#melbourne escape rooms

[rushescapegameme]

Level Up Your Home: Crafting the Ultimate Game Room

In the world of gaming, immersion is everything. Whether you're a casual player or a hardcore gamer, having a dedicated space where you can escape into your favourite games can take your experience to the next level.

Imagine a room where every element is carefully designed to enhance your gaming sessions – from the lighting to the furniture layout. Creating the ultimate game room in your home is not just about entertainment; it's about crafting an experience that transports you to another world. Here's how you can level up your home by designing the ultimate game room.

1. Choose the Right Space

The first step in creating your dream game room in Melbourne is choosing the right space. Ideally, you want a room that is spacious enough to accommodate your gaming setup comfortably.

Consider factors like natural light, noise levels, and accessibility when selecting the room. Basements, spare bedrooms, or even converted garages can make excellent game room options. Once you've chosen the space, it's time to plan out the layout

2. Optimize the Layout

The layout of your game room can significantly impact your gaming experience. Arrange your furniture in a way that maximises space and promotes comfortable gameplay. Keep your gaming setup as the focal point of the room, with seating positioned for optimal viewing angles.

Consider incorporating storage solutions to keep your gaming accessories organised and easily accessible. A well-planned layout will not only enhance the aesthetics of your game room but also improve functionality.

3. Invest in Quality Gaming Equipment

The heart of any game room is the gaming equipment. Invest in high-quality gaming consoles, PCs, monitors, and peripherals to ensure smooth gameplay. Choose a gaming chair that provides adequate support and comfort for long gaming sessions.

Consider installing a surround sound system or gaming headphones to immerse yourself fully in the audio experience. Don't forget about lighting – adjustable LED lights can create ambience and reduce eye strain during extended gaming sessions.

4. Personalize the Décor

Make your game room in Melbourne truly your own by personalising the décor. Choose a theme that reflects your gaming preferences, whether it's retro arcade, futuristic sci-fi, or fantasy adventure.

Incorporate artwork, posters, and memorabilia from your favourite games to add character to the space. Consider installing shelves or display cases to showcase your gaming collection.

Don't be afraid to get creative – adding unique touches like themed rugs or wall decals can enhance the overall ambience of your game room.

5. Create a Comfortable Atmosphere

Comfort is key when it comes to gaming, so make sure your game room is a comfortable place to spend time in. Choose comfortable seating options like bean bags, recliners, or gaming couches where you can relax during marathon gaming sessions.

Consider installing blackout curtains or blinds to block out glare and create an immersive gaming environment. Keep the room well-ventilated and at a comfortable temperature to prevent overheating during intense gaming sessions. With the right atmosphere, you can game for hours without feeling fatigued or uncomfortable.

Conclusion

Creating the ultimate game room in Melbourne is a labour of love that requires careful planning and attention to detail. By choosing the right space, optimising the layout, investing in quality equipment, personalising the décor, and creating a comfortable atmosphere, you can design a game room that elevates your gaming experience to new heights.

Whether you're battling dragons, racing cars, or exploring virtual worlds, your game room will be the ultimate sanctuary for all your gaming adventures. So, roll up your sleeves and start crafting the game room of your dreams – the ultimate gaming paradise awaits!

[landosjpg]

morning runs | ln

the one where your boyfriend finds you fast asleep in your hotel bed when he returns from his morning run.

lando norrix x fem!reader

word count: ~1.0k

warnings: smut MINORS DNI!!!!, porn without plot, somnophilia, p in v, unprotected sex (as always, take care please), slight praise

note: those pictures of him running around melbourne with his shirt off have sent me into a spiral and they're the only thing i could think about for the past two days. i could not help myself.

no matter how many times you travelled long distances, you still weren't used to it; jet lag always kicked your ass every time you went to a race on the other side of the world with lando, messing up your sleeping schedule to the point it ended up knocking you out for the vast majority of the day.

you were trying your best to adapt to the time change, but it always took you a few days to get it right. this year, lando had decided that morning runs were the way to beat jet lag.

he had asked you to join a few times, promising it would be helpful, but the drowsiness made it impossible for you to climb out of bed that early and be productive. that's why he had left all by himself early in the morning, tucking you in and planting a soft kiss on your forehead before walking out the hotel room.

he came back only a few hours later, cheeks flushed and a thin layer of sweat covering his chest, tank top in hand. when he walked into your shared room, he found you were still in bed, in the same position he had left you earlier, sheets sprawled out barely covering your body now.

he softly smiled at the sight before him, the dim light that entered the room from the blinds tempting him to get back in bed with you. he would. righter after taking a shower, he promised himself.

however, he walked to where you were, smiling at your sleepy expression.

"i love you," he mumbled, leaning down to peck your slightly parted lips. he raised his eyebrows when he heard a small whimper leave your throat and you shifted around a little, his eyes scanning your half-naked body.

you were only weating one of his shirts. not that it was something you never did before, but something about tour drowsy state was drawing him in. he sat right beside you on the mattress, trying not to woke you up and his fingers slowly reached for your legs, stroking your bare sking tenderly with the tip of his fingers.

you sighed softly at his warm touch, stretching your body and your shirt sliding up, letting him have a look at your underwear. he moved his hand up, up, up, until his fingertips brushed against the hem of your panties. as if it was muscle memory, your legs slowly spread open for him.

and fuck, was it tempting.

it wouldn't be the first time you woke up to his fingers buried deep inside you or his head between your legs, but he knew this time you were too tired. and he would have stood up and taken a shower if you hadn't whimpered his name in your sleep the second he withdrew his hand from your core. the sweet sound that fell from your lips made him smile, fingers slowly going back to pull your underwear to the side so he could get a proper look at you.

his smirk grew wider at the sight of how wet you were, and when you stirred the second he softly pressed his thumb against your clit, he knew he couldn't just leave you yet. lazily, he got rid of his own clothes, discarding them on the floor and hovered over your body, pulling your shirt up to your hips gently, still not wanting to disturb your sleep.

"look so pretty like this, baby," he mumbled before leaning down to kiss your cheek as he slid his already hard cock between your folds, slowly pushing inside of you only a few seconds later. a low groan escaped his throat as you easily took all of him; the fact that you were so ready for him, even in your unaware state, making him smile once more.

he stilled his body as he bottomed out for a few seconds, his eyes taking in your sweet expression. he brushed a strand of your hair back as he started rolling his hips slowly, his breath getting heavier as you hummed in your sleep.

the groan he let out right next to your ear as you unconciously clenched around him woke you up, making your body squirm in confussion under him.

"s'me, baby..." he slurred, still fucking you slowly and gently. "it's just me, don't worry."

you softly whimpered when you heard your boyfriend's voice and felt his weight on you, chest pressed against yours.

"lando..." the moan that left your lips was low, and you lazily wrapped your arms around his waist, holding him close. your eyes fluttered open only to find out he was looking right back at you. through half-lidded eyes, you could see the slight flush of his cheeks, a chuckle leaving your lips before you closed them again.

"you're doing so good," he whispered, keeping his thrusts gentle, not wanting to take you out of your sleepy state. "my pretty, pretty baby," he added, bumping his nose on yours to kiss your lips before hiding his face in the crook of your neck and spreading little kisses all over your skin.

the build up was slow, whispered praises and sighs being the only sound filling the room that turned into low whimpers as soon as you felt your toes curling, your pussy tightening around your boyfriend's cock, stealing a string of curses from his lips when you felt him filling you up.

after a few seconds, he slowly rolled the two of you on the mattress, your body now on top of his with him still buried inside of you.

"go back to sleep, baby," he murmured, pressing a small kiss to the corner of your lips and pulling the bedsheets over your bodies again, his arms holding you close to his chest, keeping you warm and comfortable.

[planetpiastri]

Imagine Oscar with an American!reader who teams up with Logan to tease Oscar

pairing: oscar piastri x fem!american!reader [no faceclaim, reader is faceless] summary: oscar should have known what he was getting into when he started dating an american. who are we kidding, he absolutely knew what he was getting into. notes: i'm actually in love with this request as an american girlie myself. there's a lot of jokes here that are inside jokes my friends and i make about f1, so i hope you guys enjoy them too. also as a former tgm blog, this is a little bit of a full circle moment hehe

ynusername

liked by mclaren, oscarpiastri, and others

ynusername USA! USA! RRRAAAHHH 🦅🦅🦅

view all 427 comments

mclaren Thanks for hanging out in the Austin paddock with us! 🧡

ynusername thanks for having me!!

oscarpiastri Wow that caption does not fit the aesthetic at all

ynusername sorry pookie wookie snugglelumps you're my bestest most favorite boy thank u for making me din din❤️❤️

logansargeant LFGGGGGGG

username1 oscar cannot escape the americans first logan and now his gf 😭

oscarpiastri I am in a hell of my own choosing

ynusername

liked by alex_albon, logansargeant, and others

ynusername sorry i ate two taco bell soft tacos in less than 90 seconds do u still think i'm hot

view all 338 comments

oscarpiastri Always ❤️

ynusername AWWWWW logansargeant Get a room

landonorris last i checked, taco bell is not part of his racing diet 🤨

ynusername ssh you didn't see nuthin 🤺

username2 okay but what's oscar's order??

username3 i bet yn and logan ordered for him ynusername correct

oscarpiastri Final thoughts: it was good I guess, my tummy kinda hurts, the best part was the soda

logansargeant Yeah that checks out

oscarpiastri

liked by logansargeant, ynusername, and 157,960 others

oscarpiastri My American girl ❤️

view all 1,743 comments

username3 WAAHH THEY'RE SO CUTE

username4 why is he soft launching they've been together for like 3 years now

ynusername ❤️

logansargeant American boy** silly there's a typo in your caption

landonorris oscarpiastri he wants u fr oscarpiastri I know

liked by oscarpiastri, landonorris, and others

ynusername hi australia 👋 thank u for making my forever person ❤️

view all 604 comments

username5 my 😭 forever 😭 person 😭

oscarpiastri I love you ❤️

ynusername giggling blushing kicking my feet

logansargeant Come back I'm bored

username6 yn showing oscar around california and oscar showing yn around melbourne oh i'm gonna barf they're so cute

tagging: @sonder-paradise bc she helped beta this<3

[scribblesofagoonerr]

— Yer' a pair of pests!

Here's another part of chaos fc!

Thank you @alotofpockets to help me out when i need it, big time!

I'm finding writing stuff like this the best thing right now as i can't handle much angst with the current situation i'm dealing with...

Anyways. I hope you enjoy!

pairings: kim little x reader, kyra cooney cross x reader, arsenal wfc x reader

summary: reader and kyra continue to cause mayhem on the trip in melbourne with katie falling victim of their latest prank

"KYRA!" You bolt through the room and literally throw yourself on the older girls back, which took her by complete surprise as you wrap your legs' round her and cling onto her.

You've been lucky enough to escape the watchful eyes of Kim and Steph, making a quick exit out of the room the minute that the press conference had ended, running in the direction of where the rest of the girls will be.

"Y/N/N!" The Australian girl exclaims just as enthusiastically, "Where'd you go?" She wonders.

"I told you that Mother Kimmy held me captive-- Ah, Kyra!" You squeal, taken by sudden surprise as you're body slammed to the ground all the sudden by your partner in crime.

"And the chaos resumes," Caitlin murmers, rolling her eyes as she watches the pair of you wrestle on the floor. "Girls, get up off the floor!"

"More like responsibility," Katie chuckle in amusement, shaking her head as she watches the chaos unfold with you two "kids" in the team.

"Kyra! Y/N! Break it up!" The older Australian girl continues to shout, trying to get in between the two of you to stop mucking about, "Can't you to ever behave? You're supposed to be adults, settling examples here!"

"This is entertainment at its' finest," Vic remarks, watching it from the side as she has her phone out to record it.

In fact, most of the girls had their phones out and where laughing while watching, meanwhile Caitlin still struggles to break it up between the two of you.

"Kyra! Y/N!" Caitlin shouts at the top of her voice, trying to tug your counter part away from brawling with you, "One of you is seriously going to get hurt in a minute!"

"What's going on?" Steph questions, hearing the commotion before she enters the room even though shes' not entirely aware of what's happening.

"Kyra and Y/N are fighting and Caitlins' trying to break it up," Alessia chimes in, motioning to what is happening between you and the two Aussie's.

"And failing," Teyah snickers before she goes to try and goad both of you to continue to play fight on the floor.

"Fighting?" Stephs' eyes widen in shock before she pushes her way forward and tries to take control of the situation, "What're you two playin' at? I swear to god its' like dealing with actual children!" She tries to take a hold of your upper bicep, but your too scrappy for her to successfully to that.

"What's going on?" Kim enters the room and narrows her eyes in your direction, "Y/F/N, get up from the floor, right now!" She bellows across the room to you.

Your smart enough to recognise your captains' voie and listen to what she's telling you to avoid any further direct scolding from her, "Ello there, Kimmy," You flash her an innocent smile, like you've not been causing no trouble.

"Enough trouble, go and get ready!" Kim states, firmly while motioning in the direction of where your own stuff is on the bench awaiting the open training session in front of all the fans.

"Don't know what yer even talkin' about there," You grin cheekily but still do as your told; Sure enough you're a troublemaker, but you know when to listen sometimes.

