and I jumped before my eyes landed on Folio emerging from an apparently shared bathroom. 

"Maddie?" He questioned softly.

Another sob escaped me, causing him to rush across the room and crouch down to my level. He pulled me into a hug and rocked us back and forth to try and console me, violent shakes taking over my body.

"I always fuck good things up." I said through my tears. "I can't let myself be happy."

He pulled back to lift my face, pushing the hair off it. "What happened?"

"Nicholas made a comment about us being in love and my brain spiraled, reminding me how stupid I was being." I said through my shaky voice.

He furrowed his brows. "Stupid? How?"

"Because," I started, hiccup interrupting me. "I haven't known him for very long and I'm already so attached."

He softly chuckled and wiped tears from my face. "And that's a bad thing?"

I nodded as more tears fell. "Yes because the last time this happened was my ex you met."

Sympathy washed over his face. "Oh, Maddie." He said, causing me to go into another crying fit. He wrapped his arms back around me. "You know Noah is nothing like him." He said, causing me to nod against his chest. "Trauma is a nasty thing, and it needs time to heal. I understand if you need some time, but just know Noah is a good one. I've seen the way he looks at you. He's all in."

"That's what terrifies me." I cried out. "How could he be all in with me? I'm just Maddie."

He pulled my face up so I would look at him. "You don't even realize how amazing you are." He said, wiping my tears. "And how incredibly fucking lucky Noah is that you have chosen him. So many guys want to be in his shoes."

My eyes searched his as my tears slowed down, realization hitting me. "Folio...."

He shook his head and wiped more tears from my face. "It's fine, you don't have to say anything. Just know Noah is lucky and will make you the happiest woman ever if you let him." He said, soft grin on his face. "I know you'll never love me the way you love him."

Fresh tears welled up in my eyes at his confession, watching him wipe more tears from my face before pushing himself onto his feet. He pulled me to mine and steadied me with his hands on my shoulders, soft smile on his face. "Thank you for always being here for me regardless." I said softly, voice cracking.

He rubbed my cheek with his thumb. "That'll never change."

He walked out of my room and closed the door to the bathroom softly, leaving me with my thoughts and tears for the rest of the night.

[daddysmusicblog]

My Dream

I'm fascinated by the idea of opening a listening and instrument bar or Air BnB. Come in, grab a beverage, and we have coffee tea or something stronger. Are you hungry? We have a full kitchen staff with a large menu. You come in and order and pick your music, and we will bring it to your table with the appropriate machine to play your music on from our library. Relax in one of our comfy leather chairs. What's that you need a warm blanket? We got you covered. Whatever you need for your mood, we have it. Want to spend a night in a private room with a mini bar and a whole library of media to yourself or with a friend or partner? Take one of our VIP suites. Do you want to feel what it's like to turn a vintage guitar up in a loud vintage guitar amplifier? Come rent one of our many new and vintage instruments. Downstairs, we have a full service recording studio with mix and mastering staff. You want to record that album of songs you wrote in high school but never had the chance? We got you covered. Friday nights are live music nights. You just vibe, and we will take care of everything else. That is like my dream to have a place like this. I would take the proceeds from this to sponsor and build a music school to teach anyone who wants to learn to play an instrument but can not afford it free of charge.

[serafiel-jacobs]

Music of the Night (Fanfic)

New chapter from my main series 🩷

Venigni took him to the Opera House, Pinocchio was supposed to go with his father now that he was ungrounded but his father was dead set on fixing that kitchen.

“Father just ask for help!” Pinocchio was pouting this was ridiculous.

“I BUILD YOU, I CAN BUILD THIS KITCHEN!”

So his uncle Venigni took him instead, at least his father promised him that he would make it up to him. Pinocchio was wearing fancy-looking clothes and so was Gemini, wearing a tiny suit inside his cage as both wanted to feel pretty this is the Opera House they were going to after all and, today it was more filled than usual; Pulcinella was there too enjoying a good time with them.

“Don't feel embarrassed Pinocchio, Master Venigni also burned his kitchen once” Pulcinella said.

“Really?” It made Pinocchio at least feel a little less insecure about his inability to use the stove and oven.

“That was such a long time ago, plus I was so young back then” Venigni still remembers that day, Pulcinella has always been the one to cook for him and he wanted to give him some rest.

“You were 20 years old”

“Okay let's change the subject” Venigni was so embarrassed, ever since that day he hasn't tried to cook again, thankfully Pulcinella is a great cook and is always there for him.

