#mala pier

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A young green sea turtle comes in close for a portrait in Maui, Hawaii where sea turtles thrive thanks to their strong legal protections,” says Capozzola. “This image was taken at Mala Pier in Lahaina."

By Renee Capozzola

Ocean Photography Awards 2023

[masoupe]

- vol 58 - YOU DON’T FUCK UP THE FINAL CRY FOR THE MAIN BEIGE DADDY

XXANNY - griddy nutcracker ETHAN BORTNICK - engravings DEV LEMONS - autopilot ZEE MACHINE - habit LEWIS TAYLOR - final hour SEVANA - lowe mi DOUNIA - f.ck me eyes CLAUDE FONTAINE - cry for another SERPENTWITHFEET - you don’t own me / canopy EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS - my goodness KHRUANGBIN + LEON BRIDGES - B-side ORIANE LACAILLE + PIERS FACCINI - ode au doute KING MALA - she calls me daddy SIRENS OF LESBOS - cobra LEAH KATE - fuck up the friendship ROSSE - main character KIRBY - coconut oil KAINA - apple MYSIE - gin + juice COCO O. + CTM + YDEGIRL - beige barley

[pier-carlo-universe]

La mala erba: Il Crudo Ritratto di un Paese e dei Suoi Segreti. Recensione di Alessandria today

Una fiaba nera di solitudini, oppressioni e vendette nella provincia italiana

Una fiaba nera di solitudini, oppressioni e vendette nella provincia italiana La mala erba di Antonio Manzini, pubblicato da Sellerio Editore il 27 settembre 2022, è un romanzo che scava nelle pieghe più oscure della provincia italiana. Ambientato nel piccolo paese di Colle San Martino, il libro racconta la storia di Samantha, una ragazza di 17 anni la cui vita è segnata dalla povertà, dalla…

[lastovicka123]

Posledná večera

Miešam tvoju polievku,

Už to bude zachvíľku,

tvoj koniec v pár kropajach

A ani ju nestihneš zjesť.

Fľaška, voskom zapečatená,

Zmizne z mojho vačku

Kvapky jedovaté kvapkajú,

Pomaly na lyžičku,

A ja miešam tvoju polievku….

Posledná večera

Posledná misa

Odtlačok tvojich pier

Na lyžičke zaschol

Sadli sme si ku stolu,

Rovnako ako každý deň

Nič nebolo zvláštne

Okrem pokoja na mojej duši

Prvýkrát po toľkých rokoch

Nezdvíhaš na mňa ruku pri večeri

Chváliš moju ťažkú prácu

A mne sa to ťažko verí

Ľútosť a strach mi zaliali tvár,

Pán Boh mi môj plán vyčíta.

Ale prečo by som mala ľutovať?

Prečo by som sa mala báť?

Ty si ľútosť voči mne nemal, pána Boha si sa nebál.

Posledná večera

Posledná misa

Sťažka sa ti dýcha

A ja mám úsmev na tvári

Ťahám tvoje ťažké telo,

Bremeno na mojej duši

Koreň mojich problémov,

Konečne sa mi uľaví

Mesačné svetlo padá na tvoju tvár

A tráva ti šteklí ruky.

V petroleji kúpem tvoje telo,

So strachom, nie veľmi smelo…

Zápalka nahlas škrtne v mojich rukách

Už dávno nie sú v tvojich putách

Už ma prešiel ten strach,

Pánu bohu ťa odovzdám

tvoj popol pod mojimi nechtami,

Hlboko je zarytý

Vietor ho už rozfúkal

Všade po zeleni

Nezostalo po tebe ani stopy

Posledná večera

Posledná misa

Rozbitá je na zemi

Neporiadok po tebe zostal,

No pokoj v našom dome nastal

(Jedna z mojich obľúbených básní, inšpirovaná Giuliou Tofanou, enjoy🫶)

[erraticnutria26]

A baby!

Mala Pier, Maui (Jan 2025)

[reverieact]

* MISIÓN 011: CIERRE DE ACTIVIDAD.

La convocatoria no te toma por sorpresa; llega justo después de que se han terminado los enfrentamientos de paintball de la parte física. Lo que sí te extraña es que hayan convocado a todos a la playa, dándoles coordenadas exactas de dónde encontrarse. Mientras te diriges al lugar, no resulta difícil encontrarlo; en el camino, te cruzas con otros estudiantes llenos de manchas de pintura. ¿Participaron en el examen o se divirtieron jugando paintball durante las rondas libres? Sus atuendos, salpicados de colores, son prueba irrefutable de las municiones que han recibido.

La profesora Seoyeon te recibe con una presencia tan contundente que no necesita micrófono para captar la atención de todos. —Bienvenidos una vez más —comienza con voz firme—. Está de más decir que su desempeño nos ha dejado bastante satisfechos. Aunque hemos encontrado áreas de mejora, creemos que podemos pulir una habilidad innata tanto para estudiar como para aprender a manejar las armas de manera más eficiente.

Seoyeon cruza los brazos y se gira hacia el resto de los profesores, que lentamente comienzan a unirse frente a los estudiantes. Su mandíbula se tensa al hacer contacto visual con Samuel, y con un gesto de la cabeza le indica que debe hablar. Samuel, con una sonrisa ladina, da un paso al frente.

—Debo admitir que la misión estuvo complicada; los puntos estaban muy igualados y nos mantuvieron al borde del asiento —explica, mientras aplaude con entusiasmo—. Primero, quiero felicitar al equipo de las chicas por haber conseguido una puntuación casi perfecta en la parte teórica y por haber obtenido la mayor puntuación en la primera mitad del examen. En cuanto a los chicos, bueno, a algunos no les vendría mal prestar un poco más de atención a lo que hacen.

Buscas con la mirada a quienes podrían haber fallado, pero el semblante del profesor se mantiene sereno. La tranquilidad en su rostro es evidente.

—Sin embargo, los chicos lograron hacerse con la victoria general de la misión en los juegos de paintball, obteniendo también una puntuación casi perfecta. ¡Hostia, no sabéis lo reñido que estuvo! La diferencia fue de solo unos puntos, así que todos debéis sentiros orgullosos de lo que habéis logrado en esta misión —su tono ha cambiado y parece que, por primera vez desde que estás en la academia, lo ves sonreír genuinamente.

Crystal toma el relevo de la conversación y añade: —Regresaremos a Berna mañana. Saldremos a las siete de la mañana, así que esperamos que tengan todo listo. Quien llegue tarde recibirá puntos reducidos por mala conducta.

—Les dejaremos el resto de la tarde libre, así que aprovechen lo que queda del día. Si necesitan crema para los moretones del paintball, la profesora Seoyeon y yo estaremos en el lobby pasando los resultados a la computadora. Pueden buscarnos allá —finaliza Crystal, y mientras se alejan, no puedes evitar sentir que la tarde ha dejado una impresión tan duradera como las manchas de pintura en sus atuendos.

Te das vuelta antes de irte, ves a los profesores reunidos pero hay un vacío que te llama la atención, ¿dónde está el profesor Piers?

OOC.

¡Felicidades a todos los detectives por participar de forma éxitosa en otra misión que exigió tanto estrategia como física por parte de nuestros estudiantes! Estamos bastantes contentas con la participación. Pueden revisar sus puntajes en el siguiente enlace, junto a su posición en la tabla, estamos contentas de que hayan más graduades esta vez.

La forma puntuar esta vez fue divida en dos partes: tomamos el promedio del total de las pruebas teóricas, el promedio del total de la misión física y los promediamos para dar un final ganador quién, en este caso, fue el equipo de los chicos. ¡felicidades! no tendrán que bañarse con agua helada. pueden revisar aquí los puntajes desglosados de la misión.

En cuanto a los personajes que esta semana abandonaron la academia, a nivel narrativo los mismos se han retirado por decisión propia. En el caso de que algune quiera volver a futuro podrá conversarlo con nosotres para explicarles la manera en que la academia permitiría su ingreso de vuelta.

Desde este momento, quienes tuvieron una intervención, podrán comenzar a conversarla con quienes gusten a través de los chats o en el dash.

Si tienen dudas sobre el avance de la trama y los puntos que deben tener en cuenta, pueden revisar la sección de cronología para saber más. Allí encontrarán un resumen de las actividades pasadas y una revisión de las pistas que se han ido dejando en cada intervención y cierre de actividad.

¡Muchas gracias por acompañarnos en una actividad más! Si tienen dudas, no duden en acercarse al main.

