#museum curator derek

[reidrum]

hi lil headcanon: can’t stop thinking about how Spence sees the worst of humanity and lots of violence for his job so when he comes home to you he is extra gentle and savors your goodness and cherishes doing mundane things with you- tidying up and listening to his music, going on walking dates, holding you close literally always- he is extra protective of his beacon of peace and hope in humanity :,)

this is so post prison spencer coded

(i yapped again im so sorry)

following his release spencer reid would struggle to return to normalcy for some time after his whole life was turned upside down for months but the pockets of peace he creates with you he finds are essential to his well being.

your spencer reid wakes up early on the rare saturday mornings he has off making sure you’re still sleeping and sneaks off to the kitchen to make breakfast that will soon wake you up in a few hours with the wafting smell of waffles and coffee. he dons a ‘kiss the chef’ apron you ironically got for him that he unironically treasures deeply as he finishes plating the spread on the tray and bringing it back to the room.

maybe on saturday mornings you always go to the farmers market and you always buy a fresh bouquet of flowers because having them on sunday makes for a good omen for the coming week. and even on the saturdays spencer reid can’t be there you send pictures of the bouquet you picked out that day and it makes his heart so so happy. his favorite thing is when he tells you the significance of different flowers and they show up in the bunch the week after. if one day you don’t go to the farmers market or there just isn’t a bouquet in the house that day spencer reid absolutely cannot have that and so he goes out on his own curating the perfect bouquet of flowers because he’ll be damned if you don’t have your flowers!

i think he would also encourage you to ramble as much as he does because he loves hearing you talk, even if he knows nothing about it or it doesn’t make sense. like for someone who loves info dumping and telling people cool facts, spencer reid is much quieter around you because hearing you talk especially about things you love is so so special to him. he would trade his voice like ariel in the little mermaid if it meant he could hear you talk on and on about anything and everything for the rest of his life.

and like, because this is spencer reid there will be a time that something happens to you because of what he does (alexa play peace), kinda similar to matt and kristy when she’s held hostage at her work or derek and savannah when she gets shot. hotch has to physically keep him away from the scene because he’d be so close to losing it and risking everything by going solo but who can blame him when you, the other half of him that the prophecies say you’d spend your whole lives searching for but he was fortunate and grateful enough to find you so soon, could get hurt. he would harbor the same guilt hotch feels dating anyone after haley because after maeve spencer reid refuses to let anything take you away from him, but here he is putting you in a situation he caused because an unsub he put away has a grievance to settle.

and eventually you’re safe and back in the apartment with spencer reid and he’s just. in crisis mode. because he genuinely is not sure if he can handle something like that happening to you again. but he’s not even sure how to prevent that from ever happening. and he’s so proud of you for how brave you’re trying to be but it’s breaking his heart entirely to watch you do that for him, and he’s so sure he does not deserve your grace at all. so it’s not even a hard decision when he decides to increase his university teaching hours and step away from the bau just to be with you more.

because now you and spencer reid have more time to make flower bouquets at the farmers market every week. he’s bucket listed every museum up and down the eastern coast and fully intends on finishing it before the year ends. he carries a little trial size vial of your perfume in his satchel whenever he misses you a little too much, even when you’re just in the other room. spencer reid wants nothing more than to live a simple life with you, and after the world has dealt him too many bad cards, he’s more than grateful to get to hold these little moments of you close to mend his bruised heart.

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Hi! I was wondering if you knew any fics where when Derek finds out Stiles is his Mate and instead of out-right rejecting him or hiding it, he's just like "Yeah, okay, we're Mates." or something like that. Same on Stiles end too. I just need some fluff right now, please.

THANK YOU!!!

Sure!

Werewolf Project by Anonymous

(1/1 I 2,468 I Teen)'

Stiles and Derek have to do a project together... about werewolves.

Protecting You by dreamedwriting

(2/? I 3,002 I Teen)

The night of the Hale Fire, Stiles Stilinski senses something off. He follows the feeling and as a result, saves the Hales.

(A Belated) Invite To Eternity by ussentercries

(2/? I 3,274 I Teen)

Derek didn't notice it at first. It started with Stiles staying a little later than everyone else after pack meetings.

An Eternal Bond by stereksterek

(6/6 I 13,528 I Not Rated)

The one where Stiles organizes five bonding activities for the pack that just end up bringing him and Derek closer + the one time Derek does the same for Stiles.

Ain't Nothing so Good as the Cake and Eating it by sofonisba_found

(15/15 I 51,001 I Mature)

Derek thinks he's doing alright in life, with his family at his side and a job he loves. Despite his family's concerns he remains adamant that he doesn't need a mate, afraid to take the risk of letting anyone close enough to try to hurt his family again. That is until he realizes that his true mate has been right under his nose for years, and that now through his inaction he may lose him.

Future Dreams by midnitekween

(13/13 I 73,956 I Explicit)

Stiles accidentally summons he and Derek's children from the future to the present.

He's Not Mine by Sunnee

(19/19 I 68,534 I Explicit)

Derek comes home to find an abandoned werebaby on his front porch and Stiles volunteers to help him out. Surprisingly, that is just the beginning of his problems.

The Moon Lives (In The Lining of Your Skin) by Quixoticity

(28/30 I 132,440 I Explicit)

Stiles is doing fine. Okay, so he didn't expect to be a single father to an infant daughter at the tender age of twenty-three, but it's working out great. And no, he didn't expect to be a curator in Beacon Hills Museum, where weird things happen with no explanation, but he's rolling with it. And he seems to have acquired a new brother now that his dad's gotten engaged, which, odd, but hey, Stiles is flexible, and there's no such thing as too much love, right?

But then the next twist comes in the form of mysterious new neighbour Derek Hale, who is both insanely angry at the world (it's possible he's murdered people with his eyebrows alone), and adorably good with children. He's also in possession of a truly excellent butt.

Stiles is doomed.

Settle Down by wearing_tearing, whatthehale

(19/19 I 153,180 I Explicit)

Stiles is a struggling author barely making ends meet.

Derek is a successful architect whose biological clock is ticking.

Enter a surrogacy agency, two packs, and a particularly sticky and toe curling heat week and you get a match made in heaven.

[nanowrimo]

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 12

Representing day 12 is The Shell Game by YWP Writer Stella Holt, and it's a wonderful Thriller/Suspense novel. This cover was designed by the amazing returning designer, Victoria Pickett!

The Shell Game

A chef. A range officer. A museum curator.

Three people.

One spy.

Jamie McNamara is a bounty hunter but she doesn’t hunt people. Not after a job-gone-wrong three years ago. So when she’s approached with a mission to find Derek Knox, a rogue sleeper agent, and get him back to his employers, she fears the contractor knows more about her past than she’d like. But unfortunately, he pays well, and she’s broke.

She accepts the job, but quickly realizes there’s more to it than she thought. The rogue agent is currently hiding under one of three potential covers. Her task is to find out which two are innocents, and which one is the spy.

But the deeper Jamie gets into the job, the more questions arise. At first, all three people appear harmless. But then not only does Jamie find questionable connections with one of them, all three of their innocence is put in doubt.