A lot of people were flocking to Venigni’s side, but that’s to be expected when you are the richest man in Krat, people compliment him trying to get on his good side, and the staff is extra nice when he gets here or in any place he visits, he is used to it, and he loves the attention, only fair that a genius like him gets all the praise he deserves for his hard work, but today it’s annoying because he is trying to spend time with his family.

Pinocchio was getting nervous from all the attention, he got even more nervous because he spotted Adeline, as she might be a spoiled princess but she still has the lead role in this play and others, and her musical talent is impressive. Pinocchio hid behind his uncle but thankfully the show was about to start so they made their way towards their seats in the VIP section, it had the best view and his beloved nephew deserved to see this Opera from the best angle. The seats were special as it was more of a big comfy couch they could share.

“Are you okay?” Venigni was concerned, even more since Adeline would be the star, she was the one playing the role of Carmen.

“I’m fine” Pinocchio wasn’t lying, his nerves were slowly fading away and he understood that Adeline as rude as she can be is doing her job as a singer/actress.

Venigni smiled, he was glad that Pinocchio was in a better mood, nothing should ruin their time together; before it finally started each one of them ordered something to drink, Pinocchio ordered a soda and Venigni ordered a glass of champagne.

The show began and they were enjoying it together despite them being quiet as to fully appreciate it, with a few words shared in between; Pinocchio was really entranced by it so when he wanted to grab his drink in the darkness of the Opera House, he accidentally grabbed Venigni’s drink, he drank just a little before realizing his mistake.

“Um, sorry” He murmured.

“It’s okay Pinocchio don’t worry about it” Venigni smiled at him, there was nothing to worry about.

A few minutes passed in silence until…

*hic*

Oh no no no it was just so little! Venigni is panicking Pinocchio can’t get drunk like this.

*hic*

Pinocchio was apologizing over and over again, that he didn’t mean to drink it.

“It’s okay, it’s okay don’t worry I’m sure it will pass before you get home” Venigni let out an awkward laugh, “Otherwise your father is going to be a little angry at me”

“He is going to be furious” Pulcinella teased him in his usual neutral tone, which somehow made it even worse.

“Pulcinella please let’s not jinx it” Venigni could already hear Geppetto shouting at him.

The hiccups left as soon as they came but Pinocchio was starting to feel tired, he rested his head on his uncle’s shoulder, and he closed his eyes for just a few seconds but he fell asleep quickly.

No this is a disaster! Pinocchio is now going to be upset when he wakes up and realizes he missed half the show.

Pinocchio was fully asleep now, he grabbed Venigni and hugged him in his sleep, he had a firm grasp on him.

“He is not going to let go until he wakes up” Gemini chirped, he has seen Pinocchio sleep next to his father enough times and knows that will be the same case here.

Although Pinocchio hugs him from time to time Venigni isn’t used to this intense type of affection, Pinocchio looks so happy in his sleep, he doesn’t want to wake him up. He was playing with the boy’s hair, it was cute seeing him like this.

“I wish you would have fallen asleep this easily back when you were a child” Pulcinella was remembering when he had to take care of him.

Venigni had a lot of trouble falling asleep because… because he had nightmares about his parents' deaths. Sometimes he still has nightmares about it.

“Yeah…” Venigni’s voice had a sad tone.

“I’m sorry” Pulcinella was apologetic, “I didn’t mean to bring the mood down”

“It’s alright, I wish I could fall asleep so fast at this age”

“Master Venigni that’s because you can be just as much of a workaholic as Geppetto”

“Come on I don’t work that much”

“Mmm” Pulcinella began to remember “I believe years ago Antonia had to beg the two of you to actually go to sleep when she found the two of you working for 4 days straight”

“That was then, we have changed” Venigni knows that they don’t work as much as before.

“Geppetto has changed, you still stay awake until 1 am some days” Pulcinella was now scolding him.

“I used to fall asleep until 4 am” Venigni felt so proud for not staying awake that long anymore.

“…” Pulcinella was quiet, it was his silence of shame.

“Okay fine” Venigni finally admitted it, “I still work too much”

In a way, Venigni can be just as stubborn as Geppetto, even more so when it comes to work. The main reason is that both have always been too proud of their work, is hard to hand it down to others, knowing it’s not the way you do it and, critically analyzing every possible mistake others can make.

At least Venigni has always had Pulcinella for help, Geppetto always worked so much by himself not to mention how as the director of the Union he is the supervisor of each department.

