#party planners Greece

[kentmac]

Persian History in the Style of Dave Attell

Alright, folks, let’s dive into the wild world of the Persian Empire. Grab a drink. This isn’t just some boring history lesson. No way! We’re talking about an empire that spanned continents, had kings that loved bling, and a penchant for some seriously extravagant parties. It’s like the history version of your wild uncle who shows up at the family reunion with tales of crazy adventures and slightly questionable choices.

**The Early Days: The Achaemenids Bet Big**

So picture this: we’re back in the 6th century BCE, and a dude named Cyrus the Great rolls onto the scene. He’s like the original Persian bad boy. This guy wasn’t just ruling a small tribe; he was out there building an empire that would make Alexander the Great look like some kid playing with his mom's little toy soldiers. Cyrus united the Persian tribes, the Medes, and said, “You all want to chill? Let's do this together.” Then off he went conquering like it was a never-ending game of Risk.

Cyrus snatched up Babylon and let’s be real, that wasn’t just a casual takeover. He was all about freedom. He even freed the Jewish captives, probably thinking, “No one wins when you keep people locked up!” This dude crafted the Cyrus Cylinder; think of it as the original human rights declaration. So, yeah, he was the good guy, at least for a while!

**Darius the Great: The Planner with a Beard**

Fast forward a bit to Darius the Great! This guy was like the meticulous accountant of empires. He looked at Cyrus’s accomplishments and said, “That’s cute, but let’s make it bigger!” Darius was the kind of king who actually cared about administration. He took this wild collection of conquered lands, organized them into satrapies – think of them as state parks but without the annoying entry fees and trade all those trees for a whole lot of dust.

Darius had roads built! That's right, folks, those super-highway-like roads were like the ancient version of Google Maps. He had the Royal Road constructed, so if you wanted to get from one part of the empire to another without losing your way or getting stuck in traffic, you could. And he was behind that whole Zoroastrianism movement, which is all about good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Basically, he was the Pinterest king of morality.

**Xerxes: The Dramatic Soap Opera Star**

Now, Xerxes comes in later, and let me tell you, this dude had a flair for the dramatic. He could’ve hosted his own reality show! This guy gets all fired up, decides he wants revenge on Greece after that little fiasco at Marathon. Remember that? It was like the Greek version of the Super Bowl! So, he gathers an army that makes every other army look like a kindergarten field trip. What does he do? He crosses the Hellespont on a bridge made of boats. I mean, come on! That’s some epic show-off behavior.

But poor Xerxes, he faces a little setback at the Battle of Thermopylae. You know that battle where 300 Spartans become legends? Yeah, that was him. He walks into what he thinks will be a walk in the park, and instead, he’s greeted with a bunch of guys in speedos yelling like crazy. That's a tough way to go, dude. But hey, he did burn Athens down. So he got some victory points there, but also a lot of really angry Greeks.

**The Fall of the Achaemenid Dynasty: Enter Alexander**

So what happens next? The Persian Empire isn’t quite peaking anymore. There’s this guy named Alexander the Great – can you hear me rolling my eyes? He shows up and says, “Let’s conquer Persia!” Now, this isn’t just your average conquest. He had charisma dripping off of him. You know the guy at the bar who doesn’t seem to care what you think but still somehow makes you really like him? That’s Alex.

He’s out there defeating Persian armies like it's just another day at the gym. The Battle of Gaugamela? Yeah, that was like the ultimate showdown. By 330 BCE, Persia was no more; it’s like they fell asleep at the wheel. Alexander rides into the night with all the treasures and then some, and Persia goes from a glorious empire to just another footnote in history. It’s like waking up from a wild party and realizing you left your wallet behind.

**The Legacy of Persia: Influence and Culture**

But don’t count the Persians out just yet! Even though the empire fell, their influence didn’t just disappear like the last slice of pizza at a party. Persian art, culture, and governance inspired countless civilizations. Their system of roads? Genius! Influenced everyone from the Romans to modern infrastructure. That’s some solid legacy vibes!

And how about their architecture? I mean, ever heard of Persepolis? That wasn't just a city; it was a statement. Imagine showing up there; it’s like walking into the most lavish mansion ever, where every corner is just dripping with art and sophistication. It left people saying, “Wow, these guys knew how to throw down.”

**Sassanid Empire: The Comeback Kings**

We can’t wrap this up without giving a nod to the Sassanid Empire. After a little wait, the Persians were back in action with a new dynasty! This is where things get spicy again. The Sassanids were all about Zoroastrianism, and they had some pretty serious rivalries, especially with the Romans. You thought your family reunions were dramatic? These guys were waging battles like it was Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong.

They expanded territories, absorbed new cultures, and even managed to give rise to some impressive innovations during the Golden Age. You could say they were the comeback kings of history, taking all the good stuff from the past and turning it into something fresh and new.

**The Enduring Legacy of the Persian Empire**

With the rise of the Islamic Caliphates, the Persian Empire took a back seat, but hint hint: it didn’t just disappear! Persian culture, language, and connections persisted, and it influenced the new empires that sprung up. You see? When it comes to empires, it's not always just about the fall; it’s about the cultural endurance of the people.

Persian poetry, literature, and philosophies surged through the ages like an unstoppable current. You can even spot traces of old Persian artistry in modern-day Iran and beyond. That’s like the cherry on top of a historical sundae, folks!

**Final Thoughts: The Persian Wild Ride**

So there you have it: the wild ride of the Persian Empire! From Cyrus the Great to the dramatic flair of Xerxes, through epic battles, cultural legacies, and some seriously ornate parties, they lived their history with a bit of style – and maybe a little swagger. They taught everyone that being an empire isn’t just about conquering and ruling; it’s also about the contributions and influences that echo through time, like the earworm of a catchy song you just can’t shake.

Next time you think about the Persian Empire, remember it wasn’t just a bunch of kings on thrones; it was a cornucopia of culture, innovation, and a few questionable fashion choices along the way. So raise your glasses to these guys – it’s been a journey! Cheers!

[thecandywrites]

Kinktober Day 29- Body Worship

Now you know, I had to go full Raelena on this one. Because the ongoing theme of Magic and Miracles is how Ravus practically worships the ground Selena walks on and is unshamedly and unabashidly completely and utterly devoted to her.

But in this one, I wanted it to be mostly from Selena's perspective about how she adores the man that Ravus has become. Especially since when she first met him, he was a dick, a fuck boy if you will. And then he realized that the boy he was- was not good enough for the woman that she was and so he grew up and grew out of his dickish ways and became the best version of himself which is all Selena wanted and had seen long before others ever could.

Just one more. Day 30 because I already did Day 31 and that one had been on time! The only one that I did on time too lol.

Countless thanks to @starsandskies for her kinktober prompts for 2022. You have no idea how this has saved my life. Literally.

Kinktober Day 29- Body Worship

Selena woke up and smiled happily when Ravus was still asleep. 

Ravus was a morning person. But last night he had outdone himself, so she simply laid there, admiring how handsome her husband was. 

Suddenly it hit her. 

Ravus was now officially her husband. 

It had felt like a tiny eternity to get to this moment. 

First, he had been an acquaintance, then a friend. Then more than a friend. Then boyfriend, then fiance. And now, husband. He was her husband and would be till death did they part. 

Their wedding had been perfect. Planned to a T. Every little detail accounted for and it was her dream wedding and then so much more. Thanks to Chelsea, the most amazing wedding planner ever. No stress, no anxiety, no problems, no worries. Just ease, happiness and delight. 

Dany had been the perfect flower girl. The twins had been so good and tottled down that aisle and practically ran into Ravus’ arms before his mother and hers had gotten them from him so that she could come down the aisle herself. 