Your not a complete idiot.

Even if some others' might agree with that.

Following orders from your captain, you get ready to go and join the open training session as Kyra wanders over to sit beside you on the bench, "Did you do it?" You wonder.

"We did it," Kyra grins mischeviously, grabbing her top to shove it over her head.

"Told you we wouldn't let you down, eagle 1," One of the Academy players, Maddie chimes in as she wanders over near to the bench.

"Nicely done, Young Gun!" You state, playfully ruffling the girls' hair.

"Y/N!" You suddenly hear your captain shout aloud to get your attention.

Your quick to hold your hands up in mock surrender, "I-- I didn't do anything!" You insist.

"Quit muckin' around and get ready!" Kim states in a tone that leaves no room for objection, "And leave Maddie alone, don't be dragging her into none of your shenanigans!" She warns with a pointed finger in your direction.

"I-- What? I'm not tryin' to involve her in nothing," You try to justify yourself while resisting the urge to roll your eyes, "And I'm not even causin' any trouble!" You exclaim.

Kim keeps her eyes' on you as she looks at you sleptically, "That's the way its' going to stay, alright? I don't want to be havin' any more trouble from you today!" She all but demands, while you try and protest but you know with the luck shes' still giving you its' jus better to do as your told for once.

That still doesn't mean you won't be a brat about it.

"Borin'," You murmer, sitting down to shove your boots on.

"I heard that Y/N," Kim is quick to hear what you say straight away.

"Good, cos' you were meant too," You remark, playfully sticking your tongue out at the older Scots' women.

"Y/N! Would you stop!" Alessia shouts in frustration after shes' finally had enough of your antics.

"I didn't do out Lessi," You hold your hands up in surrender and try play your innocence.

"Yes you did-- You keep on trying to trip me up!" The older blonde states, glaring at you.

In your defence, you did aim to try and stay of trouble, but it's not always easy and before you know it, you're bored once more and actively causing chaos again.

In this case, it was trying to see how many times you could purposely trip Alessia up before she got annoyed with you.

"What's going on?" Katie calls over to where your stood irritating the older girl with the help of your trusty sidekick of course.

The uproar of course catches the attention of a few of the older players as they look over to see what's going on in the middle of the training session on the pitch.

"Y/N's being a menace," Alessia snitches on you straight away.

"When isn't she?" Teyah chimes in as she laughs in amusement 

"I'm not even doin' anything!" You exclaim, trying to make it seem like your being a complete angel.

Vic can't help but laugh as she walks past, "You're always up to something," She comments.

"Y/N, knock it off!" Kim sends a pointed look in your direction, not even needing to say anything further as you slump your shoulders in defeat to being scolded once again.

"The fox is entering the building," Mini Viv rushes into the locker room ahead of the American after the training session takes place to let you know so you can be ready with the can of silly string that you'd managed to somehow convince Teyah to get for you.

Sometimes you forget that your both the same age.

Oh well.

"Shes' coming! Shes' coming! Shes' round the corner!" Mini Katie burts through the door, after you had her keep a look out for your next target to prank.

"Good work, Young Gun!" You grin at the 17-year-old and turn to Kyra whos' of course been pulled into your scheming mischief, "It's show time," You share a sly grin with the Aussie girl, stood up on the benches in the locker room as you get ready to fire at your target.

"Lets' cause mayhem," Kyra states, more than eager to get the American like the plan is to do.

"Girls-- Ah! What the fuck?!" The two of you fire your silly string in the direction of the player who you thought was Emily, however, you're severly wrong when you realise its' someone completely different.

"Oh shit," Kyra mumbles in realisation, dropping the can straight away.

"Oh shit," You repeat, your eyes widen in realisation of how much trouble you'd be in now.

It wasn't Emily, but instead it was your fellow Irish team mate, Katie McCabe.

Oops?

"Hey, Katie. Are you-- What the hell happened in here?" Steph wanders into the locker room and her eyes widen seeing the scene in front of her as she takes in the Irish girl covered in silly string while you and Kyra look guiltier than ever.

"We thought it was Emily!" Kyra is the first to spill.

"We didn't... We didn't realise you were gonna walk through the door first!" You try and defend yourself, despite how much trouble you knew you would be in.

"What the--" Caitlin walks into the locker room and furrows her eyebrows, confused.

"What's going on?" Emily just happens to walk into the locker room with Alessia and looks around in confusion.

"We thought it was gonna be you!" Mini Viv exclaims.

"Yeah, you were supposed to walk in. Where'd you go?" Mini Katie pouts, realising that the prank had completely failed.

"You girls are dead," Katie seethes, although its' hard to try and not laugh at her when shes' covered in multicoloured silly string.

"Whoops?" You question, flashing her an innocent smile to try and get yourself out of trouble.

"Come 'ere, you little--" Katie lunges at you as your eyes' widen and you try to bolt out of the locker room, but its' blocked off by the one person you didn't want to see walking through it.

"What an earth is going on?!" Kim all but shouts aloud as she takes in the pure chaos in the locker room; The current situation being that Katie is trying to chase you around the room.

Meanwhile, Kyra is being held captive between the two older Aussie girls' who are giving her a grilling about it.

"I didn't do out-- Kimmy, save me from her!" You try and escape in the direction of the Scots' women, making out like your non the wiser of the reason of what happened, "Katies' mad at me for no reason!"

"Yes I am you little shit-- Come 'ere!" The Irish girl still tries to grab a hold of you as Kim at least has some decency to shield you from her wrath.

"Alright, that's enough. Katie, back off!" Your captain tells the brunette firmly, giving that she reluctantly gives in and goes back to her own cubby in annoyance, all while you can't resist the urge to smirk at her until of course Kim looks at you, "And you, what have I told you about causing any more trouble! Silly strong, really, Y/N?" She scolds you.

"I didn't do out, you have no proof it was us," You innocently shrug your shoulders and try to act like butter wouldn't melt while under your captain's gaze.

It doesn't do much to work though.

"I'm not blind, Y/F/N! You sit there, right now and don't even think about moving!" Kim tells you in a firm voice, pinching the bridge of her nose as she gestures to the bench in front of her own cubby instead of yours.

"Oooof, you're in trouble," Kyra taunts you from the other side of the room.

"Kyra!" Steph gives the younger Australian a pointed look.

"Now whos' in trouble," You remark loud enough for others to hear still.

"Y/N!" Kim continues to stare at you with a look that could definitely kill given the chance, "Sit down. Now!"

"Party pooper," You huff and slump down onto the bench, awaiting whatever lecture you're bound to get from the Scots' women given the prank you'd pulled.

In your opinion, it's still definitely worth it even if you are trouble and boy did you know you're in hot water now.

But still very much worth it.

© scribblesofagoonerr

[norlestappen]

The Williams Shitstorm - LS2

Summary: After Alex crashed in Australia, Logan was just ready to be sad with y/n, but y/n was having none of that. She was ready to fight everyone to make sure her boyfriend was happy again. Sad-boyfriend!Logan x confident gf!reader

Time flew by, you cheering for your boyfriend, feeling so confident in his performance in the current season. You felt so happy knowing that Logan got his second chance and could finally prove that he was just as talented as the other drivers on the grid.

When you used to work in a boring office, you would always miss your boyfriend, seeing him on the television that was positioned on the other end of the room.

Dating a racing driver had its ups and downs, but you would never trade it for the world. You had a gentle, kind, and wholehearted man by your side, who never once doubted your abilities or you.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity when you were offered a job in Williams when Logan resigned for another year. You felt ecstatic being able to stay with your boyfriend, still being able to work and finally having that free time together that you guys always missed out on.

All of that gratefulness ended when you were in Melbourne, Alex had just crashed in FP2 and they had to find a solution on what to do. You were on edge a little bit, not liking the fact what the team was talking about. Getting Alex to race in Logans car? Impossible. Trying to repair his car? Unless they were magicians, that would be pretty impossible too. You were getting impatient, waiting in Logan’s drivers’ room, wanting an answer on this whole situation. You knew that Logan would agree to anything that James made him do, because he was just that person. Never arguing, in hopes to not raise any attention to himself.

So, when the door opened and he just laid down next to you on the tiny couch, you just knew something must have happened. He would always try to escape his mind by cuddling into you, like an infant. But you also knew that there was no way to get the information at that given moment. He needed to calm down, collect his thoughts and just relax before approaching the subject.

In the meantime, you were texting the wags group chat, trying to get more information on whatever drama was going on in the other teams. But most things weren’t new.

Kika and Flavy were complaining about Alpine being shit. Alexandra and Rebecca had their own conversation going on, while both Lilys, Luisa, and you were discussing what was going on with Logan. Barely a few minutes went on, when you got a message of Alex’s Lily:

Lily Albono: heyy girl, so I just talked to Alex, and I got horrible news. Alex is fine btw, but idk about Logan. Is he with you? Alex is worried. Apparently, Alex is driving Logans car tomorrow? Wish I had better news, but James said that Logan is sitting out this GP since Alex always has more points than him.

Your phone fell down, accidentally hitting Logan’s head as it fell down onto the floor. You couldn’t even process what happened as your whole body was suddenly fueled with anger and frustration.

Sitting up, you looked at your confused and sleepy boyfriend and you just hug him tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me, Lo? You do know that you can always tell me anything, right?” He looked up at you, nodding slightly, tears escaping his eyes already.

“You know about it, don’t you? That I can’t race anymore this week?” You nodded, not wanting to scare Logan because you knew that he was just the babygirl in this relationship.

[ouiouibaguettt]

Yellow

─ ⋅◈⋅ ━─┉┈◈❖◈┈┉─━ ⋅◈⋅ ── ⋅◈⋅ ━─┉┈◈❖◈┈┉─━ ⋅◈⋅ ─

ellie carpenter x reader

Y/N is the sister of Alexandre Lacazette here.

words: 2.8k

warnings: slight mentions of bad comments

→ two lovers in australia before the wwc2023!

→ inspired by yellow by Coldplay

Masterlist

 ─ ⋅◈⋅ ━─┉┈◈❖◈┈┉─━ ⋅◈⋅ ── ⋅◈⋅ ━─┉┈◈❖◈┈┉─━ ⋅◈⋅ ─

Look at the stars Look how they shine for you

Arriving at the airport after a 1-day flight. You took out the camera to continue the series of vlogs that you posts every day and which you started the week of the warm-up match against Ireland. 

"Hey guys how are you today? Personally I'm pretty good-" you said before being cut off by your teammate Selma Bacha.

"She's only in a good mood because she's going to see her girlfriend again tomorrow" she said before catching up with Grace Geyoro and Viviane Asseyi to escape you. 

"I mean she's right, I'm going to see Ellie again tomorrow." you say with a big smile before getting back on topic. 

"Anyway, we've just arrived in Melbourne to get ready for the game against Australia on the 15th of July. Honestly, I think it's going to be a tough match,  it's not at the same level as Ireland, even though Ireland had some very good players. So we're going to have to move our asses to try and win the match. I'll make a transition to show you my room at the hotel afterwards," you say before hiding your camera with your hand and turning it off.

And everything you do

Yeah, they were all yellow

Once you’re arrived at the hotel, and found out about the accommodation for the coming week, you were relieved to find yourself with Selma, your partner since the Olympique Lyonnais academy. 

"Yes, Y/N/N, we're in the same room", Selma said, jumping onto your back before bringing you down to the floor with her. 

"Yes I can read Selma" you say as you pushed her off your back to get up. Returning to the room, you take out your camera to resume the vlog. You put your hand back in front of the camera before taking it away to say.

"I'm back! So I'm going to show you the room," you say before starting to show the room. Once you’re finished, you dropped yourself onto the bed to conclude the day's video: 

"Well, guys, that was our beautiful room, so I'll see you tomorrow with Ellie! Sel' do you want to say something?" you asked your flatmate, "Yes, hang on, I'm coming" she said.

*big thump* 

"Sel' ça va?" you asked between two laughs, tears welling up in your eyes as the fall was so ridiculous. 

"Ca va" said Selma, getting up and walking more calmly towards you. "Kisses guys, sleep well, don't forget to support France for the World Cup please, goodbye" she said as she climbed back into bed. 

"You heard the boss, good night and see you tomorrow," you say, switching off your vlog before connecting the camera to the computer to post the video. 

I came along I wrote a song for you And all the things you do

As a player living under the shadow of your big brother, you were used to receiving comments like "you're not as good as your brother", "stop playing football", "well, lacazette's sister sucks lmao", but that didn't mean you were happy to receive these kinds of comments. That's how you found yourself at 2am on twitter and Instagram reading the comments you received every day. These comments made you fall asleep at 5am.

And it was called Yellow

When you woke up, Selma saw that you were still asleep, which was strange because, apart from when you are with Ellie, you are an early riser. It was when she saw the phone in your hands that Selma realised why you still hadn't woken up. So she had the wonderful idea of surprising you. Selma walked over to your camera to start the vlog of the day. 

"Hi guys, it's Selma, I know you were expecting to see Y/N/N, but she's still asleep, she hasn't had the best night, so to change that I'm going to call Ellie, because I know she's already awake, get her over here so she can wake up our favourite person. It's clearly a genius idea". She says as she picks up her phone and dials Ellie's number. 