Geppetto is close to retirement age, and he wonders what Geppetto’s plans are for that, Antonia is even closer to it as the age of retirement in Krat is 65; although recently legally it has been under consideration to reduce it to 60 and Venigni hopes that they do lower it.

Pinocchio was snuggling with him even more, Venigni was hugging him back, he loves the boy so much, he is so happy to have him by his side. He is a ray of sunshine, although Venigni still remembers when Pinocchio first rescued him, Pinocchio was so quiet and he looked so… sad, it was clear that the weight of saving everyone had taken a huge toll on him. Seeing him like this, it makes him smile to see how much his nephew has changed.

“No… get away you… shovel devil” Pinocchio was becoming agitated, talking in his sleep.

Huh, so that’s why Pinocchio hid behind his father when he came to work and saw a shoveling puppet. Although a part of Venigni doesn’t understand how a puppet with a shovel could be that intimidating, some had been armed with swords or even guns. But Pinocchio had dealt with so much, Venigni couldn’t even imagine all the danger he faced.

Venigni rubbed his back and Pinocchio calmed down, time passed and Pinocchio woke up just as soon as the show ended. He was a bit disappointed at first but he felt very calm and at peace, it felt nice to wake up in his uncle’s arms.

“Now Pinocchio” Venigni was patting his head, “Not a word about this to your father alright?”

Pinocchio nodded and it was time for him to head back home.

When they arrived Geppetto had finally finished the kitchen, he was so proud of himself, he would have kept bragging about it if it wasn’t because it was getting late, so Venigni and Pulcinella said their goodbyes, before leaving Pulcinella whispered something in Pinocchio’s ear and Venigni smiled, he was glad the two of them were getting along.

——

The next day, Venigni arrived early at work so that he could leave early, as he had to go back home and have a few meetings there. He heard the door of his office open with force, almost breaking it, and Venigni turned to see who it was.

“Hi Geppetto how-“

“WHY WAS MY SON DRUNK?!” Geppetto was fuming, Venigni had never seen Geppetto so angry at him, not even in that time he accidentally mixed some chemicals when he first started working and it made both of them faint on the spot because of the smell, someone had to come to help them.

Venigni went pale, he saw Pulcinella staring at him and he knew he had planned this. Why is his beloved Pulcinella corrupting poor Pinocchio?!

“Geppetto it was an accident I swear!”

Geppetto was shouting so loudly that all the workers at the factory must have heard him, Pulcinella is smiling from the inside as he can’t physically smile, it was good to team up with Pinocchio to embarrass a little his Master Venigni.

[someone-ds]

Totally insufferable is what he is. But God am I just drawn to insufferable men.

He walks with his chin up, clothes worth more than two of my paychecks combined, a kick in his step, and a smirk across his clean-shaven face that would bring any woman to her knees.

He has mastered the art of a souverain aura. He has had a thing for getting the rise out of me since day one. And how I hated his guts, ohh how I hated everything about his stupidly handsome face. He is smart I’ll give him that, almost as smart as me. Our professor has grown fond of our rivalry, instigating heated discussions and making us meet heads every lecture. I love a challenge and mmh how delicious of a challenge he is. Our eyes meet more often than I’d like. He watches me, in return I watch him. I cannot help myself. When he talks my ears perk up, the corners of my mouth curl up, and my eyes usually roll because of his awful trash talk. I fall victim to his charm and wit. I wish to sink my teeth into his throat and mark him as mine. He talks and talks to try and get a reaction out of me. Over the summer he has apparently forgotten how much fun it is. So he does it all the time. Was sich liebt neckt sich what loves that teases

And tease we do. He drives me crazy, he makes me wild. I want to just shut him up with my lips, he brings the worst out of me. And he loves that. God how he saviours my annoyed eyes and angry huffs. He feeds off it. It’s almost animal-like how we prey on each other. He drives to Germany every weekend, he’s from there. Something I tease him about constantly. the way he says certain words makes me cackle. ‘What was that? What did you just say, sorry I didn’t get it?’ ‘Ugh, how do you guys say that??’