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! For my weekly simple breakfast out of compassion for starving Palestinians in Gaza, I tried truffle carbonara flavoured kuai shu mian (instant noodles). Again, I added more water to thin out the sauce. For the price, this was quite tasty, although the truffle fragrance was pretty faint. The noodles were QQ and slurpable, a must for me. This will pair well with smoked salmon if I buy more in future, or I can pour in canned diced tomatoes to make the sauce more flavourful. Overall, not bad; it's something I'll eat again after I've tried other brands.

Near the coffee shop where I sometimes have WFH lunch is a hawker centre housing various food stalls. One of them specialises in Chinese spinach soup and it was awarded the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand in 2023. I decided to try their Chinese spinach noodle soup with sliced fish. The large bowl contained thick slices of tender fresh fish, dried shiitake mushroom, goji berries, crisp spinach, sliced ginger, minced pork and highly slurpable noodles. I especially liked the steaming hot, slightly cloudy, robust and flavourful broth. Yum, this meal was both nutritious and delicious! They fully deserved their award. Will definitely return to try their other dishes.

FL, an old friend of 15 years, and I finally met for the first time since covid. Over a delicious mala lunch, we brought each other up to speed with our lives. When he shared the photo of us in our group chat with other mutual friends, they asked why I met him and not them! 😅 It's just easier to coordinate schedules with 1 person vs a group with several people, but yeah, it's about time all of us gather again, just like the good old days. FL and I shared a bowl of fish, chicken, pork skin, meatballs, cabbage, mushrooms and noodles. My goodness it was SO yummy! The food stall is quite out of the way, so I hope to return when I catch up with friends who live or work near that area. It is 1 out of 9 stalls owned by Antho's wife, so I'm happy to support it when I can.

Meanwhile, I can count on our vibrant hawker culture for tasty, moderately healthy meals. From yong tau foo soups boasting a whopping 8 varieties of vegetables - golden and shiitake mushrooms, Chinese spinach, Napa cabbage, broccoli, carrot, radish and okra along with tau kwa (firm tofu) and a hardboiled egg - to cai fan salad comprising bittergourd, Chinese spinach and celery with cabbage and enoki mushrooms as well as steamed egg, these colourful meals are visually appealing on their own, no artsy fartsy plating required. And that's without mentioning what nutrition bombs these meals are!

Over 37,500 Palestinians have been killed and close to 86,000 wounded as the genocidal war in Gaza continues. Much of the war-torn strip is in ruins, the land uninhabitable. Infrastructure such as schools, places of religious workship and hospitals have been destroyed. Meanwhile, survivors are still at risk of dying from starvation and malnutrition. Even as I continue to have my weekly simple breakfasts out of compassion for Palestinians in Gaza, I also pray for the parties which continue to arm Israel to face the wrath of God. May retribution come soon for these evil beings. 下次见!

[travelbuddysindia]

Most Popular Destination In Kerala in Winter

1. Kovalam

The seaside haven of God’s Own Country, Kovalam is one of the nice wintry weather locations in India. Snuggled on the beaches of the Arabian Sea, the golden sands, and palm-fringed seashores are a true haven. Relaxing and perfect for a holiday, travelers from all around the globe are trying to find to spend winters right here. You overlook the cold and bask in warm sunshine and bliss. The beaches of Kovalam, mainly Hawa, Lighthouse, and Samudra are stunning with their wonderful charms. Enjoy the play of waves, cross-swimming, or sincerely bask in the heat of sunshine. Try watersports, like browsing, kayaking, catamaran cruising, fishing, water snowboarding, etc. Famous for its Ayurvedic massages and lots of yoga motels, right here you can bask in a pampering rub down. Embark on an unforgettable journey with our exclusive tour packages from Chennai to Kerala, where the lush greenery meets serene backwaters, promising an enchanting escape into nature's embrace.

2. Munnar

The blessed hill town within the Western Ghats, Munnar is one of the fine places in Kerala. Winter complements the allure. Settled at 1600 m, it’s enveloped in mists inside the season. Trekking is an exciting adventure to attempt. The lush beauty, the pleasure of the wild, and the possibility of wildlife spotting at Eravikulam National Park come up with enough cause to choose Munnar.

Voted among the maximum romantic places in the international, Munnar is a favorite honeymoon vacation spot in India in wintry weather. Bask in natural bliss, leave for stimulating excursions, and do pamper your senses with unequaled comforts at the lavish resorts.

3. Vagamon

Off the travelers’ tracks, Vagamon is named the various maximum stunning locations in Kerala. Settled at an altitude of 1100 ft within the Western Ghats variety, it’s certainly blessed by using nature. The metropolis is snuggled amid the 3 rolling green hills, Kurismala, Murugan, and Thangal. Enjoy the exceptional climate in winter, and experience the picturesque herbal splendor, journey, and tremendous stories.

An interesting getaway for couples on honeymoon in Kerala, the town offers several captivating accommodations. Explore famous tourist websites such as Ayyampara, Five Rocks, Poonjar Palace, Illikal Peak, Murugan Mala, and so on. A few days of bliss here, and you come back home revitalized.

4. Kumarakom

Nestled on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is one of the maximum preferred traveler locations in Kerala. Imagine lush hands bowing toward the limitless community of waters, and backwaters, the water displays the clouds and greenery. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a haven of birds of a wide variety, some migratory ones flying from Siberia in addition to Europe.

The timber Kettuvalams come geared up with all kinds of present-day facilities that pamper guests, especially honeymoon couples seeking out a secluded time to create a few cherishable reminiscences. Winter is the correct time to visit. You can take pleasure in some Ayurveda treatments to revitalize and harmonize your body, mind, and soul.

Also Read : Top Festivals Of Kerala In 2024

5. Alleppey

India’s very personal Venice, Alleppey is one of the nice places to go to in India. A lovely world of its very own, Water International is tremendous for houseboat cruises, remedies, and a genuinely memorable honeymoon.

The backwater destination of Kerala is thought for its network of waters however few people understand that there's additionally a beach, a century-antique pier, numerous nonsecular locations, and many greater. Enjoy the excellent atmosphere at your accommodation. Try thrilling reports like fishing, kayaking, or chicken-looking. A holiday in Alleppey in iciness is one of the loved reminiscences of Kerala.

6. Kochi

Kochi is the precise introduction to Kerala. As in history, the town is one of the maximum widespread locations in Kerala. Fort Kochi is a famed historic metropolis that has multi-ethnic roots. The Harbour City keeps you intrigued for days and winter is simply pleasant for a visit, the climate is exceptional. Explore the relics of Jews, Dutch, Portuguese, and English in the shape of structures, meals, and records.

The places to no longer leave out in Kochi encompass Mattancherry Palace, Jew Town, Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi, captivating Chinese fishing nets, and different thrilling attractions. Spend time exploring records. The metropolis lifestyle has pleasant multi-ethnic cuisines, and outstanding dance performances of Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyattam, or the warrior martial arts of Kalaripayattu dance forms.

7. Wayanad

Snuggled within the inexperienced cowl of the Western Ghats, Wayanad is one of the captivating hill cities in Kerala. The misty hills and meadows of one of Kerala’s stunning tourist locations, Wayanad are all more picturesque come the wintry weather season. Perched at an altitude of 2100 m, it's miles preferred by honeymoon couples, nature lovers, and journey fans.

One of the satisfactory activities in Wayanad is trekking. Chembra Peak and the coronary heart-fashioned lake of course make an exciting trek. The pre-historic Edakkal Cave, Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island, Pookode Lake, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Thirunelli Temple, Lakkidi, and Soochippara waterfalls are a number of the most beautiful attractions to now not pass over.

8. Poovar

An unexplored haven in Kerala, Poovar is one of the locations to not leave out in Kerala. Lying near the Vizhinjam harbor, the village connects with the ocean in the course of high tides. Tourists come here to experience the stunning aggregate of lakes, rivers, and seas. Unspoiled and pretty close to the capital metropolis Trivandrum, Poovar is best for a short backwater tour in Kerala.