There’s only one spy. But what if the other two aren’t all they seem, either?

About the Author

When not stressing out about how few hours are in the day, Stella Holt loves finding beauty in Creation; from the mystique of a caliginous night, to the simple wonder of existence.

About the Designer

Victoria is a recovering design educator working in the Mayor's Office of Urban Analytics and Innovation at the City of Cleveland. She made the leap from academia to city government almost a year ago. She works with data analysts in data visualization and creates infographics. She enjoys contributing to a team whose work is doing good. This is her fifth year designing a cover for NaNoWriMo.

Cover Design Process:

This year. we gave designers the optional prompt to explain their design process for the cover! Here's Victoria's:

The title immediately made me think of each character peeking out from under a shell in the classic shell game. But I wanted to push that idea and created three silhouettes in hotel windows with awnings that look like shells. 

[ofmagicallonging]

This is the short list of muses. Links to bios to be added

Witches

Robin Turner - Toby Regbo -28 - florist - Seer - Male - Pansexual - Submissive

Zachariah Turner - Derek Theler - 35 - Vet - Charms Witch - Male - Bisexual - Submissive

Felix Turner - Andrew lee potts - 40 - Writer - Potion Witch - Male - Homosexual- Switch

Theodore Turner - Chris Pine - 45 - Lawyer - Charms Witch - Male - Bisexual - Switch

Xaiver Turner - Kit Harrington - 37 - Teacher - Potion Witch - Male - Pansexual- Switch

Blaise Shocken - Andy Biersack - 320 - freelance magic specialist - Necromancer - Male - Homosexual- Submissive

Heaven and Hell

Salem Darcy - Ncuti Gatwa - 345 - Dancer - Bartender - Non Binary - Bisexual - Switch

Hazel Spencer - Emma Myers - 99 - Waitress - Sucubus - Female - Pansexual - Submissive

Nakoa Kalani - Winston Duke - 40 - Personal Trainer - Demon - Male - Pansexual- Switch

Cecil Newton - Henry Cavil - 510 - Business owner - Demon - Male - Bisexual - Switch

Faith Conley - Jacob Anderson - 401 - Cam Boy - Angel - male - homosexual- submissive

Shifters

Violet Lindsay - Jessical Sula - 30 - Radio Host - Raccoon Shifter - Female - pansexual - submissive

Lucky Dellingham - Tanner Buchanan - 230 - Town Councilor- Dalmatian Shifter - male - homosexual - submissive

Aofie Carlson - Anson Lo - 29 - Personal Assistant - Red Panda Shifter - male - pansexual - switch

Sawyer Khan - Idris Elba - 52 - Doctor - Tiger Shifter - male - homosexual - Switch

Otto Garrison - Rami Malek - 43 - Bar Owner - Armadillo Shifter - Trans male - pansexual - Switch

Wolf Pack

Billy Woods - Michael b jordan - 37 - Card Dealer - Wolf - Male - pansexual - Switch

Ruben Crossby - Dacre Montgomery - 456 - Owner of an Art Gallery - Wolf - Male - bisexual - Switch

Ajay Bishop - Archie Renaux - 22 - mechanic - Human raised by wolves - male - pansexual - Submissive

Barnaby Hanson - Pedro Pascal - 143 - bookshop owner - wolf - Male - homosexual - submissive

Dragons

Gethin Beck - Tom Hardy - 231 - Bodyguard - Dragon - male - Homosexual - Switch

Frankie Graves - Eddie Redmanye - 43 - Illustrator- Dragon - trans male - Homosexual - Submissive

Leo Woods - Reece King - 115 - playboy - Dragon - non binary - Pansexual - Switch

Vampires

Corian Greybelle - Jayden Revri- 25 - Baristia - Vampire - male - pansexual - Switch

Cymbeline Stone - Gemma Chan - 120 - museum curator - Vampire - Female -  Bisexual - Switch

Fae

Pearl Manning - Mason Alexander park - 100 - circus performer - ice fae -  non binary - pansexual - switch

Courtney Arnold - James Sweeney - 30 - Prostitute - Changeling - male -  homosexual - submissive

Kenneth Proctor - Hugh Jackman - 357 - Therapist - high court fae - male - bisexual - switch

Tilly Belle - Dove Cameron - 320 - Bartender - Fairy - female - bisexual - Submissive

[manyfandomocs]

WBW + Ezra Brady, please??

@dancingsunflowers-ocs ✨💛✨

The way so much of this was just made up now because I do not think about him enough

and because I need to remember to tag @daughter-of-melpomene

B A S I C S

full name: Ezra Sterling Brady

gender: Cisgender Male

sexuality: Bisexual

pronouns: He/Him

O T H E R S

family: 

birthplace: Beacon Hills, California

job: Student, TBD on rest but I'm feeling like, museum curator or something idk

phobias: Heights

guilty pleasures: Video games

M O R A L S

morality alignment?: true neutral

sins - lust/greed/gluttony/sloth/pride/envy/wrath

virtues - chastity/charity/diligence/humility/kindness/patience/justice

T H I S - O R - T H A T

introvert/extrovert

organized/disorganized

close minded/open-minded 

calm/anxious

disagreeable/agreeable

cautious/reckless

patient/impatient

outspoken/reserved

leader/follower

empathetic/unemphatic 

optimistic/pessimistic 

traditional/modern

hard-working/lazy (I mean not really really but, yeah)

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

otp: Ezra/Erica

ot3: Ezra/Erica/Cora ig??

brotp: Ezra/Scott/Stiles (can't break them up)

notp: Ezra/Derek

Send WBW and an oc for…

[tigerstrikesasteroidnetwork]

NY / &&&2

&&&2 January 6, 2024 – February 18, 2024  Opening Reception: Jan 6, Saturday 6-8PM  A talk with the artists will be scheduled in February

Tiger Strikes Asteroid New York is pleased to present &&&2, a bi-coastal exhibition that serves as both a survey and sequel to the collaborations of Ethan Greenbaum, David Kennedy Cutler and Sara Greenberger Rafferty.

Ten years ago, the artists initiated a series of meetings to talk about materials and techniques, based on their mutual interest in using photographic imagery to destabilize traditional art categories like painting, printmaking and sculpture.

The meetings resulted in an artist’s book titled &&&, in which the three artists imagined themselves as a fictional industrial supply firm. For Greenberger & Greenbaum & Cutler &, the fictional company had a veneer of prestige. For these capitalist outsiders, a corporate symbol of joint commercial enterprise was almost tantamount to success.

The book was released at Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair in 2013 in both a mass market paperback and a boxed, limited special edition print series based on swatch sample catalogs. The intention of the project was lost on nearly everyone, but a few key people became aware of the artists’ positioning themselves as a small movement.  This included the photography curator Dan Leers, who organized a show and catalog of their work, Beyond The Surface: Image as Object, at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center in 2014. 