My hometown is on his way to his hometown. So, he mentions every other Monday when he comes back to class. On Friday it so happens that instead of going getting off a stop later than he does; I get off at the same time as he does. We’re going to his apartment, in a building with a porter, community kitchens, cinemas, gaming rooms, saunas, and pools. It is straight out of a fucking movie. The walk up to the apartment he talks about the area, his feet and mine falling into sync. I am awestruck, cranking my neck up to see all those beautiful skyscrapers that surround us. It feels like I’m in a totally different city, a feeling that will continue to grow the longer you spend in his bubble. We walk into the rotating doors, and the portier watches me closely and asks me what I am doing here. ‘She’s with me’ he barks and goes up to him. He signs some paper and scowls the man for his rude behavior to his guest. I stand awkwardly to the side. A warm feeling in my stomach. ‘She’s with me’ echoes through my head. Strangely it sounds lovely coming from his lips. There is a tablet in front of the elevator behind two glass doors he used a keycard for us to pass through. He punches a number in, I’m too distracted to see which one. I scan the walls and the floor. We go in. The elevator is spacious and weirdly has no buttons on the inside. There is a red LED indicator telling us which floor we are on. ‘Wait, which floor do you live on again?’ He lowers his head a bit, I can hear the smirk on his pretty pink lips when he says ‘The 23rd’ My jaw drops. Then my head falls back, and a nervous laugh leaves me. I’ve never been this high above the ground before. My knees buckle a bit. He squared his shoulders and stepped out before me. He casually strolls the corridor talking about the VIP features he has; I pay him half a mind. More interested in my surroundings, the carpet and the wall, and the decorations. We go through the gaming lounge. ‘It’s a short cut’ he says and winks. I’m still awestruck and too mesmerized by everything to even consider mocking him for the cheesy line delivery. We are on the 23rd floor of a luxury apartment complex and all I can think about is how much I do not fit in here. We get to his door, it’s the last one in the hallway. He goes in. I stay two steps behind him not sure if I should come in or wait until he’s done grabbing his bags. ‘Come in, I’m sorry it’s so messy… I rarely have people over’ he says the last part more quietly. ‘Should I take my shoes off?’ is the first thing that leaves my mouth. He looks down at my feet and then just shakes his head no. ‘Nah you’re fine, doesn’t matter’. His apartment is smaller than I thought it’d be. A small kitchenette, and a queen-sized bed with a TV in front of it. A small desk and a beautiful dark blue velvet couch. The bathroom is off to the side down a small corridor. But what gets me is the view. The floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace that wraps around the whole apartment. He opens the door for me and rushes off to pack his bag while I stand quietly by the door. I walk around trying to get a feel of who he really is. A postcard by his bedside table and a picture of the family dog tell me he misses home more than he lets on. I get it- I think to myself. On his desk are two bottles of Dom Perigon 2010 and 2008. A small but heavy Porsche Trophy with his dad’s name on it. A small frame with a family picture around a table in a restaurant. He has his mother’s eyes. I wonder if anyone has ever told him that. I venture out to the balcony. The wind has my curls flying all over the place. I feel like a little kid giggling out there. I look over the city that I have come to call home for the past year. It looks completely different from up here. I feel like I’m on a different planet altogether. ‘How much do you pay for this?’ I say as I step over his clothes that had fallen from the clothing line. ‘1200€ without the garage, it’s 100 more with’ he says nonchalantly as if that’s not more than I make in 2 months.

My knees buckle again. I’m a bit dizzy, the wind and the adrenaline from being up so high are making it worse. I go back inside. I see an elegant black suitcase in the corner of the room. ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if that was a Rimowa suitcase?’ I think to myself. Those things are stupidly expensive. I go look at the black leather nametag with his Initials carved into it, I turn it over and of course, it is a fucking Rimowa suitcase. ‘You’re so fucking predictable.’ I shout in his general direction. ‘Is it true that you get lifelong insurance on these things and if it breaks, they provide you with a different one until yours is repaired?’ ‘Yeah, that’s true, I mean I paid 2,3k on that. That’s the least they can do.’ He changed his clothes and puts his driving shoes on, I bite back the remark about how only old men have dedicated driving shoes. We’re back at the elevator. We go from the 23rd floor to the -2nd floor in less than 30 seconds. We walk around the parking garage and the trunk of a black Q5 opens on its own as soon as we round the corner. He puts his bags inside, shuts the trunk, and walks over to the driver’s door. I’m still looking at the car. The plate with his name and lucky number on it sits proudly on the car. Gobsmacked. What the hell… I get in. The plush leather seat is nice, soft, and smooth. I feel like I’m in a Rocketship. I look around and every second that passes the more in awe I am. He reverses out of his parking space and off we go. His car is so high that I can’t really see over the hood. We drive out of the garage onto the busy streets of Vienna that are beginning to feel more like fucking Miami. He has a panorama roof that slides open, and he puts his hand out the top. The other rested comfortably on the leather steering wheel. ‘Be honest how many times have you stuck your head through this?’ He laughs and shakes his head. ‘Never I just put my hand out like this.’ It is weirdly attractive; he looks expensive and by association, I do too. And that feeling is growing on me. I have been in some car accidents and get nervous being in cars with people I’ve never driven before, especially young rich guys with a car that has 250 horsepower and an inflatable ego. ‘You’re not going to drive like a crazy person, are you?’ ‘I drive more than 500km in a week and have been for over a year, I’m better than most drivers. You’re safe with me don’t worry.’ He turns the music on and I relax in my seat. I then say something about being so high up in the air. He presses some buttons on the little touchpad in the middle of us and I can feel the hind tires lift and the car rising. Then the front tires, I watch as the hood of the car rises while we stand at the red light.