"Hey Ellie, I'm sorry to bother you but would you like to come to our hotel right now? Because I have to tell you, Y/N/N didn't have the best night of her life. She was still asleep when I woke up, with her phone in her hands, and I think she's been on the internet again to see what people are saying about her," said Selma, worried about you. 

"Don't worry, you're not bothering me. Oh yes, why not, it's a good idea and it'll be good for her not to think about it while I'm with her" said Ellie, going back to her room to get her things, a Matildas tracksuit set. 

"Okay good, and yes, I think so too. I'm going downstairs to let the receptionist know you're coming so you don't get turned away," said Selma as she started to leave her room and head for reception. 

"Ok thanks, I'll be there in 10 or 15 minutes, see you later" said Ellie as she hung up.

So then I took my turn Oh, what a thing to have done And it was all yellow

Once Ellie arrived outside the hotel, she was immediately greeted by one of the receptionists. "Hello, what can I do to help you?" asked the hostess. 

"Hi, I'm Ellie Carpenter, Y/N Lacazette's girlfriend, I've come to visit her. Her flatmate, Selma Bacha, told me she'd told you?" said Ellie, hoping she hadn't given the wrong information. 

"Oh yes, I see, well Mrs Carpenter, your girlfriend is on the 3rd floor, room 312. Have a nice day" said the hostess. 

"Thank you very much, have a nice day too" thanked Ellie before taking the lift to room 312 on the 3rd floor. Arriving at the door of the room, Ellie took out her telephone to warn Selma.

to Selmama

I'm at the door

By the time she had put her phone away, the door opened and Selma Bacha was overjoyed to see her Lyon team-mate here. 

"Ellie" Selma shouted in a whisper as she came to give her a hug. 

"Thanks for coming" she thanked her quickly before letting Ellie into the room. 

"No worries, you know I'd do anything for our favorite person" Ellie said with a heart filled look on her face. 

"Oh that's lovely an digusting at the same time" said Selma smiling before resuming her sentence.

"So, you've got the key card on Y/N/N's bedside table if you need it, I'll go with Grace, Kenza and Viviane. Have a nice day, lovers." she said as she closed the door. Now alone, Ellie took off her shoes, then went straight to your camera to resume the vlog, "Hi everyone, this is Ellie, my moment of glory is going to be short as I'm just going to film myself waking Zoe up" she said as she placed the camera on a piece of furniture so that it was well positioned.

Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones Turn into something beautiful And you know, you know I love you so

"My love, wake up" said Ellie as she sat down next to you and stroked your cheek. 

"Hmm Ellie, what are you doing here, let me sleep, I'm so tired. Give me your jumper im cold and i miss you" you grumbled as you pulled the duvet up over your face. 

"I am here because Im worried about you and because I love you. Now do you want my jumper?" asked Ellie. 

"Yes please give it to me, and no need to be worried i just read those comment last night and I shouldn't have done now cuddles please." you say holding out your hands at her like a baby. 

"Argh Ellie your jumper's all yellow" you complained girl. 

"Don’t do it again baby you are an excellent player okay? So I have to take it back?" questioned Ellie. 

"No, I'm only going to wear it because it's got your scent on it and I missed you, come on come here i ant cuddles please" you say as you put on the famous yellow jumper and grabbed Ellie by the waist to lay her down beside you. 

"I missed you too," said Ellie, putting her hand on you cheek to draw you into a kiss.

You know I love you so

After spending the morning in bed, our lovebirds got up and got ready, although you preferred to keep Ellie’s jumper, to join Caitlin Foord, and Sam Kerr at a restaurant for lunch time. When they got there, you were greeted by whistles because of the yellow clothes you were wearing. 

"That's the last time I wear yellow for you Els" you say with your cheeks flushed. 

"Don't say that, yellow suits your tan" laughs Sam before saying hello. 

"I'm going to leave again if you don't stop" you tried to intimidate the 3 matildas. Once the meal was over, the 4 people decided to go their separate ways, Sam and Caitin heading back to their hotel, and Ellie and you to your hotel, but before you could do so Caitlin turned round to say. "We'll be waiting for you in 6 days Y/N/N, I hope you're ready to lose", narrowly missing the middle finger you gave her.

I swam across I jumped across for you Oh, what a thing to do 'Cause you were all yellow

Having spent the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool, watching their series, you and Ellie went back up to your room to enjoy a couple of hours together before having to separate for the next month. 

"Why does all of your tracksuit are yellow? That colour isn't on your flag dude it's weird" you asked. 

"I don't know it's not me who create your tracksuit, and- woah hold on miss, did you really call me 'dude'" said Ellie. 

"Yes, I did, what are you gonna do 'du-'" you say before being cut off by two hands coming to tickle her on her hips. "AH- E-Ellie stop it please" you say with tears in your eyes and between two breath. 

"Said you're sorry for calling me 'dude' im your girlfirend not your dude". she threatened you. 

"I-Im sorry, now please s-stop it i can't take it anymore" you say trying to push away Ellie who had ended up on top of you. 

"Ok, Ok I will stop" said Ellie but didn't take her hands off your hips. 

"Why are you looking at me like that" asked the Australian, "Like what?" you replied. 

"Like I've just tied up all the stars in the sky" replied the blonde. 

"You're the most beautiful star" you say with a cheeky grin. 

"Okay softie come here now" replied Ellie drawing you into a kiss before resting her head in the crook of your neck.

I drew a line I drew a line for you Oh, what a thing to do And it was all yellow

When Ellie left, you noticed that she had forgotten to take her tracksuit jacket, so you took out her phone to tell her.

to Baby Aussie You forgot your jacket x

from Baby Aussie I know, I did it on purpose because I know you love yellow, and my stuff so it’s gift xx

to Baby Aussie I hate you, but thank you, I love you!! xx

from Baby Aussie I love you too baby xx

Resting your phone on your stomach, you couldn't help but feel butterflies in your stomach at the thought of having Ellie's jacket with you for the next few days. When it was time for dinner, you had barely got out of the shower so you grabbed the first clothes you could find before putting them on and hurrying down the stairs so as not to be late. 

"Nice jacket, Y/N." Grace told you, laughing along with Viviane and Selma. 

"I didn't know you'd changed nationality" said your coach as he left to sit at the other coaches' table. 

"Huh?" was the only thing you could reply before looking at your clothes, it was when you saw the Matildas jacket that you understood her team's jokes. 

"Leave me alone" you say as you sat down next to Selma who was filming the scene with Amel and Wendie, all posting you in Ellie's jacket, and mentioning the two of you in a instagram’s story. You decided to repost it with "I look good in yellow don't I", before switching off your phone.

And your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones Turn into something beautiful And you know, for you, I'd bleed myself dry For you, I'd bleed myself dry

from @elliecarpenterr yes yellow looks good on you, but my jacket looks even better on you!

from @elliecarpenterr at least the fan are going to be happy with this content.

You saw Ellie's instragram messages as you went back to your room, so you decided to reply quickly before getting ready for bed so you could be in shape for the first training session of the week. At the end of the first training session (which was more of a muscle warm-up) of the day, you joined your foursome before going to the table for lunch. 

"Are you worried about the Australia game?" asked Selma as she bit into her apple. 

"Honestly, yeah, they're monsters mate" said Viviane as she scrolled through tiktok. 

"Yeah I agree with Viv, Sel" said Grace as she played subway surfers on her phone. 

"Yeah same as the other two, from the keeper, to the striker this team is amazing" you say watching Grace play and laughing at the tiktoks Viviane shows you. 

"Fuck, I forgot to post my vlog yesterday! Never mind, I'll continue it for a while before posting it tonight," you say, slapping your forehead. You ran back to your room to get the camera before turning it on and picking up the vlog where you left off. 

"Hi guys, day 3 in Australia, Melbourne to be precise, yesterday I got to spend the day with Ellie as you've seen our stories, today however it's training for Friday's match" you say as you sat down next to Selma. 

"This morning was pretty easy, because it was weight training to strengthen and warm up our muscles, and this afternoon it's little games and matches. Selma, any comments on this morning's warm-up?" you asked, pointing the camera at Selma. 

"It was fun, there was a good atmosphere," she said before returning to her apple. 

"Thank you Selma, Grace and Viv, how did you find this morning's session?" You asked the two other players in front of you. 

"It was cool", "It was exhausting" said both of them at the same time, while you showed yourself to the camera with a face filled with terror at the fact that both of them had spoken at exactly the same time. 

"Wow that was weird don't do speak at the same time again please" you say before you had to say goodbye to your vlog as lunch break had just finished.

 "Well, the break's over, so I'll see you later," you say as you turns off your camera.

It's true Look how they shine for you Look how they shine for you Look how they shine for Look how they shine for you Look how they shine for you Look how they shine

Unfortunately you couldn't finish the afternoon's training session because of a sprained ankle, so you'll have to miss the match against Australia and the 1st World Cup match against Jamaica. You were on one of the sofas in the hotel lounge, in your Olympique Lyonnais shorts and ellie's yellow jumper, when you decide to finish the day's vlog. 

"I'm back earlier than planned, I've sprained my ankle so I'll be away for at least 2 weeks, and yes I can see you coming, yes I'm still wearing ellie's jumper because I miss her and it smells like her. So that's it for yesterday's and today's vlog, be well, be good, big kisses to you tomorrow" yoou say before quickly publishing the video and falling asleep on the sofa in the yellow jumper.

Look at the stars Look how they shine for you And all the things that you do

[sunshine-theseus]

Follow | Alex Chidiac x Reader

Word count: 2.3k Summary: you hate Alex Chidiac. Until you don’t Warnings: angst, fluff, I swear I’ll try to do non-angsty stuff soon this is for @charligrantismygirlfriend - feel free to send requests

Alexandra Chidiac made me want to rip my hair out and simultaneously smash my lips against her own. She was just so full of herself and insulting and… extremely beautiful and funny. But she had a way of making me despise her without even trying.

And it seemed that wherever I went, she would follow.

The first time we’d played together outside The Matildas was in Madrid.

In the 2017/18 January transfer window, I moved from Perth Glory to play for Atletico Madrid. 7 months later and Alex was sat in the cubby next to me in the locker room, telling jokes and connecting with the team, something I’d been struggling with despite having been there significantly longer and being able to speak Spanish.

During my time at Atletico, I had become reserved and preferred to stick to only going between my house and the training grounds, even if asked to join for celebrations or team bonding. It’s when I began to hate Alex.

Then during Covid, I’d decided to move back to Australia. Melbourne City had been the closest club to my hometown that had made an offer, so I packed my bags and went back to Australia. How I’d missed the news that Alex was moving there too was beyond me, but I found myself in a similar situation as Madrid. I was excited to play with some girls I was already friends with and have people to spend time with between quarantine and games. But Alex had managed to capture everyone’s attention again. The friends I had, began to rush over to Alex instead of me and I’d be left desperately searching for a partner in warmups because they wanted to be around her.

Then she was put on loan to Melbourne Victory for the next few years and I managed to escape her presence outside of National camps and games for a while. People liked to ask why I avoided her so much, especially Tony and Sam, because “getting along with the whole team is important”. I never really had an answer.

It was really only toward the end of the World Cup that the ‘rivalry’, as I so graciously named it, began actually affecting my game play and the team as a whole.

Alex and I were paired up for some exercises, but I was stubborn. She was so annoying.

So stupid, so rude, so pretty, her smile was so bright. I don’t understand why I have a crush on someone I despise so deeply.

So, while doing some passing and skill practice, I found myself playing and passing harsher than required as Alex made small comments about my abilities. And when Alex made a joke about it to Kyra and Mini who were next to us, both of whom told me off and to get over my issues with Alex, I’d made the decision I was done.

“Do you get off on making me feel shit?” I approach Alex, my finger poking her chest.

“Do you enjoy making sure I’m alone wherever I go? Did I do something to you 6 years ago that I’m unaware of that made you feel like you had to take everyone from my life?” I could feel 36 pairs of eyes on me. Have the whole crew always sat out with us?

I don’t get much time to think about it.

“Me?! You’re the one who’s always been in some fucking mood with me. Ever since Madrid you’ve just ignored any situation where I’m around. You hate me for no reason!”

“I only ignore you because you isolate me from every single team we’re on together. You show up and take my friends away from me and then have the audacity to shit talk my playing ability while I’m right in front of you but of course I’m the bad guy here. I’ll always be the bad guy!”

I then sarcastically add, “Oh and thank you Kyra and Mini for standing up for me. It’s really appreciated”. They look at the ground.

“Maybe I wouldn’t say that shit if you didn’t let your unwarranted emotions take a hold of you. You’re sloppy.” My arm is swinging before I can think of any consequences, but it’s caught midair, and I notice the familiar ‘20’ and kangaroo tattoos adoring my captain’s fingers.

“Let’s take a fucking walk.” I’m about to protest, say that Alex deserves to have a talking to as well, but Sam starts pushing me towards the tunnel before I can get anything out.

“Dude what the fuck is going through your head. I’ve known you for 7 years and you’ve never done anything like this.” I shrug in response.

