#seeing them on the covers somewhere kind of ruins the allure of the book for me

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Day 11: Walk the Dog - William ‘Ironhead’ Miller

Day 11: Walk the Dog- William ‘Ironhead’ Miller 

This story was requested by @oldstuffnewstuff​. Thank you so much for the request! I love writing for requests! Thank you for all the rebloggs, comments, and likes. :)

Also gonna tag @myathleteeggspizza​ for our love of William Miller. 

November Writing Challenge Masterlist 

Day 10: Used Tea Bags - Javier Pena 

William ‘Ironhead’ Miller liked numbers. His whole life since leaving the military was run down to the exact second the way he wanted it too. He would wake up at 0600 daily, stretch for eight minutes, down his first cup of coffee, and go for an eight mile run through the park. Then he would return home, take a five minute shower, get dressed, drink a smoothie, fill his tumblr with coffee, and leave for the base at 0730 sharp. 

Every single day was the same. But, that’s what someone with as many demons as he had needed. The structure and security of the same routine. Not one minute unaccounted for. Until the day he met her.

It was a chilly November morning when he first noticed her. She had on a black leggings, a maroon crewneck sweatshirt, black ankle boots, and hair in a messy bun atop her head. She was sitting at one of the unoccupied benches near the Veterans statue, reading aloud a book to a golden retriever lying quietly with her head in her owner's lap. 

He faltered for a moment, and one minute became two, became three and when he looked down at his watch he cursed to himself. He was behind schedule. When he looked back up they were gone. He turned each direction frantically looking for the girl and the dog but they were nowhere to be seen. He wondered for a moment if he had only imagined it before the beeping of his watch drew his attention and he picked up the pace to make up for the lost time. Lost time, what a novel concept for a person who counted everything in his life. 

The next morning when he entered the park he couldn’t help but look for them as he ran around the path. Keeping his eyes open for the golden retriever and her alluring owner. Will couldn’t help the pang of disappointment at missing them again. The routine remained the same day in and out for another week before Will began to give up hope about seeing them again. On Saturday after his run he came home and left at exactly 0730 again but this time he was meeting his old army buddies for breakfast at a diner across town. 

The diner looked old fashioned amongst the new and shiny chrome buildings that had begun to pop up around town but it wasn’t the outside that mattered. Will walked in and the bells tinkled on the door to notify the wait staff, and he nodded at the familiar faces before finding his friends. He slid into the worn, cracked leather of the booth next to his brother, shaking the other two men's hands across the table. 

The waitress came over and brought him a steaming mug of coffee, two packets of sugar, and one creamer before going back over to her other customers. Frankie pointed to the cup before back at Will, “you come here way too often if they know exactly how you take your coffee.” 

“Every Saturday,” Will tells him smiling as he prepares his coffee, taking a sip of the liquid gold, “Gladys knows just the way I like my coffee, and my breakfast. Why ruin a good thing by going somewhere else?” 

Frankie laughs at him, “Some people actually like to go out and try new things. Are you still doing the same routine every day and doing that counting thing?” 

Will only nods before he’s interrupted by Gladys who takes their orders, not even bothering to ask Will before she goes off to put their order into the kitchen. “Thank you Glady!” Will shouts at her and she raises a hand in acknowledgment. 

“So how the hell have you guys been?” Santiago asks over the rim of his mug. 

Benny fills them in on his training, and his new girlfriend he met at a fight a few months ago. Frankie tells them all about the house he just bought and is slowly renovating and shows them some new pictures of his daughter Juliette, who just turned three the past month. Frankie made the single father life look flawless. Santiago was in town for the next two months on break from down in Columbia where he’d been helping the local military take down a drug lord. All of them had something new to share, something exciting, except Will. 

“So what about you Will?” Santi gestures to him as they all dig into their breakfast. 

Will cuts himself another piece of pancake off for himself before running it through the syrup, “The same shit as usual, run, work, eat, sleep. On Saturdays I come here for breakfast and on Tuesday and Thursday I help Benny with training and Friday night is usually fight night. Besides that nothing is new.” 

“Youshouldgetadog” the words jumble together out of Benny’s mouth as he tries to talk through the French toast pouring from his mouth. 

“Damn it brother chew your food and then talk,” Will laughs. 

Benny swallows before trying again, “I said, you should get a dog.” 

“A dog? Why the hell would I get a dog?” he asks. 

“Just hear me out brother, you love routines right? You run every morning and it seems to me that your a little lonely, a dog could go running with you, and keep you company.” 

Will contemplates the idea for a moment and his thoughts can't help but go back to the beautiful woman from the park with the golden retriever. “Yeah, maybe… do we even have any pet shops around here?” 

“Fuck pet shops,” Frankie tells him, “you need to go to the humane society and get a rescue dog, they are the best. Juli and I will even go with you, she would love to see all the dogs. How about 1300 today?” 

Will thinks for a moment before agreeing, “ok...but just to look. I don’t know if I am ready for a dog yet.” 

“Ok I’ll meet you there with Juli and we can go look at the dogs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you go and fall in love with one and take it home today.” 

Will scoffs, “Sure.” 

When Will pulls his black 2014 Ford truck into the parking lot he feels slightly overwhelmed by all the animals running about. There is a large fenced in yard with exactly fifteen dogs of various shapes and sizes. When Frankie pulled into the spot next to him, he began to feel more at ease with a familiar face and when Juli came running full speed at him he couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face. 

“Uncle WIll!!” Juli screamed tackling him into a hug. 

He swung her up into his arms and she squealed, “hello sunshine! How’s my favorite girl doing? Are you keeping your daddy busy?” 

“Of course! Daddy told me we're gonna help you find a puppy today? Can we get one too daddy?” She leans back in Wills arms and pouts at her father who crosses his arms. 

“I get the impression you and her had this discussion before you came today?” Will asks laughing at the exasperated expression on Frankie's face. 

“More than once,” Frankie nods to him before taking the toddler back, “Sweetie we talked about this, we are not getting a dog today, just Uncle Will.” 

Her face morphs into a pout and both men can feel the beginning of a tantrum coming so they deflect, “Let’s go sunshine! Don’t you want to see all the dogs?” Will leads the way into the shelter and when the bell dings as he crosses the threshold he stops. Frankie runs into his back before pushing the rest of the way inside. 

Sitting at a worn desk is the woman from the park. She’s wearing overalls with a white shirt covered in pink and yellow flowers. Her hair is pulled into a bun on top of her head but three long strands have slipped out and are dangling in front of her face. She’s wearing dark rimmed glasses, and has her nose buried in a book. On the ground under the desk, sticks out a wet black nose of a golden retriever snoring. 

Will coughs lightly to draw her attention and she snaps her head up and seems slightly startled. “Oh hello! I-” she puts her bookmark in her book and the dog rises to its feet, noticing the new arrivals, “Welcome to the Dog House, uhm how can - how can I help you today? She stumbles over her words, and a blush rises up her neck. 

“Hhh-uhm hi,” Will’s arm rises up and he scratches the back of his head, “Dog...I’m looking for a dog.” He can’t keep his eyes off her. The girl he had spent the last couple weeks thinking about, was right in front of him. 

She giggles, “Well then you’ve come to the right place, I’m Andy, you can follow me.” 

Will follows her like a lost puppy...no pun intended. Frankie just watches the two of them, smiling to himself. It’s obvious that Will likes this girl the way he’s acting if only he could see her looking at him the same way. Frankie keeps his thoughts to himself and follows behind the two. 

“What kind of dog are you looking for? Something big? Small? Athletic? Lazy? We have all kinds here.” she asks, gesturing around to the cages as she leads them to a small enclosed area outside. 

“I like to run, in Aveley Park over on 140th street, and I would like a dog to run with. I’m Will by the way,” he offers her his hand. When they touch they both feel a surge of electricity and they don’t let go, continuing to shake hands until Frankie not so subtly clears his throat.

She blushes deep red, and quickly drops his hand smiling shyly at him, “That’s where I like to go with Benny! We go almost every morning for a walk and then I usually read. My sisters have been in town the last couple weeks so we’ve been going in the evenings lately but they’re gone now so maybe I will see you some morning.” 

“Oh uhmm, whose Benny?” Will asks, he didn’t notice a boyfriend last time he saw her. 

“Oh my dog!” she gestures to the dog that has been slowly following between them. 

From behind, Frankie lets out a snort. Will glares at him before meeting your confused expression. “Benny is my brother's name…I guess he and the dog have some things in common. My brother is kind of like a lovable golden retriever.” 

She laughs out loud, and it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard and he’s desperate to hear her laugh again. “Well maybe your Benny and my Benny should meet someday.” 

“I would like that,” Will tells her, smiling. 

The two just stand there smiling at each other like two lovesick fools when Frankie puts down Juli who's been squirming in his arms. She toddles over to the dog and begins gently petting his head, his eyes close and his tail wags and everyone laughs watching the adorable toddler and the dog. 

“Ok,” she slaps her hands together, “athletic dogs, good for running…” 

“Maybe one a little older?” Will hesitantly asks, “I don’t run as fast as I used to.” 

“You know I think I have the perfect dog for you,” she walks over to the kennel and comes back with a gorgeous chocolate lab. Will drops to his knee and gestures for the dog to come and sniff him and he does so without a second thought. 

“What’s his name?” Will asks looking up at her. 

“Tom.” 

Will freezes and in his peripheral he sees Frankie frozen too, both of their eyes are on the dog. “What’s his name?” Will whispers. 

“His name is Tom, they found him wandering around six months ago, they think someone left him. He’s house trained, and very well behaved. We-what’s wrong? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost…” She looks between Will and Frankie. 

Frankie sniffs, “our old army buddy, he passed away a few years ago...his name was Tom.” 

“Oh...oh I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.” 

“I’ll take him,” Will tells her quickly, “how do I adopt him?” 

“Oh that’s wonderful! Come inside with me and we will get the paperwork all filled out, you can pay the $25 fee and he’s yours,” she places a leash around Tom and hands him to Will. When their hands brush he burns from her touch and she pulls her hand back. It’s not one sided. Juli and Frankie follow behind. Juli is more excited then everyone when Uncle Will tells her the dog is coming home with him. Just thirty minutes later and Will is the proud owner of a new dog. Frankie takes Juli outside to strap her into the car seat and head home. 

“I hope I’m not too forward, but maybe one morning we could go running together...I go for a walk there every morning like I said but for the right partner I could be persuaded to start running in the mornings.” 

“Actually...I would like to walk the dog with you tomorrow morning if you're free... it’s hard to get to know someone when running...then maybe I could take you out for breakfast?” Will feels as nervous as the first time he gave a speech. 

“Yes,” she doesn’t hesitate, “yes, I would like that very much.” She slips a piece of paper from her back pocket with her phone number on it, “I was kind of hoping you would ask. I wrote it as soon as you decided on the dog.” 

He laughs before taking the paper from her fingers, sliding the number into his pocket. He gently grasps her hand and presses a light kiss to her knuckles. “I can’t wait till tomorrow morning,” he tells her before walking backwards out the door. 

Frankie has already left with Juli and he loads Tom into the front seat of the truck, before getting into the driver's seat and buckling his seat belt. He pulls out onto the road and sits at the stop sign, Tom crawls across the seat and places his head in Will’s lap. He puts his head gently, before pulling out to go home, thinking about tomorrow with one beautiful girl, and two dogs. 

Day 12: It evaded me- 

[twinkleallnight]

Without a trace.

This was an ask by @anjanettexcordonia. She gave me this mysterious title to write a fic upon.

Book: The Royal Romance AU

Word count: 1820.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to pixelberry.

Rating: Teen/ PG

Warning : None.

It’s the annual Beaumont Bash. I see so many guests circling in the hall. And then I see her. My heart skips a beat when our eyes connect.

She is walking in, her hand curled around her brother’s arm. She has pulled back her lustrous brown hair in a bun today but those side bangs touching her temples are alluring me. I want to push them back with my palm and gently place a kiss there.

When her eyes meet mine, I feel a surge of heat building up my body and I try hard to hide the blush I feel on my cheeks. She beams at the effect she has on me.

I love drowning myself into those dark grey eyes. They feel like a shadow of my light grey eyes. I enjoy watching my reflection dancing in her greys.

 I want to cup my hands around those dusky cheeks. I adore the way they rise up with her smile. I wish I can move my thumb over her lips that she has done up in wine shade. I am going to tell her how much I love that colour on those lips and then I want to taste them as if I am drinking my favourite wine.

 I will let my fingers linger for a moment on her slender neck, long enough till I feel her shiver under my touch.  I will let my hands roam over her shoulders and travel down her bare arms feeling the goose bumps my touch causes.

 I will hold her at her waist and pull her into me, till there is no scope for even the air to be between us. I will embrace her and let my worries wash away in all the love she showers on me.

 I promise myself, I will tell her how much she means to me. Yes I promise, I will tell her how much I love her. Today. It doesn’t need to wait anymore.

“Bertrand” I hear someone calling me, shaking my shoulder. I come out of my reverie to meet Leo’s gaze.

He is my friend, may be the only friend I have.

“Yes?” he is giving me a questioning look. “ Sorry I got carried away in some thoughts.”

“ Always told you, you think too much. Take actions instead of just playing things in your heavy brains.” Leo smiles. “Come we need to talk.”

He pulls me out of the main hall. Before leaving I glance back at her. She is glowing today more than ever. I pacify my mind with the plan to sneak out with her later.    

I shake my head to get rid of her thoughts and walk to the study. Leo closes the doors behind us. He takes a chair and sprawls on it carelessly. I never liked this but who can question the crown prince.

“I am abdicating.” He blurts out.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, I have decided. It’s too much to handle. I am not cut out for it.”

Leo kept on saying things like that earlier too but he seems to be speaking with conviction today. “But what about Cordonia? What about Madeleine?”

“That is for the king to decide. Besides, he has Liam- the perfectionist” he air quotes. “Madeleine and I, we sorted it out.”

“What do you mean you sorted out? You are engaged to her.” I am irritated with his irrational behaviour.

“She also blabbers something like you about obligations and responsibilities. She seems to be least interested in our relationship. She chose Cordonia over me. So, she stays back.”

“Did you speak to your father?”

“Yes, I had a discussion with Liam and then I told the king.”

“Your father, you mean...” I try correcting him.

“The. King.” Leo scowls. “He is all professional and so am I. I will call him father when and if he ever treats me like a son.”

“You are making a hasty decision. You can take a holiday, rejuvenate yourself and then come back for your duties.” I try to reason with him.

“To hell with the duties Bert. I cannot ruin my life. I get to live only once. I don’t want to live under the constant pressure.”

“There are people dependent on you. You can’t just abandon them.”

“No one is indispensable Bert.”

“Hmm” I respond thinking about where this is going and the repercussions.

There is a knock on the door. I turn and open the door to just a slit to see who is it. “Maxwell?” I question him for his purpose of intervention.