Also Read : Five Best Things To Do In Munnar

[imaven]

‘ uhm — no sé si estoy infringiendo alguna regla ’ mira a sus costados, con un dramatismo que no debería sentir, quiere saber si la paranoia que siembra en sus entrañas es justificada, al menos. ‘ estábamos en una misión, en la que debían aparecer ciertas trampas de los profesores y aparecieron otras que terminaron lesionando a algunos compañeres — ’ deja idea en el aire, si lo comparte parcialmente quizás no está tan mal, ¿no es así? ‘ uh, algunos terminaron en urgencia ese día ’ sentencia, luego vino la semana de descanso que volvió todo aún más extraño o, al menos, abrió su agenda para comenzar a pensar de más. no recuerda haber vuelto a dormir de corrido desde esa noche, pero porque calla más de lo que es capaz de compartir con el tercero. ‘ te lo comparto, porque sería injusto de nuestra parte no avisar que puede que las cosas no estén del todo en orden por aquí ’ ¿y si volvían a encontrarse con una trampa? samhain era la pieza más débil en ese aspecto, dudaba que estuviesen predispuestos a que algo malo pueda suceder. como ahora mismo. ‘ es fácil, tienes que dejar de pestañear un rato y se te empiezan a llenar los ojos de lágrimas por la irritación del aire ’ explica, sin embargo, no lo hace. es un truco que le enseñaron sus hermanas cuando era menor y querían conseguir alguna regalía o beneficio de sus padres: es el más pequeño, le harán caso. sin contar que, al final del día, fue el único capaz de derretir el gélido corazón de su madre. ‘ ¿es buena escuela sinclair & throne? ’ curiosidad genuina empapa sus sílabas, ahora sus orbes van hasta él mientras termina de compactar el paraguas que ha comprado unas horas atrás. ‘ me gusta lo de la taza de café, hay una cafetería buenísima en berna, podemos ir al volver ’ el belga es adicto a conocer personas, despejar la mente en una conversación y alejarse de los dormitorios que ya no siente seguro. por lo que el exceso de clases no le viene mal. ‘ yo invito la primera, luego te toca a ti ’ le ofrece, la sonrisa es perpetúa en su semblante, aún cuando está concentrado en ver el camino en búsqueda del can que, de verdad, espera esté en un lugar seguro junto a su dueño. ‘ también es posible o quizás los encontraste en un mal momento, al final del día son humanos ’ se refiere a terapeutas, él mismo siendo un ejemplo vivo que puede guiar a terceros teniendo un caos en su mente, pero ¿realmente hacían eso? él no. ‘ tienen que ser clásicos, los de ahora en su mayoría hablan de relaciones tóxicas ’ arruga un poco su nariz, al menos es lo que le comenta una de sus hermanas cuando le habla de uno de los tantos ejemplares que se devora por la noche, él no puede terminar ninguna de sus recomendaciones. ‘ entonces cambios de planes en berna, te lo cobraré ’ le guiña un ojo, mantiene el teléfono en sus manos y busca entre sus archivos la fotografía enviada por piers, en caso que se encontrasen alguien en el camino al que pudiesen preguntarle por el caniche. ‘ ¿izzak? es divertidísimo, siempre tiene temas de conversación ’ se sonríe, ha pasado buenas anécdotas con el yule, aunque lo sigue inquietando un poco, al final del día. apenas escucha el nombre de su hermana, pestañea un par de veces. ‘ mi compañero de equipo se llama jintao ’ suelta. ‘ para que tengas otro nombre en tu lista, tiene cara de malas pulgas ’ se refiere a malhumor que suele acompañar a su pareja asignada, quizás era él el problema; aunque lo dudaba, una que otra vez ha conseguido una sonrisa del chino. ‘ ¿pueden comer pizza? ¿no tiene mucha grasa? ’ frunce un poco el ceño con extrañeza, al no ver a nadie, desiste y devuelve el teléfono a su bolsillo, justo cuando se detiene frente a la pizzería que le ha enseñado. entonces, empuja de la puerta, no sería buena idea comer fuera.  ‘ si escoger algo con piña, tendremos que terminar esta naciente amistad, te aviso ’ lo amenaza con su índice levantado, pero sólo bromea, ¿o no? lo dejará para más adelante. ‘ pediré una rebanada de napolitana, ¿tú? ’ a pesar de que se muere de hambre, no descarta si pide una segunda de otra variedad. quizás pepperoni. doble.

‘ eso es... bueno, supongo que es lógico. tendrá que ser más cuidadosa y evitar hablar de ellos... por lo menos, donde puedan escucharla ’ piensa, presionando labios entre sí. que los profesores reciban críticas le parece inevitable; se trata de una de esas profesiones que te vuelve blanco de ese tipo de comentarios. como casi cualquiera que requiriese de interacción directa entre personas. ‘ sólo que hubo un accidente y varies estaban heridos cuando nosotros llegamos. pero más que eso... la verdad es que no ’ admite. eso le tenía un poco inquieto, ¿qué tan grave podría ser, si las clases habían continuado con normalidad después de aquella semana de descanso? ‘ lástima que mis habilidades actorales son bastante malas, no creo que pueda forzar un llanto ’ leve sonrisa acompaña sus palabras. tampoco tiene planeado abusarse de la aparente sensibilidad contraria... pero es eso mismo lo que le hace descartar que acabe denunciándolo falsamente ante cualquiera de los profesores. ¿estaría siendo demasiado confiado? tal vez. ‘ es más que eso, para mí. me enviaron en representación de mi academia, obviamente me siento obligado a no manchar su prestigio ’ es más eso que el hecho de intentar apuntar a una carrera exitosa. propia carrera ya es, de por sí, lo suficientemente exitosa como para no padecer tanto el perder la oportunidad de ser un buen detective. mirada se alza hacia el cielo con cierta curiosidad, buscando en él señales de que podrá permitirse pasear por la ciudad sin tener que temer por su propia salud. por lo menos, a pesar del código de vestimenta, ha priorizado el estar abrigado. ‘ por supuesto, que sea con una taza de café de por medio y... menos de diez horas de clases encima ’ sugiere. si ha de ser honesto, si al regresar cuentan con los mismos horarios de clase por otra semana más, puede que lo único que tenga ganas de hacer después de clases sea dormir. ‘ debe ser. eso o tengo muy mala suerte ’ sonríe. lo cierto es que no le molesta, y quizás eso es lo peor... ‘ así que leer mucho te hace ser dramático en la vida, anotado. ¿algún género en particular es el que causa los síntomas, o cualquiera? ’ inquiere, entretenido. ‘ hm... vale, pero yo te invito el café de la terapia, la próxima ’ mira hacia la dirección en la que él le indica, y no tarda mucho en comenzar a caminar, uniendo sus pasos a los contrarios después de un corto momento. ‘ uh, cierto. y tampoco sé si conocería a tu compañere, el único nombre que he podido recolectar, aparte del tuyo, es el de alguien llamado izzak ’ le comenta, volviendo la mirada hacia él. desconoce si contrario le conoce, o si no cuentan con la extraña suerte de que se trate, precisamente, de la persona que le han asignado. ‘ ah, y leonie. pero ella es mi compañera, así que sé que no es la tuya ’ sonríe al hacer esa acotación. ‘ ojalá supiéramos más de bimbo. si le gusta la pizza, por ejemplo... ¿no se vería atraído por su olor? ’ y tendrían excusas de sobra para visitar cada pizzería local.

[st-joan-of-arc-22-23]

Islang Hardin

ni Mary Allyssa Cameloza

            Ika-18 ng Disyembre, taong 2022, alas tres ng kinaumagahan. Nagising ako sa alingawngaw ng kampana na nanggaling sa simbahan na nagpawindang sa aking mga tenga. Ayaw ko pang bumangon noon at puyat ako dahil sa mga sunod sunod na kaganapan sa eskwelahan pati narin sa mga magbabarkadang galaan. Buwan ng Disyembre at nalalapit na ang pasko kaya’t tumutunog ang kampana ng simbahan kada alas tres ng madaling araw. Hindi na rin ako puwedeng bumalik sa tulog dahil utos ni mommy na ihanda na ang sarili dahil babyahe pa kami papuntang Davao City at Samal Island.

            Natapos na ang paghahanda at ready na kaming bumyahe. Magkokomyut lamang kami sakay ang bus papunta roon at tanging kami lamang ni mommy ang pupunta, ika nga’y “Girl’s Bonding.” Tamang tama, sumikat ang bukang liwayway kasabay ng pagpapakita ng mga magagagandang tanawin na aming nadaanan. Habang umaaandar ang bus, tila dinuduyan ako sa indayog nito, hanggang sa ako’y nakatulog. Hindi ko namalayan ang oras na lumipas at malapit na kami sa syudad ng Davao bandang alas nueba ng umaga at napagkasunduan namin ni mommy na bumaba na lamang sa SM Ecoland upang kumain ng matinong umagahan. Pumasok kami roon at agarang pumunta sa Mandarin Restaurant. Hiling ko kay mommy na dito na lamang kami kumain dahil nagke-crave ako sa mga pagkaing sine-serve nila. Pagkatapos kumain, dumiretso kami sa Watsons upang bumili ng skincare at mga pampaganda ‘nang tumawag ang kliyente ng kumpanya nila at sinabing susunduin na raw kami papunta sa Samal Island. Handog ng kliyente ng kumpanya nila mommy ay bigyan siya ng “Trip to Samal with Family” upang pasasalamat sa kaniya sa pag-uugnay nito sa kumpanya.