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of &&&, Sun You has invited Greenberger & Greenbaum & Cutler to mount an exhibition at TSA in Brooklyn, NY. There will also be a simultaneous version of the show at Ditch Projects in Springfield, OR.  The exhibitions at both artist-run spaces feature a backdrop that wraps the gallery with deconstructed pages from the original &&& book, over which the artists have installed works from 2013 and 2023.  The original book is also exhibited, as well as a new portfolio of prints (&&&2) to celebrate ten fruitful years of collaboration, hand wringing and friendship 

Ethan Greenbaum is a New York based artist. Selected exhibition venues include KANSAS, New York; Derek Eller Gallery, New York; Hauser and Wirth, New York; Marlborough Chelsea, New York, Higher Pictures, New York; New York; Marianne Boesky, New York, Circus Gallery, Los Angeles; Steve Turner, Los Angeles; The Suburban, Chicago; Michael Jon & Alan, Miami, The Aldrich Museum, Connecticut; Socrates Sculpture Park; Long Island City and Stems Gallery, Brussels. Recent projects include a solo presentation with Lyles & King and solo exhibitions at Galerie Pact, Paris and Super Dakota, Brussels.

His work has been discussed in The New York Times, Modern Painters, Artforum, BOMB Magazine, ArtReview and Interview Magazine, among others. Ethan is a co-founder and editor of thehighlights.org and his writings have appeared in the Brooklyn Rail, Wax Magazine, BOMB, Paper Monument and others. He has also curated and co-curated multiple exhibitions at venues including The Suburban, Chicago; Lyles & King, New York and Super Dakota, Brussels. Greenbaum is the recipient of the Queens Art Fund New Work Grant, the Silver Art Residency, The Keyholder Residency at the Lower East Side Printshop, Dieu Donne’s Workspace Residency, LMCC’s Workspace Program, The Robert Blackburn SIP Fellowship, The Socrates EAF Fellowship, The Edward Albee Foundation Residency and The Barry Schactman Painting Prize. He received an MFA in Painting from Yale School of Art.

David Kennedy Cutler is an artist, writer and performer who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Cutler received his BFA from The Rhode Island School of Design in 2001. He has had solo exhibitions at Derek Eller Gallery, New York; Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton; Essex Flowers, New York; The Centre for Contemporary Art, Tallinn, Estonia and Nice & Fit, Berlin, Germany. Cutler has performed in various spaces in New York including Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, Essex Flowers, Printed Matter, Halsey McKay, Derek Eller Gallery, and Flag Art Foundation, and internationally at the Center for Contemporary Arts Estonia, among others. His works are included in the permanent collections of the Wellin Museum at Hamilton College and The RISD Museum, and his artist’s books are included in the libraries of the Whitney Museum and the Brooklyn Museum. He has been reviewed and featured in The New York Times, Artforum, Art in America, The New Yorker and Modern Painter, among others. Cutler is represented by Derek Eller Gallery, NY and Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton. 

Sara Greenberger Rafferty produces image-based works in paper, plastic, glass, metal, fabric, and video. Her work is driven by an ongoing examination of contemporary and mid-20th century visual culture and considers the ever-changing implications for photographic images in the digital era. She’s also into comedy. 

Ditch Projects is a nonprofit artist-founded, artist-run studio, exhibition, and performance space providing contemporary art experiences in Springfield, Oregon. As a collective of artists and professionals committed to exhibiting experimental artists from diverse backgrounds, Ditch Projects provides opportunities for cultural exchange between experimental contemporary art and our local community, acting as an integral voice within contemporary art discourse in the Pacific Northwest. Since its founding in 2008, Ditch Projects has featured over 145 exhibitions and 275 artists. Growing organically out of the concerns of its artist members, Ditch provides contemporary visual arts practitioners with an opportunity to test out new ideas, processes, and approaches they might not otherwise attempt in a comparable urban center. Over the past decade, the primary focus of the artist collective has been on the production and presentation of new works by regional, national and international artists, with a consistent 10-12 solo, two-person or group exhibitions per season. Past exhibiting artists have included internationally renowned practitioners such as Amy Yao, Diana Thater, Scott Reeder, Laura Owens, Jessica Jackson Hutchinsons, and Vito Acconci, along with regionally acclaimed artists such as Ralph Pugay, Amy Bernstein, Lisa Radon, Tannaz Farsi, James Lavadour, and Kristen Kennedy. Exhibitions at Ditch Projects have been reviewed in Art Forum, Frieze, Art in America, and the New York Times. Ditch Projects has received grants from the Andy Warhol Foundation, The Miller Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Arts Commision, the Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, and the WLS Spencer Foundation.

[because-she-goes]

nike’s ascension

warnings: none. Enjoy!

Nora was now entering junior year at The Parsons School of Design. Yes, that Parsons. She had gotten accepted after she sent in a portfolio of her post-rehab work and the admissions team realized she was not just some regular New York girl who saw art as a hobby to do for a few years before marrying a Wall-Street guy and having babies in the Hamptons.

This was Nora Downey, a woman who had used art to work through her emotions and trauma and saw how it could help heal. A woman who had oil paint flowing in her veins and her skin may as well have been marble or clay. It consumed her every being, all she thought about was art - from the moment she woke up in the morning and poured her morning coffee while looking over the Art and Culture pages of the New York Times to going to sleep at night to the sounds of the city she loved. She had officially moved out of her underclassmen dorm, and with the help and blessing of her parents had gotten an apartment in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. It was small and cramped, but it was close to a studio and the subway so she could get to her classes up in Manhattan. It was her home.

She brought up the subject of her moving to her parents while at a cafe in the Gramercy area. She acknowledged that with her being more successful she could manage to pay for her rent, grocery, utilities and any other bills while helping her parents with tuition payments when possible. With the success of her rehab and underclassmen work, she landed an internship with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in their curating department and assisted in finding fresh pieces to add to their extensive collections as well as organizing their current pieces that were in storage and not for display.

She adored her life. Nora - or Nike as most of her friends called her - had a great job, a somewhat steady income, a decent-enough boyfriend to come home to, adoring parents, a good rapport with her therapist Linda and she was doing what she loved in the city she loved. She had her routine: get up at 7am, get coffee for the curating team at the Met, show up by 7:45am, stay and work until 2pm, then go to her studio classes and work on her next piece until 6pm, then meet Derek for dinner. It was what she always dreamt of. The quiet yet fulfilling life of an artist.

The fall semester went by in a breeze, Nora being the star pupil in her Junior Abstract Studio course. She had been working non-stop for months, at times her and her friends would order pizza to the studio and blast music all night and work through until sunrise. Sharing paints, ideas, sketch books and even bedrooms and couches - she was lucky enough to have a group of friends who not only supported and encouraged her work, but brought out the best in her and pushed her to improve. The group of students would then stumble out of the studio like zombies, going to the bodega for breakfast sandwiches and coffees before the cycle restarted.

Nora was in the zone, on her A game. Even now, all these years later the stories of Nora Downey surround Parsons like Greek myths, freshman whispering over how she topped the New Yorker’s Ones to Watch list that year, had 15 pieces sold before December her first year and rose like a phoenix from the coals of addiction. She was unreal. A legend among men. And she wasn’t even a senior yet.