“The king and queen will be here any moment.” Max bounces up and down in excitement. I wonder when will he stabilise and understand the importance of a decent behaviour.

“I am right behind you. Give me a minute.”

I close the door again to address Leo. “Can we talk about this after some time? I am required to be out there right now.” Leo nods and we both walk out to reach the entrance just in time.

King Constantine struts in as I bow down in curtsy. “Your majesty, it’s my honour to welcome you to the Beaumont’s humble abode.”

The king surveys the hall and the enjoying crowd. He gives me a pleased smile. “You have always impressed me with your passion and sincerity towards your work.” He gives a glance behind my shoulder where Leo stands and then he continues with a sneer. “Unlike few thankless people who shun their responsibilities at the first given opportunity.”

I maintain the smile on my face while I try to ignore the snarky comments that he utters against his son. Finally, he gives me a nod and I usher him in.

The evening continues, keeping me on my toes. I greet and meet all the guests one after another. I keep glancing at her in between the conversations. I suddenly have so many doubts creating a wall of thoughts around me.

I lost my mother when I was young. Father has been in coma since past few years. I had to shoulder all the responsibilities of the duchy alone as my younger brother refuses to grow up to act like an adult. Leo, the only friend I have, is leaving. Who else do I have in my glum life?  May be her? Can I walk that line? I love her. Maybe I love her. But am I doing the right thing? Do I want to burden her with all that I have? I wish I could leave everything like Leo and runaway with her to a far distant place from here.

I scan the room again and find her standing there, looking up at her brother with a grin. He pats her cheek playfully. She side-hugs him resting her head on his shoulder. He is gazing affectionately at his only family, his little sister.

No, this is a mistake. She deserves better. I can’t be selfish pulling her into my grinding life. She needs a better chance. She needs someone who can give the world to her.

After the official dinner and formalities, it’s time to bid farewell to the king. I glance at her one last time before turning to the king. He says with enthusiasm, “I have enjoyed a delicious meal in an exquisite ambience. Your house always puts the best foot forward Duke Ramsford.”

“It’s kind of you to say that Sir.”

“We will take your leave now. Keep up the good work. You need more finances? The crown is there to help you to restore the previous years glory to your house. Just try staying away from distractions.” He clasps my shoulder while giving a side glance to her. I lower my eyes to the floor. “ Your father will be so proud of you.”

The royal couple gone, the after party starts in full swing. Maxwell is better at handling this wild part. I excuse myself and settle down in the study, brooding over the events. My promises melting away, I make new resolutions. A knock on the door brings me to ground.

“Come in.” I straighten up.

The door opens to reveal her full form. I start feeling the rush through my veins. This is it.

Her face brightens up. She rushes in towards me with eager steps and hugs me. “I have been waiting for a moment alone with you. I wanted to tell you something.”

I know my face bears a serious look that must have stopped her. She suddenly takes a step back. “What’s the matter? You have been distant all evening.”

“We… we… I am afraid we cannot continue.”

She gives me a puzzled look. “Cannot continue? What do you mean?”

“I have more pressing issues at hand and I cannot waste time in some flirtatious affair right now.”

“Was is it just a passing affair for you all this time?” she says in a hurtful voice.

“ You can have a better life outside these walls. I think I have made myself clear enough. You may leave unless you have anything else to discuss.”

“I never expected this from you Bertrand.” She says retrieving away.

Her eyes sadly look at the walls and the furniture around as if absorbing the warmth of the room for one last time. We have shared precious moments here. My heart feels her pain and I want to hold her tight, one last time. But I keep standing stiffly, till she walks out and shuts the door.

“ Your father will be so proud of you.” The kings voice echoes in my ears.

I plop down into my chair with a thud. I feel the energy in my body draining out. I hold my head in my hands. This was the only way, I try to console myself.

*************

Leo leaves for a stupid cruise after few days. The king is hoping that he will come back and the plan of his abdication has been put under the rugs for now. I return to the manor after saying my good byes to him.

I see Maxwell rushing out somewhere.

“Where are you going?” I ask him.

“Uh...” he fumbles giving me an inkling that he is again trying to hide something crazy he has done.

“What have you done now?” I raise my voice.

“Nothing. I didn’t do anything. It’s Drake.” He still tries to cover up.

“What did he do?”

“Actually it’s not about him. It’s Savannah.”

“What about her?” I start getting anxious.

“She went missing two days ago with only a handwritten note for Drake, saying not to search for her. She is leaving for a better life. We have been searching everywhere but no luck.” Max fills in quickly. “Can I leave now?”

“Uh… yes… yes. Go help him.” I wave my hand.

Better life. I said that to her. But I never thought she will leave everyone. What have I done?

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[videogameroses]

Demure Flower

A/N: So on my other blog, @linkswife and I were discussing what would happen if our d&d characters meet and what they would be like as friends. So I decided to wrote about the first time they ever met and started their friendship 🙂

The garden is peaceful, quiet. It allows her to focus on the yellowed pages of the tome resting in her hand. Words in a text much older than her loop and curl elegantly as she reads the sentences, taking in every piece of information they have to offer. Amelia's mind consumes the book, eagerly sucking up the new arcane knowledge. For an indescribable amount of time, she's content to read and take in. But eventually, her brain grows weary.

In a brief reprieve, she allows the book to close on one of her fingers to hold her place among the pages as she takes in the scenery around her.

The drooping silvery strands of a weeping willow offer privacy, a sort of isolation. She feels almost protected within the clutches of the shaded bench. Her only companions are the gently swaying lilies that grow up from the earth and fill the ground around the tree. Some are a deep bleeding crimson, others a lively tangerine. And in between the stems of those are pure white lilies. A stark contrast to the others but still just as beautiful.

It's a pretty sight - one that she will certainly come back to paint should she find time among her studies. Though the sight is interrupted by a group of three men entering the garden.

They seem far enough away that she decides to pay them no mind and go back to the tome.

Silent blissful moments pass as she reads page after page, up until the sound of footsteps arrive close to her. When she looks up, the men have strayed to the edges of the willow tree, talking amongst themselves and glancing at her. 

They are close enough now that she can see the expensive clothing upon their bodies and the condescending looks on their faces.

Her heart immediately jumps in her throat from nerves.

Whatever they want cannot be good.

The man in front whispers one more thing to his friends before moving through the willow branches.

His features are handsome but they hold a certain superiority that destroys them. With a smooth hand, he pushes back his hair and sends her a dazzling smile.

"Hello there. My friends and I noticed you all by yourself. We came to keep you company."

The hair on her neck raises in warning as he leans closer. He expects her to invite him to sit next to her but Amelia tries her best to be kind as she stutters, "I, uh, I don't r-really want c-company right n-now i-if you d-don't m-mind." 

Snickers come from the men still lingering around the willow branches. The one in front of her does nothing to hide the cruel smile that crosses his features.

"Have a problem with enunciation there, love?" He jests meanly, looking back towards the other two with a cold laugh.

Her face blushes bright red in embarrassment. Humiliation isn't far behind as each one takes a turn mocking her, each word more viscous than the last. Frustration brews hotter and hotter with each time she tries to interject. But her stutter only makes any sentence she starts a horrible failure.

Finally, when she is on the verge of tears, a rustle draws Amelia's, as well as the men's, attention off to the right.

Brushing branches out of the way, a woman steps forth. 

She is breathtakingly beautiful.

Long, dark curls drip down her back, bouncing against a coat that sparkles the shade of a midnight sky. Tight silver pants adorn her long legs while black boots wrap up and around her thighs. Between her delicate fingers dangles a bright red lily that the woman tucks behind her left ear as she gracefully steps forward.

"Pardon my sudden appearance, but I couldn't help overhearing your little gathering while I was passing by."

Her vivid green eyes look from the men to Amelia, where her gaze stops and stays.

She takes in Amelia's distressed face and glassy eyes. Her trembling hands and uncomfortable stance.

The woman's demeanor changes then. She steps forward, placing herself closer to Amelia. A beautiful, charming smile appears on her face, but there is an edge to her words when she addresses the men.

"Excuse me, kind sirs, but I believe this nice lady would like to be left alone."

The lead one scoffs at her words, looking down at her from his slightly crooked nose.

"Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? You're no more than a lowly peasant sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

Amelia quickly looks over to the woman.

Her eyes flash in annoyance but she covers it with an alluring smirk. She almost resembles a tiger as she prowls closer. The smirk becomes all teeth as she says, "You're just a bunch of privileged boys looking for a good time. If this is how you get your amusement then I can understand why your mother and father never gave you enough attention."

The air becomes charged with magic as the man physically recoils from her words. Gripping the velvet cloth of his shirt, he glares at the woman, spit flying from his lips as he gasps out, "What did you do to me?!"

She tilts her head with a polite but bemused expression. Her eyes are anything but innocent as she folds her arms over her chest.

"I didn't do anything except point out the obvious. Maybe you're just incompetent."

The man jerks back far more aggressively this time, eyes wide in pain and fear. 

"You're.... you're crazy!! My father will hear about this, do you hear me? He'll hear about it!"

Though his face is scrunched in anger, his voice trembles with each word he says. His pompous demeanor is ruined by his cowardice, Amelia thinks. As it should be.

The lady cocks an eyebrow up and she opens her mouth again but the man is quick to make himself scarce, scampering away like a scared little puppy. His friends glance, wide-eyed, between his retreating back and her nonchalant figure. Amelia watches her tap a finger against the side of her face as she speaks into the open air.

"Your friend seems soft," The woman murmurs, dragging her gaze to the ones remaining. "I wonder if you two are the same."

The way her eyes shine dangerously speaks volumes.

Be gone or face the same consequences.

They seem to decide it's not worth the trouble, tucking tail as they run back the way they came. Relief curls throughout her body like vines as Amelia turns toward the woman. With a flip of her long curls over her shoulder, she faces the wizard with a bright, easy smile.

"Normally, I'd have a kinder introduction of myself but they seemed insistent."

Amelia nods her head timidly.

"It's al-alright. Thank y-you."

Some small part of her braces for the woman to make fun too, but instead, her smile only becomes kinder as she gracefully bows, the tails of her coat flaring out dramatically.

"You're most welcome, my lady."

Shock is the first thing to come to her mind, then gratitude. Before she can change her mind, Amelia gestures at the empty spot on the bench beside her.

"If you, um, if you have the time, I uh, I wouldn't mind some company."

The woman's eyes sparkle warmly as she stands upright again.

"But of course. I couldn't refuse such an offer from a lovely lady."

She blinks her eyes in confusion.

"Amelia. My name's Amelia."

The woman takes it all in stride, posing herself in such a way that Amelia knows there will be a grand introduction. The woman doesn't disappoint as little music notes begin to swirl through the air and magic flairs up all around them.

"Ever so pleased to meet you. My name is Serene: bard extraordinaire, traveling musician, and very well known for my talents in other places."

She does a magnificent show of gesturing to herself and making it look elegant.

Amelia smiles at the theatrics as Serene drapes herself across the bench next to her.

"Did you perform here then?" She inquires to the bard, who leisurely crosses one leg over the other.

Serene gazes out at the field of lilies, eyes flashing like emeralds as she does so.

"Somewhere close. I was passing by to meet someone for a….formal meeting."

Amelia peers at her curiously for her choice of wording.

"Formal meeting?" She echoes, to which Serene turns her head to look at her. She seems almost playful as she swings her crossed leg back and forth.

"Yes. One of the highest matters. Though I might now be a little late thanks to those regal bastards."

She sits on the sentence a moment before she straightens and quickly looks at Amelia apologetically.

"Not that I regret helping you. I'm certainly glad I came when I did. I just detest people who think it's okay to bring others down for their gain."

Instead of being offended, Amelia smiles at her. Kind words are all she offers.

"No, no. You're fine, I promise. But…."

She trails off, a concern arising within her mind. A troubled furrowed brown and deep frown are what greets Serene as she glances over in inquisitive contemplation. She tenses when she sees the expression, sitting up with worry. It soon dissipates at the wizard's words.

"You know they might come back and arrest you for that."

Serene grins as she reclines further into the bench, carefree.

"They could. But I can be…. persuasive." A mischievous glint enters her eyes as she curls a lock of hair around her finger.

"The most they might do is a slight slap on the wrist. Nothing more."

The wizard fidgets with her sleeve as she frets, body unable to keep still as she speaks.

"You're sure? I'd hate to see you end up in a jail cell for defending me."

Curiosity rearranges Serene's features before a softer look settles over them. Amelia would almost venture to say it was appreciation, but before she can say for certain, the other woman stands and takes a few steps from the bench, ducking down to pick a few nearby lilies.

When she returns, she holds them out with a flourish.

"Beautiful lilies for a demure flower."

Amelia looks between the white petals and Serene in confusion and disbelief.

"Why are you calling me a demure flower? Those two words don't exactly belong together now, do they?"

Serene's laugh is musical, lovely when she throws her head back, eyes closed. Amusement dances along her features, lingering in the form of warm words and curled rosewood lips.

"One day, dearest, you may yet understand the meaning. But today, please, take them. Enjoy them. Soon they'll be gone to winter's clutches." 

She holds them out again but Amelia gets the impression that if she doesn't want them, she doesn't have to take them.

She decides to anyway.

Her nimble fingers wrap around the long stems and she takes them, placing them on top of the book. 

"Thank you."

Serene bows deeply, arms held out wide in an elegant stance. Her long mane of curls slips on either side of her neck when she looks up with a brilliant grin. 

"Anything for you, my lady."

She stands straight again, adjusting the lily behind her ear and fixing her coat.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend that meeting. I hope that we cross paths again someday."

Amelia only smiles and dips her head down in a nod, strands of juniper hair brushing against her pale cheeks.

Serene returns it with one of her own before strolling back through the willow branches, singing a sweet song. Amelia watches her cross the garden for a few seconds more before she turns back to her tome, feeling a bit more hopeful than before.

As the pages fall back open and she settles down to read again, she finds herself humming the same song.

[tcmmysheiby]

pretty woman : tommy shelby. [part one]

authors note; this has literally be in the making for months. took us a long time to get through it, edit and what not so please appreciate and send in feedback because it’s always appreciated. this is a series and will also be posted on wattpad if you wan’t to read it on there as well as on here! collab with @fireofmyloins19 so please go and read her work as well! FEEDBACK APPRECIATED! word count; 3.3k words. warnings; swearing, mention of drug use and prostitution obviously.

Madline was no stranger to men, satisfying their needs then kicking them out the door as methodically as a priest gave out his sermons; though there was something about this one that was different. Both consumed by their ghosts of war and the unruly lives it had burdened them with, had Tommy Shelby finally found his answer to happiness in the form of an unlikely angel, residing in the lonely corners where soldiers finally escape from war and where even God would be tempted to go to hell.