“We play England tomorrow, and you’re a consistent starter, but if you and Alex are going to squabble like this and jeopardise us as a team, you might be benched for the rest of the cup.”

“You’re fucking kidding me. Sam you can’t do that!” We’ve reached the locker room.

“Y/n, you nearly punched Alex. I might be your friend but right now I’m you’re captain. I have to do what is best for the team.”

“Yeah… right… maybe I should head back to the hotel. It’s probably best I take a break.” Sam sighs and pulls me into a hug.

“I know you feel alone and that we’re against you, but I promise we aren’t. I’m going to talk to Alex with Tony. She’ll probably be sent back with you. You should talk, like adults and teammates. If you show that you won’t be distracted tomorrow, I’ll talk to Tony about subbing you on at half time or something. I do wish you’d mentioned how you feel earlier. Like years ago, earlier.” I simply nod.

“Thanks Sammy. I really am sorry for today. The team didn’t deserve that.”

Sam pats my back before going back down the tunnel and onto the pitch to talk to Alex and Tony, leaving me to get changed and get an uber back to the hotel.

~~~~~

It’s only about 40 minutes after I get to mine and Sam’s room at the hotel that I hear a knocking on the door. At first, I think it’s someone who has the wrong room, but they don’t stop knocking and soon I’m groaning as I drag my sock clad feet to the door to look through the peep hole. And there stands a slightly distorted Alex Chidiac who seems awfully nervous as she looks up and down the hallway.

“I know you’re in there Y/n! You know Sam said we have to talk so let’s talk.”

 She goes to knock again but I’m already swinging the door open.

“Yeah whatever let’s get it over with.” We move to sit down on the two beds facing each other.

It’s silent for a moment and neither of us look at the other, fiddling with our hands and the bed sheets. Alex is the first to break the silence.

“I don’t understand why you hate me so much or why you think I’m trying to turn people against you. I was super excited to join you in Madrid in 2018, to have someone I already knew, but you were always so cold.”

How do you tell someone after 6 years that you started hating them because you were jealous? That it took you 7 months to even feel comfortable at the club, just for it to be stripped away within the first week of them joining.

“I hate you because everyone loves you so much!” she gives me a confused look.

“I mean, it took me months to start fitting in at Atletico and you just swooped in and made everyone adore you and they stopped even trying to talk to me. And then when you followed me to City, all my friends I already had, dropped me to follow you around like lost puppies. I spent years alone because you were Ms Perfect to everyone, and I wasn’t social enough or carefree or noticeable or funny. Sam was all I had, and she wasn’t even really there. I don’t know.” I rub at my eyes to stop the tears that are inevitably forming behind them.

“And then you made those comments today and Kyra and Kat said nothing to defend me, they told me to get over it, and that was it for me. If I always have to be the bad guy in everyone’s story, I’ll be the bad guy”.

Alex reaches for my hand and I don’t pull back.

“I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I-” she pauses and seems to contemplate what she says next.

“What?”

“I followed you to Madrid and Melbourne because I liked you. I wanted to be with you, get to know you better. But after that year in Melbourne is seemed clear you hated me so I signed with JEF and went on loan to Victory.”

“Y- you liked me?”

“Well, it was hard not to. I still do. It was hard seeing you be so kind to everyone else, every time you played you looked so angelic, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. I’m sorry I made you feel like you were the bad guy. I should have talked to you about it all when we were in Madrid.”

“Kiss me.”

“What?”

“Kiss me. Please. I like you too. Like so much and I’m sorry for being so horrible and cold to y-” I’m cut off my Alex, who pulls me up and grabs my face.

She’s significantly shorter than me so I have to lean down but I kiss her, hard.

“I’d say we talked enough to please Sam and Tony, right?” she whispers against my lips as my thumb traces the light freckles on her cheeks.

“Absolutely.”

She waists no time on pulling me down on the bed and as we giggle, cuddle and kiss, we loose track of time.

Before I know it, Sam is bursting through the door.

“I’m baaack you better have talked to Chi- o…h” she stumbles over her own bag as she sees Alex curled up against me, now fast asleep, as I trace shapes on her arm.

“Ok I know I said you gotta work it out, but this isn’t what I meant.” She plops down on her bed.

“Y-  yeah I wasn’t expecting it but she has a way with words.”

“Two hours ago her ‘way with words’ made you try to punch her in the face.”

“Yeah well, things changed.”

“Stay right there! I’m taking a picture to send to the group chat.”

“What!? Sam no!”

“Oh no not the team group chat” I sigh in relief. “The one with Kristie, E.V.E and Kate (emily’s wife)”

“SAM NO!” I try to slide my arm out from under Alex to grab Sam’s phone but it’s a worthless cause when the familiar sound of a message being sent is heard.

“I’m going to kill you when Alex wakes up.”

“Yuh huh ok. I’m going to call Kristie.”

“Tell her I say hi! And I hope Sammy M is doing well.”

~~~~~

Four days pass. We got knocked out by England and Sweden, finishing fourth overall in the World Cup. We all sat on the field as we watched Sweden get their bronze medals, I held Alex close to my side as I held Sam’s hand. We keep getting so close before a medal is ripped right from our grasp and we were all beginning to get tired of it, but Sam was taking it the hardest.

“I’m so proud of you Sammy. You weren’t even sure you’d get to play at the start, but you came back and lead us this far. We’re going to get to the Olympics and win the whole fucking thing.” She kisses me on the head before getting up to hug some of the girls before trying to find Kristie and her family in the crowd.

“I’m proud of you too.” I hear Alex whisper beside me.

I pull her up and hug her tight.

“I’ll always be proud of you too Al.”

I know there is a camera next to us but I kiss her anyway. Now I have her, I won’t let go of her any time soon.

~~~~~

Alex and I spend some time alone over the short rest of our break, only going between the beach that she unreasonably hated, and her apartment. We’d met up with Sam and Kristie for a sort of double date, before they both left to America for Sam’s birthday, and bid farewell to all the other girls who had to fly back to their respective clubs.

It was my last day before I had to fly back to my club. I’d been cooking dinner for a rather helpless Alex when her arms wrapped around my waist.

“I’m going to miss you so much when you leave.” She groans as she peppers kisses across my back.

I think I feel a hint of a smile on her lips but decide not to think too far into it.

“I’m going to miss you too. Especially your lips. And your cute freckles. And you’re pretty green eyes. Every. Single. Thing.” I peck her lips after each sentence.

“I promise to call every day.” I let out a hum.

“You can barely remember to have breakfast.”

“Hey! For you I’ll remember anything.” I just smile and kiss her once more.

Tomorrow I’d have to say goodbye, unable to see her for months on end.

~~~~~

“You’re fucking kidding me!” is yelled across the Tigres locker room as our late transfer walks through the door.

It’s non other than Alexandra Chidiac. My girlfriend who I thought I’d left behind to continue out her loan for Melbourne Victory after the world cup.

She won’t stop fucking following me.

[sitizelter]

🩵Sky Full of Stars🩵

Loscar ♡ Pt.4

Pt. 4 finally here!! Sorry it took so long, but now that the season's over I can take more time to write 😭😭

╰──────── ♡⁀➷ ────────╮

The ringing of the church bells echo the streets of Melbourne, meaning it had just turned 6pm. Oscar finally comes back home after closing up the workshop, he pops a sliced apple in his mouth before trudging back to his room.

With a grunt, he throws his bag on the floor and falls onto his bed. The sunlight peers through the crack of his window, golden hour had come. He rolled over onto his back, dialling in Logan's number to videocall him.

A content sigh escapes from Logan as drowsy eyes blink open to flashing numbers signifying an incoming call. Squinting against the morning light streaming in, Oscar's cheerful face fills the display stirring a sleepy smile to his face.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite delinquent." Logan chuckles softly still finding his voice, rubbing the remnants of dreams from stubbled cheek.

Taking him in leisurely sprawled across rumpled sheets, Logan notes the weary lines etched onto Oscar's face.

"You look exhausted, mate. Everything all sorted at the shop?" Logan inquires gently, seeing as ever through his brave mask to the weariness beneath.

"Some... 'fans' found out I helped my dad out here. Started clobbering all over the place, got me here feeling buggered out." Oscar murmured out with a heavy sigh.

Brows furrow in concern as Oscar's admission washes over the american through the speaker. Fans can be notorious, bringing praise one moment and chaos the next without care.

Oscar swore under his breath as he massaged his temples, "Sorry Loges, y'know how I am."

"Don't you dare apologize, mate." The other says gently yet firmly, shaking his head. "I understand the pressure better than most. You've nothing to explain to me."

Holding his exhausted gaze, Logan let steadfast care shine through his own. "You did well to make it home in one piece, yeah? Try and get some rest now - I mean it, Osc. No tinkering or plotlines tonight."

A soft chuckle escapes as the american thinks to distract. "Maybe put your feet up, watch some Netflix. I can gripe at you for missed calls in the morning when you've got your spark back."

"No, wait Logan-" Oscar suddenly shoots out. He clears his throat, regaining his composure.

╰──────── ♡⁀➷ ────────╮

"Stay on call with me. Your... voice helps to clear my mind." The aussie explains. He adjusts himself on the pillows, getting comfortable.

Logan blinks in mild surprise at Oscar's outburst, unusual to such candid vulnerability from him, before melting into an easy smile. Oscar's request sends warmth spreading through his chest where stress and uncertainty once gnawed.

"Alright then, mate. You've got me." Shifting to mirror his snug position, Logan gets cozy against piled pillows and watches the other expectantly through the screen.

"Well now what do you want - me serenading you to sleep like a lullaby?" Logan teases gently to lighten the atmosphere, hiding his own concern for him. "I haven't got the pipes for it I'm afraid. But I'll talk your ear off as long as you need, Osc. That I can manage."

"Just relax and rest now, yeah? I've got you."

Oscar sighs in content, glad that the other could understand how he's feeling then. "What did you dream about last night?" The aussie asks, his voice is soft.

Logan ponders Oscar's question thoughtfully as he tries to remember what he had dreamt of the previous night. A faint smile plays at his lips, fondness evident in lowered tones.

"Actually, there was one that's stuck with me. We were back in the park near your dad's shop, remember - the one with that huge gum tree we used to climb?"

Chuckling softly at the image, Logan nestles deeper into feathery pillows and lets nostalgia's soothing warmth embrace his tired bones.

"We must've been... what- 15? 16? Sun was just starting to set, painting everything orange and rose. And we were laying in the grass, talking for hours like we used to..."

His gaze softens as it meets Oscar's through the screen. Quiet falls between, filled instead by memory's gentle refrain. For what need have words, when hearts have known each other so long?

"I'm glad it was that one," Logan whispers finally, hoping Oscar hears all he had left unsaid too.

"I'm glad you dreamt of that one too," Oscar breathes out.

"Sorry that our calls have been quite... short lately. Ugh, it doesn't feel the same, I miss us. When are you visiting again?" Oscar turns his head to look at Logan in the screen. His eyelids were half-lidded, with barely visible eyebags underneath them.

A pang of longing lances the american's chest at Oscar's weariness shining plain. He wishes nothing more than to reach through the call and gather Oscar into arms, let his head find rest upon his shoulder as days go by.

Stroking fingers tap a thoughtful rhythm upon blanketed thigh as schedule runs through his overtired mind. "Not sure offhand on exact dates... few weeks maybe?" He ventures tentatively, hating the uncertainty.

Their gaze holds tenderly through slowing blinks. "Tell you what though - why don't I shuffle things around and come next weekend instead, if you'll have me? Barge in, cook us dinner, we can put on a show and just relax, yeah?" A soft smile plays on his face, hoping the offer of sooner solace may lift spirits, if only briefly.

Oscar's eyes shined for a moment. "Yeah. Of course, next weekend would be great."

"I'll make sure to tell mom that you're staying over. Hopefully she'll make her Shepherd's pie that you love so much." Oscar teases, his playfulness making an reappearance from underneath his tired outlook. A genuine grin brightens Logan's face.

"God, I can taste it already." Logan sighs wistfully, relishing memory of flavors mingling on the tongue. "Your mum's Shepherd's pie is honestly the cure for everything bad. And her company, of course!"

Warmth blooms anew in Logan's chest at thought of familiar embraces, gentle smiles and care that emanates from the walls of Oscar's childhood home.

"Get some rest soon, mate. I'll sort the travel details tomorrow."

Oscar nods, "Mhm, G'night." He mutters out. He looks at the other through the screen again, with Logan's face being brightened up by the morning sun.

A faint smile plays once more on Logan's cheeks as fond gaze lingers warmly upon Oscar. His cares are the american's own; if that alone can offer even moment's solace, all the journeys of world are worth the walking.

"Now get some rest, darling. I'll see you soon." Logan whispers before he ends the call, with his heart so very full.

╰──────── ♡⁀➷ ────────╮

Once the call ends, it only leaves Oscar alone with his thoughts. His eyes are wide open, with his ears ringing and repeating those last few words spoken by the american.

"Darling. Did he really call me 'darling'?"

Oscar felt blush fill in his cheeks. He rolls over and buries his reddened face into his pillow. He felt like a 8th grader that had just fallen in love again, kicking his feet while blushing like crazy.

The aussie takes a minute to calm down. Logan might've only been teasing him. But what if he wasn't? What if he really meant it?

