#railway to heaven

[pinky-lemon]

biblically accurate emmet!??

[wanted to do an angel au for him, made a sketch one day and forgot about it. finally got up and colored it in and it really didnt need to go as hard as it needed to be but i suppose that's him!!]

[edwards-exploit]

The Bournemouth Belle, and The Last Shunter.

More OCs! SteamNav and Missus are rather new so some info might be subject to change, and they were AU versions of certain characters (3 points if you guess who) buuut they spiralled into new characters. SteamNav is tranquil fury incarnate, trying to take control of his life after so long being something humans have tinkered with and throwing herself into making Incredibly Bad Descisions; and Missus can and will judge your (engine) sins, but she keeps losing at poker and that's why Sodor is so damn haunted. If anyone has any more questions or just want to help me brainstorm send me an ask and I'll answer :]

[5water-kohaku]

Another video of collection of things I love, simply like to look at, or looking forward to. XD With the song "River of Blood" by Huang Xiaoyun.

Qin's Moon (Animation TV series)

9 Songs of the Moving Heavens (Animation TV series)

Legendary Twins (Animation TV series)

The Ravages of Time (Animation TV series)

The Demon Hunter (Animation TV series)

THRUD (Animation TV series)

Green Snake (Animation movie)

New Gods: Yang Jian (Animation movie)

Honkai: Star Railway (Video game)

Punishing: Gray Raven (Video game)

Black Myth: Wukong (Video game)

Where Winds Meet (Video game)

Condor Heroes (Video game)

Project: The Perceiver (Video game)

Aether Gazer (Video game)

Gujian 3 (Video game)

I would have added Moonlight Blade Mobile too, but I think I'll wait until I have more clips or something.

This upload focuses only on Chinese animation and Chinese video games. It's because the list was pretty long already and I didn't want to squeeze in the others.

This song is from (or is for) a mobile game titled Justice Online/逆水寒. Probably a promotion song for it. I got curious about the lyrics and ended up giving it a rough translation.

[namachuki]

She

[onlyfr8love]

[karmaphone]

call me whiny but they really didn't need to make the travois that restrictive

[dryndelicate]

Now Goths probably have their very own style of being cheerful, but we find our Gothic Queen fully living out the Friday Blues. For heaven's sake, get off those railway tracks!

Portraits of @gothicgirlh-9 used with kind permission.

[gothlcsan]

RAILWAY TO HEAVEN 𝜗𝜚 YUTA NAKAMOTO

PAIRING sub!yuta dom!afab!reader

GENRE 18+ smut

SYNOPSIS exhibitionist Yuta who tries so hard not to get hard after work going home on the train. He can’t help it though when his dick accidentally rubs against someone’s ass or their body brushes against his

WORD COUNT 2031

WARNINGS dubious consent, cock slapping, exhibitionism, trains, fingering (pussy), guidance kink, virginity kink, loss of virginity, lib biting, teasing, hair pulling, safe sex !!!!

a/n pulled this from my ao3 account ,, i hope you enjoy it the same . ̫ . please consider liking, reblogging, and sending requests !!

You first meet Yuta on your way home after work, trying to hide your face as he stands in front of you, his knees hitting against yours as you’re sitting in a seat. It’s a warm summer day, fanning yourself with papers as you try to ignore the knees touching yours. The bus was crowded, which within itself isn’t out of the ordinary for a Monday evening, hardly any room to breathe let alone stand. This is quickly proven as the bus shakes, his body falling slightly forward, his clothed bulge centimeters from your face.You’re surprised at first but not entirely bothered by the accidental intrusion. He recognizes your shock, leaning back quickly, his face beyond red apologizing, but the growing bulge intrigues you. Tapping his thigh, he seems to ignore you, probably assuming you planned on yelling at him. You smile amused from having to tug on his pant leg to grab his attention, motioning him to bend down, his face bright red and starting to turn away. He was seemingly shy which made the chase even more thrilling for you.

“Don’t be shy, come here,” you say, smiling as he leans down. placing a hand dangerously close to his dick, giving him an innocent smile, watching him look around and squirm.

“What’s your name?”

He bites his lip, leaving you convinced he won’t say anything until a small voice comes from him, his legs practically trembling as you rub your hand up and down his thigh.

“Yuta..” he barely says over a whisper. Cooing at him for being so cute, watching him as he moves his hips, making his clothed dick rub against your hand. He apologizes profusely, going to move away but you’re quicker, grabbing onto his wrist and pulling him back, shooting him a faux glare. He blushes as you demand him to get off with you at your stop, whispering a faint, “good boy” into his ear as he helps you down onto the platform, walking alongside you to your apartment. The walk is quiet, keeping your hand in his to ensure that he doesn’t run away, reaching your apartment letting him inside first. He’s shy, awkwardly standing in your small living room, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. He doesn’t know why he followed you home, questioning why he listened at all but he was so intrigued in your confidence he couldn’t help but listen. Yuta yelps in surprise, ripped from his thoughts, when you wrap your arms around his torso, undoing his belt and button to his work slacks. At first he tries to push you off, you only tightening your grip as you yank the pants to his ankles; his dick falling out instantly.

“You’re not wearing anything under there are you,” you fake gasp, giving his dick a tiny slap, it instantly hardens at the contact. He groans, shaking his head, already becoming compliant despite trying to fight it, kicking his legs. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t last much longer as you start jerking him off, your other hand pinching and rolling his pretty nipples between your fingers, his cries and begs filling the room. The fight in him was lost in the pleasure of not caring anymore that he said no, now begging for more. Pressing a kiss on the side of his cheek, laughing sadistically as you spoke to him with a hint of taunting.

“See, it feels so good right? There was no need for you to struggle, hm?”

Yuta’s knees fold inward pressed together, slumping forward as he nods, inhaling sharply through his teeth as you yank his head back by his hair.

“I asked you a question.”

He trembles in your arms, finally managing a, “Yes Ma’am,” before he’s clinging to your arm for support, trying to not cum instantly. He seems to forget that he doesn’t know your name as he’s being dropped to the ground, looking up at you with tears in the corner of his eyes, biting down on his lip to hold them back. You squat down in front of him, placing his chin between your forefinger and thumb moving his face from side to side studying him. You hadn’t actually expected him to come this far with you, let alone get off the train, so this was an opportunity you weren’t letting go to waste. Using the hand on his chin, you lean forward and press a kiss to his lips, soft and faintly scented strawberry. He’s cuter than you imagined. This makes you feel excited, pushing him back to lay flat on his back, the heated flooring warm under your knees as you crawl on top of him to straddle his hips. Yuta’s eyes widen as you take your blouse off, lacey bra in full view for him, the top nearly spilling out.

“Have you ever touched a woman before,” you teased, grabbing his hands to place on your chest making him squeeze them. He shakes his head face so red in embarrassment you almost expected him to pass out, leaning down to kiss his cheek sweetly.

“That’s okay, baby, I’ll teach you.”

You move away from him, telling him to follow as you make your way into your bedroom from the small hallway. Yuta stands at the doorway for a few seconds before you scoff, motioning him to come inside, teasing him by saying you weren’t going to hurt him that badly; earning a squeak from him as he slips into the room. Despite him being tall he was so cute that you wanted to hide him from the world for only you to see. He’s slow at first to follow you to the bed, having to hold his hand to climb into it as you’re positioning yourself prompt against your pillows, telling him to come closer. Guiding his hand you show him how to undo your skirt, lifting your hips as he inches it down your legs and mindlessly discarded onto the floor. He looks at your matching panties before looking up asking for permission to touch, which you decide to grant him wanting to see what he had in mind. It’s obvious he’s a virgin but he’s naturally good with his hands, softly touching you through the thin lace fabric, making a wet patch form under his fingers.