Tommy was no stranger to business soirees, full of high-class men and women who had made their way to the top through delinquency and deception; just like himself. It was usually a place for Tommy to get new clients or boast about how well the Shelby business was doing, but this one was dismal and full of monotonous toffs who were only there for the free champagne; conversing between themselves with counterfeit smiles and fake laughter. Arthur and John had slumped off somewhere in an attempt to court two young women, leaving Tommy alone to stand by the bay window, looking vacantly across the river Thames.  

“Your lady friend is on the phone,” one of the servers appeared holding a tray of champagne with a polite smile on his face. Tommy sighed before grabbing a glass of the beverage.

“Thank you” he turned his back to the man before responding, downing the contents in one go before making his way out the crowded room. As he walked through the hallways, he spotted John, an arm wrapped firmly round a young girl's waist, shadowing her against the wall with a toothpick in his mouth as he attempted to charm her into the nearest private room to satisfy his needs. Yet his efforts were quickly disturbed once he saw Tommy’s stone-cold expression.

“Who's irritated you?” John asked with a nudge of his cap, twirling the toothpick between his lips.

Tommy raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “No-one yet, but I’m sure I’m about to get an earful from Lillian,” Tommy paused and looked over at the woman still waiting patiently against the wall, “And you’ll be getting an earful off Esme if she finds out about this.”   

“Ah it’s a bit of fun Tom.” John turned to the girl with a wink, a mischievous smile plastered across his face. “Besides what she doesn’t know won’t hurt.”

Tommy scoffed before waving John away, wanting to get his conversation with Lillian over and done with. Once in the study he redialled the phone, not having to withstand the tedious ringtone for long before picked up.

“Lillian, what can I do for you this evening?” Tommy asked in a sickly-sweet tone, trying his hardest to mask his annoyance.

“Tommy? Jesus, surprised I managed to get through to you. It’s usually Lizzie Stark I get stuck talking to these days,” Lilian spat, resentment evident in her voice as she listened to Tommy’s monotone response.  

“She is my secretary, and I am a busy man. You know this.”

“Yes, well I’m getting rather fed up of it. We haven’t spoken in nearly a week and how do you think that makes me feel, Tommy? A phone call would be pleasant sometimes, just so I know that you are alive and well.”   

“I told you I would be in London for a while. I have some business to attend to Lillian so talking on the phone isn’t my top priority” he paused momentarily to see whether she spoke, only to hear her uneasy breathing down the receiver. “Have you packed for London yet? I believe that your train is booked for 10am tomorrow morning.”  

“No, I haven't, and I won’t be packing for the trip.”   

“And why’s that?” Tommy asked, surprised at Lilian's revelation.   

“Because I’m not coming, Tommy. If I come down then you will hardly speak with me anyway, and what is the point in that? I think I will stay here in Wolverhampton and work on my business. I do not need you and we both know you certainly don’t need me, we simply looked good together for business.” Lillian remarked, no longer kind towards the man she had once adored.  

“I need you this week and you know it.”   

“Exactly Tommy, you just need me for this week, for your business.” she sighed, genuine upset in her tone, “Find someone else then, it’s not my problem anymore. Would you like me to move out of the flat?”   

“Are you finishing this?” Tommy asked, jaw clenched as his eyes fixed on the old wooden table before him. He wasn’t surprised that it had come to this, it had been in the making for a while. Himself and Lillian were not compatible in the slightest.  

“I am.”   

“Then yes, I would like you to move out. I’ll get one of my men to come and pick up the keys. Thank you for your help.”

Without another word Tommy dropped the receiver back onto the hook and swiftly made his way back through the halls, thankful John was no longer lingering against the wall ready to bombard him with questions; although there were no guesses where he had gone once Tommy passed the lone room at the end of the corridor, the shrieks from the opposite side of the door lucky to be drowned out by the liveliness of the grand drawing room that followed. He entered the bustling room with haste, weaving his way through the crowd and giving the odd nod to people whom he knew to be of potential importance to the company, yet not bothering to stop and talk, his only focus now being to make it to the exit without being collared by Arthur or worse, Polly.

He made his way down the stairs, picking up a brisk jog as he muttered his greetings to the people only just arriving, not a single flicker of guilt that he could be passing up on profitable business deals in his absence - the only two things consuming his mind now being hard liquor and the company of a nameless woman. With the impending meeting with Alfie Solomons now playing on his mind and the plans he had put into place being ruined he needed to clear his head, and he was determined to do it the only way he knew how.

Just as he had past the main doors and thankfully reached the comfort of his car, he heard Arthur’s voice bellowing over the engine, closing his eyes momentarily with a sigh of frustration before stepping back onto the gravelled drive.  

“Arthur,” he greeted him.

“Where the bloody hell do you think you’re going? We need you up there it’s rifling with the toffs ready to make deals with their pockets full of cash, you were right about them being keen in London!”

“I’m sure you can handle a bit of business without me Arthur, I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”

“Oh yeah and would that somewhere be a business deal that requires your cash.” Arthur jeered as he took a swig from his hip flask stumbling backward slightly.  

Tommy didn’t react to the remark, opening the door to re-enter the vehicle and climbing up behind the wheel. “I have business with Mr. Solomons which will be carried out over the next few days, I’ll be staying at the Ritz should you need to contact me. In the meantime, I trust you and John shall be able to carry out the running's of The Eden?”

“Absolutely Tommy.” Arthur slurred holding the hip flask towards him as though to cheers to their new business venture, “Me and John have got it covered don’t you worry, already found ourselves a few nice ladies to keep the punters entertained.”

Tommy scoffed, shaking his head and slamming the door shut before bidding his brother goodnight.

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The strong smell of alcohol was the first thing that hit Madeline’s senses as she walked into the sleazy club where her friend, Annie, was likely to be found. Plenty of the men stared at her without a care as she passed, the alluring outfit she wore causing them to lick their lips as their minds filled with smutty debaucheries though Madeline brushed them off; nothing she wasn’t use to. She was there for one reason and only reason only. She hurried to the top floor finding Annie cooped up in a corner with her petite body draped over her pimp, a vulgar man that Annie strangely seemed to adore.

“Rent,” Madeline said as she held out her hand in front of Annie who was evidently off her face on a combination of spirits and narcotics.  

“Tomorrow?” Annie said with a wide smile, hoping that her charm would win Madeline as it seemed to every time.   

“No, tonight,” Madeline replied with a straight face, her hand still in front of Annie’s. “I can only just afford to pay my half of the rent and you can’t keep expecting me to pay yours as well, I’m not your mother.”  

With that Annie’s pimp was quick to get to his feet, shaking Annie off him into a heap on the cracked leather couch as he prepared to kick Madeline out of the club. Annie grabbed onto his arm with haste, shaking her head to warn him off using her best persuasive puppy dog eyes.

“Come with me, Madeline.” she stood hesitantly, holding out her hand for Madeline to take.

Madeline followed Annie to the bottom bar, trying her best to ignore the almost sickening stench of cigarette smoke that would surely linger to her body for the next few days. As she passed one table, Madeline swiped a lone drink away and downed it in one go, she was going to need it to get through the night.

Annie leaned against the bar and clicked her fingers, the bar man instantly moving to grab a couple of drinks. “Pay my rent for me this month and I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”  

Madeline shook her head in disbelief. “You won’t though, Annie, you never do. I love you to death but you’re going to have to start looking after yourself soon because I simply can’t afford to look after you, as well as myself.”

Annie scoffed; Madeline wouldn’t even have a job at the brothel if it wasn’t for her. “We will just have to get more clients in then, won’t we? Come on.” Annie moved and placed her hands-on Madeline’s cheeks as she smiled up at her. “Just pay my rent for a couple more months and I’ll sort you out with some real good deals. Anthony has got some new Tokyo coming in that I’m sure you would love.”

“I don’t want any drugs off Anthony, okay? And, a couple of months? I might not even be here by next week if I’m lucky enough.”  

Annie removed her hands, her expression turning to confusion as she laughed faintly, not wanting to believe what she was hearing. Madeline was the only person in the brothel that she got a long with, plus she helped her out in desperate times of need. “What are you going on about, Madeline? You didn’t tell me…”  

Madeline had planned to tell Annie at a more convenient time but it looked as though the truth was coming out there and then. “I’ve managed to bag myself a job interview but I probably won’t get it, so don’t worry about it too much.”  

“Oh, I’m worried - “  

“Worried about how you are going to pay your rent if I end up getting out of the brothel?” Madeline retorted, her face instantly softening nevertheless. She didn’t want to leave Annie alone, but this job would give a new start which was what Madeline needed more than anything.  

“Where’s the job at?”  

“It doesn’t matter where. Like I said, I might not even get it.” Madeline smiled at the barman who brought her over a gin and tonic before quickly necking it down in one, needing to get back to the brothel and earn some serious money if she was going to have to pay the full rent; Annie leaving her with no choice. “I have to go. Be careful with him,” Madeline warned, referring to the short-tempered pimp no doubt twitching with impatience upstairs at Annie’s absence, “he’s dangerous.”  

“What about my rent?” Annie shouted after Madeline who was walking towards the exit.  

“I’ll sort it.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tommy’s eyes trailed around the room carefully, taking in every detail before him causing a heavy sigh to seep from his throat at the anything but appealing welcome. It certainly wasn’t his usual class of establishment, the battered moss green furniture with obvious tears in its material having seen better days. A simmering layer of fresh cigarette smoke welcomed him into the room, noticeably clinging to the air in the few areas of the room where the low lights stood. He stepped further into the room nonetheless, clearing his throat to gain the attention of the plump woman slumped in a wooden chair behind the counter, a newspaper open in front of her.

“What can I do you for sir?” she folded the paper with no rush, throwing it to the sticky carpet beside her and pulling herself to her feet.

“A woman. Any, it doesn't matter. Just a woman,” he began to dip into his pocket to retrieve a cigarette, striking a match with a flick of the wrist. He could feel the woman’s stern eyes watching his every move, waiting for him to finish before she spoke.

“Right well, all the girls that are here are busy right now so you’re just going to have to take a seat over there and wait for one to come out to greet you. I’m sure one won’t be long... they never are.” she gave a smile that came across more of a grimace, not bothering to hide her impatience of having to deal with Tommy’s custom. He studied her face harshly, possibly for a few seconds longer than left her feeling comfortable as the smug smile dropped and she shifted uneasily under his gaze. He drew his eyes away, swallowing hard and savouring a long drag of his cigarette before responding.

“Do I look like I have the time to wait?” he raised an eyebrow as though to indicate he was waiting for a response, though nothing came from her mouth which now lay slightly ajar, a small stutter all she managed as she tripped over her words.

“I’ll take him.” Madeline’s alluring cockney charm filled the tense silence.  

She sauntered through the entrance and straight past Tommy, not bothering to take a look at him while she held out her hand behind her expecting him to take hold and follow. Her petit heels tapping against the floor were the only footsteps ringing through the room causing her to turn once she reached the entrance to the dimly lit hallway.

“Are you coming or what?” she questioned, the irritation noticeable in her voice but she was quick to follow it with a sweet smile, knowing she couldn’t let her troubles get in the way of business. She wiggled her fingers and extended her arm out slightly further, successfully getting him to finally step forward and take her small hand in his. Madeline was quick to guide him down the hall to her designated room before he could change his mind.

There was an all too familiar silence for Madeline as they entered, the door slamming shut behind the pair while she began to kick off her heels. She settled onto the edge of the bed with a leg crossed over the other, carefully taking in his appearance for the first time which left her slightly bemused, the confusion obviously plastered across her nimble features. She was used to the grotesque, middle-aged, intoxicated men, the lonely husbands and the innocent young men whom war hadn’t touched, far too eager to get their leg up; but she was not used to this. He was by far one of the most handsome men she had seen in and out of the establishment, finding herself smiling at the thought she would have something to gossip about with Annie in the morning. Madeline drew her hands to the dress quickly pulling it over her head.   

“No,” Tommy said as he raised his hand, signalling for Madeline to stop undressing. She was left exposed her in slip, glancing up at Tommy with bewilderment. “I don’t even know your name.”  

Madeline held back a laugh as she shook her head. “When has that ever mattered?” She believed that Tommy was joking but when he remained silent, she sat back, her head tilted to the side slightly as though to question his intentions. “Okay then, what would you like it to be?” Tommy raised one eyebrow showing Madeline that he just wanted to get on with the conversation. “My name is Madeline.”  

“I’m Tommy,” he replied, still unsure of what to do. “Would you like to talk?”  

Madeline couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was usually a case of get naked, have sex, take the money and go; the only talking involved to negotiate how much she charged an hour. Still, she nodded once, patting the velvet bedding gesturing for Tommy to join her.  

“So…” Tommy trailed off, why was he acting like such a fool? He had always been a ladies-man so he couldn’t understand why he was suddenly acting like it was his first time. “How much do you charge?”  

Madeline looked him up and down with a smirk, her eyes instantly going to the pocket watch that she could see in his possession and the expensive looking ring wrapped around his finger. He was a wealthy man, she could tell that from the lavish suit that he wore, the type of suit she only saw high-class business men wear when she went down to the posh end of London in hopes of finding well-to-do clients.

“How long do you want me for?” Madeline moved one hand to Tommy’s thigh, slowly moving her palm against the fabric of his trousers. Tommy watched every action with the slight flicker of a smirk on his face.

“The whole night.”  

Madeline hadn’t expected that answer, she anticipated a couple of hours at most. “£5 for the whole night, no less.”  

Tommy took a deep breath before nodding. “I can do that.”  

“I’m sure you can,” she said seductively as she pushed Tommy back so he was laying down on the bed, his back pressed against the sheets that had seen and heard so much. “I don’t kiss,” she mumbled, pressing her finger against Tommy’s lips. “I never have and never will so don’t try it otherwise you will be straight out of that door and I will still charge you £5.” Madeline moved so she was straddling Tommy’s waist, her legs on either side of him as she trailed her hands up and down his chest. “Now, what would you like to do first?”  

“I want to talk,” Tommy replied, blatantly embarrassed by his request. Even though it killed him to do so, Tommy moved his hands to Madeline’s hips and flipped her off him, her hair falling against the sheets as she watched Tommy sit up and light another cigarette. “Do you want one?” he offered as he pulled another from the tin.  

“Please.”  

Tommy handed the matches and cigarette to Madeline before observing the bedroom closer. It wasn’t much but he had heard a lot worse from his brothers. “Why are you a prostitute?”  

Madeline blinked, taken aback by his bluntness. Not many had chosen to question her on this particular aspect of her life before. “I prefer to call myself ‘a woman of the night’,” she replied with a giggle, half-serious, half-not.

Tommy chuckled as he took note of some photographs that had been turned the other way so the punters couldn’t look at them. “They both mean the same thing.”  

“Why are you in London?” She questioned in a bid to change the conversation, she didn’t want to talk about her personal life, especially not to client. “We had a girl who worked here a few months ago with that exact same accent, Birmingham she was from. You’re quite far away from home.”  

“I’m here on business.”  