What. The. Fuck? He just lifted us 10cm off the ground. This is so intoxicating, I feel drunk. Bubbly and happy. More from the nerves but also from the sheer ridiculousness that this boy is. He drives us out of the city, and I relax in my seat. We talked about the car how much it cost and the upgrades he got. He starts singing along to the song that is playing. The sun is slowly setting and a strip of light slices through his eyes vertically leaving a honey chocolate strip in his eyes. I ask him how loud the music can get, and he puts it up all the way. And again, I feel like I’m not in Vienna and not with my academic rival but with a friend in Miami. The roof is open the music is loud and good, and I am getting used to feeling like I’m above the rest. The conversation goes from the car and his apartment to his dad and grandparents. His dad is a professional horse rider and owns a hotel that belonged to his grandparents. They own 35 horses and have like 5 luxury cars. He has a younger brother who lives with his mother. His parents are separated. He used to watch his dad on TV and cheer him on. ‘He was home for a day or two a week and then traveled for 3 weeks, I never saw him.’ ‘Did you miss him?’ I ask quietly. It seems like he loves his dad a great deal. ‘No’ his face crunches up a bit, tilting to the side. ‘He was never there so how could I even miss him?’ That breaks my heart a tiny bit. I ask about his mother. ‘Oh, she works in IT’ he says, and I can tell he is embarrassed. ‘Oh, that’s so cool what are you on about?’ His brother has a Michelin-star restaurant named after him. He has to come by every few weeks to walk around and say hello to the guests. The image of that makes me chuckle. I am still mostly looking up at the panoramic window that graces the roof of his car. A pleasant conversation is held with good music coming through the speakers. The wind makes my hair fly around. I feel free.

He drops me off at my house, and I shut the door not before wishing him a safe trip.

He is insufferable and mean. But he is a good guy. Not that I would know what that means. Good guys were never my type.

And over the weekend my mind kept going back. To the feeling of freedom.

[chcrrybcmbs]

𝑱𝑶𝑹𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑨 𝑲𝑬𝑵𝑵𝑬𝑫𝒀'𝑺     𝐓𝐖𝐎     𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓     𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐒     𝐎𝐅     𝐌𝐓𝐕     𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐒     𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄     𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃  .

[          billionaire row  estate          ]     ,     click  here  for  the  virtual  tour     .  

hey  mtv  ,  welcome  to  my  crib  !  this  elite  luxury  residence  is  located  on  over  38k  square  ft  of  land  ,  with  17k  square  feet  of  entertainment  decks  encapsulating  an  astonishing  array  of  amenities  and  items  from  around  the  world  .  the  triumphant  marvel  is  situated  in  bel  air’s  prestigious  community  of  billionaire  row  ,  worth  $250  million  dollars  .  the  estate  known  as  the  8th  wonder  of  the  world  was  built  in  2016  ,  only  owned  by  jordana  kennedy  herself  .  curated  over  4  floors  ,  this  modern  luxury  residence  includes  2  master  suites  ,  10  oversized  vip  guest  suites  ,  21  luxury  bathrooms  ,  three  gourmet  kitchens  ,  five  bars  ,  a  wellness  spa  ,  state  of  the  art  fitness  center  ,  85  foot  glass  title  infinity  swimming  pool  ,  40  seat  theater  ,  four  lane  bowling  alley  /  lounge  ,  a  sprawling  auto  gallery  with  cars  valued  at  more  than  $30  million  ( a gift to her son monroe when he still lived at home ) ,  a  seven  person  full  time  staff  ,  over  100  curated  art  pieces  ,  and  outdoor  water  -  proof  pop  up  theater  ,  two  fully  stocked  champagne  /  wine  cellars  ,  a  massive  assorted  candy  wall  and  the  most  advanced  home  tech  system  in  the  country  .  this home delivers on the promise of the most amazing man-made achievements of art and architecture ever built for those that want and desire the best of everything that exists in life.                   “  johnathan sr. likes to say this is less of a house and more like a museum , i'm sure he means it lacks coziness or something but I agree ... it is like a damn museum . every foot of this house holds memories from my family and friends . are we really surprised i'm known as the best host around with a house like this ?  “  

part  two     ,     [          tba          ]      ,     click  here  for  episode  tba     .     