“You want to fuck me, hm,” you asked as he moved your panties to the side, making him nod with a blush. Reaching into your nightstand you take out a condom and bottle of lube, telling him to stay still. You guide the condom onto him, his legs trembling from the sensation, you nearly wanted to almost rip the whole condom off, just let him breed you but it was too early for that, deciding to play it safe. Reaching for the lube you spread a generous amount, jerking him off so he’s nice and coated. Having him watch as you take your lube covered fingers, speeding yourself as you start slowly fingering yourself open to make it easier to take him, loving the way he was flushed red, his dick twitching at the sight. Yuta paying attention so attentively, his dick twitching with each wet squelch of your fingers delving deeper into you. Once you’ve decided you’re nicely prepped, you beckon him forward, removing your fingers with a light sigh.

“Be gentle, okay,” you tell him while helping guide him, the tip of his dick brushing up against your clit. This earns a moan from you, reaching down to guide him to your hole, groaning loudly as he manages to slip the tip in. It takes you a moment to regain your senses, telling him to slowly start pushing in and out, hooking your legs over his to keep him in place. Yuta’s pace is messy but slow, grabbing his hips to help pace him, making sure to remind him he’s such a good boy for learning. He thanks you, babbling how good it feels to be inside you, crying out when you bring him down slightly to lick and bite his nipples. Stopping for a second to process what you’re doing, Yuta regains his thrusts, moaning into your neck as you abuse his now swollen nipples. Each swipe of your tongue makes him moan in pleasure trying to not cum without your permission but he’s so close already, gripping the sheets next to your head as a way to ground himself. You trade your mouth for your fingers, flicking the wet buds as he continues to thrust into you, his pretty sounds louder every second you deny him of his orgasm. You’re selfish, wanting to hear Yuta’s cries and strained moans forever, tightening around him to remind him that he wasn’t allowed just yet; moving one hand to grip his arm.

You chase his lips to a kiss, moaning into each other’s mouths as you both reach your breaking points, the hand playing with his nipple encouraging him fuck into you faster; harder. His hands feel so godly touching your body, tangling in your hair as he kisses you, making your toes curl in excitement. The pleasure is too much for you to hold back much longer, your thighs red and sore from how hard he was slamming against them. He moans into your mouth when you beg him to cum, your own broken moans being swallowed by Yuta, cumming around him as he fills out the condom. Shakiky cupping his jaw in your hand you kiss him gently, his lips quivering as he pulls out, a proud smirk on your face when he moans loudly from you biting his bottom lip with a tug.

“ You’re such a good boy, hm, you did so good.”

Yuta shivers from the praise, thanking you alongside planting a small kiss against your lips. Staring up at him in awe of something in you making your stomach ignite with fire, he’s so pretty, so fuckable. Apologizing, you hook your legs around his, flipping him onto his back so you’re on top again, straddling him. He’s taken aback at first but accepts it once you start gyrating your hips against his semi hard dick. Hands running up your stomach to cup your breasts, you sigh as he squeezes them between his fingers, lifting your hips up to slide down onto Yuta’s dick. Lust takes over as you start lifting your hips up, slamming back down with a grunt, picking up pace eagerly. Mixture of moans and skin slapping against skin fills the room, Yuta’s hands spreading your ass as you ride him, saliva covered lips working in harmony. Both are spent, panting into each other's mouth but so drunk on one another you can’t stop, cumming for the second time as he rams into you ruthlessly. Yuta reaches his high, clinging to you as he cums, his twitching dick making you gasp, wanting this to never end. Placing a kiss on his nose, you smile, fixing the sweat matted hairs sticking to his forehead away from his face.

“What’s your name,” he asks, making you laugh realizing you never gave it to him, instead giving him two orgasms and losing his virginity. Telling him, he nods, saying it’s pretty but he’ll stick with ma’am in the bedroom earning a playful smack against his left pec. Convincing each other to get up and clean, you give him your number as he’s leaving, blushing happily as he leans down to kiss you. Bidding him a goodbye and closing the door to your apartment, you sprint to climb back into bed, kicking your feet as you inhale the smell of his cologne stuck in your pillowcases; thanking the unbearable crowded bus for bringing you two together. Throwing the pillow onto the ground as your phone goes off, giggling at the selfie Yuta took in the back of the taxi with a goodnight message attached with it. Yes, it had been decided, he would be stuck with you for life, wishing him goodnight before turning over to wrap yourself around a different pillow already missing his touch.

I’ll have him come over tomorrow, you tell yourself before nodding off, content and spent from your eventful evening.

[george228732]

Hero of Darkness - Dedede Campanello

Decided to make reference sheets of the characters in digital now that I'm not that depressed lmao

Fun facts:

Dedede has a Dark Matter Mouth now! And he's able to use it in different ways. First off, to eat even more than before, because duh, it's Dedede, but he's also able to store items and even people in there like a pocket dimension. Tongue included! (No one knows if it's sentient or not)

He's also the Owner of the Diamond Spear, having the essence of the Hero that came before him! He knows this is a responsibility he has to carry but he doesn't take it that seriously after everything is over.

He has overcome his trauma of Dark Matter, which started not with his possessions but rather Dark Matter being responsible for turning his family into the same matter. (His dad is Dark Matter Swordsman).

Dedede is inspired by a character called Campanella in Night on the Galactic Railway;

The story goes about two friends that when they fell asleep, they boarded a train that sent them to space to watch constellations, and the train eventually stopped, only to see that they had arrived in christian heaven. Campanella leaves the train since she saw one of her dead familiars in there, and when the other friend wakes up, Giovanni, it's revealed that Campanella died in real life by drowning, trying to save someone that fell off a boat

He's a Himbo! Because of course he is.

He's happily married to Meta Knight! Because of course he is.

Dedede is a direct reference and role of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Sloth.

[skycowboys]

Hello, I adore your work, I was wondering in this world does any other form of transportation exist such as locomotives 🚂 (I’m an avid Railway/rail fan enthusiast and considering there were races between horses and the earliest locomotives, with horses and other four legged critters helping building the lines before being replaced) I feel like these “iron horses” wouldn’t exactly be much of a threat.

Hello!

That's so cool. Trains are so cool. I seriously wish we had more of them here in America - both historical trains and tracks but also highspeed rail. I will die and go to heaven of happiness the moment I can take a reliable train to a destination other than the metrodome on a Twins game day sob.

The old west history of trains is fascinating and a little tragic, but yeah you're correct about the SC world. Due to the chasms, trains aren't really that viable for cross-country travel and shipping of goods. Here's a quick rail line theoretical -

The main cities are circled in purple -

West/North/South Rook and Southcut are a farming and nymbak center due to the relatively large swaths of unbroken land and the river.

Denavi and Oakridge are known for their timber (and Denavi for lightning fish products).

Woodloch and Vale have universities.

Slipshod and Carver Canyon Falls are known for their mining, and the area north of Carver Canyon is another bread basket.

Almost all the space in between is free-range farm, timber, and livestock land.

I've drawn potential rail lines between them and you can see all of, uh, the problems lol. If there would be a maintained line, it'd be in the middle of the farmland north of the Rooks to transport grains southward to the Rooks, but people are so accustomed to skimmers (flying pegasi pulling wheeled carts on the ground) and shortwings pulling carts along paved roads, it'd be hard to convince them to put in rail lines. The people of SC are used to using what's in their local area to make a good living for themselves, supplemented with goods and knowhow brought in by pilots and trade routes supported by bridge and cable cars.

Eventually I want to make a map that includes bridges and cable cars because that might switch this up a bit, but first I gotta finish the book :)

But yeah, the pegasus is the main mode of transportation in the SC world, and other than footpaths there aren't really any others that get close to the popularity and efficiency of pegasus-centered methods.

