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isacksteban · 8 months ago

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First Kiss (Ending 1)

A strollonso AU where 18 year old rookie Lance Stroll falls helplessly in love with the notoriously mean world champion. (3.4k words, angsty ver) [@v3lnys @biancathecool] {I almost made them happy but then i rewrote it so it's really a sad ending}

last part - masterlist - alternate ending (just for u guys)

The private villa Lawrence rented for his son's party buzzed with the sounds of Lance's 19th birthday celebration. The expansive terrace was draped in fairy lights, and the tropical decor gave a nod to the vibrant culture of Brazil. The night was warm, the air filled with the mingling scents of barbecue and the fresh tang of lime from caipirinhas.

Lance was at the heart of it all. His Racing Point jacket lay tossed over a chair, his cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and alcohol. The F1 season had just concluded. It was a fitting end to a spectacular year.

"Happy Birthday, Bubu!" Nico Rosberg called out his smile audible, navigating through the crowd with a bright grin. He embraced his teammate warmly.

"Thanks, Nico!" Lance replied, his smile wide. "This is the best birthday I could ask for." He slurred, head laying on the older mans neck "You're so nice Nico, please don't die"

The German man couldn't help but laugh, patting the Canadians head as he shook his head at his drunken state.

Sebastian emerged next, carrying a brightly wrapped gift, pictures of his face littered on the paper. "Lancey! I got you something special," he announced, his German accent thick. "Open it later when you can stand straight."

Lance laughed, pulling Sebastian into a hug, trading one German shoulder for another. "Thanks, Sebby. You always know how to make it fun."

Across the terrace, Fernando Alonso watched his boyfriend with a loving smile. Once he made his way over, he slid an arm around Lance’s waist. "Mi sol, are you enjoying your night?" he asked, his Spanish accent colouring his words.

"The best, Nando," Lance responded, leaning into Fernando, clingier than he usually was now that he had practically drank his body weight in expensive wine. "It’s perfect because you’re here."

Fernando kissed Lance on the cheek. "Am glad, Lancito."

Sebastian raised his glass, a gleam in his eye. "To Lance, the youngest ever F1 race winner!" he toasted, his voice carrying above the music.

The crowd echoed the cheer, their glasses clinking in unison. Nico leaned in with a grin. "How does it feel, being a nineteen year old?"

"God, I'm just glad we're in Brazil and not America" He shook his head, wiggling the wine glass in his hand.

The night continued in a blur of dancing, laughter, and endless drinks. Lance, feeling beyond tipsy, found himself on a plush lounge chair with Fernando at his side. Sebastian animatedly recounted a moment from free practice, shaking his head as he explained the argument he'd gotten into with an engineer.

"Seb, how are you ever gonna get a seat!" Lance exclaimed, his laughter unrestrained. "You’re crazy."

Fernando, his arm securely around Lance, whispered, "You okay, mi vida?"

"Better than okay," Lance replied contentedly.

As the party began to wind down, Lance and Fernando decided it was time to head back to their shared room. They bid goodnight to their friends, with Nico and Sebastian giving Lance one last hug and a few more jokes.

Back in the quiet of their hotel room, Fernando helped Lance out of his shoes and jacket, noticing how after they'd left he got quieter. "Tired, Lancito?" Fernando asked gently, his Spanish accent soothing as he looked up to the Canadian.

"I can't do this anymore" A now tipsy Lance muttered, face barely illuminated in their shared hotel room.

"What?" Fernando laughed, unsure what Lance was talking about, he never made much sense when he was drunk.

"I can't hold you back like this" He confessed, eyes foggy as he looked up at Fernando.

"Lance, you're not holding me back, what are you talking about, Mi sol?" The Spaniard consoled, cupping the boys face in his hands

"Nando, i'm not gay"

"You're joking" Fernando laughed, patting his cheek slightly before folding his dress shirt and placing it on the chair in the corner of the room

"I can't be gay, I- I know we've done things and i've said things but- but none of it was real, Nando" A now shirtless Lance stumbled over his words, picking at his fingernails as he spoke.

He didn't respond, simply stepping closer and pressing their lips together, trying to pull his boyfriend out of his head, stop the thoughts from consuming him.

The Canadian kissed back, of course he did, his body knew how he wanted to react. His brain was just in denial.

Just as it seemed to be going back to normal he pulled away, the back of his hand wiping his lips. Wiping away Fernandos kiss. It hurt.

"Stop, don't- don't kiss me." Lance moved back, needing distance between them

"What? Am I making you feel sick?" Fernando scoffed, sucking on his teeth as he waited for a response. Waited for the next piece of bullshit Lance was going to spew. He wasn't upset before, but Lance wasn't drunk enough for this to be excused.

"It's not like that." Bullshit.

"You cant just lie to me, Lance, I know you- you feel the same, I know you do, but you have these feelings, these thoughts, these concerns, but I'm here to help." He was confused, they'd been fine all week, they'd been fine for months, and suddenly Lance was breaking up with him? "What happened, Lancito? Who spoke to you? What are you hearing? Let me help."

"Stop, Fernando." He spat, speaking to the older man as if they really were nothing "I can't, this is over"

"No, I won't let you do this."

"You have no choice. If I dont leave you'll never be happy."

"I want to be happy with you, Lance, I want to do this with you. I'll help you deal with whatever youre going through but you cant just- you can't give up on us like this" Fernando felt as if all the wind had just been knocked out of him. Seriously, where was this coming from? "What am I going to do without you?"

"Continue racing, win your third world championship, fall in love, really fall in love, not like this. You want a family, I can't give you that. If you're ever done racing then retire and live out the rest of your life like I never existed, find paradise, Fernando, I'm not everything."

"I have found paradise, with you, Lancito. You're my everything. You're my life. My sun. My soulmate. You can't just leave me as if you don't feel the same."

"I don't." He confirmed, standing up and weaving by Fernando to grab his shirt and slip it on before leaving.

"I'll never love racing the way I love-" slam. "-you."

He left everything else that he had but he couldn't bring himself to care. He couldn't go back. If he did he'd never leave.

Fernando didn't go back to his hotel that night, he went to Marks.

He wasn't sure why.

He needed someone.

As soon as the Australian opened the door Fernando broke out into sobs, coming undone in the hallway of some random four star hotel in Brazil.

"Fer" Was all Mark said, pulling his friend into his arms as he pushed the door shut.

It was pathetic. Fernando thought. Crying.

That night he slept in the taller mans hotel, the wrong taller mans hotel.

He slept in Marks arms with tears dried on his cheeks as his chest rose and fell with every shakey breath.

Everything was wrong.

Fourteen years. That's how long it was until Fernando saw Lance again.

He retired after his rookie year, there was hardly ever any new information about Lance released to the public for fourteen whole years.

Fernando hadn't dated since Lance. Hadn't looked at any girls, let alone another boy, since Lance left him after he turned 19.

Fernando had gotten more involved with his karting brand since then, doing anything and everything to distract himself from the memories of the boy he loved so dearly all those years ago.

He arrived at La Conca Circuit, seeing the boys and girls already in their Karts and practicing for their upcoming races, he couldn't help but smile as he walked closer. There'd been a lot of new students enrolled since the last time he'd watched a practice. Seeing them at the earliest stages of their careers made him happy, it temporarily filled the whole in his heart he left reserved for his future children.