And even though Selena had every friend and cousin she knew of and beyond as a bridesmaid. Even Ravus’ own cousins from Sweden and France and her own cousins from Greece came to this wedding and were in this wedding. Hell Ravus didn’t even know the names of all of her other cousins that had to be his groomsman. Usually such a thing tended to spiral weddings out of control. But not hers. The more the merrier actually.

But despite their extraordinary large wedding party and thanks to Sylva getting extra dresses in every size possible just in case any of the girls didn’t fit into their dresses that they originally ordered, as well as suits. Which ended up being a lifesaver for Ada because her pregnant belly had seemed to be ready to pop and Selena worried London was going to be born during the wedding. 

But all was well. Her scars from her accident only 9 months before were barely noticeable and no longer hurt her as she had healed at an almost miraculous rate. Thankfully Selena’s cast came off just in time for her own wedding so she didn’t need to go down the aisle, still in an arm cast. 

She still danced the night away with Ravus, and she couldn’t think of a single thing she didn’t like or wished was different about it and was perfectly happy with all of it. But most of all, she was happiest, with Ravus. 

She glanced down at her wedding ring and smiled as a sense of deja-vu. The fact that Ravus’ father Victor had designed and commissioned this ring before he died of cancer, she felt proud yet humbled to wear such a precious thing. Not for what the ring was worth as far as rose gold and diamonds. But the sheer sentimental value of it. And the fact that Ravus still had the copyrighted designs meant that others could be commissioned so that it would be a Nox Fleuret family design that any and all children could choose to have if they so wished since Victor had designed three for Luna and three for Ravus. And Selena had picked one of Luna’s designs that she felt in her soul and in her bones was her destined ring. She had dreamed of it before she ever got to see it and putting it on felt like magic and destiny and it had filled her with excitement and happiness. 

Tomorrow though, she would be going on the honeymoon to end all honeymoons all across Europe, or at least, that's what Ravus kept on insisting it would be since he had everything already all planned out.

But that was tomorrow. 

Today, was her first morning as Mrs. Nox Fleuret and beside her was her favorite person in the world. Her very loving husband, Ravus Victor Nox Fleuret, who she loved with every fiber of her being and couldn’t imagine her life without him. 

She had been terrified when she was in her car accident that her life was about to end and all the dreams she had of a future with Ravus were going to end up being only dreams. 

But thankfully she survived and she was now more determined than ever to never have anything ever threaten her and Ravus’ lives and relationship. They were just too precious to her. And she knew Ravus felt the same way. And as much as she initially chafed at the way Ravus tried to baby her, she also knew that he was just as scared as she had been of losing her the way she was scared of losing him. 

But she understood why he was doing it. But they both overcame their fears and instead of letting that fear paralyze them. They confronted it and armed themselves with knowledge and prepared themselves just in case anything like it ever happened again. They both took defensive driving courses. Then stunt driver courses. Then first aid courses. Then helicopter lessons. And buying the safest cars with extra protective measures installed. Just in case.

All while she pursued her career that she never thought or imagined she would have. And that was as an interior designer for Fosters Interior Designs Incorporated while she earned her degree to design homes from the inside out. 

And while she had her own house fully designed and planned out and construction had already began, and all of her friend’s houses were also designed planned and now also beginning construction. And in those processes, seemed to have nailed down a system of figuring out people’s tastes. And while it wasn’t perfect. It was better than just blindly pulling stuff out of her ass, that she felt like she had done in the beginning. But the more clients she acquired, the better her skills at reading them and discerning what they really wanted became sharper and better honed. She had always loved combing through Better Homes and Gardens magazines. But now, she felt like she was living them. And thankfully word about her talent soon spread so that she had quite the waiting list of clients for when she would come back from her honeymoon too.

But all of that seemed a world away. Because right now, her world consisted of just herself and Ravus in this rediculously comfortable bed in their hotel suite. 

She cuddled into his side and hugged him tightly before she felt his hold instinctively tighten around her as his breath sucked in deeply as he seemed to wake up to the feel of her kissing his cheek then his mouth as he happily and instinctively turned his head to kiss her more. 

“Good morning Darling.” Ravus cooed dreamily as his eyes slowly opened as his smile bloomed on his face. 

“Good morning My Love.” Selena cooed back as he rolled onto his side so he could envelope her in his arms and hug her tightly before dipping his head down to kiss her some more before she hiked her leg up over his hip as his hand happily stroked up her thigh to grab her amazing ass.

Then she used her strength to get on top of him and began to worship his body with her own as she wanted to leave no inch of skin that her mouth could reach untouched and unloved as she grinded her center over his morning wood to keep it hard before he grabbed her by the hips and pushed her to be fully seated on him as they both sighed at being rejoined before she sat up to really gain more power and traction as he was happy to hold her up by her breasts that he continued to softly knead while she held his forearms and lulled her head back, happy to reveal every hickey and love bite on her neck and chest and beyond. 

The moment her face started to contort in concentration though, Ravus’ hand immediately went to hold her right side where she had broken her ribs. 

“Are you ok Darling?” Ravus asked as he pulled himself out of the lustful haze to search her face and body for any other signs of pain. 

“Yes, I told you, I healed. I’m ok. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Selena insisted as she gently guided his hand from her side back to her breast. 

“I was just focusing on the pleasure and getting on the highway to orgasm. That’s all.” She insisted as she raked her nails up and down his arms to hold his arms there to support her upper body as she leaned into his hold as her hips were happy to instinctually follow the now, familiar path to ecstasy. 

“Ok, but if…” Ravus began to say before she leaned forward to put her finger over his lips to keep him from finishing that sentence. 

“I will stop if it hurts. But it hasn’t hurt in months. It never hurt last night. I doubt it’s going to hurt today or tomorrow or anytime soon.” She insisted. 

“But for now, let me enjoy my first ride on my husband as Mrs. Nox Fleuret.” She added with a meaningful smile. 

“Yes Ma’am.” He hummed a laugh and was happy to support her as she took the reins and set the pace and just stared up in awed wonder that such a magnificent woman was his wife as he eyed the wedding band that went with her wedding ring with pride.

The only thing that had been missing yesterday was his father’s physical presence. But mentally, emotionally and spiritually, he had felt him there and all throughout the wedding yesterday Ravus swore he saw flashes of his father there, sitting with his mother, dancing with her. And then to have Regis, his step dad, read out his own father’s wedding toast he had written out before he died, there wasn’t a dry eye in the reception hall before Sylva revealed a tape that Victor had previously recorded, both for Luna’s wedding and for his own to be played. 

Granted, it had been recorded when his dad was obviously sick and dying but to see and hear him on the screen was almost as good as if he had been there in person. And Victor’s predictions about what kind of woman he wanted his son to marry, almost eerily matched Selena to a T. In an almost uncanny way too.

But in a way that only made Ravus happy that his father had been right all along. Even eight years in the past at the time of the recording. It had been the only “surprise” in the wedding that he gave his mother credit for keeping under wraps until the big reveal.

Just like she had done for Luna’s wedding only six months prior. Even his father’s predictions about Nyx were eerily and uncanny in their accuracy. But it only helped both Luna and Nyx and himself and Selena feel that they were making the right decisions about their marriage mates, and that Victor had already given his stamp of approval in a way. 

And now that Ravus was staring up at his own Mrs. Nox Fleuret, he couldn’t be happier or prouder about his choice. Especially to see her find and enjoy her due pleasure from him. 

He moved his hands from her breasts to her hips to help her find her finish easier and faster and to see her and hear her gasp, keen and moan as she did so was still the most beautiful and amazing sight to his eyes as he soon followed behind her before she opened her eyes and smiled brightly as she basked in the afterglow as she lowed herself to lay over him and catch her breath and recover from her exertion. 