Bumaba kami sa isang pribadong pier na pagmamay-ari lamang ng Paradise Island: Resort and Restaurantna pupuntahan namin. Katapat lamang nito ang resort at doon sinasakay papunta at pabalik ang mga turistang dumadalo roon. Gamit ang maliit na bangka, sakay nito ang 20 ka-tao at tinuruan kami ng iba’t ibang safety protocols kung sakaling may sakunang magaganap. Naglayag ito ng dalawampu’t minuto at sa wakas, nakarating na kami sa mismong resort. Pagbaba na pagbaba, kitang kita mo agad ang marine life na nakapaloob sa islang ito. Sandamakmak na mga koral, isda, at iba’t ibang hayop pandagat ang makikita at nagsisilbi itong hardin kaya tinawag na Islang Hardin ang lungsod na ito.

            Nag-check in na kami ng aking ina at sinabi ng mga staff na maghintay lamang sandali dahil linilinisan pa ‘raw ang kuwarto. Tamang tama, kami ay nagutom sa paghihintay, kumain na lamang muna kami. Nag-order ako ng Baked Seafood upang malasap ang pakiramdam na kami ay nasa mala-paraisong isla at kare-kare naman ang pinili ni Mommy. Pagkatapos kumain, kami ay dumiretso sa kwartong itinalaga sa amin. Pagpasok sa kuwarto, kitang kita parin ang paraan ng pamumuhay ng lungsod dahil ang kuwarto ay binubuo ng mga kawayan at ang kabuuang interior nito ay umiikot lamang sa wood style na may kulay kahel at kayumanggi na mga dingding at kisame. Kami ay nagpahinga saglit at lumabas para kumuha ng mga litrato sa paligid, napagpasiyahan din naming maligo bago sumapit ang dilim at namnamin ang mala-kristal na tubig at puting mga buhangin. Pagkatapos maligo, nagbihis kaagad kami upang makapaghapunan sa restaurant. Liempo lamang ang aming kinain, kasama ang kanin dahil tila’y busog kami’y busog pa.

            Kinabukasan, ganoon parin ang gawi naming mag-ina. Nagtampisaw sa dagat, kumain, nagbihis, at kumuha ng sandamakmak na litrato ng isla, mga tanawin, at maliit na sanctuary na naglalaman ng iba’t ibang mga ibon upang magsilbing pabaon sa kapatid ko. Isang gabi lamang ang aming stay roon dahil may mga kinailangan pang gawin si mommy sa Davao City kaya’t bumalik na kami sakay ang bangka. Habang ako, tinatamasa ang pagkaganda-gandang karanasan na ibigay sa akin ng Islang Hardin.

            Maliit lamang na oras kung ituturing ngunit ako ay nag-enjoy sa karanasang iyon. Binigyan ako ng isla ng karanasang may kaakibat na kapayapaan sa isip. Nagsilbi itong pahinga ko matapos ang sangkatutak na workload na ipinapagawa ng eskwelahan. Sana’y magabayan kayo ng aking lakbay sanaysay at magsilbi din ang lugar na ito bilang inyong pahinga. Hanggang sa susunod na paglalakbay, paalam!

[falleyes]

maui wowie ig: lea.nxcole

[sistemabibliotecariomilano]

Romanzi, racconti e storie da vedere sullo schermo

Riprende la rubrica di consigli di lettura (e non solo): una piccola selezione da opere recenti o appena ristampate, insieme a uno sguardo sul passato.

Tra i numerosi gialli pubblicati (è proprio un periodo fortunato per questo colore), vogliamo ricordarne alcuni.

Dopo Flora, Alessandro Robecchi è da poco uscito con l’ultima avventura della banda Sistemi Integrati, capitanata dal seducente Carlo Monterossi (magnificamente interpretato da Fabrizio Bentivoglio nella serie televisiva): Una piccola questione di cuore. L’amore a tutti i livelli, romantico o autodistruttivo, è il vero protagonista di questa detective story: Si insinua tra i poliziotti incaricati delle indagini, coinvolge grandi boss della mala, normalmente privi di sentimenti umani, giovani intellettuali della Milano bene, irresistibili femmes fatales. Robecchi è sempre maestro nel gestire la tensione e nel mantenere viva l’attenzione del lettore fino all’ultima riga. 

Accattivante fin dal titolo, Sono felice, dove ho sbagliato?, l’ultima attesissima fatica di Diego De Silva ci propone di nuovo l’ironico avvocato ‘d’insuccesso’ Vincenzo Malinconico, ormai alla sesta causa persa, almeno letterariamente parlando. La novità assoluta è che da questi thriller forensi la Rai ha tratto una fiction in cui il protagonista è interpretato da Massimiliano Gallo, che abbiamo avuto il piacere di ammirare come marito di Imma Tataranni nella serie omonima creata da Mariolina Venezia. In questo caso Malinconico difende gli indifendibili diritti di un gruppo, coalizzato in una class action, di Impantanati che pretendono di intentare causa in nome del loro amore perduto. Se questo fosse possibile, non basterebbero tutti i tribunali del mondo per ospitare i processi di chi si sente defraudato in campo sentimentale, eppure il Nostro, tenendo fede al suo profilo di soggetto atipico e difficile da inquadrare, si sobbarca l’immane impresa. “Fra risate, battibecchi, colpi di scena e ordinarie drammaturgie familiari, Malinconico riuscirà ad articolare una stralunata difesa”. 

Anche per la tassista-detective Debora Camilli, che alla sua quarta avventura si è ormai guadagnata l’affetto di molti lettori, è in preparazione una fiction televisiva. Uscita dalla penna esperta di Nora Venturini, regista teatrale, sceneggiatrice e scrittrice (nonché moglie del fascinoso Giulio Scarpati), la giovane, intraprendente protagonista, che non ha potuto realizzare il sogno di entrare in polizia, ma conserva lo spirito del piedipiatti, pare destinata a trovarsi coinvolta in misteriosi omicidi: un po’ come la profezia che si auto-adempie… Dopo L’ora di punta, Lupo mangia cane e Buio in sala, è appena uscito Paesaggio con ombre, dove lo sfondo è quello incantatore del Lungotevere Flaminio, dalle cui acque è stato ripescato un cadavere privo di documenti. Anche in questa puntata la strana coppia composta da Camilla e dall’anti-divo commissario capo Edoardo Raggio porterà felicemente a termine il caso. 

Passando alla narrativa, La grande Zelda (2022) di Pier Luigi Razzano non è una biografia, ma un romanzo, in cui la protagonista racconta in prima persona la sua storia: un ritratto che ci svela la sua complessa personalità, la creatività messa in ombra dal successo del celebre marito, le passioni trascurate (il ballo, la scrittura, la pittura). Delle opere (lettere, racconti composti a quattro mani insieme al marito e il romanzo Lasciami l’ultimo valzer) potete trovare ampia scelta nel nostro catalogo. Ricordiamo anche che la “piccola compagnia della magnolia” presenterà, per il 28-29-30 ottobre, uno spettacolo sulla straordinaria figura di Zelda Fitzgerald (Teatro Linguaggicreativi). 

Per par condicio, avendo parlato di Zelda, non possiamo trascurare il suo augusto consorte citando i Racconti dell’età del jazz, ambientati nei Roaring Twenties, i Ruggenti Anni Venti che, secondo Fernanda Pivano, furono “il decennio di tutte le proteste e di tutte le rivolte, delle utopie più ottimistiche e delle delusioni più spietate”. Di queste undici short stories, che potrebbero essere usate come modello per gli studenti dei corsi di scrittura, ricordiamo Il curioso caso di Benjamin Button, da cui è stato tratto un film; Il diamante grosso come il Ritz, racconto grottesco e simbolico di denuncia sociale; il suggestivo e notturno Tarquinio di Cheapside, da cui stralciamo questo paragrafo:

Non era roba per la ronda: quella notte Satana era in libertà, e a Satana somigliava l’uomo che si intravedeva per primo davanti, calcagno sul cancello, ginocchio sopra la recinzione. Era anche evidente che il nemico si aggirava vicino a casa, o almeno in quella zona di Londra consacrata ai suoi desideri più volgari, perché la via si restringeva come una strada in un quadro e le case si serravano sempre di più le une sulle altre, chiudendosi in un’imboscata naturale adatta al delitto e alla sua teatrale sorella, la morte violenta.