~ Larn

[brotrustmeicanwrite]

I fucking hate AI but heavens would it be useful if it wasn't such an unethical shit show

First, just to be clear, I'm talking about actually using AI as a tool to support your writing process, not to generate soulless texts made from stolen data instead of writing yourself.

Back when ChatGPT first became available it was still pretty useless so I had a lot of time to learn about how it's made, how it works and the ethics of it before ever touching the technology. I decided pretty quickly to never use it to generate text (or images) for actual writing and art but I still wanted to experiment with what else it could do (because I'm a nosy bitch that needs to know and poke everything).

And HEAVENS was it a blessing for writing with adhd

The last time I wrote more than 200 words in a day (outside of school work obviously) was 7th grade. I wrote over 8k just in notes the day Google's "Gemini" (formerly "Bard") became available to the public.

In order to not jeopardize my existing work I decided to make a completely new story with Bard's help that wasn't linked in any way to anything I had made before. So I started with a prompt along the lines of "I need help writing a story". At first, it immediately started generating a completely random story about a green tiger but after some trial and error, I got it to instead start asking questions.

What do you want the theme of your story to be?

What genre do you want to write in?

What time period do you want your story to take place in?

Is there magic?

Are there other sentient creatures besides humans?

And so on and so forth. Until the questions became extremely specific after covering all the bases. I could tell that all I was doing was essentially talking to an amalgamation of every "how to write" blog and website you've ever seen and telling it which part I wanted to work on next but it still felt great because the AI didn't actually contribute anything besides a few suggestions of common tropes and themes here and some synonyms and related words there; I was doing all the work.

And that's the point.

Nothing in that exchange was something I couldn't easily do on my own. But what happened was that I had turned what is usually a chaotic mess of a railway network of thoughts into a clear and most importantly recorded conversation. I can sit down and answer all those questions on my own but what usually happens when I do, is that every thought I have branches out into 4-7 new ones which I then attempt to record all at once (which obviously doesn't work, yay adhd) only to end up lost in thought with maybe 20 lines of notes in total after 6 hours at the table. Alternatively, either because I get bored or just because, I get distracted by something or my own thoughts about a different unrelated topic and end up with even less.

Working within the boundaries of a conversation forces you to focus on one specific question at a time and answer it to progress. And the engagement from the back and forth is just enough entertainment to not get bored. The six hours I mentioned before is the time I spent chatting with what is essentially a glorified chatbot that day, way less time than what I spent on any other project, and yet I have more notes and a clearer image of the story than I do about any of my real work. I have a recorded train of thought.

In theory, this would also work with a real human in a real conversation but realistically only very few people have someone who would be willing to do that; I certainly don't have a someone like that. Not to mention that someone doesn't always have time. Besides that, a real human conversation involves two minds with their own ideas, both of which are trying to contribute their own thoughts and opinions equally. The type of AI chat that I experimented with, on the other hand, is essentially just the conversation you have with yourself when answering those questions, only with part of it outsourced to a computer and no one else butting into your train of thought.

On that note, I also tried to get it to critique my writing but besides fixing grammatical errors all that thing did was sing praises as if I was God. That's where you'll 100000% need humans.

tl;dr writing with AI as an assistant has basically the same effect as body doubling but it’s an unethical shit show so I’m not doing it again. Also I forgot to mention I did repeat the experiment for accuracy with different amount of spoons and it makes me extra bitter that is was very consistent

[generouskittentidalwave]

LMK FANDOM I AM GRABBING YOU BY THE THROAT AGAIN ONCE MORE BECAUSE APPARENTLY YOU GUYS CAN'T LEARN YOUR LESSON AFTER THE FIRST GO AROUND.

LISTEN CLOSE AS NOW I NEED TO GET THIS 0UT THERE AS WELL

TRIPITAKA WAS *NOT* AN ABUSER FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE

I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY HAVE TO *SIT* HERE AND TYPE OUT A POST FOR THIS

Look, listen up for those of you who like to skip your way into assumption station to hop on the fill your angsty desires train, let me be the railway closing sign for you for a moment here.

TRIPITAKA CARED FOR WUKONG JUST AS MUCH AS WUKONG CARED FOR HIM.

Oh my god, shocker! I know!/s

Tripitaka, this cool yet cowardly and sensitive fella was the one tasked with putting the circlet on Wukong because he had no power to STOP him, like at all. That circlet was the only thing Tripitaka had that, and I can't believe I have to even say this, DID NOT CONTROL WUKONG, but was able to keep him from harming others. The circlet, when the tightening spell was said, would enclose around his head causing him great head pain. This was used for when he did something bad or if he needed to be stopped from killing someone because he was a wild monkey with no understanding of human morals yet that did not know any better that was given SO MUCH POWER to the point that the circlet was the ONLY thing able to keep him reigned in if he went wild, especially sense the monk was powerless to stop him himself. AND HERE'S THE REAL KICKER, THE MONK EVEN TRIED TO TAKE IT OFF DURING THEIR JOURNEY AND COULDN'T, NO MATTER HOW HARD HE TRIED.

Did the monk sometimes make a mistake or two with the circlet on occasion? Yes. Did he sometimes make a mistake in general? Yes. Did he do that intentionally? NO. It's called being human, it's called not being perfect, but that didn't make him any less of a good guy. AND WUKONG CARED FOR HIM WITH EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING NOT BECAUSE THE "CIRCLET WAS MAKING HIM" BUT BECAUSE TRIPITAKA WAS HIS FIRST REAL FRIEND THAT GENUINELY CARED ABOUT HIM TO HELP HIM ON A GOOD PATH. WUKONG WAS GIVEN MANY CHANCES TO LEAVE AND NOT COME BACK DURING THE JOURNEY, BUT HE CAME BACK ANYWAY FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HELPING HIS FRIENDS. FOR HELPING THE MONK. EACH AND EVERY TIME.

TRIPITAKA FOUND WUKONG, BAJIE, WUJING, THREE CREATURES WHO HE GAVE A CHANCE TO BECOME BETTER AND THEY ALL LOVED HIM ALL THE MORE FOR IT. Tripitaka gave them a chance to be the good people that they could be. He helped bring them all together. Together, he made them all a family. Wukong sees them all as his family. They are his family.

Neither Wukong or Tripitaka were perfect, they made mistakes, the two had their arguments here and there, but none of that was ever able to shake their relationship. Never. With every argument that seperated them, Wukong always came back and the two apologized. Wukong always chose to stay by Tripitaka's side. He chose to be, dare I say it, Tripitaka's BEST friend.

He was not his slave, he was not treated as an attack dog. Macaque said it himself, Wukong and the others were on a path of self destruction, himself and the brotherhood included, and it was Tripitaka who helped Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing onto a good path. It was Tripitaka that brought them together and showed them what it truly means to have not just friends, but a family.

Before this Wukong had Azure who basically pushed his own thoughts on the celestial rule onto Wukong which kept fuelling him up for something that he shouldn't have been, Peng, Yellow Tusk, and DBK did the same thing, up until they left Wukong after the war was lost and he got imprisoned. Macaque followed Wukong and supported him in something that he shouldn't have despite expressing his concerns towards it before again, just like the others, abandoning him once the battle was lost and Wukong got imprisoned. Wukong was surrounded with people in his life who were not very good people. But Tripitaka was NOT like them. He didn't fuel Wukong with his own desires, he didn't follow him only to leave when the tide's turned. He taught him about morals, helped teach him the many things he knew that helped Wukong become a better person rather than purposely straying him from it. He gave him care, appreciation, genuine kindness, and true friendship. And the other three in the group showed him true friendship as well.

Tripitaka was Wukong's truest oldest friend, his teacher, and his master. They were inseparable and always will be, even if he can't be with Wukong in person anymore. Wukong cares for Tripitaka deeply and Tripitaka cares deeply for Wukong, and no amount of the fandom being the fandom is EVER going to change that.