[superbfunface]

Blending sophistication with comfort!

105' Mangusta 2007 - DAYA, 2400 Hp MTU 16V2000 M93 w/ KaMeWa Jets, 24K cruise, 32K speed, Andrea Bacigalupo and Stefano Righini design, GRP construction, 10 guests in 4 states, double salon, plush softgoods, AV receivers, Apple TV, multimedia players, Creston entertainment system, comprehensive kitchen, LED lighting, electric swim ladder, cockpit cover, master suite and VIP suite, two (2) crew cabins, stone backlit bar, al fresco seating, power retractable sunroof, sun bed lounge area, permanent crew maintained, Refit in 2024, Miami for viewing, https://shorturl.at/2m6d7, NicoleC@DenisonYachting.com $3,229,000 #Yacht #WorldwideYachtsman

[wwyachtsman]

Blending sophistication with comfort!

105' Mangusta 2007 - DAYA, 2400 Hp MTU 16V2000 M93 w/ KaMeWa Jets, 24K cruise, 32K speed, Andrea Bacigalupo and Stefano Righini design, GRP construction, 10 guests in 4 states, double salon, plush softgoods, AV receivers, Apple TV, multimedia players, Creston entertainment system, comprehensive kitchen, LED lighting, electric swim ladder, cockpit cover, master suite and VIP suite, two (2) crew cabins, stone backlit bar, al fresco seating, power retractable sunroof, sun bed lounge area, permanent crew maintained, Refit in 2024, Miami for viewing, https://shorturl.at/2m6d7, NicoleC@DenisonYachting.com $3,229,000 #Yacht #WorldwideYachtsman

[villasrental]

Villa FLNT 3 is one of our most preferred villa options located in Kirme Village, Faralya. Villa, with its 2 bedrooms, private pool and private garden, and a location close to the sea and the beach, will be the ideal villa rental alternative for families of 4 peoples and honeymooners. Designed with extremely modern and luxury furniture, Villa Villa FLNT 3 has all the comforts you may need in a holiday villa.

1. Bedroom 1 Double Bed + Air Conditioning + Nightstand + Wardrobe + Master Bathroom

2nd Bedroom 2 Single Beds + Air Conditioning + Nightstand + Wardrobe + Master Bathroom

Private Pool & Sunbeds & Garden Seating & BBQ

Kitchen: Refrigerator, dining table, built-in cooker set, microwave oven, kettle, toaster and all kitchen inventory for your comfort.

In line with the demands of our guests staying at villa, where you can rent annually, seasonally, monthly, weekly or daily, we offer the most affordable price for daily tours of Faralya, which are frequently mentioned in Faralya promotional videos and travel pages, as well as daily villa cleaning. You can get detailed information about our Villa FLNT 3's prices and the availability of the villa, which change during the peak periods of the season, from our call center, and you can take advantage of the best price advantages we will offer you.

*** As Dreamofholiday, one of the most reliable companies in the villa rental and villa holidays industry in Turkey, we can guarantee that you will not have any problems in our Fethiye holiday villas and vacation rentals that you have chosen for your Mugla villa rental options and that you will definitely be comfortable.

Note 1: Since our villas are located in nature, regular disinfection and spraying measures are carried out due to Covid-19. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that there are butterflies, insects, flies, etc. in the environment, which will not bother you.

Note 2: Additionally, since our system includes Villa FLNT, Villa FLNT 2, Villa FLNT 3 and Villa FLNT 4 in close proximity, large families and groups of friends will have the opportunity to rent multiple villas.

Villa FLNT 3 - Transfers

Dalaman Airport to Kirme Village Transfers: 90 km

Fethiye Bus Station to Villa FLNT 3 Transfers: 30 km

Things to Do in Faralya

* Paragliding,

* Water sports,

* Trekking,

* Cultural tours,

* Fethiye nightlife,

* Faralya yacht charter,

* Helicopter tours in Faralya,

* Our subsidiary Arsis Vip Transfer offers you an additional 10% discount on airport transfers and daily travel tours in Faralya.

Happy Holidays..!