A shy grin appears on his face. He swears he isn't being delusional, more like... optimistic.

"Darling." Oscar whispers, with his heart fluttering.

╰──────── ♡⁀➷ ────────╮

[bucky-barnes-lover]

Kinktober day 16: Vaginal Fingering

Fic: Harry Styles

Harry Styles x Fem reader

Warnings: SMUT!! 18+, Vaginal fingering, Proposal/Engagement, Poorly written smut.

746 w.c

This was supposed to be a Drabble but I got a bit carried away. Not proof read because I'm tired and it's 1 am so you'll just have to deal with the spelling mistakes/errors. P.S sorry if it's really bad

The lights flickered as I exited the stadium. Colourful feathers lay on the ground and glitter decked the seats. Happy chatter echoed throughout the building, however a couple silent tears didn't go unnoticed by me. I could tell everyone was really happy about seeing H perform his last show in Melbourne but I could also tell many of the fans were upset that the night had come to an end.

"Hi baby" I greeted, as I made my way to the dressing room at the back of the stadium.

"You sang so well tonight!" I exclaimed, planting a chaste kiss on his lips while I ran my hands through his brunette curls.

"Thanks Love, I'm so glad you could come and watch tonight." Harry admitted, returning my kiss.

Leaving him to get changed from his stage attire, I took a seat on a sofa nearby. Sarah came over to me, holding baby Scout, that she had left with her mum for the duration of the show.

"You played so well tonight Sarah" I enthused, earning a blush from the drummer.

"Thanks y/n. I'm so glad you could be here, At mine and Mitch's last show."

"I'm so sad you guys are leaving" I complained. Leaning over to give Sarah a hug and kissing baby Scout's face.

"Have fun on your break Sarah. We'll miss you here" I choked up before allowing a small sob to escape my lips.

A couple minutes later, after Sarah had scurried off to find Mitch, Harry came out of the dressing room. Dressed in a hoodie and trackies with a big smile on his face. He walked over to the sofa and took out a small velvet box out of his pocket. Kneeling down on the ground, he started,

"Y/n. You have been by my side ever since Fine Line. You have come to every single one of my Love On Tour shows in the past 3 years. You have supported me through my tough times and when I've been at my weakest. You love to cheer me on, and to make me happy. You bring the kind of joy into my world that nobody else ever has. And for this, I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you with all my heart and soul. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He asked as he held back tears.

I didn't know how to react. Obviously I knew the answer but the proposal had come so suddenly, I never would've guessed it would be today. Without a second thought I screamed out,

"YES H!!" "I love you with all my heart! I would love to be your wife."

A small sob escaped my lips as Harry stood up, sliding the gorgeous rose gold band on my ring finger.

He leaned in, kissing my lips passionately. Applause erupted from around us, 'Congratulations' and 'I'm so happy for you two' were heard through all the noise.

A couple hours after the proposal, Harry and I had returned to our hotel room. He had just gotten out of the shower, and I was lying on the bed in some sexy lingerie. He walked over and lay next to me on the bed. Leaning in, I kissed his lips. Within moments, it had become a full on make out sesh. Harry was grabbing my hips and grinding himself into me, I was running short of breath but didn't pull away. Moans escaped the both of us as H slid his hand down to my panties and pulled them aside. Harry broke the kiss as he whispered in my ear,

"My god darling. So wet for me already."

Sliding a finger in through my folds. My brain fogged up as he started pumping in and out of my soaking wet cunt. Going harder and harder. Removing his finger then pushing it back in without warning.

My moans got more and more desperate, and the thought of release got me screaming his name.

"Oh, H! Please, harder!" I moaned. Harry's thumb started working my clit as he inserted a second finger. He caught my lips just as I was about to let out a loud moan. Relief washed over me as my orgasm hit.

"Good girl" He said as he removed his fingers.

Harry kissed my forehead and helped clean me up. He had another shower, but this time with me. Let's just say we had some more fun in the shower. 😏

[opera-ghosts]

In 1978 the ABC made a film about Amy Sherwin.

Frances Amy Sherwin  (1855-1935) was one of five children, born and raised  in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. Even as a child she had a lovely voice, and dreamed of becoming a famous singer. This seemed highly unlikely, as the family struggled to make a living on a remote farm. Amy, as she was known,  would wander down to the paddock closest to  the road and sing her heart out.  She later confessed that she hoped a passerby  would hear,  and carry her off to stardom. In an autobiographical piece she wrote;

‘It was not until my tenth year that I had any lessons, except in the way of home teaching. Then a great treat came into my life in the person of Mr Russell, a dear old music teacher……..In order to take these lessons I had to get up at four in the morning and ride or drive along a difficult bush track for eight miles.’

However, the Sherwins did possess a treasured piano;

‘The care we lavished on our piano was  in the eyes of our neighbours in the bush, only another  instance of the quips and cracks of the ‘Mad Sherwins’.  I well remember one scorching summer day, when our homestead and all the country round was suddenly enveloped in a fierce bush fire. It was washing-day, and I have heard my mother say that the tubs were charred to a cinder and crumbled at a touch, but that the damp clothes inside remained in intact, white heaps. But it was to the piano we devoted all our energies at this domestic crisis. It was covered with wet blankets and dragged to an island of shingle in the middle of the Huon River, that ran near our house. Even in that position it did not escape, and the charred old instrument is still treasured in my Tasmanian home…’

As she grew up, Amy performed locally in concerts and musicals.  Amazingly, in 1878 her childhood dream came true.  The story went that  members of  the  Pompei  and Cagli  Italian Opera Company  were picnicking near her home and were impressed when they  heard her singing.  Now the picnicking part sounds a little unlikely to me , but never mind.  She accepted an invitation to join the company, and made her professional  debut  at Hobart’s Theatre Royal.  That same year  she married Hugh Gorlitz, a German businessman with interests in Australia.

Her voice inspired these verses of effusive praise, published in June, 1878;

Before long Amy  was thrilling audiences  in Melbourne,  Ballarat and Sydney. She was dubbed The Tasmanian Nightingale.  It was not all glamour, as touring could be hazardous in those days. On one occasion, when the singer and her entourage were  in the middle of nowhere,  the leather on the  coach’s brake failed during  a steep descent.   When it was finally brought to a halt it was Amy who came up with a solution, which was to use her  boots  as replacement leather on the brake.

Amy Sherwin travelled the world, but made her home in England. The family settled in a lovely property at Hampstead, where Amy gave concerts in the vast  music room.  The property was once targeted by burglars, and judging  by a report in The Evening News (October 24 1895), they certainly made themselves at home;

Mme.  Amy Sherwin’s house has been burgled, everything of value taken, everything else broken. The family were at the seaside. The thieves cooked supper in the kitchen, and made a dark lantern of Mr. Gorlitz’s new silk hat. The candle  fell over, and the hat, as a hat, is a hat no more.

By 1907 Amy was living in Kent, but also kept a suite of rooms above her music  studio in London’s Bond Street. She became a singing teacher.  It was at this time that The Tasmanian Nightingale made her final  visit to her old home. A journalist with Launceston’s Daily Telegraph attended a concert in Launceston;

Amy Sherwin has worn remarkably well. Perhaps her temperament and continual change of scene has something to do with it. The voice of today is the same old sweet one, with intense culture added. There was no straining after effect, none of those difficult trills and excursions into the attics which vocalists of the De Mursca type are so fond of. One did not make oneself known to her. Musical stars as a rule have not much time to waste talking of days  that are gone. This is a moving-on age, and Amy Sherwin and the writer have to keep going.

During WWI Amy helped raise funds under the banner of the Women’s Auxiliary Force by arranging concerts.

Sadly, Amy was eventually forced to give up work completely. She spent her time caring for her actress daughter Bobbie, who was suffering from tuberculosis. Adding to her troubles, Amy and her husband separated,

Amy’s daughter Jeanette ‘Bobbie’.

Never wise at managing money,  Madame Sherwin eventually  fell  into poverty.  She moved to a  small cottage in Essex, but as she was ineligible for an aged pension she struggled to cover the rent. In 1934 she became ill herself, and was unable to pay for her care.

In a charity ward at London’s Charing Cross Hospital, doctors and nurses  were struck by the sound of a beautiful soprano  voice. It was the almost eighty year old Amy; down on her luck, but still singing like a nightingale.

Amy in later life.

When news of Amy’s sad  situation reached Tasmania a public fund was set up. Despite the difficult economic times of the 1930s, two hundred pounds was raised and forwarded  to London. The singer expressed her appreciation in a letter to the Mayor of Hobart;

‘I must crave your indulgence for not having acknowledged before the last generous help sent by you on behalf of the kind friends who have so warm-heartedly aided me in my desperate plight, caused by my darling daughter’s sad state of health. As it happened, the kind donation, final instalment, sent by you, arrived on the eve of my being admitted to hospital as above for treatment, and which was too costly for me  to obtain otherwise. 

I hope to be out of hospital in a week or 10 days, but I cannot wait till then to thank you all for your warm-hearted practical help in my disaster, and I send off this message from my sick bed- hoping you will pass round the fact that I am most deeply touched, and would write more fully but that circumstances prohibit a longer letter.’

Those ‘circumstances’ were that she was just too frail. Amy  died on September 20 the following year. A wreath was sent from the Tasmanian Government with the message; ‘A tribute to the memory of a famous Tasmanian, from the Government of Tasmania.’

Her daughter  Jeanette only survived a further twelve months. Son Louis died in America in 1978.

Madame  Sherwin  is remembered by a plaque on the wall of the former Del Sarte’s Rooms, on the corner of Hobart’s Harrington and Davey Streets.

[rushescapegameme]

The Ultimate Checklist for Planning the Best Escape Room Outing

Are you ready to embark on an adventure filled with mystery, excitement, and teamwork? Look no further than the best escape room Melbourne experiences! Whether you're a seasoned escape room enthusiast or a first-timer eager to delve into the world of puzzles and challenges, proper planning can make all the difference in ensuring an unforgettable outing.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to plan the ultimate best escape room adventure.

Unveiling the Mystery: A Thrilling Introduction

Picture this: You and your friends are locked in a room, the clock ticking away as you race against time to solve clues, crack codes, and uncover hidden secrets. Sounds exhilarating, doesn't it? That's the allure of the best escape room Melbourne experiences – an immersive journey where every twist and turn keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Step 1: Choose the Perfect Best Escape Room

The first step in planning your best escape room outing is selecting the ideal room for your group. Consider the theme, difficulty level, and size of the room to ensure it aligns with your preferences and group dynamics. Whether you prefer a spine-tingling mystery, a heart-pounding adventure, or a brain-teasing challenge, there's the best escape room waiting to captivate your imagination.

Step 2: Gather Your Team of Adventurers

An essential ingredient for a successful escape room experience is assembling the right team. Invite friends, family members, or colleagues who bring a diverse range of skills, perspectives, and problem-solving abilities to the table. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work in the world of escape rooms, so choose your companions wisely!

Step 3: Schedule Your Escape

Once you've chosen your best escape room and assembled your team, it's time to schedule your adventure. Coordinate with your group to find a date and time that works for everyone, ensuring maximum participation and excitement. Keep in mind that the best escape room experiences often require advance booking, so plan ahead to secure your preferred time slot.

Step 4: Familiarise Yourself with the Rules

Before diving into your best escape room adventure, take some time to familiarise yourself with the rules and guidelines provided by the venue. Each escape room may have its own set of rules regarding gameplay, hints, and safety precautions. By knowing what to expect, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Step 5: Arrive Early and Ready to Play

On the day of your best escape room outing, arrive early at the venue to allow ample time for check-in and preparation. Use this opportunity to get acquainted with your surroundings, meet your game master, and strategies with your team. Remember, communication and collaboration are key to conquering the challenges that lie ahead.

Step 6: Embrace the Adventure

As you step into the best escape room, leave behind the distractions of the outside world and fully immerse yourself in the adventure unfolding before you. Keep an open mind, stay observant, and don't hesitate to think outside the box when tackling puzzles and riddles. With creativity, persistence, and a dash of ingenuity, you'll be well on your way to victory!

Step 7: Celebrate Your Success

Whether you escape with seconds to spare or fall just short of victory, take a moment to celebrate your achievements and bond with your teammates. Reflect on the challenges you faced, the moments of triumph, and the memories you've created together. After all, the true essence of the best escape room experience lies not only in the destination but in the journey itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, planning the best escape room Melbourne outing is all about preparation, teamwork, and a sense of adventure. By following this ultimate checklist, you can ensure a thrilling and memorable experience that will leave you eagerly anticipating your next escape.

So, gather your fellow adventurers, embark on your quest, and prepare to unlock the magic of the best escape room adventures like never before!

Source: https://escaperoomgameau.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-ultimate-checklist-for-planning.html

[debdarkpetal]

Queen Gazette, "Back at the Hotel Sleazy", 9 jun 1976. By Ann Finnegan.

For all those fans who were misled by the media,

Queen did not spend a couple of days-relaxing on sunny

Perth beaches - it rained the whole bloody time they

were there. (In Melbourne the hotel was 'besiged' by

fans, who to quote Pete Brown — Queen's personal

manager - seemed to be emergirig'from the wood work).