One student in particular caught the Spaniards attention, his helmet a familiar hot pink with hollographic lettering on the side, as he watched the boy absolutely dominate the track he noticed him coming to a stop, exiting his vibrant FA kart and pulling off his helmet then his balaclava.

Fernando stood up, making his way over to the boy in an effort to learn who his new student was

"Fernando Alonso, how long have you been karting with us?" He held out his hand, the boy's head shooting up, a shocked expression on his face as he quickly took the mans hand

"Nik-" The boy spoke, practically choking on his words "I'm Nikola- I've only been racing here for a few weeks"

"How do you like it, Nikola?" The older man asked, smiling slightly at the boy

"I love it, I've been in karts since I was four and it's so great to be in an environment like this" The teenager nodded, the accent attached to his words bringing memories flooding back

"Are you from around here?" Fernando asked, aware the boy wasn't just by the way he spoke

"No, I'm from Canada. My dad's here on business and the schedules just lined up perfectly" He answered, helmet tucked under his arm

The Spaniard nodded, eyes falling down to the helmet "Did you design it yourself? Your helmet."

"My helmet?" Nikola echoed, holding it out to show Fernando "No, my dad had a similar helmet when he was in F1, I wanna make it too so I figured the helmet might bring me luck"

Fernandos mouth went dry, eyes glued to the pink helmet with NS on the side, "Nikola Stroll" written in small letters just barely above the holographic logo

"Stroll, You're Lance's boy?" His eyebrows furrowed, eyes meeting Nikola's, it made sense now that he knew. He looked just like Lance, it was unsettling.

"You know my dad?" Nikola asked, eyebrows raising as he awaited a response

"We used to be close, very close, he was in Formula 1 when I won my second championship." Fernando smiled at the fond memory "We haven't spoken since he retired, though."

"What? Why? You guys have to talk now." Nikola insisted, reaching out and grabbing the Spaniards wrist to pull him over to where Lance was lingering, distracted on his phone as he waited for his son to be finished.

"Dad!" The boy called, the now older Canadian turning back instantly

"Nikola, mi sol, how was-" He stopped mid sentence, look on his face changing as he registered the man behind his son, swallowing dry as the two came closer

"Why didn't you tell me you were friends with THE Fernando Alonso when you were in Formula 1?" The teenager asked, letting go of Fernando as he gazed up at his dad, not noticing the shakey breath escaping his lips

"Can you give us a second, Nik?" Lance asked, eyes not leaving the Spaniard. His son didn't protest, just groaned as he went back out to the track

The roar of engines started up again and the smell of gasoline filled the air at the circuit. The sun beat down on the asphalt, making it shimmer in the afternoon heat. Spectators cheered from the stands, but Fernando and Lance were oblivious to the noise around them.

Fernando stood by the outskirts of the circuit, his face flushed with anger. He had no idea what to say, his heart pounding in his chest. It had been 14 years since they last saw each other, but the intensity of his emotions hadn’t dimmed. Lance stayed a few feet away, the tension between them palpable.

"So, you are a father?" Fernando spoke up, uncomfortable with the silence between the two.

"Yeah, He'll be thirteen in December." Lance nodded, running his fingers through his now shorter hair, the Spaniard unable to ignore his ring finger "You aren't?"

"No." He responded simply, eyes following the Canadians hand as it settled against his hip "Are you married?'

"Yes." Lance responded, trying everything to avoid looking the man in front of him in the eyes

"Oh" Fernando hummed, unable to tear his eyes away from the Canadian in front of him "You look good, Lancito"

"Nando-" He started, stepping back slightly "Fernando, I can't- don't call me that."

Fernando scoffed, looking around to see if people were watching before he spoke "Don't call you that? Lance you literally call Nikola mi sol. He just found out we knew eachother back then today. You can't tell me not to call you Lancito then send your son to my karting school and call him what I used to call you. Is not fair."

Lance sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fernando, this isn’t the time or place-"

"Don’t you dare tell me what the time or place is!" Fernando’s voice rose, drawing the attention of a few passersby. "You owe me this. After all these years, you owe me an answer."

"I- God." Lance licked his lips, desperately trying to get moisture back into his mouth, voice scratchy from nerves "I know, of course I know it's not fair. It's insane. I should be working but you've been going to tracks a lot more recently and I couldn't stop wishing I was there to see you. Just one more time. I needed to see you." He spoke fast, barely avoiding stumbling over his words

"Do you have any idea how selfish that is, Lance?" Fernando asked, voice shaking as he moved closer to the man in front of him, he really was a man now. "You left me. You retired and cut all contact with me fourteen years ago. You got married. You had a child. You're all i've ever wanted. I haven't looked at another person the way I looked at you in more than a decade and you needed to see me?"

Lance looked down at the ground, shifting uncomfortably. "What do you want me to say?"

"Do you want to be with me or do you want to be with her?" Fernando's voice cracked, the raw pain evident. "Answer me, Lance!"

Lance's eyes met Fernando’s, filled with a mixture of guilt and sorrow. "Marilou...she’s my wife now. We have a life together."

"And what about us?" Fernando’s eyes blazed with anger. "What we had meant nothing to you? Fourteen years, Lance. Fourteen years and not a word from you. And now I find out you’ve been living a lie with her?"

Lance stepped closer, lowering his voice. "It’s not a lie, Fernando. I loved you, but things changed. People change. I couldn’t keep living in the past. That was the only lie."

Fernando shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "You didn’t even give us a chance. You just left. Disappeared. Do you know how much that hurt?"

Lance reached out, but Fernando recoiled. "I’m sorry, Fernando. Truly, I am. But I’ve made my choice."

Fernando’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him. "Then why did you come here? To rub it in my face?"

"I didn’t know you’d be here," Lance lied. He'd just told Fernando the truth and now he was going back on his words like he thought the Spaniard was some fucking idiot. "I came to watch Nikola race, to clear my head. I never expected this."

Fernando turned away, staring at the karts zooming around the track, a blur of color and motion. "I loved you, Lance. More than anything. But you made your choice. Do you expect me to just live with it?"

"I knew this was a bad idea. Tell Nikola I'll be waiting in the car" He muttered, turning away and rushing off, not expecting the Spaniard to chase after him, grabbing his arm roughly and turning him around, not wasting a second before crashing their lips together.

The kiss was fierce, raw, and filled with fourteen years of unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Lance stiffened at first, shocked by the suddenness of it, but then he melted into the kiss, his hands finding their way to Fernando's back. The world around them seemed to blur, the sounds of the karting track fading into a distant hum.

After a few moments, Lance pulled away, breathless. "Fernando, we can't..."

"Why not?" Fernando's voice was hoarse, his eyes searching Lance's. "Because of her?"

"Because it’s not fair to anyone," Lance replied, his voice shaking. "Not to her, not to me, and certainly not to you."

Fernando's grip tightened on Lance's arm. "But this, us, it's real. You can't just walk away from this again."

Lance looked torn, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions. "I have responsibilities now, Fernando. A family."

"And what about your responsibility to yourself?" Fernando countered, his voice softer now but still intense. "What about your happiness? You can’t live your life for others at the expense of your own heart."

Lance closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I made my choice. I have to live with it."

Fernando let go of Lance's arm, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "So, that’s it then? You’re just going to keep running away?"