Madeline struck a match, bringing it to the cigarette he had kindly tokened her and blowing the smoke into the small space between them.  

“And is this business?”   

“No,” Tommy chuckled, watching her roll the cigarette between her rosy lips slowly, the tip of her tongue peeping from the corner as she gave her signature smile, “this is pleasure.”

[mountphoenixrp]

We have a new citizen in Mount Phoenix:

                                   Calix Song, who is known by no other name;                                                    a 24 year old son of Aphrodite.                                          He is a freelance photographer and author.

FC NAME/GROUP: yook sungjae / btob CHARACTER NAME: calix song AGE/DATE OF BIRTH: 24 / 25 dec 1995 PLACE OF BIRTH: seoul, south korea OCCUPATION: freelance photographer & author HEIGHT: 180 cm ( 5'11" ) WEIGHT: 68 kg ( 149 lbs ) DEFINING FEATURES: eyes: dark brown, flecks of gold and black ( from divine heritage and curse respectively ) notable markings: a birthmark shaped like a heart near the end of his spine ( much to his horror ) style: hoods and masks, doesn’t give a damn about fashion but somehow he always picked the nice combinations without trying anyway ( and generally looks good in things ). wears a trench coat and the sort during the cold seasons. generally goes with black and dark monochromatic schemes. PERSONALITY: positive: observant; independent; practical; level-headed neutral: sharp-tongued; dramatic;circumspect negative: morbid; apathetic; aloof; hateful

you see, this child is one of loathing. right in his core was an ugly beast that despised everything and anything, including himself. he seeks for isolation as his only solace, the idea that it was there that he could finally be in peace and merely do what he enjoyed. uncaring, but hateful, a man that was cold and yet held the flames of utter loathing. with a silver tongue that can pick apart arguments, but also stab into people’s heart. there’s a tendency to be dramatic, though, a trait that gave him more life, one that was mainly produced due to his hate and reactions to what he despised. always wary, always to himself, he didn’t like to make connections and didn’t like the idea of messing things up because he was too easy. very sharp, eyes always watching and noting things down mainly for inspiration more so than anything. always alone but knew how to live like in isolation, kept his head in the game and remained practical. under the the dramatics and spite was a cold and rational man. HISTORY: tw: gore, death

chapter i.

he was born beautiful. blessed by his mother, of love and beauty. but left by her in his father’s arms, who wept as his heart broke and held the baby close. only her powers and a name gifted to him. and from afar, another divine being sent out a curse. one that landed on the mortal realm and it seeped into the small little boy that had yet to grow. young soul that could be so easily morphed, it twisted into an ugly manner and latched onto his very core. oh beautiful child of love and beauty, he had been ruined by hate for a mother he didn’t even know. he screamed in his father’s arms, so oblivious to what’s been done, and held his child closer and muttered reassurances. but it only made the young one scream more. he burned. he burned from this love.

chapter ii.

as he grew, so does his beauty. mothers came to coo at how pretty he was, other children comes closer under his allure, and he was in the center of it all. but they all seem to not care about the frown on his face, his ducked head and how he abhorred to be under the spotlight. pretty, gorgeous, beautiful—they lathered him in praises and eventually he runs away from it all. and it rains, but he didn’t stop. he wanted to be alone. but when his little legs couldn’t run any longer, he stopped and panted heavily. looking down at a puddle underneath his feet he saw his reflection. wide doe eyes, soft but drenched locks, cheeks rosy from the run he had. g— grotesque. he stomped on the reflection, screamed at it until his voice was hoarse. covered his face as he wept. this face of his that looked so, so utterly disgusting in his eyes. father told him he was just as pretty as his mother, others adored him, but it only served to make him loathe it all the more. if this was beauty he didn’t want it. if love was like what his father had for a woman who left him, he didn’t want it. the people who came to him with kind eyes were all vile, they were worse than the worst. people so prejudiced and foolish. could they not see? they tortured him the most. could they not tell? he just wanted to be alone, by himself, in a world where he did not have to see his own face. a child of love and beauty, his father told him. and oh how he wanted nothing but to scoff at the pitiful man. and speak of the devil, he shall arrive. the man fretted over him, put him under the umbrella and gently tried to bring him back home. how he wished he would just leave him so.

chapter iii.

he thought of his father as a heartbroken fool. the man gave him love, unconditionally, despite all the sneers and insults. his vocabulary has broadened, sophisticated and biting. he was cold but fiery, frigid flames that were as contradictory as his existence. he also thought the people around him were horrid. many came to him with shining eyes, a charming smile, and a desire to get close. all he saw were ugly monsters trying too hard. infatuated little things they were, trying to seek for more in him but all he responded with was distaste and insulting them with ease. a heart breaker, they called him, yet so many still tried to reach out to him. foolish children indeed, and he wanted nothing to do with them. he’s a spiteful one really, and in all honesty he didn’t really think he could have interests. but he was human enough, with a heart somewhere under the cacophony of hate and disgust. but even his interests were unconventional. of horror novels, tales of serial killers, myths about vile creatures, they catch his eye and he indulged himself with it. he’s charmed by the sight of people at their worst, by how their face twisted into desperation and how monsters were fearlessly themselves. they’re horrible things, so ugly, yet he thought—this was true beauty. unique, different, everything that the majority’s view of beauty were not. yet at the same time, when they were confident to show themselves to the world then that was what defined them as beautiful in his eyes. he’s not in love, no, he enjoyed it but even then something about it always had a bit of it that made him hate it ( there’s nothing in this world he couldn’t hate ). it’s his only joy. through this life where he couldn’t appreciate those that people normally would. he drowns himself in the morbid genres, and he pushed himself away from others. tried to hide himself with hoods and a mask, but even then there was an allure. how troublesome really, but at least he learned to ignore by reading his books.

chapter iv.

love and obsession, madness born from infatuation. he was never aware of the idea of having powers, all he could think were that people must be idiots really. but there’s been that one boy, one he met since middle school that kept on trying to meet him. he loved him, was what that boy would say. and he’d follow him, read the books he loved to share his interests and tried to catch his attention. but the demigod found him to be a fool, an idiot without class. he watched as the lackluster boy tried his best to reach his heart. the boy that heard and saw him curse his mother and his father out more. a boy that knew he loved the morbid sights far more than of luxuries. the boy that went mad, went to his home to kill his father and leave an utterly disgusting sight of gore. strewn out intestines, gouged out eyes, words of utter devotion and love carved out in his body and written in the man’s blood. a mad boy in love waits for him next to the heartbroken fool’s corpse, arms open wide and a smile so wide on his face asking him “do you love me now?” son of the dead man, he looked at the sight with a blank gaze. he hated his father, a dull man that compared him to his mother. the man who took care of him despite his demeanor. the man that which fed and worked his hardest to keep him safe and living a good life. he was a boy of hate, spite festering within him like a swarm of locusts. however, he was a child of love first and foremost. and somewhere deep inside under he pile of loathing, he had loved his father. without missing a beat, he threw his bag at the obsessed fool to knock him out. calmly, he took his phone out that’s been shoved in his pocket beforehand and he called the police. but even with the acknowledgement that he may care for his father, he didn’t cry for the man. he accepted it as it was and waited patiently for the police to come. his heart’s a tiny little thing under the black curse that enveloped it whole.

chapter v.

a funeral was done, and he met many people he didn’t care about. they were more or less those his father knew and he never bothered to get to know about them. people gave their words to him, but it all turned into white noise. he gained all that belonged to his father. even in death he loved him greatly. the most peculiar thing was a letter, rather old but kept well. only meant for his eyes if his father was to die. and he took it, read it, reread it again, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

dear calix, i don’t know when you’ll receive this but i’m sorry if i’ve left you pretty early on. i know you may not love me, but i’ve always loved you unconditionally. even if i was head over heels for your mother, i don’t think i can love anyone more than i had with you. and i admit i was selfish to wanting to keep you here for as long as i live. unaware of who your mother really was because i feared that you would one day leave me like she did. i apologize if i never did good enough for you. but i tried my best, i really did. that aside, what’s important now is that with me gone, you must go somewhere safer. a place where you can fit in. and i say this because you’re not a mere man like i am. you are the son of aphrodite as well, goddess of love and beauty. and i know this seems far-fetched, but go to incheon, nearby the airport, and you’ll find a bridge. a bridge only you can see and come by. there you can find a place meant for demigods and gods alike. maybe there, you could find more about yourself as well. and i hope that you can live on happily and safe. always love you. sincerely, your father song sooro

it’s outlandish really, completely so. something beyond comprehension. but at the same time, things started to click. of how no matter how he acted or do, the people around him seemed to love him even then. and not to mention the obsessed criminal now detained. clicking his tongue, he decided that right now…what had he got to loose? there’s not much to really live for in this city anyway. and maybe he can do something about his powers. because he really just wanted to live life as normally as he could.

chapter vi.

he reached mount phoenix, applied for phoenix university as a literature major, and went to continue on with life. living alone wasn’t so bad, he’s cooked for himself, did chores and all before. he was an independent soul, and it was nice to finally have a place he could call belonging to himself. he didn’t bother trying to find aphrodite, or to want to meet her. he’s not keen on knowing the woman that was the embodiment of everything he loathed. instead he focused on his studies and tried his best to control his powers. unfortunately, there’s something that altered his powers, a dark curse that ruined his very being. however it also couldn’t be removed, too deeply rooted to his being that once removed—he’d lose a large part of himself. it was chaotic and vile, having pushed his powers to be stronger but ruining his own mind and preventing proper control. the curse was much of him as he was it, as if becoming the embodiment of it yet still possessing the very essence of love and beauty. a twisted blend that have merged down to the molecule. he was unsure what to do, for he had wanted to live a normal life damn it. not this load of bull that seemed to put him into a position that prevented him from living a perfectly normal life. he wanted to curse the gods, but all he could do was clamp his mouth shut and bear it. the professors told him it was best for him to stay in mount phoenix only considering his powers. at least then he’d be surrounded people with heightened resistance against it. and so he did. stayed in this place filled with divine beings he loathed. another year pass by, moving on because there’’s nothing else he could really do. what gave him life and joy being his jobs as an author and a freelance photographer. although his pictures were dark, depressing and gave off a negative mood, it still held a beauty to it that he had a knack of capturing. and his books were famous for it’s morbid and dark themes, but it sold well and that’s what mattered. and maybe he’ll learn how to deal with the curse and the powers, and the idea his mother was around somewhere. and he might have siblings. ugh, did he hate the idea of family.

PANTHEON: greek CHILD OF: aphrodite POWERS: a fatal attraction, an allure that could not be ignored. even with his hood up and mask on, people can’t help but look and wonder. he was beautiful, charming, an appearance that which was enhance by his powers and enough to make love at first sight seem true. prolonged exposure may lead to obsession, one that can go off the limits ( he’s done it before without his intentions ). a touch may even lead to the urge to bed with him ( but he wouldn’t because that’s not his thing ). thing is, his powers were also increased thanks to a curse that he grew up with. the curse that which puts the target to hate aphrodite and everything she stood for with a passion. it’s merged to his soul and he could not rid of it due to that very fact. STRENGTHS:

thanks to the curse, which was another divine essence that had merged to his soul—his powers have heightened to a level above other demigods but still lesser than actual gods. still, it was more potent and had a higher chance of putting mortals into a state of obsession.

he can use it as a means of persuasion by offering the smallest of things, such as a hug or a kiss to the cheek. unfortunately, such things disgust him. nonetheless, an easy way to get what he wants.

he draws attention, makes anyone dreamy-eyed and focused on his face. if he was a thief, he could easily snatch things away if he wished to. he could also use the clouded mindset to his advantage in arguments and the sort.

WEAKNESSES:

the curse prevented him to have any sense of control of his abilities. no matter what, his powers had the switch turned on permanently. he also couldn’t take away the curse because of how fused it was to his core.

his own personality, if exposed to it long enough, could be a turn off. as beautiful as he was, he was—to put it simply—an asshole. there’s only so much insults you can take before you drop him.

he couldn’t affect those that were truly in love. although those that had their heart in a state of wavering can still be partially affected by him, generally he was ineffective against them.

he never used his powers the way it can be used. in fact, he tried to avoid using it for as long as he could.

obsession can be terrifying. he once drove a man so madly in love with him that said man would kill his father to attract his attention.

[silverliningslurk]

Hold On

Pairing: Kiyoko Shimizu/Yachi Hitoka Word count: 4.3k Rating: General audience Potential Trigger Warnings: None Summary: Yachi Hitoka is magical, but she’s the only one she knows, and she can’t practice much, considering her mum’s not keen on the whole idea anymore. However, Shimizu finds out, and offers her a door into a more magical existence, and maybe, perhaps- something more, too. 

Written for @kaijuusandkryptids for @haikyuusecretsanta‘s event! I really enjoyed writing this, and I really hope you enjoy it too! 

Read on AO3 here! 

Hitoka sticks her tongue out just slightly, not even conscious of the motion, as she tries to reason with herself.

It’s not like it needs it. She enjoys drawing people in just by her own merit – which is a little daft, because using it would be her own merit too, but it just… If her mum caught her at it, she’d be very disappointed.

But. This is important. They need the money, they need people to be drawn in and reach into their purses. She wants to see them go to all the way, wants them to succeed, and do what she can to help. And maybe, just maybe, it needs that little extra.

After all, a little sweep of a potion here and there wouldn’t hurt, would it? No one would notice, probably. It’s not like she’s seen anyone else using magic at all.

Glancing at the door, she bites her lip. Equally though, it’s a little risky. Her mum could find the stuff she’s been hiding, and throw it out in disgust. Her dad’s powers, she’ll complain, nose in the air, and much use he ever was.

To Hitoka, though, it’s always been a little forbidden, a little too tempting. She’s used it before, just a touch here and there, a blending spell with her foundation so she doesn’t stick out so much, a calming spell in her lip balm. They’ve never worked too well, but that’s because she’s never had much room to really learn, and she’d love to, but not under this roof.

She thinks about classes sometimes, or books. Books might be safe enough. She can put a fake cover on them and stick them somewhere her mum isn’t likely to go. Her mum’s not too until books, so it would probably be safe there with the others as long as it doesn’t stick out.

Allure spells are easy enough, though. She’s thought about using them before when she’s had crushes, so she’d looked them up. If she can just find those notes…

It takes a mere minute of rummaging in her desk drawer to find them, and she flattens them out on the table, and reaches for her paintbrush.

Magic works best via a sentimental object, she’s heard; given by both her parents when she was only small, when she was starting to show an interest in art and graphics, and they’d been so proud of her. It’s always reminded Hitoka of when her family was complete, before her dad disappeared and her mum resented him for it.

She says the words. She imbues the brush, and paints the spell over the poster, highlights the things she really wants people to take notice of, the arc of Hinata’s arm, the ball, the words. Not too much, but not too little. Just enough.

When she’s done, she sits back and admires it. Almost nobody would be able to detect the magic unless they were looking for it, and almost nobody even would think it was real if she told them.