Not to be put off however, by the Australian conditions

Freddie Mercury (lead vocals and keyboards) attended

the press conference in white pants and a simply

sumptuous summer synthetic top with delicate butterfly

sleeves curling gently over his shoulders. He was

even more beautiful than Sophia Loren.

They were all quite chatty only Roger (Meddows-

Taylor, the drummer) would keep interjecting, usually

over John Deacon (bass) who said not an audible word.

Q&A :

Press: WouId you describe your music as mock opera?

Freddie: They call it cock-opera back home.

Roger: I suppose because the vocals are in the 'grand

style'.

Press: When is your next album coming out?

Freddie: We'll have a rest and think about it..

Roger: We just don't bung'em together.

Brian: We don't sort of write sitting in hotel rooms

you know.

Freddie: We gather influences.

Press: Your music has been described as snob rock

What do you think?

Freddie: I couldn't describe our music as anything. We

certainly don't put across that this it intelligent

music that is on a completely different level

to the people who come to it.

Roger: It's written for the people. That's what it's

all about.

Press: The theme of death recurs on your albums

Why this preoccupation?

Roger: Freddie's morbid mind.

Press to Freddie:Do you consider yourself a sex-symbol?

Freddie: You're joking dear. I'm just a singer dear

Press to Roger: Do you consider yourself a superstar?

Roger: As meaningless, (blows kisses)

Roger on the media - absurd for a magazine to combine

bine rock and politics.

Press: Roger, you're noted for your amazing screams.

Freddie: It's a controlled scream. I'd rather call it art.

Undauted by the fearless Australians they continued

talking about their lyrics and the esoteric implication

Roger: Freddie just loves the word 'Beelzebub .

Freddie: yes, well, Brian's got a taste for unusual words.

Roger: You talking about dandling on your knee and

things?

All four of them write songs and each has at least one

song on 'A Night At The Opera'.

Brian: It's very difficult to talk about our songs as a

group because we all have different ideas of

what the songs are about.

Roger: No we don't.

Freddie: Roger's the sensitive one. 'I'm in love with

my car' is the most sensitive song on the

album (Night At The Opera).

Roger did tend to sit there pouting at the bows on his

pink lame gym-boots. One hardly noticed the dark

roots in this gold angelic hair. We did ask, but unfortunately

Roger didn't have a pic of himself in the gym boots.

Roger was later accosted by David Essex fans in

the foyer of the hotel, who wished to know if he was a

popstar, girls now have Roger's autograph Back

to the lyrics....

Freddie: Every song is written by one of us and means

something special to each one of us. Certain

songs have a very literal meaning and can be

understood straight away. Then there are some

songs that can be taken on a lot of different

levels.

He describes a lot of his songs as fantasies. 'We want to

consciously lose ourselves. There are certain things we

want to escape from in our lives or whatever.' He feels

that people should create their own private fantasies

from the images in his songs and so doesn't like to talk

about what they mean to him. 'I'd hate to shatter someone's

illusion. If I listen to somebody's songs I conjure

up a fantasy of what its about and I like to keep it that

way.'

He elaborated further .. . 'Lyrically it is helpful to use

certain words. You see it depends .... sometimes I want

to use words that are phonetically useful. In the beginning

they're surface words but you entwine them into

the meaning of a song. That's what I mean about

different levels.'

Brian May has a different approach to his songs, 'There's

usually something serious behind them, but I feel a big

responsibility not to over-indulge in ideologies. In

'White Queen' I was very interested in that significance

of Queens and White Ladies in English folk lore. The

song started off as a personal experience, the frustration

of not being able to communicate, I was thinking about

Robert Graves' White Goddess' and that became involved

in the song. '

Roger:

Brian:

Romantic slush.

Our 'Now I'm Here' song is really about our

first American tour. A big experience for anybody.

It's a conglomeration of all the experiences

we had on that tour. We had a great

time with Mott the Hoople. I suppose they

taught us to be a touring band.

We're very critical about each other and very

cynical. We don't get deeply into meanings

because you're living

have to

do it it all the time. You

me on

With the stage show the band is doing something

different to stimulating their records.

Brian: "You don't

get up there and behave like you do in the street. You

go up there to entertain people and give them some kind

of excitement". They have rearranged some of their

songs especially for stage performance, including a medley

of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Killer Queen', 'Black Queen'

and 'Leyroy Brown', which grinds down into 'March

of the Black Queen' and then skips out on a lighter

note which features Brian on genuine Japanese ukulele.

The brilliant solo Brian performs in 'Brighton Rock',

with sweet high Paganini frills and harmonies, stimulating

two or three guitars on stage, is in a style he has

evolved himself. He got the idea the first time he was

in a recording studio.

Says Brian: "It was my first

experience of doing multi-tracking. It happened to be

in the cannon-things which repeat themselves. You play

one, then you play the same over the top of it after a

time interval. Later we started to do those things on

stage but there was the problem of how to do it. We

started having a single delay and then another one over

the top of it. Then afterwards you do another repeat on

the second. You can then do three part harmonies

with yourself. We started to base it all on ten second

solos and it grew and grew. There's a lot of other people

doing it now and I'm glad because its a thing you can

play around with.'

In the stage arrangement of "Prophet's Song' Freddie

uses a similar echo feedback system which multiplies

his voice into a celestial choir. His voice floats as a vision

- "Listen to the madman' - while Brian plays some

beautiful guitar.

Brian describes their encore performance as the time

when the band really unwinds. "It's nice at the encore

to just completely unbend and make a fool of yourself.

It gets rid of the tension between the band and the

audience. I used to get a kick out of going to concerts

to see rock groups like the 'Who' and feeling involved,

like the group knew you were there. We go by the kinds

of things we think people would like at an encore. It's

at a very basic level really, an energy level, a physical

level. Rock and Roll is kind of a body music. I get as

much satisfaction out of basic rock'n roll like Status

Quo as the most sophisticated music I know.'

The audience certainly enjoyed it and really let

loose their energy.

Roger (who claimed the most female

screams) in rainbow mop-wig opened the encore wjth

slow heavy rock-beat as Freddie did a dramatic entrance

in a silk kimono. As he eased into 'Big Spender', he

peeled off to striped hot pants for an outrageous version

of 'Jailhouse Rock' - simple hard-driving rock'n'roll

that had everybody out of their sets.

gettin' feelin' thru

transistors

Brian was rather upset that the Australian Press

should see them as a manufactured band. If 'Bohemian

,Rhapsody' can be seen as incorporating the spectrum of

theirs talent - mood changes, heavy stuff, the soft

it is not because they (men of letters from

universities) have developed a magic 'X' formula

can be seen as a musical progression,

working of motifs off their other albums. Brian can

y say that, ' They obviously didn't see us in the earl-

stages.

We started playing because

I vision that we thought was

over a year and a half we were playing

usally you gather people around who

the way it happened.

We're very lucky really

have the kind of audience who are attentive

to directions we choose to follow. One of us

end up with a song and we'll say, yeah it needs

that kind of treatment and maybe that turns out to be

something you call heavy and sometimes something

which is light.'

To get back to the charge that they are a manufactured

band, while he doesn't like it, he can only take it as

a compliment that they think the band is so good. He

doesn't consider himself a technician "technically I've

stayed the same for the last six or seven years. Progress

is what you feel and what you are putting across. That's

what playing is about for us.'

Freddie: There's a lot of music there too.

Roger: A bit of music, yeah.

Via _letusclingtogether_ on Facebook.

[stjeanluc]

Victoria Incognito (A Queen Victoria Short Story) - Part 1

The sharp clatter of a silver tea tray hitting the marble floor echoed through the opulent drawing room of Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria, her face flushed with frustration, stood with her fists clenched at her sides, glaring at the scattered china and spilled tea.

"Damn it all to hell!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I can't take another moment of this suffocating nonsense!"

Lady Eleanor Hartwell, the Queen's trusted lady-in-waiting, rushed to her side, carefully avoiding the mess on the floor. "Your Majesty, please," she murmured, placing a gentle hand on Victoria's arm. "What's troubling you so?"

Victoria whirled to face Eleanor, her blue eyes blazing. "What isn't troubling me, Eleanor? These endless meetings, the constant scrutiny, the inability to so much as breathe without it becoming a matter of state!" She paced the room, her elaborate skirts swishing angrily around her feet. "Do you know what Lord Melbourne said to me today? He suggested I consider limiting my rides in the park because it's 'unseemly' for a queen to be seen enjoying herself so openly!"

Eleanor's hazel eyes widened in surprise. "Surely he jests, Your Majesty?"

"Oh, how I wish he were," Victoria spat, collapsing onto a nearby chaise lounge. "I'm suffocating, Eleanor. I'm barely six-and-twenty, and yet I feel as if I've lived a thousand years, each one more stifling than the last."

Eleanor knelt beside her queen, her face a mask of concern. "What can I do to help, Ma'am?"

Victoria's gaze drifted to the large windows overlooking the bustling streets of London. The sounds of life - vendors hawking their wares, children laughing, horses' hooves on cobblestones - filtered through the thick glass, teasing her with their vibrancy.

"Do you know what I desire more than anything, Eleanor?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What is that, Your Majesty?"

Victoria turned to her lady-in-waiting, a spark of mischief suddenly alight in her eyes. "I want to be out there, among my people. Not as their queen, but as one of them. I want to walk the streets without a coterie of guards, to smell the air unsullied by perfumed handkerchiefs, to feel the pulse of London beneath my feet."

Eleanor's eyebrows shot up, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, Ma'am?"

The Queen leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I want to spend a day as a commoner, Eleanor. Incognito. No guards, no advisors, no one telling me where to go or what to do. Just one day to experience life as my subjects do."

Eleanor's eyes danced with excitement. "It's a thrilling idea, Your Majesty, but incredibly risky. How would we even begin to-"

"We?" Victoria interrupted, her eyebrow arched in amusement.

"Well, of course, Ma'am," Eleanor replied with a smirk. "You didn't think I'd let you embark on such an adventure alone, did you?"

Victoria's face broke into a wide grin, the first genuine smile she'd worn in weeks. "Oh, Eleanor, you wonderful woman! I knew I could count on you." She grabbed her lady-in-waiting's hands, squeezing them tightly. "Now, help me plan. How shall we disguise ourselves? Where shall we go?"

As the two women huddled together, their voices dropped to excited whispers, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter. They were so engrossed in their plotting that they barely noticed a nervous footman enter the room, his eyes widening at the sight of the scattered tea set.

"Y-Your Majesty?" he stammered. "The Prime Minister and the Archbishop are waiting in the Blue Drawing Room for your audience."

Victoria waved a dismissive hand, not even bothering to look at the man. "Tell them I'm indisposed. We'll reschedule for tomorrow."

As the footman scurried away, Victoria turned back to Eleanor, her eyes glittering with anticipation. "Now, my dear friend, let's plan our great escape. Tomorrow, London won't know what hit it!"

* * *

"Ow! Blimey, that hurts!" Queen Victoria exclaimed, her voice a peculiar mix of refined elocution and attempted cockney. She winced as Eleanor tugged at the laces of a simple corset, pulling it tight around the monarch's waist.

Eleanor stifled a laugh. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid 'blimey' isn't quite the word a working-class woman would use if her corset was pinching. Perhaps try 'bloody hell' instead?"

Victoria's eyes widened, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Bloody hell, then! Bloody hell, this corset's tighter than a miser's purse strings!"

The two women erupted into giggles, the sound echoing off the ornate walls of the Queen's private chambers. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the chaos of their clandestine preparations. Dresses of rough wool and faded cotton lay strewn across the four-poster bed, a stark contrast to the silk and satin gowns that usually adorned the royal wardrobe.

As their laughter subsided, Eleanor stepped back to survey her handiwork. Victoria stood before her, almost unrecognizable in a simple brown dress, its hem slightly frayed and its bodice patched in places. Her usually elaborate coiffure had been replaced by a simple bun, wisps of brown hair escaping to frame her face.

"Now for the finishing touches," Eleanor murmured, reaching for a small pot of stage makeup. With deft strokes, she added a few freckles to Victoria's nose and cheeks, then smudged a bit of dirt along her jawline. "There. You look positively common, Your Majesty."

Victoria turned to the full-length mirror, her breath catching in her throat. The woman who stared back at her was a stranger – a simple, hardworking woman of London, with no hint of the crown that usually weighed so heavily upon her brow.

"It's remarkable," she whispered, turning this way and that to examine her transformation. "But Eleanor, what if someone recognizes me? What if-"

Eleanor placed a reassuring hand on Victoria's shoulder. "Ma'am, I assure you, even I would struggle to identify you if I passed you on the street. But remember, the disguise is only half the battle. You must act the part as well."

Victoria nodded, squaring her shoulders. "Right then. How's this?" She adopted a slouched posture and affected a thick cockney accent. "Oi, guv'nor! Fancy a pint down at the local?"

Eleanor burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Perhaps a bit less exaggerated, Your Majesty. Most Londoners don't actually sound like characters from a penny dreadful."

As Victoria practiced her accent, softening the harsh edges and finding a more natural cadence, Eleanor provided a steady stream of advice. "Remember to avoid eye contact with your betters – which, today, is nearly everyone. Keep your head down, your shoulders slightly hunched. And for heaven's sake, try not to walk like you're leading a royal procession."