Piccoli capolavori sono gli inediti pubblicati nel 2017 in Per te morirei: diciotto racconti, presentati ognuno da un breve cappello che ne ripercorre le vicissitudini editoriali. Contengono tutta l’America di Fitzgerald: la guerra civile, l’amata New York, il mondo del cinema e quello dell’editoria (su questo argomento il racconto d’apertura Il «pagherò» è davvero esilarante), l’ambiente dei ricchi qual era – e non è più stato – negli anni Venti e quello dei poveri della Grande Depressione. Il tutto in uno stile unico, incisivo, scattante, con calibratissime, sorprendenti, ironiche metafore. Pura maestria letteraria. 

Vogliamo ricordare brevemente Gianni Celati, che ci ha lasciato all’inizio di quest’anno: grande scrittore, critico, traduttore (da segnalare la sua versione dell’Ulisse di Joyce, del 2013), professore di Letteratura anglo-americana (tra i suoi allievi Pier Vittorio Tondelli), nonché appassionato viaggiatore (durante il suo lungo soggiorno in Tunisia imparò la lingua araba). Il testo che consigliamo è quello dei Meridiani di Mondadori, Romanzi, cronache e racconti, che offre un ampio spettro dei suoi lavori e una vasta possibilità di scelta. I lettori lombardi (Celati era nato a Sondrio) riconosceranno nel suo stile lento e pacato, nelle descrizioni di paesaggi, nei diari di viaggio il familiare aspetto della pianura padana, come nella raccolta Narratori delle pianure, che spesso riporta storie tramandate oralmente, ammantate di uno stralunato stile fiabesco: si va dalla vicenda del radioamatore di Gallarate che si reca in una sperduta isola della Scozia (L’isola in mezzo all’Atlantico), alla ragazza giapponese del racconto omonimo che non può vivere senza consultare ogni settimana il suo signist o consigliere zodiacale, al barbiere con problemi esistenziali (Vivenza d’un barbiere dopo la morte). Scrittore che sa accontentare tutti i gusti, un vero “classico contemporaneo” secondo la definizione di Marco Belpoliti.

Facendo un passo indietro nel tempo, un best seller ingiustamente dimenticato è Il verdetto, di Barry Reed (1980), da cui Sidney Lumet ha tratto nel 1982 un favoloso film con Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling e James Mason. Si tratta di un legal drama (l’autore era egli stesso avvocato), che ricorda altre storie del genere (come quelle raccontate nei film La giuria, Erin Brockovich, Rain man), che descrivono la resistenza folle e disperata di piccoli onesti individui in lotta contro enti potenti (grandi compagnie di assicurazione, grandi studi legali, grandi aziende), armati soltanto della più ostinata cocciutaggine e della forza derivata da un profondo senso di giustizia. Una raccomandazione: fate attenzione, se lo leggete sui mezzi, perché ne sarete così coinvolti da rischiare di mancare la vostra fermata! 

Agli amanti del pantagruelico investigatore Nero Wolfe proponiamo, nel caso in cui a qualche fortunato fosse sfuggito, Champagne per uno, un giallo spumeggiante per alleggerire lo spirito dei nostri affezionati lettori in questi tempi agitati. Se una donna dalla psiche palesemente fragile, che viaggia con una fiala di cianuro nella borsetta e proclama a gran voce di essere stanca di vivere, muore all’improvviso dopo aver bevuto una coppa di champagne, nessuno si sogna neppure lontanamente di sospettare un omicidio. Nessuno tranne il sagace Archie Goodwin e il suo ‘planisferico’ datore di lavoro. Una lettura d’evasione, ma di eccellente fattura.

Ancora per gli amanti del giallo classico, è appena stata pubblicata una corposa edizione dei racconti e dei radiodrammi di Ellery Queen a cura di Carlo Lucarelli. Il volume non ha pretesa di esaustività, obiettivo quasi impossibile data la vastità della produzione del dinamico duo di cugini, ma nutre l’ambizione di aver raggiunto il massimo livello di ampiezza possibile (c’è anche un racconto che non era mai stato pubblicato in Italia). Gli unici gialli che si rivolgono direttamente al lettore, per sfidarlo a svelare il mistero, dopo che gli sono stati forniti tutti gli elementi chiave per poterlo dipanare: così faceva anche il mitico Jim Hutton (padre del talentuoso Timothy, che ha interpretato anche Archie Goodwin, forse in competizione con il padre) nella favolosa serie degli anni Settanta.

[imaven]

‘ me anotaré el perfumarlo luego, pero no te obsesiones con mi olor ’ le guiña un ojo, no lo pensó en primera instancia, pero ahora lo mantendría en sus memorias para poder divertirse un rato, aunque fuese. ‘ intentaré sorprenderte con algo más, dame unos días para pensar ’ la simple idea le provoca suficiente gracia para querer esforzarse aunque fuese un poco. terminaría por buscar algo en internet para acompañar el retorno de su pañuelo. ‘ ¿en serio? ’ pestañea un par de veces cuando lo mira, nunca se hizo una visión así de khai, pero ahora que lo pensaba tener una vinoteca en el ático no era tan común como lo hizo parecer en rumanía. ahora que lo piensa, no conoce tanto a la gente que lo rodea como creía. ‘ no te estoy juzgando, solamente que estoy más acostumbrado a caminar, solía viajar con mis amigos y cuando lo hice en familia me cargaban a todos lados ’ se ríe entre dientes, resulta hasta un poco triste que todas las salidas familiares se interrumpieran en su adolescencia, sus hermanas ya eran más grandes y él mismo prefería ir a lugares con amigos por sobre sus padres. ¿será muy diferente intentarlo nuevamente? seguro que sí. ‘ no he dicho que eres azúcar o un poco frágil, pero tú dijiste que no podías caminar tato ’ le corrige, uno de sus dedos se levanta como si estuviese explicando la situación. cuando cruza el torniquete del metro, lleva su mirada hasta el ostara y le sonríe como acostumbra; con esa calidez que ronda su semblante cada que se encuentra a su lado. ‘ si viene muy lleno podemos saltarlo  ’ afirma con la repetición de sus palabras, no quiere que tenga una mala experiencia pero, a juzgar por la hora, debía estar lo suficientemente vacío para no incomodarlo. ‘ yo tampoco se cómo funcionan ’ se ríe, seguramente perderán un poco de tiempo, pero ¿importaba? ya estaba convencido de que piers tenía a bimbo en su poder, dudaba que realmente lo hubiese dejado a la deriva en medio de milán. ‘ va, si terminamos en monza pagamos un uber, entre los dos ’ se detiene frente al mapa que está a un costado de la escalera, justo antes de bajar a la dirección que cree que es la correcta. ‘ según esto debemos bajar por aquí y es la siguiente estación, nada más ’ se encoge de hombros, su diestra busca su billetera para meter en su interior la tarjeta del metro y la devuelve a su lugar. ‘ lo peor que puede pasar es que nos equivoquemos de lado del andén y tengamos que devolvernos ’ le ofrece su mano para que vuelva a tomarla, como un intento de darle algo de confianza, aunque él no tuviese idea que estaba haciendo. ‘ prometo que no te pasará nada, y si nos perdemos, tendremos una anécdota graciosísima para compartir con nuestros equipos ’ 

' en las películas románticas me lo devolverías con tu perfume para no olvidarte ' le responde con una sonrisa baja. curioso, que incluso en un lugar lleno de gente era maven quién lo ayudaba a sentirse mucho más calmado y tranquilo dentro de todo el bullicio y el mar de personas que lo rodeaban. lo que hace un par de minutos era absolutamente aterrador, ahora era mucho más fácil lidiar con el mundo cuando se tenía a alguien como compañero en frente. ' aunque eso no me parece tan romántico, mejor sorpréndeme ' incluso cuando personalidad no era del tipo de hacer bromas se llevaba tan bien con el litha que era fácil trasladarse a cuando solía divertirse con sus amigos y pasaba tiempo de calidad junto a ellos. ' nunca he escuchado de el, siempre conozco los países en auto ' y espera no verse como un consentido, lo que sucede es que sobreprotectores padres pocas veces lo dejaban salir a caminar y terminó por convertirse más retraído de lo que ya era, sin deseo genuino de querer conocer los países extranjeros. ' ay, no seas exagerado. tampoco soy de azúcar... solo un poco frágil ' lleva al frente su manos, casi cerrando su dedo índice y pulgar para demostrar lo poquito que hablaba. ' si viene muy lleno- ' se calla, no quiere poner objeción, ¿qué mejor persona para aprender a usarlo que maven? y si se perdían, pues, su presencia no le molestaba en lo absoluto. camina detrás de él, mirada puesta sobre la espalda de su amigo, ignorando por completo su alrededor y enfocándose en él. escucha conversa entre los dos, preparado para intervenir con el traductor en caso de ser necesario pero agradece cuándo no lo es. ' si viene muy lleno, ¿podemos saltarlo? es mi última exigencia, cuando salgamos de aquí te compraré algo rico, ¿por favor? ' sin darse cuenta, lo pide de tres formas, pero realmente quería evitar un tren lleno. toma el ticket en su mano, utilizándolo al momento de entrar y agradeciendo en su mente que funcionó. ' te sigo, no sé como funcionan las líneas aquí. si terminamos en monza pagamos uber, ¿trato? '