[meanscarletdeceiver]

For, you understand, the Caley was beyond the pale. The North British were a queer folk, an outlandish folk, but our allies, and we tolerated them; but the Caley, oh Heavens, no! ... We hear the old fighting ring in the last verse and line of the famous poem that The Cuckoo made when he fired to Joe Dinwiddie at Dumfries on 259, the Stirling 0-4-2:

🎵 'We left St. Enoch station, our time was eight-sixteen. The electric light was shining: her beauty there was seen. We ran our miles so speedily and reached Dumfries at time, And we beat the Caledonian with the Two-Five-Nine!'

- Tales of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, David L. Smith

[whitedarkmoonflower]

Hi, I loved your modern!Sihtric fic. Would you mind writing some more modern!Sihtric fics? I can imagine Sihtric and reader meeting by chance on a train. It could get fluffy and even hot and smutty, but no angst this time. OK? Can you do it?

Pairing: Sihtric x reader

Authors note: thank you so much for this lovely request! It was a real challenge for me - no angst, but lots of fluff and smut as requested😅 But as I already said before - I love challenges and I really enjoyed writing this so much, that I was surprised myself.

Warnings: 18+, SMUT, fluff, oral sex (f receiving)

Word Count: 5,657

Strangers on a Train

The impulsive decision to escape Paris and find solace at your best friend's haven in Milan was made in a mere five minutes, and within two hours, you found yourself settled aboard the train.

"I've squandered two whole years of my life on that insufferable wretch," you lamented, your tearful voice echoing through the phone screen as you recounted the breakup to your best friend, Gisela. "He lacked even a shred of courage to face me in person. A text message was all it took."

"Darling, he never truly deserved you. I've repeated that countless times. You're leagues beyond him, deserving of so much more," Gisela tried to comfort you, though her efforts seemed to fall short.

“Have you ever been dumped by a text message?” you wailed, not even listening to Gisela.

“Hey, that's enough. Please, stop it,” Gisela demanded, her patience wearing thin with your continued self- remorse, “You need a break and I've got the perfect solution. Why not come visit me for a few days? You’ve been promising that to me for almost a year, but never did because of that despicable excuse of a boyfriend. He refused to let you go alone, but never had time to come with you. Now's your chance—seize the freedom to do whatever your heart desires with your newfound time."

"What?" your attention finally honed in on Gisela's words. "You mean to travel to Milan? Now?"

"Thank the heavens! You're finally listening, aren't you?" Gisela's brow furrowed on the screen. "Yes, I'm suggesting a weekend getaway to Milan. It's Thursday, and if you’re quick enough, you could be aboard the train within hours, arriving in Milan by tomorrow morning."

You searched for reasons to counter this unexpected proposal, but none came to mind. You were on vacation, intended for hiking with your now-ex-boyfriend. That was before his text shattered your world, informing you of his escapade to Majorca with his newfound girlfriend. Although the message struck like a bolt of lightning, deep down, you'd already sensed that something was wrong.

The past month had been an odd stretch, with him spinning countless excuses and no inclination to spend time with you. The tipping point arrived when he forgot your birthday the previous week—a glaring sign that you just didn’t want to see, comforting yourself that he had a lot of work and assuming that all would be set right during your shared vacation. 

Consequently, you found yourself marooned within a sprawling, sweltering metropolis during the peak of summer, grappling with an absence of plans. 

"Damn, why not?" you exclaimed, witnessing a wide grin forming on Gisela's lips. "You know what? I'm in!"

And so, the choice was made. The next hour whirled by as you hastily packed your backpack and cross-checked the train schedules. Gisela proved right; a train to Milan was scheduled to depart in two hours. Swiftly securing your ticket, you seized your backpack and stormed out of your compact apartment into the lively evening streets of the city.

Securing a taxi at this hour had always been a nightmare, but your options were limited, there was no other way to get to the railway station on time. After several failed attempts that almost drained your hope, a car pulled up a little ways down the street.

Your eyes gleamed as you rushed towards the taxi, only to notice someone else, a hundred metres ahead, hoisting their backpack and heading towards the same vehicle you intended to claim. It was a race against time. Determined to reach the taxi first, you quickened your pace and arrived just as the stranger did. You flung open the door, sliding into the back seat with a sigh of relief.

"To the train station," you breathed out audibly, casting a triumphant look at the surprised and frustrated expression on the stranger's face as the taxi surged forward, leaving him behind. Despite his evident disappointment, you couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. His rucksack and what appeared to be ticket printouts hinted that he was probably heading the same direction as you. You could have shared the ride, but now it was already too late; the taxi was already gaining speed.

Glancing back through the rear window, you noticed the stranger possessed a uniquely wild haircut. Black waves cascaded over one side of his head, obscuring his eye, while the other side was shaved clean, embellished with beads and pearls woven into the hairline.

Luckily, you didn’t get stuck in any traffic jam and reached the station in time, even managing to snag sandwiches and coffee before boarding. Sliding open the compartment door specified on your ticket, you breathed a sigh of relief. It was empty. The thought of spending the next ten hours sharing close quarters with strangers didn't appeal to you. Your natural timidity favoured solitude over company. Gisela, your complete opposite, always cheery and ready to engage anyone in conversation, had often teased you about it and joked that you’ll never find a boyfriend. This might have contributed to your unreasonable attachment to your now-ex. Opening up to people and forging connections wasn't easy for you. 

With a book in hand and your rucksack stowed away, you settled near the window, placing your meal and coffee on the small table. Just as you had made yourself comfortable and delved into your book, the compartment door slid open forcefully, relieving a man who seemed to struggle for breath as the train's jolting departure made him stagger.

Raising your gaze, you were met with an intense stare from a pair of mismatched eyes. They scanned you from head to toe, leaving you momentarily breathless. You caught yourself thinking that you have never seen such beautiful eyes before. A slight blush warmed your cheeks under his penetrating scrutiny. The stranger was undeniably handsome, his face was marked by a strong jawline, full lips, and a partial beard and moustache, along with a hint of eyeliner that accentuated his arresting eyes, adding a hint of mysteriousness to his appearance. Something felt inexplicably familiar about him. Then your gaze fell on his haircut and a realisation struck in, widening your eyes in disbelief: this was the same man you had outpaced in the frantic race for the taxi.

"Good evening, my lovely taxi rival," he greeted you, a smirk playing on his lips and echoing in his eyes. The velvety timbre of his voice sent shivers down your spine. 

A shy "Hi" was all you could manage, still paralysed by his gaze. 

As he settled in, his presence seemed to fill the compartment entirely, leaving you with little space. He hoisted his substantial backpack into the overhead compartment, revealing taut biceps that flexed enticingly. An aura of raw masculinity surrounded his lean, muscular form, broad shoulders, and expansive chest. A longing flickered within you, imagining how his arms might feel wrapped around your waist, his lips tracing your neck and you shook your head trying to chase away this ludicrous image.

"I'm Sihtric," the stranger introduced himself, taking a seat opposite you and unabashedly inspecting your features. "You're the reason I got an unexpected workout tonight. Just one more minute and I would've missed the train," he continued, leaning against the window.

"I’m travelling the whole way to Milan, and you?" he inquired nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise as a heavy sigh escaped your lips. You just realised that you were about to share this compact compartment with him for the next ten hours. It was a completely new sensation for you. You felt drawn to this handsome stranger as a moth to a burning lamp. OK, you hadn’t had sex for more than a month, but was it a reason enough to feel aroused by the simple sound of his voice?

"Lady, I apologise.  I didn’t mean to be intrusive. If you'd prefer silence, that's perfectly fine. You won't hear a peep from me," Sihtric offered, his shoulders lifting in a shrug. He interpreted your sigh and continued silence as signs that you wished to be left alone.