Lance opened his eyes, filled with unshed tears. "I’m not running away. I’m trying to do what’s right."

"For who?" Fernando's voice trembled with emotion. "For Marilou? For your son? Or are you just trying to convince yourself that you're doing the right thing because it's easier than facing the truth?"

Lance's jaw clenched, a tear escaping down his cheek. "I'm trying to do what's right for everyone. Including you."

Fernando scoffed, wiping his own tears away angrily. "Don't you dare pretend this is for my benefit. You left me, Lance. You walked away without a word. Now you expect me to believe that staying away is for my sake?"

Lance looked away, unable to meet Fernando's piercing gaze. "I thought it would be easier for you to move on if I just disappeared."

"Easier?" Fernando's voice rose again, raw with pain. "Do you have any idea what it was like? Wondering every day where you were, why you left, if you ever cared at all? And now you come back into my life, tell me you’ve moved on, and expect me to just accept it?"

"I never stopped caring," Lance whispered, finally looking back at Fernando. "I thought about you every day. But I couldn’t see a way for us to be together without hurting everyone around us."

Fernando took a step closer, his voice softening. "I can't believe you still care what people have to say about you. Running away doesn’t solve anything, it just proves you're nothing but a fucking coward."

Lance's resolve seemed to waver, his eyes searching Fernando's face. "What do you want from me, Fernando? What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to be honest with yourself," Fernando said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stop hiding behind your responsibilities and ask yourself what you really want. Because I can’t keep living in this limbo, wondering what might have been."

Lance took a deep breath, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "I..." He stopped, expression changing "I can't do this."

Fernando scoffed, scoffing at the Canadians response. "I still love you, mi sol. And I believe deep down, you still love me too."

Lance swallowed hard, his emotions a tangled mess. "I have to leave, I need to forget about us. I owe my wife that much. And myself. And you."

Lance paused, swallowing the words desperate to come out, before walking away, his heart heavy with the choice he'd made. Fernando watched him go, hope and fear battling within him.

He was never good at keeping a poker face. Fernando knew straight away his Lancito didn't love that woman. His Lancito didn't love women. But this man wasn't his.

He didn't know who Lance was anymore and Fernando just had to be okay with that. He had to be okay with that being their last kiss.

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seekers-who-are-lovers · 8 months ago

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The most beautiful raven

Written for @flashfictionfridayofficial with the prompt #FFF256 Muted colours

Fandom: Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master

Characters: Wakamiya/Nazukihiko, Yukiya

Word count: 912

NAZUKIHIKO always hired all the girls in Hanamachi. He had a penchant for the pretty ones, whose faces were so made up one could not discern their true identity underneath the heavy cosmetics hiding their eyes and what lay beneath the skin. How much it would cost him to ask for these courtesans to entertain him didn’t make any difference at all, which boggled the teenager.

He never saw him kiss them. They were next to him laughing, making a jest. At least, he never invited them to his room in front of him. They talked, sang, drank wine, dined, and often there would be dancers among those beautiful women.

He wondered greatly what kind of woman Wakamiya would be interested in ever since Lord Kiei had asked his nephew about the Crown Prince and his preferences for a spouse.

Yukiya could count on his fingers how many trips to Hanamachi, the central pleasure quarter, they made after he insisted that he never liked it. It wasn’t as if he had an aversion for the opposite sex. When Wakamiya left him as a collateral at the Ravine, he didn’t know how many times the men over there told him to indulge with the courtesans on his free time. He knew that he would turn 14 and boys like him were encouraged to make their first experience with the prostitutes as early as possible as the beginning of their rite of passage to adulthood.

His young master was so confusing that the other night he thought of Taruhi and the face of Yukichi on his mind caught him by surprise. Suddenly he was missing his family that he decided to lounge at the terrace and stay there the whole night. It must be that the lunar festival was upon them. His mother sent a letter if he could take a few days off to celebrate at their Taruhi mansion. Of course, that was only a suggestion as his year of serving Wakamiya wasn’t over yet. She wanted to know if she could see him on his 14th birthday.

“Cannot sleep?” A voice so soft he knew to whom it belonged to.

“Your Highness!” Yukiya’s tone went up a step higher.

“Did I startle you, Yukiya?”

“You did and I was prepared to run away.” The boy said jokingly.

He snickered. The Crown Prince with his demure face let out that impish sound Yukiya did not expect in a thousand of years.

“I am thinking of Taruhi. The house is quite a riot during the Lunar Festival where we invite the townspeople to join us for a moon-viewing,” Yukiya reminisced, leaving a faint smile on his face. His mother would hold a tanka poetry reading and then the children would feast on dango and sweet potatoes. One time when the servants decorated the house with pampas grass, Yukichi fell asleep on them that when he woke up his face was swollen. He was allergic to them, the family found out. But Yukiya learned to love them.

( x )

“Here everything is in muted colours,” the teenager continued. “I am still not used to palace intrigues.”

“If you don’t love someone,

Or you don’t

Have a heart.

Also the pathos

Is understand by that.”

Yukiya was mesmerised the first time he heard this tanka, his mother was standing on the makeshift stage, the moon was afire, while the faces were focused on the lady of the house. The voice was loud and clear, commanding yet determined, and her eyes were looking at someone, who was seated in the farthest corner of the veranda. It was his father whose muffled cries were not heard. The Taruhi chief shed tears silently as he listened to his mother say the words.

Heady for the remembrances, he did not hear Wakamiya at first.

“You will also turn 14, quite a feat it I may say.” Nazukihiko watched him looking at the horizon, four hours from now it would be dawn.

“I remember turning 14 and I was somewhere else, running away from this place, my head was on everyone’s chopping block,” the Crown Prince ruminated. “Amusing that it still is. The difference is that I am older, and I came back to take my rightful place in this country.”

Yukiya finally looked at his young master, whose life was tinged of sadness, despair, and betrayal when he only had a few people around him. How could he leave him alone?

“You need me,” Yukiya said matter of factly. Nazukihiko was silent then he walked up to Yukiya a few steps closer. Their kimonos touching each other.

“I do,” Nazukihiko assented. Yukiya knew that his master was a beautiful young man but then he never paid attention to the details. He found himself staring at Nazukihiko’s long eyelashes that overwhelmed him suddenly. Scrunching his eyes, he then bent his head on his arms leaning on the handrail feeling embarrassed.

Better stop whatever this feeling creeping into me.

“Yukiya,” the Prince called his attention. “Why don’t you go to your room and call it a night, hmm?”

The boy nodded and straightened up his back and forced a yawn that threatened to become real as he walked away from his young master.

“Good night, Your Highness, or rather, good morning,” his head made a light bow.

“Yukiya, I’ll see you around lunchtime,” Nazukihiko said.

“Yes…” For one last time before being taken away by dreams, Yukiya looked at his Prince, beautiful and majestic at the same time.

tbc

#yatagarasu #flash fiction #flash fiction friday #fff256 #the raven does not choose its master #muted colors #wakamiya #yukiya #my fan fic stuff #karasu wa aruji wo erabanai #yukiya/wakamiya

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justmultifandom · 4 months ago

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Kidge fall event 2024!!!

Day 2: Pumpkin!