[444names]

french forenames + finnish names

Aala Aalauren Aalo Aapa Agaétala Agnèsen Ahval Ailevala Aimanen Aimen Airgert Akuska Alavine Almula Alonen Alppine Amaamäki Ammaa Amäki Anne Annen Annennen Annic Anniivi Anski Ansontte Antala Ante Antte Anuli Artine Arvikune Aulanen Aulmo Aulo Aunen Aunone Aurmanta Auta Auvine Bersi Boyllera Béanen Béantti Caleemi Chanen Chartino Chen Chent Chri Chrio Cléa Coletaa Cort Cyrio Cécin Cédranni Dome Dylvi Dylynti Eemise Eetomade Eevela Eililä Eilto Elittia Ellio Emien Empi Ensala Enskila Erkionen Erkkanen Eves Fabeli Flouiti Frantu Gilph Gélikki Gérès Haari Hakko Haku Hala Hallehto Hana Hanen Hannen Hante Hapis Harce Harilto Harine Hata Hathe Hatu Heiko Heilahto Heli Helto Hené Hiemi Hievi Hilmelja Hirjö Hirtila Hisla Hiuraymo Hona Honen Hyvela Hämäki Héristo Iirjuno Iivi Iivune Ikoseppo Ilmarie Immi Irkeli Irunen Isokki Ison Isopaino Isopinen Janen Janes Jaski Jeanen Jeanien Jeanni Jeanti Jeantte Jertta Jeskio Jestépha Jokki Jokko Jone Joorgen Joskile Jouti Juno Jurkko Juse Juvio Juvo Järvo Kaakkul Kaine Kainenen Kaino Kala Kaltala Kaltami Kanen Kapää Kara Karane Karce Kard Karina Karja Karjoski Karkko Kart Kaupi Kaura Kauri Kaurola Kein Keini Kelyne Keminti Kesoph Kessi Kien Kine Kinen Kiuko Klehti Koinenen Kole Kone Konen Kopo Koris Korkila Koska Koskoski Koste Kova Kovumi Kuitu Kuko Kulie Kulmi Kurmi Kurro Kylleta Laasan Lama Lamainen Lapand Lapo Lappa Lasa Lascasa Lasvi Laula Lauli Lauren Lehmalo Lehtari Lehtia Lehtie Leinen Lepo Leppien Leppää Liita Lila Lili Linen Lone Loutinen Lovi Lume Luoski Lyydinen Lyyla Lyyri Léri Maaja Maakanen Maara Maarjo Maavaka Macqueta Maine Mainen Maipie Maka Maki Mala Mandra Manen Mani Manine Mara Marce Marili Marja Markka Marle Marven Mata Matajule Mathel Matina Matu Maula Merä Mica Mien Miine Milia Mine Mirapas Moiven Moivilja Murélimi Myydie Mäkil Mäkinen Méli Nadiname Neanen Neanta Neuvi Nevaart Nevinen Niemille Niki Nistola Noukkola Nouti Nyppala Nyppo Nyynen Otte Paaja Paas Paki Pakkonen Paksoto Pauriki Pela Peli Pelja Peljatho Phaëlla Piaisto Pier Piimi Pirtone Pitaine Porkilli Pouta Poyly Pudone Pulainen Puutine Rahanna Raine Ramuno Rannieu Raude Raupi Reimed Reinen Rettune Riipi Rinen Ristise Rite Ritu Role Romalmi Ronen Ronisti Rooniela Ruhana Ruomi Ruomäki Ruova Ruta Räski Räskonen Réginen Réli Saarce Saaren Sahti Saija Saina Saka Sako Salme Salvi Sanue Sarick Satovio Satrinen Sien Siitvalo Sila Silli Sinen Sipi Sipionen Siren Sisla Sivuomi Soine Soivi Sonen Soponen Suvo Syksonen Syri Tahti Taila Tainenri Tainent Tako Takonie Talen Tanen Tantika Taphier Tapponen Tarcela Tarien Tela Teltone Tertinen Théli Thélènen Titte Titva Toine Tois Tola Topie Torelais Tuokka Tuoko Tuomila Tuomine Tuomäki Tuoto Tuovimo Tutilli Tyntte Ukkala Uussen Uusto Vahta Vahti Vainen Vainien Vala Vanen Vantovi Vara Vari Varja Veemini Veerva Veervo Veimi Velle Velynen Vielien Vieto Viis Viitti Villi Voitunen Vouista Vuokanni Vuore Wirko Yanen Yangas Ylitala Yläini Ylöne Yvettela Élien Élio Évela

[tina-aumont]

Muchas gracias por sacarme el corcho de la duda! Tiene mucho sentido y su padre hizo mal en alejar a su hija en vez de estar a su lado en la etapa complicada que es la adolescencia, tambien Marisa le hizo sentir culpable por decirle que es mala influencia para sus hijos. En mi opinión creo que no fué buena madrastra porque le hizo sentir mal. Por algo el destino le está dando larga vida para que se de cuenta que ahora no están las personas que quiere con ella. Una de ellas es su hermana.

De nada!! :)

La verdad es que tienes razón, Marisa no ha tenido una vida bonita, creo yo, en el sentido de que perdió a su hermana gemela bastante joven y luego a su marido.

Sabe muy mal que intentó apartar a sus hijos de Tina, me imagino que los quería proteger, pero eso no es siempre bueno.

Me leí el libro sobre Tina Aumont qu escribió Jean Azarel y uno de los hermanos de Tina participó, el otro no. Y Marisa Pavan tampoco quería contar nada de Tina o de su relación con ella. Es una pena que pasados tantos años y ya sin Tina aquí, ella no quisiera hablar, aunque al final su testigo está en el libro y no dice cosas bonitas, eso significa que el rencor (creo que es), todavía sigue allí, y es una pena, pues yo me pensaba que con el paso de los años su relación mejoraría al ser las dos ya adultas, pero no ha sido el caso...

Tampoco sé muy bien qué relación tenía Marisa con su hermana gemela, ya que es muy trágico que se muriera Pier Angeli de una depresión tan joven. Yo tengo una hermana gemela y aunque ahora vivimos lejos la una de la otra, estamos muy unidas y nos lo contamos todo para ayudarnos y apoyarnos, entonces yo no sé relamente si la relación de las dos hermanas era buena, de jovenes sí, luego ya no sé, y el hecho de que Ana Maria Pierangeli muriera de sobredosis y Tina fuera adicta a la heroína, me imagino que por eso a Marisa no le gustaba.

No sé si Marisa las intentó entender a las dos, tampoco la juzgo, simplemente pasó, y tampoco quiero que este blog sea "amo a Tina, odio a Marisa", porque creo que las relaciones humanas son muy complejas.

Lo que sí creo es que una gran ayuda de un profesional, hubiese ido muy bien.

Eleni

[cicada-bones]

The Warrior and the Wildfire

Chapter 1: Return to Mistward

Here we go! the first chapter of my rowan POV of Queen of Shadows! Please let me know what you think!

tw for thoughts of self harm, very minor

word count: 3832

Masterlist / Ao3 / Next Chapter 

Rowan awoke abruptly, gasping and retching over the side of the bed. Bile pooled in his throat, and it was an effort to keep from vomiting up the meager contents of his stomach onto the cold stone floors of the fortress.

It had been the dream, the same dream. The visions that had tormented him for what now felt like months – though it had barely been a week since they had begun.

Aelin on her knees. Maeve towering before her, darkness wafting in deep pools around her feet. Black iron everywhere, keeping her chained to the floor. Keeping his queen locked in place.

Lorcan and Rowan appeared beside Maeve, whips clutched between their fingers. Aelin looked at him with betrayal in her eyes, and Rowan had to watch as he and Lorcan cut her skin to ribbons. As they cut her just like the men of the salt mines had cut her. As her master had cut her.

Maeve just laughed.

And that was usually when the screaming began. They were Lyria’s screams, but they fell from Aelin’s lips.