Speaking of her senior year she had sold more works than any other individual in her class, was working on a senior thesis to present to her peers that spring, and was being pursued by every art curator she knew to get her work in their museum. She knew her stuff was sought after, but she was still humble enough to recognize she was not the only talented woman about to graduate from Parsons. She had friends who were able to make the most stunning gowns out of thin air, create buildings off a sketch, make interiors for the city’s most iconic apartment buildings, and more. She was able to recognize the power of being a woman in the arts and the inherent sisterhood that comes with that. This was something her male colleagues still refused to acknowledge - that they weren’t these special entities the media or press made them out to be, that their work was simply a variant of works that came before them and inspired the modern day. Her male counterparts would brag about themselves to various publications about how they were God’s gift to art or put on some grand display of coolness - wearing leather jackets and sunglasses in the middle of New York Summer during their break. The men tried to come off effortlessly cosmopolitan, unbothered or unknowing of their success while Nora and her friends had the wherewithal to know they were not only successful, but they had unashamedly worked hard to get to that point. The idea of putting effort into one’s work and actually caring about that process was not something to be meek about to Nora. It was this simple trait of Nora’s that cemented her as the shining star of Parson’s art program. She was disinterested in the notion that caring was uncool or unchic.

The ability to recognize that. That was what made Nora Downey into Nike. She both gave a shit about her work and also worked to not only advocate for other women, but would give them her spotlight and space without a second thought.

By the time she graduated, Nora had mentioned over 200 other female artists currently working in New York. And in her final interview with Parsons, she simply gave a single statement to explain why she found so much success:

“Because, women must hold each other and support one another to get anywhere in life. I owe all of my success so far to those who have come before me and those who work beside me. Without them, I’d be nowhere.”

With this, Nora finished her collegiate career with a series taking inspiration from her colleagues and the women who helped her improve over the years, gave her critiques, gave her support, gave her a shoulder to cry on or food in her stomach after locking herself in her studio. Some composed of black and white images, some more graphic and colorful, the dichotomy of being bold while also showing her restraint and understanding of when to be subtle being the hallmark of the collection. All of these elements taken from what she not only learned from her friends and peers, but also Parsons and its teachers.

She was smart enough to know that she had gotten a second lease on life and a chance to pursue her passion as a career - a chance many are not fortunate enough to receive - so why not put everything into her work and give herself the best possible life and experience she could. Why not put her all into this? Why not see where luck and determination lead her? In Nike, and herself, she trusts.

[creativemorningsvirginiabeach]

Local Artist “Igor” Talks about the CYCLE of a Self-Employed Artist

With a singular name, Igor didn’t quite need an introduction at our last Creative Mornings gathering of the year, but he got one anyway. The reception reflected the energetic community the local artist has helped build; with more than 75 excited guests piling into The Garage, this was our best-attended morning yet!

Growing up in Delaware, Igor was inspired by car culture and by the arts, but he never imagined those two worlds would one day collide.

In the 1980s, Igor became a professional roadie for a metal rock band based in Ocean City, Md., It was in Ocean City that Igor would join the iconic 17th Street Surf Shop as a visual merchandiser, spending a decade working as a creative within the East Coast surf culture and eventually relocating to Virginia Beach.

After more than a decade designing window displays, Igor began searching for his next opportunity. “I knew I had to widen my horizons, but taking that leap was scary.” Encouraged by friends, Igor decided to pursue his pinstriping “hobby” full-time.

Two decades later, Igor has handpainted on motorcycles, helmets, vintage cars, storefronts, murals, banners and more across Virginia Beach and beyond. Ever holiday season, Igor paints hundreds of his iconic XXX balls, depicting irreverent, lighthearted sayings or custom messages.

Igor’s intricate pinstriping and funky lettering has also drawn the interest of national brands and celebrity clients, including Bob Ritchie (a.k.a. Kid Rock), with whom Igor has collaborated for more than eight years. Recently, Redbull Music and Gibson Guitars commissioned Igor to paint 14 custom guitars for a notable group of country music artists, including Brothers Osborne and Shaboozey.

One of Igor’s fondest memories has been presenting a guitar to Derek Wells, an award-winning guitar player for the likes of Post Malone. Inspired by Derek’s passion for wrist watches, Igor painted a Rolex Submariner on the Gibson ES, complete with Rolex lettering depicting the musician’s children’s names.

At his studio and eclectic shop located within The Alley in Virginia Beach’s ViBe Creative District, Igor also houses the “World’s Smallest Museum,” a wall-to-wall collection of some of his most cherished oddities. It was in this local creative sanctuary that Igor dreamed up the vision for The Alley’s beloved VB Flea, a curated vintage and antique market. Now in its ninth year, the VB Flea averages 4,000-5,000 visitors and has a growing waiting list for vendors.

“Part of your responsibility as a creative in a smaller community is to take the initiative and make things happen yourself. If you want to get involved, all you have to do is ask.”

In addition to painting, creating and collaborating, Igor relishes his Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice, which he credits with making him a better, kinder and more thoughtful person. In that spirit, giving back is also central to Igor’s artistic work. Each year, he donates artwork to Nashville’s Tomahawn Charitable Solutions in support of military, law enforcement and special forces operators and their families.

When asked why he has stayed in Virginia Beach when his talent could take him anywhere in the world, Igor responds: “VB is too amazing to leave. I’m way too excited to see this creative community continue to grow.”

_

Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Ritual, Reflection and Vision. January’s theme is JOURNEY, and our speaker will be Raeesah Islam of Utopia Feni.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

[jenringwrites]

Weekend Artings: Arts Alive and five other ways to enjoy the arts in Tampa Bay this weekend

Get into four St. Pete art museums for free during Arts Alive

Four St. Pete Museums are letting Pinellas County residents in free this Saturday. Now’s your chance to see Dali’s drawings, Imagine Museum’s collection of contemporary glass, wildlife art at The James, or Dogs in Art at the MFA gratis. Sat., Sept. 23.

Sip sangria and see seabirds at the Tampa Bay History Center

Artist John Costin and Seaside Seabird Sanctuary converge on the Tampa Bay History Center for Sangria and Stories. Have a glass of sangria and learn about Costin’s printed birds before heading outside for a meet and greet with some of Seaside Seabird Sanctuary’s live birds. Thurs., Sept. 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $20.

The Story of Art continues at the MFA

The MFA’s Curator of Contemporary Art, Katherine Pill, continues “The Story of Art” with a discussion of art historian Linda Nochlin’s 1971 essay examining the institutional obstacles that historically prevented women from succeeding in the arts. Thurs., Sept. 21, 6-7 p.m. $10 for MFA members, $20 for everyone else.

Two-night graffiti showcase Letterheadz opens at Saint Paint Arts in Pinellas Park

50+ artists contributed to this graffiti art show. Fri. & Sat., Sept. 23-24, 6-11 p.m.

Rumba En Clearwater

See the sunset over Clearwater Harbor with live Latin music and authentic Mexican eats in Clearwater’s Coachman Park. Sat. Sept. 23, 6-10 p.m.

MFA Members celebrate the first day of fall

Saturday officially marks the first day of fall, and the MFA celebrates with coffee, pastries, and the third installment of Christian Sampson’s “Tempus volat, hora fugit.” Sat. Sept. 23, 8-10 a.m. Free for MFA members with pre-registration.