"Oh, no, no. That's not what I meant," you finally broke free from your stupor, your words hesitating. "And I'm sorry about the taxi incident. If I'd known we were going in the same direction, we could've shared the ride."

You bit your lower lip, uncertain how to navigate the conversation. Your mind spun as you drank in his captivating features. You yearned for him to say something, his mellifluous voice driving you absolutely crazy. Yet, your mind blanked out, consumed by the single desire to rise from your seat and press your lips against his.

A satisfied smile tugged at Sihtric's lips as he heard your voice. He couldn't recall ever being so smitten by somebody from the very first sight. Struggling to refocus on the conversation, his gaze remained fixed on your lips—so red, full and inviting. With each passing moment, his jeans grew tighter, painfully restraining him, an uncomfortable sensation he tried to suppress as he observed you nibbling your lower lip. How had he ended up on this train with you, such a gorgeous creature who had him entranced from the very beginning?

"So, where are you off to, my beautiful lady?" he flirted, his words stumbling out slowly, his composure waning. He didn't want to scare you off, coming across as some crazed maniac, yet his imagination ran wild. He pictured himself removing your shirt to reveal your breasts, his fingers trailing down your spine as he unhooked your bra, his lips peppering your neck, collarbone, and lower still.

“I’m visiting a friend in Milan,” you responded, relieved that Sihtric had seized control of the conversation as your mind was still absolutely blank, you didn’t even register his  attempt to flirt with you.

"Well, this means we're stuck together for the next ten hours," Sihtric exhaled in one breath, leaving you to wonder if you detected a hint of relief and even excitement in his tone. "Is it your boyfriend you are going to?" he ventured, almost biting his tongue as the question slipped out. It was clearly none of his business, and the fact that he was inquiring about your boyfriend this early in your meeting made him inwardly curse his foolishness.

“Oh, no! My boyfriend broke up with me two days ago, via a text message," you blurted out, an impulsive reaction that you instantly regretted. Damn it, he'll think I'm some pathetic mess. Ugh, you're so awkward when dealing with guys, you berated yourself in embarrassment.

"Fuck, seriously?" Sihtric whistled through his teeth, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're joking! That guy must be a complete idiot. I mean, just look at you—you're absolutely stunning."

You raised an incredulous eyebrow at Sihtric's response. What was this? Was this handsome guy actually trying to flirt with you?

"Oh, I apologise. I didn't mean to overstep," Sihtric interjected quickly, sensing he might have gone too far. 

"No, no, it's okay. Thank you; that was really sweet of you," you uttered, searching desperately for something else to look at, trying to escape the intense gaze of Sihtric that sent shivers down your spine. Eventually, your gaze settled on your book. Incapable of reading even a single sentence, you stared at the pages, forgetting to turn them as you pretended to read. A few moments elapsed in complete silence, you pretending to read, and Sihtric seemingly engrossed in the scenery outside.

"Would you..." you both began to speak simultaneously, erupting into laughter.

"Please, go ahead," Sihtric prompted with a smile.

"No, no, you first. What were you going to say?"

"Would you... mind if I invited you to have a drink in the restaurant car?" he asked hesitantly.

Hours and a few drinks later, you found yourself laughing like never before in your life as Sihtric entertained you with stories from his time as a student in the Music and Dance Academy in London. It appeared he was a professional dancer en route to Milan for an audition for a modern musical. Success could mean joining the Milan Grand Theatre's troupe, a major step in his career. His cheerful and kind-hearted personality charmed you even more than his striking looks. You felt completely at ease in his presence, as if you'd known him for ages. Without even realising it, you had shared with him more about yourself than you probably ever had with your closest friends. The restaurant car was closing down, and the waiter was casting impatient glances your way as you finally grabbed your last drinks and made your way back to your compartment.

“Oh, shit!” you exclaimed as the train jolted unexpectedly, causing you to stumble and spill your drink on Sihtric's shirt. "I'm so sorry." you apologised, wincing as you saw your frozen strawberry margarita tinting his fine white shirt a shade of pink.

"Don't worry. Shit happens." Sihtric reassured you with a smile, stepping aside to open the compartment door, gesturing for you to enter first.

"But as a punishment, you'll have to endure the sight of me undressing before your eyes," he quipped, chuckling as he began to unbutton his stained shirt. You swallowed hard and took a seat, unable to tear your gaze away as Sihtric peeled off his shirt, unveiling his magnificent, sculpted upper body that resembled that of a Greek god.

"Do you like what you see?" he asked in his velvety voice that had already been driving you to the brink of madness.

"I'm... I..." you stammered, unable to find the right words as your eyes remained fixed on his muscular torso.

"There's one thing I've been dreaming about ever since I laid eyes on you," Sihtric's voice grew husky as he locked his gaze onto yours. Taking a step closer, he settled down beside you. You turned to face him, feeling his warm breath against your skin. Sihtric gently tilted your chin with his thumb, leaning in for a kiss. His lips brushed against yours in a tender and hesitant touch, and you responded with a soft moan, your lips moving in sync with his.

Encouraged by your reaction, Sihtric's kisses grew bolder, his tongue seeking entry into your mouth, which you granted willingly. Your lips parted, and your tongues met twisting around each other in a passionate dance, sending the world spinning around you. It was unlike any kiss you'd experienced before—simultaneously tender and intense.

“You’re so incredibly beautiful,” Sihtric breathed as you both pulled away, gasping for breath. His thumbs caressed your cheeks gently. 

"Hey," his eyes met yours, questioning, "I don't want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. If it's too much, just let me know, and I'll back off. It's odd—we've only just met, but it feels like I've known you for ages," he confessed, his hands cradling your jaw as his lips covered your heated skin with soft kisses.

You closed your eyes and whined softly, your resistance melting away under his delicate caress, a yearning for more coursing through you. Your hands ventured to his neck, drawing him nearer. It was all the encouragement he required; his arms enveloped you, and his lips pressed fervently against yours. Your t-shirt vanished in a seamless motion, as Sihtric's adept hands undid your bra and slid the straps off your shoulders.

"Damn, you're driving me crazy," Sihtric breathed as your breasts were unveiled to his ravenous gaze. His lips descended onto your nipples, alternating between tender sucking and gentle nipping. Your back arched instinctively as you moaned in delight, trailing your fingers down his spine. Sihtric hummed in satisfaction in response to your moans and his lips embarked on a journey down your belly as he descended to his knees before you. His fingers hastened to unfasten the button of your jeans.

"Are you still okay?" Sihtric inquired, looking up at you. His fingers traced the edge of your now unbuttoned jeans. "Hey, talk to me! I want to hear it from you. Do you want me to keep going?"

The thought of a one-night stand had never appealed to you. You couldn't imagine yourself having one. The notion of engaging in intimate activity with a relative stranger had always repulsed you, until today. You peered down at Sihtric nestled between your thighs and nodded, moistening your lips in anticipation.

Sihtric relinquished your jeans, positioning his hands on the seat as he slowly elevated himself until his face aligned with yours.

"If you want me to continue, you'll need to say it," he asserted, cupping your face and bestowing a tender kiss upon your lips.

“I … I …” you stammered, searching for words, your head spinning, eyes half closed. You wanted him so badly, your pussy soaked wet from the passionate kiss and the velvet sound of his voice alone, “Fuck, I want you! I want you to fuck me here and now,” you hissed, mortified by your own words and the desire that had overtaken your whole body, making you crave for Sihtric’s touch and your cunt throb in excitement. 

“Good. I hoped to hear you saying that, because I really want to fuck you, beautiful,” Sihtric purred in response, licking your ear and biting your ear lip, his tongue sliding over your throat all the way down to your brests and further down to your belly as he lowered himself back on the floor between you thighs. 