Rowan knew they were loud, knew the sounds coming from his queen were enough to echo through the castle, to shake its very foundation. But somehow, in the dream, he felt distant. Removed from them.

The sounds of her agony brushed his face like rose petals. Like a silver mist.

Cool. Soft.

And yet they made his heart pound through his chest, hammer and chisel on stone, splintering it apart. Piece. By. Piece.

Even now, he could still feel those screams radiating through his very being. Rippling through his soul like a rung bell. It felt as though their tender sound would never leave him.

It made Rowan want to tear out his own throat.

But instead, he slowly sat up, taking in slow breath after slow breath. Trying in vain to calm his pounding blood.

Rowan had been in Mistward for eight days now. Eight long days, and eight even longer nights. And he still hadn’t gotten used to sleeping in an empty bed. He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to it again.

It felt wrong to sleep in this bed without Aelin by his side. A bed they had shared for months, long enough for Rowan to get used to balancing himself on the edge of the mattress. Long enough for him to get used to hiding his desire from her, particularly in the mornings.

Her scent still lingered, almost like a friendly ghost haunting the stone alcoves. But soon, even that would be gone. Along with her muddy boots and lent garments.

Rowan had always slept on the side of the bed facing the door, providing Aelin as much protection as he could – even in his sleep. Aelin got the window side, where often, the moonlight would stretch its fingers across her golden hair, marking it with silver.

Now, it felt like an invasion to spread out, to brush against her side of the bed. To touch her moonlight.

So Rowan kept to his edge, and let the moon mark the empty space where his Fireheart used to rest.

For a while Rowan just lay there, letting himself be completely useless. Wallowing. But as the minutes slid past like hours, and Deanna finally slipped below the horizon to allow Mala to stretch her golden fingers over the land, Rowan dragged himself out of bed and prepared to face the day.

Each piece of steel he strapped to his clothes felt heavier than the last.

Rowan wandered down to the kitchens, his boots silent in the fortress corridors. It was still early, and Mistward was quite awake yet. But the kitchens, as usual, had been bustling with energy long before dawn.

From the top of the stairs, Rowan could hear chopping vegetables, the quick opening and closing of the bread ovens, the cursing of burnt fingers. The melody of Luca and Emrys preparing for the breakfast rush.

Rowan slid in as quietly as he could, grabbing a mug of stew and snatching a loaf of bread when Emrys’ eyes were averted, then retreated to a back corner to wolf it down.

“Hurry up with those vegetables, Luca! No time to waste – the stock should have started simmering over 15 minutes ago!”

“I’m sorry Emrys, it’s just that Elentiya used to deal with this.” Luca frantically shoved the mixed vegetables into a pot, and moved on to carving at a mysterious slab of meat. Roast duck, perhaps?

“I know I know.” Emrys said, exasperated. “Just get it done. Malakai will be down in a minute to take you away, and then I’m going to have to finish this all myself.”

As if the old male had summoned him, Malakai appeared in the entranceway, his lined face haggard with missed sleep. He nodded at Rowan, then snuck behind Emrys to embrace him.

“See? What did I say,” Emrys teased, a smile in his voice, “Now I’ll be without both my helpers to get breakfast on the table.” He snuck a kiss on his mate’s cheek, then twisted out of his grip to stir a massive vat of scrambled eggs, grabbing a handful of chopped chives from Luca’s cutting board and tossing them in.

Luca started working more furiously than ever, cutting bread into slices and portioning soup into bowls. Malakai reluctantly let go of his mate, then, surprisingly, looked up at Rowan.

“Prince Whitethorn,” he cleared his throat lightly. “Thrain has asked if I would join him beneath the fortress today, to help install the new iron gate. And Randall is over at the healer’s compound this morning, so – ”

Rowan frowned. He thought he knew where this was going. “ – would it be alright if you took Luca on patrol this morning?”

Rowan sighed. It wasn’t like he had anything more important to do. He gave the male a small nod, then said, “Emrys, if you need him this morning, it can wait until after breakfast is done.”

The old male didn’t even look up from the stove. “Thank you, Prince Rowan. Now Luca – ” Emrys gave the young male a daunting list of instructions, the boy’s face noticeably paling.

Malakai nodded at Rowan once again, kissed his mate, grabbed one of Luca’s slices of bread and cheese, then disappeared out the kitchen door, presumably to head for the tunnels beneath the fortress.

Rowan finished eating just as the demi-Fae began to arrive, told Luca he would be back in an hour, then left out the back door and headed into the forest, his limbs stretching into a slow, loping run.

This wasn’t the first time he had taken charge of Luca’s training since his return to Mistward, and he was starting to realize that he rather liked the young demi-Fae. No matter that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He was almost like a very, very young Connall – always full of questions, and going around with that naïve, bright-eyed innocence. So impressionable.

His run slowly transformed into a sprint, his muscles burning with exertion.

It was strange to feel the boy beginning to warm up to him after all these months. Finally opening up, and asking all those questions burning on his lips. And it was nice that Malakai and Emrys seemed to trust Rowan with him, even if it was just to guide him through the basics of sparring, or run with him around the borders of the fortress’ lands.

Rowan knew that Malakai and Emrys were at least a little bit confused as to why Rowan was back, but they hadn’t asked too many questions, for which he was grateful. Malakai and the other leaders wanted an update on the events in Doranelle and to know the Queen’s response to the Adarlanian attack, but all Emrys wanted to know was whether Elentiya was all right.

Rowan told them as little as he could, saying that he had informed Maeve of the details of Adarlan’s attack on the fortress, that she was responding accordingly and would keep them informed through the usual channels. He told them that Elentiya was on her way back to Adarlan, and that he was here on his queen’s orders.

Rowan just didn’t specify exactly which queen had ordered him to return, and they did not ask. But somehow, he thought that Emrys suspected. That male seemed to be able to see through anything.

Rowan felt that Emrys and Malakai were wondering why he hadn’t gone with Aelin, but they didn’t say anything. And for that, Rowan was even more grateful. Because he didn’t have an answer to give them. He barely had an answer to give himself.

Rowan knew that Aelin hadn’t been telling him the whole truth on that pier, but he hadn’t wanted to push. She deserved her space, deserved to go back to Adarlan alone, with a clean slate and without a hulking ass like him hanging on her coattails at every moment. Even if it drove him completely insane.

Rowan’s feet pounded into the earth as he sprinted through the trees. Maybe this morning he would reach as far as the sea.

By the time they said goodbye, the captain’s scent had completely left her own. There was no trace of him left. But that didn’t mean that she didn’t still want him, or that when Rowan saw her again, the scent wouldn’t have returned.

There was also that prince, the Havilliard boy. They were friends, at the very least. And surely a match between their two houses would be politically advantageous. The first daughter of Brannon Galathynius, and the first son of Gavin Havilliard, combining their houses? Certainly something Aelin would be considering.

Rowan ripped past a patch of thorns, their barbs digging into the skin of his forearms. He didn’t pause.

Aelin had only mentioned her cousin a few times, just in passing, but Rowan had heard of Aedion Ashryver. Knew all the stories about the wolf of the north. Even knew about the rumors that had circulated, several times over, that a marriage would be arranged between the two of them.

It could be a smart match, the two cousins. Aedion was respected and admired throughout the western continent, and beloved by his people. It would solidify Aelin’s position within Terrasen, and secure her more support within her nation. He even had his own legion of soldiers he could promise to her cause.

Rowan’s breaths were sharp in his throat. He pushed himself even harder.

Then there was the matter of her former master. Aelin had never been clear about her relationship with Arobynn Hamel, whether he was father, brother, or…lover. The word turned Rowan’s stomach.

He was now practically flying through the trees.

Aelin had told him that she needed to go to Adarlan alone because Rowan would be too much of a distraction, that he would only make things harder for her if he went with her. And that was true, at least in part. But Rowan thought that the real reason she wanted to go alone was because she needed to deal with Chaol and Arobynn without him there to complicate things.

Arobynn… Rowan sighed, gritting his teeth. Rowan wasn’t sure he had ever desired the death of another human being more than he had Arobynn Hamel’s.

Aelin had been so hesitant, so reluctant to say anything about her former master. But those scars spoke volumes.

He had chained her, had abused her, manipulated her, and then beat her bloody. He had tortured and killed her lover. Her Sam. And then he had sent her to the salt mines, where she was whipped and starved and had nearly been destroyed.

Rowan wanted to tear Arobynn limb from limb, wanted to rip out his fingernails and chain him up in the dark and leave him there until he started to lose grip on what was real and what wasn’t. There was no torture too extreme, no punishment that he didn’t deserve.