[ainews]

Pawnshop racing isn't a pastime typically associated with luxury, but one of its unique characteristics is a blood-red hue. The reason for this unique characteristic of the pawnshop racing niche is rooted in some of its many traditions.

The color of the pawnshop racing machines was originally meant to symbolize the lifestyle of those involved. "Red was meant to represent the lifestyle of these racers, of being on the edge of poverty," said Derek Fojtik, owner and curator of the Ruffian Racing Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. "It symbolically represented having to put everything on the line to make their dreams come true."

The colour choice was also a practical one. "Because these were very low budget racers, if you had to do paint touch ups or touch up rust spots you could buy a small can of red paint much cheaper than a fancy colour of paint," said Racer Mike Edington.

Red also became a color of good luck for those involved in pawnshop racing. "Many racers believed that if they raced a red car, that luck was on their side," says Edington. The color was also said to have attracted attention, which was often needed to help in financial support for the racers.

Today, pawnshop racing has a large but loyal following. The traditional blood-red painted cars still appear in races, faithfully adhering to the traditions of the culture. While still based on dreams and the art of self-made machines, the blood-red hue adds another level of history and character to the sport.

[mediaonedesign]

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The 2023 Met Gala livestream will begin at 6 p.m. EST. Need a reminder? You can sign up to receive an alert when the Philadelphia Georgia Bulldogs Eagles logo shirt moreover I love this livestream starts. Vogue’s daily newsletter will provide updates from the red carpet, livestream access, plus top fashion stories and celebrity style. This year, the 2023 Met Gala livestream will be hosted by actor and producer La La Anthony, writer Derek Blasberg, and actor, comedian, and Saturday Night Live cast member Chloe Fineman. Internet multi hyphenate Emma Chamberlain, meanwhile, will return as Vogue’s special correspondent. “Karl Lagerfeld A Line of Beauty, on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 5 to July 16. The annual Met Gala provides the Costume Institute with its primary source of funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements. The exhibition will serve as an homage to Lagerfeld’s unparalleled contributions to the world of fashion. “One thing I knew for certain is that we could not do a traditional retrospective, Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, told Vogue back in September. “For one thing, I think Karl would have hated that. Even though one of his facets was that he was a historicist, and he would revisit themes in his work, he was always looking to the future in his own work—he hated looking back at the past.

Yes The dress code for this year’s Met Gala will be “in honor of Karl. Considering the Philadelphia Georgia Bulldogs Eagles logo shirt moreover I love this late designer headed up many different luxury fashion houses throughout his career—including Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his own Karl Lagerfeld brand—it’s safe to say there’s a rich variety of silhouettes, collections, and concepts for guests to draw inspiration from. The 2023 Met Gala’s official co chairs are Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Anna Wintour. A larger than life figure whose career spanned seven decades, Karl Lagerfeld had many friends in fashion—and beyond. His work and legacy will be celebrated and examined in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute “Karl Lagerfeld A Line of Beauty as well as at the Met Gala (the dress code is “in honor of Karl). While we can expect many tributes to Lagerfeld on the steps of the Met, but ahead of that Vogue asked some of his friends and collaborators to remember him. Oscar winning director Sofia Coppola, for instance, remembered interning for Lagerfeld during the Chanel couture shows. “I will always remember the big bouquets of beautiful roses he gave all the interns at the end of the show, that made us feel so special. Lagerfeld was a mentor to many, including Silvia Venturini Fendi and Claudia Schiffer. The latter remembered, “he transformed me from a shy German girl into a supermodel. Below, read tributes from more of Lagerfeld’s inner circle, including Tom Ford, Willow Smith, and Amanda Harlech.

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[celestialvoid-fanfiction]

Sterek museum AU where Derek Hale is the director of the Beacon Hills Museum and the local expert in the fields of anthology and archaeology. 

Stiles is the enthusiastic college student who visits the museum almost every other day, studying among the exhibits and looking for job openings.

Derek dismisses him at first, but then one day, Stiles accidentally leaves his study notes at the museum and Derek finds then when he’s doing a final sweep of the museum. Curious about what Stiles is studying and why he’s so intent on being at the museum, he takes a look inside and finds a mix of notes from entomology to archaeology. All the notes are really in depth, colour coded and at a level of study that should be beyond a college student. He hates to admit it, but he’s impressed.

The next day, Stiles comes bustling in and Derek is waiting for him at the front desk. 

“I don’t know about job offers,” Derek says, offering Stiles back his thick book of study notes. “But if you’re looking for a supervisor for your dissertation, I’d be happy to take you on.” 

[cafeacademia]

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧! 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐭

There is a big list of prompts below for fluff, angst & hurt/comfort and smut (18+ if you request smut) BUT feel free to also send in your own ideas/prompts and mix and match my prompts with your own. These are all Autumn/cosy themed - even if the prompt itself is not inherently Autumnal, the theme of the fic will be!

My requests are open for: (if any of these are crossed out, it's because I have a lot of requests for them)

Spencer Reid

Derek Morgan

Bucky Barnes

Matt Murdock

Pietro Maximoff

Marc & Steven

You can send up to 3 prompts per request from any category. Feel free to send several requests if you like, just maybe don’t send me a feck load all at once lmao. Make sure you send the prompts or the numbers and let me know which section it was from as well as the character you want to request it for.

If you want to add in or send your own ideas and prompts, I’m open to most things, but my main boundary is writing about motherhood/childbirth/breeding kink etc. I’m also open to mildly dark fics (by mildly dark, I mean things like consensual non consent, maybe a little bit of dubcon, naive!Reader etc, but I will never write it so that it’s super dark)

Fluff Prompts

Playing in the leaves together

Going for a walk/hike to see the changing of the leaves

Always seeing each other from the window and finally interacting one day

Spending a gloomy autumn afternoon in the back of the library/bookshop together

Working in a bookshop and finally approaching your regular customer after he comes in so often

You always bump into your neighbour on the rooftop or on the fire escape and this time you finally stop to talk

Reading dark academia/spooky books together

You go to a halloween party together and he’s super impressed by your outfit/costume

You’ve been penpals for ages, but you’ve never met in person until a stormy autumnal afternoon

You knit a scarf or jumper for him and he LOVES it

Decorating the house/apartment for autumn

Having hot coffee in a quiet cafe and playing chess or reading together

Going to a museum together

Making him a book nook for his bookshelf as a gift

Trying to help him explore fiction more by giving him your recommendations through little secret notes and he has to work out who his secret book recommender is

Baking pie or cakes together

Having a secret friendship/relationship and meeting somewhere obscure

Passing notes in university lectures and getting to know each other only through the notes because you’re too shy to approach him outside of class

Museum curator!Reader/Character gives the other a tour of the secret parts of the museum at night

Artist!Character asks to draw/paint you as part of a project

They discover your writing/drawings/poetry about them after you lose them

You go out to an orchard or pumpkin patch together

Angst & Hurt/Comfort Prompts:

You get stood up and he makes your night better

Too afraid of horror movies to watch them but too timid to tell people about that and him being the first or only one to realise