Selena, was actually, quite proud of herself for that feat and even happier when she felt Ravus orgasm too. She was happy to lay her head on his chest, her ear over his heart that she knew beat only for her while she knew that hers beat only for him. For always and forever.

[cruiseplan]

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[europeincomingei]

Destination Wedding Celebration in Europe

For couples seeking unique together with outstanding experience for their wedding day, Europe, with its plentiful background, phenomenal scenes, along with also truthful feeling, supplies a choice of incredible wedding destinations. In this blog, we will find the captivating allure of European wedding destinations

Appealing Histories as well as likewise Enchanting Places: Europe is residence to a variety of superb wedding destinations with captivating setups along with on top of that amazing backgrounds. From the unblemished shoreline front areas of Santorini, Greece, along with furthermore Amalfi Shore, Italy, to the need royal residences of Scotland along with France, sets can surf a choice of appealing places that fit their wishes along with needs. Whether it's trading solution warranties on a sandy sea side, in an exceptional royal residence, or in the midst of relocating grape ranches, Europe supplies a different level of scenes to make an impressive wedding event party occasion experience. Historic Relevance in addition to Social Growth: Spectacular marriage connection connections in Europe give the potential opportunity to fill oneself in the area's social huge variety in addition to real well worth. To make their wedding celebration event celebration parties far more genuine, sets can incorporate neighborhood custom-mades, food, along with methods. In Prague, insurance claim "I do" in a midlifes basilica, or in Athens, celebrate with a routine Greek dance. The multiculturalism of Europe makes area wedding party events distinct as well as furthermore remarkable. Destination Wedding Event Management: When arranging from a destination wedding celebration, preparing an area wedding event celebration event can be a complex task. This is where a destination wedding event management company comes in as well as assist in intending a wonderful wedding. Tension and stress and anxiety and in addition nervousness can be reduced in addition to the information of your big day can be taken care of by specialist event planners that focus on European wedding destinations. From choosing the perfect scene along with in addition establishing with bordering vendors to teaming up centers in addition to also caring for site visitor travelling. Customized equipped location wedding event party event Planning: Destination wedding planning needs mindful emphasis to specifics and likewise individualization. Various has a special vision for their big day, and attractive marriage relationship coordinators are capable at changing those desires into the real life. Specialist wedding event planners can establish a customized wedding celebration occasion experience that exposes your design, choices, and in addition social impacts.

[unitywedding]

Planning a Destination Wedding Reception

Planning a destination wedding reception in 2023 can be a daunting task, but also a rewarding one. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make your dream day a reality. - Choose your destination wisely. You want to pick a place that suits your style, budget, and guests' preferences. Some popular destinations for 2023 include Hawaii, Greece, Italy, and Mexico. Do some research on the climate, culture, and attractions of each place before you decide. - Book your venue and vendors early. Destination weddings are becoming more popular, so you might face some competition for the best spots and services. To avoid disappointment, book your venue and vendors at least a year in advance. You can also use a wedding planner or coordinator who specializes in destination weddings to help you find and secure the best deals. - Communicate with your guests. Your guests will need to know the details of your destination wedding well in advance, so they can plan their travel, accommodation, and budget accordingly. Send out save-the-dates as soon as you have your date and location confirmed, and follow up with formal invitations at least three months before the wedding. You can also create a wedding website or app to share information and updates with your guests. - Plan some activities for your guests. One of the perks of having a destination wedding is that you can turn it into a mini-vacation for yourself and your guests. To make the most of it, plan some fun and relaxing activities for your guests to enjoy before and after the wedding. You can arrange group tours, excursions, dinners, parties, or spa sessions, depending on your destination and budget. - Enjoy your day. After all the planning and preparation, don't forget to enjoy your destination wedding reception. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate your love with your closest friends and family in a beautiful setting. Don't sweat the small stuff, and focus on having fun and making memories. #destinationwedding #weddingplanning #weddingreception #weddingvenue #weddingdecor #weddingphotography #weddinginspiration #weddingideas #weddingday #weddingstyle #brideandgroom #brideandgroomtobe Read the full article

[kunalsethblog]

Hire The Best Destination Wedding Planners in Delhi

When you’re planning your dream destination wedding, you want to make sure that the party planner you choose is perfect for your big day. After all, they’ll be handling everything from logistics to photography to cake cutting! And with so many wedding planners in Delhi to choose from, it can be tough to know who the best candidates are. That’s why we’ve put together a guide on how to find the best destination wedding planners in Delhi. In it, you’ll learn about the different qualities you should look for in a planner and where to find them. So whether you’re searching for an experienced hand or simply want someone who will take care of every detail, read on for tips on hiring the best destination wedding planners in Delhi!

What is Destination Wedding Planning?

Destination wedding planning is a unique and exciting experience that allows couples to celebrate their love in a special and unique way. Whether you are looking for an outdoor ceremony with stunning views or want a more intimate affair at a secluded locale, experienced planners can help arrange every detail to make your wedding day truly memorable.

Some key factors to consider when choosing a planner include the location of your wedding, the type of ceremony (e.g. religious or civil), number of guests, and budget. Many planners will offer a free consultation to ensure that they can provide the best possible experience for your wedding.

If you are interested in pursuing destination wedding planning, be sure to speak with several planners to find the perfect fit for your needs. Some popular locations for destination weddings include India, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Thailand, Bali, and Mexico.

Types of Destination Wedding Planners

Choosing a wedding planner can be daunting, but luckily there are many different types to choose from. Below is a breakdown of the most popular types of Luxury Wedding Planners in Delhi:

1. Event Planning Consultants

Event planning consultants are skilled at creating custom events and usually have a wide range of experience. They can be hired for smaller weddings or larger events and often have their own team of assistants and coordinators.

2. Destination Wedding Planners

Destination wedding planners work with couples who want to get married away from home, either on a tropical island or in some other exotic locale. They will help you plan every detail of your dream wedding while minimizing stress and maximizing fun!

3. Coordinators

Coordinators are similar to event planners, but focus on coordinating all the details of an event rather than creating it from scratch. Whether you need help with invitations, decorations, or seating charts, coordinators can cover all the bases for you.

At The Knot, we recommend booking a Best Wedding Planners in Delhi if you're looking for an extremely customized experience - they really know how to make your day special!

Why Hire a Destination Wedding Planner?

A destination wedding planner can help take the stress out of planning your big day. Not only will they help you choose the perfect wedding venue and reception, but they’ll also make sure all the little details fall into place on the big day. They have years of experience working with couples to ensure their dream wedding comes together like a dream. So why not hire one to help make your next Destination Wedding in Delhi a reality?

How to Choose the Best Destination Wedding Planners for You

If you're planning a destination wedding in Delhi, there are a few things to take into account. First, what kind of ceremony and reception do you want? Do you want a civil or religious ceremony? Do you want an outdoor or indoor event? Once you've decided on these details, it's important to find a wedding planner who specializes in destinations weddings. Here are some tips for finding the best destination wedding planners for your needs:

Ask Around - One of the best ways to find a great destination wedding planner is to ask around. Talk to friends and family who have recently gotten married, as well as local wedding planners. They'll be able to recommend someone they know that can help with everything from invitations to catering.

Use Online Resources - Another way to find a great destination wedding planner is to use online resources. Go online and browse through directories like WeddingWire or The Knot. You can also look for specific destination-focused agencies or companies.

Check Reviews - After talking to some potential planners, it's always a good idea to check reviews online before choosing one. This will give you an idea of the quality of service each planner provides and whether or not they meet your expectations.