But if Aelin decided to forgive him, decided to let that monster back into her life, Rowan would have to live with it.

And it killed him.

Killed him to have her headed over that sea, towards enemies who had already nearly succeeded in killing her, and who had tried over and over and over again. And most of all, it killed him because he had no idea when he would see her again. No idea if he would ever see her again.

His legs kept pushing him forwards, his lungs fighting to keep up.

She didn’t want him. Aelin didn’t want him by her side.

Another ragged breath.

He would learn to live with it. Would learn to deal with that burden.

In. Out. Forwards.

Aelin would marry another, be it for love or politics. And Rowan would be there for her no matter what. That was the promise he had made, and that was the promise he would keep.

So he ran, pushing through the undergrowth until he could feel the sea air on his cheeks, until the wind whispered of caves and sand and foam and spray. Rowan sprinted right up to the cliffs, jerking to a stop.

He looked out over the deep blue water with sharp, determined eyes. As if he looked hard enough, he would be able to see her on her little ship, sailing away from him across the blue ocean.

But of course, the sea was as empty as it always was.

His breaths ripped through his chest, but before they calmed, Rowan had already shifted into his hawk and was soaring through the sea-tossed air. Heading back over the trees he had just run between.

This run had become a part of his routine. And while he told himself it was just exercise, he knew that it was really so he could run over the paths he had spent so much time with Aelin on. So he could feel like she was still with him, even fleetingly.

What had taken him nearly an hour to travel on foot took him barely minutes in the air. And soon, he was swooping down over the fortress and shifting to land on his feet outside the kitchen door to collect Luca.

Ever since the battle, the ward stones had been useless and silent, the barriers permanently fallen. Rowan had spent some time examining them, and though he could find no obvious flaw in the ancient stone, he also could find no remedy. Their magic was simply spent, and it would not come back.

As a result, the residents of Mistward had spent a significant amount of time and energy on designing replacements to secure the fortress; higher walls, stronger battlements, sturdier outer gate, larger drawbridge. These improvements were well underway by the time Rowan had returned a week past, and he had gladly thrown himself into the effort.

Even now, as he waited outside the kitchen for Luca to arrive, he could see various workers laying the foundation for the new gate and battlements, and others pulling a large wagon filled with quarried stone for the outer wall. Rowan would likely spend his afternoon among them, either with the men in the small quarry a mile or so away, harvesting stone blocks, or with those who were currently building the scaffolding to contain the stones as they were laid in place.

He wasn’t exactly looking forwards to it. The days were getting hotter as summer grew nearer, and though the day had barely begun, it already was promising to be sweltering.

Luca finally appeared at the door, Emrys’ voice calling from across the room reminding him to be careful, and that he would see him in the evening for the dinner rush, and to stay safe. Rowan disguised a small smile.

Luca glanced up at him briefly, then jerked his eyes away and skittered out of the entrance, making for the fortress gates. Rowan followed without a word.

“Malakai told me I was supposed to run the southern perimeter, and then work on my sparring forms.” Luca’s eyes met his, then flitted away again. Luca’s scent was mellow, buttered toast and apple slices, but right now it was sharp with anxiety and excitement.

Rowan nodded at the boy, and they took off towards the south, passing by sentries who waved and smiled at Luca, but didn’t seem to know how to greet Rowan. Most looked down and away, or raised their hands in half a wave which they quickly gave up on. Rowan ignored them.

Public opinion of him had shifted since the battle, but not by that much.

They ran in silence for a while, Rowan alert and watchful, though they found nothing of interest. Luca was demi-Fae, but since he couldn’t shift, they were confined to a much slower pace than Rowan was used to. Meaning a run that would have taken him minutes, took them over an hour.

By the time they stopped for water, Luca was panting, but determined. Rowan handed the boy the water skin, which he eagerly gulped down. Rowan stripped off his light cotton shirt, now soaked in sweat, and hung it up on a branch at the edge of the clearing.

Luca’s voice floated over to him, “Do you think Elentiya is ever going to come back?”

Rowan paused for a moment. “I don’t know, Luca. But I don’t think so.”

His brow was furrowed. “How long are you going to stay here then?”

“I don’t know that either.”

The boy almost laughed. “I used to think that you knew everything.”

“No one knows everything.”

Luca shook his head slightly, glancing around the forest, his lips curved upwards into a sly grin. “But I still thought you did – well, if not everything, then at least everything important. Bas – ” Luca’s voice stumbled a bit over the other boy’s name, “he tried to tell me different, but I refused to listen to him.”

Rowan’s heart sunk. Bas. He had been so young, only a little bit older than Luca. He hadn’t known any better, had just wanted what everyone did – to be accepted. To be safe.

“I killed him, did you know that?” Luca’s gaze turned to Rowan’s. “I was the one who killed him.”

Rowan nodded. “I guessed.”

His eyes jerked away again, his feet scuffing the earth. “I still forget that he’s gone, sometimes. But it was the right thing – what I did. Wasn’t it?”

Rowan sighed, frowning slightly. Luca looked back up at him, worried. “The world is a complicated place,” Rowan said finally. “Answers are almost never as easy as that. But yes, Luca. I think that you did the right thing.”

The boy’s face darkened, and for a long moment, he didn’t say anything.

“Okay,” he said. “Okay.”

Rowan let the silence continue, just waiting. Knowing that he might be the only person who could soothe this ache for the young demi-Fae. It was a responsibility that he didn’t take lightly.

“Sometimes – ” he broke off, and though his face was turned away, Rowan could see that his eyes were lined with silver. “Sometimes I wonder whether I still want to become a warrior.”

Rowan considered his answer carefully before he responded. “Warriors are many things, Luca, not just soldiers. Malakai has been a warrior all his life, but his days are filled with the duties of a leader, not with violence.”

“That wasn’t really what I meant.”

Rowan waited.

“I meant – I’m not sure why I’m doing this anymore. I mean why do I even want to be let into Doranelle? It doesn’t seem much better over there than it is here.”

“Then let me ask you a question in return,” he said plainly. “Do you think that what you’re learning is worthwhile?”

Another pause. “Yes…” Luca said slowly. “Or at least I think so.”

“Then I would say don’t worry about whether or not you will pass your tests, and be let into Doranelle.” Rowan turned, and began walking through the clearing, scanning it over. “Many demi-Fae come here, and spend all of their time wishing to be somewhere else. Then when they don’t achieve that goal, they end up lost, and angry.” Rowan grabbed a long, sturdy stick from the ground and turned back to the young demi-Fae. “Instead focus on what you are in control of.”

Rowan threw the stick over to Luca, who caught it just before it smacked him in the face. The boy wiped at his eyes, then nodded.

“Are you ready?” Rowan asked.

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Rowan guided him through the basic sparring forms, grabbing another stick for himself as they staged mock battles. They exchanged choreographed blows until the sun began to pull them into midday, and they returned to Mistward.

Luca traipsed off to join the other young sentries, and Rowan spent the rest of the afternoon toiling over a ten-foot section of the new outer wall, laboriously hauling piles of stone and fitting them into place with smeared vats of pale-grey grout.

It was hard, physical labor. The kind that filled your muscles with a satisfying soreness at the end of the day. But it did not fill his mind.

Instead, Rowan spent the afternoon mulling over his conversation with Luca.

That boy really did have a way of worming through other people’s barriers.

But it was more than just that. It had almost reminded Rowan of living in his uncle’s house, when he was still learning the fighting arts and was recovering from the deaths of his parents. He had been surrounded by cousins, both younger and older. And today with Luca – that is what it had been like back then. Learning and teaching alike, giving comfort and advice when asked.

It was a time so distant, it felt strange in Rowan’s mind. Like they were the memories of another, completely separate person. Someone who didn’t exist anymore.

But this morning, he had reappeared. If only for a moment.

It was like putting on old clothes, made unfamiliar by time. The memory stretched tight over his new frame.

Rowan realized that he missed Sellene and Endymion and all the rest, missed their mess and chaos, and the countless children underfoot. It wasn’t likely he would see them again anytime soon. Nor that their meeting would be under anything resembling decent circumstances.

When they ate dinner that evening, Luca sat at Rowan’s table. They didn’t say anything to each other, but Rowan recognized the gesture for what it was.

And that night, when Rowan finally curled up at the edge of his mattress, his thoughts fell to family. To children. And what they would look like if he shared them with Aelin.

Rowan gritted his teeth at the idea, but he was unable to banish it. And so those thoughts coaxed him slowly to sleep, where he lay in the fortress of stone, surrounded by silver mist.

Just barely out of reach of the moonlight.

···

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