To her, it’s a perfect fusion of talents from both her parents, entwined into something important to her. She’s proud of it, and she can’t wait to show the team her efforts.

Thankfully, they love it. No one mentions anything untoward, and Shimizu-senpai smiles at her so warmly, grateful for her effort, that Hitoka practically floats around the rest of the day. She might have to reapply the magic to the copied posters, but that’s the work of minutes, and she’ll do that when she takes them home after copying them. It’s perfect, and her day is perfect, and everything has gone perfectly.

Until. “I admire the delicacy of your magic, Hitoka-chan.”

It goes downhill. Like usual. Hitoka thinks she can hear her neck creak as she turns, ever so slowly, towards Shimizu-senpai, still smiling at her gently. The confusion blows in like a sandstorm – how did she know? She’s never mentioned anything before, never given any kind of hint, never even- how?

"W-w-w-w-what d-d-do you mean?! M-m-m-magic?!" She stammers, flapping her arms wildly. Thankfully, no one else is around; unfortunately, the only person who can see is probably the person highest on her list of people Yachi Hitoka does not want to have a meltdown in front of. "I-I-I don't know what you mean!?"

Shimizu smiles gently, and Hitoka's heart can't cope with panic and a cute expression at the same time. Her face is burning. "It's alright, Hitoka-chan. I have magic on my mother's side mostly, and a little on my father's. I've learnt to see it."

"What?!" She screeches, and then promptly cringes at her volume. "You- you're magical too?" She can't help but sound incredulous – the amount in the magical population is unknown, but estimated to be approximately 2%. It's somewhat an open secret: most magicians hide the fact, as it can cause them to get hounded and ostracised. Not everyone believes it’s real. Hitoka loves magic, but she's never wanted to shout about it. It's always been intensely personal, wrapped up in confusion from her dad disappearing and hurt from her mother resenting her inherited power, seeing it as his. But alongside that is wonder. She's always wanted to use it to help, even if in small ways. She likes the idea of being a small town witch, making potions and rubs for old ladies.

Shimizu nods. "Which spell did you use?"

And Hitoka tells her, dumbfounded, because she's having an intelligent conversation with Shimizu-senpai of all people about magic. She daren't believe it.

Well, semi-intelligent. Hitoka doesn't actually know that much, curtailed by resentment from her mum and only using spell books. Remembering that, she trails off and sighs. Shimizu raises her eyebrows.

"Mum doesn't like me doing magic. So I don't know much." She's finally made a connection, something only they share, and the fact that she can't really know much about it is going to ruin everything.

"That's a shame. Why is that?" "I got it from my dad, and he disappeared when I was ten or so." She wrings her hands together. It’s only really at points like this – and when her mum’s being just the wrong side of constructively critical – that she misses him. She doesn’t remember too much, really. That might have been one of his spells, but she doesn’t mind too much, being left mostly with a rosy glow instead of concrete memories of abandonment, essentially.

Glancing up, she sees Shimizu making a conflicted expression, unsure what to say. This, Hitoka is used to dealing with. “Don’t worry, I’m not upset at it. I’m more annoyed he didn’t teach me much magic, really.” She explains, fiddling with the cuff of her shirt. “And with mum, I don’t really…” It occurs to her then she probably shouldn’t be sharing so much with Shimizu – someone as cool as her, as self-assured, definitely doesn’t want to hear these petty concerns of Hitoka’s.

“You could visit our house and learn some with us, if you’d like.”

Definitely doesn’t need to hear these petty concerns of Hitoka’s. She has bigger, grander things to concern herself with, like her exams, her flawless reputation, her own friends-

“Huh?!” Hitoka screeches, caught off guard. Shimizu chuckles gently, holding a hand in front of her mouth to semi-hide her smile, but not enough. It shows, in the acceleration in Hitoka’s heartbeat, in the warmth in her face, in the way she grips her hands together. She can’t even think, faced with that stunning smile. Shimizu can’t be making fun of her, surely, she’s too nice for that, but the thought of her offer being genuine is just- impossible.

“My younger brother loves to teach people, he’s just a little younger than you. I’d love to teach you. Even without formal teaching, you’re a delicate magician.”

Yachi Hitoka does not croak. She’s not a lady, but she has some class.

Although if she had done, the sight of Shimizu grinning was almost worth it.

The Shimizu household looks completely normal from the outside. There are tall plants to either side of the doorway, and it’s only when she feels something around her hand that she realises they’re not completely normal plants; she feels a little out of her depth, but crouches down and murmurs soothing words to each of them in turn. They release her, and both open up a flower, as though smiling. Hitoka compliments them on it; Shimizu, teasing, tells her she’s spoiling them.

The house is quite normal from the inside, too. There’s a lizard tank in one room that Hitoka wants to peer into, but manages to hold herself back from. The kitchen looks normal when Shimizu gets her a drink, and offers her a space to put her bags. The living room looks normal when they sit in it to wait for her mum, Shimizu citing that they’re forbidden from doing magic without supervision yet.

She then negates this by sliding a finger around the rim of her glass, once, then twice, murmuring an incantation quietly, and changes the juice inside from apple to orange. Shimizu smiles at her, and Hitoka feels like it’s a secret shared between them. They settle into talk about what magic Hitoka can do (not much, but Shimizu is kind nonetheless) and what magic Shimizu can do (a dizzying array, but she’s being humble about it all, of course.) Hitoka is itching to start, nervous to meet Shimizu’s mother, anxious about what will inevitably go wrong, terrified about how she’ll repay them for their efforts and when she does blow something up, no matter that she’ll be doing menial magic for sure, and petrified about that she won’t be able to do anything at all. As usual, she starts working herself up into a state, her (most likely weak to start with) anti-worrying lip balm wearing off, but she’s left it in the kitchen and getting it would require moving and that would raise questions-

“Hitoka-chan.” Shimizu’s clear voice cuts straight through her thoughts, slices through the visions that cloud her. “We’ll help you. I believe you have a good grasp on magic anyway.”

“But I’ve never really-!” She says, waving her hands frantically. Shimizu smiles gently. “Yet what you’ve done is all self-taught. Mood altering potions require a certain… finesse. I haven’t mastered any of those.” Shimizu considers it for a moment. “Perhaps you could teach me how to do those?”

Hitoka makes, to her dismay, a strangled noise. The very thought of her being able to teach Shimizu anything about this most foreign art – at least to her – is laughable.

“I don’t think I could possibly- I can’t-” “If nothing else, I need you to make a calming potion for Nishinoya-san and Tanaka-san for when they get overenthusiastic.”

Hitoka giggles, unable to help herself. Tanaka and Noya could indeed use a little less energy at times, although definitely only temporarily. She’s not sure how she’d ever administer it, since they never seem to stay still long enough. Perhaps deodorant, but then gifting it to them would be incredibly awkward, and leaving it in their bag would look like a creepy secret admirer, and Hitoka wouldn’t want to lead them on like that. The explanation should she get caught would be far, far too much.

“But how would I get it to them, even if I could make that?” She muses, bemused. “Perhaps in their water bottles?” Shimizu suggests, apparently thinking about it. “I doubt something like your perfume would work, although if you told them it’d help them win, they’d likely fall for anything.”

Hitoka hums, and then frowns. She never told Shimizu about the perfume, and she’d never thought it was obvious in any case – now she thinks about it, she’d misplaced that bottle a few months back, before she ever started as trainee manager…

“How did…?” She starts, but the door clicks open at that point. A tall women with long dark hair matching Shimizu’s walks in, not smiling but not exactly frowning either.

“Kiyoko, I asked you not to use magic without supervision.” She remarks, as though it’s been said a hundred times before. She then notices Hitoka. “And you are…?”

Hitoka jumps up, nerves growing by the second. “Yachi Hitoka, Shimizu-san! P-pleased to make your acquaintance!” She bows deeply, which earns her an appreciative hum. “Nice to meet you.” Shimizu-san remarks. “She’s here to learn some magic, mother.”

“She’s magical!” A young boy shouts. Hitoka straightens up to see a boy of about ten staring at her with glee. “I’m gonna teach her the explodey spells!” He shouts, and Hitoka laughs nervously.

“You won’t be doing that, Keiji. I can teach her proper magic, though.”

Hitoka makes so many notes her hand hurts. Her head is spinning in many ways when she leaves, but it feels full of knowledge and she likes it. She wants to practice, and somehow she’d impressed Shimizu-san enough to be invited back again, and she can’t wait. Shimizu offers to walk her home, and seems insistent no matter how much Hitoka protests; they compromise on halfway.

Hitoka thinks it’s going to be that simple, but Shimizu tugs her sleeve when they pass a bench. The mountains rise up in front of them, and there’s a small park in front of it. The sun is just setting, a warm glow in the growing shadows, and Hitoka wants to hold onto time. She knows no magic could do that, but she wants to, anyway.

“You were asking something before my mother came in.” Shimizu asks, once they’ve sat on the bench. Hitoka just sat down without thinking about it, but it feels like Shimizu has sat a little closer than normal customs would dictate; Hitoka wonders if it actually means anything at all.

It takes a while, sifting through the myriad of new magic to practice and the thoughts of Shimizu so close, but the oddity of Shimizu knowing about her enchanted perfume resurfaces. “I wondered how you knew I had magic perfume, I lost that ages ago…” she murmurs, a little embarrassed to even ask, but there’s a need to know. It implies things that her heart might be happy at, she thinks, and she just needs to know.

Glancing sideways at Shimizu, she thinks, even in the low light, that there’s a colour to her cheeks.

“I can see magic, as you know.” Shimizu starts slowly. “It wasn’t incredibly obvious, but it was enough. Once I’d noticed it, I noticed you, although I had no reason to speak to you. I couldn’t find one until I decided to search for another manager. I… wasn’t expecting you to agree to it. But I’m glad you did. Very glad.” Shimizu looks at her, then, a glance with so much meaning Hitoka doesn’t dare try to interpret.

“I’m-” She croaks, her throat dry. Clearing it, she starts again. “I’m glad you did. I’m happy you asked me!” Wringing her hands in her lap, she chuckles nervously under her breath. “I’m not really much good as a manager, but I’ll try my best, under your instruction, Shimizu-senpai!” She smiles at Shimizu. Her heart feels like it’s in her throat – the whole thing, being alone in a quiet part of town, in the space in between day and night, feels unreal and intimate somehow. Hitoka thinks maybe she’s dreamt this whole thing, and by tomorrow this will all be a faded memory that never was.

She so desperately wants to cling to it. She never has her own space with Shimizu, as unworthy as she is of it, and so now, she never wants to leave. She wants to etch the moment into time and hold it. Make it a solid thing she can keep with her. It feels like she won’t ever have this again.

Shimizu just keeps looking at her, though. Even when Hitoka didn’t notice, apparently, and all through her time learning to be a manager from her, and even now, Shimizu has been looking at her. Even when Hitoka felt plain and less than average next to her, Shimizu was looking at her like she was worth something.

Will Shimizu keep looking at her?

Even if she drowned in calming potion, she doesn’t think it would slow her heart down any. She wants to ask, the words are on her tongue, and she has to stop them somehow, by replacing them.

She panics, between her loose tongue and Shimizu’s proximity. It’s her brain short-circuiting, filled with information and tired of holding secrets.

“I’d best go! Mum will be wondering where I am!” Which is, at least, likely the truth. She stands swiftly, her hands are shaking because she was thisclose, and she just can’t. She can’t endanger this, it’s happened before, and it’s gone so wrong. Girls, lovely as they are, seem close until she tells them she loves them that way, and then they retreat rapidly, and she cannot have Shimizu retreat. She can’t lose this. She grabs her bag and swings it over her shoulder and backs off a few steps. “I’ll try and make a pot of lip balm for you!”

And then she runs. Hitoka can be impulsive, but she dreads the moment she’s impulsive with Shimizu.

Her mum is out when she gets back, thankfully, and so doesn’t see her slide down the door with her face in her hands, bright red from running back and the whole situation. She eats the dinner on the table and grabs a pot of lip balm she’d gotten as a present – it’s rose flavoured, which is not her kind of scent, but seems to fit Shimizu quite well.

Sighing, she sits down at her desk, notebook open, spellbooks on the bed, and lip balm in front of her. She shouldn’t do this now, really. Not when Shimizu-san had said, not two hours ago, that magic shouldn’t really be done in the grip of strong emotion. It taints it. But Hitoka doesn’t want Shimizu to think she escaped because of disgust or anything, and she wants to give her this. Wants to show that she can, wants to show that she’s still worth looking at.

So she takes the paintbrush from her bag, straightens the bristles out habitually, most of them at angles and glued together with paint not fully washed off. She picks up her memories of her dad teaching her, minimally, and her mum watching, smiling for once. She picks up her feelings for Shimizu, the love she feels with every smile, every flick of her raven black hair, every quiet laugh, hidden passion in her eyes, and Hitoka’s want for Shimizu to keep seeing her, and says the incantation, tapping the pot three times.

Yawning, she practices for a while, until she’s too sleepy to do so. She puts the lip balm in her bag to give to Shimizu tomorrow, and goes to bed.

She makes extra sure to smile at Shimizu, seeing the hint of doubt in her gaze, and pushes the pot at her at the end of practice, scuttling off before anything more can be said, her face red. She worries about it all night; so much so that her mum snaps at her for fidgeting. She can’t help it, wondering if the spell even caught right, wondering if in her tired state it worked at all, or had an opposite effect. She can’t help but feel something went wrong, although she cannot put her finger on what. She doesn’t think she was too emotional – she’d merely focussed on the reason for the magic as instructed, rather than the emotions.

Hadn’t she?

She barely sleeps that night, tossing and turning, wondering what kind of effect the lip balm will even have, if Shimizu will even use it. Hopefully nothing bad, but now she’s not sure and she’s doubting herself. Shimizu could have waited a day, a smile would have done, she didn’t have to give her the lip balm immediately, could have made sure it actually worked as it was meant to, but no, her impatience and anxiety made her unable to wait.

Doubling up on her own anti-anxiety lip balm and calming foundation, she still worries her lip all the way to school. She wraps the strap of her backpack around her finger, and undoes it, a thousand times. She can’t quite focus in class, dismantling her pen and remaking it over and over, as quietly as she can. The teacher sends her puzzled glances throughout, but Hitoka slips away at lunch before he can mention anything and-

Immediately gets caught by Shimizu.

Her eyes don’t seem clouded, a sign of magical influence, and she is smiling. If anything, a little too much. The hand that catches hers is firm, and leads her to an empty classroom, slides the door shut, and turns back to her. Shimizu takes both of her hands.

“Hitoka-chan-” “I’m sorry!” Hitoka cries, bowing her head. “I think I did the potion on the lip balm wrong, can you give it back and I’ll re-do it right this time, I’m sorry I knew I shouldn’t have been trusted with this-” “Hitoka-chan?” “But I just didn’t want you thinking I didn’t like you or whatever and I had to make it, but I should have waited and I’m so so sorry!” “Hitoka-chan.” Shimizu puts a finger to her lips, and immediately Hitoka shuts up and turns red. Shimizu smiles. “I’m glad you gave me the lip balm as it was.”