Once you've chosen a destination wedding planner, be sure to set up a consultation meeting so they can get started planning your dream ceremony and recept

You can also check these services

Wedding Planner in Jaipur

Best Wedding Planner in Jaipur

Event Planner in Jaipur

Destination Wedding Planner in Jaipur

What to Expect from a Destination Wedding Planner

Planning a destination wedding can be an exciting and daunting task. There are so many details to take care of, from choosing the perfect venue to ensuring your guests have everything they need. That's where a professional wedding planner can come in handy.

Here are some things to expect from a destination wedding planner:

They'll help you choose the perfect venue. Destination weddings can be incredibly unique and beautiful, so it's important to choose the right spot. A planner will help you find out about local options, and may even have connections to recommended venues.

They'll handle all the logistics. From sending invitations to coordinating transportation, a planner will make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

They're experts at creating dream weddings on a budget. Destination weddings can be expensive, but a good planner will be able to help you save money in several ways. For example, they may know about private caterers or rental companies that offer discounted rates.

They know how to make you feel special and loved. Planning a wedding is an incredible honor, and your planner should do their best to make it just as special for you as it will be for your guests!

Conclusion

If you are in the market for a wedding planner in Delhi, there is no better resource than Topwedding. Our team of experts has years of experience planning weddings and can help you navigate every step of the process.

[beardedmrbean]

Greece became the latest European country rocked by political scandal this week with reports surfacing that the phone of a well-known opposition government leader was being hacked by an intelligence service. The scandal comes after the recent collapse of governments in Italy and Britain amid political corruption and public criticism.

In Greece, news that the National Intelligence Service (EYP) was listening in to the phone calls of Nikos Androulakis, leader of the Greek socialist PASOK party, sparked an uproar among opposition parties and prompted demands for a full investigation.

According to the Associated Press, Panos Skourletis, parliamentary representative of the main opposition SYRIZA party, said Richard Nixon resigned as U.S. president exactly 48 years ago because of a similar scandal and that his party expects Mitsotakis to "at least do the same today ... to apologize and resign."

When the allegations first surfaced last week, a government spokesman said the surveillance had been approved by a prosecutor and was lawful. However, on Monday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis walked back any knowledge of the wiretap and fired the head of the National Intelligence Service, Panagiotis Kontoleon, and his Chief of Staff Grigoris Dimitriadis.

The spyware scandal in Greece, which some likened to the Watergate affair 50 years ago, comes less than a month after the collapse of Italy’s ruling coalition prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi and the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was forced to stand down as leader of the ruling Conservative Party after reckless behavior during the COVID-19 lockdowns was made public.

Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former DIA intelligence officer, said the instability in Europe was a bonus for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Any domestic instability in a NATO country is a plus for Russia, which has as its strategic goal to fracture and weaken NATO," said Koffler, author of "Putin’s Playbook: Russia's Secret Plan to Defeat America."

"Putin thrives on instability," she added. "On his orders, a special doctrine was developed by his intelligence and military planners, called "controlled instability" or controlled chaos, where Russia either seeks to foment chaos by clandestine operations or amplify existing tensions and instability, in any NATO country."

EU ACCUSES RUSSIA OF 'BLACKMAIL' AFTER IT CUTS GAS TO POLAND, BULGARIA

In Greece on Tuesday, President Katerina Sakellaropoulou called for the wiretapping affair to be fully investigated, highlighting that protecting the right to privacy was "a fundamental condition of a democratic and liberal society."

Androulakis, who is also a member of the European Parliament, said on Friday that he had learned his phone was being monitored more than a year ago. Filing a complaint in Greece’s Supreme Court late last month, Androulakis said his cellphone was bugged with a U.S.-made spyware named Predator.

The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is the third-largest political party in Greece and likely to hold the balance of power in the next general election, which is slated for 2023.

Commenting on the use of wiretaps, Koffler told Fox News Digital that there was "no such thing as privacy in today’s world, given the level of technological advancement."

"It’s naive and even childish to claim that you have privacy in today’s world when you carry a device with you that spies on you 24/7," she said, adding, "If you carry a phone or any electronic device, especially if you are a politician or any high-level business or government official, assume that your communications are of interest, and you are a potential target for intercept by foreign intelligence services and possibly domestic opposition."

"If you don’t want something to appear on the front page of a newspaper, do not say it," said Koffler.

[marrymeingr]

The Tradition of Greek Orthodox Weddings in Greece

Think of making a vow to spend the rest of your life with the love of your life, surrounded by loved ones, in front of the breathtaking background of Greece. There are three types of weddings in Greece: religious, civil, and ceremonial. The prerequisites for a civil or symbolic ceremony may be found on this page.

There's no better place to be married in the Greek Orthodox faith than here. If you're planning a Greek Orthodox wedding, here's everything you need to know.

There is various religious symbolism throughout Greece's Orthodox wedding ritual. Couples that are married are legally bound to each other. There are numerous beautiful chapels to select from in Greece. If you prefer a more traditional church, you'll find plenty of options in the area.

Preparation for Greek orthodox weddings in Greece takes time and a lot of legal paperwork, not to mention dealing with Greek bureaucracy. Consult with your wedding planner to find out exactly what is required for a religious marriage and how it works. The engagement and the Stefana are two distinct stages of the Greek Orthodox wedding (Greek wedding crowns). An Orthodox priest performs it. The compares (Greek best man), the groom, and the bride are all involved. At the commencement of the ceremony, the compares swaps rings with the couple and then crown them. The Koumbaros/a swaps the rings three times after putting the rings in the correct hands. In marriage, one partner's weakness is made up for by the other's strength, and each partner's flaws are balanced out by the other.

If you're planning a Greek orthodox wedding in Greece, you should be aware that the groom, the bride, and the best man must all be baptized as Christian Orthodox before being married in a church. As long as both parties have been baptized, the wedding may be conducted in many instances.

To get married, one must wear a wedding band. For the couple, they represent the eternal union of two individuals, the groom and the bride, with their crowns (Stefana).

A silver tray, a carafe, and a class of wine (Koubaros set) are required for the ritual to be conducted successfully.

Guests toss rice toward the newlyweds as the ceremony draws to a close. It is a sign of their affluence. As a courtesy to the local church/priest, this should be done in coordination.

After the ceremony, guests are given bombonieres (sugared almonds) as a token of appreciation for attending the nuptials. If you'd like, you may bring in your customs.

[zaffrenotes]

[TRR] Kairos

Kairos - Part 12

Pairing: Liam x Riley, Liam x OC Series Rating/Warnings: 18+; language; series will include ns*w 🍋 scenes Chapter Rating/Warnings: G Author’s Note: * All main characters belong to Pixelberry, I’m just borrowing them * Kairos (καιρός) is a word in Greek that translates to “the right time” or “the right moment to act” * Liam’s wife asks about “the one that got away” one night over dinner, and Liam recounts a relationship from his past * This is my submission for @wackydrabbles​​ Prompt 89: This isn't what I had in mind, but okay. * Author’s Note 2: * I apologize if this chapter feels choppy; I haven't updated this story since January, and writing is H A R D, but I want to finish this AU. I know how it ends, I just have to *gestures at the air* get there. * Word Count: 1708

Catch up with previous chapters here

Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added or removed for this series): @ao719 @blackcatkita @debramcg1106 @ofpixelsandscribbles @callmeellabella @smalltalk88 @aestheticartsx @bbrandy2002 @burnsoslow @choiceskatie @darley1101 @dcbbw @gardeningourmet @iplaydrake @liamxs-world @rainbowsinthestorm @riseandshinelittleblossom @superharriet @texaskitten30 @theroyalheirshadowhunter @the-soot-sprite // @alyssalauren @clairexoxo100 @cordonianroyalty @cordonian-literature @gkittylove99 @gnatbrain @jared2612 @kingliam2019 @mom2000aggie @pink-diamond13 @princessleac1 @queenjilian @sfb123 @txemrn @yourmajesty09

The evening carried on, and it was nearly impossible for Liam to pull himself away from one conversation to the next. Most of the new suitors vied for his attention to make a good impression, various nobles edged their way into conversations to discuss official business, and his friends made every effort to steal him away for short reprieves. He was dancing when he caught a flash of Max’s dress near the edge of the dance floor.