“But first, I want to taste you, if you will allow me to,” he whispered, starting to pull down your jeans together with your soaked panties. In the next moment you found yourself completely naked with Sihtric kneeling between your thighs and placing wet open mouthed kisses up your leg. 

“What are you doing?” you moaned in bewilderment, feeling his hands spreading your legs more widely apart to ease him access to your core, while his tongue slid over the inner side of your thigh, his mouth nearing your soaked pussy. This was something new for you. You did not have extensive sexual experience, and none of your previous boyfriends had ever done this to you. You could feel Sihtric’s hot breath on your core, and in the next moment his wet tongue touched your folds, parting them and licking through until your clit, circling it and sucking gently with his lips. The sensation that washed over you was indescribable, and your whole body twitched under his touch. Feeling embarrassed and simultaneously aching for more, you tangled your fingers in Sihtric’s hair and pulled his head back.

“Don’t you like it?” His face was full of surprise.

“Fuck, I do! You can’t even imagine how much I do like this. It’s just… Nobody has ever done this to me… I … I don’t know … You don’t have to … Oh, fuck, Sihtric!” a loud moan escaped your lips as his tongue lapped through your folds again, teasing your clit with the very tip.

“Nobody has ever done this to you?” Sihtric repeated in astonishment, “It’s such a shame, sweetheart. But then it means I’m going to be the first one to taste this sweet pussy,” he purred, pressing his lips against your core and starting to move his tongue over your clit, licking it with fast short laps and sucking gently at it from time to time. The sensation of absolute pleasure building up in you was so intense that the only thing you could do was to arch your back and whine loudly, tangling your fingers in Sihtric’s hair.

“Just relax, love. You are so delicious. Relax and let me take care of you. Let me pleasure you.” Sihtric hummed against your cunt starting to move his tongue with long, heavy, wet stripes all over your folds back and forth, pausing at your clit to give it a short circling lap or sucking at it and going back all the way to your entrance, teasing it with the tip of his tongue and pushing it slightly within you. 

The sounds that rolled over your lips were absolutely obscure, but you were unable to control them. You whined, mewled, whimpered and moaned so loudly that you were sure the whole train by now was fully aware of what was happening in your small compartment, but you couldn’t have cared less. You were so lost in savouring the extraordinary sensation Sihtric was bestowing upon you that even the fact that someone could spontaneously open the non-lockable door and barge in didn't trouble you in the slightest. Your climax was building up and your walls started clenching as you felt Sihtric pushing one finger inside you, moving it slowly in and out, his tongue continuing its wet strides over your folds and his nose nudging your clit. 

“I can’t anymore… Oh, fuck Sihtric, I can’t …” you moaned supporting yourself by grabbing the edge of the seat with your both hands and starting to move your hips against Sihtric’s tongue and fingers.

“That’s good. I love it. Common baby, cum for me. Let me taste you, let me taste all of you.” Sihtric hummed, adding another finger inside you and fastening his movements, his tongue now concentrating solely on your clit. You came with a loud scream, your climax washing over you in waves of pure bliss with an intensity unlike anything you had ever experienced. You back arched and your knuckles went white from the force with which you clenched the edge of the seat as Sihtric kept fucking you with his fingers through your orgasm, drinking in the sight of your body jerking and twitching under his touch. 

Sihtric waited for you to come down from your peak, before rising to his feet, whipping your juices from his lips and casting a satisfied look at your naked, limp body, with half lid eyes and messy hair. He seated himself next to you and pulled you into his lap, straddling him. Your breath was still heavy as you were coming down from your peak, your breasts heaving at an uneven pace. 

“Do you still want me to fuck you?” he breathed in your ear. You looked with bewilderment at him, unsure you could handle anything more, but he had just given you the most intense orgasm of your life and you felt like you owed him something in return.

“If you promise to be gentle. I am so oversensitive,” you whispered back.

“I will be gentle, I promise,” Sihtric murmured, placing your hands at the hem of his jeans. You understood what he meant and started undoing them, feeling his hard cock bulging through the fabric. Your eyes widened at the sight of the impressive size of his cock, as you finally released it from the tight embrace of his pants. Now you were even less sure you could handle him, but your body apparently had a different opinion on the matter as you felt a burning sensation settling again in your lower stomach. 

"Wait a second," Sihtric said, taking hold of your hand and reaching inside the pocket of his partially unzipped jeans. "Would you mind?" He smiled at you, placing a condom in your palm. Damn, how could you be so reckless and forget about that? You felt embarrassed for not having thought about it yourself. 

You placed the condom on the tip of his cock and started unrolling it, teasingly stroking his length with your hands. Sihtric moaned in pleasure, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. You liked the way he surrendered himself to your touch, and felt your pussy starting to throb with a greedy need to feel his big, hard member inside you. You lifted yourself a bit and placed Sihtric’s cock at your entrance. Sihtric opened his eyes and locked his gaze with yours, a heavy sigh quivering in his throat as you slowly slid down taking in the whole length of him.

Sihtric remained still, his hands on your hips, his large, tender eyes studying your face. "Are you okay, love?" The sincere concern in his voice and reflected in his gaze sent shivers down your spine. How was it possible that a complete stranger you had only met a few hours ago could be more gentle and caring than your own boyfriend had ever been? You felt your walls adjusting to Sihtric’s cock, embracing him and pulsing in arousal. 

“I’m fine. Never been better,” you smiled at him and started to move. Sihtric groaned in pleasure, his hands grabbing tighter your hips, but not forcing you to fasten your pace. You steadied yourself pressing your palms against the back wall and fastened your movements, clenching your walls around him as tight as you could. 

“Fuck! You are so good.  Just as I imagined. I can feel you, so tight around me,” Sihtric hissed, his hands finding your breasts, squeezing them gently, while his lips one after another suckled your nipples. 

You didn’t expect your climax to build up so quickly, especially after that overwhelming orgasm before, but here you were feeling your walls spasming and clenching stronger and stronger with each thrust, pleasure infiltrating every cell of your body. 

“Oh no, fuck, I am close… Sihtric, move … ” you moaned and it appeared as though he just had been awaiting your permission, as Sihtric’s hands instantly landed on your buttocks, holding them in a firm grip, as he started to thrust his hips up against you, his movements growing ever faster and deeper, hitting some hidden spot of pleasure in your vagina you didn’t even know it existed and making your clit brush heavily against his pelvis. You bounced wildly up and down on Sihtric’s cock, trying to control yourself, to prolong the pleasure, but it was impossible, there was no turning back and in the next few minutes he had pushed you over the edge. You came with a loud moan, pressing your heated body against his chest, your arms wrapped around his neck, as you tried to steady yourself. Sihtric felt your walls spasming around him and after a few more thrusts he followed you, his groans echoing in your ears. His hands wrapped around you and pulled you tightly in his embrace as you both gasped for breath, slowly recovering from your peaks.

"This was incredible," you murmured amidst your uneven breaths, your arms still entwined around Sihtric's neck, your forehead touching his.

“No, you are incredible,” a contented smile graced Sihtric's lips as he tenderly stroked your back.

You felt a twinge of trepidation, concerned that the remainder of the journey might turn awkward. Yet after the two of you had gotten dressed again, Sihtric settled beside you, draping his arm over your shoulders and drawing you close. You felt a touch of sadness tingling within you; it was obvious this was your first and last encounter with the handsome stranger, but you had no regrets. Leaning in nearer, you encircled his waist with your arms, surrendering to the rhythmic vibrations of the train that lulled you into a peaceful slumber. Sihtric held you in a firm embrace, as if afraid to succumb to sleep and release his hold. His fingers continued to caress your hair from time to time, as he marvelled at the peaceful expression gracing your beautiful slumbering face, your head nestled against his chest.