“But, why? It can’t have done anything good…” She starts wringing her hands together, but Shimizu laughs quietly. “Oh, it did something amazing. It gave me courage.” Shimizu states, and Hitoka just tries to think about what could have done that, because surely no spell that she’s ever cast has been that strong- “To ask you if you would be my girlfriend.”

Hitoka freezes, her mouth falling open. She definitely didn’t wake up this morning. Or maybe she fell asleep in class and didn’t realise. This can’t be real. This cannot be real, it’s way too good to be true. But she nods, anyway, automatically. She can’t refuse that offer, even if it’s a dream. It’ll annoy her waking self if she does nothing and this slips away, and since it’s a dream, there are no repercussions, either.

The smile Shimizu gives her is blinding. She squeezes her hands, her eyes glimmering in excitement. “Mother asked if you could come every week, she’d like to tutor you more. Kenji wants to see you again, too. And there’s a new café near my house I’d like to try out, if you’d like to join me? Tomorrow perhaps?”

Again, Hitoka just nods. Shimizu tilts her head just slightly. “Is… something wrong?”

Hitoka chews on her lip for a moment, trying to decide. If this is a dream, then nothing will come of telling the truth, and she might as well tell it here without real repercussions that out in reality, with all those damned consequences.

“I just- it doesn’t seem real. Isn’t that lip balm basically a… a- a love potion?” She whispers, panicking.

“I didn’t actually use it,” Shimizu starts. Hitoka frowns, puzzled. “I could see. And that gave me courage to do what I’ve wanted to do for a while.”

Hitoka just blinks. Not real. But this is a cruel dream if it is one, and now- now she feels like she needs to know for herself. She mentally traces her path through the day, trying to find a gap indicating a dream state, but finds none. She looks about the room, expecting not to be able to, or it not to have details, but it lacks nothing in clarity. Finally, she resorts to the basic method.

“Shimizu-senpai? Could I have my hands back for a moment?” Shimizu releases her, befuddled, and Hitoka steps back just enough – and slaps both of them to her face. The sting of it is real, the heat flooding her cheeks is impossible for a dream to produce. Which produces the terrifying possibility that- that this is actually real.

“You want to go out with me?!” Hitoka shrieks in disbelief. “Why wouldn’t I?” Shimizu questions mildly. “Because I’m just, just me?! And you’re you, amazing and beautiful and so, so not me, it just?!”

And Shimizu just. Laughs. Not so hard as to think the whole thing is a joke, but enough to stun her into silence. “I like you because you’re you. I wish you wouldn’t be so self-deprecating, but we’ll work on that. Together, if you like. Along with the magic, which you are excellent at, also.” She takes both of Hitoka’s hands again, feeling like the warmest thing Hitoka has ever held. “So, would you join me on a date tomorrow afternoon, Hitoka-chan?”

“Of- of course, Shimizu-senpai!” Like she’d ever say no to that offer anyway, even if it wasn’t a date.

“You can answer me then, about whether you want to be girlfriends or not, Hitoka-chan.” Shimizu says, but something about her smile is closed off, just a little. Sad, even. Hitoka takes a deep breath, and squeezes her hands as tight as she can.

“It’s not going to be a no, Shimizu-senpai. Even though I don’t get it, I don’t understand why you’d pick me, I’m honoured for the opportunity, and I’d love you. To! I meant to! Argh!”

Shimizu pulls her into a hug, only releasing her hands to wrap them around Hitoka’s embarrassed, red, shaking body. “I look forward to our adventures together.” She whispers, right in Hitoka’s ear. “A-as do I, Shimizu-senpai.” There’s a faint laugh, a mere breath of air. “You can call me Kiyoko if you like, Hitoka-chan.”

“Give me time, please! I’ll work on it!” There’s another giggle, and tightening of the hug and the feeling of Shimizu’s chin resting on her shoulder. Hitoka, minus the embarrassment, could probably fly right now, even without magic.

It’s a good feeling. And she has a notion that, as long as she and Shimizu can hold onto each other, it’ll last.

Which is, of course, the best thing.

[merigreenleaf]

Short Story: “This For That (Re)Quest”

(This is the “Adair’s This for That Quest” story I’ve been working on for over a month and I had a ton of fun with it, so I hope you guys like it! It’s funny and cute and hopefully a little sweet, too. :) For this I used two prompts from @shortficchallenge - this one and this one. This would take place a few months after book 3 [Iconoclasm]. You can find the masterpost with links to read all of the short stories in this series here.)

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“Hey, buddy? Can you get me a book? Like a really thick one?”

Adair stopped chewing and stared at Sol with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. Sol didn’t read. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, not exactly, but it certainly wasn’t something he went out of his way to do. When he did the book was more likely to have pictures in it of monkeys wearing hats than it was to contain actual words, so this request was odd. Then again, when was anything about Sol not odd?

“Whhmph dho-” Adair gave up trying to ask and worked on chewing the largest bite in the history of mankind. Luckily Sol was the kind of person to wait patiently when his best friend was being a greedy moron. Adair swallowed and tried again. “Why do you need a book?”

“Oh! I was wondering what ‘whhmph’ meant! I thought you were making up words. Hey, we should make our own language and not tell the others how to speak it! How smarfy would that be? I bet we could make up loads of words! Then we could talk and they’d never know what we were saying!”

Adair leaned against Sol’s worktable and brushed crumbs from his shirt as he waited for Sol to get to the point. At least the two of them had mutual patience going for them. 

“I don’t think they ever really do.” Between Sol’s tendency to get distracted and Adair talking about paint colors and recipes, they tended to get a lot of blank stares from the others. “We can try if you want, though. But I was wondering why you wanted a book.”

“Oh! Right! Sorry.” Sol gestured at the pile of wood and carpet on the table with one hand. His other hand was busy pressing down on a smaller piece of carpet. “The glue needs to set and my arm’s getting tired. Something heavy can sit on it so I don’t have to.”

“Please don’t roost on the desk.” Adair could only imagine this thing getting glued to Sol’s pants. At least he hoped Sol wore pants. He wasn’t about to check and there was a sixty-forty chance Sol forgot again. 

“I’m not feathery enough to be a chicken,” Sol said, as though this was what Adair implied. 

“I know where to find a book. I’ll be back in a sec. Don’t move!” Adair headed for the door, nonchalantly grabbing the pot of glue as he walked past and hoping Sol didn’t have another one stashed away somewhere. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could make sure Sol didn’t end up glued to something-- or for that matter, so the cat didn't end up glued to anything. This morning Sol had been struck by the idea to build what he called a “cat palace” to reconcile with Willow after their last argument. Frankly Adair didn't want to know what a cat could argue about. Maybe Sol ate her canned fish or played with one of her catnip mice. 

He stepped out the door and into afternoon sunlight a good deal dimmer than the weaving-lights Sol had hovering and bobbing around inside his wagon. Adair placed the glue pot onto the stair of the wagon and called out, “Hey, Etch!”

It came as no surprise when Etri’s head appeared over the roof of the wagon he shared with Adair and Blythe. Even expecting this, Adair's heart pounded at the thought of being so close to the edge of a fifteen foot drop. He said more to his feet than to his sentinel, “I need a book.”

“You wish to read? I will be right down.”

He wasn't exaggerating. Etri’s black boots appeared in Adair's vision far too quickly for Etri to have used the ladder to climb down. Adair wasn't sure if Etri using his weaving made the height thing better or worse. Better, he supposed. Etri couldn't fall when he had no body to be pulled down by gravity.

With Etri firmly on the ground and back to normal, Adair smiled sheepishly up at him. He hated getting Etri’s hopes up about the book. While he liked hearing Etri read aloud, he could think of about ten or a hundred things he’d rather do than read on his own. Unless it was a cookbook. Those he would devour before devouring the good things he made from the recipes. “Nah. Not really. Sol needs it."

“I know Sol does not wish to read.” Etri crossed his arms in a disbelieving stance more often used by Blythe. All he needed was the raised eyebrow to complete the look... or maybe he was doing that and Adair just couldn't see it behind the dark hair that always fell in Etri's face in alluring waves. 

Adair fought the urge to brush the hair aside in case any glue had stuck to his hands. “He says he needs a book to hold down the thing he’s making. Can I borrow one of your really heavy ones? If you don’t, Sol might glue his butt to it instead.”

What Adair thought would be a good argument didn't sway Etri. “Usually Solei is gluing his rear to objects. I fail to see how it could be my problem if the same could happen to one of my books.”

Etri did have a point, but that was okay. Adair and Sol could come up with another way of holding the carpet down that didn’t require anyone’s butts or books or books about butts. Adair was pretty sure Etri didn’t own any of those in his collection of dry tomes about the history of lumber production or whatever. Buttresses, though, were a possibility because he did own books about architecture. Etri had started researching art almost obsessively after becoming Adair’s sentinel and Adair knew it was because Etri was determined to be the best sentinel possible despite his lack of any standard training. It was a little like how Etri insisted on growing his hair out for the sentinel braid. It wasn't required for him to wear this, only tradition, but Etri had this drive to prove himself worthy of his status. No matter how many times Adair told him he was already perfect, it never seemed to stick.

With his thoughts now fully on the man he loved, Adair found his attention returning to the original subject. His head snapped up when Etri cleared his throat. Right. He could sort out buttresses belonging to his sentinel later. He had a task to do. “I’ll tell Sol and we’ll get something else.”

Etri caught his hand as he began to walk away. “There is no need. I simply require a contract.”

Adair blinked. This made no sense. What was his was Etri’s was Blythe’s. They’d never needed a contract before. “But we’re already bonded. Do contracts work between people who are linked?”

Etri laced their fingers together and squeezed his hand. “Never for you. For Sol. Before Blade and I lend him what he wishes, he must sign a contract. This way he takes care and is less likely to lose or break what we lend.”

That, on the other hand, made a lot of sense. Adair kind of wished he’d known about this sooner. It would have saved Sol from using up all of his orange paint, for one thing. "Good point. Where can I find it?"

Etri nodded towards their wagon-home he so recently sat atop. “Blade has them filed away. She should have blank ones prepared, as well.”

Of course she would. If Blythe was anything it was organized. Organized and entirely unlikely to put up with Sol losing or breaking anything of hers. Adair tugged on Etri’s arm, his signal for wanting his tall love to come down to his level, and was granted a kiss. With an extra kiss to Etri’s nose that always left him adorably flustered, Adair headed up the stairs with a grin on his face.

His good mood vanished as soon as he noticed Blythe laying herbs across every one of the kitchen counters. He’d planned to start dinner once he got the book for Sol and now this changed his plans. There was nothing he could do about it, though. He had to share the kitchen with her since it was where she prepped her healing stuff and they’d probably need it if Sol’s invention backfired again.

He walked over to his other sentinel and wrapped his arms around her waist. She sighed at the interruption but didn’t move away. “I’m busy here. What did you need?”

Adair nuzzled against her back. She smelled good, like whatever herbs she’d been cutting. These weren’t the ones he used for cooking, so the closest description he could give would be “kind of spicy and a little minty.” “Besides a hug? A contract. Etch says you have some blank ones?”

“Of course I do. You’ll have to wait, though.” She rapped her knuckles against the counter top. “They’re under here and I can’t get to them until these are done drying.”

Wait, the counter top lifted? Adair spent at least eighty percent of his day in the kitchen and he never knew that. Blythe must have guessed his thoughts because she chuckled. “You never found them? We figured you'd realize they were there. We keep them where Sol can’t find them because he kept using them for scrap paper.” 

Sol had a habit of tearing pages out of Adair’s sketchbooks to do exactly this. Once the herbs were out of the way, this was another reason to make him sign a contract. “Good idea. I’ll go let Sol know he can’t have the book.”

“Sol doesn’t read.” Adair covered a laugh behind his hand and a cough when Blythe gave him the same look Etri had with the expected raised eyebrow. 

Adair had never learned how to do the raised eyebrow thing despite months of being around her. One time he thought he’d had it until Sol noticed and rushed him to Blythe to make sure he wasn’t coming down with some deadly illness that made his face twitch. “Yeah, I know. He wants it to hold down glue.”

“Of course he does, and I bet Etch wants the contract so our dopey inventor doesn’t ruin the book.” She lowered her voice and glanced around. They were alone except for the cat who was snoozing in a patch of sunlight. “Between you and me, I sometimes wonder if Etch loves those books more than he loves us.”

Etri never needed a contract signed to keep Adair safe, but apparently the safety of his books was a more important worry. Maybe Blythe was right. Or maybe Adair was a little irked that no one deemed it important enough to tell him about said contracts. An entire tube of apricot-orange paint, and that color wasn’t cheap. 

Too late he realized Blythe was talking again and only caught the end of it. “-but I could dry these faster if I had some heat. Can you ask-”

“Dray! Yeah, I’ll go do that.” The sooner they got the herbs out of the way the sooner Adair could start dinner and the sooner he could claim one or two of those blank contracts for himself.

“I was going to suggest Sol since he needs the book anyway.”

Adair pushed himself up on his toes to kiss her, then headed for the door. “No good, he’s got his hands glued to a table. Well, not literally. I hope. I’ll be back in a sec!”

After enough searching that seconds turned into minutes and were creeping towards a quarter hour, Adair finally spotted Dray in a field not far from where the wagons were parked. Dray was practicing with their swords… knives… daggers... whatever they were, they were on fire, which was perfect. Adair jogged over and immediately regretted that decision. As he bent over and tried to catch his breath, he wheezed out, “I need to borrow some heat.”

Dray stopped spinning and lowered their swords. Yeah, swords. That had to be the word. Those were too long to be knives. “Excuse me?”

Adair straightened up, realizing now how stupid the request sounded. “Your heat? Blythe wants it so she can dry her herbs faster. I know this sounds dumb and she’s probably just setting me up, so I���ll be leaving.”

Dray scoffed, but not for the reason Adair expected. “Is that all I ever am to anyone? A stove?”

“Umm… I’m pretty sure that’s usually Sol.” One of the benefits to having a Lightweaver as a friend was that Adair could use him as his own personal stove. It came in handy when he got so wrapped up in a drawing that his food went cold. All he had to do was hand a bowl to Sol and it would be reheated in seconds. The trick was getting Sol to not balance the bowl on his head because he took his role as a stove quite seriously and assumed that a stovetop was the same as his top.

“Hmph. I’m twice the stove he could ever be. I’ll give her enough heat that those herbs will be dry in seconds.” Okay, so this was turning into some sort of spitting contest. Whatever, as long as someone gave Adair the heat Blythe wanted. “I shall need something to put the flame into. Solei keeps borrowing all my vessels and conveniently forgetting to return them.”