Modern singleparent Keith! AU

Halloween was the most pointless holiday Keith had ever known: he had never seen anything funny about it as a child, and even now, as an adult, he was annoyed by the children who kept ringing his house at 11 p.m. But his daughter Nat adored him. Natalie had had to stay with him for the entire period from his birthday to Thanksgiving that year, because her mother, not his ex-wife, had decided to ditch everything and everyone for a month and go on vacation to Dubai with yet another sexy divorced millionaire lover. It wasn't that Keith didn't enjoy Nat's company, but she was always silent and sullen towards him, perhaps because she had felt abandoned when she was entrusted primarily to the care of her mother, who could give her a lot of money, but would never fill the gaps of indifference that she reserved for her daughter.

This year, however, Keith was going to do things differently: he was going to use the month they were together to fix a pretty bad father-daughter relationship and start with Halloween, her favorite holiday. If Keith hated Halloween, Nat LOVED it: he often received emails from his ex-wife about payments for scary clothes and masks, and flashy decorations, but this year he was going to go with something different. In fact, this morning he had taken some well-deserved vacation time to buy a real pumpkin to carve with her, as soon as she got home from school.

He was walking back and forth between the rows of pumpkins, studying them carefully, looking for the perfect one, but they all had at least one flaw: that one was too small, that one was wormy, this one too pale, another one not ripe enough... It was a tough choice! And then, after 15 minutes of searching, he found THE pumpkin: beautiful, big and fat, shiny. He already imagined it, two carved eyes and a mouth, lit by the dim light of a candle, in the dark of the night, on the terrace, with Nat proud of their work and a huge smile. Yes, it was perfect.

He approached, he was so close, and yet, two hands grabbed it. Keith looked at the woman who had taken, stolen, HIS pumpkin: she was small, younger than him, but not too much, maybe she was still in college or about to graduate, shiny hair, light brown mixed with ash, ash-colored eyes, freckles, glasses, pale skin with a warm tone. She was pretty, without makeup, and with simple oversized winter clothes.

"Did you want it?": the woman asked, looking at him.

"No, you can keep it, it's just a pumpkin after all...": he sighed, surrendering to his fate. She also sighed, offering it to him.

"No, take it, it's just a pumpkin after all, you shouldn't even technically choose..." she shrugged.

"Well, actually every pumpkin in this field is different..."

"Wow, you're an expert? They all look the same to me...": she shook her head.

"No, but I'm just very observant. I was just looking for the perfect pumpkin for my daughter..." he blushed.

"Oh, your daughter will be happy, then. I'm more of a girl who has a good eye for systems and computers...": she nodded.

"You must be very smart, then..."

"Pidge, everyone calls me Pidge"

"Well, Pidge, you seem like a smart girl, I'm sure you don't need to distinguish pumpkins in life" : they chuckled: "I'm Keith, by the way"

She smiled and nodded, but her phone started to vibrate, she took it, opened it and then closed it again.

"I have to go now, Keith, but it was a pleasure": she picked up a pumpkin not far away: "I have some work to do, and I wouldn't want your wife or girlfriend to find me around..."

"I don't have either of those, so you can rest easy about that last one, Pidge...": he smiled.

"Okay, that's fine, Keith": she giggled, then waved her hand: "See you around, then..."

She smiled once more, looking at him, then she left for the register. Keith smiled too, feeling somehow different: usually with strangers it took a long time to open up, but instead, with her he immediately felt at ease. Perhaps the only person he had felt this way with was Nat, and once, also his ex-wife. Since they separated he had never dated anyone else and had not been in a relationship for years. He looked at his pumpkin again, turning it around to see if there were any dents he hadn't seen before, and found, to his surprise, a green business card.

"K-12 Math and Science Tutoring by Katie Pidge Holt"

With her phone number and email.

Oh, shit.

#voltron legendary defender #keith voltron #voltron pidge #kidge #keith x pidge #keidge #katie holt #kidge fall event 2024

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anna-hawk · 2 years ago

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Happy Birthday, Chelsea!

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader Fandom: Daredevil Rating: T (just birthday fluff)

For @chelseasdagger 🧡

My sweet Chelsea, I'm dedicating my very first Matt x Reader ficlet to you. Thank you for your kindness, gentleness and huge heart. Getting to know you has been simply incredible. I know that you sometimes have a hard time with your emotions, but they're the ones that make you as special as you are. Your empathy and sweet nature are beautiful to watch, and I'm forever touched by your thoughtfulness.

You shine brighter than any fireworks on the 4th of July!

🎂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART 🥳

“Hey, you're okay?”

You jumped a bit at the sound of your best friend's voice coming from just next to you.

“What? Yeah, sure, of course,” you grinned at her, although by the slightly dubious look she gave you, you didn't manage to fool her entirely. “Just… Y'know… long day.”

Your friend nodded with an understanding sigh. Being born on July 4th was always sure to make your birthday celebrations more… complicated to organize. Not like you minded, really. As long as you had your closest friends and, or family around, you didn't care when exactly you celebrated. The party your friend had thrown for you was amazing, too, but something was missing. Well… Someone was missing.

Taking the glass your friend was handing you, you smiled gratefully and stared over the railing of the rooftop terrace the party was taking place on. She'd gone all out to make the night special for you by selecting this place, the decorations, and food. The view was incredible as you would be able to easily see the fireworks when they'd be starting in a few minutes, but right now, you just took in the twinkling lights of the city below you as you drank.

“There we go,” another of your friends suddenly called out as he pointed to the sky where the first firework exploded into beautiful sparks of color.

The rest of the small party assembled at the railing to watch the show, and you soon found yourself smiling and laughing with everyone as they pointed out this or that detail.

Several minutes in, something caught your attention in your peripherals. Your head turned to the source, but there was nothing there. Frowning, you shook your head and returned your attention to the fireworks.

Once it was over, you all slowly began returning to the bar and food tables, chatting and laughing. You looked back to the railing briefly, but then joined your friends for some well-deserved birthday cake, making a show of blowing out the candles.

A good two hours later, most people had started to head home, giving you a last hug and birthday wishes, leaving only your best friend by the end.

“I'll just hit the restroom before I get the keys, so we can close up and go home,” she announced, while you were packing your presents into different bags.

“'kay.” You nodded and walked to the railing, remembering that you'd left a present on one of the tables there.

You jumped about a foot in the air and yelped in surprise when a dark figure suddenly landed right next to you from the small overhang of the rooftop.

“Sorry,” a low voice said sheepishly, making you utter a loud breath of relief when you recognized the form and voice.

“Oh my Gosh, Matt!”

Your heart began racing for entirely different reasons as soon as you saw Matt's soft smile while he uncovered the top of his face that had been hidden behind a dark scarf. Your face moved into a happy smile at the sight of his brown eyes and apologetic expression.

“Wish I could've been here sooner, but-”

“It's fine, Matt. You know it is. What you do is more important than a stupid birthday party.”

Matt's mouth twisted unhappily before he sighed exasperatedly. He cupped your face and put his forehead to yours, making your bodies align properly and letting you get a whiff of him. Your whole body went lax at his touch and scent, your eyes falling closed as your arms loosely circled his waist.

“You're important to me,” he whispered fiercely, making your smile wobbly with emotions and unable to speak.

It didn't matter, since Matt tilted your head until his lips pressed over yours for a long kiss.

“Happy birthday, Love.”