You go to a haunted house and you’re genuinely terrified

Scary biker!neighbour!character intimidates you to the point that you are terrified of him, but he’s actually very sweet and he almost has to corner you to show you that he’s a sweetheart and not going to hurt you

He takes his frustration out on you but is quick to patch things back up

He pushes you away when he’s afraid of you getting too close and getting hurt by what he does

Soulmate au - he tries to make you think that your soulmate is someone completely different because he’s afraid of you getting too close to him romantically and getting hurt

Someone won’t leave you alone and he’s about to step in but you kick ass before he can even open his mouth - maybe he falls a little bit more in love with you after that

He does something to scare you by accident - he didn’t want you to see that side of him

The guy that always intimidates you comes to you for help when he needs patching up/a place to stay and be safe for a couple of days and you realise he’s really not that scary at all

You reach for his hand when you’re scared/upset and he tries your best to comfort you

You tell him your trauma/about something that really hurt or scared you

He protects you when you’re walking home and someone approaches you

He intimidates you, but when you need him you approach him scared to ask for him help

Someone (another character/ex/etc) says something to hurt your feelings and he stands up for you

(18+) you try something new in the bedroom and you end up needing to use your safeword, character comforts you

Reassuring you that you will always be safe with him and he will never let anything happen to you after something happens to scare you - or you talk about a traumatic event to him

You overhear him talking about someone and misunderstand - you think he’s complaining about you, but he’s not. He finds out later and comforts you.

Smut Prompts:

Sex outside but sheltered while there’s a storm overhead

He pleasures you or you pleasure him while the other reads their book aloud as a challenge

Sex in front of the fireplace

God/Demon AU and he fucks you in his temple on Halloween

He gets turned on by you wearing a Halloween costume that is more like lingerie than a party outfit

Fucking in the office late at night

He takes you somewhere semi public or completely public during a mission/case

You try BDSM for the first time

Kink exploration! (send one you want to see - the only thing I won’t write is breeding kink)

There was some intense aphrodisiac in that Halloween hot chocolate you both just drank and oh no… you just so happen to be alone in a room with your crush

A little fun at a Halloween party

He sees how many orgasms he can give you to distract you from the scary horror movie on the tv

He sneaks in at night to see you get cock deep in you- could be a brother’s best friend scenario? Whatever you want idk

He’s a sex demon and he comes to you in the middle of the night (innocence kink??)

YOU’RE a sex demon and steal his soul while you let him fuck you breathless

Library/bookshop sex

Sex pollen

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Do you have any fics involving children. Preferably stiles or Derek's but I'm not fussy. Thank you xx

Sure thing!

A Wild Heart's Desire by mikkimouse

(1/1 I 13,410 I Teen)

If there's one thing Stiles Stilinski knows, it's that Deputy Derek Hale absolutely Does Not Like him. The only reason Derek even tolerates him is because their kids are worryingly codependent.

So Stiles is understandably confused when a very feral Derek shows up in his backyard after a call gone wrong and proceeds to move in with him.

That Which You Cannot Undo by uraneia

(1/1 I 28,181 I Explicit)

By twenty-eight, Stiles has resigned himself to a quiet life of working in his magic shop, selling Jackson Whittemore fart-inducing tea, and looking after his goddaughter. It's a good life. But the quiet goes to hell when his sister, Lydia, shows up with a crispy werewolf in her trunk and a bite mark on her shoulder, because hard on her heels comes the hottest person Stiles has ever seen, and he happens to be looking for his uncle.

You know, the dead guy Stiles helped Lydia bury last night.

(Or: the Pracitical Magic AU nobody asked for.)

Somewhere I Belong by heartsdesire456

(1/1 I 30,815 I Teen)

When Stiles got an interview for an internship at Fangs & Fur magazine, the publication owned by the well known and widely respected alpha Talia Hale, he never expected it to be offered an actual job by Alpha Hale herself. He also never expected for his life to change so much after he met the man whose department he was assigned to.

Stiles was not prepared for Derek Hale's cub, either.

Trust me by madsmeetsmisha

(18/? I 32,590 I Explicit)

Derek Hale needed a nanny for his kids. Someone who knew about werewolves, someone who was persistent enough not to throw in the sponge as soon as the kids wouldn't behave, someone trustworthy. Could a young, very talkative man like Stiles Stilinski be what Derek was looking for?

our lives are changing lanes by grimm

(1/1 I 47,537 I Explicit)

There's a lot of screaming going on inside the first house Stiles visits. He isn't really worried, because it sounds like kids, but then the door opens and hi, says his dick, because the dude in front of him is gorgeous, built like a god with a face like thunder. Stiles wants to lick that solid jaw line. Hold the fuck on, says his cop brain, because the dude's got kids hanging all over him; one's on his back, skinny legs looped around his waist, and another two hanging off one arm, toes barely brushing the ground. There's a tubby toddler clinging to his leg like a koala, and he's got a baby tucked into the crook of the one arm that doesn’t have kids hanging off it. Stiles' mouth drops open.

"How many of those kids did you kidnap?" he asks before he can wrangle his brain into submission.

The man gives him a look that says what the fuck is wrong with you and snaps, "You think I'd subject myself to this on purpose?"

"Oooh," says one of the kids hanging off his arm. "I'm telling Mom."

Give It Up to Me by moon_star

(8/? I 49,841 I Explicit)

Derek is a single father and a full time attorney. Stiles is the new intern at the law firm. They find it extremely hard to work together, but it gets even harder when they start sleeping together.

Bundle of Accidental Joy by tearsandholdme

(20/21 I 66,411 I Mature)

Stiles is just trying to live a simple life. Have a job, pay his rent, and survive enough to eat his next meal. But then he's fired from his job, watches a mother abandon her baby, tries to stop her and picks the baby up, and now everyone thinks the baby is his. Even his very handsome and moody boss, Derek Hale, who forces the responsibility onto him at the cost of keeping his job or else.

Balancing on breaking branches by Anonymous

(15/20 I 67,613 I Explicit)

“Your kid,” Derek said slowly, “came running up to me. Tried to nuzzle a hole into my calf.”

Stiles let out a laugh. It sounded bitter. “Caleb wouldn’t just leave my side like that. Did you call his name?”

“I’m not a—”

“A child predator? That’s exactly what a child predator would say, Derek."

Waiting For Our Superman by tearsandholdme

(22/22 I 95,250 I Mature)

Derek knew the moment he opened the front door of his clean and pristine apartment to Stiles Stilinski holding a small boy, a cluster of bags, and a suitcase, he was screwed. In every way possible. Undone by the big brown eyes of a small child and his annoying, witty, and attractive father.

The Moon Lives (In The Lining of Your Skin) by Quixoticity

(28/30 I 131,436 I Explicit)

Stiles is doing fine. Okay, so he didn't expect to be a single father to an infant daughter at the tender age of twenty-three, but it's working out great. And no, he didn't expect to be a curator in Beacon Hills Museum, where weird things happen with no explanation, but he's rolling with it. And he seems to have acquired a new brother now that his dad's gotten engaged, which, odd, but hey, Stiles is flexible, and there's no such thing as too much love, right?