“Yeah, Sol likes to borrow a lot of things,” Adair muttered under his breath.

“Precisely. He should have a few left, if he hasn’t smashed them all to bits by now.” When Adair turned to leave, Dray called to him, “Wait. We all know I can do this better, but why didn’t you ask Sol first? You two are always attached at the hip. I would have thought he’d be your first choice.”

Once again Adair was hit with a twinge of guilt. Dray had become like a sibling to him and he hated to think they felt neglected. After this fetch-quest was over Adair would have to spend more time with Dray. Then read more books for Etri. Then get Sol to sign a bunch of contracts so he’d stop stealing his art supplies. Adair maneuvered past the blades and wrapped his arms around Dray in a tight but careful hug. When Dray kissed his cheek, he knew he was forgiven. Still, he should do something to make up for being a terrible brother. Maybe they could go to a concert together. Dray loved music.

Adair gave Dray a squeeze and stepped back a safe distance from the flames. Even knowing Dray could-- and would-- prevent the flame from hurting him, fire still scared him a little. “I was already with Sol, yeah, but by now he's probably entirely glued to a table. Also he needs a book.”

“The glue I can understand, but a book? Sol doesn’t read.”

Adair shrugged as he began the trek up the hill. “So I’ve heard.” 

To his amazement Sol was where Adair left him. This could only mean the assumption about the glue was right, but Adair was too afraid to ask because he knew it would fall on him to find a way to unstick him. Maybe olive oil would do the trick... “Dray says you should have something for holding fire. Can I borrow it?”

Sol nodded his head to the left. “Yeah, it’s over by the window.” 

Adair prodded at the pile and found nothing in the mess that looked like it could hold anything. Except… he spotted a small wooden box and picked it up. He prodded at the stuck catch until it opened and was rewarded for his effort with a clump of pocket lint. Scrunching up his nose, he quickly set it back down. Something made of wood wouldn’t really work even if it wasn't gross inside. What he needed was a thing that could hold fire. What held fire? 

He nudged half a chess set out of the way. When a piece slipped off the board, he dove to catch it and rammed his knee against the trunk supporting the pile. He need not have bothered with the rescue; the poor knight was already missing its head. As he wondered when Sol learned how to play or if this was a thing Etri left behind when he moved out, Sol called over to him, “Oh, wait, no! I gave you my last jar. Right?”

Frit. Sol gave him a couple when he needed to can up a few things last week. Adair had only himself to blame for this one. He was limping out the door when Sol asked, “Hey, can you get me a jar of olives? You know the green ones with the things in the middle? I’m starving.”

“Olives with pimentos? Yeah, sure, fine.” At least Adair knew he had those. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was the contents of his own pantry even if Sol did occasionally like to commandeer it as his own personal hideout and probably knew what was in there better than Adair did.

By the time Adair returned to his wagon his knee was feeling a little better and giving Blythe another kiss on the way to the pantry helped distract him even more. The preserves were easy enough to grab-- they were on the bottom shelf, right where he’d left them. Right where… the jar felt suspiciously light. He unscrewed the lid to find it half empty. He knew it was almost full just this morning because he’d put a small amount on his toast. This meant a third contract for Sol to sign: no using all his paint, no ripping pages from his sketchbooks, and no stealing his preserves. His gaze traveled the shelves, seeking the olives Sol wanted, and he sighed. Considering how this day was going, of course it would be on the top shelf.

“Blade! Can you reach something for me?”

“There’s a step stool in there. That’s why it’s in there.”

Technically the stool was also for Dray since they were shorter than he was, but Adair wasn’t going to argue technicalities with a height looming in his near future. He eyed the stool with trepidation. He didn’t trust it not to suddenly rise five feet in the air as soon as he stepped on it. Considering how Sol spent so much time in here, it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility. “I know, but please? Pretty please with sugar on top?”

Blythe nudged him out of the way so she could get past. “Just this once, then I want you to do it next time. It isn’t as though I can do much until I have heat, which I seem to remember you were supposed to get. Why are you looking for food or is that a dumb question?”

“It’s not for me. Sol wants some olives.” 

Blythe rolled her eyes. “That would have been my second guess. Can’t he get it himself? He can at least reach rather than sending in Shrimpy McGee.”

Adair stuck his tongue out at her. This had the added bonus of proving it wasn't blue and he hadn’t been snacking on the jar of preserves he held. “No, he needs the book and-”

“Right, right, he’s glued himself to a table again.” Blythe reached up with barely a stretch and retrieved the jar. She handed it to him with a shake of her head and a comment under her breath about his brave heroics in the face of dangerous step stools. 

Now there were four things Adair needed to do when this was done: spend more time with Dray, read more of Etri’s books, get some contracts for Sol to sign, and work on his fear of heights so he could stop disappointing Blythe. All this because he innocently agreed to help a forgetful friend who wanted to snack on olives, of all things.

As he passed through the kitchen Adair grabbed a spoon from the drawer and stuck it into the preserves. There was no way he was going to let this go to waste and he was perfectly happy to let Sol have the olives. He began to wonder how Sol had been eating the preserves since no spoon had gone missing, but he probably didn’t want to know. He climbed into Sol’s wagon to hand him the olives, then scurried away before Sol could ask for something else. By the time he reached Dray he had acquired an empty jar and a stomach ache. This so wasn’t worth it. If he saw another blueberry again it would be too soon. 

Through the last mouthful he said, “Here’s your jar.” 

Well, he tried to. It probably sounded more like “Whhmph.” 

Dray snuffed out one sword and placed it in the grass so they could take the jar. With the tip of the other blade they transferred some of the flame into the glass. The first time Adair saw this done he thought it was a trick until Sol and Dray showed him that they both really could place fire anywhere they wanted without anything bursting into flame or melting. 

Dray sniffed. “Ah, the scent of burning blueberries. Blythe will surely appreciate this.”

They held the jar out to Adair who took it with some hesitation. It wasn’t nearly as hot as he’d expected and holding it was just on this side of bearable. In hindsight, though, he probably should have grabbed one of his potholders. “So how will this dry the herbs?”

All Adair could think of would be tipping the fire onto the counter. Despite the lack of history of Dray’s fire causing anything to combust, Adair wasn’t about to test this in his new kitchen. 

Dray picked up the sword and relit it by bringing it to the other. “Blythe will know what to do.”

So Blythe had done this before. Then why couldn’t she have retrieved the heat? Adair pondered this as he climbed the hill for the second time in ten minutes. His legs felt like jelly-- or possibly the preserves-- by the time he was back inside his kitchen. He handed the jar to Blythe and kept a careful eye in case she decided to dump the flames onto the counter. Her watering can was within reach and he could only hope it was full. When she squinted at the jar, the fire inside flared into a blinding white glow that made him scramble to cover his eyes. Belatedly he thought of grabbing the potholders for her, but her hands were probably fine since being a healer meant she didn’t injure easily.

Sure now that both his sentinel and his kitchen were safe, Adair slumped into one of the chairs at a table also covered in herbs and waited for her to finish waving the jar above the neat rows of leaves. He eyed the watering can again, this time hoping it might be empty. If his stomach kept rolling like this, it might gain a new purpose as a bucket for him to be sick in.

All too soon she finished and the herbs were in their respective bottles and jars. If she'd given him one of those to use, it would have been a lot more convenient than making him down what felt like ten pounds of blueberry while running a marathon crossed with a scavenger hunt. As he tried to keep his stomach under control, she lifted the counter and rummaged inside. Adair felt too sick to care about asking her for a contract for himself. “Here you go. Etch knows what to do.”

It seemed like everyone around here did except for him. All he knew how to do was to never say no and to eat so much his stomach felt like it was going to burst. He took the contract without a word and dragged himself back outside. Etri was already on the ground, which was good because there was no way his stomach could handle seeing him perched up high again. Adair handed over the contract along with a pencil he always kept in his pocket. After Etri signed it in his tiny cramped handwriting, he brushed Adair’s mouth with his sleeve. The look he gave was all too knowing and all too incorrect. 

Adair batted his hand away and took the contract and pencil back. “It’s not what it looks like, I swear. Dray needed a jar and Blade needed fire. Food was the only way to get it.”

It wasn’t the dumbest thing he’d said all day, but it was close. With a small, fond smile on his lips, Etri leaned down to kiss him, then pulled a book from somewhere inside his coat and handed it over. “And you need rest. You have run yourself ragged for this.”

Adair wondered for a moment how Etri was so aware of this when none of the others were until he recalled that Etri usually had a bird’s eye view of everything happening in their small camp. Adair fought back another wave of nausea at the thought and headed back into Sol’s wagon for the last time. He placed the book on Sol’s worktable, wanting to drop it but knowing to be careful, and then dropped the contract and pencil in front of Sol. It turned out Sol’s arm wasn’t glued down when he caught the pencil before it could roll off the desk and drew a sun with a happy face at the bottom of the paper.

Adair let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, this was all done, he could go rest, preferably somewhere far away from anyone who’d want anything from him. Maybe he could take up hiding in the pantry, although that was probably too close to the row of preserves. Certainly not the roof of the wagon, either. Under the wagon had some potential...

“Hey, can you get me-”

Adair took a step back and was holding his hands out to block the request before the words were even out of Sol's mouth. “Sol, you know you’re my best friend and that means I love you and want to help with whatever this thing is- Creators help me, why does it have arms?- but there's no way in the name of any of the nine Muses that I'm doing this ever again.”

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[ponacopuck]

A Leap Towards Silliness: A Dragon Age Fanfic

Notes: wow has it been a VERY long time since I’ve written anything. I come offering some Dorian/Rawley fluff this fine evening. Enjoy!

Dorian hated the Hissing Wastes. Even the glorious heat of the day couldn’t make up for the traitorous dip in the temperature come nightfall, the local wildlife intent on murdering their entire company, and the sand. Oh, how he loathed that horrible sand. It filled his boots and wiggled into every fold and crevice of his clothing. The coarse, persistent granules stung his eyes, crunched between his teeth and found their way into places better left un-sanded. He hated the Hissing Wastes.

The Inquisition forces set up a tiny city of tents amongst the dunes. A group of researchers squabbled with increasingly louder voices over a pile of dusty scrolls and ancient dwarven artifacts. Dorian itched to take part in the lively argument. Enthusiastic academic discussion was not exactly easy to come by in the middle of the endless desert. Academic discussion on a topic of which he was knowledgeable even more difficult to find it seemed after quietly sitting among spirited argument over the proper storage of ancient Dwarven earthenware.

His thoughts wandered, as they seemed most likely as of late, to the Inquisitor. Trevelyan didn’t seem to hate the Hissing Wastes as Dorian did. In fact, it appeared quite the opposite. He marveled at the Dwarven ruins atop the dunes and set his dracolisk to full speed across the never ending sand. The horrible beast would bellow and trumpet his disdain for the uneven ground, but was not the kind of creature to back down from a challenge. The memory of Rawley’s grinning face upturned towards the harsh midday sun set Dorian’s stomach into a pleasant squirm he would never admit to. When his gaze was detected and the smile turned in his direction the squirm sent a rush of fire coursing through his entire body. It was becoming increasingly difficult to remain cool and aloof in his presence.

Dorian did his best to search the campsite for him without looking as though that was his precise intent. The line for dinner trickled down to a few stragglers and scouts returning from their posts. He followed the raucous sounds of revelry that would undoubtedly lead to the Chargers. If Rawley was not to be found by the food tent it was a safe bet that he would be seated with the rowdy group of mercenaries; grinning at Bull’s horrible jokes or listening wide-eyed to their tales of epic battles and close calls. A frown that bordered dangerously towards a pout settled on Dorian’s lips as the Charger’s campfire appeared free of a certain young mage.

“He’s up on the ridge.”

Dorian did not have to turn and look at Varric to know the dwarf was smirking. The slight lilt to his words, said in that infuriating way that suggested he knew better than everyone else in the room. Dorian was not overly fond of being wrong or losing at any sort of game, imagined or otherwise. He turned, nose raised in the air and his hand at the ready to wave dismissively at any further comments.

“I’m sorry, are you speaking to me?” he asked, bristling at the smug laugh his attempt at nonchalant garnered.

“Yes, Sparkler,” Varric replied around another gruff chuckle. “You trying to tell me you’re not prowling about for our beloved Inquisitor? If not your choice of his usual haunts is quite the coincidence.”

“I was not prowling,” Dorian hissed, warmth spreading in a treacherous path across his face.

He was not one to blush. If pressed he would blame the rise in color on the remaining heat of the day. Judging by the smirk on Varric’s face he wouldn’t believe him.

“Right, of course, an honest mistake,” Varric said. He let out another infuriating chuckle and lifted his hands in defense.

Dorian huffed through his nose, his mounting desire to find Rawley quickly outweighing any flicker of pride clinging to his thoughts. “So…on the ridge you say?” he said, adding a dismissive wave of his hand as though he wasn’t hanging on the dwarf’s every word.

To his credit Varric didn’t prolong his teasing. He was known to give comrades a hard time, but he was never one for open cruelty. “Under the statue to the west.”

Dorian fought the urge to turn immediately in the offered direction and instead managed a small bow of gratitude. “I think perhaps I will see if the Inquisitor…needs anything.” He turned on his heel before another blush could betray him. The sand crunched beneath his boots, every new step proving more difficult as the incline steepened. Noise from the camp faded into the endless expanse of the sky above and a pale green veil fire beneath the looming stone giant marked his destination. The mere thought of who sat waiting beneath that statue sent a flutter through his chest and caused an unabashed smile to spread across his face. It wasn’t so long ago that he would chide himself for such a reaction. It was silly and dangerous to give into flights of fancy, to let another occupy his thoughts so completely. There was a time he would curse such thoughts and force them from his mind. He felt as though that was a life time ago.

“Dorian.”

He was certain he would never tire of hearing his name spoken in such a way. A warm smile followed the Inquisitor’s excited tone, the green tint of the veil fire casting dancing shadows over his face. Rawley sat beneath the torch, atop a patchwork quilt, a large book spread across his lap. He set the book aside and moved over to make room for another beside him on the quilt.

“I was hoping you’d find your way up here,” he said, dusting off as much sand from the fabric as he could manage. “I know you were busy with the researchers.”

“I must admit their topic of debate was not concerning one of my areas of expertise,” Dorian replied. “And if your hope was to be found you may have chosen a more conspicuous location.”

He flicked out the bottom of his robes and made a show of sitting down beside him, keenly aware that a pair of fetching green eyes watched his every move. He smoothed out his robes and reached for the discarded book. Dorian’s curiosity could not be quelled even if he was placing the majority of his energy into appearing alluring.

“Taken up a new interest in astronomy have you?” he asked, running his fingers over the faded page covered in star charts.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a new interest,” Rawley replied, pressing up against Dorian to follow his course across the chart. “I’ve always loved the stars,” he said, leaning back on his palms as he turned his face towards the sky. “And have you ever seen so many in all your life? Beautiful.”