Victoria absorbed the instructions eagerly, her excitement palpable. As she practiced her new gait, she stumbled slightly, catching herself on the edge of a nearby chaise lounge. "Goodness," she laughed, "I never realized how much my bearing was influenced by my upbringing."

Eleanor smiled softly, a hint of concern in her eyes. "It's not just your bearing, Ma'am. Your entire life has been shaped by your position. This adventure... it may be more challenging than you anticipate."

Victoria paused, her expression growing thoughtful. "You're right, of course. But that's precisely why I must do this, Eleanor. How can I truly understand and serve my subjects if I've never walked a day in their shoes?" She reached out, clasping Eleanor's hands in her own. "This isn't just about escaping the confines of the palace. It's about becoming a better queen."

Eleanor squeezed Victoria's hands, her eyes shining with admiration. "Your Majesty, your dedication to your people is truly inspiring. I have no doubt that this experience will shape your reign in ways we can't yet imagine."

As the first rays of dawn began to paint the sky outside, Victoria took a deep breath, steeling herself for the adventure ahead. "Well, then," she said, her voice a perfect blend of common accent and regal determination, "shall we go and meet the people of London?"

Eleanor nodded, a conspiratorial grin on her face. "Indeed we shall, Your Maj- I mean, indeed we shall, Vicky."

The two women crept through the opulent corridors of Buckingham Palace, their footsteps muffled by thick carpets. Victoria's senses were heightened, every creak and groan of the ancient building sending a jolt of adrenaline through her veins. The familiar scents of beeswax polish and fresh flowers now seemed cloying and overwhelming, fueling her desire to escape into the crisp morning air.

As they approached a junction in the hallway, Eleanor suddenly threw out an arm, halting Victoria in her tracks. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed off the marble floors, growing louder with each passing second.

"Quickly, in here," Eleanor hissed, pulling Victoria into a small alcove hidden behind a heavy velvet curtain. The two women pressed themselves against the wall, hardly daring to breathe as a pair of guards passed by, their voices low in conversation.

"Did you hear about the Prince Consort?" one guard muttered. "Left for Coburg last night. Some urgent business with his family, they say."

Victoria's eyes widened at the news. She'd known Albert was planning a trip, but not that he'd left so suddenly. A pang of guilt twisted in her stomach, quickly replaced by a surge of relief. His absence would make their escape that much easier.

As the guards' footsteps faded, Victoria and Eleanor emerged from their hiding place. "Well," Victoria whispered, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "it seems fortune favors the bold. Shall we press on?"

They continued their clandestine journey through the palace, ducking into shadows and holding their breath at every creak and groan. Finally, they reached a small side door that led to the gardens. Eleanor produced a key from her pocket, her hands trembling slightly as she turned it in the lock.

The door swung open, and a gust of cool morning air rushed in, carrying with it the scents of damp earth and blooming flowers. Victoria inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the sensation of freedom that lay just beyond the threshold.

"Your Majesty," Eleanor whispered urgently, "we must hurry. The gardeners will be here soon."

Victoria nodded, gathering her skirts as she stepped out into the garden. The dewy grass soaked through her thin shoes, a stark reminder of the luxuries she was leaving behind. As they hurried along the winding paths, Victoria's heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of exhilaration and fear coursing through her veins.

They reached the garden wall, where a small gate stood partially hidden behind a thick tangle of ivy. Eleanor fumbled with another key, her hands shaking more noticeably now.

"Eleanor," Victoria said softly, placing a hand on her friend's arm. "Are you alright?"

Eleanor took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Victoria's. "I'm terrified, if I'm being honest, Ma'am. If we're caught..."

"We won't be," Victoria assured her, though her own voice held a tremor of uncertainty. "And if we are, I'll take full responsibility. You've been a true friend, Eleanor. I couldn't do this without you."

A moment of understanding passed between them, years of shared confidences and quiet rebellion culminating in this daring escape. Eleanor nodded, squaring her shoulders as she turned back to the gate.

With a soft click, the lock gave way, and the gate swung open. Beyond it lay the bustling streets of London, already coming to life as vendors set up their stalls and early risers hurried to work. The cacophony of city sounds – horses' hooves on cobblestones, shouted greetings, the distant whistle of a steam engine – washed over them, a siren song of adventure and possibility.

Victoria paused at the threshold, one foot on palace grounds and one in the world beyond. She turned to Eleanor, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. "Well, my dear friend," she said, adopting her practiced common accent, "shall we go and meet the people of London?"

Eleanor smiled, linking her arm through Victoria's. "Indeed we shall, Vicky. Indeed we shall."

With a shared laugh of nervous excitement, the two women stepped through the gate and into the teeming streets of London, leaving behind the gilded cage of Buckingham Palace and embracing the promise of a day filled with discovery, danger, and the intoxicating taste of freedom.

* * *

The cacophony of voices hit Victoria like a physical force as she stepped into the heart of Covent Garden Market. The din was deafening - a symphony of shouts, laughter, and heated haggling that seemed to assault her from all sides. She stumbled, momentarily overwhelmed by the onslaught of sensations.

"Careful there, love!" A burly man with a face like weathered leather steadied her with a meaty hand. "Market's no place for woolgathering. You'll get trampled sure as eggs is eggs!"

Victoria mumbled her thanks, her carefully practiced accent momentarily forgotten in her daze. The man had already moved on, disappearing into the sea of bodies that surged around her. She felt Eleanor's steadying presence at her elbow, grounding her in the chaos.

"Blimey," Victoria breathed, remembering her role. "I never imagined it'd be like this!"

Eleanor smiled knowingly. "Welcome to the real London, Your- I mean, Vicky."

They pushed their way through the crowd, assaulted by a riot of smells - the earthy aroma of fresh vegetables, the pungent odor of fish, the yeasty scent of warm bread. Victoria's eyes darted from stall to stall, drinking in the vibrant displays of goods. Pyramids of apples gleamed like jewels, their red and green skins polished to a high shine. Strings of sausages dangled from hooks, their spicy scent making her mouth water despite the hearty breakfast she'd consumed mere hours ago.

A shrill voice cut through the din. "Oi! You trying to rob me blind, you mangy git?"

Victoria's head whipped around to see a red-faced woman brandishing a bunch of carrots at a hapless-looking man. "These ain't worth tuppence, let alone a shilling! You must think I'm soft in the head!"

The vendor, a wiry fellow with a jutting chin, planted his fists on his hips. "Soft in the head? More like hard of hearing! I said fourpence, clear as day! Now are you buying or not? I ain't got all day to stand about jawin' with you!"

Victoria watched, fascinated, as the two continued their heated exchange. She'd never witnessed such unbridled emotion, such raw and unfiltered interaction. In the palace, disagreements were couched in polite phrases and veiled implications. This... this was life, unvarnished and real.

As they moved deeper into the market, Victoria's initial shock gave way to a giddy sort of excitement. She found herself swept up in the energy of the place, her eyes wide as she took in every detail. A flower seller with a cart piled high with vibrant blooms caught her eye, and on impulse, she approached.

"How much for a bunch of those lovely daisies?" she asked, proud of how natural her accent sounded.

The old woman squinted at her, then at the flowers. "Tuppence a bunch, dearie. Fresh picked this morning, they was."

Victoria fumbled with the unfamiliar coins in her pocket, eventually producing the correct amount. As she accepted the flowers, their sweet scent wafting up to her, she felt a surge of pride. She'd completed her first transaction as a commoner!

Her elation was short-lived, however. As they rounded a corner, Victoria's eyes fell upon a sight that made her blood run cold. A group of children, none older than ten or eleven, were hauling heavy crates from a cart to a nearby shop. Their faces were smudged with dirt, their clothes little more than rags. One boy, struggling under the weight of his load, stumbled and fell to his knees.

"Get up, you lazy good-for-nothing!" A man's voice boomed, and Victoria watched in horror as a burly shopkeeper raised his hand menacingly.

Before she could think, Victoria surged forward. "Stop!" she cried, her carefully practiced accent slipping in her distress. "How dare you treat a child so!"

The shopkeeper turned, his face mottled with anger. "Mind your own business, woman! These brats are paid fair and square. If they don't work, they don't eat. Simple as that."

Victoria felt as though she'd been struck. Paid? These were mere children! In her sheltered world of palaces and tea parties, she'd had no idea such practices existed. She looked at the boy, still on his knees, his eyes wide with fear and something else... resignation. This, she realized with a sickening lurch, was his normal.

As Eleanor gently but firmly pulled her away, murmuring about not drawing attention, Victoria's mind raced. How many more children were out there, laboring in conditions unfit for animals, let alone young ones? How had she, the Queen of England, been so blind to the suffering of her smallest subjects?

As Victoria and Eleanor wandered through the winding streets of London, the weight of their earlier encounter with the child laborers hung heavy in the air. Victoria's mind whirled with a mixture of shock, guilt, and determination to address the injustices she'd witnessed. So lost in thought was she that she barely noticed when Eleanor's steadying presence disappeared from her side, swallowed up by the crowd.

"Eleanor?" Victoria called out, her voice trembling slightly as she realized she was alone in the unfamiliar maze of narrow alleys and bustling thoroughfares. The faces of passersby blurred together, a sea of strangers going about their daily lives, oblivious to the lost queen in their midst.

Victoria's heart raced as she spun in a circle, trying to get her bearings. The grand spires of St. Paul's Cathedral loomed in the distance, but the surrounding buildings seemed to close in around her, unfamiliar and imposing. She stumbled backward, bumping into a group of women carrying baskets of laundry.

"Watch where you're going, you silly chit!" one of them snapped, shooting Victoria a glare.

"I-I'm sorry," Victoria stammered, her carefully practiced accent slipping in her distress. "I seem to have lost my way. Could you perhaps...?"

But the women had already moved on, leaving Victoria alone once more. She leaned against a grimy brick wall, fighting back tears of frustration and fear. How could she, the Queen of England, be so utterly lost and helpless in her own capital?

"You alright there, miss?" a kind voice broke through her panic. Victoria looked up to see a woman in her early thirties, her face careworn but lit by a gentle smile. She held the hand of a young boy, no more than five or six, who peered at Victoria with undisguised curiosity.

"I... I'm afraid I've lost my way," Victoria admitted, forcing herself back into character. "And my friend. I don't know how to get back to... to where I'm meant to be."

The woman's smile widened. "Well, we can't have that, can we? You look half-frozen and scared out of your wits. Why don't you come with us? We were just heading home for our midday meal. You can warm up and get your bearings, maybe have a bite to eat if you're hungry."

Victoria hesitated for a moment, her royal training screaming at her to maintain distance and decorum. But the woman's kind eyes and the growling in her stomach won out. "That's... that's very kind of you. Thank you."

"I'm Margaret Dawson," the woman said as they began walking. "This is my son, Tommy. My husband, Jack, should be home from the docks for lunch as well."

"I'm... Vicky," Victoria replied, the lie tasting strange on her tongue. "Vicky Bennett."

They made their way through a maze of narrow streets, the buildings growing shabbier and more crowded with each turn. Finally, Margaret led them into a small, dimly lit tenement building. The stairs creaked ominously as they climbed to the third floor, and Victoria had to stifle a cough at the musty air.

The Dawsons' home was a single room, barely large enough to contain a bed, a table with three mismatched chairs, and a small stove in the corner. Despite its cramped quarters, it was meticulously clean, with a faded but cheerful curtain hanging in the single window.

"It's not much," Margaret said apologetically as she ushered Victoria inside, "but it's home."

Before Victoria could respond, the door burst open again, and a burly man with kind eyes and work-roughened hands entered. "Maggie, love! You'll never believe the day I've had at the docks..." He trailed off as he noticed Victoria. "Oh, hello there. Who's this?"

Margaret quickly explained the situation as she bustled about, pulling out an extra chair and setting a pot of something to heat on the stove. Victoria watched in fascination as the family moved around each other with practiced ease in the tiny space.

"Well, any friend of Maggie's is welcome here," Jack declared, clapping Victoria on the shoulder with a force that nearly knocked her off her feet. "Though I'm afraid our fare isn't quite what you might be used to, Miss Bennett."

Victoria's nose twitched at the aroma wafting from the pot. "It smells wonderful," she said honestly. "What is it?"

"Just a bit of vegetable soup," Margaret replied, ladling generous portions into three chipped bowls. "With some day-old bread from the baker down the street. He gives us a good price if we wait till the end of the day."

As they settled around the small table, Victoria's heart clenched at the sight of Margaret carefully dividing their meager portions to accommodate an extra mouth. She opened her mouth to protest, to insist she wasn't hungry, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

"Eat up, love," Margaret urged, pushing a bowl towards her. "You look like you could use a good meal."

Victoria took a tentative sip of the soup, surprised by the depth of flavor despite its simple ingredients. As she ate, she found herself drawn into the family's easy conversation. Jack regaled them with tales from the docks, while Tommy chattered excitedly about a puppy he'd seen in the street.

"And how about you, Vicky?" Margaret asked kindly. "What brings you to this part of London?"