But then the next twist comes in the form of mysterious new neighbour Derek Hale, who is both insanely angry at the world (it's possible he's murdered people with his eyebrows alone), and adorably good with children. He's also in possession of a truly excellent butt.

Stiles is doomed.

Past, Present, and Future by Code_Zackary

(24/60 I 182,513 I Mature)

Deputy Derek Hale has just become a single parent, after adopting abandoned five-year-old Isaac Lahey, and drowning in his new responsibilities as a father, and Alpha. Add the babysitting of his new rookie partner, Jackson Whittemore, and the weight of his past bubbling to the surface, Derek isn't sure how he's going to keep his head straight.

Meanwhile, Stiles Stilinksi returns home to Beacon Hills to give his son, Scott Stilinksi, a better quality of life. However, raising a werewolf pup, as a human, is something he struggles handling on a daily basis. Stiles wishes nothing more than to find a werewolf willing to show his son "the ropes", so Scott can fit in with all the other pups come the first day of Kindergarten. But where would he ever find a werewolf willing to help a human?

When the two meet, their struggles in life will come to the forefront, as the loners become an invaluable support system for each other, and build a unique Pack all their own.

[libraryofloveletters]

Okay so potential fic idea? You’re PG’s best friend and she sets you up on a blind date with Derek 🥺

Dinner And A Drink 

Derek Morgan x Reader 

Warnings: first date awkwardness, alcohol mentions and consumption

Category: fluff 

Word Count: 2k

Author’s Note: the convos are kinda dull cause first date awkwardness and ishi, I'm so sorry I took so long to write this omg 

----

“I promise he’s a nice guy!” Penelope gave your shoulder a little nudge, 

“I told you I'm not ready Penny” you ignored her pleas. 

Penelope had been your best friend since you moved to Virginia for university, you worked in a little coffee shop right by her apartment building. She’d stop in every morning, or whenever she got called into work, for a coffee. She wasn’t overly picky at first but as you got to know her, more of her bubbly personality came out as well. Penelope was only a few years older than you, but it wasn’t a major difference. 

She was currently trying to get you to go on a date with one of her coworkers. It had been a few months since you broke up with your ex boyfriend and she thought it was time for you to get back out there. 

“I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment again pens” you wiped off the counter. She twirled her spoon in her cup, the shop was empty and it was only the two of you in there. 

“I promise he won’t be a disappointment, just this once. He’s the sweetest guy I've ever met” 

“Do you have a pic-” 

“A picture ? I do but I'm not going to show you” She smiled at you. 

You looked at her wide-eyed and brows furrowed, “what do you mean you’re not going to show me?” you asked her. “That’s the purpose of a blind date” she replied.

“Okay fine” you sighed, “let me ask you a few questions before I officially decide” 

She took a sip of her coffee, waiting for you to question her. “What’s his name ?” 

“Derek” 

“How old is he ?” 

“That’s for you to find out” 

“What does he like ?” 

“You can ask him that on your date” 

“Are you going to keep telling me to ask him my questions ?” 

“Yup” 

You sighed, “fine, just this once” Penelope smiled and pulled out her phone. “Oh good we still have time, let’s go” she grabbed her coat and your hand before pulling you towards the door. 

“Time for what ?” 

“To get you ready for your date sugar plum” 

“Tonight ?! Penelope I have to find something to wear, I gotta do my hair, I need-” 

“You're coming to my place. Let me worry about the outfit, you do your hair” 

The love you had for Penelope was unmatched, hence why you’re getting ready for a date with only a 2 hour notice. She made a phone call to who you could only assume was Derek on your way back to her apartment. 

The 2 hours went by rather slow. Penelope worked her magic on you, she fixed your hair, picked out your outfit and even gave you a little pep talk to calm your nerves.

Penelope drove you to the restaurant, she told the bare minimum about Derek on the way there so you weren't at a total loss and so you didn’t have time to pick apart the information she provided you with. 

“Okay honey bun, just tell the girl at the door you’re here for Morgan, she’ll take you to the table” 

You sat in the car for a moment, looking out the window at the restaurant. Penelope gave your hand a squeeze. “If you want to leave, just tell him. He’ll understand” she kissed your cheek leaving a little red kiss mark on your face. You got out of the car and before you could say goodbye to her, she had driven off. 

No turning back now.

Taking a deep breath, you brushed off the wrinkles from your shirt and headed into the restaurant. “Hi, uh I'm meeting someone here” you told the girl, she could see you were nervous. “First date ?” she asked, you nodded. 

“What’s the name ?” 

“Morgan” 

She led you back outside to the patio. The man had his back to you, you could already tell that he was attractive, even with the lack of hair (which Penelope seemed to leave out of her information but it didn’t matter) 

“Derek ?” you asked, walking to the other side of the table so he would be able to see you. “That's me, I'm guessing you’re y/n ?” “That would be me” you smiled at him. He stood up and stretched his arms out towards you, you stepped forward and felt his arms wrap around you. 

Holy shit, he gives good hugs 

You sat across from him, Derek had broad shoulders and a nice smile. Penelope had good taste in men and she knew your type to a T. “Did she ambush you with this date too ?” you asked, just wanted to get past that awkward first date phase of the conversation and Derek laughed. “Not exactly. To tell you the truth, I had seen a picture of you on babygirl’s desk and I was mesmerized” he chuckled, “she then explained that you were single and she would ask you if you were up to go for dinner or maybe drinks, nothing too over the top” he handed you a glass of wine. 

“Oh that’s- wait, did you say baby girl ?” 

“yeah, sorry shouldn't really call someone else baby girl while I’m on a date huh?” he chuckled. 

God, even his laugh was attractive

“Oh no, that’s alright but Penelope said only one person calls her that and that’s her ‘chocolate thunder’” 

“That would be me” 

“You’re telling me she sent me on a date with her chocolate thunder?”

“She would tell you that it’s a ‘blood in the nostrils’ type thing so I wouldn't stress it” 

Well this was off to a strange start 

“What do you do ?” Derek looked over at you while you told him. 

“I’m in the arts project at Columbia University” 

“Isn’t that in New York ?” 

“Yeah, it is but I'm finishing up my last co-op program here at the art museum” 

“That’s really cool, so you paint and draw or like what’s your specialty?”

“I don’t really have one but I do draw and paint. Art curator is the dream job, if not then jewellery designer is the next one” 

“I’m sure that’s more fascinating then my job” 

“You’re a fricking F.B.I agent, I don't think there’s anything cooler than that” 

Derek laughed at your enthusiasm for his job. “You think so ?” 

“Oh totally” you smiled as you took a sip of wine. 

Dinner was nice, the two of you talked about Derek’s job and your plans for after you finished university. “Are you thinking of staying here or moving back to New York ?” “well, nothing’s set yet but I'd stay if I had something keeping me here ya know?” 

“Dessert ?” 

“Oh, no thank you, unless you want something” you told him. 

“How about a drink then ?” he asked 

“Sounds like a plan” you smiled at him

You could feel your phone buzzing against your leg continuously. “Excuse me for a minute, I'm just gonna run to the bathroom” “take your time” Derek smiled at you.  