#matt murdock #matt murdock x reader #daredevil fanfiction #matt murdock fluff #reader insert #birthday fic #4th of july #love you girl 🧡

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jow99 · 8 months ago

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Alcalá day 4 - Angela’s birthday 🎉

An earlyish start as we prepared to host a champagne and croissants birthday for Angela and the family. Jose and I got busy with balloons and decorations and it all went really well.

By the time the last one left it was time for Angela to get her hair done. She and Jose set off and I cleared up before heading out to meet Jose for a drink. This turned into two drinks by the time Angela joined us with accompanying tapas so there was lunch.

We headed back to the apartment for a quiet few hours (I had a sleep), before it was time to get our party clothes on and head out. We first met up with Angela and Paul for a drink and then to the terrace of where Angela’s dinner was being held, accumulating family along the way.

It was a great night. There was 14 of us in total and she really enjoyed herself. It was around midnight by the time we headed home, so probably 12:30-1:00am by the time we went to bed. A big day but a good day 🎉🥂

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kidsbirthdayballoondecorations · 2 years ago

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Birthday Decoration Fun and Creative Ideas at Home

Birthdays mark joyous milestones, infusing our lives with happiness and delight. Whether it's a milestone like your child's 1st or 2nd birthday, or a celebration for a friend, family, or spouse member, birthday decorations play a crucial role in setting the mood for the party. Decorating your home with backdrops, garlands, latex party balloons, and more can turn any space into a festive and memorable environment. This article will explore various kids birthday decoration -DecorSpree ideas you can quickly implement at home, creating cherished moments for your loved ones.

1. Backdrop Extravaganza:

Consider a themed background featuring their favorite characters or interests if it's a kid's birthday. For a touch of elegance, opt for a floral or balloon backdrop.

2. Garland Galore:

Garlands are versatile and add a festive touch to any celebration. Make DIY garlands using paper, felt, or artificial flowers. You can drape them along walls and doorways or hang them above the dining table for a charming effect. Mixing and matching colors can create a cheerful and vibrant ambiance.

3. Latex Party Balloons:

Balloons are an indispensable part of any birthday celebration. Decorate your home with an array of latex party balloons in various colors and sizes. Use helium balloons to create floating displays, fill them with air, and arrange them creatively around the room. You can even write personalized messages on the balloons to make the birthday boy or girl feel extra special.

4. A Family Affair:

Involve the entire family in the decoration process. Let mom, dad, daughter, son, husband, wife, and friends come together to create a memorable birthday surprise. Engaging in this delightful bonding activity adds to the fun. It infuses the celebration with more profound meaning and heartfelt emotions.

5. Milestone Celebrations:

For a child's 1st birthday, opt for adorable decorations with soft colors. For a 2nd birthday, go for vibrant and bright decorations that reflect the child's growing personality.

6. Balloon Decoration at Home:

Balloons are the life of the party, and you can only have a few of them. Fill the living room, kid's room, or terrace with colorful balloons to create a festive atmosphere. You can use balloon bouquets, balloon arches, or even balloon centerpieces for the dining table.

7. Party All Night:

Add a touch of magic with LED balloons for a birthday celebration that goes into the night. These balloons have built-in lights that create a mesmerizing glow, perfect for an enchanting night party.

8. Celebrate with Friends:

Surprise your friend with a birthday bash they will remember. Arrange a surprise party at home with personalized decorations and their favorite treats. Balloon decoration near me services can help you plan and execute the perfect surprise.

9. Balloon Decoration Services in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Faridabad, Ghaziabad:

Suppose you need more time or need professional assistance. In that case, many balloon decoration services operate in major cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. These services offer many options to suit your theme and preferences, making your birthday decoration hassle-free.

10. Terrace Delight:

For a unique celebration, take the party to the terrace. Decorate the outdoor space with balloons and garlands, and enjoy a birthday celebration under the open sky.

In conclusion, birthday decorations at home can be a delightful experience for everyone involved. Plan a fantastic birthday decoration, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones.

#kidsbirthdyballoondecorations #decorspree #birthdaydecorators

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johnmiller222 · 2 years ago

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Birthday Decoration Fun and Creative Ideas at Home

Birthdays mark joyous milestones, infusing our lives with joy and delight. Whether it's a milestone like your child's 1st or 2nd birthday, or a celebration for a spouse, family, or friend member, birthday decorations play a crucial role in setting the mood for the party. Decorating your home with backdrops, garlands, latex party balloons, and more can turn any space into a memorable and festive environment. This article will explore various birthday decoration ideas you can quickly implement at home, creating cherished moments for your loved ones.

1. Backdrop Extravaganza:

A stunning backdrop can instantly transform any room into a party wonderland. You can create a backdrop using colorful streamers, frills, and glittery decorations. Consider a themed background featuring their favorite characters or interests if it's a kid's birthday. For a touch of elegance, opt for a floral or balloon backdrop. The options are limitless, and the impact is significant.

2. Garland Galore:

3. Latex Party Balloons:

Balloons are an indispensable part of any birthday celebration. You can even write personalized messages on the balloons to make the birthday boy or girl feel extra special.

4. A Family Affair:

Involve the entire family in the decoration process. Let mom, dad, daughter, son, husband, wife, and friends come together to create a memorable birthday surprise.

5. Milestone Celebrations:

For a child's 1st birthday, opt for adorable decorations with soft colors. For a 2nd birthday, go for vibrant and bright decorations that reflect the child's growing personality.

6. Balloon Decoration at Home:

7. Party All Night:

Add a touch of magic with LED balloons for a birthday celebration that goes into the night. These balloons have built-in lights that create a mesmerizing glow, perfect for an enchanting night party.

8. Celebrate with Friends:

9. Balloon Decoration Services in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Faridabad, Ghaziabad:

Suppose you need more time or need professional assistance. Because case, many balloon decoration services operate in major cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. These services offer many options to suit your theme and preferences, making your birthday decoration hassle-free.

10. Terrace Delight:

For a unique celebration, take the party to the terrace. Decorate the outdoor space with balloons and garlands, and enjoy a birthday celebration under the open sky.

In conclusion, birthday decorations at home can be a delightful experience for everyone involved. You can transform any space into a joyful and festive atmosphere with backdrops, garlands, latex party balloons, and a little creativity. Whether it's a kid's room, living room, or terrace, the key is personalizing the decorations to suit the birthday person's tastes and preferences. Plan a fantastic birthday decoration, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. Happy birthday!

#1st Birthday Balloon Decoration #Happy Birthday Decoration

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borntoparty547 · 7 months ago

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Magical Night Birthday Terrace Decorations | Elegant Party Ideas

Create an enchanting ambiance with our magical night birthday decorations on terrace ideas. Explore elegant party themes and innovative decor to transform any outdoor space into a mesmerising celebration venue. Whether you're planning a romantic evening or a festive gathering, our curated suggestions ensure a memorable and stylish event under the stars.

#night birthday decorations on terrace #anniversary decoration

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borntoparty546 · 1 year ago

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Chic Night Birthday Decorations on Terrace | Create Magical Memories with Our Exclusive Outdoor Celebration Designs

Experience chic night birthday decorations on the terrace and create magical memories with our exclusive outdoor celebration designs. Elevate your special day under the starlit sky with our sophisticated and personalized terrace decorations. Whether it's a romantic celebration or a stylish gathering, our night birthday decorations promise to transform your terrace into a captivating haven. Immerse yourself in the enchanting ambiance of our unique designs and make your night birthday celebration an unforgettable experience. Contact us to add a touch of elegance to your outdoor festivities with our exclusive night birthday decorations on terrace.