Brief glimpses and glances of a link to Liam’s almost-love was all The Fates seemed to grant for the duration of the ball, despite his best efforts to carve out a moment with Max. The irony wasn’t lost on him; having found a connection to Elia after years had passed, without a way to speak with her sister. His hand warmed against his dancing partner’s palm as they waltzed with other couples.

“What’s troubling you tonight? Besides the obvious farce of this whole ordeal.” A pair of cherry red lips curled into a sympathetic grin, and Liam nodded in silent agreement. “Something other than counting steps is running through your mind.”

Liam adjusted his grip on Olivia’s hand as he led her across the floor, quickly scanning the crowd for another glimpse of Max. “I require the assistance of a dear friend,” he answered quietly, twirling her in a circle. “Someone who knows of secret passages in the palace to remain undetected, who can also speak with one of the new ladies at court.”

One of Olivia’s brows arched in Liam’s direction. “Has someone managed to catch your eye already?”

“Not the way you think,” he replied. “It’s a long story, and right now I’m grasping at straws, but it’s…something.” As Liam twirled his childhood friend in another circle, the expression in his eyes conveyed the seriousness of his request.

Olivia’s back tensed when she looked up to meet her friend’s gaze, though they moved effortlessly through the song. “What do you need me to do, Li?”

“There’s a young woman here, wearing a peacock ballgown. Her name is Max.”

“There’s some irony,” Olivia giggled. “Maxwell’s probably talking her ear off over her dress alone.”

“I haven’t been able to speak with her since we were introduced.”

“Tell me when and where, I’ll make sure you converse with her before morning.”

Liam shook his head at the suggestion. “That’s not the kind of conversation I need to have, Liv. I do need to speak with her though. It could mean cancelling the rest of the social season before it’s had a chance to begin, in a good way.”

Olivia arched her brow at Liam again, as the music began to come to an end. “I’m going to need a full story about this very soon, if she’s a means of ending the season.”

Liam let out an anxious laugh. “Soon enough, of course. Get her as close as possible to my office without being seen.” He looked over Olivia’s shoulder to see Bastien by the ballroom doors, nodding at him just before Bastien said something to another member of the Kings Guard. “Enjoy the rest of the ball, I’ve got to go over details for tomorrow’s events. Shouldn’t take longer than an hour.”

--

Nearly an hour after Liam departed the ballroom, he sighed with relief to enjoy the silence in his office once Regina and her team of event planners were satisfied with preparations for the garden party. He poured himself a bit of scotch in a glass as a nightcap, glancing at the clock on the wall. Most of the guests had ventured home while he went over checklists with Regina, minus the suitors and their sponsors that would live at the palace for the next several weeks.

Another weary sigh slipped past Liam’s lips as he returned to the ornate desk in the office, and he removed the cufflinks Madeleine had given to him as a gift. He rolled up his sleeves, trying to ignore the soft ticking of the clock, wondering if Olivia had managed to get a hold of Max. Princess Maria Amelita Xamira Basilio, who had a sister that went by the name Elia. There were too many similarities in her siblings names and the fact that Max looked so similar in appearance to Elia.

He’d opened the laptop on the desk and was about to type Elia’s real name into the search window, when there was a knock at the door. Liam rushed out of his seat to answer, loudly whispering a name when he turned the knob. “Olivia? Is that you?” He was surprised to see Max in the hallway by herself. “Your Highness, please, come in,” he said, stepping aside to let Max pass. “Did anyone see you?”

Max bowed her head to Liam as she stepped into his office. “No, Lady Olivia led me through a number of passages from my room, and distracted the very tall, silver-haired guard down the hall.”

Liam chuckled softly. “That would be Bastien. He’s always had a bit of a soft spot for Olivia, ever since we were children.” He closed the door shut before walking towards the liquor cabinet. “May I offer you something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” she replied, taking a seat in one of the small couches. “To what do I owe this clandestine invitation?”

Liam sat down in the matching sofa across from Max, clasping his hands together as he carefully chose what to say next. “Max, you and I are both aware of the reason you’re here, participating in the social season. Under other circumstances, I’m certain you would have caught my eye, just as you did earlier this evening.”

Max chewed a tiny spot of her inner cheek. “There’s a ‘but’, isn’t there?”

“The reason you caught my eye was because you bear a striking resemblance to someone I met several years ago, before I met and married my first wife, Riley. Someone who, until tonight, I thought was lost to me.”

“Are you saying I’ve got a secret twin you’ve already met? This isn’t what I had in mind, but okay.” She grinned conspiratorially at him. “Who’s this doppelgänger that’s stuck with you?”

Liam sucked in a breath before answering. “As it were, it’s your sister. Elia.”

Max blinked at him silently, her eyes welling up with glossy tears at the mention of her name. “You…you knew Elia? When? When did you see her? Have you heard from her?” The questions tumbled out all at once, as Max tried to compose herself.

He picked up a gilded box of tissues from a side table, offering it to her. Max pulled two from the box, dabbing at the corners of her eyes, waiting for a response. “It’s been a number of years,” he began. “She was vacationing in Greece, just before she was supposed to return to university to study law.”

Max stopped dabbing at her tears to look up and study Liam’s face. “Oh my god, it’s you. You’re the guy.”

Liam’s brows pinched together. “She mentioned me?”

“Very briefly,” she responded. “Only that she met someone that gave her a reason to laugh every day, and seemed to understand what she – what we,” she paused, motioning to herself, “were going through, being…high profile?”

“That’s one way to describe it,” Liam chuckled softly. “She never said outright that she was a princess, but after we parted ways, many of the things we shared in our conversations made sense.” He looked up to see a puzzled expression on Max’s face. “Her fluency in languages, the way she could tell stories about growing up in vivid detail while overlooking things like ‘I grew up in a palace’ or ‘my parents were especially strict with me and my siblings’…”

“Oh by the way, that’s because they’re the king and queen?” Max scoffed lightly, shaking her head.

“I tried to look for her, for quite some time after that trip,” Liam added. “Only…my efforts were in vain, as the names she used were all nicknames. Even her own name wasn’t fully hers. Elia de Leon.”

Max sniffled and the puzzled expression returned to her face. “De Leon? That’s…our great-grandmother’s name.”

“I suppose that makes sense as well, now that I’m familiar with your family name. Had I searched for Elia Basilio, I might have found out about the royal connection, not that it would’ve changed my opinion of her.” Liam ran a hand across his face, his jawline and chin already rough with stubble. “You haven’t heard from her since that summer either? Anyone in your family?”

“No,” Max answered. “When her personal guard called the morning he was supposed to escort her home, he told my parents the apartment was empty…that she must have snuck away the night before.”

“But I was with her until morning.”

“What?”

“I…” Liam hesitated, taking in a breath. “I had dinner with Elia the night before she was supposed to leave. We talked long into the night, and I told her I was a prince. I even offered to let her stay with me here to take more time and consider alternative options to create some distance with your parents.”

“Because they wanted to marry her off, right?”

“Correct,” Liam nodded. “She only told me it was for a political alliance, to put your family name in a positive light after Mariela’s marriage to someone caused trouble.”