When you got into the bathroom, you checked your phone. It was Penelope texting you to check how your date was going. 

From Penny: sorry for zooming off like that haha, I didn’t want you to change your mind :) 

From Penny: sooo how’s it going ? 

From Penny: do you like him ? 

From Penny: god I hope he’s not being rude to you 

From Penny: i’m sure he isn't 

From Penny: he’s an angel on earth I promise 

From Penny: okay don't answer me then :( 

From Penny: I'm going to have a serious talk with Derek when I see him 

From Penny: he’s stealing you from me right now

From Penny: I NEED DETAILS!!! 

From Penny: NOW!!!!

You decided to text her back before she shows up to see if everything is okay. 

To Penny: It's okay, it's good you left or I would have changed my mind. he’s not being rude, he's been very sweet actually. He’s super funny and I like him so far. We’re going to get a drink now, I'll text you after. 

From Penny: oh good I'm glad to hear that! :)) 

To Penny: Satisfied now ? 

From Penny: yes I am, have fun now 

You chuckled before slipping your phone back into your pocket and heading back to the table. “All set ?” Derek asked as he stood up. “Yeah, what about the bill?” you went to get your card from your pocket when Derek grabbed your hand. 

“Don’t worry about it sweetheart, I got it already” 

“Oh, thank you” 

“No worries” 

His hand rested on your lower back as the two of you walked out. “Where too ?” he asked

“There's a place down the street or if you want to go somewhere else ?” you suggested 

“Anything’s good with me” 

“My place then ? if you don't mind of course. I have a bottle of whiskey that’s just begging to be opened” you chuckled. 

He smiled, “sounds good” 

The restaurant wasn’t far from your apartment so you walked back. It wasn’t cold outside but it wasn't warm either. It was a normal autumn night, there was a warm breeze. You hadn’t remembered if you had tidied up or not and you invited him over to your place. 

Good job y/n 

You pushed open the door and braced yourself for a mess only to be met with a clean apartment. You let out a sigh of relief before stepping inside, Derek following you inside. 

“Make yourself comfortable” you slipped off your shoes before heading to the kitchen. Derek mirrored your actions, he took off his shoes and followed your steps to the kitchen. 

“Wow” Derek stood by your kitchen window, “how’d you end up with such a nice view ?” your apartment overlooked downtown and it was always beautiful when the sun was setting. 

“Honestly, I just got lucky” You pulled the bottle out of your cupboard. 

It was one of the bottles with the cork tops that you pull off but you couldn’t seem to get it off. A grunt and a ‘ow’ from you caught Derek’s attention, he turned around to see you rubbing your palm and the bottle was on the counter beside you. 

“Can I ?” 

“Be my guest” 

Derek grabbed the bottle and you turned away from him to get glasses. A loud pop caused you to turn, Derek stood there with the opened bottle in his hand. 

“Are you kidding me ?” you groaned making him chuckle. 

“You know, I almost had it, your muscles just helped” you told him before resting the glasses on the counter. 

“I’m sure you did sugar” he poured some into each glass. 

Derek picked a glass up and you picked up the other. “To new friends and new beginnings” he said, you clink your glass against his before taking a sip.

“Can I tell you something ?” 

“Of course” 

“I wasn't even going to come tonight” 

“How come ? If you don't mind me asking” 

“I just didn’t want to set myself up again, what if it didn't work ? what if I didn’t know what to say or do when I saw you, ya know ? but it wasn't like that. You made me feel comfortable and safe” you admitted to him, Derek smiled. 

“I’m glad I did. I really liked getting to know you y/n” 

“And I you, Derek” 

Derek's arm rested on your shoulder, your hand coming up to meet his, your fingers interlocking. 

“Maybe we can do this again?” you asked him quietly

“I’d like that” Derek pressed a small kiss to your temple. 

--

Taglist: @haleymalaffey @aaronhotchnerr @mac99martin @aaron-hotchner187 @tclaerh @luke-alvez @iconicc @lieberhers @pumpkin-reads @ssa-holmes @katexrichardson @sluttytears @thelukealvez

[savcdbythebell]

Not everyone can say they’ve been to the Big Apple, but [DEREK BELL], a [THIRTY-SEVEN] year-old [CIS MALE] has lived in [MANHATTAN] for [SEVENTEEN YEARS]. This is the city of dreams and [HE/HIM/HIS] knows it, because they came to NYC to be a/an [ART CURATOR]. Well, that and as a [BABY DADDY] to [SHANE KENDRICK]. Living in the city means they meet all kinds of people, but everyone always seems to think they look like [JESSE LEE SOFFER]. They even got away with free cab fare once because of it! 

triggers: death.

BASICS

 FULL LEGAL NAME: Derek Archie Bell

AGE: 37

DATE OF BIRTH: August 29th

NATIONALITY: American

LANGUAGES: English, French, Italian

SEX: MALE

GENDER: Cis man

PRONOUNS: He/Him

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Homosexual

BIRTH ORDER: Middle child

HOMETOWN: Brunswick, Maine

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Manhattan, New York

RELIGION: Atheist EDUCATION: NYU

OCCUPATION:  Art Curator

MARITAL STATUS: Single

FAMILY:

RELATIONSHIPS:  Single

PETS: None.

                                    .ABOUT DEREK BELL.

Derek grew up under two successful attorneys and between two golden boys. Every person in his family had their shit so together that it gave him some leeway to be a slacker. His parents didn't care that he was a stoner at fifteen; it was a phase. And they were too busy with his two brothers being football prodigies. Although he would eventually say otherwise to their faces in his twenties, he did not mind the lack of attention. He reveled in it. He had his own life outside of his family and, what he lacked in academic accomplishments, he made up for in teenage drama. He was involved in at least two love triangles, threw and received multiple punches, and had a kiss in the rain. On paper, his teen years were empty but, he made more memories than he ever could chasing As. 

He took a gap year after high school to backpack through Europe, the type of thing that one can do when they have wealthy parents. It was during that time that he discovered a love for art. Art moved him in a way no ex-boyfriend ever did. He visited multiple museums and, for the first time in his life, looked forward to college. He finally knew what he wanted to do with his life.

College was a lot tamer for Derek. Parties and boys lost their appeal when he cared about his grades. His social circle consisted mostly of people he shared classes with. He dated a frat boy here and there, but his heart was never in it. He was too busy discovering his true self to allow himself to explore a relationship. It was while he was figuring himself out that he slept with a woman. He was grateful for the experience because he got a good friend out of it, but it confirmed his suspicions that he was a hundred-percent gay. 

He went to Europe again after he graduated college. Art touched him even more now that he could tell the meaning behind every piece, now that he knew their cultural impact. It was during his time in London that he met the man who would become his fiancé. 

Their love burned bright, but the flame burned out quickly. They were engaged by their six-month anniversary, and they could not stand each other by their seventh. They were on their way home from a dinner party gone wrong, in the middle of an argument, when Derek crashed his car. His fiancé died on impact, and he was in a wheelchair for six months.

Derek moved back to Maine after the death of his fiancé. He stayed with his parents until he was fully recovered, and then returned to New York City where he put his Art History degree to good use and became a curator.