Dorian hated the Hissing Wastes. He hated the sand and the endless stretch of horizon that grew no closer no matter how many times you crossed it. Despite this deep-held animosity he felt a certain amount of gratitude for any place that could place such a look of awe on the Inquisitor’s face.

“Yes…beautiful,” Dorian murmured, never lifting his gaze towards the sky.

“I used to track them from the tower at the Circle,” Rawley said, his voice small in the great expanse. “The lights from Ostwick dulled most of them, but I would try and remember the sky at my family’s estate outside the city. Those were the same stars.”

There was a quiet sadness in his words. A melancholy gained only in loss. Dorian reached for his hand. Such a simple gesture and yet it set his heart racing. Eager fingers laced with his, warm and strong against his skin. Faces tilted towards the sky Dorian’s heart raced for another reason as Rawley gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“You don’t speak of it much,” Dorian said. “Your home, your family.”

“Ostwick hasn’t been my home since the day they took me to the Circle,” Rawley replied, a small shrug raising his shoulders. Sadness clung to his words with icy, persistent fingers; the weight of it faltering slightly under the glimmer of hope in his eyes. “But Skyhold is starting to feel like one. Don’t you think?”

“That’s awfully sentimental of you,” Dorian said, instantly regretting the flippant remark as Rawley’s face fell in response.

“I…it’s nice to have somewhere to go back to, is what I meant,” he murmured. “With the people I care about.”

The warmth in Dorian’s chest rushed from his body as he felt the fingers laced with his slip away. He curled his fingers into the quilt beneath them, the sand underneath shifting and sliding along the fabric. Sentimentality was something in his past that always came veiled in sarcasm. It more often than not accompanied an expert roll of the eyes and equally biting reply. Earnestness was an entirely different creature altogether. One he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around. He wasn’t beyond trying. Especially if it meant banishing the hurt expression now firmly etched on the Inquisitor’s face.

“It is nice,” Dorian said, doing his best to sound sincere in his own right.

He reached up with careful fingers to frame Rawley’s face. His skin was warm to the touch as it ever was; fire masked under flesh and bone. He longed to be near it. To forever bask in the glow of it. A kiss pressed to slightly parted lips, chaste by most accounts, set Dorian’s heart fluttering once more. It was terrifying in its innocence; sharp and clear like his first kiss all those years ago in Tevinter.

“To have someone to come home to.”

Dorian whispered the words into the expanse. The great blanket of stars above seemed to suffocate them in those few terrible moments when they went unanswered; hanging like spirits under the night sky. He sighed into another kiss, this one more urgent than the last. Lips parted eagerly to the slide of his tongue. He pulled Rawley towards him, his fingers sliding through his hair as his heart drummed an ever increasing rhythm in his chest. His heart threatening to skip a beat at the whispered reply from the man beside him.

“You always will.”

[travelguy4444]

How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s no trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Where to stay in Quba: Hostel Bai Guba. A very basic hostel next to some hiking trails, this place also offers airport transfers. Dehne Ailevi Istirahet Merkezi is a slightly more expensive option, but it’s an excellent place to stay. There is a restaurant onsite and a really nice garden and terrace.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multi-day hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Where to stay in Qabala: Kahran Hostel. This is a newly opened hostel in a good neighborhood located next to some great cafes, bars, and restaurants. It’s a social environment and the staff is really helpful.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Where to stay in Ganja: Old Ganja Hostel. It’s located right in the center of the city, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for a while), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Where to stay in Lankaran: Khan Lankaran Hotel. There are not many hostel options in Lankaran, but this hotel is affordable and incredibly cozy. The restaurant serves Azerbaijani and European food, as well as local drinks.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/azerbaijan-itinerary/

[melissagarcia8]

How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s no trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multi-day hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for a while), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/azerbaijan-itinerary/

[joshuamshea84]

How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s no trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multi-day hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for a while), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/azerbaijan-itinerary/

[tamboradventure]

How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s not trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multiday hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for awhile), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[vidovicart]

How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s not trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multiday hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for awhile), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

[theladyjstyle]

POSTED: 08/06/18 | August 6th, 2018

I don’t remember the first time I heard about Azerbaijan, but it’s always held an exotic allure to me. Azerbaijan — even the name sounds exotic — a place of…well, I didn’t know what. It just sounded intriguing and off the beaten path. I knew two things about Azerbaijan before I visited: it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and has a lot of oil money.

It was only in the last few years that I began to think in earnest about visiting.

But years passed without any progress toward that goal — until this June, on a whim, I went there with a friend. We had found a cheap flight from London, so off we went! Sometimes that’s all it takes to end up somewhere.

Azerbaijan matched my expectations: Baku was a modern city steeped in oil money with a recently built subway, fast Wi-Fi, and tons of Parisian-style and futuristic buildings while the rest of the country was incredibly rural with small towns surrounded by gorgeous mountains and farmland. In tiny villages, old men with canes sat in town squares gazing at passersby. Old babushkas with their backs bent and heads covered with scarves wandered past with groceries, off to make dishes for the family.

A visa to Azerbaijan costs $25. You have to get it beforehand and it can be applied for online. It takes three days to process (if you pay an additional $30, you can get one in three hours). You can stay in the country for up to ten days before you need to register with the police and provide an address of where you are staying (you just need one address and you don’t need to stay there the entire visit). Most hotels and hostels will help you do this. After registering, you’ll get the full 30 days in the country your visa allows.

But honestly, you don’t really need thirty days to visit Azerbaijan. In fact, even two full weeks would be a bit of a stretch. Baku is cool and can make for a fun few days, but outside the city, there really isn’t much to do besides hike and wander around some cute villages. Granted, that is pretty awesome, but, if you aren’t going on any major multi-day hikes, you’ll most likely get bored quickly.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: One-Week Itinerary

Day 1 – Baku Before the discovery of oil, Baku was a sleepy little town passed over by the world. After oil was discovered in 1846, the city grew: large boulevards and buildings were built to emulate Paris as the nouveaux riches loved all things French. The city grew well into the early 20th century before subsequent world wars and Soviet rule pushed it off the world stage. Now, thanks in part to Eurovision and lots of oil money, Baku is a mix of its ancient core, the surrounding 19th-century Parisian-style neighborhoods, and the sprawling modern city with its futuristic buildings, expanding outward.

On your first day here, wander around the old city. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and includes a mosque, bathhouse, and mausoleum, as well the famous Maiden Tower with its great views of the city. (Fun fact: They still have no idea what this tower was built for.)

Afterward, go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour and then take in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (the country is famous for carpetmaking) and the National Museum of History, which has a lot of artifacts and few signs that will give you a decent understanding of the history of Azerbaijan.

Where to stay in Baku: Sahil Hostel. This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice common area, and incredible showers (they even have massage sprays). The staff is not that friendly but its central location and facilities as well the ease in which you can meet other travelers makes up for their sour demeanor.

Day 2 – Baku On your second day, wander some more around the city, take another free walking tour, enjoy a cooking class, stroll along the boardwalk along the Caspian sea is lovely, and explore Upland Park, which offers great views of the city as well, as it’s the highest point in town. There’s a funicular that goes all the way up if you want to avoid the stairs. Be warned: the funicular’s hours of operation change without notice. Here you’ll also find Martyrs’ Lane, a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed in World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Additionally, nearby are the famous and iconic Flame Towers. Built in 2012, they are 182 meters (600 feet) tall and covered in LED screens displaying images of dancing flames (hence their name). One of them is a hotel with a restaurant at the top; the food there is supposed to be very good and fairly priced. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city near the Flame Towers, then seeing the tower’s LED lights come on.

Day 3 – Baku Head out of town for a day trip to the four biggest attractions near Baku. First up are the mud volcanoes. Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world’s mud volcanoes, which form when pockets of underground gas force their way to the surface. They’re like geysers, but with mud.

Next are the petroglyphs in Gobustan, home to 6,000 rock paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations traveling on reed boats, men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing.

Then visit Ateshgah, a temple that has been used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship (now it’s a center for Zoroastrians). Each room has really detailed panels about the history of the temple, the pilgrims who visited, and the Zoroastrian religion. In the center of the complex is a flame representing God.

Finally, there is Yanar Dag (“burning mountain”), which is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a hillside. Marco Polo once described the land in this area as being on fire because of phenomena like this, but this is the only fire left. It’s kind of a disappointment as it’s really small. It’s not worth the journey, to be honest, but it’s included in most tours, so you’ll see it anyways.

None of the sites are too far from Baku and can all be done in a day. Most leave around 10 am and get back around 5 pm. I suggest taking a tour instead of going on your own as it makes getting to these sites easy. Only Ateshgah is reachable by public transportation. All the other sites will require a car. Lots of people on Couchsurfing offer to rides too. A full day tour will cost about $40 USD and include lunch.

Day 4 & 5 – Lahij Take a three-hour bus to Lahij (pop. 900) in the Caucasus Mountains (lots of day tours come here because the town is famous for copper wares — you’ll hear the clang of metalwork throughout the day). On your way, you’ll wind through the mountains, over bridges, and along a road so narrow you’ll feel like you’re going to fall off before you reach the town. When I was there, the road was partially out because of heavy rain and I was not a fan driving the narrow, gravel road to town!

But it was worth it!

Lahij is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, panoramic views of the valley, and old locals sitting in the town square eyeing the tourists that wander past on their way to hike for the day. There’s not much to do in Lahij itself. OK, there’s a tiny museum that takes five minutes, and you can ride a horse or shop if you want, but the real reason to visit is to go hiking. There are a lot of trails in the mountains around town, and it’s best to ask your guesthouse or the tourist office for information, as there’s not trail map. There are some ruins on the trail leading up from the nearby river and waterfall but be warned: it’s a steep 6 km up and the ruins (really just a wall) are easily missed.

Where to stay in Lahij: Lahij Guesthouse. This virtual chateau has spectacular views of the mountains, a garden, and incredible wood interiors and patios. It’s a stunning place and the owner Rustam is quite knowledgeable and can book anything you want. The breakfast will fill you for days and you can get an optional dinner each night (you should. It’s delicious!).

Day 5 (& 6?) – Sheki From there, head to Sheki via public bus, a famous stop on the Silk Road, and see the old caravanserai (inn with a courtyard), which housed traders and merchants back in the day. Built like a castle to protect merchants (high walls, one gate), it dates back to the early 18th century. Now, it’s a restaurant (skip it) and a hotel. Additionally, there’s a fortress and few churches in the old town fortress down the street from the caravanserai. All in all, you only really need a few hours to see everything in town.

Be sure to visit nearby Kis to see the Albanian church, which dates back to the fifth century and was restored with the help of Norwegians in the early 2000s.

Afterward, go to the Gelersen-Göresen ruins, which are a lot more expansive than those in Lah?c and provide some incredible views of the surrounding valley. I’d recommend taking a taxi there, as it’s an uncomfortable and not very scenic two-mile walk on open and exposed road. Your driver will wait (or might join you, like mine did).

Overall, you really only need a day for these sights. There’s not much to do, and the attractions aren’t that stellar. Sheki is a popular day trip from Baku and a weekend spot for locals, who head to the resorts located on the way to the ruins. The only reason I would stay longer is if you wanted to do some hiking and horseback riding in the area.

Where to stay in Sheki: Ilgars Hostel. Ilgar is an incredible host. This homestay is really basic. No A/C, simple accommodations, very basic bathroom. It’s cheap but you’re staying in Ilgar’s home with his family and he’s an awesome host, who speaks fluent English and knows everyone in the area. There’s nothing he can’t help with!

Day 7 – Back to Baku Spend the day heading back to Baku to enjoy a last night in the big city before you head home.

What to See and Do in Azerbijian: A Two-Week Itinerary

Want to spend some additional time in the country? Great! There are a bunch of other places worth visiting too. Here are more suggestions on what to see and do in Azerbijian if you’re staying longer:

Days 1, 2, & 3 – Baku Follow the Baku itinerary from above.

Days 4 & 5 – Quba Head north by bus to the mountain town of Quba for a cooler climate, old mosques, and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. There’s a lot of hiking here, too, and many people also visit Tenghi Canyon. You can also stop in Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian center, or Krasnaya Sloboda, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, populated by the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews.

Days 5 & 6 (& 7?) – Lahij Follow my Lahij suggestions from above and spend another day or three hiking the mountains. There are some famous multiday hikes in the area if you want to camp. A guide is highly recommended for longer hikes; your guesthouse or the tourist office can arrange one for you.

Days 7 & 8 – Sheki Follow the itinerary listed in the above section and use your extra time for hiking or horseback riding!

Day 9 – Qabala Once strategically located along the middle of the Silk Road, this dusty, old, not-so-small town now houses several ancient monuments, including a thousand-year-old defense tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. Take an early bus from Sheki and spend the night here. All the attractions are close together so you can easily see the town in a day. There’s really nothing else worth sticking around for.

Day 10 – Ganja Azerbaijan’s second biggest city dates back to the sixth century. There’s an attractive square near another caravanserai (similar to the one in Sheki), some traditional churches, a very odd house made from bottles, and the Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi, the country’s most famous 12th-century poet (he’s kind of a national hero). It’s a good stopover on the way south.

Days 11 & 12 (13?) – Lankaran

Before heading back to Baku, go south visit this sleepy resort town on the Caspian Sea. See the Old Prison and Lighthouse (Stalin was actually a prisoner here for awhile), visit the ancient bazaar, the 18th-century Fortress, and the 19th-century mosque. You can spend a good day sightseeing here and then another on the beaches further south in Kenaramesha. If you have more time, take a day trip to the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, which is home to about 250 bird species. You can take organized tours from town.

Day 13 – Head back to Baku before heading home.

*** Whenever I leave a place, I always ask myself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely am I to come back? I feel like I’m a 6 with Azerbaijan.

I loved my time there and, if I were in the region again, I would definitely visit again to do some longer hikes I missed this time. But I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go again unless there was a compelling reason.

That said, I found the people incredibly warm and hospitable. Even though we couldn’t communicate a lot (outside Baku, English is not widely spoken), we pantomimed and communicated nonverbally, which led to some fun and lots of laugh over the confusion of trying to figure out what we were both trying to communicate. The food in the country is excellent: a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lots of rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices. The landscape is stunning with lush valleys and farmland and the raw beauty of the Caucasus mountains in the north. And, Azerbijian is very safe too, as the government doesn’t want to anything to ruin the tourism sector and, being a quasi-dictatorship, has the power to make sure nothing does.

All in all, Azerbaijan is an awesome destination. It’s easy to get to, super cheap once you arrive (you can live large on $30 USD a day), and beautiful. Azerbijian definitely a place you shouldn’t miss, especially if you want something a little exotic, cheap, and filled with outdoor activities.

Book Your Trip to Azerbaijan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Azerbaijan by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Azerbaijan with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7

The post How to Visit Azerbaijan: What to See, Do, & Suggested Itineraries appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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