Max sighed with indignation. “That guy, ugh. That’s a story for another evening.” She began to wring the tissue between her hands. “But you saw Elia the next morning?”

“Yes, in fact I was the one that slipped out while she was still sleeping, long after dawn. I stopped for a coffee in the café below where she’d been staying, on my way to return home as well, and I…” Liam paused, recalling the man in the café that morning, remembering the other patron. “You said she had a personal security guard assigned to her?”

“Beni…Benigno, yes,” Max replied.

“Do you have a photo of him?”

“I can do better than that,” Max answered, pulling her phone from the pocket of her cardigan. “He’s here as my security and chaperone for the duration of my stay.”

[mykonosyachtcharter]

Yacht Rental Mykonos

Luxury yacht rental in Mykonos and the Greek islands by Mykonos Yacht Charter. With over 4000 islands and islets to explore enjoy the perfect luxury yacht charter in Greece. Mykonos is the best starting point for your private yacht charter due to its central position. Catamarans, motory yachts, speed boats, luxury yachts, superyachts, and megayachts over 200ft. Offering the very best yacht rental services in the Greek islands, Mykonos Yacht Charter offer a huge range of yachts available to rent. With a variety of fleets at your disposal, our yacht advisors will pick the perfect yacht according to your needs. Mykonos Yacht Charter offers you luxury charter yachts for rental. From a day yacht charter in Mykonos, yacht party, sunset cruise, a yacht charter to the nearby islands, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini, Milos, Tinos, to weekly yacht charter in the Greek islands. Mykonos Yacht Charter can provide the best-crewed superyachts & megayachts to rent for your dream private yacht holiday. Mykonos Yacht Charter provides the finest yachts and a trip truly tailored to you! After picking the perfect yacht our yacht advisor will add any water toys, yacht toys, and luxury services you wish for your yacht charter. Our luxury travel experts will create a unique itinerary covering your every demand. From the most hidden spots and caves with crystal waters, the best coastline relaxing in absolute privacy to VIP nightlife and the finest clubs and restaurants, the Greek islands have to offer. Our yacht concierge will be 24/7 at your disposal covering any last-minute request. No matter the type of yacht rental, family, friends, or corporate, our luxury team of yacht advisors, travel experts, lifestyle managers, event planners, and concierges will organize everything to the last detail. Mykonos Yacht Charter covers your every wish and desire creating your yacht vacations into an amazing experience. Large selection of yachts, bespoke yacht rental in Mykonos and the Greek islands. Let us design your perfect charter experience!

[europeincomingei]

A Guide to Planning a Wedding Event in Europe

For couples seeking special as well as amazing experiences for their special day, destination wedding event management are becoming considerably liked. Europe, with its plentiful background, remarkable scenes, as well as also sincere feeling, supplies a variety of spectacular wedding destinations. In this blog, we will discover the captivating charm of European wedding destinations along with provide experiences right into unique marital relationship occasion the officers as well as setting up, ensuring an impressive event of adoration. Appealing Backgrounds and also Enchanting Places: Europe is home to a plethora of amazing wedding occasion areas with charming setups as well as additionally awesome backgrounds. From the unblemished coastline front communities of Santorini, Greece, and also Amalfi Shore, Italy, to the dream royal residences of Scotland in addition to France, pairs can browse an option of appealing areas that fit their dreams along with desires. Whether it's trading warranties on a sandy ocean side, in an impressive royal residence, or in the midst of moving grape ranches, Europe supplies a different scope of scenes to make an outstanding wedding event experience. Historical Relevance as well as Social Expansion: Spectacular marriage relationships in Europe supply the potential possibility to saturate oneself in the location's social vast array in addition to real worth. To make their wedding event celebration celebrations much more authentic, pairs can integrate local custom-mades, food, as well as practices. In Prague, say "I do" in a medieval basilica, or in Athens, celebrate with a typical Greek dance. The multiculturalism of Europe makes location wedding events special and also memorable. Destination Wedding Event Management: When arranging from a range, preparing a place wedding event can be a daunting task. This is where marriage relationship at a distinct place party the board managements end up being a crucial component. Stress and also stress and anxiety can be decreased in addition to the information of your big day can be cared for by specialist occasion coordinators that concentrate on European wedding  destinations . From picking the optimal scene as well as additionally setting up with surrounding vendors to coordinating facilities and also looking after visitor taking a trip, special marriage partnership event the board monitorings ensure a constant along with enchanting experience. Customized equipped location wedding celebration event Arranging: Destination wedding planning requires careful focus to specifics and individualization. Numerous has a special vision for their big day, and appealing marital relationship coordinators are capable at transforming those desires into the real life. Specialist wedding event planners can establish a personalized wedding party experience that shows your design, preferences, and also social impacts, whether you want an intimate event in a rustic Tuscan rental building or a grand event in an elegant French château. Neighboring Capability as well as likewise Supplier Organizations: One of the significant benefits of taking care of one-of-a-kind marriage planners in Europe is their nearby effectiveness and likewise supplier associations. These experts are skilled in the location's wedding occasion market, that consists of reputable wedding catering solutions, digital photographers, developers, and vendors.

[chloevara]

Homebound // Varapark // Duo

Written in collaboration by @chloevara and @icarialex

Who: Chloe Vara and Noelle Park

When: Saturday, February 27

Where: Chloe’s dad’s house (also lived 7 other people also live there) in Hounslow, London

What: Open house party for for friends and family the night before Chloe and Noelle are scheduled to fly back to Greece

Chloe stole a moment away from her family’s open house to sit on the toilet with the lid closed. She probably had somewhere between five and ten minutes before someone checked in to make sure she had not fallen in or something. It was not like she did not want to go back and enjoy the party- on the contrary, she enjoyed this more than just about anything else in the world. It had been nearly five years since she had seen these people, and it simultaneously felt like no time had passed at all, and that she had missed out on everything of importance.

She skimmed through the pictures that she had saved on her phone, stopping on one taken yesterday. Chloe’s cousin Nadine had met up Noelle and Chloe while they were dropping off Vi at school. Nadine had stolen Chloe’s phone, and taken a selfie. Noelle appeared to be watching Chloe with adoration while Chloe hugged Vi good-bye. Meanwhile, Nadine took up the bottom left quadrant of the photo with a peace sign. It was such a perfect picture, and Chloe wished that every day could be so perfect.

Zooming in on Noelle’s face, Chloe smiled softly. It had been a whirlwind two weeks, but it had been so, so worth it. She felt more alive than she had in months. And that was why it was agonizing for Chloe to admit what she wanted- no, needed to tell the most wonderful girlfriend that she ever had.

Opening up the web browser on her phone, Chloe scanned through the website that she had come back to about thirty times in secret over the past week. Looking over the site filled her with trepidation and relief. A weird combination, but that was what it was.

Someone knocked on the door to the WC, and Chloe rushed to get it. It was her dad’s fiancé Simon. Although she still did not know the guy well, she really liked him so far. It was weird that she did not know him better, but it was obvious that Simon made her dad more comfortable in a relationship than Chloe had ever seen him. “Sorry to keep you waiting. It’s all yours. I lost track of time,” she said, rubbing at her neck. Simon nodded, smiled, and mumbled his thanks. 

Chloe moved down the hallway, and nearly crashed into Noelle. Without warning her, Chloe wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, burying her face in Noelle’s neck. “I have to- I’m sorry, I love you so much, but- I can’t-” This probably sounded like a break-up, but it wasn’t. She wanted to stay in this relationship more than anything. “I’m going to delay my trip back to Icaria by two weeks. Please don’t hate me. I- I’ve been looking at flights, and- I promise to come back to you, but I have to do this.”