#night birthday decorations on terrace

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arcprintindia · 2 years ago

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Top 9 Terrace Decoration Ideas for Birthday Party to Make Success

When it comes to birthday decoration ideas in terrace, there are plenty of ways to make it special, but one of the most unique and fun ways to do so is to decorate your terrace. A terrace is a great location for a birthday party because it allows you to take advantage of the beautiful outdoor scenery and create an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

This blog post provides small terrace decoration ideas for birthday party for throwing a memorable and special birthday party. From choosing a theme, adding greenery, and creating a comfortable seating area, to setting up a bar, adding colorful decorations, and serving delicious food, this post covers all the details needed to make your terrace party a success. With these terrace decoration ideas, you can create a beautiful and magical ambiance that your guests will love and remember for years to come.

Here are some terrace birthday decoration ideas that can make your birthday celebration a memorable one.

9 Creative small terrace decoration ideas for birthday party

Create a Lounge Area

One of the best ways to make your terrace feel more comfortable and inviting is to create a lounge area. This can be achieved by adding comfortable outdoor furniture, such as a sectional sofa, chaise lounges, or even a hammock. Make sure to add plenty of cushions and throws to make it feel cozy and welcoming.

Hang String Lights

String lights are an inexpensive and easy way to add ambiance to your terrace. Hang them from the ceiling, or use them to create a canopy over your seating area. You can also wrap them around trees or railing to add more light and create a magical ambiance.

Add Plants and Flowers

Adding plants and flowers to your terrace can create a natural and beautiful setting. Use potted plants to decorate the corners of the terrace, or hang baskets of flowers from the ceiling or railing. You can also create a beautiful centerpiece using a large planter filled with colorful flowers.

Set Up a Bar

Setting up a bar on your terrace can be a fun and interactive addition to your birthday party. You can set up a simple bar with a few bottles of wine, beer, and some basic mixers, or you can create a more elaborate bar with a variety of cocktails and garnishes. Don't forget to add some comfortable seating around the bar, so your guests can sit and enjoy their drinks.

Serve Delicious Food

No birthday party is complete without delicious food. You can grill burgers, hot dogs, or kebabs, or serve a variety of finger foods, such as chips and dips, cheese and crackers, or fruit skewers. Make sure to have plenty of napkins and plates on hand, and consider hiring a caterer or food truck to make your party even more special.

Use Colorful Decorations

Adding colorful decorations can make your terrace feel more festive and celebratory. Hang colorful banners, streamers, or balloons from the ceiling or railing. You can also use colorful tablecloths, napkins, and plates to add more color and vibrancy to your party.

Create a Photo Booth

Setting up a photo booth on your terrace can be a fun way to capture memories and create lasting mementos of your birthday party. You can create a simple backdrop using a colorful sheet or fabric, and set up a camera or smartphone on a tripod for your guests to take pictures. Don't forget to add some fun props, such as hats, glasses, and mustaches, to make your photos even more memorable.

Add a Fire Pit

Adding a fire pit to your terrace can create a warm and cozy atmosphere, especially on cooler nights. You can set up a simple fire pit using bricks or stones, or you can purchase a portable fire pit that can be moved around your terrace. Make sure to add plenty of seating around the fire pit, so your guests can enjoy the warmth and conversation.

Personalize Your Decor:

Adding personalized decorations, such as custom banners, balloons, or photo displays, can make your birthday party extra special and unique.

In conclusion, small terrace decoration ideas for birthday party can be a fun and unique way to celebrate your special day. By using these terrace decoration ideas, you can create a beautiful and memorable ambiance that will make your birthday celebration unforgettable. Make sure to take plenty of pictures to capture the memories and share them. By using some of the ideas listed in this blog post, you can transform your terrace into a magical space that sets the tone for a fun and celebratory atmosphere. Remember to choose a theme, add greenery, comfortable seating, and colorful decorations, and don't forget to serve delicious food and drinks. Your guests will appreciate the thought and effort you put into making your terrace party special, and you'll create memories that will last a lifetime.

If you also want to decorate your terrace for your birthday with these ideas and decoration items search online for different birthday decoration items or look no further than ARC Print India. It’s also an online e-commerce site that specializes in custom-printed products. You can get a wide range of custom products that can be perfect for unique terrace birthday decoration ideas too.

#terrace decoration ideas for party #terrace decoration ideas for birthday #small terrace decoration ideas for birthday party

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sakhshimandal · 5 days ago

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Bungalow for Rent in Lonavala: Better Than Booking a Hotel

Lonavala, a picturesque hill station nestled in the Western Ghats, is a favorite getaway for city dwellers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Mumbai and Pune. While hotels have long been the traditional accommodation choice, renting a bungalow in Lonavala offers a far superior experience. Whether you are traveling with family, a group of friends, or looking for a peaceful retreat, staying in a private bungalow provides comfort, privacy, and a range of exclusive amenities.

Privacy and Personal Space

One of the biggest advantages of Bungalow for Rent in Lonavala over a hotel stay is privacy. Hotels often come with crowded lobbies, noisy hallways, and shared amenities, which can disrupt your peace and relaxation. A rented bungalow offers a secluded environment, ensuring that you and your group enjoy your vacation without interruptions. Whether it’s lounging in the garden, taking a dip in a private pool, or simply enjoying a peaceful morning on the terrace, a bungalow offers an intimate space to unwind.

Spacious and Comfortable Living

Bungalows in Lonavala typically come with multiple bedrooms, spacious living areas, and outdoor spaces, making them an ideal choice for families and groups. Unlike hotel rooms, which can feel cramped, a bungalow allows guests to spread out, making for a more comfortable and home-like experience. You can enjoy separate dining areas, a well-equipped kitchen, and large lawns—features rarely available in standard hotel accommodations.

Cost-Effectiveness for Groups

For larger groups, booking multiple hotel rooms can quickly become expensive. Renting a bungalow in Lonavala is often more cost-effective as you pay for the entire property rather than per room. Many bungalows come with fixed rental prices, making them a budget-friendly choice for families and groups. Additionally, having access to a kitchen allows guests to prepare their own meals, reducing dining expenses significantly.

Exclusive Amenities and Personalized Experience

Unlike hotels that offer standard services to all guests, bungalows provide a personalized experience with private amenities such as:

Private Swimming Pools – Enjoy a refreshing dip without worrying about crowds or time restrictions.

Garden and Outdoor Spaces – Perfect for morning walks, yoga sessions, or simply relaxing in nature.

Barbecue and Bonfire Areas – Great for evening gatherings and memorable experiences.

Fully Equipped Kitchens – Allows guests to cook their own meals, catering to dietary preferences and home-cooked cravings.

Pet-Friendly Options – Many bungalows welcome pets, whereas most hotels have strict no-pet policies.

Freedom and Flexibility

Hotels often come with strict check-in and check-out times, dining schedules, and limited access to certain amenities. Renting a bungalow offers complete flexibility, allowing guests to plan their days at their own pace. Whether you want to enjoy a late-night bonfire, wake up to a home-cooked breakfast, or explore Lonavala without worrying about hotel restrictions, a bungalow rental provides the freedom to tailor your vacation experience.