Eventually, sleep overcame him as well, and both of you were abruptly jolted awake by the train attendant's booming voice over the speakers, announcing your imminent arrival at Milan Central Station. In your drowsy state, you sprang to your feet, still struggling to fully grasp your surroundings and the person who held you. Your gaze returned to Sihtric, and your cheeks flushed involuntarily as the memories flooded back. Uncertain of what to say to avoid sounding foolish or awkward, you reached for your rucksack as Sihtric also rose to his feet, offering to help you retrieve it from the overhead compartment. Your fingers brushed against his as he handed the bag to you, and you raised your eyes to meet his gaze.

"Hey, lovely," he began, his tone tinged with uncertainty, "could I have your number? I know you're here just for the weekend, and I have my auditions tomorrow, but maybe we could still meet up on Sunday or something." There was a certain quality in Sihtric's voice that piqued your curiosity, leaving you wondering.

He retrieved his phone, waiting expectantly. With some reluctance, you shared your number, thinking that you probably wouldn't receive a call from him anyway. He punched the digits into his screen and pressed the call button, resulting in your phone immediately vibrating.

"Now you have mine too," Sihtric grinned, surprising you as he leaned in for a parting kiss. You felt there was no point to draw out this moment any longer; it was time to bid farewell. You were not one to believe in love at first sight or fairy tale endings, so you gently disengaged from his kiss and turned towards the exit.

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your auditions tomorrow,” you offered as you stepped out, refusing to look back. Tears threatened to form, but you fought them back, oblivious to the forlorn expression that lingered on Sihtric’s face as his gaze followed you.

Gisela greeted you with an exuberant shout, enveloping you in a hug and bouncing around like an overjoyed puppy. She seized your hand and propelled you towards the exit, an uninterrupted stream of chatter flowing from her lips. She expressed her delight at finally seeing you, criticised your ex-boyfriend, and shared a thousand other small things. Gisela was in her element, and you loved her for it. She was the only person capable of banishing all your sad thoughts, wrapping you in affection like a soft blanket.

Later that evening, as you both sat on her balcony, sipping Italian wine, you recounted to her the story of the handsome stranger and your first-ever one-night stand.

"Oh my God! You're finally starting to embrace life, honey. It's exactly what you needed." Gisela's eyes gleamed in the candlelight that illuminated the small table. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying great sex. You've always been too reserved for that. Trust me, he'll call you on Sunday. You're stunningly beautiful—why can't you see that in the mirror? The poor guy is probably going out of his mind," Gisela rambled on, but you scarcely heard her, lost in your sweet memories and the taste of the wine on your lips. 

It was Sunday morning, the buzz of your phone stirred you awake, indicating a new message. It was still early, the sun not yet fully risen. You rubbed your eyes, puzzled about who could be messaging you at such an ungodly hour. If it was work-related, you wanted no part of it—you were on vacation and wanted peace. If it was from your ex-boyfriend, you wanted even less to do with it. No one else came to mind as a potential sender worth noticing, so you simply turned over and drifted back to sleep.

It was long after breakfast, as you indulged in cup after cup of Italian coffee that Gisela expertly brewed, that you finally remembered the annoying message. With your phone in hand, you were taken aback by surprise. Seven unread messages! What on earth?

05:37 Hi, pretty. Having a good time with your friend?

06:25 Hey, I have the entire day free and was thinking we could grab a coffee or something.

07:15 I realise it's early in the morning, and you're probably still asleep, but I just can't get you out of my mind.

07:55 Are you still sleeping or am I just rambling madly into the void?

08:25 I can’t sleep. All I can think about is you. Please, answer me.

09:05 I assume you're awake by now. Could we meet for a coffee? I've got some exciting news I'd love to share with you.

10:00 Alright, I get it. You must think I'm completely insane. I know I've gone overboard. I shouldn't have poured all of this out to you. My impulsiveness always ruins everything.

With each new message you read, your eyes widened. Gisela immediately picked up on your astonishment.

"Is it him? Is it him? I knew I was right. I knew it!" she exclaimed in excitement, nearly snatching the phone from your fingers.

"Gisela, calm down. I have no idea what he wants from me. Judging by these texts, he's either high, drunk, or completely lost his mind," you retorted with a snort.

"Come on, girl! Let me see them!" Gisela knew you were going to show them to her anyway, and she was right, as you handed her the phone.

"Honey, this guy is head over heels in love with you. You have to reply to him. And you should go for that coffee. I can come along if it eases your nerves."

You shot an annoyed look at your best friend, unamused by her enthusiasm for intervening in your love life, yet she persisted.

"If you're not going to write back, I will," she declared, her excitement reaching a fever pitch as she began to dart around the table, your phone still in her hands.

—------------------------------------

You walked reluctantly towards the small coffee shop, a mix of annoyance and apprehension evident on your face, while casting irritated glances at Gisela, who was panting beside you. Ignoring her enthusiastic chatter, you were lost in your own thoughts, berating yourself for letting her talk you into this seemingly pointless date. It might have been better to leave things as they were. 

As you approached the coffee shop, your steps grew slower with every stride. And then you saw him, seated at a small table outside the shop. A whistle from Gisela caught your attention.

"My God, he’s so handsome! And you considered missing a date with him? I need to use the restroom," Gisela declared suddenly, pushing you forward before slipping inside the shop, leaving you to face the situation alone with an unmistakable grin on her face. 

This was your chance to escape, to turn around and leave, but you hesitated for too long – Sihtric had already noticed you. Rising from his seat, he approached with a radiant smile on his lips. He swept you up as if you weighed nothing, twirling you around and leaving your head spinning. Gently setting you down, he cupped your face in his hands, making you meet his eyes. Oh, his eyes! There was no escaping their magnetic pull.

"I know you probably think I'm completely crazy, but I can’t get you out of my head. I've never felt like this about anyone before, and even if you don’t believe me, that was my first one-night stand and I … I don’t want it to stay that way," he blurted out in a single breath, his hands still cradling your face as if he feared you would vanish if he let go.

"Sihtric! Oh, you’re definitely insane. You must realise this can’t work. We have our lives – in less than a day, you'll be in one place and I'll be in another. There’ll be hundreds of kilometres between us. Why are you putting me through this? Saying goodbye to you on the train was hard enough," you nearly shouted, earning curious glances from passersby.

"No, no, you don’t understand. Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't told you," Sihtric's voice quivered with anticipation as he took a deep breath and continued, "I didn’t go to that audition yesterday. It would have been pointless; I wouldn't have accepted even if they offered, knowing that it would mean ending us before it even started. So, I sent my tape to a theatre in Paris, and they got back to me last night. Their lead dancer broke his leg, and they urgently need a replacement. They want me to come for an audition as soon as possible. Can you believe it? I'm coming back with you, if you'll have me. I mean, if you want to give us a chance," his eyes studied your face, a blend of hope and uncertainty in them, searching for your reaction.

"You did what?" you managed to utter, your mouth agape as you stared at Sihtric, trying to grasp the enormity of what he just revealed. "You can’t be serious! You gave up your big opportunity, for me?" Tears welled up in your eyes, impossible to contain.

"Hey, baby, don't cry. Oh, please, don't cry! Why are you crying? Are you upset? Did I upset you?" a note of panic tinged Sihtric's voice.

"Can you just shut up and kiss me?" you muttered amidst the tears, and you didn’t have to repeat it. As soon as the words left your mouth, Sihtric leaned in, his lips meeting yours in the most tender yet passionate kiss.

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

August 1st

Two days of fog, and not a sail sighted. Had hoped when in the English Channel to be able to signal for help or get in somewhere. Not having power to work sails, have to run before wind. Dare not lower, as could not raise them again. We seem to be drifting to some terrible doom.

😬

Mate now more demoralised than either of men. His stronger nature seems to have worked inwardly against himself.