Victoria hesitated, her spoon halfway to her mouth. "I... I wanted to see how people really live," she admitted, a kernel of truth in her fabricated story. "My life has been... sheltered. I wanted to understand."

Jack nodded approvingly. "Good for you, lass. Not many from the posher parts care to know how the other half lives. It's hard, make no mistake, but we get by. We've got each other, and that's what matters."

As Victoria finished her meal, she felt a warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the soup. The Dawsons' generosity, their easy affection for each other, and their resilience in the face of hardship touched her deeply. She thought of the opulent banquets at the palace, the mountains of food often left uneaten, and felt a pang of shame.

"Thank you," she said softly as Margaret collected the empty bowls. "Not just for the meal, but for... for everything. Your kindness means more than you know."

Margaret smiled, reaching out to squeeze Victoria's hand. "Think nothing of it, love. We all need a helping hand sometimes."

[kyndaris]

Onward to the Gong!

Living in New South Wales, public holidays are few and far between with only 11 official days. That being said, not all of them lead to long weekends. And after the Monarch's birthday in June, we poor Sydneysiders must need wait until Labour Day in October before partaking of another extended rest. It's outrageous, I tell you! Atrocious!

Still, in the spirit of adventure and wishing to relive our halcyon days in the sun, me and a few of my friends headed down to Wollongong to enjoy the salty sea air and swan around their city centre, which is but a stone's throw away from the major hustle and bustle that is Sydney. The only major city one really needs to visit when on the east coast of Australia.

Melbourne, who?

I jest. Melbourne is a perfectly fine city to visit or live. It's just...you know, not Sydney.

Although, it should not be noted that a day trip out to Wollongong was not what I'd initially dreamt up for the long weekend. Oh no. Rather, I'd hoped to road trip to the capital of Australia, Canberra, to catch a performance of RENT. The addition of more people to my travel plans, however, scuppered the idea.

What we got instead was a fancy day out with good food and even better company. It involved lounging at a cafe as we devoured a huge breakfast, watched as a car in front of us mount the central curb before swerving across multiple lanes and tailgating the cars in front of it, and also testing our abilities with a devious escape.

A worthy consolation prize, if I do say so myself.

Better than that, we didn't have any time to pay a visit to Shellharbour, where I would have relived the trauma of my many date fails (he was an earnest young man but not, perhaps, what I was seeking in a life partner).

Our small group of adults of mostly over-30s did stumble upon a protest to Free Palestine, however. By then, it was nearing 4 PM. Why it was so late in the afternoon remained a mystery. But the slogans were, admittedly catchy, and it was far better than the preaching we encountered earlier about how we ought to read the Bible lest we burn in Hell. Even some Mormons passing by were caught in the crosshairs.

As for the reason why, I couldn't say. But perhaps different evangelical groups feel like only their own beliefs are true? And all others are corruptions that don't adhere to the correct teachings?

These mild gripes aside, our day trip down to Wollongong was pretty much a success. Even the planning was an exciting endeavour in and of itself. Although, it must be said, trying to negotiate with friends to agree on a date, an activity and location can be like trying to wrangle kittens. It took no small effort to work around people's different schedules and plans.

And while I would have preferred a slightly more challenging escape room than the one we got, it was, in hindsight, for the best. The escape room was at the Breakout Bar, next to Wollongong Central. It was themed with clockwork gears on the ceiling and tables with the entrances to the escape rooms looking like heavy thick-set lead doors. Arriving early, we were given a brief overview of the escape room and the narrative tying all five of them together.

Once we had reviewed the story, we stored our belongings in the locker, plonked on some steampunk-esque goggles and time travelled all the way to Medieval England on a quest to return Excalibur to the stone it had been lodged in.

Although the escape room was one of the easiest available, our group still struggled to solve some of the puzzles. Of note were the unintuitive nature of the nail tower as it was unclear if the key to a nearby bird cage had been released. This was primarily due to the hidden compartment having to be pulled out manually and there was no audio cue to tell us we had succeeded. Quite a lot of precious time was lost where we tried to find a way to open the hidden compartment through other means (as we thought it was activated by magnets).

One other puzzle stumped us terribly too.

Even when we asked for the easy hint, we were left scratching our heads until we looked at the opposite wall.

If ever I should complain about other people being obtuse, I ought to remind myself that I failed to see a huge red and black shield on a wall (although, to be fair, in our group of five, four pairs of eyes also failed to spot it as well).

Still, we managed to escape the room. With time to spare!

Overall, I'd say the escape room was a success in how it got us all to collaborate with its many puzzles. All of us got to contribute our expertise, allowing us to return Excalibur to its rightful place and head back into Professor B's time machine in order to search for his beloved in another time period.

And while Wollongong is certainly no sprawling Sydney, I like to think we enjoyed our time there: from soaking up the sun at Coniston Dog Beach and contributing to a driftwood hut, to nabbing free chips at Grill'd, having a dessert break at Kurtosh, or buying a couple more books to add to my ever growing collection.

Perhaps next we visit the Illawara region, me and my group of friends can look to a few coastal hikes or perhaps take a gander up on the treetops.

If heading south isn't an option, we can always go horseback trail riding instead!

Australia may not be as vibrant as other countries, but there are many a hidden gem for both locals and tourists to discover. After taking some time to explore the main thoroughfare of Wollongong, I can say there's plenty to do and see in the small coastal city that's only an hour away. An absolute steal considering how far other locations can be in the great big giant country I call home.

[midnight-els]

For @tiltedsyllogism 🥰

Inherited Sins is a Lenara POV one shot about her and Sergei's relationship. I put it aside in the run up to S4 but with the Star City news I am so excited to revisit it soon! Sergei is living openly in the US and Lenara is tasked with telling him Margo is alive for Mind Game Reasons. Cue angst about their different relationships to the state, their own relationship, and Lenara's feelings about her role at Roscosmos/as a senior official in the Soviet regime.

Pool Table Case Fic - basic premise is that Phryne investigates a murder with another detective who's Jack's academy best friend. The victim was found on a pool table. Standard post s3/established Phrack shenanigans happen.

I was reflecting recently that I have never published any of my many proper MFMM case fics because I run out of steam on the case bits. This is by far the most developed of those but it's probably only 60-70% done, with the interesting personal bits being finished and the tricky case bits outstanding. It was a really developmental fic for me, taking a lot of the brunt of practice at getting back into fic writing after a few years away, and I do like a lot of the bits in it so I'd love to revisit it when I have time. This time last year I was literally in the middle of doing a big clean up and trimming the case bits back so it could be published when I decided to take a quick break and check out this show called 'For All Mankind' on AppleTV which could surely have no effect on me 🙃

Extracts under the cut

Inherited Sins

“Why, Lenara?” he called from behind her. She stopped, forcing herself back around to face him. “Why what?” “Why this?” “It’s my job.” For the first time in years, Lenara saw Sergei smile. It was barely perceptible, sad and pitying, but she instantly recognised the seeds of that same look he’d always given her when she was being particularly impetuous.  She wanted to smack it from his face. “Do not think I don’t understand,” he said gently. She couldn’t tell whether it was her training or her warring exhaustion and disbelief that stop the instinctive scoff breaking through the surface. Eyes boring into his face, she swallowed harder than she intended to. “On the contrary, you’ve made it quite clear that you don’t.”

Pool Table Case Fic

Snatching her drink back up, Phryne darted in the direction of the back of the house, sensing more than hearing Jack’s sigh as he followed. “No, no Dottie it’s really fine, really. Please don’t -” Hugh was fretting, trying to calm his agitated wife, Mr Butler watching unconvinced, when they entered the room. His left eye was mostly hidden by a rather impressive bruise, with not a little swelling and a cut on his cheekbone to accent it. Poor man, Phryne thought: even as a Senior Constable he still seemed to be suffering the under whims of Melbourne’s crims. “Inspector!” Dot rounded on Jack instantly. Phryne suppressed a smile at his fleeting passing resemblance to a rabbit caught in a headlight. Jack schooled his features into a professional mask and, using an equally official voice, tried to mollify her. “I do apologise for the condition of your husband this evening, Mrs Collins. I’m afraid there was a disturbance at the station, it really couldn’t be helped. I assure you, the situation is in hand now.” “It couldn’t be helped?! Hugh said you had Jenkins arresting a bunch of good-for-nothings. The only thing that boy is capable of arresting is a couple of children who’ve escaped from Catechism!” Phryne again pressed her lips into a thin line, struggling to hold her amusement in. Really, Dot could cow their constabulary counterparts so well they might both as well have been as green as the unfortunate Jenkins.

[theprinceandthewitch]

Okay, time to jump back into the pits of IDV lore...

Character Introduction:

Alice DeRoss had a fulfilling childhood and a happy family. Enlightened and gentle parents, kind and reliable playmates shaped her optimistic and cheerful personality.

However, a tragic accident at the age of six changed everything, the family fell overnight, she was also known as the daughter of misfortune, suffered from hysteria and was sent to the orphanage.

She experienced both mental and physical torture in the orphanage until she was secretly adopted by a medical professor as an experimental subject and brought to Melbourne when she was 14 years old.

With prolonged medication and physical therapy, she gradually regained consciousness, however, it is perhaps more cruel to live soberly in hell than to live unaware in human world.

Luckily, the voice that existed in her memory kept saving her back to the brink of collapse repeatedly. Finally, all this changed her, but did not destroy her.

At the age of 21, Alice escaped back to England and became a social journalist in anonymity, looking for the truth about the tragedy and the disappearance of her playmates.

As an adult, Alice is elegant and intelligent, tough and brave personality, good at observation and disguise, as well as having excellent oratorical talent and analytical ability, unforgettable, able to sharply capture the emotions of others, however, because of pathological reasons, and drug testing at an early age, her sense of fear to be significantly weaker than normal, but also have more than normal endurance.

But even if she overcame the nightmare of the past, but it does not remove it. When alone, Alice de Rose[sic] has a serious cleanliness and obsessive-compulsive disorder, always wears gloves and hates sharp sounds.[3]

----

Oh okay, so Orpheus was basically her guiding light during the time she was being used as a lab rat.... guiding her out of the Underworld, so to speak...

OKAY.

----

A Crumpled Medical Report (2024):

(The back of the paper is covered in sawdust, while the front bears fragmented information written in somewhat juvenile handwriting.) Greetings. It seems I was correct—you found my message. Someone left a pen here—I've hidden it in the crevice between the second window and the iron bars. Perhaps they hoped you'd write something down, as I have. ... Greetings. Yes, I've found them. I'll write down what I remember, then return them to their place. The nurses wouldn't want any extra things lying about the room now, would they? ... I seem to have forgotten something... What a good start—at least I remember that I forgot something. ... They had my favorite chestnut cake this morning. ... No, wasn't breakfast raspberry cake? ... Who are you? ... Someone changed my medication. It must've been the one who left the pen. ... Who are you? ... If you're reading this, then you've guessed correctly... ... Who are you? ... I've discovered Dr. Bourbon's secret. ... Who are you? ... Remember, you've already forgotten "who I am..." ... Who are you? ... That key is in Dr.Bourbon's drawer. ... Who are you? ... They seem to have noticed the issue with the medication, but no matter, we can strike tonight. ... Welcome back, my bravest Nightingale.

----

I'M....

ORPHEUS HELPED HER ESCAPE FROM THE SCIENTISTS?

----

Also, my sleep deprived ass thought this letter was talking about a future event, but it's actually talking about Alice's time at the orphanage.

December 23rd, 1894 Myles (迈尔西) Orphanage

Dear Mr. ▇▇▇,

We’re terribly sorry to inform you that we were unable to approve your request of adoption regarding Alice. However, please believe us when we say that this has nothing to do with adoption fees; instead, it is about ethical considerations - we believe that members of her family, relatives by blood, would be a better fit (I hope you understand what I mean).

Despite this, you may still visit her as a friend, but we would not suggest doing so at the moment. Her current condition is worrisome. Since her arrival, her mental state has been on the border between consciousness and insanity. Any slight irritation will cause her to continuously scream shrilly, and scratching became her only form of communication with others. Even when she is in her more conscious state, she refuses to interact with others, but she can at least act independently. Therefore, we were forced to arrange a room alone. Now, this may sound immoral, but it can guarantee that she will not put anyone in harm’s way - especially, herself. To be frank, when compared to the other children, she already receives extremely special treatment. However, the doting and care the workers provide (Oh, goodness, they all love little Alice so much), and separately assigned room arrangements both require tremendous sums of money (For all I know, there’s been a number of people who have told me in secret that Alice belongs in an asylum and not an orphanage). Of course, “Benevolence treats all people equally” is our orphanage’s goal: we will do our best to ensure her living conditions here, within our current economic situation.

Perhaps, after a while, when her condition is stable, we will contact you for a visit. But, in the meantime, please wait patiently and have faith in us to protect every child that is sent here. We truly hope Alice is able to swiftly recover, and receive - as well as, be able to - enjoy her happy life.

Sincerely,

The Head of Myles (迈尔西) Orphanage

(The word “LIAR” is scrawled onto the letter, in large, capital red letters.)

---

The person who wrote this letter is heavily implied to be Orpheus...

Before everyone gets all up in arms: Orpheus is three years older than Alice... he's not some grown man, lmao