Ten days ago, Noelle would have panicked at being left alone with so many people she didn’t know well, but to say the wild bunch had grown on her would be an understatement. They were all quirky, but oh so welcoming. Immediately the veterinarian was taken in as family, and even though she couldn’t put it into words, that fact made her more emotional than expected. It had been so long since she’d been in any type of family environment, and she’d bottled up any emotions about that fact very deep. She’d convinced herself that she didn’t miss it or desire one anymore. It also helped that her family environment wasn’t one she would miss. 

Then, Chloe’s family smacked her square in the face. A family like theirs was one that she thought only lived in a sitcom. Yet, there it was bustling around her, and she would miss them when she returned back home. 

Chloe throwing herself into Noelle’s arms wasn’t all that surprising anymore, but the words that spilled out as she did so were. A part of the veterinarian scolded herself for not thinking of the possibility, so she wouldn’t be taken by so much surprise. The woman didn’t enjoy being caught off guard by situations, and she usually was ready for just about any possibility. There was nothing to be done about it right then though, so she just closed her eyes for a brief moment to take in exactly what was being said to her. 

Anxiety attempted to swell within her, but she stomped it down. The thoughts about how she’d just gotten Chloe back, the fear of the event planner wanting to stay even longer with her obviously wonderful family, and the questions about how they would work if that were the case were all placed within a small box that she’d unpack later. Right then, she put on a small smile and nodded. “I can’t hate you. That’s actually impossible for me to do,” she reassured first and foremost. “I understand why you want to stay longer. I can’t be upset at you for wanting more time with your family. It’s okay, Chlo.”

To Chloe’s credit, she didn’t cry, but she did refuse to look at Noelle’s face as these words were said. “Okay. Okay… That’s… Okay. I know you, uhm, might want to talk about other logistics. You’re the first person I’ve told,” Chloe said, still wrapping herself up into Noelle’s arms. “Except the entire internet. That knows I’m planning on booking this return flight. Do you want to, uhm, talk more about this now? Or later in our room?” She said this without thinking about it. ‘Our’ room as if Noelle belonged there too. Because she did. Chloe wanted Noelle anywhere that she was. But then Chloe was even more excited about her impending move into Noelle’s house. It was a lot to think about.

Worrying about her girlfriend was easier than paying any actual attention to her own feelings in that moment. Noelle refused to allow Chloe to feel guilty about wanting to stay, so she leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss on her girlfriend’s cheek. “You’re in the middle of a party with a bunch of people you love. It’s okay. It’s not like I won’t talk to you for two weeks,” she said as a way to reassure both her girlfriend and herself. A part of her wanted to say that she wished the woman had told her earlier if it was something playing on her mind for a while, but again it wasn’t the time or place. Plus, Noelle knew things had been hard since she’d returned from the kidnappings, so putting any more negativity on her girlfriend was something she was worried about. “I’ve got to go to our room in a little bit to make sure I’ve got everything packed, but I don’t want you fretting over this all night. I know you’re happy to be staying longer. It’s okay to be.” 

Apparently, Chloe was not doing as good as she had hoped when it came to keeping tears out of her eyes. She still averted Noelle’s gaze to keep from completely melting down at this party which was supposed to be a happy gathering. Pulling back, she wiped at her mostly-dry eyes with her sleeve, and took Noelle’s hand. “Auntie Dani was planning on breaking out her baby pictures at some point. If you wanted to catch her, I think I’m ready to face them,” Chloe suggested, focusing on the here and now. It confused her how she could feel so happy, loved, and upset all at once, but here she was. Even admitting that she wanted to go home had not stopped Chloe from feeling way too much all at once. “Why don’t we do that, and then I can’t let you pack up?” Dani’s stash of baby pictures was much more secretive and unknown than Chloe’s dad’s. Chloe herself had only seen them in little batches. “It probably will only take two minutes because she never does too many?”

Baby pictures being brought out was not something she could miss. While she was new at the whole significant other thing, she knew that families showing them to the new girlfriend or boyfriend was a big deal. Skipping that wouldn’t just make Chloe upset, but it would also bring attention she didn’t want. Noelle wasn’t the person who liked to be surrounded when she was upset by things. She liked to handle it on her own, or at the most now, with Chloe. “If you’re ready to handle it, then I don’t think I could pass up the chance at seeing you tiny,” she said playfully. Just the idea of how cute Chloe must have been made her discomfort ease slightly. “Plus, I’ll want to spend as much time as I can with you now, and I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from everyone.” While admitting her fears wasn’t something she could do outright in that moment, she could hint towards how much she would miss her girlfriend. Her own anxiety flaring up concerned her. Perhaps she had been more affected by the disappearances than she thought, and everyone just appearing again didn’t fix it. That was without even touching the abandonment fears her parents instilled in her. That box she would rather burn if she could. “Anything else on your to do list for tonight?” 

Of course Chloe wanted to spend as much time as possible with Noelle. Apart from toilet time, Chloe did not plan on spending much time apart between now and when the flight lifted off the next day. The flight that Chloe would not be on. This thought hurt enough that she had to blink back more tears. “I think I can get through it as long as I have you near me… even though you’re probably the reason the photos are being passed around to begin with,” she said, trying to take control of all of her loud and heartfelt emotions. Fighting a war with herself was not how she planned on spending her last evening with Noelle for two weeks (and after getting back only a couple months ago), but this was how it had to be. In two weeks, Chloe hoped to have all of that nasty homesickness buried for at least a little while longer. Getting to come back was a nice sort of promise to make to herself… but to come back to where? Chloe wished she knew. She tugged at Noelle’s hand in the direction of the rest of the party. “Nothing on the list except for doing our best to enjoy ourselves. And sleeping! But that can wait.”

The pictures were truly delightful, and Noelle made sure to kiss her girlfriend’s cheek or hand whenever she felt her getting too flustered. The veterinarian had tried to make sure that she didn’t show any signs of being upset. She laughed, talked, and made sure to give hugs goodbye when it was time for her to head to end. Their, no her, flight was for early in the morning, and she still had to do a last check before attempting to get some sleep. Although, she suspected the latter would be harder to come by. 

Fortunately, Noelle was a pretty tidy person overall, and she could never leave packing to the last minute, so she had very little to put away. All she needed was a last sweep of the room before she moved towards the bathroom to get ready for bed. Her movements once in there were a little slower than normal. A part of her was actually startled about how she was weary about being apart from someone for two weeks. That’s not a connection she ever thought she would ever feel not that long ago. When she finally emerged, she sat on her side of the bed and sighed lightly. “Make sure to send me your flight details for when you’re coming back, okay? I can make sure I’m there to pick you up at the airport.” It wasn’t much, but she truthfully had zero idea where to start. She knew Chloe wanted to talk, but Noelle didn’t have the slightest clue what else to say since it was all pretty cut and dry. 

Chloe nodded from her spot on the bed. She had already gotten through her part of the nighttime routine, and had been waiting for Noelle to finish up. The rest of the evening had been filled with little touches of anxiety-causing moments. Explaining to her dad that she would need to stay for longer had led to a very long dad hug. Wrapping herself up in a blanket, Chloe started speaking without really thinking too hard about it. “Of course I’ll send you the details. I can even add your email so that you get all the alerts that I do.” She was at least able to look into Noelle’s eyes again, but it still hurt horribly to think that she was only going to be able to see those through a screen for two weeks. “We’ve been doing so much every day here, and I loved that, but I- Sometimes I want to just have days where I don’t have to do anything but cook and have all of my family come home. I always feel so homesick, Elle.”