EURYLOCHUS NO!!!!!

Men are beyond fear, working stolidly and patiently, with minds made up to worst. They are Russian, he Roumanian.

YOU’VE DOOMED US AAALL EURYLOCHUUUUUUUUUS!!!!!!!!!!

Ok now back to Mina and Lucy and the old man:

"It be all fool-talk, lock, stock, and barrel; that's what it be, an' nowt else. These bans an' wafts an' boh-ghosts an' barguests an' bogles an' all anent them is only fit to set bairns an' dizzy women a-belderin'. They be nowt but air-blebs. They, an' all grims an' signs an' warnin's, be all invented by parsons an' illsome beuk-bodies an' railway touters to skeer an' scunner hafflin's, an' to get folks to do somethin' that they don't other incline to. It makes me ireful to think o' them. Why, it's them that, not content with printin' lies on paper an' preachin' them out of pulpits, does want to be cuttin' them on the tombstones. Look here all around you in what airt ye will; all them steans, holdin' up their heads as well as they can out of their pride, is acant—simply tumblin' down with the weight o' the lies wrote on them, 'Here lies the body' or 'Sacred to the memory' wrote on all of them, an' yet in nigh half of them there bean't no bodies at all; an' the memories of them bean't cared a pinch of snuff about, much less sacred. Lies all of them, nothin' but lies of one kind or another! My gog, but it'll be a quare scowderment at the Day of Judgment when they come tumblin' up in their death-sarks, all jouped together an' tryin' to drag their tombsteans with them to prove how good they was; some of them trimmlin' and ditherin', with their hands that dozzened an' slippy from lyin' in the sea that they can't even keep their grup o' them."

… Why are you trying so hard to dispel these rumours. What is it to you.

"Sacred to the memory of George Canon, who died, in the hope of a glorious resurrection, on July, 29, 1873, falling from the rocks at Kettleness. This tomb was erected by his sorrowing mother to her dearly beloved son. 'He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.' Really, Mr. Swales, I don't see anything very funny in that!" She spoke her comment very gravely and somewhat severely.

"Ye don't see aught funny! Ha! ha! But that's because ye don't gawm the sorrowin' mother was a hell-cat that hated him because he was acrewk'd—a regular lamiter he was—an' he hated her so that he committed suicide in order that she mightn't get an insurance she put on his life. He blew nigh the top of his head off with an old musket that they had for scarin' the crows with. 'Twarn't for crows then, for it brought the clegs and the dowps to him. That's the way he fell off the rocks. And, as to hopes of a glorious resurrection, I've often heard him say masel' that he hoped he'd go to hell, for his mother was so pious that she'd be sure to go to heaven, an' he didn't want to addle where she was. Now isn't that stean at any rate"—he hammered it with his stick as he spoke—"a pack of lies? and won't it make Gabriel keckle when Geordie comes pantin' up the grees with the tombstean balanced on his hump, and asks it to be took as evidence!"

… Kids, could you lighten up a little?

I did not know what to say, but Lucy turned the conversation as she said, rising up:—

"Oh, why did you tell us of this? It is my favourite seat, and I cannot leave it; and now I find I must go on sitting over the grave of a suicide."

"That won't harm ye, my pretty; an' it may make poor Geordie gladsome to have so trim a lass sittin' on his lap. That won't hurt ye. Why, I've sat here off an' on for nigh twenty years past, an' it hasn't done me no harm. Don't ye fash about them as lies under ye, or that doesn' lie there either! It'll be time for ye to be getting scart when ye see the tombsteans all run away with, and the place as bare as a stubble-field. There's the clock, an' I must gang. My service to ye, ladies!" And off he hobbled.

Haha… Haaaaaa…

Lucy and I sat awhile, and it was all so beautiful before us that we took hands as we sat; and she told me all over again about Arthur and their coming marriage. That made me just a little heart-sick, for I haven't heard from Jonathan for a whole month.

The same day.I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no letter for me. I hope there cannot be anything the matter with Jonathan. The clock has just struck nine. I see the lights scattered all over the town, sometimes in rows where the streets are, and sometimes singly; they run right up the Esk and die away in the curve of the valley. To my left the view is cut off by a black line of roof of the old house next the abbey. The sheep and lambs are bleating in the fields away behind me, and there is a clatter of a donkey's hoofs up the paved road below. The band on the pier is playing a harsh waltz in good time, and further along the quay there is a Salvation Army meeting in a back street. Neither of the bands hears the other, but up here I hear and see them both. I wonder where Jonathan is and if he is thinking of me! I wish he were here.

STOP THIS IS SO SAD FOR SO MANY REASONS AND GOSH THE WAY MINA TRIES TO DISTRACT HERSELF BY DESCRIBING THE LANDSCAPE BUT ONLY SEES OMENS OF DEATH HELP

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[lloydfrontera]

weird i thought lloyd would be in textbooks for generations to the point students will curse his name for making their tests difficult/it's this guy again types of questions but nope he just vanished from history and only a handful knows him

speaking of does his summons, skeleton corps and yongyong still exists and with him?

weird i thought lloyd would be in textbooks for generations to the point students will curse his name for making their tests difficult/it's this guy again types of questions but nope he just vanished from history and only a handful knows him

i mean. do you remember the guy who revolutionized the history of civil engineering and architecture in your country?? the guy who changed the history of building construction and sewer systems a couple centuries ago??

like. personally i am not very informed about that topic cause it's not part of my daily life! i imagine it's different for, y'know, people who have to study the topic and will make a career out of it.

for all we know lloyd is still very known but just to the people the system told him he would be remembered by: engineering and architecture students and teachers.

[Hell's Top Talent] [Title Level: Hero's Journey] Okay, it's time to study the railway of the past. Open your History of Modern Civil Engineering Book to page 359. Yes. That's the famous Pantara Railway, which I'm sure every one of you knows. Student in the front row. Could you briefly walk us through how this railroad came to be? Excellent. That's correct. The Pantara Railway, just like what the student said, is a masterpiece built by Lloyd Frontera, who received an order from the Magentano House. Hahaha. Are you all bored? It's Lloyd Frontera again. Look at this section, and you'll find Lloyd Frontera. Move on to the next part and you still find him. I, too, am sick of him. Had it not been for him, we would only have one eight of what we will study this summer. But what else can we do? That son of a gun set the groundwork for the civil engineering of our empire. So, it would be unfair if we were the only ones to suffer, no? Let's hit the book. Come now. Let's study harder, create new theories and make it harder for the students who'll come after you all. All right, so the Pantara Railroad introduced the switchback system for the first time in the world...

again. does this sound like something the every day person would be studying?? yes, lloyd did leave a very big mark in history, one that will last for centuries, but it doesn't mean literally everyone will know about him. just... the people who are most involved in the field he worked in.

who's to say there aren't a bunch of students in the background of rakiel's shenanigans, cursing lloyd's name or making little altars in the back of their classrooms every time a test comes and they have to answer insanely complicated questions that only exist because lloyd did a bunch of stuff 300 hundred years earlier??

we just don't get to see it because it wasn't relevant to rakiel's journey </3

also. the sequel is mostly from rakiel's perspective. and rakiel is busy. he hasn't traveled to a lot of places where lloyd went. his field of work is extremely separated from lloyd's. he has no reason to really think about lloyd and yet he does! several times! he hasn't been forgotten he's just not relevant to rakiel's daily life.

just because you're famous in one field doesn't mean everyone will know of you! just to the people invested in that field and maybe a couple adjacent ones!

speaking of does his summons, skeleton corps and yongyong still exists and with him?

the summons yes! lloyd himself confirms that he has ppodong and the rest of the gang with him in heaven. i don't remember if he has mentioned the skeleton corps or yongyong yet, but lexi is working with javier so?? it's unclear.