Ideal for Celebrations and Special Occasions

Bungalows serve as the perfect venue for celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and small wedding functions. Unlike hotels, where hosting private parties can be costly and restricted, bungalows allow guests to decorate, play music, and enjoy themselves without limitations. The exclusive ambiance of a bungalow enhances the celebration, making it more personal and memorable.

Proximity to Nature and Scenic Views

Many bungalows in Lonavala are located in serene locations with stunning views of lush green valleys, waterfalls, and mist-covered hills. Unlike hotels that are often situated in commercialized areas, bungalows allow guests to stay close to nature. Waking up to the sound of birds chirping and enjoying a cup of tea on a private balcony with breathtaking views is an experience that hotels rarely provide.

Safety and Hygiene

In today’s world, safety and hygiene are top priorities for travelers. Unlike hotels, where multiple guests share common areas, bungalows offer a controlled environment with limited external interactions. Many vacation rentals provide thorough cleaning and sanitization, ensuring a safe and hygienic stay. This makes bungalows an ideal choice for travelers prioritizing health and wellness.

Conclusion

For those looking to experience Lonavala in the most comfortable, private, and personalized way, renting a bungalow is undoubtedly the better option than booking a hotel. With spacious accommodations, exclusive amenities, cost-effective pricing, and an immersive natural setting, bungalows offer the perfect home away from home. Whether it’s a weekend escape, a family vacation, or a celebratory gathering, a bungalow rental in Lonavala provides an unmatched experience that makes every moment special.

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theconwayhotel · 21 days ago

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Experience the Best Cocktail Dinner in Meerut: An Evening to Remember

Meerut is quickly becoming the go-to destination for food lovers and party enthusiasts. If you're on the hunt for the best cocktail dinner in Meerut, this blog will guide you to the finest experiences the city has to offer. Whether you're planning a special occasion or just want to enjoy a relaxing evening with friends, this vibrant city has something for everyone, including hosting some of the best sundowner parties in Meerut.

Why Meerut is Perfect for Cocktail Dinners and Sundowners

Meerut boasts a mix of rich cultural heritage and modern luxury. Over the years, the nightlife and dining scene have flourished, offering exclusive venues that provide a perfect mix of delicious food, handcrafted cocktails, and breathtaking ambiance.

From rooftop terraces overlooking the cityscape to elegant indoor setups, Meerut is home to venues that specialize in creating the perfect vibe for best cocktail dinner in meerut and sundowner parties. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just life itself, you’ll find endless options to elevate your evening.

What to Expect at the Best Cocktail Dinner in Meerut

Curated Menus with a Twist: The best venues in Meerut focus on providing delectable menus featuring a mix of international and Indian cuisines. Expect dishes perfectly paired with cocktails for an unforgettable dining experience.

Signature Cocktails: No cocktail dinner is complete without a wide array of creative cocktails. From classic mojitos to inventive concoctions, the mixologists in Meerut are redefining the art of cocktails.

Vibrant Atmosphere: The combination of stunning decor, live music, and impeccable service ensures your evening feels truly special. Many venues also offer picturesque spots perfect for capturing Instagram-worthy moments.

Perfect for Sundowners: Looking for a pre-dinner party? Many venues also host the best sundowner parties in Meerut, combining the beauty of sunset views with refreshing drinks and music.

Top Venue for Cocktail Dinners: The Conway Hotel

When it comes to elegance, luxury, and exceptional service, The Conway Hotel in Meerut stands out as a premier venue for cocktail dinners and sundowner parties. Known for its exquisite ambiance and versatile spaces, this hotel ensures every event feels extraordinary.

The Conway Hotel offers:

A wide selection of signature cocktails and mocktails.

Gourmet cuisines crafted by experienced chefs.

Stunning indoor and outdoor setups perfect for any occasion.

Professional staff dedicated to making your evening seamless.

Conclusion

If you’re planning the best cocktail dinner in Meerut, make it a night to remember by choosing a venue that delivers on all fronts—ambiance, drinks, food, and service. Whether you’re organizing an intimate gathering or a grand event, don’t miss out on the vibrant energy of The Conway Hotel Meerut, a place where memories are made and cherished.

Meerut isn’t just a city of tradition; it’s a city that knows how to celebrate life. So, let your next cocktail dinner or sundowner party be the talk of the town!

#best cocktail dinner in meerut #best sundowner parties in meerut

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aequoranimae · 2 months ago

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4th-7th july

I had no time to linger in the beauty of Venice on the morning I left. Leaving my keys in the door to my room, I crossed back over the Rialto for the last time to Venezia S. Lucia, subsumed by a crowd of mostly Americans either arriving or taking off, followed by their small entourages of children and suitcases. After a bit of cross-language miscommunication I managed to order a croissant and a cappuccino from the station café and board my train to Florence. Our carriage was overflowing with Americans—their endless complaints and random commentary brought all the chaos of the station on board with us. Behind me one large blonde family fought over where to put their truckload of suitcases, the mother loudly accusing the carriage of taking their luggage spots; in front of me a Mississippi woman and her two daughter all one by one took out their makeup bags to apply a full face as the train moved; they bonded with a couple from Detroit with their young children over bottles of wine from the train café. All of this at eleven in the morning with only a two-hour trip to Florence seemed really unnecessary, but once they got started there was no icy glare from the older German woman beside me that could stop them. I suppose it was July 4th (“our country’s birthday!”, as the luggage-afflicted mother exclaimed at some point), so they were bound to be excitable.

Arriving in Florence I escaped these travelling companions and decided to walk as fast as I possibly could to my accommodation—I was already so sweaty and miserable that it seemed worth it to get it other with as soon as possible. The pavements were very narrow and well-patronised and the only relief was when I arrived upon the square of a church and was able to walk without risking any imminent collisions. My accommodation in Florence is a bed and breakfast on one of the streets that leads to the Duomo in the primordial soup of the tourist. I climbed to the first floor where I was greeted by one of my hosts and given some tips about the city until her husband came her with a very tearful child who needed a hug and I left them to it. My room is small and quiet, with an old-fashioned lock on the door I find too difficult to operate so I only close it behind me, and at least somewhat cool. When I settled enough to face going back out there to see Florence, I walked only twenty seconds down the street before I reached the piazza where the Duomo towered in its stark lines of white and deep blue-green, decorated everywhere with the saints and apostles, imposing on the cloudless sky. I admired it for a bit and then kept walking in search of a late lunch, given I’d eaten nothing since breakfast and had faced many tests to my fortitude in the meanwhile. Around the corner from the Palazzo Vecchio where I saw the Fountain of Neptune and a terrace of marble statues I skipped the absolutely huge line of tourists for one focaccia shop for the sake of the other focaccia shop next door, which was delicious and arrived instantly.

My next Florence mission, not so glamorous, was to do my clothes washing since I had nothing left to wear. So I sat sweating an a dingy laundromat until I could seize any empty machine. While I waited I walked around the corner to get a scoop of gelato—lemon flavour, an old favourite of mine that I don’t think I’d tried in a long time. I hauled my damp laundry back to hang up in my room and then flopped on the bed under the ceiling fan for a good long while. For dinner that night I did as my host had suggested and went across the river to eat at the better restaurants. On the way I saw the apparently well-known “Florence cowboy”, who was a man in appropriate Old West attire just sitting on his horse at one end of the bridge. Not moving, not saying anything. This man and his horse were as still and regal as the marble statues of Florence. And when I was coming back from my dinner of wild boar ragu and tiramisu at a very charming little restaurant beyond the Pitti Palace, he was still there, motionless as ever as the masses of tourists flowed around him and his steed. When I passed back by the Duomo, its walls were gold instead of ivory in the low sun.