“That would be great,” she said quietly as she brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Noelle knew that Chloe missed home. She’d heard it multiple times in their time together. Still, something about the way her girlfriend was talking in that moment, but the veterinarian was too scared to voice it. It was so uncharacteristic of her, but she also wasn’t used to giving someone so much power to hurt her before. She knew Chloe would never do so intentionally, but if she decided that London was the only home she could ever see having, then what did it mean for them? The threat of the kidnappings was gone, so there wasn’t anything keeping her from going back home anymore. Her father’s safety had always been her priority. “I understand that,” she finally managed to get out. “I don’t like seeing you hurting. I’ve never seen you as happy as I have since we’ve been here. I just wish you talked to me about it more or sooner.” Maybe if they talked more, Noelle would know more what to expect. Instead, she was putting together jagged pieces of information and wondering if she and the rest of Icaria would ever be able to make Chloe truly happy. 

“You are absolutely right,” Chloe said, curling herself further into the blanket. “I should have told you what I wanted. Truthfully, I always thought I would move back home after the danger from the disappearances was resolved. I didn’t think they would ever be, uhm, fixed. A lot has changed in the last year for me, uh, so it’s been more difficult to explain?” Her voice was a little muffled through the blanket. “I love you so much, but I have to figure out what being home means to me a little better now that I get the chance to have it back. I have been happier. And I’ve been so happy to have you with me.” She could not quite figure out how to say that she wanted to be here with Noelle and have her happily ever after, even though it was a little more complicated than that. “I’ve been wanting you to tell me things, and I haven’t been telling you enough.”

At Chloe’s words, Noelle felt her spine unconsciously straighten as she froze. Move back to London? How had that not been something they talked about? Chloe spoke about how much she wanted a serious relationship, and yet, that wasn’t something she felt the veterinarian needed to know. It hurt and confused the woman. “I’ve heard that I love you followed by a but is never a good thing,” she said as she rested her head against her knees. There were so many things she wanted to say, but what surprised her most was how sadness was the first emotion to come forward instead of anger. She was typically such a hot head, or well, zap head, but she didn’t feel the urge to hurt Chloe verbally or in any way. “Chlo, I just — how did you think I didn’t deserve to know that you had always imagined moving back here after the kidnappings? Or maybe didn’t deserve isn’t the word, but I just — what does that mean for us?” It wasn’t fair, but she’d feel like a petulant child if she voiced that out loud. Hadn’t she learned long ago that life rarely was? As moisture gathered in the back of her eyes, she turned her head away to face the opposite wall and took in a deep breath. Gods, she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d cried in front of someone. 

Chloe would have probably sworn if she was the kind of person that swore when things went wrong. But she wasn’t. So all she could think was, I’m an idiot. All of my teachers were right. I don’t deserve to be happy, and now I make everyone around me miserable. It was not exactly possible to curl further into herself and the blanket, but Chloe certainly tried. She had messed up so badly. Even though Ava had told her that she should tell Noelle this, the timing never quite seemed right. Every now and again, Chloe wondered when she should bring it up because she did owe it to Noelle. But she kept putting that off, telling herself that everything would work out fine. How exactly it would all be fine without admitting something important was up in the air, but she kept telling herself that. Which was lying. “Uhm. I- It, uh…” Words failed her completely. “In two weeks, uhm, I’m going to come back to you. Because I know I’ve never loved anybody else like I love you. It’s not an excuse, but I need these two weeks. I can… put off the two weeks for longer, but it means everything to me to- to be home again.” She was crying, but she always cried, so what was new about that?

Noelle took a deep breath and slowly released it. Making Chloe upset wasn’t her intention. She just — she didn’t understand. Out of the two of them, her girlfriend had always been the one to communicate well. The idea that she’d kept something so big out of their relationship just didn’t make much sense. “No,” she said with a. Shake of her head. “I don’t want you to put it off because all I’ll be doing is worrying about what you’ll decide when you do and walking on eggshells,” she admitted honestly. That amount of anxiety wouldn’t go well with her already hostile temperament. “What if being in Icaria won’t make you happy, Chlo? What am I —“ she started but stopped herself. Instead, she unwrapped her arms from around her legs and scooted closer towards her girlfriend. Fighting wasn’t how she wanted to spend their time together. “I love you. You’ve said it twice now, and I don’t want you to think I have stopped loving you or something else equally as doomsday. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how you feel after staying home longer.” 

Chloe could voice her love every hour of every day, and still not feel like it was enough times. It was such an important truth to her, that it did not strike her as something stressful until Noelle pointed it out for this particular conversation. She reached out a hand when Noelle came closer, but did not quite uncurl from her blanket sphere. “Whatever happens here… That isn’t going to change the way I feel about you. I want to move in with you, and I want to share my life with you,” Chloe said, starting to cry even more when her feelings kicked into overdrive. She felt everything so strongly, it was like trying to stick a hand into the fire. The good warmth turned quickly into pain. There was no way that she could have everything she wanted at the same time, so she needed to get her head together. “Waiting is all we can do… I’ll tell you everything I’m feeling- as it happens, if you would like me to? All of the ideas I have. And feelings. I don’t want you to miss anything important, if it’ll help.”

At the sight of Chloe’s hand, Noelle reached for it without even thinking about it and intertwined their fingers. “And I want you happy and not feeling like you’re missing out on the place you really want to be when you’re with me,” she answered truthfully. Being selfish with Chloe wasn’t something she could allow herself to do. Long distance was something she truly didn’t believe worked, but she’d try it if it was necessary. The vet just wished she’d had more time to absorb everything and what it could mean before they put things into action. “I don’t want you worrying about me the whole time you’re here. You can’t split yourself in two, Chlo. If being here is what you need to figure things out, then I want you to do that. It won’t do either of us any good if you don’t know what you need.” 

Chloe just about melted when their fingers intertwined, and she gave up on being in isolation. It was difficult to be far apart from Noelle for long when her girlfriend was right there. Chloe curled into Noelle’s shoulder, and hoped that she would not be pushed away. “I’ll worry about you no matter what. You know that, don’t you? I’ll talk to you every day at the very least- if you can make the time for me, and- and we can talk about feelings. And do whatever we can to get our happy ending.” She didn’t want to have to be sad anymore. She wanted to not be so out of touch with home, and feel fulfilled. And to be able to support her friends. It was a pretty substantial list, but she wanted to see how much of it she could get. “Cuddling into you is the best feeling in the world, though. I’m going to miss that.”

Feeling her girlfriend curl into her made Noelle feel better as she leaned her head against the one on her shoulder. “Make time for you,” she asked incredulously. “Chlo, you’re my girlfriend. I won’t ever squeeze you into my schedule. My schedule works around you.” Making Chloe feel second to anything wasn’t ever something that Noelle would do if she could help it. “I’ll be there for you, Chlo.” A small smile did form on the woman’s face at her girlfriend’s last words. They were just so Chloe. “You’ve turned me into someone who cuddles. I’ll let you know when I land tomorrow, and then we’ll just figure everything else out.” She sounded much more confident about it all than she felt, but there wasn’t much they could do that evening. Chloe needed to figure things out on her own. All Noelle could do was hope that it didn’t lead to them spending more time apart than together. 

Chloe felt more tense than she wanted to be, but this was the best outcome that she could have asked for with what was known so far. “But make sure I’m not forcing you to do anything you don’t want me to, okay?” Her chest started to hurt, but she hoped that everything would end up working out. She did not think that she could take another heartbreak when everything had almost been so perfect. “I didn’t turn you into anything. Maybe you just wanted cuddles all along, but didn’t know how,” Chloe said, not wanting this to come off as teasing. It was an earnest belief. She pressed a kiss where she could reach (shoulder), and did her best to relax. While Chloe typically did not sleep that much, she hoped that the number would not drop down to zero this time. She was so in love and in so much mental anguish at the same time that it was difficult to get anything else done.