My first morning in Florence I woke up especially early for my entrance to the Uffizi Gallery. While I sat outside waiting for my time slot I ate an apricot jam croissant and examined my rash of mosquito bites still raised on my arms and legs from Venice that made it look I had caught some type of plague. But at quarter to nine I left this study behind for the security line into the Uffizi, from there me and the other early patrons filed into the first rooms containing medieval altarpieces of the Madonna and Child. But everyone was really there for one reason—the signs on doors leading through the renaissance galleries and the halls and terraces of Greco-Roman busts for Botticelli. I wasn't an exception to these mob interests, for a long time Botticelli's Primavera has been an important work to me for no less populist reasons than most who show up in droves to photograph the Birth of Venus. It meant a great deal to me to see it with my own eyes, its soft forest floor and canopy rich with fruit and flower—and the figures, whose placement is not natural in the landscape, but iconographic. I was also touched by the Calumny of Apelles adjacent; of course the Birth of Venus had a room of its own, or at least any pictures of Botticelli’s on the surrounding walls went unnoticed by the crowd or by me. Outside in the long galleries I admired most of all the frescoed ceilings, some of which showed scenes of myth while others were of the grotesque style, strange creatures and pretty laurels painted on white and cream. What I found was that the rest of the Uffizi rooms downstairs were oddly quiet, not that I blame any person for really only coming to see the Botticellis. So after the initial stampede through the first ten rooms it became a very peaceful and civilised affair, most visitors not bothering with the lower galleries in the first place. By then it was still only ten o’clock, so even the gift shop was quiet as I secured my Primavera postcard and looked towards the rest of the day.

Feeling inspired, I committed to a hike up the hill on the other side of the river, reaching the summit of the old Belvedere fort where I could stand in the searing heat and look out across the city of Florence, white walls and the red-tiled roofs above them, and the Duomo rising most prominent between them, five times taller than the rest. From there I walked on dripping sweat to the Bardini gardens for a bit of shade under the trees in the muggy air, wishing I were one of so many little yellow-spotted skinks baking on the walls, accustomed to heat. I drank a limonata on ice on the terrace of the gardens overlooking the sloping green and the city beyond it. Two dark red squirrels played in the tree by the terrace, running in circles around the thickest branches before disappearing back into their hidden nest. Besides the cranes from restoration works dotting the skyline, the city seemed at a distance to be as it was five hundred years prior.

The illusion of course was shattered the moment I descended into the visitor centre on the gardens’ lower perimeter and came across a vending machine, but I didn’t mind so much, I enjoys the comforts of the modern world. For lunch I had a panini with anchovies and olive tapenade and crossed back over the river into the heart of the crowded city. I happened to pass by the Basilica of Santa Croce and decided to take a look inside at the paintings and the tombs of Florentine intellectuals. The basilica was beautiful within, frescoes still pretty and warmly coloured despite the ruination they suffered in floods some thirty years ago.

I got a scoop of gelato (stracciatella), I went back to my apartment for a rest before dinner. I worked out where to go for a bowl of pasta while standing outside a basilica ringing the evening bells—a street preacher came up to me babbling in Italian, waving his Bible, but I sent him on his way. For dinner I had a bowl of pasta with spicy tomato sauce not too far from home, as I was feeling a bit weary emotionally and needed to get to bed early—I had another early appointment the next day.

In the morning I walked over to the Palazzo Pitti beyond the river to see the Palatine Gallery there. Like the Uffizi these rooms were heavy with friezes and paintings on every available surface, mostly mythological scenes and pictures of the Medicis and the Italian rulers of later centuries. I liked most the painting of Judith with the head of Holofernes, still brandishing the sword. After the Palace I wandered around the city a bit and then went to meet my friend Maddy for lunch, who’s been doing a short course here during the university break as part of our Arts degree. We got sandwiches and sat on the steps of the Uffizi to eat, then we visited the Museo Nazionale del Bargello with a scoop of gelato on the way to keep us going. These galleries contained some religious relics and a lot of the classical decorative arts, including china and ivory statuettes. But downstairs the old palace possessed a hall full of sculptures by Michelangelo and his other great contemporaries, which were amazing even though by the end of the gallery tour we were feeling desperately thirsty and neither of us were wearing brilliant footwear (I have been surviving solely on a pair of Converse which are close to wearing right through the soles and have developed some structural issues after weeks in Europe; Maddy has been confined to ballet flats coming apart at the edges). So we each bought a litre and a half bottle of cold sparkling water from the supermarket and drowned our suffering all the way back to the Duomo, where she dropped me off at my door.

My dinner that night was no different to what I have been eating every night—pasta, thought his time with simple beef ragu instead of wild boar. I had less secure plans for the next day, willing to go where it took me—I ended up back outside the Fountain of Neptune and entered the Palazzo Vecchio, that at mid-morning still had no line inside, and I sailed in on my student ticket to see the rooms of Pope Leo X and the painted halls depicting great battles and the four elements with water that recollection of Botticelli, Venus emerging from the waves; and Diana on the ceiling opposite her brother, driving a chariot of one white horse and one black. I was amazed by the Palazzo Vecchio and found it far more beautiful than any of the other Florentine palaces I had seen so far, perhaps it had something less of the cold and neo-classical about it, even if its interiors were just as excessive. The best room in my eyes was the last one, which was no grand hall, but a smaller chamber whose walls were covered in a series of colourful maps from that antiquate era. The lands were marked on occasion by an animal like an elephant to signify the Orient, most bore no resemblance to world maps today. But the roots of thinking have not changed. We see the world through these eyes.

In the afternoon I visited some churches—the Chiesa di Santa Trinita where Caroline Bonaparte, the emperor’s younger sister, was buried. She was the wife of the Napoleonic general Murat, appointed King of Naples, but outliving the empire of her husband and her brother, she died unfavoured and her body was hidden and then buried for safekeeping there in that chapel. There is still a Prince Murat today and he has clearly made sure the tomb of his ancestor is well-preserved—the white marble was gleaming, almost too pure. In the floor of the chapel a tile indicated hic iacet for the place her coffin was placed, innocuously, deep below the surface. I followed my usual routine of a sandwich (this location’s special was a prosciutto and cream cheese filling, so delicious I almost collapsed there in the sweaty gutter from joy) and an afternoon rest in the semi-cool dark of my room. In the evening my friend Maddy reappeared outside my door and we walked across town to an eclectic little cocktail bar where the bartender worked like some sort of artisan, sculpting pieces of lime peel and treating each drink as a new masterpiece. Patience was a necessity as he worked away the hours at his craft. At nine we went around the corner to a traditional restaurant and I had my beloved wild boar ragu and Maddy ate polenta with braised meat. I ordered a glass of wine and our charming old Italian waiter poured with so much heart that we had to share it. After some tiramisu we paid up and wandered back through the city at night, laughing at ourselves. The city of Florence was still colourful, the carousel was still lit up, and they have powerful lights fixed to all the rooftops surrounding the Duomo, so at night time it still glows as stark white as in the day.

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